Hong Kong: Ed chief to visit Zhejiang, Shanghai Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin will depart for Zhejiang and Shanghai on April 10. The goal of her visit to both places is to learn about their developments in science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics (STEAM) and early childhood education as well as teacher training. In Zhejiang, Dr Choi will call at the China Academy of Art, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou Normal University and Alibaba Group and tour Anji County to study the Anji Play for early childhood education. She will then proceed to Shanghai to visit East China Normal University and Shanghai Normal University and meet Hong Kong youths stationed in the city. The education chief will also call on officials of Zhejiang Province and Shanghai Municipality to discuss education interflow and co-operation. Dr Choi will return to Hong Kong on April 13. During her absence, Under Secretary for Education Sze Chun-fai will be Acting Secretary. This story has been published on: 2023-04-07. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Xi holds talks with French president on cooperation, China-EU relations, Ukraine crisis Xinhua) 08:07, April 07, 2023 BEIJING, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Beijing on Thursday, calling on both sides to enhance cooperation, promote relations between China and the European Union, and work jointly for a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. ENHANCING BILATERAL COOPERATION Noting that the two sides need to make good use of their all-round, high-level communication channels, Xi called on the two sides to maintain close communication between the two presidents, and hold a new round of meetings this year for the three high-level dialogue mechanisms, namely the strategic dialogue, the economic and financial dialogue, and the dialogue on people-to-people exchanges. China will work with France to deepen cooperation in such fields as agrifood, space, aviation, and civil nuclear energy, foster new cooperation areas including trade in services, green development, and innovation in science and technology, and support the joint development of a carbon neutrality center and joint cultivation of talents, he said. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for French President Emmanuel Macron at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. Xi held talks with Macron in Beijing on Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) China welcomes France as the guest country of honor at the China International Fair for Trade in Services 2024 and the seventh China International Import Expo, Xi said, voicing the hope that France will provide Chinese businesses with a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment. Macron said despite their different development models, the two countries have respected each other, communicated with candor, and achieved mutual benefits in their wide-ranging cooperation. He pointed out that he was taking a large delegation to China to seek closer cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, and France is ready to work with China on the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation that China will host. Addressing the closing ceremony of a meeting between Chinese and French entrepreneurs, Xi said China-France economic and trade cooperation has not only boosted the economic development of the two countries and improved people's well-being, but has also enhanced confidence and stabilized expectations for global economic recovery. Noting that China's economic and social vitality has now been fully unleashed, Xi said the two sides should seize the opportunity to strengthen cooperation, and called on them to remain open and inclusive and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, uphold independence and safeguard their common interests, while adhering to solidarity and coordination to promote the common development of the world. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for French President Emmanuel Macron at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. Xi held talks with Macron in Beijing on Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) ISSUING JOINT CALL FOR POLITICAL SETTLEMENT OF UKRAINE CRISIS Xi stressed that China's position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear. It is essentially about facilitating peace talks and political settlement. He said China stands ready to issue a joint call with France for the international community to stay rational, exercise restraint, and avoid taking actions that might cause the crisis to further deteriorate or even spiral out of control; to strictly abide by international humanitarian law, avoid attacking civilians or civilian facilities, and protect women, children and other victims of the conflict; to earnestly honor the pledge that nuclear weapons must not be used and nuclear wars must not be fought, oppose the use of biological weapons under any circumstances, and oppose armed attacks against nuclear power plants or other civilian nuclear facilities; to resume peace talks as soon as possible, observe the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, accommodate the legitimate security concerns of all parties, seek political settlement, and foster a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture; and to jointly address the spillover effects of the Ukraine crisis in food, energy, finance, transportation and other fields, and reduce the negative impact of the Ukraine crisis on the world, especially on developing countries. Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron jointly meet the Chinese and foreign press after their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. Xi held talks with Macron in Beijing on Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Macron shared France's view on the issue, and commended China's important role in the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. France calls for the resumption of political negotiations and a settlement of the crisis through diplomatic means to achieve lasting peace in Europe. France hopes to increase communication and make joint efforts with China toward peace. PROMOTING STEADY DEVELOPMENT OF CHINA-EU TIES On the same day, Xi held a trilateral meeting with Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Beijing. Xi pointed out that China and the EU share extensive common interests. Cooperation and common ground between the two sides outweigh competition and differences. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. China is prepared to work with the EU to fully resume exchanges at all levels and revitalize mutually-beneficial cooperation in various fields, thus injecting fresh impetus into China-EU relations and global peace, stability and prosperity. Xi called on China and the EU to jointly uphold global stability and prosperity, and stand against hegemonism, unilateralism and attempts to decouple economies or sever supply chains. He said the two sides need to step up macroeconomic and financial policy communication and coordination, deepen their green partnership, and increase dialogue and cooperation on green financing, environment-friendly technologies and clean energy. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a trilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) Von der Leyen said the EU and China are each other's important trading partners and the two economies are highly intertwined. Decoupling from China is neither in the EU's interests nor the EU's strategic choice. The EU sets its China policy independently. It would like to restart the High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue and advance steady and balanced growth of economic and trade ties with China for mutual benefit. Macron said the EU and China should work with each other to stay away from the trap of economic decoupling and severing supply chains, carry out mutually-beneficial cooperation on an equal footing, tackle pressing global challenges such as climate change, and keep deepening the EU-China comprehensive strategic partnership. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) 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. A 43-year-old Minnesota man was sentenced Thursday to two years in federal prison for pointing a laser at a plane flying over Wisconsin in 2021, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Nicholas James Link, of Rochester, pleaded guilty to the charge in January, more than a year after Delta Air Lines pilots radioed the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport on the night of Oct. 29, 2021, to say they had just been struck by a laser. The pilots had been flying an Airbus A319 from Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, to Minneapolis when, at an altitude of 9,000 feet and just west of River Falls, the cockpit was lit up three times by a blue laser. At the time they had just been instructed by air traffic control to change runways at the Minneapolis airport, and the laser strikes hampered their ability to get information on the new approach, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Wisconsin. The pilots were eventually able to transition to the new runway and safely land the aircraft. The plane's captain said the vision in his right eye was affected for several hours after the event. A Minnesota State Patrol plane circled the area where the laser strike was reported and was also struck by a blue laser. Using the aircrafts surveillance equipment, police were able to identify Link, coordinate with local law enforcement, and keep Link in view until officers contacted him. In a statement to the court, one of the Delta pilots noted the sheer brightness of the laser and compared it to suddenly turning on all the lights in a dark room. "One minor mistake during this critical phase could have led to catastrophic results," he wrote. Thousands of Wisconsinites have been adjudicated incompetent to vote under state laws designed to protect mentally incapacitated people from having someone else fill out their ballot. Under laws in Wisconsin and many states, a court may determine someone is incompetent to vote. Ten states including neighboring Illinois and Michigan place no disability-related restrictions on voting rights, according to a 2018 Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law report. But Wisconsin lacks a statutorily defined system for tracking people ruled mentally incompetent to vote, Wisconsin Watch reporting has revealed. That has led to instances of people casting ballots in recent elections despite being on the statewide ineligible voter list. They include two voters who told Wisconsin Watch they didnt know they were ineligible. Disability rights advocates and legal experts disagree over whether and to what extent certain people with mental disabilities should lose their voting rights. Historically, people with disabilities have experienced a lot of discrimination with certainly their rights, and that includes the right to vote, said Barbara Beckert, external advocacy director of Disability Rights Wisconsin. There is a lot of inconsistency from state to state and how this is currently in place. Why does Wisconsin disenfranchise certain people with mental disabilities, and how can some restore their right to vote? Heres what you need to know. Who in Wisconsin could lose their voting rights for mental disability reasons? A subset of people under legal guardianship someone who has a court-appointed guardian to make health and financial decisions may lose their right to vote. People with degenerative brain disorder, including dementia, and developmental disabilities such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy and autism may be ruled incompetent or incapacitated and lose their voting rights. Courts rely on opinions of medical professionals and a court-appointed guardian ad litem to assess a persons capacity to make important decisions, such as those related to their health care or finances. During a hearing, a court will determine whether a guardian is necessary and will outline the scope of the guardians decision- making power. Not everyone under guardianship loses the right to vote. While people under the guardianship might struggle to make choices about health care and finances, many can still decide who they want to vote for, said Tami Jackson, a public policy analyst for the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities. Under Wisconsin law, people disallowed from voting in Wisconsin include: Any person who is incapable of understanding the objective of the elective process or who is under guardianship, unless the court has determined that the person is competent to exercise the right to vote. Under that broad definition, those who understand their reasons for voting, want to vote for a candidate and want that candidate to win should retain their voting rights, said Ellen Henningsen, who directs the Voting and Guardianship Project for Disability Rights Wisconsin. Its a very simple standard. Its a very low standard, frankly, because we dont impose any capacity tests on average voters, Henningsen said. Who decides whether someone is competent to vote? Only a judge can determine a persons legal competence to vote in Wisconsin. No one else has that power not a family member, caregiver, election official, doctor or designated power of attorney. How many people in Wisconsin have lost their voting rights under this process? A Wisconsin Elections Commission list contains more than 22,000 people who have been adjudicated incompetent to vote in Wisconsin. But that list is imperfect. Some, but not all, counties notify state elections officials when a person is found incompetent to vote, Joel DeSpain, a Wisconsin Elections Commission spokesman, previously told Wisconsin Watch. Additionally, the statewide list includes people who have since died. Why disenfranchise people with certain mental disabilities? The laws are designed to bolster election integrity and to protect mentally incapacitated people from having someone else fill out their ballot or manipulate them into voting a certain way. Individuals who do not understand the nature of voting creates a pool of potential votes that might be cast by anyone with the ability to gain access to those individuals ballots a species of vote fraud, Pamela Karlan, the co-director of the Supreme Court Litigation Clinic at the Stanford University Law School, wrote in the McGeorge Law Review. For instance, an assisted living facility staff member could influence the votes of people with severe cognitive disabilities in their care, she told the nonprofit news outlet Stateline in 2018. A partisan review of Wisconsins 2020 election raised those same concerns when it found a couple of examples of nursing home residents who had voted despite being on the states adjudicated incompetent list. But no cases of nursing home voter fraud have come to light. Critics of disenfranchisement laws and practice point out such scenarios involve law-breaking by people other than the person with a disability, and they question the idea of protecting the rights of a cognitively disabled voter by stripping them away. Can people restore their voting rights after losing them? Yes. That involves petitioning the county probate court. Filing a petition carries no cost and should be done 180 days after a guardianship hearing. Petitioners can get help from someone who supports the restoration of their voting rights, whether a guardian, family member, service provider or teacher. There, petitioners can show they understand the election process, said Henningsen, who advocates for people to restore their voting rights. There are good reasons to do so, she said. Judges may have been mistaken in the first place. Or petitioners may now understand the election process, whether because theyve matured or received education or their health conditions have improved. But once people lose the right to vote, they face a higher burden of proof in having it restored, Jackson said. Petitioners should be prepared for the court to ask questions, says Disabilities Wisconsin Rights, which publishes a guide for voting rights restoration. If a court restores a petitioners right, the person must register to vote before casting a ballot. How have these issues been politicized in Wisconsin? The issue first gained attention a year ago as part of former Supreme Court Justice Michael Gablemans partisan investigation into the 2020 election. Gableman identified a couple of cases of people in nursing homes who had voted despite a court removing their voting rights. That unfolded as Republican backers of former President Donald Trump sought to sow doubts about the results of his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden and to purge thousands of names from Wisconsin voter rolls. Its unfortunate that people with disabilities are being looked at as somehow violators of election law when so many of them who have their right to vote experience incredible barriers to access voting, said Jackson of the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities. I just see that this is a solution that is looking for a problem. Although conservative activists pushed misinformation in that process, including conflating ineligible and eligible voters, they did help identify some holes in Wisconsins statewide voter database. As Wisconsin Watch reported in March, Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell conducted a review of about 1,000 names from the states list of people a court deemed incompetent to vote and found 95 examples of people who voted after being added to the list. While more examples than previously known, the number is small compared with the millions of votes cast in statewide elections and not enough to alter past results as Trump and others have claimed. In reviewing some of the cases, Wisconsin Watch found examples of human error, rather than coordinated or intentional illegal voting. We all want our elections to have integrity, but we also want to make sure that doesnt come at the expense of the rights of people with disabilities, Beckert said. The nonprofit Wisconsin Watch (www.WisconsinWatch.org) collaborates with WPR, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. We knew we were in for a wild ride Tuesday. Voters in Wisconsin were choosing a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice in a race watched around the country. Madison residents were electing a mayor. Former President Donald Trump was turning himself in and appearing in court, and the charges against him would be revealed. On top of that, severe storms were expected to sweep through the area. Any one of these stories could dominate the Wisconsin State Journals front page on a normal day. But when all the news comes on the same day, the space on the front page starts looking really small. The editors started debating what Wednesdays front page would look like five days before deadline. We considered the gravity of each story, what would most interest readers and even how this combination of news would look to readers years from now. Newspapers serve as a record of history for future generations, and we dont take that lightly. As the first ex-president to be indicted, Trumps arrest was historic and the political ramifications will surely unfold over the next year. The winner of the Supreme Court race will most likely be part of a court that decides the legality of abortion. And the mayor will influence housing, rapid transit and more in this growing city. As a newsroom, were surrounded by news all day, every day. We have a solid sense of what makes a big story. Still, we want to make sure were providing the community the news that readers think is most important. So we asked our reader advisory group what they would hope to see on Wednesdays front page. The group, you might remember, was formed so we could better understand the community and get some input on our coverage. Theyre a mix of urban, suburban and rural residents of various ages, backgrounds and political ideology. They told us theyd like to see the Supreme Court race as the main story in the paper, because they felt that it would most affect the lives of Wisconsinites. Because were a local paper, they suggested also making sure the mayors race received enough attention. As for Trump, most of the readers group told us they were tired of it the drama, the coverage and even the photos. I honestly thought there would be more disagreement on which story is more important. But looking at the paper, I know they were right. Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conways reelection is important to Madison residents, and the national attention on the Supreme Court race underscores the weight of the decision. Trumps arraignment is important news, of course. But locally, the work covering city, regional and state politics means much more. And the long saga of Trumps charges has made many people weary of the constant updates, especially when it was all over the TV news for much of the day. Our website and app, of course, highlighted the latest news throughout election night, so the top stories changed as results came in. Readers were notified with breaking news alerts as races were called, and the latest news took the most prominent spots on the website. By the end of the night, reporters had written stories and gathered results for everything from town boards to area mayors to state referendums. Im always amazed how well the reporters, editors and photographers work under an extremely intense deadline. Luckily, the storms werent as bad as predicted in the Madison area. It was a nice break after the nine tornadoes that hit southern Wisconsin the previous week. Im appreciative of the reader advisory group and their honest, fair assessment of our content over the last two months. They dedicate their time to help us be better, and they hold us accountable. On Wednesday, we had a lively discussion about crime coverage, and they weighed in on our political coverage and more. It all comes from a place of support for local news. They want to help us succeed, and as avid news consumers theyre able to help us better understand what readers want. Id love to hear your feedback on Wednesdays paper and our election coverage overall, and I appreciate that this community cares about local news and issues. TRUMP AT THE COURTHOUSE | LOWER MANHATTAN NEW YORK A small park built on a site that was once a swampy, sewage-filled pond was ground zero for the frenzy surrounding former President Donald Trump's surrender Tuesday at a courthouse in Lower Manhattan. Hundreds of onlookers, protesters, journalists and a few politicians swarmed into the confines of Collect Pond Park across the street from the criminal courthouse, where Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts. Ultimately, though, hardly anyone got a glimpse of Trump: He entered and left the courthouse out of view of demonstrators gathered in the park. The crowd was small, by the standards of New York City protests, which routinely draw thousands. And fears that unruly mobs might force police to shut down swaths of the city proved to be unfounded, with security measures mostly disappearing within a couple of blocks. But within the park and the surrounding sidewalks, there was plenty of chaos. Metal barricades separated Trump supporters from anti-Trump protesters, and police stepped in to break up small skirmishes. Journalists, some of whom had taken turns waiting in line all night to reserve a coveted seat in the courtroom, pressed in on notable figures who appeared. Whistles and jeers from anti-Trump protesters nearly drowned out remarks by U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, who came to support Trump. But she drew cheers from the pro-Trump contingent before making a fast exit as journalists jostled for position around her. Also on hand to support Trump was U.S. Rep. George Santos, the besieged Republican congressman facing multiple investigations into lies about his biography that he told while running for office. "I'm not here for the cameras," he insisted to reporters. "I want to support the president, just because I think this is unprecedented, and it's a bad day for democracy." Gathering crowd The crowds grew larger in the moments leading up to Trump's arrival at the courthouse to become the first president or former president in U.S. history to face criminal charges. But the energy of the crowd faded as the hours passed Tuesday, and after it was clear Trump had departed, the park started to empty out quickly. New York police had said they were ready for large protests by Trump supporters, who share the Republican former president's belief that the New York grand jury indictment and three additional pending investigations are politically motivated and intended to weaken his bid to retake the White House in 2024. A few hundred did show up to support Trump on Tuesday, waving Trump flags and wearing "Make America Great Again" hats. But security was loose enough in the neighbor hood that plenty of passers by walked through the park just to see what was going on. One woman went through what looked like a Tai Chi routine, steadfastly ignoring the reporters. At one point, a tour guide led a group of tourists through the area. The guide stopped to take photos of the scene, then continued on. Others lingered after wandering near the large pack of journalists. Kyle Heath, 37, from Carmel, Indiana, was in the city for a family vacation that had been planned for some time. He walked through the park amid the throngs of journalists, taking it all in. "We wanted to come down and kind of witness what was going on, and say that we were as close to it as we could be," Heath said. "In Indiana, we don't have this much excitement." "In Indiana, we don't have this much excitement." Kyle Heath, Carmel, Indiana Some tension In the late 1700s, Collect Pond Park was the site of a small body of water that had become an open sewer as the city grew. It was filled in in the early 1800s, but for decades was part of Manhattan's notorious "Five Points" slum, known for gang warfare. A different sort of tension ran high around the courthouse and park Tuesday as news media jostled for position. Television networks hired security personnel who pushed people away. Some reporters had begun lining up for a seat in the courtroom on Monday afternoon, and stayed there all night or paid others to hold their place. A small skirmish erupted when anti-Trump protesters unfurled a large banner that read "TRUMP LIES ALL THE TIME" in the middle of Trump supporters. Police quickly diffused the scene. "I think it's very important. I think it's very symbolic, you know, it shows that at least in New York with the DA that no man is above the law," said Gregory Williams, 57, who showed up with a life-size cutout of Hillary Clinton and a handmade sign saying "Lock Him Up." In a rare act of intercounty solidarity, the commissioners of eight counties signed a joint resolution opposing three wind energy projects proposed for public lands in the Magic Valley. At a ceremony held in the sunshine at Minidoka National Historic Site in front of hundreds of supporters, commissioners from Cassia, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Jerome, Minidoka, and Twin Falls signed the resolution which asks the Bureau of Land Management to select the no-build option for Lava Ridge, and to pause the Salmon Falls and Taurus projects. Of these three projects, Lava Ridge is furthest along in the process. Magic Valley Energy and LS Power have applied for a right-of-way permit from the BLM to construct the Lava Ridge wind energy project, which could site up to 400 wind turbines on public lands in Jerome, Lincoln, and Minidoka counties. At a capacity of 1,000 megavolts, Lava Ridge would be the largest wind energy project on public lands and the second largest facility in the U.S. The project would double the amount of wind energy produced in Idaho. The Biden Administration has prioritized permitting 25 gigawatts of renewable energy projects on public lands by 2025 as part of its response to climate change. The draft Environmental Impact Statement for Lava Ridge was released in January and will be in the public comment period for two more weeks. The deadline is April 20. Acting as emcee for the ceremonial signing of the resolution, Twin Falls County Commissioner Jack Johnson told the audience that the Idaho State Legislature unanimously adopted a resolution opposing the wind energy project, and the governor, lieutenant governor, and national congressional delegation from Idaho have all made statements urging the feds to reconsider the project. I hope that this is enough to put a plug in this and stop these projects from desecrating our public lands, Johnson said at the ceremony. Commissioners from each of the five affected counties had an opportunity to speak to the crowd. Lincoln County Commissioner Rebecca Wood and Minidoka County Commissioner Wayne Schenk spoke about their time on the Resource Advisory Committees Lava Ridge Subcommittee. Both said they went in to the process with an open mind, but through the process came to believe that the project wasnt right for the area. Resolution against Lava Ridge adopted by Idaho Senate A resolution opposing the Lava Ridge wind energy proposal has been adopted by the Idaho Legislature, after a unanimous vote by the Senate on Tuesday. I said to myself, Im going to give it every benefit of the doubt, listen to all of the information, Wood recalled. However, no one could come through with all of the information to assure me that we werent going to be hurt in many ways by this. Schenk said that, like Wood, he and other subcommittee members went into the process with open minds. After months of evaluating all the work that would be needed to be taken to mitigate environmental, economic, and aesthetic impacts, the subcommittee unanimously recommended the Lava Ridge project not be built. It became evident to the subcommittee ... that it does not fit here, Schenk said. Theres no way you can mitigate, minimize the effect of this type of project of this size in this area. Gooding County Commissioner Mark Bolduc said that while Gooding county does not have lands adjacent to the Lava Ridge project, it does have a lot of public land that the county wants to protect. Our feeling is, if this projects approved, were going to be the next one there, and theyre just gonna run right across our public lands, Bolduc told the crowd. PHOTOS: County commissioners rally against Lava Ridge Wind Project County Commissioners against Lava Ridge Project County Commissioners against Lava Ridge Project County Commissioners against Lava Ridge Project County Commissioners against Lava Ridge Project County Commissioners against Lava Ridge Project County Commissioners against Lava Ridge Project County Commissioners against Lava Ridge Project County Commissioners against Lava Ridge Project County Commissioners against Lava Ridge Project Multi-county resolution opposing wind projects on public lands A collection of Lava Ridge stories See more coverage of the Lava Ridge proposal from the Times-News. In July of 2022, the Republican Party gathered in Twin Falls for our summer convention to elect new leadership of the party. The grassroots came together and overwhelmingly voted for change from the top down, setting a mandate that the party return to conservative principles. When I took the gavel, I made a commitment to Republicans in Idaho that I would work to ensure their voices were heard in the statehouse and resolutions passed by our grassroots would be represented. Im very proud to report that the state party has been closely tracking the legislative session to ensure that our Republican elected officials push legislation that aligns with resolutions passed by our IDGOP State Central Committee and our state party platform. As the 2023 legislative session wraps up, I wanted to give an update. This week, House Bill 71, protecting our most vulnerable children from experimental medical procedures and hormone blockers, was signed into law in Idaho. This bill began as a resolution regarding minor sex reassignment, brought forward by Boise County and passed unanimously by our Republican State Central Committee. Wed like to thank Rep. Bruce Skaug and Sen. Lori Den Hartog for sponsoring this bill. The grassroots are truly who got this bill over the finish line and signed into law this week. Thousands of Republicans made their voices heard at the governors office, and we would like to thank Gov. Brad Little for signing this meaningful legislation into law. Prohibiting ranked choice voting in Idaho began with a resolution presented by Custer County at the winter meeting this past January. The State Central Committee voted in favor of the resolution. Further reinforcing the decision to oppose ranked choice voting, the Republican National Committee also passed a resolution at the end of January opposing the use of ranked choice voting across the country. With the strong support of the Idaho Republican Party, freshmen GOP legislators Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld and Rep. Dale Hawkins carried House Bill 179 and it is now signed into law. As you know, election integrity is a very important issue to many Idahoans. In July of 2022, I brought a resolution to our summer convention to remove student IDs as accepted voter identification in Idaho. Again, two of our freshman legislators, Rep. Tina Lambert and Sen. Scott Herndon, sponsored House Bill 124 to remove student IDs from the list of accepted voter identification. It is now signed into law and reinforces Idahos commitment to election integrity. We saw a lot of other great legislation passed into law this session, but I wanted to highlight these three specifically because it shows the entire process from the initial presentation of resolutions to the governors signature embodies the work of your Idaho GOP, with lawmakers and citizens working together to shape policy and make decisions that will better Idaho. The governors veto power is an important check on the Legislature, especially when it passes unconstitutional, unjust, or cruel measures. Unfortunately, Gov. Brad Little has a history of signing bad legislation, even while acknowledging it will be overturned (usually after expensive lawsuits). This week, Little was the last person standing in front of two disastrous, poorly constructed bills that attack our freedoms. Sadly, history repeated itself as he signed them into law. As part of an onslaught of bills targeting LGBTQ+ Idahoans, House Bill 71 criminalizes gender-affirming care for transgender youth in Idaho. The ban includes treatments endorsed by major medical associations and proven to reduce suicidality, anxiety, and depression. These treatments have been a godsend to families who have seen their children transform back into the healthy, happy kids they knew them to be. In his transmittal letter, Little espoused respect for parental rights and caution when the government intervenes in private decisions. These words ring hollow when attached to his signature enacting this intervention. He signed away the rights of loving parents to access the medical care they choose for their children. This makes it harder, if not impossible, for Idaho businesses to keep talented employees in this state if they have a transgender child. It is also another assault on our doctors who face increasing hostility in a state that continues to legislate prison time for meeting the standard of care. In another attempt to control our personal health care decisions, Little signed GOP legislation giving Idaho a dubious distinction: The first state to restrict interstate travel for abortion care. House Bill 242 criminalizes an older sister, grandmother, or other trusted adult who helps a teenager across state lines for a legal abortion. The unconstitutional bill makes such assistance punishable by up to five years in prison. It will force young victims of rape or incest who cant safely report these crimes to their parents to carry unwanted pregnancies to term. The vague language could also criminalize nonprofits that inform young women of their options. The new extremist Idaho Republican Party has turned legislators into morality police governing the most intimate aspects of our lives, from personal medical care to the books we read. Idahoans desperately need a governor who will stand up for reason and protect our freedoms from the extreme right flank of his party. Little is clearly not up to this task. We now turn to the courts in hopes they will stop these dangerous laws before they go into effect. But, ultimately, the power is in our hands. We must elect leaders who will protect our freedoms. And we must hold those who dont accountable at the ballot box. PRESENTATION Fort Trial Baptist Church, 170 Oak Level Road, will present The Living Lords Supper, a dramatic presentation for Easter, depicting the scene from Leonardo da Vincis famous painting The Last Supper. It will be presented at 7 tonight, and at 5 p.m. Sunday. The Rev. Daniel Reed is the pastor. GOOD FRIDAY Shiloh Way of the Cross Church of Christ of the Apostolic Doctrine, 938 Brookdale St., Martinsville, will hold Good Friday Noonday Prayer from noon until 12:45 p.m. today. Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1527 East Church Street Ext., will hold a traditional Good Friday Service of Tenebrae at noon today. Worship incorporates readings, hymns and brief reflections on Christs suffering as candles are snuffed out one by one. Once the altar is stripped, the Christ Candle is returned, indicating Christian hope for the joy and victory of Christs Resurrection. The Fieldale/Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church Cooperative Parish will have a Good Friday service at 6 p.m. today at Fieldale UMC, 36 Patrick Ave. Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, 725 Beechnut Lane, Martinsville, will have contemplative music by Betsy Haskins from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Good Friday (today) in the sanctuary. Pocahontas Bassett Baptist Church, 120 Old Bassett Heights Road, will have A Service of the Nails at 6 this evening in the sanctuary. It will share Scripture readings from Jesuss last night with friends, especially his command to love one another. Participants will wash one anothers hands, walk the prayer labyrinth, receive Communion, sing and pray. First United Methodist Church will hold Good Friday service at 7 tonight in the sanctuary. Starling Avenue Baptist Church, 932 Starling Ave., will hold a Good Friday Tenebrae service at 6 p.m. today. Freedom Baptist Church, 790 Irisburg Road, Axton, will hold Good Friday service at 7 tonight. HOLY SATURDAY On Holy Saturday (April 8), the chapel of First United Methodist Church will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for prayer. PRE-EASTER Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, 13602 Martinsville Highway, Cascade, will hold a pre-Easter celebration honoring Rev. Dion Noel at 5 p.m. Saturday, with musical guest The Joybells of Axton. The program is sponsored by Fulton-Walton Funeral Home & Cremation Services LLC in Yanceyville, N.C., and Fulton-Walton Memorial Chapel, Eden, N.C. EGG HUNTS, CELEBRATIONS Horsepasture Christian Church will hold Easter EGGstravaganza from 9:30 a.m to noon Saturday. It will feature an egg hunt and petting zoo. The church is at 1146 Horsepasture Price Road, Ridgeway. Grace Baptist Church, 6400 Greensboro Road, Ridgeway, will host Easter Egg Citement at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. First Baptist Church of Collinsville, 3339 Virginia Ave., Collinsville, will host The Great Easter Egg Hunt for all ages Pre-K through 5th grade, at 11 a.m. Saturday. It will feature candy, prizes, snacks and lessons about Jesus. Eggstravaganza at Freedom Baptist Church, 790 Irisburg Road, Axton, will be held from 11 a.m. to to 1 p.m. Saturday. This family event open to the community will feature hot dogs, drinks, bouncy houses, face painting, and an egg hunt, all free. The schedule is: 11 a.m. registration through the front doors; 11:45 a.m., egg hunt for ages 2-3; 12:10 p.m., egg hunt for ages 4-5; 12:35 p.m., egg hunt for ages 6-8; 1 p.m., egg hunt for ages 9-11. Galilean House of Worship, 5078 A.L. Philpott Hwy, will hold an Easter egg hunt from 2-5 p.m. Saturday. EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE The Fieldale/Mt. Bethel UMC Cooperative Parish will have an Easter sunrise service starting at 6:45 a.m. Sunday, on the front lawn of the Fieldale Community Center and Pools at 70 Marshall Way, Fieldale. If the weather is bad, it will be held instead in the sanctuary of Fieldale UMC, 36 Patrick Ave. Fort Trial Christian Church, 6356 Virginia Ave., Bassett Forks, will have a Sonrise Service at 7 a.m. Sunday, followed by a mini breakfast. Free Worship Baptist Church, 2500 oak Level Road, Bassett, will hold Easter Sunrise Service, April 9, at 7 a.m., with breakfast to follow. Pastor is the Reverend Leonard Hall. First Baptist Church of Collinsville, 3339 Virginia Ave., Collinsville, will hold a Sunrise Service at 7 a.m. on Easter Sunday, under the drive-thru on the John Redd Blvd. side of the church. Pocahontas Bassett Baptist Church will hold an Easter Sunday service at 11 a.m., with a flowering cross covered in live lilies. EASTER Renewed Faith Covenant Ministries, 3404 Virginia Ave., Collinsville, will hold Resurrection Day service at 11 a.m. Sunday with guest Psalmist Sister Ginger Puryear. Fort Trial Christian Church, 6356 Virginia Ave., Bassett Forks, choir will present the cantata Behold the Lamb, arranged by Russell Mauldin, at 11 a.m. Sunday. Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, 725 Beechnut Lane, Martinsville, will hold Easter Sunday Service at 11 a.m. Sunday. Freedom Baptist Church, 709 Irisburg, Axton, will hold Easter church service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Childrens Ministries are offered for ages birth through grade 5. First United Methodist Church will hold Easter morning worship at 11 a.m. Sunday in the sanctuary. The service will feature the Chancel Choir and Brass 5 of Roanoke. The prelude begins at 10:45 a.m. There will not be an early service. RETREAT The South Central Virginia Area Christian Churches/Churches of Christ annual Ladies Retreat will be Friday, April 14, and Saturday, April 15, at Pittsylvania Christian Service Camp, 1232 Oxford Road, Chatham. Friday night registration and dorms will open at 5 p.m.; dinner at 6 p.m. will be catered by A Taste of Home from Martinsville; an inspirational praise and worship session will follow at 7 p.m. Joy Gaertner from Knoxville, Tenn., who will speak on An Attitude of Gratitude. More information about the speaker can be found on her website, walkingwithjoy.com. Dorms will be available for overnight stay, or you may return Saturday by 8 a.m. for breakfast followed by the closing session at 9 a.m. Registration fee for both days is $15 due by today, or $20 at the door. If paying by check, make payable to Camp Pitt and mail to Linda Johnston, 1627 Melinda Drive, Altavista, VA 24517-1034. If additional information is needed, call (434) 369-6765. Women from all churches are invited to attend and be spiritually encouraged and refreshed. MUSIC The Cook Family of Denton, N.C., will be at Friendly Worship Center, 1110 Morehead Ave., Ridgeway, at 7 p.m. Friday, April 21, and Saturday, April 22. The Singing Cookes will be at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church at 10:45 a.m. Sunday, April 23. WOMEN Greenwood Baptist Church, 2911 Mountain Valley Road, Axton, will host The Power of God Womens Conference from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6. COLLEGE High Ridge Missionary Baptist Church, 1455 Carver Road, will host a College Preparedness Seminar on Saturday, April 22. The doors will open at 8:30 a.m. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. Information will be given about various programs colleges and universities offer, essay-writing tips and how to complete financial aid forms, among other topics. The guest speaker will be Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr. of North Carolina A&T University. Admission is free. Registration is not required but it is suggested; email highridge1936@gmail.com. AUTISM TransitionsNavigating the Next Step in the Journey will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at Stone Memorial Church, 3030 Virginia Ave., Collinsville. The program will feature Transitions keynote speaker, Piedmont Community Services, DARS, resources, waivers and autism awareness. The program is held by Piedmont Autism Action Group along with Piedmont Community Services and various local service providers. It is free to attend; register by calling 276-632-2018 ext. 1237. Youth group The Leatherwood-Axton Community Youth Group will meet at 6 p.m. Friday, April 14, at Mount Vernon Baptist Church, 7174 Mountain Valley Road, for supper and games. All area kids in grades 7-12 and churches are invited. VBS A VBS workshop will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 13, at First Baptist Church of Collinsville. MUSIC Pocahontas Bassett Baptist Church holds Pickers and Fiddlers on the second Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon. Breakfast-type refreshments are served, and both the program and refreshments are free. Come to listen or bring your harmonica or stringed instrument and join in. CLOTHES Christ Church Community Clothes Closet is open on the fourth Saturday of each month. MEALS First Presbyterian Church, 1901 Patrick Henry Ave., Martinsville, serves a community breakfast on the third Saturday of every month. Smith Memorial United Methodist Church, corner of John Redd Boulevard and Daniels Creek Road, Collinsville, serves take-out community meals each month every other Wednesday from 5-6 p.m. Call 647-8150 before 3:30 on Wednesday to reserve meals. Next meal on April 19. Pocahontas Bassett Baptist Church, 120 Old Bassett Heights Road, Bassett, holds its monthly community meals at 6 p.m. each third Thursday of the month, in the fellowship hall. Starling Avenue Baptist Church, 932 Starling Ave., Martinsville, serves meals in the fellowship hall the last Tuesday of each month from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. The next meal is April 25. Christ Episcopal Church, 311 E. Church St., Martinsville, will serve a free community meal the last Wednesday of each month from 5-6 p.m. in the Undercroft with a sit-down community meal (and takeout will be available only at the end of the meal if there are any leftovers). There are limited parking spaces behind the church for people with mobility issues. Masks are required for unvaccinated adults. Hand sanitizer is available for use. Publication of church events is free in the Bulletin. Announcements received by the newspaper by 3 p.m. Wednesday will qualify for publication the following Friday. Pictures are welcomed. Send information to accent@martinsville bulletin.com or Martinsville Bulletin, P.O. Box 3711, Martinsville, Va., 24115. Heres what happened locally on April 7 over the past century, as reported in this newspaper, which went from being called the Henry Bulletin to the Daily Bulletin to the Martinsville Bulletin: 1923: HORSEPASTURE Sunday was as cold as winter, but in spite of it all some wore Easter suits and hats to Sunday School and there was a splendid attendance; some visitors. The extreme cold weather permitting some from attending Monday afternoon the school children had an egg hunt at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Marshall and they all seemed to enjoy themselves. Several patrons were there to witness the fun. The schools have purchases a volley ball and net and took them over there and played with them for part of the time. 1948: In a statement to The Daily Bulletin today, Peter Lee Boaz, president of Local 284, United Furniture Workers of America, CIO, said the strike will continue at the American Furniture Co. plant until a union contract is signed there. 1973: Area grocery store owners and meat department managers are expecting business as usual as a week-long meat boycott protesting high prices entered its second day today. Most meat markets were closed Sunday, so it was hard to judge whether housewives were crossing beef, lamb and pork off their shopping lists. Ray Ford, meat manager at Krogers, said he doesnt believe the boycott will hurt business. 1998: A batch of very strong or just plain bad cocaine is the apparent cause of unexpectedly adverse and even life-threatening reactions here, according to an emergency room physician. Dr. David O. Lewis of Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County said this morning that a greater than usual number of patients have been seen in the ER recently. Two patients in the past week to 10 days have suffered strokes after taking cocaine, he said, and others have experienced equally severe reactions. A social media post ultimately determined to be about five years old with no local connection prompted extra security at Chatham High School on Thursday. A parent got in touch with a school resource officer Thursday morning after being alerted by his or her school-aged child of a possible threat to school safety, Pittsylvania County Sheriff Mike Taylor reported in a news release. The message in question read dont take the risk dont go to school tomorrow. [Expletive] CHS Im going out with a bang. Dont go to school tomorrow." The message had a gun in the background. Since CHS is the acronym for Chatham High School, law enforcement first believed the local school was the intended target of the threat. "Law enforcement responded to Chatham High School and the administration of the school division was immediately notified," Taylor wrote in the release. Investigators with the sheriff's office discovered after arriving at the school a similar post was made in 2018. National news outlets reported that Snapchat post originated in New Mexico. However, law enforcement still continued a beefed-up presence on the campus throughout the day. "Efforts are being made with local, state, and federal law enforcement to identify the source of the post," Taylor said. "If identified, criminal charges will be presented to our Commonwealth Attorneys Office." Taylor said he was thankful for the student who reported the possible threat. Episode 84: What first looked like a pandemic blip for our nations colleges has turned into a crisis. According to a recent story by Collin Binkley of The Associated Press, undergraduate college enrollment dropped 8% from 2019 to 2022, with declines even after returning to in-person classes. In fact, the enrollment drop rate since 2018 is the steepest on record. Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss why college is the right fit for some students but also why higher education isn't the proper path for an increasing number of high school students. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Valparaiso intends to sell Georgia OKeeffe painting to fix dorms, by Kalia Richardson, The New York Times Is college worth it? Voters are split, by Monica Pots, FiveThirtyEight About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Nine suspected robbers were killed Thursday in Johannesburg in a shootout with police that foiled an attack on a cash convoy, South African authorities said, facing a sharp rise in crime. Police had located the team in Sebokeng, a township in southern Johannesburg, as the suspects were on their way to attack a cash-in-transit vehicle Thursday morning. A shootout ensued, police spokeswoman Athlenda Mathe said in a statement: In total, eight suspects were pronounced dead at the scene, while the ninth suspect died in hospital. Three others were injured. The group was suspected of being behind a series of robberies in the Johannesburg area. Six guns, ready-to-explode devices and four vehicles were seized at the scene, the police spokeswoman said. Cash convoys are regularly targeted by criminals in South Africa, a country plagued by high crime rates. This week, two bystanders were killed and another injured after they came upon a robbery in Benoni, east of Johannesburg. Murders in South Africa have increased again, according to the latest official crime figures released in February. Between October and December 2022, 7,555 people were murdered, including 3,144 with a firearm, according to police statistics. That is more than 82 murders per day, an increase of more than 10% compared to the same period last year. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Children who are exclusively breastfed or fed a mix of formula and breastmilk for the first six to eight weeks of life are at lower risk of having special educational needs and learning disabilities, according to a new study. The research, led by the University of Glasgow and published in PLOS Medicine, studied data from more than 190,000 children to understand the impact of early life feeding on later development. The findings suggest that being fed breastmilk in the first few weeks of life may help to reduce the risk of having special educational needs, or the learning disabilities and difficulties that often cause this. The World Health Organization recommends that babies are breastfed for the first six months, however many women struggle to exclusively breastfeed for this long. This study provides evidence that a shorter duration of non-exclusive breastfeeding may still be beneficial for a child's later learning development. Researchers looked at the health and educational data for 191,745 children born in Scotland from 2004 onward, and who also attended a state or special needs school between 2009 until 2013. Of those included in the study, 66.2% of children were formula fed, 25.3% were breastfed, and only 8.5% were mixed fed for the first six to eight weeks. Overall, 12.1% of children in this study had special education needs. However, when compared with formula feeding, a history of early life mixed feeding and exclusive breastfeeding were both associated with a decrease in the risk of having special educational needsaround 10% and 20% less likely, respectively. Moreover, exclusively breastfed children were also less likely to have emotional or behavioral difficulties (around 20% less likely) and physical health conditions (around 25% less likely). The number of children in Scotland with a record of special educational need increased almost four-fold between 2010 and 2018, and by 2020 almost a third of pupils in Scotland had a record of having special educational needs. This represents a significant burden on the education, health, and social sectors, as well as having a substantial impact on the children, their families and wider society. Children with special educational needs experience lower educational attainment, higher rates of school absenteeism and exclusion, and higher rates of bullying and maltreatment, which can all further impact on their physical and mental health and well-being. Dr. Michael Fleming, who led the study at the University of Glasgow's School of Health and Wellbeing, said, "We know that many women struggle to exclusively breastfeed for the full six-months recommended by the WHO, however our study provides evidence that a shorter duration of non-exclusive breastfeeding could nonetheless be beneficial with regards to a child's learning development. "The results of this study suggest that feeding method in infancy could be a modifiable risk factor for the causes of special educational need, which in turn has the potential to help reduce the burden for affected children, their families and wider society." Children who were born in private hospitals, privately educated, or home-schooled were not included in the study. More information: Lisa J. Adams et al, Infant feeding method and special educational need in 191,745 Scottish schoolchildren: A national, population cohort study, PLOS Medicine (2023). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004191 Journal information: PLoS Medicine This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Two ongoing outbreaks of Marburg virus in Africa prompted U.S. health officials to issue an alert on Thursday for doctors to be on the lookout for any cases that might surface in the coming weeks. The virus causes a deadly hemorrhagic disease that is similar to Ebola. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also plans to reach out to some travelers arriving in the United States after being in either Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania, the two countries where the outbreaks are happening. "Currently, the risk of MVD [Marburg virus disease] in the United States is low; however, clinicians should be aware of the potential for imported cases. It is important to systematically assess patients for the possibility of viral hemorrhagic fevers," the CDC said in its alert. The outbreak is among the largest in Africa in a decade, CBS News reported. Authorities in Equatorial Guinea have identified 14 cases since Feb. 13. Ten people have died. Another 23 cases are probably caused by the virus, according to the World Health Organization. The people infected don't have known links, so the virus may be spreading undetected. "Though we do not know yet the origin of the Marburg outbreaks in Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania, we do know that there continues to be increased capacity in Africa to recognize and test samples for viral hemorrhagic fevers like Marburg and Ebola," the World Health Organization's Dr. Tieble Traore said Tuesday. In Tanzania, five people have died in eight confirmed cases, according to the CDC. The two outbreaks were likely separate, spreading from an animal host to a human and then between humans, the CDC added. The CDC is texting travelers who have been in either of the two countries and asking them to call public health officials if they develop symptoms within 21 days of their return to the United States. There are no direct flights between those countries and the United States, CBS News reported. "Currently, no enhanced domestic travel measures are recommended, as the overall risk in the United States is considered low at this time," the CDC alert said. The United States is providing personal protective equipment and "technical support in epidemic management" in Tanzania, according to the White House. CDC responders have also been deploying in Equatorial Guinea, including starting a lab on March 10 and training others in diagnosing Marburg, CBS News reported. Symptoms for Marburg tend to start with fever and headaches anywhere between two days and three weeks after exposure, according to the CDC. They can build to include diarrhea, "massive hemorrhaging" and organ failure. About half of all patients die. No approved vaccines exist for Marburg, but some may be available soon. One option from the Sabin Vaccine Institute has 750 doses of experimental shots that could be used in trials for the outbreak, CBS News reported. They may be given to a "ring" of contacts of an infected person. That U.S. government-backed vaccine is based on a chimpanzee adenovirus. More information: The World Health Organization has more on the Marburg virus. Copyright 2023 HealthDay. All rights reserved. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Prevalence of long-covid among hospitalized patients, per ethnic group. Credit: Amsterdam UMC All prominent migrant groups in the Netherlands are suffering more from long-COVID than the native Dutch population, research from Amsterdam UMC has found. The study, published today, in The Lancet Regional HealthEurope, shows that in some groups the rates of long-COVID are up to 50% higher than in the Dutch population. This results in many migrant groups "suffering in silence," in the words of senior author Professor Charles Agyemang. COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on vulnerable communities, particularly people from ethnic minorities and migrant backgrounds. Research from Amsterdam UMC had already found that these populations have been severely impacted by the virus and were several times more likely to be infected with and die from COVID-19, compared to majority populations in high-income countries. Various factors, including poor social and economic circumstances, communication barriers, and health literacy contribute to this disparity. To investigate the long-term impact of COVID-19 on patients from diverse backgrounds, including Dutch origin patients, African Surinamese, South Asian Surinamese, Moroccan, and Turkish origin patients, Amsterdam UMC collaborated with the University of Copenhagen and Stockholm University to conduct a study. Their findings revealed that about 26% of the patients who were hospitalized with COVID developed long COVID. All the migrant groups had a higher risk of developing long COVID than Dutch patients. Among the Turkish population, this risk is 50% higher than in the native Dutch population. Females, as well as patients who stayed longer in the hospital, were admitted to the intensive care unit, and received oxygen, were also more likely to develop long COVID than those who did not. The study also found that the experience of long-COVID symptoms differed between the groups. For example, experience of dizziness, and muscle and joint pain were highest among Turkish origin patients compared to other patient groups. On the other hand, experience of a racing heart and trouble sleeping were highest among patients from Moroccan origin. Finally, the study found that about 14% of long-COVID symptoms were still persistent at one-year post-discharge, particularly among South Asian Surinamese origin patients. According to the senior author of the paper, Professor Charles Agyemang, Professor of Global Migration, Ethnicity & Health at the Amsterdam UMC, the findings were not surprising as "the social determinants of health that shaped the disproportionately high rate of COVID-19 infection and deaths in ethnic minority and migrants are still at play." "Many vulnerable populations in the community are suffering from long-COVID in silence due to a lack of awareness of the condition in these communities. Promoting awareness about long-COVID and facilitating easy access to healthcare and services in ethnic minorities and migrant communities and other vulnerable populations is crucial to addressing these health inequalities," adds Agyemang The lead author, Dr. Felix Chilunga, an Assistant Professor at the Amsterdam University Medical Centre, added, "Patients with long COVID are likely to face functional limitations in their daily lives, such as being unable to work or do activities of daily living. The extent of these limitations is still unknown. Therefore, checking the extent to which long COVID affects daily activities can ensure a targeted approach to the symptoms that contribute to the greatest limitations." More information: Differences in incidence, nature of symptoms, and duration of long COVID among hospitalised migrant and non-migrant patients in the Netherlands: a retrospective cohort study, The Lancet Regional HealthEurope (2023). www.thelancet.com/journals/lan (21)00270-2/fulltext This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain For centuries, people have suspected a full moon in the sky to cause mysterious changes in people. Now, psychiatrists at Indiana University School of Medicine have found deaths by suicide increase during the full moon. "We wanted to analyze the hypothesis that suicides are increased during the period around full moons and determine if high-risk patients should be followed more closely during those times," said Alexander Niculescu, MD, Ph.D.. Niculescu and his team looked at data from the Marion County coroner's office in Indiana about suicides that took place from 2012-2016. They found deaths by suicide significantly increased during the week of the full moon, with people over age 55 showing an even higher increase. They also looked at the time of day and months that suicides took place, finding 3 to- 4 p.m. and the month of September to be peak times for suicides. The team recently published their findings in Discover Mental Health. "From a clinical perspective and a public health perspective, we found some important take-home messages in this study," Niculescu said. "High-risk patients should possibly be followed more closely the week of the full moon, during late afternoons and perhaps the month of September." Niculescu and his team previously developed blood biomarker tests for other mental health conditions (anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder) and for pain. Using blood samples previously taken by the coroner from some of the people, the team was able to see which biomarkers were present. Phenomics and Genomics. A,C, E. Phenomenological data during the peak time periods. T-tests and standard error of mean (SEM). B, D, F. Gene expression data during the peak time periods. Data in normalized (Z-scored) by gender. The genes whose expression is depicted are the clock genes from Table 1. Clock genes are enriched above baseline among the suicidality biomarkers that are significantly predictive of the peak time periods. Credit: Discover Mental Health (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s44192-023-00035-4 "We tested a list of top blood biomarkers for suicidality that we identified in previous studies," Niculescu said. "The biomarkers for suicidality that are predictive of death by suicide during full moon, peak hour of day and peak month of the year compared to outside of those periods appear to be genes that regulate the body's own internal clock, so called 'circadian clock.' Using the biomarkers, we also found people with alcohol-use disorder or depression may be at higher risk during these time periods." Niculescu said the increased light from the full moon could be what leads to the increase in suicides during that period. Ambient light plays a major role on the body's circadian rhythm, which is the natural 24-hour cycle our bodies follow to regulate when we are asleep and when we are awake. Moonlight could be impacting people at a time when it should be darker. "The effect of ambient light and body clocks in suicide needs to be studied more closely, along with how people sleep and their exposure to light," Niculescu said. "Changes in light can affect vulnerable people, in conjunction with other risk factors." As for the other two peak periods for suicides, Niculescu said the peak of suicides from 3 to 4 p.m. could be related to stressors throughout the day as well as a decrease in light beginning to occur that day, causing a lower expression of circadian clock genes and cortisol. And in September, many people are experiencing the end of summer vacations, which could cause stress, as well as seasonal affective disorder effects, as daylight decreases during that time of year. "Our work shows the full moon, fall season and late afternoon are temporal windows of increased risk for suicide, particularly in individuals who suffer from depression or alcohol use disorders," Niculescu said. In the future, Niculescu hopes to study if exposure to screens at night contributes to increased suicidality in people, especially younger people. "Some people have a full moon in their hand every night," Niculescu said. "It's an area we absolutely need to study further." More information: R. Bhagar et al, Temporal effects on death by suicide: empirical evidence and possible molecular correlates, Discover Mental Health (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s44192-023-00035-4 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Illustration of natural statistics on the mouse eye. Credit: Divyansh Gupta, OpenAI DALL-E 2. Existing neuroscientific models of the visual system suggest that it represents the visual world just as a camera would, encoding the positions of different objects similarly. An animal's surrounding environment, however, constantly changes, and these changes could also influence the processing of visual information. Researchers at the Institute of Science and Technology in Austria and LMU in Germany recently gathered evidence supporting this hypothesis and showing that the organization of neurons in the mouse retina is affected by panoramic (i.e., wide view) visual statistics, such as non-uniformities in light levels. Their findings, published in Nature Neuroscience, could significantly contribute to the present understanding of the visual system and its evolution. "A key feature of every living organism is adapting to its environment to survive," Maximillian Josch, one of the researchers who carried out the study, told Medical Xpress. "Such adaptations should also occur in the computations performed by the brain, for instance to extract relevant and dismiss less critical information. We set out to test this idea by taking advantage of the most prominent visual changes observed systematically in nature: the gradient of light intensity and contrast levels from the ground to the sky to ask if the mouse visual system evolved to consider these constraints." To examine the organization of sensory space that activate each neuron in the mouse retina (receptive fields) in relation to the scenes that mice are observing, Josch and his colleagues developed a new optical imaging technique. This technique allows them to measure and track the activity of thousands of neurons in a single retina simultaneously. Left: A mouse retina with retinal neurons stained in red. Right: changes in the visual properties of the retinal cells across elevation. Credit: Divyansh Gupta "Our optical method works as follows: when a retina neuron is active, sending electrical pulses to the brain, ions flow inside the cell, e.g., calcium," Josch explained. "We can visualize that activity by adding a fluorescent indicator in each neuron. When calcium flows in, the fluorescence changes. These changes in fluorescence can be recorded with a sensitive camera, and with that, we can infer how the neuron responds to different visual stimuli across the entire retina." The researchers conducted their experiments on extracted mice retinas. Like that of most mammals, the mouse retina does not include the small area known as the fovea, a small slump in the retina that allows humans and other primates to see at high definition. The fovea, which makes up less than 1% of the entire human retina, is known to play a key role in the visual perceptions of which humans are more conscious. The remaining 99% of the human retina also contributes to visual perceptions, from which many appear to be unconscious processes. Thus, from a human centric perspective, this study focuses on the processing happening the latter 99%/. Josch and his colleagues found that the computations performed by neurons in the mice retina changed depending on the panoramic visual statistics of what that part of the retina usually sees during daylight. This supports their initial hypothesis that the visual system is not inherently homogenous and is in fact adapted to the external environment. "To our surprise, we found that retinal neurons are more likely to inform the rest of the brain when a stimuli change is unexpected," Josch said. "Importantly, the unexpected depends on where the neuron looks, either the sky or the ground. Thus, retina circuits systematically adapted their properties from the lower to the higher visual field to represent the world more efficiently." A mouse retina and the retinal neurons in green. Credit: Divyansh Gupta Overall, the findings gathered by this team of researchers suggest that the panoramic structure of natural scenes affects the organization of different processing strategies in different regions of the retina. This expands previous models of the visual system, highlighting its adaptive and dynamic nature. "We usually assume that the visual system is homogenous, or in other words, that the visual world is represented like a camera, measuring each position similarly," Josch added. "However, our natural surroundings are not similar; they systematically change from ground to sky. Thus, a system that evolved to live in nature should consider this. Our results indicate that living organisms' visual system has adapted to cope with natural constraints to improve the efficiency of their neuronal code." In the future, the recent work by Josch and his colleagues could inspire other teams to further examine how panoramic statistics or other visual elements shape cell organization in the retina to refine our understanding of vision in general. "We are now exploring how similar adaptations change when changing the context, for example, when adapting to different light levels occurring during the day or at night," Josch added. More information: Divyansh Gupta et al, Panoramic visual statistics shape retina-wide organization of receptive fields, Nature Neuroscience (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01280-0 Journal information: Nature Neuroscience 2023 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Declan McCole is a biomedical scientist and IBD expert at the University of California, Riverside. Credit: UC Riverside School of Medicine. Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, describes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, two chronic diseases that cause inflammation in the intestines. IBD, which affects about 3 million adults in the United States, is an autoimmune disordera condition in which the body's immune system attacks healthy tissues. Its symptoms include diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fatigue, weight loss, and stomach cramps. The intestinal epithelium, made up of a layer of cells that lines the intestine, plays an important role in IBD because it can be easily disrupted during gut inflammation. A specialized type of epithelial cells are Paneth cells. The antimicrobial peptides these cells produce help regulate the gut microbiota, or the community of microorganisms that exist in the gut. A research team led by Declan F. McCole, a biomedical scientist and IBD expert at the University of California, Riverside, reports in their mouse study that reduced activity of the IBD risk gene PTPN2 in intestinal epithelial cells can lead to a decrease in the production of Paneth cell antimicrobial peptides. The study, published in the journal Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, establishes a critical link between PTPN2 and Paneth cells that plays a major role in maintaining normal gut microbe properties. "This study develops our focus on improving personalized medicine approaches in IBD by understanding how patients with variants in the PTPN2 gene develop IBD," said McCole, a professor of biomedical sciences in the School of Medicine. "Loss of PTPN2 can lead also to selective loss of Paneth cells in the intestinal epithelium. This loss of PTPN2 causes significant changes in the gut microbiota and increases a particular E. coli." Escherichia coli, or E. coli, are bacteria found in the environment, foods, and intestines of people and animals. McCole explained that the E. coli in question, the adherent-invasive E. coli, or AIEC, is increased in IBD and worsens inflammation. First identified in Crohn's disease patients, AIEC can adhere to and invade epithelial cells as well as immune cells called macrophages. "AIEC are the strongest candidate for a causal role for bacteria in IBD," he said. According to McCole, Paneth cells do not function properly in many patients living with IBD, and this can serve as a marker of disease. The antimicrobial peptides these cells produce are crucially relevant to the intestine's protective barrier for regulating the relative proportions of bacteria and their interactions with each other. They also help neighboring intestinal stem cells function better. "We know that in IBD, Paneth cells are often unable to produce sufficient antimicrobial peptides or respond appropriately to gut bacteria," McCole said. "These functional defects can also be associated with changes in the structure of Paneth cells that reduce their ability to secrete the protective antimicrobial peptides, leading to increases in the populations of bacteria associated with IBD, such as AIEC. These structural changes in the appearance of Paneth cells can also serve as a marker of disease in IBD, especially Crohn's disease." McCole was joined in the study by Vinicius Canale, Marianne R. Spalinger, Rocio Alvarez, Anica Sayoc-Becerra, Golshid Sanati, Salomon Manz, Pritha Chatterjee, Alina N. Santos, Hillmin Lei, Sharon Jahng, Timothy Chu, and Ali Shawki of UCR; Elaine Hanson and Lars Eckmann of UC San Diego; and Andre J. Ouellette of the University of Southern California. The study was supported by the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation; Swiss National Science Foundation; American Gastroenterological Association; Science Without Borders Program; and California Institute of Regenerative Medicine. "This work sets the foundation for our new research project that will identify pharmacologic agents capable of rescuing Paneth cell function and reducing the contributions of microbes to intestinal inflammation," McCole said. More information: Vinicius Canale et al, PTPN2 is a Critical Regulator of Ileal Paneth Cell Viability and Function in Mice, Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2023.03.009 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The study conducted on the Virginia Smart Roads includes luminaires of varying colors which are are commercially available for roadway lighting. Credit: Rajaram Bhagavathula for Virginia Tech. New research from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute is shining a light on lighting uncertainties. The groundbreaking research conducted at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) found that blue light from LED road lighting does not have any significant impact on road user salivary melatonin levels. Ron Gibbons and Rajaram Bhagavathula in collaboration with neuroendocrine researchers, George Brainard and John Hanifin from Thomas Jefferson University, were the first to conduct this kind of research on a realistic road environment in a study sponsored by the Department of Energy. By using the extensive capabilities of the Virginia Smart Roads, they were able to conduct their study with three participant groups to the specifications of current roads and lighting scenarios, earning their research a spot in the Clocks & Sleep journal. "This is the first time that research like this has ever been done in a naturalistic environment," said Gibbons, program leader of the infrastructure-based safety systems group at VTTI. "It has allowed us to remove a point of uncertainty with lighting research." LED lights help to brighten the roads, save more energy, and last longer than traditional yellowish orange high pressure sodium (HPS) lights, but the American Medical Association was concerned about the blue light having a negative impact on humans. Specifically, the association was concerned with visual impairment due to stray light and the disruptive impact that lighting can have on the environment and human circadian rhythms. The majority of existing research on this topic comes from controlled laboratory experiments. For this study, the team tested the impact of roadway lighting on melatonin in vehicle drivers, pedestrians, and individuals in a bedroom close to the roadway. These experiments were performed in a naturalistic environment to simulate as close to a naturally occurring event as possible. The Virginia Smart Roads are a complex network of four test beds that recreate every day driving conditions seen around the country. Using this to enhance its research, the team planned out a system of tests that replicate everyday scenarios. This included utilizing the highway portion of the Virginia Smart Roads due to its extensive lighting system that can replicate more than 95% of the lighting across national highway systems and because of its similarities to a real highway. The team set up three testing scenarios. Pedestrian participants were asked to sit in a space next to the road. Participants in the vehicle were asked to drive along the highway portion of the Virginia Smart Roads underneath the roadway lighting. The final group of participants, located inside a simulated bedroom installed on the side of the road, were asked to sleep in a bed by a window to collect data on light trespass. Saliva samples were collected at regular intervals and then analyzed against a control to see if melatonin levels had increased or decreased after light exposure. What Gibbons and Bhagavathula found was that compared to no roadway lighting, and HPS lighting, LED lighting did not impact salivary melatonin levels in participants. Safety, energy, health, light pollution, environmental impacts, and user preferences are all topics of concern when it comes to LED lighting. With their findings, they were able to help eliminate one major concern of potential impacts on human health. While this project focused specifically on the impacts of LED lighting on salivary melatonin levels in participants, the team is continuously conducting lighting research that is saving lives, time, money, and protecting the environment. More information: Ronald B. Gibbons et al, Impact of Solid State Roadway Lighting on Melatonin in Humans, Clocks & Sleep (2022). DOI: 10.3390/clockssleep4040049 At the end of the latest production by Bare Bait Dance, around 26 dancers participate in a sprawling piece titled Family, that fills the stage at the Westside Theater. Its from Views from Grandmas Porch, a 2012 evening-length piece that founder Joy French choreographed, based on a stay at her relatives house in Eureka, Kansas. She wanted to tell stories about rural life through contemporary modern dance. If you go Bare Bait Dances re|play runs April 7-9, 15-16 and 21-23. For tickets go to thewestsidetheater.com. Twelve years and full seasons later, French has revised the piece. Its a different company now, and she works in a different vocabulary of movement. But shes still telling stories through motion about modern life here, often with doses of humor. I used to joke that I would want the audience to laugh and cry, too, French said. She wants audiences to be able to clearly see the earnest sincerity while leaving room for a collective laugh. I think thats what makes the work accessible. Family is the closing piece in re|play, where the company takes a look back at a creative run thats rare for dance companies. The three-weekend production includes 14 original pieces, all by French (with two that had collaborators). Each night will boast all 14, complete with costume changes. The performers for this show include 32 dancers total, including the current company members and alumni who are returning, some from out of town. Playful, accessible and theatrical French said shell almost never walk in with just a movement quality, or even music. Sometimes a name or theme for the show comes first, fueling inspiration and ideas thanks to its openness. It creates its own physical vocabulary for me, because its pretty vague, she said. For a piece from their 2015 show, Happier with a Hoover, she portrays the late Helen Gurley Brown, the writer and longtime editor of Cosmopolitan. The entire show was threaded around references to femininity in an earlier era of pop culture. We could just start pulling pages from 1950s and 60s catalogs and advertisements, she said. She enlisted a sound designer, Al Parker, to chop up audio of Browns advice for single women, which escalates as the piece goes on. In another piece, the dancers hold their arms stiffly, like paper dolls. They talked about how a lot of advice coming out of that era didnt allow for a full, rounded three-dimensional woman. While its fun to address and critique those ideas, she said, its also fun to embody the glamour that Brown cultivated. One piece from the show examines the microcosm and macrocosm of rural communities and the interdependence in them. Half the dancers are in suits, half are dressed like farmers. One piece from their 2018 show Wonder Women calls for a trampoline. The words contemporary modern dance can seem intimidating, but Bare Baits work tries to be accessible. Kelly Bouma, a longtime collaborator, said the term conjures up abstract movement that may be too esoteric. She creates stories through movement, theatricality and text in a way thats interesting, smart and technically challenging. Jessica Shontz joined the company during its second season. Shed graduated from the University of Montana with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance and had been keeping her eye on opportunities. Shontz stayed with them until the pandemic, and is returning as an alum. She said Frenchs work is collaborative, so it requires physical and creative engagement: She plays to the strengths of all of her dancers but she has the ability as an outside eye to say this moment is really strong, or this moment doesnt work, lets try something different. A piece Bouma directed and French choreographed opens with five dancers at the corner of the stage. A flood light projects their silhouettes onto the two-story screen at the back of the stage. An eerie, scratchy drone sound hums over the PA. Combined with their circa-1950s blouses and skirts, it calls to mind a Hitchcock movie. They slowly rise into a standing position, and the sound speeds up. It was not static. It was the sound of Beatlemania, a crowd screaming in anticipation. Vintage rock n roll suddenly cues up and the dancers begin period-appropriate moves. In another piece, starring Bouma, Perspective, from the 2019 show, Dance | Words | Dance, she portrays a high-achieving professional mother, rattling off achievements as shes held aloft by fellow dancers. She holds a completely straight face while being held upside down and bragging about how she can float. Their show from early 2020, Here Be Dragons, whose title alludes in part to mapmaking and the potential for obstacles ahead, included a piece theyve nicknamed Dragon Arms. French designed complex arm movements for the five dancers, which calls for them, somewhat counterintuitively, to move each half of their body in a different synchronization. The movements convey the power that they can conjure around them from a more fantastical, magical place, French said. In a work from their 2016 show, All About Moon, eight dancers are paired up in duos to symbolize the Earth and its satellite, in synchronized orbit. Theyre dressed in blue and white coveralls, supplied by Ashley Zhinin, who dug into their vault of original costumes and made new ones for the company plus all the alums. Shontz said the duet portion is demanding. Youre so connected to another person, and so youre really being present and giving that person your weight and your energy and theyre giving it right back to you, so being in that partnership on stage at that moment is really beautiful, but it takes a lot effort to find the exact give and take. The history The company debuted in March 2012, having grown out of an artist residency at the Downtown Dance Collective. French, fresh from graduate school at the University of Colorado-Boulder, had returned to Missoula. My main mission was to be able to continue to work and craft my own choreography, she said. She also saw a need for recent graduates to perform local, original work in a small city with a high quality of life. I really believe that professional dancers should be able to have a home thats not in the dance centers like New York. While she sees the benefits for growth and opportunities it provides, I dont believe thats the only place artists have to live and work. It was largely a solo ship for the first four years, with French paying dancers what she could on principle. Around 2015, when she felt she was approaching burnout, Bouma came on board as her co-director. Bouma had worked with French while she was completing her masters in theater at the University of Montana. I honestly think that Bare Bait Dance is the reason why I stayed in Missoula, she said. Bouma had attended a season two show, How to Open a Cupboard, and thought this is the kind of work I want to be a part of. Boumas not a trained dancer, but the two meet at that magical intersection of theater and dance. They continued to produce full seasons at a variety of places: the DDC, the University of Montanas Open Space downstairs in the PARTV Center. They brought the show downtown, to the Elks and the Union Hall. In 2017, French won an Artist Innovator Award from the Montana Arts Council. At the start of 2022, Bare Bait entered an agreement to take over management of the West Side Theater, with Bouma as managing director of the venue. Audiences know where to find them. They dont have to move gear around from place to place, or find open spots in other venues schedules. Its amplified what I can do, French said. THURSDAY, April 6, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday formally withdrew its approval of a drug that was meant to prevent preterm births. Sold as Makena, the drug was first approved in 2011 under the FDA's accelerated approval program, but subsequent research questioned the medication's effectiveness and noted serious side effects that included blood clots and depression. "It is tragic that the scientific research and medical communities have not yet found a treatment shown to be effective in preventing preterm birth and improving neonatal outcomes particularly in light of the fact that this serious condition has a disparate impact on communities of color, especially Black women," FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf said in an agency news release. "Fundamentally, however, the touchstone of FDA drug approval is a favorable benefit-risk assessment; without that favorable assessment, the drug should not have the status of being FDA-approved," Califf added. The decision follows a meeting of one of the agency's advisory committees last October where panel members voted 14-1 to recommend that Makena be pulled from the market. FDA officials have long said they want to withdraw the medication because of lack of evidence that it works and its side effects. It would be unfair to keep the drug on the market and expose especially vulnerable populations to an ineffective therapy, panel member Dr. Mark Hudak, a pediatrician at the University of Florida College of Medicine, said during the committee meeting, NBC News reported. In withdrawing its approval of Makena, FDA officials noted the agency is keenly aware of the fact that preterm birth is a significant health risk that disproportionately affects Black women. "We acknowledge at the outset the serious problems of preterm birth with respect to both maternal and neonatal health and the contribution of institutional forces that have led to health disparities, including preterm birth, among Black women," said FDA chief scientist Namandje Bumpus. "Nothing in this opinion today is intended to minimize these concerns to the contrary, our hope is that this decision will help galvanize further research." In the past, some groups have defended the drug. The need for an effective treatment for preterm birth is great, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has said. Makena and its associated generics represent the only treatment currently available to obstetrician-gynecologists to help prevent this condition. But a 2019 international study of 1,700 women found the drug didnt reduce premature births but could cause side effects that included blood clots and depression. Just last month, drugmaker Covis Pharma pulled Makena from the marketplace. "While we stand by Makena's favorable benefit-risk profile, including its efficacy in women at highest risk of preterm birth, we are seeking to voluntarily withdraw the product and work with the FDA to effectuate an orderly wind-down," Covis chief innovation officer Raghav Chari said in a company statement at the time. Preterm birth can lead to serious health conditions and even infant death. About 10% of U.S. births happen before 37 weeks, CDC data shows. More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on preterm birth. SOURCES: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, news release, April 6, 2023; NBC News With an affordable housing crisis in full swing and a building boom taking place in west Missoula, a developer is proposing to build 163 new homes using a new expedited review process. Called the Sxtpqyen neighborhood, the area north of Mullan Road has seen explosive housing growth in the past few years. Miramonte Homes, an Arizona-based company, wants to build a subdivision on a 17-acre piece of vacant land on either side of Mary Jane Boulevard, just north of OLeary Street. It would include 42 single-family detached homes and 121 multifamily units. Montana law allows for an expedited review process for subdivisions that are within city limits and meet certain requirements, such as compliance with zoning, design standards and other subdivision regulations. This will be the first expedited review process proposed in Missoula County, explained Tamara Ross, a civil designer and planning technician with IMEG Corp. in Missoula, the company hired by Miramonte. Joe Dehnert, a land-use planner with IMEG, said the developers are required to donate 3.2 acres of the property to the city for a new park. The city will take ownership and responsibility for it, he said, noting it could have some sort of active recreation component like a pickleball court. Dehnert said the proposal got support from people who attended a presentation about the project. It was one of the most well-received neighborhood meetings weve been a part of, he said, adding commenters really liked the fact that the single-family homes will be located on the periphery of the property to act as a buffer to the more dense housing in the middle along Mary Jane Boulevard. The multifamily housing will be row homes with parking garages on the ground floor under the living space. Miramonte Homes is in the final stages of constructing 146 loft-style homes a little farther to the north, near West Broadway. The developer does have experience developing homes around Missoula, Dehnert said. The developer is planning for these to be for rent or for lease. The underlying zoning district would have enabled them to build a whole lot more units than theyre proposing, Dehnert noted. This isnt development happening on the fringe in green space, Dehnert said. Its not brownfield. This was an area slotted for expansion and served by municipal services. Dehnert said the project could go before the Missoula City Council as soon as this fall. There is a wide range of timelines associated with major subdivisions, he said. Were not proposing any variances. We are served by municipal sewer and water in the city, so were qualified for expedited review. He said the buildout could start as soon as 2025 or 2026. There are other large housing projects in the works for the area as well. Dehnert said that another developer is planning a separate project south of OLeary Street and east of Mary Jane Boulevard. OLeary Street will be improved, he noted. Another 33-unit townhome development is planned by local developer Hoyt Homes just north of Miramontes project. Called Hellgate Village West, the development would occur on a 2.97-acre parcel and would be served by city sewer and water. It was approved by the City Council this week. Madson Matthias, an associate planner for the city, said that Hellgate Village East, which is 43 units, is already under construction. Instead of donating the required parkland, the developers instead chose to give cash to the Parks and Recreation Department. Were excited to see the second half of this project moving forward, said Kate Dinsmore with WGM Group. The east side is already under construction and were now implementing the west side. The project is a Townhome Exemption Development. This is probably the last (Townhome Exemption Development) conditional use youll be seeing, Matthias said. TEDs were supposed to help with the affordable housing issues that were seeing and to increase density. And seeing everything go through a conditional use process has been lengthy. This has been five years to get the 33 units in addition to the ones they already have. City Council member Mike Nugent acknowledged that the process has been lengthy in getting the housing units approved. It was a tool the (Legislature) made several sessions ago to, in theory, make things more efficient and theres a whole lot of reasons why maybe it didnt work, he said. The Miramonte Homes project will be listed on the engagemissoula.com website for public review. The North Fork Road in Flathead County is a drive where the mesmerizing views are only outnumbered by the amount of potholes. That could change with Flathead Countys intention to pave a portion of the corridor from Columbia Falls to Polebridge and the Canadian border. Last month, Flathead County applied to the Federal Lands Access Program through the Federal Highway Administration. The application seeks $5.7 million in federal funding to support a National Environmental Policy Act study of the road. About $19 million is allocated for all of Montana through that program. Based on the NEPA determination, a new surface for the corridor could be coming in the next few years, and the most expensive option possible would be paving. The subject portion of the road stretches from the end of the pavement north of Columbia Falls to the Camas Road Entrance to Glacier National Park; a little over 10 miles. Youre going to need to take a bite of the apple one at a time, said Flathead County Public Works Director Dave Prunty, referring to the segmented approach to improving the treacherous road. Prunty explained the NEPA process which could take a few years will ultimately determine if any improvements go into place on the North Fork Road. But he said its highly likely the county will try to pave the subject section. Paving is an option but until you get through NEPA you dont know, he said. This is all totally contingent on getting funding. NEPA is an environmental review that takes flora, fauna, air quality and other factors into account. Four partners supported the county on its FLAP application: Glacier National Park, Customs and Border Patrol, the Flathead National Forest and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. Prunty noted Glacier representatives supported the NEPA study, but didnt express an endorsement of paving. I dont know how thats going to wash out, he said. Others with trepidation about the project as well as outright disapproval include many members of the public. Prunty noted Glacier National Park and its access points have worldwide significance, so he expects ample public input on the project. The spectrum (of responses) will be wide, Prunty predicted. He said he has already heard from members of the public who are passionately in favor and vehemently opposed to the potential paving. Some North Fork Road residents have resisted past paving efforts as a way to discourage traffic, while others have privately teamed up to pave small segments to reduce dust. We are very interested, through the NEPA process, in letting people get their voices out there, he said. Flathead County also submitted a smaller FLAP application for a small spot north of Polebridge, where wetlands, bedrock and the North Fork Road have interacted to cause part of the road to slide into the Flathead River. Austin Hagwood, a creative writing graduate student at the University of Montana, spent five seasons staffing fire lookouts in the Bitterroot National Forest. His mountaintop adventures inspired him to start a book, which recently earned him one of UMs most prestigious writing honors, the Merriam-Frontier Award. Hagwoods winning submission consisted of four chapters from his book in progress, Fire Finder: Life as a Lookout in the Northern Rockies. The work gives readers a window into the solitude and excitement of the job, as well as resulting reflections by the writer. Hagwood will read from his manuscript at 5 p.m. Friday, April 7, at UMs Mansfield Library. The reading is free and open to the public. The judges chose Hagwoods manuscript from a robust field of fiction, poetry and nonfiction submissions from UM students. They wrote in their statement, Austin Hagwood delighted us with his exceptionally thoughtful and skillful nonfiction work Fire Finder: Life as a Lookout in the Northern Rockies. Austin took us into the lookout and made us want to stay and learn more. We saw it, smelled it and felt the anxiety of wildfire appearing on the landscape and strangers showing up on the lookout steps. But his memoir goes deeper. He shows his readers who he is now and who he has been, digesting his past while grounded very much in his present. He deftly avoids Western outdoor cliches and doesn't romanticize his experiences. He also avoids anxious environmental writing, instead showing us why we love the Western outdoors and landscape. He leads his readers to want more, and we encourage him to keep writing. Hagwood is a second-year Master of Fine Arts student in Creative Writing. He grew up in the mountain town of Quincy in the Sierra Nevada mountains, where he hiked to abandoned fire lookouts. He earned an undergraduate degree in English at the University of Notre Dame and a masters degree in anthropology from the University of Cambridge in England. In 2017, Hagwood learned accidentally that staffing fire lookouts could be a real job and applied to 100 lookout posts in five states. I just showed up in the Bitterroot, wide-eyed, he said. I fell in love with the land. Hagwood worked five seasons in the southern Bitterroot National Forest. During winters from 2016 to 2018, he also worked several stints in Papua New Guinea, doing research in anthropology and botany with Fulbright and National Geographic grants. For Hagwood, who said a beautifully constructed sentence can reflect the beauty of a place, UMs Creative Writing program was a natural next step. I couldnt ask for a more stellar group of peers and incredible mentors, he said. I am so thankful for the program, and the award means so much to me. Christopher Dombrowski, assistant director of the Creative Writing Program, calls Hagwood an exemplary citizen, an exemplary writer and an exemplary human. Hagwood is always the smartest person in the room, he said, but hes also the most humble person, and he raises the quality of the classroom. His stories show us the importance of fire in the landscape and the importance of silence in a world that is increasingly noisy. The Merriam-Frontier Award has honored student writers since 1982. It was established by the late H.G. Merriam, a UM English professor. Merriam arrived at UM in 1919 after being a member of the first class of American Rhodes Scholars. He began teaching creative writing in 1920 with five students and with them founded the literary magazine Frontier. Merriam spent his career nurturing Western writers and encouraging the Western voice in writing. He created the undergraduate degree in creative writing, the second of its kind in the United States after Harvard University. UM began offering the MFA in Creative Writing in 1964. For more about the award, visit umt.edu/creative-writing/scholarships/merriam-frontier.php. A polarizing proposal regarding Fort Missoulas Old Post Hospital prompted city staff to set up extra chairs on the fly as public commenters poured into the Missoula City Council chambers Wednesday. Dozens of Missoulians most of them opposed to the proposal voiced their opinions on developer Max Wolfs application for a Historic Preservation Permit to rehabilitate the historic hospital and add commercial and residential buildings on the grounds. Throughout the presentation Wednesday, Wolfs team posited this approach would likely be the only way to save the derelict hospital, which is in severe disrepair with a failing roof. It is important to note the historic preservation is the basis of this request, explained Jamie Erbacher with WGM Group. The Historic Preservation Commission, which held the public hearing Wednesday, only evaluates the historic elements of the proposal and not its proposed future uses. Those come under the purview of the Missoula Consolidated Planning Board and the Missoula City Council. This is truly a decision about whether that hospital gets rehabilitated or not, said attorney Mark Stemitz, representing Wolf. Architect David Gray was blunter in his presentation. It is a horror show in there, Gray said, warning the commission to think about the fate of the Missoula Mercantile building when considering his clients proposal. But many members of the public and the citys Historic Preservation Officer werent swayed by the teams arguments. The proposed exterior alterations to the Post Hospital building would have a minimal effect on the integrity of the Post Hospital and would result in the continued use and appreciation of the overall site, noted Historic Preservation Officer Elizabeth Johnson. However, the proposed new construction would adversely affect the integrity of the Post Hospital and the broader Fort Missoula Historic District. Johnson ultimately recommended the commission approve the demolition of a failing garage on the grounds but suggested the new construction plans be denied. Public commenters were even more critical of Wolfs plans, attacking both the demolition of the garage, the new construction and the approach taken by the developers. The Fort is our shining gem that makes us what we are, said John Langstaff, a Missoula resident since 1972. Development is not necessarily the best use for this property. Langstaff criticized Gray for his language and decorum in addressing the commission Wednesday. Crunched for time and facing technical difficulties, Gray exclaimed holy crud in his presentation and slammed down his application documents on the public comment podium. Not all of the public commenters opposed the proposal, however. Steve Loken, one of the founders of the commission, supported the proposal for presenting an opportunity to save the old hospital, which he called a decaying corpse of a building. Loken was in favor of not only the rehabilitation effort, but also the additional construction proposed. He lauded Wolfs ideas for their potential to bring new activity to the Fort. Unless we can get people and vitality out there and do a sensitive restoration project of the hospital and the grounds around there, I think we need to reconsider how were doing this, he said. I would certainly love to see us figure out a way to preserve the hospital site, said Diane Sands, who used to work on the Fort grounds. But she and many other public commenters were unable to offer a solution to achieve that goal. The next meeting regarding the Fort Missoula proposal will take place on May 3. The state of Montana used to oversee chairlift safety and operations at ski areas across the state until the Legislature abolished the Board of Passenger Tramway Safety in 1997. That left oversight of Montana's chairlifts, rope-tows and gondolas to the U.S. Forest Service, but only in situations where a ski area operates on Forest Service land via a special-use permit. The Forest Service doesn't regularly inspect lifts itself. The agency requires ski areas to conduct their own annual inspections. Inspection reports are kept private by ski areas and are not submitted to the Forest Service or made public. Before 1997, the Montana Board of Passenger Tramway Safety provided the Forest Service with annual inspection reports that offered far greater insight into lift safety. The Forest Service opposed abolishing the board 26 years ago, arguing that the state offered vital independent oversight of the ski industry and helped the Forest Service ensure lifts were safe. The ski industry in Montana supported abolishing the board. The bill abolishing the board sailed through the Legislature with bipartisan support. Concerns over chairlift safety have mounted after a March 19 incident at Missoula's Snowbowl ski area in which a lift chair carrying a 4-year-old boy and his father swung into the first tower on the ride up. The chair seat-back broke off, dumping the child about 15 feet to the ground below. The father, Missoula resident Nathan McLeod, was left clinging to the vertical hanger pole that extends down from the haul cable. He had to jump off moments later. The Forest Service is now probing the safety of Snowbowl. Now, a group of Democratic lawmakers from Missoula are looking into whether the state should revive the Board of Passenger Tramway Safety. McLeod contacted state Sen. Willis Curdy, who represents west Missoula, Lolo and the mountains west of both towns. Curdy said in an interview Thursday that, after this legislative session concludes, he will see if there's "any interest moving forward in resurrecting the tramway board or something similar to that." He brought concerns to Laurie Esau, the state's commissioner of labor and industry. Esau, he said, will be reaching out to other states in the West and in New England to better understand how they do, or don't, oversee chairlift safety. Curdy said he's also approached the Forest Service to better understand how it oversees ski area safety. State Sen. Ellie Boldman, who represents Missoula's southeast side, wrote in a Facebook post March 26 that "nobody 'local' is surprised" at the Snow Park chairlift incident: "I say that with a spectrum of both visceral anger and support for my hometown mountain, and with full knowledge that any public criticism means the current owners will exact real retribution. Aint no joke." Boldman, herself a season-pass holder at Snowbowl, wrote, "Im planning to introduce a 'study bill' on Montanas regulation (or lack thereof) on outdoor recreational activities and their applicability on public safety, including monitoring, enforcement, liability, and effect on tourism." She tagged the Facebook profiles for state Sens. Curdy, Shannon O'Brien, Shane Morigeau and Andrea Olsen, and wrote, "They'll be in." Snowbowl owners Andy and Brad Morris did not respond to multiple requests for comment this week. Bipartisan deregulation In 1997, Rep. Roger DeBruycker, a Republican from Floweree, northeast of Great Falls, was the chairman of the Legislature's Joint Subcommittee on Natural Resources. On Feb. 18, 1997, the subcommittee heard from Steve Meloy of the state Department of Commerce. Meloy suggested that the state could save money by abolishing the Board of Passenger Tramway Safety. It would also eliminate fees the state charged ski areas. Ski areas must have their lifts inspected annually anyway, to keep their insurance and to comply with their special-use permits so the state board was redundant, he argued. The subcommittee voted unanimously the next day to request a bill that would abolish the board. DeBruycker introduced House Bill 594, a bill to abolish the Board of Passenger Tramway Safety, into the Legislature on Feb. 25, 1997. During a House Committee on Appropriations hearing on the bill on March 13, 1997, Pat Melby of the Montana Ski Area Association and the owners of Great Divide and Red Lodge Mountain ski areas voiced support for the bill. Forest Service Region 1 Forester Hal Salwasser opposed the bill. The bill passed the House on a 97-1 vote March 26, 1997. The Senate Committee on Finance and Claims held a hearing on the bill on April 8, 1997. In that hearing, Melby and the owners of Great Divide, Showdown and Discovery ski areas testified in support of the bill. Kevin Taylor, then the owner of Great Divide, was appointed to the Board of Passenger Tramway Safety in 1990 and was the board president from 199496. He testified that "the functions performed by the board were redundant and unnecessary and maintained a level of regulation and taxation that provided no benefit to the citizens of Montana or the ski area industry." The tramway board itself considered the bill, he said, and saw no reason not to disband itself. George Willett of Showdown Ski Area testified, "Our business dictates that we operate a business that is perceived by the public to be free of as much danger as possible ... If we have incidents where a number of people get hurt on tramways, we'll be out of business." Discovery Ski Area's Peter Pitcher put it more bluntly: "(T)he tramway board is a part of government that doesn't work." John Drake, of Forest Service Region 1, testified that the agency lacks the capacity to perform annual lift inspections itself, and it relies on ski areas to perform their own, generally through their insurance companies. Those inspection reports aren't handed over to the Forest Service. But, he told the committee, the Board of Passenger Tramway Safety's inspections are given to the Forest Service. "We review the tramway board's inspections," he said. "They are clear enough for us to monitor and have been very useful to us. We are not able to tell from insurance inspections what is occurring and it may not be to their advantage to point some of these things out." Without the state board and its inspections, Drake testified, "We rely on what we can get from the insurance industry and we may have a third-party inspection. It is a more difficult arrangement when we do not have a tramway board to deal with." The bill passed the Senate unanimously. Gov. Marc Racicot signed it on April 22, 1997. It took effect on July 1 that year. The bill saved Montana $56,090, according to a state analysis. A year later, DeBruycker lost reelection to a farmer from Big Sandy named Jon Tester. Trusting ski areas The abolition of the state board left chairlift safety oversight to the Forest Service, and Montana joined the ranks of states that don't regulate chairlift safety. In the West, only Alaska, Washington, California, Colorado and Utah have some sort of passenger tramway board. Fifteen other states, including all of New England, have such boards; 30 states do not. Direct oversight of chairlift safety from the Forest Service is largely reactive responding after a safety incident occurs. Only after a safety incident occurs does the Forest Service send its own engineers to observe a lift. The agency can then order a ski area to hire an independent, third-party engineer to address any identified problems, as it recently did with Snowbowl. Chairlifts in the U.S. are supposed to meet standards established by ANSI, the American National Standards Institute. When ski areas perform their annual lift inspections, they only need to send the Forest Service a generic statement that the inspection occurred. The Missoulian obtained Snowbowl Ski Area's special-use permit. Under a section titled "Ski Lift, Holder Inspection," the permit states that upon annual inspection of a lift, Snowbowl need only tell the Forest Service: "Pursuant to our special use permit, we have had an inspection to determine our compliance with American National Standard B77.1. We have received the results of that inspection and have made corrections of all deficiencies noted. The facilities are ready for public use." The Forest Service has some regional and national ropeway engineers who often oversee lift installation. But the agency doesn't have enough of the specialized engineers to regularly monitor lifts, according to multiple retired Forest Service employees the Missoulian interviewed. Margaret Gorski, a former Region 1 recreation program leader, said in a March 30 interview, "(With) the loss of the tramway board to Montana, the net effect was in order to have the expertise to know the technical engineering issues with the lift, we had to rely on the national organization in Washington to have someone we could call on. The responsibility lies with the ski area operator" to ensure lifts are safe. As the housing affordability crisis rages on across Montana with no end in sight, dozens of bills are making their way through the Montana Legislature that proponents say would help alleviate the problem. None of the proposals, however, lack critics and there's no broad bipartisan consensus that enough is being done with what many say is the No. 1 problem facing Montanans. Legislative proposals dealing with housing, zoning, tenant rights, landlord rights and unhoused people have been introduced. Many have died in committee. Quite a few are still alive. Depending on who you ask, the Legislature has either made historic headway or failed miserably to help people who are suffering financially right now. If the session ended tomorrow, we would still have the most significant pro-housing reform we have seen at the Montana Legislature in a very long time, said Kyle Schmauch, the communications and policy manager for the Senate Republicans. And were not done yet. Were hoping to get more done. Schmauch said the Senate has been focusing on a free-market zoning reform approach while the House has been looking at other issues. Weve seen really great progress on three of the four big bills addressing zoning reforms, Schmauch continued. Putting those together, thats really transformational change when looking at the ability to build more affordable and dense housing in Montana." He said Senate Republican lawmakers are targeting long-term land use reform, looking to create more starter homes and missing-middle housing (housing types between single-family detached homes and large-scale apartment complexes) and trying to create laws that would allow developers to build much more multifamily workforce housing. The bills focused on those efforts, Schmauch said, are Senate Bill 382 (Create the Montana Land Use Planning Act), Senate Bill 323 (Allow for duplex housing in city zoning) and Senate Bill 245 (Revise municipal zoning to allow multifamily and mixed-use development). "These are the most significant changes to housing affordability and housing construction weve seen from the Legislature in decades in just those three bills," Schmauch explained. But Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers, D-Belgrade, recently vented his frustration at the lack of immediate relief for working Montanans. He got up to speak at the end of a Senate floor session on March 31. Weve done some work on housing, and I think weve done some good work when it comes to some zoning changes and opportunities to encourage more housing stock, Flowers said. And I think thats good for short-term and long-term solutions when it comes to the housing crisis. But we have not done a thing to deal with that crisis today. So those of us that come from Gallatin County are going to go back at this point and have nothing to tell our constituents about how were going to fix that crisis today. Flowers said that there are bakery owners and restaurant proprietors that cant find employees because workers cant afford anywhere to live. All those folks who cant find employees are still going to be left trying to find employees, he said. And we wont bring a bill to this floor to get serious about doing something now that will be effective immediately. We have a few weeks left and hopefully weve got some ideas about how were gonna fix this. But we just shot three down today that we wont even have a debate on this floor." Democrats in the Legislature have argued that simply cutting regulations still doesnt guarantee that developers will build homes that people on the lower end of the income scale can afford. House Minority Leader Kim Abbott of Helena told the Lee Montana State Bureau recently that the state should be investing money in housing that guarantees attainability. Earlier in the session, Democrats proposed creating a $500 million workforce housing trust fund that would have come from the state's budget surplus, but it was tabled after not getting Republican support. "I dont think were doing enough and I dont think were paying close enough attention to what our constituents want," Flowers told his colleagues. "They want some solutions now so people can get out of their campers into apartments and find a place where they can afford to live and work in our towns that are experiencing incredibly high rents. So I hope we can get serious about that over the next couple of weeks. Danny Tenenbaum of Missoula, a former lawmaker and current Montana Housing Task Force member who's on the other side of the political spectrum from Schmauch, said a number of bills from both Republicans and Democrats will increase housing options and provide protections for renters and mobile home residents. "These bills have passed preliminary votes with broad, bipartisan support," Tenenbaum said. "It's a little too early to celebrate, but this bipartisan alliance working to solve our statewide housing crisis gives me great hope." A major housing proposal championed by Gov. Greg Gianforte, a Republican, was shot down earlier this week in the House of Representatives, where Republicans hold a large majority. The HOMES Act, sponsored by Rep. Mike Hopkins, R-Missoula, would have dedicated $200 million to expanding water and sewer infrastructure around the state in order to help developers increase the housing stock. Gianforte had strongly advocated for passage of the bill. It went down in the House on a 30-69 vote, but often legislation, especially a governors priorities, can be used as leverage for lawmakers to get other things they want. Gianforte himself, at a press conference on Thursday, hinted that the HOMES Act is simply hung up in that bargaining game. Im optimistic that well be able to get this bill back on track and get it over the finish line. At least one Republican lawmaker agrees with him. "You have to remember there are armies of titles, Rep. Llew Jones, R-Conrad, said March 31 of the HOMES Act first being defeated in House Appropriations before its final rejection on the House floor days later. I would say the HOMES concept is far from dead. It remains to be seen what impact this legislative session will have on Montanas acute shortage of homes that people making wages in the state can afford. Bill roundup Heres a few of the more significant housing bills proposed this session and where they stand: HB 889: The bill is officially titled Revise the Residential Mobile Home Lot Rental Act. Among other provisions, the bill would block mobile home park owners from instituting month-to-month lease agreements and instead would require year-long leases unless a month-to-month lease agreement is mutually agreed upon. It would also mean that if a landlord terminates a rental agreement due to nonpayment, the tenant has 45 days to correct the issue instead of the current seven-day period. If passed, a landlord would not be able to require a resident or a resident association to obtain liability insurance in order to use common areas or facilities unless alcohol is being served. And it stipulates that a landlord may not retaliate by altering or refusing to renew an existing rental agreement, by imposing any fee, by changing park rules, by enforcing park rules in an unreasonable or non-uniform manner or by bringing or threatening to bring an action for eviction. The bill passed the House and has been transmitted to the Senate. HB 282: It would revise rental laws. It would allow a landlord to issue a 24-hour notice to correct or obtain immediate injunctive relief to compel access to a unit if a tenant refuses to allow lawful access or replaces a lock. If the 24-hour notice to correct is not remedied, the landlord would be able to issue a three-day notice to terminate the rental agreement. The bill passed the House and passed the Senate Local Government committee. SB 105: The bill would prohibit local governments from enacting rent control caps on private property. It passed the Senate and passed a preliminary vote in the House. SB 245: Is a zoning reform bill that will allow multifamily housing and mixed use in all commercially zoned urban areas with existing water and sewer connections. It would only apply to cities and towns with a population over 7,000. Many cities and towns have regulations such as parking requirements, height restrictions, setback rules and other ordinances that developers need to follow in order to build housing projects. The bill would cut the power of local governments to enforce those rules in many cases. Passed House Local Government Committee. SB 268: A bill that revises short-term rental laws and establishes that short-term rentals are a residential use of property and are permissible unless prohibited throughout a zoning district. Passed third reading in the House. SB 331: A bill that revises the exemption law for certain condominiums and townhouses to establish that they dont have to comply with setbacks, height requirements and lot coverage requirements when local zoning regulations are in effect. Passed third reading in the House. SB 382: Senate Bill 382, the Montana Land Use Planning Act, would provide a quicker review process for planning reviews of development proposals. The bill would require local governments to establish planning commissions, provide continuous public participation and adopt land use plans and land use maps. It would also require local governments to analyze expected population trends, take action to meet current and future housing needs and plan for environmental hazards. Passed third reading in the Senate and passed the House Local Government Committee. SB 407: Zoning bill that would revise municipal zoning laws. It would prohibit a municipality from using an external board when reviewing permits or variances. Passed the House Local Government committee. HB 927: A bill that would use state coal trust funds money for loans to support price-controlled housing for low-income residents. The bill has passed the House and is pending in the Senate. SB 323: A bill that would allow duplexes in existing city zoning regulations in towns with a population of at least 5,000 residents. It passed the House Local Government Committee. HB 785: The bill would require landlords to give a 60-day notice when changing rental agreement terms or if they refuse to offer a new lease. The current law allows for just a 30-day notice. The bill passed third reading in the House and has been referred to the Senate. HB 943: It would raise the property tax rate on short-term rental units from 1.35% to 1.89% by classifying them as commercial property instead of residential. The bill passed the House. Several other bills have failed to make it through the process this session, including one that would have prohibited cities and counties from banning short-term rentals and another that would have put an additional fee on those rentals and used it to fund grants for affordable housing projects. Holly Michels and Sam Wilson of the Lee Montana State Bureau contributed to this story. If Westerners recognize anything from Chinas 1989 pro-democracy movement, its likely the iconic image of "Tank Man," depicting an unknown, lone individual standing in defiance in front of a line of tanks near Tiananmen Square. While those in the U.S. often lack a full picture of the movement behind the infamous photo, Chinese citizens today also may have an incomplete image, as the government continues to ban public discourse of the Tiananmen Square protests and censor information, including Tank Man. Yet the impacts of the movement persist. Such themes will be central to Dr. Rowena Hes upcoming talk at the University of Montana, The Betrayal of Loyalty: From Tiananmen to Hong Kong. She previously visited UM in 2014 following the publication of her first book. She will return to campus Thursday, April 13, as part of the Presidents Lecture Series. Free and open to the public, her talk will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the University Center Ballroom. The event serves as this years Lucile Speer Memorial Lecture and is co-sponsored by the Mansfield Center. He is an associate professor of history at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and a Luce East Asia Fellow at the National Humanities Center. A historian of modern and contemporary Chinese society and politics, she is an expert in the 1989 pro-democracy movement. He was born and brought up in China and later received her Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. Her first book, Tiananmen Exiles: Voices of the Struggle for Democracy in China, was named one of five top books by the Asia Societys ChinaFile magazine in 2014. It was reviewed in the New York Review of Books, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Human Rights Quarterly and other international periodicals. He was designated among the Top 100 Chinese Public Intellectuals in 2016. He formerly taught at Harvard University, Wellesley College and Saint Michaels College. She received the Harvard University Certificate of Teaching Excellence for three consecutive years and the CUHK Faculty of Arts Outstanding Teaching Award for 2020 and 2021. She also testified before a U.S. congressional hearing and delivered lectures for the U.S. State Department and the Canada International Council. He spoke with UM News to preview what to expect from her forthcoming event. UM News: Without giving too much away, can you explain what the title of your lecture means? The Betrayal of Loyalty is a major theme in my book Tiananmen Exiles. Tracing the life trajectories of three exiled students from the 1989 Tiananmen Movement in China, I use personal narratives to illuminate the making of the political consciousness of the Tiananmen generation how their idealism was fostered by the very powers that ultimately crushed it, and how such idealism evolved in exile facing the conflicts of historical amnesia, political commitment, ethical action and personal happiness. I will draw on first-hand experience fresh from the unprecedented social movement in Hong Kong to share my observations and reflections of the continuities and differences of this striking theme between betrayal and loyalty. What themes, messages and ideas will your talk explore? The talk will be in the form of a personal journey of preserving historical memories tabooed by the Beijing regime. Integrating the personal with the social, the historical and the political, the narrative accounts across time and border aim to stimulate more stories from our audience in our reflections on universal values of truth and justice, especially in this post-truth era compounded with populism and nationalism. How does your personal background inform your research? Where shall I begin? Come to the talk for the full story! What do people often misunderstand about the Tiananmen Square movement, as well as modern China? What do you wish they knew? Tiananmen was not just about repression, but also about hope about a generation of youths longing for freedom and democracy that people in this country are born with but we had to fight generation after generation at high cost. Dont take anything for granted. And safeguard your democracy. Why should Montanans attend your talk, and what can they expect to learn? When I last gave a talk in Montana in 2014, I wasnt even sure if anyone would show up. I had never been to Montana. Just like when I first landed in Vancouver as a new immigrant, I had never been to Canada. I had nothing but two suitcases and hope. In 2014, I was beautifully surprised when I walked into the packed Dennison Theatre and was warmly moved by the standing ovation after the talk. I remember it was a rainy night. People were waiting outside to get my book that was the day my first book was released. One of the highlights of the night was when several Chinese students came up after everyone left, asking me questions with confusion and trust. I have been through a lot in life ever since, especially in the past three years like everyone else. When I was struggling in darkness, that image of Montanans in the shared space of Dennison was one of my sources for strength. The Presidents Lecture Series is intended to stir public conversation. What do you hope audience members are still discussing after the lecture ends? I think the beauty of engagement and teaching is that we collectively walk through the journey together. It is not a one-way traffic. I am looking forward to having dialogues with folks in Montana again on April 13. Flush with money after receiving the largest-known political advocacy donation in U.S. history, conservative activist Leonard Leo and his associates are spending millions of dollars to influence some of the Supreme Courts most consequential recent cases, newly released tax documents obtained by ProPublica and The Lever show. The documents detail how Leo, who helped build the Supreme Courts conservative majority as an adviser to President Donald Trump, has used a sprawling network of opaque nonprofits to fund groups advocating for ending affirmative action, rolling back anti-discrimination protections and allowing state legislatures unreviewable oversight of federal elections. The records also show that the Leo-aligned nonprofits paid millions of dollars to for-profit entities connected to Leo. Leo and one of his top associates did not respond to requests for comment. The money flowed mostly through so-called dark money groups, which dont have to disclose their donors. They are required to reveal the recipients of their spending in their annual tax returns, which are released to the public, but often those are also dark money groups or other entities that have minimal disclosure rules. As ProPublica and The Lever detailed in August, Leo was gifted a $1.6 billion fortune last year by a reclusive manufacturing magnate, Barre Seid. The newly revealed tax documents cover last year, just as Leo was in the process of receiving that enormous donation. The Supreme Court case involving a Colorado-based website designer who refuses to work for same-sex couples provides a window into Leos strategy. At least six groups funded by Leos network have filed briefs supporting the suit, which seeks to overturn Colorados anti-discrimination law. The Ethics and Public Policy Center, which records show received $1.9 million from Leos network, submitted a brief supporting the web designer. So did Concerned Women for America, which has received at least $565,000 over the past two years from the Leo network, as well as an organization called the Becket Fund, which got $550,000 from a Leo group. Leos network has also been the top funder of the Republican Attorneys General Association, or RAGA, which spends money to elect GOP attorneys general and serves as a policy hub for the state officials. Twenty Republican attorneys general have also filed a brief in support of the case. One Leo group donated $6.5 million to RAGA during the 2022 election cycle, according to the associations federal filings. The largest donation by Leos network was $71 million given to DonorsTrust, a so-called donor-advised fund that pools money from numerous funders and gives it out to largely conservative and libertarian groups. Past reports havedescribed DonorsTrust as a dark-money ATM of the conservative movement. Another case that Leo groups have sought to influence is Moore v. Harper, which could have sweeping implications for American democracy. The question posed in the case is whether the Constitution affords state legislatures the power to create rules for federal elections without state court oversight or intervention. The Honest Elections Project, an initiative within another key Leo organization, the 85 Fund, has backed the plaintiffs case with an amicus brief. The tax documents show that the 85 Fund also donated $400,000 in 2020 to the Public Interest Legal Foundation, an Indianapolis-based conservative legal group that filed a supportive brief in the case. Thirteen Republican attorneys general filed a brief backing the suit as well. The Supreme Court is also hearing two cases this term brought by the conservative group Students for Fair Admissions that are challenging universities affirmative action policies. The group received $250,000 from the 85 Fund in 2020, the tax records show, more than a third of the total it raised that year. Speech First, which the records show received $700,000 in 2020-21 from the 85 Fund, filedbriefs backing Students for Fair Admissions in both cases. Republican attorneys general, backed by Leos network, submittedbriefs, too. The other theme to emerge from the new tax records is the large amount of expenditures going to for-profit entities run by or connected to Leo. The 85 Funds largest outside vendor for 2021 was CRC Advisors, a for-profit consulting firm chaired by Leo. The 85 Fund paid CRC Advisors $22 million last year, tax records show. The largest outside vendor to the Concord Fund, another hub in Leos network, was also CRC Advisors, which received nearly $8 million over the course of a year. Concord also paid $500,000 to BH Group, another for-profit firm led by Leo. There is no prohibition on nonprofits sending business to companies they have connections to, but any deals must be made at a fair market value. The companies did not immediately respond to questions about the payments. Backers of a cable transit system that would carry people from the east edge of Butte to Our Lady of the Rockies on the East Ridge have chosen the type of lifts they want and are working with a manufacturer on system designs. But more initial work is needed for the project to move forward. So, Wednesday night, Butte-Silver Bow commissioners gave the Our Lady of the Rockies organization another two years to obtain permits and meet other final plat conditions needed to establish a base site for a lift system. Butte-based Water & Environmental Technologies is doing design work for the organization and it is consulting with Doppelmayr USA, which has constructed numerous lift systems in the U.S. and abroad, including one at Big Sky. We are probably at 60% design right now, Steve Anderson, senior engineer at WET, told The Montana Standard. We have pretty much the basis of everything but theres a few things that popped up during final design that we need to address and we felt it better to have a little extension. Anderson believes the preliminary work will be completed before two years but organizers wanted to be safe. Its a huge project. Its very complex, he said. We want to make sure we have all the ts crossed and is dotted, so to speak, before we proceed on and present the final plats. Ray Ueland, president of Our Lady of the Rockies, said backers have enough money now to pay for that design work and install water and sewer lines and other infrastructure. But he and other organizers say all of that is needed first in order to raise money for the rest of the project. They have opted for monocable detachable gondolas to shuttle people to the East Ridge, a system that consulting firm SCJ Alliance recommended during a presentation to commissioners last year. SCJ says it would cost $23 million to $29 million to construct such a system plus $3 million to $4 million annually to operate. Organizers say they dont know what the final price tag will be but are hopeful they can raise the money needed. Mike Cerise, a longtime OLR board member and tram organizer, said theyll have a better idea about costs once WET has finished its design work. When we have everything together in one package, thats when well go out for the finances, Cerise said during a sit-down Wednesday with the Standard that included Ueland, Anderson and longtime tram organizer Bob Leipheimer. Theres been talk of a tram for three decades but backers took a big leap in 2021 when the Federal Highway Administration and Montana Department of Transportation agreed to let an aerial tram or lift cross over Interstate 15 on the lifts way to the 90-foot statue. Organizers had previously secured a vacant 12-acre site northeast of Skyline Park, behind the Continental Care and Rehabilitation complex, for a lift-system staging area, reception hall and gift shop. In April 2019, the Butte-Silver Bow Planning Board and Council of Commissioners approved a preliminary plat for the 12-acre area that included detailed drawings of the sites layout and connections to streets and other features. It also included conditions that must be met before a final plat is approved. Among other things, all easements and environmental permits must be obtained and developers must have infrastructure in place or have a bond in place to guarantee the work gets done and the costs are covered. Infrastructure includes water and sewer lines, things needed to address stormwater, and curbs, gutters and sidewalks. The initial preliminary plat was good for three years and in April 2022, Our Lady of the Rockies sought a one-year extension to complete and finish our preliminary engineering and planning. The extension was granted. The group asked for another extension, this one for two years to April 2025, and commissioners granted that Wednesday night. The Our Lady of the Rockies organization has experienced unavoidable and unexpected delays in our preliminary engineering and planning work, Ueland said in a March 14 letter to commissioners. Our current best estimate is that a two-year extension, to 2025, will be more than sufficient to complete all work on the subdivision The letter said they hope to finalize subdivision work well ahead of that date and submit it for final approval but want two years to be safe. Ueland told the Standard that organizers hired WET because they realized it was such a big project, relying on volunteers as they had done in the past isnt getting the job done. Under current plans, people would board gondolas at the base site and they would run parallel to Interstate 15 and then cross over the highway and ascend to the statue at 8,500 feet, then loop around and go back down again. Leipheimer said each gondola would seat about 10 people with room for mountain bikes. There are numerous trails in the area and mountain biking is a popular activity that could draw more lift patrons, he said. Anderson said system details beyond that are still pending. We dont have specifics on the designs so we cant answer how many cars or what not at this time, he said. Its going to be a flexible system that you can add cars as capacity (increases). We are still waiting on Doppelmayr to see how many towers we need and how many cars and all that stuff at this point. Montana legislators amended and advanced this week the primary bill aimed at facilitating management of grizzly bears should they be delisted federally. The House Fish, Wildlife & Parks Committee voted along party lines to advance Senate Bill 295 from Sen. Bruce Butch Gillespie, R-Ethridge. The bill is backed by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks as a means to put sidebars on grizzly management including for livestock producers in an effort to ensure stable grizzly populations. Before passing the bill it saw an amendment from Rep. Denley Loge, R-St. Regis. The amendment states that FWP will transplant bears to the greatest extent possible to promote genetic exchange. The subject of genetic exchange has been a significant issue in grizzly delisting debates as populations remain largely isolated from each other. This is really important that we get this on this bill, said Rep. Jonathan Karlen, D-Missoula. Rep. Paul Fielder, R-Thompson Falls, who is a retired wildlife biologist, said transplants may increase both genetic diversity as well as vitality in the population. The amendment passed unanimously, but lawmakers were divided along party lines over the bill. Democrats raised issues over killing conflict grizzlies on public lands and the lack of definition of a bear deemed threatening. But with Republican support, SB 295 advances to the full House. It previously passed the Senate mostly along party lines. The bill comes as the Biden administration recently announced a 12-month review of the bears status in the Northern Continental Divide and Greater Yellowstone Ecosystems, a potential step toward delisting in a swath of Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. The bruins were placed on the Endangered Species List more than 40 years ago, and twice efforts to delist the Yellowstone population have failed under court challenges. Gov. Greg Gianforte has pushed for delisting as populations have increased in Montana and neighboring states, citing a rise in conflicts and potential for better management by the state. The move is backed by livestock and some hunting groups. At the same time the bill has seen opposition from environmental groups, who say delisting is premature as not all populations are recovered. The bill states that upon delisting, state wildlife officials must adopt mortality thresholds including for bears killed due to livestock conflicts. That includes establishing an annual quota for the number of bears that may be killed and adjustments if a quota is reached. Construction of NorthWestern Energys gas-fired power plant in Laurel has been ordered halted by a judge's ruling Thursday that state regulators ignored environmental risks when permitting the facility in 2021. Montanas Department of Environmental Quality failed to take a hard look concerning two environmental issues, ruled District Judge Michael Moses. The impacts of the gas-fired power plants emissions of greenhouse gases received no consideration by DEQ, Moses concluded. Light pollution from the power plant was the second issue, of which DEQ did little analysis. Following its court-ordered hard look, the DEQ will have to decide whether permitting the plant warrants a detailed environmental impact statement, or the lighter touch of an environmental assessment. "This power plant is one of NorthWestern Energys largest projects in Montana and it is up-wind of the largest city in Montana. It will dump nearly 770,000 tons of greenhouse gases per year into the air," Moses wrote. "The pristine Yellowstone River is adjacent to the project. This project will have a life of more than 30 years. That amounts to more than 23,100,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions directly impacting the largest city in Montana that is less than 15 miles downwind. To most Montanans who clearly understand their fundamental constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment, this is a significant project." The lawsuit was brought by the Montana Environmental Information Center and the Sierra Club on behalf of the Thiel Road Coalition, a neighborhood group which has argued for two years that the power plant was poorly located and posed threats to the public health and quality of life. At an estimated cost of $283 million, construction of NorthWestern Energys 175-megawatt power plant is well underway, despite the lawsuit filed in 2021 and despite no approved zoning. The power plant is being built on 36 acres zoned for agricultural use. Northwestern had initially sought a local government rezoning of the property to "heavy industrial" but shelved those efforts after running into challenges. NorthWestern is Montana's largest monopoly utility with roughly 398,200 metered electric customers, and 209,100 natural gas meters. The Thiel Road community and Laurel's Riverfront Park are located across the Yellowstone River from the power plant site, which is 300 feet from the north bank of the river and less than a half-mile east of the CHS refinery. NorthWestern Energy didnt respond to requests for comment by publication time. A plant like this is classified as a major source of hazardous air pollutants. Why would you build that in a populated area? You dont do that. Half of the chemicals that are going to be released out of it are cancer-causing, said coalition member Steve Krum. And if you look at all the experts, they say, any benzene exposure is bad, even though it's not a law. And it's only a couple times a year, but any benzene is bad. Then you look at noise. Anything over 55 decibels, continuous sound, or more is a health hazard. You cant have a constant droning noise going on. If you follow what theyve said from the very beginning, theyve said all along this is going to be noisy. The lawsuit filed against DEQ pointed out that the area where the power plant is currently located has already been dinged by the EPA for excessive sulfur dioxide levels, mainly emanating from a CHS oil refinery nearby. Carbon dioxide from the gas-fired refinery, 769,706 tons a year, is a climate change contributor. Influential Democratic lawmakers have called for immediate investigations and vowed to create stricter ethics rules following a ProPublica report that revealed Justice Clarence Thomas has, for decades, failed to disclose luxury trips he received from a real estate magnate and conservative megadonor. Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee influential for its role in vetting and confirming Supreme Court nominees said his panel is calling for an enforceable code of conduct for justices. The ProPublica report is a call to action, and the Senate Judiciary Committee will act, Durbin said. Lawmakers and advocates have long called for codified ethics rules that prohibit the type of behavior uncovered by ProPublicas investigation. For more than two decades, records and interviews show, Thomas has accepted luxury trips virtually every year from Dallas billionaire Harlan Crow without disclosing them. Thomas has vacationed on Crows superyacht around the globe, flown on Crows jet and typically spends about a week every summer at Crows private resort in the Adirondacks, the investigation found. These trips appeared nowhere on Thomas financial disclosures. His failure to report the flights appears to violate a law passed after Watergate that requires justices and other federal officials to disclose most gifts, ethics law experts said. He also should have disclosed his trips on the yacht, these experts said. Thomas said Friday he was not required to disclose the trips. Describing Crow and his wife, Kathy, as "among our dearest friends," Thomas said in a statement that he was advised by colleagues on the nation's highest court and others in the federal judiciary that "this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable." Thomas did not name the other justices or those in the judiciary with whom he had consulted. A Supreme Court spokesperson didnt immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the lawmakers calls for investigations. Thomas has not responded to ProPublicas questions about his travel. Crow told ProPublica that Thomas never asked for any of this hospitality and that his treatment of the justice was no different from the hospitality we have extended to our many other dear friends. Crow said he has never discussed a pending case with Thomas. We have never sought to influence Justice Thomas on any legal or political issue, he said. While justices are required by law to disclose most gifts, there are few rules on what gifts justices can accept. Thats in contrast to the other branches of government. Members of Congress are generally prohibited from taking gifts worth $50 or more and would need pre-approval from an ethics committee to take many of the trips Thomas has accepted from Crow. On Thursday, a growing chorus of Democratic lawmakers said Thomas failure to disclose the luxury vacations is an example of why public trust in the Supreme Court is faltering. Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen said in a statement that Americans confidence in the Supreme Court is tanking because of this kind of conduct. We need answers, he said. And the Court needs a code of ethics. Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said in a statement that the Supreme Court has lost its ethical compass, calling for Chief Justice John Roberts to open an investigation. Its no wonder that the American people are losing faith in the idea that they can get a fair shake before the nations highest court when they see a Supreme Court justice openly flouting basic disclosure rules in order to pal around with billionaires in secret, he said. This year, Whitehouse and others introduced a bill that would strengthen the Supreme Courts disclosure and recusal rules, among other reforms. In his statement, the senator called for a hearing and vote on the bill. The Supreme Court urgently needs an enforceable system for holding justices accountable, he said. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Americans deserve a judiciary that is accountable to the rule of law, not wealthy Republican donors. ProPublicas reporting, she added, is a stark reminder that judges should be held to the highest ethical standards and free from conflicts of interest. So far, no current GOP lawmakers have addressed the revelations publicly. Sen. Lindsey Graham, ranking member for Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Neither did the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee. At least two Democratic representatives have called for Thomas to be impeached or resign. Justice Thomas must resign immediately, said Georgia Rep. Hank Johnson, a member of the House Judiciary Committee. Failing that, Johnson said, fellow justices should censure Thomas and the Department of Justice should investigate potential federal crimes to determine whether Justice Thomas remains fit to retain his license to practice law. New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said on Twitter: This is beyond party or partisanship. This degree of corruption is shocking almost cartoonish. Thomas must be impeached. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Soon after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy cliched the speakership, some of his allies began to fret: How the hell was he going to live up to all the promises he'd made to conservatives to win their support? How, in particular, would the California Republican pass a budget that would balance within 10 years a tricky feat even before he took cuts to Social Security and Medicare off the table? Now, McCarthys chickens are coming home to roost. Under pressure from President Joe Biden and a rapidly approaching debt limit deadline, Republicans are struggling to unite behind a fiscal blueprint. Some worry they may not release any budget let alone one that balances in a decade, let alone one that can pass. Instead of owning up to failure, McCarthy appears to be looking for a scapegoat. Behind the scenes, hes been trash-talking his own GOP colleagues, according to a blockbuster New York Times story Thursday by Jonathan Swan and Annie Karni. Among its revelations: McCarthy has no confidence in House Budget Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), whom he regards as incompetent" and considers House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) "ineffective, checked out and reluctant to take a position on anything. Conversations with more than a half-dozen senior Republican lawmakers and aides revealed some additional context on the Mean Girls drama playing out in McCarthys leadership circle: Theres a reason McCarthy is singling out Arrington and Scalise, and its about more than just disagreements over policy or strategy. People close to McCarthy tell us that he perceives both men as disloyal and he's known to hold a grudge. McCarthy never forgave Scalise for an incident years ago when the Louisiana Republican refused to rule out challenging McCarthy for GOP leader, and he feels that Scalise didnt do enough to help him win the gavel this year. As for Arrington, the Texas Republican privately floated Scalise for speaker when McCarthy was unable to lock down the votes for himself in January. Story continues McCarthys issues with Arrington have been apparent for a while. Several weeks ago, when Arrington suggested Republicans wouldnt introduce a budget until May, McCarthy pushed back and said theyd do so in April leaving Arringtons staff scrambling to clean up the mess. Something similar happened when Arrington told reporters that Republicans were finalizing a debt ceiling offer of sorts, what he dubbed a deal sheet, for Biden. I dont know what hes talking about, McCarthy shot back when asked about Arringtons comments. That jab caught several senior Republicans off guard, not just because McCarthy was publicly rebuking one of his own chairs but because the speaker was, in fact, already crafting an opening offer of sorts to Biden that was soon publicly released. McCarthys defenders say that Arrington, a fiscal conservative with a reputation for wanting to move quickly, is stirring up trouble in the conference. They argue that McCarthy has to protect his frontliners and that Arrington hasnt been sensitive enough to their political needs. They also note that some in the GOP leadership have been unimpressed with Arringtons private budget presentations. But Arringtons defenders say its unfair for McCarthy to blame him. They note that its odd for the speaker to call him incompetent despite repeatedly asking him to give presentations on fiscal matters to Republicans at both the House GOP leadership retreat earlier this year and the full GOP conference retreat in Orlando a few days ago. (At the latter, there was little pushback on a menu of options Arrington presented, and some members even stood to praise his proposals.) Another Arrington defender noted that GOP leadership is typically involved in drafting the budget given how difficult it can be to muster support on the chamber floor especially with a slim, five-seat majority like the Republicans currently have. And yet McCarthy has given little guidance to Arrington, according to a senior GOP aide. Jodey has been working in good faith, and has largely been hamstrung by Kevin, the aide said. They need someone else to blame. Republicans we spoke to found McCarthys lack of pushback on the Times story to be quite conspicuous. McCarthy, they note, rarely speaks ill of his members in meetings, and if he does, it rarely leaks. His paltry response did not go unnoticed. He made a bunch of promises during the speaker race that were always untenable, but he made them anyway, one senior Republican said. At a certain point, a lot of that stuff is going to collide, and hes getting nervous and looking for others to blame. Senior Republicans always knew that passing a budget with a slim majority was going to be difficult. But the interesting part of all this palace intrigue is that its not factions inside the rank and file causing the problems; its McCarthys own leadership team thats in disarray. That doesnt bode well for House Republicans budget efforts or their bid to extract concessions from Biden on the debt ceiling. And without a unified GOP front, Democrats wont take Republican demands for spending cuts seriously. Allies of @SpeakerMcCarthy trying to cast blame on others before there is any actual blame to cast doesnt instill confidence House Rs are ready for primetime, The Washington Post's Paul Kane tweeted Thursday. To our readers: As our community continues to recover from the devastating blow of Hurricane Ian, The News-Press and Naples Daily News are telling the stories of those who died in the storm or its aftermath. The first thing most people remember about Gregg Strasser is that glorious facial hair. Sometimes Strasser kept it short and trimmed, a horseshoe-shaped mustache like wrestler Hulk Hogan. But usually he wore it long, gray and unkempt: A Fu Manchu-style mustache and goatee that people couldnt help but notice right away. Oh my God, it went down past his chin! says friend Sheila Annazone of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. It went way down. Of course, there was so much more to Strasser than just his facial hair. His friends and family call him an old hippie who loved music, books, motorcycles and long, long conversations conversations he often initiated with the words, Hey, dude Hurricane Ian: A vast majority of storm deaths were elderly Floridians. What happened? New report: Ian winds topped 161 mph before landfall, costliest hurricane in state history View from above: Aerial video shows Fort Myers Beach scars six months after Ian Gregg Strasser's Facebook profile photo showed off his distinctive, chest-length facial hair. Gregory Harold Strasser who died Sept. 28 during Hurricane Ian loved to talk so much, in fact, he sometimes annoyed his co-workers at Mother Earth Natural Foods, the North Fort Myers store he managed until the health-food chain abruptly closed all its stores in summer 2022 and left him jobless. Some of the girls that worked there felt like he didnt do anything but tell stories, says friend Shari Shifrin of Fort Myers. But those conversations what amazing conversations! Shifrin remembers talking to Strasser about concerts, books, blues-guitar riffs, New York deli food, motorcycles, the people he used to meet at his New Jersey motorcycle shop and so much more. I think our relationship was mostly conversations, Shifrin says. Wed talk about anything. Im a big talker, but it was mostly Gregg doing the talking. He always had a story to tell. Story continues Gregg Strasser's death during Hurricane Ian Strasser, 71, was one of 150 Florida people whose deaths have been linked to Hurricane Ian. Neighbors found him dead inside his Fort Myers house in front of his recliner, as if hed gotten up from the chair and then fallen down onto the soggy carpet, sister Janet Link of Montclair, New Jersey, said last year. Strasser, who lived alone, had been released from the emergency room after a fall just a day before the storm hit, Link said. And not long before that, hed spent nearly two months at a hospital and rehabilitation facility. A medical examiner's report said Strassers death stemmed from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart disease. Hed been a heavy smoker for years, Link says. The vast majority of people who died during Ian nearly two-thirds were people 65 years and older, according to a USA TODAY Network-Florida analysis of state fatality data. Drowning was a factor in about a third of those deaths, while the rest stemmed largely from injuries, preexisting medical conditions and overexertion. Link worried about Strassers declining health says she'd tried to convince her brother to evacuate to a shelter. But he decided to stay at home. Gregg Strasser in in the British Virgin Islands around 1985 "At that point, the storm was already starting, and I think he was afraid to do it," Link said. "It wasn't like he was being macho, but he said, 'I think I'll be OK.' "I don't think anybody quite realized how violent the storm was going to be. Remembering 'The Colonel' Strasser had lived in Fort Myers since 1991, when he moved there from Wayne, New Jersey, according to his obituary. He was born in New York City and grew up in Wayne. Hed worked several jobs over the years: Owner of Legend Cycle motorcycle shop in Wayne, a salesman of maternity dresses in New York Citys garment district, a massage therapist in Fort Myers and most recently manager of Mother Earth Natural Foods in North Fort Myers. His sister doesnt remember why, exactly, he moved to Fort Myers after selling his Triumph motorcycle shop. Hed been to Florida to attend motorcycle mechanic school, and she thinks thats when he fell in love with the state. He liked the beach, he liked the weather, he liked the relaxed atmosphere, Link says. He worked in Manhattan for a number of years. Its a high-energy, high stress kind of place. Strasser met many of his friends through Mother Earth. Link says he worked there for about 15 years before getting laid off along with the rest of the Southwest Florida stores' employees in about May 2022. Co-workers called him The Colonel, she says. Shes not sure why, other than he was in charge (and perhaps the Civil War-style facial hair helped, too). Thats where Shifrin met Strasser. She was looking for something to help her mother with COPD, and Strasser was more than happy to offer potential remedies. He took a very personal interest in my moms health situation, Shifrin says. I was constantly picking up potions and he was calling with ideas. It was really supportive during a very hard time I was going through with my mother. He had all sorts of ideas: Take this and itll open your lungs and Take this, itll thin your mucous secretions. From there, a friendship bloomed. As did many other friendships with people that the easygoing, endlessly chatty Strasser met at Mother Earth and elsewhere. I think Greggs existence can be described as casual, in general, Shifrin says. He never met a stranger. He didnt have any problems sharing music and ideas. It was kind of a spiritual approach to living. An old hippie who loved music, books and conversation Friends describe Strasser as someone who thrived in the 60s and never left behind that hippie outlook. He was the epitome of the 60s, all the way to his dying breath, Im sure, Annazone says. He was an old stoner with a million stories and on slow days I would hear them all. He loved drinking Miller Lites and smoking marijuana, friends say. He wore round, John Lennon-style glasses. And Shifrin remembers making him T-shirts once that said things like, Tree-hugging, pot-smoking vegetarian. He was a soulful person who existed in a time that got past him, Shifrin says. His ideology was a very 60s ideology. He was an old hippie. (He had the) ideals of all for one, one for all; one love I think he lived that all the way to the end. Gregg Strasser in 1954 at about age 3. Strasser also loved to read. His sister estimates he had about a thousand paperback novels in his Fort Myers home, a converted brick firehouse with an entire wall of bookshelves packed with mysteries, science fiction, Carl Hiaasen, Pat Conroy and more. He was very well read, Link says. But it was more like science fiction, things like that. He wasnt reading 'War and Peace' and that kind of thing. He could sit and read a book all day. He loved to read. Link says her brother was very intelligent with a steel-trap memory. He could quote entire passages from books and had an IQ of 140. I know this because my parents had him tested, she says. He was always thinking. He also adored music and often played guitar at home for friends or wherever he went. He even used to jam occasionally onstage at Buckingham Blues Bar, Shifrin says. He just jammed with whoever wanted to jam, she says. At one point, he had this really old pickup truck that he always had his guitar in. And if he showed up somewhere and there were people playing, hed go grab his guitar out of the truck. Strasser's favorite music was blues, folk, Jimmy Buffett and especially classic rock n roll acts like Spirit. He was a rocker, Shifrin says. That was his passion. On top of that, Strasser enjoyed riding his motorcycle around Southwest Florida, partying with friends, following the stock market and talking politics (friends describe him as a very liberal man who adored comedian George Carlin). He also appreciated a good dirty joke, Shifrin says and laughs. Oh my God, he would tell these jokes where youd have to look both ways to see who else heard it. Friends and family says theyll miss all those things about Strasser and so much more. He was a really, really mellow, good guy, Annazone says. I never heard him say a bad word against anybody except the government. Final words from Gregg Strasser Strasser is survived by his sister Janet Link and her husband Joseph Link of Montclair, New Jersey; one niece, Grace Link; and many friends. Link says she loved her brother with all her heart. When they were kids, he taught her how to ice skate and helped teach her how to drive, too. He even tried to teach her surfboarding, but she never could master that balancing act. He taught me a lot, Link says. In a post to Strassers online memorial wall, she wrote that her brother always looked out for her when she was little. She called him my hero. I tried to pay it forward by watching out for him as his health failed these past few years, she wrote. We talked on the phone every day about books, music, politics, our quirky family ... you name it. I will miss him so much. About a year ago, Strasser gave his sister a short, poem-like statement to read whenever he died. The statement was posted on his memorial wall and also in his funeral program. Heres how Strasser said he wanted to be remembered after his death: If you remember anything of me After I leave this world Remember that I loved Even when it was foolish That I cared Even when it was unwanted . . . When my body is gone Remember my heart. Kathryn Varn of the USA TODAY NETWORK FLORIDA contributed to this article. Connect with this reporter: Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. Email him at crunnells@gannett.com or connect on Facebook (facebook.com/charles.runnells.7), Twitter (@charlesrunnells) and Instagram (@crunnells1). You can also call at 239-335-0368. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Hurricane Ian's victims: Remembering Gregg Strasser of Fort Myers Take your tuber game to the next level with these spuds. Meredith Food Studio Is there a better ingredient than the humble potato? All signs point to no. Carb sustenance and goodness aside, its versatility is unrivaledfry it, scallop it, bake it, glue googly eyes on it and call it a pet. Of course, its most ubiquitous preparation is mashed, served during holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, or moments when a starch and a spoon is simply the only remedy to the stresses and chaos of a trying work day. Dominik Klier, co-founder of Munichs Caspar Plautz, a legendary food stall dedicated to all things potatoes, agrees. Mashed potatoes are a wonderful side because theyre not only comforting and warming, but also very versatile, he says. They go well with almost any kind of meat, fish, and veggie. His potato-exclusive stall, as part of the German citys must-visit Viktualienmarkt (Victuals Market), is one of dozens that specializes in single ingredients or specific food categories. Shop owners must go through a notoriously rigorous application and permitting process to sell both products and prepared dishes, so Klier is a certified expert when it comes to all things tubers. Perhaps one of the most awe-inspiring parts of his booth (aside from innovatively prepared dishes like a beef shoulder-stuffed sweet potato) is his rows of unfamiliar potato varieties, both big and small, long and round, brown and colorful. There are now over 5,000 potato types in the world, and he proudly sells a rotating assortment at any given moment, dictated by access and seasonality. Since Americans tend to be creatures of habit and dont stray far from a Yukon Gold, Idaho, or Russet, we tasked Klier with providing potato alternatives that are perfect for mashing. Here are his top five recommendations. 5 Best Potatoes for Mashing, According to Expert Dominik Klier Andean Sunside Origin: Peru, but bred in the Netherlands Size: Small to medium Shape: Round, oval Appearance: Yellow skin and a deep yellow, mango-colored flesh Story continues This is a potato with a super fine texture and is the perfect choice for a creamy and smooth mash. The slightly sweet taste reminds me of almonds or marzipan and the Andean Sunside goes very well with fine meat cuts, grilled fish, or asparagus. Ackersegen Origin: Germany Size: Small to medium Shape: Round, oval Appearance: Brown or yellow skin and a bright yellow flesh It has an old-fashioned name and is a real classic German potato type for puree. Earthy and rich in flavor, its delicate texture is perfect for a subtle and tasty potato mash. Its also a perfect side for stews and fried sausages. Institut de Beauvais Origin: France Size: Medium to large Shape: Round, oval Appearance: Beige skin and pale yellow to white flesh A rarity from France, this potato has a really elegant snow white flesh and an aromatic buttery flavor. The reason for its smooth puree is the high amount of starch. An Institut de Beauvais mash fits perfectly with French cheese for an aligot, fish, or roasted fennel. Laura Origin: Austria Size: Medium to large Shape: Oval Appearance: Red skin and golden brown flesh This is a half waxy, half floury potato with a rich and nutty taste, making it the best choice for a more rustic mash. Laura is a wonderful option for cold Bavarian mashed potato (Erdapfel Kas) with sour cream and chives Violetta Origin: South America Size: Medium Shape: Long, oval Appearance: Indigo skin and deep purple flesh It has a strong chestnutty aroma and a smooth consistency. It goes along perfectly with deer, boar, mushrooms, or pickled veggies. What to Look for When Picking a Perfect Potato for Mashing While we strongly encourage a trip to your local farmers market to shop for less mainstream potato varieties, some of the aforementioned recommendations may be hard to come by in the U.S. If thats the case, Klier has a couple of tips to find the perfect potato for mashing. Go big: Size matters, so its best to avoid smaller potatoes that wont yield the silky-smooth texture we love and crave. The starch in the potato is what makes the puree creamy, confirms Klier. The more starch, the smoother the mash, so go for the big ones with the higher amount of potato flour. Buy local and consider terroir: Despite the joy of stumbling across new international spuds, Klier advises shoppers to buy local and support nearby farmers. Its the same with potatoes and wine, he argues. The terroir counts. Local farmers will know which types of potatoes grow best in the ground. These farmers can also speak to flavor profiles, texture, and seasonality to help find the perfect potato for any dish. How to Make the Best Mashed Potatoes There are thousands of mashed potato recipes online, both traditional and contemporary, that tout themselves as the best. Mashed potatoes can remind you of your childhood and still be an elaborate side dish, says Klier. Its humble and very elegant at the same time. But the potato pro has a few general ideas to consider. The good thing about mashed potatoes is that you can be really creative, he says. Of course, the more butter, the better. Butter is always a good idea, as well as milk, cream, and nutmeg, he says. You could also use some good homemade stock to get a smooth texture. Klier is also a fan of drawing inspiration from flavors around the globe. Maybe use some dashi and shichimi togarashi to create a Japanese flavor, he advises. Use good olive oil, some capers, and olives for a Mediterranean-style puree. Paying homage to his roots, Klier even suggests a cold variety, just in time for the warmer temperatures of summer. You can also make some Bavarian-style mashed potatoes. Just mash some cold potatoes and mix them with sour cream, chives, cumin, and melted onions. No matter how you peel it, one thing is clear: The potato will always be a staple in any type of cuisine. Broaden your horizons and experiment with varieties youve never tried before. Its an ingredient that is, frankly, difficult to mess up. Sanford Health Children's Hospital in Sioux Falls. Sanford Health and Fairview Health Services have announced once again they'll be pushing back the closing date for their proposed merger. This time it's indefinite. Sanford and Fairview officials said in early February they would push back their original closing date of March 31 to May 31. Now, that date has been extended with nothing else set at this time. In a joint statement, the two healthcare systems said they would agree to the request by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison for 90 days' notice prior to closing at a later date. Earlier: Sanford, Fairview push back merger timeline: What we know so far "We respect the thorough review underway by the Attorney Generals Office and are honoring their request for more time as we continue work toward finalizing our combination," the statement read. "We remain confident in the benefits of the merger for our people, patients and communities and our shared vision to advance world-class health care for all we serve." Since announcing plans to merge last November, both Sanford and Fairview have been met with opposition, which includes prior requests from the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General to delay. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sanford, Fairview merger closing date pushed back indefinitely A transgender federal inmate who fought for four years to push the U.S. Bureau of Prisons to provide gender-affirming care to prisoners underwent surgery last week and is recovering, her attorneys said. A federal judge in April 2022 ordered the bureau to ensure that Cristina Nichole Iglesias would get the gender-affirming surgery shed sought throughout several years of litigation. At the time, Iglesias was in line to become the first-ever transgender inmate to receive gender-affirming surgery while in custody. Instead, another federal detainee became the first earlier this year, a development that civil rights advocates said became possible after Iglesias' cases put a spotlight on transgender prisoners' healthcare needs. Iglesias' surgery was performed without complications on March 30, her attorneys said. Just over 1,200 transgender individuals are estimated to be part of the federal prison population, but until recently none had ever received gender-affirming care while in custody. We are pleased that Cristina has finally received the constitutionally-mandated health care she has sought for years, and that she is recovering well from the surgery, said Taylor Brown, staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Unions LGBTQ & HIV Project. "We know her victory also is going to benefit other transgender people in BOP custody, changing their lives for the better. Iglesias is scheduled for facial feminization care in June, her attorneys said. About 1,200 transgender individuals are estimated to be in the federal prison system, or less than 1% of the overall inmate population of about 159,000. This life-saving care for Cristina and others is the result of Cristinas courage and fortitude, said Michelle Garcia, the ACLU of Illinois deputy legal director. What Cristina has done will benefit her and countless others for years to come. Who is Cristina Nichole Iglesias? Iglesias pleaded guilty in 2005 to sending an envelope to British officials that she falsely claimed contained anthrax. At the time, she was in a federal prison and listed the detention center as the return address. Story continues She ultimately received a 20-year sentence. Iglesias, now in a Florida facility, has been in the federal prison system since 1994, where until recently she was housed mostly in mens facilities and subject to physical and sexual abuse. Under the U.S. Constitution, federal prisons are required to cover costs of all necessary health care treatment for inmates. According to court documents, Iglesias experienced gender dysphoria so extreme that she considered self-castration and was placed under suicide watch numerous times. Federal prisons are required to cover costs of all necessary health care treatment for inmates under the U.S. Constitution. Gender-affirming care, especially in regard to youths, has come under increasing attack by lawmakers who say theyre concerned that people might make life-altering decisions they can later regret. Proponents say prohibiting access to care can jeopardize individuals emotional and mental health and well-being and note that such care has been endorsed by dozens of medical groups, including the American Medical Association, Endocrine Society and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. Dig deeper: This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Transgender federal inmate gets long-awaited gender-affirming surgery Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry CEO Sachin Shivaram, left, with Morgan Sarduy outside the company's downtown Manitowoc facility. When we welcomed Morgan, the first Cuban immigrant to work at our plant in Manitowoc, I was fascinated. Cuba seemed a world away. It was like encountering a lost seafarer who had drifted aground in a foreign land. I wondered, how will he adapt to Wisconsins culture and climate? And then over recent months we hired more Cubans and other new immigrants from places we were barely familiar with Laos, Kenya, Haiti, Honduras. Through family networks, they had heard that Wisconsin has good jobs and good schools, that housing is affordable, and the cold? Well, it is not as frigid as photos of the Ice Bowl made it seem. Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry CEO Sachin Shivaram, left, with Felix Rodriguez. Some of these employees speak English, but most do not. For a century-old manufacturing company in small-town Wisconsin, this linguistic diversity created a novel challenge. With immigrants now comprising almost 10% of our 780 employees, language became a major barrier to the informal communication that is the lifeblood of our operations. Searching for guidance on how to manage a multi-lingual workforce, we stumbled upon Wisconsin Literacy. Wisconsin Literacy provides statewide leadership for 70 not-for-profit local agencies like Literacy Green Bay and Literacy Council of Sheboygan. The 2,500 staff and volunteers at these agencies help adults become literate in a variety of ways not just by learning English, but also by learning how to use computers, how to navigate the complexity of insurance and whatever else it takes to overcome linguistic obstacles to integrating into our communities. Non-English speakers at Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry in Manitowoc participate in a class to learn English. WAF contracts with Wisconsin Literacys local affiliate to bring instructors onsite to teach the class, which employees take three times per week during their lunch breaks. As the governor and the Legislature wrangle over the states next biennial budget, they must continue supporting the mission of Wisconsin Literacy. The organization has requested a modest $742,500 as part of the Department of Public Instructions funding. Considering our dire need for workers and considering the fortunate arrival of immigrants into the state, this money will make a world of difference. We asked Morgan and our other non-English speakers to take a class to learn English. Many of them have lived in the United States for years but never learned because of lack of time, opportunity and perceived necessity. We invested in our employees by contracting with Wisconsin Literacys local affiliate to bring instructors onsite to teach the class, which employees take three times per week during their lunch breaks. Story continues Non-English speakers at Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry in Manitowoc participate in a class to learn English. WAF contracts with Wisconsin Literacys local affiliate to bring instructors onsite to teach the class, which employees take three times per week during their lunch breaks. My parents immigrated from India, and my siblings and I were born here in Wisconsin. I complained incessantly about it as a child, but I am sincerely grateful for their strict insistence that we learn their native language even as we grew up in America. Language forms the essential bridge between cultures. Today, I feel just as at home in India as I do here at home in Wisconsin. Our companys initiative to teach English is not about 1950s-style cultural homogenization. We celebrate diversity. But we also recognize that our workplace is dangerous, and our safety depends on being able to speak with each other. More profoundly, our collective success depends on every individual being able to share their knowledge, opinions and aspirations. The hesitant pleasure of our new English speakers brings smiles to all of us. As a business struggling like so many others to find employees, it is clear to us that fostering literacy in our communities is a powerful way to help all Wisconsinites achieve their productive potential. Language is everything. Anticipating a future Wisconsin that is more diverse than ever, the bridges created by language will bring richness and vitality and hopefully warmth, which is always welcome in a land known as the Frozen Tundra. Sachin Shivaram is chief executive officer of Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry in Manitowoc. Sachin Shivaram is chief executive officer of Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry in Manitowoc. More by Sachin Shivaram: This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry CEO on role of literacy in manufacturing The Friends of the Burke County Public Library organization is excited to announce the return of its popular used book sale. Its been three and a half years since we have had a book sale, due to concerns with COVID-19, said Kim Luddington, book sale committee co-chair. We have all missed the sale and are glad we are able have it once again. The spring library book sale will kick off with a Friends members-only event from 5-7:30 p.m. Friday, April 21, on the lower level of the Collett Street Recreation Center in Morganton. Those interested in attending may purchase a Friends membership at the door to gain entry. Individual memberships are $10 each, and family memberships are $15 each. Beside the knowledge that they are supporting their wonderful local library, Friends members receive newsletters and notice of Friends events and get early admission to the book sales, Luddington said. The sale will open to the general public from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 22 at the rec center. A $7 bag sale will take place from 1-2 p.m. The sale, which is free to attend, will feature thousands of used books on every subject imaginable, as well as a variety of CDs, DVDs and audiobooks, available for purchase. A selection of VHS and cassette tapes will be free for the taking. We always have many book donations from our wonderful community, Luddington said. We have limited storage space though, so during the last three years, we partnered with Thriftbooks to sell our books. The organization continues to welcome any book, CD or DVD donations. Small amounts can be brought to the front desk of any library branch, Luddington said. Large donations can be brought to the lower entrance of the Morganton library. Just ring the bell and someone will come to the door to help you. She emphasized the importance of supporting the Burke County Public Library system, which has branches in Morganton, Valdese and Hildebran. The Friends group is dedicated to raising public awareness of library services and programs. The library is invaluable to our community, Luddington said. They provide books, of course, but so much more. Our library has been commended for the large number of programs they provide for adults, children and young adults crafts, book clubs, cooking programs, story times, author visits, games the list goes on and on. The library has computers for public use, study rooms, current magazines and local newspapers. Genealogy and local history resources are available in the North Carolina Room, and the library has many digital resources, from e-books, audiobooks and videos, to career and test prep and foreign language learning. Proceeds from the book sale will help provide funding for the summer reading programs, the use of Ancestry.com, movie licenses, Wowbrary (a weekly email showcasing the librarys most recent acquisitions) and other projects as needed. Luddington encouraged people to come out to the sale and find some good reads. We have books for everyone at very reasonable prices fiction, non-fiction, childrens and young adult, in hardcover and paperback, she said. We have a large amount of young adult fiction available for this sale. We also have music CDs, DVDs and audiobooks. Come find your favorite author or subject, or find your new favorite! A local group of Muslims is observing the holiest month of the Islamic calendar with fasting, prayer, community service and traditional fast breaking meals called Iftar. Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer and charitable giving observed by Muslims around the world, kicked off this year on March 22. Throughout the month, every adult Muslim in good health is required to abstain from food and water every day from sunrise until sunset, perform extra prayers and do extra charitable deeds. Two days after the month kicked off, members of the Unifours only mosque, The Islamic Center of Morganton on Bethel Street, gathered for Ramadans first communal prayer. During the gathering, Mohammed Ahmed, one of the mosques leaders, told the congregation fasting is the one thing a Muslim does for the sole purpose of pleasing God. All our other duties concerning the poor, the needy and our families are for ourselves, but our fasting is for Allah alone, he said. (Fasting) is not only to stay hungry and thirsty, it is to be conscious of Allah at all times. Ahmed said fasting serves two purposes in the lives of the faithful. It teaches them to cultivate discipline and gain control of the lower self. He said Islam calls this struggle against the worst inclinations of human nature, The Great Jihad. Throughout our lives we struggle with this great Jihad of trying to control our desires and passions, he said. This struggle to cultivate self-discipline is not only for Ramadan, its a lifelong struggle. A time for charity Ahmed also told the congregation that fasting raises awareness for those who fast not by choice, but because of poverty. Moussa Elhawi, a Hafiz (someone who has memorized every verse in the Quran), told The News Herald this focus on identifying with those living in poverty is the root of another tradition Muslims observe during the month of Ramadan. This is called Zakat or charity, Elhawi said. During Ramadan, all Muslims are required to give 2.5% of their savings to those living in poverty. If this money has been in your savings account for one year, then you have to pay 2.5%, Elhawi said. If you want to give more, you can give more. Usually people give more. He said while there are charitable organizations that receive money from Zakat and give it to people in poverty, many of the faithful choose to give to friends, family members or neighbors. It is preferred to give it to the people you know, for example your neighbors or you have family or relatives that you know they are needy, Elhawi said. If we all support the people close to us it will spread. If I support my relative and another supports his relative it will be sufficient for everybody. Counting blessings Kadry Allaboun said fasting during Ramadan is also a powerful reminder of the blessings of life that are too often taken for granted. It is a reminder for us how many blessings we have every day in our lives, said Allaboun. This month helps us to know that we have health, we can eat, we can enjoy the food, the gathering. This is a blessing, because sometimes we take things for granted but then Ramadan reminds us there are poor people, there are sick people. Another blessing for Allaboun and Elhawi is the opportunity to gather together at the mosque. Elhawi said he considers it a special blessing to have the facility in a region where so few Muslims live. We dont have many people in the Muslim community here, but we have this mosque, so it is really a blessing for us, he said. We are coming from countries where we can do the prayers every day. But here it is hard for us. Since The Islamic Center of Morganton is one of only two Mosques in western North Carolina, many who come to the center to pray must travel long distances to get there. For this reason, the Mosque only offers one public prayer service, the Friday congregational prayer all Muslims who are able are required to pray communally. During Ramadan, the congregation only gathers for one fast breaking Iftar meal each week every Saturday evening at sunset. Although they are not able to gather as often as they would like, Allaboun said the members of the Islamic Center of Morganton have become like family to one another. It is a small community, but we know each other, he said. We also learn from each other because we are from different backgrounds, different countries. Islam and religion unite us, and we feel like brothers and sisters. He said he believes religion should be a force that unites people rather than bringing division. At the end we are all equal, created by one God, said. It is so humbling, and it is so amazing how people stand and pray next to each other the young, the old, the poor, the wealthy they are equal, and they sit at the same table. When Elhawi, Ahmed, Allaboun and Muslims across the world finally break their fast on April 20, Ramadan will give way to Eid al-Fitr (feast of breaking the fast). It is one of the two great feast days Muslims celebrate each year. In Morganton, the faithful will gather together at the mosque again and celebrate with with food, games and gifts. Its a big celebration, Allaboun said. The kids dress up and we buy them toys and gifts and candy its similar to Christmas. For Elhawi, it is a day to give thanks for the strength and stamina he relied on to complete his month-long fast. When we stop the fasting and we celebrate the second day, having a fast breaking and celebrating that we were able to do the entire month, Elhawi said. A history professor at Montana Technological University was selected to teach in Hungary next school year as part of the Fulbright Program. Tenured professor and civil rights historian Chris Danielson was selected by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board to teach at the University of Pecs Department of Literatures and Cultures in English. Hell be teaching U.S. history and in his areas of specialization in U.S. race relations, the civil rights movement and U.S. foreign policy. Danielson has been at Tech since 2009 and teaches in the Department of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences. His full sabbatical will start the fall semester of 2023 and he will return to Tech fall semester 2024. Hell spend the first part of his sabbatical doing research not related to the Fulbright and will teach in Hungary as part of the Fulbright in spring 2024. In 2021, Danielson received a Fulbright Award to Russia to teach at the University of Tyumen, but this award was not finalized due to the present state of U.S.-Russian relations. Because they told me to reapply, I reapplied, got partway through the selection process again and then they just abruptly pulled the plug on it because at that point, the momentum to the war in Ukraine was building, Danielson said. He said he talked to a friend who is a Hungarian National, who put him in touch with faculty at the University of Pecs, and it turned out they were interested in a class about Cold War and race that he had planned to teach in Russia. He said the acceptance to Hungary was faster than his acceptance to Russia because of this interest and because Hungary is an ally to the U.S. I think partly because Hungary, you know, used to be under Soviet domination, that there was an interest in a class like this, Danielson said. I'm not sure there would be as much interest as say, you know, Sweden for example. The application process is a rigorous one, Danielson said. When he applied for the Fulbright to Russia, he said it took him the better part of a month to complete the application. Applying to Hungary was slightly easier, he said, because he had the initial application to Russia to personalize for Hungary. The presidentially appointed 12-member board supervises the Fulbright Program worldwide and approves the selection of all Fulbright recipients. According to a press release from Tech, the Fulbright board said Danielsons appointment reflects his leadership and contributions to society. Although the Fulbright board told The Standard in an email it cant discuss individual applications or decisions, Danielson said he believes the board chose him because of his involvement as president and now steward of Techs faculty association. Techs chancellor, Les Cook, said Danielson is a worthy recipient of the Fulbright. Fulbright Scholarships provide a great opportunity for faculty to teach as well as work on research or projects in other countries, Cook said. Were excited that Dr. Danielson will have the chance to do this and are proud of his selection. Chris does incredible work at Montana Tech and this is a nice reflection of this. Danielson isnt the first Tech professor to get a Fulbright. From 2011-2012, Professor of Science & Technology Studies Pat Munday went to Southwest University in China, according to the Fulbright website. He also went on a Fulbright to Ningxia University in Yinchuan, China in 2016. Professor Thomas Waring taught Geology at University of Otago in New Zealand from 1983-1984. Marvin Speece also taught geology at Ain Shams University in Egypt from 2002-2003. Henry Gonshak taught area studies at the University of Wroclaw in Poland from 2008-2009 and Laurie Battle taught math at National Chung Hsing University in Taiwan from 2014-2015. Danielson said Battle helped him a bit with his application when he applied for the Fulbright the first time. Battle said she sent Danielson her application to look at and gave him a couple of tips, such as advising him that it might be a good idea to be specific about how he could benefit the university he was applying to. There are three kinds of Fulbrights available a teaching Fulbright, a research Fulbright and a hybrid of the two. Danielson is going on a teaching Fulbright, and Battle went to Taiwan on a teaching and research Fulbright. Although Danielson has been told its rare to get accepted for a Fulbright when applying for the first time, both he and Battle did. Danielson said it was because when he applied to teach in Russia, he got a letter of invitation from a professor he knows in New Zealand, which is recommended for applicants. Battle said she believed she got accepted her first time applying because of where she applied. Thats another thing I told him was apply somewhere youre interested in going, but that isnt overwhelmed with applications, Battle said. The Fulbright Program is devoted to increasing mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries, sharing knowledge across communities and improving lives around the world, according to its website. The Fulbright doesnt just benefit the individual to which its awarded, but has the potential to benefit an entire university, too. Battle said when she went to Taiwan, she was able to create research partnerships that continued when she returned to the U.S. It was just an absolutely wonderful experience, Battle said. Although this is Danielsons first Fulbright, he has taught abroad before in New Zealand, and said when he came back he brought newspaper clippings from the 1960s about the civil rights movement. He wanted to show his history students how it mattered to other countries. I'm interested in a desire to teach abroad again, make those international connections, Danielson said. He expects that hell have things from Hungary to bring back too. A bill that would require anyone using a state fishing access site to purchase an $8 license drew support from several groups Thursday. House Bill 521 from Rep. Denley Loge, R-St. Regis, would combine state wildlife conservation licenses issued by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and state land permit licenses issued by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. The licenses would become a single $8 conservation license sold by FWP that would also allow recreation on DNRC state trust lands. The bill would also make the license a requirement for any type of recreation at state fishing access sites. Eight dollars is pretty cheap to maintain and keep these fishing access sites open, Loge told the Senate Fish and Game Committee, adding that at some fishing access sites only 40% of users are anglers. Currently hunting, fishing and trapping on state trust lands is allowed through the purchase of an FWP conservation license, which is a prerequisite license for those activities. But other recreation, such as hiking or birding on state land, requires purchase of $10 license. State officials say confusion about or ignorance of the state land license has led to compliance issues. Under HB 521, FWP will pay a portion of its sales of conservation licenses to DNRC to make up the loss, but also with an expectation of increased revenue from expanding who must purchase the license. HB 521 saw some opposition from lawmakers in the House earlier this session. It only passed House Appropriations by one vote, but then passing the full body on an 80-10 margin to move it to the Senate. The issue of paying for fishing access sites has been debated in previous sessions with legislation that did not pass. Fishing access sites are financed through fishing license sales, federal conservation dollars, or in some cases, private contributions. That means that other users, such as floaters who launch watercraft from fishing access sites but do not fish, do not pay. Hunters and anglers are more than happy to pay our fair share, but with the exponential increase in non-consumptive users weve seen, its time they come to the party and help fund these sites, said Colin Cooney with Montana Trout Unlimited. Loge and state officials said they were cognizant of the challenge associated a new requirement on previously unlicensed recreationists. Both FWP and DNRC officials pledged an education campaign and signage alerting the new requirements. The bill also mandates a warning for the first offense, and double the cost of the license as a fine for the second offense. Penalties ramp up at the third offense with a fine up to $500. Recreationists not using state fishing access sites or state lands would not be required to purchase a conservation license unless it was related to another activity, such as fishing, that requires one. The Senate committee did not take immediate action on the bill. In between sets of tumbling warmups, Adrienne Prashar crossed the gym to where she had stashed her diabetes supplies and tested her blood sugar. Prashar, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes the day before her 13th birthday, said tumbling usually drops her blood sugar levels. Prashar, now 14, did a finger stick, saw her blood sugar was 127, and went back to the mat. For most people with diabetes, the target range is about 80-130, and up to 180 two hours after meals. Prashar doesnt have to check her blood sugar often. She wears a continuous glucose monitor, or CGM, that gives her blood glucose readings on her phone every five minutes. When shes feeling differently than her CGM is showing, as on that March day at the gym, she checks her level by doing a finger stick. But most of the time, she simply glances at her phone to see whether her numbers are trending low or high, which beats repeatedly pricking her finger, she said. I would hate it so much, Prashar said. Its such a pain and its harder to see trends. Montana lawmakers are considering a bill that would require insurance companies to cover CGMs for people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Multiple studies and experts back up the effectiveness of the devices, showing better blood test results, fewer long-term complications, and a reduction in health care costs. Studies show CGMs can greatly benefit people with Type 1 diabetes. There are also promising results for people with Type 2 diabetes, the more prevalent of the two types, but the research is limited compared with that on Type 1. House Bill 758 has broad support from lawmakers, but it faces opposition from insurance companies and some providers. That opposition focuses on the cost, whether a CGM is medically necessary at all stages of diabetes, and the possibility that CGM manufacturers will raise their prices if there is an insurance mandate. CGMs can be worn on the legs, stomach, or arms, and they stay in place with an adhesive patch. A thin tube goes under the skin and measures blood glucose levels from tissue fluid. The data is transmitted via Bluetooth to a phone or similar device. Instead of a finger prick, which provides a reading for a single point in time, a CGM gives the wearer a continuous stream of data. According to GoodRx Health, CGMs can cost between $1,000 and $3,000 each year out-of-pocket. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana, the states largest insurer, estimates the bill, if passed, would cost the organization nearly $5 million a year, spokesperson John Doran said. CGMs arent medically necessary in all circumstances, Doran said, and medical necessity should be determined through a partnership between provider and payer. But Doran said that he understands there are instances in which a CGM may be necessary and that Blue Cross already covers CGMs in those cases. These things are a convenience, Doran said. They provide you real-time information and there is some benefit to a persons lifestyle to these monitors. Lawmakers in several states are considering bills to regulate coverage of CGMs, and Illinois governor signed one such bill into law last year. A study published in the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology in 2022 says about 30 million Americans have diabetes, a condition in which a persons body cant make enough insulin (as in Type 1) or use it effectively (as in Type 2). By 2030, the study estimated, 55 million people in the U.S. will have diabetes, with total medical and societal costs of more than $622 billion a 53% increase from 2015. According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 78,000 Montanans have been diagnosed with diabetes. Various studies, diabetes educators, and health care providers say that CGMs can help people with diabetes reduce their A1C levels, a common measure of blood sugar levels used in diabetes management. Proper management can reduce complications from diabetes like retinopathy, heart attack, and nerve damage that lead to higher costs in the health care system through emergency room visits and hospitalizations. Dr. Brian Robinson, an endocrinologist at St. Peters Health in Helena, said supplies for people with Type 1 diabetes are generally covered by insurance. When he considers recommending a glucose monitor for a patient, he said, the decision is driven by insurance rules that are informed by the American Diabetes Associations standards of care. My patients are better because of CGMs, theres no doubt about that, Robinson said. But he noted the science doesnt yet support his opinion that CGMs should be given to everyone with diabetes, no matter what. Not all physicians, especially in endocrinology, agree that a person with Type 2 diabetes needs a continuous glucose monitor, Robinson said. But if a person needs a shot each day to manage diabetes, he said, that patient should have access to a CGM. Lisa Ranes, manager of the diabetes, endocrinology, and metabolism center at Billings Clinic, said the benefits of a CGM are the same for people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Many studies have shown that CGMs are just as effective for patients on lower quantities of insulin, like some people with Type 2 diabetes, as for people with Type 1 diabetes, who rely on insulin throughout the day. It gives patients that complete picture to help them make the decisions on what they need to do to keep their blood sugar safe, Ranes said, giving examples like upping the frequency or dose of insulin, having some food, or exercising. For people with Type 2 diabetes, Ranes said, CGMs could be helpful in early diagnosis. Type 2 diabetes is progressive, Ranes said, so the sooner it is under control, the better. When Cass Mitchell, 76, was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes over 30 years ago, her doctor told her that people with Type 2 diabetes dont live long because they have a hard time managing their care. Mitchell, who lives in Helena, warmed to finger pricks. But test strips were expensive, about $1 each at the time, she said. About 10 years ago, she got a CGM. Mitchell went from testing maybe twice a day to looking at her blood sugar on an app 20 to 25 times each day. She said shes more in tune with her diabetes and uses her devices time-in-range reports showing how often blood glucose stays within a set range to make lifestyle changes. Mitchell has lowered her A1C from around 11% to 7%. According to the ADA, the target for most adults with diabetes is less than 7%. Mitchells device is covered under Medicare and supplemental insurance and would remain so with the passage of HB 758. She said if she had to pay out-of-pocket she wouldnt be able to afford her CGM and that she was excited about the potential of the bill to give more people access to CGMs. Dr. Hayley Miller, medical director of Mountain States Diabetes in Missoula, initially thought HB 758 sounded good, but now she isnt so sure. She thinks the biggest risk of the bill passing is that prices for CGMs go up. It seems like Im against it, but it really is, when insurance gets involved everything gets tricky, Miller said. Emma Peterson, a former diabetes educator for St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings and Providence Endocrinology in Missoula, said most people working in diabetes care think everyone diagnosed should just have a continuous glucose monitor. At the end of the day, both forms of diabetes and all the other many forms of diabetes have the same complications and still face the same struggles of trying to keep blood sugars in range, Peterson said. Keely Larson is the KHN fellow for the UM Legislative News Service, a partnership of the University of Montana School of Journalism, the Montana Newspaper Association, and Kaiser Health News. Larson is a graduate student in environmental and natural resources journalism at the University of Montana. KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation. USE OUR CONTENT This story can be republished for free (details). SUMNER A Sumner man has been sentenced to prison for thousands of child porn images found on his computer. Jeffrey James Gruber, 60, was sentenced to five years and three months in federal prison on charges of possession of child pornography during a hearing U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday. Following prison, he will be on supervised release for five years. Gruber was also ordered to pay $22,000 in restitution. Authorities received an alert about activity on his internet address in 2017, and officers with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and Sumner Police Department searched his home on March 8, 2017. Investigators found more than 3,500 photographs and 35 videos of child porn, some involving children under age 12, on his eMachines computer, according to court records. Prosecutors allege Gruber possessed the child porn between November 2016 and March 2017. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Liz Dupuich. Photos: Missing children in Iowa Alexandra Storm Hailey Coleman Jamira Debose Osbourne Breasia Terrell Julian Murray Daniela Salinas-mejia Jade Colvin Fredrick Workman Benjamin Roseland Erin Pospisil Marc Allen Eugene Martin John Gosch Kimberly Doss Colleen Simpson Caleb Williams Xavior Harrelson Alyssa Dluzak Fatima Conteh Daniela Vera-Ortega Xerxes Blaesing Jorge Peneda Castillo Anya Pritchard Desirae Gifford Daquan Nelson Diomarix Crespo CEDAR RAPIDS The illegal fentanyl trade runs through China, Mexico and, unwittingly, Home Depot. Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley sat down Thursday with national retail leaders and local, state and federal law enforcement officials in Cedar Rapids for a roundtable discussion about how retail theft is fueling the illicit drug trade. Grassley called the shady financial ties and disturbing link between organized retail theft and Mexican drug cartels fueling drug overdose deaths in the United States a rude awakening. Our communities are caught in a harmful cycle where workers and businesses are robbed, sometimes violently, to advance money-laundering schemes that enable drug cartels to send poison right back to those same communities, Grassley said. Organized retail crime refers to large-scale retail theft and fraud by groups of professional shoplifters who conspire to steal and resell stolen merchandise. I want to be very clear, were not talking about petty shoplifting, said Scott Glenn, vice president of asset protection with Home Depot. Not theft for need, but theft for greed, and in many cases to fund ongoing criminal enterprises. This is large scale, multi-jurisdictional activity thats carefully choreographed. Glenn and law enforcement officials said the growth of online shopping has allowed criminals to quickly find ways resell stolen merchandise on online marketplaces. International money launderers are increasingly using stolen products from retail crime rings to move proceeds from U.S.-based drug sales back to cartels in Mexico to fund additional violent criminal activity such as human trafficking, gun smuggling and narcotics in Iowa and elsewhere, said Steve Cagen, assistant director of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations. Organized retail crime poses a serious threat to local communities and retailers, enabling Chinese organizations that have become the preferred money launders of Mexican cartels trafficking in deadly fentanyl, Cagen said. In one case, Glenn said cash from the black market sale of stolen Home Depot products in Little Rock, Ark., was used to purchase large quantities of fentanyl to be resold in the same region as the original thefts. Organized retail crime cost Iowa businesses an estimated $1.38 billion and $68 million in lost tax revenue in 2021, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. That same year, 446 Iowans were lost to drug overdose, with the vast majority involving fentanyl, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thats up from 419 in 2020 and 350 in 2019. Last year, 485 drug overdose deaths were reported in the state during the 12-month period ending in October 2022, according to the CDC. Its everywhere Ryan Moore, assistant director of the Iowa Division of Narcotics and Enforcement within the Iowa Department of Public Safety, said cartels are operating in Iowa and drug seizures are mounting because of it. Moore mentioned a case from last summer where authorities seized more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine and more than 40,000 fentanyl pills from a drug stash house in Waterloo used as a distribution point by an individual who cooperated with authorities and linked it straight back to a Mexican cartel. Its everywhere, Moore said of the illicit drug trade in Iowa, noting a recent case from southeast Iowa where authorities arrested an individual in a town of 1,000 people who was responsible for about 500 pounds of meth being shipped out of Mexico to Iowa. Cedar Rapids Police Capt. Cody Estling said local law enforcement are seizing larger quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Where a one ounce seizure of drugs used to be significant 10 years ago, police are now seizing pounds worth, he said. An our local dealers often have direct contacts with people in those southern border states, Estling said. So theyre able to bring more efficiently and more directly product to our community and distribute it here locally. So with that comes the higher volume. Fentanyl is an extremely powerful, cheap opioid that dealers often mix in with other drugs. Illicit fentanyl differs from legal fentanyl used to treat pain in cancer patients. The majority of illicit fentanyl is mass-produced in Mexico, along with methamphetamine, using chemicals from China before being pressed into pills or mixed with other counterfeit pills made to look like Xanax, Adderall or oxycodone, Moore said. The counterfeit drugs are then sold to unaware buyers who overdose. Moore said Iowans will continue to see the rise of methamphetamine and fentanyl in communities until the southwest border is secured and Mexican drug trafficking organizations are dealt with more aggressively and prosecuted more extensively. Store thefts getting more brazen, violent Glenn said organized retail crime is on an alarming rise and leading to more brazen and more violent attacks in retail stores and centers throughout the country. He played video surveillance footage of individuals assaulting and knocking over employees and brandishing firearms and knives while stealing pallets and carts full of power tools and other products. And he said he received a call Wednesday night from an employee reporting a customer had been stabbed by a shoplifter tied to an organized crime ring. Glenn said retailers, including Home Depot, are devoting considerable resources to boost loss prevention efforts, including increased security personnel, placing products behind locked cases and using data analysis tools. Panelists push support for legislation Glenn and other panelists urged support for legislation to broaden statutes dealing with organized retail theft and give more resources to law enforcement. Glenn said he also would like to see stiffer penalties and a reduction in felony thresholds for retail theft. Grassley, a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, reintroduced legislation earlier this year with Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democrat from Nevada, that would establish and fund a center to combat organized retail crime within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It would also create new tools to assist in federal investigations and prosecution of organized retail crime, and help recover lost goods and proceeds. These complex crimes require a collaborative response, and Im grateful to have voices at all levels of law enforcement and retail leaders working together to prevent crime and save lives, Grassley said. NEVADA, Iowa Former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake told Iowans Thursday shes willing to do anything I can to help former President Donald Trump get back into office. Lake addressed about 80 people at the Story County Republicans Lincoln Highway Dinner. Her visit comes as Iowans are beginning to consider 2024 Republican caucus candidates, but Lake is likely not running for president. She is still fighting in the courts over her claims of election fraud in her 2022 loss to Democrat Katie Hobbs. A member of the audience asked Lake whether she would consider serving as Trumps running mate in 2024. You dont really run for that, Lake said. I will do also anything I can to help President Trump. I believe he is the only man who can get us through these dark tumultuous times. I really do. The Arizona Republican also weighed in on Trumps indictment, saying, Theyre going after President Trump for a nothing-burger. She said the focus should be on President Joe Biden, who she said is bought and paid for by the Chinese Communist Party, and evil Anthony Fauci, the former chief medical adviser to the president. Lake spoke to supporters at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, following Trumps arraignment Tuesday in New York on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Al Ortiz, a Grimes resident who came to Nevada for the event, said he was locked in to vote for Trump in the 2024 Republican caucuses, and does not believe the indictment will impact the former presidents campaign. He said hed love to see Lake as a running mate to Trump. I think her message and Trumps are aligned really well, basically the same message, Ortiz said. Theyre concerned about elections, theyre concerned about just all the corruption going on plus conservative values. Lake also held Iowa events Wednesday. She posted on Twitter that her Iowa City event hosted an open bar that ran out of all beer brands except Bud Light. Lake and supporters criticized Bud Light for its sponsorship deal with Dylan Mulvaney, a transgender TikTok influencer. Lake is scheduled to join a Good Friday prayer breakfast in Cedar Rapids with actor Kevin Sorbo. This trip is her second stint in Iowa following the 2022 midterm elections. She also held events in the state in February. Lake said she hasnt given up on her court challenge over the 2022 election results. She has not conceded to Hobbs, who was sworn into office in January. The Arizona Supreme Court rejected most of Lakes appeal challenging the election results, but sent a challenge of early ballot signature verification procedures in one county back to a trial court for reconsideration. The fake news isnt covering it, Lake said. They said that she lost on most counts in the Arizona Supreme Court. Most counts. But not all counts. And we made it, we made it and were still out and were still fighting. Lake called for Iowans to question the presidential candidates coming through ahead of the 2024 Iowa caucuses on free and fair elections, and to specifically ask what they think about the 2022 Arizona governors race. She said globalists are committed to stopping the 2024 election from proceeding fairly, as she claimed they did in 2020 in Trumps loss and in her Arizona race. Some candidates being pushed are Trojan horses, Lake said, and wont talk about election results. I ask you that every candidate who comes through, when they stand on the stage, when theyre shaking your hand, when theyre walking through town, taking your questions, that you ask them where they stand on election integrity, Lake said. And I think you get even more specific: Was the 2022 election here in Arizona stolen? And if they wont say absolutely yes, thats a big red flag. Ill tell you what, I know that one of them will be honest with you about these elections. And one of them is Donald J. Trump. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy ST. HELENA While the recent atmospheric rivers may have brought some relief to drought-ridden California, a leading water expert explained why the months of deluge will not alleviate the larger groundwater depletion in the state. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. The 2023 Napa RISE Climate and Wine Symposium, hosted by the nonprofit Napa Green, kicked off Wednesday. Six days of events will take place during April at Charles Krug Winery with a series of discussions from environmental leaders and industry experts and professionals to discuss the sustainability efforts in Napa Valley. Jay Famiglietti, a hydrologist and global futures professor at Arizona State University and former senior water scientist at NASAs jet propulsion lab, spoke about Californias groundwater use and warned wine industry representatives in attendance that just because the state looks to be moving out of drought territory, groundwater conservation should still be a priority. Famiglietti develops computer models and uses satellites to track the changes of freshwater availability on the planet. He has focused his decades of research on groundwater depletion. Right now, he said Napa Valley is doing quite well. But he warned that the wet period is only temporary, and wet periods in California are almost always followed by long dry periods, which lead to water scarcity. Its the fact that we use more water than we have available on an annual renewable basis, said Famiglietti. A key to solving this problem, he said, is finding solutions to increase water storage in surface water reservoirs like rivers and lakes, and aquifer recharge, which is a natural or manmade process of replenishing groundwater. While Famiglietti said he hopes the state-mandated plans will lead California toward a path of overall water sustainability, he said he is hopeful that the industry will also work to find innovative ways to reduce groundwater use. Napa Countys 20-year plan to manage the local subbasin that sustains homes, the environment and Napas famed wineries and vineyards was approved in January. I look to industry because they can act independently," he said. "Wineries are intergenerational. Groundwater is intergenerational. Thats a mutual interest right there. Earlier in the morning, British wine writer and Master of Wine Jancis Robinson gave stressed the importance of sustainable industry practices, not just for environmental and economical reasons, but also as a path to opening up the world of wine to younger consumers, who tend to be environmentally conscious. Robinson noted that current packaging, production and transportation of glass bottles account for 40% of winery carbon emissions, and offered ideas for the industry to reduce its carbon footprint, by opting to use sustainable and lighter-weight bottles and packaging to ship inventory. It really is high time that we break the connection between heavy glass and wine quality, which we know is completely spurious there is absolutely no connection between heavy glass and wine quality, she said. She noted that Napa wineries have a great opportunity to share this information. In Napa, you have a brilliant opportunity to speak to consumers and quite well-heeled consumers at that who might be the ones who might be tempted to be buying the heavy bottles in your tasting rooms," Robinson said. "You have thousands of influencers, opinion-formers coming into the valley every year. Representatives from many other wineries spoke about their efforts to increase sustainability at their respective wineries, and about successful strategies they have implemented. Representatives included Peter Mondavi of Charles Krug, Remi Cohen and Stacey Ellis from Domaine Carneros, Emily Kern of Treasury Wine Estates, Erica Lofving formerly of Vintage Wine Estates, Matt Crafton of Chateau Montelena Winery, and Jason Moulton of Whitehall Lane Winery. Napa Green Executive Director Anna Brittain said her group is doing this "because of just how truly dedicated we are to accelerating sustainability of climate action in the wine industry. What we do here gets noticed and inspires broader global change, and the onus is on us to take advantage of that," she said. Photos: Powerful storms wallop California Starting on June 10, California's food benefits program is ending two temporary rules that allowed a greater number of college students to qualify: those eligible for federal or state work-study and those whose families cannot contribute financially to their education. State officials and school staff are urging students across the state to apply for CalFresh as soon as possible. After June 10, their CalFresh application will need to qualify under the stricter set of rules that was the norm prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program, once known as food stamps, is designed to provide money for groceries to California residents, with a single college student eligible for up to $281 per month, making it a significant amount for low-income students. There were over 143,000 low-income students relying on CalFresh for food assistance as of September 2021, which is the last month for which the state has a "complete statewide figure," according to a Department of Social Services spokesperson. The lack of a more recent statewide number is due to a data merging process that several state agencies, including the one overseeing CalFresh, are currently undergoing. A 2020 state report, however, estimated that the number of California college students who are eligible under the permanent rules is much higher -- between 416,000 and nearly 700,000. The state has not tracked how many students became eligible for the program under the temporary eligibility rules. Therefore, they do not have an estimate of how many students will no longer be eligible for the food assistance benefits once the temporary rules end in June. This quick guide explains the changes happening to CalFresh and how they may impact students across California. Why does student access to CalFresh matter? A 2018 study of basic needs across the 23-campus California State University system found that over 40% of their 484,000 students at the time reported experiencing food insecurity. Across the state's community colleges, a 2019 study found that 50% of the 40,000 students surveyed had recently experienced food insecurity. And in the University of California system, 39% of undergraduate students in 2020 said they were food-insecure. "I may be biased, but I do believe we have one of the best public higher education systems in the country, but the caveat is it's expensive and not a lot of students have the access to it because of financial insecurities," said Jasmine Prasad, who is attending San Francisco State after transferring from Folsom Lake Community College near Sacramento. What changes are coming to CalFresh? From the onset of the pandemic, two temporary eligibility rules were implemented for college students: They have qualified for CalFresh if they are eligible for state or federal work-study and if they have an "expected family contribution" of zero dollars toward financial aid. But with the federal COVID-19 public health emergency declaration ending in May, these two temporary eligibility rules for CalFresh will also be ending. There is a second change tied to the end of the COVID-19 emergency support that's likely now impacting families across the state: CalFresh beneficiaries have received an increased amount of benefits each month authorized throughout the pandemic. Those "emergency allotments," as they're called, ended in February. The final allotments for families receiving this increase of at least $95 per month were released in March. Can students still qualify under these temporary rules? Yes. In fact, students are being urged to apply as soon as possible if they think they may qualify for CalFresh under the two temporary rules. Typically, a CalFresh application must be recertified every year. This means that if a student's application is approved prior to June 10, they may be eligible to receive up to a year's worth of food benefits before a recertification is required. What's the last day students can apply under the temporary exceptions? For students who do not currently have CalFresh, eligibility under the temporary exceptions ends on June 10. Students who already have CalFresh need to recertify their eligibility every year. If they were eligible for the program under the two temporary rules, they should check if their recertification can be submitted prior to June 10. If so, they may qualify for up to a year's worth of benefits. What are the permanent eligibility rules? College students are typically eligible for CalFresh if they meet the regular rules that everyone, whether a student or not, must meet in addition to at least one of more than a dozen eligibility criteria. Understanding the long list of eligibility criteria for students has long been seen as a significant barrier for students. Many college campuses now have CalFresh coordinators who assist students in understanding their eligibility and applying. But access for students remains limited and complex, often leading to the students not being aware of their eligibility. Prasad, for example, was eligible for CalFresh but did not realize it until she was part of a statewide work group that sought to establish recommendations that may widen access to CalFresh for students. Before receiving those benefits, food access was a regular stressor in her life. "It's a lot of penny-pinching where it's like, 'How can I really spread out the money to buy groceries that I need and make sure that I'm able to access food and not stress,'" said Prasad. "I benefited a lot because I no longer had the stress of: 'Am I going to have enough money to buy food that will last me until I get more money?'" Launching a new venture in the CBD gummy market can initially seem daunting, but crafting the right marketing strategy can make all the difference. As with any business, creating a plan to get your product out there and noticed by potential customers is critical focusing on gaining brand visibility and telling your story are the first steps. When it comes to getting your CBD gummies by CBDfx out there, investing in digital platforms such as social media and search engine optimization (SEO) will broaden your reach and help cultivate trust amongst potential customers. Finally, keeping track of customer feedback, understanding the highs and lows of sales trends, and staying connected with loyal customers can help keep you balanced while achieving success in the ever-growing CBD gummy industry. 7 Ways To Craft A Great Marketing Strategy For Your CBD Gummies New Venture 1. Utilize Social Media Platforms to Advertise CBD Gummies With the rising popularity of these gummies and the growing demand for products that promote relaxation, there has never been a better time to devote resources to advertising. One way businesses have successfully done this is by using social media platforms. From connecting with customers through stories and posts to demonstrating video tutorials or product tips, utilizing these platforms as part of your businesss marketing strategy can be an invaluable asset in creating awareness about your CBD gummy brand. Moreover, they can help increase overall customer engagement while driving traffic to various deals & discounts related to Cannabidiol gummies. If done right, it may lead to new leads and improved website activity helping your business reach more people. 2. Optimize Your Website for SEO Crafting an effective marketing strategy for your CBD gummies new venture is essential. Optimizing your website for SEO is one of the best ways to ensure your brand reaches its target audience. You can target keywords in page titles, headings, and meta descriptions to create a good presence on the search engine results page. Your website should also be well-structured, with clear navigation and link paths pointing toward other pages within your site. Furthermore, ensure that loading times are quick and optimize any images or videos on your web pages. 3. Study Your Target Audience and Develop an Appropriate Messaging Strategy Crafting a great marketing strategy for your CBD gummies business is a must. An essential part of this process is to pay close attention to the target audience and develop a messaging strategy that appeals to them. Knowing who you are trying to reach, what language resonates, and which platforms are most likely to yield engagement can be incredibly impactful. Researching customers likes and dislikes will help you hone in on which messages should be highlighted and how that content should be presented. Considering these elements when creating marketing materials makes it easier to hold onto existing customers while appealing to potential new ones. 4. Leverage Influencer Marketing for Brand Awareness Leveraging influencer marketing for brand awareness is a great way to kickstart your new CBD gummies venture. Not only does it introduce customers to your product, but it can also spread the message about your offering through networks of interesting personalities with an extensive reach among the target market. Influencers can communicate key messages about your gummy products engagingly, adding authenticity and credibility to what youre trying to convey. Social media influencers are influential voices with an engaged audience, making them a valuable tool to sharpen up any product launch strategy and boost exposure engagingly. 5. Create a Comprehensive Email Campaign Creating a comprehensive email campaign is one of the most effective ways to start promoting your new CBD gummies business. Using this strategy, you can target customers with relevant messages tailored to their needs and preferences. With the right email design, supporting visuals, and carefully crafted copy, your emails can be an engaging and valuable resource for potential customers. You can also set up automated email campaigns based on user behavior or choices, helping you reach larger audiences efficiently. This type of marketing is ideal for growing a successful enterprise as it gives you the power to connect directly with interested customers. 6. Incorporate Traditional Advertising Strategies Incorporating traditional advertising strategies is essential to launching a successful CBD gummies venture. Many platforms and methods are available to help you reach your target audience. These platforms range from newspapers, television, radio, and magazines to direct mail, billboards, and point-of-sale materials. Taking the time to plan an effective strategy emphasizing these tools will put you in a great position to reach potential customers cost-effectively and efficiently. You can also provide incentives or discounts through print or digital advertising as further promotional activities to maximize consumer interest in your brand. This combination of traditional advertising strategies could help you amplify your CBD gummies message across the proper channels and help drive customer engagement with your product. 7. Track Metrics and Monitor Results Tracking metrics and monitoring results is one of the most critical steps when crafting a successful marketing strategy for any new venture, particularly regarding CBD gummies. Regularly checking your key performance indicators, such as click-through rates and cost per lead, can provide invaluable insights into how the audience engages with your content. The data you gather from these metrics will provide a great starting point to determine what works best for your gummies and direct future efforts to boost conversions. Regular tracking will enable you to understand consumer behavior better, giving you a head start when planning successful campaigns that reach the right people in the right way. Conclusion In conclusion, launching a successful CBD gummies business requires an effective marketing strategy. To ensure the success of your venture, it is essential to identify your target market and tailor content that resonates with them. Additionally, you will want to leverage digital channels to reach potential customers and create compelling campaigns, like cannabis affiliate marketing programs, highlighting your products unique features and benefits. With careful planning and execution, you can position yourself in the market as a leader in the industry while building brand loyalty among consumers. According to a tweet published by the Norwegian MoD on April 7, 2023, the frigate HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen has conducting patrols at Norwegian critical infrastructure in the Barents Sea and the Norwegian Sea. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link Fridtjof Nansen-class HNoMS frigate Fridtjof Nansen. (Picture source: Norwegian MoD) Securing the seabed and critical infrastructures is of paramount importance for Norway and other Scandinavian countries. Norway has an extensive coastline and a large maritime area, which includes rich fishing grounds, oil and gas resources, and important shipping routes. Securing these areas is crucial for the country's economy and national security. Critical infrastructure such as oil rigs, pipelines, and communication cables are also important assets that must be secured. These structures are vulnerable to terrorist attacks, cyber-attacks, and natural disasters such as storms and earthquakes. Frigate Fridtjof Nansen The vessel has a displacement of 5,290 tons, a length of 134 meters, a beam of 16.8 meters, and a draft of 7.6 meters. She uses a combined diesel and gas propulsion system, with two BAZAN BRAVO 12V 4.5 MW diesel engines for cruising and one GE LM2500 21.5 MW gas turbine for high-speed running, with MAAG gearboxes, two shafts driving controllable pitch propellers and a bow thruster retractable (electric)1 MW Brunvoll. Fridtjof Nansen has a speed of 27 knots and a range of 4,500 nautical miles. The ship can accommodate up to 146 people, with a crew of 120. She is equipped with advanced technology such as the Lockheed Martin AN/SPY-1F 3-D multifunction radar, Reutech RSR 210N air/sea surveillance radar, Sagem Vigy 20 Electro Optical Director, MRS 2000 hull mounted sonar, and Captas MK II V1 active/passive towed sonar. Fridtjof Nansen also has two Mark 82 fire-control radars, a Terma DL-12T decoy launcher, a Loki torpedo countermeasure system, and 8-cell Mk41 VLS launchers for 32 RIM-162 ESSM missiles and 8 Naval Strike Missile SSMs. The frigate is also armed with 4 torpedo tubes for Sting Ray torpedoes, depth charges, 1 76 mm OTO Melara Super Rapid gun, 4 12.7 mm Browning M2HB HMGs, 4 Protector (RWS) (Sea PROTECTOR), and 2 LRAD Long Range Acoustic Device. She can carry one NH90 helicopter and has a spare Otobreda 127 mm/54 gun to replace the 76 mm, a spare CIWS gun w/ caliber 40 mm or less, and 3 spare 8- cell Mk41 VLS launchers. The ship is also prepared for low-cost ASW and ECM: Active Off-board Decoy. Kamala Harris on Armenian Genocide: Let us never forget, let us rededicate ourselves to speaking out against hate Bruno Retailleau: Azerbaijani checkpoint installation on Hakari bridge could be beginning of new large-scale operation Canada FM issues message on Armenian Genocide 108th anniversary The struggle for international recognition of this horrific crime continues. President of Cyprus U.S. Ambassador to the OSCE: The United States is deeply concerned about Azerbaijan's actions Valerie Boyer: Turkey has started a new war of aggression in Armenia and Artsakh The Second President of Armenia visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex with his wife and son Azerbaijan's decision to set up checkpoints in the Lachin corridor contradicts EUs call to reduce tensions Russian Defense Ministry noted Azerbaijan's unilateral and uncoordinated actions Foreign Minister of Artsakh Meets with Head of the Republicans Group of the French Senate France commemorates 108th Anniversary of 1915 Armenian Genocide: Macron Commemoration ceremony was held in Amsterdam near the monument dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide PACE Rapporteur wants to visit Lachin corridor Trudeau on Armenian Genocide Memorial Day: Canada will continue to promote peace and justice Greece PM on Armenian Genocide: We are against any act that incites discrimination, violence against humanity European People's Party on Armenian Genocide: We urge Turkey to acknowledge reality of past Italy MP: International organizations access to Karabakh for humanitarian aid should be facilitated PACE pays tribute to Armenian Genocide victims with minute of silence (VIDEO) Representation at ECtHR: Armenia will apply to International Court of Justice regarding Lachin checkpoint matter Yeghishe Kirakosyan: Armenia will apply to International Court of Justice regarding Lachin checkpoint issue Levon Aronian: Message of remembering and demanding must be directed towards ourselves Biden: We renew our pledge to never forget Armenian Genocide Armenian Genocide commemoration event held in Istanbul Russia ambassador, embassy military attache lay flowers at Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan (PHOTOS) Peskov on setting up Azerbaijani checkpoint at Lachin corridor: Situation not easy, requires extra effort Greece president: We honor Armenian Genocide victims memory Russia calls on Armenia, Azerbaijan to immediately return to existing agreements Armenian Genocide victims honored at PACE chamber courtyard (PHOTOS) Bruno Retailleau on Armenian Genocide victims: They are our victims also Artsakh MFA: Armenian people are again facing threat of new Genocide France senator: We should help Armenia arm itself Karabakh president: Today more than ever we need to turn words into action Greece FM: Preserving Armenian Genocide victims memory is minimum duty of all humanity Sotk gold mine of Armenia inactive for 10th day due to periodic Azerbaijani shooting Colorado declares April 24, 2023 as Armenian Genocide remembrance day Ambassador: France stands with Armenia to commemorate victims of 1915 Genocide (PHOTOS) Karekin II: Azerbaijan's goal is to de-Armenianize, take over Karabakh US Congressman Adam Schiff to introduce bill recognizing Karabakh independence, sovereignty Karabakh MFA: Any proposal to discuss Azerbaijans illegal demands is tantamount to condoning its genocidal policy Karabakh president pays tribute to Armenian Genocide victims Catholicos visits Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan Armenia ex-President Sarkissian: We must be able to move forward without retreating from our identity, history Armenia army General Staff chief: We are doing positional improvement work at Tegh village Nathalie Loiseau: No one should approach risk of new violence against Armenians lightly 108 years after Genocide Armenia MFA: Armenians in Karabakh are facing danger of genocide, ethnic cleansing even today Netherlands ambassador expresses support to Armenians in the words of great poet Hovhannes Tumanyan (VIDEO) Georgia Armenians hold torchlight procession in Tbilisi PM Pashinyan, other state officials visit Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan (PHOTOS) Kristina Kvien: No US sanctions against Azerbaijan at the moment MFA: France condemns setting up of Azerbaijani checkpoint at Lachin corridor, demands to reopen corridor Karekin II: Fight for just cause of Armenians, contribute to prevention of genocidal acts and crimes Armenia ex-President Serzh Sargsyan: Bloody scimitar which has now become Bayraktar hangs over our people again Armenia PM: This is best moment to think about past, present, future Armenian Genocide Memorial entrance closed 108 years later: It is Armenian Genocide victims commemoration day State minister: People of Karabakh have right to demand from players to make clear assessments, take steps US 'deeply concerned' by Azerbaijan's checkpoint in Lachin corridor Edmon Marukyan: Peaceful Armenians of Artsakh taken hostage by Azerbaijan Kanaani: Iran's military program is solely defensive Ministry of Defense of Armenia: The Ministry of Defence of Azerbaijan has spread disinformation Erdogan: Putin to take part in fuel delivering ceremony to Akkuyu Security Council of the Republic of Artsakh makes a statement Kosovo Serbs boycott local elections An Armenian serviceman was lethally wounded in a position in Sotk Armenians in Great Britain remember Armenian Genocide victims Azerbaijan establishes checkpoint on Lachin-Stepanakert road Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day rally in Berlin Azerbaijan blocks Hakari bridge on Artsakh-Armenia border Faro Palace in Marseille in Armenian tricolor Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates Green Sunday AK Party office in Istanbul attacked Spain shipping Leopard 2 to Ukraine Teenager hit by Toyota car Russian citizens evacuated in Khartoum Turkey represents Iranian interests in Albania US military evacuates diplomats from Sudan Armenian PM Pashinyan visits memorial Fire breaks out in Martuni town The Foreign Ministry of Artsakh: The Ministry of Defence of Azerbaijan released another provocative statement Blackout threat at major events in France Young men lost in Artsakh found Baku "worries" for Armenia Updated Turkey earthquake death toll Greek City Times: India and Greece conduct exercises Earthquake hits Greece Trump: I have 'very good relationship' with Putin NATO delegation arrives in Azerbaijan Facebook bans Armenian Genocide memorial frames ARF Hay Dat European Office prepares lawsuit Armenia Ombudsperson delivers welcome speech at CoE RA Ombudsperson receives CoE delegation Head of Armenian Community of Georgia attacked in Tbilisi MEP Kovatchev: Baku must stop aggression against Armenia Pashinyan stressed the importance of launching Nvidia Research Center in Armenia Armenia's representative presents objections to Azerbaijan's case before the International Court of Justice Albania cancels visa-free travel for Russian citizens UN worker killed in Sudan clashes 1 dead after small-engine plane crashes in Lithuania European Union has already trained 16 thousand Ukrainian soldiers: Josep Borrell Health ministry: Planned surgeries partially resume in Karabakh The peace ideas that the Chinese put on the table, some of them are positive. Indeed. They reflect things that China has said for a long time and that many of us have said for a long time. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said this in an interview with Euronews. "China's focus should be on convincing Russia to actually respect Ukraine's sovereignty and to give back the territory that it seized by force in violation of the United Nations charter, in violation of Ukraine's sovereignty. "I think China's also trying to have it both ways. It wants to be seen as trying to advance peace and at the same time, it continues to support Russia in different ways, rhetorically making its case in international institutions, advancing Russian propaganda about the aggression. And as we've said some weeks ago, even considering providing Russia with lethal assistance, said the US Secretary of State. Israel bombarded the Gaza Strip and Lebanon before dawn on Friday, saying it was targeting Palestinian militant group Hamas in retaliation for several dozen rockets fired at Israel from both territories, AFP reported. It was the biggest salvo fired from Lebanon since Israel fought a devastating 34-day war with Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in 2006 and the first time Israel has confirmed an attack on Lebanese territory since April 2022. The bombardment was launched around 4am (01:00 GMT), hitting both the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon, an Israeli army statement said. Explosions were heard by AFP journalists in Lebanon's Tyre region as well as the Gaza Strip, where Israeli air raids had begun before midnight. Tensions have soared between Israel and Palestinians during what is both the Jewish Passover and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, prompting international calls for restraint. The latest flare-up of violence comes after Israeli police clashed Wednesday with Palestinians inside Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosqueIslam's third-holiest site. On Thursday, the Israeli army said more than 30 rockets had been fired from Lebanese territory. The Lebanese army said it had found and dismantled a multiple rocket launcher in an olive grove in the Marjayoun area near the border, still loaded with six rockets primed to fire at Israel. In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army said it had hit two tunnels and "two weapon manufacturing sites" belonging to Hamas "as a response to the security violations of Hamas during the last few days." The army said air defenses intercepted 25 rockets, while five hit Israeli territory. The Israeli army said it "will not allow the Hamas terrorist organisation to operate from within Lebanon and holds the state of Lebanon responsible for every directed fire emanating from its territory." Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht blamed Palestinian militants for the rocket fire from Lebanon. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed his opinion, in an interview with a number of mass media, about the declarations of the Ukrainian authorities to liberate all territories occupied by Russia, including Crimea. "Ukraine should make those decisions. Ukraine is a democratic country. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is responsible for leading the country... But he must also be open to the will of Ukrainians," said Blinken to the newspapers of the Funke Mediengruppe and the French newspaper Ouest-France. Along with many other countries, the US is ready to help Ukraine protect its territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence, he said. It is not yet known how it will develop in the coming weeks and months, said Blinken. Ukraine's partners have two goals, Blinken said in the interview. One is to do everything within our power to help Ukraine continue to bring back the territories, the US Secretary of State said. That includes a counteroffensive, which is likely to begin in the coming weeks, German media NTV reported. Secondly, Ukraine should be assisted in increasing its mid-term and long-term potential, Blinken said. Until Russia changes course, we will ensure the maintenance of unprecedented pressure with sanctions and export controls, said Blinken. On May 27-28, the provincial tourism exhibition "Know Armenia" will take place in Yerevan, there will be interesting events, and all provinces of Armenia will be in attendance. Sisian Boghossian, Chairperson of the Tourism Committee of Armenia, told this to a press conference Friday. According to her, at the aforesaid exhibition, the provinces of Armenia will have their separate pavilions where they will present their culture, cuisine, wine, as well as adventure and nature-related destinations. "There will be competition between them. Participants can register on our Facebook page. During those two days there will also be raffles, and those registered can participate. The prizes will be various tours. There will also be a separate adventure pavilion," she said. As per Boghossian, in 2022 compared to 2021, a 20-percent increase was recorded in Armenias domestic tourism. "We have a website where we show the unique places of Armenia that tourists can visit. Until the end of the year, we will assist ten new businesses that will create ten new tour products in Armenia," she added. Also, the head of the Tourism Committee of Armenia presented some statistical figures, stating: "In March, we had 160 thousand tourists in Armenia, which is a good number for us. In 2019, we had 119 thousand tourists. In the first three months we had 450 thousand tourists, while in the first quarter of 2019 we had 360 thousand tourists. Activeness is high, at the moment, from Russia as well as Iran. The other day was their Nowruz. We have had quite a few tourists from Iran, as well as from Georgia at the moment. We have done quite a lot of work with Dubai, and we are already seeing the results. There is quite a lot of [tourist] flow from Dubai in the first three months. We have direct flights with three Italian cities, which ensures a flow of tourists from Italy as well. Our target [tourism] markets are Russia, Iran, Georgia, the Armenian diaspora of America. We are working also towards the markets of Germany, France, and Dubai." And when asked what the tourists coming to Armenia are interested in, Boghossian responded: "They are different. For example, German tourists are interested in expeditions, but those coming from Dubai are more interested in winter tourism; they come more in winter, as they don't have winter in Dubai." Due to the blocking by Azerbaijan of the only road connecting Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) with Armenia, 12 patients from the Republican Medical Center of Artsakhwith major illnesses of the oncology and cardiovascular systemwere transported Friday to specialized medical institutions of Armenia, with the mediation and escorting of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). And nine patients, who had been transferred to Armenia for medical treatment, returned to Artsakh together with accompanying persons, the Artsakh Ministry of Health informed. Scheduled surgeries continue to be suspended in the medical centers of Artsakh. Seven children remain in the neonatal and intensive care units of Arevik Medical Center. Nine patients remain in the intensive care unit of the Republican Medical Center, and three of them are in critical condition. A total of 276 medical patients have been transported so far from Artsakh to Armenia with the mediation and assistance of the ICRC. A meeting of the working group on economy and energy was held Friday under the co-chairmanship of Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Paruyr Hovhannisyan and US Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets Arun Venkataraman, within the framework of the Armenia-US Strategic Dialogue. The representatives of state institutions participated in the meeting, including the Foreign Ministry, Ministry of High-Tech Industry, Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, Ministry of Economy from the Armenian side, and the representatives of the Department of Commerce and Department of State from the US side, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia informs Armenian News-NEWS.am. In his remarks, Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan highly appreciated the Armenia-US partnership anchored on common democratic values, human rights and the rule of law. The further strengthening of Armenia-U.S. cooperation aimed at promoting prosperity and ensuring stability and peace in the region was emphasized. During the meeting, the possibilities of deepening cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, energy and high technologies, improvement of business regulations, and implementation of joint projects were discussed. The parties outlined the priorities of further work and further steps in this regard. Before this spring, third-year law student Mischael Cetoute said he had never considered taking a walk barefoot in the rainforest. But when Cetoute signed up for a class on coastal management that sent him to an island off the coast of Chile, he recognized he was in for an adventure. Despite his reservations, Cetoute said he is glad he embraced the experience, because the Bano de Bosque, or guided rainforest meditative walk, helped him connect with the picturesque natural surroundings. It also set the tone for the coming week. Initially, I was very apprehensive about the idea, but I really appreciated that experience and would love to do it again in the future, said Cetoute. It made me realize, Wow, theres this great opportunity to engage with one the worlds most unique ecosystems. He joined 19 other students on an unforgettable excursion to Chiloe Island, about 760 miles south of Santiago, Chile, as part of a University of Miami class called Fieldwork in Coastal Management. Led by Daniel Suman, a professor of environmental science and policy and adjunct professor of law, graduate students from the School of Law and the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science spent spring break living in four cabins of an ecotourism lodge called Comarca Contuy, which is also a working farm. It is the third time Suman has taken a class to Chiloe Island, and as part of their final projects, the students must explore one aspect of the regions sustainable practicesincluding its legal regulations. I want them to get an understanding of environmental problems and challenges in Chiloe and to understand how the government is managing those issues, said Suman, an international expert in the development of marine protected areas. But I also hope they gained an appreciation for this unique ecosystem and island and got a chance to compare Chiles national culture with ours in the United States, in terms of environmental management. Throughout the week, the group ventured around Chiloe Islandlocated in the temperate Patagonian regionand gained firsthand knowledge of a place they had only been learning about in class. Suman coordinated a packed schedule for the students, including guided nature walks, a boat tour of the island (where students observed local wildlife like Magellanic penguins and small Chilean dolphins), discussions with rangers in Chiloe National Park, and conversations with local Indigenous people who are part of the Huilliche ethnic community. One day, they even visited a base of the Chilean Maritime Authority (similar to the Coast Guard), and on other days they toured two of the islands nearly 100 aquaculture facilitiesAquaChile, which grows, packages, and exports farmed Atlantic salmon, and St. Andrews, which grows, processes, and sells mussels to more than 70 countries. Chris Malanuk, a Rosenstiel School student in marine conservation, served as a teaching assistant for the class. Malanuk, who eventually hopes to go into environmental law, said the time in Chiloe was extremely eye-opening for him, particularly the tours of the two aquaculture facilities. At the St. Andrews facility, everyone had to wear full gowns, and the group had to change boots in between the processing and packaging areas to ensure there was no cross-contamination. This trip really added to my perspective about the many complications in environmental policy and law, especially with large industries like aquaculture trying to adhere to a host of regulations, he said. From books and podcasts, Ive heard a lot of criticism of this industry and its sustainability, but what we saw left me with a better impression. I saw how efficient and organized they were, as well as sanitary, and it was really impressive. Amy Feltz, a marine biology masters candidate studying fisheries management, agreed that the aquaculture tours were one of the most interesting parts of the trip. But she also loved learning about eco-centric traditions, like how Chiloe residents try to diversify their farming, so it is less harmful to the Earth. The Chilean government agency, CONAF, also promotes sustainable forestry harvestingby only using trees that are dying or deformedfor firewood and construction of furniture and homes. It was such a great experience overall, and it was both interesting and beneficial to visit aquaculture facilities in a different part of the world, said Feltz, who took advantage of her Spanish skills to learn more about the area from the Chilean owners of Comarca Contuy. This trip improved my worldview quite a bit and made me really interested in working internationally. Cetoute, who plans to go into real estate law, took the class to better prepare himself for working with South Florida developers, so that he can understand the implications of legal decisions on the natural environment. But while in Chiloe, Cetoute said he realized that protecting South Floridas environment is critical to the future of development. This class helped me to understand that Miamis economy is entirely dependent on our beautiful natural environment, and therefore, protecting our coasts and wetlands is necessary for the long-term financial success of any development, he added. Cetoute and Feltz were also fascinated by Chiles leadership in environmental protection, including its network of preserves and national parks that make up more than a fifth of Chiles land area and 41 percent of the nations territorial waters. This broader viewpoint is exactly what Suman hopes his students gain from the experience. Moving away from where we are in the U.S. and seeing how a different country operates helps to create international citizens that have a respect and appreciation for the rest of the world, Suman said. And I think that is so important. Photo: Alanna Kelly The push to end the East Hastings Street homeless encampment continues to be a work in progress for city crews and police as more people returned overnight Wednesday to pitch tents and structures along the sidewalks. Dozens of police officers and teams of city workers in garbage and transport trucks descended on the area again Thursday, closing sections of the street for a second consecutive day in an effort to move people from the strip between Gore and Carrall streets. Though the majority of tents and structures were dismantled by owners or destroyed during Wednesdays enforcement action, city officials did not accomplish their stated goal to end the encampment Wednesday. Towards the end of [Wednesday], there were still some structures and tents that remained in place, and there were some additional structures and tents that naturally popped up overnight, said Sgt. Steve Addison, a Vancouver Police Department media liaison officer. So we're simply out continuing the work and continuing to assist the city as it completes the work that it started yesterday. John Henry moves his personal belongings Thursday after being forced to move out of his tent on East Hastings Street. Photo Mike Howell 'I won't go inside' John Henry was among the people who returned to a spot on the sidewalk, pitching a tent outside a former bank building on East Hastings near Main. Henry lost a tent Wednesday to city crews but said he replaced it and will do the same again as the weekend approaches. I won't go inside, I won't do the shelters theyre sick, theyre corrupt, theyre dirty, said Henry, leaning on a city-supplied bin marked personal storage. Henry said hes been homeless for two years after losing the house he rented in Calgary. He described the action to clear the sidewalks as a dance between people on the street and city officials. If they want to solve this shit, they need something like a centralized housing committee where the landlords cant say no to people who want to rent a place, he said, before suggesting another solution. How about all these offices and highrises that are vacant? Melody Watts and her son, Seth, on East Hastings Street Thursday. Mike Howell 'I want to straighten out' Further up the sidewalk, Melody Watts and her son Seth were packing up their belongings to move again. Glacier Media first met Watts and her son in August 2022, when they were living in a structure outside the Regent Hotel. Watts said she found housing in November but candidly admitted her drug addiction has taken hold of her and Seth. Living in a tent on the street gives both of them access to the drugs they need, she said, noting her accommodation in Vancouver is a long way from the Downtown Eastside. When you're dope sick when you're really sick it's super hard to get here, said Watts, who wants help for her addiction. We prefer to stay here because we are addicted to drugs, and its really overcome our lives. I want to straighten out. I didnt before, but now I do. Ryan Sudds, an organizer with Stop the Sweeps Coalition, said people forced to move from the sidewalks Wednesday scattered overnight in an around the East Hastings Street neighbourhood and slept on the street. Sudds said the action taken by the city to clear the encampment doesnt help people when Vancouver continues to be in homeless and drug overdose crises. He shot back at city officials who described the move as compassionate. This wasn't compassion, he said, standing Thursday morning on East Hastings Street near Gore Street. And when [Mayor] Ken Sim says that that's a lie. Added Sudds: We're all angry, I'm angry. I don't want a tent city. I don't want it. And I want the government to do something about it. I'm on the same side as folks in a certain way who don't want tent cities. I want them over. The way to do that is for the government do the right thing [and build housing] and stop this violence. This stuff is so wrong, and I just want it to stop. Mayor Ken Sim with Police Chief Adam Palmer and city manager Paul Mochrie at city hall Wednesday. Photo Mike Howell 'Making a step in right direction' Reporters heard from Sim, Police Chief Adam Palmer, Fire Chief Karen Fry and city manager Paul Mochrie Wednesday that the encampment had become increasingly unsafe because of violence and fires. The challenges that we see today did not emerge overnight, and they will not be solved overnight, Sim said from city hall. But with today's announcement, I am confident that we are making a step in the right direction. This weeks action by the city stems from an order the fire chief issued in July 2022 to clear the sidewalks of tents and structures. City crews, along with firefighters and police, had been steadily enforcing the order, but Wednesdays push was unprecedented. For two days, convoys of garbage trucks, transport trucks and street cleaners have been rolling up and down East Hastings. Police are on foot, on bicycle and on rooftops to monitor the decampment, with the defiance of people on the street making it difficult to predict when or if the sidewalks will ever be clear. An estimated 100 people were living on the street Wednesday, with city officials saying it couldnt commit to finding 100 shelter spaces; only eight people accepted shelter Wednesday. We're not solving homelessness here today, Mochrie said. That's not what this is about. This is about dealing with a very serious public safety issue. And the structures and the manner in which people are sheltering outdoors right now on Hastings, that has to stop. India may import dairy derivatives such as fat and powder, only in case the situation warrants, in order to help dairy cooperatives to meet the summer demands, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying said in a release Thursday evening. The ministry also said in case of imports are needed, the government will ensure that it is routed only through its agency National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and the needy will be given the stocks at the market price after proper assessment. The government though conceded that there has been some demand and supply gap observed in the dairy sector, primarily due to increased demand for nutritious, safe and hygienic milk and milk products post-COVID-19 pandemic. This comes after MP Sharad Pawar, in a letter addressed to Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Purushottam Rupala, cited a media report on possible imports, saying any decision by the central government would be totally unacceptable because the import of these products will directly affect the income of the domestic milk producers. "The dairy farmers have recently come out of the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis and such a decision will severely impede the revival process of the dairy sector. My concern may please be heeded. I shall be happy if the matter is looked into and the Ministry deters itself from taking any decision to import the milk products," Pawar said in a tweet, attaching his letter to the minister and the news article he referred to. To meet the growing demand and considering the fact that the supply of milk in the ensuing summer season being a lean season may be less, there were demands from several dairy cooperatives for the import of milk fat and powder. "With this background, NDDB along with the government of India has been monitoring the demand-supply situation. Since the process of import takes time, the necessary back end processes are being put in place to timely manage the situation in case of any eventuality," the ministry's release said. Early preparation, according to the government, will ensure that the market is not distorted and the interests of India's dairy farmer is protected, which it said is paramount and central to any decision taken by the government. "The article that Hon'ble MP Shri Sharad Pawar ji is referring to in his letter addressed to Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Shri Purushottam Rupala, which is available in public domain, only states that a decision will be taken after watching the demand-supply position later in the summer, which inter alia means that no final decision has been taken in this regard," the ministry further said. (ANI) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 7 (ANI/PNN): Bank of Maharashtra (BoM), a premier public sector bank in the country, again launched several new products and utilities, in its continual efforts to enhance ease of banking, for its customers and staff. The launches envisage yielding to customer delight, value-added Customer journey and improved Operational efficiency. Shri A S Rajeev, MD & CEO, Bank of Maharashtra said, "Bank of Maharashtra is a young, agile bank ready to bring in desirable changes in line with the evolving Technology, Economy and needs of our customers. So far we have brought in a voyage of transformation with notable digitization measures. Shri Rajeev opined, "We are taking sensible measures to create a digital ecosystem with an array of competitive products and services, to cater to every section of society." Shri Asheesh Pandey, Executive Director, Bank of Maharashtra, said, "Our primary objective is to achieve ease of banking with a 360-degree approach. This can only be achieved through digitization, innovation and collaboration, keeping the need of our customers as paramount." Shri Pandey opined, "New age Banking users need seamless services at the drop of a hat. Technology is the driver which can achieve this objective. This slew of products and services shall take us closer to our vision of giving banking services at the fingertip" To make the Customer journey more efficient and strengthen bank's digitization journey, Bank launched, end-to-end digitised personal loans for customers in several regions viz. Pune region (Pune West, Pune City & Pune East), Bengaluru, Kolkata, Patna and Chandigarh. Existing customers can avail of loans up to Rs.20 lakhs, in a hassle-free manner, through digitised mediums.To add to the customer delight bank came up with features for its Visa and Rupaydebit Cards. Visa International Debit Card is a new edge contactless card that will work on all tap & pay devices, across India and abroad, which can be availed without any joining fees. It can also serve as an electronic purse, where money gets debited instantly from the account whenever the customer pays. The Rupay Select Debit card is an International contactless card that provides benefits such as airport lounge access, health check-up etc. Bank's Mobile banking spectrum further improved through several new features viz. ASBA information, mudra loan information, term deposit ROI chart, Government Schemes, FAQ on Demat Account, Agriculture Loan under Kisan Corner & Gold loan information. Bank's WhatsApp banking (+91 7066036640) utility is further enhanced with the addition of Apply for loan and loan balance inquiry features. Bank's internet banking got a new payment gateway by Integration with one of the Fin-Techs. This integration will allow Bank's Internet banking users to make payments easily and securely with an additional channel on a wide range of merchant's websites. Bank is catering its services to a wide range of customers including Central and State Governments. To give tailored service, Bank integrated Scheme-wise Bank Management System (SBMS) of the states, which is an online management system with an Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) application. Bank is currently catering these services to five states, of which two State Govts. are recently added to the planned schemes of these states. This system is designed to track and monitor financial transactions including scheme-wise fund disbursement and utilization of allocated funds at every administrative level on a real-time basis. This will also enable the easy way of fund release on a real-time basis from Govt. agencies to beneficiaries and track/monitor the same. Bank took a series of initiatives which shall enhance bank's operational efficiency. A utility called, Loan lead added by the Bank for canvassing quality MSME accounts, which is going to capture through Digital Banking Units for the Zero Defect Zero Effect (ZED Certified) for MSME customers. The Integrated Risk Management of Bank is strengthened further by launching an industry outlook for different industries which facilitates the credit appraisal process and Industry wise Risk analysis and Industry Risk Monitoring. Bank shall also have a Market insight dashboard based on the RBI data to get insight & views about the bank's business, its penetration & market share in different geographical areas of the country. This in turn shall help in better resource allocation, better budgeting along with target strategy for different markets. Bank is committed to adopting digital initiatives going forward for having more customer delight. This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN) New Delhi [India], April 7 (ANI/SRV): Agribond, a unique agritech platform, has rapidly connected over 1 million farmers in Gujarat in just 6 months, and is now aiming to expand nationwide to link 10 crore farmers by 2030. Agribond has transformed the way farmers access agricultural information and resources. By empowering farmers with knowledge and resources, Agribond is helping to create a more prosperous and socially respected community of farmers. The company's success in Gujarat is just the beginning as they aim to expand their impact nationwide by connecting and educating 10 crore farmers in India by 2030. Anil Patel, the backbone of Agribond, deeply understands the problems and feelings of farmers. Agribond is an all-on-one agritech platform where farmers can get right information and no-cost agri training from verified agri experts, and they can also get connected to agri input brands from heart to heart. Agribond's education-driven approach to agriculture is driving progress and upskilling farmers in many ways, and its success in Gujarat has been achieved by building trust with farmers and delivering verified solutions to overcome their unique challenges. Download Agribond App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.agribond&hl=en_IN&gl=US&pli=1 Farming in India is a noble profession but comes with its own set of unique problems such as lack of access to right information and high-quality inputs, and a lack of encouragement for education. Agribond aims to solve these issues with its multiple verticals, such as Krushi Mahiti, Khedut Taleem, Pahela Jaano, Pachhi Kharido, and Puchho Prashna. Krushi Mahiti is our knowledge section where we share blogs resolving ongoing farming challenges. Khedut Taleem provides agri training at no cost. Pahela Jaano, Pachhi Kharido guides farmers towards right agri inputs and connects them with brands from heart to heart. If these don't solve their issues, Puchho Prashna will help farmers contact our verified agri experts for no-cost consultations. And now, to encourage more learning, we launched Krushi Prashnottari - Aapo Jawab, Jito Inaam, in which farmers are rewarded for their right answers to agri contests. The verified agri experts consult with 100-150 farmers every day, providing timely and accurate advice to help farmers solve problems and make informed decisions. The service is available on both the website and the app, which is available in the Gujarati language to ensure no language barriers. Khedut Taleem offers practical knowledge to farmers that they can apply to their farms, helping them to improve their yield and profitability. In just 3 months, over 10,000 farmers have taken the course. Certificates and attractive prizes are awarded to farmers who receive A+ grades in the exam, and lucky names are drawn from this group to receive a 5-gram gold coin. 1280 farmers have scored an A grade and 156 have scored an A+ grade on the exams. 2 lucky farmers have even had the fortunate chance to win the 5-gram gold coins. Agribond's only aim is to make farming more prosperous, and its efforts are helping to create a more sustainable and profitable agricultural industry that benefits farmers, their communities, and the country as a whole. Agribond is a beacon of hope for the future of agriculture in India. For more information, visit - www.agribond.in This story has been provided by SRV. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/SRV) The Network Planning Group (NPG) under PM GatiShakti has recommended the railway's four infrastructure projects during its 46th session. These projects will be developed in tandem with the PM GatiShakti principles using the integrated and holistic approach, according to a statement from the ministry of commerce and industry. These projects will also provide multimodal connectivity, seamless movement of goods and passengers as well as increase logistics efficiency across the country. The meeting, held on Sunday, was chaired by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Logistics Division Special Secretary Sumita Dawra. Senior officials from the department of telecommunication; ministry of environment, forest and climate change; ministry of railways; ministry of ports, shipping and waterways; ministry of civil aviation; ministry of Power, NITI Aayog, ministry of road transport and highways, ministry of petroleum and natural Gas and ministry of new and renewable energy, were present in the meeting. A project by the ministry of railways for the construction of a broad-gauge double line between Sawai Madhopur and Jaipur in Rajasthan state was examined by the NPG. The project spans about 131 km from Sawai Madhopur to Jaipur and is deemed to be a significant infrastructure initiative. Upon completion, the project is expected to improve the line capacity to 71 per cent without maintenance block and 80 per cent with maintenance block by the year 2026-27, according to a statement from the ministry of commerce and industry. The Jaipur-Sawai Madhopur route serves as a feeder to the Delhi-Mumbai route, and it represents the primary conduit connecting Jaipur, its environs, and Mumbai, southern and eastern parts of India. The proposed project would help alleviate congestion in the existing single-line network, resulting in uninterrupted traffic flow. Further, NPG has evaluated a project proposed by the ministry of railways for the construction of a new broad-gauge line between Anand Nagar Ghughuli and Maharajganj on Northeastern Railway in Uttar Pradesh. The proposed project spans 53 km from Anand Nagar. The project is expected to enhance the economic development of the region by providing a direct broad-gauge line to the project area. The new line would serve as an alternate and shorter route for trains travelling from Valmikinagar to Gonda via Maharajganj without having to stop at Gorakhpur Junction, according to the statement from the ministry of commerce and industry. Passengers would benefit from this as the only transportation currently available in this section is by road. Additionally, the railway line is expected to facilitate the movement of cement, fertiliser, coal, and foodgrains. Moreover, the railway line would enable freight movement to Nepal. Another project by the railways for the construction of new broad-gauge line between Junagarh and Nabarangpur station in Odisha state was examined by the NPG. The proposed project spans about 116 km from Junagarh to Nabarangpur. The construction of this new line is expected to reduce the distance from Bailadela iron ore mines to various steel plants in the Raipur region by 131 km. Additionally, it is anticipated that the project would facilitate the logistics of steel plant, and goods sheds at Junagarh Road, Jeypore, Koraput, and other goods sheds on the RV line, which are the points of multi-modal logistics, according to the ministry. The ministry of commerce and industry said this new line would provide an alternative route for the movement of coal from Visakhapatnam, Gangavaram, and Kakinada ports to various steel plants in the Raipur region. The provision of road-rail intermodal logistics is expected to enhance traffic to goods sheds at Jeypore, Junagarh Road, and Nabarangpur. Last project by the ministry of railways was for the provision of automatic block signalling on freight dense high utilisation network on Western Railway. The project aims to cover 895 route kilometre (RKM) and four major sections of Western Railway in Maharashtra and Gujarat. According to the statement, the benefit of the project includes enhanced line capacity and section speed to 130 kmph from 110 kmph that is likely to lead to cost reduction for the Railways and increase the overall logistics efficiency. This will result in a reduction of train detention and travel time, especially in the Udhna-Jalgaon, Ahmedabad-Palanpur, Ahmedabad-Viramgam-Samakhiyali, and Viramgam-Rajkot sections. (ANI) State Bank of India, India's biggest lender by assets, recorded the largest decline in market capitalization among the top 20 banks in the Asia Pacific region in the first quarter of 2023 (January-March), according to data compiled by S&P Global Market Intelligence. The analysis produced by global financial market information and analytics services provider showed SBI ranked at 14th, down three notches from the prior quarter, after its market cap fell about 14.7 per cent to USD 56.92 billion. In the year-to-date of 2023, the shares of SBI fell about 14 per cent, data showed. Notably, according to the analysis, more than two-thirds of the largest 20 banks in the Asia Pacific region logged a decline in their market capitalization during the said quarter. Besides SBI, Japan's Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group was the only major bank in the region that also logged a double-digit decline in market capitalization during the quarter. Still, it managed to retain its eighth slot on the list with a market cap of USD 75.58 billion as of March 31. Among other major banks in the region which saw a decline in market cap are China Merchants Bank Co Ltd, Postal Savings Bank of China Co Ltd, National Australia Bank Ltd, and Westpac Banking Corp. They lost value in the range of 6-8 per cent during the quarter. According to the data compilation by S&P Global Market Intelligence, Chinese banks continued to sit atop the list of largest banks in the Asia-Pacific region. 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And that is why we emphasize, that it is better to seek consultancy and advice than paying fines and loosing public trust. The team understands that doing taxes and compliance properly is not just a legal requirement, but also a moral obligation. That's why they are committed to helping individuals and businesses alike to navigate the complexities, ensuring that they get it done right the first time. With a good tax filling partner aside, you can be confident that your taxes and compliance are being handled by people who know the ins and outs of the system and are dedicated to getting you the best possible results. So why risk doing things wrong? Join hands with a Trusted Tax Compliance Partner to handle your tax worries and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you're in good hands. When it comes to any kind income tax notices or departmental communications, time is of the essence. You need quick and reliable help. Whether it's simple information needed or complex tax planning, your tax filing partner should have the knowledge and ability to get you the results you need. In the closing remarks it's essential for all to know that this compliance-focused business is serving Individuals and Businesses in a time-bound and cost-effective manner with a vision that no Individual or SME Business shall be left behind due to inaccessibility of correct tax and compliance practices. This story has been provided by SRV. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/SRV) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 7 (ANI/PNN): Bank of Maharashtra a premier public sector bank in the country, is making strategic meets with various key departments and stakeholders of Tamil Nadu state, to leverage its services through its wide network of Branches in the state. A B Vijayakumar, Executive Director, Bank of Maharashtra led the strategic meets with Policy makers of the state spearheading various key departments, Confederation of Indian Industry, Hindustan Chamber of Commerce and entrepreneurs and representatives of various leading business houses from MSMEs, Healthcare, Food processing, Manufacturing, Chemical industries etc. Nagendar Goud, Zonal Manager, Bank of Maharashtra, Chennai Zone, along with bank's team were also part of the meet. A B Vijayakumar, Executive Director, Bank of Maharashtra on the ongoing strategic meets of the Bank said, "Bank of Maharashtra has crossed the milestone Rs 4 Trillion business figures in FY-23 with 30 per cent growth in advances during FY -23, which indeed is truly noteworthy in Bank's journey. This historic milestone has been supported thoroughly by Bank's expansion of footprints across the country, and transformation driven through digitization measures. Bank's Branch network has crossed 2200 in FY-23 with more than 21 per cent growth in Total business for FY-23. A B Vijayakumar on the Bank's road ahead opined, "We envisage to have at least one branch in all the 757 districts of the country to have sustainable holistic growth. Bank is proactively arranging outreach programs across the country to make our customers avail of our array of tailored products with bottomed-out pricing. Bank is making all-out efforts on facilitating the Government's Social security schemes and flagship schemes to the people at the bottom of the pyramid to make them self-reliant. There has been a series of tailored products being introduced by bank to strengthen the MSMEs. Our Co-lending and digital lending measures along with TReDS platform are strengthening our MSMEs and giving them a hassle-free banking experience." Vijayakumar, Executive Director, BoM, on the opportunities in Tamil Nadu state stated, "Tamil Nadu being one of the major contributors of the Indian GDP remains in the forefront in our business expansion plan and we shall constantly leverage our Business opportunities here while catering best services to the people of the state. Bank of Maharashtra has a total presence of 67 branches in Tamil Nadu state with a business of more than Rs 10,600 crores and Bank is further planning to open around 7 more Branches to strengthen the branch network across the state by June 2023. We are thankful to the policymakers of the state who are ready to proactively engage with us and giving us the opportunity for serving the people of the state in major areas viz. infrastructure development, housing, and urban development, leveraging TReDS platform for MSMEs, outreach to small industries partnering with state Govt., engaging with the start-up ecosystem in the state. With the expansion of further networks and the introduction of start-up branches in Tamil Nadu state in the future, Bank is eyeing major opportunities to become an integral pillar of the State's growth. Bank has recently had a path-breaking moment in its journey by launching its first-ever start-up branch at Pune with a further plan to have dedicated branches for start-ups in Chennai, Mumbai and New Delhi, where we shall contribute to the start-up ecosystem strongly." This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN) The benefits of this personal loan include: - Minimal processing fees - End-to-end digital application process - Simple documentation - Flexible repayment tenures - No end-use restrictions - Quick disbursal The key features of the L&T personal loan available on Bajaj Markets starting from 06 April, 2023, are listed below: The L&T personal loan can be used to meet any planned or unplanned financial needs. This can include medical emergencies, travel expenses, education expenses, debt consolidation, and more. Alternatively, one can choose from 10+ reputed personal loan lending partners on Bajaj Markets. These partners offer personal loans starting from Rs 500 to Rs 50 Lakhs with quick approval and minimal documentation! This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India) Koji Sato, the new president and CEO of Toyota Motor, made his first public speech in a live-streamed news conference on Friday afternoon, according to Nikkei Asia. On this occasion, Vice-President Hiroki Nakajima said the company will release 10 new EV models by 2026, which would amount to about 1.5 million vehicles in sales annually. The president and CEO of Toyota Motor during his speech pledged to pursue electrification "practically," matching the carmaker's product offerings to the demands of particular regions. The world's top automaker has been performing unimpressively in the fast-evolving industry, most notably lagging in sales of electric vehicles. Nikkei Asia reported that as young rivals like Tesla of the US and BYD of China threaten to conquer the rapidly expanding market, Toyota's reshuffled management faces the urgent task of ramping up development in the field. Toyota will also create a specialised unit to develop next-generation EVs, led by one person with "full authority" and in charge of everything from development and production to business, according to Vice President Hiroki Nakajima. The leader of the unit has already been decided and more details will likely be announced in May, he said. Toyota sold 21,650 battery-powered vehicles in 2022, taking just a 0.3 per cent share of the market, according to data by S and P Global Mobility. Nikkei Asia said it is far behind top-seller Tesla's 1.27 million units and runner-up BYD's 810,600. Although it aims to sell 3.5 million by 2030, the past year has been plagued by the recall of its first mass-produced battery-powered model, the bz4X. (ANI) Actors Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani are currently busy shooting for their upcoming musical romantic film 'Satyaprem Ki Katha' in Kashmir. Recently, a picture of the 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2' actors posing with their fans got viral on social media. Kiara looked adorable as she donned a silver shiny grey puffer jacket over blue denim and brown knee-high boots. Kartik, on the other hand, looked dapper in a black coat and check muffler and the duo posed with three cute kids. Take a look at the viral picture. https://twitter.com/diaryofmanish/status/1643269107125460992 Both Kartik and Kiara have been sharing beautiful glimpses from Kashmir on their social media. Taking to Instagram, the 'Shershaah' actor recently shared a picture in which she could be seen sitting on a snow-capped land. https://www.instagram.com/p/CqqDXXYvvWJ/ Earlier, several images and videos from the sets went viral in which Kartik and Kiara were seen shooting amidst snow-clad mountains. Helmed by Sameer Vidhwans, and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, the film is all set to hit the theatres on June 29, 2023. In the film, Kartik will be seen romancing Kiara Advani. The film marks the actor's second collaboration after the blockbuster 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2', which was released in 2022. The film sparked controversy due to its earlier title Satyanarayan Ki Katha, which translates to the story of Satyanarayan, which is another name for the Hindu god Vishnu. In 2021, director Sameer Vidwans issued a statement to announce the change in title. Kartik also reposted the statement on his official Instagram account which said that the title will be changed to avoid hurting sentiments, even if that's purely unintentional. "A title of the film is something that emerges organically through the creative process. We have taken a decision to change the title of our recently announced film 'Satyanarayan ki Katha' to avoid hurting sentiments, even if that's purely unintentional. Producers of the film and the creative team also are in complete support of this decision. We will be announcing a new title for our love story in the due course of our journey. Sincerely, Sameer Vidwans," the statement read. And finally, in 2022, the makers changed the film's name to 'Satyaprem Ki Katha'. Apart from this, Kartik will be seen in Hansal Mehta's next 'Captain India' and in director Kabir Khan's next untitled film. Kiara, on the other hand, will also be seen in an upcoming action drama film 'Game Changer' alongside 'RRR' actor Ram Charan. (ANI) Photo: The Canadian Press Prescription drugs are seen on shelves at a pharmacy in Montreal on March 11, 2021. Nova Scotia's College of Physicians and Surgeons has suspended the physician responsible for writing thousands of prescriptions for Americans seeking the diabetes and weight-loss drug Ozempic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz Nova Scotia's College of Physicians and Surgeons has suspended a doctor it says was responsible for thousands of prescriptions of the diabetes and weight-loss drug Ozempic that were mailed to Americans by two British Columbia pharmacies. Dr. Gus Grant, registrar and CEO of the college, says the regulator first heard about the Nova Scotia-licensed practitioner from media coverage of B.C's recent move to restrict access to the drug for non-residents. B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix announced the restriction last month after revealing that just one doctor had been behind thousands of prescriptions for Ozempic that were sent across the border. Grant says the Nova Scotia college also heard "serious concerns" from B.C.'s College of Pharmacists about the doctor, who lives in the U.S. but is licensed in Nova Scotia as a non-resident, though he hasn't practised medicine there "for many years." He says B.C.'s College of Pharmacists wrote in a letter that the two pharmacies had filled more than 17,000 prescriptions for semaglutide, the non-brand name for Ozempic, from December to February. Grant says the college has now suspended the doctor's licence and launched a full investigation, calling it a "serious matter." B.C.'s restriction on Ozempic prescriptions for non-residents stemmed from concerns about shortages after a high number of Americans began seeking cheaper access to the weight-loss treatment from Canadian suppliers. Actor Yami Gautam who is basking in the success and overwhelmed with the response received from the audience on her recent release 'Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga' on Friday seek blessings of Goddess Durga and Lord Shiva with her husband-filmmaker Aditya Dhar. Taking to Instagram, Yami shared pictures of herself along with her husband praying to lord shiva and Maa Durga. Sharing the pictures, she wrote, "Every ounce of Success and Love I have been receiving is all because of my beloved Maa Durga and Lord Shiva.I truly feel blessed! Love, Gratitude and Thanks to all!" In the pictures, Yami and Aditya are dressed in traditional attire and can be seen performing puja. https://www.instagram.com/p/CquZ1nHPKKB/ Released on Netflix, 'Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga' is helmed by Ajay Singh. The film revolves around a flight attendant (Yami) and her boyfriend (Sunny Kaushal), who chalk out a plan to steal a stash of diamonds to pay off an outstanding debt. However, things take a drastic turn when they realise that the plane they are on is hijacked. On receiving an overwhelming response, Yami said, "The response to Chor Nikalke Bhaga and my character has been gratifying and humbling to say the least. So many of my friends and family who are residing out of India, have also texted and said such sweet things about the film. And most importantly, the way the audiences and my fans are showering so much love to Neha and the film.. it feels surreal, my phone has literally not stopped buzzing since the release." She added, "I am trying to read as many messages and reactions as possible, on social media that people are putting for the film and I feel really happy and motivated reading such good words being written with Chor too, after Lost. and that not only could I manage to surprise them in these roles but also give justice to the faith they have put in me." Yami said love and appreciation from the audience always motivate her to do good work. "It is extremely satisfying to see your audience stand by your choices, and I hope to keep that going. I feel there is a certain responsibility out on me, because of a certain level of expectations that comes from the audience when it comes to my choice of films and my work, and the thought will always make me happy and motivate me to keep getting better at my work," she said further. In the upcoming months, Yami will be seen in 'Dhoom Dhaam' alongside Prateek Gandhi, and 'OMG 2' opposite Akshay Kumar. (ANI) South Korean Foreign Minister, Park Jin, who is currently on a two-day official visit to India, on Friday, talked about the Oscar-winning song 'Naatu Naatu'. Talking to ANI, Park said, "You know, natu natu dance is really popular in Korea. I saw the movie myself, Rise Roar and Revolt which is a fantastic movie. And also the story. I think it was an extraordinary story about the Indian people and history and I'm very glad that our Korean embassy has taken special attention to the Naatu Naatu and this movie and demonstrated our music, singing and dancing to the Indian public which I think is a great way to communicate with each other." Recently, a video of the South Korean embassy in India's staff grooving to the RRR's hit track has gone viral on social media. Not just that, the viral video also piqued the interest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The video was shared by the official Twitter handle of the embassy. The caption read, "We are happy to share with you the Korean Embassy's Naatu Naatu dance cover. See the Korean Ambassador Chang Jae-bok along with the embassy staff Naatu Naatu!!" In the video, the staff at the embassy could be seen dancing together to the beats of 'Naatu Naatu'. Reacting to the video, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote, "Lively and adorable team effort," followed by a thumbs-up emoji. Park also expressed his love for Indian films and said, "I love Bollywood movies. I saw '3 Idiots' and also Shah Rukh Khan's movie 'Chennai Express' which is one of my favourite movies. And also Rise, Roar and Revolt (RRR). So, I think that we need wider cultural exchanges between the two countries especially among young generations to understand each other and to appreciate India's culture and vice versa so that we can intensify our bilateral friendship and cooperation." Park Jin is currently on a two-day official visit to India starting Friday. His visit to India comes as the two countries mark the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. (ANI) The makers also showed additional six-minute footage of the film at the event. According to Deadline, a US-based media company, the trailer and footage were littered with classic Indiana Jones moments, including tuk-tuk races through dusty Moroccan streets, Jones riding a horse through a New York street parade and jumping out of a burning plane with Waller-Bridge and a scene with a giant rolling boulder. The story revolves around an ancient device being pursued by both Jones and a villain played by Mads Mikkelsen." https://twitter.com/IndianaJones/status/1644308677594349569 Helmed by James Mangold, the film also stars Antonio Banderas, John Rhys-Davies, Shaunette Renee Wilson, Thomas Kretschmann, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Olivier Richters and Ethann Isidore in pivotal roles. The previous four parts of the super-hit franchise 'Raiders of the Lost Ark', 'Temple of Doom', 'The Last Crusade' and 'Crystal Skull' were helmed by Steven Spielberg. 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny' will be having its world premiere at the 2023 Cannes film festival, the organizers have confirmed. The film is all set to premiere on May 20 at the prestigious Grand Theatre Lumiere in France. Director James Mangold said, "In 1995, I was honored to come to Cannes with my first film Heavy, as part of Director's Fortnight. Twenty-eight years later, I am proud to return with a slightly larger spectacle. My legendary collaborators and I are very excited to share a brand new and final Indiana Jones adventure with you!" reported Deadline. 'Dial of Destiny' once again stars Harrison Ford as Jones, with Phoebe Waller-Bridge joining the franchise as the archaeologist's goddaughter. Filmmaker James Mangold directed the feature, which centres on 70-year-old Indiana Jones. (Ford is 80 in real life). (ANI) "At the outset, SSPs of Rajouri and Poonch briefed the chair regarding the ongoing counter terror operations in their respective districts. ADGP Jammu Zone impressed upon all GOs of twin districts of Pir Panjal Range to make all out efforts in eliminating terrorism from the area," police said in a statement. "He also stressed on developing a credible intelligence base in the area. Special focus was laid on ensuring border security and maintaining close liaison with other security forces." The ADGP, Jammu Zone accompanied by the DIG, Rajouri-Poonch Range and SSP Rajouri, also visited Romeo Force Headquarters in Rajouri where he held a meeting with the GOC Romeo Force. --IANS zi/vd ( 149 Words) 2023-04-06-20:12:03 (IANS) "Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in the memory of his 4th wife Mumtaz. However, he married three ladies after the demise of Mumtaz," Kurmi claimed. "How could Shah Jahan marry three other women following the death of Mumtaz if he had really loved her?" he wondered. Earlier, the BJP legislator asserted that the Taj Mahal and Qutub Minar should be demolished. In the wake of an alteration in the syllabus of History, Civics and Hindi for class 12, Kurmi issued an appeal to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to raze the two Mughal-era built monuments. He said: "I urge the Prime Minister to immediately demolish the Taj Mahal and Qutub Minar. In place of these two monuments, the world's most beautiful temples should be built." "I also appeal that the architecture of these two temples should be so that no other monuments can come closer to them," the MLA added. Kurmi further said that he was ready to donate at least his one and a half year's salary for the construction of temples. This led to a huge controversy and the Congress leader filed an FIR against the BJP legislator. --IANS tdr/pgh ( 224 Words) 2023-04-06-22:36:05 (IANS) After Congress veteran, AK Antony's son Anil Antony joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Kerala Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan on Thursday said that nothing will happen to Congress. This comes after Congress veteran AK Antony's son Anil Antony joined BJP in Delhi on Thursday. Responding to Anil's decision of joining the BJP, Satheesan said, "Anil Antony has not rendered any services directly or indirectly to Congress or any organizations. Even the assigned responsibility was not properly performed by Anil." "Anil Antony was falling in the lap of BJP. He says very strange reasons for his BJP affiliation. Its danger will be known later. Anil Antony will have to regret this very immature decision later," he added. Talking about AK Antony's image in the party, Satheesan said, "This is the condemnation shown by Anil Antony to his father AK Antony as a son. AK Antony has made clear that he will be against Sangh Parivar and remain a Congress person till his death." "Just because his son joined BJP, AK Antony's political image will not be affected," added the opposition leader in a statement. Earlier in the day, AK Antony said that Anil has taken a wrong move by joining the BJP adding that the decision has pained him. "I am pained by my son Anil's decision to join the BJP. I strongly feel it is a very wrong decision. India's base is unity and religious harmony. After 2014, the Modi government came to power, they are systematically diluting diversity and secularism," AK Antony, who is considered a close aide of the Gandhi family, told mediapersons here. The former union minister alleged that BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) are destroying India's constitutional ethos. He said he will be a Congress worker till his last breath. "BJP believes only in uniformity. Till my last breath, I will oppose all the wrong policies of RSS and BJP. They are destroying the country's constitutional values. I will die as a Congress worker. I am 82. I do not know how long I will live, " added the Congress veteran. Anil Antony joined the BJP in the presence of Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and V Muraleedharan. Kerala BJP chief K Surendran and senior party leaders Tarun Chugh and Anil Baluni were also present at the occasion. Anil Antony thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his induction into BJP. (ANI) The Goa government has directed GMR Goa International Airport Limited (GGIAL) to stop using any suffix or prefix with the name MOPA Airport and instead call it 'Manohar International Airport', stated a letter from Directorate of Civil Aviation on Monday. In a release issued on behalf of the Goa government, the state's director of civil aviation, Dr S. Shanbhogue, pointed out that even after renaming the Greenfield international airport as Manohar International Airport, several airlines, sub-licensees, other airports and even GGIAL were using different names for the facility. "The GGIAL is using 'New Goa' as a pre-fix to 'Manohar International Airport' everywhere. It is reiterated that no prefix or suffix can be used with the name 'Manohar International Airport'; therefore, the GGIAL should stop writing 'New Goa' immediately," the letter stated. The letter further instructed that the name has been approved by the Central cabinet and the state cabinet and a resolution was also passed in the state Assembly. The letter further stated that the GGIAL must carry the same name for all purposes without any prefix or suffix to the term for any branding, social media platforms, announcements at the airports and flights, etc. The director ordered GGIAL to comply with the direction within eight days, warning that any non-compliance will be dealt with seriously. Developed at a cost of about Rs 2,870 crore, the airport is built on the theme of sustainable infrastructure. PM Modi laid the foundation stone of the airport in November 2016. "The development of a Greenfield airport at Mopa, Goa is a prestigious project being developed by the State Government of Goa under public-private-partnership (PPP) mode at a revised sanctioned project cost of Rs 2,870 crore," read the official statement from the government. The new international airport is located in the northern reaches of Goa, about 35 kms away from Panaji, the state capital. The in-principle approval to Goa government for setting up a greenfield airport at Mopa village was granted by the Centre in March 2000. According to official information, the airport is expected to promote the socio-economic development of the state and meet the needs of the tourism industry. It has the potential to serve as a major logistics hub, directly connecting several domestic and international destinations. Multi-modal connectivity is also planned for the airport. Being a world-class airport, the airport will also give visitors the feel and experience of Goa. "The existing airport at Goa which is a Civil Enclave for which a terminal building is maintained by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is a defence airport belonging to the Indian Navy. Goa's Dabolim airport will not be closed for civilian use even after the new international airport at Mopa becomes fully operational," the Ministry of Civil Aviation had said earlier. (ANI) 'Oban' - one of the male Namibian cheetahs, that escaped from the boundaries of Kuno National Park, and was spotted in a village near Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district five days back, has been brought back to the Kuno National Park, officials said on Friday. The Namibian cheetah was rescued from the forest of Shivpuri district on Thursday evening. "Oban was caught around 4-5 pm from the forest area near Bairad village bordering Shivpuri district and has been released to Kuno National Park's Palpur forest," Kuno Wildlife Division District Forest Officer (DFO) Prakash Kumar Verma said. 'Oban' is one of the Cheetahs which were brought from Namibia that were released into the wild of Kuno National Park in the Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh. Officials said that it strayed out of Kuno National Park and reached Jhar Baroda village on April 2, about 20 km from the national park on Wednesday. They said that it was under surveillance. Even after four days when Oban showed no signs of returning to the national park, forest department authorities launched an operation to rescue it. Forest department officials said that on Thursday, Oban's location was traced outside Kuno National Park's boundary. They said that Oban was wandering in the forest bordering the Shivpuri district. Based on its location, the cheetah monitoring team was moved around him. "How Oban was caught cannot be explained, as it comes under our protocol," Verma said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the eight cheetahs brought from Namibia at Kuno National Park on September 17, last year. The cheetah was declared extinct from India in 1952 but 8 cheetahs (5 females and 3 males) were brought from Africa's Namibia as part of 'Project Cheetah' and the government's efforts to revitalise and diversify the country's wildlife and habitat. (ANI) Yoga Mahotsav commemorates 75 days countdown to the International Day of Yoga on June 21. Union Minister Sonowal on April 1 said that the Ministry of Ayush will organise the 'Yoga Mahotsav' on April 7 to commemorate the 75 days to the International Day of Yoga at Assam's Dibrugarh University campus. Last month, Union Minister inaugurated a three-day event named Yoga Mohotsav 2023 in the national capital, to commemorate the 100-day countdown to the International Day of Yoga. 100 Cities and 100 Organisations are participating in the 100-day countdown to promote yoga. (ANI) Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, on Friday said the Centre has been regularly issuing guidelines to the states and Union Territories amid a nationwide upward spiral in the Covid-19 cases. Speaking to ANI, Pawar said, "The Centre has been issuing guidelines to states and UTs regularly in view of the spike in Covid cases. PM Modi also held a review meeting with all states and UTs to assess their Covid preparedness." "Today, Health Minister Dr Mandaviya will hold a review meeting with health ministers of states and UTs," MoS Health Dr Pawar added. On Wednesday, the Covid Empowerment Working Group also conducted a review meeting featuring Dr Rajiv Bahl, DG, ICMR and other senior health officials. According to sources, the objective of the review meeting was two-fold -- to take stock the prevailing Covid situation in the country and assess the preparedness of healthcare facilties to deal with the spike in cases. The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) also attended the meeting. "We need to remain alert but there is no need to worry. Currently, the sub-variant of Omicron, which is circulating in the country, hasn't led to an increase in the rate of hospitalisation," Mandaviya said earlier on Covid19 situation in the country. India on Thursday recorded 5,335 fresh Covid cases in a span of 24 hours, with a daily positivity rate at 3.32 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 2.89 per cent. The fresh cases marked the highest single-day rise in infections in the last nearly six months, the ministry stated on Thursday. Covid cases in the country have seen an upward trend in the past few days, with the daily fresh infections recorded at 2,994 on April 1, 3,824 on April 2, 3,641 on April 3, 3,038 on April 4 and 4,435 on April 5. (ANI) Commentary: Colluding with U.S. for "Taiwan independence" won't stop China's reunification process Xinhua) 08:18, April 07, 2023 BEIJING, April 6 (Xinhua) -- The meeting between the leader of China's Taiwan region Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is another provocative move from Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority to further collude with the United States and "cling to U.S. support to seek independence." Expressing strong condemnation of the provocative move, the spokesperson for the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee vowed stringent actions to punish separatist forces seeking "Taiwan independence," and said China will resolutely safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity. China has repeatedly lodged solemn representations with the U.S. side over Tsai Ing-wen's "transit" trip to the United States. The so-called "transit" is in fact an attempt to seek breakthroughs and propagate "Taiwan independence." There is but one China and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. This is an indisputable fact supported by history and the law. Taiwan has never been a state; its status as part of China is unalterable. Any attempt to distort these facts and dispute or deny the one-China principle is doomed to fail. Taiwan has belonged to China since ancient times. This statement has a sound basis in history and jurisprudence. In 1885, Taiwan officially became a province of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). In addition, new archaeological discoveries and research findings regularly attest to the profound historical and cultural ties between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. A large number of historical records and annals document the development of Taiwan by the Chinese people in earlier periods. Successive Chinese governments have established administrative organs in Taiwan to exercise jurisdiction. In July 1894, Japan launched a war of aggression against China. In April 1895, the defeated Qing government was forced to cede Taiwan and the Penghu Islands to Japan. The Cairo Declaration issued by China, the United States and the United Kingdom on Dec. 1, 1943 stated that it was the goal of the three allies that all the territories Japan had stolen from China, such as Northeast China, Taiwan and the Penghu Islands, should be restored to China. The Potsdam Proclamation was signed by China, the United States and the United Kingdom on July 26, 1945, and subsequently recognized by the Soviet Union. It reiterated: "The terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out." On Oct. 25, 1945, the Chinese government announced that it was resuming the exercise of sovereignty over Taiwan, and the ceremony to accept Japan's surrender in Taiwan Province of the China war theater of the Allied powers was held in Taipei. From that point forward, China recovered Taiwan de jure and de facto through a host of documents with international legal effect. On Oct. 1, 1949, the People's Republic of China (PRC) was founded, becoming the successor to the Republic of China (1912-1949), and the Central People's Government became the only legitimate government of the whole of China. As a natural result, the government of the PRC should enjoy and exercise China's full sovereignty, which includes its sovereignty over Taiwan. At its 26th session in October 1971, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758, which undertook "to restore all its rights to the People's Republic of China and to recognize the representatives of its Government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations, and to expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the place which they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations and in all the organizations related to it." This resolution settled once and for all the political, legal and procedural issues of China's representation in the UN, and it covered the whole country, including Taiwan. It also spelled out that China has one single seat in the UN, so there is no such thing as "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan." Though the reunification of both sides of the Taiwan Strait has not yet been realized, the fact that the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China has never changed. China's sovereignty and territorial integrity brook no division. The one-China principle represents the universal consensus of the international community; it is consistent with the basic norms of international relations. To date, 182 countries including the United States have established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China on the basis of the one-China principle. However, over a period of time, some forces in the United States, who are still lost in delusions of hegemony and trapped in a Cold War mindset, are using Taiwan as a pawn to undermine China's development and progress, and obstruct the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. They are clouding the one-China principle in uncertainty and compromising its integrity. They are contriving official interactions with Taiwan, increasing arms sales, and colluding in the military provocation. To help Taiwan expand its "international space," they are inducing other countries to interfere in Taiwan affairs, and concocting Taiwan-related bills that infringe upon the sovereignty of China in order to embolden these forces and create obstacles to China's peaceful reunification. The anti-China forces who play the "Taiwan card" in the United States have got the uttermost cooperation from Tsai Ing-wen and the Taiwan DPP authority. Since 2016, Tsai Ing-wen and the Taiwan DPP authority have stubbornly adhered to the secessionist position of "Taiwan independence" for their own selfish gains, willingly acted as a pawn for the anti-China forces of the United States to contain China, curried favor with the U.S. side, and recklessly provoked the situation by advocating for "Taiwan independence." Tsai Ing-wen and the DPP authority have continuously expanded the so-called "military expenditure" by purchasing U.S. weapons with money from tax-paying residents in Taiwan, obediently followed what the United States said, and invited U.S. politicians to visit Taiwan. These actions demonstrate the DPP's stance on "Taiwan independence" and are increasingly pushing Taiwan towards a dangerous precipice. Their "ugly posture" to curry favor with the United States aroused strong dissatisfaction among people in Taiwan, and sparked protests against "Taiwan independence" and external interference. A growing number of Taiwan compatriots have come to realize that "Taiwan independence" is a dead end and outsiders cannot be trusted. For the United States, Taiwan is simply a "pawn" to contain China's development, and blindly relying on the United States is detrimental to the well-being of people in Taiwan. "Seeking independence by relying on foreign countries" will lead nowhere, and "using Taiwan as a pawn to contain China is doomed to failure. Taiwan belongs to all the Chinese people, including the 23 million Taiwan compatriots. The resolve of the 1.4 billion Chinese people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and safeguard the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation is unshakable and their will is as firm as a rock. This is the fundamental force for defeating any secessionist attempts for "Taiwan independence." China's development and progress are key factors determining the course of cross-Strait relations and the realization of complete national reunification. In particular, the great achievements over four decades of reform, opening up and modernization have had a profound impact on the historical process of resolving the Taiwan question and realizing complete national reunification. No matter which political party or group is in power in Taiwan, it cannot alter the course of progress in cross-Strait relations or the trend toward national reunification. Peace, development, exchange and cooperation are the general expectations of Taiwan compatriots, and creating a better life is the common aspiration of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Achieving national reunification on the basis of the one-China principle is the general trend of history and the right path forward. We believe that our Taiwan compatriots will stand on the right side of history, be proud of their Chinese identity, understand the general trend, distinguish right from wrong, firmly oppose secession for "Taiwan independence" and foreign interference, and work together to promote peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and safeguard the interests of the Chinese nation. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Photo: The Canadian Press Lawyer Lawrence Greenspon leaves the courthouse in Ottawa on Friday, July 8, 2022. A Canadian woman who was returned from a prison camp in Syria this week has been released on bail in Edmonton pending a terrorism peace bond application. RCMP in Alberta say the 38-year-old woman is subject to a number of conditions while she awaits the peace bond process but did not say what those were. The woman is among a group of six Canadian women and 13 children Global Affairs Canada agreed to repatriate from the prison camps in northeastern Syria in January. Ottawa lawyer Lawrence Greenspon has been helping the women get back to Canada and says four of them, plus 10 children, flew to Canada this week. Two of those women are being held in custody in Brampton, Ont., also awaiting a Tuesday bail hearing as the crown requests a terrorist peace bond for them. The fourth woman was not arrested and Greenspon says all of the children are with relatives. The Central government will provide financial support to states in order to extend relief to those poor prisoners who are unable to avail bail or get released from prison due to non-payment of fines on account of financial constraints, a statement from Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Friday. The step being taken by the MHA will enable poor prisoners, the majority of whom belong to socially disadvantaged or marginalised groups with lower education and income level, to get out of prison. "The broad contours of the scheme have been finalised in consultation with concerned stakeholders under which the Government of India will provide financial support to States in order to extend relief to those poor prisoners who are unable to avail bail or get released from prisons due to non-payment of fine, on account of financial constraints," the statement said. The move is aimed at addressing the issues of undertrials in prisons under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The MHA has been taking various steps to address the issues of undertrials prisoners from time to time. These include the insertion of Section 436A in the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the insertion of a new chapter XXIA 'Plea Bargaining' in the CrPC. Free legal aid is also being provided to poor prisoners through Legal Services Authority at various levels. "Further to ensure that the benefits of the Budget are extended across all intended sections of society, one of the priorities of the Budget, namely the Guiding 'Saptarishis' is Reaching the Last Mile," read the statement. Under this, one of the announcements is 'Support for Poor Prisoners', pointed the statement, adding, "It envisages provision of required financial support to poor persons who are in prisons and unable to afford the penalty or the bail amount." To further strengthen the process, the statement said, "Technology-driven solutions will be put in place to ensure that benefits reach the poor prisoners; reinforcing the E-prisons platform; strengthening of District Legal Services Authority and sensitization and capacity building of stakeholders to ensure that quality legal aid is made available to needy poor prisoners." Prisons are an important part of the Criminal Justice System and play a significant role in upholding the rule of law. The MHA has been sharing important guidelines with State Governments through various advisories issued from time to time. The Ministry has also been providing financial support to the state governments for enhancing and modernizing the security infrastructure in prisons. (ANI) Punjab Police has cancelled the leaves of all cops in the state till April 14, according to an official statement on Friday. "No leave may please be sanctioned to GOS, NGOs and EPOS till 14.04.2023. All kinds of leaves sanctioned previously stand cancelled forthwith. This is being issued with the directions of W/DGP, Punjab," stated an official letter of the Office of the Director General of Police, Punjab. Meanwhile, the Punjab Police on Friday urged people not to believe rumours and fake news of the surrender of the radical preacher and pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh. Responding to a media report on Friday, Punjab Police, in a tweet, said, "This is a fake news and factually incorrect. Please fact-check news before sharing. Don't spread rumours and fake news." Waris Punjab De chief, Amritpal, has been on the run since March 18, the day Punjab Police launched a massive manhunt for him. Amid speculations that the radical preacher is likely to surrender at Amritsar's Golden Temple, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, Parminder Singh Bhandal said last Saturday, "We are continuously working to ensure the safety and security of people in Amritsar. Right now, we are more focused on managing traffic as Baisakhi is around the corner. If Amritpal wants to surrender, we are ready to help him do that in accordance with the law," he said. (ANI) Delhi police busted a gang and arrested three persons on Thursday for allegedly duping people on the pretext of offering jobs in countries like Turkey and Ethiopia, officials said. Till now the accused had duped more than 100 people to the tune of over Rs 50-60 lakhs, they said. The police also seized six mobile phones, two laptops, 68 Indian passports of victims, fake job offer letters from Chinese companies and copies of fake E-Air tickets to Turkey and Ethiopia. The matter came to light after a complaint was lodged by one of the victims at Sarita Vihar police station. Complainant Dilawar Singh lodge a complaint at Sarita Vihar police station on April 3 alleging that he was duped by a group. In his complaint, Singh alleged that the owner of "AR Enterprises" on the pretext of providing jobs in leading overseas firms in Turkey and Ethiopia made him make a payment of Rs 1 lakh through online mode and cash. In return, they gave him a fake e-visa, job offer letter and air ticket and after receiving the amount, the accused person stopped taking his phone calls. Responding to the complaint, on the basis of technical surveillance, the police team apprehended one fraudster, Sohail Nijam (33), a resident of Govindpuri. During the course of an investigation, he confessed to his crime. In his instance, his co-associates Afroj Alam (32) a resident of Jasola Village and Parvej Alam (42) resident of Jamia Nagar were apprehended from their residences respectively. A police official explaining the modus operandi of the gang said that on sustained interrogation, all the accused persons disclosed that they wanted to live a lavish lifestyle. Further, they disclosed that they duped more than 100 job seekers. Accused Sohail disclosed that they created a fake website named "AR Enterprises" to dupe common job aspirants. They used to advertise the name and work profile of the alleged company through social media and lured people on the pretext of providing high-paying jobs in leading overseas firms in Turkey and Ethiopia. "They used to send fake job offer letters through WhatsApp to victims after receipt of payment and keep the passports of the job seekers as a part of the job process. The cheated amount was received by the accused persons in the bank account pertaining to AR Enterprises. Account statement details were obtained and transactions of approx. Rs 50-60 lakh were found in that fake account," officials added. (ANI) He is also scheduled to visit his former Parliamentary constituency Wayanad in Kerala, a day later on April 11. Karnataka is slated to go to Assembly polls on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13. Earlier on Monday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi along with several senior party leaders went to the Gujarat court to file an appeal against his March 23 conviction in a criminal defamation case over his "Modi surname" remark. He was accompanied by his sister and party leader Priyanka Gandhi. Along with her, the Chief Ministers of Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh too came to the court. The court in Gujarat's Surat granted bail till the disposal of the appeal to Rahul Gandhi in the defamation case. The former MP from Wayanad was convicted and sentenced to two years in hail by the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate H H Varma on March 23 in a defamation case over his 'Modi surname' remark in 2019 in Karnataka. The matter pertains to Rahul's remarks at a rally in Karnataka's Kolar in April 2019, Rahul, in a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said, "How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?". Following his conviction, Rahul was disqualified as an MP on March 24, as per a Supreme Court ruling in 2013. Under the ruling, any MP or MLA stands to be disqualified automatically if convicted and sentenced to 2 years or more. (ANI) A mob attacked a police station in Madhya Pradesh's Burhanpur, beat the personnel and freed three persons who were caught on Thursday and were kept in lock-up, the police said on Friday. According to officials, the incident occurred at Nepa Nagar police station on Thursday late at night in which two police personnel sustained injuries. They are undergoing treatment at the district hospital. A CCTV video of the incident has also come to light in which the attackers could be seen vandalising the police station and beating the policeman with sticks. They also broke the glass of the chamber of the police station in charge and also of the main gate of the police station. Burhanpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Rahul Kumar Lodha said, "On Thursday, a man identified as Hema Meghwal, who was involved in the looting of guns at Bakdi outpost, was caught and placed inside the lock-up of Nepanagar police station." Following this, Meghwal's companion, Sudiya along with around 50 other forest encroachers arrived and vandalised the station. They took away Hema Meghwal and two others who were in lock-up, the SP said. He said that two police personnel out of five present on the spot, sustained injuries in the incident. "A case has been registered under IPC sections 307 (attempt to murder), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), and other relevant sections," he said. "We are further looking into it," he added. This was not the first when such an incident occurred. An unruly crowd had attacked a forest range office in Burhanpur in the past as well. As many as six persons, including a forest staff member, sustained injuries after forest encroachers attacked the team that went to remove them from Ghaghrala forests in the district last month. (ANI) P Amudha has also been appointed to enquire about other possible complaints of custodial torture in the Ambasamudram Police station limit. The investigating officer is set to file a report within a month. Balveer Singh had been accused of plucking the teeth of the accused in custody besides crushing the testicles of two accused. The incident came to the light when five brothers came openly and posted videos on social media. However, Tamil NADU Chief Minister MK Stalin on March 29 informed the state assembly that Balveer Singh who has been suspected of custodial torture has been suspended. "A proper investigation will be conducted into the incident and the guilty will not be spared," Stalin had said. (ANI) Prior to this, Bandi Sanjay also held a rally in Karimnagar with several party leaders and workers. Sanjay slammed K Chandrashekhar Rao government and said that BJP would unfurl the saffron flag in the state after assembly elections this year. Reacting to Bharat Rashtra Samithi's allegations that the Centre wants to privatise Singareni Collieries, Bandi Sanjay said that BJP would oppose the privatization. "51 per cent share in Singareni belongs to the state, how can the centre with 49 per cent share privatize? BJP will oppose the privatization of Singareni. Singareni has become like an ATM for the KCR family. Knowing that PM Modi is coming, KCR is conspiring to provoke. All Singareni workers know everything," Sanjay said. Sanjay was arrested by police late on Tuesday night from his Karimnagar residence. Later on Thursday, he was granted bail by a magistrate court in the paper leak case. The court allowed bail on the condition of Rs 20,000 surety from a magistrate's court in Warangal. The court also set the condition that Bandi Sanjay Kumar should not leave the country, cooperate with the investigation and should't threaten the witnesses. On Wednesday, Bandi Sanjay and three others were sent to judicial custody until April 19 in the SSC paper leak case. (ANI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday took a dig at the Congress party and said that they did not want the state to remain a island of peace. CM Chouhan wrote on his Twitter handle, "Madhya Pradesh is 'Amrit Kumbh', but Congress has become 'Vishkumbh' (pot of poison)." Talking to the reporters after planting a sapling at smart city park in the state capital, CM Chouhan said, "Madhya Pradesh is an island of peace. The people of Madhya Pradesh live with love, affection and harmony. Be it Ram Navami or Hanuman Jayanti, it was celebrated not only peacefully but also with harmony in the entire state. But the Congress is not liking this." "Congress wants that Madhya Pradesh should not remain the peace island, there should be riots in the state. I am surprised that the veteran Congress leader, former Chief Minister Kamal Nath, when he was not the Chief Minister before the 2018 elections, even then he was saying loudly that why 90% votes were not cast at the polling booths of Muslims. Get the votes casted otherwise there would be loss," Chouhan said. Everyone has seen the video of that time that he (Nath) works considering vote banks only. Will people be instigated for votes, on the basis of religions and castes? In a recent incident on Wednesday (April 5), Nath is again saying while attending a Roza Iftar party, that riots are breaking out in the country and in the state, Chouhan said. He further asked, "Where are the riots breaking out in Madhya Pradesh? Where is the unrest in the state? But you (Nath) have become so mad in the hunger of votes that you want to throw Madhya Pradesh into the abyss of unrest and disharmony? Do you wish that riots would break out?" Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nath used to get happy seeing the dead bodies, he was happy to see the bodies. This levellessness of politics will not do any good to Madhya Pradesh, the CM said. "We saw that our Muslim brothers showered flowers on Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti at many places. You (Congress) did not like this harmony, but whatever you do, we will not allow Madhya Pradesh to be engulfed in riots. Peace and tranquillity will prevail here," Chouhan said. (ANI) President Murmu flagged off the expedition by handing over the Ice-Axe Baton with National Flag and Expedition Flag. Earlier, the President inaugurated the Gaj Utsav 2023 at the Kaziranga National Park. Speaking on the occasion, the President said that there is a very sacred relationship between nature and humanity. The Kaziranga Gaj Utsav is an annual festival held in the national park to promote elephant conservation and protection. It is organised jointly by the forest and tourism departments to draw attention to and find solutions to the increasing human-elephant conflict in the state. Later on Friday, she will grace the function being organized to mark the completion of 75 years of the Gauhati High Court at Guwahati. President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Assam's Golaghat District on Thursday morning for her three-day visit to the state from April 6-8. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma along with state Governor Gulab Chand Kataria received President Murmu at General Field Helipad, Bokakhat in Golaghat. Taking to Twitter, Assam CM said on Thursday, "Welcome to Assam, Adarniya Rashtrapati ji. We are so honoured to have your august presence and blessings." The President will also make a sortie on the Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft at the Tezpur Air Force Station on April 8. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was in Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh on Friday, hit out at the previous governments, saying that the district was called the "epicentre" of terrorism before 2017. Alleging that Azamgarh's image was destroyed by the previous governments, Amit Shah said that the Bhartiya Janata Party government in the state led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has led it to a new era. "I still remember, when I was Gujarat Home Minister and a blast happened in Ahmedabad and when Police were arresting culprits, the mastermind behind the blast was caught from Azamgarh. Azamgarh's image was destroyed by previous governments," Shah said while addressing a public rally in Azamgarh. He further said that Azamgarh used to face the problem of law and order, but now it is the centre of development now. He further said that electricity used to be made available for 24 hours only during the month of Ramzan. "I have stayed here in Uttar Pradesh during elections and there was no electricity in villages. People used to get 24-hour electricity only during the month of Ramzan. Now, the BJP government in the state has led to a new era after ensuring electricity round the clock," the Union Minister said. Earlier in Kaushambi, Shah took a jibe at Congress and said that it is not the democracy that is in danger, but it is casteism and dynastic politics ('parivarwad'). Saying that the people would not forgive the opposition parties for disrupting Parliament proceedings over Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Lok Sabha based on legislation brought by the Congress-led UPA government. "The country will not forgive opposition parties for disrupting Parliament proceedings over Rahul Gandhi's disqualification... Democracy is not in danger, it is casteism and dynastic politics ('parivarwad') which are in danger," Amit Shah said addressing a public meeting after inaugurating the Kaushambi Mahotsav. Union Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Kaushambi Festival 2023 with CM Yogi Adityanath. On this occasion, both the Deputy Chief Ministers of the state, Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, were also present. "Never in the history of independent India has the budget session ended without one proper discussion. The opposition members didn't let Parliament function, the reason was Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as a member. Rahul insulted India abroad. The people of the country see and understand this as well. Once again, the Modi government will cross 300," he added. (ANI) Thousands practised the Common Yoga Protocol at the Dibrugarh University ground in Assam on World Health Day on Friday at a time when 75 days are left for the International Day of Yoga. Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha addressed the congregation and expressed his happiness and said, "Yoga is one of the greatest boons of Indian heritage. Due to the initiative by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Yoga has regained its past glory as it is now being celebrated across the world. Being a doctor, I understand the benefits that Yoga could yield. Practising Yoga today reveals that a healthy tomorrow is assured." Yoga Mahotsav was organized by the Ministry of Ayush commemorating the 75 Days to International Day of Yoga at the Dibrugarh University campus. Additionally, students from the international level from Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Togo, Nepal, Nigeria, Lesotho, Botswana, Egypt, Namibia practised and thousand of enthusiasts participated at the Yoga Mahotsav here today making it a grand success. The event was graced by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal and along with dignitaries like Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Chowna Main, Union Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas & MP of Dibrugarh, Rameshwar Teli, Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Health & Family Welfare Minister of Assam, Keshab Mahanta; & Vice Chancellor of Dibrugarh University, Professor Jiten Hazarika and Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha. (ANI) As part of the celebration, a walkathon was organised in the national capital here. More than 1,000 doctors and nurses, students, and paramedics participated in the walkathon. They walked from Maulana Azad medical college to IMA headquarters in Indraprastha Marg. The event was held in collaboration with DMA. DR Sharad Agarwal and HSG Dr Anil Nayak Flagged off the Walkathon. As World Health Day is all about health awareness, placards and slogans on various health issues were displayed by the participants of the event. Since 1950 under the sponsorship of WHO and other related organisations, World health day is celebrated on April 7 every year. World Health Day celebration marks the World Health Organisation's (WHO) foundation day. WHO plays a decisive role in the effort to contain diseases which have transnational ramifications and issuing guidelines on them. (ANI) The order was issued by Kozhikode Judicial First Class Magistrate, who reached the Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital, where the accused, Saifi, was undergoing treatment on Friday morning, to complete the process of remand. "City Police Commissioner Rajpal Meena and Munsiff Magistrate arrived at the hospital and the accused has been awarded 14 days of judicial custody," officials said. Saifi was brought to Kozhikode Medical College for medical examination on Thursday morning and was admitted there. According to officials, taking into account the health problems of the accused, the magistrate court transferred the proceedings to the hospital. Judicial First Class Magistrate Manish physically came to the Medical College for proceedings. After speaking to the accused at the Medical College, Magistrate proceeded to remand him. They said that the accused will continue to remain in medical treatment at Kozhikode Govt Medical College Hospital. "A decision on whether to send the accused to police custody will be taken after the fitness of the accused is re-examined. If the court refuses to send the accused in custody, the detailed questioning of the accused will be delayed," they said. Sharukh Saifi was detained in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri on Tuesday night by the Anti-Terrorism Squad of Maharashtra police with the help of the National Investigation Agency(NIA). On Tuesday, he was handed over to Kerala police. The arrest was made based on a sketch released by the kerala police on information provided by an eyewitness. The Maharashtra police had said he confessed to the crime. Saifi is a resident of the Shaheen Bagh in Delhi's Jamia Nagar. A team from Kerala police visited Saifi's residence. Kerala police formed a special investigation team to probe the incident. The attack happened on a moving Alappuzha Kannur executive express on Sunday night. Three people were killed in the attack including an infant and a woman and around 10 were injured. The investigations so far indicated that Saifi was radicalised online. Handwritten notes were also found in which he allegedly said, "Let's do it". (ANI) Earlier in the day, Reddy, who served as the last Chief Minister for undivided Andhra Pradesh, joined BJP at a function organized at the party headquarter. Reddy on March 13, 2023, sent a letter to the Congress' national president Mallikarjun Kharge. "Please accept this letter as my resignation from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress," he wrote in a letter. Reddy became Andhra Pradesh's chief minister on November 11, 2010, but resigned on March 10, 2014, to protest against the Congress party's decision to bifurcate the state. Notably, he even made the assembly pass a resolution opposing the central government's draft bill on the bifurcation of the state. The former CM had resigned from the Congress party in 2014 too, to protest against the then United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government's decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh and carve out Telangana. He formed his own party 'Jai Samaikyandhra' and even fielded candidates in some constituencies in the 2014 elections. In 2018, he again rejoined Congress after meeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He also served as assembly speaker from 2009 to 2010 and chief whip between 2004-09 under YS Rajasekhara Reddy. (ANI) Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar on Friday took a dig at BJP and said while the Congress has released two lists of candidates for assembly polls in the state, the BJP has not been able "to release even its first list". He also said that if Congress forms a government in Karnataka it will change the BJP government's decision to remove religious minorities from the backward classes list, under which they got four per cent reservation. "Till now, Congress party has released two lists of candidates and discussions are going on for a third list and as soon as possible Congress will release the third list too. But the BJP could not be able to release even its first list yet," Shivakumar told the media here "BJP government removed four per cent reservation for minorities which is against the law and the minority (community) is going to support the Congress party. After the Congress government is formed, we will protect the right of minorities and reservation policy will be changed," Shivakumar added. The BJP has said that its first list is likely to be released on April 8. Shivakumar also took potshots at AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi. "I don't want to discuss much on that. Asaduddin Owaisi, he is like A team, B Team and C Team of BJP. People of Karnataka are very intelligent and Congress will make government," Shivakumar said. Elections will be held in Karnataka in a single phase on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13. Congress on Thursday announced its second list of 42 candidates for the Karnataka polls. No decision has yet been taken on who would contest from Kolar. The BJP government in Karnataka has decided to remove religious minorities from the backward classes list and redistributed the four per cent quota. The minorities, it said, will get reservation under the 10 per cent quota for economically weaker sections. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party Chhattisgarh co-in charge Nitin Nabin on Friday alleged that Madrassas pose a "serious challenge" to the governments as "terrorism and Crime" are taught here. Nabin, who is in the state capital to chair the meeting of BJP separate cells, stated this on Friday.Talking to ANI, Nabin said, "I have clearly stated that the way terrorism and crime are being taught in the education system of Madarsas, these places pose serious challenges to all the governments". "It needs to be checked whether madrassas have teachers or anyone else. If slogans of the country's destruction are being raised from a madrassa, then such madrassas should be closed," he added. The BJP leader further said that action should be taken in such places where training is being given for making bombs and other weapons. "We have no objection if anyone offers education but it should be a contribution towards the development of the nation. There is no objection to madrassas offering education but wherever the training of terrorism will be given, such places will be destroyed," he said. He further added, "Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma have taken significant action in this direction". Notably, Uttar Pradesh and Assam are two states that have taken action towards 'regularisation' of Madrassas in the state. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma had said last month that he plans to close all the madrassas in the state. UP government had also directed the officials to take action against the unrecognised madrassas.(ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday took a jibe at the Congress saying that democracy is not in danger; it is casteism and dynastic politics ('parivarwad') that are in danger. "Democracy is not in danger, it is casteism and dynastic politics ('parivarwad') which are in danger," Amit Shah said addressing a public meeting after inaugurating the Kaushambi Mahotsav. Asserting that country will not forgive opposition parties for disrupting Parliament proceedings over Rahul Gandhi's disqualification, Shah said that never in the history of independent India has the budget session ended without one proper discussion. "The opposition members didn't let Parliament function; the reason was Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as a member. Rahul insulted India abroad. The people of the country see and understand this as well. Once again, the Modi government will cross 300," Shah added. Union Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Kaushambi Festival 2023 with CM Yogi Adityanath. On this occasion, both the Deputy Chief Ministers of the state, Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, were also present. In his address, Amit Shah attacked the opposition and appealed to make Narendra Modi the Prime Minister. "We have come here with a resolution to make Modi the Prime Minister again in 2024." The Union Home Minister said that the Supreme Court implemented this law with its judgement. "Manmohan Singh wanted to amend it to protect Lalu Prasad Yadav, but Rahul stopped him. Surat Court convicted Rahul and he was disqualified. So far, 17 members have been expelled and the same happened with Rahul. For this, Congress MPs wore black attire and stalled Parliament proceedings." Attacking Rahul, he went on to say, "It's the duty of all citizens to follow the law, and you were a parliamentarian. You can challenge the conviction and fight it out in court. You have wasted Parliament's time, the country will not forgive you for it," he remarked. Shah said that Congress, the SP, and BSP were putting obstacles in the way of the building of Ram Mandir, but now Lord Ram will sit in the temple of Ayodhya. "Kashmir is ours and that we have eliminated terrorism there. By abolishing Article 370, we made Kashmir ours forever," he said, adding that laying the foundation stone and inaugurating works worth more than Rs 612 crore in a district is a big deal in itself, but the Yogi government did it. More than 16 thousand players took part in the Sansad Khel Spardha organized in Kaushambi. (ANI) Amid the arrival of new Electronic Voting Machines in Odisha, The state chief electoral officer (CEO) Nikunja Bihari Dhal on Friday asked the media to refrain from speculation about early Election in the State. "Electronic Voting Machines have a life span, factory made EVMs are being supplied to different States including Odisha for use in future elections. This has got no connection with the timing of future general elections." said a statement from the office of the chief electoral officer. "There is some speculation in the Media regarding early election has come to our notice, It is requested to refrain from such speculations." the statement added. (ANI) Bandi Sanjay, the chief of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Telangana unit demanded an investigation by a sitting judge in the TSPSC paper leak. "In Telangana, after the TSPSC paper leak nearly 30 lakh student lives are ruined and the main reason is the CM's son. BJP demands his resignation. The youth should be given one lakh rupees. We also demand an investigation by a sitting Judge," Bandi Sanjay said while speaking ANI. He further alleged that there was no investigation into the Telugu paper leak even though it was leaked before the Hindi paper. "To divert that issue, state CM is conspiring in the name of paper leak. Who will leak the Hindi paper? The Telugu paper was leaked before the Hindi paper, there is no investigation into that. Who took the mobile inside the centre, what is the invigilator doing, what happened to the squad, where are the police? The investigation should be made on that," Bandi Sanjay said. The BJP state chief held a grand roadshow on Friday hours after his release from the Karimnagar district, where he had been incarcerated following his arrest in the SSC paper leak case. Sanjay was given bail by a magistrate's court this morning. Sanjay was detained by police late Wednesday night from his Karimnagar residence. He was granted bail by a magistrate "The court accepted our request and bail was granted to Bandi Sanjay on sureties worth Rs 20,000. On production of the release order, he will be released from the Karimnagar jail, " Bandi Sanjay's lawyer Shyam Sunder Reddy informed on Thursday. "However, the court set a condition that he can't leave India without permission," the advocate added. On Wednesday, Bandi Sanjay along with three others was sent to judicial custody till April 19 in the SSC paper leak case."Bandi Sanjay and 3 others have been sent to judicial custody till April 19 and will be shifted to Karimnagar jail," advocate Karuna Sagar, another lawyer of the BJP state chief, had said. "We will file contempt proceedings against the investigating officer for violating the SC guidelines. We are planning to challenge the order in High Court tomorrow," the lawyer had added. Speaking about his arrest, Sanjay Bandi said that there was nothing new for him. "Jails are not new to us, cases are not new, we will fight for sure. We will hold massive rallies in 10 districts over the TSPSC paper leak. The first rally will be held in Warangal. We will fight until our demands are fulfilled," he added. Reacting to Bharat Rashtra Samithi's allegations that the Centre wants to privatise Singareni Collieries, Bandi Sanjay said that BJP would oppose the privatization. "51 per cent share in Singareni belongs to the state, how can the centre with 49 per cent share privatize? BJP will oppose the privatization of Singareni. Singareni has become like an ATM for the KCR family. Knowing that PM Modi is coming, KCR is conspiring to provoke. All Singareni workers know everything," Sanjay said. Sanjay was arrested by police late on Tuesday night from his Karimnagar residence. Later on Thursday, he was granted bail by a magistrate court in the paper leak case. The court allowed bail on the condition of Rs 20,000 surety from a magistrate's court in Warangal. The court also set the condition that Bandi Sanjay Kumar should not leave the country, cooperate with the investigation and should't threaten the witnesses. (ANI) The accused Palash Chandel was later released on bail after furnishing a bail bond. "The accused identified as Palash Chandel, who was absconding for around two months, was arrested on April 6 and later released on bail," Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Anil Kumar Soni said. Police had seized a mobile handset from the accused person, he added. It may be recalled that in the victim's complaint to the police, the victim alleged that Palash was exploiting her sexually for the last few years on the pretext of marriage. Following the victim's complaint, an offence in this connection was registered with Mahila Thana police station in Raipur as zero FIR and then the case was forwarded to Janjgir Champa district police for further action. In her complaint victim also accused Palash Chandel of forcing her to undergo an abortion procedure after she became pregnant. The accused was booked under sections 367(2) (committing rape repeatedly on the same woman) and 313 (causing miscarriage without woman's consent) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). (ANI) Lil Wayne: The rapper also known as Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. has 13 studio albums under his belt and just released a greatest-hits album. 8 p.m. April 9 at Radius Chicago, 640 W Cermak Road; livenation.com Jo Koy: The Filipino comedian and star of the movie Easter Sunday brings his world tour to Chicago. Hes known for drawing inspiration from his colorful family and has multiple stand-up specials on Comedy Central and Netflix. 8 p.m. April 7 at the United Center, 1901 W Madison St.; tickets from $49.50 at ticketmaster.com Advertisement Jagged Little Pill: The jukebox music of Alanis Morissettes music is directed by Diane Paulus and first opened on Broadway in 2019. The national tour arrives in Chicago with a score that includes the entire 1995 album, with a couple of new songs to boot. April 11-23 at the Nederlander Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St.; 800-775-2000 and www.broadwayinchicago.com Grease: Oh, those summer nights. The musical that was born in Chicago book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey gets a full-on Drury Lane production starring Emily Schultheis as Sandy and Jake DiMaggio Lopez as Danny. April 12 to June 4 at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace; 630-530-0111 and www.drurylane.com Advertisement Dan Perlman: The writer and comedian recently starred in Flatbush Misdemeanors on Showtime and is at the Den Theatre in Wicker park this weekend for one night only. 9:30 p.m. April 8 at Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave.; tickets $26-$36.75 at thedentheatre.com Spring Egg-Stravaganza: Celebrate spring at Lincoln Park Zoo with music, free carousel and train rides, outdoor activities and games, and chats with animal experts. Take photos with the Easter Bunny and be sure to bring baskets or bags so the kids can participate in an egg hunt. 8 a.m. to noon April 8 at Lincoln Park Zoo; tickets are $35 at lpzoo.org Bunny Rock 10K, 5K and Egg Dash: Embrace the 80s vibes for this event in Grant Park. Racers will get bunny ears, a shirt, a race bib and a finisher medal. Children participating in the egg dash will get bunny ears, sunglasses, a basket, a race bib and lots of eggs. 10k starts at 9 a.m., 5k starts at 9:15 a.m. and the egg dash starts at 10:30 a.m. April 8 at Arvey Field at Grant Park, 1501 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive; bunnyrock5k.com Queer Art Party Market: The Palmer Square Art Fair and Queer Social Club are hosting this event to celebrate queer art, music, food and community. Noon to 5 p.m. April 9 at Sleeping Village, 3734 W. Belmont Ave.; free (ages 21+), more information at sleeping-village.com Reacting to Sharad Pawar's remarks on the Adani issue and Hindenburg report, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday said that even though NCP has a different view, the 19 like-minded opposition parties are convinced that the Adani group issue is grave in nature. His remarks came after NCP supremo Sharad Pawar told NDTV in an interview that he considers the Hindenburg report on Adani Group as "targeted" and doesn't agree with the need for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the matter. Responding to Pawar's remarks, Jairam Ramesh said that despite any differences, the 20 like-minded Opposition parties are "united" and will fight together to "defeat" BJP. Jairam Ramesh in a statement said, "The NCP may have its view but 19 like-minded Opposition parties are convinced that the PM-linked Adani Group issue is real and very serious". "But all 20 like-minded Opposition parties including NCP are united and will be together in saving the Constitution and our democracy from the BJP's assaults and in defeating the BJP's divisive and destructive political, social and economic agenda," he added. Sharad Pawar told NDTV in an interview, "...Someone gave a statement, and it created uproar in the country. Such statements were given earlier too, which created ruckus. But the importance given to the issue this time was out of proportion. There was a need to think who raised the issue (gave report). We had not heard the name who gave the statement. What is the background? When such issues are raised, they create uproar in the country, the cost is borne...how it impacts the economy. We can't ignore such things, and it seems (it) was targeted". He said the Opposition wanted a Parliamentary Committee to probe the matter and added that BP has a majority in Parliament. "Today, who has the majority in Parliament, the ruling party. The demand was against the ruling party. The committee to probe against the ruling party will have majority members from the ruling party. How will the truth come out, there can be apprehensions. If Supreme Court investigates the matter, where there is no influence, there is a better chance of the truth coming out. And once the SC announced a committee for probing the matter, there was no need of JPC (probe)," Pawar said. A report published by US-based short-seller firm Hindenburg Research surfaced on January 24 alleging that the Adani Group had weak business fundamentals, and was involved in stock manipulation and accounting fraud, among others. The Opposition has been demanding a JPC probe into the matter. The continuous protests by the Opposition also led to regular disruptions and adjournments in Parliament. The Supreme Court had last month set up a six-member expert committee "to investigate if there was a regulatory failure in dealing with the alleged contravention of laws pertaining to the securities market in relation to the Adani Group or other companies". (ANI) "Arrest of the accused underway, more than 130 arrests done so far. Accused are being identified & arrested as per the evidence", Shashank Subhankar, DM, Nalanda told ANI. On Sunday night, a team of top Bihar police officials including the Director General of Police (DGP) RS Bhatti reached Bihar Sharif and conducted an inspection of each and every violence-affected place. DGP Bhatti went to the spot where the firing took place and later held a discussion with senior officials of the police department. Bihar Sharif SP Ashok Mishra and other subordinate police officers were present in the meeting. Earlier on Tuesday, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief had termed the episode in Nalanda's Bihar Sharif a "complete failure" of the State government and alleged that they didn't stop the violence, despite having reports that such a situation might develop. He further said, it (law and order) was a responsibility of the State government. The violence shows a complete failure of the state government, he added. Both West Bengal and Bihar saw communal clashes during the Ram Navami celebrations. Incidents of violence, arson and stone pelting were reported in these states. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 were also enforced in parts of these states in the wake of the violence. (ANI) Jammu and Kashmir police on Friday refuted claims that it was pressurising litigants to withdraw cases from courts after PDP president Mehbooba Mufti's daughter Iltija Mufti levelled allegations against the CID wing. Iltija Mufti on Friday accused the CID wing of pressurising her to refrain from litigating in the High Court. "On learning that accusations have been made that CID of J-K Police has pressurized a litigant to refrain from litigating in the High Court in connection with her passport-related grievances, a quick internal audit was carried out. J-K Police can affirm that the claim of such pressure is completely false," The J-K police in the official statement said that it has come across several items in the media - in print as well as electronic - suggesting that its intelligence and counter-intelligence wing among other things is pressurizing litigants to withdraw from the process of redressing their grievances through courts of law. "Ordinarily, law enforcement agencies do not rush to the public to discuss its work processes and procedures, especially those that are legally ordained to be discreet in the public interest," the police said. The official further said that since some of the published items contain outrightly false assertions attributed to figures with public profiles it has become necessary to point out the untruthfulness of the claims. Nevertheless, officers are being detailed to approach the aggrieved person and ascertain details - who pressurized, when, where and under what circumstances so that the quick internal inquiry if found inadequate can be expanded to take suitable disciplinary action against the delinquent, they added. The statement further added that unfortunately, the public person has apparently projected her personal grievance as also to be the grievance of the public in general in Kashmir. "This is very problematic. J-K Police and its affiliates are public institutions designed to serve the public interest. Denigrating the community's own institutions for grievances that are personal on the basis of false accusations is self-harm," it reads. It further reads that the following statistics would put the records straight in 2020 out of 77686 passport verifications were received, 77644 (99.95%) were cleared, in 2021 out of 75714 passport verifications were received, 75176 (99.68%) were cleared and in 2022 out of 134315 passport verifications received, 128939 (99.61%) were cleared. "Security verifications preceding issue of passports is a high-value public service and it is important to note that J-K Police has detected as many as 54 young boys who were wrongly given passport service during 2017-18," it stated. According to the statement, unfortunately, all of them went to Pakistan, were taken to terrorist camps, and trained in arms, ammunition and explosives, many of them were pushed back into J-K through LoC and 26 of them died while either crossing or during encounters in the hinterland. Lives of 12 of these young boys could be saved by the CID after their return from Pakistan, by bringing them under preventive custody so that terrorist-separatist syndicates do not succeed in pressuring them to join terror ranks. As per the statement eventually, all of the 12 have been handed over to their families. "Today they are alive and happily live amidst their mothers, sisters, brothers, fathers and friends. Unfortunately, 16 of them are still across and trapped in camps under the control of hostile agencies. It is heartbreaking to know that in some cases even parents had no idea that passport services have been extended to these boys of tender age." It also reads that intelligence and investigation have confirmed that in each and every case the visa to Pakistan was arranged at the behest of one or the other leader of a constituent party of Hurriyat. "CID is committed to helping the parents of vulnerable young persons not falling prey to the death traps. J-K Police is committed to speedy and hassle-free clearances for more than 99 per cent who are 'clean and green' and professional filtering of those who should be prevented from availing of the service, some in their own interest and others in the interest of the public," it added. (ANI) A 29-year-old woman has been arrested by the Delhi Police's Crime Branch for allegedly killing a businessman at a hotel in south Delhi's Safdarjung Enclave area, and then robbing him, an official said on Friday. The arrested woman has been identified as Usha, a resident of Panipat in Haryana. The police said that Usha has three aliases -- Anjali, Nikki and Nikita, and she also possessed a fake Aadhaar card. According to the police, on March 31, an information was received at Safdarjung Enclave police station that a man was lying dead in a hotel room following which a police team was dispatched for the spot. During initial investigation, it was revealed that Deepak Sethi (53), a resident of Mayur Vihar, had checked into the Baljeet Lodge guest house the night before at 8.50 p.m. (March 30) along with a woman. However, the woman had left the guest house around midnight. Deepak was found dead the next morning with some froth coming out of mouth. Some stains were spotted on the pillow. It was learnt that he had also consumed liquor. "A handwritten note was also found near the dead body on which it was written 'you are a nice person. Sorry... sorry... sorry... understand that I was in a lot of compulsion, which made me do this to you. Extremely sorry'," said Ravindra Singh Yadav, the Special Commission er of Police (Crime). "A team from the Crime Branch visited the spot and analysed the CCTV footage minutely. The team obtained the copy of the Aadhaar card of the woman who accompanied the deceased, but the Aadhaar card with name 'Anjali' on it was found to be fake," said the Special CP. After analysing more than 500 contact details of Deepak, the police team found some "suspects' numbers" but the prime suspect's mobile number was also found issued on fake documents and it was activated on March 20. "On further scrutiny of the call details records, it was found that the suspect's mobile phone was recharged somewhere in the area of Santgarh. However, the phone was recharged by one Chide, Nigerian national who told police that the phone number belongs to one Nikki a.k.a. Nikita, who is a friend of Madhumita, his live-in partner," said the official. Usha a.k.a. Anjali was arrested by police from Noida. "The team also succeeded in recovering the blue bag and gold ring of the deceased, fake Aadhaar card and mobile phone which was used in crime from the possession," said the official. She also disclosed the sequence about this crime and about the note she had written which was found at the spot of crime. "Madhumita and Usha were friends and Madhumita had introduced Deepak to Usha. Later, Usha and Madhumita had met Deepak on March 30 and they had planned to give him some drugs after reaching the hotel," said the official. "When Deepak became unconscious, she took the bag, mobile phone and some jewellery of Deepak and fled from the hotel along with Madhumita who was waiting for her in a cab. It was a fool proof conspiracy as all the IDs and mobile numbers were taken on forged documents," the official added. --IANS ssh/pgh ( 546 Words) 2023-04-07-19:10:02 (IANS) United States President Joe Biden has blamed Donald Trump's administration for troubled US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in the summer of 2021, according to a document released by the White House. In a 12-page document, the Biden administration said, "President Biden's choices for how to execute a withdrawal from Afghanistan were severely constrained by conditions created by his predecessor." John Kirby, the National Security Council spokesman, said that Biden inherited a depleted operation in Afghanistan from Trump that crippled the US response. "Transitions matter. That's the first lesson learned here. And the incoming administration wasn't afforded much of one," Kirby told reporters. Biden was left with a stark choice: withdraw all US forces or resume fighting with the Taliban. "Clearly we didn't get it right," Kirby said, but he sidestepped questions about whether Biden has any regrets for his decisions and actions leading up to the withdrawal. The document recalled the year 2017 when Trump took the office, at that time there were more than 10,000 troops in Afghanistan but eighteen months later, after introducing more than 3,000 additional troops to just maintain the stalemate, President Trump ordered direct talks with the Taliban without consulting with any of the allies or the partners. "In September 2019, President Trump emboldened the Taliban by publicly considering inviting them to Camp David on the anniversary of 9/11. In February 2020, the United States and the Taliban reached a deal, known as the Doha Agreement, under which the United States agreed to withdraw all U.S. forces from Afghanistan by May 2021. In return, theTaliban agreed to participate in a peace process and refrain from attacking US troops and threatening Afghanistan's major cities--but only as long as the United Statesremained committed to withdrawing by the agreement's deadline," the statement read. The statement revealed that the former US President pressurised the Afghan government to release 5,000 Taliban fighters from prison, including senior war commanders, without securing the release of the only American hostage known to be held by the Taliban. The report, which was led by the National Security Council, says as a result of the Afghanistan experience, US policy has been adjusted to speed up evacuations when safety conditions are deteriorating. According to the official document, in his last 11 months in office, Trump ordered a series of drawdowns of US troops and by June 2020, he reduced the US troops in Afghanistan to8,600 and in September, 4,500. "On September 28, 2021, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Milley testified that, on November 11, he had received an unclassified signed order directing the US military to withdraw all forces from Afghanistan no later than January 15, 2021," the statement read. However, a week later, that order was rescinded and replaced with one to draw down to 2,500 troops by the same date. "During the transition from the Trump Administration to the Biden Administration, the2 outgoing Administrations provided no plans for how to conduct the final withdrawal or toevacuate Americans and Afghan allies. Indeed, there were no such plans in placewhen President Biden came into office, even with the agreed-upon full withdrawal justover three months away," the statement revealed. "As a result, when President Biden took office on January 20, 2021, the Taliban were inthe strongest military position that they had been in since 2001, controlling or contestingnearly half of the country," the statement added. Republicans in Congress have sharply criticized the Afghanistan withdrawal, focusing on the deaths of 13 service members in a suicide bombing at Kabul's airport, which also killed more than 100 Afghans. On August 31, the US completed its military withdrawal from Afghanistan after a huge but chaotic airlift that cost the lives of 13 American troops and left behind thousands of Afghans and hundreds of army members still seeking an escape from Taliban rule. (ANI) The United Kingdom regulator has fined the Chinese-owned video-sharing platform TikTok almost USD 16 million for a number of 'data protection law' breaching, including misusing children's personal data, according to CNN. UK's information commissioner's office fined TikTok USD 15.9 million and estimated that the video-sharing platform allowed over 1 million children under 13 to use its platform in violation of its own rules in 2020. On Tuesday, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) stated that the video-sharing platform had not done enough to see who, at what age, the audience is accessing their platform. TikTok also failed to take action to remove underage children and hadn't provided proper information to users about how their data was being collected and used. The fine applies to rule breaches between May 2018 and July 2020. "There are laws in place to make sure your children are as safe in the digital world as they are in the physical world. TikTok did not abide by those laws," John Edwards, the UK Information Commissioner said. He added, "TikTok should have known better. TikTok should have done better." A spokesperson for TikTok told CNN that the company "invest[s] heavily to help keep under 13s off the platform" and that it disagreed with the ICO's decision. "Our 40,000-strong safety team works around the clock to help keep the platform safe for our community," the spokesperson said. The fine comes as a string of Western countries turns their back on the Chinese-owned video streaming platform. Earlier, Australia, France, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and India, in a very initial phase, banned the TikTok app from all devices with access to the country's parliament by the end of March. Australia will ban the use of TikTok on government devices "as soon as practicable," the country's attorney-general announced earlier on Tuesday, citing security concerns, according to CNN. (ANI) Israel struck two targets in the Gaza Strip on Thursday night after a day of series of rockets fired from the Palestinian territory and Lebanon, according to The Times of Israel. According to Israel Defence Force, it has struck two tunnels, first, one is located in the northern Gaza city of Beit Hanoun and the second one is near the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. The strikes were carried out in the response to "Hamas' security violations" in recent days, IDF said referring to the rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip and a major rocket barrage from Lebanon on Thursday. "The two tunnels did not cross into Israeli territory and did not pose a threat to Israeli civilians," the military says. Additionally, two sites allegedly used by Hamas to manufacture weapons were targeted in the strikes. "The IDF holds the Hamas terrorist organization responsible for all terror activities emanating from the Gaza Strip and it will face the consequences of the security violations against Israel," the IDF added. This attack came after 34 rockets were launched from southern Lebanon at the Western and Upper Galilee, according to The Times of Israel citing the IDF. According to the IDF, the Iron Dome air defence system intercepted 25 of the projectiles. At least five rockets impacted in Israeli territory, while the locations of the remaining four are still unknown, the IDF adds. The rocket impacts caused two minor injuries and some damage. There are no special instructions for civilians following the unprecedented attack, the IDF's Home Front Command says. After the attack, the high-level security cabinet was carried out in Israel where a series of decisions were based on recommendations made by the military and defence officials, the Prime Minister's Office says in a statement, reported by The Times of Israel. In the statement, Netanyahu said, "Israel's response, tonight and later, will exact a significant price from our enemies." Earlier tonight, the IDF struck four Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip over "Hamas' security violations" in recent days, the military said. (ANI) Is Paris' demands 'not to deploy nuclear weapons on foreign territory' addressed to Washington, the Russian Foreign Ministry asked France President Emmanuel Macron and taking a jibe at the US. Taking to Twitter, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, "Russian MFA Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova: Am I correct in understanding that Paris's tough demand is addressed to Washington?" The Ministry also shared two images claiming that the US deployed Nuclear weapons across Europe. It also lists names of six countries where the US had deployed its nuclear weapon "US B61." This remark came after, the French President, while addressing a presser in China, said, "France believes that nuclear weapons should be completely excluded from the conflict in Ukraine. In no case can nuclear weapons be deployed outside the territory of nuclear power, especially in Europe," according to Sputnik News Agency. During a state visit to China, Macron also argued that Russia's recent decision to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus is "out of line" with its obligations under international law. "China and France, [...] given their history of love and adherence to independence, should cooperate to bolster an international order that could meet the challenges of the times," Macron stressed, reported Sputnik News Agency. This statement came after Russian President Vladimir Putin made a statement about plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in the territory of Russia's neighbour and ally Belarus, reported ABC News. Putin has said that the construction of storage facilities for tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus will be complete by July 1 and added that Russia has helped modernize Belarusian warplanes to make them capable of carrying nuclear weapons. The two neighbours have an agreement envisioning close economic, political and military ties. Russia used Belarusian territory as a staging ground for invading Ukraine and has maintained a contingent of troops and weapons there, according to ABC News. Belarus shares a 1,250-kilometer border with NATO members Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. Tactical nuclear weapons, which are intended to destroy enemy troops and weapons on the battlefield, have a relatively short range and a much lower yield compared with nuclear warheads fitted to long-range strategic missiles that are capable of obliterating whole cities.(ANI) Dozens of Uyghurs and American supporters, led by the East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE) and East Turkistan National Movement (ETNM), gathered in front of the US Capitol Building to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the 1990 East Turkistan Uprising on April 5. They urged the United States Congress to introduce and pass legislation recognizing East Turkistan as an occupied territory, the East Turkistan Government said in the press release. The demonstrators urged the international community, particularly the US, to uphold its promise of "Never Again" by passing new legislation and taking measures to end China's ongoing campaign of colonization, genocide and occupation in East Turkistan. Haider Jan, the advocacy coordinator for the East Turkistan National Movement, in the press release said, "The heroic martyrs of Baren demonstrated that the people of East Turkistan were more than willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to liberate their homeland and ensure their independence and existence." The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) violently suppressed Baren township's protests against China's genocidal colonial policies led by Zeydin Yusup on April 5, 1990. In response to the Chinese action, many Turkistanis took up arms and fought against the Chinese forces to regain East Turkistan's independence, according to the press release. The East Turkistan Government in Exile in the press release said, "Over several days, thousands of unarmed Uyghurs and other Turkic people were brutally massacred and over 7,600 East Turkistanis were arrested, many of whom were tortured, sentenced to long prison terms, and executed." It further said, "In the three decades since the 1990 Baren Massacre, China has intensified its colonization, genocide, and occupation efforts in East Turkistan with the clear aim of "preventing East Turkistan's independence." Millions of East Turkistanis, including Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and others have been moved to concentration camps and prisons, where they were subjected to forced labour, forced starvation, forced medication, organ harvesting, rape, sterilization, and even execution, according to the East Government in Exile press release. Amannissa Mukhlis, the Women and Family director for ETNM, in the press release, said, "What is happening in East Turkistan in 2023 even at this very moment is a "Never Again" situation that the international community is failing to prevent and stop." She further said, "To be clear, what the Chinese government is currently doing in East Turkistan is a 21st-century Holocaust-like genocide which almost everyone is aware of but shamelessly ignores." East Turkistan Government in Exile Prime Minister Salih Hudayar called on the US Congress to introduce and pass legislation "recognizing East Turkistan as an occupied country, similar to Tibet." According to the press release, the East Turkistan Government in Exile recently carried out a poll on Facebook and Twitter asking Uyghur and other East Turkistani netizens whether they would choose 'greater autonomy' under China or 'an independent state' as a solution to the ongoing conflict between East Turkistan and China. Approximately 99 per cent of the 2400 respondents chose an "independent state" as a solution to the ongoing conflict between East Turkistan and China. (ANI) The 15th meeting of the bilateral diplomatic consultation mechanism between the foreign ministries of Nepal and China will be held today in Beijing, EPardafas reported. For the meeting, Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal will lead Nepal's delegation. The delegation has already arrived in China for the meeting. China's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Sun Weidong will lead the Chinese delegation, according to the news report. Various issues of bilateral relations are expected to be discussed between the foreign ministries of Nepal and China, as per the EPardafas report. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, border, security and several other issues will be discussed in the meeting. China seeks to hold a discussion on the Global Security Initiative (GSI), a new security architecture floated by Beijing and wants Nepal's support. As per the news report, there is no possibility that a discussion will be held on this matter in the meeting. On February 21, China released the concept paper of the GSI plan. China seeks Nepal's support in the plan, however, Nepal has been denying it. Nepal has time and again conveyed to Beijing that it cannot be part or back the Global Security Initiative (GSI). In the meeting, discussions will be held on China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Global Development Initiative (GDI), EPardafas reported. In 2017, Nepal signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the BRI framework agreement. However, so far, no project under BRI has started in Nepal. China has claimed that the international airport in Pokhara has been built under BRI. However, Nepal has built the airport on its own and has taken a loan for its construction. The meeting between China and Nepal will include a discussion on border management issues. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, China has not allowed the border to be fully functional with Nepal. The checkpoints at Humla and other places are completely blocked. Meanwhile, the contracts received by Chinese firms are operating at a very slow pace, as per the EPardafas report. (ANI) Maksim Stasiv, left, and his mother, Bohdana Stasiv, pose for a portrait during a Palm Sunday service at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Chicago on April 2, 2023. The two are celebrating their first easter in the U.S. after leaving Ukraine. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) As the mothers fingertips touched the soft buds of a pussy willow branch blessed by a priest a few minutes prior, the familiar texture took her back to her homeland, war-torn Ukraine. To begin Holy Week, 48-year-old Bohdana Stasiv and her son Maksim, 24, celebrated Palm Sunday at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Chicagos Ukrainian Village neighborhood. Advertisement The mother and son are preparing for their first Easter in the safety and refuge of the United States since fleeing the war and arriving in Chicago in October. It is not hard to celebrate here, because all of the traditions are offered to us, Bohdana said after church, speaking through an interpreter. It reminds me of what is back home, and it makes me feel at home. Advertisement Since palm trees dont typically grow in the colder climate of Eastern Europe, Ukrainians have traditionally substituted pussy willows during the Palm Sunday observance. The ritual blessing of willow branches, a Ukrainian symbol of spring and rebirth, has been passed down for generations, Bohdana said. Maksim added that he associates pussy willows which adorned the cathedral and were distributed to parishioners after the service with the coming resurrection of Christ. The willow tree was dormant during the wintertime, he said. And Christ was in the tomb and He rose on the third day. In the springtime, (the willow) blooms and offers us a time to reflect and to have faith in the future. John Krawczyszyn, 14, takes a pussy willow from a container during a Palm Sunday service at St Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Chicago on April 2, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) The mother and son came from a small town called Stryi, about 40 miles from the western Ukrainian city of Lviv near the Polish border. As Russian missiles rained down on their country, Maksims health was deteriorating. He suffers from short bowel syndrome, a condition where the body cant properly absorb fluids and nutrients, which can result in malnutrition or death. Logistical problems and damaged infrastructure amid the war made it increasingly difficult for him to access lifesaving medications. Every day, Maksim needs to take total parenteral nutrition, liquid nutrients administered intravenously, to avoid malnourishment. Without it, he fell ill and was admitted to a hospital in Poland for several weeks in September. After regaining his strength, he and his mother flew from Poland to Chicago, where he was treated at Stroger Hospital and has since been released. Advertisement Now my health is better, because I take the medicine that I need, said Maksim, who lives with his mother in the Ukrainian Village neighborhood. Yet they constantly worry about their family and loved ones back home, particularly Maksims father, who is still living in Ukraine. It is difficult for the mother and son to see media images of the devastation in their country. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than a year ago, and there are no signs of cease-fire for Easter. It shouldnt be this way in the 21st century, Bohdana said. As is the custom, after church they gently tapped one another with the willow branches and recited a common saying, which roughly translates as: It is not me hitting you. It is the willow hitting you. In a week, it will be Easter. They bought a Ukrainian Easter bread, called a paska, at the cathedral. They plan to return to church with an Easter basket, to have it blessed by a priest. Advertisement When Bohdana was a child, these rites and all religious practices were forbidden under the regime of the Soviet Union. She recalled harboring willows branches and Easter baskets in secret, years before Ukraine declared independence in 1991. Iryna Ryvak, left, touches Bohdana Stasiv with a pussy willow during a Palm Sunday service at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Chicago on April 2, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) These traditions we continue here, from back home, are absolutely necessary ... to carry through to the future, Maksim said. Small part of eternity Halia Didula returned to Ukraine to celebrate a wedding. Instead, she grieved at a funeral. The 25-year-old had moved from Lviv to Chicago in August to study social work at the University of Illinois at Chicago, on a two-year scholarship that had been planned since 2020. Halia had shared her story with the Tribune in February, at the one-year anniversary of the war, as she was preparing to travel home to attend her sister Ganusyas wedding in March. Advertisement The marriage was to be a simple church ceremony, no party after, because her sisters fiance, Dmitriy, was fighting in the Ukrainian army. In early March, when 23-year-old Ganusya picked Halia up from an airport in Poland, she seemed distraught. She had seen her fiance two weeks earlier, but he had been preoccupied with military operations since then, and their contact had been brief and infrequent. A few days later, they learned that Dmitriy had been killed by a Russian drone attack. For me, it was the hardest time in my life, Halia said. I knew that Dmitriy was killed and I knew that (my sister) would never be as happy as she was with him. That first night after his death, a tearful Ganusya awakened Halia. Please hug me, Halia remembered her saying. I cant close my eyes, because Dmitriy is always in my mind. I still see him. Advertisement The soldiers funeral was attended by thousands, with mourners spilling out behind the pews, Halia said. Halia recalled going on a walk alone with Dmitriy just before he went off war. He told her he didnt want to fight but felt he had to, that it was his responsibility to defend her, her sister and their families. He was always saying this is the only way he could live during the war, to be a soldier, Halia said. He could not imagine to live as a civilian. Now Halia is back in Chicago, but she plans to take a leave of absence from school when the semester concludes in May and to move back home. People stand while attending a Palm Sunday service at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Chicago on April 2, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Life is so uncertain in Ukraine: Missiles could kill her family and friends at any moment, she said, and she wants to spend as much time as possible with her loved ones. She plans to spend Easter at St. Nicholas, which is near her Ukrainian Village apartment. Advertisement For me, Easter is the example, she said. Jesus was killed for us, and we should be strong in our life and live for Him. Her grief, in some ways, has strengthened her faith. This life is just a small part of eternity, she said. If I am Christian and I really believe, I should believe that Dmitriy is happy, that he is risen. He was defending us and the value of freedom, as God gives freedom to everyone. Trauma of war The first explosions sounded like a double boom on Feb. 24, 2022. The blasts awakened Marianna Slyvka around dawn. Still groggy, she and her husband peered out the window of their fifth-floor apartment in Kyiv, saw nothing out of the ordinary and went back to bed. There was another pair of explosions, followed by a few more. Then she stopped counting. Advertisement The Slyvkas were stunned to learn that Russia had invaded Ukraine, launching the largest ground war in Europe since World War II. For several days, the couple and their three children ages 12, 6 and 3 stayed at a crowded bomb shelter at a local school. By night, when the Russian fire typically quelled, they returned home and slept in their hallways, away from any windows or doors in case of an attack. Their 3-year-old had recently been sick with lung inflammation and was still on antibiotics. The breathing conditions in the shelter werent ideal, and they worried his health would suffer. The family left Kyiv a few days after the invasion and drove to the home of Mariannas in-laws, near the border of Moldova. As they left the nations capital, one side of the highway was completely packed with civilian vehicles, bumper to bumper, for days, Marianna said, through an interpreter. On the other side, the family saw an enormous line of new Ukrainian tanks heading into the city. Ukrainian military planes flew close to the ground, whirring overhead. A few days later, the family left Ukraine through Romania and continued driving until they arrived in Germany in early March, where a former classmate of Marinnas husband greeted them. Advertisement As they drove across Europe, volunteers offered them food and drinks every time they stopped the car, Marianna said. The heroism that I had seen in Ukrainian people in just a couple of days, people got together and started organizing to defend their home, she said. And in that same time, complete strangers all around the world and in Europe were very, very willing to help us in any way they could. More than 8 million refugees from Ukraine have been recorded in Europe since the war began, according to United Nations data. The Slyvkas lived in Germany until August, when a family friend in northwest suburban Crystal Lake sponsored them for entry into the United States via the Uniting for Ukraine program, a fast-tracked process the Biden administration launched in response to the war almost a year ago. They settled in northwest suburban Niles. Mariannas husband, who used to own a small clothing manufacturing business in Ukraine, now works as a truck driver. She said her younger two children initially struggled due to the trauma of war. Her 6-year-old son would pick at his cuticles anxiously, until they were raw and bleeding. At first he didnt want to go to kindergarten, saying he had no friends, she said. Advertisement Her 3-year-old son began having tantrums if even the slightest thing didnt go his way, like dropping a cracker. These were behaviors they hadnt exhibited before the war and the familys evacuation under duress, she said. But Marianna said the boys are both much happier now; her kindergartner made several friends and ends every school day with a smile. Although her family is thriving in the Chicago area, shes always scared for her loved ones back home. Marianna used to send them photos of her kids before going to bed. Then Id wake up in the morning to the news that there was a bombing and this civilian building is gone, or this residence or school building got bombed, she said. So I had a very difficult time knowing that my children were here, safe and happy, but that everything in Ukraine is being destroyed. Now I made a new routine where in the morning, I check the news. If everything is fine, I send the pictures. The Slyvkas are Orthodox Christians and will celebrate Easter on April 16, in accordance with the Julian calendar, which is also observed by millions of Serbians, Russians, Greeks, Romanians and other ethnicities around the world. Advertisement The family plans to worship at Holy Protection Parish of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in the Humboldt Park area. In Ukraine, the family would have gathered with a large crowd of extended relatives and friends. This year, the celebration will likely only include the five of them. Per tradition, Marianna intends to dye Easter eggs using the skins of red onions. The custom goes that on Easter, everyone grabs an egg and tries to crack the eggs of other family members, while declaring, Christ is risen! The owner of the last egg to remain unscathed is said to have a special blessing, so we make sure the kids win, Marianna said, laughing. These traditions were passed down to us from the people that came before us, she said. We have a responsibility to pass them down ourselves, seeing as nothing not even the Soviet Union or anything else could destroy them. So why would we let them slip away now? eleventis@chicagotribune.com Uyghurs and Kazakhs gathered in Kazakhstan's Almaty to commemorate the East Turkistan Uprising in Baren in 1990 on April 5. Nearly 200 members of Almaty's Uyghur and Kazakh communities attended the event organized by the East Turkistan National Movement (ETNM) as an Iftar Dinner for East Turkistan. In addition to remembering the 1990 East Turkistan Uprising, also known as the Baren Revolution, the attendees highlighted China's ongoing genocide against Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other Turkic people in East Turkistan and prayed for the liberation of people, the East Turkistan Government in Exile said in the press release. Kazakh and Uyghur Almaty community members delivered speeches about the history of East Turkistan, the Baren Revolution, China's alleged ongoing genocide, and the need for the Central Asian Uyghur and Kazakh communities to support the people in 'Occupied East Turkistan', stated the press release. Others spoke about the importance of the East Turkistan National Movement and its efforts to fight for East Turkistan's and its people's rights. Some of the speakers recited poems and highlighted the importance of Uyghurs living free and independent of China as the only way to put an end to the genocide. At the event, Otkur M, an Uyghur Muslim from Almaty, said, "We should support the East Turkistan National Movement because it is the only organization fighting for our country and people's independence," according to the East Turkistan Government in Exile press release. Chinese People's Liberation Army violently suppressed the protests led by Zeydin Yusup led protests against China's genocidal colonial policies in Baren township on April 5, 1990. As a result, many East Turkistanis took up arms and fought against Chinese forces in order to reclaim East Turkistan's independence, the East Turkistan Government in Exile said in a press release. Over several days, thousands of unarmed Uyghurs and other Turkic people were massacred and more than 7,600 East Turkistanis were arrested, many of whom were tortured, sentenced to prison terms or executed, as per the press release. Raikhana Mukhlis, East Turkistan National Movement's region director for Central Asia in the press release, said, "The Baren Massacre, which occurred in the aftermath of the East Turkistan National Uprising in 1990, was one of many massacres that the East Turkistani people have endured over the last three decades." She added, "Unfortunately, it culminated in the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity perpetrated against Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and other Turkic peoples." Meanwhile, dozens of Uyghurs and American supporters, led by the East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE) and East Turkistan National Movement (ETNM), gathered in front of the US Capitol Building to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the 1990 East Turkistan Uprising on April 5. They urged the United States Congress to introduce and pass legislation recognizing East Turkistan as an occupied territory, the East Turkistan Government said in the press release. The demonstrators urged the international community, particularly the US, to uphold its promise of 'Never Again' by passing new legislation and taking measures to end China's ongoing campaign of colonisation, genocide and 'occupation in East Turkistan'. (ANI) Bhutan's Chhukha Hydropower Plant is expected to export over 1,300 million units of electricity this year due to higher domestic demand. The revision to Ngultrum 3, an increase by 4 of 45 chhetrum (a monetary subunit of the ngultrum) a unit, was announced yesterday through a joint press release owing to Bhutan King Jigme Wangchuk's recent visit to India. The tariff revision was due in January 2021, Bhutan Live reported. With the revised pricing, this year's revenue from electricity exports from the Chhukha Hydropower Plant will be close to Ngultrum 4 billion. Around 1,600 million units of energy were exported to India by the Chhukha Hydropower Plant in the previous year. The Chhukha power tariff was increased by 25 chhetrum in 2014, and another increase of 30 chhetrum was permitted in 2017. Meanwhile, the country is expecting to export about 200 million units of electricity from the Basochhu Hydropower Plant. The plant generates about 280 million units of electricity, annually. The sale is expected to commence between June and October of this year, reported Bhutan Live. The Indian Energy Exchange market prices, however, will determine how much money this plant will generate. (ANI) The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday announced sanctions against Hudson Institute and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and their directors in response to the meeting held between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and the US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in the United States, Global Times reported. Under the countermeasures, universities, institutions, organisations and people in China have been prohibited from carrying out exchanges and cooperation with the two US institutions that have been sanctioned. In addition, four senior representatives from these two organisations have been banned from entering China. The four representatives of these institutions who have been sanctioned include Sarah May Stern, chair of Hudson Institute, John Walters, president of the institute, John Heubusch, executive director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute, and Joanne Drake, chief administrative officer of the institute, as per the Global Times report. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the movable and immovable assets and other types of property of these four individuals will be frozen within China. The sanctioned individuals from the two institutes have been banned from entering China and barred from being issued a visa. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that Hudson Institute and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library provided a platform and convenience for Tsai Ing-wen to engage in "Taiwan independence" separatist activities in the US, as per the Global Times report. The Chinese Foreign Ministry stressed that these actions violated the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communique and seriously damaged China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as per the news report. The Biden administration allowed Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen to "transit" through the US despite China's firm opposition. On April 6, the Chinese Foreign Ministry condemned the meeting between Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California and vowed that Beijing will take "strong and resolute measures" to defend China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to the official statement. Chinese Foreign Ministry in the statement said, "Through the past few days, in disregard of China's serious representations and repeated warnings, the United States deliberately greenlighted the transit of Tsai Ing-wen, leader of the Taiwan region, through the United States. US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the number three in the US government, had a high-profile meeting with Tsai." It further said, "Other US officials and lawmakers also had contact with Tsai and provided the platform for her separatist rhetoric for 'Taiwan independence'. This is essentially the United States acting with Taiwan to connive at 'Taiwan independence' separatists' political activities in the United States, conduct official contact with Taiwan and upgrade the substantive relations with Taiwan, and frame it as a "transit". This is a serious violation of the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communique." Chinese Foreign Ministry's statement came after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen met the United States House of Representatives speaker Kevin McCarthy, on Wednesday (local time). Taking to her official Twitter handle, Tsai Ing-Wen wrote, "Thank you @SpeakerMcCarthyfor the warm welcome. It's a pleasure to be back at the @Reagan_Library & enjoying the #California sunshine as we work to strengthen the bond between #Taiwan & the #US." Kevin McCarthy called it an honour to welcome Tsai Ing-Wen. He tweeted, "The friendship between America and the people of Taiwan has never been stronger. It is my honor to welcome President @iingwen to the @Reagan_Library." In another tweet, McCarthy said, "Taiwan is a successful democracy, thriving economy, and global leader in health and science. Our cooperation continues to expand through dialogue and exchange." (ANI) Abu Dhabi [UAE], April 7 (ANI/WAM): The UAE and Vietnam signed a joint declaration of intent to launch talks on establishing a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) between the two countries. The declaration was signed by Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade; and Nguyen Hong Dien, Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade, during a visit by a Vietnamese delegation to the UAE. During his meeting with the Vietnamese minister, Al Zeyoudi underlined the strong and solid bilateral relations between the UAE and Vietnam, which continue to grow in all fields, particularly trade and the economy. The launch of CEPA negotiations is the result of a shared aspiration on the part of both governments to elevate the existing trade and economic ties to new heights. Al Zeyoudi said, "The UAE is Vietnam's number one Arab trade partner, accounting for 39 per cent of its total trade with the Arab countries. The volume of non-oil trade between the two sides reached AED 29.4 billion (around USD 8 billion) in 2022. The trade in goods other than mobile phones and their accessories, which grew to 46 per cent from less than 36 per cent in 2019, is promising. It totalled AED 13.5 billion (over USD 3.5 billion) last year, up 9 per cent from 2021, and with a 34 and 26 per cent growth from 2020 and 2019 respectively." He added, "We look forward to strengthening our economic and trade partnerships through the UAE's global economic partnerships programme, especially since Vietnam is our largest trade partner in the ASEAN as of 2022. We are pleased to begin the process towards signing a CEPA. The agreement will boost economic and trade cooperation in unprecedented ways, support the private sector's access to both markets and drive new investment opportunities, which will result in a higher volume of trade exchanges." Both sides addressed promoting joint collaboration in the fields of trade, investment, economy, industry, energy, logistics, agriculture, and infrastructure as the CEPA process unfolds. During the meeting, Al Zeyoudi highlighted the UAE's success in creating an environment rich with promising investment opportunities in various sectors. The comprehensive development of the UAE's economic legislation, which enabled full foreign ownership of companies and significantly enhanced the ease of doing business, has reinforced the country's position as a global hub for trade and investment, he noted. Furthermore, Al Zeyoudi urged the Vietnamese private sector to take advantage of the UAE's NextGenFDI initiative, which offers a wide array of incentives to participants. These include relocation support; easy access to bank financing and commercial and residential rental incentives; and expedited business set-up process and issuance of licences, visas, and golden visas, which ensure a smoother market entry process for management and employees. Vietnam's Minister of Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said there were huge "potential and opportunities from the agreement for both countries. The UAE has strengths as a trans-shipment, financial and logistics centre, while Vietnam is also becoming a factory for many crucial, global industries". "The combination of the two countries' competitive advantage will create momentum for trade and investment growth in the near future," he said. The Minister announced that Vietnam had completed a feasibility study on a future agreement, which they viewed as an important preparation before deciding on the start of negotiations. He said that Vietnam also appreciated the technical teams' timely discussions on the draft Terms of Reference (TOR) of this agreement, which means that the two sides can start on the substantive negotiation phase immediately after the negotiating mandate is approved by the Leaders. The UAE's investments in Vietnam total AED 260 million (USD 71 million). Leading UAE companies with investments in the Vietnamese market include DP World, Emirates Investment Authority, Mubadala, and Borouge. (ANI/WAM) India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ruchira Kamboj on Friday handed over the contribution of USD 2 million to the United Nations Trust Fund in support of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), reiterating New Delhi's commitment to peace and stability in Somalia and the Horn of Africa. Earlier, India had contributed USD 4 million to African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). India's Permanent Mission to the UN noted in a press release, "India recognizes the important role being played by the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) in providing an enabling security environment in Somalia, and in containing the terrorism perpetrated by Al-Shabaab." Permanent Mission of India to the UN in a tweet stated, "Today, on behalf of the Government of #India, Ambassador @ruchirakamboj handed over a cheque of US$ 2 million in favour of the @_AfricanUnion Mission in Somalia. India stands committed to building peace and stability in Africa." According to the release, India as an elected member of the UN Security Council has engaged constructively to ensure the smooth transition from African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to ATMIS in line with the security requirements of Somalia. India stressed that the timely and phased handover of security responsibilities from ATMIS to the Somali Security forces will be important and will need to be calibrated to avert security gaps. India also lauded the ATMIS troops and police contributing countries for their sustained commitment and the sacrifices they have made over the years. India's Permanent Mission to the UN stated further that New Delhi was a "steadfast supporter" of AMISOM and involved in peacekeeping in Somalia for more than 30 years. Furthermore, it said, India continues to support African Union and the UN in responding to terrorism and building peace and stability in Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa. Also, in the release, India's Permanent Mission to the UN said, "ATMIS was established on 1 April 2022 pursuant to the Security Council resolution 2628 (2022) and African Union Peace and Security Council Communique 1068th of 8 March 2022 to support the implementation of the Somali Transitional Plan towards a full handover of security responsibility to the Somali security forces and institutions by the end 2024." It further said that the primary role of ATMIS is to reduce the threat posed by the terrorist group Al-Shabaad. (ANI) More than one million Afghan refugees in Pakistan have been trapped between Taliban and Islamabad who is determined to push them into the jaws of harrowing life, Hamid Pakteen wrote in the Afghan Diaspora Network report. Afghans had been fleeing their home for decades, every time the war-torn nation went into conflicts, including at the height of the Cold War and the return of the Taliban. Over the years, Pakistan has played a game of snakes and ladders with Afghans, the report said. The Afghan refugees first became an effective tool for Pakistan to have influence in Afghanistan and advance its strategic interest of keeping Kabul as its "strategic backyard," Afghan Diaspora Network reported. Since the return of Taliban regime in Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, more than 6,00,000 Afghans have fled to Pakistan, adding close to four million existing Afghan refugees, of which only 1.32 million people were registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Pakistan, which is facing an economic crisis is hell-bent to stop the Afghans from entering the country, pushing back hundreds of them each day, Hamid Pakteen wrote in the Afghan Diaspora Network. Earlier, the situation was different. Refugees provided a counterbalance to Pakistan's Afghanistan policy, making Afghans an important tool in Islamabad's strategic planning, as per the news report. The refugees also helped Pakistan to counter adversarial moves from Afghanistan, including on the Durand Line. Pakistan welcomed the Afghan refugees during the Soviet invasion which in turn helped Islamabad to get familiar with the Western military bloc. Afghanistan used Pashtun groups opposed to Pakistan to have its influence over Islamabad while the Pakistan Army played a game of providing weapons in 1975 to Panjshir province to overthrow the Afghanistan regime. Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) used the Cold War scenario to make terrorist sanctuaries from the refugee camps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, as per the Afghan Diaspora Network report. After the Soviets left Afghanistan, the majority of Afghans had little interest in fighting with the Western armies and wanted to live a peaceful life. Big cities in Pakistan, including Karachi and Peshawar, provided a home away from home and Afghans became part of the urban scape in Pakistan, the author wrote in the news report. Islamabad even provided a convenient exit gate to Europe and the US for Afghans. However, the situation changed after 2001 and Afghans were no longer welcome in Pakistan. Pakistan started stricter monitoring of refugees and announced stricter detention and deportation policies and Afghans are being pushed back into the hell from where they had fled. Earlier in March, more than 2,000 Afghan refugees had returned back to their nation from Iran and Pakistan, Taliban appointed Refugees and Repatriation Department announced, according to Khaama Press. Taking to Twitter, the Refugees, and Repatriation department, on Saturday, said that 1851 Afghan refugees from Iran and 331 others from Pakistan came back home through Spin Boldak and Islamqala crossing points, as per the Khaama Press news report. According to the department, out of 331 refugees, 70 were the ones released from Pakistani prisons. (ANI) "A warm welcome to FM @FMParkJin of Republic of Korea on his first official visit to India," Bagchi tweeted on Friday. "As India-South Korea celebrate 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, the visit will strengthen our Special Strategic Partnership," the tweet further read. Park Jin on Friday arrived in India at the Delhi airport. India, South Korea are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. Seoul's foreign ministry on Tuesday said, Jin "plans to visit India later this week to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year," reported Yonhap news agency. The report in Yonhap further read, according to the ministry, foreign Minister Park Jin plans to hold talks with his Indian counterpart, S Jaishankar, during the two-day trip from Friday. South Korean Ministry spokesperson, Lim Soo-suk told reporters, "The two sides plan to discuss ways to develop the countries' special strategic partnership and further bolster ties." During the trip, Park plans to travel to Chennai in southern India to meet with South Korean businesses operating there, Lim added, reported Yonhap news agency. (ANI) South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin on Friday said the country would like to upgrade its existing successful partnership with India and focus on trade, investment and supply chain stabilization in manufacturing sector and also critical minerals. Jin said he will be holding a meeting with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar to further promote India-South Korea partnership. "Commemorating half a century of our diplomatic relationship, we would like to upgrade our existing successful partnership with India. So, I'm going to meet with my counterpart S Jaishankar, the Foreign Minister of India to discuss our efforts, joint efforts to promote our partnership and to explore possibilities in deepening and widening our cooperation," the South Korean Foreign Affairs Minister told ANI. "Important area of special attention is of course trade, investment and supply chain stabilization in the areas of manufacturing sector and also critical minerals. Also in the area of science and technology, South Korea and India have a lot to cooperate with each other such as artificial intelligence, big data, biotechnology and space exploration. So, there is a whole range of possible areas for cooperation," Jin said. Park Jin is currently on a two-day official visit to India starting Friday. His visit to India comes as the two countries mark the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. "This year, Korea and India mark the 50th anniversary of our diplomatic relationship. It's half a century. So, I'm very happy to visit India this time to celebrate this special milestone in our bilateral relationship," the South Korean foreign minister told ANI. He said India is a very important country in South Korea's Indo-Pacific strategy. "South Korea wants to play its roles and responsibilities to contribute to freedom, peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. In that sense, India is our essential partner and close affinity between our two countries dates back 2000 years," Jin said. "India and South Korea have mutual interest and also mutual possibilities of our greater cooperation for the future. We are now living in a very challenging time. For example, the supply chain disruptions and the global technological competition and COVID-19 pandemic, war in Ukraine and climate crisis and all these common challenges cannot be solved by one country alone. And we need cooperation among the countries that have core values like democracy, free markets, human rights and rural law. India is such an important country to Korea in that sense," he added. The South Korean Foreign Minister said that based on our 50 years of successful partnership, we should move forward to the future together. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Friday welcomed South Korea's Foreign Affairs Minister Park Jin to India, said his visit will help strengthen India-South Korea Strategic Partnership. "A warm welcome to FM @FMParkJin of Republic of Korea on his first official visit to India," Bagchi tweeted on Friday. "As India-South Korea celebrate 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, the visit will strengthen our Special Strategic Partnership," the tweet further read. (ANI) "Glad to welcome @FMParkJin of Republic of Korea on his first official visit to India," Jaishankar tweeted on Friday. "Our discussions today will take forward our Special Strategic Partnership," he further wrote. Park on Friday said South Korea would like to upgrade its existing successful partnership with India and focus on trade, investment and supply chain stabilization in manufacturing sector and also critical minerals. Park said he will be holding a meeting with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar to further promote India-South Korea partnership. "Commemorating half a century of our diplomatic relationship, we would like to upgrade our existing successful partnership with India. So, I'm going to meet with my counterpart S Jaishankar, the Foreign Minister of India to discuss our efforts, joint efforts to promote our partnership and to explore possibilities in deepening and widening our cooperation," the South Korean Foreign Affairs Minister told ANI. The South Korean Foreign Minister on Friday also met Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar. "FM of the Republic of Korea @FMParkJin called on Hon'ble @VPIndia Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today," the Indian Vice President tweeted. "Highlighting 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the leaders discussed the significance of cultural & people-to-people ties in strengthening - Special Strategic Partnership," the tweet further read. Park Jin is currently on a two-day official visit to India starting Friday. His visit to India comes as the two countries mark the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Friday welcomed Park Jin to India, said his visit will help strengthen India-South Korea Strategic Partnership. "A warm welcome to FM @FMParkJin of the Republic of Korea on his first official visit to India," Bagchi tweeted on Friday. "As India-South Korea celebrate 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, the visit will strengthen our Special Strategic Partnership," the tweet further read. Park Jin on Friday arrived in India at the Delhi airport. (ANI) "FM of the Republic of Korea @FMParkJin called on Hon'ble @VPIndia Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today," the Indian Vice President tweeted on Friday "Highlighting 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the leaders discussed the significance of cultural & people-to-people ties in strengthening - Special Strategic Partnership," the tweet further read. Park Jin is currently on a two-day official visit to India starting Friday. His visit to India comes as the two countries mark the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Friday welcomed Park Jin to India, said his visit will help strengthen India-South Korea Strategic Partnership. "A warm welcome to FM @FMParkJin of the Republic of Korea on his first official visit to India," Bagchi tweeted on Friday. "As India-South Korea celebrate 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, the visit will strengthen our Special Strategic Partnership," the tweet further read. Park Jin on Friday arrived in India at the Delhi airport. Park on Friday said South Korea would like to upgrade its existing successful partnership with India and focus on trade, investment and supply chain stabilization in manufacturing sector and also critical minerals. Park said he will be holding a meeting with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar to further promote India-South Korea partnership. "Commemorating half a century of our diplomatic relationship, we would like to upgrade our existing successful partnership with India. So, I'm going to meet with my counterpart S Jaishankar, the Foreign Minister of India to discuss our efforts, joint efforts to promote our partnership and to explore possibilities in deepening and widening our cooperation," the South Korean Foreign Affairs Minister told ANI. (ANI) For many in the Chicago Fire Department, the two firefighters who perished in separate back-to-back blazes this week werent just colleagues. Lt. Jan Tchoryk, 55, who died Wednesday in a Gold Coast fire, and firefighter Jermaine Pelt, 49, who died Tuesday during a West Pullman blaze, were more like brothers to those who worked alongside them. Advertisement The unprecedented consecutive deaths have touched many throughout the tight-knit department. And while the fallen first responders funeral arrangements have yet to be made, fellow firefighters are grieving and remembering the men. I dont even think we had time to process the first one, said Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2 spokesman Patrick Quane. Then 24 hours later, it happened all over again. Advertisement The Chicago Fire Department veteran couldnt remember a time when separate blazes left two firefighters dead in two days, but recalled losing two colleagues in the line of duty within one month in late 2010. The first thing you feel is failure. We want to be able to save our brother or sister if they go down, Quane said. And when you cant do that, you feel like a failure. We want to be successful 100% of the time. Unfortunately, in this business, were not. [ It just doesnt happen. But today, it did: Veteran fire lieutenant second to die in as many days following extra-alarm blaze at Gold Coast high-rise ] The life-or-death work creates a special type of bond, Quane noted. And yet, over 500 badges hang on the fire academys wall, he added, meaning many in the department know the pain firefighters close with Tchoryk and Pelt are feeling. Some firefighters isolate themselves from others after a death. Returning to work is hard, Quane said. And then the alarm rings. Going back and hearing that bell go off again, having some of those triggers, does make it difficult to go back sometimes, he said. Firefighter Reynaldo Vargas, who worked with Tchoryk for his entire 15-year-career, heads back to work Friday, he told the Tribune. Vargas saw Tchoryk Wednesday morning before he died of a heart attack on a stairwell while responding to a Gold Coast high-rise fire. Tchoryk had been standing in the kitchen having a cup of coffee when the bells rang. He dropped what he was doing and got ready to go, Vargas said. The guys at the firehouse called Tchoryk a jack-of-all because he knew a bit about everything. Advertisement Down to fixing a lawn mower, up to firefighter tactics, Vargas said. Chicago firefighter Jermaine Pelt, left, was killed in a fire April 4, 2023, in the West Pullman neighborhood. Firefighter Lt. Jan Tchoryk, right, was killed in a Gold Coast high-rise apartment building fire on April 5, 2023. (Chicago Fire Department and family photos) Vargas thought of him as a father figure. Tchoryk is the closest person hes known to die fighting a fire, he said. The brutal reality that resulted from what had seemed like a routine call hasnt set in for many of the firefighters who knew the man, Vargas said. When hes back at work and an emergency call comes, he said, hell have to focus on what hes doing. Despite the departments many resources, its a challenge. But the firefighters will share stories and grieve together, as they always do, he said. It is a lot to deal with. It is a lot to process, Vargas said. We think everything will be fine, of course. But at the end of the day you really dont. You never know what could happen. Vargas said the death made him appreciate his wife and young children more. On Thursday, Tchoryks cousin Julian Korpyta recalled a Florida Gulf Coast fishing vacation the two took together in September. His cousin, a Ukrainian born in Poland who made a life in Chicago, loved the outdoors, he said. When Korpyta had transplant surgery for cancer two years ago, Tchoryk brought flowers and cut the grass. Advertisement He was there for you, Korpyta said. He was my cousin, but he was more like my brother, you know? Tragic deaths such as these often lead to post-traumatic stress or trauma-based fear and emotional wounds, including the feelings of helplessness, shame and guilt, said Jeff Dill, a retired Palatine Rural Fire Protection District captain and founder of the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance. The moral injury hits each firefighter differently, Dill said, it might appear as questions: What if I would have done this? What if I wanted to have done this? No one wins when you start thinking like that, Dill said. After Pelt died of smoke inhalation at a West Pullman residential fire Tuesday, many in the department are wondering what led to his death, department spokesman Larry Langford said. The question is, Why? Why? Langford said. Advertisement Other firefighters are wondering if they need to be in better shape for their grueling work, he added. Lt. Luther Riley, who worked with Pelt for five years, said Pelt was a pillar of the West Pullman community. Pelt, born and raised in the neighborhood, used to cook at the firehouse and run out to check on his mother and father in the middle of the day. He would drop anything to help a friend. I dont know what happened, but it doesnt matter because you know what? Hell be missed, Riley said through tears. Well really need each other in the next few weeks. Its rough. [ Father of fallen Chicago firefighter in West Pullman blaze honors son and finds strength in faith: When God calls, weve got to answer ] Langford said the deaths are hitting everybody. Its still hard, he said. Its just personal devastation. Members of the public can support firefighters by reflecting on fire safety in their homes to make sure you dont have a fire the department members have to risk their lives to put out, Langford said. And if they see someone in uniform, they can offer a thank you, compassion and prayer too. Advertisement It means a lot. It goes a long way, he said. The departments clinical therapists are available to firefighters across the department and will pay special attention to the firehouses most affected by the deaths, Langford said. And, as they always do, the fire houses will talk things out, he added. On Wednesday, Chicago police brought a couple of emotional support dogs to the Tower Ladder 10 station, where Tchoryk worked. Such shows of support make a difference, said Jack Berry, executive director of the Illinois Firefighter Peer Support, a group that takes crisis calls and connects first responders to over 200 peers who have been through similar experiences across the state. The first responder instinct to take care of others sometimes makes it difficult for firefighters to ask for help, Berry said. Were fixers, he said. We tend to want to go and fix everything for everybody, but then we dont take time to help ourselves. Advertisement The retired Franklin Park Fire Department lieutenant encouraged firefighters to reach out and talk. The culture of fire departments is shifting, he said. Were starting to make progress and change the culture where we make it a safe place to reach out for help. And we educate firefighters that its OK to not be OK. Many firefighters feel most comfortable talking with peers who have been through emergency situations like them, said Dr. Jaime Brower, vice president of peer support & clinician training and certification at Lexipol, a wellness company that serves public safety and government workers. Chicago Fire Department members drape memorial bunting over the engine house on West 119th Street where firefighter Jermaine Pelt worked after Pelt died, April 4, 2023. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) You have to understand the world of fire, she said. And you have to understand how close firefighters all are together. They are family, and so it really is the equivalent of losing a family member. Its devastating. Firefighters dont have time to grieve and mourn the way that many people do, she said. They have to go right back to work. And it can take years for firefighters to recover. When there is a loss, it affects everyone. Its a loss for folks in Chicago fire, but its also for folks all over the country. They are all reminded very acutely of the risks that they take every day to serve their communities, Brower said. Advertisement Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > Firefighters know all too well the service oath theyve taken and the risks their job entails, Quane said. The bells not gonna stop going off, he said. Theres always going to be a need for us. The way to move forward, he said, is to carry on Tchoryk and Pelts legacy and commitment to the job. Were truly resilient. And I think well stick together. Weve been through tough times like this before, Quane said. I think well get through it. And theres no better way to honor our brothers by carrying on. adperez@chicagotribune.com nsalzman@chicagotribune.com Advertisement jsheridan@chicagotribune.com Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar on Friday met with the South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin, while the latter is on a two-day visit to India on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of India-South Korea relations. MEA said that he is glad to have the opportunity to take forward a special strategic partnership. In the opening remarks by EAM at the meeting with the FM of the Republic of South Korea Park Jin, Jaishankar welcomed his Korean Counterpart to India and said that he can certainly assure that this would be a very productive visit. "Mujhe India aa kar aur aapse mil kar bhut khushi ho rahi hai," says South Korea's Foreign Minister Park Jin in Hindi as he thanks EAM Dr S Jaishankar for the warm welcome. "I'm really today very glad to have the opportunity to take forward a special strategic partnership. This is also the 50th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations and you come at a very good time because our trade is very good. our political relations are very Cooperative," he added. Jaishankar also acknowledged that Park Jin is visiting the Hyundai plant in Chennai on Saturday. "I know tomorrow you're visiting the Hyundai plant in Chennai. Hyundai in many ways is a symbol of the relationship that we have," he added. "We have also expanded our relationship today to cover the Economic Development Cooperation Fund. We are doing projects under that. And we've recently had a very large delegation of Korean Buddhists who actually walked 1200 Kilometers. It was an amazing thing, which they did for history," said EAM. Korean FM said, "India has been playing an increasingly pivotal role in the international arena and is set to further impact the world as the president of the G20 this year. India has also demonstrated to the world its cultural prowess with its recent Oscar wins & I must say the "Naatu Naatu" song and dance has captivated the world." "Korea and India share so much in common and we are both exemplary democracies, vibrant economies and cultural powers. We are both committed to contributing to a free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region," Korean FM added. MEA Jaishankar said that there are a lot of strategic issues which he wants to discuss with his Korean counterpart. "So whether it's people to people, it's economic, it's political. There are a lot of strategic issues which I want to discuss. So once again, it's so timely that you have come here and I welcome you very warmly," Jaishankar said in his opening remarks. South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin on Friday said the country would like to upgrade its existing successful partnership with India and focus on trade, investment and supply chain stabilization in the manufacturing sector and also critical minerals. Park Jin is currently on a two-day official visit to India starting Friday. His visit to India comes as the two countries mark the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. Park Jin also called on Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar before his meeting with the MEA. "FM of the Republic of Korea @FMParkJin called on Hon'ble @VPIndia Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today. Highlighting 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the leaders discussed the significance of cultural & people-to-people ties in strengthening - Special Strategic Partnership," the Vice President tweeted. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Friday welcomed South Korea's Foreign Affairs Minister Park Jin to India, saying his visit will help strengthen India-South Korea Strategic Partnership. "A warm welcome to FM @FMParkJin of Republic of Korea on his first official visit to India," Bagchi tweeted on Friday. "As India-South Korea celebrate 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, the visit will strengthen our Special Strategic Partnership," the tweet further read. (ANI) South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin on Friday expressed his gratitude to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for extending a warm welcome during his India visit. "Mujhe India aa kar aur aapse mil kar bhut khushi ho rahi hai," the South Korean Foreign Minister said after Jaishankar on Friday welcomed him to India. Park Jin during a meeting with Jaishankar said: "India has been playing an increasingly pivotal role in the international arena and is set to further impact the world as the president of the G20 this year". "India has also demonstrated to the world its cultural prowess with its recent Oscar wins and I must say the "Naatu Naatu" song and dance has captivated the world," he added. Park further said that Korea and India share so much in common and are both exemplary democracies, vibrant economies and cultural powers. "We are both committed to contributing to a free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region," Park said. EAM Jaishankar, his South Korean counterpart Park Jin on Friday held discussions on taking forward India-South Korea Special Strategic Partnership. "Glad to welcome @FMParkJin of Republic of Korea on his first official visit to India," Jaishankar tweeted on Friday. "Our discussions today will take forward our Special Strategic Partnership," he further wrote. Park Jin on Friday also met the Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar. "FM of the Republic of Korea @FMParkJin called on Hon'ble @VPIndia Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today," the Indian Vice President tweeted on Friday. "Highlighting 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the leaders discussed the significance of cultural & people-to-people ties in strengthening - Special Strategic Partnership," the tweet further read. Park on Friday said South Korea would like to upgrade its existing successful partnership with India and focus on trade, investment and supply chain stabilization in manufacturing sector and also critical minerals. Park said he will be holding a meeting with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar to further promote India-South Korea partnership. "Commemorating half a century of our diplomatic relationship, we would like to upgrade our existing successful partnership with India. So, I'm going to meet with my counterpart S Jaishankar, the Foreign Minister of India to discuss our efforts, joint efforts to promote our partnership and to explore possibilities in deepening and widening our cooperation," the South Korean Foreign Affairs Minister told ANI. Park Jin is currently on a two-day official visit to India starting Friday. His visit to India comes as the two countries mark the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. (ANI) The First Global Buddhist Summit organised by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) will be held in Delhi on April 20-21. The theme of the summit is 'Response to Contemporary Challenges from Philosophy to Praxis'. Dhammapiya, General Secretary of the IBC, stated that many issues in the world can be resolved by following the precepts of the Buddha. The summit is aimed at exploring answers to multifarious issues faced by humanity globally. Keeping Buddhism as its base, eminent scholars from across the globe will try to find solutions to various problems humans are encountering every day. It will cover subjects such as Buddhism and peace, environmental crisis, health and sustainability, and the preservation of the Nalanda Buddhist tradition, as well as Buddhist pilgrimage, living heritage and Buddha relics. The federation, which has its headquarters in Delhi, aims to unite the Buddhist community so they can think about the major global issues, discuss and be motivated to work together. According to him, there is a conflict between two extreme viewpoints in the universe, and the Buddha's middle path and balance hold the key to its resolution, reported NewsonAir. Abhijeet Haldar, Director General of the International Buddhist Confederation, said that at present the world is facing major challenges like war, violence, natural calamities, and climate change. Only man can solve these man-made problems. In this regard, an effort is being made to find a solution by bringing the best Buddhist thinkers from all over the world on a single platform. Its purpose is to convey the message to the world. This conference will have 180 participants from 30 countries around the globe. In addition to that, thinkers and Buddhist religious leaders from across the nation will take part. Participants will also come from as far away as Mexico and Brazil. The seeds of the International Buddhist Confederation were sown in the Autumn of 2010, during Ven. Lama Lobzang's visit to Sri Lanka. There, some respected Sangha members suggested that India host a large-scale international Buddhist conference. The planning then began for one of the largest international gatherings of Buddhists ever to take place on Indian soil - the Global Buddhist Congregation. The suggestion was then made that a permanent umbrella body should be formed to carry the work and vision of the Global Buddhist Congregation forward into the future and to represent the enduring interests of Buddhism in the world. Moral and cultural degradation, religious conflicts, corruption, a lack of food and water security, unemployment, environmental degradation, poverty, malnutrition, and other serious problems confront societies around the world. Every technological advancement that man has achieved in recent years has had a negative impact on society. The alienation among various communities is becoming the main cause of disintegration, leading to hyper-individuality. This has resulted in a lack of empathy for those who are suffering, basically instilling selfishness and greed in society. Compassion, solidarity, and peace are ideals that are especially important in these times. According to the spiritual leader Dalai Lama, global issues can be resolved, but only through human effort, understanding, and the development of a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood. "To do this, we need to cultivate a universal responsibility for one another and for the planet we share, based on a good heart and awareness," he said that it is the real key to human survival. (ANI) "The FSB investigation charged Gershkovich with espionage in the interests of his country. He categorically denied all accusations and stated that he was engaged in journalistic activities in Russia," an agency representative said, according to state news agency TASS. Gershkovich was detained by Russian authorities last week, who accused him of spying, signalling a significant ratcheting of both Moscow's tensions with the United States and its campaign against foreign news media. Gershkovich is the first American journalist detained in Russia on espionage charges since the end of the cold war. Tass reported that FSB investigators had formally charged Gershkovich with carrying out espionage in the interests of the United States, but that Gershkovich had denied the charge. "He categorically denied all the accusations and stated that he was engaged in journalistic activities in Russia," Tass cited an unidentified source as saying. The representative declined to comment further, as the journalist's case was marked "top secret," according to TASS. A Moscow court on April 18 will hear an appeal filed by Gershkovich's lawyers against his arrest, Russian state media said citing the court. The correspondent is currently held in the notorious Leftereovo pre-detention center until May 29, reported CNN. The arrest has been widely condemned by Western officials and the Journal vehemently denied the espionage charge against Gershkovich, describing his arrest "a vicious affront to a free press" which "should spur outrage in all free people and governments throughout the world." On Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he urged Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to release Gershkovich immediately. CNN reported on Tuesday that the Biden administration is preparing to officially declare Gershkovich as wrongfully detained in Russia, two US officials told CNN, a move that will trigger new US government resources to work towards his release. (ANI) To root out terrorism from the country, Pakistan on Friday announced an all-out anti-terror operation against banned outfits, reported Geo News. The development came after a two-hour-long National Security Committee (NSC) meeting comprising the country's top civil and military leadership -- with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the chair, a statement from the PM's Office said. The recent spurt in clashes between terrorists and the police in Pakistan after the failure of a ceasefire with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) reflects the precarious security situation in the country. This all-around and comprehensive operation to eliminate the scourge of terrorism in all its forms from Pakistan will also include efforts at the political, diplomatic, security, economic, and social levels. Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Shamshad Mirza, federal ministers for defence, finance and information, and senior military leadership were in attendance, reported Geo News. "The meeting agreed to launch an all-out comprehensive operation -- with renewed vigour and determination -- with the [help] of the entire nation and the government, which will rid the country of the menace of terrorism," the statement mentioned. The committee termed the recent spate of terrorism a result of a soft corner for and reckless policy with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which was completely contrary to public expectations and aspirations, reported Geo News. From January to March of this year, various attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have resulted in the death of 127 police officers, reported The News International. According to an official, 116 of them were killed in January, two in February and nine in March. At least four deputy superintendents of police (DSPs) and some junior officers were among those killed in attacks during the first quarter of 2023. Comparatively, 36 policemen were attacked in 2017, 30 in 2018, 38 in 2019, 28 in 2020, and 59 in 2021. However, the number of casualties by policemen increased to over 120 in 2022, and the death toll in the first quarter of 2023 has already surpassed the numbers in the previous year. The police posts in several areas have been coming under attack with grenades and heavy weapons for the last couple of years. The most recent incident this year occurred in Lakki Marwat, when DSP Iqbal Momand and three other police officers were killed after their armoured personnel carrier was damaged by a roadside improvised explosive device, reported The News International. The worst attack on police during the current year was in January when a suicide bomber detonated explosives around his vest in the mosque of the Peshawar Police Lines during the Zuhr prayers. Regarding the casualties in the incident, some senior officials put the exact death toll at 100 and 96 were policemen some of whom died at the hospital, reported The News International. Terrorism in Pakistan has been rearing its head again. Over the past few months, the law and order situation in the country -- especially in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan has worsened -- with terrorist groups executing attacks with near impunity across the country. Since the talks with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) broke down in November, the terrorist group has intensified its attacks, particularly targeting the police in KP and areas bordering Afghanistan. Insurgents in Balochistan have also stepped up their violent activities and formalized a nexus with the outlawed TTP, reported Dawn. (ANI) Side view of a Glendale police vehicle. A late night shooting in Glendale on Thursday left one person hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. At about 11:45 p.m., officers responded to the area of North 65th and West Glendale avenues for reports of a shooting, according to police. Upon arrival, they found one person with multiple gunshot wounds; they were taken to a hospital in critical condition. Glendale police spokesperson Officer Gina Winn told The Arizona Republic the investigation was ongoing as the roles of those involved were still under investigation. No other information was released. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 1 critically injured after shooting in Glendale An 11-year-old New Jersey girl who died days after an attempted suicide in a middle school bathroom had been relentlessly bullied and reported the harassment to school officials, her mother said. The girl was found unresponsive in the bathroom stall at F. W. Holbein School in Mount Holly on Feb. 6 and died two days later, the Burlington County Prosecutors Office said. Felicia LoAlbo-Melendez had been bullied for years, the girl's mother, Elaina LoAlbo, said. LoAlbo didn't immediately respond to requests for comment Friday, but told NBC Philadelphia that her daughter was regularly taunted by classmates. They called her a furry. She was not a furry. They called her gay. They called her straight. They called her bi. They called her all kinds of things. My daughter was being tortured within the walls of that school, she added. Felicia LoAlbo-Melendez. (WCAU) Felicia and her mother had raised concerns about the bullying, but they were ignored, LoAlbo said. The mother said she reported the bullying to Holbein authorities four times in person, and her daughter sent about a dozen emails to her school counselor, the latest one four days before her death, NBC Philadelphia reported. Shes telling her teachers. The teachers were witnesses to most of the bullying, physical altercations that were happening in classrooms and on school trips, LoAlbo told NBC Philadelphia. The girl's death came two weeks after her father died from pancreatic cancer, LoAlbo said. The Burlington County Prosecutors Office said in a March 29 statement that its investigation, "which included a review of the schools surveillance cameras, determined that she was alone in the restroom when this tragic action occurred. The investigation further determined that no foul play was involved." Prosecutors said that they would grant the mother's request to view the surveillance recording. Robert Mungo, superintendent of the Mount Holly Township School District, said the school system cooperated with the prosecutor's office in the investigation. Story continues F. W. Holbein School in Mount Holly, N.J. (Google Maps) "Our district suffered a loss, which continues to weigh heavily on the school community. School counselors and administrators, with the support of the Burlington County School Crisis Response Team, have and will continue to increase outreach to students and staff and are prepared to aid them in processing this latest information as they continue to grieve," he said. Mungo did not comment directly on the bullying allegations, but said that the district is focused on "strengthening our support system for students, especially regarding their social and emotional well-being" and is committed to "making our schools safe and secure for every student." LoAlbo told NBC Philadelphia that she plans to pursue legal action. My next steps will be so that no other parent has to fight like I do and no other child ever has to suffer like my daughter has, she said. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A healthy skincare routine starts with a great face wash, so you want to build your regimen on a strong foundation. To do so, start with this list of the best face washes for men, which includes some of the best and most notable formulas out there. You cant go wrong with any of them! Is Face Wash Really Better Than Soap? Unfortunately, skincare products were mostly marketed toward women upon their arrival on the market, which has set men back years of skin health. The reality is that face wash is so much better than soap that theres really no excuse to still be using the same product for your body as your face (unless its designed for that purpose, of course). Heres why. Soap is designed for the skin on your body, which is thicker than the skin on your face and doesnt get exposed to the elements as much. The skin on your face is far more delicate, and thus more sensitive. Because soap is made with harsh surfactants built to scrub that thicker skin all over the body, it can damage the sensitive skin on your face. At the very least, using soap on your face will dry your skin out. Face wash not only is gentler and designed especially for the skin on your face, but it also contains extra ingredients. These ingredients have other effects, such as slowing the effects of aging, nourishing skin, or reinforcing its moisture barrier. There are benefits you can only get from using face wash, and dont you want to put your best face forward? What Kind of Face Wash is Best for You? What kind of face wash is best for you comes down to a few factors, such as skin type and what kind of effects youre looking for. If your main concern is fixing dryness, for example, we wouldnt recommend a wash designed to get rid of acne. Your budget should also be a concern, as face wash is a product youll have to buy somewhat regularly. The best face wash for you, though, is really just the one youre the most likely to want to use daily. Face wash needs to be used twice a day to be most effective, so if you have a great wash that smells fantastic and makes your skin feel soft and smooth, youre more apt to use it every day. Story continues All About Skin Types While were all generally born with normal skin, over time variations in environment, genetics, and hormones change our skin type. The American Academy of Dermatology has determined there are five skin types, each requiring different kinds of care. Here they are: Dry. Dry skin, true to its name, is prone to dryness. Since men with dry skin dont produce as much natural oil as those with other skin types, they may experience flakes, scales, rough patches, dehydration, fine lines, and irritation. If you have dry skin, youll want to make sure to follow a strict skincare routine, using gentle and hydrating products with ingredients like hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture. Avoid hot showers and products with alcohol or harsh chemicals that may dry out skin further. Make sure to follow your face wash with moisturizer, which you may have to reapply throughout the day. Normal. If your skin feels generally balancedneither too dry nor too greasyyou likely have normal skin. You may also have small pores, a smooth skin texture, and few breakouts, if any. Even though you may have it made if you have normal skin, you should still take care of it with a proper skincare routine that focuses on nourishing skin. Look for face washes that contain vitamins and fruit extracts with antioxidants to fight off free radical damage, and focus on ant-aging. Combination. A telltale sign of combination skin is having both dry and oily patches on your face. Maybe your T-zone is prone to greasiness, for example, while your cheeks are dry and flaky. With combination skin, your symptoms may vary throughout the year. Youll want to take care of both parts of your face by looking for products specifically for combination skin and focusing both on thorough cleansing and moisturizing. Acids like lactic, glycolic, or salicylic will be important ingredients, as will hydrators like glycerin and squalane. Oily. Men with this skin type have skin that produces way too much sebum, leading to a greasy sheen and/or clogged pores that cause pimples. The most important thing for you if you have oily skin is to regulate sebum production and clean out buildup in pores. It may seem counterintuitive, but some oils and hydrators are great for oily skin, as they imitate sebum and cause your body to think its produced enough. Clay is another ingredient that is great for clarifying pores and sopping up excess oil. If you have oily skin, a cleanser is the most important step in your skincare routine, so choose wisely. Sensitive. Its easy to know if you have sensitive skin. Thats because sensitive skin is reactive skin, so your skin will respond negatively to certain products and environments. You may feel burning and itching after using chemical-laden products, for example, or be prone to redness in general. Its possible to have sensitive skin in addition to one of the other skin types above. The best thing to do for sensitive skin is to gravitate toward products that are clean and natural, as its often chemicals that cause the worst skin reactions. Identifying what triggers your skin reactions is a great way to avoid them, too. Some of the best skincare ingredients for sensitive skin include aloe vera, chamomile, and green tea. What to Avoid in a Face Wash Its always a good idea to check out the ingredient lists of the skincare products you buy to see whats in them. Avoid ingredients like parabens, which can trigger reactions, toxic and carcinogenic phthalates, and formaldehyde, which is known to irritate skin and can have some serious side effects. Artificial fragrances are another element youre better off without, as they irritate even non-sensitive skin. Although fragrances can make your products smell amazing, they also may set off sensitive skin. Sodium lauryl sulfate, an ingredient that makes products foam, is a major skin-stripping ingredient likely to make your skin feel tight and itchy. Alcohols are still used as the base ingredient in lots of different skincare products, but they are incredibly drying and will disrupt your skins precious moisture barrier. Stay away from artificial dyes, which are used to make formulas look more appealing but have nasty side effects, like pore blocking, inflammation, and irritation. How to Incorporate Face Wash Into Your Skincare Routine The ideal skincare routine goes a little something like this. You wake up in the morning and take a shower, at which point you use your face wash. Rub a few drops of the products into your skin, massaging it all over your face and neck. Let it rest for at least thirty seconds before rinsing it off. Follow this routine with a serum if you use one and then a moisturizer to lock in hydration. At night, repeat the same steps, washing your face and then applying serums and a moisturizer or night cream to deliver moisture while you sleep. It can really be that simple! Some men may choose to incorporate other products into their routines, too, such as using a toner after washing to remove the last impurities, wearing sunscreen when exposed to the elements, and adding a face mask and exfoliator to the mix every once in a while. What makes this the best face wash for men? The Blu Atlas Volcanic Ash Face Cleanser pulls together numerous naturally derived ingredients that provide a satisfying clean and great comfort to men with all skin types. Have oily skin and want to tone down the sebum and kick acne to the curb? This wash has volcanic ash and charcoal powder to absorb that sebum right up and clean out your pores. Worried about dryness? This wash includes glycerin, a powerful emollient and humectant that draws water into skin and seals it there. Hoping to improve the quality of your normal skin? This wash delivers vitamins and antioxidants in the form of pomegranate seed oil. Nervous your sensitive skin will react? This wash is made of 98% ingredients of natural origins, and contains lactobacillus filtrate to soothe the skins microbiome. Blu Atlas face wash does it all! And it comes unscented or in the classic masculine scent or coconut apricot, so take your pick. About the Brand: Blu Atlas is the latest and greatest in mens skincare. The brand burst onto the scene with a passion for quality and a dedication to naturally derived ingredients. All the brands products are made in New York City with input from a medical advisory board made up of award-winning dermatologists. Blu Atlas products have become something of a sensation, with dozens of five-star reviews and loyal customers that will vouch for its products. 2. La Roche-Posay Hydrating Gentle Cleanser When it comes to face wash, a product youll use every day, gentle is best. This prebiotic formula from La Roche-Posay is mild enough to be safe on sensitive skin, making it ideal for daily use. Its the La Roche-Posay prebiotic thermal water that supports this face wash, providing rich minerals and soothing properties sure to calm even the most inflamed skin. Youll also get ceramides in this cleanser, which are naturally found in the skin and ensure an intact skin barrier. Glycerin acts as a hydrator, and niacinamide fades discolorations. The result is an excellent formula that earns a place on your bathroom shelf. About the Brand: La Roche Posay is a French skincare brand lauded and recommended by dermatologists all over the globe. The brand bases all their formulas on thermal spring water, which has amazing properties and the power to transform skin. Many of the brands products are designed to manage various skincare disorders, so if you have a particular issue that plagues you its likely the brand can support your healing journey. 3. Carrot & Stick The Face Wash Most skin concerns have met their match with this face wash from Carrot & Stick. It focuses on plant-based ingredients to support a healthy complexion, treating everything from dryness and sensitivity to aging, acne, and oil. Red seaweed extract plays an important part in this process, delivering antioxidants and ensuring that moisture wont dissipate. Glycerin increases softness and comfort level with its moisturizing properties, geranium naturally cuts down on sebum production, and rosehip seed oil brightens your skin tone while keeping it conditioned. This face wash will prove to you that natural really is best! About the Brand: Carrot and Stick is a brand that feels empowered by natural ingredients, not limited by them. Theres a long list of chemicals the brand wont include in its formulas, such as sulfates, formaldehydes, synthetic fragrances, and more. If plant-based formulas are what youre after, this is a great brand to follow! 4. Paulas Choice PC4Men Daily Face Wash Get in there for a power clean with PC4Men. The formula contains just three ingredients--thats all you need to clean out pores and leave skin smooth! A mild surfactant cleans, getting skin ready to receive the many benefits of glycerin and aloe vera. Users love the texture, which strikes the perfect balance between watery and viscous, and how clean their skin feels after use. This non-irritating wash can be used on all skin types and makes for the perfect first step in your skincare routine. About the Brand: Paulas choice is forthcoming with the ingredients they turn to and the ones they avoid. Theres a whole list of toxins the brand stays away from, thanks to its commitment to smart and safe formulas. The brands namesake is Paula Begoun, an author of several beauty books who started the brand back in 1995. 5. Jackfirs The Classic Daily Facial Cleanser Wash away the day with this classic cleanser from Jackfir. Its designed for outdoorsmen, those who happily spend the day out under the sun. This EWG-verified product contains jojoba beads and fruit enzymes for exfoliation, digging out the old to make room for the new. Aloe, calendula, and sunflower make for great soothers, even reducing the effects of sunburn, and apple extract moisturizes while licorice root nips inflammation in the bud. Many of this face washs ingredients are organic, plus the formula is certified gluten free, cruelty-free, vegan, and GMO free. Perhaps the best part of the Jackfir experience, however, is the scent, a blend of pine, violet, balsam, amber, and guaiac wood. About the Brand: This responsible brand was founded by a man undergoing treatment for leukemia. Since he felt that environmental toxins were partly to blame for his health issues, he decided it was time to put together a lifestyle brand for men that focused on clean formulas. The result is Jackfir, the sustainable skincare brand for outdoorsmen! 6. Kiehls Facial Fuel If youre slow to get going in the morning, you need a face wash that will invigorate not only your skin but your whole being. That is absolutely this wash: Kiehls Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment for Men. This best face wash for men has been one of the brands most popular over the years, thanks to its non-greasy formula that works equally well as a daily cleanser or aftershave wash. Chestnut extract provides anti-aging antioxidants, vitamin C results in a glowing complexion, and caffeine stimulates the skin and makes it even more radiant. Just be aware that this may not be the best option for men with sensitive or dry skin. About the Brand: Kiehls is an absolute classic in apothecary skincare, creating solutions for people for generations. Many of the brands products are total game-changers, as the brand continues to live up to its name. 7. Rugged and Dapper Daily Power Scrub Sometimes a mild, creamy cleanser just doesnt get it done, which is when you need this Daily Power Scrub. It works as an exfoliator, cleanser, and toner all in one, allowing you to get a deep and satisfying clean even under the surface. If you check out the products ingredient list, youll be able to recognize pretty much everything on there. For example, the solution contains jojoba esters that provide gentle scrubbing, dandelion as a natural acne treatment, red clover that takes redness and irritation down a notch, and gotu kola for a whole host of benefits. There are also plenty of micronutrients in this formula and a whole lot of moisture. This cleanser packs a serious punch! About the Brand: Rugged and Dapper was created by a man who used to work in construction, where his skin was regularly exposed to the elements. He wanted to find skincare that could support him in his job, and created Rugged and Dapper for men just like him, who wanted to look good and feel good no matter how they spent their days. 8. Elemis Deep Cleanse Face Wash Here we have another hard hitter, poised to instantly upgrade your daily wash and leave you feeling refreshed and younger than ever. In fact, in an independent trial, 96% of users found that this wash made their skin feel totally refreshed. It turns to some pretty unusual ingredients for its power, like English oak bark for its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory power, or milk protein for healing and nourishment. Peppermint neutralizes bacteria, and oat amino acids provide a gentle yet gratifying cleanse. This cleanser was formulated just for men, taking their unique skincare needs into consideration. About the Brand: Elemis originated in England, but has since spread all over the globe, bringing cutting edge skincare treatments to everyone. The brand is results-oriented, and focuses on combining transparency with innovation for a strategy that will mean Elemis will surely be around for another 30 years or more. 9. Bad Norwegian Wash Face The title of this product is also its instructions: Wash Face. This vegan cleanser was made in Norway and tested on friends, so you know the brand is only bringing you a product theyd use themselves. The wash combines ultra moisturizing and age-combatting squalene, cannabis seed oil to keep the skins moisture balance intact, and apricot seeds as a physical exfoliant. Menthol in this formula also wakes you up with a bright burst of freshness and a surprise tingle. Not only is this wash a great option for morning and evening use, but it also doubles as shaving cream in a pinch. About the Brand: Bad Norwegian was the result of one of the founders experiences as a soldier, when his skin was truly put to the test. When he went in search of a product to help him reverse the damage, he found that most of the available products were geared towards women, and decided to make his own stuff. That same stuff is what the brand sells today. 10. Atwater Skin Armor Face Scrub Tired skin is dull, and dull skin is not putting your best face forward. Atwaters Skin Armor was developed to change that, and is definitely one of the best face washes for men. The scrub makes for an invigorating experience, using jojoba beads for exfoliation and salicylic acid to clear pores and prevent acne. Meanwhile a chlorophyll-derived complex tamps down inflammation while helping your skin heal, making this a great product to use after shaving. Once you get over the bright green color, youll love this face scrub! About the Brand: Atwater is all about boosting its customerss self-esteem, using clean, dermatologist-tested ingredients to bring about positive change in your skin. You can select some of the brands best-selling products, or take a quiz to find a skincare regimen thats recommended for your specific needs. 11. Bulldog Original Face Wash This face wash is accessible to men of all budgets, but that doesnt mean the brand sacrifices quality. With this cleanser, you get a creamy foam that rinses off to reveal healthier, softer skin. Youll also get a pleasant scent when you use this washa mix of citrus and woods notes that is manly as could be. The brand recommends this wash for men with normal skin, as it has ingredients like citric acid for gentle exfoliation and aloe for moisture and calm. If youre still wondering if this cleanser is right for you, just check the reviewsthey are off the charts! About the Brand: Bulldog tries to create skincare solutions that work for all skin types. They combine natural ingredients with science while also going easy on Mother Nature. You can always expect simple, straightforward skincare from Bulldog! 12. Lab Series Daily Rescue Cleanser Hydration is the goal of this cleanser, and we think it meets (and even exceeds) that goal. Men with all skin types can apply this gel cleanser and feel dirt and buildup melting away. That satisfying clean comes from oat amino acids, a favorite mild cleansing ingredient. Three different forms of vitamin B in this formula make for healthy, hydrated skin. Caffeine gets the circulation going, and glycerin sucks moisture in and makes sure it stays there. Men in a clinical trial found that this cleanser boosted their skins radiance after just a week, so you dont have to hang in there long to see results. About the Brand: Lab Series has been around for 35 years, and has raised the bar for other brands thanks to its focus on technology and powerful active ingredients. The brand recently released lines with more sustainable packaging, so theyre working to lessen their impact on the planet, too! 13. Marlowe Facial Cleanser for Men Men of all skin types, gather round! This facial cleanser from Marlowe is designed for men on the go, with a product that checks all the boxes and allows you to take good care of your skin even with little time to dedicate to your grooming routine. Users love this face wash, saying that it gets the job done and works great as a shaving cream, too. There are plenty of ingredients to get excited about in here, such as willow bark to get rid of extra sebum and heal acne, passion fruit extract to boost collagen production for a youthful appearance, plus calendula and green tea that work wonders on sensitive skin. About the Brand: Marlowe is all about non-complicated skincare, which is ideal for most men. The brand creates simple skincare products that work, which is good by us! Just check their dozens of positive reviews on Amazon and in major magazines to see that this brand means business. No matter your age, skin type, and what you want out of a skincare routine, there is a product for you on this list. Go forth and upgrade your skincare routineyoull thank us later! McClatchy newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content. Prince Louis and Kate Middleton attend the traditional Easter Sunday service at on April 9, 2023. Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Royals have worn festive spring looks while attending Easter services over the years. The royals often wear pastel-colored coats and chic hats. This year, Kate Middleton wore a royal-blue coatdress that she previously wore in 2022. Queen Elizabeth II was known for her colorful monochromatic style, especially around the Easter holiday. Queen Elizabeth II departs after attending an Easter Service at St George's Chapel on April 1, 2018. Karwai Tang/WireImage/Getty Images In 2018, Queen Elizabeth attended Easter services at St George's Chapel in Windsor wearing a bright-purple coat, floral dress, and matching hat adorned with purple and orange flowers. Royals wear hats to formal occasions like Easter and Christmas Day services per royal protocol, but the monarch always found ways to make her outfits stand out. The Queen wore another vibrant look for Easter services in 2019. Queen Elizabeth II departs the Easter Sunday service at St George's Chapel on April 21, 2019. Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images The royal was easy to spot in a robin's-egg-blue coat and wide-brimmed hat accented by fuchsia flowers. There was actually a logical reason why the Queen often chose bright colors for her public appearances. According to her daughter-in-law Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, who is married to her youngest son Edward, the Queen often opted for colorful looks during her reign to make her easier to see. "She needs to stand out for people to be able to say 'I saw the Queen,'" she said in the Smithsonian Channel documentary "The Queen at 90." "Don't forget that when she turns up somewhere, the crowds are two, three, four, 10, 15 deep, and someone wants to be able to say they saw a bit of the Queen's hat as she went past." Other royals, like Kate Middleton, have opted for more pastel shades come Easter Sunday. Kate Middleton attends Easter Day Service at St George's Chapel on April 16, 2017. Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images In 2017, the Princess of Wales attended services at St George's Chapel in a pale-pink coat and matching pumps. She accented her chic look with a pillbox hat, another favorite accessory among royal women. In 2019, Kate wore a pastel-blue coat and matching hat. Kate Middleton attends Easter Sunday service at St George's Chapel on April 21, 2019. Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images Her entire spring look, from her hat down to her heels, was color coordinated. Kate chose a slightly brighter shade of blue to attend Easter services in 2022. Story continues Kate Middleton with Princess Charlotte attend the traditional Easter Sunday Church service at St George's Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle on April 17, 2022. Antony Jones/GC Images/Getty Images The royal accessorized her sky-blue coatdress with a slightly darker-colored hat and matching shoes. Her clutch purse, however, was exactly the same color as her dress. This year, Kate attended Easter services wearing a royal-blue coatdress that she previously wore in 2022. Prince Louis and Kate Middleton attend the Easter Sunday Mattins Service at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images For her first Easter service appearance as the Princess of Wales, Kate wore a royal-blue coatdress she previously wore to attend the 2022 Commonwealth Day service. The royal, who is known to repeat her outfits, switched up her accessories for the Easter service by swapping out the blue pillbox hat she previously wore with one featuring an oversized bow. She topped off the look with a matching blue clutch bag and a pair of nude pumps. Princess Diana knew how to give Easter style a modern twist. Princess Diana with her son Prince Harry and the Duchess of York at St George's Chapel, Windsor, for the Easter service on March 31, 1991. Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images Princess Diana attended Easter services with her sons, Prince Harry and Prince William, in 1991, standing out from the pack in a festive pink gingham suit and hat with netting across her face. In 1992, Princess Diana chose another pastel-colored look. Princess Diana and her son Prince William leaving Windsor Chapel after the traditional Easter service in April 1992. Jayne Fincher/Getty Images Her pale-yellow dress, which perfectly matched her coat, had black trim. She finished off the look with a black hat also trimmed in yellow, black tights, and simple black pumps. Princess Beatrice attended Easter services in 2015 wearing a blue brocade dress and fitted blazer. Princess Beatrice attends the Easter Matins service at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on April 5, 2015. Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images The royal accented her look with a festive tulle-covered hat. In 2018, the Princess of York stunned in a white coat, matching hat, and nude heels. Princess Beatrice of York attends an Easter Service at St George's Chapel on April 1, 2018. Karwai Tang/WireImage/Getty Images The look was demure, but a departure from the pastel-colored styles royals typically choose to wear for the Easter holiday. Princess Eugenie proved that florals can be groundbreaking in a turtleneck-style dress in 2019. Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Eugenie attend the traditional Royal Maundy Service at St George's Chapel on April 18, 2019. Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images She is pictured here with Queen Elizabeth. They both carry Easter bouquets, which are traditionally given to royal family members by the public. Even male royals like Prince Harry have chosen colorful ties for Easter services. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attends the traditional Easter Sunday church service at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on April 21, 2019. Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images In 2019, Prince Harry attended Easter Sunday services without his wife, Meghan Markle, at St George's Chapel in Windsor. He wore a classic navy suit accented with a Tiffany-blue tie. Before she became Queen of Spain, then-Princess Letizia attended Easter mass at Palma de Mallorca Cathedral in a notably understated look. Princess Letizia of Spain leaves Palma de Mallorca Cathedral after Easter Sunday Mass on April 12, 2009. Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images The royal, who is known for her bold yet affordable style, wore cream-colored slacks and a pastel-orange blazer for Easter in 2009. Queen Letizia wore a navy floral shirtdress to attend Easter services in 2019. Queen Letizia of Spain attends the Easter Mass at the Cathedral of Palma de Mallorca on April 21, 2019. Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images The wife of King Felipe VI, who ascended to the throne in 2014, accessorized her look with a leather clutch and navy-blue heels. Read the original article on Insider As harmful algal blooms, seagrass die-offs and unhealthy water bodies sound alarm bells around Florida, several bills in the 2023 Florida legislative session are aimed at addressing the states water quality woes. Meanwhile, other bills up for consideration have received criticism from environmental advocates, who argue that they could lead to less regulation and increased pollution. Heres a look at 14 pieces of legislation that could have a significant impact on Floridas water quality. With about a month to go until the end of session on May 5, all of these bills have been introduced and referred to committees for review in the House and/or Senate; they have yet to be passed or signed into law. The Seagrass Restoration Technology Development Initiative would establish a program partnering Mote Marine Laboratory and the University of Florida to research methods for restoring Floridas imperiled seagrass meadows. The measure also requires the creation of a a 10-year Florida Seagrass Restoration Plan and an advisory council of marine science and other experts to help oversee the efforts. Sponsors: Sen. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton; Rep. William Robinson Jr., R-Bradenton This bill would strip counties and cities of the power to adopt local rules regarding water quality or quantity, pollution control, pollutant discharge prevention or removal and wetlands; the ability to regulate pollution would be exclusively left to state agencies such as the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, which critics argue has a poor track record of protecting water quality. The bill has garnered significant opposition from environmental groups and local government advocates. The bill also does not grandfather in local pollution laws that are already on the books, such as a rainy season fertilizer bans, which could be eliminated as a result. Sponsors: Sen. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills; Rep. Randy Maggard, R-Dade City Story continues These similar bills in the House and Senate would implement a range of measures aimed at improving water quality, including: Basin Management Action Plans, used by governments as frameworks to improve poor water quality, would be required to include a prioritized list of projects with the best likelihood of reducing nutrient pollution; Local government comprehensive plans would have new requirements aimed at reducing pollutant loads; Simplifying the process for state acquisition of conservation lands under $5 million; Establishing the basis for Indian River Lagoon Protection Program to fund and oversee restoration efforts. Sponsors: Sen. Jason Brodeur, R-Lake Mary; Rep. Kevin Steele, R-Dade City and Rep. Toby Overdorf, R-Palm City This bill would require the Florida Department of Health to improve its public notifications about waters that do not meet health standards for swimming due to contamination with fecal bacteria. Signage would be required at public bathing places, such as beaches, where high bacteria levels are present, and water testing data would be made publicly available in a statewide database. Sponsors: Sen. Lori Berman, D-Boynton Beach; Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman, R-Highland This bill would make it easier to complete habitat creation, restoration and enhancement projects on government-owned and agricultural lands by exempting those projects from certain regulations. A project must result in an overall increase in wetland function to qualify for the exemption. Sponsors: Sen. Colleen Burton, R-Lakeland; Rep. Sam Killebrew, R-Winter Haven Two similar bills proposed in the House and Senate would adopt select measures recommended by the states Blue-Green Algae Task Force. The task force was created at the direction of Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2019 to provide guidance on combating toxic algal blooms. It produced 32 recommendations, but very few of them have been implemented. The original versions of the 2023 House and Senate bills included a provision for establishing a statewide inspection program for septic tanks. That measure was deleted from the Senate version of the bill in an amendment approved on April 4. That leaves only one task force recommendation alive in the Senate version of the bill: an increase in pollution monitoring efforts for development projects with a cost exceeding $1 million. Sponsors: Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando; Rep. Lindsay Cross, D-St. Petersburg This bill would expand eligibility for Florida Department of Environmental Protections Wastewater Grant Program to include the more than 1,800 water bodies listed as impaired around the state. Local governments are eligible to apply for the grants, which fund projects to reduce excess nutrient pollution. Sponsors: Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, R-Doral; Rep. Fabian Basabe, R-Miami Beach This measure would fund restoration efforts in northwest Floridas Apalachicola Bay estuary. The bay, formerly the home of 90% of Floridas oyster harvest, has been in decline for over a decade due to drought, water flow issues and pollution, and oyster harvest is closed through the end of 2025. The bill would give the Florida Department of Environmental Protection power to grant up to $5 million annually over the next five years for restoration projects. Sponsors: Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee; Jason Shoaf, R-Port St. Joe This bill would grant Warm Mineral Springs in Sarasota County status as an Outstanding Florida Spring, granting it additional protections. Sponsors: Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota; Rep. Michael Grant, R-Port Charlotte This measure would allow the states Wastewater Grant Program to fund projects that convert sewage wastewater into biosolids. Also known as sewage sludge, the treated biosolids can be used as fertilizer and to improve soil conditions. The bill would also limit the use of certain biosolids unless the applicant can prove the use will not add to nutrient pollution. Sponsors: Sen. Jason Brodeur, R-Lake Mary; Rep. Kaylee Tuck, R-Lake Placid This measure would create a tax on the commercial extraction of water from Floridas water bodies and aquifer of $0.001 per gallon. Water extractors would also be required to keep records than can be inspected by the state. The tax money would fun the states Water Protection and Sustainability Program Trust Fund. Sponsor: Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando This measure would give cities and counties the authority to access and repair problematic sanitary sewer connections that connect private property, such as homes, to the public sewer system. Connections that are in disrepair can leak, allowing excess nutrients to escape the waste stream. Local governments would be required to notify the property owner before work begins and how long it will take. Sponsors: Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, R-Doral; Keith Truenow, R-Tavares This measure would task the Florida Department of Environmental Protection with creating a septic tank inspection program, with inspections required every five years. Septic systems within Basin Management Action Plan areas would be prioritized. Sponsors: Michael Caruso, R-Delray Beach This measure would require additional considerations of sea level rise for development in coastal areas, including assessments of potential environmental damage. It also expands eligibility for state grants that fund sea level rise and flooding resiliency projects. Sponsors: Sen. Alexis Calatayud, R-Miami; Rep. Christine Hunschofsky, D-Parkland Two teens were shot near the Illinois Institute of Technologys campus in the Douglas neighborhood Thursday afternoon, Chicago police said. The boys, 16 and 17, had been walking down the street at 4:28 p.m. in the 3000 block of South Wabash Avenue when a gray-colored Chevy Impala drove past them. Then, someone got out of the car and shot them, police said. Advertisement The gunshots grazed the 16-year-old boys arm. He was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good condition while the older boy was taken to the University of Chicago Hospital in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the left side of his body, police said. Detectives are investigating the shooting and nobody was in custody, police said. April is finally here! And that means the Easter Bunny isn't far behind. While some will be celebrating Easter Sunday with many crafts and activities, there are also some great egg-cellent movies to watch that will keep you wrapped up in holiday cheer. These festive films are fun for the whole family. Find a mix of religious offerings like "The Passion of the Christ," animated flicks geared toward kids and classic movies that continue to stand the test of time. Some of these movies available on Netflix, Hulu and other streaming services even give you an opportunity to teach little ones about the true meaning of Easter (and remind adults that there's more to the day than setting up egg hunts and filling baskets). While most films are centered on Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection (and understandably so), "The Ten Commandments" focuses on Moses and his desire to free people from captivity. But if that film is too serious for your crowd, then you can always watch something lighter to bring the laughs. That means, there's truly something for everyone on this list. So, let's hop to it! 'Peter Rabbit' (2017) This family-friendly flick centers around a mischievous rabbit named Peter (James Corden), who just can't seem to get out of trouble. When a warm-hearted animal lover, played by Rose Bryne, moves in next door, he rivals for her affection with Mr. McGregor (Domhnall Gleeson) and the funny escapades begins. 'Ice Age: The Great Egg-Scapade' (2016) Can't get enough of the "Ice Age" films? Try "Ice Age: The Great Egg-Scapade." This fun adventure shows what happens when Sid starts his own egg-sitting service and encounters a few hiccups along the way. 'Easter Under Wraps' (2020) There's nothing like a springtime romance to bring the cheer. In this Hallmark Channel original movie, a woman (Fiona Gubelmann) goes undercover at her familys chocolate plant to see why sales are down and finds a little love (and a genius business idea) along the way. Story continues 'Miss Potter' (2006) Get to know Peter Rabbit in a whole new way. "Miss Potter" tells the story of Beatrix Potter, the author behind the best-selling childrens book The Tale of Peter Rabbit." With an overactive imagination, Potter finds comfort in drawing and writing about the animals that she's adored since childhood. But after her attempts to find a publisher for her novels are unsuccessful, she soon finds a small firm that turn her luck and her entire life around. 'The Passion of the Christ' (2004) Want to learn about the story of Jesus Christ? Watch "The Passion of the Christ" to get a fictional glimpse into day of Jesus' crucifixion in Jerusalem. 'Yogi the Easter Bear' (1994) Yogi the Easter Bear is another Easter-themed classic. In this movie, Yogi and Boo Boo try to rescue the Easter Bunny when they learn that hes been kidnapped. 'The Ten Commandments' (1956) "The Ten Commandments" is one of the most popular biblical movies that have ever been made. Though it was released in 1956, the story Moses that we see on screen still holds up to this day. 'The Dog Who Saved Easter' (2014) "The Dog Who Saved Easter" is basically "Home Alone" set in the spring, but instead of Kevin McCallister defending his home from invaders, it's a cute dog saving a local daycare from criminals. 'Hank and Mike' (2008) If you have a dark sense of humor, this one's for you. It's about two blue-collar Easter Bunnies who lose their jobs and try a bunch of odd jobs as a result. They hilariously fail at each and every one, and their lives start to unravel the longer they stay unemployed. 'Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway' (2021) Peter Rabbit ventures to the big city after he gets tired of his life at home, and as always, he ends up in trouble. Easter Sunday (2022) Easter Sunday is loosely inspired by standup comedian Jo Koys life growing up in a Filipino family. If you love his on-stage work, then youre bound to love this movie even more. 'It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown' (1974) Another great throwback film that you and your family can watch on Easter. This 1974 flick follows the beloved Peanuts gang as they prepare for Easter. Hilarity ensues, of course. 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' (2005) Sure, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" isn't exactly about Easter, but it has a ton of candy in it. When Charlie wins the winning ticket and tours Willy Wonkas mysterious chocolate factory, he gets to see how chocolate is made, all while helping his family. 'Jesus Christ Superstar' (1973) One way to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ is to watch "Jesus Christ Superstar" with your family and friends. This movie, which is based on the Broadway hit musical of the same name, shows what the last few weeks of Christ's life must have been like. 'Zootopia' (2016) Here's another one that isn't exactly tied to Easter, but still deserves a spot on our list. The reason? It's about a rabbit who teams up with a cynical con artist fox to solve a mystery in her police force. 'Eater Land' Time to get into the holiday spirit with "Easter Land." This movie is about a beloved Easter bunny who got banished away to the dreaded land of the holiday misfits and needs Santa Claus' help to help him return home. 'Risen' Another great religious movie to watch on Easter is "Risen." This film takes place in 33 AD, where a Roman Tribune in Judea is tasked with finding the missing body of Jesus Christ, who rose from the dead. 'Come Sunday' What happens when you start to challenge some of the theories in the bible? "Come Sunday" tells the story of a man (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who gets ostracized by his church for preaching that there is no Hell. Some other actors who are in this film are Danny Glover, Jason Segel and LaKeith Stanfield. 'Rabbit School Guardians of the Golden Egg' Celebrate Easter with this 2017 film. "Rabbit School Guardians of the Golden Egg" is a cool animated movie about a bunny who gets trapped in an old-fashioned school. While there, he learns about friendship while taking down a sneaky fox family and learning about the secretive skills of the Easter rabbits. 'Noah' Watch the story of Noah unfold in cinematic (and thrilling, and often scary) detail. 'I Can Only Imagine' Love MercyMe's music? You're going to love this film even more! The movie starring Dennis Quaid tells the exciting story of how the Christian band came up with their chart-topping song, "I Can Only Imagine." 'Steel Magnolias' If you've ever seen the 1989 film "Steel Magnolias" starring Sally Field, Dolly Parton and Julia Roberts, then you know it's not your typical Easter movie. In fact, the movie is about a young beautician who assimilates into a small Louisana town and befriends a small group of women. But even though "Steel Magnolias" isn't all about Easter, there is a scene towards the end of the movie where the cast takes part in an egg hunt. Now, that's something you have to see! 'Pieces of Easter' "Pieces of Easter" is the perfect feel-good Easter movie to watch with your family. It shows what happens when an unlikely pair take a cross-country trip together just before the Easter holiday. 'A Walton Easter' Still not convinced that any of these Easter movies are right for you? Try "A Walton Easter." This 1997 flick follows the life of John-Boy, a New York anchorman who goes back to his suburban hometown to celebrate his 40th wedding anniversary with his wife, Olivia. The more time he spends there, the more he realizes that New York might not be the right fit for him and his hometown has everything he needs. 'Winnie the Pooh: Springtime with Roo' What better way to celebrate the arrival of spring than to watch "Winnie the Pooh: Springtime with Roo?" In this film, Roo is upset when Rabbit cancels Easter and declares Spring Cleaning Day instead. 'Alice in Wonderland' "Alice in Wonderland" isn't about Easter bunnies, per say, but it is about bunnies. Go deep into the crazy world of "Alice in Wonderland." This hit film starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Anne Hathaway shows what happens when a little girl trails a white rabbit who ends up taking her to a very peculiar place. 'Easter Bunny, Kill! Kill!' Maybe horror is the right genre for you. If that's the case, then you might want to give this Easter film a try. It's about a killer who dresses up as the Easter bunny and targets a teen's tormentors. 'Eating Up Easter' Ever wonder what happens on Easter Island? This film takes a deep dive into the environmental and social challenges that the island has faced when it deals with globalization on a large scale. 'Hop' Have you ever seen an adorable rabbit who's also a drummer? Well, you're about to see it in "Hop." This movie is about a little bunny who heads to Hollywood to realize his dream of being in a rock n roll band. 'Mary Magdalene' "Mary Magdalene" tells the story of a woman who once walked the Earth with Jesus Christ. After watching this movie, you'll feel inclined to read her story in the Bible all over again. 'The Greatest Story Ever Told' "The Greatest Story Ever Told" chronicles the life and ministry of Jesus Christ's life. 'Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit' "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" is sure to entertain all of your family and friends. This hilarious film takes viewers on a wild ride of Wallace's life when he tries to rid a local town of a rabbit infestation. 'Ben-Hur' There's no better Easter tale of revenge than "Ben-Hur." This film tells the story of a Jewish prince who was once betrayed and sent into slavery, but ultimately regains his freedom and comes back for revenge. Watch either version, including the 1959 classic. 'Jonah: A Veggie Tales Movie' There are so many creative ways to tell biblical stories to children including telling them with vegetables, as happens in "Jonah: A Veggie Tales Movie." These singing veggies relive quite a bit of biblical moments when they find themselves stranded at an old seafood restaurant. 'VeggieTales: Twas the Night Before Easter' Loved "Jonah: A Veggie Tales Movie"? Give give this spinoff film a try! In this flick, the cast of the Veggie Tales tries to enlist a superstar to help them save an old theater in Crisper County during Easter time. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Trent Lehrkamp Courtesy Lehrkamp family On a recent school night in southeast Georgia, three teens pulled up to an emergency room and told staff there was an individual in their white Jeep Wrangler who needed medical attention after consuming a mix of alcohol and antidepressants. When hospital personnel opened the vehicles rear door, they found 19-year-old Trenton Lehrkamp lying unresponsive in the back, his clothes soaked in urine and his body covered in spray paint. Lehrkamp was breathing just six times per minute, according to a police report about the March 21 incident. His blood alcohol level was 0.464 nearly six times the legal limit for driving. As staff pulled Lehrkamp out of the vehicle, the teens, who were all under the age of 18, repeatedly asked if they were free to leave. After providing their names and phone numbers to the hospital, they drove off. Lehrkamp was rushed to the ICU and placed on a ventilator. A few days later, disturbing images allegedly showing teens abusing Lehrkamp began circulating on social media, sparking outrage in St. Simons Island, the small coastal community that touts its unspoiled beaches and Southern charm and where police say the incident leading to Lehrkamps hospitalization occurred. One photo shows four boys standing over Lehrkamp, who was passed out in a chair with his face covered, an orange substance on his clothes, and a sluglike object on his lap. In a video, a boy is seen spraying a water hose at Lehrkamps head as other teens look on. Glynn County police have identified the juveniles in the photo and video, served multiple search warrants, recovered electronic evidence, and interviewed Lehrkamp, who is still receiving treatment as he recovers, as well as other individuals involved, the department said. Yet as of Friday, more than two weeks after the 19-year-old was left nearly lifeless at the hospital, no arrests have been made. If we could just make a case off of one single photo or one single video without getting any other type of evidence, then that would not be a proper that would not be a thorough investigation, Glynn County Interim Police Chief ONeal Jackson said during a news conference last week. We cant rush to judgment. We have to take our time on this, and thats what were doing. Story continues But the lack of accountability so far has raised suspicions among some people in the community that the teens involved are getting special treatment. Though police have not publicly confirmed the juveniles identities, a list of names allegedly linked to the incident has been circulating on social media and includes kids from prominent St. Simons families. And in the wake of the delayed arrests in the 2020 murder of Ahmaud Arbery , a 25-year-old Black man who was shot to death while jogging in nearby Brunswick, community members arent willing to stand by and wait for the wheels of justice to turn. This was almost another murder, Emily McCarthy, 43, who lives and owns a business on the island, told BuzzFeed News. I dont think we have a single shred of patience left for waiting on justice. An aerial view of the St. Simons Island lighthouse in Georgia Wirestock / Getty Images / iStockphoto At the hospital on March 21, Lehrkamps father, Mark Lehrkamp, told police that his son had been at a friends, whose name was redacted from the report, and that this was not the first time he returned from the friends house with injuries. Four days prior, Trenton came home covered in WD-40, vomit, paint, glue, egg yolk, and spray paint, his father said. And two weeks before that, he had to take his son to the ER to get stitches for a laceration above his left eye. He never returns home normal, Mark said, according to the report. He told police his son would go to that persons house because he had no other friends, and when he was there, he thought he was accepted and with people who liked him. Mark said he believed his son might feel that they look up to him because they were younger, according to the report. But for the same reason, Mark didnt think his son would fight back or defend himself against those kids, because he knew he could get in trouble for hurting them. According to the report, Mark has other photos and videos of previous incidents in which his son came home from the friends house hurt or covered in objects, as well as evidence that he was at that residence the night he was dropped off at the hospital. Trentons sister also provided police with a picture of a Snapchat message she received that night, saying, Nigga Omg I know youre sick of hearing it but like I wasnt there but like Trenton is fucking dying apparently. She also gave police a voice message she received while she was on her way to the hospital from someone stating what had happened to Trenton and that [REDACTED] had told [REDACTED] what they did. A representative for Lehrkamps family declined to talk to BuzzFeed News but said they are cooperating with the investigation and trusting the process. A GoFundMe page set up for the family accuses the juveniles involved in the March 21 incident of torture and assault, saying that the abuse went on for hours. When he was left at the hospital, Lehrkamp was deemed inconclusive to life and battled fevers and a lung infection, according to the page. Hes now breathing on his own and receiving treatment at an out-of-state facility. Im alive and doing well, and Im recovering, Lehrkamp said in an audio message shared with local reporters earlier this week. Just know its going to be a long time for me to get over this, through the trauma. But one day, hopefully within the next few months or so, I might be back. But justice will be served. Trenton Lehrkamp (right) is pictured with his sister and father as they travel to the out-of-state facility where he will continue his recovery. Courtesy Lehrkamp family In the absence of arrests and additional information from police about what happened the night Lehrkamp ended up at the hospital, rumors have been running wild among locals and on social media. Many believed that the teens had defecated on Lehrkamp. Included on the list of names allegedly linked to the incident was the child of a Glenn County police officer. And for days, community members believed that Lehrkamp was autistic. In a statement on Monday, Jackson, the interim police chief, dispelled those and other rumors, warning that misinformation delays and hampers the investigation. Whether the teens involved are still in school has also been unclear. In a message sent to families last week, Glynn County Schools acknowledged that several students in the district may have been involved and that state law allows students to be disciplined for off-campus conduct that makes the students continued presence at school a potential danger or which disrupts the educational process. However, the statement didnt say whether the district has taken any action in reference to that statute. A spokesperson for the district declined to answer BuzzFeed News questions. McCarthy, whose stepson is a junior at Glynn Academy the high school attended by those believed to be involved said its been frustrating to get little to no information from the district about the students current status at the school. Can you imagine being in a class with one of those kids or being a teacher in a class with one of those kids? she said. I dont feel comfortable having them in a school where my stepson has a history of being bullied and theyre at that same school. To McCarthy and other community members who spoke to BuzzFeed News, it feels like Glynn County police, the department that first investigated Arberys killing, is protecting the teens in the same way that they shielded Travis McMichael, Greg McMichael, and William Bryan Jr. the men who chased down and murdered Arbery. Cellphone video of the Feb. 23, 2020, incident showed the McMichaels shoot and kill Arbery as he was out for a run, but it wasnt until after the video became public three months later and state investigators stepped in that the men were even arrested . (They were ultimately convicted of both murder and federal hate crimes and sentenced to life in prison .) Thats like a flashback to me, because it took 74 days before arrests was made in my nephews case, Carla Arbery, an aunt of Ahmaud Arbery, told BuzzFeed News. Social medias so lit with everything thats involving these young people and what happened to Trent. It shouldnt take that long for Trent to get some justice. Arbery, 53, said she agreed with one demonstrator who said during a recent rally for Lehrkamp on St. Simons that if the teens involved were Black, then they would have been arrested immediately. It wouldnt have been days behind, weeks later, Arbery said. As soon as they seen that video they would have been, OK, lets go pick them up. Juvenile detention, here they come. Residents of St. Simons Island march in support of Lehrkamp. NBC / WSAV3 / Via youtube.com Cynthia Sykes, who went to school with Lehrkamp, told BuzzFeed News it doesnt make sense to her that the police dont have enough information to make an arrest at this point. You see people around here be arrested for much much less, without photo and video evidence, said Sykes, 19, of Brunswick. Theyre going to present us with the same exact information that we already know when they do come down to making their arrests, so why are they allowed to be out living their life when Trent is having to go through rehabilitation? BuzzFeed News attempted to reach the families of five teens whose names are included on the list of those believed to be involved in the alleged abuse, including the Strother family, whose house was named by WSAV as the residence where at least one incident took place. The family owns and operates J.C. Strother Company, a longtime hardware store and lumber yard in the islands popular Pier Village district. When reached by phone at the store, a relative read the following statement: Strother Hardware would like to express our sincere sorrow over the recent events in our community. Our prayers are with everyone during this difficult time. Theawanza Brooks, another aunt of Ahmaud Arbery, said she believes what has happened and what hasnt happened so far in this case fits a pattern shes seen with how the criminal justice system doesnt actually work for people who have experienced an injustice. I feel like Trent is facing an injustice here even though its not considered police brutality or anything like that, said Brooks, 38, who has been organizing demonstrations in support of Lehrkamp. His humanity, his rights, all of that was violated. She said she was particularly troubled that the March 21 incident was not the first time that Lehrkamp was allegedly abused at the friends house. Ive learned in our community and with these officials that as long as we dont see it then nobody knows, so it can be swept under the rug, Brooks said. But when we see it, thats when they respond. Community members have also criticized the police department for not making any mention of the incident to the public until the images of the alleged abuse started making the rounds on social media several days after the police investigation began. At the news conference last week, Jackson said authorities did not release any information initially out of respect for the victims privacy, adding that they believed it was an isolated incident and that there was no public threat. Still, even he acknowledged that if Lehrkamp hadnt ended up at the hospital that night, the incidents may not have ever been reported. Its a sad and misfortunate event, Jackson said. I want the rest of America to understand that we, the citizens of Glynn County, are mostly very good people, hardworking people. This is an isolated incident, and dont judge Glynn County by one group of juvenile teens. But the lack of arrests or charges more than two weeks later sure does make the police department and the district attorneys office look like fools again, McCarthy said. I am hoping that the reason this is taking so long is that they are doing the worlds greatest investigation and thats why there have not been arrests, she said. At this point, McCarthy believes the teens will ultimately be held accountable because of all the outrage in the community, and because the district attorney accused of mishandling the Arbery case is no longer in office. Others are worried Lehrkamps case could still easily be willfully ignored. If that is the case, we will continue to protest, Sykes said, and well take it wherever we need to take it to in order to get this situation taken care of. She added, Like we seen with Ahmaud, his family had to fight to the death in order to get arrests made, and were seeing the same thing happening with Trent where the communitys having to come together. Sykes was among the hundreds who showed up for a prayer vigil outside the hospital where Lehrkamp was treated, and she also joined last weekends protest on the island. She said she's proud that the community has stepped up to rally around Lehrkamp and hopes that the support has comforted her former classmate in a big way. A lot of Glynn County has been losing sleep over this, she said. This boy has more family and friends than he could have ever imagined at this point. The 20-year-old, whose name has been withheld as he was 17 at the time of Pop Smokes murder, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and home invasion robbery in an Inglewood courtroom. The defendant admitted to entering the rented Hollywood Hills mansion intending to rob Pop Smoke, who was killed in the struggle with him and three other assailants. According to The Los Angeles Times, the defendant was not allowed to include the two years and eight months he spent at a juvenile detention center since his arrest. Instead, he was sentenced to four years and two months in a regional juvenile treatment facility. Judge J. Christopher Smith warned the defendant could remain in juvenile custody until he was 25. On Feb. 19, 2020, the 20-year-old rapper Bashar Barakah Jackson, known as Pop Smoke, was murdered at the Airbnb he was staying at while on a four-day trip to Los Angeles. According to court testimony, the Brooklyn native was in the shower when masked men confronted him. Prosecutors claim the four burglars pistol-whipped him, and the alleged shooter, 15 at the time, eventually shot him in the back three times during a struggle. The defendant, who remains nameless by order of the judge, alongside Corey Walker, then 19, Keandre Rodgers, then 18, and a fourth individual, not identified as he was a minor at the time, were charged in July 2020 by the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office. The DA announced the accused would be charged with murder with the special circumstance of having taken place during a robbery and burglary, Complex reported. According to the authorities, the robbers got the Dior rappers address from a photo he posted on social media of a gift bag he received, which revealed the address on a label. In 2021, LAPD detective Carlos Camacho testified the motive behind the attack was to steal cash, a thick gold chain and a diamond-studded Rolex watch, which the assailants also spotted on social media. They later sold the watch for $2,000. In 2018, Pop Smoke emerged on the rap scene with the breakout gangsta anthem, Welcome to the Party, which bragged about shootings, murder and drugs. Nicki Minaj even dropped a verse on the remix. His other hits include What You Know Bout Love and For The Night (ft. Lil Baby & DaBaby). His album, Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon, was released posthumously on what would have been Jacksons 21st birthday. Faith was a follow-up commemorative song released in July 2021. Per a report from Rolling Stone, the remaining three defendants are scheduled to appear in a pretrial hearing in a Los Angeles courtroom on May 5. Less than 1% of organ donors who died in Washington last year were eligible to donate their organs. On Thursday, families of those organ donors gathered at the state Capitol for a ceremony to honor their loved ones. Families of the 261 Washingtonians who donated their organs in 2022 were presented with awards from Gov. Jay Inslee at the Gift of Life event. Janet Anderson spoke at the ceremony Thursday. Her 35-year-old son, Greg, died in 2018 in Spokane. My goal here was to literally speak hope into these families that are so raw in suffering since they lost loved ones in 2022, Anderson told McClatchy. Joining Anderson on Thursday was the recipient of her sons liver, Al Bass. Anderson and Bass have developed a close friendship in the wake of her sons death. They met at the governors Gift of Life ceremony four years ago, they said. Bass, a retired teacher, was diagnosed with a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis at least 10 to 12 years before he received the organ donation, he told McClatchy. He spent approximately eight of those years in and out of a hospital bed at home, and was told that he likely wouldnt get an organ donation. In July of 2018, Bass collapsed after it took him three hours to change a tire, and was flown to the University of Washington Medical CenterMontlake in Seattle where he received the transplant. Anderson said that knowing her son was able to continue giving life to Bass helps her through her grief. I just cant imagine going through the loss of Greg and not having that, I just cant, she said. He (Bass) got me through those really critical times. Bass encouraged other organ recipients to reach out to donor families. Its the hardest letter youll ever write, Bass said. Also honored at the ceremony Thursday was Deputy Dominique Dom Calata, a Pierce County deputy who died last year in the line of duty. His organs, tissue and cornea were donated to others after he died in March 2022. Calata is survived by his wife, Erin, and their 4-year-old son, Dylan, who also attended the event. Story continues Santokh Gill, President and CEO of LifeCenter Northwest, told McClatchy that the reason so few organ donors are able to donate their organs is because donors must be on a ventilator when they die. Its often tragedy that leads to a donation, Gill said. Additionally, donors must be medically suitable and cannot have a history of certain diseases such as cancer. Organs must be recovered quickly upon a persons passing, and a national database is accessed to find recipients. A number of factors are considered, including distance, how long someone has been on the waitlist and how sick someone waiting on a transplant is. Up to eight lives can be saved by one donor, Gill said. The easiest way to sign up for organ donation is through the Department of Licensing, Gill said. People often wont be able to make the choice to be a donor in the hospital, so going through DOL is the safest legally-binding way to make that decision. Gill said that 61 people in Washington died last year waiting for an organ donation, and 152 Washingtonians have been on a waiting list for donated organs for more than five years. Correction: Three Tennessee lawmakers joined pro-gun reform protesters in a state capitol demonstration last week. The information was incorrect in an earlier version of this story. Across the South, GOP-run state legislatures are moving to restrict the autonomy of Democratic cities. The legislatures are seeking to limit cities power to set their own policies on everything from charged national issues like gun regulations to less-discussed ones like labor standards on hot days and who decides who sits on local courts. This nationwide pattern of legislation reverses a long tradition of conservative support for local rule. Here are three recent flashpoints from the contest between GOP-run state legislatures and Democrats representing some of the Souths largest cities. Tennessee: Expelling legislators over gun control protest The GOP-controlled Tennessee House voted on Thursday to expel two urban Democrats for leading a demonstration in favor of gun control. The chamber also voted on whether to expel a third lawmaker for the same reason, but fell short of the required two-thirds majority. In a protest after a shooter killed six people at Nashvilles The Covenant School last week, thousands of students and parents marched to the state Capitol, the Tennessean reported. The three urban Democratic representatives Reps. Justin Jones (Nashville), Justin J. Pearson (Memphis) and Gloria Johnson (Knoxville) led protesters into the House gallery, where they led chants calling for gun reform, according to the Tennesseean. On Monday, the state House voted to deactivate their keycards and strip them of their committee assignments, followed by Thursdays vote over whether to expel them. The state House is now the only viable path toward gun control for the three communities the lawmakers represent. As of 2021, the state preempts or overrules all local regulation of gun or ammunition sales, according to the nonprofit Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Story continues Since 2021 Tennessee has also banned municipalities from creating registries of gun owners. House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R) said Monday that the protesters had tried to hold up the peoples business instead of doing it the way that they should have done it. They decided that them being a victim was more important than focusing on the six victims from Monday. And thats appalling, Sexton added. Sexton also last week told a talk radio show that the protest was at least equivalent, maybe worse depending on how you look at it, of doing an insurrection in the Capitol. Jones, the Nashville representative, fired back at his Republican colleagues Tuesday. It was morally insane that a week after a mass shooting took six lives in our community, House Republicans only response is to expel us for standing with our constituents to call for gun control, Jones wrote on Twitter. Congressional Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) called on the state House Speaker on Wednesday to consider a lesser penalty. The three Democratic Members did violate the rules of decorum, however I believe expulsion to be too extreme a consequence, Cohen wrote. There have only been a few previous expulsions in Tennessee history, all due to violations of statutory law, such as bribery. The federal representative had suggested that heightened emotions prompted by the horrific Covenant School shootings that resulted in the death of six Tennesseans, including three nine-year-olds, should be a mitigating factor in any disciplinary response. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Texas: Battling over business regulations The Texas legislature is sparking outcry from city representatives over a bill that would nullify local ordinances that fall under broad areas of the Texas legal code. Instead, in domains from labor to natural resources, House Bill 2127 which made it out of committee on Monday would replace municipal rules with less stringent state authority. The National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) a small business trade group backing the bill says the measure is necessary to ensure regulatory consistency across Texas. The current patchwork of regulations that exists in Texas makes it harder for small business owners to expand their operations, take care of their employees, and meet their customers needs, NFIB director Annie Spilman said in a statement on Monday. Representatives of the states booming and largely Democratic-controlled cities and urban advocacy groups oppose many provisions of the bill, which would have impacts ranging from barring Dallas from banning gas-powered mowers to keeping Austin from enforcing mandatory breaks for construction workers. But their main concern is structural: that the bill bars cities from entire areas of rulemaking, rather than specifically targeting areas small business owners oppose. House Bill 2127 is a weird and inefficient way of doing things, said Bennett Sandlin, executive director of the Texas Municipal League. We think its best to take up specific issues one by one and lets have a talk win or lose as opposed to doing things top down, Sandlin said. The NFIB has argued in turn that cities have misled the media, overstating the bills likely impacts on local control. But in at least one contentious area rest breaks for construction workers laboring under the Texas sun the NFIBs own information appears misleading. In an in-depth fact sheet, the NFIB has argued that preempting cities ability to require rest breaks wont lead to dangerous working conditions because the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has very detailed regulations tailored to worksites. But OSHA does not have specific regulations around heat something a group of Democratic attorneys general in February called on the agency to address. While the agency can still cite and fine workplaces for egregious general safety violations which can include ambient heat only 7 of the agencys 696 enforcement actions in 2022 were for heat risk. Austin and Dallas have required rest breaks for construction workers on the local level since 2010. But the new legislation would cast those protections in doubt. Before it can become law, the bill still has to make it to a floor vote something sponsor state Rep. Dustin Burrowss (R-Lubbock) position as chair of the House Calendar Committee makes a virtual certainty and pass both chambers. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) Jackson, Miss.: Expanding state police power in a Democratic-run capitol Like Austin and Nashville, Jackson, Miss., occupies a paradoxical position as a Democratically controlled city that hosts a GOP-controlled legislature. That legislature is guarded by the state-controlled Capitol Police, who currently have jurisdiction only over the statehouse and its grounds. But if Gov. Tate Reeves (R) signs Tennessee House Bill 1020 into law, the Capitol Police will gain jurisdiction over the entire city, according to the Mississippi Clarion-Ledger. The bill passed the state Senate in March and the House on Friday, sending it to the governors desk, the Clarion-Ledger reported. Most concerning to Jackson Democrats: The bill would place certain areas within the majority-Black city most of them majority-white neighborhoods under the jurisdiction of a new court system. That new system would send those convicted of misdemeanors to state prisons rather than to county jails, as currently happens, the Clarion-Ledger reported. It would be run by judges appointed by the Republican-appointed Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court and prosecutors appointed by the Republican attorney general, rather than elected. GOP state Rep. Trey Lamar (Senatobia) told colleagues in February that the bill would allow faster processing of criminal cases. Jackson is the capital city. It belongs to all Mississippi, Lamar said, according to The Associated Press. Rep. Christopher Bell (D-Jackson) warned that state leadership was laying the groundwork for secession of the new court system centered on the statehouse area from the city itself a departure that would pull the wealthiest neighborhoods from the citys tax base. If it passes, will they next year introduce a city council for the capital city complex and a city manager for the capitol city complex? Is that next? Is it needed? Bell asked. Updated Friday at 12:56 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Three Marines who were credited with stopping a stabbing at a Virginia Chick-fil-A were given awards by the Marine Corps on Thursday, the service announced. Cpl. John Darby, Cpl. Bradley Feldkamp and Lance Cpl. Nicholas Dural all received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for their actions during a fight at a Chick-fil-A south of Quantico, Virginia, spokesman Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Bragg told Military.com in an email. The trio were students at the Marine Security Group school -- a course designed to prepare them to act as security at U.S. embassies around the world. They stepped in after two teenagers approached a customer at the fast food chicken restaurant around 2 p.m. Sunday and an argument and physical altercation ensued, according to a press release from the Stafford County Sheriff's Department. Read Next: From Korea to Afghanistan: Special Forces Legend Billy Waugh's Amazing Career Spanned Five Decades "[The school] is extremely proud of the heroic actions of Cpl. Darby, Cpl. Feldkamp, and Lance Cpl. Dural," Bragg said in his statement, adding that the "school takes pride in teaching Marines how to respond to different situations, how to effectively communicate, and how to be resilient, and that's exactly what these Marines did." The two male teenagers assaulted the victim at the restaurant and then one of them pulled out a knife, the sheriff's office said. That's when the trio of Marines jumped into action and tried to break up the fight. "One of them broke the knife in half to prevent further harm, and the two suspects quickly fled," the sheriff's office said. The pair of assailants managed to make off with the customer's phone, but they were later arrested and charged with assault, robbery and other charges. The sheriff's office thanked "the hero Marines who stepped up in order to protect the victim," before adding that "without you, this altercation could have been a lot worse." Story continues Bragg said that Darby and Feldkamp both departed early Thursday to the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, while Dural will leave early next week for the embassy in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo. -- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin. Related: Marine Colonel Awards Medal to Corporal Who Saved His Life Russian troops carried out attacks against nine Ukrainian oblasts over the past 24 hours, Ukraine's Defense Ministry media center reported on April 7. Three civilians were killed, and 17 more were wounded in the Russian attacks nationwide as of 9 a.m. Russian attacks were reported in Donetsk, Kherson, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, and Luhansk oblasts in the east, south, and north of Ukraine. According to the report, Russia struck a total of 114 settlements using mortars, tanks, artillery, S-300 missiles, multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), drones, and tactical aviation. Thirty-two infrastructure facilities have been hit, the media center added. When teens whipped out a knife during an altercation at a Virginia Chick-fil-A on Saturday, three nearby Marines intervened to break up the fight and break the knife in half. Lance Cpl. Nicholas Dural, Cpl. John Darby and Cpl. Bradley Feldkamp on Thursday received Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals for their actions at the Stafford, Virginia, restaurant. Our Marine brain just kind of kicked in, Darby told reporters Thursday. The Marines, who graduated from Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, nine-week embassy security guard training March 9, were getting lunch at the Chick-fil-A in the middle of running errands. Marine recruiters, applicant stop jewel heist suspects at mall Having finished his meal, Dural was about to walk over to a barbershop to get his hair ready for formation on Monday. But he lingered a little longer because Feldkamp had to finish an extra order of fries. That meant he was there when two teenage boys, aged 17 and 14, approached a male seated at the Chick-fil-A and got into a brief argument with him, according to the Marines and the local sheriffs office. The seated male pushed the pair, knocking them into a nearby woman, Dural said. A fight ensued. Dural went to check on the woman. Meanwhile, Feldkamp and Darby held back a fourth male from getting involved in the brawl, they said. Hey, take this outside, the Marines recalled shouting at the teens. Then Dural saw one of the two alleged attackers pull out a knife. Instinct kicked in. As Dural had learned to do in Marine Security Guard training, he grabbed the wrist of the teen holding the knife and twisted. Dural said he put so much pressure on the top of the blade that the knife snapped. The blade flew into the air and slid across the floor, according to Darby, who scooped it up and handed it to a Chick-fil-A employee. Police say Lance Cpl. Nicholas Dural broke a knife allegedly wielded by an teen at a Chick-fil-A, stopping a potential stabbing. (Stafford County Sheriff's Office) The alleged assailants darted out the back door, the Marines said. They took with them the alleged victims cellphone, but no one was stabbed, according to a Monday statement by the Stafford County Sheriffs Office. Story continues A sheriffs deputy later nabbed the alleged perpetrators and took them to a juvenile detention center to await a court hearing held Monday, according to the statement. Both teens face charges of assault and battery and robbery, and the 17-year-old faces an additional charge of attempted felony wounding. Because they are juveniles, the sheriffs office hasnt released their names. Dural eventually made it to the barbershop for his haircut. He didnt even tell his barber what had just happened at the Chick-fil-A. I try to be as humble as possible, he said. In the statement Monday, the sheriffs office publicly thanked the hero Marines who stepped in to prevent the altercation from getting worse. Local media outlets first reported the Marines actions. Lt. Col. Matthew McNerney, executive officer for Marine embassy security, and Gunnery Sgt. Aric Lonchar, chief instructor at the Marine Security Guard School, presented the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals at Thursdays ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, according to Marine spokesman Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Bragg. Darby and Feldkamp departed for their posts at the U.S. embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, later Thursday, and Dural is scheduled to depart for the U.S. embassy in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, next Tuesday, according to Bragg. Dural told reporters he wanted to become an embassy security guard so he could take care of others. I want to be that strong person that anybody can trust, he said. Ive always wanted to do that. I was like that for my sisters when I grew up with them. And I would love to do that for the rest of the world. Apr 6, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Bryant Youngblood, left, with Pantheon Innovative Builders, monitors Ohios first construction 3D printer during a foundation building demonstration at Plumb Hall in Columbus, Ohio on Thursday afternoon. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Scheller-The Columbus Dispatch More than 200 people gathered in a former Ohio State University horse arena Thursday to witness what some believe is the future of construction. They watched as workers demonstrated the state's first large-scale 3D construction "printer," a machine that builds homes and other structures one automated layer of concrete at a time. Those involved say the process can be used to erect buildings faster, with fewer workers and less waste than conventional construction, and can play a key role in addressing the nation's housing shortage. "You've got people making $50,000, $60,000 a year who can barely afford a place to live," said Stephen Davis, the chief development officer with Pantheon Innovative Builders in Youngstown. "We have to figure out a way to build faster." Pantheon owns the printer, called BOD2, which was made by the Danish company COBOD (Construction Of Buildings On Demand), the largest manufacturer of 3D construction printers in the world. Apr 6, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Examples of cement printing made from Ohios first construction 3D printer are seen at Plumb Hall in Columbus, Ohio on Thursday afternoon. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Scheller-The Columbus Dispatch More: 3-D-printing industry more sophisticated, nimble? Copy that Pantheon delivered the machine to OSU in January in a partnership with the university's Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence to research how to best use 3D technology (called "additive manufacturing") in the real world. OSU officials hope to use the machine and a team of experts from different departments to become a national authority on building with 3D printers. "We're really good at printing metals and really good at printing plastics," said Ben DiMarco, an additive manufacturing technologist at CDME who is involved in the project. "Why not print with concrete?" DiMarco said he hopes the printer can produce a small building somewhere on campus in the next few years. How 3D construction printers work Apr 6, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Justin Levy, right, a first year mechanical engineering student at Ohio State University originally from Miami, and Stephen Davis, Chief Development Officer with Pantheon Innovative Builders, monitor Ohios first construction 3D printer during a demonstration printing a small building foundation at Plumb Hall in Columbus, Ohio on Thursday afternoon. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Scheller-The Columbus Dispatch The COBOD printer works like other 3D printers: material is extruded from a moving nozzle, layer upon layer, guided by a pattern programmed into the machine. Instead of plastic and metal, the COBOD "prints" with concrete. Each swipe of the arm deposits another layer of concrete, allowing a wall to gradually rise. The walls Thursday were made of two bands of concrete, each about 3 inches thick, several inches apart, allowing insulation to be pumped into the cavity. Story continues Windows, doors, flooring, roofs, mechanicals, countertops and other finishes are manually added after the walls are set. The BOD2 can "print" buildings up to 30-by-30 feet, though it can be expanded to produce buildings up to 75-by-75 feet. Apr 6, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ben DiMarco, left, speaks during a presentation debuting Ohios first construction 3D printer at Plumb Hall in Columbus, Ohio on Thursday afternoon. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Scheller-The Columbus Dispatch More: New Albany grad's Form5 Prosthetics 3D prints face shields to fight coronavirus OSU's machine uses a blend of Quikrete as its building material, but DiMarco noted that one advantage of 3D printed buildings is that they can use local material. "The long-term future is to use locally sourced materials to make your own mix sand, aggregate, things like that and there's research going on around world to use other materials such as fly ash, hempcrete or local clay," he said. Asked Thursday how much a 3D printed home might cost, Pantheon CEO Ryan Kelly said no one really knows yet, but he estimated it could be 40% less than conventional construction. Real world challenges Apr 6, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohios first construction 3D printer builds a foundation for a small building during demonstration at Plumb Hall in Columbus, Ohio on Thursday afternoon. We had to pull a lot of people in to figure out how to make this work, Chief Development Office with Pantheon Innovative Builders Stephen Davis said, one of the companies involved with the creation of the printer. A goal at Pantheon is to be able to create affordable housing with this printing technology, Davis said. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Scheller-The Columbus Dispatch Constructing buildings with 3D printers has its limitations. It's difficult to build higher than one story, roofs must be manually installed, and printers must be powered and set firmly on concrete footers. Such challenges have made 3D printed buildings largely a novelty so far in the U.S., although some companies, such as the Texas-based Icon, in a partnership with the huge homebuilding company Lennar, have built several homes with the technology. Dale Nehls, a representative of Quikrete, said the company's material has been used to "print" six homes in Virginia, Texas and California, including one two-story, 4,000-square-foot home in Houston. He and Vincent Albanese, COBOD's North American manager of strategic partnerships, said they expect the technology to become far more common. "I think you'll see this, not in a year, but in years to come," Nehls said. "There's a use for this. ... It's the future." jweiker@dispatch.com @JimWeiker This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State debuts state's largest 3D printer Just under half of Americans say they think it was right for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) to pursue criminal charges against Trump for his role in a 2016 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, according to a new Reuters-Ipsos poll released on Friday. However, that 49 percent breaks down drastically along party lines, with 84 percent of Democrat respondents agreeing with the decision to bring charges compared to the just 16 percent of Republican respondents who said the same, the poll found. This partisan split reflects the difference of opinion in Washington, where Republican lawmakers have repeatedly denounced the case as politically motivated and an unprecedented abuse of power. Republicans in the Reuters poll largely agreed with such sentiments, with 76 percent saying some members of law enforcement are attempting to delegitimize Trump through politically motivated investigations. The vast majority of American respondents 73 percent say they believe the premise of the case that Trump arranged payments to Daniels and model Karen McDougal to buy their silence about alleged affairs. This includes 55 percent of Republicans, despite Trumps repeated denials of both affairs. Trump remains the leading GOP candidate in the 2024 race, with 58 percent of Republicans saying he is their preferred candidate. Only 12 percent of Republican respondents said the charges made them less likely to support the former president, while 40 percent said it made them more likely to vote for him, the poll found. The former president pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records on Tuesday for the reimbursement payments he made to his former personal attorney Michael Cohen throughout 2017. The Reuters-Ipsos poll was conducted April 5-6 with 1,004 U.S. adults and had a margin of error of 3.8 percentage points. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Good morning, Chicago. Voters across the Chicago suburbs and around the state turned back attempts to pull local school boards to the right in Tuesdays elections, though conservative candidates had pockets of success, winning enough seats to take control in some districts. Advertisement Typically low-cost, low-interest school board races have become national political proxy fights following the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Chicago suburbs have become a key battleground. Efforts by conservative groups pushing national Republican talking points about parental rights, gender ideology and critical race theory were met in Illinois with an unprecedented pushback from the state Democratic Party, which pledged nearly $300,000 to oppose candidates it labeled extremists. Teachers unions also took a more active role in campaigning this spring. Advertisement Read the full story from the Tribunes Dan Petrella and Zareen Syed. Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day. Subscribe to more newsletters | COVID-19 tracker | Compare home values by ZIP code | Puzzles & Games | Daily horoscope | Ask Amy | Todays eNewspaper edition A high-lift vehicle is used by hoisting engineer Frank Vulich inside the salt shed at a Streets and Sanitation facility in Chicago on March 10, 2023. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) Chicagos 2023 winter season has been mild, with snowfall at the lowest it has been in 12 years. To clear the roads of the 18 inches of snow that did fall, the citys Department of Streets and Sanitation used 132,363 tons of salt, or less than a third of its annual inventory, to prevent slippery driving conditions. So what happens to the salt that isnt used? Businessman and former ComEd board member Juan Ochoa, right, exits the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after testifying in the "ComEd Four" bribery conspiracy trial, April 6, 2023, in Chicago. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) The plan to get Juan Ochoa appointed to a lucrative position on Commonwealth Edisons board of directors had been in the works for nearly eight months when then-House Speaker Michael Madigan got a call from his closest confidant saying it was close to a done deal. Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > Speaker, Juan Ochoa. You may call him, Michael McClain, a former lobbyist working as a consultant for the utility, said on the July 17, 2018, call. Maksim Stasiv, left, and his mother, Bohdana Stasiv, pose for a portrait during a Palm Sunday service at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Chicago on April 2, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) As the mothers fingertips touched the soft buds of a pussy willow branch blessed by a priest a few minutes prior, the familiar texture took her back to her homeland, war-torn Ukraine. Advertisement To begin Holy Week, 48-year-old Bohdana Stasiv and her son Maksim, 24, celebrated Palm Sunday at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Chicagos Ukrainian Village neighborhood. Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lance Lynn is taken out in the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Guaranteed Rate Field Thursday, April 6, 2023. (Eileen T. Meslar / Chicago Tribune) If the Sox were a dating app, theyd be a quick swipe left, writes Paul Sullivan. And if first impressions are lasting, this team is deep trouble. We saw enough this homestand to discover manager Pedro Grifol has no problem sticking with struggling starters or sending the same position player out to the mound twice in three days to save his bullpen. Rob Zombie, Taylor Swift's Eras Tour and Drake are all on Chicago's 2023 concert calendar. (AP / Getty) Its been a nonstop drumbeat of concert announcements for 2023: Taylor Swift, Springsteen, Beyonce, Drake. LCD Soundsystem is coming in a new Re:SET festival. Just announced on the heels of a Wilco residency, Jeff Tweedy will tour solo this summer starting at the Vic. The concerts on this list begin this weekend and stretch through the end of September. Devotees visit the Kamakhya Temple, decorated with floral garlands during the Hindu Navaratri festival in Guwahati in October of last year. (Surjeet Yadav/AFP via Getty Images) As reported by CBS News, police in India arrested five men for allegedly conducting a Hindu ritual human sacrifice four years ago. The female victim, Shanti Shaw, was found decapitated at the Kamakhya Temple in the northeastern city of Guwahati in 2019. During the investigation, we found this was a case of human sacrifice to please Maa Kamakhya [a Hindu goddess], Guwahati police commissioner Diganta Barah told journalists on Tuesday. The accused apparently believed that the sacrifice would appease the soul of the deceased. The primary suspect, 52-year-old Pradeep Pathak, is accused of organizing the human sacrifice on the 11th anniversary of his brothers death. In June 2019, Shaw had traveled to the annual fair at the temple with two other women and a man claiming to be a Hindu god-man. Police say 12 people took part in orchestrating the murder. Why it matters: Human sacrifices in India occur more than you think. From 2014 to 2021, 103 ritualistic human sacrifices were recorded there, according to the National Crime Records Bureau. More prevalent than human sacrifices, however, is violence against women. According to a report by German news outlet DW, Assam the state where Shaw was murdered had the country's highest rate of violence against women in 2021. However, according to human rights organizations, this government-collected data is likely just the tip of the iceberg. Across India, 2021 had the highest rates of crimes against women since it began recording data. Statistics found that there were 31,878 rapes and 28,222 kidnappings of women in 2021. Here are four other international news stories you may have missed this week from Yahoo News partner network. South Africans oppose Ugandas anti-LGBT bill A gay man holds a pride sign in Uganda in March. (AP) Protesters in South Africa gathered outside the Uganda High Commission over antigay legislation passed by lawmakers in the last month, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday. More than 200 demonstrators called for Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni not to sign the controversial bill into law and called on the South African government to speak out against it. Story continues One Ugandan protester in South Africa said he now fears for his familys safety back home. They are preaching hate crimes and genocide against our queer bodies, but we are human first, Papa De said. The bill proposes the death penalty for those convicted of aggravated homosexuality, meaning sexual acts with minors, or people with disabilities or with HIV; 20 years in prison for committing the offense of homosexuality; and 10 years in prison for attempting to commit a sexual act. The United Nations human rights chief described the bill as probably among the worst of its kind in the world. Body of 2nd Indigenous woman found in Canadian landfill Red dresses, hung in honor of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit individuals, line a fence at the Brady Road landfill in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Tuesday. (Shannon VanRaes/Reuters) The remains of a second Indigenous woman were found in a landfill in Canada less than one year after another woman was uncovered, BBC News reported on Wednesday. The body of Linda Mary Beardy, 33, was discovered at the Brady Road Resource Management Facility in the city of Winnipeg on Monday. Just 11 months earlier, Rebecca Contoiss remains were found in the same landfill. Police said they believe the two deaths are unrelated. Investigators think Contois was a victim of Jeremy Skibicki, an alleged serial killer who is accused of killing three other women. Beardy is not believed to have been one of his victims. An investigation into the murder and disappearances of Indigenous women in Canada found that First Nation women were 12 times more likely to be killed or go missing. According to Statistics Canada, between 2001 and 2015, homicide rates for Indigenous women were nearly six times higher than for non-Indigenous women, the 2019 report found. Troops filmed killing boy in Burkina Faso A mural in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, which has been wracked by violence linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. (AP) Horrifying footage circulated on social media showing the killing of a 16-year-old by government soldiers in the West African country Burkina Faso, the AP reported on Sunday. The video appeared to show troops killing the teenager, Adama, who had gone missing in mid-February. One soldier dropped a rock onto Adamas head. This one ... was still alive, one man in the video says about him. Good-for-nothing! You dont have anything to do but to kill people. Well kill you one after another. Adama and six other boys were reportedly killed by Burkina Fasos military, which has denied the allegations. The killings would be considered war crimes under international law. Hallucinogenic drugs found in Bronze Age humans, study finds Ancient strands of human hair found in a cave on the island of Minorca, Spain. (ASOME-Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona) Research conducted in Spain found that ancient humans took part in drug-fueled hallucinogenic rituals, the Telegraph reported on Thursday. The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, found various hallucinogens derived from plants in strands of human hair at a burial site in Spain. Elisa Guerra-Doce, an archaeologist at the University of Valladolid, and her team of scientists examined hair strands from a human believed to have lived between 2,800 and 3,600 years ago. The scientists believe the drugs may have been used in ritualistic ceremonies. The concentric circles on the wooden containers may have depicted eyes and could have been a metaphor for inner vision related to a drug-induced altered state of consciousness, Guerra-Doce said. [Source] A Chinese court has jailed six men in connection to the high-profile human trafficking case of a woman that was found chained inside a hut in the eastern Jiangsu Province in China. On Thursday, the womans husband, Dong Zhimin, was sentenced to nine years in prison for abusing and unlawfully detaining his wife, Xiao Huamei. Five others also received sentences ranging from eight to 13 years and were each fined for trafficking Xiao decades ago. The court found Dong guilty of torturing Xiao and forcing her to have eight children between 1999 and 2020. More from NextShark: White House Official Calls Coronavirus 'Kung-Flu' to Asian American Reporter's Face According to the Intermediate People's Court of Xuzhou city, Dong became very abusive when Xiao, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, worsened after her third child. Dong placed her in an outdoor hut in 2017, where she was tied with ropes and chains without any electricity or water. Yao Hui, the presiding judge, said Dong had not sought medical attention for Xiao and had repeatedly gotten her pregnant despite her mental disorder. More from NextShark: Korean Man Left Beaten in Parking Structure at The Source in OC The verdict was met with heavy criticism and anger on Chinese social media, with many people saying that the sentences were too light and reforms were still lacking. It's her whole life, but just nine years for him, a Weibo user wrote. Amend the law, the sentence is too light, another user said. More from NextShark: Pair wanted for 2 sexual assaults in 2 days at University of Oklahoma Activists have been pushing for stricter legal reform, noting that light sentences do not discourage traffickers and buyers. The human trafficking case came to light in January 2022 when a video of the victim went viral on Douyin after a vlogger visited Huankou village in Feng County. The vlogger found Xiao chained around the neck in a doorless shed in an apparent daze while dressed in a light sweater in the cold winter weather. Story continues More from NextShark: Never be forgotten: Rep. Andy Kim donates suit worn after Capitol attack to Smithsonian exhibit Meanwhile, the husband is proudly talking about their 8 kids (7 boys, 1 girl), youngest still a baby. This is what the online anger is also about: how could she even have babies while suffering from mental illness? When did she become this way? Was she used as a breeding machine? pic.twitter.com/pE1x4RCjqo Manya Koetse (@manyapan) January 30, 2022 Dongs defense was that he locked up his wife because she was schizophrenic and prone to violent behavior. Following the incident, online public outrage prompted Chinese authorities to investigate. In February 2022, local authorities confirmed Xiao had been trafficked multiple times. Xiao, who was born in 1977, was married in 1995 and later divorced in 1997 before a woman brought her to Jiangsu Province to supposedly help her seek medical treatment and find her a new husband. However, the woman sold her to a farmer in Donghai County for 5,000 yuan (approximately $728) in 1998. A year later, Xiao was sold again to a couple, who then arranged her sale to Dong's father. Following investigations last year, Xiao was admitted to a hospital for treatment, where she currently remains, and her children were taken into state care. The Benton Franklin Health District gave failing grades to seven restaurants and other businesses that sell food and drinks in food safety inspections from March 25 to 31. One had a pigeon trapped inside when it was inspected, although that was not among its critical issues. The districts food safety team gave passing grades on 21 inspections and two-thirds of those were perfect scores awarded to restaurants, schools, coffee stands and markets. In the districts routine inspections, businesses or organizations that receive 35 points for the more serious red violations are required to have additional inspections and must meet a tougher standard on those. For followup inspections, they must have fewer than 25 red points and a limited number of repeat problems to pass. Red violations are those most likely to cause food-borne illnesses, such as improper temperature control of food, lack of handwashing or bare-hand contact with foods. Blue violations are low risk factors related to the cleanliness and physical condition of an establishment. No notice is given before the inspections. Inspection results are posted online so residents can look up the status and the details of any violations of individual restaurants. Go to bit.ly/BFHDinspections. Click on the business name and then on the date of the inspection on the right half of the next page. Look for the Violations tab. Call 509-460-4205 with questions or concerns. Failed inspections Double Dragon, 3107 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick, Follow-up March 30 (45 Red, 0 Blue) Notes: Inadequate handwashing facilities, improper cooling procedures, improper cold holding (>45F). El Caporal, 624 Sixth St., Prosser, Follow-up March 27 (25 Red, 0 Blue) Notes: Improper hot holding (<130F). Garcias Market (Food service), 804 Sixth St., Prosser, Routine March 27 (40 Red, 5 Blue) Notes: Improper hot holding (<130F), improper reheating procedures for hot holding. Helados La Michoacana, 402 N. Ely St., Kennewick, Follow-up March 27 (45 Red, 20 Blue) Story continues Notes: Bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods, inadequate handwashing facilities, raw meat improperly stored, improper cold holding (42-45F). the restaurant also had a blue finding because of a pigeon inside, which workers had not been able to catch since the day before. A pest control service was called and in the meantime all food was covered. La Posada Mexican Grill, 3150 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick, Follow-up March 29 (35 Red, 0 Blue) Notes: Improper hot holding (<130F), improper cold holding (>45F). The Pub, 7001 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick, Routine March 27 (50 Red, 13 Blue) Notes: Food worker cards not 100%, improper hand washing, inadequate handwashing facilities, improper chemical use. Yokes Fresh Market (Deli), 454 Keene Road, Richland, Follow-up March 28 (10 Red, 3 Blue) Notes: Improper cold holding (>45F). Passed inspections 1219 Thayer Building, 1219 Thayer Drive, Richland, Routine March 30 (0 Red, 0 Blue) Arbys, 1310 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick, Routine March 30 (15 Red, 0 Blue) Basin City Child Development Center, 281 1st Ave., Mesa, Routine March 28 (25 Red, 0 Blue) Basin City Elementary School, 303 Bailie Blvd., Mesa, Routine March 28 (0 Red, 0 Blue) Bombshellz, 96 Wellsian Way, Richland, Follow-up March 30 (0 Red, 0 Blue) Bougie Brunch, 3320 W. Kennewick Ave., Kennewick , Follow-up March 27 (0 Red, 0 Blue) Carmichael Middle School, 620 Thayer Drive, Richland, Routine March 30 (25 Red, 0 Blue) Edwin Markham Elementary School, 4031 Elm Road, Pasco, Routine March 28 (0 Red, 0 Blue) Family Fresh Sushi, 1410 W. 27th Ave., Kennewick, Follow-up March 27 (0 Red, 0 Blue) Garcias Market, 804 6th St., Prosser, Routine March 28 (Grocery 0 Red, 5 Blue) (Meat 0 Red, 0 Blue) Hot Tamales, 2521 W. Kennewick Ave., Kennewick, Follow-up March 29 (0 Red, 0 Blue) Lil Firehouse Coffee, 895 Stevens Drive, Richland, Follow-up March 30 (0 Red, 0 Blue) Lucky Food Mart (Food service), 22 Goethals Drive, Richland, Follow-up March 30 (0 Red, 0 Blue) Mesa Elementary School, 200 E. Pepiot Road, Mesa, Routine March 28 (0 Red, 0 Blue) Metro Mart (Food service), 1 Eagle Crest Drive, Connell, Follow-up March 28 (0 Red, 3 Blue) Rattlesnake Mountain Brewing Co., 2696 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Richland, Follow-up March 30 (0 Red, 5 Blue) Richland High School, 930 Long Ave., Richland, Routine March 30 (0 Red, 0 Blue) Shaka Cafe, 1230 Meade Ave., Prosser, Routine March 27 (15 Red, 5 Blue) Taqueria El Sazon, 4115 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick, Follow-up March 30 (0 Red, 0 Blue) Thai Elephant, 6030 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick , Follow-up March 27 (0 Red, 0 Blue) A man has been arrested more than a week after the body of a missing 76-year-old grandma was discovered along a bike trail, Pennsylvania authorities say. David Allen Bosley, 59, was arrested Thursday, April 6, in connection to the death of Marcy Suzette Nellis. Bosleys charges include homicide, rape and kidnapping, according to a news release from the Venango County District Attorney. After being reported missing March 26, Nellis was discovered dead the following day. Nellis, who according to her obituary rarely missed a day going outside for a walk, died while walking near her Oil City home. Oil City firefighters said the search for Nellis included a helicopter, drones, boats, all-terrain vehicles and resources from eight counties. At no point did responders give up hope and everyone came together and worked as a well-oiled machine throughout the entire search, the firefighters union said. Oil City is about 90 miles northeast of Pittsburgh Bosley becomes person of interest Bosley, who according to Explore Venango lives near where Nellis body was found, became a person of interest as authorities investigated the womans death. According to a criminal complaint obtained by Explore Venango, shoe impressions found at the crime scene matched ones Bosley was wearing when interviewed by police. He told officers he was fishing the day Nellis went missing, but the officers observed minor injuries to his hands, chest and face, the publication reported. The district attorney said an autopsy determined Nellis was sexually assaulted and died by strangulation. Testing of a rape kit linked Bosley to the incident, according to the district attorney. Bosley denied touching that woman and denied having anything to do with the death of the victim, Explore Venango reported, citing a complaint. Bosley was charged with homicide, rape by forcible compulsion, aggravated indecent assault, kidnapping and abuse of a corpse, officials said. He had been convicted of aggravated indecent assault and attempted rape in 2000, Pennsylvania records show. Story continues Nellis frequented the trail The 76-year-old grandma enjoyed living a healthy lifestyle and walking outdoors, her obituary states. Eric Barr, a neighbor of Nellis, said he saw her almost every day walking past his house, WTAE reported. Sadly enough, the day that she went missing, my wife happened to see her out walking that particular day, and then we come to find out by the next day that thats what happened to her. Its sad. Very sad, Barr told WTAE. Nellis was married for 57 years and lived in her Oil City home for 46 years, according to the obituary. She had two children, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Above all, Suzette loved spending time with her grandchildren; family always came first throughout her life, the obituary states. Good Hope Lutheran Pastor Sandra Jones, who helped orchestrate a walk in honor of Nellis, called her one of the finest, kindest, most lovely people. Everyone liked her and she liked everyone, Jones told Pennsylvania blog Eight & 322. And I suppose if she didnt like someone, she was wise enough to keep that to herself. Spring is all about rebirth, so it feels entirely apropos to hit pause on any tired entertaining ideas youve been cycling through and start scheming up spring table decor ideas that lean into fresh new palettes and table settings. If youre planning your next brunch or dinner party, or a micro-gathering for your nearest and dearest, theres always room to get creative with your spreads, utilizing pastels, gingham linens, or muted palettes with plenty of fresh fruit and flowers festooned on top for guests. Get inspired by nature if youre taking the festivities into the garden and the great outdoors, and dont be afraid of doing too much. Mixing and matching colors, prints, and different textures for spring tablescapes is always in, Marie Joh, head of merchandising at Brooklyn home goods store The Six Bells, tells us. Below, weve pulled together several swoon-worthy spring table decor ideasculled from interior designers and homeware brands alikethatll help you get in the spirit of the season and serve up plenty of inspiration for your next meal around the table. Dig into your dinnerware archives Photo: Natalia Miyar Atelier/Milo Brown London-based interior designer Natalia Miyar surfaced nostalgic objects from her own personal collection for this lively tablescape. I was given the plates by my parents, whove had them for over 40 years, Miyar says. They are Mexican hand-painted Talavera, and each one is unique and full of vibrant colors. Rustic stoneware pottery from NOM Living and handwoven yellow raffia placemats round out the tableau, while the amaryllis flowers displayed in the center reference the bright pink blooms seen on some of the plates. Double up on texture Photo: Madeline Harper Blink and you might miss the layered gingham tablecloths in this spread from Anastasia Caseythe founder and CEO of Austin-based creative agency IDCO Studiowhich doubles up rectangular French linens, so they can gracefully drape on both sides of this six-foot table. Her tip for pulling off a similar look? Dont be too fussy with your linens, she says. Casey line-dried hers to ease out the wrinkles, but recommends leaning into the subtle, casual soft waves they create when not ironed perfectly smooth. Story continues Get wild with botanical arrangements Photo: Chelsea Francis This Southern-style dinner party spread leans on a blue and white palette, from the plates down to the stripes on the tablecloth, contrasted with lemon-print napkins and yellow wine glasses. Austin-based interior designer Avery Cox paired everything with wildflower-esque blooms and wild native grasses she gathered from her familys farm. I wanted this tablescape to feel wild and joyful, like spring does when it rolls around each year, Cox says. To nail a similar aesthetic, she recommends displaying a mixture of store-bought and salvaged florals and grasses in a vessel that can support tall wild bouquetsbundling groups of similar botanicals or grasses with a mixture of wire and twine. Spotlight your natural setting Photo: Devon Liedtke Sometimes the scenery just speaks for itself, Houston-based interior designer and self-described tabletop enthusiast Devon Liedtke says of planning this serene candlelit dinner on a rocky shore. The ruggedness of the coast was the basis for the understated palette, Liedtke explains, with natural linens, speckled white pottery, cream candles, and beach rocks serving as decor. For a similarly styled tablescape, she recommends focusing on tones that enhance your natural environment and center the company youre with. Mix and match prints Photo: The Six Bells Brooklyn home goods store The Six Bells is all about mixing up distinct yet complementary colorways and motifs in this spread for a bigger, better brunch. A tip from the brands head of merchandising? Dont worry about getting too matchy-matchy. Use fresh flowers as centerpieces Photo Credit: Fernanda Varela Liedtke employs another simple color palette for this elegant Mothers Day tablescape, which displays quintessential spring flowers like white French tulips as the centerpieces. I love how sculptural they are, even with just one bloom in a vase, Liedtke says. Its easy and chic; you can cut things from your own yard, or just buy one bouquet from the store. Another tip of hers is to store finger foods and sweets like macarons in bowls around the table. Its a sweet gesture for guests, and also one less thing to think about when cooking, she says. Cozy it up with candles Photo: Jessica Antola, from the forthcoming book *Joie: A Parisian's Guide to Celebrating the Good Life* by Ajiri Aki. This fetching tablescape is featured in the forthcoming book Joie: A Parisians Guide to Celebrating the Good Life by Ajiri Akithe founder of French lifestyle brand Madame de la Maison. Aki notes that shes drawn to pastel palettes for spring, like the Laduree-esque greens and pinks seen here. You can mix all shades and almost cant go wrong, Aki muses. Another tip that she shares from her book is to sprinkle your table with petals from flowers that are dried or past their prime. She writes there, Its romantic and a tad messy, but very dramatic, and it makes the table look special. Keep it classic Photo: Tableau Refael Zuraivin, cofounder and creative director of Tableau, was inspired by ancient Rome for this spread thats steeped in classical imagery. The primary focus is the brands blue and white tablecloth, a stainproof linen in case the festivities get rowdy, which was paired with 16 different complementary napkin designs from its Flying Over Rome collection. Gatherings of fruit and flowers combine to create a scene that Zuraivin describes as loose but still elegant, and heavy but still light, all at the same time. Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest More Great Stories From AD A number of actors, comedians and TV personalities have joined the voices condemning the Labour partys controversial new campaign advert. The ad bears a picture of prime minister Rishi Sunak, alongside the words: Do you think adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should go to prison? Rishi Sunak doesnt. To justify the claim, the advert cites the fact that under the Tories, 4,500 adults convicted of sexually assaulting children under the age of 16 had served no prison time. The statistic is based on data going back to 2010, when Sunak was yet to even become an MP and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was serving as Director of Public Prosecutions. The advert was shared by Labours main account and retweeted by a number of several Labour figures, including Starmers Director of Strategy. It was met with outrage from many across the political spectrum. Actor and director Samuel West wrote: Please withdraw this. Its lower than low and Im embarrassed to be a member when this is the way you campaign. Nope. Unhelpful. Delete this, wrote comedian Marcus Brigstocke. I cant stand Sunak but this is horrendous Labour, wrote the Sheffield rock band Reverend & the Makers. Just go and f*** yourselves honestly. Loose Women presenter India Willoughby commented under Labours post: Just horrible. What has happened to you? Please withdraw this. Its lower than low and Im embarrassed to be a member when this is the way you campaign Samuel West (@exitthelemming) April 6, 2023 Comedian Sooz Kempner wrote: Its the equivalent of s***ting yourself and considering it a victory that lots of people think you stink now. Their voices join those of many politicians who condemned the advert on Friday. Labour backbencher John McDonnell wrote: This is not the sort of politics a Labour Party, confident of its own values and preparing to govern, should be engaged in. Story continues I say to the people who have taken the decision to publish this ad, please withdraw it. We, the Labour Party, are better than this. Senior Tory MP Tobias Ellwood branded the advert appalling, adding: We should be better than this. Ive called it out on my own side for stooping low and do so again now. SNP MP John Nicolson wrote: This is absolutely nauseating. Politics cheapened and debased. The Labour Party wants to win, of course, but like this? A spokesperson for Labour said: The Conservatives have left dangerous convicted criminals free to roam the streets. Labour is the party of law and order, and we will implement tougher sentences for dangerous criminals. ISLAMABAD (AP) A women-run radio station in northeastern Afghanistan has resumed its broadcasts, after officials shut it down for a week for playing music during the holy month of Ramadan, a Taliban official and the head of the station said Friday. Sadai Banowan, which means womens voice in Dari, was launched 10 years ago in Badakhshan province and is Afghanistans only women-run radio station. Six of its eight staff members are women. Moezuddin Ahmadi, the director for Information and Culture in Badakhshan, said the station was allowed to resume activities on Thursday after it had obeyed the laws and regulations of the Islamic Emirate and agreed to stop broadcasting any kind of music. Station head Najia Sorosh said after the station gave a commitment to officials at the information and culture department, they unlocked the door of the station, and they started broadcasting again. The Afghan Journalist Safety Committee, an Afghan watchdog organization that promotes the safety of journalists and press freedom and which was involved in mediation for the station's reopening, welcomed the resumption of broadcasts. Following AJSCs advocacy efforts, Sadia Banowan radio resumed its broadcasts, it said in a tweet. Representatives from the Ministry of Information and Culture and the Vice and Virtue Directorate had shut down the station a week earlier. Many journalists lost their jobs after the Taliban takeover in August 2021. Media outlets closed over a lack of funds or because staff left the country, according to the Afghan Independent Journalists Association. The Taliban have barred women from most forms of employment and education beyond the sixth grade, including university. There is no official ban on music. During their previous rule in the late 1990s, the Taliban barred most television, radio and newspapers in the country. Law enforcement officials from New Hampshire and Massachusetts are conducting a sprawling search in Revere on Friday in connection with the 2019 murder of 5-year-old Harmony Montgomery. Manchester police and Massachusetts State Police began searching wetlands along Lynn Marsh Road around 9 a.m., according to New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella and Manchester Police Chief Allen D. Aldenberg. Todays search was prompted by information developed by investigators, a Massachusetts State Police spokesman said in a statement. Eighteen state troopers trained in search operations in difficult terrain and environments, as well as K9 and drone units, are assisting in the search. Formella and Aldenberg announced in August that the search for Harmony, who disappeared in 2019, was now a homicide investigation. Investigators remove evidence from apartment tied to Harmony Montgomery Multiple sources of investigative information and new biological evidence led investigators to conclude that Harmony was murdered, according to Formella. Harmonys stepmother, 32-year-old Kayla Montgomery, told Manchester police detectives that Adam Montgomery, Harmonys father, had murdered his daughter in December 2019, court documents indicate. Adam was arrested in October 2022 on charges including second-degree murder, falsifying physical evidence, abuse of corpse, and tampering with witnesses in connection with the homicide investigation. Hes an evil person: Harmony Montgomerys grandfather reacts to Adams arrest Evidence uncovered during the course of an investigation indicated that Adam repeatedly struck Harmony in the head with a closed first, recklessly causing her death, Formella and Aldenberg said. Harmonys remains have not yet been located. The Revere search ended Friday at about 4pm without police saying if they found any evidence related to Harmony Montgomery. 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 TikTok star Ali Spice was killed in a car wreck near DeLand early Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, according to family and friends. On Dec. 11, 2022, a wrong-way driver crashed into another car on State Road 44 near DeLand, killing three people, including TikTok star Ali Spice. Spice, whose real name was Alexandra Dulin, 21, and originally from Indianapolis; Kyle Moser, 25, of Daytona Beach; and Ava Fellerman, 20, originally from Pennsylvania, died in the crash. The driver of the wrong-way vehicle, a Toyota Tacoma, fled the scene on foot after the wreck. Arrests: Arrests made in wrong-way, hit-and-run deaths of Ali Spice, two others Search for driver: Troopers: Woman refuses to ID wrong-way driver in crash that killed TikTok star Ali Spice Crash covergae: Ali Spice, TikTok star, killed in crash near DeLand Since then, the case has drawn a lot of interest, especially on social media platforms. In February, for instance, Mosers sister and mother took to Facebook to express their frustration over the fact that, until then, there had been no arrests made. On Friday, after almost four months, the State Attorneys Office announced Thomas Petry, 54, the wrong-way driver, of Orange City, who had been named in previous News-Journal stories as a suspect. Also named, surprisingly, was Devin Perkins, 22, of New Smyrna Beach. According to police, Perkins, who drove the car in which he and the victims traveled, was driving at 100 mph at the time of the crash. According to a charging affidavit, a blood sample taken at the scene indicated he had tested positive for alcohol and THC. Here is what we know so far about the arrests and the case: What are the charges? Petry faces three counts of vehicular homicide, three counts of leaving the scene of a crash with a death, leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury and reckless driving serious bodily injury, according to a charging affidavit. Perkins was charged with three counts of vehicular homicide and reckless driving-serious bodily injury. Vehicular homicide is a second-degree felony and is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, according to Florida statutes. The crime of leaving the scene of an accident with a death is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Story continues When was Petry identified? Just days after the incident in December, family members of one of the victims accused Petry of being the driver of the Tacoma. Thomas Petry. The accusations were made on Facebook by Ashley Minton, the sister-in-law of Moser, and Angela Gillis, Moser's sister. A Daytona Beach News-Journal reporter located Petry at his home to ask about the allegations online. Theres a lot of lies out there, he said from behind closed doors. "My lawyer went to FHP, and they already knew my name." He did not explicitly deny that he was the driver, but said, FHP does not have a warrant out for me. He also said, Im not hiding. FHP did not then confirm whether Petry was in fact in driver and that investigations were still ongoing. What do the families say? Perkins, who was Dulins boyfriend, was behind the wheel of the car when the three people died. He survived the crash and was transported to a hospital with serious injuries. Devin Perkins. According to a GoFundMe page, Perkins suffered a broken pelvis, a damaged lung, and internal injuries. Dulins father, Jimmy Dulin, told The News-Journal Friday morning that while he is relieved to know Petry has been arrested, he and other family members do not support Perkins' being charged. "We don't believe that anything he did is the result of these children's lives being taken," Dulin said. "We're very, very sad that they have chosen to arrest Devin. Dulin, who lives in Indiana with his wife, said the family plans to come to Florida soon to attend as many court proceedings as possible. "I can't describe how horrible it is to lose a child," he said. "It hasn't gotten any better." This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Ali Spice case: 2 men arrested in crash that killed TikTok star, others NEW BEDFORD New Bedford attorney Maja Bizoc said Friday she's been hired by the mother of a New Bedford High School student who was allegedly involved in an incident with an assistant principal. On Thursday, reports on social media surfaced alleging Jose Edwards, assistant principal for New Bedford High's freshman class had choked a student at the school. Asked if the alleged incident involved claims that her client Heather Gonsalves' 14-year-old son was choked by Edwards, Bizoc said, "It is my understanding that is the allegation." According to Bizoc, Gonsalves was contacted following the alleged incident on Thursday and went to the school to dismiss her son early. Asked if the New Bedford High freshman was hospitalized after the incident, Bizoc said on Friday: "All I can say is that she took him to a local hospital and that he is home with the family." New Bedford Public Schools spokesperson Arthur Motta neither confirmed nor denied the allegations against Edwards on Thursday, but provided the following statement: "The physical safety and mental well-being of all our students and staff is always our highest priority. All allegations into inappropriate behavior are taken seriously and are fully investigated administratively, and with any outside authorities as deemed necessary. As we have done in the past, this situation is being thoroughly investigated and the appropriate measures will be administered at the conclusion of the investigation." See more local news: Food truck, fruit donuts, chowder: New Bedford Eats On Thursday afternoon, New Bedford Police Public Information Officer Lt. Scott Carola said that he was unaware of any incident involving a New Bedford High staff member. Carola was not able to be reached on Friday before deadline. As of Friday afternoon, Bizoc said she was unaware of any charges being filed relative to the alleged incident, but said "I understand there is an investigation, of sorts." Bizoc said she was unsure whether the matter was being investigated by police, the school district, or both. This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Allegations circulating that New Bedford High admin choked student In his concession speech, former mayoral candidate Paul Vallas pointed out that the city is deeply divided. About 49% of Chicago voters picked Vallas over Brandon Johnson in a narrow election. Now, Johnson has to find a way to bring those voters into the fold. He has vowed to build a safer, stronger Chicago that reflects the hopes and dreams of every one of us together. Advertisement Instead of dwelling on ideological differences, it will be important in the coming days and weeks to examine how Johnson wants to govern the city. We must measure those plans against what needs fixing and the divergent opinions on the best ways to do the fixing. Johnsons victory is thanks in large part to the grassroots and financial support he got from the Chicago Teachers Union, for whom he has worked as a progressive organizer. Even though Vallas had more money, as Chicago magazine writer Ted McClelland put it, Johnsons volunteers treated his candidacy as a crusade. As one commentator told Politico, the union now has a mayor who is essentially a wholly owned subsidiary to advocate for its interests. But Johnson said many times on the campaign trail that he was running to be mayor for all of the city of Chicago not just for CTU. Now he should be expected to prove it. Advertisement Here are a few ways he could start right away. Journalists noted repeatedly on the campaign trail that if Johnson won, the union would be negotiating its contracts with one of its own. Both by law and with Johnson on the other side of the bargaining table, CTU has the power to make bold demands and taxpayers worry they may not have a voice. The current CTU contract already is costing Chicagoans $1.5 billion over five years. Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson is greeted warmly by people outside the Chinatown CTA train station on April 5, 2023, in Chicago following Johnsons victory over Paul Vallas. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) Johnsons relationship with the union means he should also know how to navigate saying no to his former employers in the best interests of his new ones. He will serve Chicago better if he says no to demands that will drive up Chicagoans property taxes something Johnson has pledged to avoid as mayor. (Its worth remembering that just weeks before the election, nearly 70% of Chicagoans polled by the Illinois Policy Institute supported a property tax freeze.) But he has embraced other new taxes. Johnsons tax plan includes $800 million worth of new or revived taxes, including many on businesses in a city having trouble keeping them. In a poll of 800 registered Chicago voters conducted by Echelon Insights for the Illinois Policy Institute, the majority of respondents, 52%, said they did not want the city to raise taxes on businesses. Only 29% of Chicagoans polled said they would support raising business taxes. According to the same polling, the majority of Chicagoans want to stay here. Still, a concerning 34% of respondents said they want to leave, citing taxes or affordability among the top reasons for their response. The overwhelming majority of those who would leave, 85%, said crime was their chief reason. Pushing the kind of progressive agenda CTU has championed for 13 years would go against the more moderate approach many Chicagoans, including nearly half of runoff voters, have said they support. A more flexible approach would prove to the whole city that Johnson wants to serve all of Chicago, not just CTU and its allies. Some who opposed Johnsons ideas said theyre heading for the exits. Not me. Im buying a house. I wont stop championing the policy ideas I believe in, just like I wont stop cheering for our leaders to succeed and do whats right for our city. Advertisement Matt Paprocki is president and CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute, a free market think tank based in Chicago. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. It's Friday, which means it's time for another roundup of good tech deals. Today's highlights include Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite back down to $100, which is within $5 of the popular e-reader's all-time low. Apple's AirPods Pro are $50 off their list price at $200, while the Apple Watch SE is a good value at $219. Beyond that, we're still seeing a handful of deals on Super Mario games for the Nintendo Switch, as well as discounts on Samsung storage gear and Logitech's MX Keys Mini keyboard, among others. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today. Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite is on sale for $100, which is $5 more than the e-reader's all-time low but still $30 or so less than its usual street price. We gave the "Signature Edition" of the Paperwhite a review score of 97 in late 2021; by comparison, this model has less storage (8GB instead of 32GB), no Qi wireless charging and a slightly less advanced front light. Those shouldn't be dealbreakers, though, as the standard Paperwhite still provides a sharp 6.8-inch display that's easy on the eyes, a lightweight and waterproof design with a USB-C port and access to the same mammoth e-book library. There are excellent alternatives here: Kobo's Clara 2E, the top pick in our guide to the best e-readers, is a similarly capable device for those who'd rather not shop in Amazon's closed-off ecosystem, while Amazon's base Kindle offers a more affordable entry point into the Kindle library. Both of those models have six-inch displays, though. if you'd prefer a larger screen and don't mind buying your e-books from Amazon, the Paperwhite is still highly comfortable and a good value at this price. Samsung Evo Select Samsung Samsung Evo Select (256GB) $19 $40 Save $21 This is the best price we've seen for the 256GB version of this recommended microSD card. $19 at Amazon Samsung's Evo Select is a dependable way to add more storage space to a Nintendo Switch, Raspberry Pi, GoPro or any other gadget that supports microSD cards. The 256GB model is currently available for $19, which is a new low. This V30- and U3-rated card isn't the absolute fastest you can buy, but it's quick enough to run games and record 4K video with minimal issues, and it's backed by a 10-year warranty. Most importantly, it's affordable. For reference, this variant typically retails around $25. Nintendo Switch game sale Nintendo Super Mario 3D World + Bowsers Fury (Digital) $40 $60 Save $20 This matches the lowest price we've seen for this double-pack of 3D Mario platformers, and it comes as part of a wider sale on games starring Nintendo's beloved mascot. $40 at Amazon A handful of deals from Nintendo's Mario Day sale last month are scheduled to end on Saturday, but recommended games like Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario Maker 2, and New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe are still down to $40 for now. While these are not massive discounts, they bring each game about $10-15 lower than usual. Nintendo is still fairly stingy when it comes to discounting first-party Switch games, so if this week's release of the The Super Mario Bros. Movie has you itching for more Mario at home, this is a decent chance to save. Nintendo has a few other Switch game deals of note going on this week. The acclaimed FPS games Doom and Doom Eternal are down to all-time lows of $10 and $13, respectively, while a bundle that pairs the beloved RPGs Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden is $10 off at $30. The latter is the first discount we've seen for those Switch ports. Portal Companion Collection, which includes the classic first-person puzzler Portal and its co-op-friendly sequel Portal 2, is down to a low of $12 as well. Logitech MX Keys Mini Logitech Logitech MX Keys Mini $66 $110 Save $44 This is about $35 off the usual going rate for this compact wireless keyboard we like. To see the full discount, use the code EXTRA5 in your cart before checking out. $66 at Lenovo Logitech's MX Keys Mini is a compact wireless keyboard we recommend in our guide to the best iPad accessories. It has a slim profile, but its backlit and well-spaced keys are more comfortable to type on than most portable keyboards we've tested. Typically priced around $100, the MX Keys Mini is currently available for $66 at Lenovo when you use the code EXTRA5 in your cart prior to checkout. This deal technically applies to the Business version of the device, which means it comes with a different USB receiver that isn't compatible with many older Logitech devices. However, the keyboard can still pair with and quickly swap between three separate devices over Bluetooth. Apple AirPods Pro Apple Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) $200 $249 Save $49 We've seen this deal multiple times in recent months, but it still matches the lowest price we've seen for Apple's wireless noise-cancelling earphones. $200 at Amazon We've seen Apple's AirPods Pro fall to $200 multiple times in recent months, but this discount still comes within a dollar of the lowest price we've seen. Normally, the noise-cancelling earbuds go for around $225. We gave the second-gen AirPods Pro a score of 88 in our review last year, and they're currently the "best for iOS" pick in our guide to the best wireless earbuds. There are more well-rounded pairs out there with better battery life and mic performance, but Apple's in-ears still deliver impressive ANC and sound quality, and they're particularly easy to use with other Apple devices. Samsung Galaxy S23 Samsung Samsung Galaxy S23 (128GB) $700 $800 Save $100 This is a $100 discount on Samsung's latest Galaxy phone, which could appeal to those who specifically want a more compact handset. $700 at Amazon The unlocked, 128GB version of Samsung's Galaxy S23 is down to $700, which is a $100 discount for a phone that launched in February. The S23 isn't a top pick in our guide to the best smartphones, and it's not as strong of a value as Google's Pixel 7, but it's worth considering if you specifically want a smaller handset with flagship-level features. It's fast and well-built, and its 6.1-inch, 120Hz OLED display should be smooth and vibrant. The camera isn't top-tier in low-light settings but still far from poor overall, and Samsung is promising four years of OS upgrades, with an extra year of security updates. The S23 isn't the phone to buy for battery life, though, as its smaller size means there's less space for a battery that can last longer than a day. We gave the 6.6-inch Galaxy S23+ a review score of 86 earlier this year: Apart from the larger frame, that phone comes with twice as much storage by default, faster charging support and a bigger battery, but the two devices are otherwise similar. Fully Cora standing desk converter Fully Fully Cora $90 $179 Save $89 This deal takes half off the MSRP for this simple standing desk converter we've previously recommended. $90 at Fully The Fully Cora is a simple standing desk converter that we've previously recommended. It's meant more for a laptop and a handful of accessories than a full keyboard and monitor setup, but if you just want a way to sit less while working, it's a relatively unobtrusive, lightweight and easy-to-adjust tool for doing that. The device is currently available for $90 as part of a wider sale at Fully's online store. It's technically been at this price for a few weeks, but it's still half off Fully's MSRP. Just note that you may have to invest in a separate stand to keep your laptop at a more comfortable eye level. Apple Watch SE The Apple Watch SE has dropped to $219, which is within $10 of the lowest price we've seen. This isn't the first time we've seen the smartwatch hit this price, but it's still $30 below Apple's MSRP. We gave the latest SE a review score of 89 last September, and we currently recommend it for first-time and budget-conscious wearable buyers in our guide to the best smartwatches. Compared to the pricier Apple Watch Series 8, the top pick in our guide, the SE lacks an always-on display mode, fast charging and premium features like a skin temperature sensor, ECG monitor and blood oxygen sensor. Its display is a smidge smaller, too. That said, it still provides most of the core Apple Watch feature set for way less money, with support for notifications, heart-rate monitoring and crash detection. It also uses the same processor as the Series 8, so it doesn't feel slow in everyday use. Samsung 980 Pro SSD with Heatsink Samsung Samsung 980 Pro SSD with Heatsink (1TB) $87 $230 Save $143 This is a new low for this speedy SSD that's particularly useful for upgrading the storage of a PlayStation 5. $87 at Amazon The 1TB model of Samsung's 980 Pro SSD with an integrated heatsink is on sale for $87, which is a new all-time low. On average, the device has run closer to $120 in recent months, though its price has steadily dipped over time. We recommend this speedy PCI Express 4.0 drive in our guide to the best SSDs for the PS5, as it meets Sony's strict requirements for upgrading that console's storage. It's best if you buy the 980 Pro for that specific purpose, though. If you simply want a new SSD for an aging PC and don't care about gaming, a less expensive PCIe 3.0 drive should be a better value. For that market, SK Hynix's Gold P31 is a well-regarded option that's currently down to $72 for a 1TB model. Apple + Target gift card bundle Apple $100 Apple Gift Card + $10 Target Gift Card (digital) $100 $110 Save $10 If you buy a $100 Apple gift card at Target, you can get a $10 Target gift card for no extra cost. Note that the offer applies to digital cards, not physical ones. $100 at Target Here's a simple one: If you buy a $100 Apple gift card at Target, the retailer will throw in a $10 Target gift card for no extra cost. As a reminder, an Apple gift card can be used on purchases at the company's physical retail shops, the App Store and Apple services like iCloud and Apple Music. Target has run this promotion several times before, but if you plan on shopping at Apple and Target in the near future anyway, it's effectively a bit of free money. Target says the offer will end on April 8. Blue Yeti Nano Logitech for Creators Blue Yeti Nano $53 $100 Save $47 This is one of the best prices we've seen for this recommended USB microphone. $53 at Amazon The grey model of the Blue Yeti Nano is on sale for $53 at Amazon. Outside of a very brief drop to $50 last year, that's the lowest price we've tracked. The Yeti Nano is a compact USB microphone we've recommended in the past. There are certainly clearer-sounding options for those looking to get into more professional recordings, but if you just want a mic upgrade for your work calls that's easy to set up and won't take up a ton of room on your desk, the Yeti Nano is a decent value when it's discounted to this extent. If space is less of a concern, note that the standard Yeti is down to $80; that mic is bigger but sounds better and offers more pickup patters to accommodate different types of recordings. Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K Max is back down to $35, matching the lowest price we've tracked. The 4K media player has regularly bounced between this deal price and its MSRP of $55 in recent months, but for less than $40 it's a good value for those who want to add more streaming services to their TV. The device itself is reasonably fast and supports most of the major apps and HDR formats. (Compared to the standard Fire TV Stick 4K, the speed upgrade is enough to make the 4K Max a better buy.) It has voice search functionality built into its remote, which is convenient. For tinkerers, it's also easier to sideload unsupported apps here than it is with similarly priced streamers. The caveat is that the Fire TV UI tends to advertise Amazon's own content over shows and search results from other apps. That means the 4K Max will work best if you regularly use Amazon services like Alexa and Prime Video. If you aren't as beholden to Amazon, Roku's Streaming Stick 4K and Google's Chromecast are close alternatives that we recommend in our guide to the best streaming devices. The former has a simpler and more neutral interface, while the latter is generally more accurate at searching and better about personalizing its UI to your viewing habits. Ninja DZ401 Foodi air fryer Ninja's DZ401 Foodi is the "best dual-zone" pick in our guide to the best air fryers, offering two baskets that allow you to cook two foods in two different ways at the same time. Not everyone needs something this hefty, but if you often have to cook for a large family, it can be useful. The 10-quart model is down to $180, which is roughly $20 below its usual going rate. The device dropped as low as $130 during the holidays last year, but this discount matches the lowest price we've seen in 2023. Master & Dynamic MW75 Master & Dynamic Master & Dynamic MW75 $419 $599 Save $180 You can use the code GIVEGET30 at checkout to take 30 percent off this pricey but stylish set of wireless noise-cancelling headphones we like. $419 at Master & Dynamic A recommendation from our guide to the best wireless headphones, Master & Dynamic's MW75 is on sale for $419 with the checkout code GIVEGET30. Normally, this noise-cancelling pair goes for $599. Even at 30 percent off, it's hard to call the MW75 a great value, as its ANC can't really match less expensive alternatives like the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Bose QuietComfort 45. But the pair stands out for its decidedly upscale design, which uses a premium-feeling blend of leather, aluminum and tempered glass. It sounds nice as well, though some may prefer a bit less treble presence by default. Either way, we don't see the MW75 drop this low very often, so if you've got cash to burn and are particular about aesthetics, it's worth considering. The code above is applicable to various other Master & Dynamic headphones as well; the company says the sale will run through April 10. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice. Americans now see cyberattack as the greatest threat facing the country, two recent polls show, suggesting that cyber fears have outflanked concern over climate change, immigration, terrorism or nuclear weapons. The national obsession with computer-on-computer attack, documented in a 2023 Gallup poll and a 2022 Pew Research survey, comes at a time when cyberattack seems to be everywhere and nowhere. Most Americans would be hard-pressed to name a recent act of cyberterrorism that claimed American lives or plunged the nation into economic chaos. Yet, the daily news cycle brims with accounts of rising cyber tensions. More than any past cyberattack, perhaps, Americans fear the attack that is yet to come. We know all the terrorist groups are recruiting young computer specialists, said Scott White, associate professor and director of the cybersecurity program at the George Washington University. Its no longer bombs. Its, Can you launch a cyberattack from a safe-haven country against the United States? In the Gallup poll, published last month, 84 percent of respondents rated cyberterrorism as a critical threat, ranking it above 10 other fears, including international terrorism, global warming, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and Irans nuclear program. In the Pew survey, published last June, 71 percent of Americans rated cyberattacks from other countries as a major threat, ranking them above Chinas or Russias power and influence, global warming and infectious disease. (Unlike Gallup, the Pew report did not specifically reference nuclear threats.) Fear of cyberattack cuts across party lines, which partly explains its standing as the nations topmost fear. In the Gallup poll, Republicans were slightly more likely to rate Irans nuclear program as a critical threat than cyberterrorism. Democrats were less worried about Iran, and more worried about global warming. Yet, respondents from both parties registered equal distress over cyberterrorism. Story continues It is a new thing. People are afraid of technology, particularly when they dont understand it, said James Lewis, a senior vice president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Lewis joked, I wish Gallup would do a poll on how many people think Terminator was a documentary. Some experts, Lewis included, sense that the national fear of cyberwarfare is overblown. He puts long odds on a military cyberattack against the United States by one of its enemies. The Russians or the Chinese arent going to do a cyberattack unless they think war is imminent, he said. There are some pretty easy metrics here. Has anyone ever died? No. Has there ever been any economic or social disruption? No. Compromising a single government website or paralyzing the network of a single power company is one matter, cyber experts say: Bringing down Americas computer networks altogether is quite another. The fundamental decentralization of the internet makes it a tricky target for cyberattack, said Jason Blessing, a Jeane Kirkpatrick Visiting Research Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. It has micro-vulnerabilities, but its near-impossible to bring down the entire thing, he said. But acts of targeted cyberterrorism and cybercrime are well-documented. Some incidents suggest links to state-sponsored terror groups or even government agencies, but blame can be hard to affix. In 2021, cybercriminals extorted millions of dollars from Colonial Pipeline after jamming the companys computer networks with ransomware, software that functions as a virtual kidnapper. The company preemptively shut off the gas pipeline, which stretches from New Jersey to Texas, triggering a miniature fuel crisis, complete with panic-buying and inflated prices. Cybersecurity experts cite several other acts of cyber-terror and cybercrime, some of them largely forgotten by the broader public. In 2020, U.S. officials alleged a Russian breach of computer networks for the Justice and State departments, NASA and numerous Fortune 500 companies, via compromised software. The so-called SolarWinds hack went undetected for months. In 2013, Iranian hackers attempted to take control of the Bowman Dam, outside New York, according to federal prosecutors, part of a broader cyberterrorism campaign that breached dozens of U.S. financial institutions over many months. The government of Georgia accused Russia of coordinating a series of computer-network attacks before and during the 2008 conflict between the two nations. Russia denied involvement. The cyberattacks disabled many government websites. Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine brought an onslaught of Russian cyberattacks targeting the nations power grid and government sites, according to an NPR report. Ukraine has mostly fought them off. And so, its not exactly idle speculation that these things are happening, said Richard DeMillo, a professor at Georgia Techs School of Cybersecurity and Privacy. DeMillo doesnt buy into the theory that no one has died in a cyberattack. He cites the surge in ransomware attacks on medical centers during the COVID-19 pandemic, with hackers seizing hospital networks and demanding money to unlock them. And deaths have been attributed to those attacks, he said, because of delayed care. DeMillo said individual cybercrimes are part of a vast universe of cyberattacks and cyberespionage, involving both criminal enterprises and government agencies. In total, Iran, North Korea, China and Russia are spending a trillion dollars establishing the kind of reconnaissance necessary to mount these attacks, he said. The return on that has to be in the multiple trillions of dollars. DeMillo cites Russias Internet Research Agency, which a ProPublica report describes as a network of paid trolls that, among other projects, allegedly attempted to influence the outcome of the 2016 election. Russian electoral meddling wasnt a hoax, said Lewis of CSIS. The Russians tried. But it had zero effect. The ultimate fear, to some Americans, is that cyberterrorists will one day trigger a meltdown in a nuclear power plant or open the gates of a dam. If I could control the Hoover Dam from a computer in Iran and, all of a sudden, at 3 oclock in the morning, I could open up the dam and empty out all the water, how many thousands of people could I kill? said White of GWU. Thats terrorism. Thankfully, that scenario remains unlikely. Someone still has to flip an actual switch, or turn a crank, he said. Thats our buffer. We dont have absolute connectivity from the software to the hardware. But, eventually, thats going to go. President Joe Biden has made cybersecurity central to the National Security Strategy. An update last fall includes sections on securing cyberspace and fending off ransomware attacks on regular citizens as well as cyberattacks on health systems, financial institutions and critical infrastructure. This administration has done more than any previous administration to improve cybersecurity, Lewis said. There are key targets we need to make sure are hardened. The electrical companies that supply Washington. You dont want the power going out in a crisis. [But] overall, were a lot less vulnerable than we were a few years ago. And, of course, the world faces many perils beyond cyberattack. One is nuclear war. Nuclear fears surged in the weeks after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. More than a year later, the nuclear threat seems greater than ever. The Doomsday Clock, a symbol of humanitys proximity to extinction, stands at 90 seconds to midnight, signifying a moment of unprecedented danger. Peter Kuznick, a history professor and director of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University, believes the danger of nuclear war is probably greater now than at the invasions start. But the nuclear threat, Kuznick said, is something that people dont want to think about. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Igor Shkurko, deputy general director and chief engineer of Yakutskenergo [Russian energy company ed.], has been found dead in Yakutsks pre-trial detention centre in Russia. Source: The Moscow Times (TMT) Details: The Moscow Times has reported that Shkurko had been sent to a pretrial detention centre on 31 March after being detained for bribery. The Russian Federal Penitentiary Service claimed that the top-level manager committed suicide on 4 April. "The accused was found without signs of life in the pre-trial detention centres cell. Doctors pronounced him dead. An investigative team was called to the scene. Preliminary reports indicate that no signs of violent death were found," it said. However, TMT noted that Shkurko had disagreed with the arrest and appealed against it on the eve of his death, on 3 April. The Investigative Committee refused to comment on this information. Yakutskenergo also ignored requests from the media. In general, according to TMT's estimates, about 40 Russian top-level managers, businessmen and managers have died under unexplained conditions in 15 months. For reference: Ihor Shkurko, 49, was responsible for the technical management of PJSC Yakutskenergo, which belongs to RusHydro [a Russian hydroelectricity company ed.]. The deceased senior manager is survived by his wife and two sons. Prior to his appointment at Yakutskenergo, Shkurko worked as the general director of OJSC South Yakutia Electric Networks. He was a member of the Aldansk District Council from the United Russia political party. The party suspended his membership after his arrest. Background: The body of Alexander Tyulyakov, a 61-year-old senior manager at Gazprom, was found on the morning of 25 February 2022, in Leningrad Oblast. In April 2022, Sergei Protosenya, a former senior manager at Novatek, a Russian gas company, his wife and daughter were found dead in Spain. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., renewed her calls for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to be impeached after a report detailed the justice's close relationship with a billionaire Republican donor going so far as to say she will introduce articles of impeachment herself. In comments made on the "Lever Time" podcast Thursday, Ocasio-Cortez said Thomas' position on the court is an "emergency" and a "crisis," and reiterated her full support for removing him. When asked if she would introduce the articles of impeachment herself, the New York lawmaker said she would step up if no one else does. "Congress is out of session for the next week. And so that does give Democrats some time to strategize, and the way I feel about it is that, I do think articles need to be introduced," said Ocasio-Cortez. PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS CALL FOR CLARENCE THOMAS IMPEACHMENT AFTER REPORTED UNDISCLOSED GIFTS FROM GOP MEGADONOR "If we decide strategically that the actual author of those articles and who introduces them may not be me, that's fine, I will support impeachment. But I just think that if no one's going to introduce it, I would certainly be open to doing so and drafting them myself," she continued, adding, "I think this has gone far, far beyond any sort of acceptable standard in any democracy, let alone an American democracy." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Democrats have expressed outrage at Thomas because of his wife's conservative political activities and, most recently, a report that claimed the justice has received lavish gifts from a GOP mega-donor and never disclosed them. A ProPublica investigation found that Thomas close friendship with real estate developer Harlan Crow allowed him to accompany the Texas billionaire on luxury vacations on his private jet and yacht, as well as enjoy free stays on Crows vast vacation property, among other perks. He reportedly failed to disclose the vast majority of Crows gifts. In a statement Friday, Thomas described Harlan and Kathy Crow as "among our dearest friends." Story continues "As friends do, we have joined them on a number of family trips during the more than quarter century we have known them," Thomas said. "Early in my tenure at the Court, I sought guidance from my colleagues and others in the judiciary, and was advised that this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable." "I have endeavored to follow that counsel throughout my tenure, and have always sought to comply with the disclosure guidelines," Thomas continued. "These guidelines are now being changed, as the committee of the Judicial Conference responsible for financial disclosure for the entire federal judiciary just this past month announced new guidance. And, it is, of course, my intent to follow this guidance in the future." The ProPublica report prompted several Democratic lawmakers to demand that a strict code of ethics be imposed on the Supreme Court by Congress. CLARENCE THOMAS REPORT SPURS NEW CALLS FROM DEMOCRATS FOR SUPREME COURT CODE OF ETHICS Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said she would introduce articles of impeachment against Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas if no other House Democrat takes action. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Thomas alleged actions are "simply inconsistent with the ethical standards the American people expect of any public servant, let alone a Justice on the Supreme Court." "Todays report demonstrates, yet again, that Supreme Court Justices must be held to an enforceable code of conduct, just like every other federal judge," Durbin said in a Thursday statement. "The ProPublica report is a call to action, and the Senate Judiciary Committee will act." SUPREME COURT ALLOWS 12-YEAR-OLD TRANSGENDER GIRL TO RUN GIRLS TRACK IN WEST VIRGINIA However, Democrats have been all bark and no bite before. Last year, Ocasio-Cortez was one of a handful of House Democrats who demanded that Thomas step down or be impeached because he would not recuse himself from cases related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Investigators on the Jan. 6 select committee revealed that the justice's wife, Ginni Thomas, sent text messages to then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows urging him to challenge Donald Trump 's 2020 election loss. "Clarence Thomas should resign," Ocasio-Cortez said at the time. "If not, his failure to disclose income from right-wing organizations, recuse himself from matters involving his wife, and his vote to block the Jan. 6th commission from key information must be investigated and could serve as grounds for impeachment." But Democrats took no action against Thomas. Ocasio-Cortez's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment asking if this time Democrats would follow through and introduce articles of impeachment against Thomas. Fox News' Elizabeth Elkind and Ronn Blitzer contributed to this report. Hundreds of Jan. 6 obstruction cases one of the most commonly charged felonies against those who breached the Capitol or confronted police that day are facing new uncertainty after a divided appeals court ruling Friday. The three-judge panel spared the Justice Department an immediate disaster by agreeing to permit three challenged Jan. 6 obstruction cases to continue. But the judges one liberal and two conservatives all raised serious questions about whether other Jan. 6 obstruction cases might face legitimate challenges. At the heart of the conflict is how to measure whether Jan. 6 rioters acted with corrupt intent, a central element in the crime of obstructing an official proceeding. The judges noted that the requirement of corrupt intent was meant to avoid inadvertently criminalizing traditional protest or lobbying activities that have been a feature of civic engagement throughout American history. Any decision on the meaning of corrupt intent would have to separate those legitimate activities from potential criminal conduct. But Judge Florence Pan, who wrote the majority opinion, said it was the wrong time to decide that broad question because the three defendants whose cases were before the court were all also charged with assaulting police. Theres little question that those who assaulted police that day acted with corrupt intent. But in Jan. 6 obstruction cases that dont involve assault, determining corrupt intent is much more complicated, she said. It is more prudent to delay addressing the meaning of corrupt intent until that issue is properly presented to the court, Pan wrote, pointing to the pending appeal of Jan. 6 defendant Thomas Robertson a former Virginia police officer who was convicted of obstruction by a jury as one potential vehicle. Pan was appointed to the appeals court by Joe Biden. The stakes of the lingering issue are enormous. More than 300 Jan. 6 defendants have been charged with obstructing Congress proceedings many of whom are not accused of assaulting police. The obstruction charge carries a 20-year maximum sentence and is a cudgel the Justice Department has used at times in plea negotiations with rioters who surged into the Capitols most sensitive spaces. Story continues The Jan. 6 select committee urged the Justice Department to charge Donald Trump with this precise crime as well, after a federal judge in California agreed that Trump likely committed obstruction. Any ruling narrowing the definition of corrupt intent could take such a charge off the table. Pan noted that prior cases have defined corrupt intent in multiple ways. The Supreme Court has previously described acting corruptly as doing something wrongful, immoral, depraved, or evil. The late Justice Antonin Scalia defined corrupt acts as those done to bring about either an unlawful result or a lawful result by some unlawful method, with a hope or expectation of either financial gain or other benefit to oneself or a benefit of another person. Pans 40-page opinion may not be the last word. The second judge who joined her ruling Justin Walker, a Trump appointee issued a concurring opinion that adopted a narrow interpretation of the definition of corrupt intent. A defendant must intend to obtain a benefit that he knows is unlawful, Walker concluded. Complicating the matter further: Walker contended that his interpretation may be the binding opinion of the appeals court under precedent that requires the most narrow interpretation to prevail when a panel is splintered. (In a footnote, Pan said she disagreed.) Defense attorneys for Jan. 6 defendants are already poring over Walkers analysis. Nicholas Smith, who argued the case on behalf of three Jan. 6 defendants before the appeals court panel in December, said that if Walkers contention is correct, his narrow definition of corrupt intent is already the binding opinion of the court. If the Justice Department concludes that the ruling is too problematic for the vast array of Jan. 6 cases, prosecutors could ask the full, 10-member bench of the appeals court to weigh in. The immediate effect of the appeals courts 2-1 vote is the reversal of a decision by U.S. District Court Judge Carl Nichols, who determined that obstruction charges were being improperly applied to Jan. 6 defendants. But Nichols ruling did not dissect the corrupt intent aspect of the law. Rather, he contended that the obstruction charges required evidence that the defendants interfered with physical documents computer files, papers or other tangible evidence. More than a dozen other district court judges had rejected that premise, contending that the meaning of the obstruction law passed in the aftermath of the Enron scandal is clear: Obstruction includes a wide range of efforts to frustrate the official work of government, not just tampering with documents. The appeals court panel largely agreed with that interpretation, ruling that the vast majority of the district court judges got it right. The judges also agreed that the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress which was disrupted by rioters should be classified as an official proceeding of Congress, a point that some Jan. 6 defendants had challenged. But thats where the agreement ended. In a dissent, Judge Gregory Katsas, a Trump appointee, faulted the two other judges for leaving all sorts of advocates and protesters exposed to the potential of severe criminal penalties for routine protests or even just some forms of lobbying. A lobbyist who successfully persuades a member of Congress to change a vote has likewise influenced an official proceeding. So has a peaceful protestor who, attempting to sway votes, holds up a sign in the Senate gallery before being escorted away, he wrote. Of course, this case involves rioting as opposed to peaceful advocacy, lobbying, or protest. But the construction of [corrupt intent] adopted by my colleagues will sweep in all of the above. Katsas argued that under his colleagues' approach, the demonstrators who've gathered outside the homes of conservative Supreme Court justices over the past months in response to that court's action wiping out abortion rights could face up to 20 years in prison. Even Walker's somewhat narrower interpretation "would continue to supercharge comparatively minor advocacy, lobbying, and protest offenses into 20-year felonies, provided the defendant knows he is acting unlawfully in some small way," Katsas wrote. "But even that hypothetical protestor would be protected only until the jurist, a neighbor, or the police told the protestor what the law is." Walker's reading of the obstruction law still gives it "improbable breadth," Katsas wrote. Apple Store workers from Towson, Maryland, have been meeting with the company at a hotel in downtown Baltimore this week to negotiate what they hope will be a groundbreaking union contract at the tech giant. But after four two-day bargaining sessions since January, those workers say they arent convinced Apple ever wants to reach a deal with its first unionized shop in the U.S. They are fighting us at every step of the process, Kevin Gallagher, who teaches classes for customers at the Apple Store, told HuffPost during a break in talks at the hotel. It feels like theyre trying to drag this out as long as they can. Gallagher and his pro-union co-workers emerged victorious in their election last June, voting 65 to 33 in favor of joining the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, or IAM one in a string of recent high-profile victories for organized labor at previously non-union companies, including Amazon, Starbucks, Trader Joes and REI. But like workers at those other companies, the Apple Store employees have an even heavier lift still ahead of them: bargaining a first contract at a powerful employer that wants to keep unions out. They dont seem to want to accept that they have a union now, Jay Wadleigh, a business representative for the IAM who is leading negotiations for the union, said of Apple. The stakes are high for both sides, since a solid collective bargaining agreement can convince Apple workers elsewhere to try to unionize. The company is facing organizing campaigns not only from the IAM but also the Communications Workers of America, which formed the companys second retail union last October, at a store in Oklahoma. They are fighting us at every step of the process. It feels like theyre trying to drag this out as long as they can.Kevin Gallagher, Apple Store worker and union bargaining committee member Billy Jarboe, who, like Gallagher, is a member of the Towson stores bargaining committee, said he was outraged last week when he learned managers had shared a small handful of the unions proposals with non-union stores during their morning meetings. Jarboe said the proposals were cherry-picked and taken out of context to make the union look bad. Story continues One of the proposals related to seniority and promotions. Workers proposed that if managers have determined two workers are equally qualified for a position, then it should go to the one with the longer tenure, rather than be left to the managers discretion. They argue this would remove management bias, but they say the proposal was spun to make it sound like newer workers wouldnt get promotions. Theres a great plan to dismantle this movement and invalidate it in any ways they can, Jarboe said. Wadleigh said the company sharing the unions proposals with other stores was a stab in the back. That solidified in my mind that they have no intentions of getting to a contract, he said. Gallagher and Jarboe said after they learned of those meetings, they proposed to the company that they bargain over Zoom so that all the workers at the Towson store could see both sides proposals and negotiations for themselves. They said the companys lawyer immediately denied the request. We want full transparency now, Jarboe said. California-based Apple didnt respond to emails from HuffPost seeking comment. The Apple Store in Towson, pictured above, was the first of the company's locations to unionize. The Apple Store in Towson, pictured above, was the first of the company's locations to unionize. Workers at other newly unionized companies have faced similar hurdles in their bargaining efforts. The union Workers United has organized nearly 300 Starbucks stores and is at odds with the company over remote negotiations, with Starbucks insisting both sides meet solely in person. The labor boards general counsel has accused Starbucks of illegally refusing to bargain over Zoom. After Amazon workers formed the companys first U.S. union last year, at a warehouse in Staten Island, New York, the company challenged the results of the election, accusing the union and labor board agents of improprieties. The litigation surrounding that challenge delayed bargaining for months, with the union calling it a stall tactic by the company. A board official certified the election results in January but Amazon has appealed that finding as well. When it comes to negotiating first contracts, time is on the side of the employer. The union has every incentive to reach a deal soon and show workers elsewhere they can improve their pay and gain new protections by forming a union. But its typically in the employers interest to take their time and hope union support will erode as time passes and workers still have no contract to show for their efforts. Employers sometimes deliberately draw out the process in hopes a decertification campaign will take hold. Thats when employees petition for an election to vote the union out of the workplace. Workers can request a decertification vote once a year has passed since the union became their representative. Hopefully we can bring them a contract that will demonstrably improve their lives, Gallagher said of his co-workers. It all comes down to whether Apple is actually wiling to agree to anything. Theres a great plan to dismantle this movement and invalidate it in any ways they can.Billy Jarboe, Apple Store worker and union bargaining committee member According to data from Bloomberg Law, it takes on average 465 days for a union to negotiate a first contract these days. In some cases, no agreement is ever reached a factoid that many employers are happy to share with workers before they vote in a union election. Its been less than a year since the Towson Apple Store unionized. The IAM says last year it agreed to delay negotiations until after the companys busy season during the holidays, so long as the company put bargaining days on the calendar. Workers said that so far, the company and the union have reached a few tentative agreements on smaller issues, but what are expected to be the most contentious still lie ahead. The union declined to share details on what the workers economic demands will be such as a minimum pay rate or annual percentage raises since they have not been brought to the table yet. One of the challenges of bargaining a first contract is that there is no existing framework to draw from. Many employers who are union-free are hesitant to break from any of their existing policies, for fear of opening themselves up to new demands from other workers. Wadleigh said the bargaining team proposed a grievance procedure another standard in union contracts and that Apple quickly rejected it. Theyre reluctant to do anything different than they already do, he said. I dont believe they want to give us anything that you could use to organize someplace else. Related... Engineering students at Centerville High School earned the top three places in the Xtreme Bots contest last Friday. The Xtreme Bots STEM competition is said to give students an opportunity to design and build a bot to compete in matches with others. We all have mostly different skill sets that combine to make a good team, said senior Parker Rings, who was a member of team S.P.E.J. Some of us helped with programming and the computer aspect, others did the machine work to make the parts, and all of us helped design the actual robot and how the parts would fit together. >>Lt. Gov. Husted to check out Wright States new engineering and neuroscience equipment The competition was held in Cincinnati at the Great Oaks Auditorium on April 1. Earning first place, as well as the award for Biggest Knockout Punch, was the team S.P.E.J., made up of Rings, Sofija Keller, Elizabeth Lunne, and James Erwin, with their robot J.I.T. (Just In Time.) Were all very grateful in this class that we have such a big shop and can learn how to use the different machines, said Keller, who is a senior. Its really great to see it all working out at the end. The instant you see your robot move, it makes you really excited. >>Eaton-based R&D Facility to receive $14 million for expansion to support semiconductor manufacturing Team Asterisk, made up of Quentin Konya, Alyssa Miller, Austin Irlbeck, and Cole Gregory, won second place with their robot, Risk. In third place comes Team Hungry Hippos with Ashley Arnold, William Lentz, Owen Timmerman, and their robot Gooba. A school district in Arizona is planning to build 10 tiny homes, about 400 square feet each, to rent to teachers in an area where housing is limited. Getty Images Some Arizona schools are building tiny homes for their teachers, following a burgeoning trend in the US. One district outside Flagstaff is planning 10 new houses for teachers to rent at $600 per month. But some organizations say the best way to provide security for educators is to pay them more. One-room schoolhouses may be a thing of the past in America, but one-room homes for teachers are starting to take off. Following a burgeoning trend throughout the country, a school district in Arizona has taken to building tiny homes about 400 square feet each for new employees to lure them with secure housing and close proximity to work. The Chino Valley Unified School District, just south of Flagstaff, plans to build a development of 10 tiny homes for teachers using grant funding, according to local station KPHO. It will follow in the footsteps of several other districts in the state. It is unclear how much the project costs and the amount of the grant. Chino Valley Unified School District did not respond to a request for comment. Home construction for the Chino Valley development is planned over the next nine months and rent will be $600 for each house per month. "We've been thinking about this for several years," John Scholl, Chino Valley superintendent, told the station, adding that it has been difficult for teachers to find affordable housing in the area. He said the homes will be small, but have a full bathroom and kitchen like a studio apartment. The 10 new homes are planned near an elementary school in the district, giving teachers there the ability to walk to work. "I think it's one part of the solution," he said. "I don't think it's a cure-all." But some organizations have been quick to point out flaws in the plan, including the potential for a toxic relationship between teachers and their employers. "When the school district is both your employer and your landlord, it can be difficult to speak up about potential problems or raise concerns," the Arizona Education Association told KPHO in a statement. The Arizona Education Association added that the best way to provide stability for teachers is to increase pay, and support affordable housing policy at the local governmental level. Read the original article on Business Insider The Ministry of Defense of Russia in Moscow The incident occurred at a checkpoint near the main building of the Ministry of Defense on Frunzenskaya Embankment. Read also: Forests being cut down in Moscow to deploy air defense complexes The Insider The man, in an inadequate state and armed with a pistol, attempted to enter the ministrys territory. At the same time, he shouted loudly and waved his hands. The offender was promptly detained, but could not explain the motive for his actions, said an unnamed source in the law enforcement agencies. No injuries were reported. The man was charged with minor hooliganism and sent for an examination at a psychiatric ward, said the source. The man had an air pistol confiscated. Read also: Fragments of drone with Glory to Ukraine words found near Moscow Russian media The suspect is believed to be 40-year-old Dmitry Buman of Yaroslavl, reports Telegram channel 112. Dmitry B. is the head of the Housing Owners Association in Rybinsk, reports Telegram channel Ostorozhno. The Russian Ministry of Defense or other government officials have not yet commented on the incident. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine A man charged in connection with a deadly hit-and-run crash on a highway in West Bridgewater earlier this week has been ordered held on high bail. Juan Leonardo Parra Altamirano, 33, of Brockton, was arraigned Thursday on charges of leaving the scene of a crash that caused personal injury resulting in death, leaving the scene of a crash that caused personal injury, and leaving the scene of a crash that caused property damage after he turned himself in to Massachusetts State Police. Parra Altamiranos 2008 Toyota Scion clipped a 2015 Honda Accord as he changed lanes on Route 24 late Monday night, sending the Honda speeding into a concrete barrier in the median, according to Massachusetts State Police. Another car crashed into the back of the Honda, causing it to catch fire. The driver of the Honda, 46-year-old Erpharo Gilbert, was pronounced dead at the scene. She was beloved by friends and neighbors alike. The driver of the Honda, 46-year-old Erpharo Gilbert, of Raynham, was pronounced dead at the scene. Gilbert, a native of Raynham, was on her way to an overnight shift at a Boston hospital when she was killed. Prosecutors say Parra Altamirano told investigators that he fled the scene of the crash because he is undocumented and was afraid about his status. Parra Altamirano is due back in court at a later date. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Since Brandon Johnsons victory over Paul Vallas in the mayoral runoff Tuesday, pundits of every stripe have been trumpeting their post-race take on how a little-known Cook County commissioner crafted the right ground game and campaign playbook to defeat a household name in Chicago politics and governance. But theres another election post-mortem that needs exploration one that is deeply disturbing, given the weighty challenges in store for our magnificent, troubled city. Advertisement Voter turnout in the mayoral runoff was a mere 35.98%. Out of the citys 1,587,153 registered voters, only 571,095 Chicagoans made the effort to cast ballots. That means more than a million registered voters opted not to weigh in on one of the most crucial decisions they could make as Chicagoans. As disheartening as that is, were not at all surprised. Over the last 20 years, usually a little more than a third of registered voters have cast ballots in either the citys first round or runoff elections, according to the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. Only twice in the last two decades did turnout top 40% during the April 2015 runoff when Rahm Emanuel beat Jesus Chuy Garcia, and in first round voting in February 2011, when Emanuel was first elected. Advertisement Voters could come up with myriad reasons for not participating. They may have been too busy or discouraged by the gray weather on Election Day. They may have been confused about how to vote early, or the process of mail-in voting, even though both alternatives functioned smoothly and were easy to understand. Perhaps they were unimpressed by both mayoral candidates or simply size up politics as inconsequential to their lives. But those arent reasons for not voting, theyre excuses. As for explanations for not voting, theres only one. Selfishness. Voting isnt just a right its a responsibility. Democracy doesnt work without it. Voting is arguably the best lever Chicagoans wield to hold their politicians accountable. It also serves as a strong counterbalance to machine politics. Dont like the Chicago Way? You can do something about it by voting out its beneficiaries. There are places in the world where voting is a sham exercise that only serves to give autocracies the veneer of legitimacy. In some countries, Election Day violence is an all-too-common scourge, but voters still queue up to polling places. They do so because they know apathy isnt going to put them on a path toward a better life. In Chicago, apathy is the scourge. Thats unfathomable when you consider the citys current plight. Violent crime is foremost on the minds of Chicagoans from Rogers Park to Roseland. Mass transit ridership is a shadow of what it once was, the downtown has lost vibrancy, a pension crisis continues to plague city finances and the gap between the citys haves and have-nots shows no signs of narrowing. The age demographic with the worst turnout on Tuesday was 18-24. Just 3.7% of voters were from that age category. Results in the Feb. 28 first round election were even worse only 3.23% of voters were between 18 and 24. We understand that young adults may harbor cynicism about government and about the value of their vote. And we know that if someone of voting age doesnt make voting part of their routine earlier in life, theyre less likely to vote as they get older. But GenZ Chicagoans must realize that their apathy diminishes the likelihood that elected officials will tune into issues that matter the most to their generation. Politicians tend to pay more attention to constituents who vote, rather than those who stay silent. And remember that in close and local elections, a few thousand or even a few hundred votes can mean the difference between your candidates ascent or defeat. Advertisement There isnt that much more government can do to ramp up turnout. Vote-by-mail and early voting make rationalizations about not having the time to vote dubious, even nonsensical. The mayoral race dominated broadcast, online and print media. A bevy of debates and forums gave Chicagoans ample opportunity to size up Johnson and Vallas, and their approaches to governance. We did our part, endorsing ahead of both the Feb. 28 election and the runoff, and doing so in both mayoral and aldermanic races. Better turnout can only happen when Chicagoans realize they can and must play their part. Were fond of what the countrys third president, Thomas Jefferson, had to say about voting: We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate. Ultimately, voting is an expression of engagement. Citizens take a seat at the table when they vote. Theyre saying they care about the direction of their city, about who will lead it and how, about the goal of betterment for all. When citizens vote, they become part of the solution. When they dont, they fix themselves firmly along the sidelines, and remain part of the problem. Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook. Advertisement Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. The four astronauts of NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission visited "The Today Show" for an episode that aired April 6, 2023. The first astronaut crew set to visit the moon in over 50 years just made a few publicity pit stops on Earth. NASA announced on Monday (April 3) that agency astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch and Canada's Jeremy Hansen will fly the Artemis 2 mission, a round-the-moon flight scheduled to launch in November 2024. The quartet landed on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" on Wednesday (April 5) and "The Today Show" on Thursday (April 6). During the visits, the team recalled their reactions to hearing they had been selected and shared more about Artemis 2, which will mark the first time a woman, a Canadian and a person of color travels to the moon . Related: NASA's Artemis program: Everything you need to know On the first day of the mission, the Artemis 2 crew will orbit Earth about 40,000 miles (64,373 kilometers) up to test their Orion spacecraft and onboard life support systems, after which they will kick-start their journey to the moon, NBC's Anna Kaplan reported on Thursday for "The Today Show." "Right now, we're not scared at all. Like, that doesn't even intimidate us; we're just excited," Hansen said Thursday on "The Today Show," according to Kaplan. "This is the stuff that has inspired us all of our lives, and we just want to go. We're really excited to get going." On "The Late Show," Colbert asked Wiseman, who in 2014 notched 165 days onboard the International Space Station (ISS), why humans are going back to the moon. "Because we want to see humans on Mars," replied the astronaut, who will command the Artemis 2 mission. Wiseman added that living and working on the ISS has been the first real step in understanding how humans function beyond Earth. The Artemis program, which aims to establish a long-term human presence on and around the moon, will extend that knowledge considerably, if all goes according to plan. Hansen credited NASA leadership for selecting his country to be part of the mission and nurturing a global partnership that "lifts us up and allows us to bring our genius in," he said on "The Late Show." Story continues "It is not lost on anyone in Canada that, if the United States wanted to go to the moon again, they don't need Canada to do it," Hansen said. "It was a deliberate decision, because they're thinking big." Hansen, who will be going into space for the first time on Artemis 2, spoke of the things he will learn from the rest of his experienced team. While some aspects of the mission will be a first for the entire team, like flying Orion, Hansen said a few things are passed down from astronauts like "the secret handshake." Chief among them is managing bodily functions in the low-gravity, congested space high above Earth. "Because you get that wrong in space, and you don't have any more friends on board anymore," Hansen joked on "The Late Show." Related stories: Meet the 4 astronauts flying on NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission Four for the moon! NASA names Artemis 2 astronaut crew for 1st lunar mission since Apollo NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission: Everything you need to know Christina Koch, who spent 328 days aloft on her first trip to ISS the longest continuous time in space ever spent by a woman said Earth "is absolutely gorgeous" when seen from space. She spoke about " the overview effect ," a term used to explain a person's cognitive shift or change in awareness when Earth is seen from outer space, which begins 62 miles (100 km) above the planet's surface. Astronauts who spend time on the ISS, whose orbit lies at about 250 miles (400 km) up, often cite the overview effect as being life changing, in that one cannot see political or religious boundaries from up there. "All you see is Earth, and you see that we are way more alike than we are different," Koch said Wednesday on "The Late Show." When asked when the Artemis 2 mission will fly, the mission's commander Wiseman said the exact date has not been determined yet. "We are going to fly when the crew is ready, when NASA is ready and the vehicle is ready," he said. The majority of Americans who spoke with Fox News said the government should stay out of regulating artificial intelligence technologies. "Keep the government out of regulating things," a Fort Worth resident told Fox News. "They regulate too many things already." WATCH MORE FOX NEWS DIGITAL ORIGINALS HERE Brian similarly opposed state regulation of the technology. "I think it would be a big overreach," he told Fox News. Despite AI's rapid advancement in recent years, no federal legislation focused on protecting individuals from the technology's potential harms appeared imminent as of March 22, according to a Brookings Institution report. A handful of federal agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission, the Food and Drug Administration and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, are regulating some forms of corporate AI use through laws already in place, the New York Times reported March 3. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP A majority of Americans who spoke with Fox News said the government should demonstrate a hands-off approach when it comes to AI regulation. EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: WHAT IS IT USED FOR? Zachary said the government shouldn't regulate AI unless it endangers privacy rights. "I don't think that the government should interfere with where technology is headed, where AI is headed, until it starts interfering with our privacy," he told Fox News. Rep. Don Beyer, a Virginia Democrat, failed to get a bill passed last year that would've required AI algorithm audits. He told the New York Times AI regulation is "not a priority and doesnt feel urgent for [congressional] members." AI EXPERT IN CONGRESS WARNS AGAINST RUSH TO REGULATION: WERE NOT THERE YET' Joshua, an Austin bartender, said the state should collaborate with the private sector to jointly regulate AI. "I think a little bit of government involvement, along with the private sector, would be nice," he told Fox News. Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., failed to raise enough support last year to pass a bill requiring audits of AI algorithms. Leigh, who supported the state's involvement in regulating AI, said its potential to affect much of human life means it may inevitably impact current laws and regulations. Story continues "When you talk about whether or not the government is playing a role, really we're looking at laws and regulations," the lawyer told Fox News. "AI is going to be something that's going to cover a lot of different areas of law, including copyright, trademark estate planning." "So, for instance, if you have photographs of people, and then you want to use AI to create a real person or a real video, you could have some copyright infringement or some personal Privacy Act problems with that," Leigh said. To hear more Americans weigh in on government regulation of AI, click here. Louis Gaskin Attorneys for Louis Gaskin, who is known as the ninja killer, have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to stay his execution which is planned for 6 p.m. Wednesday. The application for a stay is addressed to Associate Justice Clarence Thomas who is the circuit justice for the 11th circuit, which includes Florida. Gaskin shot and killed Robert and Georgette Sturmfels, 56 and 55 years old respectively, on Dec. 20, 1989, and then burglarized their home in the R-section of Palm Coast. He was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder in their killings and sentenced to death. Gov. Ron DeSantis last month signed a death warrant for the 56-year-old Gaskin. On the night of the murders, Gaskin targeted another home in Palm Coast, where he shot Joe Rector. Gaskin also confessed to killing a man several years earlier. Victim opposes execution: Noreen Rector, one of Gaskin's victims, opposes execution, has strong words for DeSantis Lethal injection records: Judge denies defense request for lethal injection records in 'ninja killer' case Gaskin should not be executed because his case is one of the most aggravated and least mitigated, according to the application for stay from Eric C. Pinkard, an attorney for the Capital Collateral Regional Counsel in Temple Terrace. Pinkard asked the Supreme Court to stay the execution so that it can review "significant questions of constitutional law." The application also states that the jury recommended death by a vote of 8 to 4. The application states that there is an undisputable national consensus that if a death sentence is to be constitutional, it should be unanimous. The application also states that the jury was never presented with profound compelling mitigating evidence" and still four jurors recommended life. Gaskins lawyer writes that the state courts have foreclosed adequate review of the case. However, given the final nature of the death penalty, there should be no point at which these considerations are foreclosed Execution is the most irremediable and unfathomable of penalties ... death is different, the application states. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Louis Gaskin's attorneys ask U.S. Supreme Court to stay his execution Microsoft has a stake in OpenAI. Getty Images An Australian mayor may sue OpenAI after ChatGPT said he'd been jailed for a bribery scandal. However, Brian Hood had not been charged and was instead a whistleblower. Hood told Australia's ABC News he was "horrified" that ChatGPT had been saying he'd been convicted. An Australian mayor says he's preparing to potentially sue OpenAI. The defamation lawsuit, if filed, would likely be the first against the Microsoft-backed tech company over its ChatGPT generative AI platform, which writes text based on user prompts. ChatGPT incorrectly described Brian Hood, the mayor of Hepburn Shire Council in the Australian state of Victoria, as a guilty party in a bribery scandal, Australia's ABC News reported. The scandal centered on how Note Printing Australia, a subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia, had paid bribes to foreign officials to win contracts to print currencies between 1999 and 2004. While Hood had worked at Note Printing Australia, he was actually a whistleblower, and a judge at the Supreme Court of Victoria said that he had played a "very important role" in exposing the bribery. Hood said that after someone alerted him to the results on ChatGPT, he tried it out himself. "It told me that I'd been charged with very serious criminal offenses, that I'd been convicted of them, and that I'd spent 30 months in jail," he told ABC News. Hood said he'd sent OpenAI a concerns notice on March 21, giving the company 28 days to respond. James Naughton, a partner at Gordon Law, which is representing Hood, told Reuters that if he filed a lawsuit against ChatGPT, it would accuse the platform of creating a false sense of accuracy by not including references to the sources it used. Hood told ABC News it was all the more "disturbing" because ChatGPT got some details correct. However, the information about his own involvement was "completely wrong," he said. "I was horrified I was stunned at first that it was so incorrect." "I think this is a pretty stark wake-up call," Hood continued. "The system is portrayed as being credible and informative, authoritative, and it's obviously not." Story continues OpenAI did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. When asked by Insider on Friday, ChatGPT told Insider that Hood "was not one of the individuals who were charged with foreign bribery offenses, and there is no public information indicating that he was directly implicated in the scandal." ChatGPT ChatGPT also described Hood as CEO of Note Printing Australia, when he was company secretary, per the Herald Sun. A disclaimer on ChatGPT's website says that it "may produce inaccurate information about people, places, or facts." This small notice at the bottom of the chatbot's webpage is "nowhere near adequate," Hood told ABC News. "It's one thing to get something a little bit wrong, it's entirely something else to be accusing someone of being a criminal and having served jail time when the truth was the exact opposite," he said. Generative AI such as ChatGPT is known to occasionally "hallucinate," or make up facts and repeatedly state them as true. The chatbot has also made up sexual harassment accusations against lawyer Jonathan Turley, which he said were false and "incredibly harmful," The Washington Post reported. Speaking about ChatGPT's comments about Hood, James Naughton, a partner at Hood's law firm Gordon Legal, said that as an elected official, Hood's "reputation is central to his role. It makes a difference to him if people in his community are accessing this material." Read the original article on Business Insider It wasnt all that long ago when Ray Evernham would drive to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the annual AutoFair and find himself among the tens of thousands of people at the racetrack. Trying to get in there on a Friday and Saturday, it was like trying to go The Winston back in the day, Evernham told The Charlotte Observer. It was crazy. The NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief and car enthusiast an understatement of a title if there ever was one feels a similar thrill ahead of the event this year. And for good reason. Beginning Thursday (April 13) through Sunday (April 16), the Charlotte AutoFair will turn the 1.5-mile track within Charlotte Motor Speedway into the home of the latest automobile technology: muscle cars, hard-to-find parts, exclusive memorabilia, a unique display of NASCAR history (as the sports 75th year of existence remains in full display), and more. The event will still largely be what it was during its inaugural event 44 years ago, when a small collection of vehicles were shown on pit road, before it grew to have regional acclaim. But event officials say it will be excitingly different, too. This is not going to be the same old AutoFair, said Evernham, a good friend of Speedway Motorsports CEO Marcus Smith, who is running the AutoFair and asked if Evernham would mind helping with the event. Were going to keep the DNA of what car culture is about, Evernham added. But were also going to bring out a bunch of new and exciting things. Charlotte AutoFair annually attracts more than 100,000 visitors. The latest spring event is coming to Charlotte Motor Speedway on April 13-16, 2023. Those new and exciting things include offering ride-alongs with Ford Performance Racing School drivers on parts of the Roval the road course within Charlotte Motor Speedway as well as dedicated theme areas for electric vehicles and off-road machines. The main attraction will come on Sunday for the Smith Heritage Invitational, named after Bruton Smith, the founder of Speedway Motorsports and NASCAR mogul who passed away in July 2022. Sundays show will feature dozens of some of the most exclusive vehicles in the world. That includes three 24 Hours of Le Mans winners including including the 1966 Ford GT40 Mark II that inspired the film Ford v Ferrari and one of the first electric cars (1905 Columbia Mark XXXV). Story continues Just on the front straightaway grass in Charlotte, there are going to be three Le Mans winners there, Evernham said. I told them, I dont want to even think of the price per square foot of the vehicles that are gonna be there. We got some cars that are coming in here in the $25-$30 million range as just one car. Evernham then laughed: So when you start stacking up, you know, 15 or 20 of those things, the insurance company people are taking heart pills as quick as they can, ya know? Sundays event will feature cars that are rarely seen by the public. Theyre coming out of private collections. Out of museums. In this way, Charlotte AutoFair is doing something close to what the most prestigious car events in the country do like The Amelia Concours in Florida, or the Pebble Beach Concours dElegance in California. Its a chance for people here who love the automobile to see some of the most exclusive cars in the world at one place, said Greg Walter, CMSs executive vice president and general manager. The reception were getting to the Smith Heritage Invitational we think this is the beginning of something even bigger. Walter added that this event is meant to continue providing community to car enthusiasts and car clubs throughout the state and country. He wants people to leave the event with a lingering feeling of wonder. What we want to do is gather all those things that would draw your eye into one place, he said, so that it creates a cool experience. Charlotte AutoFair 2023 Dates: April 13-16 Tickets: Single-day tickets start at $10 for adults and free for children under 12. Find them at CharlotteMotorSpeedway.com or at the gate. Find more information on the Charlotte Motor Speedway website. Local Kitchens will open its third Sacramento-area food hall in Roseville on April 17, the San Francisco-based company announced in a media release Thursday. Six restaurants will open in one spot at 8680 Sierra College Blvd., Suite 195 in the Renaissance Creek shopping center near the Granite Bay border. Local Kitchens previously opened a Roseville food hall seven miles away in March 2022, and a Davis location in July. Some of the opening restaurants already sell their food in Roseville and Davis existing Local Kitchens: Sushirrito sushi burritos, The Melts cheeseburgers, falafel from Orens Hummus and Nash and Propers Nashville-style hot chicken. But two Bay Area restaurants will use this food hall as their launching pad for the Sacramento area: Rooster & Rice, known for its Thai chicken, and Detroit-style pizza specialists Square Pie Guys. Rectangular in shape and thick like focaccia, Detroit-style pizza is traditionally topped with Wisconsin brick cheese, a layer of tomato sauce and sometimes toppings such as pepperoni. It ends up with crispy edges, particularly on the four corner pieces. As Detroit-style pies boomed in the Bay Area over the last few years, Square Pie Guys became the face of the regional pizza, the San Francisco Chronicle wrote. No Sacramento-area restaurant currently specializes in this style of pie, though pandemic pop-up Lous Pizza had a month-long waitlist when it did so. Rooster & Rice has a devoted following as well, with 13 Bay Area locations and one in Houston. Founded by veteran restaurateurs Bryan Lew and Tommy Charoen, it grew on the back of its organic khao mun gai, a Thai chicken-and-rice dish healthier than many of Local Kitchens heavier options. Local Kitchens new Roseville food hall will host a grand opening from 1-4 p.m. on April 23 with balloon animals, a photo booth and free Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream for the first 300 customers. Local Kitchens area expansion isnt over yet, either. Food halls are coming to Natomas and Citrus Heights later this year. Story continues Background: Local Kitchens third Sacramento-area food hall opens Monday, April 17 near the Granite Bay border in Rosevilles Renaissance Creek shopping center. What to look for: Detroit-style pizza from Square Pie Guys, Thai chicken from Rooster & Rice, Israeli food from Orens Hummus or cheeseburgers from The Melt. Where: 8680 Sierra College Blvd., Suite 195, Roseville. Hours: 11 a.m.-midnight, seven days a week. Get Sacramento's newest Food and Drink news delivered to your inbox Sign up here to receive our free weekly Food and Drink newsletter, written by The Sacramento Bee food reporter Benjy Egel. You'll exclusively receive an early look at the latest news on restaurants, bars, festivals, dishes and everything else in Sacramento's fast-changing food scene. PANAMA CITY BEACH Bay County officials are using technology to help keep kids and families safe while at the beach. In a Thursday news conference, Bay County Commissioner Clair Pease, Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford and Chief J.R. Talamantez of the Panama City Beach Police Department announced they are rolling out a new program designed to quickly locate children who get lost at the beach. Dubbed the Beach Emergency Alerts for Child Safety Program, or BEACHeS program, the initiative will use the county's existing AlertBay emergency system to send out text alerts to beachgoers whenever a child is reported missing in their area. Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford (left), Bay County Commissioner Clair Pease and Chief JR Talamantez of the Panama City Beach Police Department announced they are rolling out a new program designed to quickly locate children who get lost at the beach. "As we enter into a more family-oriented spring break and summer season, there's (an) issue that (residents) may not be aware of that has gone on in Panama City Beach for quite a few years that we're trying to get a handle on," Pease said. "That is children being misplaced and lost from their families (at the beach)." Helpful information: Bay County, Tourist Development Council launch QR code to stay informed on beach safety Public safety: Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford supports Florida residents' right to concealed carry Pease, who came up with the idea for the program, said it was something she wanted to "immediately" tackle after being appointed to the Bay County Commission by Gov. Ron DeSantis at the end of last year. Talamantez said his department receives reports of missing children on the beach almost daily. He added it can sometimes take several hours to locate them something he hopes the BEACHeS program will change. A news release from Bay County states the Beach Police spent more than 600 hours between January 2020 and January 2023 searching for more than 540 missing juveniles. "When a child goes missing, seconds matter," Talamantez said. "Technology throughout the years has changed the way we have done police work, and this specific issue is the same. We have gone from putting missing children posters on telephone poles, to being able to access our visitors and our local residents with the push of a button. Story continues "As a parent, I can tell you there's no worse fear than losing a child." Like Talamantez and Pease, Ford is confident the program will help quickly reunite missing children on the beach with their families. He said it also will help local law enforcement agencies better utilize their resources. To sign up for AlertBay, visit alertbay.org. People also can sign up to receive only alerts about missing children on the beach by texting "PCBBEACHES" to 888777. "Having this tool at our disposal where we can let people who are on the beach know that a child is missing and give their description out ... is going to really allow us to find these kids a lot sooner, and it may prevent a tragedy," Ford said. This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Bay County using new program to quickly locate lost children at beach Four people were rescued after being swept away by a rip current at a Florida beach, news outlets report. Three children and one adult were caught in the rip current just before 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 6, in Perdido Key, Escambia County Fire Rescue Chief Steve Boothe told WKRG. Three beachgoers saw the swimmers struggling and swam out to help them. The four swimmers had been pulled out about 300 feet at Johnson Beach, WEAR reported. Fire officials responded to the scene and aided in the rescue, WEAR reported. The three bystanders who helped with the rescue made it safely to shore, but the four swimmers were transported to a hospital. Two of the children and the adult were airlifted to the hospital, Escambia County spokesperson Andie Gibson told the Pensacola News Journal. The third child was taken to the hospital via ambulance. The four people who were rescued were vacationers, Boothe said, according to WEAR. The three who were taken to a hospital by helicopter are in critical condition. A second rescue occurred at Perdido Key around 4 p.m. Thursday, according to the Pensacola News Journal. One person in distress was pulled from the water by a bystander before they were flown to a hospital. Escambia County Fire Rescue did not immediately respond to McClatchy News request for comment. Johnson Beach is about 20 miles west of Pensacola. What is a rip current? Rip currents are powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water that happen on the coasts of the U.S. and in the Great Lakes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. About 100 people are killed by rip currents each year in the U.S., NOAA reported. Lifeguards rescue thousands of people from rip currents annually. Experts say people can take steps to stay safe from rip currents, including: Check the local water conditions before getting in. Talk to a lifeguard at the beach about the conditions. Only swim at beaches where lifeguards are present. Dont assume great weather means good swimming conditions. Story continues 16-year-old vanishes in waves while swimming at NC beach with friends, reports say Man dies saving wife from rip current, then his dad dies trying to save him, friend says Dad couldnt grab boy swept away in river so bystander jumps in, CA officials say Nuclear disarmament The Spotlight segment provides readers with the historical context of contemporary events in Belarus. Subscribe to the Newsletter Belarus Weekly Join us Five years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Belarus went from having the world's eighth-largest stockpile of nuclear weapons to becoming an entirely non-nuclear state. As part of the USSR, Belarus had 1,120 warheads distributed between air defense forces, air force, and ground forces. The country's territory also hosted two missile silo complexes capable of storing intermediate-range ballistic missiles. At least 33 locations in Belarus were designated for repairing, storing, or deploying Soviet nuclear weapons. Belarus first announced its intention to revoke its nuclear arsenal in 1990 in its declaration of independence from the USSR. In 1993, Belarus officially became a signatory of the Treaty of Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, thus becoming the first post-Soviet republic to reject the nuclear weapons it had inherited after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The U.K., the U.S., and Russia granted Belarus security assurances as part of the Budapest Memorandum, signed on Dec. 5, 1994. On Nov. 27, 1996, the last train carrying RS-12M Topol ICBMs was dispatched from a town in Belarus's Hrodna Oblast to Russia. Belarus sought and achieved its non-nuclear status during its brief democratic period. Alexander Lukashenko, who won arguably the last fair elections in Belarus, repeatedly claimed that giving up Belarus's nuclear weapons was a great mistake. On March 25, Russian leader Vladimir Putin said his country intends to place tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus for training. Putin claimed that the agreement had already been made with Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko, who the Russian leader claims has "long" been asking for tactical nuclear weapons to be placed in the country's territory. Leaked document reveals alleged Kremlin plan to take over Belarus by 2030 Editors note: This story is a collaboration between the Kyiv Independent and media partners, including Delfi (Estonia), Dossier Center (U.K.), Expressen (Sweden), Frontstory.pl, VSquare, and Belarusian Investigative Center (Poland), Suddeutsche Zeitung and Westdeutscher Rundfunk (Germany), and Yaho Kyiv IndependentAnna Myroniuk Story continues A Belarusian monitoring group spotted Russian aircraft potentially bringing in new S-300/400 surface-to-air missiles. Belarus abolishes the use of the Belarusian language and its historical Latin script for transliteration of geographical names in the country, thus further removing language from the public space. Thirty people accused of damaging a Russian military plane at a Belarusian airfield could face capital punishment, the Belarusian KGB announces. Belarus drops charges against the leader of the country's Polish minority due to the "absence of a crime," yet is keeping his co-defendant in custody. Belarusian prosecutors are seeking a longer prison term for Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Ales Bialiatski. A court will hear the state's appeal on April 2. Lukashenko addresses nation, promises to deploy strategic nuclear weapons 'if necessary' Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko held an hours-long televised address to parliament in which he called for Ukraine to begin immediate peace talks on Russian terms, named his country's sovereignty as his top concern, and pledged his readiness to accept Russian strategic nuclear weapons, on top of the tactical nuclear warheads that Russia is planning to deploy by July 1. During his address on March 31, Lukashenko claimed that Belarus will have control over the nuclear weapons on its territory. "There are no uncontrolled weapons in Belarus and cannot be. Therefore, we here will manage all that we have in Belarus," Lukashenko said. Transferring control over a nuclear arsenal directly violates the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which Russia claims to abide by. According to Putin, Russia will only station its nuclear arms on allied territory without transferring control, as is the case with American nuclear weapons stationed in Europe. Lukashenko did not specify how Russian nukes would be controlled but said they would be used if Belarusian territorial integrity was threatened. Belarus has previously received a Russian Iskander-M tactical missile system capable of launching missiles with nuclear warheads. On April 4, Russian Defense Minister Shoigu announced that Belarusian crews are undergoing training in operating the systems. He also pointed out that Belarus's fleet of Su-25 aircraft had also been refurbished to carry nuclear weapons. Earlier, Russian Ambassador to Belarus Boris Gryzlov had claimed that tactical nuclear weapons would be stationed "in proximity to the Western border of the Union State," BelTA quotes. However, experts doubt that the timeline to finish the nuclear storage facility by July 1 is realistic. During his speech, Lukashenko reiterated his call to declare a truce in the war against Ukraine "without the right to move, regroup troops, without the right to move weapons, ammunition, manpower, and equipment." He threatened that Russia would use nuclear weapons should it be threatened with disintegration. "The aggressor cannot dictate the peace terms. Especially through untrustworthy intermediaries," said Mykhaylo Podolyak, advisor to the head of the Ukrainian President's Office. "Lukashenko's ceasefire proposal," Podolyak said, "is beneficial only to Putin, who would use it to replenish his resources, launch his military-industrial complex, organize internal provocations in Europe, and put terrorist pressure on Ukraine." Belarusian Hajun: Russia likely delivering missiles to Belarus Eleven Russian An-124 Ruslan, heavy transport aircraft, have been spotted at the Belarusian airport in Homiel since March 25, potentially delivering rockets for S-300/400 SAMs, the Belarusian Hajun monitoring group reported. Between March 25-30, the group observed four incoming An-124s. On March 30, a convoy of military equipment consisting of five tractor trailers without registration plates carried four rockets for S-300/400 surface-to-air missile systems from Homiel to the Russian-controlled Ziabrauka airfield next to the border with Ukraine. Footage published by Belarusian law enforcement on March 31 from Homiel Airport accidentally revealed two S-400 SAMs stationed there, presumably also brought in by the transport aircraft. At the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ziabrauka was used by Russians to indiscriminately launch rockets against Ukraine, resulting in many civilian casualties. The latest footage of the airfield taken in February 2023 showed the airfield with its runway covered in snow, indicating low activity. The monitoring group has also reported the end of the second rotation of Russian troops in Belarus after training of mobilized personnel and observes no sign of Russian troops massing there. On the other hand, the closure of the airspace over southern Belarus has been extended until July 1, suggesting that the threat of airstrikes from Belarusian territory persists. Belarusians hold historical red-white-red flags during the Freedom Day celebrations on March 25, 2023, in Krakow, Poland. (Omar Marques/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Belarus abolishes Latin transliteration, mandatory use of Belarusian language for geographic locations Belarus has canceled the decades-long rule of transliteration of geographical names in Belarusian language and its traditional Latin alphabet, according to a resolution by the State Property Committee published on April 4. The resolution dismisses the instructions developed by the Belarusian Academy of Sciences in 2000 and officially adopted by the UN as a standard for the transliteration of geographical names in Belarus. One of the reasons cited for the decision was the so-called role of the Latin alphabet as an "imposition of Western liberal values and cultural traditions" and an "overload on the urban environment." Another reason cited was that the Latin alphabet "has been used to Polonize Belarusian along with the imposition of Catholicism." Belarusians used a historic Latin-based alphabet from the 16th century until the 1930s. The Union of Belarusian Writers published a report in July 2022 detailing the increasing marginalization of the Belarusian language and the growing use of Russian by the government and in education. Speaking Belarusian after 2020 is associated with being opposed to the Lukashenko regime and can lead to fines or imprisonment. Belarusian KGB: 30 accused of Machulishchy sabotage could face capital punishment The Belarusian KGB is pressing terrorism charges against 30 individuals captured in nationwide raids in the aftermath of an attack on the Russian A-50 early warning and control aircraft on Feb. 26. The state-controlled TV broadcaster reported on April 3 that the accused could be sentenced to death. The news aired ahead of a visit by Sergey Naryshkin, director of Russia's foreign intelligence service, to Belarus. On April 4, Lukashenko admitted that the Belarusian security services missed the attack and claimed that the attack was guided by "foreign intelligence." Belarus remains the only country in Europe to carry out capital punishment. The use of the death penalty has broadened twice in less than a year. Two explosions were heard at the Machulishchy air base on the morning of Feb. 26, resulting in damage to a Russian A-50 early warning and control aircraft based at the facility. Can Russia afford to commit to a years-long war? When Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an all-out war against Ukraine, U.S. intelligence claimed that Russian forces planned to sweep Kyiv within days. More than 13 months on, Ukraines defenses still stand firm. But Ukrainians are now faced with a different threat the Kremlin appears to Kyiv IndependentKatie Marie Davies Prosecution appeals 'too mild' sentence for Belarusian Nobel Peace Prize Laureate The prosecution has appealed the sentence handed down against the Belarusian Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Ales Bialiatski, the Viasna Human Rights Group reported based on a letter from Valyantsin Stefanovich, who was also convicted in the case. On March 3, a Belarusian court convicted human rights activists Bialiatski, Stefanovich, Uladzimir Labkovich, and Dzmitry Salauyou of financing protests. The human rights activists received up to 10 years in prison and a cumulative fine of roughly $400,000. Prosecutor Aliaksandr Karol demanded the sentences be increased by another two years and bigger fines. On April 21, judge Sviatlana Bandarenka of the Minsk City Court will hear the appeal. Belarus drops charges against Polish activist after two years of detention The Prosecutor General's Office summoned Polish minority activist Andzelika Borys on April 4 to announce that the charges against her have been dropped due to the "absence of a crime." Polish-Belarusian activist Andrzej Poczobut, who faces eight years of imprisonment in the same case, remains in custody. Polish minority activist Andzelika Borys headed the Union of Poles in Belarus and was accused of inciting interethnic hatred as Belarusian authorities blamed Poland for inspiring protests in Belarus. She spent a year in custody and was transferred to house arrest after her health deteriorated significantly. Three other defendants in the case, Irena Biernacka, Maria Tiszkowska, and Anna Paniszewa, were released on condition of leaving for Poland in June 2021. Poland's Foreign Ministry welcomed the release of Borys and called it "the first positive news from Minsk in a long time." Poland's MFA also called for the release of Poczobut and the withdrawal of all charges against him. "This case has the highest priority for us," the statement reads. Currently, human rights activists have recognized nearly 1,500 political prisoners in Belarus. Belgian bunnies will be an Easter treat for kids around the world this weekend, but not all are moulded from the country's renowned chocolate. A batch of rabbits seized this week by veteran customs officer Pol Meuleneire was crafted from a solid lump of MDMA, the raw material for pills of the rave drug ecstasy. Known as the gateway into Europe for Latin American cocaine, Belgium has now also become a turntable for mail-order synthetic drugs, made in Europe and sent worldwide. Meuleneire, who retires in a few months after 43 years in Belgium's customs service, told AFP that when he began his career he was excited to find 10 grammes of cannabis in a letter. Now, his workspace in an office block in the freight zone at Brussels airport is overflowing with suspect packages -- and bags and jars of illegal pills and powders. "So in 2022 we got to nearly six tonnes of drugs, seized here at the airport," explained Florence Angelici, spokeswoman for the SPF federal finance service. "It goes all over the world. Today, people can order online on the 'dark web' in a few clicks and can decide what they want and have it delivered to their homes." The false chocolate bunnies had been parcelled up and posted in Belgium, addressed to a buyer in Hong Kong, only to be intercepted at the Brussels airport freight terminal. Meuleneire pressed his handheld scanner -- which uses Raman spectroscopy to identify substances by their chemical fingerprint -- against one supposed chocolate rabbit and took a reading. The screen flashed green and the analysis was clear: "Caution: MDMA (ecstasy)". "So you see? It's pure MDMA," the 61-year-old said. "So here we have, bumpety-bump, one or two kilogrammes of this. With one kilogramme you make six thousand ecstasy pills." And, as Meuleneire worked his box cutter during a visit by AFP journalists, several more illicit deliveries emerged from packages received in just the past week. A Peppa Pig branded lunchbox destined for New Zealand itself proved innocent, but the packaging it was carried in felt too heavy to be just cardboard and plastic. Story continues Packed into a corrugated plastic parcel divider: ketamine, an anaesthetic misused as a recreational drug and one of the fastest growing illegal exports through the airport postal depot. A child's toy chemistry set for studying the growth of crystals was found to contain a shrink-wrapped bag of crystal meth, an illegal and addictive synthetic stimulant. - Dutch drug labs - There is even cocaine, slid in plastic packets between double layers of cardboard packaging, making the parcel suspiciously heavy to an experienced customs officer. Belgium's Antwerp is the main port of entry into Europe for Latin American cocaine, but some is re-exported by post to countries like Australia, where it fetches a higher street price. Gangs in countries like Venezuela, which export plant-based narcotics like cocaine to Europe, in turn import synthetic drugs like crystal meth from European labs. But most of the mail-order exports are of synthetic drugs made in rogue labs and covert pharma plants in Belgium and especially, according to Belgian officials, the Netherlands. Ketamine, MDMA and methamphetamine are disguised in everyday objects or packaged in jars marked as legal vitamin supplements, then mailed from ordinary post offices in Belgium, France and Germany. "Here, we're talking mainly about using the Belgian postal service, which might attract less attention from customs officers in the arrival countries than the Dutch one," Angelici told AFP. "The smugglers use mules to transport the parcels and to post them from all over Belgium, and other European countries, and send them all around the world." At the airport, a computerised platform selects packages based on known suspect features and customs officers go to work scanning them and in some cases cutting them open. Souvenirs in Meuleneire's workspace include portraits of Jesus Christ that were held in frames stuffed with drugs, teddy bears full of pills and copper pipes packed with veterinary tranquilisers. dc/yad SPRINGFIELD A bill aimed at clearing a path for recipients of a federal immigration program to become police officers and at the same time helping departments that say they are struggling with recruitment is moving forward with bipartisan support in the state legislature, but only after being amended to make clear that potential hires need to get federal approval to carry a gun. Federal law bars noncitizens who are part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program from carrying guns unless its for official use, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This generally means that police officers who are DACA recipients would not be allowed to carry the weapons off-duty. Advertisement That presents a problem even for a co-sponsor of the bill, who said cops need guns when off-duty for personal safety as well as to provide greater public security. Unfortunately, its strictly symbolic, state Rep. John Cabello, a Republican from Machesney Park who is a detective with the Rockford Police Department, said of the bill. It doesnt do anything until the feds do something about the federal law. Advertisement State Rep. John Cabello is seen outside the Bank of Springfield Center as members of the Illinois House of Representatives meet on May 20, 2020. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) The measures Democratic sponsor in the House is state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, whose aim is to help DACA recipients become police officers while also giving law enforcement agencies another option for recruiting. The Obama-era DACA program provides temporary work permits and protection from deportation for eligible individuals brought to the country without authorization as children. There are about 30,000 DACA recipients living in Illinois, according to the latest data. Cabello and Hernandez said theyve been trying to get the attention of the U.S. Congress to push for a change in the federal law. I just want a small door (open) for a certain group of people to be able to carry a gun. Im not saying all undocumented people. Im just saying if you apply and you are accepted, lets give you a chance to own, to carry or possess a gun, Hernandez said. And maybe what the federal government can say is once you retire, or once youre out of the job for whatever reason, you dont have that ability anymore. State Rep. Barbara Hernandez, of Aurora, speaks during the spring session at the Illinois Capitol on May 29, 2019. Hernandez is the new measures Democratic sponsor in the House. (Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune) She said she got the idea for the bill after California passed a measure in the last year that allows DACA recipients to become cops. About a half-dozen other states have passed similar legislation. But her bill didnt get Cabellos support until Hernandez agreed to add language about how aspiring DACA police officers were subject to federal approval with regard to when they can carry guns. The legislation passed 101-0 in the Illinois House on March 24 and is now before the Senate, where it already has two sponsors. At least one suburban police department has already begun the process of hiring DACA recipients, also known as Dreamers. In January, an independent commission overseeing the Blue Island Police Department began to allow noncitizens with a federal Employment Authorization Document to apply to become officers. So far, the department has one recruit who is a DACA recipient and at least three other DACA applicants who are eligible to be hired, Blue Island police Chief Geoffery Farr said. Advertisement Farr acknowledged that those officers would not be allowed to take their guns home with them. Farr said hiring DACA recipients still could help his department because about half of Blue Islands population is Hispanic, and he doesnt have many Spanish-speaking officers. It, at times, is difficult to provide the services to the community without being able to communicate with them, Farr said. Its important that the police department reflects the makeup of the community and what better means do we have than to recruit Hispanic officers. Cabello said he supports the bill because it could provide police departments with additional options for recruitment if they are struggling to keep up with attrition. Some observers trace the issue to the May 2020 police-custody murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, which some crime experts say exacerbated a deeply rooted distrust of police in many Black and brown communities across the country. Cabello blamed the passage in 2021 of the SAFE-T Act the sweeping criminal justice law that, among other things, increased oversight of police for driving away some cops and possibly dissuading others from becoming police officers in Illinois. The Chicago Police Department had 11,711 officers as of March, down from 13,119 in March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, according to data from Chicagos inspector generals office. Last month, the department announced it was launching a new effort to win back retired Chicago police officers and hire sworn cops serving other law enforcement agencies. The need for more police led to a rare show of bipartisanship on a public safety issue in the General Assembly, which is often deeply divided on that topic, when the DACA bill was being crafted. Advertisement We need a lot of good candidates to come forward to try to help fill the gap because Im not sure thats going to happen, Cabello said. Were not going to be the party of no. Were going to be the party of good policy. Hernandez said she was surprised to see support from across the aisle because some people dont understand what DACA means. I know a lot of people label this as only for Latinos, but this is not for only Latinos. This is for a lot of different immigrants, she said. Theyre coming here illegally or were already brought here at an early age and theyre not aware that theyre illegal. And they deserve an opportunity to apply and become an officer. Farr, the Blue Island police chief, and his recruit who is part of DACA testified before an Illinois House committee in March in support of the bill. Farr told the Tribune that it would be unfair to prevent DACA recipients from getting a chance at becoming cops. Theres a segment of the population who cannot vote and cannot carry a gun. Those are usually referred to as convicted felons, Farr said. So in essence, the DACA recipients have the same restrictions upon them that convicted felons do. So that aint right. Chicago Tribunes Laura Rodriguez Presa contributed. Advertisement jgorner@chicagotribune.com "AIR," the new movie starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, and directed by Affleck, reunites old friends, with a stamp of approval by Michael Jordan. It is no secret that Affleck and Damon have been friends for decades, first meeting when Damon was 10 and Affleck was 8. In previous interviews, both actors have expressed they each had a love for acting at an early age, which drew them to one another. During a Q&A after a New York screening of "AIR," Affleck joked that he has been directing Damon since high school. "It's not the first time I've carried him," he said, according to IndieWire. MATT DAMON MAKES RARE RED CARPET APPEARANCE WITH DAUGHTERS AS BEN AFFLECK, JENNIFER LOPEZ HEAT UP AIR PREMIERE Ben Affleck, left, and Matt Damon attend the world premiere of "AIR." Damon laughed, saying, "It might seem like the first time he's directed me. I mean, we did high-school plays where he was like, 'Dude, I think you should do it like this.'" READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "He's been directing me for like 40-something years," he added. The duo has worked together before, with "Good Will Hunting" being their breakout role. Damon, then 27, and Affleck, then 25, co-wrote the film together while they were roommates. Ben Affleck, left, and Matt Damon hold up their Oscars after winning in the Original Screenplay Category during the 70th Academy Awards. "We rented this house on the beach in Venice and 800 people came and stayed with us and got drunk," Affleck previously said, according to Forbes magazine. "Then we ran out of money and had to get an apartment. It was, like, everything was exciting," he said. "So we lived in Glendale and Eagle Rock, and we lived in Hollywood, West Hollywood, Venice, by the Hollywood Bowl, all over the place. Wed get thrown out of some places, or wed have to upgrade or downgrade depending on who had money." BEN AFFLECK SHARES WHY HE AVOIDED WORKING WITH MATT DAMON Affleck and Damon not only shared an apartment, they also shared a bank account. During an episode of "The Bill Simmons Podcast," the two revealed they took an "all for one and one for all" approach. Affleck said, "We were going to help each other and be there for each other. It was like, 'you're not going to be alone. I'm not going to be alone, let's go out there and do this together.'" Story continues Damon added, "As long as one of us had money, we knew that the power wasn't going to get shut off." Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have been friends for decades. According to Us Weekly, Affleck and Damon used the release of "Good Will Hunting" to secure a new apartment before they had any credit to their names. "I remember it was printed in Daily Variety that we were going to get $600,000 on it. We had no credit, so we went to rent this house that was $3,000 a month, and we used a copy of the Daily Variety to get the place," Affleck said. "I was like, 'I don't have credit, but this is who we are.' And the landlord was like, 'All right, sure.'" Affleck recently admitted that he avoided working with Damon after the success of "Good Will Hunting" because always being associated as a duo would be "limiting." Ben Affleck, left, and Matt Damon attend the "AIR" world premiere during the 2023 SXSW Conference and Festivals at The Paramount Theater in Austin, Texas. "One of the things we reflected on when we did The Last Duel that caused us to want to do this company together was the fact that we wished wed kept working together more over the years," Affleck told The Hollywood Reporter. "We fell prey to this idea that, 'Well, if you dont individuate your careers and do your own things, people will always associate you together. That will be limiting.'" "That was advice we got," he said. Affleck also reflected on the importance of his nearly 40-year friendship with Damon to the outlet, saying, "I suppose the reason it works is that I trust him and love him, and I know that this is somebody with integrity. In this business, failure is hard, and success is confusing and can make you lose your bearings. Having that friendship as a touchstone over the years was really meaningful." "AIR" was produced by the Affleck and Damons new production company, Artists Equity. At a press conference for the movie last week, Damon shared that the film would not have been made if it was not for Oscar-winner Viola Davis. Damon said, "if we cant get Viola Davis, we cant make the movie." Affleck admitted that it has been an "ambition of mine to direct her in a movie." Not only did the actor's dream come true in directing Davis, he was also able to direct Damon. Ben Affleck, left, directs his longtime friend, Matt Damon, for the first time in "AIR." "Film is not a solitary art form; its collaborative. It relies on other people, so you need great partners. With casting, its all about empowering your actors to enable them to do their best possible work. And when you have actors of the caliber of this cast, that process is more about just getting out of the way," Affleck said with a smile. BEN AFFLECK REVEALS MICHAEL JORDAN'S BIG ASK FOR AIR: HAS TO BE VIOLA DAVIS "But it sure helps when someone like Viola Davis comes along and makes your movie 100 times better just by walking in the door." "And thats also true of Matt," Affleck continued. "He is very, very gifted, and it was a pleasure to direct him for the first time and discover even more about him as an actor. I feel very lucky that my oldest friend and I are in the same line of work and get to work together. Were doubly blessed in that way." From left to right, Ben Affleck, Viola Davis and Matt Damon at the World Premiere of "AIR" on March 27. Damon noted during the press conference that it was equally rewarding for him to work with Affleck differently. "Obviously, weve written and produced together over the years, but getting to work with him as a director was utter joy and so creatively rewarding," Damon said. "We tend to have similar sensibilities about whats working in a scene and what isnt, so we had such an ease with each other. And this castevery day I was working with another heavyweight acting hero of mine. Start to finish, it was the most fun Ive ever had on a movie, and it just doesnt get any better than that," he continued. Viola Davis portrays Michael Jordan's mother, Deloris Jordan, in "AIR." Davis plays Michael Jordans mother, Deloris Jordan, in the film, which recounts how Nike signed a young Jordan to a history-changing shoe deal that would change the business and pop culture forever. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Casting her was not just Affleck and Damons decision, though Affleck said working with Davis has been a "life-long career ambition." Damon later joked, "he didnt feel that way about working with me!" The director said that the experience of working with everybody was like "walking on air," and teased that he was instructed by media handlers to say that kind of thing. With Damon and Affleck's new production company, their goal is to create a "more equitable" experience for the crew behind films, including cinematographers, costume designers and more instead of watching an overwhelming chunk of the funds go to actors and directors. "AIR" launches Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's production company, Artists Equity. Ultimately, the love between the cast and crew for the story being told shows on screen. As Damon said, "This is really for everybody, we used to call them I guess feel good movies," adding that with this movie, "you should leave the theater with a skip in your step." "AIR" arrived in theaters Wednesday, and later on Amazon Prime. Fox News Digital's Elizabeth Stanton contributed to this report. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon at the "Air" premiere. JC Olivera/GA/Getty Images Newbie "Air" screenwriter Alex Convery said Ben Affleck and Matt Damon gave him sole writing credits. Affleck told him they wanted to "pay it forward" to up-and-coming writers, like Affleck and Damon once were, Vulture reported. "Air" chronicles Nike's rise to industry dominance in the 1980s, thanks to legend Michael Jordan. The screenwriter behind the new film "Air" says Ben Affleck and Matt Damon gave him the sole writing credit because they wanted to "pay it forward" from when they were given a chance as up-and-coming writers, according to Vulture. Newbie screenwriter Alex Convery told Vulture he finally got his big break last April when industry legends Matt Damon and Ben Affleck signed on to produce "Air," which chronicles Nike's rise to industry dominance in the 1980s with the help of Michael Jordan. Convery expected to be side-lined from the project once such big names came on board, thinking the pair who won Oscars for writing "Good Will Hunting" would re-write much of his script and push his writing credits to the bottom, according to Vulture. But, Ben Affleck didn't let that happen. Convery told Vulture the director pulled him aside after the shoot was finished and said, "'We're not going to arbitrate, we're going to give you sole credit.'" "'When we were coming up as writers, so many people gave us the benefit of the doubt and gave us a chance. They paid it forward for us and we're going to pay it back,'" Convery recalled to Vulture. "Air," starring Affleck, Damon, and Viola Davis, premiered in theatres on Wednesday. Read the original article on Insider Rep. Bennie Thompson, the man who for nearly 18 months anchored the House investigation into the events that led to the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, says he sees parallels between the attacks on his committees work and the skepticism levied at the Manhattan district attorney. Alvin Bragg, a first term district attorney, made history earlier in the week when he announced 34 felony counts against former President Donald Trump. It is the first time in the nations history a former president has been criminally charged. At his arraignment in New York on Tuesday, Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges. Soon after those charging documents were made public, critics, including those who normally would be expected to support Braggs case, bemoaned the legal theories he is employing in pursuit of a conviction. As POLITICO highlighted earlier this week, Braggs case, which stems from hush money payments to silence a porn star from speaking publicly about an alleged affair, appeared to embolden Trumps most ardent defenders. House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) on Thursday subpoenaed a former prosecutor who worked in the Manhattan DAs office a move Bragg characterized as an attempt to undermine an active investigation and an unprecedented campaign of harassment and intimidation. None of this is a surprise to Thompson, the ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee. I expect nothing less from my colleagues on the other side, Thompson said during an exclusive interview with POLITICO for The Recast Power List 2023. I've been in Congress almost 30 years and I've never seen a congressional committee attack a state official who's doing his job. Basically crossing the line from Bennie Thompson's standpoint intimidating an official not to do his job. In an 845-page report, Thompsons own committee concluded at the end of last year that there is enough evidence for the Department of Justice to convict the former president on charges including obstruction of an official proceeding and assisting and providing aid and comfort to an insurrection. Story continues In the interview, Thompson weighed in on the allegations that the myriad investigations Trump is at the center of including two headed by special counsel Jack Smith at the DOJ and one by the Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney are politically motivated. He also talked about why he opened the Jan. 6 hearings by connecting that attack to Americas long history of racism and slavery and explains the flak he received for picking former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) as the committees vice chair. This transcript has been edited for length and clarity. Booker: I want to jump into our conversation starting with what happened in Manhattan (this week) seeing the former president into a Manhattan courthouse and be charged with 34 felony counts in connection to a hush money payment to silence a porn star. I want to get your overall thoughts about what this says about where we are in our quest to uphold American democracy. Rep. Thompson: Well, I think the best phrase that we hear from some circles is: It proves that no one is above the law. In America, you can be president of the United States, but you are tasked with the responsibility of the rule of law, and when you don't do that, you're subject to the penalties and other things that are associated with it. So I allow that process to work itself [out]. Clearly, a group of citizens, in the form of a grand jury, heard evidence and ultimately made a decision to come forth with indictments. Now we'll look at our system of justice in this country to see if, in fact, Donald Trump will be proven guilty or innocent. Booker: I just want to note that the former president pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Now, obviously, the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, has to convince a jury that Mr. Trump committed these alleged crimes. But, as someone who worked on the January 6th committee, are these legal proceedings of a former president, someone who is a leading candidate on the GOP side, good for American politics? Youve talked about nobody's above the law, but certainly there are allegations being levied on the right that all of these investigations, these legal probes, are politically motivated. Rep. Thompson: Well, I expect nothing less from my colleagues on the other side. Donald Trump is the titular head of the [Republican] Party. They have a fundamental right to defend that individual, and that's what they're doing. My concern is, in defense of it, they're attacking the rule of law, and the rule of law in this country is clear. We have separation of powers in our Constitution. I've been in Congress almost 30 years and I've never seen a congressional committee attack a state official who's doing his job. Basically crossing the line from Bennie Thompson's standpoint intimidating an official not to do his job. I think that's unfortunate. The other thing associated with the comment is my work on January 6th. Some of the conversation and vitriol that we're hearing, we heard before January 6th. It's very dangerous language. So before January 6th, people would say, "Oh, this would never happen in the greatest democracy on Earth." Well, it did. And it happened because there were certain forces at work. Those forces were orchestrated based on the work of our committee by, at that time, the President of the United States and some other individuals. I would think that our committee made the case. We utilized primarily people who worked in the administration, people who identified with the party of the administration, but they chose patriotism and democracy over party. I thank them for that. But even with that, some of the individuals who are talking now are very critical of people in their own party for coming forth. This is our great democracy, we have an opportunity to speak our opinion, but sometimes we have to be cautious of what we say because others are listening, others are watching, and they, in many instances, interpret it a different way. Booker: Well, let me just follow up on this one point here. A CNN poll out this week indicated that 60 percent of those surveyed said they approved of the Trump indictment. But when broken down by race, 75 percent of those who identify as a person of color approved of the indictment, versus just 51 percent of white respondents who said they approved of this indictment. Why do you think there's such a wide gulf in how white Americans and how people of color view this indictment of the former president? Rep. Thompson: Well, one of the things I've experienced over my political career is there's a fundamental belief by the majority of African Americans that they actually believe in our system of government. They believe in the rule of law. So whatever it is that they have to do to demonstrate it, they do it on a regular basis. When elections go wrong, the majority of the Black people who lose elections don't act like Donald Trump and his people. They basically will go to court. If they lose, then they'll get their act together and come back next election. Donald Trump has taken losing an election to the worst level possible, and that worst level is deny, deny, deny and, ultimately, go into a system of violence. I take myself, for instance. I've been in elective office for quite a while. When I first started, we had problems registering people to vote; we had problems having people go in polling places to help, even though it was the law. But at no point did we ever think about taking the law into our own hands. We made the law work based on what it said. And so I see that attitude right now in that CNN poll. People of color really want this system of government to work for all the people. And so they will, by and large, defend it. But I see a lot of white Americans who are somehow intimidated because of this growing minority, and the language that Donald Trump is saying, and his supporters, that we have to make America great again. Some of those code words are really creating havoc in the white community because of the gun laws that are being passed around the country. The underlying element in those gun laws is race. It's not Second Amendment. It's all about how we have to defend our communities, why we have to defend our schools, even though, by and large, those rationales for the defense are hollow. And so I'm comfortable in saying, even in the south, racial bloc voting occurs more among whites than it does Blacks. Black people in the South have voted, historically, at a greater percentage for white candidates than white voters have voted for Black candidates. So we have made some of that adjustment, and I think that poll reflects the maturing of the attitudes in the Black community toward defending the system. Booker: At The Recast, we focus on the intersection of race and identity and how it's shaping American politics. Part of the reason why you were selected by a committee of my colleagues to be on this year's Power List is how you placed race right at the center of the January 6th investigation. In your opening remarks in the first committee hearing ... I'm going to read your quote back to you just to get your reaction to it because it was so powerful, it stuck out to me. You said: "I'm from a part of the country where people justify the actions of slavery, the Ku Klux Klan and lynching. I'm reminded of that dark history today as I hear voices today try and justify the actions of insurrectionists on January 6th, 2021." Please break down why you wanted to start the conversation about the investigations into the attack on the Capitol with race. Rep. Thompson: Well, I think, as a country, we have to continue to reflect on our history. Even though we are the greatest country in the world, there have been some issues associated with our growth and maturity that we can't overlook. So to remind people of that history is important. I think it was symbolic that an African American chaired the January 6th Committee, [whose] ancestors were brought to this country in the belly of ships, who for a number of years, toiled, building public courthouses and city halls all over this country for free, even our United States Capitol. What happened on January 6th was that sole reminder that, even though we are the greatest country in the world, we have to maintain vigilance in keeping it otherwise, the potential for what occurred on January 6th could very well happen again. So I wanted to frame it [in that context and] I chose Liz Cheney as my vice chair. I didn't have to. I could have picked anyone, but I think it was for the country. I chose Liz Cheney over party. And some of us, my friends, they took issue with it Booker: Really? Rep. Thompson: Oh, yeah, absolutely. But it was, more or less, "Why did you do it? You were in charge. You could have done a lot of things," and I said, "Well, this was more than party. This was country." And while my country has not always treated Bennie Thompson or my ancestors properly, I think there are some times you have to look beyond party and race to get to the next level, and so I've tried to do that. But I can still be truthful in the process. I don't have to gloss over it, just be straightforward, and so my opening comments, truthful, straightforward. Some people might not [have understood] the place of it, but you have to set the tone for the seriousness of your hearing, and I thought that went a long ways toward establishing the tone. Booker: I wanted to ask a couple of questions since you are home in your district right now in the Jackson area. One, before the end of the year, Congress voted on an omnibus, allocating about $600 million to address the Jackson water crisis. I'd like to get an update on that from you about how that is progressing. And last week, President Biden was in your state, touring the devastation from natural disasters. If you could, give me a brief update about how the recovery efforts are going in that regard. Rep. Thompson: As most of you know, the Jackson water crisis was an ultimate culmination of a flooding event on our water system that really knocked out everything. But, as we started to look at it, there was a history of lack of state support toward the largest publicly-owned water system in the state. Part of that was associated with the fact that Jackson had become a majority African American city. And so, over time, that neglect led to a system that could no longer be maintained. The flood that occurred on that system, however, allowed us an opportunity to call on the federal government to help. We had a disaster declaration declared, and, ultimately, we looked at the omnibus disaster package. That provided money for wildfires in the West and flooding in the West also, as an opportunity to do the same thing for Jackson, Mississippi. And that's what we did. The initial installment is 600 million. Not enough. It'll take several years to spend the money, but the system, pardon the pun, was on life support, so were working through it. But, in order to work through it, we established a third-party manager who will run that system, and we are in the process of going through that and I thank everybody for their support. Unfortunately, 10 days ago, a tornado went through five counties in my district. We lost 13 in the city of Rolling Fork, Mississippi. We're struggling. Those cities and counties, under the best of circumstances, were vulnerable. There's no public transportation. In two of the counties, there's no hospital. So we're challenged in that respect, but our friends all over the country have stepped up. But there are still some vestiges of inequity. One is, the white kids attend an all-white segregated academy. Believe it or not, some of the resources for the community were sent to that all-white segregated academy where Black folk don't go, and so we had to turn that around. The Biden administration has talked about equity and making sure that the response to whatever it is, education, housing, agriculture, is looked at through a colorblind lens. We fixed that. YORK, Maine An Aroostook County superintendent has been selected to replace outgoing Lou Goscinski as the head administrator at the York School Department. Timothy Doak, superintendent for Eastern Aroostook RSU 39 (Caribou and Stockholm) and RSU 86/MSAD No. 20 (Fort Fairfield) school systems, was appointed to the position Wednesday by the York School Committee by a vote of 4-1. He was offered a one-year contract with a $180,000 salary. Were very pleased where were landed, said School Committee Chair Tom Martine. We got down to the final two, we feel we made the best choice for the York School District. Timothy Doak, named Superintendent of the year in 2018, has been hired as the York School Department's new superintendent. Goscinski announced in November that he would step down from being Yorks superintendent in July following five years of service. He will leave one year before his current three-year contract ends. Doak has been superintendent at RSU 39 since 2015 and was named Superintendent of the Year in 2018, according to an article on the University of Maine at Presque Isle website. He took on the additional role of superintendent of MSAD 20 in 2016, and his career has also included work as a social studies teacher, assistant principal, principal, and four years as superintendent at Fort Kent. Previous story: York Superintendent Lou Goscinski stepping down at end of 2022-23 school year Doak said he has been looking into moving to southern Maine to live closer to his adult children. He said they have visited the Seacoast many times over the years and have always loved York. He said in addition to the beach was the towns use of historic buildings to preserve its past that impressed him. York has been nothing but impressive since the first day I went to York, Doak said. Its just a wonderful place to be able to come and work. Its a lot of pride in the community, and they should be proud with everything they have that makes it unique. Doak said he has heard great things about the York school system before he even applied for the job. On a recent visit to the school district, he was also happy to find three of his former students in the school district working as teachers themselves. He also found the students inviting, walking up to him and greeting him as he toured the schools. Story continues You dont really see that in a lot of schools, Doak said. Doak said he watched two and a half years of York School Committee meetings to prepare for the job application process and became familiar with how the school district handled COVID-19, security and the budget process. He also said he is aware the school will soon see an upcoming visit from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. He expects to work on preparation for that visit this summer when he starts. Try to just build a strong administrative team, Doak said, From being a great district to being something better. York Beach Beer Co.: Lobster roll food truck, big events and more brewing Doak picked over Coastal Ridge Principal Sean Murphy Doak was one of two finalists considered for the positions whose names were announced last month. The other finalist was Coastal Ridge Elementary School Principal Sean Murphy. Murphy has been leading the elementary school in York since 2007, and Martine said at the time it would be a difficult choice choosing between someone trusted locally and someone who already has superintendent experience. York election 2023: Meet the three candidates vying for two Selectboard seats Committee member Dawn Belliveau was the lone vote against Doak, though she did not elaborate on her decision. Support for Murphy as the choice came in public comment from those who said the committee would regret not picking the internal candidate. I feel you made a mistake, said Amy Powell in public comment. Its nothing personal to Mr. Doak, I wish him the best, but I think were going to lose a gem at CRES. Martine said in the meeting the committee understood the stance some had in supporting Murphy as the boards pick. Thursday, he reiterated that it was a challenging decision but that the board respects and appreciates Murphy.I will definitely say Mr. Murphy from start to finish has been incredibly professional throughout the entire process, Martine said. We appreciate what he has already brought to the school district. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Timothy Doak named York ME school superintendent for 2023-24 REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun/Pool Israel is calling up reservist soldiers to bolster its military readiness in response to rocket fire attacks from Gaza and Lebanon this week, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Herzi announced Friday. The military ramp-up is the latest sign that the security situation in the region is rapidly deteriorating. The decision comes hours after Israel carried out strikes in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip targeting Palestinian militants, in response to what Israel said was an earlier barrage of rocket fire in the country this week. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in remarks Friday that his security cabinet approved the military operations Thursday. Our enemies are once again testing us, Netanyahu said. Netanyahu made the remarks in a joint appearance with Yoav Gallant, whom he referred to as his defense minister, despite firing Gallant as defense minister last month over differences on a controversial judicial overhaul. The decision was later put on hold due to the current security crisis. Rockets Rain Down on Israel From Lebanon After Al-Aqsa Mosque Raid Halevi did not detail the number of reservist soldiers tapped in the call-up. But the call-up is focused on air defense units, fighter jet pilots, and attack drone operators. Israel is focusing its additional firepower on its northern and southern borders, The Wall Street Journal reported. The IDF Chief of Staff Halevi has also ordered that Central Command, covering the West Bank, boost its defenses following a deadly shooting in the region that left two sisters dead and their mother injured on Friday. Israel Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai has also encouraged Israelis with gun permits to carry their guns, the Times of Israel reported. Tensions have ratcheted up in recent days as Israeli police stormed the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and arrested hundreds of Palestinians. A spokesman of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, condemned the raid, which happened during the holy month of Ramadan and just as Jews began celebrating Passover. The attack, he said, exceeds all red lines and will lead to a large explosion. Story continues On Thursday, Israel reported that 34 rockets fired from southern Lebanon hit buildings in the country. Israels Iron Dome intercepted 25 rockets, Israel said. Israel has blamed Palestinian militant group Hamas for the barrage of rocket fire. Hamas has not claimed responsibility for the attack. The IDF will not allow the Hamas terrorist organization to operate from within Lebanon and holds the state of Lebanon responsible for every directed fire emanating from its territory, the IDF said in a statement. 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. Several Republican politicians are criticizing the White House after it issued a long-awaited report on how the Biden administration handled the withdrawal from Afghanistan, but shifted the blame to the Trump administration. The 12-page report released by the White House defends Biden's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan, calling it the "right thing for the country." When discussing the Biden administration's execution of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, the report pins the blame on the previous administration. The report does acknowledge that the evacuation, however, should have begun sooner. "President Bidens choices for how to execute a withdrawal from Afghanistan were severely constrained by conditions created by his predecessor. When President Trump took office in 2017, there were more than 10,000 troops in Afghanistan. Eighteen months later, after introducing more than 3,000 additional troops just to maintain the stalemate, President Trump ordered direct talks with the Taliban without consulting with our allies and partners or allowing the Afghan government at the negotiating table," the report states. BIDEN ADMIN REVIEW OF AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL REPEATEDLY BLAMES TRUMP While efforts were underway to withdraw Americans and allies from Afghanistan, 13 American soldiers died in a suicide bombing outside the Abbey Gate at Hamid Karzai International. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP During a press briefing on Thursday, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that the lack of planning by the Trump administration made the withdrawal difficult. "While it was always the president's intent to end that war, it is also undeniable that decisions made and the lack of planning done by the previous administration significantly limited options available to him," Kirby said. "President Biden inherited a force presence in Afghanistan of some 2,500 troops. That was the lowest since 2001. He inherited a special immigrant visa program that had been starved of resources. And he inherited a deal struck between the previous administration and the Taliban that called for the complete removal of all U.S. troops by May of 2021, or else the Taliban, which had stopped its attacks while the deal was in place, would go back to war against the United States," Kirby said. Story continues UN OFFICIALS CONDEMN TALIBAN'S DECISION TO BAN AFGHAN FEMALE STAFFERS FROM WORKING AT THE UNITED NATIONS House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, criticized Kirby for the comments. "John Kirbys comments during todays White House press briefing were disgraceful and insulting. President Biden made the decision to withdraw and even picked the exact date; he is responsible for the massive failures in planning and execution," McCaul said. "It is also unfortunate it took my subpoena threat to prompt the administration to finally provide the classified after-action reports from the Afghanistan withdrawal. I look forward to reviewing the report and call upon the administration to declassify as much as possible for the American public. "Finally, Congress must be given access to the full and complete record of documents from the withdrawal in order to get the answers on why the withdrawal was such a disaster." Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., testifies during a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing, Oct. 21, 2020. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said in a statement that the Biden administration isn't taking responsibility for the withdrawal. "Once again the Biden administration is refusing to take responsibility for its failures and is destined to repeat them. President Bidens weakness on the world stage cost 13 American lives and is putting our national security at risk he must be held accountable," Daines said. On Twitter, Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, called Kirby's comments "sickening." "Today White House spokesman John Kirby said he, didnt see chaos in the Afghanistan withdrawal. SERIOUSLY!? He's the new "Baghdad Bob!" Did he not see people hanging onto a C17 and falling to their deaths? REALLY!? He should tell this to the families of the 13 brave service members who lost their lives," Jackson tweeted. Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., tweeted Kirby is "utterly detached from reality." "13 U.S. servicemembers were killed. Americans were left behind. This admin abandoned our allies to face the wrath of terrorists. The Biden admin is an embarrassment to this nation, to our military, and our allies across the world," he tweeted. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment. Fox News' Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report. Critics lashed out at the Biden administration Thursday after it unveiled its proposal for new Title IX rules to expand the meaning of sexual discrimination to include gender identity as it relates to the application for transgender athletes participating in women's sports. Under the Department of Education's proposed rule, no school or college that receives federal funding would be allowed to impose a "one-size-fits-all" policy that categorically bans transgender students from playing on sports teams consistent with their gender identity. Such policies would be considered a violation of Title IX. "As a woman who has made history breaking glass ceilings, we must protect women. Women and girls have fought tirelessly for their rightful place in sports, and Title IX has been a crucial tool in leveling the playing field," Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., told Fox News Digital. BIDEN ADMIN RELEASES NEW TITLE IX REGULATIONS ON TRANSGENDER ISSUES IN SCHOOLS "Allowing biological men to compete in women's sports compromises the hard-won progress women have made in achieving equal opportunities in athletics. We need to find solutions that respect and protect the rights of all individuals while also preserving the integrity and fairness of women's sports," she added. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., told Fox the proposed new rules ran in stark contrast to Democrats' usual rhetoric on women's issues. "For a party that claims to care about women, the left sure is intent on depriving them of the opportunity to fairly compete," she said. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "This insane injustice cannot stand," Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., tweeted. "Mark my words: I will fight this woke nonsense through the appropriations process." CATHOLIC COLLEGE VOWS TO GAIN FINANCIAL FREEDOM FROM INCREASINGLY HOSTILE FEDERAL MANDATES Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., mocked the proposal as "the Biden Easter present to America," and warned that the views of parents who have a problem with biological males playing on their daughter's team and being present in their locker room wouldn't count. Story continues "Title IX was meant to protect womens sports. Now, Biden is using Title IX to destroy them," Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel tweeted. Nicole Neily, president and founder of advocacy group Parents Defending Education, accused the Biden administration of "placing the onus upon school districts" to determine whether injecting gender identity into athletics was "problematic or not." US OLYMPIC ROWER PATRICIA SPRATLEN ETEM CALLS BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSED TITLE IX CHANGES AWFUL THREAT LGBT activists and their supporters rally in support of transgender people on the steps of New York City Hall, Oct. 24, 2018 in New York City. "Without a doubt, institutions are going to err on the side of inclusion, because they fear the wrath of the Education Department - thus, achieving the Departments end goal while allowing them to maintain plausible deniability that they coerced districts into doing so," she warned. In 2022, Biden's Education Department proposed regulations on Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to expand the meaning of sex discrimination to include "gender identity" and said it would reveal more details in the spring of 2023. The plan also earned pushback from many conservative groups who argue the president does not have the legal authority to make the changes to Title IX. Miguel Cardona speaks after then-President-Elect Joe Biden announced his nomination for Education Secretary at the Queen theatre on December 23, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has said that he supports allowing biological male transgender people to compete in women's sports. He said during his confirmation hearing that it is "critically important" that educators and school systems "respect the rights of all students, including students who are transgender" and that all students should be able to participate in activities. Fox News' Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report. Washington As the Biden administration finished two after-action reviews of the chaotic August 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, the White House blamed former President Donald Trump for two factors that played a major role in the transition: the short timeline of the withdrawal and the state of military operations when he left office. Although the reports by the Pentagon and the State Department are classified and have not been released, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby noted that the Trump administration had negotiated an even earlier May 2021 withdrawal date with the Taliban, and it had also ordered a series of U.S. troop reductions that left the Taliban in a strong position. There was a "general sense of degradation and neglect there that [President Biden] inherited," he told reporters Thursday. Kirby ticked off a list of actions taken by Trump that impacted the withdrawal: "When President Trump took office, there was more than 10,000 American troops in Afghanistan. He took it down to 2,500. He negotiated the release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners that were being held by the Ghani government without consultation with the Ghani government. He negotiated the Doha Agreement with the Taliban without the Ghani government in the room. And he all but froze the Special Immigrant Visa program, which had been providing opportunities for some of our Afghan allies to get out of the country and to come and to come back." Kirby also told reporters said that the Biden administration was left unaware of the "corrosive effect" the Doha agreement had on Afghan defense forces in part "because we couldn't see the plans the previous administration allegedly worked on during the transition ... none of those plans were forthcoming." The Pentagon and State Department's separate after-action reviews on the withdrawal of U.S. troops in Afghanistan were being transmitted to the relevant congressional committees Thursday afternoon. Story continues The long-awaited reports are classified, but were believed to detail failures in U.S. intelligence and planning that allowed for the Taliban to swiftly take over Afghanistan in August 2021. The reports were also believed to outline what failure of security near the Kabul airport that led to the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and Afghans in an attack. The Pentagon's review was conducted by the National Defense University and was delivered to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin last year. Austin told CBS News in December that there were no plans for the Pentagon to release an unclassified version. Details of the final month of the withdrawal were included in the Pentagon's previous investigation of a bombing outside the Kabul airport that killed 13 U.S. service members and over 100 Afghans in the chaotic final days of the withdrawal. That report detailed how the administration's lack of coordination over the withdrawal put the burden on young service members to "play God" to decide who left the Afghan capital. The National Security Council on Thursday released its own, incomplete summary sharing its perspective on the withdrawal, but the document didn't pinpoint or dig into specific failures. Kirby said the NSC's "document and this effort isn't about accountability today it's about understanding." Kirby said the president has been "fully briefed" on both the Pentagon and State reports, and "had input" on the NSC paper. "Clearly, we didn't get things right here with Afghanistan with how fast the Taliban were moving across the country," Kirby said. U.S. soldiers stand guard behind barbed wire as Afghans sit on a roadside near the military part of the airport in Kabul on August 20, 2021. / Credit: WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP via Getty Images The NSC summary was released before Rep. Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, received the Pentagon's classified report, according to McCaul's office. On Thursday afternoon, McCaul was in Taiwan as part of a congressional delegation. In a statement later Thursday, McCaul said Kirby's comments at the White House briefing were "disgraceful and insulting," adding that "President Biden made the decision to withdraw and even picked the exact date; he is responsible for the massive failures in planning and execution." He called on the administration to declassify as much of the reports as possible, and said lawmakers "must be given access to the full and complete record of documents from the withdrawal in order to get the answers on why the withdrawal was such a disaster." President Biden has defended ending the "longest war in American history," but has rarely spoken about the withdrawal in major speeches. The president did not directly mention the American troops killed during the withdrawal in his State of the Union address six months later, an omission Republicans fiercely criticized. The NSC report did not clearly state if or when the administration realized Kabul could fall before U.S. troops were fully withdrawn, although it does say Mr. Biden directed U.S. military leaders to plan for a full range of contingencies, including a "rapid" deterioration of the security situation. "As late as May 2021, the assessment was still that Kabul would probably not come under serious pressure until late 2021 after U.S. troops departed," the NSC paper said. "As planning intensified throughout the late spring and early summer, intelligence reports continued to suggest that even if the Taliban made gains in some Afghan provinces the capital, Kabul, would be more difficult for the Taliban to take and the ANDSF would defend it." The summary mentioned the Pentagon's reviews of the explosion at Abbey Gate at the Kabul airport and an errant U.S. airstrike that killed an Afghan civilian and members of his family. It did not say whether the rest of his family has been relocated or if they have received condolence payments yet. "No comments, none, about this withdrawal would be complete without mention of the deadly attack on the Abbey Gate at Hamid Karzai International Airport on the 26th of August," Kirby said. "But the president at the time made it clear to operational commanders that force protection remained his highest priority." Kirby said the U.S. continues to facilitate the departures of Americans from Afghanistan. But the NSC paper did not say how many Americans are believed to still be there. The State Department struggled to pinpoint the number of Americans still in Afghanistan in 2021, noting that Americans weren't required to register with the embassy in Kabul. The NSC paper said the U.S. has facilitated the departures "of more than 950 American citizens who sought assistance to leave," as well as many Afghans who have helped the U.S. "The effort was certainly not without days of pain, hardship, or bloodshed," Kirby said Thursday. "But neither was it without courage or poise or professionalism. For all the lessons that we take away, we should remember that over 20 years of war, and in its final days, these men and women saw things and did things and carry things with them that you and I will never fathom. We must make sure that they and their families know that their service mattered. We must make sure they get the help and the support that they need. We must make sure that their legacy is never forgotten. They ended our nation's longest war. That was never going to be an easy thing to do." Kirby and the NSC report said lessons learned in Afghanistan have been applied in countries like Ethiopia and Ukraine. "We now prioritize earlier evacuations when faced with a degrading security situation," the NSC paper said. Kirby also said the review process isn't over, noting that the Afghanistan War Commission has been tasked with studying the war. "America's longest war deserves a lengthy review and a lengthy study and the president is committed to that," he said. Israel targets Hamas in Lebanon and Gaza in latest airstrikes U.S. job growth slows in March, unemployment rate remains relatively steady White House report on chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal places blame on Trump administration By Andrew Chung (Reuters) - President Joe Biden's administration on Friday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear its appeal of a lower court ruling against a federal ban on "bump stock" devices that enable semiautomatic weapons to fire like machine guns. The administration is defending the ban, imposed under former President Donald Trump, against a challenge by Michael Cargill, a gun shop owner and gun rights advocate from Austin, Texas. The ban was a rare firearms control measure in the United States prompted by a 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas. In January, the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Cargill, concluding that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), a U.S. Justice Department agency, impermissibly reclassified bump stocks as machine guns, which are forbidden under U.S. law. That decision "threatens significant harm to public safety," the Justice Department said in its appeal on Friday. "Bump stocks allow a shooter to fire hundreds of bullets a minute by a single pull of the trigger. Like other machine guns, rifles modified with bump stocks are exceedingly dangerous." Three other federal appeals courts previously upheld the bump stock ban. The Supreme Court, which expanded gun rights in a major decision last year, declined to review those cases. Bump stocks use a semiautomatic's recoil to allow it to slide back and forth while "bumping" the shooter's trigger finger, resulting in rapid fire. After a gunman used weapons outfitted with bump stocks in a 2017 shooting spree at a country music festival in Las Vegas, killing 58 people and wounding hundreds more, Trump's administration moved to review their legality. In its 2019 rule, ATF reversed a previous conclusion and classified bump stocks as machine guns, defined under a 1934 law called the National Firearms Act as weapons that can "automatically" fire more than one shot "by a single function of the trigger." Federal law prohibits the sale or possession of machine guns, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Story continues Cargill sued, challenging the ATF's rule in 2019, which required him to surrender his two bump stocks. He is represented by the New Civil Liberties Alliance, a conservative legal group. The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 ruling powered by its conservative justices, in June 2022 declared for the first time that the U.S. Constitution protects the right to carry a handgun in public for self-defense. Two days after that ruling, Biden signed into law the first major federal gun reform in three decades. The legislation followed mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas and Buffalo, New York that killed more than 30 people, including 19 children at an elementary school. In January, a full slate of 5th Circuit judges ruled 13-3 in Cargill's favor, but left it for a trial judge to determine whether to throw out the ATF rule. (Reporting by Andrew Chung in New York; Editing by Bill Berkrot) President Biden blasted the expulsion of two Tennessee lawmakers Thursday as shocking and undemocratic, saying that GOP lawmakers chose to expel lawmakers instead of participating in a discussion about gun reforms. Last week, three more students and three school officials were gunned down in yet another tragic mass shooting in Nashville, Biden said in a statement. On Monday, 7,000 Tennesseans, many of them students, marched to their state capitol to call on their lawmakers to take action and keep them safe. Instead, state Republican lawmakers called votes today to expel three Democratic legislators who stood in solidarity with students and families and helped lift their voices, he continued. The Tennessee Republican-controlled House voted on whether to expel a trio of Democratic lawmakers after they participated in a protest on the House floor against gun violence. The House voted to expel Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) and state Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) for their participation in the recent demonstrations, but Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville), who also participated in the protest, survived her vote. The three lawmakers had joined a protest on the House floor calling for gun reforms in the wake of the Covenant School shooting in Nashville last week that took the lives of six people, including three 9-year-old children. As a result, the lawmakers were stripped of their committee assignments and underwent a vote to expel each of them, which prompted hundreds of people to protest the effort to remove them. Todays expulsion of lawmakers who engaged in peaceful protest is shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent, Biden said. Rather than debating the merits of the issue, these Republican lawmakers have chosen to punish, silence, and expel duly-elected representatives of the people of Tennessee. Biden used Thursdays vote to reiterate his call for gun reform, again calling on Congress and state officials to pass an assault weapons and high capacity magazines ban. He also repeated his calls for other gun safety reform measures, including requiring safe storage of firemans and require background checks for every gun purchase. Story continues A strong majority of Americans want lawmakers to act on commonsense gun safety reforms that we know will save lives, he said. But instead, weve continued to see Republican officials across America double down on dangerous bills that make our schools, places of worship, and communities less safe. Our kids continue to pay the price. Democrat lawmakers in both the House and Senate denounced the vote Thursday, calling the move undemocratic, racist and facist. The White House earlier condemned the proposed vote, describing it as unprecedented. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Six decades of selfless aid make Chinese doctors "most welcome guests" in Africa Xinhua) 08:34, April 07, 2023 ALGIERS, April 6 (Xinhua) -- On April 6, 1963, China's first medical team was dispatched from Beijing to Algeria. Since then, batch after batch of Chinese doctors have been working in Africa, offering much-needed medical aid and services to local people. Despite facing numerous difficulties and challenges, Chinese doctors have persevered in their efforts to save lives, treat illnesses, forge new friendships, and promote goodwill throughout Africa. Their unwavering commitment, sense of duty, and exemplary expertise have earned them a reputation as the most welcome guests on the African continent, endearing them to countless Africans. As China and Africa strive to build a community with a shared future in the new era, including building a global community of health for all, the Chinese doctors serving on aid missions in Africa have become shining exemplars with their great contribution to the lofty cause. This combined photo shows a copy photo of Xue Jin at a hospital in Algeria on Aug. 26, 1967 (L) and Xue Jin posing for a photo at Hubei Cancer Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, on March 14, 2023 (R). In 1965, Xue Jin, a 29-year-old surgeon at the Hubei Medical College Second Hospital, became the youngest member of a Chinese medical team that was sent to assist a hospital in Saida, a city in northwestern Algeria. (Xinhua/Rao Rao) CHINA'S UNSHAKABLE COMMITMENT Since the first Chinese medical team arrived in Algeria in 1963, China has dispatched around 30,000 medical personnel to 76 countries and regions across five continents, with a primary focus on Africa, providing 290 million diagnoses and treatments for local people, according to the National Health Commission of China. This significant effort underscores China's unwavering commitment as a major country to deliver public goods to the international community. Wu Yilun, an ultrasound doctor at Xi'an Honghui Hospital in Shaanxi Province, China, has completed three separate two-year stints in Sudan. Notably, three other members of Wu's family, including his uncle, sister, and brother-in-law, have also provided medical aid in Sudan over the past 21 years. "For me, joining the medical team to Africa is not only a family legacy but also our mission and obligation as a Chinese doctor," he told Xinhua. Shen Ali, an anesthesiologist at Ying Cheng Chinese Medicine Hospital in central China's Hubei Province, followed the footsteps of his grandfather and uncle to join the Chinese medical teams dispatched to Algeria. Through a relay between father and son, husband and wife, and even sisters working hand in hand, Chinese doctors have never left the African continent in the past 60 years, passing on the baton of the aid mission from one generation to the next. It is never easy for the Chinese doctors to settle down far away from home, not to mention that the hospitals where they work in Africa are usually in remote areas with harsh conditions. Patient Alili Kheira (L), 63, goes to the hospital to thank Li Hongling, a member of the Chinese medical team to Algeria, at a hospital in Ain Defla, Algeria, on Feb. 27, 2023. (Xinhua) FILLING MEDICAL GAPS Chinese doctors have made significant contributions to health care in local communities over the past 60 years, with their efforts spanning not only diagnoses and treatments but also pioneering surgeries to help bridge the medical gaps in the host countries. In Sudan, the Chinese medical team successfully conducted the first open-heart surgery in 1977 at the China-Sudan Abu Osher Friendship Hospital, said Mohamadain Hussein, former head of the hospital. The Sudanese girl who received the surgery is now a mother of five children. In Algeria, the first femoral head replacement operation in the Khenchela Province was successfully performed in 2011 by Tu Dachun, an orthopedic physician from central China's Hubei Province. Tu, now on his last mission in Algeria, has worked in the North African country for 12 years. Du Bingbing, head of the current Chinese medical team to Tanzania, successfully conducted a laparoscopic radical operation of congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis for a one-week-old baby. That was the first minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery done in Tanzania. Chinese doctors have also successfully conducted the first cardiac pacemaker implantation in The Gambia, the first craniectomy in Benin, and the first replantation of a severed right upper arm in Mozambique, to name a few. Falciparum malaria is a high-incident disease in Africa. Bai Chunmei, a Chinese malariologist, had worked for more than four years in Sudan, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, helping establish malaria control centers and cure those who suffer from the disease. Chinese doctors have also introduced traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to Africa, including acupuncture, which is gaining popularity in many African countries. Hu Changrong, a member of the Chinese medical team to Tunisia, inspects eyes of an old man during a free clinical activity in Tunisia's northwestern province of El Kef, on Feb. 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Supei) ANGELS IN WHITE "The Chinese people love peace and cherish lives, which is vividly illustrated by their efforts in international medical assistance," Chinese President Xi Jinping said in February in a reply letter to the 19th Chinese medical team dispatched to the Central African Republic. Alongside providing medical assistance to various African countries, Chinese doctors have also established friendships with local people, who often regard them as close friends and even family members. The Chinese doctors shoulder two missions in Africa, one being the "angles in white" to save lives and another being "messengers" to pass on friendship to local people, said Yang Yong, head of the 27th Chinese medical team dispatched to Algeria. "China provided medical help timely when there was a severe lack of medical personnel in African countries after the colonial period more than half a century ago," said Nasser Bouchiba, president of the Africa-China Cooperation Association for Development in Morocco. Chinese doctors usually work in remote areas with harsh conditions, playing "a significant humanitarian role" in helping improve local health care, Bouchiba told Xinhua. China's continued dispatching of medical teams to Africa over the past six decades is "the best illustration of China's internationalism and responsibilities as a major country," he added. Liu Wei, an obstetrician and gynecologist of the Chinese medical team to Sudan, examines a newborn at Abu Osher Hospital in central Sudan's Gezira State on Feb. 22, 2023. (Chinese medical team to Sudan/Handout via Xinhua) Noureddine Djoudi, 89, a former Algerian diplomat, hailed the 60-year Chinese medical aid mission in Algeria as "a model of South-South cooperation." The Chinese doctors "are the most welcome guests in the African continent," he told Xinhua. Chinese doctors cured one of his hands which suddenly lost feeling. He called it the "amazing effect" of TCM. In Namibia, TCM has been introduced into the health insurance system through unremitting efforts by Wang Peng, a member of the Chinese medical team in Namibia during 2014-2016. "It's a step warmly welcomed by many local patients who benefit from TCM for its curative effects," said Ben Nangombe, executive director of Namibia's Ministry of Health and Social Services. Pierre Somse, minister of public health and population in the Central African Republic, said the Chinese medical teams not only treat patients and save lives but also have touched the local people with their medical ethics and great love. "The Chinese medical team has been deeply integrated into the daily life of the people of Zanzibar," said Nassor Ahmed Mazrui, Tanzania's Zanzibari minister for health, praising the Chinese doctors as "true angels in white." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Kara Casten, wife of U.S. Rep. Sean Casten, formed a slate with two other Downers Grove residents, Ken Dawson, left, and Don Renner, to run for the District 99 school board. A slate of conservative candidates was defeated by the group, according to unofficial results. (James C. Svehla/for the Chicago Tribune) Voters across the Chicago suburbs and around the state turned back attempts to pull local school boards to the right in Tuesdays elections, though conservative candidates had pockets of success, winning enough seats to take control in some districts. Typically low-cost, low-interest school board races have become national political proxy fights following the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Chicago suburbs have become a key battleground. Advertisement Efforts by conservative groups pushing national Republican talking points about parental rights, gender ideology and critical race theory were met in Illinois with an unprecedented pushback from the state Democratic Party, which pledged nearly $300,000 to oppose candidates it labeled extremists. Teachers unions also took a more active role in campaigning this spring. [ Conservatives are targeting suburban school boards. And the elections are becoming political battlegrounds. ] While mail-in ballots are still arriving and being counted, Democrats and teachers unions this week were declaring victory, with the state party boasting a 72% success rate and the Illinois Education Association, the states largest teachers union, touting that nearly 90% of its recommended candidates won. Advertisement From Oswego to Barrington to Downers Grove to Lyons Township and beyond, organized slates of conservative candidates backed by right-wing groups such as Awake Illinois, Moms for Liberty and the national 1776 Project Political Action Committee saw defeat, according to unofficial election results. At the same time, conservatives appeared poised to take control of school boards in places such as northwest suburban Huntley and in tiny Fairview School District 72 in Skokie. Fortunately, the voters saw through the hidden extremists who were running for school board across the suburbs, Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday during an unrelated news conference at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I mean, really, the extremists got trounced yesterday. One of the most heated campaigns was in far west suburban Oswego, where all four members of a right-wing slate of board candidates lost, unofficial results showed. Instead, voters selected a slate called For the Kids that included two incumbents and two newcomers. The conservative We the Parents slate was backed by Awake Illinois and the New York-based 1776 Project PAC, both of which have financial ties to ultraconservative megadonor Richard Uihlein of the Uline office supplies company. [ Out-of-state PAC backing conservative school board candidates belatedly files spending report ] The We the Parents slate vowed to rid schools of what it deemed pornographic materials and sought to inject religious values into their decision making over the seventh-largest school district in Illinois. We are so grateful for all of you and we are energized and committed to serve the students, parents and community members, the For the Kids slate said in an election night Facebook post, thanking supporters. This is your victory as much as it is ours. Advertisement Results were similar in northwest suburban Barrington, where a three-person slate backed by Awake Illinois, the 1776 Project and Florida-based Moms for Liberty, as well as a local political action committee funded by former GOP governor candidate Gary Rabine and others, was routed. Voters instead returned two incumbents who previously voted against removing books on LGBTQ subjects from school libraries to the board, along with one newcomer. In west suburban Downers Grove one of the first places in Illinois to see a controversy over the presence on school library shelves of the graphic novel and memoir Gender Queer, whose removal has become a rallying point for the political right a slate of conservative candidates was defeated by a group that included Kara Casten, an insurance executive and wife of Democratic U.S. Rep. Sean Casten, according to unofficial results. Awake Illinois also last year criticized a drag-queen bingo program at the Downers Grove Public Library, ultimately leading to anonymous threats and the shows cancellation. We know how engaged this community is and some of the things going on did not represent the broader community, Kara Casten said in an interview Thursday. The election showed that those things dont represent our community they want inclusion, they want diversity, they want teachers respected and supported. Casten, who ran with former board member Don Renner and newcomer Ken Dawson, noted her decision to run was inspired in part by the legacy of her daughter Gwen, who died last June from what the DuPage County coroner called a sudden cardiac arrhythmia, just two weeks after graduating from Downers Grove North High School. Part of it too for me was my daughter was a real advocate in high school for marginalized groups and people that struggled with speaking up for themselves, Casten said. Advertisement The losing slate Christopher Todd Erickson, Barbara Allen and Dana Cox was backed by Awake and conservative talk radio station WIND-AM 560, home to right-wing host and political consultant Dan Proft of Naples, Florida. Profts Uihlein-funded political action committee, People Who Play By the Rules, which supported failed GOP governor candidate Darren Bailey in November, suffered a defeat in the one school board election where it got directly involved. The PAC last month reported spending more than $3,700 on mailers supporting three candidates for the board of Lyons Township High School District 204, which serves nearly 4,000 students from La Grange, Western Springs and surrounding towns in suburban Cook County. Those candidates David Herndon, Timothy Vlcek and Frank Evans lost to Timothy Albores, Jill Beda Daniels and Kari Dillon, according to unofficial results. The latter group was backed by a newly formed political action committee called Support Our Schools, which has ties to Democratic lawyer and lobbyist Heather Wier Vaught, who in the past has represented indicted former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Not all results were so decisive, with a mix of candidates winning in some districts and conservatives winning out in others. In west suburban Wheaton, unofficial results showed voters largely rejected three of four members of a slate backed by Awake Illinois and Jeanne Ives, a conservative former state representative. Advertisement But as of Thursday, slate member Amanda Amy Erkenswick, who attended an Awake Illinois candidate training and has been a repeat guest on WIND talk shows, held a narrow three-vote lead over Erik Hjerpe, who was among a group of candidates endorsed by the local teachers union, for the third of three available four-year seats on the board of Community Unit School District 200. Once all the ballots are counted, I hope we can focus on the real issues in our district, said Julie Kulovits, who was also backed by the teachers union. In the south suburbs, two of three members of the conservative We the Parents Illinois slate, whose goals included protecting the classroom from woke and political ideology, appeared poised to claim seats on the board of Lockport Township High School District 205, according to unofficial results. I look forward to working with the school board to provide students ample opportunity for their journeys, Sandra Chimon Rogers, who along with slate mate Martin Boersma and incumbent Veronica Tylka-Shaw appeared to top the eight-person field, told the Daily Southtown on Tuesday. In McHenry County, conservative candidates Laura Murray, Andrew Bittman, Gina Galliger and Michael Thompson, who were endorsed by Awake Illinois and WIND, will now represent a conservative majority on the board in Huntley Community School District 158, according to unofficial results. Its fair to say that over the years, weve seen a slow degradation in the quality of education coming out of District 158, Thompson said Thursday, citing lower standardized tests scores and a lack of responsiveness from the current board. Advertisement While Awake Illinois initially listed the Huntley group among the more than 100 candidates it endorsed late last week, Thompson said he and his fellow candidates asked the polarizing Naperville-based organization to take them off the list because they didnt want to split the community. I think any time a candidates platform aligns with another organization, theyre going to get the thumbs-up from them, and Awake Illinois is a group that agrees with a lot of the things that we stood for, he said. The group also was backed by a newly formed PAC called McHenry County Citizens for Lower Taxes, which was funded with $15,000 from the campaign fund of unsuccessful GOP congressional candidate Catalina Lauf of Woodstock. But Thompson said it was hard work, not financial backing, that won the race. Our success was a result of several years of attending and speaking up at board meetings and meeting with other taxpayers in our district, he said. William Geheren, whos been on the board of the nine-school district for 12 years and lost his reelection bid, said hes extremely concerned about the future of the district. Advertisement I have no idea what their game plan is other than they want to come in and push their political agenda, which this job is not supposed to be about, Geheren said. Advertisement Chicago Tribunes Rick Pearson and Jeremy Gorner contributed. dpetrella@chicagotribune.com zsyed@chicagotribune.com President Joe Biden called out Tennessee Republicans move to punish and silence Democratic lawmakers Thursday after the states GOP-led House expelled two Democrats for participating in a gun-control protest. Todays expulsion of lawmakers who engaged in peaceful protest is shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent, Biden said in his statement. Rather than debating the merits of the issue, these Republican lawmakers have chosen to punish, silence, and expel duly-elected representatives of the people of Tennessee. Democratic state Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson were expelled Thursday, while state Rep. Gloria Johnson managed to hold on to her seat. Jones and Pearson are both Black. Johnson is white. The three lawmakers joined protesters on the House floor March 30 in calling for stronger gun control following the Nashville school shooting that killed six people, including three children. Biden said a majority of Americans want lawmakers to act on commonsense gun safety reforms. A recent Gallup poll shows Americans are increasingly dissatisfied with lax gun laws. But instead, weve continued to see Republican officials across America double down on dangerous bills that make our schools, places of worship, and communities less safe, Biden said. Our kids continue to pay the price. Three kids and three officials gunned down in yet another mass shooting. And what are GOP officials focused on? Punishing lawmakers who joined thousands of peaceful protesters calling for action. It's shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent. https://t.co/NB9gSdFI9h President Biden (@POTUS) April 6, 2023 Biden has been calling for a federal assault weapon ban. He helped pass a ban on assault weapons in 1994 as a senator, but that law expired in 2004 and wasnt renewed by Congress. Story continues Over 11,100 people have died as a result of gun violence this year, and there have been 141 mass shootings, according to data from Gun Violence Archive. Related... (Bloomberg) -- The White House acknowledged that the tumultuous Afghanistan withdrawal underscored the need to better plan and more quickly implement evacuations from conflict zones in an after-action report, even as aides sought to put much of the blame on Donald Trump. Most Read from Bloomberg The US must plan early and extensively for low-probability, high-risk scenarios and has already shifted strategies in other conflicts including Russias invasion of Ukraine, the White House said Thursday. As part of the review, the administration released a 12-page document and is sharing classified assessments from the Defense and State Departments with Congress. But the document drew swift denunciation from Republicans, who said it largely amounted to an effort to shift blame. White House spokesman John Kirby said the effort was not intended as an accountability exercise though the document did argue that President Joe Bidens efforts to withdraw were hampered by Trumps decision to draw down troop levels, release Taliban prisoners, and reduce State Department staffing. Former President Trump, whose administration struck the deal with the Taliban for US troops to depart, responded sharply, saying his successor Joe Biden was shifting blame, as did the Republican chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. Calling the new report a spineless piece of fiction, Representative Mike Rogers of Alabama said it predictably blames the Trump administration and disgracefully blames senior military advisors and the Intelligence Community for President Bidens decisions. The White House account does acknowledge that Bidens senior aides advised against speeding the 2021 withdrawal even as the Taliban made gains through the Afghan countryside. As US troops pulled out, Taliban fighters quickly overwhelmed Afghan forces and prompted a chaotic exit. A terrorist attack at the Kabul airport resulted in the deaths of 13 US troops and 170 Afghans, and some American citizens werent evacuated for weeks. Story continues The administration now prioritizes more quickly initiating evacuation efforts a strategy already seen ahead of Russias invasion of Ukraine, the report said. And the White House said in the future, contingency planners need to make sure to assess psychological factors including local troops willingness to fight and incorporate creative analytic exercises. We are now deliberate and clear about the support the US government is able to provide to Americans abroad in challenging country conditions, as well as the limits of that support, the document said. --With assistance from Erik Wasson. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. President Biden will get some measure of respite from domestic political strife when he visits his ancestral home of Ireland next week. Biden is first traveling to Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, on Tuesday and Wednesday. His visit will mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, the peace accord that largely ended three decades of violence. The president will later travel south of the border, visiting Dublin and two Irish counties, Louth and Mayo, to which he has family ties. He is expected to become the fourth American president to address the Irish parliament on Thursday, following in the footsteps of Presidents Kennedy, Reagan and Clinton. Bidens trip is not without some measure of controversy because it comes amid news that he will not attend the coronation of Britains King Charles III. The coronation is set for May 6 in London. The White House is adamant no snub is intended despite Bidens often-stated pride in his Irish identity and the troubled history between the two nations. First lady Jill Biden will attend the British monarchs coronation. President Eisenhower, who was the sitting president at the time of the last such ceremony, in 1953, did not attend. Bidens visit comes at a time when his poll ratings at home are mediocre. He is also grappling with a Republican majority that took control of the House in January, bringing increased scrutiny to Biden, his administration and his family. A CNN/SSRS poll released Thursday showed Bidens job performance winning the approval of just 42 percent of American respondents, while 57 percent disapproved. Only 32 percent said Biden deserves reelection to a second term 5 points lower than an equivalent poll from December. Biden can take some solace from his Irish trip, however and not only for personal reasons. The United States can claim real credit for its contribution to the Irish peace process. The process, though flawed, is still one of the more successful conflict-resolution efforts of recent decades. Story continues The peace agreement was signed during Clintons time in office, and the 42nd president was deeply involved in bringing pro-British unionists and Irish nationalists together. The talks leading up to the agreement were chaired by former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell (D-Maine). The central element of the peace deal was the setting up of a devolved parliament and executive in Belfast. Right now, those bodies are not sitting because of unionist concerns over Brexit. Bidens visit will likely include some urging of the biggest party on the pro-British side of the divide, the Democratic Unionist Party, to re-enter those institutions. Whether that particular effort is successful or not, the trip is likely to put some much-needed spring in Bidens political step. Watch The Hills Niall Stanage give a brief history of Irish politics and American involvement in the peace process in the video above. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A Black couple living in Dallas say their 2-week-old daughter was taken from them because they decided to have a home birth with a midwife. Two weeks ago, Temecia Jackson gave birth to her daughter, Mila, at home with the assistance of a licensed and certified professional midwife. "It was a beautiful birth," Temecia Jackson said at a press conference on Thursday, April 6. "She was perfect: 6 pounds, 9 ounces." Shortly after, the couple says their baby developed jaundice, a common liver condition in newborns that often resolves itself without treatment. Temecia and her husband, Rodney Jackson, said they were following their midwife's care protocol for their baby's jaundice, which was to care for her at home rather than admit her to the hospital. After a routine doctor's visit, the couple alleges their child's pediatrician called Dallas Child Protective Services (CPS) because the parents were going to continue to follow their midwife's guidance. Days later, Desoto police officers and CPS agents arrived at the couple's home, demanding they turn their daughter over to authorities. Temecia Jackson says the officers arrested her husband, took his keys, used them to enter their residence and took Mila from her mother's arms. "When they came in and took her from me, I requested that I needed to see the paperwork. They insisted, 'No, give her first, give her first,'" Temecia Jackson said at the press conference. "So they took her from my arms and they gave me paperwork. When they left, I looked at the paperwork and the paperwork had another mother's name on it." Temecia Jackson says her husband was not initially listed on the warrant. Later, she says the document was updated to list Rodney Jackson as the alleged father." Instantly, I felt like they had stolen my baby as I had a home birth and they are trying to say that my baby belonged to this other woman, the mom continued, holding back tears. I did not know where to turn. They had taken my husband from me and then took my daughter from me and I was left by myself. Story continues A spokesperson for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services told TODAY.com that "CPS cases in Texas are confidential, therefore I am not able to discuss any details of the case." TODAY.com reached out to Desoto Police Department for comment, but did not hear back at the time of publication. Mila remains in Dallas CPS custody and under the care of a foster family. The couple's hearing with the Dallas County's juvenile board was originally scheduled for April 6. That morning, the couple says the hearing was abruptly postponed until April 20. TODAY.com reached out to the Dallas County's Juvenile Department for comment, but did not hear back at the time of publication. The Jacksons say they have been allowed only a few supervised visits with their daughter, which they say have taken place at CPS offices and in the presence of police officers. During the press conference, the couple said they "feel like criminals" during their visits, and claim their attempts to deliver breast milk to their newborn daughter have been denied. The child still does not have a birth certificate because she was not born in a hospital. For me, as a father this is my only daughter. I cant be a girl dad right now," Rodney Jackson said. "I feel like I have ... my protection role has been stripped away from me. The couple's midwife, Cheryl Edinbyrd was also present at Thursday's press conference, and said Mila "was being nurtured." "This child was being supported. And this child was being loved. And this child was kidnapped, Edinbyrd said. Mila needs to be returned home. According to one 2016 academic study, 53% of Black children experience child welfare investigations before their 18th birthday, compared to 28% of white children. Once in custody, research shows Black children are less likely than white children to be placed with a family member or ever returned to their families. The couple and their midwife believe the child was taken from her parents because they had followed the advice and were cared for by a midwife. From 2019 to 2020, more people of color chose to give birth outside a hospital setting, according to a 2022 report released by the National Partnership for Women and Families (NPWF), a nonpartisan and nonprofit advocacy organization that works on public policies and education about women and families. The increase was greatest among Black parents (30%), followed by Indigenous (26%) and Latinx (24%) parents likely a response to "the higher risk of maternal mortality and morbidity they face and the impact of discrimination and structural racism in hospitals that result in lower-quality care," the report said. Black people are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Texas, at least 118 women died and nearly 200 children were left without a mother in 2019, according the state's 2022 Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee's biennial report. Discrimination contributed to 12% of pregnancy-related deaths in 2019, according to the same report. During the press conference, Marsha Jones, executive director of The Afiya Center, a Dallas-based organization that supported the couple's midwife, said "absolutely nothing happened last week for these parents to be sitting here today." "What did happen was misogyny. What did happen is white patriarchy. The intentional denial of Dr. Cheryl's ability to birth that happened," Jones said. "The same thing that happened last week happened after Reconstruction with Black granny midwives that happened. The removal of Black people's ability to take care of Black people that happened." Related Video: This article was originally published on TODAY.com Black farmers in small, rural areas of Tennessee are fighting to preserve their land after the state plans to use a fraction of their properties to build a new Ford Motor Company, a $5.6 billion electric truck plant predicted to create economic growth in nearby communities. According to Tennessee Lookout, a listing for 70 acres of vacant land near Fords new BlueOval City Campus in Brownsville town square is listed on the market for a whopping $14.5 million, which increased in value by more than $10,000 per acre than the initial asking prices years ago. With several businesses expected to break ground in the area, one farmer shared his excitement for the new development while voicing his concerns about potentially losing part of his land to the state. Marvin Sanderlin, a longtime farmer with 400 acres, said the state had taken him to court for 10 acres of his property. A portion of his land is located on a pathway connecting the Ford plant to the interstate. Sanderlin said he was offered a deal at $37,500 or $3,750 per acre, which he says is a ripoff. Thats unheard of, Sanderlin told the outlet, adding that the offer includes full ownership of two acres and compensation for another eight acres that will no longer be accessible after the deal is finalized. You cant buy no land here for $3,500 an acre. You cant buy a swamp here for $3,500 Sanderlin said. I told them this is the biggest ripoff there is. They want your land, but they dont want you to participate in the wealth. Sanderlin and several other Black farmers have joined the fight to conserve their property. Many residents live in predominately rural African American areas and had land obtained by the Tennessee Department of Transportation, which had been in their families for generations. Black farmers with properties in Tipton, Haywood and Fayette Counties are at risk of losing their land, including Sanderlins location in Haywood County. He and other families affected by the new route have called on local NAACP leaders for help. Story continues Nichole Lawrence, a spokesperson for the Tennessee Department of Transportation, said the agency had taken possession of 15 of the 35 tracts to construct a series of road connections from the new Ford plant to Exit 39 off I-40. However, the remaining 20 tracts would be negotiated with the land owners. The state issued a slew of lawsuits regarding ownership of the Black farmers property. According to court documents, Hayward County has several pending lawsuits against Black families with acres of land. Its not the first time weve had to fight, Sanderlin, 72, said. He said his great-great-grandmother, an enslaved woman, fought tirelessly for her children to own a portion of their slave-owning fathers estate. Sanderlin also opened up about how his parents, then-sharecroppers in New Hope, Tennessee, struggled to maintain ownership of the property after a local white undertaker tried to repossess the land after paying off a loan they borrowed from him. Since then, the 72-year-old has maintained the 400 acres of land and his timber business. He also spoke out about discrimination against Black farmers when applying for federal farm land programs. Theyre giving a $6 billion company access, but they arent worried about this one little farmer, he said. Were giving up land, but were going to get less out of this deal than anybody, and were impacted the most. Sanderlin also worries about his future since he had plans to use the remaining eight acres of land to invest in timber to secure his retirement fund. Farmers markets are the pillar of food sustainability in any community. Access to fresh fruits, vegetables and healthy food options has not always been available for Black people. With the decline of Black farmers and Black-owned farmland, we also saw the decline in having these food sources within our community. We were also rarely welcomed into other communities to patronize their markets. Historically, Black and brown people have lived in USDA-certified food deserts. These deserts indicate neighborhoods where residents live more than one mile from grocery stores or access to fresh fruits/vegetables. However, times are changing and environmental justice is a hot topic. With the increase of Black land ownership, community restoration, and health/nutritional education, we have seen an emergence of the Black-owned farmers market and fresh food sources. And, of course, we have to do it better. These farmers markets add a dose of culture that cant be found elsewhere. Aside from fruits and vegetables, vendors usually sell a variety of food, natural skincare and other items. And there is always great music! Markets can be seasonable or year-round, depending on what they offer. Supporting these establishments is a surefire way to see any growth of Black farmers or Black-owned farmland. Shopping with local vendors and business owners is also a way to ensure the continuous circulation of the Black dollar. Black-owned or Black-managed farmers markets can be found nationwide and are usually unique to their area. Here are some that may be your way to check out. The Black Farmers Market - Durham, NC Castleberry Farmers Market - Atlanta, GA Farms To Grow Inc - Oakland, CA SoLA Food Co-Op - Los Angeles, CA Your Neighborhood Market - Houston, TX Truly Living Well - Atlanta, GA Farmer Jawn Greenery - Philadelphia, PA Just Produce Farmers Market - O'Fallon, IL Cultivate The City - Silver Springs, MD Villa Verde Farmers Market- Homestead, FL Black Tennessee state lawmakers on Friday rebuked Republican members of the state's House of Representatives for voting to expel two Black legislators over their protests last week following a mass school shooting in Nashville. Members of the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators said the GOP effort to remove two of their own from their seats Justin Jones and Justin Pearson was rooted in racism. "The world saw the optics," the caucus chairman, Rep. Sam McKenzie, a Democrat from Knoxville, told reporters Friday at a news conference in Nashville. "I don't have to say a word about the fact that our two young African American brothers were unfairly prosecuted." McKenzie added, "To me, it's a horrific indictment on the Tennessee GOP, and they ought to be ashamed of themselves." He predicted Jones and Pearson would be sent back to the state House by their constituents in upcoming special elections to be set by Republican Gov. Bill Lee. Image: Democratic state Reps. Justin Pearson, center, of Memphis and Justin Jones, right, of Nashville attend the vote in which they were expelled from the state Legislature on April 6, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn. (Seth Herald / Getty Images) McKenzie and caucus members said this wasn't the first time their Republican counterparts have targeted the Black community. "This wasn't about one event," he said, pointing to the GOP's effort to defund the state's only historically Black college, Tennessee State University, and one lawmaker's proposal to bring back lynching. "Welcome to Tennessee, where theres a pattern of racism that has permeated these halls," added Rep. Vincent Dixie, a Democrat from Nashville. Their remarks came after state legislators voted Thursday to expel Jones and Pearson while another vote to remove Democratic Rep. Gloria Johnson, who is white, failed. The resolutions accused each of the Democratic legislators of engaging in disorderly behavior and purposely bringing disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives during protests against gun violence on the House floor last week, following the shooting that left three children and three adults dead at The Covenant School in Nashville. Story continues State Sen. Charlane Oliver, a Democrat from Nashville, said the current legislative session has been "rough" for Jones. Former Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, and former Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, raises their hands outside the House chamber after Jones and Pearson were expelled from the legislature Thursday, April 6, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (George Walker IV / AP) "A lot of political bullying has been going on behind the scenes," she said. "This idea that he and Representative Justin Pearson must apologize is a mindset set in white supremacy, a mindset set in that we as Black folk are not on par or not peers to them, and we must be inferior and subservient to their demands." Senate Minority Leader Raumesh Akbari, a Democrat from Memphis, urged her colleagues Friday to allow Jones and Pearson to be reappointed. "This is not our house. This is the people's house," she said. "We are elected by the people to do the people's will. And when you stop people who have been elected by the people from doing their will, that is when democracy dies." This article was originally published on NBCNews.com BAGHDAD (AP) An explosion struck next to the Suleimaniyah International Airport in northern Iraqs semi-autonomous Kurdish region Friday, local officials said. The blast came days after Turkey closed its airspace to flights to and from the airport, citing an alleged increase in Kurdish militant activity threatening flight safety. Turkey has spent years fighting Kurdish militants in its east. Large Kurdish communities also live in neighboring Iraq and Syria where they have a degree of self-rule. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based opposition war monitor, and some local media reported that the explosion was a Turkish drone attack on Mazloum Abdi, the leader of the Syrian Democratic Forces, the main U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led force in Syria. Officials with the SDF and the Kurdish regional government in northeast Syria denied that Abdi was in Suleimaniyah at the time or had been the target of an attack. Fethullah al-Husseini, a representative of the Kurdish self-rule administration in northeast Syria, said Abdi was carrying on his work and is in northeast Syria. The airports security directorate said in a statement that an explosion took place near the fence surrounding the airport at 4:18 p.m. local time, causing a fire but no injuries. It said the cause of the blast was under investigation and the airport was operating normally. Lawk Ghafuri, head of foreign media affairs for the Kurdish regional government in Iraq, said investigations were still underway and that he was unable to confirm whether the explosion had been a drone attack. However, a statement from the Iraqi Kurdish regional government appeared to blame local authorities in Suleimaniyah, which it accused of provoking an attack on the airport and using government institutions for "illegal activities. The regional government, with its seat in Irbil, is primarily controlled by the Kurdish Democratic Party, while Suleimaniyah is a stronghold of the rival Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. Story continues Qubad Talabani, deputy prime minister of the regional government and a member of the PUK, rejected the regional government statement that appeared to cast blame on his party. He said the statement represents only one party ... and cannot speak for the entire government. Two Kurdish officials in Irbil, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the incident with reporters, said that the explosion was caused by a drone attack. One of them said the attack had targeted Abdi. A representative of the Turkish defense ministry said he had no information about the incident. Turkey's foreign ministry announced Wednesday that Turkish airspace was closed to flights taking off from and landing at the Suleimaniyah airport. Turkish officials said the closure was a response to an alleged increase in the activities of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, in the city of Suleimaniyah, including its infiltration of the airport. The decision came weeks after two helicopters crashed in northern Iraq, killing Kurdish militants who were on board. The incident fueled claims that the PKK was in possession of helicopters, infuriating Turkish authorities. The SDF later said it lost nine fighters, including a commander, in the crash, which occurred during bad weather on a flight to Suleimaniyah. The nine included elite fighters who were in Iraq as part of an exchange of expertise in the fight against the Islamic State group, the SDF said. Officials from the Kurdish Democratic Party, which has maintained largely good relations with Turkey, alleged after the crash that the helicopters had been originally purchased by the rival Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and that they had been flying without permission from the regional government. The Kurdish regional government was forced last month to stop exporting nearly half a million barrels of oil through via a pipeline to Turkey. That followed a decision by the International Chamber of Commerce siding with the central Iraqi government in Baghdad in a long-standing dispute over the independent export of oil by the Kurdish region. Last week Baghdad and Irbil reached a deal to resume the oil exports. ___ Associated Press writers Hogir Abdo in Qamishli, Syria, Suzan Fraser in Istanbul and Abby Sewell in Beirut contributed to this report. Abdul-Zahra reported from Boston. Antony Blinken "Ukraine is a democracy. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is responsible for leading the country," he said. At the same time, Zelenskyy "must be open to the will of Ukrainians." Blinken emphasized that the United States, along with many other countries, has pledged to support Ukraine and defend its territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence. "This includes a counteroffensive that will likely begin in the coming weeks," he said. Read also: No territorial concessions on Crimea to be made, Zelenskyys advisor says Ukraine is ready to start negotiations on Crimea when the Ukrainian Armed Forces approach the administrative border of the peninsula, but Kyiv does not rule out "the way of liberation by the Ukrainian army," Deputy Head of the Presidents Office Andriy Sybiha told the Financial Times. Zelenskyys spokesperson, Sergii Nykyforov, cautioned that it is the Presidents words themselves that matter. Zelenskyy reiterated on Feb. 24 that negotiations with Moscow are possible only after Russian occupation forces leave Ukrainian territory and stop bombing and killing Ukrainians. In response to Russias attempted annexation of seized Ukrainian lands, Zelenskyy enacted on Sept. 30 the National Security and Defense Council's decision that it is impossible to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to a poll conducted by the Razumkov Center think tank in February-March 2023, 72% of Ukrainians do not consider negotiations with Russia to be an effective way to achieve peace. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Law enforcement officers have served a priest of the Russian Orthodox Church with a notice of suspicion of war propaganda and glorification of the Russian army; the procedure was conducted in absentia. Source: Security Service of Ukraine; Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office Details: According to the SSU, the suspect, Archpriest Andrii Tkachov of the Russian Orthodox Church, is a graduate of the Faculty of Special Propaganda of the Military Institute of the USSR Ministry of Defence in Moscow Tkachov is a native of the city of Lviv. He had served in this city's Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) Cathedral. He has lived in Kyiv since 2005, and in 2013, he was appointed head of the missionary department of the Kyiv diocese of the UOC-MP and started working as a presenter on the Kyivska Rus TV channel. Then, he actively started spreading pro-Kremlin narratives through the media, where he questioned the very existence of Ukrainian statehood. The priest fled to Moscow in 2014 and publicly supported the Russian occupiers in the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022. For that purpose, he created his channels on the Telegram messenger and YouTube video hosting service, gathering almost 1.3 million followers. There, he published his 'sermons', urging the invaders to kill civilians in Ukraine. The man expressed gratitude to the Russian military for doing their "dirty bloody work" in Ukraine. A Moscow cleric has been documented to have suggested that Russian troops put religious inscriptions on Russian projectiles used by the aggressor to launch missile attacks on Ukrainian cities. In addition, Tkachov is a frequent "guest" on air of Kremlin-aligned TV channels, where he actively justifies the Kremlin's war crimes. Law enforcement officers point out that the forensic examination fully confirmed the facts of the suspect's criminal activity. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Speak Out is a reader-generated column of opinions. If you theres something youd like to comment on, send an email to ksorensen@tribpub.com. Please include speak out in the subject line. Trumps special treatment: Supposedly no one is above the law but Donald Trumps arraignment on Tuesday did not include handcuffs or a mugshot. It seems that a former president, whether disgraced or not, resides in a country that is far different than that of the average citizen. Advertisement New York response: After comparing Donald Trump to Nelson Mandela and Jesus Christ, Marjorie Taylor Greene was booed off the stage in New York City. Apparently, the citizens of Gotham are quicker than most at recognizing an eccentric after all those years of dealing with Rudy Giuliani. Inappropriate response: President Biden, while getting ready to speak after the mass shooting down in Nashville, starts talking about ice cream, making jokes, laughing, giggling. Hes got no clue as to how to act as a person let alone a president. Glad I didnt vote for him but you people out there that did, hes on you. Advertisement Indictment equals victory? A big thank you to Alvin Bragg for indicting Donald Trump. You have just guaranteed that he will be elected president in the 2024 election. The Beacon-News Twice-weekly News updates from the Aurora area delivered every Monday and Wednesday By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > Act of kindness: Id like to say thank you to the lovely lady I talked with recently at my sons doctors office. She noticed my adult special needs son had a stuffed bird. She asked if he liked animals. I replied he has many stuffed animals and loves all animals! She went home and picked up a large stuffed dog to give it to my son, but we had already left. She left the dog with the office staff and they notified us. Thank you so much for your kindness! You made Paul so happy and his smile was huge when he saw the dog. Mistake made: Putting Marjorie Taylor Greene on 60 Minutes was a gargantuan mistake by the shows producers. While trying to appear unbiased in their news reporting, all they succeeded in doing was legitimizing the crackpot musings of the Moonbeam Princess. Manipulating followers: One of the biggest resentments I have of Trump is his careless instructions to provoke his followers to violence when he has been put under a magnifying glass. Not accepting that this man has faults and then letting yourself be manipulated as an accomplice has to make you look pretty dumb. Agenda-driven: Keep a few things in mind about the latest climate hysteria report. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was formed with an agenda to reach a specific conclusion. They are a biased group of politicians, activists and scientists who are financially motivated to prove climate change exists and is a threat. They discredit anyone who does not agree with their climate hypothesis. Scientific climate studies are often very flawed. We have seen a record number of climate predictions and none have proved true. Evangelizing president: Donald Trump surely missed his true calling by not becoming a TV evangelist, though his own beliefs hardly rise to the level of Jim Bakker or Jimmy Swaggart. His uncanny ability to raise money will go a long way in paying off his mounting legal fees even if it doesnt buy him eternal salvation. Gun ban pointless: People keep pushing a ban on assault weapons. Will that really keep criminals and the mentally ill from hurting people? Didnt a man deliberately drive his car into a parade? Should we ban vehicles? What else? Unbridled spending: Since President Biden has taken office, he and his administration are spending money like a bunch of drunken sailors. Hes given Ukraine how many millions, then Janet Yellen goes and gives Ukraine how many more millions. Now Vice President Kamala Harris is in Africa giving them a hundred million for what, she should be taking care of our borders. Whos going to pay for all this money theyre giving away? I know who, our grandchildrens grandchildrens grandchildren. Use that money for the USA. "Bring back metal music to India." That's what Bloodywood, a four-member band based in India's capital Delhi, wanted to do when they first began making music in 2016. Bloodywood began their journey as a "parody band", uploading metal covers of popular Hindi songs on YouTube. Six years on, they have toured about 90 countries, played in some of the most iconic venues - including Wacken Open Air - and have become the first Indian metal act to feature on Billboard charts. The band's music is strictly headbanging - but it's their ability to introduce folksy sounds and textures into the classic chug of heavy metal that sets them apart. A gorgeous flute crescendo pulls you in a trance before an unexpected blast of dhol (a percussion instrument), followed by a gnarly riff, shatters you out of it. Rolling Stone magazine describes their concerts as "an aural assault", and fans call it a "violent sensory overload". Click here to watch the full film on the band. The band has also made waves in India, where it headlined several big music festivals this year, including Lollapalooza, and Nh-7 Weekender. Their popularity has sparked hopes of reviving metal in a country where the genre still features on very few playlists. "We played on some of the biggest stages in the world but home hits different - it's where we want to grow," says Raoul Kerr, the band's vocalist. While metal music has a strong global community, the genre hasn't completely taken off in India India's metal scene dates back to the 1980s when heavy metal bands like Millennium broke on the scene. While rock jazz quickly found new listeners, metal continued to be seen as an "underground movement", existing on the fringes of the mainstream. Listeners were few, record labels were hard to come by and touring mostly meant performing in college festivals. But despite the limitations, listeners say it was always a vibrant community. The hole-in-the-wall venues were bursting with energy. The audience, although categorised as niche, were a loyal bunch. The concerts were attended mostly by students who - sporting their goat-like beards, devil-horn gestures and black metal t-shirts - headbanged through the night. Story continues "You had to be there to exactly understand how the scene rocked back in the day," says Sahil Makhija from Demonic Resurrection, a heavy metal band founded in 2000 and often credited with popularising metal in the country. Much has changed since. Bands were disbanded as lack of venues, income and audiences pushed them to obscurity. Over the years, a lot of metalheads from Makhija's generation also got other jobs and "ended up living completely different" lives. "Suddenly, our favourite black metal shirt was relegated to a corner of the wardrobe," he says. A resurgence of sorts happened in the late 2000s when internet and social media opened a whole new world of opportunities. In 2011, when American metal band Metallica performed in Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore) city, over 50,000 metalheads from all over the country attended the concert and spotlighted the genre's presence like never before. More than a decade on, metal's integration into the cultural mainstream seems somewhat complete. International legends, including Megadeth and Karnivool, tour the country. And Indian acts like Bloodywood now play for an audience that includes a fresh crop of young, first-time listeners. "At every concert, we see new faces. Sometimes, people show up with their entire families," says band vocalist Jayant Bhadula. Makhija says the scene has benefitted a lot from India's burgeoning concert culture. "People associate metal with aggression, but the energy at a metal gig is infectious and just watching an act live can completely alter opinions." Bands like Bloodywood have also pushed their music to newer directions that have changed the way people perceive the genre. Metal has long moved away from the idea of being an "apolitical" counterculture of rebellious music. From war to corruption to government failures, bands like Black Sabbath and Nuclear Assault - to name a few - have tackled socio-political subjects through their songs for decades. However, the genre's casual reference to violence and controversial themes like Satanism or cannibalism continue to make listeners uncomfortable. Sporting beards, a map of tattoos and waist-length hair, folks at Bloodywood certainly give off that energy. But their music is more contemplative than violent. The demons in their songs aren't real. Instead, they are resounding metaphors reflective of the societal ills that plague our world. The band roars against sexism, religious violence and political corruption in anthems that guide you through both darkness and light. "I think there is a bit of metal in all of us. Our goal is to channel that angst for the right causes and make people want to do something about them," says Kerr. Bloodywood was started by Karan Katiyar in 2016 But while Bloodywood's success is a cause of celebration, many fans say the scene in India is still far from perfect. "Apart from Bloodywood, no other Indian metal band is still performing at a grand scale," says Deep Bhattacharya, a Delhi resident. Growing up in the capital in the late 2000s, Mr Bhattacharya has fond memories of attending metal gigs at homegrown cafes. But he says the consumption of metal dropped considerably, forcing some of the favourite acts on the scene - such as Scribe and Makhija's Demonic Resurrection - to stop making music. "The popularity for international artistes has grown, but Indian bands have reached a dead end. People just don't want to spend money to watch them." Mr Bhattacharya adds that Bloodywood was able to overcome this problem only because they managed to tap into a vast international audience, having first toured Europe in 2019. The band agrees with the assessment. "From the start, we knew we had to make it big globally before we would get a chance to do it in India. Metal here is a tight-knit passionate community, but there aren't a lot of us," Kerr says. Makhija says the seeming vacuum has something to do with the genre itself. Over the years, metal has metastasized into many subgenres that are constantly finding new takers and earning genuine praise. But it is still not the biggest selling genre anywhere in the world. "When you compare it to pop music, metal is still an underground subculture. The difference is even more stark in India where only a handful of urban listeners consume the genre," Makhija says. But that also does not mean the scene is over. "Metal is alive in India," Makhija says. "There are children doing what we did 20 years ago." Additional reporting by Bimal Thankachan Read more India stories from the BBC: Slain tech pioneer Bob Lee with his newborn child. He described himself as a stay-at-home dad on his Crazy Bob blog (Bob Lee / CrazyBob.org) The outpouring of tributes, memories and anecdotes that have streamed over social media since tech pioneer Bob Lee was stabbed to death tell of a genius engineer, a serial innovator, a loving family man, and, as his nickname Crazy Bob would suggest, someone with a sense of humour. Friends told how Lee dropped out of St Louis University, Missouri, and through sheer brilliance at computer coding and a determination to improve the lives of others went on to develop digital tools such as Googles Android and the Cash App that are now used by tens of millions of people each day. He had a kaleidoscopic mind who moved seamlessly between different circles of friends, wrote Joshua Goldbard, the founder and chief executive of MobileCoin, where Lee had worked as chief product officer since 2021. Pick a topic and Bob would be right there with you telling you all of the ways he had thought about the idea already, Mr Goldbard said on Twitter. He had a way of seeing the world that was enchanting. He was a visionary in so many ways. Lee first got noticed in the tech world as a hacker and open source code developer as a teenager in St Louis, Missouri, in the 1990s, friends said. He participated in hackathons and was willing to play around and share his knowledge, one noted in a lengthy thread of tributes on Hacker News. Bob Lee at a tech conference in his mid-20s in 2006 (Bob Lee / Twitter) After college, he worked as a technical architect for AT&T in St Louis and became an expert in Java programming. Lee moved to San Francisco in his early 20s in 2004 to work at Google where he led a team that developed Android, an operating system for smartphones. In 2010, Lee was headhunted by Square, which was renamed Block in 2021, where he helped launch the Cash App, which is used by tens of millions to make digital money transfers. He became the firms first chief technology officer in 2011, a Linkedin profile shows. In 2013, Lee made the first ever payment on the Cash App when he sent $4 to Jack Dorsey, the Twitter founder and chairman of Block, who shared a screenshot of the transaction on social media. Story continues Mr Dorsey described Lees death as heartbreaking in a social media post, and wrote that he was instrumental to the companys growth and success. Lee also helped the World Health Organisation develop its mobile app during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a profile on MobileCoin. In dozens of posts on his Crazy Bob blog dating back to the mid 2000s, Lee displayed an intense curiosity about the world around him and was generous in sharing his discoveries. He was constantly innovating; writing a programme to help Twitter users find like-minded followers, sharing tips on the latest iPhone camera, and discussing complex coding issues. The nickname, Crazy Bob, was a reference to his days playing waterpolo at St Louis University, according to Mr Goldbard. Of course Bob knows Lars A common theme in the many online eulogies is Lees penchant for bringing diverse groups of friends together. On Hacker News, Lees friend Harper Reed recalled going to an invite-only Metallica show in Iowa in the 2010s. Cash App creator Bob Lee was a tech visionary who mentored many in Silicon Valley, friends said (MobileCoin) I told Bob about it and he introduced me to Lars, Mr Reed wrote. Lars being Lars Ulrich, the drummer and songwriter from Metallica. Lol. Of course Bob knows Lars and is just going to introduce me. After he had made his mark at Google and begun his work revolutionising peer-to-peer payments, he would still make time to mentor young talent, friends said. Everyone revered him, and yet, he was just a normal guy (lol nothing about bob was normal), Mr Reed wrote on Twitter. Lee was a prolific user of social media. On Twitter and Facebook, he showed a strong social conscience on issues such as police brutality, racial equity and Covid misinformation. Lee shared hundreds of photos of his life on a personal Flickr account. The snaps portray a global traveller who enjoyed to party hard with friends, and a doting father to his daughters Dagny and Scout, who would code late into the night with a newborn child on his lap. He and wife Krista reportedly separated in 2019. Bob Lee with his two daughters Dagna and Scout, pictured in 2016 (Bob Lee / Facebook) In a Facebook post, his father Rick Lee wrote that he had moved in with Bob when his mother Nannette died in 2019. Life has been an adventure with two bachelors living together, and Im so happy that we were able to become so close these last years, his father Rick Lee wrote in a Facebook post. Bob would give you the shirt off his back. He would never look down on anyone and adhered to a strict no-judgment philosophy. The father and son relocated to Miami last year, Rick wrote. In a separate tribute, his brother Tim Oliver Lee wrote on Facebook: I was so fortunate to grow up with him, and I feel like Ive lost part of myself. Lee was also an influential startup investor, ploughing money into nascent companies such as Clubhouse, SpaceX and and the female-focused social media and networking company Present. Bob Lee, known to his friends as Crazy Bob, was knifed to death in central San Francisco early on Tuesday morning (Twitter / Bob Lee) In 2021, he joined MobileCoin, a crypto payment firm, as its chief product officer, where he helped launch Moby a crypto and payment app. After the collapse of Sam Bankman-Frieds cryptocurrency giant FTX in late 2022, Lee explained that he had lost his personal deposits in the firm and was unlikely to get them back. This is why we made Moby to make holding your own money as easy as centralised solutions, he wrote on Twitter. Horrifying act of violence The 43-year-olds fatal stabbing in downtown San Francisco early on Tuesday morning has ignited a sense of fury among the tech community at police and city leaders. Tragically, friends say Lee left San Francisco due to increasing crime rates and had just returned for a business trip when he was attacked on Tuesday morning. Lees last tragic moments as he stumbled, normally wounded, down Main St in San Franciscos downtown district at 2.30am on Tuesday in search of help were captured on surveillance footage and viewed by journalists from The San Francisco Standard. The Independent has not corroborated the footage. Cameras reportedly captured Lee clutching one side of his body from where he is bleeding heavily and showed him approaching a white Toyota Camry parked on the side of the road with its lights flashing. He lifts his shirt to show the driver the extent of his injuries, but rather than help, the motorist speeds off. Lee could be heard pleading for help on a 911 call made at 2.34am, according to The Standard. The site where Cash App founder Bob Lee was discovered with fatal stab wounds in San Francisco on Tuesday (Associated Press) Police and first responders discovered Lee unconscious on the sidewalk outside the Portside apartment building at 403 Main St minutes later, police said in a statement. He was rushed to hospital where he died from his injuries, police said. No arrests have been made. In a tweet expressing his condolences for Lees death, Elon Musk wrote that many of his friends had been severely assaulted in San Francisco. Silicon Valley executives laid the blame for Lees death on Mayor London Breed, the citys former progressive District Attorney Chesa Boudin and Board of Supervisors. Congratulations, your policies have claimed another life, wrote Alan Alden, a Palo Alto financier who was friends with Lee. Venture capitalist Matt Ocko, another friend, wrote on Twitter that Chesa Boudin, & the criminal-loving city council that enabled him & a lawless SF for years, have Bobs literal blood on their hands. San Francisco police chief William Scott declined to say whether the stabbing was a random attack in his first public comments at a Police Commission meeting on Wednesday night, The San Francisco Standard reported. Bob Lee pictured at the New York Stock Exchange in 2015 on the day that Square, now known as Block, listed as a public company (Facebook / Bob Lee) At the same meeting San Francisco Police Commissioner Kevin Benedicto said it was premature and distasteful to try to fit this horrifying act of violence into a preconceived narrative and use it to advance a political agenda. Chief Scott later released a statement that the investigation was still in the early stages and extended his condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Mr Lee. There is no place for violent crime against anyone in our city, Mr Scott said. I want to assure everyone that our investigators are working tirelessly to make an arrest and bring justice to Mr Lee and his loved ones, just as we try to do on every homicide that occurs in our city. The Tenderloin district has a reputation for high drug use and crime Bob Lee was part of the tech establishment. The former chief technical officer of Square and founder of the $40bn payment app Cash App. In the early hours of Tuesday morning, he was killed in a stabbing, in a supposedly "safe" part of San Francisco. His death has sent a chill through the tech community. Twitter's former CEO, Jack Dorsey, called the killing heart-breaking. His friend and fellow tech founder Joshua Goldbard tweeted: "Bob was like a brother to me Bob's energy was infectious. He made friends everywhere he went." Elon Musk also added his thoughts on the killing. "Very sorry to hear that. Many people I know have been severely assaulted. Violent crime in SF is horrific." San Francisco has struggled with homelessness and drug deaths in recent years. In a city reliant on the tech sector, the pandemic hit its downtown more than any other in the US - it simply hasn't been able to bounce back. I often hear downtown being described as "dead" or "quiet". And in certain neighbourhoods, the city can feel unsafe, something the city's mayor has previously acknowledged. Areas around the Tenderloin (in the heart of the city) and Soma, which stands for "South of Market" can feel dystopian, particularly at night. Tributes poured in for Bob Lee Many television crews take armed guards with them when gathering footage in the city. And with the streets so quiet, anti-social behaviour can sometimes feel more threatening and obvious. The police statistics suggest that San Francisco's murder rate is fairly consistent. Fifty-six murders last year. Fifty-six murders the year before. It's on track for something similar this year. The overwhelming majority of murder victims are black and Latino men, according to police data. So far there have been 12 murders in the city. In the first three months of last year there were 10. The number of assaults is also similar. And when you compare that to other cities, San Francisco compares relatively well. This is not Gotham City. Story continues But the view that Elon Musk articulates, that violent crime is up, is very common. San Francisco is a relatively small city. Its population is around 800,000. And unlike cities like Chicago, many of the "problem" neighbourhoods are interwoven throughout the central business district. Twitter global headquarters, for example, is on Market Street, a few blocks away from the Tenderloin. Mobile payment company Block is also close by. San Francisco's problems are out in the open - right in the heart of the city. For its politicians, desperate to try and entice tech business back to the city, high profile killings like Mr Lee's are devastating. If influential tech companies decide to stay away, and people begin to leave, it could create what's been referred to as a "doom loop". The city's influential paper, The San Francisco Chronicle, has recently warned that the city could be in a negative spiral - and outlined how the city could "die". As companies leave, tax revenue falls. People use mass transit less until it becomes bankrupt - making it more difficult for low and middle-income workers to get to work. Labour costs rise still further, and the city has fewer funds to tackle things like crime and disorderly behaviour. The city's mayor responded, saying: "It's easy to throw out dire predictions about the death of downtown. But that's not our reality and it's not going to happen." San Francisco is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It has Silicon Valley on its doorstep. It is also excellently located to take advantage of the new boom in tech - AI. OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, is based in San Francisco, along with a myriad other AI tech start-ups. The city boasts incredible talent. In many ways it has an awful lot going for it. Yet still, many people are leaving. Last year the American Housing Survey found that about 18% of San Francisco residents plan on moving in 2023. Nearly half of them said they were intending to move to a different city. And unless San Francisco can stem that tide, it's in trouble. FALL RIVER The body of a 64-year-old city man was found in the area of Sandy Beach on Atlantic Boulevard, according to a spokesperson for Bristol Country District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III's office. He has been identified as John Boday of Fall River. On Thursday at approximately 6 p.m., Fall River Police and EMS were dispatched to the shoreline of the Taunton River where bystanders in the area had located the fully clothed body of a male floating a short distance offshore. Police identified the male as John Boday of Fall River. Boday was pronounced deceased upon the arrival of EMS. No foul play is suspected. This matter is being investigated by the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Bristol County District Attorneys Office and the Fall River Police Department . No further information will be released at this time. This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Body found in Fall River's Taunton River identified As Cary Prewitt knows, everything is bigger in Texas. But Prewitt, a former Lone Star State resident, is spurring Idaho to catch up. In 2021, Prewitt opened the massive Western Proper, 610 W. Idaho St. A 10,500-square-foot bar and restaurant, its highlighted by four bowling lanes. (At least theyre mini-bowling.) Western Proper also pours a cocktail designed to make Boise eyes huge: The Hat Sharer. Epic drink Unless you want to fall off your horse, The Hat Sharer aint for a Lone Ranger. Its intended to be enjoyed by a group. A 100-ounce conversation piece, it is served in a clear, plastic cowboy hat. To grab even more attention, its topped with a party candle. The kind that shoots sparks a few feet skyward. Forget the birthday cake. Bring the cowboy hat. The Hat Sharer costs $105. Recommended crew? Four to six rowdies, er, people. But dont be surprised if you draw curious onlookers. I saw something similar in Austin, Prewitt explains, and my wife and I decided to find something that was epic that we thought would be super-fun. I thought, This is really dope. Vodka, tequila Because its offered in two variations, The Hat Sharer demands group consensus. The Desert Canary version is vodka, Aperol, absinthe, strawberry, pineapple and lemon. The Baja Sunrise is tequila, passion orange guava nectar, grapefruit juice, lime juice and agave. Both contain a lot of alcohol, Prewitt says. On a basic level, the Canary will seem a little sweeter, he says, while the Sunrise comes across a bit boozier. Im a tequila guy, so its always the Baja Sunrise for me, he adds. Mini-bowling is one of the attractions at Western Proper bar and restaurant. Spring cocktails The Hat Sharer is the mainstay of a signature cocktail menu that otherwise was updated for spring and summer. There are a dozen normal-sized, $15 options. I think its by far the best cocktail menu that weve ever had, Prewitt says. Something for everyone. Choices range from a smoky but mellow Oaxaca Old Fashioned and a very-lavender Lavender Martini to the frothy, egg-white-powered Cassis Gin Sour and a Spicy Aleppo Margarita made with tequila, not too sweet and spiced on the rim. Story continues Prewitt is proud of the super-unique and fun Yuzu Pink, created with Roku Gin, housemade pink peppercorn simple syrup, yuzu juice, lemongrass and orange bitters. It should become a secret town favorite, he says. Western Proper recently updated its signature cocktail menu for spring and summer. But if your evening involves multiple revelers? Who are engaging, perhaps, in a round of fiercely competitive mini-bowling? That big ol Hat Sharer will take everyone on a ride. Its not just an evening sipper, either. Its also popular during brunch at the restaurant, Prewitt says. Its sometimes older people. Its sometimes people in a bachelorette party. Its just people looking to have a good time, he says. Groups of people looking to turn it up a little bit and ... put a smile on their faces. The head of a border outpost who came to the call about an explosion of a mini vehicle was found shot dead in Volyn Oblast; law enforcers are investigating whether it was a suicide. Source: Konkurent TV citing Tetiana Muravel, spokeswoman of the territorial administration of the State Bureau of Investigation; UP, citing sources in State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and State Bureau of Investigation Details: According to Muravel, a military man on an excavator ran over a landmine in Volyn Oblast. He was not injured, but the head of the border outpost, who arrived at the scene of the incident, was found shot dead. Quote: "Soon, the head of the border outpost arrived at the scene of the incident, together with the inspector of the border service. Having inspected the area, the chief left allegedly to make a phone call and after some time, a sound similar to a shot was heard. The head of the guard was found not far from the scene of the incident with a gunshot wound to the head." More details: Investigations are ongoing and the circumstances of the incident are being established. Proceedings were opened under Articles 115 and 425 of the Criminal Code (intentional murder marked as suicide and negligent attitude to military service). The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine confirmed the death of the military officer. The State Bureau of Investigation confirmed to the UP that they are investigating the incident. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Seated at the defendants table in a Manhattan courtroom alongside former President Trump on Tuesday were his attorneys Todd Blanche, Susan Necheles and Joe Tacopina. At the end of the table was another man: Boris Epshteyn, a longtime Trump aide and his in-house counsel, who has ascended to be one of the former presidents closest advisers as he mounts a third White House bid while navigating a slew of legal troubles. Epshteyn worked on Trumps 2016 and 2020 campaigns, and he was at the center of high profile efforts to cast doubt on the results of the 2020 election. In the process, he has generated his share of critics who question his influence on the former president. Who is Epshteyn? Trump notoriously cycles through aides and sours on advisers quickly, but Epshteyn has managed to remain in the New York moguls orbit dating back to his first White House campaign. Epshteyn, a Georgetown Law graduate, joined the 2016 Trump campaign as a communications aide who often appeared on television to defend Trump. He also worked on the Inaugural Committee, and he later joined the 2020 campaign as an adviser for coalitions. Following 2016, Epshteyn, who was born in Moscow and immigrated to the U.S. as a child, was among a list of contacts sought by House Intelligence Committee investigators probing Russias interference in that years election. After the 2020 election, Epshteyn was one of a handful of prominent figures working on efforts to challenge and try to overturn Trumps election loss in key swing states. He appeared at a now infamous press conference with former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell at the Republican National Committee headquarters in which they made numerous claims that the 2020 election results were fraudulent, though he did not speak. Between stints working for Trump, Epshteyn had a platform as chief political commentator for Sinclair Broadcast Group. Epshteyns segments were briefly required to run on Sinclair-owned stations, generating controversy over the right-leaning nature of his commentary. Story continues What is his role now? Epshteyns title is counsel and senior adviser to Trump and his 2024 White House campaign, weighing in on a host of issues and frequently communicating with the former president. Epshteyn was one of just a handful of aides who joined Trump for the trip on Tuesday to the Manhattan courthouse, where the former president was arraigned on 34 felony counts over his role in a hush money scheme ahead of the 2016 campaign. Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges. Epshteyn was seated with Trump and his outside lawyers handling the case at the defendants table in photos from the courtroom. David Urban, a former Trump campaign adviser, noted Tuesday on CNN that Epshteyn and senior adviser Jason Miller were accompanying the former president as he made his way through the courthouse. Urban described Miller and Epshteyn as the type of aides who would pump Trump up and make him feel more confident about his legal predicament. One former Trump campaign official told The Hill that Epshteyn is part of a relatively tight circle of aides who speak frequently with the former president and have retained a place in Trumps orbit through the tumultuous last few years. That official noted that Epshteyn has his enemies within the former presidents circle, but that he has earned Trumps trust by showing he is willing to be an attack dog and fight for him. That trust has also translated to a financial commitment. Federal records showed Trumps political action committee paid Epshteyn nearly $200,000 in 2022 for consulting work. He has been at the center of controversy Epshteyn has been a source of controversy and has attracted his share of criticism from those within Trumps inner circle who believe he amplifies the former presidents worst instincts in some cases. He was involved in many of the efforts to try and overturn the 2020 election results in key swing states, and he was reportedly involved in the scheme to develop a slate of alternative electors who would back Trump in the Electoral College. Federal agents reportedly seized his phone last summer as part of a widening investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Epshteyn last September also testified before a Georgia grand jury hearing information about efforts to overturn the 2020 results in the state. Trump aides and lawyers have also complained at times about Epshteyns counsel to the former president, arguing he has encouraged Trump to pursue ill-advised lawsuits. Epshteyn reportedly encouraged Trump to pursue a lawsuit in Florida against the New York attorney general last November. The Washington Post reported that Alan Garten, a longtime Trump Organization lawyer, wrote in an email to others, including Epshteyn: Great job Boris. Another frivolous lawsuit. What a joke. Trump withdrew the lawsuit in January. Updated at 9:18 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) Just weeks after Burkina Faso's junta ousted hundreds of French troops, signs appeared that the West African country could be moving closer to Russia, including the mercenary outfit, the Wagner Group. One signal was Burkina Faso authorities requested in February, nearly $30 million in gold from its mines to be handed over for public necessity. Its unclear what the gold was used for but some suspect the gold could be used to hire mercenaries from the Wagner Group that already is entrenched in other troubled African countries like Mali and Central African Republic. It might be a coincidence that the Burkinabe demanded the purchase of the gold right after they kicked out the French and started moving closer to the Russians, said William Linder, a retired CIA officer and head of 14 North Strategies, an Africa-focused risk advisory. Still, it strikes fear among investors that the state will renege on existing agreements and disadvantage established industrial miners to pay for Russian military contractors." Burkina Faso's government denies hiring Wagner mercenaries but the government is expecting Russian instructors to come train soldiers on how to use equipment recently purchased from Russia, said Mamadou Drabo, executive secretary for Save Burkina, a civic group that supports the junta. We asked the Russian government because of the bilateral collaboration between Burkina and Russia, that they send us people to train our men, he said, adding that the instructors will teach soldiers about weapons, military techniques as well as culture. The sale of arms and bilateral military cooperation agreements between Russia and some African countries have in some instances been a precursor to the deployment of Wagner's mercenary troops, said a report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. Observers say countries using Wagner Group fighters often refer to them as Russian instructors. Wagner, founded by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a Russian millionaire businessman with ties to President Vladimir Putin, has had about 1,000 forces in Mali for more than a year. Story continues In January, Burkina Faso ordered the departure of some 400 French special forces based in the country, cutting military relations with France amid soaring jihadi violence thats killed thousands and plunged the once peaceful nation into crisis. In addition to ejecting the special forces, in February the government told all French military personnel working with Burkina Fasos army and administration to leave, severing a military accord with France dating back to 1961, according to a confidential document by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs seen by The Associated Press. Anti-French sentiment in the former colony has grown since junta leader Capt. Ibrahim Traore seized power in September. Earlier this month, two French journalists were expelled from the country without reason. In March, French broadcaster, France 24, was suspended for interviewing a top jihadi rebel and months earlier the government suspended French broadcaster Radio France Internationale for having relayed an intimidation message attributed to a terrorist, according to a statement from the junta. The anti-French sentiment coincides with increasing Russian support, including demonstrations in the capital, Ouagadougou, where hundreds of protesters have waved Russian flags. France has had troops in West Africa's Sahel region since 2013 when it helped drive Islamic extremists from power in northern Mali. But it's facing growing pushback from populations who say France's military presence has yielded little results as jihadi attacks are escalating. Burkina Faso's junta says it has nothing against France but wants to diversify its military partners in its fight against the extremists and, notably, has turned to Russia. Thats what weve seen happening in country after country. We saw it in CAR, Mali. Its just been dominos, said Sorcha MacLeod, member of the United Nations working group on the use of mercenaries. Theres a vacuum now where France used to be (and) Russia has imperialist ambitions in Africa," she said. "Its destabilizing for the region. If Wagner mercenaries arrive in Burkina Faso the risk increases of human rights atrocities, including war crimes and crimes against humanity, she said. Rights groups and communities have already accused the junta of committing more extrajudicial killings against civilians since Traore came to power in September. Wagner Group mercenaries have established a foothold for Russia in at least half a dozen African countries. Earlier this year, the group was designated a significant transnational criminal organization by the United States and was sanctioned by the European Union for human rights abuses in Central African Republic, Sudan and Mali. African countries have often paid the Russian group for its mercenary fighters by granting Wagner access to natural resources, such as mining concessions. Western countries say the use of Wagner mercenaries in Africa is a red line. French President Emmanuel Macron called the Wagner group criminal mercenaries and the life insurance of faltering and putschist regimes. Burkina Fasos government said it has no plans to contract Wagner. Instead its working to secure the country from jihadis by recruiting and arming tens of thousands of volunteer fighters, which it refers to as its own Wagner force. We already have our Wagners. The (civilian volunteers) who we are recruiting are our first Wagners, said Traore during an interview on state media in February. But for much of Burkina Faso's population, this provides little comfort. Like Wagner, the volunteers who fight alongside Burkina Fasos military, have been accused by civilians and rights groups of committing atrocities such as extrajudicial killings and abductions of people alleged to be working with the jihadis. An investigation by The Associated Press into a video circulating on social media, determined that Burkina Fasos security forces killed children in a military base in the countrys north. Many locals say theyd rather work with Western countries like France, than turn to forces like Wagner. But they say the French are unwilling to sell them the weapons they need, leaving them little choice. The French have everything, aircrafts, everything, but they dont help us," said a soldier who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. "They are here for their own business. ___ Associated Press reporter Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed. The mother of the 6-year-old boy who went missing in Everman told a relative that she sold the boy to someone at a Fiesta Mart store, according to a search warrant for the familys home. Everman police have said that they have not uncovered evidence that supports the story that the missing boy was sold. The case of missing 6-year-old Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez was officially reported missing March 20, but according to what relatives told Everman police, they have not seen Noel in about a year. On Thursday, Everman police announced in a news conference that the search for the boy is now a death investigation. Texas Child Protective Services received an anonymous tip about Noels disappearance over a year ago and authorities went to a property on Wisteria Drive, where the family had been living for several years. Cindy Rodriguez-Singh, her husband and their seven children, including Noel, lived partly in a converted shed in the back yard and partly inside the house, which is owned by Charles Parson. Heres what we know about the buying and selling of a child in Texas: Can you buy or sell a child in Texas? It is illegal under Texas law to buy or sella child. Section 25.08 of title 6 of the Texas Penal Code, defines the buying and selling of a child as: Possesses a child younger than 18 years of age or has the custody, conservatorship, or guardianship of a child younger that 18 years of age, whether or not he has actual possession of the child, and he offers to accept, agrees to accept, or accepts a thing of value for the delivery of the child to another or for the possession of the child by another for the purposes of adoption. The law continues: Or, offers to give, agrees to give, or gives a thing of value to another for acquiring or maintaining the possession of a child for the purpose of adoption. Thus, selling a child to another person is illegal. Also, selling a child to another person for the purposes of adoption is against the law. Story continues Whats the penalty for selling a child in Texas? The buying or selling of a child in Texas is a third degree felony, which carries a maximum possible fine of up to $10,000 and up to 10 years in prison. An offense under this section can lead to a second degree felony if, The actor commits the offense with intent to commit another offense under, Section 20A.02, 43.021, 43.05 or 43.25. Those crimes are: 20A.02- Trafficking of persons 43.021- Solicitation of prostitution 43.05- Compelling prostitution 43.25- Sexual performance by a child A second degree felony in Texas carries a maximum possible fine of up to $10,000 and up to 20 years in prison. A man fell into an icy waterfall in New Hampshire, prompting a high-stakes rescue effort involving bystanders and firefighters, officials said. The man, who has not been identified, fell into Sabbaday Falls and became pinned by an ice shelf on April 6, according to a news release from the Conway Fire Department. People nearby offered assistance, preventing the man from becoming fully submerged in the frigid water, officials said. By the time first responders arrived, he had been in the water up to his neck for about 45 minutes and was experiencing hypothermia, according to WMUR. Rescue swimmers entered the water and were able to free the man using ropes, officials said, calling it a dramatic swift water rescue. We were actually saying its an ice rescue, a swift water rescue and a high-angle rescue all at once, Conway Fire Chief Stephen Solomon told WMUR. We are very well versed in swift water rescue. We do numerous swift water rescues every year. Sabbaday Falls, located in New Hampshires White Mountains, is a popular location to visit, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Swimming at the falls is not permitted. Parents brawl in high school as they pick up students who got in fight, SC cops say 76-year-old was raped and strangled before being dumped along bike trail, PA cops say Abandoned babys body was brought home by dog in 1985, cops say. Now mom pleads guilty The following items were taken from area police department reports and releases. An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt. Darien Warrant arrest Advertisement Stephanie Boza, 32, of the 5100 block of Iris Court, Kissimmee, Florida, was wanted for multiple warrants. Warrants were from DuPage County for identity theft, retail theft from Kane County and stolen property from Kansas City, Missouri. Boza was stopped at 11:40 a.m. March 27 for speeding. Traffic violations Advertisement Ricky Stewart, 25, of the 7500 block of Elmhurst Road, Des Plaines, was charged with driving while license suspended and given a warning for speeding, at 7:46 p.m. March 27. Patrick Kelly, 40, of the 6500 block of Bentley Avenue, Willowbrook, was charged with driving while license suspended, operating uninsured motor vehicle, no valid registration, and was given warnings for failure to signal when required, loud muffler and improper display of registration, at 11:52 a.m. March 30. Spiro Papageorge, 72, of the 7700 block of Gail Avenue, Darien, was charged with driving while license revoked and driving with expired plates, at 9:25 a.m. April 1. Lukas Petravicius, 40, of the 6100 block of Pinewood Court, Willowbrook, was charged with driving while license revoked, speeding over limit, transportation of alcohol and two DuPage County warrants, at 12:49 a.m. April 2. Burglary from a motor vehicle An officer was dispatched to Zazzos Pizzeria, 7360 Kingery Hwy for a report of a burglary from motor vehicle, at 7:52 p.m. March 28. The complainant stated on March 28, 2023 between 6:05 p.m. to 7:05 p.m. unknown offenders removed checks from the vehicle parked in the lot. The approximate loss is unknown at this time. Burglary Officers were dispatched at 2:50 a.m. March 28 to Flame Smoke & Vape, 7516 Cass Avenue for a burglar alarm. Store video shows four offenders exiting a Hyundai between 2:45 a.m. to 2:50 a.m. March 28, throw a brick into the front door enter and remove cash from register. The approximate loss is $700. Advertisement DUI Sammy Papageorge, 43, of the 7700 block of Gail Avenue, Darien, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding, improper lane usage and disobeying a traffic control signal, at 10:28 p.m. March 30. Israel Arredondo, 22, of the 1100 block of Plainfield Road, Darien, was charged with charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, obstructing an officer, reckless driving, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, speeding, use of unsafe tire and failure to carry license on person while operating a motor vehicle at 7:20 p.m. April 2. Gordon Marsh, 47, of the 6500 block of Kane Avenue, Hodgkins, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, operating uninsured motor vehicle and driving too fast for conditions, at 9:52 p.m. April 2. Retail theft Jacques Walton, 35, of the 500 block S. 7th Avenue, Maywood, was charged with felony retail theft exceeding $300 obstructing identification, resisting or obstructing a police officer and two warrants, one failure to appear from DuPage County and the other for delivery of a controlled substance from Will County, at 7:21 p.m., April 1. Advertisement Domestic battery Amanda Carbone, 31, of the 7500 block of Country Lane, Darien, was charged with domestic battery make physical contact and domestic battery that causes bodily harm, at 1:05 a.m. April 1. Some college students who were once automatically eligible for Californias food benefits program will now have to apply before June 10. State officials are urging college students to apply for government assistance as soon as possible. During the coronavirus pandemic, state officials expanded the eligibility rules for CalFresh, previously called food stamps, which provides funds for groceries to those who are financially struggling. Low-income students who qualified for work-study programs and families who couldnt financially afford to help their children through college were automatically benefiting from CalFresh, and could receive about $280 per month. But starting June 10, just weeks after the federal COVID-19 public health emergency ends, college students will have to seek those same benefits through stricter eligibility rules. Additional allotments are ending due to recent action by the federal government, according to CalFresh. The decision to return to pre-pandemic rules for eligibility will affect the nearly 130,000 students who receive CalFresh food benefits. About 400,000 to 690,000 students were eligible for the program statewide, according to a state Department of Social Services study. Estimates vary, because student eligibility may be duplicated under several categories of eligibility, according to the state. Food insecurity has been a concern across Californias colleges and universities for years. Many campuses have food pantries and help students navigate how to apply to the CalFresh program. Now some campuses are trying to help spread awareness of change in qualifications. State officials had gone to great lengths to increase access and information to college students through SB 77, which passed in 2019. The goal was to make the application process easy and straightforward. But with a change in eligibility rules, some students may not know to apply for the program. In fact, officials are asking college students to apply to CalFresh before June 10 if they qualify for food benefits under the two temporary pandemic rules. Story continues CalFresh will accept their eligibility for one year before the students application is re-certified under the changed rules. Many college students are still eligible for the CalFresh food benefits program after June 10. College students who are low income and meet an additional criteria such as disability, responsibility for a child or are enrolled in a training program are eligible. Additional criteria eligibility is available on the California Department of Social Services website. College students and California residents can learn more and apply for benefits on the CalFresh website. They can also call the helpline at 1-877-847-3663. A new bill in the California legislature aims to change the ingredient makeup of some of Americas most popular snacks, candies and other foods sold in stores, according to the bills author. In February, Jesse Gabriel, a Democratic assemblymember from Woodland Hills, California, introduced legislation that would ban the sale of processed foods in California that contain certain chemicals he claims are dangerous and toxic. The measure, Assembly Bill (AB) 418, would prohibit the manufacture, sale or distribution of any food product in California containing the chemicals red dye No. 3 (commonly listed as red #3 in ingredients on food packaging), titanium dioxide, potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil or propylparaben. The bill notes that each chemical listed is currently banned in the European Union due to scientific studies that have shown evidence that the chemicals are harmful. In the release, Gabriel points to various studies and reports showing these additives can cause harm to the reproductive and immune systems, behavioral issues in children and an increased cancer risk in animals. Californians shouldnt have to worry that the food they buy in their neighborhood grocery store might be full of dangerous additives or toxic chemicals, said Gabriel, who is the chair of the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee, in a press release. If passed, AB 418 would make The Golden State the first state in the nation to ban the use of these chemicals in processed foods. One of these chemicals, red dye No. 3, is already banned for use in cosmetics and has been since 1990. What are these additives and why are they used? According to the FDA's website, there are thousands of chemicals added to food to make it last longer, taste better and improve the overall look of certain items. The government agency says that all food additives are carefully regulated by federal authorities and various international organizations to ensure that foods are safe to eat and are accurately labeled. Story continues According to Justin Colacino, associate professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, these specific additives are used in processed foods in the following ways: Red dye No. 3, a food dye, is added to products to make them bright red. It's currently banned for use in cosmetics, but it's still used in candy, medicine and beverages. Titanium dioxide is a naturally occurring mineral that is mined from the earth, processed and refined. While its used to obtain whiteness in house paint, its also added to food to achieve the same purpose in items like some coffee creamers, baking decorations, white sauces and well-known candies. Potassium bromate is primarily used as an additive to flour and is used to strengthen dough. Brominated vegetable oil is a food additive sometimes used to keep citrus flavoring from separating out in sodas and other beverages. Propylparaben is a preservative that helps stabilize product formulations. Its used in food but also appears in cosmetics and personal care products. Titanium dioxide (Universal History Archive / Universal Images Group via Getty Images) The California bill states that most of these chemicals have never been independently evaluated by the FDA or were last reviewed decades ago and that these chemicals are generally known to have first entered the nations food supply through a federal law known as GRAS, or generally recognized as safe that applies to items like vinegar, salt and pepper but has come to include thousands of other substances. The FDA says the information in the bill is incorrect. The claim that these substances have not undergone FDA review is inaccurate. All these substances have been evaluated by the FDA, an FDA official tells TODAY.com in an email. According to U.S. law (Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act) ingredients added to food must be safe under their intended conditions of use, and safety information must be available to establish a reasonable certainty of no harm before they are used in products on the market, the official continues. The FDA administers several programs to help manufacturers demonstrate that the available data supports the safety of the substance when used as proposed. TODAY.com reached out to Mars, the makers of Skittles, who referred us to the National Confectioners Association, as the McLean, Virginia candy conglomerate is one of the associations' biggest member companies. In response to the recent introduction of California AB 418, the National Confectioners Association issued the following statement: Chocolate and candy are safe to enjoy, as they have been for centuries. We strongly oppose AB 418 because there is no evidence to support banning the ingredients listed in the bill. The ingredients that would be banned under this proposal have all been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Food safety is the number one priority for U.S. confectionery companies, and we do not use any ingredients in our products that do not comply with the FDAs strictest safety standards. Gabriel told TODAY.com in an email that he would vote against an outright ban of Skittles, the bill he authored actually aims for a different goal. The idea here is for these companies to make minor modifications to their recipes so that these products dont include dangerous and toxic chemicals. Skittles and many other brands have already made changes to their recipes in the European Union, the UK, and other nations where these chemicals are banned. We simply want them to do the same thing in the United States, Gabriel says. The measure is expected to be heard in committee in the coming weeks. Should consumers be worried? The fact that Europe bans more ingredients used in processed foods than the United States does has sparked debate for years. But, how worried should consumers be about these additives? Moderation is key, right? Colacino says, adding that highly processed foods arent things folks should be consuming every day, anyway. There are things that are in highly processed foods that we know dont have a ton of nutritive value in the first place, so I think its good for people to be aware of the ingredients in their food. For people who are concerned with the ubiquity of these additives in all sorts of food, Colacino suggests consuming more fruits, vegetables and whole foods. Theres a lot of other stuff these products do that arent great for you, so I think moderation is key, he says. For people concerned with the additives in their food, Colacino says reading the label is key. Look at your ingredient lists. Whats in there? he says, adding that consumers can focus on preparing their own food at home, if they can. I think just trying to be a savvy consumer, pay attention to whats in your foods, think about how you can decrease the intake of foods that contain these additives and replace those with healthy alternatives is going to be good for everybody. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Years of drought have driven chinook salmon populations so low that regional fishing supervisors are recommending a full closure of California fishing operations until 2024. The Pacific Fishery Management Council which oversees fishing along the Washington, Oregon and California coasts voiced their unanimous support on Thursday for shuttering Californias commercial and recreational ocean salmon season this fall. The shutdown the first in 14 years would follow recent projections showing that chinook salmon numbers off Californias coast have plunged to historic lows, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Also included in the recommendation, which must be enforced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Fisheries branch, are most fishing areas off the coast of Oregon. The forecasts for chinook returning to California rivers this year are near record lows, Council Chair Marc Gorelnik said in a statement. The poor conditions in the freshwater environment that contributed to these low forecasted returns are unfortunately not something that the Council can, or has authority to, control, Gorelnik added. State and federal fishery scientists predicted last month that Sacramento River fall chinook stock would reach only about 170,000 adults this year one of the lowest forecasts since such assessments began in 2008. For the Klamath River, fall chinook was expected to reach only about 104,000 adults, the second lowest forecast since measurements there began in 1997. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said that the closure would likely take effect in mid-May, noting that the California Fish and Game Commission will also be considering a shutdown of inland salmon fisheries. The last time such a shutdown occurred was in 2009, when fishing managers predicted that just about 122,000 chinook would return to the Sacramento River that fall. The poor forecasts this year account largely for the number of salmon that began their initial ocean journey about three years ago and were affected by a prolonged drought sequence, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Story continues Salmon returning three years from now, however, will likely benefit from the significant precipitation California received this winter, the agency explained. This years closure recommendation is intended to allow salmon to recover in order to provide future fishing opportunities, Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton Bonham said in a statement. Describing salmon as an iconic species in California, Bonham stressed the states commitment to ensuring long-term survival of our salmon runs. We are looking into all possible options to bring relief as soon as possible to fishing businesses, Bonham added. Following the Pacific Fishery Management Council vote on Thursday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and Lieutenant Gov. Eleni Kounalakis (D) announced a request for a Federal Fishery Disaster Declaration to support affected Californians. Countless families, coastal communities and tribal nations depend on salmon fishing its more than an industry, its a way of life, Newsom said in a statement. Thats why were requesting expedited relief from the federal government, the governor added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Chico Unified School Board in Chico, California, voted Wednesday evening to uphold its so-called "parental secrecy policy," which says that school staff should not reveal a transgender student's gender identity to their parents without the child's permission. The vote comes after the Center for American Liberty filed a lawsuit against the school district on behalf of Aurora Regino, a mother who accused a guidance counselor of helping her 11-year-old biological daughter transition to a male without the family's knowledge. Regino spoke ahead of the vote Wednesday evening, saying that she was there to "tell my story so that parents and the public know what is going on in our schools." "The day my daughter shared with her guidance counselor that she felt like a boy, the counselor immediately affirmed this new identity," Regino told the school board. "From then on, the counselor continued to have one-on-one meetings with my daughter without my knowledge. During one of those one-on-one meetings, my daughter told the counselor that she wanted to tell me about her new identity. The counselor ignored her request and did nothing to support her in letting me know what was going on at school." Aurora Regino told the Chico Unified School Board on Wednesday evening that a guidance counselor enabled her daughter to transition without the family's knowledge. State law in California establishes protections for students based on a number of characteristics, including their gender identity. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The California Department of Education explains that a "compliance officer may discuss with the student any need to disclose the student's transgender or gender-nonconformity status or gender identity or gender expression to the students parents/guardians." "The district shall offer support services, such as counseling, to students who wish to inform their parents/guardians of their status and desire assistance in doing so," the department said, referencing AB 1266. BIDEN ADMIN RELEASES NEW TITLE IX REGULATIONS ON TRANSGENDER ISSUES IN SCHOOLS Several community members spoke out in favor of the policy on Wednesday, arguing that it is necessary for the wellbeing of students who are struggling with their gender identity. Story continues "To all students listening my message is this: I care about you. Your teachers care," Suzanne King, a middle school teacher in the Chico school district, said on Wednesday. "I care that you are proud of who you are. I care that you know that youre not alone. I care that you feel supported. I will not coerce you. I will listen to you. I care that you are free to be the person that you are, without judgment, without outside pressure to be something that you are not." The Chico Unified School Board voted 3-2 to keep the current nondiscrimination/harassment policy in place, which says Paula Hare, who said she is a transgender Korean War veteran, said she is an advocate for LGBT rights, but thinks the current policy goes too far. "Parents bring their children to school to learn, not for a teacher to play doctor," Hare told the school board. "For the teacher to come in between the child and the parent, thats a bad thing, because then you dont have the parent-child relationship anymore. What you have is a teacher tearing a family apart." BIDEN SAYS TRANSGENDER PEOPLE 'SHAPE OUR NATION'S SOUL' IN OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., introduced a bill last month that would ban parental secrecy policies and obligate schools to notify parents if their child is transitioning. "This is a grave situation were facing here. And how weve gotten to a place where we can interpret state policy as such, in Chico, California, that keeping secrets from parents about their childrens involvement at school, about their childrens decisions that are so grave," Rep. LaMalfa said at the board meeting on Wednesday. "Remember, these are minors who are making lifetime, life-changing decisions." Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., walks to the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. The school board voted 3-2 against developing a policy that would lead to "increased parental inclusion," instead opting to keep the current nondiscrimination/harassment policy in place. A spokesperson for the district declined to comment on the lawsuit filed by Regino and the Center for American Liberty, but said the district is "committed to strengthening and improving our programs and services with the help of our educational community." "As a District, we understand, respect, and value the responsibility of educating the youth in our community," the spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "We remain committed to following all Federal, State and local legal requirements for school districts and encourage our community to work with our elected State officials to refine requirements with which there may be concern." Fox News Digital's Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report. This article was originally published in CalMatters. As the number of unhoused students in Californias public schools continues to rise to pre-pandemic levels, experts and educators fear that todays economy paired with the states unrelenting housing crisis will lead to unprecedented rates of homeless youth. According to updated data released today by the California Department of Education, there are about 5.9 million students enrolled in public schools this school year, close to 40,000 fewer students than last year or a 0.7% drop. But the number of students experiencing homelessness increased by 9%, about 16,000, to a total of approximately 187,000 kids. The overarching cause of homelessness among all Californians is the perennial shortage of affordable housing in the state, according to Angela James, a researcher at UCLAs Center for the Transformation of Schools. Its alarming to me, quite frankly, James said. Housing instability may be deepening in California as a result of the pandemic. The new data signals a return to pre-pandemic numbers. Last school year, about 2.9% of students qualified as homeless. The percentage is up to 3.2% this year, about the same as it was in 2019-20. As a state we have not made the housing and well-being of our population a priority, James said. Sadly, social policies have not been responsive to the needs of young people and their families. Experts struggle to explain why homeless numbers dropped during the pandemic. They said students and their families may have been moving around during the early months of quarantine, so they may not have been counted. Or unhoused students may have just been falling through the cracks. In some cases, districts could be getting better at identifying students, said Dion Burns, a senior researcher at the Learning Policy Institute. Student homelessness rose this year for the first time since 2020. The count includes students living in motels, trailer parks, campgrounds or public spaces. Story continues While statewide numbers indicate a return to pre-pandemic levels, 13 of the 20 largest districts in the state have more students experiencing homelessness now than they did in the 2019-20 school year. At one district, Kern High, the number more than doubled. Since 2015, rates of homelessness were rising gradually up until 2020, when they started dropping steadily. Student homelessness rose this year for the first time since 2020. The California Department of Education uses a federal definition of homelessness that includes students living in motels, trailer parks, campgrounds or public spaces. School districts and county offices of education employ liaisons who keep tabs on students and families experiencing homelessness. James said theyre often shorthanded, so collecting data may have been a challenge, especially during the chaos of 2020 and 2021. At the Monarch School, a school for unhoused students operated by the San Diego County Office of Education, administrators have seen an increased need. Jesus Nunez, the communications director at the school, said students are experiencing more housing insecurity in recent years, along with more of the mental health challenges and traumas stemming from a lack of stable housing. If students basic needs arent being met, it doesnt matter what teaching strategies are being used, Nunez said. The Monarch School serves about 300 students. The school day is longer, starting at 8 a.m. and ending at 6 p.m. Nunez said the school offers more counseling and services like art therapy. I think everybody at the school wishes we could do more, he said. We dont turn away a lot of students, but unfortunately some students do need to go back to their school of residence because there isnt space available here. Many unhoused students and their families have been evicted from their homes, James said. She recalled her own personal trauma of having her familys furniture moved out to their front lawn when they were evicted. With no home, students and their families might go from one temporary shelter to another with no sense of how long they can stay in one place. The degree to which that impacts a child cannot be underestimated, James said. She added that teachers are fortunately better prepared to work with these students than they were in past decades. When a student acts out or even gets violent, a teacher might try to calm the student instead of resorting to disciplinary actions like detentions or suspensions. According to the states new data, the numbers of foster youth, students with disabilities and students from low-income households have all increased by between 2% and 3%. The rate of decline for overall enrollment shows signs of stabilizing after plummeting in the first years of the pandemic. Kindergarten enrollment took the biggest hit, but is starting to climb back up. Enrollment went from about 71,000 in 2020-21 to about 130,000 this year, but state officials said its partly due to the states expansion of transitional kindergarten. VAN BUREN - After the announced closing of the Tyson Foods chicken processing plant last month, a career fair is set to help those affected workers. The career fair is open to anyone needing a job. About 970 workers will be affected when the plant shuts down May 12. The Van Buren Chamber and the Crawford County Adult Education Center, in partnership with the City of Van Buren and the Van Buren School District, will host a career and resource fair 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 29 at the Van Buren High School, according to the Chamber. Another career fair for those affected by the plant shutdown is 2 - 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 26 at the Crawford County Adult Education Center in Van Buren. Although this event was created to assist the displaced team members from the Van Buren Tyson Plant, all job seekers are welcome. Businesses that are hiring are encouraged to attend along with non-profit organizations that offer resources to assist the job searches. Based in Springdale, the company has announced plans to close the chicken processing plant in Van Buren as well as another one in Virginia on the same day in May. More: What will happen to the Tyson Foods building? The building, one of the largest in Van Buren, is 93,278 square feet, is located at 802 S. 28th Street and includes the parking lot. The staff for the facility is about 970 workers. Fort Smith has a population of 89,142 people in the 2020 census with 19% Hispanic. Van Buren's estimated population is 23,353 and 14% Hispanic. The number of Hispanic people who would lose their jobs at the plant has been addressed in a business panel at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith where business leaders met to discuss futures. This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Career fair to help laid off Tyson chicken plant workers Micrograph of the Marburg viruses. | The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health advisory Thursday warning U.S. doctors against the rare but usually fatal Marburg virus after outbreaks in Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania. According to NBC News, the Tanzania health ministry announced several confirmed cases of Marburg in March, pointing to eight recent cases of the disease, five of those being fatal. Equatorial Guinea, meanwhile, confirmed 14 Marburg cases between Feb. 7 and April 5, according to the CDC. Ten of those were fatal, the news report said. The advisory said most experts agree the two outbreaks were linked to direct animal-to-human interaction and not in connection to each other, with the mortality rate for those infected without early diagnosis or proper medical care between 23%-90%. Related Amira Roess, global health and epidemiology professor at George Mason University, told NBC News, Were definitely seeing an increase in those more severe cases and were also seeing just more transmission in the areas where we havent seen these viruses before. According to CBS News, this is the first outbreak of the virus in both foreign countries and is among the largest spreads of disease experienced on the African continent for the last decade. This comes after an outbreak in Ghana killed two people last year, reported previously by the Deseret News. What is Marburg virus? The Marburg virus is a highly infectious hemorrhagic fever similar to the Ebola virus, able to infect animals and humans through direct contact to bodily fluids, surfaces and materials that carry the virus, per the Deseret News. Someone with the virus is not contagious until symptoms appear. Those symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal symptoms or unexplained bleeding, according to the health advisory. Related Story continues The CDC said that a couple of days after experiencing symptoms, a rash may appear, accompanied by vomiting, nausea and abdominal pain. The health advisory reported there have been no confirmed cases of the virus in the U.S. or other countries relating to the recent outbreaks. Treatments for Marburg virus While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has yet to approve a vaccine or treatment for Marburg, CBS News said work from many vaccine candidates is in progress. According to the health advisory, testing for the virus is conducted at 32 laboratories and eight treatment centers, located throughout the U.S. The CDC said proper medical care to help victims with the disease includes balancing fluids and electrolytes, replacing lost blood and treating any additional infections the patient has. A former server at Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room is suing the upscale Crossroads restaurant, claiming wage and tip theft. Krisda Siriwangchai filed a class-action complaint in February in the U.S. District Court of Western Missouri against Raven Concepts LLC, the company under which Corvino does business. His suit claims that the restaurants policies had the effect of paying tipped employees servers, runners, hosts and bartenders less than what they were entitled to under the law. Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room did not respond to a request for comment, but its attorney, Greg Ballew of Fisher Phillips LLP, denied the allegations in a court response filed last month. Siriwangchai, a 2017 graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, worked at Corvino from 2018 to 2022. He alleges violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act as well as wage-related and unjust enrichment class claims under Missouri law. Those include: Minimum wage violations. Like many restaurants, Corvino claims a tip credit, which means it is allowed to pay its tipped employees $6 per hour half of the Missouri minimum wage of $12 per hour so long as those employees combined hourly wages and tips meet or exceed $12 per hour. But, the lawsuit alleges, Corvinos tipped employees were regularly required to work substantial amounts of time on non-tip-producing activities, such as polishing glasses, preparing linens, and performing end-of-night closing duties. As a result, those employees earned less than minimum wage while performing those duties, the suit states, and Corvino wrongfully claimed a tip credit for those hours worked. Overtime violations. For tipped employees who worked more than 40 hours per week, Corvino paid the customary time and a half in overtime wages but, the suit alleges, calculated those wages based on a $6 per hour wage rather than the full $12 per hour. That meant tipped employees working overtime earned only $9 per hour instead of $18 per hour. Story continues Illegal tip pool. Tips earned at Corvino are contributed to a tip pool, which is then administered by Corvino back to various individuals using a formula that factors in that individuals Corvino-determined point rating and the number of hours worked, according to the lawsuit. Some of those proceeds, Siriwangchais suit says, were then paid to ineligible non-tipped employees, such as managers and supervisors. Corvino wrongfully kept and diverted for its own benefit employee tips in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the suit states. Automatic gratuity ruse. In certain settings for parties of six or more, for diners in its tasting room, and at private events Corvino adds a 20% automatic gratuity to customers bills. Corvino treats these automatic gratuities as income to the restaurant, as opposed to tips for the employees who served them, the suit says. Corvino, the suit claims, uses some of the income from the automatic gratuities for general expenses such as taxes and to pay the salaries of managers and the wages of non-tipped kitchen staff, all at the expense of the tipped employees. Though Siriwangchai is the sole plaintiff in the lawsuit, more than a dozen current and former Corvino employees have so far opted in to its Fair Labor Standards Act claims, meaning they are eligible for compensation if the court rules in the classs favor. Those employees are: Brett Branstetter, Lauren Goode, Phoenix Cartwright, Frida Lara-Nunez, Courtney Sanderson, Christopher Young, MaKayla Allen, Kelly Piper, Martha Ramirez, Lisette Palacio, Zachary Domville, Nathan Henry, Alfredo Acevedo, Shelby Shearon and Kelly Maziarka. A ruling on the conditional certification of the class is expected later this year, Tim Riemann, attorney for Siriwangchai, told The Star. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner. Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room has earned numerous food-world accolades since opening at 1830 Walnut St. in 2017. Chef Michael Corvino is a three-time James Beard Award nominee for Best Chef: Midwest, and the restaurant has been featured in Food & Wine, The New York Times and Eater. Restaurant tip-pooling lawsuits like Siriwangchais are on the rise in recent years, though theyve been more common at larger restaurant chains than smaller operations like Corvino. If youre an owner, the best way to protect yourself from these lawsuits is to pay employees a cash wage thats equal at least to minimum wage, Riemann said. A screenshot from the video shows the woman with a chain around her neck A Chinese court has jailed six people in a high-profile human trafficking case of a woman found chained in a remote village last year. The case horrified the country and led to a crackdown on bride trafficking. The woman's husband was jailed for nine years for torture, abuse and keeping her captive. Five others received terms ranging from eight to 13 years. But many reacting to the verdict on Friday said the sentences were too small and reforms were still lacking. Xiaohuamei's plight came to public attention in January 2022 when a Chinese vlogger found her living in a dirt-floor hut outside her family home in the village near Xuzhou, Jiangsu province, with an iron chain around her neck. The vlogger's video from Fengxian county went viral. In it he voiced trafficking concerns, and noted that Xiaohuamei, in her 40s, had reportedly had eight children and appeared "dazed" and mentally incapacitated. The case seized the attention of the Chinese public, many of whom campaigned relentlessly online for justice for the woman. At first, the local town authorities dismissed trafficking concerns - saying the couple had a legitimate marriage certificate and they just had marital troubles. Authorities also repeated her husband Dong Zhimin's defence that he had locked up Xiaohuamei because she had schizophrenia and was prone to violent fits. However such statements only fuelled public outrage. It sharpened criticism voiced by many online that authorities had turned a blind eye to the woman's treatment and potentially to that of other trafficking victims. It led to a criminal investigation and pledges from police to crack down on trafficking of women and children. Many details of the case were confirmed for the first time this week, at the trial. The court determined that Xiaohuamei as a teenager had been abducted from her home province of Yunnan in 1998 and sold to a farmer in Donghai province for 5,000 yuan - about 360 or $600 at the time. Story continues A year later she was sold again to more traffickers, this time a couple, who arranged her sale to Dong's father. The judges said that when she first arrived at Dong's house, Xiaohuamei had been "basically able to take care of herself and communicate with others". The court found Dong guilty of torturing and abusing his wife. He forced Xiaohuamei to have children - the first in 1999 and then seven more from 2011 to 2020. After her third child, Xiao's schizophrenia worsened. In response, Dong grew more abusive, said the Intermediate People's Court of Xuzhou city in Jiangsu province. In 2017, he moved her out of the family home into the outdoor hut, where he kept her tied up with cloth ropes and chains. The hut had no water, electricity or light and often she was denied meals. Yao Hui, the presiding judge, said Dong had never taken his wife to the doctors when she was sick, and had repeatedly made her pregnant regardless of her condition. On Friday, the news of the verdicts shot to the top of social media platform Weibo, where it received over 100 million hits within the first hour of the verdict. The majority of users expressed anger and disappointment over the sentences. "Just this much for ruining someone's life?" one user wrote. Comments from others included "it's her whole life, but just nine years for him" and "nine years isn't enough time for her to give birth eight times". However, others pointed out how sentences for trafficking crimes are typically capped at 10 years. Activists last year had been pushing for legal reform, arguing such light sentences posed no deterrence to the bridal market of traffickers and buyers. "Amend the law, the sentence is too light," one user wrote in Friday's online discussion. Some also asked about Xiaohuamei's current condition. She was removed from her village last year after her case became known and taken to a medical ward where she remains, Chinese media said. Additional reporting by Fan Wang Chapel Hills Town Council could discuss in more detail Monday a plan to increase the variety of housing that could be built in existing single-family and multifamily neighborhoods. The plan has changed from the version that earlier this year sparked a public outcry and thousands of emails to the mayor and council against changing single-family zoning rules and allowing apartments in existing neighborhoods. Town planning staff will present the revised plan at a council work session Monday. The council does not vote at work sessions, which are an opportunity for members to talk, and will not take public comments Monday. The meeting will be taped for viewing later on the towns website, Mayor Pam Hemminger said in a news release Thursday. The initial changes would have allowed several types of housing in a variety of neighborhoods, including those zoned for single-family homes. On Monday, the council will hear a revised plan that would only allow duplexes, accessory apartments and cottages on smaller, more compact lots in single-family neighborhoods. All other types triplexes, fourplexes, cottage courts and townhouses would be limited to areas that already allow multifamily housing. Details include: Accessory apartments: Would be allowed in residential districts, plus land zoned for cultural, religious or institutional facilities. An accessory apartment would include garage apartments, as well as a second, smaller home on the same property. Duplexes: Would be allowed in rResidential districts served by public utilities Triplexes and fourplexes (quads): Would require staff approval in districts that already allow multifamily buildings with three to seven units. Townhomes: Allowed in multifamily zoning districts Cottages on compact lots: Allowed in most residential districts, except for rural neighborhoods Cottage courts: Would require Planning Commission approval for cottage court projects multiple small homes clustered on a lot in multifamily districts Story continues Multifamily districts: Zoning districts that already allow apartments and other multifamily housing types would be updated to clarify that 5 to 10 units would be allowed with staff approval or over 10 units with a conditional zoning permit from the council Builders also would have to meet specific limits for each housing type based on on lot size, floor area, stormwater, parking, tree canopy and, in some cases, compatibility with homes located within 150 feet of the lot. Chapel Hill town staff provided these examples of how different types of housing could look under a proposed Housing Choices for a Complete Community initiative being considered. HOAs, conservation district rules The proposed policy would not change land-use rules in areas covered by one of the towns Neighborhood Conservation Districts or that have a homeowners association, which are subject to state law and have more expansive powers over the character and appearance of a neighborhood. Heated conversations, opposing groups The towns Housing Choices for a Complete Community initiative started in 2021. It hired The Keesmaat Group, a Canadian consulting team, to lead the process, starting with talks among community members and stakeholders, such as UNC. The resulting plan to create more missing middle housing has supporters but also stirred fears that developers would replace single-family homes with apartments, student renters and potential nuisance issues, like more noise and parking, plus higher property taxes. The conversation online and in meetings has become personal and hostile at times, driven in part by competing grassroots groups, the Chapel Hill Alliance for a Livable Town, or CHALT, and Triangle Blog Blog, a news and opinion website that formed a nonprofit this year. CHALT members manage the Chapel Hill Leadership PAC, which successfully backed Hemminger and multiple council members elected since 2015, and an online newspaper, The Local Reporter. They have opposed changes in the towns zoning to allow more housing types in neighborhoods. TBB writers, who have pushed for the zoning changes, include members of NEXT Chapel Hill Carrboro, a nonprofit formed in opposition to CHALT and to support more dense, walkable and bikeable development. Housing advocates, housing boards and nonprofit groups have formed another group pushing for more housing to serve lower-income workers and families. Missing middle, affordable housing Missing middle housing doesnt necessarily create affordable housing, experts say. The cost of a home or rent may still be expensive in desirable neighborhoods, but building a duplex or multiple condos on a lot instead of one home means more people pay the land costs, and smaller homes can be built more affordably. Having more homes to meet the demand could drive down pressure on home prices in the long run, reducing the cost of older or smaller housing stock. Town staff said about 70% of the town is zoned for single-family homes, leading to inefficient land use and higher housing costs. They noted that about 46,330 people commute into town for work, and only about 30% of Chapel Hill residents work in town. Recently collected racial equity data showed about 58% of the towns renters and 19% of the homeowners many lower-income and Black are cost burdened, paying more than 30% of their income for housing. The town needs about 3,280 housing units to serve those earning less than 60% of the area median income $40,100 a year for an individual or $51,600 for a family of three, they said. UNC student households only make up about a third of the need. U.S. Census estimates showed the town only added a couple of hundred housing units between 2010 and 2021. Several thousand more mostly apartments are being built, are approved or are in the development pipeline. A 2021 report recommended the town increase its housing production by 35% over the next 20 years, adding about 485 homes a year, only 10% of which should serve UNC students. Whats next Mondays meeting at the Chapel Hill Library is expected to attract a crowd, Hemminger said, and the fire marshal is trying to accommodate as many people as possible. The meeting will be taped for later viewing online. The council will schedule more public hearings in the future. Comments and questions also can be emailed to mayorandcouncil@townofchapelhill.org or planning@townofchapelhill.org. A new survey will be posted following the meeting at townofchapelhill.org/housingchoices. Find more information about Mondays meeting and an agenda online. The Orange Report Calling Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough readers! Check out The Orange Report, a free weekly digest of some of the top stories for and about Orange County published in The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun. Get your newsletter delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday at 11 a.m. featuring links to stories by our local journalists. Sign up for our newsletter here. For even more Orange-focused news and conversation, join our Facebook group "Chapel Hill Carrboro Chat." Sarah Jane Culberson meets with students after giving a presentation Wednesday at Rich Township High Schools Fine Arts and Communications Campus Auditorium in Richton Park. She was at the school to present about her discovery that she is by birth a Mende princess of BumpeGao Chiefdom in Sierra Leone and her continuing efforts to help residents of that nation. (Rich Township High School / HANDOUT) Mende princess, author shares story at Rich Township Sarah Jane Culbersons journey as an adopted daughter in West Virginia with little knowledge of her ancestry through her discovery that she is by birth a Mende princess of Bumpe Gao Chiefdom in Sierra Leone has been featured on national news outlets. She presented her story Wednesday to students at Rich Township High Schools Fine Arts and Communications Campus Auditorium in Richton Park. Culberson cofounded Sierra Leone Rising, a nonprofit that raises funds to improve education, economic opportunities, and sustainable living for people in that country. Her book, A Princess Found: An American Family, an African Chiefdom, and the Daughter Who Connected Them All, is being considered for a film by Disney Studios, and her experience in education over the past 15 years has led her to present and create curriculum for schools, universities and corporations. Advertisement Students team with Grace Point Place residents on Easter baskets Students from Southwest Chicago Christian School recently joined residents at Grace Point Place in Oak Lawn to make Easter baskets for staff at the memory care community. (Grace Point Place) About two dozen first graders from Southwest Chicago Christian School joined residents with dementia at Grace Point Place in Oak Lawn last week to create Easter baskets for staff at the Anthem Memory Care community in Oak Lawn. This was a great opportunity for our seniors to reminisce about past Easter celebrations while showing their appreciation for the staff, said Shannon Dahlman, community relations director for Grace Point Place. Its a wonderful way to share their creativity and at the same time form new friendships with the next generation. Advertisement Richards students bake for families of hospitalized kids Richards High School Leo Club faculty sponsor Karen Lavin and students Maggie Macias, Aine Kelly and Molly McGinnis spent part of their spring break baking at the Cookies from the Heart event at Ronald McDonald House in Oak Lawn. (School District 218) Leo Club members from Richards High School in Oak Lawn spent part of their spring break baking for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House, which provides free accommodations for families of pediatric patients at Advocate Childrens Hospital in Oak Lawn. Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > Faculty sponsor Karen Lavin brought students Maggie Macias, Aine Kelly and Molly McGinnis to the Cookies from the Heart event. I am proud of them for choosing to volunteer, especially during their spring break, Lavin said. We baked chocolate chip cookies, brownies, muffins and Rice Krispies treats for families staying at the house. Families at the house have a child receiving medical attention at the hospital, so we hope our baked goods gave them a chance to enjoy something comforting and delicious during an otherwise stressful time, Lavin said. Palos students raise over $3K for earthquake relief Palos School District 118 superintendent Anthony Scarsella, center, presents a check to Khalil Demir and Lena Tleib of Zakat Foundation of America for earthquake relief efforts in Syria and Turkey. (School District 118) Members of student councils at all three schools in Palos District 118 collected over $3,100 during a March fundraiser to benefit those impacted by earthquakes in Syria and Turkey. Students at Palos East and West elementary schools and Palos South Middle School also collected 25 boxes of essential supplies to be donated to the humanitarian relief efforts. Donated items included tents, sleeping bags, blankets, and other necessities like diapers, socks, hats, and gloves. All funds and items were donated to the Zakat Foundation of America, a nonprofit which is coordinating relief efforts for those impacted by the earthquakes. Secret NWI at Calumet City Historical Society meeting The Calumet City Historical Society presents a free program by Joseph Pete, author of Secret Northwest Indiana: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure at 3 p.m. April 16 at the society, 760 Wentworth Ave., Calumet City. Petes book will be available for sale, and he will have a book signing afterward. The program will be preceded at 2 p.m. by a general membership meeting. Send news to communitynews@southtownstar.com. Mykhailo Volynets The statute of limitations for committing a criminal offense that is punishable by a less severe penalty than deprivation of liberty is two years, said the VAKS. Volynets has been released from criminal liability. Read also: International Criminal Court prosecutor arrives in Kyiv Journalists from the Schemes investigation project found in April 2021 that Volynets was using a Toyota Highlander SUV that was not listed in his March 2021 declaration. Investigators discovered that the vehicle was registered to Andriy Volynets, the MPs son. Read also: Ukraines anti-graft agency declares Auchan international sponsor of Russias war Volynets provided false information in his e-declaration for 2020, amounting to almost UAH 1.79 million ($67,100) in total. He did not declare two cars that officially belong to his relatives, as well as his civil partners income, totaling nearly UAH 95,000 ($3,550), said law enforcement. The case was brought to court in December 2022. The MP has been receiving medical treatment since January 30, 2023. He was handed an indictment while in the hospital in November. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine On Monday, Charlotte city leaders voted to buy a motel just off West Sugar Creek Road. The discussion centered around the Economy Inn off Reagan Drive, which is just off Interstate 85. Channel 9s crime reporter Hunter Saenz learned its all in an effort to stop crime thats plagued that corridor for years. It will be a $4.2 million purchase, but its one some say is desperately needed to prevent violent crime in the area. There are several motels there, which some say have fueled bad actors. RELATED: City of Charlotte to focus on Sugar Creek neighborhood improvements You and I are both out there seeing sex trafficking, were seeing drug sales, said Robert Dawkins, a longtime activist whos worked to prevent violent crime in areas like this one. Weve got to get a grip on it now, he said. He and others said I-85 makes it easy for criminals to stop off, do what they choose, stay a night or two, and get back on the road. Next week, Charlotte city leaders will vote to potentially buy a motel just off West Sugar Creek Road. The discussion will be centered around the Economy Inn off Reagan Drive, which is just off Interstate 85. Channel 9s crime reporter Hunter Saenz learned its all in an effort to stop crime thats plagued that corridor for years. Anywhere you have open-air drug markets, anywhere you have prostitution, youre going to have crime, he said. Its why the City of Charlotte voted on whether to buy the 4.5 acres of land with dozens of motel rooms. The city would demolish and redevelop the lot -- although we dont know what it would become. Dawkins thinks its the right move, but hes worried about residents who live there long-term. The main thing that were worried about is displacement -- as much as were worried about replacing the crime, he said. ALSO READ: Violence prevention program in west Charlotte creates positive results The city said it would work with Crisis Assistance Ministries to help relocate residents. Dawkins said he just hopes whatever becomes of the place will help those who cant afford to live there. What I would like to see is the city to use and refurbish these properties, to turn them into transitional housing instead of just leveling it, he said. The Mayors Racial Equity Initiative, which is a public-private partnership of city and private funds, would contribute $1 million. That funding would come from money held at the Foundation for the Carolinas. Story continues Monday night, Charlotte City Council voted 6-3 to buy the property. It isnt the first time the city has brought property to help fight crime. In 2022, Charlotte leaders voted to buy a strip mall on West Boulevard. Before the purchase, it was a the scene of several violent crimes, including numerous shootings. (WATCH BELOW: Crime crackdown along Carowinds Boulevard aims to stop rising trend) COVID-19 virus levels at wastewater treatment plants in Charlotte have been on the rise since early March, state health department data show. According to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, rising levels of COVID-19 virus particles in wastewater can be an early sign of community spread. At the Millard Creek plant, an average of 7.36 million viral gene copies per person were recorded on March 9, according to the most recent data available from NCDHHS. By March 28, that number climbed to 42.23 million. COVID-19 virus levels at a wastewater treatment plant in Mallard Creek have been on the rise since early March. Three other Charlotte-area plants have seen minimal but steady increases in COVID-19 wastewater levels, data show. For comparison, nearly 70% of wastewater treatment sites saw declines in COVID-19 virus levels throughout March, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID-19 in Mecklenburg County While virus levels in wastewater are rising, the number of COVID-19 cases reported in Mecklenburg County has declined. The number of cases reported in Mecklenburg County dropped each week from March 4-18, according to NCDHHS data. During the week of March 25, there were 466 cases reported, up from 402 the previous week. Less than 400 cases were reported during the week of April 1. The inconsistencies between COVID-19 case data and wastewater data could be due to the prevalence of at-home tests, David Freedman, who chairs Clemson Universitys Department of Environmental Engineering, told Kaiser Health News. Since at-home COVID tests are widely available, very few positive results are reported to public agencies, he said, adding that wastewater surveillance is considered the most accurate way to predict virus trends. How does wastewater surveillance in North Carolina work? According to the CDC, people infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can shed viral RNA in their feces that can be detected in community wastewater. To test for the virus, samples from wastewater treatment plants are sent to public health laboratories. The testing data is then sent to the CDC and made available to the public through their COVID Data Tracker. Story continues Virginia Guidry, the branch head for occupational and environmental epidemiology at NCDHHS, said wastewater monitoring is one of the most reliable ways to track trends in community transmission. Were pretty confident in our wastewater data as a way to measure whats going on in the community, Guidry told The Charlotte Observer in July. And it captures both symptomatic and asymptomatic folks, regardless of whether they get tested, and that is one the real advantages of wastewater monitoring. A Chihuahua with a wall-eyed gaze and a few screws loose is up for adoption in South Carolina. The Anderson County PAWS shelter described this crazed dog in a brutally honest post on its Facebook page. Were never quite sure what hes thinking, if he is at all, says the post, dated April 4. What we are sure of, however, is that Sporty is the textbook definition of a Chihuahua. The 9-year-old Sporty may not always be vibing with everyone, and at times, may release his inner Chihuahua demon and attack someones shoe, but he does occasionally choose people he trusts, the post says. ... those people can easily pet and play with him, pick him up and give him kisses and cuddles without any issues, the post says. So, hes very much capable of love! Although many people dont want a high-energy dog with a thousand-yard stare in their home, adoption officials said theyre sure that theres someone out there who would love Sporty. People in the comments of the shelters Facebook post seem to agree, with many wishing the small dog luck finding a new home and others saying simply I want him. Tell me this aint my kinda dog. Wild and spunky. I bet hes got crazy zoomies, one commenter wrote. Anderson County PAWS is located in Anderson, about 120 miles northwest of Columbia. The agency has dozens of other dogs and cats available for adoption on its website, if Sporty isnt your speed. Chihuahuas are known for their loyalty, charm, and big-dog attitude despite their small stature, according to the American Kennel Club. Fire-breathing demon dog returns to shelter. He was too much for new owner to handle Binky the 18-year-old dog was missing for years. Then, a scruffy pup appeared in SC Overlooked dog was at shelter 364 days. Emotional video cut her stay short of a year A popular childrens book illustrator was arrested in Juneau, Alaska, on Sunday after allegedly posting anti-transgender notes threatening violence against children. On Friday, which was Transgender Day of Visibility, the Juneau Police Department received an early morning report about a note found in a local store that indicated a possible general threat against children," according to a statement issued by the department. Several hours later, police received a second report about a similar note found on a bulletin board in the State Office Building. The notes depicted an assault rifle displayed over the transgender flag, along with the words: Feeling Cute Might Shoot Some Children, according to court documents. The two incidents prompted authorities to notify the Juneau School District and led to an increased police presence on school campuses. After authorities were notified Sunday morning that additional notes were found at a third business, they were able to identify the man they believed to be responsible. Police arrested Mitchell Thomas Watley Sunday evening and charged him with one count of terroristic threatening in the second degree, a class C felony. The notes were found just days after the deadly shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, where a 28-year-old former student shot and killed three 9-year-olds and three adults. Nashville officials said the suspect, who was fatally shot by police, was transgender. That information fed what one trans advocate called a "disinformation ecosystem" on extremist websites and social media, which included a baseless claim about a rise in trans and nonbinary mass shooters. According to court documents, Watley referenced the Nashville school shooting suspect after his arrest. Officers spoke to Mitchell, who said (in essence) that he was in fear of the recent transgender school shooter and took it upon himself to print out and distribute these leaflets, the criminal complaint said. Story continues Juneau Police Department Special Operations Lieutenant Krag Campbell said in an email that there is no more information to release on the matter, as it is still an ongoing investigation. Online court documents do not list a lawyer for Watley and show that his $10,000 bond was paid in cash by his wife. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for April 11. Watley is best known for his illustrations in the childrens books I Would Tuck You In and You Are Home With Me, which feature animals snuggling their children. The animals make their young feel safe and loved with affirmations like, Wherever you may be, you will always have a home with me. On Wednesday, Watley was dropped from his publisher, Penguin Random House, according to The Associated Press. His author page is now empty on the publisher's website. Penguin Random House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Some local bookstores, like Kindred Post in Juneau, have pulled Watleys titles from their shelves. In a Facebook message, Kindred Post's owner called the notes allegedly left by Watley a violent threat against children and valuable members of a marginalized community. The owner also said staffers would immediately be removing all books illustrated by Mitchell Watley from our collection." This article originally appeared on Today.com This article was originally published on NBCNews.com (Bloomberg) -- China hit back over Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wens visits to the US by announcing live-fire military drills in the Taiwan Strait and leveling largely symbolic sanctions on the venue that hosted her in California. Most Read from Bloomberg The live-fire exercises will take place in the Taiwan Strait off Pingtan county from 7am to 8pm on April 10, the Fujian provincial maritime administration said in a statement. Pingtan is about 80 miles (130 kilometers) from Taiwan. That came after officials in the same province announced a patrol operation in the strait. The statement didnt mention Tsais visits to New York and Los Angeles, which included meetings with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other US officials and lawmakers. But they echoed past such actions and came soon after China also announced a raft of sanctions and other measures to express its displeasure. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, where Tsai met McCarthy, and the Hudson Institute think tank were targeted because they provided a platform for her separatist activities, the Foreign Ministry in Beijing said in a statement Friday. Tsai spoke at an event in New York last week that was organized by the conservative Hudson Institute, saying the security of the world hinges on self-ruled Taiwans fate. The Chinese sanctions included limiting the activities the organizations could conduct in the Asian nation, and freezing the assets of people running them. Those measures will probably have little effect because the targets have few ties to China. Beijing also said it was stepping up sanctions on Hsiao Bi-khim, Taipeis representative to the US, because she promoted independence. Story continues See: China Restraint on Taiwan Shows Xi Has Bigger Concerns Now Beijing had pledged to respond to any meeting between Tsai and McCarthy, calling it a provocation that damages Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity. The latest measures are more muted than in August, when Nancy Pelosi became the first sitting speaker in 25 years to visit Taiwan. Back then China held military drills practicing a blockade of the island and sent missiles overhead, in addition to sanctioning a slew of Taiwan officials. The relative restraint shown by Chinese President Xi Jinping this time may be because hes hosting French leader Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to win support for his vague blueprint to bring peace to Ukraine. Still, Xi said during a meeting with von der Leyen on Thursday that the Taiwan issue is the core of Chinas core interests, and anyone expecting his nation to compromise is entertaining fantasies. China also sailed an aircraft carrier past Taiwans southern tip just before Tsai met McCarthy. China has pledged to bring Taiwan under its control someday, by force if necessary. Tsais Democratic Progressive Party asserts Taiwan is an independent nation deserving more recognition internationally. I believe our bond is stronger now than at any time or point in my lifetime, McCarthy said after the meeting at the Reagan Library. Tsai is set to meet Michael McCaul, a Republican who heads the House Foreign Affairs Committee, in Taipei on Saturday. He is part of a bipartisan delegation of lawmakers visiting Taiwan, the kind of trip that upsets Beijing because it opposes nations it has ties with from having official links with the island. McCaul and other lawmakers visited Taiwans legislature on Friday, saying the US wants to move forward on free-trade and double-taxation agreements with Taiwan. Hsiao seemed to make light of the latest sanctions against her, writing on Twitter: Wow, the PRC just sanctioned me again, for the second time. While the earlier punishments limited organizations linked to Hsiao from cooperating with mainland entities and individuals, the latest ones say the activity is prohibited. Back in August, Hsiao and her relatives were also banned from entering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau. That punishment is unlikely to have much effect because DPP figures are unlikely to ever visit the mainland. On Friday, Beijing also barred the directors of The Prospect Foundation think tank and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats from traveling to the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, and doing any business across the strait. The two organizations have been promoting independence and using academic exchanges as a pretext for raising Taiwans profile internationally, Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman of the Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing, said in a statement. Taiwans Foreign Ministry said in a statement after the sanctions were announced that coercion and suppression will not change the objective facts, but will only strengthen our governments belief in freedom and democracy. It urged China to to face the fact that the two sides of the strait are not affiliated with each other. (Updates with Chinese announcement of military drills.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. China on Friday issued sanctions against the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and a Washington-based think tank in retaliation for providing a public platform to Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen during her transit through the U.S. this month. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the sanctions against the institutions and other individuals served as counter measures related to Tsais transit through the U.S. The sanctions come amid heightened concern that China would carry out military provocations around Taiwan similar to war games it conducted in response to a high-level visit by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to the island in August. Taiwans Defense Ministry over recent days has said it is monitoring closely the movements of a Chinese aircraft carrier, naval vessels and Chinese military aircraft that it says are crossing over into Taiwans territorial air and seaspace. Chinese officials had earlier issued public condemnation and warnings against the U.S. for allowing Tsais transit and warned of imposing consequences for Tsai meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in Los Angeles at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on Wednesday. In disregard of Chinas repeated representations and firm opposition, the United States allowed Tsai Ing-wen, leader of the Taiwan region, to transit in the U.S. and engage in political activities, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The Taiwanese leader made public stops in New York last week and Los Angeles this week, which the Taiwanese government and Biden administration carefully described as transits to fall in line with the unofficial relations maintained between Washington and Taipei. Along with sanctioning the museum, the Chinese government sanctioned its former executive director, John Heubusch, and its current chief administrative officer, Joanne Drake. Ronald Reagan believed passionately in freedom, democracy, and the exchange of ideas, not simply for Americans, but for all people around the globe, David Trulio, president and CEO of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, said in a statement to The Hill in response to the sanctions. Story continues The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute is proud of its decision to host a bipartisan meeting between Members of the United States House of Representatives, led by Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and Tsai Ing-wen, the President of Taiwan, and her delegation. We will not shy away from living up to President Reagans expectation that the library bearing his name be a dynamic intellectual forum. With the meeting, McCarthy became the most senior U.S. official to host the Taiwanese leader on American soil. Tsai also met with a bipartisan delegation of House lawmakers in California. In New York, Tsai also reportedly met with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and a group of bipartisan senators. The Chinese Foreign Ministry also issued sanctions against the Washington-based think tank Hudson Institute for hosting Tsai last week in New York, where she was presented with a Global Leadership Award. Chair of the Hudson Institute Board of Trustees, Sarah May Stern, and John P. Walters, Hudson Institute president and CEO, were also sanctioned by the Chinese. We stand firmly with Taiwan and against the [Chinese Communist Party] and its ruthless, genocidal policies, Walters said in a statement provided by the Hudson Institute. The U.S. has determined that the Chinese government is carrying out a genocide against the Uyghur Muslim population in the northwestern territory of Xinjiang. We were proud to honor Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen last week for her great courage and clear-eyed determination to resist tyranny. The Chinese Communist Party has a long history of attempting to silence voices, domestically and abroad, that oppose its international aggression and its oppression of the Chinese people, the statement continued. It has not worked before and it will not work now. We stand firmly with Taiwan and against the CCP and its ruthless, genocidal policies and we remain steadfast in promoting the security, freedom, and prosperity of America and its allies. The sanctions impose visa bans on the blacklisted organizations and individuals, freeze any assets they may have in China and prohibit Chinese citizens from any interactions. Updated at 1:27 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) China retaliated for the United States House speaker's meeting with the Taiwanese president by announcing sanctions Friday against the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and other organizations, adding to strains over the self-governed island democracy Beijing claims as part of its territory. Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy held talks Wednesday with President Tsai Ing-wen at the Reagan library in Simi Valley, California, in defiance of Chinese warnings. McCarthy joined a growing series of foreign legislators who have met Tsai in a show of support for Taiwan in the face of Chinese intimidation. U.S.-Chinese relations have sunk to their lowest level in decades due to disputes over the status of Taiwan, which split with China in 1949 after a civil war, as well as security, technology and Beijing's treatment of Hong Kong and Muslim ethnic minorities. The mainland's ruling Communist Party says Taiwan is destined to reunite with China, by force if necessary, and has no right to conduct foreign relations. President Xi Jinping's government says contact with foreign officials will encourage Taiwanese who want formal independence, a step Beijing says would lead to war. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the Reagan library and the Hudson Institute, a Washington think tank, were sanctioned for providing a platform and convenience to Taiwan separatist activities. It said Chinese institutions were prohibited from having any cooperation or contact with them. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute is proud of its decision to host a bipartisan meeting between Members of the United States House of Representatives, led by Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and Tsai Ing-wen, the President of Taiwan, and her delegation, said a statement Friday by David Trulio, president and CEO of the foundation, which sustains the library. We will not shy away from living up to President Reagans expectation that the library bearing his name be a dynamic intellectual forum, he said. Story continues Hudson Institute President John P. Walters said in a statement that China's Communist Party "has a long history of attempting to silence voices, domestically and abroad, that oppose its international aggression and its oppression of the Chinese people. It has not worked before and it will not work now. We stand firmly with Taiwan and against the CCP and its ruthless, genocidal policies. Tsai accepted a leadership award from the Hudson Institute as part of her U.S. trip and gave a speech about Taiwans challenges in regional security. The ministry also cited Walters; Sarah May Stern, chair of the Hudson Institute board of directors; John Heubusch, former executive director of the Reagan Foundation, and Joanne M. Drake, the foundation's chief administrator. The ministry said they were barred from visiting China and any property or financial assets belonging to them in China would be frozen. We will take resolute measures to punish the Taiwan independence separatist forces and their actions, and resolutely safeguard our countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Chinese Cabinet's Taiwan Affairs Office said in a statement Thursday. China has stepped up efforts to intimidate Taiwan by flying fighter jets and firing missiles into the sea nearby on a near-daily basis. The pressure campaign has left many concerned about the possibility of an invasion. Tsai remained firm in her stance of increasing Taiwans global engagement upon her return to Taiwan on Friday night. We have shown the international community that when we face pressure and threats, Taiwan will be more united, she said. We will never give in because we are suppressed, nor will we stop communicating with the world because we are hindered. On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that in recent years, we have seen: For the Chinese leadership, the status quo that brought peace and stability to the Taiwan Strait for decades is no longer acceptable. This has led China to increase pressure and coercive means against Taiwan. The United States government has no official relations with Taiwan but maintains extensive informal and commercial ties. Washington is required by federal law to ensure the island has the means to defend itself if attacked by China. We are sticking to our One China policy. But we are equipping Taiwan with what it needs to defend itself against any form of aggression. We are taking that very seriously, Blinken told German newspaper group Funke Mediengruppe and French newspaper Ouest-France in remarks published Friday that have been retranslated back to English. McCarthy's predecessor as speaker, Nancy Pelosi, flew to Taiwan in August and met Tsai. Legislators from European parliaments have also visited the island. Meanwhile, another congressional delegation landed Thursday in Taiwan and is to meet with Tsai on Saturday. Additionally, two groups in Asia the Prospect Foundation and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats were sanctioned for their involvement in promoting Taiwan independence under the guise of academic and research exchanges, said Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian. The Prospect Foundation is a government-funded Taiwanese think tank that works on dialogue and cooperation on issues related to Taiwans security, economy and social development. The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats is a regional organization established in Thailand that promotes exchanges among liberal and democratic political parties in Asia, including Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party, which is a member. Separately, the Taiwan Affairs Office also announced further sanctions on Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwans representative in the United States. The ban on Hsiao does not appear to be substantively different from the ban enacted on her when Pelosi visited Taiwan. China had announced sanctions on a list of individuals from the DPP and ruling administration, including Hsiao. Then it banned the individuals, their family members and related organizations from traveling or operating in China, including Hong Kong. Friday's announcement said any financial sponsors of Hsiao are also included. ___ Associated Press writers Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin, Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington, D.C., and Robert Jablon in Los Angeles contributed to this report. China sent warships and aircraft near Taiwan for a second day on Friday, Taipei said, after President Tsai Ing-wen angered Beijing by meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Three Chinese warships sailed in waters surrounding the self-ruled island, while a fighter jet and an anti-submarine helicopter also crossed the island's air defence identification zone, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said. On Wednesday, China's Shandong aircraft carrier had sailed through Taiwan's southeastern waters on its way to the western Pacific, hours before Tsai met McCarthy in Los Angeles. Tsai told reporters her government was committed to ensuring "the free and democratic way of life of the people of Taiwan" before she left Los Angeles, where she was stopping over on her way back from Latin America. "We also hope to do our best to maintain peace and stability between the two sides," she added. Beijing had repeatedly warned against the meeting and issued another strong rebuke on Thursday. "China will take firm and forceful measures to firmly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said. Last August, China deployed warships, missiles and fighter jets into the waters and skies around Taiwan for its largest show of force in years following a trip to the island by McCarthy's predecessor Nancy Pelosi. Its response to the Tsai-McCarthy meeting has so far been on a much lower level, but still left Taiwan on alert. Premier Chen Chien-jen said on Friday that Taiwan's defence and security agencies were keeping a close eye on developments, and asked "the public to rest assured". On Thursday, the defence ministry said three warships had been detected around the Taiwan Strait and one Chinese naval helicopter crossed the island's ADIZ. The display prompted calls from the United States asking China "to cease its military, diplomatic and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful diplomacy". Story continues "We remain committed to maintaining open channels of communication so as to prevent the risk of any kind of miscalculation," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters. McCarthy, who is second in line for the US presidency, had originally planned to go to Taiwan himself but opted instead to meet Tsai in California. The decision was viewed as a compromise that would underscore support for Taiwan but avoid inflaming tensions with China, a move analysts say has so far proven successful. ssy/mca China sent warships and aircraft near Taiwan for a second day on Friday and said the island remains its "inseparable part", after President Tsai Ing-wen angered Beijing by meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Three Chinese warships sailed in waters surrounding the self-ruled island, while a fighter jet and an anti-submarine helicopter also crossed Taiwan's air defence identification zone (ADIZ), said the defence ministry in Taipei. Tsai returned on Friday after visiting Taiwan's dwindling band of official diplomatic allies in Latin America, with two US stopovers that included meetings with McCarthy and other lawmakers. "We let the international community see that Taiwan is more united when facing pressure and threats," she told reporters, describing her trip as a success. "We will never yield to suppression and we will not stop interacting with the world because of any hindrance." Hours before her meeting with McCarthy in Los Angeles on Wednesday, China sent its Shandong aircraft carrier through Taiwan's southeastern waters on its way to the western Pacific. Beijing said earlier Friday that "Taiwan is an inseparable part of China", after repeatedly warning against the Tsai-McCarthy meeting. "China's sovereignty and territorial integrity will never be divided," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing. "The future of Taiwan lies in reunification with the motherland." AFP journalists on Pingtan island, China's nearest outpost to Taiwan, saw a military ship and at least three army helicopters transiting through the strait on Friday afternoon. The silver-grey Dongtuo-859 tugboat cruised southwards, about one kilometre from the shore, while the two aircraft flew northwards over the waters at fairly low altitude. It was not immediately clear if the movements represented an enhancement of normal patrols that Beijing conducts in the region. - Muted response - Last August, China deployed warships, missiles and fighter jets around Taiwan for its largest show of force in years, following a trip to the island by McCarthy's predecessor Nancy Pelosi. Story continues Beijing's response to the Tsai-McCarthy meeting has so far been more muted and China's ADIZ incursions in the past two days have not risen beyond the activities of an average week. The ADIZ is not the same as Taiwan's territorial airspace, including a far greater area that overlaps with part of China's own ADIZ and even some of the mainland. Taiwan was on alert, with Premier Chen Chien-jen saying Friday that its defence and security agencies were keeping a close eye on developments. On Thursday, Taipei's defence ministry said three warships had been detected around the Taiwan Strait and one Chinese naval helicopter crossed the island's ADIZ. The display prompted calls from the United States asking China "to cease its military, diplomatic and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful diplomacy". Taiwan also said Chinese coast guard vessels were "obstructing" trade by carrying out on-site inspections on cargo and passenger ships. Tsai told reporters before she left the United States that her government hoped to do its "best to maintain peace and stability between the two sides". "I also hope the Chinese side can exercise self-restraint and (not) overreact," she added. - Successful meeting - McCarthy, who is second in line to the US presidency, had originally planned to go to Taiwan himself but opted instead to meet Tsai in California. The decision was viewed as a compromise that would underscore support for Taiwan but avoid inflaming tensions with China, a move analysts say has so far proven successful. McCarthy had vowed that US arms sales to Taiwan -- which have infuriated the Chinese leadership -- would continue, in what he said was a proven strategy to dissuade aggression. "It is a critical lesson that we learned through Ukraine, that the idea of just sanctions in the future is not going to stop somebody" who wants to wage war, he said. On Friday, China slapped sanctions on Taipei's de facto ambassador to the United States, Hsiao Bi-khim, banning her from entering China and accusing her of "deliberately inciting cross-strait confrontation". Taiwan condemned the move, saying Beijing was attempting to "further suppress our country's international space". Beijing also announced sanctions against the Hudson Institute, which Tsai addressed privately in New York, as well as the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, which hosted the meeting with McCarthy. The two organisations are now barred from engaging in transactions and cooperation with Chinese entities. Hudson Institute president John Walters replied that the conservative think tank was "proud" to honour Tsai and would "stand firmly with Taiwan." "The Chinese Communist Party has a long history of attempting to silence voices, domestically and abroad, that oppose its international aggression and its oppression of the Chinese people. It has not worked before and it will not work now," he said. bur-ssy-sct/bgs Whats Speak Out? Speak Out allows readers to comment on the issues of the day. Email Speak Out at speakout@southtownstar.com or call 312-222-2427. Please limit comments to 30 seconds or about 100 words and give your first name and your hometown. NBC and another major news network follow the proceedings of Donald Trump in the courthouse and him leaving and entering, but when it came time for him to make a speech at Mar-a-Lago, they didnt feel like covering it. Once again, our enemy isnt Donald Trump. It isnt Joe Biden. This media is the true enemy of this country. Advertisement Tom, Burbank This appalling and unprecedented partisan prosecution of our 45th president is alarming proof positive that evil leftists have hijacked our criminal justice system. This is so wrong and un-American that its beyond unbelievable. What is going on here should be totally challenged by the citizens of the USA. As Thomas Paine once wrote, these are indeed the times that try mens souls. This kangaroo court persecution is a disgusting embarrassment so dont forget this! Advertisement Don, Orland Park Genetically speaking, every single person of European descent who has ever lived, has mitochondrial DNA confirming they are approximately 1.75% Neanderthal. Considering that this closely related group of human relatives became extinct over 40,000 years ago, that presents young-Earth creationists with an inexplicable incontrovertible dilemma. Wes, Orland Park The Daily Southtown reported April 3 that marijuana retailers are flourishing in the Southland. They are celebrating the fact they are collecting more tax revenue from cannabis sales. They ignore the unintended consequences. More people are being introduced to this drug known for years to be the gateway drug. Its how drug dealers get users addicted to other more potent drugs. Overdose deaths now surpass 200 per day in America. Bill, Plainfield From day one when the Affordable Care Act became law of the land, the Republicans tried to stop it stating it was unconstitutional. Now a federal judge in Texas struck down a key part that requires most insurers to cover preventive service that includes screening for cancer, diabetes and mental health. I use the service to keep a check on my A1C along with millions of others. If the service is removed, insurance policies will go up. This is not about being unconstitutional, this is about a Black president having his name on the title of affordable care. BJ, Hazel Crest With the ComEd Four now on trial for a massive embezzlement scheme featuring Mike Madigan, why is ComEd spending thousands of dollars on TV ads telling us what a great job they are doing. Perhaps a public utility should be banned from running ads while they involved in a criminal trial. Advertisement Doug, Chicago Put it on the board, yes. Neither Trump nor Biden will run for president in 2024. A simple letter from their doctors will get them off the hook gracefully. The Dems will put up another reset candidate, most likely from the past. Republicans already have a viable candidate in Ron DeSantis. It will be refreshing to see a politician running for high office under the age of 80. Finally and most gratifying is the fact that the DeSantises seem to be happily married. YCM, Orland Park Update White Sox. The White Sox bullpen is a bunch of guinea pigs waiting for the slaughter. Mr. G., Chicago Geri, I agree with you about store fees. Last year, my hair salon started charging a fee for credit card use, but not debit cards. I also think that with the mobile ordering and touch screen cash registers, tipping has gotten out of hand. I preordered a sandwich on the Subway app, and as I finished the order it asked me if I wanted to tip my sandwich artist. Artist? The Mona Lisa is a work of art, not a turkey sandwich on wheat bread. Advertisement Joan, Oak Forest Yes, Dan of Palos Heights, mentally deranged people are the problem. But the problem actually is that they have access to guns. The mentally ill school shooter in Nashville had seven legally purchased guns, including assault rifles. In my opinion, this is an outrage! Pat, Lemont Im sitting here reading todays paper and here comes three coyotes strolling through my backyard. We are in the Mission Hills subdivision, around Diego. Capistrano, Venice lane, Padre. Just so people keep their pets on a short leash or in their own yard. Therese, Orland Park This is regarding the recent Alsip and Chicago Heights shootings. It seems that these lowlife, dregs of the earth, morally bankrupt shooters dont even wait until dark anymore to do their dirty deeds. And for the police to say there is no threat to the public safety is ridiculous. Whenever there is a shooting/killing in broad daylight, in the middle of a public parking lot, Id say theres a threat to public safety. Advertisement Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > Joni, Palos Hills In response to Ted Slowiks April 5 column. I am a Republican and dont think I am spineless. I also believe Trump would serve best by backing another presidential candidate in 2024 who could defeat cognitively impaired President Biden. Maybe Rep. Tim Ozinga and Sean Morrison did not respond because Slowik would somehow twist their words as Slowik favors the Democratic Party that also has an extremist faction. Pat, Midlothian Yet again, woke Ted Slowik decides to give us his leftist views on Donald Trump. When is he going to realize that no one cares about his opinion? I cant believe this paper would let him raddle false news about our former and future president. Thank God for the Speak Out section of the newspaper. At least you can hear some logical opinions sometimes. Tom, Garfield Ridge I understand that the South Siders are upset with Barack Obama. He really doesnt care about his people who will lose their housing. Dont you often wonder how he got all those mansions on a senator and a presidents salary Remember when you sell your soul to the devil, you will pay eventually. Advertisement Jay, Steger [Source] A Chinese woman quit her high-paying corporate job in October and decided to become a melon farmer, a job that ranked high on her life wish list, in search of personal fulfillment. The woman from Shandong province in eastern China, who uses the pseudonym Doudou, holds a masters degree from a prestigious university and previously worked in high-paying marketing roles with online game developers. However, she left three different marketing positions within five years due to feeling overwhelmed by the works repetitive nature. If I do a project or a job for a long time, I will feel bored. So I quit my job hoping to find something fresh to do, she explained. More from NextShark: California Legislators Pass $200 Million Budget to Combat Anti-Asian Hate Doudous best friend, identified by the alias Sansan, also wished to leave her position at a private tutoring institution and pursue a career in agriculture. Together, the two friends started their business in November by renting and renovating an old vegetable greenhouse in a town outside of Jinan, the capital of Shandong province. Doudou estimated that the cost of renting the space, making renovations and purchasing supplies for their business totaled around 100,000 yuan (approximately $14,500). More from NextShark: BLM sign vandalized to read 'Asian' instead of 'Black' being investigated as hate crime by Palo Alto PD Although Sansans parents initially could not understand her decision to leave her job in the city to start a business in the village, they have since offered their help by working as employees at the melon farm. Meanwhile, Doudou has not yet informed her parents. "My parents are unaware that I am a melon farmer now. They thought I was still working in that game company, Doudou admitted. I plan to tell them when our melons mature and send them some to taste. More from NextShark: 26 million Shanghai residents placed on two-stage lockdown amid COVID-19 surge Despite earning only one-10th of her previous salary, Doudou expressed contentment with her current life as a watermelon farmer. Farming work has cured my insomnia and loss of appetite. I have gained 5kg in the past three months, Doudou said. Story continues The duos unusual career choice garnered praise from many Weibo users. More from NextShark: Devastating House Fire Claims Lives of 3 Children, Grandmother During Texas Winter Storm I have to say she has a clear mindset, one user wrote Another user expressed a similar desire to live on their own terms, stating, I also want to live my life in a way that I like. Despite the positive feedback, Doudou advised others to take into account their family and other commitments before making any drastic decisions. Their situation is different from mine. I am young and single, so I can go anywhere and do anything I want, she explained. People are crying foul with some literally in tears about whether or not the recipe for Chipotles red salsa has changed for the spicier. On April 5, the Wall Street Journal published a report on how Chipotle customers are saying that the chains Tomatillo Red-Chili Salsa has recently become spicier. The article shared voices from fans who have been noticing a bigger kick to the salsa, taking it from merely spicy to nearly unbearable. I thought maybe it was just in my head and it was always that spicy and maybe I was just being a wimp, I guess. I was like, maybe I cant handle hot salsa anymore, Jordan Strickland, a 29-year-old Chipotle regular, told WSJ. I think they should go back to the way it was It was spicy enough. The salsa in question, which is the hottest of the four salsas the chain offers, consists of tomatoes, tomatillos, garlic and red chile. Chipotle maintains that it has not altered the recipe. But in recent months, multiple posts on Reddit have brought the salsa's seeming change up for discussion, and with posts like Did the hot salsa get spicier? and People keep saying the hot salsa got hotter. Maybe?, usual fans of the spicy sauce appear to be at their breaking point. Im Indian and have ate spice food for my entire life and that hot sauce f---ed me up, commented one Redditor. Just got some chips and hot salsa dipped my first chip in, took a bite, and my mouth is absolutely on fire! reads another Reddit post. Chipotle hot salsa is just extreme. Id wager to say its the hottest consumer product on the market. Its also definitely changed over the last year or so i used to order it and have no troubles, but sometime in the last year i just cant do it anymore. Its a literal inferno. One person disagreed with this person's assessment, commenting, Its hot but its not that hot. I think it might be time to abdicate your title of spice lord. Still, showing how widespread the issue is, a commenter lamented the several Reddit discussions on the subject, writing, Ah yes the daily its hot post. Story continues Across the rest of the internet, folks are discussing this apparent change to the Chipotle recipe, taking to social media to air their grievances as well as their flaming tongues. The tiktoks weren't lying Chipotle really upped the heat with their hot salsa MY GOD my nose running, forehead sweating, lace lifting this is SURRIOUS pic.twitter.com/IqBEWNQiwI (@M0NEYBAGLO) April 5, 2023 The tiktoks werent lying Chipotle really upped the heat with their hot salsa MY GOD my nose running, forehead sweating, lace lifting this is SURRIOUS, one person tweeted, adding a meme of a very defeated-looking toddler. On TikTok, the hashtag #chipotle has been overrun with users complaining about the spiciness of the salsa, with some showing their reactions to it in real time. Chipotle went to the depths of HELL to make this salsa, reads the text on a humorous clip of the TikToker taking a bite from a Chipotle burrito with bloodshot eyes. POV. When you have to get the red chili salsa from chipotle on the side now because its actually spicy all of a sudden, reads the on-screen text of a TikTok from Feb. 2 that has garnered nearly 1 million views. Bro it was never like this, and I cant just put it all over my bowls anvmore!!! I be burning up!! reads the videos caption. So, is the salsa actually spicier? Our recipe for tomatillo red-chili salsa has not changed, a Chipotle spokesperson tells TODAY.com via email. However, we use dried red chili peppers sourced seasonally from varying regions that can have a range of different heat levels. According to the report, Chipotle executives say they started noticing comments last fall from customers who said the salsa seemed to be getting hotter. Surprised by this assessment, Chipotle mounted an investigation. For the salsa in question, Chipotle uses chiles de arbol, which range from from 15,000 to 30,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). For context, jalapenos measure at around 2,500 to 8,000 SHU, while ghost peppers clock in at 800,000 to 1,000,000 or even hotter. The peppers for Chipotles salsas come from Mexico, Asia and particularly India, which the brand discovered may be the culprit for the four-alarm fire happening in some customers mouths, with a yield of slightly spicier peppers this past harvest. WSJ, in the interest of putting the matter to the literal test, sent samples of Chipotles current Tomatillo Red-Chili Salsa to a lab in New Mexico called Southwest Bio-Labs. There, scientists tested the SHU of samples from Phoenix, Chicago and Washington, D.C., ultimately finding that the samples ranged from 2,730 SHU to 3,420 SHU. Since the spiciness of the salsa varies, according to the test, this may be the reason some folks are sweating bullets while others are wondering what all the fiery fuss is about. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Belgian bunnies will be an Easter treat for kids around the world this weekend, but not all are molded from the country's renowned chocolate. A batch of rabbits seized this week by veteran customs officer Pol Meuleneire was crafted from a solid lump of MDMA, the raw material for pills of the rave drug ecstasy. A Belgian customs officer uses a Known as the gateway into Europe for Latin American cocaine, Belgium has now also become a turntable for mail-order synthetic drugs, made in Europe and sent worldwide. Meuleneire, who retires in a few months after 43 years in Belgium's customs service, told AFP that when he began his career he was excited to find 10 grams of cannabis in a letter. Now, his workspace in an office block in the freight zone at Brussels airport is overflowing with suspect packages -- and bags and jars of illegal pills and powders. "So in 2022 we got to nearly six tons of drugs, seized here at the airport," explained Florence Angelici, spokeswoman for the SPF federal finance service. "It goes all over the world. Today, people can order online on the 'dark web' in a few clicks and can decide what they want and have it delivered to their homes." The false chocolate bunnies had been parceled up and posted in Belgium, addressed to a buyer in Hong Kong, only to be intercepted at the Brussels airport freight terminal. Meuleneire pressed his handheld scanner -- which uses Raman spectroscopy to identify substances by their chemical fingerprint -- against one supposed chocolate rabbit and took a reading. The screen flashed green and the analysis was clear: "Caution: MDMA (ecstasy)". "So you see? It's pure MDMA," the 61-year-old said. "So here we have, bumpety-bump, one or two kilograms of this. With one kilogram you make six thousand ecstasy pills." And, as Meuleneire worked his box cutter during a visit by AFP journalists, several more illicit deliveries emerged from packages received in just the past week. A Peppa Pig branded lunchbox destined for New Zealand itself proved innocent, but the packaging it was carried in felt too heavy to be just cardboard and plastic. Story continues Packed into a corrugated plastic parcel divider: ketamine, an anesthetic misused as a recreational drug and one of the fastest growing illegal exports through the airport postal depot. A toy chemistry set for studying the growth of crystals was found to contain a shrink-wrapped bag of crystal meth, an illegal and addictive synthetic stimulant. There is even cocaine, slid in plastic packets between double layers of cardboard packaging, making the parcel suspiciously heavy to an experienced customs officer. Belgium's Antwerp is the main port of entry into Europe for Latin American cocaine, but some is re-exported by post to countries like Australia, where it fetches a higher street price. Gangs in countries like Venezuela, which export plant-based narcotics like cocaine to Europe, in turn import synthetic drugs like crystal meth from European labs. But most of the mail-order exports are of synthetic drugs made in rogue labs and covert pharma plants in Belgium and especially, according to Belgian officials, the Netherlands. Ketamine, MDMA and methamphetamine are disguised in everyday objects or packaged in jars marked as legal vitamin supplements, then mailed from ordinary post offices in Belgium, France and Germany. "Here, we're talking mainly about using the Belgian postal service, which might attract less attention from customs officers in the arrival countries than the Dutch one," Angelici told AFP. "The smugglers use mules to transport the parcels and to post them from all over Belgium, and other European countries, and send them all around the world." At the airport, a computerized platform selects packages based on known suspect features and customs officers go to work scanning them and in some cases cutting them open. Souvenirs in Meuleneire's workspace include portraits of Jesus Christ that were held in frames stuffed with drugs, teddy bears full of pills and copper pipes packed with veterinary tranquilizers. A Belgian customs officer open a bottle that contains ecstasy pills as he controls packages at Brussels Airport in Zaventem on April 6, 2023. / Credit: KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty Images Global cocaine production has soared to record highs after declining during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report released last month from the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime. Between 2020 and 2021, cocaine production jumped 35%, the sharpest yearly increase since 2016, the report says. The report came shortly after a submarine with two dead bodies and nearly three tons of cocaine on board was seized in the Pacific Ocean. The increase is due to a combination of expansion in coca bush cultivation and improved techniques in making cocaine, the UNODC report said. New hubs for cocaine trafficking are emerging in Southeastern Europe and West and Central Africa, according to the report, with North Sea ports like Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg overtaking traditional entryways to Europe in Spain and Portugal. Traffickers in Central America are also diversifying their routes by sending more cocaine to Europe. U.S. added 236,000 jobs in March, Labor Department says How to online-date safely in a post pandemic world Vice President Harris meets with ousted Tennessee lawmakers As many of my dear readers know, I love this time of the year. I love celebrating Holy Week, and the story of how the Lord Jesus was willing to give his life as a living sacrifice for our sins. I love the joy of Easter Sunday, or Resurrection Day, as many Christians like to call it, and the hope that it brings. For it was on a morning like this, more than 2,000 years ago when, after a long and dreary weekend, the light of God came shining through. Jesus, who had been crucified, was dead and buried. But three days later, He was found alive! He had risen from the dead, giving renewed hope to all who believe. This amazing act of love, which happened centuries ago, is real enough in my heart today to supply me with the hope that has kept me going, even when the going got tough. The very thought that Jesus, housed in an earthly body, like me, and was subjected to earthly temptations, like me, conquered it all, including death, and rose triumphantly from the grave, lets me know that by putting my trust in Him, I, too, can be an overcomer. Yet, this faith thing can be a bit tricky for some people. Thats because faith isnt something that you can see. It is something that comes when you hear the word of God and let it sink down into your being. When that happens, you learn to pray. And with prayer, you learn to believe that what you prayed for will come to past. That is because faith is, as the Bible tells us, is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. But you dont have to be a rocket scientist to have faith. You just believe! Childhood memories When I was a child, Easter was both secular and spiritual to me. Secularly, Easter was a new outfit, complete with shiny patent leather shoes and big hair bows. It was letting Ms. Doll (one of Mommas best friends, who was a hairdresser, as we often referred to our beauticians) straighten my kinky hair with a hot straightening comb, and then using a hot curling iron to give me candy curls or Shirley Temple curls. Story continues It meant coloring hard-boiled eggs at the kitchen table on the night before Easter, and having our parents hide them for us to hunt after church on Easter Sunday. Spiritually, Easter also meant a day of worship, which usually started with an early morning sunrise service. Later, there would be Sunday school and a Spirit-filled late morning worship service, which often included the children of the Sunday school department acting out the story of Easter in a dramatic production. There would always be wonderful, soul-stirring music as the choir and the congregation lifted our voice so loud that it seemed we were serenading the Lord in Heaven! It was during such activities that I learned the story of Easter and grew to love the Lord. As I grew, my faith grew. Today, as an octogenarian, I am still growing in my faith. It has become a way of life for me. It keeps me steady and focused. Yes, I have trials and disappointment. I am not perfect. But my faith gives me a deep settled peace that keeps me on the right path even when I stumble. The Christian Holy Week carries another message: On the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, He was met with glad hosannas and hailed as a king. People broke off branches from trees, took off their coats, and laid them in the path as He rode into the city. Yet a mere four days later, Jesus was arrested, belittled and tortured. The next day, He, who had done nothing wrong, was crucified nailed to a cross between two thieves. The other message of Holy Week is, the same folks who celebrate you one day can very well be the same people who will later do great harm to you. Knowing this helps the faithful to stay prayerful and keep a humble spirit. An important time for Jews, Muslims as well However today, as I write this column during the middle of Holy Week, I am remembering some of the many Easters of my life. And I am thinking, too, of the people of other faiths Jews and Muslims who also celebrate highlights of their faiths during this week. This is a beautiful and significant season. Let me explain: For Jews, its also the time of Passover, when they reenact the story of their ancestors miraculous exodus from Egypt and the bonds of slavery. It is a story I understand because its symbolic of how Jesus delivers believers from the bonds of sin. So I celebrate Passover with my Jewish friends. For Muslims, Ramadan is a holy commemoration that is celebrated an entire month during this time of the year. The holy month of Ramadan stated March 22 and ends April 21, which means that the celebration is still being observed during the Christians call Holy Week and the commemoration of the Jewish Passover. The Holy Month of Ramadan is a time of worship, the study of the Quran, and prayer and fasting for Muslims. The holy time is celebrated in the month in which Muslims believe the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. It is a joyous time for Muslims. So while Muslims wrap up their celebration of their holy season of Ramadan, our Jewish friends will be celebrating deliverance from bondage their Passover. And we Christians will be celebrating Holy Week and Resurrection Day Easter. Like I said, its a beautiful season. Bea Hines can be reached at bea.hines@gmail.com [Source] Pizza Hut Taiwan is no stranger to controversy, having sold everything from durian mango pizza and tonkotsu "ramen pizza" to chocolate-crusted pizza topped with Oreos, popcorn chicken and calamari. The fast food chains infamous limited-time offerings, however, are not just for shock value. Plenty of thought and research goes behind each unique flavor combination. According to Anthony Leung, Pizza Hut Taiwans general manager, he and his team devote a lot of time to finding new food trends and analyzing Taiwans food market. We started looking at the social-digital sphere to understand our consumers via social listening, he told Taiwan Business Topics in August 2022. We found that local ingredients are the best driver for social buzz here, so we made use of big data to research the most searched-for local ingredients. More from NextShark: Rebel Wilson slammed online for Dubai trip months after coming out Besides analyzing large volumes of data, Leung and his team also find inspiration outdoors, such as at Taiwan's night markets. Once, on a night out, one of his team members noticed someone pairing Oreos with popcorn chicken, which eventually became the inspiration behind Pizza Hut Taiwan' viral pizza with Oreos, popcorn chicken and calamari. While experimenting with new toppings, Leung and his team have a fail fast, learn fast mindset. More from NextShark: Japan's New Kit Kat Comes From Aged Whisky Barrels in Scotland Pizza Hut Taiwan has been launching controversial flavors since 2019, and while some of their pizzas such as their cilantro, intestines and pigs blood-topped pizza have quickly sold out, others have not been as successful, such as their stinky tofu pizza and bubble tea pizza. My team is truly passionate about food and loves to try different things. Theyre unafraid to fail, and theyre digitally savvy, so theyre comfortable with finding new food trends and trying them out, Leung told Taiwan Business Topics. Story continues More from NextShark: Grandma Goes Viral for Making Super Wholesome TikTok Cooking Videos Given that approximately 60% of Pizza Hut Taiwan's customers order online, digital marketing is especially important to the fast food chains success. Leung told CNN in February that Pizza Hut Taiwans website has seen an increase in traffic and that its business has changed from flat growth to double digit growth because of the new flavor combinations. More from NextShark: Madame Wu, legendary restaurateur who served Hollywood stars, dies at 106 Instead of relying on traditional advertising, Pizza Hut Taiwan turns to social media. We want to boost the sales of other mainstream pizza through the increased talkability, Grace Chiang, Pizza Huts operations director, told CNN. We hope to make customers come back more frequently, from three months, to two months, to every day. Pizza Hut Taiwan most recently went viral for its Zero Damage Pizza. In a shocking turn of events, the fast food chain held back on unusual pizzas for April Fools this year. Instead of announcing a new controversial flavor combination, it promoted a simple pizza without any toppings. Sorry, Italians! Sorry, Japanese! Sorry, people of Changhua! In our latest work, the Zero Damage Pizza, we learned the truth of repenting by letting go of ingredients, Pizza Hut Taiwan wrote on Facebook, as per Taiwan News. We guarantee that no one will die of anger because of this product. The viral limited-time pizza, which was described as the friendliest product in history and loved by everyone, was discovered to be a ring of stuffed crust. It reportedly gained so much popularity that several Pizza Hut Taiwan customers said their delivery orders were either delayed or canceled. https://www.facebook.com/PizzaHut.TW/posts/pfbid0BU1PA7doqJS5ZBAR9pZUWSTzV3wocHLWh3S24aGc585Fjq8YNk8xqxrxTGgqdkQml Pizza Hut Taiwan is not the only fast food chain that has gone viral for its unique offerings. In April last year, Pizza Hut Indonesia released a dim sum pizza with a crust made of dumplings, and earlier this year, Dominos Japan sold a limited-time bacon milkshake to dip pizza slices in. Just last month, Pizza Hut Japan released a pizza topped with tons of cilantro. Joe Mixon will face charges after allegedly pointing a gun at a woman. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon faces charges of aggravated menacing after he allegedly pointed a gun at a woman. Cincinnati police refiled charges against Mixon after discovering new evidence while conducting the investigation. The new details that led to the charge were not released. The official release on #Bengals RB Joe Mixon and the city of Cincinnati refiling a charge of aggravated menacing: pic.twitter.com/Y2b3yOOddD Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) April 7, 2023 In January, Mixon was accused of pointing a gun at a woman. Police claimed Mixon allegedly pointed the gun at a woman and said, "You should be popped in the face, I should shoot you, the police [can't] get me." An arrest warrant was filed for Mixon, who was initially charged with aggravated menacing. The warrant and charge were dropped after a judge dismissed the case. The incident took place a day before the Bengals played the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round of the playoffs. The Bengals won that contest. That same charge was refiled by Cincinnati police Friday. An aggravated menacing charge in Ohio is a first degree misdemeanor. Joe Mixon investigated in March after shooting at his home Mixon was involved in a separate police investigation after a March shooting at his home. Police opened an investigation after a teenager was shot at Mixon's home in March. The teenager was reportedly shooting nerf guns and ran onto Mixon's property. An unknown suspect allegedly started shooting a gun at the teenager from the backyard of Mixon's house. The teen was struck in the foot and went to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Investigators said Mixon was spotted carrying a weapon he legally owned and registered. He was cleared by police as a suspect. Regardless of the outcome of both investigations, Mixon could still face discipline from the NFL. Last month the City of Lakewood voted to ban overnight camping on public property within 15 miles of Lakewood City Hall. The ordinance goes into effect April 19, and the first violation will result in a misdemeanor. Under the ordinance, those who refuse available shelter may be arrested. The overnight camping ban, and another ban on the use and disposal of dangerous drugs in public, is designed to move people experiencing homelessness into shelters and direct them to resources, as well as reduce crime and increase public safety, city officials say. Lakewood Communications Manager Brynn Grimley said the ban gives police another tool to keep the community safe and prevent illegal activities that harm public life and the environment. Arrests Grimley said arrests will be up to the discretion of Lakewood police officers and their current workloads. Those arrested for a misdemeanor will likely be sent to the Nisqually Public Safety Facility, she said. Lakewood police officers are familiar with the citys homeless community and continue to work with the behavioral health contact team to engage people and connect them to resources, Grimley said. Theres a bunch of resources that our officers work hard to try to get people connected with. So really, this ordinance is more for the situation where the person or the individuals are just really being difficult, Grimley said. Theyre refusing to leave, theyre causing a problem, its unsafe. Theyre leaving their waste behind, both their garbage and their human waste. You know, its an unsanitary situation, its an unsafe situation for them and the public. Thats really where this is going to come into play. Community Service According to the ordinance, before someone is fined for violating the overnight camping ban, the court shall make an inquiry as to a persons ability to pay. If they cannot pay, the court is explicitly authorized to order performance of community service or work crew in lieu of a monetary penalty. Story continues Grimley said any court-ordered community service would be determined by a judge. So, how many shelter beds are available in Lakewood? Grimley said as of March 30 there were eight emergency shelter beds available within city limits. At Aspen Court, a south Tacoma hotel that was converted into a temporary shelter in 2021, the City of Lakewood has 12 beds reserved for Lakewood referrals, Grimley said. Ex-workers at Aspen Court recently described unsafe conditions and mismanagement at the transitional shelter, according to an investigation from The News Tribune published in March. The City of Lakewood also pays for an allocation of bed nights at Catholic Community Services and Tacoma Rescue Mission, according to the citys website. The number of unique clients from Lakewood served by emergency shelters rose 46% from 2017 to 2022, according to a locally-administered data system that records and analyzes homelessness information. According to the data system, in that time period the city of Lakewood referred 2,645 people to 60 different shelters operated by a variety of organizations, including Catholic Community Services, the Low Income Housing Institute, The Salvation Army, Tacoma Rescue Mission and the YWCA. Canton Police Department, Ohio CANTON A frantic caller told a 911 dispatcher early Friday morning that someone drove by their Otto Place NE home and shot up the house. Now a man was lying on the floor "bleeding out." "He's bleeding please hurry up," the caller kept telling the dispatcher in a 911 call obtained by the Canton Repository. In the background, a woman could be heard screaming "Oh my god," while a man was urging people in the house to leave in his car. The caller said there were children in the house. It is unclear how many people were at the home at the time of the shooting. City police are investigating the shooting death of Bryson Barksdale, 35, of Canton. They have no suspects. Officers were dispatched to the 1900 block of Otto Place NE for a report of a shooting around 12:30 a.m. Friday morning. When police arrived on the scene, officers found the victim with a gunshot wound to his neck. He was unresponsive. The Stark County Coroner's Office pronounced the victim dead at the scene. Police said they have no suspects in the case. Before the frantic call from those inside the house, dispatch received a call from a woman in the 2000 block of Third Street NE. The caller reported hearing eight gunshots from an unknown location but she said cars just came speeding past her house. She told the dispatcher she has several cameras at her home and that police were welcome to review the video. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Canton Police Detective Bureau at 330-489-3144. Anonymous tips can also be sent through Tip411 or the Stark County Crime Stoppers. Sign up for Tip411 at www.cantonohio.gov/police. Reach Amy at 330-775-1135 or amy.knapp@indeonline.com. On Twitter: @aknappINDE This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton police investigating shooting death of Bryson Barksdale Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas Bohemian Grove, an all-male club for the rich and powerful, is in the news after it was reported that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas visited the retreat with a billionaire friend. A report by investigative news outlet ProPublica revealed that Justice Thomas accepted luxury trips around the world from billionaire Republican donor Harlan Crow. This included a visit to the Bohemian Grove. Located in remote Sonoma County, north of San Francisco, Bohemian Grove's exclusivity and secrecy has inspired both protests and conspiracy theories. The club that runs the retreat insists that business talk is forbidden. But reports say some of America's most powerful men have cut deals and networked amid an odd assortment of performances and rituals at the 150-year-old club. How did it start? The Bohemian Club was started by journalists, artists and musicians in San Francisco in 1872 - Mark Twain was an early member. Bohemian Club members pictured in the early 20th Century The two-week encampment at Bohemian Grove, a 2,700 wooded rural retreat, began six years later as a send-off for an actor who was moving to New York City. Over time the artsy roots of the club expanded to include businesspeople and politicians. Members are allowed to bring guests but the gathering is closed to media and outsiders. Who belongs to the club? Although the list of 2,500 members is secret, some information has filtered out, and the club maintains a bare-bones website. Past members include presidents Herbert Hoover, Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon, along with a litany of famous writers, actors and businessmen. The Grove's motto, taken from A Midsummer Night's Dream, is "Weaving spiders come not here" - an admonition against business talk that has been often ignored. Most famously, a planning meeting for the Manhattan Project in 1942 held at the Grove later led to the development of the atomic bomb. What really goes on there? The two-week encampment reportedly involves stage performances, rituals, a lot of drinking and open-air urination. Story continues Over the years, anti-capitalist, environmental and anti-nuclear demonstrators have protested against the event, although a local news report last year noted the protests have become smaller over time. Journalists have repeatedly tried to infiltrate the gathering. A 1989 article in Spy magazine called the encampment "the most exclusive frat party on earth" and detailed a speech by Mr Reagan, who had just left office. In the year 2000, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones snuck in and recorded one of the club's rituals, the burning of an effigy. He made a documentary filled with lurid accusations about grand plots and human sacrifice. He was accompanied by the journalist Jon Ronson who had an altogether different take. He later wrote: "My lasting impression was of an all-pervading sense of immaturity I wondered whether the Bohemians shroud themselves in secrecy for reasons no more sinister than they thought it was cool." The club is currently advertising vacancies for bartenders, security officers and other jobs for this summer's events - what is not known however is who will be the attendees. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas failed to disclose luxury vacations, superyacht trips and private jet travel he took from GOP megadonor Harlan Crow, according to ProPublica. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas failed to disclose luxury vacations, superyacht trips and private jet travel he took from GOP megadonor Harlan Crow, according to ProPublica. What are the ethical boundaries for people who have political power and influence? I once invited a local lawmaker to lunch for an interview. Lunch would be on me. He wouldnt allow it. I wouldnt even let you buy me a cup of coffee at Starbucks, he told me. At least that was a good thing, since Im not exactly a fan of Starbucks. But we did the interview, and we split the lunch tab. Im pretty sure hed have turned down a chance to go island-hopping on some billionaires yacht. Not Clarence Thomas. Nearly every year for the past two decades, the Supreme Court justice enjoyed luxury vacations and free travel at the invitation of GOP megadonor and conservative billionaire Harlan Crow. Were only now learning about this because Thomas disclosed none of it. It took an investigation by ProPublica to bring the story to light, and we find ourselves in that familiar void between whats not illegal and whats unethical. It shouldnt be too hard to decipher. A 4-year-old child can make the distinction. Run out and find me a 4-year-old child, Groucho Marx once joked. ProPublica spoke to several experts on disclosure laws and ethics. Like most government officials, like most government employees, Supreme Court justices are required to report all gifts every year on a public filing. If they dont reimburse the value of the gift, it has to be disclosed. The threshold requiring disclosure for Supreme Court justices is $415. The cost of renting a private jet for domestic travel is $70,000, according to ProPublicas investigation. Only once in 20 years 1997 has Thomas disclosed receiving a private jet trip on Crows Bombardier Global 5000. Several experts on the issues of disclosure and ethics who spoke to ProPublica agreed: Failure to report the gifts is a violation of the disclosure law. Story continues In a nutshell, Thomas was required to disclose gifts valued over $415, including travel. He has been getting private jet flights every year to the tune of $70,000 a pop, not to mention cruises and trips around the world. Its millions of dollars in gifts, and he didnt report a dime of it. Federal rules on gifts and disclosure are stringent. Employees cannot accept any personal gift from a vendor or consultant that exceeds $20 without reporting it. They are warned regularly and typically required to take mandatory annual ethics training to remind them of this simple rule. The same is true for many who work in the private sector. In some operations, employees must disclose the gifts they returned. Or it is mandatory to take an annual ethics compliance course complete with a test to prove your training in the company code of conduct. You would then sign off on that training with the understanding your employer would terminate you for any violations. A federal employee once told me that if he took too many branded pens and Post-it notes from a vendor, that mere appearance of impropriety could cost him his job. The reason for all this is obvious: Accepting any form of gift opens the door to a potential quid pro quo for the giver of such gifts. A federal judge is under strict rules about accepting any gratuities. One federal judge told ProPublica that when making dinner reservations, she would never use her title as a judge to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. It was a question of not wanting to use the office for anything other than what it was intended, she said. The code of conduct for federal judges has never applied to the Supreme Court only to federal judges below that level. According to Chief Justice John Roberts, members of the high court consult that code for guidance. The Supreme Court has been left almost entirely to police itself. However, recently updatedfiling instructions for the judiciary now require Supreme Court justices to follow tougher financial disclosure requirements surrounding gifts. Harlan Crow has been a major Republican donor for decades and has deep connections with conservative pro-business politics. He helped found the influential anti-tax group Club for Growth, which openly pushed to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which has gone before the Supreme Court more than once. Crow has donated to the Federalist Society, a group central in the Supreme Courts shift to the right. He was a backer of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, a group that successfully assailed John Kerrys war record in the 2004 presidential campaign. In 2011, he donated half a million dollars to a Tea Party group founded by Ginni Thomas, which also paid her annual salary of $120,000. He also heavily supports FreedomWorks, a group opposing President Joe Bidens student loan relief plan. For over 25 years, hes been on the board of the American Enterprise Institute, a staunchly conservative think tank. He also sits on the board of the Hoover Institution, another conservative think tank. But the full scale of Crows patronage is unknown, given donations to groups that keep their donors secret. I dont disclose what Im not required to disclose, Crow once told The New York Times. And there is still much we dont know about the relationship between Crow and Thomas, partly because so much of what Thomas knows remained secret for many years. In a statement to ProPublica, Crow insisted there was never any form of influence peddling: We have never asked about a pending or lower court case, and Justice Thomas has never discussed one, and we have never sought to influence Justice Thomas on any legal or political issue. More generally, I am unaware of any of our friends ever lobbying or seeking to influence Justice Thomas on any case, and I would never invite anyone who I believe had any intention of doing that. These are gatherings of friends. Thomas claimed that he was not required to disclose the lavish trips via private plane rides from his billionaire friend. Early in my tenure at the Court, I sought guidance from my colleagues and others in the judiciary, and was advised that this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable, Thomas said in a statement released by the court Friday. I have endeavored to follow that counsel throughout my tenure, and have always sought to comply with the disclosure guidelines. These guidelines are now being changed, as the committee of the Judicial Conference responsible for financial disclosure for the entire federal judiciary just this past month announced new guidance. And, it is, of course, my intent to follow this guidance in the future. I dont care if they discussed cases or not. With the current donation logic in a political world with big corporations and the wealthy donating to conservative politicians to get what they want without discussing it, it simply doesnt pass the sniff test. It doesnt matter that not a single mention of Harlan Crow or his business ever came up during those 20 years. Every case relating to business, be it Crows as a real estate magnate, or any issue of indirect consequence water regulation, zoning, workers compensation affects the bottom line of a billionaire. Isnt it conceivable that Crow could benefit his bottom line with every drink and every meal he served the Thomases? Just having a chat over dinner is bound to influence Thomas in some way or another. Its like saying, Yeah, I hang out with Dave, a card-carrying Communist, but we never discuss politics. Just being around someone can influence your thinking. Its the reason we have mandatory gift reporting. How can Supreme Court justices have weaker ethics rules than the average government worker? How could an individual so learned in the law not understand the appearance of impropriety? There is something wrong with the reality of being ruled by an unaccountable group of clerics with lifetime appointments who get to decide our laws. It practically goes without saying that if one of the courts three liberal justices had been doing what Thomas has been doing throughout their tenure, Republicans would be screaming bloody murder. If Sonya Sotomayor accepted even a single dinner from George Soros, the right-wing media would be apoplectic. Would Democrats and liberals remain quiet if the tables were turned? I dunno, lets ask Al Franken. When this news broke, I imagined people throughout the Fox network shouting into telephones about crafting talking points to make it look as if Clarence Thomas did nothing wrong. Youd be left in a state of complete bewilderment about how they can be so brazen. (What, you mean again?) This shouldnt be a left or right issue, but simply an ethical one. As one ethics lawyer put it to ProPublica: When a justices lifestyle is being subsidized by the rich and famous, it absolutely corrodes public trust. And that is the point. Legal experts can say what they will, but the way the public sees it, or should see it, is pretty simple: Dat dont look good. In a functioning democracy, Thomas would be impeached immediately. His failure to report the flights appears to violate a law passed after Watergate that requires justices, judges, members of Congress, and federal officials to disclose most gifts. Dont hold your breath on an impeachment. In Congress, the House launches an impeachment proceeding. The Senate handles the trial. You do know who controls the House, right? Good luck getting Marjorie Taylor Greene to give Kevin McCarthy permission to let anybody even mention it on the floor. If Thomas were a Democrat, the GOP would be screaming for him to step down immediately, and he probably would. But because hes a Republican, no one in the GOP will call for him to step down because everyone knows theres no chance he ever will. Just ask George Santos. But fear not, good citizen. Surely John Roberts will do something. He would never let anything tarnish the legitimacy of his court! A fundamental problem with our democracy is that bribery is legal and baked into the system. A fundamental mistake has been to assume that a Supreme Court justice would be ethical beyond reproach because they get a job for life. But they are human beings with flaws and personal biases, just like anyone else. They should be subject to the same ethical standards, just like anyone else. People of influence should avoid even the hint of impropriety in their dealings, especially those with the power to make and interpret laws. Isnt this what the nation is dealing with now with Donald Trump? Have you ever seen the film American Gangster? Or Serpico? Those are based on true stories about corrupt cops who took drug money to look the other way. When they got caught, and they did, they went to jail. Bad enough that Ginni Thomas has been deeplyinvolved in conservative advocacy for many years, disturbingly so given who shes married to. What Clarence Thomas has been doing for the past 20 years is even more brazen: a Supreme Court justice behaving as if he is above the law. And if it isnt a question of law, how about a question of public trust? The Supreme Court has maintained that they it does not have a code of conduct because it doesnt need one. Its clear now that the honorables have always needed one. One wonders, too, how many fellow justices looked the other way in the face of clear ethical violations. Im not even sure we need a rule to prohibit this sort of thing. Any citizen of even pedestrian knowledge can see this is entirely unacceptable. How can the high court have any credibility now? We cant even call it a high court anymore, can we? We want to believe that no one is above the law. Does that also hold for Supreme Court justices? What if it isnt a law, but a question of ethics? Should we also live by a code that says an ethical violation should result in a punishment similar to illegal behavior? The possibility always troubles us that public officials in service to the electorate and the nation might fall prey to temptation that can compromise their ethics. Its one of many things that makes us suspicious about government, that makes us mistrust government. If that is an accurate reading of the electorate, then what do we say about people who violate those ethical standards. And what should we do about them? The ProPublica investigation has given us yet another reason the Supreme Court enjoys little respect anymore and no longer deserves any. As if we needed another reminder that we are at the mercy of a tiny group of people. In closing, Ill just say this: I believe you, Anita. Edgewood Middle School has a new look and a lot of interior changes, including a three-story learning commons. (Gavin Good (Lake County News-Sun)) Hundreds of middle schoolers returned from spring break this week to a completely renovated Edgewood Middle School. The project to renovate Edgewood was the final piece of the first phase of a long-range plan adopted by North Shore District 112 in 2018 to modernize its schools. Advertisement The reopening made for a great day on Monday for students and teachers, who had been holding classes at Elm Place Middle School, which was closed in 2018. Eighth grader Dara Babalola said she appreciates the openness of the redesigned building. Advertisement Just to see everything, like not in pictures, its so cool, added seventh grader Noa Weinstein. And its a great space for learning. Gone are the old fashioned desks, classrooms and cafeterias that people may envision when thinking back on their grade school experience. Edgewood Middle School's new, three-story commons contains the school's renovated library, stairs designed for comfortable sitting and traditional use and connects to the new cafeteria and second-floor "learning labs." (Gavin Good (Lake County News-Sun)) Instead, Edgewood is now centered around a three-story, commons with a renovated library, stairs built for traditional use and comfortable seating, and it connects to a new cafeteria and the second floor. People on the first floor can look up to see specially designed learning labs, which are meant to be used as breakout or small group classrooms to break the monotony of some school days. Principal Tony Candela called the commons the schools pinnacle spot, and he observed that the new cafeteria is surprisingly quiet compared to the old setup, where students voices would careen off the walls and form a buzzing chorus during lunch periods. English and language arts teacher Jori Miller, who has been in the district in 12 years, said she told her students not to scribble on the tables to keep the new furniture in good shape, and said she is so excited for air conditioning, breaking into a laugh. The reopening completes the first phase of District 112s long range plan to invest $75 million into renovating Edgewood and Northwood, and to carry out long-deferred maintenance updates at Oak Terrace Elementary School, without a dedicated tax increase. A newly designed classroom at Edgewood Middle School in Highland Park. (Gavin Good (Lake County News-Sun)) Voters resoundingly passed a $114 million referendum in November, with nearly 72% in favor, which has cleared the way for District 112 to move onto renovating its elementary schools in accordance with district plans. Pasterz said kids were smiling the whole day on Monday. Once students learned that teachers were able to see the buildings new look, they could hardly wait for themselves, she explained. Advertisement Theres just so much opportunity in so many different spaces, and things that you can use them for, Miller said. Math teacher Melissa Pasterz said it has been a really big transition from the learning cottage she was temporarily set up in at Elm Place, but both she and Miller said the district made the temporary move and move back about as smooth as it could be. The new classrooms come with plenty of perks, from TV displays to personalized seating, mobile teaching podiums and a less centralized setup that they believe will make learning more accessible for some students. I have three TVs on in my classroom that could project different things, or the same thing, Pasterz explained, So no matter where a students sitting, they can all see and you dont have the awkward, like, Let me turn around and try and see behind me. Fine arts spaces got upgrades such as increased storage space and paneling specifically designed to limit noise emitted outside the room, while improving acoustics within. (Gavin Good (Lake County News-Sun)) Babalola, who plays the saxophone, said she is most looking forward to using the new band room. Like Candela, Weinstein is a big fan of the new cafeteria, too, where students can select different sized tables. Advertisement Maybe you usually sit with a group of 10 kids and youre all smooshed on a bench, Weinstein said. Theres more options for you (now), and theres also smaller tables, Superintendent Michael Lubelfeld called the new building the future, and said it is built to serve the community for the next 50 to 100 years. He thanked teachers, maintenance and support staff, architects and everyone he said played a role in the, all-hands-on-deck effort. Put your heads together, get the right teams together, we can do anything, Lubelfeld said. And our teachers and our students are the benefactors of it. Other renovations include a significantly larger gymnasium that Candela called state of the art, and a brand-new auditorium with a capacity around 350 and video livestreaming technology. Edgewoods reopening follows Northwood Middle Schools reopening after a similar renovation project in 2021, and students also moved temporarily to Elm Place during that construction process. The new auditorium at Edgewood Middle School seats about 350 and is also equipped to livestream video. (Gavin Good (Lake County News-Sun)) Lubelfeld said, Safety is sadly, but necessarily, top of mind for administrators and the community, and that the newly reopened building makes major strides in equipping the school to react in the event that anyone comes to the building to do harm. Advertisement The building allows for more natural light to filter into school, but glass around the building is designed to be bullet-resistant and to give people time to flee to other rooms in an emergency. Blue police alarm buttons are in different locations, similar to fire alarms, which immediately summon police to the school if pushed. And visitors are checked very closely before they are allowed to enter the building. You have to buzz in the first door, Lubelfeld said. You cant even gain access out of the vestibule unless you have a reason. We do check your background. We got way stricter this year than we ever have been after (the Fourth of July parade shooting). In the next three years, Indian Trail, Ravinia and Sherwood elementary schools are set to undergo extensive renovations, while Wayne Thomas and Braeside elementary schools are slated for renovations in 2025 and 2026. Sherwood Elementary School is scheduled to have a new gymnasium added before 2025, ahead of full renovations expected to occur in 2026 or 2027, according to districts long-range plan. North Shore District 112 operates 10 schools serving more than 3,500 students in Highland Park and Highwood. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas responded Friday to mounting criticism over his luxury vacations funded by a billionaire conservative mega-donorstressing that the pair are long-time friends and the jaunts were simply personal hospitality rather than business-related. In a statement from the court, Thomas said hed had a decades-long relationship with Harlan Crow, a wealthy Texas businessman who ProPublica revealed on Thursday had funded at least five trips for Thomas since 2008. Among the trips, the outlet reported, included stays on the Republican donors 162-foot superyacht and private resorts. Harlan and Kathy Crow are among our dearest friends, and we have been friends for over twenty-five years, Thomas said. As friends do, we have joined them on a number of family trips during the more than quarter century we have known them. The bombshell article has spurred criticism and raised questions about whether accepting gifts from a wealthy donor could create a conflict of interest for a member of the countrys highest court. ProPublica reported that for years, Thomas has failed to disclose hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gifts on his annual financial disclosures, which are intended to provide transparency about the Supreme Court. In a statement to ProPublica, Crow said that Thomas and his wife, Ginni, never asked for any of this hospitality, nor did the group ever discuss a court case. Several congressional Democrats, however, have expressed outrage and called for an investigation into Thomasand even for the justice to be impeached. The highest court in the land shouldnt have the lowest ethical standards, Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin (D-IL) said in a Thursday statement, vowing that his committee would act on the matter. This behavior is simply inconsistent with the ethical standards the American people expect of any public servant, let alone a justice on the Supreme Court. Thomas, however, pushed back on Friday, insisting that the trips were not related to his judicial duties because they were personal in nature. Story continues Early in my tenure at the Court, I sought guidance from my colleagues and others in the judiciary, and was advised that this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable, he added. I have endeavored to follow that counsel throughout my tenure, and have always sought to comply with the disclosure guidelines. Thomas went on to acknowledge that these guidelines are now being changed, as the committee of the Judicial Conference responsible for financial disclosure for the entire federal judiciary just this past month announced new guidance. And, it is, of course, my intent to follow this guidance in the future, he said. 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. Thousands of dollars in sign-on bonuses and college scholarships will help get more nurses in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, county officials say. Under Operation Nurse in Every School (NIES), presented this week to Mecklenburg County commissioners, public health nurses could get anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 in sign-on bonuses depending on the degrees theyve attained. The incentives would be distributed at their hire and completion of their first year. It would require a two-year employment commitment. Angela Lee, Mecklenburg County assistant director for preventative health, says theyre finalizing plans for scholarships to the University of North Carolina-Charlotte and for Northeastern University-Charlotte nursing students. County staff are talking to Central Piedmont Community college about other ways to increase the nurse pipeline and talking about ways to promote retention. This is our commitment to the professional standards of excellence that provide excellent care to our students, Lee said. In this 2012 file photo, school nurse Patty OBrien examines a student at Ballantyne Elementary School. Mecklenburg County wants to use incentives to help put nurses in every Charlotte-Mecklenburg school. CMS has too many vacancies Mecklenburg County provides 126 full-time and 17 part-time school nurses to CMS, county Health Director Raynard Washington told The Charlotte Observer. Washington says there are more than 50 full-time nurse vacancies in school health, and the program vacancy rate stays around 30%. Its been a prevalent issue since 2013 when they added 36 positions. We need to close the gap, Washington said. CMS spokesperson Vicki Grooms told the Observer schools must identify at least two first responders who are trained and certified in first aid and CPR when a building has to go without a nurse for any amount of time. Even if they have a nurse in the building, they cant guarantee they are available for every situation, Grooms said. So the first responders are trained to support and assist. If a student is sick at school and the nurse is not available, there are staff trained to help administer medications and support. Story continues If the nurse is not in the building, the staff in the school are left to help with minor bumps or bruises and call parents for more serious illnesses or injuries, Grooms said. Challenges outside of Charlotte, too Washington says Mecklenburg County faces national and local challenges when it comes to finding and keeping school nurses. Nationally, there is a school nursing shortage, and 27% of nurses leave their jobs per year, according to data presented to commissioners. Theres also a decline in nursing program enrollment. Of those enrolled in nursing programs, 67% are on track for an associate degree. About 7,000 people enrolled in North Carolina pre-licensure programs in 2020, down about 3,000 applicants from the previous two years, according to a report from the North Carolina Board of Nursing. County Commissioner Arthur Griffin Jr. serves as a trustee at Central Piedmont and said students often have difficulty passing the test to get into the registered nurse track at the community college. Have we ever thought about in addition to these wonderful solutions we work with our hospitals and have nursing clubs or nursing activities so the younger students can understand early on what it takes? Griffin asked during a presentation to commissioners this week Lee said she liked Griffins idea. If the problem isnt fixed, it could lead to the countys inability to meet its community commitment to place a full-time nurse in each school. Fewer school nurses also means an increased workload and stress on those who are in the field, resulting in lower job satisfaction. This further threatens our workforce, Lee said. Theres also a potential for poorer health outcomes. Another problem facing Mecklenburg County: competition. Area hospitals may have a sweeter deal that what the countys proposed so far. Area hospitals are offering up to $20,000 sign-on bonuses, $7,500 in relocation assistance, tuition reimbursement and flexibility to study for advanced degrees, according to the countys presentation. Bill on CMS wishlist CMS school board members, as part of their legislative agenda, asked for ways to minimize school nurse vacancies in January. Mecklenburg Reps. John Bradford, a Republican, Carla Cunningham, a Democrat, and Tricia Cotham, who says she plans to change from Democrat to Republican, are three of four primary sponsors of House Bill 382 that would allow non-certified registered nurses who have at least two years of experience in a hospital or health clinic to serve as school nurses. The N.C. House unanimously passed the bill last week, the News & Observer reported, and is awaiting the Senates approval. The bill has bipartisan support and would provide students greater access to school nurses. This would basically expand the types of nurses that can work as employees in our schools, Bradford told the News & Observer. Bradford said nationally certified nurses are typically those who have a bachelors degree. He said the bill would open up eligibility to nurses who have two-year degrees and three-year diplomas. CNNs Van Jones had a tense exchange with Tennessee state Rep. Jeremy Faison, the chair of the Republican Caucus, saying in the interview that state Republicans had been unreasonable in expelling two Black Democrats over a floor protest on gun violence. If you are here saying you want this legislature to be respected, why are you not following the rules and using the tools that you have? Jones asked Faison during the exchange. You want them to not be extreme, but youre being extreme. Why is that? Faison noted that there was a lot of accusation on your part there to Jones, before claiming that Republican lawmakers followed the rules. We gave them ample chance. We established what was taking place on Monday. There was due process, Faison said, adding, It is not just up to me. Theres actually 71, I think, or 70, of the members who after looking at what took place today they voted to expel one of them. Jones then interrupted the Tennessee state lawmaker to reiterate his question. Im just trying to understand why did you not go to the Ethics Committee and do the things that are always done in that body? Jones said. You have not done this to anybody except for two people in 200 years. You cant tell me that there have not been people who have also been disruptive. I dont understand why you skipped the Ethics Committee if you want respect, he added. And if you want for people to be reasonable, why are you being so unreasonable and why are you skipping steps? Faison emphasized that the decision to expel the Democratic lawmakers was the choice of the majority of his caucus. What you need to understand is this is a body of people who decide corporately what were gonna do moving forward, Faison said. This body spoke many times. I brought our caucus together several times since last Thursday to ask the body what we as a group wanted to do. The overwhelming majority the heartbeat of this caucus says, Not on this House floor. Not this way. Story continues He added that the Republican caucus, which currently maintains supermajority control of the chamber, decided they did not want to go the Ethics route or have the lawmakers censured. When youre in leadership, you encourage people to look at all the aspects and then you work with what the majority of your people want to do, he said. Faison ultimately cut the interview short, after a similarly tense exchange with CNNs Sara Sidner. As CNNs Kaitlan Collins attempted to jump in with another question, the Tennessee state lawmaker walked off camera. Representative, I know youve got a long drive home, one final question for you, Collins started, before adding, Alright, well, Chairman Faison has left us. The Tennessee House voted to expel state Reps. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) and Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) on Thursday for leading chants from the House floor last week, following a shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville that killed six people. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Aurora Police Department arrested two suspects this week after finding a missing man covered in concrete inside a home's crawlspace, officials announced. Casie Bock, a 29-year-old woman who lived in the home, was arrested Tuesday night and charged with accessory to homicide. Haskel Leroy Crawford, a 38-year-old man who was already facing homicide charges in nearby Jefferson County in an unrelated case, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder on Thursday. Police originally received a tip on Monday that a 36-year-old man who has been missing since last summer was murdered inside a condo in the Denver suburb of Aurora. The caller stated that the victim was buried in a crawl space. Detectives obtained a search warrant for the home and found the victim entombed in concrete underneath the floor. Outside contractors are working with authorities on excavating the body, which could take through the end of the week. THIRD FLORIDA TEEN DIES IN SUSPECTED GANG-LINKED TRIPLE HOMICIDE READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Bock told police that Crawford, her ex-boyfriend and the mother of her two children, murdered their neighbor, 36-year-old Karl Beaman, some time last summer, according to an arrest affidavit. Crawford became convinced that Beaman was a police informant after the pair almost got caught stealing catalytic converters, the affidavit said. Beaman's mother started asking for help finding her son in early July last year, writing on her Facebook that she filed a missing person report and that he drove a yellow Nissan Xterra. She also created a separate page to enlist other people's help. After one of Bock's neighbors left a comment on the page saying that Bock confessed to burying Beaman while high on drugs, Beaman's mother called in the tip to police. Bock, who is being held on a $150,000 bond, told police that Crawford "forced her" to help put Beaman's body underneath the floor then buried it in concrete the next day. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Colorado authorities arrested a 19-year-old suspect for allegedly planning to shoot up multiple schools in Colorado Springs. The 18th Judicial District Attorneys Office on Thursday said the defendant, William Whitworth, who identified as "Lilly" and according to a DA spokesman was in the process of transitioning to female. William Whitworth's preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 5. Whitworth is charged with two counts of first-degree criminal attempt to commit murder, criminal mischief, menacing, and interference with staff, faculty, or students of educational institutions. Deputies with the Elbert County Sheriffs Office responded to a disturbance call in the 13900 block of Double Tree Ranch Circle in the Town of Elbert last Friday, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by FOX 21. NASHVILLE KILLER AUDREY HALE SLEPT WITH JOURNALS ON SCHOOL SHOOTINGS UNDER BED, COURT DOCS REVEAL A family member reportedly told 911 dispatchers that her "sister" had threatened to shoot up a school and had anger problems. The house deputies were sent to the house, which was littered with trash and had containers with half-eaten food, making it difficult to walk inside. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The deputies were directed to a room where Whitworth was sleeping, the affidavit says. The room was filled with trash as high as the bed, and there were holes in the wall. During questioning, Whitworth admitted to planning a school shooting, with the suspect's former middle school, Timberview, being a "main target," according to the affidavit. Arrest papers showed deputies found a drawn layout of the school and a manifesto filled with "schizophrenic rants" and mentions of serial killers, politicians, and entertainers, including the Columbine shooters and former President Trump. Whitworths preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 5. Bond was set at $75,000. Covenant School shooter Audrey Hale walks past the Children's Ministry desk. Academy District 20 told Fox News Digital that staff and parents were notified of the threats. "We are filled with gratitude for those who saw something/heard something and spoke up," a district spokesperson said in a statement. Story continues The district said the court had ordered a protection order for Timberview Middle School, Pioneer Elementary School and Pine Creek High School. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Elbert County Sheriffs Office for additional details. Whitworths arrest came just days after a woman who used "he/him" pronouns entered a private Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee, and killed six people including three children. House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., this week defended his decision to gather information about President Biden's possible connections to Hunter Biden's business dealings from whistleblowers without giving committee Democrats access to those witnesses. Comer said some witnesses fear being outed by Democrats, which justifies the move to collect information from them without exposing them to Democratic members of the committee. "Multiple individuals have approached the Oversight Committee as whistleblowers with a desire to share information confidentially," Comer said Thursday. "It should be no surprise that whistleblowers do not trust Ranking Member [Jamie] Raskin. He has revealed himself to be untrustworthy by releasing disingenuous, misleading financial information from the Committees investigation. A spokesperson for the committee added that Republicans are protecting these witnesses from Democrats who have shown a willingness to expose them. COMER DEMANDS BIDEN CORRECT HIS 'DISHONEST' DENIAL THAT FAMILY GOT $1M FROM HUNTER'S CHINA DEAL House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer, left, and Rep. Jamie Raskin. "Democrats have attempted to undermine the committees investigation into the Biden familys business schemes at every turn," the spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "Its understandable why whistleblowers dont want their identities and the information they are providing to be shared with the Democrats." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "Chairman Comer is protecting these whistleblowers," the spokesperson added. Comer's statement was released on the same day that the top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., accused Republicans of "deliberately" withholding information about witnesses in the investigation. "It has been nearly three months since you assumed responsibility of the Committee, and in that time, I have grown increasingly alarmed by your efforts to shield information from Committee Democrats, including information collected as part of your investigation into members of the Presidents family," Raskin wrote to Comer. Story continues REP. JAMES COMER SAYS TWO COUNTY ATTORNEYS HAVE ASKED HIM HOW THEY CAN 'GO AFTER THE BIDENS' "[T]his failure to act transparently and candidly, and to provide the Minority with equal access to Committee information, undermines your pledge to pursue a credible investigation based on facts that is fair and balanced,'" Raskin added. Comer fired back that Raskin is "playing lawyer for the Biden family" and said the information Republicans have collected so far show clear links between Hunter Biden and the Biden family, including President Biden. "Just a few weeks ago, when making public the Oversight Committees first subpoena to a bank, Ranking Member Raskin tried to brush away the documents as just purchases at Papa Johns and Starbucks, conveniently omitting, as just one example, a Chinese companys $3 million wire to an associate of the Biden family who proceeded to transfer more than $1 million of it to various Biden family accounts," Comer said. REP COMER CLAIMS TESTIMONY BY BIDEN'S FORMER ASSISTANT ON CLASSIFIED DOCS 'UNDERMINES' WHITE HOUSE'S NARRATIVE "Given his antics with the first bank subpoena, the American people and media should be asking what information Ranking Member Raskin is trying to hide with his latest distraction," Comer said. "No one should be fooled by Ranking Member Raskins games. We have the bank records, and the facts are not good for the Biden family," Comer concluded. From left, Tennessee state Reps. Justin Pearson, Justin Jones and Gloria Johnson hold their hands up as they exit the House Chamber doors at Tennessee Capitol in Nashville. (Nicole Hester / The Tennessean via AP) The churn of local politics rarely makes national news unless the outlet happens to be C-SPAN, but headlines, history and careers were made during proceedings at Tennessees State Capitol on Thursday when a GOP supermajority voted to expel two of three Democratic legislators for their participation in a gun control rally. In a brazen act of political retribution, Democratic Reps. Justin Jones, Gloria Johnson and Justin Pearson were accused of violating decorum rules for their part in a protest last week on the House floor following a mass shooting at a private school in Nashville where six people including three 9-year-olds were slain. Jones and Pearson, who are Black, were expelled by the Republican legislators. Johnson, who is White, was not. And it was all caught on live feeds from the chamber and local news outlets. The vote was stunning, even now, when defying the rule of law is practically a badge of honor among many right-wing leaders. The ousting was so brazen it could have been pulled from another era, before social media or smartphone cameras, when decisions made in smoke-filled rooms shaped politics and the authoritarian impulses of local officials could be more easily hidden from the rest of the country. By plowing ahead like no one was watching but a handful of colleagues and young protesters, the architects of the expulsion unwittingly engineered a national inflection point in the fight over gun control, systemic racism and the GOPs troubling embrace of dictatorial governance. And overnight, Jones and Pearson became rock stars among the Democratic Party and legions of voiceless young people, a galvanizing force for solutions to the problem of gun violence that have had plenty of support in polls but few singular voices to coalesce into a broader movement. Visually, and in their oratorical skills, both men invoked the passion and unifying power of civil rights-era leaders while speaking to the continued inequity and political stalemates of the 21st century. At once classic and fresh, their choice of clothing alluded to the cuts of the 1960s, which only added to its present-day edge, and they spoke with a conviction that echoed the poetic ferocity of Martin Luther King Jr., the steadfast conviction of Malcolm X and the urgency of their own generation, which has come of age in arguably one of the most contentious periods in U.S. history. Story continues What we see today is a lynch mob assembled not to lynch me but our democratic process, said Jones, dressed in a white suit and speaking in a measured tone from the chamber podium Thursday before he was voted out. This is your attempt to expel the voices of the people from the people's house. It will not be successful. Your overreaction, your flexing of false power has awakened a generation of people who will let you know that your time is up. The world is watching." Onlookers in the chamber yelled Shame! as the majority voted to expel Jones. Across social media platforms and cable news channels, millions, including many far from Tennessee, witnessed Jones' speech and the impassioned words from Pearson that followed: "You are seeking to expel District 86's representation from this House in a country that was built on a protest," Pearson said. "You, who celebrate July 4, 1776, pop fireworks and eat hot dogs, you say to protest is wrong, because you spoke out of turn. Because you spoke up for people who are marginalized. You spoke up for children who won't ever be able to speak again. You spoke up for parents who don't want to live in fear, you spoke up for Larry Thorn, who was murdered by gun violence. You spoke up for people that we don't want to care about." Jones, Pearson and Johnson were accused of violating decorum because they used a bullhorn on the chamber floor during the protest last week. They reportedly led the protest when they hadnt been recognized to speak under House rules. How remarkable is their expulsion? Up until Thursday, according to the Tennessean newspaper, the state House had only expelled two members since Reconstruction, and they had been accused of sexual misconduct and bribery, respectively. Which made it all the more clear that Republican legislators, who appeared largely white and male in the footage from the floor, were sending a message to everyone else: Stay in your place. Jones, Pearson and Johnson had their own clear, interracial and intergenerational message in return as they walked through the Capitol, and into the national media spotlight, holding their hands in the air: We will not stand for the politics of exclusion and retribution, and neither should you. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A complaint has been filed against Malden-based SunSetter products for allegedly waiting to report dangers with their awning covers. The US Attorneys Office says Sunsetter didnt warn consumers that it its covers for retractable awnings could spring open suddenly. The complaint alleges that between 2012 and 2017, Sunsetter received 14 reports of their motorized awnings popping open, resulting in several injuries and one death. According to the USA Attorneys Office, Sunsetter did not report the issues until October 2017, years after the first issue was reported. The covers were recalled in 2019 after close to 20 years on the market. Prompt reporting of potentially dangerous defects or problems with products is vital to impactful and immediate consumer protection. CPSC cannot do its job without strict compliance by industry. The defect in this matter, as alleged, can cause serious injury up to and including death, said United States Attorney Rachael Rollins in a statement. Manufacturers must be held accountable for failing to comply with this important obligation which jeopardizes the safety of consumers. The Consumer Product Safety Act requires manufacturers to immediately report products that may have dangerous defects. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Chocolate Easter bunny Credit - Ania TuzelGetty Images Recently, my wife and I were talking about how overwhelming it can be to explain to our children what is good and important about Holy Week. Whatever theological knowledge that we manage to dispense inevitably gets misinterpreted, sometimes in hilarious yet troubling ways. One year, my son, frustrated by his toddler siblings tantrum, suggested, We should send her to the cross. A Good Friday-themed assertion to be sure, but not the catechetical takeaway parents hope for. For many Christians in the U.S., Easter is an occasion to celebrate the good news of Jesus resurrectionoftentimes with chocolate bunnies and Cadbury eggs faithfully involved. But Easter is a more complicated holiday that its saccharine, festive connotations let on. Even when Christians have done their best to convey the deep importance of the cross and resurrection for our lives, this message is often misconstrued or missed altogether. Take, for instance, one of its most visible consumerist associations: The sartorial choices American Christians have come to embrace on Easter. As middle-class Victorian sensibilities took hold in the late 19th century, American Christians increasingly abandoned muted reverence for resurrection and adorned themselves with ever-brightening bonnets, suits, and dresses for the holiday. Reflecting a burgeoning consumer culture, stores marketed new forms of Easter fashion and millinery. It was a religious shift, as historian Leigh Schmidt has written, from self-denial to self-fulfillment. Many today likewise adorn themselves in analogous garb with flowery, fluorescent hues (tailor made looks for social media posts). And even as church attire has grown more informal in recent years, Easter fashion still sells. An estimate from the National Retail Federation puts Easter clothing spending for this year at $4 billion, up from $3.1 billion 10 years ago. Easter is also a holiday that, along with Christmas, intensifies the question of who is a true believer. Talk to a pastor and theyll tell you that Easter Sunday is when many of their parishioners will make their lone annual trip to worship. Google searches for church are the highest right before Easter, likely the result of absentee believers who cant remember what church options are nearby, hoping to pop in to worship. Some pastors embrace Easter as an evangelistic opportunity, a Super Bowl Sunday for the church when it comes to preaching the gospel, as one Baptist mission strategist has put it. For other church leaders it signals a lack of commitment to be lamented and challenged. Either way, the assumption is that those once-a-year attendees are just that: attendees, not real Christians. Easter nominalism is therefore as a sign of secularizationand of a crisis for the American church at large. Story continues Read More: What to Know About the Origins and Meanings of the Major Holy Week Rituals In its consumerist and nominal splendor, Easter is perhaps the holiday that Christians in America deserve. We are a faith captivated by wealth and spectacle, invested in commercial habits that shape our lives more than any liturgy or commitment to social justice ever could. We are also a faith that is declining in terms of membership and denominational health, to say nothing of our impoverished political and social imagination. Every one of these dimensions is personal for me. I am someone who believes strongly in Christs call to simplicity and to economic justice. And yet, I am also entranced by American consumerist habits. Im tempted to wear a suit to church on Easter, and Ive spent more time scrolling mens fashion sites this Lent than practicing spiritual disciplines. And even though I love my churchs services dearly, I understand the pull to other things, especially after a tiring week. More times than Id like to admit, I breathe a sigh of relief when one of my kids has sniffles on Sunday; its a handy excuse to stay home while also maintaining the air of spiritual respectability. Yet, Im comforted by the fact the Easter story itself is one full of self-centeredness and lack of commitment. Consider Peter. On the night of Jesus death, Peter makes a bold promise: Even if all fall away, I will not. Like the churchgoers who show up every Sunday, not just on Easter, Peter knows what true discipleship looks like and is confident he is among the faithful. And yet, Jesus tells Peter that on that very evening you will disown me. And disown Peter does, though not before falling asleep after Jesus asked him to stay awake, and then overcompensating by slicing off the ear of one of members of the arresting party. Jesus reproves Peter in both cases, though the message doesnt stick. As Peter watches Jesus trial from afar, he is accused by onlookers of being among Jesus followers. He grows enraged, cursing and denying the association three times: I dont know this man youre talking about. This is key to the Easter story. We are Peter. Not only are we broken, but the very moment that is the climax of the church calendar is also a crystallization of our selfish impulses, our nominal faith, and our sputtering inability to speak truthfully about God or anything else. And yet, we can take heart, because Christs resurrection is for Peter. As women come to the tomb to anoint Jesus dead body, they find that the stone has been rolled away. A young man in a white robe tells them, Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not hereBut go, tell his disciples and Peter, he is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him In the same breath, Gods messenger announces Christs resurrection and singles out Peter as a recipient of this good news. And Peter is Gods word of friendship towards those who are fixated on themselves. Its Gods work of making all things new, including lifeless, lackadaisical faith. Its Gods reminder for us that, even amidst our mixed motives and selfish habits, we are loved not because we have it all together, but because God is for us. Perhaps then we can be confident in naming the various forms of brokenness present in a narcissistic, dying American church. Resurrection, after all, is for the dead. A person sleeps on the floor of an LA subway station. Robert Gauthier/Getty Images The LA Metro blasted classical music in one of its stations to deter people from hanging out there. But the composer said he wasn't informed his music was being used and demanded Metro stop using it. The station switched the music and turned down the volume this week. The Los Angeles Metro tried a new method of forcing unhoused people out of its stations: playing deafeningly loud classical music. But that came to an end when one composer was informed his work was being used as a deterrent. Over the last few months, Metro authorities have used a variety of methods to force people out of its Westlake/MacArthur Park station, located next to a public park known for drug use, including installing bright lights and cameras and hiring "transit ambassadors" to monitor stations and trains. But it faced pushback when news outlets reported that it was blasting music, including Barcelona-based composer Adrian Berenguer's four-minute piece "Immaterial", which it played on loop. The music was played at an average of 83 decibels and peaked at 90 dB, the Times measured, which is as loud as a leaf blower and can damage hearing after a couple hours of exposure. (A Metro official insisted the music was never louder than 72 dB). "I have not given any permission for my music to be used for these purposes," Berenguer said in a Tuesday tweet in response to the Times story. "I believe that no form of art should be used to discourage or limit freedoms." One rider compared his experience in the station to the dystopian horror classic "A Clockwork Orange." Berenguer tweeted on Thursday that Metro officials had agreed to stop playing his music. The Westlake/MacArthur Park station played different classical music by long-dead composers, including Beethoven and Bach, at lower volumes on Thursday, L.A. Taco reported. Story continues Metro authorities have identified the station, which more than 20,000 riders board trains daily, as a "hot spot" for crime. A Metro spokesperson told L.A. Taco that its efforts had reduced "graffiti, vandalism, loitering and trash/clean-up incidents" by half. Like many other cities' public transit systems, LA has seen its ridership decline significantly in recent years. At the same time, homeless encampments on Metro property have grown into the hundreds and deadly drug overdoses have surged. Serious crime, including rape and assault, lept 24% last year. Read the original article on Business Insider A former Antioch resident has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to threatening two Lake County judges, according to authorities in Lake and DuPage counties. Graydon K. Jackson, 44, entered a guilty plea in DuPage County court Thursday to two counts of threatening a public official. Lake County prosecutors asked DuPage to hear the case to avoid any potential conflicts of interest. Advertisement Jackson was angry at the judges over rulings in his Lake County divorce case and made threats during an October 2021 call to the sheriffs office, authorities said. Jackson was arrested several days later at his home in Arkansas and was extradited to Lake County. Advertisement For our judicial system to operate properly, it is imperative that members of the judiciary or any other officer of the court for that matter, be allowed to perform their duties free from harassment or fear of retribution, DuPage States Attorney Robert Berlin said. This type of behavior must not be allowed to stand and anyone who threatens a public official must be held accountable, he added. Mr. Jackson went much too far expressing his displeasure with the court. Lake Sheriff John Idleburg credited his deputies for their investigation that led to Jacksons arrest. Threatening acts of violence against anyone is unacceptable, Idleburg said. The Congressional Black Caucus blasted the Republican-controlled Tennessee state legislature on Thursday after two out Black Democratic state lawmakers were expelled for participating in a protest against gun violence on the House floor. On Thursday, lawmakers voted to expel state Reps. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) and Justin Pearson (D-Memphis). Their colleague, Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville), who also participated in the demonstration earlier this week, survived her expulsion vote. Johnson is white. Led by Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), the CBC issued a statement Thursday evening condemning the legislatures actions and said the Republican majority chose to abdicate its responsibility to keep their communities safe. Instead of working to keep residents safe from gun violence, they have taken the unprecedented step of expelling two Black members of the Democratic Caucus who chose to stand with families, teachers, and students to demand gun safety reforms and speak truth to power about the reality of gun violence in their community and across our country, the statement read. The targeted expulsions of Rep. Justin Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson two Black duly elected members representing minority districts makes clear that racism is alive and well in Tennessee, it added. The GOP-led House chose to silence dissent from not only the Black representatives in the chamber, but the voices of their constituents as well. This move is not only racist and anti-democratic, it is morally-bankrupt and out of step with the overwhelming majority of Americans who believe that we need common sense gun control reforms to save lives. Protests erupted at the Tennessee state capitol days after a deadly mass shooting at the private Covenant School in Nashville last month. The shooting left three 9-year-old children and three faculty members dead. Jones, Johnson and Pearson led chants on the House floor during the protests. In response, the three were stripped of their committee assignments earlier this week. Story continues In a statement to The Hill, Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) called the actions of Tennessee Republicans straight up fascism in its ugliest, most racist form. That a Black man was expelled for standing up against the murder of childrenbut not his white counterpartsays it all, Lee said, adding Republicans want to protect guns instead of safeguarding kids. They want to put politics over the lives of the people they represent. They ask for safety for themselves, but not for school children, and theyll sacrifice the lives of our loved ones for their lobbyists, she continued. Now is NOT the time to be on the sidelines. We better fight back before its too late. Rep. James Clyburn said he was disturbed by the actions of the state legislator and called the expulsions baseless and undemocratic. Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), an outspoken supporter for gun reform, called the actions an extremist, undue response and blatant abuses of power. Ahead of the expulsion vote on Thursday, the three members, who have become known as the Tennessee Three on social media, walked into the House floor with their fists raised. Hundreds of students from around the state cheered their support for the members. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) also tweeted her support for Jones on Thursday. I am proud of you & your colleagues in TN for holding firm in your commitment to justice, free speech, and gun reform, she said. If those Republican colleagues of yours had an ounce of integrity, theyd be passing bills for safer communities, not political retribution. But it wasnt just Black lawmakers speaking out Thursday. Rev. Al Sharpton, founder and president of the National Action Network, called the expulsion of Jones and Pearson an attack on democracy. How can you remove these lawmakers, who spoke for thousands of Black Tennesseans living under the threat of gun violence every day, but stop short of removing their white colleague and deny this is a racist action? Sharpton said in a statement. The National Action Network stands with our Nashville Chapter in supporting their fundamental right to protest, especially against the gun violence that consistently and persistently impacts Black communities. Still, before the vote that expelled him, Jones had a message for Republicans. To those who here will cast a vote for expulsion, I was fighting for your children, too, to live free from the terror of school shootings, Jones said. If Im expelled from here, Ill be back out there with the people every week demanding that you act. If you expel me, I will continue to show up because this issue is too important, he added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Youve got to give Rep. Tom McClintock this much: Hes consistent. Consistently evasive, that is. The Modesto Bee harbored some hope that the Republican congressman from Elk Grove would discuss with the Editorial Board what hes been up to in the 100 days since he began representing two thirds of Stanislaus County, including most of Modesto and Turlock. One might think a longtime politician with newly acquired territory the new heart of his constituency would be eager to make a good impression, to communicate with his people, to be accountable. But McClintock couldnt be bothered to respond. Its true that his relationship with The Sacramento Bee The Modesto Bees sister McClatchy newspaper, which serves the area McClintock mostly represented before boundaries were redrawn last year has been rocky. He ducked Sacramentos questions for years. When redistricting last year created a bright red Fifth Congressional District stretching from El Dorado County on the north through conservative foothills down to Fresno County, McClintock must have known hed struck the Mother Lode. He knew he barely needed to lift a finger campaigning in such right-leaning country. McClintock ignored invitations from The Modesto Bee by far the largest newspaper in his new district to debate his opponents. And he won more than 61% of the vote. Ducking hard questions McClintock shows up when he knows hell be lobbed only softball questions from a friendly audience, as will surely happen when he speaks April 21 at the Republican Party of Stanislaus Countys Lincoln Day Dinner. He excels at delivering hard-right rhetoric on the federal budget and border policies. The congressman has no problem answering questions of Newsmax and Fox News, and he is a darling of Breitbart and Forbes. Conservative British and Australian news outlets love him, too. Its easy to stay in ones comfort zone, pretending to be accountable when surrounded by like-minded people. Bowing to applause takes no courage. Story continues Answering hard questions is another story. The Bee would want to know why McClintock initially failed to support COVID-19 stimulus relief, then reversed course and voted for another package two weeks later. The Bee would want to learn why McClintock voted against a House proposal to create a commission on reparations, calling it evil to even study the legacy of slavery and possible ways to address it. Where does McClintock stand on Trump? All people in his district, including supporters of former President Donald Trump, ought to hear more about why McClintock last week said Trumps criminal indictment strikes at the heart of our justice system. If hes proud of his message, McClintock should take advantage of a newspapers reach to get it out. McClintock should clarify what he told the San Joaquin Valley Sun a couple of weeks ago about leaning toward DeSantis. He offers all of Donald Trumps policies without the drama. The congressman should expound on why he is among 16 House Republicans who have never even when Trump was president voted to raise the debt ceiling. McClintock should articulate his reasons for stubbornly refusing to seek earmarks, as he calls them, to help the people of his district. While other House Republicans seek and secure tens of millions of dollars in what they term community funding projects expanding internet access, strengthening radio signals in remote areas, improving old sewer systems, hiring more cops, shoring up bridges, widening highways, sprucing up parks and addressing homelessness McClintock has no shame in delivering not one cent to those who put him in office. Instead of seeking funds to fight wildfires imperiling forests where many of his voters live, McClintock sits on his hands. McClintock should disclose why his district office is in El Dorado County, home to 15% of his constituency, instead of in Stanislaus County, where 38% of his voters live the most by far of any of the eight counties he supposedly represents. If he had found the courage to discuss issues, McClintock might have won The Bees praise for introducing in February House Resolution 100, legislation drawing bipartisan support for a secular, Democratic and non-nuclear Iran. He might have proudly explained why he strongly disagree(d) with firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene when she called for a national divorce separating red and blue states. But well never know, because if theres one thing McClintock is consistent about, its avoiding questions. Road construction will impact drivers traveling on U.S. 35 in Greene County next week. >>Kettering drivers to be impacted next week due to construction The Ohio Department of Transportation will be doing a resurfacing projection starting Monday, April 10, on U.S. 35 between the Old US 35 and Greene/Fayette County line, according to an ODOT spokesperson. This includes pavement and resurfacing, minor bridge repairs and paving the ramps. A minimum of one lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction, ODOT said. It will cost $4.9 million to complete the project. The construction project is scheduled to be finished by the fall of 2023. Washington farmers began cutting asparagus in the Mid-Columbia this week. Its too late to appear on most Easter menus, but the first crop of the season is beginning to appear. Theres a field over by Burbank thats always the earliest in the state, said Alan Schrieber, executive director of the Washington Asparagus Commission and an asparagus grower in Ephrata, north of Pasco. Its a little warmer there. Schreiber expects to begin cutting asparagus in his field few days after Easter, with packers coming in a few days later to begin their work. Its getting very close, he said. Asparagus is a small but important part of Washingtons $10 billion ag industry, excluding food processing. The first asparagus was harvested in the Mid-Columbia this week. The first crop of the season is delayed by cool weather, says the Washington Asparagus Commission. It is a perennial that sends up shoots mostly green or purple in Washington when the weather warms in the spring, typically around Easter. It is the first of Washingtons 300-plus crops to be harvested and is the traditional first sign of spring as well as the kickoff for farming. Cherries come next. But as the first to mature, asparagus holds a special place in the hearts of farmers. Its the king of vegetables, Schreiber said, touting its nutritional content and antioxidant properties. Cool weather delayed the start by about five days this year. The 2021 and 2022 harvests started late too. Schreiber admitted he was frustrated that the weather hadnt warmed up and by unexpected subfreezing temperatures a week ago. Im going to an Easter dinner on Saturday and I told them I was going to have asparagus. And Im not going to have any, he said. Labor costs The Washington asparagus harvest has been in decline in recent years, according to the U.S. Department of Agricultures National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Workers cut asparagus from a field at Middleton Six Sons Farms near Pasco off the Pasco-Kahlotus Highway in 2017. It peaked at $23.2 million in 2020, but fell to $14.6 million in 2021 and to $13.5 million in 2022. Schreiber said the NASS paints a gloomier picture than the one he sees. But he is not surprised that growers are pulling back in Washington or California or Michigan, the other two major asparagus producing states. Story continues The U.S. cant compete low-cost imports from Mexico and Peru, where labor costs less. Washington farmers lost their exemption from overtime rules in 2022. That means workers earn $25 an hour, rising to $38 for overtime. In contrast, Mexican workers are paid $20 a day, he said. We have the highest labor costs in the western hemisphere, he said. We cant compete with Mexico and Peru. In honor of National Asparagus Day, May 24, the USDA calculated that Americans consume 500 million pounds of asparagus each year, with 80%-90% imported from Mexico and Peru. LOS ANGELES Rapper Coolio died from the effects of fentanyl and other drugs, his manager and the medical examiners office said. Coolio, whose real name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr., died at a friends house in Los Angeles on Sept. 28. He was 59. Manager Jarez Posey confirmed to NBC News on Thursday that the medical examiners office informed the family that fentanyl was involved in his death. Celebrity news website TMZ first reported the cause of Coolios death. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiners Office website lists the cause of death as effects of fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine. Contributing factors included unspecified cardiomyopathy, or a condition of the heart muscle, and asthma, according to the medical examiners website. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to the home around 4 p.m. Sept. 28 for a death investigation, the department said at the time. Coolio was known for Gangstas Paradise" and Fantastic Voyage." Overall, he sold more than 17 million records, according to his website. Gangstas Paradise was released in 1995 and spent three weeks at the top of Billboards Hot 100 list. Coolio won a Grammy for best solo rap performance for the song. "Weird Al Yankovic based his parody "Amish Paradise" on the hit. Coolio was in a number of television shows and films, including Futurama, in which he voiced Kwanzaa-bot. He also appeared in Robbery Homicide Division and Malcolm & Eddie, among other shows. He was a contestant on Fear Factor in 2001. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Kagen Coffee & Crepes has been selected to compete this spring on Gordon Ramsays Food Stars program. Kagen Cox confirmed the news in posts to Facebook and Instagram: I did a thing. The Fox program debuts May 24 and features food and drink industry leaders competing for a $250,000 investment by Gordon Ramsay. Variety magazine, citing Fox, describes the program as a weekly challenge that calls on the aspiring moguls to create, market and sell to real customers. Their progress is evaluated by guest judges. As Ramsay pushes contestants to their limits, theyll have to prove they possess the raw ingredients required to succeed drive, dedication, creativity, passion and talent, it said. Cox is the only contestant from Washington state. Most of the 15 are from California. Others are from New York, Illinois and North Carolina. Jennifer and Kagen Cox opened the Richland restaurant at 270 Williams Blvd. in the Uptown Shopping Center on Oct. 16, 2016, after encountering crepes on a date in Edmonton, Alberta. Crepe-hunting became a hobby after they married, started a family and settled in the Tri-Cities, where Kagen worked for BNSF Railway. The business was a labor of love, launched in the vacant Golden Croissant spot. At first, he was chiefly interested in operating a coffee shop. They expanded into a creperie as well, using a loan backed by Kagen Coxs 401(k) plan and with support from friends. The restaurant was an instant success, fueled by social media that brought 400 customers in on the first day. The restaurant is open seven days a week. Kagens voice mail was full Friday after he posted about his new adventure. This article was originally published in El Paso Matters. Effects of COVID-19 continue to be felt in classrooms throughout the community as veteran teachers deal with students who are more disruptive, destructive and disrespectful than in past years, and teachers attribute the lack of civility at least in part to the pandemic. A district administrator and teachers union representatives said that this difficult behavior is going on throughout K-12, but for this story El Paso Matters focused on kindergarten, a foundational grade where students learn the basics from sounds, shapes, letters, colors and numbers, to counting, simple science, and how to function in a classroom to include respect for others and their space, and basic hygiene such as hand washing and covering coughs and sneezes. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter This is an important issue for educators who must prepare these young minds with a proper base from which they will tackle future social and academic requirements to include state-mandated tests in third grade and beyond. Leah Miller, owner of the Counseling Center of Expressive Arts in El Paso, said she regularly sees young clients who exhibit similar behavior and added that it often stems from anxiety, and misbehaving is how they cope and communicate. A lot of times when kids have anxiety, they act out in ways that we dont typically understand because they cant articulate to us that theyre anxious, said Miller, a licensed professional counselor who specializes in play therapy. Thats when you see impulsive behavior. Kindergarten teachers and staffers from area districts shared similar stories of students who are unprepared for a structured learning environment and unwilling to conform despite the teachers best efforts. Congratulatory stickers, positive reinforcement and meetings with parents, counselors and campus administrators have not affected most of these children who continue to act up well into the spring semester. Story continues The teachers, who did not want to be identified for fear of retaliation, said they noticed early in the fall 2022 semester that more students than usual were having a hard time adjusting to school. A teacher education leader at the University of Texas at El Paso said that she was aware of the issue and suggested to one district a way to help, but her offer was rebuffed. Instructors described students mostly 5-year-olds who cursed, overturned chairs, disrespected others and their property, and delighted in ripping down learning charts and decorations in the classroom and along the hallways. They also depicted others who exhibited moodiness and such dangerous tendencies as biting, using scissors to cut the clothes of other students, and running out of their classrooms or cafeterias and into the campus parking lots. The frustrated teachers acknowledged that they have used every tool in their instructional arsenal, but have made little to no headway in many cases. They lamented a lack of support from campus leaders, who ask teachers to be more understanding of the youngsters, and parents, who do not deliver on promises to change a childs behavior or deny their child has a problem in the first place. Sarah, a teacher for more than 10 years, said she had previously experienced an occasional student with anger issues, but was surprised to find three disruptive students in her class for the fall 2022 semester. By February, that number had grown to seven, almost a third of her students. Im constantly putting out fires, she said figuratively. Its very draining. The whole situation just makes me sad. While some teachers said this years circumstances have made them consider changing the grade level they teach, the campus or their professions, others talked about going home after a tough day and researching other ways they might be able to connect with their students who need extra love. The teachers did not want to say how many student referrals (reprimands) they had written this year. Each referral involves a lot of documentation of who did what and when. At that grade level, the consequences for referrals range from lunchtime detention, loss of privileges such as participation in a class party, and in-school suspension. One teacher suggested that districts needed to do more to address student mental health like hiring behavioral therapists on every campus. Miller, the professional counselor, said that it is possible that the parent/caregiver gave the child technology during COVID isolation because the adult needed to work, and they wanted to keep the child quiet. She said the abundance of screentime meant that children did not have enough time for unstructured play, where they learn social behavior and how to solve problems. Some examples of unstructured play are artistic or musical games, construction of clubhouses with boxes and blankets, and the exploration of the kitchen cupboards. In Screen Time and the COVID-19 Pandemic, an article in the March 2023 edition of PlayTherapy Magazine, Sara Loftin, a licensed professional counselor, echoed much of Millers theory in regard to adults using technology as a babysitter. The article, which cited numerous studies, pointed out that long periods of screen time will negatively affect a young childs development of language and social skills as well as their abilities to solve problems, think creatively, or learn to deal with their boredom. The article goes on to state that as screen time often is an individual activity, the child user does not learn about impulse control or empathy in social settings. While it is late in the academic year, Miller said it was important for teachers to build relationships with their students. It is her experience that good relationships deter poor behavior. She also suggested two ways the teachers could work with the students with issues. They included situations where the teacher will acknowledge the students feelings, communicate the limit to the bad behavior, and then offer an acceptable alternative. There also is a 30-second burst of attention where the teacher focuses on the child for 30 seconds and then tells the student that he/she needs to get back to work. Maria, another established teacher, lamented her students lack of relationship skills. She said one of the main differences between her current and past classes is that this group likes to bicker with no interest in resolutions. She has 20 students in her class and about half have issues. I cant teach, she said. I just try to manage their behavior. Maria has called numerous parent meetings, but each parent seems dismissive of the problem. In one case, a student began to tear down educational materials from a classroom wall and the mother just watched passively. Maria said she has asked her schools counselor and administrators for help, but they are always busy. El Paso Matters reached out to representatives from the regions big four school districts regarding this issue, but the only response came from Diana Mooy, Ysleta Independent School District director of the Department of Student Services. Mooy, a former teacher and school administrator, said that the concerns raised are common among kindergarten and first-grade teachers, and that YISD was aware of the concern. She said her district trains teachers to learn what in-school or out-of-school factors trigger the negative behavior. The district director reasoned that COVID-19 eliminated many opportunities for this generation of kindergarten students to socialize with peers on play dates, or learn how to behave outside the home. She said the district provides its teachers and parents with various support programs, and social emotional learning curriculum and discipline management techniques to help the child before things escalate. She added that YISDs K-12 teachers are supposed to set aside 30 minutes per week to talk with students about self-regulation and relationship building to give them the necessary tools to manage their emotions in a healthy way. Mooy said that district kindergarten teachers had submitted about 200 referrals as of February, which is a number consistent with past years. The district registered 2,309 kindergarten students during the 2022-23 academic year. She encouraged any teacher in her district to contact her to discuss strategies and interventions, and added that she would be willing to talk with campus administrators to get the teachers the support they need. Norma de la Rosa, president of the El Paso Teachers Association, was among the union representatives who acknowledged that they had received more calls this academic year from teachers who requested guidance on how to handle students who are more unruly than usual. They tell the teachers to follow their districts protocols and to document incidents as much as possible. In worst-case scenarios, she tells teachers to file a Chapter 37 of the Texas Education Code that allows them to remove disruptive students from their classrooms. I tell them to do what they need to do, de la Rosa said. Youre not to be a punching bag. The union leader knows that campus administrators do not want teachers to file charges against students, but they should be ready to go up the chain of command if necessary to the district and the Texas Education Agency. She said the districts attitude is that if a teacher needs to write a referral, they should write the referral. Right now the kids know there are no consequences, de la Rosa said. The districts need to change that mentality. Teachers want parents to take a more active role in eliminating their childrens misbehavior, as opposed to a concept that they hear more than they would like, the children are the schools problem from the days first bell to the last. Savannah, a parent who works in the schools, said she noticed misbehavior in her childs class but was not as concerned because the class had a veteran teacher, and her son continued to do well academically. Early in the school year, campus leaders assigned a teachers aide to the classroom and brought in one of the districts behavioral therapists to work with the disruptive students, who eventually were separated into different homerooms. One of the students left the school. I thought (the teacher) was as effective as she could be, said Savannah, who added that the teacher assured her recently that the rest of the class had caught up to where it should be academically. Im happy to know at this point of the year that all things are straightened out and that the class is in a better place than where it was at the beginning of the year. Alyse C. Hachey, co-chair of UTEPs Department of Teacher Education, said last September that the college offered the services of its award-winning early childhood education faculty expert to provide special professional development to all El Paso Independent School District teachers and administrators who served pre-K and kindergarten students. The district refused to have administrators trained and so turned down help from UTEP faculty, Hachey wrote in an email. We stand willing to help. The districts need to let us. In a February email, Hachey said she had not pursued the matter. Sarah said one possible solution would be for the state to put less focus on academics at that level and focus more on social emotional learning. At their age, its not hard to be overstimulated, Sarah said. We need to teach them how to share and play together. This article first appeared on El Paso Matters and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. Ukraine could start negotiations on Crimea when the Ukrainian Armed Forces reach the administrative border of the Russian-occupied Ukrainian peninsula, Deputy Head of the Presidents Office Andriy Sybiha said in an interview with the Financial Times on April 5. While the circumstances surrounding the explosions at Nord Stream and Nord Stream-2 natural gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea are "difficult to investigate," the primary version now assumes at least some degree of state actor involvement, Swedish prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist told Reuters on April 6. Chinese President Xi Jinping is willing to talk to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about a peace settlement in Ukraine at the appropriate time, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said during a briefing in Beijing on March 6 following talks with Chinas ruler. The Ukrainian economy is now expected to grow by 0.5% in 2023, and by 3.5% in 2024, according to a revised economic outlook forecast published by the World Bank on April 6. The Russian ruble has slumped to its lowest level since April 2022, according to the data from the Moscow Exchange on April 6. Despite the crisis in the Ukrainian IT industry, its companies are currently showing increased activity in the job market, according to Opendatabots report on April 6, which cites Djinni, a popular Ukrainian job search platform specializing in IT and tech jobs. Over the past week the IMF announced a major package of support for Ukraine, with the unveiling of a $15.6bn 48-month Extended Financing Facility (EFF). This was part of a broader package of support for Ukraine agreed by international donors totalling around $115bn for the period through to 2027. Story continues Russian invasion forces in eastern Ukraine are stuck on several fronts and are exhausting their strength, Ukraines Operational Command East spokesman Serhiy Cherevaty, said on Ukrainian national television on April 6. Policymakers need to better understand the experience of imposing sanctions against the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus to plan future sanctions strategies. The United States plans to deliver M1 Abrams main battle tanks to Ukraine by the end of the year, U.S. Department of Defense Deputy Spokesperson Sabrina Singh said during a briefing on April 5. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Against their wishes, James and Jennifer Crumbley will not be allowed to attend their son's hearing to determine whether he will have a chance at parole or will spend the rest of his life in prison for a deadly school shooting. Without explaining why, a judge this week denied the Crumbleys' request to attend their son's so-called Miller hearing an event that their lawyers argued "is of paramount importance." "The Crumbleys remain very concerned about their son and ask this court to allow them to attend the Miller hearing," defense attorneys Shannon Smith and Mariell Lehman said in a court filing last month. Jennifer Crumbley, sat to the left of attorney Mariell Lehman as her husband, James Crumbley sat to the right in the Oakland County courtroom of Judge Cheryl Matthews on March 22, 2022, regarding pretrial matters. Prosecutors: Parents of Oxford shooter look out only for themselves Hogwash, countered prosecutors, who blasted the Crumbleys over their request, alleging they want to attend the hearing only because they learned it would include testimony "that would be unfavorable to them." "This is (the Crumbleys') attempt to confront and/or implore their son not to disclose the full circumstances of his upbringing," Assistant Prosecutor Marc Keast wrote in a blistering court filing, in which he argued against having the Crumbleys at their son's hearing next month. In doing so, the prosecutor portrayed the Crumbleys as selfish parents looking out for only themselves, alleging they are using their son in an effort to spare themselves from a lengthy prison sentence. He noted the parents face up to 15 years in prison if convicted of involuntary manslaughter for buying their son the gun that he used in the Oxford High School shooting in November 2021. Their 16-year-old son faces a life sentence, without the possibility of parole. "The idea that they are focused on reducing their own sentence at the expense of their son is shameful," Keast wrote, noting the Crumbleys also plan to call their son as a witness in their case. More: Appeals court orders Crumbleys to stand trial in Oxford school shooting More: Ethan Crumbley's former neighbor opens up: He didnt have a prayer as a child Story continues Harsh court filings continue Keast's filing highlights what continues to be a legal slugfest between two sides, with much at stake: The Crumbleys are fighting for their freedom, while the prosecution is trying to accomplish what has never been done before hold parents criminally liable for a mass shooting. In doing so, however, the prosecutor's office has irked the Crumbleys with its scorching court filings and news conferences so much that the defense asked the judge to intervene. That led to a gag order prohibiting both sides from publicly discussing the case. The mudslinging, meanwhile, continues in the court docket, if the prosecutor's latest filing is any indication. "These defendants abandoned their son the moment that they thought charges against them were possible," wrote Keast, who scoffed at the Crumbleys' assertions that they are "very concerned" for their son. "They left it to the court to find him an attorney. They emptied his bank account. And they used that money to find themselves an attorney and flee from apprehension." Keast, in urging the judge to deny the Crumbleys' request to attend their son's hearing, stressed: The parents' "concern remains for themselves, not their son." "As Jennifer Crumbley put it on the day of the shooting, the shooter ruined his own life, 'now we have to take care of ourselves,' " Keast wrote. More: New Oxford shooting detail: Killer texted mom 'I love you' 10 minutes before attack Oxford High School shooting suspect Ethan Crumbley pleads guilty for his role in the school shooting that occurred on November 30, 2021, during a his appearance at the Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac on Monday, October 24, 2022. In her one-page order filed Thursday, Oakland County Circuit Judge Cheryl Matthews made no mention of the prosecutor's arguments, or the defense team's. Rather, she responded to the Crumbleys' request to attend their son's hearing with one word: Denied. The Crumbleys are accused of ignoring a troubled son who prosecutors say was spiraling out of control. But instead of getting their son help, they bought him a gun as an early Christmas present. Days later, Ethan Crumbley used that gun to kill four students at Oxford High School. Another seven individuals were injured. The Crumbleys have long maintained that they had no idea their son would commit a school shooting, that the gun at issue was safely stored at home, and that they are not responsible for the deaths of the four students killed by their son. Their lawyers are still trying to get the case thrown out, arguing the charges are overreaching and unwarranted. More: 'This case is going to be a 3-ring circus': Experts say Trump prosecution will drag on More: He stuck up for a woman, got fired then hit O'Reilly Auto Parts with $3M verdict The Michigan Court of Appeals last month concluded there was enough evidence to send the case to trial, though the Crumbleys will appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court. According to their lawyers' court filings, since the shooting, the Crumbleys have not been allowed to have contact with their son, though family members and their lawyers have provided them with updates on his well-being. Ethan Crumbley, who was 15 at the time of the shooting, pleaded guilty to all charges in October, admitting he carried out an act of terror that killed four classmates: Justin Shilling, 17; Hana St. Juliana, 14; Tate Myre, 16; and Madisyn Baldwin, 17. Six other students and a teacher were also injured. Crumbley's Miller hearing is scheduled for May 1. Contact Tresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: James, Jennifer Crumbley banned from school shooter son's hearing Custom alternative cancer treatment in Tijuana Traditional medicine has a variety of treatments to treat cancer ailments. The most common one is chemotherapy, which works using medications to eliminate cancerous cells in patients bodies. However, the problem with this therapy is that, if the patient manages to survive this treatment, side effects represent another battle that must be fought in the following days. 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INDEX: CANCER TREATMENTS IN MEXICO Is it safe to travel to Tijuana to receive cancer treatment? What to expect from an Alternative Cancer Treatment in Mexico? What makes Tijuana a leader in alternative cancer treatments? Viral anti-cancer vaccine, an innovative alternative treatment in Tijuana Why is cancer treatment significantly more affordable in tijuana? How to choose a cancer center in Mexico? Where can I find a Cancer Tutor Verified Center in Tijuana? ITC: The best level of healthcare for cancer patients is in Tijuana Testimonial from a Cancer Survivor Treated in Tijuana, Mexico Guanabana: Why Fly to Tijuana, Mexico, For This Alternative Treatment? Anticancer Uses of Turmeric: Why Travel to Tijuana For This Asian Cuisine? 5 Safer Natural Alternatives to Chemotherapy Available in Tijuana, Mexico What is the Cost of Cancer Treatment in Mexico? 5 groundbreaking alternative cancer treatments in Mexico Dalaneo Martin and his son. (Courtesy of the Martin family) A federal civil rights investigation has been opened into the death of Dalaneo Martin, a 17-year-old Black father who was shot and killed by a police officer in Washington, D.C., last month while driving a vehicle that was allegedly stolen. On Tuesday, officials released body camera footage of the encounter that led to Martins death on March 18. I want the names of all the officers involved to be released and the officer that murdered my son to be terminated and prosecuted, Terra Martin, Dalaneos mother, said in a press conference this week. Several officers from U.S. Park Police and the Metropolitan Police Department arrived at the scene for a reported stolen vehicle and found Martin asleep inside. In the body camera footage, the officers are seen strategizing on how to arrest him. So heres the plan, an MPD officer says. Hes knocked out. The back window is just plastic. Im going to try to cut that out quietly, unlock the door. If he doesnt get startled, doesnt wake up, then were going to try to get in there, grab him before he puts that car in gear. If he does take off, just let him go. In the footage another officer yells, Once you break it hes gonna wake up, start it and put it in drive to go. We dont want nobody to get hurt. As officers tried to arrest Martin, they entered the vehicle and he resisted, according to a statement by Park Police. Two officers were able to get inside the vehicle, but Martin drove off, causing one officer to fall out and leaving a Park Police officer inside. This image taken from police body camera video shows Martin driving on March 18 before being shot. (U.S. Park Police via AP) Stop! Stop, man, just let me out. Let me go, the officer yells from the back seat. Stop. Stop or Ill shoot! That's when the officer shot Martin multiple times in the back and the vehicle crashed into a nearby home. An attorney for the Martin family says the interaction was a complete ambush. It's poorly strategized and disorganized, attorney Jade Mathis told Yahoo News of the officers plan. Mr. Martin is completely knocked out [asleep], and then it goes haywire. Story continues Mathis says the family heard five consecutive shots in the body camera video. However, the medical examiner found six bullet wounds in Martins body, according to his mother. Clearly, they were valuing property over a human life, Mathis said. Even if they determined that it was stolen, was [the vehicle] worth more than his life? A statement released Thursday by the Fraternal Order of Park Labor Committee said the officer was at risk of immediate death due to Martins actions. The vehicle continued to accelerate at uncontrollable speeds. [The officer] had no choice. How does that equate to a death sentence?Attorney Jade Mathis But Mathis argued that the statement is full of fallacies. It says that he [the Park Police officer] was potentially in danger or in fear of his life, but it does not say why or what type of fear. It says that he was kidnapped. And quite frankly, the legal definition of kidnapping is that someone takes you against your will. This officer got into the back seat, Mathis said. The names of the officers involved have not been released, and the police union says the killing was justified. There is a lawful reason for him to be in the car, the use of force was justified and the union stands behind the actions the officers took, Kenneth Spencer, chairman of the union, told the Washington Post. Another image from police bodycam video shows the scene after the shooting. (U.S. Park Police via AP) While some agencies say the killing was justified, the U.S. attorney's office in Washington called the bodycam footage extremely upsetting. "In coordination with the FBI Washington Field Office, the United States Attorneys Office has opened a civil rights investigation into the circumstances leading to Mr. Martins death, the office said in a statement. This footage comes as several other Black people have been killed following encounters with law enforcement. According to Mapping Police Violence, police have killed 23 Black people in the United States this year alone, and Black people are nearly three times more likely to be killed by police than white people. The system wasnt built to protect Black people, Karundi Williams, the CEO of Re:power, a national organization that helps Black people on a path to political leadership, told NBC News. And until we get to the root cause of policing and police brutality and the differences in the way police treat Black folks versus white folks, were not going to get to change. Mathis says that regardless of whether someone is committing a crime, their interactions with police dont warrant a death sentence. Sleeping in a vehicle, even if it's alleged to be stolen, does not equate to a death sentence. That is UUV: unauthorized use of a stolen vehicle. In a lot of jurisdictions it's a misdemeanor. How does that equate to a death sentence? he asked. Martin leaves behind a 7-month-old son. My son should still be here, said Terra Martin. Time and time again, I sit and try to get my head wrapped around it, and I cant. MUNCIE, Ind. Nearly a decade after a 5-year-old girl died in a Muncie home after months of neglect and abuse, legal action stemming from her death continues. Marie Pierre died in a house in the 1000 block of North Brady Street on June 22, 2013. A pathologist would later say her body had more than 80 scars, bruises and burns, signs of both long-term abuse and torture. Marie, born in Haiti in November 2007, later came to live with relatives in Miami, Florida. In July 2012, she moved to Muncie to live under the care of her cousin, Charlene Tabb. Three of Tabb's younger siblings also made the move from Florida to Muncie. More: TSP ARCHIVES: Marie Pierre, a little girl lost at age 5 Testimony at Charlene Tabb's murder trial, in May 2014, indicated the defendant became enraged when her young cousin routinely vomited after eating. Tabb began abusing Marie, and eventually recruited two of her siblings, both still juveniles, to join in the violence. Eric Hoffman, at the time a chief deputy prosecutor, told jurors Tabb and her young accomplices had behaved "like a pack of wild animals." Tabb, 30 years old at the time of her trial, would be convicted of murder and multiple counts of battery and neglect of a dependent, some stemming from her treatment of her siblings. Her beatings of those children then ages 16, 14 and 11 with an electrical cord had been preserved on video recordings. She was later sentenced to 87 years in prison by Delaware Circuit Court 5 Judge Thomas Cannon Jr. At her sentencing hearing, Hoffman compared her crimes to those of a "rabid, blood-thirsty animal." Then-Prosecutor Jeffrey Arnold said Tabb was "completely devoid of human compassion." In October 2014, another trial stemming from Marie's death was held. Charlene Tabb's husband, Marcus, was found guilty of a neglect count in the homicide, although he maintained he had been unaware the child was being abused. The same jury found Marcus Tabb, then 55, guilty of three counts of neglect of a dependent based on allegations his wife's siblings had lived without adult supervision in the house where their young cousin died. Story continues Cannon later sentenced the Muncie man to 56 years in prison, saying Tabb had been "completely unwilling to protect a five-year-old child who could not defend or protect herself." His convictions, and those of his wife, were upheld by the Indiana Court of Appeals. Marcus Tabb since 2016 has been pursuing post-conviction relief, although that effort has yet to result in a hearing on the merits of his petition. He contends his attorneys, both at his trial and in his appeal, provided ineffective representation, and that recordings of his interviews by police should not have been shown to jurors. Tabb also wrote that he "had never been made aware of (Marie's) injuries," did not know that the child was ill and "did not see (Marie) in the week leading up to her death." A "status conference" on Tabb's petition was held Tuesday in Circuit Court 5. Hoffman, who succeeded Arnold as prosecutor in 2019, participated. Another conference is set for Nov. 6. With that process still underway, Hoffman said he could not comment on evidence in the case. "To this day, I vividly remember the facts of the case," he said. In the prosecutor's office in the Delaware County Justice Center, photos of three deceased victims of child abuse are on display. One of the photographs is of Marie Pierre. Marcus Tabb, now 63, is incarcerated at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City. He has a projected release date in June 2041, according to a state Department of Correction website. His wife, Charlene, will observe her 40th birthday in July. She is held in the Indiana Women's Prison in Indianapolis. Her projected release date is in November 2055, when she would be 72. Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: A decade after Muncie child's tragic death, legal action continues Former Democratic state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith filed Friday to run for a state Senate seat in 2024, seeking to succeed Sen. Linda Stewart of Orlando, who cant run again. Smith, 42, plans to kick off his state Senate bid Saturday with an event alongside U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost and state Rep. Anna Eskamani, both D-Orlando. Im running for Florida Senate, to continue fighting for an inclusive Florida that we can all be proud of, Smith told the Orlando Sentinel Friday. And also to give Orlando hope that we can have a delegation of local leadership that will stand against Tallahassees extreme agenda. Smith, the first openly LGTBQ Hispanic person elected to the Florida Legislature, supported gun reforms during his first campaign in 2016 in the wake of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando that year that killed 49. He served six years in the state House representing a Democratic-leaning district in eastern Orange County, but the GOP-led Legislatures redistricting in 2022 shifted his seat to include parts of Republican-leaning eastern Seminole County. Smith lost last year to Republican Susan Plasencia, taking 48% of the vote to Plasencias 52%. State Senate District 17 is a heavily Democratic district that includes parts of Orlando and eastern Orange County. Nearly 60% of its voters cast ballots for President Biden in 2020. Stewart, D-Orlando, is term-limited in 2024, by which time she would have served eight years in the state Senate. I wouldnt be representing a different district compared to what I was representing in the House, its just a larger district, Smith said. My priorities are going to continue to be focusing on affordable housing, funding for the arts, fixing the teacher shortages we have in our public schools, reducing and eliminating the waitlist for people with disabilities in Florida, and of course, defending our fundamental rights and opposing all of these attacks on our freedoms. Smith said the Legislature, currently led by a GOP supermajority thanks in part to his loss and other Democratic defeats in Central Florida due to the new maps, is obsessed with culture wars and with solving problems that dont exist by passing laws such as the so-called dont say gay bill in 2022. Story continues It is really important for us to have another powerful LGBTQ voice in the Florida Legislature, Smith said. ... They are trying to either push LGBTQ people back into the closet and out of public view by using fear and intimidation or forcing them to leave the state of Florida with the toxic environment that they have created through their policies. He said Gov. Ron DeSantis signing the permitless concealed carry bill into law on Monday marked a hard right turn that basically reversed the progress that our state has made on gun violence prevention since Pulse and Parkland, referring to the Orlando nightclub mass shooting in 2016 that left 49 victims dead and that 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that killed 17. We enacted important reforms to keep our state safe from gun violence, Smith said. And this Legislature and this governor are beginning to dismantle it. Floridians will be less safe, and some of them will actually die as a result of it. Smith is the only candidate to have filed in District 17 as of Friday. Deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office are asking for the publics help in investigating an enclosed trailer theft. According to a release from the sheriffs office, on Tuesday, a person reported that their trailer and tools had been stolen from a gas station on Highway 150 in Lincolnton. ALSO READ: Midnight Grill back in business after truck was stolen earlier this month Deputies say that the trailer is dark blue with the front bottom part painted black. The trailer itself is worth about $6,000 and has about $5,000 worth of tools inside. The trailer has a Maine license plate that reads 26-95208, the sheriffs office said. Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office. This is a developing story; check back at wsoctv.com for updates. (WATCH BELOW: An explosion: Catalytic converter theft continues in Charlotte) All Temecia Jackson wants is her baby back. The DeSoto woman and her husband alleges that Texas Child Protective Services took their infant from them based on wrong information and a dispute with their doctor on how to treat the babys jaundice. Now they are going to court to try and get her back. They removed my newborn baby from my arms and handed me paperwork, Jackson told the Star-Telegram in an email. I went to the police department and filed a police report that my child was stolen from me. Why CPS took DeSoto baby away Mila Jackson was born at home with the help of a midwife on March 21. Six days later, the Jacksons took their infant to the doctor because they suspected the slight yellowing in the baby might be jaundice. While at the pediatrician we were told the levels are high and they will test blood and follow up, the mother said in an email. They followed up and said we need to admit baby into the hospital for light therapy immediately. The Jacksons said they wanted to do the therapy at home because they did not want their baby admitted to the hospital. In the meantime, Dr. Anand Bhatt tried reaching out to the family. The Baylor Scott & White doctor wanted to tell the Jacksons their daughter, Mila, had jaundice with dangerously high levels of bilirubin a yellowish substance made during the bodys normal process of breaking down old red blood cells according to a WFFA report. High levels of bilirubin can place infants at risk of brain damage, particularly in the presence of certain risk factors for severe jaundice, according to the Mayo Clinic. Infant jaundice usually occurs because a babys liver isnt mature enough to get rid of bilirubin in the bloodstream. According to the WFAA report, Dr. Bhatt told CPS, I filed a case report with CPS after trying 10 attempts to appeal to the family through phone calls, text messages and leaving voicemails as they did not pick up the phone. Temecia, the babys mother, disputes the doctors assertion telling the Star-Telegram, We followed up to let him know we will complete light care independently at home. Story continues But in a statement, CPS agreed with the doctor, Due to the parents being unwilling to discuss the danger and potential consequences of this condition, it is necessary for the Department to intervene. My full name is Temecia Jackson On March 28, DeSoto police officers armed with a court order came to the Jacksons home and took baby Mila away. I was not given any cards, contacts or phone numbers to know where my baby is being taken, Temecia said. Taking a closer look at the court order, Temecia said she saw the name listed as Milas mother was not her. My full name is Temecia Jackson. I do not know who (the name on the order) is, she said in her email. The Jacksons have since visited their baby in the hospital and are expected in court April 20. Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice-elect Janet Protasiewicz and Florida Gov. Ron Desantis. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters, Phil Sears/AP) Democrats scored a major victory in Wisconsin on Tuesday, winning a seat on the state Supreme Court in the latest example of how the issue of abortion is still playing a massive role in swing races. Liberal candidate Janet Protasiewicz was explicit about her support for abortion access in her campaign against conservative Dan Kelly, repeatedly referencing it in television ads. In a state where most of the recent major contests have been within a point or two, Protasiewicz ended up winning the pricey race by 11%. Her victory gave Democrats a majority on the states Supreme Court and means she will likely preside over a case on Wisconsins 1849 abortion ban that is expected to reach the court later this year. Protasiewiczs win was just the latest in a string of abortion-related electoral defeats for Republicans in the wake of the Supreme Courts decision last June to overturn Roe v. Wade. Signs of trouble for Republicans were there immediately. In Kansas, a state that former President Donald Trump won by 15 points in 2020, voters soundly rejected an August referendum that would have weakened abortion protections. Later that month, a Democratic candidate running on abortion rights won a special House election in a New York swing district. A Republican wave predicted by many in the November midterms was blunted by the focus on abortion that saw ballot measures succeeding even in some traditionally conservative states. It was a major issue in Michigan, where a ballot measure not only helped power Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to an easy reelection but also gave her party control of the state Legislature for the first time in decades. It was a key issue in Pennsylvania, where Democrats flipped a Senate seat and held onto the governors mansion by focusing on the issue. The victories continued into 2023, with Democrats flipping a Virginia state Senate seat in a special election that was focused on Republican attempts to pass a stricter ban. Story continues Protasiewicz celebrates alongside Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices Rebecca Dallet and Ann Walsh Bradley at her election night watch party in Milwaukee on Tuesday. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters) The message from voters has been clear: Americans want the freedom to make reproductive health care decisions without government interference, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday in reference to the Wisconsin results, also mentioning the ballot initiative wins and the Virginia special election. This trend has not stopped Republicans across the country from continuing their campaign to further restrict access to abortion. That includes the candidate seen by many in the party as their main alternative to a Trump nomination. On Monday, the Florida Senate approved a bill, S.B. 300, to ban abortion after six weeks, a point at which many women dont even know theyre pregnant. The proposal does make exceptions to save the pregnant womans life and extends to up to 15 weeks for victims of rape, incest or human trafficking, but overriding a six-week limit is causing some discomfort among Republicans. The Florida House is expected to take up the measure in a vote next week before it heads to Gov. Ron DeSantiss desk. He has shown support for the bill as he prepares to formally launch his presidential bid. A Yahoo News/YouGov poll released last month on DeSantiss policy proposals found that just 34% of Americans favored banning abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, while 50% opposed doing so. The move from DeSantis ahead of an expected national run is a tactical decision being questioned by at least one prominent Sunshine State Republican. Thats a tough issue for people. I mean, you have to be really compassionate about what people are going through. I think where most people are is [for] reasonable restrictions. And probably most people are [for] about 15 weeks with all the exceptions ... for rape and incest and the life of the mother, Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said during a March 10 Noticias Telemundo interview. Thats where the population is, and ... our state legislation ought to represent that. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to supporters before signing a 15-week abortion ban into law in April 2022. (John Raoux/AP) The legislation would also ban the prescription of abortion medication via telemedicine, requiring it to be dispensed in-person. If that aspect of the bill were to pass, it would effectively ban abortion pills from being shipped through the mail. In Nebraska, state GOP Sen. Merv Riepe was a co-sponsor of Legislative Bill 626 that would ban abortion if a heartbeat can be detected. Nebraska law currently bans abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy, but fetal heartbeats are often heard in the 6th week of pregnancy. In a surprise move on March 15, Riepe filed an amendment to the bill that extended the cut-off point for abortions to 12 weeks of pregnancy, saying that he was bothered by the idea that the bill could be a total ban on abortion. No group came to me, asking me to do this, Riepe told the Flatwater Free Press, This is of my own beliefs, my own commitments. In North Carolina, state House Majority Deputy Whip Keith Kidwell, a Republican, filed House Bill 533 on March 29. It would ban abortions from the moment of conception, with an exception given to protect the life of the mother. As of Wednesday, the passage of the proposal looked assured after state House member Tricia Cotham announced that she had switched parties from Democrat to Republican, citing bullying from Democrats. State House Republicans now have a majority of 72 seats, giving them the ability to override any veto from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper in the purple state. On Wednesday, Idahos Republican Gov. Brad Little signed a first-of-its-kind abortion trafficking bill into law that makes it illegal for an adult to help a minor get an abortion across state lines without parental consent. There is currently a near-total ban on abortion in the state. A sign taped to a hanger hangs near the Idaho Capitol in Boise after protests against the state's new abortion laws, which effectively banned the procedure. (Sarah A. Miller/Idaho Statesman via ZUMA Press Wire) In Oklahoma, which was the first state to outlaw abortion last year, polling shows that residents dont want a total ban on the procedure. Several bills have been introduced this year that would undo some of the states strict anti-abortion laws. Even one of the states most vocal anti-abortion advocates, Tony Lauinger, who is the chair of Oklahomans for Life, warned in a letter to state lawmakers that more abortion exceptions should be enacted into law and that abortion rights advocates could end up legalizing the procedure through petitions. The problem for Republicans is that the strict bans are popular with their base, so abandoning them could cost politicians in primaries. Coming out in favor of them, however, could continue to prove a liability in general elections. A Yahoo News/YouGov poll conducted following the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade found that just 33% of Americans agreed with the courts ruling. Protasiewiczs win in Wisconsin was a warning sign in some GOP circles, however. The Wall Street Journals conservative editorial board which cheered the overturning of Roe last summer wrote Wednesday that the issue of abortion was still politically potent. Republicans had better get their abortion position straight, and more in line with where voters are or they will face another disappointment in 2024, wrote the board. A total ban is a loser in swing states. Republicans who insist on that position could soon find that electoral defeats will lead to even more liberal state abortion laws than under Roe. Thats where Michigan is now after last years rout. Less than five miles north of Meridians most popular development hub at Ten Mile and Franklin Roads, another development hot spot is blossoming. The growth centers around the Costco location at Chinden Boulevard and Ten Mile Road. Along with the wholesale store, a Walmart, hospital and hundreds of homes are all recent additions to Meridians growing northwest region. Aside from a handful of commercial developments, the growth in Meridians northern city limits is largely residential and primarily single-family homes. Northwest Meridians first Costco is an anchor for the large development hot spot. That contrasts with Ten Mile and Franklin, where developers lately are applying to build apartments and commercial buildings. Hubble Homes is building a 380-home subdivision south of Chinden Boulevard and east of McDermott Road. The subdivision, called Prescott Ridge, includes 320 single-family homes and 63 town houses. The subdivision will to be built over the next two or three years, the Idaho Statesman previously reported. Another developer, Tony Tseng, of Accomplice LLC, is building 114 homes near the Orchard Park development, a mixed-use project with businesses and housing located at the corner of Chinden Boulevard and Linder Road. The subdivision, called Sagarra, will include single-family homes, town houses and apartments, the Statesman reported. Northwest Meridian is starting out as a hot spot for mostly residential growth, but city planners expect more commercial property will follow. Orchard Park, formerly known as Linder Village, will soon be home to a variety of new restaurants, including Biscuit & Hogs, a Utah-based brunch restaurant with a location on Overland Road in Meridian. Highway extension likely to spur more growth Caleb Hood, Meridian planning division manager, said he expects development to continue in north Meridian as the Idaho 16 highway extension is built. In 2021, the Idaho Transportation Board approved funding for the Idaho 16 extension from U.S. 20/26 (Chinden Boulevard) to Interstate 84, and Meridian planners are already seeing the area become a development hot spot. A couple miles up the road from Ten Mile and Interstate 84 is another hot spot for development along the popular road. When state highway 16 connects with 84, thats going to really open up a lot of those lands even further in northwest Meridian for more development, Hood said in a phone interview. Story continues He expects that development will begin as homes and gradually evolve into businesses and office buildings. Generally you need the rooftops before you build the commercial, Hood said. Youre just not going to build your Starbucks in the middle of nowhere, you want the homes that can support it. The timeline for development is unclear, Hood said. It depends on how quickly the highway extension is built. Phase 2 of the Idaho Transportations Highway 16 extension project will extend the highway from U.S. 20/26 (Chinden Boulevard) to Interstate 84. When the project is completed the department expect it will service 60,000 motorists per day. The Idaho Transportation Department has begun construction on the highway, according to its website. It is currently designing the final phase of the project, which would expand the I-84 interchange and finish the signalized interchanges at Franklin Road, Ustick Road and Chinden Boulevard. The highway project also includes adding overpasses at Cherry Lane and McMillan Road. As Meridian population keeps growing, a longstanding development hot spot sees change Heres where Idahos population has grown the most, and the fastest, since 2020 The CEO of Trump Media and Technology Group is suing Sarasota Herald-Tribune columnist Chris Anderson for defamation and defamation by implication related to a column published in March, according to court records. Devin Nunes, who is also the president and director of the media company, filed the lawsuit in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court on Monday against The Guardian, Penske Media Corp., owner of Variety magazine, Anderson and Will Wilkerson. The lawsuit says Wilkerson has been "ousted" from Trump Media. Nunes is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, prejudgment interest on the principal sum awarded by a jury from March 15 to the date of the judgment at a rate of 6.58% per year, and costs arising from the lawsuit, according to the complaint. A cover sheet notes the claims in the lawsuit exceed $100,000. Trump Mar-a-Lago speech: With boost from supporters, he rehashes long list of grievances, falsehoods Recap: Trump charged with 34 felony counts in hush-money case, lashes out at DA Alvin Bragg The lawsuit stems from a March 15 article published by The Guardian, which included information from an interview with Wilkerson, and alleges there were several false statements and defamatory implications concerning Nunes, including the article's headline, subheading, and information throughout the story. The Guardian article reported that federal prosecutors in New York were investigating Trump Media for possible money laundering and the company's acceptance of $8 million with suspected Russian ties. Nunes's complaint states in the claim that the information is false and that additional false and defamatory statements were made in a second article by The Guardian published two days after the first. "The express meaning and defamatory gist of the Guardian Statements is that Nunes Trump Media chief executive Devin Nunes committed or aided and abetted serious Federal crimes, including violations of 18 U.S.C. 1956 (laundering of monetary instruments)," the complaint states. Story continues Nunes's lawsuit claims that the "entire story is fabricated," that there wasn't a federal investigation into Trump Media and Technolgy Group for possible money laundering or a criminal inquiry, and federal prosecutors never examined the two loans totaling $8 million wired to the media company. Further, the lawsuit claims that Wilkerson and his agents "worked in concert with Guardian to craft the language used in the article" as a way to defame and interfere with Nunes's business. The complaint adds that PMC's magazine, Variety, republished the statements from The Guardian article in stories on March 15 and March 22. Anderson's column in the Herald-Tribune referred to The Guardian article and how the issue might impact Trump's reelection campaign. The Trump Media company, which owns the social media platform Truth Social, is based in Sarasota. "The Herald-Tribune stands behind the work of Chris Anderson, who has been an award-winning investigative journalist and columnist for the newspaper for decades in this community," said Wendy Fullerton, interim USA TODAY Network-Florida regional editor. "His work and opinions are protected under the free speech provision of the First Amendment, and we support the great work and accurate watchdog reporting that he has done and continues to produce." Legal counsel for Nunes declined to comment, citing the pending litigation. The lawsuit states that since the defendants published their stories online and those stories were republished over and over by third parties, including individuals on Twitter retweeting the Guardian story, it led to Nunes' detriment and injury. Nunes's lawsuit also claims that by using the alleged false statements, as well as carefully chosen words and misrepresented facts, the defendants falsely implied in their articles that Nunes "orchestrated, engaged in, participated in, or aided and abetted money laundering" through the company. In the news: Republican senators move 98-page Florida election bill 24 hours after it becomes public The complaint claims that the publication of the alleged false and defamatory statements in the stories has "caused Nunes to suffer public shame, ridicule, insult, humiliation, embarrassment, emotional distress and mental anguish (past and future), anxiety, insecurity, anger," as well as fear of safety since the remarks reached his friends, family and other members of the public. Nunes represented California's 22nd Congressional District and was a congressman since 2003 before he retired at the end of 2021 to lead former President Donald Trump's media company. He was a ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and a member of the Ways and Means Committee. This is not the first defamation lawsuit Nunes has filed against a media company. A year ago, a U.S. appeals court rejected the former congressman's appeal of a $250 million defamation lawsuit against the Washington Post, according to U.S. News and World Report. Another federal appeals court rejected another defamation lawsuit by Nunes last April against CNN in connection to articles about Nunes being "involved in efforts to uncover damaging Ukraine-related information" about President Joe Biden, Reuters reported. Gabriela Szymanowska covers the legal system for the Herald-Tribune in partnership with Report for America. You can support her work with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America. Contact Gabriela Szymanowska at gszymanowska@gannett.com, or on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Truth Social CEO Devin Nunes files defamation lawsuit in Sarasota A pair of dice An election in a small Wisconsin town came down to a literal roll of the dice. After Rob Zoschke and Nate Bell received 256 votes each to be the Sister Bay Village Board president, the race went to a tiebreaker. Village clerk Heidi Teich told the candidates the election will be settled via a game of chance as per the state election code. The dice rolled 6-2 in Mr Bell's favour knocking out incumbent Mr Zoschke. "It's drawn a lot of interest because it's such an unusual thing," Ms Teich told the BBC. "For it to be settled with a children's game is kind of unique." After voting ended, the village clerk sent an image of the final tally to both candidates. "Am I seeing this right?," Mr Bell remembers thinking upon seeing the 256-256 count. A dice roll was but one of the options a three-member board of canvassers considered. Pulling names from a hat, cutting a deck of cards, drawing straws, or flipping a coin were among the other possibilities. But the canvassers ultimately decided a dice roll was the fairest method. "They felt that if you flip a coin and a candidate calls one side, the other candidate has no option but to take the other side," Ms Teich said. "In a dice roll, both get to participate in some manner." Neither candidate was able to attend the roll in person, so two canvassers rolled in their stead. Mr Zoschke watched the odd event via Zoom. Half a dozen supporters reached out to Mr Zoschke lamenting the loss. One regretted that their teenage daughter was unable to cast a ballot due to an out-of-town doctor's appointment. Another could not get off work before the polls closed. "But I have to believe my opponent received the same calls," Mr Zoschke said in his friendly Wisconsin accent. He said he had no antipathy toward the process. He did, however, note that 78 voters curiously chose not to select either candidate. Mr Zoschke has no intention of asking for a recount. "I don't get hung up on a vote here or a vote there because there were still 256 people that voted for the other guy," he said. "I'm at peace." Story continues Mr Bell asked to keep the dice as a souvenir and reminder of life's unpredictability. "It's too soon now, but I hope someday Rob and I can get together and have some charity event rolling dice off," Mr Bell told the BBC. Best known for being home to a marina and a restaurant with goats on its sodded roof, the tie is one of the more exciting things to happen in the little town of 1,160 near the Canadian border. "I never would have dreamed we'd get this much attention up here," Ms Teich said. A few weeks shy of her 93rd birthday, civil rights advocate Dolores Huerta reminded Madera Community College students that her six-decade crusade isnt finished. Especially because of a recent, failed effort to ban a curriculum about United Farm Workers founder Cesar E. Chavez at Bakersfield College. Could you believe that right there in your dream of California, where our movement started? Huerta asked the students during a March 28 visit. Luckily, the board did not listen to them, but we do have those extremist organizations throughout the Central Valley that are going to try to stop the teachings of the farmworkers union. Huerta, who will celebrate her 93rd birthday on April 10, called efforts to continue celebrating and supporting the farmworker movement The Spirit of Madera. The reason Ive coined that term is because today you are celebrating the work that Cesar and I did, said Huerta, who left her UFW secretary-treasure post to launch the Dolores Huerta Foundation in 2022. During a 26-minute talk, Huerta covered politics, social justice and the future before posing for photos and autographing posters and other items. Her Bakersfield-based foundation, said Huerta, is trying to counter some of the hatred that is happening right here in the United States of America. She identified election deniers, efforts to cleanse people of color from history books, and restrict womens rights. Education, I believe, is the only way that we are going to be able to counter this, said Huerta. As long as the people are educated, they wont be ignorant. Huerta referred to Jose Ortega y Gassetts 1930 book The Revolt of the Masses in which the Spanish philosopher wrote if you do not have an educated citizenry as he put it in a country, the powerful, the corrupt and the greedy will rule. Huerta, who has actively campaigned for progressive candidates, questioned why a rich country like the U.S. cant afford free health care and education for all. Story continues When I talk about free college education and free health care, the countries in Europe (in Scandinavia) and Latin America (Cuba) have those, said Huerta. Huerta said Americans can do this by electing progressive people. We can change this picture of poverty, she said. Its a shame that in the United States we have so many homeless people. This is a picture that we have to change. Huerta also commented on various subjects: Activism: When you become an activist, you make history. I am so happy in my life that I was able to learn how to organize. It was like I found a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Feminism: We as women, you know, face a lot of racial discrimination. We face a lot of sexual harassment and misogyny. When I learned that you could organize people and have them come together to take direct action, this is the way that we could change things. The movement: Fred Ross Sr. was the father of the Chicano movement because hes the one that taught us and myself and other organizers how to organize. Community power: If you can convince people that they have the power to change the issues that are affecting their community, they have the power to do that. They dont have to wait for somebody to come and do it for them. People power: Huerta noted two cases where residents came together to get rid of a principal in Weedpatch who wants to eliminate the breakfast program because it was too much work, and, passed a bond issue for a new gymnasium because the the air was too unhealthy for them to play outdoors. In neighboring Lamont, Huerta said residents fought against a Texas company that ran their water system and were going to charge them an exorbitant amount of money. They got all the signatures and got rid of that Texas group, and now they run their own water, she said. Her foundations work: Huerta noted the foundation helped vaccinate more than 10,000 people against COVID, and proposed legislative district maps that were approved by the California Redistricting Commission. When the commission held hearings, said Huerta, we had hundreds of people that went to all those hearings they had throughout the state. Its all about people power. Pro-choice rights: Some of those (Catholic) priests and (evangelical) ministers are telling us that having an abortion is wrong. Well, I am the mother of 11 children. My daughter doesnt have any kids. I respect my daughters choice not to have children, and I think people respect my choice to have 11 children. No religious leader and no politician can tell a woman what to do with her body. The woman is the only who can decide what to do. Sexism: I think right now in todays world we see that people are fighting racism, but we actually have to do it without our own families and within our own friends. Not just the sexism but also the machismo. Were tired of that machismo. We got to get rid of it. Immigration reform: We need another legalization bill. How are we going to get it? Weve got to get some more Congressmen, some more senators that will help us get another amnesty bill. Complaining isnt going to help us at all; weve got to get our there and register people to vote. The entrance to the Harvard campus in Cambridge, MA. If an environmental law professor at a prominent universitywho makes more than $350,000 a year advising a major oil and gas companyhelps that company set up meetings with the federal government, is that lobbying? This is the question surrounding Harvard law professor Jody Freeman, who has come under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks for her paid position on the board of ConocoPhillips, as the Guardian and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) reported this week. According to two emails sent in 2021 and obtained by the Guardian and TBIJ via a Freedom of Information Act request, Freeman corresponded with John Coates, who was then the acting director of the Securities and Exchange Commission, helping to set up a meeting between ConocoPhillips executives and the SEC. The emails were sent as the SEC was preparing to propose rules around having companies report their greenhouse gas emissions, seemingly in order for the oil and gas giant to pitch its climate work to regulators in private before the agency could announce the plans in public. Read more In the emails, Freeman described two ConocoPhillips executives as hugely knowledgeable, thoughtful, and interested in solving problems and touted ones work chairing the climate committee at the American Petroleum Institute, the industrys leading lobbying arm. ConocoPhillips is widely recognized as the oil and gas industry leader on climate related disclosure, Freeman wrote in one email. In these emails, according to the Guardian and TBIJ, Freeman signed off as a Harvard law professor but did not disclose her paid position on the ConocoPhillips board. That, the outlets claim, is in violation of Harvards policy regarding individuals with financial conflicts of interest, which states that faculty must make public disclosures of financial interests in related outside entitieswhen reasonable members of the audience would give weight to those interests in assessing the opinions, advice, or work they are presenting. Story continues Freeman told the Guardian that Coates, who is also a Harvard law professor, was aware of her affiliation with ConocoPhillips before the emails were exchanged and that shes compliant with the universitys conflict of interest rules. Freeman said in an email to Earther, with Coates cced, that she did not lobby for or initiate the request for a meeting. Freeman said that Coates reached out to ask for connections to the company, and she attached a statement from Coates, who says he was still at Harvard when the emails were sent, corroborating her account. (Jodys board role at Conoco was known to me, Coatess statement reads. I reached out to her first, and she did not request a meeting or lobby me or others at the SEC for Conoco.) Freemans resume, as detailed on her faculty bio page, is full of clean energy and climate bona fides: She served as an advisor on energy and climate change for the Obama administration; she helped develop an agreement with the U.S. auto industry to set fuel efficiency standards; shes worked with the Biden transition team to develop the administrations climate plan. Her role with ConocoPhillips is described on her faculty page as acting as an important advisor on climate change and the energy transition. According to ConocoPhillipss 2023 proxy statement, Freeman earned $367,584 in total compensation in cash fees and stock options from her position on the board. Freeman has been on the ConocoPhillips board since 2012, but her affiliation has been raising more eyebrows of late, as the divestment movement on campuses continues to gain steam and previously staid institutions begin to reconsider their relationships with fossil fuel funding. In 2021, after years of pressure from student activists, Harvard announced that it would phase out investments in fossil fuels in its endowments; the divestment movement has now refocused its attention on other ways that fossil fuel money is exerting influence within academia. ConocoPhillipss ownership of the Willow Project, an enormous and controversial oil and gas project in Alaska approved by the Biden administration in March, means the company is drawing even more scrutiny. Divest Harvard, a student and alumni group, last month called on Freeman to exit her position with ConocoPhillips, accusing the company of listening to the call of profit without regard for climate degradation when it comes to the Willow Project. While divestment was an important step forward, the case of Jody Freeman illuminates the pervasive continued influence of fossil fuel companies and the need for a far more comprehensive dissociation, said Phoebe Barr, a junior at Harvard and an organizer with Divest Harvard. Conflicts of interest like this one should not stand. This year, Harvards Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability gave Freeman funding to head up a three-year research project on corporate net-zero targets, including whether or not these targets result in real emissions reductions. Last week, the Guardian obtained a copy of a letter sent by faculty on the Harvard Divest steering committee to the universitys president-elect raising concerns about a potential conflict of interest with the Salata Institute project, given Freemans relationship with ConocoPhillips. I share the goal of moving the world to a low-carbon future as fast as possible and forcefully addressing the enormous challenges posed by climate change, Freeman told the Guardian last week in response to the letter. There are many ways to make a difference, and activism is very important. I have chosen to engage in several ways, including by being an independent director on the board of ConocoPhillips to help advance the transition to a low-carbon economy, and think my involvement there remains positive. Helping a colleague who is moving to a government position connect to a company on whose board you serve isnt anything out of the ordinary for many figures in the upper echelons of academia. But the whole debacle illustrates a larger problem of how fossil fuel money ends up in the pockets of those with power, and how their influence can extend into the networks of other powerful friends and coworkers. Fossil fuel companies like ConocoPhillips have a long history of currying favor with elites and academics, using those reputations to improve their own. But as the climate crisis keeps careening out of control, the real question is for how long this status quo will keep being acceptable. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Frank Ricigliano had magic in him, loved ones say. A stylist to the stars, the owner of Frankiebaby salon in Miami often played the piano between haircuts and colors. But he needed a new heart to stay alive. Ricigliano, 56, underwent heart transplant surgery at the Miami Transplant Institute in 2021 and died less than three months later. Thats a rarity for a procedure where nine of ten patients survive after one year. His death is one of the cases now being examined at the Miami Transplant Institute by the nonprofit agency charged with overseeing the nations organ transplant system, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). After the oversight agency detailed its concerns, the Miami Transplant Institute, which is part of Jackson Health System and staffed with University of Miami doctors, abruptly suspended its adult heart transplant program about three weeks ago. Sources familiar with the complaints said the agencys concerns dealt not just with patient deaths, but organ matches and infections. Earlier this week, the national organ network sent a team of doctors from other transplant centers, along with federal regulators, to investigate. The team is expected to issue a report with its findings by April 20. For the most part, survival rates of Jackson heart recipients are in line with national numbers, according to data published by the Scientific Registry of Heart Recipients. But variations have occurred. Data published in 2022 show Jackson lagging in one-year survival rates about 87% versus 92% nationally. Because of a lag in reporting, that data would not have included Riciglianos transplant. Data published the next year, which would include Ricigliano, showed improvement, with a one-year survival rate of 93%, a little better than the national average. Riciglianos friends told the Miami Herald they wonder if a poorly picked heart or disagreements among the medical teams might have led to Franks complications, which included a staph infection, pneumonia and sepsis. His health surrogate said he asked for answers on why things went wrong but felt frustrated and stymied. Jackson would not discuss details of Riciglianos treatment with the Herald. Story continues Those who were close to Ricigliano say they remain angry and traumatized by how Ricigliano was treated at Jackson. Ricigliano saved animals, saved human beings in recovery and was the most amazing soul ... This man was a musician, a stylist, a makeup artist. He could dance like youd never see anyone dance. He could sew, he could bake. He was the most joyful soul talk about getting robbed, said Heidi Welsby, a friend since childhood. That place robbed the world. Thats what it did. Stylist and Frankiebaby owner Frank Ricigliano. His treatment Since 2002, Ricigliano had lived with ventricular tachycardia, an abnormal heart rhythm, according to loved ones. About 2004, a defibrillator and a pacemaker were implanted in his chest. But his heart condition worsened over time. In March 2021, a few months after having COVID-19, Ricigliano, who had end-stage heart failure, was admitted into Jackson to get a balloon pump and wait for a new heart, his friends said. In spring 2021, Ricigliano underwent the heart transplant surgery. His new heart came from a crash victim. Ricigliano had agreed to meet the family of the donor at some time in the future. He didnt make it. Complications began immediately. The left ventricle, which pumps blood to the body, failed and Ricigliano was put on a pump. The next day, the right ventricle failed, Welsby recalls. Welsby remembers the doctors saying they would get him another heart in 24 hours. They later said he didnt qualify for a new heart because he was too frail and had infections, Welsby said. Welsby described her frustration at what she described as him falling ill to infection after infection while at the hospital. No one could answer her questions, she said, not even Dr. Matthias Loebe, who was chief of the heart transplant program, and the leader of Riciglianos surgery team, she said. Loebe was unavailable in the days after the surgery, she added. His feet turned black, just like you would see someone who had been dead for several years like a mummy, said Riciglianos partner Chuck Ellis. So did his hands. Splotches of black damaged skin covered his body. He got gangrene in his left foot, his right toes were going to have to be amputated, his fingers on both hands were going to have to be amputated. They had turned black and were literally falling off, said Michael Hamilton, Riciglianos roommate and healthcare surrogate. After the transplant surgery, Ellis remembers Ricigliano mouthing to him, Take me home. But Ricigliano never got back home. He died on July 4, 2021, in the intensive care unit at Jackson. In his final days, his skin was so badly damaged, he bled when a clergy member used holy water during the last rites, according to Hamilton and Welsby. The Dade Medical Examiners Office said hospital deaths that occur under the supervision of an attending physician are not subject to autopsies by its staff. Loebe declined to discuss any details about Riciglianos diagnosis, operation and outcome. When asked by a Herald reporter about the friends allegations, Jackson e-mailed a statement that did not include any specifics about his case. The statement, in part, said ... Every day, the clinical team has to make difficult decisions together to achieve the best outcome. We grieve every loss, and we take every case as an opportunity to improve and ensure the best quality of care for all patients. Loebe acknowledged that he was probably out of town in the days after Riciglianos heart transplant, but said his absence would not affect the patients care after surgery. He noted that internists, cardiologists and others on the heart transplant team can provide medical advice and updates. There are plenty of people covering for me when I am not there, Loebe said. Theres always a doctor in the unit looking after the patient. Separately, Loebe said that he would have been involved in a majority of the cases cited in the UNOS letter questioning heart transplant outcomes at Jackson-MTI. MTI undergoes peer review MTIs transplant program like the publicly owned Jackson Memorial Hospital consists almost entirely of physicians and other staff from the University of Miamis medical school. They have a joint operating agreement. The University of Miami has declined to comment about the Miami Transplant Institute and the partial suspension of its adult heart transplant program. Loebe said there is a benefit to a peer-review panel conducting an investigation, which should provide a fuller picture of the functionality of the facility. These reviews are very helpful because they always try to identify how we can make a program better, said Loebe, who was among the doctors questioned by the visiting UNOS-led team. Loebe, 65, was hired to run Jackson-MTIs heart transplant program in 2015 after running a major transplant facility in Texas. He was notified in October by the Miami Transplant Institutes executive director, Dr. Rodrigo Vianna, that he would be replaced as chief of the heart transplant program, effective the end of February. Loebe will stay on as a heart transplant surgeon, but he will no longer receive a $150,000 administrative stipend. We are confident that they will give us the green light, said Loebe, Were optimistic that we can reopen our program very soon for patients. If the program does reopen, that would be of little solace to those who knew Ricigliano. They described asking Jackson for answers while visiting their loved one but not being satisfied with the responses. They say they are still reeling. Im going in there every day and every time I talk to somebody, Im getting a different story, said Hamilton, recalling what his visits to Ricigliano were like. No ones stories are straight. Everyday is something different. So I was really, really frustrated. Judge Juan Merchan at his office in New York County Criminal Court, on Oct. 21, 2022. (Ahmed Gaber/The New York Times) As a former president and the de facto leader of the Republican Party, Donald Trump is one of the most powerful people in America. But as a criminal defendant within the confines of the Manhattan courtroom where the case against him will play out for months to come, Trump is under the authority of someone else: the presiding judge, Juan Merchan. The two men came face-to-face Tuesday, after prosecutors with the Manhattan district attorneys office unveiled 34 felony charges against Trump. When the prosecutors raised some of the former presidents recent social media posts, including one warning that death and destruction could follow if he were charged, Merchan asked that Trump refrain from making comments that were likely to incite violence or civil unrest. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times But after the hearing, Trump returned to Florida and to his old habits, calling the district attorney, Alvin Bragg, a criminal, and Merchan a Trump-hating judge with a Trump-hating wife and family. Merchans warning and Trumps reaction later that evening provided dueling examples of what will almost surely be a delicate dance. The former president, who is running to take back the White House, will have to appeal to a political base that feeds on his unrestrained rhetoric without crossing a line that might cause the judge to take action against him. If Trump does cross that line, Merchan will have to be careful in how he responds, to avoid any appearance of bias. He has the rare power to constrain the former presidents speech. The question will be whether and how to use it. A judge in this situation would have to discipline themselves constantly and try to act and respond to the situation as they would to any defendant facing these charges, said Barry M. Kamins, a former administrative judge of New York Citys criminal courts. I know it sounds like a herculean task to do that, but I think a judge has to be able to do exactly what he would do in any other case. Story continues Trump, who on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a 2016 hush money payment made to a porn star on his behalf, has the same rights the U.S. Constitution guarantees to any defendant. He has freedom of speech, the right to a fair trial and is innocent until proven otherwise. But judges have significant power over defendants who appear before them, and Merchan would have several means of disciplining Trump, if he deems it necessary. I am sure Justice Merchan wants to avoid a real confrontation, if that is humanly possible, but he will want to assert the authority of the court, said Michael J. Obus, a judge who served in State Supreme Court for more than two decades and who has known Merchan for about 14 years. Although judges often act on their own accord, they sometimes exercise their powers over a defendant after prosecutors ask them to do so. On Tuesday, one of the prosecutors, Catherine McCaw, said that her team was in talks with Trumps lawyers over a draft protective order that would limit how the former president uses evidence and other case material shared with his lawyers. Prosecutors are seeking to bar him from reviewing the material without his lawyers present, and from sharing the material with third parties, including the press or his social media following. If he were to violate such an order, he could be held in contempt of court, McCaw said. But Trumps defense lawyers have since decided that theyre going to oppose the proposed order, and the matter likely will be subject to litigation, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Current and former judges said that Merchan, who has been on the bench in New York state Supreme Court since 2009, would almost certainly take other steps before he even considered placing Trump in contempt of court. He could admonish Trump or ask that the former president return to court in person earlier than Dec. 4, his next scheduled appearance date. Only if the former president continued to lash out might he think about harsher punishments. One of those, raised in advance of Tuesdays hearing by some of Trumps associates, could be a gag order, a catchall term for an order limiting what a defendant or often a defendants lawyer can say to the public. Judges are usually hesitant to impose such orders and do so only to prohibit specific types of speech. Certainly, the court would not impose a gag order at this time even if it were requested, Merchan said during Trumps arraignment. Such restraints are the most serious and least tolerable on First Amendment rights. That does apply doubly to Mr. Trump, because he is a candidate for the presidency of the United States. When prosecutors raised the subject of the social media posts from Trump, Merchans response asking Trumps legal team to warn the former president against making such comments seemed to reflect the judges intention to exercise his authority in stages. This is a request Im making, he said. Im not making it an order. If Merchan were to find Trump in contempt of court, he would have the power to fine the former president up to $1,000, or even to jail him for 30 days. But experts said the possibility of that happening is very slim. The judge can put him in jail but that would absolutely be the last resort, because it would just make matters worse, Kamins said. Merchan has been under the protection of armed court officers at least since the grand jury voted to indict Trump on March 30, according to a person familiar with the arrangements. One person who knows the judge said his chambers have been flooded with calls of support from colleagues and others, as well as angry calls from supporters of the former president, and many of those calls have included threats. (STORY CAN END HERE. OPTIONAL MATERIAL FOLLOWS.) For decades, Trump has taken a keen interest in the judges presiding over civil cases that have involved him. Longtime associates recall Trump invoking Roy Cohn, his former fixer and lawyer, when arguing about the importance of the judge in charge of any case. The former president often suggests judges hearing cases are too biased to continue, as he has with Merchan. People familiar with Trumps thinking say he believes he can get the judge to recuse himself. He may seize on public records which show that, during the 2020 presidential election, Merchan donated $15 to the Democratic group Act Blue earmarked for Trumps opponent, Joe Biden, as well as $10 each for two other Democratic groups, including one called Stop Republicans. Before he was arraigned, Trump attacked Merchan by his full name: Juan Manuel Merchan. Merchan was born in Bogota, Colombia. He came to the United States with his family when he was 6 years old, grew up in Queens and began his legal career in 1994 as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan. Last fall, he presided over the trial of Trumps family business, The Trump Organization, which in December was convicted of 17 felonies. He is overseeing a case the district attorneys office brought against Steve Bannon for defrauding contributors to an organization that sought to help construct a wall along the southern border. Although Merchan typically appears sober and even-keeled, lawyers for Trumps company and Bannon have at times tested him. During the trial of the Trump Organization, he appeared to grow frustrated with two of Trumps lawyers after they made vulgar references and gestures in closing arguments. Eventually he told another lawyer representing the company to tell them to refrain from the improper decorum thats going on. He had even less patience for David Schoen, a lawyer for Bannon. A January hearing at which Schoen was seeking to be removed from the case included several fiery exchanges between Merchan and Schoen. At the end of the hearing, the judge told the lawyer that you never need come back. c.2023 The New York Times Company A Reeses Reverse Slice cookie. | Coco Berryessa, Dirty Dough Its been almost a year since the Cookie Wars began. On May 10, 2022, Crumbl Cookie submitted legal documents claiming trademark infringement, according to KSL TV 5. The company sought legal action against two cookie companies: Dirty Dough and Crave Cookie. On Friday, Dirty Dough provided the Deseret News with legal documentation proposing a countersuit. The company filed a motion for leave to file counterclaim, which could give it the ability to counter-sue. Related The proposed countersuit alleges Dirty Dough has experienced significant financial harm because of the litigation, including loss of investors and the cost of litigation. The plaintiff (Dirty Dough) is requesting an unspecified amount in damages to be determined at court. The initial lawsuit filed by Crumbl in 2022 spawned whats known as the Utah Cookie Wars. The lawsuit focused on trademark infringement. KSL TV 5 reported, Crumbl Cookies claims that Crave Cookies and Dirty Dough have similar logos and packaging to their own. The company alleges the two businesses are trying to profit off Crumbls reputation and branding. Dirty Dough responded to the lawsuit by putting up billboards on I-15, which said things like Cookies so good were being sued! The legal action, billboard response as well as the emergence of competing cookie companies (aka the Utah Cookie Wars) caught the attention of national media like CNBC. As Dirty Doughs marketing campaign hit the headlines, Crumbl CEO Jason McGowan posted an update on LinkedIn regarding the lawsuit. He said, Dirty Dough has stolen trade secrets from Crumbls internal database. An ex-employee has turned over at least 643.7 MB of information that Dirty Dough had in their possession. McGowan said the information included 66 Crumbl recipes and other proprietary information. Dirty Dough denies these allegations and continued to drum up interest in the lawsuit via satirical videos. Story continues On the Dirty Dough Instagram page, the company posted videos that poked fun at the initial lawsuit. But after that, there was a few months of radio silence and it seemed like the Cookie Wars were over or at least out of the public eye. During that time, Crumbl Cookie became the official cookie of the Utah Jazz and Dirty Dough became the official cookie of Utah Valley University, per the Deseret News. Related The companies have also both announced new cookies. Dirty Dough released a caramel apple pie cookie filled with real apple filling, among other new cookies like its spring sugar cookie or its fruity crisp cookie. Crumbl came out with a Texas sheet cake cookie, which tastes like a rich chocolate cake with a fudgy top, and even announced it will be coming to Canada. So for a while, it seemed like the #UtahCookieWars was over, but its continuation is just how the cookie crumbles. The Deseret News reached out to Crumbl and Dirty Dough for comment. A dermatologist has been indicted by a California grand jury for allegedly trying to poison her husband last year by repeatedly putting liquid drain cleaner into his morning tea. Authorities say the suspicious husband of Dr. Yue "Emily" Yu, 45, caught his wife after setting up hidden cameras in their kitchen when he started feeling ill. A jury in Orange County indicted Yu on April 5 of three felony counts of poisoning and one felony count of domestic battery with corporal injury. She faces a maximum of eight years and eight months in prison if convicted on all counts. Yu, who has denied all allegations, was arrested in August 2022 and released from custody after posting a $30,000 bond. Her attorney said she plans to plead not guilty at an arraignment on April 18. Dr. Yue Yu. (via Hittelman Family Law Group) Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement that Yu "capitalized on her husbands daily rituals to torment her husband by systematically plying his tea with a Drano-like substance intending to cause him pain and suffering," Yu's husband, Dr. Jack Chen, 53, alleges that in April 2022 he started to notice a strange chemical taste in his morning lemon tea. His lawyer said Chen soon began suffering from esophagitis, stomach ulcers and gastritis. Chen then installed hidden cameras in the kitchen and says that on three occasions in July 2022, he captured his wife pouring a substance out of a bottle of liquid drain cleaner into his tea. Prosecutors released screen grabs from the hidden camera allegedly showing Yu pouring a bottle of liquid cleaner into a teacup. Chen filed a restraining order against Yu in August 2022 and also filed for divorce on the same day, his attorney said last year. "The video shows me taking a sip of my lemonade and Emily taking the Drano under the sink and removing the covering to pour the Drano and then replacing the cellophane," Chen said in the restraining order. Chen also collected samples of the tea and turned them over to the Irvine Police Department, according to prosecutors. The samples were turned over to the FBI, and testing confirmed the substance was consistent with liquid drain cleaner. Story continues "I dont think she was trying to kill him. I think she wanted him to suffer," Chen's attorney, Steve Hittelman, told NBC News correspondent Erin McLaughlin on TODAY on April 7. The alleged poisoning is part of a pattern of ongoing abuse, according to Hittelman. "The evidence is going to show that she was a long-term perpetrator of domestic violence (and) was physically, verbally and emotionally abusive toward Dr. Chen and his children," he said. Yu's attorney contends that the liquid drain cleaner was being used to combat an ant problem in the house. The couple, who have children ages 8 and 9, are also in the midst of a pending divorce. "Dr. Chen basically engineered these events in order to take an unfair advantage of Dr. Yu in family court," Yu's attorney, Scott Simmons, said on TODAY. Yu is also now required to self-report to the Medical Board of California, which will determine if she will be allowed to continue to practice medicine, according to the indictment. This article was originally published on TODAY.com soldier from a Ukrainian assault brigade walks across a muddy road used to transport and position British made L118 105mm Howitzers on March 4, 2023 near Bakhmut, Ukraine. John Moore/Getty Images Apparent classified US-Ukraine war plans were leaked or stolen, The New York Times reported Thursday. The documents, which may have been doctored, appeared on Twitter and Telegram. A spokesperson for the Department of Defense said the matter is under review. Documents that appear to be classified plans that detail Ukraine's combat readiness and preparations for an upcoming offensive against Russia were leaked or stolen and appeared this week on social media, The New York Times reported Thursday, with the outlet describing them as "secret American and NATO plans." One document appears to detail the expenditure rates of HIMARS artillery systems provided by the US, information that has been a closely guarded secret, while another describes the state of a dozen Ukrainian combat brigades, including their equipment and dates for when they might be ready to take on Russian forces, the Times noted. The documents are currently circulating on Twitter and Telegram. "We are aware of the reports of social media posts and the department is reviewing the matter," a Pentagon spokesperson told the Times. But experts have cautioned that the documents, while seemingly authentic, may have been altered for propaganda purposes. One slide, purportedly from a presentation, provides an estimate for Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine as many as 17,500, it states that is well below the figure Western governments have cited publicly. The British Ministry of Defense, for example, said in February that between 40,000 and 60,000 Russian soldiers had likely been killed since President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year. "They've obviously been doctored," Michael Weiss, a Russia expert and senior correspondent at Yahoo News, posted on social media. "Still bad that they were leaked or stolen." Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com Read the original article on Business Insider Photo of Elon Musk and image of Dogecoin Elon making money moves. What goes up must come down is a fundamental truth of physics, and also seemingly of cryptocurrencies. Sometimes though, the coins get a little help on the roller coaster ride. On Thursday evening, after hyping the blockchain bucks, Twitter pulled the rug out from under Dogecoin. Dogecoin, Elon Musks favorite crypto memecoin, got a big boost earlier this week after the Twitter CEO swapped out his platforms classic bluebird home button with an image of Kabosu the Shiba Inus face. As has happened before when Musk offers Dogecoin publicity, the value of the digital currency shot upby more than 30%. Read more Um why is the Dogecoin image taking over Twitter? pic.twitter.com/LCzuSpfvmz Matt Novak (@paleofuture) April 3, 2023 Four days later though, the bluebird returned to its rightful place, the Doge image was no more, and the corresponding cryptocurrencys value plummeted by around 8% in 24 hours, as of writing. Since Mondays spike, Dogecoins value has slumped almost all the way back down to the $0.076 it previously sat at. Once again, the worlds richest man has decided to have some fun at the expense of crypto fanboys. Maybe people on the internet saw the Twitter logo change and thought: Musk must be up to something substantive. Maybe Twitter is developing its own exchange platform. Surely, there must be some reason behind the madness. Gizmodo is here to report: probably not. In past instances of Musk-affiliated Dogecoin spikes, the billionaire drummed up a value surge by tweeting. Once, when he posted that Tesla would accept the cryptocurrency as payment. Again when he tweeted that he was working with Doge devs to improve system transaction efficiency. Story continues Potentially promising, Musk tacked onto the end of the latter post. Then, there were all of the other times he tweeted out Doge and crypto hype, despite his claims to the contrary. Of course, there was also the Dogecoin Dogefather SNL debacle. The point is: when your personal wealth eclipses the GDPs of most of the countries on Earth, goading your online followers into burning their money on a joke probably just seems like innocent fun. Unfortunately for Musk, not everyone agrees. The multi-hyphenate CEO is facing down a multi-billion dollar racketeering lawsuit in federal court relating to his Dogecoin musings. On Friday evening, just a couple of days before pulling the Dogecoin logo Twitter maneuver, Musks lawyers formally asked the Manhattan court to dismiss the case. Mr. Musk posted innocuous and often silly tweets about a cryptocurrency called Dogecoin. But there is nothing unlawful about tweeting words of support for, or funny pictures about, a legitimate cryptocurrency that continues to hold a market cap of nearly $10 billion, his legal team wrote in a memo filed Friday. Its not the first time Musks tweets have landed him in court. Previously, a post about taking Tesla private led to a fraud trial. In February, a San Francisco Jury cleared the billionaire of those charges and declared he wasnt liable for investor losses. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. After a standout rookie year, it appears Dolphins cornerback Kader Kohou will be wearing a new jersey number in the 2023 season. Kohou on Thursday shared a photo to his Instagram Stories that showed the No. 4 next to his locker name plate, replacing the No. 28 he had in 2022, accompanied with a 4 emoji and three exclamation points. The NFL passed rule changes ahead of the 2022 season that allows defensive backs such as Kohou to wear jerseys numbers between 1 to 49. Previously, numbers for the position were limited to 20 to 49. At the NFL owners meetings last week, the league also voted to allow the number 0 to be worn by all position groups, except for offensive lineman and defensive lineman. Dolphins CB Kader Kohou has changed his jersey number from 28 to 4. Kohou made the team as an undrafted rookie and started 13 games, recording 72 tackles, 10 pass breakups and one interception. Punter Thomas Morstead wore No. 4 for the Dolphins last season but has since signed with the New York Jets in free agency. In response to the Brazilian president's recent proposal to give the Crimean peninsula to Russia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that Ukraine does not trade its territories. Source: Oleh Nikolenko, the spokesperson of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, on Facebook Quote from Nikolenko: "Ukraine appreciates the efforts of the President of Brazil to find a solution to stop Russian aggression. At the same time, we must make it clear: Ukraine does not trade its territories." Details: Nikolenko has stressed that there is no legal, political or moral reason why Ukraine should give up even an inch of Ukrainian land. At the same time, the Foreign Ministry has pointed out Ukraine's position once again: any mediation efforts to restore peace in Ukraine must be based on respect for the sovereignty and full restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter. Background: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has proposed that Ukraine cede the Crimean peninsula to Russia to put an end to the war. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Sidney Smith, co-owner of 1820 Candle Co. outside the family owned business in East Palestine. EAST PALESTINE, Ohio Atop a hill near the Pennsylvania border, where her family farmhouse sits, Sidney Smith stared up at a fiery orange sky. As smoke filled the air, she was curious and mystified. More than anything, she feared what would come next. A train carrying hazardous materials had derailed a quarter mile from the house, near the center of town. And an explosion lit up the sky. "I just thought to myself, 'I've never seen anything like this in my life,'" Smith recalled of the Feb. 3 incident. Even then, before the extent of the damage was clear, Smith worried what this would mean for her town, for her family, for the life she intended to build here with her fiance. Two months later, shes still worried. 'We want to get back to normal:' Residents face long road ahead in East Palestine East Palestine: 7 CDC workers fell ill investigating train derailment The derailment didn't cause any injuries that night, but some train cars were carrying dangerous chemicals. A spill of those chemicals, followed by a controlled chemical burn, released toxins into the air, water and soil in and around East Palestine. In the weeks since the toxic derailment, East Palestine residents have seen their businesses lose customers, faced blowback online for trying to get back to normal, and watched real estate values fall, leaving some stuck in homes theyd like to sell. Many others have wondered if it was safe to stay in their beloved village, long term. "It scares me thinking, if I want to have kids in the next couple of years, will I get them sick by having them live here?" said Smith, who will marry her fiance, Eric Diaz-Guy, next year. Sidney Smith, co-owner of 1820 Candle Co. in East Palestine works on orders March 23. A daily disruption Many in East Palestine are asking similar questions. The fire and smoke may be gone, but theyve been replaced by fear and uncertainty. The disaster has complicated daily life and decisions for everyone here, whether they want to stay, like Smith, or leave, like some of her neighbors. Smith can trace her lineage in East Palestine back to 1918, when her ancestors bought a farmhouse that had been built in 1820. Her great grandfather and grandfather started Parker Dairy, which they ran for years. Story continues In the 1980s, they got out of the dairy business to focus on crops and cattle. Then the house was empty for a while until Smith's parents moved back to the farm and it became Smith's family home as a child. The farm and, more broadly, the village, are all she's ever known. "I've never thought of myself being anywhere else," Smith said of East Palestine. "This is where I grew up. This is where my ancestors grew up. And this whole town is pretty much family." Smith went to college to become a nurse. But after taking a few business classes, she found that she had a new passion. Since she was in middle school, she had been helping out at her mom Melissa's candle shop, 120 Candle Co., which she started in 2004. Then, she gradually took on more responsibilities. When she graduated college, she wanted to take all she had learned and go all in on her mom's business. They currently run the shop together and have grown the business to the point where they receive online orders from all over the country. "I love it, it's such a unique job," Smith said. "Not a lot of people can say 'I make candles for a living.' And to do it with your mom, is one of the most special things ever." But like many other businesses in East Palestine, getting back to normal has been difficult. Business owners have faced some backlash online for re-opening their shops as the aftermath of the derailment unfolds. Posts on social media often come with comments accusing local businesses of being irresponsible by bringing customers to a contaminated area even though state officials have assured the public that the water and air are safe. "A lot of people want to assume we're villains for wanting people to come here and shop," Smith said. "It's our livelihood. My parents have invested a lot of money in being here. We wouldn't tell our customers to come down here if it wasn't safe or we didn't personally feel safe." In the weeks since the derailment, Smith said she's felt better about staying in East Palestine, long term. "I have a lot of friends and family here and I don't want to leave them behind," she said. Many other families, however, are considering other options. More than two-thirds of homes in East Palestine are owner-occupied. Local realtors say the derailment has caused many challenges for people trying to sell their homes. And at least one insurance company, Allstate, has stopped offering coverage to new homeowners. T. Ross an East Palestine resident said is worried about the economy of East Palestine after the train derailment. He is concerned that local businesses may lose revenue if residents leave after the train derailment in February that contained dangerous chemicals. Norfolk Southern so far hasn't committed to compensating homeowners for diminished property values. At a CNN town hall in late February, the company's chief executive officer was confronted by a resident who fears he's stuck with his house forever. You burned me, resident Jim Stewart said at the town hall. We were going to sell our house. Our value went phoom, he added while pointing his hands downward. T. "Preacher" Ross, a resident who lives near Market Street, fears the small village could lose a lot if people pack up and leave. As a village of less than 5,000 residents, East Palestine relies on all its small businesses and shops, he said. "There's a rumor going around of a ghost town, and I know that because I started it," he said. "I've already surmised that if people are leaving and nobody is waiting to come in, and the population gets too small in this town, companies and businesses are going to get hit. "It will become a question of who's going to bail and who won't." Ross fears the derailment has caused a stigma that will, for a long time, cause travelers who may normally stop and shop while passing through East Palestine, to say Oh no, this is toxic town, before driving further to stop somewhere else. "That's what creates a ghost town," he added. "I don't think it will ultimately be that bad, but it ain't good." 'What is best for us' Janet Whittet, of Rogers, Ohio, and her son Peter Fiest, of East Palestine, said they have been fighting with getting reimbursement from Norfolk Southern Railway after the train derailment Feb. 3. Last month, an activist team of lawyers, environmentalists, and experts led by Erin Brockovich added a community advocate to their team. That advocate, East Palestine native Jessica Conard, has been tasked with outreach in the community as they continue fighting through remediation, legal, and safety processes. Conard said the tight-knit community has a "connection" and trust of each other. But that trust doesn't extend to government and certainly doesn't extend to Norfolk Southern. The community feels they've been lied to throughout the process. "When we have all these big corporations and big names coming into town, it's hard to know who to trust," she said. "The information has not been transparent." That mistrust has led residents into a cycle of constantly trying to sort out what is fact from fiction and whether things are better or worse than they've been led to believe. While trying to make sense of all the information they receive, many are also battling just to get through the day. Norfolk Southern began giving reimbursements to all residents of East Palestine as part of remediation efforts, but some have complained about how difficult the process is. One man, Peter Fiest, said he hasn't been able to receive any reimbursements because he doesn't have any mail in his name at his address. He was unable to go to work as evacuations began Feb. 3. And months later, he's been unsuccessful in getting compensation. "I had a letter stating that I stay there," Fiest said of a letter from his landlord he presented to the claim center. "I can't work. I don't got no money right now. It's hard." Those daily battles are becoming a new normal. As remediation continues, home sales in East Palestine will likely suffer for a while, Michael Stevens, board president for the Youngstown Columbiana Association of Realtors told the Canton Repository. Homebuyers don't have confidence in buying in the village right now, he said. And that lack of confidence won't go away quickly. Smith said her concerns have continually waned as time has gone by, but she's preparing in case that changes. "As of right now we plan on staying here, but obviously keeping cautious of those things that could pop up that put a family at risk," Smith said. "You're constantly thinking about what is best for us." This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Families weigh long-term futures in East Palestine Doomsday couple Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow are entangled in a complex web of mysterious deaths and missing children. Courtesy of Rexburg Police Department Lori Vallow is on trial in Idaho for her alleged role in the murder of her two children. Vallow, a doomsday prepper and self-proclaimed "exalted goddess" is entangled in a web of deaths. Here's a timeline of the tangled web of deaths, cult beliefs, and murder investigations. The tangled web surrounding doomsday couple Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell seems like it was ripped right out of a movie script: two dead children, two dead former spouses, and the couple's involvement in a "religious cult." The mystery began to unravel in November 2019 when the Rexburg Police Department in Idaho began the search for Lori's missing children, 17-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua "J.J." Vallow. When police conducted a well-being check and asked about the children's whereabouts, Chad and Lori lied and disappeared without a trace the very next day. It wasn't long before authorities and local media outlets began to piece together the string of mysterious deaths the couple left in their wake, including Lori's previous husband, Lori's brother, and Chad's first wife, who Chad reportedly prophesied would die. In January 2020, the couple was found vacationing in a luxury condo on the Hawaiian island of Kauai without their missing children shocking those who had been following the case. It wasn't until June 2020 when the bodies of J.J. and Tylee were found buried on Daybell's property. Vallow and Daybell were later charged in the kids' murders, and Daybell was also charged with the murder of his former wife. Opening statements in Vallow's trial for the killing of her children are scheduled for Monday. Vallow was later also charged in Arizona in the murder of her former husband, and she is awaiting trial in that case. Here's a timeline outlining the tangled web of bizarre beliefs and deaths tied to the doomsday couple. March 9, 1990: Chad and Tamara "Tammy" Daybell marry in Manti, Utah Chad married his first wife in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah. The couple later started an independent publishing company called Spring Creek Book company in 2004. Chad wrote over 25 doomsday prep books under the company for Mormon audiences, including fantasies of a dystopian world wrought by bioterrorism attacks and catastrophic natural disasters. Story continues Source: The Post Register, Flamm Funeral Home 2001: Lori marries Tylee's father, Joseph Anthony Ryan Jr. Lori and her third husband, Joseph Anthony Ryan, married in 2001, however, the exact date of the marriage remains unknown. The couple went on to have Tylee Ryan on September 24, 2002. Joseph later adopted Lori's son Colby from her previous marriage. Lori and Joseph were eventually divorced by 2005. Source: The Post Register February 24, 2006: Lori weds Leland "Charles" Anthony Vallow Lori and Leland "Charles" Anthony Vallow married in Las Vegas, Nevada making him her fourth husband. Charles worked as a managing partner at R.I.T.E. Planning Group and PFS Marketing LLC, according to his LinkedIn profile. Sources: The Post Register, LinkedIn July 2014: Lori and Charles officially adopt Joshua "J.J." Vallow Charles and Lori finalized the adoption of their son Joshua Vallow, better known as "J.J." He was on the autism spectrum and was the biological grandson of Charles' sister Kay Woodcock, who is married to Larry Woodcock. Sources: The Post Register, East Idaho News End of 2014: Charles and Lori move to Kauai, Hawaii with Tylee and J.J According to business records filed by the Vallows, the family moved with Tylee and J.J. to the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Lori was later found vacationing on the same island with her new husband, Chad Daybell, in January 2020 this time without the children. Sources: The Post Register, Insider 2015: Lori is reported to be obsessed with Chad Daybell's doomsday books Lori reportedly became "obsessed with Chad's books" around 2015. Lori was especially infatuated with the "Standing In Holy Places" series, a fictional series about various "exciting prophesied events that still must occur before the Second Coming." People later read Chad's books for clues on the whereabouts of Vallow's children. Lori Vallow's favorite book of Chad Daybell's. https://www.amazon.com/Great-Gathering-Standing-Holy-Places/dp/1932898794/ref=sr_1_1?crid=39ZW3HQCML0YV&keywords=chad+daybell+standing+in+holy+places&qid=1578421438&sprefix=chad+daybell+standing+%2Caps%2C225&sr=8-1 "Those books she got really obsessed with and started buying me those books too," Lori's friend told Fox5 in an anonymous interview. "She must have gotten close to him from his book." Sources: Fox 5, Amazon December 5, 2018: The first documented connection of Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow first appeared together on a podcast called "Time to Warrior Up" with Preparing a People, a doomsday prepper group that Lori's relatives worried was a religious "cult." The two appeared with others on several different Preparing a People podcasts, many of which talked about the end of the world. The organization that produced Preparing a People content has taken down content connected with Lori and Chad and has since tried to distance itself from the doomsday couple. https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/preparing-a-people/01-time-to-warrior-up-ojt_dPpFgxA/ Sources: East Idaho News, Insider February 8, 2019: Charles Vallow files for divorce from Lori Charles filed for divorce from Lori in February 2019. According to court documents obtained by Fox 10, Vallow claimed that Lori believed she was a god preparing for Christ's second coming. He also claimed Lori threatened to kill him if he got in her way, and said she transferred $35,000 of the couple's money to an unknown bank account. He later dropped the divorce filing and attempted to reconcile with his wife. Source: Fox 10 Phoenix July 11, 2019: Charles is shot and killed by Lori's brother, Alexander Cox Charles went to Lori's rental home in Chandler, Arizona, to pick up J.J. During an altercation, Lori's brother Alex Cox, fatally shot Charles in the chest twice. Lori and Tylee were there. Cox claimed it was "self-defense" and was never charged by police. Sources: Chandler Police records August 10, 2019: The last time Larry and Kay Woodcock reportedly speak with J.J. Larry and Kay Woodcock J.J.'s grandparents said they last made contact with J.J. in August 2019 in an interview with KSL TV. The couple said they FaceTimed with their grandson for 35 seconds before the call ended. Source: KSL TV, East Idaho News September 2019: Lori, Tylee, and J.J. move to Rexburg, Idaho Lori, Tylee, and J.J. moved to Rexburg, Idaho at the beginning of September 2019. According to Lori's Arizona landlord, he asked the family to vacate the home where the shooting took place, possibly prompting their move to Rexburg, Idaho. Tylee originally planned to move in with a friend in Arizona but decided she wanted to remain with her little brother, according to Tylee's friend. "She was just protective of J.J. cause he was her little brother," the friend said. Source: The Post Register September 23, 2019: J.J. is last seen at his new school, Kennedy Elementary in Rexburg, Idaho. J.J. briefly attended Kennedy Elementary in Rexburg, Idaho, before Lori unenrolled him from the school. She reportedly told the school's principal that she would be homeschooling him. The last confirmed sighting of Tylee Ryan is unknown, however, police believe she was last seen around this time as well. According to police, Lori and Chad told witnesses that Tylee died in 2017. Chad told another witness that Lori had no minor children. The couple never reported the missing children to authorities. Source: East Idaho News, Rexburg Police Department October 9, 2019: Tammy Daybell calls police after a masked assailant attempted to shoot her with a paintball gun Tammy Daybell, Chad's first wife, was unloading groceries from her car when a man in a ski mask attempted to shoot her with what she believed to be a paintball gun at their home in Salem, Idaho. Tammy called the police, however, the assailant ran away before deputies arrived. Investigators at the Fremont County Sheriff believed it was a prank and never found the man. Sources: Rexburg Standard Journal October 19, 2019: Tammy is found dead in her home Tammy Daybell was found dead in her home at age 49, according to the Rexburg Police Department. After Chad refused to order an autopsy, the coroner listed her death as "natural." Sources: Rexburg Police Department. November 2019: Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow are now married Doomsday Couple Idaho police searched for doomsday couple Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell following reports that Vallow's children had gone missing.Courtesy of the Rexburg Police Department According to the Rexburg Police Department, Chad and Lori wed within a couple of weeks of Tammy's death. Sources: Rexburg Police Department, Rexburg Standard Journal November 26, 2019: Rexburg Police Department conducts a wellbeing check on J.J. After Larry and Kay Woodcock raised concerns that they had not seen or heard from J.J. in months, the Rexburg Police Department went to Chad and Lori's home to conduct a welfare check. The couple told officers at the time that J.J. was staying with relatives in Arizona, which police later discovered was untrue. Police officers went to the couple's home again the next day with a search warrant, but the couple was already gone. Source: Rexburg Police records. December 11, 2019: Authorities decide to further investigate the death of Tammy Daybell Law enforcement decided to further investigate Tammy's death, now believing it to be "suspicious" given Chad's disappearance and the mysterious masked assailant. Tammy's body was exhumed and submitted for an autopsy. Source: The Post Register December 12, 2019: Alexander Cox dies in Arizona Lori's brother Alexander Cox was found unresponsive in Gilbert, Arizona. It was later released that his death was caused by blood clots in his lungs. Source: Chandler Police Department December 20, 2019: Rexburg Police Department officially announce an investigation into the disappearance of Tylee and J.J. The Rexburg Police Department announced their investigation into the disappearance of Tylee Ryan and J.J. Vallow. Courtesy of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children The Rexburg Police Department publicly announced their investigation into the disappearance of Tylee Ryan and J.J. Vallow in December, asking for the public's assistance in locating them. In a news release, police said Chad and Lori were cooperating and the children's disappearance may have been tied to Tammy's "suspicious death." An attorney representing Chad and Lori issued a statement on behalf of the couple denying any wrongdoing. "Chad Daybell was a loving husband and has the support of his children in this matter. Lori Daybell is a devoted mother and resents assertions to the contrary. We look forward to addressing the allegations once they have moved beyond speculation and rumor," Sean Bartholick wrote in a statement. Sources: Rexburg Police Department December 27, 2019: Chad's friend Julie Rowe claims he had prophesied Tammy's death Julie Rowe, a friend of Chad, attempts to defend her friend as news of the investigation makes headlines. Rowe claimed that Daybell had a "vision" from "angels" that Tammy would die years before her death in an interview with Fox 13. Source: Fox 13 Salt Lake City January 3, 2020: The Rexburg Police Department and FBI search Chad and Tammy's former home Law enforcement from the Fremont County Sheriff's Office, the Rexburg Police Department, and the FBI searched Chad and Tammy's former home. Police said more than 43 items were collected from the home, including "computers, cell phones, journals, documents, and medications," which were sent to forensic experts for examination. Source: The Post Register January 5, 2020: Lori's first son Colby makes a public plea to his mother Colby Ryan, Lori's first son, posted a video on YouTube pleading with his mother to bring Tylee and J.J. home safely. "You have the power to end this. You have an opportunity to put this all to rest," Colby said in the video. Sources: YouTube January 25, 2020: Local authorities locate Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow in Kauai, Hawaii As the search for JJ. and Tylee continued, local Hawaiian authorities found Chad and Lori vacationing in Kauai, Hawaii without the missing children. The couple was staying in a luxury condo at the Kaiulani of Princeville Townhomes priced at $6,150 per month. When authorities searched the unit the couple had been staying at since mid-December, they found no evidence that the children were ever there. Lori was court-ordered to physically produce the children before a judge in Rexburg, Idaho, by January 30. Sources: Insider January 30, 2020: Lori misses the deadline to produce J.J. and Tylee Lori failed to comply with a court order to physically produce Tylee and J.J. to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. She was given the order on January 26 and was given five days to locate her missing children. Her adopted son's grandmother Kay Woodcock, who is also Vallow's former sister-in-law, said she believed law enforcement would hold the "monster" accountable. Sources: Insider February 6, 2020: Arizona police investigate Vallow's connection to late husband Charles' life insurance policy In Arizona, though, where Vallow's late husband Charles was reportedly shot and killed by her brother Alex Cox, detectives began looking at Vallow's connections to a life insurance policy in her husband's name, according to Sgt. Jason McClimans of the Chandler Police Department. Sources: Insider February 6, 2020: Surveillance video shows Vallow dumping her children's things into a storage unit New surveillance footage revealed that Vallow had stored her children's things in a storage unit near their Rexburg, Idaho home shortly after J.J. and Tylee were reportedly last seen. Investigators found bikes, photos, clothing, and a backpack with JJ's initials. Sources: CBS News, East Idaho News February 20, 2020: Vallow is charged and arrested for deserting and not supporting her children Lori Vallow was arrested in Hawaii for multiple charges including two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of dependent children. Vallow was held on $5 million bail, the Kaua'i Police Department said. Other charges against her included resisting or obstructing police officers, criminal solicitation to commit a crime, and contempt of court. Sources: Fox News, Insider February 24, 2020: New footage pinpoints Tylee was in Yellowstone National Park before her brother disappeared elegeyda/ Shutterstock Court records revealed surveillance footage pinpointing where Tylee was last seen: Yellowstone National Park. Tylee's last confirmed sighting had been previously unknown, although law enforcement officers said she likely disappeared around the same time as her brother in September. J.J. was seen two weeks after the footage from Yellowstone on Sept. 17 playing with a neighbor, which was documented by footage from a doorbell camera. Sources: USA Today June 10, 2020: The bodies of J.J. and Tylee were found on Chad's property Two bodies were found on Daybell's Idaho property, and relatives and then police announced that they were J.J. and Tylee. During an early court hearing, a state prosecutor said one of the bodies was concealed in a "particularly egregious" way. Sources: Insider May 25, 2021: Lori and Chad are indicted in the murders of J.J., Tylee, and Tammy The doomsday couple was indicted in Idaho and pleaded not guilty to charges related to the killings of the two children and Daybell's wife, Tammy. The charges were: Conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and grand theft by deception for the death of Tylee Ryan. First-degree murder for the death of Tylee Ryan. Conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and grand theft by deception for the death of J.J. Vallow. First-degree murder for the death of J.J. Vallow. Conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the death of Tammy Daybell. Sources: Idaho trial court Lori Vallow Daybell glances at the camera during her hearing in Rexburg, Idaho. John Roark/The Idaho Post-Register via AP, Pool, File June 24, 2021: Lori Vallow is indicted in the killing of her 4th husband A Maricopa grand jury in Arizona indicted Vallow on charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. She later pleaded not guilty to the charge. October 21, 2021: Chandler police release a trove of documents showing the couple's bizarre cult beliefs A tranche of documents from the Chandler, Arizona, police department was released to reporters. The documents, which total over 1,000 pages and were obtained by Insider, investigated the July 2019 death of Vallow's ex-husband, Charles. But they also helped piece together Vallow's descent into a fantastical and apocalyptic belief system. The documents showed Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell, and their inner circle believed the world would end in July 2020. A witness said Daybell had even invented a "light" and "dark" scale ranging from 0 to 100% to represent a person's trustworthiness. Vallow and Daybell had often referred to Vallow's ex-husband as "Ned," and said he had an unclean spirit but that he was far from the only one. Lori Vallow. Dennis Fujimoto/The Garden Island via Associated Press May 27, 2021: Lori is temporarily found unfit to stand trial In Idaho, Lori Vallow was found unfit to stand trial in relation to the conspiracy to kill her two children. The trial case against her in Arizona proceeded. Source: Insider November 15, 2022: Lori is found competent, and the case proceeds Lori Vallow Daybell was found competent to stand trial, according to a court order filed by Judge Steven Boyce. Source: Idaho trial court Lori Vallow smiles at a camera after appearing in court on murder charges. East Idaho News/Tony Blakeslee April 10, 2023: Opening statements are scheduled Jury selection began on April 3 in the Ada County, Idaho trial of Lori Vallow. After 18 jurors were seated 12 to deliberate and six alternates lawyers were scheduled to give their opening statements on April 10. Vallow will not face the death penalty if she is convicted, according to court records. Chad Daybell will be tried separately. Source Source: Idaho trial court Read the original article on Insider CASTINE, Maine (AP) The 20-year-old driver of a sport utility vehicle that crashed into a tree and burst into flames, killing four Maine Maritime Academy students, is facing 17 charges including four counts of manslaughter. Joshua Goncalves-Radding, of North Babylon, New York, was indicted Thursday by a grand jury after investigators concluded he was speeding and under the influence of alcohol at the time of the December crash in Castine, officials said. The indictment discloses for the first time that investigators believe alcohol played a role in the deadly crash, and it also indicates the vehicle was traveling at between 106 mph and 111 mph (170 kph and 179 kph) before the crash. Seven students were in the 2013 Range Rover that crashed late at night following the semesters last day of classes. Killed were Brian Kenealy, 20, of York, Maine; Chase Fossett, 21, of Gardiner, Maine; Luke Simpson, 22, of Rockport, Massachusetts; and Riley Ignacio-Cameron, 20, of Aquinnah, Massachusetts. Two other students, in addition to Goncalves-Radding, survived the crash with serious injuries, according to the indictment. In addition to four counts of manslaughter, Goncalves-Radding was also indicted on five counts of aggravated OUI, two counts of reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, three counts of driving to endanger and one count each of criminal speeding, forgery and unlawful use of a license. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A podiatrist who practiced in East St. Louis pleaded guilty in a U.S. district court on Thursday to committing healthcare fraud from 2016 to 2020. Howard Jackson, 69, of Florissant, Missouri, admitted he routinely billed Medicare and Medicaid for procedures he did not perform. Health care providers who commit fraud for financial gain threaten the integrity of our health care system and the basic expectation of competent, available care, said First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois Jim Cutchin. I appreciate our partnership with the Illinois State Police and the Office of the Inspector General to bring this offender to justice. Between January 2016 and December 2020, Jackson engaged in a health care fraud scheme by submitting claims to Medicare and Medicaid for nail avulsions that, according to the charges, he did not perform. A nail avulsion is a surgical procedure that involves the separation and removal of all or part of a toenail from the tip to the base of the nail. The procedure typically requires the use of anesthesia to avoid causing extreme discomfort to the patient. Dr. Jackson admitted in court records that, on many occasions when he billed for a nail avulsion, he had not used anesthesia and had provided only routine foot care like trimming and clipping nails. Jackson cheated Medicare and Medicaid out of at least $144,694.69 as a result of the fraud, court records state. Jacksons offenses carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. His sentencing is set for July 27, 2023. The Illinois State Police and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter T. Reed is prosecuting the case. Providers who submit fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid undermine the integrity of federal health care programs and waste valuable taxpayer dollars, said Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto at the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville), center, Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis), back left, and Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) huddle on the floor of the House chamber Thursday in Nashville. Tennessee lawmakers ousted Jones and Pearson. (George Walker IV / Associated Press) The expulsion of two Tennessee lawmakers for daring to speak out for gun control is a shocking assault on democracy and speech in an era in which assaults on democracy and speech are becoming all too routine. The majority Republican Tennessee House on Thursday ousted Democrats Justin Jones of Nashville and Justin J. Pearson of Memphis, and very nearly removed Democrat Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, ostensibly for breaching decorum the day after the horrific killing of three 9-year-olds and three adults at a Nashville school on March 29. The three lawmakers offense taking the podium without first being recognized, and riling up anti-gun protesters in the gallery did indeed breach House rules, but a simple reprimand would have sufficed. Bouncing Jones and Pearson from office and disenfranchising their many thousands of constituents is a response wildly out of proportion to the conduct. Thats especially the case under these circumstances, when Tennesseeans demanding the most modest of controls on deadly weapons are met with a wall of indifference among the majority Republicans who shrug at gun deaths and insist that school shootings and slain students and staff are the necessary and peculiarly American price of freedom. They have every right to hold that view, however wrong-headed, just as they have the right to harbor destructive intolerance of the views of others. But they have no right to silence their opponents, Nashville, Memphis and Knoxville voters, and the people they elect to represent them. Not in a functioning democracy that thrives on speech and debate. While rejecting life-saving controls on deadly weapons, Republicans nationwide have purported to stand strong for free expression. GOP leaders pretend to recoil in horror at so-called cancel culture the supposed penchant of liberals and Democrats to shut down any who disagree with their political or social positions. Yet it has been Republicans, in the years of the post-Trump presidency, who are perfecting the dark art of silencing Americans especially those who deign to exercise their right to express opinions and choose officials and policies that represent their values. Story continues For example, Republican lawmakers in Pennsylvania tried to impeach Larry Krasner, the twice-elected Democratic district attorney in Philadelphia, because they distrust or disrespect voters in their states largest city. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis removed Democratic Dist. Atty. Andrew Warren of Tampa for similar reasons. The Republican majority in the Mississippi legislature moved to take over the courts, the police and the prosecution in their capital city, Jackson. Republican majorities are making similar attacks on urban Democratic voters in many states, robbing them of their choices and their voices. Now the Tennessee House has followed the same template, shutting down members elected by their state's largest and most liberal cities. It cannot escape notice that Jones and Pearson are both Black. Their removal recalls the ugly post-Civil War era in which Black candidates and voters were systematically disqualified from participating in Tennessee government. The ouster ill befits a state whose heritage includes the early and peaceful desegregation of Nashville, which showed the way for other cities across the South. Beyond the racial dimension, it has sadly become the Republican norm to stifle debate. Dont say gay, dont say gun control, dont say racism, dont let kids read the wrong books or be read to by the wrong people, dont permit children to learn about their bodies or their rights. A government in which the majority can silence those with competing views is in serious trouble. One that goes further and actually expels those with competing views is dangerously close to becoming anti-democratic and anti-liberty. The rules of democratic engagement are constantly shifting, and Americans of goodwill may have genuine concerns about minor infractions of the sort committed by the so-called Tennessee Three. Especially in this era of sharp political division, one of the things holding us together is respect for rules of conduct. But grabbing the podium out of turn and participating in a raucous but clearly peaceful protest is hardly a Jan. 6-like assault on the Capitol. No member of the Tennessee House has ever before been expelled merely for breaking rules of decorum. The Tennessee House majoritys action has taken the nation further down the wrong road. There's still time to turn around. For now. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. By Michel Rose GUANGHZOU, China (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron was given a rock star welcome by Chinese students at an elite university in Guangzhou where he took questions and hailed critical thinking in a country with tight media and political control. On the final leg of a three-day visit to China, Macron travelled south to Guangzhou, a coastal port city which his office said symbolised China's openness to the world. At the verdant campus of Sun Yat-sen university, excited students screamed Macron's name, grabbed him to shake his hand and took pictures with their mobile phones as he made his way to the gymnasium for a question-and-answer session. In opening remarks, Macron repeated the message of firmness against Russia he had conveyed to Chinese President Xi Jinping the day before. "It's a country that decides to colonise its neighbour, to breach the rules, to deploy weapons and to invade," Macron said, drawing applause. 'FREE AND EMANCIPATED INDIVIDUAL' Asked by a nuclear physics student what he thought were the skills needed for a bright future, Macron cited knowledge, critical thinking and self-confidence. "Critical thinking is just as important as access to knowledge. That's what makes you a free and emancipated individual," he told the crowd of about 1,000 students. Without critical thinking, an individual "would not know what to do with knowledge and would simply be the victim of propaganda," Macron added. Taking three questions before being told he needed to rejoin Xi, Macron was also asked what he thought of the popular new chatbot ChatGPT and artificial intelligence. He replied there was no point being afraid of it but that the world should make sure it is not used by governments to increase their control over society. The students listened attentively to Macron and clapped his answers. While they asked questions in French, he quipped that he would be hard-pressed to respond in Chinese. "It was very important for students. The president said: if you have knowledge without critical thinking, you can't be yourself," said one 20-year old French student, who gave his name as Victor, after the session. (Reporting by Michel Rose; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne) Elon Musk is CEO of Twitter. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Semafor reported that execs at some big advertisers had concerns about Elon Musk's "racist rhetoric." McDonald's marketing chief feared Musk was "perpetuating racism" under "the guise of freedom of speech." A Colgate-Palmolive exec said she was "mindful of the harmful and often racist rhetoric" of Musk, per Semafor. Representatives of big advertisers including McDonald's and Colgate-Palmolive expressed concern that Elon Musk's free speech agenda at Twitter is "perpetuating racism," according to an email chain obtained by Semafor. The Twitter CEO is scheduled to be interviewed on April 18 at an advertising conference in Miami organized by trade body MMA Global. NBCUniversal ad chief Linda Yaccarino will ask him why advertisers should return to Twitter. The social media platform's revenue plunged in December after half of Twitter's top 100 advertisers pulled out in the month following Musk's controversial takeover in late October. More than two-thirds of these advertisers had not returned by late February, according to Pathmatics, The Wall Street Journal reported. Musk previously said he bought Twitter to make the social media app a "digital town square" that prioritized free speech. However, his methods have been condemned by some politicians, celebrities, and advertisers with some saying it's done the opposite. Tariq Hassan, McDonald's chief marketing and customer experience officer, wrote in the email thread seen by Semafor: "For many communities, his willingness to leverage success and personal financial resources to further an agenda under the guise of freedom of speech is perpetuating racism resulting [in] direct threats to their communities and a potential for brand safety compromise we should all be concerned about." "Further, all of us who lead our brand's investments across platforms were required to navigate a situation post-acquisition that objectively can only be characterized as ranging from chaos to moments of irresponsibility," he added, per Semafor. Story continues Colgate-Palmolive's consumer experience general manager, Diana Haussling, said she was "mindful of the harmful and often racist rhetoric of Elon Musk," according to the report. Haussling added, per Semafor: "While I am a huge supporter of free speech and enterprise, we can not ignore the impact of such hate speech. I especially can't ignore it as a black woman." Albertsons' retail media head, Kristi Argyilan, also reportedly voiced her concerns. Semafor reported that Chris Riedy, Twitter's global sales and marketing chief, didn't defend Musk in his response but thanked the advertisers for their feedback. "Twitter needs each of you and your feedback is critical to shaping what the company can become Elon will be in Miami for the majority of the day Tuesday and wants to hear from you," he said, according to the report of the email chain. Riedy added: "To that end, and in an effort to foster the most healthy conversation possible and to give each of you the opportunity to address him directly, how about we get this group together with Elon immediately after the session with Linda?" Insider contacted Twitter for comment. The company responded with an automated message that didn't address the inquiry. Hassan, Haussling, Argyilan, McDonald's, Colgate-Palmolive and Albertsons did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider Controversial star Ezra Miller appears for just a few seconds in the trailer for Daliland. Miller shares the role of the ubiquitous Spanish artist with Ben Kingsley who plays the surrealist in later life. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Mary Harron (I Shot Andy Warhol, American Psycho), Daliland stars Ben Kingsley as the titular Salvador Dali, one of the most world-renowned artists of the 20th century and focuses on the later years of the strange and fascinating marriage between Dali and his wife, Gala (Barbara Sukowa), as their seemingly unshakable bond begins to stress and fracture, the official logline reads. Set in New York and Spain in 1974, the film is told through the eyes of James (Christopher Briney), a young assistant keen to make his name in the art world, who helps the eccentric and mercurial Dali prepare for a big gallery show. Rupert Graves, Suki Waterhouse, Andreja Pejic and Ezra Miller also star. In Millers only scene in the trailer, they appear emotional before dropping to their knees at the feet of a young Gala (Avital Lvova). The trailer comes after Miller apologised for a string of controversies, which included arrests and reports of erratic behaviour stretching from Hawaii to Vermont. The accusations Miller has faced include choking a woman at a bar in Iceland in 2020, grooming and psychologically manipulating an 18-year-old from North Dakota and hosting a woman and child on their Vermont farm where there were reports of guns lying around. In their statement shared last August, The Flash star said they have begun ongoing treatment for complex mental health issues. Daliland director Hallon was previously forced to confirm that Miller was still in the movie after their name did not appear on a film festival cast list. [Miller] turned in a completely realised performance, she said. They were very professional and nice to everybody. There was no trouble or a sign of trouble on set. So it was very upsetting and terrible to read what happened later. Story continues Harron said that, as the film was completely finished and wrapped, removing Miller from the film wasnt possible. After the trailer for Millers standalone Flash movie aired during the Super Bowl this year, many DC fans declared that they would boycott the film over the stars behaviour. Daliland opens in cinemas on 9 June. LaPLACE, La. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan traveled to the site of a rubber plant on Thursday to announce a proposal aimed at sharply reducing the amount of chemical toxins released into the air by the facility and others around the country. With the Denka Performance Elastomer plant looming behind him, Regan said the proposal would cut more than 6,000 tons of toxic air pollution a year, in part by requiring chemical facilities to monitor their emissions and take action when they exceed a certain level. This rule is absolutely a game changer for many of these communities, he said in an interview with NBC News after the news conference. The announcement came three weeks after an NBC News report chronicled years of inaction by state and federal government in this industrial swath of southern Louisiana known as Cancer Alley. The Denka facility is among more than 150 chemical plants built along an 85-mile corridor between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, where toxic chemicals have plagued the mostly Black communities for decades. EPA Chief Michael Regan. (NBC News) Regans proposal was met with effusive praise from the elderly activists who have led the fight for cleaner air in St. John the Baptist Parish. Its a great day in St. John Parish, said Mary Hampton, who turns 84 on Friday. I just told Mr. Regan: The son has come to save us. The Lord has sent us his son to save us. Robert Taylor, 82, said he and Hampton didnt hear even a peep from any public officials in the first few years after they founded the community group Concerned Citizens of St. John in 2016. It means so much to me that we now have someone in some agencies and parts of the government that not only heard our cry, they came to our defense, Taylor added. The Denka Performance Elastomer plant in LaPlace is one of the only facilities in the U.S. that produces chloroprene, a chemical used in the production of neoprene. Neoprene is a synthetic rubber found in products such as wetsuits and adhesives. Story continues The EPA identified chloroprene as a likely human carcinogen in 2010. But it wasnt until July 2016 that the agency warned the community of the dangers of the Denka plant. At the time, St. John the Baptist Parish had the highest cancer risk in the U.S. Today, the cancer risk is still nearly seven times the national average, according to the EPA. The Denka plant sits about 450 feet from an elementary school. The Fifth Ward Elementary School and residential neighborhoods near the Denka Performance Elastomer Plant in Louisiana. (Gerald Herbert / AP) The Justice Department sued Denka in February and demanded that it reduce emissions of chloroprene at its Louisiana plant. Last month, the federal government asked a judge to immediately force the Japanese chemical company to take action. These emissions are exposing infants, children, and adults in nearby communities, such as LaPlace, Reserve, and Edgard, Louisiana, to some of the countrys highest cancer risks from industrial air pollution, read the motion for preliminary injunction. Given their magnitude and the rate at which they are accumulating, these cancer risks constitute an imminent and substantial endangerment to the public health and welfare of parish residents. Denka has called the lawsuit politically motivated and said the company is in compliance with its air permits and applicable law. The company sued the EPA a month before the Justice Departments lawsuit, alleging that the agencys recommended acceptable level for chloroprene emissions is based on outdated and erroneous science. In a statement, Denka said it was still reviewing the EPA's new proposal and added that its position remains to ensure the best available science is used in future regulations governing its St. John the Baptist Parish Neoprene facility." Regan said the proposal would for the first time set "legally enforceable" safety levels for more than 80 toxic chemicals, including chloroprene. We know we can detect at these levels, and we know that it will save lives and reduce exposure to cancer risks, he said. Regan, the first Black man to lead the EPA, visited the area in November 2021 during a tour of Southern states to draw attention to how industrial pollution plagues low-income, predominantly minority communities. In the interview, Regan acknowledged that the federal government has been slow to take action to help the communities that surround the plant, but that the Biden administration is now doing everything in its power. We are using every tool in our toolbox, said Regan, and if I had more powers, trust me, I would use them. Regan said he hopes that the rule will be finalized by next spring. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A former New York police officer who once shared a jail cell with Jeffrey Epstein has been convicted of killing four people in a series of murders that prosecutors have described as being "gangland-style." Nicholas Tartaglione was found guilty Thursday in White Plains federal court following a three-week trial on the December 2016 slayings in Otisville, about 70 miles north of Manhattan, which claimed the lives of Martin Luna, Miguel Luna, Urbano Santiago and Hector Gutierrez. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said Tartaglione, a "former police officer turned drug dealer," suspected Martin Luna stole money from him and lured Luna, his two nephews and their family friend into a "deadly trap." "Tartagliones heinous acts represent a broader betrayal, as he was a former police officer who once swore to protect the very community he devastated," Williams said, adding that "a jury has found Tartaglione guilty of these heinous acts, sending a message that no one is above the law." FLASHBACK: EPSTEIN REPORTEDLY FEARED CELLMATE, A MUSCLE-BOUND EX-COP Tartaglione, 55, retired from the Briarcliff Manor Police Department in 2008 following an injury he suffered five years earlier, according to The Associated Press. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP He was allegedly selling cocaine, steroids and other drugs when he accused Martin Luna of stealing more than $200,000 from him, federal prosecutors had alleged. On April 11, 2016, Tartaglione allegedly lured Luna to a bar in Orange County, New York, where Luna was accompanied by his nephew, Miguel Luna; his niece's fiance, Santiago; and a family friend, Gutierrez. "What occurred next could only be described as pure terror, as Tartaglione tortured Martin, then forced one of his nephews to watch as Tartaglione strangled Martin to death with a zip-tie," Williams said in a statement Thursday. "Tartaglione and two of his associates then transported Miguel, Urbano, and Hector - who were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time to a remote wooded location, forced them to kneel, and executed them with gunshots to the back of the head," he continued. "Tartaglione then buried all four victims in a mass grave." Story continues JEFFREY EPSTEIN DEATH RAISES QUESTIONS THAT MUST BE ANSWERED FOR VICTIMS, GLORIA ALLRED SAYS Then-federal prosecutor Preet Bharara called the murders a "gangland-style" execution. However, Miguel Luna, Santiago and Gutierrez were not part of the alleged drug-running operation, according to family and prosecutors. "We commend the career prosecutors and investigators for their relentless pursuit of justice in this case over the past seven years, and for ensuring that Nicholas Tartaglione faces a lifetime in federal prison for his unconscionable murder of four men," Williams said. "Most of all, we thank the victims families for trusting law enforcement to find their loved ones and see that justice was done." Tartaglione's case drew national attention when he became cellmates with Epstein at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan. On July 23, 2019, Epstein was found in his prison cell semi-conscious and balled up in the fetal position with marks on his neck, and there were accusations that Tartaglione "roughed him up." He was questioned, but the former cop and his lawyer fought the accusations and charges were never filed. The Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, where Jeffrey Epstein and Nicholas Tartaglione once shared a cell. Epstein died of an apparent suicide the next month on Aug. 10, but Tartaglione was not in the cell at that time. After Epstein's death, the former police officer requested a transfer to a different prison, claiming he was being harassed by prison guards, according to court documents. Fox News Chris Eberhart contributed to this report. (Bloomberg) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan added a fringe social democrat party to his electoral alliance, the latest coalition-building maneuver ahead of a tight election in which every vote will count. Most Read from Bloomberg Once a major political force founded by four-time prime minister Bulent Ecevit, the Democratic Left Party was almost wiped out at elections after the 2001 financial crisis. Since then its been a minor group and its support isnt being measured in most polls, but its inclusion in the ruling alliance underlines the scramble for support as the president and his opponents prepare for the May 14 vote. Weve established our opinion to support President Erdogan, said Onder Aksakal, chairman of the party known as DSP, after meeting with executives of Erdogans AK Party in Ankara on Friday. The decision reflects the partys position against actors of a global system that want to destroy the Turkish state, he said. In return, an unspecified number of DSP politicians will run for parliament on the AK Partys list, Aksakal added. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Macron visit a test of the EU's strategic autonomy from Washington 08:44, April 07, 2023 By Chen Weihua ( China Daily French President Emmanuel Macron is visiting China with a delegation of about 50 corporate CEOs to boost bilateral investment and trade ties. He also hopes that China can "play a major role" in bringing an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Unlike some European states which blindly follow the United States, France is known for its more independent foreign policy, as in the case of its opposition to the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. Compared to the US, NATO and EU leaders, Macron has spoken more positively of China's 12-point position document to end the Ukraine crisis and said on Wednesday that it shows China wants to "build a pathway toward peace". For decades, China has maintained friendly relations with both Russia and Ukraine. In the past year, it has kept urging de-escalation and diplomatic solutions to end the conflict and refrained from adding fuel to the fire. The fact that more than 150 countries have refused to join the West's sanctions against Russia shows that the vast majority of nations want the conflict to end as soon as possible. However, it is hard to say whether some Western leaders want China to successfully play a more constructive role in promoting peace and end the conflict, since it would steal their limelight and undermine their goal of "weakening Russia" by exploiting the conflict and "fighting to the last Ukrainian". The fact that the US, NATO and EU leaders didn't even acknowledge China's role in successfully mediating a rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia recently reflected the same narrow-minded thinking. Macron is the only EU leader who has called for providing Russia with a security guarantee to end the conflict, but his words have not only failed to convince anyone in Washington or Brussels but also drawn fire across Europe. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who is accompanying Macron on his China visit, is a more hawkish figure in pushing for escalation of the conflict. Like NATO and the US, the EU has not put forward any meaningful diplomatic plan to end the conflict, a plan that would address both Ukraine and Russia's concerns. On the other hand, von der Leyen's speech last week on the EU's China policy shows her serious lack of understanding of today's China. The blind finger pointing at the South China Sea, the Taiwan Straits and at China's domestic and foreign policy grossly distorted facts and only mimicked Washington's anti-China rhetoric. It is good for her to state clearly that "it is neither viable, nor in Europe's interest, to decouple from China," but her emphasis on "de-risk" is deeply flawed because such a move will erode mutual trust and therefore increase risks instead of reducing them. The fact that China and the EU are each other's major trade partner means that they are highly dependent on each other and that is a good thing. When von der Leyen meets representatives of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China, they might tell her that EU businesses have participated in many critical infrastructure projects in China and China welcomed them instead of scaremongering about them. They should tell her that the China-EU Comprehensive Agreement on Investment whose negotiation was concluded in December of 2020 would bring many one-sided benefits to EU investors, so freezing the ratification or reassessing the agreement as von der Leyen called for in her speech last week will only undermine the interests of EU businesses. Bilateral investment and trade is a win-win for both sides and it is wrong for some EU leaders to think they are doing a favor or charity for China. The author is chief of China Daily EU Bureau based in Brussels. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Andres Raid, a deputy candidate from the Estonian right-wing party EKRE, said that he travelled to Mariupol, occupied by Russia, and did witness there any "evidence" of the abduction of Ukrainian children, which Ukraine, the international community and human rights defenders have been reporting. Source: Ryde spoke about his trip in an interview with the Kuku radio station, reports European Pravda. Details: The politician, formerly a journalist, claims that he travelled through several cities of Donetsk Oblast and, on the advice of a "good colleague", visited Mariupol to research if there was any abduction of children there. Quote: "Being on location, made it quite clear that we [in Estonia - ed.] were mainly told something completely different. Indeed, we know about one person who left via Estonia to somewhere in Europe, it is not known exactly where, but they did leave. Same thing applies to children," he said. Raid goes on to say that due to the war, Ukrainian residents also leave for Russia, because they have relatives there, and in the Donetsk Oblast "there has always been a predominantly Russian-speaking population." "And the second question is why would someone from the liberated Ukrainian territories go somewhere? On the contrary, those who left can simply return to the liberated territory," said the Estonian politician, further talking about his visit to the school where "well-dressed children were learning to dance the waltz for graduation." Later in the interview, Raid also mentioned that he received "permission" to enter the Russian-occupied Donetsk Oblast for five months, and expressed hope that such trips will take place in the future by other Estonian journalists as well. EKRE Chairman Henn Polluaas, as reported by Postimees, stated that he was not aware of this party member's trip to Mariupol, and promised that the matter would be discussed within the political force. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Eva Mendes has opened up about her relationship with longtime partner Ryan Gosling, with the actor revealing that the pair actually didnt meet on the set of their film, The Place Beyond the Pines. On Instagram on Thursday, Mendes shared a clip from the 2012 film, in which her character and Goslings character could be seen walking towards each other. In the movie, the Canadian actor played Luke, a motorcyclist who robs banks in order to financially provide for his girlfriend Romina, played by Mendes, and their newborn. As the actress praised the scene in the caption of her post, she also shared a new detail about her and Goslings relationship. Magic is Real, she wrote. We did not meet on set. The magic started way before but heres a little magic captured on camera. Gracias to the increible director Derek Cianfrance. In the comments of the post, fans not only praised the couple, but also asked when they really met. You could feel the chemistry through the screen, one fan wrote, while another added: How did you meet? along with a red heart eye emoji. A third wrote: The way they look at each other always speaks volumes. The look of love, sorrow, longing, all at once. Mendes clarification about the start of her relationship came two days after she celebrated the 10th anniversary of The Place Beyond the Pines in a separate Instagram post. The caption of the post, which featured photos of the pair on set, read: Luke & RominaMi socia @scondito just sent me this telling me its been 10 years since this film came out. Feels like lifetimes ago. Gosling has spoken previously about working with Mendes and the on-screen chemistry that they shared. I think that she...I would like to say its our chemistry, but I think the reality is that its Dereks process, he told Elle in 2013, referring to the films creator. I think that chemistry is evident in other relationships in the movie, as well, and the kind of environment that he puts you in evokes a kind of connection. Story continues Although they kept their relationship private, Mendes and Gosling were first romantically linked in 2011, after they were spotted on multiple outings together. In 2014, they starred alongside one another in their second movie, Lost River. That same year, Gosling and Mendes welcomed their first child, Esmeralda Amada, who is now eight, and in 2016, they had their second daughter, Amada Lee. Although the couple has been together more than a decade, they have not publicly confirmed whether they are married. However, Mendes previously hinted that she and Gosling had tied the knot during a November 2022 interview about living in Australia, during which she referred to Gosling as her husband. Im loving it here, she told Today Australia at the time. My husband Ryan is here, the ordinary fellow that you were talking about. Our children are here. Were having the best time. While Mendes is notoriously private about her life with the La La Land star, she has previously opened up about their family, and how important it is for their children to feel loved. Hopefully Ryan and I are doing the work by just loving them, completely loving them, and doing most of that work for them so that they grow up feeling like theyre enough, she told Byrdie in July 2022. Thats the one thing thats really important to me. Because once they feel like theyre enough, no matter what they do, no matter what they end up doing, that will feed into every area of your life. The city of Everett is paying out $500,000 to a former bikini barista stand owner and their employees. The owner sued the city over its dress code, claiming it infringed on their First Amendment rights. Last year, a U.S. District Court judge sided with the baristas. Under a new settlement, the city has agreed to align its dress code with existing standards, meaning the city will no longer require bikini baristas to wear a tank top and shorts, which is something baristas say the city tried to enforce last year. Police would come through in their cruisers and they would hand us a piece of paper that had rules (about) what we were allowed and not allowed to wear and if it were anything other than that wed be charged with lewd conduct, a barista told KIRO last fall. The bikini stands will still operate under a probationary license. Another provision of the agreement requires stand owners to post information for employees on how to seek help if they are being trafficked or exploited. Im glad were for the baristas and against the people that are trying to get them to do things they dont want to do, said Everett City Council member Liz Vogeli. Officials say that keeping the probationary license standards will still allow officials to crack down on stands if they find evidence of lewd behavior. (Getty Images) A secret Bitcoin document is hiding inside every modern Mac. Any Mac computer that has been updated to use a version of the MacOS operating system since 2018 is hiding a copy of the Bitcoin Whitepaper, a technology blogger has found. The Bitcoin Whitepaper was written in 2008, by a person or group of people calling themselves Satoshi Nakamoto and whose real identity has never been found. The document not only details how the cryptocurrency works, but also explains in detail the thinking behind why it was created in the first place. As a result, it has become an important document to those advocating for Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies in general. That may be the reason that it was seemingly quietly added to the software, presumably by an engineer working on MacOS. Anyone can open it, simply by looking inside the files for a device called Virtual Scanner II. The document appears to have been added as a sample file for that utility, and it may just have been a useful, short document to use as an example. The secret document was found by Andy Baio, the blogger and technologist. He noted that despite the file being inside the software for five years, there was very little discussion of it online. Apple has not given any information about how the file came to be added to MacOS. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent. Mr Baio said that he had received a tip-off that the existence was filed as an issue a year ago, and that it was assigned to the engineer who added it, but that there has not been any update since. Officially, Apple has stayed largely separate from cryptocurrency, even as it moves into more traditional financial services such as payments and lending. In 2021, chief executive Tim Cook said Apple was looking at cryptocurrencies and that he had invested in it personally. But he said that the company did not have immediate plans to move into it. Doughnuts: Tasty and uncomplicated. Social and comfortable. Across Wilson County, you can find these sweet mood lifters at businesses, religious services, classrooms and special events. Classic glaze. Doughnut holes with fruity fillings. Chocolate and strawberry doughnuts with sprinkles. Everybody has a sweet tooth, said John Khoury of the Mt. Juliet Donut Shop. Nearby, regular customer Kathy Blevins purchased doughnuts, hoping to get Khourys Peanut Butter Cream recipe. Here are some of the leading makers for a lot of mornings in Wilson County. Owner John Khoury, foreground, of Mt. Juliet Donut Shop on Nonaville Road with manager Heidi Smith. Mt. Juliet Donut Shop, 286 Nonaville Road, Mt. Juliet: The shop was opened by the late Nader Khoury in 2021 after Khoury established Gourmet Donuts and Cafe in Mt. Juliet, which he sold in 2020. The Apple Fritter, Boston Cream and classic glaze doughnuts are best-sellers. Chocolate and strawberry doughnuts with sprinkles are especially popular with kids. Several flavor fillings are also available. All doughnuts and icing are made from scratch. On Saturdays, a lot of specialty doughnuts and foods are created. Nader Khoury's cousin, John Khoury, who used to own Shipley Donuts in Donelson, now operates the business and does all the cooking. John Khoury estimates around 3,000 doughnuts are sold on weekends, with large demands from church groups. A picture of Nader Khoury is displayed in the store. Tony Chou, owner of Gourmet Donuts and Cafe on North Mt. Juliet Road in Mt. Juliet. Gourmet Donuts and Cafe, 3993 B N. Mt. Juliet Road, Mt. Juliet: Tony Chou now owns and operates this establishment, which offers every kind of doughnut, including a number of glaze and filling options. Cake doughnuts include blueberry, strawberry, devils food, apple spice and vanilla. The shop also offers a drive-in. Donut Time on Hartmann Drive in Lebanon. Donut Time, 102 Hartmann Drive Ste C, Lebanon: Apple fritter doughnuts are popular they're made daily with real apples. Also popular is a pine cone doughnut with cinnamon that pulls apart. There are a variety of cake doughnuts, breakfast croissants and kolaches a bread-based wrap around meat. Owners Joanna and Von Scott have locations at 3195 S. Mt. Juliet Road in Mt. Juliet and 2207 Hobson Pike in Davidson County. Joannas father, Randy Mean, started Donut Time nearly 11 years ago. Story continues Manager Pearl Sullivan works a steady drive-thru line at The Donut Palace in Lebanon, Tennessee. Donut Palace, 175 Tennessee Blvd, Lebanon: Preparation for fresh doughnuts starts at 3 a.m. Red velvet, blueberry and apple fritter doughnuts are all big sellers as customers order inside the store and in the drive-thru. Doughnuts also come with a variety of hole fillings that can include raspberry, custard, lemon and white frosting flavors. Croissants and a variety of cakes are also sold at the location. Donut Palace was launched about 20 years ago by So Sith. Grandson Kenny Sith now owns Donut Palace and is the cook. Pearl Sullivan is the manager. Dunkin Donuts: The national brand has four locations in Wilson County, two in Lebanon, a new store in Mt. Juliet and one in Old Hickory. The chocolate frosted donut and Dunkin Munchkins donut holes are among popular options with a variety of coffees as well. Slow Hand Bakehouse in Lebanon. Slow Hand Bakehouse, 111 S. Greenwood, Lebanon: This new bakery, recently opened by Nick and Audra Guidry, doesnt focus on doughnuts, other than the occasional cake doughnuts. But they do have cinnamon rolls, croissants and Danish pastries that often sell out. The business approach is classic techniques incorporated with a fun appeal to our customers' childhood memories and overall happiness, Audra Guidry said, "with a consistent effort to reimagine menu choices." Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @ AndyHumbles. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: 'Everybody has a sweet tooth': Taste these Wilson County doughnuts Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Lucasfilm There has, in fact, been an awakening. After a long period of uncertainty about when Star Wars will return to movie theaters, Lucasfilm finally provided some clarity at its Star Wars Celebration convention on Friday. The studio blew fans away by announcing not one, but three new movies set in different eras of the galaxy. Here's a look at everything we just learned about the future of the franchise on the big screen: A 'biblical epic' about the dawning of the Force The first of the three new projects is set far, far in the past: James Mangold is helming a movie that takes place 25,000 years before the events of the Star Wars films, one that will follow the rise of the first Jedi. The director described it as a "biblical epic" similar to The Ten Commandments about the "dawning of the Force." "Where did the Force come from?" he teased. "When did we discover it? When did we know how to use it?" Mangold previously directed the X-Men movie Logan, and most recently worked with Lucasfilm on the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Lucasfilm also showed a new graphic outlining the timeline of its future Star Wars stories, and this era was labeled "Dawn of the Jedi." It takes place before even the Old Republic. Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy said the studio is looking to "broaden" the Star Wars timeline, "building a rich future, expanding upon the present," and going "deep into the past to tell our stories." A movie set in the timeline of 'The Mandalorian' Next up, Dave Filoni was announced to be directing a film set during the timeline of The Mandalorian (between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens) and its spinoff shows, such as Ahsoka and The Book of Boba Fett. This movie is said to "close out" the various interconnected plot threads from the Mandalorian universe and center on the war between the New Republic and the Imperial Remnant. Kennedy previously teased that the events in the Mandalorian time period would culminate in a "climactic story event," so it sounds like this event has turned into a movie, which could be a sort of series finale to the "Mandoverse." Fans have speculated the plot could revolve around defeating Grand Admiral Thrawn, similar to Timothy Zahn's Heir to the Empire books. On the new timeline, this period was labeled "The New Republic." Story continues This will be Filoni's first time directing a live-action feature film, though he has previously helmed episodes of The Mandalorian, which he also produces. Filoni, who is beloved among Star Wars fans, produced The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, and worked closely with George Lucas before Lucasfilm was sold to Disney. A movie set 15 years after 'The Rise of Skywalker' starring Daisy Ridley Get ready for the return of the Jedi! The third movie announced takes place 15 years after 2019's Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and Daisy Ridley is returning as Jedi Master Rey Skywalker. The film will tell "the story of rebuilding the new Jedi Order and the powers that rise to tear it down," Kennedy said. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, who previously worked on the Disney+ show Ms. Marvel, is directing, making her the first woman to helm a Star Wars movie. "I'm very thrilled to be continuing this journey," Ridley said, making a surprise appearance at the convention to rousing applause. This period on the timeline was labeled "New Jedi Order." This will be Lucasfilm's first time exploring what happens after the end of its sequel trilogy in a major way, and the announcement offers the first confirmation that Rey will train a new generation of Jedi after The Rise of Skywalker. This movie also appears to be the same one that Watchmen creator Damon Lindelof was reported to be writing, though he recently left the project. Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight has now reportedly been tapped to write the script. None of the three projects received release dates. But Disney currently has a Star Wars movie slated for December 2025, so that might be when we'll see Rey's return. Other film projects previously said to be in the works include a movie from Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi, but that went unmentioned at Celebration. Rogue Squadron, a film from Patty Jenkins that at one point was eying a December 2023 release, also didn't come up following reports that it has been shelved and may no longer happen. In other news Lucasfilm's panel was also packed with reveals about the Star Wars television shows. Andor is aiming to debut its second season in August 2024, while Ahsoka, the Mandalorian spinoff starring Rosario Dawson, is set to debut in August 2023. The Acolyte, which takes place before the events of the prequel trilogy, was also revealed to feature a new Wookiee Jedi character played by Joonas Suotamo, who portrayed Chewbacca in the sequel films. Creator Leslye Headland said her pitch for the show was "Frozen meets Kill Bill." Meanwhile, a trailer for Ahsoka debuted, providing audiences a first look at the live-action versions of Sabine Wren and Hera Syndulla, both key characters from the animated series Star Wars Rebels. Mary Elizabeth Winstead was confirmed to be playing Hera in live-action, and the trailer also provided a glimpse at Grand Admiral Thrawn. Dawson implied the show is about the search for Ezra Bridger, who went missing with Thrawn at the end of Rebels and appears in the trailer via hologram. Finally, the child stars of the upcoming Skeleton Crew, which looks sort of like Stranger Things in the Star Wars universe, were revealed to be Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Kyriana Kratter, and Robert Timothy Smith. It was the movie news that got the most attention, though, given just how long fans have waited without any sort of update on the franchise's film plans. That Ridley will return confirms that Lucasfilm will continue building on its recent sequel trilogy, which wasn't a guarantee after the divisive reception of The Rise of Skywalker. For at least the next two years, Star Wars' focus will remain on its Disney+ shows. But fans eager to see the Force awaken in movie theaters once again finally have a new hope. You may also like 5 unlawfully funny cartoons about justice Should Trump's judge muzzle him? Jeremy Renner recounts snow plow accident, says he 'could see my eye with my other eye' Tommaso Boddi - Getty Images Lori Harvey has a new love in her life. Following her split from actor Michael B. Jordan, the model began a romance with another actor, Damson Idris. Idris, who grew up in South London's Peckham neighborhood, is the youngest of six children born to a Nigerian immigrant single mother. As a teen, he attended Brunel University London and earned a degree in Theatre, Film & Television studies. Though he is best known for his breakout role in the drama series Snowfall, he has been acting in TV and theater for over a decade. Ahead, everything we know about his and Harvey's relationship so far. April 2023: Lori shares a steamy photo from a beach day with Damson. On her Instagram Story on April 6, the model, 26, posts a photo of her sitting on Idris's back as he lays on a beach chair, wearing a vibrant orange string bikini with a straw cowboy hat, and holding an iced yellow drink with a red orange slice inside. Idris, 31, underneath her, wears black swim trunks. Lori Harvey/Instagram February 2023: They make their red-carpet debut. Harvey supports Idris at the Los Angeles premiere of the final season of Snowfall. The two happily pose on the red carpet together, and are seen holding hands and sharing kisses throughout the event and after-party. She looks glamorous in a black one-shoulder floor-length gown, diamond earrings, and Old Hollywood glam. He is dapper in a navy suit, white dress shirt, and shiny black dress shoes. Amy Sussman/GA - Getty Images January 2023: Lori confirms their romance. Harvey goes public with her relationship with Idris while celebrating her 26th birthday. The model reposts a series of birthday shout-outs from friends on her Instagram Story, including one from Idris, and the two are later photographed leaving her party hand-in-hand. Wilbert Roberts - Getty Images December 2022: They are seen out together for the first time. Idris and Harvey are spotted arriving at Los Angeles hotspot Catch on December 17. She wears a long-sleeved ruched gray minidress and stringy black sandals for the evening, while he keeps it casual in a plain white tank, dark-wash blue jeans, a black bomber jacket, and shiny black shoes. Story continues June 2022: Lori splits from Michael B. Jordan After dating for about two years, starting in November 2020, Harvey and Jordan part ways. Though during their relationship the actor credited Harvey with showing him "what love was," sources say Harvey was not ready to fully commit to him. You Might Also Like A former Wichita Falls man convicted of an aggravated robbery here in 2014 is back behind bars, this time as a suspect in a double murder in Denton County. No aption Wichita Falls Police confirmed Benjamin Paul Teal, 29, was arrested by officers in the WFPD Special Operations Unit during a traffic stop Friday morning. WFPD worked closely with officers of the Denton Police Department and U.S. Marshal's Office in apprehending Teal, according to a press release from Wichita Falls Police. Teal is wanted in the shooting deaths of a man and a woman at a Denton apartment complex March 23. The victims were found dead in a vehicle. Another man was arrested Monday in connection with the murders. Teal was placed in the Wichita County Jail Friday in lieu of $10 million bail on capital murder charges. He was one of three men convicted in an aggravated robbery at an apartment in 1300 block of Central Freeway East in Wichita Falls in April 2014. They pointed semi-automatic handguns at the people inside, forced them to the floor and demanded a safe containing drugs. They also stole a television, laptop and a Playstation. Teal was sentenced to 11 years in prison for his role in that crime. His arrest Friday also carried a parole violation charge from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Ex-Wichitan arrested here for double murder in Denton Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones (D) might be making a quick comeback after GOP lawmakers ousted him and his colleague, Rep. Justin Pearson (D), from the state House on Thursday. Jones and Pearson, both Black, and one other Democratic lawmaker, Rep. Gloria Johnson who is white and was not voted out participated in a protest inside the House chamber following a mass shooting that left three children and three adults dead at a private Christian school in Nashville on March 27. Republicans, who carry a two-thirds majority in the state House, reacted by voting to expel Jones and Pearson. Jones and Pearson were removed immediately and forced to give up their committee assignments, leaving their seats vacant. County legislative bodies can fill those vacancies and in Jones case, the Nashville Metropolitan Council appears to have the votes necessary to reinstate him to his position, according to The Tennessean. Twenty-three of 40 members on the council confirmed to NBC News that theyd vote to reinstate Jones. They could cast the vote as soon as Monday, during a special meeting set up to discuss the vacancy. Jones told CNN on Friday that he doesnt see it as the end of his political career. This extreme tactic to expel us and try to humiliate us has only put a spotlight of the world on Tennessee, and so I will go back because ... its worth whatever sacrifice that we have to give, whether its being expelled, whether its being in a hostile environment, Jones said. On Thursday, Jones spoke to lawmakers during the hearing: What we see today is just a spectacle. What we see today is a lynch mob assembled not to lynch me, but our democratic process. Former Rep. Justin Jones (D) looks for a seat in the gallery of the House chamber after being expelled from the legislature on April 6, in Nashville. Former Rep. Justin Jones (D) looks for a seat in the gallery of the House chamber after being expelled from the legislature on April 6, in Nashville. He continued: I was standing for young people many of whom cant even vote yet, many who are disenfranchised but all of whom are terrified by the continued trend of mass shootings plaguing our state and plaguing this nation. Story continues In a statement after the votes, the Tennessee House GOP Caucus called the protest disrespectful and disruptive. If elected to come back and serve their constituents in the Tennessee House of Representatives, we hope they will act as the thousands who have come before them with respect for our institution, their fellow colleagues, and the seat that they hold, the statement continued. But the expulsion caught the eyes of President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama, both of whom condemned it. Three kids and three officials gunned down in yet another mass shooting. And what are GOP officials focused on? Punishing lawmakers who joined thousands of peaceful protesters calling for action. Its shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent, Biden tweeted Thursday. No elected official should lose their job simply for raising their voice especially when theyre doing it on behalf of our children, Obama tweeted. Related... Expelled Tennessee lawmaker Justin Jones says he will seek re-election for his Nashville seat, calling his removal an attack on democracy. Republicans voted to expel Mr Jones and his fellow Democratic colleague Justin Pearson for leading a gun control protest on 30 March. The extraordinary move to expel the lawmakers came one week after a shooting at a Nashville school. Six people, including three young children, were killed. "It's very scary that this Republican supermajority has silenced us, has silenced our voters, for standing up," Mr Jones told BBC News. "We were calling for action so we can stop our young people and stop our children from being murdered and massacred." Mr Jones and Mr Pearson's absence from the House may be short-lived. Special elections will be held to fill the seats of both expelled members, meaning Mr Jones and Mr Pearson will be able to run again and potentially return to their seats. Until then, local councils can appoint temporary representatives to hold the position until a special election is held. Most members of Nashville's Metro Council - the body responsible for appointing Mr Jones' replacement - have pledged to nominate Mr Jones as his former district's temporary representative. The council has called a vote for Monday afternoon. Tennessee voters 'livid' over expulsions By Chelsea Bailey The removal of House Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, both Democrats and both young black men, left nearly 150,000 Tennesseans without a voice in the statehouse. Tennessee voters who spoke to BBC News said they felt "livid" and "disenfranchised" by the vote that led to the expulsion of their duly elected representatives. Memphis Pastor J. Lawrence Turner said he used part of his Good Friday homily to express his anger that Rep. Justin Pearson, who was once a member of his congregation, had been expelled over his calls for gun control. "I'm livid. I'm angry. They had a track record of speaking up on behalf of the marginalised and the voiceless," Mr Turner said. "It really is an awful display of what happens when power is wielded in a way to silence and dismiss people who should have a voice in our democracy." Story continues And many of the voters who spoke to BBC News said it was hard to ignore the racial overtones of the decision to oust two young black lawmakers and spare Rep Gloria Johnson, who is white. "It doesn't take Ray Charles to see that," joked Casio Montez, a Memphis resident and political activist. "It boils down to this, there's people that are sitting in the Capitol of Tennessee that have done way worse and still have their seat at the table." Amber Sherman, the 28-year-old head of the Shelby County Young Democrats, took issue with the tone of the Republican lawmakers. "They were treating [Mr Pearson and Mr Jones] like they were a 'boy' who got out of place and they had to push them right back in," she said. Demonstrators have flooded the Tennessee capitol demanding gun reform in the days since a shooter opened fire at the Covenant School in Nashville on 27 March, killing six people - including three children. Last week, Mr Jones, 27, and Mr Pearson, 28, along with fellow Democrat Gloria Johnson, 60, walked to the front of the chamber in solidarity with protestors gathered in the House gallery. Ms Johnson stood alongside Mr Jones and Mr Pearson as they led chants from the lectern on the House floor through a bullhorn. The actions enraged House Republicans, who soon brought a resolution on expulsion, saying the trio had brought "disorder and dishonour to the House". On Thursday, some Republican members said the Democrats' actions amounted to an insurrection, with House Speaker Cameron Sexton, a Republican, comparing the incident to the deadly assault on the US Capitol Building in Washington DC on 6 January 2020. Embattled Democrats Justin Pearson, Justin Jones and Gloria Johnson stand outside the statehouse after the expulsion vote "What they did today was equivalent, at least equivalent, maybe worse depending on how you look at it, to doing an insurrection in the Capitol," he said. Ms Johnson was the only one of the trio to survive her expulsion vote, keeping her seat by just one ballot. Asked why she alone was not removed from her seat, Ms Johnson, who is white, told reporters "it might have to do with the colour of our skin". Mr Jones and Mr Pearson are both black. The so-called Tennessee Three have brought nationwide attention to a state still reeling from last month's shooting. On Thursday, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre called the expulsion vote "shocking" and "undemocratic". Vice-President Kamala Harris arrived in Nashville on Thursday, where she met all three Democrats who faced expulsion votes. The visit came same day that President Joe Biden held a conference call with the three Democrats. "Earlier today, I spoke to Reps. Jones, Pearson, and Johnson to thank them for their leadership and courage in the face of a blatant disregard of our nation's democratic values," President Biden said in a statement on Instagram. "Our country needs to take action on gun violence and to do that we need more voices like theirs speaking out." Justin Jones, one of the Democratic Tennessee lawmakers expelled from the legislature on Thursday, vowed to attempt to return to his post. "This extreme tactic to expel us and try to humiliate us has only put a spotlight of the world on Tennessee, and so I will go back because ... it's worth whatever sacrifice that we have to give, whether it's being expelled, whether it's being in a hostile environment," Jones told CNN Friday morning. Tennessee's Republican-controlled House voted Thursday to expel Jones and fellow lawmaker Justin Pearson, who are both Black, for speaking out of turn during a gun control protest in the House chamber the week prior. Rep. Gloria Johnson, a white lawmaker who also participated in the demonstration, faced an expulsion vote that ultimately failed. The expulsion vote came less than two weeks after three 9-year-old children and three adults were fatally shot at an elementary school in Nashville. Jones said he and Pearson dont see their role as convincing opposing lawmakers of their views, but instead as being a voice of moral dissent and a speed bump to try and stop them from driving this train off the cliff. More than a dozen members of Nashvilles Metro Council said they plan to vote to reappoint Jones and send him back to the Tennessee House of Representatives, The Tennessean reported. That hostile environment, Jones added, has been driven by Republicans, including House Speaker Cameron Sexton, who dont view young Black men such as Jones and Pearson as equal or deserving of being in the Legislature: We know what were facing. In a separate interview on Fox News Friday morning, Sexton defended the expulsion vote and pushed back on accusations that racism was the reason why Jones and Pearson were expelled while Johnson was not an allegation Johnson herself made to reporters after Thursday's vote. The speaker said Johnsons lawyers argued that she acted differently than the pair during the protest she didnt shout or use a bullhorn and other members thought she didnt play as central a role in the demonstration as Jones and Pearson. Story continues She is trying to cloak racism in this, which there was nothing on this. They were all given due process, Sexton told Fox News. What they did was not right, and it deserved expulsion. Sexton also defended the Legislatures actions against President Joe Bidens condemnation that the expulsions were shocking and undemocratic, saying he doesnt believe the president would tolerate such protests on the congressional floor. Johnson said she doesnt believe there was due process for her and the two others: There were no rules, she told MSNBC Friday morning, adding that she was questioned by lawmakers in a different way than the two men. It is scary this is whats happening to our democratic process. TAIPEI, Taiwan U.S. officials had an unmistakable message for China this week: We stand with Taiwan. On Wednesday, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., defied Chinese threats of retaliation by appearing with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in California, the most senior U.S. official to meet with a Taiwanese leader on U.S. soil in decades. As soon as Tsai returns to Taiwan, she will meet with a bipartisan congressional delegation led by Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, the head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. China accused McCarthy and Tsai of promoting the independence of Taiwan, a self-ruling democracy that Beijing claims as its territory. The status of Taiwan is among the biggest flashpoints in U.S.-China relations, which are at their lowest point in decades. Though the United States does not have official relations with Taiwan, it is the islands most important international backer. House Speaker McCarthy Meets With Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen (Eric Thayer / Bloomberg via Getty Images) There are political, economic and cultural reasons Americans should care about Taiwan, said Lev Nachman, a political scientist and assistant professor at National Chengchi University in Taipei. Politically, it helps keep peace and stability in the world for Taiwan to remain a free and fair democracy as it exists, he said. Economically, Taiwan is one of the United Statess most important trading partners, and one of the most important economic pieces of the global economy, particularly as a manufacturer of strategically important semiconductor chips. Culturally, Nachman said, what the everyday American wants is very similar to what the everyday Taiwanese person wants, which is to be able to wake up and try to fulfill whatever their livelihood dreams are. Heres how the dispute started and why it matters. What is the origin of the Taiwan issue? The roots go back almost 75 years to 1949, when the ruling Nationalist Party (also known as the Kuomintang, or KMT) led by Gen. Chiang Kai-shek was defeated by Mao Zedongs Communist Party in the Chinese Civil War. Story continues The defeated government, known as the Republic of China, fled to Taiwan, an island 100 miles off the southeastern Chinese coast that is almost twice the size of New Jersey. In Beijing, Mao established his own government, which is still known today as the Peoples Republic of China. Both declared themselves the sole legitimate Chinese government. Tanks of the Chinese Communist army enter the streets of Beijing on May 2, 1949. (AP) The split was and is a sore subject for Beijing. Like Chinese leaders before him, President Xi Jinping says China which shares deep economic and trade ties with Taiwan seeks peaceful unification with the island but has not ruled out the use of force to bring it under control. As Chinas military capabilities have increased in recent decades, so has its pressure on Taiwan. Near-daily activity such as sorties by Chinese warplanes has further intensified since Nancy Pelosi, the House speaker at the time, visited the island last August. The Chinese Communist Party has never controlled Taiwan, which before the end of World War II had spent centuries being colonized by the Netherlands, Spain, China and Japan. Because it is not widely recognized as an independent nation, Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations and has formal diplomatic ties with only 13 countries. Tsai like the majority of Taiwans 23 million people as reflected in public opinion polls says that she favors maintaining the status quo and that Taiwan does not need to declare independence because it is already an independent nation in practice. The situation means that Taiwan gets to exist as a free democracy in the world, but kind of constantly under this threat from China, Nachman said. From Beijing's point of view, democracy in Taiwan doesn't trump Chinese sovereignty. Xi Jinping stressed that the Taiwan question is the core of Chinas core interest, Xi told European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Beijing on Thursday according to a statement. Those who expect China to compromise and back down on the Taiwan question are delusional and will only shoot themselves in the foot. Tourists look on as a Chinese military helicopter flies past China's Pingtan Island, the closest point to Taiwan, on Aug. 4, 2022, ahead of massive military drills. (Hector Retamal / AFP via Getty Images file) Where does the U.S. stand? The U.S. switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, hoping that China could serve as a counterweight to the Soviet Union at a time when the Cold War drove foreign policy decisions. Under the one-China policy, Washington acknowledges Beijings position that Taiwan is part of China without endorsing it, and maintains unofficial relations with Taipei. That same year, Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act, which requires the U.S. to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons and makes clear that Washington established diplomatic ties with Beijing with the expectation that Taiwans future would be determined peacefully. China views such arms sales, as well as official contact such as the meeting between McCarthy and Tsai, as provocations and a violation of Washingtons one-China policy. What would the U.S. do if China invaded? The short answer is, we dont know. The U.S. has a longstanding policy of strategic ambiguity on how it would respond if China invaded Taiwan, the idea being to deter China from invading and discourage Taiwan from doing something like declaring independence that might provoke a Chinese military response. But some U.S. lawmakers are pushing for a more explicit U.S. commitment, and President Joe Biden has made comments at least four times that appear to contradict current policy. Taiwan Conducts Live Fire Military Exercises (Annabelle Chih / Getty Images) In a 2022 60 Minutes interview on CBS, for example, Biden responded yes when asked whether U.S. forces would defend Taiwan against a Chinese attack. As in earlier cases, the White House later walked back those comments, saying that U.S. policy toward the island has not changed. I think if that happens four times, then its not a gaffe or a mistake, said Brian Hart, a fellow with the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. My interpretation of that is President Biden trying to signal his own personal thinking on the issue and to, I think, level up U.S. deterrence against Chinese aggression against Taiwan and to make clear how big of an issue it is for us, he said. So is an invasion imminent? Its unlikely in the near future, according to China analysts as well as top military officials. I dont think that an attack on Taiwan is imminent, nor inevitable, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told a House committee in March. U.S. officials say Xi has ordered his military to have the ability to invade Taiwan by 2027; others have predicted an attack well before then. But capability is not the same as intention, said Yun Sun, director of the China Program at the Stimson Center in Washington. By 2027, even if they have the capability, it does not necessarily mean that they are definitely going to fight, considering the political, economic and diplomatic cost of such a war, she said. Beijing is also hoping that the U.S. commitment to Taiwans security will one day fade, Sun said. When that day comes, China does not need to fight because Taiwan doesnt stand a chance, she said. What does this have to do with Ukraine? Russias invasion of Ukraine last year quickly raised questions as to how it would affect Chinas calculus on Taiwan. China rejects comparisons between Ukraine and Taiwan, arguing that any Chinese use of force against Taiwan would not be a violation of national sovereignty because Taiwan is part of China. But it is still likely to be drawing lessons from Russias experience. It makes the Chinese realize that the war [in Taiwan] may not be so easily and quickly won as they would like, Sun said. Experts say China might also consider the high levels of support, including military assistance, that Ukraine has received from democracies around the world. The response shows that the Western world is prepared to take some risks and pay some costs to support a friend that it believes in, said Michael OHanlon, director of research in foreign policy at the Brookings Institution in Washington. Courtney Kube reported from Taipei, Megan Lebowitz from Washington, and Jennifer Jett from Hong Kong. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Residents of the Russian city of Voronezh report hearing a loud explosion near the runway of a military aircraft plant. Source: Latvia-based Russian media outlet Meduza; local Telegram media channels Details: The Telegram channels share footage of a fire that allegedly started near the plant. A photo of a long trail in the sky was also posted. At the same time, the city council denies everything. They say there have been no emergencies. The press service of the Emergency Situations Ministry in Voronezh Oblast also reported that there were no calls for fire and rescue units. Background: The Voronezh Aircraft Plant fulfils orders from the Russian Ministry of Defence, including the maintenance of the so-called Doomsday Plane, a flying command post of the Russian president. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A simple search of the #faceyoga hashtag on TikTok will pull up countless videos of techniques that promise a younger- and smoother-looking face. And for once, its a TikTok claim thats actually backed by some research. But face yoga is so ubiquitous that you may be doubting its efficacy. Actor Gwyneth Paltrow and Goop, her lifestyle brand, have been all over it for years. You may have caught Alo Moves face yoga instructor Koko Hayashi on an episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians as she taught the titular sisters a few moves. And some skin care professionals are even giving it a whirl themselves, like Dr. Steven Line, a representative of the American Cosmetic Association. It is something that I have been practicing over the past few years, he told HuffPost. As time goes by, more face yoga practitioners are popping up online, many with their own programs that you can try. For instance, Danielle Collins, aka the Face Yoga Expert, has a popular YouTube channel where she offers videos on how to do everything from tightening a saggy neck to bringing more symmetry to your face and plumping your lips. So should you hop on board? Heres all you need to know as a face yoga beginner: Does Face Yoga Actually Work? Currently, the verdict is mixed. I have seen promising results on myself, and the reasoning behind face yogas potential benefits is sound, said Dr. Brooke Jeffy, a board-certified dermatologist in Arizona who combines a holistic approach with medical dermatology. She highlighted one small study that showed some apparent benefits. Published in JAMA Dermatology in 2018, Northwestern University researchers had 16 middle-aged women perform muscle-resistant facial exercise training for 20 weeks, leading to overall improved fullness on parts of the face. The only caveat is that we dont want to contract the wrong muscles, Jeffy said, since this can lead to worsening of the appearance of crows-feet, forehead lines or frown lines. That means doing the exercises correctly is key. Story continues Face yoga also helps to improve the flow of blood and oxygen to your skin, which contributes to its overall health and appearance, said Dr. Lauren Penzi, a dermatologist with the practice MDCS Dermatology in New York. She noted, however, that changes will likely be minimal and will not replace diligent sun protection, [a] skin care regimen and other cosmetic treatments. But Dr. Anna Guanche, a California-based dermatologist at the Bella Skin Institute practice, is not much of a fan. The idea of building muscle or making facial movements to improve the appearance of the face is counterintuitive, she said. In fact, the most popular cosmetic treatment in the country, Botox, works by inactivating muscles of facial expression, thereby reducing the repetitive pull on the skin and resulting lines and furrows. For instance, Guanche cited a popular face yoga exercise that involves placing your fingertip near the corner of your eye and winking your lower eyelid. But the muscle that contracts when you wink is also known to cause crows-feet. It is possibly true that face yoga may help to ease tension in the face, improve circulation and blood flow, [or] ease some neck pain, she said. But she doesnt see a face yoga practice doing much beyond that. What To Pay Attention To When Doing Face Yoga Though experts are divided on the benefits of face yoga, most agree that doing these exercises correctly is key, as improper form may lead to facial asymmetry or unwanted lines and wrinkles. Try these tips before you dive in: Start Calm Before beginning a session, get yourself into a calm mood. Take a few deep breaths to get yourself grounded in your body, said Annelise Hagen, the founder of beauty brand Yoga Face. Roll your shoulders a few times, roll your neck, and do some gentle stretching and breathing. This can help you relax enough to focus on performing the exercises precisely. Inhaling deeply, she added, brings more oxygen to the body, which assists in cell regeneration, oxygenation and calming the nervous system. Stress triggers fight or flight, which in turn sets off excess adrenaline production, Hagen said, adding that this can accelerate aging, drying of skin, thinning of hair and brittle nails. Only Move The Muscles Youre Working While going through specific face poses, make sure that other parts of your face are not moving. You can actually make new wrinkles when you scowl involuntarily as you concentrate, Hagen said. She recommended using your fingers to neutralize areas of the face that youre not working, while also warning that there can be a learning curve in isolating specific muscles. I will always hold down the muscle areas that I dont want to be involved in the exercise gently with my fingertips, she said. And I will use fingertip pressure to ... [apply] resistance where I want to build strength and volume and muscle tone. Keep Your Tongue In Its Proper Position The most important thing is your tongue posture when your face is resting, Hayashi said, adding that the tongue is the core muscle of the face. When the core is weak, it cannot easily stand up the face, and the face tends to sag. She suggested keeping your tongue up and flat on the palate whenever your face is not doing anything, so that the cheek area is slightly lifted. This can enhance your cheekbones and avoid jowls and saggy skin. When the cheek muscles are lifted and activated, your face gets lifted too because the upper jaw is lifted, Hayashi said. Cheeks, she added, play a significant role in this because they are located in the middle of the face. So if you want to lift up your face, including cheeks and jowls, you want to lift up the cheek muscles making your tongue posture critical. The reason why your tongue is probably down right now is that your tongue is weak, which starts as early as pre-teenagers, she said. Try her tongue swing technique to strengthen your tongue so its easier to keep the correct posture: Make a big smile. Show at least eight upper teeth. (Dont expose the lower teeth.) Swing the tongue slowly with the upper teeth showing, and do three reps. Be Gentle Facial yoga promotes repetitive facial muscle activities like frowning and smiling, which can lead to more creasing, tugging and wrinkling of the face, said Dr. Melanie Palm, a board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon at the Art of Skin MD clinic. Other face yoga movements that require using your fingers to push or pull the skin, she said, can have a similar effect. Thus, Palm recommended using a facial oil or serum that provides some glide to minimize unnecessary tugging. Remember to use light pressure as well. Consistency Is Key Hagen suggested doing a little bit of face yoga every day. It doesnt take a lot, maybe five to 10 minutes, she said. One or two curated face poses in your trouble areas at a time. Try to be consistent, like in any other exercise program, but be gentle with yourself at the same time. Just like other exercise programs, its a longevity and consistency practice. Start With A Clean Face When you practice face yoga, be mindful to keep your face and skin clean, without any makeup or heavy products, said Rashika Khemani, a face yoga instructor with the company MyYogaTeacher. This, she said, is because cosmetics and skin-rejuvenating products can lead to inflammation or redness, which you wouldnt want during your exercises. Face Yoga Exercises To Try Want to try face yoga out for yourself? Here are some poses designed to target some of the biggest beauty complaints: Cheek Squat This move is for waking up the sleeping cheek muscles to lift up the entire face, Hayashi said. Say Oh, Ah, and make a big smile. Make sure your upper teeth touch the bottom lip. Inside the mouth, place the tongue up and flat against the palate. Lift up the cheeks and upper jaw with the tongue as high as possible. Keep the pose for 10 seconds. (Dont use other muscles, such as the neck.) V For Victory This position is geared at tackling pesky crows feet. Use your fingers to make a V shape and frame your eyes with your index and middle fingers. Apply gentle pressure to the outer corner of your eyebrows, and slowly look up while squinting. Finish by closing your eyes tightly for 10 seconds. Smiling Buddha Face Hagen said this is a nice reset for your face that will encourage lifting in the cheek area, tone in the jaw and smoothness in the eye area. Practice a neutral smile in which you spread the corners of your mouth toward your ears. Keep your eyes soft so that you dont create new wrinkles. Kiss The Ceiling Or Lick The Ceiling These exercises will help tone the jaw and the neck, Hagen said. Look up and pretend to kiss the ceiling three times in a row. Then look to the right, look up and kiss the ceiling three times in a row. Then turn the head left and look up. Kiss the ceiling three times in a row. Heres a variation: Look to your right and up, stick your tongue up toward the ceiling and take your eyes to your far right over your shoulder. Hold this for 10 seconds. Do the same on the left. Do this three times in a row. Inner Tube This one by Hagen is aimed at smoothing vertical lip lines. Inhale through the nose. Put the air underneath the upper lip to puff the lip outward, and then do the same with the lower lip. By circulating the breath between the inside of the lips, youll stretch and smoother the fascia around the ring muscle of the mouth, Hagen said. Eyelid Squat This move is great for lifting up eyes, [the] eyebrow and providing a more defined look, Hayashi said. Keep the tongue up and flat on the palate. With your fingers, lift up only the lower eyelid without moving any other areas. Do this for 10 reps. Want some more ways to keep your skin looking fresh? Below are the most effective skin serums, according to dermatologists and reviewers. HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change. iS Clinical Super Serum Amazon iS Clinical Super Serum I am absolutely devoted to this powerful vitamin C serum. My esthetician recommended adding iS Clinicals Super Serum to my lineup, and now I cant imagine my skin without it. It's an oil-based vitamin C-rich serum that not only has the potential to help reduce typical signs of aging like fine lines, wrinkles and sun damage, but can help to reduce scarring as well. While it costs a pretty penny, I think its absolutely worth it. Not only are the quality and the results unbeatable, but a little goes a long way, making it less of a financial burden than one might imagine. Its definitely worth the splurge. Promising review: "Love this stuff. It might be a tad expensive, but it has done wonders for my skin to even it out and make it so smooth. Lines seem to have almost vanished (Im 57). I have sensitive skin and this was not harsh, nor did it break out my skin. VERY happy with this product and would recommend this to anyone with sensitive skin who wants their skin to feel soft and look radiant. I get SO many compliments on my skin. Have been using for 5 months and will continue to do so. Kindle Customer $158 at Amazon Sunday Riley Good Genes serum Amazon Sunday Riley Good Genes serum I've been using Sunday Riley's Good Genes for nearly a decade, and despite testing hundreds of other comparable products, I always come back to it. Im particularly obsessed with the high content of lactic acid, a unique chemical exfoliant that encourages quick cell turnover in the surface layers of the skin, leaving it smoother and helping clear up blemishes. Its paired with licorice and lemongrass in this formula, which can help brighten up the look of dark spots, sun damage and other discoloration, and prickly pear extract that can help soothe redness and calm sensitive skin. It's the perfect example of a product with a fairly common active ingredient that is perfectly formulated with other complementary ingredients to make it even more effective than many other options. Promising review: "Hands down the best skin product I've ever used. Worth the price. I don't write reviews on amazon but if I can help anyone justify the price given the magic it's done to my skin - worth the time! My 35 year old skin looks at least 10 years younger. I will buy this for life. (I could care less about the smell and honestly, don't really smell it? weird?)" Patricia Izquierdo $85 at Amazon The Inkey List 10% azelaic acid serum The Inkey List The Inkey List 10% azelaic acid serum Dr. Adeline Kikam, a board-certified dermatologist who shares advice on @brownskinderm, is a huge fan of this particular azelaic acid serum. She told HuffPost that "it is gently formulated with azelaic acid at 10% and allantoin at .3% for extra moisture." It can help soothe and calm irritated skin and help to reduce the appearance of redness. It's also formulated with micro-fine green color particles that can help to mask the look of existing redness as well, acting almost like a color corrector. Promising review: "Helped my rosacea and PD. I bought this 3 days ago and am actually super surprised and impressed with this product. Ive used azelaic acid before but found it irritating and heavy silicones in those formulas broke me out. I struggle with perioral dermatitis and rosacea. I was going through a pretty bad flare 3 days ago and as of today its 90% gone. I have some tips for how to best use the product: 1. Apply to dry skin only. Applying azelaic acid to wet or damp skin makes it super itchy and can cause irritation. ... Im super impressed. This really helped clear up my latest flare and Im excited to have found something that finally works for me. Ill continue using and buying this as long as these results continue!" Becca $17.99 at The Inkey List Dieux Deliverance serum Dieux Dieux Deliverance serum Find out why Dieux's cult-favorite Deliverance serum keeps flying off the shelves. It's formulated to address three main skin issues: irritation, uneven tone and the look of fine lines. The lightweight formulation helps leave skin soft, soothed and delightfully glowy. It's a great starter serum for anyone looking to amp up their routine or a wonderful addition to an already-established regimen. It harnesses the power of cannabinoids, niacinamide, peptides and more to leave skin looking and feeling its absolute best. Promising reviews: "Phenomenal. Im still currently using it but Ive been using it a few weeks and its already made such a huge difference in my skin. my redness isnt as severe and my skin glows! LOVE this product!" Grace B. "Saving grace. I have struggled with hormonal acne for years and have searched high and low for a product to help my skin (also very dry and sensitive). This product has changed my skin, slowly but surely. I absolutely notice more hydration. Ive started breaking out less, and marks from old breakouts fade quicker than usual. Charlotte never misses." Mary T. "One of those products where you start to freak out a little when you realize youre almost out. So good. Any time I fall off my routine I realize how potent this serum is and effective." Allison M. $69 at Dieux Vintner's Daughter active botanical serum Vintner's Daughter Vintner's Daughter active botanical serum This award-winning face serum is ideal for anyone wanting to harness the power of plant ingredients. It's chock full of moisturizing fatty acids, nourishing omegas and antioxidants that fight free radicals and help to restore and strengthen the skin. This active botanical serum leaves skin moisturized, nourished and renewed it's as luxurious as it gets. Promising review: "If I had to choose to reduce my skin care routine to one product and feel confident that my skin will get all the nutrients it needs, it would be the Active Botanical. I have tried many products over the year, I work in fashion and are exposed to quite a bit of them. The active Botanical is the one for me." Verified customer "This serum is insanely expensive, but also insanely good. Its like a bottle of love for your skin. Hyperpigmentation? It fades dark spots. Acne? I havent had a zit since I started using it 6 months ago. Sensitive skin? I can now start using chemical exfoliates, which Ive never been able to do. This stuff is amazing! Its expensive, but I no longer need serums and oils and moisturizers - just this stuff." BKOMC $195 at Vintner's Daughter True Botanicals chebula active serum True Botanicals True Botanicals chebula active serum Address dull, uneven skin, rough texture, fine lines and dark spots with this powerful True Botanicals serum. This brand is beloved by celebs, skin care enthusiasts and everyone in between. The chebula serum is a hydrating serum that can help to reduce the visible signs of aging while helping to support and strengthen the skin's natural moisture barrier. It's definitely a splurge, but one that you likely won't regret. Promising review: "Skin feels great. At 52, I have tried all types of skin care products. Some seem to work for a short time, others feel too thick and heavy. This product feels light and amazing on your skin. It has replaced all other moisturizer products and my skin feels healthier than ever before. I use less makeup and feel more confident." Blustar70 $90 at True Botanicals $90 at Amazon The Ordinary mandelic acid 10% + HA Sephora The Ordinary mandelic acid 10% + HA Mandelic acid is a game-changer for acne-prone skin like mine, and The Ordinary makes it easy to pick up a high concentration of this anti-bacterial AHA exfoliant without breaking the bank. It's recommended for sensitive skin by two board-certified dermatologists, Dr. Purvisha Patel in Memphis, Tennessee, and Dr. Jennifer MacGregor of UnionDerm in New York City. The addition of hyaluronic acid brings skin extra hydration, making this a great formula for introducing your skin to mandelic acid. It's ideal for acne-prone skin, reducing the look of fine lines and chemical exfoliation. Promising review: "Skin type: 30s, cystic acne prone, hyperpigmentation, redness, combination skin, CANNOT use salicylic acid, glycolic or lactic acid. I never thought I had sensitive skin until a product with salicylic acid broke me really badly a month before my wedding. Curse you, salicylic acid, you are not for me. But this product is - mandelic acid. I can't remember how I heard about it, but what really got me interested was the fact that's is recommended for Skin of Colour, like mine :D FIRST USE: I applied four drops on my face (forehead, cheeks, nose/chin) after cleansing (oil and foam), then allowed it to sink in before continuing with the rest of my routine (toner, serum, moisturiser). Honestly, it takes a little while to sink in your skin, don't use too much, you'll be waiting a LONG time. The next morning I was washing my face and I was like, omg, my cheeks are baby soft. So soft, my skin was legit renewed, it felt like a miracle was happening. Basically, any sort of decongestion was dissolved and I was left with smooth skin. Yes, it works, if you need an acid that won't irritate your skin, this may be the one for you." PS $7.50 at Sephora Sunday Riley A+ high dose retinoid serum Amazon Sunday Riley A+ high dose retinoid serum HuffPost shopping writer and beauty devotee Tessa Flores swears by Sunday Riley's A+ retinoid serum, and she's not alone. It's a great way to introduce a powerful active ingredient into your routine. And while it's definitely an investment, a little goes a long way. The results also speak for themselves, making it worth every penny. Promising review: "Sunday Rileys A+ retinol serum initially caught my eye because it was advertised as an advanced strength retinoid that was suitable for both individuals with sensitive skin and experienced users of the ingredient that might be in search of a stronger product. The formulation contains a 6.5% retinoid blend, a relatively high percentage compared with other retinol products on the market. After using this product consistently for two months, Im noticing a significant reduction of my keratosis pilaris in that the texture is smoother, less red and with fewer clogged hair follicles. Ive also noticed less congestion in my T-zone, fewer sun freckles and an overall increase in skin plumpness all without those telltale signs of retinol-induced irritation." Tessa Flores, shopping writer $85 at Amazon SkinCeuticals C E ferulic acid serum Dermstore SkinCeuticals C E ferulic acid serum If you're into skin care, you've likely heard people sing the praises of this cult-favorite serum, and with good reason. The SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic serum has been praised by dermatologists for its ability to help lighten fine lines, firm skin, provide environmental protection and brighten a dull complexion. The stabilized formulation means all ingredients are working at the peak of their powers, in tandem with each other. Promising reviews: "I have tried many vitamin c serums and keep coming back to this one. Its been highly effective on my skin, and while its pricey the results have been well worth it. One thing I have especially noticed is that it helps fade my acne scars pretty quickly." GG "When I first bought this, I was so apprehensive because of the price. But it really is amazing! You have to use it consistently for a few weeks to see the results, but its worth it. My skin has never looked better. A little goes a long way, so the price is worth it." Emma $182 at Dermstore Paula's Choice 10% azelaic acid booster serum Sephora Paula's Choice 10% azelaic acid booster serum Also recommended by Kikam, this serum from Paula's Choice is a lightweight, oil-free cream-gel formulation with .5% salicylic acid to boost skin brightening. It's great for redness, irritation, acne-prone or otherwise distressed skin. The formula is lightweight and won't clog pores or leave skin feeling heavy. You can use it as a spot treatment or all over your skin, depending on what it needs. Promising reviews: "The holy grail. If you had to buy one skin cream in the world, it would be this product. Absolutely love it!!! This product moisturizes my face SOOOO well that I glow and it minimizes my redness. I definitely will repurchase!!" Kate "It works! My dermatologist recommended this product for my sun-damaged face. I cannot believe how great this stuff is! I had hypoplasia and this moisturizer really works and my skin looks great now! I will be ordering this again." Deb O. $39 at Sephora $39 at Amazon Naturium mandelic topical acid 12% Target Naturium mandelic topical acid 12% This is also on Kikam's list of must-haves. She explained that it's "a lightweight serum with 10% azelaic acid boosted with other calming ingredients like niacinamide, vitamin C and coffee seed extract to help with oil control and discoloration." It's designed to slowly penetrate the skin, encouraging cell turnover and leaving the complexion looking brighter, radiant and more youthful. Promising review: "Gentle yet effective. Great for those with sensitive skin looking to clear out your pores. I have really sensitive skin. I can no longer use Salicylic Acid. This is what i use now. It's amazing. During the winter though I'm sticking with the PHA, and may just use this once a week or every other week as i have acne prone skin but sensitive skin as well." Jenny Marie "I have used hydroquinone for a long time and this fades spots better than any high-end hydroquinone formula Ive ever used. I have acne scars and sun spots and both have faded significantly more with this product than clinical hydroquinone products I have used in the past." Kennedy $20 at Target Sunday Riley Luna sleeping night oil Amazon Sunday Riley Luna sleeping night oil I happen to be obsessed with using Luna oil in conjunction with Sunday Riley's Good Genes; it's a powerful duo that leaves me swimming in compliments and glowing skin. If youve been on the fence about trying an oil or retinoid, then this is the perfect place to start. Soothing botanicals like blue tansy and German chamomile are paired with an advanced retinoid ester that supports skin health and elasticity, evens out redness and fights fine lines and wrinkles. Avocado seed oil plumps up the skin and delivers a healthy dose of antioxidants. It doesnt clog pores, which is perfect if you are acne-prone like myself. Promising review: "Ive been skeptical of Sunday Riley since their review debacle. I use other high-end skincare and wasnt looking to add anything but this came highly suggested from a friend I trust. Now I cant go a night without this beauty! The natural scents of chamomile are so relaxing and great part of self care to any nighttime routine to tell your nervous system 'its time for sleep.' Its a very soft texture in the skin that feels nourishing and I love the deep blue tansy color that easily fades into skin as you apply. Its a gentle retinoid that doesnt irritate or interact with my other skincare. Overall my skin always looks bright and even in the morning. Love love this product, bought another for my mom for Mothers Day! Cant go wrong with adding this to a luxurious nighttime routine!" shelby k $55 at Amazon Caudalie Premier Cru anti-aging serum with niacinamide and hyaluronic acid Sephora Caudalie Premier Cru anti-aging serum with niacinamide and hyaluronic acid This lightweight serum from Caudalie is perfect for anyone looking for a deeply nourishing blast of powerful niacinamide. Hyaluronic acid keeps the skin hydrated and quenched while the serum plumps, moisturizes and helps repair damaged skin. Promising reviews: "I have noticed a visible reduction in my fine lines since using this product. It also doesnt leave my face oily or sticky like other serums can and do. I also really love that it has clean ingredients and does not have hardly any fragrance at all for those who are sensitive to fragrances like myself." Daniii89 "Loved it! Excellent product !!! I've been using it since I bought it and I can see the difference in my skin. Highly recommended." Kary9103 $139 at Sephora Related... Lake Travis sprinter Noah Wood just helped the Cavaliers' 3,200-meter relay team win gold at last week's Texas Relays. He ran the first leg and says being the leadoff runner is more about pride than pressure. All about Noah Do you have plans after you graduate? I plan to go to the University of Texas, and I'm hoping to major in computer science. I haven't decided if I'm going to run in college yet. Even if I don't end up running directly for the school, I'll try to find a running club. Past or present, if you could see any concert, whom would you see? I'd probably see the Beatles or a classic band like that. Why the Beatles? It would probably be an experience that you wouldn't see today. Everything has changed so much. What has been your favorite vacation? Our family went to Belize about four years ago. We got see the beaches and nearby islands. We'd walk around and see what life was like for the workers. I actually saw someone making peanut butter. Winning Relays gold You ran the first leg for Lake Travis' 3,200-meter relay team that won the Texas Relays. Coolest part about that? It was seeing (anchor leg) Ben (Wright) throw his arms up in excitement when he crossed the finish line. It made me feel what we all accomplished by winning the race. I went in there thinking we would be able to place. I didn't know if we could win, but I knew it was possible. Do you feel pressure running the first leg of the race? Not necessarily. I don't think it's pressure. I feel like I owe it to my team to put us in good position. It's prideful. The running life How did you start running competitively? It started when I was in the seventh grade. My friend wanted to join cross-country, and I thought it sounded fun. Our little group of friends joined in seventh grade, and I haven't stopped since then. It's a way to connect with all my friends. What do you like most about running? It's a way for me to disconnect from the schoolwork that drives my life. It helps me relax and stay focused on everything. Do you have any prerace rituals? I always eat a carb-heavy dinner with maybe a baked potato or some pasta. The day of the race I like to say a prayer to myself before I run. I like to stay quiet and get my focus on the race maybe 30 minutes before we run. Story continues Dream dinner If you could have dinner with four people in the history of the world, who would they be? I'd have (retired middle distance runner) Nick Symmonds, Usain Bolt, Steve Jobs and one of my teachers, Mr. (Jeff) Christensen. Usain Bolt and Steve Jobs are an interesting combination. What do you think you'd learn from them? The most interesting thing I'd like to hear from them is what drives them. How did they get their work ethic? Something about their training programs on how to get better. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Faces off the field: Meet Noah Wood, junior sprinter at Lake Travis The claim: Alvin Bragg shut down New York City, called up 38,000 officers, closed FDR Drive and spent $200 million in city funds An April 4 Facebook post (direct link, archived link) from Eric Trump makes a claim about Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. "Alvin Bragg has shut down the entire city, called up 38,000 NYPD police officers, closed down FDR Drive and is spending an estimated $200 million of city funds, all for a $130,000 NDA," reads the post. "I never thought I would see this corruption in the United States." The post generated over 700 shares in less than a week. Former President Donald Trump shared a similar post on Truth Social, which generated over 50,000 likes. Follow us on Facebook! Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks Our rating: False The post misrepresents both what happened and Braggs role in city operations. Bragg did not order New York City to be shut down, and that didn't happen. The New York Police Department did close a part of FDR Drive, but this was not on Braggs order. Bragg does not oversee the NYPD and has no authority to call up officers. There's no proof the $200 million figure is correct. Post's claims on Bragg off the mark Donald Trump was placed under arrest at the Manhattan District Attorneys Office on April 4 for allegedly falsifying business records in connection with hush money payments made to two women who allege they had sex with him. The former president's appearance with his usual Secret Service escort drew a crowd, but Eric Trump's account is off the mark. Fabien Levy, press secretary for New York City Mayor Eric Adams, told USA TODAY that both Trumps completely fabricated these numbers without any actual information. Here's a rundown of Eric Trump's claims: Claim: Bragg "shut down the entire city" and "closed down the FDR drive" New York City was not shut down on Donald Trumps arraignment day, according to Bradley Moss, a national security lawyer, and various news reports. Story continues A small part of it was temporarily shut down to enable a secure pathway for Trumps motorcade, consistent with what happens all the time when a VIP needs to be transported through a major metropolitan area like NYC, Moss said. Steven Cheung, Eric Trumps spokesperson, referred USA TODAY to a Bloomberg article that said New York City officials planned to close key streets in lower Manhattan for security. But it doesnt say that Bragg made such an order himself, or that the entire borough of Manhattan would be shut down. Rather, the article says officials planned to close streets surrounding the Manhattan courthouse such as Centre Street and Baxter Street to traffic, while other adjacent streets, such as Worth Street and Canal Street, would be closed intermittently. Trump indictment fact checks: What's true and false among claims, images from hush money probe The NYPD did close down the south-bound FDR Drive as Donald Trump traveled from Trump Tower to Manhattan Criminal Court, according to New York Daily News. But this was not under Bragg's order. Id also point out that, and I think it goes without saying, that the New York Police Department does not report to the district attorney, Levy said in an email. Moss said the route Donald Trump took and the security protocols "were set up in coordination with Trumps Secret Service detail, which is required by federal law to ensure Trumps protection at all times. Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg discuss charges filed against former President Donald Trump on April 4, 2023 in New York City. Claim: Bragg "called up 38,000 NYPD officers" Cheung referred USA TODAY to an NBC news article that says the police department ordered every member of the department to report in full uniform on March 31 after Donald Trump was indicted. But it doesnt say Bragg called up any officers at the time. Moss noted, like Levy, that Bragg has "no control" over the NYPD. The NYPD is overseen by the police commissioner. On the day of the arraignment, the police department ordered 35,000 police officers to be on standby, according to CBS News. Claim: Bragg "is spending an estimated $200 million of city funds" Moss and Levy said they don't know the origin of the $200 million figure in the post. "The $200 million figure they made up is also not based off of anything real," Levy said. Moss said that he has no "earthly idea where the $200 million figure is coming from." USA TODAY also found no credible news reports of Bragg spending $200 million in New York City funds on Donald Trump. The 2023 fiscal year budget for the district attorney's office was a little over $148 million, of which $133 million is spent on paying employees. A March 31 letter from Leslie B. Dubeck, the general counsel for Bragg's office, to Congress said the district attorney's office used about $5,000 in federal funds on investigations related to Donald Trump and his company. The full cost of the investigation is unclear, as a spokesperson for Bragg referred a reporter to Dubeck's letter. Cheung told USA TODAY that "if you add up all the costs from various reports, you get $200m." But Cheung didn't send USA TODAY any links to those reports. The Associated Press also debunked this claim. Our fact-check sources: Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Eric Trump spreads false claims about Alvin Bragg Family members of Tony Garza at a news conference Thursday in Pasadena. The family filed a $20-million wrongful-death claim against the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, alleging deputies killed Garza while he was in the middle of a mental health crisis. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) Tony Garza was once a star high school wrestler in Yucca Valley, but later in life, his family said, he didn't know how to grapple with his mental health issues. Garza suffered from paranoia, according to relatives, and on Feb. 5, 2021, they tried to help Garza, calling San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies to perform a welfare check on him. Garza wound up following the deputies in his truck, looking for their license plates, according to his family's attorney. Deputies arrested Garza on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after he allegedly drove toward them. Two years to the day of the welfare check, Garza was fatally shot by San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies during a pursuit that started in Yucca Valley and ended in Palm Springs. The family of Garza filed a $20-million wrongful-death claim Thursday against the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, alleging the 44-year-old was shot a dozen times by deputies while he was in the middle of a mental health crisis. "These officers shot Mr. Garza dead as he fled through the desert," Brian Olney, one of the attorneys representing Garza's family, said Thursday at a news conference. He added that Garza was failed not just by the deputies who fatally shot him but by the courts and a broken mental health system that was repeatedly unable to get Garza the help he needed. Garza was burning personal items on his property in Yucca Valley on Feb. 5, when deputies responded to a reported box trailer fire, according to his family's attorneys. When the deputies arrived and tried to make contact, Garza fled in his vehicle, the Sheriff's Department said. Garza led deputies on a 35-minute chase from Highway 62 to Interstate 10, with him jumping out of his truck and fleeing on foot, near the Whitewater Cutoff, according to witness video. The video shows four deputies running after Garza along the I-10 in Palm Springs, with Garza facing the deputies several times while holding an object in his hands. Story continues Garza took off again before falling to the ground as deputies fired at him, according to the video. Garza's attorneys have also filed wrongful-death claims against the Riverside County Sheriff's Department and the California Highway Patrol, both of which responded to the pursuit, alleging they failed to de-escalate the situation and ignored their training when Garza was killed on the side of the freeway. San Bernardino County sheriff's officials declined to comment, citing open litigation. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department is investigating the shooting since it happened in its county. An independent autopsy report showed Garza was shot a dozen times, Olney said. The autopsy showed that Garza was shot twice in the back, and at least twice when he was already on the ground. "The killing of Tony Garza was a heinous and cowardly act," Olney said. "They did everything wrong." Family members said Garza's death has left them wrecked and looking for answers. "I am heartbroken, devastated and a piece of my heart is now missing," said Matilde Garza, who lost her son. The deadly incident followed what the family said was a continued and failed struggle to get Garza help for his mental health illness. Garza's mental health began to deteriorate in 2021, according to family. Family members said they reached out to several independent and government organizations looking for assistance, including inquiring about conservatorship of Garza, but they were unsuccessful. "His mental health continued to decline and he became more paranoid and fearful," said his sister, Silvia Garza-Littman. Garza failed to see he was struggling, and several of the programs declined to offer assistance because he didn't seek help himself, she said. On Feb. 5, 2021, relatives called deputies for a welfare check on Garza. He was arrested that day on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after he allegedly drove toward deputies, Olney said. Garza was released, Olney said, and found to not be mentally competent to stand trial. He was ordered by a judge to be held in county jail for a week until he could be entered into a mental health facility. But what was supposed to be a week turned into five months, with Garza being held in the county's general jail population, Olney said. Family members continued to inquire whether space had opened up at a mental health facility, and the judge in his case held follow-up hearings asking when he could be transferred. Family members later learned Garza's name had not been put on the 800-person wait list. Instead, he remained in county jail without access to mental help. Olney said the experience was traumatizing for Garza. "Imagine how a healthy individual would react, and he was mentally ill," he said. Garza was released on Jan. 24 12 days before he was shot by deputies and told he needed to find mental health help within 48 hours. When Garza checked into the court-ordered offices, he was told there was a six-month wait list. "No one would step in to help our brother," Garza-Littman said. "Instead of helping, they only made things worse." The family is urging for changes in the mental health system. Relatives have rented billboards near Garza's home and the site where he was shot. The billboards have Garza's image and read, "My only crime was mental illness & the system killed me." Attorneys have reached out to the U.S. Department of Justice and the California attorney general's office to investigate the shooting, saying they've received little to no information from local law enforcement about what happened. "Our current system is broken from the top down," Garza-Littman said. "We want his name cleared." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Marcia Grant was described as a 'loving and dedicated' mother and grandmother - South Yorkshire Police A 12-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of a warm and loving foster carer who died after being hit by a car. The child, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, will appear at Sheffield Youth Court on Saturday. Marcia Grant, 60, who died on Wednesday after she was run over outside her home in Sheffield, was described by her family as the pillar of her community. Emergency services were called at 7.10pm on Wednesday. The boy was arrested on suspicion of murder and suspected possession of a knife. On Saturday morning he was charged with murder. The police cordon outside the semi-detached home was removed in the early hours of Saturday morning. The mother-of-two has yet to be formally identified, but her family described her as a warm, loving and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend and a pillar of her community. A silver Honda Civic was cordoned off by police during the incident - OLI CONSTABLE/BBC They added: Her loss has already sent shockwaves through all who knew her or was lucky enough to be included in her orbit. We ask for privacy at this time while further investigations are under way and the family try to come to terms with this enormous loss. One neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Telegraph that Mrs Grants death was a complete shock. Describing Mrs Grant, he said: Every Halloween we would knock round with the children. She was always happy to see them and gave them sweets. Friends paid tribute to Mrs Grant on social media on Saturday. Michelle Faulkner described her as one of the best [foster carers] you could ever wish to meet. Flowers have been left at the scene by family and friends - BEN LACK FOR THE TELEGRAPH Jackie Hector wrote on Facebook: I am absolutely devastated to read such tragic news. I mentored Marcia through fostering. She was a beautiful soul inside and out and her laughter was infectious. Fayzeh Mohamed said: I was lucky enough to have worked with Marcia and know just how kind and wonderful she was. A great loss for her family, friends and to the city. Rows of flowers were left outside the social workers semi-detached home on Hemper Lane, Greenhill. One card described Mrs Grant as a caring lady with a beautiful heart and smile. Detective Chief Inspector Andrea Bowell, from South Yorkshire police, said: This will be a deeply distressing time for the families of those involved in this incident. This March 20, 2018, file photo shows the YouTube app on an iPad in Baltimore. Popular British YouTuber Miles Routledge was captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan, along with a pair of other men. | Patrick Semansky, Associated Press A popular British YouTuber known for traveling to the most dangerous places on Earth for fun was captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan, along with a pair of other men. Roughly two years after a near escape from Afghanistan during the fall of Kabul, the so-called danger tourist, Miles Routledge, returned to the country and is now being held in Taliban custody, reports Sky News. Two other British men are also in Taliban custody charity medic Kevin Cornwell and an unnamed U.K. national who manages a Kabul hotel. Both men are believed to have been held by Taliban secret police since January in different instances, according to the Telegraph. Routledge was arrested on March 2. He is currently being held for questioning, a senior European diplomatic source told the Telegraph. The official added that the men were engaging in suspicious activities and are being held in the Talibans counterintelligence agency in Kabul. We are working hard to secure consular contact with British nationals detained in Afghanistan and we are supporting families, a spokesperson for Britains Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told Reuters in a statement. Who is Miles Routledge? Routledge who refers to himself as Lord Miles rose to prominence as a war tourist in 2021 after his narrow escape from Afghanistan during the fall of Kabul. Routledge arrived in Afghanistan on Aug. 13, 2021, in hopes of finding some adventure. The following day, the Taliban took over Kabul. Routledge made it to a United Nations safe house on Aug. 15 and safely boarded a British military airplane headed to Dubai on Aug. 16, reported Insider. The YouTuber claims he was the last person to enter Afghanistan on a tourist visa before Kabul fell in 2021, per Vice. He shared his experience in a 169-page book titled Lord Miles in Afghanistan. In the book, Routledge said his visa application required that he share his reasons for entering the country: My response was simply an A4 sheet of paper with only the word fun written on it. It was accepted without question, he said in his book, per Vice. I was ready for my very own White boy summer. Story continues Routledge went to Ukraine shortly after the Russian invasion and he also traveled to South Sudan, Chernobyl and Brazils Snake Island, per Yahoo News. Has there been any contact with the men? Routledges mother told the Daily Mail that she is desperate for news regarding her son. I am just desperate to know that he is safe, Susan Routledge told the Daily Mail. I dont know who is holding him or where he is. Im distraught. It is so worrying. I just want help to find out what has happened to him and make sure he is OK. If he is being treated well that is good to hear, as long as he is being well treated. If I can get a message to those who are holding him, I just want to ask them to tell him he has my love and support, Susan Routledge added, per the Daily Mail. The families of the other two men being held in Taliban custody were able to speak to them in an emotional call, according to Yahoo News. We can confirm the men have spoken with the family, the conversation was unscripted, and that they are being treated fairly. The family was able to speak for one minute to one minute and a half and to speak freely, clearly what is an important and emotional call, U.K. nonprofit the Presidium Network tweeted on Sunday. 1/ Update: ""We can confirm the men have spoken with the family, the conversation was unscripted, and that they are being treated fairly. The family was able to speak for one minute to one minute and a half and to speak freely, clearly what is an important and emotional call..." Presidium Network (@PresidiumNet) April 2, 2023 Are the men safe? According to limited reports, the British government is working to bring the three men safely home. We are working hard to secure consular contact with British nationals detained in Afghanistan, and we are supporting families, Britains Foreign Office said in a statement, per The Associated Press. Suella Braverman from the British Home Secretary office suggested Sunday that the government was in negotiations regarding the three men, reports AP. If there are risks to peoples safety, if there are British citizens abroad then the U.K. government is going to do whatever it takes to ensure that theyre safe, Braverman said, per AP. The government is in negotiations and working hard to ensure peoples safety is upheld. Where were you when heard you heard the news that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. publicly destroyed his family brand? The 69-year-old Kennedy was once the Favored One, the grandchild who would make it in politics. He had it all: the name, the looks, the brains. Now, hes announced hes running as a Democrat in 2024 against President Joe Biden. RFK Jr. was the obvious candidate, even more so than the late star-crossed John F. Kennedy, Jr., who never really made much of an effort toward actually having a political career, preferring the life of a New York bon vivant and magazine editor. Opinion RFK Jr.s brother, former Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III, (D-MA), served in Congress from 1987-1999. He was not particularly well-liked, but didnt do anything massively out of line. RFK Jr.s cousin, former Rep. Patrick Kennedy, (D-RI) was actually an effective member of the House of Representatives, serving as the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, an important job he did well. RFK Jrs sister, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, (D-MD) was a fine Maryland lt. governor. RFKs Jr.s, brother, Christopher Kennedy, (D-IL) ran a very credible campaign for governor of Illinois in 2018, and he is highly regarded there. Where does this leave Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the kid with the name, the magic and the touch? Well, if anyone has destroyed himself, its this man. As a younger man, RFK Jr. did interesting legal work in various areas: he was a good environmental lawyer, and led a campaign to clean up the U.S. Navy bombing range in Vieques, Puerto Rico. He was an excellent public speaker. I know, I saw him twice. He once decapitated former Vice President Dan Quayle in a debate on the environment in Portland, and I actually felt sorry for Quayle, who was completely unprepared. But RFK Jr. said goodbye to all that when slowly came undone in front of the American people over the course of two decades. He has become a joke, a punchline, a crank. Story continues His main hobby is spreading COVID vaccine disinformation, after a long, paranoid stint hyping a supposed link between childhood vaccines and autism. He even drew an analogy between Nazism and the implementation of the vaccine. His own wife, the actress Cheryl Hines, as well as several of his brothers and sisters, cut him loose in public statements after that gem. Hines only waited 20 minutes. She called it reprehensible and insensitive. Want to see the real RFK Jr. now? Hes standing right there next to Mike Flynn and Roger Stone. Huh. Interesting. Who knew? You know, the Roger Stone who has a tattoo of former President Richard M. Nixon engraved on his back, not the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, a true hero and American patriot who was cut down by the loathsome assassin Sirhan Sirhan. RFK Jr. has even leapt to his own fathers murderers defense, which is more than uninformed, its wrong. Sirhan did it, period, full stop, end of one of the saddest stories of the 20th century. Whats gotten into RFK Jr.s head that he has decided to run for president of the United States? What qualifications does he have? Stunningly, former President Donald Trump was vastly more qualified, which is like saying a 14-year-old would make a better president than a 12-year-old. Politico, normally breathless about stuff like this, devoted exactly four paragraphs to this pathetic man following his campaign announcement. Meanwhile, RFK Jr. said on his Twitter feed that his candidacy will seek to end the corrupt merger between state and corporate power. Wow, OK. We have Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren to make that point far more compellingly than RFK Jr., and there are lots of young potential Democratic presidential candidates who will articulate that going forward. RFK Jr. might want to check out his fathers campaign, which, while improvisational in 1968, actually stood for something: End the war in Vietnam and strengthen social justice. Not sure what RFK Jr. stands for other than RFK, Jr. We already have a delusional, conspiracy-driven 2024 candidate, and he just got indicted in Manhattan. The FBI has turned to social media to help it ramp up its Russian recruitment and intelligence gathering as the war in Ukraine continues to rage with no end in sight. It's a move receiving mixed reviews from Russia experts. In a video posted to Facebook and Twitter, scenes from the U.S. capital and the Russian embassy are displayed as a voice speaking in Russian tells the listener that the FBI can change their future if they can provide the U.S. with intelligence. The narrator says the FBI is looking for spies, expats and anyone with information on countering the Kremlin. WALL STREET JOURNAL REPORTER CHARGED WITH SPYING IN RUSSIA, AN ACCUSATION HE DENIES "Do you want to change your future?" Alan Kohler from the FBIs counterintelligence division questions while speaking in English directly to the camera. "The FBI values you. The FBI can help you, but only you have the power to take the first step." The FBI appears to have launched its social media program in February in an attempt to encourage Russians to turn away from the Kremlin and Russian President Vladimir Putins aggression after more than a year of war in Ukraine and heightened geopolitical tensions with the West. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Former CIA Moscow station chief Dan Hoffman told Fox News that the social media message was "sharp" and "smart," adding that it may "help the FBI and the country prevail against that Russian aggression." But former Defense Intelligence Agency intel officer for Russian Doctrine & Strategy Rebekah Koffler who is also a native Russian speaker told Fox News Digital that the video itself was flawed and said the narrators commentary did not always make sense, which she argued "undermines the FBIs credibility." FBI Director Christopher A. Wray speaks to the media during a news conference at FBI Headquarters, on June 14, 2018, in Washington, DC. UKRAINE WAR PLANNING DOCUMENTS LEAKED ONLINE, PENTAGON INVESTIGATING Koffler also questioned how the FBI will be able to devote the resources it will need to properly vet all the callers it will now likely receive. "The FBI is operationalizing this new method for several reasons. First, it is extremely difficult to recruit Russian assets," she explained. "Russia is a super hard environment, because its counterintelligence services are one of the most effective and brutal in the world. Story continues "The FBI is reacting to the modern times, when young people are constantly on social media. Its trying to cast a wide net and get a bigger bang for the buck, attracting more potential candidates to spy for the U.S.," Koffler continued. But the former DIA intelligence officers faith in the government in effectively employing such a program was low. "I wish them luck, but my confidence level in this program being successful is almost zero," Koffler added. Russian President Vladimir Putin watches an air parade on Victory Day, which marks the anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in central Moscow, Russia May 9, 2020. The FBIs Washington field office has encouraged anyone who has confidential information related to Russian intelligence or defense matters to come forward. The Bureaus intelligence division has also sought to ensure those who are considering coming forward that they will not only be listened to but also assisted to ensure their safety and confidentiality. Billions of dollars could soon fund a clean energy revolution in Washington and across the Pacific Northwest and bring jobs with it. A group dubbed Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association a multistate coalition featuring public and private groups is looking for funds from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop clean hydrogen energy. This is a move supported by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. PNW Hydrogen wants a network of clean, renewable hydrogen suppliers in our region. It also wants a piece of billions of dollars in federal funds so it can create an energy infrastructure and potentially bring thousands of clean energy jobs to our region. There could be infrastructure built around hydrogen power or fuel generation power plants and storage and shipping facilities. The group has been working on this since last year and wants a network of energy suppliers that could ultimately serve sectors such as heavy-duty transportation, aviation, maritime, agriculture, and industrial operations. Chris Green is the board chair for the association. He said the infrastructure would be partially funded by the federal government. We will certainly need electrolyzers to make electrolytic green hydrogen. Youll see those kinds of equipment installed in various places. We need to store hydrogen, and its not the most difficult thing in the world to store H, but you do need some specialized equipment to store it. And of course, youve got to move it and youve got to use it, said Green. PNW Hydrogen is competing against other groups across the country for a cut of the money from the Energy Department, and if they win, theyll get $1.25 billion toward the effort. But Green said companies are poised to at least match that amount or go beyond it. He also said that Washington states commitment to green energy could swing a decision from the federal government in PNW Hydrogens favor. The DOE is expected to make some funding decisions by the end of this year, with final decisions announced later in 2024. Chris Green said if the projects begin, we could see hiring for everything from energy scientists to construction workers and pipe fitters to shipping if hydrogen energy comes online. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is calling for a reevaluation of train makeup on Thursday in the aftermath of a series of derailments. The FRA on Thursday issued a safety advisory to raise concerns about the makeup of trains and make sure that railroads exercise due diligence and are proactive in addressing possible safety risks in operating train builds. The advisory states that the agency has observed an increasing trend in both build and makeup being potential causes or contributing factors to derailments. The advisory mentions a few notable incidents in recent years where trains derailed, several of which were confirmed to result from issues with the train makeup. Derailments moved into the national spotlight after the Norfolk Southern train derailed in early February in East Palestine, Ohio. The train was carrying hazardous materials and forced local residents to evacuate for a few days and face lingering symptoms of possible exposure to the chemicals. That crash was not mentioned in the advisory, but most of the examples mentioned did have at least some hazardous materials in train cars, even if those cars did not derail. The FRA said an analysis revealed several common themes among the crashes, including that each one had 125 cars or more, all had much more than the maximum allowed 4,000 trailing tons and an empty car was the first to derail in all cases. Five out of six reviewed also had mixed freight trains, which usually require a more complex train makeup, and had hazmat cars, increasing the potential risks associated with a derailment. The analysis led the FRA to make six safety recommendations for railroads. The agency urged them to review and update train makeup policies, procedures and guidelines, ensure all workers involved in train makeup decisions and operations receive appropriate training, guidance and supervision and create a system to regularly monitor and assess train makeup practices. It also called on the railroads to encourage communication among all stakeholders to make sure everyone has a comprehensive understanding of train makeup factors, implement strategies to lessen the risks associated with train build factors and improve investigation procedures to specifically address train makeup. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Finland flag Illustrated/Getty Images A key Western alliance has grown, as Finland has officially become a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This marks the end of a long process to have the country join the group. Finland, along with Sweden, first applied for membership in May 2022, a move that was prompted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine months prior. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg fast-tracked Finland's acceptance into the group to shore up a pushback against Russian aggression, calling the country's entrance into NATO the fastest in recent history. As the war in Ukraine continues, the Nordic country's addition to NATO comes at a watershed moment for both international relations and Finland itself. The nation is still reeling from parliamentary elections that ousted Prime Minister Sanna Marin and handed a victory to the conservative National Coalition party. While coalition talks are expected to heat up in the coming weeks, this could potentially mark a change in the way that Finland has dealt with the war. A shutdown of NATO expansion has often been cited as one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's main reasons for starting the war in Ukraine, Insider reports. However, over the past year, the opposite has occurred: NATO has seemingly grown more powerful due to increasing alliances, and Finland's entrance into the group now doubles NATO's land border with Russia, BBC News notes, extending it another 832 miles. So suffice it to say, the admission of NATO's 31st country is likely to further agitate the Russian president. What are commentators saying? One of the most consequential moves could be the addition of NATO troops along the Finnish-Russian border if the country chooses to station them there. While Finland has said this is not currently necessary, "its accession will give the alliance direct access to that 800-mile frontier, should it decide at any point to deploy additional forces for strategic or security purposes," Haley Ott writes for CBS News. Ott notes that Finland's entrance into NATO will also help the neighboring Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, all NATO members that border either Russia or Belarus. "Those nations have long worried that Russia could seize Finnish islands to use as bases from which to stage attacks on their own territories," Ott adds. "With Finland becoming a NATO member, they will be better protected." Story continues In June 2022, prior to Finland's entrance, "some Western military analysts have said that NATO would almost certainly need basing rights in Finland and Sweden to defend the Baltic states," Jonathan Masters reports for the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). However, this is not the only area where Finland's admission is expected to have an impact, as it could also have an effect on policies in the Arctic a region where Masters notes that "Russia has invested heavily in commercial and military infrastructure." If Sweden were to join Finland, something that seems more likely than not to happen, then every nation containing Arctic territories would be a NATO member. If this is the case, then it likely means NATO "will be a more qualified venue for holding high-level Arctic-related talks on a wide range of defense and security topics," Nima Khorrami writes for international think tank The Arctic Institute. Khorrami adds that this could include issues such as maritime security, military deterrence, and perhaps most importantly, climate change. What is next? Russia, as it has previously done, warned against NATO expansion after Finland was admitted. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said that his country "strengthen our military capabilities in the west and northwest if NATO members deploy forces and equipment on Finnish territory," per CNN. If NATO troops were to amass on the border, it's not unthinkable to consider that Russia could retaliate. Another question arises around Finland and Sweden's militaries, which have long had integrated defense forces. This could cause problems given that Sweden is not yet a NATO member. This differential could "add technical challenges as NATO's defense planners try and bring Finland into all of the alliance's strategic planning," Emma Ashford of the Stinson Center think tank tells NPR. She adds that NATO "[has] to basically accept that Sweden is outside and Finland is inside for right now. Finnish leaders obviously felt that it was better to be inside the alliance and reduce that sort of risk of this limbo period even if Sweden weren't there. But it's hardly an ideal circumstance." You may also like Man pleads guilty to selling Michael K. Williams fentanyl-laced heroin Robert F. Kennedy Jr. files paperwork to challenge Biden in 2024 Air pollution could increase risk of dementia, study finds MEXICO CITY (AP) Some 200 firefighters battled a huge blaze in Mexico Citys sprawling wholesale market Thursday night without any reported injuries. The Central de Abasto supplies the capitals other neighborhood markets, restaurants and other parts of the country. Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said the fire started in an area of the market where wooden pallets and crates are built and stored, meaning there was substantial fuel on a breezy evening. Flames leaped high into the night sky fed by swirling winds, but firefighters reported having the fire mostly under control after several hours. The markets administration said in a statement late Thursday that the fire started around 7 p.m. and affected an area that included 359 stands that produced and sold cardboard boxes, wooden crates and pallets. The rest of the market selling produce and flowers would operate as usual Friday, the administration added via Twitter. The market covers more than 800 acres (327 hectares) in the capitals most populated borough, Iztapalapa, and claims to be the worlds largest wholesale market. Thirty percent of Mexicos food production is sold through the market, according to its website. A 23-year-old walking back to his car following a fishing outing with his brothers was shot in the face when a group of men confronted them, Illinois family members say. Police in Chicago said the shooting happened around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 5, near a section of the Chicago River. A group of unknown people confronted Luis Franchi III as he and his brothers approached their car, according to media reports. They were yelling from inside the dark park that has no lights on if they were in a gang and they kept saying no, Franchis mother, Melissa Torres, told WMAQ. They had their fishing stuff, they were like, We are here for fishing. Franchis sister, Ana Franchi, said shots were fired just seconds later. They just started taking off running while my brother was holding his head, Ana Franchi said, according to WBBM. He just collapsed at the corner of Foster and Kedzie and thats when police and ambulance arrived. Police said the 23-year-old was found with a gunshot wound to the face and taken to a hospital in Evanston. He is listed in critical condition. The alleged assailants fled on foot and have not been captured as of Friday, according to police. The shooting caused Franchi to lose vision in his left eye, his mom told WLS. She told the station she is hurt, angry (and) aggravated over the shooting. This is a daily ordeal, and its complete nonsense, Franchis stepfather, Victor Torres, told WLS. Remains found in storage shed identified as former police chief, Illinois cops say 45-year-old standing in living room is gunned down by home intruder, Illinois cops say Pregnant woman shot and killed while trying to rob people in Chicago, officials say The St. Johns County Sheriffs Office Major Crimes Unit Detectives have successfully arrested David Alan Armstrong, 36, on murder charges related to an incident that occurred in December of 2022. Action News Jax first reported about this case after officers discovered a deceased individual in a St. Augustine home. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Deputies responded to a N. Crossroad address in St. Augustine in reference to a 911 call from Armstrong, who advised a female at the residence was unresponsive. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Responding deputies discovered the victim deceased and requested MCU response. After a several month investigation, detectives developed probable cause to charge Armstrong with murder, in violation of Florida Statute 782.04.2. Im impressed and proud of the hard work put forth on this case. Our staff worked around the clock to hold this individual accountable, and hopefully provide some closure for the family and friends of the victim, said Sheriff Rob Hardwick [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Related read: SJSO investigating undetermined death after body found in North Crossroad home Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. The politicization of the future of Social Security is not new. Republicans and Democrats have used it as a wedge to convince voters that their political party will protect it. They both have lied. In his State of the Union speech this year, President Joe Biden charged Republicans with wanting to sunset Social Security, to scare voters into thinking that Republican legislators are the devil incarnate. Of course, the president failed to mention that the White House has been unable or unwilling to respond to Social Securitys long-term financial crisis. The presidents staff chose rhetoric versus action. With a presidential election around the corner, inflaming the Democratic base and scaring current and future retirees is politics as usual. The White House staff has failed to take a page from the late Sen. John Heinzs strategy for success, where bipartisanship is the only key to solving the current and future crises facing Social Security. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan and Democratic House Speaker Tip ONeill working together protected Social Security from insolvency. Heinz, a Republican from Pennsylvania, was masterful in reaching across the political aisle. In 1990, he teamed up with two Democratic senators Pat Moynihan of New York and Fritz Hollings of South Carolina to build a bridge to ensure the financial future of Social Security. Some argue that it was a different time than today. And it was. The difference was that Heinz, who personified courage and conviction, fought against partisanship to calm the nations fears, not inflame them. President Biden should propose to solve the congressional and White House malaise by creating a bipartisan Social Security Commission charged with bringing forth a plan to solidify the financial future of Social Security. The plan would have a vote in December 2023 before the 2024 presidential election. The Social Security Commission should be challenged to deliver a solution that Congress will accept or reject. The model for this work is the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission, created in 1988 to determine the best and most effective way to coordinate the realignment and closure of military installations. Story continues A BRAC-style Social Security Commission would eliminate the partisanship challenges from both sides of the aisle and be focused on solutions. Commissions tasked with creating solutions are familiar to Congress. In 1981, the National Commission on Social Security Reform had members appointed by Congress and the president. The commissions report later became the foundation for the 1983 Social Security amendments. Congress is so polarized today. More needs to be accomplished. Tackling the Social Security crisis of 2023 would only add to the list. However, a BRAC-style Social Security Commission would provide Congress with a bipartisan roadmap. The president would appoint the commission chair. The Senate majority leader, the speaker of the House, and the minority leaders in both the House and Senate would each appoint two commission members. The commissions report would be due to Congress on Dec. 1, 2023, with required up or down vote on the recommendations no later than Dec. 31. If Congress failed to vote, the commissions recommendations would take effect in 2024. In 1987, President Reagan said that John Heinz helped rescue that system (Social Security) from bankruptcy. Is there another Republican or Democrat today willing to cross the aisle and build a bipartisan solution to ensure the long-term solvency of Social Security? Jeffrey Lewis previously served as the Republican staff director to the Senate Special Committee on Aging under Sen. Heinz. He is president and CEO of Legacy Health Endowment in Turlock. Flavor Flav made a guest appearance at Harvard University. On Tuesday, the rap legend and former Public Enemy member participated in an episode of Poetry in America, a PBS documentary-style series created by Harvard Professor Elisa New. Created to bring poetry to the masses, the series has featured guests such as Nas, Shaquille ONeal and Bill Clinton, The Root reported. Flavor Flav, whose real name is William Jonathan Drayton Jr., sat with Professor New and her students to discuss Emily Dickinsons work. They discussed poems such as Publication is the Auction, Im Nobody! Who are you? and A Clock Stopped Not The Mantels, which the rapper recited in front of the class. I sound like I graduated from Harvard, and I havent even went to school here, Flavor Flav said. The rapper donated one of his iconic clock chains to Harvards Hip Hop Archive Research Institute an item that has been part of his uniform over the years. It was pretty cool Being here at Harvard is big. And for me to be able to come and donate one of my clocks to the University, Im honored, he said, according to The Harvard Gazette. Flavor Flav also volunteered at the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter. When he came in with like 10 bags of bread, some of the volunteers were screaming because were always out of bread, Kody Christiansen, a Harvard Senior and the Extension Student Association President, said. Flav is very cool, really down to earth, Christiansen told CBS. Flavor Flav and Christiansen spent part of the day making grilled cheese sandwiches while volunteering. He didnt just cook with me out here. He hugged people. He talked to people, Christiansen added. It means the world, really. Friday, April 7, is National Beer Day but there is one beer company sparking controversy on social media. Anheuser-Busch is supporting the trans community through Bud Lights recent ad campaign. Now, the hashtag Boycott Bud Light is trending on social media. I support trans, so I would not boycott Budweiser over that, James Garner said. I mean right after the slaughter of Christian children by a trans shooter, it seems really insensitive, Alex Distler said. A man who didnt want to share his name said, I think people that are opposed to the idea are welcome to do it. I really dont have an opinion one way or the other. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Bud Light chose trans activist Dylan Mulvaney to be a brand spokesperson for a March Madness video campaign. This sparked major backlash on social media. You can see videos of people destroying Bud Light cans, pouring their Bud Light out, and showing their overall distaste for the beer. Musician Kid Rock even posted a video showing him shooting at Bud Light cans. Millions of people were clicking on this hashtag on TikTok, and thousands were using it on Twitter. According to cookoutnews.com, Florida was among the top three states trending with the Boycott Bud Light hashtag. Bud Light boycott map We asked if Garner would drink Bud Light beer or not, and responded saying, Yes, I would. I buy their 55-calorie beer. I dont drink. Back when I did, I didnt like Bud Light, but I dont think anyone should, Distler said. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] When I asked the anonymous man how he felt, he said he was indifferent. He added, I think people have the right to consume or not consume whatever they choose and to believe or support or not support particular causes or what have you. Thats up to the individual. Bud Light has been known to support the LGBTQIA+ community in the past. Last year, it brought back its rainbow aluminum bottles during Pride month. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Abortion rights supporters may be cheering this weeks victory in Wisconsin, but Ron DeSantis didnt get the memo. Here in Florida, he and GOP lawmakers are still pushing as early as next week to approve a far-reaching ban on most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Florida House Speaker Paul Renner is even trying to sell the legislative proposal as a compromise because there are some Republicans who want an all-out ban. When a child has a heartbeat, I think thats when people say, wait a minute, this is something different, Renner said Tuesday, noting he believes life begins at conception. To outsiders anticipating a DeSantis run for president, the governors support for the proposal may seem politically risky, especially after Tuesdays Supreme Court election in Wisconsin, where the winning candidate ran on abortion rights. But its a direction that DeSantis a likely Republican presidential contender has been moving in for years, even before the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade. DeSantis signaled support for such a law during his first race for governor, some five years ago. Its a stance that could earn him support from abortion opponents in key presidential primaries, answering GOP concerns that Floridas more limited 15-week restrictions allowed the state to become an abortion sanctuary in the Southeast. It makes it clear that DeSantis is solidly pro-life, and hes trying to move the ball for the protection of the unborn and he can be trusted to do that in the future, said John Stemberger, president of the Florida Family Policy Council and a long-standing proponent of abortion restrictions. The Florida Senate approved legislation Monday that would impose the six-week ban, and the state House is preparing to act next. When legislators do pass the proposal which has exceptions up to 15 weeks for victims of rape, incest and human trafficking it will be just one of many recent policy victories for DeSantis, whose Legislature has been rapidly sending him bills that achieve key conservative priorities. Story continues The governor is sure to plug the busy Tallahassee session if and when he jumps in the 2024 race, something he may not do until at least June. If he decides to run, he wants to have the most robust cultural and policy conservative list of accomplishments, said a top Republican consultant in Tallahassee, who was granted anonymity to talk freely about DeSantis. This makes him impervious to hits from the right. Many critics of the bill say the measure would outlaw most abortions in the state since pregnancy often goes undetected for six weeks or more. Nikki Fried, chair of the Florida Democratic Party, tried to make abortion rights a centerpiece of her unsuccessful run for governor. She contends that, if adopted, the measure could trigger an enormous backlash in the Sunshine State. Democrats did not show up in November of 2022. This is on us, said Fried, who was arrested this week after protesting against the legislation outside of Tallahassee City Hall. We are going to show up and we are going to have a message the reckoning will come. The six-week ban is too much for even some Florida Republicans. When the bill passed by the Senate earlier this week, it drew "no" votes from two GOP legislators, both of whom flipped Democratic-held districts that went for President Joe Biden in 2020. Republican Sen. Rick Scott who signed abortion restrictions into law when he was governor said in an television interview last month that he supported existing Florida law on abortion. I think where most people are is reasonable restrictions, Scott told Telemundo. And probably most people are about 15 weeks with all the exceptions. Floridas current 15-week ban was enacted just last year in anticipation of the repeal of Roe. The measure has been challenged to the Florida Supreme Court on grounds that it violates an explicit right to privacy enshrined in the state constitution a clause that the court has used to strike down previous abortion restrictions passed by the GOP-controlled Legislature. The court which now consists primarily of justices appointed by DeSantis isnt expected to rule until later this year. The pending bill includes a clause that says the six-week ban will not take effect until 30 days after the court rules. After the Supreme Court struck down Roe, DeSantis said he supported additional pro-life restrictions but he did not spell them out on the campaign trail. Late last year, Senate President Kathleen Passidomo suggested she favored a ban on abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy, but by early March, she joined with Renner in backing the bill after six weeks. DeSantis then quickly endorsed it. There was no doubt in my mind, Stemberger said. He had no reason to." There is an unusual political alignment in Florida when it comes to abortion restrictions, Stemberger said. I think for the first time in a long time we have somewhat of a trifecta of leadership in support of the same thing, he said. A public service announcement for Floridians: While your state Legislature was concerning itself with the burning issue of which pronouns to allow in schools, Citizens Property Insurance added another 16,000 policies last week, and a total of 29,000 new policies in the last two weeks. While lawmakers were consumed with trying to crack down on corporate activism, Citizens President and CEO Tim Cerio said he expects the number of policies to reach 1.5 million by the end of the year. And while legislators were diligently turning their attention to handing Gov. Ron DeSantis a huge wad of cash $98 million of our money to expand the State Guard into an unneeded and unnerving private army, Citizens was asking for a whopping 14% rate hike for all personal lines coverage, such as single-family homes. This, then, is the price of all these drummed-up battles over woke: a Legislature too busy with politically motivated attacks directed by puppeteer DeSantis to address the serious issues of the day that affect broad swaths of the state. And Floridas homeowners get no relief, despite a special session last year, ostensibly called to address the insurance crisis. Lawmakers keep telling us to wait. Give it some time. The changes theyve made will kick in. Sure, and theres a bridge in Brooklyn that you want to sell us. More out-of-pocket costs Meantime, back in the real world, things are going hard in the opposite direction. Florida policy holders will likely see a huge hike in rates this year and, possibly, an ominous-sounding hurricane tax an as-yet unknown fee that would be paid by all property-insurance holders in the state. Hurricane Ians multibillion-dollar hit last year means that Citizens created as the insurer of last resort in the state now only has about $4.9 billion in surplus funds, nearly $2 billion less than in previous hurricane seasons, as reported by the Miami Herald. All itll take is another big storm or several smaller ones, and we could be facing that hurricane tax. Add it to unaffordable rents, home purchase prices out of the reach of many and wages that havent come close to keeping up, and Florida starts to look like the state where home ownership goes to die. Story continues So where are the task forces, the emergency committees, the hearings in Tallahassee? Where are town halls in the home district on the topic of Floridas insurance crisis? Where are the lawmakers jumping up and down trying to help solve this worsening problem for the people they represent? Nowhere. Legislators seem to have become deaf to the needs of their constituents, hearing only their masters voice as he continues his relentless march to acquire more power on his way to a presumed run for the presidency. And the governor? Hes in Michigan, last we checked. Or was that Iowa? Good news scarce Sure, there are small bits of good news for consumers coming out of Tallahassee like the passage of the affordable-housing bill. Its a $711 million plan, a priority for Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, that will more than double funding for housing and rental programs and create incentives for more affordable housing. But that sort of sober policy-making has been drowned out in Florida by culture wars over things like remaking the New College of Florida, a tiny, liberal, public college. It has barely 700 students, but it somehow got the full attention of the governor, who set out to crush that small bastion of free thinkers. And yet how many people are insured by Citizens? Over 1.2 million and counting. Floridas lawmakers have lost their way. So has the governor. Theyre so busy stoking anger to pave his road to the White House that theyre forgetting the broader concerns of their constituents. And theyre forgetting this: Anger, once stirred, isnt so easily tamped down. If Floridians dont start seeing relief on property insurance soon, that anger might find itself a whole new target. A Florida man was arrested Sunday night after a fishing trip went terribly wrong. According to an arrest affidavit from the Port St. Lucie Police Department, officers responded to a domestic disturbance call around 10:30 p.m. Cops made contact with a woman who said she had been in an argument with her husband, Fritz Eugene, 67, and that her husband had violent tendencies and had killed a bird in front of their children. She said was fearful because he said he knew people who would take care of her. The woman showed cops a graphic image of the slain bird, a federally protected Florida blue heron, that she had found on her daughters phone, said the police report. When cops spoke with the daughter, she told them when Eugene picked her up from school he had the bird with him. The animal was still alive at this point but had a broken leg, said the complaint. The suspect reportedly told his kids that he captured the bird because he was angry it was eating his bait. Authorities believe the animal was OK when first snatched, but Eugene injured it while grabbing it. The report says that Eugene drove to his sisters house, where he cut the birds leg off and slit its throat in front of his son, who became distraught. Ages of the children were not released. Based on the cellphone image and witness statements, Eugene was arrested and charged with one count of aggravated cruelty to a conservation animal involving pain, suffering, and death, as well as one count of cruelty towards a child abuse without great bodily harm. As per court records, the defendant was released on $7,500 bond. Florida authorities have made two arrests in connection with the killings of three teenagers in rural Marion County around March 30 and are searching for a third suspect. The Marion County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) arrested two juveniles, one of whom is just 12 years old and the other 17, in connection with the triple homicide. A 16-year-old suspect is at large. "There are individuals out there viewingwho want to blame the one thing that has no ability or the capacity to commit the crime itself, and that's the gun," MCSO Sheriff Billy Woods said during a press conference. "These individuals committed the crime." The three suspects "fled the scene but left a lot of evidence in their wake," Woods said. FLORIDA TRIPLE HOMICIDE VICTIMS LIKELY KNEW GANG-LINKED SUSPECTS, SHERIFF SAYS The suspects are part of a larger group who have been involved in burglaries and robberies, according to the sheriff. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Police previously said the suspects may have been tied to gangs, though they "have nothing specific to say that it was any rivalry or anything to such that cause." "However, each and every one of them in some shape way or form was associated with a gang. There is no honor among thieves, and at some point, these three individuals turned on our three victims and murdered them," Woods said. The sheriff added that he had to "stare into the eyes" of the suspects' mothers, who were "willing to give their sons everything," on Thursday evening before their arrests. Police said the two suspects who were arrested were surprised when authorities showed up to take them into custody. THIRD FLORIDA TEEN DIES IN SUSPECTED GANG-LINKED TRIPLE HOMICIDE "The fact is: society fails them. We do not hold our juveniles accountable. We minimize their actions," Woods said. The three deceased teenage friends a 17-year-old male and two 16-year-old females identified as Layla Silvernail and Camille Quarles were shot and left for dead in the rural county north of Orlando sometime between March 30 and April 1. Story continues Layla Silvernail, left, and Camille Quarles, along with an unidentified 17-year-old male, were shot and left for dead in Marion County, Florida, between March 30 and April 1. The triple homicide has left Marion County residents on edge, especially after officials announced the unrelated murder of an adult male last week. The mystery began March 30, when MCSO deputies responded to the area of Forest Lakes Park on SE 183rd Avenue Road, where they located Silvernail, 16, with a gunshot wound. CASH APP FOUNDER BOB LEE DIED PLEADING WITH 911 FOR HELP: REPORT Authorities transported the teenager to a hospital in critical condition, and she lost brain function until she was pronounced dead. A day after finding Silvernail, MCSO deputies responded to SE 94th Street and SE 188th Court and located a deceased 17-year-old male with a gunshot wound. The next morning, on April 1, the MCSO Major Crimes Unit, Forensic Unit and Underwater Recovery Team responded to a tip and searched the area of Malauka Loop and Malauka Loop Trace and found Silvernails vehicle partially submerged in a body of water. The car was about nine miles from where Silvernail was found. Three teenage shooting victims were found left for dead miles apart in Marion County, Florida, between March 30 and April 1. The suspects were in Silvernail's vehicle with the victims prior to their deaths, according to the sheriff. Authorities believe all three victims were shot at the same time. "She was there of her own free will," Woods said of Silvernail. GABBY PETITO'S PARENTS ASK BRIAN LAUNDRIE'S PARENTS ABOUT MAJOR WITHDRAWALS IN NEW COURT FILINGS After obtaining a search warrant and searching her vehicle, authorities found 16-year-old Quarles in Silvernail's car dead from a gunshot wound. The arrested suspects confessed to shooting Quarles in the vehicle, Woods said. The suspects obtained guns from car burglaries, he explained. Woods previously told Fox News Digital that he believed the suspects were part of a "wannabe" or "neighborhood" gang, and the victims likely knew them for a short time. The attorney general's office is reviewing whether to try the three suspects as adults, Woods said. Layla Silvernail's family is planning to donate the 16-year-old's organs, according to a GoFundMe effort. Police have not released the name of the male victim who was killed. Woods said his office is seeking any information regarding Silvernail's vehicle, a white Chevy sedan, from anyone who may have seen it on or around March 30. The MCSO is asking anyone with information to contact Det. Ryan Stith at 352-368-3542. Anonymous tipsters can contact Crime Stoppers of Marion County at 352-368-STOP (7867) and reference No. 23-22. By Gram Slattery and Alexandra Ulmer (Reuters) - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has chosen a finance director for his prospective presidential campaign, two sources close to DeSantis said on Thursday. The selection and other recent hires by DeSantis and Never Back Down PAC, the main outside spending group supporting his likely run, show the governor is moving full steam ahead although he has yet to formally launch his bid. Lauren Lofstrom, who served as finance director for Texas Senator Ted Cruz during his 2016 presidential campaign, is joining DeSantis' political operation and has begun meeting with the governor's allies to discuss fundraising strategies, said the sources who spoke on condition of anonymity. Lofstrom did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for DeSantis also did not respond to a request for comment. The hire comes as DeSantis' main rival, former President Donald Trump, enjoys a bump in the polls. Some 58% of Republican primary voters support Trump, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Thursday, after he was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records by prosecutors in New York City. That is up from 48% from the Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Monday, prior to his arraignment. DeSantis' support stood at 21% in the Thursday poll. Others who have joined DeSantis' political operation include Jason Johnson, who served as Cruz's chief strategist in 2016, the sources said. Several high-profile operatives supporting DeSantis are Cruz alums. While the Texas senator ultimately lost to Trump, Cruz won the pivotal state of Iowa and finished second in a crowded field to the former president. A third source said Roy Bailey, described in news reports as Trump's former national finance committee co-chairman, was also under consideration for a role. Bailey did not respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Gram Slattery and Alexandra Ulmer; editing by Andy Sullivan and Edwina Gibbs) WASHINGTON Anita Hills riveting testimony alleging sexual harassment by Clarence Thomas was still fresh on Joe Bidens mind when he gaveled the Senate Judiciary Committee back to order. Tough day tough night for you, Biden told the Supreme Court nominee. Do you have anything youd like to say? Over the next few minutes on that evening of Oct. 11, 1991, Thomas would denounce Hills allegations as sleaze, gossip and lies and characterize the committees confirmation hearing helmed by Biden as a circus and a national disgrace. As far as Im concerned, Thomas concluded of the televised hearing, its a high-tech lynching for uppity Blacks. Thomas confirmation hearing would set the stage for the decades-long, complicated relationship between the two men one who would eventually become president, the other who would go on to win confirmation to the Supreme Court but would face multiple ethics controversies, including his wifes involvement in a campaign to overturn the 2020 election that sent Biden to the White House. More questions about Thomas actions arose Thursday amid a published report that he accepted lavish trips from a billionaire Republican donor for more than 20 years without disclosing them, a possible violation of federal law. The revelations prompted calls for an overhaul of court ethics laws and requirements. The White House would not comment on the report. There are other bodies of government that should be dealing with this Im just not going to comment from here, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said. Biden, who was a Democratic senator from Delaware at the time, has faced decades of criticism over the Thomas confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Biden was chairman of the all-male, all-white committee and was responsible for running the hearing, which today is seen as an inflection point in the nations reckoning over sexual harassment in the workplace. Story continues Then-Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas gestures while talking with Joe Biden, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, during a break in Thomas confirmation hearing in 1991. What happened between Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas: A summary Hill was a young law professor who had worked with Thomas at the Department of Education and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, where he was her supervisor. In testimony that mesmerized the nation, she calmly accused Thomas of sexual harassment, including sexual overtures and episodes of crass behavior and vulgar language allegations that Thomas vehemently denied. Hills supporters criticized Biden for allowing Republican senators on the committee to portray her as mentally unstable, bombard her with intimate questions about her sex life and even suggest she was suffering from a disorder that led her to believe Thomas was in love with her. Thomas supporters blamed Biden for allowing the hearing to spin wildly out of control and become a televised spectacle. Biden voted against confirming Thomas to the Supreme Court. Over the years, he would publicly express his regrets multiple times over the way Hill was treated by the committee and stress that he believed her from the beginning. Hill was victimized again by the process, Biden said in a 2018 interview with NBCs Today show, adding that he wished he could have done more to prevent the deeply personal questions she was asked. In 2019, as he was gearing up for the presidential campaign that would send him to the White House, Biden called Hill and expressed his regret for what she endured and his admiration for everything she has done to change the culture around sexual harassment in this country," his campaign said. Hill, however, wasnt appeased. She told The New York Times she doesnt believe Biden understands the harm caused to her during the hearing. "I cannot be satisfied by simply saying Im sorry for what happened to you, she said. I will be satisfied when I know there is real change and real accountability and real purpose." Thomas also has been unwilling to forgive. In a 2020 documentary, he suggested racism was a factor in the hearing. "I felt as though in my life I had been looking at the wrong people as the people who would be problematic toward me, he said. We were told that, 'Oh, it's going to be the bigot in the pickup truck; it's going to be the Klansmen; it's going to be the rural sheriff.' "But it turned out that, through all of that, ultimately the biggest impediment was the modern-day liberal," he said, complaining that they have the power to caricature you." Who is Clarence Thomas? Thomas' principles showcase how he approaches big matters of constitutional law Head and shoulder shots of Anita Hill, University of Oklahoma Law Professor, who testified, that she was sexually harassed by Clarence Thomas. 1991 photo. Ginni Thomas' efforts to thwart 2020 election Three decades after the Supreme Court confirmation hearing, Bidens and Thomas paths would cross again in the chaotic aftermath of the 2020 elections. Biden beat the Republican incumbent, Donald Trump, who refused to accept defeat and set out to overturn the election results. One of the players in that effort: Thomas wife, conservative activist Virginia Thomas. In the aftermath of the election, Virginia Thomas known as Ginni sent several text messages to Trumps chief of staff, Mark Meadows, and urged him to stand firm with Trump as he falsely claimed widespread fraud in the election. She also emailed lawmakers in Arizona and Wisconsin and urged them to overturn Bidens election. Her actions raised questions because the Trump campaign was pursuing a number of election legal challenges that could have ended before the Supreme Court. Emails provided to congressional investigators showed that Trumps legal team regarded an appeal to Justice Thomas as their only chance to get a favorable ruling and overturn the election. Ginni Thomas downplayed her involvement in the campaign to overturn the election in testimony before the congressional committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, mob attack on the Capitol. You know, it was an emotional time, she said in explaining the text messages to Meadows. Im sorry these texts exist. Ginni Thomas insisted that while she was interested in pursuing claims of voter fraud, she had largely stepped aside after the election because she was the wife of a Supreme Court justice. She insisted she operated separately from her husband and called it laughable that anyone would think she could influence his jurisprudence. The man is independent and stubborn, she said. Fact check:Trump lost the 2020 presidential election Then-Supreme Court Justice Nominee Clarence Thomas and his wife Virginia listen during his nomination hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington in this file photo from 1991. Biden warns of 'extreme and dangerous path' after Roe v. Wade ruling Biden took aim at Thomas last summer after the justice wrote that the Supreme Court should revisit and overturn decisions legalizing the right to contraception and same-sex marriage. Thomas made the remarks in a concurring opinion to the decision that overturned Roe v. Wade and eliminated the constitutional right to an abortion. Speaking at the White House just hours after the courts decision was announced, Biden warned that the ruling would jeopardize rights that weve come to take for granted, that are ingrained in the fabric of this country. "Justice Thomas said as much today, he said, warning that the court was taking the country on an "extreme and dangerous path." Thomas opinion prompted Congress to pass legislation writing protections for same-sex and interracial couples into federal law. Biden again jabbed at Thomas when he signed the legislation into law in a ceremony on the White House South Lawn in December. Thomas, he said, believes lawmakers should reconsider Americans right to access contraception and marry whomever they love and thats not the only challenge ahead, he said. Thomas under fire over luxury trips funded by GOP donor The revelations Thursday that Thomas has taken a series of lavish trips funded by billionaire and GOP megadonor Harlan Crow over the past two decades raised new questions about his actions and charges of impropriety. The disclosures, first reported by ProPublica, are the latest ethics controversy to dog Thomas, who also has faced tough questions about his incomplete financial disclosure forms and appearances at other political gatherings of wealthy conservative donors and influencers. Thomas has accepted lavish gifts from the billionaire Dallas businessman nearly every year, which had included vacations on Crows superyacht and trips on the billionaires Bombardier Global 5000 jet as well as a week each summer at Crows private resort in the Adirondacks, ProPublica reported, citing flight records, internal documents and interviews with Crows employees. The investigation comes as the nation's high court fends off requests for a code of ethics, which would likely address similar instances. Thomas didnt respond to ProPublicas request for comment, but Crow said in a statement that he and his wifes hospitality to Thomas and his wife is no different from the hospitality we have extended to our many other dear friends. This secrecy is toxic and wrong. The court should not protect it any longer, said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a close ally of Bidens and longtime member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Whitehouse, D-R.I., a longtime advocate for more transparency and accountability on the court, said the disclosures once again raise serious questions about the connections between conservative groups with access to Thomas and whether they are improperly influencing the court. Sen. Chris Van Hollen. D-Md., also weighed in as chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, which has jurisdiction over the court's appropriations. Americans confidence in our highest court is tanking because of this kind of conduct. We need answers. And the court needs a code of ethics, said Van Hollen, another close colleague of Bidens who has worked with him on many judicial reform measures. It is unacceptable, Van Hollen said, that the Supreme Court has exempted itself from the accountability that applies to all other members of our federal courts, and I believe Congress should act to remedy this problem. Contributing: Sarah Elbeshbishi and The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden confronts Clarence Thomas scandal after luxury trips revealed Geraldine Toh is a Singapore-based interior stylist who also specializes in mural-painting. Geraldine Toh/The Ochre Home Geraldine Toh is an interior stylist in Singapore and specializes in painting botanical mural art. The former art educator started styling homes and painting murals for clients during the pandemic. Toh says that unlike wallpaper, murals can be customized to complement the furniture in a room. Scroll through Geraldine Toh's Instagram feed and you'll see dozens of photos of cozy interiors and intricate murals in rich, autumnal colors. Geraldine Toh with one of her botanical mural paintings. Geraldine Toh/The Ochre Home And they're all bits and pieces of her work Toh is a 31-year-old interior stylist in Singapore who specializes in botanical mural art. Despite her background in the fine arts, she wasn't expecting to start her own interior art and styling firm with her husband, Vincent. He works in the fintech industry, but comes from a family that runs a tiling and contracting business in Malaysia. Toh had a full-time job as an art educator in a local secondary school, but the pandemic ended up creating opportunities for her to venture into a new field. "While everyone was complaining about not being able to go out, for me it was great because people were staying at home and they started to care more about their space," Toh told Insider. And it all started with her own home: The first time she ever painted a mural was in her childhood bedroom. A progress image of Toh painting lilies and irises onto a kitchen wall. The painting extends past the door frame and into the next room. Geraldine Toh/The Ochre Home "It was a botanical painting no surprise and I told myself that when I got my own house I would definitely do it again, but on a larger scale," Toh said. When Toh and her husband moved in together, the time that she was forced to spend at home due to the pandemic offered her a chance to pick up her brush and decorate their home. Singapore tied with New York tops the list of most expensive cities in the world to live in. Married Singaporean couples like the Tohs can take advantage of public housing estates subsidized by the government. The couple's home in Tampines, an area in eastern Singapore, was also the first interior styling project that both of them took on. "We focused a lot on the furnishings. We took a lot of pride in sourcing and putting everything together to make sure it looked cohesive," Toh said. "That was the first time we actually stepped into the interior styling and design world." Story continues Although Toh dabbles in creating floorplans and overseeing renovation work like an interior designer, she sees herself as more of a stylist. A collage showing a Picasso/Cubist-inspired mural commission that features grey squiggly lines next to the sketch. Geraldine Toh/the Ochre Home "I would say that most interior designers in Singapore would hand over the keys to the house once the renovation works are done," Toh said. "But for us, we accompany our clients even after they have moved in, which is when we come in to style their house." Styling involves not just sourcing new furniture, but also coordinating the items that clients already have to create a space that reflects who they are, she said. "People do come with decorative items or memorabilia that they have from their travels or previous homes, and we highly encourage our clients to continue using them rather than buying new pieces," she said. Her husband assists her with projects on an ad-hoc basis, and mostly focuses on the accounting, logistical, and technical aspects of running their interior styling firm, Toh added. Both interior styling and mural commission requests started coming in after Toh posted photos of her home on Instagram. Toh sketches her mural designs on paper before painting them on the wall. Geraldine Toh/The Ochre Home The initial motivation for creating the account was to share photos of their home with others who are in the online home and decor community, Toh said. "It wasn't even meant to share information or anything like that," she said. But when the pandemic hit, people became more interested in home decor and started to ask her for advice online. "We also had more time, so we started sharing tips on where you can buy things from, or how to care for and maintain certain types of items," she added. Before they knew it, brands started reaching out for collaborations and photoshoots at their home and the couple ended up getting requests for interior styling services and mural commissions. "We accepted our very first project as a favor, and we didn't even really charge for it either," Toh said. "We started to gain a few more opportunities from there, and I decided I had to make a choice between my educator job and this." Quotations for mural paintings and interior styling services are available on an inquiry basis, depending on the projects. The completed mural painting of peonies and lavender. The mural wraps around a wall in one of her client's apartments. Geraldine Toh/The Ochre Home Toh typically charges using a per-square-meter rate for her murals, which ranges between 300 to 400 Singapore dollars, or between $225 to $300. It all depends on the complexity of the design and how filled the space is, Toh said. "If the client is looking for something that's a little bit more spaced out or simpler, with more abstract shapes, those are technically easier to create, so they will fall on the lower end of the range," she said. For instance, a floor-to-ceiling mural that's two to three meters in length can cost between 1,500 to 3,000 Singapore dollars, according to her website. A mural of this size can take between 10 to 14 hours about a day or two to complete. Her murals typically consist of flora and fauna, although she occasionally does take on commissions of a different style, like line art. Every mural painting starts with a sketch before the actual painting day, and the whole commission process typically takes about a month. Progress photo of Toh painting her rose mural. Geraldine Toh/The Ochre Home Clients need to provide her with photo references of the kind of mural they have in mind, as well as a photo and the dimensions of the wall that the mural is going to be on, Toh said. "In cases where they're not sure what they want, I'll make suggestions," Toh said. "Sometimes I'll try to relate the design to their personal experiences, such as using flowers from their wedding bouquet." Unlike wallpapers, which tend to have a repeated design across the entire wall, murals can be customized to complement the furniture placement in the room. A mural painting of a rose on a corridor wall in Toh's home fits nicely within the doorframe when viewed from the master bedroom. Geraldine Toh/The Ochre Home In fact, Toh recommends murals be accompanied by furniture. "For example, if you have your TV against the wall, you can design your mural in a way that the plants are growing out from behind it," Toh said. In her own house, Toh has a rose mural on her corridor wall that is perfectly framed by the door when viewed from the main bedroom. "Everything in a mural is quite purposefully composed," she added. If a mural seems too daunting, Toh suggests using color blocks to brighten and create a focal point in the space. Toh added a bright yellow color block mural onto her living room walls to liven up the space, which comprises neutral-tone furniture in browns and whites. Geraldine Toh/The Ochre Home Color blocks are a simple way of incorporating bold colors into a home, Toh said. And it's not just about the color placement matters too. "If you paint all four walls with colors like electric blue or forest green, it does look a bit heavy," Toh said. "But if you focus the painting in a corner of the wall or with a geometric shape that occupies a part of the ceiling and spills down to the wall, it'll actually create visual interest." But at the end of the day, every home is a work-in-progress and there's no need to worry about not being able to undo design decisions, Toh added: "It takes effort, but you can always change things up." Read the original article on Insider Photo: Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis (Getty Images) Two former teachers at Kanye Wests Donda Academy filed a lawsuit this week claiming the rapper and his private, Christian K-12 school violated education, health and safety codes, terminated educators based on race and retaliation, and failed to fully pay teachers. Cecilia Hailey and Chekarey Byers, who are identified as the schools only two Black women teachers, claim they were fired after they expressed a litany of concerns over the terrible conditions at the school and the students safety to administrators. Their lawsuit also details several unusual rules and restrictions at the school under Wests leadership. Per Billboard: Read more They include not allowing common items such as crossword puzzles, coloring sheets, eating utensils, colorful clothing, dinnerware, jewelry, chairs and Nike or Adidas branded clothing. Students were also allegedly not allowed on the second floor of the school because West was reportedly afraid of stairs and also not allowed outside, instead forced to spend their lunch/recess time indoors. The allegations range from quirky and bizarre to quite serious and concerning. The plaintiffs say students werent permitted to bring food from their homes, only wateryet the only meal available at the school was sushi (which they had to eat on the floor as Ye didnt allow chairs). They claim that there was no school nurse or janitor, that administrators didnt intervene in instances of severe bullying that included physical violence, and that Ye did not believe in cleaning products containing chemicals, so teachers were only allowed to clean with acid water and microfiber cloths. In an interview with Page Six, Hailey also claimed that Ye banned books on Black history, including The Lost Boys of Sudan by Mark Bixler, which tells the story of four victims of the Sudanese conflict. Kanye didnt want anything to do with a lot of black history books, she told the tabloid. Story continues Hailey and Byers claim in the lawsuit that they were subject to stereotyping and coded language from school administrators. When they expressed concerns about the students, who werent ever allowed to go outside even for recess, they say they were called aggressive, warned not to bring anything up with West, and subjected to stereotypes about African-American women as being confrontational simply for doing their job and voicing their legitimate concerns. Both teachers also allege that their paychecks were untimely or inaccurate; some never arrived, while others were short up to $2,700. When the school terminated them last month, they say they were given no explanation as to whythough it seemed to be in retaliation for them trying to address the poor conditions there. No action was taken to remedy plaintiffs complaints regarding sanitation, health, safety or education standard pursuant to local and state law, which plaintiffs made throughout the entirety of their employment, the suit states. Wests attorney, Greg K. Nelson, and representatives from Donda Academy did not respond to Jezebels request for comment. The legal action arrives just months after Rolling Stone reported that parents who enrolled their children in the unaccredited school (with a $15,000 annual tuition) were required to sign NDAs, dubiously deemed informal agreements. Were standing up because its the right thing to do, Hailey said in a statement. This is not about trying to defame a celebrity. This is about the right thing to do for these children. While his vision for the school sounds great on paper, its just pure chaos and mutiny, Byers said via her lawyer. Its like a mental hospital being run by the patients. More from Jezebel Sign up for Jezebel's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. A former U.S. Airman has been sentenced to more than 17 years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material involving a minor. Justin Wayne Pallett, 29, of Warner Robins, was sentenced to 210 months followed by a lifetime of supervised release. According to Palletts plea agreement, the mother of a 13-year-old girl reported to law enforcement in November 2020 that her daughter had exchanged sexually explicit Snapchat and Facebook messages and images with a 26-year-old male. The male was later identified as Pallett, an active-duty service member assigned to Robins Air Force Base. A search warrant executed on Palletts Snapchat account revealed he was engaged in similar sexually explicit communication with numerous underage girls, a news release from the Department of Justice said. TRENDING STORIES: Investigators found 178 images and six videos of child sexual abuse material on Palletts cell phone, tablet, laptop, and PC. They also included 14 images in the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children database. Our office will work tirelessly to protect children from child predators, said Peter Leary, U.S. Attorney for Georgias Middle District. Our office has a team of prosecutors working with law enforcement from every level dedicated to protecting our most vulnerable citizens from child victimization. Pallett had previously pleaded guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material. Pallett will have to register as a sex offender for life after his release from federal prison. There is no parole for federal convictions. IN OTHER NEWS: A repeat child sex offender who once lived in Madison County pleaded guilty recently in U.S. District Court in Macon to federal charges of possessing child abuse materials. Kenneth Scott Queen, 35, of Forsyth entered guilty pleas to two counts of possessing child sexual materials and one count of failing to register as a sex offender, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced this week. Queen faces a sentence of up to 50 years in federal prison and a lifetime on supervised release, according to federal prosecutors. U.S. District Court Judge Marc Treadwell is scheduled to impose a sentence on July 13. 'He didn't have a family but us': Former UGA police reflects on solving baby's murder Oconee Blotter: Walmart shoplifting suspect flees to Athens, wrecks and runs Queen, who has also lived in Dayton, Tenn., has a 2008 conviction of child molestation and sexual battery in Madison County. After the Georgia conviction, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for life, according to the federal document. In 2008, the judge in Madison County also banned Queen from Georgia, except for Fulton County. After the conviction, the feds said he moved to Tennessee and legally registered as a sex offender. However, he later moved to Monroe County, Georgia, and in the summer of 2020 it was reported he was unlawfully tattooing children, according to the U.S. Attorney. Federal authorities said officers in Monroe County seized graphic sexual material related to child abuse that was possessed by Queen. The Monroe County Reporter reported in August 2020 that the girls Queen was alleged to have tattooed were 16, 15, and 12 years old. In the older Madison County case, Queen had pleaded guilty to committing indecent acts on two children under the age of 16 and was sentenced to 20 years on probation, according to court records. The records show that in March 2009, he violated his probation and five years of his sentence was revoked and he was sent to the Department of Corrections. Then in April 2018, records were filed that he violated his lifetime probation again in Rhea County, Tenn., by living with a woman who had minor children. By August 2020, the U.S. Marshals office sent a document to the Madison County courts seeking criminal records on Queen in connection with the federal case. This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Former Madison County residents pleads to child crimes in federal court Two Middle Georgia men, one of whom is a former U.S. airman, admitted to possessing child sexual abuse material in U.S. District Court this week in Macon, officials said. One man pleaded guilty while another was sentenced in two separate cases of child sexual abuse materials in Georgia Middle District court, according to a statement from the U.S Attorneys Office. Kenneth Queen, 35, of Forsyth pleaded guilty Thursday to possessing child abuse materials and failing to register as a sex offender. Justin Wayne Pallett, 29, of Warner Robins was sentenced Tuesday to 17.5 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Our office will work tirelessly to protect children from child predators, said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary said in the statement. Through Project Safe Childhood, our office has a team of prosecutors working with law enforcement from every level dedicated to protecting our most vulnerable citizens from child victimization. The cases Police caught both men with the abuse materials in 2020, according to court documents. Police identified Pallett, then an active duty service member at Robins Air Force Base, in November of 2020 after a mother reported that her 13-year-old daughter sent explicit Snapchat pictures to a 26-year-old man, according to Palletts plea agreement. Police obtained a search warrant and found 178 pictures and six videos of sexual child abuse material across Palletts computers, tablet and cell phone, the statement said. Pallett was also still having sexual conversations with multiple underage girls on Snapchat. He pleaded guilty in November and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Tilman E. Self III. Queen was accused of illegally tattooing minors in summer of 2020, which led to police investigating him, the statement said. They discovered Queen captured explicit content involving a minor and had also failed to register as a sex offender in Monroe County after moving there from Tennessee. He had been convicted of child molestation in Madison County in 2008. Queen will face sentencing in July after he pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell. San Francisco's former fire commissioner was brutally attacked this week after a "group of homeless people" slashed him with a knife and fractured his skull with a pipe in his own front yard, according to a family friend. The attack on Don Carmignani happened just outside his home in the city's Marina District, his friend and prominent Bay Area lawyer Joe Alioto Veronese revealed on Twitter. "Last night at 7pm in the marina district at Laguna and Chestnut Street, a friend and former San Francisco Commissioner was brutally beaten by a group of homeless people in front of his home," he tweeted. "He is at SF general fighting for his life. Pray4Him." Alioto Veronese told Fox News Digital he was headed to the hospital Friday morning to visit Carmignani, who is expected to survive the attack. SAN FRANCISCO SURVEILLANCE VIDEO ILLUSTRATES AGONY OF CITY CRIME IN BOB LEE'S FINAL MOMENTS San Francisco Supervisor Catherine Stefani, who represents the neighborhood where the attack took place, reportedly said during a city meeting after the attack that a shortage of personnel in the city's police department may have led to the incident. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP She said Carmignani's mother had previously called police on a group of homeless drug users outside her front door, according to The San Francisco Standard. But no one arrived, so he went out to shoo them away. CASH APP FOUNDER BOB LEE DIED PLEADING WITH 911 FOR HELP: REPORT Homeless people in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco on Sept. 24, 2022. "Ive been here 21 years, and this didnt use to happen," she was quoted as saying. "I believe this is a direct result of the fact that we do not have enough officers on our street." San Francisco police told Fox News Digital on Friday that a 24-year-old suspect named Garret Doty had been arrested nearby. He faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon and battery causing serious injury. "On scene officers obtained a description of the suspect and broadcast the description over their radios," a spokesperson said. "Responding officers located the suspect in the area of Laguna and Lombard Streets." Story continues Drug users and drug dealers across the street from the San Francisco Federal Building. The attack comes just days after Cash App founder Bob Lee, a 43-year-old father of two, died in a stabbing in the city's affluent Rincon Hill neighborhood. "They try and pretend San Francisco is safe, but it is not," said Jake Shields, a mixed-martial arts fighter and friend of Lee's who has been critical of violence in the city and its Democratic leadership. Cash App founder and tech exec Bob Lee, 43, was a father of two. He had recently moved from San Francisco to Miami and was stabbed early Tuesday during a return to the California city. Shields said he became fast friends with Lee years ago after they met at a music festival and didn't realize how prominent the tech titan was until after his death. Both men wound up moving out of San Francisco in recent years. When Lee left in October, Shields said, it was partly because of threats to public safety in the city and partly because he had become enamored with his new home in Miami. CASH APP'S BOB LEE ON SAN FRANCISCO STREET BEGGING FOR HELP MOMENTS AFTER FATAL STABBING: REPORT Bob Lee in a picture posted on Facebook. "He liked the energy more in Miami," Shields said. "He thought the energy had kind of died out in San Francisco, but crime itself was a big part of it." In January, tweeting about preparations for a mundane work meeting, Lee noted that "Miami feels like Silicon Valley in the early 2000s." "Maybe the one positive in this is really a lot of talk and pressure on San Francisco to change," Shields told Fox News Digital on Friday. The attack on Carmignani happened not far from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's home, which was targeted in a home invasion attack last year that left the congresswoman's husband with a fractured skull. City crime statistics show that most major crimes have fallen so far in 2023, compared to the same period last year. However, violent crime has risen slightly, driven by an 18% increase in robberies and a 33% rise in homicides. Felony assaults have remained flat, and misdemeanor assaults have climbed by 13%, according to the statistics. Anyone with information on Lee's death is asked to call San Francisco's tip line at 1-415-575-4444. PARIS (Reuters) - France needs to "go through a healing period" after weeks of sometimes violent street protests against plans to raise the retirement age, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said, though she offered no clear path out of the political turmoil. The protests, which began as a trade union-led movement against President Emmanuel Macron's contested pension reform, has coalesced widespread anger against Macron himself after he avoided putting the legislation to a final vote in parliament. Although lower numbers in street marches across France on Thursday indicated the protests may be losing steam, the reform is deeply unpopular and underlined Macron's weakened position now that he is shorn of a working majority in parliament. "We must be extremely careful not to push things. We must let things rest...The country needs appeasement," Borne told Le Monde in an interview published on Friday. Macron and his government want to lift the legal retirement age by two years to 64 to prevent the pension budget from falling deep into deficit. Trade unions say the money can be found elsewhere. Union leaders and protesters say the only way out of the crisis is for the legislation to be scrapped - an option the government has repeatedly rejected. "If you really want appeasement, you must shelve this reform," Laurent Berger, the head of the moderate CFDT union, told BFM television on Friday. Opponents of the bill are now waiting for the Constitutional Council to give its verdict on the bill on April 14. The council has the power to strike down the bill - or parts of it - if it deems it to breach the constitution, but rarely rejects an entire piece of legislation. (Reporting by Dominique Vidalon, Elisabeth Pineau, Jean-Stephane Brosse, editing by Mark Heinrich) (Bloomberg) -- France and the Netherlands are seeking to clinch a technology agreement that would pave the way for closer cooperation on semiconductors, quantum technologies and light processing. Most Read from Bloomberg The deal is expected to be signed next week when French President Emmanuel Macron visits Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in the Hague, according to people familiar with the plans who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Both the European Union and the US are seeking to reduce their reliance on China, particularly when it comes to trade relationships and critical technologies. Some European countries have followed American steps in limiting semiconductor exports to the Asian country. Last month the Netherlands, home to ASML Holding NV, announced plans to clamp down on Chinas access to critical semiconductor technology. The move came amid pressure from Washington to help forge a global blockage to stifle Beijings rise in the chip-making sector. A spokesperson from the Dutch trade ministry confirmed that an innovation and growth pact would be signed by French and Dutch industry officials. A French official confirmed the plan to sign a deal on technological cooperation in a bid to boost Europes sovereignty. The EU has also taken a tougher stance when it comes to trade, agreeing on a new set of powers that will allow the bloc to strike back at third countries that use trade and economic restrictions to coerce member states. The new instrument will allow the EU to employ punitive measures such as export controls and increased duties when a country uses trade tools to try to affect EU policy. But the EU and many of its member states, including France, are clear that they dont want to decouple from China, which is a major trade partner. Story continues Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. The French judiciary is launching a probe into the controversial expulsion of a Chechen dissident back to Russia where he was subsequently jailed, a source said. Magomed Gadaev, a prominent opponent of pro-Kremlin Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov, was expelled from France in 2021 to the dismay of rights activists. Supporters described him as a dissident in danger in Russia, but the French interior ministry insisted he posed a threat due to alleged radical Islamist tendencies and needed to be deported. A judge from the crimes against humanity section of the Paris court has now opened an investigation into a complaint filed by the Human Rights League (LDH) as well as Gadaev's wife and children, a source close to the case told AFP late on Thursday, asking not to be named. The complaint targets French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin as well as two other officials including former Paris police chief Didier Lallement, the source said. After arriving in Russia, Gadaev was arrested and sentenced to a year and a half in prison on arms possession charges. He was freed in August, according to Amnesty International and his wife. But his wife says her husband remains under surveillance and cannot leave Russian territory. Gadaev received refugee status in Poland in 2010 but then moved to France in 2012 where he was refused asylum. His expulsion to Russia came as France moved against alleged radical elements in the Chechen diaspora after a Chechen Islamist radical beheaded teacher Samuel Paty outside Paris in October 2020. Darmanin visited Moscow days after the murder to discuss the issue with his Russian counterpart. Kadyrov, a former warlord, has ruled the Muslim-majority Chechnya republic for the last decade and a half. Rights groups accuse him of serial violations and using a private militia to crack down on opponents. He has been one of the most vocal supporters in Russia of President Vladimir Putin's war against Ukraine, even boasting he would send three of his teenage sons to the front line. gd-sha-alh-sjw/ah/lcm Franklin County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jocelyn Stefancin will lead the new Conviction Integrity Unit in reviewing claims of innocence and wrongful convictions in the county, County Prosecutor Gary Tyack announced Friday Franklin County Prosecutor Gary Tyack announced Friday that his office has established a Conviction Integrity Unit to review claims of innocence and wrongful convictions in felony cases. Tyack also announced that Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jocelyn Stefancin will lead the new unit. This announcement comes more than a year after Tyack's office secured a $551,727 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to create this unit. As prosecutors, we have an ethical obligation to seek justice. One element of our duty is to ensure that no innocent person is wrongfully convicted or punished, Tyack said. The unit will begin accepting applications for case review on May 1. Defendants, their attorneys, prosecutors, innocence projects staff, court personnel and law enforcement may all submit applications to have felony cases reviewed. More on conviction-integrity unit: Franklin County prosecutor forming new unit to investigate wrongful-conviction claims If the claim meets the criteria for further review, a full investigation will take place and be presented to Tyack. Franklin County Prosecutor Gary Tyack In recent decades, dozens of prosecutors offices around the country, including those in Cuyahoga (Cleveland), Summit (Akron) and Marion counties in Ohio, have established conviction integrity units. Jocelyn is uniquely qualified to understand both sides of any criminal case and possesses all the experience required to make the recommendations associated with this type of legal review, Tyack said.Stefancin has been practicing criminal law in Ohio for more than 30 years, mostly as an assistant prosecutor. She also served as the elected public defender for Medina County for more than eight years. Stefancin joined the Franklin County Prosecutor's office in August 2022. We dont want an innocent person sitting in prison, Stefancin said. The prosecutors role is to seek justice, which means we have a duty to ensure that wrongful convictions are corrected. The CIU is a great step in combating wrongful convictions, and Im honored that I was chosen tolead it. Story continues The unit will have one full-time attorney, Stefancin, one investigator and two interns assigned to it. Related: Can Ohio end wrongful convictions that sent 83 to prison over past 30 years? jlaird@dispatch.com @LairdWrites This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Franklin County prosecutor establishes Conviction Integrity Unit Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Selective Memoryville, recently received correspondence from a constituent named Bobby Eisenberg, of Cool, Calif. Eisenberg asked Kiley this question: Do you personally believe that this con artist (Rep. George Santos), who is undeniably doing harm to our democracy, with all the facts that have already been substantiated beyond a shadow of doubt belongs in the United States House of Representative alongside honorable men, such as yourself? Opinion Kiley responded thusly: George Santos is currently the subject of an investigation by the U.S. House Ethics Committee this is in addition to any other investigation(s) which are being conducted by prosecutors in the state of New York. The Ethics Committee is a bipartisan group of House members with equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats which will review the facts, take evidence and make a recommendation to the full House on what punishment may be appropriate. Punishments can range from a reprimand all the way up to expulsion from the House. Oooooh! Kiley invokes bipartisanship! Thats rare. Lets break Kileys response down into its (constituent) parts. Kiley offers not a whisper of actual opinion about a member of Congress who is, for example, being excoriated, by name, by many members of the New York GOP house delegation. They didnt wait around for the House Ethics Committee. For example, The Hill published an article with this lead: A coalition of New York Republicans on Tuesday introduced legislation that would ban Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) from profiting off his fabrications if he is convicted of certain crimes, revving up their attack against the embattled congressman. The legislation does not mention Santos by name, but lawmakers who introduced the two related measures made clear they are directed toward the New York Republican, who has been the target of scrutiny for fabricating parts of his resume and submitting questionable financial disclosure reports. Story continues That aint exactly punting back to the House Ethics Committee. Again, from The Hill: Its very simple, Rep. Anthony DEsposito, R-N.Y., the lead sponsor of the legislation, said at a press conference Tuesday. If you are defrauding the American people, if you are making a mockery out of the Peoples House, or violating campaign finance law, you should not be able to turn it into a payday. Oh, and this from DEsposito: No one should be able to profit off lying to the American people and swindling their way into the Peoples House. New York magazine notes this: Three other New York Republican representatives who have also called for Santoss resignation are planning to co-sponsor the bill, according to Axios: Mike Lawler, Marc Molinaro, and Nick LaLota. Thats four Republicans from New York, right there. The Nassau County GOP also had a fun news conference where they blasted Santos as well. The Nassau County GOP leader, Joseph G. Cairo, did not mince words: Today, on behalf of the Nassau County Republican Committee, Im calling for his immediate resignation. Oh, Cairo also threw in that the Santos campaign engaged in a series of deceit, lies and fabrication. (New York translation: This &%$@!!! guy! Fuggeddaboutit. Schmuck.) Now, lets just say, oh, Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-CA, had faked his name, education, work history, had said his grandparents were survivors of the Holocaust and taken money from a guy who was trying to help his sick dog. What would Kileys letter read like in that case? Probably more like the lingo he slings around about Gov. Gavin Newsom and his latest hobby horse, Julie Su, the California State Labor Commissioner nominated for U.S. Secretary of Labor. We note here that Kiley has been utterly silent about Donald Trumps personal qualities, which, at this writing, would include being a twice-impeached indicted coup plotter and classified document hoarder. Thats not even counting his social life and 33,000 (give or take) lies. Dont ask Kiley what color the sky is. He may see red instead of blue. French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne on Friday said the country needs "cooling off" after weeks of fierce clashes over Emmanuel Macron's pension reforms, apparently distancing herself from the inflexible president. Divergence is rare between Macron and Borne, a career technocrat who regularly denies having further political ambitions. "We have to give people a rest. The country needs cooling off," Borne told media including daily Le Monde. After a meeting with worker representatives broke up without any progress Wednesday, she added that "the unions must not emerge humiliated" from the pensions battle. "It's better to have calming words than stigmatising words," Laurent Berger, head of France's largest union the CFDT, told broadcaster BFM on Friday morning. Nevertheless, "if things are to be completely calmed down, this reform must be set aside" in line with demands from the united front of unions, he added. In comments from Macron's multi-day state visit to China this week, a source in the president's entourage had insisted the pension reform plan was democratically approved. Opponents of the law were infuriated when the government last month used a constitutional provision to ram their changes through France's hung parliament without a vote. "If people wanted to retire at 60, they shouldn't have elected Emmanuel Macron president," the entourage source said. The source also attacked the historically moderate CFDT directly, complaining that the union had not been open to compromise on pension reform. By contrast, Borne had managed "something other than pouring oil on the fire," union chief Berger said, saying that "there's never been a problem of respect" between him and the prime minister. Looking ahead, Borne said Friday that "it's important for us to say what direction we're heading in before looking for allies to vote laws through". Her comments were an apparent break from the mission Macron had given her to find support for the government programme in the fractured lower house. Story continues Borne quickly moved to close the gap, saying on a visit to southern France Friday that she had the "same objectives" as Macron. "I think we share the same analysis: the country needs cooling off," she said. "We're perfectly aligned on that question". In a rare and swift retort from a foreign trip, a person close to Macron, who asked not to be named, had said that "the president set the direction in his TV interview" two weeks ago. In that appearance, he tried to shift debate onto new priorities such as reducing unemployment, health, education and the environment. The pensions reform is currently being examined by France's Constitutional Council, which will rule on whether the law is permissible on April 14. are-el/tgb/sjw/yad France's foreign minister has held a rare face-to-face meeting with her Iranian counterpart in China, urging Tehran to release French nationals "arbitrarily detained" in Iran, the foreign ministry said Friday. Catherine Colonna, travelling with President Emmanuel Macron on his state visit to China, met Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Beijing. Amir-Abdollohian was leading the Iranian delegation in separate reconciliation talks in Beijing between Iran and its once arch regional foe Saudi Arabia. China mediated the reconciliation last month in a sign of Beijing's growing clout in the Middle East. Colonna "renewed her urgent demand for the immediate release of the six French citizens who Iran is arbitrarily detaining," the French statement said. The six are among an estimated two dozen foreigners who activists and Western governments say are being held by Iran as hostages in a bid to extract concessions. Iran's foreign ministry confirmed the meeting took place, adding that "some consular issues were also raised during the meeting". It did not specify further. Contacts between Iran and European powers -- including over the Iranian nuclear programme -- have been drastically scaled down over Tehran's deadly crackdown on the protest movement that erupted in September. "The talks also focused on the situation in Iran, regional issues and the Iranian nuclear programme. The minister expressed France's concern about the attitude of the Iranian authorities on all these subjects," the statement said. For its part, the Iranian foreign ministry said: "The foreign ministers of the two countries emphasised the necessity of mutual respect and continuation of dialogue." The Iran protests began in mid-September after the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a young Iranian Kurd who had been arrested for allegedly violating Iran's strict dress code for women. Four men have been executed in protest-related cases in what activists have described as "show trials". According to Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR), at least 537 people have been killed by security forces in the crackdown on the protests. sjw/tgb/yad House Democrats are charging ahead with efforts to promote tougher gun laws, eyeing plans to force votes on new firearm restrictions and hone a campaign message around the Republicans all but certain inaction. The push has been animated by last months shooting massacre at an elementary school in Nashville, Tenn., where a 28-year-old killed three children and three adults the latest in a long string of prominent mass shootings in a country where theyve become routine. The Democrats strategy remains a work in progress, as party leaders weigh options for maximizing the pressure on GOP leaders, who have long opposed new firearm restrictions and have no intention of bringing such proposals to the floor. Many Democrats are already maneuvering to tap a procedural tool, known as a discharge petition, in a long-shot effort to force votes on high-profile gun reforms like expanded background checks and an assault weapons ban over the objection of the majority party leadership. And some want to go even further by promoting a broader package of bills that would also advance red flag laws, curb ghost guns, ban high-capacity magazines, fight gun trafficking, and lengthen the review window for existing background checks an idea that gained traction after the 2015 mass shooting at a Black church in Charleston, S.C. All of that should go in there, said Rep. Jerry Nadler (N.Y.), senior Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over gun policy. From a practical legislative standpoint, the effort is unlikely to be effective. A discharge petition requires a simple House majority 218 lawmakers to force bills to the floor, and even the most ardent gun reformers arent optimistic theyll find the five Republicans willing to buck their leadership and sign on. We used to have bipartisan support for a couple of these things. I dont know if we still do, Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) said. Politically, however, Democrats feel like they have the upper hand, pointing to the popularity of certain gun reform measures background checks, for instance, have support hovering around 90 percent to bash Republicans for defying public sentiment. If they cant control the floor, they can control their message, and they hope the contrast between the parties will resonate with voters outraged by epidemic gun violence. Story continues It isnt enough to go back home and say, Well, were not in charge. When we were in charge we brought such-and-such bill, Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) said. There are other ways that we can continue to put pressure we can continue to show the American people that were not hopeless in this. We shouldnt accept that babies die in their classroom and thats just it. Spanberger had advocated for a discharge petition during a Democratic Caucus meeting last week in the Capitol, which drew an enthusiastic response from other Democrats, including members of leadership. Theres tremendous interest in doing it, said Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), who recently joined Nadler to press Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) to consider Cicillines bill to ban military-style semi-automatic rifles, like those used in Nashville. If Mr. Jordan and the Speaker refuse then the mechanism available to us is a discharge petition, and I think youll see that coming, Cicilline said. Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), the chairman of the caucus, cautioned that the obscure rules governing discharge petitions mean the process, if Democrats choose to pursue it, is destined to drag out for months to come. But the growing number of school shootings, he added, demands some form of response. Its complicated. Nothing is quick, Aguilar said. Were mindful of being a minority and what that means, but we generally want to get something done. The debate follows the same contours that have accompanied Congresss response to every new mass shooting of recent decades, pitting Democrats seeking new gun limits against Republicans warning that new restrictions would encroach on Second Amendment rights guaranteed under the Constitution. I dont think one piece of legislation solves this, McCarthy told reporters last week, sidestepping questions about the appropriate congressional response. Highlighting the stark partisan undercurrents, Republican state legislators in Tennessee voted Thursday to oust two Democratic lawmakers who had participated in an anti-gun violence protest last week at the statehouse an extraordinary response to non-criminal activity. Fueling the debate, the shooter at the Nashville elementary school was armed with three guns two of them military-style assault rifles and fired off 152 rounds in roughly 15 minutes, according to local authorities. The shooter killed three children and three adults before being killed by police. What specific proposal Democrats might attach to a discharge petition remains under debate. Some suggested the background check expansion, which polls the highest and already has the support of some GOP lawmakers, is the logical place to begin. Others said the assault weapons ban should be a part of any reform effort, given the popularity of military-style weapons like the AR-15 among perpetrators of mass shootings. And lawmakers like Nadler are pushing for a much more comprehensive package that also addresses trafficking, storage and ghost guns, while raising the purchasing age for certain weapons to 21. Were looking at every option, Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) said, adding that he and GOP Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.) are drafting a letter to Republican leaders urging action on their background check bill. You cant legislate for the latest tragedy, Thompson said. But over 100 people a day are killed by someone using a gun. And we know that the thing you could do that would have the most immediate effect is background checks. Spanberger, for her part, is open to a number of different proposals if Democratic leaders push ahead with a discharge petition. A former federal law enforcement agent, she emphasized that law enforcers armed with 15-round magazines were once at an advantage over violent criminals, but no longer. The idea that you can just walk into a room and shoot 100 people in that much time theres not time to react, she said. Police officers put their lives on the line everyday. But lets also recognize that we should set them up for success. Spanbergers aggressive advocacy demonstrates how the gun debate has shifted over the past few decades, from a third-rail issue considered a career ender for politicians in certain parts of the country, to a popular concept across a spectrum of voters fed up with a long and seemingly endless string of mass shootings, particularly in schools. Spanberger said theres plenty of push back to her position in her district, a heavily rural region sandwiched between Richmond and Washington, D.C. But the push for reforms, she quickly added, is worth the potential cost. If I lose because I dont want babies to die in their classrooms, f it, she said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. From the dangers of playing the April Fool to the eggs putting the E in Easter. Your weekly roundup of offbeat stories from around the world. - Wait for the bill - A clueless Australian couple have come up with an even madder local variation on the Hollywood movie thriller "Snakes on a Plane" -- platypus on a train. A man in flip-flops was spotted boarding a train in Brisbane cradling the duck-billed creature under his arm, and letting passengers pet it. Not only are the mammals highly protected, the males have stinging spurs with venom so strong it can kill a dog. After their train escapade, the couple paraded the platypus around a shopping mall in Brisbane, Queensland. It could end up as an extremely costly shopping trip after the man was arrested. Taking a platypus from the wild carries a fine of Aus$430,000 or US$288,000. - Joker left drained - One of Greece's top seismologists has been left badly shaken after his April Fool's spoof about the volcanic island of Santorini badly backfired. Akis Tselentis, the director of Greece's Geodynamic Institute and Tsunami Center, quipped that a funnel could open up under the tourist hotspot and suck away the Aegean Sea. But the authorities failed to see the joke and Tselentis is now under investigation. "We live in a country where humour is persecuted," the traumatised scientist complained, holding up a sign reading "Guilty of April Fool's joke". - Intelligence failure - US special forces who burst into the wrong hotel room and cuffed a sleeping guest have had to make a grovelling apology. The mess-up during a Boston training exercise with the FBI was made all the worse because it took them an hour of interrogating the poor man, a Delta Airlines pilot, in the shower to realise their mistake. Worried guests called the police who said "upon arrival officers were met by... law enforcement agents." - Cock has croaked - By the time you are reading this, the cock will have crowed for the cockerel that has been depriving Kano, northern Nigeria's biggest city, of its sleep. Story continues Magistrate Halima Wali gave its owner until Good Friday to wring its neck after its constant crowing drove neighbours mad. Unlike the French cock Maurice, who the courts decided was within his rights to wake up weekending city slickers at dawn, there will be no reprieve for the Kano chicken. Owner Malam Yusuf is planning to serve him up for the Christian feast of Easter. - Pure eggstasy - Millions of children around the world will be tucking into Belgian chocolate Easter bunnies this weekend. Let's hope none will get to taste the ones the country's customers officers have just intercepted moulded from a solid lump of MDMA, the raw material for the rave drug ecstasy. - Wedding crasher - And finally our thoughts go out to the New York couples whose wedding days were ruined by Donald Trump becoming the first US president ever to face charges in court. Crowds of protesters, reporters and curious tourists thronged the Manhattan street where they waited their turn to get hitched opposite the court. "It's funny, but it's not going to ruin our day," vowed Peter Don outside the New York City Marriage Bureau. But for Dominic Lamarco, Trump being arraigned for paying hush money to a porn star only made his big day "more joyful". burs-fg/ya Even as the United States is sprinting to provide Ukraine with the means to defend itself, American-made components are ending up in Iranian drones that Russia is using to kill Ukrainians and support the Kremlins unprovoked invasion. To make matters worse, Tehran and its terror proxies are also using drones containing Western technology to target Americans and our partners in the Middle East. To address this unacceptable situation, a bipartisan group of House lawmakers last week introduced the Block the Use of Transatlantic Technology in Iranian-Made Drones Act of 2023. The bill requires the Commerce Department and State Department to develop and submit to Congress strategies designed to stop the flow of components to Tehran used in the Iranian drones. For its part, the Pentagon would be required to develop a range of options that may be employed by the Armed Forces of the United States to counter or otherwise deny Iran the ability to acquire technologies for its drones. It is easy to see why Congress is motivated to act. As most know by now, Iran has provided hundreds of drones to Russia for use in Moscows war against Ukraine, with evidence of their use on the battlefield first surfacing in September. Photos of the remains of an Iranian Shahed-136 loitering munition in Kupyansk. It appears Russia has named them the Geran-2.https://t.co/HbuyXInJlT pic.twitter.com/6zXPI3tSDI Rob Lee (@RALee85) September 13, 2022 In November 2022, the Conflict Armament Research group assessed that 82% of the components in downed Iranian drones and a precision-guided munition of Iranian origin recovered by Ukraine were produced by U.S.-based firms. Additionally, Ukrainian intelligence revealed that a whopping 40 of an estimated 52 components found in a downed Iranian drone were produced by 13 American firms. Iranian drones have supplemented cruise and ballistic missile attacks on Ukraines critical infrastructure, as Russian stockpiles of traditional munitions have dwindled significantly since the war began. While the Iranian drone threat may have previously seemed distant for Europe, the appearance of these weapons in Ukraine has brought the problem home. Unfortunately, attacks from Iranian drones are not a new reality in the Middle East, including against U.S. troops. On March 23, for example, Iran-backed groups used an Iranian-origin drone against a U.S. base in northern Syria, killing one U.S. contractor and injuring five service members. That attack was hardly a one-off event. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recently told Congress that Iran-backed groups have struck U.S. positions in Syria and Iraq 83 times since January 2021. Many of these attacks involved Iranian drones. U.S. partners in the Middle East have not been immune from attacks using Iranian drones, either. In September 2019, Tehran launched a combination of drones and low-flying cruise missiles at Saudi oil installations in Abqaiq and Khurais, knocking out 5.7 million barrels per day of oil production. A U.N. Panel of Experts on Yemen investigated the debris from this and an earlier drone attack on Saudi oil installations. The panel discovered parts from the wreckage of a delta-wing drone originated in at least seven countries, including the United Kingdom and/or Poland, Sweden, Italy, Japan, Ireland, South Korea, and the United States. In September 2022, Tehran launched a barrage of drones and close-range ballistic missiles at Kurdish regions of northern Iraq, killing one U.S. citizen. The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen have launched hundreds of Iranian-made or Iranian-designed drones at Saudi Arabia over the past several years. The body of evidence collected from downed Iranian-origin drones in Ukraine and the Middle East make it likely that many of the drones used to attack Americans and their partners in the Middle East contain parts made by American companies. That should not happen. So whats to be done? To be fair, the Biden administration has established a task force to investigate how Iran has been able to acquire U.S. and Western components used in drones. But one thing is already clear: The task forces actions are belated and thus far insufficient. The first step is to ensure that Washington, Kyiv and U.S. partners in the Middle East are sharing as much information as possible regarding how Iran acquires drone components, the networks it uses to proliferate drones, and the best ways to detect and defeat Iranian drones once launched. Thats where the new legislation and increased interagency action and coordination could help. Building a combined security architecture in the Middle East that prioritizes air defense and includes the U.S. military, Gulf Cooperation Council partners and eventually Israel would be an important additional step. The Pentagon should also redouble and expedite efforts to strengthen American air defenses to detect and destroy Iranian drones. U.S. troops in harms way deserve nothing less. The State and Defense departments should also work to expedite the deliveries of air defense assets to Arab partners, lest they be forced to procure similar systems from countries such as Russia or China, making the establishment of an effective regional security architecture more difficult or impossible. Simultaneously, the United States and its partners must work together to map and block Iranian drone supply networks and plug any holes. But if past is prologue, if the legislation becomes law, the strategies and options submitted to Congress will likely lack substance or specificity. To discourage such an outcome, the legislations sponsors may want to consider tasking the comptroller general at the Government Accountability Office to independently assess in written and unclassified form both the administrations responses and the implementation of any recommendations. Americans are right to expect that American-made technology and parts are not used by our enemies to attack our troops and our partners. Unfortunately, barring urgent additional action, we should expect more of the same in the future. Ryan Brobst is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, where Bradley Bowman is the senior director of its Center on Military and Political Power and Behnam Ben Taleblu is a senior fellow. Gabby Petito's parents have asked Brian Laundrie's parents to hand over financial information in the weeks around her death in an ongoing civil lawsuit in Florida. "Please produce all copies of bank statements or other documents evidencing withdrawals or transfers of funds made by you in excess of $10,000 from August 26, 2021 to September 14, 2021," Petito's parents' attorney Pat Reilly wrote in a pair of court filings addressed to Chris and Roberta Laundrie. The Laundries have 30 days to reply. Nichole Schmidt and Joseph Petito, Gabby's mother and father, have accused the Laundries of knowingly withholding information about their daughter's whereabouts after her ex-fiance Brian Laundrie is believed to have strangled her to death at a Wyoming campsite. LAUNDRIE ATTORNEY FILES NEW MOTION TO DISMISS LAWSUIT FROM GABBY PETITO'S PARENTS Gabby Petito poses for an Instagram photo in Bryce Canyon National Park. Neither Reilly nor attorneys for the Laundries immediately responded to Fox News Digital's requests for comment. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP NEW GABBY PETITO LAWSUIT FILING REVEALS BRIAN LAUNDRIE'S MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL THREAT WEEKS BEFORE MURDER The request covers a period beginning two days before the estimated time of her death and five days before an FBI-led search recovered her remains in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, north of Jackson, Wyoming. Chris and Roberta Laundrie pause at Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park near their Florida home minutes after finding some of their son's belongings at the edge of a clearing. Inset: Brian Laundrie speaks to Moab, Utah, police in bodycam video from Aug. 12. Gabby Petito's parents and stepparents during an Oct. 7, 2021 interview regarding the then-active search for Brian Laundrie, who is suspected of killing their daughter in Wyoming before returning to his parents' house in Florida and killing himself in a swamp nearby. Central to the civil lawsuit is an excerpt from the Sept. 14, 2021 statement that Bertolino released to the media regarding what was then believed to be a search for a missing person. The judge denied a prior motion to dismiss last summer. The full statement is as follows: "This is understandably an extremely difficult time for both the Petito family and the Laundrie family. It is our understanding that a search has been organized for Miss Petito in or near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. On behalf of the Laundrie family it is our hope that the search for Miss Petito is successful and that Miss Petito is reunited with her family. On the advice of counsel the Laundrie family is remaining in the background at this juncture and will have no further comment." Story continues Brian Laundrie's parents, Chris and Roberta Laundrie are seen outside their home in Sarasota County, Florida on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, ahead of the one year anniversary of Brian being found dead in a Florida swamp. Chris is carrying Panera Bread bags while Roberta carries a Radio Flyer jigsaw puzzle. Roberta wears a crocheted blanket over her shoulders. The lawsuit argues that the statement was "insensitive, cold-hearted and outrageous" and inflicted emotional distress because it led the family to believe Petito could still be alive when, allegedly, the Laundries knew she was already dead. Petito last spoke with her family in late August, while in Wyoming. Laundrie arrived at his parents' house in her van on Sept. 1 and made no public comment about her whereabouts Her mother reported her missing on Sept. 11. An FBI-led search found her remains at a Wyoming campground on Sept. 18. By then, Laundrie had disappeared, too, only to be found on Oct. 20 in the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Preserve near his parents' house. He is believed to have killed himself weeks earlier in a swampy area that was subsequently flooded by rainfall. Near his remains, the FBI recovered a notebook that contained a handwritten confession. At least one of two Tennessee lawmakers expelled from the state legislature after leading a protest against gun violence from the floor of the Tennessee House, says he plans to run again for his seat. A third Democrat was narrowly spared by a one-vote margin. A similar case from Georgias history may help play a role in that lawmakers run. Lawmakers say the three Democrats broke Tennessee House rules with their protest. Emory law professor Fred Smith told Channel 2s Richard Elliot that it doesnt appear they were expelled for what they said, just how they said it. The Legislature has some degree of discretion when it comes to determining which of its members to expel, especially for conduct that happens on the House floor, Smith said. He pointed to one famous incident from Georgias House in 1966 involving representative Julian Bond after he sat in the middle of the floor as the House refused to seat him because of his vocal opposition to the Vietnam War. TRENDING STORIES: But the US Supreme Court ruled the House had punished him for what he said, not how he said it -- a violation of his First Amendment rights -- and it ordered the House to seat him. There have been more recent incidents under the Gold Dome. Troopers arrested Atlanta Democrat Park Cannon two years ago for banging on Gov. Brian Kemps outer door in protest of him signing a controversial elections law. Late-house speaker David Ralston also ordered state troopers to escort Republican David Clark off the floor for refusing to take his required COVID-19 tests. If it happens in Tennessee, it can happen in Georgia, state Rep. Carl Gilliard said. Late Friday, Georgias Legislative Black Caucus held a virtual news conference condemning the expulsion of the two Tennessee lawmakers and stressed the real losers are the people they represent. Story continues Two duly elected officials have been robbed and the folks that really lose are the over 150,000 constituents they represent, state Rep. Al Williams said. In both those recent Georgia incidents, both Cannon and Clark were allowed back on the floor, and both are still members today. IN OTHER NEWS: Georgias Saakashvili says hes dying in jail "In detention, my health has declined precipitously; I am now dying, he wrote. I have been systematically tortured, physically and psychologically, and there is currently evidence of heavy metal poisoning in my body. He suffers from many serious illnesses, all of which developed in prison, the ex-president said. Read also: Polish doctors allowed to check Saakashvilis health Saakashvili was diagnosed with dementia and tuberculosis, said his lawyer, Shalva Khachapuridze, in November 2022. "It is also increasingly apparent that I will die soon if I dont receive proper medical care outside of the country," he stressed. Read also: Foreign Ministry calls on Georgia "to stop abusing" Saakashvili and send him to Ukraine Saakashvili called on the United States and the international community to do everything possible to save his life by putting diplomatic pressure on the Georgian government and imposing economic sanctions on politician Bidzina Ivanishvili and his associates. "My death may cause political chaos in Georgia, but my martyrdom will certainly be considered a victory for Putin a powerful symbol to all leaders in this region, and possibly the world, who fail to stand up to Russian imperialism," he said. Saakashvili has been behind bars since secretly returning to Georgia before the local elections in Autumn 2021. He had returned for the first time since his second presidential term ended in 2013. Read also: Georgian authorities waiting for Saakashvili to become disabled, says political scientist In protest, the politician went on hunger strike several times, insisting that he was arrested on political charges. According to Saakashvili's lawyers, family and supporters, the politician's health condition is so serious that he requires treatment abroad. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Feb. 2023 that the Georgian government was killing Saakashvili and called for him to be released for treatment in Ukraine or another country. Story continues The same month, the Tbilisi City Court refused to release Saakashvili on health grounds. The Court of Appeal also denied the request on March 2. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Georgia's jailed opposition leader and ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili arrives in the defendant's box for an hearing at the city court of Tbilisi on November 29, 2021. Irakli Gedenidze/Getty Images Georgia's ex-president, Mikheil Saakashvili, said he is dying in prison. Saakashvili is asking the US and its allies to help save his life by applying international pressure. He also warned that Georgia's government is "sliding toward the Kremlin." Mikheil Saakashvili, the former president of Georgia, says that he is dying in a Georgian prison and blames Russian President Vladimir Putin for his situation while accusing Georgia's ruling party of exhibiting "increasing solidarity with Russia." In a new Politico op-ed that was received via the former world leader's US legal counsel, Saakashvili said he's imprisoned on politically motivated charges of abuse of power and that his health has "declined precipitously" during his detention. "I am now dying," Saakashvili wrote. "I have been systematically tortured, physically and psychologically, and there is currently evidence of heavy metal poisoning in my body. I now suffer from a bewildering array of over 20 serious illnesses, all of which developed in confinement." Saakashvili, who was Georgia's president when it fought a war against Russia in 2008, said that Putin "who once threatened to 'hang me by the balls' is, undoubtedly, ultimately responsible for my current predicament." He's claimed that Russian agents infiltrated Georgian security services and poisoned him. A plea for the US and the international community to intervene The ex-Georgian leader said he will die soon without "proper medical care outside of the country," while calling on the US and the international community to "do what they can to save my life by applying diplomatic pressure on the Georgian government." Saakashvili also said sanctions should be imposed against Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire and former prime minister of Georgia who founded the country's governing party, Georgian Dream. Ivanishvili, who made his fortune in Russia, has been accused by congressional lawmakers in Washington of being an ally of Putin's. Story continues Saakashvili rose to power after leading the bloodless Rose Revolution in 2003, which pushed out the country's Soviet-era leadership. He was president of Georgia from 2004 to 2013, forging closer ties with the West during his tenure. But he left the country after his term ended and his party lost a 2012 parliamentary election to Georgian Dream. Saakashvili ultimately went to Ukraine, where he became involved in the country's politics. Saakashvili was granted Ukrainian citizenship, giving up Georgian citizenship in the process, and was made governor of Odessa in 2015. While he was in Ukraine, criminal charges were filed against Saakashvili in Georgia, and he was convicted in absentia in 2018. The former Georgian leader was arrested upon returning to his native country in October 2021. Georgia 'sliding toward the Kremlin' In his Politico op-ed, Saakashvili described himself as a "political prisoner" who continues to "defend democracy against Putin and his allies." Saakashvili warned that Georgia and other countries in the region "have continued sliding toward the Kremlin" amid Russia's ongoing and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The Georgian and Russian embassies in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider. Since Russia invaded Ukraine, some have also expressed concerns that Georgia could be Putin's next target. Vladimir Ashurkov, a top aide to imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny, told Insider last April that it was "not off the table" for Putin to attack Georgia or other countries in the region such as Moldova. Russian troops have occupied roughly 20% of Georgia's territory the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia since the two countries fought a war 15 years ago. But while Georgia has faced the consequences of Russian aggression in the recent past, the country's ruling party has refused to support sanctions against Moscow over the invasion of Ukraine. Experts have warned that the Georgian Dream party is increasingly pushing Georgia into Russia's orbit, and that the country's government and people are sharply divided when it comes to forging closer ties with the West and issues like the war in Ukraine. The Georgian government recently sparked a crisis and mass protests in the capital city of Tbilisi as it pushed for a controversial "foreign agent" law that drew comparisons to a Russian law that has been used by Moscow to crack down on dissent and stifle freedom of expression. Georgian lawmakers ended up scrapping the bill amid the backlash. "The Georgian government is building an authoritarian state in Russia's image," Francis Fukuyama, one of the most influential political scientists in the US, and Nino Evgenidze, director of the Economic Policy Research Center in Tbilisi, warned in an op-ed published by Foreign Affairs on Thursday. Fukuyama and Evgenidze went on to say that the treatment of Saakashvili is "another attempt by Georgian Dream to undermine the rule of law and thus hurt Georgia's chance of integrating with the West," urging the US and its allies to take action to "prevent Georgia from sliding further into Russia's camp." The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider Forensic police at the scene in East London - Marcin Nowak A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 14-year-old girl died in a fire at a block of flats in east London. Police were called to reports of a fire in Tollgate Road, Beckton, at around 5.28pm on Thursday. The fire is being investigated as suspected arson and has prompted a murder investigation. A 14-year-old girl, named locally as Tiffany, died at the scene and five others at the address were injured, but Scotland Yard said their conditions were not life-threatening and they have since been discharged from hospital. A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the incident, and police are investigating. The fire is being treated as arson - UkNewsinPictures Chief Superintendent Simon Crick, who leads the north east borough command unit, said: My thoughts at this time are with the victim and their family and friends. Incidents such as these send shockwaves through our communities, and I dont underestimate the impact this will have in the local area and beyond. Your officers will be on patrol in the immediate vicinity over the Easter weekend. Please talk to them if you have any concerns. Teenagers have been leaving floral tributes at the scene of the fire. One 14-year-old, who arrived at the scene with her mother to lay flowers, said she was in the same school class as the victim. Two girls were seen hugging and crying as they placed flowers on the pavement outside the block of flats. Five others were injured but have since been discharged from hospital - James Manning/PA A man who said he was a family friend, said: She (Tiffany) was an angel, Ive even got videos of her from when she was young. She spent some time with my little nephews. Those memories with her I will never forget. Rahina Begum, who lives opposite the flats, described how the fire went up very quickly, adding: In 10 to 15 seconds, the whole building was on fire from the bottom to the top. The flames were so high. Somebody dying is so sad. Another neighbour, who did not wish to be named, described seeing people jump from windows to try to escape the flames. Story continues Forensic officers are at the scene of the blaze and the Metropolitan Police have sealed off a section of Tollgate Road. A police cordon near the scene of the fire - Yui Mok/PA Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke, of the Mets specialist crime command, said: We are at the very early stages of our investigation and are still keen to hear from anyone who has information but has not yet spoken with police. I would like to thank residents in the immediate area for their co-operation while my team conduct their enquiries. Our thoughts are with the family of the victim. Richard Arnold, London Fire Brigades borough commander for Newham, said: We would like to offer our condolences to the family and friends of the teenage girl who died at the scene of the fire yesterday evening. This was a very tragic incident, and our crews who attended the scene are receiving support from our counselling and trauma service. Rokhsana Fiaz, the mayor of Newham, said she was deeply saddened by the incident and offered deepest condolences to loved ones now in mourning. Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Tweet @metcc quoting 5315/6APR. Good Friday marks the day on which Christians around the world commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The religious observance takes place during Holy Week, a couple of days before Easter Sunday. Heres everything you need to know about Good Friday: When is it? This year, Good Friday falls on Friday 7 April on the Gregorian calendar. Its date coincides with the middle of the Jewish festival of Passover. According to the Julian calendar, which is still used in parts of the eastern Orthodox church, Good Friday will take place this year on Friday 14 April. Good Friday marks the sixth day of Holy Week, an annual Christian observance leading up to Easter Sunday. It follows Maundy Thursday, and precedes Holy Saturday and Easter Day. What is Good Friday? Good Friday is the day on which Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, prior to when he was believed to have been resurrected. While the name Good Friday isnt mentioned in the Bible, the religious text tells the story of how Christ was beaten and mocked by Roman soldiers before being made to carry a cross to the site of his subsequent crucifixion. Due to the events commemorated on the holy day, some might question why its known as Good Friday. Rather than indicating that the day is a joyous occasion, the good in Good Friday actually comes from the antiquated definition of the word, meaning pious or holy. While its widely believed that Christ was crucified on a Friday, the day of the week of the crucifixion is not mentioned in the Bible. Some speculate that the crucifixion may have taken place on a Wednesday or Thursday, due to a line in the Gospel of Matthew in which Christ states that he would be dead for three days and three nights. Its commonly understood that Christ was resurrected on a Sunday morning. How is it observed? In several sectors of Christianity, including eastern Orthodox, Anglican and Catholic, Good Friday is observed by some Christians by attending church services and by fasting. The holy day is also traditionally commemorated by carrying out reenactments of the events which led to Christs crucifixion, known as the Passion of Jesus.a House Republicans expect to press forward with legislation targeting Pentagon policies they view as "woke" despite recent attempts by Defense Department officials to defend initiatives aimed at diversifying the force. At several congressional hearings over the last month, top department officials and military officers have attempted to swat down GOP attacks that diversity and inclusion efforts are distracting from warfighting, arguing that the efforts are needed to attract a younger, more socially conscious generation -- and in some cases are required by law. Asked recently by Military.com whether the Pentagon's testimony has satisfied Republicans or if he expects there to be anti-woke provisions in the annual, must-pass defense policy bill, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., promised that "there'll be some legislation." Still, he added, it's too early in the process to say exactly what the language in the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, will be. Read Next: Navy Takes Another Look at Bremerton Hospital Cuts After Lawmaker Cites Miscarriage, Readiness Issues Rogers' comments came after his panel held a series of hearings in which Republicans pressed senior officials, including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley, on complaints the GOP has built up in the two years of the Biden administration. Republicans similarly questioned officials at several Senate Armed Services Committee hearings. While the hearings were not as fiery as some others in recent years, top brass stood by their efforts. "The purpose of those programs is 'e pluribus unum,' to build teamwork," Milley said at a House Armed Services Committee hearing, quoting the Latin motto of the U.S. meaning "out of many, one." "I've been on ships and planes and forts and bases, etc. The military I see is a military that is motivated. And the folks that are in the military -- we have the highest reenlistment rate in 50 years." Story continues Republicans came into the House majority at the beginning of the year vowing to target Pentagon policies they deem to be woke. The term, which originated as Black slang to describe someone who is mindful of racial and social injustices, has been adopted by Republicans and others on the political right to describe what they see as a more general and destructive preoccupation with social justice among those on the political left. The term, especially on Capitol Hill, has also more recently become a nebulous insult for left-leaning policies Republicans disagree with. The GOP has cited the Pentagon's preparations for climate change and the now-scuttled COVID-19 vaccine mandate, as well as President Joe Biden's decision to delay shooting down a Chinese spy balloon. The woke term is often used against efforts to make the military more welcoming to women, minorities and other historically marginalized populations. Republicans argue such efforts take away time from military training and turn off potential recruits by injecting politics into the military. They point to military recruiting woes in recent years -- which defense officials have attributed to a strong job market, lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and a lack of qualified young Americans, among other factors. "When I talk to people and say, 'Well, why aren't you looking to join the military?' A lot of them say, 'Well, the military has been over-politicized. Well, the military has gone woke,'" Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., said at a recent hearing with the senior enlisted leaders of each military branch. "We're saying that this new focus, this new shift, this new kind of woke ideology is not impacting recruitment and not impacting our readiness and lethality? I have a hard time believing that." Republicans will have their chance to put their rhetoric into action in the coming months when Congress begins work on the NDAA, the sweeping annual bill that sets a wide array of Pentagon policies. Meanwhile, in the recent hearings, the Pentagon has added a new counter-argument to GOP criticisms: We're following the law. "The fiscal year 2021 NDAA, which passed with bipartisan supermajorities, contained groundbreaking DEI provisions, which I am now diligently working to implement," Gil Cisneros, under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, testified at a House Armed Services Committee panel hearing on diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, programs in the military. Mandates in recent NDAAs include creating a chief diversity officer in the Pentagon, a job assigned to Cisneros, and senior advisers for diversity and inclusion within each military department. The legislation also requires a diversity strategic plan and the incorporation of diversity goals in the National Defense Strategy, and establishing a role in the inspector general's office specifically to conduct oversight on diversity and inclusion programs. Military officials have also been arguing that the time spent on diversity training is negligent compared to the time spent on training for warfighting skills. "When I looked at it, there is one hour of equal opportunity training in basic training and 92 hours of rifle marksmanship training," Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston said at a different personnel subcommittee hearing. "And if you go to [One Station Unit Training], there is 165 hours of rifle marksmanship training and still only one hour of equal opportunity training." The equal opportunity training Grinston referred to is not new to the Biden administration and is required by decades-old employment law, Agnes Schaefer, assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and reserve affairs, added at the DEI hearing. Among Republicans' most cited examples of wokeness distracting the military is the extremism stand-down that Austin ordered in the early days of the Biden administration after it became clear that people with ties to the military participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Republicans say the hours the military spent on the stand-down were disproportionate to the fewer than 100 cases of "prohibited extremism activity" a Pentagon extremism working group said it found in December 2021. In a letter sent to Republican senators at their behest last year, Milley estimated the military spent about 5.4 million man hours on the stand-down. But as Republicans repeated the 5.4 million figure over and over at the recent hearings, Milley stressed that it was a ballpark estimate based on the assumption that all 2 million-plus service members spent about two hours each on the stand-down. Further, Milley said, the time spent on the stand-down represents a sliver of the 2.8 billion man hours in the military's typical workweek. But Republicans are not letting up. A day after Austin and Milley testified before the full House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., who chairs the panel's readiness subcommittee, helped unveil a report at the conservative Heritage Foundation that blamed diversity initiatives for recruiting struggles. At the rollout event, Waltz vowed lawmakers "will do all we can to codify" the report's recommendations in legislation and that he'll "run through brick walls until we get it done." "We're not making this stuff up. This isn't some kind of Republican election year gotcha talking point," Waltz said, contending his office has been contacted by concerned service members. "When I stop getting this stuff from our service members, then we'll stop bringing it up." -- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @reporterkheel. Related: Republicans Vow to Put 'Woke' Military in Crosshairs if They Win in November Gordon Ramsay said he's never been more terrified than when Adele came up to him with a microphone during her Las Vegas residency. Gordon Ramsay/Instagram Gordon Ramsay said he's never been more scared than when Adele walked toward him with a mic. Ramsay said the moment was more terrifying than swimming with sharks. The chef recently saw Adele perform during her residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Gordon Ramsay has jumped out of helicopters and gone swimming with sharks. But the Michelin-starred chef has never been more scared than when Adele walked towards him with a microphone. In an interview with British GQ published on Wednesday, Ramsay admitted he was terrified when Adele spotted him in the crowd at her Las Vegas show in February. "I'll jump out of a helicopter in Guyana. Have sharks the size of Range Rovers over my head in Tasmania. These are the bootcamps I put myself in. And the good thing about shitting yourself in a wetsuit? Nothing comes out," he said. "Still, I'm not sure it's as scary as watching Adele in Vegas and thinking she's walking over to hand me the mic. Luckily, she just gave me a kiss instead. Thank fuck!" Ramsay shared a sweet Instagram clip of the moment he shared with Adele during her residency at Caesars Palace. The clip shows Adele smiling as she sees Ramsay in the audience. Without missing a beat while performing "When We Were Young," she comes over to say hi and grabs his hand. Ramsay gives her a quick peck on the cheek before she walks away to continue the song. "Stunning performance," Ramsay wrote in the caption. Ramsay was in Las Vegas to celebrate the fifth anniversary of his Hell's Kitchen restaurant. When asked about his legacy in the British GQ interview, Ramsay said he can't escape the lore of his iconic beef Wellington no matter where he is in the world. "Whether I'm in a tapas bar on the backstreets of Barcelona or the arse-end of the jungle, someone wants to talk to me about my fucking beef Wellington," he said. Story continues In the same interview, Ramsay revealed that his three daughters are his "toughest critics." "They have no problem putting me in my place," he said. Read the original article on Insider Gov. Spencer Cox delivers his 2023 State of the State address to the Utah Legislature at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News Though he admits to sounding sanctimonious, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox warned lawmakers that if they continue rushing bills through with little input, they will lose the publics trust and face vetoes. Thats according to a letter obtained by the Deseret News that the Republican governor sent to lawmakers on March 23, the deadline for the governor to sign bills into law. After not issuing a single veto this session, Cox both congratulates the GOP-controlled legislature for their work while warning them that substituting major issues into bills at the last minute will damage their reputation. Have you ever wondered why we have committee hearings? They arent mandated by the Constitution. Surely it would be much easier and more efficient to get bills passed if we didnt have to wade through the slog of people coming and testifying, Cox writes, in what he calls a non-veto letter. Related Sometimes the fate of the bill is already decided lawmakers often know how theyll vote regardless of the arguments presented. So why waste the time of politicians and constituents? The answer, Cox says, is trust. Even if its the right thing to do, people need an opportunity to speak against it and at least try to convince us that we are wrong, he writes, before pointing to what he says is a troubling trend in the Legislature during his tenure as governor. I am becoming more concerned about major issues that are being substituted into existing bills late in the process with no chance for public input. This happened on the last night of the session last year and a couple more times this session, Cox writes. The governors office declined to comment for this story. Though his letter doesnt name any bills in particular, Cox could be referring in part to the eleventh-hour substitution made by Sen. Dan McCay, R-Riverton, on the last day of the 2022 general session. At about 8:30 p.m., McCay introduced a new version of HB11 that sought to ban transgender girls from participating in high school sports. Both the House and Senate passed the bill. Story continues Related Cox held a press conference after, telling reporters he would veto it immediately. I was as stunned as most members of the Senate were, Cox said in 2022. Some of the worst decisions get made at the last minute. After the veto, the Legislature called a special session to override it. This year, HB469 had a similar path through the Legislature. A hunting and wildlife related bill that was initially intended to set aside money to preserve land for animal habitats, and impose restrictions on air-powered rifles and trail cameras, it was transformed in the final days of the session by Sen. Scott Sandall, R-Tremonton. Sandall added a provision that allows licensed hunters to shoot or trap mountain lions year-round without obtaining a tag, blowing up the states prior seasonal restrictions. Cox later signed the law, to the chagrin of wildlife activists. While I often agree with these substitutes, I worry about the erosion of trust that is occurring, Cox told lawmakers in the March letter. Taken alone, they are probably not a big deal. However, when added together over time, these actions can have devastating consequences and further divide us. As he closes out the four-page letter, Cox gives one last warning to lawmakers, suggesting that some of the tactics used during the last two sessions will see increased scrutiny. Please know that next year I will be paying close attention to these bigger, stand-alone issues that dont receive a public hearing and will be much more likely to veto and call for a special session, even if its not in my own interest to do so, he writes. Lawmakers respond Coxs letter found support in at least one lawmaker. I definitely feel like things were rushed through, said House Minority Leader Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, citing the bill pairing teacher raises with school choice scholarships, and the negative legislation, I felt, geared toward transgender youth. Some of these bills just went quickly, she said. We as the Legislature, were only there for 45 days, so things do go by quickly. But I think when youre dealing with complicated issues that are very complex, its important you get feedback from all Utahns. She said the governor too quickly signed both the bill tying together teacher raises and school choice scholarships, and the bill barring medical interventions for transgender youth that passed in the early days of the session. For the governor, he felt like that was policy decisions he had to sign off on right away. I wouldnt agree with him, the minority leader said. But asked if it was fair for Cox to criticize lawmakers actions, she said she understands where hes coming from. So I share some of the governors concerns, but at the same time, we only meet for a 45-day session so things go fast, the minority leader said. She said she agreed with the governor that shortcuts in the process erode the publics trust. It does. And he also participated in eroding that trust. We all did. What I always tell people is if they dont like whos representing them, including myself, that its time for them to take that to the ballot box, Romero said. When reached for comment on the letter, and whether he agrees with Coxs assessment of decaying trust, House Speaker Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville, said in a statement to the Deseret News he believes in the process. Trust is the most important currency in government, and unfortunately, we live in a moment of waning confidence and trust in government, he said. However, I have the utmost belief in the legislative process, in my colleagues, the Governor, and in the people of Utah. Democracy, Wilson said, is a series of choices. It is our responsibility to choose wisely. The opportunities of the future rest in our hands. We cannot let the issue of the day bog us down. Rather, we must look at the big picture ten, twenty, fifty years down the road and work day in and day out to make sure our state is left better than we found it. That our children, grandchildren, and their grandchildren can be proud to call Utah home, the speaker said. Wilson has not yet responded directly to the governor. Too many commissions, too many boards, and too many bills Cox also said that the state has FAR too many boards and commissions. While we are a state that generally prefers limited government, its very possible that we lead the nation in the number of boards and commissions created each session, he writes. In the letter, Cox attached a list of over 400 boards and commissions in statute. Im begging you to stare at it. No please, read every single one, he says, before listing off the 17 new boards and committees created this year, including the Utah Innovation Lab Board, the Domestic Violence Data Task Force, the School Security Task Force, the Medical Cannabis Policy Advisory Board and the Justice Court Reform Task Force. Of course, many of these make sense in the moment and some of them are certainly necessary, Cox writes. ... It seems like whenever someone has a terrible bill and we feel bad killing it, we compromise by giving them a new commission to study the issue. Cox pleads with lawmakers to reach out to the executive branch to study an issue before creating a new board if they still feel like a board is necessary, lawmakers should ask the governors office to assemble a task force rather than creating one from statute, or put a sunset on any new boards enacted through the legislative process. And finally, if you would like to avoid a potential future veto on a board, lets adopt a policy of removing two for every new board created ... there are plenty to choose from, Cox writes. The letter wasnt all critical, either. Cox congratulates lawmakers, and thanks them for the communication and collaboration between the legislative and executive branches. You were able to secure record increases in education funding and teacher salaries, implement remarkable policy changes and funding for water conservation to save the Great Salt Lake and provide record investments in housing affordability, he writes. And you did all of that while also providing record tax relief for every Utahn. I am proud of the work you have done. And, in his closing paragraph, Cox reiterates a sentiment hes pushed in several interviews and news conferences: P.S. I almost forgot, but I would also very much support passing fewer than 575 bills next year! Gov. Greg Abbotts office announced Thursday it would roll out a $10 million multimedia awareness initiative to combat the growing fentanyl crisis, according to a press release. Part of that initiative, which will be done through the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, includes partnering with the Texas Department of Emergency Management to give Narcan to each of Texas 254 counties. Thanks to President Joe Biden and his reckless open border policies, the historic levels of fentanyl flooding across our border remains the single deadliest drug threat Texas and our nation have ever seen, Abbott wrote in the release. Abbotts announcement comes after his September directive to get state agencies to ramp up their response to the fentanyl crisis, which led HHSC and the University of Texas at San Antonio to create an initiative to educate Texans about fentanyls dangers and how to use Narcan to save someone who has overdosed, the release reads. It is crucial we raise awareness of the dangers of fentanyl to prevent poisonings in Texas, Cecile Young, HHSCs executive commissioner, wrote in the release. All Texans should understand fentanyl risks and talk with their loved ones about its dangers and the life-saving power of Narcan. Through this $10 million multimedia operation, HHSC is helping Texas lead the fight against the fentanyl crisis plaguing our state and nation. North Texas has not been immune to issues surrounding opioid use. This week, an unresponsive student at DeWitt Perry Middle School in Carrollton had to be revived in a classroom with Narcan following a possible overdose, WFAA-TV reported. Cash that came from the states opioid settlement will help fund Narcan for Texas counties, the governors office said. The first 20,000 units will be distributed to sheriffs offices. Each county will be eligible for the first allotment depending on its population and size. All sheriffs were notified Thursday and can request their countys allotment through the State of Texas Assistance Request (STAR) process, according to the release. A Tennessee family who lost a loved one due to the EF-3 tornado that hit McNairy County, was able to recover an "irreplaceable" family memento. Dustin Pinckney, a North Carolina resident, drove to Adamsville, Tennessee, to assist in clean-up efforts in the aftermath of the tornado that wiped out his family's home, FOX 13 Memphis reported. "It actually took the roof and the back wall off the house," Pinckney told FOX 13. MISSISSIPPI TORNADO VICTIMS AIDED BY SAMARITAN'S PURSE: HEARTBREAKING TO SEE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST ALL "They were in the bed, and my dad saidhe actually grabbed my mom. He said she was actually floating off the bed," Pinckney added. McNairy County residents are coming together ti clean up the destruction following the tornado that hit Adamsville, Tennessee. Pinckney's parents both survived the destruction, but his grandmother, Billie Pinckney, did not. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Pinckney's father went up the hill to Billie's home, but the house was "completely gone," Pinckney told the station. In the midst of the rubble, Pinckney and his family were searching for the American flag that had been laid on his grandfather's funeral casket, FOX 13 shared. TEXAS TOWN INSTALLS AMERICAN FLAG NEARLY 200 FEET IN THE AIR TO SHOW ITS PATRIOTISM Pinckney's grandfather had served in the U.S. Coast Guard for 22 years, Pinckney told Dustin Pinckney (not pictured above) and a team of volunteers were able to recover his late grandfather's American flag that was lost in the rubble. AFTER THEIR TWO KIDS DIED IN A FALLING TREE ACCIDENT, PARENTS RENT BILLBOARD TO SAVE ANOTHER LIFE Billie Pinckney had reportedly wished to be buried with the flag that was placed on her husband's casket, so a team of first responders joined Pinckney in his search for his late grandfather's flag. "It was actually found very close to my grandma," Pinckney said. "It's hard to think she was found in one place, and everything else is scattered." "It's very emotional to see what goes on in a town like this size, because everybody stepped up," Kenny Newell, the Adamsville fire chief, who also lost his home in the tornado, told FOX 13. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER The Pinckney family is mourning the loss of their family member, but "they are at peace knowing his grandmother will be reunited with the love of her life," FOX 13 reported. Story continues Following the EF-5 tornado that hit Adamsville, Tennessee, resulting the immense destruction, Dustin Pinckney (not pictured above) was able to recover his late grandfather's American flag. Pinckney, whose grandmother died in the tornado, said she had wanted to be buried with the flag. "To get her to rest in peace, that was really important for us to make sure that happened," Pinckney shared. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Pinckney family for comment. Javier Sarmiento graduated without debt. Javier Sarmiento I grew up in poverty, so I couldn't take out loans when I enrolled in a four-year university. I turned to scholarships for months I kept applying and getting rejected. But I didn't give up. I was finally awarded $13,000 in scholarships, and I graduated debt-free. I knew I wanted to go to college, but I didn't know how I would pay for it. I'm from Harlem, New York, where I grew up in poverty. I lived in public housing, and my family used food stamps. When it came time for college, I struggled to understand how I could afford it. I couldn't pay out of pocket. Student loans weren't an option either, because I knew I wouldn't be able to afford the monthly payments. I also didn't want my family to get stuck with the monthly payments, because they have nothing to give. Instead, I focused on getting scholarships. Despite many setbacks, I earned over $13,000 in scholarships and thankfully graduated debt-free. I started applying for scholarships in my junior year of college Right out of high school, I enrolled in Stella and Charles Guttman Community College because it was close to home and affordable. Financial aid covered my entire tuition for the two years I attended. After getting my associate degree, I enrolled in a four-year university named Buena Vista University. Again financial aid covered most of my tuition, but there was still a big chunk I needed to pay, and I didn't want to take out a loan. The school was far from my home in Harlem, so I needed to move into a dorm on campus. The room and board brought my bill up. I needed to pay $2,500 before even starting my first semester. That's when I turned to scholarships. Searching for scholarships was like a full-time job In 2019 I spent the summer researching and applying for scholarships. I spent several hours a day on my laptop, reading about deadlines and guidelines. I scoured the web for resources. I tapped my community and professional contacts. I also turned to local organizations that offer funds to underrepresented people. I tried to stay as organized as possible by keeping all my research materials in a thick folder. Story continues I wrote essay after essay. It was an extremely stressful time. For months I basically thought and dreamed about only scholarships. But by the end of the summer, I'd won no scholarships. Zero. Sixty scholarship competitions rejected me. I felt very disappointed. Part of me wanted to give up, but that isn't the person I am. I knew my hard work would pay off one day. I'm thankful I didn't give up, because all that work paid off In 2020 I received my first scholarship, for $500. I was excited; my perseverance had helped me score my first funding. Then I was offered a $1,000 scholarship. In 2022 I won 15 straight scholarships the highest was $2,500. In all, I earned $13,000 in scholarship funds. I was able to not only attend Buena Vista University and board there but also graduate debt-free. This process built my character as I learned not to let rejection get in the way. Now as a graduate without debt, I feel like I'm exactly where I need to be. Read the original article on Insider The interns are definitely making their mark at Grey Sloan. Whether they are holding human hearts in their hands or finding foreign objects in their bowels, the fab five are working hard to become future rock stars of the OR. This is very convenient, considering everyone else on the hospital roster is either pretending to be sick, accused of being a baby killer or moving to Chicago. Maggie abruptly leaves her couples therapy session with Winston when she's called to the ER to assist Amelia with a trauma patient. Considering Winston could not think of one quality he loved about Maggie, I'm guessing her time is better spent helping the bull rider who was just stepped on by a 900-pound animal. Kwan is equally stoked and livid when Owen invites him to the helipad to assist. Bull riders are idiots who torture animals to make themselves feel more manly. It's disgusting. Ironically, no one was more surprised to learn that the rider was a young girl who begs the staff to fix her so she can get back out on the bull. GREYS ANATOMY - Cowgirls Dont Cry - A bull rider shows up at Grey Sloan with severe injuries, forcing Maggie, Amelia, Owen and Blue to examine their own biases. Elsewhere, Simone cant find anyone to be her maid of honor, and Mika takes drastic measures to pay down her student debt. ABC/Liliane Lathan Anthony Hill on 'Grey's Anatomy' Her name is Georgia, and her insides are a mess. Both her heart and her spine need repairing, and unfortunately, Georgia's parents must decide which one to tackle first. One could paralyze her, and the other could kill her if not addressed immediately. Georgia's tough-looking cowboy daddy asks Amelia to fix her spine. He's rewarded with several eye rolls when he turns to leave. While Kwan and Millin help prep Georgia for surgery, Adams, Griffith, and Yasuda fight over the cooler ER patients. Adams and Griffith score a guy with excruciating abdominal pain while Yasuda is stuck with a woman who is coughing. BORING. After his scans come back clear, Griffith learns that her patient has been to five different ORs across Seattle. Richard assumes the man is trolling for pain meds, so he instructs Adams to discharge him. But Adams has a gut feeling that something is wrong and commandeers the scan room to try and figure out what's happening. Story continues Griffith passes the time by filling Adams in on all her wedding plans, and he scoffs at the pomp and circumstance of it all. She claims that her fiance Trey just wants to capture a moment, and that's when it occurs to Adams to put all the scans together to try and capture a gut moment. Something is there, and he convinces Richard to go in and see what's pushing through this man's intestines. GREYS ANATOMY - Cowgirls Dont Cry - A bull rider shows up at Grey Sloan with severe injuries, forcing Maggie, Amelia, Owen and Blue to examine their own biases. ABC/Liliane Lathan Anthony Hill and Kelly McCreary on 'Grey's Anatomy' It turns out there's a toothpick in there! Why did this man swallow a toothpick? Let's not pull at that thread. The point is that Adams saved a man from agonizing pain and bonded with Griffith in the process. So much so that she invited him to be her man of honor. That's not awkward at all! Meanwhile, Yasuda's wheezing patient may have pneumonia but doesn't have the money to miss work to get a chest X-ray. Yasuda asks Teddy if they can do the workup pro bono, and Teddy concedes, but only if Yasuda goes through the proper channels. Yasuda eventually retrieves everything she needs, only to have to convince the woman that she, too, knows what it's like not to have any money. She may look like a doctor, but she's drowning in college loan debt, and what money she does have, she sends to her parents. The woman gives in when Yasuda says paying a bill is worth it if you are alive to pay it. Speaking of people who used to be down on their luck, Jo is struggling with rest, and questions Link about how he knew she was faking her sickness before she knew. They wade through several minutes of "I've known you so long" conversations, only to discover that they each secretly have the hots for the other. One of these days, these two crazy kids will finally earn the moniker Jink. Back at the hospital, Maggie and Amelia fight to keep Georgia alive. At one point, they flip her from her spinal surgery to work on her heart. But, miraculously, Georgia lives, and the sisters have a private one-on-one with Georgia's mom to try and convince her to calm her husband down. Surprisingly, we learn that Georgia's dad is not pressuring his daughter to ride bulls. It's Georgia's passion, and she loves the sport wholeheartedly. GREYS ANATOMY - Cowgirls Dont Cry - A bull rider shows up at Grey Sloan with severe injuries, forcing Maggie, Amelia, Owen and Blue to examine their own biases. ABC/Liliane Lathan Kelly McCreary on 'Grey's Anatomy' Maggie understands what it means to love something passionately that occurs in a world dominated by men. And she understands when people assume your parents are pushing you to be brilliant. As a result, Maggie plucks the courage to accuse Winston of being a coward and running from their problems. So she will leave him to think about their failed marriage while she takes a job building hearts and eating pizza in Chicago. So long, Seattle! Finally, Bailey notices how the interns are nervous around Schmidt, which doesn't make sense in her head. She's worried that he is overcompensating for his own time as a resident and wonders if he is out of sync with who he really is as a person. Bailey reminds Schmidt that he wanted to be "the vagina" of the program strong and hardworking. But vaginas also bring joy and life. He needs to channel the entire vagina. This dialogue makes total sense when you consider that Grey's Anatomy has been on the air for 19 seasons. Roll with it. Schmidt invites the interns to drink at Joe's and even sits in a booth with them. No one notices Millin and Kwan sneak off for a quickie. Fun times. Warren waits for Bailey in the car in the parking lot to pick her up from the clinic. Someone puts a flyer on his windshield that reads, "BABY KILLER" across Miranda's face. Her home address and phone number are included on the paper. Does this mean that Miranda is the new Montgomery Shepherd? Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. Related content: Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. The authors' research was funded by an Insight Grant from the Social Sciences and Research Council of Canada. Images of warlords and militias from post-conflict societies around the world remind us that wars often lead to the proliferation of firearms, in turn fueling violence and lawlessness long after the main fighting ceases. Such normalization of gun ownership and use, often dubbed the Kalashnikov Culture, has been a long-term result of armed conflict in many Global South societies. As Ukrainians and their Western allies begin to plan for the countrys postwar reconstruction, an obvious question is whether Ukraine will also develop such a Kalashnikov Culture, with armed civilians and perhaps non-state groups undermining efforts to rebuild public order. To answer this question, we recently fielded a survey of Ukrainian public opinion and behavior related to guns. Our poll paints a more nuanced picture than the Kalashnikov trope might suggest. True, the data show that the current war has influenced Ukrainians to develop more positive attitudes toward guns and gun ownership. Moreover, post-war Ukraine will likely experience sharper debates about the role of firearms, possibly leading to some permanent liberalization of policies. Nevertheless, even after using different survey methods to probe sensitive issues, we do not find a mass shift toward civilian gun acquisition, and Ukrainians attitudes toward firearms remain mixed and ambivalent. All this suggests that post-war Ukraine is unlikely to be a country of gun-slinging outlaws. Valeriia Voshchevska: International organizations and Ukraine a case for empathy Editors Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. As Russian tanks rolled through the streets of my home and Russian bombs started to fall onto peaceful Ukrainian cities, I held my breath Kyiv IndependentValeriia Voshchevska Story continues Ukraine, like other post-Soviet countries, has no recent experience with legal ownership of handguns. In the Soviet Union, although long guns were available for hunting, albeit with significant restrictions, handguns were essentially banned. Soviet gun laws, for the most part, remained intact in independent Ukraine, and before Russias full-scale invasion in 2022, the Ukrainian government remained firmly committed to restrictive gun policies. Although a small gun-rights movement advocated for liberalization, polls indicated most Ukrainians did not support the free possession of handguns. For example, according to an August 2015 survey, only 11% supported gun liberalization, while 80% did not, a figure that remained stable despite the onset of the war in eastern Ukraine. Similarly, a 2021 survey estimated that 73% of Ukrainians did not believe that guns increased personal safety, with women markedly less enthusiastic about firearms than men. Thus, before February 2022 the Ukrainian government and the public were largely in step, with both opposing the placement of placing guns in private, non-state hands. However, as work by our team and others has shown, both official policies and public attitudes toward guns have shifted with the onset of the war. In a series of moves, the government has temporarily liberalized the rules governing gun ownership. On March 3, 2022, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law regulating the civilian use of weapons during wartime, under which civilians may be issued with firearms to use in repelling Russias armed aggression; the law also provides them with the legal right to fire on Russian soldiers. In addition, Ukraine's former Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskyi signed a decree enabling civilians to rapidly acquire a license for previously prohibited forms of firearms. Finally, on March 24, 2022, Ukraines parliament enacted a law temporarily decriminalizing the unlawful possession of firearms. All these new policies are temporary wartime measures that will expire with the end of the current state of emergency, that is, upon the termination of Russias invasion. Likewise, public opinion polls show a shift toward greater support for liberalized gun policies among Ukrainian citizens. In May 2022, the research group Rating released its 11th annual survey, revealing that during the war the proportion of Ukrainians who support granting civilians the right to own firearms had doubled. Legalizing handguns was now supported by 58% of respondents, with only 39% against. For the first time in the history of the study, supporters of legalization outnumbered opponents. Stranded civilians brave shelling, return to Ukraines front-line towns ORIKHIV, HULIAIPOLE, Zaporizhzhia Oblast A massive rumble shakes the basement under the partly destroyed administrative building, followed by another blast much closer. Not good, says 51-year-old Svitlana Mandrich, Orikhivs deputy mayor, looking warily at the sandbags protecting the cellars v Kyiv IndependentAlexander Query In addition, our nationally representative multimode telephone and internet survey carried out by the survey company InfoSapiens between July 25 and Aug. 1, 2022, adds more detail about Ukrainians support for legal change. By an approximately 60% to 40% margin, Ukrainians say they support the temporary liberalization measures outlined above, although men and women differ markedly, with women roughly equally split on these policy changes and 75% of men supporting them. A more mixed picture emerges when Ukrainians are asked whether they support the permanent legalization of handgun ownership, with just over 50% now in favor and slightly under 50% opposed, and a similar gender divide. In both questions, we also found that differences in age and first language (Ukrainian or Russian) had remarkably little impact on Ukrainians views on gun liberalization, suggesting that shifts in opinion have occurred across these demographic divides. Our survey also strikingly confirmed that guns have become more prevalent and popular in Ukrainian society. Before the war, few Ukrainians legally owned a gun, and those who did were primarily men. This followed the pattern of the European Union where, according to the 2013 Eurobarometer poll, 9% of men and 2% of women said they owned such weapons. However, more than 50% of our respondents told us they believe that civilian gun possession has become more common since the onset of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. As this survey result follows the introduction of policies to temporarily liberalize gun ownership, it may suggest that people are now being more open about their ownership of previously illegal guns. We also asked Ukrainians whether they have already acquired or are considering acquiring guns because of the war. Like other surveys, we found that only a small proportionabout 8%of Ukrainians, primarily men, now say they own a gun for self-defense, with only about a quarter of those saying they obtained these guns shortly before or since the full-scale invasion in February. Although some Ukrainians (about 8%) also report trying but failing to acquire a gun due to shortages, these results do not indicate a massive drive to acquire firearms. On the other hand, there is clearer evidence that the idea of acquiring a gun has become normalized for many Ukrainians. Among those who report not currently owning a gun, some 40% now say they are considering obtaining a gun for selfdefense. Again, there is a noticeable gender divide with men nearly twice as likely as women to wish to acquire a gun for self-defense. Taken together, these results demonstrate a significant reversal in the prewar, largely prohibitive, attitudes toward guns, with more and more Ukrainians now supportive of gun ownership. Nevertheless, a sizeable proportion of Ukrainians are still opposed to the presence of guns in civilian society, and most are not personally interested in owning them. With Ukraine still in the throes of Europes largest conflict since World War II, it is reasonable to ask how much we can read into survey results conducted in wartime. It is likely that at least some changes to attitudes toward guns may be temporary, with some people seeing more permissive policies as an adjustment to wartime necessities rather than a desirable permanent outcome. How Kherson residents resisted Russian occupation (VIDEO) Russian forces entered Kherson, a city in southern Ukraine, at the very beginning of the full-scale invasion. For two months, Kherson residents were openly protesting against the occupation. Later, as Russia tightened its grip, some Khersonians continued their protest in more subtle ways despite Kyiv IndependentOlena Makarenko However, together with other surveys, our results do indicate that gun liberalization is likely to represent a long-term source of debate in Ukrainian society even after the war, with many if not most Ukrainians now seeing guns as normal and desirable, and a narrow majority now supporting liberalized policies, including for handguns. The notable divide between men and women we found in our survey suggests that these debates may play out in a gendered manner resembling that in other countries, including the United States. In a way, these results are not surprising. As noted above, post-conflict societies in the Global South have also experienced similar changes in attitudes toward weapon ownership, with postwar disarmament programs a frequent response. Such programs may also be needed in Ukraine, especially as the country could become a source of illegal firearms, both military and civilian, on the international black market. However, it is important not to assume that the Kalashnikov effect is an inevitable feature of post-War Ukrainian life. Ukraine is an industrialized European society, with a strong tradition of gun laws as least as strict as most other European countries, and a shared understanding among nearly all citizens that the state is primarily responsible for protecting the public from violence. While it remains to be seen how the countrys democracy will process this controversial issue, there are reasons to believe that moderation and prudence will prevail. In earlier studies, we found that even in the post-Soviet countries that have moved furthest from prohibitive Soviet gun regulation, Georgia and Estonia, recent policies have been well within the European mainstream, even as the two countries differ somewhat in their regulatory approaches. In Georgia, where the government liberalized firearms legislation in the wake of civil war and organized crime violence, gun policies facilitate citizens lawful acquisition of handguns through liberal licensing policies, while prohibiting automatic weapons and restricting the gun carriage in urban areas. Estonias policies focus more on stringent licensing requirements while also seeking to integrate individual gun ownership into a holistic model of national security. Yet both governments seek a balance between public demand for weapons and the risks to public safety that come with gun proliferation, reflecting public attitudes toward guns that remain relatively conservative compared to those in, say, the United States. In coming years, some combination of the Estonian and Georgian gun policies could well take shape in Ukraine. Indeed, Zelensky has already told Ukrainians that even after the current war, the risk of Russian aggression will remain for the foreseeable future, suggesting that like Estonia, Ukraine may need a comprehensive approach to national security that draws on citizens own initiative and interests, rather than simply reinforcing the states total monopoly on the means of force. For Ukrainian policymakers and friends of Ukraine, the challenge will be to help citizens reacclimate to peacetime conditions of public order, while responding to their changing views on maintaining personal and community security in a modern, pluralistic democracy. A Norse Atlantic Airways aircraft. Norse Atlantic Airways Passengers on an April 4 flight from Paris to New York left the airport with no immigration check. The incident involved a Norse Atlantic Airways flight that landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Low-cost carrier Norse inaugurated its Paris-New York route on March 26. Just about a week after Norse Atlantic Airways flew its first flight from Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport to New York John F. Kennedy International Airport, the airline has already goofed. After landing at Terminal 7 at JFK on the evening of April 4, a group of passengers got off the plane and walked straight to the exit without having to go through any immigration check by the US Customs and Border Protection, the airline confirmed in a statement to Insider. "We are investigating a disembarkation issue that took place on arrival at New York JFK on Tuesday evening concerning a Norse Atlantic Airways flight from Paris," the statement said. "A small number of customers who did not clear US immigration have been directly contacted regarding this matter." A representative for the US Customs and Border Patrol confirmed the agency was working with partners to correct the situation. "Due to an airline error, international passengers inadvertently exited through a domestic gate before being processed by CBP," a representative told Insider. "CBP is working with airline personnel to ensure that all misdirected passengers satisfy CBP's processing requirements. CBP, Terminal 7 airline security personnel, and the airport authority are conducting an investigation regarding this incident and will implement measures to prevent a reoccurrence in the future." The low-cost carrier is fairly new to the transatlantic flight scene. It was founded in March 2021, and its first flight took off in June 2022. It crosses the Atlantic, connecting the US with European destinations in Germany, Norway, the UK, France, and Italy similar to Norwegian Air's old routes. Norse's New York to Paris route, which was inaugurated on March 26, has one-way flights starting at 269 Euros, or around $300. Story continues Norwegian's transatlantic flights between Europe and the US ended in March 2020 due to the pandemic and the airline announced in early 2021 shortly after filing for bankruptcy they would not return. Norse's fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners sourced from Norwegian are named after national parks around the globe, like Raet in Norway and Yosemite in California. Read the original article on Business Insider NIZHYN, Ukraine Checking social media one day after work, Paraska Demchuk saw a photo of a man she immediately recognized as her son. The image was from a video of his execution that went viral on social media. Smoking his final cigarette in a wooded area, he shouts Glory to Ukraine before collapsing in a hail of bullets. In the end, he understood he couldnt do anything. He had no weapon, no grenade, no gun. But he had these words, Demchuk, 67, told NBC News at her modest home in the town of Nizhyn, about 90 miles northeast of Kyiv. Those words helped galvanize a nation even as the graphic video devastated a mother, with her son Oleksander Matsievsky hailed as a hero for uttering the rallying cry in his final moments. The 42-year-old sniper was killed on Dec. 30 near Bakhmut, Ukraines security services said, and his defiant demise has come to symbolize the countrys defense of the eastern city arguably the most fiercely contested territory in Ukraine since Russias invasion. Mercenaries, mud and morale Some experts question Bakhmuts strategic importance, and worry that Ukraine whose nimble, lightning counteroffensives saw it recapture swaths of territory late last year may be pouring valuable resources into a grinding battle that will undermine fresh offensives planned for the spring. But eight months of brutal trench warfare have transformed Bakhmut from an obscure mining city into a modern-day Stalingrad whose fate could shape the course of the war. Victory for either side would be a huge morale boost, and could rally support from respective allies, providing momentum to shift a front line that has remained largely static for months. For Demchuk, tearful and mourning the loss of her only child, there can be no retreat from Bakhmut. In a corner of her living room Ukraines highest medal of honor, awarded posthumously in a red leather-bound case, dominates a shrine to her son. A shrine to Oleksander Matsievsky, who was killed in action near Bakhmut on Dec. 30 according to Ukraine's security services. (Mo Abbas / NBC News) We have no other option but to continue fighting. All this blood that was lost cannot be lost in vain. We need to continue defending ourselves, she said. Story continues Bakhmut is almost surrounded by Russian forces, its Ukrainian defenders perilously close to being encircled after months of brutal fighting that has increasingly seen both sides suffer heavy losses. On Sunday Moscows forces said they had captured the administrative center of the city, but Ukrainian troops continued to hold western areas. Ukraine said its defenders still held Bakhmut. Neither side publishes casualty numbers among its own troops, but on one day in March alone Kyivs military said it killed 221 of Moscows forces in Bakhmut, while Russia said it killed 210 Ukrainian soldiers in the broader Donetsk region in which it lies. But according to Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Kyiv has Moscows forces just where it wants them. Paraska Demchuk, 67, tears up as she talks about her son, Oleksander Matsievsky, who was killed in action near Bakhmut on Dec 30 according to Ukraine's security services. (Mo Abbas / NBC News) It is very important to destroy the most powerful Russian units exactly where its comfortable for us. The landscape is preferable for us there, he said in an interview on Thursday at his office in Kyiv. Because Russia is concentrating on Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Vuhledar, it cannot attack in other directions they cannot launch a big offensive somewhere else, he said, referring to other areas in Donetsk, which forms half of the eastern Donbas region. Meanwhile, we are preparing our own offensive. The Kremlin has made capturing Ukraines industrial heartland the focus of its campaign but has appeared to make scant progress toward that goal in the first few months of the year. The Russian winter offensive has been held back by muddy conditions and military failings, despite Moscow revamping its leadership, calling up hundreds of thousands of reservists and leaning on the Wagner mercenary groups use of ex-convicts. But the pressure on Ukraines defenders has mounted in recent weeks, and with it so have calls for a withdrawal from some military analysts who view holding the city as no longer worth the cost. For Podolyak, keeping Russias much larger army at bay in Bakhmut for eight months is already a victory of sorts, but losing the city would be a huge morale boost for the Russians and massive demoralization for Ukraine. He was echoing a point made by Zelenskyy last week, that if Bakhmut falls to Russia, President Vladimir Putin would sell this victory to the West, to his society, to China, to Iran with a push for an end to the war on terms favorable to Moscow. Training for the decisive battles to come Ukraine hopes to launch a spring offensive of its own that could determine its fate as concerns mount that Western support could wane if Kyiv cant show a clear path to victory and political calculations weigh ahead of the presidential election. Yet Kyiv is fast depleting its stock of experienced soldiers, raising questions over the viability of a battlefield push that is slated to begin in the next few months. At the beginning of this war, yes, almost all of those who were fighting were experienced servicemen who got their training over several years, Podolyak said. But you have to understand that this is a bloody war. Tragically, people are dying, Ukrainians are dying. People on the front lines are exhausted. And therefore we have to rotate them, and you have to understand the active front line is 1,800 kilometers (1,120 miles) long. By holding Bakhmut, leaders in Kyiv appear to be betting they can both wear down Russian forces and buy time to ready their own for what could be a decisive period in the war. Russia has been accused of throwing thousands of soldiers with little combat experience against well-defended lines to secure small gains in territory, but Ukrainian officials insist their new recruits will not be cannon fodder. Ukrainian soldiers exit a forest after completing a drill at a forest north of Kyiv on March 31. (Mo Abbas / NBC News) At a heavily forested military training ground just north of the Ukrainian capital, officers put new soldiers through a compressed training program to prepare them for the spring offensive. They are doing the very accelerated and contracted version of the standard core training course. They are mastering the basic skills of fighting and survival, said a training commander, who covered his face with a bandanna and used his call sign Batman instead of his name for security reasons. Media were invited to film troops training, and a group of soldiers with at least some combat experience were put through their paces. The unit confidently disembarked from an American mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle, moved in formation into a forest and then stormed a trench as snipers provided cover. Vitaly Markiv, one of the trainers, said these soldiers would be the backbone of units containing less experienced recruits. Somebody goes on rotation to the front line, then they return and they transmit that experience to the other soldiers and officers, he said. But, he added, more important than troop numbers was continuing Western support and weaponry. This year will be the year of revenge, of repayment to the Russians. What we need is the support of the whole free world. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Thousands of Guatemalan worshippers wearing black hoods and purple tunics funnel slowly through the streets of Antigua carrying images of Jesus over a multicolored carpet of flowers and scented sawdust as somber music rings out. Guatemala's Holy Week celebrations, which mix Mayan rituals with Catholic religious fervor, were given UNESCO heritage status in November, bringing special meaning to this year's Good Friday processions being carried out across the country. Despite its name, Guatemala's Holy Week festival actually stretches over six weeks, reaching a fever pitch at Easter as the Central American country is transformed by extravagant processions, vigils, and the laying of brightly colored carpets throughout the streets. "For us it is cause for great joy and is a very special day to participate in this offering, especially now," lawyer Roberto Matheu told AFP, referring to the new UNESCO recognition. The 45-year-old spoke as he finished creating a carpet of flowers with his family, an activity he has done since childhood. Guatemalans "experience Holy Week differently to the rest of the world," said Culture Minister Felipe Aguilar. Guatemala's customs, music, food and art are the result of a "cultural fusion" between the Catholicism of Spanish conquistadores and the ancestral beliefs of the Indigenous Mayan population, he said. Thousands of faithful and tourists have flooded the streets of Antigua, the colonial capital, since Thursday to take part in the processions. This tourist town, some 40 kilometers southwest of the capital Guatemala City, is known for its Jesus of Humility procession marking the final part of his life, with some faithful dressed as Roman soldiers. "The Jesus of Humility has always blessed us... we don't want to lose this tradition that identifies us as Guatemalans," Jose Perez, 44, a restaurant cook, told AFP. Close to churches, street vendors sell food, soft drinks and other products. - 'Crawlers' - Spanish colonizers brought Holy Week celebrations to Guatemala in the 16th century but the local Mayan population soon syncretized it with their own traditions and worldview. Story continues Guatemalans prepare typical colonial dishes, such as dried fish, pickled vegetables and sweet preserves. "I feel very satisfied... and I will remain here to be with this devotion," farmer Jorge Pines, 65, told AFP, adding that he had taken part in such processions for the last 40 years. In Mayan neighborhoods, locals wearing traditional outfits take turns carrying images of their saints through the streets. "People are happy because it has been three years" since the last such procession due to the pandemic, said Susana Leimi, 45, a trader in the village of Santiago Atitlan, around 100 kilometers (60 miles) west of the capital. In the northwestern San Andres Sajcabaja municipality, home to indigenous people from the Mayan K'che' ethnicity, around 15 devotees crawl on hands and knees some five kilometers through the streets to mark the Passion of Jesus, the short painful period before his death. The "crawlers," dressed only in loincloths with their faces covered, wear thorns on their heads or backs to atone for their sins or give thanks to God. Other devotees place rugs in their path to protect their knees. hma/fj/bc/bfm Villagers have been collecting bodies on Friday in Umogidi in Benue State Dozens of people have been killed in Nigeria after gunmen stormed a rural village and opened fire on residents. At least 51 people died in the attack in the village of Umogidi in Benue State, and people there were searching for more bodies on Friday. The motivation behind the attack is unclear, but clashes are common between nomadic herders and settled farmers. Farmers accuse herders of destroying their crops, while the herders accuse farmers of attacking their animals. A number of people are still reported to be missing following Wednesday's attack. The armed gang reportedly began the attack in the village market. Residents said many people ran into the bush to hide but were gunned down. Bako Eje, a local government official, told the AFP news agency that the gunmen attacked while people were mourning three others who had been killed a day earlier. He said his own son had been killed in the attack. The region has been one of the hardest hit by clashes between farmers and herders. Although security forces have been deployed to the region, their presence has not stopped the deadly clashes. Fresh graves can be seen in Umogidi A cultural exhibition titled "Taoism: Pursuing Harmony Between Human and Nature," one of the recent key events held by the Chinese American Museum in Washington served as a vital exchange platform for visitors to learn about traditional Chinese culture and experience the charm of Taoism. The Chinese American Museum in Washington holds a cultural activity to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival. [Photo provided to China Daily] Jointly organized by the museum and the Shanghai Taoist Association, the exhibition showcased the essence of Taoism in China through the displays of four major themes: Taoist culture, Taoist history, Taoist music and Taoist clothing with gorgeous robes, hand-painted talismans, calligraphy, musical instruments and portraits of the three Gods from the Sanqing Hall, the highest deity of Taoism. Zhao Haisheng, minister counselor for cultural affairs at the Embassy of China in the US, said: "Chinese culture originated from Taoism and has continued to influence generations of Chinese at home and abroad." He said the exhibition will help local residents experience the long history and culture of China. The displays also enhanced the development of Sino-US relations in the cultural field and efforts should be made to resolve differences and build a platform for cooperation between the two countries. Susan Lee, a Maryland state senator, said the exhibition has special significance and can help more Chinese and overseas Chinese think about their responsibilities. Taoism is a religion and philosophy that has shaped Chinese values, daily life, and spirituality for thousands of years. Like other major Chinese religions such as Confucianism and Buddhism, the doctrines and ethics of Taoism are not exclusively spiritual or philosophical. Rather, they encourage a holistic way of life that emphasizes individual well-being and harmony with one's world. Taoism originated from traditional folk beliefs in rural China during the Shang Dynasty (c. 16th century-11th century BC). During the late Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), the philosophy incorporated the concept of Yin and Yang and underwent further religious reform in the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-581). The museum will hold a series of exhibitions this year including the large-scale Cheongsam performance at the University of Washington in June, the Buddhist Culture and Art Exhibition in September and the first Chinese cultural tour for American youths. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas went on lavish vacations paid for by Harlan Crow, a Texas billionaire who is a prominent Republican donor, according to a new report from the investigative news organization ProPublica. The report describes a close relationship between the two men stretching back at least two decades. It states that Thomas accepted luxury trips "nearly every year" from Crow without disclosing them, including junkets on the billionaire's superyacht and regular trips on his private jet. And it states that none of it appears in Thomas's financial disclosures. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. Here's what to know about Harlan Crow and his relationship with Thomas. - - - Who is Harlan Crow? Crow is a real estate businessman in Dallas and the chairman of Crow Holdings, a family business that manages the capital of the family, according to its website. He started with the company as an industrial leasing agent and took over leadership of the business in 1988. He also serves on the board of several organizations, including the Supreme Court Historical Society and the American Enterprise Institute, a right-leaning think tank. - - - Where did he make his money? His father, Trammell Crow, created a commercial real estate company that was once the "country's largest landlord," according to the Wall Street Journal. When the younger Crow took over, the company was reportedly near bankruptcy and he restructured it. The Trammell Crow Co. is now a subsidiary of large real estate firm CBRE, which agreed to buy the smaller company for about $2 billion in 2006. - - - What is the extent of Crow's political involvement? ProPublica reports that Crow has been a major Republican donor for years, giving more than $10 million in political donations. The actual number may be higher, the publication reports, because of "dark money" donations to groups that don't publicly disclose their contributors. The investigation says Crow, who has donated to the Federalist Society, has "long supported efforts to move the judiciary to the right." Story continues - - - What is Crow's relationship to Clarence Thomas? In a statement Crow provided to ProPublica, Crow said he and his wife Kathy have known Clarence and Ginni Thomas since 1996, describing them as "very dear friends." He said the hospitality he provided them is no different than that which they extended to their other close friends. "We have been most fortunate to have a great life of many friends and financial success, and we have always placed a priority on spending time with our family and friends," Crow wrote, adding that he had not sought to influence Thomas on any legal or political issue. ProPublica's Thursday report is not the first to draw attention to Crow's relationship with Thomas. In 2011, the New York Times reported that Crow had done favors for Thomas and his wife, specifically financing a multimillion-dollar restoration of a cannery in Pin Point, Ga., which was a pet project of the justice. The Times also reported that Crow financed a library dedicated to Thomas in Savannah, Ga., and presented him with a Bible that had belonged to Frederick Douglass. It also reported that Crow had provided $500,000 for Ginni Thomas to start a political organization. Crow, in his statement to ProPublica, said neither Clarence nor Ginni Thomas asked for any of the hospitality they provided. "We did so because we believe Justice Thomas to be one of the greatest Americans of our time, and we believe it is important to make sure as many people as possible learn about him, remember him, and understand the ideals for which he stands," Crow wrote. Related Content Texas is home. The Briggle family and their trans child are fighting for it. How progressive Denmark became the face of the anti-migration left Did Roy Lichtenstein create art or copy it? A new film stokes the controversy Vice President Harris is making a previously unscheduled stop in Nashville, Tenn., on Friday to meet with two state lawmakers who were expelled from the Tennessee House for leading gun violence protests in the wake of a local school shooting, a spokesperson confirmed. Harris will meet with state Reps. Justin Jones (D) and Justin Pearson (D), who on Thursday were expelled from the legislature for their participation in the recent demonstrations on the House floor. Rep. Gloria Johnson (D), who also participated in the protests and is white, narrowly survived her expulsion vote. The vice president will use the meeting to elevate the White Houses broader push for tougher gun laws, including a ban on assault weapons. She is expected to meet with other Tennessee state lawmakers while in Nashville, as well as demonstrators who have in recent days continued to call for action on gun violence. President Biden has renewed his calls for such a ban in the aftermath of a shooting at a Nashville grade school that left three 9-year-olds and three teachers dead. Jones, Johnson and Pearson led chants on the House floor last week in the aftermath of the shooting, chanting No action, no peace. Resolutions to expel them state that they engaged in disorderly behavior and did knowingly and intentionally bring disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives. The expulsion of Jones and Pearson, both of whom are Black, has fueled a nationwide debate in recent days over gun violence, race and the freedom to protest. The White House called the expulsion votes undemocratic. Six people, including three children, were killed last week in a school shooting in Nashville, Harris tweeted Thursday night. How did Republican lawmakers in Tennessee respond? By expelling their colleagues who stood with Tennesseans and said enough is enough. This is undemocratic and dangerous. Harriss visit to Nashville was first reported by USA Today. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will soon make their decision about attending the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, it has been reported. With only a month to go before the coronation ceremony takes place in Westminster Abbey, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are facing a time crunch to confirm their attendance. It comes after US president Joe Biden informed the King he would not be attending the event, but would send his wife, Jill Biden, to represent the US at the ceremony. A source was quoted by The Times as saying: I hear [the Sussexes] are going to confirm their plans soon, particularly now that Biden has. In early March, Harry and Meghan indicated that they have received email correspondence from His Majestys office regarding the coronation but have yet to disclose their decision. PageSix have also reported that the couple are finalising plans, but a source claimed that Harry still has a lot of questions about how the event will work. The source said: There have been lengthy discussions between the Sussexes and [Buckingham Palace], there is a time crunch on this of course. Its such a historical event and its hoped that Harry and Meghan will be there. They added that all families are difficult, but this is no normal family, of course. Although the Sussexes have not confirmed their attendance, the palace are reportedly working on the assumption that they will be there. (Getty Images for Invictus Games) The couple have reportedly been factored into all arrangements related to the coronation, including cars, seating in Westminster Abbey, and dining. The Times reported last month that officials within the Master of the Households Department and the Lord Chamberlains Office are anticipating Harry and Meghans presence over the bank holiday weekend. It is not known where the couple would stay if they do travel to the UK for the coronation, after it emerged that the King requested they vacate their UK residence, Frogmore Cottage. He has reportedly offered them a suite of rooms in Buckingham Palace that previously belonged to the Duke of York to whom it has been claimed the King offered the keys to Frogmore Cottage. Story continues But Harry, who arrived in the UK for a surprise visit as he appeared in court for the phone-hacking case against the publisher of The Daily Mail, reportedly stayed at Frogmore Cottage while he was here. (REUTERS) It is understood that he spent part of his visit sorting out his and Meghans belongings in the property and preparing to ship them out to their home in Montecito, California. The duke was previously said to be seeking an apology from King Charles and the Prince of Wales before committing to the coronation. Harry said in an interview earlier this year, before the release of his memoir Spare, that the ball is in their court and the door is always open for reconciliation. The duke has aired his grievances against what he believes to be a toxic relationship between the royal family and the British tabloid media. In his and Meghans Netflix documentary, he accused the palace of leaking and planting negative stories about the duchess to distract from unsavoury coverage about other members of the family. The Independent has contacted the Sussexes representative for comment. Pat Stryker Fort Collins philanthropist Pat Stryker is among the world's 1,000 richest people, according to Forbes' magazine's 2023 list of billionaires. Stryker, founder of the nonprofit Bohemian Foundation and for-profit real estate arm Bohemian Cos., is estimated to be worth $3.2 billion as of April 4, which lands her at 905 on the list of the world's 2,640 billionaires. Her estimated worth is down from $3.4 billion in 2021 but well over her estimated $2.5 billion in 2020. Stryker was listed at No. 388 on Forbes' list of 400 richest Americans last year. She is the granddaughter of the founder of Stryker Corp., a medical equipment manufacturer that sold $14.4 billion worth of medical equipment in 2020, according to Forbes. Stryker, through her foundation, has been a staunch supporter of community interests, social causes and Democratic political candidates, and has invested in advancement of music and nonprofits in Fort Collins, as evidenced by The Music District, The Armory, Washington's and the former Bohemian Nights at NewWestFest music festival, which was discontinued during the pandemic. In 2016, she and her brother, Jon, donated $10 million to fund a national lynching memorial in Montgomery, Alabama, the heart of the civil rights movement. The donations of $5 million each helped create The Memorial to Peace and Justice, which remembers 4,000 victims of lynchings throughout the U.S., and a racial justice museum called From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration. The memorial and museum are initiatives of the Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit that that provides lawyers to people who have been illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced or abused in state jails and prisons. In addition to owning several parcels of land throughout the city, mostly centered around downtown, Stryker owns two sites slated for Powerhouse II at the corner of Vine Drive and North College Avenue that will focus on climate solutions. It is an expansion of Colorado State University's Powerhouse Energy Lab at 430 N. College Ave. She also owns 1311 N. College Ave., which she plans to donate to Fort Collins Rescue Mission for a new 24/7 shelter for up to 200 men experiencing homelessness. Story continues The Bohemian Foundation also donated $6 million to CSU to create a presidential chair in energy innovation named after CSU professor Bryan Willson, who directs CSU's Powerhouse Energy Campus and CSU Energy Institute. In December, more than than 40 organizations received Bohemian Fund grants totaling $620,000. This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Here's where Pat Stryker landed on the 2023 Forbes billionaire list Multiple Active Shooting Hoax Calls Called Into Pittsburgh Area Schools A student from Oakland Catholic High School receives comfort following the evacuation of her school after a hoax call about an active shooter on March 29 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Credit - Jeff SwensenGetty Images On March 27, a Rhode Island high schooler stood on a toilet and watched as a police officer, gun drawn, searched the bathroom for an active shooter. On March 28 in Massachusetts, a school nurse locked people into her darkened office, where they cried and prayed as they waited for 20 minutes. And on March 29, a Pennsylvania high schooler sent a text to his family, I love you all. There is an active shooter. While these incidents occurred across the country, they each had something in common: the danger was a hoax. A caller had contacted the school community and lied, claiming there was an active shooter. In the last several weeks, dozens of these calls have flooded schools across the country, including 50 school districts in New York state on April 4, 28 communities in Massachusetts on March 28, at least 12 in Wyoming on April 3, nine Missouri schools on March 27, and at least 30 in Iowa on March 21. Over the last two years, such conswhich are sometimes called swatting in a reference to the SWAT teams of heavily armed police that respond to active shooter incidentshave terrorized hundreds of American schools, often in groups of schools on the same day in a particular state. However, the last few weeks have seen a particularly heavy volume of these calls. The trouble is that current phone technology makes it easy for almost anyone to obtain a phone number anonymously. That makes it extremely difficult for police to track down the source of the calls and hold the callers accountable. How many hoax calls have there been to schools? The FBI has not released an estimate of how many schools have received phone calls reporting fake shootings. However, local news organizations have reported incidents at schools across the country over the last two years. Story continues Amanda Klinger of the Educators School Safety Network, a nonprofit that focuses on school safety, has recorded 384 false shooting reports to schools from the beginning of this school year through the end of March, up from 69 false reports in the 2018-2019 school year (the last year they have complete data). The National Association of School Resource Officers documented hoax calls in 42 states since September as of April 6. However, some schools may have been left off both lists if they werent reported in local news. Why are there more fake calls now? The FBI said in a statement to TIME on Tuesday that it is actively investigating these dangerous and criminal threats, although it has no information to indicate a specific and credible threat at this time. In November, it said that the calls may be coming from outside the U.S., the AP reported. Its hard to say for sure why there are so many calls, especially because technology can make it nearly impossible to identify perpetrators or hold them accountable. Whats worse, the callers may not even be in the U.S. The big issue, says Klinger, is that school shootings are a very real threat in the United States, which bad actors can prey upon. It makes sense. Were scared of school shootings, because they happen, she says. And so it is a thing that people can use against us. Technology has also made it easier for people to conceal their identities, says Fred Posner, a communications consultant for LOD Communications, a technical consulting company. In the last few years, he says, VPNs (virtual private networks) became cheaper and more common, which makes it easy to conceal your identity. Layered on top of that, he says, phone carriers can now provide phone numbers to anyone, anywhere if they have an internet connection. Without inputting so much as a credit card, ID or even real name, he says, people can make digital phone calls from anywhereeven another country, he says. An NPR investigation found that the carrier TextNow was used to make at least some of the fake calls to schools this fall. The calls appear to have originated from Ethiopia, the NPR report found. For law enforcement, tracking phone calls through such companies is almost impossible, Posner says. Why swatting is so dangerous Swatting can be terrifying for the children, teachers and parents, who rightfully fear for their lives. The threat may also place everyone involved in physical danger. If they anticipate that theres an active shooter at a school, emergency responders may speed to the sceneand, guns at their sides, may rush into a school expecting to see an active shooter. On Monday, for instance, Harvard University campus police allegedly pointed assault rifles at four students, who are Black, after a hoax 911 call about an armed person in their suite, the Harvard Crimson reported. As hoax calls rise, its critically important that schools and law enforcement remain ready for a real attack, says Mo Canady, the executive director of the National Association of School Resource Officers. We still have to respond as if theyre actually happening, says Canady. We cant allow ourselves to go there to think oh, this is another one of those fake calls. Thats the time when it wont be. What can be done to stop fake school threats? In many public comments about swatting, lawmakers and law enforcement emphasized the importance of bringing perpetrators to justice. For instance, after a spate of calls in New York, Senator Chuck Schumer proposed a plan for a new FBI team to chase down hoax callers. We need more agents to track down these evil criminals who hide in the darkest corners of the internet, Schumer said on April 5. Given how hard it is to trace perpetratorsand to stop them from wanting to make callsPosner argues that a better strategy may be to instead focus on the carriers, like TextNow, to stop enabling people to use their networks with so little verification. Theres absolutely no deterrent for them to provide the service to people conducting illegal activities, says Posner. Even the feds, theres not a ton that they can dounless we get an FTC or Congress thats willing to put some bite into putting carriers somewhat responsible for allowing this type of traffic to cross their networks. A charity is appealing for volunteer beach wardens to help support its "vital work" with rare wildlife. Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT) says it needs help to monitor rare birds at Holme Dunes nature reserve. Half of England's most threatened breeding birds nest at the reserve near Hunstanton, including ringed plover, little tern and oystercatcher. Tori Backham, from NWT, said: "Our beach wardens act as guardians to our vulnerable beach-nesting birds." "They support our wildlife by patrolling the beaches, helping the public to understand the importance of looking after these special species, as well as recording bird behaviour and nesting activity," she added. "If you feel passionate about making a difference and you have some spare time to give, we'd love to hear from you." Little terns travel from Africa to nest on the Norfolk coast and face many challenges including disturbance, rising sea levels and predators. In 2021 almost half of the UK population (roughly 691 pairs) of these birds were attempting to nest across the North and East of Norfolk. NWT said in the last 35 years the population of ringed plovers in Norfolk has declined by 79%, with only 123 pairs recorded in 2018. The charity said oystercatcher numbers were also dropping, seeing them join the little tern on the amber list of conservation concern. Visitors at Holme Dunes are asked to keep a distance from special fenced-off nesting areas on the beach, to be vigilant for the tiny chicks that may be feeding on the shoreline, and to keep their dogs under control. NWT was established in 1926 and manages over 50 nature reserves and other protected sites around the county. Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk Thailand's Chiang Mai was ranked the world's most polluted city on Friday, with authorities urging people to work from home to avoid the hazardous air. Smoke from forest fires and farmers burning crop stubble has blanketed the popular tourist destination in recent weeks. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha held video talks with the leaders of neighbouring Myanmar and Laos to discuss the problem, which affects large areas of southeast Asia every year. Thailand has been choking on heavy air pollution since the start of the year, caused in part by seasonal agricultural burning. Nearly two million people have needed hospital treatment for respiratory conditions caused by air pollution this year, according to the public health ministry. On Friday morning, the air monitoring website IQAir ranked Chiang Mai as the most polluted major city in the world, above regular hotspots such as Delhi and Lahore. Levels of the most dangerous PM2.5 particles -- so tiny they can enter the bloodstream -- were more than 66 times the World Health Organization's annual guideline, according to IQAir. Chiang Mai provincial governor Nirat Pongsittitavorn issued a statement urging people to stay indoors and work from home to "protect themselves and reduce the health impact" from PM2.5 particles. Forest fires have contributed to the problem. The latest, in Chiang Rai province, northeast of Chiang Mai, began on Thursday and has affected 96 hectares of forest. Home to nearly 130,000 people, Chiang Mai is a gateway to Thailand's hilly north, visited pre-pandemic by millions of tourists for its historic centre and laid-back atmosphere. But Wittaya Pongsiri, vice-president of the Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association, said the pollution was putting visitors off. "The number of tourists has dropped by 20 percent," he said. After his talks with his Laotian counterpart Sonexay Siphandone and Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, Prayut's office said he would push for discussion of cross-border pollution at the next summit of regional bloc ASEAN. Story continues The three leaders discussed the need to find ways to curb emissions from agriculture and industry, but did not agree on any concrete steps for action. Officials previously warned Bangkok residents to stay indoors and work from home in February as the Thai capital was covered with harmful haze. tak-pdw/qan On the Pacific coast of Honduras, thousands of people working in the shrimp farming industry are worried about their futures following the government's decision to break diplomatic ties with their largest export market: Taiwan. "We don't want them to stop business with Taiwan," Lorena de Jesus Zelaya, 51, who works in a shrimp packing plant, said to AFP. Along with another 800 women, she works in a warehouse in Choluteca, around 85 kilometers (50 miles) south of the capital Tegucigalpa, where frozen shrimp is packaged and sent in refrigerated containers to Taiwan, Mexico and Europe. Wearing a hat, apron and rubber shoes, Zelaya told AFP she has worked in the shrimp industry for 31 years. Leftist President Xiomara Castro announced last month that she was breaking off diplomatic relations with Taiwan and signing on with China instead. Shrimp workers fear that move could jeopardize the free-trade agreement between Honduras and Taiwan, signed in 2008, on which their livelihoods largely depend. "For Honduras, as a shrimp producer, losing the Taiwanese market is a very difficult situation in terms of price levels," businessman Yader Rodriguez, 46, told AFP. "Taiwan is a high-value market where our shrimp can sell at almost twice the price of the Chinese market." Although the Chinese economy is 12 times larger than Taiwan's, "we're very worried about what this political decision will bring," he added. Rodriguez said shrimp exports are worth about $100 million a year. Although Taiwan is a self-ruled democratic island, China claims it as part of its territory to be integrated into the nation one day, by force if necessary. Beijing refuses to have diplomatic relations with countries that recognize Taipei. Castro's move followed in the footsteps of several other Latin American countries in recent years, including Nicaragua, El Salvador, Panama, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. It leaves Taiwan with only 13 diplomatic allies, including Guatemala and Belize, which President Tsai Ing-wan visited last week. Story continues - Government 'open to listening' - The shrimp are farmed in huge artificial ponds using seawater from the nearby Gulf of Fonseca. Since it launched in the 1970s, shrimp farming exploded in Honduras, with 324 farms covering an area of 24,500 hectares (60,000 acres). Around 23,000 people are directly employed in the industry, but that figure rises to 150,000 when including those indirectly dependent on shrimp farming. The National Aquaculturists Association of Honduras (ANDAH) has expressed its concerns in several meetings with authorities. They fear Taiwan could simply refuse to buy shrimp from the Central American nation and have asked the government to write to Taiwan requesting the continuation of trade relations despite the diplomatic rupture. "The government is open to listening and looking for solutions," said ANDAH president Juan Carlos Javier, adding that more than a third of shrimp export revenue last year came from Taiwan. While the government has said nothing about its trade agreement with Taiwan, many people are deeply concerned about the ramifications of ending diplomatic cooperation. "All the families are worried ... about this (trade) agreement they want to break," Carlos Abrego, 28, who works for a shrimp company, told AFP. "We are really are very worried because here where we live, it's very serious to lose your job or to take a pay cut," added laborer Pedro Antonio Martinez, 34. Shrimp is the fifth largest export for Honduras after coffee, bananas, sugar and palm oil. Last year, the country's exports were worth $6.1 billion, with $130 million of that coming from Taiwan. nl/fj/dro/lab/bc/mdl/tjj/dhw/cwl A Hooters server has gone viral for the clever jokes she pulls on customers during her shift. TikTok user Charity (@charityy_harris) went viral on the platform when she revealed the comedic bits she comes up with during her shift. Since posting her video on 27 March, Charity has received more than 1.6m views on her TikTok, as fellow users say that light bullying is a guaranteed way to get more tips. My bits as a server but Hooters edition, she began the video. First, Charity shared that her go-to bit to start is telling customers that the Hooters restaurant ran out of water. I always tell people were out of water every time they order water. Ill hit them with a, Oh my god, no one told you? We just ran out of water, she explained. Other friendly jokes included addressing male customers as princess, play-fighting with her table, or telling people they cant leave when they ask for the bill. Of course, a majority of dudes come in. I hit them with the princess, she went on. Here you go, princess. Heres your drink for you, princess. When checking up on a customer, Charity explained how shell ask them, Yall miss me? If its a big group of people and one of the dudes says something sassy, Ill hit him with the: Were fighting now. Im not talking to you for the next two minutes, she continued. Another bit was that when a group asks for their bill, Charity will joke that theyre not allowed to leave the Hooters. When people ask for the tab, I always look at them and be like, Oh my god, I didnt tell you. I actually kind of like you guys and I came to the conclusion you cant leave. Im sorry, she explained, before finally giving them their check. While she didnt include this one bit in her list, Charity even shared that sometimes shell suggest her customers make bird noises to flag her down. Whenever I put in peoples food Ill be like, If you need anything just cacaw, she said. And Ive actually had people cacaw and it brings so much light to my life. Story continues Many viewers took to the comments section to applaud Charity for the clever comebacks, while others wondered whether the playful bits help guarantee bigger tips from customers. i know u get TIPS, said one TikToker, to which she replied: paying my rent one step at a time When another person asked how good are your tips, Charity said they were sooo good im not even going to lie. Nah because light bullying with princess on the end gets them everytimeeeee, one user wrote. Fellow service industry workers were also prompted to share some of their own amusing interactions with customers, like one TikTok user who said: My favorite bit as a server is handing the check to the baby/little kid at the table. I like to say idk, I just work here when people ask questions, another server commented. Anytime I get a group of guys Ill always call them ladies, said someone else. Can I get yall anything else, ladies? A third person said: When my table asks me for something I say, What is this.. a restaurant? While some people wondered how Charity can get away with pulling jokes on customers without getting in trouble, she clarified to her followers: Its all about reading the room and making sure they know youre joking. Many Hooters servers go viral on TikTok for sharing an inside look into what its like to work at the infamous American chain restaurant. Last year, one Hooters waitress from Florida went viral after revealing how much she earned in tips after one shift. Throughout her 12 pm to 8pm shift at Hooters, TikToker Leah Fennelly earned a total of $382 in tips, which inspired some viewers to put in an application after learning how much she made from one night of waitressing at Hooters. Meanwhile, a pregnant woman recounted some of the inappropriate comments she has received from customers while working at Hooters. Trayvon Newsome, left, Dedrick Williams and Michael Boatwright were sentenced to life in prison for the first-degree murder of rapper XXXTentacion. (Carline Jean / Associated Press) Three Florida men were sentenced to life in prison Thursday in the 2018 murder of rapper XXXTentacion. In a Broward County courtroom, Judge Michael A. Usan handed down life sentences without the possibility of parole to Trayvon Newsome, 24, Dedrick Williams, 26, and Michael Boatwright, 28. The sentencing comes weeks after the three men were convicted in the June 18, 2018, incident in which they robbed and then fatally shot the 20-year-old rapper outside a motorsports shop in South Florida. "You'll spend every hour, and every day, and every week and every year of your life in that cell," Usan said. "And one day they'll come and open up that cell in the morning and you'll have passed on, and only on that day will you have served your sentence." During Thursday's sentencing, XXXTentacion's manager, Solomon Sobande, said the late rapper (real name Jahseh Onfroy) was "senselessly murdered." "This is a loss we will never truly recover from," he said on behalf of the Onfroy family. Sobande said he and the rapper's loved ones would never have the chance to see Onfroy grow older or be a father to his son, who was born several months after the rapper's death. Also speaking in court Thursday was the musician's great-aunt, Melody Jones, who criticized Newsome, Williams and Boatwright for their lack of emotion during the trial. "You guys showed no empathy to the family you destroyed with your evil, callous deeds," she said. "We, the family, ask why? Why kill him?" She added: "Whatever time you're given and whichever hole you are sent, I hope it is hell." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. In the first quarter of this year, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality has inked 70 major projects with a total contract investment value of over 208 billion yuan (about 30 billion U.S. dollars), said local authorities. A joint signing ceremony was held Thursday in the city's Jiulongpo District. These new investments will be spread across key industries including intelligent and networked new energy vehicles (NEVs), integrated circuits, biomedicine, software information, as well as scientific and technological innovation. Over 78 percent of the projects involve deals of more than 1 billion yuan. Notably, five of the projects signed are for investments exceeding 10 billion yuan, according to the district's government. Chongqing is expected to build more industrial bases, such as new energy power battery and pharmaceutical production bases, in the future. Ten projects concerning intelligent and networked NEVs with contract investment of about 31.7 billion yuan were inked, including a construction plan for the T3 travel service company's regional headquarters for its business in western China. Democratic lawmakers are decrying the expulsion of two Tennessee legislators Thursday, calling their removal a threat to democracy. All of this in the wake of children9-year-oldsbeing killed at school. Every American should be on the side of democracy. We all lost today, Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) tweeted. The Tennessee Republican-controlled House voted Thursday on whether to expel a trio of Democratic lawmakers after they participated in a protest against gun violence on the House floor. The lawmakers voted to expel both state Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) and state Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) from the House, but Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) survived her vote. The three lawmakers had participated in a protest against violence on the House floor in the wake of the Covenant School shooting in Nashville left six people dead, including three 9-year-old children. The lawmakers were stripped of their committee earlier this week before the vote to remove them took place Thursday. A wave of Democrats has now rallied behind the lawmakers, as many have denounced the move as racist and fascist, as well as undemocratic. The two lawmakers expelled, Pearson and Jones, are both Black men and Johnson, who is a white woman, survived her vote. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a strong advocate for gun reform, blasted Tennessee Republicans for saying the participants in the protests were trying to start an insurrection. MAGA is trying to coopt the term used for Jan. 6. But the criminals on Jan. 6 were LITERALLY trying use force to overturn the election, he tweeted. Thats the whole reason they were there. Insurrection. The kids in Nashville were just trying to get a bill passed to stop school shootings. Rep. Steve Cohen, the only Democratic congressmen from Tennessee, also posted on Twitter that he views the expulsion votes as a provocative and disproportionate response to violating House floor rules. Story continues Debate on the proper response to gun violence is an essential part of the democratic process, Cohen said in his statement. Todays vote is an embracing stain on an important democratic institution. Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) wrote that the lawmakers had the right to protest, calling it an assault on democracy. Reps. Jimmy Gomez (D-Ca.) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) both accused the vote to expel the lawmakers of racism in their statements Thursday. Im not going to mince words. What we saw in Tennessee today was fascism & racism on full display, Gomez said in a statement. Three democratic lawmakers put on trial for protesting gun violence. Only two were expelled both of whom were Black men. A dark day for our children, democracy, and our country. Its also not lost on anyone that of the three members threatened with expulsion (for attending the same protest) it was the two young Black men who were punished for exercising their 1st Amendment rights, Coleman said. This in-your-face racism is disgusting and dangerous. Nashville Mayor John Cooper said that Nashville and Memphis were disenfranchised after Pearson and Jones were expelled Thursday. He said in a tweet that the Nashville city council will meet Monday to fill the vacancy, saying he believes that they will vote to send Jones, who represents Nashville, right back to the House. Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), a critic of former President Trump who served on the select committee investigating Jan. 6, also voiced his concerns, calling the move fascist. The GOP kicked out legislators for protesting guns. Not censure, fine etc. expelled. This is facist in nature, Kinzinger tweeted. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) - A regional human rights body implored El Salvador's government on Thursday to reverse a year-long suspension of constitutional rights that form part of a sweeping anti-gang crackdown enacted last year and credited with sharply reducing violent crime. In a statement, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), part of the Washington-based Organization of American States, called on President Nayib Bukele and his allies in Congress to restore rights put on hold by the so-called state of exception. The emergency powers allow police to swiftly arrest and jail suspected gang members while suspending their right to a lawyer and court approval of preliminary detention. The policy, repeatedly extended by lawmakers allied to Bukele, also allows for warrant-less access to suspects' communications as well as extended pre-trial detention. "IACHR calls on the government of El Salvador to restore the full validity of the rights and guarantees suspended during the last 12 months within the framework of the emergency regime," the body said in a statement. The president's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Since last year, Bukele's crime-fighting initiative has led to the jailing of more than 66,000 suspected gang members, part of an unprecedented assault on the violent Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18 gangs, among others, that for decades have terrorized the Central American nation of around 6 million. The state of exception followed the murders, blamed on gangs, of nearly 90 people over a single weekend in March 2022. The broadly popular security policy of Bukele, who has said he will run for reelection next year, has coincided with a dramatic reduction in murders and extortion rackets, according to official data. (Reporting by Nelson Renteria; Editing by David Alire Garcia and Lincoln Feast) 1964 Rickenbacker 325S Rose-Morris 1996 Rickenbackers 325 has a story like no other guitar. Its hard to believe this quirky short-scale semi-hollowbody was a catalyst for the American firms meteoric success in the mid '60s (as people whove struggled to get to grips with the diminutive 325 regularly agree). But after falling into the nimble hands of a young John Lennon, this breakthrough design the first in luthier extraordinaire Roger Rossmeisls brand-defining Capri range helped raise Rickenbackers status from Californian guitar pioneer to global rock n roll icon. By a strange twist of fate Lennon acquired the first ever production 325 Capri. And thousands of miles away from California to boot. 1964 Rickenbacker 325S Rose-Morris 1996 Having been exported to Rossmeisls homeland Germany in October 58, it was hanging up for sale in a Hamburg music store when the Beatle happened to purchase it in November 1960. This guitar serial number V81 was one of eight instruments in the first batch of 30 that appeared sans f-holes. Built in early 58, that initial run comprised 325-style triple-pickup/vibrato-equipped models bar one dual-pickup/non-vibrato guitar (number V111). By mid-58, Rickenbacker had expanded the Capri range to include three other short-scale models: the dual-pickup/non-vibrato 310, dual-pickup/vibrato-equipped 315, and triple-pickup/non-vibrato 320. 1964 Rickenbacker 325S Rose-Morris 1996 325s are easily identifiable by their f-holes, as distinct from long-scale Rickenbacker Capris, which typically sport a slash/cats eye soundhole. The exceptions are the Rose-Morris export models that were shipped between 64 and 67 after the U.K. firm signed a distribution deal in December 63. All Rose-Morris Capris have f-holes and were deemed Special orders. Thus, a U.K.-bound 325 was logged as a 325S. At the same time, Rose-Morris advertised these guitars using its own catalogue number, 1996. Similarly, there was the 335S/1997 and 345S/1998 long-scale Capris, 615S/1995 solidbody, and 4001S/1999 bass. The Evolution of the Rickenbacker 325 Story continues Late 1957 Polynesian prototype; German carve; no f-hole Early 1958 First production Capris (numbers V81-V111); flat tops; first 8 no f-holes 1959 Body depth reduced from 2 to 1 1960 John Lennon purchases 325 number V81 1962-1963 No short-scale Capris produced 1964 Split-level guard; 5x black K.K. knobs; Accent vibrato; Rose-Morris 325S/1996 1985 V-Series; 325V59 (Lennon/#V81 specs); 325V64 (Lennon/#DB122 specs) 2002 C series; 325C58 (Lennon/#V81 specs); 325C64 (Lennon/#DB122 specs) 2006 1996 (Rose-Morris reissue); Amber Fireglo sunburst finish 2023 325C64 available; Jetglo (black) finish The Rose-Morris 1993 12-string Capri was soon added to the range, inspired by George Harrisons recent acquisition of a prototype 360/12. After Lennon acquired his second 325 (serial DB122) in 64 he was also gifted a unique 12-string a one-of-a-kind 325/12 (albeit without a vibrato) though this model never went into regular production. The Rose-Morris export deal coincided with the explosion of the Beatles in America following their record-breaking television debut on The Ed Sullivan Show in February 64 when around 73 million people tuned in to watch. The electric guitar industry suddenly boomed. And in a complete reversal of fortune Lennon almost single-handedly revived the ailing short-scale Capri. Whereas there are no 325s recorded as shipped during 62 and 63 due to a lack of interest, in 64 Rickenbacker found itself struggling with unprecedented levels of demand. Interestingly, Rose-Morris Capris were increasingly seen in the hands of British Invasion guitarists who then reimported their unique Rickenbacker sound to the U.S., further fueling the demand on home turf. When the 325 recommenced production in 64, design updates included a split-level guard, small black K.K. knobs and an Accent vibrato in place of the original single-layer pickguard, large cooker knobs and Kaufmann Vib-Rola. Rickenbackers ubiquitous blend knob (a.k.a. the Compensator control) was developed in the early 60s and was also included on the revamped 325, along with a sturdier dual truss rod system. 1964 Rickenbacker 325S Rose-Morris 1996 Thanks to Vintage 'n' Rare Guitars in Bath, U.K. for showing us this 1964 Rickenbacker 325S Rose-Morris model 1996. Idaho state Rep. Lauren Necochea grew emotional as she took the floor in a House committee hearing considering revisions to the state's criminal abortion law, describing how she returned to the state after college and the early years of her career to start her family. As much as she's loved raising her daughters near their grandparents and extended family, the Democratic lawmaker said she can't encourage them to do the same. "I can't encourage my two daughters to settle in Idaho with the laws we have in the books," Necochea said at the hearing on March 29. "I would be terrified to have my daughters try to carry a pregnancy here. This is not a safe place to be pregnant. I think the statute is tearing families apart and is pushing our OB-GYNs out of state, and this bill does nothing to change that." The dilemma I shared: I want to remain in my home state with my parents and extended family who make this place home. But I can't encourage my daughters to put down roots and raise their families in Idaho when our extreme abortion ban makes it unsafe to be pregnant here. #idleg https://t.co/FeC7QGoUJx 05:11 PM - 06 Apr 2023 In Idaho, abortion is banned at all stages of pregnancy with very limited exceptions and the language of the law and its criminal penalties has created confusion that doctors say has hurt their ability to treat patients. "Every week I am hearing about another OB leaving the state, Emily Corrigan, an OB-GYN in Boise, told IdahoNews.com. Physicians must be able to act before a patient acutely decompensates when the medical complication occurs. We were hired to be the expert in these scenarios in this city and in this state. Please let us do our jobs. But before that, on March 29, a bill was introduced to clear up some of the language, including that rape and incest victims can get an abortion in the first trimester if it is reported to the police or child protective services. Story continues A doctor can also perform an abortion if the pregnant person is close to death. However, some doctors have said they aren't sure what the line is between saving a pregnant person's life and being convicted of a felony if they perform the procedure. "How close to death do you need to be before you can intervene?" Dr. Lauren Miller told KTVB7. "... We shouldn't just be talking about preventing death. That's not what we do as healthcare providers. We maintain the health of our patients and sometimes, unfortunately, termination of pregnancy is a part of that conversation." The blurry line is what's been wrenching for Necochea, who is a fourth-generation Idahoan. At the March 29 hearing, she spoke about how after leaving the state, she came back to be close to her family. "After I had my first child, my first daughter, I knew I wanted to come back here, come back home to Idaho," she said. "I called up my mom and said, 'How much free childcare can you give us?' And she said 24/7, so that was a good deal, so we came and we live just a few blocks from my parents. My dad is probably on his way to pick up my daughter from school right now, and my seventh-grader is probably already there hanging out. They're the glue that holds us together and lets me do what I can do." She went on and explained how she's torn because while "family is everything," she wants to stay in Idaho to care for her parents as they age, but she also wants to be close to her daughters as they grow up and potentially have their own children. With the restrictions on reproductive healthcare in Idaho, she said, she'll encourage them to leave. Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, many states, including Idaho, have banned abortion, and people have reported difficulty accessing even routine healthcare procedures. In January, an Idaho woman posted about her 19-day miscarriage on TikTok because a doctor wouldn't perform a D&C, also known as a dilation and curettage procedure, which removes tissue from inside a persons uterus. Idaho has some of the strictest abortion laws in the country. In addition to the criminal ban, it's illegal to get abortion medication for a minor. And on Wednesday, Gov. Brad Little signed an "abortion trafficking" law, which makes it illegal to help a minor travel to get an abortion without their parents' consent. It's the first of its kind in the US, and anyone convicted under it can serve up to five years in prison. More on this US-NEWS-ABORTION-TRAVEL-RESTRICTIONS-ID A sign taped to a hanger hangs near the Idaho Capitol in Boise after protests against the state's new abortion laws, which effectively banned the procedure Credit - Sarah A. MillerIdaho Statesman/Tribune News Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed a first-of-its-kind law Wednesday night that criminalizes any adult who helps a minor undergo an abortion through a procedure or medication in another state without parental consent. Under the law, adults would be facing felony charges and could be punished with two to five years in state prison for aiding with procuring an abortion, whether that be driving a minor across state lines, or helping them find an abortion provider out-of-state. Doctors who perform abortions would also be liable to criminal penalties. The law adds to the states near-total abortion ban, which prohibits abortions unless a pregnancy is the result of rape or incest (which has to be reported to law enforcement), or is a life-saving measure. Proponents of the measure have heralded the law as a continuation of the states right to ban abortions. With the U.S. Supreme Courts reversal of Roe vs. Wade last summer, the right and duty to establish legal policy on abortion was finally returned to our state democratic process, Gov. Little said in a letter to the Idaho legislature on Wednesday. Opponents warn that this law adds on to the continuous attacks against the bodily autonomy of youth. If young people are unable to travel for care, they are forced to either self-manage an abortion and take on the potential legal risks, or carry an unwanted pregnancy to term along with the serious consequences that can have for their health and well-being, says Megan Darby, Director of State Policy at the Guttmacher Institute, a research and policy organization. Young peoplealong with everyone in Idaho and across the countrydeserve compassionate and affordable access to the whole spectrum of sexual and reproductive health care. Story continues The law is set to go into effect in thirty days. What does the new law do? The new law, formerly known as House Bill 242, criminalizes so-called abortion trafficking by making it illegal to obtain abortion pills for minors or help them leave the state to obtain an abortion, with the intent of hiding the abortion from a minors parent or guardian. Under the law, the father, grandparent, sibling, aunt, or uncle of the unborn child has a right to sue an adult who helps a minor obtain an abortion up to four years after the abortion. The law also allows the specified family members to file lawsuits against out-of-state doctors who perform these abortions. The criminal ban does say that adults who help pregnant minors access abortions with the consent of parents/legal guardians have an affirmative defense. That means that if a defendant presents evidence that a minors parent or guardian agreed the child could travel out-of-state for an abortion, they do not have criminal liability. The measure, however, says it is not an affirmative defense for an abortion provider or the provider of an abortion pill to be out of state. In other words, if a pregnant minor has a physician across state lines and obtains an abortion, that procedure is illegal. Violators can face anywhere from two to five years in state prison. How would the law be implemented? The passage of the law does not mean its necessarily popular with Idahoans. In a poll commissioned by Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii but conducted by public opinion firm Lake Research Partners, nearly half of all Idaho voters reported being pro-choice, with 24% saying they think abortion should be generally available and only subject to limited regulation. Theres been a movement among progressive prosecutors to say that theyre not going to prosecute some abortion offenses, says Cynthia Soohoo, Co-Director of the Human Rights and Gender Justice Clinic at CUNY School of Law. But the law actually gives the Attorney General the power to enforce the law if local prosecutors dont. In terms of implementation, experts tell TIME, prosecutors would have to have substantial evidence that someone crossed state lines to access care. Because Idaho is between Washington and Oregon, where legislators are already working to enact shield protection laws, there is likely to be a conflict of state laws. Shield laws explicitly protect abortion providers from lawsuits if an out-of-state patient receives an abortion, but these laws also often protect helpers. The loose phrasing of the word helper applies to people who assist with the abortion, Elisabeth Smith, Director of State Policy and Advocacy at the Center for Reproductive Rights tells TIME that assistance could be anything [from] driving someone to the clinic, to providing financial assistance, to helping them make the appointment. Shield laws also prohibit that state from collaborating with any investigation that is about the provision of or assistance with reproductive health care, according to Smith. And so part of that prohibition on collaboration is a prohibition on subpoenas and providing evidence. In other words, states like Idaho would be unable to access medical records or other evidence of abortion care if neighboring states do pass shield laws, making it difficult for a prosecutor to gather evidence. With that in mind, its imperative that people who are seeking abortion care be private about their actions, Smith says. Thinking about how each of us share information, what information we put on social media, and what messaging services we use to share information [is critical] because again, none of these prosecutions can go forward without enough information to prove that someone has helped a young person access abortion, Smith tells TIME. Idahos current abortion laws Idahos abortion banwhich is modeled after a law in Texasbars abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. The Idaho Supreme Court upheld the ban this January, despite legal challenges that said that the right to abortion was implied in Idahos constitution. Justice Robyn Brody, who presided over the case, said that abortion advocates argument had no backing. Abortion continues to be a contentious issue in the state. Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union announced on Wednesday that they are suing Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador after he issued a legal opinion that said state law prohibits medical practitioners from referring a patient across state lines to obtain abortion services. His opinion said that even doctors who offer information about abortion providers and funds in other states would violate Idahos existing abortion ban. This is a five-alarm fire. Banning abortion wasnt enough for anti-abortion extremists in Idaho; they now want to ban where you go, what information youre legally allowed to obtain, and even what health care providers can say, Rebecca Gibron, CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Northwest said. Attorney General Labradors opinion is an egregious extension of Idahos abortion ban. We wont stand for it. Similar to the rising number of anti-LGBTQ bills seen flooding state legislatures, Soohoo says it is very likely other conservative states will attempt to pass copycat laws, which would have similar provisions to Idahos law. There is actually a long history of writing laws initially to challenge Roe vs. Wade or to limit access to abortion by conservative think tanks [that] draft these laws and then share them amongst state legislature[s]. Soohoo tells TIME. Whats next for Idaho? Abortion access is likely to remain limited in the state after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which will have dire consequences on pregnant people in the state. In 50 years, when someone or multiple people, write the definitive history of all of the harms that flowed from the Dobbs decision, there are countless harms that we are not yet aware of right now in terms of maternal mortality and morbidity [in the state], Smith says. There have already been reports of at least one hospital discontinuing its labor and delivery services, which they say is partially because of Idahos political climate. And efforts to track the effects of the states anti-abortion laws remain up in the air as the states existing special committee that studies maternal deaths is set to end in July. On the national front, experts say that Congress needs to act, though their most recent attempts have not been fruitful. Last year, House Democrats attempted to pass the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act of 2022 that would protect health care providers who provide abortion services to out-of-state residents, people who help pregnant people travel across state lines for an abortion, and more. The bill passed in the House in July 2022, but did not move forward. Senate Republicans also blocked the Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act of 2022, which would have protected people who travel state lines to receive an abortion and physicians who perform them. Los Angeles City Council District 6 candidates Imelda Padilla, left, and Marisa Alcaraz during a debate in Panorama City in March. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) Community advocate Imelda Padilla maintained a strong lead in the special election to represent the eastern and central San Fernando Valley on the Los Angeles City Council, according to updated results released Friday. Marisa Alcaraz, a top staffer to City Councilmember Curren Price, trailed Padilla, according to the results. If Alcaraz's position holds, she will face Padilla in the June 27 general election. Marco Santana was in third place after Friday's vote count, trailing Alcaraz by about 300 votes. Padilla led Tuesday night after the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder counted about 9,000 ballots in the City Council District 6 race. Friday's update included an additional 4,400 ballots. Todays update, in which I remain the front-runner to be the next Councilmember of the 6th District, solidifies that the voters acknowledge my lifelong dedication to serving the needs of our working families in the San Fernando Valley," Padilla said in a statement Friday. More votes are expected to be counted in the coming days, including about 100 vote-by-mail ballots that still need to be processed, according to the county. Ballots that are postmarked by election day will be also accepted until Tuesday. The election results will be certified by April 14. Alcaraz, in a statement Friday, said that she was "well positioned" to advance to the runoff. Santana faces an uphill battle, needing a big influx of vote-by-mail ballots to make the runoff. "Were waiting to see what other votes are outstanding," said Scott Mann, Santanas communications director. The District 6 seat became available after Nury Martinez resigned in October following revelations that she made racist remarks in a closed-door meeting. Unions, corporations and other special interests pumped more than $270,000 into the race, with most of those funds supporting Padilla and Alcaraz. Alcaraz also loaned herself $18,000 in the final days of the election, according to campaign disclosures. Story continues While the City Council race is nonpartisan, Padilla, Alcaraz and Santana are all Democrats. Santana had the support of Councilmember Nithya Raman, who is viewed as one of the more progressive members of the City Council. He opposes 41.18, the city's anti-encampment law that allows council members to designate areas as off-limits to homeless tents. Padilla and Alcaraz support 41.18. Both women also support hiring more police officers. At the same time, both candidates have worked on campaigns to raise wages for low-paid workers. Developer Rick Caruso won more votes in the district over then-candidate Karen Bass in last year's mayor's race, which suggests that voters in District 6 may be more conservative than in other parts of the city. Rose Grigoryan, in fourth place, according to Friday's update, reported spending more than $18,000 on mailers and television, or cable airtime and production costs, according to campaign disclosures she filed with the city. Grigoryan's campaign has yet to file copies of those mailers or descriptions of those TV ads, as required under city ethics rules. Grigoryan, in an email to The Times, blamed "a severe case of negligence" on the part of the outside treasurer she hired for her campaign. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. MUMBAI (Reuters) - India's federal government asked states to identify emergency hotspots and ramp up-testing for COVID-19, after the country recorded its highest daily case count since September, a Reuters tally showed on Friday. There were 6,050 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, the federal health ministry said on Friday, continuing a sharp upward trend since a lull last year. At a meeting to review the degree to which the states are prepared, health minister Mansukh Mandaviya asked them to ramp up genome testing and conduct mock drills in hospitals, a government statement said. Daily new cases have nearly tripled from around 2,000 at the end of March. The prevalence of XBB.1.16, classified as a variant of interest by the World Health Organisation, increased from 21.6% in February to 35.8% in March, the health ministry said, adding there that was no evidence of an increase in hospitalisations or deaths. Active cases totalled more than 28,300 with 14 deaths during the last 24 hours, taking the country's official death toll from the disease to 530,943. India has recorded more than 44.7 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic three years ago, the third-highest tally after the United States and China. (Reporting by Shilpa Jamkhandikar and Sudipto Ganguly; Editing by Kirsten Donovan) (Bloomberg) -- India has confronted Myanmar in recent months with intelligence showing that China is providing assistance in building a surveillance post on a remote island in the Bay of Bengal, according to Indian officials with knowledge of the matter. Most Read from Bloomberg Indian government representatives at various levels have shared satellite imagery with Myanmar counterparts that they said depicted Chinese workers helping to construct what appears to be a listening post on the Coco Islands in the Indian Ocean, said the officials, who asked not to be identified discussing sensitive information. The workers were also seen extending an airstrip, they said. In the meetings, representatives from Myanmars ruling junta denied any Chinese involvement and dismissed Indias concerns, the officials said. Still, India remains worried that the infrastructure will allow China to monitor communications from naval bases and track missiles from test sites on its eastern coastline, they said. Major General Zaw Min Tun, a spokesman for Myanmars ruling State Administration Council, called the allegation that China was building a spy facility in the Coco Islands absurd. He denied that the topic ever came up with Chinese or Indian officials, and said Myanmar would never allow access to foreign troops. Myanmar and India always have discussions at many levels, but there was no specific discussion on this issue, he said. The Indian government already knows perfectly well that only Myanmar security forces are based there, and they are doing defense activities for their own country. In a response to questions, Arindam Bagchi, a spokesperson for Indias Ministry of External Affairs, said the country would take necessary measures to safeguard its interests. Story continues The government keeps a constant watch on all developments having a bearing on Indias security, he said. The Chinese ambassador to Myanmar, Chen Hai, who met with some junta ministers earlier this week, didnt respond to a request for comment. Chinas Foreign Ministry didnt immediately reply to questions. Military tensions between India and China have risen since 2020, when the worst fighting in decades erupted on their Himalayan border. Prime Minister Narendra Modis government has also taken action to restrict Chinese apps in India and woo foreign investors looking to diversify away from the worlds second-biggest economy. Reports that Myanmar allowed a Chinese signals intelligence facility on the archipelago have been circulating since the 1990s. The issue came into focus again last week after London-based policy research group Chatham House released a report speculating that Myanmar was militarizing the Coco Islands, with the intention of conducting maritime surveillance operations in the area. India has assessed that China has no offensive military capabilities on the specific island Great Coco Island and Chinese research vessels used for snooping in the Indian Ocean havent docked there to avoid stoking suspicions, the officials said. They added that no Chinese personnel are stationed on the islands permanently, even though the workers show up often to help set up equipment. India plans to continue pressing Myanmars junta to block China from operating the spy post, the officials said, but they assess that the generals have become more economically dependent on Beijing since a 2021 coup brought several rounds of sanctions from the US and Europe. China is Myanmars largest trading partner, and has invested in ports and energy pipelines in the Southeast Asian nation as a way to bypass the Strait of Malacca, which would be a choke point in any wider Asian conflict. India has a military facility in the Andaman and Nicobar Island group less than 60 kilometers (37.2 miles) away from the Coco Islands. The nation is ramping up its capacity in that island chain, the officials said, without giving more information. READ: Why Chinese and Indian Troops Clash in the Himalayas: QuickTake Chinas surveillance activities came under the spotlight earlier this year when the US shot down an alleged spy balloon flying over its territory, a move that derailed plans for more engagement after US President Joe Biden met Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Indonesia last November. The Pentagon said last week the balloon managed to gather intelligence from military sites, but the US was able to limit what it collected. The US has warned of Chinese efforts to establish military installations in other parts of Asia. The Pentagon last year said that facilities at Cambodias Ream Naval Base will be the first PRC overseas base in the Indo-Pacific, even though the government in Phnom Penh has repeatedly denied the accusation. Beijing has also sought to gain a foothold in the Pacific. China Civil Engineering Construction Co. won a tender to redevelop an international port in the Solomon Islands, Reuters reported last month. Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa remarked at the time there were fears that it might move into something else, such as a dual-use military and civilian port. Martin Meiners, a Pentagon spokesperson, said the US is concerned that China is seeking to establish a global network of logistics and basing infrastructure that will allow the PLA to project and sustain military power at greater distances. While he didnt comment on the alleged Chinese activities in the Coco Islands, Meiners said a particular concern is the lack of transparency and clarity around the terms it negotiates with host countries and the intended purposes of these facilities. --With assistance from Ben Westcott, Francesca Stevens and Lucille Liu. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Women and girls are more likely to be left vulnerable by the devastating impacts of a severe cyclone, studies have shown (Namita Singh/The Independent) It is a little past 6pm. The sun has already gone down but 13-year-old Tara* is not yet home. She is out for her tuition classes in the neighbourhood, says her grandmother Aaravi*. Though Tara is not late, her grandmother is visibly worried. It is not until she sees the familiar silhouette of a three-foot-tall girl wearing a traditional salwar kameez dress and swinging her hands side to side that Aaravi gives a sigh of relief. She is here, announces the grandmother, though she still wont take her eyes off Tara until she is safely inside the premises of their home. Aaravi was not always this protective of her granddaughter, she tells The Independent, even though the family live in a district of the Sundarbans mangrove forest, a Unesco world heritage site, that has been dubbed the cyclone capital of India. Located about 110km from the state capital Kolkata, 24 Parganas suffers a cyclonic storm on average once every 20 months, making it statistically the worst-affected district for cyclones in the entire country. Mangrove forests historically offer good protection from cyclones, absorbing the impact of storm surges, and communities here have adapted to cope with such conditions. But studies show these tropical storms are growing in intensity and frequency as a result of the climate crisis, and Cyclone Yaas struck the district with particular ferocity in May 2021, with Taras house of clay among the 300,000 homes damaged or destroyed. A resident collects debris from a damaged area near a beach after Cyclone Yaas hit Indias eastern coast in the Bay of Bengal in Digha, some 190 km from Kolkata on 27 May 2021 (AFP via Getty Images) The cyclones immediate impact was a blow to Taras family, but the destruction of their home is not what changed their lives forever. That came with the aftermath of the storm, when the 11-year-old was trafficked into sex slavery. Taras father was forced to move away from their village to seek work as a driver in Kolkata, while her mother died when she was six. After the cyclone struck and the entire village was submerged in water for days, there was nowhere for Tara to stay, her grandmother says. So, I sent her to live with her aunt, [who was] living close by. Story continues Her husband seemed more than happy to take Tara in, she adds. It was an error of judgement, she says. In August 2021 Tara was abducted, trafficked 1,600km away to Delhi and forced into sex work. One day, he took me out, she says, referring to her uncle. He fed me with chapati and ladoo. I fainted after having it. When I woke up, I was in a train. Locals in the Sundarbans are dependent on farming and poultry for their livelihood, which gets destroyed during extreme climate events (Namita Singh) I was very scared, she says. In Delhi, there was a house in an isolated place where I was kept. I did not even understand what happened with me there. I did not know anything about what trafficking means, she says in a voice that is barely audible. They forced me into prostitution I used to cry and resist but they used to beat me more. I did not even know that I was trafficked, she says. I did not understand anything. I used to just miss my home. Neither Tara nor her grandmother accepted her fate without a fight. I had gone mad without her, says Aaravi. I went from pillar to post, from police to occultist to anyone who would claim to help me in bringing her back. Eventually Aaravi found a local NGO, Goranbose Gram Bikash Kendra (GGBK), which works with police to rescue women and girls from trafficking. At the same time, Tara managed to befriend a girl in Delhi around her age, who informed the local authorities about her situation. Realising they were being investigated and could soon be arrested, Taras traffickers sent her with the other girl back to West Bengal, and once there she made her way back to her village. But that was just the start of a long road of rehabilitation. Tara almost lost her sanity, says Aaravi. She used to scratch her wounds, self-harm, pull and eat her own hair. It was me who used to take her to the doctor and for counseling, says her grandmother. Her body was scarred from the physical assault she was subjected to. She does not seem to remember much about the aftermath of the incident. Subhashree Raptan, the programme manager leading the anti-human trafficking efforts for the NGO GGBK, says climate change is one of the major factors leading to trafficking in the region. Taras relatives were left penniless after Yaas hit, she says. All farmland was submerged under sea water, destroying their source of income. Her home was also destroyed. Her father did not have any livelihood option but to leave the village and move to the city. Because Tara was out of the care of her parents, the accused persons who are also her relative took advantage of her vulnerability, leading to her trafficking. Its also widely accepted that the impacts of climate change are not gender-neutral, says Avni Mishra, a Delhi-based gender researcher with CGIAR, a global partnership working on food security. Women and men tend to suffer differently, she adds. And we have studies that tell us that women and children are more vulnerable to climate change and any sort of natural extreme weather events. Also this happens because there is already gender inequality, and that gets exasperated during climate change, she says. If a mother passes away during an extreme weather event, kids are seen vulnerable and usually, the father refuses to take the responsibility or they tend to become burdensome, Mishra says. So, of course theyre trafficked or sold or married early. If the father of the house passes away, then its a challenge for the female heads who become single and are widowed. It becomes a challenge to take care of the house. India saw an uptick of almost 28 per cent in trafficking cases during the pandemic, according to official data, with 2,189 registered in 2021, though this is generally assumed to be just the tip of the iceberg with many instances likely going reported. And while there is clear evidence that women and children are more vulnerable during extreme weather events, if they happen at a huge scale, we do not know, says Mishra. Rahima Khan was 13 when she was trafficked from West Bengal to Maharashtra (Namita Singh) Rahima Khan was 13 when she was trafficked by her neighbours in 2012. She expressed her willingness to waive her right to anonymity as a survivor of human trafficking in order to raise awareness of the issue. I was returning home from school. My traffickers were waiting for me over a bridge on the way to my home, she says, adding that she recognised them as her neighbours. They kidnapped me and put me inside a car. When I started to scream, they made me inhale something which left me unconscious. After a while, when I gained consciousness, I realised that while I could see everything around me but I was not able to say anything outloud. Inside the back of car, she read a sign which said Pune, a city in Indias southwestern state of Maharashtra located over 1,600km from her village in South 24 Parganas. When I tried to run, my traffickers held me, threatening to chop me to pieces. From there, she was handed over to a pimp who took her to a brothel where she would eventually spend the next six years of her life, before finally managing to escape with the help of a client. They put me in a room where there were lots of girls, all sitting in make up, said the 25-year-old as she narrated the story of physical, mental and sexual abuse similar to that of Tara, repeatedly breaking down in tears. The girls who were living there for days, they told me that I have been trafficked. They told me, I have been sold for Rs 100,000 (about 1,000) and have to engage in sex work. They would beat me a lot. They assaulted me physically, till I agreed to their terms. Everyday was a torture there, she recalls. The women in the brothel used to burn me with cigarettes, forced me to drink alcohol, beat me. If a customer comes, and you do not take them in, they would beat you with anything they find. One day, one of those ladies beat me with a beer bottle. My leg was cut. Another time, I got so frustrated that I locked myself in the bathroom, and tied a rope around my neck, in the hope of dying I did not want to live there, she says. Indian villagers wait for further aid after collecting donated food from a social worker organisation at the cyclone hit village of Kumirmari in the Sunderbans, the worlds biggest mangrove reserve, some 170 kms south of Kolkata on 3 June 2009 (AFP via Getty Images) In September 2017, Rahima managed to escape. But the ordeal did not end immediately she was followed home by her traffickers, who threatened her family with violence if they went to the police. But when I told the authorities about the traffickers, they did not harm me further, she adds. Rahimas home was destroyed in 2009 by Cyclone Aila, she says. I was directly hit (by the cyclone), as my house is next to the river. It was made of mud and the traffickers was made of concrete. So my house was completely destroyed. There was no work in the area because everything was submerged under water, she says. The financial hardships prompted both my parents to move to West Bengals capital, Kolkata. There, my father worked as driver and my mother started as househelp. Knowing the vulnerability, my traffickers offered work opportunities to a lot of women in the neighbourhood, saying they would help them get employed so they can earn anywhere between Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 per month. It is a lot in the village where I come from, she says. But we sort of suspected the intent of these men, so they never walked up to our family to offer me something similar. Instead, they abducted me. As in Tara and Rahimas cases, Aditis* trafficker was known to her. I really liked to dance, she explains. But the financial condition of my house was not good. We did not have enough income. Aditi explained her hardships to her dance teacher, who said he would be happy to help. She never questioned his intent. When he offered to take me to a tailor willing to stitch the clothes for free so I could participate in a school competition, I was elated. He took me to the tailor, saying that the school does not have my size, says the 20-year-old. But it was a trap. As soon as she reached the tailors she was drugged, she recalls. They drugged me using a cloth. I fainted. When I woke up, I realised I was able to see everything but could not scream or shout or call for help. Aged just 12 at the time of her abduction in 2015, she was sold to a brothel in Delhi. Trapped there for at least three months, Aditi managed to steal a phone and contact her home. My family contacted the police and they helped in the rescue. Upon her return, Aditi was traumatised. I began to stay inside. I would not talk to anyone. I did not leave my house for four to five months. When she finally returned to school, teachers and students would not speak with me. Or they would ask intrusive questions aimed at shaming me Where were you all this while? Where are you coming from? You must have done something wrong. Aditi started sitting at the back of classrooms, trying to stay invisible. That significantly impacted my mental state. I used to faint on the way [to school], while walking outside. Aditi says she was helped in her recovery by a local NGO and professional counsellors. She now wants to dedicate her life to helping counsel others who have been victims of trafficking. Financial independence remains a dream for Rahima, who says she is in the process of appealing to court to review the Rs 300,000 (about 3,000) in compensation that she received in 2022, after a five-year legal battle. Her traffickers are now in jail awaiting trial. Aditi*, now 20, showing around the village in South 24 Parganas district (Namita Singh) I have challenged in the high court demanding higher compensation because it was nothing in the face of all that I have gone through and how it still haunts me. I want to have a business of my own. If I have my own business, then I will not have to ask anyone for help and no one would be able to exploit me, ever, she says. Tara, now extremely shy compared to her earlier carefree self, wants to be a doctor, she says after a lot of encouragement. If you ask whether she wants to be a teacher, she will say yes to that as well, chips in her grandmother, as Tara chews on her hair. As for Aditi, alongside her advocacy work she also is pursuing a bachelors degree and is happily married to her school sweetheart. I met my husband in school, she says, blushing. When he asked me out, I shared my entire story with him. But he said it does not bother him one bit. That was a long journey for me. *The names of some interviewees have been changed to protect their identity Margarita Simonyan The events in Eastern Europe give impulses to achieve greater unity and solidarity on the information front in the battle between totalitarian evil and the democratic world, in the struggle for the actual reality rather than a twisted one imposed by neo-totalitarian Russia. An open letter, signed by the Prime Ministers of eight countries Dorin Recan of Moldova, Petr Fiala of the Czech Republic, Eduard Heger of Slovakia, Kaja Kallas of Estonia, Kristianis Karins of Latvia, Mateusz Morawiecki of Poland, Ingrida Simonite of Lithuania and Denys Shmyhal of Ukraine (published on March 29, 2023, 2011) calls on the leaders of major tech companies to take action "against the disinformation that undermines our peace and stability." Therefore, European countries call on Big Tech to block the streams of false news, which are aimed, in particular, at undermining support for Ukraine. Read also: Kremlin mouthpiece suggests Russians take out Putin, Tsymbaliuk says Moldova initiated the letter, which became the target of powerful disinformation waves from Russia because of its support for Kyiv. Just a month ago, Moldovan President Maia Sandu accused Russia of inciting violence and trying to overthrow her government, partly to prevent her country from joining the European Union. Technology platforms became the virtual battlegrounds, and hostile foreign powers are using them to spread false narratives, which contradict the information of fact-based news agencies. Disinformation is one of their most important and powerful weapons. It creates and spreads false narratives for strategical promotion of malicious purposes," the letter said. Read also: Biden slapped Putin. How will the Kremlin respond and what is China up to? As strategic communications experts insist: the cleavage between society and the state is the dream of any aggressor state that seeks to destroy this or that country. Putin's regime has a giant information war machine, underestimated in terms of its level of danger to the democratic world. Russia's war against Ukraine, which is fought on all possible levels, is Russia's war against Europe and the world. However, while the hot phase is going on in Ukraine, Russia also carries out an offensive on the information front worldwide. Combat operations are being intensively conducted in all countries, without exception, for every human soul. Putin's regime attacks freedom of speech and democratic media work standards regularly with its manipulative communication policy. Story continues Therefore, the organizational capacity of the union of all democratic forces is critical. Each allied nation should genuinely understand each other's strengths in the information space. There are already institutions in Europe and the USA to defeat the Kremlin's fakes Back in the summer of 2022, intent on strengthening countermeasures against information operations from the Russian Federation, Ukraine offered for state bodies and public organizations to promote a unified position in the field of information security, especially during interactions with US social networks and platforms. As a result, the working groups proposed the following algorithm of specific actions, which can be adjusted and supplemented with colleagues from the partner countries. I will cite only a couple of examples: Deactivating accounts on social networks that share the Kremlin propaganda content (except for journalistic purposes), threaten a particular country, or distribute content that justifies war. Conduct real-time reporting to authorities of suspected or proven human rights violations or coordinated information attacks by the Russian Federation, which are detected on these platforms. Track the retention by platforms of content and accounts deleted in violation of the platforms' policies, including any evidence of war crimes and information operations supported by the Kremlin, for further use by law enforcement agencies. Monitor inactive accounts that may have been created in preparation for Russia's information operation and may be used to spread disinformation and hate speech in the future. Create an early warning system about active information and online attacks. It involves warning platforms of partners in the governments and civil society about discovered accounts or networks of accounts that may operate within the framework of information operations of the Russian Federation. Continue prioritizing trusted sources in the news feed and the content recommendation system. Deplatform Russian propaganda sources. In particular, removing the Kremlin-controlled media pages; pages of propagandists, i.e., pseudo-journalists working for Kremlin-controlled media; the pages of Russian politicians and diplomats; and the pages of the pseudo-authorities created by Russia in the temporarily occupied territories. Read also: So long as Putin is in the Kremlin: What awaits Russia and what the West is striving for Publicizing the positions of the joint efforts of Ukraine and international partners will ensure the maximum transparency of the process. Furthermore, the joint implementation of these principles will help during future negotiations with large technology companies in the field of preventing and countering information operations and the spread of disinformation by the Russian Federation. In the current war conditions, human security and state security topics come to the fore. Therefore, essential in the joint open letter of the heads of European governments are the following actions - requests to technology companies to allocate more resources to respond to false narratives; to adjust the algorithms to prioritize accuracy and truth over engagement; and also to clearly flag deepfakes and automated posts, including those created by artificial intelligence. There are already institutions in Europe and the USA to defeat the Kremlin's fakes. We also have CSKIB, which constantly refutes fakes and explains what is happening with evidence and facts. However, on the information front, moving to a more proactive and common position is necessary for all European and North American countries that share democratic values. The experience of hostilities in Ukraine shows that the best defense is a good offense. Therefore, transitioning from the defense to an information offensive is already underway in the information sphere. Since last summer, Ukraine has promoted the idea of "Information Ramstein" an initiative that a unified front of allied countries has already started. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Residents enjoy outdoor activities at the Bund in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 4, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua] A package of measures aimed to attract more investments with a maximum incentive of 100 million yuan ($14.54 million) was announced by the Shanghai government on Thursday during an investment promotion event in the metropolis. Pacts for projects valued at more than 67.4 billion yuan were inked during the event on Thursday, according to government information. Headquarters projects may get up to a 10 million yuan subsidy for property buying or leasing and major investment projects can receive an award of up to 100 million yuan, said Li Zheng, vice-mayor of Shanghai, during the Shanghai Global Investment Promotion Conference 2023, which kicked off on Thursday. Capital support is part of the latest investment promotion policies. By providing tailor-made measures for boosting enterprises' investment confidence, the new regulations mainly focus on the development of the city's three leading industries integrated circuits, biomedicine and artificial intelligence; and four "new track" industries digital economy, low carbon, metaverse and smart devices attracting high-quality projects and accelerating the cultivation of emerging industries. Chen Jining, Party secretary of Shanghai, said during the event that Shanghai welcomes enterprises and talent to settle down and invest. The metropolis will continue to fully exert its strengths in global resources allocation, business environment, technology and talent, and modern urban governance. A total of 26 major projects were inked during the event, which covers a wide range of industries such as life science and healthcare, automobiles and high-end equipment. "The all-around support we received in Shanghai and the local government's rapid response, passion and creative working spirit impressed us and served as a great support for our development," said Gu Haiying, Haleon senior vice-president and general manager for the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong operations. Gu said Haleon is fully confident in its Chinese business development and will make the China market a strategic focus for its global development. There have been more than 500 major projects with a combined investment value exceeding 1 trillion yuan reached during the past two versions of the event. During the conference, Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng said 10 international organizations and corporations, including US-based Tishman Speyer Properties, Sino Biopharmaceutical Ltd and London-based real estate service provider Savills, served as partners promoting global investment in Shanghai this year. The promotional event is part of Shanghai's efforts to offer a prime business environment and build itself into a magnet for global investment. Shanghai has rolled out rounds of measures to stabilize foreign investment and imports and exports in the past few years, which have received positive results, further enhanced Shanghai's function as a trade hub, and solidified the city's reputation as a topnotch choice for foreign investment, said Hua Yuan, vice-mayor of Shanghai, during a news conference on Tuesday. In 2022, Shanghai recorded 4.19 trillion yuan in imports and exports, up 3.2 percent year-on-year. Shanghai's actual use of foreign direct investment amounted to $23.96 billion, the third year in a row to surpass $20 billion, Hua said. Such a trend is expected to continue this year, as 681.56 billion yuan worth of goods have been imported and exported in the first two months, and Shanghai's actual use of foreign direct investment has grown 18 percent year-on-year to $4.96 billion during the same period. Hua said that 11 multinational corporations' regional headquarters and five foreign-funded research and development centers were established in the first two months, raising their total number to 902 and 536, respectively. Stock photo of Find My App on iPhone Find My is a great Apple feature for most, but a curse for at least one Texas man. If you lose your iPhone in the greater Houston area, dont show up at Scott Schusters house expecting to get it back. The resident of the citys Richmond suburb says he doesnt have it: not your phone, not anybody elses. But that fact hasnt stopped Apple Maps from directing a large number of grumpy strangers to his doorstep for years, according to multiple reports. Via the Find My phone tracking app and Apple Maps, a small technical glitch has created big problems for Schuster, as first reported by the local ABC News affiliate KTRK. People on the hunt for their missing iPhones and attempting to use Find My to hunt them down have been, time and time again, erroneously sent to the software engineers house since he first moved there in 2018, according to KTRK. Read more There are plenty of irrational people if they are angry, drunk, had a rough night and lost their phone and thought it was stolen, Schuster told the outlet. His biggest concern? Someone coming to he house potentially with a weapon, he said. So far, luckily, that hasnt happened. But still, doorbell camera footage reportedly shows multiple frustrated strangers at Schusters stoop inquiring after their devices. The cops are on the way, so you may want to talk to me before they come here, one resident was recorded saying on camera, per KTRK. I lost my cell phone, and I clicked Find My iPhone, and it says it was at this address, another explains on camera. Although nothing has been proven yet, the Texan technologist has his own theory about why his address shows up as lost smartphone central. His house was a model home for his neighborhood when it was first built. Subsequently, Apple Maps seems to have assigned every home in the neighborhood to a single shared address: Schusters. No matter where a phone is within the expanse of his suburban region, Apples apps combine to suggest its at his house. Story continues He told KTRK, Inside Edition, and Apple Insider that hes contacted Apple support through multiple avenues to try to get the mysterious problem resolved. So far, the company hasnt fixed it. In an Instagram post viewed by ABC, Schuster said he was considering filing a lawsuit against the company. Gizmodo reached out to Apple to confirm Schusters account and for more information. The company did not respond as of publication time. If Apple does offer a response, this post will be updated. Schusters saga isnt the first time that Apple Maps has had directional issues. All the way back in 2013, the navigation app was directing people to drive onto an airport runway. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. There was something almost disquieting about Israel Adesanyas calmness, as he sat in front of the media and dissected another loss to Alex Pereira. It was a result that would have destroyed most men, so fragile can the ego be; for Adesanya, it was a third defeat by his own personal bogeyman. Pereira had stolen a decision win over the Nigerian-New Zealander in their first kickboxing clash, come from behind to knock Adesanya out cold in their rematch, and now he had followed the Last Stylebender into mixed martial arts. Scything his way through middleweights, Pereira soon set up a title fight with Adesanya so dominant atop the division to present the UFC champion with a shot at vengeance. But a vindictive Pereira ensured otherwise, on a brutally familiar night for Adesanya. Stylebender was once more en route to a victory over the Brazilian when, in the final round, Pereira finally made contact with his signature left hook the shot that collapsed Adesanya in their second meeting to forge a finish against the fence. As Adesanya urgently attempted to escape, his legs failed him, a result of a gradual accumulation of low kicks. He was rooted in place, reduced to using his head as a pendulum to buy time, but he had absorbed enough strikes; the fight, and Adesanyas title reign, came to the most abrupt of endings. Im grateful, Adesanya said at the post-fight press conference in November. What a life, what a moment. F***ing crazy, isnt it? Similar to the last time... same story. Its crazy. The composure was disconcerting. People expect me to handle this like they would, the 33-year-old, one of the most dynamic strikers and popular fighters in UFC history, later told MMA Fighting. They project, and are probably just like, [You should be] under a rock or in a cave somewhere. But Im like, Nah. Im living my life, Im really grateful I meant that. Im blessed to be in the position Im in, the opportunities Ive gotten, to be able to do what Ive done, and to be able to set up... not even a comeback, but set up for the next chapter. Story continues The pages have turned slowly in the months since, but finally that next chapter has arrived. On Saturday, in the main event of UFC 287 in Miami, Adesanya will try once more to obtain that elusive win over Pereira. It is, in Adesanyas own words, his last shot. Alex Pereira (left) secured a TKO win against Israel Adesanya in November (Getty Images) The mindset is different, definitely, Adesanya said on his YouTube channel last week. Im hunting, and I mean that in every sense of the word, he added, speaking as the challenger for the first time in four years. I like it, because it puts it all on me, and its kind of poetic in a way. One life, roll the dice. This is my last shot, and Im going to give it all Ive got in every sense of the word. Across the cage, Pereira remains the stoic obstacle in Adesanyas way, as he always has been. Poatan, translating to hands of stone, said this week: Even I am scared of myself. I am breaking mirrors at home so I can avoid myself. Adesanya will not be wishing any bad luck on his rival, however not seven years worth, not even 25 minutes worth on Saturday. Stylebender craves a pure victory, one built on merit alone. To achieve that, he will have to not only out-strategise Pereira but also avoid the fight-changing, career-altering power of Poatan. Adesanya has done so before, in his first clash with the 35-year-old, when he was unfortunate not to secure the win on the judges scorecards. But in the subsequent showdowns, Pereira erased Adesanyas leads in an instant. Every fight that Adesanya and Pereira have contested with each another has suggested that Adesanya can win, he just hasnt. In their last meeting, Adesanya had his rival out on his feet at the very end of the first round. And as the UFC ends its 20-year absence from Miami, Adesanya will believe that he can break a seven-year curse against Pereira. Pereira became a champion in just his fourth UFC fight (Getty Images) He and I know... F*** the fans, the reporters, all that; he and I know exactly what I can do to him. I know what he can do to me, Adesanya told ESPN this week. Each time Ive fought him, Im always winning until Im not. If he just beat my a*** from bell to bell, then f***... Id probably still be this confident, Id still talk s***, but its not been the case. Im always beating him, Im always dominating him until he finds that way to win. Adesanya has clearly taken confidence from that notion, though it can also be taken the other way: Adesanya is always beating Pereira, but he has never beaten Pereira. That is all that matters to him now. F*** the belt, f*** everything else, he said earlier this year. I have to beat this guy, thats my motivation: just beating him. They can say whatever they want, 1-0 or 3-0. I dont keep score, I settle them, and I just need one. Im going to get it done. Israeli air defense Mohammed Abed/AFP via Getty Images Israeli fighter jets carried out airstrikes in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip early Friday in response to a barrage of rockets fired toward Israel. The strikes in southern Lebanon are a potentially serious escalation of tensions tied to clashes this week at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, a site holy to both Jews and Muslims. Israel said its operation in Lebanon was aimed solely at Hamas, which it blamed for the rocket attacks. The Israeli strikes killed sheep and caused damage to houses and infrastructure, The Associate Press reports, but there were no casualties reported. Israeli crackdowns on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound have sparked several recent conflicts with Muslims in the region, including an 11-day war between Israel and Gaza's Hamas government in 2021. The most recent clash started Wednesday, when Israeli police raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque twice, prompting Thursday's rocket attacks from Gaza and Lebanon. The dozens of rockets caused some damage but resulted in no reported casualties. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Israel would "exact a significant price from our enemies," and accused the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah of at least knowing about the rocket attacks. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said military operations inside Lebanese territory will only "destabilize the situation." Israel and Hezbollah fought a month-long war in 2006. Egypt is working with Hamas and Israel to avoid further escalation, a Palestinian official said, and Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said Friday that both sides want to avoid a full-blown conflict. "Quiet will be answered with quiet," he said. But "all our eyes are now on Jerusalem." In Jerusalem, Israeli police again used batons on Palestinian worshipers attending Friday morning prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque. Tensions are especially high because Muslims are observing the holy month of Ramadan and Jews are celebrating Passover. All this comes after an especially deadly start to 2023 for Palestinians. "Nearly 90 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank since the start of the year," AP reports. "During that time, 16 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks on Israelis." Story continues You may also like Man pleads guilty to selling Michael K. Williams fentanyl-laced heroin Robert F. Kennedy Jr. files paperwork to challenge Biden in 2024 Air pollution could increase risk of dementia, study finds The Israeli military launched rare airstrikes into Lebanon early Friday morning, just hours after it struck opposition targets in the Gaza Strip. Both series of attacks were in retaliation after Palestinian militants in Gaza fired rockets into southern Israel. Later, another volley of rockets was fired from Lebanon into Northern Israel. The rocket fire further escalated from initial violence at a Jerusalem holy site this week. The Israeli military did not provide information about its intended targets in Lebanon but said it targeted tunnels and weapon sites in the Gaza Strip. ISRAEL LAUNCHES AIRSTRIKES ON HAMAS TUNNELS AND WEAPON SITES IN GAZA STRIP Smoke and flames rise during Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, April 7, 2023. A Lebanese TV station reported explosions in the southern port city of Tyre. The town is located about 20 miles from Israels northern border. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP During a briefing Friday morning, IDF International Spokesperson Lt. Col Richard Hecht said the airstrikes in Lebanon mostly landed in the Rashidieh area, and the village of Al-Kalila, the area where the rockets were launched from on Thursday. No casualties were reported on the Lebanese side, he clarified. Hecht also said Israel is hoping for a peaceful day as worshipers gather in Jerusalem. "All eyes on Jerusalem [and we're] hoping for a quiet day of prayers," he said. "Nobody wants an escalation right now." The spokesperson said that "quiet will be answered with quiet" and that "nothing has happened since the last hour." Hecht also provided a synopsis of the rocket fire from Gaza, specifying 44 rockets had been fired into Southern Israel from Gaza. One of the rockets struck a house in Sderot while a woman and her daughter were inside. They were not injured, he said. Eight of the rockets were intercepted by the IDF's missile defense system, while 14 fell in an open area, 12 fell into the sea, and nine fell in the Gaza Strip. He said the Israeli Air Force retaliated with further attacks on Hamas targets and infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, including a shaft for an underground site to construct arms, three other weapon workshops, and a terror tunnel route. Story continues Smoke and flames rise during Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, April 7, 2023. Smoke and flames rise during Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, April 6, 2023. The Israeli military did not provide any further details. The current round of violence began Wednesday during an incident at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalems Old City, where hundreds of worshipers gathered. Israels police said agitators used rocks and fireworks, causing a disturbance at the site. They also barricaded themselves in the structure, police said. ISRAELI FIGHTER JETS STRIKE HAMAS WEAPONS FACILITY AFTER VIOLENCE, 350 ARRESTED AT JERUSALEM HOLY SITE The Israeli officers raided the mosque and arrested more than 350 people. Some Palestinians disputed the events and said the police raid caused the current violence. The Wednesday raid led to rocket fire from Gaza on Thursday. And, in a significant escalation, a barrage of nearly three dozen rockets was fired from Lebanon into northern Israel. The fighting comes amid a backdrop of religious sensitivity for both Muslims and Jewish people as celebrations for the Passover holiday and the Ramadan holy month are underway. The exchange of blows also comes as a similar escalation in 2021 spilled over into an 11-day war between Israel and Hamas, a terrorist group that governs Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his Security Cabinet Thursday as the Israeli military struck four sites in Gaza belonging to Hamas. ISRAELS NETANYAHU AGREES TO HALT JUDICIAL REFORM FOR NOW AS MASS PROTESTS CONTINUE After the hours-long meeting, Netanyahus office released a statement suggesting attacks would be made. "Israels response, tonight and beyond, will extract a heavy price from our enemies," Netanyahu said. He did not elaborate. "The (Israeli Defense Forces) will not allow the Hamas terrorist organization to operate from within Lebanon and holds the state of Lebanon responsible for every directed fire emanating from its territory," the Israeli military said in a statement, Reuters reported. The most recent airstrikes came after militants in Lebanon fired some 34 rockets into Israel, forcing air sirens across Israels northern frontier as people sought safety in bomb shelters. The attacks wounded at least two people. Fox News' Paul Best and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Israel launched its biggest airstrikes on Lebanon in 17 years early Friday, after dozens of rockets struck the north of the country during the Jewish Passover holiday and sent tensions in the region spiraling. The exchanges, which also come during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and in the run-up to the Christian holy day of Easter, represent the most serious escalation between Israel and Lebanon since a 34-day war in 2006. No group claimed responsibility for the attacks from Lebanon, although Israel pinned the blame on Hamas, the Palestinian group that controls the blockaded Gaza Strip. Israel said it had also hit 10 targets across Gaza on Friday. Israeli officials also said they would not allow Hamas to operate from Lebanon, adding it would hold Lebanon responsible for any hostile fire from its territory. Israel also said it was investigating whether Iran-linked Hezbollah was involved in the missile strikes on northern Israel. At around 4 a.m. (9 p.m. Thursday ET), three Hamas targets were hit with airstrikes near Rashidieh, a town south of the Lebanese city of Tyre, Israel Defense Forces spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a statement. Of the 35 missiles launched from Lebanon on Thursday night, Israel's Iron Dome defense system intercepted 25, the IDF said. The Lebanese army said it found a rocket launcher in the Marjeyoun Plain in southern Lebanon, containing unlaunched rockets. Italian U.N. peacekeeper soldiers inspect a small bridge that was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike, in Maaliya village, Lebanon (Mohammed Zaatari / AP) Hamas condemned Israels retaliatory strikes, calling them blatant Zionist aggression. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which has more than 10,000 peacekeeping troops from 48 countries, warned of a serious escalation, and said its commander, Maj. Gen. Aroldo Lazaro, was speaking to authorities on both sides. Both sides have said they do not want a war, UNIFIL said in a statement. The actions over the past day are dangerous and risk a serious escalation. Lebanons Foreign Ministry said Friday its permanent mission to the United Nations in New York would submit an official complaint over the bombing. It said in a statement that the attack constitutes a flagrant violation of Lebanons sovereignty. Story continues Lebanon has for decades housed tens of thousands of Palestinian refugees, with militant groups recruiting from the population that began fleeing to Israel after the establishment of the Jewish state in 1949. In 1982, Israel invaded southern Lebanon, fully withdrawing in 2000. It was during this time, and as a civil war raged in Lebanon, that Hezbollah was established. It has since become the most powerful political force in the country. Explosions in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip during Israeli air strikes on the Palestinian enclave (AFP - Getty Images) The barrage of missiles fired from Lebanon into northern Israel on Thursday followed violent scenes at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem where Muslim worshippers were forcibly removed by Israeli police during the holy month of Ramadan. The Palestinian Authority said Israeli attacks in Gaza damaged a childrens hospital in Gaza, in contravention of the Geneva Convention. The Ministry of Health condemns the Israeli attacks that caused damage to Al-Durra Childrens Hospital, east of Gaza, the authority said in a statement. Hazem Qassem, a Hamas spokesman, indicated that Al-Aqsa would continue to be a catalyst for violence. "The issue of Al-Aqsa Mosque will continue to be able to detonate the situation every time, because our people and their resistance will not pass the crimes of the occupation without a response to them," he said in a statement. Meanwhile, two sisters were killed in a shooting attack on their car in the occupied West Bank, the IDF said on Twitter, adding that their mother sustained serious wounds. Soldiers initially thought they were attending the scene of a vehicle collision, but found the victims had been shot, the force said. Magen David Atom, the emergency response service, said the incident took place near the Hamra junction in the Jordan Valley. While it didn't claim responsibility for the shooting, Hamas issued a statement of congratulations for said what it called "the heroic shooting operation." The Israeli military installed roadblocks and said it was pursuing the attackers. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had been informed of the details and would hold a security briefing. Patrick Smith reported from London, Lawahez Jabari reported from Tel Aviv and Mustafa Kassem from Beirut. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The men stood before the military tribunal in N'Dolo prison to hear their sentences A military tribunal in the Democratic Republic of Congo has sentenced six men to life in prison for murdering Italy's ambassador in February 2021. Luca Attanasio was among three people shot dead after a UN convoy that he was travelling with was ambushed. His driver was killed first then he and his bodyguard were kidnapped, dying after a rescue operation went wrong. It happened in the troubled east of country, where many armed groups operate. They were travelling on a road through the Virunga National Park, a Unesco World Heritage site south of the city of Goma, to visit a UN World Food Programme (WFP) feeding initiative when the attack happened. Five of the six men accused of killing them were arrested in January 2022 and have been in custody at N'Dolo military prison in the capital, Kinshasa. A sixth man is on the run. The prosecution said the accused men were part of a "criminal gang" who after killing driver Mustapha Milambo had intended to hold Mr Attanasio and his Italian bodyguard Vittorio Iacovacci for ransom. Prosecutor Gode Bamusamba Kabambaa had called for the death penalty. During the trial, which began in October, the defendants said their initial confessions were extracted through torture. Their lawyer, Joseph Amzati, told the BBC say they would appeal against the life sentences. He said the trial was not fair and cited the fact that none of the four survivors of the attack had testified before the tribunal. The accused, who according to their lawyer were all previously employed as motorbike taxi drivers, were ordered to pay $2m (1.6m) in compensation to the families of the victims. One of three accused of killing a 32-year-old man in a driveby outside a Kansas City convenience store was convicted Thursday of second-degree murder. Byron Fowler, 32, was found guilty by a Jackson County jury of second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the fatal shooting of Edmon E. Alexander III on Nov. 26, 2021. Alexander was shot outside the Blue Valley Market in the 4300 block of Cleveland after telling a cashier inside that three people tried to rob him, according to court documents. Surveillance video showed an encounter between Alexander and occupants of another vehicle after Alexander appeared to drop a large amount of money on the ground. He was seen retrieving a gun from his vehicle and firing gunshots at the car after it had left the parking lot, according to court documents. Alexander waited inside the market for a friend, authorities have said. He was shot by what investigators determined were the people in the same car as before when he left the market. Detectives tracked the vehicle to Byron Fowlers brother, Bonzel Fowler, who was also charged along with his wife Tateona Jackson-Williams. The brother allegedly told police Alexander shot at them and they returned to the area later. He described the shooting as an act of self defense. Byron Fowler faces between 10 and 30 years in prison under Missouri law for the second-degree murder conviction. He is scheduled to be sentenced in June. Bonzel Fowler and Jackson-Williams still have pending cases in Jackson County. Both face charges of second-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful weapon use. Jackson High School graduate Taylor Mikesell, who recently wrapped up her college basketball career at Ohio State, has been invited to attend the 2023 WNBA Draft on Monday, April 10 in New York. With her quick release, Mikesell was one of college basketball's top shooters in the nation while starring at Ohio State, Oregon and Maryland in her career. She spent her final two years at Ohio State, helping the Buckeyes reach a pair of NCAA Tournaments. Mikesell ended her college career with one of her finest performances, scoring 25 points and matching her career high with seven 3-pointers in an 84-74 regional final loss to Virginia Tech. The seven 3s are the most ever made by a Buckeye in an NCAA Tournament game. Ohio State guard Taylor Mikesell shoots over Virginia Tech center Elizabeth Kitley and guard Cayla King (22) in the second half of an NCAA Tournament Elite Eight game at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Monday, March 27, 2023. Mikesell honed her shooting skills growing up in Stark County and setting records at Jackson High School. She is hoping to become the second straight Stark County standout to be selected in the WNBA Draft. A year ago, former Federal League-rival Kierstan Bell of McKinley was a first-round pick of the Las Vegas Aces, who went on to win the 2022 league title. Bell and Mikesell are ranked one and two, respectively, all-time on the county's all-time girls high school basketball scoring list. Mikesell graduated from Jackson with the record before Bell broke it the following season. Mikesell, who scored a county-record 60 points with 14 3-pointers in her final regular-season home game, scored 2,175 career points at Jackson. Jackson senior Taylor Mikesell enjoys her record-setting game with teammates, Feb. 10, 2018. Mikesell surpassed 2,000 career points in the first half, hit a school-record 14 3-point shots, became the Stark County all-time girls scoring leader when she passed 2,032 points on her way to a county-record 60-point game. Five years later, Mikesell is among 15 prospects invited, including South Carolina forward Aliyah Boston and Villanova forward Maddy Siegrist, to the 2023 WNBA Draft. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will announce the first-round draft picks live on ESPN, with exclusive coverage beginning at 7 p.m. The draft takes place at the Spring Studios, located in the Tribeca section of New York. Ohio State guard Taylor Mikesell speaks during an NCAA Tournament press conference at Climate Pledge Arena on Friday, March 24, 2023, in Seattle. Mikesell, a 5-foot-11 guard, capped her five-year college career with two seasons at Ohio State, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2021-22 and 2022-23. She ranked in the top five in the nation in 3-pointers made per game both seasons. Story continues Mikesell averaged 17.2 points per game this past season, as Ohio State reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 30 years. Mikesell was a finalist for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award as the nations best shooting guard in 2021-22 and a semifinalist in 2022-23. Ohio State guard Taylor Mikesell (24) reacts to being fouled on a basket with Rikki Harris in the second half of a second-round NCAA Tournament game against North Carolina, Monday, March 20, 2023, in Columbus. The other prospects who will be in attendance are forward Laeticia Amihere (South Carolina), guard Brea Beal (South Carolina), guard Grace Berger (Indiana), guard Zia Cooke (South Carolina), guard Jordan Horston (Tennessee), guard/forward Ashley Joens (Iowa State), guard/forward Haley Jones (Stanford), forward Dorka Juhasz (Connecticut), guard/forward Lou Lopez Senechal (Connecticut), guard Diamond Miller (Maryland), guard Alexis Morris (LSU), and forward/center Stephanie Soares (Iowa State). The Indiana Fever hold the top pick in the draft by virtue of winning the WNBA Draft Lottery last November. Indiana, which also owns the No. 7 selection in the first round, last year became the first team in WNBA history to make four picks in the first round. The Minnesota Lynx will select second. The Dallas Wings have the third selection, followed by the Washington Mystics at No. 4. The formal tip-off of the draft night festivities will take place when the invited prospects showcase their personalities and unique fashion styles on the WNBAs Orange Carpet. Earlier Monday, the prospects will visit the famed Empire State Building for a lighting ceremony to celebrate the draft. Ohio State guard Taylor Mikesell takes a shot over UConn forward Aubrey Griffin during the second half of an NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen game at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Saturday, March 25, 2023. OSU won 73-61. This article originally appeared on The Repository: Taylor Mikesell among 15 prospects invited to 2023 WNBA Draft Attendees at Kanamara Matsuri in Kawasaki, Japan, on April 2, 2023 In early April, scores of revelers gather in the city of Kawasaki, about 30 minutes south of Tokyo, to celebrate Kanamara Matsuri Japans infamous penis festival, with a name translating roughly to Festival of the Steel Phallus. Kanamara Matsuris main festivities have taken place on the first Sunday of April since 1969 (yes, seriously). At the festival centering on the um, organ and fertility, attendees get to erect gigantic penis statues on handheld shrines, enjoy penis-shaped lollipops, buy penis-shaped candles, and (obviously) dress as penises. Theres a seemingly endless array of phallic merch! Amazing. So fun, so unique, such a different experience, one Australian tourist who went to this years gathering told Euronews . Its so weird coming from Australia to see something like this, but it looks like everyones having a great time. In the past, an estimated 50,000 people from around the world have gathered annually for the festival, with numbers shrinking in recent years due to COVID. Besides being visually unique, the festival has taken on a positive message: raising awareness about safe sex and gathering profits from merch sales to fund HIV research. (In recent years, Japan has seen a rise in rates of sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis, with more than 50% more patients treated for the disease in 2022 than in 2021, per Japanese news source the Mainichi.) The event has also been an inclusive space for Japanese LGBTQ communities. But what about the festivals origins? During Japans Edo Period, from 1603 to 1867, Kawasaki was known for having quite the nightlife scene, as it was a popular center for trade and commerce. The citys Kanayama Shrine, built in roughly 698 CE, features a statue of a steel penis and became a place for sex workers to pray for protection against sexually transmitted infections and for others to pray for fertility. This history, combined with one particular local folktale involving a toothed demon and a steel penis quite the combo led to the modern version of Kanamara Matsuri. A 417-foot megayacht believed to be commissioned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has made its maiden voyage. David Ryder/Getty Images A $500 million yacht believed to belong to Jeff Bezos has been delivered to the Amazon founder. The 417-foot vessel, the largest sailing yacht in the world, recently made its maiden voyage to Gibraltar, according to Boat International. It previously stirred controversy for nearly dismantling a historic bridge for it to pass. A $500 million megayacht believed to be commissioned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has finally completed construction and made its maiden voyage. The vessel, called Koru, left facilities owned by Dutch shipmaker Oceanco on Thursday and traveled to Gibraltar, according to yachting publication Boat International. At 417 feet long, the boat is believed to be the largest sailing yacht in the world. It began sea trials a series of tests that mark one of the last phases of construction in February. The ship's construction hit a few snags over the over the past year. Last year, Oceanco, requested that a historic bridge in Rotterdam be dismantled because the yacht's three masts were too tall to pass under the bridge, despite its 131-foot clearance. The 100-year-old Koningshaven Bridge, known to locals as "De Hef," was renovated in 2017, at which point the city vowed not to take it apart again, according to Dutch broadcaster Rijnmond. The request sparked public outcry, prompting more than 1,000 residents to threaten to throw eggs at the yacht if the bridge ended up being dismantled. Oceanco later nixed its request, and the yacht was towed under cover of night to another shipyard, without its masts, which were installed later. Read the original article on Business Insider Saudi-Iranian reconciliation hailed 08:48, April 07, 2023 By MO JINGXI ( Chinadaily.com.cn Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed on Thursday to resume their diplomatic relations and reopen embassies in each other's country within 60 days, as their top envoys met in Beijing following the two countries' diplomatic rapprochement under a China-brokered deal last month. China received Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud for a meeting in Beijing upon the proposal of the two countries, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular news briefing on Thursday. "Both sides noted that they will continue to advance the process to improve bilateral relations in accordance with the road map and timeline identified during talks in Beijing in March," Mao said. Thursday's meeting was the first official encounter between foreign ministers of the two countries in more than seven years after Saudi Arabia and Iran severed diplomatic ties in early 2016. The two sides emphasized in a joint statement the importance of following up on the implementation of the agreement reached in Beijing and its activation in a way that enhances mutual trust, expands fields of cooperation and helps create security, stability and prosperity in the region, according to media reports. They also agreed to proceed with the necessary measures to reopen diplomatic missions in Riyadh and Teheran, as well as in the Saudi city of Jeddah and the Iranian city of Mashhad, where their consulates general were previously located. They affirmed that both sides will discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation, including the resumption of flights and mutual visits by official delegations and those from the private sector. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang (center), Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (left) and Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud shake hands during a meeting in Beijing on Thursday. DING LIN / XINHUA State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang met with the ministers after witnessing the signing of the joint statement, and said that China highly praised the two countries' continuous steps to show goodwill and sincerity for rapprochement since March. Qin said that China firmly supports Middle East countries in adhering to strategic autonomy, strengthening solidarity and coordination and getting rid of external interference so that the destiny of the region remains in their own hands. "China will do its best to play a mediating role and provide necessary support for both countries, thus making contributions to promoting security and stability in the Middle East," he said. According to Qin, the improvement of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia will provide a more forceful guarantee for safeguarding regional peace and stability and set an important example for other countries to resolve conflicts through dialogue and consultation. "This one small step for Saudi Arabia and Iran is a giant leap across conflict for mankind to achieve reconciliation," he added. The Saudi Arabian and Iranian foreign ministers also expressed their thanks and appreciation to China for hosting the meeting. Choosing China "came as an extension of Beijing's positive role in reaching the agreement and facilitating communication between the two countries", the London-based Arabic-language newspaper Asharq al-Awasat quoted an unidentified source in Riyadh as saying on Wednesday. Lu Jin, an Iran expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said, "China's mediation efforts, which comply with the regional countries' development needs, have strong backing from people in the region," adding that such efforts also showed how China implemented the Global Security Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping. The announcement of the restoration of diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia came earlier than expected and it demonstrated the aspiration of countries in the region for peace and socioeconomic development, she added. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Staff members pose for a group photo in front of an Airbus A350 aircraft delivered to China Eastern Airlines at the Airbus Tianjin Widebody Completion and Delivery Center in north China's Tianjin, July 21, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua] European aircraft manufacturer Airbus signed an agreement with China Aviation Supplies Holding Co on Thursday and landed orders of 160 Airbus commercial aircraft, including 150 A320 family aircraft and 10 A350-900 wide-body aircraft, reflecting a strong demand for new airplanes by Chinese carriers after the country optimized its COVID-19 response measures and the continuous recovery of the air travel market. Accompanying French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to China, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury also signed with the Tianjin Free Trade Zone Investment Co Ltd and Aviation Industry Corp of China Ltd, an agreement to expand its A320 family final assembly capacity with a second line at its site in Tianjin, which is expected to be put into operation by the end of 2025. The agreement will contribute to Airbus' objective of producing 75 A320 family aircraft per month by 2026 throughout its global production network, Airbus said. "We are a global business by nature, and it's time to come together again after the pandemic. We are honored to continue our long-standing cooperation by supporting China's civil aviation growth," said Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus. "It underpins the positive recovery momentum and prosperous outlook for the Chinese aviation market. Airbus values its partnership with the Chinese aviation stakeholders, and we feel privileged to remain a partner of choice in shaping the future of civil aviation in China," Faury said. In line with its sustainability strategy, Airbus and the China National Aviation Fuel Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen Chinese-European cooperation on the production, competitive application and common standards formulation for sustainable aviation fuels. In his first interview since his horrific snow plough accident, Jeremy Renner revealed that his Marvel co-star and friend Anthony Mackie stayed at his bedside while he was in hospital. Renner and Mackie met when co-starring in the 2008 war thriller The Hurt Locker. The pair reconvened in the Avengers franchise, where Renner plays Hawkeye and Mackie plays Falcon. Its the actions, Renner told ABCs Diane Sawyer asked about the best thing anyone said to you after the accident. Mackie was there at my bedside in Reno, he said. After Renner was crushed by his 14-000-pound snowplough on New Years Day, the Avengers stars assembled to wish him a speedy recovery. Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Ant-Man star Paul Rudd, who appeared alongside Renner in 2016s Captain America: Civil War and 2019s Avengers: Endgame, said his co-star was doing well. Hes doing well. Hes the best guy and hes awesome. Anthony Mackie (left) and Jeremy Renner (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for IFP) Rudds Ant-Man and the Wasp co-star Evangeline Lilly also recently discussed Renners recovery, revealing that she had had an intense meeting with Renner during his recuperation. Hes recovered like a mofo, Lilly told Access Hollywood. I walked in his house and got chicken skin because I was like, Why are you mobile? Why are you mobile? Whats happening? I expected to sit at his bedside and hold his hand, while he moaned and groaned in pain, and wasnt able to move. He was wheeling himself around, laughing with his friends. She added: Its a miracle. Its a straight-up miracle. Hes made of something really tough, that guy. And, you know, youve always been able to see that in him and he is recovering incredibly. Elsewhere in the interview with Sawyer, Renner revealed the explicit words he screamed right as the Sno Cat was about to run him over. Jeremy Renner: The Diane Sawyer Interview A Story of Terror, Survival and Triumph is out now on Hulu and Disney Plus . Joe Lycett took aim at Rupert Murdoch during his opening monologue on Late Night Lycett on Friday (7 April). Reports broke earlier this week that the billionaire media mogul and Ann Lesley Smith had called off their engagement just two weeks after announcing their plans to marry. Rupert Murdochs had a big week, hes broken off his engagement, Lycett told his live studio audience. People say she was only after his money but I think thats unfair, she may have just really been turned on by a flaccid, yellow, 92-year-old c**k. After the audience reacted with shocked laughs at the explicit joke, Lycett responded: What? Whats he gonna do to me? After a pause, he predicted: F***ing everything. Joe Lycett (left) and Rupert Murdoch (Getty Images) Murdoch, who has been married four times previously, announced his engagement to the former dental hygienist, 66, last month. I was very nervous. I dreaded falling in love - but I knew this would be my last. It better be. Im happy, the Fox Corporation chairman told gossip columnist Cindy Adams in an article published in the New York Post. On 4 April, Vanity Fair and CNN reported that the couple had abruptly called off their engagement, with one source citing Murdochs alleged discomfort with Smiths evangelical views. In 2013, she told the Christian Broadcasting Network that, after a bitter divorce, she found meaning in her life through religion. I was so hurt, so alone, and so rejected ... And I prayed for God to help me and forgive me of my sins, she said, adding: The Lord gave me thirst and a hunger for Him, and I actually replaced the things of the world with the Scriptures. As I began to walk with God, the things of the world just seemed pointless to me. Representatives for Murdoch did not respond to The Independents request for comment. Late Night Lycett airs on Channel 4 at 10pm on Fridays. Organizers of a Johnson County training event on racial equity canceled and moved the program online this week after a conflict with two county officials led to concerns over safety. The one-day Sunflower Summit, hosted by the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit The Gault Center, was scheduled for employees involved in Johnson Countys juvenile legal system to discuss racial disparities, bias and policy reform. Commissioner Charlotte OHara fought repeatedly to bring a videographer to record the entire session. She was only pushing for transparency, she told The Star, and mentioned her struggle during two commission meetings where she also encouraged residents to find out more about the keynote speaker, an author on the criminalization of Black youth, and said the event should include a conservative viewpoint. Sheriff Calvin Hayden who has aligned himself with far-right causes, including investigating election fraud claims then informed county staff he anticipated protesters at the event and planned to bring deputies. That was a surprise to the Lenexa police chief, who already had security planned and said she did not find evidence of any real threat. It is also clear to me and others the sky was not falling on this event, Lenexa Police Chief Dawn Layman wrote in an email to the sheriff, which OHara shared with The Star. The Sheriff was going to attend the event on his own. He did offer to have two officers on stand by for security if needed after some concerning posts were discovered on social media, the sheriffs office said in a statement. The frenzy led The Gault Center to change plans and hold the training virtually. Unfortunately, the situation with Commissioner OHara and Sheriff Hayden devolved to the point that we do not feel like we could provide the environment that you, our guests, would need to meaningfully participate in the planned program, the center wrote in a notice to registrants. The center said speakers had not agreed to videotaping the session, and that recording it would not have let participants be open, honest, and vulnerable as they discuss personal issues. Officials also cited copyright issues. Story continues The squabble comes as GOP lawmakers fight against diversity and equity initiatives, as well as curriculum on race, building on some parents frustration over public schools. OHara, who has cast the conflict as only a transparency issue for the county, has previously spoken against critical race theory, a college-level concept that examines the role of institutions in perpetuating racism, and a phrase that has become shorthand among hard-right conservatives for any lesson that delves into systemic racism. She planned to distribute a handout at the summit raising concerns about the keynote speakers message and instead promoting the return of faith and the return of equality instead of equity. Johnson County Sheriff Calvin Hayden An issue of transparency? Amy Borror, with The Gault Center, said more than 100 Johnson County employees registered for the summit, which is part of the nonprofits work contracting with the Kansas Department of Corrections. It was supposed to be held last Monday at the Thompson Barn in Lenexa. The nonprofits work with the KDOC aims to address racial disparities found in its 2020 assessment of Kansas youth defense system, she said. And Johnson County Department of Corrections has been investigating the causes of such disparities since 2008, county staff said. We conduct training sessions like this across the country and have been for years, Borror told The Star. We do talk about difficult topics such as racial bias and racial inequality, and we do often engage in challenging, but thoughtful, conversations during those trainings. We feel this kind of dialogue is vital to addressing racial inequities that are inherent in the juvenile legal system. After commissioners were notified of the event, OHara emailed staff last month to say she would attend and bring a videographer. She said she would put the recording on Rumble, a right-leaning video platform, saying because the event is co-sponsored by the county government, transparency is extremely critical. The Gault Center responded, saying they already had told the keynote speaker they would not videotape her presentation or other portions of the summit, including a simulation where registrants would work through examples of real-life problems. In an email shared with The Star, county legal counsel also said certain parts of the summit could not be recorded because of copyright agreements. Both the nonprofit and OHara continued to reiterate their positions over several emails. OHara then said in an email: Also, Sheriff Hayden has asked me to save a seat for him, so please note that shed have multiple attendees under her name. According to a March 20 email, the Gault Center offered to let OHara record parts of the event, but not the keynote speaker or simulation exercise. But OHara pushed back: I look forward to being at the Summit and I will have a videographer attending with me along with Sheriff Calvin Hayden. Borror told The Star that the Gault Center let our keynote speaker and the simulation facilitators know what was happening, and they said they would not proceed with their presentations if the event was being recorded or broadcast. She said the nonprofits interpretation of her email mentioning the sheriff was that she was bringing him to enforce her belief in her right to record. OHara denied that to The Star, saying the sheriff was going to be late to the event, so asked her to save a seat for him, which she says is why she mentioned it in the email exchanges. She said many law enforcement personnel were planning to attend, so it was not strange that Hayden was planning to go. She said shes made it a mission to improve county transparency, and has had constituents record other staff training in the past. OHara, for example, continues to fight Chairman Mike Kellys decision to stop livestreaming and recording public comments during commission meetings a choice Kelly, a Democrat and former mayor of Roeland Park, made shortly after taking office in January. Kelly worried that misinformation spread during meetings could violate YouTubes standards, potentially leading to county videos being removed online. Several residents protested the decision, saying it stymies public discourse. With a 4-3 vote, commissioners approved the change. At two recent commission meetings, OHara brought up the conflict with The Gault Center. She also noted the keynote speaker was Georgetown Law Professor Kristin Henning, author of The Rage of Innocence: How America Criminalizes Black Youth. And she read a promotion for the book, in part saying, Discriminatory and aggressive policing has socialized a generation of Black teenagers to fear, resent, and resist the police. At a meeting late last month, she encouraged the public to learn more about Henning by listening to her speak on C-SPAN, and also recommended that the event be expanded to include a speaker from the conservative legal organization the Federalist Society. Lets hear both sides of the political spectrum, OHara told The Star. You can disagree with Professor Henning and her theory, and I had questioned some of her theory, but that wasnt the issue. My issue was transparency, OHara said. I was all prepared and ready to have a vigorous exchange of ideas. I think thats healthy. J ust common courtesy OHara shared a handout with The Star that she planned to distribute at the summit. In it, OHara responds to the promotional excerpt for Hennings book. She wrote that Professor Hennings erroneous theory of systemic racism within law enforcement is not the answer to our juvenile criminal crisis, and instead pushed for the return of faith, return of marriage and the return of equality instead of equity. And as a Johnson County Commissioner and as a mother and grandmother of children whom Professor Henning prefers (to) designate as minority (Black or Hispanic) children, I am here today and raising my voice in concern that Professor Henning says nothing about broken homes, God being taken from our schools and public squares, the failure of our public schools especially in inner city districts. OHara argued Henning is silent on federal programs requiring the removal of men from the family in order to receive benefits, as well as drugs and abortion. As OHara and The Gault Center went back and forth over recording the training, the Lenexa police department was planning security. Police Chief Layman said the center requested a plain-clothes officer for security, which is normal for us. The department was prepared to provide more security if needed, but Layman said she did not see any reason to believe that was necessary. Then last week, Layman said she received an email from county staff saying the sheriff heard there would be protesters and that he would have two officers standing by for additional security. Layman said that was unusual, because county and city agencies typically communicate in case they need to coordinate. She emailed Hayden asking for more professional courtesy: We were actively monitoring the situation with our crime analysts and other staff. It has been a longstanding operational practice, and frankly just common courtesy to reach out to the home agency in these types of situations, she wrote to the sheriff. I would be very interested in receiving the intelligence your agency gathered on the potential threats. It would be helpful to see your intelligence to see if we somehow missed something. We did not consider the chatter we were hearing a threat to prevent this event from continuing as scheduled. The Gault Center announced the in-person event would be canceled and a portion of the program would be held virtually. OHara said she also had not seen anything that rose to the level of a threat against the event. I had no information about anything that was going to be a huge safety issue, OHara said. In my opinion, (The Gault Center) just didnt want to hold it because I was asking questions, so they bailed. The Gault Center staff said they interpreted recent statements as potential threats to the security and wellbeing of our guests and presenters. These challenging discussions ask a lot of participants: to be introspective, to challenge their assumptions and what they have been taught, to make plans to change ingrained systems and behaviors. For these conversations to be fruitful, participants must be in an environment where they can be open, honest, and vulnerable, the nonprofit said in its notice. The rhetoric and misinformation surrounding the Sunflower Summit make clear the need for exactly these kinds of conversations. Borror told The Star that the virtual event on Monday only included the keynote presentation from Henning. The simulation exercise, as well as a panel discussion with local juvenile court experts, were canceled. OHara argued that holding the event virtually where, anyone can record off of that, I think blew the cover off of it. Kelly, who defeated OHara for the chair position last year, said in a statement: I am disappointed that the intentional misrepresentations made by some Johnson County officials have led to an atmosphere where presenters feel unsafe and unwelcome in Johnson County. Jamie Dimon. Win McNamee/Getty Images Jamie Dimon did not respond to a query on whether a second Trump term could be good for the economy. "I'm not going to answer that question," Dimon told CNN's Poppy Harlow. When asked why, he replied: "I don't want to." JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, who once served on former President Donald Trump's business council, flatly refused to respond to a question from CNN anchor Poppy Harlow about whether it would be a good thing if Trump was re-elected in 2024. "You were on President Trump's business council until it was dissolved. Do you think a second Trump term would be good for the US economy?" Harlow asked Dimon during an exclusive interview that aired on Thursday night. "I'm not going to answer that question," Dimon said. "Why?" Harlow pressed him. "I don't want to," Dimon replied. Dimon did respond to Harlow's follow-up question, about Trump's policies. Dimon said that he thought Trump's tax reforms helped bring money back to America, and that Trump helped lower the Black community's unemployment rate in his last year in office. "And so I think, you know, there are growth strategies that matter. He had some of those," Dimon said. "But that's not supporting him." Dimon joined the Trump administration's business advisory council in 2016. "I am a patriot I want to help my country and help it grow," Dimon told the audience at a Goldman Sachs Financial Services conference when justifying his decision to join the panel. "I want to help lower-wage people more than I want to help you." The panel Dimon was on dissolved in 2017, after Trump said that "both sides" should take the blame for the violence that happened during a far-right rally in Charlottesville in August 2017 a comment that made CEOs on the panel defect en masse. In 2018, Dimon said he thought he could defeat Trump if they both ran for president. "I think I could beat Trump," Dimon said at a JPMorgan Chase event, per CNBC. "Because I'm as tough as he is, I'm smarter than he is. I would be fine. He could punch me all he wants, it wouldn't work with me. I'd fight right back." Story continues "And by the way, this wealthy New Yorker actually earned his money," Dimon added, hitting out at Trump. "It wasn't a gift from Daddy." During the interview with CNN, Dimon told Harlow that his political philosophy remains the same: He said that his heart is Democratic, but his brain is Republican. "I'm usually led by my heart," Dimon said. But he added that he thinks Republicans have a better handle on "policy" right now. Representatives for Dimon did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment sent outside regular business hours. Read the original article on Business Insider Retired South Carolina Judge John C. Hayes III, who served on the bench in York County and across the state for more than a quarter century, died Friday, according to his family and York County Coroner Sabrina Gast. Hayes was 77. Hayes gained national attention in 2015 when he vacated the convictions of the Rock Hill Friendship Nine civil rights protesters. John Hayes was simply a great man, York County Clerk of Court David Hamilton said Friday. Flags outside the Moss Justice Center and at the historic York County Courthouse, both in the city of York, S.C., will be lowered to half-mast to honor the memory of Hayes. Hayes was a South Carolina Circuit Court judge for 26 years. He served as an active judge from 1991 until mandatory retirement at age 72 in 2017. Judges must retire at age 72 under South Carolina state law. He continued to sit on the bench for some cases as a retired judge after his official retirement. Current Judge William McKinnon said Friday that he remains honored to sit on the bench once presided upon by Hayes. This is an enormous loss to the York County legal community, McKinnon said. I am honored to have succeeded Judge Hayes on his retirement. My hope is to live up to the standard he set as a judge. We will all miss him terribly. York Countys other resident judge, Dan Hall, said Hayes was a mentor to other judges and his service to the community will always be remembered. I was saddened to hear of Judge Hayes passing this morning, Hall said. As a fellow judge, he mentored and encouraged me for the past nine years with his sharp intellect, integrity and wise counsel. We can be grateful that Judge John Calvin Hayes III spent his life serving this community and our state as an attorney, legislator and judge. The case of the Friendship Nine In 2015, Hayes vacated the 1961 convictions of the Rock Hill Friendship Nine. The protesters, all Black, had been sentenced by Hayes uncle -- Rock Hill city judge Billy Hayes -- in 1961 to 30 days hard labor after being convicted of trespassing. The protesters staged a sit-in at what then was a whites-only lunch counter in Rock Hill. Story continues On that historic 2015 day, Hayes said for the court record and in front of the national media that he was proud to be the judge who vacated those wrongful convictions. Hayes said the court could vacate the convictions of South Carolina law and customs from the era of segregation and Jim Crow that discriminated against African-Americans and all people of color. We cannot rewrite history, but we can right history, Hayes said that day as the courtroom broke into applause. Hayes ruling was covered by media across the country, including CNN, NBC, the New York Times, NPR, and other national and international reports. Hayes told The Herald in 2015 that he was very proud to have played a part in righting that wrong. The order was heartfelt, and I believe on solid legal grounds, Hayes said. These individuals were exonerated. I genuinely believe they were not guilty of anything and were prosecuted because of the color of their skin. It was a correction of a wrong. So the proceeding was not symbolic it was very real. Family: Judge Hayes loved Rock Hill, South Carolina, and its people Hayes was a Rock Hill native who served as a lawyer, legislator, and judge. He also was a military veteran. John was honored to serve his state and country as an Army Reservist, a lawyer, legislator and Judge, his wife, Sarah Lynn Hayes, said in a statement to The Herald on Friday. Even with all his professional accomplishments, John loved his role as husband, father and Pop Pop more than anything. He will be remembered for how effortlessly he combined wisdom with warmth and wit and how he showed kindness to all. One of Hayes children, John C. Hayes IV, who practices law in Charleston, told The Herald Friday that his father believed in being kind to everyone. My father spent almost his whole life in York County and never wanted to be anywhere else, John Hayes IV said. With all that he did, he believed that as a judge, he had found his calling. Judge Hayes was always extremely proud he served for the 16th Judicial Circuit in his home county of York, his son said. The 16th Judicial Circuit is made up of York and neighboring Union counties. He was a lot of things to a lot of people, his son said. He loved the people. He was one of them his whole life. Hayes honored with courtroom portrait In January 2023, a portrait of Hayes was unveiled during a ceremony in the courtroom where he presided at the Moss Justice Center. A painted portrait of Judge John C. Hayes III was unveiled and hung in the courtroom he presided over at the Moss Justice Center in York County, South Carolina in January 2023. Hayes died April 7, 2023 at age 77. Hayes told a courtroom packed with lawyers, judges and others that day hat he was proud to be a judge and run a courtroom where matters could be settled without bloodshed or fights. The courtroom is where people settle disputes without fisticuffs or pistols, Hayes said. Firm but fair Hayes had a reputation for being fair but tough on sentencing of criminal defendants who were guilty. Former York County prosecutor and S.C. Rep. Tommy Pope, R-York, now one of South Carolinas top politicians in the S.C. General Assembly, said at the January ceremony that Hayes had a reputation for tough sentences but was always fair. Hayes said at the January ceremony the toughest part of being a judge was sentencing criminal defendants. Some deserved mercy, while others did not. You have to distinguish between the misguided and the truly evil, Hayes said. During his years as a judge, Hayes presided over the York County trials that were national in scope. He was the trial judge for the double murder death penalty case of James Robertson, who was convicted in 1999 of killing his parents. Hayes also was the judge in the trials of Billy Wayne Cope and James Sanders who were convicted in 2004 of child rape and murder. People who practiced and appeared before Hayes during his quarter-century as a judge said Hayes was an intellect without peer. Judge Hayes was calm and deliberate, former York County Public Defender Harry Dest said at the January ceremony. Dest was public defender for almost three decades and appeared before Hayes in hundreds of cases. He was wise, fair, and smart. He made an enormous impact on the judiciary of South Carolina. Sixteenth Circuit Solicitor Kevin Brackett said in January that Hayes cared about the community he served and the people in it. John Hayes furthered the cause of truth, justice, and humanity, Brackett said. Hayes served in the S.C. General Assembly for 11 years before he was elected judge in 1991. Hayes, a lawyer from 1971 until elected judge in 1991, also was a character in his own right: He once was an actor in a television movie. Hayes had a cameo appearance as a state trooper in the 1983 TV miniseries Chiefs, which was shot in nearby Chester, S.C. A celebration of life service is set for April 16 at 3 p.m. at McBryde Hall on the Winthrop University campus in Rock Hill, S.C. The family will receive friends after the service. A federal judge ordered the suspect in the attack on Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) to be released to a hospital inpatient treatment program, The Washington Post reported. U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui ruled during a detention hearing on Wednesday that Kendrick Hamlin, who allegedly assaulted Craig in an elevator in her apartment building in February, should be released from the Washington, D.C. jail where he has been held since he was arrested. But he scheduled another hearing for April 18 to confirm that another judge agrees with the ruling. To say this is a close call is not doing it justice. This is an extremely close call, Faruqui said. A police report on the incident had reportedly said that Hamlin was acting erratic and as if he was under the influence of an unknown substance in the lobby of Craigs building before following her into the elevator. Hamlin allegedly hit Craig in the chin and grabbed her neck, but she defended herself by throwing hot coffee in his face. Hamlin fled the scene after. The Post reported that prosecutors opposed Hamlin being released and cited the 25 bench warrants he has for missing court appearances in other cases. Prosecutor Joshua Gold argued that the facility where Hamlin wants to go does not have enough security to stop him from walking out. Faruqui said he only needs to have reasonable assurance that Hamlin will go to his next court appearance. He stayed his decision after a prosecutor announced their intention to appeal, sending the case to James Boasberg, the chief judge of the D.C. federal court, for a final decision on April 18. Craigs office declined to comment to the Post on the decision. Hamlin said during the hearing that he wanted to get myself together, mentally, physically and emotionally. The suspects defense team said he has not been offered location monitoring and a stable residence where he can receive mental health services and treatment for addiction. He is a man suffering from mental illness and homelessness who needs treatment, not incarceration, they said in court documents. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Jurgen Klopp is staying calm during Liverpools run of inconsistent form (Adam Davy/PA) (PA Wire) Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists he is remaining calm as a top-four finish continues to drift out of sight due to his sides inconsistent form. The Reds boss said the wholesale changes made in midweek against Chelsea were not intended to send a message to under-performing players after an abject second-half performance at Manchester City where they conceded three goals to lose 4-1. For the goalless draw at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, Klopp removed more than half of that team, dropping the likes of Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, but while the City display partly influenced his thinking, it was not intended to provoke a response. We had now one proper session since then and the boys dont show me that they dont want it or whatever, not at all, he said. (Its not) Why have you left me out?. This is not the situation we are in. Asked how much his team selection was a reaction to the City game and how much was as a result of three games in a week, Klopp added: We had a game against City, which is an influence both physically and performance-wise, and then we have a game three days later so it is both. How can you expect I give you an answer and I say two were because of that and four were because of that. We have to change, we have to find a basis we can build on. First step: intensity, desire, passion Jurgen Klopp This was a different week, because we played three days, but from now on if you dont play three times a week then you have more time to train and I have to and I will make decisions about the team based on what I saw in training. That opens the door for everyone because if you play three times a week the boys who play all the time they recover and the other boys can train well but (if) the last game you won why would you make six changes because we saw one session with a few players? Following Sundays visit of Premier League leaders Arsenal, Liverpool do not play again for another eight days when they travel to Leeds, with another six days before the visit of Nottingham Forest. Story continues Klopp hopes that will give him the chance to build on what few positives there were from Stamford Bridge. He continued: We have to change, we have to find a basis we can build on. First step: intensity, desire, passion. That was good at Chelsea. The rest not so much. But its fine, lets go from there. I cannot constantly ask for something I didnt get. I am really calm in this moment, it might be a surprise but I am really calm. I see everything and I base my decisions on that and in the end we will see what the outcome is. I cannot do more. Klopp will, at least, be boosted by the return of winger Luis Diaz at Leeds in 10 days time with the Colombia international, out since October with a knee injury, on the verge of a comeback. The plan with Luis is that he will be available 100 per cent for Leeds (on April 17), he said. The fitness of Thiago Alcantara will be monitored in order to determine whether he is available for #LIVARS, Jurgen Klopp confirmed. Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 7, 2023 Again, it looks good, everything is fine, but it was a long injury and so we have to be careful. We will probably not involve him for Sunday. Midfielder Thiago Alcantara, sidelined for two months with a hip problem, is fit to return, however, while Virgil van Dijk will be back after illness forced him to miss Chelsea. Thiago looks slightly different. He was not out that long, trained now three, four times with the team and might be available but we have to check how he feels today, added Klopp. A Kansas City man was found guilty of murder Thursday in the downtown killing of Donald Moore, a 21-year-old who was fatally shot in broad daylight at a bus stop roughly six months ago. Toney L. Powell Jr., also 21, stood trial after he was arrested in Moores killing weeks later. Jackson County prosecutors charged him with second-degree murder and armed action, and the jury found him guilty on both counts. On Oct. 19., Moore was at a bus stop when witnesses waiting there heard an argument between him and another man, followed by gunfire. Emergency responders located Moore on the southeast corner with a gunshot wound to his abdomen. He was taken to the hospital, where he died. Detectives were told of a live video chat Moore had with his mother during which Moore identified Toney as the shooter. She told investigators Moore and Powell were once friends until Powell later accused Moore of ratting on him to the police in a separate shooting investigation involving a juvenile. Homicide detectives found surveillance footage from several locations, including neighboring businesses, and determined that the suspect was with a young female before and after the shooting unfolded. Video allegedly showed the pair running through alleyways after leaving the shooting scene. During a police interview, Powell allegedly denied knowing Moore beyond possible acquaintanceship and said he had not been downtown for several months. Under Missouri law, Powell faces between 10 and 30 years in prison on the second-degree murder conviction. A sentencing hearing schedule for Powell was not available in online court records as of Thursday. A Travis County jury on Friday found Uber driver Daniel Perry guilty of murder in the shooting death of Austin protester Garrett Foster in 2020. The jury deliberated 17 hours over two days to reach its decision after an eight-day trial. The jury also found Perry not guilty of an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection to driving in front of another protester. Perry buried his head into the chest of one of his lawyers and sobbed loudly after the verdict was read. Foster's wife, Whitney Mitchell, hugged friends and cried after hearing the verdict. We are happy with the verdict and also very sorry for (Perry's) family as well, Stephen Foster, the victim's father, said outside the courtroom. Video: Footage shows deadly shooting of Garrett Foster at downtown Austin protest Mitchell declined to comment. Perry's relatives also did not talk to reporters as they rushed out of the courtroom. Garrett Foster's friends, including several who testified during the trial, also declined to comment outside the courtroom after the verdict. Im grateful to our dedicated career prosecutors and victims counselors who tried this case. They worked hard to make a complete and accurate presentation of the facts to the jury, Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza said in a statement. Our hearts continue to break for the Foster family. We hope this verdict brings closure and peace to the victims family. More: Trial in death of Austin protester Garrett Foster begins. Was it self-defense or murder? Judge Clifford Brown said he has time for sentencing hearing on Tuesday, but he will confirm that on Monday with lawyers for both sides. During closing arguments on Thursday morning, defense attorneys said Perry had no choice but to shoot Garrett Foster five times as he approached Perrys car with an AK-47 rifle. Prosecutors said Perry had plenty of choices, including driving away before he fired his revolver. Perry, who is an Army sergeant, was traveling on Fourth Street on the night of July 25, 2020, and turned right onto Congress Avenue, where a Black Lives Matter crowd was marching. Perry stopped, and several protesters approached his car, including Foster, police have said. Protesters have said they feared they were being attacked by someone in a car. Defense lawyers have said Foster, 28, raised his AK-47 at Perry, and that Perry, 37, fired in self-defense. Story continues Whether Perry, fueled by anti-protester beliefs, provoked the shooting by driving into a crowd of marchers or whether Foster pointed his rifle at Perry and Perry fired in self-defense has been at the heart of the much-anticipated trial that began March 28 in Travis County's 147th District Court. Garrett Foster, right, is seen with his wife, Whitney Mitchell. Mitchell hugged friends and cried in the courtroom Friday after hearing the guilty verdict in Foster's shooting death. A few witnesses said during the trial that Foster never raised his rifle at Perry. Perry, who did not testify, told police that Foster did. There was no video or photos presented at the trial that showed the position of Foster's rifle when he was shot. Prosecutor Guillermo Gonzalez said Perry's posts on social media show he clearly had very strong feelings against protesters, including saying that people could get away with shooting them in Texas. He was angry when he turned into the crowd because a woman he wanted to meet up with had texting him asking for money, said Gonzalez. "This is an age-old story about a man who couldn't keep his anger under control," said Gonzalez. "It's not about police, and it's not about protest marchers." Gonzalez said Perry committed aggravated assault with a deadly weapon by driving into the crowd even though he could clearly see the protesters marching from three different angles before he turned right on Congress Avenue, Gonzalez said. "Garrett Foster had every right to go up to him and see what the heck was going on and he had every right to do it with a deadly weapon," Gonzalez said. Defense attorney Doug O'Connell said prosecutors wanted the jury "to believe (Perry) had this evil plan when he turned right." "The protesters didn't know anything about Perry when they attacked the car and boxed it in," he said, "and Daniel had no choice, and that could have happened to anyone." O'Connell argued that Foster was dressed for battle at the protest, including wearing a neoprene vest under his T-shirt and carrying an AK-47, a club and a knife. Perry was wearing a T-shirt, shorts and flip-flops, the attorney said. "Garrett Foster is dressed for war," O'Connell said. "Daniel Perry is dressed for the beach." This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Daniel Perry verdict: Guilty of murder in Garrett Foster case Convicted killer Crosley Green has always maintained that he didnt commit the crime he was convicted of back in 1990. But the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his case. So after being on conditional release for nearly two years, Green has been ordered back to prison to continue serving his life sentence. But Greens attorneys said the Titusville man is not defeated, and Greens concern is for the family he may be leaving behind, again. On Sept. 5, 1990, Green was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1989, first-degree murder of Charles Chip Flynn, who was shot to death in Mims. but Greens attorneys said theres no direct evidence tying Green to the murder, and that prosecution witnesses have recanted testimony since Greens conviction. Read: A wrong has been done: Man freed after serving 30 years for murder could be sent back to jail In 2009, Green was resentenced to life in prison. And in 2018, Greens conviction was overturned, but then an appeals court overturned that ruling. Greens attorneys petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court, but in late February the court declined to hear his case. The fight is not over, and the fight will never be over until Crosely Green is free, attorney Jeane Thomas said. So, our options really lie with the state of Florida now, and they include parole and clemency. Read: A free man: Man who spent 30 years in prison released 2 years after conviction overturned Green is scheduled to return to prison on April 17, but attorneys say they remain hopeful that the state of Florida will do the right thing. To me, its just another part of what Im going through now to get my freedom. thats all it is, Green said. We believe that justice will prevail ultimately at the end of the day, Thomas said. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. You are here: Business The World Bank has lowered its estimate for Ukraine's gross domestic product (GDP) growth this year to 0.5 percent from 3.3 percent estimated in January, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported Thursday. The economic toll caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict was the main factor behind the downgrade, the bank said in a report. According to it, the reopening of Ukraine's Black Sea ports and resumption of grain trade, as well as substantial donor support, will help support economic activity in Ukraine this year. The bank estimated the cost of Ukraine's post-conflict reconstruction and recovery at 411 billion U.S. dollars. The World Bank projected that the Ukrainian economy will grow by 6.5 percent in 2025 after rising 3.5 percent in 2024. In 2022, Ukraine's GDP suffered a record decline of 29.2 percent, according to the bank. The Supreme Court in 2021 The US Supreme Court is in the spotlight again this week after one of its conservative justices, Clarence Thomas, came under fire for accepting luxury vacations from a billionaire Republican donor. Earlier this week, a ProPublica report revealed Mr Thomas failed to disclose trips he took with real estate mogul Harlan Crow almost every year over the course of two decades, despite being required to file annual disclosures of gifts. In a statement on Friday, Mr Thomas said that he had been told by colleagues and others that "this sort of personal hospitality" did not need to be formally disclosed. Mr Thomas is one of nine justices on the Supreme Court serving lifetime appointments after being nominated by the president and approved by the Senate. Here is a look at the conservative justice and his eight colleagues who sit on the bench, including the Supreme Court's most recent member, Ketanji Brown Jackson, a liberal chosen by President Joe Biden last year. Jackson's appointment has not altered the 6-3 conservative majority on the court. Clarence Thomas Clarence Thomas On the court since: 23 October 1991 How he got to the court: Thomas was born in a small town in Georgia, and was one of the few African-Americans in attendance during a short stint in seminary and then at Holy Cross College. But unlike Justice Sotomayor, those experiences made him distrustful of affirmative action policies. After finishing Yale Law, he worked in Missouri government and in Washington DC before being named chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, an agency that responds to discrimination claims in the workplace. After a bruising confirmation hearing - in which a former employee accused him of sexual harassment - Thomas was narrowly confirmed to Supreme Court, at the relatively young age of 43. Who is he as a justice? Thomas' originalism is exacting, including a disregard for stare decisis, respect for prior court rulings and precedence. Thomas has also not asked a question during oral arguments in nine years. He has previously said he doesn't care for the question-heavy arguments, sometimes already drafting opinions based on written briefs before any lawyer gets up to argue. Thomas often files entirely separate dissents rarely joined by others, but Coyle says he is influential in other ways, including during conferences only justices attend, and in "difficult decisions" in areas that don't get a lot of press - like intellectual property and tax law. Thomas replaced the first African-American justice on the court - Thurgood Marshall. Story continues Judge Jackson Ketanji Brown Jackson On the court since: 3 October 2022 How she got to the court: The first black woman to sit on the court in its 233-year history is also the first justice since 1967 to come to the court with extensive experience as a criminal defence attorney. Before the US Supreme Court, the Washington DC native served on the influential US court of Appeals for the DC circuit. She has two degrees from Harvard University and once served as editor of the Harvard Law Review. Ms Jackson has said she has a "methodology" to deciding cases but not an overarching philosophy. Some conservatives have accused her of being "soft" on criminals, pointing to her experience as a public defender and willingness as a federal judge to issue prison sentences below federal guidelines. Her confirmation came after President Biden pledged during his presidential campaign to appoint a black woman to the top court. Stephen Breyer Stephen Breyer On the court since: 3 August 1994 How he got to the court: Breyer grew up in San Francisco with a lawyer father and a politically-active mother, attending Stanford, then Harvard Law. After clerking for Justice Arthur Goldberg, he moved into government, working as counsel in various positions in Congress, including as an assistant special prosecutor in the Watergate investigation. He spent a lengthy period of time on the First Circuit Court of Appeals and was considered for a Supreme Court nomination in 1991. It went to Ruth Bader Ginsburg instead. President Clinton went back to Breyer when Justice Blackmun retired from the court in 1994. Who is he as a justice? Breyer believes the court needs to consider the history of laws, the intent of Congress and the consequences of its decisions. "He believes deeply in government and government processes," Dahlia Lithwick, Slate's legal correspondent says. Breyer, the king of the complicated hypothetical, has sought to "bridge gaps" in differences between the justices, says Marcia Coyle, the chief Washington correspondent for the National Law Journal, by listening closely to find give-and-take between justices on an issue. "Those hypothetical questions are really designed for his colleagues," Coyle says. He did this last year while writing a 9-0 opinion in a politically charged case over the president's power to appoint judges and other officials during Senate recesses. The ruling was narrowly decided against the president, and both the conservative and liberal wings were in agreement on the final judgement - but not all the details. Samuel Alito Samuel Alito On the court since: 31 January 2006 How he got to the court: Alito grew up in New Jersey in an Italian immigrant family. While at Princeton University, he was involved in conservative and libertarian groups, as well as the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps. After Yale law school, he was a prosecutor in New Jersey and served in the Reagan administration in the justice department, including as assistant to the solicitor general, where he argued before the Supreme Court. President George HW Bush named him to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in 1990, where he stayed until his nomination to The Supreme Court. Who is he as a justice? Alito is a conservative justice, but one who does not hew as often to originalism as fellow conservatives Scalia and Thomas. He is not always talkative in oral arguments but his questions are sharp, aiming to pick apart an argument's logic. Alito has a low public profile despite being a large part of the court's rightward shift on business, campaign finance and racial issues over the past decade. The former prosecutor has been "very pro-government" in criminal cases, Coyle says, and has shown less willingness than his conservative colleagues to protect free speech in cases where it is harmful or hateful. Elena Kagan Elena Kagan On the court since: 7 August 2010 How she got to the court: Kagan grew up in New York City. At the age of 12, she convinced her rabbi to hold the synagogue's first formal bat mitzvah, the rite of passage for young women. After law school at Harvard, she clerked for Justice Thurgood Marshall. After a successful stint as the first female dean of Harvard Law School, she was briefly US solicitor general - the federal government's top representative at the US Supreme Court, before being nominated by President Barack Obama for the high court. Who is she as a justice? Kagan is the first justice in decades not to previously serve as a judge. She is part of the court's left-leaning wing, but has been the author of many of recent unanimous or near unanimous decisions. Her writing is often easy for a layperson to understand without sacrificing legal analysis, and she is an aggressive questioner during oral arguments. Kagan first took her seat at the bench at the age of 50 and could potentially be a force on the court for decades. Lithwick says Kagan is "much more inscrutable" on issues than other recent additions to the court. "She's very close to the vest," she says. US Supreme Court Justice John Roberts John Roberts On the court since: 29 September 2005 How he got to the court: Born in New York and raised in Indiana, Roberts attended a boarding school as a teenager but also spent summers working in a steel mill. After considering becoming a historian at Harvard, he went to law school there instead, eventually clerking for then-Associate Justice Rehnquist. He spent many years as a lawyer in the Reagan administration then entered private practice, arguing before the high court and serving as one of several legal advisers to George W Bush in the Florida presidential recount case. Originally nominated to fill the spot left by retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Roberts was re-nominated for the chief justice position after Chief Justice Rehnquist died between terms, and his nomination was fast-tracked. Who is he as a justice: A conservative justice, Roberts is the third-youngest Chief Justice in the court's history, confirmed at 50 years old. Last year's term saw more than half its cases decided unanimously, something many court watchers cite as the outcome of Roberts' desire to foster agreement through narrower rulings. He also notably wrote the 5-4 opinion that shot down a major challenge to President Barack Obama's healthcare law. "I think he cares deeply about how the 'Roberts court' looks," Lithwick says, and knows he can move the court slowly over decades. "He doesn't want huge swings, except in areas he feels very strongly about," Coyle says, like government's role in racial issues, campaign finance's relation to free speech and the structure of constitution. Roberts also looks to keep decorum on the bench during oral arguments. Sonia Sotomayor Sonia Sotomayor On the court since: 8 August 2009 How she got to the court: Sotomayor was born to Puerto Rican parents in the Bronx. As a student at Princeton University, she fought for hiring more Latino professors and admitting more Latino students. After Yale Law school, she became a prosecutor in New York and was later named to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. The federal appeals courts are often the final step before the Supreme Court for cases. In the second circuit, Sotomayor authored more than 150 majority opinions - including a few that were ultimately overruled by the higher court. Who is she as a justice? Sotomayor is the first Hispanic justice. She's also been one of the most public facing - her memoir appeared on the New York Times' best-selling list, she appeared twice on Sesame Street, once to adjudicate a dispute between Goldilocks and Baby Bear, and she helped drop the ball in Times Square on New Year's Eve 2013. "She's trying really hard to demystify the court, showing 'You can be a justice too'," Lithwick says. Her former experience as a prosecutor and trial judge often leads her to challenge lawyers on the facts of a case, says Marcia Coyle, the chief Washington correspondent for the National Law Journal. "She knows how criminal trials operate," Coyle says. Neil Gorsuch on the US Supreme Court Neil Gorsuch On the court since: 10 April 2017 How he got to the court: At 49, Gorsuch was the youngest nominee in a quarter of a century when he was approved in 2017. The Colorado native, whose legal pedigree includes Harvard and Oxford, was first nominated to the 10th US Circuit Court of Appeals by former President George W Bush in 2006. He began his law career clerking for Supreme Court Justices Byron White and Anthony Kennedy, and worked in a private law practice in Washington for a decade and served as the principal deputy assistant associate attorney general at the Justice Department under the Bush administration. Judge Gorsuch graduated from Columbia University and Harvard Law School, where former President Barack Obama was a classmate, and earned a doctorate in legal philosophy at Oxford University. Who is he as a justice? Gorsuch succeeded the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and was welcomed by conservatives who consider him to espouse a similarly strict interpretation of law. In his first year on the court he has cemented the 5-4 conservative advantage, and that's been seen in a series of rulings on contentious issues such as the Trump travel ban, trade union fees and gerrymandering. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on 27 September Brett Kavanaugh On the court since: 6 October 2018 How he got to the court: Kavanaugh served on the influential Court of Appeals for the District of Colombia Circuit and was formerly a White House aide under George W Bush. He previously worked for Kenneth Starr, the independent counsel who investigated Democratic President Bill Clinton in the 1990s. His confirmation process was one of the most controversial in recent years amid allegations of sexual misconduct in the 1980s, which he denied. After a hearing in which one of his accusers gave a dramatic testimony of the alleged incident and Kavanaugh fiercely defended his record, he was approved by the Senate by 50-48. Born in Washington, DC in 1965, Kavanaugh studied at Georgetown Preparatory School an all-boys school in Bethesda, Maryland, and graduated from Yale College and Yale Law School. Who is he as a justice? He succeeded Anthony Kennedy, who was the Supreme Court's swing vote, often casting the deciding opinion in 5-4 cases, consolidating a conservative majority at the top court. Some Democrats fiercely opposed to his name for his views on delicate issues such as abortion. His views on the environment and gun rights have also raised concerns among environmentalists and gun control activists. Amy Coney Barrett Amy Coney Barrett On the court since: 27 October 2020 How she got to the court: Born in New Orleans of Irish and French ancestry, Barrett was the eldest of seven children in a devoutly Catholic family and is now herself a mother of seven. She was the student body vice-president at her all-girls Catholic high school. After graduating first in her class at Notre Dame Law School, in Indiana, she clerked for Justice Antonin Scalia, a conservative icon, and later worked on George W Bush's election lawsuit in 2000. Barrett also became a distinguished law professor at her alma mater. She was picked for the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in 2017 by President Donald Trump and was nominated to the high court less than three years later. Who is she as a justice? Often considered a protege of Justice Scalia, Barrett is a proponent of textualism, the view that judges should apply the law as written and interpret the US Constitution as it was originally intended. In her acceptance speech at the White House, Barrett said: "Judges are not policymakers, and they must be resolute in setting aside any policy views they may hold." She has said her Catholic faith does not influence her rulings. Past legal opinions and remarks on abortion and gay marriage have made her popular with the religious right, but have earned her vehement opposition from the left. She drew scrutiny for her reported leadership role, with the title of "handmaid", in the People of Praise, a tight-knit, Christian faith-based group. Justin Jones was one of two Tennessee lawmakers who were expelled from the state's House of Representatives by a Republican majority following a protest over gun violence that made its way onto the House floor earlier this month. Jones was reinstated this week after garnering national attention after his passionate speech on the House floor when he was expelled. Jones is just 27 years old one of the youngest members of the state's legislature, and assumed office in 2022. He and two other Democratic lawmakers Reps. Justin Pearson and Gloria Johnson led protesters in a chant of "power to the people" in the chamber during a demonstration after a mass shooting killed six people at a Nashville school last month. Republican lawmakers accused them of breaking House rules on conduct and decorum and voted to expel both Jones and 28-year-old Pearson, who are both Black. Johnson, who is a White woman, was not expelled. Johnson told CNN the expulsion of Jones and Pearson "might have to do with the color" of their skin. "A state in which the Ku Klux Klan was founded is now attempting another power grab by silencing the two youngest Black representatives," Jones said on the House floor before the vote to expel him. Democratic state Rep. Justin Jones of Nashville gestures during a vote on his expulsion from the state legislature at the State Capitol Building on April 6, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee. / Credit: Seth Herald / Getty Images Jones has been involved in many high profile demonstrations in the state's capital and has "fought for justice since childhood," according to his campaign site. He graduated from Fisk University, an HBCU in Nashville, where he campaigned to repeal Tennessee restrictive voter ID laws and to expand Medicaid in the state. He also attended Vanderbilt Divinity School for graduate school. In 2019, Jones attended a protest to remove a statue of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest, an early leader of the Klan, displayed in the state's Capitol. During the demonstration, Jones allegedly threw a cup of liquid at Republican State Rep. Glen Casada. Jones was charged with two counts of misdemeanor assault and one count of disorderly conduct, according to The Tennessean. Story continues Lawmakers also attempted to ban him from the Capitol building, saying he was a "danger to public safety." A judge blocked the ban. The judge denied the District Attorneys motion to ban me from the Capitol grounds and require electronic GPS monitoring. The state filed this motion at the direction of @GovBillLees appointed commissioner and stated I was a danger to public safety. 1/ pic.twitter.com/9fTNyzwLyW Rep. Justin Jones (@brotherjones_) August 13, 2020 Casada, who tweeted video from the incident, agreed to have Jones' criminal charges dropped if Jones followed certain conditions, including no contact with Casada and other lawmakers involved in the incident. Jones has been removed from or arrested during other protests, including a 2020 protest for police reform in the wake of the death of George Floyd. Several protesters were charged during that days-long demonstration, during which they flocked to the state's Capitol building. Many of the charges, including Jones' initial charges, were dropped, according to the Tennessean. But a year later, Jones faced additional charges for allegedly throwing a traffic cone at a car during the protest. Video of the moment was released but Jones wrote in a tweet it didn't show the whole incident, saying the man in the car "was yelling racial slurs and pushing his car into protesters." After public pressure, this is the short video clip the DAs Office is sending to media and politicians trying to justify my new charges. Show all the videos. Show how the man was yelling racial slurs and pushing his car into protesters. Explain the troopers standing right 1/ pic.twitter.com/5UlkSyxmvn Rep. Justin Jones (@brotherjones_) June 24, 2021 "They will try to push a false narrative portraying me as 'violent' as a way to deflect from their own actions," Jones wrote in another tweet. "They will suggest that I am out of order. That is their strategy. However, I'm hopeful for the chance to present our evidence in a transparent manner." The additional charges were dropped by a judge. Jones first attempted to run for office in 2019 but did not gather enough signatures required to make it on the ballot, according to the Nashville Post. When he won his election in 2022, taking over for State Representative Mike Stewart as the representative for Tennessee's 52nd district, he tweeted that he made history. "My name is Justin Jones. I'm a 26 year-old community organizer, been arrested over 14 times for good trouble, and I look forward to serving as the next state representative of District 52 (the most diverse district in TN)," he wrote. Jones often calls his activism "good trouble," referencing late civil rights icon and U.S. Rep. John Lewis, of Georgia, who referred to his decades-long activism work and peaceful protesting as "good trouble." When Jones and Pearson were expelled after last week's protests, many came to their defense, including former President Barack Obama and President Joe Biden. "This nation was built on peaceful protest. No elected official should lose their job simply for raising their voice especially when they're doing it on behalf of our children," Obama tweeted. "Today's expulsion of lawmakers who engaged in peaceful protest is shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent," President Biden said in a statement. "Rather than debating the merits of the issue, these Republican lawmakers have chosen to punish, silence, and expel duly elected representatives of the people of Tennessee." Nashville's Metro Council voted to unanimously reinstate Jones less than a week after his expulsion. "I want to welcome the people back to the people's house," he said as he addressed the House. "I'm hopeful for the days ahead for Tennessee, not because of the actions of this body, but because of the actions of the people out there, the thousands gathered outside this chamber right now, who are calling for something better. Chicago chosen to host 2024 Democratic National Convention How drag queens got dragged into politics Doctor gives update on Louisville shooting victims Civil protest and resistance can occur in multiple forms. Deployed in a certain context, by a certain person, an Afro can be as much of a political act or statement as leading a picket line (see the Black Panther movement). This week two young Black lawmakers illustrated the subtle power of self-fashioning that pushes against norms. The national hubbub began on March 30, when Tennessee representatives Justin J. Jones, of Nashville, and Justin Pearson, of Memphis, disrupted statehouse proceedings with megaphones and led protests calling for stricter gun control in the wake of a mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville. The demonstration was a powerful break from political inertia around the long-debated issue and made headlines. We occupied the House floor today after repeatedly being silenced from talking about the crisis of mass shootings, Jones wrote on Twitter shortly after the demonstrations. We could not go about business as usual as thousands were protesting outside demanding action. The protests were a meaningful, attention-grabbing show of civil disobedience. But in many ways Jones and Pearson were already bucking against the so-called status quo of the Republican-controlled chambersin part through their sartorial choices, which have included Afros, pristine white suits, and dashikis (a colorful patterned garment, which originated in West Africa, for both formal and informal occasions). If President Barack Obama became a target of Republican-led attacks and vitriol by donning a tan suit, imagine the chatter a white one would have elicited? Or a dashiki? The pushback from Republican lawmakers was swift. On Thursday the House voted to expel Jones and Pearson, with Speaker Cameron Sexton, of Crossville, likening their protests to an insurrection. This means the lawmakers seats have become vacant and, because the 2024 general election is more than 12 months away, a special election could be held to fill their seats. Jones, who is of Filipino and Black descent, delivered a nearly 20-minute defense before the vote took place, calling the affair a lynch mob assembledto not lynch me but our democratic process. He immediately stood out in the sea of drab-colored suits and closely cropped haircuts through his white suit, hoop earring, and long curls that were loosely pulled back into a ponytail. Ditto Pearson. The 29-year-old lawmaker has a big, combed-out Afro and wore a black-and-white dashiki over his crisp white button-down and tie, with a navy blazer worn over the ensemble. Here were two men of color tinkering with the standard politicians uniform and transforming it into something decidedly more personal and attuned to who they are. It felt even more poignant that it was taking place while being ousted from the very space they were attempting to change. Three Tennessee Lawmakers Face Expulsion After Joining Gun Protest Seth Herald/Getty Images Three Tennessee Lawmakers Face Expulsion After Joining Gun Protest Seth Herald/Getty Images Three Tennessee Lawmakers Face Expulsion After Joining Gun Protest Seth Herald/Getty Images Representative Gloria Johnson, of Knoxville, was also part of the protests and faced a vote for expulsion. She survived by a single vote. Johnson was frank when asked by reporters why she, and not her Democratic colleagues, might have escaped expulsion. I think its pretty clear, Johnson said. Im a 60-year-old white woman, and they are two young Black men. In listening to the questions and the way they were questioned and the way they were talked to, I was talked down to as a woman, mansplained to, but it was completely different from the questioning that they got. Prior to the vote, the House had only expelled two lawmakers in its 157-year history. Johnson and Pearson were political targets long before their protests. How they styled and presented themselves to the world was a major driver, or scapegoat perhaps, behind the attacks. In February, Pearson faced criticism from his fellow lawmakers over his decision to wear a dashiki onto the House floor. Representative David Hawk, who is white, made comments on the House floor that many interpreted as directed toward Pearson, regaling a tale about once being reprimanded by a fellow lawmaker for not wearing a blazer and tie. The dog whistle was clear: Hawk did not consider Pearsons dashiki to be appropriate garb for the House chambers. Later on Twitter, Pearson issued a full-throated rebuke to his colleagues criticism, posting a photo of himself wearing a dashiki with his fist raised triumphantly. He wrote, in part, Resistance and subversion to the status quo ought to make some people uncomfortable. Thank you to every Black Ancestor who made this opportunity possible! Of course, debates over appropriate ways for political figures to dress, and not dress, are nothing new. Former first lady Michelle Obama once elicited undue and outsized attention for her arm-baring dresses; Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has had to explain and defend her penchant for pantsuits. It seems natural that with a widening of who is in the political arena, a widening of political style would and should follow. Female officials have been leading the charge. In 2018 Representative Ilhan Omar became the first elected official to wear a headscarf in Congress, and she helped change a 181-year-old ban against any type of headwear in the chamber. But such full-throated activism from male politicians has been more rare. Jones and Pearson have vowed to return to the House. Outside, shortly after his expulsion, Pearson and a crowd of supporters chanted, We will never quit! We will never quit! \ Originally Appeared on Vogue More Great Fashion Stories from Vogue Kal Penn has recalled how an innocent request for dating advice landed him into an awkward situation. The comedian, 45, said the incident occurred early in his career, after he came out to a manager and was searching for advice on how actors meet nice people to date. The Harold and Kumar star, who is currently engaged to his long-term partner Josh, told Kelly Ripa on the Lets Talk Off Camera podcast that he had wanted to know how dating as an actor worked. How do you know that somebody that youre dating wants to date you for you? What are the ground rules here, and is it any different? he said. To Penns surprise, his manager quickly set him up for lunch with a producer who was also gay to talk about dating as an actor. [The producer] goes, Yeah, I mean, Im just gonna email you a list just of some guys and their photos, the actor recalled. And Im like, Whoa, thats so cool! Playing matchmaker already. And he goes, Yeah, and you know, theyre not that expensive and theyre never gonna say anything. It was at this point that Penn, a former White House employee, realised there was a misunderstanding between them. I was like, Sorry, I think you dont understand. No disrespect to sex workers, but thats not what Im looking for. My question to you is, how do I meet a nice guy, go on a couple of dates? he clarified. Unfortunately, the unnamed producers answer was disappointing. He goes, I dont know anything about that. Penn said he told the producer not to send him the list of names. In retrospect, Im very curious, he told Ripa. The Designated Survivor star came out in 2021, revealing that he was engaged to Josh, his partner of 13 years. He first opened up about his relationship in his memoir, You Cant Be Serious. In a later interview with People, Penn said he discovered his sexuality later in life and he was fortunate to have been supported by everyone. Theres no timeline on this stuff. People figure their s*** out at different times in their lives, so Im glad I did when I did, he said. (Reuters) - Kansas lawmakers approved a bill early on Friday that would require healthcare providers to tell patients that medication abortions can be reversed once started, a claim medical experts call unfounded and potentially dangerous. The legislation now proceeds to Kansas' Democratic Governor Laura Kelly, who is expected to veto it, potentially setting up a court challenge if the bill's Republican backers can muster a two-thirds majority in each chamber to override her veto. Opponents say the bill undermines the will of Kansas voters who in an August statewide referendum rejected by nearly 60% a state constitutional amendment that would have declared there was no right to abortion. Kansas was the first state to hold such a vote after the U.S. Supreme Court in June overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 case that legalized abortion nationwide. The referendum drew record turnout and indicated broad support for abortion rights across the political spectrum. The new bill would require any place where medication abortions are provided to post a notice telling patients that "it may be possible to reverse" the intended effect if only one of two pills used in the abortion has been taken. Supporters say the notice would provide information about where patients could obtain further assistance, ensuring women have options in case they regret initiating an abortion. Physicians say the premise of the bill is incorrect. "Claims regarding abortion 'reversal' treatment are not based on science and do not meet clinical standards," according to a fact sheet on the website of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. A similar bill failed in Kansas in 2019 after its Republican supporters narrowly failed to get the two-thirds majority needed to overcome Kelly's veto in the state House. The Kansas legislature earlier this week approved a bill creating new punishments for doctors accused of not providing sufficient care to infants that are delivered alive during an abortion. The bill has veto-proof majorities in both houses, but it could still be challenged and overturned in court. (Reporting by Julia Harte; Editing by Bill Berkrot) Kansas lawmakers have sent to Democratic Gov. Laura Kellys desk a bill to establish a flat income tax and eliminate the state food sales tax a year early. The Kansas House voted 85 to 38 and the Senate voted 24 to 13 early Friday to send a tax package to Kelly that establishes a flat income tax of 5.15% for individuals. The bill taxes any income above $6,150 for individuals and $12,300 for married couples. Under current law, the food sales tax will be eliminated on Jan. 1 of 2025. The bill moves that elimination up a single year to 2024. The full package will cost roughly $485 million annually once it is fully implemented. The House earned enough votes to override a veto from Kelly while the Senate fell three votes short. Kelly, who took office after the repeal of former Republican Gov. Sam Brownbacks income tax cuts following years of budget shortfalls, is unlikely to sign the bill. Speaking to reporters at an event in Olathe Wednesday, Kelly indicated she would reject any version of a flat tax - even as numerous Democrats in the House voted in favor of a bill with a 5.25% rate. She said it would remove the states ability to take any other tax relief actions. I have looked at the numbers and I have yet to come up with a flat tax that is sustainable over time, Kelly said. Kelly has sought the immediate elimination of the food sales cut for more than a year. Last year Republicans opted to implement the phase in rather than an immediate cut and the governor campaigned last year on giving Kansans an immediate cut if she was reelected. The vote came after two back to back debates late Thursday night and early Friday morning. Advocates of the flat tax argue it simplifies the tax system for Kansans, offering a tax cut to everyone. States that are doing well fiscally have lower income tax and single brackets, said Sen. Caryn Tyson, a Parker Republican. It just makes sense. But the policy ultimately provides a far larger cut to wealthier Kansans than it does to low income taxpayers. Story continues According to an analysis from the Kansas Department of Revenue, the bill would provide around $3,000 in annual tax cuts to Kansas highest earners while Kansas lowest earners would receive less than $50 annually in tax cuts. The flat tax alone is expected to cost the state about $318 million annually once it is fully implemented. Rep. Tom Sawyer, a Wichita Democrat, argued that package as a whole was too expensive for the state and prioritized high earners over the average Kansan. I cant support this bill, Sawyer said. Rep. Adam Smith, a Weskan Republican who chairs the House Tax committee, said Sawyer was correct that the bill would help high income Kansans more than low income Kansans. He urged his colleagues to support the policy regardless, pointing to an increase in the overall standard deduction for all taxpayers included in the bill. The bill also accelerates a planned corporate tax cut that comes as a result of Kansas using a new incentive program to lure Panasonic and Integra Technologies to start major business developments in the state. The bill reduces Social Security tax for retirees and includes a provision that would gradually reduce the tax over time. The Social Security decrease had been part of Kellys tax plan alongside an immediate elimination of the food sales tax. and sales tax on diapers and feminine hygiene products. House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, applauded the package as a good use of the states surplus funds. But during House GOP caucus meeting, he acknowledged that a veto was likely. Our governors not going to sign any flat tax, shes told us that, Hawkins told GOP lawmakers. Our task was to find a package that we could all agree on and keep our votes together. House Minority Leader Vic Miller, a Topeka Democrat, said he had voted for an earlier version of the flat tax because he thought it was the best possible bill. The final package, he said, he could not support. The overwhelming majority of Democrats voted against the bill citing the cost. This just hearkens back to the good old Sam days, said Sen. Tom Holland, a Baldwin City Democrat, referencing Brownback. The Stars Jonathan Shorman contributed reporting. The Kansas Legislature voted Thursday to block the University of Kansas and other public colleges from spending any funds to require students, employees and job applicants to affirm support for diversity, equity and inclusion on campus. Republican lawmakers tucked the ban into a budget bill that authorizes nearly $17 billion in spending over the next fiscal year. The move to restrict DEI statements, sometimes called oaths by conservative critics, comes as lawmakers in neighboring Missouri and other states also target DEI initiatives, attacking them as woke or left-wing ideology. I dont agree with anyone having to subscribe to a particular ideology or line of thought, especially in higher education, Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, told The Star. The Senate approved the budget 24-12, followed by the House in a 79-44 vote. The next budget year will begin July 1. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has the power to line-item veto the DEI provision. Her office didnt immediately comment. The budget provision prohibits universities from requiring anyone from endorsing or opposing DEI, or from requiring statements about someones commitment to DEI. During a Senate budget hearing in March, state Sen. J.R. Claeys, a Salina Republican, read from a University of Kansas job posting asking applicants to describe their experiences working with people from diverse backgrounds and how those experiences reflect your commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion. But the provision also includes carve-outs that limit its sweep. It allows the universities to ask about commitments to DEI if expertise in it is necessary in the persons field. It also says the prohibitions shall not limit academic freedom related to teaching, researching or writing. The provision also permits compliance with federal and state anti-discrimination laws. Each university would be required to provide a report about compliance to the Legislature and the Kansas Attorney Generals Office. Story continues Kansas Board of Regents chair Jon Rolph in a statement called the board a leader in upholding freedom of expression, citing a 2021 resolution affirming a commitment to the free speech rights of students. At the same time, Rolph said, the regents value diversity and are committed to the success of all members of our diverse campus communities. Those two commitments are not in conflict with each other, Rolph said. We must respect and protect freedom of expression while also working to ensure that every student in our system can achieve success. The regents institutions are more racially diverse than Kansas as a whole. In 2022, about 62% of students were white, compared to 74% of the state population, according to statistics from the Kansas Board of Regents. Hispanic students account for nearly 12% of those enrolled and make up about 13% of the state population. About 6% of students are Black, in line with the state population of 6%. All other races and ethnicities account for 13.5% of enrollment. The race or ethnicity of about 6% of students are unknown. Critics of the DEI budget measure called it unnecessary intrusion into university operations. The Kansas Board of Regents is already responsible for governing public higher education, including Kansas State University and Wichita State University. Theres a reason we have the Board of Regents. Theres a reason they govern our universities, said state Rep. Brandon Woodard, a Lenexa Democrat. They should be the ones that if they feel that its necessary to talk about setting standards for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion training to do it, not the politicians in this room. State Rep. Barbara Ballard, a Lawrence Democrat who is the senior associate director of KUs Dole Institute of Politics, said shes opposed to the provision. We all need to kind of stay in our own lane, she said. In Missouri, after state lawmakers proposed legislation that would ban public colleges from asking job candidates questions about diversity and race, the University of Missouri System preemptively scrapped the use of diversity statements in its hiring practices. Instead of using diversity, equity and inclusion statements, university leaders will now send a values commitment to job applicants. The full consequences of the Kansas language werent immediately clear, given the exemptions within the provision. The University of Kansas gave few details when asked if it had taken a position on the provision or had concerns with it. We continue to engage with the Kansas Board of Regents, our colleagues at the other Regents institutions, and state legislators to determine how the proposed legislation could impact our university, KU spokesperson Erinn Barcomb-Peterson said in an email. The budget bill includes $6 million to develop a foster care therapeutic program, nearly $7 million for a new Kansas Highway Patrol helicopter and provides $2 million to establish a program to encourage women with unplanned pregnancies to give birth rather than having an abortion. But the legislation doesnt include a 5% pay raise for state employees proposed by Kelly, valued at $170 million. It also doesnt include funds that Kansas would receive from Medicaid expansion, which Kelly has also included in previous budget proposals. Republican lawmakers have refused to authorize expansion. The legislation wont be the last budget measure approved by the Legislature this year, however. In a few weeks, lawmakers will debate a final budget. The Stars Jenna Barackman and Kacen Bayless contributed reporting House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is to be commended for his recent leadership on the world stage, as he hosted the president of Taiwan to a meeting in Southern California. McCarthy, the Republican from Bakersfield whose district now stretches to Fresno County, invited President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan to a meeting at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. He did so despite warnings from communist Chinese leaders that the gathering must not take place. Chinas leaders consider Taiwan to be part of their nation. The United States recognizes the one nation view, but also maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan and provides military support as well. The United States has pledged to defend Taiwan should China attack it. Last year, then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi traveled to Taiwan and spent several days there, fulfilling a long-held desire she had to see the country. Chinese leaders were furious over Pelosis trip and held days of military exercises around the island after she left. In advance of the McCarthy-Tsai meeting, Chinese leaders termed the meeting a provocation and threatened countermeasures should it be held. It remains to be seen what China will do now in the aftermath of McCarthys meeting with Tsai. But he made it clear he would not acquiesce to Chinese demands over Taiwan. I am the speaker of the House, McCarthy said afterward.. There is no place that Chinas going to tell me where I can go and who I can speak to, whether you be foe or whether you be friend. Bipartisanship at work Both Republican and Democratic members of the House attended the gathering at the Reagan Library, making for a strong moment of bipartisanship. McCarthy upheld a unified front by hosting Tsai months after Pelosis trip. The message to communist Chinese leaders could not be missed: Americas leaders, across the political spectrum, stand with Taiwan. Such a clear demonstration is even more striking given the backsliding of some GOP members when it comes to Russias invasion of Ukraine. A group of about a dozen far-right legislators in February put forward a Ukraine Fatigue resolution. It calls on the U.S. to end its military and financial aid to Ukraine and told combatants to reach a peace agreement. Story continues McCarthy himself has signaled American support for Ukraine cannot be a blank check. But it must be unwavering. Just as Taiwan is a democracy, so too is Ukraine and the rest of Europe. McCarthy must stand against authoritarians wherever they may be. Homegrown challenges await Hosting the Taiwan president may be easier than some of the tough battles ahead for McCarthy, notably dealing with Americas debt ceiling, which comes to a head in a few months. It will take all of McCarthys political skills to hammer out a workable plan that does not shut down the government he helps lead. In those moments, McCarthy should remember his time at the Reagan Library with Tsai as an example of bipartisan strength. That can help inform his leadership on the domestic problems facing the nation. Rep. Justin Jones was expelled from the Tennessee Legislature for using a bullhorn to shout support for pro-gun control protesters in the House chamber. (George Walker IV/AP) The Republican-controlled Tennessee House of Representatives voted to expel two Black Democrats Thursday afternoon, while sparing a third white colleague of that fate, after the trio of lawmakers led a protest on the House floor last week. State representatives Justin Jones of Nashville, Justin Pearson of Memphis and Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, launched their protest on Thursday, March 30, demanding that the chamber move to enact gun control legislation in the wake of the deadly school shooting days earlier in Nashville that claimed the lives of seven people, including three children. Citing their disorderly behavior, House Republicans introduced a motion on Monday to expel all three of the Democrats. The highly unusual move marked the third time since the Civil War that a House member was expelled in Tennessee. In 2016, then-Rep. Jeremy Durham, a Republican, was removed from the House over allegations of sexual misconduct with at least 22 women. In 1980, then-Rep. Robert Fisher, also a Republican, was expelled after being convicted of soliciting a bribe in exchange for attempting to block pending legislation. Here are the key takeaways from yesterdays expulsions. Race takes center stage in expulsion proceedings According to House rules, a two-thirds majority vote of members is required in order to expel a lawmaker. Given that 75 of the seats in the chamber are currently held by Republicans and 23 are held by Democrats, the GOP had a healthy head start on that goal. Three separate votes were held Thursday on whether to expel each lawmaker. No Democrat voted in favor of doing so, and the two Black representatives, Jones and Pearson, were ousted by votes of 72-25 and 69-26, respectively, while Johnson, who is white, held on to her seat when a majority of lawmakers (65-30) voted to let her remain. Asked Friday by CNN's Alisyn Camerota why Johnson believed she did not have the same fate as her colleagues, she replied, I think its pretty clear. Im a 60-year-old white woman, and they are two young Black men. Story continues Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, right, embraces Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, after a resolution to expel Johnson from the Legislature failed on Thursday. (George Walker IV/AP) Johnson added that she believed Jones and Pearson had been treated differently than she ahead of the votes. In listening to the questions and the way they were questioned and the way they were talked to ... it was completely different, Johnson said, adding that there was a permeating idea that you have to almost assimilate into this body to be like us. Speaking to NPRs Morning Edition on Friday, Jones accused House Republicans of trafficking in racial rhetoric and racism. This is the consequence of a body that wants to suppress not just our vote, but the votes of our districts that are majority Black and brown," he said. I represent one of the most diverse districts in Tennessee, and so now those 78,000 people have been silenced. Pearson, one of the two lawmakers expelled, told reporters that this is what happens when you lose democracy. It is no coincidence that the two youngest Black lawmakers in the state of Tennessee and one of two women are on trial today. That is not accidental, he said. Its starting in Tennessee, but it wont end here. Other national leaders shared these same sentiments. So this attack on democracy is also a racist attack, as the third lawmaker, Rep. Gloria Johnson, is white, Bernice King, the daughter of the late civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., tweeted shortly after the expulsion votes. A disastrously amoral day for Tennessee House Republicans in a state reeling from a school shooting. Olivia Julianna, director of politics and government affairs for the group Gen-Z for Change, called the voting results outright racism. Tennessee Republicans just expelled two black men from the legislature for protesting, but allowed the white legislator who did the same to keep her seat, Julianna tweeted. We stand with the Tennessee three. Protesters demand action on gun reform at the Tennessee state Capitol in Nashville. (Seth Herald/Getty Images) Republicans, in their own defense, said their actions had nothing to do with race, but instead were to uphold the rule of order for the House. Our members literally didnt look at the ethnicity of the members up for expulsion, Majority Leader William Lamberth of Portland told the Associated Press. Pushing back more pointedly, Republican Rep. Gino Bulso of Brentwood accused the three Democrats of effectively [conducting] a mutiny with the protest. Accusations of hypocrisy One of the most contentious moments during Thursdays six-hour House session came when Republican Rep. Johnny Garrett of Goodlettsville chastised the three Democratic lawmakers and moved to play a seven-minute video of the previous weeks protest. Democratic Caucus Chair John Ray Clemmons of Nashville argued that the footage shot on the House floor was itself a violation of the chambers rules that prohibit House members from recording or live streaming ongoing proceedings. We also saw on that video that that recording was made by somebody on the House floor that is also questionably a violation of the House rules and ethics rules, Clemmons said. After some back-and-forth debate, GOP House Speaker Cameron Sexton directed the House clerk to read the expulsion resolution for Jones, the first lawmaker expelled. A week prior, Sexton likened the House protest, in which the three Democrats approached the podium last week with a bullhorn chanting, No action, no peace! to an insurrection. House Speaker Cameron Sexton, left, confers with Rep. William Lamberth during expulsion proceedings for three House Democrats on the floor of the House chamber on Thursday. (George Walker IV/AP) Critics have called out Sexton for those comments. To liken the protest to an insurrection is to use hyperbolic language, Susan Haynes, an associate professor of political science at Lipscomb University in Nashville told Yahoo News. Insurrection is a crime. ... The three Tennessee Democratic lawmakers broke House rules, but did not rebel or rise up against the authority of the U.S. Keith Boykin, a national political commentator and author, invoked the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol when reflecting on Thursdays vote. The Republican Party today made it clear as day that a peaceful Black man with a megaphone is more threatening to them than a thousand violent white men with deadly weapons, Boykin tweeted. Despite Democrats claiming that they were raising their voices on behalf of their constituents, Tennessee Republican Caucus Chair Jeremy Faison told CNN Thursday evening that Jones and Pearson had a history of disrupting House floor proceedings. Its not possible for us to move forward with the way they were behaving in committee and on the House floor, Faison said. Theres got to be some peace. Garrett, who began Republican arguments against Jones, reiterated his view that rules here are for order. This is just not about one specific instance or one specific rule that may have been broken, he said. We owe that to the constituents that we represent across this state. Former Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, left, Rep. Gloria Johnson, center, D-Knoxville, and former Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, right, outside the House chamber after Pearson and Jones were expelled from the Legislature. (George Walker IV/AP) When Pearson took the podium, he challenged members of the House to recognize the origins of the United States. You, who celebrate July 4, 1776 pop fireworks and eat hotdogs you say to protest is wrong because you spoke out of turn, because you spoke out for people who are marginalized ... in a country built on people who speak out of turn, who spoke out of turn to build a nation, Pearson said. I come from a long line of people who resisted. Democrats seek to highlight inaction on gun reform While Republicans sought to keep the focus of Thursdays proceedings on the disruption that protest had caused in the House and the rules that it had broken, Democrats attempted to keep a spotlight on the issue of gun reform legislation. We called for you all to ban assault weapons, and you respond with an assault on democracy. That is why the nation is watching you today, Jones said, challenging his Republican colleagues. Johnson said during her time addressing the chamber that she joined the protest because she understands what its like to grapple with the effects of a school shooting having experienced one herself as a teacher more than a decade ago at Central High School in Knoxville, where in 2008 a student fatally shot a 15-year-old classmate during a dispute. That is why I walked up into the well, to stand with my other colleagues who were tired of having their voices cut off when we are trying to speak about violence in our classrooms, violence in our churches, violence in our restaurants and our grocery stores, she said. It was in my heart. It was compelling me to come forward and address this issue. I stood with them because we all feel our voices are being silenced. And something had to be said. Former Rep. Justin Jones, Rep. Gloria Johnson, and former Rep. Justin Pearson outside the House chamber after Jones and Pearson were expelled from the Tennessee Legislature. (George Walker IV/AP) As some Republicans made the case that measures passed in the chamber since the Nashville shooting would help increase school safety, Democrats countered that they didnt nearly go far enough. This is a part of what I think is a symptomatic problem of not addressing root causes, Pearson said. The root cause that each of us have to address is this gun violence epidemic due to the proliferation of guns." President Biden released his own statement late Thursday, slamming Republicans for focusing on the House protest instead of meaningful action to prevent another school shooting. Todays expulsion of lawmakers who engaged in peaceful protest is shocking, undemocratic and without precedent, Biden said. Rather than debating the merits of the issue, these Republican lawmakers have chosen to punish, silence and expel duly-elected representatives of the people of Tennessee. ... Our kids continue to pay the price. Growing concern over supermajority chambers The expulsion of two elected Tennessee House members was, in part, made possible by the fact that Republicans hold a supermajority in that chamber, meaning they can push through most bills, rules changes and other orders of business unilaterally. As Thursdays proceedings showed, that includes sanctioning, reprimanding and expelling colleagues for a wide array of reasons. Concerns over supermajorities wielding too much power are not limited to Tennessee, of course. A recent Senate win for Republicans in Wisconsin this week gives them a supermajority as they now control 22 of 33 senate seats, giving them enough power to impeach officials, including the Democratic governor. In North Carolina, a woman who won a House seat as a Democrat by 20 in the last election, switched to Republican, giving the GOP a supermajority in the House. Protesters in the state House gallery show support for the so-called Tennessee Three. (Seth Herald/Getty Images) With the precedent set to expel members from Thursdays Tennessee House session, some critics question whether having Republicans or Democrats wield an overwhelming majority in legislatures elsewhere will have lopsided effects in the future. Author and political analyst Jeff Greenfield noted in Politico, In the coming weeks and months, the Nashville battle may well be just a footnote as legislatures exercise their powers over everything from the makeup and reach of the courts to the traditional powers of a governor, to the will of the voters who vote for ballot propositions. Whats next for the expelled Democrats? A special election will be called to fill the two seats vacated by the expulsion of the two Democrats. But Jones and Pearson are both eligible to run again, Carrie Russell, a political science professor at Vanderbilt University, told Yahoo News. The winner of that election will fulfill the remainder of the term before having to run for reelection in 2024. In the interim, local governing bodies in each district can appoint temporary representatives, according to the Tennessee Constitution, and, once again, they can select Jones and Pearson for that role. Early indications point to both Jones and Pearson receiving the temporary appointments. At least 27 members of Nashvilles 40-seat Metropolitan Council, in Joness district, pledged their support online. Many believe that the council will vote to send Representative Jones back to the State House, Russell said. Similarly, sources in Memphis report that Pearson would similarly be elected by Shelby County government officials as the interim successor. Former Rep. Justin Pearson delivers his final remarks on the floor of the House chamber as he is expelled from the Legislature on Thursday. (George Walker IV/AP) Members of the Legislature are not allowed to fundraise during a legislative session, but within hours of his expulsion, Jones had reactivated his campaign fundraising website. At least one of 13 county commissioners in Shelby County have already pledged to reappoint Pearson. It remains unclear if or when a special meeting would be called on behalf of this appointment. House Speaker Sexton offered a cautious reception if Jones and Pearson were to return to the House. We all understand we wont agree on every issue or every vote, but we will continue to work together on issues where we have common ground, Sexton told Yahoo News. A majority of our legislation has always been bipartisan, and I do not expect that to change. But as clips of both men were posted on social media throughout the day Thursday, a common refrain about Pearson emerged from Democrats: A political star had been born. So powerful and inspiring. Justin Pearson is a star. They expelled him and birthed a national star. https://t.co/0b0JXTsLYW Yonathan Seleshi (@yonathanseleshi) April 7, 2023 The political legacy of the expulsions And while Jones and Pearson appear poised to win back their seats in the Tennessee House, the move to expel them in the first place may have longer-lasting implications. Jana Morgan, a professor of political science at the University of Tennessee, believes that the expulsion of the two Democrats could prove politically damaging for Republicans in the long term. It is likely Republican lawmakers in Tennessee are receiving plenty of positive feedback from their core constituencies (and probably the gun lobby as well), which seems to be reinforcing their resolve, Morgan, co-author of the book Hijacking the Agenda: Economic Power and Political Influence, told Yahoo News in an email. But beyond the diehards, the expulsion votes seem to be backfiring. Morgan added that Thursdays efforts have only further galvanized supporters for the expelled lawmakers in an effort to show that their voices will not be so easily silenced. Tennessee state representatives enter the House chamber as protesters demand action on gun reform, April 3. (Seth Herald/Getty Images) Echoing this assessment, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, said she believed that Republicans likely energized a youth base to do more organizing than ever before. Republicans may think they won today in Tennessee, but their fascism is only further radicalizing and awakening an earthquake of young people, both in the South and across the nation, Ocasio-Ortez tweeted Thursday evening. If you thought youth organizing was strong, just wait for whats coming. Gen Z dont play. But some critics are hesitant to overstate the effects of an expulsion. Thomas Goodman, an assistant professor in the Department of Politics and Law at Rhodes College in Memphis, believes that while expulsions could deter voicing of dissident opinions in some states, with rules in check, there shouldnt be major issues. Goodman told Yahoo News that, under the best circumstances, legislators would continue expressing their opinions and offering dissent, but through mechanisms that do not disrupt parliamentary procedures. Cover thumbnail: George Walker IV/AP (Jam Press/@khloekardashian) Khloe Kardashian has been mocked for a snap that many say looks like it was taken in a Wetherspoons toilet. Fans poked fun at the photo of the Good American founder cosying up to TV personality, Olivia Pierson. However, unlike most of the Kardashian sisters' snaps, fans were not complimenting their looks, but instead left in hysterics at the wallpaper behind them. Some compared the decor to the iconic pub chains bathrooms. Others linked it to a council house bedroom or wallpaper from the budget chain, B&M. It's unknown where Khloe, 38, was when the snap was taken. Alexandra Goodwin joked: What in the Wetherspoon toilet is this? Holly Spendley said British girl night out photo aesthetic. Another fan added, Thats a UK council house bedroom love. Nadene Lea said: Cant cope with the wallpaper. Its giving British council estate vibes. Proper British. One added, How British is this wallpaper? (Jam Press/@khloekardashian) Katy Teasdale joked: Thats a B&M wallpaper if ever Ive seen one. One, called Rachel, agreed and said: Why is there B&M wallpaper in the background? It comes after fans were left shell-shocked after seeing her sister Kim, out in a London boozer drinking Guinness on St Patrick's Day. Many have compared these two strange events from the Kardashian family, which some have suggested is a PR stunt. One fan said, This along with Kim drinking a pint of Guinness is sending me into a spin. (Jam Press/@kimkardashian) Days earlier, Khloe appeared to have hinted at her eight-month-old sons name for the first time. The 38-year-old spoke about her second child, who she welcomed in August via surrogate with ex Tristan Thompson, during Thursdays episode of The Jennifer Hudson Show. Along with their baby boy, the former couple share a soon-to-be five-year-old daughter, True. Speaking to Jennifer Hudson, Kardashian said that while her son has been named, she hasnt publicly revealed it yet. She also confessed that she wasnt set on what to name him when her son was born. Story continues Hes named, but I havent announced it, she explained. At first, I really did not know what I was going to name him. I wanted to meet him, and feel him out a little bit. So at first, he didnt have a name. (Jam Press/@khloekardashian) However, she said that once he was given a name, she was waiting to announce it for a different reason. Ive been waiting for the premiere of our show, she said, referring to season three of The Kardashians, which airs on Hulu on 25 May. And I didnt know itd be this far out. So, now Im just like, if my daughter outs me, Im screwed. Hudson chimed in and asked if her sons name would start with a T, just like his big sisters does, as thats what fans have been guessing. In response, the Good American founder said: I think it will start with a T. Global heads of multinational companies expressed confidence in the Chinese economy and said they expect to deepen cooperation with Beijing during meetings with top municipal officials on the sidelines of the recent Annual Meeting of the China Development Forum 2023. Dilhan Pillay Sandrasegara, CEO of Temasek Holdings, said that future opportunities are in China, and that he hopes China will continue serving as an important driving force for global productivity growth despite twists and turns on the way of globalization. He added that the Beijing market is important to the company as it boasts huge development opportunities in fields like finance, healthcare, and digital economy. Beijing is vigorously developing the biomedicine industry and has both technological innovation advantages and rich clinical resources, which is highly in line with the development vision of Johnson & Johnson, said the company's chairman and CEO Joaquin Duato. He added that the company will continue expanding investment and business presence in Beijing and contribute to improving the city's capacity for biomedical innovation. For Jon R. Moeller, global chairman, president, and CEO of Procter & Gamble, one of the great advantages in development that Beijing offers is abundant technologies. He said that the company is confident in expanding its investment in Beijing. Based on local R&D, the company will introduce more new technologies and products to the whole country, and bring Chinese innovations to the world, he added. With production, sales, and R&D branches set up in Beijing, P&G built an innovation center in Shunyi district in 2010 and started its second-phase expansion project this year. German carmaker BMW is also expanding its presence in Beijing. BMW upgraded its R&D center in Beijing to its headquarters in China, making it its largest R&D facility outside Germany. Thrilled by the pursuit for technological innovation reflected in China's development policies, its chairman Oliver Zipse said Beijing develops fast in smart vehicles, and BMW will continue increasing R&D and investment and looks forward to receiving support from Beijing in terms of policies and application scenarios in the field of autonomous driving. Data shows that Beijing's R&D investment intensity was around 6% on average for the past five years, becoming one of the major attractions for foreign companies investing in Beijing. [Source] Both a play on the protagonists name, Gil Bok-soon (Jeon Do-yeon), and Quentin Tarantinos Kill Bill from which director Byun Sung-hyun drew inspiration Kill Boksoon follows the double life of a contract killer and mother who wants to focus more on her relationship with her 15-year-old daughter, Jae-young (Kim Si-a). Although the movie, which dropped on Netflix last Friday, appears first and foremost to be a thriller filled with plenty of action and tense moments, there are elements of coming-of-age, drama and romance that make Kill Boksoon far more than a simple action film. Bok-soons relationship with her daughter is the films true essence, and as Jae-young enters a fragile stage of adolescence and begins dealing with a painful romance with another girl at school, both mother and daughter are left feeling unable to connect or communicate honestly with each other. The weight of this mother-daughter relationship is ultimately central to the ending of the film, as the two learn to work through their problems by being honest with each other and themselves. More from NextShark: KCON to return as in-person event for its 10th anniversary after 2 years of being solely virtual Read more for a breakdown of the ending, the meaning behind the mid-credits scene and what Jeon and director Byun have to say about Kill Boksoon. The ending explained The beginning of the end starts about halfway through the two-hour film after Bok-soon refuses to carry out an assignment given to her by her company, MK Ent. More from NextShark: Michelle Yeoh reveals Jackie Chan texted her after she got Everything Everywhere role At a large gathering of professional assassins seven years prior, CEO Cha Min-kyu (Sol Kyung-gu) established three rules for everyone to abide by in an effort to regulate the contract killing business: do not kill minors, only carry out kills sanctioned by your company, and all sanctioned kills must be executed to the best of your ability. Story continues After Bok-soon discovers that her last assignment, a staged suicide, has been sanctioned by the targets own father, a prime minister candidate under heat for allegations that his son was fraudulently admitted into a performing arts college, she sabotages her own job effectively breaking one of the three rules governing the killing business. More from NextShark: Jay Park nicknamed bra collector after fans throw their bras at him in Taipei concert Min-kyu, who has harbored deep feelings for Bok-soon since the day they met, accepts Bok-soons excuse for her failure, but his incestuous sister, Cha Min-hee (Esom), is tired of her brother playing favorites. As a director at MK Ent., she orders another assassin to kill the politicians son and announces a hit on Bok-soon, with the award for her killer being a position at the Chas prestigious company. Bok-soons friends all turn against her in the films most intricate action sequence, which is shot in a series of long takes. Bok-soon successfully kills all five friends, including her lover Han Hee-seong (Koo Kyo-hwan), but spares her young protege Young-ji (Lee Yeon), who witnesses the fight but does not engage. More from NextShark: Kung Fu star Olivia Liang and showrunner Christina Kim talk reclaiming Asian stereotypes and martial arts Incensed at Min-hee for ordering her friends to turn against her and further angered after learning Young-ji was killed merely for being a witness, Bok-soon stabs the director in the neck with a ballpen, leaving her to bleed out. She leaves the bloody pen for Min-kyu as a message that they will fight to the death at a later place and time a signal explained earlier in the film. The quiet but melancholic tension between Bok-soon and Min-kyu eventually culminates as the two meet for the last time in his office. Bok-soon tells Min-kyu that she knows his weakness has always been her, causing Min-kyu to pause as he thinks about the day they first met the day he fell for her. It is this slight hesitation that gives Bok-soon the upper-hand and with a sword, she slashes him with one swift and fatal slit against his chest. As Min-kyu slowly bleeds out, he tells Bok-soon that Jae-young has been watching the whole scene unfold through an iPad delivered to her by his assistant. The scene cuts to Jae-young watching the security camera footage with tears in her eyes, but audiences are left to wonder whether this is an actual scene or just a projection of Min-kyus apparent betrayal. Bok-soon returns home to find her daughter awakened by her arrival, seemingly normal. Although Netflix translates Jae-youngs comment to her mother as Long day? in English, her words hold a deeper, more multiplicitous meaning in Korean. Her words also mean Good job, or You did well, often used in the context of acknowledging someones hard work, suggesting Jae-young did indeed watch her mother kill Min-kyu. Her demeanor indicates that she is not only okay with the fact, she appreciates her mothers difficult work. Jae-young, noting that the air is stuffy, then pointedly asks for her mother to leave her bedroom door open. This is a stark difference from the beginning of the film, where Jae-young is shown slamming the same bedroom door on her mother, emphasizing the evolution of their relationship. The films last shot depicts Bok-soon looking back at her daughters open bedroom, tears welling in her eyes as she finally feels wholly and truly accepted for who she is. An optimistic mid-credits scene In a news broadcast that can be heard playing in the background, the politician who had his son killed is revealed to have died in his car due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Meanwhile, Bok-soon is tending to her plants and calling out for Jae-young, with the juxtaposition of Bok-soon blurred and in the background indicating that she likely staged the politicians death. Jae-young goes to school one last time to bid farewell to her former friend and lover, So-ra. As she pulls her in for a handshake, Jae-young whispers in So-ras ear that she debated whether to kiss her in front of everyone or to just kill her. As she walks down the school hallway, Jae-young exchanges eye contact with Cheol-woo, a boy she stabbed with scissors, and smugly points at her neck. More assured with herself than ever perhaps due to her newfound discovery about the commonalities she shares with her mother Jae-young breaks out into a full-blown smile. Jeon Do-yeon and director Byun Kill Boksoon depends heavily upon the parallels between mother and daughter throughout its story. At the beginning of the film, their fraught relationship and lack of communication is fueled by secrecy on both ends, with Bok-soon hiding her job and Jae-young concealing her sexual orientation. In an interview with NextShark, Byun shared that he wanted to tell a story centered around these two secrets: Bok-soons secret is ethically unacceptable, but Jae-youngs is a secret that you dont really have to keep as a secret except in Korean society and I believe globally as well, in some of the more conservative countries. It is only made a secret because of society and there is ethically nothing wrong with her secret, so I wanted to draw that contrast between the two. Jae-youngs struggles with opening up to her mother about her sexual orientation mirror Bok-soons own difficulties in coming to terms with what the reality of her job entails killing people and then coming home to face Jae-young proves to take its toll. While the two struggle with fighting their own internal battles, they ultimately find their answers in each other during an intimate couch conversation near the end of the film. Jae-young ponders why she stabbed her male classmate instead of just pretending to date him so that she could be with So-ra, but concludes that she wanted to stay true to herself. Bok-soon is emboldened by her daughters statement and realizes what being true to herself means: being a killer. Speaking of this scene in particular, Jeon said: Moms are kind of scared to show their world to their daughters but in that scene, I think that was the moment when Bok-soon learned from her daughter how to live her life [Bok-soon] was enlightened as to how she should stay true to herself, and how she should lead her life. The mid-credits scene hints that both mother and daughter are staying true to who they are, and are happier with themselves and with their relationship because of it. The two embrace each others differences; Bok-soon does not give up killing, but will now channel her killing toward more vigilante purposes think Dexter and Jae-young no longer needs to hide who she loves and as she is shown to resemble her mother, she is capable of violence as well! Britains King Charles III waves as he arrives at the city hall in Hamburg, Germany, Friday, March 31, 2023. King Charles III arrived Wednesday for a three-day official visit to Germany. | Gregor Fischer, Associated Press For the first time, King Charles III has expressed support for research into the British monarchys ties to slavery after a document emerged that revealed an ancestor with shares in a slave-trading company, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said Thursday. Charles takes research into the monarchys slavery ties profoundly seriously and will give researchers access to royal documents and archives, the palace said, per The Associated Press. The statement from the palace came as a response to previously unseen documents that highlighted the British monarchys involvement in slave trade were published by The Guardian. The documents were found in the archives by the historian Brooke Newman. The documents show a 1689 transfer of 1,000 of shares in the slave-trading Royal African Company from Edward Colston, the companys deputy governor, to King William III. King Charles claims he hopes to broaden his understanding of slaverys enduring impact, according to statement from a royal spokesperson, per The Guardian. As His Majesty told the Commonwealth heads of government reception in Rwanda last year: I cannot describe the depths of my personal sorrow at the suffering of so many, as I continue to deepen my own understanding of slaverys enduring impact. per The Guardian. That process has continued with vigour and determination since His Majestys accession. Historic Royal Palaces is a partner in an independent research project, which began in October last year, that is exploring, among other issues, the links between the British monarchy and the transatlantic slave trade during the late 17th and 18th centuries. As part of that drive, the royal household is supporting this research through access to the royal collection and the royal archives added the royal spokesperson, per The Guardian. The investigation, run by Camilla de Koning, a history Ph.D. at the University of Manchester, will dive into the monarchys history of involvement in transatlantic slave trade and how it supported the expansion of the British empire. Story continues De Konings study is expected to wrap up in fall 2026, per the New York Post. Related The PhD project in question comes from historian Camilla de Koning, and it is co-sponsored by Historic Royal Palaces charity. The research is expected to conclude in 2026. The PhD project in question comes from historian Camilla de Koning, and it is co-sponsored by Historic Royal Palaces charity. The research is expected to conclude in 2026. Buckingham Palace has said that King Charles takes a new research project looking into the British royal familys connection to slavery profoundly seriously in a significant new statement on Thursday. The palace issued a statement after it was contacted by The Guardian, following the news organizations discovery of a document from the Royal African Company, which at one point held a monopoly in the British slave trade, showing a transfer to King William III in 1689. This is an issue that His Majesty takes profoundly seriously, the palace said before citing the kings speech at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda last year. In the speech, Charles spoke of the depths of my personal sorrow at the suffering of so many as I continue to deepen my own understanding of slaverys enduring impact. The palace said that Charles process has continued with vigour and determination since His Majestys accession before mentioning how the institution is aiding the research project investigating the links between the British monarchy and the transatlantic slave trade during the late 17th and 18th centuries. The statement concluded, As part of that drive, the royal household is supporting this research through access to the royal collection and the royal archives. The Ph.D. project in question comes from historian Camilla de Koning, co-sponsored by the Historic Royal Palaces charity. The research is expected to conclude in 2026. The royals have increasingly faced calls to apologize for their role in the slave trade, as some groups have also called for reparations. Prince William condemned slavery as abhorrent during the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridges controversial tour of the Caribbean last year. Story continues I strongly agree with my father, the Prince of Wales, who said in Barbados last year that the appalling atrocity of slavery forever stains our history, William said during a speech in Jamaica in March 2022. I want to express my profound sorrow. Slavery was abhorrent. And it should never have happened. Related... Lets get this out of the way: Gabriel Crocker and his East Sacramento business, Crocker Cutlery, are not related to the wealthy local family behind the citys preeminent art museum. No, this entrepreneur from a clan of redneck Crockers from Alabama came to Sacramento after 20-plus years cooking throughout the East Coast, Memphis, Portland and San Francisco. He cooked at a trio of local favorites Canon, Magpie and OneSpeed before opening his knife shop at 4601 H St., Suite C in early 2020. Crocker Cutlery is three-and-a-half businesses in a 500-square-foot space, as Crocker likes to say. Chefs and home cooks often come to him for his knife-sharpening services, but its almost a loss leader. The shop also sells knives and cutting boards as well as vintage dinnerware. He also imports and sells rare knives online to collectors around the world, who find him on social media. Crocker took decent care of his knives throughout his culinary career, then took a deep dive into knife care at one restaurant when his staff needed help, he said. As he learned about Japanese whetstones and found an community of knife nerds, he became obsessed with high-end handmade blades, eventually amassing at least 30 that he kept in his bedroom. The repetitiveness of professional cooking set in one day, when after 28 years Crocker found himself making yet another mirepoix. With a daughter on the way and the restaurant industry not known for work-life balance, he decided to focus on the part of the job he still really enjoyed the knives. I was like, seriously, Im just cutting carrots. It doesnt matter how high-and-mighty you are, you still have to cut carrots, Crocker said. And once I got into sharpening and had my high-performance knives, it became, hey, can I cut your carrots? ... All I wanted to do was cut veggies because it became so fun. Krus Billy Ngo, Localis Chris Barnum-Dann and Last Supper Societys Byron Hughes have all had their knives sharpened at Crocker Cutlery. Many other top chefs sharpen knives on their own, but their cooks down the line are often eager to learn how and come to Crocker for that insight, he said. Story continues Hes happy to brighten pro and amateur cooks knives while teaching them how to properly sharpen at home, which he said can take care of 70-80% of a knifes needs. Crocker Cutlery is open 11 a.m-6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. What Im Eating High-Hand Cafes chicken cider sandwich includes Brie, Granny Smith slices and apple butter. A segment of Placer County already knows High-Hand Cafe as a go-to spot for birthday brunches and bridal showers. The rest of the region would do well to visit the restaurant within Loomis High-Hand Nursery, where a bevy of plants and a koi pond create an amiable backdrop for breakfast and lunch. Scott Paris opened the nursery in 2003, and proceeded to build out a multifaceted complex on more than 40,000 square feet. It has an olive oil and vinegar shop, an on-site brewery, a boutique, an art gallery, a lumber showroom, a jewelry store, a scented candle shop, even a stage for concerts. A separate coffee shop sells High-Hand fruit butters, olives, pickles and more to-go. Some of the High-Hand Cafes menu comes from the grounds, too, such as the butter lettuce for the grilled salmon salad ($25) with avocado and a sesame vinaigrette. The almond wood bacon and pear pizza ($23) felt like a true High-Hand production as well, its meat house-smoked before the pie was baked in a wood-fired pizza oven. Topped with caramelized onions, a caramelly fig reduction and a restrained handful of bleu cheese, its chewy crust bubbled up into giant corniciones by the end. Savory, sour and sweet met on the chicken cider sandwich ($18, including a side of potato or pasta salad). The symphony of flavors met on housemade bread (pies and brownies are baked in-house, too) with Brie, apple butter, Granny Smith slices and walnuts. High-Hand Cafe Address: 3790 Taylor Road, Loomis. Hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, closed Monday. Phone number: (916) 660-0117, Extension 3. Website: https://www.highhandnursery.com/taste-the-cafe/ Drinks: Full bar; beers are brewed on-site. Animal-free options: Many vegetarian choices, including a southwestern veggie omelet or mandarin salad. Some can be made vegan. Noise level: Pleasant outside, slightly louder indoors. Openings & Closings Handels Homemade Ice Cream plans to open a parlor at 2820 Del Paso Rd. in Natomas, The Bees Hanh Truong reported. Founded in Ohio in 1945, the old-school ice cream shop already has locations in Elk Grove, Roseville and Folsom. Sizzle Shack will close Monday at 8359 Elk Grove Florin Road, Suite 109, in south Sacramentos Calvine Corner shopping center, the Asian fusion spot announced via Instagram last Wednesday. Grain bowl spot Musette will close on April 21 in downtown Davis, owners Cynthia and Michael Raub announced on social media last Friday. Founded as a pandemic-era concept called Pannier delivered via bicycle, it grew to occupy one of the last operating storefronts inside University Mall at 825 Russell Blvd., Suite 27. Get Sacramento's newest Food and Drink news delivered to your inbox Sign up here to receive our free weekly Food and Drink newsletter, written by The Sacramento Bee food reporter Benjy Egel. You'll exclusively receive an early look at the latest news on restaurants, bars, festivals, dishes and everything else in Sacramento's fast-changing food scene. BARBIE_Character_EMERALD_InstaVert_1638x2048_DOM Emerald Fennell as Midge Credit - Courtesy of Warner Bros. As any little girl can tell you, there isnt just one Barbie. Sure, when we think of Barbie we often think of the blonde living in Malibu who splits her time between her jobs as an astronaut, President of the United States, and fashionista. But Mattel has released endless variations of Barbie over the yearsand plenty of Kens too. And Greta Gerwigs highly anticipated Barbie movie is chock-full of Mattel dolls. Margot Robbie is Barbieand so is Issa Raeand so is Dua Lipa, just to name a few. And Ryan Goslings Ken seems to be competing for Barbies affections with Simu Lius Ken and Kingsley Ben-Adirs Ken and other various rivals. But Barbieland isnt just home to Barbies and Kens. Its filled with other, slightly less famous Mattel dolls whose jobs have been largely to double date with Barbie and Ken and, on occasion, share their clothes. When Warner Bros. released the character posters for Gerwigs film (out July 21), die-hard doll fans spotted two obscure dolls who were once mired in controversy, Midge and Allan. Played by Emerald Fennell and Michael Cera, Midge and Allan are Barbie and Kens best friends who made headlines after they got pregnant. Heres everything you need to know. Midges origin story Emerald Fennell stars in Greta Gerwigs BARBIE Only in theaters July 21, 2023. pic.twitter.com/lg5atvDKPz Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) April 4, 2023 Midge was introduced in 1963 as Barbies bestie. Apparently, Barbie was getting some heat for being too sexy at the time, so Midge was designed to be less sensual to combat the criticismtough beat for Midge. What exactly made Midge more innocent looking was unclear. She had a rounder face and bangs and wore less eye makeup but otherwise looked pretty much the same as Barbie. In ads, Midge seems to third wheel on Barbie and Kens dates a lot. Again, not great to be Midge. Story continues Midge was retired in the 60s, but she made a comeback in the 80s. California Dream Midge wore a vest and looked like she walked off the set of Saved by the Bell. Cool Times Midge had voluminous 80s hair and an electric blue earrings. Allans origin story Michael Cera stars in Greta Gerwigs BARBIE Only in theaters July 21, 2023. pic.twitter.com/8jVjQeaEXx Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) April 4, 2023 Like Midge, Allans time in the limelight was shortlived. Launched in 1964 as Kens buddy Allan was around to offer emotional support and play Best Man at Barbie and Kens wedding. The big selling point was the two male dolls could share clothes. Mattel retired Allan after just a few yearsbut thats marriage for you. Your old friends just sort of fall away. Midge and Al(l)ans wedding Okay, I love that we're all citing the Deep Barbie Lore, but people saying Midge and Alan were discontinued in the 60s, ne'er to return, are discounting my FAVORITE AND MOST PLAYED WITH BARBIE EVER, Wedding Day Midge! pic.twitter.com/F1DZeY9UqZ Rachel Hawkins/Erin Sterling (@LadyHawkins) April 5, 2023 Midge got married in the 90s in a Princess Di-esque dress toyou guessed itAllan! Well, actually, she got married to Alan. Mattel dropped one of the Ls in the interning years. Barbie was a bridesmaid, obviously. The Midge pregnancy controversy for those who dont know this Midge is an important part of history, she was sold pregnant and caused a huge controversy because parents were saying she was promoting teen pregnancy pic.twitter.com/myg7aUnXUr Sinn as Todd, Barbies brother ! (@sinntsn) April 4, 2023 Then in 2002, Midge got pregnant, which caused a bit of a stir. Technically, this was actually Midges second baby. She and Alan already had a three-year-old boy at home. Mattel announced that Midge was expecting a baby girl and released a version of the doll that allowed you to pop off Midges pregnant belly and find a baby curled up inside it. The company argued the doll could be a totally not awkward teaching tool for familiesthough we should note that thats not how babies actually emerge from human bodies. Some Wal-Mart customers were reportedly none-too-pleased with the pregnant doll. Apparently they thought it promoted teen pregnancy, which is odd because Midge was a married adult, but whatever. Wal-Mart pulled Midge from its shelves, and Mattel produced a version with a flat belly and baby on the outside of her body. The new Alan came with a stroller. Alan and Midge basically disappeared after thatno doubt to enjoy their family in privacy after the pregnancy media circus. Midge reappeared in 2012 on the Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse animated show: Mattel started selling new Midge dolls in conjunction with the shows release. And Alan was never seen againuntil Gerwigs movie. Delightfully, Fennells Midge appears to be pregnant in the upcoming film, a nod at deep Barbie lore. Seoul, Washington and Tokyo on Friday urged UN member states to repatriate North Koreans working overseas, claiming they continue to evade sanctions abroad to finance Pyongyang's unlawful weapons programme. North Korea was also engaged in "malicious cyber activities" that supported its military expansion, representatives of the three countries said in a joint statement. The nuclear-armed country has long made a fortune from the army of citizens it sends abroad to work, mostly in neighbouring China and Russia, but also in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Under a UN resolution unanimously approved in 2017, member states had until December 2019 to send back all North Koreans working in their countries. But on Friday, Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington's special envoys for North Korea said the country's overseas workers were continuing to help fund Pyongyang's increasingly aggressive provocations, following a trilateral meeting in the South Korean capital. "Overseas DPRK IT workers continue using forged identities and nationalities to evade UNSC sanctions and earn income abroad that funds the DPRK's unlawful weapon of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs," the envoys said in a joint statement, using North Korea's official name. "We are also deeply concerned about how the DPRK supports these programs by stealing and laundering funds as well as gathering information through malicious cyber activities." Pyongyang stole as much as $1.7 billion in cryptocurrency last year alone, the envoys said. In 2019, analysts said Beijing and Moscow -- Pyongyang's key allies -- were issuing North Korean workers with alternative visas to ensure a continued supply of cheap labour. Last year, North Korea declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear power last year, effectively ending the possibility of denuclearisation talks. Leader Kim Jong Un ordered his military to intensify drills last month to prepare for a "real war". Story continues In recent weeks, North Korea has tested what state media has claimed was an underwater, nuclear-capable drone and carried out the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. "We strongly condemn the DPRK's repeated ballistic missile launches as well as its escalatory and destabilizing rhetoric related to the use of nuclear weapons," the envoys said. "We express deep regret that the DPRK continues to ignore the hardship of its people, choosing instead to pour its scarce resources into its WMD and ballistic missile programs in clear violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions." cdl/mca By Aleksandar Vasovic BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday that ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo will not participate in local elections due to be held later this month - a move likely to aggravate current disagreements over Pristina's rule. The four municipalities, which border Serbia, do not recognise authorities in Pristina and see Belgrade as their capital. Serb officials from the area, administrative staff, judges, and policemen resigned collectively in November 2022, in protest over Pristina's plan to replace Serbian car licence number plates with those of Kosovo. The elections for municipal bodies were postponed in December 2022 after Serbs blocked roads and border crossings. Representatives of Serbs from northern Kosovo, including the Belgrade-backed Serbian List party, want to see an association of Kosovo Serb municipalities set up before they take part in the vote. "We agreed to continue working together...so that we could issue a joint statement about the elections that someone scheduled for April 23, in which Srpska Lista is not taking part," Vucic said after meeting Serb representatives from northern Kosovo. The creation of such an association is a key element of an agreement reached last month between the European Union, Serbia, and Kosovo, aimed at normalising relations between Belgrade and Pristina. Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has repeatedly called on Serbs to participate in the local vote. "The right of the Serb community to freely vote is essential (and) anyone who continues to violate this fundamental right has nothing to expect other than...the force of the law," Kurti told Kosovo lawmakers on Thursday. Pristina and Belgrade have been in EU-sponsored talks for nearly 10 years. Kosovo declared independence in 2008, almost a decade after a war that ended Serbian rule. Serbia still regards Kosovo as a breakaway province and flare-ups of violence between the two have stoked fears of a return to conflict. (Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic in Belgrade and Fatos Bytyci in Kosovo; Editing by Angus MacSwan) On March 7, Ukraine returns 126 defenders and four female defenders from Russian captivity We contacted them with a proposal to exchange Muslims (POWs) all-for-all from both sides as a sign of respect for their culture and traditions, said Zarivna. Read also: UN mission provides no evidence of Russian POWs executions, journalist's opinion Unfortunately, the Russian side didnt meet the idea with much enthusiasm. She emphasized that this initiative is one of the many creative solutions Kyiv uses in order to exchange prisoners. Read also: Ukrainian ombudsman shows Russian POW detention conditions This is a hard process that needs to be continued, constantly looking for new ways to pull out more of our people, Zarivna added. Read also: Ukraine exchanged Russian ROC agents in POW swaps, official says Earlier in April, Ukrainian intelligence reported that the number of Russian troops willing to surrender has increased recently, due to the anticipated Ukrainian spring counter offensive. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine In the midst of the enormous ruckus over Senate Bill 150 the shouting, the crying, the debates, the protests, the double-dealing, the final Frankenstein product I received a very interesting letter from a long-time reader. She wrote about how she disagrees with me most of the time, but did it in such a polite and sincere way that I felt compelled to respond. She wondered how we could ever begin to address issues in a more constructive way. I was going to write about how we did find some common ground on SB 150, with Sen. Danny Carrolls compromise, one that sadly was jettisoned by some last-minute dirty politics. I was going to say that most people lean toward the middle in all things, and that with better discussion and better political process, we can get to understanding. Then on Thursday night, I followed the Tennessee House of Representatives expulsion of two Black Democratic members and all those Pollyanna sentiments dissolved into smoke. They lost their seats for interrupting proceedings with discussions that Republicans didnt want to have. Because it could happen here so very easily. The casual racism, the heavy-handed authoritarianism of supermajorities who dont want to hear dissent even after a school shooting. The gerrymandering that has accentuated our urban-rural divide, silencing hundreds of thousands of people in urban areas who are tired of seeing children get slaughtered in schools, tired of hearing that books about gay kids are more dangerous than active shooter drills. Here, weve made it a habit to keep the public locked out of proceedings, whether its last minute amendments, last minute meetings or shell bills that obscure the real intent of a bill. In one of the most shameful examples of that kind of governing, Rep. Savannah Maddox turned a shell bill on workforce development into a last minute attempt to allow guns on college campuses. Luckily it failed. The deceit over SB 150, the last minute unannounced meeting that killed Carrolls compromise, was shameful. That is not the Democratic process. After all, if you have the supermajority, the result is preordained. Theres no need for that kind of secrecy and double-dealing. Story continues State Police arrested people who shouted in the House Gallery during discussion of Senate Bill 150, something that has hardly ever been done in the history of Kentucky. We punish those who disagree by stripping them of committee assignments, just like in Nashville. Now, to be fair, in our case it was Republicans punishing more extreme Republicans, but the model is there. Tennessee showed its drawers to the world on Thursday. Republican lawmakers didnt like the way two young Black men made them pay attention to a school shooting just down the street, and made their displeasure very clear. Especially when they allowed the white woman member of the Tennessee Three to remain. We can do better and we have to. We need to talk with people of good faith, even and especially when we disagree with them. And we need to vote because no party, whether Republican or Democratic, should have that much control. Many consider the very idea of common ground naive; on the other hand, think tanks and civic groups hold conferences on the idea that we have to sit down and talk about these divisions, especially in states like ours where the rural/urban divides are so extreme. The media is part of the problem Im guilty of generalization and name-calling. But I am always willing to listen to people, and in the words of my correspondent, Im certainly willing to have some real debates where there is opportunity for knowledgeable people on both sides to point out differences without pronouncing motives. Sadly, I dont think the halls of our General Assembly or many others are where good-faith debates happen much any more. So we have to do it by email and in opinion pieces and in conversations, one at a time. Tennessee may have more money, more people, more tourism and better music. But we can still do better and we have to. Kyiv City Council moves to terminate lease agreement with Russian embassy in Kyiv The draft decision pertains to a 0.3984-hectare land plot located at 27 Povitroflotskyi Avenue in the Solomianskyi district of Kyiv. The lease agreement, numbered 72-5-00076, was signed between the Kyiv City Council and the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Ukraine on Oct. 5, 1999. The draft decision is currently being reviewed by a commission. Read also: Reznikov supports Czech idea to cut Russian embassy from electricity and water supply The press service of the Servant of the People party announced that, at the partys behest, the Kyiv City Council may seize the land plot from the Russian embassy. Read also: Russian Embassy devastated buildings it rented in forest area in Poland MP Liliya Pashynna explained that the faction in the Kyiv City Council initiated the termination of the lease agreement for the land plot provided to the Russian embassy and is proposing to nationalize the embassy premises. Pashynna reiterated that the decision was made in light of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraines statement on ending diplomatic relations with Russia and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Financial media outlet Yicai released rankings of the top 20 Chinese cities in terms of foreign trade based on data from the General Administration of Customs in the first two months. Among these 20 cities in terms of import and export, more than a half of these cities are located in the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta regions, and three cities in the central and western regions including Chengdu, Zhengzhou and Chongqing. Shanghai took the top spot in the ranking of import and export term with the figure up 0.7 percent from a year earlier. Beijing's import and export figure increased 8.9 percent year-on-year - which surpassed Shenzhen to take the second spot, followed by Shenzhen, Suzhou, Ningbo, Dongguan, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Qingdao, Tianjin and Chengdu. Zhengzhou took the 12th spot with their import and export figure jumping 18.2 percent, followed by Jinhua, Foshan, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Wuxi, Nanjing, Dalian and Yantai. In terms of export ranking, Shenzhen, Shanghai and Suzhou were listed in the top 3. Changsha, Fuzhou, Beijing and Zhengzhou showed rapid growth in export, with increases of 45.1 percent, 41 percent, 38.7 percent and 35.4 percent year-on-year, respectively. In terms of import ranking, seven cities showed positive growth, with Xiamen holding the biggest increase. Beijing imported most among the top 20 cities, with its imports accounting for more than 61 percent of its foreign trade scale in the first two months. A Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy was charged with illegal possession of an assault weapon and ammunition. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) A Los Angeles County sheriffs deputy has been charged with unlawfully possessing an assault rifle and tracer ammunition at his home three years after a search warrant served at his property led to the discovery of the items. Brandon Michael Garmon, 45, was charged with one felony count each of possession of an assault weapon and possession of a destructive device. He is slated to be arraigned at an undetermined date. A warrant for his arrest was issued Tuesday. While I support the rights afforded to us under the Second Amendment, I also respect the laws of our state. It is illegal to possess an AR-15 assault rifle in California and I expect everyone, including sworn officers, to follow the law, L.A. County Dist. Atty. George Gascon said in a statement announcing the charges. These weapons have repeatedly led to massive loss of life across this nation and I fully intend to enforce the ban in Los Angeles. As part of an investigation, a search warrant was served at Garmons home on April 8, 2020, according to prosecutors. Investigators allegedly found an unregistered AR-15 assault rifle and incendiary ammunition in a closet. Prosecutors did not disclose what prompted the search. The deputy could not be reached for comment Friday. Garmon joined the department in 2012, according to department salary records. Los Angeles County Superior Court records show a Brandon Michael Garmon born in the same month and year was convicted in 1997 of disturbing the peace and received five days of community service and a year of probation. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The city of Los Angeles has sued a local journalist and an activist group after officials accidentally released photos of undercover officers through a public records request. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times) In a move immediately denounced as legally meritless by 1st Amendment and media rights experts, the city of Los Angeles has sued a local journalist and an activist group over the online publication of undercover LAPD officers' pictures images the city had itself provided. Attorneys for the city claim the release of the images in response to a public records request and related litigation by Knock LA journalist Ben Camacho was "inadvertent" and posed a safety risk to the officers. Camacho subsequently provided the images to the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition, which published them online. "The City seeks the return of these inadvertently produced photos to protect the lives and work of these undercover officers," the city's attorneys wrote. Both Knock LA and the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition denounced the lawsuit in separate statements. Knock LA, a nonprofit online newsroom, called it a "clear intimidation tactic" by City Atty. Hydee Feldstein Soto. The Stop LAPD Spying Coalition, a technology oversight group advocating for police abolishment, called it "an attack on the publics ability to request, analyze, and publish public records." Susan Seager, an attorney for Camacho, said in a written statement that her client "will fight the City's effort to censor his journalism about police, which is a matter of paramount concern." Camacho declined to comment. Legal experts uniformly rejected the lawsuit as baseless and ripe for dismissal under the 1st Amendment and other well-established legal protections for journalists. "This is a Hail Mary, desperation play by the city," said David Loy, legal director of the California First Amendment Coalition. "The city is on very weak legal grounds," said Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law. "This isnt even a close call," said Ken Paulson, former editor in chief of USA Today and now director of the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University. The lawsuit follows weeks of controversy after the Los Angeles Police Department's release of the names, photographs and other identifying information of more than 9,300 officers in response to a public records request and subsequent litigation by Camacho. Story continues Hamid Khan, a coordinator with Stop LAPD Spying, said Camacho "shared" the officers' images and information with his organization. The group then posted them online as part of a public, searchable database called "Watch the Watchers," which includes each officers name, ethnicity, rank, date of hire, division/bureau, serial number and photo. The union that represents rank-and-file LAPD officers subsequently sued Chief Michel Moore over the release of the photos, hoping to force the department to stop disclosing such images and try to claw back those already released. More than 300 LAPD officers who claim to work in sensitive assignments have also given notice that they intend to sue the city for negligence and for allegedly endangering their lives by releasing the images. Robert Rico, legal counsel for the Los Angeles Police Protective League, has said the union in its lawsuit will ask a judge to force the "Watch the Watchers" website to be taken down until the city determines which officers' images should be excluded for security reasons. The city attorney's office, which is also seeking to have the officers' photos removed from the website, said Thursday that its goal was protecting officers "whose lives and families' lives could be in grave danger as a result of this exposure." Seager questioned the alleged danger posed by the photos' release. Contrary to the city's lawsuit, she said in her statement, the city attorney's office "hand-delivered" the photos to her client in September along with a letter that said in part: images of officers working in an undercover capacity as of the time the pictures were downloaded (end of July 2022) are not included. "The disclosure was not 'inadvertent' or a 'mistake,'" she wrote. After releasing the records to Camacho, the city now is trying to rewrite history by claiming it wishes it had withheld photos of both undercover officers and officers who serve in sensitive assignments.'" "This is an impossibly broad category of officers that could include just about any officers work at some point during their career," Seager said. Legal experts said city officials may be suing Camacho and the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition to show they are taking the officers' and the union's concerns seriously and making a good-faith effort to get the images off the internet. However, that doesn't mean it will work, the experts said. "The U.S. Supreme Court has made clear that government cannot restrain publication of information by a news organization," Paulson said. "That would certainly apply in this case." Paulson cited the famous Pentagon Papers case, in which the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government could not prevent newspapers from publishing classified reports about the Vietnam War that had been leaked by a military analyst. "When you recognize that the highest court in the land dealing with an argument from the U.S. government that these documents would pose irreparable harm to the security of the United States still concluded that news organizations could publish the information, then you know [L.A.s lawsuit] is not a close call," Paulson said. Paulson said his impression from the complaint was that the city was embarrassed by its own blunder, facing litigation from officers, and making a futile effort to show that it had at least tried to claw the images back. "This lawsuit really feels like an exercise in saving face," he said. Kelli Sager, a practicing 1st Amendment lawyer in California who has represented the Los Angeles Times in the past, agreed. "At this point everyone on the internet has these photographs, so I dont see any legal basis for the city to be demanding the return of them or for them to be taken down from the website," Sager said. "This is a reaction to the city being sued, so they can say they are doing something." Sager said the city's complaint fails for multiple reasons, but in part because the images have already been published online for weeks. "The courts have said once its become public, then the cat is out of the bag, the horse is out of the barn, there is nothing you can lawfully do, because the justification for it would be to keep the information secret, and thats no longer possible," Sager said. Both Paulson and Sager said it does not matter if the city hadnt intended to give Camacho the photographs, or if they had agreed in prior litigation that photographs of undercover officers would not be included in the release of documents. The fact is, they gave him the photographs. Chemerinsky said the law "is clearly established that when the press lawfully obtains something, theyre allowed to truthfully report it," and Camacho obviously obtained the images lawfully here. It's simply too late, he said, for the city to change its mind. Loy noted there is a California Supreme Court ruling that said the government has, in limited circumstances, a right to try to claw back certain documents that were inappropriately released, but this case is distinct from that one. Here, "the city is not just asking for the documents back," he said. "The city wants to stop the journalist and Stop LAPD Spying from actually further posting what they already had. That's a prior restraint, and that's blatantly unconstitutional under the 1st Amendment." Several city officials have said publicly that the responsibility for releasing the images was the city's. Moore apologized for the disclosure in a departmentwide email. In an interview with The Times, he acknowledged that the city had "erred" in releasing the images and assured officers that he has taken steps to address their safety concerns. A spokesman for the police union told The Times that the union is more concerned about the citys "colossal blunder" than with the journalist who first received the photos or the watchdog group that published them. The department's independent inspector general has launched an investigation into how the records were released. On Tuesday, Mayor Karen Bass declined to say whether she supported the city's lawsuit against a journalist, but called the release of the images an "egregious mistake" and said she feared it would lead to more officers leaving the LAPD at a time when its ranks are already diminished. Bass said those responsible for the release "need to be held fully accountable." The city's action drew strong denouncements in local journalism circles. Cerise Castle, Knock LA's managing editor, said city officials routinely try to suppress efforts by independent journalists and those at smaller media outlets to publish potentially damaging information about police. Times staff writer Julia Wick contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Sir Keir Starmer, now the Labour leader, sat on the Sentencing Council in 2012 - Christopher Furlong/Getty Images A Labour attack on Rishi Sunaks record of jailing child sex abusers has appeared to backfire as it emerged that Sir Keir Starmer helped decide sentencing guidelines for the crime. Sir Keir, now the Labour leader, sat on the Sentencing Council in 2012 when it was agreed the crime should not get an automatic prison sentence, although a maximum of 14 years behind bars was set. His involvement in setting the guidelines undermines the partys attack on the Tories for being too soft on criminals convicted of child sexual abuse. Sir Keir was the director of public prosecutions from 2008 to 2013 and became an MP in 2015. The sentencing guidelines adopted in 2012 remain to this day. A Labour advert accusing Mr Sunak of not wanting to jail child sex offenders was posted online on Thursday, triggering a fierce backlash from a number of high-profile politicians. On Friday, the party published a second crime advert online, similar in format to the first. The new advert criticised Mr Sunak over the crime statistics for people possessing guns going to prison. The decision to double down suggests Labour sees advantages in forcing the focus onto the Conservatives record on crime, despite a backlash over the partys tactics. Next to an image of Mr Sunak, the advert posted on Thursday says: Do you think adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should go to prison? Rishi Sunak doesnt. It notes that, under the Tory government, 4,500 adults convicted of sexually assaulting children aged under 16 served no prison time. Labour is the party of law and order. pic.twitter.com/EP6VXToK9z The Labour Party (@UKLabour) April 6, 2023 The advert has been condemned as dog whistle and gutter politics, with criticism from both Tory and Labour figures since it was posted, but it remained online on Friday afternoon. Story continues A Twitter explanatory note has been attached to the tweet with context, noting that the current sentencing guidelines for this crime have a maximum of 14 years imprisonment. Lucy Powell, Labours shadow culture secretary, repeatedly distanced herself from the tweet, posted on the partys official Twitter account during a TV interview round on Friday morning. Asked on BBC Breakfast whether she stood by the posts core claim, Ms Powell said: What I stand by is what that graphic is trying to show, which is that the prime minister of our country is responsible for the criminal justice system of our country and currently that criminal justice system is not working. Asked whether she stood by the message, she said: I stand by what this tweet and this campaign is trying to highlight. The graphic itself, obviously, is a skit based on his own graphics that he [Mr Sunak] extensively uses. I can see its not to everybodys taste and some people wont like it. I didnt design the graphic but Im here to explain what lies beneath it, which is a very serious point about what is happening to our criminal justice system which is pretty shocking. Lucy Powell, Labours shadow culture secretary, said: I didnt design the graphic There were similar exchanges in an interview with GB News, when Ms Powell said: Its a digital campaigning graphic. I didnt design it. I didnt put it up there. Political backlash over the advert has continued to build. John McDonnell, the Labour MP and former shadow chancellor, said: This is not the sort of politics a Labour Party confident of its own values and preparing to govern should be engaged in. I say to the people who have taken the decision to publish this ad, please withdraw it. We, the Labour Party, are better than this. Lee Anderson, the Tory deputy chairman, called it vile and desperate, while Rory Stewart, a former Tory justice minister, described it as bile, adding: Its bad policy and nasty politics. A Labour spokesman said: The Government sets the statutory framework for sentencing. In March, Dominic Raab amended the rules to decrease maximum sentences in magistrates courts. But the current situation isnt the Conservatives fault and they cant possibly do anything about it? The Tories have been in charge for 13 years, and their record is appalling. They broke the criminal justice system, left our prisons overcrowded, and our courts with the largest backlog on record. The result is a direction to judges to be lenient with custodial sentences. Every denial they issue on this is an insult to victims and their families. Former Arizona GOP gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake said on Thursday that it would be a big red flag if any 2024 Republican presidential candidate did not believe her 2022 Arizona election was stolen. I ask you that every candidate who comes through when they stand on this stage, when theyre shaking your hand, when theyre walking through town, taking your questions that you ask them where they stand on election integrity, Lake said at a local GOP event in Nevada, Iowa. And I think you should get even more specific, Was the 2022 election for governor in Arizona stolen? And if they wont say Absolutely, yes, thats a big red flag, she added. Thats a big red flag. Ask all of them. Lake lost the Arizonas governors race to then-Secretary of State Katie Hobbs (D) by about 17,000 votes, according to the Associated Press. However, the Trump-endorsed candidate has refused to accept the results and has continued to challenge the election in court. She encouraged Republican voters on Thursday to ask every GOP candidate about her election, from former President Trump to former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Lake even suggested they ask Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has yet to announce a 2024 bid. When Ron DeSantis comes, ask him where he stands, she said. And ask President Trump. And Ill tell you what, I know that one of them will be honest with you about these elections. And one of them is Donald J. Trump. Lake has been floated as a potential 2024 running mate for the former president, recently winning a straw poll for the Republican vice presidential pick during the Conservative Action Political Conference (CPAC) in March. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The good news about filing your tax return this year is that it may be a simpler process, according to the Defense Departments tax counsel. For example, since there werent any economic stimulus checks in 2022, you dont have to worry about tax rules related to that. And service members dont need to concern themselves with tax forms they received from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service related to Social Security withholding. Some benefits, deductions and credits that were available in the past few years because of the pandemic have gone away or reverted back to pre-COVID levels, said Susan Mitchell, DoD tax counsel and executive director of the Armed Forces Tax Council. For example, the child tax credit is lower than it was in 2021, and both the child and dependent care credit and the earned income tax credit revert back to pre-COVID levels. The basics The deadline for filing, or to file an extension, and pay your taxes, is Tuesday, April 18. (The 15th falls on a Saturday and Monday the 17th is Emancipation Day in some jurisdictions.) There are also some longstanding tax filing extensions available for certain service members. If stationed outside the U.S. and Puerto Rico, troops can qualify for an automatic two-month extension until June 15, both for filing and paying taxes that are due. This extension is designed to help troops overseas who may have trouble getting all the documents they need. Those overseas who cant file by that extension can request an additional extension, until Oct. 16. Remember that any taxes due must be paid by that April 18 deadline (or the June 15 deadline, if overseas) or you could be subject to both interest charges and a failure-to-pay penalty, Mitchell said. Special rules apply for service members deployed to a combat zone. The deadline for filing and paying taxes is generally extended for their period of service in the combat zone plus 180 days after their last day in the combat zone. Story continues Dona Schulte, a volunteer with the 22nd Wing Staff Agency tax center, helps an airman with taxes in March 2021 at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. Tax center volunteers are required to take Internal Revenue Service certifications annually. (Senior Airman Alexi Bosarge/Air Force) Earned Income Tax Credit The EITC applies to eligible low- and moderate-income workers, subject to certain qualifying rules. The credit could reduce the amount of taxes owed and perhaps increase your refund. There are special EITC rules and considerations for military members who receive nontaxable pay such as a housing allowance or who are stationed outside the United States. For more information, v i sit the IRS page on the EITC for military members. This credit is phased out at certain income levels and number of dependents. It is completely phased out for married couples filing jointly with an earned income of $59,187 or more with three or more children. You may qualify for the EITC even if you cant claim children on your tax return. The minimum age for a childless worker to qualify for the credit reverts back to 25, compared to age 19 in 2021. The maximum age of 65 has also been reinstated, after being eliminated for 2021. Child and dependent credits Child tax credit: This credit is lower than it was in 2021, when it received a one-year, temporary bump. Tax credits reduce the amount of taxes you owe, dollar for dollar, which is typically better than a deduction, which reduces the amount of your income that is subject to tax, Mitchell notes. For tax year 2022, the child tax credit is $2,000 per child age 16 or younger. Its also subject to phase out as income rises, starting at $400,000 for joint filers and $200,000 for single filers. Child and dependent care credit: You may be able to claim the child and dependent care credit if you paid for the care of a qualifying individual to enable you and your spouse, if filing a joint return to work or actively look for work, according to the IRS. Generally, you may not take this credit if you are married and filing separately. However, see Whats Your Filing Status? in IRS Publication 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses, which describes exceptions to the rule. The amount of the credit is a percentage of the amount of you paid to a provider while you worked or looked for work. That percentage depends on your adjusted gross income, but the maximum credit is 35% of your eligible expenses. There are limits, however. For 2022, you may claim up to $3,000 in expenses if you had one qualifying dependent, or $6,000 if you had two or more. So, when the maximum 35% credit is applied, that puts the top credit at $1,050 for one child; and $2,100 (35% of $6,000) for more than one child. The more you earn, the lower the percentage of employment-related expenses that are allowed. Once your adjusted gross income is over $43,000, the maximum credit is 20% of your employment-related expenses, according to the IRS. Other notable changes A number of military spouses are teachers, and the deduction has increased to $300 for out-of-pocket expenses for supplies, books, COVID-19 protective items or other materials. Thats up from $250 in 2021. The kiddie tax takes less of a bite, Mitchell notes. This tax on income-generating assets in a custodial account was enacted to discourage wealthier individuals from transferring assets to their children to take advantage of lower tax rates. The first $1,150 of a childs unearned income is tax free for those 18 or younger, or if the child is a full-time student under age 24, up from $1,100 in 2021. The next $1,150 is taxed at the childs rate. Any excess over $2,300 is taxed at the parents rate. Taxpayers can deduct the cost of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving expense purposes. Taxpayers may use the optional standard mileage rates, but there are two rates for 2022. For the last six months of 2022, the standard rate for business travel was 62.5 cents per mile, up 4 cents from the rate effective for the first six months of the year. The rate for deductible medical or moving expenses was 22 cents for the last six months of the year, also up 4 cents from the first half. Unlike most others, military members can take deductions on out-of-pocket moving expenses. Employers were allowed to provide more tax-free benefits for parking and transportation, up to $280 per month in 2022. Itemized deductions havent changed much. The deduction for state and local income taxes, property taxes, real estate taxes is still capped at $10,000. The home mortgage interest deduction is still limited to $750,000 of mortgage debt. Whats that form 1099K? Mitchell highlights a change affecting military spouses and service members who operate a business selling goods or services, which is resulting in questions from the field. Starting with tax year 2022, third-party payment networks, such as PayPal and Venmo, are required to send you a form 1099K if you have been paid more than $600 during the year for goods and services, regardless of the number of transactions. Previously, that 1099K was only sent to those receiving more than $20,000 in gross payments, with more than 200 transactions. Any time you receive income, you are reporting that as income. But the 1099K shows you the third party also reported it to the Internal Revenue Service, Mitchell said. The 1099K generally is going to show the amount you owe income tax on, that they count as gross income. This only applies to goods and services, and doesnt apply to payments from family and friends, Mitchell said. State treatment of military retirement income Some states dont have an income tax. Other states have decreased or eliminated state taxes on military retirement income. For example, in 2022, Virginia enacted a law that gradually phases out taxes on military retirement for retirees age 55 and older, up to a cap of $40,000. It starts with tax year 2022, when the first $10,000 of their retirement pay is tax free. By 2024, up to $40,000 of military retirement pay is tax free. Be sure to check out your states laws. Tax issues from toxic-water relief in Hawaii Civilians, including military retirees, in Hawaii who were affected by the toxic, fuel-tainted water in Hawaii in late 2021 and early 2022 were sent 1099 forms from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, reporting as income the reimbursements they received from the military. The Internal Revenue Service announced Wednesday that these civilians wont have to pay taxes on the reimbursements they received from the Defense Department. Hawaii civilians dont owe taxes on Red Hill reimbursements, IRS says This tax issue didnt affect currently serving military members and their families, who also received reimbursements. During the crisis, some people chose to leave their homes while officials worked to flush out the fuel. Others remained in their homes but were instructed not to use or drink the water. They were reimbursed for hotels, meals and, in some cases, personal property damage. Those havent already filed their tax returns should not include those payments in their gross income on their tax returns, IRS officials said in the announcement. Taxpayers who have already filed their 2022 tax returns and included the payments in their gross income should file amended returns using Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. The IRS provided additional instructions for these taxpayers: If taxpayers already filed their 2022 tax return electronically and included the reimbursements in their gross income, they should electronically file IRS Form 1040X. Officials said most electronic tax software and tax professionals offer an electronic amended return filing option. The Explanation of Changes should begin with Red Hill Relief in the electronic form. *If the form is filed on paper, mark the top of Form 1040-X with Red Hill Relief and begin Part III, Explanation of Changes, with Red Hill Relief. The paper amended return should be mailed to: Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service / Austin, TX 73301-0052. Tax help Because so many twists and turns may apply to military members and their families, including state tax laws, its helpful to get free tax preparation assistance. While the tax preparation services through military legal assistance offices on base arent as plentiful as they once were, there are still many installations running these services through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, Mitchell said. You can find information about locations at Military OneSource. Another helpful resource is the MilTax free software thats provided on the Military OneSource website for currently serving members, to include active duty, Guard and reserve members. Eligibility extends for to 365 days after a service member leaves the military. A big benefit of the MilTax program are the military tax consultants, who can answer questions by phone or chat, 24/7. Tips Using the MilTax software can help avoid math errors, Mitchell said, because the software does those complex calculations and catches any math errors. She suggests printing out a copy of the return to review before submitting it to the IRS. People can always amend the return later, but its certainly simpler getting it right the first time, she said. Use the same name on your tax return thats on your Social Security card. Check and double check your Social Security number. The fastest and most reliable way to file taxes is to file electronically and choose direct deposit. Make sure your bank account numbers are correct for the direct deposit. Getting a refund? Check the status of your refund at the IRS web page, Wheres My Refund? Didnt receive a tax document? Mitchell advises first contacting the employer or issuing agency. If they cant get a copy, contact the IRS for help, at 800-829-1040. Youll provide your information, and your employers information. The IRS will contact the employer, but will also send you a substitute form to report the information thats on the missing document. If the employer sends a document later with different information, the taxpayer may need to file an amended return. By Michel Rose and James Pomfret GUANGZHOU/HONG KONG (Reuters) - China's Xi Jinping has given French President Emmanuel Macron an unusually lavish welcome on a state visit, which some analysts see as a sign of Beijing's growing offensive to woo key allies within the European Union to counter the United States. The two leaders visited southern China together on Friday, where Macron was due to drink Chinese tea with Xi in a former residence of his father in the city of Guangzhou, capital of the economic and manufacturing powerhouse of Guangdong province. Such forays by Xi with visiting leaders are rare. Diplomats say it underlines the importance Beijing attaches to this relationship with a key member of the EU as it looks for support against what Xi has called "all-round containment, encirclement and suppression" by the U.S. "All Chinese foreign policy offensives have the U.S.-China relationship in the background...so to work with any country, especially mid or big powers, like France, is something they'll try to do to counter the U.S." said Zhao Suisheng, a professor of China studies and foreign policy at the University of Denver. Noah Barkin, an analyst with the Rhodium Group, said China's chief objective was to prevent Europe from aligning more closely with the United States. "In this sense, Macron is perhaps Beijing's most important partner in Europe," he said. Macron is often considered by diplomats to be an important driver of key policies within the EU. Macron travelled to China with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, both pressuring China on Ukraine, but failing to wrest any public shifts in position from Xi. Still, Macron was given the full red carpet treatment. Von der Leyen, who described China as "repressive" in a critical speech before her trip, cut a sometimes forlorn figure in Beijing, with a low-key greeting at the airport and not being invited to some state functions with Xi and Macron. Story continues China's state-backed Global Times newspaper said in an editorial on Thursday: "It is clear to everyone that being a strategic vassal of Washington is a dead end. Making the China-France relationship a bridge for China-Europe cooperation is beneficial to both sides and to the world." "FLATTERY" Jean-Pierre Raffarin, a former French prime minister who has travelled extensively to China, told Reuters on the sidelines of a deal-signing ceremony in the Great Hall of the People that some of Xi's charm was having an effect. "Isn't diplomacy, at one point or another, a bit of flattery?" he said. "There's always a bit of that in human relations. Each side plays with that." In Washington, China's diplomatic engagement with France is being viewed with a degree of scepticism. Beyond Ukraine, China would relish a realignment that draws it closer to Europe economically as relations with the United States fray, but such a shift is unlikely at this point, said people familiar with the U.S. government's thinking. Washington is taking a wait-and-see approach to the European engagements with Beijing over Ukraine, according to the people, who declined to be named. On Thursday, Macron urged Beijing to talk sense to Russia over the war in Ukraine while von der Leyen said Xi expressed willingness to speak to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Xi did not mention a possible conversation with Zelenskiy in China's official reports of his comments after the meetings. Barkin, the analyst, said Macron did not appear to be getting much out of the trip. "Macron seemed to believe he could charm Xi into shifting his approach on the war," he said. "He gave Xi a series of gifts - denouncing decoupling as a trap, bringing a huge business delegation along, and reaffirming his support for strategic autonomy - without getting much of anything in return." China's wooing of Macron is part of a flurry of diplomatic moves this year as it attempts to wriggle out of containment by the United States amid differences over Taiwan, the Ukraine war and U.S. led restrictions on technology exports. China upped its diplomatic spending by 12.2 percent this year, and leaders and senior officials from Singapore, Malaysia, Spain and Japan have visited over the past few weeks. China helped broker a surprise detente between Saudi Arabia and Iran in March, with Beijing casting itself as a Middle East peacemaker motivated by its desire to shape a multi-polar world. China-EU engagement will continue in the coming weeks with foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and Germany's foreign minister due in Beijing. "China and Europe can still be partners," said Wang Yiwei, director of Center for European Studies at Renmin University in Beijing. "Rather than systemic rivals or competitors." (Additional reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington, Yew Lun Tian in Beijing; Writing by James Pomfret, Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) The work of Ukrainian artillery in the Luhansk Oblast, March 24, 2023 Podolyak stated that since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russian intelligence has degraded to the point where the only way to erase the memories of their failures, such as the Salisbury adventures, three-day plans, and others is through Photoshop and virtual pseudo-leaks. Read also: As Ukraine gears up for offensive, Spain delays transfer of Leopard tanks to Ukraine Moscow is determined to obstruct Ukraines counteroffensive, but real Russian plans will become evident on the battlefield soon, he said. The Pentagon is investigating the leak of classified documents related to the U.S. and NATOs plans to prepare Ukrainian troops for a counteroffensive, The New York Times reported on April 6, citing Biden administration officials. The classified materials were posted on Twitter and Telegram. Read also: Crippled logistics preclude Russia from launching offensive towards Zaporizhzhya The documents lack specific plans for military action, such as the exact time and location of Ukraines intended offensive, and much of the information is outdated. However, according to the newspaper, the occupiers could obtain some useful information. Some documents contain data on Russian and Ukrainian losses appear to be fabricated, according to sources cited by the NYT. The next three months in Russias full-scale war against Ukraine would be very active and could determine the course of events, said Ukrainian intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, on Feb. 28. Ukrainian forces have a good chance of a successful counteroffensive this spring, said U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. The Ukrainian counteroffensive is scheduled to begin in April-May of this year on multiple fronts, Ukrainian Defense Minister, Oleksiy Reznikov, has previously said. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Andrii Yusov, a representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, has said that the so-called "classified military documents" about the plans of the Armed Forces of Ukraine leaked to the network are forgery and a special operation of the Russian secret services. Source: Yusov, on the air of the national joint 24/7 newscast Quote: "In recent decades, the most successful operations of the Russian special services have taken place in Photoshop. We see false figures for losses on both sides from the preliminary analysis of these materials. Some of the information is explicitly collected from open sources. If we talk about the needs of the Ukrainian army, the topic was discussed at all levels. It is no secret that Ukraine raised the issue of aviation, tanks, ammunition, and other things needed for the rapid liberation of the occupied territories to save lives. As for everything else, we will wait for official comments (from the Pentagon ed.). But there is no reason for the Ukrainian society to worry." Details: Yusov added that there would be a counteroffensive, and Russia would see and feel the primary plans on the battlefield. He also suggested that the Russians may have forged documents to disrupt or slow down the supplies of Western aid to Ukraine. Yusov also commented on the statement by Oleksii Danilov, secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine (NSDC), that no more than five people worldwide are involved in the counteroffensive plan: "Mr Danilov knows what he is talking about. This is top-secret information. The Ukrainian military and political leadership make the final decision." Background: "Classified military documents detailing US and NATO plans to build up the Ukrainian army ahead of a planned counteroffensive" were leaked on Twitter and Telegram. The New York Times wrote that the Pentagon is currently investigating who might have been behind the leak of the documents that appeared on social media. Military analysts told the NYT that some sections of the documents were likely altered, with overstated American estimates of Ukrainian military deaths and understated estimates of Russian military deaths. According to the analysts, these changes may indicate disinformation attempts by Moscow. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A tranche of leaked documents that detail plans about Ukraines spring military offensive circulated online as early as March a month earlier than previously reported, according to researchers with Bellingcat and a review of social media postings. The batch includes more pages than originally known and also outlines sensitive information about other global hotspots. The Ukraine-specific documents, photographed and distributed on myriad social media sites, outline everything from Ukraines readiness and training capabilities to death tolls on the battlefield. They date from the end of February to the end of March around the same time as senior American generals hosted the Ukrainian military at a U.S. base in Germany to wargame the spring operation. The materials that circulated in early March were uploaded on a Discord, an encrypted messaging app. They appear to be photos of slide deck printouts that were folded up and then smoothed out again. They have since been posted on other social media websites, including Twitter and Telegram. Its unclear who originally obtained the documents, who leaked them and the extent to which theyve been altered. Its also possible an even earlier version exists. A senior administration official, granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive intelligence matter, said President Joe Biden's team is "concerned" by the large document leak. "This could be a Russian disinformation operation, the official continued, citing the manipulations to the documents. "Russia has a history of manipulating information for disinformation purposes. The official wouldn't detail when the administration first became aware of the leak. There are discrepancies between the documents posted in March and those circulated this month, suggesting the earlier tranche could be the original versions or at least closer to it. The leak is one of the most high-profile breaches of military intelligence since the Russian invasion in 2022 and comes at a time when Ukraine is preparing to launch the spring offensive. The documents "represent a significant breach in security, which could compromise U.S. and NATO support for Ukraine," said Mick Mulroy, a former DoD official and CIA officer. Story continues The images that appeared online earlier this week show slides that were produced by the Joint Staff, but which have been heavily doctored to show inaccurate information, according to a second senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic. In reviewing the batch of documents that circulated on Discord and those that appeared in April on sites such as Telegram, Twitter and 4chan, POLITICO found that at least one section had been changed the death tolls. The number of Ukrainian deaths is significantly higher in the later version. However, there are irregularities in both the March and April versions. Not all of the documents are dated. One is dated as late as March 23 about 20 days after someone posted them on Discord. Other pages are missing security markers and have sections replaced by white space. The documents, which are at least five weeks old, are of limited value to Moscow as they show the conflict as a snapshot in time. Still, they may help Russian intelligence planners with establishing the expected burn rate for Ukrainian supplies, the second senior official said. The Department of Defense is investigating the leak, which the New York Times first reported, the Pentagon said Thursday. We are aware of the reports of social media posts, and the department is reviewing the matter, said DoD spokesperson Sabrina Singh. The Central Intelligence Agency and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment. The early reaction from Capitol Hill has been fierce. Id fire anyone who leaks without authorization when theyre identified, said Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a close ally of Speaker Kevin McCarthy and member of the House Armed Services Committee. Im troubled by the potential leak and possible disinformation related to the documents, said Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), a member of the House Intelligence Committee. I look forward to hearing from the Department of Defense on steps theyre taking to investigate and address any wrongdoing. Other pages included in the March tranche include information about various countries, Jordan, Palestine and China. Some of the Ukraine-related documents, marked SECRET and dated February and March, show American and NATO plans for training and arming Ukrainian forces ahead of a planned counteroffensive this spring. One slide includes detailed plans for equipment Western countries will deliver to Ukraine this spring, such as the number of tanks and armored vehicles each nation is sending and the estimated date of arrival. It also shows the status of training programs by different NATO countries. One document outlines what Western equipment Ukrainian brigades are receiving and when theyll be trained. If that information is correct, it could provide useful intelligence to Moscow about new capabilities entering the battlefield this spring and summer. It is also a fascinating look into the international grab-bag of equipment the rapidly equipped Ukrainian army now fields. The 82nd brigade, for example, looks to be an armored powerhouse. It will boast about 150 armored infantry carriers, including 90 U.S.-Stryker vehicles, 40 German-produced Marders, 24 U.S.-made M113 infantry carriers and 14 British Challenger tanks, giving the unit a powerful punch, according to the documents. The unit is currently being trained as the equipment continues to arrive. Similarly, the 33rd brigade will have 32 Leopard tanks from Germany, Canada and Poland, alongside 90 American-made MRAP troop carriers. All the vehicles were slated to arrive for training in March and April, according to the documents. Another slide shows the Joint Staffs daily update of the conflict, including planned operations of U.S. forces in the surrounding area such as the aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush and several submarines, the locations of which are rarely, if ever, publicized. Others, marked TOP SECRET, show the U.S. militarys assessment of Russian and Ukrainian troop movements in key battlegrounds, including Bakhmut, Kharkiv and the Donetsk, on March 1. Both the March and April tranches show updates from the battlefield from February that includes an allegation that agents of Ukraine attacked a Russian aircraft based in Belarus. The Ukrainian government has previously denied those claims. A spokesperson for President Volodymyr Zelenskyys office did not respond to a request for comment on the incident. Many remember Harriet Tubmans story for her efforts in the Underground Railroad. She was also a humanitarian, fought for womens rights, and was an armed scout and spy for the United States Army during the American Civil War. Tubman was born into slavery in Maryland but escaped to freedom in the North in 1849. Over the next decade, she would make numerous trips back to the South as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses used by enslaved people to escape to freedom. However, her story didnt end there. A lesser-known fact about Tubman is that she eventually settled in upstate New York. Near the Finger Lakes, in the small town of Auburn. Tubman would call Cayuga County home and find community during the 50 years of life she spent in freedom. Harriet Tubmans Home Auburn, New York Auburn, New York was a small town located in central New York State when Harriet Tubman settled there in the mid-1850s. At the time, Auburn was a center for manufacturing and transportation, with a population of around 9,000 people. Tubman settled in Auburn with her family and established herself as an active community member. She worked tirelessly to support the abolitionist cause, speaking at public events and participating in the Underground Railroad. After the Civil War, Tubman used her savings to purchase a 25-acre farm outside of Auburn that she called The Home. She farmed the land herself and also used it as a refuge for her family and others in need. Tubman was passionate about agriculture and believed owning and working the land was an important part of African American economic independence. She worked hard on her farm, raising vegetables, fruits, and livestock, and was known for her skill as a farmer. In addition to her abolitionist work, Tubman also established a home for elderly and sick African Americans in the early 1900s. This home is now recognized and preserved as the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park. Her home, the centerpiece of the park, is the brick residence where she resided with her family for years. Story continues Today, Auburn continues to honor Tubmans legacy with several landmarks and institutions that commemorate her life and work. RELATED: This Black Woman Recreated 695-Mile Journey Of Harriet Tubman On Foot Tubmans Statue & Grave Photo Credit: Equal Rights Heritage Center Theres also a bronze statue of Harriet Tubman that sits in front of the Cayuga County Courthouse in downtown Auburn. Unveiled in 2008, the statue depicts Tubman in the act of leading enslaved people to freedom on the Underground Railroad. You can also visit the grave of Harriet Tubman. Tubman lies in rest in Auburns Fort Hill Cemetery, attracting visitors from around the world. The grave is marked by a simple headstone inscribed with Tubmans name and the words Servant of God, Well Done. Getting To Cayuga County The closest major airport to Auburn is Syracuse Hancock International Airport, approximately 30 miles away from Auburn. If you are flying to Syracuse, you can rent a car at the airport and drive to Auburn. Alternatively, you can take a taxi, shuttle service, or public transportation to Auburn. The Centro bus system operates several routes between Syracuse and Auburn, with stops at the airport and other locations. If a flight to Syracuse is hard to find, Rochester International Airport is an alternative arrival destination 85 miles west of Auburn. From there, you can rent a car to make the drive to Auburn, take a shuttle service, or navigate public transportation. RELATED: Home of Harriet Tubmans Father Found By Maryland Archaeologists The multiple exposure photo taken on Oct. 26, 2020 shows the night view along the Huangpu River in east China's Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua] Shanghai remained the country's most populous city last year, with a permanent population of 24.76 million despite a net decrease of nearly 135,400 people, according to the Shanghai Statistics Bureau. It saw a decrease of 257,300 permanent residents who hail from outside the city, the largest such drop in recent years, according to the bureau. However, Shanghai registered a slight increase in its permanent population in terms of household registrations, up by more than 120,000, thanks largely to its ability to attract skilled workers. More notably, life expectancy and the average length of education in Shanghai are on par with those in more developed nations. Life expectancy last year was 83.18. In comparison, the figures for Norway and Sweden were 83.2 and 83, respectively. Also, Shanghai permanent residents on average have been schooled for 11.8 years, higher than in France and Ireland and nearly as high as in Singapore. Statistics also showed a declining growth rate and an uptick in its aging rate. Shanghai's permanent population has registered a negative natural growth rate for the past three years, dropping to minus 0.16 percent last year. Meanwhile, people age 60 or older accounted for 25 percent of permanent residents, up by 1 percentage point year-on-year. A steady influx of migrants has kept the population over 24 million since 2013. Lu Ming, an expert in urbanization from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, said that the consumer service sector in big cities like Shanghai attracts large numbers of migrant workers. "Jobs like housekeepers, ride-hailing drivers and food delivery workers, which are part of the gig economy, do not have high requirements for education and cannot easily be automated," he said. Lu estimates that up to 75 percent of China's population will live in cities by 2030, compared with 64 percent currently. "Even if the labor force starts to decline, urbanization should still ensure that the supply of labor in the manufacturing and service industries continues to expand," Lu said. "The population influx into large cities will promote a more efficient use of labor resources, leading to sustained economic growth." Political brinkmanship can be a dangerous game, particularly when it puts the state's top economic engine at risk. Tourism officials across the Treasure Coast are rightfully concerned about a bill that would essentially shift responsibility for funding Visit Florida, the state's tourism agency, to county governments. A bill pending in the Florida Legislature would require 62 of the state's 67 counties to redirect portions of their tourism tax collections to cover Visit Florida's expenses. The revised funding plan would generate about $75 million for Visit Florida. Last year, the program received $50 million from the state, but the state's share of funding would apparently go away if this legislation becomes law. A hidden agenda? State bill could slash Treasure Coast tourism budgets, impacting beaches, Mets stadium Selling Treasure Coast's strengths 'Don't Come Here' is the message Treasure Coast tourism offices are using to attract visitors An economic cash cow Two years after COVID-19 hit, tourism rebound continues on Treasure Coast Beach-goers walk along the waterline on Friday, May 15, 2020, in front of Costa d'Este Beach Resort & Spa in Vero Beach. Local hotels saw drastically lower reservations in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The beach resort, co-owned by singer Gloria Estefan, re-opened May 8. Counties would have the option of holding a referendum every six years (after an initial three-year grace period) to renew tourist-development taxes, which are tacked onto tourists' hotel bills. At least 60% voter approval would be required for a referendum abolishing the funding to pass. In other words, the bill would place what has been a reliable (and pain-free for local residents) source of income for county governments very much in doubt. This money has historically been used for a variety of purposes, including debt service on renovations for Port St. Lucie's Clover Park, spring training home of the New York Mets and summer home of the St. Lucie Mets; improvements to the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum, A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery and the Zora Neale Hurston Dust Tracks Heritage Trail, all in Fort Pierce; beach renourishment projects; visitor centers; tourism-related staff positions; and marketing campaigns. Story continues If this happens, we would be in trouble because we have a $20 million bond that we did for the Mets stadium renovation, said St. Lucie County Commissioner and Tax Development Council Chairman Chris Dzadovsky, If that (change) were to be done by the state, and force us to take it from the general fund, that would be catastrophic." Yes, and good luck in the future trying to secure bond funding tied to tourism taxes if the legislation is approved. Most bonded projects are repaid over 20-year terms, but this could potentially put the tourism taxes at risk every six years with the referendum provision. That's not likely to put bonding agencies at ease. Locals and tourists enjoy a variety of vendors offering a diverse selection of foods, plants, spices and more during the Downtown Fort Pierce Farmers' Market at Marina Square on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. Visit Florida has pooled its resources with counties in the past on marketing initiatives. However, in those cases, counties were free to decide whether they wanted to participate. We dont have any control," Martin County Tourism Director Nerissa Okiye said of the proposed change. "We would be giving funding to Visit Florida, but then it does not benefit us back. Whereas now, when we do co-ops and we do programs, theres a direct benefit." Every year, it seems local governments are trying often unsuccessfully to fend off the Legislature's efforts to strip away some of their ability to make decisions they believe are in the best interests of their constituents. If the bill becomes law, local governments would be losing some of the control they have over how to spend money collected within their borders. "The state mandating how our local taxes should be spent is an attack on home rule," said Charlotte Bireley, St. Lucie director of tourism and marketing. "... That's essentially starting to slash our budget for a state-funded operation." The good news, if you want to call it that, is this may all be part of a political game. Some conservative lawmakers have been talking about doing away with Visit Florida and Enterprise Florida, the state's business recruitment agency, for years. As USA TODAY NETWORK Florida capital bureau reporter John Kennedy outlined in a story this week, the proposed elimination of Visit Florida's state funding may be a part of the give-and-take that occurs during every legislative session. Enterprise Florida may have fewer political allies and less of an obvious constituency than the tourism agency does. As a result, threatening to end state funding for both programs, then eventually "settling" on eliminating only Enterprise Florida's has the appearance of being a political compromise. Even if getting rid of Enterprise Florida was the primary goal all along. In any case, forcing counties to pay for Visit Florida would upset a status quo that had been working just fine. Whatever legislators decide they want to do with Visit Florida, they shouldn't put much-needed county tourism funding at risk. Editorials published by TCPalm/Treasure Coast Newspapers are decided collectively by its editorial board. To respond to this editorial with a letter to the editor, email up to 300 words to TCNLetters@TCPalm.com. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Counties shouldn't suffer in state political flap over Visit Florida Constitution Day is Sept. 17. Why, you may ask, am I writing about this now? Because there is a bill that just passed the Illinois House of Representatives and is sitting in the Illinois Senate that will place Constitution Day on the list of officially recognized holidays in the state of Illinois in school code. The bill needs to pass the Senate and move to the desk of the governor to be signed into law. Why should you care? Because in 2004 our federal government mandated that all states that receive federal dollars must recognize Constitution Day in order to be eligible for future funding. The law also could require repayment of past funds if the state fails to recognize the day. The U.S. Constitution is the law of the land. It is a figuratively living and breathing document that is able to change as the world changes and still remain the guiding light for our representative republic form of democracy. The flexibility that our Constitutions creators built into the ever-changing work of law is what makes it so great. When those who see the need to change a law, they have the ability to do so in a peaceful manner. Sure it is complex and time consuming to change a law, but most worthwhile objectives are not easily achieved. The value of the U.S. Constitution should be celebrated by all Americans and should be taught to the students in our classrooms. The federal government believes this too. That is why they require students to be reminded of all of the laws the Constitution guarantees each Sept. 17. This is in addition to the required tests that are taken in the eighth and 11th grades. I was made aware of this law by a constituent who asked to come to my office and discuss how Madison County schools were abiding by the federal law. I honestly could not answer the gentleman, but I told him I would ask each district superintendent and get back to him with what I found out. I found various degrees of observance throughout Madison County. Some schools had students read the Constitution. Some districts talked about the document in their civics classes. Others devoted time to creating art projects. Some were not aware that the law existed. This led me to look deeper into the issue. Story continues I soon found out that the State of Illinois did not have Constitution Day listed as an officially recognized holiday. I was shocked and called State Representative Amy Elik. She helped me to research the issue further and agreed to sponsor a bill in the 103rd session of the Illinois General Assembly. She was successful in passing HB1273 through the House on March 23, which adds Constitution Day to the list of officially recognized holidays in the Illinois School Code. She secured Illinois Senator Erica Harriss to sponsor the bill in the Senate. In the Senate, the bill is starting to gain traction. Rep. Elik, Sen. Harriss and I are working hard to boost support for the bill that passed the House with unanimous, bipartisan support. We recently added Sen. Christopher Belt and Sen. Doris Turner as chief co-sponsors in that chamber. We are asking your help in contacting your state senators to ask for the support in passing HB1273 in the Senate. It is a great piece of legislation that will help our students learn about the U.S. Constitution and bring the state of Illinois into compliance with federal law. I thank you in advance for your assistance and will work to make sure that more is done in our schools to better understand our nations constitution. Mark Ridley-Thomas leaves federal court in downtown Los Angeles on March 27. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) To the editor: Erin Aubrey Kaplan is spot on about suspended L.A. City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas. It is precisely because Ridley-Thomas served an underfunded and underappreciated section of the city and is a seasoned politician that we should be angry over the behavior that led to his corruption conviction. This isn't holding him to a higher standard just the letter of the law. I live in Ridley-Thomas' area, and I have seen him pushing a baby pram through the neighborhood. I was so proud to cross paths with him. Now, I am not sure what I would say to him, because while I do understand that he did good for Los Angeles, he has also shamed himself and disappointed his constituents. Randy Farhi, Leimert Park .. To the editor: The accomplishments of Ridley-Thomas are legion and dwarf the charges on which he was convicted. Still, the notable roster of his defenders after the verdict can't help but make one reflect on former President Trump and his enablers and supporters. Both men must receive justice, or our system of law and order means nothing. As a longtime friend of Ridley-Thomas, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass in particular has a difficult needle to thread here. Hal Rothberg, Calabasas This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Greg Dawson looks at old family photos with his wife, Candy, at their home in Florida on Feb. 15. Dawson, the son of a Holocaust survivor, is working on bringing refugees from Ukraine to the U.S. (Sydney Walsh / For The Times) To the editor: With tears streaming, I read your article on the descendants of Ukrainian Holocaust survivors helping the descendants of the family that sheltered their ancestors during World War II. My late mother was from Kharkov, Ukraine (now known as Kharkiv). She was a survivor who never spoke of what really happened to her parents, brother and one sister who did not survive. She was "lucky" to be evacuated to Siberia and live. To read about the Bogancha family's righteousness during World War II, and how now a group of individuals came together to help this familys descendants during the present war in Ukraine, is a lesson to be taught. In a time when antisemitism is on the rise and more people deny or do not want to remember the past, I am heartened to see this emotional story on the front page, and on the day before Passover. As was said in your article, good deeds will be paid back 1,000 times. Esther Friedberg, Studio City .. To the editor: What a moving piece about the Ukrainian Bogancha family and their son who is attending college in Santa Monica. I'm part of a group from Congregation Adat Shalom in West L.A. and Temple Akiba in Culver City helping to settle the rest of the family once they arrive from Austria, settling them either in Santa Monica or in Culver City. We are connected to and aided by HIAS, an organization that helps settle refugees. Their arrival will be another joyous reunion at LAX. Personally, my father was aided by HIAS 100 years ago this year. Helping this family of Ukrainian refugees is a most important endeavor. Sandra Helman, Venice .. To the editor: I was thrilled seeing the front page of Tuesday's L.A. Times. There was no war, no corruption, no tornadoes, no floods, no murders. There was a great feature on how one generation helped another in modern times. It was heartwarming to read about good people helping each other. I was amazed at how Marina Orlovetsky found Anna Dawson, a Ukrainian Holocaust survivor living in the U.S., and then Alex Bogancha in Ukraine. I cried when I read Anna died just before Alex arrived in the U.S. I laughed when I read Alex loves L.A. and went to the beach, the Santa Monica Pier, Malibu and Hollywood, and is looking forward to visiting Disneyland once the rest of his family arrives. Story continues Thank you for reporting this uplifting story. Leslye Borden, Rancho Palos Verdes This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. PeaceHealth has opened a dedicated pediatric unit in Bellingham, expanding its care for Whatcom County families. The Pediatric Care Unit opened in February at St. Joseph hospital and has four dedicated rooms and seven beds for children ages 0-17 years old, as well as two rooms for overflow patients, according to a news release from PeaceHealth. Before the pediatric unit opened, PeaceHealth could not offer the level of care that neighboring hospitals could. Weve seen about 100 pediatric patients over the last year, and have transferred about a dozen on to Seattle Childrens for a higher level of care than we can provide, Barbara Pongracz Lamb, communications specialist for PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center wrote in an email to The Bellingham Herald. Before our pediatric unit opened in February, we took care of children throughout the hospital. Our dedicated unit allows us to focus our care with a specific space geared for children and also with nursing staff trained to care for the pediatric population, Lamb wrote. The new unit will also have staff trained to care for children specifically and works closely with Seattle Childrens Hospital as the primary hub for pediatric care north of Everett. In addition to the specially trained, board-certified hospitalists, all the nurses who work on the unit are specifically trained to care for children of all ages. These providers coordinate care with other specialists, pediatricians, and primary care providers, the news release states. One pediatric unit room will specifically serve children whose outpatient procedures may require hours of observation, such as infusions, medication monitoring or sedated imaging. The unit is hoping to expand offerings of these services in the new unit, which currently are only offered during the day on weekdays. St. Joseph hospital is at 2901 Squalicum Parkway. As Miami residents continue to deal with a housing affordability crisis, many of the citys smaller commercial enterprises are also challenged. Nonprofit Miami Foundation wants to give those businesses led by women and people of color a better chance of survival with its Open For Business program. In its second year, most of the program grants are funded through a $20 million commitment from Wells Fargo. Last year, the foundation provided 170 small business owners across Miami-Dade County $3.8 million in grants and loans. A lot of people dont realize business ownership is a key part of wealth creation, said Brittany Morgan, Miami Foundations economic resilience director. We all know commercial rents are really high and those issues are hitting your favorite barbershop or salon. Morgan views the Open For Business program as a way to support entrepreneurs that have faced pandemic challenges, and struggles before it began in March 2020. She is all too familiar with stories of small businesses that have invested heavily in their leased workplaces, only to be shown the door by difficult landlords. Tendra Ferguson, founder of Tens Kitchen, a Cutler Bay soul food and Caribbean restaurant, considers the $100,000 loan she received in last years round of funding from Miami Foundation a relief. Getting bank loans didnt work for me, Ferguson, 41, said. Im overwhelmed and when I got the deposit, it was unbelievable. Since quitting her full-time job to launch her business in 2019, shes had many difficulties. Starting with a food truck, she learned that she would need a commissary to maintain it. Renovations for the site she wanted to be her commissary were costly and she still needed to pay her employees. The loan last year freed up capital that gave her breathing room in a competitive food service industry. Like Ferguson, architect Jason Tapia is a Black small business owner who got a boost from the first round of grants from the foundation. Tapia is the principal behind BC3, a design firm. Story continues Tapia and his partners Kevin Michael of information technology firm Invizio and Jean Longchamps of Zia Construction received commercial real estate down-payment assistance to buy and co-own an office space in Allapattah. Tapia was turfed out of three different office properties and thinks property ownership can open doors to business opportunities in a different way, since he and his colleagues serve the Black community. Its important to have that collateral as a biz owner, Tapia said. Theyre always looking for assets and something to put a lien on. Were not looked at as favorably from a lending standpoint. It puts you at a disadvantage when you want to get a loan. Having lines of credit connected to your assets is important. This is leveling the playing field. Jenny Flores, Wells Fargos head of small business growth philanthropy, considers the strength of Miamis small business community a cornerstone of the citys vibrant economy. The deadlines to apply for the foundation grants, which are administered through three financial funds, is April 15, June 15, and August 15. More information about applications can be found at https://miamiofbloans.org/ The wooden, one-story building tucked into a once-rural neighborhood off of Old Todds Road sits behind the former Cadentown Baptist Church. Its easy to drive by it on Caden Lane and not realize its there or its historical significance. For many, the one-room Julius Rosenwald and Booker T. Washington-constructed Black school on Caden Lane means a great deal. Its the only remaining Rosenwald school, one of thousands built to educate Black students prior to desegregation in the South, left in Fayette County. Constructed in 1923 during a time when Fayette Countys Black residents couldnt attend white schools, it ceased being a school in 1943, according to records. The exterior paint is peeling. The one-room school with lots of natural light has been partially restored. It has so much potential, said Kathy Plomin, a Lexington-Fayette Urban County Councilwoman who is leading the charge to raise money and further preserve the Rosenwald school. The effort at the Rosenwald school is part of a much larger drive, spearheaded by Plomin, the city and other community remembers, to highlight and remember Fayette Countys Black rural hamlets. In coming months, the group hopes to raise money to turn the Rosenwald school into a type of museum, highlighting not only the separate Black school system in Kentucky but Black rural settlements in Fayette County. The former Rosenwald School in Cadentown, one of at least 20 historic Black hamlets that were settled by Black people in Fayette County, Lexington, Ky., Friday, March 31, 2022. There are efforts to save the Rosenwald School and to mark and celebrate Fayette Countys Black hamlets. Julius Rosenwald built 158 schools for Black students in Kentucky between 1917 and 1932. Most Black hamlets are no longer there Cadentown is one of nearly two dozen Black hamlets. Started in 1867 when Owen Caden purchased 43 acres in the Old Todds and Liberty road area, Cadentown was subdivided and sold to former slaves and their descendants during the reconstruction period after the Civil War. Between 1826 and 1924, at least 20 largely Black rural hamlets were created. They were near where many rural Black residents worked, and almost all were in what was then rural Fayette County. Many had grocery stores, churches and cemeteries. Cadentown had two churches and a lodge for community gatherings. Story continues Most of them are gone or they have been swallowed up by development, said Rev. Leon Slatter of Cadentown Baptist Church, who also serves on the rural Black hamlets steering committee. Takes Jonestown for example. Jonestown was started in 1893 and included 46 acres in land that is now off Tates Creek Road near Armstrong Mill Road, across from the Lexington Public Library. As the city of Lexington grew, that land was added to the citys urban service boundary. In the 1980s, the area was rezoned for homes and apartments, according to city records and research conducted by Krista Schneider. All the original buildings were torn down. It now looks like any suburban neighborhood. The only clue the settlement was once there is a street sign: Jonestown Lane. Jonestown Lane is one of the few clues that this area of Tates Creek Road was once a thriving Black rural hamlet. Jonestown was one of 20 rural, Black hamlets in Fayette County. Clarissa Thomas, director of education and outreach for the Lexington Public Library and member of the steering committee, said many people think the land was donated to Black residents. It wasnt. The formerly enslaved bought the land, Thomas said. It was purchased. Some of the rural Black settlements include: Athens Avon Bracktown Coletown Fort Springs Jimtown Uttingertown/Columbus Little Georgetown Maddoxtown Pricetown Centerville Jonestown Willa Lane Muir Station Warrentown Mitchelltown South Elkhorn Plomin said they are still working to find out more about those rural Black settlements, but record-keeping during that time period was spotty or non-existent. Many Black Fayette County residents may not live there now but many can trace their roots to those settlements, Slatter said. The group hopes that people who once lived in those settlements, or had family members who did, will be able to provide more information, photos and other memorabilia that could be placed in the Rosenwald school in Cadentown. This could become a receptacle for artifacts, photos, stories. We could have receptions, Plomin said. This is a community project thats long overdue. Rosenwald schools At least five of the Fayette County rural Black settlements had Rosenwald schools, according to research conducted by the steering group looking at commemorating Fayette Countys Black rural settlements. The former Rosenwald School in Cadentown, one of 20 historic Black hamlets that were settled by Black people in Fayette County, Lexington, Ky., Friday, March 31, 2022. There are efforts to save the Rosenwald School and to mark and celebrate Fayette Countys Black hamlets. Julius Rosenwald built 158 schools for Black students in Kentucky between 1917 and 1932. Between 1917 and 1943, Julius Rosenwald, a philanthropist and retail giant, helped build 158 Black schools and other buildings in Kentucky prior to the 1954 Brown vs . Board of Education, which desegregated schools, according to 1997 research conducted by the Kentucky Heritage Council and the Kentucky African-American Commission. Rosenwald, one-time president of Sears & Roebuck, met Booker T. Washington, a Black educator who pushed for the education of Black students during the Jim Crow era. Rosenwald, and other early 20th century philanthropists, set aside money to help build Black schools when local and state authorities refused or claimed there was no money to build them. In total, the Rosenwald and Washington school construction program helped fund 5,357 schools and other education buildings across 15 states in the south, according to the 1997 Kentucky Heritage Council report on Rosenwald schools. The school buildings werent free. According to the 1997 survey of Kentucky Rosenwald schools, Cadentown cost $3,300 to build. Rosenwald paid $500 and provided the designs for the building. The Black community raised $300. The white community, which raised funds for other Black schools in Kentucky, raised no money for the building. The public school system paid $2,500. Many people are ignorant of Rosenwald and Washingtons efforts to provide places for Black education during segregation, Plomin said. I run into so many people who have never heard of a Rosenwald school, she said. Thats one of the reasons that saving the Rosenwald school is so important. The former Rosenwald School in Cadentown, one of 12 historic Black hamlets that were settled by Black people in Fayette County, Lexington, Ky., Friday, March 31, 2022. There are efforts to save the Rosenwald School and to mark and celebrate Fayette Countys Black hamlets. Julius Rosenwald built 158 schools for Black students in Kentucky between 1917 and 1932. The school was owned by the Cadentown Baptist Church until 1978, when it was sold, Slatter said. The church moved to a different location in Cadentown. It needed the money from the sale of the property to help build the new church on Cadentown Road. Private owners owned the building and the former Cadentown Baptist Church for decades. The Cadentown Neighborhood Association stepped in to try to save the former church and the school during the late 1990s, thanks to the efforts of Alvin Seals, a longtime Cadentown resident who is also on the Black hamlets steering committee. Originally, the neighborhood wanted to get grants and other money to rehabilitate and save the school. But there wasnt enough money, Slatter said. Meanwhile, the building continued to deteriorate. In 2002, the National Trust for Historic Preservation listed the school as one of 11 most endangered buildings in the country. In 2005, the city took over the school and the church. It is overseen by the citys parks and recreation department. The city spent around $200,000 in federal and local funds to preserve the building. In 2006, the school was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Its not known how many Rosenwald schools are left in Kentucky. There were 41 Rosenwald schools still standing 15 years ago, according to 2007 re-survey of Rosenwald schools conducted for the Kentucky African American Heritage Commission and the Heritage Council. How much will it cost? How much money is needed to restore the Cadentown Rosenwald school is still being worked out. Plomin said that announcement will come closer to the Juneteenth celebration, June 19, which will be the official kick-off for the fundraising effort. That event will be held in conjunction with the citys Racial Justice and Equality Commission. Plomin said there is some city funding available through the citys surplus funds for capital projects in council districts. Plomin has a track record of raising money outside of city government for projects. She and former Councilwoman Jennifer Mossotti spear-headed efforts to raise money for a statue honoring suffragists in downtown Lexington in 2020. Its the first statue to honor women in downtown Lexington. Plomin, who is in her fourth term on council, was president of the United Way of the Bluegrass prior to being elected to council. In addition to the school, the group would like to put bathrooms at the back of the former church, which was turned into a residence, but it is now vacant. Behind the school is a former cemetery that also needs to be refurbished, Slatter said. Only two gravestone markers are visible. There are only a couple of graves remaining in the cemetery behind the Rosenwald School in Cadentown, one of 20 historic Black hamlets that were settled by Black people in Fayette County, Lexington, Ky., Friday, March 31, 2022. There are efforts to save the Rosenwald School and to mark and celebrate Fayette Countys Black hamlets. Julius Rosenwald built 158 schools for Black students in Kentucky between 1917 and 1932. Many of them have fallen down, Slatter said of the gravestones. Slatter said they think there are more than 100 people buried in the former cemetery. There are currently efforts to find out who is buried there. Plomin said the city is looking for former residents or family members who once lived in Fayette Countys Black hamlets to contact the group. Photographs and other memorabilia are welcomed. People can contact the group at lexingtonhameltsproject@gmail.com or can visit the groups website for updates and to find out more at www.lexingtonhamlets.org. The city with the most to lose from an urban train disaster is Lexington, Kentucky. Most cities have already relocated freight tracks out of their densely populated areas to rural routes, where derailments like East Palestine, Ohio, are less deadly. Freight trains carry massive quantities of toxic material too dangerous to be on our city streets, but the freight route in South Lexington is much worse, it goes right through the densely populated heart of our city. Derailments of hazardous materials require evacuation of a one-to-two-mile radius for good reasons: the toxic chemicals and gases can be deadly. When two Norfolk Southern trains collided in Graniteville, S.C., one massive tank car released chlorine gas, nine people died and hundreds were injured as the fog of deadly gas covered their small town. In Waverly, Tenn., a derailed propane gas tank car exploded and set the whole town ablaze killing 16 people. The Norfolk Southern freight lines run parallel to Nicholasville Road and for about four miles from Fayette Mall to the Broadway underpass they are endangering more than 100,000 people and some of our most valuable assets, our hospitals. Concentrated within a one-mile radius of the Waller Avenue train crossing are the University of Kentucky Hospital, Shriners Hospital, Baptist Lexington Hospital, Saint Josephs Hospital, the entire University of Kentucky campus and thousands and thousands of homes. Our hospitals serve the whole state, not just Lexington, so every state and federal representative should help us eliminate this danger. Its a ticking time bomb. Just imagine the exact train derailment they had in East Palestine with 38 massive, burning rail cars exploding toxic materials and gases in South Lexington. There is no warning with derailments, so the first hours would be chaos as the homes close to the derailment are destroyed and incinerated. Firefighters would be in serious jeopardy from exploding tank cars with no knowledge of what hazardous materials are in them. Our emergency departments would be trying to assess how to evacuate thousands of patients, doctors, nurses and staff from all the hospitals, while the air becomes toxic, and the roads are blocked by thousands of fleeing citizens. Total chaos. No city is prepared for an urban rail disaster. Story continues Misti Allison, an East Palestine, Ohio resident, testified during the U.S. Senate hearing on the Norfolk Southern railway disaster in her town. My seven-year-old has asked me if he is going to die from living in our own home, Allison said. What do I tell him? Only one thing can destroy the heart of our city, a freight train disaster. Can we eliminate this danger? Yes, 100%. Relocating the freight route means the danger is gone forever, just like in other cities. We cannot force the railroad out of South Lexington, but we can offer something much better: we can build them a brand new freight route through farmland west of the city that will be faster and safer, saving the railroad time and money. Its a win/win for the city and the railroad. Horse farms and railroads have coexisted for centuries, including top farms here in the Bluegrass. Mayor Gorton and the councilmembers whose districts are near the freight route need to start hearings on the HAZMAT danger of a derailment exactly like the one in East Palestine, then expand it to include deadly chlorine and propane gases being released. The hearings will be chilling, but necessary. It is not too soon to engage the railroad, like former Mayor Fred Fugazi did in the 1960s, in order to successfully remove the train tracks from downtown. The speed of relocating the freight route will be driven by our citizens, doctors, students and staff at UK, and homeowners who want to be certain a horrible train disaster like the one in East Palestine never breaks the heart of Lexington. Fred Pope Fred A. Pope is a retired advertising executive in Lexington. The liberation of Crimea from the Russian invaders is the only way, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is convinced. Source: Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the first iftar in Ukraine held at the official level with the participation of Muslim servicemen, representatives of the diplomatic corps, and the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people; Ukrinform. Quote: "On the land of Crimea, evil, humiliation, repression, murders and war reign now under the Russian tricolour. However, where the path of evil began, that is where, I am sure, victory, victory over this evil, is waiting. The liberation of Crimea is the only way to go, not only for Ukraine but for the whole world. I am sure of it. Just as we respect the territorial integrity of all states from Europe to Latin America, we rightly expect respect for the territorial integrity of our state: the whole Ukraine, from Polissia to the coast of the Black and Azov Seas, from the northern cities to Sevastopol and Kerch. All of our east and south communities and people equally deserve to live, and live freely." Details: Zelenskyy said that when Ukraine returns to Crimea, peace will return to the world because, according to him, the aggressor will lose. "Everything else can only fan the flames of Russia's thirst for war. Let the aggressor feel that no one is allowed to break peoples' lives and rob people, no one is allowed to spread evil and ruin in the world," the president said. Background: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva offered Ukraine to cede Crimea to end the war. In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Ukraine does not trade its territories and does not see any reason to cede even a centimetre of Ukrainian land. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Some things in life you just can't explain. On the Wednesday, April 5, episode of the Hi Jinkx! podcast, Lisa Ann Walter, who's known for playing nanny Chessy in Lindsay Lohan's 1998 remake of "The Parent Trap," said that she gave birth to her twins on the same day that Lohan's characters were said to be born in the film. The first two were born in Jersey because I lived first in Jersey City and then in Southern New Jersey, Walter said of her kids. And then I have identical boy twins and they were born on the same day as the twins in The Parent Trap on Oct. 11. And they were born out here in L.A., down in Santa Monica. In the flick, Lohan played identical twins, Hallie and Annie, who try to get their parents together after they found out they were separated at birth. LINDSAY LOHAN, THE PARENT TRAP, 1998 (AJ Pics / Alamy Stock) While talking about the strange coincidence to host Jinkx Monsoon from "RuPauls Drag Race," Walter said she called up "The Parent Trap" director Nancy Meyers to ask her, "What hex did you put on me?" "I mean, its weird!" Walter added. WALKER,KUNZ, THE PARENT TRAP, 1998 (AJ Pics / Alamy Stock) After the "Parent Trap," Walter went on to do more amazing projects like "Bruce Almighty" and "GLOW" before she landed the role of second-grade teacher Melissa Schemmenti in Quinta Brunson's "Abbott Elementary." While appearing on The Kelly Clarkson Show" in March 2022, Walter said the kids on the show instantly recognized her when she stepped on set because of the continuing popularity of the Disney film. My boss, Quinta Brunson, who created the show and stars in it and is all of 32 years old, shes like, That is an entire baby that just recognized you from a movie that is 28 years old! Walter said. When Clarkson asked her why she thought "The Parent Trap" was such a successful film, Walter said it's simply because it's "a great movie. This article was originally published on TODAY.com A spokesperson for the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Friday announced sanction measures against diehard "Taiwan independence" separatist Bi-khim Hsiao. The spokesperson said Hsiao solicited foreign support and looked for U.S. support for the independence agenda to intentionally provoke confrontations across the Taiwan Strait and undermine cross-Strait peace and stability, which further exposed her diehard nature of seeking "Taiwan independence." The mainland decided to impose further sanction measures on Hsiao, strictly banning Hsiao and her family members from entering the mainland and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao, banning her financial sponsors and related businesses from cooperating with mainland organizations and individuals. All other necessary punitive measures will be taken to ensure lifelong accountability according to law, said the spokesperson. History has proven and will continue to prove that, "Taiwan independence" will lead to a dead end, and the brazen provocations of diehard "Taiwan independence" separatists relying on external forces are sure to fail, said the spokesperson. "No individual or force should underestimate our strong resolve, will and ability to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the spokesperson added. The road into the Little North Santiam Canyon and Opal Creek area will remain closed for a third straight summer but could begin to reopen this fall. The road into the Little North Santiam Canyon and Opal Creek area will remain closed for a third straight summer but could begin to reopen this fall, officials said at a Wednesday meeting in Lyons. Almost three years after the 2020 Beachie Creek Fire severely burned the area east of Salem, officials said a gate on North Fork Road will stay in place until after Labor Day. Prior to the fire, North Fork Road, which eventually leads into the Opal Creek area, was among Oregon's most popular recreation corridors. U.S. Forest Service official Brandon Coville cited hazards beyond the gate, as well destroyed amenities at parks, campgrounds and day use areas as primary reasons for the continued gating of the road. The Opal Creek area was badly burned during the 2020 Labor Day wildfires. Coville said the Forest Service is currently soliciting for contractors to remove hazard trees that would allow them to reopen the road. Marion County officials said that Bear Creek Park and the day use area at Salmon Falls will undergo amenities updates over the summer, and hopefully reopen in the fall. They provided no precise reopening date for either area, but ideally, this would coincide with the opening of the North Fork Road for public use. Marion County Commissioner Colm Willis said the county should have "some" parks ready for use by the end of the summer. Commissioners Kevin Cameron and Danielle Bethell were also in attendance, assuring meeting attendees that safety remains the primary focus of the phased reopening of the area. Officials answer questions from community members during a North Fork update meeting on Wednesday in Lyons. For some at the meeting, many of whom own property along North Fork Road, a main concern was that officials would reopen the road without reopening the parks first, causing visitors to have no place to go or park their vehicles. I think the concern I have, and the rest of us at this meeting voiced tonight, is making sure that when we open it, were ready for it to be open, longtime resident Jim Quiring said. Meaning theres at least a park or two that are open, the river access points have been reestablished and ready to go, and hopefully the county, the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management will all be on board to at least have some of their facilities and trails and opportunities ready to go too. Story continues While safety and logistical concerns dictate the situation, many attendees spoke to the excitement of eventually reopening the gate, and what it will be like when the community and visitors can once again recreate freely in the canyon. When it opens for us all to be able to go and take our families and our grandkids, I cant wait to just go see all the places that Ive known and loved for the last 65, 70 years and see how theyve changed, Quiring said. I know its different now, but I want to see the life return. This is part of a cycle, its happened in our lifetimes and its a rare opportunity that we have to watch it, learn from it and celebrate the way life comes back. Read more: Wildfire-burned area in Willamette National Forest reopens near Detroit, Opal Creek, Jefferson Last summer, the Forest Service reopened all the forestland and trails that had been previously closed within Willamette National Forest. However, many of the roads that access the places remain closed as they undergo hazard tree removal and are expected to reopen on a rolling basis this summer and fall. Charles Gearing is an outdoors journalism intern for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at cgearing@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Little North Santiam Canyon to stay closed through summer Vice President Kamala Harris met with the three lawmakers who battled this week for their seats in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Former Reps. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, and Justin J. Pearson, D-Memphis, were expelled from the House after the two lawmakers, along with Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, led gun reform protests from the House floor following the mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville. Johnson maintained her seat after the resolution to remove her failed by one vote. The story has thrust Tennessee politics to a national stage, prompting statements of support for the "Tennessee Three" from Democratic leaders across the country. Harris met with the lawmakers at Fisk University, where there was a community event at the Memorial Chapel. Catch up on more of our coverage and follow along for live updates. Vice President Harris to young leaders: 'We need you all' After addressing Thursdays events and the Tennessee Three, Harris concluded her remarks with a message for the whole audience. Your voices are part of the conscience of our country. When we need in these moments in time people who have something in them that is about empathy, about care, about a sense of responsibility for their brother and sister, Harris said. We need you all. Bookending her speech, Harris returned to civil rights leaders Diane Nash and John Lewis, saying they started as young leaders just like those in the audience. Especially with the push for gun reform, Harris said its a pivotal moment for young leaders to step up. Story continues We will not be defeated, we will not be deterred, we will not throw up our hands when its time to roll up our sleeves, Harris said, drawing deafening applause as she reached the end of her remarks. She concluded, We will speak with truth, we will speak about freedom and justice, and we will march on. Vice President Harris on Tennessee Three: 'It was about who they were representing' Introduced by Nashville Mayor John Cooper, Harris took the stage at Fisk University's Memorial Chapel before a packed crowd. Early into her remarks, the vice president recognized the significance of where shes speaking, a local HBCU (historically Black college and universities) that educated civil rights leaders like Diane Nash and John Lewis. We are here understanding the broad shoulders upon which we all stand. Those fighters for freedom and liberty and justice, Harris said. Those leaders who understood truth must never be stifled or silenced when it is on behalf of the people. Pivoting from that theme, Harris recognized Pearson, Jones and Johnson, seated at the front of the chapel. It wasnt about the three of these leaders. It was about who they were representing, it was about whose voices they were channeling. Is that not what a democracy allows? Harris said. A democracy says you dont silence the people, you do not stifle the people, you do not turn off their microphones when they are speaking about the importance of life and liberty. While the vice president spoke, Pearson encouraged her every word with stomps of his feet and claps of his hands. Come on! he said to Harris, along with other members of the crowd. We are here because they chose to show courage in the face of an extreme tragedy, the Vice President said, before recognizing the March 27 Covenant shooting. Eleven days ago, six people three educators, and three babies, nine years old were murdered senselessly due to gun violence. The Vice President criticized the suggestion that one can support either the Second Amendment or reasonable gun laws. We can and should do both, she said. Harris meets privately with lawmakers, local leaders speak The Vice President met with Pearson, Jones and Johnson privately at the John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library on Fisks campus. The Vice President then met with Tennessee Democratic lawmakers, including Tennessee General Assembly minority leaders Sen. Raumesh Akbari and Rep. Karen Camper, both of Memphis. Nashville Mayor John Cooper was also present. The meeting was closed to the press. Down the road, a crowd packed into the Fisk Memorial Chapel for an event to support the Tennessee Three. Inside the chapel, an energetic audience heard from local leaders and organizers, including the Rev. Davie Tucker, a prominent local pastor and head of the Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship, Iman Omer, a Vanderbilt University student and organizer with Students Demand Action, Ezri Tyler, an organizer with March For Our Lives, and the Rev. Venita Lewis, president of the NAACP Nashville branch, Tennessee State University student Aliyah Holmes, and Nashville Mayor John Cooper. The challenge will be: Dont just celebrate the Tennessee three, Tucker said. What consequences are you willing to live through to make a difference? We need some fighters. Will you join us in the fight? Biden spoke with lawmakers earlier, invites them to White House Earlier Friday, before the Fisk event, President Joe Biden spoke with Jones, Pearson and Johnson via conference call. Biden thanked the lawmakers for spotlighting what he called undemocratic and unprecedented attacks on them this week, and invited them to the White House in the near future. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, left, Justin Jones, center, and Justin Pearson arrive at Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn., on Friday, April 7, 2023, where they are meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris. Jones and Pearson were expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives the day before. Johnson survived an effort to expel her. Fisk event begins The line to enter Memorial Chapel stretched to the end of the block. The sanctuary of the chapel was nearly at capacity just before 5 p.m. Several Metro Council Members sat in the second and third rows, while members of the public continued to file into the church. T-shirts represented gun control advocacy organizations including Moms Demand Action and March for our Lives. Chatter punctuated the air as people waited for the program to begin. At-large Metro Council Member Zulfat Suara took the podium first. Help me make sense of this, she said to the crowd. We are reeling form the deadliest school shooting in our states history. Suara said she was more than disappointed to see the House chose only to expel the young, gifted and Black legislators in the wake of gun reform protests held on the House floor by Johnson, Jones and Pearson. If anything, it tells us all we need to know about how our state views young Black men. The crowd expressed emotional responses to each statement in Suaras speech. Yes! they cried, some rising to their feet, as Suara said Tennessee needs gun control now. Harris arrives in Nashville; Johnson and Pearson arrive at Fisk At 4 p.m., Harris arrived at the Berry Field Air National Guard Base in Nashville, where she was greeted by Col. Ted Geasley, commander of the 118th Wing. The vice president is expected to visit Fisk University, where there is a community event at the Memorial Chapel at 4:30 p.m. for the Tennessee Three. Vice President Kamala Harris is greeted by Col. Ted Geasley, Commander of the 118th Wing, as she arrives at Berry Field Air National Guard Base before meeting with Tennessee legislators at Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn., on Friday, April 7, 2023. Around the time of Harris' arrival to Nashville, Johnson and Pearson arrived at Fisk. When Pearson arrived, he was met with raucous applause and cheers. He stepped up on a stone platform, addressing the crowd. They thought they could expel democracy, Pearson said. But were still here! Among community members waiting outside the chapel was Nicholas Umontuen, who teaches business administration for Fisk University, waited patiently for the event to start. Umontuen has taught at Fisk for 28 years. He said he didnt expect for the Tennessee Three to be expelled. I was shocked, he said. I was demoralized. But Umontuen said the national attention aimed at the story gives him hope to elevate the voices of young people fighting for change. Also present was at-large Metro Council member Zulfat Suara, who is among the council members planning to reappoint Justin Jones to the House as early as Monday. What happened yesterday sent the wrong message to people around the world," Suara said. "We need to make sure what they (expelled lawmakers) did is not in vain. We need to continue to demand gun reform. Nashville police warn of traffic delays due to VP visit There are likely additional traffic delays during rush hour on highways and secondary roads due to the vice president's, Nashville police posted on social media. White House confirms VP trip to Nashville A White House official confirmed the Vice President's trip to Nashville, saying Harris is visiting to lift "the voices" of thousands of young votes who have led massive demonstrations at the Tennessee state Capitol to change gun laws but haven't swayed the state's Republican majority. Harris is expected to arrive Friday afternoon. Harris intends to meet with the state legislature's Democratic caucus, including Jones, Pearson and Johnson, as well as young people who led recent protests at the Tennessee state Capitol in support of gun reform. "(The vice president) wants to make sure that these young people's voices are heard," the White House official said. "In the face of a very tragic event, they want action." Joey Garrison, USATODAY This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Three latest: Biden speaks to expelled lawmakers The Biden administration this week finalized a highly anticipated rule to rein in billions of dollars in overpayments to private insurers through the federal governments Medicare Advantage program. But the overhauls were weaker than expected following an aggressive lobbying blitz from private health insurers. Reforms to overbilling will phase in over a three-year period instead of immediately, and insurers will enjoy a higher reimbursement rate than expected, both key wins for the industry. About half of all eligible Medicare beneficiaries are currently enrolled in Medicare Advantage, which contracts with private insurers to provide benefits that arent included in traditional Medicare, such as vision and dental coverage. Throughout Medicare Advantages 20 years, private insurers have been accused of upcoding beneficiaries, tacking diagnosis codes on to patients for conditions they may not even be treated for, in order to boost the revenue they earn from Medicare. The Medicare Payment Advisory Panel, which advises Congress on Medicare issues, estimates that nearly $124 billion in overpayments will have been made to private insurers since 2007, including $44 billion in 2022 and 2023. New rule takes aim at excessive charges The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is essentially aiming to reduce the number of factors that could result in a beneficiarys risk score being improperly or excessively raised through its new plan. The effects of these actions will go into effect over three years, which could give insurers time to push for additional changes. CMS originally proposed changes it estimated would result in a 1 percent increase to Medicare Advantage payments for next year, but the final number rose to 3.2 percent after insurers warned the measure could raise premiums for seniors. When asked whether industry lobbying efforts made an impact, Deputy CMS administrator Meena Seshamani said that the decision to gradually phase in policy changes is consistent with prior practice. Story continues We are really driving toward advancing health equity, improving payment accuracy, driving high quality care, expanding access to care, Seshamani told reporters. The agency will also begin the process of recovering improper payments made to Medicare Advantage plans by performing audits, the first time the agency has audited these plans since 2007. Lobbying blitz targeted White House, Democrats When the White House began discussing changes to the Medicare Advantage payment model last year, the health insurance industry launched a multimillion dollar lobbying campaign against the proposed changes, claiming the federal government was cutting Medicare funding. The Better Medicare Alliance (BMA), a group funded by multiple major insurance companies, ran Super Bowl ads warning that the White House was planning to cut Medicare. BMA blanketed the airwaves in the nations capital and Arizona and Nevada, where Democrats will defend key Senate seats. The American Action Network, a House-GOP aligned advocacy group that previously received millions of dollars from health care interests, including Aetna, a Medicare Advantage provider, launched $2 million in ads last month putting pressure on swing-district Democrats to oppose Bidens plan. The ads accused Biden of proposing massive Medicare Advantage cuts to seniors, citing a BMA study. Americas Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) said that Democrats and Republicans were instrumental in getting the Biden administration to change course, touting a letter from more than 60 senators urging the Biden administration to provide a stable rate and policy environment for Medicare Advantage. The insurance industry group said that the final CMS rule recognized the serious concerns raised by the industry. AHIP spent $13.3 million on lobbying last year, its highest ever mark, according to nonpartisan watchdog OpenSecrets. The group in December hired Josie Villanueva, a for-hire lobbyist who served as a counselor to Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. BMA spent $1.1 million on lobbying in 2022, more than double the previous year. Also in December, BMA contracted with Emily Holland, a for-hire lobbyist who served as a senior adviser at the CMS under Trump. Experts cast doubt on industry claims Opponents of the administrations reforms warned of higher rates and weaker benefits. But experts are dubious that consumers will feel a financial impact as a result of these changes, owing to the fact that Medicare Advantage plans are provided through private companies. Theyve got a strong incentive to stay at zero premium. Many of these plans most companies have plans in most markets that are at zero premium, said Jack Hoadley, research professor emeritus in the Health Policy Institute of Georgetown Universitys McCourt School of Public Policy. According to Hoadley, insurance providers will still want to remain competitive, maintain their enrollment numbers and stay careful to not push patients towards traditional Medicare. Theyll find other ways to tighten their belts, Hoadley said. Can I guarantee that there will never be a higher cost to beneficiaries? No, theres just lots of things affecting this market. If rates do go up a bit, it would simply be, I think, an adjustment to the fact that theres been this generosity. Medicare Advantage is lucrative Medicare Advantage is a hugely profitable program for insurers. A February report from the Kaiser Family Foundation found that insurers profit margins on Medicare Advantage plans were double that of other types of health plans in 2021. Humana, which enrolls more than 5 million Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, brought in roughly 79 percent of its premiums and service revenue from Medicare Advantage plans last year, according to an annual report to shareholders. UnitedHealth Group, the largest Medicare Advantage provider, saw its stock soar 3.5 percent following Wednesdays CMS announcement, while Humanas stock rose 2.5 percent. Raymond James analysts on Wednesday upgraded the outlook for UnitedHealth and Cigna shares, pointing to an improving regulatory backdrop and the three-year phase-in period that is a win for the industry. The insurance industry has defeated proposed Medicare Advantage changes before. Former President Obama ran on the promise of reforming Medicare Advantage through his health care overhaul. But Congress and the Obama administration ultimately boosted Medicare Advantage rates following a lobbying blitz from the health insurance lobby. Marilyn Tavenner, Obamas CMS administrator, left in 2015 to become CEO of AHIP, a position that paid her $4.6 million over three years. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. LOCKNEY A school employee has been placed on leave and the sheriff's office is investigating after Lockney Independent School District officials received reports the employee was engaged in misconduct with at least one student, the district confirmed Wednesday. The educator was placed on administrative leave Monday after administrators received multiple tips during the last week of March that a school employee "may have engaged in educator misconduct relating to one or more district students," Superintendent Jim Baum said in a news release. The district notified local law enforcement and the Floyd County Sheriff's Office is investigating, he said. The Lockney ISD administration building is pictured in April 2021. Baum did not identify the accused employee or give any further information on the nature of the misconduct, citing state and federal laws which prohibit him from releasing personnel information. "The school administration is grateful for the cooperation it received from local law enforcement, and it will continue to cooperate with law enforcement and other agencies relating to educator certification to the fullest extent permitted by law," Baum said. "Student safety and proper professional relationships between staff and students are top priorities to Lockney ISD. Inappropriate relationships between district employees and students are never tolerated," the statement reads. "The Lockney ISD administration encourages anyone with concerns of a suspected improper relationship between a staff member and a student to immediately contact the superintendent's office or the Floyd County Sheriff's (Office)." This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lockney educator on leave, accused of misconduct with students Why Should Guys Have All the Fun?, tells the inspiring life story of attorney and philanthropist Loida Lewis, and her powerful partnership with the first African American billionaire, Reginald F. Lewis. Loida Lewis wants women to know they are capable of anything, even running a billion-dollar business in the midst of grief. Its what she had to do in the wake of her husbands untimely death. Reginald F. Lewis was a titan in business, the first African American to run a billion-dollar company, TLC Beatrice International. When Loida met Reginald on a blind date in 1968, she had no plans on marrying anyone, but a chance encounter would lead to a partnership in love and business that changed the course of her life. Now at 80 years old, Lewis is opening up about her journey in a memoir, Why Should Guys Have All the Fun?: An Asian American Story of Love, Marriage, Motherhood, and Running a Billion-Dollar Empire. The book is a play off the title of the best-selling biography about her late spouse, Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun? Lewis worked with writer Blair S. Walker to finish her husbands memoir following his death at age 50 after a battle with brain cancer. Mrs. Lewis and Walker have joined forces again, this time for her own book project, to go deep into the life experiences and faith that inspired her in the midst of tragedy. Leslie Lewis, Loida Lewis and Christina Lewis while hosting President Barack Obama in 2015 at their home in Manhattan. (Photo Courtesy: Beatrice Moritz Photography) Thats what I want, especially women to learn from my book, that every challenge is another way of saying I can do it, Lewis told theGrio in an interview on TheGrio Weekly. Mr. Lewis always planned. And when he thought that he might die, he made his right-hand man, Jean Fugett, his brother, to be vice chairman. And so when he died suddenly after a short illness Jean Fugett became chair and CEO. So that was all in the plan, Lewis recalls. I am very, very grateful to him He was very close to Mr. Lewis and he allowed me to be grief-stricken to recover, Lewis tells theGrio. When the business needs required a new CEO, initially there was a search for a replacement. Through her pain, Lewis had a revelation. It took me time to recover. I couldnt even say the Our Father [prayer]. That was how heartbroken I was. But after six months, after prayer, I said to myself, why hire somebody else? Story continues Lewis stepped up to lead the company, and found support from those closest to her, including her eldest daughter Leslie, who she says told her, Mom, what took you so long? Before Loida Lewis, who was born in the Philippines, ever became a business boss woman, she was an accomplished immigration lawyer. She made history as the first Asian woman to pass the New York Bar. Her father had political ambitions for his daughter and encouraged her to aim high. While she intended to become a nun and never marry, meeting Reginald F. Lewis changed the course of her trajectory in every way. In addition to her impactful career, Lewis says her role as mother to two daughters is one that motivated her with purpose. Mr. Lewis was huge in raising them, Lewis tells theGrio. We both agreed that they should number one, respect their elders. Number two, that they do the workstudy. So from the time that they were infants, six months old, I started reading to them and read all the way until they could read for themselves. After her husband died, Lewis leaned on the support of her mother-in-law, Carolyn Fugett, whom she warmly calls her mother-in-love, to help her manage her major family and business responsibilities. Fugett passed away in February 2023 at the age of 97, after a rich life of activism and community work. Mrs. Carolyn Fugett would come to New York from Baltimore, all her children were grown by then, she still had her husband, Lewis tells theGrio. But she would come and stay with me in New York while I go to Europe and inspect the foreign companies companies in Ireland, in Spain, in France, in Germany, in Italy, in Sweden, and in Norway. So all of that I could do because Mom, Mrs. Fugett, was my helpmate after Mr. Lewis died. Carolyn Fugetts birthday celebration with Mr. and Mrs. Lewis. (Photo credit: courtesy The Nicolas Family) Being in an interracial relationship in the 1970s with an African American man, also taught Lewis that her daughters needed a firm grounding in their Black heritage. I insisted that they are proud of their being African Americans, Lewis tells theGrio. Yes, half of them is Asian, Filipino. But in the United States, because of the original sin of slavery, the American society will always consider them African Americans. Lewis was intentional in putting her daughters into programs like Jack and Jill, and exposing them to other aspects of Black culture to build pride and confidence. Both of her children, Leslie and Christina, grew up to be Harvard graduates and entrepreneurs like their father, with their own unique creative and philanthropic endeavors. They are now helping to produce a biopic of his Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun? story with Charles D. Kings media company Macro. For Loida Lewis, the life she has lived wasnt the one she planned, but its one she is proud of and she hopes it inspires a new generation of women to realize their full potential: If you have already a negative result in your mind to say, Oh, I cant do it, then you fail already. Thats why, why should guys have all the fun? TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Loida Lewis reflects on love, life and business with Reginald F. Lewis in new memoir appeared first on TheGrio. Doomsday cult mom Lori Vallow has lost her bid to block her slain sons grandparents from her bombshell murder trial. The judge ruled on Thursday that Joshua JJ Vallows grandmother Kay Woodcock can hear the entirety of the testimony, while his grandfather Larry Woodcock can be present after his own turn on the stand. The victory for the family comes after a former friend of Ms Vallow said she sees death as mercy. The woman, identified only as Jess, told NewsNation that because of her and her husband Chad Daybells cult beliefs killing the kids, to them, is mercy. After four days of questioning, the number of jurors needed to proceed with the trial was reached on Thursday. The court selected the 42 jurors initially planned and three backups, according to KSLTV. The number will be narrowed down to 18 12 who will deliberate and six alternates. Prosecutors and the defence struggled to find jurors who were not familiar with the case which sent shockwaves across America. Ms Vallow is charged with the murders of her seven-year-old son JJ and 16-year-old daughter, who were last seen alive in September 2019. Their bodies were discovered buried at her new husband Chad Daybells property in Rexburg, Idaho, in June 2020. Ms Vallow is also charged with conspiracy to murder Mr Daybells first wife Tammy. Opening arguments are set to begin on Monday. Key points JJ and Tylees loved ones will be allowed to hear testimony Opening statements to begin on Monday Lori Vallow seen in courtroom sketches A timeline of the trail of mystery deaths surrounding Lori Vallow ICYMI: The unbelievable case of Lori Vallow, explained 04:00 , Megan Sheets In the three years since the November 2019 wedding of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell, a deeply disturbing tale of suspected murders, unexplained deaths and apocalyptic cult beliefs about killing zombies has come to light. Five people close to the couple have wound up dead. And the couple are now charged with murder. Story continues On 3 April 2023, Ms Vallows murder trial began in Idaho. Infamously dubbed the cult mom, she is charged with the murders of her two youngest children Tylee Ryan, 16, and Joshua JJ Vallow, seven, whose remains were discovered on the grounds of Mr Daybells property in Rexburg, Idaho, in June 2020 nine months after their last signs of life. She is also charged with conspiracy to murder Mr Daybells first wife Tammy Daybell. The Independents Rachel Sharp has more: Lori Vallow case summary: Doomsday cult, mystery deaths and kids in a pet cemetery Forty-two jury threshold reached 01:00 , Andrea Blanco After four days of questioning, the number of jurors needed to proceed with the trial was reached on Thursday. The court selected the 42 jurors initially planned and three backups, according to KSLTV. The number will be narrowed down to 18 12 who will deliberate and six alternates. Prosecutors and the defence struggled to find jurors who are not familiar with the case which sent shockwaves across America. They are now preparing to deliver their opening arguments on Monday. Jury selection resumes Thursday 6 April 2023 22:38 , Andrea Blanco Todays the fourth day of jury selection. So far, the court has struggled to find jurors who are not familiar with the case which sent shockwaves across America. Three ore potential jurors need to be selected before the number is narrowed from 42 to 18 12 who will deliberate and six alternates. Todays first sketch of Lori Vallow Thursday 6 April 2023 21:36 , Megan Sheets The first court sketch from todays proceedings has been released: New sketch image of Lori Vallow Daybell with her attorneys pic.twitter.com/r1d8TV7HEv Nate Eaton (@NateNewsNow) April 6, 2023 The unbelievable case of Lori Vallow, explained Thursday 6 April 2023 21:30 , Megan Sheets In the three years since the November 2019 wedding of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell, a deeply disturbing tale of suspected murders, unexplained deaths and apocalyptic cult beliefs about killing zombies has come to light. Five people close to the couple have wound up dead. And the couple are now charged with murder. On 3 April 2023, Ms Vallows murder trial began in Idaho. Infamously dubbed the cult mom, she is charged with the murders of her two youngest children Tylee Ryan, 16, and Joshua JJ Vallow, seven, whose remains were discovered on the grounds of Mr Daybells property in Rexburg, Idaho, in June 2020 nine months after their last signs of life. She is also charged with conspiracy to murder Mr Daybells first wife Tammy Daybell. The Independents Rachel Sharp has more: Lori Vallow case summary: Doomsday cult, mystery deaths and kids in a pet cemetery Court resumes fourth day of jury selection Thursday 6 April 2023 20:30 , Megan Sheets The fourth day of jury selection is getting underway in the Ada County Courthouse. Proceedings were set to resume at 1.30pm local time, as the prosecution and defence continue working to whittle down the jury pool. So far, 39 potential jurors have been chosen out of a total 42 needed to move to the next stage of selection. In that stage, both sides will get the chance to question prospective jurors individually and strike 12 each that they do not want on the panel. In the end, 18 jurors will serve on the panel - 12 to deliberate and six alternates. Judge blocks family of Chad Daybells slain wife from watching murder trial remotely Thursday 6 April 2023 19:45 , Megan Sheets The elderly parents of Chad Daybells first wife Tammy will not be allowed to virtually attend the Idaho murder trial of his second wife Lori Vallow, who is accused along with Mr Daybell of killing Tammy. Ms Vallow, dubbed the cult mom, is currently facing trial in Ada County Court for allegedly conspiring to kill both Tammy Daybell and her two youngest children, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and seven-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow. Her doomsday preacher husband, who is facing the same charges, will stand a separate trial later this year. The couple is accused of killing Ms Vallows children in September 2019 after they became convinced the minors were zombies whose dark spirits had to be released through death. They then got married in Hawaii and refused to cooperate in a desperate cross-state search for Tylee and JJ that went on for nine months before their remains were ultimately found buried on Mr Daybells property in Salem, Idaho. Just weeks before their wedding, Mr Daybells first wife, Tammy, was also found dead at their Idaho home in October 2019. Tammys death was initially ruled to be from natural causes and his husband declined an autopsy. The case was reopened amid the search for JJ and Tylee, paving the way for conspiracy charges Mr Daybell and Ms Vallow now face in Tammys death. Earlier this year, her brother Benjamin Douglas and father Ronald made requests to view Ms Vallows ongoing trial remotely. The applications were denied last week by Judge Steven Boyce, who is presiding over Ms Vallows case. The Independents Andrea Blanco has more: Lori Vallow judge blocks victims family from watching murder trial remotely Lori Vallow saw her children as zombies, not people, former friend claims Thursday 6 April 2023 18:44 , Megan Sheets Lori Vallows trial is expected to delve heavily into her alleged involvement in a Doomsday cult led by her husband Chad Daybell. The couple is accused of killing Ms Vallows children shortly after they went missing in September 2019 after becoming convinced the minors were zombies whose dark spirits had to be released through death. Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell refused to cooperate in a desperate cross-state search for Tylee and JJ that went on for nine months before their remains were ultimately found buried on Mr Daybells property in Salem. Speaking in an exclusive interview with NewsNation, a former friend of Ms Vallow, who asked to only be identified as Jess, said that the murder suspect believed she needed to kill her childrens [possessed] bodies to give them a chance to go to heaven. They dont see the zombies as people. They see them the way someone would see a cockroach being controlled by a parasite, she said in the interview aired on Wednesday night. When people have these beliefs, killing the kids, to them, is mercy. The Independents Andrea Blanco has more: Lori Vallow saw her childrens murders as mercy, former friend says JJ and Tylees loved ones will be allowed to hear testimony Thursday 6 April 2023 17:24 , Megan Sheets Relatives of JJ and Tylee will be allowed to hear testimony during the trial despite being witnesses themselves, Judge Steven Boyce has ruled. A motion filed on Thursday lists JJs grandmother Kay Woodcock, Ms Vallows sister Summer Shiflet and Tylees brother Colby Ryan as victims in the case, meaning they are entitled to hear testimony. JJs grandfather Larry Woodcock is not considered a victim in the order but will be allowed to hear testimony after he gives his own. Just before the trial kicked off, Ms Vallows defence team moved to ban JJs grandparents from the courtroom, in a move that left the family blindsided and heartbroken. It came after Judge Boyce issued an order ruling that any witnesses in the case will be excluded from the trial and from hearing other witness testimony unless they are victims in the case. Ms Vallows legal team argued that the grandparents do not fall under the legal definition of victims under Idaho law, and so should be excluded from the trials proceedings. BREAKING: Court appoints Kay Woodcock the representative for JJ Vallow and Summer Shiflet the representative for Tylee Ryan. pic.twitter.com/9X6Y4XaI2k | (@jlumfox10) April 6, 2023 JJ and Tylees case has dragged on for years Thursday 6 April 2023 15:28 , Andrea Blanco The trial of the doomday cult couple has stalled for the past few years in part due to the Covid-19 pandemic, mental incompetence and legal wranglings. Ms Vallow has been behind bars since January 2020 when she was arrested in Hawaii and extradited to Idaho for failing to meet a court order to present her children to authorities. Mr Daybell has been in prison since the childrens remains were discovered in June 2020. The case was largely put on hold when Ms Vallow was found not mentally competent to stand trial. She then spent almost a year at a mental health facility before she was ruled competent in May 2022 and the case proceeded through the courts. So far, the pair are yet to turn on each other and have both pleaded not guilty. However, that could all be about to change. In March, an Idaho judge ruled that Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell will be tried separately for the murders prompting Mr Daybells case to be pushed back to an unconfirmed date while jury selection gets under way on 3 April in Ms Vallows trial. The death penalty has now been taken off the table for Ms Vallow but not for Mr Daybell. If found guilty, Ms Vallow faces life in prison. Lori vallow seen in court sketches Thursday 6 April 2023 14:00 , Andrea Blanco (Ada County Court House) (Ada County Court House) (Ada County Courthouse) Opening statements to begin on Monday Thursday 6 April 2023 13:30 , Rachel Sharp Opening statements are set to begin on Monday in Lori Vallows murder trial as jury selection draws to a close. By the end of Wednesday, the jury pool had been narrowed down to 39 potential jurors. Only three more potential jurors are needed to reach the required number of 42 before the defence and prosecution will begin peremptory challenges. Ultimately, the court needs 12 jurors and six alternates. District Judge Steven Boyce expects the jury to be selected by the end of the week before opening arguments begin at 8.30am local time on Monday. Lori Vallow seen smiling and laughing in police interview hours after husbands death Thursday 6 April 2023 13:00 , Andrea Blanco In 2021, police in Arizona released a trove of evidence from their investigation into the 2019 homicide of Ms Vallows fourth husband, Charles Vallow. Mr Vallow, 62, was shot dead by Ms Vallows brother Alex Cox in July 2019 after an argument, and his death was ruled a homicide by an Arizona coroner in 2021. Mr Cox claimed he fired in self-defence, and died in 2019 of natural causes before charges could be brought. Ms Vallow was then charged with conspiracy in connection with her late husbands death. Months after the video was taken, she and her fifth husband, Chad Daybell were also accused of murdering her two children Tylee, 17, and JJ Ryan, 7. Lori Vallow laughs during a police interview after her husbands homicide (Chandler PD) In the video released by the Chandler Police Department this week, Ms Vallow tells a detective she had been seeking a divorce from her husband of 14 years. I dont like him, and thats just how it is, Ms Vallow says. She said Mr Vallow had favoured her younger child JJ, a special needs student, and often fought with her older daughter Tylee. In the video, she also laughed and joked about her estranged husband just hours after his death. Lori Vallow appears to wipe away tears during jury selection Thursday 6 April 2023 12:30 , Rachel Sharp Lori Vallow appeared to become emotional during jury selection in her murder trial this week, as she was spotted wiping her eyes when the court heard about graphic images of her slain children. JJ and Tylee were both found buried on the grounds of Chad Daybells property in June 2020. During jury selection, prospective jurors were told that they would see graphic photos of the childrens remains if selected to sit on the panel. At that point, Ms Vallow was seen wiping her eyes. A new sketch from our courtroom artist of Lori Vallow Daybell wiping her eyes or cleaning her glasses. This happened as the prosecution mentioned to potential jurors that they will see autopsy photos of children during the trial. pic.twitter.com/3Qady1G1Q7 Nate Eaton (@NateNewsNow) April 5, 2023 Lori Vallows surviving adult son was charged with domestic violence sexual assault before case dismissed Thursday 6 April 2023 12:00 , Andrea Blanco Colby Ryan, Ms Vallows only living child, was arrested in Arizona and booked into the Maricopa County Jail on 4 September. He was charged with two counts of domestic violence/sexual assault. According to court documents obtained by Fox10 Phoenix, the incident that prompted the charges took place on 31 August but was not reported until 2 September. Investigators claim Mr Ryan visited the undisclosed victims home and they watched TV together before engaging in consensual romantic contact. Colby Ryan, the son of Lori Vallow, is accused of raping a woman in Arizona and is being held on a $10,000 bond (Maricopa County Sheriffs Office) At some point the alleged victim wanted to stop, and claims they expressed that to Mr Ryan several times. The alleged victim claims Mr Ryan continued to touch her sexually without her consent. The woman said she told Mr Ryan that she was not ok with his alleged actions and asked him for space after the incident. She claims in the court documents that this prompted Mr Ryan to apologise and begin crying. The charges were dismissed without prejudice in September. Victims family banned from joining case remotely Thursday 6 April 2023 11:30 , Rachel Sharp Family members of one of Lori Vallows alleged victims have been banned from joining the trial remotely, according to a report. Ms Vallow is charged with conspiracy to murder Tammy Daybell the wife of her new husband Chad Daybell who died suddenly in her sleep aged 49 in October 2019. The trial in Ada County is not being live-streamed. Tammys youngest brother Benjamin Douglas and elderly father Ronald both filed requests to Judge Steven Boyce asking that they be able to attend the trial virtually because they live in Utah, reported DailyMail.com. In the request, the family members said they would be happy to comply with any and all guidelines or rules set forth by the court in order to attend virtually. However the judge denied the request last week. WATCH: Lori Vallow's husband cornered and quizzed on whereabouts of kids Thursday 6 April 2023 11:00 , Andrea Blanco Lori Vallows friend says doomsday cult mom sees death as mercy' Thursday 6 April 2023 10:36 , Rachel Sharp Doomsday cult mom Lori Vallow sees death as mercy, according to a former friend who spoke out as the mother-of-three is on trial for murder. The woman, identified only as Jess, told NewsNation that because of her and her husband Chad Daybells cult beliefs killing the kids, to them, is mercy. As disturbing as that is and hard as that is to wrap your mind around it, that is why someone who spent all these years being kind and loving could then do that, she said. Jess added: They dont see the zombies as people. They see them the way someone would see a cockroach being controlled by a parasite. What happened to Chad Daybells first wife? Thursday 6 April 2023 10:00 , Andrea Blanco Mr Daybell married his first wife Tammy in 1990 and they had five children together. They also founded a publishing company together the company that released his doomsday books. Just one month after the children vanished on 19 October 2019 Tammy, an otherwise healthy 49-year-old, died suddenly in her sleep. In a bizarre twist, her death came just 10 days after she had called 911 to report someone shooting at her with a paintball gun in the driveway of their home. Despite the mysterious circumstances, her husband declined an autopsy and her death was ruled natural causes. Tammy and Chad Daybell were married in 1990. He is now accused of conspiring with Lori Vallow to kill her Tammy and Chad Daybell were married in 1990. He is now accused of conspiring with Lori Vallow to kill her (Facebook) It was only after the two children were reported missing and authorities began delving into Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell, their sudden remarriage and bizarre cult beliefs that questions began being asked about her death. Investigators exhumed her body for an autopsy in December 2020. Once again, officials have not revealed how Tammy died. But her husband and his new wife are now charged with her murder, with prosecutors alleging that the couple conspired with Cox to kill the 49-year-old. WATCH: Moment Lori Vallows murdered daughter talks to police in unearthed video Thursday 6 April 2023 09:00 , Andrea Blanco A timeline of the trail of mystery deaths surrounding Lori Vallow Thursday 6 April 2023 08:00 , Andrea Blanco More than three years after her children were last seen alive, doomsday cult mom Lori Vallow is about to finally stand trial for their murders. Tylee Ryan, 16, and Joshua JJ Vallow, 8, vanished without a trace in September 2019, sparking a multi-state search while their mother appeared carefree marrying her new husband Chad Daybell on a beach in Hawaii. The childrens bodies were finally discovered nine months later buried in a pet cemetery on Mr Daybells property in Idaho. The Independents Rachel Sharp has more: Lori Vallow: A timeline of mystery deaths surrounding the doomsday cult mom ICYMI: What happened to Tylee and JJ? Thursday 6 April 2023 07:00 , Andrea Blanco JJ and Tylee were last seen in September 2019, weeks after the family moved to Rexburg, Idaho, following Ms Vallows husband Charles Vallows fatal shooting by her brother during a supposed domestic argument for which she also faces conspiracy to murder charges in Arizona. Ms Vallow is believed to have moved to be closer to Mr Daybell, an alleged cult leader she married in November of that year. While the children were never reported missing by their mother, police began investigating their whereabouts in late November 2019 after a family member raised concerns. JJ and Tylee were ultimately found buried on Mr Daybells property in Salem, Idaho, in June 2020. They are believed to have been killed in the days after they went missing. Lori Vallow tries to get slain sons grandparents banned from her murder trial Thursday 6 April 2023 06:00 , Andrea Blanco Cult mom Lori Vallow is trying to get the grandparents of her slain son banned from her murder trial, in a move that the family members say has left them blindsided and heartbroken. Ms Vallows trial is set to begin on Monday in a court in Idaho, where she faces life in prison for the murders of her two children Tylee Ryan, 16, and Joshua JJ Vallow, seven. Tylee and JJ were last seen alive in September 2019 with their remains found buried on the grounds of her new husband doomsday cult author Chad Daybells property in Rexburg, Idaho, in June 2020. Ms Vallow is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy and grand theft in connection with the deaths of JJ and Tylee and is also charged with conspiracy to murder Mr Daybells first wife Tammy Daybell. Now after delays brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic and Ms Vallow being admitted to a psychiatric facility for almost a year jury selection is set to begin on Monday in her trial. However, JJs grandparents Kay and Larry Woodcock may no longer be able to attend the roughly 12-week trial due to a motion filed by Ms Vallows defence attorneys seeking to ban them from the courtroom. The Independents Rachel Sharp has the full story: Cult mom Lori Vallow tries to get slain sons grandparents banned from murder trial JJ and Tylees deaths explored in Netflix documentary Thursday 6 April 2023 05:00 , Andrea Blanco The Netflix documentary Sins of Our Mother delves thoroughly into the bizarre string of murders around the couple and their extreme religious beliefs around the end of the world. In the three-part series, people close to the case recount how Ms Vallow met her doomsday preacher husband and how they allegedly planned to kill the children after they became convinced the minors were zombies whose dark spirits had to be released through death. Jury selection to continue on Thursday Thursday 6 April 2023 04:00 , Andrea Blanco So far, 39 Jurors have been selected. Three panels of jurors were questioned during voir dire on Wednesday. Forty-two jurors will be picked. The number will then be brought down to 18 12 who will make up the jury and 6 alternates. Jury selection is expected to resume at 8.30am MDT. ICYMI: The charges against Lori and Chad Vallow Thursday 6 April 2023 03:00 , Andrea Blanco Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell were charged with the murders of Tylee and JJ in May 2021 almost one year after their bodies had been discovered. They are each charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy and grand theft in connection with the deaths of JJ and Tylee and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the death of Tammy. Mr Daybell is also charged with the first-degree murder of Tammy. The couple are also charged with related financial crimes with Ms Vallow facing grand theft and insurance fraud counts for applying for Social Security benefits for Tylee and JJ after they died. Prosecutors say that the couple conspired with Cox to kill the children and Mr Daybells wife both as part of their doomsday beliefs but also to collect life insurance money and the kids social security and survivor benefits. All of these overt acts were done so Lori could eventually be with Chad Daybell and reportedly complete their mission here on earth, according to an investigative report. This belief system, lust and greed would also lead to the deaths of Tylee Ryan, JJ Vallow and Tammy Daybell. In Arizona, Ms Vallow is also charged with conspiring to murder her ex-husband Charles Vallow with Cox. The Maricopa County Attorneys office announced that it did not charge Mr Daybell as well with Charles murder but only because there is no reasonable likelihood of conviction. Chad Daybell asked for separate trial from wife Thursday 6 April 2023 02:00 , Andrea Blanco Chad Daybell, the husband of so-called cult mom Lori Vallow requested last year to face his own trial for the murder of her two children, rather than in conjunction with his wife. In a court filing to Idaho Judge Steven Boyce in September, Mr Daybells defence asked that his trial be held independently from Ms Vallows and that it be moved to October 2023, East Idaho News reported. Mr Daybell, 54, and Ms Vallow, 49, are charged with conspiring to kill her two youngest children, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and seven-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow, along with his first wife Tammy. Witness list has been sealed in high-profile case Thursday 6 April 2023 01:00 , Andrea Blanco Which individuals will take the stand to testify in the high-profile case remains unclear after the witness list was sealed by the judge last month. Judge Steven Boyce issued the ruling in order to preserve the right to a fair trial, the court order reads. JJs grandparents are expected to be called as witnesses hence the legal wrangling between them and Lori Vallows team about whether or not they can attend the trial. JJ and Tylees case has dragged on for years Thursday 6 April 2023 00:00 , Andrea Blanco The trial of the doomday cult couple has stalled for the past few years in part due to the Covid-19 pandemic, mental incompetence and legal wranglings. Ms Vallow has been behind bars since January 2020 when she was arrested in Hawaii and extradited to Idaho for failing to meet a court order to present her children to authorities. Mr Daybell has been in prison since the childrens remains were discovered in June 2020. The case was largely put on hold when Ms Vallow was found not mentally competent to stand trial. She then spent almost a year at a mental health facility before she was ruled competent in May 2022 and the case proceeded through the courts. So far, the pair are yet to turn on each other and have both pleaded not guilty. However, that could all be about to change. In March, an Idaho judge ruled that Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell will be tried separately for the murders prompting Mr Daybells case to be pushed back to an unconfirmed date while jury selection gets under way on 3 April in Ms Vallows trial. The death penalty has now been taken off the table for Ms Vallow but not for Mr Daybell. If found guilty, Ms Vallow faces life in prison. Juror excused because wife is crime junkie' Wednesday 5 April 2023 22:54 , Andrea Blanco The juror reportedly said he cant get away from her, prompting laughs in the courtroom, including Ms Vallow, according to FOX10. Thirty-nine jurors chosen Wednesday 5 April 2023 22:11 , Andrea Blanco Three more jurors need to be picked from the third group today. Woman excused from jury pool due to hardship Wednesday 5 April 2023 20:40 , Andrea Blanco The woman says she is employed and also has to care for her children. New court sketches released Wednesday 5 April 2023 20:02 , Andrea Blanco (Ada County Courthouse) Seven more jurors needed Wednesday 5 April 2023 19:29 , Andrea Blanco So far, 35 potential jurors have been chosen out of a total 42 needed to move to the next stage of selection. In the end, 18 jurors will serve on the panel - 12 to deliberate and six alternates. Dozens of jurors have thus far been excused for either prior knowledge of the high-profile case or expressing concern about balancing personal and work responsibilities with the trial, which could last up to eight weeks. Thirty-two jurors chosen so far Wednesday 5 April 2023 18:21 , Andrea Blanco One of the jurors was excused after writing, If your child was missing, why would you go to Hawaii?, in the questionnaire. Other jurors dismissed during voir dire had been exposed to the case in the media. Mother-of-five excused from jury pool Wednesday 5 April 2023 17:12 , Andrea Blanco According to FOX10 reporters in the courtroom, the woman became emotional just thinking about seeing autopsy pictures of JJ and Tylee. ICYMI: The charges against Lori and Chad Vallow Wednesday 5 April 2023 16:27 , Andrea Blanco Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell were charged with the murders of Tylee and JJ in May 2021 almost one year after their bodies had been discovered. They are each charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy and grand theft in connection with the deaths of JJ and Tylee and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the death of Tammy. Mr Daybell is also charged with the first-degree murder of Tammy. The couple are also charged with related financial crimes with Ms Vallow facing grand theft and insurance fraud counts for applying for Social Security benefits for Tylee and JJ after they died. Prosecutors say that the couple conspired with Cox to kill the children and Mr Daybells wife both as part of their doomsday beliefs but also to collect life insurance money and the kids social security and survivor benefits. All of these overt acts were done so Lori could eventually be with Chad Daybell and reportedly complete their mission here on earth, according to an investigative report. This belief system, lust and greed would also lead to the deaths of Tylee Ryan, JJ Vallow and Tammy Daybell. In Arizona, Ms Vallow is also charged with conspiring to murder her ex-husband Charles Vallow with Cox. The Maricopa County Attorneys office announced that it did not charge Mr Daybell as well with Charles murder but only because there is no reasonable likelihood of conviction. What happened to Tylee and JJ? Wednesday 5 April 2023 15:45 , Andrea Blanco JJ and Tylee were last seen in September 2019, weeks after the family moved to Rexburg, Idaho, following Ms Vallows husband Charles Vallows fatal shooting by her brother during a supposed domestic argument for which she also faces conspiracy to murder charges in Arizona. Ms Vallow is believed to have moved to be closer to Mr Daybell, an alleged cult leader she married in November of that year. While the children were never reported missing by their mother, police began investigating their whereabouts in late November 2019 after a family member raised concerns. JJ and Tylee were ultimately found buried on Mr Daybells property in Salem, Idaho, in June 2020. They are believed to have been killed in the days after they went missing. Jury selection to resume today Wednesday 5 April 2023 14:52 , Andrea Blanco The trial began Monday at the Ada County Court, with an initial pool of 1,800 prospective jurors. So far, 30 potential jurors have been chosen out of a total 42 needed to move to the next stage of selection. In the end, 18 jurors will serve on the panel - 12 to deliberate and six alternates. Dozens of jurors have thus far been excused for either prior knowledge of the high-profile case or expressing concern about balancing personal and work responsibilities with the trial, which could last up to eight weeks. WATCH: Moment Chad Daybell is confronted over missing children Wednesday 5 April 2023 14:00 , Andrea Blanco In February 2020 five months after the children were last seen alive Lori Vallow was arrested in Hawaii on charges of child abandonment and desertion. She was also charged with resisting officers, criminal solicitation to commit a crime and contempt of court and was held on $5m bond before being extradited back to Idaho. Following her arrest, Chad Daybell was confronted by an ABC News journalist who asked if the children were safe. He refused to answer. Watch that moment below: We love the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and you can get it for under $100 today. Recommendations are independently chosen by Revieweds editors. Purchases you make through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission. If you're an Android user and love the user-friendly features that your smartphone has but want even more, we have a Samsung deal for you. Smartwatches are designed to put all the most advanced technology on your wrist for easy access with no hassle. Right now, Android users can score the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 for a huge discount. From $124.99 at Samsung with eligible trade-in Samsung's latest innovation in wearable tech is on sale for as little as $124.99. Typically listed for $279.99, you can get the sleek smartwatch for a whopping $155 price cut if you trade in an Apple Watch Series 7. Samsung will also accept other watches from Apple, Fitbit, Garmin and even its own line of Galaxy smartwatches for trade-in credit towards your purchase. Way Day 2023: Shop 30+ best Wayfair deals on outdoor patio furniture and grills The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is one of the best smartwatches we've ever tested, especially for Android users. When we tested the device, the first thing that stood out about it was its top-tier design. Its round design makes it look like a designer watch while still being able to clearly display whatever information you need from it. Speaking of the display, it automatically adjusts its own brightness for whatever environment you're in. Plus it's always on so you can see its features whether it's right in front of your face or sitting at your desk. Here's the deal: Subscribe to our Perks and Rec newsletter for daily savings on all the things you want and need. When it comes to smartwatches, you can't beat the look of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5. It's more than just a pretty face, too. Our testers praised its improved accessibility features, including a high-contrast font option, color corrections and filters, and appreciated that it had options to remove animations and reduce transparency and blur. You can also adjust the audio balance between the left and right outputs of a paired Bluetooth device Story continues One major note about the Galaxy Watch 5 is that it's still pretty glued to the Samsung ecosystem. Though you can add Google Assistant to the watch, our testers said it still doesn't merge well with other smartphones like the Google Pixel or the Apple iPhone. Those familiar with Android features will take to the Galaxy Watch 5 like a duck to water, but those with different smartphones might find it a rough ride. Sneaker shopping: Get some fresh 'Air' in new kicks with the best deals on Nike sneakers, Adidas trainers and more Still, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is a top-tier piece of tech that slides onto your wrist with ease. This special Samsung deal makes it an easier impact on your budget too, so be sure to grab it before the savings power down. From $124.99 at Samsung with eligible trade-in The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews and more. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time. This article originally appeared on Reviewed: Samsung Galaxy Watch 5: Get the smartwatch on sale for less than $130 French President Emmanuel Macron was greeted by a huge crowd at a university in southern China as he neared the end of a three-day state visit in which he has repeatedly pushed his counterpart Xi Jinping to help end the Ukraine conflict. Macron, who landed in the capital Beijing on Wednesday, has said he is seeking to dissuade China from supporting Russia's invasion of its neighbour. On Friday, he flew to the southern city of Guangzhou, where he was mobbed by hundreds of screaming students and fans desperate for a selfie or a high-five with the French leader, in stark contrast with China's own staid political system. Macron, whose name was chanted by some in the crowd, then spoke to students in the campus gym and answered their questions, before beginning an early dinner with Xi ahead of meetings with Chinese investors and a flight home. Russia's conflict with Ukraine has dominated Macron's visit to China -- his first since 2019. In talks with Xi on Thursday, he said: "I can count on you to bring Russia to its senses and everyone to the negotiating table". And, according to a French diplomat, Xi expressed a willingness to speak with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, but only when the time is right. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, who is accompanying Macron on his visit, welcomed Xi's openness to speaking with Zelensky. But in contrast with the amicable Macron, von der Leyen has struck a more firm tone in her talks with Chinese officials this week. On Thursday, she said she had shared her "deep concerns about the deterioration of the human rights situation in China" with officials, and warned Beijing that arms shipments to Russia would "significantly harm" relations. Moscow however, has poured cold water on prospects of Beijing's mediation, insisting on Thursday it had "no choice" but to press on with its Ukraine offensive. "Undoubtedly, China has a very effective and commanding potential for mediation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Story continues "But the situation with Ukraine is complex, so far there are no prospects for a political settlement." - Trade partnership - Beyond the war in Ukraine, Macron's visit has also focused on firming up a crucial trade partnership. The French leader is accompanied by more than 50 French business leaders, including the top bosses of Airbus, EDF and Veolia. Airbus announced Thursday it would open a second final assembly line in China that will double its production capacity in the country, with the framework for the deal signed by CEO Guillaume Faury in Beijing. Asia has become a key market for both Airbus and its US rival Boeing, as demand for air travel climbs with an expanding middle class. Macron's trip to China also comes as he faces challenges at home, with mounting anger over controversial pension reforms leading to fresh clashes between protesters and police in Paris on Thursday. burs-oho/je/mca The town of Cornelius is once again coming together to remember Madalina Cojocari and to call for her safe return to their community. Madalina, 11, has been missing since November and was last seen 137 days ago when surveillance footage captured her stepping off her school bus. On Tuesday at 6 p.m. the Cornelius Police Department will host the community as they mark Madalinas 12th birthday. The community previously hosted at least two vigils to raise awareness of her disappearance. Madalinas mother and step-father, Diana Cojocari and Christopher Palmiter, waited approximately three weeks before reporting her missing to authorities December 15, police have said previously. The pair were arrested two days later for failing to report the disappearance of a minor, The Charlotte Observer previously reported. Madalina Cojocaris mother had passports, wanted to smuggle child away, police say Cojocari and Palmiter first appeared in court in December and their bonds were set at $200,000 and $250,000 each. Court documents state detectives were told by a distant family member Cojocari was attempting to smuggle both her daughter and herself away from their home in Cornelius because of her bad relationship with her husband. No new leads have been announced in the case, but investigators and the FBI are continuing the search for Madalina. Madalina Cojocari missing Madalina was last seen wearing jeans, pink, purple and white Adidas shoes, and a white T-shirt and jacket. She is 4 feet, 10 inches tall, has dark brown hair and weighs about 90 pounds. Anyone with information on Madalinas whereabouts is asked to call the Cornelius Police Department at 704-892-7773 or the FBI at 1-800-CALL FBI. Anyone who wishes to remain anonymous can call North Mecklenburg Crime Stoppers at 704-896-7867. Laura Loomer waits backstage during a "Demand Free Speech" rally on Freedom Plaza on July 6, 2019 in Washington, DC (Getty Images) Marjorie Taylor Greene warned Donald Trump against hiring anti-Muslim activist Laura Loomer, branding her as mentally unstable and a documented liar during a public clash. Ms Green, a far-right lawmaker from Georgia, claimed on Twitter that Ms Loomer had attacked her for not supporting her own congressional ambitions and supporting Speaker Kevin McCarthy. She was scathing in her remarks about Ms Loomer after The New York Times reported that the former president has asked aides to find a position for her on his 2024 campaign or a supportive Super PAC. Laura Loomer waits backstage during a Laura Loomer is mentally unstable and a documented liar. She can not be trusted, tweeted Ms Greene on Friday. She spent months lying about me and attacking me just because I supported Kevin McCarthy for Speaker and after I had refused to endorse her last election cycle. She loves the alleged FBI informant and weirdo Nick Fuentes. She tried to get hired on the Ye campaign after the infamous Maralago dinner, but Kanye West refused to hire her so now shes running to Trump, she continued. Never hire or do business with a liar. Liars are toxic and poisonous to everything they touch. Ill make sure he knows. Ms Greene is a vocal supporter of Mr Trump and went to New York to back him on the day of his historic arrest and arraignment. Ms Loomer, who ran and lost a 2020 campaign in Florida, has referred to Islam as a cancer and was banned from Twitter over comments she made about Representative Ilhan Omar. US Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) walks through the crowd gathered outside New York courthouse for Donald Trump arraignment (Getty Images) Not very Christian of you to lie like this.. especially on Good Friday, Ms Loomer responded on Twitter. And she added: Gee, what happened? Why dont you tell everyone how you asked me for help raising money, you rented my email lists, you asked me to give you my opposition research on Ilhan Omar. Stop being jealous and sabotaging one of Trumps biggest loyalists. She later tweeted, I dont think Ive ever seen MTG attack DeSantis publicly. Really makes you wonder A Chinese mainland official on Thursday commended Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang party, on his visit to the mainland, saying the trip has aided cross-Strait relations. Song Tao, head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said that Ma's trip to the mainland is conducive to the communication and exchange between compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations. Song made the remarks at an event held in Shanghai to send off Ma and his entourage, who are about to conclude their trip. Song expressed hope for more communication and interactions between compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, and said that the mainland will provide relevant opportunities and convenience. Compatriots on both sides of the Strait are Chinese people, and ought to uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, said Song. He underscored zero-tolerance toward any secessionist activity seeking "Taiwan independence," and noted that seeking "Taiwan independence" by colluding with external forces is doomed to fail. Ma said that during his trip, he felt profoundly that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait should cherish the common political foundation of the 1992 Consensus. He said that people on both sides of the Strait are members of the Chinese nation, and should join forces in promoting peace and strive together for China's prosperity. A majority of members of the Nashville Metropolitan Council will vote to reinstate Justin Jones to the Tennessee state Legislature after he was expelled from the House of Representatives on Thursday over his protests on the chamber floor against gun violence. Twenty-three members of the 40-seat Metropolitan Council confirmed to NBC News or on social media that they plan to vote to reinstate Jones to the Legislature. The council, which currently has 39 members, will hold a special meeting Monday to discuss an interim replacement for Jones' seat. Vice Mayor Jim Shulman said he expects the council will take action to suspend the rules at the meeting to vote on a successor to fill Jones' seat instead of holding a monthlong nomination period. In interviews with NBC News, members expressed outrage at Jones' expulsion and said hundreds of constituents have reached out to demand that he be reinstated. They removed the voice from 140,000 people who voted for them," said Councilmember Burkley Allen. "Its a terrible precedent to set, that we disagree with you and youve disrupted our House proceedings and therefore were expelling you. Thats not the way democracy works. Jones and two other Democratic state lawmakers led a protest on the House floor last week to call for stricter gun safety measures after a mass shooting at a private elementary school in Nashville. Jones and Pearson used a bullhorn to lead chants and spoke without being recognized. Tennessee House leaders called the protest an insurrection. But Nashville Councilmember Brett Withers pushed back on the characterization, saying claims that the protest was an insurrection were unfounded. Jones was expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives in a 72-25 party-line vote on Thursday, and the other ousted member, Justin Pearson, was booted in a vote of 69-26 later in the day. Rep. Gloria Johnson was also up for expulsion but clung to her seat. Johnson, who is white, said the disparity might have to do with the color of my skin, The Tennessean reported. Both Jones and Pearson are Black. Story continues Democratic state Rep. Justin Jones of Nashville gestures during a vote on his expulsion from the state legislature on April 6, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. He was expelled after he and two other Democratic reps led a protest at the Tennessee State Capital building in the wake of a mass shooting where three students and three adults were killed on March 27 at the Covenant School in Nashville. (Seth Herald / Getty Images) Under the Tennessee State Constitution, an interim successor can be appointed by the legislative body of the expelled member's county until a special election is held. For Jones, that is Nashville. The Nashville council, which is the legislative body of the city and Davidson Countys consolidated government, is officially a nonpartisan body, but Councilmember Russ Bradford said most members are Democrats. Pearson is from Memphis, and Shelby County Commission Chairman Mickell Lowery did not immediately respond to NBC's request for comment on the process for Pearson's potential replacement or reinstatement. In an interview with MSNBC, Jones said Thursday "was a very grave day for democracy and a very dangerous precedent was set not just for Tennessee, but for the nation. "This is attacking democracy on so many different levels, and then to refuse to seat us after expelling us, I mean, this this is saying that Tennessee is on the border or is already faced with authoritarianism," Jones said. In the wake of Jones' expulsion, Councilmember Bob Mendes said he heard an "outcry" from constituents who want to see the representative reinstated. Several hundred residents had reached out to him as of Friday morning, he said. Councilmember Erin Evans, who represents a purple part of the county, said even her more conservative constituents have said Jones' expulsion was an "egregious overstep by the statehouse. Other representatives pushed back on the punishment not matching the incursion. "No elected official in the State of Tennessee has ever been expelled for breaking decorum rules," Councilmember Jeff Syracuse said in an email to NBC News. "Expulsion was an egregious act of disenfranchising the voters who duly elected State Rep Jones." Councilmember Ginny Welsch told NBC in an email, "I think the actions taken by the Tennessee legislature are blatantly fascist, and racist, need to be called out as such." Members of the council also criticized the gun laws that the representatives were protesting following the mass shooting, in which six people were killed, including three 9-year-olds. "'We don't know anything about you, whether you're qualified to have a gun or not, just have at it,'" Councilmember Joy Styles said, criticizing lax gun laws. "Welcome to the state of Tennessee." Vice President Kamala Harris, who tweeted that the state GOP lawmakers' move was "undemocratic and dangerous," will travel to Nashville on Friday to meet with Democratic legislators, her press secretary said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A majority of the Nashville Metro Council plans to vote to reinstate former state Rep. Justin Jones (D) after he was expelled Thursday from the state House over his participation in a protest against gun violence on the chamber floor. At least 22 members of the 40-seat city council have tweeted to declare their support for reappointing Jones to his seat since he was removed by the GOP-dominated state House. The members have denounced the effort from Republicans to oust him and asserted that his constituents want him back to represent them. NBC News reported that 23 members confirmed online or to the outlet that they will vote to reappoint Jones, while The Tennessean reported that at least 28 members support Joness return. Jones and state Rep. Justin Pearson (D) were kicked out of the House after they participated in a gun violence protest on the House floor in the days following last weeks shooting at a Nashville elementary school where three students and three staff members were killed. State Rep. Gloria Johnson (D) also participated in the protest, but the House fell short of the votes necessary to remove her. Republicans alleged that the three members were engaging in disorderly conduct and disrupting the business of the body in leading chants with a bullhorn. Jones said during debate over his expulsion that he was only trying to push for steps to keep children safe and the effort to remove him is undemocratic. To those who here will cast a vote for expulsion, I was fighting for your children, too, to live free from the terror of school shootings, he said. Nashville Vice Mayor Jim Shulman reportedly scheduled a meeting for Monday for the council to discuss filling the vacancy. The Tennessean reported that at least four weeks are usually needed for the council to choose an interim representative, but a vote to suspend the rules could move the vote up to during the Monday meeting. But just two no votes on suspending the rules could reportedly stop that effort. The interim officeholder will serve until a special election is held for someone to complete the term. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A traveller claimed that Frontier Airlines lost his luggage on his flight before an airline employees grandfather brought it to him. In a recent video posted to TikTok, Cole, @madeleineandcole, recounted the craziest experience he had with Frontier Airlines during a trip from Denver, Colorado, to Hartford, Connecticut. He explained that when got to the airport, he had a personal bag for the flight and paid to check a bag. He said that when he checked his bag and went through security at the airport, everything was fine. However, once he got to the gate, the airline workers started looking at passengers personal bags. They line us all up and theyre like, We are checking everyones bag size, he explained. And it wasnt just like a little normal checkSomeone tried to take a phone out of a bag and theyre like, Nothing in your pockets. What? Cole claimed that when someone tried to put on a jacket, the airline worker said no and claimed that each person could only have one jacket. He explained that people continued to put bags into the baggage sizer, which is used to determine if personal items can fit on the plane or not. When people had bags with straps hanging out, he alleged that workers told them that the items couldnt fit on the plane. According to Frontiers official site, each traveller is allowed one personal item on the plane, which has to be 14H X 18W X 8D including handles, wheels and straps. If the items are not this size, they will be charged an additional cost during boarding. Passengers can also check bags or have a carry-on bag when they board for an additional cost. In his video, Cole claimed that workers proceeded examined passengers luggage before sending them to the counter to check their items. They sent everyone to the counter, he claimed. People were, like, filming. Some people were crying because they were being so sticklers, and peoples bags were, like, actually fitting. The TikTok user said that when he saw this, he put on his jacket and threw away some stuff before putting his bag in the bag sizer. He claimed that when an airline worker told him that his bag still didnt fit, he asked to put in the bag sizer again. In response, she allegedly she said no. Story continues From there, he claimed he snuck out of the line to empty more stuff out of his bag. When he got back on the line, he said that he got the bag to fit in the sizer because the airline worker was dealing with someone else. So, he was able to grab the bag and take it on the plane with him. He continued on to say he asked an attendant for a bandage for a cut when he got on the plane, but claimed that the attendant told him no. He later got a bandage from a different attendant. Once he landed, Cole claimed that he waited 20 or 30 minutes at a baggage carousel to get the luggage he checked. After noticing that the information desk was closed, he said that he finally got to talk to a TSA person, who told him: Oh yeah, Frontier doesnt have a carousel right now. Cole said that the TSA worker told him that normally an attendant would come down and show passengers where their bags are. Instead of waiting, Cole decided to go home and return to the airport the next morning for his bag. Upon returning the next day, Cole said his luggage was not in the airports baggage room so he had to file a claim about the missing bag. An airline worker also apparently told him that they couldnt track his bag. Cole said that he filed another claim with a Frontier bot before he was then transferred to a human. So I was like, Hey, Im sorry Im being short with you. Im not mad at you. I just cant believe how helpless I feel right now. Because theres literally not one outlet that has offered me any substance of information about where my bag is, he explained of the ordeal. In a follow up video, Cole shared an update on the situation and revealed that he did get his bag back moer than 48 hours after he landed. He said that after the employees called him to say that his bag would be delivered, he got another call from Frontier about the person dropping it off. Hes like: Hey, so just wanted to give you an update on your bag. One of our Frontier drivers is in the hospital, so I got it so far, but my grandfather is actually going to drive it down to you, Cole recalled. And I was like, Okay thats fine...but it seems weird that his grandfather would give it to me, but at this point I didnt think I was going to get my bag. Cole then recalled that the grandfather had driven to the wrong town in Connecticut, which was three hours north from where the traveller lived. Still, the workers grandfather drove to his house and dropped the luggage off. He drove a bunch of extra time, this guys grandfather apparently, which is like so crazy, he added. I cannot believe that this Frontier employee was in a position where he was going to have his grandfather drive it. As of 7 April, Coles two videos have more than 539,200 views. Many TikTok users in the comments have been criticising Frontier. Honestly I feel like budget airlines in the end just cost more money and hassle, one wrote. Frontier: you cant have your bag on board with you, but also you cant have it after you land. Good luck, another added. A third wrote: These airlines act like passengers are inconveniencing them. Other people shared their reactions to the airline employees grandfather dropping off the luggage and asked more questions about the experience. The grandfather delivery, one wrote, along with three laughing face emojis. I have sooo many questions but like what about everyone elses bags?? another added. Did grandpa drive and drop those off too?? The Independent has contacted Cole and Frontier Airlines for comment. This isnt the first time that travellers have shared their difficult experiences with Frontier. Last month, the budget airline came under fire after a passenger claimed to have been charged $100 to check a bag which appeared to fit the size requirements. Dyana Villa shared a video of her experience travelling with Frontier on TikTok, in which she and her friends can be seen fitting their bag into the baggage sizer. She later shared an update and claimed she was contacted by a Frontier Airlines attendant, who said staff are eligible for a $10 bonus for every passenger bag they check and collect a fee for. A Frontier spokesperson told The Independent that the fee is simply an incentive for our airport customer service agents to help ensure compliance with our policies and that all customers are treated equally. The spokesperson rejected Villas baggage complaint claiming that the traveller had brought a second carry-on bag. Each customer is allowed one free personal item that must fit within the smaller sizer box, they said. This customer had more than one bag and they were not able to combine them into a single bag that fit in the personal item box. When David Dave Hoyle Jr. reflects on his dad David Hoyle Sr., he fondly remembers his competitive flare. During youth baseball, in their Dallas, North Carolina hometown, his father was a no nonsense Little League coach and losing was never a thought. He took it as serious as the kids did, Dave Hoyle said. He didnt like losing in anything. And David Hoyle rarely did, his son said. It was a competitive streak that led to a long career in the state legislature. David Hoyle served as state senator from 1992 to 2010. He swam against political tides as a Democrat in Republican-dominated Gaston County. David Hoyle died March 29 at his home in Dallas. He was 84. His legacy in the state legislature was far reaching, his friends say. To his children he was just dad. David Hoyle, a longtime state senator, served nine terms as a Democrat in Republican-dominated Gaston County. Hoyle died in March 29. He was known for his devotion to his constituents and always had Gaston County in mind while in Raleigh, said friends and family. He was always the same person, Hoyles son said. A Gaston County native, Hoyle graduated in 1960 from what is now called Lenoir-Rhyne University. Seven years later, he became the youngest mayor of Dallas at 27, which launched his political career. A real estate investor by trade, he served on the North Carolina Board of Transportation. Hoyle also served nine terms in the Senate, where he was a longtime co-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, as reported by The Associated Press. But throughout his star-studded career he never forgot his hometown Dallas or the friends he grew up with. Ive heard him say many times he had cotton in his hair and tar on his heels, Dave Hoyle said. He just loved this area. Hoyle instilled a deep sense of integrity in the family, Dave Hoyle said. If he said he would do something, he did it expected the same from others. What really shined through was his love for people, Hoyles son said. When he worked in the legislature, he wanted to know how a piece of a legislation may harm someone. David Hoyle, a longtime state senator for Gaston County, with family. Hoyle died in March, 2023. He was known by family and friends for his warmth and wit and was a fierce advocate on education and economic development. Hoyle always cared for the underdog and talked regularly to friends he had known for over 70 years, friends say. He was dynamic, said Mike Sumner, a longtime friend. People very much wanted to be around him. Story continues Sumner said the senator always pushed to help his constituents in the Gaston, Cleveland and Lincoln counties. He was passionate about education and economic development. He worked across the aisle in Raleigh to ensure things got done. Everybody had a David Hoyle story on how he helped them, Sumner said. He described Hoyle as a consensus builder that found it more important to build bridges than raise walls. My mother always told me do not let the sun set with anyone having hard feelings against me, David Hoyle told the North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry in 2002. She said even if youre wrong, dont go to sleep without at least trying to mend fences. A man of integrity. Sumner, who helped run Hoyles campaigns, said the legislator always stayed away from mud slinging. It was a trait defined by his wife, according to Hoyles son. If he was going to win an election it would be on his own merit. Sumner said early in the senators career, they once found damaging information on a political opponent. Hoyle had already been on the receiving end of attacks himself. Sumner and the campaign started to create a TV ad with the information when Hoyle told him: Dont run it. David Hoyle, far left, was a longtime state senator for Gaston County. Hoyle died in March, 2023. He was a fierce competitor who had a penchant for winning, according to his son David Dave Hoyle Jr. He said I want to win because Ill do a better job and they know me, Sumner said. Hoyle ultimately won the election, Sumner said. It was a valuable lesson that politicians can win on their own merit. Sumner said they once held a large political rally in Cherryville. When it was time for Hoyle to speak, he disappeared. Instead, he was on the phone with one of his grandchildren, Sumner said. His family was where he gained all his strength from his wife, his children and grandchildren, he said. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, who served briefly with Hoyle in the senate, said the senator brought to the legislature his business experience and compassion for the people. Cooper said his warmth and wit made him a strong senator, mayor and friend. North Carolina is a better place for his work, he said in a tweet. David Hoyle brought his practical business experience and compassion for the people of his district to the legislature, and North Carolina is a better place for his work. 1/2 Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) March 29, 2023 Jesse Caldwell III, a former Gaston County Superior Court judge, said he will always remember Hoyles calls and well wishes on Christmas Eve. He had a gift of making everyone feel they were his best friend. But more importantly he got things done for his community, Caldwell said. He was the driving force that created Highway 321. The segment from Gaston County to Catawba County is named for him. He was a master of taking care of constituents problems, Caldwell said. Hoyle remained a Democrat in Gaston County despite efforts from others to see him switch parties, he added. He was a man of integrity, Caldwell said. Loyalty and honesty Kim Price, a banker and longtime friend of Hoyles said one of his many talents was his conflict resolution skills. Whether in business or politics, Hoyle could discern deal killers. He would set them aside, move through it and then bring it up at the end, Price said. Then hed say We dont want to let this stand in the way of progress. State Senator David Hoyle (left), and Sen. Tony Rand discuss the new State redistricting map during a 2001 meeting of the Senate Redistricting Committee. Hoyle was great at old school politics back when people got together to find common ground, Price said. He once overheard a conversation between the senator and billionaire David Murdock, who proposed building a Dole foods facility in North Carolina. David said I have the perfect spot for you in Gaston County, Price said. David was working for the people, he was working for the state and it all happened. Dole Foods ultimately opened as a vegetable processing plant in Gaston County, Price said. It helped bring in hundreds of new jobs and a new tax revenue base to Gaston County. A celebration of life service took place Monday at St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Dallas. David Hoyle is survived by his wife Linda, daughter Lonnia Beam and son Dave, his grandchildren and great grandchildren. A 19-year-old has been arrested in connection to a fatal shooting in the Meadowbrook area of Seattles Lake City neighborhood. According to police, officers were called to the 10700 block of 30th Avenue Northeast, near Nathan Hale High School, just before 9 p.m. Wednesday for reports of a shooting. When officers arrived, they found the victim and secured the scene so Seattle Fire Department crews could render aid. Witnesses told police the victim was shot when he tried to intervene in an argument involving the shooter, who left the scene. A K-9 unit tried to track the shooter but was unable to find him. The victim was taken to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition, where he later died. On Friday evening, Seattle Police Department detectives arrested a 19-year-old man involved in the shooting with the assistance of the SPD SWAT team. He was booked into the King County Jail for investigation of murder. Michael Buckner Taylor Jenkins Reid is not Hollywoods muse . Shes Hollywood. For several years now, the author has been an IP machine, generating mega-hit books that turn into highly anticipated shows and films. It started when TikTok shined a light on her 2019 novel Daisy Jones & The Six , which became a much-watched Amazon Prime miniseries last month. The cycle is now repeating with three other novels in development The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo as a Netflix film, Malibu Rising as a Hulu series, and Carrie Soto Is Back as a TV series for Picturestart. (No word yet on where Carrie Soto will air.) Her latest project is an adaptation of one of her earliest works. One True Loves, a rom-com based on her 2016 novel of the same name, was released in theaters on April 7. It will be released digitally on April 14 and was produced by BuzzFeed Studios alongside others. She cowrote the film with Alex Jenkins Reid, her husband. Its a good time to be Reid. She was a producer on Daisy Jones and is an executive producer on all other screen adaptations. Shes also garnered herself a devoted, extremely online audience that has the same obsessive tendencies as Swifties. They make character drawings, casting theories, and fanfiction all devoted to her work. Its all a bit kismet or ironic, depending on how you look at it. The writer known for chronicling fictional famous women navigating intense notoriety has found herself a recognizable writer unable to escape the ubiquity of her work. Her novels fill airport bookshops and the New York Times bestseller list, yet Reid is putting the medium aside momentarily. I want to keep writing books because I love what I do, she tells BuzzFeed News. Its just that she is driven entirely by excitement, and right now, what excites her is screenwriting and producing. I have become known for a particular type of book, and which is to say a book dealing with fame, and I would like to go back to telling stories that are big in scope, she says of current literary aspirations. It's actually probably more going back to what I had long done before. Story continues The Avenue Her early career as a romance novelist has been on her mind lately while adapting One True Loves for the screen. The film scratches the ever-growing itch for rom-coms that are actually enjoyable: Emma (Hamiltons Phillipa Soo) must choose between her husband Jesse (Holidate hunk Luke Bracey), who was presumed to be dead after a helicopter crash only to return alive years later, and her new love Sam (Marvel's superhunk Simu Liu). Its Reids first screen adaption of her preEvelyn Hugo books, from a time in her life before she received co-signs from Reese Witherspoon and Jenna Bush Hager. Returning to One True Loves from the comfort of knowing shes made it as an author must be cathartic, like returning to a childhood home as an adult. If this moment were any more literary, Reid might have just written it herself. Emma (Phillipa Soo) and Sam (Simu Liu) in One True Loves The Avenue I know how it feels when your books aren't the talk of the town, says Reid, who released her first book, Forever, Interrupted, in 2013, about four years before Evelyn Hugo kicked her career into a higher gear. I never take for granted what is happening for my books now, because I learned how this industry works at a much smaller pace, and I don't know I think if my first book was a massive hit, I don't know if I've had that perspective. And I love that perspective, she continues. Its a helpful ego death to have as she embraces new avenues in Hollywood, including cowriting an upcoming comedy film starring Ariana Debose and Amanda Seyfried. Its changed her relationship with her fans. Her career took off, in part, thanks to BookTok and literary Twitter championing Daisy Jones and retroactively Evelyn Hugo. Recently, fans have aggressively mined her digital presence to parse any potential updates on her many adaptations. Emma (Soo) and Jesse (Luke Bracey) in One True Loves The Avenue Its all very Greek, she says. I wrote about fame as a somewhat toxic force in people's lives, and in so doing, attracted it for myself, which I now have to contend with. Last month, when she followed Selena Gomez on Instagram, it fueled theories that Gomez may star as Evelyn Hugo in the forthcoming film. Ill give you a very, very definitive answer to this, says Reid, who is surprisingly game to squash rumors and theories about her projects. I think Selena Gomez is adorable, and I love watching her on Selena + Chef, Reid says, noting shes never spoken to the actor. "I thought, Oh, I should follow her because she seems cool. That's all that happened." So, no, it doesn't seem Selena is Evelyn, even if the casting wouldnt be a bad idea. Something to think about? Selena Gomez as any character ever is not a bad idea. I love her, Reid responds. How about those wishes for Daisy Jones Season 2? Never say never, but I say that as a person who's not inclined to do it, she says. It's a question of: do we need that? And, until an answer comes to me where I think we need it, I'm not going to go down that road, she says. The cast of Daisy Jones & The Six Lacey Terrell / Prime Video Alright, well, how about the Daisy Jones actors going on a live tour of the Aurora album ? I will always say yes because I have no dog in this fight, she says. If people want Daisy Jones & The Six to go on tour, they should keep talking about it and try to convince Amazon. Perhaps the most surprising thing that Reid has learned from her career creating fictional celebrities is that she may already have the answers on how to navigate fame in her own writing. There are absolutely times where I come to a conclusion about my own life that I realized Evelyn [Hugo] had, however many years ago when I wrote it, she said, like realizing praise is a dangerous addiction. Just because I know what Evelyn should do, just because I know what [Malibu Risings] Nina Riva should be, does not mean that I know what I should do, she continues. It is a very surprising and admittedly totally unforeseen situation that I find myself in. Fortunately for Reid, as any writer including herself knows, unforeseen situations are when stories actually get interesting, and Reids is only just revving up. March tied with three previous years as the warmest on record in 2023, according to an analysis from the European Unions Copernicus Climate Service. March 2023 tied with the years 2017-2020 as the second-warmest on record in terms of surface-air temperature, with only March 2016 hitting warmer temperatures, according to the data. Even more intense temperatures may be in store for later this year. The record March 2016 warmth was fueled by an El Nino pattern, another of which is likely to arrive this summer. Notably, the central and western regions of North America saw a much colder March than the rest of the world, with the West in particular seeing an unusually wet winter that somewhat alleviated the drought that has plagued the region for two decades. San Francisco also saw its lowest daily highs for March since at least 1872, according to the analysis. To the north, Winnipeg in central Canada saw temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius throughout the month for what is thought to be the first time in over a century. Temperatures were lower than average across much of northern Europe for the month too. However, a large area of the world including North Africa, southwestern Russia and the majority of the Asian continent, with Morocco, China and Japan set warmth records for the month. The northeastern regions of the U.S. and Canada also saw highs that were unprecedented in some cases, according to Copernicus. Michael Mann, a professor of climate science at the University of Pennsylvania, told The Hill the March temperatures have ominous implications for the warming trend ahead. Weve published a couple articles showing that we can continue to expect [to] break global temperature records as long as warming continues, with natural variability due to factors like El Nino adding to the steady warming trend to procedure ever-warmer records over time, Mann said in an email. Warmer surface temperatures are giving us dramatic glacial melt, sea level rise, fierce superstorms, heat waves, droughts and wildfires, he continued. That will only stop getting worse when the warming ends, which in turn will only happen when we reduce net emissions to zero. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. An 18-year-old Bellingham man was on foot when he was struck by a BNSF train just south of Boulevard Park Wednesday, March 29, in what was recorded as a suicide, Dr. Deborah Hollis, the Whatcom County Medical Examiner, told The Bellingham Herald in a telephone interview Thursday, April 6. The incident shut down rail service through Bellingham and closed several rail crossings south to Fairhaven at 12:40 p.m. on March 29. No injuries to the crew were reported, Lena Kent, BNSF general director of public affairs, said at the time. There were 26 train-related fatalities in Washington state in 2022, according to the Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission, including an Amtrak passenger train striking a pedestrian Nov. 13 in Bellingham, according to earlier Herald reporting. There were 31 train-related fatalities in the state in 2021, including two in Bellingham, with BNSF freight trains striking pedestrians Jan. 26 and Sept. 26. There have now been 12 train fatalities in Whatcom County since 2011. Resources Lt. Claudia Murphy of the Bellingham Police Department recommends if people find themselves or a friend in crisis or emotional distress that they call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at any time at 800-273-TALK (8255). For more information about the Lifeline, visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org. To speak to a volunteer crisis counselor, contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. The Whatcom County Health Department lists several crisis hotlines on its website and also recommended additional local resources through: NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Whatcom: namiwhatcom.org. MAD HOPE (madhope.org): Teaching youth and trusted adults to recognize warning signs and connect teens with resources and support. The Washington State Department of Health offers behavioral health support guidance for children, youth, and teens in crisis, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, on its website. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) warned former President Trump against hiring far-right activist Laura Loomer, calling her mentally unstable and a documented liar. Greene tweeted on Friday that Loomer, a former congressional candidate who has repeatedly made anti-Muslim remarks, attacked her for supporting Kevin McCarthys (R-Calif.) bid for House speaker and for not endorsing Loomer in her congressional campaign. The fiery Republicans remarks came after The New York Times reported that Trump is asking campaign aides to find a position for Loomer on his 2024 reelection campaign or with a super PAC supporting it. Greene, a close ally of Trump, said Loomer loves Nick Fuentes, another far-right activist who has made racist and antisemitic comments. Trump had dinner with Fuentes and rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, in November at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, for which he received widespread backlash. Trump has said he was not aware of Fuentes views and did not know who he was. Never hire or do business with a liar. Liars are toxic and poisonous to everything they touch. Ill make sure he knows, Greene said, indicating that she plans to talk to Trump about it. Trump congratulated Loomer after she won the Republican primary for a House seat in Florida in 2020. Loomer eventually lost that election. Loomer has called Islam a cancer and was temporarily banned from Twitter over anti-Muslim posts she made, including one about Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.). She said in response to the reports that Trump was considering hiring her that she would not discuss her private conversations with him. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Things are alive and well in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That continues to ring true as Disney+ gets ready to debut its latest series, Secret Invasion, a show centered on reptilian, shapeshifting Skrulls who covertly came to Earth and installed themselves in leadership roles across the globe. Their goal? A massive invasion. Who do you trust? Marvel Studios #SecretInvasion, an Original series, is streaming June 21 on #DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/hCcn9ICzFf Disney+ (@DisneyPlus) April 3, 2023 Samuel L. Jackson reprises his role in the series as Nick Fury, the Army colonel-turned-CIA spy who was ultimately recruited to the espionage agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D. Fury must work with Everett K. Ross (Martin Freeman), Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders), and the Skrull named Talos (Ben Mendelsohn) to stop the hostile alien takeover. Aside from this series, a faction of Skrulls were featured as subjects in Captain Marvel (2019) who were warring with another alien race known as the Kree. Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), also known as the title character of the film, sides with the Kree until she learns that the Skrulls are in fact refugees of the war and in need of a new home planet. Based on the trailer, it appears the secret invasion will be led by a group of rebels that break off from Talos group. Fury, it seems, is either the object of their plan, or the only one who can stop them. One last fight, he says, as the trailer fades to black. The cast also includes Olivia Colman (The Crown), Kingsley Ben-Adir (Peaky Blinders), and Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones). Secret Invasion premieres on June 21 on Disney+. Ma Ying-jeou, leading a group of Taiwan students, joins faculty members and students of Fudan University for a group discussion at Fudan University in east China's Shanghai, April 6, 2023. Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang party, led a group of Taiwan students to Fudan University in Shanghai on Thursday morning. [Photo/Xinhua] Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang party, led a group of Taiwan students to Fudan University in Shanghai on Thursday morning. After looking around the campus, Ma and other guests joined Chinese mainland students for a group discussion, where Ma delivered opening remarks and said advancing exchanges between young people from across the Strait is the most urgent task of our generation. More efforts should be made to facilitate closer exchanges between young people from across the Strait and help address their concerns, Ma said, expressing the hope that young people from across the Strait will stay self-reliant, diligent and positive, and that the mainland and Taiwan will strive together for cross-Strait peace and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Ma said his trip to the mainland this time has taken young people from Taiwan to important sites in Chinese history, helping them search for the common memories of people across the Taiwan Strait. Doing so will help people across the Strait jointly build a better future, he said. Fudan University, which first admitted Taiwan students three decades ago, currently has over 300 students from Taiwan. Burglars at an Apple Store made off with approximately $500,000 worth of inventory, police said. They entered by unusual means. Leonardo Munoz/VIEWpress Burglars made off with more than 400 iPhones from an Apple store in Washington, police said. They got into the store by cutting a hole in the bathroom wall of a neighboring store, police said. The National Retail Federation has said organized retail crime is on the rise, growing by more than 26% in 2021. Burglars stole an entire wall of iPhones at an Apple Store outside Seattle after they cut a hole through a bathroom wall of a neighboring establishment, local police said. They got away with more than $500,000 worth of Apple equipment including around 436 iPhones, and also Apple Watches and other items, police in Lynnwood, Washington, said. The burglars entered the store after it had closed the night of April 2 by cutting a hole in the bathroom wall of a neighboring store called Seattle Coffee Gear, ABC affiliate KOMO reported, citing local police. "Our front door was locked," Eric Marks, Seattle Coffee Gear's regional manager, told the affiliate. "They pried our front door open." Marks told the station the burglars had cut a 24-inch-by-18-inch hole in the wall to access the back room of the Apple store. "I had no clue we were so close or adjacent to them," he told the station. Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider. Calls to the Lynnwood Apple Store and Seattle Coffee Gear were unanswered. Brookfield Properties, which owns the mall where the incident occurred, did not respond to a request for comment from Insider, but told KOMO that the apparent burglary was an "isolated incident." On Friday, Lynnwood police told Insider that no arrests had been made and no fingerprints had been found. Police told KOMO that the operation appeared to be well-organized and that the alleged robbers wore masks. The apparent burglary comes as retailers like Rite Aid, Walmart, and Home Depot have started putting some items under lock and key to prevent shoplifting. The National Retail Federation has said that organized retail crime is on the rise, growing by more than 26% in 2021. Read the original article on Business Insider Commuters wait for an L train in Chicago. (Joshua Lott/Reuters) As millions of white-collar workers in American cities continue to work from home three years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, revenue generated by mass transit ridership remains far below pre-pandemic levels, posing a dire threat to regional economies and resulting in more traffic and pollution. And now, with emergency funds from the American Rescue Plan of 2021 drying up, transit agencies are scrambling to find fresh infusions of cash to keep them afloat and are warning that service cuts and higher fares may be unavoidable. The large agencies in cities like New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and San Francisco that rely on a lot of white-collar office workers going into the central business district are really struggling in this moment, Hayley Richardson, a spokesperson for TransitCenter, a national pro-public-transit advocacy organization, told Yahoo News. Those agencies in that category are really facing enormous budget deficits starting, for some agencies, this year, but will really become existential in the next couple of years. The hardest-hit agencies have seen their ridership cut in half. Last year, the Chicago Transit Authority had 54% as many riders as it did in 2019. As of mid-March, the Los Angeles Metros average daily rail ridership so far this year was 51% of 2019s, and Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), which connects San Francisco with cities and towns around the Bay Area, is at just 40% of its pre-pandemic ridership. Bay Area Rapid Transit passengers in Richmond, Calif. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) In November, 15 of the largest transit agencies in the country sent a joint letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg asking his department to include a transit recovery assistance program that would serve as a federal safety net to sustain transit systems across the country in its annual budget request to Congress. But the DOT didnt do so when it unveiled its budget proposal last month, and House Republicans have been outspoken about their desire to cut domestic spending. Story continues Some conservative intellectuals continue to blame transit agencies for not trimming expenses to bring spending in line with new fiscal realities. Rather than sinking a larger share of taxpayer resources into transit, we should be looking at the cost side of the ledger, David Ditch, a senior policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation, told Yahoo News. In New York City, which has the largest public transit system in the country, subway and bus ridership is at 65% of its average daily levels from 2019. Without additional federal aid, the debate over increased funding for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has become a flashpoint in Gov. Kathy Hochuls grueling negotiations with the New York Legislature over the state budget. A subway station in midtown Manhattan. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) It's not a secret that with the switchover of the House of Representatives, the federal government is less responsive to appeals for mass transit, Janno Lieber, CEO of the MTA, told Yahoo News. We have gone to the [state] Legislature and said ... COVID ain't over for mass transit. The fiscal cliff is the deficit caused by the fall-off in ridership. All 21 New York Republican state senators have demanded that Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli audit the MTA before it gets additional funding. Turning to the taxpayers should be a last resort, not a first option, they wrote in a March letter to DiNapoli. In San Francisco, which has one of the nations lowest rates of workers returning to the office, lost fare revenue has created a $300 million hole in BARTs budget. Agency officials warn that any service cut big enough to close that gap would cause the system to enter a death spiral, in which declining service causes riders to flee, leading in turn to lower revenues and more service cuts. Before the pandemic, 71% of BART costs were paid by riders, James Allison, a spokesperson for the agency, told Yahoo News. Last fiscal year we only got 21% of our operating budget from fares. We have this federal emergency funding to keep operating. We project that that money would be expended in 2025, so what were doing now is looking for bridge funding to keep us going for a period of a few years, lets say, and then we need to work out an entirely new paradigm for funding. In Ditchs view, transit systems, like many public agencies, overpay their workers thanks to collective bargaining agreements with public sector unions that include generous retirement benefits and health insurance policies. In 2021, Ditch looked at six cities Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. and found that the average total compensation packages for transit agency employees were consistently higher than the average compensation in the region and often more than twice as high as the average transportation sector worker. A Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority bus in Philadelphia. (Matt Rourke/AP) Lieber and Allison, whose systems are the two most generous, with per-employee costs of more than $150,000 per year, both told Yahoo News their agencies are unapologetic about offering good wages to workers performing vital and sometimes technically challenging tasks. Not all critics of transit spending are opposed to the idea that more funding is needed to cope with decreased ridership, however. The subway costs as much to run whether there's 20 people on the subway car or 100, and it needs to come just as often, said Nicole Gelinas of the Manhattan Institute, a right-leaning think tank in New York City. But, Gelinas argues, Hochuls plan to boost MTA funding through an increase in the state payroll tax should be paired with cost-control measures. If youre not going to do cost reform, dont give them a new revenue stream. If you give them the payroll tax this year, theyre going to come back and ask for more. Gelinas said. Its very sound to subsidize transit. Drivers should pay to subsidize transit because it keeps cars off the road, so it helps them. Without new subsidies, Lieber believes, the consequences of reduced transit service will quickly become apparent. We just dont have unlimited room for single-occupancy vehicles, which cost about 10 times as much to operate for households as mass transit, he observed. Another consequence of decreased ridership has been that transit systems have become magnets for crime, drug use and the homeless. Since January, 22 people have died on Metro buses and trains, mostly from suspected overdoses more people than all of 2022, the Los Angeles Times recently reported. A homeless person, right, outside the entrance to a subway station in downtown Los Angeles. (Damian Dovarganes/AP) Getting those issues under control is key to luring back riders, Marc Joffe, a state policy analyst at the Cato Institute, told Yahoo News. When you see people who are really strung out and acting really strung out it makes you feel unsafe, especially when its a confined space, Joffe, who rides BART, said. Allison of BART said the agency, which has its own police force, has created a new deployment strategy that will put more cops patrolling the trains. Officials in New York are also looking to restore a sense of order on public transit. Coming out of COVID in the public space in general, but especially in New York City because its more public-space intensive, there was a sense that the rules had broken down, Lieber said, adding that work by the MTA and the NYPD has reduced the rate of major crimes on the subway such as robbery and assault by 40% this year compared with last winter. Most experts agree that in order to fix what ails transit systems in the nations largest cities, officials will need to focus on boosting ridership and service. Ridership is very contingent on service, and the more attractive and frequent the service is, the more people decide to use it, Danny Pearlstein, a spokesperson for the Riders Alliance, a New York City-focused transit advocacy group, told Yahoo News. So were not talking primarily about people who arent going to the office, but everybody else, or even those same people but for different trips at different times of the day. So were saying leave the peak service where it is for the people still going to offices, or still commuting during the rush hour but boost the off-peak service, so that transit is more competitive with other ways of getting around or even the decision not to go anywhere during the off-peak. Where the money to do that will come from, however, is another issue altogether. Harlan Crow attends a book release reception at the The George W. Bush Institute. LM Otero, File/AP Texas real estate magnate Harlan Crow provided lavish vacations to Justice Clarence Thomas. Crow made his money rebuilding his father's lucrative real estate development companies. He's donated millions to Republican causes over the years. According to investigative news outlet ProPublica, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has repeatedly gone on luxurious vacations with billionaire real estate magnate and GOP megadonor, Harlan Crow, without ever disclosing them. The report noted that Thomas has accepted trips on Crow's private jet and superyacht for more than two decades. So who is Harlan Crow? How did he make his money? Born in 1949 in Dallas, Texas, Crow is a 74-year-old real estate developer and the chairman of Crow Holdings, a Dallas-based real estate development and investment firm that was started by his father, Trammell Crow. According to Crow Holdings' website, the company manages more than $16 billion in assets. Before his death in 2009, Trammell Crow was once one of the nation's most prominent real estate developers and landlords. Despite his father's success, the company was close to bankruptcy until Harlan took over and "restructured the debt, sold off assets, and rebuilt the family's riches," according to a Wall Street Journal profile. Harlan Crow's exact net worth is unknown, and he doesn't appear on Bloomberg's Billionaires Index. That said, he's commonly referred to as a billionaire in the media. He's also spent extravagantly, including buying a home in Dallas for $55 million in 2014 and renovating it with 77-car underground garage, and has spent $25 million building the largest privately-owned bell tower, standing at 288 feet, right outside his office in Dallas. What's his relationship with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas? Crow met and became friends with Thomas after he had already become a Supreme Court justice. Since then, Crow's done many favors for the judge, according to a 2011 New York Times piece, such as financing $500,000 for his Ginni's Tea Party-related group and funding a library project dedicated to Thomas. He also donated $105,000 to Thomas' alma mater, Yale Law School, for the "Justice Thomas Portrait Fund." Story continues In a statement to ProPublica, Crow said that he and the Supreme Court Justice were "dear friends" and said his vacations and gifts were simply extensions of that relationship. "The hospitality we have extended to the Thomas's over the years is no different from the hospitality we have extended to our many other dear friends." He further added that Thomas and his wife, Ginni, "never asked for any of this hospitality." What's Harlan Crow's involvement in politics? Crow sits on the board of a handful of organizations, such as the right-wing American Enterprise Institute and the Supreme Court Historical society. The real estate magnate's given more than $10 million in political donations over the years, according to ProPublica, though that number is likely higher as he also donates to groups that keep their donors a secret. Crow primarily champions and supports Republican causes and legislators, however, he's also donated thousands to independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin. Read the original article on Business Insider King Charles III's coronation is exactly a month away, slotted to take place on Saturday, May 6. For weeks, media outlets and the internet alike have been speculating whether or not Charles' youngest son Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle will fly over from California to attend. Their rep gave the BBC a statement this week on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's decision: They have not yet made one. The spokesperson told the outlet, there was no update on whether they were attending, the BBC wrote. Harry and Meghan's non-decision comes shortly after Harry was in London for a lawsuit against the Daily Mail's publishers, Associated Newspapers Ltd, in late March. In his witness statement, he spoke out against the royal family's handling of the British press, revealing he felt the institution withheld information from him regarding his phone being hacked by The Sun's publishers. The Institution was without a doubt withholding information from me for a long time about NGN's phone hacking [News Group Newspapers, the publisher of The Sun] and that has only become clear in recent years as I have pursued my own claim with different legal advice and representation, he said. He added that what he learned when he stepped back from his senior royal family role and relocated to the U.S. was eye-opening. It is not an exaggeration to say that the bubble burst in terms of what I knew in 2020 when I moved out of the United Kingdom, he shared. He also expressed that when dating Meghan, he became "increasingly troubled by the [royal family's] approach of not taking action against the press in the wake of vicious persistent attacks on, harassment of and intrusive, sometimes racist articles concerning Meghan. The family has an infamous never complain, never explain policy with the press. The royal family made no comment on Harry's witness remark or its claims. The relationship between Harry and Charles last got major media attention when Harry and Meghan's rep confirmed Charles ordered them to vacate their UK home, Frogmore Cottage last month. Story continues Royal reporter Omid Scobie reported for Yahoo! UK then that the couple was left stunned by Charles decision, per sources. You Might Also Like Melanie Lynskey has been Barbie-fied and shes fully in support of it. Since Greta Gerwigs Barbie movie recently released new character posters for its entire cast, fans have tried their hand at recreating their own iterations. Similar to the original posters which feature headshots of each cast member next to a one-liner the films Barbie Selfie Generator website allows users to upload their own photo and tagline. Twitter user @guedegade shared their creation, dedicated to the Yellowjackets star, with the caption: Everyones favourite ally. Above the photo of Lynskey is the line: This Barbie is pushing the homosexual agenda. The post, which has over 3.1 million views, was seen by the New Zealand native herself, who commented: Ok sorry this brought me such joy today. Additional LGBTQ+ fans shared their support of Lynskey, with one writing: The lesbians love you Melanie. Ok sorry this brought me such joy today https://t.co/yER15Y3u4I Melanie Lynskey (@melanielynskey) April 6, 2023 Ally queen since the 90s, a second tweeted, noting Lynskeys role in the 1990 gay rom-com But Im a Cheerleader. Another added: We are so proud to have you as our representative, queen. Lynskey hasnt always had positive social media interactions with fans. In the past, shes been harassed by internet trolls whove negatively commented on her weight. In February 2022, the actor took it upon herself to speak out against the questions about her health and weight. The story of my life since Yellowjackets premiered, Most egregious are the I care about her health! people b**** you dont see me on my Peleton! she tweeted at the time. Just a few months ago, Lynskey shot down criticism of her casting in The Last of Us. Lynskey can currently be seen in the second season of Yellowjackets, which airs new episodes on Sundays on Showtime in the US and Paramount Plus in the UK. Read The Independents three-star review of the season here. The smoke is beginning to clear from former President Trumps arraignment but questions are growing sharper as to how it will affect the other legal challenges he is facing. Even some Democrats and Trump critics acknowledge that the case being prosecuted by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) appears shaky in places. Trump allies argue it is plainly an attempt to use the legal system to inflict political damage on the former president. The fear among Democrats is that other probes which have Trump in their crosshairs will be tainted by the perceived weakness of the Manhattan case. Republicans think that is exactly what will happen. I dont know that the public appreciates the nuanced differences between the different legal challenges Trump is facing, said Matt Mackowiak, chair of the Travis County, Texas, Republican Party. Trumps legal adversaries, Mackowiak said, went with the weakest case first. And it gives him [Trump] the chance to paint them all with the same brush, even thought the facts are different and the statutes are different. Trumps most severe GOP critics fear exactly that outcome. Former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton, now a fierce Trump foe, said on CBS before the indictment was unsealed that an acquittal or dismissal of the case would be rocket fuel for the former president because he can say, I told you this was a political prosecution. If that happened, it would be especially galling for Democrats. Many of those other investigations focus on matters that are of more fundamental importance and where the underlying conduct from Trump seems much more serious. The clearest example is the probe into election interference in Georgia led by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D). In that instance, a phone call Trump made in the waning days of his presidency to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) is already in the public domain. On the call, Trump pressures Raffensperger to find enough votes to overcome President Bidens narrow margin of victory in the state in the 2020 presidential election. Story continues He also tells Raffensperger, albeit in hazy terms, that it would be a big risk to you if the secretary of state affirmed the legitimacy of the election. Raffensperger resisted Trumps pressure, though he later wrote that he perceived the presidents words as a threat. Meanwhile, Special Counsel Jack Smith is investigating events around the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol and the discovery of documents with classified markings at Trumps Florida resort of Mar-a-Lago. Trumps actions around the Capitol insurrection have already been sufficient to get him impeached. In the Mar-a-Lago case, an attempt by the National Archives to secure material that Trump had taken with him at the end of his presidency dragged on for more than a year. A Trump lawyer also at one point signed a written statement affirming that a diligent search had located any and all documents that were being sought. That assertion appears to have been untrue. When Trump spoke from Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday night, after his arraignment earlier in the day, he contended that his conversation with Raffensperger was an absolutely perfect phone call and called the probe into classified documents the boxes hoax. He also condemned as racist New York Attorney General Letitia James (D), who is Black. James last September filed a $250 million civil suit against Trump, the Trump Organization and several other people, including three of his adult children. Seeking to tie those very disparate threads together, Trump continued that because they cant beat us at the ballot box now they try and beat us through the law. Some Democrats take heart from the idea that a different pattern will take hold one in which the number of probes into Trump will have a cumulative impact. The Manhattan indictment is only the beginning of a process that will be very destructive to Trump, Democrat strategist Tad Devine argued. Devine recalled his own painful experiences way back on the 1988 presidential campaign of Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis. Dukakis, who had come out of the Democratic convention that year with a double-digit polling lead, ultimately lost heavily to Republican George H.W. Bush. Devine contended that GOP strategists that year had found an accumulation of negatives to thwart Dukakis. And he argued a similar pattern could take place with Trump this year. I understand that his base, at this time, might be more concentrated, he said. But when the charges keep coming, it is going to be very painful for him. Opinion polling that has been conducted since news of Trumps indictment first broke has indicated that the former president has increased his lead over potential 2024 rivals for the GOP nomination, most notably Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. But two polls, from ABC News/Ipsos and CNN/SSRS, found pluralities of the general public approving of the decision to indict him in Manhattan, even as most respondents also saw the decision as political. The results point to the complex nature of the public view of Trumps legal woes. And they suggest there is still plenty left to play for in the months ahead. The Memo is a reported column by Niall Stanage. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. XXXTentacion (center) attends the BET Hip Hop Awards 2017 on Oct. 6, 2017. (Photo by Thaddaeus McAdams/FilmMagic) The three men convicted of killing rapper XXXTentacion will spend their lives behind bars. On Thursday, Trayvon Newsome, Michael Boatwright and Dedrick Williams, who were found guilty of armed robbery and first-degree murder last month in a trial over the 20-year-old's death, were all sentenced to life in prison. Variety reports that the men will not be eligible for parole or early release, because of Florida mandates. Solomon Sobande, the artist's manager, read a statement: "This is a loss we will never truly recover from. We will never get to see Jahseh live to his full potential, we will never get to watch him grow old, we will never get to watch him be a father." The rapper was gunned down in his car as he left Riva Motorsports in Pompano Beach, Fla., on June 18, 2018. Investigators found that the three men were in an SUV that cut off XXXTentacion, before Newsome and Boatwright jumped out in masks, swiped a bag of cash and shot him; Williams was the driver. (A fourth man, Robert Allen, sat in the backseat, but he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in June and testified for the state, according to WPLG Local 10 News in Miami.) Born Jahseh Onfroy, XXXTentacion wasn't yet a household name, but he was well on his way. Already popular on SoundCloud, his latest album, ?, landed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart when it was released three months prior to his death. His debut album, 17, had peaked at No. 2 on the same chart in September 2017. Musicians such as Kendrick Lamar and Kanye West were known supporters, and the young rapper had millions of followers on social media. Five most-streamed artists on Spotify on Friday (3/16) with stream totals. Insane 1. Xxxtentacion 26.2M 2. Post Malone 12.1M 3. Drake 11.6M 4. Kendrick 10.2M 5. Logic 9.4M DJBooth (@DJBooth) March 17, 2018 If you dont know his music, XXXTentacion's name might be familiar because he was one of the artists mentioned in May 2018, when streaming service Spotify vowed to stop promoting the music of R. Kelly and other artists who demonstrated "hateful conduct." (The company had dropped the policy by the following month.) The Florida native was part of that conversation because some of his history fit into that category. When he died, XXXTentacion had been awaiting his own trial on charges of battery, false imprisonment and witness tampering, to which he had pleaded not guilty. According to the New York Times, his former girlfriend had stated in a deposition that he regularly abused her. She said that he had punched, kicked, strangled and head-butted her while she was pregnant in 2016, and she further accused him of keeping her at a friends house for two days against her will. Story continues Rapper XXXTentacion pictured in a mugshot taken Dec. 15, 2017, in Miami for his domestic violence case. (Photo: Miami Dade County Corrections via Getty Images) XXXTentacion had also had physical altercations at concerts and feuded with Drake and Migos' Offset. In 2016, he was arrested on home invasion charges for an incident that happened in 2015. He was released from jail on house arrest in late 2017. As the New York Times noted, the artist didn't give many interviews. He preferred to interact with his fans on social media, where he had 1.2 million followers on Twitter and another 8.2 million on Instagram. "If I'm going to die or ever be a sacrifice, I want to make sure that my life made at least five million kids happy, or they found some sort of answers or resolve in my life, regardless of the negative around my name, regardless of the bad things people say to me," he had reportedly said on Instagram. In the wake of his death, many in the hip-hop community offered their condolences. This got me f***ed up, J. Cole wrote. RIP X. Enormous talent and limitless potential and a strong desire to be a better person. God bless his family, friends and fans. We must support his legacy. king of the youth (@lilyachty) June 18, 2018 Your actions are your legacy. Act beautifully at all times. There is a beauty in disobedience. There is a beauty in rebellion. There is a beauty in rage. There is no beauty in malice. Violence consumes all equally. However, the good earn the tears of others. Do good. Rest XXX COBRA|Soul Food (@LupeFiasco) June 18, 2018 Although, Twitter was filled with mixed emotions over his death. For every RIP tweet, there were insensitive jokes and memes being shared. if you dont like #xxxtentacion dont express it here !! Keep your comments to yourself! A life is lost today ! RIP XXXTENTACION (@Jayecane) June 18, 2018 If not for anything else, I wish peace to not only his family, friends and loved ones, but also the victim(s) that faced that torment on a daily basis. Tina and Jeffs Son (@CoryTownes) June 18, 2018 RIP xxxtentacion, regardless of his controversial past, he did not deserve to die, especially so young. I respected him for preaching/spreading positivity and the lives he touched in a positive way. Gone too soon, so terrible. His music/art will live forever. Ethan Dolan (@EthanDolan) June 18, 2018 Since XXXTentacion's death, multiple albums and tracks have been released under his name. The 2022 Hulu documentary, Look at Me: XXXTentacion, recounts his rise to fame and his impact on the music industry. His son was born in January 2019. This story was originally published June 18, 2018. A New Mexico man was fatally shot by police Wednesday night after they accidentally went to the wrong address. Farmington police shot and killed 52-year-old Robert Dotson while responding to a domestic violence call for a neighboring address, according to a press release from the New Mexico State Police. The state polices investigations bureau said on Thursday that it was investigating the incident. This is a very dark day for Farmington [Police Department], for our community, for the Dotson family, Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe said in a video statement. I extend nothing but my deepest condolences to the Dotson family. There is nothing I can say that will make this better. Its a terrible event, and Im heartbroken over it. After Farmington police officers mistakenly approached the wrong address on Wednesday, Dotson opened his screen door armed with a handgun. Officers responded by firing at least one shot that struck Dotson, according to state police. Dotsons wife, who was also armed with a handgun, then fired from the doorway of the home, leading officers to fire again. She put the gun down and complied with the officers requests after realizing they were police. This ending is just unbelievably tragic, Hebbe added. Im extremely sorry that we are in this position. We will find more facts as we go through the investigation over the next several days. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez told The State Media Co. that he is taking it one day at a time as he considers whether to make a 2024 White House run. Suarez, who spent Tuesday and Wednesday in South Carolina, visited Iowa last month and said hes planning a trip to New Hampshire, another early voting state, later this month. I like to meet with the mayors who have a pretty good sense of whats going on on the ground, Suarez, who heads the U.S. Conference of Mayors, told The State Wednesday at the South Carolina State House. As he mulls whether to seek the GOP nomination in 2024, Suarez has met with Hispanic groups, pastoral and business leaders and mayors. He also spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference in March in an effort to raise his national profile. Suarez, 45, who is of Cuban American descent, says he would consider himself a next generation candidate. Growing minority support for the Republican Party is key, he said. A 2022 Pew Research Center study found 60% of Latino adults said the Democratic Party represents their views, while only 34% of Latinos said the Republican Party represents their views. The GOP also has lost the popular vote in seven out of the last eight presidential elections, he noted. The void that I see is generational leadership that has a track record of success, has a vision for the future and that can articulate it in a positive fashion, Suarez said. I think its important to be able to attract minority groups to the Republican Party because the presidency comes down to several swing states. In those swing states the margins are minimal. Electoral counts change radically based on actually a small amount of votes. So I think you need to be able to appeal to people in those states that may be traditionally the party hasnt been able to appeal to. So far only former President Donald Trump, former United Nations ambassador and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy have formally launched campaigns. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is on a national book tour, has made visits to Iowa and Nevada, and spoken to at least one South Carolina lawmaker ahead of a possible campaign launch. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott R-S.C., has hired staff and also has made visits to early voting states. Story continues Doing well in South Carolina is key. Since 1980, the winner of the Palmetto States Republican primary has gone on to win the GOP nomination every time, except for 2012, when Mitt Romney won the nomination but Newt Gingrich won the South Carolina primary. Suarez declined to disclose how much money hes raised, but said, I think it would surprise people. (Ill) leave it at that. According to Floridas Division of Elections, Suarez had $4.6 million in a political committee called Miami for Everyone as of the end of February of this year. A 501(c)(4) or a social welfare organization controlled by his advisors has raised $500,000 so far in 2023. Suarez said Wednesday that hes doing his due diligence before deciding to make a White House run. He also declined to say when he might make his decision. The first GOP presidential debate is planned for August in Milwaukee. I think the landscape is different today than it was a month ago and it may be very radically different in a month, Suarez said. So as cliche as it sounds, Im kind of taking it one day at a time, and focusing on listening because I think thats the most powerful thing I could do right now. Miami Herald reporter Joey Flechas contributed to this article. Two men were arrested in connection to a double stabbing Friday morning that left two people hospitalized, according to police. Police initially arrived at Northwest Third Court and 79th Street to respond to a report that a woman was shot. But, the officers instead found a man and a woman, both around 20 years old, with stab wounds. Miami Fire Rescue medics took them to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Their conditions and identities were not immediately available. Police say the people, who were not named in an arrest report, were attacked by Jimmy Pierre and Larry March, both 38, after a brief altercation in which Pierre threw a rock and hit their car. All four people know each other, according to the report. The report also states that the people told police that March fired a gun in the air and pointed the weapon at them. The man and woman ran into their car, and Pierre reached inside the vehicle and started swinging a knife, first stabbing the woman in the leg and buttocks, then wounding the man, who was trying to shield the woman, according to the report. Pierre faces attempted murder and battery charges. March was arrested on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon. Information on bond and Pierres and Marchs legal counsel were not immediately availabl.e You are here: China Xu Baoyi, former deputy general manager of China Grain Reserves Group (Sinograin), stood trial for bribery, dereliction of duty by personnel of state-owned enterprises, and insider trading on Thursday. The case was heard by the Intermediate People's Court of Datong in north China's Shanxi Province. Xu was accused of taking advantage of his various positions between 2006 and 2021 to seek benefits for others in matters such as project contracting, enterprise operations, payment of project funds, and job arrangements. In return, he accepted money and valuables worth 13.8 million yuan (about 2 million U.S. dollars), according to prosecutors. He was also accused of being irresponsible as chairman of a petroleum-related state-owned enterprise and causing massive losses to state interests. The indictment also charged him with illegally obtaining stock exchange transaction information before its publication and instructing others to conduct related transactions. During the trial, prosecutors presented their evidence. The defendant and his defense counsel cross-examined the evidence. In his final statement, Xu pleaded guilty and expressed remorse. Xu's sentence will be announced at a later date. Days before Miami Shores residents will cast their ballots for three new councilmembers, an anonymous letter that appeared to be on city letterhead was mailed to some voters criticizing one of the candidates. The letter was the latest in a series of personal attacks and threats levied against politicians in an election season already marked by tensions over the comprehensive plan for development in the village. Last month, Mayor Sandra Harris received an emailed death threat and Councilman Dan Marinberg received emailed homophobic messages. Harris confirmed to the Miami Herald she was sent the threat. Marinberg posted about the messages he received on Facebook. Miami Shores police have since identified a former village resident as a suspect in both emails, WPLG-Local 10 reported. Early voting begins at 7 a.m. Saturday and Election Day is Tuesday, April 11. RELATED: Miami Shores residents divided over new housing plan in single-family home community The anonymous letter targeted George Burch, the husband of outgoing councilwoman Alice Burch. He is among eight candidates vying for one of the three open seats on the council. Burch said the letter was a way of attacking him for being against the villages comprehensive plan. This is basically dirty politics, he told the Miami Herald. They dont want me to be elected. And this is their way of trying to prevent that. He added while he is a Republican he does not hold the views stated in the letter. City officials and Miami Shores police did not reply to multiple emails and phone calls from the Herald asking if there would be a formal investigation into the letter. Mayor Harris did not comment on the anonymous letter. The city, on its Facebook page, denied the anonymous letter came from someone in the administration or was connected to the city. Please note, neither this correspondence nor its origination was from village hall and the contents were not crafted by this administration, Miami Shores Village Manager Esmond K. Scott wrote in a letter to residents. We have consulted with the village attorney and the police chief. Story continues The letter also targeted Drew McIntosh, president of Miami Shores United Political Action Committee, who staunchly opposes the villages comprehensive plan. His attorney Stephen Loffredo said he reported the matter to the Miami-Dade Ethics and Public Trust, but was told that without a known source for the material, not much could be done. Without a source, an identifiable source of the communication, theres nothing they can do, Loffredo told the Herald. Loffredo said the letter appears to have been sent to residents who were registered Democrats or are not affiliated with a party. He also said he and his client are both Democrats, which goes against the letters contention that his client supports former President Donald Trumps views. Burch is one of three candidates endorsed by the Miami Shores Political Action Committee, which is comprised of residents opposing the comprehensive plan that would result in diverse housing options in the village among other changes. The PAC raised $26,980 during the election, according to a campaign finance report submitted Friday. The other six candidates in the election are: Wesley Castellanos, who currently sits on the council; Jerome Charles and Jesse Valinsky, who are also endorsed by Miami Shores United; and Andrew Bellinson, Deepak Ganju and Peter Walsh. Microsoft and a group of cybersecurity firms received help from the courts with the massive takedown Thursday of a notorious hacking tool that had been co-opted by cybercriminals to target hospitals and healthcare systems. Joining forces with cybersecurity firm Fortra and the Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center (H-ISAC), the firms applied for and received a court order designed to remove bootleg versions of Fortra's Cobalt Strike software. Last Friday, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York awarded the court order to the organizations, enabling them to seize domain names where malicious actors were storing the "cracked" versions of the software. For years, a malicious version of the tool initially designed to enable companies to check their cyber defenses has been manipulated by bad actors launching ransomware attacks on unwitting victims. Ransomware families associated with the cracked copies of Cobalt Strike "have been linked to more than 68 ransomware attacks impacting healthcare organizations in more than 19 countries around the world," according to Microsoft, costing hospital systems "millions of dollars in recovery and repair costs, plus interruptions to critical patient care services including delayed diagnostic, imaging and laboratory results, canceled medical procedures and delays in delivery of chemotherapy treatments." As hospitals grappled with the coronavirus pandemic across the U.S., cybercriminals ramped up crippling cyber attacks designed to lock down computer networks containing patient data in exchange for hefty ransoms. Analysis conducted by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) found such attacks posed long-term negative impacts on hospitals, creating more ambulance diversions and increased mortality. Older, illegal copies of the Cobalt Strike software often referred to as "cracked" versions have been abused by criminals in a series of high profile attacks, including those waged against the government of Costa Rica and the Irish Health Service Executive, according to Microsoft. Story continues At least two infamous Russian-speaking ransomware gangs Conti and LockBit are listed among the 16 defendants, according to a court order obtained by CBS News. "While the exact identities of those conducting the criminal operations are currently unknown, we have detected malicious infrastructure across the globe, including in China, the United States and Russia," Microsoft stated in their announcement. "In addition to financially motivated cybercriminals, we have observed threat actors acting in the interests of foreign governments, including from Russia, China, Vietnam and Iran, using cracked copies." "We are also going to do what we call 'sinkholing,' which means redirecting those domains to Microsoft so that we can identify any victims. We'll work with others around the world to help remediate those victims," said Amy Hogan-Burney, general manager and associate general counsel for cybersecurity policy and protection at Microsoft. Friday's legal move marks rare action by a tech leader to target malicious hackers' tools and tactics with a court authorized order. Spearheaded by Microsoft's 35-person Digital Crime Unit, researchers began devising the legal strategy more than one year ago in conjunction with Fortra and H-ISAC. Microsoft has previously tapped civil orders to seize domains and IP addresses associated with specific malware, but Friday's court order marks the first time the tech leader has sought to take down a malicious hacking tool on this scale. "Some of the legal claims are similar to actions we've done in the past, but the scope is much bigger than what we've done," said Hogan-Burey. Microsoft has already begun digging into hacking tools it believes cybercriminals will switch to after the Cobalt Strike crackdown, according to Hogan-Burney said. And although Friday's legal action will not stop cybercriminals from exploiting the cracked software outright, Hogan-Burney calls it an important first step. Microsoft and Fortra obtained a temporary restraining order against those violating the copyright of their programs to permit quicker shutdown of malicious versions of the software. But Friday's court order also allows Microsoft, Fortra and the H-ISAC to carry out future takedowns as criminals develop new infrastructure. "[This court order] allows us to keep doing it," Hogan-Burney added. "After we execute the temporary restraining order today, we are going to seek a permanent injunction because we believe this activity will continue by the cybercriminals. They will look to move hosting [sites] for the cracked versions of Cobalt Strike because it is an effective tool for them. And we will continue to chase them." U.S. added 236,000 jobs in March, Labor Department says How to online-date safely in a post pandemic world Vice President Harris meets with ousted Tennessee lawmakers Modesto will spend about $7 million examining possible upgrades to the busy Standiford Avenue interchange on Highway 99. The City Council voted 7-0 on Tuesday, April 4, for a contract with WMH Corp., an engineering firm based in San Jose. It will study traffic patterns, design options and environmental impacts over the next 39 months. Modesto has funding to cover this step, but it is still seeking money for detailed engineering and construction, city spokeswoman Diana Ruiz-Del Re said by email. The cost was roughly estimated at $108 million in 2020 by the Stanislaus Council of Governments, which oversees transportation funding in the county. The contract with WMH will help pin this down, along with the timeline and funding sources, Ruiz-Del Re said. A similar process is planned for the Briggsmore Avenue interchange, a mile to the south. It has even more traffic than Standiford, and especially convoluted routes for drivers. StanCOG pegged its cost at $118 million in 2020. When the mall was new The Standiford interchange dates to the 1970s, when the Vintage Faire Mall was the only major retail complex in northwest Modesto. The bridge over 99 had one lane each way to accommodate the moderate traffic back then. That area later drew big-box retailers, housing and other traffic generators on and near Standiford and Sisk Road. The Standiford bridge got more lanes to handle the load. The interchange was constructed incrementally in response to changing demands and available funding over time, a staff report to the council said. Now deficiencies are such that a complete overhaul is necessary to maintain flows into the future. The report said the rebuilt interchange would have to mesh with the 99 widening envisioned by the California Department of Transportation. The highway now has three traffic lanes each way but could add a fourth at some point. A lot going on there The engineers will have a tight space to work in. Sisk is a highway frontage road, with four lanes of sometimes heavy traffic. An electrical substation sits on the northwest corner of Standiford and Sisk. The interchange crosses over freight tracks with frequent trains. Altamont Corridor Express passenger service could arrive as soon as late 2026. Story continues The Standiford redo happens amid a changing philosophy about road planning. Engineers for decades have emphasized motor vehicles over people on foot or bicycle. Caltrans now seeks complete streets in the projects it funds. The public will be able to comment as WMH studies the options, including different stages of the environmental study. The contract is for $6.45 million, but it could grow by $645,000 if additional services are needed. WMH was one of five firms to bid on the contract. The council approved it without discussion. The Milwaukee Police Department on Friday released redacted footage of the fatal police shooting of Herman Lucas, but it is unclear from the video provided if Lucas pointed a gun at the officer prior to the officer killing him. Footage shows Lucas running from officers, with a gun in hand, following a crash. He attempts to scale a fence, falls down and had his back turned at the officer, but was turning to face him as the officer approached. The officer then shoots Lucas multiple times, but the officer's extended arm blocks the bodycam, obstructing the view of Lucas' hands. In the footage provided by MPD, Inspector Craig Sarnow, acting as the video's narrator, does not say Lucas pointed a gun at the officer, but says Lucas "turned towards the officer." At the time of the incident, Chief Jeffrey Norman said it was unknown if the man pointed a gun at police. Kent Lovern, Milwaukee Countys chief deputy district attorney, said Friday the findings of the investigation were turned over to his office days ago and no decision on possible charges have been made. The Waukesha Police Department was the agency leading in the investigation. The department also addressed public concerns regarding a bystander's video following the shooting where officers move Lucas' body. Sarnow said officers attempted to move him to level ground after approaching cautiously as they were unsure if Lucas still posed an active threat. The incident began with a traffic stop around 1:48 p.m. Feb. 21 on the 7000 block of West Thurston Avenue on Milwaukees northwest side. Police said officers pulled over the vehicle for not having license plates. The driver initially stopped but then fled west as officers approached on foot. After traveling about a mile and a half with police in pursuit, the driver disregarded a red light and crashed into another car on the 9100 block of West Silver Spring Drive. Lucas, 31, is seen exiting the vehicle from the driver's side and fleeing with a gun. Video shows Lucas running through a gas station parking lot while an officer yells "Drop the gun! Drop the gun!" That is when Lucas attempts to scale the fence and the officer closes in yelling commands before firing and killing Lucas. Story continues The officer has not been publicly identified, but was described by Norman as a 43-year-old man with more than five years of service with the department. He was placed on routine administrative duty after the incident. Bystander's video shows officers moving Lucas' body, causing public concern Fridays release also addressed the aftermath of the shooting, which was recorded by a bystander and shared widely on social media out of concern for how police handled Lucas body. The bystander video shows at least four police officers cautiously approaching Lucas body as it lays unresponsive on the ground in a corner of a gas station lot, where a fence and building meet. The officers guns are drawn and at least one holds a tactical shield as they appear to shout orders at Lucas to put his hands on his side. Lucas never moves. Sarnow said officers conducted a tactical evaluation of the situation to determine if Lucas still posed a threat. An officer's bodycam footage shows officers close in on Lucas' body before one officer points out a gun near Lucas' body. Once officers close in, the bodycam footage shows an officer grab Lucas by the foot and drag him several feet away from the corner. One officer states "Careful, his foot!" Lucas' other foot was caught along the fence. The same officer who points out Lucas' foot also asks his fellow officers to "glove up" while handling the body, to which officers do not initially comply. Multiple officers then help pick up his body and move him further away. Sarnow said Lucas was moved to attempt life-saving measures. Video shows one officer pumping Lucas' chest. The treatment of Lucas' body spurs investigation and reaction from officials In February, the department announced a full administrative investigation into the incident, but that none of the officers seen handling Lucas' body in the bystander video had their work status changed. That investigation was still ongoing as of March 31, according to city officials who briefly discussed the topic during a meeting of the citys Public Safety and Health Committee. During that discussion, Leon Todd, the executive director of the Fire and Police Commission, which has oversight powers over the Police Department, said there are no standard operating procedures that explicitly govern how officers should handle human remains. But there are other, general standards in place that apply and forbid officers from conduct that would bring discredit to the department, Sarnow said. Ald. Milele Coggs said she wanted to revisit the discussion at the committees next meeting in late April, hopefully after the conclusion of the investigation to allow for a more robust discussion. The day following the incident, Mayor Cavalier Johnson told the Journal Sentinel he believed officers were moving Lucas' body to render life support. Contact Elliot Hughes at elliot.hughes@jrn.com or 414-704-8958. Follow him on Twitter @elliothughes12. Contact Drake Bentley at (414) 391-5647 or DBentley1@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DrakeBentleyMJS. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee police release footage of fatal shooting of Herman Lucas The search for a missing 6-year-old Texas boy who has not been seen for months is now a death investigation, police in Everman said Thursday. The boy, Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez, was last seen in October at a hospital when his mother, Cindy Rodriguez-Singh, was there to give birth to twins, police said. Police conducted a welfare check March 20 at the family's home, but Noel was not there. Two days later, Rodriguez-Singh, her husband, and six other children got on a plane and traveled to India, Everman Police Chief Craig Spencer said. Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez. (Everman Emergency Services via Facebook) Based on the totality of the circumstances, along with the evidence available to us at this time, it has led to a very unfortunate, unimaginable and devastating conclusion that Noel is likely deceased, Spencer said at a news conference Thursday. A body has not been found. Police said they're working to develop additional locations to search, and some searches have already begun. The search for the Noel has included using dogs that can detect human remains, and digging up a recently poured concrete porch at the property where the family had been staying, police have said. Arrest warrants have been issued for Rodriguez-Singh and her husband, Arshdeep Singh, on a charge of abandoning and endangering a child. Spencer said police want them arrested and extradited back to the United States. Investigators believe they are still in India, he said. The search began on March 20, when the Texas Department of Family Services asked police to conduct a welfare check on the boy, officials have said. At the time Rodriguez-Singh claimed Noel was in Mexico with his biological father, which investigators later determined was not true, police said. Interviews with relatives and a witness suggest Rodriguez-Singh had been abusive to Noel, including depriving him of food and water and at one point striking him with her keys, Spencer said Thursday. The last time the child had been seen by a medical professional was in July for speech therapy, he said. Other professional appointments around that time were missed. Story continues Police said investigators have since learned Rodriguez-Singh has previously made comments that the boy was "evil" or "possessed." At the time that Rodriguez-Singh and her husband and the other children flew to India, there were no warrants for them or anything else that would have prevented them from getting on a plane, police have said. Federal agencies are assisting, Spencer said. A criminal investigation is continuing, he said. "I understand that this is not the news that we were all hoping for, or praying for," Spencer said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Montana is famous for its cattle and these days, for a sizzling beef between its two senators. On one side is Jon Tester, one of the Democratic Partys last red-state incumbents. On the other is Steve Daines, the Senate GOP campaign arm chief who probably needs to beat Tester in order to succeed and win back the majority. That makes the senators from Big Sky Country the most awkward pair in the chamber. Its a rare spectacle indeed for the clubby Senate, where cross-aisle trust is still a valued currency and it once bordered on uncouth to even campaign against a colleague. Really bad scenario. Its just not a good situation, said Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). Manchin is backing Tester and has tried to stop senator-vs.-senator campaign appearances, even previously endorsing two moderate Republicans. I know its not a very close relationship," Manchin added. "I think Im accurate in that. The next two years will be a stress test for the two Montana senators. Their state is one of only five with Senate delegations split between the parties, a modern low. And three of those states, West Virginia, Montana and Ohio, are the fulcrum for next years battle for the Senate majority. They've never run against one another, but the Tester-Daines relationship was already strained as they sided against each other in past Montana elections. Now, during a make-or-break race for Tester and Daines' huge mandate to take back the majority, a palpable chill is setting in. Daines responded to Tester's reelection announcement by likening the Democrat to Steve Bullock, the former governor who challenged Daines in 2020 only to be trounced by double digits. Tester, who spoke to Bullock during his recruitment, deadpanned in an interview that his relationship with Daines "couldn't be better." Asked if Daines took the National Republican Senatorial Committee job specifically to defeat him, Tester replied wryly: That's your perspective. And I don't necessarily think that perspective is wrong. Story continues Their interplay will demonstrate just how much Washingtons perpetual campaign affects policymaking and the interests of an entire state. The duo tussled over a Montana judicial pick in December, a potential sign of things to come. On a personal level, the two men represent the divergent profiles of their Western home: Tester the blunt-speaking, self-described dirt farmer versus Daines, a buttoned-up conservative with Trump ties. The tension between them is a reminder, said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), that none of this stuffs easy. Its not for sissies. Outwardly, Tester and Daines maintain at least a veneer of civility. They still put out joint press releases, a sign that their offices work together. Yet it's clear things are strained, judging from clues both past and present. This week, Montana Republicans are seeking to limit third-party bids with a bill that creates a top two jungle primary albeit only for Testers 2024 race. In theory, it would help the GOP head off a spoiler effect that helped Tester win reelection in 2012, when a libertarian siphoned votes from the Republican candidate. But in 2018, Tester surpassed 50 percent against Republican Matt Rosendale, whos now a House member; the libertarian candidate that year received just under 3 percent. The Montana bill's chief sponsor, Rosendale backer and state Sen. Greg Hertz (R), sought to make all races subject to a top two system but faced statewide resistance. Hertz said Chuck Denowh, a Montana lobbyist who lists finance work for both Daines and Rosendale on his LinkedIn page, then offered to help. They eventually settled on a bill specific to Tester's race. "I mean, how much more obvious can you be? asked GOP state Sen. Brad Molnar, who voted against the Tester-specific plan. He warned the bill could outrage Libertarians and guessed that the RNC, which has not "had a good idea in 20 years," was probably behind it. Hertz, however, said he didnt talk to Daines or the NRSC about the effort and was unaware if Denowh advocated for it on behalf of any particular client. Denowh did not respond to a request for comment. I dont know if it would help them or hurt [Republicans], added Hertz. My main goal is just to make sure that the person who wins the U.S. Senate race in Montana has more than a majority. It's the latest twist in a state where political mischief borders on sport. A mysterious left-leaning group in Montana boosted the Libertarian candidate in 2012 to 6 percent of support, more than Testers winning margin. Democrats then fought to remove the Green Party from the ballot in 2018 and 2020, while the GOP helped the Green Party gather signatures in 2020. Daines and Tester are no exception to the Montana trend. They nearly clashed directly a decade ago, when Daines briefly launched a campaign against Tester during the 2012 cycle. He ultimately decided to seek an open House seat instead, winning easily. They have now served together for a decade, including in the Senate since Daines 2014 win. But Daines grew close to Donald Trump during his presidency, and his son Donald Trump Jr. as well. So when Tester faced reelection in 2018, Daines teamed with the Trumps to stump for GOP challenger Matt Rosendale down the stretch arguing that "we need to send a different senator" to Washington and urging Trump to come deliver a knockout blow for Rosendale. Tester won. Then, in 2020, Tester played at least some role in drafting Bullock, then a former presidential candidate, to take on Daines. Tester said that Bullock made that decision on his own. Still, Tester spoke of his hopes that Bullock would run and said his state needs a senator in Washington that will stand up for Montana, not take a seat because leadership tells them to. And Tester knows Senate races: Hes won three and chaired the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in 2016. I'm sure Jon Tester has something to do with the race between Governor Bullock and Steve Daines, said Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.). Zinke is among the potential Republican recruits to take on Tester, whose reelection bid Daines greeted with a frosty statement that both he and Bullock "should have ended their political careers on their terms. Instead, they each will have their careers ended by Montana voters. Perhaps understating things a bit, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), said there's some stuff in Montana politics that goes back a while. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), a former NRSC chair, said he hopes the situation between Tester and Daines doesnt become terribly personal. But I dont know how you avoid that. Moran, who works closely with Tester, said hes trying to stay out of it. Other potential Tester challengers include Rosendale, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen and veteran Tim Sheehy. As of now though, Tester has no top-tier opponent. Yet Daines insisted he and Tester are friends despite it all. He supports about everything the Biden administration has tried to do, and I fought against that: massive spending bills. tax increases, judges. Across the board. So there's a real clear contrast, the Republican added in an interview. Though Democrats have spent a dozen years reading media predictions that this election cycle will be Testers last, so far hes withstood nearly every kind of GOP challenger. This cycle's intense Republican focus on Montana, however, raises the question of whether Daines' NRSC chairmanship gives Republicans an edge. The people running the NRSC are McConnell and corporate America. We know that," said Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), a fellow endangered incumbent who vowed Tester would prevail. I dont think it matters who the figurehead is. Ally Mutnick contributed to this report. A lawyer representing a child severely injured in a 2021 drunken driving crash caused by former Chiefs assistant coach Britt Reid says authorities failed to act months earlier when Reid was accused in a road rage confrontation. Less than 90 days before Reid, under the influence of alcohol, hit two cars on Interstate 435 and caused 5-year-old Ariel Youngs traumatic brain injury, he was accused of punching the drivers side window of a personal vehicle driven by an off-duty Olathe police officer. The encounter is described in documents recently made public with the conclusion of Reids criminal case, which ended in November. Reid, the son of Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, was sentenced to three years in prison for felony driving while intoxicated, causing serious injury. According to the documents, on Nov. 10, 2020, the officer was driving to work and stopped at an intersection at Old 56 and West 151st Street in Gardner. Reid pulled into the lane next to him. Reid was driving a 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee and almost struck the officers vehicle when he tried to get in front of him and make a left turn. The officer honked his horn at Reid, who then slammed on his brakes, got out of his vehicle and yelled, You got a (expletive) problem? Reid then punched the officers window. The case was investigated but prosecutors never filed charges against Reid. Attorney Tom Porto, who represented Ariels family after the crash a few months later, said authorities should have taken action then. Unfortunately, we are left to wonder had his prior criminal conduct been prosecuted, could the tragedy of February 4, 2021 somehow have been prevented? Porto said Friday. A spokesperson for the Johnson County District Attorneys Office could not be reached for comment on Friday. J.R. Hobbs, a defense attorney for Reid, said Jackson County prosecutors and the judge were aware of the prior incident when sentencing recommendations were made for the 2021 DWI case. Hobbs said that did not factor into the judges sentence. Story continues Ariel Young, 5, was seriously injured after a collision with a vehicle driven by former Chiefs assistant coach Britt Reid. Investigation of run-in with officer According to a 2020 incident report, the off-duty police officer said he thought Reid would try to fight him when he approached the officers vehicle. ...had no doubt Reid would have struck him if he got out of his vehicle or didnt immediately leave the area as he did, the incident report said. An officer investigating the incident wrote that he identified Reid as the driver through a records check. The officer went to the residence listed on Reids drivers license. When he arrived, the officer said a woman who answered the door said Reid was not there. The officer asked the woman what vehicle Reid normally drove and she replied he drove a gray Jeep. He said a gray Jeep was parked in the street and asked her to get Reid to come to the door. She complied, and the officer was able to talk to Reid. The officer asked Reid who was driving his vehicle at the time of the earlier incident. Reid replied, I have no idea. Reid initially denied he was involved in the road rage incident. He told the officer that he honked his horn when another motorist was driving too close to him. Reid said he then pulled over, got out of his car and knocked on the motorists window but had no intentions on fighting the driver. Well, he almost hit my car off the road, Reid allegedly told the officer. The incident was later forwarded to the Johnson County District Attorneys office, but prosecutors did not file charges against Reid. Crash injures 5-year-old Ariel Young Roughly three months later, on Feb. 4, 2021, Reid was under the influence of alcohol when he caused a crash that left Ariel severely injured. Reid had just left the teams practice facility and was near I-435 when his pickup truck slammed into a Chevrolet Impala, which he said he did not see because its lights were off. Reid said he continued south on the interstate and then rear-ended a Chevy Traverse. He called 911 moments later. Ariel was a passenger in one of the two vehicles that Reid struck. Ariels mother, Felicia Miller, had arrived to help her cousin whose Impala had run out of gas and stalled. Miller said she got back into the drivers seat of her Traverse and looked in the rear view mirror when she saw the headlights of an approaching vehicle. Prosecutors said Reid was driving 83 mph seconds before the collision and had a serum blood alcohol content of 0.113 about two hours after the crash. According to Missouri law, the legal limit is 0.08. The severely damaged car 5-year-old Ariel Young was in when then-Chiefs linebacker coach Britt Reid slammed his pickup truck into it days before the Super Bowl sat in a snow-covered impound lot shortly after the wreck. Reid told an arriving officer that he had been drinking earlier the day of the crash. Miller has said her daughter is still impacted from the crash. Ariel drags her right foot when she walks, has trouble keeping her balance and becomes nauseated during car rides. Ariel takes special education classes and now wears glasses. The Kansas City Chiefs later reached a financial agreement with Ariels family to pay for her ongoing medical treatment and long-term financial stability. A Maryland man was arrested by the FBI for threatening to "slaughter" an LGBTQ organization in Washington, D.C. Extremist Trump supporters aren't showing up to protest Trump's arrest yet. And the growing threat of extremism in the U.S. military. It's the week in extremism. Adam Michael Nettina, 34, of West Friendship, Maryland, was arrested by the FBI for allegedly threatening an LGBTQ organization in Washington, DC LGBTQ organization threatened Why are drag shows being targeted?: A drag show, a protest and a line of guns: How the battle over one issue is tearing at America Club Q attack 'no surprise': Club Q attack no surprise for extremism experts who saw looming threat, decades-old pattern In the latest escalation in a growing wave of threats or violence against the LGTBQ community, a 34-year-old Maryland was arrested this week, after authorities alleged he left a threatening voice message at the Washington office of Human Rights Campaign, an organization that lobbies for LGBTQ rights. According to an FBI criminal complaint, Adam Michael Nettina left a voicemail at HRC last week, saying, among other things, that he would "slaughter" the organization and "Well cut your throats. Well put a bullet in your head." The agent who wrote the Nettina complaint wrote that he believes the threat was in retaliation for the deadly shooting at a private Christian school in Nashville in late March. Police have said the shooter, who was killed in the attack, was transgender. That news launched a new wave of disinformation from some right-wing sources, claiming falsely that trans people were at the root of a wave of mass shootings. Threats and violence against trans people and the broader LGBTQ community have been growing in recent months, spurred by conservative pundits and politicians. The HRC sent USA TODAY a statement: "As we see radical politicians sow hate and fear with anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, we have seen the physical threats to our community multiply." Go deeper: Understand how drag shows became the front line in America's culture wars: Read this story. Story continues May 28, 2022; Houston, TX, USA; A member of the South Texas Proud Boys watches as police keep separate his group from the anti-gun demonstrators outside the George R. Brown Convention Center where the NRA was holding the second day of its national convention in Houston, Texas on Saturday May 28, 2022. Extremist Trump supporters staying home The news cycle this week was dominated by the historic indictment of former President Donald Trump. But one group that has not been energized by Trump's charges is the extremist far-right, which has long supported him. This week, we broke down why. Extremist Trump supporters staying home: Four reasons extremist Trump supporters arent protesting his indictment yet Experts in extremism laid out four reasons why Trump's extremist supporters are staying home: Trump hasn't told his supporters where or when to protest unlike January 6, there's no central focus for protests. Some extremists no longer support Trump The former president has fallen out of favor with some groups, primarily because of his perceived lack of support for those arrested for Jan. 6 crimes. Extremists are still cowed from Jan. 6 prosecutions More than 1,000 people have been charged with crimes, and that has had a huge impact on the movement. Trump's base believes he'll beat the charges They're not calling him "Teflon Don" for nothing. Raymond Duda, FBI Special Agent in Charge in Seattle, speaks Wednesday, as he stands next to a poster that was mailed earlier in the year to the home of Chris Ingalls, an investigative reporter with KING-TV during a news conference in Seattle. Officials charged a group of alleged members of the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division for cyber-stalking and mailing threatening communications including Swastika-laden posters in a campaign against journalists in several cities. Extremist threat in military growing A recent flurry of high-profile cases of extremists who are either former or current members of the military reflects a growing threat from extremism in the armed forces, a major story on Military.com lays out this week. White supremacists in the Navy, Marines: 13 investigations, no court-martials: Here's how the US Navy and Marine Corps quietly discharged white supremacists 2009 warning on military extremism: A 2009 warning about right-wing extremism was engulfed by politics. There are signs its happening again. The current moment "feels like what this movement felt like in the lead-up and the immediate aftermath of Oklahoma City," Amy Cooter a senior research fellow at the Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism at Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey told the Military Times, referring to the deadly bombing in 1995. Jan. 6: At least 11 percent of the suspects charged in the Jan. 6 insurrection had military backgrounds. This week, a fifth active-duty service member was arrested. Context: Extremism in the military is nothing new. As it became clear how many insurrectionists had military backgrounds, USA TODAY published a story looking at how the military suppressed an effort in 2009 to highlight the issue. More context: We also published this story in 2021 examining the issue of extremists in the Navy and Marines who are quietly pushed out of the military with no blemish on their records. In this photo taken Feb. 22, 2015, singer Kid Rock performs a concert before the Daytona 500 auto race in Daytona Beach, Fla. Stat of the week: (About $88) That, according to a (very unscientific) study by USA TODAY, is about how much money musician and Trump supporter Kid Rock spent on four cases of Bud Light he destroyed with a rifle in a viral video this week. The video is one in a trend of such outbursts by conservatives over Anheuser-Busch, which owns Bud Light, featuring trans actor and TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney. Mulvaney recently partnered with Bud Light. Such videos are further examples of the growing tide of violence and threats against the trans community. Bomb threats and picture books:: A transgender drag performer navigates a time of turmoil This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump indictment, military extremism, LGBT threat after Nashville Russian occupiers in Belarus The fact that specialists from the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus are training Russian conscripts at training grounds in Belarus is not news, the newspaper writes. Read also: Lukashenko expects Russian governors will succeed him in Belarus, says Levin But you can imagine how bad the situation with instructors is when you have to entice military retirees to work on a voluntary basis. On March 31, Belarusian dictator Aleksandr Lukashenko said that five hundred Belarusian officers are helping train Russian troops in the country. Read also: Russia to redeploy 2,000 troops from Belarus to Donbas, Ukraine says Minsk is conducting military exercises on the Polish border, on April 5-7. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine WASHINGTON (AP) Most U.S. adults are opposed to proposals that would cut into Medicare or Social Security benefits, and a majority support raising taxes on the nations highest earners to keep Medicare running as is. The new findings, revealed in a March poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, come as both safety net programs are poised to run out of enough cash to pay out full benefits within the next decade. Few Americans would be OK with some ways politicians have suggested to shore up the programs: 79% say they oppose reducing the size of Social Security benefits and 67% are against raising monthly premiums for Medicare. About 65 million older and disabled people access government-sponsored health insurance through Medicare and rely on monthly payments from Social Security. Instead, a majority 58% support the idea of increasing taxes on households making over $400,000 yearly to pay for Medicare, a plan proposed by President Joe Biden last month. Ninety-year-old Marilyn Robinson disagrees with nearly everything the Democratic leader says, but she thinks his plan to increase taxes on wealthy Americans to pay for the health care programs future makes sense. She doesnt know anyone in her rural, farming town of White Creek, New York, who makes that much money. Robinson herself, who has been on Medicare for the past 25 years, receives just $1,386 in Social Security and pension checks every month. I can survive on that much money, she said. But if youre talking about $400,000, youre just in another category. Theres nobody around here making money like that. Thats about the only change to the entitlement programs that most Americans say they would support. One way or another, changes are in store for the programs. Last week, the annual Social Security and Medicare trustees report released Friday warned that Medicare will only have enough cash to cover 89% of payments for inpatient hospital visits and nursing home stays by 2031. Just two years later, Social Security will only be able to pay 77% of benefits to retirees. Story continues The poll found that many Americans have doubts about the stability of both programs: Only about 2 in 10 are very or extremely confident that the benefits from either program will be available to them when they need them, while about half have little or no confidence. Republican and Democratic leaders have publicly promised not to cut benefits for Social Security or Medicare. Some Republicans, however, have floated the idea of raising the eligibility age for Social Security and Medicare to keep the programs flush. But a majority of Americans overwhelmingly reject that, too. Three-quarters of Americans say they oppose raising the eligibility age for Social Security benefits from 67 to 70, and 7 in 10 oppose raising the eligibility age for Medicare benefits from 65 to 67. U.S. lawmakers who support raising the eligibility to keep those programs afloat may have been given a preview of the difficult road ahead in France, where the presidents proposal to increase the countrys pension retirement age from 62 to 64 has been met with violence and demonstrations by 1 million people. Back in the U.S., 29-year-old James Evins in San Francisco says he doesnt worry much about the future of Social Security or Medicare programs. As a middle school language arts teacher, he thinks hell have enough money saved in the states retirement program down the road. Couldnt they raise more money for the fund? asked Evins, who added that raising Medicare taxes on those making $400,000 or more is a better option. That sucks for people who are trying to retire. To me, 65 is so late. Just 10 years out from his planned retirement, 55-year-old Mark Ferley of Chesapeake, Virginia, is worried about the future of the programs and that he wont get back the money he paid in. He supports raising the eligibility ages for Social Security and Medicare to 70. Ferley, who said he leans conservative, also believes that taxes should be raised on households earning $400,000 or more to keep the social programs solvent. While most support increasing taxes on households earning more than $400,000 a year to pay for Medicare, the poll shows a political divide on doing so: 75% of Democrats support the tax but Republicans are closely divided, with 42% in favor, 37% opposed and 20% supporting neither. While the American public may be in agreement on solutions for the programs, Ferley worries that elected officials wont come up with a plan to fix the program. Until our leadership determines that the term compromise is no longer a dirty word, I dont have a whole lot of optimism, he said. His concerns are valid, said Paul Ginsburg, a professor of health policy at the University of Southern California. Most legislators are not taking dire warnings about the future of Social Security and Medicare seriously. Instead, the federal government is coming up with short-term solutions to keep the programs extended for a few more years. People are just going to go back to business as usual and not worry about it, Ginsburg said Friday, after the latest trustees report warned of Social Security and Medicare shortfalls on the horizon. Its particularly problematic for Social Security. In Social Security, you have a situation where if you make changes now, they can be quite modest. If you wait until 2035, theyre going to be draconian. ___ AP writer Fatima Hussein in Washington contributed to this report. ___ The poll of 1,081 adults was conducted Mar. 16-20 using a sample drawn from NORCs probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4.0 percentage points. Chinese researchers wave goodbye as the research icebreaker Xuelong 2, or Snow Dragon 2, sets off for the country's 39th Antarctic expedition from Shanghai, east China, Oct. 26, 2022. [Polar Research Institute of China/Handout via Xinhua] China's research icebreaker Xuelong 2, or Snow Dragon 2, returned to Shanghai on Thursday, marking the end of the country's 39th Antarctic expedition. Two icebreakers participated in the Antarctic expedition, with the Xuelong arriving in Shanghai on Monday. This is the third time that China has sent two icebreakers to the Antarctic since the 36th polar expedition. The icebreakers embarked on the scientific trip in late October 2022, and traveled more than 60,000 nautical miles over the past 163 days. The trip involved a range of tasks, including researches on the global climate change, as well as the replenishment of materials and staff rotation at China's Zhongshan Station and Great Wall Station in the South Pole. With a total length of about 122 meters, a width of about 22 meters, a designed displacement of nearly 14,000 tonnes and an endurance of 20,000 nautical miles, Xuelong 2 is China's first domestically built icebreaker for polar research. A lucky lottery player is going by a new nickname: Mr. Three Times. The 53-year-old contractor from Pennsylvania likes to play the Maryland lottery, he told lottery officials, according to an April 7 news release. And for good reason in recent years he has won $1 million and $100,000 prizes. He recently bought two $50,000 Cash scratch-off tickets from his favorite Sheetz in Carroll County, which is right over the Pennsylvania border, he told lottery officials. One ticket won him a top prize. Now, he plans to take his wife on a vacation, according to officials. Carroll County is about 40 miles northwest of Baltimore. Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families. If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website. Lottery player almost talked himself out of buying ticket in VA. Hes glad he didnt Lottery player lands big win in Virginia then an extra $1 helps him triple it Golfer skips the holes to try his luck at lottery ticket and keeps staring at big win A large percentage of people in 11 Muslim-majority nations, and two others in the region, disagree that the United States is serious about democracy, according to a new poll released by Gallup. In addition, most dont believe the U.S. will be able allow them to fashion their own political future. Its been 20 years since the launch of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and despite the overwhelming favorability the U.S. received from the Iraqi people after toppling Saddam Husseins dictatorship in 2003, it has been difficult for America to establish the democracy they hoped for in Iraq. Fast forward to today, and a little less than a third of Iraqis around 26 percent believe the U.S. is serious about establishing democratic commitments in the Middle East, while 72 percent doubt the U.S.s intentions, the poll found. The highest percentage of disagreement, 81 percent, comes from Iran. The survey found that Tunisia, Turkey, Palestinian Territories and Iraq round out the top five, all falling between 78 and 75 percent. Yemen, Pakistan, Lebanon, Libya and Afghanistan follow, with 68 to 61 percent disagreement. Jordan at 33 percent is the country that views the U.S. as the most serious about democracy in the region, according to the poll. In terms of perceptions about the United States commitment to letting Middle Eastern countries determine their own future, all 12 of the countries surveyed disagree that the U.S. will let that happen with the highest percent of disagreement, 80, coming from Iran. Turkey, Tunisia, the Palestinian Territories and Iraq followed with disagreement between 78 and 71 percent. The three countries with the least amount of disagreement almost mirrored the first question, with 59 percent from those in Libya and Jordan. Kuwait followed with 42 percent disagreement, and then Morocco with 35 percent. Finally, the new poll asked 13 nations in the region about the United States commitment to improving the economic wellbeing of their people and once again, all of the countries had a majority of those surveyed disagree. The highest amounts of disagreements came from Iran, Turkey, and Tunisia with percentages from 82 to 74. The least amount of disagreement on this question came from Kuwait at 41 percent and Morocco at 34 percent. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Burmese refugees have fled across to border to Thailand Some 10,000 Burmese people have fled to Thailand to escape fierce fighting between the military and units of a powerful ethnic armed group since Wednesday, Thai authorities said. They are fleeing from Shwe Kokko town, controlled by a pro-military militia and home to Chinese-owned casinos. This is one of the largest cross-border movements of people since a military coup two years ago. The military has not released a statement yet about the fighting. It is the latest in a civil war that has been raging since the coup in February 2021. Two years on, the military government has failed to impose its authority on large areas of the country. It is battling established ethnic armed groups in border areas that have been at war with the military for decades, and recently-formed anti-coup militias that call themselves People's Defence Forces (PDFs) in much of the rest of the country. Many thousands of people have been killed and some 1.4 million have been displaced since the coup. Nearly one third of the country's population is in need of aid, according to the United Nations. The latest fighting broke out after the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and its allies launched attacks on military outposts and a gate camp near Shwe Kokko on Wednesday. More than 80 people have been killed on both sides, KNLA told BBC Thai. Aid workers in the border regions - Thailand's Mae Sot and Mae Ramat areas - have called for urgent humanitarian assistance as refugees seek shelter in schools, monasteries and rubber farms. "In the long run, we need more donors," said Kay Thi Htwe, a Burmese volunteer at a monastery in Mae Sot, which is hosting 500 refugees. The KNLA has also closed the Myawaddy-Kawkareik Asia highway - one of the main roads to the border - for two weeks starting Friday. Back in Shwe Kokko, the military-aligned Border Guard Forces which controls the enclave is protecting the casinos and warning residents to stay indoors. This comes as the military continues to crush civilian resistance, targeting schools, clinics and villages. Story continues Earlier this week, the military said it had arrested 15 teachers who had been giving online classes for a school backed by the exiled National Unity Government (NUG). The teachers were taken from their homes in Mandalay, Saigang and Magway, a member of the General Strike Committee of Basic Education Workers told the BBC. In July, about 30 teachers were reportedly arrested because they worked for an NUG-recognised online school. From the start, education has been a battleground in Myanmar. Teachers were among the first, along with health-workers, to walk out in protest against the coup, and were in the front line of the huge protests called by the Civil Disobedience Movement in the first weeks after the military takeover. When that was crushed, most still refused orders by the military junta that they should return to work, and in May 2020 around 150,000 teachers and university lecturers were dismissed from their jobs. Many decided to go underground, joining schools and clinics in areas where communities had begun an armed struggle against military rule. The military views the establishment of independent schools and clinics as an existential threat. Official figures suggest the number of students taking the 10th grade matriculation exam in state-run schools is now only one fifth of the number doing so before the coup. Teachers working outside the state sector have been branded as terrorists. Additional reporting by BBC Thai Read more of our coverage on the civil war in Myanmar Thorny questions of indigenous rights and tribal identity spilled into view this week when the House Committee on State Government heard testimony on several bills that would affect descendants of this area's original inhabitants. One slate of bills proposes to recognize Narragansett tribal sovereignty and give the tribe more say over its lands, in addition to extending broad property tax breaks to tribal members. Another set of bills seeks to recognize the Seaconke Wampanoag, a tribe recognized in Massachusetts but not in Rhode Island, and create a process where any group could petition for tribal recognition. Those bills face strong opposition by the Narragansett Indian Tribe, which argues that no other tribe has a valid claim to Rhode Island. Beach access: Narragansett Tribe will be able to walk onto Narragansett Town Beach for free here's why Bella Noka, of the Narragansett Indian Tribe, cautioned at Wednesday's hearing that for Rhode Island to recognize any tribe other than the Narragansett would lead to a procession of tribes seeking acknowledgment for financial reasons. Acknowledging Narragansett sovereignty and giving tribal members a tax break House Bill 5969 would recognize the Narragansett Indian Tribe as "the aboriginal people of this land, sovereign to the territory of what is now Rhode Island." It would also repeal laws that govern planning and zoning on tribal settlement lands in Charlestown, and get rid of the statute that says those lands are subject to state and town laws. House Bill 5970 would exempt tribal members from paying property taxes on commercial buildings, businesses and land trusts. House Bill 5971 would create a tax exemption for their residential properties. All three were introduced by Rep. Brianna Henries, D-East Providence, who described herself as a representative of the Nipmuc Tribe. She characterized the bills as a way to "rectify a lot of the wrongs that we've done, as a state, to the Narragansett Tribe." Narragansett Indian Tribe member Bella Noka, third from right, and husband Randy Noka, far right, sit with Darrell Waldron, chief of the Seaconke Wampanoag and executive director of the Rhode Island Indian Council, at a legislative hearing in Providence on Wednesday. McKee administration foresees legal problems Gov. Dan McKee's executive counsel, Claire Richards, submitted written testimony in opposition to H 5969. She noted that tribal sovereignty "is a matter of federal law, not state law," saying that many of the changes that the bill is seeking would require an act of Congress. Story continues Additionally, repealing selected portions of the Narragansett Indian Land Management Corporation Act "will likely muddy the respective rights of the Tribe and the State," she wrote. Speaking in favor of the bills, Narragansett tribal member Bella Noka described the laws that give the state authority over certain matters on tribal lands as "a knee on the neck." She went on to note that nonprofits and churches are exempt from property taxes, saying that tribal members' homes are often where they "hold ceremony," and should get the same tax breaks. "There are only 3,400 of us," she said. "Two thousand are under the age of 18. Another thousand live outside of the state of Rhode Island. So there's a few hundred that own homes ... it's not going to be a burden on you whatsoever." Also on the docket: Recognizing the Seaconke Wampanoag House Bill 5021 would formally recognize the Seaconke Wampanoag tribe, with the intent of making its members eligible for grants, federal benefits, and legal protections that are available to Native Americans. A separate bill, House Bill 5020, would establish a process for any Native American tribe to seek recognition on the state level. Both are sponsored by Rep. Camille Vella-Wilkinson, D-Warwick, for the third year in a row. As in past years, these bills face opposition from the Narragansett Indian Tribe, which is the only federally-recognized tribe in Rhode Island. The Seaconke Wampanoag "have their land base in Massachusetts. They are recognized there," Noka said. "They have never, ever been here ... We have always been the tribal nation of this land." The Seaconke Wampanoag, on the other hand, say their territory extended into what is now Rhode Island, including the East Bay. Author Deborah Spears Moorehead noted that the Wampanoag Sachem Massasoit lived in Sowams, or present-day Warren. "How can anyone say that were not indigenous to Rhode Island?" she asked. Darrell Waldron, chief of the Seaconke Wampanoag and executive director of the Rhode Island Indian Council: "I don't want to fight my native brethren." Tribe anticipates unlocking 'millions of dollars' in federal funds The dispute isn't just about relitigating vague boundaries from hundreds of years ago. Darrell Waldron, chief of the Seaconke Wampanoag and executive director of the Rhode Island Indian Council, testified that state-level recognition for his tribe would unlock federal funds and "bring millions of dollars into the state of Rhode Island." Noka took issue with what she described as a focus on "economic gain." She called on the Seaconke Wampanoag to "withdraw your application," saying, "Youre going to be opening the door for 10, 12 more tribes that are knocking on the door because they want a piece of that pot." The issue is complicated by the fact that the two tribes have a long history of intermarriage. Randy Noka, who is also a Narragansett tribal member and testified against the bills, noted that his own mother was Seaconke Wampanoag. Waldron, similarly, acknowledged that he has Narragansett ancestry. "I don't want to fight my native brethren," he said. The McKee administration submitted written testimony in opposition to both bills. State government "does not currently have the resources to make accurate determinations about tribal existence," Richards wrote. Additionally, she said, neither of the bills would require input from anthropologists, historians, genealogists "or anyone else with the requisite expertise to make these determinations." This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Narragansett Indian Tribe seeks tax cuts, sovereignty over land Lighting up the overnight sky, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket streaked into orbit early Friday carrying an Intelsat communications satellite hosting a $210 million NASA-Smithsonian spectrometer designed to measure air quality and pollution across North America. The Intelsat 40E satellite will provide broadband data to mobile users, from commercial aircraft to cruise ships, while at the same time serving as a platform for the Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution, or TEMPO, light analyzer. Data collected by TEMPO will help researchers develop more accurate air quality forecasts and a deeper knowledge of atmospheric chemistry. It is the first such instrument designed to monitor air pollution over the Americas, on an hourly basis, from space. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket climbs away from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station carrying a powerful Intelsat communications satellite hosting a NASA spectrometer to monitor air pollution levels across North America. / Credit: William Harwood/CBS News "You've probably seen satellite imagery of hurricanes, and you can see it moving and swirling, you're visualizing the weather," TEMPO researcher Laura Judd said in an interview with CBS News. "Instead of seeing clouds, what we're going to see are these largely invisible pollutants, and we call that 'chemical weather.' "You are going to see where they originate and how they're blowing, where they're going. You'll also see them go away, because they'll interact chemically and turn into some other species or they'll deposit onto the ground. But largely, what TEMPO's going to give us is the visualization of chemical weather." SpaceX's 23rd launch this year got off to a thundering start at 12:30 a.m. EDT when the Falcon 9's nine first stage engines roared to life at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Liftoff! At 12:30 p.m. EDT. / Credit: SpaceX Climbing away to the east over the Atlantic Ocean, the rocket put on a spectacular show as it smoothly accelerated, shattering the overnight calm with a crackling roar as it consumed propellants, lost weight and accelerated atop 1.7 million pounds of thrust. After boosting the rocket out of the lower atmosphere, the first stage peeled away and headed for landing on an offshore droneship while the second stage carried out two engine firings to reach the planned payload deploy orbit. Story continues All of that went by the book, and the Intelsat 40E satellite was released to fly on its own 32 minutes after launch. Built by Maxar, the 13,500-pound satellite will use on-board thrusters to reach its operational orbit 22,300 miles above the equator at 91 degrees west longitude where it will take 24 hours to complete one orbit and will thus stay perched in the sky above North America. "Its primary commercial mission is connectivity for mobility services," said Jean-Luc Froeliger, Intelsat senior vice president of Space Systems. "What it means is providing internet services for commercial airline passengers, internet services for regional business jets as well as for cruise passengers. Mobility services from Intelsat 40E will also assist with disaster recovery." Checkout and calibration will take until the end of May when commercial operations will begin and the TEMPO instrument, built by Ball Aerospace, will be turned on. Data from the instrument will be collected by Intelsat and relayed to Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory researchers for analysis. An artist's impression of the Intelsat 40E communications satellite and the TEMPO air pollution spectrometer. / Credit: Maxar "One of the things that makes us unique is that we are developed as a hosted payload, which is a relatively new business model that NASA is using to enable placing instruments like TEMPO into an orbit at greatly reduced cost," said TEMPO project manager Kevin Daugherty of NASA's Langley Research Center "So TEMPO will be riding on a geostationary communications satellite looking at the same region of Earth every day greater North America rather than getting a once-a-day look, often at the same time of day, in low-Earth orbit." About the size of a home washing machine, TEMPO's ultraviolet-visible light spectrometer will capture sunlight reflected from the atmosphere, separating it into 2,000 component wavelengths. That hyperspectral data will capture the chemical fingerprints of gases in the atmosphere and help researchers determine concentrations, movement and threats to public health. Along with helping provide more accurate pollution advisories, TEMPO data will be used in concert with ground-based instruments to improve computer models of atmospheric chemistry. "TEMPO will provide not only an independent dataset to validate (whether) models actually capture what happens in the morning and how it evolves into the afternoon, there are also scientists ... working on ingesting TEMPO data within their models as a constraint to make those models better. "The goal is to create more accurate air quality forecasts, which in the end, we can (use to) better inform the public on air quality local to their area." TEMPO is the second of three planned space-based pollution monitors. The first such instrument the Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrometer, or GEMS was launched with a Korean satellite in 2020 to cover eastern Asia. The third instrument in the series, known as Sentinel 4, will launch with a European Meteosat relay station to monitor air quality across North Africa, Europe and western Asia. Saudi Arabia and Iran agree to reopen diplomatic missions Barber gives free haircuts to kids with special needs Macron wraps up China visit, urges Xi to help end war in Ukraine Courtesy Of NASCAR One of Martini Racings factory Porsche 936s driven by Jacky Ickx and Gijs van Lennep won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1976. It was a rough race, one of the hottest on record, and Ickx struggled to keep the throttle down as his feet burned and blistered in the pedal box. Thats a good story, but with all due respect to Ickx, a better story was happening behind him. Way behind. This story originally appeared in Volume 16 of Road & Track. The day before, just off the starting line, table-tailed Lolas and swole-fendered Porsches revved and darted into the first turn. In the back, as menacing as a tornado cutting across a prairie, came two cars of a sort that the French had never seen. Straight piped and V-8 powered, the Dodge and Ford stock cars plowed past Datsuns and BMWs at 200 mph. Both cars were doomed, but in their initial laps, they branded themselves on French memory and Le Mans history. Sometimes you dont have to win; its enough to be big and loud. NASCARs appearance on the Mulsanne was part birthday celebration, part desperation. In 1975, lingering effects of the oil embargo were impacting racing entries, especially in sports-car races like the 24 Hours of Daytona and even the venerable all-nighter at Le Mans. Conversations between the Automobile Club de lOuest (ACO) and NASCARs generational duo of Bill France Sr. and Jr. led to Le Mans offering a couple of competition spots to teams in NASCAR and IMSA. The coalition hoped to bring a wider audience to both series while also filling the grid at Le Mans. The plan overlapped nicely with the United States bicentennial in 1976, and the Frances kicked it off in January by creating a Grand International class for NASCAR-type stock cars in the 24 Hours of Daytona. Courtesy Of NASCAR Third in class at the Daytona 24 was veteran driver Hershel McGriff, whose racing career started in the early Fifties with the Mexican Carrera Panamericana and continued into the 21st century (he last raced in 2018 at age 90) with regular wins in the NASCAR West series. McGriffs long friendship with both Frances and his flexible schedule made him better able to head off to Europe than, say, Richard Petty or David Pearson. Story continues To fill out their Americans-in-Paris cast, the Frances chose team owner Junie Donlavey, who packed up a small-block Ford Torino and sent it over with drivers Richard Brooks and Dick Hutcherson. Again, these were winning pilots. Brooks won the Talladega 500 in 1973, and Hutcherson, well, he was the No. 3 in Fords one-two-three finish at Le Mans back in 1966, so he was plenty qualified. French driver Marcel Mignot rounded out the Donlavey team. Courtesy Of NASCAR Where Are They Now? While today they are legends, back in July 1976, the Oly Charger and Truxmore Torino were just old. Both were sold and likely followed the path of rust and destruction that most retired stock cars took to the junkyard. There are actively raced re-creations of both, and the Oly Charger replica owner, Christophe Schwartz, even managed to track down one of the Le Mans 426 Wedge engines. But the original cars are only memories. The only tech rules placed on the stock cars were safety relatedthings unnecessary on a NASCAR track, like wipers and headlights. The Torino left for France with a 351 small-block under the hood, while McGriffs team was more ambitious, filling the cavernous bay of a 1974 Charger with a hybrid, a 426-cid Wedge engine made by topping a Hemi block with 440 heads. Dick Pierson, who worked for McGriff, recalls loading up a gooseneck trailer with the Charger and five shipping containers of partsincluding 15 cases of beer listed on the manifest as Lubricantand driving the rig from Oregon to the docks in Virginia. It all went fine until the trailer broke in half, Pierson recalls. Courtesy Of NASCAR Once in France, both cars became instant crowd favorites. Dubbed Les Deux Grands Monstres by the press, the cars were front-page news. The teams were surrounded during the pre-race parade, and rumors still circulate about the rather unusual post-practice drives around town. (McGriff says they are apocryphal but adds, Maybe the boys took it out while I was sleeping.) They may have won the popularity contest, but the Americans werent so lucky in the actual race. Right away, the Chargers big-block became the casualty of some bad math. McGriff knew the cars would have to run on pump gas, but the fact that octane measurements in Europe are different from in the States got lost in translation. His high-compression mill detonated itself just two laps into the race. The Ford small-block held up better, but its four-speed transmission failed in the 11th hour, 104 laps in. James Gilbert - Getty Images Even with less-than-stellar finishes, the Two Big Monsters are remembered at la Sarthe. Both McGriff and Brooks went back to Le Mans in 1982, racing together in an IMSA Camaro. NASCAR, however, has not been backuntil now. Hendrick Motorsports announced its entry in this years 24 Hours of Le Mans with a Cup Series Camaro racing in the experimental Garage 56 class with F1 champ Jenson Button, Le Mans winner Mike Rockenfeller, and NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson. If the goal is to complete more than two laps, they are likely to succeed. If its to be more memorable than the bicentennial attempt, they better go really big and be really loud. Hearst Owned You Might Also Like It will surprise no one that the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles and New Yorks Upper East Side rank among the nations hottest neighborhoods on Zillow. But who knew that the list of most-searched neighborhoods also includes an enclave called Elkhorn, in Omaha, Nebraska? Or Northwest El Paso, the Texas border town? Or Encino, in the heart of L.A.s oft-mocked San Fernando Valley? Or anyplace in Lexington, Kentucky? A new report examined recent home listings on Zillow, the real-estate site, in the 100 largest U.S. cities to find the neighborhoods with the most traffic, as measured in average daily pageviews for each enclave. The analysis found that Northeast Dallas, a fast-growing, mostly affordable neighborhood, reaped the most daily traffic of any big-city community, more than 36,000 Zillow daily pageviews. The neighborhoods average home is valued around $425,000. According to D Magazine, Northeast Dallas is dominated by the family-friendly Lake Highlands neighborhood. . . . But on the west side of White Rock Creek, youll find both the Village (a huge apartment community originally conceived as the center of the citys singles life) and Vickery Meadow, an ethnically diverse neighborhood known for housing immigrants and refugees. Some people troll Zillow to see how the other half lives. Such would seem to the case with Hollywood Hills, one of the most famous addresses on Earth, home to the Hollywood sign. It ranks as the second most popular Zillow search, with more than 32,000 daily pageviews. Average home value: $2 million. Few of those customers, presumably, can afford to live in the Hollywood Hills. On Friday, a community website featured a listing on Flicker Way, with breathtaking views and a $72.5 million price tag. Third on the hottest neighborhoods list: Camelback East, in Phoenix, a far more affordable address. Its not in downtown Phoenix, but its close to downtown Phoenix. Lots of nightlife, lots of restaurants, said Butch Leiber, president of Phoenix Realtors, of Camelback East. You could call it the busiest part of Phoenix. Not the most expensive part, not the least expensive. Story continues The Zillow analysis comes from HouseFresh, a company that specializes in household air quality. I think what was most surprising was the places we hadnt heard about, said Danny Ashton, the companys founder. La Jolla, fourth on the most-searched list, is one of the most stunning seaside communities in the world, the jewel of San Diego. And most Americans know New Yorks Upper East Side, fifth on the list, with nearly 25,000 daily pageviews. The average Upper East Side home is worth $1.3 million, Zillow reports. Less familiar, perhaps, are the Phoenix communities of North Mountain and Deer Valley, ranked sixth and 10th in the Zillow analysis. Theyre a little more affordable, Leiber said. North Mountain is really close to a lot of hiking trails, desert, outdoor activities. North Mountain is probably as close to a medium price point as a Phoenix neighborhood gets. (Average home value: $355,000.) Deer Valleys actually out of Phoenix, but not too far, and you have a more suburban feel. But you still have a Phoenix zip code. Rounding out the top 10: Summerlin North, a vast, prosperous planned community in Las Vegas, dotted with $400,000, $500,000 and $600,000 homes; Elkhorn, an upper-middle-class community in Omaha; and Lakeview, a bustling enclave on Chicagos North Side. The remainder of the hot neighborhoods list bounces around the country: Northwest El Paso, near the Texas-Mexico border; Preston Hollow, a ritzy Dallas enclave; Far North Dallas, a less pricey section of Big D; New Yorks Upper West Side, the setting for televisions Seinfeld; and the San Fernando Valley communities of Encino and Woodland Hills, far less glamorous addresses than the Hollywood Hills. Sixteenth on the list: Chevy Chase-Ashland Park, home to the Millionaires Row mansions of Lexington, Kentucky. There are some handsome cottages and bungalows mixed in with the mansions, a local website offers, but even those go for $600,000 or more. Seventeenth: Brickell, a hot enclave in central Miami, with breathtaking views of the Biscayne Bay. Average home value: $600,000. The Zillow analysis comes at a fitting moment, when most people are only looking. Home sales plummeted in 2022, amid soaring mortgage rates and historically high prices. The market is slowly rebounding. A year or two ago, the inventory levels were incredibly low, so people who wanted to buy were buying whatever they could get, Leiber said. Today, we have three times as much on the market. . . . The difference today is that our buyer activity is way, way down. The good news: Its a buyers market. I think people today are looking for something thats move-in ready, Leiber said. They dont want to move in and have to do any work. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The David's Sling air-defense system launches an interceptor in December 2015. Ministry of Defense via AP, File A day after it joined NATO, Finland said it'll buy an advanced Israeli air-defense system. It's the first export of David's Sling, which defends against medium- and long-range aerial threats. Finland's defense minister said it will boost the country's ability to hit high-altitude targets. Finland, NATO's newest member, now plans to be the first military to obtain an advanced Israeli air-defense system. The Finnish Defense Ministry said it approved the purchase of the David's Sling system in a statement on Wednesday. The ministry said it had sought a system that could reach a minimum altitude of 9 miles. David's Sling is designed to intercept missiles at ranges between 25 miles and 185 miles. The system will "significantly" extend the range of Finland's ground-based air defenses, the statement said. Israeli defense company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems will deliver the system, which was procured in a deal valued at nearly $345 million, according to the statement. The US will need to approve the sale, though it was not immediately clear when it will do so. "This acquisition will create a new capability for the Finnish Defence Forces to intercept targets at high altitude. At the same time we are continuing the ambitious and long-term development of Finland's defence capability in a new security environment," Finnish Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen said in the statement. Israeli air-defense systems at the Hatzor Air Base in Israel in April 2017. AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner Israel's Defense Ministry confirmed Finland's purchase on Thursday. "The system is designed to intercept advanced aerial threats: ballistic missiles, aircrafts, UAVs & cruise missiles," the ministry said in a statement on Telegram. It will be the first export of the David's Sling system, according to a translation of the ministry's statement. David's Sling is an advanced air-defense system built by Rafael and the US firm Raytheon and has been operational since 2017. Also known as the Magic Wand, it can intercept medium- to long-range rockets and missiles. It fires an interceptor called the Stunner, which doesn't have a warhead and defeats targets by striking them. Story continues David's Sling is one layer of Israel's complex air-defense network and works alongside the Iron Dome, which can intercept short-range artillery and rockets, and the Arrow system, which protects against ballistic missiles. Ministry of Defense (@Israel_MOD) April 6, 2023 Finland's announcement came one day after it officially became NATO's 31st member, capping off an application process that began in May and was sparked by Russia's attack on Ukraine in February last year. The Nordic country, which has historically been militarily non-aligned, brings a significant firepower boost to the military alliance adding mountains of tanks, jets, and other lethal hardware. "Each country maximizes its own security. So does Finland," Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said in a statement on Tuesday after the country officially joined the trans-Atlantic alliance. "At the same time, NATO membership strengthens our international position and room for manoeuvre." "As a partner, we have long actively participated in NATO activities. In the future, Finland will make a contribution to NATO's collective deterrence and defence," Niinisto added. Read the original article on Business Insider Google announced end-of-life dates today for products relying on the Nest app that wont carry over to the new Google Home. If you own any Nest Secure or Dropcam home-security products, you have a year to use them before they become paperweights. Phasing out old and incompatible hardware could signal that the arrival of Googles more customizable new Home app is drawing near. Nest Secure will continue to work until April 8th, 2024. To ease the blow, Google is offering some freebies to customers as the company often does when its products head to the Google Graveyard. Nest Secure users will receive an offer for a free ADT Self Setup System (up to a $485 value); alternatively, they can opt for $200 in Google Store credit. Google says it will send an email with redemption instructions to eligible users. Dropcam products will also cease to work after April 8th of next year. Google advises users to download and save their video history before this date to avoid losing it. As consolation for Dropcam customers, the company is offering a free Nest Cam (indoor, wired) for those with a Nest Aware subscription; those without a subscription can take 50 percent off the same camera. Legacy marketing image for the Dropcam Pro, featuring the camera against a white background Finally, Works With Nest, the API system allowing third-party integrations with otherwise incompatible smart home accessories, will stop working after September 29th. Google points customers to Assistant-based routines in the Google Home app as a replacement, and it plans to launch a script editor in the coming months to make up for other lost features. The company says its also working closely with partners to provide replacement integrations. Google announced an updated Home app last October that could be the primary source for todays hardware cutoff announcements. The updated Home app integrates Matter, including its Fast Pair feature. Its available now in a public preview. Nest Secure launched in 2017 as a fresh take on smart home security. Designed to compete with legacy brands like ADT (which Google later invested in), the system included a Guard base, motion-detecting sensors for windows and doors and tag keychains, which let you quickly enable or disable the system. Google announced in 2020 it had discontinued the platform but promised it would continue working for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, Dropcam began as a pioneering smart home security brand, launching some of the first cloud-connected cameras. Google / Nest bought the startup in 2014 for $555 million, a move that founder Greg Duffy later described as a mistake. Chava (Demian Bichir) as luchador Relampago Azul, his grandson Alex (Evan Whitten), and Alex's cousins Luna (Ashley Ciarra) and Memo (Nickolas Verdugo) in the Mexican desert. Credit - Tony Rivetti Jr.Netflix In the pastoral back yard of a ranch house in rural Mexico, a grandfather is about to fight his grandson. Standing in one corner of a makeshift wrestling ring is Relampago Azul (Blue Lightning), otherwise known as Chava (Demian Bichir), a tough but tender former luchador (wrestler). In the other corner is 13-year-old Alex (Evan Whitten), Chavas American grandson, who is reluctantly spending spring break with his grandfather and cousins on the ranch. Alex is wearing the mask of Perico Verde (Green Parakeet), his late fathers former lucha libre (Mexican wrestling) persona. His dadChavas sonrecently died of cancer, and Chava can tell that his grandson has yet to fully process the loss. The year is 1996, and Alex has been retreating behind his trusty Game Boy. Youre sad, son, Chava says, trapping Alex in a headlock. Thats normal. Youre hurt. Im not hurt, Alex responds. I just really want to be left alone. No, Chava says. Thats OK. Let it out, alright? Channel those emotions. Take it all out on me. Chava spins around and throws Alex down. Every time your dad gets brought up, you retreat and hide in that stupid game of yours, he says, pinning his grandson to the ground. Face your pain, face your fears and your sorrow. You have to feel the pain of the sadness. More from TIME This pivotal moment arrives two-thirds of the way through Chupa, a fantasy adventure film directed by Jonas Cuaron (son of Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron), coming to Netflix on Friday. A grieving Alex, visiting his family in Mexico, is slowly discovering who he is, with the help of his grandfathers tough love, as he approaches adulthood, Bichir tells TIME. It seems like hes pushing him to do something he doesnt want to do, but hes only pushing him to face his own fears, and to face his own sadness, and to take it out, Bichir says. We tend to keep many of our feelings to ourselves, unless someone helps you to take it out. Story continues On his coming-of-age journey, Alex finds Chupa, a chupacabra cub, on his grandfathers ranch. (A chupacabra is a mythical creature of Latin American folklore that is said to drink the blood of goats. Chupa himself is more cuddly than terrifying, although his fully-grown family feels more classically scary.) The titular monster cub has been separated from his parent, and becomes a poignant foil for Alexs own lossand his gradual realization that, as his mother tells him, Youve got your family, and your familys got your back. Alex (Evan Whitten) and Chupa bond over a music box that plays a song Alex's dad used to sing to him. Courtesy of Netflix Chupa wields lucha librea beloved Mexican institution full of rivalries, stories, and throughlinesto build out the narrative that connects Alex and Chavas family. For a spectacle based on physical fighting, wrestling adds a surprising subtext of vulnerability. Its all based on strength and things that you would actually consider as machismo, Cuaron says. But its a sport that plays it with a very interesting tongue in cheekfrom the costumes to a certain levity and comedy. From the second Alex crosses the threshold into his grandfathers San Javier home, lucha libre is woven into the fabric of the film. On the wall are framed photos of Relampago Azul in his glory days. Alexs younger cousin, Memo (Nickolas Verdugo), is obsessed with wrestling, and wears his own luchador costume everywhere. In the hallway stands a mannequin bedecked in Azuls old mask, cape, and tights. Bichira Mexican icon with whom Cuaron aspired to workbrought his own personal knowledge and passion for the sport to building Chavas character. Growing up, his father directed plays with a theater company in Queretaro, and the actor recalls going with other families kids to the luchas there. He saw legends like El Rayo de Jalisco, Anibal, Tinieblas el Gigante, and El Perro Aguayo, and the electric atmosphere stayed with him forever. Demian Bichir as the former luchador Chava in 'Chupa.' Tony Rivetti Jr.Netflix I noticed that they would change their voice, they would change their attitude, they would change their way of carrying themselves, Bichir says. I wanted that to be a more clear aspect in this character: that he actually becomes somebody else when hes in his disguise as a superhero. Because thats what luchadores are, he says: Mexican folk superheroes. In the same way that Peter Parker and Spider-Man are two different people, so too are Chava and Relampago Azul. When Chava is suited up, he feels like King Kong, Mohammed Lee, or Mick Jaggerlarger than life. Chava accesses different parts of himself through Azul, just as Bichir does through his characters. Thats when I have been able to do crazy things that I wouldnt do as Demian, Bichir says. Thats probably the most beautiful part of being an actor; that anything is possible, and youre capable of doing and saying anything at all. You become free, totally free. Read More: Heres Everything New on Netflix in April 2023 The luchador costumes in ChupaRelampago Azuls blue sequins, Perico Verdes green mask, Memos metallic capewere designed by Mariana Guerrero Dingler, who worked with legendary mascarero (mask maker) Arturo Bucio to craft the looks. Obsessed with lucha libre since childhood, she has amassed a sizable collection of vintage magazines and books on the topicmany of which provided inspiration when she set out to capture the greatness and nostalgia of Mexican wrestling in the 90s. Its embedded in me, Guerrero Dingler writes in an email. I grew up thinking of luchadores as Mexican superheroes. Now as an adult there is something about the uniqueness, the history, and the mystique of this world that just speaks to me and inspires me. While watching Bichir work, Cuaron says, he saw three people: the actor, the grandfather, and the luchador. The depth of his masculinity was extra important because, as the director notes, Chava represents the last link to Alexs family mythology. Having grown up in a Mexican family, truly what family doesbesides what the movie says, being there for youit also builds a narrative that helps you identify your place in the world, Cuaron says. To me, that narrative particularly came from my grandparents. Putin, Lukashenko pledge to boost Russia-Belarus integration Xinhua) 08:53, April 07, 2023 The two sides signed seven documents in a bid to further deepen Russia-Belarus integration. MOSCOW, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko vowed on Thursday to push ahead the integration process between the two countries. The two leaders made the remarks when jointly chairing a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State of Russia and Belarus in the Kremlin. At the meeting, Putin noted that "significant achievements" had been made in the integration of 28 prioritized sectors approved during the previous Supreme State Council meeting in 2021. "To date, both governments and the relevant agencies have completed 74 percent of the activities planned under those prioritized programs and this work is yielding tangible results. We will certainly continue this without slowing down," he said. Russia and Belarus will continue to create a unified oil and gas market, while an agreement on the formation of a single electricity market is being prepared, Putin said. In addition, Moscow and Minsk will continue to build up defense and security cooperation, which meets the underlying interests of the two countries given the complicated international situation, he told the meeting. Lukashenko stressed the significance of fully implementing the Treaty on the Creation of the Community of Belarus and Russia signed in 1996, a fundamental document that started the integration process of the two neighbors. Over the past 27 years since then, the Belarus-Russia trade volume has increased by more than 4.5 times, he said, adding that industrial cooperation has led to the partnership of over 8,000 Belarusian and Russian enterprises and created hundreds of thousands of jobs. In the defense field, Lukashenko said that the steps taken to strengthen border security have made it possible to effectively protect the Union State from international terrorism, uncontrolled migration flows, arms and ammunition smuggling, drug trafficking and illegal economic activities. After the meeting, the two sides signed seven documents in a bid to further deepen Russia-Belarus integration. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) China plans to adjust around 20 percent of its university majors by 2025, with majors focusing on new technologies and industries being established, while majors unfit for socioeconomic development will be weeded out, a new plan said. The number of majors in basic disciplines, especially in science and medicine, will be increased to serve national development, focus on cutting-edge technologies worldwide and safeguard people's health, according to the plan issued by the Ministry of Education and four other departments. The country aims to build around 10,000 national-level majors and 300 bases to train students in basic disciplines, the plan said. It will also build a number of schools that will focus on future technology, modern industry and high-level public health and will nurture exceptional engineers. The plan has asked provincial education authorities to examine the basic conditions, teacher quality and student satisfaction rate of current majors. Inspections will be conducted by these authorities on university majors, and those deemed to be low quality or that produce low employment rates will be asked to halt enrollment. The authorities should evaluate whether university majors within their jurisdictions match regional development, and they should publish lists of majors of high and low priority. According to the Ministry of Education, Chinese universities are offering degrees in 66,000 majors. Since 2012, they have established 17,000 new majors and removed or suspended around 10,000 others. With the gross enrollment rate of higher education in China reaching 59.6 percent last year, it is very important to improve the quality of higher education and make changes to the majors, said an unnamed official from the ministry's department of higher education. Some universities have not given thorough consideration to new majors when they began offering them and have been enthusiastic in establishing many easily managed majors with little investment, so it is important to create an adjustment mechanism and strengthen regulations and evaluations from education authorities, he said. Chu Zhaohui, a senior researcher at the National Institute of Education Sciences, said some of the majors are not in line with current socioeconomic development efforts and have low employment rates for graduates. He said the plan focuses on practical skills in combination with societal demand and multi-discipline knowledge. Chen Zhiwen, editor-in-chief of online education portal EOL, said, "The plan focuses on giving full play to universities' unique characteristics, rather than building comprehensive universities with many similar majors." Moreover, the plan has asked universities to make adjustments based on their own conditions and consider what they can do to contribute to industrial, regional and national development, he said. Here is more news involving Scott Air Force Base. Retired U.S. Army Sgt. Daniel Hefel held a documentary screening and meet-and-greet at the Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville on March 30. Hefel was a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War and was held captive for 1,143 days before returning home. Senior Airman Mark Sulaica/U.S. Air Force/375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs Documentary honors Vietnam War Veteran Daniel H. Hefel By Senior Airman Mark Sulaica 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs After 14 years of gathering war stories, Tim Breitbach created a documentary depicting his cousins life, Daniel Hefel, a Vietnam War veteran. The film was shown for free March 30 during a public gathering at Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, which was attended by a diverse audience of college students, veterans, and community members. Breitbachs film showed the importance of remembering the bravery and service of Vietnam Veterans and served as a reminder of the human cost of war. In 1970, the Vietnam War was raging, and Hefel served as an infantryman with Company B, 2nd Battalion of the 501st Infantry in South Vietnam from June 1969 to January 1970. He then served as a door gunner on UH-1 Huey helicopters with 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. While flying low over the rugged terrain of the Ashau Valley, with tension and danger lurking at every turn, Hefel said he had an eerie feeling in his gut. Without warning, a black cloud blurred his vision and in the next moment he awoke on the ground with a broken back and leg. By morning, Hefel and the rest of the surviving soldiers were taken captive. He endured 1,147 days in captivity and was released during Operation Homecoming on March 27, 1973. He was reunited with his family and friends in Iowa, where later he started a family and began living his life again. Hefel was on hand to answer questions as part of a panel discussion that night and said after the film ended, I was just glad to see all my friends again and family, I just wanted to live my life. He also swapped war stories with other veterans in attendance. Its great that people got to know and hear the story, and I hope they enjoyed it, he added. Brietbach said, I think that on the 50th anniversary of the end of the war, theres a lot of people who didnt get to appreciate (those who) served during those times. I think now is the perfect time to do it. He said he chose to show it at SWIC because it was originally formed to help those coming home from WWII continue their education for better jobs. Today it has 9,000 students and 10 percent of them use the G.I. Bill. Story continues Two children watch as the U.S. Navy Blue Angels fly during an airshow June 11, 2022, in St. Louis. The Blue Angels team has flown for over 500 million fans since its creation in 1946 and will take part in an airshow Saturday, May 13, and Sunday, May 14, on Scott Air Force Base. Airman 1st Class Shelby Rapert/U.S. Air Force/375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs Scott Air Force Base partners with community for first airshow in five years By Airman 1st Class Shelby Rapert 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs For the first time in five years, Scott Air Force Base is opening its gates to the community for a full weekend of airshow performances and educational activities for children of all ages, plus a sneak peek into the lives of Airmen who currently serve. The airshow will take place Saturday, May 13, and Sunday, May 14. Hundreds of partners on and off base have been working together since 2021 to start planning every detail of this massive community event. Airmen take on extra responsibilities outside of their daily jobs to get the details right all the way from parking and traffic flow, contracting, budget spending policies, sponsorships and donations, kids zone activities, airshow performers, static displays, concessions, safety, emergency support and more. None of this happens without community support. Opening the gates of an otherwise restricted military installation allows us to welcome the public from the surrounding region to see what their taxpayer dollars are contributing to, how the U.S. Air Force gets the mission done in their local area and the reality of the daily accomplishments of the men and women who serve here, said Col. Chris Robinson, 375th Air Mobility Wing commander. We are lucky to be part of such an incredible community, and its our honor to host you for a demonstration of air power! Scotts last airshow in 2017 marked its Centennial year. The base tries to host an airshow about every two years if able, and the COVID pandemic response prevented an airshow until now. Team Scott is filled with active duty military members who move in and out quickly but offer fresh insight to strengthen the continuity of those who have planted their roots in the local area. Together, they build a solid foundation from which to brainstorm, plan and execute a successful airshow for the community. The airshow performer line-up includes the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, Tora Tora Tora, Red Bull Team Chambliss, F-22 Demo Team, Randy Balls MiG-17, the P-51 Heritage Flight and the United States Air Force Academy Wings of Blue parachute team. Team Scott is also paying it forward to the next generation of leaders interested in going into STEM career fields. Part of the STEM Expo will feature a recruiting village composed of career fields around base. Career fields and opportunities like the explosive ordnance disposal team and the Scott AFB Honor Guard will educate community members as well as future Airmen about opportunities the military offers. Airmen will also be acting as subject matter experts for more than 20 static aircraft on the flightline, including many of Air Mobility Commands assets like the commands newest air refueler, the KC-46 Pegasus. Other mobility aircraft will also be displayed, including the C-40, KC-135 Stratotanker, C-130 Hercules, C-5 Galaxy, KC-10 Extender and C-21. Lt. Col. Adam Wallace, the airshow director, said, This is Team Scotts love letter back to the community. Its a thank you and a come join us message that were trying to send. We need you to join the team. For more about the May 13-14 airshow, please see www.scott.af.mil. A Columbia man who had drugs smuggled to him with a U-Haul truck while he was locked up in the Lexington County Detention Center was sentenced to prison, the 11th Circuit Solicitors Office said Thursday. Ricky Rogers McField, 39, pleaded guilty to trafficking cocaine, conspiracy, and furnishing contraband into the Lexington County Detention Center, the solicitors office said in a news release. McField was sentenced to 15 years for trafficking cocaine, 5 years for conspiracy, and 10 years for furnishing contraband into the jail, according to the release. The solicitors office did not respond to a question asking if the sentences are concurrent or consecutive. On May 25, 2022, while McField was out on bond for various drug and weapons charges in Richland County, the South Carolina Highway Patrol conducted a license checkpoint on North Lake Drive in Lexington County, the solicitors office said. McField, whose license was under suspension, drove through the checkpoint and was arrested for driving under suspension, according to the release. While taking McField into custody, law enforcement officers found a clear plastic baggie containing marijuana in his pants pocket, the solicitors office said. When he was being booked into the Lexington County Detention Center, officers found 21.5 grams of a white powdery substance consistent with cocaine; two small clear baggies with 5.9 grams of a crystal-like substance consistent with methamphetamine; two small clear baggies with 4.2 grams of a white rock-like substance consistent with crack cocaine; and one clear baggie with 42 dosage units of a white pill consistent with Xanax, according to the release. While McFields was being held at the jail, the Lexington County Sheriffs Department Narcotics Enforcement Team discovered a plan by McField and another inmate to bring drugs and other contraband into the detention center, the solicitors office said. Agents learned McField told a woman who was not incarcerated to get green (which is marijuana), clear (which is methamphetamine), and other contraband, according to the release. Story continues The woman bought the drugs, packaged them in a black bag, then gave that bag to another person who drove in a U-Haul truck to the jail and tossed the black bag with the narcotics over the fence, the solicitors office said. Other inmates retrieved the bag and brought it to McFields cell in the jail, according to the release. Law enforcement authorities believe McField then distributed the drugs to other inmates, the solicitors office said. Under South Carolina law, trafficking cocaine is classified as a violent, serious, and no parole offense. McField also pleaded guilty to various Richland County offenses involving illicit narcotics and weapons, according to the release. McField has prior convictions for illicit narcotics, burglary, possession of burglary tools, and malicious injury to property, the solicitors office said. After being sentenced by Judge Debra McCaslin, McField was taken to the South Carolina Department of Corrections to serve his prison sentence. This case was prosecuted by Assistant Solicitor Kelly Oppenheimer and investigated by the Lexington County Sheriffs Department, as well as the South Carolina Highway Patrol. McField was represented by attorney Jean Marie Popowski, Lexington County court records show. Hundreds of people have joined a mass search for Madeline Kingsbury, the Minnesota mother-of-two who went missing under suspicious circumstances one week ago. Ms Kingsbury, 26, vanished in Winona on 31 March shortly after she dropped her children off at daycare with their father. The father, who has not been described specifically by police as her husband, said they returned home and he departed for work in her van at around 10am marking the last time he saw her. Alarm bells were raised when Ms Kingsbury failed to pick the children up from daycare that afternoon, which police described as extremely out of character for her. Her disappearance has been labeled involuntary and suspicious. Local law enforcement agencies organised a mass search for Friday morning with a sign-up sheet showing nearly 1,000 volunteer slots filled. It comes as the official Facebook page for the case put out a stern warning against harassing members of Ms Kingsburys family, who have offered a $50,000 reward for information on her whereabouts. Almost 2,000 turn out for search, second planned for Saturday 21:54 , Oliver O'Connell Nearly 2,000 people came out to assist in the search for Madeline Kingsbury on Friday and now authorities are organising another mass search for Maddi for Saturday, ABC 6 reports. First and foremostThank you to all the volunteers, fire departments and first responders who aided in the search today. There was a large amount of area searched and we had over 1,860 volunteers in the two search areas. Ben Klinger, Winona County Emergency Management Coordinator If you are willing to volunteer, registration will be from 9am 11am at either: Winona County -Goodview Fire Department, 4135 5th St, Winona MN Fillmore County Rushford-Peterson School, 1000 Pine Meadows Lane, Rushford MN. Volunteers will be assigned and bussed to the search areas. What do we know about Madelines last movements? 21:45 , Oliver O'Connell Winona police have offered scant details about the day of Madeline Kingsburys disappearance. Story continues What we do know is that Ms Kingsbury and the father of her children dropped their two children aged two and five off at daycare at around 8am on 31 March. At around 8.15am, the mother-of-two returned to her home. Her whereabouts after this time remain a mystery. She failed to show up for work something that police said was very unlike her and her cellphone, wallet, ID and the jacket she was wearing that morning were all found inside the home. The father of her children told investigators that he left Ms Kingsburys home at around 10am that morning, driving off in her 2014 dark blue Chrysler Town and Country minivan. He said that he returned later that day and found Ms Kingsbury wasnt home. Friends and family members tried to contact the 26-year-old that day but couldnt get hold of her. Again, police said this was unusual behaviour for her. Based on all this we believe Madelines disappearance is involuntary, suspicious and were all concerned for her safety, said Winona Police Chief Tom Williams. Megan Kingsbury asks public to spread the word about missing sister 21:00 , Oliver O'Connell Megan Kingsbury posted a TikTok on Wednesday with updates about the search for her missing sister Madeline. Megan said she, relatives and family friends have been driving through Winona County, where Madeline lived, and Fillmore County. The Fillmore County Sheriffs Office previously requested assistance from residents in Winona and nearby townships to search their property. No persons of interest in Madeline Kingsburys disappearance 20:15 , Oliver OConnell Winona police have said that there are currently no suspects and no persons of interest in the case. However, they appear to be focusing on the movements of Ms Kingsburys minivan and are asking for the publics help in tracing its journeys on the day of her disappearance. Chief Tom Williams confirmed that the vehicle is not missing and that both the van and Ms Kingsburys home have been searched. Surveillance footage has captured a vehicle matching the description of the van was captured driving from the home along highways and through Winona County and Fillmore County before heading back to the house. After the vehicle returned home, it is not believed to have gone anywhere else. During Thursdays press release, police refused to say who was driving the van. That is not information we can share at this time, they said. The police chief said that there is nothing to indicate that she left the residence on foot or in another vehicle. The two children are safe and there does not appear to be any threat to the public, police said. Law enforcement ask people to check properties and security footage 20:00 , Oliver O'Connell WATCH LIVE: Law enforcement officials are updating the search for 26-year-old Madeline Kingsbury, a mother of 2 from Winona who disappeared March 31. https://t.co/6epAQJ6UAA KARE 11 (@kare11) April 7, 2023 Massive search continues 19:47 , Oliver O'Connell A massive search of the area is underway today. Volunteers continue to show up to help, many who dont know Kingsbury but felt compelled to assist. The Winona Police Chief said today We remain very hopeful well bring [Madeline] back home to her family pic.twitter.com/3VvBvVhDA7 Callan Gray (@CallanGrayNews) April 7, 2023 Family offers $50K Reward for information regarding Madelines whereabouts 19:30 , Oliver O'Connell Madeline Kingsburys elder sister, Megan, addressed the media on Wednesday and announced a $50,000 reward for information on the missing mothers whereabouts. To be honest I dont know everything, she said about the current investigation into her sisters disappearance. Madeline is many things. Shes a mother, sister, daughter, best friend, granddaughter, niece. Its a long list. Madeline is a hard-working and dedicated mother. Family is everything to her and shes grown into an impressive and beautiful young woman. Please help us find Madeline. The children need their mother. We need our daughter, our sister, our aunt, our best friend back. We just want to find her, so, thank you. ICYMI: What happened to Madeline Kingsbury? 18:45 , Oliver O'Connell Madeline Kingsbury, a 26-year-old mother of two children, was last seen on 31 March. According to the police, Ms Kingsbury and her husband returned to their home in Winona after dropping off their kids at daycare on Friday. The husband said he left for work in Ms Kingsburys van, around 10am local time, and returned later in the day only to find his wife gone. Ms Kingsbury did not show up for work that day or respond to numerous calls and messages from friends and family. She also failed to pick up her children from daycare that afternoon, which the police said was extremely out of character for her. Huge turnout for mass search 18:00 , Oliver O'Connell Tremendous turnout this morning for the mass search of missing Madeline Kingsbury in Rushford. Info on signing up for the search: https://t.co/6zdtMCH7wh pic.twitter.com/eZe0kEM8fX R-P TROJANS Activities (@RPTrojansJLoney) April 7, 2023 Volunteer search leaders warn against family harassment 17:15 , Oliver O'Connell The official Facebook page for Madeline Kingsburys disappearance has put out a stern statement indicating that members of the missing mothers family have been targets of harassment over the course of the search. A post on the Finding Madeline Kingsbury page late Thursday night states: We want to address something that has been brought to our attention. We will not condone the harassing of Maddis family or friends for information. When there is an active investigation, they do not need to disclose every detail for any number of reason. More often than not though, its to protect the victim or to not jeopardize their chances at catching the perpetrator and pressing charges. If there is information we can share, it will be shared via the page. We post this information so that people can be aware but we will not post info like that anymore if people are going to harass family, friends and businesses that may be involved. And that would be a huge disservice to Maddi. It is completely inappropriate and we will not tolerate it. Madeline Kingsburys loved ones continue desperate search 16:30 , Oliver O'Connell Madeline Kingsburys loved ones are combing through the area where she was last seen hoping to find clues of her whereabouts. We need hundreds of people to cover this ground. It takes like 100 people in one field just to do I think what they call American Arms and if you send two people out there its just not enough, a friend of Madeline who did not wish to be named told KIMT3 News. The Winona Police Department has requested assistance from neighbouring authorities in Wilson Township and Hillsdale Township. Its just draining for me and the family and some of the friends here. Theyre just over the questions, you know? What was happening, what was she doing? Its just not going to help find her. What do we know about Madelines last movements? 15:45 , Oliver O'Connell Winona police have offered scant details about the day of Madeline Kingsburys disappearance. What we do know is that Ms Kingsbury and the father of her children dropped their two children aged two and five off at daycare at around 8am on 31 March. At around 8.15am, the mother-of-two returned to her home. Her whereabouts after this time remain a mystery. She failed to show up for work something that police said was very unlike her and her cellphone, wallet, ID and the jacket she was wearing that morning were all found inside the home. The father of her children told investigators that he left Ms Kingsburys home at around 10am that morning, driving off in her 2014 dark blue Chrysler Town and Country minivan. He said that he returned later that day and found Ms Kingsbury wasnt home. Friends and family members tried to contact the 26-year-old that day but couldnt get hold of her. Again, police said this was unusual behaviour for her. Based on all this we believe Madelines disappearance is involuntary, suspicious and were all concerned for her safety, said Winona Police Chief Tom Williams. Maps show areas of priority in search for Madeline Kingsbury 15:00 , Oliver O'Connell The Winona Police Department has requested assistance from neighbouring authorities in the search for missing mother-of-two Madeline Kinsley, 26. The department has also asked residents in the City of Winona, Wilson Township, and Hillsdale Township to search their acreage, wooded property, outbuildings, vehicles and trails for anything suspicious that may help find Madeline. A map of priority areas was shared by the law enforcement agency on Wednesday. Family release photos of Madeline Kingsburys tattoos 14:20 , Megan Sheets Madeline Kingsburys family have released several photos of her distinct tattoos in hopes that they could help locate the mother who has now been missing for a week. The photos were included in a post on the Find Madeline Kingsbury Facebook page which sought to debunk false speculation on the case. Daycare drop-off, a blue van and missing mother-of-two: What we know about Madeline Kingsburys disappearance 14:00 , Andrea Blanco Mother-of-two Madeline Kingsbury has not been seen for a week. Now, investigators are honing in on the last known travels of her minivan. The Independents Rachel Sharp reports: What we know about missing mother Madeline Kingsburys disappearance Search for Madeline Kingsbury could draw nearly 1,000 volunteers 13:30 , Megan Sheets A mass search for missing Minnesota mother Madeline Kingsbury is expected to see a stunning volunteer turnout today, as nearly 1,000 sign-up slots have been filled. Authorities from several law enforcement agencies near Winona organised the search beginning at XXam local time Friday. It is slated to last eight hours and cover specific areas identified by investigators as priorities. A sign-up website has seen at least 990 people sign up across two four-hour slots as of Friday morning. The website cautions: Volunteers need to dress appropriately, be able to walk long distances and in rough terrain. The Winona Police Department previously released maps showing the priority areas of the search. The department has also asked residents in the City of Winona, Wilson Township, and Hillsdale Township to search their acreage, wooded property, outbuildings, vehicles and trails for anything suspicious that may help find Madeline. Madeline Kingsburys sister pleads for her safe return 13:00 , Andrea Blanco Ms Kingsburys elder sister, Megan, addressing the media on Wednesday, offered a $50,000 reward for information on the missing womans whereabouts. To be honest I dont know everything, she said about the current investigation into her sisters disappearance. Madeline is many things. Shes a mother, sister, daughter, best friend, granddaughter, niece. Its a long list. Madeline is a hard-working and dedicated mother. Family is everything to her and shes grown into an impressive and beautiful young woman. Please help us find Madeline. The children need their mother. We need our daughter, our sister, our aunt, our best friend back. We just want to find her, so, thank you. Winona Police asks public to report sightings of Madelins blue minivan 12:00 , Andrea Blanco Winona Police said that there are currently no suspects and no persons of interest. However, they appear to be focusing on the movements of Ms Kingsburys minivan and are asking for the publics help in tracing its journeys on the day of her disappearance. Chief Williams confirmed that the vehicle is not missing and that both the van and Ms Kingsburys home have been searched. Winona Police and Madeline Kingsburys family held a press conference Surveillance footage has captured a vehicle matching the description of the van was captured driving from the home along highways and through Winona County and Fillmore County before heading back to the house. After the vehicle returned home, it is not believed to have gone anywhere else. During Thursdays press release, police refused to say who was driving the van. That is not information we can share at this time, they said. The police chief said that there is nothing to indicate that she left the residence on foot or in another vehicle. The two children are safe and there does not appear to be any threat to the public, police said. Volunteer search leaders warn against family harassment 11:46 , Megan Sheets The official Facebook page for Madeline Kingsburys disappearance has put out a stern statement indicating that members of the missing mothers family have been targets of harassment over the course of the search. A post on the Finding Madeline Kingsbury page late Thursday night states: We want to address something that has been brought to our attention. We will not condone the harassing of Maddis family or friends for information. When there is an active investigation, they do not need to disclose every detail for any number of reason. More often than not though, its to protect the victim or to not jeopardize their chances at catching the perpetrator and pressing charges. If there is information we can share, it will be shared via the page. We post this information so that people can be aware but we will not post info like that anymore if people are going to harass family, friends and businesses that may be involved. And that would be a huge disservice to Maddi. It is completely inappropriate and we will not tolerate it. Madeline Kingsburys loved ones continue desperate search 11:00 , Andrea Blanco Madeline Kingsburys loved ones are combing through the area where she was last seen hoping to find clues of her whereabouts. We need hundreds of people to cover this ground. It takes like 100 people in one field just to do I think what they call American Arms and if you send two people out there its just not enough, a friend of Madeline who did not wish to be named told KIMT3 News. The Winona Police Department has requested assistance from neighbouring authorities in Wilson Township and Hillsdale Township. Its just draining for me and the family and some of the friends here. Theyre just over the questions, you know? What was happening, what was she doing? Its just not going to help find her. WATCH: Winona Police hold press conference in disappearance of mother-of-two Madelin Kingsbury 10:00 , Andrea Blanco What do we know about Madelines last movements? 09:00 , Andrea Blanco Winona police have offered scant details about the day of Madeline Kingsburys disappearance. What we do know is that Ms Kingsbury and the father of her children dropped their two children aged two and five off at daycare at around 8am on 31 March. At around 8.15am, the mother-of-two returned to her home. Her whereabouts after this time remain a mystery. She failed to show up for work something that police said was very unlike her and her cellphone, wallet, ID and the jacket she was wearing that morning were all found inside the home. The father of her children told investigators that he left Ms Kingsburys home at around 10am that morning, driving off in her 2014 dark blue Chrysler Town and Country minivan. He said that he returned later that day and found Ms Kingsbury wasnt home. Friends and family members tried to contact the 26-year-old that day but couldnt get hold of her. Again, police said this was unusual behaviour for her. Based on all this we believe Madelines disappearance is involuntary, suspicious and were all concerned for her safety, said Winona Police Chief Tom Williams. Maps show areas of priority in search for Madeline Kingsbury 08:00 , Andrea Blanco The Winona Police Department has requested assistance from neighbouring authorities in the search for missing mother-of-two Madeline Kinsley, 26. The department has also asked residents in the City of Winona, Wilson Township, and Hillsdale Township to search their acreage, wooded property, outbuildings, vehicles and trails for anything suspicious that may help find Madeline. A map of priority areas was shared by the law enforcement agency on Wednesday. Winona Police Department Mass search for Madeline scheduled for Friday 07:00 , Andrea Blanco The Winona Police Department has asked residents of the area to sign up for an organised mass search for Madeline on Friday. Winona Police Department Megan Kingsbury asks public to spread the word about missing sister 06:00 , Andrea Blanco Megan Kingsbury posted a TikTok on Wednesday with updates about the search for her missing sister Madeline. Megan said she, relatives and family friends have been driving through Winona County, where Madeline lived, and Fillmore County. The Fillmore County Sheriffs Office previously requested assistance from residents in Winona and nearby townships to search their property. Megan on TikTok No persons of interest in Madelin Kingsburys dissapearance 05:00 , Andrea Blanco Winona police have said that there are currently no suspects and no persons of interest in the case. However, they appear to be focusing on the movements of Ms Kingsburys minivan and are asking for the publics help in tracing its journeys on the day of her disappearance. Chief Tom Williams confirmed that the vehicle is not missing and that both the van and Ms Kingsburys home have been searched. Surveillance footage has captured a vehicle matching the description of the van was captured driving from the home along highways and through Winona County and Fillmore County before heading back to the house. After the vehicle returned home, it is not believed to have gone anywhere else. During Thursdays press release, police refused to say who was driving the van. That is not information we can share at this time, they said. The police chief said that there is nothing to indicate that she left the residence on foot or in another vehicle. The two children are safe and there does not appear to be any threat to the public, police said. This is everything we know about Madeline Kingsburys disappearance 03:00 , Andrea Blanco Mother-of-two Madeline Kingsbury has not been seen for a week. Now, investigators are honing in on the last known travels of her minivan. The Independents Rachel Sharp reports: What we know about missing mother Madeline Kingsburys disappearance Family offers $50K Reward for information regarding Madelines whereabouts 01:30 , Andrea Blanco Madeline Kingsburys elder sister, Megan, addressed the media on Wednesday and announced a $50,000 reward for information on the missing mothers whereabouts. To be honest I dont know everything, she said about the current investigation into her sisters disappearance. Madeline is many things. Shes a mother, sister, daughter, best friend, granddaughter, niece. Its a long list. Madeline is a hard-working and dedicated mother. Family is everything to her and shes grown into an impressive and beautiful young woman. Please help us find Madeline. The children need their mother. We need our daughter, our sister, our aunt, our best friend back. We just want to find her, so, thank you. Watch the full press conference where Megan Kingsbury gave her plea below: ICYMI: What happened to Madeline Kingsbury? Friday 7 April 2023 00:00 , Andrea Blanco Madeline Kingsbury, a 26-year-old mother of two children, was last seen on 31 March. According to the police, Ms Kingsbury and her husband returned to their home in Winona after dropping off their kids at daycare on Friday. The husband said he left for work in Ms Kingsburys van, around 10am local time, and returned later in the day only to find his wife gone. Ms Kingsbury did not show up for work that day or respond to numerous calls and messages from friends and family. She also failed to pick up her children from daycare that afternoon, which the police said was extremely out of character for her. Madeline Kingsbury vanishes before childrens school pickup Thursday 6 April 2023 23:00 , Andrea Blanco Madeline Kingsbury, a 26-year-old mother of two children, was last seen on 31 March. According to the police, Ms Kingsbury and the father of her children returned to their home in Winona after dropping off the kids at daycare on Friday. The father said he left for work in Ms Kingsburys van, around 10am local time, and returned later in the day only to find his wife gone. Ms Kingsbury did not show up for work that day or respond to numerous calls and messages from friends and family. She also failed to pick up her children from daycare that afternoon, which the police said was extremely out of character for her. The Independents Alisha Rahaman Sarkar has more: Family of missing Madeline Kingsbury offer $50k reward in mysterious disappearance Community rallies around loved ones of Madeline Kingsbury Thursday 6 April 2023 22:32 , Andrea Blanco Friends and family members of missing mother-of-two Madeline Kingsbury have opened up about the desperate search to find her. Shes the person that everybody likes, a friend of Ms Kingsbury who asked not to be identified told KIMT3 News. Theres nothing about her that you can hate or dislike. Im honestly shocked by the amount of people she has touched in her life. The friend also told the network that it was extremely unusual for Ms Kingsbury not to answer her phone. The first red flag was is that the van was backed in, because shes a terrible driver and anybody will tell you that. Devoted mother Madeline Kingsbury vanishes Thursday 6 April 2023 22:01 , Andrea Blanco Madeline Kingsbury, 26, was last seen on the morning of 31 March in Winona, Minnesota. Authorities say she and her husband dropped their two children off at daycare at around 8am. Then, her husband says they returned home before he left for work in her dark blue Chrysler minivan at around 10am. When he returned home that afternoon, the husband said Ms Kingsbury was nowhere to be found. The mother had failed to turn up to her work that day and also didnt go to pick up her children at daycare. Her disappearance has been labeled involuntary and suspicious and investigators say there is reason to fear for her safety as the search nears its second week. No suspects have been identified and the case is being treated as a missing person with the possibility of foul play. Ms Kingsbury is described as 54 with brown hair and hazel eyes. Read more: Family of missing Madeline Kingsbury offer $50k reward in mysterious disappearance Massive search for Madeline Kingsbury underway Thursday 6 April 2023 21:40 , Andrea Blanco A huge multi-agency search is under way to find the missing mother and bring her home safe. Search teams have been looking near her home and along the highways that the van was seen travelling along for clues as to her whereabouts. Police said officials have searched on foot, in vehicles, by water and by air. No stone is being left unturned and were using every tool at our disposal, the police chief said. Investigators are asking residents in both Winona County and Fillmore County to check their home security cameras for any signs of Ms Kingsburys minivan driving by or stopping. Even if there is nothing in the footage, police are urging residents not to delete footage captured from 31 March to 1 April. Residents and landowners in the City of Winona, Wilson Township, and Hillsdale Township are also asked to search their acreage, wooded property, outbuildings, vehicles and trails for anything suspicious such as signs of a disturbance. As the police chief said: Your information might be the final piece that brings Maddie home. Ms Kinsgburys sister Megan also made an emotional appeal to the public for help, offering a $50,000 reward for information as she said family is everything to her. At the moment, police say they are looking into all possibilities as to what happened to the mother-of-two but have not ruled out foul play. Chief Williams said the case is being investigated as a missing person but also as foul play based on the totality of evidence. Winona Police asks public to report sightings of Madelins blue mini van Thursday 6 April 2023 21:20 , Andrea Blanco Winona Police said that there are currently no suspects and no persons of interest. However they appear to be focusing on the movements of Ms Kingsburys minivan and are asking for the publics help in tracing its journeys on the day of her disappearance. Chief Williams confirmed that the vehicle is not missing and that both the van and Ms Kingsburys home have been searched. Winona Police and Madeline Kingsburys family held a press conference Surveillance footage has captured a vehicle matching the description of the van was captured driving from the home along highways and through Winona County and Fillmore County before heading back to the house. After the vehicle returned home, it is not believed to have gone anywhere else. During Thursdays press release, police refused to say who was driving the van. That is not information we can share at this time, they said. The police chief said that there is nothing to indicate that she left the residence on foot or in another vehicle. The two children are safe and there does not appear to be any threat to the public, police said. Read more. Madelin Kingsburys last known movements Thursday 6 April 2023 21:03 , Andrea Blanco Ms Kingsbury and the father of her children dropped their two children aged two and five off at daycare at around 8am, Winona Police said. At around 8.15am, the mother-of-two returned to her home. Her whereabouts after this time remain a mystery. She failed to show up for work something that police said was very unlike her and her cellphone, wallet, ID and the jacket she was wearing that morning were all found inside the home. The father of her children told investigators that he left Ms Kingsburys home at around 10am that morning, driving off in her 2014 dark blue Chrysler Town and Country minivan. Madeline Kingsburys family have offered a $50,000 reward for information on her whereabouts He said that he returned later that day and found Ms Kingsbury wasnt home. Friends and family members tried to contact the 26-year-old that day but couldnt get hold of her. Again, police said this was unusual behaviour for her. Based on all this we believe Madelines disappearance is involuntary, suspicious and were all concerned for her safety, said Winona Police Chief Tom Williams. Mass search for Madeline search underway Thursday 6 April 2023 20:40 , Andrea Blanco The Winona Police Department has asked residents of the area to sign up for an organised mass search for Madeline on Friday. Family of missing Madeline Kingsbury offer $50k reward after dedicated mother vanishes before school pickup Thursday 6 April 2023 20:20 , Andrea Blanco The sister of a Minnesota woman who went missing last week under suspicious circumstances has appealed for help from members of the public. Madeline Kingsbury, a 26-year-old mother of two children, was last seen on 31 March. According to the police, Ms Kingsbury and the father of her children returned to their home in Winona after dropping off the kids at daycare on Friday. The Independents Alisha Rahaman Sarkar has more: Family of missing Madeline Kingsbury offer $50k reward in mysterious disappearance Desperate search for mother-of-two Madeline Kingsbury continues Thursday 6 April 2023 20:00 , Andrea Blanco Madeline Kingsburys loved ones are combing through the area where she was last seen hoping to find clues of her whereabouts. We need hundreds of people to cover this ground. It takes like 100 people in one field just to do I think what they call American Arms and if you send two people out there its just not enough, a friend of Madeline who did not wish to be named told KIMT3 News. The Winona Police Department has requested assistance from neighbouring authorities in Wilson Township and Hillsdale Township. Its just draining for me and the family and some of the friends here. Theyre just over the questions, you know? What was happening, what was she doing? Its just not going to help find her. Daycare drop-off, a blue van and missing mother-of-two: What we know about Madeline Kingsburys disappearance Thursday 6 April 2023 19:40 , Andrea Blanco Mother-of-two Madeline Kingsbury has not been seen for a week. Now, investigators are honing in on the last known travels of her minivan. The Independents Rachel Sharp reports: What we know about missing mother Madeline Kingsburys disappearance Maps show areas of priority in search for Madeline Kingsbury Thursday 6 April 2023 19:20 , Andrea Blanco The Winona Police Department has requested assistance from neighbouring authorities in the search for missing mother-of-two Madeline Kinsley, 26. The department has also asked residents in the City of Winona, Wilson Township, and Hillsdale Township to search their acreage, wooded property, outbuildings, vehicles and trails for anything suspicious that may help find Madeline. A map of priority areas was shared by the law enforcement agency on Wednesday Madeline Kingsburys asks public to spread the word about missing sister Thursday 6 April 2023 19:00 , Andrea Blanco Megan Kingsbury posted a TikTok on Wednesday with updates about the search for her missing sister Madeline. Megan said she, relatives and family friends have been driving through Winona County, where Madeline lived, and Fillmore County. The Fillmore County Sheriffs Office previously requested assistance from residents in Winona and nearby townships to search their property Police track Madelines blue minivan Thursday 6 April 2023 18:40 , Megan Sheets Winona police have said that there are currently no suspects and no persons of interest in the case. However, they appear to be focusing on the movements of Ms Kingsburys minivan and are asking for the publics help in tracing its journeys on the day of her disappearance. Chief Tom Williams confirmed that the vehicle is not missing and that both the van and Ms Kingsburys home have been searched. Surveillance footage has captured a vehicle matching the description of the van was captured driving from the home along highways and through Winona County and Fillmore County before heading back to the house. After the vehicle returned home, it is not believed to have gone anywhere else. During Thursdays press release, police refused to say who was driving the van. That is not information we can share at this time, they said. The police chief said that there is nothing to indicate that she left the residence on foot or in another vehicle. The two children are safe and there does not appear to be any threat to the public, police said. What we know about Madelines last movements Thursday 6 April 2023 18:20 , Rachel Sharp Winona police have offered scant details about the day of Madeline Kingsburys disappearance. What we do know is that Ms Kingsbury and the father of her children dropped their two children aged two and five off at daycare at around 8am on 31 March. At around 8.15am, the mother-of-two returned to her home. Her whereabouts after this time remain a mystery. She failed to show up for work something that police said was very unlike her and her cellphone, wallet, ID and the jacket she was wearing that morning were all found inside the home. The father of her children told investigators that he left Ms Kingsburys home at around 10am that morning, driving off in her 2014 dark blue Chrysler Town and Country minivan. He said that he returned later that day and found Ms Kingsbury wasnt home. Friends and family members tried to contact the 26-year-old that day but couldnt get hold of her. Again, police said this was unusual behaviour for her. Based on all this we believe Madelines disappearance is involuntary, suspicious and were all concerned for her safety, said Winona Police Chief Tom Williams. Madison Kingsleys family offer $50K reward for information about her whereabouts Thursday 6 April 2023 18:02 , Andrea Blanco Ms Kingsburys elder sister, Megan, addressing the media on Wednesday, offered a $50,000 reward for information on the missing womans whereabouts. To be honest I dont know everything, she said about the current investigation into her sisters disappearance. Madeline is many things. Shes a mother, sister, daughter, best friend, granddaughter, niece. Its a long list. Madeline is a hard-working and dedicated mother. Family is everything to her and shes grown into an impressive and beautiful young woman. Please help us find Madeline. The children need their mother. We need our daughter, our sister, our aunt, our best friend back. We just want to find her, so, thank you. ICYMI: What happened to Madeline Kingsbury? Thursday 6 April 2023 16:58 , Andrea Blanco Madeline Kingsbury, a 26-year-old mother of two children, was last seen on 31 March. According to the police, Ms Kingsbury and her husband returned to their home in Winona after dropping off their kids at daycare on Friday. The husband said he left for work in Ms Kingsburys van, around 10am local time, and returned later in the day only to find his wife gone. Ms Kingsbury did not show up for work that day or respond to numerous calls and messages from friends and family. She also failed to pick up her children from daycare that afternoon, which the police said was extremely out of character for her. Winona authorities ask public for help in the search Thursday 6 April 2023 16:30 , Megan Sheets The Winona Police Department put out a plea for the publics help in locating Madeline Kingsbury on Wednesday, five days after she vanished. The request, posted to the departments Facebook page, was directed at residents and landowners in Winona, Wilson Township and Hillsdale Township. We are asking that you search your acreage, wooded property, outbuildings, vehicles and trails for anything suspicious that may help find Madeline, the department said. The post includes maps marked with areas of priority in the search. This is the most specific search area that law enforcement has identified at this time, police said. Please also continue to check video cameras, doorbell cameras, or trail cameras for footage of a dark colored Chrysler Town and Country van travelling through the area between 8 am on March 31st, and 4 pm on April 1st. Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the Winona Police Department at 507-457-6302. Anonymous tips can be submitted through www.crimestoppersmn.org or at 800-222-8477. Family offers $50,000 reward for information Thursday 6 April 2023 16:20 , Megan Sheets Madeline Kingsburys elder sister, Megan, addressed the media on Wednesday and announced a $50,000 reward for information on the missing mothers whereabouts. "To be honest I dont know everything, she said about the current investigation into her sisters disappearance. Madeline is many things. Shes a mother, sister, daughter, best friend, granddaughter, niece. Its a long list. Madeline is a hard-working and dedicated mother. Family is everything to her and shes grown into an impressive and beautiful young woman. Please help us find Madeline. The children need their mother. We need our daughter, our sister, our aunt, our best friend back. We just want to find her, so, thank you. Watch the full press conference where Megan Kingsbury gave her plea below: Devoted mother Madeline Kingsbury vanishes Thursday 6 April 2023 16:15 , Megan Sheets Madeline Kingsbury, 26, was last seen on the morning of 31 March in Winona, Minnesota. Authorities say she and her husband dropped their two children off at daycare at around 8am. Then, her husband says they returned home before he left for work in her dark blue Chrysler minivan at around 10am. When he returned home that afternoon, the husband said Ms Kingsbury was nowhere to be found. The mother had failed to turn up to her work that day and also didnt go to pick up her children at daycare. Her disappearance has been labeled involuntary and suspicious and investigators say there is reason to fear for her safety as the search nears its second week. No suspects have been identified and the case is being treated as a missing person with the possibility of foul play. Ms Kingsbury is described as 54 with brown hair and hazel eyes. Read more: Family of missing Madeline Kingsbury offer $50k reward in mysterious disappearance A Georgia man was sentenced to 35 years in state prison for shooting and killing an 18-year-old woman while he and three accomplices tried to rob her boyfriend during a drug deal in Daytona Beach, according to court records. Jordan Graham, 21, of Hahira, Georgia, pled guilty to second-degree murder with a firearm with discharge and robbery with a firearm as part of a plea deal. Graham shot and killed Rachael Gasparini three years ago. Graham was sentenced Wednesday to 35 years in state prison concurrent on each charge. Graham must serve a minimum of 20 years and will receive credit for 834 days' time served. Jaquez Head sentenced: Man gets life after turning down plea offer in Daytona drug killing Georgia man jailed: Ga. man accused of fatally shooting Daytona woman at her apartment brought to Volusia County Sister demands justice: 'She shouldn't have been taken from us' Sisters demand justice in woman's shooting death The second-degree murder charge was reduced from first-degree murder as part of the plea deal; he originally faced a mandatory life sentence. The State Attorneys Office described Graham as a young guns defendant. "We continue to fight the scourge of young gun violence in our communities," State Attorney R.J. Larizza said in a press release. "The 35-year sentence should be a message to those who seek to resolve their differences with guns and bullets. Graham was 18 on Sept. 18, 2020, when he and three other men traveled from Georgia to rob Kevin Berry, according to court records. Berry was dealing marijuana out of the apartment he shared with his girlfriend, Gasparini, at the Eagle Point Apartments, 468 Brentwood Drive in Daytona Beach, according to testimony. Rachael Gasparini was shot at her Daytona Beach apartment complex on Sept. 18, 2020. She was taken to the hospital, where she later died. One of the men, Jaquez Head, attacked Berry, who struggled with the larger man and yelled for Gasparini to bring him his gun. Berry testified during Head's trial that he had not seen if one of the men had a gun. Gasparini came out of a bedroom unarmed and Graham shot her, according to prosecutors. Story continues Head, of Valdosta, Georgia, turned down a plea offer that would have sent him to prison for 25 years. He went to trial last year and was found guilty of first-degree felony murder which carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison. Circuit Judge Leah Case noted that at the time of Gasparinis murder, Head was less than two years into a 10-year probation sentence for another armed robbery. She sentenced him to two consecutive life terms. A third man, Armonta Waters, 23, also of Valdosta, was charged with first-degree murder and robbery with a firearm; his next hearing is set for May 8. The fourth man, Kimba Kimble, 24, who had previously lived in Daytona Beach, was charged with third-degree felony murder. Kimble remained in the car and did not enter the apartment, according to records. Kimble has a hearing scheduled for April 20. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Georgia man gets 35 years prison in Rachael Gasparini's death Republican Sen. Steve Daines of Montana, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, speaking at a press conference on Capitol Hill in February 2021. Sarah Silbiger for The Washington Post via Getty Images The head of the Senate GOP's campaign arm spoke this week about the stakes of the 2024 Senate races. Sen. Steve Daines said his party could be in the minority for the "rest of the decade" if they don't win in 2024. The GOP struggled in 2022 with "candidate quality" issues, and Daines is hoping to change that. The chairman of the Senate GOP's campaign arm said this week that Republicans could end up stuck in the minority in the chamber for the next several years if the party isn't able to flip the chamber in 2024. In an appearance on the conservative "Ruthless" podcast, Republican Sen. Steve Daines of Montana said that it was crucial for Republicans to win Senate elections next year in Montana, Ohio, and West Virginia, which he described as "red states" with Democratic senators. He noted that there were no "red states" with Democratic senators up for re-election in 2026 or 2028, making this year a particularly ripe opportunity for the party. "We either deliver a majority in '24, or we are in the minority as Republican Senate for the rest of the decade," said Daines. "That has profound consequences." In 2024, a series of Democratic senators including Jon Tester of Montana, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, and Joe Manchin of West Virginia are facing re-election in states that former President Donald Trump won handily in 2016 and 2020. "It is a generational moment," Daines later added. In addition to those states, the GOP has potential pick-up opportunities in swing states like Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Democrats currently hold a 51-49 majority, meaning Republicans must pick up at least 2 seats to regain the majority. Yet despite a general geographical advantage in the Senate, Republicans have struggled to attain a lasting majority. In 2022, despite political headwinds, Democrats managed to expand their majority due to what Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell famously described as "candidate quality" issues among GOP candidates. Story continues This year, Daines has vowed to take a more interventionist approach in GOP primaries in order to avoid a repeat. "We've got to find candidates that can win not just primary elections but can win general elections," said Daines. In 2026 and 2028, the GOP's best pick-up opportunities may be in states like Georgia and Arizona, which were once consistently Republican-leaning but have become increasingly fertile ground for Democrats since 2020. Read the original article on Business Insider T. Denny Sanford attends the first day of the Sanford International on Friday, September 16, 2022, at the Minnehaha Country Club in Sioux Falls. The South Dakota Supreme Court ruled unanimously Thursday that search warrant affidavits related to a child pornography investigation concerning billionaire banker and philanthropist T. Denny Sanford must be unsealed. The decision comes after a near two-year legal battle between Sanford, the Argus Leader and ProPublica, a national investigative nonprofit news source, to gain access to the five documents. Supreme Court justices heard arguments from lawyers on both sides in late March during their spring session. The Argus Leader had first learned about the investigation into Sanford, a nationally-recognized philanthropist and namesake of the Sanford Health System, known then as only the "Implicated Individual" in 2020. At the time, the search warrants and affidavits were under seal, when normally under law, those documents are public. Sanford's name was not released publicly until November 2021. More: T. Denny Sanford attorneys argue to keep affidavits sealed in South Dakota Supreme Court A Second Circuit court judge, James Power, ordered in June 2022 to unseal the affidavits after the South Dakota Attorney General's Office had concluded a criminal investigation into the case against Sanford and found no chargeable offenses. Power also had the discretion to redact the documents as he saw fit without Sanford and his attorney's review. It's unclear if Sanford is continuing to be investigated in other jurisdictions and on a federal level. But Sanford's attorneys appealed to delay the unsealing of the documents on the grounds of review in July 2022, which resulted in the case going in front of the Supreme Court. It's the second time the court has ruled in favor of the Argus Leader and ProPublica in the press' case to gain access to the documents. Justices ruled in 2021 that some items in the search warrants are public information. More: Affidavits in T. Denny Sanford child pornography case should be made public, judge says In the court's decision Thursday, they found the circuit court's "approach to redaction fell soundly within its discretion, and the court appropriately exercised its discretion to 'decide whether there [were] sufficient grounds to prohibit access.'" Story continues Shelly Conlon, the Argus Leader's news director, applauded the court's decision. "To take on a Goliath of an influence in our community and win today is a strong victory for the public's right to know," Conlon said. "The law is clear, and the Court's decision only reaffirms the role journalism has in accountability and understanding government, public figure and law enforcement decisions." T. Denny Sanford speaks after announcing Dr. Davis Pearce as the director of the new Sanford Children's Health Research Center Friday morning at the Denny Sanford Pediatric Symposium on April 24, 2009. Jon Arneson, attorney for the Argus Leader, said in a statement he was appreciative of the court's quick ruling. "Obviously, I agree with the Supreme Court's unanimous decision," he said. "The reasoning was sound and well articulated." David Bordewyk, the executive director of the South Dakota Newspaper Association, said the case was clear cut that the information was public. "It's a good day for freedom of information and there aren't many of those," he said. "This is good to see the court ruled in favor of the public's right to know." The State of South Dakota also argued in favor of transparency, according to the ruling. Unsealing the affidavit after the conclusion of the investigation is consistent with "societal interests in having law enforcement and the judiciary operate in the public eye [that are] not overcome simply because no indictment is returned. Society has as much interest in understanding why no indictment was returned as it does in understanding why one was." Release of the five affidavits are expected toward the end of April, barring any legal intervention by Sanford's attorneys. Stacy Hegge, Sanford's attorney, told the Argus Leader she had no comment on if the legal team would take further action. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sanford child porn case documents must be unsealed, Supreme Court says Mark Ridley-Thomas and his attorneys arrive at the U.S. Courthouse in Los Angeles last month. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) The reaction to former L.A. City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas conviction for bribery, conspiracy and fraud has been, to say the least, highly unusual. As both my colleague Erika Smith and a subsequent news article pointed out, Ridley-Thomas is not facing the public disgust, outrage and condemnation that usually accompany a corruption verdict, but, on the contrary, is receiving tributes instead of scorn. Shortly after the jury found him guilty of seven felonies last week, the mayor of Los Angeles called Ridley-Thomas a thought leader and a champion for our city. A former City Council colleague called him the relentless advocate, the unstoppable force. The people of his community remembered him as a 40-year veteran of activism and politics who devoted his life to public service. This outpouring of support and gratitude for a convicted felon seems to be causing some confusion. Which is Ridley-Thomas really, people seem to be asking a saint or a sinner? Why, they want to know, is a man who is receiving such enthusiastic praise from public officials and from his constituents facing the possibility of several years in prison? Should we consider him a good man who spent a lifetime fighting effectively for marginalized and needy constituents in neglected neighborhoods, or a self-serving, bribe-taking pol who abused his power for his own personal gain? Some of his supporters are apparently angry that the government would even bother to prosecute a man who has done so much for Los Angeles. Some have concluded that he must have been railroaded or subjected to a witch hunt or racially targeted or victimized in some other travesty of justice. And I guess a travesty might have occurred. Maybe the jury got it wrong; maybe there was no quid pro quo and he was unjustly convicted. Ridley-Thomas, who has denied wrongdoing from the start, will certainly have an opportunity to make that argument when he appeals his case. I wish him luck; I too have known and admired him for many years. Story continues But there is another possible explanation, and that is that both versions of the narrative are true, that Ridley-Thomas is both an ardent and effective fighter for his constituents and a bribe taker. Sure, theres some cognitive dissonance required to take that in. But isnt that the truth about human beings? We contain multitudes. Ridley-Thomas can be the reformer of the Los Angeles Police Department, the champion of reopening Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital, the fighter against homelessness and the caring public servant with deep ties to an underserved, marginalized community and the guy who took special benefits for his son, Sebastian, from the then-dean of USCs social work program in return for supporting a county contract for the university. Prosecutors said he accepted free graduate school tuition and a paid professorship for Sebastian. Its possible because people are complicated. They're inconsistent. They can be tempted and sometimes they succumb, especially when their children are involved. Many people suggested in the L.A. Times stories that Ridley-Thomas crimes are outweighed by all he accomplished over the years. Thats a matter of opinion, but I think its probably true. It's also true that removing him from government will deal a blow to the city, the region and the communities he represented. But even if his good works outweigh his crimes, they dont excuse them. The simple truth is that he didnt have the right to take valuable favors in return for official acts, which is what the jury concluded he did. Selling your office for personal gain is something that cannot be tolerated. The fact that hes 68 years old, that he did it for his son, that he might have supported the USC contracts even if he hadnt been offered a bribe and that his council district will go unrepresented for some period of time none of that has any bearing on whether he is guilty. Like Councilman Jose Huizar and Councilman Mitchell Englander before him, Ridley-Thomas was found to have betrayed the public trust. Does that mean that all his years of doing good are meaningless and should count for nothing? Of course not. Ridley-Thomas life story and all the work hes done and the benefits hes brought to L.A. and any other mitigating circumstances his supporters want to highlight are totally appropriate subjects for his sentencing, which is currently scheduled for Aug. 21. It is common for family members, friends, colleagues and associates of the defendant to submit letters in advance explaining why leniency is warranted. Who is Mark Ridley-Thomas in his totality? Hes complex and contradictory like the rest of us, I suspect. The jury weighed the evidence of his guilt; the judge must weigh the man in full before deciding what his sentence should be. @Nick_Goldberg This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Renfield makeup artist Christien Tinsley has revealed the extreme lengths Nicolas Cage went to, to play Dracula. In the new movie by director Chris McKay, Cage plays the vampire, while Nicholas Hoult portrays the title character, Draculas long-suffering assistant and henchman. In an interview with Variety, Tinsley revealed they used 3D printing to craft Draculas famous fangs. This was the first film that I know of where we used 3D printing to do all the dentures, Tinsley said. We jumped in headfirst with 3D printing. We would scan Nics teeth and digitally sculpt them. Once the fake teeth were made, We shaved Nics teeth down and the dentures were fitted so as not to impede on Nics speech and allow full freedom, he said. Nic wanted to emote and annunciate properly, so it was important the veneers were thin. Nicolas Cage as Dracula in Renfield, directed by Chris McKay. (UNIVERSAL STUDIOS) McKay recently claimed in an interview that whatever scene we did he [Cage] would still be 100 per cent living in that attitude after we stopped shooting. As such, the director said that if Dracula was a little frosty in a given scene, Cage would then be frosty too between takes. However, Cage later denied being standoffish between scenes. I just dont have that recollection, I dont know why Chris said that, he told The Hollywood Reporter. I had a lot of laughs in between takes with both Chris McKay and Nick Hoult, so maybe that was his experience, maybe because I still had the fangs in my mouth that made me speak a certain way, but that wasnt my experience. The film marks the first time Cage and Hoult have worked together since 2005s The Weather Man, which Hoult starred in when he was just 14 years old. I think getting to work with him again as an adult gave me a true appreciation of what a master he is of the craft, how much hes given to the cinematic world over the years, all of the iconic performances hes given, and I think this is another one, Hoult said. Renfield arrives in UK cinemas on 14 April. John Lydon and Nora Forster Nora Forster, John Lydon's wife of 44 years, has died, aged 80. Forster's passing was announced in a short statement, posted on the PiL vocalist's social media platforms. The statement reads: 'Rest in Peace Nora Forster. It is with a heavy heart that we share the sad news that Nora Forster - John Lydon's wife of nearly 5 decades - has passed away. Nora had been living with Alzheimers for several years. In which time John had become her full time carer. Please respect John's grief and allow him space. Rest in Peace Nora. Heart felt condolences to John from Rambo and all at PiL Official' Lydon had been Forster's full time carer for a number of years. The couple lived in Los Angeles. In January, PiL submitted the song Hawaii, a love letter to Lydon's wife of 44 years, for the Irish heat of the 2023 Eurovision song contest. "It is dedicated to everyone going through tough times on the journey of life, with the person they care for the most," Lydon said in a statement. "Its also a message of hope that ultimately love conquers all." Ahead of the heat, which took place on February 3, Lydon explained the importance of the song in an interview with The Sun, saying [Nora and I] spent a magnificent holiday in Hawaii after a tour once and it was just the greatest week of our lives. Now her memories are fading, I wanted to bring something like that back to her. I get broke up even thinking about it. Although Public Image failed to secure the Irish nomination, judge Gemma Bradley praised Lydon for raising awareness of the disease with his entry: "It is very important to speak about these things," she said. "It's real life. I really want to commend him on that performance." German-born Forster was working as a music promoter in London in the 1970s when she met Lydon, and the couple were married in 1979. Her daughter, Ari, fronted punk band The Slits. 1/2 Rest in Peace Nora ForsterIt is with a heavy heart that we share the sad news that Nora Forster - John Lydon's wife of nearly 5 decades - has passed away. Nora had been living with Alzheimers for several years. In which time John had become her full time carer. pic.twitter.com/MmQQdtmrjGApril 6, 2023 See more North Korea has stopped responding to regularly scheduled calls with South Korea as military tensions rise. South Korean government officials announced Friday that its northern neighbor has failed to respond via the two-way military liaison line normally used twice a day. "The North was unresponsive to the closing call via the joint liaison hotline at 5 p.m. after it did not answer the opening call at 9 a.m.," South Korea's unification ministry said, according to Yonhap News Agency. CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS INVITE SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS LAWMAKERS DURING STATE VISIT A United Nations Command soldier, left, and a South Korean soldier, right, stand near North Korea's Panmon Hall at Panmunjom, in the Joint Security Area of the Demilitarized Zone on Oct. 4, 2022. Flags of North Korea, rear, and South Korea, front, flutter in the wind as pictured from the border area between two Koreas in Paju, South Korea. A two-way phone line connects representatives of both North and South Korea for logistical and diplomatic purposes. It is normally used twice daily once at 9 a.m. and again at 5 p.m. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP US AND ITS PARTNERS STAGE WARFARE DRILLS AS JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA STRENGTHEN ALLIANCE AGAINST CHINA, NORTH KOREA South Korean officials claimed there is no defect or failure of the communication technology itself, indicating that North Korea is being willfully uncommunicative. The unprecedented silence comes amid intense military pressure from the U.S. military and its allies in the Pacific. NORTH KOREAN STATE MEDIA SAYS US-SOUTH KOREA MILITARY DRILLS PUSH REGION TO 'BRINK OF A NUCLEAR WAR' North Korea state media warned Thursday that recent U.S.-South Korea military drills are pushing the security situation in the region to "the brink of a nuclear war." The fiery remarks came a day after the U.S. military flew nuclear-capable B-52 bombers over the Korean Peninsula during joint exercises with South Korea. Aircraft carrier USS Nimitz also participated in naval anti-submarine drills this week alongside U.S., South Korean and Japanese destroyers. CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP "The U.S. kicked off different largest-ever joint military drills against the DPRK simultaneously despite the latter's repeated grave warnings, pushing the security situation of the Korean peninsula to the brink of a nuclear war," read an article published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency on Thursday. Click here to read the full article. As part of its goal to go fully circular by 2030, Ikea is launching a new as-is online service that allows members of its Ikea Family loyalty program to shop and reserve gently used products online and purchase in store. The program builds on Ikeas Buy Back & Resell service, allowing customers to shop discontinued and previously used items available in their local store online. This Earth Month marks an exciting time for Ikea U.S. as we continue to make sustainable attainable for many people, said Javier Quinones, CEO and chief sustainability officer, Ikea U.S. As-is online joins our other services like Buy Back & Resell and the spare parts program that help our customers live a more sustainable life at home with a variety of ways to prolong the life of their furniture. Along with the as-is service, Ikea is expanding its Buy Back & Resell program to additional U.S. stores in Bloomington, Indiana; Jacksonville, Florida; Las Vegas; New Haven, Connecticut; Orlando; Renton, Washington; Sunrise, Florida; and Tampa. The Buy Back & Resell program allows Ikea customers to return gently used furnishings for a store credit with those items being re-sold in the as-is section. Ikea also has several other initiatives rolling out as part of its Earth Month celebration. The company will match up to $50,000 of customer donations in April to the American Red Cross, and stores will host sustainability workshops and events throughout the month. Ikea also will offer discounts on sustainably produced or energy efficient products, along with a 25 percent discount on as-is items April 22-23. Though Ikea was once synonymous with the idea of fast furniture designed to only last a few years, the company has made strides to change its image and reduce its environmental impact. The retailer released a sustainability report in February, chronicling how it has cut its climate impact by 12 percent over the last six years, with 5 percent of that decrease coming in fiscal 2022. Ikea also recently joined the CanopyStyle Initiative, committing to only sourcing viscose for its home textiles from forest-friendly producers. Anadolu Agency National Public Radio (NPR) refuses to tweet from its main account, which has more than 8 million followers, until Twitter chief Elon Musk removes a false label describing the news organization as state-affiliated media. Musk, meanwhile, admitted to an NPR reporter this week that his designation of the media outlet might not be accurate and that he was still evaluating the label on the nonprofit media orgs account. As of Friday, however, NPR was still falsely designated as state-controlled on the social media site. While it remains unclear why the Chief Twit suddenly decided to place NPR in the same category as Chinese and Russian government propaganda, Musk reacted with an exclamation point on Tuesday to a Twitter Files reporter Michael Shellenbergers thread criticizing NPR. Elon Musk Is a Sentient Poop Emoji Shellenberger took issue with NPR claiming European right-wing politicians are pushing a conspiracy theory that elites want people to eat bugs, adding that NPR is worse than the propaganda of Maoist schoolchildren during the cultural revolution. After Twitter affixed the label to NPRs main Twitter account, Musk reacted positively to another right-wing influencers tweet exclaiming GET REKT over the state-affiliated media designation. Seems accurate, Musk replied alongside a screenshot of the Twitter Help Centers definition of the term, which is deemed outlets where the state exercises control over editorial content through financial resources, direct or indirect political pressures, and/or control over production and distribution. Other conservative Musk fans predictably applauded the move by the edgelord billionaire. Twitter, however, stealth-edited its own guidelines following its change to NPRs bio. And prior to placing it on par with RT and Sputnik, the site actually cited NPR as an example of state-financed media organizations with editorial independence that should not be labeled as state-run. Story continues While free press advocates and journalists took Twitter to task over the inaccurate labeling, noting that NPR receives only 1 percent of its funding from the federal government, the outlet itself fired back. We were disturbed to see last night that Twitter has labeled NPR as state-affiliated media, a description that, per Twitters own guidelines, does not apply to NPR, NPR president and CEO John Lansing said on Wednesday. NPR and our Member stations are supported by millions of listeners who depend on us for the independent, fact-based journalism we provide. NPR stands for freedom of speech and holding the powerful accountable. It is unacceptable for Twitter to label us this way. In an email exchange this week, NPR reporter Bobby Allyn pressed Musk on his thought process behind the labeling, which comes amid his relentless attacks and smears of the press. (For instance, he recently removed The New York Times verification after the paper said it wouldnt pay for a checkmark.) After Musk appeared unclear about the difference between public outlets and state-run media, the Tesla CEO said then we should fix it when told by Allyn that the government accounts for a minute amount of NPRs financing. After comparing NPR to other government-controlled press outlets, Musk admitted it may not be an apt comparison. The operating principle at new Twitter is simply fair and equal treatment, so if we label non-US accounts as govt, then we should do the same for US, but it sounds like that might not be accurate here, he wrote Allyn. Elon Musk Is a Right-Wing Culture Warrior Above All Else Since Tuesday night, NPR has deliberately not tweeted from its main account, though it has posted from affiliate accounts that are not labeled as state-run and the outlets reporters continue to tweet. NPR has also changed its Twitter bio, which now reads: NPR is an independent news organization committed to informing the public about the world around us. You can find us every other place you read the news. At the same time, an NPR spokesperson told The Daily Beast that this shouldnt be characterized as a Twitter boycott because the outlet is merely pushing for the false designation to be dropped from its main account. NPR changed its Twitter bio yesterday and stopped tweeting from the main @NPR account after they attached that false label to it because each tweet we publish would carry it, Chief Communications Officer Isabel Lara said. We have paused tweeting from that account until we hear back from Twitter on this. Weve continued tweeting from other accounts that arent mislabeled. As of publication, the label remained, and Musk has yet to comment publicly on Friday about any pending decision. And since Musk axed all of Twitters media relations staff, any press emails sent to the site are automatically returned with a poop emoji. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. A naked, bloody man covered in grease and peppermint oil broke into two DeBary homes and hopped into a swimming pool before jumping onto a trampoline early Friday, the Volusia Sheriffs Office said. Our sister station WFTV in Orlando reports deputies were called at about 2 a.m. to a home on East Highbanks Road after a burglary was reported. Investigators said Blake Tokman, 34, had smashed out the windows of one home and also broke into another home. Officials said a deputy spotted Tokman naked in the back yard of the second home. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] They said he ran away, jumped in the pool, climbed out and leapt onto a trampoline, where he laid flat, resisting the deputys attempt to handcuff him. Investigators said Tokman appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] They said it took four deputies to arrest him and three more medical professionals to secure him to a stretcher. Tokman kicked or struck three of the deputies, lacerating the arm of one of them, investigators said. He was taken to a hospital to be evaluated and will be booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail on charges of burglary, battery on a law enforcement officer, criminal mischief and resisting arrest with violence. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. The number of Russian occupiers willing to surrender doubled in March; the Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine believes that this is due to the expectation of a counteroffensive by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Source: Press office of the Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine; Vitaliy Matvienko, the spokesman for I Want to Live, a Ukrainian intelligence project intended to encourage Russians who want to surrender to call the special hotline, on air of the national 24/7 broadcast on 6 April Details: More than 3,000 appeals were registered as part of the I Want to Live project in March 2023. This is twice as much as the previous monthly indicators. Quote: "The Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine confirms the sharp increase in the number of Russian invaders who seek to surrender to save their lives. The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine also notes intensification of capturing the occupiers right on the battlefield." More details: The Defence Intelligence believes that the increase in the number of those willing to surrender is due to the expectation of the beginning of the Ukrainian counteroffensive. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Judge Juan Merchan, the New York state judge presiding over former President Donald Trump's criminal case, made small political donations to progressive groups and Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign, federal campaign contribution records indicate. Federal Election Commission reports show that Merchan, a judge employed by the New York State Office of Court Administration, made a $15 contribution to the Biden for President campaign committee on July 26, 2020, through ActBlue, a Democratic Party fundraising platform. The records show the judge also made a $10 contribution earmarked for the Progressive Turnout Project, a voter contact organization, and another $10 contribution to its subsidiary political action committee called Stop Republicans that year. A spokesperson for the state court system told Fox News Digital they had "no idea" whether the donations belonged to the same Judge Merchan who is handling Trump's case. "Should either party have any issues or concerns, it is for them to address directly with the Court," the spokesperson said. NEW YORK JUDGE PRESIDING OVER DONALD TRUMP CRIMINAL CASE GETS DEATH THREATS Judge Juan Merchan, the Manhattan Supreme Court justice who presided over the arraignment of former President Donald Trump. A directory of New York state's trial judges lists only one Juan Merchan, who works for the Supreme Court of New York County. Merchan is the judge who presided over Trump's arraignment in court on Tuesday and also handled the trial of the Trump Organization and its former CFO, Allen Weisselberg. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The charges, which are related to alleged hush-money payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign, were brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. The former president has lashed out against Merchan, calling him and his family "Trump haters" on social media and suggesting that the case should be moved to Staten Island, where he supposedly would stand a better chance of receiving a fair trial. Merchan's political donations may give Trump an excuse to claim unfair bias, but they appear to be too small to serve as grounds for a serious legal challenge or recusal, according to one observer. Story continues HOUSE JUDICIARY SERIOUS WEIGHING SUBPOENAS FOR BRAGG, EX-PROSECUTORS AFTER TRUMP INDICTMENT: SOURCE "These small contributions alone would not require recusal if he decided to stay on case, but it warrants further inquiry into other possible partisan activities, such as whether he supported the candidacy of Alvin Bragg, who campaigned on the Trump issue," Harvard Law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz told Fox News Digital. "Judge [Merchan] can also decide on his own to recuse if he feels that there may be an appearance of bias," Dershowitz added. Merchan has been receiving death threats and has been assigned a security team since he was announced as the judge presiding over Trump's case. "Chambers has been getting the predictable harassing and defamatory calls and emails, all of which are being assessed," Office of Court Administration spokesman Lucian Chalfen told Fox News Digital. DONALD TRUMP CASE HIGHLIGHTS NEW YORK COURT'S HISTORY IN HEADLINES Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought charges against Trump for alleged hush money payments made in 2016. "Over the past weeks, we have continued to evaluate and assess security concerns and potential threats and have maintained an increased security presence in and around courthouses and throughout the judiciary and will adjust protocols as necessary," he added. Trump's criminal defense attorney, Joe Tacopina, called the threats "appalling" and condemned such behavior. Fox News' Brianna Herlihy, Rebecca Rosenberg and Thomas Catenacci contributed to this report. A few hundred feet from where a horde of media members were waiting on a recent Wednesday morning in front of a New York courthouse to see if Donald Trump, the self-proclaimed law-and-order president, would be indicted, stood Ice-T, iconic rapper turned TV star on the long-running Law & Order: SVU. It was the cop killer on one end of the street, the criminal justice system destroyer on the other. Before Ice-T (Tracey Lauren Marrow) was known as Det. Odafin Tutuola on SVU, he was known as the artist who rapped: Im cop killer, its better you than meCop killer, [expletive] police brutality!Cop killer, I know your familys grievin [expletive]Cop killer, but tonight we get even, haha! It wasnt a call for police murder, but rather an expression of the anger Ice-T and other young black men felt about police brutality in the wake of the Rodney King beating at the hands (and feet and batons) of Los Angeles police, which was caught on video but still wasnt enough to initially secure convictions of the officers who had done the beating. Ice-T was trying to raise the publics consciousness about an issue that continues plaguing us more than three decades later. Its also why his nearly quarter-of-a-century portrayal of a cop on maybe the most successful TV franchise in American history has always seemed surreal to me. His character has humanized police officers in ways few others could. He, of cop killer fame, has made it harder to flatten officers into just armed-agents of the state out to brutalize black and brown people. Video capturing a Minneapolis police officer slowly murdering George Floyd on the side of a road in broad daylight sparked the largest protests in American history. But make no mistake, Ice-Ts Det. Tutuola showing up on TV screens every week, and in some cases every day in syndicated episodes, has likely had a longer-lasting effect. His effect is even more surreal when you consider that the inspiration for SVU was Linda Fairstein, the prosecutor who helped send five black and brown boys for a rape in Central Park they did not commit. Story continues Thats what I couldnt get out of my mind while walking the short distance from Thomas Paine Park, where producers were shooting scenes for SVU, to Collect Pond Park, where dozens of media members and their cameras had set up awaiting word on a potential indictment of a man who has proclaimed he loves the law more than most, an indictment that did not come that day but eventually did this past week. We must maintain law and order at the highest level or we will cease to have a country, 100 percent, Trump said during a campaign speech in 2016 praising law enforcement. We will cease to have a country. I am the law-and-order candidate. Ice-T is an entertainer portraying a fictional character. Trump was an all-too-real presidential candidate (who would become president) portraying a man who cared about law enforcement and the rule of law even though hes never cared about either, unless they could be used for his political ambitions or during his quest for even more fame. Trump didnt care about the several dozen law enforcement officials injured during a violent insurrection attempt sparked by his words and repeated lies about the 2020 election. He doesnt care about the rule of law, having routinely flaunted it for years on end. He believes the law doesnt apply to him, or only the ones he decides to adhere to. It didnt apply when he took troves of classified documents from the White House and refused to give them back. It didnt apply when he used his lawyer to pay off a porn star to keep an extramarital affair quiet even as that lawyer was convicted for his role in that scheme. It didnt apply to him despite Robert Muellers findings that his campaign actively sought out the help of a foreign adversary on his way to his 2016 election victory. It didnt apply to him when Senate Republicans ensured he wouldnt be convicted during impeachment hearings despite clear evidence he tried to bribe Ukraine to help him win re-election. And he has yet to be charged despite being captured on clear audio asking Georgia officials to find him enough votes to declare him the winner of a state in 2020 that he had lost. Thats why it now makes sense that he was so was comfortable bragging that he could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldnt lose any voters, OK? Given all we know, all weve learned the past seven years, why doubt that he could? He gets to break or ignore the law, and his supporters and others have convinced themselves that powerful men like Trump should neither be investigated nor arrested, no matter what they do. Young black dudes too often on the wrong side of police batons and boots have long had reason to distrust the system. Theyve repeatedly seen people in power get away with horrific crimes. Trump has convinced everyone else to distrust it, too, including supporters who want him treated like a king, and those whove grown frustrated watching a powerful man like Trump keep thumbing his nose at what is supposed to be the law. Thats why it was so odd watching the spectacle in New York City. On one side of the street, there was a man who angrily tried to raise awareness about injustice become one of the systems greatest mascots. On the other side was a crowd awaiting the appearance of a man who is destroying it. Issac Bailey is a McClatchy Opinion writer based in Myrtle Beach. Philip Mehrtens with TPNPB fighters in video footage sent to the BBC in February Separatists in Indonesia's Papua region who took a New Zealand pilot hostage in February have told authorities to stop searching for him, and to start negotiating. Philip Mehrtens was kidnapped after landing his plane in Papua's remote mountainous province of Nduga. He is being held by West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) fighters. "The pilot is still with us," TPNPB spokesperson Sebby Sambom told BBC Indonesian in a message. "The Indonesian government has to be bold and sit with us on a negotiation table and not [deploy] military and police to search the pilot," he added. He denied reports that the group was prepared to drop a demand for the Indonesian government to recognise Papuan independence before they could consider freeing him. The Reuters news agency reported on Thursday that Mr Sambom indicated this could be the case. "The demand for Papua's independence has already conveyed from a long time ago. That demand will not be perished, that's the main demand of Papua nation," Mr Sambom said. Previously a Dutch colony, Papua declared independence in 1961, but Indonesia took control two years later. The resource-rich region has been caught in a battle for independence ever since it was brought under Jakarta's formal control in a UN-supervised vote in 1969. Mr Mehrtens was kidnapped after his small passenger plane, which belongs to Indonesia's Susi Air, landed in Nduga in early February. His plane had departed from the Mozes Kilangin airport in Central Papua, and was meant to return a few hours later after dropping off five passengers. But shortly after landing, rebels stormed the single-engine plane and seized the Christchurch native. The TPNPB later told BBC Indonesian that Mr Mehrtens had been moved to a stronghold district for the group in a remote area, and he would be used as "leverage" in political negotiations. The group said the pilot was being held because New Zealand co-operates militarily with Indonesia. The other passengers, who were indigenous Papuans, were released. Story continues Around a week later the separatists released video footage of Mr Mehrtens reading a prepared statement in which he repeated the rebels' demands. Papuan rebels seeking independence from Indonesia have previously issued threats and even attacked aircraft they believe to be carrying personnel and supplies for Jakarta. Conflicts between indigenous Papuans and the Indonesian authorities are common, with pro-independence fighters mounting more frequent attacks since 2018. The region is divided into two provinces, Papua and West Papua. It is separate from Papua New Guinea, which was given independence by Australia in 1975. Got a You shaped hole in your viewing schedule? Prepare to fill it with Obsession, Netflixs new erotic thriller series. Following the success of the Penn Badgley thriller, as well as water-cooler moment shows like Sex/Life, Netflixs latest series promises intrigue, drama and a whole lot of sex. Written by playwright Morgan Lloyd-Malcolm, Obsession focuses on a forbidden affair between top surgeon William (Spooks Richard Armitage) and his adult sons fiancee Anna (Happy Valleys Charlie Murphy). As their attraction grows, so does the shows erotic tension, as William becomes obsessed with Anna and desperate to keep their passionate affair secret. The limited series sees Game of Thrones Indira Varma star as Ingrid, Williams wife, while Ms Marvels Rish Shah plays Williams son, Annas fiance Jay. Pippa Bennett-Warner, Sonera Angel, Anil Goutam and Marion Bailey round out the cast. Obsession is based on Josephine Harts 1991 novel Damage, which was previously adapted into a 1992 film starring Jeremy Irons and Juliette Binoche. However, unlike Harts novel, the Netflix series focuses on Annas perspective. In an interview with Stylist, writer Lloyd-Malcolm explained: I loved the book but it was written entirely from a mans point of view. Anna, his lover, is portrayed as a kind of vamp who comes into the family, blows everything up and then disappears. Her primary function is to serve the purpose of what the male lead needs. Charlie Murphy and Richard Armitage in Obsession (Ana Blumenkron/Netflix) I said, If Im going to do this, I want to make sure I dig into Anna and why she behaves in the way she does. I wanted to try and understand the characters in the story and especially Anna in a way that wasnt just two-dimensional. Like many of Netflixs buzziest thrillers, Obsession features some pretty explicit sex scenes. Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Armitage said that the show was pitched to him with a sense of trepidation due to its explicit nature. Its going to be a challenge, physically. Its nudity parity. (Thats industry speak for full kit off for male and female actors), he said. Story continues Obsession marked the first time Armitage had worked with an intimacy co-ordinator, here Adelaide Waldrop. Intimacy co-ordinators work with actors during sex scenes in film and TV, allowing them to choreograph movement to remove any feeling of spontaneity and check in with them during filming. Richard Armitage in Obsession' (Netflix) Her approach to the work completely changed my viewpoint, Armitage wrote. Id heard other actors talking about the restriction they felt working with intimacy co-ordinators, that they policed the work rather than released the work. I discovered this couldnt have been further from the truth. With a healthy chunk of rehearsal time, we were able to construct a map of investigation for the physical journey on which Anna and William embark. We studied sculpture, dance, poetry, anything we felt might help provide shape and inspiration for the characters physical vocabulary, as they ascend towards their fatal attraction. Obsession comes to Netflix on Friday 13 April. Mykhailo Podoliak, an advisor to the head of the Presidents Office, hints that the materials about the preparation of a Ukrainian counteroffensive, which appeared online as an alleged leak of secret military documents, are hoaxes fabricated by Russian intelligence. Source: Podoliak on Twitter Quote: "Since the USSR collapse, Russian intelligence has degraded to an extent that the only way to redeem themselves after Salisbury, 3-day plans [to capture Kyiv] etc. is a fabrication and virtual fake leaks. Moscow is eager to disrupt the Ukrainian counteroffensive, but it will see the real plans on the ground. Soon." Background: "Classified military documents detailing US and NATO plans to build up the Ukrainian army ahead of a planned counteroffensive" were leaked on Twitter and Telegram. The New York Times wrote that the Pentagon is currently investigating who might have been behind the leak of the documents that appeared on social media. Military analysts told the NYT that some sections of the documents were likely altered, with overstated American estimates of Ukrainian military deaths and understated estimates of Russian military deaths. According to the analysts, these changes may indicate disinformation attempts by Moscow. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Leaders of the largest county at Missouris Lake of the Ozarks say they will not answer questions from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives about local gun businesses. At Thursdays county commission meeting, Presiding Commissioner Ike Skelton notified the public that the ATF had recently sent emails to county staffers asking whether four gun businesses were in compliance with local zoning and business licensing regulations. Skelton said the county would not cooperate and read aloud from a letter he intended to send to the ATF on Camden County letterhead. The commissioner said the ATF had been weaponized under the Biden administration and said he viewed the information request as part of a larger attempt to revoke federal firearm licenses. I believe it is their intent to revoke as many licenses as possible to squeeze them down to the large sellers such as Bass Pro, Academy Sports, things of this nature, so they can keep a very close eye on who is and who is not selling firearms, Skelton said. I think they want to squeeze the small business person out the best possible way they can. John Ham, spokesman for the ATFs Kansas City field division, said the agencys inquiries were routine: the law requires that the ATF check whether gun manufacturers and sellers are in compliance with local zoning and business regulations. The only time those questions are asked, he said, is when the agency is considering issuing new licenses or renewing existing ones. Thats what is prompting our inquiries trying to put people into the firearms business, Ham said. It has nothing to do with taking people out of the firearms business. Reached on the phone Thursday afternoon, Skelton rejected that explanation. I do not trust the ATF at all, he said. I think they will use anything they can to revoke licenses. The presiding commissioner wouldnt elaborate on exactly what information the ATF was seeking. He said more explanation would be provided at a Friday press conference in Camden County. Story continues At the commission meeting, Skelton cited Missouris Second Amendment Preservation Act, which declared certain federal gun laws invalid if they dont have a state-level equivalent. The law has sown confusion among Missouri law enforcement, who questioned how much they could cooperate with federal officials. Following a legal challenge from the U.S. Justice Department, a federal judge overturned the law in March, finding it unconstitutional in its entirety. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey plans to appeal that decision. In early 2021, Camden County passed a local ordinance designating the county as a Second Amendment Sanctuary County. That ordinance states that all local, state and federal rules and laws regarding firearms are a violation of the U.S. Constitutions Second Amendment. The ordinance allows county officials to refuse cooperation with state and federal firearm laws that they view as in violation of gun rights. That ordinance is apparently referenced in Camden Countys letter to the ATF. Therefore I construe any attempt to receive information about our citizens pertaining to firearms as an attempt to coerce our employees to break Missouri law, Skelton read aloud during Thursday mornings meeting. You may consider this letter as a response to your probe. At the morning meeting, commissioners asked Camden County Sheriff Tony Helms what he thought of the letter. You want me to sign? he responded. Ham, the ATF spokesman, said the agency had not yet seen the Camden County letter. But he said hes never heard of this issue arising before in the Kansas City office, which oversees criminal enforcement and industrial regulation in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and the southern half of Illinois. He said regulators across that region have approved 9,760 federal firearm licenses, which must be renewed every three years. This is the first time that its been brought to our attention, he said. So Im not aware of any other government entities not wanting to provide this information. On the phone Thursday, the sheriff said federal law enforcement agencies had been nothing but generous, kind and helpful across his 30-year career at the lake. But he said the ATF has been an exception as of late. I dont know what happened with the ATF, but they got heartburn over the Second Amendment Preservation Act and I havent seen an agent here since then, Helms said. He echoed concerns that the ATF has made politically motivated decisions under President Joe Bidens leadership. But he also worried that the countys refusal to answer the agencys questions could ultimately harm the local gun businesses. I dont want to jam these four businesses up, he said. If we wind up screwing them over and they wind up losing their licenses, I dont want to be the cause of it. Stephanie Siddens is interim state superintendent of the Ohio Department of Education As state lawmakers debate whether to fundamentally change the role of Ohio's top education official, the woman in that position has decided to leave. Stephanie Siddens, who has served as interim state superintendent for nearly two years, is expected to be approved as deputy superintendent for the Upper Arlington School District at its school board meeting Tuesday evening. "Dr. Siddens and Dr. [Kristin] Robbins really stood out in our search to fill these vital roles in our administrative team," Upper Arlington Superintendent Robert Hunt said in a statement. "They will be tremendous assets to Upper Arlington Schools and the community as a whole." Documents posted for the meeting stated Siddens would start in the suburban Columbus district on July 1. Siddens didn't respond to a request for comment but posted on Twitter that it was "an honor to serve the students and schools of Ohio as interim superintendent." Her impending departure comes as Republicans in the House and Senate push forward with legislation to remake how the Ohio Department of Education operates. Senate Bill 1 would strip most educational responsibilities like curricula and long-term planning from a partially elected state board (which hires the state superintendent) and give it to the governor's office. The new director, who would be appointed to a new cabinet position by Gov. Mike DeWine, would oversee the education of Ohio's 1.6 million public schoolchildren. The State Board of Education would be relegated to processing teacher licenses and revocations. And Siddens' current role as state superintendent would become an advisory position, both to the board and the new director. "I feel that the purpose of the legislation is critical to the improvement of the state," bill sponsor Sen. Bill Reineke, R-Tiffin, said when he reintroduced SB 1 in January. More: Ohio Senate trying again for education overhaul giving more power to governor But Democrats have called his plan a political power grab that would restrict the ability of all parents to directly question state educational policies. The current State Board of Education holds monthly meetings where members of the public can testify. Story continues Siddens hasn't publicly commented on the legislation. Politicians and education advocates were quick to wish Siddens their best, including Gov. DeWine. I have nothing but respect for Interim Superintendent Siddens and appreciate her service as acting superintendent," Reineke said in a statement. "It is clear, however, that the governing structure at the Ohio Department of Education does not work. The State Board of Education has had two years to hire a full-time leader and has failed. Others, like Ohio Education President Scott DiMauro, were "disappointed" to see her go. "She has provided steady leadership during a time of uncertainty over the future of the department," he said. "I wish her nothing but the best." When asked whether that uncertainty might have contributed to the move from overseeing the state's education policy to serving as a local assistant superintendent, DiMaure said, "It wouldn't surprise me, but I really don't know." Anna Staver is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio. Get more political analysis by listening to the Ohio Politics Explained podcast This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State Superintendent leaves as GOP pushes for education overhaul WASHINGTON It always happens in the cereal aisle. Chris Sununu can never figure out which brand his children want. So, he scans, mindlessly, up and down the aisle. Other shoppers usually recognize the amiable Republican politician, who has governed New Hampshire for more than six years and could launch a 2024 bid for president. Frequently, they stop to talk to him. People are like: 'Oh, wait, he's got a minute. He's not making his choice, Sununu says. So, people will come up to me in the cereal aisle. That seems to be the thing. Sometimes, his constituents just want to say hello. Other times, they apologize for interrupting his personal time and ask him for help with a problem such as veterans benefits. When that happens, Sununu pulls out his cellphone, takes notes and asks for the shoppers contact information. People come up that are frustrated because something isn't working. But they're always very respectful, he says. I don't think they're angry at me. I think they're angry sometimes when the system isn't working, and they have every right to be so, and that's why I'm there. Sununu prides himself on his old-fashioned retail politics skills, which he is determined to prove can be a winning strategy for the modern-day GOP. He sees a viable pathway to his partys presidential nomination that runs through voters' living rooms, if they like what they hear during Republican primary debates. New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu waits for the start of a meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and governors visiting from states around the country in the East Room of the White House on February 10, 2023 in Washington, DC. In an extensive interview with USA TODAY, in which he outlined a potential 2024 campaign, Sununu, 48, emphasized his accessibility and capacity to connect with a range of voters. Drawing on his background as a former CEO and current governor of the first-in-the-nation primary state, he presented himself as a conservative alternative to the races front-runners. His campaign would be a long shot, if he jumps into the fray, given the hold that former President Donald Trump and his next closest rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, have on the Republican electorate. But Sununu is betting that his regular guy approach can win out over celebrity star power and incessant media attention. Story continues Sununu says he has until August to enter the race in order to participate in the first GOP primary debate. He said he expects the sparring match, which the national party has said will be held in Milwaukee, to take place toward the end of the month. I'd love to get on the debate stage with those guys, he said. That would be fun. New Hampshire primary: 'We're going first no matter what.' NH governor rules out idea of moving presidential primary Hes likely to face stiff competition from a gaggle of other Republicans who governed their states and may compete for the White House. The group includes DeSantis, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and former Vice President Mike Pence. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley have already announced their candidacies. All of the candidates will be competing for support in a fixed universe of Republican voters roughly half of whom say they are supporting Trump. Some in the party who want a different nominee worry the former president will prevail in a divided field. I don't believe in getting on stage to blow people up, Sununu said. But if getting on the stage can help me direct the conversation back to those Republican fundamentals that we can all agree on, and I can get a lot of people excited, well, then there's value in doing that. Sununu said his mission after the midterm elections was, initially, to help the GOP become more likable and develop a better message. Election losses in 2022 demonstrated a need for the party to field strong candidates who appeal to independents and younger voters, he said. With other potential candidates who had been campaigning in early states for some time failing to take off, Sununu said, Republicans began indicating their openness to supporting his vision. It's not a campaign that I'm worried about. There's an opportunity to lead a movement here. The new Republican. The next generation of Republican. Not just younger, by next generation, but in terms of approach, policy, sensibilities, fiscal discipline, limited government. 2024 Exclusive: Don't ban TikTok from Americans' phones, says NH governor and possible 2024 GOP candidate Old-fashioned politics, a modern-day GOP Sununus push for the Republican Party to reengage in the type of retail politicking that wins candidates early contests in states such as Iowa and New Hampshire is not without merit, GOP strategists said. Trump, in his first campaign, joined events such as the Iowa State Fair. He grabbed headlines during the visit for giving children free helicopter rides. After he won the White House, Trump leaned into monster-sized rallies and made fewer individual connections. That strategy is viewed among Republicans as a factor in Trump losing his 2020 reelection bid. While he is still holding large rallies, Trump is also trying to build rapport directly with supporters in his current campaign. On a recent trip to Iowa, he visited a diner. At his rally, he took attendees' questions from the stage. I think retail politics is still very important. Its certainly more important to some candidates than others, as far as driving earned media. Obviously Trump doesnt need to do it to get media attention, but hes actually a very skilled retail politician, said Andy Surabian, a Republican strategist who advises former president Trump's son Don Jr. So I think its been shrewd of him to do more of these smaller-scale events instead of just the typical rallies. 2024 Exclusive:: Absorb the blows: How Asa Hutchinson says he'll handle Trump's withering attacks in 2024 Former President Donald Trump speaks at the New Hampshire Republican State Committee's Annual Meeting on Jan. 28 in Salem, New Hampshire. Trump and his supporters say establishment Republicans, including Sununu, who are pushing the party to ignore cultural issues and focus on an economic message are stuck in the past, however. Most voters are not looking for a GOP candidate who can be a steady hand and will compromise with Democrats to pass good legislation, anti-Trump Republican strategist Sarah Longwell concurred. They're looking for somebody who is going to aggressively take the fight to their enemies. And I don't think that's who Chris Sununu is. Longwell, who has been holding focus groups with two-time Trump voters across the nation, said many Republicans switched to DeSantis because he is Trump without the baggage," and they generally see former administration officials such as Pence and Haley as candidates from the before times. I think that if you're Chris Sununu and you think 'Hey, I'm a nice guy, I do a good job in New Hampshire, people like me, Im popular here, I should be able to apply that nationally,' she said, I think one of the reasons that one could forgive him for thinking that is that maybe he hasn't spent a ton of time talking to GOP voters in Alabama or in Texas or lots of other places that are not as interested in his New Hampshire style of politics. Trump on the stump: 'We're here:' Donald Trump hits the campaign trail again in New Hampshire, South Carolina One advantage Sununu has, GOP strategists said, is hes unknown to many Republicans and still has an opportunity to define himself. In a Quinnipiac University national poll of Republican and Republican-leaning voters released last week, he registered 1% support. He was not alone. Pence and Haley had single-digit support. Other candidates did worse. DeSantis, who had 33% backing, was the only candidate in the double digits aside from Trump, who led the field with 47% of the GOP electorate in the survey. For now, Sununu says, hes watching how DeSantis and other likely candidates perform during trips to states that hold contests at the front of the GOPs nominating contest. If that's the Plan B to former President Trump and that doesn't pan out, weve got a problem as a party, Sununu said. Sununu broke with Trump over Jan. 6 and a call to terminate the U.S. Constitution. He has occasionally clashed with DeSantis and has criticized the fellow Republican governor's use of state authority to regulate Disney after the company opposed his LGBTQ policies. He said that while he and DeSantis disagree on policy and approach, the Florida governor, who has focused his pitch on so-called culture-war issues, would make a fine and even a good president. But, he said, DeSantis, and other anticipated candidates, will have to visit 99 counties in Iowa and have coffee with folks in their living rooms in New Hampshire. They still have to earn it as much as anybody. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chris Sununu's mission: Use old-school politics against Trump in 2024 First Train Arrives In Kherson From Kyiv After Ukraine Reclaims Occupied Areas Oksana Shevluga waits on the platform to be reunited with her daughter Nastia on November 19, 2022 in Kherson, Ukraine. The Ukrainian rail network worked quickly to restore rail links between Kyiv and this regional capital, which was occupied by Russian forces for eight months following their February 24 invasion. Credit - Chris McGrathGetty Images Hundreds, if not thousands of Ukrainian parents dont know where their children are. And for many, the answer is terrifying: across the frontlines and scattered across Russia, a 6.6 million square mile country that has invaded their homeland. This is the result, Ukraine and international observers say, of a systematic effort at the highest levels of the Russian government to separate Ukrainian children from their families and their identity as Ukrainians. While Russia has contended that it has relocated children in an effort to protect them, it does not appear to be making an effort to reunite the children with their parents. Instead, observers say, it appears to be working to erase their identity through re-education and integration into Russian families. These accusations have led the International Criminal Court to charge Russian President Vladimir Putin with violations of international law, alongside Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, the Commissioner for Childrens Rightswho adopted a Ukrainian child herself and is thought to be leading the program. Such crimes against children, some experts say, may even be evidence of genocide. Those who are unable to rescue their children themselves must turn to others for help, including the charity Save Ukraine. Founded in 2014, the NGO has helped about 90,000 people escape the conflict in the last year. It also provided many families with short and long-term shelter and rehabilitation services to help them rebuild their lives, including trauma therapy, education and job services. Recently, Save Ukraine launched an even more daunting project: rescuing Ukrainian children who have been taken into Russia and Russian-occupied territory, says Save Ukraines founder, Mykola Kubela, who served as the childrens ombudsman for the president of Ukraine from 2014 to 2021. Traveling by plane or bus, it has shepherded dozens of desperate relatives through Poland and Belarus to circumvent the front lines and then into enemy territory. Over the last year the group says theyve brought 95 children home from Russia and Russian-occupied territory. Story continues According to Kuleba, while there are still thousands of children to be saved, their work is only becoming more difficult. A Ukrainian national database has identified over 19,000 children who have been deported to Russia, and the locations of thousands more is unknown. And as time goes by, Kuleba says that children are becoming harder to find as Russia works to erase their identities, including by placing them in adoptive families and changing their names. Kuleba spoke to TIME in March from a Save the Childrens shelter in Kyivwhere 200 women and children are currently livingabout the obstacles his organization faces rescuing thousands of others. This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity. TIME: How do you bring children back from Russia? Kubela: It is a very complicated process. Its very hard to find these children if they are in Russia. They try to hide the children, or they send the children to Russian families to adopt them, place them under guardianship or foster care. Just yesterday, we returned one childa 14-year-old boy, Konstantinfrom Anapa, in Russia. He was abducted from occupied territory in the Kherson region; hed been in a reeducation camp for several months. The Russians said they will not return him, and if nobody comes, he will be adopted. He only had a father, but hes very sick, and he had several sisters, and they were afraid to go to Russia. Theyre a very poor family, and they had to spend thousands of dollars to cross several borders to reach Anapa. Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Maria Lvova-Belova, Russian children's rights commissioner, at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, on February 16, 2023. Mikhail MetzelSputnik/AFP/Getty Images [His 18-year-old sister] was in a group of mothers and relatives that rescued 17 children. [She] successfully reached the facility, and we helped her to negotiate there. He had been in a foster family for two weeks. They brainwashed him, and when she found him, he told her, I dont want to return to Ukraine. My parents told me that if I return back, Ukrainian Nazis will kill me because I was in Russia. He told her, if I agree to receive status as an orphan, the Russian government will help me. They will give me a flat; they will keep giving me money; they will put me in a technical school. She worked with him for three days. She told him, Youre crazy. Im your sister, your father is dying. He wants to be with you. She worked with him for three days to convince him that he can successfully and safely return to Ukraine. And just yesterday, they crossed the border. What kind of obstacles do you face? All the time, we have to change our routes, because every time, the Russians try to block our missions. We do it differently every time. I cant tell you a lot, but we have guys who were arrested in Belarus. Its very dangerous for anybody who tries to help anything having to do with Ukrainians there. Thats why we have to carefully plan our missions, because it could be very dangerous for these mothers and for children, or for any people who can provide support. How do you locate children in Russian territory? We use different tools. First of all, we have a hotline through which we receive information from people who are in Ukraine or abroad. Because were the biggest NGO in Ukraine who provides rescue missions, rescuing people from combat zones, many people know us and send us information about children who were deported. Very often, the children who were returned report to us about other children who stayed in their facilities in Russia or Crimea, and then we find their relatives. Or, when relatives ask us to find a child, we find them through other children. Just two hours ago, I talked with a journalist who told me she knows the father of a boy being held in a facility in Russia. We recognized information about that boywe just returned another child from the facility who knew the boy was being held there, and theyre communicating through social media. Our next steps will be to communicate with the father, and take him on our next rescue mission. And to return that boy from the Russian Federation. Very many children who are staying in Russia dont know where their parents are. We try to find their parents, but they could be in occupied territories, or in the Russian Federation, or they could have been killed. Or imprisoned. They could be in filtration camps. Sometimes we know information about the child, but we dont know anything about the parents. Does paperwork pose a problem? Yes. For example, we prepare international passports for all these parents. For many of them, its their first trip to Russia or to Europebecause we go through Poland, Belarus. They are very poor families, and very often, they have no documents. Thats why we have to help them to receive documents for a child, and receive legal permission from different government organizations. Without documents, its impossible to bring a child back. If children are orphans, or if you cant find their parents, are you thinking about ways to bring them back in the future? Its a very hard question. Last year, Putin signed legislation in May which simplifies receiving Russian citizenship, to simplify the procedure of adoption. Through the adoption process, Russia can change the last name and date of birth of any child to give them Russian citizenship. After that, the child can disappear in Russiaespecially little kids. Thats why we have to hurry to return them to Ukraine. It is our goal to raise awareness about what Russia is doing with our children, with our families, how they try to destroy Ukrainian identity and Russify our children. It is genocide. What do you think the world needs to do to bring the children home? First of all, to help us to fight with Russia, to de-occupy our territories, to clean our land from Russia. Secondthe ICCs decision on President Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova was a very good sign for us, because it was the beginning of the process of punishing them as war criminals. After that, maybe we will receive our children back, and they will be returned. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mobilised police and army reserves late Friday after one man was killed and five people were wounded in a car-ramming attack in central Tel Aviv. The Magen David Adom emergency service said in a statement a man aged about 30 had been declared dead and five others were taken to hospital with moderate injuries after the attack. "All the victims were tourists," it added, without providing details on their nationalities. Three of them, including a 17-year-old, were moderately injured, while two had light injuries, the rescue service added. A police spokesman meanwhile told AFP "the terrorist was neutralised, it was a terror attack against civilians, a car ramming attack". Netanyahu ordered the mobilisation of police and army reserves following the attack, his office said in a statement. Earlier Friday, two British-Israeli sisters aged 16 and 20 were killed and their mother seriously wounded in a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for either attack. The attacks came hours after Israel bombarded Lebanon following rocket fire from there that the army blamed on Palestinian militants. The violence comes amid an upsurge in tensions during Jewish, Muslim and Christian religious holidays. It follows the storming early Wednesday by Israeli riot police of the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, Islam's third holiest site. bur-cgo/mj/jsa/srm Florin Iordache and his wife Cristina (Monalisa) first applied for asylum in Canada in 2018 Five years ago, a young Romanian couple arrived in Canada hoping for a new life. But their dream of fresh beginnings came to a tragic end when their bodies, and those of their two children, were recovered from the cold waters of the St Lawrence River. Police believe they, along with a family from India, were making a desperate attempt to reach the US. Florin Iordache and his wife, Cristina (Monalisa) Zenaida, both 28, landed in Toronto some five years ago, part of a wave of Romanians who arrived to claim asylum in 2018 in Canada after it waived visa requirements for visitors from that country. The couple were from the Roma community, an ethnic group that has been persecuted and discriminated against in Romania and parts of Europe. Mr Iordache - like many in the Roma community - lacked access to a good education, forcing him to take odd jobs in construction to make ends meet, his lawyer Peter Ivyani told the BBC. "He and his family were physically assaulted several times in their teens, and then young adulthood," he said his client told him. "So when the visa (requirement) was lifted, they took advantage to flee." But Mr Iordache failed to show up to a hearing for first asylum claim, leaving it abandoned, Mr Ivyani said, noting that he had then lost touch with the family. He later learned that Mr Iordache was arrested in 2018 by American authorities for trying to cross unlawfully into the US, likely an attempt to join family who had settled in Florida. Mr Iordache filed a second refugee claim after that incident, in 2020, but just over a year later, he and Monalisa, their first-born in tow, were stopped as they tried once again to cross into the US. According to a report in the Toronto Star, the family was arrested in Washington State and they were returned to Canada, where Mr Iordache was detained. During his detention review, Mr Iordache claimed he was not crossing the US to seek asylum, but that his family was making a trip to a nearby park and crossed the border accidentally due to a GPS error. Story continues An adjudicator with Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board, however, did not believe him. Mr Ivyani resumed contact with the Iordache family last year to help them submit a pre-removal risk assessment, a last-ditch effort to prove to Canadian authorities the family would be in danger if they were deported. In late March, Mr Iordache learned the application to defer he and his wife's removal had been denied. Last week, their bodies were found in the St Lawrence River near the US-Canada border, along with those of their two Canadian-born children, aged one and two. The bodies of Pravin Chaudhary, 50, his wife Diksha, 45, their son Meet, 20, and their daughter Vidhi, 24, who were from the state of Gujarat in India, were also recovered from the water. Both families are believed to have died trying to reach the US when the boat they were on capsized. Canadian police are still searching for a missing local boater, Casey Oakes, 30, who they believe may be connected to the incident. Mr Ivyani said he did not know the family was planning to take the dangerous trip across the border. Florin Iordache's lawyer believes the family may have been trying to reunite with relatives in the US after learning of their imminent deportation Despite his earlier missteps, Mr Ivyani said Mr Iordache tried to do his best to secure a safe life for his family, especially after his the birth of his two children. "He did everything he could to try to secure not just his and his wife's future in Canada, but to prevent his kids from having to experience what he did, which is extreme discrimination and persecution in Romania," Mr Ivyani said. "I can't know for sure, but I'm speculating that the unfortunate decision they made was not selfish." Death of Indian family leaves relatives in despair Less is known about why the Chaudhary family, who came to Canada on visitor visas, were attempting to get to the US. Relatives told the BBC that the family was from Manekpur Dabhala village in Mehsana district of Gujarat. They said the family had left for Canada on 3 February. Mr Chaudhary was a farmer who appeared to have been doing well prior to leaving India. "As far as we knew, they only went to Canada and did not have any plans to go to the US," Mr Chaudhary's cousin, Jasubhai Chaudhary, said. Jasubhai Chaudhary said he feared his family members were among the dead after heard that the bodies of four Indian nationals were found in Canada. "I was worried and called him," he said. "But he didn't answer." Their worst fears were confirmed when Canadian police sent an email notifying them about the deaths. Their bodies are now in the process of being returned to India. The Chaudharys are the second family from Gujarat to have died near the US-Canada border. In January 2022, a family of four was found frozen to death in Manitoba near North Dakota. They were also believed to be trying to enter the US. Locals have told the BBC that people in Gujarat dream of moving to foreign countries, especially the US, in hope of a better life. Some even fall victim to human smugglers in their desire to reach their goals. In recent months, unlawful crossings through the US-Canada border have been on the rise. Authorities in Akwesasne, where the bodies were found, said the area is popular human smugglers because of its geography - the Mohawk territory sits between Ontario and Quebec in Canada and the US state of New York. Police there have made 48 interceptions involving 80 people trying to enter the US since January. With reporting from Roxy Gagdekar in Gujarat One person was taken to the hospital after a reported pedestrian strike off North Main Street in Dayton late Thursday night. Dayton police were called to the crash at Santa Clara Avenue and N. Main St. around 10:50 p.m., according to Montgomery County Regional Dispatch. >>At least 3 hurt following crash involving RTA bus Medics took the victim to Miami Valley Hospital for their injuries. Dispatch was unable to release the condition of the victim. Further details have not been made available at this time. We will update this story once we learn more. Judge's gavel Community organizer and one-time state representative candidate John H. Keating II, formerly of Springfield, received three years probation for his part in a fire at an Illinois State Fair stand in 2021. The negotiated plea came after a "402 conference" before Sangamon County Judge Adam Giganti on Tuesday. A "402 conference" involves the judge, the prosecutor, the defendant and defense attorney and is designed to gauge a sentencing range if a defendant pleads guilty. Keating, 35, was charged with arson and criminal damage to property. The indictment said Keating was "legally responsible" for the fire at the stand that sold clothing and was owned by Gary McNeal. More: Incentive package for Wyndham City Centre will go to new city council, developer frustrated Keating was required to pay $11,000 in restitution. The Defendant accepted responsibility by pleading guilty as charged on both counts," said Mary Beth Rodgers, Chief of the Felony Division for the Sangamon County States Attorneys Office who handled the case. "After the Judge advised he would likely impose a sentence of 36 months of probation and full restitution following any conviction, the parties resolved the matter on the terms outlined by the Judge." Zakary Bunt, 20, of Hot Springs, Ark., also was sentenced to three years probation after a negotiated plea on Jan. 25, 2022. Bunt, who also has to pay restitution, will have to register as an arsonist. Bunt was a carnival worker at the fair. Keating had a running feud with one of the workers of the stand, Daniel Richards. An August 2020 altercation between the two in downtown Springfield led Richards to being charged with two counts of aggravated battery and two counts of battery. In a bench trial before Sangamon County Judge Raylene Grischow last month, Richards was found guilty of one count of aggravated battery and one count of battery. Richards will be sentenced on June 21. Keating finished third in the 96th District state representative race in 2020 behind Democrat incumbent Sue Scherer and Republican Charlie McGorray. Keating ran as a Green Party candidate. Story continues Keating co-founded the group Education and Action Together (E.A.T.) in 2020. E.A.T. addresses peoples civil rights and interaction with police through a series of teach-ins. He was also prominent in a number of rallies at the state Capitol following the May 25, 2020, death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and as a counter protester at Reopen Illinois rallies. Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie. This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Keating gets three years probation in Illinois State Fair arson case In this Jan. 6, 2012 file photo, the Boston city skyline is illuminated at dusk as it reflects off the waters of Boston Harbor. A random hotel guest in Boston was detained by federal agents who barged into his hotel room late at night Tuesday and spent an hour there before the agents realized they had the wrong room number and wrong man. On April 5 at about 12:20 a.m., FBI agents and military personnel participating in a training exercise made a surprise entrance into room 1505 at the tony Revere Hotel near the Boston Common. It was meant to simulate a situation they "might encounter in a deployed environment," officials told USA TODAY. Except the drill wasn't in room 1505. And the guy in the room wasn't the role player in on the simulation. "They were mistakenly sent to the wrong room," according to a statement from the FBI. While there, the federal authorities detained the room's occupant in an incident that appeared to stretch on for longer than an hour, a police report shows. Someone called 911. When Boston Police arrived, they confirmed it was a botched federal training exercise. Delta Airlines confirmed in a statement to USA TODAY that the unsuspecting guest who was detained in his hotel room was actually a pilot with the company. "Delta leaders are in regular contact with our pilot and we remain committed to providing support as needed," the airline said. CBS Boston was first to report on the unusual incident. 'Essential military training' The FBI said in the statement provided to USA TODAY that it is reviewing the incident in conjunction with the Pentagon. "Safety is always a priority of the FBI, and our law enforcement partners," the agency said. "We take these incidents very seriously." Members of the US Army Special Operations Command were conducting essential military training in Boston on Tuesday with local FBI agents, Lieutenant Colonel Mike Burns at U.S. Army Special Operations Command told The Boston Globe. The training was meant to enhance soldiers skills to operate in realistic and unfamiliar environments, Burns said. The training team, unfortunately, entered the wrong room and detained an individual unaffiliated with the exercise. Story continues The Globe reported Burns said "this serious incident" is under review. First and foremost, wed like to extend our deepest apologies to the individual who was affected by the training exercise, he said. The safety of civilians in vicinity of our training is always our number one concern, Burns added. We are reviewing this serious incident with our partners and no further details will be released at this time. Contributing: Jeanine Santucci This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Federal agents raid wrong hotel room, detain airline pilot for an hour Im Brian Gordon, tech reporter for The News & Observer, and this is Open Source, a weekly newsletter of business, labor and technology in North Carolina. 919-719-5295 Dial that number, and youll hear a remnant from an earlier internet. Its the drawn-out beeps and screeches of a dial-up modem. The sounds are like an arcade game mixed with a car crash. It may spark nostalgia, but its not pleasant. While grabbing coffee with a friend earlier this week, he mentioned an internet provider called NetZero might still offer dial-up service in the Triangle. I was shocked, but sure enough, the company lists several access numbers with 919 area codes. I called NetZero, and after a long hold, a representative told me dial-up service could be mine if I had an active land line (I dont). But is anyone in North Carolina still using dial-up? And if so, why? Before broadband, dial-up service was how most people got online. According to data from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, dial-up usage peaked in the early 2000s at 44.5 million households. As anyone older than Gen Z knows, dial-up didnt let you talk on the phone and use the internet at the same time, as it required a traditional phone line to connect to the outside internet. Very frustrating, especially when your sister wouldnt get off the phone. But the dial-up industry started to crater around 2002 and for good reason. Alternatives arrived that were simply better. Today, theres fixed wireless and satellite. As for wired options that run directly into homes, people might use digital subscriber lines (DSL), coaxial cables, or fiber. Each has its drawbacks, but one thing they share is being less obsolete than dial-up. Im not sure who would find (dial-up) to be a good alternative, said Mark Johnson, a former chief technology officer at MCNC, a Research Triangle Park nonprofit that supports broadband access in North Carolina. I cant think of an obvious reason. You can get a low-end smart phone that will get you internet service. Story continues Yet some North Carolina residents appear to still be using dial-up. The North Carolina Department of Information Technology runs an ongoing broadband survey, and it updates the results daily. Out of 97,700 total responses, 434 said they use dial-up. Thats 0.4% of respondents. For context, more than 10 times as many North Carolinians said they had no internet at all. With such a small sample size, its difficult to identify dial-up trends. However, great numbers of people in the rural, mountainous counties of Western North Carolina said they had dial-up than in the more populous core Triangle counties of Wake, Durham, and Orange. For example, Buncombe County (home of Asheville) had 24 respondents say dial-up. Wake County only had nine. According to federal data, 6,760 North Carolina residents were using dial-up service at their homes as of November 2021. That statistic was brought to my attention by reporter Jeremy Markovich, who writes the offbeat newsletter North Carolina Rabbit Hole. If you know someone still using dial-up, please let me know. You can email or call or probably do both at the same time. The Center of Digital Equity is working to bring critically needed technology, computers and digital literacy to residents in Mecklenburg County. Delaware remains the corporate king Duke Energy and Bank of America have their headquarters in Charlotte while Pendo, Bandwidth and First Citizens Bank are in Raleigh. Yet these well-known North Carolina companies, and many others, actually incorporate in another state: Delaware. The small coastal state is the go-to place for company formation. Delaware has more business entities (1.8 million) than residents (1 million). Its home to two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies and scores of startups. Why? In short: courts, taxes, privacy and laws. North Carolina is working to keep up. The Tar Heel State has grown its business court considerably since a single judge launched it 25 years ago. And several major companies like PepsiCo, Truist, Lowes incorporate here today. But overall, Delaware remains the corporation king. And its not very close. Charlotte-based Bank of America is one of many North Carolina companies that are incorporated in Delaware. Google Fiber says its disrupting less After a years-long pause, Google Fiber is again growing in the Triangle, and neighbors are bracing for construction disruptions. Theres going to be hiccups, Hillsborough Mayor Jenn Weaver told me. This is what weve seen from our neighboring communities that have gone through this. Since making a big entrance in 2015, Google Fiber slowed development after residents complained of damaged utility lines and long installation times. If we have a vision for fiber-optic ubiquity across this country, we needed to rethink how we construct, said Jess George, head of government and community affairs for Google Fibers East region. So essentially, we took a step away from active construction. Google now utilizes shallow construction, George says, to minimize issues. Extending Googles fiber optic cables still involves plenty of digging, but Mayor Weaver believes its a worthy inconvenience for more high-speed internet. p.s. Apex resident Jeremy Davis shared this photo of Google Fiber recently being installed near his yard. They mostly did a pretty good job preserving and replacing the turf to cover what they dug up, he said. I was pleasantly surprised by that. Apex resident Jeremy Davis shared this photo of Google Fiber being installed near his yard. They mostly did a pretty good job preserving and replacing the turf to cover what they dug up, he said. Short stuff: NCs new richest man In 2022, Epic Games founder Tim Sweeney unseated SAS Institute founder Jim Goodnight as the wealthiest North Carolina resident. This week, Goodnight took back the top spot on the annual Forbes list. SAS CEO Jim Goodnight speaks to the media at a ceremony dedicating a new building on the SAS campus in Cary on Oct. 21, 2014. Its not in Kansas anymore. The regulatory consulting firm ProPharma will relocate its global headquarters from a Kansas City suburb to downtown Raleigh. The Triangle Tweener Fund, which invests in local early-stage tech startups, added 10 new portfolio companies in the first quarter of 2023. The fund says it invested $675,000 across 12 new investments. National Tech Happenings: AI edition Deep fake images of Donald Trumps arraignment are spreading around the internet. AI image generators like Midjourney have been tricking people with false images, including of the former president. For example, this photo is not real : This is fake. Stanford University released its 2023 Artificial Intelligence Index Report which shows North Carolina is just outside the top 10 for AI job postings Google will add AI chat to its search engine, Sundar Pichai told The Wall Street Journal. Thanks for reading! This story was produced with financial support from a coalition of partners led by Innovate Raleigh as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The N&O maintains full editorial control of the work. Open Source Do you enjoy Triangle tech news? Subscribe to Open Source, The News & Observer's weekly technology newsletter and look for it in your inbox every Friday morning. Sign up here. 2023. A year of celebrations for service women. 75 years since the Womens Armed Services Integration Act was enacted. 50 years since the Navy allowed women to fly Navy aircraft. Ten years since all military jobs were opened to women. Yet women still face a far different reality when serving than men. The Department of Defense has not achieved true integration but has merely accommodated service womens existence in its ranks. Just look at how many entities the Pentagon has established to monitor the integration of women: the Navys Office of Womens Policy, the Coast Guards Advisory Board on Women in the Coast Guard, the Army Womens Initiatives Team, the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services, the Secretary of Defense Women in the Service Working Group, and the list goes on. It wasnt supposed to take this long. In 1948, the military was directed to integrate women into the services a late-breaking acknowledgement of the ranks of women who contributed throughout World War II, like the Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASPs, who ferried aircraft from factories to military bases, ensuring aircraft availability for the war effort. Despite wearing uniforms and meeting military standards, these remarkable women were not officially part of the military. In fact, WASPs who perished during their service did not receive any military death benefits. None were entitled to use the GI Bill. It wasnt until 1977, decades after the WASPs were disbanded, that their service was finally recognized by Congress. And it was not until 1975, some 27 years after the order to integrate women, that women were permitted to attend any of the military academies. Women were not allowed to fly Navy and Army aircraft until 1973. The Air Force and Coast Guard finally followed in 1976. Women were not allowed to fly combat aircraft until 1993, some 45 years after the passage of the 1948 act. One of the most monumental policy changes came in 2013 when then-Secretary of Defense Leo Panetta lifted the ban on women serving in combat, eliminating all policy barriers to women serving in all military jobs. But those efforts met with friction. Most vocally, the Marine Corps, which resisted womens integration into its combat jobs. Defense Secretary Ash Carter doubled down on the policy in 2015, ordering the services to open all combat jobs to women. Story continues Still, in the last eight years, service women have seen more inclusive policies: women can wear their hair in ponytails and braids instead of a bun, which got in the way of flight helmets and night vision goggles or got caught when scrambling into Kevlar protective gear. As an outcome of the 101st Air Force uniform board, Air Force women are now allowed to wear their hair in one or two braids, in accordance with policy that went in effect on Feb. 10, 2021. (Chief Master Sgt. Jaimee Freeman/Air Force) The Air Force recently rewrote policies to allow pregnant aviators to return to flight status after consultation with medical providers, eliminating the ban on flying while pregnancy. The Army recently rolled out a comprehensive policy on pregnancy, post-partum and parenthood, overhauling policies impacting women. But none of the other services have made these same changes to date. Why are we still confronting these basic issues 75 years after the order to integrate women? Did most of the DoD assume that women would tough it out and figure out how to live in a mans world? Did most of the DoD assume women would grow tired of a system that is not built for them and leave? The idea that the caliber of the military will somehow become less than by the integration of women is simply not reality. Women have shown they can meet the same job standards required of men. The integration of women does not require standards to be lowered. Women work operational missions while pregnant and while balancing the demands of parenthood and career. The difference between accommodation and integration is simple. When equipment, uniforms and aircraft are designed for men, so women aviators have to puzzle out how to use the bathroom on an aircraft, then we know integration has not been realized. When a lactation space is an afterthought rather than an assumed requirement, childcare is by default a womens issue and women still must fight for equity in policy and culture, it is clear that women have been accommodated, not integrated. Some critics believe the DoD should not be focused on diversity and inclusion but instead should focus on the lethality of the joint force as it competes with our strategic competitors. It is not only incorrect, but naive and shortsighted to not realize they are one and the same. These are readiness issues. Women make up roughly 19.35% of the military. If roughly 19% of the military is not combat ready, then that is 19% less combat capability available to fight our adversaries. And at a time when 77% of the population is not eligible for military service, we need every person who can meet those standards. Barriers faced by service women get in the way of our readiness. And our lethality. Sam Sliney is a mother of two and wife to an Army Green Beret. Since 2014, she has served in the U.S. Air Force as a Judge Advocate. She is currently assigned to a Special Operations Forces unit where she provides legal advice on a wide array of legal issues to include operations and international law. Sam is passionate about creating an inclusive Department of the Air Force and Department of Defense to increase lethality of the joint force. Specifically, she advocates for equitable support and accessibility for women during all phases of womanhood, particularly pregnancy and post-partum. These views are solely those of the author, and do not purport to be the views of the Department of Defense or the U.S. government. Have an opinion? This article is an Op-Ed and as such, the opinions expressed are those of the author. If you would like to respond, or have an editorial of your own you would like to submit, please email us. Want more perspectives like this sent straight to you? Subscribe to get our Commentary & Opinion newsletter once a week. Israeli police arrest a Palestinian woman at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound following a raid at the site in the Old City of Jerusalem during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Wednesday, April 5, 2023. Palestinian media reported police attacked Palestinian worshippers, raising fears of wider tension as Islamic and Jewish holidays overlap. At the convergence of Lent/Easter, Passover and Ramadan, this season marks the holiest time of the year for the three Abrahamic religions. It is a time of spiritual introspection, gratitude and peace. Christians, Jews and Muslims across the world observe this with its due reverence and rituals. As a Muslim American living in a predominantly Christian country, Ive been privileged to sit with my Christian friends and share the experience of our respective fasts. Ive enjoyed hearing from my Jewish friends about how the Passover celebrates the removal of the oppression endured by the Jews in ancient Egypt. Ive also been honored to share my Ramadan experience and how it fulfills one of our commandments from God, all the while bringing us closer to Him in praise and gratitude. A common thread in all our religions is the pursuit of justice. I have stood shoulder to shoulder with my interfaith friends, standing against anti-Semitism, racial injustice, Islamophobia and other forms of discrimination. I have been deeply moved by the level of support when Muslims have been victimized by white supremacists, faced negative rhetoric, or been subject to unfair policies by my Christian and Jewish friends. It is a uniquely American experience to share this collaboration. Muslims and Jews share the common greeting of salam or shalom, which literally means peace. This pursuit of peace is another common thread within our faith communities. We strive to attain this peace both within ourselves, and amongst each other. Our faith teaches us that God created us in different nations so that we may learn from one another. It is often a challenge to overcome our differences in our journey to unite for the common good. This aspiration is the most difficult to achieve during these divided times. As we see in the world around us, global politics have sabotaged our efforts to attain peace. Israeli police deploy in the Old City of Jerusalem, hours after police raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Wednesday, April 5, 2023. All faith traditions share a reverence for sacred spaces and houses of worship. We have all been horrified when murderers enter these spaces and cause destruction. Rightfully, we come together and condemn these atrocities. It is against humanitys pursuit of justice and peace to ignore these acts, and we should continue to universally condemn this. Story continues And yet, what is now becoming a sad Ramadan tradition, we are forced to witness the devastation of what happens to our fellow worshippers in Masjid Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. It profoundly hurts us to see our fellow worshippers being terrorized by raids, intimidation and destruction. The images of worshippers shackled and forced to lay face down on the ground is an outrage. It is against the aspirations of justice, peace and harmony we all strive to attain. Over and over, when members of my faith tradition commit acts of terror, we are called upon to condemn it. We will continue to do so as any act of terror is contrary to our faith. Today, I am calling upon all faith voices to put politics aside, condemn this violation and recommit to preserve the sanctity of houses of worship. Doing so will validate the decades of interfaith work we have done in this region and beyond. Wishing everyone peace and prosperity during this blessed season. Dr. Samina Sohail is a board member at the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati and a member of Equasion's "A Mighty Stream" Racial Justice Initiative. Dr. Samina Sohail This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Opinion: Faith community must condemn raids at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque If Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to live up to his reputation as an opponent of Big Oil, he'll have to tackle the thousands of abandoned oil wells in Kern County and other California communities. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) California politicians promise to protect the environment a lot more than they actually do. For environmental advocates like me, reconciling a politician's public statements on environmental issues with their actions doesn't take much time: Simply put, there is no reconciling them. Gov. Gavin Newsoms stance on oil and gas is no exception. Late last year, the governor called for a special legislative session to hold oil and gas companies accountable for gouging California consumers when gasoline prices spiked last fall by imposing a penalty on excess profits. The bill that came out of the session in March fell short of the governors goals, settling for requiring more industry transparency. Environmental groups, including Sierra Club California, nevertheless supported the measure as a step toward regulating an industry that was hurting the working class and overheating the planet at the same time. Newsom himself announced a new sheriff in town and claimed to have brought Big Oil to their knees. And yet his administration continues to capitulate to the oil industry in other important ways. Newsom's public determination to take on this industry differs significantly from what goes on behind closed doors. For instance, after the fossil fuel industry used the states referendum process to stall a critical law banning new or reworked oil and gas wells within 3,200 feet of homes, schools, parks and healthcare facilities, the governor decried the move. He said in a statement that he was proud to have signed the setback measure, Senate Bill 1137, to stop new oil drilling in our neighborhoods and protect California families. Since Newsoms statement, however, his administrations oil agency, the California Geologic Energy Management Division, or CalGEM, has approved hundreds of permits to rework existing oil and gas wells and continue dangerous operations within setback zones. CalGEM has approved a total of 897 permits since the beginning of the year, 62% of which are within the zones that would be protected by SB 1137. Story continues Reworking of existing wells is a significant source of pollution that puts communities at elevated risk of asthma, cancer and other illnesses. Environmental justice advocates fought for decades to secure setbacks from these operations, only to see CalGEM continue to rubber-stamp permits while the governor stood by. Newsom is obviously aware of the fossil fuel industrys repercussions for California communities and the environment. Other departments in his administration have taken steps to advance clean air , and Newsom publicly champions them. But CalGEM, the agency charged with protecting public health, safety, and the environment in its oversight of the oil, natural gas, and geothermal industries, clearly missed the memo. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in the recently released final part of its sixth assessment of the global climate, calls for cutting two-thirds of global carbon pollution by 2035 and ending reliance on oil and gas by 2040. In the report, U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres says we must massively fast-track climate efforts by every country and every sector and on every timeframe. Our world needs climate action on all fronts: everything, everywhere, all at once. For California to do our part to meet these demands, Newsom must align his administrations actions with his public statements. There are a few more concrete steps Newsom can take toward that end. First, he can direct CalGEM to stop issuing new and rework permits, prioritizing the rescinding of permits within the setback zone that would be established by SB 1137. He should also organize a government-wide effort to plan Californias transition from oil and gas to clean, renewable energy. This transition must consider the needs of the communities that will be most affected by the transition, especially those that consist of predominantly low-income households and people of color. Finally, he must hold the oil industry accountable for cleaning up abandoned oil wells. Thousands of wells across the state have been abandoned by the industry, and the often exorbitant cleanup costs are wrongly falling on California taxpayers. CalGEM recently spent more than $34 million in taxpayer money to clean up 171 oil wells in Santa Barbaras Cat Canyon alone. These steps are practical and immediately achievable. If Newsom wants to live up to his reputation as a champion for the climate and an opponent of Big Oil, he must do more than just promise to protect our environment and health. Brandon Dawson is the director of Sierra Club California. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. In this June 15, 2018, file photo, cash is fanned out from a wallet in North Andover, Mass. Despite evidence of people cheating others, studies show most still act honestly when they find money. | Elise Amendola, Associated Press Rick Saulnier of Groveland, Massachusetts, was out last month walking his new dog always a test of will, pushes and pulls when the dog led him down a side road. Thats when Saulnier spotted a pile of cash on the side of the road. I thought it was Monopoly money, he told Bostons WBZ-TV News. But it was quite real about $12,000 worth. Saulnier didnt hesitate. He dropped off Buddy, the dog, and took the find to the local police office. It made their day, they said, because a lot of people might not have done that, he said. I dont know. Im hoping that this shows people thats what youre supposed to do. A few weeks earlier, in Elkhart, Indiana, Josiah Vargas ordered a sausage McMuffin in a McDonalds drive-through and got an unexpected side order of $5,000 stuffed in his bag. It was the restaurants bank deposit. Vargas did what a lot of young people would have done. He pulled out his phone and made a TikTok video. Why would you do this to me? he said in the video, holding up a plastic bag full of cash. Do you know how bad I want this money? Related Not bad enough to compromise his honesty, apparently. The video shows him returning to the McDonalds and handing back the cash. An employee can be heard saying, This is a blessing from God. I really want to give you a hug. Later, he reports being rewarded $200 and free McDonalds meals for a month. Also this year, in White Lake Township, Michigan, 65-year-old Dianne Gordon, a grandmother who had to walk to work through winter conditions because she couldnt afford a car, found almost $15,000 on the ground near a BP gas station. According to several news outlets, there were wedding cards mixed with the cash, which obviously belonged to a newlywed couple. I was always taught if it doesnt belong to you, you dont keep it, she told WXYZ in Detroit. Police tracked down the couple who had lost the money. Then the wife of a police officer started a GoFundMe page that quickly raised enough money to buy Gordon a new Jeep so she no longer has to walk to work and back. Story continues Every now and then, I like to Google search terms related to honesty, just to see if Americans have still got it. So far, Ive never been disappointed. There always seem to be plenty of recent examples. A cynic would counter that Im presenting a distorted view. Im cherry picking the examples of honesty that make the news. The folks who find money and keep it lurk in the shadows, where no one learns what they have done. Perhaps they make up the majority. For example, less than a year ago, headlines were blaring that Americans collectively stole $100 billion in federal stimulus money through various underhanded ways. Related As The New York Times reported it, the government gave money to people in prison, to people specifically labeled on government roles as on a do not pay list, to people who called their front yards farms, and to people both imaginary and dead. Yes, all true. But dont take that out of context, either. When Uncle Sam is giving away money without a lot of oversight, a small minority can get away with a lot. I prefer to remember the results of the lost wallet experiment behavioral researchers conducted worldwide a few years ago. They littered the world with 17,000 lost wallets, filled with various amounts of cash or a key, and business cards. The researchers, pretending to be tourists, would turn them in to workers in public places banks, hotels, the post office, etc. then wait to see what happened. The researchers polled economists who guessed that the more money the wallets contained, the less likely it was they would be reported. They were exactly wrong. Majorities returned the wallets containing money in 38 of the 40 countries tested. They used larger wads of money in the United States and found the same results. The more money, the more the wallets were reported. The breakdown: 46% of wallets with no money were reported, compared with 61% containing about $13 and 72% containing nearly $100. Researchers speculated this has something to do with how people see themselves, and for most people that is not as a thief. Thats encouraging. Its also a reason in a world awash in news about dishonesty, incivility and crime to believe that Rick Saulnier, Josiah Vargas and Dianne Gordon are not freaks or unicorns, but more like the people you meet each day. Next week, the Army will formally remove my familys name from Fort Rucker in Alabama, named after my cousin, Confederate Col. Edmund Rucker. I support the name change. Its long overdue. Ruckers have been in the United States since the late 1690s, and rose to become part of the elite Southern society prior to the Civil War. As kids, were told the story of Peter Rucker, a French Huguenot who was shipwrecked near the mouth of the James River in Virginia. He swam to shore. Peter and his children lived in Essex County, located near Virginias Rappahannok River. Their children moved west, living near Culpepper and Charlottesville. They founded Ruckersville, Virginia, and the family grew. Some members moved to Georgia and founded another town, Ruckersville, Georgia. Others moved to Alabama, North Carolina, and Kentucky. They married into prominent Southern families like the Cobbs, Embrys, Tinsleys and Lamars. When the war started, Ruckers fought for the Confederate States of America. Edmund Rucker, Fort Ruckers namesake, served in General Nathan Bedford Forrests Cavalry Corps. He lost an arm in the battle of Brentwood, near Nashville, Tennessee. Rucker lived in Birmingham after the war, operating large coal and iron mines. The Army named a base in his honor in 1942. The cost to rename 9 Confederacy-honoring Army bases has doubled As a kid, I was always puzzled that the Department of Defense chose to name a base after my Confederate cousin. Rucker led men into battle against U.S. troops and men died because of his actions. I joined the Coast Guard in the late 1990s. I swore an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic. With hand held high, I recited the oath and pondered yet again, why is there an Army base named after a family member who committed treason? The new name of the base will be Fort Novosel, named for Michael Novosel, a Medal of Honor recipient who fought in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Novosels connection to the Vietnam War is important to me because my father ret. Army Colonel T.W. Rucker and my uncle Captain D. Rucker also served in Vietnam. They all fought for the United States. Story continues Federal assets should be named for those who fight and fought for the United States. My cousin Edmund Rucker did neither. I welcome next weeks name change and I respectfully ask Defense Department leaders to stop naming assets after Confederates. Please name roads, streets, buildings, bases, and ships after men and women who served the United States with honor and distinction. K. Denise Rucker Krepp is a former U.S. Coast Guard officer, former U.S. Maritime Administration Chief Counsel, and former locally elected Washington, DC, official. By kicking out two Black lawmakers from the state legislature, Tennessee Republicans unwittingly made them national heroes of the left while handing Democrats a major fundraising and organizing opportunity. The GOP supermajority in the state House ousted Reps. Justin Jones, 27, and Justin Pearson, 28, in raucous proceedings Thursday evening for violating decorum rules by participating in a gun reform protest last week. Republicans declined to remove a third member, Rep. Gloria Johnson, 60, who is white, even though she stood beside the pair as they demanded changes to state gun laws following a deadly school shooting in Nashville. Now, the trio and especially Jones and Pearson have skyrocketed to political stardom, capturing the attention of the nation after the unprecedented punitive action shocked many observers. Its given Democrats a new cause celebre and has the potential to become one of the biggest political obsessions of 2023, an off year with few high-profile elections. Already, top party members are engaging. Vice President Kamala Harris plans to make an unexpected visit to Nashville to meet with the ousted lawmakers and push for gun reform, the Tennessean reported Friday. And its unlikely the pair will be gone from the state Capitol building for long local leaders are already moving to reappoint both of them well before a special election is held. The Nashville Metro Council on Monday will consider naming Jones to his old seat, which encompasses parts of Nashville. In Person's Memphis district, the head of the Shelby County Commission, which has a Democratic supermajority, said she could consider reappointing Pearson. We are ready to go, said Freddie OConnell, a Nashville council member. OConnell, a Democrat who is running for Nashville mayor, said he believes Jones has enough support from the council to return to the statehouse as soon as Monday evening. Jones said on CNN Friday morning that he intends to get back to the statehouse. He sees his and Pearsons roles as being a voice of moral dissent and a speed bump to try and stop them from driving this train off the cliff. Story continues Following the reappointments, special elections will be held to permanently fill both seats. Jones and Pearson have already rebooted their old campaign websites and reopened their fundraising accounts. While its up to Republican Gov. Bill Lee to call for a new election and the state party to set deadlines, its likely the primary election will take place by late summer and the general election in the fall, ensuring that the pair will remain in the spotlight throughout much of the year. I do not expect Justin Jones to be suffering from a lack of resources to soundly defeat anybody else who might enter that contest as a Republican, OConnell said. Jones was uncontested in the general after winning the Democratic primary by about 300 votes. State Sen. Raumesh Akbari said Republicans pursuit of expulsions instead of considering gun legislation has ignited a spark among Tennesseeans, one that could backfire for the GOP. A week ago, no one outside this community knew Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, Akbari said. Now the world is watching. Their platform and their ability to advocate for the issues they believe in has been magnified. Several members of the Tennessee Democratic Party said donations have been pouring in since the Covenant School shooting and Republicans evictions of the so-called Tennessee Three who collectively represent the three largest cities in the state. A GoFundMe account created this week to cover the Democrats legal expenses, should they choose to sue GOP leadership, has raised more than $38,000. The trio gained tens of thousands of Twitter followers in the hours following the controversial vote. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) tweeted that over $250,000 in donations poured into ActBlue, the fundraising platform used by many Democratic politicians and organizations, the day Jones and Pearson were expelled. Advocates want to redirect the attention back to the issue they were standing for: changing Tennessees gun safety laws. Protestors have surrounded the Capitol building for weeks, calling for lawmakers to pass gun-safety measures like red flag and safe storage laws, as well as roll back recent moves, like enacting permitless carry. Since the shooting a lot of people here in Nashville, especially students and moms and educators, were all fed up, said Zach Maaieh, a Students Demand Action leader at Vanderbilt University who has joined protestors at the Capitol. Were hearing about shooting after shooting. Its heartbreaking every single time, but you dont see anything happening from our state leaders. Gun safety advocates and lawmakers point to deep red states that have enacted red flag laws, measures that allow courts to temporarily confiscate guns from someone deemed dangerous Nineteen states including Indiana and Florida have already taken this step, Everytown for Gun Safety President John Feinblatt said at a press conference Thursday. Now its time for Tennessee to join that list. The state Democratic party is salivating over the publics sudden interest in Tennessee politics and channeling that energy toward taking down Republicans. Its an extremely ambitious goal. Democrats in Tennessee and throughout the South have been stomped by Republicans in recent elections, a phenomenon that Democrats blame on GOP-crafted gerrymandered districts and low voter turnout. Dakota Galban, head of Davidson County Democrats, an area encompassing Nashville, said most of the emails and calls hes received in recent days are from people concerned about what Republicans decision to oust the Democrats means for democracy. Were really trying to get as many people involved in our organization so we can mobilize and organize volunteers and voters ahead of this special election, Galban said. Hopefully we can build on that momentum into 2024. Beyond Tennessee, the drama in the Capitol has brought disdain from national leaders like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and ex-RNC Chairman Michael Steele. Even former President Barack Obama weighed in on Twitter, calling the events the latest example of a broader erosion of civility and democratic norms. Silencing those who disagree with us is a sign of weakness, not strength, and it wont lead to progress," Obama said. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this report misidentified Tennessee state Sen. Raumesh Akbari. Wayne Cowings Jr., who lives in a tent on skid row in downtown Los Angeles, says he uses drugs laced with fentanyl and has overdosed many times. Just a few blocks away, three people were found dead this week of drug overdoses, possible related to fentanyl, at a Skid Row Housing Trust property. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) Cecilia Montoya saw body bags being pushed out of her skid row apartment building on gurneys after three people were found dead of drug overdoses, possibly related to fentanyl, on Wednesday. The sight was disturbing but not shocking to Montoya. On the sixth floor, where the deaths of the woman and two men occurred, she often sees people using drugs, both in hallways and in apartments. Montoya said that since she moved there about a year ago, three other people have died of overdoses at 649 Lofts, which provides housing to underprivileged people and is owned by the nonprofit Skid Row Housing Trust, whose 29 residential buildings have fallen into extreme disrepair. Cecilia Montoya talks about life at the 649 Lofts in Skid Row, where three deaths, tied to drug overdoses, occurred on April 5. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) I had never seen a row of body bags like that, other than on the TV," said Montoya, 52, a recovering meth addict. On Friday, a judge will consider a request from the Los Angeles city attorney that the trust's properties be taken over by a court-appointed receiver. In court earlier this week, Deputy City Atty. Steven Son described the situation as a humanitarian emergency, adding that conditions have deteriorated in the buildings so much that there are truly life safety issues. Opened in 2021 on Wall Street, 649 Lofts is one of the trusts newest buildings, with 54 studio apartments. But it, too, has had serious problems. A tenant with arthritis and nerve damage told The Times last month that she was trapped for several weeks on the fifth floor after the elevator broke down, and that intruders were common. Montoya, who relies on a motorized scooter because she has lesions on her left foot, said the elevators haven't been working for the last two weeks a regular occurrence at the building. Athena Hayley, second from right, founder and CEO of Love My Neighbor Foundation, joins in a prayer with Steve Archuleta and others who wait in line for the organization's weekly food giveaway along 7th Street in Skid Row. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) She has mostly stayed away from her seventh-floor apartment. When she does go up, she has to take the stairs while someone carries her scooter. Sometimes, she avoids going to the methadone clinic because she's afraid she won't be able to return to her apartment. People from the street make their way inside the building through an unlocked emergency door, she said. Story continues On Thursday, the door remained unlocked but she said management had at least increased security. Its unfortunate it took these deaths to make that happen," she said. Montoya said people use drugs on the fourth floor too. When people are high, they destroy lightbulbs and damage the property, she said. Once, someone tried to break into her apartment. A spokesman with Skid Row Housing Trust could not comment immediately. Two blocks away, near 7th and Crocker streets, skid row residents said overdose deaths have become so common that they are nothing out of the ordinary. Aimee Crouse of Love My Neighbor Foundation said she arrived Thursday morning to help distribute meals to the homeless and noticed that coroner's officials were investigating a death across the street. They told her the death was possibly related to a fentanyl overdose. Cleveland Anderson, 62, said the man who died was in his 30s and known as "Cartoon." "He was a funny guy," Anderson said. "He was a good kid." According to Anderson, the man was in pain and screaming for help the night before. A woman in a nearby tent called paramedics, but they refused to go inside the man's tent and left without helping him, Anderson said. Placido Penton, left, and Jesus Delgado rest outside their encampment, where a man overdosed earlier in the day in his tent. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) Hours later, on Thursday morning, the man's brother, who lived in a tent next to him, checked on him and discovered he wasn't breathing, Anderson said. The brother asked someone for Narcan, the nasal spray that helps reverse an opioid overdose, but it had no effect. "This happened to a good kid," Anderson said, gazing at the ground. "I feel depressed. I can't believe this happened." Carl Zephyr, a longtime skid row resident, said that a month ago, he noticed a friend staggering before collapsing on the sidewalk. Zephyr rushed over and began CPR but couldn't save his friend. "Something's got to be done about this fentanyl," Zephyr said. "It's a cold killer." Nearby, Steven Archuleta pushed his friend, Hector Figueroa, 47, in a wheelchair. Both men live at the Simone Hotel Apartments, where people died of fentanyl overdoses last month, they said. "I had one die on my floor," said Archuleta, 37. He said two people died on Figueroa's floor. "It's become the norm here," Archuleta said. "Something's got to be done about this fentanyl, because it's worse than COVID." Wayne Cowings, Jr., rests in his tent in Skid Row. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) Nearby in a blue tent, Wayne Cowings Jr., washed a pair of white sneakers. Cowings hadn't heard about the three deaths at 649 Lofts. But he knows about fentanyl addiction. He said he smokes drugs laced with fentanyl and has overdosed several times. The withdrawals are painful. "I get body chills, my bones feel like weights and my equilibrium is all out of place," he said. "But once you take a hit, it stabilizes you. The drug hooks you." Cowings said that sometimes after passing out, he has regained consciousness to find that he has crossed a fence into someone else's yard. He wants to stop using drugs and has enrolled in a rehab program that starts Friday. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The agency may further downgrade the ratings over the next 12 months The rating change was triggered by Ukraine's official announcement that it is restructuring its foreign currency external debt to restore sovereign debt sustainability, as part of the recently agreed four-year, $15.6 billion Extended Fund Facility loan agreement with the IMF. S&P added that the negative outlook on long-term foreign currency rating reflects risks to Ukraine's commercial debt service, given the government's debt restructuring plan. S&P affirmed Ukraine's local currency ratings at CCC+/C and uaBB on the national scale. Read also: Fitch affirms Ukraine foreign-currency debt rating at CC, outlook negative Another ratings agency, Fitch, noted that it understands that Ukraine's hryvnia-denominated public debt is not part of the debt restructuring plan. The outlook on the local currency rating is stable. Fitch may lower the ratings further over the next 12 months if it believes that commercial debt will be included in the sovereign debt restructuring. Read also: Ukraine and Japan agree $50 million debt deferment "We understand that the parameters and timing of restructuring have not yet been determined and depend on the IMF's assessment of public debt sustainability, which is expected to be updated in early 2024," the statement said. Ukraine's official creditors, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, and Japan, agreed to extend the deferral of external debt payments until the end of the IMF program in 2027 from the previously agreed period of August 2022 to September 2024. The group also agreed to an additional debt restructuring expected by mid-2024, but this agreement is contingent on private external creditors restructuring their debt at least as favorable a level, S&P noted. "However, the potential restructuring is more than a year away, and the evolution of the war in Ukraine remains uncertain. To this end, the visibility of the exact scenario for commercial creditors will increase only next year, the statement said. Story continues Read also: Finance Ministry says Ukraine to pay $18 billion on national debt in 2023 Bilateral debt accounts for only 5% of the total public debt, while Ukraine's commercial external debt accounts for about 20% of the total public debt, said S&P. Domestic government bonds (both in hryvnia and foreign currency) and debt to international financial institutions, which are not included in the restructuring plans, account for 40% and 35%, respectively. "If a commercial debt restructuring occurs in 2024, in light of the ongoing balance of payments and fiscal challenges, we would likely consider it problematic," S&P added. The report also says that Ukraine's medium-term macroeconomic outlook is largely dependent on the duration and evolution of the war, with a baseline assumption that there will be no cessation of hostilities soon. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine If your phone has a central Pennsylvania area code and youve received a lot of automated calls recently, youre not alone. Millions of fraudulent phone calls are made to 814 area code phone numbers each year, according to one site, and federal agencies offer advice on identifying and stopping them. Robocall-blocking software company YouMail estimates residents with central Pennsylvania area code 814 received more than 160 million robocalls in 2022 and more than 29 million already in this year. The index works by extrapolating the data collected from the many tens of millions of calls made each month to YouMail users, YouMails website reads. The website estimates alerts and reminders make up 28% of the calls, while 30% are telemarketing, 17% are payment reminders and 25% are scams. How to report scam calls In Pennsylvania, you can report phone call scams to the commonwealths attorney general online. The digital form will ask for your information, as well as anything you know about the scammers identity and location. You can also print out a form and mail it in. The U.S. government recommends people report phone call scams online to the Federal Trade Commission. The agency cant resolve individual cases, but uses reports to investigate and bring cases against fraud, scams, and bad business practices. You can also report unwanted calls and register for the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov. The registry stops sales calls from real companies, but it cant stop calls from scammers who ignore it, according to donotcall.gov. Companies that illegally call numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry or place an illegal robocall can currently be fined up to $43,792 per call, the National Do Not Call Registry website says. Spoofed phone numbers can be reported online through the Federal Communications Commission. Common phone scams Here are some examples of common phone call scams, according to the FTC: Imposter scams: Someone pretends to be someone you trust, such as a government agency, a family member or a love interest. Debt relief/credit scams: Fraudulent people or organizations may offer to get your student loans forgiven or fix your credit for a fee. Business and investment scams: A caller may entice you to start your own business or make a large investment with the promise of big profits. Charity scams: The FTC reports scammers posing as disaster relief organizations are common. Extended car warranties: Just because a caller knows the type of car you drive and when you bought it doesnt mean a service contract is legitimate. Free trials: You could potentially be signed up to purchase subscriptions. Loan scams: Guaranteed loans for an up-front fee are typically a red flag. Prize or lottery scams: Scammers may call saying youve won a prize but that you need to pay some sort of up-front charge to receive it. Travel and timeshare scams: Callers promise free or inexpensive vacations that may actually cost you a lot. The FTC says the best defense against scam calls is call blocking. Rep Justin Pearson raises his fist on the day Republicans voted to expel him (AP) In the wake of the Nashville mass shooting, critics say the decision on Thursday from Tennessee Republicans to expel two Democrats from the state House of Representatives for joining in a gun control protest on capitol grounds is a completely unprecedented abuse of power in the state and country at large. Carrie Russell, a lecturer in political science and expert on Southern politics at Nashvilles Vanderbilt University, told The Independent the votes were an exercise of power solely for powers sake with a ruthlessness akin to a pack of dogs refusing to stop biting. She noted that in the rare instances anyone is removed from office in Tennessee or any other state, its usually after a legislator has been convicted of a serious crime. No laws local, state or federal were broken here, she said of the protest last Thursday at the heart of the expulsion, where three Democratic lawmakers Reps Justin Jones, Gloria Johnson, and Justin Pearson spoke from the House floor and joined in chants with protesters who had entered the capitol building. They were well within their constitutional rights to speak out during the House recess, per the state and federal constitution. There have only been three people removed from the Tennessee House in the last 200 years, according to Democratic lawmakers, for severe crimes including taking bribes, serial sexual harassment, and refusing to give citizenship to formerly enslaved people in the late 1800s. Many viewers also recognize this for the politically manufactured excision of those who would challenge the status quo of completely unchecked gun legislation in the state of Tennessee, Ms Russell added. Others agreed. During the Thursday votes, in which Reps Jones and Pearson were ultimately removed from their seats, Joe Biden condemned the process and said Republicans in the state should be more focused on limiting gun violence. Three kids and three officials gunned down in yet another mass shooting. And what are GOP officials focused on? Punishing lawmakers who joined thousands of peaceful protesters calling for action, the president wrote on Twitter on Thursday. Its shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent. Story continues So far, the Republican majority in the Tennessee government has proposed only enhancements to school security and increased funding for police, but nothing that would limit access to guns. Some in the state GOP want to further loosen Tennessees gun laws, which already permit most people 21 and older to possess a concealed pistol without a permit. According to Ms Russell, the decision to strip the legislators of their seat is part of a larger, oftentimes racist and sexist dynamic in the Tennessee statehouse, where Republicans have been accused of using gerrymandering and procedural tactics like declining to let liberal legislators speak to dilute the power of Democrats at the state level. The way that the members have been treated, the way that the leadership speaks to these members and uses code words like ineffective, attention-seeking, disrespectful, aggressive its clear that the ability of these three members to repeatedly garner the support of thousands of young people and outspoken celebrity activists that support them has shaken the Republican leadership to the point of feeling their only option is to expel these member, she added. These three have refused to comply with the routine expectations of the Republican leadership, expectations that demand staying in their place, turning a blind eye and tolerating the dismissive treatment. Massive applause for Pearson pic.twitter.com/AWRklp0Mg5 Acyn (@Acyn) April 7, 2023 Earlier this week, Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton said the gun violence protest on the floor might have been worse than the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol, in which five people died and scores of police officers were wounded as Trump supporters violently attempted to block the certification of the 2020 presidential election results. On Thursday, Rep Jones pushed back against this comparison in remarks. I was shocked to have the Speaker of House condemn mothers and grandmothers and children and concerned clergy, to lie on them, and say they were insurrectionists, Rep Jones said. At no point was there violence. At no point did we encourage violence. In fact what we were doing was calling for the end of gun violence that is terrorizing our children day after day after day, and all we offer are moments of silence. Rep Justin Jones gestures to supporters (AP) Prior to the expulsion vote, Rep Pearson argued he and his colleagues were being singled out for a racist, undemocratic attack. It is no coincidence that the two youngest Black lawmakers in the state of Tennessee, and one of two women, are on trial today, he told CNN ahead of the vote. That is not accidental. This is what happens when you lose democracy. He and Rep Jones, both of whom are Black, were ultimately removed from office, while Rep Gloria Johnson, who is white, managed to survive her expulsion vote. Republicans have said their effort is a way to maintain the honour and order of the Tennessee House of Representatives. During debate surrounding Mr Joness expulsion, Representative Gino Bulso, a Republican from Brentwood, defended the removal process, calling it an appropriate response to the mutiny that was the floor protest. What were doing today is upholding our constitution, he said. We are protecting the integrity of this body. The author in front of the hobbit house. Fiona Chandra I booked a hobbit house I found on Airbnb near San Diego as a birthday present to myself. It cost $412 for one night and had no electricity, Wi-Fi, or cell signal. I thought it was magical, albeit chilly, and I would stay here again if I was better prepared. I love one-of-a-kind, quirky accommodations, and was excited to find a hobbit-style home near San Diego on Airbnb. The author on the roof of her Airbnb near San Diego. Fiona Chandra I love unique lodgings, so I'm always on the lookout for one-of-a-kind places to stay. One of my favorite ways to find these accommodations is on Airbnb's OMG! category page, which shares quirky homes of all sorts, ranging from a large potato to a yellow submarine. So when I found a hobbit house north of San Diego that was just a two-hour drive from where I live, I had to book it. As a big "The Lord of the Rings" fan, I've always wanted to visit Hobbiton in New Zealand. This Airbnb was much closer to home. The author stands in the hobbit house's doorway. Fiona Chandra As a massive fan of the movie, I've always wanted to visit Hobbiton in New Zealand, but haven't been able to make such a far trip. This seemed like the ideal stand-in for the time being. From the Airbnb listing, I learned that the hobbit house was located behind the host's main home but promised a secluded getaway close to wildlife. There was an outdoor bathroom, and no electricity, Wi-Fi, or cell service, which made me a little hesitant. But I decided it would be a nice way to unplug for a short stay. I also noticed that the Airbnb was often booked but had a rare opening right near my birthday. It felt like the perfect excuse to splurge on myself and live out my hobbit dream, and after all the fees, the total price for a one-night stay was $412. When I arrived to check-in, I learned from the host, Roy Toft, that the hobbit house was built by him and his wife, Stella Toft, with the help of their friends. The pathway to the hobbit house. Fiona Chandra The Airbnb is located about 35 miles north of San Diego, tucked away in the Toft's backyard in a hilly, residential area. The Tofts told me they originally wanted to build a guest house on the property, but couldn't find a flat spot. So they instead decided to build underground into one of the hills behind their home. That's when they got the idea to make it a hobbit house. Story continues As fans of "The Lord of the Rings," they knew hobbit homes are built into the earth on a hillside and decided to go all out with thematic decor and details. When they were done, they determined it was so special, they wanted to list it on Airbnb when it wasn't in use by friends. Hobbit house guests enter through a side gate charmingly labeled "The Shire." The entrance to the pathway leading to the hobbit house. Fiona Chandra Roy met me in front of the main house where he and his wife live and showed me how to get to the hobbit house, and how everything worked. The listing states that the walk from the host's home to the hobbit house is 250 feet. I didn't measure the path, but I thought it felt far enough away to feel secluded in nature. When I first glimpsed the hobbit home, I thought it looked like a fantasy built out of natural rocks and wood, surrounded by lush greenery. The house is hidden on the hillside. Fiona Chandra When I've seen movies like "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings," the Hobbiton in Middle Earth is always shown as lush and green. While the plants are certainly different in Southern California than where the movies filmed in New Zealand, I thought there was enough greenery around to feel like I was in the California version of The Shire. Once I reached the house, I lost my cellular signal. My host told me that guests can walk back up near the main house to get a signal if they need one. The exterior of the house was built out of stone and had the iconic round hobbit door I recognized from the movies. The entrance to the hobbit house. Fiona Chandra Right away, I was impressed by so many details that reminded me of the movies based on the J.R.R. Tolkien novels. For example, I thought the heavy front door was on-theme as hobbit houses should have a round door. I also thought the curving metal latch made it seem medieval. And right next to the door, I spotted a sign reading, "Bilbo Baggins." Inside, I walked into a cozy and charming room, furnished with a Murphy queen bed, a closet, a built-in desk, and rocking chairs. The interior of the hobbit house. Fiona Chandra I thought the house felt cozy as it was comprised of just one room. If I had to guess, I'd say was roughly 150 square feet in size. I loved that the space incorporated so many natural materials, from the rock wall to the wood ceiling and wooden furniture. Even the comforter was nature-themed, adorned with the birds and trees. All these details made it seem even more whimsical to me. Looking around, I noticed the host left cheese and chocolate as a welcome treat. The Murphy bed came with clean towels and cheese provided by the host. Fiona Chandra Clean towels were provided for two guests, and the cheese and Lindt chocolate truffles were a nice treat and welcome surprise. Next to the bed was a closet, and a cabinet stocked with plates, mugs, and utensils. On top of the cabinet the hosts also provided tea bags, coffee, and a French press. Instead of a kitchen, I had a sink carved out of granite. Next to it, the hosts provided soap, paper towels, and cutlery. To the right of the entrance is a sink carved out of granite. Fiona Chandra With no electricity, there was no refrigerator, but I was given a Yeti cooler to store and keep things cool for a few hours. However, since I didn't request a block of ice ahead of time, the hosts did not have any for me to use. Had I wanted to cook, the outdoor space came with a grill. The private outdoor space had benches, chairs, and sun loungers. Fiona Chandra The house came with private outdoor space arranged with different types of seating from sun loungers to benches. I couldn't see the main house from here and felt like I was completely alone in nature. I definitely enjoyed hanging out on the patio and taking in the fresh air. This area was also where I was given the use of an outdoor grill that seemed to have all the tools and utensils I would need to cook simple things. There was also a sink near the grill to make cleaning up easier. The bathroom was also outside. The outdoor space also has a grill for guests to use. Fiona Chandra Behind the home to the right was where I found the outdoor bathroom with a flushing toilet and hot water shower. Having the toilet outside the house is certainly not convenient. I had to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and it required putting on my shoes and jacket and opening the heavy door. But I was thankful for the flushing toilet and bidet, which I thought was a step up from most camping situations I've experienced. The shower has hot water, but since it was outdoors, the air was cold, and I was only staying one night, I skipped it. On top of the hobbit house was a living area on the roof, which was accessible via steps made from rocks. The author in front of the hobbit house and living roof. Fiona Chandra The host called this area a living roof, which is basically a roof covered with soil and plants as a result of being built directly into the earth. I hadn't heard of this term before staying there. I Googled it later on and learned that it's said to help provide insulation on top of looking cool. Here, it also functioned as a deck that was accessible by climbing steps built out of rocks. I enjoyed sitting on the roof on chairs fashioned out of trees, and taking in the surrounding views. The chairs and table were made from tree trunks and branches. Fiona Chandra The host told me that he and his friends also made the chairs and tables on the roof, and I thought they looked really cool. I was surprised that the chairs were pretty comfortable to sit on too, since they looked like they were made from tree branches. The table was crafted from what appeared to be the remains of a tree trunk. Back inside, I found "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" themed touches throughout the house. Quotes from "The Hobbit" carved onto tree trunks. Fiona Chandra As I explored the home, I found tiny details that paid homage to the books and movies. I saw quotes from "The Hobbit" carved on tree trunks displayed inside the house, like the famous greeting from the book, "The Hobbit," which read, "May the hair on your toes never fall out." I also saw a drawing of a hobbit on the wall, though I'm not quite sure if it was meant to be the characters Frodo or Bilbo. It had been a while since I read or watched "The Hobbit" or "The Lord of the Rings," so it was fun finding these details and remembering particular scenes from the stories, especially since I didn't have much else to do without Wi-Fi. Related books were also stacked on the desk, including an illustrated version of "The Hobbit" that I had never seen before, and I enjoyed perusing the colorful illustrations. In the evening, the only heat inside came from a wood-fired stove. I thought it made the space pretty warm, but it did go out at some point in the night when it ran out of firewood. Rocking chairs were set up in front of this cozy corner with the stove. Fiona Chandra As someone who grew up in the tropical country of Indonesia and then moved to Southern California, I've never had to use a stove or fireplace before. It took me a while to figure out how to properly turn the stove on, but I eventually did and thought it made the room feel warm. I sat in the rocking chair that faced it and appreciated my handiwork, wishing I brought some ale to drink out of one of the provided metal mugs. I later went to bed, grabbing the blanket from the rocking chair for extra warmth. At some point in the night, the stove ran out of firewood and turned off. When I woke up in the early morning, it felt quite chilly and I didn't want to get out from under my blanket to restart it. In warmer weather, I certainly wouldn't have to worry about being cold, but if I were to return in the winter, I'd pack a hot water pouch to sleep with since I'm prone to feeling cold. I also used the stove to heat up water for a cup of tea. Afternoon tea time at the hobbit house. Fiona Chandra I didn't cook dinner but I did use a provided pot to boil water over the propane stove and make my tea. I stopped by one of my favorite patisseries on the way to the Airbnb, and enjoyed my cake and tea on the desk, taking in the view outside the window. I was given flashlights and lanterns in case I needed to walk around at night, as well as a power station for charging my cell phone. The host provided flashlights and a power station. Fiona Chandra When I had to use the bathroom at night, I was glad to have flashlights. There were also battery-operated camp lanterns that were useful for lighting up a larger area. I was also given a portable power station with different types of USB ports. The hosts recharge it in between guests, and I used it to charge my phone once. At night, battery-powered candles provided a little light, and a lot of a magical ambiance. The author thought the battery-powered candles made the house look romantic. Fiona Chandra Without electricity, there were no regular lights inside. Instead, there were battery-powered candles on the walls, which, together with the lantern and flashlight, were the only lighting in the home. I liked the candles the best. They were not very bright, but I thought they made the space feel cozy and magical. I also appreciated that the candles were operated using a remote, which made it easy to turn them off after I got into bed. Outside the house was magical at night, too, thanks to solar-powered twinkling lights. The view of the sunset over the hobbit house. Fiona Chandra I loved how the hosts draped twinkling lights on vines that hung over the entrance. These lights were solar powered, and automatically turned on when it got dark. Staying in a hobbit house was as peaceful and memorable as I hoped it would be. The author enjoyed a quiet night and morning at the hobbit house. Fiona Chandra Other than critters I heard outside, it was very quiet at night and in the morning. I never saw a single person around, not even the hosts. The Airbnb owners emphasized on their listing that staying here is a glamping experience, but I felt it was so much more than that. Without electricity, Wi-Fi, or even a cell signal, this was a place where I was really able to disconnect. I could've walked to the main house to check my phone, but I decided not to. I loved all the charming touches within the hobbit house, and found the surrounding area to be serene and beautiful. At $412 for one night, it wasn't cheap. But I thought it was unique, magical, and memorable, and the next best thing to visiting Hobbiton in New Zealand. Read the original article on Insider WEST PALM BEACH A student at Palm Beach Lakes High School is facing charges after a loaded gun was found on campus Thursday, the Palm Beach County School District reported Friday. School District police confiscated the weapon without incident, Principal David Alfonso said in a message to parents. The gun was not used in a threatening manner and was discovered when another student told a school staff member that they had seen the weapon. The student who was taken into custody faces expulsion under the school district's zero-tolerance policy, Alfonso said. The district did not release any identifying information about the student, including their grade in school and whether they were a juvenile. Rapper attack: Three arrested in beating of Tekashi 6ix9ine at South Florida gym 'Completely senseless': Judge slams 'most violent' man in punishing him for teen's 2012 slaying Deputies disciplined: Two PBSO corrections officers resign after pleading to bringing drugs into main county jail Social-media threat investigated at G-Star School of the Arts Thursday's incident marked the sixth time during the current academic year that a loaded weapon was found at a county school campus, according to district records. The district reported eight such incidents during the 2021-22 school year. It also follows a string of incidents in recent weeks in involving alleged threats against local school campuses. Last month, a student at Wellington High School was arrested after allegedly posting a threatening message on social media that included a picture of a gun. Sheriff's deputies interviewed the teen who created the post and determined the student would face charges for written threats, a second-degree felony. On Wednesday afternoon, staff at the G-Star School of the Arts in Palm Springs called 911 after employees and students received a threatening picture via AirDrop, a function on iPhones that allows someone to send images to other phones in the area. Story continues It was an image of a firearm with a threatening message placed on top, including a specific time and building on campus. Murder or self-defense? A father's rage against his daughter's boyfriend receives its final judgment 'Best Buy' murder: Family wants Boca grandmother's killer to suffer after 2019 beating, burning The school went into a code-yellow lockdown, meaning the students stayed in place and movement was limited while authorities and school administrators searched the campus. The search included help from a Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office K-9 that can detect firearms and ammunition. They found no weapons, but police identified the 15-year-old student who is now accused of sending the threatening image. Police spoke with both the student and his parents. Based on their conversations, Palm Springs Police Capt. Jake Ruiz said, it seems the student found the picture of a gun perhaps online and put his own message on top of the image before sharing it throughout campus. It was a threat via photo, Ruiz said. Unfortunately, those happen a lot, whether its a text message or some kind of social-media post. Obviously, were going to take it seriously, but there was never information that there was an actual gun in school." That student, whose name has not yet been released, is facing a second-degree felony for making a written or electronic threat. About 700 students were on the Congress Avenue campus at the time. Osceola Middle School also investigated social-media threat On Thursday, Osceola Middle School Principal Brian McClellan sent a notice to parents regarding an alleged threat against the Loxahatchee school circulating on social media. The message did not detail the nature of the threat. McClellan told parents Thursday morning that school activities would continue as normal while the threat was investigated. In a follow-up message sent Thursday evening, McClellan reported that the student suspected of posting the threat had been identified. McClellan said the the student was not on campus Thursday. He did not indicate whether the student would face either criminal charges or disciplinary action from the school district. School District police and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office are investigating the incident. Staff Writer Giuseppe Sabella contributed to this report. Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@pbpost.com and follow him on Twitter at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach Lakes High student arrested after loaded gun found on campus Eric Schmidt says a six-month pause on AI development in the West would only help China. Beck Diefenbach/Reuters Eric Schmidt said a six-month pause on AI development would "simply benefit China." The ex-Google CEO told the Australian Financial Review that concerns about AI "could be understated." Instead of a pause, he said leaders should collectively discuss appropriate guardrails "ASAP." Eric Schmidt says the six-month moratorium on AI development supported by Elon Musk, Steve Wozniak, and other tech leaders would "simply benefit China" and called instead for tighter regulation. The former Google CEO told the Australian Financial Review he was worried about the rapid development of AI and that "concerns could be understated." "I think ... things could be worse than people are saying," he said, noting that as large language models get bigger they have "emergent behaviour we don't understand." The use of generative AI has exploded in recent months with the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Bard, and Microsoft's AI-powered Bing, as well as image-generating platforms such as DALL-E and Midjourney. People have been using generative AI in both their personal and professional lives to write essays, think up recipes, summarize emails, publish articles, and craft resumes and cover letters. As well as saving time and conveying information concisely, Bill Gates says AI could also transform healthcare and education. But ethical concerns about the technology are mounting after examples show it can plagiarize material, develop bias, argue with users, and even made up allegations. Deepfake images showing former President Donald Trump being arrested circulated on social media, a scammer used AI-generated text and images in an attempt to dupe an Insider reporter, and ChatGPT even gave tips on how to murder people. Musk and Wozniak, the Apple cofounder, were among the tech CEOs, software engineers, and professors who signed an open letter last week calling for a six-month pause on advanced AI development. "The question is what is the right answer," Schmidt told the Financial Review. "I'm not in favour of a six-month pause because it will simply benefit China." Story continues He established the Special Competitive Studies Project think-tank in 2021, which aims make recommendations on how to strengthen the US's long-term competitiveness amid the rise in emerging technology including AI. Instead of a pause, leaders should instead collectively discuss appropriate guardrails "ASAP," Schmidt said. Researchers should only release AI programs with "some kind of mitigation for things that it could do that are negative," he said. Schmidt said that if the industry didn't develop safeguards, politicians would have to step in. "I think today the government's response would be clumsy because there are very few people in government who understand this stuff," Schmidt told the Australian newspaper. "So I'm in favour of letting the industry try to get its act together. This is a case where you don't rush in unless you understand what you're doing." Read the original article on Business Insider Diane Marie Bass, 59, was walking on the shoulder of Capital Boulevard before dawn on an August Sunday morning when the driver of an SUV drifted off the road and hit her going 55 mph. Ronge Mwanakyungu, 27, was attempting to cross a stretch of New Bern Avenue that lacks street lights and crosswalks shortly after 8 p.m. in late November when a car hit him. And Samantha Briggs was hit about 7:30 p.m. the day after Thanksgiving as she and four others attempted to cross a dark stretch of Hillsborough Street after a trip to a Sheetz convenience store. Police say the driver swerved into the center turn lane where Briggs was standing and kept driving. She was 12. Bass, Mwanakyungu and Briggs were among 27 pedestrians hit and killed in Raleigh last year. Two others died on highways just yards outside the city limits. The number of people hit and killed while on foot is a growing national problem. Nearly 7,500 pedestrians died nationwide in 2021, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. Thats up 74% since 2010 and was the most pedestrians killed in a single year in the U.S. in four decades. But last years toll in Raleigh was particularly striking. The 27 fatalities handled by the Raleigh Police Department was more than three times the annual average since 2006, according to the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles. The number should be zero, says Jonathan Melton, a City Council member who has spoken out about the need to improve pedestrian safety. Theres no simple explanation for the rise in pedestrian deaths. Those who work in highway safety or respond to crashes cite a number of factors that may contribute, including cellphones and digital dashboards that distract drivers; the popularity of SUVs and other large vehicles that are more likely to kill a person they hit; changes in traffic patterns during the pandemic that allow drivers to go faster; and a growing number of people walking on roads that werent built with them in mind. Story continues Theres a really a lot going on, said Laura Sandt, director of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center at UNCs Highway Safety Research Center in Chapel Hill. Its a very complex issue, and what we see are changes at the nexus of people and vehicles on roads that werent really designed for people and vehicles to be interacting. A Christmas tree was placed at the scene where Samantha Briggs was hit about 7:30 p.m. the day after Thanksgiving as she and four others attempted to cross a dark stretch of Hillsborough Street after a trip to a Sheetz convenience store. Police say the driver swerved into the center turn lane where Briggs was standing and kept driving. She was 12. The circumstances around each fatal crash involving a pedestrian differed last year, but there are patterns. Only seven of the 29 fatalities in and around Raleigh took place during the day; the rest occurred after dark, when drivers may be drowsy, impaired or simply have a harder time seeing whats ahead but often drive faster because theres less traffic. Speed is another common factor. Three people were killed in parking lots and a fourth during the Raleigh Christmas parade. Twenty-one of the remaining 25 were hit on roads where the speed limit was 45 mph or higher, including five on interstate highways. Road planners and builders need to do a better job of delineating when a road is a highway built for speed and when its a street where pedestrians are present, says Shaileen Bhatt, the Federal Highway Administrator. The data is incontrovertible: When you get speeds below 20 mph, crashes with pedestrians will result in injuries, not in fatalities, Bhatt said in an interview. When you get over 25, 30 mph, youre not going to the hospital, youre going to the morgue. So if you want cities to feel like theyre more welcoming to pedestrians, we need to reduce speeds inside the cities. Raleigh is doing that on neighborhood streets and downtown where large numbers of people walk. The city is gradually reducing speed limits on residential streets to 30 or 25 mph and installing speed humps and other measures where compliance remains poor. Last fall, the City Council voted to lower the speed limit to 25 mph on all downtown streets, including through streets such as Dawson and McDowell. But so far theres little talk about lowering speed limits on the four- and six-lane thoroughfares that carry the bulk of the traffic around the sprawling, 150-square-mile city. Drivers expect to go at least 45 mph on roads such as Glenwood Avenue, Six Forks Road and Capital Boulevard even when those streets are lined with homes, stores, restaurants, hotels and apartment complexes where people walk. These are the roads where most pedestrians are killed in Raleigh. In a single one-mile stretch of Capital Boulevard in North Raleigh, five people were hit and killed last year. Diane Bass was one of them. A pedestrian crosses the same portion of Capital Blvd. where Diane Marie Bass, 59, was walking on the shoulder before dawn on an August Sunday morning when the driver of an SUV drifted off the road and hit her going 55 mph. Hit from behind while walking on the shoulder Bass was supposed to usher at her church, Christ First Christian Fellowship off Jones Franklin Road, on the morning she was hit. We wondered where she was, said parishioner Wayne Terry. And then we got the call. Bass was a faithful volunteer at the church, where she was known for her upbeat demeanor and the collard greens and fried chicken she brought to church suppers. She was also a regular at the Round Table Fellowship at Pullen Baptist Church, which provides a meal for those who need it two afternoons a week. She would eat, then help with cleanup, said Jim McMahan, a volunteer who knew Bass for several years. She was a very hard worker, McMahan said. She would kind of stake out certain areas of the kitchen that were her responsibility, usually cleaning. And she would clean everything spic and span. Diane Bass Bass did all this even though she was mostly homeless. She would sometimes take cooking and cleaning jobs that provided a place to stay, but she would inevitably end up back outside in various secluded spots off Capital Boulevard, said Rev. Larry Snead, the pastor at Christ First Christian Fellowship. It almost seemed like she thrived out there in her tent and on her own and with the individuals that she knew in her community, Snead said. I dont fully understand it, but she was always drawn back out there. Bass didnt have a car and relied on the bus or rides from church members to get around. And she walked along and across some of the busiest roads in the Triangle. She had been hit twice before in North Raleigh, Snead and McMahan said, once requiring a trip to the hospital for a leg injury. Still, she wasnt worried about being hit again, said Lakeisha Bass, one of her three grown children. She loved to walk. She loved to ride her bike, catch the bus. She liked to move on her time, Bass said. And each accident actually wasnt her fault. It was just people not paying attention to what was in front of them. Lakeisha Bass said her mother may have been walking to a convenience store after a late night at a nearby sweepstakes parlor the morning she was killed. It was 2:36 a.m., according to Raleigh police, and she was walking north along a darkened stretch of Capital near Calvary Drive, just up an embankment from where she was living in a secluded clearing. Her death certificate says she died at the address where she lived, 4400 Capital Blvd. Its not clear why the 21-year-old driver drifted off the road and hit Bass, propelling her over the guardrail. Police cited inattention and charged him with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle. Snead said he worried about Bass living alone in a tent and getting around on foot. I think in general she learned how to maneuver out there. But that place is dangerous, just the whole Capital Boulevard strip, Snead said. I see people trying to run across there, maneuver across there, and theres just a lot of traffic, a lot of lanes there, to maneuver if you dont know what youre doing. Or even if you know what youre doing. A pedestrian walks across multiple lanes of S. Wilmington Street near Chapanoke Road avoiding a marked cross walk on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 in Raleigh, N.C. Fixes planned for two problem areas The city and the N.C. Department of Transportation are aware of the problems on Capital. They review crash data and meet monthly to talk about hazardous locations and what might be done to improve them, said Sean Driskill, director the citys new Vision Zero traffic safety program. In mapping where pedestrians and cyclists have been killed or seriously injured in recent years, Driskill said, theres a clear correlation with areas where census data shows households are less likely to own a car, including neighborhoods along Capital Boulevard. Weve seen in areas where people dont have vehicles that theres more serious pedestrian injuries and fatalities, he said. The intersection of Capital and Calvary is one of several across the state where NCDOT will soon test relatively easy, low-cost strategies for protecting pedestrians, said Ryan Brumfield, who heads the departments Integrated Mobility Division. These entail a combination of paint, hard plastic posts and curb extensions to shorten the length of the crosswalks and force cars to make sharper right turns. We expect the treatments to reduce vehicle turning speeds and reduce pedestrian crossing distance, ultimately leading to less exposure and safer conditions for pedestrians, Brumfield wrote in an email. Another problem area that the city and NCDOT are working to fix is the intersection of New Bern Avenue and Hedingham Boulevard near where two pedestrians were killed last year on Raleighs east side. New Bern Avenue is eight lanes wide here, including turn lanes, but there are no crosswalks, sidewalks or street lights. The design of the intersection likely dates back to when it was still a semi-rural area, outside the city and beyond where pedestrians were considered, said John Grant, NCDOTs regional traffic engineer. That design hasnt changed with the building of a hotel, restaurants and a Walmart Super Center nearby. As we continue to sprawl like this, well encounter, unfortunately, developed locations that are like this, Grant said. Its not anything that were striving to do, but were trying to identify these and correct them as we can. Grant said NCDOT and the city are seeking more than $2 million to extend sidewalks and add crosswalks and street lights at the intersection, but theres not enough money available for these kinds of projects to keep up with demand statewide. NCDOT would have more money for these kind of fixes if state law didnt forbid it from spending non-federal money on pedestrian and bicycle projects that arent tied to road improvements for cars, said Terry Lansdell, executive director of BikeWalk NC, an advocacy group. Two bills now before the General Assembly would lift that decade-old restriction, but lawmakers have rejected similar efforts in the past. So when it comes down to investing in safety improvements, the state legislature said No, its not important, Lansdell said. And DOT and our present governor have said thats the way it is, that cars rule and everybody else needs to fend for themselves. Taking human behavior into account Another challenge for those seeking to protect pedestrians is that few fatalities take place at intersections, where improvements to crosswalks might make a difference. Of the 29 people killed while walking in and around Raleigh last year, only four were at intersections, only two of which had crosswalks with signals. If people cross a busy road away from an intersection, it may be because they had no choice; the nearest crosswalks to where 12-year-old Samantha Briggs was killed on Hillsborough Street were more than a mile away in either direction, down a darkened road with no sidewalks. It may also reflect poor judgment, a mistaken belief they could get across before the next car comes. Drivers in several of these incidents made mistakes, too. Police cited drivers in at least nine cases, including five with DWI. Sandt, the UNC highway safety researcher, said the solution is not to blame people but to plan for their mistakes. That means designing roads and cars with human fallibility in mind. The approach is to create environments where its harder to make a mistake or where if you make a mistake its not as harmful, she said. Toward that end, Raleigh recently created its Vision Zero program, following a national movement of local programs to improve driving safety with the stated goal of zero deaths. The city won an $800,000 federal Safe Streets and Roads for All grant to plan safety improvements, which will eventually make it eligible for up to $30 million to carry them out. Raleigh embarks on its Vision Zero quest just after its worst year for traffic fatalities in recent memory. More than 60 people were killed in crashes last year, nearly double the average over the most recent five years. Of those, more than 40% were pedestrians. Melton, the City Council member, said despite those numbers, the citys new program will put it on the right path. How the city responds is most indicative of what it says about that city, he said, And I think we are taking the steps to respond appropriately. Caddell Kivett is ready to go back to college. He sorted out some old, defaulted student loans. He figured out what he wants to study. And he thought he had found a new way to pay for his classes. Except Kivett, 52, is in prison. Hell be able, in theory, to use a federal Pell Grant to help pay for his education come July. It marks the first time in nearly three decades that incarcerated people as many as 700,000 of them, according to the Education Department are broadly eligible for the aid, and the policy change could open up new college opportunities across the country. The expansion of Pell Grants has been a long-sought change since the 1994 crime bill eliminated them for people in prison and ended the majority of prison education programs. Although educating people in prison has been shown to have a number of benefits, the new money may be difficult for many to access for a host of reasons. Pell Grants for prisoners: Obama to give inmates a second chance at college In Kivetts case, the only higher-ed option at his North Carolina facility is a theology degree. He wants to study journalism after working for the prison newspaper, the Nash News. And he learned a harsh reality after months of phone calls and letters to colleges that offer accredited, paper-based correspondence courses: The federal aid can be used only at prisons that have Pell-eligible college programs. His doesnt. Studies show that prison education increases the chance of someone getting a job after release and decreases the likelihood that theyll go back to prison. Providing education to those who wont ever go home has benefits, too. Lifers often become mentors to others, which helps create a more positive prison culture. Pell Grants are the main form of federal financial aid for low-income students, which includes most incarcerated learners, providing a maximum annual award of $7,395. A program at Miami Dade College participates in the Second Chance Pell Experiment. Graduates of the college's Institute for Educational Empowerment show off their new credentials. Many prisons lack college access But Pell funds wont be enough to suddenly make college available to everyone like Kivett. Basic information gaps need to be filled, college support structures need to be built, and departments of correction need to sort out their new role in all of this. Congress assigned them the task of approving new prison education programs. Story continues That raises questions about how programs are assessed and who ensures they are actually meeting students needs. And it means opportunities will vary widely by state. Right now, incarcerated people in fewer than a third of state and federal prisons have access to postsecondary education, and much of what is offered doesnt lead to an academic degree. Places like California that draw on state funds to allow incarcerated students to take community college classes will be using Pell funding to expand bachelors degree programs. Some states will be starting from scratch. Others might not participate at all. Many states, including Washington and Kansas, will be building on programs that were part of the Second Chance Pell Experiment, which offered access to federal aid for some students starting in 2015. By last year, Second Chance Pell was offered at about 200 sites and had awarded federal aid to 30,000 incarcerated students. What is a Pell Grant? Who qualifies? What to know after Biden announces student loan plan All of this is happening as prisons and colleges are still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, correctional agencies across the country are facing staff shortages, and everyone is still waiting on the final word from the Education Department on exactly how it will sign off on new programs. What it all adds up to is this: Despite the return of Pell, most incarcerated people still wont be able to get a college education this fall. When information is next to nil One of the biggest challenges is information. Many potential students are eagerly awaiting the return of Pell but understanding what that means for them is difficult. Am I eligible? How would I sign up? What strings are attached? And where can I find out more? There are a lot of basics that people dont know: Pell cant be used for graduate school or by people who have already finished a bachelors degree, for example, and theres a lifetime limit of 12 semesters for eligibility. People need to be able to make informed choices about Pell dollars. That's your money as a student, and that's being used on your behalf, said Stephanie Gaskill, a fellow at the Jesuit Social Research Institute at Loyola University New Orleans. She assists with the institutes higher education in prison program and is a member of the Pell Is Not Enough research team at the University of Utah. It's a responsibility for those of us helping to bring programs in to make sure that people are making informed decisions. Those may be limited choices, but people need to have information in order to make those choices for themselves. Students from the Moreau College Initiative, an academic collaboration between Holy Cross College and the University of Notre Dame, in partnership with the Indiana Department of Correction, participate in a graduation ceremony in 2022. They are part of the Second Chance Pell Experiment. For now, the confusion seems ubiquitous. The word around here on Pell is next to nil, said Quadaire Patterson, 34, who is incarcerated in Virginia and runs a website, Brilliance Behind Bars, with the help of his fiancee. There has not been one whisper of any upcoming higher education programs that will utilize Pell Grant funds. Opinion: Why providing Pell Grants for prison inmates is a sound investment Because people know hes active in criminal justice reform, inmates often ask Patterson about how they can tap into the federal money. He has to tell them that they cant just sign up, that there has to be a Pell-eligible program at their prison. The looks on their faces show so much despair. Patterson has paid out of pocket to take a few college classes in social sciences and is now taking a paralegal course with the goal of becoming a lawyer. What I've learned is that being incarcerated presents a critical, daily ultimatum, he said. Will we choose to actively better ourselves or passively do time? Another barrier is access. In many places the demand for seats way outstrips supply, and waiting lists often run a year or more. Even in places that do have college programs, people might still be excluded because of their sentence or conviction. The legislation that restored Pell Grants for people in prison removed any federal barriers to eligibility related to how long peoples sentences are or their specific crimes, but states still have broad discretion in who can take classes behind bars. Half of the states impose restrictions on participation in education based on the length of a person's sentence, according to the Council of State Governments Justice Center. 'You don't know what you did for me': Released from prison by Obama, now on the dean's list When Jevon Jackson, 45, who is incarcerated in Wisconsin, heard Pell was returning, he thought that would mean the educational floodgates will open. He had been at two facilities with Second Chance programs but had been excluded because of his life sentence. Prisoners learn the basics of how to conduct accurate polls in Cal State LAs communication research class at Lancaster prison. Jackson always loved school as a kid, but he was locked up at age 16 and was able to get only his GED. Twenty years ago, he took a few correspondence courses that were paid for by an outside sponsor. Now he wants to study counseling and creative writing. But the return of Pell, it turns out, has not changed much about his chances at college for now. Pell is first being offered to short-timers, he said education staff told him. They will expand opportunities to people with lengthier sentences only when more spots become available. He earned a full ride to college: He spent 15 years wrongly imprisoned instead. The challenges of scaling up So what, exactly, does it take to get a college program in prison off the ground, how will existing sites scale up, and are colleges actually ready? One of the biggest challenges for increased capacity this fall is the tight timeline. Academic schedules are set months in advance, which ties up faculty, and other partners, such as accrediting agencies, need to sign off. Colleges have to redesign everything, including financial aid processes and admissions applications, to operate in an environment that doesnt often have internet access. Keramet Reiter, for example, had to create a paper-based application for people who wanted to apply to the University of California systems first bachelors degree program for incarcerated students. Reiter, a criminology professor who directs the program, and another staff member at the Irvine campus took screenshots of the undergraduate application for the University of California, printed them, took them in person to potential students, had them fill them out, and entered them into the application system. There's four application essays, so I typed all 120 of them for our 30 applicants, she said. Its a nightmare. Gaskill, the Loyola researcher, said colleges starting new programs also need to realize that students inside dont have direct access to the things they would on campus. As a person who runs a program, you're a conduit for them to all the resources of the university, she said. Many existing programs will have difficulties scaling up because they often are run by a single person, she added, and there can be a cost barrier. Pell coming back is essential for many programs to get off the ground, but it doesnt always cover the full cost of attendance. Colleges have to be prepared to absorb unexpected costs such as transcript fees and past due balances from students previous college experience. Opinion: Why liberal arts education for prison inmates is a sound investment Starting small Ultimately, only about 2% of the state and federal prison population about 1.3 million people is projected to participate in higher ed programs this fall, according to estimates by the Education Department and the Vera Institute, a nonprofit group providing technical assistance to prison education programs. In the short term, Margaret diZerega, director of Veras Unlocking Potential Initiative, says she expects college access to remain relatively restricted, given staffing shortages, a lack of facility space for classes, and slow adoption of technology. Given that, she says, getting even 10% of the prison population enrolled in the coming years would be a good goal. Student debt: Democrats reintroduce bill to keep spotlight on Biden loan forgiveness plan In recent years, changes to federal policies have removed some barriers to federal aid that will help people in prison. The same 2020 legislation that reinstated Pell Grants in prisons also restored eligibility for people with drug convictions and men who had failed to register for the Selective Service. The Education Department has also remedied another major obstacle to accessing Pell defaulted student loans with its fresh start initiative that was launched in April 2022. Corrections officials and educators say the best approach to broadening college access in prison is slow and steady. Even in states that already have significant experience with prison education, there will be some facilities that have never had higher education and some colleges that have never operated in a prison. Sometimes we think that something is better than nothing, and I just don't know that that's completely true, Gaskill said. Sometimes, especially if you're asking people to spend their Pell dollars, you want to make sure that what you're offering is actually a good experience for students. How much will this help college students? The Pell Grant amount will rise by $500 in 2023. Charlotte West covers the future of postsecondary education in prisons for Open Campus, a nonprofit newsroom focused on higher education. Sign up for her newsletter, College Inside. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pell Grants return to prison as student debt debate hangs over the US A document marked "top secret" that depicts the daily disposition of forces in Ukraine was leaked and has shown up on social media, a U.S. official confirmed. This official said that someone apparently took a picture of the document and posted it on Telegram, a social media platform that has over 500 million users, and from there, it was picked up on Twitter. Pentagon officials are working to remove the classified information from social media. A second official said the Pentagon is trying to determine how the material leaked and how serious the leak is. And then, on Friday, classified government documents covering not only Ukraine, but other parts of the world started showing up on social media, suggesting that there has been a major compromise of Pentagon secrets. A total of five slides photographs of documents that had been folded and unfolded were posted on a pro-Russian Telegram channel Thursday, and they appear authentic, although U.S. officials warned that some of them appeared to have been altered. For instance, one of the slides says there have been 16,000-17,500 Russians killed in action, but U.S. defense officials have publicly said that Russia has suffered over 200,000 casualties. The documents that were posted are also more than a month old. The Telegram account said that the posted documents described "a secret plan to prepare and equip nine brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine by the US and NATO for the spring offensive." The White House National Security Council and intelligence community declined to comment and referred inquiries to the Defense Department. The New York Times first reported the leak. "We are aware of the reports of social media posts and the Department is reviewing the matter," Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said. In a second statement provided to CBS News later Friday night, Singh said the Defense Department "has made a formal referral to the Department of Justice for investigation." A spokesperson said in a statement the same night that the Justice Department was in communication with the Defense Department and had begun an investigation. Story continues The leak occurred as Ukraine continues to prepare for its spring offensive against Russia. Earlier this week, the U.S. announced an additional $2.6 billion weapons package for Ukraine, containing munitions and air defense capabilities. Houses of worship are houses of refuge and hospitality Reconstruction continues at the Cathedral of Notre Dame 4 years after fire | 60 Minutes Saudi Arabia becomes unlikely sports hub amid sportswashing accusations | 60 Minutes Photo of dog and photo of chicken Bird flu is infecting mammals, including pet dogs, in this most recent spate of viral spread. As a highly pathogenic variant of avian influenza continues to cause mass outbreaks and mortality in wild and domestic birds worldwide, another unfortunate animal casualty has emerged. A pet dog died of bird flu in Ontario, Canada this month, the countrys public health and food inspection authorities confirmed in a Tuesday statement. The family pet tested positive for the virus on April 1, developed clinical signs of infection, and died shortly thereafter, the release said. A necropsy done on April 3 indicated trouble in the dogs respiratory system, officials noted. More testing is being done to determine the exact viral strain responsible for the dogs death. Read more To date and to the health agencys knowledge, it is the only case of its kind in Canada, the statement said. However, pet cats and dogs have had documented infections with avian influenza beforethough rarely. In this case, the deceased canine is believed to have become sick after chewing on a wild goose, per the press release. To protect pets, the Canadian government advises people to not feed their dogs or cats any raw poultry or other bird meat. Pets should also not be allowed to play with living or dead wild birds, the statement noted. Beyond beloved pets, other mammals in the country have also fallen ill with avian influenza in recent months. Officials have confirmed bird flu infections in foxes, seals, dolphins, black bears, mink, raccoons, porpoises, and skunks across Canada. This adds to the growing list of mammalian spillover cases popping up globally in this most recent spate of pathogenic bird flu spread. Prior to 2022, the variant of the avian virus was only rarely reported in mammals. Yet over the past year or so, an apparent change has occurred. H5N1 [one bird flu variant] has spread widely in wild birds and poultry for 25 years, but the recent spillover to mammals needs to be monitored closely, the World Health Organizations director general said in a February briefing. Story continues As a result, the WHO warned that bird flu could jump to humans, though it still assesses the risk to our species as low. Despite the recent dog death, authorities in Canada also still describe bird flu risk to people and pets as low. Other health experts generally agree that, barring additional developments, bird flu isnt one of the most pressing threats to human health. So far, in the ongoing U.S. outbreak, tens of millions of poultry have been affected, thousands of wild bird cases have been reported, and more than 150 instances of wild mammal infections have been detected, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, the agency says there was just one confirmed human case in 2022, in a person who worked with poultry. That person recovered from infection. Last month, Chile reported its first H5N1 human infection, and in February, an 11-year old girl in Cambodia died from the virus. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. [Source] A province in the Philippines held bloody crucifixions to uphold a local Good Friday tradition despite the objection of the Catholic church. The religious tradition saw eight people nailed to wooden crosses wearing thorny crowns of twigs as they reenacted the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Good Friday, according to The Associated Press. Good Friday is a Christian holiday that commemorates the crucifixion and death of Christ before his resurrection on Easter Sunday. The crucifixions, which were held in San Pedro Cutud, Pampanga, are the provinces first display of religious devotion after a three-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic. More from NextShark: Japan Appoints 'Loneliness Minister' Due to Rising Pandemic Suicides, Especially Among Women Prior to the crucifixions, devotees carried heavy crosses on their backs for more than half a mile to the top of a hill. Hundreds of others also walked barefoot and whipped their bare backs with sharp bamboo sticks. Villagers dressed as Roman centurions later hammered 4-inch stainless steel nails through the eight mens palms and feet. They were then left on the cross under the sun for about 10 minutes. One of the men was 62-year-old sign painter Ruben Enaje, who has now reportedly participated in the crucifixions a total of 34 times. More from NextShark: Harvard PhD Students Create Map Displaying Anti-Asian Aggression in Boston, NYC To be honest, I always feel nervous because I could end up dead on the cross, Enaje told The Associated Press before his crucifixion. When Im laid down on the cross, my body begins to feel cold. When my hands are tied, I just close my eyes and tell myself, I can do this. I can do this. While on the cross, Enaje said he prayed to God for the end of the COVID-19 virus and Russias invasion of Ukraine. The 62-year-old reportedly chose to devote his life to Christ after surviving what he described as a miracle. Enaje said he survived uninjured after falling from a three-story building in 1985. He then extended the ritual after his loved ones recovered from serious illnesses. Story continues More from NextShark: Ghibli Park releases illustrated guide that advises visitors to bring their trash home with them Enaje became a village celebrity known as the Christ in the Lenten reenactment of the Way of the Cross. Wilfredo Salvador, a 66-year-old former fisherman who played the role of Jesus Christ, said he began participating in the crucifixion 15 years ago after suffering a mental breakdown. [God] gives me physical strength unlike others who cannot bear it, said Salvador, according to Digital Journal. I do this by choice. I thank Him for giving me a second life. More from NextShark: Airbnb plans hanok category as K-wave continues sweeping the globe The bloody tradition draws thousands of devotees and tourists to the Philippines. This year, organizers said more than 15,000 Filipino and foreign tourists gathered in Cutud and two other nearby villages. Johnson Gareth, a British tour organizer, reportedly brought 15 tourists from eight countries to watch the crucifixions. They like this because there is really nothing like this on earth. Its less gruesome than people think. They think its going to be very macabre or very disgusting but its not. Its done in a very respectful way, Gareth told The Associated Press, adding that the tourists were genuinely inspired. For me, it is an exceptional experience and chance to see such a cultural thing, which is unique in the world, said Milan Dostal, a tourist from the Czech Republic. I respect it, Im very open-minded. However, church leaders in the country have objected to the crucifixions in the past, noting that devotees can express their devotion by doing charity work instead. Its very clear that the crucifixion of Christ is more than enough to save humanity from sin, said Father Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines public affairs committee. If you want your sins to be forgiven, go to confession. The health department had also warned participants of getting infections from being whipped and nailed. Catholic priest Robert Reyes, who is also a human rights activist in the country, said the bloody practice is a reflection of the churchs failure to educate Filipinos regarding Christian tenets, which then prompts many to explore alternative ways of seeking divine help. The question is, where were we church people when they started doing this? Reyes asked. If we judge them, well just alienate them. Reyes suggested that the clergy should immerse themselves in the communities and regularly engage in conversations with the villagers. Catholic zealots were nailed to wooden crosses while others whipped their backs bloody and raw in gruesome displays of religious devotion on Good Friday in the Philippines. While most people in the religious, Catholic-majority country spend the day at Mass or with their families, some go to extreme lengths to atone for sins or seek divine intervention in rituals frowned on by the Church. In San Juan village, north of Manila, hundreds of residents and tourists watched a blood-soaked re-enactment of Jesus Christ's last moments. Dozens of men wearing crowns made out of vines and cloth over their faces walked barefoot through narrow streets, flogging themselves non-stop with bamboo whips. Blood ran down their backs, soaking the top of their trousers and splattering spectators crowded in front of shops and houses. Some flagellants stopped to prostrate on the ground so they could be beaten with flip-flops and pieces of wood. When blood stopped oozing from their wounds, their skin was punctured with razor blades or a wooden mallet embedded with glass shards to make them bleed. "I do it for my family to make them healthy," said Daren Pascual, 31, after whipping his back in a warmup for the main event. "You just pray, then you cannot feel the pain." In the final stage of the performance, three men were escorted by costumed Roman centurions to a dirt mound where two of them were tied to wooden crosses. Wilfredo Salvador, a small and wiry former fisherman who played the role of Jesus Christ, had nails driven through his palms and feet as drones flew overhead and tourists took photos and videos with their smartphones. After several minutes, the nails were pulled out and Salvador was lowered to the ground. He was carted off on a stretcher to the medical tent for a check-up -- before going home in a tricycle taxi. "He (God) gives me physical strength unlike others who cannot bear it," said Salvador, 66, who began taking part in the crucifixion 15 years ago after suffering a mental breakdown. Story continues "I do this by choice. I thank him (God) for giving me a second life." The spectacle has been performed in villages around San Fernando city for decades, but the crucifixions were cancelled for the past three years due to Covid-19. The health department warned participants they risked tetanus and other infections. "It's very clear that the crucifixion of Christ is more than enough to save humanity from sin," said Father Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines' public affairs committee. "If you want your sins to be forgiven, go to confession." amj/cgm/cwl Catholic zealots were nailed to wooden crosses while others whipped their backs bloody and raw in gruesome displays of religious devotion on Good Friday in the Philippines. While most people in the religious, Catholic-majority country spend the day at Mass or with their families, some go to extreme lengths to atone for sins or seek divine intervention in rituals frowned on by the Church. In several villages north of Manila, an estimated 15,000 residents and tourists watched blood-soaked re-enactments of Jesus Christ's last moments. Hundreds of men wearing crowns made out of vines and cloth over their faces walked barefoot through narrow streets, flogging themselves non-stop with bamboo whips. Blood ran down their backs, soaking the top of their trousers and splattering spectators crowded in front of shops and houses. Some flagellants stopped to prostrate on the ground so they could be beaten with flip-flops and pieces of wood. When blood stopped oozing from their wounds, their skin was punctured with razor blades or a wooden mallet embedded with glass shards to make them bleed. "I do it for my family to make them healthy," said Daren Pascual, 31, after whipping his back in a warmup for the main event in San Juan village. "You just pray, then you cannot feel the pain." In the final stage of the performance, three men were escorted by costumed Roman centurions to a dirt mound where two of them were tied to wooden crosses. Wilfredo Salvador, a small and wiry former fisherman who played the role of Jesus Christ, had nails driven into his palms and feet as drones flew overhead and tourists took photos and videos with their smartphones. After several minutes, the nails were pulled out and Salvador was lowered to the ground. He was carted off on a stretcher to the medical tent for a check-up -- before going home in a tricycle taxi. "He (God) gives me physical strength unlike others who cannot bear it," said Salvador, 66, who began taking part in the crucifixion 15 years ago after suffering a mental breakdown. Story continues "I do this by choice. I thank him (God) for giving me a second life." - 'My worries are gone' - The spectacle has been performed in villages around San Fernando city for decades, but the crucifixions were cancelled for the past three years due to Covid-19. Ruben Enaje, who has been nailed to the cross more than 30 times in the past, said he would be back again next year if his body stayed healthy. "I feel good, my worries are gone and so are my fears," Enaje, 62, told reporters, his hands and feet bandaged after playing the role of Jesus Christ in San Pedro village. Foreign tourists were among the onlookers standing in the dust and tropical heat. "For me, it is an exceptional experience and chance to see such a cultural thing, which is unique in the world," said Milan Dostal, 43, from the Czech Republic. "I respect it, I'm very open-minded." The health department warned participants they risked tetanus and other infections from being nailed and whipped. "It's very clear that the crucifixion of Christ is more than enough to save humanity from sin," said Father Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines' public affairs committee. "If you want your sins to be forgiven, go to confession." amj/cgm/qan Health officials in Pierce County say a woman with tuberculosis is ignoring a court order to isolate, according to court documents obtained by the Tacoma News Tribune. According to that report, an officer who was directed to follow the patient said they watched her get on a city bus and visit a local casino. That could cause a big problem, as TB is spread when a patient coughs or sneezes into the air. If TB isnt treated early, it can lead to long-lasting lung damage, and can even infect other parts of the body like bones, the spine, and even the brain and in more severe cases, it can even kill the patient. Another court hearing is scheduled for Friday. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department said the next steps could involve booking the woman into jail. A judge issued a civil arrest warrant for the woman last month after she refused to isolate or take life-saving medication for over a year. Six people were arrested in a Friday morning police raid in south Wichita that turned up rifles, stolen handguns, drugs and more than $68,000 in cash. All of the suspects, who range in age from 23 to 61, live at the home in the 6000 block of South Hydraulic, Wichita police spokesperson Chad Ditch said. The SWAT team conducted the raid around 5:35 a.m. after the south bureau community response team developed information that a residence . . . was involved in the distribution of Methamphetamines, Ditch said in a new release. Community response teams help in arresting violent offenders. Police detailed what was seized in the raid: Seven rifles Four handguns (two reported stolen) Over $68,000 in cash Two Kevlar vests Over nine pounds of methamphetamine 300 grams of cocaine two ounces of marijuana All of the six suspects were arrested on multiple charges. They were all arrested on suspicion of possessing paraphernalia. Here are the other charges the suspects were arrested on: Timothy Finley, 61: arrested on suspicion of distribution of methamphetamine and cocaine, seven counts of felony in possession of a firearm, possession of two stolen firearms and two Sedgwick County warrants John Doub, 58: arrested on suspicion of possessing meth and a city warrant Sherri Horkavy, 53: arrested on suspicion of possessing meth Carlos Moran, 44: arrested on suspicion of possessing meth and two Sedgwick county warrants. Kara Horkavy, 35: arrested on suspicion of possessing meth and a city warrant. Melissa Bingham, 23: arrested on the charges of possessing meth and possession of cocaine Ditch said he didnt know the relationship between Sherri and Kara Horkavy. New Mexico State Police are investigating after officers in Farmington responded to the wrong address, then shot and killed the homeowner late Wednesday. Officers from Farmington Police Department received a call for a possible domestic violence incident at 5308 Valley View Avenue at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, yet mistakenly approached 5305 Valley View when they arrived. Body camera footage shows the officers knocking on the door and announcing themselves as members of the Farmington Police Department, according to an account by New Mexico State Police. When nobody answered, the officers backed away, at which point 52-year-old Robert Dotson opened the screen door armed with a handgun. What followed, said Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe, was a chaotic scene, with officers retreating and opening fire. Officers shot and killed Dotson. After the initial exchange of gunfire, authorities said Dotsons wife, who also was armed with a handgun, opened fire from the doorway, prompting officers to return fire. Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe is seen in a screenshot from a video statement shared by the department Thursday. Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe is seen in a screenshot from a video statement shared by the department Thursday. She was uninjured and complied with the officers commands once she realized they were police. In an apologetic video statement shared on social media Thursday, Hebbe pledged to release body camera footage within a week. Mr. Dotson was not the subject of the call that our officers were responding to, and this ending is just unbelievably tragic, Hebbe said. This is a very dark day for the Farmington PD, for our community, for the Dotson family. Theres nothing I can say that will make this better. Its a terrible event, and Im heartbroken over it. Its unclear what charges might stem from the fatal shooting. The New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau said Thursday its findings would be shared with the appropriate district attorney, who ultimately would make that decision. Related... Officers with the Concord Police Department are investigating the death of a man who was shot after an attempted armed robbery on Thursday. According to a release from the department, around 9:45 p.m., officers went to a call at a home on Cabarrus Avenue West, reporting one person shot and a robbery. Responding officers found 17-year-old Xavier Nehemiah Zion Charlton from Salisbury with a gunshot wound near the back of the house. Officers attempted to give Charlton first aid until Cabarrus County EMS arrived, but Charlton died from his injuries at the scene. ALSO READ: CMPD: Arrest made after passenger shot, killed in car on Billy Graham Parkway A neighbor named Nicholas Asbury, 24, told police that two men confronted him carrying handguns. Asbury told police that he fired his gun many times, hitting both men. Investigators learned that Kareem Mayo, a 22-year-old from Salisbury, was with Charlton during the incident and had a gunshot wound in his hand. The police charged Nicholas Asbury with felony possession of marijuana. Mayo is facing multiple charges, including attempted armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a felon, and shooting into an occupied property. The investigation is still ongoing, check back at wsoctv.com for updates. (WATCH BELOW: Police: 1 seriously hurt in shooting in Hickory) Police are investigating a reported shooting at an apartment building near downtown Orlando. The incident happened around 10:30 p.m. Thursday at the SteelHouse Orlando apartments. Channel 9 crews arrived at the scene just after 11 p.m. and found several Orlando Police officers had responded. Read: Police: Man arrested after woman jumped out of vehicle during argument on I-4 in Orlando Police appeared to have their investigation focused on the parking garage of the apartment building. Officials have not confirmed what occurred and if anyone was hurt. Watch: No charges filed after cars crash into Orlando home; renter seeks justice Channel 9 is working to gather more information and will provide updates on Eyewitness News. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Indiana Borough police are investigating after an armed robbery at a convenience store on Thursday. According to a news release, officers were dispatched to the 700 block of Philadelphia Street for the robbery. Police said an employee reported that a person entered the business, walked behind the counter and demanded cash while displaying what appeared to be a knife. Money was taken and the suspect left the store. The suspect is described as a 6-feet-tall white male who was wearing a green winter hat, black coat and a dark-colored cloth covering the lower part of his face. The suspect approached the store from the east and left the store headed west onto Philadelphia Street. No injuries were reported in the robbery. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call Indiana Borough police at 724-349-2121. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW A woman repeatedly punched a driver, knocked out her tooth with a set of keys, and told her to go back to your country in a road rage attack in Framingham last week, authorities said. Michelle Milburn, of Marlboro, was arrested on a charge of aggravated assault in connection with a violent incident that unfolded on the evening of March 29, according to the Framingham Police Department. Officers responding to a report of a possible assault in the area of 49 Hollis Street just before 7:30 p.m. spoke with several witnesses who had recorded video of the rampage, a police report indicated. The victim, who spoke predominately Portuguese, told officers that Milburn had struck her repeatedly following a near miss accident at a red light. An investigation revealed that the victim came close to touching Milburns bumper. Milburn then allegedly got out of her car, approached the victim, and punched her in the face, head, and mouth. During the attack, police say Milburn was yelling, Go back to your country, this is America. Video shared with investigators showed Milburn shouting several obscenities before striking the victim in the mouth with a set of keys, knocking out one tooth, police said. The victim also complained of back, head, shoulder, and stomach pain. The victim was taken to the hospital via ambulance following the incident and Milburn was taken into custody. An investigation remains ongoing. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A software system that was blamed for helping a California dad evade prosecution on child sex abuse allegations has also failed to perform basic functions for law enforcement in at least three different states, according to officials and court documents reviewed by NBC News. Officials who have used Spillman Technologies software in California, Colorado and Texas allege it has crashed in the midst of 911 calls, forcing dispatchers to frantically take notes by hand while emergencies were unfolding. They say it has failed to provide the fastest routes for traveling to the scenes of emergencies, costing precious time for first responders and those theyre trying to help. And they say it has lost police reports about alleged crimes, sometimes as officers were in the midst of writing them. Spillman Technologies, which was acquired by Motorola Solutions in 2016, provides dispatch and records management software systems to more than 1,000 agencies nationwide, according to a 2016 press release from Motorola. Officials say that while those services are crucial for law enforcement agencies, the software has failed to deliver them as promised. Eleven spokespeople for Motorola Solutions did not respond to phone calls and emails from NBC News containing a dozen detailed questions summarizing the allegations in this story. A lost allegation of child sex abuse Sgt. Rob Garnero, a spokesperson for the Redding, California police department, last month blamed Spillman for losing a 2018 allegation that Ryan Rovito, 34, had several hundred child sex abuse images on his computer, which authorities discovered after his ex-wife reported finding some photos of prepubescent juveniles on his computer, Garnero said. How exactly the case got lost within the software, though, remains unclear. But Redding Police Chief Bill Schueller said that it was unclear whether Rovitos initial case was lost due to a problem with Spillman which he said the department had just started using a few weeks before the case was filed or a mistake made by a staff member who was learning the new system and making a mistake in the routing of the reports. He said a lieutenant doing an audit of other lost cases has found a couple hundred, but none of any significant impact like the Rovito case. Story continues Lieutenant Chris Smyrnos of the Redding Police, who said he oversaw the implementation of Spillman throughout Shasta County, said that Rovitos 2018 case was likely lost due to an operator error where that report got misrouted to a part of the software that was not being actively monitored by those who had access to it something he said the software should not allow to happen in the first place. Because it was lost, the case was never prosecuted and didnt reach the Shasta County District Attorneys Office until last November, after officials initially believed the statute of limitations had expired, representatives for the DAs office and the Redding Police Department have said. It was only after Rovitos current wife gave police his hard drive and a hidden camera she allegedly found in the couples bathroom that authorities from the DAs office determined that the 2018 case actually fell under a 10-year limit and that law enforcement would investigate it alongside the more recent case. Rovito was arrested last month on charges related to possession of child sex abuse images and surreptitious recording. Victoria and Ryan Rovito posed for this photo in February 2022 before they married. (Betsy Erickson) Regardless of how the case was lost, Schueller said it was very frustrating that Rovitos earlier case was lost until a few months ago and that its far from his only frustration with Spillman. Rovitos lawyer, Timothy Prentiss, has said his client maintains his innocence. His next court date is April 21. System crashes during 911 calls create huge safety risks' Spillman has a track record of failing to properly maintain multiple types of records for the Redding police, including crime data, Schueller alleged. As a result, the crime statistics available on their website from 2019 to 2021 are a rough estimate, he said. We didnt do it for 2022 because its too screwed up, he added. The software has also failed to track how long it takes individual agencies to respond to the scene of an emergency, according to Schueller and Smyrnos, who said they can only see how long it takes the first agency to arrive. (If that first agency is the fire department, for example, the police department cant see how long it took their officers to arrive, Smyrnos said.) As a result, Schueller has hired three high school interns to try to make those calculations manually so he can get accurate response time data for his officers, he said. The software would also crash when officers were in the middle of writing police reports, Smyrnos said, adding that sometimes officers would lose narratives they had been writing for two to three hours, forcing them to start again. And Schueller alleged Spillman has created huge safety risks for both first responders and civilians by repeatedly crashing while dispatchers were trying to enter details from 911 calls, which are needed to send first responders to the scene. When the system crashes, call takers handwrite notes on a piece of paper while the system reboots and continue to try to help the caller and get the units whatever they are, fire, police or ambulance resources to that person, he said. A crash while youre entering in an emergency call is not an effective way to serve our community, he added. Schueller said that officers in his department constantly reported problems with the software to the company and some things would get fixed, some things would never get fixed, he said. The software also repeatedly crashed during 911 calls in Weld County, Colorado, where more than 40 agencies used Spillman from approximately early 2012 until last November, according to one former and one current county official. The system would freeze in the midst of 911 calls like somebody unplugged it, and call takers would then have to take handwritten notes and deliver them to a dispatcher charged with sending first responders to the scene, said Mike Wallace, the countys former director of public safety communications. It was such a regular event with Spillman the system was crashing on a weekly basis that we had to educate and train our staff to manually intervene, said Wallace, who is now the public safety communications manager for the city of Margate, Florida, which he said does not use the Spillman software. A $1.25 million settlement Wallace said that while he could not recall any instance in which a civilian in Weld County died as a result of Spillmans delays, officials knew the crashes were costing dispatchers and first responders time they couldnt afford to lose. Between life and death, seconds mean everything, he said. Lost time due to a software error made a fatal difference in San Angelo, Texas, according to a more than $3.5 million lawsuit the city brought against Spillman Technologies in 2017. The suit which Spillman paid $1.25 million to settle that same year, and which was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled alleged Spillman was a defective software solution that jeopardized the lives of the citys residents and first responders. It alleged that Spillman routinely crashed and failed to properly map the shortest routes to the scene of an emergency, causing first responders to rely on maps on their personal cellphones and forcing city residents to sometimes wait up to 30 minutes for first responders to arrive. In one instance, a local resident who was suffering from cardiac arrest died, allegedly while waiting for first responders to arrive after the Spillman software allegedly malfunctioned and dispatched a unit of first responders located on the opposite side of the city, 25 to 30 minutes from the scene, according to the lawsuit. A closer group of first responders eventually learned about the emergency call and beat the other unit to the scene but by that time, it was already too late, according to the lawsuit, which said the death was a preventable outcome for the patient. In another incident, Spillman allegedly failed to alert dispatchers that multiple calls were coming from the same address: one caller an armed man said he planned to kill police and that neighboring homes should be evacuated, and another caller reported a house fire at the scene, the lawsuit states. As a result, police who arrived at the scene were surprised to find the house on fire, and firefighters were not prepared to encounter the man armed with a rifle in the homes front yard, the lawsuit alleges, adding that firefighters crawled to the back of their engine to take cover. Lorelei Day, deputy communications director for the city of San Angelo, said officials do not have any further comment on the settlement and that the city is now using software manufactured by a different company. Former Spillman customers go elsewhere Other onetime Spillman customers have also abandoned the software for what they say are more effective alternatives. Weld County replaced Spillman last year with CentralSquare, a software system the company says is used by more than 8,000 public agencies, due to the growth of our county and the increased functionality associated with CentralSquare, said Tina Powell, director of public safety communications. Shasta County will no longer be a Spillman customer as of May 1, when they will switch to Motorolas PremierOne dispatch and records management software, which Schueller characterized as tried and true in large law enforcement agencies throughout the country. Its been a frustrating transition to Spillman Im frankly glad were getting out of it, he said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Ukrainian grain Read also: Ukrainian farmers ask Poland to build wide-gauge railway track to Gdansk port According to the report, the activist farmers plan to block the crossing on April 12-15, after increased grain imports from Ukraine led to a sharp drop in purchase prices in Poland. We are expecting our requirements to be fulfilled, not for a minister (to visit) the border, said president of farming organization Koko Rolnicze, Wadysaw Serafin. At the same time, already protesting farmers in the Polish city of Szczecin announced plans to step up their protest activity next week. Read also: Grain deal extended for another 120 days, Ukraine to continue exporting crops On April 7, Polish government spokesperson Piotr Muller announced that Ukrainian grain would be transported through Poland to third countries without unloading. As previously reported, Polish farmers have been protesting against a significant influx of Ukrainian grain to the Polish market, which was supposed to merely transit through Poland to other destinations. Read also: Six cargo ships arrive at Odesa coast following extension of grain agreement This issue led to the resignation of the Polish Minister of Agriculture Henryk Kowalczyk on April 5, replaced by Robert Telus on April 6. Read also: Polish agriculture minister resigns amid anger over Ukrainian grain imports During an official visit to Warsaw, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki discussed the issue of Ukrainian grain transit through Poland, later promising it will be resolved in near future. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Oleksandr Lazariev, pro-Kremlin political scientist, who helps Russia in the war against Ukraine, has been served with a notice of suspicion of treason and humiliating the national honour and dignity in absentia. Source: the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU); the Kyiv City Prosecutors Office Quote: "The accused was one of the public pseudo-experts, who worked for Medvedchuk (Viktor Medvedchuk Ukrainian businessman and pro-Russian politician to whose daughter Putin is godfather ed.), Muraiev (Yevhenii Muraiev, Ukrainian pro-Russia politician) and Sharii (Anatolii Sharii pro-Russian propagandist of Ukrainian origin), even before the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Lazariev was directly responsible for "promoting" the media images of the Kremlin associates and helped them promote Russian narratives in the informational space. With this goal, he frequently appeared as guest on the sanctioned TV channels Nash, Zik, NewsOne, 112 and russia today. In his commentaries, he repeatedly justified the aggressive policy of Moscow, calling the combat action in Ukraine's east "civil war." Details: According to the reports of the SSU, after 24 February 2022, Lazariev covertly fled the country. Then, he arrived in the occupied peninsula of Crimea and joined the closest circle of Sergey Aksenov, collaborationist and so-called Prime Minister of Crimea. He now helps him to conduct pro-Kremlin information campaigns. With his actions, Lazariev, a Ukrainian born in Khmelnytskyi Oblast, caused damage to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, inviolability and informational security of Ukraine by helping the Russian representatives to conduct sabotage activity against Ukraine in the information sector. He was served with a notice of suspicion of treason and humiliation of Ukraine's national honour and dignity. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Flags of China and the European Union. [Photo/VCG] President of France Emmanuel Macron, accompanied by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, is visiting China in the first week of April. It comes amidst a speech by the latter that sought to frame Europe's relationship with China on the need to "reduce dependencies" and opposing the concept of "decoupling," striking a mutedly optimistic tone about current relations with the country. Despite this, the two leaders' Beijing visit demonstrates their interest in continuing engagement with the world's second largest economy amid growing geopolitical tensions and pressure from the United States for them to reduce ties as Europe is pushed to "take a side." It is time for the countries of Europe to make the right decision regarding their relations with China and to opt for stability, balance, reason, and pragmatism above ideology, confrontation, and what Beijing denounces as "bloc confrontation." The world is changing, and not for the better, with the United States seeking to reshape geopolitics into a framework of competition between states, ripping up the existing rules and globalization trends in the bid to shore up its power and maintain what it sees as its rightful dominance. In doing so, the U.S. has made "containment" of China its number-one priority, utilizing economic, technological, and military means. Washington subsequently expects its allies, especially those in Europe, to get on board with these policies and support them and does not care about what economic costs or losses these countries may suffer by doing so. Similar to the original Cold War, the United States perceives Europe as part of its own "bloc" or "domain," and it is therefore expected to follow suit and acknowledge the U.S. as its primary protector or overseer. Although Emmanuel Macron of France has long spoken of the need for "European strategic autonomy," which emphasizes Europe as an independent, unified, and autonomous player in the world, the United States has nonetheless been able to continually exert influence over Europe through its divide and rule strategy via various channels. The crisis in Ukraine has subsequently allowed the United States to increase its strategic hold over the continent, enabling itself as a security provider and a supplier of arms, forcing decoupling in the energy industry in ways which are economically advantageous to the U.S. This has placed increasing pressure on EU-China relations. However, in recent months, a number of European leaders have made the point that continued engagement with China is important and that Beijing, as a trading partner and necessary global cooperative, is too significant to ignore. Thus, in November, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited China, while the Prime Minister of Spain also visited the country and attended the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan last week. There remains an underlying recognition that it is in Europe's collective interests to maintain a positive relationship with China overall. However, more must be done. Symbolism and rhetoric must be met with actions, and although Ursula von der Leyen has spoken of opposition to so-called decoupling, Europe must show that it is willing and able to resist unilateral pressure from the United States. If the U.S. is continually able to "pick off" areas of interest by unilaterally pushing certain European countries to follow its will, then talk of European unity or autonomy is meaningless. European countries must therefore push to conduct their foreign policies with China independently, free of third-party interference, and with a view to the continent's long-term interests. In this regard, more effort must be placed on avoiding a "new cold war" and likewise, reaffirming the importance of the massive EU-China bilateral relationship as opposed to trying to erode it. China, after all, is the world's largest market for European companies. This visit therefore has monumental significance regarding the precedent that it will establish going forwards, and as such, it must demonstrate enthusiasm for deals such as the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) and mutual Chinese and European investment in their respective countries. Tom Fowdy is a British political and international relations analyst and a graduate of Durham and Oxford universities. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/TomFowdy.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn. President Donald Trump talks to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, left, during a visit to Lake Okeechobee and Herbert Hoover Dike at Canal Point, Fla., March 29, 2019. A new Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll shows DeSantis leading Trump among 2024 GOP presidential candidates. | Manuel Balce Ceneta, Associated Press Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is the early favorite to win the Republican Party presidential nomination among Utah voters, a new poll finds. A Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll of 801 registered voters suggests that if the presidential primary were held now, 21% would vote for DeSantis and 16% would support former President Donald Trump. The only other candidate in double digits was former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, with 12%. DeSantis popularity is even higher among Republican voters, 31% of whom said theyd support him. Twenty-three percent of Republicans say theyd support Trump. The poll was conducted March 14-22 by Dan Jones and Associates and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.46 percentage points. News that Trump would likely face criminal charges from the Manhattan district attorneys office broke the week prior to polling, though his arraignment hearing did not occur until early April, after polling had concluded. The findings show that Utah Republicans continue to be more wary of Donald Trump than Republicans in other red states, said Chris Karpowitz, professor of political science at Brigham Young University. Behind DeSantis, Trump and Cheney, other vote-getters included former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (5%), former Vice President Mike Pence (4%) and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Tex. (2%). 21% of voters say theyd vote for another candidate, and 20% are undecided. Among self-described very conservative voters, Trump has a 42 to 31 percentage-point lead, though DeSantis enjoys large leads among those who are somewhat conservative and moderates. Utah Republicans did not support (Trump) in the Republican primary in 2016, and at least from the results of this poll, they are not rallying around him so far. In some ways, such low level of support for a former president is remarkable, Karpowitz said. National polls show DeSantis and Trump as the clear front-runners in the race for the Republican nomination, though many are conflicting as to who has an early lead. A Monmouth University poll in late March showed Trump with a one percentage-point lead, after a February poll showed him with a 13 percentage-point deficit. A Yahoo News/YouGov poll conducted on March 30-31, however, shows Trump with a 26 percentage-point lead. And a Fox News poll, also conducted in late March, showed Trump with a 30 percentage-point lead, up from a 15 percentage-point advantage in late February. Story continues Ever since Trump announced his candidacy last November, several polls of Utah voters have shown DeSantis ahead. A Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll conducted shortly after Trumps announcement showed DeSantis with a seven percentage-point lead. Last month, a Deseret News survey of Utah GOP county chairs found that more would consider supporting DeSantis than Trump in the presidential primary. Ron DeSantis has all the same policy beliefs that Trump has, one chair said. He just doesnt have the arrogance and the mouth that Donald Trump does, which is revolting. I loved a lot of things Trump did, but shoot, our countrys gonna end up in flames if hes reelected, another said. DeSantis has yet to formally announce his candidacy. He cruised to reelection last November, defeating former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist by nearly 20 points. The Utah 2024 GOP presidential primary will be held March 5, 2024. Ragweed pollen, instigator of headaches and itchy eyes across the U.S. Bob Sacha/Corbis Documentary via Getty Images Brace yourselves, allergy sufferers research shows pollen season is going to get a lot longer and more intense with climate change. Our study finds that the U.S. will face up to a 200% increase in total pollen this century if the world continues producing carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles, power plants and other sources at a high rate. Pollen season in general will start up to 40 days earlier in the spring and last up to 19 days longer than today under that scenario. As atmospheric scientists, we study how the atmosphere and climate affect trees and plants. While most studies focus on pollen overall, we zoomed in on more than a dozen different types of grasses and trees and how their pollen will affect regions across the U.S. in different ways. For example, species like oak and cypress will give the Northeast the biggest increase, but allergens will be on the rise just about everywhere, with consequences for human health and the economy. The maps on the left show the recent average pollen season length in days for three types of plants: platanus, or plane trees, such as sycamores; betula, or birch; and ambrosia, or ragweed. The maps on the right show the expected changes in total days by the end of the century if carbon dioxide emissions continue at a high rate. Zhang and Steiner, 2022 If your head is pounding at just the thought of it, we also have some good news, at least for knowing in advance when pollen waves are coming. Were working on using the model from this study to develop more accurate local pollen forecasts. Why pollen is increasing Lets start with the basics. Pollen the dust-like grains produced by grasses and plants contains the male genetic material for a plants reproduction. How much pollen is produced depends on how the plant grows. Rising global temperatures will boost plant growth in many areas, and that, in turn, will affect pollen production. But temperature is only part of the equation. We found that the bigger driver of the future pollen increase will be rising carbon dioxide emissions. The higher temperature will extend the growing season, giving plants more time to emit pollen and reproduce. Carbon dioxide, meanwhile, fuels photosynthesis, so plants may grow larger and produce more pollen. We found that carbon dioxide levels may have a much larger impact on pollen increases than temperature in the future. Story continues Cones on a Norway Spruce in Virginia release pollen. Famartin/Wikimedia, CC BY-ND Pollen changes will vary by region We looked at 15 different pollen types, rather than treating all pollen the same as many past studies have. Typically, pollination starts with leafy deciduous trees in late winter and spring. Alder, birch and oak are the three top deciduous trees for causing allergies, though there are others, like mulberry. Then grasses come out in the summer, followed by ragweed in late summer. In the Southeast, evergreen trees like mountain cedar and juniper (in the cypress family) start in January. In Texas, cedar fever is the equivalent of hay fever. We found that in the Northeast, pollen seasons for a lot of allergenic trees will increasingly overlap as temperatures and carbon dioxide emissions rise. For example, it used to be that oak trees would release pollen first, and then birch would pollinate. Now we see more overlap of their pollen seasons. In general, pollen season will change more in the north than in the south, because of larger temperature increases in northern areas. Southeastern regions, including Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, can expect large grass and weed pollen increases in the future. The Pacific Northwest is likely to see peak pollen season a month earlier because of the early pollen season of alder. Silver lining: We can improve pollen forecasting Most pollen forecasts right now provide a very broad estimate. Part of the problem is that there arent many observing stations for pollen counts. Most are run by allergy clinics, and there are less than 100 of these stations distributed across the country. Michigan, where we live, doesnt have any. Its a very labor-intensive process to actually measure different types of pollen. As a result, current forecasts have a lot of uncertainties. These likely are based in part on what a station has observed in the past and the weather forecast. Pollen sampling for regional forecasts can be labor-intensive. HelenaAnna/Wikimedia, CC BY-ND Our model, if integrated into a forecasting framework, could provide more targeted pollen forecasts across the country. We can estimate where the trees are from satellite data and on-the-ground surveys. We also know how temperature influences when pollen comes out what we call the phenology of the pollen. With that information, we can use meteorological factors like wind, relative humidity and precipitation to figure out how much pollen gets into the air, and atmospheric models can show how it moves and blows around, to create a real-time forecast. All of that information allows us to look at where pollen might be in space and time, so people dealing with allergies will know whats coming in their area. Were currently talking with a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration lab about ways to integrate that information into a tool for air quality forecasting. Ragweed pollen grains, magnified and colorized. Bob Sacha/Corbis Documentary via Getty Images There are still some unknowns when it comes to long-term pollen projections. For example, scientists dont fully understand why plants produce more pollen in some years than others. Theres not a good way to include that in models. Its also not fully clear how plants will respond if carbon dioxide levels go through the roof. Ragweed and residential trees are also hard to capture. There are very few ragweed surveys showing where these plants are growing in the U.S., but that can be improved. Pollen levels are already on the rise A study in 2021 found that the overall pollen season was already about 20 days longer in North America than it was in 1990 and pollen concentrations were up about 21%. Increasing pollen levels in the future will have a much broader impact than a few sniffles and headaches. Seasonal allergies affect about 30% of the population, and they have economic impacts, from health costs to missed working days. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. Like this article? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. It was written by: Yingxiao Zhang, University of Michigan and Allison L. Steiner, University of Michigan. Read more: Allison L. Steiner has received funding from NSF, NASA, DOE, and NOAA. She is currently a member of the NASEM Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate. Yingxiao Zhang does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Pope Francis has praised sex as a beautiful thing and said that meeting romantic partners on dating apps is normal in a new documentary. In the Disney+ documentary The Pope: Answers, which was released on 5 April, the 86-year-old pontiff shared his thoughts on a variety of topics such as sex, masturbation, racism, migration, abortion, and the LGBTQ+ community. The Spanish-speaking documentary was filmed in June 2022 during the Popes open dialogue with 10 young adults in Rome. Sex is one of the beautiful things that God has given to the human person, he said in the documentary. During a conversation about pornography and masturbation, the Pope said those who use pornography debase themselves. Those who are addicted to pornography are like being addicted to a drug that keeps them at a level that does not let them grow, he said. To express oneself sexually is something rich. Anything that diminishes a true sexual expression diminishes you as well, it renders you partial, and it diminishes that richness. Sex has a dynamic of its own. It exists for a reason. Its an expression of love. Pope Francis was also asked by the group what he thought about young people meeting romantic partners on Tinder. Its normal, he said. Young people have that eagerness to meet each other, and thats very good. In conversation with a young adult named Celia, who identified as non-binary, the Pope was asked whether there was room in the church for nonbinary people and the LGBTQ+ community. He responded that LGBTQ+ people must be welcomed by the Catholic Church. Every person is a child of God, every person, he said. God does not reject anyone, God is Father. And I have no right to expel anyone from the Church. Not only that, my duty is always to welcome. The Church cannot close the door to anyone. To no one. The Pope also criticised members of the church who use the Bible to promote hate speech against gay or transgender people, adding that these members are infiltrators who take advantage of the Church for their personal passions, for their personal narrowness. It is one of the corruptions of the Church. Story continues As for his thoughts on abortion, the pontiff suggested that priests must be merciful towards women who have terminated a pregnancy. However, he maintained that the practice remains unacceptable. It is good to call things by their name, he said. It is one thing to accompany the person who had one (abortion), quite another to justify the act. Pope Francis has often been hailed for his more progressive views on the LGBTQ+ community compared to some of his predecessors. Earlier this year, the Pope criticised laws that criminalise homosexuality as unjust and reaffirmed that homosexuality is not a crime. Being homosexual isnt a crime, Francis said during an interview with The Associated Press in January. Its not a crime. Yes, but its a sin. The pontiff also called on Catholic bishops to welcome LGBTQ+ people into the church, saying, These bishops have to have a process of conversion. In 2020, Pope Francis became the first pontiff to endorse same-sex civil unions. Homosexual people have the right to be in a family. They are children of God, he said in the documentary Francesco. You cant kick someone out of a family, nor make their life miserable for this. What we have to have is a civil union law; that way they are legally covered. Pope Francis, who is recovering from bronchitis and last week spent three nights in hospital, did not attend the traditional "Way of the Cross" prayer service on Good Friday, the Vatican said. Some 20,000 people took part in the ceremony at the Colosseum in Rome, which was dedicated to victims of conflict, with a young Ukrainian and a young Russian praying for peace and brotherhood. It was the first time that Francis, 86, has missed the annual service, which falls two days before Easter -- Christianity's most important holiday -- in the 10 years of his papacy. "Due to the intense cold of the past days, Pope Francis will follow this evening's Way of the Cross from Casa Santa Marta, joining the prayer of those who will gather with the Diocese of Rome at the Colosseum," the Vatican said in a short statement. Santa Marta is the Argentine pontiff's residence within the Vatican. An unusual cold snap in Rome has seen night-time temperatures fall to 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) this week. Christians commemorate Good Friday as the day Jesus Christ died on the cross. The Way of the Cross service commemorates the 14 stations of Jesus's suffering and death, from his condemnation to his burial. Francis was discharged from a Rome hospital on April 1 after a three-night stay for a bronchial infection. The pontiff has suffered increasing health issues in recent years, and it was his second stay in hospital since 2021. Ahead of the Way of the Cross, Francis presided over the celebration of the Passion of the Lord within St Peter's Basilica Friday afternoon, arriving in a wheelchair. The pope has participated in various events since his hospital release, including washing the feet of 12 young prisoners on Holy Thursday. On Sunday, he is expected to lead Easter mass at St Peter's Square. cmk/ams/fb/jj This article originally appeared on Outside Montana is synonymous with mountains. But the state's topographic prominence is overwhelmingly concentrated in its western half. To the east, vast expanses of prairie unfurl to the horizon. There are pockets of Eastern Montana, though, where the Great Plains thrust dramatically upward into rugged island ranges, so named for their geographic isolation, far from the continental backbone to the west. These mountainous clusters--including the Judith Mountains, the Little Rockies, and the Snowy Mountains--offer much of what the state's western peaks are revered for, with an added dose of solitude. The best part? The surrounding prairie and river country are every bit as impressive--and this road trip takes you through all of it. Lewistown The first thing to know about Lewistown, Montana, is that the second "w" in its name definitely is not silent. (Locals, welcoming as they are, will be sure to remind you of that should you let a "Lewiston" slip during your visit.) The second, more important thing to know about this hamlet at the geographic center of Montana is that it's the coolest little mountain town you've never heard of. It's a choose-your-own-adventure kind of place. Feel like fly-fishing or floating? Cast for trout in Big Spring Creek, which runs clear and cold right through the heart of town. Want to log some trail miles? The town is laced with a network of paved, gravel, and singletrack trails perfect for running or riding. Searching for some elevation? Drive 20 minutes north into the Judith Mountains for a mountain bike ride on the Limekiln Trail, a seven-mile loop with 1,000 feet of elevation gain through pine forest that culminates with an expansive view of Lewistown. Eat and Stay: In town, order a Reuben and a Mayfly Rye Pale Ale at Central Feed Grilling Co. and Big Springs Brewing, located in the historic Mercantile Building on Main Street. After your ride or hike in the mountains, check into the Judith Mountain Lodge, a rustic log cabin-inspired hotel and restaurant conveniently located adjacent to the Limekiln Trailhead. For a closer-to-town option, reserve an updated room at the historic Calvert Hotel, just one block off Main Street in downtown Lewistown. Story continues Upper Missouri River Breaks North of Lewistown, the Missouri River carves a vast channel through some of the most wild and scenic country in North America. For 149 river miles, from the town of Fort Benton to James Kipp Recreation Area, the Missouri is protected as a national monument spanning some 380,000 acres of shoreline, forest, prairie, badlands, and coulees--all of it home to countless species of wildlife and plants. One visit is all it takes to understand why these areas surrounding the Missouri River are known as "breaks"--as you approach the river, the undulating prairie seems to break away all at once, revealing rugged badlands and cliffs that cascade hundreds of feet down to the river. Judith Landing, Missouri River (Photo: Visit Montana) The ultimate way to explore the monument is by canoe or kayak on a single- or multiday float. While such trips can be done self-supported, it's best to hire a guide who has knowledge of the area. Hole in the Wall Adventures, based in Lewistown, has been guiding fully supported canoe and powerboat outings on the river for decades. Regardless of how or when you decide to float, be sure to pick up one of the BLM's Boater Guides for the most comprehensive information about exploring the river. Hard copies ($4) are available at most public lands visitor centers in the area; you may also download a digital copy at BLM.gov. Floating on the river may be the main draw of the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, but it's far from the only way to explore these protected lands. If you'd prefer to stick to solid ground, hundreds of miles of remote dirt roads beg to be bikepacked. Or consider driving the Missouri Breaks National Back Country Byway, an overland trip from the river at James Kipp Recreation Area to Winifred, through badlands, coulees, forested uplands, and rolling prairie. With proper planning and a high-clearance four-by-four, a trip on this byway is one of the best ways to explore the monument's "inland" splendor, offering ample opportunities for wildlife viewing, camping, hiking, biking, and more. Utilize the BLM's interactive story map to learn more and plan your trip. Lewis and Clark Hut Situated on a bluff just above the Missouri River near Judith Landing, 60 miles north of Lewistown, the Lewis and Clark Hut is the ultimate adventure base camp in the Missouri River Breaks. The striking modern hut, which can be reserved from April to December, sleeps eight and features solar power, a kitchen, a covered deck overlooking the river, and a detached outhouse. Guests are responsible for bringing sleeping bags, pillows, groceries, and potable water. A four-by-four vehicle is recommended for access to the Lewis and Clark Hut. Learn more and make reservations at americanprairie.org. Zortman and the Little Rocky Mountains Nestled into the Little Rocky Mountains, 90 miles north of Lewistown, Zortman is a historic gold-mining town. Though small--a sign in front of the Zortman Motel & Garage reads "Population: 50. 48 nice people and two grouches"--Zortman is alive and well. In addition to its auto repair and services and comfortable accommodations, the aforementioned business offers gold-panning excursions on its claims in a nearby gulch. Zortman, Montana (Photo: Visit Montana) Panning for precious metals is just one of many ways you can spend your visit in this time capsule of a town high in the Little Rocky Mountains. Visit the one-room Saint Joseph Church, snap a picture in front of the Zortman Jail--a tiny building, right on the main street, about the size of a shed--or hike to Lookout Cave for a view back at town. Eat and Stay: If you happen to be visiting on a Friday, don't miss the prime rib dinner at Miner's Club Cafe. When it's time to retire for the night, walk across the street to the Zortman Motel & Garage. Crystal Lake, Snowy Mountains The southern and final leg of your journey leads you high into the Snowy Mountains, the most prominent of the region's island ranges. Here, densely forested drainages abruptly ascend to bald, plateau-like peaks, the tallest of which, Greathouse Peak, reaches nearly 9,000 feet above sea level. Just an hour south of Lewistown is Crystal Lake, a turquoise alpine tarn and the jumping-off point for all kinds of recreation. Launch your SUP or kayak for a scenic paddle around the lake's perimeter, head out for a technical mountain bike ride (locals recommend climbing the Grandview Trail and descending the Ice Caves Trail), or set out for a hike to the Snowy Mountains' iconic ice caves. This moderately difficult hike ranges between ten and 12 miles round-trip, depending on your chosen return trail, and gains roughly 2,000 vertical feet. The payoff--a 100-foot-wide limestone cave containing columns of ice and a skating rink floor--is well worth the effort. Afterward, grab one of 28 first-come, first-serve campsites at Crystal Lake Campground, or book ahead to reserve the primitive Crystal Lake cabin. Visit Montana markets Montana's spectacular unspoiled nature, vibrant and charming small towns, breathtaking experiences, relaxing hospitality and competitive business climate to promote the state as a place to visit and do business. For exclusive access to all of our fitness, gear, adventure, and travel stories, plus discounts on trips, events, and gear, sign up for Outside+ today. Are you ready for wildfire season in Washington? If the answer is no, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources may be able to help. Earlier this week, DNR announced the expansion of its Wildfire Ready Neighbors, a collaborative program to prepare property owners at risk of wildfires. It doesnt matter where you live, no one is immune from the danger of wildfires, said Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz. Last years Bolt Creek, Goat Rocks and Nakia Creek fires are just a few examples of recent fires that threatened homes and properties in Western Washington. Residents in Pierce, Thurston and Mason counties will be eligible starting this spring to request a no-cost assessment of their properties for wildfire potential, as well as to have a specific wildfire mitigation plan developed for their areas by wildfire experts. Residents can sign up for customized action plans at WildfireReady.com. Information about local resources and contractors also will be made available for residents. The program was first rolled out in 2021, and so far has been implemented in Chelan, Okanogan, Spokane, Yakima, Kittitas and Klickitat counties. State lawmakers are also angling for other ways to address wildfires in Washington. House Bill 1578, sponsored by Rep. Larry Springer, D-Kirkland, would require DNR to assess areas at high risk for wildfires every 10 years starting in 2025. Under the bill, DNR also would be responsible for creating evacuation plans in high risk areas. The bill cleared the House unanimously on March 6, and was passed to the Senate Rules Committee on April 4. This is the world were currently living in, Springer said in a news statement. Our fire situation is only going to get worse if we dont act. These steps are crucial to addressing the fallout that most affects the everyday lives of residents. Update: On April 6, Judge Mark Stoner denied the prosecutor's office request that he withdraw from the case. In his order, he argued the prosecutor's contentions are not grounds for recusal. "These are disagreements on legal issues and not evidence of bias or prejudice," Stoner wrote. Original article: Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears has asked for the judge presiding over the case of a man charged in the 2020 killing of Indianapolis police officer Breann Leath to be recused, raising arguments of bias and prejudice. Mears in his motion, filed Monday, raised doubts about the impartiality of Marion Superior Judge Mark Stoner following comments made during a March 17 hearing discussing the dismissal of the death penalty in the case. The prosecutors office requested the death penalty against Leaths accused killer, Elliahs Dorsey, in Jan. 2021, on the basis that Leath was acting in the course of her official duty as a law enforcement officer, when killed, according to court documents. Leath, 24, was killed after responding to a domestic violence call in the 1800 block of Edinburgh Square on April 9, 2020. Dorsey is accused of firing shots through the door that struck her. 'Definitely not forgotten': Slain Officer Breann Leath's story becomes part of history Dorseys attorney previously asked the court to dismiss the death penalty, arguing prosecutors referred to as the State in court records could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he knew Leath was an officer at the time of the gunshots. According to Mears motion, Stoner raised concerns during the hearing whether or not prosecutors have evidence to show Dorsey knew Leath was a police officer at the time shots were fired. Stoner further noted, according to records, hes concerned about the state using the death penalty as leverage for a plea bargain, arguing it could create ethical problems. I believe that you cannot file a death penalty uh, without having sufficient evidence, you cannot file it, uh, without evidence and then use it in any way as a plea negotiation tool. I believe that creates, I believe that creates real ethical problems, Stoner said, according to court records. Story continues Mears responded in his motion that prosecutors intended to reserve their evidence for a jury at trial, not during the early stages of the case. According to Mears filing, Stoner responded he wanted to handle the issue now. You may never get to that point, on a death penalty issue if I dont have it now, Stoner said in court records. Others are reading: 'Tourist burglars' target affluent Indianapolis suburbs, stealing jewelry, designer items Mears argued the courts comments toward their death penalty request has prejudiced the prosecutors ability to pursue the case. He also raised concerns that the comments served as an enticement for prosecutors to dismiss their death penalty request to avoid an ethics complaint. The Courts potential referral of an ethics complaint has prejudiced the States ability to prosecute this case to completion either through trial or plea negotiations without fear of reprisal through a possible referral to the Disciplinary Commission, Mears concludes in his motion. Recusal is therefore necessary. Contact Sarah Nelson at 317-503-7514 or sarah.nelson@indystar.com This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Judge denies calls for recusal in Breann Leath's accused killer's case U.S. soldiers at a joint military exercise against the Islamic State group in Syria on Sept. 7, 2022. (Delil Souleiman/AFP via Getty Images) A tranche of what appears to be classified U.S. intelligence material was posted anonymously on the social media platform Discord over the last three months in the latest leak of highly guarded national secrets. The documents, all photographs of printouts, pertain to a host of sensitive American national security matters, including the ongoing U.S.-led coalition campaign to defeat the Islamic State group, the disposition of U.S allies in the Middle East and Europe with respect to Russia, and the United Kingdoms military plans for countering China in the Pacific. Yesterday, Discord was used to leak a number of Pentagon documents relating to Russias war against Ukraine, including estimated losses on both sides, the New York Times reported. The U.S. Defense Department confirmed today that the material was genuine but claimed it had been selectively edited before being released, which was corroborated by open-source analysis. The Washington Post reported that many of the documents appear to have been prepared over the winter for Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other military officials. Yet the Ukraine files were evidently just a portion of the leaked U.S. intelligence materials. Multiple documents in the latest batch are marked TOP SECRET, a high category of classification. Others are marked FVEY, meaning they are only to be shared with the U.K., Canada, New Zealand and Australia, which together with the United States constitute the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance. Yahoo News has seen over 60 other documents but cannot verify their authenticity. There is the possibility that some or all may be forgeries or manipulated versions of originals. They cover a gamut of urgent U.S. foreign policy preoccupations. Since the previously reported Ukraine documents have been selectively altered, it is quite possible that even if these documents are real, in part or in whole, they may have been obtained by a hostile foreign intelligence apparatus, if not manipulated or seeded with disinformation designed to undermine U.S. or Ukrainian national security interests. However, even if that is the case, they offer insights into how the source for the leaks wants outside parties to see Americas intelligence assessments across a swath of portfolios and regions. Story continues Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. (Denes Erdos/AP) One document labeled TOP SECRET allegedly originated from the CIA. It contains an assessment that Viktor Orbans Hungary, a NATO and EU memberalbeit one still close to Russianow considers the U.S. to be one of its most significant geopolitical adversaries. Another assessment details the Russian Wagner mercenary groups attempt to build contacts with the Haitian government. The spelling of the mercenary corps is Vagner, a common Russian phonetic spelling of the organization but one that is rarely used in material designated for public consumption. Yahoo News found previous examples of this transliteration being used in internal Defense Department maps, such those contained in an assessment of Wagner Group operations in Libya from July 24, 2020. Another document details the proposed opening of a Russian-made weapons repair facility in the United Arab Emirates in coordination with Moscow. The UAE, an American ally in the Middle East, operates a significant amount of weaponry from Russia, most notably the Pantsir air defense system and the BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicle. It is unclear from this assessment whether refurbished military hardware would be for Russian use in Ukraine, a situation that would certainly tax Washingtons relationship with Abu Dhabi. An alleged "CIA Intel Update" dated March 1 states that the leaders of Israel's Mossad intelligence service were egging on national protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's controversial judicial reforms. One printout posted on Discord contains significant technical detail about the numbers and potential failures of a specific weapon system provided by the United States to Ukraine. The document is marked SECRET/NOFORN, with NOFORN meaning Not Releasable to Foreign Nationals. That is an explicit classification used to indicate intelligence information that may not be released in any form to foreign governments, foreign nationals, foreign organizations, or non-U.S. citizens, according to the Defense Department. The British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth in Oslo, Norway, on Nov. 21, 2022. (Terje Pedersen/AFP via Getty Images) Another text suggests that the United Kingdom is planning to deploy one of the Royal Navys new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers to the South Pacific to counter Chinese influence in the region. It also assesses the priorities of the U.K. opposition Labour Party and how Beijing would react to an incoming Labour government scrapping the South Pacific plan in order to focus resources closer to home. This is also designated for American eyes only. Other material contained in the tranche is less sensitive, such as an assessment of efficiency of the government response to the outbreak of the Marburg virus in Equatorial Guinea or the progress of the Nigerian election. The timing of the leaks, coming at a moment when the Ukrainian military is preparing to launch a much-anticipated offensive, and also the method of their dissemination raise many questions about how these documents were obtained and also about their veracity. The Ukraine documents that were circulated by pro-Russian sources contained crudely photoshopped modifications to casualty figures to suggest that Ukrainian forces had suffered significantly more casualties, and Russian forces significantly fewer casualties, than had actually been assessed by American intelligence. Whoever doctored them put the estimated killed-in-action figure for Ukraine, 16,000-17,500 in the Russian field, which originally gave 35,50043,500 killed in action. It also transposed the digits for the Ukrainian assessment, changing 16,000-17,500 to "61,000-71,500." Another eyebrow-raising aspect of these disclosures is that they were made via a bespoke and since-removed server. All of the materials, according to open-source analysts, can be traced back to a Discord user named MrLucca, who claimed to have originally received them on another, now-deleted server named for a notorious American racial epithet used to describe Black people, before reposting them onto a channel primarily about the popular video game Minecraft. The leaks apparently began in early February but only gained significant attention in the last few days. After his posting of the sensitive documents became international news, MrLucca deleted his account, with his final message being ILY (short for I love you) bros, see you on the flipside. Russian President Vladimir Putin meeting with the State Council Presidium on Tuesday. (Gavriil Grigorov/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool photo via AP) Russian intelligence has often relied on anonymous internet accounts, such as Guccifer 2.0, to launder hacked information, including digital correspondence belonging to the Democratic National Committee and former U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clintons campaign chief, John Podesta. But that doesnt mean MrLucca or the original source for the leaks arent Americans with access to classified intelligence. The murkiness of where this information came from and whether or not its genuine has already become a big part of the story. Ironically, pro-Russian commentators who originally saw the Ukraine files as valuable gotchas now doubt their authenticity after evidence of their doctoring came to light. Instead, they believe the U.S. or Ukraine released these texts as a psychological operation meant to dupe the Kremlin. The Wall Street Journal recorded Russian military analyst Yuri Kotenok, a blogger with over 400,000 followers posting to his Telegram channel, saying: Isnt that leak part of a big deception plan against Moscow on the verge of the intensification of combat on the frontline? Meanwhile, Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior Ukrainian official, claimed the leak of the original Ukraine files was a Russian provocation to discredit Kyivs forthcoming counteroffensive. Its a bluff, Podolyak said. Russia is seeking any means to regain the information initiative, to attempt to influence the scenarios and plans for Ukraines counteroffensive. For decades, the stained-glass window hid in plain sight. In some ways, it was easy to miss. How many people really look that closely at the stained-glass windows in their church, expecting to find something extraordinary? Who could be expected to notice some unusual details when dirt and storm windows obscured the view? And once a parish has aged and shrunk to the point that it closes and its time to sell the building, who is even thinking about the stained-glass windows? A detail of the brown-skinned, blue-eyed Jesus in the Gibbs-DeWolf window. It wasnt until years after Hadley Arnold had bought St. Marks Church in Warren, Rhode Island after it narrowly avoided becoming condominiums, and after the storm windows had come off that she, a Harvard-trained art historian and architectural designer, was able to really look at the stained glass. And when she did, she was floored. Because in one of the 12-foot windows, she was pretty sure she was looking at a portrait of Jesus Christ depicted as a person of color. And he was talking to two women, who were also shown as people of color. That, in a 146-year-old stained-glass window, is virtually unheard of. What are you looking at in the window? The 1877 window, produced by the Henry Sharp Studio, may be one of the first public works to depict Jesus Christ and the Gospel women Mary and Martha as people of color. In the Sharp window were seeing some things that we think maybe weve never seen before, Arnold said. Since recognizing the window for what it could be, Arnold has hosted art historians, architectural historians, religious scholars, and others. Virginia Raguin, who wrote the book on Americas history with stained glass, has come to see it. This is a radical statement about fundamental equality of persons, and today we are privileged to have this record, Raguin, a professor at the College of the Holy Cross, in Worcester, Massachusetts, said in an email. The first, and arguably most radical, element of it is that all the people are depicted using brown glass. There were other windows in the church that used the milky-white glass so often used to depict Bible characters, but this was a clear and intentional departure from that. The still unanswered question is why? Story continues But its not just the skin color that makes it unusual. Most windows from this time period depict Jesus as floating in the negative space of the colored glass. But this one depicts two Bible stories in vivid detail. Jesus talks with a Samaritan woman in the bottom portion of the window. The first tells the story of Mary and Martha, sisters of Lazarus, who are hosting Jesus in their home. Mary is worshiping at the feet of Jesus, prompting Martha to scold her for leaving all the work of serving Jesus to her. But then Jesus rebukes Martha, saying that Mary has her priorities in order. Raguins research into the reference art that would have inspired this window revealed something unusual about this particular arrangement: All three people are shown as relatively equal. Women and people of color are shown as equals. No one is triumphant or commanding, Raguin wrote. Later I was able to identify the Biblical prints used as sources and saw that they were altered to stress equality of all people with no hierarchy of jobs between serving people food, getting water, or studying. In the second image, Jesus is shown talking to a Samaritan woman who is gathering water, which was a stunning Bible story because men and women were not supposed to talk in public at that time and because Samaritans and Jews were not supposed to talk to each other. Its a rebel window, said Arnold. So far, no written records have been uncovered that explain the exact design of the window, and there are no other windows in the Sharp inventory the prominent stained-glass shop of the day that made this window that was exactly like this one or in this style. The style of the landscape has led to speculation that it might have even been a woman, one trained in landscape painting, who created this window as a one-off. But to really begin to understand this window, it needs to be placed not just in a biblical context, but in a historical one starting with the two names at the bottom of the window: Mrs. H. Gibbs and Mrs. R. B. DeWolf. Who were Mrs. H. Gibbs and Mrs. R. B. DeWolf? According to church records, the window was a gift from Mary P. Carr to honor the two women whose names were inscribed on the window itself. Mrs. R. B. DeWolf is Ruth Bourne DeWolf, a white woman born in Bristol, Rhode Island, in 1787, who married into the DeWolf family late in her life. Her husband, John, was part of the infamous DeWolf slave trading empire and had been on the boats bringing Black people back from Africa to sell before he reputedly told his family he wanted out of the slave trade and retreated to his farm. Except, theres really not ever getting out. It was like the mafia, said architectural historian Catherine Zipf, executive director of the Bristol Historical and Preservation Society. He was in deep with his brothers. Its right there in the letters. ... He and James [DeWolf] were conspiring about all kinds of things. In contrast, theres evidence that Ruth DeWolf and her sister Hannah Gibbs, the other woman the window honored, were abolitionists. The two women regularly appear in the donor rolls of the American Colonization Society, an organization that funded the transport of freed slaves to Liberia, donating money that was made in the slave trade. But that doesnt mean that these two women were exemplary allies of the abolitionist cause. It's a fraught institution, because while they're for freedom, they're also for removal, Zipf said. Her involvement there really doesn't necessarily imply that she is pro-freedom in the way we would understand it today. This is all a big puddle of gray area. It was at the height of Reconstruction that tense moment when the 1876 presidential election was disputed, and Rutherford B. Hayes made an informal deal to withdraw troops from South Carolina, Florida and Louisiana in what became known as the Compromise of 1877 that Carr commissioned this piece from the Sharp studio, just a few years after Ruth DeWolfs death. There are no known records pertaining to Carr's commission, and no clear answers on what her motivation was or even who she was, since her name was so common. Records show a Mary Carr in Bristol and another in Warren. Women are notoriously hard to research through the written record, Zipf said, but there is one possible clue about Carrs connection to Gibbs and DeWolf. Ironically, it comes by way of two men. Gibbs and DeWolf funded a William Carr and a George Carr as life members of the American Colonization Society, according to Arnolds research. Perhaps Mary is related to them, she wrote. The former St. Marks Church, which is being converted into a private home. What do you do when you find a treasure like this? Back in the present day, Arnold has many unanswered questions about the window she happened upon. There are the little things, like what kind of bird is depicted there a dove, an eagle or a pelican? (Shes not sold on the explanation of the researcher who told her its a pelican.) There are historical questions. What was the true stance of these women? Were any Black people or other people of color involved in the making of the window? Were there Black members of the parish? Why put the window in this church instead of in Trinity Episcopal Church in Bristol, which DeWolf funded in her will? And then there are the practical questions, mainly: What do you do with a 12-foot window that you are completely convinced belongs in the public trust, to be viewed and studied, but you dont know an institution that wants to display it? The window is safe, but its already out of the wall. Arnold and her husband are in the process of transforming the church they bought into their private residence. And while she would never let it be thrown away, her future living quarters dont seem like the best place for this piece. And from all of these questions, two main objectives have emerged. In the top portion of the Gibbs-DeWolf window, Jesus visits sisters Martha and Mary. "No one is triumphant or commanding, observed one art historian. One is a belief that this window needs and deserves to be studied. On an afternoon in mid-March, she invited a group of Ph.D. students at Brown University to see the window before a round-table talk back on campus. In just an hour of prodding, she learned more about the window, and more questions were raised, about other influential glass studios that may have been involved, changes from the reference photos that made the artwork seem more African and questions about whether this piece might have been part of a movement to see the true face of Jesus as a man from the Middle East? I wish I was taking notes, Arnold said, adding that this is why she thinks a cross-institutional, cross-discipline team should be studying the window. Theres so much to learn. A window that also serves as a mirror The second objective is that this piece should be displayed. One woman who came to see it was moved to tears by how personal the Bible stories depicted felt to her. And countless others have seen themselves in the work. When I looked at it, I said, Wow, this really represents the community I serve. And thats not just African Americans. I serve a large Native community as well as Latino community, said Linda AVant-Deishinni, the former executive director and curator for the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society and the present executive director of the St. Martin de Porres Center in Providence. They can see themselves in this. Theres a real question of where an object of this scale would go, and what its place is in history and art. The window, in the most wonderful way, is problematic. Is this a white story? Is this a Black story? Whose artifact is this? Whose story is this? Which history or histories are entwined here? Whos telling whose story? Arnold said. I think we want to be really careful about that. We want to try to tease out answers to those questions. And answering those questions has real implications that might make it difficult to find an institution to become a home for the window. In my opinion, the artifact should be in a major museum collection, Zipf said. But, she added, its a challenge. I think that we've sliced and diced up our museum so much that when we have something that kind of really fits in, either all of them or not, it becomes a problem. In the meantime, the window begs to be studied and understood, with all the messy details sorted out, but Arnold said, in the end, that just might not be possible. Arriving at fixed answers may not be the goal, Arnold said. Seeing people see themselves, whether they have all the information or not, is really powerful. Theres a place for getting all this information, but there is also a place for encounter. We want to put all of the pins around the wings of a butterfly so that we really understand it, she said. But we also still want it to be a butterfly. Light glints through the Gibbs-DeWolf stained glass, which was removed from its window frame during renovation of the former St. Mark's Church. Standing in front of a piece of stained glass in a church, with the light streaming through it, what we really want is a piece of the divine that we can find ourselves in and hold on to. Even with all the history yet to be uncovered, this window has a profound ability to satisfy that longing, and that, Arnold feels, is worth sharing. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: RI window could be first public depiction of Jesus as person of color This article originally appeared on Velo News The Paris-Roubaix peloton went for a ride on the cobblestones Thursday, and it didnt have much fun. "It was filthy, it was raining, the cobbles were greasy, and it was cold, top contender Wout van Aert told HLN. It was one of those training sessions where you count down until you see the bus." Drizzling rain across the Roubaix region Thursday and the expectation of more to come Friday leaves the peloton braced for mixed conditions on the ancient cobblestone tracks of the Hell of the North this weekend. We will most likely get a little bit of everything. I can hardly imagine the damp will have all dried up by Sunday, because some sectors were soaking wet on Thursday afternoon, Ag2r-Citroen rider Oliver Naesen told Het Nieuwsblad. On the other hand, the water can quickly drain between the cobblestones, but I think we will get a wet spot every now and then." Also read: Van Aert and his Jumbo-Visma teammates rode more than 100km Thursday in a cobblestone scouting mission that took in the five-star Trouee dArenberg, Mons-En-Pevele, and Carrefour de LArbre sectors. Arkea-Samsic and Ag2r-Citroen were among a batch more of the WorldTour elite that chose to check its racing lines and make last-minute equipment tweaks in what was cool, drizzling rain. It always feels like a headwind on every reconnaissance. But if you do that in a race, its much better. You ride much faster, you fly over those cobblestones, Naesen said. Today we did 40 kilometers of cobblestones. It was endless. A horror." Former Roubaix champion Van Avermaet and his teammate Oliver Naesen braved the filth Thursday. (Photo: Luc Claessen/Getty Images) Several other mens and womens teams were treated to blue skies and only small patches of standing water when they ventured out on their recon rides Wednesday. With memories of the filthy autumn 2021 edition of Paris-Roubaix and Paris-Roubaix Femmes still strong in the memory, racers are praying to the weather gods and pinning hopes on benevolent weekend forecasts. Story continues Latest updates for Roubaixs departement du Nord call for morning rain and blue skies Friday before mostly fine conditions all through the weekend. Various local weather forecasts for Saturday and Sunday predict blue skies, low winds, and morning temperatures of around 5 degrees C (41F) peaking up to 15 degrees C (59F). Ive already ridden a wet Roubaix, I didnt like it, Van Aert said. On wet cobblestones, its much more difficult to control the bike. And its annoying when youre in someones wheel, the mud obscures your view. That means riders leave more distance between each other. That makes the chance of the race falling apart much greater." Racing should be largely dry and fast through the weekend. But it only takes one mucky puddle or a slick patch of mud to pull the handbrake on a racers day in Hell. Van Aert is hoping for less of this Sunday when he continues his Roubaix quest. (Photo: DIRK WAEM/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images) For exclusive access to all of our fitness, gear, adventure, and travel stories, plus discounts on trips, events, and gear, sign up for Outside+ today. Flash Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang meets with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed on Thursday to resume their diplomatic relations and reopen embassies in each other's country within 60 days, as their top envoys met in Beijing following the two countries' diplomatic rapprochement under a China-brokered deal last month. China received Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud for a meeting in Beijing upon the proposal of the two countries, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular news briefing on Thursday. "Both sides noted that they will continue to advance the process to improve bilateral relations in accordance with the road map and timeline identified during talks in Beijing in March," Mao said. Thursday's meeting was the first official encounter between foreign ministers of the two countries in more than seven years after Saudi Arabia and Iran severed diplomatic ties in early 2016. The two sides emphasized in a joint statement the importance of following up on the implementation of the agreement reached in Beijing and its activation in a way that enhances mutual trust, expands fields of cooperation and helps create security, stability and prosperity in the region, according to media reports. They also agreed to proceed with the necessary measures to reopen diplomatic missions in Riyadh and Teheran, as well as in the Saudi city of Jeddah and the Iranian city of Mashhad, where their consulates general were previously located. They affirmed that both sides will discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation, including the resumption of flights and mutual visits by official delegations and those from the private sector. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang meets with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang met with the ministers after witnessing the signing of the joint statement, and said that China highly praised the two countries' continuous steps to show goodwill and sincerity for rapprochement since March. Qin said that China firmly supports Middle East countries in adhering to strategic autonomy, strengthening solidarity and coordination and getting rid of external interference so that the destiny of the region remains in their own hands. "China will do its best to play a mediating role and provide necessary support for both countries, thus making contributions to promoting security and stability in the Middle East," he said. According to Qin, the improvement of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia will provide a more forceful guarantee for safeguarding regional peace and stability and set an important example for other countries to resolve conflicts through dialogue and consultation. "This one small step for Saudi Arabia and Iran is a giant leap across conflict for mankind to achieve reconciliation," he added. The Saudi Arabian and Iranian foreign ministers also expressed their thanks and appreciation to China for hosting the meeting. Choosing China "came as an extension of Beijing's positive role in reaching the agreement and facilitating communication between the two countries", the London-based Arabic-language newspaper Asharq al-Awasat quoted an unidentified source in Riyadh as saying on Wednesday. Lu Jin, an Iran expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said, "China's mediation efforts, which comply with the regional countries' development needs, have strong backing from people in the region," adding that such efforts also showed how China implemented the Global Security Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping. The announcement of the restoration of diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia came earlier than expected and it demonstrated the aspiration of countries in the region for peace and socioeconomic development, she added. More than 50 advocates and 20 support organizations attended the 24th annual Rally for Recovery at the state Capitol on Thursday morning. The event was hosted by the Oklahoma Citizen Advocates for Recovery and Transformation Association (OCARTA), founded by Donna Woods. OCARTA is a non-profit organization that provides support for people in recovery through peer-to-peer support and lifestyle classes. Additionally, they have a transitional housing program and the "We Care" program dedicated to helping pregnant women in recovery. For more than 20 years, the rally has advocated for recovery services and mental health awareness in Oklahoma. "It's such an honor and yet it's such a gratitude check for me that people are still getting well," Woods said. "They are the faces and voices of recovery and they are willing to stand on the hill and tell people." "One young guy said he'd never been in the state Capitol. To open their eyes and show them they do have the right to be here. ... That empowerment is what this whole thing means to me." More: Does Norman need more mental health services? Yes, says franchisee of new therapy clinic A few organizations in attendance were Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Better Together Recovery, Oxford House, Work Ready Oklahoma, Oklahoma Alliance for Recovery Residences and 988 Mental Health Hotline. April Smith, right, gets a hug from Ashlyn Roach after singing the National Anthem at the 24th Annual Rally for Recovery presented by Oklahoma Citizen Advocates for Recovery and Transformation Association (OCARTA) on the second floor rotunda at the Capitol Thursday, April 6, 2023 The event began with a moment of silence for those struggling with substance use and was followed by a prayer by OCARTA peer recovery support specialist, William Martin, a retired Navy veteran. "These are individuals that are hurting," Martin said. "They made bad choices, but who hasn't? It should not be held against them. It is all a learning experience. Im in pain, I don't know how to deal or address it unless I have someone to help me. I became empowered to where I can help myself and that is what this organization and our legislators help us to find together." Finding people who 'never stopped caring' April Smith, 22, sang the national anthem at the ceremony. Smith began her involvement with OCARTA when she was 16 as a participant in Youth Engage in Leadership and Learning in Oklahoma (YELLO). Story continues When Smith was 18, her mother passed away and Smith found herself in the grips of addiction. That same year, she found out she was seven months pregnant. The staff at OCARTA "never stopped caring" for her, she said. "Whenever my mom passed away, all of the staff were at her funeral," Smith said. "It made me feel so cared about, especially in that really trying time... I didn't even know I was pregnant because the grief had just taken over." Later, Smith joined the YELLO Transitional Housing, a program dedicated to providing a safe space for recovery. She refers to the staff at OCARTA as her "second family" "The biggest thing I've learned is do not ever be afraid to ask for help," Smith said. "If you let it go on for an extended period of time, it will be a lot harder to get on the right path. I don't want single mothers struggling with the mental load and the weight on their shoulders to think that they don't have options. ... There is always going to be somebody in your corner." More: How to talk to your kids if they're experiencing bullying, depression OCARTA awarded upstanding community members Carrie Slatton-Hodges, commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, was the keynote speaker. She raised awareness of the "infusion of fentanyl" in Oklahoma and addressed the importance of carrying Naloxone, which reverses opiate overdoses. "With fentanyl, it barely takes a draw," Slatton-Hodges said. "The number of people who are having overdose deaths due to a combination of a substance mixed with fentanyl is growing. We need to get to the point to where we think about carrying Naloxone just like we think about any other first aid. The person ingesting this substance may never know that what they're doing is gonna risk their life at that moment." Slatton-Hodges also received an award for her efforts in innovation and advancement of prevention, treatment and recovery. Judge Kenneth Stoner received the Criminal Justice Champion award for his dedication in Oklahoma County drug courts. More: As opioid epidemic rages on, US jails may be getting some help from state Medicaid funding George Crook, right, introduces the new team taking his place at DBSA, Jeff Dismukes and Hayley Caudle, at the 24th Annual Rally for Recovery at the Capitol on Thursday. "You've got to address underlying issues that got someone to the courthouse to begin with," Stoner said. "It really wasn't just about the stolen vehicle or whatever. ... When you start to understand addiction, it really isn't even the problem. It's just another symptom of an underlying problem." George Crooks, executive director of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, received the Professional of the Year award. "I've dealt with bipolar one and anxiety and depression for 50 years, and I'll never hesitate to tell my story to anybody," Crooks said. "I think by telling our stories, we make a big difference in the way that people with mental health and substance use are viewed." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OCARTA hosts the 24th annual Rally for Recovery at Oklahoma Capitol Walking through downtown Burlington, it's hard to miss: a 16-foot-high, 12-foot-wide mural hanging high on the east side of the Fletcher Free Library. Designed with vibrant colors and eye-popping shapes, the mural depicts the revered Haitian Vodou figure Erzulie Dantor as a Black Mother Mary with the Christ Child, both with third eyes on their foreheads. A reimagining of the famous 14th century Italian painting "Madonna and Child," the mural was created by the 25-year-old Burlington resident Raphaella "Raph" Brice. "The Madonna piece is an acknowledgment of love of pure love," Brice said, "And a cosmic love at that." Burlington artist Raphaella "Raph" Brice, photographed on March 24, 2023. She may have made one of the most prominent murals in Burlington, but Brice is just getting started in the art world. Brice started making art as a senior in college, when she took a computer graphics class, learned the programs Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop, and fell in love with digital art. "A painter, for example, would have to, like, get the brushes out and clean the brushes," Brice said. "With digital art, you don't have to do any of that. All you have to really do is just open up the app, open up a new board, and then just go to town." Digital art allows Brice to be spontaneous, make bold decisions, and click "undo" if needed. When asked what she was going to draw at a live art event she hosted on March 24, she laughed and said, "I have no idea." Burlington artist Raphaella "Raph" Brice, photographed on March 24, 2023. A child of artistic Haitian parents, Brice grew up in Bridgeport, Connecticut, visited 14 countries, worked as a travel writer, and moved to Vermont two years ago for a job at the University of Vermont's youth mentoring organization DREAM. The wide range of influences and experiences in Brice's life are channeled through her art. While working as an artist-in-residence at the Burlington nonprofit Generator, Brice created the "Mushroom Head Series," a digital illustration series that combines Haitian art with psychedelia to portray women in different stages of life. Story continues The "Mushroom Head Series" by Burlington artist Raphaella "Raph" Brice combines Haitian art with psychedelia. The story behind the 'Black Madonna' mural In late 2021, Brice received a grant from Burlington City Arts and the Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging to create a mural for Juneteenth. For the project, Brice collaborated with former Generator artist-in-residence Josie Bunnell to print Brice's digital art onto holographic vinyl panels. After working for a month straight in summer 2022, Brice and Bunnell completed the piece: a larger-than-life mural decorating the Fletcher Free Library, titled "Black Freedom, Black Madonna & the Black Child of Hope." "It's a commentary on the trauma that comes with being religious," Brice said. "It's a commentary on those who have disconnected themselves from the Catholic church in some sort of way, even those who suffer from Catholic guilt. It's a commentary on how religion plays into the roles of society and how we think." "Black Freedom, Black Madonna & the Black Child of Hope" by Raphaella "Raph" Brice decorates the east side of the Fletcher Free Library Brice was raised Catholic, and sees the mural as a challenge to the status quo that comes with the traditional Catholic archetype of Mother Mary and Christ. "It's such a Catholic archetype that it seems like it can only be in the Catholic church, but it actually isn't. It's something that everyday people can connect with, and that's exactly what happened," Brice said. "People were coming from all types of all walks of life, coming to me, and being like 'it's so beautiful.'" Up next for Brice? A project at The Flynn for Burlington's upcoming Discover Jazz Festival and a mural for the Winooski organization Conscious Homestead. Now a full-time artist, Brice is looking forward to what the future has in store. Contact April Fisher at amfisher@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter: @AMFisherMedia This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Raphaella Brice: artist behind Burlington's Black Madonna mural Andrew Tate has suggested that he will be murdered and that a bullet will be the chosen utensil of pacification. The divisive internet personality has sent a number of cryptic messages from his Twitter account since his release from prison on Friday and subsequent house arrest in Bucharest, Romania. In a post in the early hours of Monday morning the former kickboxer said he anticipates being shot as all the other silencing attempts have failed. He said: I prepare my body to absorb the brutal kinetics of piercing lead. As all other silencing attempts fail, and stage 3 approaches - I anticipate a bullet will be the chosen utensil of pacification. I prepare my body to absorb the brutal kinetics of piercing lead As all other silencing attempts fail, and stage 3 approaches - I anticipate a bullet will be the chosen utensil of pacification I can only pray and prepare I will force myself to breathe the best I can I promise https://t.co/0tFh0GZIO1 pic.twitter.com/DQJIeHJytv Andrew Tate (@Cobratate) April 3, 2023 I can only pray and prepare I will force myself to breathe the best I can I promise. Tate does not elaborate on who he believes will try and shoot him or what motive they have. Andrew Tate paces and smokes cigar hours after house arrest release from jail (Andrew Tate) The social media post comes just days after Tate was released from prison, along with his brother Tristan Tate, after they won an appeal to replace their detention with house arrest. The pair were initially detained in late December along with two Romanian women and are accused of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. The duo will remain under house arrest until April 29. None of the four has yet been formally indicted. Shortly after being released, Tate said he wanted to thank the judges who heard us today, because they were very attentive and they listened to us, and they let us free. Story continues Andrew Tate, left, and his brother Tristan stand outside a police detention facility in Bucharest, Romania (AP) I have no resentment in my heart for the country of Romania or for anybody else, he said. I just believe in the truth I truly believe that justice will be served in the end. There is zero percent chance of me being convicted for something Ive not done. Romanias anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT said in a statement after the December arrests that it had identified six victims in the human trafficking case who were allegedly subjected to acts of physical violence and mental coercion and sexually exploited by members of the alleged crime group. The agency said victims were lured with pretenses of love and later intimidated, placed under surveillance and subjected to other control tactics while being coerced into engaging in pornographic acts for the financial gain of the crime group. In January, Romanian authorities descended on a compound near Bucharest linked with the Tate brothers and towed away a fleet of luxury cars that included a Rolls-Royce, a Ferrari and a Porsche. They reported seizing assets worth an estimated $3.9 million. Tate unsuccessfully appealed the asset seizure. ANIKA MOLNAR - Netflix "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Often compared to Oskar Schindler, Varian Fry helped over a thousand refugees escape Nazi-occupied France during World War II. Mary Jayne Gold is the heiress who funded and assisted his efforts. Their incredible tale of heroism is the subject of the new television drama Transatlantic, which is now streaming on Netflix. The seven-episode limited serieswhich stars Cory Michael Smith as Fry and Gillian Jacobs as Goldtells the story of the pairs involvement with the Emergency Rescue Committee, a private American relief group formed in 1940 to rescue European artists, writers, and intellectuals pursued by the Nazis. The ERCs efforts helped save a number of prominent figures, including artists Marc Chagall and Max Ernst, philosopher Hannah Arendt, and Nobel Prizewinning physiology researcher Otto Meyerhof. Heres how the real Fry and Gold got involved in the effort and what happened after they did. Fry Joins the Emergency Rescue Committee Even in childhood, Varian Fry was determined to help others. He was born October 15, 1907, in New York City and, by age 9, had organized a fundraiser with his friends for the American Red Cross efforts during World War I, according to the Bill of Rights Institute. But he also had a rebellious streak throughout boarding school and college. Harvard University expelled Fry for several months, according to the University of Pennsylvanias Literature of the Holocaust archive, but he did eventually graduate with an economics degree in 1931. While at the school, he founded the Hound & Horn literary magazine. He moved back to New York City after graduation and married Eileen Hughes, an editor at Atlantic Monthly. He worked as a researcher and editor at several magazines in the 1930s, according to the Jewish Virtual Library, and wrote a handful of books about geopolitical relations for the Foreign Policy Association. Story continues However, a 1935 visit to Germany set Fry on the path toward his heroics in World War II. He met with German-American Harvard graduate Ernst Hanfstaengl, who was an official in the German Propaganda Ministry. Hanfstaengl told him that radical Nazi leaders like Adolf Hitler and Joseph Goebbels wanted to exterminate Jews. Fry also witnessed an anti-Semitic riot in Berlin during his trip and wrote several pieces for The New York Times describing what he witnessed. Fry remembered those scenes in 1940 when he volunteered to be the rescue committees representative. I knew what would happen to the refugees if the Gestapo got hold of them, he said. It was my duty to help them. Frys ERC Role Getty Images Paris fell to the invading Germans in June 1940, leading refugees to flood the south of France. According to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, this prompted around 200 Americansincluding journalists, museum curators, and university presidentsto form the ERC. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt helped obtain emergency visas for the rescue effort. Choosing to be the groups representative, Fry arrived in Marseille on August 5, 1940, with $3,000 in cash strapped to his leg and instructions to help save around 200 refugees, including artists and intellectuals, from the Nazis. Fry thought he would only stay a month but quickly realized the situation was dire. There were thousands of refugees looking for assistance, and French authorities had refused to issue exit visas. He needed to use deceit and cunning to assist as many as possible. According to Yad Vashem, a Holocaust remembrance center based in Israel, Frys team forged documents, smuggled refugees on French troopships, and helped them flee by land. When word spread that an American could help the refugees, they flooded Fry and his staff with lettersas many as 25 a dayand phone calls. The team conducted over 100 interviews each day, eventually speaking with around 15,000 total. However, limited resources meant Fry had to turn away many who sought assistance. All told, Fry and the ERC helped around 1,500 refugees escape to Spain and provided support to 2,000 more. Frys efforts were admirable, but they drew the ire of French and American authorities. According to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, French officials constantly monitored Fry and detained him multiple times. Likewise, the United States was not directly involved in the war by this point, but the State Department was concerned his actions would affect relations between the two countries. The French police arrested Fry on August 29, 1941, and escorted him to the Spanish border. He then returned to the United States in October. The ERC severed ties with Fry in 1942 for his criticism of the State Department. Mary Jayne Golds Assistance ANIKA MOLNAR - Netflix Mary Jayne Gold was an American heiress born in 1909 in the Chicago suburb of Evanston, Illinois. She was the daughter of Margaret and Egbert H. Gold. Her father was an engineer who manufactured radiators and heating systems. According to the Holland Sentinel, Gold attended finishing school in Italy following the 1928 death of her father. She lived in Paris during the 1930s and, after the German occupation there, eventually moved to Marseille. Gold was also a pilot and owned a private plane, which she donated to the French military. According to the International Rescue Committee, Gold joined Frys staff as an interviewer and courier. She helped expand his original list of 200 refugees and used her fortune to personally fund evacuations. Golds money was crucial to Fry and the ERC, as passports and visas could be bought on the black market. She also helped the group rent the Villa Air-Bel property where the staff and some of the refugees resided and conducted work. Like Fry, Gold was also forced to leave France in 1941 and returned to America. Fry and Gold After the War In 1945, Fry published the book Surrender on Demand about his time in France; it was re-released in 1997. He divorced Eileen, who later died in 1948. According to the United States Holocaust Museum, he married Annette Riley one year later; the couple had three children. But author Sheila Isenberg wrote in her 2001 book A Hero of Our Own: The Story of Varian Fry that Fry felt unappreciated and grew more and more troubled as time went on. He bounced around multiple jobs, including magazine editing, film production, and college teaching. He developed an ulcer and went into psychoanalysis. Fry died on September 13, 1967, from a cerebral hemorrhage. In 1996, Yad Vashem honored Fry as a member of the Righteous Among the Nations, or non-Jewish individuals who risked their lives to aid Jews during the Holocaust. The square in front of the U.S. consulate in Marseilles was renamed Place Varian Fry in his honor in 2000. Gold returned to France after the war and settled on the Riviera, according to her New York Times obituary, though she also had a New York City apartment. She published the 1980 book Crossroads Marseilles, 1940 about her experiences with Fry and the ERC. Gold never married and had no children; she died of pancreatic cancer on October 5, 1997. She is buried at Pilgrim Home Cemetery in Holland, Michigan. Captured Russian soldiers in Ukraine In March, we essentially broke a record more than 3,000 appeals, which is twice as many as in 2022, said Matvienko. Read also: Moscow relies on retired Belarusian officers to train troops, report says In October and December 2022, on average, we recorded 1,400-1,500 requests per month. In January-March 2023, the number increased to 2,500. He noted that Russian troops are surrendering along the entire front line, both individually and in groups. Read also: FSB tries to scam Russian army out of RUB 3 million for drone soldiers downed by mistake According to Matvienko, some of them are surrendering along with their equipment, and some items of interesting Russian heavy armored vehicles are already deployed against their former owners on the battlefield. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine UNITED NATIONS (AP) The International Committee of the Red Cross says it has been in contact with a Russian official suspected of war crimes as it works for the return of Ukrainian children who were deported to Russia. The ICRCs contacts with Russian childrens rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova marked the first confirmation of high-level international intervention to reunite families with children who were forcibly deported. ICRC spokesman Jason Straziuso said Thursday the organization is in contact with Lvova-Belova in line with its mandate to restore contact between separated families and facilitate reunification where feasible. That goes beyond the engagement of other agencies. The U.N. childrens agency UNICEF said it has also been in contact with Russian officials about the children, but spokesman Kurtis Cooper told The Associated Press that UNICEF has not received feedback on our offer to facilitate reunifications processes." Refugees International denied any contact with the Russians despite Lvova-Belova's claim it had contacted her. Deportations of Ukrainian children have been a concern since Russias Feb. 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine. The International Criminal Court increased pressure on Russia when it issued arrest warrants on March 17 for Lvova-Belova and Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing them of abducting children from Ukraine. An AP investigation revealed Lvova-Belovas involvement in the abductions and found an open effort to put Ukrainian children up for adoption in Russia. Lvova-Belova told an informal U.N. Security Council meeting Wednesday that the children were taken for their safety, not abducted a claim widely rejected by the international community. Lvova-Belova spoke by video link at a meeting called by Russia and opposed by Western countries that sent low-level diplomats instead of their ambassadors. Representatives from four countries the U.S., UK, Albania and Malta walked out when she began her remarks. Story continues She said Russia has had no official communication with Ukrainian authorities about the children, but added her office has met with representatives of the ICRC, UNICEF, and Refugees International, and provided all available information about the situation of children. ICRC spokesman Straziuso on Thursday confirmed its contact with Lvova-Belova. Straziuso said the reunification process includes tracing family members, establishing and maintaining contact, obtaining relevant consents and documentation, reuniting families, and seeking to clarify the fate and whereabouts of those who remain missing. For the ICRC to move forward, he said, families must first file a tracing request with details about the child with the Red Cross. The exact number of Ukrainian children taken to Russia has been difficult to determine, and numbers from the warring countries differ vastly. A statement posted Wednesday on Twitter by Ukraines U.N. ambassador, Sergiy Kyslytsya, said more than 19,500 children had been seized from their families or orphanages and forcibly deported. Lvova-Belova said that since February 2022, Russia has taken in more than 5 million Ukrainians, including 700,000 children all with parents, relatives or legal guardians except for 2,000 from orphanages in the eastern Donbas. To date, she said, about 1,300 children have been returned to their orphanages, 400 were sent to Russian orphanages and 358 were placed in foster homes. She claimed no Ukrainian children have been adopted. ___ Associated Press writer Jamey Keaten contributed to this report from Geneva Northern California Congressman Doug LaMalfa waded Wednesday into the debate over whether schools should be required to disclose to parents that their child is transgender. LaMalfa, a six-term Republican, spoke during public comment Wednesday at a meeting of the Chico Unified School District Special Board of Education. The district is defending a lawsuit from a parent who contends the district helped her child secretly transition their gender identity. These are minors who are making lifetime, life-changing decisions, LaMalfa said. The congressman faced a chorus of boos and cheers as he went on to conflate sex assigned at birth with gender identity, incorrectly stating that its either XX or its XY, the proof is in the DNA. Such a statement disregards that intersex people exist, and also that gender identity is a social construct, not a biological one. LaMalfa said that he sides with the plaintiff in the Chico school district lawsuit. Schools have really overstepped their bounds, overstepped their responsibilities when theyre doing this, he said. In March, LaMalfa introduced legislation that would withhold federal funding from schools that fail to require parental permission before a student can change their name or pronouns at school. While that bill may pass in the GOP-controlled House of Representatives, it would likely fail in the Democratic-controlled Senate. The district maintains that it has not violated the law. Further, we believe that this case should not be directed at Chico Unified or any individual school district. If the plaintiff desires a change in the law and/or the guidelines set forth by the California Department of Education, we encourage them to take action with the state and/or federal government to enact such changes, wrote Superintendent Kelly Staley in a March letter to parents. A Republican California Assemblyman, Bill Essayli of Riverside, has introduced a bill that would force teachers and other school employees to out transgender students to their parents. That bill likewise faces a highly unlikely path to passage, given that the State Legislature is controlled by a Democratic supermajority. Rep. Justin Pearson, Rep. Justin Jones, Rep. Gloria Johnson People hold their hands up as they exit the House Chamber doors at the Tennessee State Capitol Building, in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. April 3, 2023. Nicole Hester/USA Today Network/Reuters Rep. Gloria Johnson said it's "pretty clear" why two Black lawmakers were expelled from Tennessee's House of Representatives. All three were facing expulsion for disrupting a session last week to protest gun violence. Republicans kicked out Reps. Justin Pearson and Justin Jones on Thursday night. Johnson was spared. Tennessee state Rep. Gloria Johnson said it's "pretty clear" why the state's Republicans expelled two Black Democratic lawmakers while she held on to her seat. "I'm a 60-year-old white woman and they are two, young Black men," Johnson told CNN when asked why she thought she was spared in Tennessee's House of Representatives. Last Thursday, Johnson, along with Reps. Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, interrupted a House session to protest gun violence in the state. Their demonstrations came just days after a shooter opened fire at Nashville's Covenant School, killing three students and three adult staff members. At Monday's meeting, GOP members of the House introduced three nearly identical expulsion resolutions to expel all three from their positions over the disruption, citing the state's Constitution, which states "Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member." The final vote took place Thursday evening, and Republicans voted out Pearson and Jones. The Tennessee House voted 72-25 to expel Jones, with Pearson also expelled after a 69-26 vote, according to CNN. But the motion to expel Johnson, who has been a member of the House for years, failed with a 65-30 vote, falling one vote short of the two-thirds majority required to remove her. Johnson said both Jones and Pearson were spoken to "in a demeaning way" during Thursday's vote. She added the GOP members of the House were implying, "you know, if you're going to come into this body then you have to act like this body and that sort of thing." "I am listening to the questions and the way they were questioned and the way they were talked to. I was talked down to as a woman, mansplained to, but it was completely different from the questioning that they got," Johnson told CNN. "And this whole idea that, you know, that you have to almost assimilate into this body to be like us." Story continues The punishments further solidify the GOP's stranglehold on Tennessee state politics: Republicans in the state's House now have a wider advantage with 75 members compared to Democrats' 22 down two with Jones and Pearson being removed. Critics decried the move, with President Joe Biden calling it "shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent." Read the original article on Business Insider Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Guy Reschenthaler said he is "not intimidated" after receiving a letter from the Chinese Embassy in Washington that warned against his involvement in a bipartisan congressional trip to self-ruled Taiwan. "Our congressional visit sends a clear message to the world: America is committed to supporting Taiwan and preserving freedom, democracy and peace across the globe," he said after arriving in Taiwan on Thursday. "I am not intimidated by Chinas threats and refuse to kowtow to the Chinese Communist Party. I look forward to meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen and reaffirming our commitment to the people of Taiwan," the House chief deputy whip said. The letter from Li Xiang, the counselor of the congressional and sub-national affair section of the Chinese Embassy, said Reschenthaler's decision would "seriously violate the one-China principle, the provisions of the three Sino-U.S. joint communique, severely interfere with China's domestic affairs and send a wrong signal to the separatist forces in Taiwan." CHINESE EMBASSY SENDS THREATENING LETTER TO CONGRESS OVER TAIWAN MEETING, WARNS IT WILL NOT SIT IDLY BY Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Pa., takes his seat for the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on "NATO at 70: An Indispensable Alliance" on Wednesday, March 13, 2019. He wrote to express China's "firm opposition" to the visit. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Li said that members of Congress are "inherently obliged to strictly observe the one-China policy of the U.S. government" and must "refrain from having any official exchanges with China's Taiwan region." "Otherwise, it is [a serious political provocation], sends out a wrong signal to the Taiwan independence separatist forces and seriously undermines the China-U.S. relations and the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," he said, noting that tension across the Taiwan Strait is "escalating and the prospect of peace there is "seriously threatened." "Former Speaker Pelosi's visit to Taiwan last year triggered a serious crisis in the China-U.S. relationship, and the lessons should be learned," Li said. Then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), left, speaks after receiving the Order of Propitious Clouds with Special Grand Cordon, Taiwans highest civilian honor, from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, right, at the president's office on Aug. 3, 2022, in Taipei, Taiwan. US SAYS CHINA HAS NO REASON TO STEP UP AGGRESSIVE ACTIVITY DUE TO TAIWANS STOPOVERS IN THE US Story continues Li urged the U.S. to "stop all forms of official interaction with Taiwan" to avoid "furthering the tension across the Taiwan Strait." The Chinese government announced a three-day series of patrols in the Taiwan Strait on Thursday, ordering that any ships in the area stop for inspection or even boarding. The Embassy sent a similar email to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other bipartisan members of Congress who met with Tsai in Southern California. In the meeting, McCarthy and Tsai declared the relationship between the U.S. and Taiwan is strong amid "unprecedented" challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. The Biden administration maintains that there is nothing provocative about the visit by Tsai. As part of its recognition of China, the U.S. "One China" policy acknowledges that Beijing lays claim to Taiwan but does not endorse Chinas claim. The U.S. remains Taiwans key provider of military and defense assistance though Washington does not explicitly say whether it will come to Taiwans aid in the case of a conflict with China. Taiwan and China split 74 years ago following a civil war and have no official relations. Fox News' Anders Hagstrom, Aishah Hasnie, Kelly Phares, Brooke Singman and The Associated Press contributed to this report. By Laura Sanicola (Reuters) - Real estate magnate Harlan Crow has come under scrutiny after ProPublica reported on Thursday that U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas accepted luxury trips over decades from the Republican donor despite a federal law requiring the disclosure of most gifts. The following are some key facts about Crow. WHO IS HARLAN CROW? Crow, 74, is the chairman and former CEO of Crow Holdings, a Texas-based family real estate firm established to manage the capital of the Trammell Crow family. Crows father, noted real estate developer Trammell Crow, founded the company in 1948. Crow, a Dallas resident, graduated from The University of Texas at Austin and began working in a variety of roles at his fathers companies before taking the helm of Crow Holdings in 1988. While his net worth is unclear, Crow Holdings had $19.6 billion in assets under management in 2020. HOW DID THE CROW FAMILY ACCUMULATE THEIR WEALTH? Trammell Crow's real estate enterprises boomed in the post-World War Two years. In 1971, the company was considered the largest private landlord in the United States, eventually owning and developing a combination of industrial, hotel and other real estate assets. Harlan Crow was pivotal in restructuring the companys debt in the 1980s, saving it from bankruptcy, according to media reports. HARLAN CROW'S POLITICAL LEANINGS Crow has a history of donating to conservative causes. He is a director at the American Enterprise Institute, a right-wing think tank that promotes free markets and an active U.S. foreign policy role. He also serves on the boards of the George W. Bush Foundation, the Supreme Court Historical Society and the Hoover Institution. Crow Holdings has donated more than $3 million, mostly to Republican causes and campaigns, included to Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the conservative Coalition Por For Texas PAC, according to Transparency USA. The extent of Crow's personal political contributions, however, is not known. He has previously said he does not disclose contributions that he is not required to disclose. Story continues HARLAN'S RELATIONSHIP WITH CLARENCE THOMAS In a statement on Friday, Thomas said he and his wife, Virginia "Ginni" Thomas, had long counted Harlan and Kathy Crow among their dearest friends. "As friends do, we have joined them on a number of family trips during the more than quarter century we have known them," Thomas said. In 2009, Harlan Crow provided $500,000 to conservative political advocacy group Liberty Central, which was founded by Ginni Thomas, a Politico investigation found. (Reporting by Laura Sanicola; Editing by Bill Berkrot) Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a trilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] Chinese President Xi Jinping held a trilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Beijing on Thursday. Xi pointed out that China and the European Union (EU) share extensive common interests. Cooperation and common ground between the two sides outweigh competition and differences. In a complex and volatile world, China and the EU should respect each other, promote political trust, strengthen dialogue and cooperation, uphold world peace and stability, promote common development and prosperity, and address global challenges together, Xi said. Noting that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, Xi said China is prepared to work with the EU to set the right direction and tone for China-EU ties, fully resume exchanges at all levels and revitalize mutually-beneficial cooperation in various fields, thus injecting fresh impetus into China-EU relations and global peace, stability and prosperity. Stressing the importance of enhancing the stability of China-EU ties, Xi said the China-EU relationship does not target any third party, nor should it be dependent on or dictated by any third party. China has all along viewed the relationship from a strategic and long-term perspective and ensured stability and continuity in its EU policy, he said, adding that China hopes the EU will develop a more independent and objective perception of China and adopt a pragmatic and positive China policy. Xi said the two sides should respect each other's core interests and major concerns, work through dialogue and consultation to build consensus and overcome differences. It is important to respect each other's development paths. He said Chinese modernization and European integration are strategic choices China and the EU have made with the two sides' respective futures in mind. China and the EU should be each other's trustworthy and reliable cooperation partners on their paths to development. The Chinese people take pride in choosing the right development path for themselves in light of China's national reality, Xi said, calling on the two sides to seek common ground while shelving differences, and learn to accommodate, appreciate, draw upon and facilitate each other's development. Playing up the so-called "democracy vs authoritarianism" narrative and stoking a new Cold War will only bring division and confrontation to the world, Xi said, stressing the importance to maintain an open and trusting environment for cooperation. China and the EU should keep their markets open to each other, provide a fair and nondiscriminatory environment for businesses from the other side, and avoid turning economic and trade matters into political or national security issues. The two sides should build stable and trustworthy supply chains, and synergize the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Gateway strategy in support of sustained and stable economic growth in China and the EU, Xi said. President Xi underlined that China champions true multilateralism and a global governance vision featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefit. He said China is prepared to work with the EU to enhance coordination and cooperation in multilateral affairs, and uphold the international system centered on the United Nations (UN), the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Xi said China and the EU need to jointly uphold global stability and prosperity, and stand against hegemonism, unilateralism and attempts to decouple economies or sever supply chains. The two sides need to step up macroeconomic and financial policy communication and coordination, deepen their green partnership, and increase dialogue and cooperation on green financing, environment-friendly technologies and clean energy. China and the EU also need to help other developing countries, encourage multilateral institutions and private capital to contribute more to implementing the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative, and explore cooperation in Africa and other regions involving three or more parties, Xi added. For her part, von der Leyen noted that the EU respects China's history and culture. Frank and constructive dialogue with China and continuous development of EU-China relations are crucial for peace and stability in Europe. The EU and China are each other's important trading partners and the two economies are highly intertwined, von der Leyen said, adding that decoupling from China is neither in the EU's interests nor the EU's strategic choice. She said the EU sets its China policy independently. It would like to restart the High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue and advance steady and balanced growth of economic and trade ties with China for mutual benefit. The EU congratulates China for hosting a successful United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) and commends China's efforts to cut carbon emissions. The EU stands ready to enhance communication and coordination with China to jointly meet global challenges and contribute to peace, stability and development in the world, von der Leyen said. Macron noted that in a world full of uncertainties, the EU and China need to enhance dialogue and exchange with mutual respect, openness and humility. The two sides should work with each other to stay away from the trap of economic decoupling and severing supply chains, carry out mutually-beneficial cooperation on an equal footing, tackle pressing global challenges such as climate change, and keep deepening the EU-China comprehensive strategic partnership. The three leaders exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Von der Leyen and Macron shared the European perspective. They agreed that China did not create the Ukraine crisis, and said that they appreciate China's efforts to promote a political settlement and look forward to China playing a more important role. They also said that they are prepared to work with China to find a way to facilitate talks for peace. Xi stressed that China independently decides its position based on the merits of issues. China's position on Ukraine boils down to supporting talks for peace. China calls on the parties to be calm and rational and jointly create conditions for peace talks. Xi said the pressing priority is to bring about a ceasefire and oppose actions that further inflame or complicate the situation. The Ukraine crisis is not an issue between China and the EU. China will continue to play a positive role in facilitating peace talks. China supports EU efforts to propose approaches and plans for a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, and to build a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework, which serves the fundamental and long-term interests of the EU, Xi said. Wang Yi and Qin Gang, among others, participated in the meeting. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a trilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] In a separate meeting with von der Leyen after the trilateral meeting, Xi said China has always regarded the EU as a strategic force in the international landscape, and the development of China-EU relations has always been a priority in China's diplomacy. Xi said China is willing to continue the good tradition with the European side, maintain close communication, enhance strategic mutual trust, focus on mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation, jointly overcome interference and challenges, and achieve a high-level operation of China-EU relations. He said the sound development of China-EU relations cannot be separated from independence, mutual respect and mutually beneficial cooperation. China firmly adheres to the independent foreign policy of peace and respects the rights of people of all countries to choose their own development path. China and the EU should face up to differences, control differences and respect each other, Xi said, adding that it is hoped that the European Commission will focus on the fundamental and long-term interests of the EU, proceed from the overall situation of China-EU relations, and play an active role in the healthy and stable development of China-EU ties. On the Taiwan question, Xi emphasized that it is the core of China's core interests. The Chinese government and the people will never allow anyone to make a fuss about the one-China principle. Anyone who expects China to compromise on the Taiwan question could only be wishful thinking and self-defeating, Xi added. Von der Leyen reiterated that the EU has no intention to change its long-standing one-China policy, recognizes the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government representing the whole of China and hopes that the Taiwan Strait will maintain peace and stability. Floridas 2023 legislative session has been one for the books and its only halfway done. Republican lawmakers have wielded their super majority in the states House and Senate to move quickly on legislation long sought by their party: more abortion limits, tort reform and school vouchers. But with many of Gov. Ron DeSantis priorities yet to gain traction before he gears up for an expected presidential run, the Legislature is going to be busy for the next 30 days. With the midway point of the 60-day session now in the rear-view mirror, here is some of the major legislation that has passed and other measures were watching: Whats passed Making it harder to sue insurers (HB 837): The wide-ranging tort reform bill that makes it harder and more expensive to sue insurance companies and businesses divided Republicans and was blasted by former President Donald Trump as a bailout. Gov. Ron DeSantis has already signed it into law and it is in effect. Affordable housing (SB 102): A top priority for Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, DeSantis has already signed into law a $711 million plan to make housing more affordable for working Floridians. The Live Local Act will more than double funding for housing and rental programs, provide incentives for investment in affordable housing and encourage mixed-use developments in struggling commercial areas. School vouchers for all (HB 1): School-aged children will soon be eligible for vouchers, regardless of economic background, under a bill already signed by the governor. The bill establishes education savings accounts that allow recipients to spend about $8,000 in voucher funds beyond private-school tuition, such as for tutoring and exam fees, and expands eligibility for current scholarships to any K-12 student who is a Florida resident. The Senate and House have yet to agree on how much it will cost. It takes effect July 1. Permitless carry (HB 543): DeSantis has also signed into law a bill that allows people to carry concealed guns without a permit and without training. The legislation has been opposed on both sides of the gun debate, with some saying it removes reasonable safeguards and others wishing it allowed Floridians to openly carry guns. It takes effect July 1. Story continues Whats passed one chamber Six-week abortion ban (SB 300, HB 7): The Senate on Monday passed a bill that bans most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, with certain exceptions for rape, incest and human trafficking up to 15 weeks. A similar bill is likely to be up on the House floor for a vote soon. DeSantis says he supports the bill. Transgender healthcare (SB 254, HB 1421): Bills that would codify Floridas prohibition against medical care for gender dysphoria in minors things like puberty blockers, hormone therapies and surgeries still have key differences in the House and Senate versions. The Senate passed its bill on Wednesday. Insurance for children (SB 246, HB 121): As more than a million people in Florida face losing their Medicaid coverage, House Speaker Paul Renner wants to expand Kidcare, the health insurance program for low-income children. The bill has passed all its committees in the House and is ready for a floor vote. In the Senate, it has passed just one of its three committees. Pronouns in schools (SB 1320, HB 1069): The Senate is ready to consider a House bill that would require every public K-12 school to have a policy that says it is false to ascribe to a person a pronoun that does not correspond to their assigned sex, and would bar school employees from calling students by pronouns that differ from those given to them at birth even in cases when a parent is OK with it. School start times (SB 1112, HB 733): High school students could get more sleep under legislation that has passed the House and is ready to be considered by the Senate. Middle schools would begin classes no earlier than 8 a.m., and high schools no earlier than 8:30 a.m, if the bill is ultimately approved. The changes would be effective in July 2026, to give schools and families time to prepare. Challenges to local ordinances (SB 170, HB 1515): A sweeping preemption bill that would allow a single business to stop a city ordinance has passed the Senate and reached the House floor. The measure requires counties and cities to produce a business impact estimate prior to passing an ordinance and allows a business owner to file a lawsuit claiming the ordinance is arbitrary or unreasonable and stop it within 90 days of its enactment. Corporate activism (SB 302, HB 3): A priority for DeSantis that has already passed in the House, lawmakers are looking to penalize U.S. companies that consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues when making investment decisions. Bankers and investment experts say it could cost taxpayers more for municipal bonds and lead to lower returns on government pension funds. Expanding the State Guard (HB 1285): This bill, part of DeSantis broad vision for the newly created Florida State Guard, would expand the organizations scope by creating a specialized law enforcement unit with the ability to bear arms and make arrests. The bill would also allow the governor to activate the State Guard for threats to public safety instead of only in states of emergency. No Senate bill has been filed, but it could get worked out during budget negotiations. What has yet to pass either chamber Governors travel records (SB 1616, HB 1495): Still moving is a bill to shield from the public any information about how and where Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state officials go. Suing news outlets (SB 1220, HB 991): Proposals backed by DeSantis to make it easier to sue media outlets and members of the public has stalled as criticism mounts from First Amendment advocates and conservative media outlets who warn that it will open the door to a barrage of lawsuits, including against conservative talk radio hosts. More preemption bills (various): Dozens of other local government preemption bills continue to make progress that would restrict what local governments can say about monuments, limit municipal authority over water quality and quantity, restrict citizen opposition to development plans and give businesses new avenues to repeal long-standing environmental rules. Utility costs (SB 1162, HB 821): A measure to allow utility companies to raise electricity bills so they can pass along the cost of building renewable natural gas facilities has received bipartisan approval in committees so far. The state budget (SB 2500, HB 5001): Although each chamber has unanimously passed its version of the budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year, the weeks-long negotiation process between the chambers has yet to begin. Both budgets are about $113 billion, but the chambers are hundreds of millions of dollars apart on issues such as expanding the State Guard, raises for state employees and funding for the tourism-marketing agency Visit Florida. Immigration (SB 1718, HB 1617): House and Senate leaders are expected to start pushing legislation to increase penalties for businesses that hire workers who are living in the country illegally. The proposal would also require law enforcement agencies to collect DNA samples from migrants who are in detention facilities and require hospitals to collect data on whether patients are in the country without legal permission. The proposal is backed by the governor but has yet to gain traction in either chamber. Diversity, equity and inclusion (SB 266, HB 999): Legislative proposals that would bar state universities and colleges from advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion are moving slowly in the House and Senate. DeSantis has made the issue a key part of his higher education platform. Larger fines for insurers (SB 7052): After years of giving insurance companies largely what they want in an attempt to stem rapidly rising premiums and insurer insolvencies, lawmakers are looking to increase penalties and oversight for insurers. It was introduced just last week and is being fast-tracked by the Senate. A House bill will be introduced soon, Republicans say. Elections changes (SB 7050): Lawmakers are eyeing major changes to the states election laws for the fourth time in five years. Introduced just last week and moving quickly in the Senate, the bill largely targets voter registration groups by increasing fines and oversight. What may come up later Disney retaliation (no bills filed): After Disney spoke out last year against the Parental Rights in Education bill, also known as dont say gay, DeSantis moved to strip Disney of its power over its own local government, the Reedy Creek Improvement District. Then DeSantis was blindsided last month when the old district board stripped DeSantis new board of much of its power. The Legislature appears not too eager to intervene on behalf of the governor, however, and no legislation has been introduced. Dreamers tuition breaks (no bills filed): DeSantis has also asked lawmakers to repeal a 2014 law that offers in-state tuition to students brought into the country illegally as children, but legislation that would do so has yet to emerge. The issue, however, is expected to pop up during budget negotiations. Residents near Grant Place in Pantego were evacuated while officers from multiple departments were in a standoff for more than 16 hours with an armed woman, police said. The standoff began Thursday afternoon and continued into the early hours of Friday morning. The suspect was taken into custody about 8:45 a.m. The incident started about 4 p.m. Thursday, when Tarrant County sheriffs deputies and Pantego police officers arrived at a house on Grant Place to serve a mental health warrant, according to news releases from the Pantego Police Department and the sheriffs office. As officers tried to make contact with a person inside the home, that suspect displayed a firearm, the release said. A short time later, a deputy fired their service weapon, but it is not believed that anyone was shot. The suspect then retreated back inside the home and the officers and deputies pulled back, police said. Police have reason to believe this person is a danger to themselves and others, Pantego police said. Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV reported that, according to neighbors, the person is a woman in her 70s. The womans name has not been released. She was transported to the Tarrant County Jail. There were no injuries to any officers or residents in the area, the sheriffs office said. During the standoff, the public was advised to stay away from a designated area shown in a map provided by police. The Arlington Police Department assisted with evacuating residents or having them shelter in place. Fire and EMS crews were on standby. Arlington police had a SWAT team on scene and said they had established communications with the barricaded person Thursday night and were attempting to resolve the situation as peacefully and quickly as possible. A SWAT team from Grand Prairie arrived to relieve the team from Arlington early Friday morning. The following roads were closed Thursday during the incident, police said shortly before 8 p.m.: Nora at Peachtree Nora at Smith Barry Smith Barry at Silver Leaf Silver Leaf at Peachtree Story continues Residents were expected to be allowed back in their homes as soon as the situation was resolved, police said. Earlier this afternoon, Pantego PD requested our assistance as they attempted to serve a warrant at a home along Grant Place. Multiple APD units, including our SWAT team, responded to the scene. We believe a person inside the home is armed. 1/ pic.twitter.com/6fYlAhVlee Arlington, TX Police (@ArlingtonPD) April 7, 2023 Other agencies who assisted include the Dalworthington Gardens Department of Public Safety, Pantego Fire Department, Arlington Fire Department and American Medical Response. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested retired Salvadoran officer Roberto Antonio Garay Saravia for his involvement in the El Mozote massacre. Saravia, a former officer in the Salvadoran Armed Forces, was arrested in New Jersey on Tuesday by ICEs Enforcement and Removal Operations officers and Homeland Security Investigations agents. The former officer was arrested for assisting or otherwise participating in extrajudicial killings and for willfully misrepresenting this material fact in his immigration application, according to a news release from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Individuals who have committed atrocities overseas will not find safe haven in the United States, DHS Deputy Secretary John K. Tien said. The El Mozote massacre, one of the most well-known killings in recent Latin American history, killed 1,000 people in the town of El Mozote, El Salvador in December 1981. U.S.-trained Salvadoran army units attacked the town and at least half of the people killed were children. The Salvadoran officers were fighting leftist guerrillas of the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front. Saravia was a section commander in a specialized counterinsurgency unit known as the Atlacatl Battalion, according to the release. The unit has been directly implicated in a number of atrocities, including the El Mozote massacre. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. PITTSBURGH (AP) Andrew McCutchen took in the moment on Friday. He fought back the tears he knew would come and settled in for his first at-bat at PNC Park with Pittsburgh in more than five years. The veteran outfielder could see well enough to lash a single to right field, the start of a 19-hit barrage by the Pirates in a 13-9 victory over the Chicago White Sox that served as an emotional homecoming for McCutchen and Pittsburgh hopes a sign of things to come. Particularly if the group McCutchen was brought in to mentor can keep taking steps forward. We know what we're capable of, McCutchen said. We've just got to keep believing in each other. Bryan Reynolds continued his torrid start by driving in six runs. The left fielder is now the best player on the team the way McCutchen was a decade ago. Yet he had never played in front of a crowd that large at PNC Park, many of them wearing black at McCutchen's request in a nod to the team's brief run of three straight playoff appearances from 2013-15. It was fun to play in front of a stadium like that, Reynolds said. Hopefully, well keep rolling and itll be like that more often. Reynolds hit a two-run homer in the third and a bases-clearing triple in the fifth. Reynolds popped up and raced home when the relay throw from Chicago second baseman Elvis Andrus skipped by third baseman Yoan Moncada. Reynolds' five home runs this season are the most by a Pirate through seven games since Hall of Famer Willie Stargell in 1971. Its special anytime youre in same sentence with somebody like that, Reynolds said. McCutchen, who signed a one-year deal in January to rejoin the team he starred for earlier in his career, went 2 for 5 in his first game at PNC Park as a member of the Pirates since September 2017. The five-time All-Star and 2013 National League MVP received a loud ovation when he stepped to the plate in the first as the designated hitter. Home plate umpire Ryan Wills, making an exception to MLB's new pitch-clock rules, allowed the 36-year-old McCutchen to appreciate a day he had been anticipating since he rejoined the club. Story continues Its a special moment, special day for me, McCutchen said. Its one Im going to remember. Connor Joe tied a career high with four hits. Reynolds, Ji Hwan Bae and Jason Delay had three hits each for Pittsburgh. Dauri Moreta (1-0) worked two scoreless innings for his first major league win. Luis Robert hit a pair of two-run homers for the White Sox. Oscar Colas added the first home run of his career in the ninth. Tim Anderson collected four hits and scored four times but Chicago was undone by another shaky pitching performance. The White Sox have allowed 12 or more runs in three of their last four games, dropping all three. I dont have concern with the pitching, I really dont, Chicago manager Pedro Grifol said. These guys have done it before, theyve done it for a while now. Its just one of those stretches. Obviously there are adjustments to be made. Lucas Giolito, who no-hit the Pirates in 2020, allowed seven runs and a career-high 12 hits in four innings. It was not good, Giolito said. "We hit their starter really well. We were given leads and I kept giving them up, so its not good. Jake Diekman (0-1) fared no better in relief. He retired the first batter he faced in the fifth before letting the next four batters reach, including a go-ahead single by Delay. Jimmy Lambert came on to face Reynolds, who laced a shot to the right-field corner to send the Pirates to their fourth straight victory. Pittsburgh starter Rich Hill struggled as the White Sox pounded the 43-year-old's variety of breaking pitches, most of which didn't break 75 mph. Hill gave up seven runs and eight hits three of them homers in four-plus innings. ON THE MOVE The White Sox designated longtime reliever Jose Ruiz for assignment and called up right-hander Jesse Scholtens from Triple-A Charlotte. Ruiz, 28, struggled in four appearances with Chicago this season. He gave up multiple runs in each of his last three outings as his ERA ballooned to 22.04. The 29-year-old Scholtens allowed one run in three innings in his major league debut. UP NEXT The series continues Saturday when Chicago's Mike Clevinger (1-0, 0.00 ERA) faces Vince Velasquez (0-1, 5.79 ERA). Clevinger threw five shutout innings against Houston in his debut with the White Sox last Sunday. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Brian Snyder/Reuters Get more news and opinions in the twice-daily Beast Digest newsletter. Dont miss the next big story, sign up here. We grew up inspired by the historic words from John F. Kennedys Inaugural Address: Ask not what your country can do for youask what you can do for your country. After JFKs assassination in 1963, our hopes turned to his brother Robert F. Kennedy, who echoed George Bernard Shaws trenchant observation: Some people see things as they are and say why? I dream things that never were and say why not? The Kennedy legacy was one of public service and civic engagement, always aspiring to the common good. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the son of a US Attorney General and nephew of a president, has turned the Kennedy legacy upside down. Beginning in 2003, RFK Jr. abandoned his promising career as an environmental advocate to embrace the libertarian agenda of anti-vaccine and anti-science activisma fascinating and dangerous U-turn from self-sacrifice to self-serving. Anti-Vaccine Zealot RFK Jr. Is Running for President as a Democrat The triggering element, literally, was mercury. In 1998, the British doctor, Andrew Wakefield published an article in The Lancet claiming that thimerosal, a mercury preservative contained in the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine, caused autism. The Lancet later retracted the article, its editor calling its statements utterly false, while the British Medical Journal called Wakefields article fraudulent. British authorities stripped Wakefield of his medical license. However, distraught parents of autistic children still embrace Wakefield, who now makes a fortune on the anti-vaxx propaganda circuitand so too does RFK Jr. The irony here runs deep. RFK Jr. continues to hype a massive conspiracy regarding thimerosal, even though the CDC actually removed it from most childhood vaccines, including MMR, in 2001. He has also stubbornly ignored an Institute of Medicine immunization safety review, along with nine CDC-backed studies, showing no association between thimerosal and autism. Its sadly not hard these days to sell the idea that CDC and the rest of the public health community is engaged in all manner of deceit. Story continues This week RFK Jr., with the blessing of no less than agent provocateur Steve Bannon filed papers with the Federal Election Commission stating his intent to oppose President Joe Biden for the 2024 Democratic Presidential Nomination, and apparently plans to announce his formal candidacy in Boston on April 19. Four years ago, when two of RFK Jrs siblings (Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and former Rep. Joseph P, Kennedy II) joined niece and health care worker Maeve Kennedy McKean, to publish a heartfelt plea for him to abandon his unfounded attacks on public health, many naively thought he might dig deep to discover his roots. Instead, RFK Jr. has doubled down, building the war chest of his anti-vax propaganda organization, Childrens Health Defense, to eight figures, publishing a nasty screed against Dr Anthony Fauci, and rubbing elbows with the likes of Roger Stone at Reawaken America events. Cant get enough from The Daily Beast? Subscribe to the twice-daily Beast Digest newsletter here. Facebook and Instagram removed the Childrens Health Defense account, naming the organization one of the Disinformation Dozen, which refers to the top 12 COVID-19 misinformation super-spreaders. Standing at the Lincoln Memorial at an anti-vaxx rally last year, RFK Jr. compared COVID-19 vaccines mandates to Nazi Germany. His wife, actress Cheryl Hines, condemned those remarks tweeting, My husbands reference to Anne Frank at a mandate rally in D.C. was reprehensible and insensitive. The atrocities that millions endured during the Holocaust should never be compared to anyone or anything. His opinions are not a reflection of my own. Earlier this year, RFK Jr. and other anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists joined forces in a bizarre lawsuit accusing the Washington Post, BBC, Associated Press, and Reuters of violating 19th-century antitrust laws by refusing to credit bogus COVID-19 conspiracy theories and anti-vaccine misinformation. Here is a man who would use his good name, the political system, and the nations courts to undermine vaccines, probably sciences greatest achievement ever. This is a head spinning moment for the Kennedy legacy. It is also a dangerous moment for the nation. Consider these worrying statistics. According to the CDC, coverage with two doses of MMR vaccine declined during the pandemic, amounting to 250,000 children who arent protected against deadly diseases. Vaccinations for polio, varicella, and for diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis also declined. It was unsurprising to see wild polio found in a religious community in New York City, the first time in a generation. As for COVID-19, researchers estimate that there have been 318,000 vaccine-preventable deaths due to failure to get even the primary series. COVID-19 vaccine misinformation is strongly associated with declines in vaccination intent. Even a known COVID-denier, Donald Trump couldnt get behind RFK Jr., first appointing him to head a vaccine safety panel, but then backing away. And now Kennedy wants to use the platform of a run for president to amplify his anti-science agenda. RFK Jr. would never have received the public attention and the ability to raise so much money to fuel disinformation campaigns had he not had the Kennedy name. Its obvious that his Democratic presidential candidacy will gain no traction, but it has already gained a startling amount of ink, and social media is saturated with his destructive messages about vaccines. RFK Jr.s obsession with casting doubt on the simply overwhelming scientific evidence that vaccines save lives is the antithesis of the common good. And it is the antithesis of the public spirit that Jack and Bobby Kennedy aspired to for America. Sign up for the Beast Digest, a twice-daily run down on each days top stories. Dont miss out, sign up here. 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. New Hampshire's first first family is brought to light in all its glory and scandal in an exhibit opening Friday, April 14 in the Portsmouth Athenaeum's Randall Gallery. The Wentworths came to the state in the 1630s and by the 1700s had become a powerful force. Gov. Benning Wentworth's home on Little Harbor in Portsmouth is known as the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion. The royal governor (1696-1770) scandalized the community when at 64 he wed his 23-year-old housekeeper, a marriage memorialized a century later in a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. This hand-colored poster of the house is by Portsmouth illustrator John T. Ladd (1912-1974). "I'm trying to bring family dynamics into the story," said Sandra Rux, who is curating the free exhibit, "The Wentworth Takeover: How One Family Dominated Portsmouth and New Hampshire 1715-1775." And there are lots of dynamics friends and adversaries referred to this ambitious tribe as the Wentworth clan. Lt. Gov. John Wentworth (1671-1730) was praised for his "mild administration" under which New Hampshire "enjoyed great quietness." He will be featured in an exhibit opening Friday in the Portsmouth Athenaeum's Randall Gallery -- "The Wentworth Takeover: How One Family Dominated Portsmouth and New Hampshire 1715-1775." This posthumous portrait was painted by Joseph Blackburn. John Wentworth (1671-1730) of Portsmouth was appointed by Queen Anne as a member of New Hampshire's Council in 1712, a justice in 1713 and lieutenant governor in 1717. He and his wife, Sarah Hunking, daughter of fellow council member Mark Hunking, had 14 children, all of whom lived to adulthood and married well-connected, talented and wealthy people. In his book "History of New Hampshire," the Rev. Jeremy Belknap wrote of the lieutenant governor: "Under his mild administration we enjoyed great quietness." John and Sarah's eldest son, Benning (1696-1770), would become New Hampshire's first royal governor and hold that office from 1741 to 1767 the longest of any colonial governor. "If he hadn't become governor, he might have gone to debtor's prison," Rux said of Wentworth's near-bankruptcy in 1739 when England declared war on Spain. "He was sending timber from Portsmouth to Spain. English merchants had invested in his Spanish venture." Wentworth traveled to Madrid, and failed to persuade the Spanish government to pay up. "That's when his allies conspired to make him governor of New Hampshire," Rux said. "He could make land grants, sell the land, and pay off his debts." He issued 135 land grants west of the Connecticut River in what is now Vermont. This plate was owned by New Hampshire's first royal governor, Benning Wentworth (1696-1970). "The Wentworth Takeover: How One Family Dominated Portsmouth and New Hampshire 1715-1775" opens Friday, April 14, in the Portsmouth Athenaeum's Randall Gallery. Wentworth also lives on in history thanks to marrying his housekeeper, Martha Hilton. The surprise ceremony came after a dinner party at his mansion on Portsmouth's Little Harbor in 1770. He was 64. She was 23. Story continues A century later Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote the poem, "Lady Wentworth," in which he described Hilton as "A maiden, modest and yet self-possessed/Youthful, and beautiful, and simply dressed." Among the dinner guests was the Anglican minister Arthur Brown, who seemed reluctant when told by the governor to perform the wedding ceremony. "This is the lady; do you hesitate," Wentworth writes, "Then I command you as Chief Magistrate." Wentworth died without children a decade later, bequeathing Martha his estate. A flurry of lawsuits from the Wentworth family followed, some successful. Rux said that it was likely to protect her inheritance that Martha soon married Michael Wentworth, a member of the family who had come from England and was living in Portsmouth. "He was dashing, much younger than Benning, and known for racing horses," Rux said. Benning's nephew John Wentworth (1737-1820) was in London when he was appointed the second royal governor in 1767. His first few years in Portsmouth were reasonably calm, and he received credit for being a diplomatic force as things heated up between colonists and the mother country. But two months after "the shot heard round the world" was fired in Concord, Mass., a mob showed up at Wentworth's fine home on Pleasant Street in June 1775. They pointed a cannon at the front door and demanded Wentworth relinquish a visiting and very unpopular Loyalist, Capt. John Fenton. This 1906 postcard by Helen I. Tilton describes the marble fireplace in Royal Gov. John Wentworth's house as bearing "the mark of the attack by a mob in 1775" that led to the Wentworth family fleeing the home on Pleasant Street in Portsmouth. The circa-1763 building is now part of an assisted-living facility. Fenton was seized by the mob and the Wentworths fled out the back door. The story is that the house now the site of an assisted living facility still has bullet holes and a damaged marble mantlepiece. The Wentworths took refuge for a month at Fort William and Mary in New Castle. They eventually ended up in England. In 1778, the former governor Wentworth visited Paris and ran into American Peace Commissioner John Adams at the theater. Adams wrote of Wentworth's visit a day or two later with him and fellow commissioner Benjamin Franklin at Franklin's home in Passy. "Not an indelicate expression to us, or our country, or our ally [France], escaped him," Adams wrote. "His whole behavior was that of an accomplished gentleman." The influence of family and friends led to Wentworth's appointment as governor of Nova Scotia in 1792, a position he held until 1808. He died in Halifax in 1820, A 1734 piece of colonial currency will be included in the Portsmouth Athenaeum exhibit, "The Wentworth Takeover: How One Family Dominated Portsmouth and New Hampshire 1715-1775." The promissory note for one shilling reads: Province of N. Hampshire/We Promise Jointly and Severally to pay to Hunking Wentworth of Portsmouth, merchant." The exhibit will focus not just on the family, but the Wentworths' influence on Portsmouth architecture. Photos of Wentworth houses as well as family furniture and portraits will be included. "It's timed to coincide with Portsmouth's celebration of its 400th," Rux said. The opening reception is from 5 to 7 p.m. on April 14. The exhibit is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 1 to 4 p.m. and runs through July 15. Rux will give a talk on the exhibit on Saturday, April 15 at 11 a.m. in the Randall Gallery. On June 21, Rux will present "Before 'Live Free or Die': The Wentworth Oligarchy 1715-1775." The talk is part of the Athenaeum lecture series, Portsmouth, NH: Evolution 1623-2023 Part 2. Admission to the lecture is $10. By becoming a Friend of the Athenaeum for as little as $25 a year, admission is free to all six of this year's remaining lectures. The Portsmouth Athenaeum, 9 Market Square, is a membership library and museum founded in 1817. The research library and Randall Gallery are open Tuesday through Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m. Masks are required in the research library. For more information, call 603-431-2538 or visit www.portsmouthathenaeum.org. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: The rise and fall of NH's first first family at Portsmouth Athenaeum One of the most influential anti-vaccine activists of the past two decades is seeking an even bigger platform: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., son of a former U.S. attorney general and senator and the nephew of a former president, is running for the White House himself. Kennedy filed candidacy paperwork Wednesday and is planning a kickoff speech in Boston on April 19. Prior to his anti-vaccine activism, Kennedy had a reputation mostly as an environmental lawyer. But since the early 2000s, Kennedy has been an integral piece of the anti-vaccine ecosystem in the United States, trading on his family name and high-profile connections to give a sheen of legitimacy to bunk science which critics say has led to needless deaths and a wave of anti-science, anti-government paranoia that is now a defining feature of American politics. His work has prompted criticism from his family, most notably a 2019 Politico article in which two siblings and one niece wrote that by spreading misinformation and distrust of the science behind vaccines, Kennedy was part of a campaign to attack the institutions committed to reducing the tragedy of preventable infectious diseases. One of the authors of that piece, Kennedys sister Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, declined HuffPosts request to comment on his candidacy. Former Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), the son of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), told HuffPost in a statement that he was supporting President Joe Bidens reelection bid. The COVID-19 pandemic gave Kennedy a new platform for his false medical views. Kennedys anti-vaccine group, Childrens Health Defense, more than doubled its annual fundraising to $6.8 million in 2020 and notched millions of website visits monthly, The Associated Press reported. The following year, an analysis from the anti-misinformation group Center for Countering Digital Hate found that Kennedy was the source of the most anti-vaccine content shared or posted on Facebook or Twitter, behind only Joseph Mercola, who has influenced millions with natural cures. Story continues What makes him particularly difficult is his name. His family is one that stood up for the underdog, that represented the underdog, that spoke truth to power, so when he stands up and says, These vaccines are doing an enormous amount of harm, that has a special influence, said Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia and a longtime Kennedy critic who believes him to be the countrys most influential anti-vaccine voice. Kennedy, Offit added, lies and lies and lies about vaccine safety. He lies and lies and lies about vaccine safety.Paul Offit, referring to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Childrens Health Defense was kicked off of Facebook and Instagram both under parent company Meta last year for repeatedly violating our policies, a Meta spokesperson said. But it remains on Twitter; archives of the page show the group has increased its Twitter follower count by nearly 25% since January alone. Kennedy personally was banned from Instagram in February 2021, but he has 868,000 followers on Twitter and 352,000 on Facebook. Notably, the landing page of Kennedys campaign website doesnt explicitly mention vaccines but rather that the candidate has battled against corporate greed and government corruption to protect our children, our health, our livelihoods, our environment, and above all, our freedom. Childrens Health Defense on Thursday referred HuffPosts questions to Kennedys campaign, which said it would not be scheduling interviews with the candidate until after his campaign kickoff. Decades of False Claims Kennedy entered the anti-vaccine universe with a bang: In 2005, Salon and Rolling Stone published his article Deadly Immunity. Salon issued a retraction years later, and Rolling Stone deleted the article from its site. At its heart, the piece used misleading and incorrect information to claim vaccines cause autism. As journalist Seth Mnookin pointed out, the article spliced together quotes to make them appear sinister and made basic mistakes about vaccine chemistry. As corrections in Rolling Stone and Salon noted, among other serious errors, the article misstated the amount of ethylmercury infants received from vaccines in their first six months; Kennedy claimed it was 187 times the Environmental Protection Agencys daily recommended limit, but in reality it was 40% of that limit. Days after that correction, Kennedy falsely claimed, We are injecting our children with 400 times the amount of mercury that FDA or EPA considers safe. (Numerous studies have established no link between vaccines and autism.) The same lack of scientific scrutiny applied to Kennedys COVID-19 vaccine claims: The Kennedy scion told a Louisiana House committee that the COVID-19 vaccine was the deadliest vaccine ever made. But, like many other anti-vaccine voices, Kennedy relied on numbers from the governments Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, or VAERs, a notoriously unreliable database because reports arent verified. In the same way that bunk films like Died Suddenly claim that numerous deaths are the result of vaccination, so too do VAERs entries even without any evidence supporting the claim or with evidence contradicting it. The Boss At My Own House More than any other anti-vaccine crusader, Kennedys name gave him instant credibility with much of the country, particularly in wealthy liberal circles. Over the years, Kennedy has shared stages and lobbied against vaccine legislation with the likes of Robert De Niro and Jessica Biel. But although he became known for anti-vaccine work, Kennedy also had a reputation as an environmental lawyer and progressive activist roles in which heauthored blogs and was thesubject ofmultiplearticlespublished by HuffPost. (Before HuffPost shuttered its contributor platform in 2017, Kennedy also wrote some blogs denigrating vaccines; those posts, along with others spreading misinformation about vaccines, have since been removed from the site.) The combination of his family name and liberal bona fides gives Kennedy a unique position in politics and certainly within the anti-vaccine movement, which has tilted far right in recent years. Among other things, Kennedy has the distinction of being discussed for roles in both the Barack Obama and Donald Trump administrations: in the Obama administration as a potential EPA official, though never a very serious contender, and in the Trump White House, at least accordingtoKennedy, as the head of a vaccine safety board. (Infectious disease specialist Paul E. Sax wrote that news of the supposed Trump appointment reminded him of when Elvis Presley received an official Federal Narcotics Bureau badge from Richard Nixon, this just a few years before Presley died of a drug overdose.) Recently, Kennedys views have put him at odds with his wife, Cheryl Hines, the actor known for her role on Curb Your Enthusiasm: In one instance, in late 2021, Hines instructed guests invited to a family holiday party to be vaccinated or tested for COVID-19 prompting Kennedy to tell a reporter, I guess Im not always the boss at my own house. A month later, Kennedy lamented during a speech that even in Hitlers Germany, you could hide in the attic like Anne Frank did. Hines distanced herself from the remark, and Kennedy apologized. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and actor Cheryl Hines attend the 2018 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights' Ripple of Hope Awards in New York City. Their views on vaccines diverged. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and actor Cheryl Hines attend the 2018 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights' Ripple of Hope Awards in New York City. Their views on vaccines diverged. A Libertarian Shift Kennedys Anne Frank comment points to a broader shift in his rhetoric since the beginning of the pandemic: Whereas before he may have focused more on claims about vaccine safety, these days hes equally focused on the supposed tyrannical ambitions of drugmakers and governments a much trickier charge for scientists and public health officials to combat. The minute they hand you that vaccine passport, every right that you have is transformed into a privilege contingent upon your obedience to arbitrary government dictates, Kennedy said during the same speech, part of an anti-vaccine rally staged at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. That tone has brought him support from far-right Trump acolytes like Roger Stone and Steve Bannon. Bannon had encouraged this for months, CBS News Robert Costa reported, citing several unnamed people familiar with the matter. In an interview this week, Stone called Kennedy right on the entire question on the safety and effectiveness of vaccinations. For Offit, that reputation will mark historys remembrance of Kennedy a sharp departure from the civil rights and political work of his father and uncle. In 2020, prior to the COVID-19 vaccine, Offit recalled, the childrens hospital at which he worked was overwhelmed with the virus. Children struggled to breathe, required oxygen and intensive care, and occasionally died. By 2021, despite the vaccine eventually being made available for children, some parents distrusted the shot. Their kids paid the price. In part because of people like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who sowed doubts about the safety of vaccines or supported the notion that this was government overreach you had to watch children suffer and occasionally die, Offit said. That is Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s legacy. Igor Bobic and Kevin Robillard contributed reporting. Related... Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Chief Justice John Roberts in 2018. (Jim Young/Reuters) Chief Justice John Robertss stated mission to preserve the integrity of the Supreme Court suffered another setback this week when it was revealed that Justice Clarence Thomas had, for years, failed to disclose the acceptance of lavish gifts from a wealthy conservative donor. A story published by ProPublica on the unreported gifts Thomas accepted which included multiple trips on private jets and yachts owned by Texas billionaire and conservative donor Harlan Crow as well as stays at the moguls luxury retreat put new pressure on Roberts to establish a binding ethical code of conduct for the nations highest court, experts said. Something needs to be done, and as long as Chief Justice Roberts sits on his hands he is baiting Congress to do something, and meanwhile undermining himself and the court, Donald Sherman, deputy director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, told Yahoo News. Since being confirmed to the court in 2005, Roberts has led internal discussions about whether to establish a code of conduct for the justices. In 2019, Justice Elena Kagan said the court was studying the issue. But so far nothing has come of it. Roberts has said the justices are encouraged to consult the Code of Conduct for United States Judges, which governs the behavior of most federal judges, but they are not bound by it. Still, the 1978 Ethics in Government Act requires judges to disclose most gifts over $415, and Thomas may have violated that statute by not disclosing the gifts from Crow, experts told ProPublica. Conservative donor Harlan Crow in 2012. (LM Otero/AP) But the Supreme Court itself has found that gifts extended through personal hospitality are exempt from the Ethics in Government Act. Those, Steven Lubet, co-author of Judicial Conduct and Ethics, wrote in a recent op-ed in The Hill, had apparently been interpreted to mean something like extended by an individual rather than by a business or corporation, thus allowing the undisclosed acceptance of resort vacations and private jet travel, so long as the invitations were made by acquaintances, even if some other entity was underwriting the expense. Story continues That appears to be how Thomas interpreted the rules about accepting gifts. Early in my tenure at the Court, I sought guidance from my colleagues and others in the judiciary, and was advised that this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable, he said in a statement released after ProPublica published its story. While Thomas went on to say that the guidelines are now being changed and that he would follow the new rules in the future, failure to report gifts deemed to be personal hospitality wont be punishable until reforms are put in place. There is no enforcement mechanism for justices who balk at full disclosure, Lubet wrote. Alone among American courts, the Supreme Court has stubbornly refused to adopt a Code of Conduct. The justices own ethical standards have never been fully articulated, and the public must guess about the Courts grudging compliance with rules set by others. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., has tried to tighten the requirements of the 1978 law so it applies to the Supreme Court. But in the wake of the Thomas story this week, even Whitehouse acknowledged that in order for binding changes to be put in place, they would have to be agreed upon by the justices themselves. All of this needs robust investigation, and its the Chief Justices job to make sure that occurs, he tweeted Thursday. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., at a Senate hearing on March 15. (Mariam Zuhaib/AP) In other words, until undisclosed gifts like the vacations and travel received by Thomas are deemed by the people receiving them to be violations of a code of conduct, they will continue. At the end of the day, there are no consequences for [Thomass] actions, Sherman, who has testified multiple times before Congress on the subject of judicial ethics, said in an interview. These facts continue to highlight the need for the court to have a binding code of conduct, a process for discipline separate and apart from impeachment and a transparent and independent process for recusals. Numerous legal experts have joined the growing calls for the court to voluntarily impose some accountability. At a time when public institutions are redoubling their efforts to improve the publics trust, we maintain that a formal, written Code, offering a uniform set of principles that justices and the public alike would look to for guidance, would benefit the Court and the nation, a group of legal scholars wrote to Roberts last year. The scholars noted that if Congress were to pass a law requiring a code of conduct at the high court, it would raise weighty questions about the separation of powers. Nonetheless, the latest revelations about Thomas have prompted new statements of resolve by members of Congress who seek to force the courts hand. Americans confidence in our highest court is tanking because of this kind of conduct. We need answers. And the Court needs a code of ethics, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said in a statement. Van Hollen, who chairs the appropriations subcommittee that has jurisdiction over the Supreme Court, told the Washington Post this week that he is considering using the power of the purse to extract a concession on this issue from the court. That could come in the form of legislation that would tie the courts $200 million budget for fiscal year 2024 to the implementation of a code of conduct. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., with Whitehouse behind him, at a Capitol press conference on March 9. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) But that stipulation would also have to pass the Republican-controlled House. GOP leaders like House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio said last year that calls for higher ethical standards were part of a partisan attack by Democrats against Thomas and other conservative justices. Meanwhile, amid rising political polarization in the U.S., and acrimony over the courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and the leak of that opinion, public trust in the Supreme Court hit a historic low last summer. The Thomas story is only the latest blow for the court and may finally provide Roberts with the impetus to push the other justices to work together on a code of conduct. As long as 9 justices are exempt from any process for enforcing basic ethics, public faith in SCOTUS will continue to decline, and dark money and special interests will maintain their relentless grip on our democracy, Whitehouse tweeted. BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Thousands of farmers protested across Romania on Friday over the impact of Ukrainian grain imports on prices, blocking traffic and border checkpoints with tractors and trucks and urging the European Commission to intervene. Anger is rising among farmers in Central and Eastern Europe over a flood of cheap Ukrainian grain imports, exempt from customs fees until June 2024, which have hurt prices and sales of local producers. Ukraine, one of the world's largest grain exporters, had its Black Sea ports blocked following Russia's February 2022 invasion and found alternative shipping routes through European Union states Poland and Romania, helped by "solidarity lanes" supported by the EU. But millions of tonnes of grain - cheaper than those produced in the EU - ended up in neighbouring countries, propelled by logistical bottlenecks and lesser distances. Polish Agriculture Minister Henryk Kowalczyk resigned from his post this week. Polish and Bulgarian farmers have also held protests. In the capital Bucharest on Friday, about 200 farmers protested outside the European Commissions local headquarters, carrying banners which read: "We respected EU rules but EU ignored us", "You can no longer pass through here" and "Stability for Romanian farmers". Across the country, thousands of farmers used tractors, trucks and other machinery to block roads and borders. "We are talking about unfair competition in the European community," said Nicu Vasile, the head of the league of Romanian associations of farm producers (LAPAR). "I know our Ukrainian colleagues also need to sell, but it is unfair competition, however." Vasile said production costs of wheat have risen 70% on the year to 6,000 lei ($1,326) per hectare. The commission has estimated farmers from Poland, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria and Slovakia have lost 417 million euros ($455 million) overall from the inflows of cheaper Ukrainian grains. It decided to hand out compensation worth 56.3 million euros to Polish, Bulgarian and Romanian farmers, with more to come. Story continues "It's a concrete measure, but the sums are small, it is true," Romanian Farm Minister Petre Daea said on Friday. The ministry will double the amount given to Romania. On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he expected decisions to be announced in coming days and weeks to alleviate anger among Polish farmers. Six prime ministers in the region have asked the commission to intervene. ($1 = 0.9171 euros) ($1 = 4.5249 lei) (Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Angus MacSwan) Flash Photo taken on January 17, 2023 shows the gas storage area in Zonguldak, Turkiye's Black Sea coastal province. [Photo/Xinhua] Turkiye has announced that the natural gas discovered in the Black Sea will start to flow into its national grid at the end of April, putting into practice one of the country's largest energy projects ever built. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan tweeted last weekend that "The gas discovered in the Black Sea will be brought on April 20 in Filyos with a ceremony." He was referring to the northern port city where an onshore gas processing facility has been constructed and from where gas will be connected to the national distribution system. "Our team is preparing to land the Black Sea gas on the last day of Ramadan. We are working diligently for a successful operation," Energy Minister Fatih Donmez was quoted as saying by the semi-official Anadolu Agency last week. The event is to be held less than a month before general elections which are set for May 14, as the incumbent president who has promised cheaper gas for citizens, is seeking reelection. Erdogan is planning to introduce discounts on gas for the general public at the ceremony, Turkiye's English-language newspaper Daily Sabah reported on Wednesday. In December, Erdogan estimated Turkiye's deepwater natural gas reserves in the Black Sea to be 710 billion cubic meters, saying that the country's ultimate goal is to declare independence from foreign oil and gas as soon as possible. About 10 million cubic meters of gas per day is expected to be transferred in the initial phase, which is expected to peak at 40 million cubic meters through 2026, state energy company Turkish Petroleum Corporation predicted in January. Turkiye discovered natural gas in several locations off its northern coast in 2020 and hopes that it will reduce its gas imports and also contribute to its plans to become a gas trade center for Europe. Turkiye currently imports most of its gas from Russia, and also from Iran, Azerbaijan and several other suppliers. Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested the idea of Turkiye becoming a new gas hub, or base for gas supplies, in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Erdogan embraced the idea, hoping it will facilitate purchases of Russian gas by European nations seeking to wean themselves from Russian imports. He said that Turkiye's goal is to become a global gas trading center at which the reference price for gas is determined. Experts believe that Turkiye, which has deepening cooperation with Russia, could be a fairly attractive partner for some European countries in search of alternatives to Russian gas despite questions marks about the project. "This project is not that easy because Turkiye does not have enough gas storage capacity, it takes years to build and serious money is needed," Kerim Has, a Moscow-based energy analyst, told Xinhua. He said that Ankara has to find solid and stable customers from Europe to re-export a "cocktail" of the gas itself imports. An energy source familiar with this project told Xinhua on the condition of anonymity that with Turkiye's offshore gas resources, the country will have some commercial options when negotiating supply contracts, thus reducing its energy import bill. For the next couple of years, the Black Sea gas reserves will be for domestic use only, then export possibilities will be studied, he said. Rory McIlroy faced an uphill battle to get back into contention in the Masters (Matt Slocum/AP) (AP) Rory McIlroy embraced the possibility of challenging conditions as he looked to play himself back into contention in the 87th Masters. McIlroy, who needs to claim a coveted green jacket at Augusta National to complete a career grand slam, could only card an opening 72 on Thursday to lie seven shots off the lead shared by Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland and Brooks Koepka. With bad weather forecast, Fridays tee times have been brought forward by 30 minutes with McIlroy among the early starters hoping to get all 18 holes in without disruption. I think when youre chasing its probably the harder the better, McIlroy said. The more difficult the course is, I think thats probably favourable conditions for chasing a little bit or trying to catch up. I dont know whats going to happen on Friday. Hopefully we dont get affected by it too much and we can get out there and play 18 holes uninterrupted and I can shoot something in the mid-60s and get myself back in it. The challenge faced by McIlroy was compounded by the strength in depth on the leaderboard, with Cameron Young and Jason Day two off the lead and seven players a shot further back on four under. That group included defending champion Scottie Scheffler, former Open champion Shane Lowry and 2013 winner Adam Scott, as well as US Amateur champion Sam Bennett. Tiger Woods faced an uphill battle to avoid missing the cut for the first time as a professional after an opening 74. Quote of the day Jon Rahm on his opening hole four-putt: "I remembered Seve's quote, I think it was here at the Masters, when he four-putted. I just kept thinking to myself, 'Well, I miss, I miss, I miss, I make.' Move on to the next." Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelTAN) April 6, 2023 Joint leader Jon Rahm took inspiration from fellow Spaniard Seve Ballesteros after his nightmare start. Shot of the day Scottie Scheffler begins his title defense with an eagle on No. 2. #themasters pic.twitter.com/vf6UNHXWVm The Masters (@TheMasters) April 6, 2023 Defending champion Scottie Scheffler carded an opening 68, aided by an eagle three on the par-five second. Story continues Round of the day They say many good rounds start with a bogey, but not many 65s start with a four-putt double-bogey at Augusta National. Statistic of the day Viktor Hovland's 65 is the lowest round ever shot by a player when grouped with Tiger Woods at #TheMasters Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) April 6, 2023 Co-leader Viktor Hovland ignored the distractions which usually come with playing alongside Woods to card a bogey-free 65. Easiest hole The par-five 15th played to an average of 4.593, yielding four eagles and 38 birdies to the 86-man field. Hardest hole The par-four 11th played to an average of 4.360 after giving up just four birdies. Seven players made a double bogey. Weather forecast A few morning showers will become more numerous in the afternoon with a scattered thunderstorm threat between 2-5pm. Breezy north-easterly winds behind the front will usher in colder conditions after 3pm. With this in mind, tee times were brought forward by 30 minutes with the first group starting at 7.30am. By Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian Federal Security Service investigators have formally charged Evan Gershkovich with espionage but the Wall Street Journal reporter denied the charges and said he was working as a journalist, domestic news agencies said on Friday. Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said on March 30 it had detained Gershkovich in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg and had opened an espionage case against him for collecting what it said were state secrets about the military industrial complex. "Gershkovich has been charged," Interfax quoted a source as saying. TASS reported that FSB investigators had formally charged Gershkovich with carrying out espionage in the interests of the United States, but that Gershkovich, 31, had denied the charge. "He categorically denied all the accusations and stated that he was engaged in journalistic activities in Russia," TASS citied an unidentified source as saying. The TASS source declined further comment, citing the classified nature of the case. "We've seen media reports indicating Evan has been charged," the Journal said in a statement. "As we've said from the beginning, these charges are categorically false and unjustified, and we continue to demand Evan's immediate release." Gershkovich is the first American journalist detained in Russia on espionage charges since the end of the Cold War. The Kremlin said Gershkovich had been carrying out espionage "under the cover" of journalism. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has told the United States that Gershkovich was caught red-handed while trying to obtain secrets. The United States has urged Russia to release Gershkovich and cast the Russian claims of espionage as ridiculous. U.S. President Joe Biden has called for Gershkovich's release. Russian President Vladimir Putin has yet to comment publicly on the case. A fluent Russian speaker born to Soviet emigres and raised in New Jersey, Gershkovich moved to Moscow in late 2017 to join the English-language Moscow Times, and subsequently worked for the French national news agency Agence France-Presse. Story continues Russia announced the start of its "special military operation" in February 2022, just as Gershkovich was in London, about to return to Russia to join the Journal's Moscow bureau. It was decided that he would live in London but travel to Russia frequently for reporting trips, as a correspondent accredited with the Foreign Ministry. (Additional reporting by Jake Cordell; Editing by Alison Williams, David Ljunggren and Rosalba O'Brien) MiG-29 fighter jets launch from Sliac Airbase in Slovakia, March 23, 2023 The minister said that while there were parts of the engine Slovak experts could access, there were also parts only accessible to Russian experts. Defects appeared only in the parts where the Russian experts could access, he said. The Slovak army stopped using the planes in August 2022 and they were transferred to Ukraine in March 2023. They knew how to fly, but that does not mean they were capable of fighting. The Ukrainians came to Slovakia a week before the departure of the planes, brought spare parts, and inspected the planes, Nad said. While Slovak police investigated the sabotage claims, they did not find enough evidence to prove the allegations. The Slovak Ministry of Defense felt a loss of trust in Russian technicians in Sliac because mistakes continued to appear in areas that only they could have accessed, he said. Retired Slovak pilot Lieutenant General Lubomir Svoboda suggested that the Russians deliberately caused damage to the planes, he told Dennik N. He recounted that after the Russians took possession of an engine, it was flown for only 70 hours instead of the expected 350. Slovakia handed over four Soviet-made MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine on March 23, becoming the first NATO country to provide Ukraine with combat aircraft. Deputy Speaker of the Ukrainian parliament Olena Kondratyuk announced on March 30 that the aircraft were already guarding the airspace above Kharkiv. The provision of modernized Soviet MiG-29 fighter jets to the country will be a significant aid, but it is unlikely to lead to any significant changes on the front lines, said the Ukrainian Air Force. They stated that the planes are not equipped with onboard radars and cannot launch modern missiles, emphasizing that Ukraine needs modern Western fighter jets. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Civilians taken by Russia from Kherson to occupied Crimea on the eve of retreat, November 2, 2022 The invaders continue to deport Ukrainians by calling it an evacuation, NRC said. Read also: Ukrainian border guards halt Russian invaders in Bakhmut video In general, Ukrainians have already been resettled in 55 regions (of Russia). The report emphasized that the Russians are pursuing a policy of genocide in occupied Ukrainian territories, with the ultimate goal being the destruction of the Ukrainian nation. Read also: Ukrainians urged to evacuate before coming counteroffensive NRC added that people, forcibly or deceitfully evacuated by Moscow-appointed officials, are dispatched to disparate Russian regions, where they are pressed to apply for Russian passports. Read also: Russian special services obstructing return of Ukrainian children home ombudsman Consequently, Ukrainians from temporarily occupied territories are being deported for further assimilation in remote Russian lands, the message concludes. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Moscow has formally charged US journalist Evan Gershkovich with espionage, Russian news agencies reported Friday, accusations rejected both by the reporter and his employer. The charges against Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich are the first of their kind in Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union, prompting an outcry from media outlets, rights groups and foreign governments. Investigators from the FSB, the state security service that succeeded the KGB, "charged Gershkovich with espionage in the interests of his country," state-run agency TASS said, citing a law enforcement source. "He categorically denied all accusations and stated that he was engaged in journalistic activities in Russia," TASS said. The Wall Street Journal, one of the leading US newspapers, said it heard of the charges through the media reports and rejected them. "As we've said from the beginning, these charges are categorically false and unjustified, and we continue to demand Evan's immediate release," the newspaper said in a statement. It has previously called Gershkovich a "trusted and dedicated reporter". The case has been classified as secret, limiting the amount of information available. His arrest comes as Moscow's relationship with Washington has seriously deteriorated because of the Ukraine offensive. Washington has long accused Moscow of arbitrarily arresting Americans in order to secure the release of detained Russians. US President Joe Biden has called for Gershkovich's release. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre earlier described the allegation of espionage as "ridiculous." The arrest led the State Department to summon the Russian ambassador and Secretary of State Antony Blinken pressed the case in a telephone call to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, only their third one-on-one interaction since the Ukraine offensive began in February 2022. - Appeals in Washington - The case has drawn bipartisan alarm in politically divided Washington, where the Democratic and Republican leaders of the Senate issued a rare joint statement Friday to seek Gershkovich's freedom. Story continues "We strongly condemn the wrongful detention of US citizen and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, and demand the immediate release of this internationally known and respected independent journalist," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican leader Mitch McConnell said. "Let there be no mistake: journalism is not a crime," the Senate leaders wrote. "We demand the baseless, fabricated charges against Mr. Gershkovich be dropped and he be immediately released." Schumer and McConnell also reiterated their "condemnation of the Russian government's continued attempts to intimidate, repress and punish independent journalists and civil society voices." The State Department has not yet formally determined that Gershkovich is "wrongfully detained," a designation that would open up a more robust US response including efforts by the US envoy on hostage affairs. "I'll let that process play out. In my own mind, there's no doubt that he's being wrongfully detained by Russia, which is exactly what I said to Foreign Minister Lavrov," Blinken told reporters Wednesday on a trip to Brussels. "There is no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens around the world and that includes those who may be wrongfully detained," Blinken said. Russian officials insist Gershkovich was "caught red-handed" when he was detained in Yekaterinburg, some 1,800 kilometres (1,100 miles) east of Moscow. "Hype around this case, which is being fanned in the United States, with the aim of pressuring Russian authorities and the court... is pointless and meaningless," Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told US Ambassador Lynne Tracy on Thursday, according to a statement. Gershkovich worked for AFP in Russia before taking a job with the Journal. bur/jj-sct/bfm The Institute for the Study of War has reported that Russian military commanders are now forming specialised company-size Storm-Z units to be deployed in urban combat and to capture key Ukrainian strongholds. Source: ISW report on 6 April 2023 Details: The ISW cited information obtained by an anonymous Ukrainian reserve officer, whom the ISW called a "reliable" source. According to this information, Storm Z companies appear to be formed of newly recruited reservists. Each Storm-Z company allegedly comprises 100 personnel and is "intended to conduct urban combat operations or operations in complicated geographic areas to capture important and strategic objects such as strongholds, command posts, and communication centres". According to the ISW, the new companies "will likely primarily deploy along the AvdiivkaDonetsk City frontline, where Southern Military District (SMD) units are heavily committed to continuously unsuccessful offensive operations". The ISW added that "the personnel that staff these companies receive 10 to 15 days of refresher training, a remarkably short amount of time to adequately train personnel (even reservists with some experience) to perform complex combat tasks and create unit cohesion". Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Evan Gershkovich The FSB accused Gershkovich of spying for his country (the United States), a source in Russian law enforcement circles told TASS. Read also: FSB tries to scam Russian army out of RUB 3 million for drone soldiers downed by mistake He denied all accusations and stated that he was engaged in journalistic activities in Russia. The source declined to comment any further, as the case is reportedly marked "top secret." Read also: Ukrainian MPs ask top court to examine 2010 Black Sea Fleet pact with Russia On March 30, Moscows Lefortovo Court arrested Evan Gershkovich, journalist working for The Wall Street Journal. The FSB accused him of "espionage," claiming that he was gathering information about one of the facilities of Russias military-industrial complex "on instructions from the United States." Russian PR agent Yaroslav Shirshikov, who accompanied the journalist prior to his arrest, said that Gershkovich was working on an article about Wagner Group mercenary company and its involvement in the war in Ukraine. Read also: Ignoring Ukrainian courts, UOC-MPs Metropolitan Onufriy held Sunday service at Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra The Wall Street Journal denied the accusations against Gershkovich and demanded his immediate release from custody. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Russia has deployed additional troops to the Bakhmut area and begun to use artillery more efficiently in the area, achieving some success. Source: UK Ministry of Defence on Twitter, reported by European Pravda Details: According to the UK Ministry of Defence report, in recent days, Russian forces have regained some momentum in the battle for Bakhmut. Since late March 2023, their advance had largely stalled. Russia has made further gains and has now highly likely advanced into the town centre, and has seized the west bank of the Bakhmutka River, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence. Ukraines key 0506 supply route to the west of the town is likely severely threatened. "Russian regular forces, likely including airborne troops, have probably reinforced the area, and Russia is again using artillery more effectively in the sector. There is realistic possibility that, locally, Wagner and Russian MoD commanders have paused their ongoing feud and improved co-operation," the UK Defence Intelligence said. Background: John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, said on Monday that Ukraine is still fighting hard for the eastern city of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast, despite Russian propagandists claims. Kirbys remarks responded to the video released by Wagner Group owner Yevgeny Prigozhin on Sunday, 2 April. In the video, Prigozhin says that a Russian flag was raised above a key administrative building in Bakhmut, marking the citys "official" transition under Russian control. In response, Serhii Cherevatyi, spokesman for the Eastern Group of Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, stressed that Russia was far from capturing Bakhmut and said that fighting in the vicinity of the administrative building in question was still underway. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Russian forces used ground- and air-fired missiles, rocket launchers and weaponized drones to bombard the provinces of Ukraine it has illegally annexed but doesn't fully control, causing casualties, building damage and power outages Friday. The Ukrainian military said Russian forces launched 18 airstrikes, five missile strikes and 53 attacks from multiple rocket launchers between Thursday and Friday mornings. According to the General Staff statement, Russia was concentrating the bulk of its offensive operations in Ukraines industrial east, focusing on the cities and towns of Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka in Donetsk province. Most of Friday's battlefield reports concerned the four Ukrainian provinces Russia annexed in September: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his military to gain complete control of the provinces, while Ukraine has indicated it will soon launch a counteroffensive to take back more territory. Russia also annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014, a move that most of the world also regarded as illegal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vowed to regain all Russian-occupied areas. In the latest fighting, the Ukrainian military said it downed a Russian Su-25 ground attack jet near Marinka. A video showed a big explosion as the plane slammed into the ground, with its pilot descending on a parachute. The Russian military, in keeping with its general silence on losses, didnt confirm the warplane's downing. British military officials said in their latest daily analysis that Russian forces have likely advanced into the center of Bakhmut and captured the western bank of the Bakhmutka River. Russia's eight-month campaign to take Bakhmut and Ukraine's determination to defend the city have produced the longest and potentially bloodiest battle of the war that Putin started on Feb. 24, 2022. The U.K. Defense Ministry said Russias progress, which had largely stalled since the end of March, had regained momentum. According to British intelligence, Ukraines key supply route to the west of Bakhmut was under threat, with Russia using artillery more effectively and benefiting from reinforcements by regular forces that likely include airborne troops. Story continues British military officials noted also that regular military commanders and those from the Wagner Group, a private Russian military company that has sent its soldiers to fight in multiple African countries, had probably improved cooperation and put on hold their feud. The Wagner Group, which has appeared to take the lead in the Bakhmut fighting, has frequently complained about the regular Russian military's strategy as well as its failure to provide sufficient ammunition and other support. Also in Donetsk province, Russia launched a missile attack on the city of Sloviansk, destroying residential buildings, while one civilian was wounded during fighting in Bakhmut. Donetsk regional Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said Friday morning that 15 cities and villages on the front line were shelled in the region. The Moscow-installed mayor of Donetsk city, Aleksei Kulemzin, said Ukrainian shelling killed one person and wounded six. Each side tends to report only the losses it inflicts on its enemy, and their claims are generally impossible to verify independently. In the partially occupied southern Kherson province, seven people were wounded over the previous 24 hours, regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said Friday. Writing on Telegram, Prokudin said that Russia had carried out 46 attacks on the province, including seven attacks on the regional capital, also called Kherson, with heavy artillery and aircraft fire. A 10-year-old girl, a three-year-old boy and 30-year-old woman were wounded Friday in Russian shelling of the village of Stanislav in the Kherson region, the head of Ukraines presidential office Andriy Yermak, reported. Earlier, debris from Russian ammunition killed a 36-year-old resident of the city of Beryslav in Kherson province. Residential areas of the city of Kherson were shelled seven times, damaging energy facilities and residential buildings. A drone attack on the village of Zmiyivka wounded six people. Shells hit Nikopol and Marhanets across the Dnieper River from the occupied and shut-down Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraines eastern Dnipropetrovsk province, damaging power lines. Further north, shelling in the Novhorod-Siverskyi district of the Chernihiv region left four towns and villages without electricity, authorities reported. Mortar fire damaged residential buildings in the town of Vovchansk in Kharkiv province, near the border with Russia. A 39-year-old man was killed in Russian shelling in the border village of Borysivka, Kharkiv Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said. ___ Yuras Karmanau contributed to this report from Tallinn, Estonia. ___ Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine-war By Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Russia or pro-Russian elements are likely behind the leak of several classified U.S. military documents posted on social media that offer a partial, month-old snapshot of the war in Ukraine, three U.S. officials told Reuters on Friday, while the Justice Department said separately it was probing the leak. The documents appear to have been altered to lower the number of casualties suffered by Russian forces, the U.S. officials said, adding their assessments were informal and separate from the investigation into the leak itself. The U.S. officials spoke on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the matter and declined to discuss the documents in any detail. The Kremlin and Russia's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment. An initial batch of documents circulated on sites including Twitter and Telegram, dated March 1 and bearing markings showing them classified as "Secret" and "Top Secret." Later on Friday, an additional batch appearing to detail U.S. national security secrets pertaining to areas including Ukraine, the Middle East and China surfaced on social media, the New York Times reported. Reuters was not able to verify the authenticity of the documents. The U.S. Justice Department said late on Friday it was in touch with the Defense Department and began a probe into the leak. It declined further comment. A leak of such sensitive documents is highly unusual. "We are aware of the reports of social media posts and the Department (of Defense) is reviewing the matter," Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said. A CIA spokesperson said the agency was also aware of the posts and was looking into the claims. One document posted on social media said 16,000 to 17,500 Russian forces had been killed since Russia's Feb. 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine. The United States believes the actual figure is much higher, at around 200,000 Russians killed and wounded, officials have said. Story continues Ukrainian forces repelled Russia's initial advance on Kyiv early in 2022, and the conflict, which Moscow calls a "special military operation," has become one of grinding trench warfare in the east and south. Speculation has been mounting about what offensives Kyiv and Moscow might attempt in the war's second year. The leaked documents did not appear to offer any specific insight into Kyiv's war plans. A Ukrainian presidential official said on Friday that the leak contained a "very large amount of fictitious information" and looked like a Russian disinformation operation to sow doubts about Ukraine's planned counter-offensive. "These are just standard elements of operational games by Russian intelligence. And nothing more," Mykhailo Podolyak said in a written statement. (Reporting by Phil Stewart; Additional reporting by Idrees Ali, Sarah N. Lynch, Kanishka Singh and Jonathan Landay; Editing by Don Durfee, Daniel Wallis and Rosalba O'Brien) Middle East welcomes China's role as peace builder, rejects US determinism Global Times) 09:00, April 07, 2023 Illustration: Chen Xia/GT Saudi Arabia and Iran meeting again in Beijing shows that China is a peace builder and China's policies are more in line with the interests of Middle Eastern countries. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi Counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud met in Beijing on Thursday. This meeting marks the first official meeting between the most senior diplomats of the two countries in over seven years. The decision of both countries to hold talks in Beijing once again is a continuation of the agreement reached in Beijing on March 10 to re-establish diplomatic ties and reopen embassies. It is a positive signal that the two countries are moving toward a further reconciliation of a relationship that has already broken the ice. Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times that the meeting in Beijing also sends a signal that China will continue to play a pivotal role in fostering peace in the Middle East in the future. The building of trust between Saudi Arabia and Iran will not happen overnight. In this process, China, as a third party that could contribute significantly to the resumption of diplomatic ties between the two countries, may need to continue playing a role of a mediator and facilitator. "Saudi Arabia and Iran are willing to trust China primarily because of China's positive image in the international community, including in the Middle East. For example, China's policies are more in line with the interests of Middle Eastern countries, while the US tends to promote unilateralism and hegemony, imposing its own values on the region," said Tian Wenlin, a research fellow at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations. Both Saudi Arabia and Iran are aware, from their long-term engagement with the US, that Washington is unreliable. Washington is good at using conflicts and disputes in the Middle East, especially the one between Saudi Arabia and Iran, to create regional chaos and showcase its influence in the region. Hence, the US' stirring up troubles, creating conflicts, and causing historical harm to the diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran make it impossible for the two countries to trust the US. In comparison, China's foreign policies toward Saudi Arabia, Iran and the Middle East as a whole adopt a fair and objective stance and always strive to ease disputes and promote reconciliation among countries in the region. China is willing to act as a coordinator in resolving conflicts in the Middle East. China's balanced, fair, and objective stance, as well as its previous engagement with Saudi Arabia and Iran, have created a profound trust between China and the two countries. This is different from the way the US handles related issues. The US' actions and disdainful attitude have made more Middle Eastern countries see the true colors of the US. Saudi Arabia used to be a reliable security partner for the US, but in recent years, the Saudi-US relationship has become increasingly tense. According to Wall Street Journal's report recently, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told associates late last year that he was no longer interested in pleasing the US. In recent years, the relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia has quietly undergone changes. Saudi Arabia's autonomy is further increasing, and it is adopting an economic strategy without dependence on the US. It is also no longer politically obedient to the US. Naturally, Saudi Arabia is now increasing its investment in China and is seeking China's mediation in the Saudi-Iran relations. OPEC+ recently announced surprise oil output cuts, which is inconsistent with what the US expects, noted Tian. The mood of resentment toward the US in the Middle East is pervasive, not just in Saudi Arabia, as the US involvement in the region is seen as primarily driven by a desire to seize oil resources. For the US, whom to align with and whom to alienate from should be framed by the US' defined strategic interests instead of one's own interests, which is clear to everyone. No one wants to be the US' pawn forever. The US' attempts to control the global energy landscape, especially against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, have angered many countries, as Washington constantly demands that some Middle Eastern countries sacrifice their own interests to suppress Russia. Moreover, Washington wants to turn the region into a battlefield for great power geopolitical competition, which most Middle Eastern countries resist. Washington needs to understand that the regional affairs should be, and will be decided by relevant countries in the Middle East. The US is still living under the illusion of American hegemony and determinism. However, as everyone knows, the world has moved on. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Flash Senior Chinese legislator Li Hongzhong met with a delegation consisting of the French government's special representative for China affairs and former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, along with French parliamentarians, in Beijing on Thursday. Li, vice chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that the close and enduring comprehensive strategic partnership between China and France has developed in depth under the guidance of the leaders of the two countries. Li called on the two legislatures to continously strengthen high-level cooperative relations, enhance friendly exchanges at various levels such as regular exchange mechanism platforms, special committees and friendship groups, and maintain close coordination and cooperation on multilateral occasions. Echoing Li's remarks, the French side expressed its willingness to strengthen exchanges with the Chinese side and play an active role in the legislatures to promote bilateral cooperation in various fields, such as economy, culture and climate change. (Reuters) - Moscow formally protested to Canada on Friday after the country's U.N. envoy described a murdered Russian blogger as "a vitriolic propagandist" and a hate-monger, the foreign ministry said. Bob Rae, Canada's permanent representative to the United Nations, made the remarks after Vladlen Tatarsky - a cheerleader for Russia's military campaign in Ukraine - died in a bomb blast in St Petersburg last Sunday. In a statement, Russia's foreign ministry said it summoned a senior Canadian diplomat to strongly protest about Rae's remarks, which it described as "yet another manifestation of the Russophobia being fomented in Canada." The Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is one of Ukraine's most vocal supporters. Rae made the comments after Russia's U.N. mission complained that Western media outlets and international organizations had not reacted to the death of Tatarsky, who it described as a journalist. "He was not a 'journalist'. He was a vitriolic propagandist, a spreader of hate and misinformation with a criminal record. Russian journalists are either in exile or in jail," Rae tweeted. Russian investigators have charged Darya Trepova, a 26-year-old St Petersburg resident, with terrorist offences over the killing of Tatarsky. Russia's health ministry said 42 others were injured in the blast. (Reporting by David Ljunggren, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) On the occasion of the beginning of Ramadan, a holy month for all Muslims, Ukraine offered Russia to exchange all prisoners of war (PoWs) who profess Islam. The Russian Federation rejected this offer. Source: Dariia Zarivna, Communications Adviser to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, in an interview with Voice of America Quote: "We came up with a proposal to exchange Muslim [PoWs] in an all for all format from both sides as a sign of respect for their culture and traditions. Unfortunately, the Russian side took this idea without much enthusiasm." Details: According to her, this initiative is one of many creative solutions that the Ukrainian negotiators resort to in order to exchange prisoners. According to the President's Office, in total, since 11 March 2022, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War has conducted 39 exchanges. A total of 1,993 people were released, including 184 women and 107 civilian hostages. Reminder: Latest exchange took place on 3 April. 12 more Ukrainians returned home from Russia. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday threatened to abandon a landmark grain deal with Ukraine if obstacles to Moscow's exports remained. Negotiated in July by Turkey and the United Nations, the agreement allows Ukraine -- one of the world's top grain producers -- to export grain through a safe corridor in the Black Sea. "If there is no further progress in removing barriers to the export of Russian fertilisers and grain, we will think about whether this deal is necessary," Lavrov told a news conference in the Turkish capital Ankara, alongside his counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu. The agreement has so far allowed the export of more than 27 million tonnes of grain and agricultural products. It was renewed twice. When it was extended in March, Russia said it would be valid for 60 days instead of the 120 days in the original agreement. Moscow has been complaining that its side of the agreement, promising the right to export fertiliser, is not being respected. Turkey is pushing for a 120-day extension although it acknowledges that the agreement has not been fully implemented. "We value the continuation of the agreement which is also important in terms of reducing the global food crisis," Cavusoglu said. There are no sanctions on Russian exports of food and fertilisers to global markets but the problems are related to the secondary sanctions imposed on shipping and insurance companies as well as banks. "USA and England took some steps in terms of payment and insurance but we have to be fair, the problems continue", Cavusoglu said, adding that barriers remained. Meanwhile, the influx of Ukrainian grain into Poland will be restricted, the countries announced Friday, following protests by farmers. Ukrainian grain has been transiting through the European Union to other countries after the war-torn country's traditional Black Sea routes were blocked by Russia's invasion. But due to logistical issues, the grain had been piling up and driving down local prices, leading to protests and the resignation of Poland's agriculture minister. Story continues -'New world order'- Lavrov also met with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later Friday. NATO member Turkey, which has good ties with both Russia and Ukraine, has pushed both countries to resume peace talks after negotiations broke down last year. Lavrov, who arrived in Ankara on Thursday, said Moscow wants any peace talks to focus on creating a "new world order". "Any negotiation needs to be based on taking into account Russian interests, Russian concerns," Lavrov said. "It should be about the principles on which the new world order will be based," adding that Russia rejects a "unipolar world order led by 'one hegemon'". Russia has long said it was leading a struggle against the United States' dominance over the global stage, and argues the Ukraine offensive is part of that fight. The Kremlin this week said it had no choice but to continue its more than year-long offensive in Ukraine, seeing no diplomatic solution. Cavusoglu, whose country hosted talks between Russia and Ukraine last year, expressed "concerns that the war will escalate in spring," calling for the resumption of dialogue. - 'The dialogue must continue' - Russia meanwhile is mediating talks to normalise ties between Turkey and Syria after years of tensions since the Syrian civil war, which has left 500,000 people dead and displaced millions since 2011. Ankara supported rebel groups fighting to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Cavusoglu said problems cannot be resolved in a single meeting, adding: "We are realistic. The dialogue must continue". Russian President Vladimir Putin and Erdogan have been in regular contact either on telephone or through face-to-face meetings. Last year, the two leaders met four times in Sochi, Tehran, Samarkand and Astana. Erdogan has said Putin might visit Turkey to inaugurate Turkey's first nuclear power plant -- built by a subsidiary of Russia's nuclear energy company, Rosatom. Turkish media said Putin was unlikely to come and instead may be connected by video link for the ceremony on April 27 in the southern province of Mersin. bur-fo/ach/ach Russian forces are threatening a key supply route for Ukrainian troops and have "likely" seized the center of Bakhmut after more than six months of brutal fighting over the town, the U.K. defense ministry said Friday. Russian troops, largely led by Wagner mercenary forces, have been attempting to encircle the town to pinch it from the north and south, and on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would pull their forces from the area if that threat became too great. "In recent days, Russian forces have regained some momentum in the battle for Bakhmut. Since late March 2023 their advance had largely stalled," the ministry said in its daily intelligence assessment. "Russia has made further gains and has now highly likely advanced into the town center, and has seized the west bank of the Bakhmutka River." POMPEO MEETS ZELENSKYY IN KYIV VISIT, TELLS FOX NEWS ARMING UKRAINE IS LEAST COSTLY WAY TO MOVE FORWARD Ukrainian soldiers of the Aidar battalion training at an undetermined location in Donetsk oblast, April 4, 2023. UKRAINE READIES SPRING OFFENSIVE EXPECTED TO BE LARGEST MOBILIZATION SINCE WAR WITH RUSSIA BEGAN Western defense officials have long argued that the town, now largely decimated after months of ground warfare and heavy artillery strikes, hold little value for Russia strategically and has become a symbolic fight for Moscow. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Russia has invested vast and disproportionate resources to securing the town as defense officials anticipate a major Ukrainian counter-offensive this spring. Analysts believe that Ukraine will likely target a vital area in the Zaphorizhzhia region that is strategically necessary to retake Kherson, secure sea lanes in the Black Sea, push northeast into Donetsk and encroach on Russian-occupied Crimea. Ukrainian soldiers of the Aidar battalion training at an undetermined location in Donetsk oblast, April 4, 2023. UKRAINE WAR PLANNING DOCUMENTS LEAKED ONLINE, PENTAGON INVESTIGATING However, Ukraine could also be preparing for a second offensive in the east, particularly in the Bakhmut sector. Fighting within Russias ranks and its Wagner mercenary forces have long been reported and have even led to suspected failures by the invading forces in the Donetsk region. Story continues However, the U.K. defense ministry said it suspects that "there is realistic possibility that, locally, Wagner and Russian MoD [Ministry of Defense] commanders have paused their ongoing feud and improved co-operation." Ukrainian soldiers of the Aidar battalion training at an undetermined location in Donetsk oblast, April 4, 2023. "Russian regular forces, likely including airborne troops, have probably reinforced the area, and Russia is again using artillery more effectively in the sector," it assessed. It is unclear if Ukrainian troops have backed off from the fight for Bakhmut as Zelenskyy suggested they might, though one Ukrainian military command spokesman told Reuters Friday that while the situation remains difficult, Russia has not yet had "strategic success". (Reuters) -Russian legislators on Friday proposed tougher sentences for those convicted of terrorism, high treason and sabotage, domestic news agencies reported, a move officials have been cited as saying was prompted by the war in Ukraine. The maximum sentence for carrying out "a terrorist act" - defined as a deed which endangered lives and was aimed at destabilizing Russia - would be raised to 20 years, from 15 years at present. Those found guilty of sabotage could also go to jail for 20 years, up from 15, while people convicted of "international terrorism" could be sentenced to life, up from 12 years. The proposed changes were outlined by Vasily Piskaryov, head of the committee on security and anti-corruption in the State Duma or lower chamber of parliament. "We propose to establish life imprisonment for high treason," agencies quoted him as saying, but gave no details. The current maximum sentence for treason is 20 years. Earlier this week, Tass news agency cited Piskaryov as saying the tougher measures were needed for protection against what he called the unprecedented threats Russia faced from Ukraine and its Western sponsors. President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials regularly accuse Ukraine and the West of wanting to undermine and dismember Russia. Authorities have cracked down on dissent since the war started in February 2022. Last month, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko signed a law allowing for use of the death penalty against officials and army servicemen convicted of high treason. Belarus, a neighbour and close ally of Russia, is the only country in Europe that still applies the death penalty. (Reporting by David Ljunggren, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien and David Gregorio) Earlier, Russian MiG-31Ks left the territory of Belarus Read also: Military expert explains where Russia is moving its MiG fighters, and why The MiG-31K will return just as they flew out. They have some plans. This has happened before, Ihnat said. They were having training flights, which caused a 20-minute alarm. They also flew from Belarus to Russian airfields. They had some goal, perhaps technical issues. They flew to Belarus from their home airfields. There may be some operational issues. (But) I don't think we should expect that they will not be in Belarus anymore. The Belarusian Hajun monitoring group reported on Telegram on April 6 that three Russian MiG-31K fighters were leaving Belarusian territory. The MiG-31K is a potential carrier of the hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, which have a range of 2,000 kilometers and which can carry a nuclear warhead. Read also: Ukrainian Air Force estimates threat of missile attacks from Belarus Because of this, when these warplanes take off in Belarus, they usually trigger a countrywide air raid alert in Ukraine. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine An MiG-29 fighter in June 1998. SASA RADIC / ASSOCIATED PRESS Russian technicians appear to have sabotaged MiG-29 jets headed to Ukraine, Slovakia said. The defects appeared only in parts the Russians worked on, the country's defense minister said. Slovakia offered its Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine late last month. Russian technicians appear to have sabotaged MiG-29 fighter jets headed to Ukraine, Slovakia said. The technicians, who were working on a Slovak air base until late 2022, had access to the jets and appear to have damaged some parts ahead of their delivery to Kyiv, Ukraine's capital. Slovak Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad said the jets "were able to fly, but that doesn't mean they were also capable of combat," according to The Kyiv Independent. Nad added that the defects in the jets "appeared only in those parts accessed by Russians." The technicians were hired on a long-term contract to handle major repairs of the Soviet-era jets, The Kyiv Independent said. Nad added that Ukraine had the resources to fix the defects and get the jets fully operational. "They have pilots, spare parts, and a company that has worked on MiGs since the Soviet times," he said. Weeks ago, Slovakia and Poland pledged to send Ukraine fleets of MiG-29 fighter jets. The two NATO members said the additional airpower would help Kyiv in the war Russia started over a year. The Soviet-designed jets aren't much different from Ukraine's own MiG-29s, and some are useful for spare parts only, Reuters reported. Ukrainian officials have pushed Western countries for more modern jets such as F-16s. The Biden administration has repeatedly said the US isn't planning to provide fighter jets. Read the original article on Business Insider Russian invaders abducted four employees of the physical protection service of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) on the evening of 6 April; their whereabouts are currently unknown. Source: Energoatom Nuclear power company on Telegram Quote from Energoatom: "In the evening of 6 April, masked invaders broke into one of the premises of the temporarily occupied ZNPP and took away four employees of the plant's physical protection service. The nuclear workers were taken away in an unknown direction, and their whereabouts remain unknown." Details: Energoatom noted that all four were considered "loyal" to the occupation leadership of the ZNPP, as they signed contracts with the illegitimate JSC "Operating Organization of Zaporozhye NPP." In particular, among the detainees was Mark Volkov, the deputy head of this "authority", who "contributed in every way to the illegal activities of the invaders." At the same time, Energoatom emphasised that despite the "official" transfer to work for the occupiers, these people do not own any Russian passports. Energoatom suggests that this is probably what upset the invaders. "One way or another, the situation at the ZNPP is becoming more and more intense: inspections and search for unreliable people are intensifying, and even cooperation with the occupiers does not save them from the basement [the way torture chambers are called ed.] or interrogations," Energoatom summarised. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Russian soldiers dropped bombs from drones on an ambulance in Kherson Oblast. Eight people were injured; two of them were medical workers. Source: Yurii Sobolevskyi, First Deputy Chairman of the Kherson Oblast State Administration, on Telegram Quote: "Eight wounded as of now. Two of them were ambulance workers on their way to the victims after the shelling. According to the preliminary information, Russian soldiers dropped bombs from drones precisely on an ambulance." Background: On the morning of 7 April, the Russian occupiers shelled the village of Stanislav in Kherson Oblast with artillery. A woman and two children were injured. They were hospitalised. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The Russian occupiers are forcibly involving drug addicts and people with alcohol addiction in the construction of fortifications in annexed Crimea. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 7 April Quote: "The Russian invaders are involving the local population in the construction of fortifications in settlements in the Dzhankoi district in temporarily occupied Crimea. It is known that the engineering works mainly involved men, most of whom are drug addicts and with alcohol addiction." Details: General Staff noted that the occupiers promise the workers money, but do not pay it or do not pay it in full. "There have been incidents recorded where those deceived have refused to cooperate further, after which armed occupiers forced them to dig trenches," the General Staff reported. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron jointly meet the Chinese and foreign press after their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. Xi held talks with Macron in Beijing on Thursday. [Photo/Xinhua] Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday in Beijing that China stands ready to issue a joint call with France for political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. Xi told the press, after the talks between him and French President Emmanuel Macron, that China is committed to facilitating peace talks and political settlement on the Ukraine crisis, and stands ready to issue a joint call with France for the international community: To stay rational, exercise restraint, and avoid taking actions that might cause the crisis to further deteriorate or even spiral out of control; To strictly abide by international humanitarian law, avoid attacking civilians or civilian facilities, and protect women, children and other victims of the conflict; To earnestly honor the solemn pledge that nuclear weapons must not be used and nuclear wars must not be fought, oppose the use of biological weapons under any circumstances, and oppose armed attacks against nuclear power plants or other civilian nuclear facilities; To resume peace talks as soon as possible, observe the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, accommodate the legitimate security concerns of all parties, seek political settlement, and foster a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture; To jointly address the spillover effects of the Ukraine crisis in food, energy, finance, transportation and other fields, and reduce the negative impact of the Ukraine crisis on the world, especially on developing countries. Ukrainian soldiers on an armored vehicle near Lyman, Ukraine, on October 6, 2022. Image used for illustration purposes. YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images An official claimed that Ukraine's surrender hotline had a record number of calls in March. He said Ukraine is already using armored vehicles handed over by surrendering Russians. The "I Want to Live" hotline allows Russian soldiers to call up and pre-arrange a surrender. Russian soldiers calling a Ukrainian hotline that allows them to surrender are also offering to hand over equipment and heavy armored vehicles, a Ukrainian official said. The telephone line is part of a project called "I Want to Live," allowing Russian soldiers to arrange to give themselves up rather than fight. The hotline tells callers they will receive treatment under the terms of the Geneva Convention, which guarantees meals, phone calls home, and medical care. Launched last year, officials claim to receive thousands of calls per month with record numbers coming in throughout March, spokesperson Vitaliy Matvienko told Ukrainian TV, according to The New Voice of Ukraine. He attributed the rise to fears over a counter-offensive expected from Ukraine this Spring, the outlet reported. "In March, we essentially broke a record more than 3,000 appeals, which is twice as many [per month] as in 2022," Matvienko told Ukrainian TV, per the outlet. "In October and December 2022, on average, we recorded 1,400-1,500 requests per month," he reportedly added. "In January to March 2023, the number increased to 2,500." Insider was unable to independently verify the claims. Matvienko said that calls are coming in from across the front line to surrender both fighters and equipment. He added that "interesting" Russian heavy armored vehicles are already being used by Ukrainian soldiers on the battlefield, according to the outlet. By Ukraine's account, the surrender hotline has been a major success since its launch in September 2022, just ahead of President Vladimir Putin's mass mobilization of reservists a deeply unpopular move in Russia. By mid-November, the hotline and its related Telegram channel were believed to have received more than 3,500 appeals in total. Story continues Throughout a grueling Spring campaign, Russia has barely managed to inch forward on the front line, with thousands of troops perishing at grimly-held hotspots such as the eastern city of Bakhmut. Western officials estimated in March that up to 30,000 Russian soldiers had died trying to take the city dying at five times the rate of Ukrainians, one anonymous NATO official told CNN. UK intelligence reported on Friday that after months of battle, Russian soldiers have "highly likely" advanced to the center of the city. In an expansion of the "I Want to Live" project in December, an instructional video was released telling would-be captives how to surrender not only directly to soldiers, but also to a drone. There are nonetheless some reports of both Russian and Ukrainian mistreatment of prisoners of war. Following a UNHCR report last November, Ukraine launched a criminal investigation into the allegations. Russia, however, did not cooperate with the probe. Read the original article on Business Insider The Russian occupiers shelled the village of Stanislav in Kherson Oblast with artillery, injuring a woman and two children who were subsequently taken to hospital. Source: Kherson Oblast Military Administration Quote: "The projectile struck a residential building, broke through the roof and detonated. Three people have been injured: a 30-year-old woman, a 10-year-old girl and a three-year-old boy." Details: The injured were taken to hospital in the city of Kherson. It is reported that both the boy and his mother are in a serious condition. The girl has been severely injured and is undergoing surgery. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Jadakiss response to Ryan Leslies educational background just might be all of us right now. During a live taping of Earn Your Leisure during this years SXSW conference in Austin, TX, the legendary rapper expressed his amazement after discovering that the renowned producer attended Harvard at the age of 15. Young Prodigy I got in when I was 14 and was a freshman at 15, Leslie explained of his college career at the Ivy League institution. Jadakiss was blown away by the news. Holy sh-t, said The LOX member. I knew it I knew he was a real genius. Thats crazy. According to TheCrimson.com, Leslie graduated from Harvard in 1998 with a degree in government and a concentration in political science and macroeconomics. His Harvard Career He traded in his high school experience and went straight into college, a decision that he told the outlet he does not regret one bit. The only point of reference I have to compare my experience to anyone elses experience is what I see on television, and Im told that what I see on television is pretty far removed from reality, so I dont really have a frame of reference for what I missed, he said at the time when asked if he felt as though he missed out on his high school years. Furthermore, he explained that during undergrad, he was placed on academic probation three times. However, it wasnt because he was uninterested in his classes, but because he was more focused on launching a music career. I believe that stemmed from the fact that I was prioritizing the pursuit of music, said Leslie. Fortunately for me, I had a mentor who went to bat for me each time and was my advocate to the Ad Board. He was a Ph.D. candidate at the business school and ensured that I graduated on time. The Power of Mentorship As previously reported by AfroTech, Leslie has always been vocal about the power that mentors have had over his life. He shared that advice from a mentor led him to turn an initial $100,000 into $16,000,000. I remember a conversation I had with my mentor. I said, Hey look, man. I took your advice and man, $100,000 to $350,000. Imma cash out and get something nice for my mom. And he gave me the ultimatum at that time he said, Ryan, listen. You can go ahead and cash out, give something nice to your mom. Well shake hands and Ill never teach you anything again. Or, you figure out a different way to give something nice to your mom and hold onto that investment, and well check in every single year around tax time and well see what it grow[s] to. And when we checked in this year, that $100,000was just under $16 million. Clearly, Ryan Leslie has been using his wits since his early years to build the successful career that he has today. S Club 7 star Paul Cattermole has passed away. (Getty) S Club 7 star Paul Cattermole has passed away at the age of 46. A statement released by the band confirmed the news on Friday (7 April). It read: "We are truly devastated by the passing of our brother Paul. There are no words to describe the deep sadness and loss we all feel. We were so lucky to have had him in our lives and are thankful for the amazing memories we have. "He will be so deeply missed by each and every one of us. We ask that you respect the privacy of his family and of the band at this time." Cattermole was found dead at his home in Dorset, there are thought to be "no suspicious circumstances" surrounding the death. A second statement from his family reads: "It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of our beloved son and brother Paul Cattermole. "Paul was found yesterday, 6th April 2023 at his home in Dorset and was pronounced dead later that afternoon. "While the cause of death is currently unknown, Dorset Police has confirmed that there were no suspicious circumstances. Pauls family, friends and fellow members of S Club request privacy at this time." S Club 7 announced their reunion your earlier this year. (Getty) Cattermole, alongside S Club 7 bandmates Rachel Stevens, Hannah Spearritt, Bradley McIntosh, Tina Barrett, Jon Lee and Jo O'Meara had been planning to hit the road for their scheduled reunion tour later this year. S Club 7 were formed in 1998 by Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller. The band went on to be a resounding success between 1998 - 2003 when they eventually split. Jo O'Meara (back left) was a member of S Club 7 from 1998 until they split in 2003. (Tim Roney/Getty Images) They starred in their own BBC series Miami 7 which propelled them to the dizzy heights of fame. S Club 7 went on to rack up four UK number one singles and a UK number one album, as well as achieving significant chart success around Europe. Read more: S Club 7 Bring It All Back with reunion tour They recorded four studio albums, released 11 singles and went on to sell over 10 million albums worldwide even achieving global success with a top 10 hit on the US Hot 100 chart with their 2000 single Never Had a Dream Come True. Story continues Cattermole quit the band in 2002 after struggling to cope with the pressures put on them as a group. He previously told The Guardian: "It had got to the point where things were being handled so badly, I had to go." Watch: S Club 7 are all 'up for' releasing new music At the time Cattermole was dating bandmate Spearritt, they had kept their romance a secret for six months before going public in 2001. The relationship continued after the band broke up, with the couple calling time on their romance in 2006. Following the split of the band Cattermole joined forces with McIntosh and O'Meara to tour Universities, clubs, and holiday camps around the UK as S Club 3. Woman uses Samsung phone Samsung Electronics will cut memory chip production after estimating a 96% drop in its quarterly operating profit. The chip-making giant said sales had dropped sharply due to a slow global economy and less demand after Covid. Samsung said preliminary numbers showed operating profits fell 600 billion won (366m) in January-March, from 14 trillion won the previous year. The firm's shares rose more than 4% despite the decision to slow chip-making. "We are lowering the production of memory chips by a meaningful level, especially that of products with supply secured," the South Korean tech giant said. Demand for memory chips ramped up during Covid-induced lockdowns as consumers bought new electronics to use at home. The industry is now recovering from a chip shortage over the past couple of years, but many semiconductor manufacturers are struggling to find a balance between their inventories and current demand. "When the overall economy slowed down, suddenly the demand for these end products slowed. So, the makers of these end products stopped ordering chips and focused on selling through the inventory they already had," said analyst Peter Hanbury from management consultancy Bain & Company. "This led to a strong 'bullwhip' effect for semiconductor makers further back in the supply chain, where sky-high demand during the chip shortage suddenly dried up", he added. Samsung, the world's biggest maker of televisions, tablets and smartphones, had resisted the move to cut memory chip production compared to its competitors. Analysts say the company's announcement of a production cut is rare. Last month, it announced plans to invest 300 trillion won over 20 years to develop a mega semiconductor hub in South Korea. "Samsung faces a double whammy of DRAM and NAND [memory chips] losing money and needing to update the process technology their [factories] use due to falling behind over the last couple of years," said Dylan Patel, chief analyst at SemiAnalysis. Story continues Investors are hopeful that Samsung's announcement is a sign of a market recovery in the semiconductor industry. "We expect this inventory 'digestion' phase to complete its course over the next 3-6 months. At that point, the end markets will have worked through their inventory and returned to a more normal purchasing pattern," said Peter Hanbury. The company is scheduled to release detailed earnings later this month. You may also be interested in: Sandwich Maxs South End location a fixture in the area since 1993 is closing up shop Wednesday, April 12, after its building was sold. Now, a different spin on the concept is in the works. Plans call for Chicago-based Sterling Bay to break ground on a high-rise luxury apartment tower at the site this year. A representative for the company had told The Charlotte Observer in January that talks were taking place on the future of Sandwich Max, along with neighboring Chinese restaurant Bei Jing. Those talks ended with both Sandwich Max and Bei Jing moving out. The sandwich shop was a Charlotte favorite, and its Pressed TCB a Turkey Cordon Bleu with Swiss, turkey, ham and bacon with mayo was included among CharlotteFives list of the best sandwiches in the city. Thank you to South End, Dilworth, Myers Park, Elizabeth and everyone else for making our family-based business a staple in your lives since 1989. It has been both a challenge and a privilege to have a front-row seat to the growth on South Boulevard, the business posted on Instagram. However, something new is in the works. The post continued, We will miss seeing everyone in the dining room, but our new local concept will offer pick-up and delivery details coming soon. Owner Sam Nicholson told CharlotteFive on Friday morning that hes partnering with ghost kitchen South End Eats on a takeout and delivery concept that will keep the Sandwich Max brand alive after a 6-8 week gap. Hopefully we can bridge that to brick-and-mortar again in the future, said Nicholson, whose family once owned and operated seven locations of the sandwich shop. Location: 1601 S. Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203 (closing Wednesday, April 12 and coming soon to South End Eats) Menu Cuisine: American, sandwiches Instagram: @sandwichmaxclt A bicyclist rides on the beach in Isla Vista. Santa Barbara County officials are closing beaches in that area in anticipation of a notorious annual party. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) Santa Barbara County officials have closed the beaches in Isla Vista over the weekend in anticipation of Deltopia, the raucous spring break party that has drawn thousands of local college students each year. Beaches will be closed Friday through Sunday because of Deltopia, which isn't a sanctioned event and doesn't have permits, according to a county news release. "The beaches will be closed to protect public health and safety, and to protect the beach from excessive waste and litter," officials wrote. The party, made popular among UC Santa Barbara students who live in Isla Vista near the campus, was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed last year, resulting in multiple arrests and citations during the weekend-long event. People who want to visit the beaches this weekend will be required to abide by a city ordinance that bars outdoor music festival activities in the area bound by El Colegio Road, Camino Majorca to Storke Road, Ocean Road to Stadium Road and the Pacific Ocean in the unincorporated area of Isla Vista. In 2017, more than 40 people were arrested and 14 were injured. Between 6,000 and 8,000 people attended the event. In 2014, authorities arrested at least 100 people during a riot that broke out at the party and used tear gas, pepper spray and flash-bang grenades to control the crowd. The incident started when a UCSB police officer was hit in the head with a backpack containing bottles of alcohol, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Department. The crowd became unruly and started throwing rocks and bottles at officers after an arrest was made. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. One person was killed in a shooting in the 2600 block of Salamanca Street in Navarre on Friday afternoon, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office. The incident occurred shortly after 1 p.m., an SRSO spokesperson said. Deputies have identified the suspect and are working to apprehend them. More from SRSO: 'What a human piece of trash': Navarre man shot and killed next to his 4-year-old child. In case you missed it: Rebekah Jones' son arrested in Florida after allegedly threatening to shoot up school, stab students At this time, no information has been released regarding the identities of the suspect and victim, nor the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The investigation remains ongoing, and more information will be released as it becomes available. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Navarre shooting on Salamanca Street under SRSO investigation Sara Ziff, a former model and the founder of the Model Alliance, filed a lawsuit Thursday in New York State Supreme Court against Fabrizio Lombardo, the former head of Miramax in Italy, along with Harvey Weinstein, Disney and its subsidiaries Buena Vista and Miramax, for abuse and negligence under the Adult Survivors Act. Ziff sued Weinstein, Miramax, Disney and others alleging that she was raped by Lombardo in 2001 and his position within the company directly facilitated it. More from WWD Today I took an important step toward seeing accountability and finally moving toward healing, Ziff said. What happened to me at 19 years old was a catalytic moment for my lifes work. I am fortunate to stand with a powerful community of survivors, and I want to thank those who came before me and paved the way. Through the Model Alliance, Ziff has advocated about the importance of the Adult Survivors Act along with fellow models like Carre Otis, who has also alleged that she was raped at 17 by Gerald Marie, who was then the president of Elite Models European division. In the complaint, it is alleged that Lombardo forcibly and against Ziffs will and without her consent, subjected her to bodily harm when he sexually assaulted and raped her. As a result of Fabrizio Lombardos alleged conduct, Ms. Ziff has suffered physical injury, severe emotional distress, humiliation, embarrassment, mental and emotional distress and anxiety, economic harm and other consequential damages. She is alleging sexual battery, gender-motivated violence and negligent supervision. She is seeking an undisclosed amount of monetary, punitive and compensatory damages. The cause of action is timely under the Adult Survivors Act, because it arises out of conduct perpetrated against the plaintiff when she was 18 or older, and the conduct constitutes a sexual offense as defined in Article 130 of the New York Penal Law, according to the complaint. Story continues The May 2022 passage of the Adult Survivors Act in New York State allows abuse victims to file civil charges on matters that had outrun the statue of limitations until November 2023. Ziff is represented by Laura Edidin of Wigdor LLP and Kevin Mintzer. Lombardo did not respond immediately Friday afternoon to a media request for comment about Ziffs allegations of rape. Weinsteins attorney Imran Ansari of Aidala Bertuna & Kamins, PC Law, who is not working on behalf of Lombardo, declined further comment beyond the following statement. To be clear, Sara Ziff is not accusing Harvey Weinstein of rape nor does she allege that there was any sexual misconduct directed at her by Mr. Weinstein. Her allegations of rape are directed at Fabrizio Lombardo. Certainly Mr. Weinstein had no control over any alleged conduct by Mr. Lombardo, nor would he have any reason to know what Mr. Lombardo was doing nor where Mr. Lombardo was at the time that Ms. Ziff alleges she was raped. As such, Mr. Weinstein firmly denies that he has any liability for the alleged conduct of another. Weinstein is currently serving a combined 39-year prison sentence for various sex crimes. According to the suit, Ziff claims that in 2001 when she was 19 years old she was working as a model, and her agents set up a meeting with Lombardo because she wanted to become an actor. According to the complaint, Lombardo invited her to a private screening of Black Hawk Down at the Miramax offices and told her Weinstein would be there. Hoping to connect with Weinstein, she attended and later accepted an invitation from Lombardo to go to a nearby hotel to meet with Weinstein, as well as others, including Bob Weinstein, another producer whom Lombardo said the aspiring actress should meet. In the suit, she claims this was a trick to get her alone in a hotel where she says Lombardo raped her. Ziff alleges she was so traumatized that she couldnt speak of the assault for several years, and in the following weeks, she even attended meetings initiated by Lombardo because she feared retaliation. The suit claims she was worried that he would use his powerful connections in the modeling and acting industries, including with Harvey Weinstein, to deny her work in an early stage in her career. She was also worried that alienating Lombardo would rupture her relationship with her modeling agency since the co-owner of the agency Next was a friend of Lombardo, and Next had arranged an initial meeting with him. The suit claims Lombardo would never have been able to rape Ziff if not for his position at Miramax and Disney. Mr. Lombardo used the companies offices, resources, prestige and the possibility of career advancement to entice Ms. Ziff to a film screening where Mr. Weinstein would be present, and then offered the prospect of a further meeting with Harvey and Robert Weinstein as a cover to get her alone in his hotel room, the suit claims. In 2012, Ziff founded the Model Alliance, which encourages any model who feels they have been subjected to any unwanted sexual attention of abuse at work to contact its support team, which offers discreet grievance reporting and guidance. Best of WWD Click here to read the full article. Former S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley returned to where it all began Thursday, rallying in an area she represented when she was first elected as a state representative. Weve all been through a lot together, the Republican presidential candidate said to the sign-waving crowd at the packed Grove on Augusta. A day after announcing her campaign had raised $11 million in her first six weeks of her presidential run, Haley rallied in Lexington County, making no mention of the indictment of former President Donald Trump, in whose administration she worked. Instead, she focused criticism on President Joe Biden, as well as both Democrats and Republicans for racking up the national debt, prices at the grocery store and recent banking problems, among other issues. You dont deserve what youre dealing with right now, Haley said. Your families dont deserve what youre dealing with right now. But the way we will fix it is when you send a badass Republican woman to the White House. Among those in attendance were state Reps. Nathan Ballentine, R-Lexington, Chris Wooten, R-Lexington, Mike Neese, R-Lancaster and state Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington. Nikkis a stud, Wooten said. We know that. Shes always fought for the things that conservatives value we need, not only in South Carolina, (but) across the country. Nikki is also a uniter. We dont need somebody else to divide us. Neese said Haley needs to run her own campaign and not worry about the noise Trump creates. Neese added that Haley should focus on what she accomplished during her political career. Its about getting out and touching the people and talking about the issues, not getting in all the drama like everybody else, Neese said. She needs to worry about getting her message out to the people. Faith Whisinan is awestruck as she meets Nikki Haley after a campaign rally in Lexington Count on Thursday, April 06, 2023.. Whisinan first met Haley when she was in the fourth grade and then Gov. Haley came to Ballentine Elementary school. Im so inspired by her. Im inspired because shes a woman and Im inspired because shes a republican woman. Early primary state Not everyone in the crowd has committed to Haley this early in the campaign and are taking advantage of South Carolinas early spot in the primary order to figure out who they want to support. Story continues Brenda Lugmayer, 62, of West Columbia, said she wants to know how the candidates will handle China, Iran, North Korea and Russia. I like her, she was a great governor and I liked what she did as an ambassador, but I need to see more, Lugmayer said. Each (candidate) is something different, I like Trump, I like what he did for the country. He said Im going to do this and he did it. He needs to tone down a little, have a little more decorum, but hes good. DeSantis hes good. ... Everybodys got something. I just need to hear from them. Mark Hood, 53, brought his 17-year-old son, Micah, to the rally, the first political rally of his life. Micah wont be old enough to be vote in the South Carolina primary next year, but said he hopes to vote for Haley in November 2024. She values family and I think thats a really important thing, Micah, a high school junior, said. Supporters arrive for a Nikki Haley campaign rally at the Grove in Lexington County on Thursday, April 06, 2023. Mark Hood is a Lexington construction manager, wore a Nikki Haley for President shirt and bought one for his son. Hood said he likes how Haley worked with others to get things done, both as governor and at the United Nations where she served as U.S. ambassador for two years. (Shes) not afraid to tell like it is, and not afraid to work with people too, Mark Hood said. Hood called Trump his own worst enemy. Im not gonna lie. I voted for him in the last election, basically out of lack of a better option, Mark Hood said. Trump is just too bombastic. Hes too politicizing. You dont have to call somebody names just because you dont agree with their opinion or their policy. Haley said while she may be polling in single digits, she doesnt expect that to be the case when primaries begin. She said she beat a 30-year incumbent to win her first State House seat. She said people doubted her campaign when she ran for governor with the least amount of money. I worked this state like no one else and you invested in me and we won, Haley said. Lexington, weve got to do it one more time. South Carolina parents are closer to having more say in where their children attend school after a widely supported educational choice measure cleared the S.C. House in March. The bill H.3843 is a school choice proposal that would allow parents to enroll their children in any school statewide, regardless of zoning, provided the desired school has availability. The House passed the bill by a vote of 91-25 last week. The Senate will now consider the proposal. This bill is the closest thing to real choice that the General Assembly has moving, and I commend the House for starting with this as opposed to education scholarship accounts or tax credits that do not ensure accessibility for all students, said Patrick Kelly, a public school teacher and director of government affairs for the Palmetto State Teachers Association. State Rep. Shannon Erickson, who chairs the House Education and Public Works Committee and is the proposals lead sponsor, said during a House floor debate that the plan was to allow parents and children to decide which school best suits their family, adding that the program is an extension of a tried and true method currently used by several districts around the state. School districts such as Richland 2 and Greenville, for example, already use a school choice program, allowing students to apply to attend any public school within the district, despite zoning. But the students choice is subject to school availability and district policy. While the bill received overwhelming support inside and outside the State House, including from the Palmetto State Teachers and School Board associations, some policymakers voiced concern over how the program would impact underperforming schools. The fear that I have is that we exacerbate the struggles that the poor county schools are going through from (student) flight to proximate high schools within a more well-to-do district, state Rep. Roger Kirby, D-Florence, said on the House floor last month. Story continues Erickson, however, said the bill would have the opposite effect, motivating surrounding schools to become more competitive in the interest of attracting students. Were not seeing schools that are emptying out, were seeing districts kind of level out, Erickson, R-Beaufort, said, referring to districts that already use a limited version of what the bill proposes. Critics also argue that public school choice options may result in overcrowded schools, but Erickson said her bill includes parameters to prevent that from happening. If the school is already full, theres nobody else going to that school, Erickson said. You cant move an entire high school into another high school because there isnt going to be space available for that. State regulations say the maximum number of students cannot exceed 35 for every teacher. In 2023, South Carolinas average ratio was 15 to 1, according to the Public School Review, a website that tracks school data nationally. State Rep. Russell Ott, D-Calhoun, raised another concern involving student transportation. So, were giving options to parents to send kids where they want to go if the district provides the option of getting them there, Ott said. Commonly, public school choice options leave parents responsible for providing transportation to their desired school, which, some say, creates a disadvantage for low-income students whose parents may lack the necessary resources for travel. Ericksons proposal would leave it to school districts to determine how a students transportation needs will be met. Earlier this year, the S.C. Senate passed two bills advancing school choice. One measure would allow 15,000 students to get $6,000 in state money to cover private school tuition and other costs, including transportation, internet and books. Another Senate proposal expands a program already in place, called Academic Choice in Education, which provides an income tax credit for those who contribute to a scholarship fund that provides grants for students to attend private schools or to get home school instruction. Past "Trouble bubble" challenge participants. (L) Screenshot/TikTok - authenticteecee, (R) Screenshot/TikTok - floridamomof3 Officials in Massachusetts are warning about a "hot gum" challenge after ten students were reportedly hospitalized this week. The trend involves Trouble Bubble gum, which has 16 million Scoville units of heat. While recent events have alarmed teachers and parents, the challenge was first popularized on TikTok in 2021. Police of Southborough, Massachusetts, are warning parents and residents about a TikTok trend called the "hot gum" or "trouble bubble" challenge after ten young children were reportedly hospitalized this week attempting it. While these recent events have raised appropriate alarms, videos of TikTokers attempting the challenge date back to 2021. According to local outlet MassLive, students of Dexter Park Elementary School in Orange, Massachusetts, purchased a pack of CaJohn's "Trouble Bubble" gum and distributed it to other students on Tuesday. The product has been marketed as "the hottest bubble gum on the planet" for ingredients that make it more unbearable than even the spiciest peppers in the world. The challenge, according to popular videos online, involves people having to endure the hot gum long enough that they can blow a bubble. Superintendent Elizabeth Teahan-Zielinski told the outlet that when the students ate the gum, their mouths and throats began to burn, and their stomachs began to ache. Some students who didn't eat the gum still got skin and eye irritations. Those with more severe burn injuries were then sent to the hospital, the outlet reported. The gum's website says its product has 16 million Scoville heat units, a common measurement for spiciness, which makes it eight times as spicy as the Carolina Reaper pepper, which tops out at 2.2 million Scoville units. The hospitalizations compelled the Southborough Police Department to warn locals about the challenge in a Facebook post this week. Police noted that the gum is made using oleoresin capsicum, which is the same active ingredient in police pepper spray. Story continues "Anyone found to have used the gum should be treated for extensive exposure to oleoresin capsicum," the Southborough Police Department wrote in its post on Wednesday. "Immediately have them rinse, swish around, spit out water. Do this as many times as possible." Although police and school officials have at times blown warnings about internet trends out of proportion, the "hot gum" gum challenge does seem to have been popular on TikTok. While it does not appear to be a recent craze, clips from 2021 have amassed hundreds of thousands of views. Challenge participants look like they're in excruciating pain while eating the gum: One TikToker said he had to eat ice cream for more than 10 minutes after he stopped chewing the gum, and another creator said she threw up after. Insider has reached out to the Orange School District as well as the Southborough Police Department. Read the original article on Insider Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Friday issued a rare joint statement calling on Russia to release Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was detained last week and charged with espionage. We strongly condemn the wrongful detention of U.S. citizen and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, and demand the immediate release of this internationally known and respected independent journalist, the Senate leaders said in a statement. Since his arrest, Russian authorities have failed to present any credible evidence to justify their fabricated charges, they said, adding the U.S. Embassy has been denied access to him since his March 29 arrest. Gershkovich was arrested during a reporting trip to the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg last week. He was an accredited journalist by the Russian Foreign Ministry. The Russian Foreign Ministry claimed Gershkovich was caught red-handed while trying to obtain classified information, using his journalistic status as a cover for illegal actions qualifying as espionage. The White House says he is not a spy and the Journal has reiterated that he was there on a reporting trip. According to the Journal, lawyers were able to meet with Gershkovich on Tuesday and relayed that he is in good health. He is being held at Lefortovo prison in Moscow, which has been reported to be one of the most isolating prison experiences in the country. Schumer and McConnell also noted that Paul Whelan, a U.S. Marine, remains imprisoned in Russia on espionage charges and should be released immediately as well. Russia has a long and disturbing history of unjustly detaining U.S. citizens in a judicial system that provides neither transparency nor justice. Indeed, even now, the Kremlin continues to wrongfully detain U.S. citizen Paul Whelan, the senators said. The Kremlin should release Mr. Whelan and Mr. Gershkovich now. Let there be no mistake: journalism is not a crime, they continued. We demand the baseless, fabricated charges against Mr. Gershkovich be dropped and he be immediately released and reiterate our condemnation of the Russian governments continued attempts to intimidate, repress, and punish independent journalists and civil society voices. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Senate's Democratic and Republican leaders on Friday issued a rare bipartisan statement condemning Russia's "wrongful detention" of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., rebuked Moscow for detaining Gershkovich and called for the journalist's immediate release. Gershkovich, an American citizen whose parents are originally from the Soviet Union, was detained in late March on suspicion of "espionage in the interests of the American government," Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement, which was reported by Russian state media. The Wall Street Journal and the Biden administration have categorically denied that Gershkovich was affiliated with the U.S. government. The senators said Friday that Gershkovich's detention continues Russia's "long and disturbing history" of unjustly detaining American citizens. Let there be no mistake: journalism is not a crime," Schumer and McConnell said. "We demand the baseless, fabricated charges against Mr. Gershkovich be dropped and he be immediately released and reiterate our condemnation of the Russian governments continued attempts to intimidate, repress, and punish independent journalists and civil society voices. Evan Gershkovich. (Dimitar Dilkoff / AFP - Getty Images) Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday there was "no doubt" that Russian authorities had wrongfully detained Gershkovich. The Senate leaders said that Russian authorities had failed to provide evidence to justify their "fabricated charges" against Gershkovich, a journalist accredited by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to report in the country. They suggested that Russia had violated international law by denying the U.S. Embassy consular access to Gershkovich. The Lefortovo court in Moscow ordered Gershkovich to be detained until May 29, according to the official Telegram channel of the capitals courts. Gershkovich denied the charges against him, according to the TASS state news agency. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison. Story continues Gershkovich has covered Russia, Ukraine and the former Soviet Union for the Wall Street Journal. He has received an outpouring of support since his detention. The Journal said Gershkovich is a trusted and dedicated reporter and vehemently denied the allegations against him. It said in a statement that it seeks his immediate release. We stand in solidarity with Evan and his family, the newspaper said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have joined a growing chorus calling for the release of U.S. citizen and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich from Russia, arguing the charges against him are "baseless" and "fabricated." Gershkovich, the newspaper's Moscow bureau reporter, was arrested on March 29 by the Russian government's Federal Security Service on charges of espionage on behalf of the United States. The publication has vehemently denied these charges while several of Gershkovichs colleagues have defended his integrity. President Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also have called for his release. "We strongly condemn the wrongful detention of U.S. citizen and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, and demand the immediate release of this internationally known and respected independent journalist," Schumer and McConnell said Friday in a joint statement. INSIDE THE RUSSIAN SPY TRIALS AWAITING WSJ JOURNALIST EVAN GERSHKOVICH The Wall Street Journal has dismissed any notion that Evan Gershkovich was doing anything other than working as a journalist. "Mr. Gershkovich was accredited by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work as a journalist in Russia. Since his arrest, Russian authorities have failed to present any credible evidence to justify their fabricated charges," the statement continued. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "Moreover, against standard diplomatic practice and likely in violation of international law the U.S. Embassy has been denied consular access to Mr. Gershkovich," it added. Schumer and McConnell also said "the Kremlin continues to wrongfully detain U.S. citizen Paul Whelan" and that it should "release Mr. Whelan and Mr. Gershkovich now. JOURNALIST PREVIOUSLY KICKED OUT OF RUSSIA WEIGHS IN ON EVAN GERSHKOVICHS DETAINMENT "Let there be no mistake: journalism is not a crime," the statement continued. "We demand the baseless, fabricated charges against Mr. Gershkovich be dropped and he be immediately released and reiterate our condemnation of the Russian governments continued attempts to intimidate, repress, and punish independent journalists and civil society voices." Story continues Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., are now calling for Gershkovich's release. A Moscow spokesperson said Thursday that Gershkovich will receive an appeal hearing by a Russian court on April 18, though it is unclear whether Gershkovich will appear in person or through a video link. In addition, the court proceedings are allowed by law to take place behind closed doors so long as the final decision can be communicated to the public. President Biden also has called for the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. Gershkovich was originally detained by Russian forces on March 29 in the city of Yekaterinburg after being accused of "trying to obtain secret information," "on the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex." Blinken spoke to his Russian counterpart on Sunday regarding the "grave concern" the White House had about Gershkovich's arrest while also calling for the release of fellow detained American Whelan. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed on Tuesday that Gershkovichs release was a "priority" for President Biden. Fox News Lindsay Kornick contributed to this report. April 2023 is the 22nd anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC). Seattle organizations are recognizing the month in different ways. According to the NSVRC, one in five women in the U.S. has experienced rape or attempted rape during their lifetime and nearly a quarter of men in the U.S. have experienced some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetime. The NSVRC educates people on sexual violence, racism, and inequality. Their #SAAM2023 slogan is Prevention Demands Equity. At its heart, doing the work of sexual violence prevention is a refusal to accept abuses of power in the world, a commitment to stopping those same abuses from continuing, and providing space for victims to reclaim their power, says the NSVRC. Seattle University is hosting various events like a SAAM art showcase to honor the stories of survivors, a poetry and open mic workshop, a workshop on sexual violence against LGBTQ+ and BIPOC individuals, a yoga healing class, and more. The Universitys School of Laws Family Center also launched a campaign by putting up stickers in bathroom stalls around campus. The stickers say ARE YOU OKAY? and have a QR code that sends students to a website with campus resources. Divergent Wellbeing, a group of Seattle therapists, is making a series of Facebook posts calling attention to sexual violence in the Seattle community. Strategic Living is a self-defense and personal safety education business in Seattle that helps teach people how to fight off attackers. They hosted a live chat with their founder, Joanne Factor, about SAAM and timely safety issues and skills. They will also be posting more on their Facebook page about sexual assault awareness and prevention throughout April. Councilmember Lisa Herbold, the Seattle Human Services Department, and the Seattle Disability Commission came together on Wednesday to proclaim April 2023 Sexual Assault Awareness Month and speak on their efforts to prevent and end sexual violence in Seattle. Story continues The NSVRC is also doing a 30 days of SAAM Instagram challenge. Join advocates, activists, survivors, and supporters who are getting involved in Sexual Assault Awareness Month this April on Instagram. Daily prompts encourage creative ways for you to raise awareness, educate, and connect with others plus you have a chance to win prizes every day you participate, said the NSVRC. People can use #SAAM in April to advocate for survivors, share experiences, and find community. A team of pathologists who carried out a new autopsy of Stephen Smith, the South Carolina teen whose body was found on a road near convicted legal scion Alex Murdaughs estate in 2015, have concluded a cause and manner of death in the mysterious case, according to reports. Last weekend, Smiths body was exhumed from Gooding Cemetery in South Carolina, Dr. Michelle DuPre, a forensic pathologist, told Law&Crime. A second autopsy was later conducted at a private laboratory in Tampa, Florida. Forensic pathologist Dan Schultz and anthropologist Heather Walsh-Haney, who were hired by Smiths family, oversaw the latest autopsy. RELATED: Stephen Smiths Body Exhumed, Family Offers $35,000 Reward For Answers In Teens 2015 Death "Once the autopsy report comes back from the second autopsy, we will forward it to SLED [the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division] and cooperate with them as the investigation proceeds," Eric Bland and Ronnie Richter, lawyers for the Smith family, told Oxygen.com. "Whether the autopsy has shielded new information will have to be seen. Nonetheless, a full and complete autopsy was able to have been done even though Stephen had been buried for eight years. It was as complete as if Stephen had died yesterday. We are encouraged by the commitment that SLED is making to finding out answers in connection with Stephens untimely death." Stephen Smith Pd Stephen Smith Photo: South Carolina Highway Patrol In 2015, Smiths body was found along a country road in Hampton County, South Carolina, just 15 miles from the Murdaugh estate. Half of his skull had been crushed, according to Fox News. The initial case autopsy concluded the South Carolina nursing student and LGBTQ activist had been fatally struck by a vehicle in a suspected hit-and-run. A driver, however, was never arrested. Investigators also cast doubt on pathologist Erin Presnells original autopsy report, citing inconsistencies in her determination with evidence found at the scene. Specifically, authorities asserted there had been no skid marks or other debris that might have been left behind from a deadly collision. They also zeroed in on the fact that Smith didnt have abrasions on his body. Story continues In March, nearly eight years after Smiths death, investigators announced they suspected the South Carolina teen had been a victim of a homicide. This week, lawyers for Smiths family also issued a $35,000 reward in exchange for information leading to the arrest of any responsible party in the death of Stephen Smith. Stephen Smith Pd "We are proud of what we accomplished in such a short period of time which includes having the state declare that Stephens death was a homicide, getting Stephens body exhumed, and having the second autopsy done, and Stephen be returned to rest in peace," Bland and Richter added. "We are not law-enforcement officers and do not have the same tools that law enforcement does. We will continue to provide tips and other information as we receive them on this most important matter and transfer them over to SLED." According to DuPre, pathologists have determined a new cause and manner of death for Smith, however, preliminary autopsy information wont yet be released until the final reports are finished. Smiths case caught renewed attention amid Alex Murdaughs 2021 arrest for the double murder of his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and son, Paul Murdaugh, 22. In March, the disgraced attorney was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. His legal team say they intend to appeal the ruling. Alex Murdaugh is escorted out of the Colleton County Courthouse Alex Murdaugh is escorted out of the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, S.C., on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Photo: AP Unfounded speculation has since swirled around Buster Murdaugh, Alexs surviving son, and Smiths former peer, that hes somehow involved in Smiths death. The Netflix documentary, Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal, speculated that Smith, who was openly gay, had an affair with Buster, who has disavowed the accusations as false and baseless. Patrick Wilson, 25, and Shawn Connelly, 25, have since been identified as persons of interest in Smiths death, according to a report published by Fitsnews. The pair, who both lived near where Smiths body was found, were initially accused in the 19-year-olds death in 2015. On Tuesday, a private investigator and forensic expert hired on behalf of Smiths family also hailed the teenagers second autopsy a success. "I do know it was a success, they say they did collect evidence, it was very good documentation, and everybody was upbeat about the information that was collected," Dr. Kenneth Kinsey told NewsNation during a televised interview on Tuesday. "And that's not always the situation when you exhume someone after so many years." Kinsey explained that despite Smiths remains undergoing nearly eight years of decomposition, pathologists remained very upbeat about the evidence yielded from the autopsy. "I'm very, very excited about the report coming and the pathologists were very upbeat and said they had everything they needed to do a proper examination of Mr. Smith, Kinsey added. So I didnt hear anything negative about that. They were, you know, saying that it was a very good situation for the Smith family and for the investigation so Ive got my fingers crossed and Im looking forward to, hopefully we can get the Smith family some answers. "We understand that providing information about a crime can be difficult, and we want to support the community however we can to bring closure for the Smith family," Eric Bland and Ronnie Richter previously said in a statement sent to Oxygen.com. We hope that this reward will encourage anyone with information to come forward and provide the critical details needed to solve this case. Oxy App Smiths remains were since laid to rest for a second time, his family confirmed on social media on Sunday. "My baby is back in his final resting place, his mother, Sandy Smith wrote on Facebook. Thank you again to all of you who helped make this possible. The post accompanied a photo of Sandy Smith smiling and kneeling over her sons gravesite, which had been decorated with sea shells, bouquets of flowers and ornamental cats and butterflies. Earlier this month, the familys lawyers had touched on how the exhumation had reopened old wounds for the Smith family. This time is a very solemn time, as you can imagine, for Sandy, attorney Eric Bland said. Its so bittersweet. Stephen, for many many years, I can only imagine, was not so much at peace in his grave. He probably was pounding on his coffin, saying, to anybody that could hear: I was not hit by a car. But I was intentionally killed. And now weve told him we hear his voice. And its our intention to return Stephen to his grave when the autopsy is concluded. And, at that time, the investigation will unfold. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division declined to comment further on the case when contacted by Oxygen.com on Thursday. Anyone with additional information related to Stephen Smith's death is urged to contact the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division by calling 803-737-9000. Tips can also be sent via email at tips@sled.sc.gov. An inmate has been charged with stabbing another inmate at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, the second time this week such an incident has happened in the Richland County jail. James Alterique White, 24, was charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature for the alleged stabbing a 30-year-old inmate inside of the jail on Tuesday. The victim, who suffered a 3-inch laceration to his upper body, told Richland County Sheriffs Department deputies that the attack came out of nowhere, according to an incident report. White is in jail and awaiting trial on charges related to a fatal shooting in December. This latest stabbing happened two days after another inmate was stabbed with an improvised weapon inside of the jail, according to the Sheriffs Department. On Monday, Sabian Bryant, 19, was charged with the stabbing that took place a day earlier. It wasnt immediately known what was used in the second stabbing. That detail was redacted in an incident report. The two stabbings come with Richland County in in the middle of multimillion-dollar overhaul of the jail, which has seen repeat instances of violence while also struggling with unsettled leadership, understaffing and deteriorating structural conditions. The State has reached out to Richland County administration and the jail for comment. I have lost count of the number of bodies at Alvin S. Glenn, said Ally Benevento, an attorney at the Strom Law Firm. The firm is is suing the jail after the death of Lason Butler, who died of dehydration inside the jail after he was arrested for reckless driving. It is painfully apparent at this point to everyone that they cant deny at this stage that it is more than just chronic understaffing at the jail, Benevento told The State on Friday. The Sheriffs Department, which is investigating the incident, has not released any additional information on the victim. The conditions at the jail have led to a number of high-profile incidents, including the killing of Antonious Randolph on Jan. 27. Randolph was tortured and beaten to death by a group of inmates. Investigators from the Sheriffs Department later found that the inmates took advantage of cell doors that did not lock, allowing them to come and go from their cells. Story continues After a series of damning inspection reports, Richland County was given an April 18 deadline to provide a strategy for remedial action to the South Carolina Department of Corrections. At a recent council meeting, administrator Leonardo Brown and interim jail director Creighton Harvey discussed many of the planned reforms, including a $2.5 million retrofit of the jails locks and the creation of a new compliance director position. Benevento said she and attorney Bakari Sellers have asked the civil rights division of the Department of Justice to investigate the jail. But the overwhelming majority of the inmates are pre-trial detainees, meaning they have not been found guilty of a crime, Benevento said. This is a category of helpless people, and it is our responsibility to take care of them, Benevento said. We should not, as taxpaying citizens, just sit back and allow this to happen. White has been incarcerated in Alvin S. Glenn since January 2022, when he was charged in a fatal shooting of a woman as she left a bar on Fairfield Road the previous December. Joyel T. Snell, 45, of Fort Myers, Florida was walking out of Felicitys Bar and Grill north of Columbia on the morning of Dec. 12, 2021 when she was struck and killed by gunfire. Investigators said White and another individual, 26-year-old Malcolm Clinton, were seen exiting the bar and got into a vehicle from which shots were fired. At the time, White was out on bond for a slew of weapons charges and the attempted murder of a security guard at a hookah lounge on Broad River Road in May 2021. The second person charged in a 2020 Nashville crash that killed two people and injured three including a 5-year-old was recently arrested in Bowling Green, Ky., by a U.S. Marshals task force, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department. Sadia Bonilla-Gomez, 23, is charged with two counts of vehicular homicide by intoxication, vehicular assault and two counts of aggravated child abuse. Her co-defendant, Jose Damaso-Hernandez, 26, was arrested earlier this year in Bowling Green and booked into a Nashville jail with a $300,000 bond. Damaso-Hernandez faces two counts of vehicular homicide by intoxication, vehicular assault, two counts of aggravated child abuse and possession of cocaine. Nearly three years ago, both defendants were admitted to the hospital following the wreck then went missing after being released, according to police. Following their disappearance, the U.S. Marshals Task Force joined the search. How the wreck unfolded A Ford F-150 pickup, driven by Damaso-Hernandez, crashed head on into a 2016 Scion on Bell Road in Antioch, leaving two people dead and three injured the early morning of Aug. 16, 2020, according to police. Dalton Williams, 21, and Samantha Peevyhouse, 25, both from Centerville, Tenn., were in the Scion. They died at the scene. Police said the 5-year-old girl was in a car seat in the truck and was not properly secured. She received minor injuries. Damaso-Hernandez and Bonnilla-Gomez, sustained life-threatening injuries in the wreck. Damaso-Hernandez's blood alcohol content was 0.14% the night of the wreck, according to MNPD. The legal limit of blood alcohol content in Tennessee is 0.08%. Bonnilla-Gomez owned the truck Damaso-Hernandez was driving and was his passenger. She was treated and released after the crash. Police said she knew Damaso-Hernandez had been drinking alcohol prior to the crash. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Second person wanted in 2020 fatal crash arrested in Kentucky A second suspect wanted in connection to a Denton double homicide from March was arrested Friday, the Denton Police Department announced. Benjaminpaul Teal, 29, was arrested Friday morning in Wichita Falls and accused of the capital murder of a man and a woman. At about 10 p.m. on March 23, police were dispatched to a shooting call at an apartment complex in the 1300 block of Dallas Drive. Upon arrival, officers found the two victims dead in a vehicle. The victims were identified as 29-year-old Breanna Dunn and 43-year-old Ronald Calvert Jr. by the Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office. Witnesses reported seeing two suspects flee from the shooting. Numerous pieces of evidence connected the first suspect, 29-year-old Silvester Williams, to Calvert, according to Denton police. Following Williams arrest on Monday, interviews and physical evidence led detectives to determine Teal was the second suspect in the double homicide. Teal will be booked into the Wichita County Jail sometime Friday, police said. The Wichita Falls Police Department, Mesquite Police Department, the Joint East Texas Fugitive Task Force, Carrollton Police Department, and the Denton Police Department Major Crimes Unit assisted in the arrests. A 15-year-old boy was fatally shot Thursday evening, marking the second child killed in Augusta shootings within two weeks. Richmond County deputies responded to the 3400 block of Old McDuffie Road at 8:48 p.m. for reports of one person shot, according to a news release. When deputies arrived, they found Zaire Person, 15, of Augusta, who was shot at least once, according to the release. Person was transported to Augusta University Medical Center for treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries. Another child killed: 13-year-old boy killed in shooting at downtown Augusta apartments Third fatal shooting within a week: Man killed in Augustas Windsor Spring neighborhood Investigators said there was a large party involving minors that took place at several locations in the Augusta area, but it ended on Old McDuffie Road where the teen was shot, according to the release. Anyone with information related to the incident should call 706-821-1080. Callers can remain anonymous. An autopsy is scheduled, according to the Richmond County Coroner's Office. Two child shooting victims within two weeks in Augusta Less than two weeks ago, on March 28, a 13-year-old boy was shot and killed on Broad Street in Augusta. The shooting took place at 3:07 a.m. at Richmond Summit Apartments, according to a news release from the sheriff's office. Buddy Brown, of the 700 block of Broad Street, was pronounced dead on the scene at 4 a.m., according to the Richmond County Coroner's Office. This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: 15-year-old killed in Augusta shooting, second teen death in two weeks Justin Baldoni has been busy since saying goodbye to his role as reformed rake Rafael in the wildly popular television series Jane The Virgin, which wrapped in 2019. His next big project, as lead actor, director, and coproducer on the film adaptation of bestselling novel It Ends With Us, comes on the heels of another very important onethe completion of his familys new home in stunning Ojai, California. After two years of remodeling and expanding the contemporary Spanish-style house, Baldoni and his wife Emily knew the aesthetic they were going for, but were stumped when it came to outfitting the gorgeous two-story home. Thats when they called on Pottery Barn. We heard that Pottery Barn has a design service and reached out to ask if they would be willing to help us because we were clueless, Baldoni tells AD. They saved our whole house. Courtesy of Pottery Barn Inspired by trips to Mexico and the picturesque Ojai landscape, the homes backdrop, the couple approached the Pottery Barn Design Crew with the essence of what they wanted, and then remained open to new perspectives. They really wanted a home they could enjoy year-round, whether that was playing by the pool with their kids, hosting a party, or just hanging out to watch the sunset, says Pottery Barns chief design officer Monica Bhargava, whose team worked on the project. The result is a home with a soothing neutral palette that looks and feels like a vacation. Courtesy of Pottery Barn The unique backyard has several distinct spotslike a loggia, an outside room, and pool areathat the Design Crew managed to blend cohesively in the end, a look Bhargava says was achieved through combining different neutrals and materials and layering pillows, super cozy throws, and a firepit moment. Below, Emily and Justin discuss the collaboration and how feng shui helped bring it all together. How did the partnership between you and Pottery Barn come about? Justin: We worked hard to make this house beautiful. The furniture couldnt just be an afterthoughtwe had to have a designer. Emily and I both have a good design sense, but we needed somebody to help us pick out all of our furniture and present us with options, and thats exactly what Pottery Barn did. Story continues Did you have a solid vision coming into this? Justin: We had a little bit of a vision. When we went to Tulum and parts of Mexico, we would take pictures of lamps, or couchesjust as inspirationand then we started to put together a Pinterest board of things that we liked. [Also] my mom is a feng shui master. Some people dont believe in it, but I can tell you, being the son of a woman whos done it for 30 years, you can feel the energy flow of a place. Every place that we have lived in, weve had my mom feng shui, and it has really changed the energy of the space and brought us a lot of really good fortune. So we designed the whole house with feng shui in mind. We explained to Pottery Barn the importance of the flow of the furniture and they really got it. Emily: We also live in such a magical place in Ojai. And so we also wanted to let that inspire our home. We have mountains. Theres rock, stone, waterits very earthy, very natural, and absolutely gorgeous. We wanted it to feel like a sanctuary when we come home. Courtesy of Pottery Barn Thats incredible. How did you apply feng shui to the outdoor spaces? Justin: There are all these different types of areas based on the bagua (the feng shui energy map) so it was really important that everything flowed. For example, in our outdoor room where theres the fireplace, you always want to be able to greet somebody as they enter the room. So whether theyre entering from the pool side, the house, or the living room, the way the couches are set up and the way it was designed, is to have energy flowing through the space and to greet and see people as they enter while also getting to appreciate the view. And all the spaces Pottery Barn styled for us were feng shui. We showed my mom the design plans previously and it was really cool to know that the Design Crew instinctually, whether they know it or not, were all profeng shui. My mom didnt even have any notes on the designs or furniture placements. They were intuitively aligned to the energy flow of all the various spaces. You have two beautiful little oneshow did you cater to them in the design? Emily: Performance fabric! Whats your favorite section of all the outdoor spaces? Emily: Definitely the outdoor room by the fireplace. The furniture beautifully blends in with the nature around it and its so comfy. Courtesy of Pottery Barn What were some of your must-haves for the outdoors? Justin: We really wanted the firepit and a place to eat outdoors. Theres an outdoor room that connects to the living room and we built it in a way where we have an outdoor dining table. I remember the first night after the [Design Crew] left, the sun was going down. Emily and I walked outside and we sat on the outdoor couch looking out at the furniture and the pool. And we just didnt talk. We just sat there. And I think we both were thinking, How is this possible? It was just this kind of magical surreal moment where both of us didnt have to say anything to know exactly how the other person was feeling. Encinitas All-Weather Wicker Dining Chair $899.00, Pottery Barn Caleb Handcrafted Metal Outdoor Lantern $349.00, Pottery Barn Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest More Great Stories From AD Click here to read the full article. Following reports of migrant children being used for illegal labor, two Democratic senators have sent letters to the CEOs of 27 major companies, including Fruit of the Loom, J.Crew Group, Target and Walmart, to demand immediate action over their alleged complicity in the exploitation. Migrant children have been working at your facilities in hazardous conditions, engaged in work that is not suitable for their age group, and working hours well beyond what is permitted by law, wrote John Hickenlooper of Colorado and Alex Padilla of California, citing recent stories in NBC News and the New York Times, along with investigations from the Department of Labor. Since 2018, the number of children unlawfully employed by companies in the United States has spiked by nearly 70 percent, the agency said in February. Hickenlooper and Padilla, as chairs of the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety and Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety, expressed a deep concern about the unsafe conditions and horrific trauma that many unaccompanied children have reportedly experienced after making a perilous journey across the border. They pressed implicated companies to closely examine their own child labor practices to avoid putting more children in harms way. Federal law is clear, the lawmakers noted, that children under the age of 18 cannot be subjected to oppressive child labor, meaning employment in an occupation that is particularly hazardous or detrimental to their health or well-being as defined by the Department of Labor. Furthermore, they can only work three hours a day on school days and a total of 18 hours each week between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The New York Times story, which was published in February, described migrant children making Fruit of the Loom socks in Alabama and sewing Made in America tags into J. Crew shirts in Los Angeles. They were also found baking dinner rolls at Target and Walmart. Story continues Hickenlooper and Padilla encouraged the companies to carefully examine their hiring procedures, workplace safety and compliance with wage and hour laws as they apply to minors, as well as trainand retrain, if necessarystaff on federal and state child labor laws to ensure that children are not being placed in harms way. They also asked the letters recipients to answer, by April 26, a list of questions that will help them determine if the compliance actions and auditing processes the companies have taken are sufficient, if migrants in those supply chains are aware of their workplace rights, and if school districts where plants are located are being engaged in the coordination of allowable hours. J.Crew said that it has received the letter and intends to respond to it in a timely fashion to share its work around the issue. We are committed to sourcing products in an ethical, responsible, and legal manner, and seek to comply with all applicable laws that impact human rights wherever we do business, a spokesperson told Sourcing Journal. To that end, we have a vigorous vendor compliance program and regularly audit our business partners to ensure our standards are being met. If they are not, we take immediate action. Fruit of the Loom did not respond to a request for comment, though it said in an online statement in February that it terminated the offending suppliers contract last year and has been transitioning to a new licensing partner for more than six months, or well before the New York Times article. We take allegations of child labor very seriously and we support the processes to uphold human and labor rights. Fruit of the Loom, Inc. and its brands maintain a zero-tolerance policy for any practices of child labor, as reflected in our code of conduct, the casual and underwear purveyor said, adding that it will embark on a review of all its current U.S. facilities, where owned or those of a supplier or licensee, to ensure no other violations are occurring. Target and Walmart also did not respond to emails requesting comment. Hickenlooper and Padilla arent the only ones on Capitol Hill sounding the alarm on domestic child labor. Last month, Congressman Dan Kildee, a Democrat for Michigan, urged the Biden administration, including the Department of Labor and Health and Human Services, to take stronger enforcement actions against anyone who violates child labor laws in the United States. Our children are our future, and we must be doing everything we can to protect them, he wrote in a letter to the Department of Labor, which was co-signed by more than 60 members of Congress. We are concerned with new investigative reporting alleging migrant children are illegally working in factories across the United States for major corporations in the automotive, processed food and textile industries. This is unacceptable and must end immediately. Children should be in school, not working in dangerous factory jobs. San Francisco's police chief said he couldn't share details of evidence uncovered in the investigation into Cash App founder Bob Lee's death, per ABC-7. Jeff Chiu/AP Photo. Authorities are investigating what they called the "murder" of Cash App founder Bob Lee. The SFPD chief said Thursday there are "good developments" in the investigation, per ABC's KGO-TV. But the city's District Attorney said "this is one that's going to take time to solve," per the report. San Francisco's law enforcement officials said they are still investigating the death of Cash App founder Bob Lee, amid news reports of surveillance videos that appeared to show him seeking help after the attack. San Francisco police chief Bill Scott declined to provide details of the investigation during a town hall on Thursday, saying, "there's evidence that we found that I can't talk about because we don't want to jeopardize this case," according to a report by ABC's San Francisco affiliate, KGO-TV. "There are some good developments on this case I apologize, but that's as much as I can say at this point," he said, calling Lee's death a "murder," per the local news segment on the community meeting. Scott had previously said that Lee called 911 after his attack on Tuesday morning, according to the outlet, which also cited unnamed sources to report that a "silver kitchen knife with a four inch blade" was found near the site of Lee's attack in the city's downtown Rincon Hill neighborhood, though it's not clear if it's been linked to his death. Representatives for the San Francisco police department and the city's department of emergency management did not respond to Insider's requests for comment on Friday. Lee, who was chief product officer at fintech company MobileCoin, was seen attempting to get help on Main Street close to the Oakland Bay Bridge, according to an earlier report by KGO-TV, which cited sources describing camera videos. The San Francisco police previously said in a statement that they responded to a call regarding the attack early morning on Tuesday at 2:35 a.m. The city's District Attorney Brooke Jenkins and Mayor London Breed have both released messages of condolence to Lee's family. Story continues "Unfortunately this is one that's going to take time to solve," Jenkins told KGO-TV on Thursday, according to the outlet. The District Attorney's office can't make a determination on bringing charges until police have concluded their investigation and made an arrest, a representative for the DA's office previously told Insider. Representatives for the DA's office did not respond to Insider's request for comment on Friday. Read the original article on Business Insider Amara Lehman, a Brookfield native and a recipient from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, met actress Kristen Bell. When Brookfield teen Amara Lehman was in the hospital with Hodgkin's lymphoma stage 4, she came up with a life philosophy that is somewhat rare for such a young person. "Do what makes you happy," said Amara. And for her, that was acting. Living with cancer as a child, she dreamed of one day being able to meet her favorite actress Kristen Bell, she said. Her beloved role model was the voice actor of Anna in "Frozen" and the star of "The Good Place" and "Veronica Mars." "I was so excited and in shock," she said when she got the phone call that her wish would come true with the help of Make-A-Wish-Wisconsin. In January, she flew to Los Angeles and stayed for three days at the Sheraton Universal Hotel. She had a three-hour lunch at an oyster bar there with Bell, and she went, with her parents, Amy and Nick, to Universal Studios and rode rollercoasters, saw shows and attended the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park. She also got an autograph T-shirt from Bell. "It was amazing," Amara said of meeting Bell. "It felt so natural and super real." She said before meeting Bell, she was a little nervous about being able to hold a conversation with her for three hours. But when she actually met her, all her nervousness melted away. "She was down to earth," Amara said. "We talked so much. I like that she is not just an amazing actress, but she wants to help others." Kristen Bell's acting advice: 'Don't get too attached to your character' Bell gave Amara acting advice that Amara said she will always remember and use. "She said to not get too attached to your character," she said, because that can be bad for your mental health. Forrest Doolen, Senior Director of Marketing & Communications at Make a Wish Wisconsin, said that the nonprofit grants about 25 to 30 celebrity wishes a year. Sometimes that means meeting Green Bay Packers or Milwaukee Brewers players. Patti Gorsky, executive director of Make-A-Wish Wisconsin, added that most celebrities want to be anonymous about their wish, but Bell was fine having people know about meeting Amara. Story continues Amara will be acting in a Brio Studios play in May Amara was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer when she was 12 in May 2021. Prior to that, she said, she attended acting camps and had some exposure to acting. She, however, never acted in a professional stage production. Once she was in remission in September 2021, she changed that. She will be playing Megan Jones in "Puffs!" through Brio Studios in Brookfield on May 6-7. She's also starred "The Day The Woods Came to Dunsinane" at Brio Studios and Pilgrim Park Middle School's production of "Frozen Jr." She said she wants to keep pursuing acting and audition for roles in high school and find a way to continue theater in college. "(Having cancer) has really changed me in taking more chances. Why not take a chance? ... Why not go for it?" Amara said. Amara and her parents, Amy and Nick, all say that her personality is a great fit for her acting goals. Her mother said she is "especially good at improvisation" and can "be any character at any moment." And some of it is due to her cancer journey, Amara said. "I had a lot of emotions I had to feel before...such a big range, and it helps with acting," she said. She also said that she really has no fear of getting up on stage. "My worst fears already happened. If I make a mistake, it happens. I don't see a reason to be embarrassed," she said. Amara wants to increase awareness of Hodgkin's lymphoma, especially how it affects children Now that Amara is an active 14-year-old, she wants to share her story and create awareness of Hodgkin's lymphoma. She was not initially diagnosed with the disease because she did not know why she was feeling unwell. She said she was coughing a lot but said some of her symptoms could have been attributed to routine child illnesses. When her appetite or energy was not there, her parents thought it could have been depression. When she was diagnosed and was receiving treatment, she was almost relieved she knew what was wrong. She went through five rounds of chemotherapy but did not experience much of the aversive effects of it. "When I was going through treatment, I was shockingly optimistic," she said. "At least I knew I had cancer and that was the answer (to not feeling well)." "I would love for people to know that cancer can happen to them. Cancer can and does happen. If something is not right, go to the doctor as soon as possible," she said. For more information To support Make-A-Wish Wisconsin, visit www.wish.org/wisconsin/give or call 262 -781-4445. To see Puffs! visit www.brookfieldbrio.com/spring-productions. Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @kozlowicz_cathy. 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: Brookfield teen meets Kristen Bell through Make-A-Wish Wisconsin The Shelby County Commission could consider reappointing Justin Pearson to his seat in the Tennessee statehouse, Chairman Mickell Lowery said Thursday. Pearson was expelled Thursday along with fellow Democrat Justin Jones after they interrupted a floor session and used a bullhorn to lead chants for gun control. Democrat Gloria Johnson survived Thursday's expulsion vote in the House. Vacancies can be filled on an interim basis by the county legislative body until a legislator is elected in a special election. Also: Shelby County Commission will announce date to fill Justin Pearson's District 86 seat Monday In Shelby County, the commission has a nine-member Democratic supermajority. Lowery, speaking before Pearsons expulsion, said that if Pearson was expelled, he would call a special meeting to vote on an interim representative. He would seek a legal opinion on whether Pearson could be reappointed, he said. Marcy Ingram, a Shelby County assistant attorney, told The Commercial Appeal she knew of no legal reason why the commission could not reappoint Pearson. The Commercial Appeal reached out to all 13 commissioners to see whether they would support Pearsons reappointment. Most did not respond. However, Commissioner Britney Thornton, a Democrat, was unequivocal in her support of Pearson. As a fellow millennial elected to serve, I believe its crucial for my generation to be represented, Thornton said. I stand with Representative Pearson and his fellow colleagues all of whom are unfairly being mislabeled and othered. Wholeheartedly will I support his reappointment. Key takeaways from expulsion debate: Tennessee Democrats take full advantage of national spotlight If the commission does consider reappointing Pearson, the vote is not likely to be unanimous. Commissioner Amber Mills, a Republican, said she would not reappoint Pearson since it would hurt Shelby County, possibly resulting in legislators blocking funds from coming to the county. Story continues If hes being expelled for disrupting, it makes no sense to put someone back, Mills said. "I dont see him being effective if he does go back. Whos going to vote for any of his stuff? Katherine Burgess covers government and religion. She can be reached at katherine.burgess@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter @kathsburgess. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Shelby County could reappoint Pearson after expulsion from TN House The shooting incident that killed one man and injured another at a Horsham cemetery last month was deemed justified, the Montgomery County DA's office announced Friday. Daniel Elijah Hawkins, 29, was killed, and Arian Davis, 33, was seriously injured when gunfire broke out within a group at Whitemarsh Memorial Park on March 18. Hawkins fired at Davis, who returned fire in self-defense, fatally striking him, according to a DA's office press release. Both men are from Philadelphia. What happened between Hawkins and Davis at Whitemarsh Memorial Park in Horsham Davis and friends arrived at the Limekiln Pike cemetery to celebrate the birthday of a friend, Tyreek Fairel, who was fatally shot in Norristown in 2013, at about 3 p.m. He was in his car when Hawkins approached the vehicle and began firing at Davis, who he knew, the DA's office said. Hawkins had arrived at the cemetery alone, and he had a handgun that had been altered with a "switch," which converts the handgun into a fully automatic weapon, according to investigators. When he fired at Davis, the handgun was in "automatic" mode, officials said. Davis returned fire with a gun he owned legally and had a concealed carry permit for, according to the DA's office. Davis was taken to Abington Hospital for injuries to his jaw, hand and leg. Investigators determined more than 30 shots were fired during the incident. Roads near the 165-acre memorial park were closed for several hours while police investigated the scene that day. Why was the shooting at Horsham cemetery deemed justifiable? DA Kevin Steele said in a statement there was "no doubt" who shot and killed Hawkins. To be justified, the shooter had to be in reasonable fear of death or serious injury, the DA said. Davis was struck multiple times before he fired back. Davis was under attack and in danger of being killed when he fired his legally owned weapon to end the threat. For these reasons, I conclude that this was a justifiable shooting, and therefore, no criminal charges are warranted," a statement from Steele reads in part. Story continues Police investigate cemetery shooting: Here's the latest on deadly shooting at graveside birthday inside Horsham cemetery Police-involved investigated in Falls: Falls, Bucks County DA release little information on officer-involved shooting Bucks police get database: Bucks, Montgomery county police get database to fight gun crimes. Here's how it works Upper Southampton shooting justified: Man, 21, who shot, killed 2 outside of Steam in Upper Southampton will not be charged What happened to Tyreek Fairel? Fairel, 19, was fatally shot in Norristown on July 4, 2013. Fairel and Hawkins were shot in a car by Dwayne Jubilee after an argument on East Elm Street in Norristown that day, according to a Times Herald report from the time. Hawkins was shot in the hand and survived, that report states. Jubilee, 29, of Norristown, was found not guilty of voluntary manslaughter, but was convicted of aggravated assault, possession of an instrument of crime and recklessly endangering another person in the shooting, according to reports. Court records state Jubilee was sentenced in January 2015 to 7 to 15 years in prison. He remains in state prison, according to prison records. This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Fatal shooting at Horsham cemetery was justified, Montco DA says The quiet perceptions, everyday troubles and intermittent moments of transcendence that make up Kelly Reichardts films have always had a rhythm apart from most American movies. Reichardts latest, Showing Up, which opens in theaters Friday, is no exception. But its also more directly about the compulsions and pains of making modest, hand-crafted art. Michelle Williams plays a Portland, Oregon, ceramics artist of little renown but quiet devotion, trying to prepare a gallery show while things like a distracted landlady (Hong Chau) and an injured bird intrude on her life. We were trying to make a film about someone whos caught up in balancing the day-to-day, someone for whom working is like eating, but life has all these other demands of you, Reichardt, who penned the film with her regular screenwriter, Jonathan Raymond, said in an interview last year ahead of the film's premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. How the 59-year-old Reichardt, long a leading American indie filmmaker, has balanced her own career in filmmaking with lifes demands has sometimes been a topic of debate. While steadily making movies, Reichardt also teaches film at Bard College. After Williams in an interview suggested Reichardt has to teach to have health care, Gawker published a piece headlined Kelly Reichardt Shouldnt Have to Put Up With Bard Students. I cringe at that, Reichardt said. The thing is, I love to teach. The idea of that really bums me out. I never look at anything but someone sent me that link. I never had the idea that filmmaking was going to sustain me." I just always think: I get to go make a film? Thats cool. About someone stealing milk? said Reichardt, whose sublime 2020 film First Cow revolved around a pair of baking friends in 1820s Oregon. I mean, I get it. Filmmaking is expensive. Then also, in America, we dont do art for arts sake. But I feel fortunate. Ive gotten to make a lot of films in the last years. People who are going to make these films are either up for it or theyre not going to get involved. If an A24's up for making a film about two ceramicists, thats pretty good. Story continues Showing Up, which A24 is distributing, came up in the press conference held by Cannes' artistic director, Thierry Fremaux, who was defending the festival's record with female filmmakers. One journalist, as an example, discussed whether Reichardts film was major or minor Reichardt. And Thierry said, Theyre all minor? guessed Reichardt, laughing. It was an ironic exchange given that Reichardt films, where economic inequities often slyly dictate characters lives, have never catered to traditional dichotomies of status. The stakes in Showing Up may be low, but they are, more importantly, whatever they mean to the characters. A lot of people are creative, Williams character says. If were talking in the context of, like, the hit is on side A, Im fine with being a side B-er, says Reichardt. But if its in the context of your own work, thats maybe more discouraging. If youre already a minor and then youre a minor of your own minor, I dont know. One really doesnt need to spend too much time thinking about these things because the rest of the world will just decide for you. You can just do your own thing and let everyone else figure it out. Williams, who has been a regular collaborator with Reichardt since 2008's Wendy and Lucy," says it's much the same for her, even though her films, like last year's The Fabelmans," dwarf her Showing Up character's less glamorous, handmade creations. You never know if what youre doing is going to be of any interest to anybody but yourself," Williams said in a recent interview. Williams, who has now made four films with Reichardt, says that as close as their bond is, Reichardt's process is still always illuminating. Whenever I make a movie with Kelly, Im always curious about what shes seeing that I cant see yet. Shes got her eye around the bend, Williams said. So I love, through the process of making the movie, understanding whats on her mind. Sometimes when she first sends me the script, its still not clear to me. But her storytelling, her shot composition is taking the story to a place thats not discernable on the page. For Reichardt, much of the joy of Showing Up was in relying on Portland-based artists to make the pieces seen throughout the film. She shot much of the film in a defunct art school, filling its classroom spaces with artists and art-making. Its community based. These are singular artists making their work but theyre not in a vacuum, Reichardt said while the thumping music of a nearby DJ preparing for the nights party nearly drowned her out. You could talk about it in terms of filmmaking, too. Im working with my mates. The kids were making stuff that I would go home at night and work into the script. We were all passing things off and learning. It became a school, basically. ___ Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP A skincare expert has revealed the wrong way brushing your teeth may lead to acne breakouts. Dr Mehss, a medical student from Turkey, has gone viral on TikTok for the skincare tips she shares with her 743,000 followers. Earlier this month, she went viral once again when she shared how the order in which you brush your teeth could be the cause of acne breakouts. In a TikTok with 5.1m views, Dr Mehss showed pictures of patients with pimples around their chin, mouth, and jawline. POV: You brush your teeth after washing your face, she wrote over the clip. In her video, Dr Mehss claimed that cleansing before brushing your teeth can cause the bacteria from the teeth to spread around the mouth and face, resulting in acne. The skin expert also said that left-over toothpaste may lead to dryness or skin irritation. If you brush your teeth after washing your face, you may be doing your skin a disservice, she captioned the viral TikTok. Residual toothpaste that dribbles onto your chin may cause your skin to dry out or become irritated, and some of the active ingredients in toothpaste can cause breakouts. Dermatologists and dentists agree brushing your teeth should always come before washing your face. While putting toothpaste on a problem pimple has been an age-old acne trick for years, dermatologists suggest that the chemicals in toothpaste can lead to breakouts on the face. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is one of the most common ingredients found in toothpaste. A 1983 safety assessment study of SLS published in the International Journal of Toxicology found that SLS isnt harmful if used briefly and rinsed from the skin. However, the report suggested that continuous skin exposure to SLS could cause mild to moderate irritation. Dr Joshua Zeichner, dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, told Well + Good in 2019: SLS is the prototypical sulfate ingredient that has been removed from sulfate-free products. Its a known irritant, causing skin inflammation. It used to be used commonly in cleansers and toothpaste because it acts as a surfactant to help remove dirt from the skin and gunk from teeth. Story continues Many TikTokers were shocked to learn from Dr Mehsss viral video that their tooth brushing routine may be the cause of their breakouts. So basically everything I do is wrong, joked one user. My jaw dropped, said someone else. Im never doing this again. A third person wrote: Omg this explains so much I always have a dry rash there especially before bed after Ive brushed my teeth While acne is a given during the glory days of puberty and adolescence, adults can also get acne ranging from the occasional pimple to a serious breakout. In fact, there are many different types of acne, such as those that are caused by bacteria or ones that are a result of changing hormones. There are many other causes of acne besides just hormones or ones tooth brushing habits. Increased stress, high glycemic index foods, or even makeup can lead to a breakout. The Independent has contacted Dr Mehss for comment. Russian technicians, who were present at the Slovak air base in Sliac until last year, may have deliberately damaged Slovak MiG-29 jet fighters that Bratislava recently supplied to Ukraine. They were able to fly, but that doesnt mean they were also capable of combat, Slovak Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad said after opposition leader Robert Fico criticized the transfer of the jets. "The defects appeared only in those parts accessed by Russians, Nad said. Nad showed confidence, however, that the Ukrainian side will be able to make the aircraft fully operational. They have pilots, spare parts, and a company that has worked on MiGs since the Soviet times, the minister told Dennik N. While the police investigation could not definitely prove intent on the side of the technicians, defects were found only in the aircraft parts accessed by the Russians. The Russian experts were present in the country based on a long-term contract between Bratislava and Moscow. According to the Slovak Air Force General Lubomir Svoboda, their presence was necessary for serious repairs, as they possessed greater know-how of MiGs than Slovak personnel. This allowed the Slovak side to conduct high-level repairs at home rather than sending the jets to Russia. However, Svoboda showed suspicions about their intent in an interview with Dennik N: They gave us an engine that was meant to work for 350 hours. It lasted only 70 hours. This is not the first time Slovakia had issues with Russian military hardware. The Slovak military was forced to ground its Mi-17 helicopters in 2018 due to falsified repair documentation. Slovakia handed over all of its MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine on March 23. Stuart Munro talks to the media outside court - Deadline News/Shutterstock The SNP has hired a leading lawyer who is an expert in white collar crime despite claims from Humza Yousaf, the partys newly-elected leader, that no current staff members are under any suspicion of wrongdoing. The Telegraph understands that Stuart Munro, who acted for Andy Coulson, the disgraced former News of the World editor, in his 2015 perjury trial, is currently representing the party. Mr Munros areas of expertise include white collar crime and associated litigation and allegations of financial crime, according to his online biography. He also represented David Whitehouse, the former Rangers FC administrator, who was awarded more than 10 million in compensation after he was wrongly prosecuted by Scottish authorities for fraud. The revelation that Mr Munro has been engaged by the SNP has raised eyebrows following Mr Yousafs attempts on Thursday to suggest that only Peter Murrell, the partys former chief executive, was suspected of any guilt. The SNP has said it is not paying Mr Murrells legal fees, raising questions around why it would need a high-profile criminal lawyer if, as Mr Yousaf suggested, no current workers are in legal trouble. Mr Munro, managing director and head of criminal litigation at legal firm Livingstone Brown, was previously involved in the SNPs submission to the Supreme Court when it argued that Holyrood had the power to hold a unilateral independence referendum. Attempts to claim that Scots were a people with an inalienable right to self-determination under international law were given short shrift by Britains top court. A Scottish Tory source said: Eyebrows will be raised among not only the public but by SNP members that the party are once again relying on this particular lawyer. He submitted the SNPs debunked Supreme Court submission which crassly compared Scottish independence to Kosovos struggle, but that does not appear to have put the SNP off again asking him for help. They must be fully transparent over what is happening in relation to this investigation at all times. Story continues Mr Yousaf, during a press conference at his Bute House residence, attempted to pin the SNPs turmoil solely on Mr Murrell, following the former chief executives dramatic arrest on Wednesday. He was released without charge, following 11 hours of questioning, but the investigation into SNP finances is ongoing. Police outside Sturgeon's house - Wattie Cheung for The Telegraph Mr Murrell, who is Nicola Sturgeons husband, quit as chief executive of the SNP after more than two decades last month. He accepted the blame for misleading the public over membership figures, an episode the new First Minister called a debacle. Questioned by journalists, Mr Yousaf said he had no issue with other senior SNP staffers staying in their roles, despite them being questioned by police, as interviews had not been carried out under caution. Asked whether any staff members should stand aside while the police investigation into party finances is carried out, Mr Yousaf said: No, I dont believe theres a reason or need to do so because weve been cooperating fully with the police investigation from the very beginning. I dont think that just because somebody has been questioned, they should suddenly lose their job. Unless you can tell me otherwise, there is certainly no suspicion of guilt on anybody else. The only person that I understand has been questioned under caution is Peter [Murrell]. Asked about the issue of Mr Murrells legal fees, Mr Yousaf said the SNP had a party lawyer, an apparent reference to Scott Martin, an in-house legal representative, who has been assisting staff. He did not reference external legal representatives or Mr Munros involvement. Mr Munro recognises the importance of early engagement with the authorities, where appropriate, with a view to seeking discontinuation of prosecutions, his online profile states. Several staffers interviewed This week, Alex Neil, who served as an SNP minister under both Ms Sturgeon and Alex Salmond, said he understood that several party staffers had been interviewed by police. He said he believed the police investigation had been a factor in Ms Sturgeons resignation as first minister, something she has repeatedly denied. The SNP has been approached for comment. The party has previously refused to say whether Mr Munro is also representing Mr Murrell. Continuous social isolation not only makes you lonely, but physically tired, according to a new study. | Eliza Anderson, Deseret News Continuous social isolation not only makes you lonely, but physically tired, according to a new study by the University of Vienna. It creates a sense of hunger not unlike that of food deprivation. Science news outlet Neuroscience News said researchers at the university studied 30 female volunteers in a lab over the course of three days. Each day they spent eight hours without social contact, food or either, while scientists recorded physiological stress responses like heart rate and cortisol. The study was published in the journal Psychological Science. Researchers then compared the results to a field study they conducted during the COVID-19 lockdown to see the effects of social isolation, finding that social isolation had effects comparable with the effects of food deprivation, the study said. Neuroscience News said when someone goes without food for a period of time, the body feels a sense of hunger that needs to be satisfied. As a social species, we also need other people to survive, and a lack of social contact creates a similar craving response that pushes us to connect with others. Related In the lab, we found striking similarities between social isolation and food deprivation. Both states induced lowered energy and heightened fatigue, which is surprising given that food deprivation literally makes us lose energy, while social isolation would not, first authors Ana Stijovic and Paul Forbes told Neuroscience News. Another study author, Giorgia Silani, said in the article, It is well-known that long-term loneliness and fatigue are related, but we know little about the immediate mechanisms that underlie this link. The fact that we see this effect even after a short period of social isolation suggests that low energy could be a social homeostatic adaptive response, which in the long run can become maladaptive. Story continues The scientific journal Cell defines social homeostasis as ones ability to do a better job of forming social connections by assessing and improving the quantity and quality of ones social interactions. Related Loneliness The Deseret News recently reported on our need to feel belonging as human beings and said, Belonging is not just good. Its not just a happiness boost. It is vital to survival. Research from the paper The Need to Belong: Desire for Interpersonal Attachments as a Fundamental Human Motivation found that when we do not feel like we belong, it significantly lowers mental and physical health, creating risk of behavioral problems ranging from traffic accidents to criminality to suicide, the Deseret News reported. Academy expert Roger OSullivan told the Deseret News that by trying to build different kinds of relationships with others, people are able to reduce the risk of loneliness in their lives, but doing so varies according to where you are on your journey with loneliness. Most Americans are opposed to cuts to Social Security and Medicares benefits, two of the countries largest social safety nets, according to a poll released Friday by the Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs research. The findings come as House Republicans work to hammer out a budget proposal to begin debt limit discussions with congressional Democrats and the White House, or else the nation faces a catastrophic default. Both Democratic and Republican leaders have promised not to touch the two entitlement programs, but the vastly popular social safety nets face looming shortfalls in the next decade that will have to be addressed if lawmakers want to maintain them. People walk outside the U.S Capitol building in Washington, June 9, 2022. Most U.S. adults are opposed to proposals that would cut into Medicare or Social Security benefits. What did the poll find? The poll found that Americans are largely against negative changes to Social Security and Medicare, including cuts to benefits and raising the programs eligibility age. 79% of Americans are opposed to reducing the benefits people receive from Social Security. On raising Social Securitys eligibility age from 67 to 70, 75% of Americans were against it. 67% are opposed to increasing premiums for people enrolled in Medicare. On raising Medicares eligibility age from 65 to 67, 70% of Americans were against it. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4%. Stay in the conversation on politics: Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter President Joe Biden speaks about his administration's plans to protect Social Security and Medicare and lower healthcare costs, Feb. 9, 2023, at the University of Tampa in Tampa, Florida. Social Security and Medicare set to run out within the next decade Both Social Security and Medicare are projected to run out of funds to continue paying full benefits within the next decade. The Social Security Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, which pays out Social Security benefits, wont be able to pay out full benefits after 2033 and Medicare wont be able to do the same after 2031, according to the annual Social Security and Medicare trustees report released last Friday. If lawmakers want to keep the two entitlement programs, theyll either have to raise taxes or reduce benefits, the latter of which Americans are largely opposed to, the poll finds. Raising taxes, on the other hand, could be a viable path. The poll found 58% of Americans in favor of raising taxes on households earning more than $400,000 a year to pay for Medicare, a plan included in President Joe Biden's budget proposal unveiled in March. But raising taxes on higher earners could have a partisan divide. 75% of Democrats supported tax hikes while only 42% of Republicans were in favor. Story continues President Joe Biden speaks about his 2024 budget proposal at the Finishing Trades Institute, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in Philadelphia. What it means for debt ceiling and budget talks House Republicans and the White House have been in a standoff over raising the debt ceiling, which is the legal limit the U.S. government can borrow, with GOP lawmakers demanding spending cut concessions from Biden in exchange for allowing the government to continue paying its debts. If Congress doesnt raise the debt ceiling, the U.S. could default on its debts, likely resulting in economic catastrophe. Not on the chopping block for spending cuts is Social Security and Medicare, according to House GOP leadership. But the reality of the programs looming shortfalls is an issue that has divided Republican presidential hopefuls. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., talks to reporters after meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House February 01, 2023 in Washington, DC. Former President Donald Trump urged congressional Republicans to not touch the two programs in January, telling them under no circumstances should the programs be cut. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has called for raising the retirement age for younger Americans and limiting benefits. Former Vice President Mike Pence, who is still considering launching a campaign, has said considerations on changes to Social Security and Medicare should be on the table in the long term. The Associated Press contributed to this report This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Social Security and Medicare: Poll shows most Americans against cuts Atul Gupta (L), one of the brothers accused of having a corrupt relationship with former President Zuma (R) South Africa's bid to have two brothers from the wealthy Gupta family extradited from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has failed. Atul and Rajesh Gupta are accused in South Africa of profiting from their close links with former President Jacob Zuma and exerting unfair influence. The justice ministry said it had learnt with "shock and dismay" about the move. The brothers, who deny any wrongdoing, fled after a judicial commission began probing a major corruption scandal. The Indian-born Guptas were arrested in the UAE last June and extradition talks with South Africa began. But the UAE said that it turned down the extradition request on a technicality. In a brief statement, quoted in the Emirates News Agency, it said that a review "found that the request did not meet the strict standards for legal documentation as outlined in the extradition agreement between the UAE and South Africa" that came into force two years ago. Some of the paperwork was either incorrect, in the case of the fraud charge, or missing, in the case of the corruption charge, the statement adds. The decision was made in February but it was only communicated to South Africa on Thursday, South African Justice Minister Ronald Lamola said. "The reasons provided for denying our request are inexplicable and fly in the face of the assurances given by Emirati authorities that our requests meet their requirements," Mr Lamola is quoted by South Africa's Mail & Guardian newspaper as saying. The UAE government says the "South African authorities are able to resubmit the extradition request with new and additional documentation". Earlier, Mr Lamola had said his government would appeal against the decision. In recent weeks there have been media reports that the brothers were no longer in custody and had been spotted in Switzerland. The justice ministry could not confirm this or whether the brothers, who had been granted South African citizenship, had acquired passports from the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu. Story continues The news is a blow for South Africa's fight to bring the Guptas to justice. An official inquiry, known as the Zondo commission, took four years to probe allegations of high-level corruption under the Zuma presidency, exposing how billions of dollars were looted from state coffers. It found that the brothers, who once enjoyed unfettered access to power that became known as "state capture", tried to influence political and economic decisions. Many of the most serious allegations focus on their relationship with Mr Zuma, who was president of South Africa from 2009 until he was forced to step down amid a storm of corruption allegations nine years later. The Gupta family is accused of using their close links with Mr Zuma to win business contracts, influence high-profile government appointments and misappropriate state funds. Mr Zuma, along with the Guptas, denies the allegations. South Africa negotiated an extradition treaty with the UAE in 2021, three years after the brothers fled the country. More about the Guptas in South Africa: Cristale Spain, a candidate for the South Carolina Democratic party chair, in Orangeburg, S.C. on April 1, 2023. (Sean Rayford/The New York Times) COLUMBIA, S.C. Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, a longtime kingmaker in Democratic politics who helped resurrect President Joe Bidens 2020 presidential campaign, exercised his influence Wednesday over a much smaller race far closer to home: the campaign to determine who will lead his states Democratic Party. Clyburn endorsed Christale Spain, a former party executive director who once worked in his South Carolina office and would be the first Black woman to lead the party if elected. His involvement underlines the larger-than-usual stakes of the three-candidate race, a contest that has often been a low-key, noncompetitive affair for a behind-the-scenes post. As Democrats in South Carolina recover from several damaging election cycles and stare down their debut as the partys first presidential primary state, a once-in-a-generation campaign for state party chair has been brought to life, complete with the kind of glad-handing, fundraising and mudslinging more often encountered in a congressional primary. At stake is who will prepare the party for the next election while staving off further down-ballot losses. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times The three candidates the most in over 25 years represent factions of the states Democratic base, from its grassroots activists to high-powered operatives. Spain is widely viewed as the front-runner. But the same resume that brought Clyburn to her camp has been fodder for some of her biggest critics, who say the party needs a major overhaul, not a return to the status quo they believe she would represent. More than 1,600 county delegates will vote for the chair at the end of the month at the annual state Democratic convention in Columbia. The winner, who will serve a two-year term, will be tasked with rebuilding an understaffed and underfunded state party while reengaging key Democratic constituencies. The central question, however, is just what strategy the party will employ as it prepares for prime time. Story continues We have an opportunity to stop the bleeding, Spain said. We could have this funding stream that comes in because of our new status. But if we muck it up, then what happens? Every cycle is a 2022 cycle? Thats our new normal forever? Thats the worst that can happen. For many South Carolina Democrats, the 2022 midterm elections are burned in their memory, as party veterans lost a host of previously safe races from school boards to the state House, where Democrats ceded eight seats to Republicans five of which had been held by Black women. The GOP secured a supermajority for the first time since the Civil War era. The state party was too short on cash to support most of its candidates and did little to coordinate strategy with its nominee for governor, Joe Cunningham, who lost to the incumbent, Henry McMaster, by nearly 20 points. Paltry engagement with Black voters sank their turnout to the lowest in decades. Democratic officials largely faulted the partys state leadership for the poor showing. It was almost as if we just have lost our way, lost our direction, said state Sen. Vernon Jones, whose district covers five counties. We dont have the right message. Against the backdrop of preparations for the 2024 primary, the newly prominent chair race has underscored Democrats competing messages for how to improve their standing in the state via incremental steps to raise money and take back seats or through untested strategies the party has been reluctant to employ. Spains most formidable competitor is Brandon Upson, the chair of the state Democratic Partys Black caucus, who is running as part of a four-person slate of candidates for party leadership posts. Catherine Fleming Bruce, an activist who fell short in the 2022 Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, is also running. The candidates have spent months crisscrossing the state, stumping at county party meetings and recruiting surrogates. Some Democratic groups are exploring the possibility of hosting a debate. Spain distributes mailers with her campaign message at every stop she makes. Upsons slate has established an account on the political donation website ActBlue for its fundraising. His message to delegates is simple: Im tired of losing. The same people have been running our party and handpicking our party chair for 25 years, Upson said. And if you look at the trend line for this party over the 25 years, weve been losing more and more every cycle. The states more enthusiastic Democrats have been clamoring for a way to win back seats and put South Carolina in play in the same way that Georgia, its neighbor to the west, has been. Spain has cautioned fellow Democrats against overplaying their hand, even in the face of the money and attention that voting first in 2024 might bring. Those kinds of inroads are made over several cycles, she said, and will require newer, bolder and realistic thinking. We have to be strategic and responsible about what were doing, Spain said at a recent meeting of Orangeburg County Democrats. We have to establish our battlefield. That battlefield makes up all 46 of South Carolinas counties and the voters whom Democrats have failed to mobilize. Her main focus, she said, will be on winning back the state House seats the party lost in previous cycles and protecting the remaining safe seats. Then they can talk about unseating Republicans. Much of Spains stump speech focuses on her experience. She started at the state party as a volunteer and worked for the last three state chairs. In 2016, she joined Sen. Bernie Sanders presidential campaign team. After directing Sen. Cory Bookers South Carolina operation in 2020, she coordinated Jaime Harrisons U.S. Senate campaign with the state party. In 2022, she directed Black engagement for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The departing state party chair, Trav Robertson, is also supporting her bid. On the other hand, Upson is aiming to harness grassroots groups, young voters and political newcomers a constituency that has grown in the state in recent years. Under his leadership, the state partys Black caucus has expanded its membership, putting a healthy number of delegates in his corner. Thats where my base of support is, he said. Youre not going to see it in James Clyburns office. (BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM.) On Tuesday morning, Upson joined more than three dozen labor activists protesting working conditions at a factory outside Columbia. After sweating and chanting in the sun outside a Ryder trucking warehouse, he encouraged the crowd to think of the Democratic Party as a partner in their activism, not a bystander. We have to remind ourselves that we are the people and we have the power in our hands, he told the group. (END OPTIONAL TRIM.) Upson, an Army veteran, has focused much of his organizing work on engaging Black male voters in low-income communities a part of his biography he has also promoted in his campaign. In 2020, he was national organizing director for Tom Steyer, whose presidential bid injected millions into South Carolina and frustrated the leaders backing Biden, who claimed the billionaire was buying Black support. Upson vehemently denies those claims. But it was Upsons work with a candidate for Charleston County Council that agitated even more Democrats. In 2022, he helped a Republican, Joe Boykin, unseat the countys Democratic chair, Anna Johnson. Both Boykin and Upson maintain that Upsons involvement was limited to building Boykins campaign website. Still, his victory handed the balance of power on the council to Republicans and cemented a line of attack for Spains supporters. (STORY CAN END HERE. OPTIONAL MATERIAL FOLLOWS.) In describing the state of the race, Clyburn paraphrased from the Bible: They are not known by their words but their deeds. If somebody tells you they are a Democrat, and you look at what theyre doing and its all been to help Republicans, what am I supposed to believe about you? he said. And for Spain, the messaging from her opponents echoes a familiar pattern she has observed in politics, of suspicions about qualified Black women in power. Or, worse, being brushed aside for opportunities with little reason. Being a Black woman with a strong resume for the role, people can turn that into a negative, she said. Ive been doing the jobs that have been put in front of me. Ive built the relationships that Ive had an opportunity to build, not for any hidden agenda, but because Im working with them. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, an influential state lawmaker, is supporting Upson. She is encouraging delegates to pledge their allegiance to the candidate who, she said, is not in the clique. This party has been run for too many years by cliques, she said. I want somebody who is interested in expanding the circle. Cobb-Hunter, who is Black, recognized the historic implications of having a party led by a Black woman for the first time. However, she said, the determining factor in her decision came down to who she most believed could help Democrats in the state win elections again. Politics, to me, is a business. Its not personal. Its about getting the job done, she said. She later added, Simply basing something on gender in and of itself is shortsighted, in my view. Stephens, the state senator, announced at the Orangeburg County party meeting that after weeks of deliberation and conversations with all three candidates, he would support Spain. Fresh off a visit with Black Democrats in rural South Carolina, he said the next chair should be mindful of a shift he has observed in the electorate. The citizens are taking things in their own hands, he said. Theyre going to vet candidates. Theyre no longer going to be told that this is the individual you should be voting for. They are going to vote their conviction. South Carolina is changing. c.2023 The New York Times Company For centuries, African slaves and emancipated men marched in Seville's Easter parades, carrying statues of Christ and the Virgin on their shoulders as part of a unique brotherhood that remains active today. Founded more than 600 years ago, the Black Brotherhood is the oldest religious brotherhood still active in this southern city, which is widely seen as the centre of Holy Week celebrations in Spain. Officially known as the "Most Holy Christ of the Foundation and Our Lady of Angels", the brotherhood has for centuries been known as "La Hermandad de los Negritos", a name its members chose themselves. It is one of 70 brotherhoods and voluntary associations involved in staging multiple Easter week processions when Christians remember the death and resurrection of Jesus. What's unique about this brotherhood is that it emerged in the late 14th century, made up of Africans -- both slaves and freedmen -- who were barred from similar organisations, says Isidoro Moreno, a retired anthropologist from Seville University. The example was later "exported" to the Americas where "dozens of black brotherhoods (were set up) in the 16th century," says Moreno, author of a book called "The ancient brotherhood of the black people of Seville". It was only at the end of the 19th century that the Brotherhood began admitting white people. - Black and African saints - Inside the Chapel of Our Lady of Angels, which was built in 1550 on a plot of land owned by the Brotherhood, there are icons of black saints such as Benedict the Moor from Sicily and Martin de Porres of Peru. It was from here that the brothers and Nazarene "penitents" with their long robes and distinctive pointed hoods set out on Maundy Thursday for their annual procession to Seville Cathedral. The pointed 'capirote' hoods originated in the 15th century when they were put over the heads of those condemned by the Inquisition. They were later adopted by southern Spain's Catholic brotherhoods for use at Easter as a symbol of penitence, with white symbolising purity. Story continues Shouldering heavy floats depicting scenes from the Passion but also adorned with the faces of Ethiopian saints Elesban and Ephigenia, the Brotherhood's "costaleros" slowly made their way through the streets. Among them is Raul de Lemos, a 19-year-old student and one of the few black members of the Brotherhood. Being in the Brotherhood "is a good thing, a way of remembering the past," the bearded teen told AFP during rehearsals ahead of Holy Week. - Slavery - The Brotherhood emerged out of a refuge set up in the 1390s by Seville's archbishop Gonzalo de Mena for African slaves who were abandoned by their owners through advanced age or illness. Slaves were allowed to join, "with their owners' permission", along with others who managed to buy their freedom or won it after their owners' died, Moreno said. Following Europe's discovery of the Americas, there was rising demand for cheap labour which saw a growing number of Africans shipped into the Iberian Peninsula. So great was the influx that Seville became one of Spain's biggest slavery centres, with Africans accounting for 12 percent of the city's population in the 16th and 17th centuries. With most of the Brotherhood's members from the poorest sectors of society, they were subject to "much stricter" supervision by the Catholic Church with white ruling classes fearful of an uprising, Moreno says. - Saved by a papal edit - In 1604, a Maundy Thursday standoff saw its members come to blows with a brotherhood of nobles, leaving several people injured, Moreno says. Several members were whipped, and the Brotherhood was forbidden to participate in the rest of the Holy Week processions. The Brotherhood might have disappeared altogether without being saved by a papal edict in 1625, ratifying its existence and protecting it. By the mid-18th century, it formally adopted "the Black Brotherhood" as its name, as it had long been known colloquially, Moreno says. In the 19th century, when Seville's black population dwindled, the Brotherhood began admitting white people, little-by-little becoming a local institution for residents. "What the Brotherhood is most proud of... is that we are the successors of those black people who fought so hard" to preserve the organisation over time, said Alfredo Montilla, one of its leaders. du/hmw/CHZ/jm A Spanish film and television actor became the subject of global scrutiny this week after honoring her late son in an unusual, if heartfelt, way. Ana Obregon adopted a baby girl, Ana Sandra Lequio Obregon, last month via a surrogate. The child arrived March 20 at Miamis Memorial Regional Hospital, according to Reuters. In translated excerpts of an interview published Wednesday in Spains Hola magazine, Obregon revealed that the newborn is actually her granddaughter and the biological daughter of her son, Aless Lequio, who died in May 2020 at age 27. This baby girl is not my daughter, but my granddaughter, Obregon, 68, told the magazine. She is Aless daughter and when she grows up I will tell her that her father was a hero so that she knows who she is and how proud she should be of him. She said her son froze his sperm shortly after being diagnosed with cancer, as chemotherapy can affect fertility. What people dont know is that this was Aless last wish: to bring a child into the world, Ana Obregon said. What people dont know is that this was Aless last wish: to bring a child into the world, Ana Obregon said. After sharing that the process of conceiving the baby began the day my child went to heaven, she said, What people dont know is that this was Aless last wish: to bring a child into the world. Though the bulk of Obregons acting career has been in Spain, shes made a handful of guest appearances in American television series, including The A-Team and Whos the Boss? She played Bo Dereks best friend in the big-screen romantic drama Bolero, released in 1984. Her announcement has sparked controversy among Spaniards, though many dont seem particularly vexed by the unusual family arrangement. Instead, much of the criticism stems from the actor being permitted to travel abroad for a surrogate pregnancy. All forms of surrogacy are banned in Spain along with a number of other European countries, including France, Germany and Italy. Womens bodies should neither be bought nor rented to satisfy anyones desires, Spains Minister for the Presidency Felix Bolanos told Reuters. Story continues Despite the controversy, Obregon has maintained that shes not opposed to using surrogates to have more grandchildren. My son wanted five kids, she explained. Maybe one day we will have a boy. Related... An airbus A330-300 of Sri Lankan Airlines takes off. Sri Lanka's national carrier has been struggling against even more headwinds than many of its rivals. Airlines around the world have been buffeted by the impact of countries closing their borders during the pandemic and soaring fuel prices due to the Ukraine war. State-owned SriLankan Airlines is also facing the worst economic crisis for decades in its home country. Its British-born boss told the BBC how he plans to turn the firm around. "I think the first lesson for me is don't ever go and be a CEO during Covid," Richard Nuttall, the chief executive of SriLankan Airlines, jokes when asked what his biggest takeaway is from the last two years. Mr Nuttall has spent decades in the airline industry, working with names including Cathay Pacific and Philippines Airlines. He became the chief executive of SriLankan Airlines in April last year, after joining the company in November 2021 as its chief commercial officer. He joined the loss-making carrier after Sri Lanka eased its coronavirus border restrictions and hopes were high that the firm was set to see a recovery in passenger numbers. Richard Nuttall became the CEO of SriLankan Airlines in April 2022 However, the economic problems that had been dragging on the country since before the pandemic deepened in the summer of 2021. A series of missteps by the government resulted in the worst economic crisis since the country's independence, depleting Sri Lanka's foreign reserves needed to import everything from food to fuel. Soaring prices saw protesters taking to the streets, which hammered the country's tourism industry, which was vital to its economy. Countries that advised their citizens to not travel to Sri Lanka smacked of "double standards", Mr Nuttall said. "In the west, protest is a sign of democracy and nobody issues travel advisories. But when you have a protest in somewhere like Sri Lanka, everybody slaps on travel advisories." In February, Sri Lanka secured a $3bn (2.4bn) bailout from the International Monetary Fund. As part of the plan to rebuild its shattered economy, the government aims to raise funds by privatising SriLankan Airlines. Story continues In February this year, unable to meet interest payments due end of the year, the company defaulted on a $175m (140m) bond. Mr Nuttall highlighted that, while he was not against selling off the business, there was still a lot of work to be done to restructure its debt before that can happen. "If we can structure that debt, then a large part of what we're paying as interest comes back and can be used to run the airline," he said. "And it means that an outside investor can come in and not pay for the sins of the past." Howard University has appointed Stacey Abrams as its first Ronald W. Walters Endowed Chair for Race and Black Politics, the HBCU announced in a Wednesday news release. I am honored to serve as the inaugural Ronald W. Walters Endowed Chair for Race and Black Politics, Abrams said. We are at an inflection point for American and international democracy, and I look forward to engaging Howard Universitys extraordinary students in a conversation about where they can influence, shape and direct the critical public policy decisions we face. Abrams role will focus on interdisciplinary collaborations across the University on issues of race and Black politics. She will also invite guest speakers as she leads the universitys Ronald W. Walters Speakers Series. She is expected to be appointed in September 2023, according to The Washington Post. Abrams will remain based in Georgia although she is set to travel to Washington D.C., where Howard University is located. We are pleased to welcome @StaceyAbrams, Esq. to Howard University as the inaugural Ronald W. Walters Endowed Chair for Race and Black Politics! Read more | https://t.co/wcf3WEYbmz pic.twitter.com/cbVepVbmTS Howard University (@HowardU) April 5, 2023 Stacey Abrams has proven herself an essential voice and eager participant in protecting American democracy not just for certain populations, but for everyone with the fundamental right to make their voices heard, Howard University President Wayne A.I. Frederick said. Abrams started her political career as the Democratic leader of the Georgia General Assembly, a position she occupied from 2007 to 2017. In 2018, Abrams became the first African American woman to win a major party nomination for governor as the Democratic nominee in Georgia. She lost the election by less than 2 percent of the vote, according to The Washington Post. She became nationally known for mobilizing Black voters in Georgia and campaigning for voter registration during the 2020 presidential election. She is also the author of fifteen books, including biographies, political thrillers, entrepreneurial guidebooks and childrens books. [Source] Lucasfilm and Disney+ has unveiled the first trailer for Star Wars: Ahsoka," starring Rosario Dawson. Presented at London's Star Wars Celebration on Friday amidst a bevy of Star Wars news, the series will follow the journey of exiled Jedi Ahsoka Tano, played by Dawson. Voiced by Ashley Eckstein, Ahsoka was introduced in the 2008 animated TV series "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" as the Padawan to Anakin Skywalker, quickly becoming a fan favorite. Ahsoka was also featured in the animated series "Star Wars Rebels" before Dawson portrayed the character for her live-action debut in "The Mandalorian" in 2020. The trailer shows off several Star Wars Rebels characters making their live-action debut. More from NextShark: Korean Nigerian Model Honors 3rd Grade Teacher for Supporting Him During Tough Childhood Natasha Liu Bordizzo will portray Mandalorian warrior Sabine Wren. Ecuadorian and Iranian actor Eman Esfandi will star as Rebels protagonist and Jedi Padawan Ezra Bridger. Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who made a surprise appearance at the celebration, revealed she will be playing Hera Syndulla. Rebels antagonist Grand Admiral Thrawn makes a brief appearance in the trailer, but it is unknown who will be playing him. Ray Stevenson from "Vikings" and Ivanna Sakhno from "Pacific Rim: Uprising" will also star in the show. Actor and martial artist Diana Lee Inosanto will reprise her as Magistrate Morgan Elsbeth, who Ashoka squared off against in The Mandalorian. Dawson shared that the show was shot on The Volume, an LED immersive soundstage that was also used for The Mandalorian. More from NextShark: Doctor Allegedly Stopped From Entering Gas Station in Indiana for Being Asian We are completely immersed almost all the time. The level of detail is remarkable. Even the last day, the light sabers turn on and were in the world. Its only been three weeks since my heart stopped racing. I wake up every morning thinking I need to be doing something. Story continues Star Wars Ahsoka will arrive on Disney+ in August. Check out the trailer below: More from NextShark: '38 at the Garden': Frank Chi exposes Asian stereotypes and generational trauma in new 'Linsanity' documentary Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Family-Owned Fruit Business in San Jose Has All Their Valuables Taken By Burglars Steve-O has sent a warning to fans after videos circulated of audience members fainting while watching his new live show. The Jackass star is currently touring Australia with his show, titled The Bucket List, before travelling to the UK. On Instagram, Steve-O (real name Stephen Glover) shared clips of fans passing out during recent performances, crediting it to some of the graphic clips played on stage. I was shocked as anyone to learn that people were passing out at my Bucket List shows, but the more graphic videos I screen during the show have proven to consistently have that effect, he wrote. Im headed back to Australia, then the UK next, please attend with caution! #StayInYourSeat, he continued. Throughout his time on the Jackass films and TV series, Steve-O was renowned for his willingness to take on particularly dangerous or painful stunts. He previously described the Bucket List tour as a multimedia comedy show that is wildly explicit. In fact, its even X-rated, like, XXX-rated something Im really quite proud of. I did all these stunts that Id never be allowed to do for Jackass. I did things that were flagrantly illegal, he claimed, in an interview with Complex. I did things that were super life-threatening, and, I made it all into a comedy show where I tell the stories of these ideas and then after each bit in the show, I screen the footage of the culmination of the bit. Back in 2021, Steve-O revealed the three Jackass stunts that were too extreme to show. Oklahomas governor and state schools superintendent are backing controversial rules on parental rights and pornographic content in schools, despite the attorney general indicating the rules should be null and void. "This is common sense," Gov. Kevin Stitt said in a statement Thursday. "Parents don't want their tax dollars paying for pornographic material to be available to their kids' in school. I urge my colleagues in the legislature to swiftly approve this rule and keep inappropriate, pornographic material out of our public schools." Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued a binding opinion on Tuesday. The opinion stated any administrative rules should be deemed unenforceable if the state Legislature hasnt first authorized a state agency to create rules on that subject or a related statute. Rather than corresponding to a recent law the Legislature had passed, state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters created new rules himself on pornographic material and parental rights, citing existing state statutes. More: Rules impacting school libraries, LGBTQ+ students advance in Oklahoma State Board of Education Attorney General Gentner Drummond, left, and state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters are administered the oath by Chief Justice M. John Kane IV on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, during Inauguration Day ceremonies at the Oklahoma Capitol. But, the state law Walters relied upon to assert his state agencys rulemaking authority is the exact statute Drummond said is insufficient justification to create rules. The Oklahoma State Department of Education also cited Oklahomas Parent Bill of Rights, but that law doesnt contain a directive to create further regulations. Deciding whether a state agency overstepped its authority is ultimately something that the courts will decide, a spokesperson for the attorney general said on Thursday. Whether I agree or disagree with any particular rule in question is irrelevant if the Board does not have the proper authority to issue those rules, Drummond said in a Wednesday statement. The Legislature is vested with policymaking authority. I will not allow any state agency, board or commission to usurp the Legislatures rightful role, even if they have the best of intentions. Story continues Ryan Walters, right, stands beside Gov. Kevin Stitt on Aug. 23, 2022, after winning the GOP primary runoff election for state schools superintendent. The Oklahoma State Board of Education approved Walters regulations on March 23 and sent them to the Legislature for consideration. What would Ryan Walters' proposed rules do? The rules would ban pornographic material and sexualized content from public school libraries. It also would require school staff to notify a students parents if the child expressed interest in changing their pronouns or gender identity, a measure LGBTQ+ advocates urged against. Schools that failed to comply with either set of rules risked a downgrade in their accreditation status. The state Education Department received hundreds of pages of public comment and hours of remarks from Oklahomans advocating for and against Walters' proposals. Board members listen to public comment Thursday, March, 23, 2023, during a meeting with the Oklahoma State Board of Education in Oklahoma City. Walters initially said he disagreed with Drummonds opinion, but on Thursday, he sent a letter to legislative leaders saying the attorney general wasnt even referring to his rules. The state superintendent chalked up any insinuation otherwise to misleading media reports. More: Ryan Walters proposes ban on 'sexualized content' in school libraries. What that could mean for Oklahoma The press is seeking to stir controversy between myself and the Attorney General regarding rules, but I do not believe there is any controversy between us, Walters wrote in a letter to House Speaker Charles McCall and Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat. A spokesperson for Treat, R-Oklahoma City, confirmed the pro tem had received the superintendents letter and would review it. McCall didnt immediately return a request for comment Thursday evening. Reporter Nuria Martinez-Keel covers K-12 and higher education throughout the state of Oklahoma. Have a story idea for Nuria? She can be reached at nmartinez-keel@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @NuriaMKeel. Support Nurias work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Gov. Kevin Stitt backs Ryan Walters' rules on porn, parental rights Stormy Daniels Stormy Daniels says Donald Trump does not deserve to be jailed over the payment made to her which landed him in court this week on criminal charges. "I don't think that his crimes against me are worthy of incarceration," the adult film actress told Piers Morgan in her first interview since the hearing. The former US president pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan courtroom to 34 counts of falsifying business records. The felony charges carry a maximum four-year jail sentence. Mr Trump's lawyer paid $130,000 to Ms Daniels before the 2016 election to buy her silence as she was seeking to go public over an alleged affair. Prosecutors say the way the lawyer was subsequently reimbursed by Mr Trump while he was president amounted to tax deception, because the accounts described the payments as legal expenses. Ms Daniels told Talk TV's Piers Morgan Uncensored she did not think he deserved to be put behind bars for what he did. But she added that if he was found guilty of other crimes then he should be jailed as an example to others. Mr Trump faces separate criminal investigations for allegedly mishandling classified material, trying to overturn an election in Georgia, and over his role in the storming of the US Capitol building. When asked if she would testify in the forthcoming trial, Ms Daniels said she "absolutely" would. "It's daunting but I look forward to it, I have nothing to hide. I'm the only one who has been telling the truth." Her feelings when she saw Mr Trump walk into the courtroom were mixed, she said, but the overriding emotion was sadness. "He had to be under the rule of someone else, the judge. The king had been dethroned. He's no longer untouchable." The prosecutor bringing the case, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, said disguising the payment to Ms Daniels defrauded voters on the eve of an election. Mr Trump denies ever having sexual relations with Ms Daniels and says the payment was made to protect his family from false allegations, not to sway the election. Story continues Legal experts have told the BBC they think it unlikely Mr Trump will be jailed if convicted and a fine is the more likely outcome. The former president is running again for the White House and a criminal trial next year could disrupt his attempts to seek the Republican nomination. Colleagues in the Republican Party have rallied around him since the indictment and accused Mr Bragg, a Democrat, of carrying out a politically motivated prosecution. A bill that passed the North Carolina state Senate on Thursday would make it easier for law enforcement agencies to disclose the names of some juvenile suspects. Under the current state law, that cant be done unless a juvenile has been referred to adult court. This new bill would allow police to release a information on a juvenile suspect if they are accused of a violent crime and officers need helping finding the person. READ MORE: Youth gun violence: Why is it happening and how can it be stopped? We tried to strike a balance between those privacy needs of the juvenile and the public safety reasons and we provided a judicial review, Sen. Mujtaba Mohammed told Channel 9. Mohammed worked on that compromise in the bill. It requires a judge to give permission before the information is released. One of the reasons privacy is protected in the juvenile justice system is to give teens a second chance after theyve served their time. For that reason, community activist Kristie Puckette Williams thinks this is a mistake. Guilty or not guilty, to have people know the intimate worst days of your life forever, it doesnt allow you to move beyond that, she said. Shetata and Keon Taylor told Channel 9s crime reporter Glenn Counts that they support identifying all teen suspects accused in violent crimes. RELATED: 9 Investigates: Is the justice system stopping youth gun violence? Their son, Nahzir Taylor, was shot and killed moments after he got off his Rocky River High School bus last December. We have to hold these kids accountable, Shetata said. If its embarrassing to have your name released, then it should be embarrassing to commits these crimes. Two teens, Rodrizus Stafford and Viccardo Streater, both 16 at the time of the shooting, are charged with Nahzirs murder. The suspects were identified, because they because they will be tried as adults. The Taylors say any teen accused of a violent crime deserves the same treatment. If you do something thats violent your information needs to be put out there, absolutely, Keon said. If youre not going to care, then why should we care about your privacy? After receiving Senate approval, the bill now heads to the state House for consideration. (WATCH BELOW: New bill aims to legalize marijuana in North Carolina, expunge past offenses) Sunland Derby winner Wild On Ice and Sunland Oaks winner Flying Connection are one step closer to going to Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, for two of the sport's biggest races. Wild On Ice and Flying Connection both worked well on Friday morning at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino for trainers Joel Marr and Todd Fincher, respectively. Both went a half-mile and both trainers are happy with the progress of each horse. Wild On Ice won the Sunland Derby on March 26 to earn 50 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, which is run on the first Saturday in May. Flying Connection won the Sunland Oaks, which earned her 50 qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks, run on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby. Both races are for 3-year-olds. Jockey Ken S. Tohill atop Wild on Ice, #7, smiles after winning the 18th running of the Sunland Derby at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino in Sunland Park, New Mexico, Sunday, March 26, 2023. Both trainers said if their horses come back sound on Saturday, the plan is to fly the horses to Louisville on Sunday aboard a FedEx plane to start preparations for their respective races. "Flying Connection worked great," Fincher said. "She's been doing well. The plan right now is to run in the Oaks." Wild On Ice's owner, Frank Sumpter paid a late nomination fee of $6,000 on March 27 for the Kentucky Derby and is a go for the race if all things go right. Since the March 26 win, Marr wouldn't commit to the Kentucky Derby until after Wild On Ice had another work over the Sunland track. "He looked good in his work (Friday morning) and he's been doing great since the Sunland Derby," Marr said. "If he comes back fine on Saturday, he'll fly to Louisville and I'll join him there." Jockey Alfredo J. Juarez, Jr. celebrates after riding Flying Connection (1) in the win in the Sunland Oaks during the 18th running of the Sunland Derby at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino in Sunland Park , New Mexico , Sunday, March 26, 2023. The trainer is Todd Fincher. More: Sunland Derby news El Paso jockey Luis Fuentes continues to shine at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on Twitter This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Sunland Derby winner, Wild On Ice, one step closer to Kentucky Derby WASHINGTON Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas pushed back Friday against criticism after a report revealed he had secretly accepted lavish trips funded by a GOP donor over the past two decades but had failed to report them, a possible violation of federal law. In a statement, Thomas acknowledged that he and his wife, Ginni Thomas, had joined billionaire GOP megadonor Harlan Crow and his wife Kathy on a number of family trips during the more than a quarter century they have known them. He described the couple as among our dearest friends. Early in my tenure at the court, I sought guidance from my colleagues and others in the judiciary, and was advised that this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the court, was not reportable, Thomas said. I have endeavored to follow that counsel throughout my tenure, and have always sought to comply with the disclosure guidelines, he said. A complicated relationship: Following furor over GOP-donor luxury trips, Joe Biden reckons with another Clarence Thomas scandal Associate Justice Clarence Thomas. The guidelines are now being changed as the committee of the Judicial Conference responsible for financial disclosure for the entire federal judiciary just this past month announced new guidance, Thomas said. It is, of course, my intent to follow this guidance in the future, he said. Thomas statement came one day after ProPublica reported he has taken a series of lavish trips funded Crow over the past two decades without disclosing them, a possible violation of federal law. Thomas has accepted lavish gifts from the billionaire Dallas businessman nearly every year, which had included vacations on Crows superyacht and trips on the billionaires Bombardier Global 5000 jet as well as a week each summer at Crows private resort in the Adirondacks, ProPublica reported, citing flight records, internal documents and interviews with Crows employees. SCOTUS ethics: Supreme Court justices don't have a code of ethics. Hundreds of judges say that's a problem Story continues The investigation comes as the nation's high court fends off requests for a code of ethics, which would likely address similar instances. The disclosures are the latest ethics controversy to dog Thomas, who also has faced tough questions about incomplete financial disclosure forms and appearances at other political gatherings of wealthy conservative donors and influencers. Crow said in a statement that he and his wifes hospitality to Thomas and his wife is no different from the hospitality we have extended to our many other dear friends. Advocates for more transparency and accountability on the court said the disclosures once again raise serious questions about the connections between conservative groups with access to Thomas and whether they are improperly influencing the court. Michael Collins covers the White House. Follow him on Twitter @mcollinsNEWS. WHO IS HARLAN CROW? The real estate magnate and GOP megadonor's relationship to Clarence Thomas This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Clarence Thomas defends lavish 'family trips' funded by GOP donor Surfside resident David Schottenstein, a member of one the nations richest families, has been sentenced to a year and a day in prison for an $3.5 million insider trading scheme involving companies run by relatives. Federal prosecutors, which had a sentencing recommendation of 46 to 57 months in his plea deal, said in a court filing that Schottenstein engaged in illegal trading because of greed, and because he thought he could get away with it. His crime was the product of a rare blend of entitlement and opportunity. The response to the sentencing memo by Schottensteins attorney Eric Rosen argued that his client was not motivated by money, but a need to be liked and validated by his peers particularly in the close-knit Jewish community where he and his family lived. The opposite happened when Schottenstein agreed to cooperate against two other men originally also charged in the scheme Ryan Shapiro of Bay Harbor Islands and Kris Bortnovsky of Surfside, according to a March 14 court filing by Rosen. After the government arrested Shapiro and Bortnovsky and made Schottensteins cooperation public in December 2021, Rosen wrote, Schottenstein and his family suffered prolonged ridicule and shaming within his community. Rosen wrote that as a result Schottenstein suffered a mental health crisis and had even attempted suicide. Schottenstein later decided not to testify against the other two men, both of whom had denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the federal charges. Prosecutors have since dropped charges against both. Schottenstein was sentenced last month in Boston federal court by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock. According to a filing on Monday, he will report on May 1 to the federal prison in Otisville, New York. In addition, Woodlock scheduled Schottenstein for 30 hours per week of community service during his five years of post-prison supervised release. Hell also have to give up $634,593 cash in forfeiture. Prosecutors said Schottensteins played on a relatives corporate board ties for information on a number of companies, including Designer Brands, then known as DSW; the grocery store chain Albertsons; and Green Growth Brands, a company that sells cannibis products. The Securities and Exchange Commission, which regulated stock trading, and the FBIs Miami office helped with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen E. Frank and Seth B. Kosto handled the prosecution. Kanye West first opened Donda Academy in Simi Valley. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) At Kanye West's Donda Academy, the performer's Christian K-12 school, students were subjected to unsafe, unregulated and unsanitary conditions, two former teachers allege in a lawsuit against West and others filed this week in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Cecilia Hailey and Chekarey Byers, the only two Black female teachers at the school, were fired after they voiced concerns over the conditions to administrators, according to the complaint. The school, named for West's mother, operated in Simi Valley before moving to its current location in Chatsworth, according to California Department of Education records. The women are suing West for retaliation, wrongful termination, discrimination and withheld wages. West's attorney, Gregory K. Nelson, declined to comment on the lawsuit, saying he had not seen it as of Thursday afternoon. Hailey, in an interview Thursday with The Times, said she was "very, very disturbed" by what she saw in her time at the school. "We are responsible to make sure that we're giving children a quality education, and when you don't, you are really disturbing the life of that child," Hailey said. "That's just not right." According to the complaint, Hailey was hired as a substitute teacher at Donda Academy in the fall, around the time West made a series of antisemitic comments on social media and in televised interviews. In the wake of the comments, West was dropped by his talent agency, CAA, and Adidas ended its partnership with the rapper. The sportswear company stated that it expected to lose nearly $250 million because of the move. Hailey said she had seen interviews West had done prior to her hiring but said, "I didn't go into the school because it was Kanye West's school. I went into the school because I was asked to go, and I got there and I saw a need." Hailey said students were not exposed to anything antisemitic or politically charged in the curriculum but noted that there were restrictions placed on what could be covered in classrooms. Story continues "They definitely wanted to suppress a lot of information in reference to history," Hailey said. "They didn't want the kids to know really about African American history or Asian American history." The Holocaust was also omitted from Donda Academy curriculum. On at least three occasions, Hailey said, she voiced concerns to the principal, identified in the complaint as Moira Love, that the school was not complying with health and safety or educational regulations. Hailey also attempted to discuss her concerns with West but "was threatened not to reach out to him." Byers also complained to Love about the the school's conditions. Teachers at the school were not required to have first-aid or mandated child-abuse reporter training, and state regulations regarding educational services and individualized learning plans were not being followed, the complaint says. The school did not have janitorial services, with West barring the use of cleaning products with chemicals, or proper trash cans, according to the complaint. Teachers were only allowed to clean with "acid water and microfiber cloths." The school also lacked a school nurse and medical supplies, and medications were stored improperly. One student's EpiPen to treat allergic reactions was stowed above a microwave, the plaintiffs allege. The school also allegedly failed to implement protocols related to bullying. "In one incident, a student assaulted an eighth-grade student by slapping her, then attempted to assault another teacher," the plaintiffs' attorneys wrote in the complaint. The student "went without discipline." As for nutrition, Donda Academy students were fed sushi and only sushi every school day and were made to eat lunch on the floor, as the school did not have tables, the plaintiffs alleged. "Students were not allowed to bring any outside food or anything other than water," attorneys wrote in the complaint. Although the plaintiffs described the day-to-day operations of the school as lacking structure, West demanded that certain rules be strictly enforced. He required students to dress entirely in black, and they were restricted to the first floor of the building because, the complaint alleges, West is afraid of stairs. Students were not allowed to use utensils, and neither students nor staff could wear jewelry, according to the complaint. After Hailey and Byers lodged their concerns, no action was taken by school administrators. Love allegedly told Hailey and Byers they were "aggressive." The pair were also shorted up to $2,700 per paycheck, they allege. Last month, as the two teachers arrived for work, they were met in the parking lot and told that they had been terminated. Hailey said she believes there are others working at the school who are afraid to speak out about the conditions. "They are afraid to speak up because they are afraid of being fired or ostracized" or losing out on money, Hailey said. "But that is not what we get in this business for. We get in this business, if we get into it properly, to educate kids." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. TAOYUAN, Taiwan (Reuters) - Tension with China has escalated under Taiwan's government and the island will in future have to choose between "peace and war", former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou said on Friday at the end of a landmark visit to China. Ma is the first former Taiwanese president to ever visit China. Since the defeated Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war to Mao Zedong's communists, no serving island leader has visited China. "Our administration continues to lead Taiwan to danger. The future is a choice between peace and war," Ma told reporters at Taiwan's main airport after arriving from Shanghai at the end of his 12-day visit to China. Ma was president from 2008 to 2016 as the head of a Kuomintang (KMT) government. The party, now in opposition, favours close ties with China, which claims the island as its own. Ma's visit came at a time of heightened tension with China's anger roused this week by a meeting between Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, during a stopover by the Taiwan leader in the United States. Beijing has been stepping up its political and military pressure to get democratically governed Taiwan to accept Chinese sovereignty. Tsai and her government reject that and say only the island's people can decide their future. Tsai's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) criticised Ma's trip but he said it had proven that Taiwan and China could engage under the principle that both are part of a single China though each can have its own interpretation of the term. Ma said Taiwan could share a "common political basis" with China, which would be in the best interests of the people of Taiwan. Tsai's DPP said in a statement Ma had become an "accomplice" of Beijing's "one China" principle and he had failed to take the opportunity to defend Taiwan's sovereignty. Story continues Tsai has offered talks with China but Beijing, which views her as a separatist, has rebuffed her. Ma met Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2015 in Singapore, shortly before Tsai was elected president, but he did not meet the Chinese leader on this trip. He visited historic sites in several cities including Wuhan, where he met Song Tao, the head of China's Taiwan Affairs Office. The KMT has defended its contacts with China saying it is trying to reduce tension and it will trumpet that line in the run-up to a presidential election in January. Ma said he would continue to work in a private capacity "to ensure Taiwan has a future of real peace and safety". (Reporting By Ann Wang and Yimou Lee; Editing by Robert Birsel) A former special education teacher at an elementary school in Connecticut was arrested following allegations that he sexually assaulted students, according to local media reports. Erving Rivera, 50, is accused of inappropriate touching, including kissing students on the lips and placing his hands underneath their clothes, while working at Lincoln Elementary School in New Britain, according to the Hartford Courant. An attorney for Rivera could not immediately be reached for comment by McClatchy News. The allegations surfaced in February after another teacher saw Rivera whisper to a student, according to the Hartford Courant. When the teacher asked the student about the interaction, she said Rivera had told her, What happens in my room stays in my room. During an investigation, four additional female students reported to police that Rivera had engaged in similar behavior with them, sometimes kissing them, feeling their bra straps, hugging them or calling them baby or baby girl, according to the New Haven Register, citing an arrest warrant. Police also obtained one students notebook that reportedly was used to keep track of the instances of sexual abuse, according to the Hartford Courant. Body parts were listed with numbers as high as 15 next to each of them, the news outlet reported. Why does this happen to me? Im only 10 years old, a victim reportedly told a school staff member, according to an arrest warrant obtained by WFSB. Rivera was put on administrative leave and he resigned in March, according to Fox61. From day one, there has been a full collaboration from our staff and administrators in working with law enforcement and DCF that has led to where we are today and that is the arrest of Mr. Rivera, the New Britain school district superintendent said in a statement, according to Fox61. We truly appreciate the due diligence of the agencies involved in conducting a thorough and complete process that ultimately led to Riveras arrest, the superintendent said, per the outlet. Now it will be up to the legal process to determine how this individual will be held accountable for his actions. Story continues Rivera has been charged with fourth-degree sexual assault and illegal sexual contact, according to WFSB. Representatives for the school district of New Britain and the New Britain Police Department did not immediately respond to McClatchy News requests for comment. Teen was sexually assaulted in Alaska 28 years ago, officials say. DNA leads to arrest Baby brain dead after being left in tub while dad played video games, Arizona cops say Hair found in Spanish cave shows people used psychedelics 3,000 years ago, study says Nearly three decades after a 17-year-old girl was sexually assaulted behind a restaurant, a man has been charged and arrested, Alaska officials said. Ronald Wade Fischer, 51, was indicted on a charge of first-degree sexual abuse on March 30, the state attorney generals office said in a news release shared by the Anchorage Police Department on April 6. Despite initial investigative efforts into the 1995 Anchorage sexual assault, a suspect was never identified, and the case went cold, according to officials. Officials said the sexual assault kit from the case was not tested until 2020 through a state-funded initiative. DNA from the kit pointed to Fischer as a suspect, according to officials. After reopening the case and conducting an additional investigation, state prosecutors presented the case before a grand jury, which indicted Fischer, officials said. Fischer was arrested on April 5 and will be extradited to Alaska, officials said. If convicted, he could potentially face a 30-year prison sentence. Bottle of Fireball helps link man to 2013 cold case rape, Massachusetts officials say DNA helps nab man accused of raping woman, leaving her in trash bin 26 years ago, cops say He raped a teen and got away, cops say. But an Army DNA match just reopened the case. Police are investigating the death of a Salisbury teen suspected in the armed robbery of a Concord man. After a 911 call at about 10 p.m. Thursday, police found 17-year-old Xavier Nehemiah Zion Charlton shot near the back of a house at 285 Cabarrus Ave. West about a mile from downtowns Market Street. He died on the scene after officers tried to provide aid, according to a Concord Police Department news release. Nicholas Asbury, 24, who lives at the house on Cabarrus Avenue, told police he fired at two people after they confronted him with guns. Concord Police later identified the two people as Charlton and Kareem Mayo, 22. Police charged Asbury with felony possession of marijuana, according to the news release. North Carolina law says a person must have one and a half ounces to 10 pounds of marijuana to face felony charges. Mayo, who was shot in the hand, was charged with attempted armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a felon and shooting into an occupied property, according to police. Police are asking anyone with information to call the CPD at 704-920-5000. Cabarrus Area Crime Stoppers offers an anonymous line at 704-93-CRIME. The eyes of the nation were on the Tennessee House of Representatives on Thursday as members of the Republican supermajority ousted two young Black Democrats from the body as punishment for violating chamber decorum by leading a raucous gun-control protest inside the chamber, bringing the House business to a halt. Democrats took full advantage of the spotlight. Reps. Justin Jones, D-Nashville and Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, were expelled from their elected seats in partisan votes during a six-hour expulsion hearing on Thursday. Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, survived expulsion by a single vote, as seven Republicans broke with their party and voted to keep her in office. They leveraged the national spotlight, accusing the Republican supermajority of shutting their voices out of the legislative process, and highlighting misdeeds of former Republican House members who did not face censure. While Johnson successfully defended her actions by focusing her defense on specific accusations, Jones and Pearson claimed Republicans move to oust them was fueled by racial prejudice and would bring an end to democracy. For hours, the two held court from the House chamber, giving rousing speeches in their defense and continuing their calls for gun control. They did so on a stage they didn't have before as two freshman lawmakers. Expulsion vote: GOP expels Democratic Reps. Justin Jones, Justin Pearson from House over gun-control protest Meanwhile, Republicans spent much of their time trying to get the three to repent for their rule violations, or admit wrongdoing which they were adamantly denied. Several GOP members argued that representing constituents with activism is not a valid basis for violating chamber rules to which every representative is bound. They also argued that if Jones and Pearson genuinely wanted to bring the change theyre calling for, they should file a bill. Were two young Black men forced out of elected office and 140,000 Tennesseans disenfranchised by a racist totalitarian Republican supermajority that rules the legislature with an iron grip? Or did Republicans take justified action within House rules to deal consequences on two members who held the chamber hostage by leading a protest instead of sponsoring legislation to bring the change they called for? Story continues Here are key takeaways from the historic day at the state Capitol. Democrats took advantage of national platform Democrats have little legislative power in the Tennessee General Assembly. So when the spotlight turned on them, they took full advantage of the opportunity. Jones and Pearson, two millennial lawmakers, knew how to work the cameras from the moment they arrived at the Capitol. Through the throng to the chamber, they walked slowly as if to a funeral dirge. Pearson and Johnson raised their clasped hands, and Johnson held Jones arm. Jones wore a white suit and white shoes, the color of innocence a nod to his earlier claim of political martyrdom. Today is Maundy Thursday, the day of betrayal, Johnsons attorney, former Rep. John Mark Windle said in her defense. Isnt it fitting these allegations are made during Holy Week? The trio have characterized the expulsion proceedings as a political lynching, and highlighted racial dynamics they said were at play. The vote: How Tennessee lawmakers voted in Thursday's House expulsion debate Tennessee three: What you need to know about the expulsion of Democratic TN lawmakers What we see today is just a spectacle, Jones said during his defense. What we see today is a lynch mob assembled to not lynch me, but our democratic process. In an effort to draw attention back to calls for gun reform, all three Democrats repeated the names of the six victims who were killed at The Covenant School on March 30. But repeatedly during his defense, Pearson mispronounced the name of 9-year-old Hallie Scruggs, daughter of a pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church and one of the victims in the shooting. Then-Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, speaks ahead of a vote to expel him from the House of Representatives at the Tennessee state Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday, April 6, 2023. Several times during his speech, Jones dramatically paused to drink water as protestors outside the House chamber cheered in response, the sounds carrying inside. At one point, Jones reprised the call he made one week before from the same podium: no action, no peace. Crowds watching on screens outside echoed back, as Jones took a dramatic pause. Representation or activism? Calling out Republicans for not recognizing thousands of protestors outside, the trio said Thursday they were compelled to protest with bullhorn, breaching House protocol, because they needed to represent their constituents, but Republicans refused to call on them. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, leaves the House Chamber after he was expelled at the state Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday, April 6, 2023. I am able to speak because the people of my district sent me here, Jones said. Speaker Sexton is not my constituent. Speaker Sexton is not a king. Speaker Sexton is not God, though he may want to be. I dont know how many times the speaker has gaveled me out of order for simply doing my job as a representative. Republicans criticized them, arguing that as elected representatives, they already had the power to propose the policy changes they were calling for during the protest. And, as elected representatives, they are obliged to follow the rules of the chamber. You know what you could do? You could maybe compile a piece of legislation that could do that, instead of sitting back and criticizing folks who have worked really hard for the past two decades to do so, said Rep. Andrew Farmer, R-Sevierville, who sponsored the resolution to expel Pearson. If you want to conduct business in this house, file a bill. Be recognized, stand there and present it, and pass it. House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland engages in a debate with Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, before a vote to expel Pearson form the House of Representatives at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday, April 6, 2023. House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, argued that in interrupting and holding the House hostage during their protest, the three stifled the voices of the millions of constituents represented by other members. You came to the well of this chamber and silenced 96 other voices, Lamberth said. You dont seem like you believe that any of us care about our constituents as much as you care about yours. GOP supermajority accused of shutting Democrats out All three Democrats accused Republicans of shutting the Democratic minority out of the legislative process by cutting off microphones during debate, refusing to call on Democrats, and calling the question (a legislative action that ends debate on a bill) before Democrats have had time to weigh in. Each of you have an obligation to stop turning the people's house into your own club, Pearson said. The folks that sit in committees with you, who got elected just like you, who swore the same oath that you swore they deserve a voice in these committee rooms. And we deserve a break on this House floor. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, holds his hands in the air during a vote to expel him from the House of Representatives at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday, April 6, 2023. House Speaker Cameron Sexton appears behind him. During debate, other Democrats chimed in, accusing Republican leadership of killing their bills, only allowing certain members to have their bills passed, requiring Democrats to submit questions in advance for certain committee proceedings, and not calling on Democrats during committee meetings and at times on the House floor. The erosion of democracy in the state legislature is what got us here, Pearson said. It wasnt walking up to the well: it was being disruptive to a status quo that silences the minority. House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Sexton, disputed the claims during a news conference after the expulsion votes, saying that since he took up the speakers gavel more voices have been heard. He said more Democratic bills have been passed, noting that six bills sponsored by Democrats passed Thursday on the House floor. You were here. You saw it. Those were good bills that made it through committee and made it to the floor, Sexton said. Were not upholding their bills. Were not pushing back their bills. Were not purposely killing their bills. Aired GOPs dirty laundry from years past, hurled personal accusations Several Democrats argued that expulsion a nuclear option was far to heavy a penalty for a minor rule infraction, especially when compared to those of some Republican colleagues who faced federal investigations and indictment, criminal charges, or committed other undignified actions, but never faced expulsion. For years, one of your colleagues who was an admitted child molester sat in this chamber: no expulsion, Jones said during his speech. One member sits in this chamber who was found guilty of domestic violence: no expulsion. We had a former Speaker sit in this chamber who is now under federal investigation: no expulsion. We have a member still under federal investigation: no expulsion. We had a member pee in another members chair in this chamber: no expulsion. For instance, former House Speaker Glen Casada, R-Franklin, is currently under federal indictment on corruption-related charges. He did not run for reelection amid the federal charges, but no action was taken to remove him from his seat. No action was taken against former Rep. David Byrd, R-Waynesboro, who faced child sexual abuse allegations from decades earlier. In response, Rep. Sabi Doc Kumar, R-Springfield, accused Jones of having called him brown face after a recent committee hearing. In all those 53 years in America, I have never encountered a racial slur. Im really not sure any of that applies to me. I live a good life, Kumar said. Yet, you on tape called me a brown face. Yes, sir. Its on tape. Its on tape. You called me that after a committee meeting on that same day. You shoved your finger in my face and said, Kumar, they will never accept you. You said it twice, and you were so intimidating that the sergeant at arms without my invitation came in to intervene between us. Jones later explained from the podium that he had said Kumar put a brown face on white supremacy. Kumar is the only non-white member of the Republican caucus. The end of democracy? Throughout the proceedings, the three Democrats declared that their expulsion would signal the end of democracy in Tennessee. Spectators outside seemed to agree. Fascists! Fascists! some chanted. Shame! Shame! others said. To both the media and those in the House chamber, Pearson and Jones characterized their expulsions as a sad day for democracy, an attack on democracy, persecution, and an attempt to disenfranchise our constituents. Demonstrators protest the possible expulsion of Justin Jones, D-Nashville, Justin Pearson, D-Memphis and Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville Knoxville at the State Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday, April 6, 2023. But expulsion proceedings did not breach the chambers rules and protocol, or the state Constitution. The legislature has wide latitude to conduct its own business. Appointing authority for an interim member now goes to county legislative bodies, where Nashvilles Metro Council has already set a special meeting during which Jones will likely be reappointed. Special elections to formally re-fill Jones and Pearsons seats would likely come this summer and fall. Thursday afternoon, Jones reactivated his campaign fundraising website. By Friday morning, a Tennessee Three political action committee was formed to fundraise for their reelection. Both the Tennessee Republican Party and Tennessee Democratic Party are also fundraising. GOP sought contrition Throughout their cross examinations of the three, Republicans sought their remorse and contrition for interrupting the House. Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, repeatedly tried to get Johnson to apologize, saying he didnt see any remorse What you've heard here this afternoon from the representative from Knox County is not contrition, Bulso told colleagues. She's not even willing to agree with me on anything that her conduct was disorderly or that she disrupted the proceedings. After the vote, Sexton said that he was told that the three planned to apologize on Monday evening as is a usual practice on the House floor when personal disputes arise. The Democratic caucus told me that Monday night they were going to stand up individually and apologize. They never did. I do not know why, Sexton said. It's hard to go back and say if it would have made a difference because it never happened. On Thursday, none of the three were contrite. I will apologize when the speaker and you all apologize to the families of Covenant, Jones said. When you apologize to the families from the Waffle House. When you apologize to the many countless victims of gun violence because of your reckless laws that proliferate weapons of war in our communities. Still, Republicans said that if the two come return as interim appointments or get reelected, they would welcome them back, provided they follow House rules. Bulso said so during the debate. So did Sexton. "If the people of their district wish to reelect them, they can do so," the speaker said after the vote. "That's the process." And on Thursday night, the House GOP caucus, while accusing the Democrats of violating state law, said much the same. "If elected to come back and serve their constituents in the Tennessee House of Representatives, we hope they will act as the thousands who have come before them - with respect for our institution, their fellow colleagues, and the seat that they hold. We look forward to continuing to defend the voices of ALL Tennesseans," the Republicans said in a statement. To what extent did race come into play? Republicans expelled two young Black lawmakers, but fell one vote short of expelling a white woman. Since the vote, Jones, Pearson and others have framed their expulsions as an act of racism by the overwhelmingly white Republican supermajority. The state in which the Ku Klux Klan was founded is now attempting another power grab by silencing the two youngest Black representatives and one of the only Democratic women in this body, Jones said. That is what this is about. Republican leaders dispute that race had anything to do with how members voted. Lamberth told reporters Thursday that representatives who voted not to expel Johnson did so based on evidence presented during the hearing. Related: Republicans' expulsion of 2 Black members draws comparisons to Tennessee's 'dark history' Our members literally didn't look at the ethnicity of the members that were up for expulsion, Lamberth said. The strength of the evidence against two of the representatives was stronger than the other. Representative Johnson said very clearly from the well, that she didn't chant, that she didn't have a sign, and that she didn't have a bullhorn. Our members took into account the evidence that was presented and that's what they made the decision on. House Minority Leader Karen Camper, D-Memphis, told reporters Thursday that the members likely felt some racial undertones to the vote because of their experience in the halls of this General Assembly. Sen. Charlane Oliver, D-Nashville, came in with Jones in the 2023 freshman class and said she's watched a lot of political bullying going on behind the scenes directed at Jones. This idea that he and Rep. Justin Pearson must apologize is a mindset set in white supremacy. A mindset that we, as Black folks are not on par or peers to them, and we must be inferior and subservient to their demands, Oliver said. I can't tell you how many times Rep. Jones has come into my office after something has happened on the elevator, or a conversation with leadership where they called him a worthless human being. That's not leadership. Rep. Jesse Chism, D-Memphis, said Thursday's expulsion hearings looked like a Jim Crow-era trial. We saw two Black men fighting for their careers, fighting for their reputations, fighting for their political lives, Chism said. Members of the Black Caucus, who flanked Jones as he defended himself on Thursday night, followed the former representative out of the House chamber after the vote. Many were fighting back tears, Chism said, which finally spilled when they returned to their desks without Jones. It was a shame to see some of the smirks, some of the smiles, that some of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle had when they saw our tears, Chism said. Yesterday was a shame. The world saw it. Anybody on that side of the aisle that voted to remove our members should be ashamed of themselves. Melissa Brown contributed to this report. Reach Vivian Jones at vjones@tennessean.com. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee gun protest fallout: Analysis after House GOP expulsion Members of the Tennessee Black Caucus on Friday condemned the expulsion of two Black Democratic lawmakers by the Republican majority this week, likening Thursday's vote to a "Jim Crow-era trial." "This was a kangaroo court," caucus chairman Rep. Sam McKenzie told reporters at a news conference held in front of the state Capitol building in Nashville. "To me, it's a horrific indictment on the Tennessee GOP, and they ought to be ashamed of themselves. And the fact that they continued to keep their foot on the accelerator when they knew the world was watching really just shows what this Republican Party has sunk too. New lows." In an extraordinary move, Tennessee Republicans voted Thursday to expel Democratic Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson for "disorderly behavior" after they stormed the Capitol building with anti-gun protesters last week. The lawmakers interrupted state House proceedings and led chants of "no justice, no peace" on from the floor, demanding action on gun control in response to the shooting at a private Christian School in Nashville that claimed six lives, including three young children. The lawmakers were first stripped of committee assignments on Monday for their participation in the protest and then faced the expulsion vote Thursday. A third Democrat, Rep. Gloria Johnson, came within one vote of also being expelled. TENNESSEE HOUSE SPEAKER PUSHES BACK ON FALSE NARRATIVE, RACISM ACCUSATIONS AFTER EXPULSION OF TWO DEMS Members of the Tennessee Black Caucus held a press conference Friday in Nashville and condemned Republican lawmakers for expelling two Black Democratic lawmakers who participated in a protest that disrupted House proceedings. The fact that Johnson, who is White, was not expelled but Jones and Pearson, who are Black and were, did not go unnoticed by their colleagues. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "Yesterday, it looked like Jim Crow-era trial, where we saw two Black men fighting for their careers, fighting for their reputations, fighting for their political lives," Vice Chair Rep. Jesse Chism said. He described how Democratic lawmakers held back tears as their colleagues were removed from the legislature after heated debate, with protesters screaming from the gallery. Story continues "It was a shame to see some of the smirks, some of the smiles that some of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle had as they saw our tears. We have to have our members back. We have to have more members," said Chism. DEMOCRAT LAWMAKER SUGGESTS SHE AVOIDED EXPULSION FROM TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE SHE IS WHITE "This is the greatest miscarriage of justice on this floor since African American members were first seated after Reconstruction and then after the Jim Crow era. We all saw what happened yesterday," said Tennessee Senate Minority Leader Raumesh Akbari, who formerly served in the House. "Two extremely intelligent, eloquent, community-centered Black men were removed from the House of Representatives. That is not something that should be taken lightly," she continued, saying it was wrong for Jones and Pearson to be expelled "for five seconds of disruption." Other Black lawmakers who spoke at the conference said the actions by Republican lawmakers fit a "pattern of racism" that seems familiar to them in Tennessee. Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton has called allegations of racism a "false narrative." CHAOS ERUPTS AGAIN AT TENNESSEE CAPITOL AMID VOTE TO EXPEL DEM LAWMAKERS FROM OFFICE OVER HOUSE FLOOR PROTEST Sexton told "Fox & Friends" Friday morning that Johnson was not expelled with her Black colleagues because she "separated herself" from the protesters and that her attorney pointed out several instances which showed she was not an active participant . "Actually, she separated herself from the other two and said, I didn't have the megaphone. I didn't yell and scream. I just stood there with them alongside it. And so she made her case that she did not do what they did." But that is not the way Democratic lawmakers like Rep. Karen Camper see it. "If you look at, in totality, of all the things that have happened in this general session this year and you could say years prior too the policies and the treatment appears racist," Camper said. "It comes off that way." Fox News' Madeline Coggins, Bradford Betz, and the Associated Press contributed to this report. Republican Tennessee lawmakers expelled two House Democrats and failed to expel another after they joined protesters in calling for stronger gun control following a school shooting. Democratic state Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson were expelled Thursday, while state Rep. Gloria Johnson managed to hold on to her seat. Jones and Pearson are both Black. Johnson is white. The expulsion hearings were in response to the three Democrats leading protesters in chants on the House floor last week without being recognized to speak. Hundreds of protesters, many of them children, called for stronger gun control following a school shooting that left three children and three adults dead last month. Protesters calling for gun reform laws and showing support for the three Democratic representatives who faced expulsion stand in the House gallery as legislators start Thursday's session at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville. Protesters calling for gun reform laws and showing support for the three Democratic representatives who faced expulsion stand in the House gallery as legislators start Thursday's session at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville. It was the fourth time since the end of the Civil War that Tennessee House members expelled one of their elected colleagues. In 1866, six lawmakers were ousted for attempting to prevent the ratification of the 14th Amendment, which granted citizenship to formerly enslaved people. In 1980, GOP Rep. Robert Fisher was kicked out of the state House after being convicted of taking a $1,000 bribe to kill a committee bill. And in 2016, Republican state Rep. Jeremy Durham was voted out of the House after 22 women accused him of sexual misconduct. In Thursdays historic case, at least one of the lawmakers was expelled for chanting for the prevention of gun violence. In the Republican-led resolution to expel the members, those protests were described as disorderly behavior that knowingly and intentionally brought disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives. We called for a ban on assault weapons, and you called for an assault on democracy.Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones (D) House Republican Leader William Lamberth began expulsion proceedings by giving each member facing expulsion 20 minutes to speak. Those members were also allowed to respond to questions from fellow lawmakers during the hearing. Story continues Jones, who represents a district in Nashville, was the first to speak and called the proceedings a spectacle. What we see today is just a spectacle. What we see today is a lynch mob assembled not to lynch me, but our democratic process, Jones said. Jones said he was standing up for his constituents when he joined them in protest for gun control. I was standing for young people many of whom cant even vote yet, many who are disenfranchised but all of whom are terrified by the continued trend of mass shootings plaguing our state and plaguing this nation. State Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) delivers remarks Thursday on the floor of the state House in Nashville. Tennessee Republicans voted to oust Jones and state Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) for their role in a demonstration calling for gun control legislation following a mass shooting at a Nashville school. State Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) delivers remarks Thursday on the floor of the state House in Nashville. Tennessee Republicans voted to oust Jones and state Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) for their role in a demonstration calling for gun control legislation following a mass shooting at a Nashville school. Jones said Republican lawmakers have put their heads in the sand and refuse to listen to the voice of the people. We called for a ban on assault weapons, and you called for an assault on democracy, Jones said. Democratic state Rep. Bob Freeman said before the vote that it would set a very dangerous precedent. There are 78,000 people that Jones represents, Freeman said. He was elected in a competitive primary. This is who that district wants to represent them. Jones was expelled in a vote of 75-26. After Jones was expelled, Johnson, who represents a district in Knoxville, was next to defend her actions. Under questioning from GOP state Rep. Gino Bulso, Johnson denied that she was yelling during the protest. I believe the charges were that I was yelling, and I was not yelling, Johnson said. We may have broken a House rule by approaching the well, but much of this document is false. Bulso pressed Johnson on whether or not she chanted with protesters. What is my crime, sir? Johnson asked. You continue to ask this question. I think weve been through it over and over and over. I came to the well, I stood with my colleagues, I fought for my constituents, in a quiet, non-desk-pounding [way]. Johnson, a former teacher, said she spoke up for the people in her district who are sick of gun violence. State Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville), right, gets a hug from Rep. Karen Camper (D-Memphis) on the floor of the House after a resolution to expel Johnson from the legislature failed Thursday in Nashville. Tennessee Republicans were seeking to oust three House Democrats, including Johnson, for using a bullhorn to shout support for gun control advocates in the House chamber. State Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville), right, gets a hug from Rep. Karen Camper (D-Memphis) on the floor of the House after a resolution to expel Johnson from the legislature failed Thursday in Nashville. Tennessee Republicans were seeking to oust three House Democrats, including Johnson, for using a bullhorn to shout support for gun control advocates in the House chamber. I did what I felt those folks wanted me to do, she said. Its not a secret, my folks sent me here because they know Im a fighter. I will fight for them. It takes 66 votes to expel a House member, meaning the 65-30 vote was ultimately not enough to expel Johnson. During his own remarks, Pearson reminded his fellow lawmakers that the U.S. was founded on protest. State Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) listens to remarks Thursday on the floor of the House chamber in Nashville. Republicans voted to expel him for his support of a demonstration by gun control advocates. State Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) listens to remarks Thursday on the floor of the House chamber in Nashville. Republicans voted to expel him for his support of a demonstration by gun control advocates. You who celebrate July 4, 1776, pop fireworks and eat hot dogs you say to protest is wrong because you spoke out of turn, because you spoke up for people who are marginalized, because you spoke up for kids who wont ever speak again ... in a country built on people who speak out of turn, he said. Democratic state Rep. Jesse Chism addressed the chamber, saying he wanted to speak to the humanity of everyone in the room and noting that Pearson, 29, hasnt been a member of the House for long. Pearson is a member that is just learning the decorum of this body, a member who has proven himself to be hardworking, articulate, eloquent, Chism said. And although this member moves a little bit different from most of us Ill even go as far to say he moves different than I do this is a member that deserves to be a part of this body. Pearson was expelled in a vote of 69-26. After his expulsion, a crowd could be heard chanting in the gallery: Shame on you! Shame on you! Related... Republican legislators in Tennessee voted Thursday to expel two Black Democrats from the state House over their protests on the chamber floor against gun violence last week, while a vote to expel a third, white Democratic representative fell short. In the first vote, Republicans expelled Rep. Justin Jones. The second vote, to kick out Rep. Gloria Johnson, failed. Republicans then voted to remove Rep. Justin Pearson. Jones and Pearson are Black. Johnson is white. Cheers erupted in the chamber with chants of "Gloria!" after her tally was announced, later followed by "Shame on you!" after Pearson was removed. The House voted 72-25 along party lines to expel Jones. The effort to remove Johnson fell short of the two-thirds majority of all 100 members needed. That vote was 65-30. Pearson was removed in a 69-26 vote. Former Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, and former Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, raises their hands outside the House chamber after Jones and Pearson were expelled from the legislature Thursday, April 6, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (George Walker IV / AP) The resolutions accused each of the Democratic legislators of engaging in disorderly behavior and purposely bringing disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives during protests against gun violence on the House floor last week. The unprecedented votes drew attention to the partisan divisions that have rankled the Tennessee General Assembly in recent months. Chants from protesters many of whom bore signs defending the Tennessee three were audible throughout the entire legislative session Thursday. Organizers said hundreds were present. Over the cacophony of protesters outside the House, Republican legislators began expulsion proceedings Thursday afternoon against the three Democrats. At the outset of the proceedings, House Republicans moved to play a heavily edited video showing some of the events of last weeks protests despite Democratic objections. That led quickly to the votes to expel. In a process that closely resembles a trial, the House allows all members to defend themselves with a 20-minute speech. House members then debate the resolution, and then each member is allowed to answer questions about the accusations from legislators. Story continues What is happening here today is a situation in which the jury has already publicly announced the verdict, Jones said in a floor speech. A lynch mob assembled to not lynch me but our democratic process. Jones said his participation in the protests amounted to his standing for those young people ... many of whom cant even vote yet but all of whom are terrified by the continued trend of mass shootings plaguing our state and plaguing this nation. In an MSNBC interview after his expulsion, Jones said the House was setting a "dangerous" precedent. What the nation is seeing is that we dont have democracy in Tennessee and that if we dont act we have some very dark days ahead. And so we have to respond to this with mass movements, nonviolent movements, he said. To expel voices of opposition and dissent is a signal of authoritarianism, he added, suggesting that Tennessees action should sound the alarm across the nation that we are entering into very dangerous territory. During the March 30 protest, the trio led supporters in chants calling for stricter gun safety measures after a mass shooting in a Nashville school that killed six people including three 9-year-old children. A bullhorn was used, in violation of rules for the House chamber, and the legislators were gathered in area on the House floor without being recognized to speak. House leaders at the time called their actions an insurrection. They tried to shred our constitution with a bullhorn, Rep. Gino Bulso, who introduced one of the resolutions, said Thursday. House Speaker Cameron Sexton, who tweeted earlier this week that the Democrats actions were unacceptable, said after the expulsions that he was concerned about "following the process and procedures that are laid out that you should follow, and not having a protest as it was described over here on the House floor." As members Thursday debated the resolution to remove Johnson, she said she participated in the protest because she felt she had to "raise the voice of the people in my district," adding, "I did what I felt those folks wanted me to do. I did it for the kids in my district, for the kids in my state, for the kids in this community, she said. My friends in school all called me Little Miss Law and Order because Im a rule follower. And I know that rules sometimes have to be broken, and sometimes you have to get in good trouble," she added. She also said the resolution's charge that she "began shouting without recognition" was false, insisting that while she did protest in the part of the chamber known as the well, she didn't yell. Seven Republicans voted against the motion to expel Johnson, three opposed Pearson's expulsion resolution, and one voted against Jones'. Addressing her supporters after the vote, Johnson said, America should be worried," adding, according to The Tennessean newspaper of Nashville, that the failed vote to expel her might have to do with the color of my skin. In a sharply worded statement, the Congressional Black Caucus said Thursday's votes made it "clear that racism is alive and well in Tennessee." "The GOP-led House chose to silence dissent from not only the Black representatives in the chamber, but the voices of their constituents as well," the CBC said. "This move is not only racist and anti-democratic, it is morally-bankrupt and out of step with the overwhelming majority of Americans who believe that we need common sense gun control reforms to save lives. Pearson alluded to race when he referred to Lois DeBerry, the second Black woman elected to the Tennessee General Assembly, who later served as speaker pro tempore. He suggested that DeBerry, first elected in 1972, was guided by strict rules of decorum and presentation because Black folk wouldnt get respected otherwise, because white folks wouldnt respect them, theyd call them boy, theyd call them girl instead of chairperson or speaker pro tem. GOP Rep. Andrew Farmer, who sponsored the resolution to expel Pearson, described the trios March 30 protest on the House floor as a temper tantrum. Just because you dont get your way doesnt mean you can come to the well with your friends, he said Thursday. Pearson responded by saying: He called a peaceful protest a temper tantrum. It isnt a temper tantrum to say kids should go to schools that are actually safe." The proceedings prompted criticism from Democrats across the country, including the White House. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre dubbed the scheduled expulsion votes as "legislative bullying." The fact that this vote is happening is shocking, undemocratic and without precedent, she said at Thursday's White House briefing. President Joe Biden chastised Republican legislators over their votes Thursday night. "Last week, three more students and three school officials were gunned down in yet another tragic mass shooting in Nashville. On Monday, 7,000 Tennesseans, many of them students, marched to their state capitol to call on their lawmakers to take action and keep them safe," Biden said in a statement. "Instead, state Republican lawmakers called votes today to expel three Democratic legislators who stood in solidarity with students and families and helped lift their voices. Todays expulsion of lawmakers who engaged in peaceful protest is shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent. Rather than debating the merits of the issue, these Republican lawmakers have chosen to punish, silence, and expel duly-elected representatives of the people of Tennessee." Former President Barack Obama also commented, tweeting that the nation was built on peaceful protest. No elected official should lose their job simply for raising their voice especially when theyre doing it on behalf of our children, Obama wrote. He called Thursday's proceedings the "latest example of a broader erosion of civility and democratic norms." "Silencing those who disagree with us is a sign of weakness, not strength, and it wont lead to progress," he added. At a news conference after the votes, all three Tennessee Democrats appeared defiant. Johnson promised to help her two now-former colleagues get back to the legislature, and Pearson led the crowd in a chant: We will never quit. In an MSNBC interview before his expulsion vote, Pearson said: We are losing our democracy. This is not normal. This is not OK. We broke a House rule because we were fighting for kids who are dying from gun violence and people in our communities who want to see an end to the proliferation of weaponry, Pearson said. No one should be wanting to operate as though this is not happening, as though we are not living in a gun violence epidemic in the state of Tennessee," he added. Tensions flared this week when the expulsion proceedings started Monday with the introduction of the resolutions. Over the yells of protesters who had again filled the chamber, each proposal passed on a party-line vote. A protester was arrested Monday during the chaos, which, according to reporters at the session, included a physical altercation between Jones and GOP Rep. Justin Lafferty. Jones accused Lafferty of stealing his phone and trying to incite a riot with his fellow members, The Tennessean reported. The Tennessee Constitution allows either of the legislative chambers to expel a member with support from two-thirds of its members. With Republicans holding the necessary supermajority to carry out the expulsions Thursday, Democrats had no tools to put up any meaningful resistance. Jones and Pearson will be able to run in special elections for the seats they were booted from. Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, has 30 days to set a date for the special elections. In the meantime, interim representatives selected by county commissions in counties where the seats are located will fill in. Johnsons district includes parts of Knoxville, Jones includes parts of Nashville, and Pearsons includes parts of Memphis. Democratic state Reps. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville and Justin Jones of Nashville raise their arms in defiance after a vote that expelled Jones from the governing body on April 6, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. Jones was expelled after he, Johnson and Rep. Justin Pearson of Memphis led a protest at the Tennessee State Capital building in the wake of a mass shooting at a Christian school in which three 9-year-old students and three adults were killed by a 28-year-old former student of the school on March 27. Johnson and Pearson also face expulsion. (Seth Herald / Getty Images) The Tennessee House last voted to expel a sitting member in 2016, when members voted 70-2 to throw out Rep. Jeremy Durham over sexual misconduct allegations. According to The Tennessean, House members had previously voted to expel a member in 1980 but they hadnt done so since the Civil War. The Tennessee Senate voted last year to expel a sitting member for the first time Katrina Robinson after she was convicted of federal wire fraud charges. But unlike in those instances, Johnson, Jones and Pearson faced no criminal or civil charges or any investigations. More than 250 Democratic state legislators across the U.S. signed on to a letter organized by the State Innovation Exchange, a progressive legislation advocacy group, that accused Tennessee Republicans of racist motives. The attempts to expel Reps. Jones, Johnson, and Pearson show a dark truth in the light of day: theres a robust and racist connection between fighting against gun safety and dismantling our democracy, the letter says. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The expulsion of two Tennessee Democrats over a gun control protest is an extraordinary showcase of how the levers of single-party power in America's statehouses can be pulled not only to shut down opponents, but to also punish them. On any given day in Tennessee, Republicans have the commanding majority to pass just about any law they want. The lopsided dynamic is common in many U.S. statehouses including where Democrats are in charge and it has widened under gerrymandered voting maps that redraw legislative district boundaries to dilute the opposition party's votes. But in ousting Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson altogether from the Tennessee Legislature on Thursday, Republicans went beyond their typical ability to steamroll Democrats. They instead maximized their parliamentary power to exact retribution. Not only did Republicans have the votes to oust the lawmakers one of the few times such drastic action has been taken since the Civil War they suspended legislative rules of procedure to hasten the process. The expulsions reverberated far beyond Tennessee, with Democrats in states where they're similarly outnumbered taking notice. GOP leaders defended their actions as necessary to send a message that disruptive protests in the Tennessee House would not be tolerated. A third Democrat, Rep. Gloria Johnson, was narrowly spared expulsion by a one-vote margin. The erosion of democracy in the state Legislature is what got us here," Pearson said after his ouster. It wasnt walking up to the well, it wasnt being disruptive to the status quo, it was the silencing of democracy and its wrong. THE TENNESSEE VOTE In Tennessee, Republicans hold a supermajority control in both the House and Senate and have wielded full control of the Legislature since 2008. But in the House, GOP members have increasingly used parliamentary maneuvers to cut off debate particularly on controversial topics ranging from abortion to LGBTQ+ issues and guns. Republicans have used a legislative tactic known as calling the question, which forces an immediate vote on a bill and cuts off debate that can otherwise stretch on for hours. Story continues In the days leading to the expulsion hearing, Republicans also employed whats known as suspending the rules, which allows lawmakers to sidestep usual procedure such as what happened on Thursday, when lawmakers suspended rules to allow the so-called Tennessee three to defend themselves. Suspending the rules is not always divisive it can be used to speed up passage of uncontentious bills, for example but it can also inflame tensions. Democrats who spoke during Thursday spent most of their time calling on Republicans to pass some sort of gun control legislation in the aftermath of the Nashville school shooting. But they also accused their GOP colleagues of having used the rules to keep debate to a minimum on other topics throughout the legislative session. Several Democrats joked Thursday how they normally weren't allowed to talk at such length but got a minor break of sorts during the hearing because of to the national attention it had attracted. House Speaker Cameron Sexton, a Republican, dismissed suggestions that Democrats have been silenced, saying lawmakers have many opportunities to speak up during legislative committee hearings and on the House floor. We havent had anybody complain, Sexton said. People raise their hands to be recognized. I dont know who is going to call the question." LEGISLATIVE TACTICS The aggressive actions by Tennessee Republicans demonstrated a flip side to parliamentary tactics that lawmakers in the minority often use to as a last-ditch effort to thwart the other side. Among the most common are filibusters, in which lawmakers try to run out the clock on a bill through lengthy speeches. In Nebraska, a filibuster brought lawmaking to a standstill for weeks this year over GOP legislation that would impose restrictions on transgender rights. State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, a Democrat, introduced amendment after amendment to every bill on the Senate floor and took up all eight debate hours allowed by the rules each day. Two years ago, Texas Democrats temporarily stalled passage of new voting restrictions for weeks by breaking quorum and going on a 38-day walkout. They had quietly walked out of the House chamber one by one while facing the potential of Republicans calling the question for a decisive vote before a midnight deadline to pass the bill. NUCLEAR OPTION' Texas state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, who helped spearhead the Democrats' walkout in 2021, described calling the question as a nuclear option and criticized it an offensive tactic to stop debate. On Friday, he called the expulsions in Tennessee a warning for lawmakers in minority parties to keep their guard up. He said he was especially mindful of how state legislators act at a time when there is gridlock in Washington and the Supreme Court is throwing contentious issues back to the states to decide. If you can willy-nilly silence voices by changing rules, then I think that is a significant assault on our democracy," Fischer said. ___ Weber reported from Austin, Texas. Justin Kanew, founder of the Tennessee Holler news site. A day before Tennessee Republicans expelled two Black members of the state legislature who had joined protesters calling for meaningful gun reform after a mass shooting at Covenant School in Nashville, where six people, including three children, were killed, the founder of a progressive news site, The Tennessee Holler, revealed that someone had shot up his home last weekend. Justin Kanew wrote on Twitter that his home south of Nashville was hit by several bullets Saturday night while his family slept. We do not know for sure the reason for this attack, said Kanew. This violence has no place in a civilized society, and we are thankful no one was physically hurt. Among the states political class, Kanew is known for his intense scrutiny of Republican lawmakers, often filming them while following them to ask questions. In Republican circles, Kanew is often described as a liberal activist, the Tennessee Outlook reports. \u201cOur family\u2019s statement on something that happened to us this weekend. Love each other.\u201d Justin Kanew (@Justin Kanew) 1680702546 The states attorney general, Jonathan Skrmetti, commented on the incident as part of a general statement on recent events in the state. Over the weekend, an unknown assailant fired into the home of a local political activist while his children were sleeping inside, he wrote. I dont know him personally, though I know I often disagree with him. Regardless of any differences of opinion, though, as a dad and as an attorney general, I cannot tolerate this attack against him and his family. Recently, state Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson called Kanew a jackass and a loser after he questioned Johnsons support for anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. Meanwhile, Gov. Bill Lee called Kanews question about a photo in high school of the GOP governor dressed in drag ridiculous as the governor was signing legislation that made Tennessee the first state to ban drag performance in public. However, a judge has temporarily blocked that law. Story continues The Tennessee Holler published a blockbuster report in March that revealed the hypocrisy of Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, who often commented enthusiastically on racy Instagram pictures of a young gay man with whom he had maintained an extensive online friendship. Kanews home was targeted less than one week after a shooter killed six people at Covenant School in Nashville, including three 9-year-olds. He previously ran for Congress in Tennessees 7th District as a Democrat. He also appeared on the CBS competition show The Amazing Race. Having filed a report with the Williamson County Sheriffs Office, Kanew urged them to investigate further. The authorities have not completed their investigation, and right now, we do not know for sure the reason for this attack. We urge the Williamson County Sheriffs office to continue to investigate this crime and help shed light on Saturdays unfortunate events and bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice, he wrote. In the meantime, our family remains focused on keeping our children healthy and safe, Kanew concluded before adding that he would have nothing more to say about the matter for now and asking for privacy. The Tennessee House of Representatives fell short on Thursday in its vote to expel a second Democratic representative over her participation in a protest against gun violence on the House floor last week. State lawmakers voted 65-30 to expel State Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville), failing to reach the required two-thirds majority in the Republican-controlled chamber. The final vote was met with chants of Gloria! Gloria! We have got to be allowed to stand up and speak for our constituents, Johnson said, ahead of the vote. And we have to welcome this younger generation, who might do it a little differently, but they are fighting like hell for their constituents. Johnson joined her fellow Democratic state Reps. Justin Jones (Nashville) and Justin Pearson (Memphis) in leading chants on the House floor last week, in the wake of a shooting at a Nashville elementary school that left three children and three staff members dead. Lawmakers successfully voted 72-25 to expel Jones from the legislature earlier on Thursday. In the evening, they also voted to remove Pearson in a 69-26 vote. Johnson, who is white, suggested after the vote that the differing results between herself and Jones might have to do with the color of our skin. Both Jones and Pearson are Black. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Bloomberg) -- President Joe Biden condemned Tennessee Republicans expulsion of two lawmakers who protested a deadly Nashville school shooting last week, calling the episode unprecedented and criticizing GOP leaders for refusing to enact tighter gun-control laws. Most Read from Bloomberg The expulsion of lawmakers who engaged in peaceful protest is shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent, Biden said in a statement. Weve continued to see Republican officials across America double down on dangerous bills that make our schools, places of worship, and communities less safe. Our kids continue to pay the price. Hours after the statement, Vice President Kamala Harris announced she would fly to Nashville Friday to meet with legislators in the aftermath of the saga. The White House action came after Republican lawmakers in Tennessee voted Thursday to expel Justin Jones and Justin Pearson over their participation in a March 30 protest over the shooting at Covenant School. Three 9-year-olds and three adults were killed in the attack. Yet the statement also underscored what even Biden has said is his powerlessness to impose more restrictive measures on guns given Republican opposition. He again urged congress to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines among other measures, but made no promises and offered no action of his own. In another statement later in the day, the White House said senior officials had met with lawmakers from six other states on ways to hold gun manufacturers accountable, including Bidens longstanding call to roll back liability protections for gun makers. Jones and Pearson, who are Black, were only the fourth and fifth lawmakers expelled from the Tennessee legislature since the Civil War. Another Democratic legislator, who is white, narrowly avoided expulsion. Story continues The episode has a clear racial component and allowed Biden to show solidarity with a key constituency Black voters whose choices will sway his electoral fortunes. The third Democrat who held onto her seat, Gloria Johnson, flatly attributed the outcomes to race saying Republicans expelled two Black men but not a White woman. The lawmakers had participated in a March 30 protest, including using a bullhorn from the House floor, over the March 27 shooting deaths of three 9-year-olds and three adults. In a Zoom briefing with reporters on Friday, Jones called for more protests, saying Tennessee has been the tip of the spear in an assault on human rights. It is easier to get an AR-15 than it is to vote, Jones said. Rev. William J. Barber II, president of Repairers of the Breach and co-chair of the Poor Peoples Campaign, in the same call that clergy would carry childrens caskets at a protest in Tennessee on Monday, April 17. Barber called for confronting the public with what happens to childrens bodies shot by AR-15s, likening the issue to the photos published of Emmett Till after his killing in 1955. Weve got to keep the caskets and the deaths before the public, he said. The coverup is what keeps us from cleaning it up. Republicans, who hold a 75 to 24 majority in the Tennessee legislature, said Jones and Pearson breached House protocol by speaking without getting permission from House leadership. That enraged Democrats, who pointed to the rarity of such expulsions and said the groups actions didnt go nearly far enough to merit such a severe response. America is in the midst of a gun violence epidemic. MAGA Republicans respond by baselessly expelling legislators in Tennessee, tweeted House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also condemned the move. Until Thursday, the Tennessee House had expelled only three other lawmakers since the Civil War, all for far more serious infractions, including the criminal conviction of one lawmaker and multiple sexual harassment allegations against another. The votes were also held against the din of widespread, continued protests at the legislature, led largely by students and children demanding stronger gun measures. Rather than ban assault weapons, these Republican lawmakers in Tennessee are assaulting democracy, Jones told MSNBC on Thursday. House Speaker Cameron Sexton, a Republican, tweeted earlier this week that lawmakers actions are and will always be unacceptable, and they break several rules of decorum and procedure and took away the voices of the protesters. Sexton also compared their actions to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol in Washington. What they did today was equivalent at least equivalent, maybe worse depending on how you look at it of doing an insurrection in the Capitol, Sexton said in a radio interview. Biden has long pushed for gun reform in Washington in the wake of a series of mass shootings. Everytown for Gun Safety, which advocates gun-safety measures, is backed by Michael Bloomberg, founder and majority owner of Bloomberg LP. Its called exposure, exposure, Biden said after the Nashville shootings, batting away questions about lawmakers balking at his call. Im going to keep calling it out, remind people that theyre not acting. They should act. Two of Tennessees largest cities are now without representation in the legislative sessions final few weeks of this year. --With assistance from Steven T. Dennis. (Updates with Barber remarks in 9th paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Tennessee state Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson. AP Photo/George Walker IV The Republican-controlled Tennessee House voted Thursday to expel state Rep. Justin Jones (D) and state Rep. Justin Pearson (D), after they interrupted legislative proceedings to protest gun violence in the wake of the Covenant School shooting. The motion to expel a third Democratic lawmaker, state Rep. Gloria Johnson, failed, by one vote. Special elections will now have to be held to fill the seats of Jones and Pearson, who are allowed to run again in those elections. On March 27, three 9-year-old students and three staff members were killed in a mass shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville. Since then, parents, teachers, and students have marched to the Tennessee Capitol, demanding that lawmakers pass stricter gun laws. On March 30, Johnson, Jones, and Pearson chanted "No action, no peace" from the House floor, and in response, three Republican lawmakers state Reps. Andrew Farmer, Gino Bulso, and Bud Hulsey filed resolutions to expel the Democrats, accusing them of engaging in "disorderly behavior" that brought "disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives through their individual and collective actions." Tennessee's House had previously expelled only two other lawmakers since the Civil War, both on near-unanimous bipartisan votes, The Tennessean reports. "In General Assembly history, a partisan expulsion vote like Thursday's is unusual, and an expulsion push over a decorum breach is unprecedented." Before the vote to expel him, Jones said that during the demonstration, "at no point was there violence. At no point did we encourage violence. In fact, what we were doing was calling for the end of gun violence that is terrorizing our children day after day." Jones and Pearson are both Black, and Johnson is white. The vote to expel Jones came first, followed by the vote on Johnson, and when asked by reporters why she thought her outcome was different from his, she responded, "It might have to do with the color of our skin." Pearson agreed, telling reporters: "You cannot ignore the racial dynamic of what happened today. Two young Black lawmakers get expelled and the one white woman does not? That's a statement in and of itself." Story continues President Biden tweeted about the expulsion votes, saying, "Three kids and three officials gunned down in yet another mass shooting. And what are GOP officials focused on? Punishing lawmakers who joined thousands of peaceful protesters calling for action. It's shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent." You may also like Lizzo joins the Star Wars franchise and hangs out with Baby Yoda on The Mandalorian How to see Wednesday's 'pink moon' White House backtracks on Jill Biden's invitation to winning and losing women's basketball teams Democratic state Reps. Gloria Johnson (L) and Justin Jones embrace after a vote that expelled Jones from the governing body on April 6, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. Jones was expelled after he, Johnson and Rep. Justin Pearson of Memphis led a protest at the Tennessee State Capital building in the wake of a mass shooting at a Christian school in which three 9-year-old students and three adults were killed by a 28-year-old former student of the school on March 27. Tennessee Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) called out lawmakers on Thursday as they considered his fate as a member of the House of Representatives. Jones, along with Reps. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) and Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) led a protest on the House floor calling for gun law reform in response to the Nashville Covenant School shooting last week that left three children and three staff members dead. Known as The Tennessee Three, the representatives stood before the majority Republican House to account for their actions. Pearson and Jones were ultimately voted out. While speaking on the floor, Jones held no punches: Lets talk about expulsion. For years, one of your colleagues, an admitted child molester, sat in this chamber no expulsion. One member sits in this chamber who was found guilty of domestic violence no expulsion. We had a former speaker sit in this chamber who is now under federal investigation no expulsion. We have a member still under federal investigation no expulsion. Jones continued to prove his point of a potential bias. We had another member pee in another members chair in this chamber no expulsion. In fact, theyre in leadership. He added, Since youre trying to put us on trial, what youre really putting on trial is the state of Tennessee. What youre really showing for the world is holding up a mirror to a state that is going back to some dark, dark roots, a state in which the Ku Klux Klan was founded is now attempting another power grab by silencing the two youngest Black representatives and one of the only Democratic women in this body. Thats what this is about. Let us be real today. Wow: Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones, one of the Dems that the GOP is trying to expel from state legislature to protesting gun violence, calls out his colleagues on the floor For years, one of your colleagues, an admitted child molester, sat in this chamber no expulsion pic.twitter.com/KNDrhX3gl1 philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 6, 2023 Jones did not back down from any question thrown his way. Story continues Rep. Johnny Garrett (R-Goodlettsville) mentioned House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) and his role in Jones speaking ability. Jones stated he was there to speak for the people of District 52, and Sexton was not God, though he may want to be. NOW: Im about to speak because the people of district 52 sent me here to speak. Speaker Sexton is not my constituent, Speaker Sexton is not a king, Speaker Sexton is not God Rep. Justin Jones (You can watch this happening live below)https://t.co/DSbvKDj8Rd pic.twitter.com/VvrnQsK7jC philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 6, 2023 Rep. Ryan Williams (R-Cookeville) asked Jones to explain his protest chants, No action, no peace. I would invite my colleague from Putnam County to join any protest where that is a very familiar chant that usually goes No justice, no peace,' Jones responded. A Republican state representative asked Rep. Justin Jones what he means by the chant No Justice, No Peace. His response is worth hearing in full: pic.twitter.com/NfhITMiQGc philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 6, 2023 Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood) said, We are upholding our constitution. We are protecting the integrity of this body. Lets vote to expel him. That would send the case back to the voters of Davis County, and if after looking at his conduct, they find that he should come back, we will welcome him as a representative. Jones read between the lines and claimed Bulso insinuated he is an uppity negro and mentioned Bulso tried to incite violence against him in an elevator earlier this week and told him, You are a damn disgrace! Whoa, just watch this entire exchange pic.twitter.com/mc6aYbLjmT philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 6, 2023 The Tennessee House of Representatives voted 72-25 to expel Jones. Rep. Justin Jones has been expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives pic.twitter.com/bjSx0pakuF philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 6, 2023 The Tennesseean reported expulsion required 66 votes. Johnsons (65-30) lacked one, so the Tennessee House of Representatives allowed her to stay but expelled Pearson 69-26. The majority-Republican Tennessee House voted to expel two Democrats and spared a third Thursday afternoon after the trio of lawmakers led a protest on the House floor last week to demand action on gun control in the wake of the latest deadly school shooting in Nashville last Monday that claimed the lives of six people, including three children. State Reps. Justin Jones of Nashville and Justin Pearson of Memphis, both Black and two of the youngest members of the Legislature, were voted out of the House, with vote tallies of 72-25 and 69-26, respectively, while Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, a white woman, was spared by one vote, with a vote tally of 65-30. It takes two-thirds of the House to officially expel a member and the Tennessee House is made up of 75 Republicans and 23 Democrats, with one vacancy. When asked what made the difference between her outcome and those of her former colleagues, Johnson told a group of reporters shortly after her vote that it might have to do with the color of our skin. Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville and Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, on the floor of the House chamber Thursday after a resolution to expel Johnson from the Legislature failed. (George Walker IV/AP) Johnson also vowed to do everything in her power to fight to get the jobs back for her colleagues. The trio of Democrats who in recent days have gained notoriety as the so-called Tennessee Three said they understood that they were breaking decorum when they approached the podium last week with a bullhorn chanting, No action, no peace! They were echoing the sentiments of thousands of students, parents and community members they had met with earlier that day, many of whom were still present and shouting from the gallery above the chamber, having grown impatient as the majority GOP House worked through various pieces of legislation, but none addressing guns. The Democrats had expected consequences for their actions, they admit, but had no idea it would cost them their jobs. Republicans on Monday introduced legislation to expel the three Democrats for disorderly behavior, with GOP House Speaker Cameron Sexton likening the public display to an insurrection. Story continues What they did was try to hold up the peoples business on the House floor instead of doing it the way that they should have done it, which they have the means to do, Sexton said on The Hal Show Podcast the evening of the outburst. They actually thought that they would be arrested. And so they decided that them being a victim was more important than focusing on the six victims from Monday. And thats appalling. Sexton did not return Yahoo News request for comment. Protesters in the gallery of the Tennessee state Capitol on Monday demanding action on gun reform. (Seth Herald/Getty Images) When Johnson joined her two colleagues in boisterous chants for gun reform on the state Capitols House floor last Thursday during a recess between bills, it was largely because she knows firsthand about the trauma that plagues, even at times consumes, an individual after experiencing a school shooting. In the wake of the latest deadly school shooting in Nashville last week that claimed the lives of six people, including three children, Johnson recalled her own school shooting experience in the state 15 years prior. The Democratic lawmaker was a teacher more than a decade ago at Central High School in Knoxville when in 2008 a student fatally shot a 15-year-old classmate during a dispute. As those unsettling memories returned with this most recent tragedy, Johnsons said she felt silenced by the majority Republican-led House for not formally bringing a gun control discussion to the floor so she and two others took it upon themselves. As an educator whos been in a school when there was a school shooting, we have to [make] this issue paramount, Johnson, who represents Knoxville, told Yahoo News, recalling the psychological aftermath that the 2008 shooting had on the community. It was a trauma-filled day and a sad day and we lost a life. It had a serious effect on students. Republicans also stripped the lawmakers who represent the states largest three cities, with about 80,000 constituents each of their committee assignments and revoked building access. 'Chilling effect across the country' Ahead of the expulsion votes, Johnson said she believed the move would have sweeping ramifications across the rest of the country. This is going to have a chilling effect across the country, especially in red states, she said. Its going to scare people from talking about real issues. ... [Republicans] thought they would take this opportunity to take these respected voices in the state away and didnt take a second to think about what they were doing. Pearson, who was elected to his seat in January, claims that Republicans in the state House are silently complicit to gun companies, which is leading to an erosion of democracy. There were thousands outside wanting us to stand up, he told Yahoo News. I come from a community that [deals with gun violence regularly]. We want action so we dont have this issue. This is indicative of the silencing. Former Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, delivers his final remarks on the floor of the House chamber as he is expelled from the Legislature on Thursday. (George Walker IV/AP) Leaders from across the country have also echoed this sentiment. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre slammed Tennessee Republicans for taking swift action on the Democrats protest but failing to address legitimate solutions that could prevent another school shooting. The fact that this vote is happening is shocking, undemocratic and without precedent across Tennessee and across America, our kids are paying the price for the actions of Republican lawmakers who continue to refuse to take action on stronger gun laws, Jean-Pierre said during Thursdays press briefing. Guns remain the leading cause of death for children and adolescents under the age of 19 since surpassing car accidents in 2020, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2021 alone, firearms accounted for nearly 1 in 5 deaths of children. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, where the deadliest elementary school shooting in American history happened in 2012, called the move to expel the legislators bone-chilling. Im not excusing yelling out of turn on the House floor, Murphy tweeted Tuesday. Civility still matters in politics. But expulsion is an extreme measure of last resort, not the first step when someone breaks the House floor rules. And the double standard tells you everything you need to know. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., at a committee hearing in March. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts called the impending expulsion infuriating and anti-democratic. Jones, who at 27 is one of the youngest members of the Tennessee House of Representatives, told CNN Wednesday that the move to expel him and his colleagues is morally insane. Its very concerning, and it represents a clear and present danger to democracy all across this nation that should trouble us all, he said. But some critics are cautious to overstate the effects of an expulsion. Thomas Goodman, an assistant professor in the Department of Politics and Law at Rhodes College in Memphis, believes there are ways to be disruptive within the confines of procedure. I fear this could lead to a chilling effect on other Republican-led states, possibly deterring the voicing of dissident opinions in states where abortion laws and gun control policy do not neatly align with the majoritys views, Goodman said in an email to Yahoo News. But why limit it to Republican-led states? What about the potential for Democratic-majority states to act in similarly abusive ways? Democrats in other states could continue expressing their opinions and offering dissent, but through mechanisms that do not disrupt parliamentary procedures, within acceptable parliamentary channels, he said. Concerns of a double standard The move to expel the three Democrats has also raised concerns of a double standard within the Republican-controlled state House that in recent years declined to take action against a member accused of sexual misconduct and another facing an indictment for violating federal campaign finance laws. Another unidentified Republican member of the House allegedly urinated on a colleagues chair. Evidently these are not expulsion-worthy displays of unethical behavior or lack of decorum, Carrie Russell, a political science professor at Vanderbilt University told Yahoo News in an email, while duly acknowledging that a move like this signals that dissent and protesting against the stated agenda, regardless of the context, will procedurally engender the most extreme measures rendering their seats vacant and removing the ability of the voters in the states most diverse districts to receive representation in the halls of government. Protesters outside the Tennessee state Capitol on March 30 call for an end to gun violence following the deadly shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville. (Reuters/Cheney Orr/File photo) Since the Civil War, just two other members of the Tennessee House have been expelled for much more egregious actions. Most recently, in 2016, then-Rep. Jeremy Durham, a Republican, was removed from the House over allegations of sexual misconduct with at least 22 women. Prior to that, in 1980, then-Rep. Robert Fisher, a Republican, was expelled after being convicted of soliciting a bribe in exchange for attempting to prevent pending legislation from going through. Because of these serious infractions in the past leading to expulsion, political experts say a move to remove legislators for protesting out of turn would set a troubling precedent. Expulsion directly removes a duly elected official. It takes the decision out of the hands of the electorate, Susan Haynes, an associate professor of political science at Lipscomb University in Nashville, told Yahoo News, adding that expulsion in this circumstance lessens the threshold for what qualifies as an expellable offense. Neither the Tennessee Constitution nor the U.S. Constitution specifies what constitutes an expellable offense, so there is significant ambiguity there, but if we make this a political decision and weaponize the process, it sets a dangerous precedent, she said. Tennessee state troopers block the stairwell leading to the legislative chambers on Thursday. (George Walker IV/AP) Jana Morgan, a professor of political science at the University of Tennessee and co-author of the book Hijacking the Agenda: Economic Power and Political Influence sees two possible results from an expulsion that could result in contrasting outcomes. Expelling these legislators would immediately strip thousands of Tennesseeans of elected representation in the state Legislature, and the expulsion proceedings could work to silence the voices that these members aimed to amplify, Morgan told Yahoo News. At the same time, the ripple effects from this expulsion effort could actually galvanize the supporters of the Tennessee Three as well as gun control advocates across the state and country. Fanning the flames of heightened frustrations, on Monday, Republican Rep. Justin Lafferty allegedly assaulted Jones as he held his phone to film on the House floor as community members in the gallery above the House floor chanted fascists. This is a sad day for Tennessee, Jones said in a tweet capturing the incident. Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, speaks to a group of high school students during a sit-in on Monday at the Cordell Hull State Office Building to demand answers on what Tennessee lawmakers plan to do about gun reform. (Nicole Hester/USA Today Network via Reuters) Johnson called the incident an example of privilege at work. But beyond the infighting and tense exchanges in the past week, she says, whats most frustrating is the fact that real human lives are at stake. Having been in elected office off and on for a decade, Johnson said shes seen the decay of bipartisan work for the greater good. Dating back to when she was first elected in 2013, Johnson recalls a time when we were on both sides of the aisle, but we would get along. Now theres a meanness with this new class even more. Its concerning and we are moving further and further away from democracy. Republicans push back Still, Republicans appear to be holding their ground. Republican Rep. Gino Bulso, who sponsored Johnsons expulsion, said during an appearance on the conservative Daily Wire podcast on Wednesday that the trios actions warrant their discipline. They voluntarily disqualified themselves from further service, he said. Rather than comply with their oath to the Constitution and comply with the rules, they decided to go outside of the House and effectively shut it down. And so what were simply doing is recognizing that theyve voluntarily chosen to put themselves outside the House and formally expel them. Ken Paulson, director of the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University, sees some lingering questions for the state Houses ultimate voting body. The key question is whether the lawmakers are being punished for their actions or their speech, he said. If no one has ever been expelled for comparably disruptive behavior in the chamber, theres a strong argument that theyre being punished for their speech, which would violate the First Amendment. This has the feel of retaliation for criticism directed at House members. Protesters in the House gallery at the start of the morning session on Thursday. (Seth Herald/Getty Images) Ahead of Thursdays votes, Pearson said he thought this was likely his last week as an elected official. But the work, he says, never stops. I expect the majority of those people to expel us in an attempt to expel us [as people], but you cant silence us, he said. We are going to continue to do the work to not be silenced. Cover thumbnail: Seth Herald/Getty Images Tennessee State Representative Justin Jones, standing with Rep. Justin Pearson and Rep. Gloria Johnson, calls on his colleagues to pass gun control legislation from the well of the House Chambers during the legislative session George Walker IV/USA Today Network via Reuters Republicans in the Tennessee legislature just expelled two members for leading a gun reform protest in the House of Chambers. The Tennessee House of Representatives expelled state Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson. The Reps. were two of three Democrats in the state House who participated in the protest following an elementary school shooting. A week after they participated in a protest in the Tennessee House of Representatives, GOP state representatives voted to expel state Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson. The Tennessee House voted 72-25 on Thursday to expel Jones, with Rep. Justin Pearson also expelled after a 69-26 vote, according to CNN. They're two of three Democrats in the Tennessee House of Representatives both Black who led a protest with a megaphone on March 30 to call for gun law reform after a shooter killed six people at a private elementary school in Nashville just days prior. At the protest last Thursday, Jones, alongside Democratic state Reps. Justin Pearson and Gloria Johnson, walked towards the floor's podium between bill debates, shouting without having permission to address the chamber, which is not allowed under the rules of the legislature. On Thursday, the motion to expel Rep. Johnson (a white woman) failed with the vote tally reaching 65-30. Protestors flanked the chamber's galleries and chanted for gun reform, along with the three lawmakers, and a recess was called within minutes. After the action, Republican House leadership in the legislature introduced three nearly identical motions to expel the representatives. "I want to stop the guns before they ever get to the schoolhouse doors," Johnson told Insider last Thursday, after the protest. "Not ready for a war when they get there. Let's keep them from ever getting there. We can do that." Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton said on Monday that the actions committed by the Democrats in the House of Chambers "are and always will be unacceptable." Following the raucous protest last week, he compared the three Democrats to insurrectionists who violently attempted to stop the certification of the 2020 election results and chanted about killing the likes of former Vice President Mike Pence and then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Story continues "What they did today was equivalent, at least equivalent, maybe worse depending on how you look at it, to doing an insurrection in the State Capitol," Sexton said. Expelling someone from the Tennessee House of Representatives is a rare occurrence and requires two-thirds of members to vote in favor to expel someone. Republicans in the state control the House by a large margin of the 99 seats in the Tennessee House, 75 are held by Republicans, 23 by Democrats, and one is vacant. Only two members of the Tennessee House have been expelled over the last 157 years. One, according to CNN, was in 1980 after the body found the representative guilty of accepting a bribe. The second was in 2016 over sexual harassment allegations. Jones noted the rarity of his expulsion in a speech in the Tennessee House of Chambers on Thursday, pointing out that former domestic abusers and an "admitted child molester" harmoniously worked in space without an expulsion. Until Jones' seat is filled in a special election, his county commission can appoint an interim lawmaker. This can also be, according to NPR, the expelled member. Jones could also return to his former seat after running for office again. President Joe Biden addressed the Tennessee House leadership's focus on expelling the three, calling the move, "undemocratic." "Three kids and three officials gunned down in yet another mass shooting. And what are GOP officials focused on?" Biden tweeted on Thursday. "Punishing lawmakers who joined thousands of peaceful protesters calling for action. It's shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent." Correction: April 6, 2023 This story has been corrected to reflect the accurate count of votes to expel Jones. The vote tally was 72-25. Read the original article on Business Insider Tennessee state Reps. Justin Pearson, Justin Jones, and Gloria Johnson hold their hands up as they exit the House Chamber in Nashville on April 3, 2023. Nicole Hester / Tennessean via AP The Republican-controlled Legislature in Tennessee on Thursday took the extraordinary step of expelling two Democratic members of the Statehouse for their role in a protest for gun control in the chamber last week following the deadly Nashville school shooting. After hours of debate, lawmakers voted 7225 to expel Rep. Justin Jones of Nashville and 6926 to expel Rep. Justin Pearson of Memphis after they led chants from a podium on the House floor on March 30 using a megaphone, while hundreds of children and their parents filled the spectator gallery to call for gun control. A vote to expel a third member of the Statehouse, Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, failed by a single vote. She had argued that the resolution written by Republicans to expel her didn't accurately describe her behavior; while she stood with Pearson and Jones to support their protest, she had not vocally disrupted proceedings by yelling into the bullhorn. A two-thirds majority vote was required to remove the lawmakers. Republicans currently control 75 of the 99 seats in the Statehouse. Pearson and Jones are both 27-year-old Black men who are in their first term in the Statehouse, while Johnson, 60, is a white woman who is in her fourth term. "It might have to do with the color of our skin," Johnson said outside the chamber after the vote. Invoking the Jan. 6 assault on the US Capitol, House Speaker Cameron Sexton, a Republican who leads the GOPs supermajority in the chamber, said the trios actions were at least equivalent, maybe worse depending on how you look at it, of doing an insurrection in the Capitol. Although the demonstration did cause the speaker to temporarily freeze work in the Statehouse, no protesters broke into the building, damaged any property, or were arrested. Unlike the 2021 insurrection in DC, they were allowed in after going through security screening, the Tennessean newspaper reported. Republicans argued the trio had breached the chambers rules of procedure by approaching the podium to speak without being called upon. Story continues The expelled lawmakers could run again for their seats and, if reelected, they could not be expelled for the same offense. As the lawmakers voted on the expulsion Thursday, protesters gathered once more inside and outside of the Capitol in support of the so-called Tennessee Three. Chants could be heard outside the chamber for hours as lawmakers met, but Democrats had asked supporters in the public gallery to remain quiet so they could witness the events. However, once the final vote on Pearson occurred, people in the gallery erupted into chants of "Shame on you!" Prior to the vote, each of the targeted Democrats was given the opportunity to address the chamber. In his speech, Jones told his colleagues he had taken extraordinary action to break decorum in order to stand up for his constituents. He decried the vote against him as a "lynch mob assembled to not lynch me but our democratic process." "The world is watching Tennessee because what is happening here today is a farce of democracy," Jones said. "The movement for justice can never die," Pearson said in his speech, "because the heart for justice can never be killed because it lives and it beats in everyone one of us." Thursday's expulsions attracted significant national attention, including from President Joe Biden. "The expulsion of lawmakers who engaged in peaceful protest is shocking, undemocratic, and unprecedented," he said on Twitter. Rep. Justin Jones leads a chant in the House Chambers, standing with Reps. Pearson and Johnson on March 30, 2023. George Walker IV / USA Today Network via Reuters Republicans introduced the resolutions on Monday, a week after the shooting at the Covenant School, to expel the three Democrats, accusing them of disorderly behavior and of knowingly and intentionally [bringing] disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives. A week after six people were slaughtered in a Tennessee school shooting, House Republicans are taking action. Not to stop gun violence. But to silence voices who are calling for reform, Johnson wrote on Twitter after the resolution against her was filed. We will not be silent. Noting that Tennessee lawmakers did not expel a Republican who was accused in 2018 of sexually assaulting teenage girls, Johnson also accused her colleagues of hypocrisy.Only two Tennessee House members have been expelled from the chamber since the Civil War. One was in 2016 for alleged sexual misconduct, the other was in 1980 for soliciting a bribe. Jones said that the expulsion of him and his colleague would also silence the thousands of constituents they represent. "Its very concerning and it represents a clear and present danger to democracy all across this nation that should trouble us all, Jones told CNN on Wednesday, accusing Republicans of acting like authoritarians. Republicans backing the expulsion on Thursday argued the trio's actions had robbed all Tennesseans of legislative process by leading to the session being temporarily suspended. State troopers fill the Capitol rotunda as people are directed downstairs after it was announced Republicans began the process of expelling the three on Monday. Nicole Hester / The Tennessean via AP The brewing controversy had attracted significant attention among news outlets and Democrats nationally. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts called it infuriating and anti-democratic, while Rep. Katie Porter of California said it was a dangerous affront to democracy and cannot be ignored. Following the expulsion, former president Barack Obama also weighed in. "This nation was built on peaceful protest. No elected official should lose their job simply for raising their voice especially when theyre doing it on behalf of our children," he tweeted. "What happened in Tennessee is the latest example of a broader erosion of civility and democratic norms. Silencing those who disagree with us is a sign of weakness, not strength, and it wont lead to progress." On Tuesday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also condemned the expected expulsion of the lawmakers by Republicans. By doing what theyre doing with these three Democratic legislators, theyre shrugging in the face of yet another tragic school shooting while our kids continue to pay the price, she said. Antigun violence groups also condemned the move. This is NOT democracy, Everytown for Gun Safety tweeted Tuesday. Prior to the expulsion vote, lawmakers had voted on a bill aimed at school safety, but the three targeted Democrats argued it did not go far enough and voted against it.Calling for stronger legislation that actively targeted guns, Jones told his colleagues, "This bill seems to be a bandaid, it seems to be a white flag of surrender, when what we need is a deep surgery." More on this WASHINGTON House Speaker Kevin McCarthy had to fight tooth and nail to secure the gavel. Now, tensions between him and some of his top deputies are spilling out into the open. The chilly relationships further complicate challenges facing the Republican majority ahead of key deadlines to avert a government shutdown and a global economic meltdown in the coming months. McCarthy faces the daunting task of unifying his wafer-thin majority behind legislation that will also need Democratic support. Under normal circumstances, the House majority leader and the Republican Budget Committee chairman would be natural allies as McCarthy seeks to thread that needle. But, as The New York Times reported this week, those relationships are fraying and McCarthy has privately criticized Budget Chair Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. According to the Times, the comments came after Arrington quietly put out feelers during McCarthy's battle for the speaker's gavel to see if GOP lawmakers may instead back Scalise for the job. NBC News has not independently confirmed Arrington's moves during the speaker battle or McCarthy's private remarks, but three House Republican aides confirmed that there are tensions in McCarthy's relationships with key GOP leaders. The chilly dynamic was on display two weeks ago when the speaker dismissed Arringtons plan to craft a debt limit offer, telling reporters: I dont know what hes talking about. Some believe McCarthy is deflecting blame. "Hes made zero progress in debt negotiations and is getting nervous because he knows all these secret side deals and promises he made during his speaker race are not going to pan out," a senior House Republican aide told NBC News, requesting anonymity to speak candidly about sensitive internal dynamics. "So hes trying to lay the groundwork to point fingers." The Republican aide was also puzzled by McCarthy tapping Rep. Garret Graves, R-La., to lead Republican debt limit negotiations, calling it an attempt to distance himself from the issue. What other speaker in history has outsourced debt ceiling negotiations to a random rank and file? the aide said. Story continues A second senior House GOP aide said they were surprised to see the tensions spilling out into the open. But its no secret Scalise and McCarthys teams have always kinda been at odds, the aide said. Arringtons office didnt comment. McCarthys office referred to his remarks to the Times rejecting fissures with top deputies, calling Scalise an essential partner and praising Arringtons work on the budget. Scalises office defended the majority leaders work but didnt weigh in on the relationship with McCarthy. Arrington, as budget chief, is a pivotal figure in crafting two must-pass bills: the debt ceiling extension and a government funding bill. Republicans are struggling to agree on a set of demands ahead of a deadline thats set to hit between June and September. Many in the GOP doubt they will pass a budget resolution, a nonbinding collection of priorities and policy vision. Divisions in the party have already caused House Republicans to struggle to pass messaging bills to beef up border security and rebuke liberal prosecutors. Scalise, meanwhile, is McCarthy's No. 2. His communications director, Lauren Fine, issued a lengthy statement defending Scalises work on setting the most productive floor schedule Congress has seen in years, sending five bills to President Joe Bidens desk, working with every committee chair to craft the House Republican agenda and having led the effort to bring to the floor and pass H.R.1, the new majoritys signature energy bill. Arrington's Democratic counterpart defends him In the White House and on Capitol Hill, Democrats see the emerging angst within the House Republican caucus as validation of their strategy to refuse to attach conditions to a debt limit increase, which would not authorize new spending but rather enable the U.S. to borrow to pay off existing debt imposed by Congress. Rep. Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania, the top Democrat on the Budget Committee, said the failure lies with McCarthy. Republicans took raising the debt limit hostage and yet have no idea what ransom they want for it. Kevin McCarthy promised the sun, moon and stars to his Republican colleagues in order to get elected speaker. Now that he cant even produce a GOP budget, hes shifting the blame onto other Republican colleagues, Boyle said. Sadly, the GOP dysfunction raises the odds of default. In an unusual move, the Democrat also defended the Republican chairman amid the reported criticism from the GOP speaker. Chairman Arrington is both well liked and respected by members on my side of the aisle, Boyle said. Hes a bright, principled conservative. McCarthy has his share of defenders in the House GOP. Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D., backed McCarthys approach on the debt limit, saying the "real problem" is Bidens refusal to negotiate. Armstrong criticized anonymous staff and lawmakers for "airing perceived slights and grievances," saying it sounds like "junior high." "And these types of comments dont help our leverage and is exactly why McCarthy has been smart to not try and negotiate terms in public," he said. A third senior Republican aide acknowledged the tension between GOP leaders and committee chairs. Their messaging is often in tandem but not coordinated, the aide said, leaving rank-and-file members often unclear as to what the priorities are and who is directing conference traffic. The aide said the problems arent raising serious alarm bells yet because Republicans have been able to achieve goals like passing the energy bill and investigating the Biden administration. But with bigger challenges on the horizon, the aide added, At some point we will all have to start rowing in the same direction. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A married Texas couple is begging Child Protective Services to bring their newborn daughter home after the agency took her from their home. CPS believes the couple improperly treated their daughters jaundice, leading them to question their ability to provide their little one with the love, care and support she needs. On March 21, Mila Jackson was born at Rodney and Temecia Jacksons home, WFAA reported. A licensed midwife facilitated the birth process, and at 6 pounds and 9 ounces, baby Mila couldnt have been healthier. Days after her birth, the Jacksons took Mila to the pediatrician for her standard newborn checkup. They got a clean bill of health from the nurse practitioner. But later that day, everything changed. The Jacksons were confused when they received multiple messages from the doctors office. When they returned them, they learned Mila had jaundice and life-threateningly high levels of bilirubin a substance made during the bodys process of breaking down old red blood cells. WFAA reported Dr. Anand Bhatt, Milas pediatrician, wrote, At a bilirubin over 20, a baby risks brain damage, because the bilirubin can cross the blood brain barrier. Milas was 21.7. Dr. Bhatt recommended the Jacksons take Mila to the hospital for phototherapy, a standard jaundice treatment. However, the Jacksons said they told the doctor they would treat Milas jaundice at home with their midwifes assistance. Dr. Bhatt was skeptical, but the Jacksons assured him they would follow his instructions and supplement Temecias breast milk as recommended. They also shared their midwifes contact information with Dr. Bhatt in case he wanted to verify their plan. Several hours later into the night, [Dr. Bhatt] texts my phone very aggressive take her to the hospital or hes calling CPS, Temecia Jackson told WFAA of a message she received from the pediatrician. Dr. Bhatt contacted CPS, and in his letter to the agency, he explained he filed a case report with CPS after trying 10 attempts to appeal to the family through phone calls, text messages and leaving voicemails as they did not pick up the phone. Story continues He added the Jacksons are very loving and they care dearly about their baby, but their distrust for medical care and guidance has led them to decide for the baby to refuse a simple treatment that can prevent brain damage. I authorized the support of CPS to help get this baby the care that was medically necessary and needed, Dr. Bhatt wrote. CPS decided taking Mila into custody was the appropriate action in this case. Due to the parents being unwilling to discuss the danger and potential consequences of this condition, it is necessary for the Department to intervene, it wrote in a statement. With the help of a local police officer and a court order, CPS took Mila from the Jacksons home on March 28. Unlawfully, [they] entered my home to take my baby from me, Temecia Jackson said during a news conference earlier this week. The Jacksons legal team says a big problem with the affidavit permitting CPS to take Mila as it doesnt list Temecia as Milas mother. Instead, another woman, with a different name and history of child neglect, has been noted as Milas mother. Instantly, I felt like they had stolen my baby as I had had a home birth, and they were trying to say my baby belonged to this other woman, Temecia, who has no criminal record, said. Its been a harrowing few weeks for the Jacksons, who are doing everything possible to bring their baby girl home. Weve been treated like criminals and thats far from the truth, Rodney said. This is a nightmare I wouldnt wish on anyone. Insider Canadian officials have suspended the license of a US doctor prescribing Ozempic over the border. David Davison has been connected to thousands of Ozempic prescriptions sent to Canadian pharmacies. Officials told Insider they are launching a "full investigation of this serious matter." A doctor in Texas appears to be the driving force behind a web of thousands of prescriptions for semaglutide, the generic form of Ozempic, filled across the border in Canada every month, and then mailed to Americans. David Davison, a Canadian-trained physician working in Texas, has been pinpointed in an investigation into thousands of cross-border semaglutide prescriptions filled in the course of just three months. Authorities believe Davison "has not practiced in Nova Scotia for many years," Insider has confirmed. Davison's license to practice in Nova Scotia has been suspended while the college launches a "full investigation of this serious matter," Gus Grant, Registrar & CEO of the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Nova Scotia, told Insider in an email. "Based on volume alone, the prescribing is not in keeping with the standards of the profession." Investigators in two separate Canadian provinces British Columbia, where the majority of the prescriptions were filled, and Nova Scotia, a province across the country told Insider their investigation is still underway, but so far they're tightening up international sales of the Type 2 diabetes drug, often used off-label for weight loss, and they have suspended Davison's license to practice medicine in Nova Scotia. According to Nova Scotia licensing records that are available online, there is only one David Davison licensed in Nova Scotia, a doctor who's been working in and around Odessa, Texas for more than forty years. College of Physicians & Surgeons of Nova Scotia In biographies on several different medical provider websites, as well as in Texas Medical Board records, Davison is listed as having graduated from medical school at Dalhousie University, which is in Nova Scotia, in 1977. Texas state records show Davison has also held a US license to practice in that state since 1978. Story continues Davison has worked at several different hospitals and clinics around west Texas, and appears to have once been the medical director at "Weigh of Life" clinic in Monahans, Texas, a shuttered clinic that promoted using the drug phentermine to lose weight. Davison did not respond to Insider's request for comment. Almost 20,000 Ozempic prescriptions in 3 months It's unclear exactly how many semaglutide prescriptions Davison wrote, but the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia identified two pharmacies in British Columbia with a high and steadily increasing volume of prescriptions written for semaglutide in recent months: 3,860 prescriptions in December, 5,800 in January, and 7,500 in February. "The College of Pharmacists believes that the majority of these were written for patients in the United States," Grant said. "I cannot see how the volume of medications prescribed could possibly be supported by proper medical assessment and judgment." The College of Pharmacists wouldn't confirm exactly how many of those thousands of prescriptions were written by Davison, but authorities told Insider in an email that they were "inspecting" whether certain pharmacies are "compliant" with standards for online sales. American patients are flocking to Canada to get Ozepmic for cheap Many drugs are cheaper in Canada than in the US, because the Canadian government negotiates drug prices for the national health care system. At the Canadian online pharmacy Polarbearmeds.com Ozempic is advertised for about $250 US per pen, whereas pharmacies in the US routinely charge upwards of $1,000 for patients without insurance. This has led to a surge of American patients trying to get Ozempic over the border to use for off-label weight loss. The issue has gotten so bad that last week, British Columbia minister of health Adrian Dix announced that the province would be tightening Ozempic regulations to prevent potential future shortages. "The purpose of procuring the drug Ozempic for British Columbia is not to turn around and export it to Americans," Dix said in a press release. Most of the Ozempic prescriptions for Americans don't require actually crossing the border, they're shipped "by mail," Dix explained. According to province-wide pharmacy data, 15% of Ozempic prescriptions in January and February were sold to US residents. Normally, only about 0.4% of prescriptions in British Columbia are filled by Americans. Do you know a doctor who is prescribing Ozempic in an unethical way? Have you used a Canadian pharmacy to get semaglutide? We want to hear from you. Contact Hilary Brueck at hbrueck@insider.com. Read the original article on Insider A Texas man shot and killed a bar owner Monday who refused to give him a drink, authorities said. Wan Cho, 62, is accused of killing Chong Sun Wargny, 53, owner of the Happy Days Bar in Dallas, FOX Dallas reported. Cho faces murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges. TEXAS STATE TROOPERS SEIZE 67 POUNDS OF METH DAYS AFTER PARTNERING WITH AUSTIN POLICE Wan Cho, 62, is seen on surveillance video the night he allegedly shot and killed a Dallas bar owner who refused to serve him a drink. Wargny was working the bar when Cho asked for a drink. When she ignored him, he called her a "b----," according to an arrest affidavit. Warngy responded to Cho with the same insult, and he left the bar. Cho returned 15 minutes later and again requested a drink. When Wargny refused, Cho opened fire on her, authorities said. Witnesses tried to restrain Cho, who also fired twice at a witness, but missed. He was arrested and is being held in the Dallas County jail on a $525,000 bond. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Wan Cho, 62, shown in a mug shot. In 2015, Cho was arrested after he became drunk inside a Korean restaurant and began swearing and yelling at customers after he was refused service. He allegedly punched someone in the mouth who was trying to calm him down. He pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily injury and was sentenced to nine months of probation. A Texas man said a moving company last year packed his mother's ashes with his silverware and caused thousands of dollars in damage. Russell Jones told FOX Houston that he paid $22,000 for Coleman American Moving Services, an agent for Allied Van Lines, to move most of his belongings to storage last fall. He and his wife were planning to sell their home. In January, the couple took the home off the market and his possessions came back on a flatbed truck filled with crates. TEXANS SOUNDING SAFETY ALARMS AFTER LATEST BODY FOUND IN LAKE "You can see through into the crates the covers on the crates are broken," Jones told the news outlet. "It rained that day, we have several photos that are ruined. We were telling the movers not to move this, and we found when the box was delivered, there's nothing in here." A container with the remains of Russell Jones' mother was empty after a moving company took possession of them, he said. The remains are missing, he said. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "You packed my mother's remains with the silverware," Jones said. Jones said he filed a claim with the company and was told to stop unpacking while it investigated the situation. It hasn't yet, he said. Coleman Allied said it offered Jones $1,000 for the missing ashes as a gesture of goodwill. "Mr. Jones did not identify anything in his shipment as containing human remains, nor did he notify anyone in our company of their presence in his shipment," it told the news station. The company noted that it is against company policy to transport human ashes. CASH APP FOUNDER BOB LEE DIED PLEADING WITH 911 FOR HELP: REPORT "We interviewed all members of the crews performing services, the salesperson, the customer service representative and the manager of the local facility," a company statement said. "All confirmed that Mr. Jones never mentioned anything about ashes or human remains." Alex Murdaugh has gotten a steady stream of ardent messages from a cadre of admirers since he was convicted and sentenced to life in prison last month for killing his wife and son, according to reports. Murdaugh, 54, has received a series of affectionate notes from a number of fans who are purportedly infatuated with the convicted killer and disbarred legal scion. The letters, which were first obtained by FITSNews via a Freedom of Information Act request, were published Tuesday. RELATED: Alex Murdaugh's Murder Trial Judge Speaks Publicly For First Time: 'The Person Who Is Killed Will Haunt' "I think I love you," Nicollete K. wrote in a letter to Murdaugh on March 12, while he was being held at the Kirkland Correctional Institution in Columbia, S.C. "I think about you all day everyday. I swear on my life I'll never say a single word to anyone important or not important. I genuinely care for you." Murdaugh was since relocated, as of March 31, to an undisclosed state maximum-security prison. Hes one of 28 inmates being held in the specialized facility for safety and security reasons, the South Carolina Department of Corrections said, Greenville Online reported. According to FITSNews, Murdaugh had received the flurry of romantic letters prior to his transfer late last month. Alex Murdaugh's New Mugshot Alex Murdaugh's New Mugshot Photo: South Carolina Department of Corrections "I am just a small town girl from Missouri," a separate woman named Lacie K. wrote, per the message log cited by FITSNews. "I am here if you want to talk. Or vent. XXLacie." Other Murdaugh devotees proclaimed his innocence in his wife and sons murder. "You didn't kill your family, somebody else did and you don't wanna tell it," Destiny H. wrote. "I give you all the love for not snitching but then again, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do for your freedom." Another woman, Shianne D., proposed in her note that she could include images of herself so Murdaugh could "put a face to a name." She described herself as a bored 31-year-old female [who] decided to write a letter to someone who could use a friend too. Story continues Buster Murdaugh in court. The South Carolina Department of Corrections has since confirmed the authenticity of the jailhouse letters, People reported. Alex Murdaugh was convicted on March 2 for the murder of his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and youngest son, Paul Murdaugh, 22, who were shot and killed at the family's estate in June 2021. The once prominent attorney was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Murdaugh, who has maintained his innocence since his arrest, intends to appeal the verdict. According to the prison message log, Murdaugh was also contacted by Netflix, specifically Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal producer Mike Gasparro, who begged the imprisoned former legal scion to grant a jailhouse interview. Alex Murdaugh Sentencing Alex Murdaugh is led to the Colleton County Courthouse by sheriff's deputies for sentencing Friday, March 3, 2023. Photo: AP "We feel at this point it's very important to have your voice in the [remainder] of our series," Gasparro stated in his letter to Murdaugh, according to FITSNews. "Our first three episodes [were] viewed by 40 million households and also 75 million hours [were] watched in just ten days. Those numbers will continue to rise. We believe you can have the largest platform on TV if you are willing to speak to us." Some of the jailhouse correspondence included references to Murdaughs surviving son, Buster Murdaugh, and unfounded speculation he was somehow tied to a renewed homicide investigation into 19-year-old teenager Stephen Smith, who was mysteriously found dead near the Murdaugh home in 2015. I am so proud of Buster for giving a statement about Stephen Smiths murder, Laken B. also wrote in her note to Murdaugh. Fareed Khan/AP, Limestone Community School, Walton County Sheriffs Office If youre sick of hearing about former President Donald Trumps arraignment, read on, because although its been a busy week in the hard-news world, there have been plenty of warm and fuzzy feel-good stories too. Here are some of the best this week from Yahoo News partners. International team of veterinarians save sick elephant at Pakistani zoo Vets from the animal welfare group Four Paws lift an elephant named Noor Jehan to conduct a medical exam at Karachi Zoo in Karachi, Pakistan, on Wednesday. (Fareed Khan/AP) A team of veterinarians from the Austrian animal welfare organization Four Paws said they performed a lifesaving procedure on a sick elephant at a zoo in Pakistan on Wednesday, Yahoo News partner the Associated Press reported. The 17-year-old elephant, named Noor Jehan, was cared for by an eight-member team that included veterinarians from Egypt and Bulgaria and an elephant husbandry expert from Germany, who performed a complex procedure with the help of a crane and a fire truck. They discovered that Noor Jehan had a large hematoma in her abdomen and a damaged pelvic floor, which had been the main causes of her pain and physical distress, according to Four Paws. The good news is that there is treatment for this, but it requires a lot of work and some luck in the coming days, said Dr. Amir Khalil, who led the team. However, Noor Jehan is still young, and she deserves to live another 20 or 30 years. Khalil said authorities have agreed to relocate Noor Jehan and her fellow elephant Madhubala to more appropriate living conditions. The elephants have been at Karachi Zoo since being captured in the wild and brought to Pakistan together in 2009. We welcome the commitment of the local zoo officials and authorities to finally relocate both elephants, after Four Paws has recommended this action in favor of the elephants well-being already last year, Josef Pfabigan, global CEO of Four Paws, said. We would have wished for this measure to be implemented sooner to spare Noor Jehan her recent suffering but are glad that she still has a chance at a better life. Four Paws says that species-appropriate living conditions for elephants include big open spaces with natural surroundings and a soft ground where the animals can move around. Elephants enjoy taking mud baths, for this they need sand and water to engage with. Story continues Teacher saves 100-year-old woman from choking Ryan Roberts, a ceramics teacher at Iolani School in Honolulu, in his studio with sons Asher, 10, and Owen, 13. (Ryan Roberts) A teacher in Honolulu is being hailed as a Good Samaritan after saving the life of a 100-year-old woman he saw choking on a cough drop in the road, Yahoo News partner Fox News reported. Ryan Roberts, a 45-year-old ceramics teacher, was on his way home from work with his two sons last Wednesday when he noticed that a car in the left lane was stopped, with the passenger door open. He pulled over and saw a woman who was struggling to breathe. It turned out to be a daughter trying to help her mother who was choking, Roberts said. The daughter was kind of frantic and the mother wasnt doing too well at that point. She was gasping, starting to pass out. He quickly administered the Heimlich maneuver, and after the third attempt she coughed quite a bit, some stuff came out and then she started crying. I said, Hey, if youre crying, youre breathing, so stop crying and just concentrate on breathing. Youre OK, Roberts said. After making sure the woman was all right, he ducked out and left without giving his name once emergency services arrived, but a school logo on Robertss shirt enabled Dr. James Ireland, director of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department, where the woman was treated, to track him down the next day. He didnt need any recognition, Ireland said. He just made sure she was OK, thanked the rescuers who came and off he went. Not seeking the limelight, not seeking any accolades. But he sure deserves them. Ireland said the city plans to recognize Roberts with a certificate honoring him as a Good Samaritan. Dog hailed as hero for alerting family to fire Walton County Sheriffs Office Local authorities in Florida are crediting a family pet for potentially saving its owners home from a fire, Yahoo News partner the Miami Herald reported. Just before noon on Tuesday, officials received a 911 call from a teenager in Westville, Fla., who said he was home alone when he heard his dog barking. When he looked outside to see what the dog was barking at, he saw flames coming from a barn housing several fowl, the Walton County Sheriffs Office said in a news release. The fire is believed to have been caused by electrical issues inside the barn. It took over 30 minutes for firefighters to control the blaze, and they were able to prevent it from spreading to other structures. Sadly, this family lost several animals in the fire, Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson said. However, if it werent for the dogs guardian instincts and the sons quick action, this situation could have ended much worse. Kansas children design homes to help solve homelessness Limestone Community School A group of first and second graders at Limestone Community School, a small elementary school in Lawrence, Kan., is designing homes to help solve their citys homelessness problem, Yahoo News partner USA Today reported. The idea came about when students started brainstorming around the simple question What if? with one student suggesting, What if everyone had parents and a home? The students intend to have four homes built with the help of partners and hope to raise $120,000 for building materials, with construction possibly starting as soon as late April, according to Madeline Herrera, a teacher at the school. We have multiple organizations that have offered us to be able to build on their land, and then they would manage the properties, which is an absolute dream for us, Herrera said. Steve Vukelich, vice president of collaborative design company Multistudio, is helping students design the homes, and he said there initially was a bit of a learning curve. We quickly learned the concept of scale is really difficult for first and second graders to grasp; the kids dream really big, Vukelich said. One of the homes is likely to be built for one of Limestone Community Schools kindergarten teachers, Sarauniya Pelts. It means so much because they want to show they care for their community, and my family was included in that, Pelts said. The "Tennessee three" Democratic legislators who were targeted for expulsion from the legislature by its Republican majority Thursday have diverse backgrounds but a shared history of activism. The trio state Reps. Justin Jones, Gloria Johnson and Justin Pearson were the subjects of expulsion votes Thursday for their conduct during protests against gun violence on the House floor last week. Republicans booted Jones with 72-25 party line vote. The effort to remove Johnson fell one vote short of the two-thirds majority of all 100 members needed. Pearson was expelled later in the day on a 69-26 vote. The three had led supporters in chants calling for stricter gun safety measures after a mass shooting at a Nashville school killed six people including three 9-year-old children and they used a bullhorn without having been recognized to speak. House leaders called their actions an insurrection and said they had participated in disorderly behavior and did knowingly and intentionally bring disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives. House Minority Leader Karen Camper said the three had caused good trouble, as called for by the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights icon who led nonviolent protests in the state. Here's a look at the three. Justin Jones Jones, the first of the three to be expelled, was a freshman who represented the Nashville area and was listed as a policy and activism fellow at the John Lewis Center for Social Justice at Fisk University on his House member page, before it was pulled down Thursday. According to a biography on his campaign website, Jones was born in Oakland, California, and raised by his mother while she put herself through nursing school. He became active in organizing and civil rights in high school, including organizing protests after the death of Trayvon Martin. His activism grew when he attended Fisk in Tennessee, and he helped organize campaigns for expanded health care and against police brutality. Story continues After the killing of George Floyd, Jones helped organize a 62-day sit-in outside the Tennessee State Capitol, his campaign bio says, adding that he has been arrested over a dozen times for nonviolent protests. Justin Pearson Pearson, 28, another freshman, represented the Memphis area, where hed been a community organizer. The city is also where he was born and raised the fourth son of five boys born to teenage parents, according to his campaign website. Like Jones, Pearson says he has been an advocate for social and environmental causes since high school. He founded Memphis Community Against Pollution and helped lead Year Up, a nonprofit job training organization that focused on social, racial and economic justice, his website said. Gloria Johnson Johnson, 60, spent 27 years as a special education teacher and was inspired to get involved in politics during Barack Obamas 2008 presidential campaign, according to her biography. She moved to Tennessee in the seventh grade after her FBI agent father was transferred to Knoxville following time in Colorado, California and Mississippi. She first successfully ran for the state House in 2012, and after having spent some time doing organizing for Medicaid expansion in the state, she ran again and won in 2018. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Three Fort Worth men accused of illegally selling guns were arrested in an ATF bust this week, announced Leigha Simonton, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas. Michael Smith, 36, Khalid Amill, 27, and Rondell Jones, 27, were arrested in Fort Worth on Tuesday and were charged via criminal complaint with conspiracy to deal in firearms without a license and possession of a firearm. If convicted, Smith and Amil face up to 35 years in federal prison, while Jones faces up to 15 years in prison. Smith and Amil were also charged with drug offenses, as were three other men arrested during the bust: William Davis, 42, and Dwayne Purnell, 54 who were both charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and Jaquan Thomas, 23, charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Davis could face up to 40 years in prison if convicted and Thomas could face up to 20 years in prison. All six defendants made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey L. Cureton in Fort Worth on Thursday. Smith, Amill, Jones, and their co-conspirators sold more than two dozen firearms to undercover agents over the course of a month and a half, according to court documents. On multiple occasions, co-conspirators were informed that the guns they sold would be trafficked across the border into Mexico, where they would be illegally resold. Court documents allege they repeatedly bragged that they could obtain fully automatic AK and AR-style rifles, referred to as choppers. On one occasion, Smith and a co-conspirator allegedly attempted to sell a Smith & Wesson pistol that they claimed was equipped with a custom firing pin that made it automatic, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. When an undercover agent expressed skepticism, they claimed the firing pin was internal. On another occasion, Smith allegedly acted as middleman for the sale of a short-barreled Seekins Precision rifle equipped with a selector switch that moved from safe, to single shot, to automatic, according to court documents. Smith also allegedly brokered the sale of a privately manufactured firearm commonly referred to as a ghost gun that contained an extended magazine, which are attachments that can be added to firearms to carry more bullets. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives Dallas Field Division conducted the investigation in partnership with the Fort Worth Police Departments Gang Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Levi Thomas is prosecuting the case. Three new Star Wars movies are in the making, studio executives announced Friday, including the first film in the cinematic universe to be directed by a woman. Pakistan-born Oscar-winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is leaping from the Marvel universe to the Star Wars galaxy to direct a new film set 15 years after the end of the last movie. She will direct British actor Daisy Ridley as she returns to the role of Rey, the heroine of the last trilogy, which wound up in 2019 to mixed reviews. The new film will follow Rey's efforts to revive the Jedi order. Obaid-Chinoy, who has two Oscars for documentaries denouncing violence against women, said she was "drawn to the hero's journey" in the Star Wars universe. "I spent the better part of my lifetime meeting real heroes who are overcoming oppressive regimes and battling impossible odds and I think that's the heart of Star Wars," she said. Obaid-Chinoy directed last year's Ms. Marvel television series featuring a Muslim superhero. Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm, the studio bought by Disney in 2012, said each of the three films would cover different periods in the Star Wars narrative. And each will have a different director. James Mangold, himself a two-time Oscar nominee, will helm another of the films, fresh from directing the latest in the Indiana Jones series, which is due for release later this year. His film will look at the origins of the Jedi order, thousands of years before the original storyline. And the third film will be directed by Dave Filoni, an old hand in the Stars Wars universe, having produced several television series, including the wildly successful The Mandalorian, now in its third season. Fans at the convention also got a first view of US actress Rosario Dawson in the role of Ahsoka, a female Jedi warrior who first appeared in an animated series. The character has been such as hit with the Star Wars fanbase that she has graduated to a live-action television series, due out in August. But fans will have to wait until 2025 for the first of the three films to be released. ac/jj/fb Tourists are learning the hard way that getting your hair wet in Iceland's Blue Lagoon has consequences. Marissa Carlino Tourists are showing how their hair was damaged for weeks after swimming in Iceland's Blue Lagoon. Amelia Carta-McCarthy, 20, told Insider it took a month for her hair to feel healthy again. Marissa Carlino told Insider her hair was dry for weeks but said the photos were worth it. Some tourists are learning the hard way that when you get your hair wet in Iceland's iconic Blue Lagoon, there are going to be some consequences. Recent viral TikTok videos have shown how the geothermal spa can leave hair dry and brittle for days or weeks after. Marissa Carlino, a 25-year-old interior designer from New England, shared a TikTok of her own experience on March 19, and it's racked up more than 9.4 million views as of Friday. Carlino told Insider that she visited the Blue Lagoon earlier in March. She said she headed straight to the tourist spot located near Grindavik after her flight landed at 5 a.m. in hopes of beating the huge crowds that visit every day. Upon arrival, Carlino said staff at the lagoon recommended that everyone tie their hair up while in the water. "Of course, I heard what the workers said and knew prior to going in that my hair would be a mess afterward if I put it in the water," Carlino said. "The lagoon contains high levels of silica. Although it's not damaging to hair, submerging your hair in such a high concentration results in the crunchy feeling." Carlino in the Blue Lagoon. Marissa Carlino But Carlino wanted to snap some photos of herself at the lagoon with her hair down. "I guess the mistake I made was leaving my hair down 90% of the time I was in the lagoon," she said. Amelia Carta-McCarthy, who also posted a TikTok video about her Blue Lagoon experience on March 26, said when she visited in January, she wasn't told by any staff members to put her hair up, but she did see signs that mentioned it. Story continues "There were no signs on how the water would negatively impact your hair, but there were signs saying to put your hair up," the 20-year-old from Manchester, England, told Insider. "I assumed this was because they didn't want people's hair clogging drains, not that it would damage your hair." The Blue Lagoon's official website notes that the geothermal seawater "can leave the hair matted and unmanageable." "We recommend using a swim cap or tying your hair in a bun," it reads. "Swim caps are not available for rent, but they are sold in the Blue Lagoon store here at Blue Lagoon." Before swimming in the Blue Lagoon, Carlino said she rinsed her hair and body and lathered her locks with a conditioner that was provided in the locker room, which she said is the standard practice. About a half-hour after she got into the lagoon, Carlino noticed that the conditioner had washed off. She said she spent a total of three hours in the water, and could feel the effects on her hair almost immediately. "The best way to describe it is the feeling of your hair after swimming in the ocean, times 10," Carlino said. "My hair became extremely stiff and the cold air I think it was about 30 degrees out that morning with very high winds only made it worse. My hair felt almost gritty, chalky even." Carta-McCarthy, who spent 10 hours in the lagoon, said her hair started feeling different within 10 minutes of getting into the water. "I could feel the horrible straw texture and how my hair had been completely dried out," she said. The Blue Lagoon in Grindavik, Iceland. Getty/VW Pics After enjoying the lagoon, Carlino said she shampooed and conditioned her hair in the locker room shower. She then tried to use one of the provided hair dryers but "could not untangle my hair no matter what I did." "Every time I brushed one piece it would get knotted again, I couldn't believe it," she said. "The rest of the trip I left my hair in a braid and figured I'd deal with the consequences once I was home." Carlino began researching tips to combat "Blue Lagoon hair" while waiting for her flight back to the US and read that a clarifying shampoo could get rid of mineral buildup while a protein-free conditioner would help restore moisture. She used both when she got home and left a deep conditioner in her hair overnight. Carlino said she "noticed a slight improvement" the next morning. Carlino's hair was dry for weeks following her dip in the Blue Lagoon, she said. Marissa Carlino "In total, it took about four washes for my hair to return to normal," she said. "And it's even softer now since I've been deep-conditioning regularly." "It was something I was more than willing to deal with," she added. "The photos are something I can always look back on and smile remembering my time in Iceland, so I couldn't care less about having straw hair for a few weeks." It took a month for Carta-McCarthy's hair to feel healthy again "after many hair masks and hair oiling," she told Insider. "As someone with curly hair, this ruined my curl pattern for quite some time," she added. Carlino said that although her hair was temporarily damaged, the pictures were worth it. Marissa Carlino For anyone looking to visit the Blue Lagoon, Carlino recommends skipping shampoo when you rinse off before going into the water and putting "tons of conditioner" in your hair. She also suggests taking all the photos you want when you first enter the lagoon, then putting your hair in a clip. "I'd recommend even going back into the locker room to put your phone in storage and add more conditioner to your hair," Carlino said. "From there, you can really just enjoy the lagoon." "If you don't want to deal with dry hair for a few weeks, then lather your hair in conditioner and keep it in a clip the entire time," she added. "The memories will last a lifetime, so it was definitely worth ruining my hair for a few weeks." Representatives for the Blue Lagoon did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Insider Tim Cook at the "Ted Lasso" season 3 premiere in Los Angeles on March 7. Emma McIntyre/WireImage Tim Cook told GQ magazine that Apple created tools to let users monitor time spent on their devices. He believed that spending more time on your phone than interacting with people was "the wrong thing." The Apple CEO told GQ that he looked "pretty religiously" at his own Screen Time reports. Tim Cook said he "religiously" monitored his iPhone's Screen Time reports because he thought no one should be spending more time looking at their iPhones than interacting with people. The Apple CEO told GQ magazine that the company has created tools for users that aimed to "help them put the phone down." "My philosophy is: if you're looking at the phone more than you're looking in somebody's eyes, you're doing the wrong thing," Cook said. "So we do things like Screen Time. I don't know about you, but I pretty religiously look at my report." However, he didn't reveal how much time a day he spent on his iPhone. Screen Time lets users monitor how much time they spend on their phones and what apps and websites were used. It also allows parents to monitor their kids' online activities and set time limits. According to a 2022 report by app monitoring firm App Annie, which looked at ten markets including the US, Singapore and Canada, smartphone users were spending an average of 4.8 hours a day on their devices the previous year. Cook told GQ that kids are "born digital," and it was "really important to set some hard rails" around their online activities. "We don't want people using our phones too much. We're not incentivized for that; we don't want that. We provide tools so people don't do that," he added. Cook has rarely revealed much about his personal life but told GQ his day starts at 5 a.m. looking at customer emails. He's one of the few big tech bosses to have an email address open to the public. In a piece for Bloomberg Businessweek in 2014, Cook came out, making him the first openly gay CEO of a Fortune 500 company. He wrote: "I realize how much I've benefited from the sacrifice of others." Read the original article on Business Insider ALBANY, N.Y. New York Attorney General Tish James and Gov. Kathy Hochul submitted a court brief Friday in support of having new district lines drawn for the U.S. House after the current ones crafted by a judge last year fueled Republican gains. The move by the two statewide Democratic leaders helps to reignite the fight over whether the current map that benefited Republicans on Long Island and the Hudson Valley should be redrawn by the states Independent Redistricting Commission ahead of the 2024 elections. Our states constitution makes it clear that an independent body, with participation from the general public, is charged with drawing maps for congressional districts, James said in a statement. Relying on a process with no accountability and with limited time for public input is not how we engage the public and ensure their interests are addressed throughout this process. The commission deadlocked over the lines a year ago, leading the Democratic-led Legislature to pass their own ambitious maps that the states highest court ultimately ruled unconstitutional. That led to a GOP special master in a small upstate community to adopt new lines that were more advantageous to Republicans. And Republicans were able to capitalize, sweeping all four seats on Long Island and winning throughout the Hudson Valley. In the end, Republicans flipped three seats in New York and won an open one that proved critical to them regaining a slim House majority leading Democrats to blame each other for the original set of lines that were criticized for being too gerrymandered. James and Hochul argued there is significant time for the Independent Redistricting Commission to redraw the map ahead of the 2024 elections for all 26 House seats in New York. In the court filing in state appeals court in Albany, they said last years process was rushed and shouldnt stand. We are urging the court to support the constitutionally-protected process in order to ensure accountability and fairness for New York voters, Hochul said in a statement. In an emotional press conference Friday morning, the family of a woman shot 17 times by a Fayetteville police officer announced they have filed a federal lawsuit in her death and called for accountability. Jada Johnson, 22, was killed July 1 by Officer Zacharius Borom in her grandfathers Colgate Drive living room after police were called to the home on a report of an attempted break-in. Johnsons grandparents, Rick and Elena Iwanski, said their granddaughter was experiencing a mental health crisis at the time of the shooting. The Fayetteville Police Department claimed Johnson posed a threat to officers on the scene. The lawsuit was filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, according to Harry Daniels, a civil rights attorney who is representing Johnsons family in the case. The suit names Borom, the city of Fayetteville and Sgt. Timothy Rugg, who was also present when the shooting occurred, as defendants, Daniels said Friday. Today is a march towards justice, a march towards recourse of trying to do our best to right a wrong that we can never really get right because we can never really go back in time and stop those 17 bullets from mutilating the body of Jada Johnson, he said. Loved ones and supporters of Jada Johnson gathered at a press conference Friday, April 7, 2023, as Johnson's family's legal team announced a federal lawsuit in her death. Johnson, 22, was fatally shot by Fayetteville police July 1, 2022, in her grandfather's home. The State Bureau of Investigation completed its probe into the shooting last fall and turned the case over to the Special Prosecution division of the North Carolina Attorney Generals office. Daniels said that office is still investigating. The Attorney General's office could not be reached Friday due to the long Easter weekend. Xavier de Janon, a Charlotte-based attorney who is also part of the familys legal team, said Fayetteville police were familiar with Johnson, having responded to multiple calls throughout the week of July 1 as Johnsons mental health deteriorated. As de Janon detailed the moment Johnson was shot, Johnson's grandparents began to cry. They unloaded one round of bullets and shot at her multiple times, de Janon said. While she was on the floor bleeding to death, they decided to shoot at her again, a total of 17 gunshot wounds, and she died in that moment. Story continues Related: Judge rules family of Fayetteville woman killed by police can publicly comment on case In a prepared statement, Rick Iwanski thanked the legal team and said the allegations in the lawsuit will prove shocking to those who read it. I had to stop several times when I reviewed this document the other day. So much horror, he said. You cannot believe such a thing can happen today in this country. At one point in his statement, Iwanski's comments were directed at Mayor Mitch Colvin and members of the City Council, requesting they decline to cover the cost to defend the officers in the lawsuit. Councilman Mario Benavente was the only member of city government at the news conference. We implore you to refuse these men any relief, comfort or succor at taxpayer expense, he said. You can confidently set aside the obligations of agency, secure in the knowledge they violated your procedures and manipulated the situation to its horrible outcome. Related: 'They did not have to do this': Fayetteville woman shot 17 times by police, autopsy says De Janon said that two days before the shooting, Johnson was involuntarily committed after suffering a mental breakdown stemming from attempts to leave an abusive boyfriend The lawsuit states, Johnson was admitted at Cape Fear Valley Hospital. De Janon said that on the night of the shooting, Johnson believed her ex-boyfriend was looking for her and wanted to harm her and her family, so she called 911, De Janon said. According to de Janons account of the events, Johnson asked to be taken to the hospital, but officers allegedly told paramedics to get out. Eventually, he said, the officers told Johnson she would be arrested for misuse of 911. Throughout the conversation, he said, Johnson remained calm but looked like a zombie." More than an hour into the encounter, Johnson grabbed a pistol and pointed it at her head, saying that she did not want to live anymore, de Janon said. At that point, he said, officers put their hands on their firearms, and Johnson put the weapon down. Johnson and the officers had been speaking for several minutes after the tense exchange when officers suddenly tackled Johnson and shot her, de Janon said. Iwanski, who witnessed the shooting along with his wife and Johnsons toddler, said he saw everything that night. What I saw was murder and escalation, he said. There was a total lack of humanity and compassion. Related: 'She was not in her right mind': Frantic 911 calls released in Jada Johnson shooting Iwanski cried as he recalled his granddaughters death and at one point had to step away from the podium. Daniels said the lawsuit speaks for itself. Everything in this complaint is 100% true, he said. As for officers body camera footage, which is subject to a gag order preventing Johnsons family and legal team from speaking about its contents, the Police Departments decision not to release it is not an accident, Daniels said. Attorneys for the city of Fayetteville and the Fayetteville Police Department could not be reached for comment Friday due to the long Easter weekend. Public safety reporter Lexi Solomon can be reached at ABSolomon@gannett.com. Special Subscription Offers This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville woman's family files federal suit in police killing PETERSBURG A city toddler is in the hospital after authorities said she was shot Thursday night at an apartment complex in east Petersburg. The call that came in around 9:40 p.m. Thursday initially indicated that the victim was an infant. When police and EMS arrived at the scene in the 2300 block of Navajo Court, they found the victim instead was a 2-year-old girl. Police confirmed the child was shot in her face. The bullet entered one cheek and came out through the other one. She was rushed to a local hospital where she currently is in critical but stable condition. No motive for the shooting was released, nor was the extent of the child's injury. A Petersburg Police statement said she had been shot once. An investigation into the case is ongoing. Anyone with information about it is asked to contact Petersburg-Dinwiddie Crime Solvers at (804) 861-1212 or use the P3Tips mobile app. This is a developing story. This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Petersburg Police look for suspect in toddler's shooting The author. Courtesy of Lori Futcher I started experiencing a tingling in my feet that quickly climbed up my body. The first neurologist who saw me said I was too sensitive. But the second neurologist pressed for answers and helped me get a diagnosis. "I wish I could pat you on the head and convince you that you're OK," my first neurologist told me. The comment made me feel small. A few months earlier I'd decided I was in the best health of my life, but then everything changed. It started one evening with a pins-and-needles numbness in my foot. By the next morning, my feet were buzzing with that tingling feeling. I went to work, sure that my regular routine would return my feet to their normal condition. But the tingling continued spreading up my legs. When it hit my knees, I stepped into a local walk-in clinic and met Dr. Kennedy. Dr. Kennedy took my tingling more seriously than I expected. His wife had experienced Guillain-Barre syndrome. He told me to go to an emergency room should the tingling spread beyond my waist. It did, and I did. The ER referred me to a neurologist, who scheduled a nerve study. Even at the lowest levels, I was crying with discomfort. We began a round of testing and crying and screaming. The test took so long that the staff needed a break. I did too. I was told I was too sensitive As I sat in my hospital gown in the doorway where the test was being conducted, one of the staff members told me it was her first day of work. "I think I may need to find another job," she whispered, her eyes expressing both guilt and empathy. The neurologist told me, "Your reaction to the test shows you have a sensitive personality." "Sensitive personality?" I wondered. How could a nerve study reveal my personality? I decided he meant I couldn't handle pain. But I knew that was wrong. I had undergone several medical procedures that were supposed to be painful but weren't. If anything, I had a high tolerance for pain. The neurologist patronized me with his comment about patting me on the head, and I went to my car to cry. Story continues "You need to see another neurologist," Dr. Kennedy said. My 2nd neurologist took me seriously My second neurologist noticed spots on my arms and legs that I was sure had nothing to do with my painful symptoms. "I've always had them," I said. But he wasn't as dismissive of the spots as I was. He insisted I see a dermatologist. I called a dermatologist who scheduled me for several months out. My new neurologist insisted that wasn't soon enough. I had been experiencing worsening symptoms for nearly six months. My hair felt like wires cutting my neck. Pages in a book felt like razor blades. My hands would refuse to grip a pen and then be fine the next day. I called a dermatologist who could see me immediately. Walking into an old house that had been turned into a doctor's office, I met a lanky man who reminded me of a mad scientist. As he stared at my chart, he asked me what I was there for. I told him my neurologist was concerned about my spots. He tossed out the name of an illness that had already been ruled out, then looked up from his clipboard. With intrigue bordering on excitement, he grabbed my arm and scraped against a cluster of spots. Small bumps appeared. "These look like mast-cell clusters," he said. "I'll need to do a biopsy to know for sure." He wheeled in a metal cart and took two pieces of skin from my right arm, then handed me a printed internet article on mastocytosis and sent me on my way. I got a diagnosis of systemic mastocytosis As my husband drove me home, I read through the papers. "Oh wow!" I exclaimed. "Systemic mastocytosis might explain my symptoms!" Though my symptoms were atypical of this disease, which is better known for anaphylaxis and gastrointestinal issues, they were included in the printout the doctor had given me. Our family was on a road trip to Maryland when we received the call that my test results had come back positive. Hanging up the phone, I let out a scream of joy. "I have a di-ag-no-sis," I rapped. "Its name is mas-to-cy-to-sis!" My daughter and I repeated the rap the rest of the way to Maryland. I knew it would take time to learn how to live with a chronic, incurable disease. But at least I had something to begin the journey back to a nearly normal life with. Neurologist No. 1 had been wrong. I was not imagining things. I was not just being sensitive. My diagnosis was a gift worth celebrating. Read the original article on Insider Air Force recruiters have made gains in new enlistments over the past few months, but the service still projects it will fall thousands of airmen short in critical units next year. To build on its recent gains, the Air Forces recruiting branch is launching a concerted push through the summer to bring in as many new airmen as possible. Were currently down 900 maintainers that will not show up for shift change tonight on the flight line, Chief Master Sgt. W. Frank Rawls, the Recruiting Services operations superintendent, wrote in an organization-wide email on Wednesday. Unless we stop the bleeding, 700 defenders, who are badly needed to keep watch over our missile fields and checkpoints, wont be there come [Sept. 30]. Fatter recruits now welcome as Air Force revises its rules That gap is expected to grow to 1,800 active duty maintainers by the end of the fiscal year, plus shortages of 300 airmen who handle munitions, 100 who fuel aircraft, and more, Air Force recruiting boss Maj. Gen. Ed Thomas wrote in his own email to rank-and-file recruiters on Tuesday. Airmen will almost certainly be asked to work longer hours, cover more shifts and make sacrifices in their personal lives to meet the mission demands essential to our national security, he wrote. The nation is depending on us. The emails first appeared on the unofficial Air Force amn/nco/snco Facebook page on Thursday. Recruiting spokesperson Leslie Brown confirmed their authenticity Friday. Finding Americans who are interested in and qualified to enlist has grown increasingly challenging in recent years. As of the end of March, the midpoint of fiscal 2023, the Air Force was less than halfway to its goal bringing in around 11,200 of the 26,877 active duty enlistees it wants. Can this new Air Force recruiting team turn interest into enlistments? It expects to miss that target by around 4,100 people, personnel chief Lt. Gen. Caroline Miller told lawmakers March 29. The Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve are also on track to fall short of their staffing requirements by about 4,600 and 3,600 airmen, respectively. Story continues The Pentagon is broadly struggling with recruitment because of a complex web of economic and health factors, dwindling interest in military service, and the introduction of a new electronic health records system that has significantly slowed the process of bringing in new people. The Air Forces smaller-than-usual bench of recruits was shrinking at the beginning of fiscal 2022, as people entered the service without more to follow. Recruiters have begun to reverse that trend so that the Delayed Entry Program, the services name for its backlog of incoming recruits, is growing. Nearly 6,000 newcomers are currently waiting to ship out to boot camp, Brown said Friday. Recruiting is hard. These YouTubers may have cracked the code. Rawls noted that more applicants had passed through Military Entrance Processing Stations during the week of March 27 than at any time since September 2019. The past three weeks have netted positive [Delayed Entry Program] gains, a streak our active duty component hasnt seen since 2020, he added. These are much-needed wins and, together, winning will become habitual. Thomas indicated the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve are also faring better than they were last fall. Air Force Reserve Command said Monday it would offer qualified airmen a $10,000 incentive bonus if they agree to join the Reserve for at least three years upon separating from active duty. We are slowly and decidedly building momentum through concerted effort, training in the field and advocacy for resources and policy changes at our highest levels of leadership, Thomas wrote. What's missing from the conversation on Air Force recruiting? In the final six months of the fiscal year, Thomas said he wants the recruiting enterprise to step up its presence, pace and performance. Your group and squadron leadership teams will be discussing with you specifically what this effort will entail to include duration, events, metrics and any schedule adjustments, he said. The two-star general encouraged his troops to be more visible in their communities through in-person and digital outreach, use their time wisely, and think of their job as more than just reaching a numerical goal. If it was easy, anyone could do it, Thomas said. Beer is one of the most popular alcohols in the world. National Beer Day is all about honoring the freedom Americans have to enjoy it. During the time of prohibition, consuming beer could be considered a dangerous activity because the Constitution banned the sale of alcohol and officials raided businesses that provided customers with a taste. NATIONAL BEER DAY QUIZ! HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THESE FACTS ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE BREW? Read below to find out more interesting beer-related facts on National Beer Day. The first National Beer Day started in 2009 FDR inspired National Beer Day Americans really love beer You can get a beer at McDonald's Beer is one of the world's oldest alcoholic drinks Beer is the favorite alcohol of choice for tens of millions of Americans across the country. Over the years, National Beer Day has transformed from a quirky tradition into a viral sensation that adults of all different demographics love to celebrate. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP However, the holiday is very new by today's standards. The first celebration of National Beer Day took place in April 2009, after local Virginia resident Justin Smith started the day to honor the signing of the Cullen-Harrison Act. The day became a popular trend after Smith and his group of friends started a Facebook group encouraging other people to honor the day by drinking their favorite beer-related beverage while partying. Beer companies and producers from all around the world now recognize and promote the day to many of their customers. In 2017, the governor of Virginia officially recognized the holiday. 6 BREWERIES ACROSS AMERICA THAT OFFER GREAT BREWS AND STUNNING VIEWS, TOO During the prohibition era in the United States, the selling of beer was outlawed, and the passage of the Volstead Act made it so that liquors that contained more than 0.5% of alcohol could not be produced. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Cullen-Harrison act, which raised the alcoholic percentage threshold allowed in American beers. However, in 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law the Cullen-Harrison Act, which significantly raised the alcohol threshold and led to the legalization of mild beer production. Story continues Mild beers such as Bud Light, Budweiser and other brands have gone to become one of America's favorite pastime beverages. MEET THE AMERICAN WHO INVENTED LIGHT BEER The United States, for decades, has been a leading and innovative environment for beer manufacturers and a great place to live for beer lovers. Americans overwhelmingly favor beer as their favorite form of alcohol. The lower consumer cost of beer and decent taste has set the beverage apart in the U.S. as a household favorite. Moreover, the United States has the second-largest beer market in the world and is one of the top beer consumers per capita in the world. Many people may think of hamburgers, fries, and Happy Meals when they think of McDonald's in the United States, but the American-based fast food chain serves customers beer in nearly a dozen other countries, including France, Germany, South Korea and Portugal. National Beer Day is all about gathering with your friends and loved ones to enjoy a glass of your favorite beer. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER The first McDonald's chain restaurant to serve beer was founded in 1971 in Germany. For the Germans at the time and today, the idea of purchasing beer was not considered a foreign concept since the consumption of beer was and still is extremely popular. The existence and consumption of beer date back thousands of years and is one of the oldest forms of alcohol in human history. Scientists have found evidence of beer's existence in ancient cultures such as Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt, where beer was sometimes used as a currency and were instrumental in trade. One of TikTok's top lawyers reportedly laughed when asked in an employee meeting what the company would do if the app was banned in the US. Idrees Abbas/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images A top TikTok lawyer was reportedly asked what the company would do if the app was banned in the US. The lawyer laughed and dismissed the possibility, according to The Verge's Command Line newsletter. Several countries banned TikTok on government devices, and India has an outright ban on the app. TikTok's top lawyer had an interesting reaction to an employee's question asked during a recent all-hands meeting, The Verge's Alex Heath reports. At a recent meeting with TikTok's US employees, Erich Anderson, one of the company's lawyers heading up discussions with the US government, was asked about any contingency plan if the app were banned in the US, Heath wrote on Thursday for The Verge's Command Line newsletter. Anderson responded to the question with laughter and "outright dismissed the possibility of a ban," according to the report. The lawyer, who was appointed as TikTok's global general counsel in 2020, reportedly then said the company was ready to legally challenge a ban if it came to that. But The Verge reports that Anderson didn't discuss whether ByteDance would sell TikTok's US business an idea that the Biden administration has reportedly pushed as the only alternative to a ban. TikTok, ByteDance, and Anderson did not respond to Insider's requests for comment ahead of publication. Anderson's reported remarks come two weeks after TikTok's CEO Shou Zi Chew was grilled during a Congressional hearing over security concerns with the app. Politicians often cut Chew's responses short and repeatedly pushed for a total ban or a forced sale of the US app from its China-based parent company, ByteDance, citing data security concerns. Following the hearing, the politicians were later mocked by many on the platform for a perceived lack of technological knowledge. Some countries have already imposed partial or total bans against the app. Australia recently moved to ban TikTok on government devices, a move that the United States, Canada, France, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom previously made. India has had an outright ban on TikTok in place since 2020. Still, experts have said a full TikTok ban in the US is the last possible option for the US. As the Biden administration reportedly continues to weigh this decision, it's also considering the risks of a ban including potentially alienating young voters, experts previously told Insider's Paayal Zaveri. Read the original article on Business Insider Whether youre a frequent flyer or only travel a few times a year, a high-quality duffel bag is something you definitely want to invest in. The perfect option should be lightweight, spacious, and comfortable enough to carry around throughout a busy airport or train station. And if it has special features like hidden compartments, tear-resistant material and the ability to fold down into a compact size, it's even better! Vomgomfom Travel Duffle Bag $29 $34 Save $5 Who knew a duffle bag could fold down to such a small size? $29 at Amazon Thats why we were so excited to discover the Vomgomfom Duffle Bag. Not only does the bag have multiple compartments and pockets to keep your belongings safe and organized, but it can also fold up into a handheld pouch when not in use. And did we mention its currently less than $30 on Amazon? The handy travel bag features a roomy main compartment, zippered pockets on the front and back and a hidden shoe compartment on the side so you dont have to worry about the rest of your stuff getting dirty. The packable duffle weighs less than two pounds and is made from water-resistant, tear-resistant nylon. It has a removable shoulder strap and padded handles for easy carrying and a clever trolley strap across the back, so you can attach it to your suitcases handle. We're definitely going to get this clever duffle bag before our next trip! (Photo: Amazon) Shoppers say its the perfect bag if you plan on doing a lot of souvenir shopping. Just tuck the tiny pouch into your suitcase for the start of your trip and then pull it out for the trip home. If you tend to over-purchase when traveling, this bag is for you. It is light, folds up tightly, and takes up little space in your luggage. You can bring it out only if you bought too many souvenirs, wrote one. We brought this with us on our trip to Europe and Egypt, and it was perfect for our needs, raved another reviewer. We wanted to carry on our luggage all the way through until the end of our trip and then have an extra bag for all of our shopping. It worked great! We started adding to it little by little and by the end it was jam packed. I was a bit nervous about checking this bag at the end of our trip, but it survived the flight and everything is intact! I will definitely be using this again when I travel. The popular duffel comes in 14 colors and it can hold up to 115 liters of stuff at a time! If you need to carry fewer items, theres also an 85-liter and a 65-liter option as well, which are both on sale too. Whichever size and color you choose, youll definitely want to snag one while they are still discounted. If you have Amazon Prime, youll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.) The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication. Looking for more great Amazon style and beauty deals? Check these out: Beauty and wellness Crest 3D Whitestrips $25 $35 Save $10 See at Amazon Dermora Foot Peel Mask 2 Pack $17 $25 Save $8 See at Amazon Aquasonic Black Series Ultra Whitening Toothbrush $34 $60 Save $26 See at Amazon Style Lee Women's Wrinkle-Free Relaxed-Fit Straight-Leg Pant $27 $40 Save $13 See at Amazon Crocs Unisex-Adult Classic Clogs $31 $50 Save $19 See at Amazon Blencot Women Lace Trim Tank Top $21 $29 Save $8 See at Amazon PHOENIX (AP) Native American tribal members fighting plans for an enormous copper mine on land they consider sacred say they are increasingly worried U.S. officials will publish an environmental review paving the way for the project even as they await a federal appeals court ruling in the case. A U.S. government attorney said during last months hearing of a full panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that the final environmental impact study for construction of the mine at Oak Flat, Arizona, could be published this spring. San Carlos Apache Tribe Chairman Terry Rambler said during a visit last week that U.S. Forest Service officials confirmed plans to push forward on publication of the environmental analysis. That step would kick off a 60-day period culminating in a land swap allowing the project to go forward. Obliterating Oak Flat for a copper mine will be a grave human rights violation against Indigenous people and an environmental catastrophe, Rambler said in a written statement this week. The Biden Administrations commitment to Indian Country will be seriously eroded if it approves this mine. Apache Stronghold, a group composed of San Carlos Apache members and others, wants to halt the land swap while the case plays out in court. The panel of 11 judges on the appeals court is expected to issue a decision in the next few months. Apache Stronghold sued the U.S. government under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to protect the land known as Chichil Bildagoteel, an area of ancient oaks and traditional plants the San Carlos Apaches consider important for their ceremonies at Oak Flat in the Tonto National Forest about 70 miles (110 kilometers) east of Phoenix. The Forest Service is now revising the environmental analysis, which is expected to be completed in the coming months, national press officer Wade Muehlhof said Friday in a written response to emailed queries about the agency's plans. He wrote that the Forest Service has committed to providing at least 60 days notice before any future environmental analysis and Draft Record Of Decision (DROD) for the Land Exchange and Project is issued. Story continues Muehlhof also said consultation with tribal members is ongoing, including a planned April 25 meeting. Representatives of the Resolution Copper mining company said they were unaware of the meeting or any plans by the agency. U.S. Rep. Raul M. Grijalva, a Democrat who represents southern Arizona, has introduced legislation aimed at halting the project. He urged Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack this week to continue withholding publication of the environmental review. If allowed to proceed, Resolution Copper would desecrate Oak Flats tribal cultural and religious heritage sites, deplete already scarce water resources in Arizona, adversely impact imperiled species, and create a crater up to 1,115 feet deep and roughly 1.8 miles across, Grijalva wrote. The destruction this mine would cause far outweighs its benefits. The swap was a provision included in a must-pass defense bill to give Resolution Copper 3.75 square miles (9.71 square kilometers) of national forest land for eight other parcels the company owns elsewhere in Arizona. Publication of the environmental analysis will start the clock on the 60-day period for the Forest Service to transfer Oak Flat to Resolution Copper. An earlier environmental survey was pulled back while the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the Forest Service, consulted for months with Native American tribes and others about their concerns. The mining company says it has been addressing concerns about the project. It notes there is broad local support for the mine, which could create thousands of jobs, add up to $1 billion annually to Arizona's economy and potentially supply enough copper to meet up to one-quarter of U.S. demand. Resolution Copper is a joint venture of global mining firms Rio Tinto, which has headquarters in Australia and the U.K., and BHP, which is based in Australia. A smaller 9th Circuit panel previously ruled 2-1 that the federal government could give the Oak Flat land to Resolution Copper for the project. The court later agreed to let the larger panel hear the case. A federal judge in Texas appointed by Donald Trump will suspend the governments approval of a commonly used abortion drug used for more than half of all abortions in the US, putting the medications access gravely at risk for millions of Americans. Mifepristone, one of two drugs in a two-drug protocol for medication abortion, was approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration more than two decades ago. But a lawsuit filed by an influential right-wing legal group and anti-abortion activists has sought to revoke that approval as part of a years-long campaign to outlaw abortion nationwide. US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who has a history of right-wing activism, determined that the FDAs initial authorization of the drug was improper and has suspended its approval, which will take effect in seven days unless a higher court intervenes. The US Department of Justice is appealling the decision. But in a separate ruling in Washington state, a federal judge has ruled that the FDA cannot change the status quo when it comes to mifepristones approval, setting up competing decisions on a critical abortion drug and the future of abortion access after the US Supreme Courts decision to revoke a constitutional right to abortion care in Dobbs v Jackson Womens Health Organization last year. A ruling to eliminate access to mifepristone will have a dramatic impact on abortion care in a post-Dobbs landscape where access to care already is fragmented by patchwork, state-by-state regulations or criminal statutes and stretched-thin resources. Vice President Kamala Harris said the decision not only threatens the hreatens the rights of women nationwide to make decisions about their health care but also undermines the FDAs ability to approve safe and effective medications with decisions based on politics, not science. This lawsuit was manufactured as part of an orchestrated campaign to deny all women in the U.S. access to abortion, even those living in states with strong abortion rights protections, Nancy Northup, president and CEO at the Center for Reproductive Rights, said in a statement. Its abundantly clear that those who rely on a fact-based, scientific FDA drug approval process, including major pharmaceutical companies, need to speak out about the travesty of this case. Story continues Planned Parenthoods president and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson stressed that access to mifepristone remains safe for now. The judges decision in Texas today blocking the FDAs approval of mifepristone is an outrage and exposes the weaponization of our judicial system to further restrict abortion nationwide, she said. This decision could threaten the FDAs role in this countrys public health system, and if allowed to stand will have broad and unprecedented consequences that reach far beyond abortion. The decision in Texas comes after a hearing in Amarillo that lasted more than four hours on 15 March. Erik Baptist, senior counsel for right-wing legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, told the court that removing mifepristone from the market would restore proper policing power to the states, echoing the groups argument before the Supreme Court in its challenge to overturn Roe v Wade last year. But abortion rights advocates warn that losing mifepristone, even temporarily, will significantly disrupt access to medication abortion nationwide, even in states where access to care is legally protected, and jeopardise reproductive health decisions for millions of Americans. The impact will be particularly acute in 10 states, according to Guttmacher Institute. (AP) Mifepristone is one of a two-drug protocol for medication abortion, a procedure that accounts for more than half of all abortions nationwide. The drug was approved for use by the FDA in most cases up to 10 weeks of pregnancy in 2000. Multiple studies have determined they are overwhelmingly safe and effective, and have been used in roughly 54 per cent of all abortions. A vast majority of abortions occur within the first nine weeks. In 2019, nearly 93 per cent of all abortions were performed before the 13th week. Abortion rights advocates have pointed out that providers could rely on a misoprostol-only regimen for medication abortion if mifepristone is not available. The challenge to the FDAs approval of the drug comes from a coalition of anti-abortion advocates under the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, with support from dozens of Republican elected officials and the Alliance for Defending Freedom. The parties asked the judge for a preliminary injunction to take mifepristone off the market. The lawsuit also challenges recent federal actions that made the drug available through telemedicine prescriptions that patients can receive by mail or pick up at a pharmacy. The Alliance Defending Freedom claimed in a filing that the FDA does not have authority to approve the drug, which the plaintiffs claim is dangerous and has harmed countless women and girls. The plaintiffs have been accused of deliberately choosing to file a challenge in a court system that would be sympathetic to them, with any potential appeal landing in the right-wing Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Louisiana before an appeal before the conservative supermajority on the Supreme Court. Critics have condemned what has become a right-wing judicial pipeline exploiting a Texas loophole that has allowed several high-profile cases led by GOP officials and right-wing legal groups to advance with favourable rulings. The case was filed in Amarillo, where the nearest abortion provider is at least several hours away and not even in Texas, while the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine is based in Tennessee. A group of 22 Republican attorneys general and 67 congressional Republicans have also joined the effort. Plaintiffs and other litigants ongoing tactic of filing many of their lawsuits against the federal government in single-judge divisions, or divisions where they are otherwise almost always guaranteed to procure a particular judge, undermines public confidence in the administration of justice, Justice Department attorneys wrote in court filings criticising judge-shopping efforts in the mifepristone case. Judge Kacsmaryk previously served as a counsel for the conservative Christian group First Liberty Counsel before he was nominated for a federal judge seat by then-President Trump in 2018. Throughout his ruling, he used language pulled from anti-abortion activists, including referring to abortion providers as abortionists and a fetus as an unborn human. The ruling was delivered on Good Friday. In 2021, the FDA permanently lifted the in-person requirement for medication abortion prescriptions, allowing patients to access the drugs via telehealth appointments and online pharmacies so patients can take the drugs from the comfort of their homes. After the Supreme Courts decision in the Dobbs case, anti-abortion state legislators filed dozens of bills to restrict the availability and distribution of abortion drugs, or have sought to ban them altogether. Last month, Wyomings Republican Governor Mark Gordon signed a bill into law prohibiting the prescription of abortion drugs in the state, the first to effectively outlaw the medication. That law will take effect from 1 July and make it illegal to prescribe, dispense, distribute, sell or use any drug for the purpose of procuring or performing an abortion. At least 19 states have restricted access to the drug, but a ruling from Judge Kacsmaryk could jeopardise access in the 31 states where medication abortion is already legally protected, or could reverse federal guidance and force patients in protected states to receive the drug only during in-person visits. Former President Donald Trump has told aides to hire Laura Loomer, a far-right and anti-Muslim activist with a history of expressing bigoted views, for a campaign role, according to four people familiar with the plans. Trump met with Loomer recently and directed advisers to give her a role in support of his candidacy, two of the people familiar with the move said. It is unclear whether she would serve on his campaign or the main super political action committee backing his presidential bid. On Tuesday, after Trumps arraignment in Manhattan, New York, Loomer attended the former presidents speech at Mar-a-Lago, his resort and residence in Palm Beach, Florida. Loomer has not yet been hired, the people familiar with the discussions said. Some of Trumps aides are said to have concerns that such a hire will cause a backlash, given her history of inflammatory statements and her embrace of the Republican Partys fringes. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Reached by phone Friday morning, Loomer said, Out of respect for President Trump, Im not going to comment on private conversations that I had with the president. The president knows I have always been a Trump loyalist, she added, and that Im committed to helping him win reelection in 2024. He likes me very much. And its a shame that hes surrounded by some people that run to a publication that is notorious for attacking him in order to try to cut me at the knees instead of being loyal to President Trump and respecting their confidentiality agreements. Loomer twice ran unsuccessfully for Congress and is known for offensive, attention-grabbing behavior. She once described Islam as a cancer and tweeted under the hashtag #proudislamophobe. In 2018, she was barred from Twitter for violating its hateful conduct policy. To protest the ban, Loomer, who is Jewish, affixed a yellow Star of David to her clothes just as Nazis made the Jews wear during the Holocaust, she said and handcuffed herself to the entrance to Twitters New York headquarters. Story continues Twitter said she was violating its rules, while she said she was being barred for conservative activism. (She was reinstated after billionaire Elon Musk bought the platform.) Loomer sent The New York Times a screenshot of the tweet that prompted her ban for hateful conduct. In the tweet, she describes Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., as pro Sharia and anti Jewish. I know a lot of people dont like me, but thats their problem, not mine, she said Friday. I have proven my loyalty to President Trump countless times over, and even if other people try to malign me and undermine President Trumps wishes, I will continue to be a ride-or-die Trump supporter. Trump deserves loyalty, and he deserves to have loyal people working for him who do not leak to the press. She was also barred from ride-hail apps Lyft and Uber for making bigoted comments about Muslim drivers. Asked about these comments, in which she called on Twitter for a non Islamic form of Uber or Lyft, Loomer said she was responding to a Muslim driver throwing me out of an Uber for being a Jew on Rosh Hashana. In a 2017 appearance on a far-right podcast called Nationalist Public Radio, Loomer described her beliefs. Someone asked me, Are you pro-white nationalism? Yes. Im pro-white nationalism, Loomer said. But theres a difference between white nationalism and white supremacy. Right? And a lot of liberals and left-wing globalist Marxist Jews dont understand that. She added, So this country really was built as the white Judeo-Christian ethnostate, essentially. Over time, immigration and all these calls for diversity, its starting to destroy this country. Her remarks on the podcast were brought to light in 2021 by a blog called Angry White Men that tracked white supremacy movements. In a statement, a representative for Trump did not address a question about whether plans were afoot to hire Loomer, saying instead, The entire movement is united behind President Trump and his campaign, and it will take everyone rowing in the same direction in order to beat Biden and take our country back. Trumps 2016 campaign focused heavily on anti-Muslim sentiment, and as president, he barred travel from several predominantly Muslim countries. He has been a supporter of Loomers, backing her Florida congressional campaign in 2020, when she ran to represent a Palm Beach County district that included Mar-a-Lago. Great going Laura, he wrote on Twitter when she won the Republican primary. You have a great chance against a Pelosi puppet! She lost that race in the fall, in which she was supported by her friend Roger Stone, Trumps longest-serving adviser. In the 2022 midterm elections, she came close to ousting incumbent Republican Rep. Daniel Webster in another Florida district in the primary, winning 44% of the vote. I ran for Congress as the first deplatformed candidate in United States history, Loomer said Friday. Im a Jewish conservative woman, a Trump loyalist and a free speech absolutist, and I also used to work for Project Veritas, too, she added, referring to the conservative group that conducts sting operations on news outlets and liberal organizations. Its not like Im some kind of fringe person. I won the GOP primary in 2020, and President Trump literally voted for me. (STORY CAN END HERE. OPTIONAL MATERIAL FOLLOWS.) In recent months, Loomer has caught the attention of people in Trumps inner circle and Trump himself by posting videos on social media that personally attack his potential rival for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida. Loomer has accused DeSantis and his wife, Casey, who had breast cancer, of wanting to play the cancer survivor card to make people think they are untouchable from criticism. On Twitter in February, Loomer posted, Ron and Casey DeSantis are social climbers who will NEVER be Donald and Melania Trump, adding, Ron DeSantis will never have what it takes to be ICONIC like Trump. Loomer also organized a group of Trump supporters outside an event in Leesburg, Florida, where DeSantis was signing his new book. Anybody who follows me knows that Im the person who has been independently leading the charge on opposition research, aggressively exposing damning and consequential stories about Ron DeSantis and other Trump opponents, Loomer said Friday. c.2023 The New York Times Company Former President Trump is reportedly asking aides to find a role in his campaign for Laura Loomer, a former congressional candidate and far-right activist with a lengthy history of anti-Muslim comments. The New York Times reported that Trump met with Loomer recently and has directed advisers to give her a position supporting his candidacy, potentially with the campaign itself or with a super PAC aligned with the former presidents 2024 White House bid. In a statement to The Hill, a Trump spokesperson did not deny that the former president was looking to bring Loomer aboard. The entire movement is united behind President Trump and his campaign, and it will take everyone rowing in the same direction in order to beat Biden and take our country back, the spokesperson said. Loomer posted on Twitter that she would not comment on media leaks about her conversations with the former president. Anyone who leaks private and confidential conversations they had with President Trump doesnt have his best interest in mind, Loomer tweeted. Loomer has previously described Islam as a cancer. She was banned from ride-sharing apps Uber and Lyft in 2017 after tweeting that she never want[s] to support another Islamic immigrant driver, and calling for someone to create a non Islamic form of @uber or @lyft. She was banned from Twitter after a series of anti-Muslim posts, including one targeting Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress, that made incendiary claims about Islam. She was reinstated after Elon Musk purchased the platform. Trump in 2020 congratulated Loomer after she won a GOP primary race in Floridas 21st Congressional District, which includes Trumps Mar-a-Lago residence. Hiring Loomer would likely bring about a wave of backlash given her anti-Muslim views and history of inflammatory statements, but it would not be the first time even in recent months Trump has engaged with a fringe, far-right figure. Story continues Trump in November had dinner at his Mar-a-Lago estate with Nick Fuentes, an outspoken antisemite and racist, as well as the rapper Ye. Ye, formerly Kanye West, has also espoused antisemitic views in recent months. Trump later claimed he was not familiar with Fuentess views. Already on Friday, some Trump allies were pushing back on the idea of Loomer joining the campaign. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), one of Trumps staunchest supporters in Congress, tweeted that Loomer is mentally unstable and a documented liar and can not be trusted. Greene accused Loomer of attacking her after the congresswoman backed Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) for the Speakers gavel. Never hire or do business with a liar. Liars are toxic and poisonous to everything they touch, Greene tweeted. Ill make sure he knows. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) also quickly jumped on reports of Trumps interest in hiring Loomer, calling the move unsurprising but no less vile. In a normal world, Republicans would immediately condemn this, but after theyve spent years making countless excuses for Donald Trump, we wont hold our breath, DNC national press secretary Ammar Moussa said in a statement. This story was updated at 2:44 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former President Trump used footage from last weeks arraignment in New York as part of a new campaign ad released on Thursday. Trump posted the ad on his Truth Social account, telling his followers that if they are doing poorly, they should not send him money, but if they are doing well, they should donate to him. The ad shows scenes from around Manhattan before featuring Trump walking into the arraignment. It also includes voiceovers from commentators criticizing the case from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Trump asserting that he is innocent. The video shows some people on the streets as Trump is traveling to the hearing waving Trump and American flags and supporters applauding him as he took the stage at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday night for his first comments after his arraignment. Donald Trump Jr., his son, also posted the video on his Twitter account on Friday. Trumps arrest fueled significant donations to his campaign, bringing in more than $4 million in the 24 hours after he was indicted. His campaign also sought to fundraise through a T-shirt with a fake mug shot of Trump with the words Not Guilty under the picture. The campaign offered the shirts for a $47 donation. The former president was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a hush-money payment that former Trump attorney Michael Cohen made to adult film star Stormy Daniels. The payment was made ahead of the 2016 presidential election for Daniels to remain quiet about an alleged affair she has said she had with Trump. Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges and has denied having an affair with Daniels. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Certainty of China's development augurs well for the world 09:01, April 07, 2023 By He Yin ( People's Daily Two high-profile events, the China Development Forum (CDF) 2023 and the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2023, were recently held in Beijing and south China's Hainan province, respectively. The two events attracted global attention and presented to attending guests the vitality of the Chinese economy and the certainty of China's development. Those who attended the meetings said they are confident in China's prospects and are looking forward to the opportunities to be brought about by the country's development. Photo shows an automated terminal of the Phase IV of Shanghai Yangshan Deep Water Port. (People's Daily Online/Wang Chu) At present, momentous changes unseen in a century are accelerating across the world; regional conflicts and disturbances are frequent; and the global economic recovery is sluggish. According to a survey by Boston Consulting Group, 75 percent of business leaders among the respondents believe uncertainty is the biggest challenge facing enterprises around the world in 2023. Under such a background, the Chinese economy is showing signs of recovery and injecting valuable certainty into global development. In the first two months this year, China's consumption, investment and other major economic indicators were on a positive trajectory, with stable commodity price and obviously improved market expectation. Besides, the Purchasing Managers' Index of the country's manufacturing sector was above 50 in the same period, which indicated expanding economy. Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva said on the CDF 2023 that China's robust rebound means the country is set to account for around one third of global growth in 2023. According to a survey released by the BFA, 83.33 percent of enterprises list China as a key area for business expansion this year. The certainty of China's development augurs well for the world economy and is an important opportunity expected by global enterprises. A comprehensive transport upgrading project is under construction in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong province, April 2. (People's Daily Online/Shi Jiamin) Unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise around the world, and few countries are obsessed with decoupling and severing supply chains. However, those who attended the CDF 2023 and the BFA Annual Conference 2023 all saw that China is committed to its fundamental national policy of opening to the outside world and pursues a mutually beneficial strategy of opening up, striving to create new opportunities for the world with its own development. Head of the KPMG Asia Pacific noted that a constantly opening China will definitely provide more opportunities for global enterprises doing business in the Chinese market, adding that the country's huge domestic market, complete industrial system and diligent and innovative people are very attractive for foreign investors. In the first two months this year, China's foreign direct investment, in terms of actual use, reached 268.44 billion yuan ($39.02 billion), and the number has kept growing. Foreign investors are confident in China's efforts to expand institutional opening-up with regard to rules, regulations, management and standards and to work with all countries and all parties to share the opportunities from its institutional opening-up. Consensus and cooperation are particularly important in the face of common challenges. "Cooperation" and "solidarity" were buzzwords of the CDF 2023 and the BFA Annual Conference 2023. Attending guests spoke highly of China's major country responsibility to promote global cooperation and common development at the critical juncture of history. A fully loaded China-Europe freight train departs from Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang province, for Central Asian countries, April 4, 2023. (People's Daily Online/Hu Xiaofei) Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singapore welcomes China's commitment to continue opening up its economy, and to continue supporting multilateralism and regional cooperation, and looks forward to all parties contributing more actively to regional and global development and prosperity, and to benefit Asia and the world. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping. China's actions in the past 10 years fully proved that the country is a key force driving solidarity and cooperation amid profound changes unseen in a century. Michele Geraci, former Undersecretary of State at the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, noted that the goal of building a community with a shared future for mankind is to leave no one behind in development, rebalance the development of the Global South and North and ensure the sustainability of development. Malaysia's Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim believes that the achievements of the BRI fully mirror the significance of solidarity and cooperation among countries. China enjoys strong growth momentum and is confident in and capable of promoting high-quality economic development. It will write a new chapter of open cooperation and win-win results, and will contribute more to the development of the world economy. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Du Mingming) A trumpeter swan was found dead floating in an Idaho river in a senseless killing, wildlife officials said. The animal was spotted April 1 in the Bear River near Bennington, Idaho Fish and Game said in a Thursday, April 6, news release. Wildlife officials said the bird was likely killed in the morning or mid-day, and multiple rifle casings were also found at the bridge. It is a senseless killing, and not the first animal to be shot, killed, and left to waste recently in this part of the region, senior conservation officer Kolby White said in the release. A bald eagle was killed in Bear Lake County last fall, and a mule deer was also found dead in March, White said. There have been several animals shot without reason and left to waste, he said in the release. Anyone with information can contact the Southeast Region Fish and Game office at 208-232-4703 or call the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999. Reports can be made anonymously. A reward may also be offered if information leads to an arrest, officials said. I am asking the public to report anything that seems out of place, even if it is not directly tied to one of these cases it just might help, White said in the release. Trumpeter swans are the largest native birds in North America with an 8-foot average wingspan, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Dead bobcat found hanging from tree sets off search for poacher, Arizona officials say Man stole platypus, wrapped it in towel and showed it off on train, Australian cops say Pregnant doe found dead after poacher shoots it, Utah officials say. Now search is on Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward and former President Donald Trump. William B. Plowman/NBC NewsWire via Getty Images and Anna Moneymaker-Pool/Getty Images Lawyers for journalist Bob Woodward are accusing former President Trump of threatening free speech. Trump sued Woodward in January, claiming ownership over recordings of interviews he participated in. A victory for Trump would invite "contractual censorship of criticism," the attorneys wrote. A victory for Donald Trump in federal court would be a blow against freedom, encouraging powerful politicians and others to use the guise of copyright to censor their critics and a"chill open discourse," lawyers for journalist Bob Woodward argued Monday as part of a legal battle over who owns the words that came out of the former president's mouth while he was in office. In January, Trump sued the legendary reporter for The Washington Post in a Florida federal court after he published audio recordings of interviews he had conducted with the former president, dubbed "The Trump Tapes." An attorney for Trump, who is seeking more than $49 million, argued that the publication violated an alleged verbal contract that Woodward had made to only use the interviews for one, written book, "Rage," published on the eve of the 2020 election and that Trump, as the subject of the interviews, was in fact the rightful owner of the copyright over the recordings and thus entitled to at least half the proceeds. Legal experts previously told Insider that Trump was unlikely to win the case, arguing that, above all, courts would be hesitant to establish a thorny precedent that could grant politicians legal ownership over comments they made while in office (and the ensuing right to block their publication). Some speculated that the lawsuit was filed, primarily, as a means of demonstrating Trump's annoyance over embarrassing material being made public and lending it the veneer of legitimacy. As one publishing industry lawyer said of the former president's legal action: "It's a press release designed as a complaint." Attorneys for Woodward, his publisher, Simon & Shuster, and parent company Paramount say the case should just be thrown out. Story continues In a motion to dismiss, filed Monday, lawyers for the defendants note that the former president never filed his own copyright registration for the works in question. And, they argue, it would not even matter if he did because government employees simply cannot claim ownership of things they said to a journalist while in public office. The alternative upholding a politician's ownership claim over a journalist's interviews would threaten the right to free speech, the attorneys state. "Such a regime would give President Trump and other public officials interviewed by the press the right to sue over any critical or unwelcome use of their statements," the attorneys wrote in another filing laying out the legal case behind their motion to dismiss. "Copyright equates to legal control over expression and requiring journalists to negotiate authorship rights away from interviewees, particularly public officials, would invite contractual censorship of criticism and chill open discourse." The question is not an abstract one, either, coming just as Trump has been indicted on multiple felony counts in Manhattan. "Any decision granting President Trump private ownership of his statements to the press as President would stymie discussion of his place in American history and contradict the long tradition of opening up a President's words to public scrutiny," the attorneys argue. Lawyers for Woodward and his publisher are also seeking to have the case dismissed on the grounds that Trump filed it in an improper venue, arguing that it should be heard instead if at all in Washington, DC, where many of the interviews were conducted. An attorney for Trump, Robert Garson, accused the defendants of disguising a cash grab behind rhetoric about the public good. The former president, he maintained, has a right to own his responses in the Woodward interviews, but was unable to file a copyright claim himself because he didn't have his own copies of the recordings. But Garson conceded that the case is not a typical copyright dispute, given the parties, and that the law is in some respects murky when it comes to public figures and intellectual property. "The one thing you can say is this case, like many others with Trump, is a first," Garson told Insider. "It's going to be an interesting one, that's for sure." Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com Read the original article on Business Insider Trump Joe Raedle/Getty Images New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan warned Donald Trump against making inflammatory remarks that could "incite violence and civil unrest" as the former president faces criminal charges related to hush money payments to a porn star. But Merchan stopped short of issuing a gag order, saying he wouldn't impose one "at this time even if it were requested." Merchan noted that Trump "is a candidate for the presidency of the United States, so First Amendment rights are critical." Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 presidential nomination, immediately put Merchan's decision to the test. Trump, who has warned the charges against him could spark "potential death & destruction," told a roomful of supporters at his Mar-a-Lago residence and Club in Florida after the New York court hearing that Merchan was "a Trump-hating judge with a Trump-hating wife and family," calling attention to the judge's daughter's work in a consulting firm that raises money for Democrats, and did work for the Biden-Harris 2020 campaign. Merchan and his family have received threats since Trump's New York arraignment this week, as did the prosecutors in the case in the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Legal experts say if Trump's comments disrupt the proceedings Merchan might be justified in imposing a gag order to bar Trump and his legal team from talking publicly about the case. But that might provoke a backlash from Trump's supporters. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), chair of the House Judiciary Committee, said it would be unconstitutional to tell Trump he can't talk about his case. "To put any restrictions on the ability of President Trump to discuss his mistreatment at the hands of this politically motivated prosecutor would only further demonstrate the weaponization of the New York justice system," Jordan said. This is a tough call Merchan is in an "unenviable position," said Dahlia Lithwick in Slate. Either he lets Trump "lie and level threats throughout this criminal proceeding," or he tries to "shut him up and watch him claim to be a free-speech victim." That's a tough call on a good day. At the start of a criminal case against "a former president running to be the next president, it's a minefield." Story continues "No one wants to restrict the speech of a presidential candidate during a campaign," said Sophia Cai in Axios, but Trump might leave the judge with no choice. "Trump often has courted chaos, figuring he's at his best on a muddied playing field." Judge Merchan warned Trump there could be consequences for incendiary rhetoric. Trump "practically dared the judge" to try to shut him up when he went right out and directed a "barrage of insults" at Merchan and his family. Trump might talk himself into a gag order Merchan doesn't want to impose. The question is when "he might cross Merchan's line in the sand on rhetoric." Gagging Trump would be a mistake The Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, wants Trump to be muzzled, said the Boston Herald in an editorial. But that would be "folly." "If Bragg is really being nonpolitical and we have serious doubts about that he should allow Trump to speak his mind." If the indictment is legitimate, rather than the "paper-thin example of prosecutorial abuse" Trump and his supporters claim, "then that's what will stand up in court," so there's no reason to violate Trump's right to free speech. Prosecutors scolded "the defendant for his outraged self-defense," said The Wall Street Journal in an editorial, waving printouts of his social media posts reacting to his indictment. They insisted that Trump's exercise of his free speech rights amounted to "fomenting public unrest." The judge saw right through it. But don't expect the prosecution to drop it. They're seeking a January trial. "Until then, they'll be vying over what Mr. Trump can and can't say about the case as much as over the 34 charges revealed in the indictment." You may also like Man pleads guilty to selling Michael K. Williams fentanyl-laced heroin Robert F. Kennedy Jr. files paperwork to challenge Biden in 2024 Trump has 2 reasons for attacking his Manhattan trial judge, New York Times' Maggie Haberman says Former US President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally on the eve of Election Day at the Dayton International Airport on November 7, 2022, in Vandalia, Ohio. Drew Angerer/Getty Images Trump and his aides are far more concerned about the Georgia elections probe and the Mar-a-Lago case. New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman said the Georgia probe "has bothered Trump personally." She added that his aides are privately worried about the Mar-a-Lago case, which is "clearer-cut." Former President Donald Trump and his aides are more concerned about the Georgia elections investigation and the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case than the charges he faces in New York, New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman says. "Georgia has bothered Trump personally for a while, possibly because there are tapes of him telling officials to find votes," Haberman told David Leonhardt, her colleague at the Times. "Some of his aides are very worried about the documents investigation that the Justice Department has," Haberman said. She added that the Mar-a-Lago case is a "clearer-cut issue" in comparison to the other investigations. Haberman's comments have been echoed by other observers and Trumpworld commentators. In March, the conservative lawyer and pundit George Conway told Insider that of the cases Trump faces, he's most likely to face prison time over the Mar-a-Lago documents case. "As an obstruction case involving flat-out deceit, it's the simplest case, factually and legally," Conway told Insider. Trump currently faces a sprawling slate of legal cases and criminal investigations. He was charged with 34 low-level felony counts of falsifying business records on Tuesday in New York. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which were voted on by a grand jury following an investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office in connection with a $130,000 election-eve hush-money payment made to the adult-film actress Stormy Daniels. Trump became the first ex-president to ever be charged with a crime after the Tuesday arrest and arraignment hearing. However, the chances that he will be imprisoned over these charges in New York are slim to none. Story continues Meanwhile, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is investigating whether Trump tried to overturn the 2020 election results in that state. Willis kicked off her investigation after Trump's infamous call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. During this call, Trump asked Raffensperger to "find" him votes to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. The Justice Department is also investigating whether Trump mishandled classified documents. The FBI searched Mar-a-Lago on August 8, 2022, and found sets of classified files including those marked top secret at the Florida residence. In November, US Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed special prosecutor Jack Smith to oversee the investigation. Trump hit out at both investigations in a defiant, campaign-style speech to his staunch supporters just hours after he was arrested on Tuesday. Trump bizarrely called Willis a Black woman racist for investigating him. He also once again trotted out an unsubstantiated claim that he had a "perfect phone call" with Raffensperger. During the speech, Trump also claimed that the DOJ's search of Mar-a-Lago was "unconstitutional" and an example of the FBI and Justice Department "relentlessly pursuing Republicans." A spokesman for Trump did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment sent outside regular business hours. Read the original article on Business Insider Salah came off the bench at Stamford Bridge (Reuters) Jurgen Klopp surrounded himself with three of the faces of his Liverpool. They were success stories who defined the style of a team with flying full-backs and goalscoring wingers. They are Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson, statistically the two most creative defenders in Premier League history, and Mohamed Salah, the man who has rewritten many a Liverpool scoring record. Klopp kept them close to him, because they were all on the bench at Chelsea on Tuesday. They have started cup finals against Chelsea. They have started Champions League finals. They have been automatic choices for the marquee matches and almost every match. Between them, they have made 816 appearances for Klopp: only 56 were as substitutes, including the left-back and the right wingers cameos at Stamford Bridge. Alexander-Arnold, meanwhile, remained an unused replacement. Liverpool had only begun one league game at Southampton last year, three days after a 120-minute FA Cup final and when Salah was injured without all three since 2018. Until this week. It is why there will be particular scrutiny on the teamsheet on Sunday. In the heyday of this Liverpool team, at least nine names could be stencilled onto it for the major occasions the other decisions related to the third member of the midfield and Virgil van Dijks centre-back partner. Had the Dutchman not been ill, it would have been intriguing if he, too, would have been culled from the side that capitulated in the second half against Manchester City. Klopp said at the Etihad Stadium he was only satisfied with four players performances, namechecking Alisson, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Cody Gakpo. He later amended that to include Diogo Jota, but some of his talismans were conspicuous by their absence. He made six changes at Chelsea. A one-off, a warning shot or more experimentation from a manager casting around for solutions? Sundays selection against Arsenal should be an indication. Story continues The scheduling of three high-pressure games in nine days was a factor. But it came after an international break when England overlooked Alexander-Arnold. He was one of six but it brought focus on him? asked Klopp, seemingly irritated but not arguing the right-back was rested. And, not for the first time, the Merseysider is an emblematic figure. It is normally a compliment, now a criticism. Klopps verdict on Alexander-Arnolds campaign was honest. Not as good or consistent as he used to be, like pretty much all of the boys, he said. Do you expect me to say he played a world-class season and I leave him out anyway? That makes no sense. No, nobody performed on the level we saw and the level we know they can. In moments, yes, of course, great games, fantastic games, super situations but consistently, nobody, no. Him not as well. And so Joe Gomez came in for Alexander-Arnold, just as Kostas Tsimikas replaced Robertson and Jota took Salahs spot on the right wing. Klopp looked to lesser players to provide a platform. Trent Alexander-Arnold trains ahead of Sundays game against league leaders Arsenal (Liverpool FC/Getty) We have to change, we have to find a basis we can build on, he said. First step: intensity, desire, passion. That was good at Chelsea. The rest not so much. But its fine, lets go from there. It will be intriguing if the next part of the journey again includes the lesser lights. Those he can usually rely on have proved inconsistent. The blueprint has looked broken at times. I cannot constantly ask for something I didnt get, Klopp said. His squad has been stretched for much of this season. Now, with Van Dijk back, Thiago Alcantara and Luis Diaz likely to return next week and the fixture list thinned by Liverpools European exit, there is the chance for a more settled 11. The usual constants may be cornerstones, but Klopp promised it will be a meritocracy. From now on if you dont play three times a week then you have more time to train, he said. I have to and I will make decisions about the team based on what I saw in training. That opens the door for everyone. And then a summer of change awaits. Salah, Robertson and Alexander-Arnold, all with long-term contracts, all with records of achievement, seem at less risk than others, with Klopp adamant his elite players can be as good as ever. But after a week when his impatience became apparent, it is still more evident others are playing for their futures. For now, it may be relevant that whenever he has found combinations that have offered a step in the right direction this season, he has often persisted with them. If we go through this together we can have a massive benefit next year, he said. Not guaranteed but a good chance. Then we will see, what changes we make, but it will be a new start next season. With smart recruitment we will improve. That is the plan. I am not a worse manager than last year. And the players are not worse players; they just play worse. We cannot make 24 changes, not even 10, but it is just that we have to make changes. Which is what he did at Stamford Bridge, when he omitted the usual untouchables. The Transportation Security Administration at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport found two loaded guns and one BB gun in travelers carry-ons on Thursday morning. TSA says they found the guns during routine airport screening. The first gun was a .45 caliber Smith & Wesson M&P handgun and was in the carry-on bag of a 59-year-old man headed to the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The gun was loaded with seven rounds of ammunition. The second was in the carry-on of a 31-year-old woman headed to Nashville International Airport. TSA found the 9 mm Sig Sauer P365 handgun at 8:20 a.m. with 10 rounds of ammunition. TSA found the BB gun at 9:20 a.m. in the bag of a traveler headed to Kahului International Airport on the Island of Maui. The spring break travel season at SEA is upon us and checkpoint operations are very busy. Despite the surge in travelers, I am personally grateful that TSA officers across the airport and across the country remain focused on their mission of screening one bag, one passenger at a time, said TSA Federal Security Director for Washington Greg Hawko. If you are traveling with a firearm, please take a few moments before you come to the airport to refresh your memory on the proper policies and procedures on how to pack your gun. Firearms should never be brought to the security checkpoint in carry-on luggage. In 2023, TSA at Sea-Tac says they have found 30 guns in carry-on luggage. In 2022, a total of 6,542 firearms were found in carry-on luggage at airports across the country and 89% of those were loaded, says TSA. Firearms can be transported on a commercial aircraft only if they are unloaded, packed in a locked, hard-sided case, and placed in checked baggage. TSA says there was nothing that indicated the travelers on Thursday at Sea-Tac were linked. Each of them was permitted to get on their flights. Drake, who trolled the internet with his Previous Engagements chain and got back at a social media heckler by following the mans wife on Instagram, isnt one to hold back any jabs. Now, the Certified Lover Boy has seemingly reignited his feud with Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, via a new song that features an audio sample of Yes ex, Kim Kardashian. Last Friday, Drake teased the song, Rescue Me, on Sound 42s The Fry Yiy Show on SiriusXM Radio. In the sampled clip, Kardashian has a candid conversation with her mom, Kris Jenner, about her decision to call it quits with Ye. I didnt come this far, just to come this far and not be happy. Remember that, the reality star says in the clip, which is from the series finale of Keeping Up with the Kardashians in 2021. Over the years, Ye and Drake have had several explosive exchanges, including when Ye slammed Drake for following Kardashian on Instagram in 2018. But the two seemingly squashed their beef in 2021 after joining forces to perform together at the Free Larry Hoover benefit concert in the Los Angeles Coliseum. Nonetheless, Twitter users went to town, speculating whether the two rap icons are back at odds or if Drakes lyrics are being misinterpreted. Drake sampling Kim K is exactly why I dont be tryna make amends bc ppl are fake. pic.twitter.com/mwGBLZyaVo Tori Nicks 2.0 (@MajestyRia) April 5, 2023 Drake sampling Kim K talking about her divorce and using her for adlibs in a song talking about a girl rescuing him is absolutely insane. Hes a supervillain in real life.. pic.twitter.com/iFVgSSMePV Jay (@missionaryjay_) April 1, 2023 Me after hearing the Kim K sample knowing the back and fourth between drake and kanye are starting again pic.twitter.com/l5zvDZ8SZU SP (@sidpage_) April 1, 2023 Yall reaching saying Drake dissing Kanye using Kim on his new song. No he not. Drake shed a tear watching Kanye perform for Kim. He rapping his perspective on this song. Hence all the rescue me references thats all Ye wanted Kim to do. Solo (@hiiphop) April 6, 2023 Drake dropping that Kim K song lmaooo. Which means she gave permission. Kanye losing his mind rn Anzo (@AndyNyaksi) April 6, 2023 No way Drake sampled Kim talking about her divorce. I though him and Kanye were cool he doing this shtick again? Lmfao (@MrDaeeDaee) April 1, 2023 Drake taking it a little too far with this Kim K sample Cutty (@ModernMillennia) April 6, 2023 On Thursday, Drake added fuel to the fire after going viral yet again for posting the art for one of his upcoming songs, Search and Rescue, on Instagram. Fans quickly noticed the uncanny resemblance between Kardashian and the woman in the cover photo. Story continues drake messy as hell for the kim lookalike https://t.co/d3KpLOToby jen (@bitterpersona) April 6, 2023 Kim k on the cover drake is a different level of petty https://t.co/R5Zdw7Ki42 Dylan (@Dylanb2017) April 6, 2023 NAHHHHH MAN DRAKE A WHOLE ASS SUPERVILLAIN FOR PUTTING KIM KARDASHIAN IN THE COVER LMFAOOOOOO https://t.co/8IU8jSLR3v Liam (@the_liam_reilly) April 6, 2023 Kardashian and Ye, who share kids North, 9, Saint, 7, Chicago, 5, and Psalm, 3, tied the knot in 2014. The reality star filed for divorce in February 2021 after more than seven years of marriage. Related... Twin brothers died after one fell into a Miami-Dade parks lake and his brother tried to rescue him, Miami-Dade police say. Police identified the boys Monday as 13-year-olds Alex Paul and Andrew Paul. Miami-Dade police say they were playing near the lake embankment at Arthur Woodard Park, 1299 NW 99th St., around 2:50 p.m. Friday when one of the brothers fell into the lake. His brother jumped in to save his sibling. Someone called 911, bringing Miami-Dade police. Following officers CPR efforts, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue took the brothers to North Shore Medical Center, 1100 NW 95th St. One of the Paul brothers died Friday afternoon. His brother died by 9:30 Friday night. Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson meet with supporters at the Tennessee State Capitol before the vote to expel them for protesting gun violence at the statehouse, April 6, 2023. Nicole Hester/The Tennessean/USA Today Network via Reuters Two Democrats who were expelled by Republicans in the Tennessee House of Representatives for protesting gun violence struck a tone of defiance after their expulsion and vowed to return to keep fighting. "We see gun violence every single day," former state representative Justin Pearson told reporters after the vote, above the din of angry chants from supporters who showed up to oppose their expulsion. "We have too many loved ones that we're putting in the ground, and these folks up here treat things like it's business as usual. "It is not business as usual. Our lives are at stake, and we're gonna fight for our lives just like they're fighting for the NRA," he said. Pearson of Memphis and Justin Jones of Nashville, both young Black men in their first terms, were voted out of their elected offices on Thursday for protesting gun violence in the state Capitol after a deadly mass shooting in Nashville. Democratic Rep. Gloria Johnson, who also supported the protest, survived by a single vote. The Tennessee state House has a GOP supermajority, after Republican-favored redistricting handed Republicans an advantage in the last election. Tennessee State Rep. Justin Pearson speaks after vote to expel him from the House over participating in gun protests: Our lives are at stake. And we're going to fight for our lives, just like they're fighting for the NRA." #TenneseeThree 12:21 AM - 07 Apr 2023 "For so long, this body, drunk with power, has modeled for the world what we know as nothing less than authoritarianism," Jones said before the vote Thursday. "And today is the climax of that behavior: that a week after a mass shooting plagues our community, the most direct action this legislative body takes or should I say, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are taking is to expel us for speaking about the issues of weapons of war on our streets. "We called for you all to ban assault weapons, and you respond with an assault on democracy," Jones added. Story continues The trio's protest incensed Republicans who were offended by the breaking of decorum in the House chamber. House Speaker Cameron Sexton likened their protest to the Jan. 6 riots, saying their actions were "at least equivalent, maybe worse depending on how you look at it, of doing an insurrection in the Capitol." Sexton said they were "trying to jazz people up" and claimed without proof that several lawmakers were spat on by protesters. Jones pointed to the House's failure to reprimand members who were found guilty or accused of criminal behavior. "For years, one of your colleagues who was an admitted child molester sat in this chamber no expulsion. One member sits in this chamber who was found guilty of domestic violence no expulsion. We had a former speaker sit in this chamber who is now under federal investigation no expulsion," he said. Many also took note that the two Democrats expelled were Black men. Johnson, a white woman, acknowledged the racial dynamic at play. In an interview with CNN, when was asked why she wasn't expelled and her colleagues were, Johnson said, "I think it's pretty clear: I'm a 60-year-old white woman, and they are two young Black men." Johnson also suggested that the way the two men were questioned and spoken to by their colleagues was racist. "The way they were questioned and the way they were talked to I was talked down to as a woman, mansplained to, but it was completely different from the questioning that they got," she said. "Just in a demeaning way and saying that, you know, 'If you're going to come into this body you have to act like this body.'" Rep. Justin Pearson raises his fists as he delivers his final remarks on the floor of the House chamber after being expelled from the legislature for protesting gun violence. George Walker Iv / AP Pearson told reporters he was confident that Memphis voters will bring him back to the House, and said he wasn't done pushing for gun control. "We're gonna keep fighting for people in Nashville, in Memphis, across the state of Tennessee, and across the United States of America who want justice. We deserve it," he said. "This is our birthright. Our inheritance is not just some pieces of paper in constitutions and rules, it is the advocacy and the ability to protest for what is right, and to create laws and to advocate for laws that make justice more possible." At a rally on Thursday night, Jones declared their fight was not over. Rather than pass laws that will address red flags and banning assault weapons and universal background checks, they passed resolutions to expel their colleagues," Jones said. "And they think that the issue is over. Well see you on Monday. More on this A new study from the University of Miami is revealing the first two cases of Covid-19 infecting infants in the womb and causing brain damage. On Thursday, researchers at the University of Miami Health Systems and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine found two cases where Covid-19 breached a mothers placenta and affected a newborn. At the Neonatal Intensive Care United (NICU) at Holtz Childrens Hospital, two newborns tested negative for Covid-19 at birth but both had significantly elevated antibodies in their blood. Both infants were born to young mothers who tested positive for the virus at some point in their pregnancies in 2020. Neither mother was vaccinated as vaccines were not available at the time. At birth, both newborns experienced seizures and acquired microcephaly (small head size) and developmental delays. One infant died at 13 months of age and the other is currently in hospice care. One infant, born at 32 weeks, experienced seizures in the days after birth, according to the study. The infant was discharged at three months of age with a seizure disorder and microcephaly. Unlike viruses like Zika, which cause microcephaly at birth, the infant acquired it over time. Although the newborns seizures resolved in the following months, the child experienced respiratory infections and development delays. At 13 months of age, the child died suddenly. An autopsy showed a significant reduction in brain weight and cerebral white matter volume as well as evidence of virus throughout the brain. This study marks the first time researchers have seen Covid-19 in a placenta or an infants brain. The other infant, born at 39 weeks, also experienced seizures after birth and continued to have breakthrough seizures and respiratory infections after being discharged. At the babys one-year exam, it displayed significant neurodevelopmental delay and microcephaly. The authors of the study stress that both cases are rare occurrences. These were the only two instances of babies experiencing devastating brain injuries. Many women are affected by Covid-19 during pregnancy, but to see these kinds of problems in their infants at birth was clearly unusual, Dr Shahnaz Duara, medical director of the NICU at Holtz Childrens Hospital and senior author on the study said . Were trying to understand what made these two pregnancies different so we can direct research toward protecting vulnerable babies. The authors recommend mothers get vaccinated as their first line of defense against the virus. Two Israeli women were killed and another seriously wounded Friday in a shooting attack on a vehicle in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli army and medics said. The army said the assailants struck at Hamra junction, in the northern part of the Jordan valley. It did not immediately give details on the identity of the dead women. The Magen David Adom emergency service said it had confirmed the "death of two women in their 20s and provided medical treatment to a 40-year-old woman in a serious condition". The army said it had blocked roads around the scene of the shooting and launched a manhunt for the assailants. The attack came hours after Israel bombarded both Gaza and Lebanon in response to Palestinian rocket fire from the two territories. It was the biggest salvo fired from Lebanon since Israel fought a 34-day war with Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in 2006 and the first time Israel has confirmed an attack on Lebanese territory since April 2022. It came after Israeli police clashed on Wednesday with Palestinians inside the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque in annexed east Jerusalem -- Islam's third-holiest site. mib-gb/kir By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. safety authorities said on Friday they are investigating whether an advanced driver assistance system was in use when a Tesla struck a 17-year-old student that exited a school bus in North Carolina. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said Friday it would open the special crash investigation into a incident in which 51-year-old driver of a 2022 Tesla Model Y in Halifax County on March 15 reportedly failed to stop for a school bus displaying warning lights and struck the student. The driver was charged in the incident, according to local media quoting North Carolina State Police. NHTSA said Tesla's advanced driver assistance systems were suspected of being in use in the North Carolina crash. State Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Since 2016, NHTSA has opened 40 Tesla special crash investigations where advanced driver assistance systems such as Autopilot were suspected of being used with 20 crash deaths reported. The agency has ruled out Tesla Autopilot use in three other special crash investigations. Autopilot enables cars to steer, accelerate and brake within their lanes without driver intervention but Tesla says the feature requires "active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous." Last month, NHTSA opened an investigation into a February fatal crash of a 2014 Tesla Model S involving a fire truck in Contra Costa County, California. The local fire department said a Tesla struck one of its fire trucks and the Tesla driver was pronounced dead at the scene. In June, NHTSA upgraded to an engineering analysis its defect probe into 830,000 Tesla vehicles with driver assistance system Autopilot that involves crashes with parked emergency vehicles including fire trucks. That step is necessary before the agency could demand a recall. NHTSA is reviewing whether Tesla vehicles adequately ensure drivers are paying attention. Previously, the agency said evidence suggested drivers in many crashes under review had complied with Tesla's alert strategy that seeks to compel driver attention, raising questions about its effectiveness. Tesla did not respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by David Gregorio) Russian forces have recently "regained some momentum" in the battle for Ukraine's eastern city of Bakhmut after a delay in their advance since late March, the U.K. Defense Ministry reported on April 7. Russia's regular army, likely including airborne troops, has probably "reinforced the area, and Russia is again using artillery more effectively in the sector," the ministry wrote in its latest intelligence update. Russian troops have made further progress and highly likely advanced into the city center, capturing the western bank of the Bakhmutka River, according to the report. Ukraine's key supply route, road 0506 west of the city linking the towns of Chasiv Yar and Khromove, is "likely severely threatened" at the moment. "There is a realistic possibility that, locally, Wagner and Russian MoD commanders have paused their ongoing feud and improved cooperation," reads the update. The Kremlin-controlled mercenary Wagner Group has been assisting Russia's military in trying to capture Bakhmut for almost eight months as Moscow tries to consolidate its grip over the entirety of Donetsk Oblast. Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin has publicly criticized Russia's Defense Ministry on numerous occasions for not providing "enough" ammunition to his troops. UK Defense Ministry: Russia likely to eventually replace Wagner with other PMCs in Ukraine Russia may partner with other private military contractors for combat in Ukraine amid ongoing tensions with the Wagner mercenary group, the U.K. Defense Ministry wrote in its April 4 intelligence update. Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk Prigozhin admitted on April 6 that Ukrainian forces are not retreating from Bakhmut and said that a Russian offensive is "out of the question" at the moment. It contradicted his own earlier statement that Russian forces "had taken Bakhmut de jure." Prigozhin claimed on April 2 that his forces had captured the city administration building in Donetsk Oblast's Bakhmut, raising the Russian flag there. The Ukrainian military promptly denied his claims, saying that the building had long been destroyed by shelling. Story continues "We had no defence," said environmental campaigner David Nixon referring to a British judge's recent surprise ruling that barred him from using climate change as a defence for a road-blocking protest. Nixon, a 36-year-old former social worker, was one of three protesters who refused to abide by the ban, earning him a contempt of court conviction and four weeks in jail. "We should be allowed to mention the climate crisis wherever we go, especially in front of a jury," he told AFP. "On the back of that, we had no defence." Nixon is part of Insulate Britain, which campaigns for better home insulation, typically adopting disruptive tactics including blockading transport networks. Their actions have enraged motorists and the Conservative government, which wants to restrict this form of protest. The group ramped up its campaign in late 2021, leading to dozens of arrests and 56 prosecutions on at least 201 "public nuisance" charges. Nixon was arrested after taking part in a blockade in the heart of the City of London financial district on October 25, 2021. In court, judge Silas Reid forbade Nixon and three co-defendants facing charges from talking about their motives, telling the jury they had no bearing on their guilt. Failure to abide by the ruling would be considered as contempt of court. Nixon was the only one of that quartet to ignore the order, arguing that public disruption requires giving "an honest account of what we did and why we did it". - 'Denied justice' - Nixon was sentenced to eight weeks behind bars and served four. "I didn't personally try to appeal," he said. "I knew what I was doing and judge Reid told me what he was gonna do and he did it." The conviction revealed "how ridiculous it is in 2023 that people are getting jailed for mentioning climate change," he added. "Just to show up that it is ridiculous, I'm more than happy for that," Nixon said of his stint in prison. All four defendants were found guilty of the original charges and will soon be sentenced. Story continues Giovanna Lewis, a 65-year-old local councillor from southern England, spent three and a half weeks in prison after separately refusing to comply with the same judge's ruling. "Reid calls it contempt of court, I call it truth-telling," said Lewis, adding: "I couldn't go in the court and be silenced that way." "I had to tell the truth and take the consequences," she told AFP. "We've been denied justice". Other activists involved in similar cases have been able to explain their motives in their trials and were acquitted, she noted. - 'Huge win' - According to human rights lawyer Jodie Blackstock, the defendants have been denied "the right to a fair trial" and an "effective defence". Lawyers announced on Thursday that they would appeal the contempt of court convictions on behalf of two of the three activists who were jailed. The Good Law Project, which launched a fund to finance the appeal, denounced the "disturbing decisions that silence climate protesters and undermine the crucial role both protest and jury trial play in upholding our democracy". On March 31, another Insulate Britain activist was found guilty of "public nuisance" and also ignored Reid's ban, but this time without being held in contempt. Insulate Britain applauded a "huge win for free speech". "Whatever the reason, we are very glad that today judge Reid has come to his senses and put an end to his campaign of jailing people for speaking the whole truth in UK courtrooms," said Cameron Ford, an Insulate Britain spokesperson. The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, which oversees the judicial system in England and Wales, declined to comment. "We are never able to comment on individual cases or decisions made by judges when they are in court," a spokesperson said. spe/jwp/jj/cw/kjm Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Kyiv appreciates the efforts of the Brazilian president to find a solution to stop the Russian aggression, but "there is no legal, political, or moral reason why [Ukrainians] should give up even an inch of Ukrainian land," he said. Read also: Corruption rankings upgrade, 120 tanks expected, no help from Brazil "Ukraine's position remains unchanged: any mediation efforts to restore peace in Ukraine must be based on respect for sovereignty and full restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter," Nikolenko stressed. Read also: Brazil to propose a peace conference to end the war in Ukraine Da Silva made some eyebrow-raising statements about Russian dictator Vladimir Putins seizure of Ukrainian lands, "Maybe we can discuss Crimea. But he will have to rethink the fact that he invaded again," he said. The Brazilian president also said that his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodomyr Zelenskyy, cannot want everything. In January, Brazil refused to give Ukraine ammunition and rejected Germany's request to send the Ukrainian Armed Forces tank shells. President Zelenskyy had a conversation with da Silva in early March. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Oleksii Danilov In this institution (ROC) there were a lot of representatives of the so-called intelligence community of the Russian Federation, Danilov said. Read also: Drone with cameras crashes at air defense systems plant near Moscow Russian media Some of them we have already exchanged for our prisoners. According to the official, the Ukrainian government is not at odds with Orthodox Christianity, but with ROC a religious organization without proper registration under Ukrainian law. Read also: Ukrainian parliament approves sanctions against Russian financial institutions Do you want to go to pray go and pray, the secretary explains. But institutions that are not properly registered on the territory of Ukraine cannot work here... Read also: Ukraine wants to kick Russian Orthodox Church out of Pochaiv Lavra The State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience concluded on Feb. 1 that ROC remains a under Moscows administrative control, despite the church council's declaration of "full autonomy and independence." Read also: Former Antonov plant director faces new charges for failing to evacuate plane to Germany SBU In 2022, Ukraines SBU security service began inspecting ROC religious buildings throughout Ukraine, discovering anti-Ukrainian literature and symbols in many churches. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The Cabinet of Ministers will submit proposals to the NSDC Read also: Zelenskyy discusses new sanctions package against Russia with head of European Commission The sanctions proposal was submitted to the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) for review and approval. "The participation of Syrian courts in the illegal export of grain from the occupied territory of Ukraine, the recognition of the so-called DPR and LPR (Russia-occupied areas in Donbas), the supply of weapons to Russia that are used in the aggression against Ukraine, and the Syrian leadership's full support for the Putin regime," the message outlines the reasons for proposed punitive measures. The list of unfriendly steps taken by the Syrian Arab Republic towards Ukraine is long. And our state, of course, responds to them. The Ukrainian government noted that sectoral sanctions against Syria will be imposed for a period of 50 years. Read also: Bulgaria closes ports for ships with Russian registration due to EU sanctions According to the proposal, the following sanctions are proposed for introduction against Syria: restrictions on trade operations to prohibit export-import operations with Syrian residents, processing operations with enterprises resident in Syria, and a ban on investments in the country; Read also: Israeli strike at Iranian drone assembly site in Syria unlikely to help Ukraine, says military expert complete halt of transit of goods, flights, and transportation by Syrian residents through Ukrainian territory; suspension of economic and financial obligations in favor of Syrian residents, preventing them from moving capital assets out of Ukraine; barring merchant vessels and warships under Syrian flag from Ukrainian territorial waters and ports. Read also: Russia reportedly asked Israel not to hold up transfer of equipment from Syria to Ukraine These restrictions will come into effect once they are approved by the NSDC, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the Ukrainian parliament. Story continues Ukraine severed diplomatic relations with Syria on June 30, 2022, after Bashar al-Assad's regime recognized of the "independence" of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk peoples republics. Read also: Ukraines intelligence frees Ukrainians held captive in Syria On March 18, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy imposed personal sanctions on Bashar al-Assad and several other Syrian officials. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Polish defense holding PGZ and Ukraines state-owned defense production conglomerate UkrOboronProm have jointly created a repair shop for the T-64 models, but the cooperation could extend to T-72 and PT-91. The possibility of longer-term cooperation to maintain Leopard 2 tanks is also being considered, according to the press release. Poland and Ukraine signed a joint memorandum on April 5 on the reconstruction of war-damaged areas of Ukraine and the production of 125mm tank rounds. How many tanks does Russia really have? Join our communitySupport Ukraines independent journalism in its darkest hourSupport us Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine is already going down in history as the biggest tank slaughter Europe has seen since World War II. The Kremlins reckless and unsuccessful blitzkrieg on Kyiv resulted Kyiv IndependentIllia Ponomarenko The document was signed during Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky's April 5 visit to Warsaw, where he met with President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. "During the meeting," read a Twitter post of Morawiecki's office, "the possibilities of further support for Ukraine in the fight for Europe's freedom and security, as well as the issues of rebuilding war damage and the involvement of Polish companies in this area, were discussed." On Zelensky's visit, only his third official overseas trip since the outbreak of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, the president was awarded the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest national honor. A new package of Polish military aid was also announced during the visit, including 100 Rosomak armored personnel carriers, self-propelled mortars, and air defense systems, in addition to the 8 Mig-29 fighter jets already on their way to Ukraine. "This visit to Warsaw, all our negotiations today can really be called victorious," wrote Zelensky on Telegram. Europes greatest armed conflict since World War II is poised to see the largest mobilized effort since the war in Ukraine began as Kyiv prepares for an anticipated spring offensive. Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War believe that based on information released from Russia and Ukraine, previous war movements and historical patterns of ground warfare, Kyiv is readying its troops for another significant offensive push. "We are now on the eve of a Ukrainian counteroffensive," George Barros, a Russia analyst and leader of the Geospatial Intelligence Team for the Institute for the Study of War told Fox News Digital. "And I think we're going to see some major map changes if the Ukrainians are able to be successful in the direction or directions they choose," he added. Ukrainian soldiers ride on an armored vehicle near the retaken town of Lyman in Donetsk region Oct. 6, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. INSIDER WITH PUTIN'S SECRETIVE SECURITY SERVICE DEFECTS FROM RUSSIA, BLASTS FORMER BOSS AS 'WAR CRIMINAL' Barros said he and his team assess that the anticipated offensive could take place within the next two months, but he noted that he wouldnt be surprised if he woke up to the news that it had begun already. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Since December, the focus of the war effort has appeared to take place in the Bakhmut sector where brutal fighting has ensued and trench warfare resembling battlefield scenes reminiscent of the World Wars have reigned. But analysts at the Institute believe Ukraine and Russia have their sights set on a bigger prize the Zaporizhzhia region. Zaporizhzhia, a region Russia President Vladimir Putin claimed to have annexed in late September, has largely remained out of major headlines except for late last summer when nuclear experts were increasingly concerned by the threats levied at the power plant there. But the region holds considerable value to both Ukraine and Russia. Barros explained that Ukraine needs the region for its port access to the Sea of Azov and the mineral industry in not only Zaporizhzhia, but in the neighboring Donetsk region to the east. Story continues An infographic shows the Zaporizhzhia region positioned north of the Sea of Azov and in between the Donetsk region to the east and Kherson region to the west. GERMAN CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZ DEFENDS DECISION TO DELIVER ARMS TO UKRAINE "If you're going to control the port, you're also going to control the mineral extracts here, but the fact of the matter is that militarily this territory is necessary to control what the Russians have in Kherson," he said, referring to the region directly west of Zaporizhzhia. The Zaporizhzhia region sits in between Kherson and Donetsk, which the analyst explained is not only needed if Ukraine wants to take back sea lanes as far west as Odesa, but to block Russias ability to adequately supply forces in Crimea through its Kherson networks. If Kyiv wants to take back the Zaporizhzhia region to then pinch Russian forces out of Kherson, push its troops northeast through Donetsk and make headway for Crimea which Russia has occupied since 2014 then it is the highways Ukraine must secure. The Kerch Strait bridge that connects mainland Russia with Crimea shown is shown in this November 2018 photo. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, WIFE ARRIVE IN POLAND TO THANK THE COUNTRY FOR ITS CRUCIAL SUPPORT "The Russians are logistically incapable of supporting all of the troops that they have positioned [in Kherson and Crimea] through the bottleneck of the Kerch Strait Bridge," Barros said. The analyst explained that the land bridge that connects Russia to Crimea was not built to handle immense amounts of traffic, is geographically poorly positioned and is still damaged from the October attack, meaning Russia relies heavily on Ukraine's eastern highway system. Ukrainian officials have said they will not stop fighting Moscow until they have ousted all Russian forces from Crimea, and the way to do this is by punching south into a vital triangle area formed by the cities of Melitopol, Tokmak and Vasilyevka, Barros explained. "If they can take this triangle, they will have effectively interdicted the key roads and the key highways that are necessary for supporting everything west of this position," Barros added. "And thats going to cause a major logistical problem for the tens of thousands of Russian troops that are in this territory." But this will be no easy feat. Ukraine, which has successfully employed informational warfare against Russia in past campaigns, has made its intentions in southeastern Ukraine clear, and Moscow has responded by heavily fortifying its troops in this triangle sector. "These are things like trenches, tank traps, dragon's teeth, concrete pillboxes, other field fortifications, revetments, things of that nature," Barros said, explaining that these protective measures are layered and often concentrically ringed around certain locations. "They are actually positioned in tandem with the key supply routes, key arterial roads that connect the various different major settlements and towns and that constitute the main supply lines that actually protect the Russian position." But Ukraine does have a unique advantage in the area. It is the number one site for civilian resistance groups in all of Ukraine. "Melitopol in particular is the single most hotbed for partisan activity and partisan attacks," Barros said. He explained that, not only do these groups inform on Russian positions, they are a constant nuisance for the Russian forces in the area as they routinely employ improvised explosive devices and car bombs against them. But Barros said the emphasis placed in this region could also be a ploy by Kyiv in a similar move it used in the lead-up to its successful recapture of Kharkiv. Late last summer, Ukraine was again putting a lot of emphasis on its plan to retake Kherson. This prompted Russia to move troops from the northern Kharkiv region to the south and left Russian forces in the north undermanned and enabled Ukraine to swoop in to achieve one of its greatest successes in the war to date. Ukrainian soldiers from various brigades take part in a military drill on psychological combat training at an undisclosed location close to the border with Belarus in Ukraine March 11, 2023. But Kyiv also continued with its operational goals in the south and was able to exhaust Russian resources and force occupying troops to withdraw from the city of Kherson by November. "We know that the Ukrainians conducted the Kharkiv counteroffensive last September with four brigades," Barros said. "And the Ukrainian government has discussed explicitly how for this [next] counteroffensive effort they have formed no fewer than, I believe, eight or nine brigades." RUSSIA WARNS NATO AS BELARUS SEES NUCLEAR UPGRADE ON PLANES, MISSILES Barros pointed out that, not only is Ukraines spring counteroffensive expected to be at least twice as large as last years major offensive push, these are new brigades Kyiv has formed explicitly to lead its strike force. The analyst said Ukraine could again employ a similar tactic to last years offensive and direct its counteroffensive efforts in multiple locations, like the Bakhmut sector. A Ukrainian soldier takes part in a military drill on psychological combat training at an undisclosed location close to the border with Belarus in Ukraine March 11, 2023. The team at the Institute have assessed that Kyiv can win this war against Russia, and it will likely achieve this by relying on Putins hesitancy to mobilize more men for the front lines, coupled with the fact that the troops already in Ukraine continue to be lacking in arms, training and morale. UKRAINE PREPARES FOR RUSSIAN SPRING OFFENSIVE "The Ukrainians will present a series of military and logistical dilemmas to the Russian military and force the Russian military to pick from a buffet of bad options," Barros assessed. "Decisions like, Do we prioritize the defense of the south or do we prioritize the defense of a different area on the frontline? "And this is important because it means that, ideally, the Russians [will] have to make a series of suboptimal decisions and not ever be able to make a preferable decision," he added. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy makes a surprise visit to Kherson Nov. 14, 2022. Kyiv has said it will look to conclude the war by the end of the year, but after roughly four months of little traction from either side, defense officials, including Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, have said this is unlikely. Barros said that periods of stagnation in war are "normal" and enable troops to be refitted and rest up, but he noted that Ukraine, eager to end this war quickly, would have continued its momentous push through the winter months had NATO and the U.S. adequately armed its troops. Both Western policymakers and Putin have prolonged the war over concerns of escalating the conflict beyond Ukraines borders and drawing NATO into a full-fledged war with Russia. TOPSHOT - Ukrainian servicemen fire with a D-30 howitzer at Russian positions near Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine, on March 21, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Putin failed to mobilize men in the lead-up to his invasion, which resulted in an embarrassing withdrawal from the Kyiv region and subsequent failures across Ukraine in the more than 13 months since the war began. The West has shown repeated reticence and then acquiescence when it comes to supplying Ukraine with the arms and equipment it needs to oust Russian troops, like tanks and warplanes. "Western policymakers are extremely susceptible to Russian information operations," Barros said. "And we're very concerned about the possibility that Russia might employ a nuclear weapon or a tactical nuclear weapon if it seems like the Ukrainians are about to win. "But, bottom line, we assess that it's extraordinarily unlikely that Putin will use a tactical nuclear weapon," he added, noting that it cannot be ruled out entirely. "The way that this war has been fought so far shows that the Ukrainians can inflict defeats, and not just defeats, humiliating defeats against the Russian military. "And Putin can be forced to take losses," Barros added. "And [the Russians] find ways to be able to justify and explain it away." You can view the ISW interactive map showing the assessed control of terrain in Ukraine here. , According to the Petcube founder, Ukraines spy chief warned him against using some popular messengers. In particular, Azhnyuk stated that he had spoken with Budanov and Deputy PM Mykhailo Fedorov about the risks of using Viber and Telegram. Read also: Ukraines Digital Ministry requests ban on sale of Atomic Heart shooter over Russian propaganda In a personal conversation, the head of the HUR said that "the FSB (Russian security service, the successor to the Soviet KGB) has the keys to Telegram." And Viber, allegedly, is an application created for espionage, even if a user does not conduct any correspondence through it. Budanov told Azhnyuk that this information could be shared publicly, and when the latter asked why this was not being discussed at the state level, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine replied: "Speak out". Read also: Defense Ministry explains how Russia uses social media data for missile strikes on Ukraine According to the businessman, the Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, Mykhailo Fedorov, has promised to help uncover the facts about the ties between Telegram and the Kremlin. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Key developments on April 7: Ukraine's intelligence dismisses classified war documents leaked online as 'fake' Foreign Ministry dismisses Brazils suggestion to cede Russian-occupied Crimea in exchange for peace with Moscow Russian technicians may have sabotaged Slovak-provided MiG-29 fighters UK Defense Ministry: Russian troops 'have regained some momentum' in Bakhmut Ukraines military: Russia resettles deported Ukrainians in 55 regions. Ukraines military intelligence said that the supposed classified war files leaked online were forged by Russia. In recent decades, the most successful operations of the Russian special services took place in Photoshop, Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate spokesperson Andrii Yusov said on television, as quoted by Ukrainska Pravda. The New York Times reported that classified documents detailing U.S. and NATO plans for supplying arms to Ukraine for the upcoming counteroffensive were posted this week on Twitter and Telegram. The Pentagon has started an investigation, senior U.S. officials told the newspaper. According to Yusov, it is possible that the Russians created fraudulent documents to impede or delay the delivery of Western aid to Ukraine. He also said that the reported losses were false from both the Ukrainian and Russian sides, and that specific details seemed derived from open sources. The five weeks old documents havent revealed details of when, how, or where Ukraine plans to launch its counteroffensive. The papers were likely modified from their original format, understating the casualties on the Russian side and overstating those on the Ukrainian side, according to military analysts. One of the slides, according to the New York Times, said 16,000 to 17,500 Russian troops had been killed while Ukraine had lost as many as 71,500 troops since Feb. 24, 2022. At the official level, Russias Defense Ministry only confirmed around 6,000 of its troops being killed since Feb. 24. Ukraine's General Staff reported Russian losses at over 177,000. The Pentagon estimated that Russia had lost 200,000 troops killed and wounded in action, while Ukraine has had over 100,000 killed or injured. Story continues Biden's officials told the New York Times that attempts to get the information deleted from social media had not yet proven successful. Official: No more than 5 people have information on Ukrainian counteroffensive plans Information on when the military actions might begin will be known to a limited number of people, National Security and Defense Council head Oleksii Danilov said in an April 6 interview with RFE/RL, adding that Ukrainians will find out when the offensive actually begins. Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell Ukraine does not give up its territories Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva began as a non-starter, positioning himself as a mediator. He suggested that Ukraine should cede the territories Russian troops occupied in 2014 in exchange for peace with Russia. Ukraine does not give up its territories. There is no legal, political or moral reason why we should give up even a centimeter of Ukrainian land, Oleh Nikolenko, Ukraines Foreign Ministry spokesperson, wrote in a Facebook post on April 7. Referring to Lulas ideas, Nikolenko said Ukraine's position remains unchanged, meaning any mediation efforts must respect the sovereignty and complete restoration of Ukraine's 1991 borders. The Crimean Peninsula and parts of eastern Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts have been under Russian occupation since 2014. After the beginning of the full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, Russia has occupied almost the entirety of Luhansk Oblast and further advanced in Donetsk Oblast. It also currently occupies parts of southern Kherson Oblast and southeastern Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Lula talked to President Volodymyr Zelensky on March 2, discussing diplomatic means of ending Russias war. On March 30, Lulas foreign policy envoy met Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, reportedly to push peace talks. The deputy head of Zelensky's Office Andrii Sybiha brought up the Crimea issue in a recent interview with the Financial Times. He said Ukraine might be ready to negotiate the peninsulas future once the Ukrainian forces liberate southern regions in a counteroffensive and reach the administrative border between Kherson Oblast and Crimea. Soon after, Serhii Nykyforov, Zelenskys spokesperson, told Liga media outlet that regarding the negotiations with Russia, the focus should be first and foremost on the presidents words. However, Zelensky's Office advisor Mykhailo Podolyak denied the possibility of any negotiations with Russia on Crimea. Zelensky himself has repeatedly ruled out any talks with Putin. Russia invaded and annexed Ukraine's Crimea in February and March 2014 respectively. In September 2022, Russia announced the annexation of the entire Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Luhansk, and Donetsk oblasts, even though it does not control parts of these regions, including two regional capitals. Many countries, except a handful of Russias allies, have openly opposed the illegal annexation and continue recognizing the regions as part of Ukraine. Russians might have sabotaged Ukraine-bound MiGs Russian mechanics may have intentionally damaged the Mikoyan MiG-29 jet fighters on the air base in the Slovak town of Sliacth that Slovakia recently supplied to Ukraine, Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad said. They were able to fly, but that doesnt mean they were also capable of combat, Nad said, adding that the defects appeared only in those parts accessed by Russian technicians. The Russian experts were present at Sliacth air base under a long-term deal between Slovakia and Russia. Ukraine received the first four of the 13 MiG-29 jets from Slovakia on March 23. They were followed by Poland, which also provided MiGs to Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities have called on allies to provide modern fighter jets to defend Ukraines airspace and more effectively counterattack the Russian troops on the battlefield. So far, no country has pledged to send Western-built fighter jets, though several partners of Ukraine, such as the U.K., have not ruled out such a move. Oleg Sukhov: What should be done to ensure Ukraines victory in 2023 Editors note: The opinions expressed in our op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. When Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine began almost a year ago, the issue of Ukraines very existence and survival came to Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov Russia resettles deported Ukrainians in remote regions Russia continues illegally deporting Ukrainians from the Russian-occupied territories, and has already resettled them in Russias 55 regions, the Ukrainian military's National Resistance Center reported on April 7. The military said Ukrainians were illegally deported for further assimilation in remote regions in Russia. Meanwhile, Russian authorities are forcing illegally deported Ukrainians to obtain Russian citizenship. Over 2,500 captive Ukrainian civilians have been illegally deported to Russia from the occupied territories, Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said on April 6. We cannot clearly say how many Ukrainians are currently on the territory of the Russian Federation, as Russia itself does not provide us with any official numbers, said Lubinets. So far, Russia has reportedly deported over 19,000 Ukrainian children to its territory. To date, only 327 children have been returned to Ukraine. Forced deportation of adults and children violates the Geneva Conventions. Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russias commissioner for children's rights, are subjects of arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court in The Hague last month, citing allegations of war crimes for the abduction and illegal deportation of Ukrainian children. What will the war bring in 2023? Illia Ponomarenko interviews Michael Kofman and Rob Lee The Kyiv Independents Illia Ponomarenko sits down with military analysts Michael Kofman, director of the Russia Studies Program at CNA, and Rob Lee, senior fellow in the Foreign Policy Research Institutes Eurasia Program, to discuss the current situation on the battlefields, Ukraines planned coun Kyiv IndependentIllia Ponomarenko On the battlefield The General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces reported in its update on April 7 that Russian troops had continued to focus their primary efforts on offensives in Donetsk Oblast. The Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Marinka sectors remain Russia's top assault priorities, according to the report. Over the past 24 hours, Ukraine's military repelled over 40 Russian attacks in Donetsk Oblast and nine times hit areas where Russian troops and means were temporarily concentrated in, destroying one ammunition depot, the General Staff said. Ukraines military also downed the Russian Sukhoi Su-25 jet near Marinka, a town just west of Russian-occupied Donetsk. Russia had lost 306 airplanes since the beginning of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in late February last year, according to the General Staff. Russian forces also shelled settlements in Sumy, Chernihiv, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts, while building up its defense capabilities in Ukraines southern regions and one Russian region bordering Ukraine, according to the report. The most severe fighting is ongoing for the town of Marinka, where Ukraines military repelled 10 Russian attacks. Russian forces keep trying to seize Bakhmut and Avdiivka, an industrial town some 5 kilometers north of Donetsk. Ukraine repelled 14 Russian attacks in the Bakhmut sector alone, the military said. Russian forces have recently regained some momentum in the battle of Bakhmut in eastern Donetsk Oblast after a delay in their advancement since late March, the U.K. Defense Ministry said in its intelligence update on April 7. Russian troops have made progress and highly likely advanced into the downtown of the embattled city, capturing the western bank of the Bakhmutka River, and likely severely threatened Ukraine's key supply route in the area, according to the report. Russia has been trying to capture Bakhmut for over eight months, stepping up its efforts in the fall. Standing in rubble, the city is now nearly emptied of its pre-war population of 70,000 people. There is a realistic possibility that, locally, Wagner and Russian Ministry of Defense commanders have paused their ongoing feud and improved cooperation, reads the update. Russia lost elections to top three UN bodies this week after the Kremlin said peace talks with Ukraine ought to focus on creating a new world order. The votes in the 54-member UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) follow the approval of six non-binding resolutions against Russia by the 193-member UN General Assembly. Russia lost to Estonia for a chance to become a member of Unicefs executive board, was defeated by Romania for a seat on the Commission on the Status of Women and lost to Armenia and the Czech Republic for membership on the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. US ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the votes were a clear signal from ECOSOC members that no country should hold positions on critical UN bodies when they are in flagrant violation of the UN Charter. The votes come after Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said: Any negotiation needs to be based on taking into account Russian interests, Russian concerns. It should be about the principles on which the new world order will be based, AFP quoted him as saying. Key Points Russian forces highly likely advance to centre of Bakhmut, Britain says Russia says peace talks must focus on creating new world order Pentagon investigating leak of secret US and Nato war plans for Ukraine Russia 'has regained momentum' in Bakhmut, says MoD Street battles in Bakhmut as Wagner says fighting continues in western pocket Russia says peace talks must focus on creating new world order Friday 7 April 2023 14:24 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has said any peace talks with Ukraine must focus on creating a new world order. Agence France-Presse quoted him as saying: Any negotiation needs to be based on taking into account Russian interests, Russian concerns. It should be about the principles on which the new world order will be based. In pictures: Ukrainian servicemen with the 95th Brigade take cover from incoming artillery shells in Lyman 03:00 , Emily Atkinson Story continues (REUTERS) (REUTERS) (REUTERS) Watch: Smoke rises from fire inside Russian defence ministry in Moscow 02:00 , Emily Atkinson Putins forces reach centre of key Ukrainian city Bakhmut in bloody battle 01:00 , Emily Atkinson Russian forces are likely to have reached the centre of Bakhmut in their push to take over the city, according to UK intelligence. Moscows troops have also seized the west bank of the river in the devastated area endangering a key supply route to Ukraine. Kyiv said Russia was concentrating all its efforts on capturing the eastern city, describing the situation as difficult, but said Ukrainian forces were holding out despite Russias numerical advantage during heavy fighting. My colleague Jane Dalton has more: Putins forces reach centre of key Ukrainian city Bakhmut in bloody battle Latest images from Ukraines Donetsk region Friday 7 April 2023 23:00 , Emily Atkinson (EPA) (EPA) (EPA) Russia hits illegally annexed Ukraine areas from ground, air Friday 7 April 2023 22:00 , Emily Atkinson Russian forces used ground- and air-fired missiles, rocket launchers and weaponized drones to bombard the provinces of Ukraine it has illegally annexed but doesnt fully control, causing casualties, building damage and power outages Friday. The Ukrainian military said Russian forces launched 18 airstrikes, five missile strikes and 53 attacks from multiple rocket launchers between Thursday and Friday mornings. According to the General Staff statement, Russia was concentrating the bulk of its offensive operations in Ukraines industrial east, focusing on the cities and towns of Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka in Donetsk province. More on this story from The Associated Press here: Russia hits illegally annexed Ukraine areas from ground, air Russia digging trenches in Crimea and redeploying weapons as it fears Ukraine counteroffensive Friday 7 April 2023 21:00 , Emily Atkinson There are signs Russia is taking key equipment from occupied Crimea and redeploying it in Ukraines southern sector while also fortifying the contested peninsula ahead of an expected Ukrainian spring counteroffensive. This comes as Ukraine has said talks with Russia on Crimea will take place if the planned counteroffensive succeeds. Russian forces may have withdrawn equipment from occupied Crimea for redeployment elsewhere in southern Ukraine out of fear of a Ukrainian counteroffensive, the US-based Institute for the Study of War has said. Arpan Rai has more: Russia digging trenches in Crimea as it fears Ukraine counteroffensive US 'weighs action against Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab Friday 7 April 2023 20:00 , Emily Atkinson The US department of commerce is weighing an enforcement action against Russian cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday citing people familiar with the matter. President Joe Bidens administration is looking at an enforcement action against the company under its online security rules, the report said. The administration ramped up its national security probe into Kaspersky Labs antivirus software last year as fears grew about Russian cyberattacks after Moscow invaded Ukraine. US regulators have already banned federal government use of Kaspersky software. The commerce departments bureau of industry and security, when asked for a comment on the report, said it does not comment on any potential company specific actions. The department is committed to fully exercising its authorities to protect Americans sensitive data, and to working with Congress in a bipartisan way to adapt to evolving risks, it said. Russia likely behind US military document leak, officials say Friday 7 April 2023 19:00 , Emily Atkinson Russia or pro-Russian elements are likely behind the leak of several classified US military documents posted on social media that offer a partial, month-old snapshot of the war in Ukraine, three US officials have told Reuters The documents appear to have been altered to lower the number of casualties suffered by Russian forces, the US officials said, adding their assessments were informal and separate from an investigation into the leak itself. The Pentagon has declined to comment on the authenticity of the documents circulating on sites including Twitter and Telegram, which are dated 1 March and bear markings showing them classified as Secret and Top Secret. A leak of such sensitive documents is highly unusual and would automatically trigger an investigation. We are aware of the reports of social media posts and the department (of defence) is reviewing the matter, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said. One document posted on social media said 16,000 to 17,500 Russian forces had been killed since Russias invasion of Ukraine. The United States believes that actual figure is much higher, at around 200,000 Russians killed and wounded, officials say. Poland to halt Ukraine grain imports temporarily Friday 7 April 2023 18:30 , Emily Atkinson Imports of Ukrainian grain to Poland will be temporarily halted to mitigate impact on prices, but transit will still be allowed, Polish agriculture minister Robert Telus has said. Telus took office on Thursday after his predecessor resigned amid farmers protests over falling prices of produce. (EPA) We agreed to limit and for now halt exports to Poland, Telus told reporters after meeting his Ukrainian counterpart. Transit will be allowed but will be closely monitored in both countries, so that Ukraine grain doesnt stay in Poland. Large quantities of Ukrainian grains, which are cheaper than those produced in the European Union, have ended up staying in Central European states amid logistical bottlenecks, hitting prices and sales for local farmers. WSJ reporter arrested in Russia formally charged with espionage Friday 7 April 2023 18:00 , Emily Atkinson An American journalist detained in Russia while working for the Wall Street Journal has formally denied espionage charges levied against him by the Russian government. Evan Gerskovich, 31, was arrested and detained in Russia on spying charges last week, and has now been formally charged. An espionage conviction carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Russias Federal Security Service, the successor to the old KGB, claims it caught Gershkovich collecting intelligence on the nationals military infrastructure. More on this story from Graig Graziosi: WSJ reporter arrested in Russia formally charged with espionage Xi says political settlement only correct way out for Ukraine crisis Friday 7 April 2023 17:30 , Emily Atkinson Chinas president Xi Jinping has declared that a political settlement is the only correct way out of the Ukraine crisis, the foreign ministry said in a statement. (POOL/AFP via Getty Images) All parties should meet each other halfway to create conditions for a political settlement, Xi told French president Emmanuel Macron during a dinner in the Chinese city of Guangzhou on Friday, the statement said. Russia charges Wall Street Journal reporter Gershkovich with espionage Friday 7 April 2023 17:00 , Emily Atkinson Russian investigators have charged Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich with espionage, the Interfax news agency reported, citing an unidentified source. Russias Federal Security Service, the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB, said on 30 March that it had detained Gershkovich in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg and had opened an espionage case against the 31-year-old for collecting what it said were state secrets about the military industrial complex. (AFP via Getty Images) Gershkovich has been charged, Interfax quoted a source as saying. He was charged with espionage. The Journal has denied that Gershkovich was spying and demanded the immediate release of its trusted and dedicated reporter. Ukraine PM to visit Canada in coming weeks Friday 7 April 2023 16:30 , Emily Atkinson Ukrainian prime minister Denys Shmyhal is planning to visit Canada to seek supplies of ammunition and armoured vehicles for a counteroffensive against invading Russian forces, the Globe and Mail reported on Friday. Shmyhal said in an interview with the Canadian newspaper that he was not concerned about the lack of new military aid allocated for Ukraine in Canadas federal budget, and hoped the country would provide more aid among other forms of assistance. Now, we need heavy armoured vehicles. And we need more artillery shells: ammunition for howitzers and ammunition for tanks, Shmyhal said. Its crucially important for the organization of our counteroffensive. (REUTERS) Shmyhal will visit Canada in coming weeks, the Globe and Mail said, adding that for security reasons the Kyiv government was not divulging the date of the trip. The Ukrainian premier was quoted by the Globe as saying Ukraine would also like Canada to offer war risk insurance to Canadian companies investing in Ukraine to support reconstruction and foreign investment. So if a Canadian company will decide to invest money into Ukraine, we will ask the Canadian government to create some mechanism to support Canadian investments, he said. Ukraine debates ways to prevent military leaks after report of breach Friday 7 April 2023 15:53 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Ukraines president and top security brass discussed ways to prevent leaks of military information at a meeting on Friday, Kyiv said, after secret documents detailing Western help for Ukraine reportedly ended up online. A statement about the meeting issued by the presidents office did not say a leak had occurred. It also did not refer to a New York Times report that said documents about U.S. and NATO plans to build up the Ukrainian military had been leaked online. The participants of the meeting focused on measures to prevent the leakage of information regarding the plans of the defence forces of Ukraine, a presidency statement said, detailing other topics that participants also discussed. The Times reported on Thursday that the Pentagon was investigating how documents about plans to build up Ukrainian forces before their planned counter-offensive against invading Russian forces were posted on social media channels this week. Reuters was not immediately able to review the leaked documents. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak told Reuters earlier that the document leak looked like a Russian disinformation operation to sow doubts about the counter-offensive. He said the leaked data contained a very large amount of fictitious information and that Russia appeared to be trying to seize back the initiative in its invasion, now in its 14th month. These are just standard elements of operational games by Russian intelligence. And nothing more, Podolyak said in a written statement. Ukrainian troops have for months faced a Russian onslaught in its east that has focused on the city of Bakhmut. Kyiv hopes its forces can launch a counter-offensive in the coming weeks or months to wrest back occupied territory. Russia is looking for any ways to seize back the initiative, Podolyak said. To try to influence the scenarios for Ukraines counteroffensive plans. To introduce doubts, to compromise the ... ideas, and finally to intimidate (us) with how informed they are. The Times report said the documents appeared to have been modified in certain parts. One part offered an estimate for Ukrainian military losses that was far higher than Western estimates made available so far. Ukraine does not disclose the scale of its losses and is very sensitive about the subject. Putins forces reach centre of key Ukrainian city Bakhmut in bloody battle Friday 7 April 2023 15:14 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russian forces are likely to have reached the centre of Bakhmut in their push to take over the city, according to UK intelligence. Moscows troops have also seized the west bank of the river in the devastated area endangering a key supply route to Ukraine. Kyiv said Russia was concentrating all its efforts on capturing the eastern city, describing the situation as difficult, but said Ukrainian forces were holding out despite Russias numerical advantage during heavy fighting. Putins forces reach centre of key Ukrainian city Bakhmut in bloody battle What is the latest from the fronline? Friday 7 April 2023 13:50 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Here is the latest from the battlefield: * Asked to comment on the report, a Ukrainian military command spokesman told Reuters the situation was difficult in Bakhmut and that Russian forces were concentrating all efforts to take the city but were not having strategic success. * If confirmed, the British report suggests Ukrainian forces are under severe pressure, two days after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said they would withdraw if at risk of encirclement. * On Monday, the head of Russias private Wagner militia had said Ukrainian forces were not abandoning Bakhmut but that, even if they did, he would need more support from the regular Russian military before trying to advance further. * Donetsk is one of four provinces in eastern and southern Ukraine that Russia is seeking to fully occupy. It declared them annexed last year after failing to seize the capital Kyiv in an attempt to overrun Ukraine early in the war. * Fighting also rages further south around Avdiivka, a town near the Russian-held regional capital of Donetsk. * Authorities in Russian-controlled areas of eastern Ukraine said a total of seven civilians were killed in two separate Ukrainian artillery strikes, Russian news agencies reported. The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary Friday 7 April 2023 13:20 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain It was a month into Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine. Russian forces had withdrawn from around Kyiv and in their wake Bel Trew and her team stumbled on a body by an abandoned Russian camp. His hands were tied. He had been burned and shot in the back. Soldiers said he was a teenager. As Bel tried to find out who he was and what had happened, she uncovered a nightmare world: a nation struggling to find thousands of its missing and to identify its dead. The Body in the Woods by Bel Trew is streaming now on Independent TV and on your smart TV. The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary Pentagon investigating leak of secret US and Nato war plans for Ukraine Friday 7 April 2023 12:50 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The Biden administration is investigating the leak of classified war documents about secret American and Nato plans for bolstering the Ukrainian military ahead of an anticipated spring salvo against Russian forces, senior officials said. We are aware of the reports of social media posts and the department is reviewing the matter, said Sabrina Singh, the deputy press secretary at the Pentagon, reported The New York Times. The five-weeks-old documents reportedly reveal details of Ukraines requirements ahead of a planned counteroffensive to reclaim territory taken by Russia since the full-scale invasion last year, as well as how the US and Nato might meet them. They appeared on both Twitter and Telegram, a messaging platform that is widely used in Ukraine and Russia. Arpan Rai reports: Pentagon investigating leak of secret US and Nato war plans for Ukraine Whats the latest in politics on the Ukraine war? Friday 7 April 2023 12:26 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain * Turkey is concerned about the potential intensification of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in the spring, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said at a joint news conference with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. * Chinas Xi Jinping expressed willingness on Thursday to speak to Ukrainian President Zelenskiy, the head of the European Union said, after French President Macron urged Beijing to talk sense to Russia over the war in Ukraine. * The Kremlin said it had followed what it called important talks between Xi, Macron and EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, but added that China would not change its position on the Ukraine conflict under external influence. * A top Ukrainian official ruled out talks with Moscow about territory until it withdraws all troops, pushing back on a colleague who had touted the idea of negotiations to resolve the Russian occupation of the Crimean peninsula. * Russia and Turkey agreed during talks in Ankara that obstacles must be lifted to ensure freer Russian fertiliser and grain exports, and enable a UN-brokered deal ensuring Black Sea shipments of Ukrainian grain to be extended beyond next month. Ukraine says data leak is Russian effort to sow doubt about counter-offensive Friday 7 April 2023 11:54 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain A leak of classified documents detailing secret U.S. and NATO plans to help Kyiv looked like a Russian disinformation operation to sow doubts about Ukraines planned counter-offensive, a Ukrainian presidential official said on Friday. Mykhailo Podolyak told Reuters that the leaked data reported by the New York Times on Thursday contained a very large amount of fictitious information and that Russia was trying to seize back the initiative in its invasion. Russia's Lavrov says US blocking Middle East Quartet meetings Friday 7 April 2023 11:25 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday accused the United States of blocking meetings of the Quartet on the Middle East - comprised of Russia, the United States, European Union and United Nations. Speaking at a news conference in Turkey where he was on a visit to discuss the Black Sea grain deal, Ukraine crisis and energy cooperation with Ankara, Lavrov also said he did not rule out a possible face-to-face meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at UN headquarters if there was a serious proposal for dialogue. (EPA) Turkey says concerned Ukraine war will intensify in spring Friday 7 April 2023 10:58 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Turkey is concerned about the potential intensification of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in the spring, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday. In a joint news conference with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Ankara, Cavusoglu said Turkey would continue with its efforts to bring an end to the war with negotiations. Father of Russian girl who drew anti-war pictures held in Belarus Friday 7 April 2023 09:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Alexei Moskalyov, a Russian man who was charged with discrediting the countrys army after his daughter Masha drew an anti-war picture, is being held in Belarus, Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported, citing the Russian embassy in the country. (AP) Russian forces likely threaten Ukrainian supply line to eastern city, Britain says Friday 7 April 2023 09:01 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russian forces have very likely seized the centre of the fiercely contested city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine and are threatening a key supply route for Ukrainian forces to the west, British intelligence said on Friday. Asked to comment on the report, a Ukrainian military command spokesman told Reuters the situation was difficult in Bakhmut and that Russian forces were concentrating all efforts to take the city but were not having strategic success. The months-long battle for Bakhmut, one of the last urban centres in Ukraines eastern Donetsk province yet to fall to Russian forces, has proven one of the bloodiest of the war. The British report, if confirmed, indicates that Ukrainian forces are under severe pressure, two days after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said they would withdraw if at risk of encirclement. Donetsk is one of four provinces in eastern and southern Ukraine that Russia is seeking to fully occupy. It declared them annexed last year after failing to seize the capital Kyiv in an attempt to overrun Ukraine early in the war. (AFP via Getty Images) Ukraine holds out in Bakhmut despite 'difficult' situation -military Friday 7 April 2023 08:36 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Ukraine said on Friday that Russia was concentrating all its efforts on capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut where it described the situation as difficult but said it was holding out despite Russias numerical superiority. Eastern Military Command spokesperson Serhiy Cherevatyi told Reuters that Ukraine controlled the situation in Bakhmut, understood Russian intentions and that Moscow had tactical success in some places, but was paying a high price for it. Macron seeks Chinas help on Ukraine as Xi willing to call Zelensky Friday 7 April 2023 08:13 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Xi Jinping is willing to speak to Ukraine, the head of the EU said on Thursday, after Emmanuel Macron said he was counting on China to reason with Russia over the year-long war. Chinas president expressed willingness to speak to Volodymyr Zelensky, Ursula von der Leyen said, if the conditions and time are right. The French president and Ms Von der Leyen arrived in Beijing on Wednesday and met Mr Xi on Thursday in what is seen as part of a broader effort from the European leaders to engage with China, even as Beijing continued to engage with Moscow and maintain its neutral stance. Macron seeks Chinas help on Ukraine as Xi willing to call Zelensky . Russia seizes Bakhmutka River's west bank, says UK defence ministry Friday 7 April 2023 07:42 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russia has seized the west bank of the Bakhmutka River, endangering a key Ukraine supply route, in its push to regain control of the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut, the British defence ministry said on Friday. Russia has made further gains and has now highly likely advanced into the town centre ... Ukraines key 0506 supply route to the west of the town is likely severely threatened, the ministry said on Twitter in a regular bulletin. Russia 'has regained momentum' in Bakhmut, says MoD Friday 7 April 2023 07:05 , Arpan Rai Russian forces have regained some momentum in the battle for Bakhmut in recent days after their advance was largely stalled since late last month, the British defence ministry has said today. Russia has made further gains and has now highly likely advanced into the town centre, and has seized the west bank of the Bakhmutka River. Ukraines key 0506 supply route to the west of the town is likely severely threatened, the MoD said in its latest intelligence update. Russian regular forces, likely including airborne troops, have probably reinforced the area, and Russia is again using artillery more effectively in the sector, the MoD said. It added that there was a realistic possibility that Wagner and Russian military commanders had paused their ongoing feud and improved cooperation. In pictures: Ukrainian forces fire a 120mm mortar towards Russian positions in Donetsk Friday 7 April 2023 07:00 , Emily Atkinson (AFP via Getty Images) (AFP via Getty Images) Street battles in Bakhmut as Wagner says fighting continues in western pocket Friday 7 April 2023 06:54 , Arpan Rai The months-long battle for Bakhmut has continued to flare up in the salt-mining city this week. (Battles) are underway in the streets, enemy attempts to encircle the city are failing. Our command fully control the situation, said Andriy Yermak, a senior adviser to Volodymyr Zelensky said. The leader of Russias private Wagner militia, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said fighting was continuing in the west of the city. It must be said clearly that the enemy is not going anywhere, he said on his Telegram channel. The Wagner chief has often complained of a lack of ammunition for his fighters in Bakhmut but there are signs of revival of ammunition supply to the mercenary group. But Ukrainian border guard Levko Stek, speaking in a video clip amid explosions, said Ukrainian forces did not sense any ammunition hunger on the Russian side. Pentagon investigating leak of secret US and Nato war plans for Ukraine Friday 7 April 2023 06:20 , Arpan Rai The Biden administration is investigating the leak of classified war documents about secret American and Nato plans for bolstering the Ukrainian military ahead of an anticipated spring salvo against Russian forces, senior officials said. We are aware of the reports of social media posts and the department is reviewing the matter, said Sabrina Singh, the deputy press secretary at the Pentagon, reported The New York Times. The five-weeks-old documents reportedly reveal details of Ukraines requirements ahead of a planned counteroffensive to reclaim territory taken by Russia since the full-scale invasion last year, as well as how the US and Nato might meet them. Pentagon investigating leak of secret US and Nato war plans for Ukraine Russian media mocks Trump over arrest days after he defended Putin: Were getting lots of popcorn! Friday 7 April 2023 06:00 , Emily Atkinson Donald Trumps indictment in New York City has been met with ridicule by state TV in Russia, where hosts have enjoyed themselves by showcasing artwork depicting the former president wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and speculating about future jail time. Mr Trump appeared at Manhattan Criminal Courthouse on Tuesday afternoon to plead not guilty to 34 felony charges relating to the falsification of business records to conceal a series of hush money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels, Playboy model Karen McDougal and a former Trump Tower doorman on his behalf in exchange for their silence about his alleged extramarital affairs. Joe Sommerlad reports: Russian media mocks Trump over arrest: Were getting lots of popcorn! Watch: Defecting Russian protection officer labels Vladimir Putin 'war criminal' Friday 7 April 2023 05:00 , Emily Atkinson Bakhmut grinds on as Ukrainian forces wait for mud to clear Friday 7 April 2023 04:41 , Arpan Rai The Ukrainian forces are using their counteroffensive abilities in Bakhmut to bleed Russian forces and inflict maximum losses possible in a dogged defence as they wait for the sludgy terrain to clear and make way for an expected spring assault. Bakhmut is performing the key task of inflicting as many losses on Russia as possible and, most importantly, to prepare for a counter-attack to take place in late April-May, Pavlo Narozhniy, a Ukrainian military analyst, told NV Radio. Even as Western analysts play down the strategic significance of Bakhmut, the Ukrainian side has persisted with protecting the town despite its own heavy casualties. A 21-year-old commander outside Bakhmut said: We are ready, we have to do it, the sooner the better. The enemy must be chased away. At the moment we are waiting for the weather to change, the mud is an obstacle. Speaking from close to the frontline, the commander of Ukraines 5th separate assault brigade, who gave his name as Ivan, said: Those service members that are not on the frontline are training. Ukrainian military expert Vladyslav Selezniov said Ukraine would be able to defend positions in the more heavily built-up west of Bakhmut as long as their route to the west, the road of life for getting supplies in and wounded out, remained open. Russia has defended its special military operation in Ukraine by claiming it was necessary to protect its security against what it sees as a hostile and aggressive West. ICYMI: Putin sacks one of Russias most senior commanders in Ukraine Friday 7 April 2023 04:00 , Emily Atkinson The Russian ministry of defence has reportedly fired Colonel-General Rustam Muradov as commander of the Eastern Group of Forces (EGF) after Moscows heavy losses in eastern Ukraine. The British defence ministry had cited claims on Russian social media in its latest intelligence update on Thursday and pointed out that it is the most high-profile dismissal in the Russian military so far this year. The ministry said more dismissals are likely to follow as Russia continues to fail to achieve its objectives in the Donbas. My colleague Arpan Rai has the details: Putin sacks one of Russias most senior commanders in Ukraine Russias refusal to give consular access to WSJ reporter is inexcusable, says US Friday 7 April 2023 03:55 , Arpan Rai The White House has called Russias refusal to give consular access to detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich inexcusable. We need to get consular access to Evan, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in a White House briefing last night. On being asked why Russia is refusing the journalist consular access, Mr Kirby said: We still havent been able to get consular access. And thats a thats an issue that we continually bring up through our our embassy in Moscow with the Russians. On being asked about a potential prisoner swap with Russia, Mr Kirby said that the situation is at a very early stage right now. I wont get ahead of where we are. And I think you can understand why we would certainly not want to talk about potential negotiations here from the podium. Were at a very early stage here, he said. He added: Main goal is to get consular access to him so we can have that contact and that connectivity were and doing what we can to keep him his employer and the family informed. Our focus is squarely on that right now. Key images from Lukashenkos trip to Moscow Friday 7 April 2023 03:00 , Emily Atkinson (EPA) (EPA) (EPA) Russia continues information crackdown with new Wikimedia fine Friday 7 April 2023 02:00 , Emily Atkinson The Wikimedia Foundation, owner of the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, was fined by a Russian court on Thursday for failing to delete content considered extremist as Moscow pursues a drive to crack down on independent sources of information. Wikipedia, which says it offers the second draft of history, is one of the few surviving fact-checked sources of information in Russian since the crackdown intensified after Moscow sent its armed forces into Ukraine in February 2022. The Tagansky district court said it had fined Wikimedia 800,000 roubles ($9,900). Russian news agencies in the courtroom said Wikimedia had been charged with failing to remove materials related to a song by the alternative rock band Psychea, or Psyshit, which has been officially designated extremist. Russia has now fined Wikimedia around 9 million roubles ($110,000) in the past year, the agencies said. Wikimedia said the information that Russian authorities had complained about was well-sourced and in line with Wikipedia standards. Watch: Smoke rises from fire inside Russian defence ministry in Moscow Friday 7 April 2023 01:00 , Emily Atkinson Russian lawmakers propose tougher sentences for terrorism, agencies report Friday 7 April 2023 20:07 , Emily Atkinson Russian legislators have proposed tougher sentences for those convicted of terrorism and sabotage, reports say in a move officials have been cited as saying was prompted by the war in Ukraine. The maximum sentence for carrying out a terrorist act defined as a deed which endangered lives and was aimed at destabilizing Russia - would be raised to 20 years, from 15 years at present. Those found guilty of sabotage could also go to jail for 20 years, up from 15, while people convicted of international terrorism could be sentenced to life, up from 12 years. The proposed changes were outlined by Vasily Piskaryov, head of the committee on security and anti-corruption in the State Duma or lower chamber of parliament. Earlier this week, Tass news agency cited him as saying the tougher measures were needed for protection against what he called the unprecedented threats Russia faced from Ukraine and its Western sponsors. President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials regularly accuse Ukraine and the West of wanting to undermine and dismember Russia. Authorities have cracked down on dissent since the war started in February 2022. Greece to send more arms to Ukraine, but sets limits Friday 7 April 2023 00:00 , Emily Atkinson Greece has pledged military assistance to Ukraine for as long as it takes but officials cautioned that the country needs to keep much of its Russian-made weaponry for its own defensive needs. Ukrainian defence minister Oleksii Reznikov visited Athens on Thursday as part of regular meetings with officials from Nato countries. He was promised more artillery and small arms ammunition shipments, access to Greek hospitals for wounded military personnel and additional Soviet-era BMP infantry fighting vehicles. Greece will provide every support to Ukraine at this very important, crucial stage of the war, Greek defence minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos said during a joint appearance with Reznikov. We will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes thats a very clear position that we have taken from the outset. Greece to send more arms to Ukraine, but sets limits Latest images from Ukraines Donetsk region Thursday 6 April 2023 23:00 , Emily Atkinson (AFP via Getty Images) (AFP via Getty Images) (AFP via Getty Images) World Bank: Improved outlooks for Russia and Ukraine despite ongoing war Thursday 6 April 2023 22:00 , Emily Atkinson The World Bank on Thursday lifted its 2023 economic growth forecast for eastern Europe and central Asia to 1.4 per cent from an earlier 0.1 per cent prediction, citing improved outlooks for both Russia and Ukraine despite their ongoing war. The regional forecast, released just days before the World Bank and International Monetary Fund hold their annual spring meetings, has Ukraines economy growing by 0.5 per cent this year following a staggering contraction of 29.2 per cent in 2022, the year Russia launched its invasion. While the economic toll suffered by Ukraine as a result of the invasion is enormous, the reopening of Ukraines Black Sea ports and resumption of grain trade, as well as substantial donor support, are helping support economic activity this year, the World Bank said in a statement. Russias economy shrank 2.1 per cent last year, considerably less than the 3.5 per cent contraction the World Bank forecast in January. For 2023, the World Bank forecast Russias economy to contract by 0.2 per cent, compared to its previous forecast of a 3.3 per cent contraction. The World Banks regional grouping includes Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Russian refusal to give consular access to detained reporter is inexcusable Thursday 6 April 2023 21:17 , Emily Atkinson Russias refusal to give consular access to detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is inexcusable, the White House said on Thursday. We need to get consular access to Evan, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters. (AFP via Getty Images) Watch: Putin stands 60ft away from crowd during speech Thursday 6 April 2023 20:00 , Emily Atkinson Ukraine sends conflicting signals on Crimea talks idea Thursday 6 April 2023 19:30 , Emily Atkinson A top Ukrainian official has ruled out talks with Moscow about territory until it withdraws all troops, pushing back on a colleague who had touted the idea of negotiations to resolve the Russian occupation of the Crimean peninsula. Andriy Sybiha, deputy head of president Volodymyr Zelenskys office, told the Financial Times on Wednesday that Kyiv would be willing to discuss the future of Crimea with Moscow if Ukraines counter-offensive reaches the peninsula. Russia occupied Ukraines Crimean peninsula in 2014, long before it launched its full-scale invasion in Feb. 2022. It has a huge concentration of forces on the Black Sea territory. Ukraine, which has vowed to recapture all lost land, plans to launch a counter-offensive in the coming weeks or months to try to wrest back territory in the east and south. But on Thursday, Mykhailo Podolyak, a presidential adviser, appeared to directly contradict Sybihas remarks on Twitter. About basics. The basis for real negotiations with RF is the complete withdrawal of Russian armed groups beyond the internationally recognized borders of Ukraine in 1991. Including #Crimea. There is no question of any territorial concessions or bargaining of our sovereign rights. (@Podolyak_M) April 6, 2023 The basis for real negotiations with (Russia) is the complete withdrawal of Russian armed groups beyond the internationally recognised borders of Ukraine in 1991. Including #Crimea, he said. There is no question of any territorial concessions or bargaining of our sovereign rights. Russia says seven civilians killed in Ukraine shelling attacks Thursday 6 April 2023 19:00 , Emily Atkinson Authorities in Russian-controlled areas of eastern Ukraine said a total of seven civilians were killed on Thursday in two separate Ukrainian artillery strikes, Russian news agencies said. Four civilians died in Donetsk when shells hit a car park, and another six people were injured, Tass said. RIA later said three people died in blasts at a bus stop in Lysychansk, some 120 km (75 miles) to the northeast of Donetsk. Donetsk, capital of the Ukrainian province of the same name, has been controlled by Russian proxy forces since 2014, but remains close to the front line of Russias war with Ukraine and regularly comes under fire from Ukrainian forces. The Independent was not immediately able to verify reports. Russia says deputy foreign minister discussed jailed WSJ reporter Thursday 6 April 2023 18:30 , Emily Atkinson Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov discussed the case of jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich with the US ambassador to Russia on Thursday, the foreign ministry said, according to the state-run news agency TASS. Ryabkov repeated the ministrys position that the question of US consular access to Gershkovich case would be handled according to established procedure. Gershkovich was charged with espionage last week after being detained in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg, and remanded in custody for two months. The US government and the Wall Street Journal have denied that he was engaged in spying. What we know about the arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia Thursday 6 April 2023 18:00 , Emily Atkinson American journalist Evan Gershkovich, a 31-year-old reporter for The Wall Street Journal, has been arrested and detained in Russia on suspicion of espionage, a crime that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The son of Jewish immigrants from the Soviet Union who grew up speaking Russian at home in Princeton, New Jersey, Gershkovich graduated from the prestigious Bowdoin College in Maine before embarking on a career in the media, firstly at The New York Times, then The Moscow Times and then Agence France-Presse before joining WSJ, where he began covering Russian affairs just a month before the invasion of Ukraine last year. Joe Sommerlad reports: What we know about arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia Xi agreed to speak to Zelensky when time is right, says von der Leyen Thursday 6 April 2023 17:22 , Andy Gregory Chinas Xi Jinping expressed willingness to speak to Volodymyr Zelensky, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has claimed, after their meeting in Beijing. It was interesting to hear that President Xi reiterated his willingness to speak to the Ukrainian president, Ms Von der Leyen said, calling his words positive. She added that Mr Xi had told her a conversation with Mr Zelensky could happen when the conditions and time are right. (REUTERS/Tingshu Wang) Four civilians killed in artillery strike on Donetsk city Thursday 6 April 2023 16:55 , Andy Gregory Four civilians have been killed in an artillery strike in the Russian-held city of Donetsk, Russias state-owned RIA news agency has said, citing a reporter on the scene. RIA said a car park in the citys Kalininsky district had been hit. The city has been controlled by Ukrainian separatist forces since 2014, but remains close to the front line of Russia's war with Ukraine and regularly comes under fire from Ukrainian forces. Kremlin voices possibility of Russian security guarantees for Belarus Thursday 6 April 2023 16:18 , Andy Gregory Russia should consider providing security guarantees for Belarus, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said, according to the Interfax news agency. The Russian Federation, of course, should consider the possibility of providing security guarantees for Belarus as an ally and as a country with which we are in the most advanced form of integration, Mr Peskov told reporters, as he answered questions on president Alexander Lukashenkos visit to Moscow. Putin and Lukashenko did not discuss' moving nuclear weapons to Belarus in todays talks Thursday 6 April 2023 15:59 , Andy Gregory Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko did not discuss plans to place Russian strategic nuclear weapons in Belarus in their talks on Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said. I cant tell you to what extent this was discussed in yesterdays conversation. The conversation was really very long, it went well after midnight. But today there was no talk of this, Mr Peskov told reporters, according to the Interfax news agency. The plans mark the first time Russia has said it would station nuclear weapons on the territory of another country since the end of the Cold War three decades ago. Mr Peskov said the deployment of American nuclear weapons at bases in Europe is of concern to the Russian Federation, adding that Russia would respond appropriately to these challenges. Macron urges Xi to bring Putin to his senses on war and nuclear threats Thursday 6 April 2023 15:06 , Andy Gregory Emmanuel Macron has urged Xi Jinping to bring Russia to its senses, during a visit to Beijing, which is claimed to have seen the two presidents agree to work hard to end the war in Ukraine. Referring to the UN Charter on respecting countries sovereignty and an international nuclear weapons treaty, the French president said: I know I can count on you, under the two principles I just mentioned, to bring Russia to its senses and bring everyone back to the negotiating table. Mr Xi responded that China was willing to jointly appeal with France to the international community to remain rational and calm, adding: Peace talks should be resumed as soon as possible, taking into account the reasonable security concerns of all sides with reference to the UN Charter seeking political resolution and constructing a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework. A French diplomatic source did not say whether China had indicated any change in its position during the 90-minute meeting, but told Reuters that the President and Xi agreed to work hard in order to accelerate the end of the war and to obtain that a negotiation opens in the full respect of international law. (Ludovic MARIN/AFP via Getty Images) Lukashenko threatens that if necessary Belarus and Russia will use all we have to protect our countries Thursday 6 April 2023 14:29 , Andy Gregory On the second day of the Belarusian presidents visit to Moscow, Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko discussed expanding their economic cooperation and boosting their defence links, which include a plan to station Russias nuclear weapons in Belarus. In opening remarks at Thursdays talks at the Kremlin, which involved senior officials, following Wednesdays one-on-one meeting between the two presidents, Mr Lukashenko warned that if necessary, we will use all we have to protect our countries and peoples. We arent blackmailing anyone. It will be so, he added. The Belarusian leader cited the importance of close cooperation on defence and asserted that Belarusian factories have developed the expertise to replace Western companies as a source of electronic components for Russian weapons. We oriented ourselves toward the West in the past, but now we have come to realise that they arent our friends and we need to produce all that ourselves, Mr Lukashenko said. Von der Leyen says she encouraged Xi to contact Zelensky Thursday 6 April 2023 14:20 , Andy Gregory European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has said that she encouraged Chinas Xi Jinping to reach out to Volodymyr Zelensky, during their talks as part of her visit to Beijing. Ms Von der Leyen was responding to a question from reporters on whether it was realistic that China might pressure Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP (AP) Full report: Macron tells Xi world is counting on China to bring Russia to reason Thursday 6 April 2023 13:28 , Andy Gregory French president Emmanuel Macron has said he can count on China to reason with Russia and bring everyone to the negotiating table, after a meeting between the two leaders in Beijing. The Russian aggression in Ukraine has dealt a blow to (international) stability, Mr Macron told Chinese president Xi Jinping. I know I can count on you to bring back Russia to reason and everyone back to the negotiating table, he said. The French president is currently on a three-day joint trip to Beijing, accompanied by Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission. My colleague Stuti Mishra has the full report: Macron tells Xi world is counting on China to bring Russia to reason Wagner chief says no sign Ukraine leaving Bakhmut Thursday 6 April 2023 12:59 , Andy Gregory Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Russias private Wagner militia, has warned that Ukrainian forces are not abandoning the city of Bakhmut and that his army needed more support from Moscow before trying to advance further. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has raised the prospect of a withdrawal from the city, saying on Wednesday that Kyiv would take the corresponding decisions if its forces risked being encircled by Russian troops. Wagner forces are leading the battle for the city, which has become the bloodiest of the 13-month war, and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has said its capture would open up the battlefield and allow Russia to advance further into eastern Ukraine. But Yevgeny Prigozhin, who has accused Russian military chiefs of ineffectiveness bordering on treason in recent months, said this was still some way off. It must be said clearly that the enemy is not going anywhere, he said on his Telegram channel. Ukrainian troops had organised staunch defences inside the city, particularly along railway lines and in high-rise buildings in the west of the city, and if they fell back would take up new positions in the outskirts and in Chasiv Yar to the west, he said. Thats why, in my opinion, theres no talk for now of any offensive. Ukrainian service members operate in the trenches at the frontline in Bakhmut (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach) Eyes turn to Crimea as Ukraine plans counter-offensive Thursday 6 April 2023 12:30 , Andy Gregory Dmitry Suslov, an adviser to Vladimir Putin has said that Ukraines looming counter-offensive is likely to focus on the Sea of Azov and cutting off the illegally annexed peninsula of Crimea. If the Kiev offensive fails, the West will be short of weapons and at that point Russia will be able to mobilise 400,000 men for the final attack, the Russian presidential aide told Italys Corriere della Sera newspaper. In comments that seemed to confirm the importance of Crimea in any Ukrainian counter-offensive, an adviser to Volodymyr Zelensky told the Financial Times that Kyiv would be willing to discuss the future of the Black Sea peninsula if its forces reached the boundary of Crimea. If we will succeed in achieving our strategic goals on the battlefield and when we will be on the administrative border with Crimea, we are ready to open [a] diplomatic page to discuss this issue, Andriy Sybiha said. How the battle lines sat on the anniversary of Russias invasion (Datawrapper/The Independent) State actor involvement in Nord Stream blasts is absolute main scenario, prosecutor says Thursday 6 April 2023 11:59 , Andy Gregory The absolute main scenario in the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines is that a state actor was involved, the Swedish prosecutor investigating the explosions has said. The blast in the Swedish zone occurred at a depth of 80 meters, which the Swedish prosecutor said made it complicated to investigate. We believe it will be rather difficult to determine who did this, prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist told Reuters, pointing to the fact that the blast in the Swedish zone of the Baltic Sea occurred 80 metres below sea level. The people who did this have probably been aware that they would leave clues behind and probably took care so that the evidence would not point in one direction, but in several directions, he added. That makes it difficult to clearly point to one actor. Xi Jinping says all countries should respect nuclear non-proliferation Thursday 6 April 2023 11:27 , Andy Gregory Chinas president Xi Jinping has urged all countries to respect international agreements on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, as he met with Frances Emmanuel Macron in Beijing. China, France, Russia, the UK and the US have all made commitments under the United Nations treaty which aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, established in 1970. Russias defence minister Sergei Ryabkov was reported as saying on Tuesday that suspending participation in the New START nuclear arms control treaty with the United States had given Moscow new opportunities to guarantee its security. Meeting on Thursday, Mr Xi and Mr Macron both agreed that nuclear weapons should not be used in the war in Ukraine, as the French president urged his Chinese counterpart to bring Russia back to reason. The UN treaty demands that all signatories should pursue negotiations in good faith on disarmament measures, and that states which do not have nuclear weapons should not acquire them. Russia has announced plans to station nuclear weapons in neighbouring Belarus, a move the Kremlin claimed on Tuesday was in response to a growing Nato presence on its borders, after Finland joined the military alliance. Watch: Smoke pours from fire at Russian defence ministry in Moscow Thursday 6 April 2023 10:56 , Andy Gregory Here is footage of the fire which broke out at the Moscow headquarters of Russia's defence ministry yesterday evening. The blaze was put out shortly after it started with no casualties, the TASS news agency reported. Nuclear deployment to Belarus is response to Nato expansion, claims Kremlin Thursday 6 April 2023 10:27 , Andy Gregory Russia has defended its decision to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, rejecting criticism of the move by Natos secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday that Nato was the one expanding towards Russia, not the other way round, and therefore Moscow had to take steps to defend its own security. The Chief Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine intercepted a conversation in which a Russian serviceman talked about the large number of victims among the occupiers in the village of Zapesochye in Bryansk Oblast of the Russian Federation. Source: Chief Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine Quote from the Chief Intelligence Directorate: "A Russian serviceman talks about the large number of victims among the occupiers as a result of the unrest in the village of Zapesochye in Bryansk Oblast of the Russian Federation." Quote from the recorded man: "Information from Zapesochye. A bunch of ambulances; they wrecked the border guards, the military. They were standing somewhere either in Zapesochye itself or near Zapesochye. I don't know about the dead, but they say theres a s**t ton of wounded, because theres a f**k ton of ambulances there. So, they hit f**king well, damn it." Details: According to the Chief Intelligence Directorate, "riots took place" in the Pogar district of the Bryansk region of Russia. Not only the military personnel were wounded, but a Russian armoured personnel carrier was disabled as well. Other machinery, equipment, and property of the occupiers was damaged. The Chief Intelligence Directorate believes that the latest events in Bryansk Oblast indicate that armed protest against the current regime of Vladimir Putin "is possible within the Russian Federation". Quote from the Chief Intelligence Directorate: "The Russian volunteer corps are not the first to carry out such measures, the scale of which is only growing. The fighters struck a military facility and communicated with the local population. As a result of the insurgents' actions, the civilian population was not harmed." Background: On 6 April, the governor of Bryansk Oblast of Russia, Aleksandr Bogomaz, stated that a group of Ukrainian saboteurs tried to break into the oblasts territory near the village of Sluchovsk. Story continues The "Russian Volunteer Corps" announced that it had once again "performed combat missions" in Bryansk Oblast. Sluchovsk and Zapesochye are located not far from each other and close to the border of the Russian Federation with Ukraine. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has detained a man who sold fake accounts of Ukrainians to Russian secret services and propagandists for information about the situation on the front line. Source: press service of SSU Details: According to the investigation, the bot farm was organised by an internally displaced person from Zaporizhzhia. He installed special equipment in one of the residential areas of Kropyvnytskyi and created anonymous social media accounts, selling them through the Darknet. The average cost of one bot is UAH 200 (US$5). Thus, the man created almost 3,000 fake accounts, which he planned to sell for a total of more than UAH 500,000 (US$ 13,534). The SSU reports that his main "clients" were representatives of Russian secret services and pro-Kremlin propagandists under their control. Quote: "The aggressor needed the bots to spread disinformation allegedly on behalf of Ukrainian citizens about the situation at the front line, as well as to try to discredit the units of the Armed Forces. This way, the enemy tried to undermine the domestic political situation in different oblasts of Ukraine during the war." More details: During the searches in the man's apartment, the SSU found computer equipment and 3,000 SIM cards. He was served with a notice of suspicion under Art. 436.2 (justification, recognition as lawful, denial of Russian armed aggression against Ukraine, glorification of its participants) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The issue of additional qualification of the crime and a restriction measure in the form of detention is being considered. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Ruslan Kravchenko Kravchenkos candidacy was proposed in a draft decree by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Read also: UOC-MP priests assault soldier, 1 year since Bucha freed, exclusive w/Zhytomyr Mayor Formerly the head of the Bucha District Prosecutors Office, Kravchenko previously participated in the competition for Ukraines National Anti-Corruption Bureau head and worked in the military prosecutors office under Anatoliy Matios. Read also: Bucha may serve as venue for international tribunal on Russian crimes, PM Shmyhal says Kravchenko was awarded the Order of Merit, 3rd degree, in August 2022. The Cabinet of Ministers accepted on Jan. 24 the resignation of former Kyiv Oblast State Administration head, Oleksiy Kuleba, as well as four other regional administration heads. Kuleba was appointed Deputy Head of the Office of the President. The government supported the appointment of new heads of the Zaporizhzhya, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kherson Oblast State Administrations on Feb. 7. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The Ukrainian Defence Forces have destroyed a Russian Su-25 attack aircraft in Marinka in Donetsk Oblast. Source: General Staff Quote: "Good news. A Russian Su-25 has been destroyed near Marinka in Donetsk Oblast. We will stand and win!" Details: Which branch of the Armed Forces was distinguished by its performance has not yet reported. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Over the past day, the aviation of the Defense Forces carried out six strikes on concentrations of enemy troops and military equipment. In addition, Ukrainian defenders destroyed three UAVs of various types (Orlan-10, Supercam and Lancet-3), as well as three guided aircraft bombs. Missile and artillery units struck two concentrations of enemy manpower, two fuel and lubricant depots, and a Russian electronic warfare station. Meanwhile, Russian occupation forces are focusing their main efforts on conducting offensive actions on the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiyivka and Maryinka sections of the front. Over the past day, Ukrainian forces repelled over 40 attacks, the General Staff said. Read also: Intensity of shelling by Russian military up significantly in March, border guards say On the Volyn, Polissia, Siverskyi and Slobozhanskyi sections, the operational situation has not changed significantly, and no signs of enemy offensive groups have been detected. Russia is maintaining a military presence in Kursk and Belgorod oblasts, which border Ukraine. Shelling was recorded near the settlements of Leonivka, Hremyach, Novovasylivka in Chernihiv Oblast; Prohres, Zarutske, Rivne, Volfyne in Sumy Oblast; and 13 settlements in Kharkiv Oblast. On the Kupyansk section of the front in the northeast of Ukraine, eight settlements in Kharkiv Oblast and Novoselivske in Luhansk Oblast came under enemy fire. On the Lyman section of the front further to the south, the enemy conducted unsuccessful offensives in the areas of Kreminna and Spirne. They shelled Nevske, Dibrova, Bilohorivka in Luhansk Oblast, as well as Terny, Spirne and Rozdolivka in Donetsk Oblast with artillery. On the Bakhmut section of the front, Russian troops are conducting offensive actions, trying to take full control of the city of Bakhmut, and fierce fighting there continues. They also conducted unsuccessful offensives in the area of Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Bohdanivka and Bila Hora. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 16 attacks in this area. In particular, Bakhmut, Chasiv Yar, and eight other settlements in Donetsk Oblast suffered from enemy shelling. Story continues Read also: Russian invasion forces struggling on multiple fronts, facing exhaustion On the Avdiyivka and Maryinka sections of the front, Russian troops launched assaults in the areas of Novokalynove, Severne, Pervomayske and Maryinka in Donetsk Oblast, but were unsuccessful. Fierce fighting continues for Maryinka, where 19 enemy attacks were repelled. Novokalynove, Avdiyivka, Netaylove, Pervomayske, Maryinka and Pobeda were shelled. On the Shakhtarsk section of the front, the invading forces did not conduct any offensive actions. They fired on the localities of Vuhledar, Prechystivka and Velyka Novosilka in Donetsk Oblast. On Zaporizhzhya and Kherson sections of the front, the Russian military continues to increase the number of defensive lines and positions. The enemy fired on areas close to more than 20 settlements, including Vremivka in Donetsk Oblast; Huliaypole, and six other settlements in Zaporizhzhya Oblast, as well as Antonivka and Kherson in Kherson Oblast. On April 5, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that if Bakhmut is threatened with encirclement, "appropriately correct actions would be taken. "Western officials recently stated that Russian forces have made very slow progress in Bakhmut over the past six months, despite the deployment of large numbers of soldiers and heavy casualties. According to the Ukrainian Defense Forces, the situation in Bakhmut is constantly changing. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Ukrainian defenders inflicted significant losses on the enemy They are forming echelons in Belarus today, trying to send people who were trained in the ranges. In total, there are about 4,000 people. Id like to recall that 4,000 servicemen were eliminated in the past week, Dmytrashkivskyi said. The spokesman added that the Russians are attempting to replenish their numbers to compensate for recent losses. He suggested that the Russian soldiers from Belarus would be sent to the Donetsk area, as the most serious losses of the Russian army will be suffered in the Bakhmut and Avdiyivka sections of the front in Donetsk Oblast. Read also: Russian invasion forces struggling on multiple fronts, facing exhaustion According to the Ukrainian militarys General Staff, approximately 390 Russian invaders were killed in Ukraine the day before, and since the start of Russias full-scale invasion, Moscow has lost around 176,630 military personnel. Russia has been attempting to capture the frontline town of Bakhmut for around nine months, with the Russian Wagner mercenary company reportedly suffering huge losses of men. The company took to hiring convicts from Russian prisons to fight for it, with the promise of freedom after six months. However, many of these convicts are thought to have been killed, and many of the ones that survived have completed their contracts. In addition, Wagner is no longer allowed to recruit from Russia prisons, leading some experts to speculate that the company is running low on manpower. Meanwhile, Wagners assault on Bakhmut in recent months began to receive support from Russian regular army units. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Uklon will launch abroad "We have been hesitating to expand for a long time," Smus said. In May 2022, we planned to enter the first country, the first of three countries in 2022. In another country we wanted to launch a franchise. Read also: Uber taxi service resumes work in Kharkiv The company plans to do this very soon, possibly as early as April, though the COO did not specify which countries are in consideration. "Initially, we plan to enter two countries (which I will not name yet) with a break of three to four months," Smus said. Read also: Bolt taxi service lists most popular destinations and longest rides during war He added that another company will enter with a partner. Uklon started operating in its first foreign market when it entered Moldova in December 2021. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas Abortion access in the U.S. was dealt a major blow Friday as a far-right federal judge in Texas halted the Food and Drug Administrations approval of mifepristone, potentially laying the groundwork to bar access nationwide to an abortion pill thats used by hundreds of thousands annually. But the situation only sank further into uncertainty after another federal judge, just minutes later, issued an opposing order that instructed the FDA to continue to allow the drug to be dispensed. Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, an appointee of former President Donald Trump whos become notorious for spewing ultra-conservative views far outside mainstream opinion, first ruled to suspend the drugs approval after anti-abortion groups had petitioned him to do so. Kacsmaryk gave the Biden administration seven days to appeal the ruling, meaning the ruling does not immediately take effect and patients will not immediately be affected. U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice then issued an opposing injunction that effectively forbid the FDA from immediately pulling the drug. The separate rulings immediately sparked confusion. FDA is under one order that says you can do nothing and another that says in seven days Im going to require you to vacate the approval of mifepristone, Glenn Cohen of Harvard Law School told the AP. Reproductive rights advocates wasted no time in warning of the disastrous consequences Kacsmaryks ruling could have, however. His decision casts doubt on the FDAs 2000 determination that mifepristone, the first in a two-pill procedure used to terminate pregnancies, was safe to use. Since that ruling, millions in America have taken the pill. The Inside Story of Bumbling Extremists Sad Crusade Against Abortion Pills Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Womens Law Center, denounced the decision Friday, saying in a statement: We deserve more than an anti-abortion minority manipulating our legal system to defy the law, logic, science, and public support. We are still distilling this unprecedented decision and dont know yet the length or depth of its impact. But whats clear is that this sort of weaponization of the judiciary is a threat to our democracy and we must work to restore justice in every way possible. Story continues Its hard to overstate the impact of todays callous decision to ban one of the most important and common methods of abortion care. This medicine has gone through the toughest safety reviews and has been used safely and effectively for over 20 years. We need expanded access to abortion care, not court rulings based in junk science, said Dr. Daniel Grossman, the director of the research group Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health. Jenny Ma, senior counsel at the Center for Reproductive Rights, previously told USA Today that loss of access to mifepristone will unleash a public health crisis by removing health-care options for millions of people. Kacsmaryks ruling joins the fallout from the Supreme Courts decision to eliminate any federal constitutional right to an abortion last year. While states moved quickly to either protect abortion access or restrict it, Kacsmaryks ruling could remove the right to an abortion pill even in states where abortion access remains legal. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein Its not surprising Kacsmaryk was singled out by anti-abortion activists to push the ruling through. Since his appointment in 2017, Kacsmaryk has described transgender people as having a mental disorder, and claimed that gay people are disordered. The timing of the decision isnt a coincidence either. It comes on the heels of the FDA giving pharmacies the all-clear in January to issue mifepristone without a doctors visit. 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. DARTMOUTH A first-year University of Massachusetts Dartmouth bioengineering student was struck and killed by a vehicle on campus, a message from the chancellor of the school said. The victim was identified by the school as Frank Petillo Jr., UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Mark Fuller said in a message that was sent to university students and staff on Thursday night. According to Bristol County District Attorney's office, UMass Dartmouth campus police were called regarding a motor vehicle that struck a pedestrian on campus. Campus Police responded and located Petillo lying in the roadway on Ring Road with significant injuries. Petillo was transported to St Lukes Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The student operator of the vehicle involved, a gray Honda Accord, was located at the scene. This matter is being investigated by the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Bristol County District Attorneys Office along with the CARS Unit of the Massachusetts State Police. This is an active investigation and no further information will be released at this time. In his message to students, Fuller wrote, "This has been a very difficult week for the Corsair community. We feel a collective pain even if we do not personally know those who have passed. We sit in class together. We work together. We pass each other in the halls. We are often more connected than we realize." "Please keep Frank's family, friends, and classmates in your thoughts and prayers. He will be sorely missed," Fuller added. UMass mourning another student who died The Division of Student Affairs acknowledged the death of another student this past week and the planning of a vigil, "As we struggle with the loss of Frank Petillo and Alexandra Landry, I want to let you know additional resources will be provided to students this morning. While we were able to meet with some students late last night, we have group and individual counseling for our students, faculty, and staff, a vigil, and a memorial being planned." Story continues Campus leaders are encouraging anyone who may need support to reach out to the Counseling Center, which had extended hours Friday for those who needed it, according to WCVB reports. Campus ministers are also making themselves available. On Monday, April 10, the college will hold a candlelight vigil to honor Frank and Alex at 8 p.m. on the Quad in front of the Claire T. Carney Library. On Thursday, April 13, grief and bereavement group sessions will be offered in the Counseling Center. This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Student dies after being hit by car at UMass Dartmouth Evan Gershkovich The Russian Foreign Ministry said during the meeting that Gershkovich was caught red-handed trying to obtain classified information, using his journalistic status as a cover for illegal actions. The U.S. Embassy is yet to comment on the talks with the Russian deputy foreign minister. Moscow's Lefortovo Court arrested the Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich on March 30. The FSB has accused him of being engaged in "espionage. The Russian intelligence services claim that Gershkovich was collecting information about one of the Russian military-industrial complex enterprises "on behalf of the United States." Gershkovich, who is based in the Russian capital Moscow, was detained while on a trip to the city of Yekaterinburg, 1,400 kilometers to the east. Read also: State Department urges US citizens to leave Russia immediately Yaroslav Shirshikov, a Yekaterinburg PR specialist who accompanied the correspondent, said that Gershkovich was preparing a story about the Wagner PMC and Russia's war against Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal rejected the Russian regime's claims and demanded the journalist's immediate release. There have been several cases of Russia arresting foreign citizens in order to swap them later for Russian spies that have been detained by Western countries essentially hostage taking. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Russia or pro-Russian elements are behind the leak of several secret American military documents, which were posted on social media and allegedly indicated Ukraine's preparations for a spring counteroffensive. Source: European Pravda; assessment of three anonymous US officials, quoted by Reuters According to Reuters sources, the leaked documents were apparently modified to at least reduce the number of losses from Russian troops. In turn, the Pentagon refused to comment on the authenticity of the "leaked" documents and noted that they were "studying the issue". The agency is expected to investigate the causes of the leak. As reported, the NYT published an article with reference to sources stating that the US is allegedly investigating how the leak of the classified documents of the allies related to the preparation of the defence forces of Ukraine for the upcoming counteroffensive the training of new brigades and the supply of weapons could have happened. It is noted that at least part of the data in the documents concerning the estimated losses of both sides was obviously changed in order to play into Russian propaganda. At the same time, there is no mention of Ukraine's specific plans in the published documents. Mykhailo Podoliak, Adviser to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said that the leaked materials were "photoshopped" and joked about the regression of Russian intelligence. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The U.S. is flexing its military might in the Indo-Pacific as Washington seeks to downplay diplomatic tensions with China over meetings between U.S. lawmakers and Taiwanese officials this week. The Defense Department on Monday began joint anti-submarine drills with South Korea and Japan and prepped for next weeks annual Balikatan exercise in and around the Philippines the largest version of the drill in the 38 years it has taken place. Combined with a proposed U.S. defense budget that bolsters military competition with China, four new U.S. bases in the Philippines, and a trilateral security pact to supply nuclear-powered attack submarines to Australia, the message from Washington to Beijing carries no ambiguity, according to experts. The message is, [the] U.S. is determined and prepared to deter any Chinese military adventurism against Taiwan, Yun Sun, director of the Stimson Centers China program, told The Hill. The tensions between the superpowers this week center around a meeting Wednesday between House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen along with a bipartisan delegation of more than a dozen U.S. lawmakers. The meet up, part of Tsais so-called transit through the United States, is being viewed by China as a show of U.S. support for a self-governed island Beijing claims as its own territory and has threatened to soon bring under its control. Chinese officials on Thursday vowed reprisals against Taiwan, also warning that the U.S. was on a wrong and dangerous road. Beijing also sent an aircraft carrier strike group off Taiwans east coast in what appeared to be a reaction to the visit. Also in the backdrop, a bipartisan congressional delegation led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) arrived in Taiwan on Thursday en route from visiting Japan and South Korea. Being here I think sends a signal to the Chinese Communist Party that the United States supports Taiwan and that were going to harden Taiwan, and we want them to think twice about invading Taiwan, McCaul said. Story continues The Biden administration, however, has maintained there is nothing unusual about Tsais visit, carefully labeling the trek as a routine transit and in line with the U.S.s policy toward Taiwan. China shouldnt use this visit as a pretext in any way to increase any aggressive activity around the Taiwan Strait, deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters Wednesday. Even as there has been an effort to keep the tension low, Beijing still sees the visit as pushing the envelope and inching forward with the salami-slicing, Yun said. At the same time, Washington has been using its military to do most of the talking, according to Jacob Stokes, senior fellow for the Indo-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security. Recent and upcoming military drills such as next weeks Balikatan exercise in the Philippines which will use more than 12,000 U.S. troops from all four branches as well as thousands of their Philippine counterparts send a firm signal to China. The United States is right to undertake military patrols and exercises to deter China during this time, Stokes said. Those operations help signal to Beijing as well as Taipei that the United States maintains the capability to respond including with allies if China tries to change the cross-Strait status quo by force. The wargame is just one piece of a robust toolkit meant to deter an aggressive China, a key goal in the administrations proposed $842 billion defense authorization bill for fiscal 2023. In the bill, President Biden proposes investing $9.1 billion for the Pentagons Pacific Deterrence Initiative meant to maintain and bolster a U.S. military presence in the region and another $400 million to outcompete Beijing in military, economic and technological sectors. In a related spending column, the Pentagon also wants $37.7 billion to continue modernizing the U.S. nuclear arsenal. The United States has also sought to bolster relations with allies and partners in Chinas backyard. The Pentagon on Monday also announced the locations of four new naval bases in the Philippines, securing three of the spots in the northeastern part of the island to better counter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific. And last month it formalized the AUKUS trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Under the agreement, Washington will provide Canberra with at least three Virginia-class submarines, help with patrols and training, and assist the country in building its own nuclear-powered submarine. Stokes said the pairing of Americas rhetoric pushing peace and calm was an effective compliment to its military flexing in the Indo-Pacific. Deterrence works best when its paired with reassurance, he said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Bloomberg) -- Taiwan still expects US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to visit, the head of the democracys legislature said, setting up the possibility of a repeat of tensions seen last year when Nancy Pelosi made the trip. Most Read from Bloomberg I extended an invite to McCarthy to come visit before he became House speaker, You Si-kun, the speaker of Taiwans Legislative Yuan, said Friday in Taipei alongside visiting US lawmakers including Michael McCaul, the Republican head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. I understand that Speaker McCarthy is a person of promise. Its just a matter of timing. See: McCarthy Assures Taiwans Tsai That Ties With US Are Strong McCarthy met Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen earlier this week in Los Angeles, stressing the importance of the relationship between the two sides to economic freedom, peace and stability in the region. The location was apparently chosen to avoid a repeat of the tensions seen in August, when Pelosi became the first sitting House speaker in 25 years to visit Taiwan. China practiced a blockade of Taiwan and sent missiles overhead in response to the Tsai-Pelosi talks. Speaking at the same briefing as You, McCaul said the US wants to move forward on free-trade and double-taxation agreements with Taiwan. Taiwan officials want a deal similar to the kind the US has with dozens of countries to get around whopping tax bills that could deter investors. An agreement would likely anger Beijing because it could be seen as a step toward recognition of Taiwan. China considers the democracy part of its territory. More: Why Taiwans Status Risks Igniting a US-China Clash: QuickTake Story continues You avoided a question over whether hed prefer the US adopt a clearer policy regarding Taiwan, saying it was clear enough though it wasnt spelled out. The USs traditional policy is sometimes referred to as strategic ambiguity, which aims to deter China by being vague about Americas intentions. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. By Daphne Psaledakis and Laura Sanicola WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A senior U.S. Treasury Department official said on Friday that the coalition of partners that has imposed sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine have found effective ways to communicate with China about not providing material support to Russia. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the communication has meant that though China and Russia have signaled an open partnership of sorts, the U.S. has not seen Beijing provide Russia with the type of material support at a scale that would matter in this regard. As a result, Russia is still focused on support from North Korea and Iran, the official said. The United States and its allies, including the European Union and United Kingdom, imposed sanctions on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine more than a year ago and have continued to ratchet up pressure. Washington has since launched a push to crack down on sanctions evasion. Washington's approach to China so far has been to directly communicate with Beijing and countries around the world about the risks of providing material support to Russia, the official said. While travel by U.S. officials to China has been limited, European counterparts have been in active communication and are visiting, the official said. U.S. relations with China are at what some analysts see as the low point since Washington normalized ties with Beijing in 1979 and switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei. The United States expressed concern earlier this year that China was considering providing lethal support to Russia. The U.S. is warning countries that it is prepared to take actions against companies and individuals in any jurisdiction that are providing material support to Russia for its war effort in Ukraine, the official said. Washington would like to see the United Arab Emirates do more in terms of sanctions compliance, which the U.S. has previously said was "poor", the official added. Story continues Top U.S. economic officials will travel internationally this month to speak to a number of countries and their businesses about the continued risk of providing material support to Russia, the official said. Brian Nelson, the Treasury's Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, will travel to Switzerland, Italy, Austria and Germany, a second senior Treasury official said. Elizabeth Rosenberg, the assistant secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes, will travel to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. At spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank next week, the United States will provide select opportunities for counterparts and businesses to meet with top U.S. intelligence officials to obtain information on how Russia is using its GRU military intelligence agency and Federal Security Service (FSB) to try and evade sanctions and export controls. (Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis and Laura Sanicola; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Bill Berkrot) WASHINGTON (AP) The Senate's top two leaders demanded on Friday that Russia immediately release Evan Gershkovich in a rare bipartisan statement that condemned the detention of the Wall Street Journal reporter and declared that journalism is not a crime. The statement from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., comes as the United States is working to swiftly end what it calls the unlawful detention of Gershkovich, the first journalist to be held on alleged espionage since the Cold War. We strongly condemn the wrongful detention of U.S. citizen and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, and demand the immediate release of this internationally known and respected independent journalist, Schumer and McConnell said. They said Gershkovich was accredited by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work as a journalist in Russia and Russian authorities have failed to present any credible evidence to justify their fabricated charges. Schumer and McConnell wrote: "Let there be no mistake: journalism is not a crime." U.S. officials are working for the release of Gershkovich, 31, who was arrested late last month and was being held in a Moscow prison. The son of immigrants from the Soviet Union, he grew up speaking Russian at home in Princeton, New Jersey. Russias top security agency said Gershkovich was trying to obtain classified information about a Russian arms factory. Gershkovich has been formally charged with espionage in Russia and has entered his official denial, Russian state news agency Tass reported Friday. President Joe Biden told reporters last Friday that his message to Russia was: Let him go. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday he has no doubt that Russia has wrongfully detained Gershkovich. On Thursday, the U.S. ambassador to Russia, Lynne T. Tracy, and Russia's deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, met to discuss the situation. Story continues The Wall Street Journal has adamantly denied the allegations against Gershkovich and demanded his release. The Senate leaders said the U.S. Embassy has been denied consular access against standard diplomatic practice and likely in violation of international law. Schumer and McConnell also said that Russia has a long history of unjustly detaining U.S. citizens, and called for the release of another American, Paul Whelan. Whelan, a Michigan corporate security executive, has been imprisoned in Russia since December 2018 on espionage charges that his family and the U.S. government have said are baseless. He is serving a 16-year sentence. The U.S., U.K, Albania and Malta walked out of a Russia-led United Nations meeting Wednesday as Moscows envoy for children's rights, wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes, began speaking to the Security Council by webcast. The U.S. and Britain also reportedly blocked the video from being broadcast on the UNs website, reported Reuters. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters that the diplomats blocked the webcast as Russian Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova began speaking, to ensure that she was not granted "an international podium to spread disinformation and to try to defend her horrible actions that are taking place in Ukraine." U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield sits with U.K. and Alabanian ambassadors in UN Security Council meeting. February 20, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Segar RUSSIA TAKES OVER PRESIDENCY OF UN SECURITY COUNCIL; BAD OPTICS FOR WEST, PROPAGANDA WIN FOR PUTIN: EXPERTS Last month, the ICC levied arrest warrants against Russian President Vladimir Putin and Lvova-Belova after accusing them of illegally deporting children from Ukraine to Russia, following nearly a years worth of investigations into numerous alleged war crimes. Russia has dismissed the warrants and said they were invalid, as Moscow does not recognize the authority of the ICC. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP While the international community has accused Russia of illegally deporting children, some of whom were separated from their families in Ukraine, the Kremlin has positioned it as a humanitarian aid program. During her address to UN diplomats, Lvova-Belova reportedly showed images of Ukrainian children and claimed, "I want to stress that unlike the Ukrainian side, we don't use children for propaganda." Russian Children's Representative Maria Lvova-Belova holds a press conference at the Foreign Ministry following accusations by Ukraine that the Russian leadership is deporting children in its war of aggression against the country. UK TURNS RUSSOPHOBIA ARGUMENT ON MOSCOW, CLAIMS GREATEST THREAT TO RUSSIAN SOCIETY IS WAR IN UKRAINE Moscow has admitted to transporting children across its borders, and on Wednesday Lvova-Belova said that some five million Ukrainians, including 700,000 children, had traveled to Russia in the more than 13 months since Russias invasion, reported Reuters. Story continues The Kremlins envoy also said that 2,000 children from orphanages had traveled to Russia with custodians 1,300 of which had allegedly returned to Ukraine, while 400 remained in Russian orphanages and 358 children had reportedly been placed in Russian foster homes. Children from the children's home in Zhitomir (located in western Ukraine), which was evacuated. Zhitomir is 140 km from Kyiv. "Russia claims it is protecting these children. Instead, this is a calculated policy that seeks to erase Ukrainian identity and statehood," British envoy Asima Ghazi-Bouillon reportedly told fellow diplomats after returning to the room, once Lvova-Belova had finished speaking. While it is rare for a speaker to be blocked from the public UN broadcast, it has become increasingly common as geopolitical divides in the UN Security Council deepen, with China blocking a U.S.-convened meeting on human rights abuses in North Korea last month, said Reuters. A University of South Carolina student made a comment threatening a group of students holding a political event in the student union this week, university police say. The University of South Carolina Police Department was called to the Russell House after a student made a verbal threat involving a gun on Monday. The Party for Socialism and Liberation was holding an event at the student union when a 21-year-old student stood up and made a threatening statement, according to a police report. One person testified that the student stood up and said, I count there are about 13 of you, and then I think of how many rounds I fit in a magazine, according to the police report. The student then tried to flee and was then chased, tackled and restrained near the Bull Street parking garage, where police found him, the report said. The student told police he meant what he said as a joke and that he ran away because he thought he was going to get his legs broken, according to the police report. He said he doesnt own a gun. The Party for Socialism and Liberation said that the student who made the comment has right-wing beliefs. This is part of a larger attempt by the right wing to use intimidation to silence peoples movements and stop them from organizing, the party said in a press release. We refuse to be intimidated by threats of violence and will continue to organize. University spokesman Jeff Stensland said the university did a threat assessment and that the students campus access was restricted while they gathered facts. The student is now going through the student conduct process. The university took immediate action, Stensland said. The USC Student Code of Conduct prohibits threats of violence. President Joe Biden walks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at St. Michaels Golden-Domed Cathedral on a surprise visit on Monday, Feb. 20, 2023, in Kyiv. | Evan Vucci, Associated Press A majority of Utahns dont approve of President Joe Bidens handling of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began over a year ago. Thats according to the latest Deseret News/Hinckley Institute poll, which shows that only 13% of registered Utah voters surveyed strongly approve of Bidens handling of the conflict, while 27% somewhat approve. Meanwhile, 36% strongly disapprove of Bidens performance, 17% somewhat disapprove, and the remaining 8% were unsure. Specifically, 70% of very conservative voters strongly disapprove of Bidens performance while only 6% of very liberal voters strongly disapprove, mirroring the partisan attitudes that have been playing out in Congress. In March, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys invitation to visit Kyiv, as the GOP pushes back on aid being dispersed to Ukraine. Lets be very clear about what I said: no blank checks, OK? So, from that perspective, I dont have to go to Ukraine to understand where theres a blank check or not, McCarthy told CNN. I will continue to get my briefings and others, but I dont have to go to Ukraine or Kyiv to see it. And my point has always been, I wont provide a blank check for anything. Marjorie Castle, a political science professor at the University of Utah, has not seen a misstep in Bidens foreign policy, since the administration helped unite NATO and create a larger European Alliance in response to the war, she told the Deseret News. Under Biden, with some credit to Russian President Vladimir Putin, NATO has, in fact, become stronger Finland recently became a part of the alliance and other countries also have begun to show an interest in membership, Castle said. Related But I havent seen any actual claims of missteps from U.S. diplomacy in this regard. The criticism seems to be vague statements of giving Ukraine a blank check, which is simply not true, Castle said. Story continues The survey, conducted by Dan Jones & Associates, polled 801 registered voters from March 14-22. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.46 percentage points. What do Utah voters think about military aid to Ukraine? Some GOP members, like McCarthy and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, have opposed aiding Ukraine, but the issue is of national importance for many Republicans, said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox during a meeting of the National Governors Association, which virtually hosted Zelenskyy on Tuesday, as the Deseret News reported. By and large, there is still support for Ukraine. The extent of that support is always up for debate. But I believe that this is a threat that is not just to Ukraine, but a threat that could spread to our other European allies, our NATO allies, which would then lead us into a much darker and more dangerous place, Cox said. The poll asked registered voters if the U.S. is doing enough to respond to the war to which 62% said yes, 24% said no, and 14% remained unsure. The Biden administration recently directed more funding into Ukraine a total of $1 billion for humanitarian assistance like ready-to-eat rations, medical supplies, vaccines, hygiene kits, water bottles, blankets and other necessities. Nearly three-quarters of respondents, about 72%, supported humanitarian aid as the countrys response to war. Although its worth noting that European allies face a tougher challenge as tens of millions of refugees flee Ukraine to countries like Poland, Castle said. Related Overall, the U.S. has spent tens of billions more on military aid than humanitarian or financial aid to Ukraine in the past year, as the Council on Foreign Relations reported. On Tuesday, Biden greenlighted $2.1 billion in new security assistance, supplying Ukraine with artillery rocket systems, tankers, missiles and ammunition. This is the 35th round of support Biden has sent since the war started by using the presidential drawdown authority, which allows the executive branch to give defense support to foreign partners and allies. Our focus is on supporting the Ukrainians to change the dynamic on the ground, a senior U.S. defense official said. We want to help Ukraine advance and hold its positions in what we expect will be a Ukrainian counteroffensive. The poll found that about 48% favored providing military support, through weapons and supplies. A lot of people are very well informed of how Russia is carrying out this invasion, about the war crimes and the civilian rights of millions abused, Castle said. For those people, providing weapons looks like a pretty cheap way to do the right thing. Additionally, Castle argued that the military aid to Ukraine isnt a one-way cost for the U.S. For one, the U.S. and its allies have given equipment and defense systems that were in surplus, making it manageable for the budget. Meanwhile the money given to Ukraine is spent on U.S. weaponry, and thats a boon to the U.S. defense industry, she explained. Its clear that the U.S. military is learning a huge amount from this conflict, as is NATO, about modern-day warfare between two conventional armies, she said. Only 21% of voters supported sending U.S. troops to assist in combat in Ukraine. Biden has echoed the majoritys sentiments and refused to deploy American troops to this war. He stated in February that U.S. forces are not and will not be engaged in a conflict with Russia in Ukraine. What do Utah voters think about sanctions on Russia? The U.S. also imposed 2,500 economic sanctions on Russian banks, imports and military equipment during this time, an effort coordinated with 30 other countries. Additionally, the administration seized or froze assets like yachts, rare art and high-end real estate owned by private Russian citizens. Roughly 42% of those polled backed economic sanctions, while 28% supported seizing and freezing the assets of private Russian citizens. This disparity between how voters view the two types of financial penalties may be because of their perception of the private Russian citizens in question, Castle said. Because what were talking about are the oligarchs ... the richest, most powerful Russians, she said. Were not talking ordinary Russian millionaires who had serious assets out outside of Russia, were talking about extremely wealthy people who, while Putin doesnt necessarily rely on them for support, are part of the status quo power structure in Russia, and have been complicit in what Russia is doing. A $325 million yacht seized last November belonged to billionaire Russian Suleiman Kerimov, who served as a senator in the Kremlin. Kerimov is known to have stakes in Russian gas and gold companies, per BBC News. Castle said that although people see sanctions as a very desirable way to deal with international conflict, it doesnt make them a magic bullet. The economic sanctions hurt the U.S. and its European allies, but they weaken Russia more, she said. While Putin touts Russias record low unemployment and higher real wages, the nonmilitary sectors are struggling with labor shortages and waning consumer demand, as Natalia Orlova, the chief economist at Alfa Bank, the largest private bank in Russia, told Reuters. Overall, while current economic trends are better than our initial expectations, we think that the current positive figures are negative in terms of the Russian economys potential recovery, said Orlova. Only 9% of those surveyed in the Deseret News poll said they dont support any U.S. response to the war. Nevertheless, Utah voters are paying attention to the harrowing reports coming out of Ukraine. Roughly 22% said they follow the war closely and 45% said somewhat closely. Of the remainder, 25% of respondents said they dont follow the Russia-Ukraine conflict very closely and 8% said they dont follow it at all. Its easy to forget whats actually happening over there, Cox said about the governors conversation with Zelenskyy on Tuesday. And I think this was an important call and an important reminder to all of us of the terror that is being inflicted on ... millions of innocent people, in a country that we care deeply about. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 A Texas mom whose daughter was killed in a school shooting was forcibly removed from a school by a state trooper when she attempted to pick up her son to join in a protest for gun control, video of the incident shows. Ana Rodriguez is the mother of 10-year-old shooting victim Maite Rodriguez, who was killed along with 18 other kids and two teachers in last Mays mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde. A Texas DPS trooper is seen forcibly removing Ana Rodriguez from a school when she went to pick up her son for a gun control protest. A Texas DPS trooper is seen forcibly removing Ana Rodriguez from a school when she went to pick up her son for a gun control protest. On Wednesday, Rodriguez went to Flores Elementary School in Uvalde to pick up her son to join in a walkout protesting gun violence when a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper grabbed and shoved the grieving mother out the door. This video was taken by @BCross052422. It shows Ana Rodriguez, Maites mom, being shoved by a DPS trooper at Flores Elementary. This is the second time she was pushed out of the school. This video shows her trying to check out her son Caleb from school pic.twitter.com/iBzWUD8vMw Leigh Waldman (@LeighWaldman) April 5, 2023 Body camera footage and security camera video from the school shows the moment the unnamed officer prevented Rodriguez from walking into the school by grabbing her arm and lifting her up as he pushed her out of the school. Later in the video, after Rodriguez manages to speak to school administrators to check her son out for the day, the trooper admonishes the grieving mother. Maam, can I please talk with you? the trooper says. No. You wouldnt understand, Rodriguez replies. Was your daughter shot up? No, she was not fucking shot! So this means something to me, for my son to be able to protest. Moments later, the trooper tells Rodriguez, I want you to be quiet. Story continues Then stop fucking talking to me, sir! Rodriguez snaps back. Photos taken by Brett Cross, a parent whose son was killed in the shooting, show bruises on Rodriguezs arm following the assault. @AnaRodr17118 s arm after the DPS agent was overly forceful when she was trying to pick up her child! pic.twitter.com/N4HqAm5g4L Brett Cross (@BCross052422) April 5, 2023 The incident can be tacked on to the growing list of law enforcement failures surrounding the shooting and its aftermath. Rodriguezs daughter was killed along with more than a dozen other students as cops in Uvalde waited for more than an hour to confront the gunman. Among the many failures were admissions from law enforcement that they were scared to engage the gunman because he had an AR-15. State Sen. Roland Gutierrez (D-San Antonio) called for an investigation into the incident. This is a DISGRACE and is NO way to treat a grieving family, Gutierrez wrote on Twitter. Cross said the officer involved should apologize to Rodriguez. I think he should issue a public apology to her, Cross told Fox 29. She is left with bruises all over her arms and everything and he didnt have to react that way. In her obituary, Maite Rodriguez was described as sweet soul. Maite was a sweet girl and those who know and loved her were blessed with her kind, ambitious, friendly and sweet soul, her obituary reads. She was an AB honor student who enjoyed learning about animals and the ocean; especially dolphins, whales, and dogs. She dreamt of attending The University of Texas A&M in Corpus Christi to become a Marine Biologist because of her caring heart towards wildlife and the animals within it. Related... The University of Washington held a panel discussion on artificial intelligence technology and education on Wednesday. The panel, named Demystifying ChatGPT for Academics, included UW experts in natural language processing and academics thinking about how to use AI technology responsibly to enhance student learning. Local educators have voiced their concerns about students using artificial intelligence to cheat. Everett Public Schools blocked Chat GPT on all district devices, including those students take home. Our goal today is to have a conversation between these communities. Not to tell you what to do, but rather help you understand and make an informed decision about how to responsibly use this type of AI technology or not, Mari Ostendor, an Electoral and Computer Engineering professor, said on Wednesday. Penelope Adams Moon, the director of the UW Center for Teaching and Learning, said the conversation should focus on why students feel compelled to even use artificial intelligence. Everything about the college prep process focuses on winning admissions, not intellectual inquiry and curiosity. Everything about that works against intellectual risk-taking. Failure becomes too risky, and yet failure is the basis of learning, she said. When failure becomes really risky, we amplify the stakes. And the research shows that when the stakes go up, the motivation for cheating goes up. So we have to tackle the systems. The panel also discussed how artificial intelligence programs, like ChatGPT, could enhance learning in certain circumstances. A general consensus among educators was instructors must understand the capabilities and shortfalls of programs like ChatGPT, then decide where/if it falls into their own curriculum. You have to think about what your learning outcomes are, right? Just turning students loose and letting them do whatever they want - then why are they in class? Hopefully, you have a vision for where you want them to go, and youre guiding them toward that vision. If ChatGPT helps in that process, then yay. Use it, but with kind-of guard rails, Moon said. Story continues The use of artificial intelligence in UW classes can vary, according to the university. Artificial intelligence (AI) content generators, such as ChatGPT, present opportunities that can contribute to your learning and academic work. However, using these technologies may also violate academic standards of the University, UW stated. It is your responsibility to read the syllabus for each course you take so that you understand the particular expectations of each of your instructors. UW also provides several strategies for instructors navigating through the rapid development of language models, like ChatGPT: Venezuela has launched an anti-corruption probe of state oil firm PDVSA and other related government bodies that has seen 51 people arrested, including top government officials. "We're going with everything, those who fall will fall," said President Nicolas Maduro. In a country ranked 177th out of 180 by Transparency International in its corruption perception index, is this an anti-corruption crusade, or a political purge? - Who is in the crosshairs? - The first arrests, announced on March 19, related to close allies of Tareck El Aissami, a powerful figure in the ruling regime who until that point was oil minister. El Aissami has kept a low profile since resigning and Attorney General Tarek William Saab refuses to confirm whether or not he is under investigation. One of those detained was Antonio Perez, the PDVSA vice-president. Another was Hugo Cabezas, who was a close ally of late former president Hugo Chavez. Others are Pedro Maldonado, the president of the corporation responsible for exploiting minerals such as gold, diamonds, iron and bauxite, and Nestor Astudillo, head of the state Orinoco Steel company. All have appeared in court dressed in orange jump suits. Saab said on Wednesday "there could be more arrests." - Political affair? - "It's a political purge," political scientist Ana Milagros Parra told AFP. "You shouldn't view it as anything extraordinary." Milagros said it was happening because of "the need to eliminate or remove from the circle of power people who represent in one way or another a threat (to the government) or are not in line." That is a claim passionately rejected by Saab. "Since when is corruption, embezzlement a political act? Where is the ideology there? Is stealing an ideology? No!" he said. For Alberto Aranguibel, an analyst with ties to the government, it is "courageous" to tackle corruption and in a newspaper article he criticized the idea that the state is "one single organ equally devoured by the cancer of corruption." Story continues But other experts disagree. "Within the government there are factions and these factions are clashing," said Benigno Alarcon, director of the Center for Political and Government Studies at the Andres Bello Catholic University. "When you see the opportunity to get rid of an opponent or a faction, then you get rid of them because power is a zero-sum game." According to Alarcon, El Aissami was up against a group headed by Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez and her brother Jorge, the parliamentary president. - Why oil? - The public prosecutor's office says 34 of the 51 people arrested are linked to the oil industry, the economic vehicle on which Venezuela is totally dependent. Venezuela sits on the world's largest proven oil reserves but while it once produced more than three million barrels a day, that has dropped to less than one million following years of mismanagement. One of those arrested, Joselit Ramirez, was in charge of the entity that manages oil industry funds through crypto assets, a key policy used by the South American country to circumvent US sanctions. That also provides an opportunity to divert funds. This is not the first scandal or investigation linked to Venezuela's multibillion-dollar oil industry. Saab said his office had investigated 31 "corruption schemes" since 2017, for which more than 250 former officials and financial operators have been tried. Those resulted in the arrest of dozens of PDVSA employees and two former oil ministers, Nelson Martinez, who died in detention, and Eulogio del Pino. Rafael Ramirez, another who was a close Chavez ally, is accused of corruption when he was oil minister (from 2002 to 2014) and PDVSA president (from 2004 to 2014). He fled to Italy and Venezuelan authorities have requested his extradition. "Whoever is attacking me should think for a moment, just a moment, why did Chavez have me by his side for 12 years?" Ramirez wrote. jt/erc/bc/tjj Harris will meet with the so-called Tennessee Three, comprised of Rep. Gloria Johnson and former representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, who Republicans moved to expel from their seats after protesting gun violence. Vice President Kamala Harris is traveling to Tennessee on Friday as national Democrats condemn the state legislature for expelling two Black Democrats from the House of Representatives for their protest of legislative inaction on gun reform. Harris will meet with the so-called Tennessee Three, comprised of Rep. Gloria Johnson and former representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, who Republicans moved to expel from their seats by a super-majority Republican House. Former Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, and former Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, raise their hands outside the House chamber after Jones and Pearson were expelled from the legislature Thursday, April 6, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) The lawmakers participated in a demonstration inside the state Capitol building on March 30, days after three children and three school employees were fatally shot inside The Covenant School in Nashville on March 27. Jones, Pearson and Johnson a white lawmaker who was ultimately not voted out of the Tennessee House participated in a protest on the House floor as thousands of mostly young Tennesseans demanded legislators pass stricter gun laws. Critics of Tennessee Republicans decision to expel Jones and Pearson were swift and wide. Vice President Kamala Harris condemned the expulsion of Jones and Pearson. Six people, including three children, were killed last week in a school shooting in Nashville How did Republican lawmakers in Tennessee respond? queried Harris. By expelling their colleagues who stood with Tennesseans and said enough is enough. An official from the vice presidents office said Harris is traveling to Tennessee to make sure that these young peoples voices are heard. The official added, in the face of a very tragic event, they want action. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to reporters after participating in a swearing-in ceremony for Eric Garcetti as Ambassador to India at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on March 24, 2023, in Washington, D.C. Harris is heading to Tennessee in response to the expulsion of the two representatives. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) President Joe Biden, in a statement, called the act shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent. Rather than debating the merits of the issue, these Republican lawmakers have chosen to punish, silence, and expel duly-elected representatives of the people of Tennessee, said the president. Story continues Former President Barack Obama also weighed in on the unprecedented expulsions of the two young Black lawmakers. This nation was built on peaceful protest. No elected official should lose their job simply for raising their voice especially when theyre doing it on behalf of our children, tweeted Obama. What happened in Tennessee is the latest example of a broader erosion of civility and democratic norms. Silencing those who disagree with us is a sign of weakness, not strength, and it wont lead to progress. Former President Barack Obama speaks during a rally with President Joe Biden, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senator John Fetterman, and Democratic candidate for Governor Josh Shapiro at the Liacouras Center on Nov. 5, 2022, in Philadelphia. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images) At the core of the explosive political terrain brought on by the expulsions of Jones and Pearson, both in Tennessee and nationally, is the clash between Democrats and Republicans on how to address the gun violence epidemic in the United States. Democrats on both the national and federal levels have called for stricter gun laws like banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and establishing universal background checks for all gun sales. However, Republicans have insisted that such laws are unnecessary or a violation of citizens Second Amendment rights. Instead, Republican lawmakers have proposed policy solutions like arming teachers and school administrators with guns and better addressing mental health though data shows few mass shootings are connected to mental illness. Democrats have accused Republicans of putting profit before the people as they continue to accept millions of campaign dollars from gun manufacturers and gun rights groups like the National Rifle Association (NRA). Protesters participate in March For Our Lives II to protest against gun violence on June 11, 2022, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Sarah Morris/Getty Images) The mass shooting at Nashvilles The Covenant School became the 13th school shooting of 2023. To date, more than 130 mass shootings have occurred in the U.S., according to Gun Violence Archive. In his statement, President Biden said that while a strong majority of Americans want lawmakers to act on common sense gun safety reforms that we know will save lives, Republicans continue to double down on dangerous bills that make our schools, places of worship, and communities less safe. He added, Our kids continue to pay the price. After being voted out of the Tennessee House, former Reps. Justin Pearson and Justin Jones were undeterred. Former Democratic Reps. Justin Pearson of Memphis and Justin Jones of Nashville, along with Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville hold their hands up as they exit the House chamber doors at the Tennessee state Capitol building in Nashville, Tennessee, on April 3, 2023. (Photo credit: Nicole Hester/The Tennessean/USA Today Network RANK 1 knox Capitol Tenn 3 005) During a press conference outside the Capitol building on Thursday evening, Jones said of his former Republican colleagues: They thought they won but they dont realize what they started they started a movement that cant stop. Pointing out the race and age of he and his colleague, the 27-year-old said, A caucus that is majority white expelled the two youngest Black lawmakers for standing with our constituents who are demanding that we take action on the crisis of mass shootings. Pearson, 29, was unapologetic about the charges made against him and Jones for being disorderly. If we must be out of order to get fairness. If we must be out of order to lift those whove been pushed to the bottom to the top of the conversation in the state house, then thats what well do, said Pearson. The one thing we wont do is ever quit. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Vice President Harris travels to Tennessee after expulsion of Black lawmakers appeared first on TheGrio. Border Protection Units prowling the U.S.-Mexico border and arresting asylum-seekers. A state Border Protection Court designed to prosecute them. Third-degree felonies for those convicted of crossing without proper documentation. A pair of proposed bills under review by the Texas Legislature would essentially shift U.S. immigration duties in the Lone Star State from federal to state hands. One of them, House Bill 20, proposes creating roving police units consisting, in part, of "law-abiding citizens" raising the specter of armed vigilantes confronting asylum-seekers at the border. The bills are expected to pass the Republican-controlled Legislature. They could test the boundaries for states enforcing immigration rules, which the Constitution assigns to the federal government. Immigrants cross through a gap in the U.S.-Mexico border barrier as others await processing by the U.S. Border Patrol on May 20, 2022 in Yuma, Ariz. But state Attorney General Ken Paxton has said he welcomes a chance to test that ruling in front of the new, more conservative makeup of the Supreme Court. "It is really dangerous," said Bob Libal, an Austin-based consultant for Human Rights Watch. "What is being proposed is almost certainly going to result in more abuse of migrants and others at the border." More: Rescues of asylum-seekers soar as Border Patrol ramps up efforts and more migrants arrive What is being proposed? HB 20, authored by state Rep. Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler, would create "Border Protection Units," overseen by a governor-appointed chief, to "arrest, detain and deter" asylum-seekers entering the U.S. without documentation. The chief could hire "law-abiding citizens" with no law enforcement experience, as long as they don't have a felony conviction, according to the bill. It also calls for a $10,000 fine for those caught crossing and raising the offense to a third-degree felony from a misdemeanor, as it currently is under federal law. Another proposal, House Bill 7, introduced by state Rep. Ryan Guillen, R-Rio Grande City, would create a parallel court system to try migrants and smugglers picked up by the state-run patrols. It also endorses raising a mix of public and private funds to run the court and continue building a barrier along Texas' border with Mexico. Story continues Guillen and Schaefer did not return requests for comment. More: Grandmothers, grandchildren separated at border, despite U.S. move to reunite migrant families Why are they being proposed? State leaders point to the recent influx of asylum-seekers at the Southwest border as the impetus for state-run enforcement. In last fiscal year that ended in September, border officials encountered 2.4 million migrants a record high though thousands of them were repeat crossers, or asylum-seekers who were returned to Mexico under Title 42 and other initiatives and attempted to reenter the United States, according to federal statistics. In 2021, Gov. Greg Abbott launched Operation Lone Star, which deployed state troopers and members of the National Guard to the border to repel and arrest migrants crossing into the U.S. without permission. Abbott has touted the initiative as successful in stopping smugglers and drugs from slipping into the U.S., but it's also been steeped in controversy. Immigrant attorneys have alleged racial profiling in border communities and due-process violations. A National Guardsman drinks water while sitting atop his Humvee along the border fence near the Rio Grande River in Del Rio, Texas Monday Sept. 20, 2021. More than 10,000 National Guard members have been deployed to the border in Operation Lone Star. (Via OlyDrop) HB 7 and HB 20 would codify Operation Lone Star into law, said Priscilla Olivarez, policy attorney and strategist with the Immigrant Legal Resource Center. The proposed laws' shortcomings alleged racial profiling and encroachment of due process rights would expand to U.S. citizens and longtime undocumented border residents, she said. "These groups would have the power to racially profile," Olivarez said. "And they would have the power to do this in a way that would be unchecked." If passed, how would these bills spark a Constitutional battle? Republican leaders in Texas have said they wish to contest a 2012 U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down key provisions of an Arizona law that allowed local law enforcement to arrest undocumented immigrants and charge them with state crimes. In a border security committee hearing last month, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he would like to see cases that "test" the ruling in Arizona v. United States. Bills such as HB 7 and HB 20 would be seen as ideal test cases, if they're challenged in court, as expected. "We have a different court," Paxton told state lawmakers, referring to the Supreme Court's 6-3 conservative majority solidified by three appointments under President Donald Trump. "We have the best chance weve ever had to overturn (Arizona v. United States) and give the state the ability to protect its citizens." But unlike the court's decision last year to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark abortion protection decision, reversing the federal government's purview over immigration enforcement could be a tougher sell for justices, said Denise Gilman, co-director of the Immigration Clinic at the University of Texas at Austin Law School. "We dont really want every single state having its own immigration policy," Gilman said. "Im not sure even this court will be willing to undo the longstanding understanding of immigration as a federal, not a state, function." Special report: Inside the dire situation facing migrants bused across U.S. Follow Jervis on Twitter: @MrRJervis. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Two Texas bills could test boundaries of states enforcing immigration US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday showered attention on three Tennessee officials targeted for expulsion from the state legislature over their support for gun control, as the fracas escalated into a major national row over race and representation. Biden spoke via phone with the "Tennessee Three" and "thanked them for their leadership in seeking to ban assault weapons," a White House statement said. Biden invited the three to the White House "in the near future," it added. The Republican-led Tennessee House of Representatives expelled two Black lawmakers on Thursday after they disrupted an assembly session to demand stricter gun controls in the wake of a deadly mass shooting at an elementary school. A third white legislator who joined their protest was not removed. Accusations of racism have reverberated around the case, and sparked anger among Democrats well beyond Tennessee. Harris, the nation's first Black vice president, arrived in Nashville in a clear message of solidarity with the three officials. She attended a rally at Fisk University, a historically black institution, and met with the three Democrats targeted over the gun protests. On March 30, just days after a shooting rampage at a Christian school killed six people, legislators Justin Jones, Justin Pearson and Gloria Johnson joined hundreds of protesters on the state House floor to challenge lawmakers to favor stricter gun control. Jones and Pearson used a bullhorn to shout "Gun control now" and "Power to the people" while rallying protesters in the galleries. The extremely rare move to expel the lawmakers caused an uproar, with Biden calling it "shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent," and reiterated calls for America to overcome its divisions to tackle the scourge of gun violence. Their protest followed the shooting death of three young students and three staff at a private Christian elementary school in the state capital on March 27. Story continues "Silencing the voices of two Black members for peacefully protesting gun violence is not only racist but also a radical shift away from the democratic rules & traditions our nation was founded upon," tweeted Yvette Clarke, a Black congresswoman from New York. - 'Jim Crow-era' - The legislature voted mostly along party lines on Thursday to expel Jones and Pearson for breaching floor rules. A vote to expel Johnson failed by one vote, with half a dozen Republicans joining Democrats to vote against her expulsion. Jesse Chism, a Democratic state legislator, compared the vote to the era of racial segregation. "It looked like a Jim Crow-era trial," he said. Johnson voiced a similar view, telling CNN: "Well, I think it's pretty clear. I'm a 60-year-old white woman and they are two young Black men." Jones, 27, and Pearson, 28, delivered impassioned pleas against their exclusion and a photo of them raising their fists went viral. Speaking to MSNBC, Jones called the expulsion "a dangerous precedent for the nation" and a "direct assault on democracy," urging the Justice Department to look into the legality of the move. "If you didn't tell me this was happening to me, I would think it was 1963 instead of 2023," he went on. "Because what we're seeing is a predominantly white supermajority, undoing democracy, forcing their will on my district which is a predominantly Black and brown district, one of the most diverse in Tennessee." iba/led/md/ec/tjj NASHVILLE Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday praised three Tennessee Democratic lawmakers who staged a protest in favor of gun control on the statehouse floor in an act of defiance that led angry Republicans to expel two of them from the General Assembly. In a surprise trip to Nashville, Harris said the three Democrats Reps. Justin Jones of Nashville, Justin Pearson of Memphis and Gloria Johnson of Knoxville showed courage in pushing for gun reform following a mass shooting at a Nashville private Christian school that killed six people. It wasnt about these three leaders it was about what they were representing, she said during an event at Fisk University. Its about whose voices they were channeling. Is that not what a democracy allows? House Republicans voted Thursday to expel Jones and Pearson, both of whom are Black, for their role in the protest. Johnson, who is white, dodged an expulsion by one vote. Stay in the conversation on politics: Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter That is not a democracy, Harris said of the expulsions. In a democracy, she said, "you dont silence the people, you do not stifle the people, you do not turn off their microphones when they are speaking about the importance of life and liberty." Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at Fisk University on Friday, April 7, 2023, about the expulsion of Justin Jones and Justin Pearson from the Tennessee House of Representatives the day before. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, survived an effort to expel her. President Joe Biden also spoke to the three Democrats, who have become known as the "Tennessee Three," during a conference call Friday ahead of Harris' visit. He thanked them for their leadership in seeking to ban assault weapons and standing up for democratic values, the White House said. He also invited them to the White House in the near future. Harris' hastily arranged trip to Nashville came after Tennessee House Republicans voted overwhelmingly Thursday to expel Jones and Pearson. Jones was expelled on 72-25 vote. The vote to remove Pearce was 69-26. The expulsions have become a national flashpoint on the issues of gun control and race. Story continues Upon arriving in Nashville, Harris met privately with the three Democrats at Fisk, which hosted a gathering of community leaders to support the expelled lawmakers. Afterward, she met with other Tennessee Democratic lawmakers and Nashville Mayor John Cooper. Pearson was met with raucous applause and cheers as he arrived for the event. They thought they could expel democracy, he said, addressing the crowd from a stone platform. But were still here! In her remarks, Harris also praised students and other young leaders who converged upon the state Capitol en masse to push for gun control after the school shooting but haven't swayed the state's Republican majority. She encouraged them to continue the fight. "I do believe that every generation has its calling, that there are moments in time that find you and require and depend on your leadership," she said. "And so, in particular to all the young people, this issue is going to require your leadership." Harris renewed Biden's call for Congress to pass a nationwide ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Assault weapons "were designed to kill a lot of people quickly" and have "no place on the streets of the civil society," she said. More: Tennessee Republicans expel two of 'Tennessee Three' House Democrats for leading pro-gun reform protest Former Reps. Justin Jones, D-Nashville (left) and Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, were expelled from the state legislature on Thursday. Among those waiting outside Fisk ahead of the event was Nicholas Umontuen, who teaches business administration at the university. Umontuen said he was "shocked" and "demoralized" by the decision to expel the lawmakers. But he said the national attention gives him hope to elevate the voices of young people fighting for change. The trio of lawmakers were accused by Republican leadership of breaching decorum and floor rules for speaking at the House podium on March 30 without recognition. More: 'Congress has to act': Biden says there's nothing more he can do on his own to address guns But by moving ahead with the expulsions, the state's Republican House speaker, Cameron Sexton, turned two Democrats who held no legislative power in a Republican supermajority into national heroes on the political left. Biden, in a statement, called the expulsions "shocking, undemocratic and unprecedented." He said that "rather than debating the merits" of gun control, "these Republican lawmakers have chosen to punish, silence, and expel duly-elected representatives of the people of Tennessee." Vice President Kamala Harris is greeted by Col. Ted Geasley, Commander of the 118th Wing, as she arrives at Berry Field Air National Guard Base before meeting with Tennessee legislators at Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn., on Friday, April 7, 2023. Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison and Michael Collins @mcollinsNEWS. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tennessee House expulsion: Kamala Harris meets with ousted members Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has been officially charged with spying in Russia, news organizations from the country are reporting Friday. Interfax, quoting a source, said "Gershkovich has been charged" with espionage, according to Reuters. "He categorically denied all the accusations and stated that he was engaged in journalistic activities in Russia," Reuters also quoted TASS, a Russian state media organization, as saying. The news of the official charges came after U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell issued a joint statement calling for the release of Gershkovich, arguing the allegations against him are "baseless" and "fabricated." SCHUMER, MCCONNELL STRONGLY CONDEMN WSJ REPORTER DETENTION IN RUSSIA ON FABRICATED CHARGES The Wall Street Journal has dismissed any notion that Evan Gershkovich was doing anything other than working as a journalist. Gershkovich, the newspaper's Moscow bureau reporter, was arrested on March 29 by the Russian government's Federal Security Service on suspicion of espionage on behalf of the U.S. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The publication has vehemently denied these charges, while several of Gershkovichs colleagues have defended his integrity. President Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also have called for his release. "We strongly condemn the wrongful detention of U.S. citizen and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, and demand the immediate release of this internationally known and respected independent journalist," Schumer and McConnell said Friday in a joint statement. INSIDE THE RUSSIAN SPY TRIALS AWAITING WSJ JOURNALIST EVAN GERSHKOVICH Russian President Vladimir Putin has not addressed Gershkovich's arrest. "Mr. Gershkovich was accredited by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work as a journalist in Russia. Since his arrest, Russian authorities have failed to present any credible evidence to justify their fabricated charges," the statement continued. "Moreover, against standard diplomatic practice and likely in violation of international law the U.S. Embassy has been denied consular access to Mr. Gershkovich," it added. Story continues Schumer and McConnell also said "the Kremlin continues to wrongfully detain U.S. citizen Paul Whelan" and that it should "release Mr. Whelan and Mr. Gershkovich now." Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., left, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., called for Gershkovich's release on Friday. "Let there be no mistake: journalism is not a crime," the statement continued. "We demand the baseless, fabricated charges against Mr. Gershkovich be dropped and he be immediately released and reiterate our condemnation of the Russian governments continued attempts to intimidate, repress, and punish independent journalists and civil society voices." Gershkovich was originally detained by Russian forces on March 29 in the city of Yekaterinburg after being accused of trying to obtain secret information "on the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex." Fox News Lindsay Kornick contributed to this report. A family of mountain lions casually prowled through a neighborhood in Colorado and strolled right past a homeowners doorbell camera. Carolyn Andrews was overseas in England on April 1 when she got a notification from her Ring camera around 10 or 11 p.m., she told McClatchy News. She opened the notification and was stunned to see five mountain lions walking right past her home in Silverthorne, CBS News reported. My reaction was luckily no one was outside at that (time), she told McClatchy News in an email. Mountain lions are pretty common in Colorado, but theyre so elusive its rare for someone to spot them, especially this close up. The video shows one mountain lion looking right into the camera as its eyes glow, and two more are seen walking out from the bushes behind it. Another two mountain lions pop out from behind the first three, and they scamper just under the camera on their way around the house. Another Ring camera shows them traipsing into barren trees on the side of Andrews yard. One of them lags behind and scurries back toward the pack to catch up. I have seen mountain lions before but never 5 of them like this, Andrews told McClatchy News. There were 2 babies last year so this may be the whole family. Mountain lion sightings in Colorado have become a contentious issue after the predators have preyed on pets mostly dogs in the state, McClatchy News previously reported. On March 18, a mountain lion clawed a mans head while he relaxed in a hot tub at a home near Nathrop in Chaffee County, McClatchy News previously reported. What to do if you see a mountain lion Mountain lions are typically calm, quiet and elusive, according to the National Park Service. While attacks involving mountain lions are rare, they are possible. Even so, the potential for being killed or injured by a mountain lion is quite low compared to many other natural hazards, the National Park Service said on its website. There is a far greater risk, for example, of being killed in an automobile accident with a deer than of being attacked by a mountain lion. Story continues Officials said there are some things you do take to prevent a mountain lion encounter from becoming an attack. Stay calm and back away slowly. Face the lion and stand up straight. Dont approach a mountain lion, especially if its with kittens. Dont run. It could stimulate a mountain lions chase instincts. Pick up small children so they dont panic or run away. Dont bend over or crouch down. Throw things at the mountain lion if it continues to move toward you. If the mountain lion attacks, fight back using anything around you. Report all sightings, encounters or attacks to local park rangers or law enforcement. Mountain lion claws mans head while he relaxes in hot tub, Colorado officials say Dogs grabbed from porch as mountain lions prey on pets in Colorado town, officials say Mountain lions kill 9 dogs near one Colorado town. Here are tips for keeping pets safe Car and Driver The sign at the start of Memory Lane advertises, This Way to Kinder, Gentler Times! What the marketers of nostalgia never tell you is that Memory Lane has some side streets and alleys that, like a Tijuana for the mind, contain reminiscences that should have been condemned and razed, their earth salted for the safety of future generations. The Internet wont let that happen. This weeks Window Shop challenge started as an innocent, whimsical search for the strangest car commercial. Our esteemed panelists explored the bizarre and outlandish from Spain to Saturday Night Live. Just the kind of gentle, wacky fun our committed clique of viewers knows to expect. Then editor-in-chief Tony Quiroga introduced everyone to the dark side of strangethe mystifying, freakish kind. Does anyone remember when automotive marketers decided to combine Edgar Burrows science fiction and William Burroughs' psychedelic enhancers to advertise a milquetoast Chevrolet sedan? Is anyone surprised that Quiroga remembered? Well, he gave it to us, which means were now giving it to you. Tune in to watch C/D feature maestros K.C. Colwell and Elana Scherr, Most Favored Nation contributor Jonathon Ramsey, and Road & Tracks resident Svengali John Pearley Huffman have their innocence taken from them. You Might Also Like The Raleigh Police Department responded to crashes that killed 27 pedestrians in 2022; the State Highway Patrol handled two others on highways just yards from the city limits. Here, based on crash reports filed with the state Division of Motor Vehicles and death certificates from the state Department of Health and Human Services, are what we know about each person and how they died: 1. Jan. 12, about 2:30 p.m. Miriam J. Dorsey, 77, was walking in the parking lot outside her apartment building when she was hit by a maintenance truck backing out of a parking space. Police said the drivers view out his rear window was partially blocked by the load in the truck bed. They cited him with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle. 2. Jan. 21, about 4:30 p.m. Erin Simanskis, a 63-year-old editor at WRAL-TV, was hit by a van on Western Boulevard after she got into a minor accident during a snow storm and got out of her SUV to speak to the other driver. The man was also hit and seriously injured. The driver of the van took off on foot but was arrested a few days later and charged with felony hit/run death, felony hit/run serious injury and failure to reduce speed. Police suspected he had been drinking, but he was not charged with DWI. 3. Feb. 6, about 10:15 p.m. Christina T. Hernandez, a 25-year-old bartender, had run out of gas on Interstate 540 and was standing on the shoulder next to her SUV with a roadside assistance worker when they were both hit by a Honda Accord going 70 mph. The driver of the Accord drove off but was later arrested and charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle, two counts of felony hit-and-run, failure to stop and failure to move over. 4. March 5, about 12:45 a.m. Emmanuel E. Jenkins, 36, was crossing Capital Boulevard just north of Cavalry Drive when he was hit by the driver of a Buick who had a green light at the intersection. Police estimated the car was going about 30 mph when it hit Jenkins, who was walking outside of the crosswalk. Police determined that Jenkins had failed to yield the right of way to the car and did not cite the driver. Story continues 5. March 6, about 8:20 p.m. A 72-year-old man was crossing New Bern Avenue west of Hedingham Boulevard when he was hit and killed by the driver of a Toyota going 55 mph in a 45-mph zone. The driver was cited with DWI. The victims name was not available. 6. March 8, about 3 a.m. Jonathan S. Willruth, a 39-year-old landscape worker from Maine, was run over by the rear wheel of a Jeep after jumping on the running board in a hotel parking lot off South Saunders Street. He died more than two weeks later. 7. March 13, about 9:10 p.m. A man walking with a bicycle was hit as he crossed Capital Boulevard just south of Crabtree Boulevard. The driver of the Kia told police that the man had darted in front of him, and the crash report indicates that the drivers visibility was obstructed, though it doesnt elaborate. Police did not cite the driver. The victims name was not available. 8. March 15, about 6:35 a.m. Chayan Gonzalez Zagada, a 36-year-old construction worker, was apparently trying to cross eastbound I-440 near where it merges with I-40 in Southeast Raleigh when he was hit by a pickup truck going 65 mph. The road is four lanes wide, and state troopers noted that it was before dawn on a stretch of highway without overhead lights. 9. March 15, about 11:55 p.m. Madiba Bazin, 59, was crossing Six Forks Road at Lynn Road when he was hit in the crosswalk. Bazin did not have a Walk signal and apparently tried to outrun the Toyota, which had a green light. The Toyotas driver was going an estimated 11 mph over the 45 mph speed limit but was not cited, according to the crash report. 10. April 16, about 9:30 p.m. Jacob E. Butler, a 39-year-old recording engineer in the music industry, was reportedly lying in westbound I-40 near the Lake Wheeler Road overpass when he was hit by a car or truck that did not stop. 11. April 20, about 3:55 a.m. Joshua B. Lint, 34, was crossing westbound I-440 on the bridge over Lake Boone Trail and had nearly made it to the shoulder when he was hit by a pickup truck going an estimated 68 mph. He was lying in the road when he was hit a second time by a car. Police noted the highway was dark without any overhead lights. 12. June 13, about 12:55 a.m. Kelvin S. Wiggins, 35, was hit by a car going about 50 mph on Capital Boulevard between Calvary Drive and North New Hope Road. The driver of the car told police that Wiggins was seated in the center lane, and police said they suspected he was impaired by drugs or alcohol. 13. June 14, about 10:15 p.m. Wayne S. Cassidy Jr., 34, was walking east on or near the side white line of Chapel Hill Road when he was hit from behind by a car going 45 mph. Cassidy died more than a month later. The driver was charged with DWI. There are no sidewalks or street lights where Cassidy was hit. 14. Aug. 14, about 2:36 a.m. Diane Marie Bass, 59, was walking on the shoulder of northbound Capital Boulevard near Calvary Drive when she was hit from behind by an SUV going 55 mph. The driver was charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle. There are no sidewalks or street lights where Bass was hit. 15. Aug. 27, about 4:46 p.m. Albert D. James Jr., a 53-year-old mason from Durham, was hit on eastbound I-40 about a mile east of Chapel Hill Road. Police indicate that there was heavy traffic at the time and that the driver swerved to avoid hitting vehicles that had stopped because of James darting into the road, and ended up hitting him. 16. Sept. 9, about 9:10 p.m. Tamara M. McNeil, a 24-year-old food service worker from Florida, was hit by an SUV on northbound Capital Boulevard about 250 feet south of Calvary Drive. The driver told police that McNeil was lying in the right turn lane. 17. Sept. 23, about 12:36 a.m. Ricky McKie Mabry, a 37-year-old laborer from South Carolina who did welding work, was crossing northbound Capital Boulevard between Yonkers Road and I-440 when he was hit by an SUV going 40 mph. Police suspected Mabry was impaired by alcohol. 18. Oct. 12, about 7:05 a.m. Faramarz Zeinahvazi, 76, was hit by the rear left corner of a school bus as it turned from southbound Six Forks Road into the bus lane at Carroll Middle School. Zeinahvazi, who lived nearby, was walking south on a sidewalk on Six Forks and was crossing the entrance to the bus lane when he was hit. The bus driver was apparently unaware she had hit him, and police initially thought he had been struck by an unknown vehicle that had driven off. 19. Oct. 13, about 12:07 a.m. Charles L. Baylor Jr., a 29-year-old cook, was walking on the shoulder of South Saunders Street when he was hit from behind by an SUV going 35 mph. The driver drove off but was later arrested. Police suspected the driver was impaired by alcohol and indicated that he was driving in an erratic, careless, negligent or aggressive manner. 20. Oct. 25, about 4:56 p.m. Jose A. Mejia Lopez, a 65-year-old landscaper, was walking off the side of Fox Road near his home when the driver of a pickup ran off the road and hit him at about 50 mph. The truck then swerved across the intersection with Town Drive and hit a tree. The driver was charged with aggravated felony death by vehicle, aggravated felony serious injury by vehicle, reckless driving, failure to maintain lane control and failure to reduce speed. There is no sidewalk where Mejia was walking. The speed limit is 35 mph. 21. Oct. 28, about 8:27 p.m. Yobani Rosario Andelis, a 35-year-old construction worker, was hit by a car going 45 mph as he crossed New Bern Avenue about 140 feet east of New Hope Road. The road was dark and unlit by street lights, according to police. 22. Nov. 4, about 4:42 p.m. Gloria E. Jeney, 91, was crossing Country Club Trail at Stoneface Way on a motorized scooter when she was hit by a car at an estimated 25 mph. Jeney lived nearby. There are sidewalks with ramps leading to the pavement at the intersection but no marked crosswalks. Traffic on Country Club Trail does not have to stop at the intersection. 23. Nov. 11, about 8:05 p.m. Derrick Lanier Branch, a 59-year-old factory worker from Wake Forest, was crossing Capital Boulevard a quarter mile north of Calvary Drive in heavy rain when he was hit by several cars and trucks. Police say the driver of the first vehicle, a Kia K5, stopped, got out to look back at Branch down in the roadway, then drove off. Theyre still looking for the driver. Police also say its not clear how many cars and trucks hit Branch while he was down. 24. Nov. 15, about 8:39 a.m. Sarah Meilike, 38, who had just begun working at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, was hit by an SUV while walking in a crosswalk on South Wilmington Street at Chapanoke Road south of downtown Raleigh. Police say a Dont Walk sign was flashing as Meilike tried to get across six lanes of northbound South Wilmington. The driver was not cited. 25. Nov. 19, just after 10 a.m. Hailey Brooks, 11, was performing with a dance troupe in the Raleigh Christmas Parade on Hillsborough Street when the driver of a pickup truck towing a float reportedly lost his brakes and drifted into the dancers from behind. Police charged the pickup driver with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, careless and reckless driving, improper equipment, unsafe movement and carrying a firearm in a parade. A grand jury recently indicted him on a charge of involuntary manslaughter, a felony. 26. Nov. 26, about 7:32 p.m. Samantha Briggs, 12, was hit as she and four others were crossing Hillsborough Street near Bashford Road after a trip to a Sheetz convenience store on nearby Chapel Hill Road. Police say the driver swerved into the center turn lane, hit Briggs at 45 mph and kept going. The driver still has not been found. There are no street lights, crosswalks or sidewalks in the area. 27. Nov. 29, about 8:10 p.m. Ronge Mwanakyungu, a 27-year-old rideshare driver, attempted to cross westbound New Bern Avenue about 70 feet west of Hedingham Boulevard when he was hit by a car going 45 mph. Theres no crosswalk at Hedingham and no street lights in the area. 28. Dec. 8, about 5:25 p.m. Evaristo Carranza Soto, a 58-year-old construction worker, was hit while crossing Poole Road near Kennedy Street just after dark. The driver was going an estimated 42 mph in a 35-mph zone. Police suspected Soto, who lived nearby, was impaired by medication, drugs or alcohol and that he walked into the path of the car. 29. Dec. 14, about 8:20 a.m. Otoniel Hernandez, 35, was hit in the far right lane of westbound Glenwood Avenue near Hollyridge Drive. Police says Hernandez darted into the far right travel lane in front of the oncoming SUV. Researcher David Raynor contributed. Gavel A West Warwick man was sentenced to five years of probation Thursday for transmitting sexually explicit material online to an FBI agent posing as a 10-year-old girl, United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha announced Friday. Neil Streich, 60, formerly of North Kingstown, pleaded guilty in October 2020 to a charge of importation or transportation of obscene material. Streich admitted that in March 2020, he transferred three sexually explicit videos of himself via Kik, an Internet-based text and social media platform, to a person who was posing as a 10-year-old girl, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a press release. Streich was living in North Kingstown at the time. More: North Kingstown man, 57, accused of transferring obscene material The person was actually an FBI undercover agent who was assigned to the FBI Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force, according to the U.S. Attorney. They'd been communicating for about a week before Streich sent the videos, Cunha said. Following a joint recommendation of the prosecution and defense, U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith sentenced Streich to five years of probation and ordered him to pay a $5,000 fine. Streich's court file includes letters of support from an adult son, an adult daughter, his ex-wife, girlfriend and brother. Letters noted that Streich lost his job when the charges became public and that the father of three children endured a difficult marriage and divorce. A psychologist who examined Streich concluded that he's doesn't pose a risk to public safety. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Milind M. Shah and G. Michael Seaman. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI man given 5 years probation for sending obscene material online FALL RIVER - Robert M. Burchell's first year working at the New Bedford Whaling Museum as a maintenance man in 2021 was "unexceptional." Then he began to steal items from the Museum's collections. The items he stole ranged from jewelry to historic currency to scrimshaw-engraved whale's teeth, said Assistant District Attorney Michael Scott. Burchell stole small items he could conceal, including in his pockets, and would walk them by Museum video surveillance. The Museum's collection rooms were not equipped with surveillance video cameras, however. And like most museums, many of the Whaling Museum's collections are not on public display, Scott said. Burchell's maintenance job gave him access and keys to all these collection areas. It also gave him a reason to be in areas where such items were being held. How many items did Burchell allegedly steal from Whaling Museum? Eventually, Burchell allegedly stole 192 items worth an estimated $150,000, selling them to a coin shop owner in West Bridgewater, two pawnshops in Taunton and one in New Bedford. He made about $13,000, Scott said. Burchell, 42, was arraigned in Bristol County Superior Court in Fall River Friday on 13 counts of larceny over $1,200 and six counts of larceny under $1,200. The larceny-over charges each carry a maximum sentence of five years in state prison. Robert M. Burchell is called before the court Friday in Fall River. Burchell pleaded not guilty to the charges. Historic artifacts still missing from the Whaling Museum About 175 items have been recovered and returned to the Museum. The remaining items have not been found yet, and there are 20 to 30 items unaccounted for at the Museum. Scott said many of the items were essentially priceless because they were irreplaceable historic artifacts. Though, he said, one of the whale's tooth scrimshaw artifacts - which were crafted by 19th century whalers at sea - was estimated to be worth $35,000. A whale's tooth scrimshaw led to Burchell's arrest It was a whale's tooth scrimshaw that led to Burchell's arrest. Story continues He made five visits to W. Bridgewater Coin and Jewelry Buyers to sell stolen items. During the last visit in late December 2022 he sold one of the whale's tooth scrimshaws. Owner Len Estabrooks grew suspicious and did some internet research where he learned that Burchell worked at the Museum, Scott said. He was even able to find some of the Museum items being sold described online. Estabrooks called police, and Museum representatives were summoned and they identified the items. Scott said Burchell was confronted by New Bedford Police at the Museum on Jan. 5 and he admitted to having stolen items in his backpack. And, in his car, was one of the whale's tooth scrimshaws. Scott said Burchell essentially admitted to police that he had been stealing the items. Initially, he was charged with larceny from a building and bail was set in district court at $5,000. Burchell was able to post bail. As the investigation progressed, he was indicted on the 19 larceny counts by a grand jury, necessitating the second arraignment. Scott called for Burchell's bail to be increased to $10,000. He said Burchell faces a "strong likelihood" of a state prison sentence if convicted. "Mr. Burchell may not have been aware of the gravity of what he was doing, but he was taking from the Museum things that are irreplaceable," Scott said. Burchell's 'history of theft' Burchell also has "a strong history of theft." There are 11 shoplifting entries on his record and two larceny overs, Scott said, as well as a breaking and entering and a malicious destruction of property. He has served time on these charges, Scott said. Burchell pleaded not guilty to 19 larceny counts. There are 19 counts because investigators tracked Burchell making 19 transactions with the stolen goods at the coin and pawn shops. Burchell had initially hired his own attorney, but was unable to afford continuing with that arrangement. He qualified for a court-appointed attorney to represent him Friday. Attorney Brian Fahy represented him during the second arraignment and asked that bail be maintained at $5,000. He said Burchell was not a flight risk, noting Burchell had appeared on all four prior court dates related to the thefts. He said Burchell lives in New Bedford with his wife and had lived his entire life in the Taunton-New Beford area. He added Burchell's B&E conviction was from eight years ago. Attorney alleges substance abuse disorder His record may be indicative of substance abuse disorder, Fahy said. He added that he wouldn't characterize Burchell as a "professional thief." Burchell was also cooperative with police. "Probably more helpful than he should have been," Fahy said. Judge William White Jr. said it was "a sad case" where a trusted employee allegedly stole items that were not only valuable but were of "value to history." However, he added, that was not a factor in setting bail, and that Burchell had been making his required court appearances. His record is "not pretty," White noted, with instances of theft that could be the result of a substance-abuse problem. White ruled that bail would remain at $5,000. Burchell also must stay away from the Museum, former co-workers and any witnesses. Burchell will be back in court for a pre-trial conference on June 22. This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Items in New Bedford Whaling Museum thefts still missing WASHINGTON For the past two years, John Heubusch and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation have hosted almost all the top 2024 Republican hopefuls, formally running or otherwise except for former President Donald Trump to pour out their souls on why the Republican Party is in crisis and how it can change its course. John Heubusch, executive director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, in October 2022. (Hans Gutknecht/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images) In 2020, Republicans lost control of the White House, we lost the House, the Senate. And a lot of people approached us with the thought that we should try to play a constructive role in acting essentially as a venue or as a stage for the Republican Party to look inside itself to question where it was at the time, the foundation's executive director told Yahoo News in a wide-ranging interview. Are there any course corrections or changes that might need to be made? What really are the fundamentals of the modern-day Republican Party? What do we stand for? If the postmortem on 2012s presidential election delivered solutions with a clinicians sense of detachment, the Reagan Librarys A Time for Choosing speaker series has delivered emotional paeans about the partys raison detre. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., longtime GOP power player Dick Cheney's daughter, who was bounced from the party leadership for breaking from Trump, used the platform to argue that freedom is protected and preserved by individuals acting on the principles ensconced in the founding of the United States and that it often takes a woman to muster the courage that her male colleagues cannot. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., speaks at the Reagan Library in June 2022. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) The Reagan Library also welcomed Peter Thiel, the tech billionaire, one of the leaders of the hard-right nationalist movement undergirding Trumps rise. Thiel used the stage to urge his fellow Republicans to place China at the center of a new Cold War and to use that to unite the party and the country against a common adversary. But the reigning leader of the party is Trump, who was impeached twice, once for refusing to provide military aid to Ukraine unless its government launched an investigation of his political rival, and a second time on charges that he caused the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol in an effort to cling on to power. Now, with his arraignment on 34 felony counts stemming from accusations that he paid hush money to a porn star in 2016, Trump appears to have remade the 2024 race for president into a referendum on himself. Again. Story continues Everyone knew exactly where Donald Trump came from and wanted to go, Heubusch said. This was an opportunity to give all the other voices a chance to state their viewpoint. And I think it turned out really well. I've no doubt if the former president wants to speak as part of the series, of course wed have been delighted to have him. But we didn't really see the necessity. Former President Donald Trump arrives at Trump Tower in New York City on Monday, the day before his arraignment. (Gotham/GC Images via Getty Images) Heubusch hasnt taken sides. Whether hes a Never Trumper, a Trump loyalist or somewhere in between, he hasnt let on. Asked about Trumps arrest on charges stemming from the payment of $130,000 to the porn star Stormy Daniels to allegedly cover up an affair, Heubusch commented, I make of it that the Democrat Party has decided that until his last dying breath, it is going to badger, poke, prod, insult, oppose use whatever word you want Donald Trump. And this is just one more example of it. Heubusch is a veteran operator who ran the National Republican Senatorial Committee decades ago, under then-Sen. Al DAmato, R-N.Y. In 2009 he was selected by Nancy Reagan and others to run the Reagan Library. Ronald Reagan, he said, always believed in the big tent, and the mission of bringing people into the party. But with the advent of Trump-branded national populism, what used to be bedrock issues, like cutting government spending and reducing the national debt, have fallen by the wayside. President Ronald Reagan in 1982. (Universal History Archive/Getty Images) There's no doubt the party is at odds with itself at times. It's changing its viewpoint, [with] the populism that President Trump brought to the table, Heubusch said, adding that there are "so many differences in the modern-day Republican Party, it doesn't have that kind of cohesiveness that it had under Ronald Reagan. The librarys speaker series is named after a 1964 speech Reagan gave in support of Republican presidential nominee Barry Goldwater. Reagan framed the ideas that would come to dominate conservatism and the Republican Party through his time in office, and after: limited government, individual liberty and a strong, hawkish national defense. But that was almost 60 years ago. Now Republicans find themselves split on issues like protecting Ukraine, a European democracy, against the continuing onslaught from Russia. If he were president, it's absolutely impossible to conceivably imagine Russia invading Ukraine, because Reagan, from a peace-through-strength standpoint, would have had the Ukrainians armed to the teeth from the very beginning, Heubusch said. Americas adversaries, like Russia and China, are doing more than taunting and challenging: They're out there invading. And so I think we are seeing the results of cracks in the peace-through-strength armor and America's willingness to step forward and to promote and defend democracy where it needs to be done." Heubusch is wrapping his 14-year tenure of service running the library and foundation with a chilling exhibit on the horrors of Auschwitz. Hungarian Jews arrive at Auschwitz in June 1944. (Galerie Bilderwelt/Getty Images) The trailer teasing the exhibition opens with a quote from Primo Levi, the author, chemist and Auschwitz survivor: It happened, therefore it can happen again: This is the core of what we have to say. It can happen, and it can happen everywhere. There has been a shocking rise in antisemitism across the U.S. with the rise of Trump, including his own decision to dine in November with the neo-Nazi Nick Fuentes and the rap superstar Kanye West, who has made antisemitic remarks. Today in the United States, we are at each other's throats. I mean, this is bordering on the definition of hatred, Heubusch said, comparing such hatred to "the seeds that were sown that eventually led to the Holocaust. Germany at the time was one of the most, if not the most, advanced nation in the world in terms of intellect and technology, he added. And yet it could happen there. So if it could happen there, then it could happen in the future and other places and it must not. The Emmy winners insecurities around his status as a diversity hire on NBCs 30 Rock contributed to his stress dreams. Emmy-winner Donald Glover says he suffered from impostor syndrome after landing his first writing gig in 2016 on the NBC comedy, 30 Rock. At the time, series creator Tina Fey told Glover that he was a diversity hire, the actor revealed in a recent GQ interview. There is no animosity between us or anything like that, but [Tina Fey] said it herself It was a diversity thing, Glover said. Donald Glover attends GQs Global Creativity Awards on April 6, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images) Glover said this revelation caused him to suffer from impostor syndrome early in his career. According to Psychology Today, the condition exists when a person feels undeserving of their achievements. Glover said, It definitely didnt feel like I was supposed to be there, he said of his time at 30 Rock, which aired from 2006 to 2013. Tracy Morgan, one of the shows stars, praised Glovers skills despite the writers anxieties. When I first read his writing during 30 Rock, I was like, Hes got it, Morgan told GQ. The things he wrote for me made me very funny. After the show ended, Glover later learned that he and Blackish creator Kenya Barris were up for the same position in Feys writers room. I didnt know it was between me and him until later, Glover said. He hit me one day and he was like, I hated you for years! Glover said his insecurities around his status as a diversity hire contributed to bad dreams. I used to have stress dreams every night where I was doing cartwheels on the top of a New York skyscraper with the other writers watching me, he recalled. Speaking about the diversity initiative in a 2018 interview with The New Yorker, Glover noted that he often questioned exactly why he got the job. I wondered, Am I being hired just because Im black? Since then, he has gone on to have a successful acting and music career. In addition to releasing four studio albums, he has won five Grammy awards under the rap alias, Childish Gambino. He has also earned two Emmys and a Golden Globe for his hit drama series, Atlanta. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post While working on hit show, Donald Glover battled impostor syndrome appeared first on TheGrio. The White House is forming the countrys regulatory system, announcing a new executive order and guidance that experts say could be used to justify both more and stronger regulations. On Thursday, the White House released an executive order reducing the number of regulations that undergo a more rigorous White House review and promoting public participation from previously underrepresented groups at its Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. It also released a new draft guidance document that changes how agencies calculate rules costs and benefits, with more emphasis placed on future costs and benefits. Billy Pizer, vice president for research and policy engagement at Resources for the Future an energy and environment focused research organization described the changes as a pretty major overhaul. Its the most significant update for the U.S. governments broad regulatory analysis policy since weve been doing regulatory analysis policy, Pizer said. In particular, this could lead to both more regulations and regulations that are more protective. It brings an entirely different way of thinking about the regulatory system, said James Goodwin, a senior policy analyst at the Center for Progressive Reform adding that it breaks away from a prior philosophy geared toward doing the least amount of regulating possible. It does create more space for agencies to regulate more andto [make] more protective regulations, he added. However, the Chamber of Commerce, which represents various industries around the country, lamented the changes saying they could lead to more aggressive rules. Theyre huge shifts in how agencies will do regulatory cost-benefit analysis and it appears to be an effort to accelerate an already very aggressive regulatory agenda, said Chad Whiteman, the Chambers vice president of environment and regulatory affairs. Broadly, Democrats and the left tend to favor more regulations arguing that regulations provide safeguards for people who may be subject to negative impacts of industry. Story continues However, Republicans and the right tend to oppose many regulations, saying they curb economic growth. Pizer said that the provision that gives more weight to events that happen in the future is particularly important for climate change regulations. This is a huge issue for climate change because we have to reduce emissions now but the consequence of those reduced emissions are spread over centuries, he said. But Whiteman said this also risks being more speculative about what impacts will or wont happen in the future. The guidance also says that there are cases where policymakers should not only consider benefits for U.S. citizens, but should also weigh international impacts of a regulation. Goodwin said that the ultimate effectiveness of this weeks changes will be determined by how the Biden administration decides to use them. Theyve sort of laid the groundwork to make it a big deal, he said. Do you ever play with Legos? You sort of dump out the pieces. Theyve sort of dumped out the pieces. The question is: what are they going to build with it, if anything. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former Rep. Justin Jones, Rep. Gloria Johnson, and former Rep. Justin Pearson, joined and raised their hands outside the House chamber in Tennessee. Jones and Pearson were expelled from the legislature on Thursday. AP Photo/George Walker IV A white lawmaker in Tennessee survived a vote to expel her but two Black lawmakers lost their seats. The vote to expel Rep. Gloria Johnson failed 65-30, missing the two-thirds majority required. She said after the vote that the different outcomes "might have to do with the color of our skin." A white lawmaker in Tennessee said racism may have had a part to play in her surviving a vote to expel her from the state House, while two young Black lawmakers lost their seats. The three Democratic lawmakers had joined protesters demanding stricter gun regulations after the mass shooting at Nashville's Covenant School. Six people, including three 9-year-old children, were killed during the school shooting. All three lawmakers faced expulsion votes for breaking House rules by walking onto the floor and speaking without first being recognized. But the motion to expel Rep. Gloria Johnson failed 65-30, falling short of the two-thirds majority required to remove her. Meanwhile, two Black lawmakers Rep. Justin Pearson and Rep. Justin Jones were expelled with 69-26 and 72-25 votes respectively. Johnson was asked during a media scrum after the House votes on her and Jones' expulsion why their votes had different outcomes, despite the fact they protested the same way. "I'll answer your question: it might have to do with the color of our skin," Johnson said. Johnson, Pearson, and Jones have been known to protesters in Tennessee as the "Tennessee Three," per NBC News. Pearson acknowledged the racial undertones that might have resulted in him and Jones losing their seats. "You cannot ignore the racial dynamic of what happened today," Pearson told MSNBC. "Two young Black lawmakers get expelled and the one white woman does not? That's a statement in and of itself." Story continues Johnson, who is 60, stood up for Pearson and Jones before her own expulsion vote. "We have to welcome this younger generation, who might do it a little bit differently, but they are fighting for their constituency," Johnson said before the vote, per CBS News. Johnson did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment sent outside regular business hours. Read the original article on Business Insider One year later, Sacramentos deadliest mass shooting continues to shape discussions in the California Capitol. They revolve around one question: would lives have been saved if one of the suspects had served out his full prison sentence? California voters in 2016 created the opportunity for inmates to reduce their time behind bars. They passed Proposition 57, a ballot measure intended to draw down the states prison population. It allowed inmates convicted of violent and nonviolent crimes to more quickly earn credits through rehabilitative programs and leave custody sooner. The program received fresh attention in 2022. Thats because Smiley Martin one of the suspects facing charges in the April 2022 shooting that killed six people at 10th and K streets was able to combine these credits to cut his 10-year domestic violence sentence to about five years. Now, lawmakers want more transparency around sentence-trimming programs. There are calls to make credit-earning records public and to gather data on outcomes for inmates who get out early after participating in rehabilitative programs. Assemblyman Joe Patterson, R-Rocklin, is pushing to reclassify some crimes as violent, making it harder for those inmates to earn early-exit credits. He echoed the argument Republicans have been making for the past year that the shooting could have been prevented if the suspect was still in prison. I dont know what the individual in the Sacramento shooting would have done once he got out if he served his actual full term, Patterson told The Sacramento Bee. All I know is that, for sure, he would not have killed those six people, those particular six people, on that night. During the bills hearing in March, Assemblyman Isaac Bryan, D-Los Angeles, called Pattersons argument absolutely ludicrous. So, whats appropriate? Bryan asked. You get charged (with) domestic violence, you get sentenced to 10 years. You serve five. You come home. If 10, there would have been no shooting? Fifteen, no shooting? Twenty, no shooting? Story continues Sacramento Police Chief Kathy Lester walks the scene of the mass shooting in downtown Sacramento that left six dead on Sunday, April 3, 2022. Proposition 57 and prison overcrowding The credit-earning system that accelerated Martins release stems from efforts to reduce overcrowding in California prisons. The states prison population increased dramatically during the 1980s and 1990s, a result of the war on drugs and new sentencing policies that kept people incarcerated longer. This included the Three Strikes Law, which requires sentences of 25 years to life in prison for those previously convicted of two serious crimes. Another factor was the introduction of determinate sentences meaning those that end on a date certain which former Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law in the 1970s. Prior to the changes initiated by Brown, more inmates received indeterminate sentences, which set an earliest-possible release date but an open-ended maximum. Sentences like 25 years-to-life gave more power to parole boards to decide when prisoners were ready for release. Inmates in the main exercise yard at Folsom State Prison in 2017. Subsequent legislation added more prison time for factors like firearm use or gang affiliation. It meant prisoners spent even longer locked up, contributing to crowded facilities. Eventually, severe overcrowding led to dangerous conditions, prompting lawsuits against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. By 2011, the systems population was at about 180% of design capacity. That was the year the U.S. Supreme Court upheld an order by a panel of federal judges in California to lower the number of inmates to 137.5% of capacity. It meant cutting the population by more than 30,000 prisoners, according a Legislative Analysts Office report. As part of the states response, California voters approved Proposition 57. The measure, in combination with other legislation and early releases due to the COVID-19 pandemic, drew the inmate population down to 110.9% of capacity, or 90,934 people as of March 8, according to the Department of Corrections. Proposition 57 allows inmates convicted of certain nonviolent crimes to appear before the parole board more quickly. The board is not required to let them out members could still force prisoners to remain behind bars. The measure also gives the Department of Corrections the ability to change the rate at which inmates convicted of violent and nonviolent crimes can earn credits for participating in prison programming, such as drug rehabilitation, work training or educational classes. Mass shooting suspect Dandrae Martin, 26, talks with defense attorney Linda Parisi during his appearance in Superior Court in Sacramento, Tuesday, April 5, 2022. The mass shooting claimed six people dead and twelve injured during the worst shooting this year in Sacramento. Credit-earning and violent crime As California has changed the way it incarcerates people, Republicans have continually pushed back, citing concerns about upticks in crime and suggesting Proposition 57 needs to be amended. The calls for change only increased after the Sacramento shooting. Sacramento Bee reporting showed Martin, one of the three suspects in the incident, received credits that allowed him to leave prison in February 2022 after serving five years for attacking his girlfriend. Martin received some of his credits prior to sentencing, but he also earned a variety of additional post-sentencing credits, according to the Department of Corrections. His case captured a major concern about Proposition 57: that it results in violent criminals being released from prison too quickly. The Department of Corrections allows those convicted of nonviolent crimes to earn credits more quickly than those convicted of violent crimes. But domestic violence, Martins previous conviction, is not on Californias list of violent felonies. That means he was able to earn credits at a quicker rate. The shooting also occurred as the Department of Corrections was in the midst of updating its credit system to allow both nonviolent and violent inmates to earn them faster. Prisoners convicted of violent crimes can now reduce their sentences by one-third through credit-earning. Those convicted of nonviolent crimes can cut their sentences by half. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday, March 17, 2023 announced that by 2025, the 171-year-old San Quentin State Prison would be converted from a maximum-security prison into a rehabilitation and education facility within the prison system. Lawmakers try to reform Proposition 57 A year later, Republicans face an uphill battle for changes that would blunt the impact of Proposition 57 Pattersons bill would have reclassified domestic violence, rape of an unconscious person and human trafficking of a sexual nature as violent crimes. This would make it more challenging for inmates like Martin to earn credits and win early release. It would also expand the list of offenses eligible for the states Three Strikes Law. I think a lot more crimes human trafficking, sexual assault are worthy of lengthier prison sentences, Patterson said. But thats obviously not the will of the Legislature. So Im trying to be reasonable and trying to find ones that are so obvious a threat to public safety, and make sure those are considered what they truly are: violent crimes. But Democrats are hesitant to make the states criminal justice system even more punitive, especially as the state closes prisons and moves to limit incarceration. Pattersons bill ultimately failed to make it out of the Assembly Public Safety Committee. What youre kind of proposing is a back to the future kind of thing, where we did three strikes, said Chair Reggie Jones-Sawyer, D-Los Angeles, during the March hearing. Thats how we got to overcrowding in the prisons. Thats how we filled it with Black and brown folk. A prison guard carries his weapon while he walks along a catwalk inside East Block at San Quentin State Prison on Tuesday, December. 29, 2015, in San Quentin, Calif. A bill from Assemblywoman Diane Dixon, R-Newport Beach, would have made Department of Corrections prisoner credits and release dates public records. Her measure also died in committee, as members expressed concerns about prisoner privacy and whether public disclosure of their records would discourage them from participating in credit-earning programs. The committee allowed Dixon reconsideration for her bill, meaning she can try again at a subsequent hearing. She intends to rework it with committee suggestions. Anytime theres no transparency, one looks to why? Dixon said. What are they trying to hide? What do they not want to disclose? And if an inmate is participating in all the necessary rehabilitative programs, great. Lets know, so when these people enter our communities, we know that they are rehabilitated according to CDCR. One Democrat, Sen. Tom Umberg of Santa Ana, has authored a bill to gather data on recidivism rates and Proposition 57 credit earning. His goal is to understand how the state could create more positive post-prison outcomes. My hypothesis is that virtually everybody who goes to prison is going to get out of prison, Umberg said. So we need to do a good job in prison creating an environment and incentives for folks not to recidivate. Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Tennessee General Assembly Republican lawmakers were quick to expel two Black Democrats from the Tennessee House of Representatives Thursday after they protested against gun violence. However, their white colleague, who joined the protest, was narrowly spared, leading many critics to call the decision racially charged. Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson were expelled when 72 lawmakers and 69 lawmakers voted for their ouster, respectively. Those lawmakers argued the March 30 protest for gun control after the mass shooting at Nashvilles Covenant School broke decorum rules, particularly as a bullhorn was used on the House floor to grab attention. But Rep. Gloria Jones, who was also on the chopping block, received 65 votes, one short of the 66-vote majority needed to oust her. Rep. Justin Pearson and Rep. Justin Jones raise their fists ahead of Thursdays vote. CHENEY ORR/Reuters I think its pretty clear, Im a 60-year-old white woman, and they are two, young Black men, Johnson told CNN Thursday night when asked why Jones and Pearson were expelled and she was not. She added that she could hear alleged racial dog whistling while the men were being questioned by Republican colleagues in the House ahead of the vote. I was talked down to as a woman, mansplained to, but it was completely different from the questioning they got, she said. She added that there was an unspoken assumption from Republicans rule that signified the men were supposed to assimilate into this body to be like us. Rep. Gloria Johnson on why she survived while two of her colleagues were expelled from the Tennessee House: "Well, I think it's pretty clear. I'm a 60-year-old white woman and they are two young Black men." pic.twitter.com/6dNbW9dOHz Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 7, 2023 Rep. Charlie Baum was the only Republican who voted against expelling all three, Newsweek reported. On Friday, The Daily Beast contacted the five members who voted to keep Johnson but expel Jones and PearsonReps. Mike Sparks, Jody Barrett, Rush Bricken, Sam Whitson, and Lowell Russellfor an explanation of their decision. Story continues Four of the five failed to respond. Here were the Republican NO votes on expulsion of each member of the #TennesseeThree@brotherjones_ & @Justinjpearson were expelled. @VoteGloriaJ survived by 1 vote. Charlie Baum of Murfreesboro was the only No on all 3. pic.twitter.com/9OYW092a9g The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) April 7, 2023 In a prepared statement, Russell wrote, All three violated House rules and each of their individual conduct was not acceptable. It was obvious in the video recording [of the protest] and during discussion that Gloria Johnson did not participate in the extent that Jones and Pearson did. The two used that bullhorn to shout and scream and incite the crowd Had all three participated the same, I would have voted to expel all three. When asked if racial identity had anything to do with his vote, Russell told The Daily Beast, Absolutely not. The facts are how I decided my vote. However, the Tennessee Three, as theyve come to be known, as well as Black lawmakers in the state are not convinced by that explanation. What youre trying to say to us, since youre putting us on trial, Jones said Thursday ahead of his expulsion. What youre putting on trial is the state of Tennessee. What youre really showing for the world, holding up a mirror to a state that is going back to some dark, dark roots. A state in which the Ku Klux Klan was founded is now attempting another power grab by silencing the two youngest Black representativesand one of the only Democratic womenin this body. Thats what its about. Let us be real today. Wow: Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones, one of the Dems that the GOP is trying to expel from state legislature to protesting gun violence, calls out his colleagues on the floor For years, one of your colleagues, an admitted child molester, sat in this chamber no expulsion pic.twitter.com/KNDrhX3gl1 philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 6, 2023 Over 100 Black lawmakers from the Congressional Black Caucus, a collective that represents Black members in Congress, gathered almost immediately after the vote for an emergency online meeting to strategize on reinstating Jones and Pearson, The Washington Post reported. It smacks of overt racism that the two individuals that were ultimately expelled are two Black men who were simply speaking on behalf of their constituents, U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV), the Caucus chairman, told The Post. Make no mistake about it: Those two representatives will be returned to their positions. Pearson speaks after the vote. REUTERS/Kevin Wurm Indeed, a majority of members of the Nashville Metropolitan Council, which is responsible for appointing the interim lawmaker to replace Jones until a special election, told NBC News theyd be voting to send Jones back to the state Capitol as soon as Monday. Were going to keep fighting for our communities because the status quo is not working, Pearson told reporters after his expulsion. Its hurting people, its killing people, and theyre treating things like this as normal. We can never normalize the ending of democracy. We can never normalize the tyranny in the way these people in positions of power operated due to white supremacy and due to the maintenance of patriarchy, he added. Thats what were up against, and were going to fight it because we believe there is a future we can live in too that is better than the present we currently have. 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. Workers have installed guard rails around the perimeter of the Summit County Courthouse in preparation for the special grand jury hearing beginning next week to determine whether for eight Akron police officers who fatally shot Jayland Walker should face criminal charges. Public judgment came quickly for the Akron officers who killed Jayland Walker last summer after a car and foot chase. The eight officers acted in a way that's consistent with use of force protocols and officers training, the Akron police union said July 3, just minutes after the city released body-worn camera footage that showed Walker's body twitching on the ground as dozen of rounds hit him. Protesters in the streets of Akron labeled the police shooting a murder. We dont treat animals that way," an attorney for the Walker family said. In recent weeks, the killing has become a key issue in the race for Akron mayor, with two candidates Joshua Schaffer and Keith Mills also calling Walker's death by police "murder." A protester calls for justice for Jayland Walker during a demonstration held outside the Harold K. Stubbs Justice Center on July 4. With bated breath and fresh plywood over windows, the community is now bracing for a special grand jury to decide this month whether the use of deadly force merits criminal charges. Jurors will be instructed to answer a core question: Would a reasonable officer, in that moment and not in hindsight, have taken the same action? But the circumstances of Walkers death and the possibility that the use of force will be deemed justified fit an American pattern in law enforcement that some experts find troubling. Summit County special grand jury: Ahead of Jayland Walker case, what we know about the grand jury process No officer convicted in Summit County As far back as the Summit County Prosecutors Office can tell, which is 2001 when Sherri Bevan Walsh took office, only one use-of-force incident led to charges against officers. Summit County Sheriff's Deputy Stephen Krendick was charged with murder in the 2006 death of Mark D. McCullaugh Jr., 28. After a violent struggle with five deputies in his cell at the county jails former mental health unit, McCullaugh died by asphyxiation from blunt-force blows and the combined effects of chemical, electrical and physical restraints on his airway, an autopsy concluded. Story continues Jayland Walker case: What the state investigation of fatal Akron police shooting may reveal At the end of an eight-day trial in 2008, a judge appointed by the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that McCullaughs death was more likely due to sudden cardiac death resulting from the exertion of the struggle and a preexisting cardiovascular condition. Following Krendicks acquittal, the state dropped charges against the other four deputies. An insurance company covering Summit County government paid McCullaughs family $862,500. The city of Akron and other jurisdiction have also settled lawsuits stemming from their officers use of force, but no other officers have been criminally charged for using force in the county. 'Business as usual' Since 2000, 35 people have died during encounters in which officers in Summit County fired their weapons or used force, including tasers. With grand jury decisions pending in the Walker case and another on the February 2022 shooting death of Lawrence LeJames Rodgers by Akron police, every case was deemed justified by the Summit County Prosecutors Office or cleared by grand juries. Akron police officers were involved in 22 of the cases, including a joint response with university police in 2002 when an armed man barricaded himself in a bathroom for 10 hours and was shot after being forced out with tear gas. Akron police are averaging one fatal shooting per year while responding to 150,000 or more calls for service. Officers do not face any criminal charges for the people they kill while on duty, said Matthew Stinson, a professor in the criminal justice program at Bowling Green State University. And that's really considered business as usual, because in most of these cases, the officers are found to be legally justified. Stinson maintains a national database of criminal charges against officers who shoot and kill. At least 98% of the time, there are none, he said. Based on tracking by The Washington Post, more than 1,000 people are shot and killed by police every year. Fewer than 10 police officers criminally charged per year nationwide Fewer than 10 officers on average are criminally charged each year in America, according to Stinsons research, which excludes federal law enforcement and goes back to 2005. People read about these in the local newspaper. They hear about them on the evening news, Stinson said. But it's not until you aggregate it that it's troubling. Philip Stinson, professor in the Criminal Justice Program at Bowling Green State University, has created a rare national database tracking criminal charges filed against police in use of force cases. Less than half of all charges against officers result in conviction. Of the 165 officers charged since 2005, 52 have been convicted none in Ohio, where eight officers have been charged. And 55 cases are pending, including three in Ohio. The 52 convictions nationwide include seven murder charges, 29 manslaughter charges, six homicide charges, five civil rights violations, two official misconduct charges, two assault charges and one charge for reckless discharge of a firearm. Sentences for manslaughter or homicide convictions averaged five years with a range of no prison time to 40 years. The seven officers convicted of murder are serving 81 months to life in prison. What Stinson finds particularly concerning about the Walker case is the number of officers involved. Forty seconds after Car 24 attempted to stop Walker for an alleged traffic and equipment violation on Tallmadge Avenue, the officer reported a gunshot from inside Walkers car. Other officers heard that call on the radio and responded. I would argue that there was a lack of situational discipline, Stinson said of at least 11 cruisers pursuing Walker and 13 officers chasing Walker on foot. The supervisors did not have a discipline response there. In other words, they didn't have control of it. So in my view, that's the crux of what needs to really be investigated here, Stinson said, to understand what the hell was going on. The head of the Akron police union, Clay Cozart, has said the officers pursuing Walker saw him earlier that night but did not give chase. And they knew hed evaded a traffic stop in New Franklin the night before. Perceived threat key to justifying use of deadly force under U.S. law What happened when officers blocked Wilbeth Road, forcing Walker to abandon his rolling vehicle on foot while wearing a ski mask, is critical to determining the threat officers perceived. And a perceived threat is central to the justification of deadly force under American law. The graphic images captured by body-worn cameras tell what's happening, said Wellington Chief of Police Tim Barfield, who trains officers in Ohio and elsewhere on proper use of force. But it doesn't tell you what's going on. And video doesn't have fear. Its not going to get shot. So, the problem with just looking at the video is you don't know what the officers were thinking. You weren't there. Eight officers fired, according to Akron police. Muzzle flashes or smoke from their barrels is visible in seven of the 13 camera angles released a week after the shooting. Some officers fired only a couple shots then stopped. Others dropped their empty clips on the ground after the firing ended. In seven seconds of firing, some officers first shot while Walker is upright and others in the next second as he fell or had already hit the ground. Human performance factors BCI investigators will consider what Barfield called the totality of circumstances leading up to the officers discharging dozens of rounds at Walker. En route to the scene, the officer in Car 24 got on the radio. Take caution," he said. "He was grabbing for a gun, and he did fire a shot out the side of the door. In a press conference on the day the video footage was released, Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett said each of the officers was sequestered and monitored at the scene. It's unclear if BCI investigators, local police supervisors, the departments internal affairs unit or all of the above questioned the officers. When the investigative team arrives, they do an individual walkthrough of the crime scene, Mylett said. Each officer, independent of each other, related that they felt that Mr. Walker had turned and was motioning and moving into a firing position. Tim Barfield, chief of police for the village of Wellington in Lorain County, has four decades of law enforcement experience. He currently trains officers in Ohio and elsewhere on use of force and mental health. Wellington, a village in Lorain County, had its first officer-involved shooting in 63 years on July 23. An officer tased and then shot a man with a history of mental illness. The man, who refused to drop a knife during the incident, was hospitalized in stable condition after the incident. Barfield spoke to the Beacon Journal on July 14. He said research shows that officer accounts taken immediately after a traumatic incident can be unreliable. The human mind has its limits. With adrenaline pumping and the anticipation of violence, officers focus on the threat and miss other details. Their recall is impacted by what Barfield and experts call human performance issues. The human body can only process so much, can only do so many things, Barfield said. Under stress, we get tunnel vision. If the public and the media and the politicians and maybe a few police chiefs actually understood human performance a little bit better, than we wouldn't be so quick to judge the situation, Barfield said. Should we always learn and improve? Absolutely. Officer recall not always reliable In the book "Deadly Force Encounters" by Alexis Artwohl, the retired clinical and police psychologist gives examples of officers forgetting they ever called loved ones immediately after traumatic experiences on the job. A Beacon Journal review of civil lawsuits involving deadly use of force in Akron found that officer recall, when questioned at the scene or shortly after, can change drastically over time, from not being able to remember if the suspect was holding a gun or who fired first or if they even fired their own weapon (even in cases when they did) to remembering weeks or months later, with certainty, that the suspect not only reached for a weapon but was pointing it at them. Experiments have put officers in shoot-or-dont-shoot situations. Afterward, some officers have trouble recalling an air horn blast during the experiment. Barfield said research increasingly suggests officers can more accurately recall details of traumatic events after two or three sleep cycles. BCI staff investigating deadly use of force typically waits two or three weeks to interview officers, based on other completed investigations. Another phenomenon of police shootings involving multiple officers is contagious shooting, or when officers hear a gunshot without knowing who fired and react with the impulse to return fire. Maybe it's contagious shooting, said Barfield, who has four decades of law enforcement experience. Maybe they all perceived the threat at the same time. Supreme Court decision sets standards for justified use of deadly force Criminality in the use of deadly force, as well as officer training on when it's appropriate and justified, is measured against the seminal 1989 U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Graham-versus-Connor case. Before the watershed case, victims and prosecutors had to prove malicious intent on the part of the officer. After the case, jurors and judges had to come to the conclusion that any other reasonable officer in the same circumstances in that same moment, not in hindsight, would have acted the same. The details of the Graham case offer a contextual backdrop for public understanding of why officers often avoid charges after killing unarmed people, even people committing no crime. In 1984, Dethorne Graham panicked during an insulin reaction. A friend drove the diabetic to a nearby convenience store in Charlotte, North Carolina, for orange juice. But the line was too long, so Graham ran from the store to go to another friend's house for help. A police officer, suspecting Graham might be intoxicated, detained him and his friend after a traffic stop. The men were released after the officer determined no crime was committed, but Graham sued, alleging that his constitutional rights prohibiting cruel and unusual punishment or unreasonable searches and seizures had been violated. Lower courts agreed. But the Supreme Court overturned those decisions and sent the case back to be decided on an "objective reasonableness" standard. In its unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court said jurors in use-of-force cases should consider factors laid out in an older case called Tennessee v. Garner, which required the examination of the severity of the crime, threats perceptively posed to the public and other officers, and whether the individual was fleeing or resisting arrest. Reach Doug Livingston at dlivingston@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3792. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Police who kill on duty criminally charged less than 2% of the time Controversy has surrounded the vote by Tennessee lawmakers to expel two members from the state legislature after they and a third member all Democrats took part in a protest against gun violence from the floor of the chamber. The votes, held on Thursday, April 6, resulted in Justin Jones and Justin Pearson being expelled from the Tennessee State House of Representatives, while Gloria Johnson kept her seat by one vote. Vice President Kamala Harris headed to Nashville to meet with them on Friday, and President Biden spoke with the three via conference call and invited them to visit the White House. On Monday, April 10, the Nashville Metro Council voted unanimously to reinstate Jones, and two days later the Shelby County Commission voted unanimously to reinstate Pearson. Here's what to know about the "Tennessee Three," the events that led up to Thursday's vote, and what happens next. What led to the expulsion of two Tennessee lawmakers? On March 30, hundreds of protesters gathered at Tennessee's state capitol in Nashville, calling for tighter gun control laws after three 9-year-olds and three adults were killed in a shooting at The Covenant School, a private grade school in the city. It was the first day that the state's legislature had taken up bills since the shooting. Protesters lined the hallways before entering the galleries of the House and Senate chambers, chanting and shouting. On the House floor, the three representatives brought proceedings to a halt. Jones and Pearson led chants through a bullhorn as legislators instituted a recess. Video filmed by a Republican on the house floor during the event also a violation of the legislature's rules, Democrats contended on Thursday showed the three speaking on the floor as demonstrators could be heard in the background. Rep. Justin Pearson, Rep. Justin Jones, Rep. Gloria Johnson hold their hands up as they exit the House Chamber doors at the Tennessee State Capitol Building, in Nashville, Tennessee, April 3, 2023. / Credit: NICOLE HESTER/USA TODAY NETWORK via Reuters Republicans, who hold a large majority of seats, immediately pledged a rapid response. Johnson and Jones were stripped of committee assignments. (Pearson was newly elected and had yet to receive any committee assignments.) Motions to expel the three from the legislature were introduced by three different Tennessee Republicans on April 3, accusing the trio of "disorderly behavior." Story continues Who is Justin Jones? Justin Jones, 27, was the first of the "Tennessee Three" to be expelled from the House, by a vote of 72-25. He'd been one of the youngest members of the legislature and represented the state's 52nd district, which has about 70,000 residents and is part of Davidson County, the Nashville metro area. His photo and bio have been removed from the Tennessee General Assembly's website, but on his campaign site, Jones describes himself as a Nashville activist and community organizer. Jones gave an impassioned speech on the House floor before the vote. "This is not about expelling us as individuals. This is your attempt to expel the voices of the people from the people's house. It will not be successful," Jones said before the vote to expel him. "Your overreaction, your flexing of false power has awakened a generation of people who will let you know that your time is up." State Rep. Justin Jones speaks at the Tennessee House of Representatives ahead of votes on whether to expel him and two other Democratic members for their roles in a gun control demonstration at the statehouse last week, in Nashville, Tennessee, April 6, 2023. / Credit: Reuters/Cheney Orr Who is Justin Pearson? Justin Pearson, 28, was the second member of the group to be expelled from the House and another of its youngest members. He was elected in a January 2023 special election after the incumbent, Barbara Cooper, had died. He represented the state's 86th district, which has about 64,000 residents and is part of Shelby County, where Memphis is located. Pearson's information and photo is no longer available on the Tennessee General Assembly's website. On his campaign site, he describes himself as a community leader and advocate. Pearson was expelled from the legislature in a 69-26 vote. In an emotional statement before his vote, Pearson referenced Rev. Martin Luther King's beliefs in putting "conscience above rule." "We have heard from thousands of people asking us to do something about gun violence," Pearson said. "What it is in the best interest of our people is ending gun violence." Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, listens to remarks on the floor of the House chamber in Nashville on Thursday before a vote to expel him along with two other representatives over a gun control protest. / Credit: George Walker IV / AP Who is Gloria Johnson? Gloria Johnson was the only member of the "Tennessee Three" to not be expelled from the legislature on Thursday, retaining her seat by a single vote. She has been stripped of her committee assignments and it's unclear if those will be restored. Johnson, 60, is a retired teacher who spoke of her experience surviving a school shooting before her vote. She represents the state's 90th district, part of Knox County, and is currently serving her fourth term in the legislature. Before the votes, she defended her colleagues Pearson and Jones, saying the legislature has to "welcome this younger generation, who might do it a little bit differently, but they are fighting for their constituency." After the votes were concluded, she suggested that she had survived the process because she is White and Jones and Pearson are Black. "I think it's pretty clear: I'm a 60-year-old White woman. And they are two young Black men." Johnson told CNN, calling them "amazing young men... who are working so hard for people in their communities." Why is the expulsion so unusual? The forced expulsion of lawmakers from any state legislative body in the United States is a rare event. In Tennessee, just eight lawmakers have been expelled from the house in the past. Six of those were Confederates who were expelled in the 19th century for refusing to affirm the citizenship of formerly enslaved Black people. In the 20th century, a legislator was expelled after being convicted of bribery, and in 2016, a member was expelled for sexual misconduct. Before his vote, Jones listed other lawmakers who have acted unprofessionally or been investigated for misconduct but not been expelled from the legislature, calling the votes an "extreme measure" that is an "attempt to silence and undo the will of over 200,000 Tennesseans" represented by the trio. How have people reacted to the expulsion? Democrats nationwide were quick to condemn the expulsions. President Joe Biden issued a statement Thursday night calling it "shocking" and "undemocratic." "Today's expulsion of lawmakers who engaged in peaceful protest is shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent," Mr. Biden said. "Rather than debating the merits of the issue, these Republican lawmakers have chosen to punish, silence, and expel duly elected representatives of the people of Tennessee." On Friday, the White House said Mr. Biden said he spoke with the three to "thank them for their leadership in seeking to ban assault weapons and standing up for our democratic values." It added that he has invited them to visit the White House in the near future. Earlier, I spoke to Reps Jones, Pearson, and Johnson to thank them for their leadership and courage in the face of a blatant disregard of our nations democratic values. Our country needs to take action on gun violence to do that we need more voices like theirs speaking out. pic.twitter.com/oQl9jQSOy1 President Biden (@POTUS) April 7, 2023 Former President Barack Obama tweeted, "No elected official should lose their job simply for raising their voice especially when they're doing it on behalf of our children," adding, "Silencing those who disagree with us is a sign of weakness, not strength, and it won't lead to progress." In a statement shared on social media, Tennessee House Republicans said it was a "sad day" for the state but they defended the vote as "the only path forward" in response to the trio's "disrespectful" actions. "Unprecedented events yield unprecedented consequences," the group said. "Unfortunately, we were obligated to levy unprecedented consequences on those members today. Our focus continues to be on the six innocent lives that were brutally taken last week at the Covenant School, not those who have chosen to make this tragedy about themselves." What happens next? Will they get their seats back? The two vacant seats will be filled, and both Jones and Pearson could soon return to the legislature. According to the Tennessee state Constitution, because there are less than 12 months before the next election, the successor is to be elected by the legislative body of the replaced legislator's county of residence. The Metro Council of Nashville called a special meeting for Monday, April 10, to fill Jones' seat and unanimously voted to reinstate him. Prior to the vote, Nashville mayor John Cooper said he was "proud" that the council was meeting and would "send (Jones) right back to continue serving his constituents." The people of @brotherjones_ and @Justinjpearsons districts were disenfranchised today. Im proud that Metro Council is meeting Monday to fill the vacancy left in Nashville by todays vote, & I believe theyll send @brotherjones_ right back to continue serving his constituents. Mayor John Cooper (@JohnCooper4Nash) April 7, 2023 Shelby County Commissioner Mickell Lowery also called a special meeting over Pearson's expulsion. The commissioners voted unanimously to reappoint Pearson to his seat. Tennessee House Republicans said on social media that if Jones and Pearson return to the House, they hope that the duo will "act as the thousands who have come before them with respect for our institution, their fellow colleagues and the seat they hold." Second lawmaker reinstated to Tennessee state house after expulsion Ireland residents react to visit from President Biden Residents evacuate after fire at Indiana recycling plant filled with plastics Croczilla opening its jaws to regulate its temperature. Kym Clark Wildlife photographer finally caught the Everglades' "Croczilla" on camera after a months-long hunt. When she face-to-face with the beast, she realized how "small and powerless" she was in comparison. Crocodiles are rare in Florida, and "Croczilla" is thought to be the biggest in the state. Wildlife photographer Kymberly Clark had been hunting for the Everglades' infamous "Croczilla" rumored to be the largest crocodile in the park for months, with no luck. She'd heard stories from park employees that the massive beast sometimes lurked near Nine Mile Pond, a few miles from Florida's southernmost tip. "I didn't give up hope, but after many visits without seeing Croczilla, my expectations were low," Clark told Insider. Clark visited the park on Sunday and once again searched for Croczilla among the marshy green ponds under the bright Florida sun. After finding nothing, she said she turned to leave, "feeling defeated." But then, just as she was driving away, she spotted her scaley prey. "I passed the last truck that was hauling kayaks and there it was!" She said. "Croczilla was immediately in front of me basking in the sun with its mouth wide open to regulate its body temperature." She said she was so excited to see the giant crocodile that she jumped out of her car without even turning it off or closing the door. "It wasn't until I was standing next to the colossal Croczilla that I realized how small and powerless I was in comparison," Clark said, adding that she stayed at least 20 feet from the creature since crocodiles can lunge six feet from a resting position. "As I stood in front of him, I was stunned to see Croczilla's length and the size of the head," Clark said. With her zoom lens, she was even able to see some of Croczilla's rotten teeth, behind all its pearly whites. Clark found Croczilla sunning itself next to a pond. Kym Clark So what makes Croczilla so special? Unlike your run-of-the-mill Floridian alligator, crocodiles are much rarer in the region they were once designated as an endangered species, but are now considered a threatened species, according to the National Park Service. Story continues And then, there's the sheer size of Croczilla. Croczilla is estimated to be a little over 14 feet long. Kym Clark "A 14-foot American Crocodile is about as large as anyone will ever see in the wild," Clark said. "Croczilla could possibly be the largest wild crocodile in Florida." Crocodiles can grow up to 20 feet in captivity but rarely exceed 14 feet in the wild, according to the National Park Service. "Looking back at all the times I tried but did not find this enormous crocodile, I have no regrets," Clark said. "In fact, I will continue to look for Croczilla every trip I make to Everglades National Park." Clark was no stranger to amazing creatures. She had once spotted an 18-foot-long Burmese Python "filled with eggs" and an "elusive" Pine Snake. "I love the thrill of the hunt and unexpected surprises," Clark said. Read the original article on Insider Latoya Hawkins wears a mask as her 4-month-old daughter is examined at MLK Community Hospital in January. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) In a world moving on from the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals and medical offices have been the last bastions of mandatory masking. But new research finds that in communities where pandemic precautions have been largely abandoned, mask mandates in healthcare settings do little to prevent coronavirus infections among patients. The findings, presented on Thursday at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases in Copenhagen, suggest that hospitals, nursing homes and clinics could adopt "mask optional" policies without putting their patients at increased risk. The study's findings come almost a year after most European governments decided to let the virus spread unimpeded among their highly vaccinated populations. But with some of the last masking requirements now being dismantled in the United States, many here continue to debate the wisdom of declaring an end to the public health emergency. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to recommend indoor masking for all in communities where new infections, hospitalizations and local hospital capacity combine to push COVID-19 into a "high" risk level, and for people who may become severely ill with COVID-19 if they live in communities where the risk level is "medium." But for the 96% of counties where the risk is deemed "low," masks are neither recommended nor discouraged. This week, California health officials lifted the general masking order for healthcare settings throughout the state while allowing individual hospitals, doctors offices and other facilities to set their own requirements. Los Angeles and San Francisco counties have lifted their masking orders for patients and visitors. But under new local orders, doctors, nurses and other employees will be required to wear masks while providing patient care or working in patient areas at hospitals, clinics, skilled nursing facilities, dialysis centers and the like. L.A. County rules also require continued masking by janitors, security officers, secretaries and volunteers who work in patient-care areas, as well as by firefighters, emergency medical technicians and police officers who enter such places. Story continues The British authors of the new study appeared to question the value of such broad masking policies, both in the absence of masking outside of hospital walls and in light of evidence that the pandemic virus has become less likely to kill than it was three years ago. A low-tech, low-cost intervention without well-established benefit was reasonable in the context of the early pandemic, wrote the authors of the new study, referring to the widespread use of face-coverings. However, with a reduction in the severity of COVID-19 disease, in later variants, the risk-benefit balance becomes more questionable. Dr. Aodhan Breathnach, an infectious disease physician with the National Health Service Foundation Trust and one of the studys authors, said many hospitals have retained masking at significant financial and environmental cost and despite the substantial barrier to communication. He expressed hope that the studys findings can help inform a rational and proportionate mask policy in health services. In the United Kingdom as in the United States, continuing mask mandates "became politicized," Breathnach said. "Rather than people just flocking to their political tribe, we said, 'Let's see how much they actually work.' The data were just sitting there." Breathnach and his colleagues in the U.K.'s National Health Service set out to test whether changes in masking policies for hospital visitors and staff resulted in changed infection rates among patients on the wards of St. Georges Hospital in southwest London. They focused on a 40-week period that began in December 2021, when the Omicron variant had established itself as the dominant coronavirus strain. In the first 26 weeks, masking was required of all hospital visitors and healthcare workers. The researchers captured rates of infection among patients upon admission and rates of hospital-acquired coronavirus infections during that time. In-hospital infection rates were much lower that those detected at admission, but the two tracked up and down largely in tandem. On June 2, 2022, masking became optional for healthcare workers and visitors in most wards of St. Georges. However, on cancer wards, in dialysis suites and intensive care units, and at medical admissions, the mask mandate stayed in place. That allowed those areas of the hospital to serve as the studys control group. For the next 14 weeks, researchers found that patients admitted to wards where masks were optional were no more likely to become infected inside the hospital than were patients in units where masking remained mandatory. For both sets of patients, the relationship between infections at admission and hospital-acquired infections followed the patterns established in the first 26 weeks of the study. That held up even in July 2022, when London experienced a huge Omicron surge: Infections among newly admitted patients rose dramatically, and throughout the hospital, rates of in-hospital infection continued their customary pattern of rising less dramatically. Breathnach said the stability of the group's findings, even as a surge swept through London, gave them confidence that universal masking in hospitals had become hard to defend. Still, he said he understands why demands for continued masking would be the final fall-back for many people. "There's a certain psychological aspect to masking: it's the most visible control measure, and you feel you have control over it. And other public health measures, like social distancing, are so much harder to do," he said. But when virtually all other strictures have gone by the boards and only hospital workers are wearing masks, their face coverings barely make a difference. "They have a marginal ability to protect against a disease thats increasingly less severe," Breathnach said. At the Copenhagen meeting of microbiologists, experts continued to debate how much less severe COVID-19 has become. Another study presented Thursday assessed the virus's power in the context of another widespread respiratory disease, influenza. While the Omicron variant appears to have rendered the coronavirus less virulent, research from Israel affirms that it remains deadlier than flu. Scientists compared the characteristics and outcomes of 167 Israeli hospital patients admitted with COVID-19 between December 2021 and January 2022 to those of 221 admitted with a flu infection during the same period. The COVID-19 patients, half of whom were older than 71, were more likely to require oxygen support, to be put on a ventilator and to die than were the slightly younger patients with influenza. Of the 167 patients hospitalized for COVID-19, 26% died within 30 days of admission. By contrast, 9% of the 221 flu patients died in that timespan. That jibes with a study published Thursday in JAMA Network Open, which found that among people 65 and over treated in U.S. Veterans Affairs hospitals, the death rate for patients with COVID-19 (6%) was nearly twice as high as for patients with the flu (3.75%). The Israeli research underscored that COVID-19 is increasingly a disease that exacts its greatest toll on older, sicker patients. Most patients hospitalized with flu had asthma, whereas those hospitalized for COVID-19 more frequently had diabetes and high blood pressure, and needed more assistance with daily activities. Both studies were peer reviewed by a panel of the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, and have been submitted to medical journals for publication. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A woman has shared a tour of her home, which she called the most disgusting college house to have ever existed. Katelyn, @katelynharuko, shared photos of her space in a TikTok post, which begin with a description of the different images: Things in my college house that are legitimate hazards to my health. The post continued with an image of a broken window that didnt have a screen attached to it. She described how the window broke, writing: My roommate got drunk and punched the glass out of our windows, before sarcastically adding a heart eyes emoji. The next photo showed a photo of a dirty sink covered in globs of snot, which Katelyn said were not hers. The student then showed a picture of her kitchen sink which was filled with dirty water and dishes. She noted that her houses garbage disposal didnt work. She went on to share one picture of her above ground pool and explained that three squirrels drowned in it. She also included a photo of the pool, which she said got destroyed after three weeks. The pool was turned completely upside down due to the Santa Ana winds in California. The rest of her photos pointed out some of the dishes and food in her sink, including a whole sandwich. She seemingly criticised her roommate when showcasing the dirty plates and bowls in the kitchen, writing: Dishes pile up for weeks at a time and theyre not even in the sink, but on the counter where I cook. Another picture poked fun at some of the food in a bowl: U want some ground beef with that oil. She then showed some of the dirt next to the area where soap is held and the mystery goo next to her refrigerator. The post ended with a photo of shoes and flowers in her backyards unlit fire pit, which she jokingly called: Modern art. She then shared a follow up video about living in the most disgusting college house that has ever existed. The video began with Katelyn sharing photos of empty boxes piled up, which she said were her roommates half opened packages. She noted that while she usually doesnt care if the packages are in the hallway her roommate had left the country for a trip. Story continues She is no longer in America and she left her half open boxes in the communal hallway for 10 days, the student continued, before pointing out the dirty dishes that her roommate apparently left in the sink. She showed that her side of the sink only had a bowl and glass in it, while her roommates side was filled with pans and bowls. Genuinely, how do you leave this in the sink knowing that youre going to be out of the country for 10 days, she continued. Theyre not even like empty washed out dishes. This is a whole bowl of spaghetti and curdled cheese. She then showed a picture of her floor, noting that her roommate dropped habanero peppers while cooking and never picked them up. I simply refuse to pick up their food off of the floor because I do it literally all the time, she said. Last week, there was a piece of pepperoni, I dont eat pepperoni, that was on the floor for two weeks until I finally, finally went and picked it up. Katelyn shared a picture of her fridge, pointing out that the bottom shelf was hers, and then looked at her roommates shelf, which was filled with open packages of meat. She pointed out a bottle that was sitting in an open pan of pork chops. The video continues by showing powder strewn about, a disgusting dirt-covered sponge, and a spoon with mystery fluid on it stuck to a plastic pizza coupon. Katelyn concluded her video with a photo of the sink and explained why using it bothers her the most, since its filled with her roommates snot. When I saw these in the sink, it wasnt even a side eye, it was like a full on blank stare. What do you think is going to happen to your snot if you dont run water over it, she added. As of 7 April, her two videos have more than 532,00 views, with TikTok users in the comments sharing their candid thoughts and reactions to Katelyns space. Girl please do NOT put your stuff on the bottom shelf. Take the top shelf so your food doesnt get contaminated, one wrote, while another asked: How do u not have bugs everywhere. A third said: THE RAW MEET WITH THE BEER ON IT OMG. Other viewers shared their experiences when having roommates. Having roommates really made me realise that not everyone is taught basic respect and cleanliness, one said. Reminiscing when my roommates left a smear of butter on the floor for days then left for winter break, another added. The Independent has contacted Katelyn for comment. Eileen Wickett never wants to miss a Powerball drawing. Thats why she set up a subscription with the Michigan Lottery, where her tickets are automatically purchased through her online account. Recently, one of her Powerball tickets was a big winner. But the 60-year-old woman from Northville had no idea how much she won. She received an email telling her she won a prize, but she assumed it was a few dollars and so didnt immediately check her account. Since I have a subscription and my tickets are automatically purchased, I didnt log on to my account for a while, Wickett said in an April 7 news release from the Michigan Lottery. It wasnt until six weeks after Id won that I logged into my account and saw a $1 million prize pending, she continued. Her ticket for the Feb. 6 Powerball drawing had matched the five white balls 05-11-22-23-69, according to the release. It was such an awesome feeling, Wickett said when claiming her prize. I called my kids right away to tell them the good news. She plans to use her winnings to renovate her home, go on a vacation and share with family, officials said. Northville is part of the Detroit metropolitan area. Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families. If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website. Lottery players lucky feeling leads him to huge Powerball win, CA officials say Coworkers have been playing Powerball together for a year. It finally paid off in SC Man checks Powerball ticket five different times in Missouri. He couldnt believe it Luci Gutierrez for BuzzFeed News Ana (who requested a pseudonym to protect her privacy), a medical assistant who lives in Florida, started taking synthetic testosterone and estrogen to improve her energy levels and libido in her 30s around 2005. In 2016, a patient at the facility Ana worked at told her a secret: the hormones the patient was taking had caused her clitoris to grow. The patients lover was thrilled. Sex was great. Ana decided she wanted a bigger clitoris as well. Mine was a good noticeable size, she said. But she wanted to enlarge it to increase her pleasure and because she liked the look. She asked her doctor if more testosterone would do that for her. He said yes and upped her dose. Soon, her clitoris grew by a substantial amount. She loved it. Oral sex was more intense, she said. And her clit was easier to find. Your partner just goes down there and is not like, where is it? Ana, who is now 56, learned from a coworker that clitoral enlargement surgery could make her clitoris even bigger. I feel this way with this [clit], so how would I feel with the big[ger] one? she asked herself. I wanted to know how [the clit felt] when I was having an orgasm. She told her husband and he found her a doctor: Miami-based plastic surgeon Dr. Christopher Salgado, who specializes in gender-affirming surgery. Salgado had never performed this surgery before, but he thought he might be able to produce results similar to the ones he gives some trans men for metoidioplasty, a type of bottom surgery. The surgery involves cutting the suspensory ligament connecting the clitoris to the pubic bone, which lengthens the visible part of the clitoris. Your partner just goes down there and is not like, where is it? Before deciding whether to operate, Salgado studied the literature to find out if a larger clitoris led to increased sexual pleasure. He found a 2014 study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine that showed a correlation between women with larger clitorises and the ability to orgasm. But the study was small, with only 30 participants, and it did not prove that a large clitoris could cause women to orgasm. Story continues Other more recent studies also showed little consensus. A 2020 study in the Turkish Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that clitoral size was not correlated with greater orgasm, while a 2020 study in the Journal of Surgery and Medicine found that surgeries to increase clitoral glans visibility can facilitate sexual satisfaction and/or increase orgasm intensity [and that] clitoral glans visibility is more important than clitoral size for sexual stimulation. Leah Millheiser, an OB-GYN and clinical professor at Stanford University who specializes in sexual health, told BuzzFeed News that enlarging your clitoris has never been shown to increase sensitivity in women who have a normal size clitoris. Salgado told Ana hed never done this surgery before and that she could possibly lose sensitivity in the area. Ana was worried about the possibility, but she hoped the surgery would bring her stronger orgasms. I wanted the surgery as soon as possible, she said. But Salgado was booked for three months, and he also required her to have a psychological evaluation before the surgery, where they asked her about her gender identity (she is cisgender) and whether her husband was coercing her to get the surgery (she said he wasnt). She passed the evaluation and underwent surgery in August 2018. It took about three hours and went smoothly. Her insurance didnt cover the surgery, which Salgado says usually costs between $6,000 and $15,000. After Ana healed, her clitoral glans (the visible part of the clitoris) grew a half inch to a length of 2 inches, nearly double the size of an average womans clit. And it became even larger when aroused. She noticed a difference in sexual response immediately; her orgasms were more intense. The sensation is different, she said. It's not like multiorgasms. It keeps going, keeps going, keeps going. Its nonstop. She said during oral sex, my husband has to keep his mouth [on my clit] until my soul comes back to my body. But her inner labia were covering much of her clit, and she wanted more of it exposed. I told [Salgado] I want to do something with my small labia. So he wrapped the labia [minora] around the clitoris, so that it looks like a small penis without circumcision. I dont know why all women havent done this, Salgado recalled her telling him. One day, while her husband was performing oral sex, she said she had an orgasm that lasted eight minutes (her husband timed it). It really changed my life, she said. Her orgasms went on to become even more intense. In 2020, she had one that was so strong that it completely locked my muscle on my back, she said. Her physician said it was the first time hed seen an orgasm cause back issues. She is now taking testosterone prescribed by a doctor to increase her clitoris size, and she uses a nipple pumping cylinder, which creates a vacuum around the clitoris and enhances blood flow. Ana said it increases the length of her clitoris to 4 inches. When she goes to the beach, sometimes people stare at her crotch, but shes OK with it. You have to be happy with yourself. [If] you want to explore your body, if you want to feel different, do it, she said. When she told friends about the surgery, they were skeptical, but she assured them that the improvement in her sex life was worth it. After Salgado published an academic article on Anas surgery in 2020, other cis women started reaching out to him. They were looking to improve not just the function, but also the aesthetic appearance, he said. He has since performed this surgery on four additional women. Until recently, most clitoral surgeries were designed to decrease its size, not increase it. The clitoris and its extensive network of erectile tissue below the visible glans werent even fully discovered until 2005, when urological surgeon Helen OConnell used an MRI machine to examine the organ. You can think of the clitoral glans as being equivalent to the head of the penis. Its derived from the same tissue, said Dr. Marci Bowers, a gynecologic and reconstructive surgeon who performs clitoral restoration surgeries on women who are victims of female genital cutting. In part because of the misrepresentations of the clitoris as being smaller than it is in medical textbooks, art, and some pornography, some Western women opt for elective clitoral reduction surgeries. After always doing reductions for patients that were born with clitoromegaly [enlarged clitorises], I was kind of surprised, Salgado said of enlargement requests like Anas. Why would a woman want it larger? Surgery is only one of a number of methods cis women can use to enlarge their clits. Plastic surgeons can also inject hyaluronic acid into womens clitoral glans and hood at their offices offices. Like Ana, other women are getting doctor-prescribed or illicit testosterone creams, injections, and pellets, which they sometimes supplement with suction pumps. (Bowers sometimes provides testosterone for cisgender women or nonbinary people who want to grow their clitorises.) In the kink community, a small number of women inject their clitorises and clitoral hoods with saline to provide a temporary puffiness. The subreddit GrowYourClit has 40,000 subscribers, many of whom say they are using testosterone and pumps. I was kind of surprised, Salgado said of enlargement requests like Anas. Why would a woman want it larger? The hormone itself might be the cause for increased sexual pleasure, not the size of the clitoris. Testosterone has the effect in some women of enhancing libido, said Charles Rardin, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology and director of the division of urogynecology and pelvic surgery at Women and Infants Hospital at Brown University. But it also increases heart attack risk, Rardin said. Women who use higher levels of testosterone can have a multitude of other side effects, from facial hair growth and pattern baldness to potentially more serious health issues, according to Millheiser. When levels of testosterone are superphysiologic [more than a premenopausal woman would usually have], it could potentially have effects on the liver, on carbohydrate metabolism. It can cause voice changes and deepening of the voice, which may in certain situations not be reversible. The long-term safety is unknown. Millheiser said. Its difficult to ascertain how many doctors perform clitoral enlargements and how many patients undergo them. We dont have specific stats on surgical clitoral enlargement and enhancement, Madison Freeman, a spokesperson from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, told BuzzFeed News. Rardin cautions against these clitoral enlargement procedures. I'm not aware of any peer-reviewed data suggesting that [it] has benefits. My own instinct is that injecting or operating on the clitoris is not usually a good idea. You can get infections, you can get hematomas or bruising, you can get scar tissue, he said. In 2017, Kelly (name has been changed to protect her privacy), then 22 and living in Europe, decided she wanted to grow her clitoris after looking at photos on Tumblr and bodybuilder porn: It excited me to imagine those women with such big clits having more powerful and intense orgasms, and thinking of having that for myself was extremely arousing, she said. Shed always thought hers was on the small side, and shed wondered if she could grow it. Enlarging my clitoris has always been about exploring a kink. Its a sexual fetish, she said. She began searching Google for more information. I came across information about female bodybuilders who were experiencing clitoris enlargement as an unwanted (or at least unintended) effect of using steroids, she said. After doing some more research, she decided that one of the best ways to increase the size of her clitoris was to use a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which helps produce sexual characteristics such as a deeper voice, facial hair, and Adams apples. She found someone selling DHT online and ordered herself a vial, which she now believes was tap water. It was absolutely useless, but it gave me the start I needed to solidify the fantasy in my mind and actually try to find a safe and effective version of the hormones, she said. She bought a cream containing androgens and anabolic steroids online that she applied directly to her clitoris. Within a few weeks, I could already see that my clitoris was growing larger. It was an incredible surprise, she said. I began to really enjoy sharing photos and videos of my growing clitoris. (Millheiser, the OB-GYN, does not think this was wise. A mix of testosterone and anabolic steroids can be dangerous We don't know what the safety or efficacy of this is because there's no data to support its use, she said.) Kelly was drawn to the subreddit r/BigClit, where people post pictures of their large clitorises and typically receive an abundance of praise. Soon after posting her own photos, she became a moderator. When another Reddit user proposed they start a clit-growing subreddit, she was all in. [I] agreed to help support a community that would provide support and safe, legal resources for other women to grow their clitorises, she said. Enlarging my clitoris has always been about exploring a kink. Its a sexual fetish. r/GrowYourClit went live on Oct. 1, 2019. Since then, Kelly has seen thousands of women ask questions about the best hormones to use, proper dosage levels, where to find doctors willing to prescribe testosterone for clit growth, and what to say. Most of the women in the subreddit are interested in growing their clits to experience more sexual pleasure. A lot [of women] have confided that low sex drive, body issues, inability to achieve satisfactory orgasm are the reasons they want to explore clitoris enlargement, she said. [It] started to look like a very real and potentially misunderstood, dismissed, or misdiagnosed problem that a lot of women were facing. But many fear that doctors are going to judge them, she said. A great piece of advice I see commonly offered on the subreddit is simply to be honest You have no reason to be ashamed of wanting to increase your own sexual pleasure. Kelly has seen a number of benefits to enlarging her clitoris. My orgasms are certainly better, and its often much easier for me to achieve orgasm but I cant say for sure if thats due to physical changes to my clitoris, or if its because Im just that much more excited about having a huge clit and showing it off, she said. (Rardin, the Brown professor of gynecology, said that while testosterone is demonstrated to have a libido effect, [taking large doses] is not without systemic cardiovascular risks.) Dr. John Anastastos, who does clitoral enhancement in Beverly Hills, California, on Feb. 17, 2023. Lauren Justice for BuzzFeed News Dr. John Anastasatos, a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, who does both clitoral enlargement and reduction procedures, said that clitoral reduction procedures are much more common than enlargement ones. Yet, in the past five years, the number of women requesting clitoral hood enlargement treatments has been increasing, he said. He injects womens clitoral hoods with hyaluronic acid fillers, which last about six months. Anastasatos charges between $3,500 and $4,500 for the procedure, which insurance does not cover. I also perform all such treatments in an operating room to ensure the highest safety and sterility standards, he said. Operating rooms, facility fees, and anesthesia contribute to the total costs. Some women desire the procedures because they want the area to be smoother, plumper, and more youthful-looking. Theres always some wrinkling at the level of the hoodthat gets even more wrinkly with advancing age, he said. Others want the injections to increase sexual sensation. [Filler] gives it a little bit more volume, he said, possibly leading to the stimulation of the clitoris during intercourse or masturbation [that] can make it more pleasurable. Anastasatos traces the increase in genital plastic surgery to the rise in popularity of pubic hair removal. When there was hair there, I can tell you, there wasnt much interest, he said. Anastasatos began doing the procedures after one of his patients suggested clitoral hood fillers. She was very empowered by her positive experience afterwards, he said. If you had told me 20 years ago people would be getting fillers in their clitoris, I would have said, No way. Dr. Daniel Moghadam, a plastic surgeon in Santa Monica, California, also started injecting hyaluronic acid fillers after a patient requested them. I dont really advertise for it, honestly. All my patients are from word of mouth, Moghadam said. He has seen an uptick in requests for both clitorial and penis enlargement. During the pandemic, I feel like everyone was stuck at home for three months and just watching porn nonstopand my business exploded, he said. If you had told me 20 years ago people would be getting fillers in their clitoris, I would have said, No way. Monghadam does about five or six clitoral hyaluronic acid procedures a month, which cost $1,500 a pop. He always asks women why they want it and clarifies the limitations. If its strictly cosmetic and they just want a bigger clitoris, its fine, he said. But sometimes people are under the impression that [theyll] be more stimulated, and it doesn't really work that way. If anything, theres a risk of actually losing a little bit of sensitivity because its filler it's just padding between the nerve ending and the tissue. In fact, Salgado, the doctor who did Anas surgery, said some doctors are injecting cis mens penises with hyaluronic acid to to prevent premature ejaculation. Lauren Justice For BuzzFeed News When injecting the clitoral hood with hyaluronic acid, Anastasatos said he always starts with small amounts of filler: Its critical to maintain the natural architecture that someone has. About 70% of women return to get follow-up clitoral hood injections. The majority of patientsfind that there is an increase in sexual satisfaction. Now, how do you define sexual satisfaction? The treatment itself doesnt do anything to make the nerves more sensitivebut sexual satisfaction to a large degree is mental too, he said. He doesnt advertise clitoral hood procedures, either. Many women requesting them do so when undergoing mommy makeovers, which usually involve breast lifts and enlargements and tummy tucks. Plastic surgeon Landon Pryor of Pryor Health in Peoria, Illinois, injects hyaluronic acid into the clitoral glans. Most of the patients requesting these procedures are women between 35 and 45 years old with kids, he said. He recommends hyaluronic acid fillers to patients who tell him that their clitoris is the most sensitive area for [them] sexually, and [that theyre] having problems deriving maximum pleasure, he said. Unlike Moghadam and Salgado, he said fillers could improve sexual response. If somethings bigger, its more exposed to external forces, it potentially is going to be more pleasurable for somebody during sexual intimacy, he said. Pryor said that patients have reported better orgasms. To me, augmenting the clitoris isnt any different than augmenting the breasts: It makes women feel more sexually attractive, he said. The benefits of hyaluronic acid are its safe, its effective. Its not long-lasting and its easily reversible. For women who want a more temporary clit enlargement, theres saline, which lasts less than 24 hours. Saline clitoral injections are do-it-yourself treatments that are not administered by doctors but rather members of the medical fetish community. I think it is potentially dangerous, particularly if done by a provider who is not very familiar with the anatomy, Salgado said. Electrasexual (the pseudonym she uses online), a self-described medical fetishist and masochist, began enlarging her clit with saline recently, which she says is the most painful form of saline injection for my body The throbbing continues for several hours. The pain is part of what draws her to the practice. Physical pain turns me on if its in the right setting, she said. I think it is potentially dangerous, particularly if done by a provider who is not very familiar with the anatomy. She already had a large clit thanks to the testosterone shes been on for a decade. My doctor found that my testosterone level was zero. This is abnormal even for a cis female, so we started testosterone pellets every three months, she said. Her large clit began to arouse her, so she sought a way to make it even bigger. When it increases in size [with saline], it emerges from underneath its hood, and when it rubs against things while exposed, it is incredibly sensitive, she said. Ive started getting turned on by the fact that my clit is kind of a tiny penis, and can be sucked and massaged in ways that are similar to a cock. She began sharing videos of herself injecting her clit on Twitter and ManyVids. Others seem to enjoy watching me inflict pain on myself, so Ive started making a little money doing this, she said. I do it because of the sensation, the appeal to my followers, and because on a purely psychological basis, it turns me on with its genderqueer nature. Despite the growing number of women like Electrasexual who are enlarging their clitorises to increase sexual sensation or improve the look of their clitorises, doctors remain wary. I can understand the enthusiasm and hoping [enlargement] will help, Rardin said. But these [procedures] are not scientifically established. [Clitoral surgery] is a complicated and fraught procedure. Obviously the clitoris has incredible amounts of nerve endings and complex vascularity even just injecting materials [in the clitoris] is going to have some possibility of decreased function down the road. More on this Reuters/Getty A vicious feud broke out Friday between extreme right-wingers Laura Loomer and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), sparked by a new report that said Donald Trump wants Loomer to join his waning 2024 presidential campaign. Greene took to Twitter to call 29-year-old Loomer a documented liar who is mentally unstable. Loomer has already had two failed congressional bids and is banned from both Uber and Lyft for anti-Muslim remarks. Laura Loomer is mentally unstable and a documented liar. She can not be trusted. She spent months lying about me and attacking me just because I supported Kevin McCarthy for Speaker and after I had refused to endorse her last election cycle. She loves the alleged FBI pic.twitter.com/1D78hU59Z0 Marjorie Taylor Greene (@mtgreenee) April 7, 2023 Loomer shot back with more than a dozen tweets of her own. In one, she evoked religion, telling Greene it wasnt very Christian to lie about Loomer, especially on Good Friday. In another, she called Greene a disloyal liar. The bitter back-and-forth was sparked by a New York Times report on Friday that said Trump had recently met with Loomer and wanted to hire her for his campaign. That report drew the ire of Greene, however, who said shed let Trump know how she felt and have the proposal shut down. (By the days end, sources told the Times that Trump no longer planned to hire Loomer.) She cannot be trusted, Greene wrote. Never hire or do business with a liar. Liars are toxic and poisonous to everything they touch. Ill make sure [Trump] knows. Greene didnt specify why she was calling Loomer a liar, but she previously clashed with Loomer last fall when Loomer claimed Greenes former intern, Milo Yiannopoulos, was trying to sabotage Trumps 2024 campaign while working from the congresswomans Georgia office. Story continues Marjorie Taylor Greene posted this to Telegram in response to Laura Loomers recent attacks, said Loomer is desperately trying to remain relevant. pic.twitter.com/5QviCsC7TD PatriotTakes (@patriottakes) November 28, 2022 In a Nov. 28 Telegram post, Greene wrote that Loomer was desperately trying to stay relevant, and that the claims about Yiannopouloswhod stopped working for Greene that summerwere all lies. I sincerely wish Laura the best and hope she becomes stable, Green wrote. Lauras had a tough time after two Congressional losses. Shes lost twice and Ive won twice, so I wouldnt know how it feels. Loomer told the Times Friday she wouldnt comment on any potential job with the Trump campaign, but said shes always been a Trump loyalist and that the former president knows that. Speaking on her beef with Greene, Loomer told The Daily Beast, Its a shame that Marjorie is attacking me when Ive done nothing but support President Trump. Ive done nothing but be loyal to President Trump. .@RepMTG the only liar is YOU! You hired the foreign National who set up the dinner at Mar a Lago, and you spoke at AFPAC where you were more than happy to embrace Fuentes. Ye Asked me to work on his campaign, and I SAID NO because I told him I endorse Donald Trump, but I https://t.co/OIGYPDSOck pic.twitter.com/2ejWWHVQTx Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) April 7, 2023 Loomer was particularly offended to be the target of a fellow Trump fanatic, telling The Daily Beast that Greene was once an ardent supporter of hers. She claimed shed saved scores of old messages in which Greene said she wanted Loomer to join her in Congress. Along with her Twitter rants, Loomer posted a years-old video of Greene praising Loomer for standing up to Twitter in 2018. (That was back when Twitter banned Loomer for bizarrely claiming Rep. Ilhan Omar supported female genital mutilation.) Loomer also questioned Greenes loyalty to Trump, claiming Greene hasnt done enough to attack Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Trumps likely Republican contender in 2024. Everything that she says about me is completely false, Loomer told The Daily Beast. I would just ask her about her previous statements where she said, Laura is a fighter She seems to be the documented liar, its the classic case of projection. 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 Zwanenberg Food Group factory in Cincinnati produces products including soups and stews. Getty Images A worker in Ohio fell into an industrial blender and had to have his leg amputated, the DOL said. Following an investigation, the OSHA proposed penalties of $1.9 million for Zwanenberg Food Group. OSHA said cleaning staff weren't trained on how to ensure equipment was isolated during maintenance. A cleaner in Cincinnati had to have his leg amputated after he fell into an industrial blender at a food-processing plant, the US Department of Labor said. The 29-year-old temporary worker suffered "critical injuries" after falling into a blender he was cleaning and getting caught in the rotating paddle augers during an overnight shift in October 2022 at Zwanenberg Food Group, the DOL said. He'd only worked at the company for nine months, the department said. The DOL said staff weren't trained to lock the equipment prior to cleaning so it didn't move during maintenance. The Cincinnati subsidiary of Zwanenberg, a Dutch company, produces food including luncheon meat, soups, and stews under brands such as Vietti and Southgate and employs about 175 people. "This young man suffered a preventable debilitating injury because his employer failed to train him and the majority of its third-shift sanitation workers adequately to lockout equipment to ensure their own safety," said Bill Donovan, regional administrator for the DOL's Occupational Safety and Health Administration in Chicago, in a statement. OSHA said it had cited Zwanenberg in 2017 and placed it in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program. The agency said it cited Zwanenberg again about two weeks before the accident, but that the company had contested the violations. "This tragedy is compounded by the fact that OSHA cited Zwanenberg for similar violations two weeks prior, and they continued to ignore their responsibility to protect workers in their plant," Donovan said. An investigation by OSHA following October's accident uncovered a number of serious violations, including 11 which it listed as willful. Cleaning staff weren't given information about wearing appropriate eye protection and weren't trained on how to ensure equipment was isolated, OSHA found. The agency proposed $1.93 million in penalties for Zwanenberg. The US company and its Dutch parent company did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider (Independent) An American journalist detained in Russia while working for the Wall Street Journal has formally denied espionage charges levied against him by the Russian government. Evan Gerskovich, 31, was arrested and detained in Russia on spying charges last week, and has now been formally charged. An espionage conviction carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Russia's Federal Security Service, the successor to the old KGB, claims it caught Gershkovich collecting intelligence on the national's military infrastructure. The Wall Street Journal, the White House, and bipartisan leaders in Congress have called on Russia to release the reporter. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was formally charged with espionage in Russia on Friday after initially being detained by Russian authorities last week. Gershkovich denied the charge and maintained that he was engaged in journalistic activities, according to the Russian state-run news agency TASS. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) accused the Journal reporter last Thursday of trying to gain access to classified information. The FSB claimed that Gershkovich acting at the behest of the American side, collected information constituting a state secret about the activities of an enterprise within Russias military-industrial complex. The White House vowed to do everything we can to secure Gershkovichs release, calling the espionage charges against the journalist ridiculous. Evan is not a spy; Evan has never been a spy, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at Tuesdays press briefing. This is a case that is a priority for the president. Gershkovichs detainment also prompted a rare joint statement from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Friday, as they called for the reporters release. Let there be no mistake: journalism is not a crime, the pair said. We demand the baseless, fabricated charges against Mr. Gershkovich be dropped and he be immediately released and reiterate our condemnation of the Russian governments continued attempts to intimidate, repress, and punish independent journalists and civil society voices. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Rapper XXXTentacion was fatally shot during a 2018 robbery Three men have been sentenced to life in prison for killing US rapper XXXTentacion during a robbery. The star was shot outside a Florida motorcycle shop while being robbed of $50,000 in cash in 2018. The controversial chart-topping 20-year-old rapper quickly rose to fame with two consecutive hit albums. Michael Boatwright, 28, Dedrick Williams, 26, and Trayvon Newsome, 24, were found guilty of first-degree murder and armed robbery last month. They will have no chance for parole or early release. Broward County judge Michael Usan told them: "You'll spend every hour and every day and every week and every year of your life in that cell. "And one day, they'll come and open up that cell in the morning and you will have passed on, and only on that day you would've served your sentence." Prosecutors linked the rapper's killers to the shooting through surveillance video and phone footage of the men flashing handfuls of $100 notes hours after the ambush. Footage showed XXXTentacion - real name Jahseh Onfroy - leaving Riva Motorsports with a friend when an SUV vehicle swerved in front of him and blocked his BMW. Two masked gunmen could be seen confronting the rapper at the driver's window, with one shooting him repeatedly. They then grabbed a Louis Vuitton bag containing cash XXXTentacion had just withdrawn from the bank, and got back into the SUV and sped away. The rapper was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. Boatwright was identified as the main shooter and Newsome accused of being the other gunman. Williams was accused of driving the SUV and former friend of the rapper, Robert Allen, accused of being inside the vehicle. Allen pleaded guilty last year to second-degree murder, but his sentence was delayed until the conclusion of his accomplices' trial. A date for his sentencing has not yet been set. Dedrick Williams, Trayvon Newsome, Robert Allen, Michael Boatwright were all involved in the plot During the sentencing, the late rapper's manager Soloman Sabande - giving a statement on behalf of the star's family - said he was murdered "senselessly" and accused his killers of not showing an "ounce of remorse". Story continues He said: "He was a beam of hope for all that new him and his music. But Jahseh's life was not only robbed from us and his family, it was robbed from his extended family of millions of people across the globe... "Due to the actions of these killers, Jahseh will never get to meet his son let alone raise him." XXXTentacion first found an audience by uploading songs to the website SoundCloud and had been hailed as a breakthrough talent. The rapper, whose hit songs include SAD! and Moonlight, quickly rose to prominence following the release of his debut album 17 in 2017. His personal life was plagued by allegations of domestic violence. He was facing 15 felony charges at the time of his death, including aggravated battery of a pregnant woman, domestic battery by strangulation and witness tampering. Following his death, his single Sad! topped the US singles chart and posthumous album Skins reached number one on the US album chart for a second time. Across the BBC banner French President Emmanuel Macron met a warm welcome from the Chinese public on his state visit this week, a sharp contrast to the ongoing anger and protests against pension reforms back home. Macron's three-day trip is intended to strengthen economic ties and press Beijing on the Ukraine crisis -- but many in China were charmed by the 45-year-old head of state, praising his looks and relaxed demeanour. A screaming crowd of students and fans greeted Macron in the southern metropolis of Guangzhou on Friday, while social media bubbled over with posts about his appearance. "He's very approachable, and he doesn't have the airs of other presidents," Yue Liang, a 34-year-old Beijing resident, told AFP. "Macron is a very young and energetic president, and he has also made great efforts in various reforms." "I love his voice," Liu Xin, a 43-year-old student of French at Beijing's Alliance Francaise, told AFP. "He is a man with a lot of charm." Multiple hashtags related to Macron's visit made the top 10 most searched items on the popular Weibo social media platform on Friday. Many Weibo commenters said they were envious of students at Guangzhou's Sun Yat-Sen University, who took part in a question-and-answer session with the French president. Macron and his entourage squeezed through a crowd of campus well-wishers, who held up their phones and reached out to touch him, fans shrieking in delight as he shook hands. "I'm not gonna wash my hands today!" people can be heard saying in the background of videos of the encounter posted to Weibo. Ye Ziyu, a 26-year-old dining at a French restaurant in Beijing's trendy Sanlitun neighbourhood, said she was also a Macron fan. Most young people's "first impression of him is of his love story with his wife", she told AFP. "We might not be very knowledgeable about his policies, but we still know a bit about him personally," she said. The reception given to Macron has also prompted some on Chinese social media to point out the irony of the embattled president finding a brief respite from public vitriol thousands of miles from home. Chinese students "welcome Macron like an idol, but in France, students would question him and even throw eggs and flour on him", one Shanghai-based Weibo user said in a post on Friday. ehl-tjx-je/leg Shane and Hannah Burcaw on their podcast "Junkyard Mayhem." Squirmy and Grubs/YouTube Shane and Hannah Burcaw received a parking ticket for $60 after backing into a space. The couple complained about it to the parking enforcement office, but the appeal was denied. However, thanks to a viewer contacting a city official, the rule has now been changed. YouTubers Shane and Hannah Burcaw celebrated a change made by California parking officials after they were fined for parking the wrong way in a disabled spot. In the latest episode of their podcast "Junkyard Mayhem," the couple spoke about their experience with a West Hollywood parking rule that prevented drivers from reversing into a spot even in cases like theirs where doing so was essential. The pair grew their YouTube channel Squirmy and Grubs to over a million subscribers with posts about their life as a couple in which one of them is disabled. They spoke about getting the parking ticket in late March after meeting their agent for lunch in West Hollywood. "If you're familiar with West Hollywood, there's nowhere to park," said Shane in the earlier post. Hannah noted that most spots don't work for them because their car needs three feet of clearance for Shane to get out with his wheelchair. The couple said they looked up a parking lot beforehand and found a single spot when they arrived. It was on the wrong side for Shane's ramp, Hannah said, so she reversed in. They later spotted a sign that said "head in parking only." "And I was like, well, first of all, why? Give me a good reason why because that doesn't make any sense," Hannah said. "Second of all, if we don't park this way, we are not going to lunch because there is literally no other accessible parking spot for us to use." The couple decided to take the risk, but came back to a $60 fine with the note "failure to obey sign." "It was the only accessible parking spot in a mile radius," Shane said. "It's not fair." Hannah took a photo of Shane in the area and wrote an appeal to the West Hollywood parking enforcement office. Five days later, it was denied. Story continues "If I can't appeal the ticket, I would like to change the whole law," Hannah said, describing her reaction at the time. "Like, how can I get that sign removed is my question." "We are willing to take this all the way to the Supreme Court if we need to," Shane said. Two weeks later, Shane and Hannah posted an update, celebrating the rule change. Hannah said one of their followers emailed a city councilmember in West Hollywood, who provided a response from the parking officials. They said the head-in rule was so "parking officers don't have to walk around the vehicle to check the plate number." Hannah called it "the most asinine reasoning behind that rule that I have ever heard." "It was not a safety concern, it was so someone didn't have to walk five feet to scan the plate," she said. The email also contained a solution: their situation made the city government realize there were "unintended repercussions," and commit to removing the signs from all of their parking lots in West Hollywood, they said. "Every public parking lot in West Hollywood is now front in or back in parking," said Shane. "And I think that's amazing. What a big win for accessibility." In a statement sent to Insider, an official with West Hollywood parking enforcement confirmed that a regulation change had happened for the parking spots, claiming that the head-in parking requirements existed "to facilitate the City's license plate recognition system used for parking enforcement." "These requirements had unintentional impacts for people requiring an additional level of vehicle access and for people in certain EVs (electric vehicles)," the statement said. "The City of West Hollywood is appreciative about the constructive feedback it received regarding these impacts. As a result, the City has responded by removing head-in parking requirements and related signage from parking lots in West Hollywood." Read the original article on Insider Jacinda Ardern, right, is hugged by Finance Minister Grant Robertson after Ardern made her final speech to New Zealands Parliament in Wellington, on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, following her five-year tenure as prime minister. | Mark Mitchell, New Zealand Herald via Associated Press Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern spoke about her time in office during her final address to Parliament Wednesday and said she hoped she proved people like her could lead. I didnt change. I leave this place as sensitive as I ever was, she said, wearing a Korowai, a traditional Maori cloak. I am here to tell you, you can be that person, and be here. Ardern became prime minister in 2017 at the age of 37 and resigned in January, citing burnout, as the Deseret News reported at the time. Her time in office saw crises including the 2019 Christchurch shooting, a volcanic eruption and the COVID-19 pandemic. She said she didnt know how history would judge her time as prime minister. Related In 2018, Ardern gave birth to a daughter, becoming the first world leader in nearly 30 years to give birth in office. There is no question I have had incredible support to be the mother I wanted to be, she said. You can be that person and be here. During her remarks, Ardern told lawmakers they saved peoples lives with their handling of COVID-19. New Zealand enacted strong public health measures and had a lower excess mortality than many other countries for most of the pandemic, with 2,687 people dying from the virus, according to the World Health Organization. Was it hard? Absolutely, but well never know who you kept on this earth to know how truly worth it it was, Ardern said. She said so much of the information (about COVID) swirling around was false, but said misinformation wasnt limited to the pandemic. This is not a single issue problem, Ardern said. I have seen the same fractured debates based on distorted half-truths and complete falsehoods, emerging on a range of different subjects. This is not a question of free speech. Related Story continues She called climate change a crisis and asked Parliament to take the politics out of it. There will always be policy differences, she said. But beneath that we have what we need to make the progress we must. Ardern saw her approval rating slump late last year. She said her father stopped watching the news for five years when she was in office and her mother would send her daily thoughts. They were so uplifting that on occasion I would read them out at our small staff meetings, she said. That was with the exception of one, which I thought was a bit grandiose, even for a dedicated mother. It read, Remember, even Jesus had people who didnt like him. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as the head of state, should make the decision on the regaining of Crimea, taking into account the will of Ukrainians. Source: US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, as European Pravda reports, referring to Tagesschau Quote: "Ukraine is a democratic country. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is responsible for leading the country... But he must also be open to the will of Ukrainians," Blinken told Funke Mediengruppe, commenting on the regaining of Crimea. As he states, along with many other countries, the US is ready to help Ukraine protect its territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence and regain the occupied parts of the country. "This includes a counteroffensive that will probably begin in the coming weeks," Blinken noted. Speaking in the US Congress the other day, Blinken suggested that diplomacy might still play a role, as Kyiv might decide not to regain all the territories by military means. Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the head of the President's Office, assured on 6 April that Ukraine would not make concessions to Russia in the Crimea issue. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Zelenskyy created 19 new military administrations in the Zaporizhzhya Oblast The decree creates urban military administrations in the currently occupied localities of Enerhodar, Dniprorudne, Kamianka-Dniprovska, Orikhiv, and Molochanske, as well as military administrations in several settlements of the Vasylivskyi, Polozhynskyi, Melitopolskyi, and Berdianskyi districts of the oblast. Read also: Crippled logistics preclude Russia from launching offensive towards Zaporizhzhya The Ukrainian militarys General Staff and the Zaporizhzhya Oblast State Administration have been instructed to take measures to establish the military administrations. Read also: Zaporizhzhya NPP can no longer be protected, says IAEA head The decree comes into effect on the day of publication. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, has held another meeting of the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. Source: press service of the President's Office Quote: "Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhnyi informed the participants about the operational situation in the main parts of the front." Details: Additionally, commanders of the operational-strategic groups of forces reported on the course of hostilities in the areas of the front within their areas of responsibility. In addition, Kyrylo Budanov, the Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence spoke about the likely actions of the Russian forces in the near future. Members of the meeting reviewed in detail the formation and arming of new brigades. Attention was also paid to the level of personnel training. Separately, the participants of the meeting focused on measures to prevent the leakage of information regarding the plans of the defence forces of Ukraine. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took part in iftar [the fast-breaking evening meal of Muslims in Ramadan ed.] and said that now it will be a tradition at the official level as well. Source: Ukrinform Details: During the iftar, with the participation of Muslim soldiers, representatives of the diplomatic corps and the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Zelenskyy announced that this would be the beginning of a new tradition during the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims. Quote: "Today we are starting such a tradition for Ukraine iftar at the official level together with our heroes, the present Muslim soldiers, together with the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, together with representatives of the entire Muslim community of Ukraine. Moreover, with this, we affirm that Ukraine values every person and community." Details: The President emphasised that diversity anchored by respect is part of the character of an independent Ukraine. "And let this character of ours always strengthen and direct us to good deeds," he said. Zelenskyy assured that Ukraine is grateful to the Muslims of the country and the entire international Muslim community, who, like Ukrainians, seek peace and protection from evil. Quote: "Ukraine will never forget those fighting for freedom and security throughout our territories. We are all united by faith and we do not know the path ahead for certain. However, we are all confident in one thing: we will not break, we will not be separated, and we will not be erased; and most importantly, we will not allow our values to be erased, because we walk [through life] with respect for the sake of unity and the sake of freedom. We trust Him who gave us this most important thing, who gave us life, and we believe that the day will come when He will also give us Victory." Reference: Iftar is the fast-breaking evening meal of Muslims in Ramadan held at the local evening prayer time. At the end of the 20th century, Muslims began to organise iftar in different countries, not only for Muslims. It is used to strengthen ties between representatives of different nationalities living in the country and familiarise themselves with Muslims' lives. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Amherst County Board of Supervisors member Jimmy Ayers recently announced he will not seek reelection to a third term on the board, but he hasnt ruled out a bid for sheriff. Ayers, 59, served as Amherst County Sheriff for 20 years, retiring from the seat in 2015. He has served on the board since 2016, first w inning the seat in a write-in campaign the month before he stepped down as sheriff. I have totally enjoyed it, Ayers said of serving on the board. It was quite a change for me Ill just let some new blood step up to the plate and take part in it. Ayers said he is thinking about another run as sheriff but hasnt yet decided. Some residents have voiced their hopes for him to run again on his personal Facebook page after he wrote a lengthy Jan. 30 social media post strongly criticizing the handling of a county homicide investigation involving former defendant Justin Jay Sales. Charges of murder and aggravated malicious wounding against Sales in connection with a June 2019 shooting that left 92-year-old Doris Puleio dead and severely injured her daughter, Trudy Goetz, at a residence on Bobwhite Road in Amherst were dropped in December 2021 in part because of evidentiary-related issues. Amherst Commonwealths Attorney Lyle Carver has said the case remains an active investigation and charges can come back. Meanwhile, Sales has moved to New Hampshire and is undergoing criminal proceedings there in a sexual assault case he is charged in. Sheriff E.W. Viar, who succeeded Ayers in January 2016 and won reelection in a four-way race in 2019, has not announced if he is seeking a third term in the Nov. 7 election. The filing deadline is June 20. Viar has not publicly responded to Ayers criticism of the homicide case. In recent years, Ayers has maintained his law certifications through the Nelson County Sheriffs Office, he said. I have some work to do before I make that full commitment, Ayers said of a potential sheriffs bid. Ive got some work to do before I reach that point, if I reach that point. Ayers said he is humbled by those asking that he run again as sheriff. As I tell everybody, I have been so blessed in my life and career, Ayers said. I could not have asked to work for a better community than Amherst County. He said he feels the county government has accomplished much in recent years and he plans to keep serving the District 3 board of supervisors seat until his term expires at the end of the year. I hope to see the county continue to move forward in a good direction, Ayers said. Ayers started in public service at age 18 volunteering for the rescue squad and his two grown children work for the county in firefighter and paramedic roles. Ive never lost my desire for my home community, Ayers said. Its some of the finest people I have ever known in my life who live in this community. Ayers said he tells his two children they are serving the community that helped raise them, adding his oldest was only a week old when he was first elected as sheriff nearly 28 years ago. Supervisor David Pugh publicly thanked Ayers for his years of service at the boards April 4 meeting. We appreciate everything hes done and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors, Pugh said. A Bedford man is facing 25 felony counts of possession of child pornography and recently was extradited back to the county to soon face trial, the Bedford County Sheriffs Office said Thursday. Mark Staite, 54, was taken into custody March 15 by the United States Marshals Service on those charges and on March 30 was extradited back to Bedford from another state, the sheriffs office said in a post on its official Facebook page. The sheriffs office began investigating a sexual assault case in November 2022 and through the course of a lengthy investigation discovered the suspect in the original case could be in possession of child porn, the post said. With assistance of the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, multiple devices were seized using a search warrant, forensically examined and a large amount of child porn was discovered, leading to Staites arrest, according to the post. Bedford County Sheriff Mike Miller in the post thanked the Springfield, Missouri Police Department; the Greene County, Missouri Sheriffs Office and the United States Marshals Service, along with local enforcement, for assistance in the case. The investigation is ongoing and no further information will be released at this time, Miller wrote. Del. Wendell Walker, R-Lynchburg, has shored up his partys nomination for the newly drawn 52nd District, recently securing the Republican nomination. Walker, who currently represents the 23rd House District, is unopposed as the deadline to file to run in the Republican primary has passed. The new 52nd House District encompasses all of the City of Lynchburg, as well as a small sliver of northern Campbell County. Walkers current district, the 23rd District, covers part of Lynchburg and parts of Amherst and Bedford counties. Districts were redrawn during the 2021 redistricting that followed the U.S. Census. All 100 seats in Virginias House of Delegates and all 40 seats in Virginias Senate are up for election this year. Walker, in an interview with The News & Advance on Friday, said he is grateful to have the support of Republicans in the new 52nd District, adding he thinks hes earned the respect and trust of people here in Central Virginia. After assuming office in 2020, Walker said he thinks much of what hes done in Richmond can be attributed to the relationships hes built since joining the legislative body. When you look at the numbers on some of these bills that I was able to get passed this year, I mean, they were passed, you know, with 80% to 90% support. It wasnt, you know, 52 Republican, 48 Democrat, Walker said. I think that says a lot about how effective you can be as a legislator, when you can sit down and work with people across the aisle on bills ..., he added. For this past session, Walker identified his successful swatting bill, a priority on the City of Lynchburgs legislative agenda, as proof. Walkers bill, which strengthened the penalties for calling in a false threat to law enforcement passed in the House 92-6; followed by a 40-0 approval in the Senate. Walkers bill updated language in the state code to say, Any person who knowingly reports, or causes another to report in reliance on intentionally false information provided by such person, a false emergency communication to any emergency personnel that results in an emergency response is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. A Class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia is punishable by up to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. The bill also carries language upgrading the charges to felony counts in the case of bodily injury or death. Walker also pointed to his work on the Houses Finance Committee, where he played a major part in working on the tax relief that Gov. Glenn Youngkin is working on returning to citizens. While we did the legislation on the House side, and we felt like we put a good, lean budget together, ... the Senate is not in agreement, and thats where were at right now, Walker said about ending the session without an approved budget. With all 140 General Assembly seats up for grabs, and mass turnover in both bodies transpiring due to retirements, Walker could move into more senior positions should he be reelected, a hallmark for Central Virginia representatives. Look at the chairmanship that Del. Kathy Byron has had over the years. The chairmanship that Steve Newman has had, you know, when youre chairman of a committee, youre in a very powerful position, Walker said. The delegate already is the chair of one of the subcommittees of the Houses Health, Welfare and Institution committee. Touting a strong Republican record, Walker said he may not be like all the other Republicans out here that go from one end to the other, referring to their voting records. I just know and understand my constituents, Walker added. And I try to represent the values that they asked for. The delegate said he doesnt go out seeking endorsements from people, instead saying he values hearing from individuals who thank him for voting on a specific issue. That to me means a lot. Those are endorsements from individual people who are paying attention to what were doing in Richmond, Walker said. The newly drawn 52nd District, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, leans Republican, with 57.6% of the district voting for Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin in the 2021 gubernatorial election to former Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffes 41.6%. Walker said he encourages voters in the new district who may not know what he stands for to check out the record and to engage with him. Im not one of these guys to go out and raise a lot of money, he said. ... But I think my voting record speaks pretty strongly to who I am, where I am, and what Im trying to do for folks here in Central Virginia. Im just a people person, Walker said. ... At the end of the day, I dont want to be remembered as a politician. Id like to be remembered as a statesman, somebody who cared about people enough to go down there and fight for the issues that impact our life. Primaries for the 2023 Virginia General Assembly elections will take place on June 20. The general election is set for Tuesday, Nov. 7. No candidate has filed for the Democratic party. In just his second day on the job, Virginia Community Colleges Chancellor David Dore visited Central Virginia Community College to have a meet-and-greet with students and faculty. In early January, the State Board for Community Colleges announced Dore will serve as the next chancellor of the Virginia Community College System and in an effort to help with the transition, a team was put into place. The chancellor is scheduled to visit all 23 community colleges with CVCC being his first visit on the tour. Its really important for me to talk to people who are actually working directly with students, Dore said. Its also important for me to talk directly with students, to hear from them about what were doing really well and what we can do better. On Tuesday, the chancellor met with two focus groups of faculty and staff, a group of students and ended his visit with a panel of 23 people including CVCC staff, faculty, some members from local businesses such as Southern Air as well as Campbell County Schools Assistant Superintendent Clayton Stanley and Lynchburg City Schools Superintendent Crystal Edwards. Jason Ferguson, CVCCs associate vice president of professional and career studies, started the panel with a presentation about the colleges Career and Technical Education (CTE) academy. The CTE academy started in 2021 with the support of a $400,000 grant from the Virginia Growth and Opportunity Board. Local businesses such as the nuclear-services firm Framatome, the HVAC firm Southern Air and Central Health are partners with the academy. Ferguson explained in his presentation that in spring 2021 there were 83 dual enrollment students and 767 adult students overall in CTE. In spring 2022, those numbers grew to 128 dual enrollment students and 1,042 adult students. CVCC President John Capps added the superintendents deserve the credit behind the academy, because they realized years ago, it just doesnt make sense to replicate five different programs and five school divisions. They came to us and suggested [to] pool our resources and collaborate instead of compete, and the result of that is the CTE Academy, Capps said to the panel. LCS Superintendent Edwards said the academy matters. We want to break generational poverty, make sure that our kids have a sustainable life, no matter what path that they choose, Edwards said. Ferguson went on to describe the overall idea of the lab schools. The department of education announced its approval of a $200,000 grant March 13 to support the planning of the lab school, which is anticipated to open in fall 2024. Ferguson said students will be on campus five days per week, with project-based learning, as well as industry and businesses working with them on projects. Currently with the CTE Academy, students leave CVCC in the afternoon, return to their home school and take their high school required courses such as English. The lab schools will give students an opportunity to stay the entire school day, as a one-stop shop, Ferguson explained. Edwards said the middle school level has the kids we need to really hone in on. Our investment is ... lets start early and get our kids armed for a sustainable life. We are just really sickened by the number of people in our community who live paycheck to paycheck or not even, and we feel like education is the way to do something about that, Edwards said to the Panel. A key topic the group discussed was Gov. Glenn Youngkins push to have high school students graduate with a credential. Dore asked the group if thats possible. Sam Coleman, chief academic officer for Lynchburg City Schools, believes it is. He said building a set of pathways for students to develop interest in career opportunities and technical education while they are young is the key. One of the ways that we achieve that is by embedding experiential learning opportunities with Career and Technical Education moments while students are young, Coleman said. Capps said the pieces that are essential for this to work include funding, which is one reason why CVCC decided to apply for the planning grant to begin lab schools. Bif Johnson, president and CEO of Hurt & Proffitt, ended the discussion by asking how do they, as a group, get families to see that a person doesnt have to go to a four-year school to get a $45,000-per-year job. Weve got to give hope where there is no hope, because thats whats going to fill these jobs, thats whats going to fill these classrooms is to get them to understand that there is an opportunity, Johnson said. Dore said he has a lot of takeaways from the panel discussion, but the major one is the amount of collaboration between K-12 systems and employers. He said both CTE Academy and the developing lab school at CVCC, are the types of models needed in Virginia community colleges moving ahead. That really is essential for Virginia community colleges as we move forward, certainly this year and the years ahead, Dore said. A dog missing for seven years had a touching reunion with his owner just weeks before he died. Nugget the dog was found limping down a wet dark road in South Carolina more than 1,700 miles from his home. Then, the Greenville-based organization Carolina Loving Hound Rescue said it helped the pup get back in touch with his long-awaiting family in February. Nugget was a warrior and fought to make it back home and when he did, he knew it was OK to just let go, the dogs owner, Facebook user Jessie Springer, wrote in an April 4 post. Springer told KOB her beloved pet was in a Farmington, New Mexico, yard when he disappeared in December 2015, setting off a frantic, yearslong search. Facebook posts describe Nugget as a spunky dog who had been his owners ride or die. He rode horses, drove with her in the truck, went to rodeos, was kicked by a horse and survived being shot, the animal rescue organization wrote. He was and is her heart. Then in February, a woman stepping outside to drink tea in South Carolina spotted a 16-year-old dog in horrific shape. The dog was stinky to high heaven with long nails, an ear infection and muscle loss which is common in older pups, according to the rescue and WXIA. The dog was scanned for a microchip, which contained contact information for Springer. Rescue organizations have urged people to microchip their pets and take stray animals they find to vets to check for the devices, McClatchy News reported. The chip helped to identify the dog as Nugget. He got medical clearance to fly home with his owner before the two had an emotional reunion, rescue officials said. There was not a dry eye in the house, I think the entire airport, because people were coming out and watching, even my most [hardened] volunteers [had] tears running down their eyes, Angela Gschwind, founder and director of the rescue, said. Over the next two months, officials said Jessie took amazing care of Nugget and got him to embrace his spunky self. But the dogs health worsened in recent days despite his owner trying to feed him. Nuggets story resonated with thousands of Facebook users before his death. After the sad update, several people went online to share their condolences. Im really grateful for the miracle of Nugget coming home to his family, one person wrote. Im praying for you all. While the rescue said it isnt sure how the dog made it across the country to South Carolina, it believes he brought people together. Lighthouse Bible Church Lighthouse Bible Church, 2136 Fifth Ave., invites the community to participate in our live Easter Sunday worship service at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday. There will be an Easter Breakfast from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. There will be Easter goodie bags for children after the service. The Sunday sermon is prerecorded and can be viewed on our website, lighthousemc.com. Dress is casual, and coffee and refreshments are provided. Upcoming events: Prayer and Study, 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Mt. Hope United Methodist Mt. Hope United Methodist Church, 290th and Highway 6, McClelland, would like to invite all to join us on Sunday mornings for our worship service at 9:30 a.m. Children are welcome for the regular worship service and childrens sermon during the worship service. You do not have to be a member to participate in our church activities. Everyone is welcome. Gethsemane Presbyterian Church Gethsemane Presbyterian Church, 224 Wallace Ave., invites you to worship with us. The service runs from 9 to 10 a.m. on Sundays. The Rev. Nancy Ross-Hullinger will deliver the message, Is It True? Children are invited to participate in Sunday school. Please join us for refreshments following the service. Adult Bible study meets on Mondays and Thursdays from 9 to 10 a.m. Nacho Typical Bingo will be held on April 20. Dinner will be at 6 p.m., with bingo starting at 6:30. For $10 per person, you get a Nacho plate with assorted toppings and dessert, plus 20 games of bingo. Our church is collecting Iowa 5 cent-refund cans/bottles for one of our mission projects. Your donations help! Bags can be dropped off anytime at our front door. We are also collecting diapers and wipes for children. These can also be left in bags by the front door. Our Food Pantry is open on Mondays and Thursdays until 10:30 a.m. Donations are welcome. For more information, contact the church office at 712-366-2513 or visit us on Facebook at gethsemanepresbyterianchurch.org. Timothy Lutheran Church Timothy Lutheran Church, 3112 W. Broadway, offers services at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Sundays. The church alternates between traditional services and praise services each week. Bible study and Sunday school at 9:15 a.m. If a month has a fifth Sunday, the church hosts a combined service at 9 a.m. Food and fellowship after service on fifth Sundays and there is no Bible study or Sunday school on those days. The church is handicap accessible. For more information, visit the church website at timothylutheran.net. St. Pauls Evangelical Country Church St. Pauls Evangelical Country Church rings the church bell each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. to welcome people to worship at 11055 Dumfries Ave. There are directional signs from Wabash Avenue and Pioneer Trail leading to the church. We are a growing, caring and friendly Bible-teaching church led by Pastor Jason Kinney. This Sundays message is titled The Victory, with the Bible reference Corinthians 15:53-58. Greeters are Rozan and Jeff Smith. Each week we enjoy donuts and coffee in the Fellowship Hall after worship. Sunday school for all ages including adults starts at 9:15. We have childrens church during our regular service. The ladies Bible study meets Wednesdays at 1 p.m. Youth group meets at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. The Church Council will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. Visit our website at stpaulsecc.org for more information. We are handicapped accessible. Underwood Lutheran Church On Sunday, Underwood Lutheran Church, 10 Third Ave., will hold Easter Sunday activities. There will be no education. In-person worship featuring Holy Communion begins at 7:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. Pastor Scott Dalen will deliver a sermon based on Matthew 28:1-10. The online video will be available later in the day. On Thursday, April 6, the Maundy Thursday Service of Holy Communion will begin at 7:30 p.m., with online video available later in the evening. On Friday, April 7, Good Friday Worship will begin at 7 p.m., with online video available later in the evening. Compass Christian Church Compass Christian Church welcomes you to worship with us Sundays at 10:30 a.m. We are located at 2007 S. Seventh St., just west of the South Expressway. The church is handicap accessible. During worship, a cry room is available, along with childcare for children ages 1 to 4. Compass Kids grades K-5 meet downstairs for special Bible lessons during the sermon. You may also worship with us at compasscb.online.church or on YouTube. Monday morning Bible study meets at 10 a.m. weekly. Separate mens and womens Bible study groups meet on Mondays at 7 p.m. The Bridge Young Adults (ages 18-30) meet on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 6:30 p.m. On Wednesdays, children in grades K-5 and students in grades six through 12 meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting is held at 6:30 p.m. Join us for our Open House Prayer Walk Friday, April 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Prayer Walk is a free, self-guided open house walk through multiple prayer stations based on the theme of Jesus prayer at Gethsemane. It is open to the public. The public is invited to Compass Easter Services that begin with the Good Friday Service on April 7 at 6:30 p.m. On Easter Sunday, April 9, we begin the day with a free pancake feed from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Easter Worship Service will be from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The Easter Egg Hunt will be held following the service. For questions or more information, visit our Facebook page, Compass Christian Church CB, our website compasscb.org or call the church office at 712-366-9112. Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church, 1800 Fifth Ave., invites the public to participate in our live worship service at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings. The Sunday worship service will be recorded live and can be viewed on our Facebook page: Fifth Avenue UMC, Council Bluffs. Face masks are optional. Upcoming events: Breakfast with Jesus, April 9 at 9 a.m.; Meal & Message, April 12 and 26 at 6 p.m. The church office can be reached at 712-323-7374 or through our email at fifthaveumchurch@gmail.com. Broadway United Methodist Church Broadway United Methodist, First Street and Broadway, is seeking, growing and serving with unconditional love and acceptance. On Sundays, we hold a traditional service at 8:30 a.m. and a contemporary service at 10:30. Coffee and donuts will be served in the DeLong Lounge between services. Our services are held in person and livestreamed to our Facebook page or broadwayunitedmethodist.com/live. Masks are optional. Student Life Breakthrough will be held Sunday at 6 p.m. On Mondays, Philips Cupboard, a nonfood pantry, is open noon to 2 p.m. Bibles at Barleys is at 7:30 p.m. on Monday for those over 21. The womens book study meets at 5 p.m. on Wednesdays. The praise band practices at 5:30. A community meal is held at 6 p.m. A Foundations Adults Group meets Wednesday at 6:30 in the DeLong Lounge while BUMC Kids and Student Life meet. The bell choir practices at 6:30, followed by the choir at 7:30. The Mens Brown Bag Bible Study will be held Thursday at noon. On Friday, the church office is closed but Philips Cupboard is open noon to 2 p.m. Upcoming events: On Good Friday, April 7, Interactive Prayer Stations will be open in the sanctuary from 7 to 9 p.m. Communion will be celebrated at both services on Easter Sunday, April 9. For more information, visit our website at broadwayunitedmethodist.com or call the office at 712-322-7741 (closed Fridays). Bethany Presbyterian Church Bethany Presbyterian Church, 1900 S. Seventh St., will have worship at 11 a.m. with Holy Communion. Pastor Nancy Ross-Hullingers message will be Is It True? and the scripture will be John 20:1-18. There will be a childrens chat. Bethany Kids Club for children from age 3 to fifth grade will be held on Saturday, April 8 from 1 to 3 p.m. There will be a garage sale on April 29 from 8 a.m. to noon. We are still collecting food pantry items. We are a handicap accessible facility. Community of Christ Church Community of Christ Church, 140 W. Kanesville Blvd., invites people to attend Sunday worship at 10:15 a.m. Our theme this week is Discover Life in Christ. Scripture readings will be Colossians 3:1-4; Jeremiah 31:1-6; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; John 20:1-18; Matthew 28:1-10; and Acts 10:34-43. Sunday school starts at 9:15 a.m. We also have prayer service Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Our celebration of Easter Sunday will start with a brunch at 9 a.m., an Easter Egg Hunt at 10 a.m. and our Easter service at 10:30. Please call our office at 712-323-4498 for any questions. There are virtual ministries out on our World Church Website under Ongoing Ministries at cofchrist.org. Epworth United Methodist Church Are you searching to know more about God and His divine plan for you? Come to Epworth United Methodist Church, 2447 Ave. B. Join us for worship Sundays at 9:30 a.m. There is room for the little ones in the family to learn about God according to their ages. The people are friendly, worship is meaningful and the building is handicap accessible. We also invite you to our Bible study on Thursdays at 10 a.m. We are currently going through the book of Proverbs. Holy Week is here, and wed love to have you join us for Good Friday on April 7 at 6 p.m. and Resurrection Sunday on April 9 at 9:30 a.m. Join us in seeking Gods presence and answers. We are in prayer for the healing of our community and a nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. If you want us to pray for you personally, let us know. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Phone: 712-323-3124. You can find us on Facebook at Friends of Epworth UMC/Facebook. Faith Lutheran Church Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS), 2100 S. 11th St., invites you to join us to celebrate Jesus victorious resurrection with traditional worship and Holy Communion at our 9 a.m. Sunday service. On Tuesday, there is a 9:30 a.m. adult Bible study in the downstairs fellowship hall that is open to everyone. Please use the rear door. The Elders will meet Tuesday at 2:30. Wednesday there is confirmation at 5:45 p.m. Worship services are available on Faiths Facebook page and on YouTube by searching for Ron Rosenkaimer. For more information, contact the church office at 323-6445. New Horizon Presbyterian Church A Good Friday Service will be held April 7 at 7 p.m. On Easter Sunday, April 9, New Horizon Presbyterian will hold a 7:30 a.m. sunrise service, followed by a continental breakfast. A full Easter worship service will be held at 9:30 a.m. There will be no Sunday school on Easter. A Red Cross blood drive will be held on April 11 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. A Building and Grounds and Administration meeting will be held at 4 p.m. On Wednesdays, the Praise Band meets from 5:45 to 6:30 p.m., the Chancel Bell Choir from 6:30 to 7:30 and the Chancel Choir from 7:30 to 8:30. On April 13, a Stephens meeting will be held at 10:15 a.m., a Grief Group meeting at 1 p.m., a Deacons meeting at 6 p.m., and a Worship meeting at 6:30. If you are ill, please worship from home by watching our Facebook page, facebook.com/NewHorizonPC. Westminster Presbyterian Church Westminster Presbyterian Church, 517 S. 32nd St., invites everyone to join us Sunday, April 9 at 10:30 a.m. for morning worship as we celebrate Easter Sunday The Day of Resurrection. The Rev. Portia Iverson will base her sermon, Out of the Past ... to Gods New Day, on Acts 10:34-43 GEntiles Hear the Good News and John 20:1-18 The Resurrection of Jesus. Donations for Church World Service One Great Hour of Sharing will continue through April. We are handicapped accessible through the northeast door of the church. Corpus Christi Catholic Parish All Holy Week services will be held at Corpus Christi Church, 3304 Fourth Ave., Council Bluffs, as follows: Good Friday, April 7, 1 p.m. Live Stations of the Cross (bilingual), 7 p.m., Good Friday of the Lords Passion; Holy Saturday, April 8, 8 p.m. Easter Vigil; and Easter Sunday, April 9, 8 a.m., Corpus Christi Church; 9:30 a.m., Our Lady of Carter Lake, 3501 N. Ninth St., Carter Lake; 10 a.m., Corpus Christi Church; and noon (Spanish), Corpus Christi Church. April 16 is Divine Mercy Sunday. John us for a city-wide Divine Mercy event from 2 to 4 p.m. at Corpus Christi-Queen of Apostles. There will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 2 p.m., followed by the Rosary at 2:30 and the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 p.m. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered from 2 to 4 p.m. also. There will be a reception with light refreshments at 4 p.m. For more information, call the parish office at 712-323-2916 or 712-323-4716 (Spanish) or visit our parish website at www.corpuschristiparishiowa.org. Emanuel Lutheran Church Emanuel Lutheran Church, 2444 N. Broadway, welcomes everyone to come as you are and be who you are! You are invited to join us this Sunday for Palm Sunday worship and Sunday school at 9:30 a.m., followed by coffee hour. Other events this week include Tai Chi Monday at 10 a.m. in the youth center, Bible study Thursday at 9:30 a.m. in the conference room, and Tai Chi Thursday at 10 a.m. in the youth center. Good Friday Worship will be Friday at noon and 7 p.m. On Easter Sunday, there will be a sunrise service at 7 a.m., followed by breakfast from 8 to 9 a.m., an Easter Egg Hunt at 9 a.m. and Easter Worship at 9:30 a.m. Follow us on YouTube, Facebook or Twitter to stay up to date on events and view livestreamed services. Visit us online at emanuelcb.org. Saint John Lutheran Church Saint John Lutheran Church, 633 Willow Ave., holds worship at 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays and 8:30 and 11 a.m. on Sundays. Worship is also available to watch on YouTube. Our website is www.SaintJohnELCA.org, and our Facebook page is Saint John Lutheran Church Council Bluffs IA. Wednesday morning Bible study meets at 9 a.m., and Wednesday evening Bible study meets at 6:30 p.m. The bell choir practices at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, and the Chancel Choir starts practice at 7:30 p.m. Confirmation students and high school youth also meet Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. Please call the church office with any questions, 712-323-7173. Broadway Christian Church The congregation invites you to join us for Easter Sunday worship at 9 a.m. at Broadway Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 2658 Ave. A. Masks are optional. A hearing loop is installed for those who need it. This Sunday, the Rev. Kathy Sorrell will provide the message, The Other Side of Easter. We celebrate communion weekly, and it is open to all. Following worship on Easter Sunday, our elders will host an Easter Brunch for all to enjoy. Pieceful Hearts Quilters meet the second Tuesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. Bible Study meets each Wednesday at 10 a.m. Newcomers are always welcome at both. Alcoholics Anonymous meets Mondays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m. Overeaters Anonymous meets Mondays at noon and Fridays at 7:30 p.m. The church is ADA-accessible. To submit prayer requests or for more information, call the church office at 712-323-7741 or email us at office@bcccb.org. Visit us online at www.bcccb.org or on Facebook. First Congregational UCC Church Come and join us for worship at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at First Congregational Church (United Church of Christ), located at 611 First Ave. near Bayliss Park. Coffee and light snacks are provided. Our service is also available via Zoom. Please email the church for information on how to join the Zoom meeting: cbfirstcong@gmail.com. First Congregational hosts a weekly NAR-ANON meeting Mondays at 7 p.m. (ring the doorbell by .entrance on the Bayliss Park side). We host a free Community Dinner the last Friday of each month from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Everyone is always welcome at First Congregational to enjoy worship, a meal and fellowship. Our Saviors Lutheran Church Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 600 Bluff St., can be reached at 712-322-6655. Everyone is welcome. The church is handicapped accessible. Holy Week services are as follows: Good Friday Prayer Services 12-3:30 p.m., with services each half-hour. Saturday Prayer Service at 5:30 p.m. Easter Sunday Service at 10:30 a.m. No Sunday school. Other activities this week include Al-Anon meetings Monday and Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Education Building. Thursday morning Bible Study will meet from 9:30 to 11 a.m., and Prayer Team will meet at 11:15 a.m. Food Pantry and Pet Food Pantry are open by appointment Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. To schedule an appointment, please call the Food Pantry directly at 712-522-3522 on the day it is open. For more information, see our Facebook page under Our Saviors Lutheran Church of Council Bluffs or the website at oursaviorscb.org. St. Johns United Church of Christ St. Johns United Church of Christ, 400 Cloverdale Drive, welcomes everyone to attend Sunday service at 10:15 a.m. We invite you to hear our new minister, Pastor Don Morgan, deliver the Lenten message, GPS for the Journey. Each Wednesday through April 5, we will host a Lenten soup supper and Bible study from 6 to 7 p.m. entitled Seven Words of the Cross. On April 6, there will be a Maundy Thursday Tenebrae service with food commencing at 6 p.m. On April 9, St. Johns will have a sunrise Easter service at 7 a.m., followed by an Easter breakfast at 8 a.m. For information on how to join us by Zoom, email the church at stjohnsucccb@gmail.com. You can also follow us on Facebook at stjohnsucc-council bluffs or call 712-322-2174 for additional information. St. Pauls Episcopal Church St. Pauls Episcopal Church is located at 22 Dillman Drive in Council Buffs. Services held each Sunday morning at 11 a.m., we invite visitors to attend and share with us these very enjoyable and enlightening services. For additional information, please contact the church at 712-323-7188. The Harrison County Board of Supervisors approved an additional deputy for Harrison County. Harrison County Sheriff Brandon Doiel visited the supervisors on March 23 to make the request to add a deputy. The county currently has nine deputies. Doiel told the supervisors that Deputy Gabe Madsen will be leaving the department in April. He proposed replacing Madsen and also creating a new deputy position. He said call volumes for the sheriffs office have been increasing and the office is also involved with teaching Drug Abuse Resistance Education courses at all five schools in the county. We started off with a couple schools now were doing all five schools (and) it takes a little bit more time with deputies, Doiel said. He noted that he recently implemented an investigator position in the office, which allows that individual to focus on investigations, which otherwise would have fallen to one of the road deputies. Doiel said investigations are now handled properly and in a way that can withstand scrutiny from judges and attorneys. Attorneys are very good about pinpointing what you didnt do, he said. The sheriffs office will also be taking on additional animal control duties next year; the office also handles transports in and out of the county, Doiel said. My proposal today is to see if I would be able to get some money in my budget to hire another deputy, he said. He said adding a deputy would even out the scheduling among the two sergeants, the deputies and Doiel. Ive had to pay out some overtime to some guys to cover schedules; Ive come in myself to cover schedules, Doiel said. We have guys who have quite a few years in. I looked it up and I have 38 weeks of vacation that I have to account for every year. The vacation day count goes up every year, he said. Doiel said he had checked dispatch records, which revealed that sheriffs office calls went from 6,500 in 2015 to 13,600 in 2022. He noted that the sheriffs office had recently added three new reserve officers, but he said they dont count toward filling a deputy position because their training level is lower and he wants a deputy with reserve officers at all times. Doiel said he wants to do the best for the community and do the things that need to be done. An additional deputy would help in that manner, Doiel said. Hiring a law enforcement officer is an extensive process, he said. Im going to have to go through that process in order to fill a position thats going to be empty here in April and it would help me out if I could hire two at the same time rather than one now and maybe one in a couple years, Doiel said. Supervisor Brian Rife asked why Madsen chose to leave. Doiel said Madsen had no ill will; he is taking a position in Woodbury County, which is a larger department that will likely provide higher pay. Madsen said he appreciated the opportunities he received in Harrison County, Doiel said. Supervisor John Straight asked how much extra funding Doiel would need in his budget. Doiel said $95,000 to $100,000 would be required. I think its needed, Straight said. Im on board, Rife said. Straight asked if adding a new deputy would cut down on overtime. Doiel said it would. Deputy Auditor Liz Lenz said the Harrison Countys general basic fund is at the maximum, so funds to pay for the new position could not come from there; she said the supervisors could consider taking funds out of county reserves. I wouldnt have an issue pulling that out of reserves, Rife said. The board voted 2-0 to authorize the replacement of one deputy and the hiring an additional deputy. DES MOINES Iowa House Democrats introduced a package of proposals intended to lower costs for Iowans including increasing the child care tax credit and freezing tuition at Iowas public universities as lawmakers set their sights on creating next years budget. The bills, which have not yet been filed, are part of House Democrats People Over Politics legislative agenda they proposed at the beginning of the legislative session. House Democrats previously introduced bills to legalize recreational cannabis and constitutionally protect abortion rights. While we recognize the state Legislature cant control all the ups and downs of the national economy, we can take action to help lower costs for Iowa families and reduce the living expenses for everyday Iowans, House Democratic leader Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights told reporters on Wednesday. With Republicans holding an agenda-setting majority in the House, the proposed bills will go nowhere without support from Republican leaders. A spokesperson for House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Across five bills and a budget amendment, the proposals would do the following: Provide a child care tax credit to families making under $250,000 on a sliding scale and increase the income threshold for state child care assistance Require insurance providers to cap insulin costs for all Iowans at $25 Renew the Iowa Solar Tax Credit program and provide assistance to offset energy costs Require the labor commissioner to place a high priority on investigating wage theft and allow the commissioner to investigate employers without a formal complaint Create a tax credit program for affordable housing units, expand the first-time home savings account, and create neighborhood grant program for homeowners to make improvements to their homes Freeze tuition at Iowas universities and community colleges Konfrst said she hopes Republicans can support the proposals Democrats offered as they work on a proposed budget, arguing they are backed by a majority of Iowans. We want to have conversations with our colleagues in leadership, our colleagues across the aisle, to remind them that our job here is to work for everyday Iowans and to do the work that Iowans asked us to do, she said. Child care One of the proposed bills would increase the state child care tax credit, allowing taxpayers with an income of up to $250,000 to offset a portion of their child care costs through a tax credit on a sliding scale. The income limit for state child care assistance would also increase. The bill would provide grants to people who start new child care facilities or to expand existing child care facilities and allow small businesses to receive a tax credit for providing child care to employees. Nearly a quarter of our states residents are estimated to live in a child care desert, Rep. Molly Buck, D-Ankeny, said. While the annual cost of child care can be more than tuition at one of our public universities, and more than monthly rent or mortgage for most people. Wage theft Another bill would give the the Iowa labor commissioner more power to investigate instances of employers not paying fair wages to employees. Under the bill, the labor commissioner would be able to investigate employers records and payrolls without having a formal complaint issued. Common Good Iowa, a liberal policy research organization, released a report last year that estimated more than $900 million is being withheld annually from employees through so-called wage theft practices like withholding wages, tips and overtime pay. A lot of folks dont want to file those complaints because they dont want to lose their job, Konfrst said. So we want to make sure that the labor commissioner is out there looking out for workers as theyre supposed to. Freeze tuition House Democrats also called for freezing tuition at Iowas three public universities and community colleges while increasing the amount of state funding the state gives to higher education institutions. At the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and University of Northern Iowa, in-state tuition and fees ranged between $9,400 and $10,400 for the 2022-2023 school year, an increase of about 4.4% from last year. Lets give families a break, Konfrst said. And lets make sure that the Legislature does our job to fully fund our regions institutions and our community colleges. Riverside Community School District has selected Stephanie Anderson of the Fort Dodge Community Schools as its next superintendent. Anderson, director of elementary education and student services at Fort Dodge, will start at Riverside effective July 1. Superintendent Timothy Mitchell has announced that he will retire at the end of the current school year after seven years in the position. That will wrap up a 40-year career in public education. My wife and I have enjoyed the Riverside community and are most grateful to its citizens for welcoming us in 2016 and for being such good neighbors, Mitchell said in a message to the Riverside community. It has been a challenging but rewarding seven years. For the better part of my career, many people have suggested that I need a better work-life balance, Mitchell said. I look forward to moving closer to family and spending more time at my camper. Anderson said she is excited about being the districts next leader. The community cohesiveness, academic and extracurricular celebrations and amazing people were the highlights from my research and interview experience, she said in a news release from Riverside. I look forward to continuing the great work you are already engaging in as a community and school district. Anderson brings a variety of educational experiences to the position. She grew up on a farm outside of Newell, graduating from Newell-Fonda High School and earning her bachelors degree from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake. She started her teaching career as an elementary classroom teacher in Vermillion, South Dakota, then taught in Storm Lake while earning her masters from the University of South Dakota. She earned her administrative endorsement at the Iowa Principal Leadership Academy, which led to her serving as the assistant elementary principal and early childhood principal in Spencer. She then served as the head elementary principal in Fort Dodge while earning her doctorate from the University of Kentucky before serving in her current position while earning her superintendent certification from the University of Northern Iowa. These educational experiences have grounded her in her educational beliefs of being strengths-based, making decisions that keep students at the center and the importance of building collaborative relationships within the school community and beyond while leading with integrity every step of the way, the release stated. She is excited about what the Riverside School District and communities have to offer, and she looks forward to the opportunity to serve the district and communities. Anderson and her husband, Chris, have a daughter, who is a junior at Iowa State University majoring in special education, and a son, who is a junior at Fort Dodge High School and also attends the ICCC Triton Academy. Anderson was chosen from a pool of 16 applicants and two finalists after the Riverside Board of Education hired a search firm, conducted a survey, developed a profile of a desirable candidate and interviewed six semi-finalists via Zoom. Anderson and the other finalist Casey Moran, assistant director of special education at Council Bluffs Community Schools were invited for second interviews with the board and interviews with three constituent groups. The board will offer her a contract at aApril 17 meeting. A federal judge has blocked an eastern Iowa medical clinics efforts to declare bankruptcy in the wake of a record-setting $75 million malpractice judgment. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Anita L. Shodeen has dismissed the bankruptcy case filed late last year by Obstetric and Gynecologic Associates of Iowa City and Coralville, ruling there is evidence the filing was intended to shield the clinics insurer from a $12 million policy payout. In March 2022, a Johnson County jury awarded more than $97.4 million to the family of a boy who sustained serious brain damage during his birth at an Iowa City hospital. The award, believed to be the largest medical malpractice judgment in Iowa history, was later reduced to $75.6 million. The boys parents, Kathleen and Andrew Kromphardt, had sued Obstetric and Gynecologic Associates of Iowa City and Coralville as defendants, along with Dr. Jill Goodman, one of the directors of the clinic. The Kromphardts contended their sons brain damage was caused by medical workers failure to properly respond to signs the baby was deprived of oxygen in the hours leading up to his birth in August 2018. The boy, now 4, is unable to walk by himself and is largely unable to speak. At trial, the familys lawyer argued the child will likely need 24-hour care for the rest of his life. Last October, with the Kromphardts attempting to collect the $75.6 million award in the case, the clinic filed for bankruptcy. The Kromphardts attorneys challenged the bankruptcy filing, arguing it was filed in bad faith to avoid payment of the award. Court records indicate that prior to the trial, offers were extended by the Kromphardts attorneys to resolve the dispute for the insurance policy limit of $12 million. However, MMIC apparently refused to negotiate or make any settlement offer to the plaintiffs, which was in direct contradiction to the clinics position in the case. After the verdict, the clinic appealed and requested that a stay be imposed to halt any collection efforts until the appeal could be heard. The Iowa Supreme Court denied that request. At that point, MMIC reportedly refused again to engage in settlement negotiations, prompting the Kromphardts attorney to initiate collection efforts. In October, the sheriff arrived at the clinic to initiate seizure of the business assets and the clinic filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to protect its assets and remain in business. On Jan. 20, the conservator in the bankruptcy case filed a motion with the court, alleging the clinic was acting in bad faith by filing for bankruptcy, arguing it was a litigation tactic to avoid payment of a bond that would secure some of the clinics assets. In March 29 decision dismissing the bankruptcy case, Judge Shodeen expressed concern over the relationship between the clinic and its insurer, MMIC. The judge suggested the insurance company may have given the clinic certain financial favors in return for the clinic filing for bankruptcy as part of an effort to shield MMIC from having to make a $12 million policy payout. She noted that MMIC paid fees to the clinics bankruptcy professionals and offered the clinic favorable terms on its insurance coverage when no one else would. In addition, the judge stated, MMIC had offered to extend credit to the clinic. A question arises about whether the bankruptcy was motivated by a proper purpose or to obtain financial advantages from MMIC in exchange for filing bankruptcy to attempt to protect it from making payment under the policy, Shodeen stated in her decision. The clinic, meanwhile, had supplied little evidence to establish its good faith in the matter, Shodeen added. On Tuesday, the clinic filed an appeal of Shodeens decision in the case. The most and least lucrative college majors in Iowa The most and least lucrative college majors in Iowa A West Des Moines nursing home has been cited for the death of a woman who contracted gangrene and was left screaming in pain in the days before she was hospitalized, according to state reports. State inspectors cited Promedica Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in March for 20 state and federal regulatory violations. The inspectors were at the home to investigate 23 separate complaints an extraordinarily high number pertaining to the homes quality of care. Of those 23 complaints, 19 were substantiated by the inspectors. Since last week, the care facility has been operating under a new name: Harmony West Des Moines. Prior to 2021, it was known as ManorCare Health Services of West Des Moines. The home is located at 5010 Grand Ridge Drive. According to state inspectors, a relative of a female resident of Harmony West Des Moines was in the care facility on Feb. 13 and notified nurses that her family member was complaining of severe pain in her buttocks. The relative stayed with the resident for four hours, during which time the nurse allegedly failed to return provide anything to relieve the womans pain. The nurse later told inspectors she found the resident had sustained an anal fissure and reported that to the homes advanced registered nurse practitioner. The nurse said the ARNP ordered ointment for the woman but never examined her. The residents condition was not assessed in the nine days that followed, according to inspectors. On Feb. 25, a licensed practical nurse notified the director of nursing that the woman was in pain with bright red drainage flowing from her buttocks. The staff called a physician and received an order for milk of magnesia to treat constipation. Two days later, on Feb. 27, another licensed practical nurse at the home discovered the woman had very low blood pressure and there was bowel movement emerging from her vaginal area. She was screaming and you could hear her down the hall, the nurse told inspectors. She was saying her butt was on fire. The nurse said she telephoned the on-call doctor and left a message, waited for a response, and then called again. It took an hour and a half before I got the order to send her to the ER, the nurse told inspectors. According to inspectors, hospital records show the woman was diagnosed with septic shock a highly dangerous, widespread infection that can causing organ failure as well as gangrene near her genitals, and a fissure, or opening, in the wall between her digestive tract and her genitalia. The woman underwent surgery the next day and died on March 6. I could hear mom screaming in pain In a separate matter, the daughter of another female resident at Harmony West Des Moines told inspectors that on Feb. 11, her mothers roommate had telephoned her at 2 a.m. to report that her mother was screaming in pain and no one was helping her. The daughter said she went to the home at 6:30 a.m. that day and found her mother still crying in pain and begging for help, while saying, My arm, my arm, oh my god, my arm hurts. I could not touch her arm, she hurt so bad, the daughter allegedly told inspectors. Using her own phone, the daughter called her mothers physician and then offered the phone to the male nurse who was on duty at Harmony West Des Moines. The nurse refused the phone, and allegedly told the daughter he didnt have time that morning to give her mother her prescribed pain medication. She was screaming help me, and you could hear it up the hall, the daughter told the nurse. Three hours later, at 9:30 a.m., the pain medication had yet to be given and a volunteer offered to stay by the womans bedside so the daughter could go home. At 6 p.m., the residents roommate again called the daughter, who later told inspectors, I could hear mom screaming in pain. The daughter called her mothers physician who allegedly advised her to bypass the nursing home staff and call 911 to summon an ambulance. Later, another daughter of the resident went to Harmony West Des Moines and discovered her mother was gone and the staff wouldnt say where she had been taken. Eventually, the medical staff at Mercy West hospital contacted the two sisters and informed them their mother was being taken into emergency surgery as she had no pulse in her right arm and her hand was turning black. The hospital staff indicated they hoped they would not have to amputate their mothers hand or arm. The state inspectors records make no reference to the outcome of the surgery. The physician who was contacted by the daughter and the volunteer on Feb. 11 later told inspectors, You could hear her mom screaming out in pain in every phone call. Medical documents destroyed by staff In yet another incident that was investigated last month, state inspectors reported that a different resident of Harmony West Des Moines was taken to a hospital emergency room on March 3 suffering from abdominal pain and frequent vomiting. The resident was admitted with a diagnosis of septic shock. In the days leading up to that hospital visit, a physician had ordered that the resident be seen by a gastro-intestinal physician. That appointment was never made, according to inspectors. The director or nursing later told inspectors the staff at Harmony West Des Moines keeps what she called an alert charting book in which they documented residents issues on each shift so that the next shift would know which residents needed to be assessed. It is not an official document, so it is destroyed, the director of nursing allegedly told inspectors. The homes administrator, Sammara Smith, could not be reached for comment Thursday. The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals has cited Harmony West Des Moines for 20 violations of state and federal regulations, including failure to meet professional standards; failure to meet quality-of-care standards; failure to provide adequate tracheostomy care; failure to manage residents pain; failure to employ sufficient nursing staff; failure to maintain a medication error rate of less than 5%; and failure to provide adequate infection control. The department has proposed two state fines totaling $19,000 against the facility. Those fines are being held in suspension while the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services considers imposing a federal fine. In 2021, CMS fined the facility $30,000, which was later reduced by 35% to $19,500 because the home didnt appeal the case. Last year, CMS fined the home $15,000, although that penalty was later reduced to $9,750 due to the lack of an appeal. The most and least lucrative college majors in Iowa The most and least lucrative college majors in Iowa 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. One of the most striking differences between the approaches by the European Union and the United Kingdom to negotiating trade deals with Africa is the extensiveness with which the EU negotiates these trade agreements, while the UKs approach, in contrast, is to try to sign deals as quickly as possible, says a new report by UK in a Changing Europe, a UK-based research institute. The EU has signed two economic partnership agreements (EPAs), one with West Africa and the other with the East African Community (EAC), both of which have yet to come into force. Upon ratification, the deals will reflect one of the first major trade divergences between the EU and the UK from the EU side. The report assesses the economic impact these EPAs may have and divergence from the UK since it left the single market. In its EPAS with West Africa, the EU takes into account regional differences with the aim that it will not disadvantage local trade within countries, and also to ensure that local markets in West African countries are not adversely affected. Much like the West Africa deal, once ratified, also the EAC would have immediate access to the EU market with a partial and gradual opening of the EAC market. It guarantees that the EU will not apply exports subsidies, even in times of market crisis. The report by UK in a Changing Europe also shows that the EU has not put deadlines on signing any deals allowing for them to assure mutual benefit to the two parties. The UKs approach, on the other hand, seems more akin to a ticking clock scenario in which the UK, having so recently left the EU, is trying to sign deals as quickly as possible and demonstrate post-Brexit benefits to the public. Another key difference has been the promises made around the deals. For the UK, it is important that trade grows post-Brexit, or at least remains stable. These trade deals are crucial in this regard. However, projections from both the government and think tanks point to a picture of slow and relatively small results from the trade deals. It is too early to see any economic divergence between the EU and UK caused by trade deals, but the most likely result will not be one of shocking contrast but slow departure. King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, accompanied by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and Prince Moulay Ismail, chaired, Thursday at the Royal Palace in Casablanca, the third religious lecture of the holy month of Ramadan. This lecture was delivered by the president of the Local Council of the Ulemas of the prefecture of the El Fida-Mers Sultan districts, Mohamed Mouchane, under the theme The virtue to hold fast to the solid rope of Allah and the Sunna of His Prophet, inspired by a Prophets Hadith: I have left two matters with you. As long as you hold to them, you will not go the wrong way. They are the Book of Allah and the Sunna of His Prophet. The lecturer pointed out that this Hadith Al-Sharif bears the imprint of the power of synthesis specific to the words of the Prophet, pbuh, noting that the Hadith exhorts to cling to the Quran and the Sunnah and calls to conform and follow their ways. He stressed, in this sense, that the Hadith clearly indicates that protection and salvation are the lot of the one who clings firmly to the Book and the Sunna because they are preserved and their truth is established until the Day of Judgment. The theologian explained that the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet are the solid rope of God and the path of Salvation, indicating that God took care of preserving the Holy Quran. The Almighty has preserved the holy book from any false addition or omission and has protected it from any distortion, change or falsification, he noted, adding that Allah promised His Prophet to keep it safe from falsifiers and those blinded by hate. Regarding the Sunnah of the Prophet, the lecturer said that it is one of the foundations of the Islamic religion and the second source after the Holy Quran, adding that the Sunnah is closely related to the Holy Book since it interprets its general rules, elucidates its general concepts, specifies what the Quran has not detailed and delimits the precepts that have been dealt with absolutely. It is therefore inconceivable to consider an understanding of the Book of God without referring to the tradition of His Messenger. The Sunnah is essential to understand the provisions of Islamic law. The lecturer also reviewed the efforts of the Commander of the Faithful, King Mohammed VI, and his achievements in promoting religious discourse in the service of Gods religion and the Sunnah of His Grandfather, the Prophet, peace be upon him. In this connection, Mouchane mentioned the Ramadan lectures, which are an ideal opportunity to study the hadith and celebrate the Sunnah. Another manifestation of the Kings efforts to promote the Prophets Hadith is represented by his instructions to prepare Mouataa Al Imam Malik, a collection of authentic hadiths elaborated by the great scholar, Imam Malik, he pointed out, noting that scholars are unanimous in affirming that this copy, which has been supervised by a scientific commission of the Supreme Council of Ulemas, is the best and the most accurate to date of this work. The efforts of the Commander of the Faithful to promote the hadith Al-Sharif also include Addourous Alhadithia in their graphic and interactive aspects that the King ordered to establish and kindly kicked off, and which are broadcasted by the TV channel Assadissa as well as by the Mohammed VI radio of the Holy Quran, recalled Mouchane. He also stressed the contribution of the Mohammed VI Prize Ahl al-Hadith to promote and preserve the Hadith while honoring the readers of the Hadith. This award is dedicated to eminent scientific personalities, who have stood out in the Kingdom by their contributions to promote, defend and clarify the Hadith in a way that reveals the splendor and aesthetics of this religion. The speaker also referred to the Mohammed VI platform of Hadith established at the Kings instruction, stressing that this platform is a noble action among others by the Commander of the faithful. At the end of the lecture, the King was greeted by several scholars who attended the religious lecture. These include Sheikh Mohamed Ahmed Houssein, Grand Mufti of Al Quds and Palestine; Hassan Ben Mohamed Safar, professor at King Abdulaziz University (Saudi Arabia); Mokhtar al-Mufti al-Hosni, professor of Hadith at Al al-Bayt University (Jordan); Al-Hajj Ole Naado, president of the Supreme Council of Muslims in Kenya; and Benjamin Erol, a member of the Supreme Council of Religious Affairs in Turkey. The King was also greeted by Dikr Arrahmane, university professor and director of the Indian Islamic Cultural Center in New Delhi; Said Hibatullah Kamilev, director of the Institute of Islamic Civilization in Moscow; Abdelaziz Ben Saleh Al Aoudi, advisor to the Ministry of Waqfs and Religious Affairs in the Sultanate of Oman; Idrissa Miaga Abdallah, president of the Section of the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema in Niger; and Sidi Mohamed Maiga, member of the Section of the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema in Burkina Faso. Tunisia has been running for more than a year behind an IMF loan and its biggest partners, in particular the European Union, and the United States have been doing their utmost to get the loan, warning of the risks of the Tunisian economy collapsing, if ever. The IMF tied the loan to reforms that the authorities vowed to implement. Talks between Tunisia and the Washington-based IFM has begun since last year for a $1.9-billion loan to be used to supplement a budget deficit put at $2 billion. The talks recently slowed down amid political and socio-economic crisis within the country. UGTT, the countrys most powerful labor union rejected the talks and accused the government of bending to IFM strings of conditions including the removal of subsidies and the privatization of some state-run companies. Theoretically, President Kais Saied has already endorsed the governments file submitted to the IMF, since he signed the finance laws of 2022 and 2023, which both include the deficit and underline the need to call on external credits. However, kais Saied on Thursday expressed rejection of the reform plan imposed by the IMF, and of anyones diktats. Kais Saied said the North African country will not apply for the IMF loan and accused foreign countries for robbing Tunisia. Speaking at the 23rd anniversary of the death of Tunisias founding father Habib Bourguiba, Saied argued that the country can fend for itself without the IMF. The world and financial entities such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) must understand that the human being is not just a number We demand respect for the will of the people, he said. We are capable of overcoming all crises, he added. And besides, why is the foreigner refusing to give us back our money? he asked. Tunisian authorities have demanded the return of around $22 million in foreign banks money embezzled by some Tunisians most of whom from the regime of late leader Ben Ali ousted in 2011 in a revolution. The two camps Assamaka in Niger and Dadaab in Kenya are more than 5000 kilometers apart but both swell with migrants or refugees who have embarked on a long and difficult journey looking for safety from conflict or drought. Assamaka, the first village on the border with Niger, sees the arrival of hundreds of migrants every week who have been turned back from Algeria. There are now more than 4,500 of them, including Malians, Guineans, Ivorians, Syrians or Bangladeshis, wandering around this tiny, windswept island of land. The transit center managed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the main intergovernmental organization in this field, is overwhelmed by the influx and only takes in about a third of the deportees. Stripped of all their belongings in Algeria and with no money to pay for their trip home, according to their testimonies, they are then condemned to survive in this sand prison for an indefinite period of time, often several months. The number of migrants rejected at the gates of Niger has not stopped increasing since the beginning of the year, making the situation without precedent, according to Doctors Without Borders. Meanwhile, between 400 and 500 people arrive at Kenyas Dadaab refugee camp every day, according to the UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, mostly driven from Somalia by drought and insecurity. The Horn of Africa region, including Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, is facing the longest and most severe drought in four decades. The unprecedented failure of five consecutive rainy seasons is pushing millions of people towards famine. Failed rains and lingering conflict have driven over 110,000 Somalis across the border in the last two years into the camp at Dadaab already struggling to cope with drought. With some 350,000 people living in these tent cities, all three of the settlements are well beyond capacity. So much so that a fourth settlement is scheduled to reopen in the coming months. Weve received some funding, but not by any means, by any measure sufficient to cover all the basic needs, warns the UNHCR senior operations coordinator. UNHCR and its partners are struggling to provide much-needed assistance including water, food, health care and other vital services to the most vulnerable, including children who are among the hardest hit. Ethiopia intends to integrate all regional special forces either into the national army, or the federal or regional police, according to a governments statement on Thursday, whereby the move will likely be perceived as an attempt to diminish the autonomy of individual regions. Ethiopia is organized in 10 regions that enjoy a degree of autonomy, ranging from having their own regional army to the right to use their own language. The government has set a direction to build one strong and centralized armyit has started practical steps that will allow special forces of every region to be integrated into different security structures, the government said. Hours before the announcement, clashes were reported between national and regional forces and Amhara Special Forces units brought about by a refusal of the latter to surrender weapons as part of the integration process. Amhara forces backed Prime Minister Abiy Ahmeds federal troops against rebellious forces in northern Tigray when conflict erupted there in 2020. While the conflict in the Tigray region initially involved only the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF), it quickly drew in other national and international actors, including Eritrean forces and also regional defense forces, most notably those from the Amhara region. Beyond establishing a cessation of hostilities between the TPLF and ENDF, the November 2022 peace agreement also includes measures intended to reintroduce normality into the Tigray region, including the withdrawal of all outside forces from Tigray. But the mounting concerns over Amharas increasingly independent armed groups are now further complicated by fractures in the allyship between Amharas various forces and the Ethiopian federal government. While Amhara forces fought alongside the ENDF throughout the war, the priorities of Amharas militias have not always aligned with regional or national governments, says an analysis by The Global Observatory that is published by the International Peace Institute. Morocco lifted entry restrictions imposed on travelers coming from China as of April 5, 2023, the Chinese Embassy in Rabat said in a statement released this Friday. In January and in view of the massive surge in Covid-19 cases in the Asian country, Morocco announced that only passengers who leave the Peoples Republic of China and stay in a third country for 7 days can enter Morocco, regardless of their nationality. Many countries had imposed travel bans on people coming from China, decisions slammed as discriminatory by the Asian country which warned of strict countermeasures. The Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs then said that this exceptional measure does not in any way affect the strong friendship and the strategic partnership between the two countries, to which the Kingdom remains firmly attached. Now, all visitors coming from China could access Moroccan territory with no bans or restrictions. A record number of high school students will earn associate degrees from Mid-Plains Community College this year before they receive high school diplomas. Ten students managed the accomplishment more than half of them from North Platte High School by successfully completing enough qualifying classes through MPCC. Two of them achieved additional recognition: Eva McCreery of Hershey will become the first student to earn an associate degree from MPCC as a junior in high school. She will graduate with an Associate of Science. Landon Brott of North Platte High School will be the first student to receive three associate degrees from MPCC while still in high school. The students and their high schools are as follows: Gothenburg High School: Trevor Galas. Hershey High School: Eva McCreery. North Platte High School: Brooklyn Ayres, Kaden Gilbert, Landon Brott, Jaden Ouderkirk, Carly Purdy, Savannah Stefanatz. Valentine High School: Mekallyn Bancroft, Taylor Battershaw. These graduates are great examples of high school students utilizing the expanded early entry offerings at Mid-Plains Community College to earn associate degrees, said Kayla Thurman, director of early entry and program development at MPCC. Early entry is more accessible to area students than ever before. They can enroll in classes online, at their high schools or attend in-person at any MPCC campus location. I would like to congratulate all the students on their achievements this year. Eva McCreery McCreery will become the first student to earn an associate degree from MPCC as a junior in high school. She will graduate with an Associate of Science. I dont think that it has necessarily hit me that I will be graduating as a junior, McCreery said. I have been planning out my senior year, and since that is when most people take their college classes, I will have to find other things to fill the time. So, that is the most I have really thought about it, but I am excited for it to come to a close. McCreery began taking classes through MPCC in the summer of 2021. The majority were online to accommodate her high school schedule, but during the summers, she would take about four classes in person, on campus. I decided to take classes through MPCC because I remember looking at the newspaper at my grandparents house when I was about 10 or 11 and seeing two students who were graduating from college before they finished their senior year, said McCreery. I remember thinking that I wanted to do that and be like them, so, I put my mind to it, and I got it accomplished. The only dual credit classes she enrolled in, meaning they counted for high school and college credit at the same time, were English. The rest she took as a separate course load from her high school schedule. I enjoyed the challenge, McCreery said of her experience taking college courses. I also enjoyed being ahead of the curve in some of my classes. I think the biggest challenge for me was finding a school-life balance. I was so focused on schoolwork that sometimes I would forget about promises I had made. It was definitely difficult, but also worth it. Not only did her efforts put her ahead of her peers in terms of academics, but it will also save her money in the long run. Thats a huge benefit considering she plans to be in school for a while. Since I will have all of my generals done, I will be able to graduate with a (bachelors) degree two years early, which will be nice for my plans, McCreery said. I want to become a doctor, and this will give me a bit of a boost so I can hopefully go into the workforce faster. Landon Brott Brott will become the first student to receive three associate degrees from MPCC while still in high school. He will earn Associate of Arts, Associate of Science and Associate of General Studies degrees from Mid-Plains during the colleges commencement ceremony May 12, and the next day, he will walk in his high school graduation. I decided to take early entry courses to get ahead on college and because I like learning, Brott said. I hoped I could learn more by taking things like Critical Thinking instead of a gym class. Brott started taking classes through MPCC via dual credit in the fall of 2020. Most of my classes were dual credit, but four of them were offered separately through the college, he said. Of those, three were online, and one was in-person over the summer. It didnt take him long to realize that college was a whole new world. The biggest challenge was probably the difference between how college and high school environments work, Brott said. College has a more formal and mature atmosphere, and early entry courses are a commitment that takes away some of the fun classes in high school and replaces them with more serious classes. I do think it was helpful for me. More information about MPCCs early entry offerings can be found online at: mpcc.edu/admissions/early-entry-high-school-students.php. Suggest names for inland port Lincoln County commissioners want names for the new inland port being developed on the east edge of Hershey. The more ideas the better, said Chris Bruns, chair of the board of commissioners. Submit your ideas by going online to lincolncountyne.gov/inland-port-authority/ Scroll to the short form at the bottom of the page. Only your suggestion, your name and your email address are needed. Israel strikes Hamas tunnels in Gaza, fresh rocket fire from Gaza hits southern Israel Xinhua) 09:05, April 07, 2023 JERUSALEM, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Israel launched airstrikes on Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip early Friday, the Israeli military said, triggering a new barrage of rockets on communities in southern Israel, after a day of rocket fire along its northern and southern borders. According to a statement from the Israeli military, just after midnight, fighter jets targeted two tunnels in the Beit Hanoun and Khan Yunis areas. The military said the tunnels "did not cross into Israeli territory" but were built with the intention of launching attacks against Israel. The airstrikes targeted also two weapon manufacturing sites in the northern and central Gaza Strip, the military said. The sites belonged to Hamas, a Palestinian armed group and movement that runs Gaza. "The strike was done as a response to the security violations of Hamas during the last few days," the statement read. Israel accused Hamas of standing behind a barrage of about 34 rockets that were fired from Lebanon Thursday afternoon at northern Israel, injuring two civilians. Earlier this week, militants in Gaza fired about 20 rockets at southern Israel, saying the fire was a response to Israeli raids at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem. The airstrikes triggered a new round of rocket fire from Gaza. The Israeli military said in a statement that the rockets targeted the town of Sderot and other communities in southern Israel. Overall, some 10 rockets were fired at southern Israel within less than an hour, and all were intercepted by the anti-rocket Iron Dome system or fell in open fields. No injuries have been reported. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a special meeting of his security cabinet to discuss possible military responses to the fire. The escalation was triggered by two consecutive days of Israeli raids at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, a flashpoint holy site in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It came during a sensitive holiday time, as Muslims were observing the holy month of Ramadan with prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and Jews were commemorating the Passover holiday. Also on Thursday night, clashes broke out in Arab cities in northern Israel, including in Umm Al-Fahm, Sakhnin and Nazareth as demonstrations were held to protest the Israeli raids in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Two protesters have been arrested. In the occupied West Bank, a Palestinian shooting attack near the settlement of Adam lightly injured an Israeli soldier, according to a statement issued by Binyamin Regional Council. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The leader of China's Taiwan region Tsai Ing-wen made a "transit" trip to the United States, met with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and openly preached "Taiwan independence." This was another attempt toward creating tension in the Taiwan Strait. In response, China took strong countermeasures to deter the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces and sternly warn against interference from external forces. This is a just move to safeguard national sovereignty and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The United States called Tsai's transit "private." However, she met with U.S. government officials and congressmen, including Kevin McCarthy, the third-highest-ranking U.S. official, and trumpeted "Taiwan independence" at every opportunity and sought "international support." These actions prove that by no means it was a "private trip" as claimed by the United States. It is a provocative act by the United States and Taiwan authorities in an attempt to upgrade official interaction and substantive relations, which seriously violates the one-China principle. In August of last year, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in Taiwan pushed for a visit by Nancy Pelosi, the predecessor of Kevin McCarthy, and intensified its provocation by colluding with external forces to seek "Taiwan independence." In response, China took firm countermeasures based on solid legal grounds. It should be noted that the U.S. side has blatantly violated the commitment made by President Joe Biden during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Bali, Indonesia, last November, and is bent on arranging political activities for Tsai under the guise of a "transit," ignoring China's strong opposition. This is a bad act that grossly violates the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, and severely undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The one-China principle has long been the general consensus of the international community and a basic norm of international relations. To date, 182 countries including the United States have established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of this principle. The Taiwan question lies at the heart of China's core interests and is the first red line that must not be crossed in Sino-U.S. relations. China is determined to crack down on "Taiwan independence" secessionist activities with the firmest resolve, and take the strongest measures to eliminate interference by external forces. Robust countermeasures demonstrate China's unwavering determination, firm resolve, and formidable capability to safeguard its national sovereignty. After assuming office, Tsai actively pursued closer ties with the United States, wantonly played up the so-called "China threat," smeared and attacked the "one country, two systems," disrupted and restricted cross-Strait economic and trade cooperation, and constantly raised the tone against the Chinese mainland. Such actions have undermined the hard-won peaceful development of cross-Strait relations. The DPP authorities rely on the United States to seek "Taiwan independence," and the anti-China forces in the United States use Taiwan to contain China, posing the greatest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Given the repeated support to the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces by the United States, and the DPP authorities' consistent provocation and disruptive behavior, it is necessary that China should take resolute countermeasures to teach these forces a lesson. The more rampant "Taiwan independence" activities are, the less likely it is to peacefully resolve the Taiwan question. Only by letting those political forces who use Taiwan as a "show ground" for political speculation feel the pain, can we effectively deter "Taiwan independence" secessionist activities, safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the interests and well-being of compatriots on both sides of the Strait, and promote the realization of complete national reunification. Any perverse attempt to block the great cause of China's reunification will surely be crushed by the wheels of history, and any attempt to slow down or even block the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will only make the Chinese people more united than ever. The Taiwan question arose as a result of weakness and chaos in our nation, and it will be resolved as national rejuvenation becomes a reality. Not taking the most extreme position imaginable on abortion shouldnt entitle Republicans to any claims of moderation. Photo: Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images/\ Fearful discomfort among Republicans about their vulnerability to a backlash to the reversal of Roe v. Wade has been high ever since the issue was broadly credited with spoiling a much-expected GOP midterm landslide in 2022. But it may reach full panic mode following a landslide progressive win in Wisconsins April 4 Supreme Court contest after an insanely expensive campaign wherein Judge Janet Protasiewicz emphasized her support for abortion rights. As veteran Wisconsin political observer Charlie Sykes notes, its beginning to sink in that the GOP is simply mispositioned on an issue that aligns Democratic base voters with crucial swing voters: Republicans in Wisconsin are waking up to the fact that their electoral misfortunes are likely to get worse. As long as abortion is an issue, one Republican legislator told me, we wont ever win another statewide election. Its not like Wisconsin Republicans went into this latest shellacking with their eyes closed. When Roe was reversed, a total abortion ban enacted in 1849 was on the books and sprang to life. As Sykes observed, Wisconsin Republican legislative leaders tried to soften the wildly unpopular law: [B]efore the election, leaders of the state assembly tried to craft a bill that would have amended the states 1849 abortion ban by including exemptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother. But Pro-Life Wisconsin lobbied against the bill, declaring that any legislation that allows abortions is incapable of being justified. This sort of intra-Republican argument over how far to go in banning abortion now that its no longer protected by the U.S. Constitution is occurring all over the country, and Democrats are fully taking advantage of how often the hard-liners are prevailing, especially in states like Oklahoma and Tennessee where Republicans are reluctant to concede life-of-the-mother exceptions to a total ban. But theres another pitfall in the spotlight being shone on the most extreme GOP-backed laws. Republicans may seek to rebrand themselves as moderate on abortion by embracing minimal exceptions to draconian bans. As New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg reminds us, Republican opinion-leaders are already sending plenty of signals urging such phony abortion moderation: The 11-point loss of the Republican-aligned candidate in Wisconsins Supreme Court election on Tuesday has influential conservatives rethinking [their] strategy. Republicans had better get their abortion position straight, and more in line with where voters are, or they will face another disappointment in 2024, said a Wall Street Journal editorial. Ann Coulter tweeted, The demand for anti-abortion legislation just cost Republicans another crucial race, and added, Please stop pushing strict limits on abortion, or there will be no Republicans left. Jon Schweppe, policy director of the socially conservative American Principles Project, lamented, We are getting killed by indie voters who think we support full bans with no exceptions. As it happens, this is precisely the same strategic advice that was given to Republicans after their 2022 underperformance by none other than Donald J. Trump in a year-end Truth Social post: It wasnt my fault that the Republicans didnt live up to expectations in the MidTerms. I was 233-20! It was the abortion issue, poorly handled by many Republicans, especially those that firmly insisted on No Exceptions, even in the case of Rape, Incest, or Life of the Mother, that lost large numbers of Voters. This earned Trump a lot of grief from his erstwhile allies in the anti-abortion movement. But as the evidence mounts that Republican extremism on abortion could be a party-killer in 2024, you can expect more and more GOP politicians to distance themselves from no-exception bans. The anti-abortion movement itself may follow suit just as it did during the long reign of Roe v. Wade, as Elaine Godfrey noted last year: President Ronald Reagan detested abortion but endorsed exceptions for rape in the 1980s; George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump all also indicated their support for the measures. The National Right to Life Committee supported legislation that included exceptions in the 1990s. Even the Hyde Amendment, the federal law that prohibits federal funds from being used to pay for abortions, has long contained these exceptions. If Republicans fearing electoral disaster make a tiny strategic retreat back to the position of Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump on abortion, its important that pro-choice Republicans (whats left of them), Democrats, and, most of all, a credulous news media make it clear this doesnt amount to moderation in any significant way. According to the Guttmacher Institute, less than 1.5 percent of abortions occur in cases of a pregnancy caused by rape or incest. Theres less data on abortions required to save the life of the mother (an estimated 600 women a year died from problematic pregnancies even prior to the abolition of abortion rights), since until recently almost no one challenged saving ones life as a legitimate ground for the procedure. Suffice it to say that such narrow exceptions to total or near-total bans would still leave the vast majority of abortions illegal while eliminating any idea that women, rather than legislatures, should decide when to bear children. In addition, Republican legislators have become adept at designing exceptions that place heavy burdens on women to prove they are entitled to a rare legal abortion. Yet we are already beginning to see media accounts like this Associated Press story on a Kentucky GOP gubernatorial candidate buying into the idea that abortion bans with minuscule exceptions represent a big moderate turn for the party: On the debate stage for the first time as a statewide candidate in the Kentucky governors race, a small-town mayor stood out for his stands on abortion and other issues that could draw in centrist voters, even as leading rivals veered to the right Trailing his main GOP rivals in fundraising and name recognition, the debate gave [Alan] Keck an opportunity to introduce himself to a broader audience. He alone voiced support for adding exceptions to Kentuckys near-total abortion ban to allow for terminating pregnancies in cases of rape or incest The most interesting thing that happened in the debate was Keck plotting out a moderate lane for himself, said Scott Jennings, a Kentucky-based Republican political commentator. If Republicans truly want to display moderation on abortion, they can squarely oppose six-week heartbeat laws (like the one Ron DeSantis is clearly about to sign in Florida) that ban abortions at a stage of pregnancy when many women dont even know they are pregnant, or better yet, swear off prospective federal bans and end the forced-birth crusade in GOP-run states altogether. Symbolic gestures of reasonableness that hide abiding hostility to reproductive rights shouldnt buy Republicans anything other than contempt for their cynicism. Rep. Justin Pearson of Memphis on the day he was expelled from the Tennessee House. Photo: George Walker IV/AP In a national political environment often focused obsessively on Washington, DC, or the pursuit of public offices in Washington, DC, the 50 state governments are often implicitly regarded as the minor leagues. Its where future presidents, members of Congress, Cabinet members and federal judges hone their skills in obscurity and await a call-up to The Show. In reality, of course, the states have their own areas of exclusive and shared responsibilities that they work on incessantly, including criminal justice, education, health care, economic development and public works. On some topics where Washington becomes gridlocked (e.g., voting rights and gun violence) the so-called laboratories of democracy become not just centers of innovation or experimentation, but the only place where governing actually happens. And on occasion, moreover, the U.S. Supreme Court may suddenly hand over to the states a policy topic long thought resolved, as happened last year when Roe v. Wade was reversed. Now and then we see a week like this one, where its impossible to ignore that states are where the action is. On Tuesday in Wisconsin, the most expensive state judicial race in history produced a smashing liberal (and indirectly Democratic) victory in perhaps the most closely contested jurisdiction in the country. It will have an almost immediate effect on reproductive rights in Wisconsin where an ancient abortion ban will be overturned. The new liberal Supreme Court majority is also likely to strike down congressional and legislative gerrymanders, and prevent attacks on voting rights. On Wednesday, and also on the abortion front, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation repealing another very old abortion ban, subsequent to her states voters approving a November 2022 constitutional amendment re-establishing reproductive rights. But on the same day in North Carolina, a Democratic legislator changed parties out of the blue, giving Republicans a super-majority that will keep Democratic Governor Roy Cooper from vetoing legislation on a broad range of issues, including likely new abortion restrictions. It came a week after the defector missed a vote that overrode a Cooper veto of legislation abolishing a permitting requirement for pistol purchases. On Thursday the heavily Republican Idaho legislature and GOP Governor Brad Little tested the boundaries of anti-abortion legislation with a new law that prohibits an adult from helping a minor travel to receive an abortion or access abortion medication without their parents consent. Advocates on both sides of the abortion barricades will be watching the inevitable court challenges to this radical law unfold. And also on Thursday, in another precedent-setting action, Tennessees Republican-controlled House expelled two Democratic members for participating in a disruptive protest along with activists in the galleries aimed at the GOPs active hostility to gun safety measures in the wake of last weeks mass shootings at a religious school in Nashville. The two expelled were Black, while a white lawmaker narrowly defeated a vote to throw her out. This is a moment that will echo in Tennessee politics for many years to come, and could inspire similar protests by people weary of gun violence and crackdowns by Second Amendment absolutists elsewhere. Rep. Justin Jones holds nothing back, calling Tennessee Republicans drunk with power as they pursue his expulsion for standing with gun reform protesters. pic.twitter.com/1EQNAWcvHU NowThis (@nowthisnews) April 6, 2023 Theres another work day this week, and likely something else of note will happen in one or more state capitals. If you dont bother to watch, you may miss something far more important than old CSPAN tapes of congressional hearings or polls comparing presidential candidates (and even there, contests in the states will determine the nominees, as you can already tell from the Republicans wandering around Iowa and New Hampshire). Its not insignificant that this country is called the United States of America. Former Auburn University school president Jay Gogue is back at work again, named Friday as interim chancellor at New Mexico State University. Gogue served as NMSU president from 2000-03 before arriving at Auburn. NMSU announced that the schools board of regents had agreed to a mutual separation with the schools former chancellor, Dan Arvizu. Gogue is set to lead the NMSU school system as the university searches for a permanent replacement. Gogue returns to help NMSU in a bind in much the same way he returned to serve as school president at Auburn for a second stint recently. Gogue worked as president at Auburn from 2007-17, then after the ill-fated tenure of Steven Leath, returned to his role as president from 2019-22. Between NMSU and Auburn, Gogue worked as the president and chancellor for the University of Houston system from 2003-07. Susie and I are pleased to be back at NMSU, Gogue said in a statement put out by NMSU. My plan is to hit the ground listening. No two institutions of higher education are the same. Just because something worked at Auburn doesnt mean it will work at NMSU. In the coming days, I intend to meet with as many people as I can to get a better understanding of our overall landscape. New Auburn president Chris Roberts took Gogues office last May after Gogue retired. WASHINGTON Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said Friday he was not required to disclose the many trips he and his wife took that were paid for by Republican megadonor Harlan Crow. Describing Crow and his wife, Kathy, as "among our dearest friends," Thomas said in a statement that he was advised by colleagues on the nation's highest court and others in the federal judiciary that "this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable." Thomas did not name the other justices or those in the judiciary with whom he had consulted. The nonprofit investigative journalism organization ProPublica reported Thursday that Thomas, who has been a justice for more than 31 years, has for more than two decades accepted luxury trips from Crow nearly every year. Thomas, 74, and his wife, Virginia, have traveled on Crow's yacht and private jet as well as stayed at his private resort in New York's Adirondack Mountains, ProPublica reported. A 2019 trip to Indonesia the story detailed could have cost more than $500,000 had Thomas chartered the plane and yacht himself. Supreme Court justices, like other federal judges, are required to file an annual financial disclosure report which asks them to list gifts they have received, but provides exemptions for hospitality from friends. Ethics experts have offered conflicting views about whether Thomas was required to disclose the trips. Last month, the federal judiciary bolstered disclosure requirements for all judges, including the high court justices, although overnight stays at personal vacation homes owned by friends remain exempt from disclosure. New York University law professor Stephen Gillers, an authority on legal ethics, said Thomas' statement "is an abdication of his responsibility" under ethics guidelines. "Thomas is shamelessly seeking to shift the blame for his failure to report Crow's princely hospitality to advice he allegedly received from other Justices when he joined the court more than 30 years ago. Most of them are now dead and, conveniently, cannot contradict him," Gillers wrote in an email. Charles Geyh, a University of Indiana law professor who studies judicial ethics, wrote in an email that he doubts any justice would have advised Thomas against disclosure if he had laid out the details in ProPublica's report, "hundreds of thousands of dollars in luxurious travel and accommodations at exotic locales spanning decades, from a benefactor who has a deeply rooted partisan and ideological interest in the future of the Court on which the justice sits." University of Pittsburgh ethics expert Arthur Hellman said that even if Thomas could reasonably have believed he did not have to report Crow's gifts, he still should have. "It would have been preferable in the sense of public confidence in the courts if he had disclosed," Hellman said. Thomas, the longest-serving member of the court, said he has always tried to comply with disclosure guidelines. Regarding the recent changes, "It is, of course, my intent to follow this guidance in the future," he said in the statement. The new reporting requirements appear to cover almost all the travel and lodging Crow provided, Hellman said. The mere need to disclose could make judges more reluctant to accept the gifts in the first place, he said. "If I had to predict, I'd say Justice Thomas will be seeing less of Harlan Crow's luxurious properties," Hellman said. Democratic lawmakers said the ProPublica story was the latest illustration of why the Supreme Court should adopt an ethics code and further tighten the rules on travel and other gifts. It is by no means clear that the justices will agree to subject themselves to an ethics code or that Congress will seek to impose one on the court. Thomas did not refer to any individual trips paid for by Crow. But he said, "As friends do, we have joined them on a number of family trips during the more than quarter century we have known them." Last year, questions about Thomas' ethics arose when it was disclosed that he did not step away from election cases following the 2020 election despite the fact that his wife, a conservative activist, reached out to lawmakers and the Trump White House to urge defiance of the election results. The 9 current justices of the US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts Justice Clarence Thomas Justice Samuel Alito Justice Sonia Sotomayor Justice Elena Kagan Justice Neil Gorsuch Justice Brett Kavanaugh Justice Amy Coney Barrett Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson oof Reply Thread Link theyre gonna be able to write a hell of a memoir one day, at least Reply Parent Thread Link i don't know where to begin. Reply Thread Link That's...a lot Reply Thread Link This is fucked up. Absolutely the fuck not. Reply Thread Link Fuck whatever doctors agreed to this. Its obvious she has issues about her son dying, this never should have been allowed. "I'll never be alone again." ....omg :( poor kid. Reply Parent Thread Link Oh no, just everything about this is bad from top to bottom. Reply Thread Link That poor kid. Reply Thread Link lmao simona is a gem Reply Parent Thread Link I thought this was Jodie Comer. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Damn straight Simona. Reply Parent Thread Link I was legit staring at the title like this for a while because my brain simply wouldn't let me parse the meaning. I appreciate it trying, because now I've figured it out and it's an awful day for literacy. Reply Parent Thread Link YIKES YIKES YIKES @ "I will never be alone again." That is NOT a reason to have a baby, especially at 68!! Even if she's privileged enough to live a long time, she still won't be around for enough of this kid's life. I hope there's an extended family or something. Reply Thread Link that jumped out at me too like wtf Reply Parent Thread Link It's curious how childfree folks are painted as the selfish ones when literally most parents I know have kids for the most selfish reasons. The who's gonna take care of you when you're old question in particular, it's a fucking disgrace. Reply Parent Thread Link My mom told me thats the only reason she wanted a girl because she knew my brother wouldn't take care of her when she's old. ...um, I got some bad news for her about that but its prolly best I keep it to myself lol Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I saw someone somewhere address the whole who will take care of you when youre old thing and her answer was best. Your kid. Thats who will be taking care of me. Because they always forget nursing homes are a thing. Reply Parent Thread Link anyone who says they want their kids to take care of them has never actually taken care of the chronically ill/elderly/dying themselves or else they'd NEVER wish that on someone who wasn't willingly being paid to do the work. the home-care nurse for a relative had to stick her finger up my relative's butthole to fish out compacted turds. aint no way. my MONEY will take care of me in my old age, thanks. Reply Parent Thread Link she made this kid be born an orphan. she's obviously in pain but, like, how does that not jolt you out of your grief. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link The life expectancy in Spain is 82. So Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I am 40 this year. She is five years older than my mother. What the actual fuck. Reply Parent Thread Link That puts me feeling bad about having a child in early forties into perspective. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Is that not an incest inbred baby?? Reply Thread Link That's what I'm thinking but she's 68....menopause must've already hit. So I'm guessing the egg is from another woman??? Reply Parent Thread Link No. It's her GRANDdaughter. Her son's sperm and a donor egg, surrogate Reply Parent Thread Link Thank the gods for the tiniest of favours, I guess??? Reply Parent Thread Link oh thank God Reply Parent Thread Link I was thinking that too, but it reads like it was a donor egg with her son's sperm. Reply Parent Thread Link donor egg + her son's sperm BUT her son's father is the grandson of a spanish princess and the borbons were inbred as FUCK so in a roundabout way, kind of? Reply Parent Thread Link ontd doesn't read, water is wet... Reply Parent Thread Link "I will never be alone again." Oh no. Reply Thread Link Edited at 2023-04-07 12:53 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link No child should be brought into the world under those circumstances. Thats just cruel. Reply Thread Link there's so much fucked up about this...why was her dead son's sperm still being stored when he'd been dead for at least 2 years and didn't have a living spouse left behind????? lol and ofc this shit is illegal in spain so she had to come here to pull this shit off that poor baby is destined to be alone in like 20-30 years too, that can't be fair Reply Thread Link edited because I was mistaking something that was in one of the stories must have come up in roundup or some other birth thread. Apologies. Edited at 2023-04-07 03:09 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link lol i just saw the edit, no problem. this story is so wild it's hard to keep the facts straight lmfao Edited at 2023-04-07 03:15 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link she said she started the process right when her son died "Obregon also revealed that they started the process of conceiving Aless' baby "the day my child went to heaven." The actress noted the process took three years because of legalities." She also said that she might do it again in the future.... Reply Parent Thread Link Maybe not even that. Plenty of folks drop dead in their late 70s too. By the time she hits double digits, she may very easily be an orphan. Reply Parent Thread Link Jesus is gonna resurrect this weekend and immediately peace out once he finds out about this Reply Thread Link i mean, isnt this basically what god did with mary? Reply Parent Thread Link it brings back childhood trauma Reply Parent Thread Expand Link at least baby j had parents Reply Parent Thread Link but who's the biological mother? the surrogate? a donor egg? Reply Thread Link The Moscow Times broke a story citing an unnamed Defense Ministry official and a source in the Special Forces Veterans Fund as saying that Russian copper tycoon Igor Altushkin is bankrolling the Urals Battalion, a volunteer group fighting in Ukraine. Altushkins copper company denied any involvement. Finland is set to become the next member of NATO; its official. This is a major provocation for Russia, and Putin will be expected to have a response. Finlands membership means, for the most part, a doubling of NATOs border with Russia. In Turkey, Erdogans very shaky May 14 re-election prospects have potentially been strengthened by a third presidential candidate who could split the opposition vote. Muharrem Ince, a former CHP opposition party figure, was added to the ballot over the weekend. Prior to this, Erdogans chances looked slimmer with only one opposition choice to unify around. Despite warnings from China that it would retaliate in some way, the U.S. went ahead with a meeting in LA between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. There were similar threats last year when Pelosi visited Taipei. The usual MO is to launch war games as a show of potential force. After the meeting, Beijing said it would use resolute measures in responsea threat Washington seems to be viewing largely as empty saber-rattling. Politics, Geopolitics & Conflict Despite warnings from China that it would retaliate in some way, the U.S. went ahead with a meeting in LA between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. There were similar threats last year when Pelosi visited Taipei. The usual MO is to launch war games as a show of potential force. After the meeting, Beijing said it would use resolute measures in responsea threat Washington seems to be viewing largely as empty saber-rattling. In Turkey, Erdogans very shaky May 14 re-election prospects have potentially been strengthened by a third presidential candidate who could split the opposition vote. Muharrem Ince, a former CHP opposition party figure, was added to the ballot over the weekend. Prior to this, Erdogans chances looked slimmer with only one opposition choice to unify around. Finland is set to become the next member of NATO; its official. This is a major provocation for Russia, and Putin will be expected to have a response. Finlands membership means, for the most part, a doubling of NATOs border with Russia. The Moscow Times broke a story citing an unnamed Defense Ministry official and a source in the Special Forces Veterans Fund as saying that Russian copper tycoon Igor Altushkin is bankrolling the Urals Battalion, a volunteer group fighting in Ukraine. Altushkins copper company denied any involvement. Deals, Mergers & Acquisitions TotalEnergies delayed $27 billion Iraq project is showing signs of life, with Iraq agreeing to take a smaller stake in the project of 30%--down from a 40% stake as the country attempts to woo foreign investments. The project is for the building of four oil, gas, and renewables projects, with an initial investment of $10 billion over 25 years. The deal has been delayed because TotalEnergies was holding out for a majority stake. The Mexican government will buy 13 power plants from Iberdrola in a $6 billion deal in what Manuel Obrador referred to as a nationalization of the countrys energy markets. The move will give Mexicos state-run power company, Commission Federal de Electricidad, majority control of the countrys electricity market (56%), in line with Obradors nationalization goals across several industries. The U.S. and Canada have both threatened a trade war over the Mexican Presidents nationalization efforts. The takeover of the power plants will take place within five months. Obrador has had a strained relationship with Iberdrola after threatening to pause diplomatic relations with Spain due to its foothold in Mexicos energy market. Ovintiv (CA:OVV) said it would purchase 65,000 acres of undeveloped land in the Permian for $4.3 billion from buyout firm EnCap Investments. EnCap is also looking to sell another $3 billion of Permian-focused oil and gas producersNovo Oil & Gas LLC, and Forge Energy II, sources said this week. The recent boost in oil prices has made M&A in the sector more enticing. ADNOC is looking to raise $1 billion from the IPO of its shipping and logistics unit, just one month after listing 5% of its gas business, earning $2.5 in the process in what was the worlds largest IPO so far this year. The logistics IPO could be launched as soon as May. The gas IPO went over well, drawing $124 billion in investor orders. Murphy Oil has signed PSAs with the Ivory Coast government for multiple onshore blocks in the country. Exploration activity in the Ivory Coast is heating up following Enis Baleine field discovery. Murphy Oil was last in Africa years ago when it quit the Republic of Congo after its failed Azurite project. Vitol will deliver the Philippines first cargo of LNG later this month to San Miguel Global Power. The LNG will be used to cool down the Ish Floating Storage Unit and commission the first LNG terminal in Batangas Bay. The LNG was loaded in the UAE. QatarEnergy will acquire a 25% stake in the massive Gas Growth Integrated Project in Iraq as the latter tries to develop local resources to meet its domestic energy needs. The project will look to develop facilities that will recover what is now flared nat gas from oilfields in southern Iraq. The project was initiated by Total in 2021, which will still hold a 45% stake in the project. Basra Oil Company owns 30%. Discovery & Development ExxonMobil is quitting its oil prospect in Brazil after a series of deepwater offshore drilling failures over the last five years in the Campos, Santos, and Sergipe-Alagoas basins. Exxon said it would continue to work with its partners in Brazil to analyze the data to assess the potential for future exploration activities in those blocks. It did skip, however, the latest offshore auction in Brazil in December. Brazils geology is complex, creating difficult-to-read seismic images due to its thick salt layers and strict environmental regulations. Exxon still has its minority stake in a separate project with partner Equinor. In a fairy-tale turnaround that few could have foretold, oil prices have soared to multi-year highs, largely aided by strong post-Covid demand, surprise OPEC+ cuts and the disruption caused by Russias war in Ukraine. The petrodollar windfall has really given a boost to previously battered Gulf economies, allowing some Gulf Arab states to pay down debt and others to diversify their oil-reliant economies in very big ways. All the six Gulf Arab states--Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman--are on track to post budget surpluses, many for the first time in a decade thanks to buoyant oil prices and years of fiscal reforms. But its not just the Arabian oil giants that will be enjoying the good times. In its latest forecast, the World Bank has predicted that in 2023, the entire Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region will grow 3.5%, more than twice the global average growth rate of 1.7% thanks mainly to high energy prices and increased oil production. GCC growth is expected to stabilize at 3.7% this year after expanding at a blistering 6.9% clip in 2022. Diversification and Sustainability Remain Key Although hydrocarbons remain the backbone of MENAs economy, the realities of climate change as well as wild oil price swings have been forcing Gulf nations to restrategize and diversify their economies away from oil--and Saudi Arabia is leading the way, again. Although Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman recently made waves in the oil community after telling Bloomberg News that Saudi Arabia intends to pump every last drop of oil and is going to be the last man standing, Saudi Arabia has crafted one of the most ambitious clean energy blueprints: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans Vision 2030 economic plan. In the economic plan, Saudi Arabia has set a target to develop ~60 GW of renewable energy capacity by the end of the decade, which compares with an installed capacity of roughly 80 GW of power plants burning gas or oil. So far, Saudi Arabia has only made limited progress deploying renewables with just 520 MW of utility-scale solar in operation while 400 MW of wind power is under construction. With its sun-scorched expanses and steady Red Sea breezes, Saudi Arabia is prime real estate for renewable energy generation. Last year, Saudi Arabias national oil company Saudi Aramco sent shockwaves through the natural gas markets after it announced that it was kicking off the biggest shale gas development outside of the United States. Saudi Aramco said it plans to spend $110 billion over the next couple of years to develop the Jafurah gas field, which is estimated to hold 200 trillion cubic feet of gas. The state-owned company hopes to start natural gas production from Jafurah in 2024 and reach 2.2 Bcf/d of sales gas by 2036 with an associated 425 million cubic feet per day of ethane. Two years ago, Aramco announced that instead of chilling all that gas and exporting it as LNG, it will convert it into a much cleaner fuel: Blue hydrogen. Saudi Aramco has told investors that Aramco has abandoned immediate plans to develop its LNG sector in favor of hydrogen. Nasser said that the kingdoms immediate plan is to produce enough natural gas for domestic use to stop burning oil in its power plants and convert the remainder into hydrogen. Blue hydrogen is made from natural gas either by Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) or Auto Thermal Reforming (ATR) with the CO2 generated captured and then stored. As the greenhouse gasses are captured, this mitigates the environmental impacts on the planet. Last year, Aramco made the worlds first blue ammonia shipment--from Saudi Arabia to Japan. Japan--a country whose mountainous terrain and extreme seismic activity render it unsuitable for the development of sustainable renewable energy--is looking for dependable suppliers of hydrogen fuel with Saudi Arabia and Australia on its shortlist. The Saudi government is also building a $5 billion green hydrogen plant that will power the planned megacity of Neom when it opens in 2025. Dubbed Helios Green Fuels, the hydrogen plant will use solar and wind energy to generate 4GW of clean energy that will be used to produce green hydrogen. But heres the main kicker: Helios could soon produce green hydrogen thats cheaper than oil. Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) estimates that Helios costs could reach $1.50 per kilogram by 2030, way cheaper than the average cost of green hydrogen at $5 per kilogram and even cheaper than gray hydrogen made from cracking natural gas. Saudi Arabia enjoys serious competitive advantage in the green hydrogen business thanks to its perpetual sunshine, wind, and vast tracts of unused land. Germany has said it needs enormous volumes of green hydrogen, and hopes Saudi Arabia will become a key supplier. Two years ago, Germanys cabinet committed to invest 9B (about $10.2B) in hydrogen technology in a bid to decarbonize the economy and cut CO2 emissions. The government has proposed to build an electrolysis capacity of 5,000 MW by 2030 and another 5,000 MW by 2040 over the next decade to produce fuel hydrogen. The European economic powerhouse has realized it cannot do this alone, and will require low-cost suppliers like Saudi Arabia especially as it doubles down on its green energy commitments following a series of devastating floods in the country. UAE: Nuclear, Wind and Waste-to-Energy Back in 2021, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) announced the commissioning of the countrys first-ever nuclear power plant--the Barakah unit 1. The 1,400-megawatt nuclear plant has become the single largest electricity generator in the UAE since reaching 100% power in early December, and is now providing "constant, reliable and sustainable electricity around the clock."ENEC says Barakah unit 1 is "now leading the largest decarbonization effort of any industry in the UAE to date." Following in the footsteps of Saudi Arabia, the UAE is also laying a strong foundation for the energy transition. Masdar, the clean energy arm of Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala, is building renewable capacity in central Asia after signing a deal in April 2021 to develop a solar project in Azerbaijan. Since its inception in 2006, Masdar has built a portfolio of renewable energy assets in 30 different countries, having invested about $20bn to develop 11GW of solar, wind and waste-to-energy power generation capacity. ADVERTISEMENT And now Masdar says it intends to apply the lessons gleaned abroad to develop clean energy capacity back at home. Solutions we have developed in our international operations will definitely have applications here in the UAE, says Masdars El-Ramahi. For instance, Masdar plans to bolster the UAEs comparatively weak wind resources by developing domestic wind farms using the latest class three turbines that are able to harness electricity even from low wind speeds. Further, the company is also constructing a $1.1bn facility that will burn garbage to generate power in one of the worlds largest waste-to-energy plants. Once complete, the plants will incinerate almost two-thirds of the household wastes the country generates every year. Though not typically considered a clean energy source, modern waste-to-energy plants are much cleaner as per the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP). By using advanced technologies, these plants are able burn waste at extremely high temperatures thus ensuring complete combustion while missions are specially treated, leaving minimal amounts of toxic byproducts like flue ash. In fact, tests have shown that the air emitted by certain waste-to-energy chimneys can be cleaner than the air flowing in. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: This long-running battle, however, has begun to climax this year, increasing the risk for foreign oil companies operating there, and spooking investors. The Supreme Court ruled in February last year that only the federal governments SOMO had the authority to export crude, placing foreign oil companies in violation of Iraqi federal law by signing contracts with The temporary deal that has been agreed to says that the KRG will sell its oil through SOMO from now on, and the revenues from that will be paid into an account that Erbil will control. This is exactly what Erbil has been fighting against for years, not willing to have SOMO hovering around its operations and introducing more scrutiny and financial oversight. These oil exports are its only independent revenue stream. The deal essentially means the Iraqi Kurds will be giving up some of their autonomy. In this case, it is autonomy that Baghdad claims was unconstitutional to begin with: The right to directly sell oil to the market, bypassing the Iraqi federal oil marketer, SOMO. The international arbitration ruling was in favor of Iraq against Turkey, where the Kurds are exporting their oil unilaterally. The Iraqi federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) cut a deal earlier this week to resume the export via pipeline of some 450,000 bpd of Kurdish oil to Turkey. Flows have not resumed as of the time of writing, but the atmosphere was one of optimism. The Iraqi federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) cut a deal earlier this week to resume the export via pipeline of some 450,000 bpd of Kurdish oil to Turkey. Flows have not resumed as of the time of writing, but the atmosphere was one of optimism. The deal essentially means the Iraqi Kurds will be giving up some of their autonomy. In this case, it is autonomy that Baghdad claims was unconstitutional to begin with: The right to directly sell oil to the market, bypassing the Iraqi federal oil marketer, SOMO. The international arbitration ruling was in favor of Iraq against Turkey, where the Kurds are exporting their oil unilaterally. The temporary deal that has been agreed to says that the KRG will sell its oil through SOMO from now on, and the revenues from that will be paid into an account that Erbil will control. This is exactly what Erbil has been fighting against for years, not willing to have SOMO hovering around its operations and introducing more scrutiny and financial oversight. These oil exports are its only independent revenue stream. This long-running battle, however, has begun to climax this year, increasing the risk for foreign oil companies operating there, and spooking investors. The Supreme Court ruled in February last year that only the federal governments SOMO had the authority to export crude, placing foreign oil companies in violation of Iraqi federal law by signing contracts with the Kurds. The March international arbitration ruling in favor of Iraq simply maintained the momentum toward a climax. One argument (that Baghdad finds convenient) is that if Erbil gave in to SOMO, and the legal battle was put to rest, investors would no longer be squirmish, and more money could pour into Kurdish E&P. In other words, it could mean growth for the Kurds, which rely on disbursements from the Iraqi federal budget; their unilateral oil export revenue isnt enough. Another argument is that the Kurds want their independence, and the only reason they couldnt get by without the federal budget allotment is that they lost the disputed, oil-rich Kirkuk to Baghdad. But the reality is rather more nuanced. What could possibly go wrong now? The deal reached this week was between Baghdad and Erbil only; however, the pipeline was shut down by Turkey following the international ruling, and deal or no deal, Turkey has to agree to resume exports. Turkey is now using its leverage here to try to negotiate the settlement it has to pay to Iraq. TEHRAN, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The foreign ministers of Iran and France held a meeting on Thursday night in the Chinese capital Beijing, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted Friday on its website. During the meeting, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his French counterpart Catherine Colonna discussed different aspects of bilateral ties, as well as regional and international issues of common interest, according to the statement. They also exchanged views on consular issues. The two ministers agreed on promoting mutual respect and continued dialogues. The meeting took place as high-ranking delegations of the two countries were in Beijing. Crude oil prices are about to post a third weekly gain boosted by OPEC+s unexpected decision to reduce its combined output by another 1.16 million bpd, despite continued concern about a global slowdown. Oil prices surged on Monday, following the Sunday declaration of the oil production group and later in the week steadied amid fresh U.S. and Chinese economic data that suggested weaker post-pandemic growth. In the U.S., the latest weekly jobless data revision showed a higher number of initial jobless claims than previously estimated and growth in the service sector disappointed. In China, the Caixin PMI reading for March suggested a deceleration of post-pandemic growth. These negative developments served to put a cap on oil prices and after Monday, prices were little changed, despite additional support from yet another U.S. inventory draw as estimated by the Energy Information Administration. "Demand destruction as function of the threat of recession is greater than the cut by OPEC+," Robert Yawger, Mizuho Securities energy futures director, told Reuters. Physical OPEC+ crude oil cuts will clash with monetary central bank hikes designed to rein in demand, posing macro risks, Bank of America analyst Francisco Blanch said in a note to clients, as quoted by Bloomberg. Net, we stay constructive. Bloomberg noted that oil has gained some 26% since its mid-March trough, prompted by the string of bank collapses, with Brent crude above $85 and West Texas Intermediate topping $80 per barrel. "The oil market's bullish momentum may have paused, but upside potential remains given the tightening supply backdrop," PVM broker Stephen Brennock told Reuters. This potential could strengthen further as Saudi Arabia signaled its confidence that demand will remain resilient despite economic growth worries by raising its official selling prices for Asian buyers. Asia is Saudi Arabias biggest export market for crude oil. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Oil prices soared at the start of the week as OPEC+ shocked markets with a production cut announcement, but prices have since been capped by growing fears of demand destruction due to economic woes. Friday, March 31st, 2023 Following the explosive rally in oil prices seen earlier this week, additional increases have been sluggish despite notable stock draws in both US crude and product inventories. With US demand coming back after a weak Q1 and OPEC+ getting really serious about curbing production, supply-side factors appear to indicate further upside. At the same time, macroeconomic woes might once again spoil the party, especially if weak US labor market data rekindle the fire of demand destruction. Recession Fears Weigh on Diesel Prices. In contrast to rising oil prices, the premium of diesel against Brent or WTI has been shrinking for the past six months with its crack now at $130/mt as its cyclical sensitivity makes it vulnerable to declines in business activity and lower manufacturing orders. Kurdish Crude Officially Back to Markets. The Iraqi federal government and Kurdistans regional authorities have signed a temporary deal to resume oil exports through Turkey and bring back some 450,000 b/d of Iraqi crude as the two-week standoff forced producers to halt production. French Court Rules Against Requisitioning. A tribunal in the French city of Rouen ruled that a government order mandating that workers of TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) halted 240,000 b/d Gonfreville refinery return to work is illegal, indefinitely suspending the requisition order. US Major Wraps Up Brazil Drilling Campaign. US oil major ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) will exit its self-operated license blocks in offshore Brazil after its exploration drilling program, comprising wells in the Campos, Santos, and Sergipe-Alagoas basins, failed to wield any commercial discovery. Asian LNG Prices Bottom Out. Spot LNG prices in Asia are at the lowest level since July 2021, with cargoes for May delivery into northeast Asia changing hands around 12.50 per mmBtu, as weak Chinese buying and high stocks in OECD Asia keep any pricing upside firmly capped. US to Tighten Power Plants Emissions Rules. The US Environmental Protection Agency is set to tighten emission standards for filterable particulate matter such as mercury and other toxic metals from coal plants, forcing the most polluting plants in North Dakota and Texas to cut emissions by 70%. Court Can Rule on Guyana-Venezuela Border. The International Court of Justice said they had jurisdiction over a long-running territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela that boils down to an 1899 arbitration ruling, in a blow to Venezuela's attempts to derail court proceedings ever since Guyanas 2018 appeal. Kazakhstan Sends Oil Majors into Arbitration. The government of Kazakhstan is taking the operators of the Kashagan and Karachaganak fields, No.2 and No.3 producing assets in the country, to arbitration on grounds of unapproved spending, arguing theyve unlawfully tax-deducted costs of $13 billion and $3.5 billion, respectively. Private Equity Cashes Out with Shale M&As. As US PE firms have gotten the appetite for oil equity sales, one of the largest players in the Permian Basin NGP Energy Capital Management is reportedly exploring the sale of Tap Rock Resources and Hibernia Resources for more than $7 billion. ADVERTISEMENT Chinese Companies Banned from Dutch Grid Upgrade. As the Dutch grid operator TenneT awarded UK-based energy service firm Petrofac (LON:PFC) with a $14 billion contract to upgrade the countrys grid to accommodate more wind power, it turns out Chinese companies were deliberately banned from the tender. Qatars Entry into Iraqi Project Saves the Day. Resolving a long-standing dispute between French major TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) and Baghdad on the $10 billion Gas Growth Integrated Project, aimed at ramping up the countrys gas production, the two sides agreed to let QatarEnergy into the project, allotting 25% to the NOC. Mexico Nationalizes Power Plants. The Mexican government will buy 13 power plants from Spanish renewables firm Iberdrola (BME:IBE) in a deal worth $6 billion, as Mexicos President Lopez Obrador hails a new nationalization of the electricity market, giving the state power company CFE control over the market. South Africa Revokes State of Disaster. Following two months of intermittent power supply, the government of South Africa revoked a national state of emergency that gave it additional powers to cut through bureaucratic delays and expedite decisions, after several NGOs challenged the measure in courts. India Readies to Launch LNG Terminal. The 5 mtpa capacity Dhamra LNG import terminal, the first such facility in eastern India jointly developed by TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) and Adani Group (NSE:ADANIENT), has received its first cargo this week and will be commissioned within the upcoming weeks. By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The Middle East and North Africa account for some 48 percent of the worlds daily production of desalinated water, according to a report by BNC Intelligence. Desalination is the process of removing salt and contaminants from sea water to produce fresh water. The following chart, via Statista's Anna Fleck, looks at some of the countries investing the most heavily in the industry, as water stress continues to rise. You will find more infographics at Statista The 4th MENA Desalination Projects 2023 Report details how a total of $39.3 billion is currently being spent on desalination projects across the region, whether planned or already underway. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are investing the most of these countries, with a total of $14.58 billion and $10.28 billion worth of projects, respectively. According to the U.S.-Saudi Council, as much as 60 percent of the Kingdoms water came from desalination in 2019, the majority of which was produced by the government-run Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC). As oil rich nations with access to sea water and the means to invest, both countries have projects in the pipeline, with Saudi Arabia having $7.56 billion worth of projects currently in concept, design and tender, while the UAE has $7.88 billion worth of projects oncoming, as reported by BNC Intelligence. So, as droughts become more commonplace and the need to replenish supplies more urgent, why arent other countries investing as much in desalination? Firstly, some other countries are, at least to an extent. The United States had 167 plants in Florida, 52 in Texas and 58 in California as of 2018, according to the Updated and Extended Survey of U.S. Municipal Desalination Plants and announced in 2021 it would be investing $5 million in desalination technologies. Australia and the United Kingdom are also among other affluent countries to own and use them, albeit none of these to the same scale of the plants in countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Israel. Right now, desalination technologies have major limitations though, such as the fact the plants are extremely expensive to build and use, requiring a huge amount of energy to run. ADVERTISEMENT At the same time, they produce toxic chemicals and large amounts of waste brine which is harmful to marine life and the environment, as well as greenhouse gas emissions if they run on diesel. By Zerohedge.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A week ago, predicting where oil prices would be in six months or at the end of 2023 was relatively easy. Bar a global slowdown, they would be higher. There were two reasons for that consensus among most analysts watching the oil market. First, China last year ended its zero-Covid policy that was depressing oil demand. Second, the global supply of crude oil was tight and expected to tighten even further as the year wore on. And then OPEC+ declared an additional production cut, throwing all these forecasts out of the window. If the future of oil prices was at its usual uncertain a week ago, now it got a dose of extra uncertainty. The market reaction in the days immediately after the OPEC+ announcement resembles its reaction in the days after Russia's invasion of Ukraine last February. An initial surge as worry about the security of supply temporarily takes hold over traders, followed by a plateau and, eventually, a decline. Of course, everyone rushed to update their oil price forecasts after OPEC+ delivered its message to markets last Sunday. Goldman Sachs revised its Brent crude outlook for the end of the year from $90 per barrel to $95 per barrel. The bank also revised up its end-2024 forecast to $100 per barrel. Energy Aspects said $100 per barrel of Brent crude is a possibility after OPEC+'s additional production cut. It could happen as soon as this quarter, the firm's chief oil analyst, Amrita Sen, said, or in the second half of the year. If the global economy proved resilientif oil demand held. Meanwhile, Energy Intelligence's OPEC correspondence Amena Bakr noted that the OPEC declaration might not be about prices alone. In a recent tweet, Bakr said, "When you have countries with vast hydrocarbon resources with the lowest cost of production in the world, these countries are playing the LONG game and that involves making sure that Opec survives as a marketing management tool." Indeed, OPEC's clout in market direction appears to be growing once again, after many observers called the death of the cartel several years ago as U.S. shale production broke record after record. Yet now shale oil output growth is stalling, the long-term outlook is not as bright as it was a few years ago, and OPEC is, as Reuters put it in a recent analysis, back in the driver's seat. "One thing is for certain, OPEC is in control and driving price and U.S. shale is no longer viewed as the marginal producer," James Mick, senior portfolio advisor at Tortoise Capital Advisors, told Reuters after the OPEC+ announcement. On the other hand, "Some traders might interpret the OPEC+ cut as a sign of weaker than expected demand for physical markets as OPEC+ possesses some of the best information available in regards to the global physical oil markets," Tortoise portfolio manager Rob Thummel said separately. Demand has remained the main factor to watch after the initial price surge ended. While some, like Tortoise, are certain oil demand will be resilient, potentially keeping prices higher, others are not so sure, which was reflected in the way prices spiked on Monday and then retreated a bit and stayed there. If Saudi Aramco's price-setting policies are any indication, demand for oil will remain resilient. Days after the OPEC+ announcement, Aramco raised its official selling prices for Asiaits biggest buyer. It's hard to see this as anything else than a sign of conviction that demand in the region seen as driving global oil demand growth will continue to expand. If economists warning of a looming global crisis are right, however, that conviction may yet get shaken in the coming months, and prices may decline instead of rising further. ADVERTISEMENT Predicting where oil prices will be at some point in the near future has always been a risky business. This is still the case, despite the dominant bullish sentiment among analysts and industry observers. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Xi's willingness to move boldly marks a new phase in China's vision for itself and its role in the world. After three years of "zero-COVID" isolation, China is stepping out onto the global stage to a far more unfriendly West and using its growing economic and military power to shape the world to better suit its interests. Finding Perspective: This more assertive footing was on display in March, with Beijing surprising much of the world by brokering a diplomatic deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia, one of the world's most volatile rivalries. Xi has also continued to press ahead with China's peacemaker status for the war in Ukraine after unveiling a 12-point proposal for how to broker a cease-fire. The plan has largely been dismissed in the West but is gathering support from large players in the Global South. The Chinese leader also drew the world's attention with a three-day visit to Moscow, where he reaffirmed Chinese support for Russian President Vladimir Putin and, among other developments, Russia increased its reliance on China's yuan as it seeks to move away from Western currencies, particularly the U.S. dollar. Beijing's Middle East moves and efforts to undermine the U.S. dollar globally also moved ahead, with China saying that it was open to talks with Malaysia on forming an Asian Monetary Fund, which would increase use of the yuan. Elsewhere, Saudi Aramco, Riyadh's state energy company, said that an oil refinery it's building in China is expected to be fully operational by 2026, which comes after the kingdom announced in 2022 that it would be open to accepting yuan instead of dollars for Chinese oil sales. Related: Major U.S. Utilities Consider Selling Natural Gas Distribution Networks In another development at the end of March, the Saudi Council of Ministers officially approved a proposal to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Beijing-led bloc for Eurasia. Saudi membership -- coupled with Iran, who is also slated to join -- could give the SCO added energy sway with a trio of Moscow, Riyadh, and Tehran. Why It Matters: There's still plenty of room for skepticism that the above will lead to lasting breakthroughs, but Xi's willingness to move boldly marks a new phase in China's vision for itself and its role in the world. It also sends a message that Beijing and like-minded countries no longer have to conform to the U.S.-led global order and that increasingly substantial alternatives are being put on offer. Expert Corner: Brussels Looks For A New China Line European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined her vision for the future of EU-China relations during a high-profile speech in Brussels on March 30. The full comments can be found here, but I've selected a few noteworthy passages: "Far from being put off by the atrocious and illegal invasion of Ukraine, President Xi is maintaining his 'no-limits friendship' with Putin. But there has been a change of dynamic in the relationship between China and Russia. It is clear from this visit that China sees Putin's weakness as a way to increase its leverage over Russia. And it is clear that the power balance in that relationship -- which for most of the last century favored Russia -- has now reversed. "We have to be frank on this point. How China continues to interact with Putin's war will be a determining factor for EU-China relations going forward. "I believe it is neither viable -- nor in Europe's interest -- to decouple from China. Our relations are not black or white -- and our response cannot be either. This is why we need to focus on de-risk -- not decouple. "But I also want to say that nothing is inevitable in geopolitics. China is a fascinating and complex mix of history, progress and challenges. And it will define this century. But our story about how we relate to China is not yet fully written -- and it need not be a defensive one. We must collectively show that our democratic system, our values and our open economy can deliver prosperity and security for people." Do you have a question about China's growing footprint in Eurasia? Send it to me at StandishR@rferl.org or reply directly to this e-mail and I'll get it answered by leading experts and policymakers. Three More Stories From Eurasia 1. Macron In China French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Beijing on April 5 along with von der Leyen for a three-day visit as Europe tries to find a balance between its concerns over China's geopolitical moves and its economic ambitions for the country. What You Need To Know: As I reported here, Macron is looking to add a more personal touch to his discussions with Xi as part of an ambitious diplomatic push to create distance between the Chinese leader and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking ahead of the visit to Beijing, Macron said his goal was to "try and involve China as much as possible to put pressure on Russia" on topics such as nuclear weapons, with aides saying Macron will try to gauge Xi's reaction to Russia's threat to host nuclear missiles in Belarus. EU officials who spoke to RFE/RL said that expectations were low within the bloc for Macron's moves to work, but the diplomatic gambit is part of a long-standing fascination from the French president on the need for Europe to keep a distance between Beijing and Moscow. More so, even with criticism within the bloc toward China rising, there is still a belief that Brussels will need to preserve some kind of functional relationship with Beijing in the future to tackle pressing issues. 2. Watching Taiwan With tensions high with Beijing, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy has confirmed that he will meet with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on April 5 as she returns from a tour of Taiwan's allies in Central America. The Details: Ahead of the visit, China staged military drills in the East China Sea and has repeatedly warned against any official contact between the U.S. and Taiwanese authorities. The meeting in California comes after some notable recent developments. On March 30, Marketa Pekarova Adamova, the speaker of the Czech parliament's lower house, finished a trip where she led a delegation of more than 150 business leaders and officials to Taiwan as part of Prague's growing outreach to Taipei. While that visit was under way, former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou made a historic trip to China, where he called for people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to work together for peace because "we are all Chinese." ADVERTISEMENT The symbolism of Ma -- who served as president from 2008 to 2016 -- traveling to China is significant, and he drew protesters to the airport in Taipei, who saw his visit as a form of capitulation to Beijing. In the run-up to Taiwan's presidential election in early 2024, the series of visits have thrown up a host of questions about how Taiwanese politics is dealing with China and with the United States -- the two most significant foreign factors for Taiwan's future. 3. Same Game, New Rules The ripple effects of China and Russia moving closer together are already being felt around the world, and as I reported here, those changes are being felt strongly in Central Asia, especially after Xi's recent visit to Moscow. What It Means: The Kremlin traditionally viewed Central Asia as its strategic backyard, but has been displaced by China as the premier economic force for the region's five countries. Moscow's war in Ukraine has also released geopolitical and economic shock waves and seen China's role in the region grow through diplomatic summits and new initiatives. Following the Xi-Putin meeting in late March, Xi announced that he would host a summit with the other Central Asian leaders in May. While China has hosted virtual summits with the region before, it would be the first in-person gathering at the top-level. But Central Asia's story does not -- and never really has -- fully fit with one of Chinese and Russian competition. While each side has their own interests, the region is one that represents major overlap for Beijing and Moscow, a trend that was reinforced in Xi and Putin's joint statement in Moscow, where they said they would work together "to support the countries of Central Asia in ensuring their sovereignty and national development" and safeguard them against so-called "color revolutions and external interference in the affairs of the region. By RFE/RL More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Demand for oil in Asia remained robust in March thanks to strong imports by China and India, which offset weakening demand in some other Asian nations. Asia took in a total 27.6 million barrels of crude daily last month, Reuters Clyde Russell reported citing Refinitiv Oil Research data. This was a 4% increase over February. During the first three months of the year, Asian oil imports beat every month of last year, Russell noted, except for November. Chinas crude oil imports in March hit the highest in four months at 11.65 million bpd, almost 1 million bpd higher than the February average daily. Saudi Arabia was the top supplier of China last month, overtaking Russia. India, for its part, saw its crude oil imports hit the highest in 11 months in March, at 5.02 million bpd. Russian crude accounted for a third of this total, with deliveries running at record highs for the sixth month in a row. Despite weaker crude oil and natural gas imports early into the year and just after the Chinese reopening after nearly three years of strict Covid measures, analysts expect Chinas oil imports to accelerate later this year and support global oil demand growth. Chinese crude oil imports could increase to an average as high as 11.8 million bpd this year, rising by between 500,000 bpd and 1 million bpd, according to Energy Aspects, FGE, S&P Global Commodity Insights, and Wood Mackenzie. Meanwhile, almost all of Russias crude oil exports are heading to China and India, recent data showed. According to energy analytics provider Vortexa, in March Russia shipped 3.38 million bpd of crude to overseas markets, with 91% of that going to the two biggest economies in Asia, Anadolu Agency reported. ADVERTISEMENT In the rest of Asia, meanwhile, imports of crude oil have mostly declined, suggesting a weakening of demand outside the six biggest importers, which also include South Korea, and Japan. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A Saudi-Omani delegation is set to travel next week to Yemen for peace talks with Houthi officials, two anonymous sources told Reuters on Friday. The goal of the talks is to form a permanent ceasefire between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, with Oman mediating. The talks come after Iran and Saudi Arabiawho have been on opposites sides for years in the Yemen conflictrecently agreed to renew their relationship with China facilitating the beginning of the restoration process. Iran agreed last month to stop supplying weapons to the Houthis in Yemen as part of that deal. The two sides also agreed to reopen embassies and missions. Iran and Saudi Arabia have been leading a proxy war in Yemen for years, with Tehran supporting the Houthis, who have frequently attacked or claimed to have attacked Saudi oil infrastructure in recent years. Fighting in Yemen has been ongoing for over seven years after the Iran-affiliated Houthis overturned the elected president, prompting Saudi Arabia to wage war on the rebel group. In response, the Houthis have made Saudi Arabias oil facilities their preferred target of attacks. With Iran halting its weapon supplies to the Houthis, the latter could be forced to seek an agreement to end the years-long conflict. The ongoing conflict has hovered over the oil industry for years, with the Iran-backed Houthis launching a drone attack on Saudi Aramcos oil facilities in the east, cutting Saudi Arabias crude oil production by roughly 50%--or 5% of the worlds total production at the time. ADVERTISEMENT As recently as November, the Houthi rebels attacked a ship at the al Dhabba oil terminal in Yemen, threatening to increase the severity of Yemens fuel shortages. The attack was part of an escalation of attacks after a failed renewal of the previous ceasefire in Yemen. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Saudi Arabia announced on Friday that it would be providing a $240 million loan to co-finance the construction of Mohmand Dam in Pakistan. The hydropower complex, located in the northwest of the country, is seen as an essential project for Pakistans energy security as well as being critical for sustainable water supply for agriculture and human consumption, and flood resilience. The Mohmand Dam is a multi-purpose project that will provide 800 megawatts of renewable electricity capacity, and enable the irrigation of 6,773 hectares of land. The project will increase the cropping area in the region from 1,517 hectares to 9,227 hectares, helping Pakistan's food security. Pakistan is facing a crisis that has pressured its foreign exchange reserves. The loan, co-financed with the assistance of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, will help the nation to address financial challenges by providing a much-needed injection of foreign currency into the country. The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) has been a key partner for Pakistan and has financed 41 development projects and programs in the country, amounting to approximately $1.4 billion in total. Furthermore, the SFD has provided oil derivatives worth more than $5.4 billion between 2019 and 2023 to support Pakistan's economy. Pakistan currently has a mix of mostly thermal and hydropower generation capacity. In theory, this is sufficient. However, a lack of funds has meant that the country has been unable to use the full capacity of its energy sources. Consequently, there have been prolonged blackouts, particularly during the summer when energy demand is high. The Mohmand Dam project will help Pakistan to alleviate this problem. ADVERTISEMENT The Mohmand Dam is an essential project for Pakistan. It will aid the country's energy security, provide sustainable water supplies for agriculture and human consumption, and improve resilience to floods. The loan from Saudi Arabia, together with the support of other international organizations, will help ensure that this critical infrastructure project succeeds. By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A supertanker has departed from China en route to the Yemeni coast to prevent a catastrophic oil spill from a decaying tanker that has sat there for years. The very large crude carrier (VLCC) set sail from Zhoushan, China, on Thursday as part of a United Nations coordinated operation to remove more than one million barrels of oil from the decaying FSO Safer supertanker off Yemens Red Sea coast that threatens a humanitarian, environmental, and economic catastrophe, the United Nations said in a statement. The rescue tanker, the Nautica, was secured last month by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and is expected to arrive at its final destination in early May. The dangerous tanker, the Safer, has been moored off Yemens Ras Isa peninsula since 1988 and could explode or break up at any time, the UN said. We are in a race against time and I urge leaders in government, CEOs of corporations and any individual in a position to contribute to step forward and support us in keeping this operation, that is fast reaching a critical stage, on track, said Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator. Funding has yet to be secured, according to the UN. While the project has received significant international support, the spiraling cost for VLCCs, in a market affected by the war in Ukraine, and other factors, means more funding is needed to complete the emergency phase of the plan. As of 4 April, the UN had received firm commitments for $95 million. The total budget for this first phase is $129 million, leaving a gap of $34 million, the UN said. The UN has been warning for years that the tanker off the Yemeni coast could explode or sink, in warnings that an environmental disaster and potential disruption of oil shipping routes around the Red Sea is waiting to happen. ADVERTISEMENT By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Chief Justice Michael Heavican got a tour of his old stomping grounds. Papillion La Vista High School welcomed the Nebraska Supreme Court on Wednesday afternoon to hold an oral argument session before students from both Papillion La Vista high schools as well as local attorneys in Sarpy County. Afterwards, Heavican toured the building, which he said will always be the new high school to me. It was a great tour of the past, Heavican told the Times in an interview. It was fun to see how the building has grown and all of the new things in the building, and its good to see the old things, too. Heavican taught for three years in the Papillion La Vista schools, starting out as an English teacher in the building thats now Papillion Middle School before moving over to the current high school in 1971, before La Vista was added to the schools name. The chief justice said he also taught film studies at Papillion High School. I always had it in the back of my mind that I wanted to go to law school, he said. Heavican, who became chief justice in 2006, likely also had it in mind to return to Papillion La Vista High School while on the bench. The court holds sessions at three high schools across the state each year, including Bellevue West High School last year. On Wednesday, the court started out by hearing three cases at the Creighton University School of Law in Omaha before relocating to a makeshift courtroom in Papillion. We love doing these oral arguments at high schools, Heavican said. This was an especially good opportunity, for me at least, because I used to teach here. The visit marked the first time the court has ever held arguments in Papillion. Students heard arguments in a juvenile case out of Lancaster County involving the interpretation of the Indian Child Welfare Act. The court doesnt rule immediately after hearings but, like the U.S. Supreme Court, issues written opinions following further consideration among the courts justices. Before the court session, former Judge Robert ONeal offered his welcome to the audience and discussed how Heavican was his English teacher when he attended Papillion High School. It is a great honor to welcome him back to Papillion La Vista High School, ONeal said. Avery Delwiche, a junior at Papillion La Vista, interviewed Heavican for the March issue of The Scepter, the schools magazine and official student publication. Delwiche told The Times it was a really cool experience to see the court in action because shes interested in pursuing legal studies in the future. It was really nice to see how this works, she said. It was a great opportunity for me as a journalist because I was assigned to write about it. The justices asked a lot more questions during the oral arguments than Delwiche thought they would, and she thought it was helpful to get their insights into the case. They were asking a ton of questions, which really surprised me, she said. Beyond Delwiches experience, students from the Papillion La Vista Media Academy also got to set up the room for the justices and recorded a livestream of the proceedings. Its just another experience and opportunity for our students to be engaged in this process, Principal Jason Ryan said. Superintendent Andy Rikli said the visit was a great day for the school district. This is an incredibly special event for our students, for our staff, for Chief Justice Heavican and his team to have a high school host an event of this magnitude is pretty darn incredible, Rikli said. An incredibly proud day for the community and for the school district. BEIRUT, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese army will take appropriate and necessary measures to sustain stability and calm in southern Lebanon, said Lebanese caretaker Defense Minister Maurice Slim on Friday. "The army was and will remain keen on maintaining the highest levels of cooperation with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and sustaining stability and calm in the south," the minister said in a statement released by the National News Agency, adding that the army is ready to confront any aggression. Making the remarks during his meeting with visiting Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, Slim said the recent escalation directly threatens security and stability in the south, stressing that Lebanon is committed to UN Security Council Resolution 1701. The Lebanese minister praised the Italian participation in the UNIFIL, and the coordination between Italian peacekeepers and the Lebanese army units, thanking Italy for its continuous humanitarian and military support to the army. For his part, Crosetto said his country is ready to support the Lebanese army and the security services, praising the high competence of the army and its strong cooperation with Italian peacekeepers. Also on Friday, Lebanese Foreign Affairs Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said Lebanon will submit an official complaint to the UN Security Council as Israel's attacks in southern Lebanon "constitute a flagrant violation of Lebanon's sovereignty and UN Security Council Resolution 1701." Israel on Friday intensified airstrikes on military posts in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, in response to rockets fired from the areas at several parts in Israel. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) An anti-abortion group sued the city of Minneapolis on Wednesday to overturn an ordinance that prohibits the obstruction of entrances and driveways to abortion clinics, saying it's an unconstitutional violation of free speech and freedom of religion. The ordinance, which was enacted in November, was designed to protect patients of the Planned Parenthood clinic in the Uptown neighborhood from sidewalk counselors who try to dissuade them from getting abortions. Pro-Life Action Ministries and several of its staff members filed the challenge in federal court, arguing that the ordinance was a deliberate effort to stifle them. The ministry of pro-life sidewalk counseling is a peaceful interaction with pregnant woman to convey life-affirming alternatives to abortion," Erick Kaardal, an attorney for the group, said in a statement. Yet the City of Minneapolis has specifically enacted an ordinance designed to prevent any success at conducting this peaceful interaction by Pro-Life Action Ministries, its staff members or volunteers, and any others involved in similar activities. Planned Parenthood officials told the City Council in November that protesters outside the Minneapolis clinic had become more numerous and aggressive since the U.S. Supreme Court last summer overturned the Roe v. Wade decision. Security video showed protesters approaching cars with pamphlets and two people with umbrellas getting into an altercation. There is no such thing as abortion rights without access," Council Member Lisa Goodman, the ordinance author, told the council the day the ordinance passed. She said she was confident it would survive a legal challenge. Planned Parenthood said the ordinance was needed to protect safety in the busy neighborhood. We stand by the necessity and constitutionality of the ordinance," Tim Stanley, executive director of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund, said in a statement. The ordinance balances the rights of patients, staff, community and protestors. Everyone should be able to get health care, go to the grocery store, drive in their neighborhood and exercise their First Amendment rights. Mayor Jacob Frey agreed. "This is not about limiting free speech, its about protecting community members from being physically disrupted while seeking the reproductive care they need and deserve, he said in a statement. The complaint said PLAM's counselors walk up to women entering the clinic via the sidewalk or flag down cars entering the parking lot, then attempt to offer help, prayers and information on alternatives to abortion, believing it is their religious duty. The complaint acknowledged that these actions delay women from entering the clinic, but denied blocking them. It said their actions have led thousands of women to change their minds about getting abortions and that they planned to violate the ordinance. Violations are misdemeanors, so they face a credible threat of prosecution. A 1994 federal law prohibits using "physical obstruction to intimidate or interfere with people entering health care facilities. Since the late 1990s, the U.S. Supreme Court has heard several cases involving buffer zones outside abortion clinics. In 2014, the high court struck down a law that created a 35-foot protest-free zone outside Massachusetts clinics. Other cases have led to mixed results According to the Guttmacher Institute, 12 states, including Minnesota, plus the District of Columbia, prohibit blocking entrances and exits at abortion clinic facilities. THURSDAY, April 6, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- The prevalence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) did not increase for most U.S. veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study published online April 5 in JAMA Psychiatry. Ian C. Fischer, Ph.D., from the VA Connecticut Healthcare System in West Haven, and colleagues examined longitudinal trends in STBs in U.S. military veterans during the first three years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis included 2,441 survey responses from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. The researchers found that past-year suicidal ideation decreased from 9.3 percent prepandemic to 6.8 percent a year later and then slightly increased to 7.7 percent two years later. During the follow-up period, nine veterans (0.4 percent) reported attempting suicide at least once, while 100 (3.8 percent) developed new-onset suicidal ideation and 28 (1.2 percent) developed new-onset suicide planning. Factors strongly associated with new-onset suicidal ideation included higher education (odds ratio [OR], 3.27), lifetime substance use disorder (OR, 2.07), prepandemic loneliness (OR, 1.28), and lower prepandemic purpose in life (OR, 0.92), when adjusting for sociodemographic and military characteristics. These results suggest that efforts to promote purpose in life and social connectedness, as well as treatments that target ongoing psychiatric distress and substance use problems, should be prioritized to help mitigate suicide risk in U.S. military veterans, the authors write. Several authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry. The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments. More than half of older taxpayers (57%) are worried theyll have to pay more taxes this year because of the 5.9% Social Security cost-of-living adjustment in 2022, according to a January survey by The Senior Citizens League, a nonpartisan seniors group. Taxes for the over-65 set can feel more complicated for a variety of reasons: There are often multiple streams of income, some retirees still work part time, and people may be managing required minimum distributions from retirement accounts. It can happen that people have more income in their later life than they did when they were working, says Barbara ONeill, a certified financial planner in Ocala, Florida, and the author of Flipping a Switch: Your Guide to Happiness and Financial Security in Later Life. For older adults, here are some items to keep in mind this tax season: 1. Medicare thresholds matter Your income can affect your Medicare Part B and Part D premiums in the future because of the income-related monthly adjustment amount, or IRMAA. Medicare premiums are based on your tax return from two years prior, and you may have to pay more if your income exceeds certain thresholds. These IRMAA surcharges can be difficult to manage because they operate as a cliff, not a phase-in, says Edward Jastrem, a certified financial planner in Westwood, Massachusetts. For example, if you are $1 over an income tier, you are subject to the full surcharge. In 2023, people filing individually with a modified adjusted gross income of more than $97,000 in 2021 or jointly with more than $194,000 will pay higher monthly amounts for Medicare. Tax bracket management becomes crucial in later life, ONeill says. 2. Required distributions can go to charity At age 73, you are required by the IRS to start taking required minimum distributions from tax-deferred retirement accounts. But once you hit age 70 1/2, you can have some or all of your required minimum distributions sent directly to a charity of your choice. This move will still count as a required minimum distribution, but the amount isnt added to your taxable income. If you take a regular RMD from your IRA, it gets added to your adjusted gross income for tax purposes, says Ian Weinberg, a certified financial planner in Woodbury, New York. It usually throws you into a higher bracket. Sending money directly to charity is called a qualified charitable distribution, and you can do this with up to $100,000 of your annual required minimum distributions. 3. Side businesses change the tax approach About 1 in 4 adults 50 and older say theyre doing gig work or freelancing, according to a January survey from AARP. If youre doing gig work, that counts as business income which means you can deduct business expenses. This includes health insurance premiums if youre paying for your own insurance. Self-employed older adults on Medicare can deduct Medicare premiums for themselves and their spouses against business income, ONeill says. Other deductible expenses may include business supplies, home office costs and advertising expenses, which may include costs to run a website. 4. Social Security may be taxable Many people dont realize that Social Security benefits are taxable if your income meets certain thresholds. That takes people by surprise, says Nadine Burns, a certified financial planner in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The taxable portion of your Social Security benefits is based on your combined income, which is the total of your adjusted gross income, nontaxable interest and half of your Social Security benefits. If youre filing taxes as an individual and your combined income is over $25,000 or over $32,000 if youre filing a joint return you may pay income tax on up to 50% to 85% of your benefits. 5. State tax breaks may be available Your state may offer tax deductions or credits for retirees, so do some research. In South Carolina, for instance, all military retirement pay and Social Security income is exempt from state taxes, says Stephen Maggard, a certified financial planner in Columbia, South Carolina. Plus, he says, theres a separate deduction for those over age 65. In Ohio, retirees may be eligible for credits based on retirement income or their age theres a senior citizen credit for taxpayers who were 65 or older during the tax year. Colorado offers an income tax credit of up to $1,000 to residents 65 and up if they meet income requirements. Check with your state tax department to see whats possible. This article was written by NerdWallet and was originally published by The Associated Press. WASHINGTON (AP) The moment was historic a U.S. House speaker meeting Wednesday with the president of Taiwan for a rare visit on American soil, a high-profile encounter designed to boost support for the island government but already drawing blowback from an enraged China. For Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen the meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California was the most sensitive stop on her transit through the U.S. and Central America, a whirlwind diplomatic mission that is delicate, secretive and politically fraught. But for the newly elected House speaker it would signal the start of his foray into foreign affairs. The Republican leader has focused more on domestic politics at home than international concerns abroad. Outspoken, even bellicose, against China, McCarthy chose to send a more measured and diplomatic nod of support to Taiwan with the meeting. Its a very good debut, said Newt Gingrich, the Republican former speaker who led a delegation to Taiwan decades ago and advises McCarthy. I think its a useful thing to communicate to a country thats under enormous pressure that they have real allies, Gingrich said ahead of the meeting. The Taiwanese, he said, will see it as a morale boost. The private meeting between Tsai and McCarthy came against the very public backdrop of heightened U.S. focus on China over its actions at home and abroad, particularly China's potential aggression enforcing its claims over the island of Taiwan. The United States broke off official ties with Taiwan in 1979, when it formally established diplomatic relations with the Beijing government. While the U.S. acknowledges the one-China policy in which Beijing lays claim to the island of Taiwan as territory, the U.S. does not endorse China's claim to the island and remains Taiwans key provider of military and defense assistance. The session with McCarthy, who as House speaker is second in line of succession to the president, was Tsais most high-level U.S. visit during her visit, which also included a stop in New York last week. At that time, she met Friday with three U.S. senators Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, and Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., all members of the Senate Armed Services Committee -- and with House Democratic leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. Details on the event Wednesday, which included a bipartisan showing of Republican and Democratic lawmakers, had been closely held, a reminder of the pressures on her island government under the watchful eye of China. It was the first known visit between a House speaker and a Taiwan president on American territory since the U.S. broke off formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, experts said. Its particularly an opportunity to demonstrate how strong the relationship with the United States is, said Bonnie S. Glaser, the managing director of the Indo-Pacific program at the German Marshall Fund. Of course, Congress is part of that," she said. Because the lack of formal diplomatic relations greatly limits any interaction between Taiwan and U.S. leaders, "it becomes even more important that they have meetings with members of Congress. The Chinese government has expressed its displeasure ahead of Tsais meeting with McCarthy, and threatened countermeasures over any contact with the House speaker. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday it will follow the developments and resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Chinese state media announced Wednesday morning that vessels have started conducting a joint patrol and inspection operation in the central and northern waters of the Taiwan Strait. Taiwans Ministry of National Defense said it had also tracked the Peoples Liberation Armys Shandong aircraft carrier passing through the Bashi Strait, to Taiwans southeast. McCarthy, a sandwich shop operator in Bakersfield, California, before working as a congressional aide and being elected to Congress, is not known for vast foreign policy experience. Unlike Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, who used her speaker's gavel as a calling card to bring U.S. influence and aid around the globe, McCarthy is focusing his speakership more inward on the domestic needs of Americans. While McCarthy has led congressional delegation trips abroad to Israel, for example, and to Normandy, France, to mark the anniversary of the end of World War II and had expressed interest in visiting Taiwan, he had not yet made plans for his own trip. Pelosi's 2022 Taiwan visit drew fierce rebuke from China with live-fire drills that included firing missiles over the island. In December, China sent planes and ships toward Taiwan in a 24-hour display of force. With the new speaker, it was decided that Tsai and McCarthy would meet in California. McCarthys more cautious foreign policy approach makes sense politically for the new leader as he tries to steer a Republican party that has become more isolationist, and less willing to engage the U.S. abroad as an earlier generation of lawmakers. McCarthy barely won his own position as House speaker in January after a grueling party election that took 15 public ballots to win over his reluctant hard-right colleagues a sizable faction of skeptics who could conceivably vote to oust McCarthy over any wrong turn. Still, McCarthy stood up a new House Select Committee on China, drawing wide-ranging bipartisan support from Democrats, executing a long-running idea of his to drill down on the Chinas rising influence in the U.S. and the world. The venue of the Reagan library and ranch in Simi Valley, near where McCarthy was raised in California's Central Valley, provides an evocative setting for him to try to lead more substantively on the global stage. He's grown up with Reagan Library, Gingrich said. It communicates strength, optimism, deep patriotism and principles that worked. A week after an 18-year-old man was fatally shot at a crowded house party in north Lincoln, police have arrested another teenager in Michigan in connection with his death, according to authorities. Police on Thursday arrested Kashaun M. McCree, a 17-year-old Lincoln boy, in Detroit for his alleged role in Damien Braves death, Lincoln Police Chief Teresa Ewins said at a press conference Friday. McCree is accused of fatally shooting Damien Brave, who died at a Lincoln hospital in the early-morning hours of April 1 after he was shot multiple times at a party near 27th and Fair Streets the night before, according to police and court filings. Prosecutors have charged McCree with first-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony, according to an amended complaint filed Thursday. He was initially charged with attempted robbery, but prosecutors enhanced the charge before the teen was arrested, Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon said. Judge Laurie Yardley signed a warrant for McCrees arrest Thursday but sealed the affidavit in support of that warrant the public document that describes what gives police probable cause to arrest a defendant along with three other court documents filed by prosecutors. At Fridays press conference, Ewins said little about what is thought to have led up to last weeks shooting, but she said McCree and Brave had an interaction over a bag that Brave brought to the house party. That is when McCree filed multiple rounds from a handgun, hitting Brave several times, Ewins said. The 18-year-old was taken by private car to a local hospital after he was shot around 11:30 p.m. March 31. He was pronounced dead around 2:30 a.m. April 1, his mother said. Ewins said investigators had recovered the bag that apparently ignited the feud between Brave and McCree, but she declined to say what was inside. The police chief also stopped short of calling the shooting a robbery gone wrong, but in court filings, prosecutors said Braves slaying was carried in out in an attempt to perpetrate (a) robbery. Police dont believe Brave and McCree knew each other before last weeks shooting, Ewins said. And, she said, Brave wasnt armed when he was shot. Authorities havent found the handgun thought to have been used in the shooting, the police chief said. Though Ewins said Monday that they had identified several people of interest, police are not seeking additional suspects in Braves death, Ewins said. McCree is a Lincoln resident but has family in both Nebraska and Michigan, Ewins said, highlighting the lengths Lincoln police investigators went to to apprehend the 17-year-old. It is important our community knows our department will track down suspects wherever an investigation leads, using all available resources to bring those responsible to justice, Ewins said, before thanking law enforcement partners in Michigan for their help in arresting McCree. The police chief declined to detail what led investigators to Michigan, attributing their trek there to good investigative skills by our people that acted on tips as well as information they received. Police have only said Brave was shot multiple times, but his girlfriend and his mother each said he was shot four times once in the stomach and three times in his legs. His mom, Heidi Brave, said he was admitted to the hospital by 11:50 p.m., was unresponsive by 1:12 a.m. and was pronounced dead at 2:27 a.m. Saturday, leaving behind a grieving family that includes four sisters and his parents. Brave is the citys fifth homicide victim of 2023 and the second 18-year-old to die in an act of alleged gun violence in Lincoln this year. He didnt get a chance to live his life, his mother said. Its unclear when McCree, who remains in custody in Detroit, might be extradited to Nebraska for criminal proceedings. Ewins indicated he would have to go through Michigans state-specific extrication process before he can be moved to Lincoln. When the 17-year-old does appear at the Lancaster County courthouse, he will face charges in adult court, where he would face life in prison if convicted of Braves slaying. An 55-year-old inmate died at a Lincoln hospital Friday, according to the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services. Francisco Luna was an inmate at the Reception and Treatment Center in Lincoln. He had been serving a four- to six-year sentence from a May 2022 Sarpy County conviction for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, according to a press release from the Department of Corrections. The cause of Luna's death has not yet been determined. However, he was being treated for a medical condition, according to the release. Nebraska law requires a grand jury investigation of any in-custody death. Omaha police are searching for two suspects following a bank robbery in South Omaha on Thursday afternoon. The robbery took place around 12:25 p.m. at the First Interstate Bank branch at 4718 L St., according to a press release from the Omaha Police Department. Witnesses stated that two robbers armed with handguns entered the bank, demanded an undetermined amount of cash, left the bank and then headed north, the release said. The robbery remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Omaha Crime Stoppers at (402) 444-7867, at www.omahacrimestoppers.org or through the P3 Tips mobile app. Omaha Crime Stoppers is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a bank robbery suspect, according to the release. Residents of parts of eastern Nebraska are being advised to monitor air quality conditions through at least early Monday due to agricultural fires in Kansas and Oklahoma. Douglas County health officials said Friday that smoke could push air quality into the moderate category or even rate it unhealthy for sensitive groups. According to the federal website airnow.gov, air quality was moderate in much of eastern and southeast Nebraska by midday Friday. It was was rated unhealthy for sensitive groups in a band stretching from south of Lincoln and arcing north of Omaha into western Iowa. Conditions over the weekend will depend on how much material is burned in northeast Kansas and Oklahoma, the wind direction and the possibility of rain, said Russ Hadan, supervisor of the Douglas County Health Departments air quality program. The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department advised residents to monitor air quality through Monday. Hadan said residents can monitor air quality on the health departments website, douglascountyairquality.com or on the airnow.gov site. Short-term exposure to smoke usually does not pose a major health risk for healthy people, but residents should avoid strenuous outdoor activity if they see smoke outdoors. Those with lung disease, respiratory disease or heart conditions should monitor air quality and follow their doctors directions for taking medicines and follow their asthma management plans. They should call their doctor if symptoms worsen. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of March 2023 An Omaha woman involved in a multi-state drug trafficking organization was sentenced Thursday to more than 10 years in federal prison. Victoria Bindas, 43, was the ninth person sentenced in connection with a methamphetamine trafficking investigation that spanned Nebraska, Iowa and Texas. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for Nebraska, the Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating a methamphetamine distribution operation based in Omaha in 2018. The operation was connected to an Omaha man named David Duane Short. Through a court-ordered wiretap of Shorts phone calls and text messages, multiple co-conspirators were identified. Bindas was one of them and was intercepted contacting Short to discuss obtaining quantities of methamphetamine on multiple occasions. Bindas was convicted of buying at least 1,200 grams of methamphetamine from Short, according to the press release. She had been indicted in 2021 on one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 or more grams of meth and initially pleaded not guilty. Earlier this year, Bindas agreed to plead guilty on the condition that she would not be federally prosecuted in Nebraska for any other drug trafficking crimes that may have been disclosed in discovery material. On Thursday, she was sentenced to 121 months, or just more than 10 years, in prison. Six other people from Omaha or Council Bluffs also have been sentenced in relation to the organization, in addition to one person from Wisner, Nebraska, and one person from El Paso, Texas. Short was handed the heftiest sentence of more than 17 years in prison, while the other sentences ranged from 10 to 15 years. The investigation was part of an operation led by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, a multi-agency U.S. Department of Justice initiative tackling organized crime, money laundering and major drug trafficking networks. The DEA, Omaha Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, IRS Department of Criminal Investigation and the Pottawattamie County Sheriffs Office assisted in the investigation. LINCOLN A key legislative panel changed course Thursday with a decision to move ahead on constructing a new $350 million state prison. The Appropriations Committee voted 8-0 to appropriate money for the construction project, more than two-and-a-half years after then-Gov. Pete Ricketts first called for building a new prison to replace the aging Nebraska State Penitentiary. In previous years, the committee voted to set aside $255 million for a potential prison but held off on authorizing work to proceed. The delay was aimed at giving the state more time to work on criminal justice reforms that could reduce inmate numbers. State Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln, the committees vice chairwoman, said the state still needs to undertake criminal justice reforms, but last years efforts to make changes in sentencing and other policies failed. In the meantime, conditions at the penitentiary have deteriorated. Were getting to a point where its inhumane for people to be living there, she said. Its not safe. A major water leak in one housing unit forced the relocation of 140 men in November. Prison officials have said that break could take two years to fix. Another leak displaced 600 men temporarily in March, while a leak in 2021 left the Lincoln prison without running water for nearly two days. Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood, the committee chairman, said he toured the penitentiary and found it in very poor shape. In addition, he said, it lacks spaces that can be easily used for rehabilitative programs. Rehabbing the penitentiary, which includes some of the oldest buildings in the state prison system, would cost almost as much as a new prison and would not solve the programming problem, he said. But Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, the Judiciary Committee chairman, said he disagreed with the decision. He expressed hope the committee would also find money for programs that prevent Nebraskans from landing in prison and help those leaving prison be successful on their reentry into the community. He said negotiations are underway in hopes of putting together a criminal justice and prison reform package that could pass the Legislature this year. Fellow Omaha Sen. Terrell McKinney, who has sometimes talked about the prison industrial complex, also called for criminal justice reform and criticized the prison proposal. Building a new prison will not solve the problem, he said. A prison facilities master plan that was recently completed by the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services bears out his concern. The plan concluded that, even with the proposed new prison, Nebraska will need to add another 1,500 prison beds over the next decade to keep up with projected inmate growth. Projections since 2020 have shown that the inmate population, currently at about 5,500, is set to grow another 1,300 inmates by 2030. Nebraskas prison system already is the most overcrowded and fastest growing in the U.S., according to a World-Herald analysis. Diane Sabatka-Rine, interim corrections director, told the Appropriations Committee earlier this year that the penitentiary is designed to hold 818 people but currently houses about 1,200 men in maximum-, medium- and minimum-security units. The proposal calls for a new prison that can house 1,512 men, also in maximum-, medium- and minimum-security units. Prison officials have said it should be built in the area of Omaha or Lincoln, where it would be easier to hire staff and easier for families to visit. The prison master plan suggested the new facility should be built with the capacity to be expanded to 2,040 or 3,000 beds to accommodate future inmate growth between now and 2033. BEIRUT, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon rejects any military escalation from its lands and the use of Lebanese territories to carry out operations that may jeopardize the country's stability, said Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Thursday. Mikati's remarks came following the rocket attacks launched from Lebanon at Israel, hours after Israeli police forces raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City for a second consecutive day, triggering fresh clashes with Palestinian worshipers. "Lebanon is committed to UN Resolution 1701 and the close coordination between the Lebanese army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)," Mikati was quoted as saying in a statement released by the Council of Ministers. Meanwhile, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) issued orders to civilian and military staff to resort to shelters inside their bases amid the escalation on the Lebanese-Israeli border. "UNIFIL's peacekeepers continue to perform their duties and do everything they can during this day of an explosive and dangerous situation," the UNIFIL said in a statement released by the National News Agency. On Thursday evening, three new rockets were fired from the Lebanese district of Marjeyoun into northern Israel. It came after dozens of rockets were fired into Israel from Lebanon, prompting the Israeli army to shell the outskirts of the southern Lebanese town of al-Qulayla with artillery. This was one of the worst rocket attacks at northern Israel since the full-fledged war between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Lebanese group, in 2006. Israel accused Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, of being behind the rocket attacks launched from Lebanon after Hezbollah denied doing so. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said on Thursday that the Palestinian resistance factions will not stand idle facing Israeli aggression against the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Lebanese Elnashra news website reported. Following his meeting with Palestinian resistance factions in the Lebanese capital of Beirut, Haniyeh said that the Israeli government is fully responsible for the "brutal aggression" against Al-Aqsa Mosque and the worshipers. Israeli police forces raided for a second consecutive day the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, firing gas canisters and stun grenades at Palestinian worshipers. WARSAW, Poland (AP) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy won new pledges of military and economic cooperation Wednesday on a state visit to staunch ally Poland, and he also said that Kyiv's troops battling in the eastern city of Bakhmut could pull out if they face a threat of being encircled by Russian forces. Polish President Andrzej Duda said Warsaw has provided four Soviet-designed MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, with four more in the process of being handed over and another six being prepared. At a news conference with his Polish counterpart, Zelenskyy described the perils in the grinding siege of Bakhmut, which has been all but destroyed by eight months of fighting that also has cost many lives on both sides. "For me, the most important issue is our military, he said. And certainly, if there is a moment of even hotter events and the danger that we may lose personnel due to the encirclement, there will certainly be corresponding correct decisions of the general on the ground. I n a recent interview with The Associated Press, Zelenskyy underscored the importance of defending Bakhmut, saying its fall could allow Russia to rally international support for a deal that could require Ukraine to make unacceptable compromises. During his visit to Warsaw a rare wartime foray out of Ukraine for Zelenskyy both countries sought to forge a tighter relationship in defiance of Russias full-scale war against Kyiv that has reshaped international alliances. Russian President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, said Moscows relations with Washington are in deep crisis as the U.S. has led its allies in supplying aid and weapons to Ukraine. Speaking at a ceremony where he accepted diplomatic credentials from ambassadors of 17 nations, including the U.S., Putin alleged that Washingtons support for the 2014 protests in Kyiv that ousted a pro-Kremlin president led to Russias sending troops into Ukraine. Zelenskyy said at his news conference with Duda that his government would extend a hearty welcome to Polish businesses seeking to help Ukraine's postwar rebuilding, which the World Bank has estimated could cost $411 billion. He met later with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and signed agreements on developing Ukrainian infrastructure that opens a door for hundreds of Polish companies. Poland heaped military honors and praise on Zelenskyy as it welcomed him and his wife on a joint visit, during which they thanked the country for its crucial military support as well as being a haven for Ukrainian refugees. The former Soviet satellite that is now a member of the European Union and NATO feels especially threatened by Russia and has been a leading advocate for aid to Kyiv. Zelenskyy said the countries signed a new defense package for the delivery of Polish weaponry. They will also set up joint manufacturing plants for weapons and ammunition, he said. Morawiecki said Zelenskyy's visit was extremely important because we are shaping the picture of Europe for the future. The Kremlin and Putin, Moscow wanted an end to Ukraine, but today we can see that this war initiates the end of an aggressive Russia, of the Russia that we know, and (marks) a start of a completely new Europe. This is the beginning of a completely new Europe. Earlier, Zelenskyy and Duda said they wanted to leave behind any World War II-era grievances that linger in Ukraine and Poland. There are no taboo topics between us, Duda said. "There are still open wounds in the memory of many people. While Zelenskyy also traveled to the United States, Britain, France and Belgium, the trip to Poland stood out because it was announced in advance and undertaken without the secrecy of past foreign trips. It also was the first time Zelenskyy and first lady Olena Zelenska traveled abroad together since the war began in February 2022, said Marcin Przydacz, head of Dudas foreign policy office. Duda awarded Zelenskyy Polands oldest and highest civilian distinction, The Order of the White Eagle. We have no doubt that your attitude, together with the bravery of the nation, has saved Ukraine, the Polish president told Zelenskyy. At a ceremony in the courtyard of the presidential palace, Duda and the two countries first ladies were dressed in formal attire, while Zelenskyy wore the military-style sweatshirt and khaki trousers that have become his uniform since the invasion. His trips to London, Paris and Brussels in February were part of his push for warplanes and for his country admission to the EU and NATO, and his visit to Washington in December was intended to shore up U.S. support. Zelenskyy traveled through Poland on his previous foreign trips, but until now had not made it his sole destination. The purpose of the journey to Warsaw was primarily to thank a country that has been an international cheerleader for Ukraine, as well as a safe haven for Ukrainian refugees and a transit hub for Ukraine-bound humanitarian aid and weapons. The visit highlighted the central European nation's rising role in a new international security order that has emerged from the war. Poland is seeking to modernize its military by purchasing tanks and other equipment from U.S. and South Korean producers. The United States has also bolstered its military presence in Poland. Zelenskyy also was meeting with Ukrainians who have fled to Poland. More than 1.5 million Ukrainians have registered with the Polish government since the war began. His visit came at a delicate time, with Polish farmers increasingly angry because Ukrainian grain that has entered the country has created a glut, causing prices to fall. The grain is only meant to be stored temporarily before being sent to markets in North Africa and the Middle East. But farmers say the grain is taking up space in silos and entering Polish markets, causing local prices to fall. Romanian and Bulgarian farmers say they face the same problem. Zelenskyy and Morawiecki said they had reached a deal to resolve that problem, though they gave no details. The Polish farmers' anger has been a headache for Morawiecki's government ahead of fall elections, particularly since his conservative ruling party, Law and Justice, gets much of its support in rural areas. Agriculture Minister Henryk Kowalczyk, the focus of the farmers' anger, resigned Wednesday. In Ukraine, the military authorities said Russian forces in the previous 24 hours had launched 47 airstrikes, three missile strikes and 42 attacks from multiple rocket launchers. At least four civilians were killed and 16 others wounded in that period, Zelenskyy's office reported. Also on Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry accused Ukraine and its allies of trying to affect Russian civilian communications satellites and threatened that Moscow could respond in kind. It didnt offer any specifics. This is a flagrant violation of international law. The Russian side has the right to respond in kind. All the necessary opportunities for this are available, it said. A small plane, apparently from Ukraine, crash-landed in a field in the neighboring Russian region of Bryansk, and its pilot was detained, according to Russia's Federal Security Service. Advertisement By Joshua Chibuzo Andrew, Owerri Nigerian born popular novelist, Chimamanda Adichie has written to the president of the United States Of America, Joe Biden concerning what she described as irregularities in the just concluded Nigeria presidential election. Adiches open letter read;Dear President Biden, Something remarkable happened on the morning of February 25, the day of the Nigerian presidential election. Many Nigerians went out to vote holding in their hearts a new sense of trust. Cautious trust, but still trust. Since the end of military rule in 1999, Nigerians have had little confidence in elections. To vote in a presidential election was to brace yourself for the inevitable aftermath: fraud. Elections would be rigged because elections were always rigged; the question was how badly. Sometimes voting felt like an inconsequential gesture as predetermined winners were announced. A law passed last year, the 2022 Electoral Act, changed everything. It gave legal backing to the electronic accreditation of voters and the electronic transmission of results, in a process determined by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The chair of the commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, assured Nigerians that votes would be counted in the presence of voters and recorded in a result sheet, and that a photo of the signed sheet would immediately be uploaded to a secure server. When rumors circulated about the commission not keeping its word, Yakubu firmly rebutted them. In a speech at Chatham House in London (a favorite influence-burnishing haunt of Nigerian politicians), he reiterated that the public would be able to view polling-unit results as soon as they are finalized on election day. Nigerians applauded him. If results were uploaded right after voting was concluded, then the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), which has been in power since 2015, would have no opportunity for manipulation. Technology would redeem Nigerian democracy. Results would no longer feature more votes than voters. Nigerians would no longer have their leaders chosen for them. Elections would, finally, capture the true voice of the people. And so trust and hope were born. By the evening of February 25, 2023, that trust had dissipated. Election workers had arrived hours late, or without basic election materials. There were reports of violence, of a shooting at a polling unit, and of political operatives stealing or destroying ballot boxes. Some law-enforcement officers seemed to have colluded in voter intimidation; in Lagos, a policeman stood idly by as an APC spokesperson threatened members of a particular ethnic group who he believed would vote for the opposition. Most egregious of all, the electoral commission reneged on its assurance to Nigerians. The presidential results were not uploaded in real time. Voters, understandably suspicious, reacted; videos from polling stations show voters shouting that results be uploaded right away. Many took cellphone photos of the result sheets. Curiously, many polling units were able to upload the results of the House and Senate elections, but not the presidential election. A relative who voted in Lagos told me, We refused to leave the polling unit until the INEC staff uploaded the presidential result. The poor guy kept trying and kept getting an error message. There was no network problem. I had internet on my phone. My bank app was working. The Senate and House results were easily uploaded. So why couldnt the presidential results be uploaded on the same system? Some electoral workers in polling units claimed that they could not upload results because they didnt have a password, an excuse that voters understood to be subterfuge. By the end of the day, it had become obvious that something was terribly amiss. No one was surprised when, by the morning of the 26th, social media became flooded with evidence of irregularities. Result sheets were now slowly being uploaded on the INEC portal, and could be viewed by the public. Voters compared their cellphone photos with the uploaded photos and saw alterations: numbers crossed out and rewritten; some originally written in black ink had been rewritten in blue, some blunderingly whited-out with Tipp-Ex. The election had been not only rigged, but done in such a shoddy, shabby manner that it insulted the intelligence of Nigerians. Nigerian democracy had long been a two-party structurepower alternating between the APC and the Peoples Democratic Partyuntil this year, when the Labour Party, led by Peter Obi, became a third force. Obi was different; he seemed honest and accessible, and his vision of anti-corruption and self-sufficiency gave rise to a movement of supporters who called themselves Obi-dients. Unusually large, enthusiastic crowds turned up for his rallies. The APC considered him an upstart who could not win, because his small party lacked traditional structures. It is ironic that many images of altered result sheets showed votes overwhelmingly being transferred from the Labour Party to the APC. As vote counting began at INEC, representatives of different political partiesexcept for the APCprotested. The results being counted, they said, did not reflect what they had documented at the polling units. There were too many discrepancies. There is no point progressing in error, Mr. Chairman. We are racing to nowhere, one party spokesperson said to Yakubu. Let us get it right before we proceed with the collation. But the INEC chair, opaque-faced and lordly, refused. The counting continued swiftly until, at 4:10 a.m. on March 1, the ruling partys candidate, Bola Tinubu, was announced as president-elect. A subterranean silence reigned across the country. Few people celebrated. Many Nigerians were in shock. Why, my young cousin asked me, did INEC not do what it said it would do? It seemed truly perplexing that, in the context of a closely contested election in a low-trust society, the electoral commission would ignore so many glaring red flags in its rush to announce a winner. (It had the power to pause vote counting, to investigate irregularitiesas it would do in the governorship elections two weeks later.) Rage is brewing, especially among young people. The discontent, the despair, the tension in the air have not been this palpable in years. How surprising then to see the U.S. State Department congratulate Tinubu on March 1. We understand that many Nigerians and some of the parties have expressed frustration about the manner in which the process was conducted and the shortcomings of technical elements that were used for the first time in a presidential election cycle, the spokesperson said. And yet the process was described as a competitive election that represents a new period for Nigerian politics and democracy. American intelligence surely cannot be so inept. A little homework and they would know what is manifestly obvious to me and so many others: The process was imperiled not by technical shortcomings but by deliberate manipulation. An editorial in The Washington Post echoed the State Department in intent if not in affect. In an oddly infantilizing tone, as though intended to mollify the simpleminded, we are told that officials have asserted that technical glitches, not sabotage, were the issue, that much good came from the Nigerian elections, which are worth celebrating because, among other things, no one has blocked highways, as happened in Brazil after Jair Bolsonaro lost his reelection bid. We are also told that it is encouraging, first, that the losing candidates are pursuing their claims through the courts, though any casual observer of Nigerian politics would know that courts are the usual recourse after any election. The editorial has the imaginative poverty so characteristic of international coverage of African issuesno reading of the countrys mood, no nuance or texture. But its intellectual laziness, unusual in such a rigorous newspaper, is astonishing. Since when does a respected paper unequivocally ascribe to benign malfunction something that may very well be malignantjust because government officials say so? There is a kind of cordial condescension in both the State Departments and The Washington Posts responses to the election. That the bar for what is acceptable has been so lowered can only be read as contempt. I hope, President Biden, that you do not personally share this cordial condescension. You have spoken of the importance of a global community for democracy, and the need to stand up for justice and the rule of law. A global community for democracy cannot thrive in the face of apathy from its most powerful member. Why would the United States, which prioritizes the rule of law, endorse a president-elect who has emerged from an unlawful process? Compromised is a ubiquitous word in Nigerias political landscapeit is used to mean bribed but also corrupted, more generally. They have been compromised, Nigerians will say, to explain so much that is wrong, from infrastructure failures to unpaid pensions. Many believe that the INEC chair has been compromised, but there is no evidence of the astronomical U.S.-dollar amounts he is rumored to have received from the president-elect. The extremely wealthy Tinubu is himself known to be an enthusiastic participant in the art of compromising; some Nigerians call him a drug baron because, in 1993, he forfeited to the United States government $460,000 of his income that a Chicago court determined to be proceeds from heroin trafficking. Tinubu has strongly denied all charges of corruption. I hope it will not surprise you, President Biden, if I argue that the American response to the Nigerian election also bears the faint taint of that word, compromised, because it is so removed from the actual situation in Nigeria as to be disingenuous. Has the United States once again decided that what matters in Africa is not democracy but stability? (Perhaps you could tell British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who quickly congratulated Tinubu, that an illegitimate government in a country full of frustrated young people does not portend stability.) Or is it about that ever-effulgent nemesis China, as so much of U.S. foreign policy now invariably seems to be? The battle for influence in Africa will not be won by supporting the same undemocratic processes for which China is criticized. This Nigerian election was supposed to be different, and the U.S. response cannotmust notbe business as usual. The Nigerian youth, long politically quiescent, have awoken. About 70 percent of Nigerians are under 30 and many voted for the first time in this election. Nigerian politicians exhibit a stupefying ability to tell barefaced lies, so to participate in political life has long required a suspension of conscience. But young people have had enough. They want transparency and truth; they want basic necessities, minimal corruption, competent political leaders, and an environment that can foster their generations potential. This election is also about the continent. Nigeria is a symbolic crucible of Africas future, and a transparent election will rouse millions of other young Africans who are watching, and who long, too, for the substance and not the hollow form of democracy. If people have confidence in the democratic process, it engenders hope, and nothing is more essential to the human spirit than hope. Today, election results are still being uploaded on the INEC server. Bizarrely, many contradict the results announced by INEC. The opposition parties are challenging the election in court. But there is reason to worry about whether they will get a fair ruling. INEC has not fully complied with court orders to release election materials. The credibility of the Nigerian Supreme Court has been strained by its recent judgments in political cases, or so-called judicial coronations, such as one in which the court declared the winner of the election for governor of Imo State a candidate who had come in fourth place. Lawlessness has consequences. Every day Nigerians are coming out into the streets to protest the election. APC, uneasy about its soiled victory, is sounding shrill and desperate, as though still in campaign mode. It has accused the opposition party of treason, an unintelligent smear easily disproved but disquieting nonetheless, because false accusations are often used to justify malicious state actions. I supported Peter Obi, the Labour Party candidate, and hoped he would win, as polls predicted, but I was prepared to accept any result, because we had been assured that technology would guard the sanctity of votes. The smoldering disillusionment felt by many Nigerians is not so much because their candidate did not win as because the election they had dared to trust was, in the end, so unacceptably and unforgivably flawed. Congratulating its outcome, President Biden, tarnishes Americas self-proclaimed commitment to democracy. Please do not give the sheen of legitimacy to an illegitimate process. The United States should be what it says it is. Sincerely, Chimamanda Adichie Related Advertisement DAKAR, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank has granted Senegal 91 billion CFA francs (about 151.4 million U.S. dollars) in financing to implement a project to accelerate the country's digital economy. The financing agreement was signed Thursday in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, by Mamadou Moustapha Ba, minister of finance and budget, and Keiko Miwa, the World Bank's country director for Cabo Verde, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Senegal in the western and central Africa region. The project funded by the World Bank is "an adequate response" to the concerns of digital actors in Senegal, Ba said at the signing of the funding agreement. "In Senegal, the adoption of digital technologies generates significant benefits," Miwa noted. "In areas where mobile internet is available, the level of household consumption increases by 14 percent and extreme poverty decreases by 10 percent." "It is essential to leverage digital technologies for the benefit of the population in vital sectors, such as health, where digital solutions, including electronic medical records, telemedicine, immunization management and other applications, can have a tangible impact," Miwa added. BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- A spokesperson for the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Friday announced sanction measures against diehard "Taiwan independence" separatist Bi-khim Hsiao. The spokesperson said Hsiao solicited foreign support and looked for U.S. support for the independence agenda to intentionally provoke confrontations across the Taiwan Strait and undermine cross-Strait peace and stability, which further exposed her diehard nature of seeking "Taiwan independence." The mainland decided to impose further sanction measures on Hsiao, strictly banning Hsiao and her family members from entering the mainland and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao, banning her financial sponsors and related businesses from cooperating with mainland organizations and individuals. All other necessary punitive measures will be taken to ensure lifelong accountability according to law, said the spokesperson. History has proven and will continue to prove that, "Taiwan independence" will lead to a dead end, and the brazen provocations of diehard "Taiwan independence" separatists relying on external forces are sure to fail, said the spokesperson. "No individual or force should underestimate our strong resolve, will and ability to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the spokesperson added. Chinese medical team member Yan Duan works at the Children's Hospital of Diamniadio in Dakar, Senegal on March 21, 2023. The 19th Chinese medical team dispatched to Senegal has been providing medical services at the Children's Hospital of Diamniadio since November 2021. As of March 31, 2023, the medical team had provided 7,058 outpatient services, completed 3,150 surgeries and 1,039 cases of anesthesia. (Xinhua/Han Xu) Chinese medical team member Huang Jianbin (2nd R) works at the Children's Hospital of Diamniadio in Dakar, Senegal on March 21, 2023. The 19th Chinese medical team dispatched to Senegal has been providing medical services at the Children's Hospital of Diamniadio since November 2021. As of March 31, 2023, the medical team had provided 7,058 outpatient services, completed 3,150 surgeries and 1,039 cases of anesthesia. (Xinhua/Han Xu) Chinese medical team member Zhang Yong (L) prepares for surgery at the Children's Hospital of Diamniadio in Dakar, Senegal on March 21, 2023. The 19th Chinese medical team dispatched to Senegal has been providing medical services at the Children's Hospital of Diamniadio since November 2021. As of March 31, 2023, the medical team had provided 7,058 outpatient services, completed 3,150 surgeries and 1,039 cases of anesthesia. (Xinhua/Han Xu) Chinese medical team member Cai Zhiliang examines a young patient at the Children's Hospital of Diamniadio in Dakar, Senegal on March 21, 2023. The 19th Chinese medical team dispatched to Senegal has been providing medical services at the Children's Hospital of Diamniadio since November 2021. As of March 31, 2023, the medical team had provided 7,058 outpatient services, completed 3,150 surgeries and 1,039 cases of anesthesia. (Xinhua/Han Xu) Chinese medical team member Peng Jie identifies the patient's blood samples at the Children's Hospital of Diamniadio in Dakar, Senegal on March 21, 2023. The 19th Chinese medical team dispatched to Senegal has been providing medical services at the Children's Hospital of Diamniadio since November 2021. As of March 31, 2023, the medical team had provided 7,058 outpatient services, completed 3,150 surgeries and 1,039 cases of anesthesia. (Xinhua/Wang Zizheng) Members of the 19th Chinese medical team work out near the Children's Hospital of Diamniadio in Dakar, Senegal on March 26, 2023. The 19th Chinese medical team dispatched to Senegal has been providing medical services at the Children's Hospital of Diamniadio since November 2021. As of March 31, 2023, the medical team had provided 7,058 outpatient services, completed 3,150 surgeries and 1,039 cases of anesthesia. (The 19th Chinese medical team to Senegal/Handout via Xinhua) Chinese medical team member Zhang Yong (2nd R) operates on a child at the Children's Hospital of Diamniadio in Dakar, Senegal on March 21, 2023. The 19th Chinese medical team dispatched to Senegal has been providing medical services at the Children's Hospital of Diamniadio since November 2021. As of March 31, 2023, the medical team had provided 7,058 outpatient services, completed 3,150 surgeries and 1,039 cases of anesthesia. (Xinhua/Han Xu) Chinese medical team member Jiang Wenkuang works with a local doctor at the Children's Hospital of Diamniadio in Dakar, Senegal on March 21, 2023. The 19th Chinese medical team dispatched to Senegal has been providing medical services at the Children's Hospital of Diamniadio since November 2021. As of March 31, 2023, the medical team had provided 7,058 outpatient services, completed 3,150 surgeries and 1,039 cases of anesthesia. (Xinhua/Han Xu) This photo taken on March 21, 2023 shows a view of the Children's Hospital of Diamniadio in Dakar, Senegal. The 19th Chinese medical team dispatched to Senegal has been providing medical services at the Children's Hospital of Diamniadio since November 2021. As of March 31, 2023, the medical team had provided 7,058 outpatient services, completed 3,150 surgeries and 1,039 cases of anesthesia. (Xinhua/Han Xu) Chinese medical team member Huang Jianbin encourages a patient who is about to undergo surgery at the Children's Hospital of Diamniadio in Dakar, Senegal on March 29, 2023. The 19th Chinese medical team dispatched to Senegal has been providing medical services at the Children's Hospital of Diamniadio since November 2021. As of March 31, 2023, the medical team had provided 7,058 outpatient services, completed 3,150 surgeries and 1,039 cases of anesthesia. (The 19th Chinese medical team to Senegal/Handout via Xinhua) Chinese medical team member Guo Lianghua and a young patient fist bump at the Children's Hospital of Diamniadio in Dakar, Senegal on Feb. 23, 2023. The 19th Chinese medical team dispatched to Senegal has been providing medical services at the Children's Hospital of Diamniadio since November 2021. As of March 31, 2023, the medical team had provided 7,058 outpatient services, completed 3,150 surgeries and 1,039 cases of anesthesia. (The 19th Chinese medical team to Senegal/Handout via Xinhua) Nurse Qiu Jinghua (1st L) of the Chinese medical team assists the doctor in an operation at the Children's Hospital of Diamniadio in Dakar, Senegal on March 21, 2023. The 19th Chinese medical team dispatched to Senegal has been providing medical services at the Children's Hospital of Diamniadio since November 2021. As of March 31, 2023, the medical team had provided 7,058 outpatient services, completed 3,150 surgeries and 1,039 cases of anesthesia. (Xinhua/Han Xu) Chinese medical team member Tang Rongning examines a young patient at the Children's Hospital of Diamniadio in Dakar, Senegal on March 21, 2023. The 19th Chinese medical team dispatched to Senegal has been providing medical services at the Children's Hospital of Diamniadio since November 2021. As of March 31, 2023, the medical team had provided 7,058 outpatient services, completed 3,150 surgeries and 1,039 cases of anesthesia. (Xinhua/Han Xu) KENNEY Firefighters are known for helping others. The volunteer fire crew stationed at the small village of Kenney in DeWitt County continue their service by hosting a blood drive every Good Friday. When you talk about servants, thats what they do, said Dani Craft, territory manager for ImpactLife. ImpactLife partners with other agencies to supply blood to local hospitals. Harold Drake, 76, a Beason resident, has donated blood several times during the past 50 years. However, Fridays donation was his first at Kenney. He often visits the neighboring town of Atlanta to give blood. Ive given over a hundred times, he said. Drake learned about Fridays blood drive from a Kenney firefighter. The process of giving blood can be a pleasant experience, Drake said. You meet the nicest people, he said. Fritz Robinson, 71, retired chief for the Kenney Fire Department, organized the first blood drive on Good Friday seven years ago. We were hoping to get a whopping 25, he said. Now were pushing 160 units. This is the most successful one yet, Craft said. Fritz Robinsons son Brian Robinson is a regular blood donor. As a Kenney firefighter and assistant chief, Brian Robinson has been donating blood for the local drive since the first one. And I try to hit a couple others when I can, he said. Kenneys blood drive is popular among blood donors throughout the area, not just the village of slightly more than 300. We have guys from neighboring fire departments, Fritz Robinson said. We have first-time donors and we have four generations of a family coming in to donate. Kenney's fire crew does most of the advertising for the blood drive. We push this very hard, Fritz Robinson said. Were all kind of social. The gift of gab, said firefighter Kerry Coles. But this is nothing. It doesnt cost you a dime. You sit down in a chair, you roll your sleeve up, and you give lifes blood to help three people. The volunteer fire department includes crews from various occupations, such as farmers, truck drivers and factory employees. We mesh together well. That helps when everybody notices that, Fritz Robinson said. Were so fortunate that our community likes us. Impact Life partnered with the local fire department at a crucial time, Craft said. With the disasters that have happened recently with the weather, a lot of blood centers and blood drives have not been able to stay on their regular schedule, she said. And with Easter coming, the holidays take people away from their regular schedule. According to Craft, Kenney's community blood drive is one of the biggest in ImpactLife's four-state region, which includes Illinois, Missouri, Iowa and Wisconsin. This partnership is so valuable to us, Craft said. They do it from the heart. Brian Robinson said he didnt need his father to talk him into donating blood. He can strong arm me into a lot of things, but he couldnt do this one, Brian Robinson said. The Good Friday aspect of it, with Jesus' blood for our sins, now were giving blood to save lives as well. BLOOMINGTON Two bike/pedestrian path projects in McLean County will receive funding through a new state initiative. Heyworth has been awarded $1.2 million for a path along U.S. 136, while the county has been awarded $2.7 million to expand the Route 66 path. The funding, announced by Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Friday, will come through the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program, a press release from Pritzker's office said. The Heyworth project will add a 6,000-foot shared-use path along U.S. 136 between Centennial Park and the main part of the town east of U.S. 51. The county project will run along historic Route 66 from McLean to about 3/4 of a mile south of Funks Grove. A total of $127.9 million in funding across 72 projects was announced Friday. The program is part of the governor's Rebuild Illinois project to address infrastructure needs around the state. The money comes from federal and state funding through the Illinois Department of Transportation. ITEP focuses on alternative transportation, especially bike and pedestrian travel. Other Central Illinois projects to receive funding include $950,000 for a bridge in Fairview Park in Decatur, $150,000 for a trail in Mattoon, $1 million for a bridge on the Lincoln Prairie Trail in Pana, $2 million to replace sidewalks in Sullivan and $3 million for bike lanes in Shelbyville. The next round of ITEP funding is expected to open for applications in late 2024, with awards being announced in 2025, the press release said. Lee Enterprises' Valerie Wells contributed to this report. 10 walkable cities popular with seniors 10 walkable cities popular with seniors #10. Oakland, California #9. Baltimore, Maryland #8. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania #7. New York, New York #6. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania #5. San Francisco, California #4. Miami, Florida #3. Glendale, California #2. Honolulu, Hawaii #1. Hialeah, Florida How Time Flies is a daily feature looking back at Pantagraph archives to revisit what was happening in our community and region. 100 years ago April 6, 1923: In the most extensive liquor raids every in Bloomington, which had been planned for three weeks by State's Attorney Lester Martin, two druggists were arrested for violation of the state prohibition law by selling intoxicating liquor and several other places were raided. The other places included the Manor hotel, the Marsh hotel and the Phoenix hotel. 75 years ago April 7, 1948: Petitions for a Normal unit school district that would join eight McLean County townships went into circulation in Towanda and surrounding rural areas Wednesday. The biggest change in the petitions being circulated is the inclusion of all of the present Carlock High School district. 50 years ago April 7, 1973: The nationwide meat boycott has enough effect to cause McLean County Livestock Feeders Association members to open their farms to interested consumers. The meat producers say their purpose is to explain why livestock feeders cannot operate under any lower prices. 25 years ago April 7, 1998: State Farm Insurance Co.'s response to a possible lawsuit from President Bill Clinton seeking additional insurance coverage for his legal bills would be the same as when the company stopped paying them in September: You're no longer covered. Clinton has authorized lawyers to explore whether he can force State Farm and Chubb Group insurance to pay more than $1 million of his legal bills from the Paula Jones sexual harassment case, according to reports. The Jones case was dismissed last week, but an appeal is possible. 101 years ago: See vintage Pantagraph ads from 1922 Gerthart's Union Gas and Electric Co. Hoover Dr. J.A. Moore Dentists Moberly & Klenner W.P. Garretson W.H. Roland Pease's Candy Thor 32 Electric Washing Machine The Kaiser's Story of the War Ike Livingston & Sons Gossard Corsets Cat'n Fiddle 'Stolen Moments' Case Model X The Johnson Transfer & Fuel Co. The Pantagraph want ads Franklin Motor Car Co. 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court' Calumet Baking Powder Mayer Livingston & Co. Newsmarket 'The Emperor Jones' 'California Fig Syrup' A couple of Chicago mayoral race polling results from last month have been stuck in my head ever since they were released. The BSP Research poll taken March 15-23 for Northwestern Universitys Center for the Study of Diversity and Democracy found the two mayoral runoff candidates were running neck and neck. The poll was almost universally ignored by the citys news media, yet it mightve possibly contained an important nugget which could help explain at least part of Brandon Johnsons win and Paul Vallas loss. The poll found that 82% of Chicagoans supported the idea of increasing the number of police on the force. OK, no surprise there. Immediately after answering that question, however, 63% said they supported the idea of decreasing police funding and investing in addressing root causes of crime. According to the poll, 68% of Black people, 66% of Latinos and 59% whites supported that idea. If that second result is even close to accurate, it upends everything were supposed to believe about this contest, I wrote at the time. Vallas heavily outspent Johnson on television ads, warning voters for weeks that Johnson wanted to defund the police. According to Vallas, Chicago crime was out of control and Johnson would only make things worse. Almost Vallas entire platform centered around both hiring more police officers, which is something that Chicago voters of all persuasions clearly said they wanted, and ridiculing Johnson for his past remarks on the topic of police funding. Johnson soft-pedaled his past remarks, but insisted that crime prevention and solving crimes should be at the top of the priority list. Ive often declared that voters dont do nuance, but its been clear that pundits and many political reporters are the ones whove been far less nuanced about crime than voters over the past year in this state, and particularly in the Chicago metro area. As we saw in 2022, polls showed that suburban and downstate voters simply did not view the crime problem as the over-arching issue portrayed by the news media and Republican political operatives. Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin spent tens of millions of Ken Griffins dollars to use the crime issue in a spectacularly failed effort to capture the Republican gubernatorial nomination and prove his questionable Republican bonafides. The Chicago Fraternal Order of Police aggressively attacked Sen. Rob Martwick (D-Chicago) over his support for the SAFE-T Act in an attempt to nominate a candidate with Republican affiliations in a Democratic primary. That also failed miserably. And then, of course, there were the endless TV ads from Dan Profts People Who Play by the Rules PAC last year designed to depress the Democrats Chicago base and hurt Gov. J.B. Pritzker and wound Democrats in the suburbs. Nope. A GQR poll released the day after Chicagos mayoral election found similar results. Likely Chicago voters were asked if they preferred 1) Doing more to get tough on crime, like having stricter sentences for people convicted of violent crimes, maintaining strong bail laws to keep potentially dangerous people in jail, and giving police more support and resources; or 2) Fully fund things that are proven to create safe communities and improve people's quality of life, like good schools, a living wage, and affordable housing, and do more to prevent crime by increasing treatment for mental health and drug addiction and cracking down on illegal gun sales. By a 58-39 margin, respondents chose the prevention angle over the tough on crime angle. At least in this state, the Bill Clinton era sure appears to be over. Ginning up fears about crime and promising to throw more money at the police just arent enough by themselves any longer to win races. In that bygone time, Vallas wouldve likely easily defeated Johnson with the message he used this spring, despite his affiliations with the far right in the recent past (including the ultra-radical Awake Illinois and Dan Proft). Todays voters here want far more than just lock em up rhetoric. Not all of Clintons lessons are now passe, however. Vallas, who will turn 70 in June, constantly surrounded himself with older Democrats like former Secretary of State Jesse White, former Senate President Emil Jones, former US Rep. Bobby Rush and US Sen. Dick Durbin. But that ignored one of Clintons most valuable and enduring political lessons: Dont offer to be a bridge to the past; promise instead that you will build a bridge to the future. Brandon Johnson did that, Vallas did not. The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), has refused to constitute a panel for the hearing of an international arbitration instituted by Cassius Mining Limited against the Government of Ghana, following an objection in that regard raised by Ghanas Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame. The decision was contained in a letter dated March 30, 2023 and addressed to the parties in the matter. Cassius Mining Limited, on February 3, 2023, filed a United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) arbitration against Ghana, accusing the state of unfair treatment and breaches of Ghanas mining laws and due process in failing to extend the term of the companys Prospecting Licence Agreement, after Cassius Mining exercised its contractual right of extension. The company claimed compensation in excess of $300 million. In its Notice of Arbitration, Cassius Mining asserted that in accordance with Article 6.1 of the UNCITRAL Rules, the Claimant proposes that the Secretary-General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague (PCA) serve as the appointing authority for this arbitration. The Claimant further proposes that this arbitration be administered by the PCA. Ghana raised a plethora of objections to the jurisdiction of the PCA in its response to the arbitration dated March 17, 2023, noting in particular, that, the claimants arbitration is a legal nullity because the UNCITRAL Rules is not cognisable under the Arbitration Agreement between the parties. Ghana stated further that Clause 21 of the Prospecting Licence Agreement granted to the claimant provided that the arbitration is to be in accordance with the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, 2010 (Act 798) and Section 5(1) of Ghanas ADR Act is expressly subject to the terms of the arbitration agreement. The UNCITRAL Rules clearly is neither a person nor an institution for arbitration contemplated by Section 5 of the ADR Act, for the dispute between the parties to be determined under them. Ghana finally submitted that the arbitration is an abuse of the process as there is currently pending at the Ghana Arbitration Centre, another arbitration filed by the company against Ghana. The PCA on March 20, 2023, noted that Ghana in its response, had stated that it will raise a preliminary objection to the jurisdiction of the PCA in a bifurcated phase of the arbitration to avoid unnecessary expenditures of time and costs for the Parties and the Tribunal. For the sake of good order, the Respondent is invited to confirm that it agrees to the PCA administering this arbitration, as proposed by the Claimant. Ghana responded with a vehement objection to the jurisdiction of the PCA and asked the PCA in a letter dated March 27, 2023, to determine as a preliminary matter, whether the PCA has any jurisdiction or role to play in the dispute between the parties. Ghana invited the PCA to consider many issues, including the fact that the respondents lack of consent to the PCA administering this arbitration, as proposed by the claimant. Another issue is the fact that the parties arbitration agreement is express and explicit that the arbitration shall be in accordance with the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, 2010 (Act 798), a legislation of the Republic of Ghana. Under the said Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, the PCA is not conceived as the appointing authority for this arbitration between the parties. The UNCITRAL Rules (which the claimant invokes through a misplaced interpretation of person or institution in section 5(1)(a) of the Act), is not a person or institution. The UNICITRAL Rules apply only where parties have agreed that disputes between them in respect of a defined legal relationship, whether contractual or not, shall be referred to arbitration under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules. There is absolutely no such agreement in the dispute between the parties. Because the UNCITRAL Rules do not apply, neither its Article 6.1 (cited by the claimant) nor any other provision thereof applies to the arbitration to ground the appointment of the Secretary-General of the PCA serve as the appointing authority for this arbitration. In a letter to the parties dated March 30, 2023, the PCA decided that the PCA Secretary-General may act as appointing authority under the UNCITRAL Rules if all parties so agree. The PCA understands that no such agreement has been reached in this matter. The PCA further decided that the applicable procedural regime, including the applicability of the UNCITRAL Rules, is a matter for the arbitral tribunal. However, there is no arbitral tribunal for the dispute constituted since the parties have not agreed. The effect of the decision of the PCA is that the arbitration commenced by Cassius Mining Limited cannot proceed unless both parties have agreed for the Permanent Court of Arbitration to appoint a tribunal. Faced with this legal stumbling block at the Permanent Court of Arbitration, it remains to be seen what Cassius Minings next move will be. Source: graphic.com.gh Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The alleged prime suspect in the Axim galamsey drama seemed to have made a lot of money from the alleged duties he claimed the police in Axim entrusted to him. Kwame Ato Asare Ani has claimed that because he knows all illegal mining or galamsey sites in the area, the police engaged him to periodically lead them to galamsey sites to extort money from the illegal miners. The alleged prime suspect, who resides at Gwira Kwekukrom in the Nzema East Municipality of the Western Region, claims that aside his two-storey residential building, he is also building an 86-bedroom hotel in the municipality. The purported suspect disclosed this in various interviews he granted. He Ordered the Closure Of Schools Meanwhile, it has emerged that Kwame Ato Asare once ordered the closure of some schools in the farming community over a missing mobile phone. The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Nzema East Municipal Assembly, Dorcas Amoah, made this startling revelation. She said the first time she heard about Kwame Ato Asare Ani was when some settler farmers were having a funeral and the alleged prime suspect and his boys stormed the funeral grounds to foment trouble. She said the gang leader was arrested at the time, and the issue is still pending in court. But I got involved in the case because most of the settler farmers were Northerners, and they reported the case to me, she added. She said in the midst of the chaos at the funeral grounds, the alleged prime suspects mobile phone got missing. He then warned that if those who stole his mobile phone did not return it, no child in the area should go to school. According to the MCE, it took the intervention of the Educational Director, REGSEC, teachers, and community stakeholders to bring the situation under control before students could attend school. She explained: I had to come in and later went to the community where the incident happened with the Educational Director, REGSEC, and all heads of department to meet with teachers of the schools. She said this was because the teachers were afraid and parents were also unwilling to allow their children to go to school. The MCE indicated that, Kwame Ato Asare Ani had been granted bail after his arrest, so he was present at the meeting, adding That was when I got to know him. So we discussed the issue and we were able to resolve it, and the children were able to go to school now, she noted. Meanwhile, the purported prime suspect, who is on police wanted list, has denied allegations levelled against him by the Police Service that he is an armed robber. He stressed that he is not an armed robber but a police informant in the Axim area. Background In a video that went viral, the gang leader was seen accosting a police officer and accusing the officer of attempting to arrest him after he had given him money. The Ghana Police Service reacted to the video in a statement which said it arrested some four men on March 28, 2023 after the Axim Divisional Police Patrol Team reported an attack on them by a gang. According to the police, it also conducted a search at the residence of Kwame Ato Asare Ani, where some weapons and other items were retrieved. The statement disclosed that the allegation of extortion by the alleged attackers has since been referred to the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) for investigations. Source: dailyguidenetwork.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 BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- China and Japan will hold the 15th round of high-level consultations on maritime affairs on April 10 in Tokyo, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Friday. Spokesperson Mao Ning told a press briefing that officials from foreign ministries, defense ministries, maritime law enforcement, and ocean management departments from both countries would attend the talks. The high-level consultations are a comprehensive mechanism for bilateral communication and coordination. "China expects to fully exchange views with Japan on sea-related issues between the two countries to enhance mutual understanding and trust," Mao said, adding that China will promote proper management of differences and pragmatic cooperation. Head of Linguistics at the University of Ghana, Professor Kofi Agyekum has asked the new appointees to the Electoral Commission, Dr. Peter Appiahene and Hajia Salima Ahmed Tijani, to reconsider their appointment following objections by the Civil Society. The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has called for the immediate resignation of Dr Peter Appiahene and Hajia Salima Ahmed Tijani from the Electoral Commission. They have accused Dr. Appiahene of being an NPP activist and Hajia Salima Ahmed also of having some strong ties with NPP as her relatives share affiliation with the party. We are painfully aware that voluntary and constitutionally grounded revocation of these unfortunate and democratically problematic EC appointments by the President is extremely unlikely. However, nothing stops the affected appointees, namely Dr Peter Appiahene and Hajia Salima Tijani from voluntarily and honourably resigning from the EC. This will be in the supreme interest of our countrys continued democratic progress, election peace and credibility and indeed overall national interest, CODEO said in a press conference. Addressing the issue on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show, Prof. Kofi Agyekum noted that the above-mentioned persons should take a deep thought about the objections and advise themselves to take the right decision in order to end the brouhaha. To him, it should be okay for them to step down for peace to reign. Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi, Prof. Kofi Agyekum advised Dr. Appiahene and Hajia Salima saying "I would resign if it is because of me that these controversies will go on". Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Henry Nana Boakye, the National Organizer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), has rebuked the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) over their demand for the resignation of Dr Peter Appiahene and Hajia Salima Ahmed Tijani from the Electoral Commission. Dr Appiahene and Ahmed Tijani were appointed by President Akufo-Addo to the Board of the Electoral Commission in March 2023. But CODEO has accused both persons of having political inclination towards the NPP and therefore are calling for their resignation from the Board. We are painfully aware that voluntary and constitutionally grounded revocation of these unfortunate and democratically problematic EC appointments by the President is extremely unlikely. However, nothing stops the affected appointees, namely Dr Peter Appiahene and Hajia Salima Tijani from voluntarily and honourably resigning from the EC. This will be in the supreme interest of our countrys continued democratic progress, election peace and credibility and indeed overall national interest, the group said in a press conference. But Henry Nana Boakye, populary known as Nana B, has slammed CODEO stating "their evidence is too pedestrain". According to him, the group is just jumping on the bandwagon because there are speculations about the new EC appointees having an affiliation with the NPP. Nana B refuted the claims stressing Dr. Appiahene and Hajia Salima Ahmed are not NPP activists. Touching specifically on Dr. Appiahene, Nana B asserted that "the man has never been a TESCON patron . . . he is not an NPP member. He is not part of NPP communications team". He rebuked CODEO saying their "mere speculation and just naked conjecturing should not be acceptable" and standing for Dr. Appiahene and Hajia Salima Ahmed, he emphasized that he "will never call for their resignation. We have not breached any law". Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Supreme Court has set May 17, 2023, to deliver a judgment in the case challenging the eligibility of restrained Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson, to have contested in the 2020 parliamentary election. The writ, filed by the NPPs losing candidate, Michael Ankomah-Nimfah, is seeking the interpretation of Article 94 Clause 2a of the 1992 Constitution, which deals with eligibility of a person to contest as an MP in Ghana. The writ avers that per Article 94 of the 1992 Constitution, the Representation of the People Law, Act 284 and the CI 127, Mr. Quayson was not qualified at the time of filing to contest the 2020 parliamentary elections, since he held a Canadian citizenship. The writ attached an application for interlocutory injunction pending the determination of the case, and the court on April 13, 2022, in a 5:2 majority decision granted the application and restrained the MP from further carrying himself out as the peoples representative of Assin North. The court also restrained the MP from further attending Parliament with the aim of attending to business of the House in the name of the people of Assin North. A Cape Coast High Court in 2021 had prior to that ordered the MP to vacate his seat after it found that at the time of filing his nomination to contest in the parliamentary election, which he won on December 7, 2020, Mr. Quayon held dual citizenship. The Supreme Court on March 1, 2023, ordered counsels for the parties to file their joint memorandum of issues to be determined by March 10. Each counsel was further ordered to file their separate issues regardless of whether they were unable to agree on the issues to be determined. The court, yesterday, indicated that both parties could not file a joint memorandum of issues but have both have filed their separate issues to be determined. The seven-member panel of the court presided over by Justice Jones Dotse and assisted by Justices Nene Amegatcher, Mariama Owusu, Gertrude Torkonoo, Henrietta Mensah-Bonsu, Yonni Kulendi and Barbara Ackah-Yensu, adopted the separate issues filed by the parties. The court said it reserves the right to set out the issues which are relevant to this case and will also identify those that are not relevant. It adjourned the case to May 17, 2023, to give its judgment which will bring finality to the argument whether a person holding dual citizenship qualifies to contest as a Member of Parliament in Ghana. Mr. Quayson was in court for only the second time since the case was filed against him. Source: dailyguidenetwork.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 Five aspirants of the National Democratic Congress Keta Constituency parliamentary seat have been cleared by the vetting committee to contest in the upcoming primary. Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpe, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), Dr. Kojo Jones Mensah, and Madam Enyonam Apetorgbor have been placed in the first, second, and third positions on the ballot. The rests are Dr. Senanu Kwasi Djokoto and Paul Mensah Voegbor also securing number four and five, respectively. Kwame Gakpe, after a successful vetting process, expressed excitement over his clearance to fight for a second term. He said his position signified a good leadership position where he would be the first. Dr Djokoto, the former Keta Constituency Chairman of the NDC, expressed satisfaction about the process and urged all delegates to give him the nod to bring unprecedented development to the area. Also the Acting Volta Regional Director of Health, told the Ghana News Agency that he would rebuild the Keta NDC and ensure unity and development when elected the MP. Dr. Emmanuel Kwadzo Jones Mensah, Madam Enyonam Apetorgbor, and Paul Mensah Voegborlo also expressed the hope that they would win the hearts of delegates for a massive victory. Several supporters who interacted with GNA remained happy that all aspirants had gone through the vetting process peacefully and urged the candidates to engage in clean campaigns, devoid of insults. The NDC has set Saturday, May 13, for the parliamentary and presidential primaries. 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 " " A Park Service employee lowers U.S. flags on the grounds of the Washington Monument to half-staff, Oct. 2, 2017. President Donald Trump ordered the flags on all federal buildings to fly at half-staff following the mass shooting that left more than 50 dead in Las Vegas. Mark Wilson/Getty Images More than half of all households in the United States own an American flag, according to a 2020 poll. But not all American flag owners are aware of the extensive rules that govern flag etiquette in the United States, including when and how to lower a flag to half-staff. Lowering a flag to half-staff (or half-mast when it's on a ship) as a symbol of public mourning dates back centuries. In the U.S., flags have traditionally been lowered following the deaths of presidents and other prominent public officials. But in recent decades, the practice has been extended to mourn other types of tragedies, including the deaths of foreign dignitaries, U.S. servicemen, victims of mass shootings and COVID deaths. Advertisement Some individuals and veterans organizations, including the American Legion, complain that there are way too many half-staff proclamations. In 2015, for example, flags were lowered to half-staff for 328 days (nearly 90 percent) of the year somewhere in the United States based on proclamations from the president or state governors. "Those individuals and agencies that usurp authority and display the flag at half-staff on inappropriate occasions are quickly eroding the honor and reverence accorded this solemn act," says the American Legion website. The question is: Can you actually get in trouble cited, fined or even arrested for failing to lower an American flag to half-staff? " " The NYPD declined to take a mug shot of Trump, citing there were enough photographs of him, but the Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Office did take a mug shot of Michael Jackson, arguably one of the most famous men in the world, and distributed it when he was booked for child molestation in 2003. Jackson was later acquitted on all charges. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images The fuss over Trump's booking photo is evidence of our fascination with mug shots, which over the years have become both a traditional symbol of the long arm of the law and police departments' prowess at catching criminals, and also a sort of perverse badge of honor in a society that romanticizes outlaws. At the same time, even though the custom dates to the 1800s, mug shots remain an important law enforcement tool, despite DNA and other sophisticated technology. Advertisement "Police still use [mug shots] to identify the person that they are arresting, so that they know when they put him in the back of the cell," explains James J. Nolan, a former police lieutenant in Wilmington, Delaware, who is now a professor in the department of sociology and anthropology at West Virginia University. "Sometimes they put together photo arrays, to see if this is the person that you saw commit the crime." "I think mug shots are still a relevant tool for law enforcement, both internally and externally," explains Jonathan Finn, a professor in the department of communication studies at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, and author of the 2009 book "Capturing the Criminal Image: From Mug Shot to Surveillance Society." "Unlike other forms of visual representation, such as CCTV footage, the mug shot is created in a controlled environment," Finn says via email. "Video surveillance can be a useful tool as well, but it does not produce the formalized, standardized, high-resolution images of a still camera and a still subject." As a piece of visual evidence, Finn says, the mug shot is still very useful for police and law enforcement. It also is part of a larger identification record that includes biographical and physiological information. "On its own, the mug shot would be of far less use," Finn explains, "but as part of a larger identification record it remains a useful tool." " " People wait in line to hand in their ballots to election officials after voting at a YMCA in Chinatown during the Massachusetts State Primary on Sept. 1, 2020 in Boston. Political polling tries to determine how people will vote in an election. JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images The news cycle is jam-packed with polls. Flip on the nightly broadcasts or browse online news articles and you'll be bombarded by the latest "statistics" about the percentage of Americans who believe in God; the breakdown of dog-lovers versus cat-lovers; and how many people between the ages of 65 and 85 own a Nintendo Switch. When it's an election year, poll numbers are headlines in themselves: "Clinton Leads Trump Among College-Educated Voters;" "Republicans More Likely to Vote Than Democrats;" and even the occasional "Dewey Defeats Truman!" Sure, polls make great headlines, but how accurate are they? How much faith should we put in polls, particularly political polls that attempt to predict the outcome of an election? Who conducts these polls, and how do they decide whom to ask? Is it possible to achieve a representative sample of voters from randomly pulling numbers out of the phone book? Advertisement Political polling is a type of public opinion polling. When done right, public opinion polling is an accurate social science with strict rules about sample size, random selection of participants and margins of error. However, even the best public opinion poll is only a snapshot of public opinion at the particular moment in time, not an eternal truth [source: Zukin]. If you poll public opinion on nuclear energy right after a nuclear disaster, it's going to be much lower than the day before the disaster. The same is true for political polls. Voter opinion shifts dramatically from week to week, even day to day, as candidates battle it out on the campaign field. Political polling wasn't always so scientific. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, journalists would conduct informal straw polls of average citizens to gauge public opinion on politicians and upcoming elections [source: Crossen]. A newspaperman traveling on a train might ask the same question to everyone sitting in his car, tally the results and publish them as fact in the next day's paper. In the 1930s, the popular magazine "Literary Digest" conducted public opinion polls of its large subscribership by mail and phone, believing that a large sample size would automatically generate infallible results. The magazine failed to notice that its readership was wealthier and more likely to be Republican than the average U.S. voter, leading the magazine to erroneously predict a landslide victory for Alf Landon over Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936 [source: Crossen]. Today, the top political polling organizations employ mathematical methods and computer analysis to collect responses from the best representative sample of the American voting public. But there's still plenty of "art" in the science of political polling. Even random responses must be adjusted and sifted to identify subtle trends in voter opinion that can help predict the eventual winner on Election Day. Let's start our examination of political polling with the most important indicator of accuracy: a representative sample. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Ocypus ophthalmicus. Credit: AfroBrazilian, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. New research led by the University of East Anglia (UEA) suggests a way to greatly improve the outcomes of biodiversity conservation efforts globally. Scientists from UEA, the RSPB and Natural England, propose that biodiversity auditing should be integral to the ongoing development of regionally-targeted conservation plans, such as the Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) established by the UK Environment Act 2021. Their work is published in Biological Conservation. It follows work conducted with two conservation projects in the East of Englandone in North Norfolk and another in the Brecksusing this approach to guide conservation locally. A biodiversity audit sees a small team use every available data source to work out which species are the most important locally, and what conservation management they need. On the North Norfolk Coast, for example, the team collected more than one million records from 38 different data sources, including local records offices, NGOs and natural historians, to get a final species list of 10,726 species. This information is used to ascertain which species are of national importancein order to help land managers do what they can to help the largest number of important species. The approach, which has also been used elsewhere in the region, in the Broads and Fens, reprioritizes management efforts to support greater numbers of important species, with all available data used to find out what is in a local area and what land management they need, so that it can be targeted at hundreds of rare species at a time. The new LNRS policies, which look to generate a plan and set of priorities for every local area in England, currently make no provision for identifying the species that inhabit strategy areas, but they provide the ideal vehicle to roll out this auditing approach to benefit biodiversity nationally. The research team argues that auditing should be integrated into environmental policy globally, and specifically for the European Union's 2030 Biodiversity Strategy and in the formal guidance for the LNRS planned for England. Lead author of the paper Dr. Liam Crowther, of UEA's School of Environmental Sciences, said, "Despite decades of effort, conservation has not been successful in reversing species declines at either global or regional scales. With respect to nature recovery, we are standing at a crossroads. The LNRS and the associated delivery mechanisms are hugely ambitious and have the potential to reverse the patterns of decline across many of our endangered plants and invertebrates. "But, if they don't use data to actually target management to support as many important species as possible then we stand to miss a huge opportunity to recover nature. If we don't take this approach, then we stand to squander an historic opportunity by replicating the broadbrush strategies that haven't worked so far. Because the effectiveness of interventions can differ across landscapes, conservation strategies should be locally tailored to meet the ecological needs of their species pools." The paper provides methods for incorporating rapid low-cost biodiversity auditing into local conservation strategies, to ensure these support the widest complement of priorityrare and threatenedspecies. Biodiversity auditing uses existing repositories of species data to group priority species that share similar responses to conservation interventions, allowing practitioners to identify and implement regionally-optimized, evidence-based action plans. Where previously implemented, such as in East Anglia, this approach has successfully transformed conservation practices, increasing the richness and abundance of important species compared to the pre-existing management. On the heathlands of Breckland, the approach found that grazing with additional physical ground disturbance could support nearly six times as many priority invertebrates and plants than the light grazing that had been used before. On the freshwater wetlands of the North Norfolk Coast, the approach revealed that almost twice as many priority invertebrates and plants could be supported by having more complex and varied wet grasslands and wet features, relative to the current approach where grasslands are closely-grazed to support wading birds. Both of these findings are informing Landscape Recovery pilots, where the Breckland Farmer's Network and Norfolk County Council have been selected to develop ambitious plans to recover nature across their areas. Dr. Katy Owen, Protected Landscapes Manager for Norfolk County Council, oversees the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Beauty (AONB), where one of 22 national Landscape Recovery pilots will be delivered. She said, "Bringing a nationally significant pilot project and associated funding to the North Norfolk coast is a great example of using this type of high-quality biodiversity data to inform decision-makingand most importantly to deliver real, significant change on the ground. "Through Landscape Recovery, we are working with farmers and land managers to make space for nature in a working landscape. This type of data will be invaluable when considering land use change to deliver suite of ecosystem services. We can evidence that thriving biodiversity and vibrant rural economies don't need to be exclusivein fact they can work together to make our coastline a great place to livefor humans and the millions of other species we share it with." Comprehensive biodiversity audits in England typically identify 10,000-14,000 speciesand 1,000-1,500 priority speciesper ecoregion, the majority of which are plants and invertebrates that have been historically neglected in conservation planning. The paper draws together evidence to show that the new policies for "Nature Recovery," while ambitious, are severely limited because they do not include any direction on how LNRS need to use the wealth of species data available. As such, incorporating biodiversity auditing can make an important contribution both to the management of existing semi-natural sites and the design of restoration efforts. More information: 'Harnessing biodiversity data to inform policy: rapid regional audits should underpin local nature recovery strategies, Biological Conservation (2023). Journal information: Biological Conservation This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: "Polycomb bodies": Illustration of the results of Glancy, Wang et al. (2023) Molecular Cell. Blue PRC2.1 and PRC2.2 protein complexes target DNA in different ways, through CG-rich sequences or ubiquitin-modified histones, respectively. They catalyze different levels of the red H3K27me3 repressive mark. They recruit different versions of the green PRC1 complexes, characterized by the presence of the CBX2/4 or CBX7 proteins. PRC1 complexes promote contacts between yellow nucleosomes to mediate gene repression. Artwork by Ellen Tuck. Credit: Ellen Tuck, Trinity College Dublin A team of scientists led by those in Trinity College Dublin has discovered new mechanisms involved in establishing cellular identity, a process that ensures the billions of different cells in our bodies do the correct job. This new discovery in stem cellsa result so surprising that the team initially believed it to be an error in the labhas potential translational impacts in cancer biology and associated targeted treatments. The research focuses on the workings of Polycomb protein complexes, PRC1 and PRC2, which are studied by Professor Adrian Bracken and his team, based in Trinity's School of Genetics and Microbiology. Ph.D. student, Ellen Tuck, describes these proteins as "strict librarians" inside cells. "PRC1 and PRC2 block access to certain areas of the genetic library, such that a neuron cell won't have access to muscle genes, and it doesn't get confused in its cellular identity." A puzzle regarding PRC2 has intrigued the Bracken lab and other scientists in the field for years: two forms (PRC2.1 and PRC2.2) exist in the cell but the Bracken lab previously showed that the two forms of PRC2 target the same regions of DNA and do the same job. So why do we need two versions? The new discovery from the lab takes an exciting step towards answering this conundrum, as the team found that PRC2.1 and PRC2.2 recruit different forms of the PRC1 complex to DNA, thereby finally explaining why two versions are needed. "This took us by complete surprise. We initially thought there must have been a technical issue with the experiment, but multiple replications confirmed that we had in fact stumbled upon a fascinating new process that reshapes our understanding of the hierarchical workflow of Polycomb complexes. We were dancing around the lab," said Dr. Eleanor Glancy, recalling the evening the team finally realized what the data were telling them. Successful Ph.D. graduate of the Bracken lab, Dr. Eleanor Glancy, together with Postdoctoral researcher, Dr. Cheng Wang, spearheaded the work, with important collaborative support from scientists in Italy and the Netherlands. The team has published the work today in journal Molecular Cell. This research by Trinity scientists represents a massive contribution to the field of chromatin and epigenetics research and has further impact in cancer biology research as the genes encoding Polycomb proteins are frequently mutated in cancers. Professor Bracken said, "My team currently studies the effects of these mutations in childhood brain cancers and adult lymphomas, seeking to understand what biological mechanisms go awry and how we can target these complexes with more effective treatments. A firm and comprehensive understanding of the workings of these complexes is critical to figuring out new ways to target them in cancer settings. Therefore, this work led by Dr. Glancy and Dr. Wang in my lab will be built upon here and by other researchers worldwide to advance our approach to many cancers." The team worked through the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, social distancing measures, failed hypotheses, failed experiments and tight deadlines, maintaining belief and determination, to ultimately make a significant advance in our biological knowledge. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain People around the globe are so dependent on the internet to exercise socioeconomic human rights such as education, health care, work, and housing that online access must now be considered a basic human right, a new study reveals. Particularly in developing countries, internet access can make the difference between people receiving an education, staying healthy, finding a home, and securing employmentor not. Even if people have offline opportunities, such as accessing social security schemes or finding housing, they are at a comparative disadvantage to those with Internet access. Publishing his findings today in Politics, Philosophy & Economics, Dr. Merten Reglitz, Lecturer in Global Ethics at the University of Birmingham, calls for a standalone human right to internet accessbased on it being a practical necessity for a range of socioeconomic human rights. He calls for public authorities to provide internet access free of charge for those unable to afford it, as well as providing training in basic digital skills training for all citizens and protecting online access from arbitrary interference by states and private companies. Dr. Reglitz commented, "The internet has unique and fundamental value for the realization of many of our socioeconomic human rightsallowing users to submit job applications, send medical information to health care professionals, manage their finances and business, make social security claims, and submit educational assessments. "The internet's structure enables a mutual exchange of information that has the potential to contribute to the progress of humankind as a wholepotential that should be protected and deployed by declaring access to the Internet a human right." The study outlines several areas in developed countries where internet access is essential to exercise socioeconomic human rights: Educationstudents in internet-free households are disadvantaged in obtaining a good school education with essential learning aids and study materials online. Healthproviding in-person health care to remote communities can be challenging, particularly in the U.S. and Canada. Online health care can help to plug this gap. Housingin many developed countries, significant parts of the rental housing market have moved online. Social Securityaccessing these public services today is often unreasonably difficult without internet access. Workjobs are increasingly advertised in real time online and people must be able to access relevant websites to make effective use of their right to work. Dr. Reglitz's research also highlights similar problems for people without internet access in developing countriesfor example, 20 percent of children aged 6 to 11 are out of school in sub-Saharan Africa. Many children face long walks to their schools, where class sizes are routinely very large in crumbling, unsanitary schools with insufficient numbers of teachers. However, online education tools can make a significant difference, allowing children living remotely from schools to complete their education. More students can be taught more effectively if teaching materials are available digitally and pupils do not have to share books. For people in developing countries, internet access can also make the difference between receiving an adequate level of health care or receiving none. Digital health tools can help diagnose illnessesfor example, in Kenya, a smartphone-based Portable Eye Examination Kit (Peek) has been used to test people's eyesight and identify people who need treatment, especially in remote areas underserved by medical practitioners. People are often confronted with a lack of brick-and-mortar banks in developing countries, and internet access makes possible financial inclusion. Small businesses can also raise money through online crowdfunding platformsthe World Bank expects such sums raised in Africa to rise from $32 million in 2015 to $2.5 billion in 2025. More information: The Socio-Economic Argument for the Human Right to Internet Access, Politics Philosophy & Economics (2023). DOI: 10.1177/1470594X231167597 PHNOM PENH, April 7 (Xinhua) -- China's optimization of its anti-COVID-19 strategy and resumption of its outbound group tours earlier this year have revived the tourism industry in countries around the world, Cambodian government chief spokesman Phay Siphan has said. In an interview with Xinhua on Thursday, Siphan said with the population of more than 1.4 billion, China is the most important outbound tourism market for the world. "Not only Cambodia, but also the whole ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), Asia and Europe need Chinese tourists, so China's reopening has contributed to reviving tourism around the world in the post-COVID-19 era," he said. "China's reopening has added momentum to the global economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic," Siphan said. "This is a great boon to boost tourists to Cambodia and other regions." Siphan also predicted that China's economy would remain strong and resilient in 2023, propelled by the country's reopening and effective pro-growth policies. He added that China would remain the engine of global economic growth this year and beyond. Tourism is one of four pillars supporting Cambodia's economy. China was the biggest source of foreign tourists to Cambodia in the pre-pandemic era, a Ministry of Tourism's report said, adding that the kingdom received 2.36 million Chinese tourists in 2019, accounting for 35.7 percent of total tourist arrivals to the country and generating about 1.8 billion U.S. dollars in revenue. The Southeast Asian nation is expected to attract 4 million international tourists, including between 800,000 and 1 million Chinese tourists, in 2023, according to the Ministry of Tourism's prediction. "Thanks to close relationship between our two governments and peoples, I believe that a large number of Chinese tourists and investors will return to Cambodia, like it was before the pandemic," Siphan said. "The comeback of Chinese tourists and investors will undoubtedly inject fresh vitality into Cambodia's socio-economic development and poverty reduction in the post-pandemic era," he added. Cambodia is famous for its three world heritage sites, namely the Angkor archeological park in the northwest Siem Reap province, the Preah Vihear Temple in the northwest Preah Vihear province, and the Sambor Prei Kuk archeological site in the central Kampong Thom province. Also, it has a pristine coastline stretching in the length of 450 km in the four southwest provinces of Sihanoukville, Kampot, Kep and Koh Kong. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Introduced Measures by Targeted Content. Credit: CRT Forward: Tracking the Attack on Critical Race Theory (2023) UCLA researchers have found that in 2021 and 2022, federal, state, and local government officials introduced 563 measures aimed at restrict access to truthful information about race and systemic racism. The study of anticritical race theory measures was conducted by CRT Forward, an initiative of the UCLA School of Law's Critical Race Studies Program. Researchers drew information from more than 30,000 news articles to reveal the impact of former President Donald Trump's Executive Order 13950, which banned certain "divisive concepts" in federal trainings. While the executive order was rescinded in January 2021 by President Joe Biden, in the past two years, anticritical race theory measures have been introduced in 49 statesDelaware is the only state in which no such measures have been introduced, the study found. And 241 of the measures have been adopted. Critical race theory is the study of systemic racism in law, policy and society. It has come under fire from local school boards, state legislatures and even federal-level inquiry, resulting in attemptsmany of them implementedto restrict its teaching and, more broadly, discussions about race and racial inequality. "While anecdotally we've known that the attack on critical race theory was happening, this is the first time we've actually had the data to fully understand the depth and breadth of this coordinated political campaign," said LaToya Baldwin Clark, a UCLA Law professor and co-author of the report. Researchers identified five key trends: Nearly half of the measures lawmakers introduced borrowed phrasingin particular the so-called "divisive concepts" languagefrom the now-rescinded Executive Order 13950. Anticritical race theory measures were pervasive but unevenly distributed across the states. Most of the state-level measures were in those states that went to Trump in the 2020 presidential election, but local measures were introduced in equal numbers in states that went to Trump, those that went to Biden and those in which the vote was nearly even. The measures were overwhelmingly, although not exclusively, aimed at teaching in public schools. Over 90% of the measures targeted K12 institutions. The remaining 10% of measures target colleges and universities, state and federal agencies, contractors, private businesses and nonprofits. Among the measures targeting K12 schools, over 70% focused on regulating teachers' behavior and curriculum. Among legislation, withholding funding and issuing fines are the most common consequences of non-compliance. The report analyzes data from CRT Forward's flagship resource, the CRT Forward Tracking Project, the only database that comprehensively tracks anticritical race theory measuresincluding legislation, school board policies, gubernatorial executive orders, and state attorneys general opinionsat the federal, state and local levels. The report also includes a spotlight on such measures in California, as an example of anticritical race theory measures in predominantly Democrat-controlled states. As of December 31, 2022, seven of 11 measures introduced in California school districts had been adopted, affecting approximately 110,000 students statewide. According to the report, government officials nationally are on a pace to introduce as many anticritical race theory measures in 2023 as they did in either 2021 or 2022. CRT Forward will continue to track the activity, and the researchers plan to develop additional resources for advocates, journalists, academics and the public. "While this report looks to data from the recent past, its findings are integral to ensuring those committed to racial justice can chart a path forward that will allow everyoneespecially our childrento have tools for addressing the most pressing racial and social justice issues of our time," said Taifha Alexander, the CRT Forward project director and a co-author of the report. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Aerial view of a deforested area of the Amazon rainforest in Brazl's state of Roraima. Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon rainforest in the first quarter of 2023 was one of the worst on record, according to official figures released on Friday. Those figures show the scale of the task facing leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, just 100 days into his return to power. Satellite images from the INPE national space investigations institute showed 356 square kilometers of forest had been destroyed in March in the Brazilian Amazon. That is a 14 percent increase compared to March 2022, when far-right president and climate change skeptic Jair Bolsonaro was serving his last year in office. In the first quarter of 2023, Amazon deforestation was the second highest on record for that period with 844 square kilometers destroyed. Only the first quarter of 2022 was higher with 941 square kilometers of deforestation. After four years of Bolsonaro's government, which removed various environmental protections, it could take time to improve deforestation figures, Mariana Napolitano, the conservation manager for the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in Brazil, told AFP. "The figures show there is a complex scenario in the face of a weakening of control in the region and the discourse of the last few years that favored illegality," she said. "Even though the current government has shown its intention to seriously fight deforestation, it will take time to change the scenario," added Napolitano. On the first day of his third term in office, Lula signed several decrees scrapping measures that were harmful to the environment and created a working group to tackle deforestation. He also reactivated the Amazon Fund, an initiative supported primarily by Norway and Germany that was suspended in 2019 due to Bolsonaro's policies. 2023 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Shutterstock The United States experiences a staggeringly high rate of gun homicides, but accurately predicting these incidentsespecially on a monthly basishas been a significant challenge, due to the lag in the release of official Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) firearm mortality data, which is a cornerstone of reliable gun research. A new methodology developed by a team at NYU Tandon School of Engineering could change that. In a paper published in the Journal of Criminal Justice, researchers led by Maurizio Porfiri, NYU Tandon Institute Professor and Director of the Center for Urban Science and Progress (CUSP), revealed that, by combining CDC data with data from a range of other sources, they created a model that outperforms the techniques currently in use to predict monthly gun homicide rates. Some of the researchers' other data sources were city police departments, news stories, and the crowdsourced Gun Violence Archive database. "Policy makers and practitioners often use outdated or limited data to make decisions around gun violence reduction strategies, obviously a less-than-ideal situation when precision is a goal," said Porfiri. "Our model may be used to fill data gaps and anticipate outbreaks of violence, thereby offering a concrete aid to evidence-based interventions." According to Porfiri, gun violence analysts and researchers typically rely on the CDC's definitive annual firearm death data, which is usually released in December and covers the prior calendar year. That means January data in it is nearly two years old by the time it's available. While the CDC also releases provisional quarterly gun data 10 months after each quarter's end, that data is subject to revision, which reduces its usefulness. The interdisciplinary research team's multi-data-source methodology compensates for the CDC data's limitations and provides a means to not only accurately forecast monthly gun homicide rates, but also ascertain those rates for prior months, before the CDC releases its data. Team members on the project include Salvador Ramallo, Fulbright Scholar from the University of Murcia, Spain, visiting Porfiri at CUSP, and long-term Porifiri collaborators Maximo Camacho and Manuel Ruiz Marin, Professors at the University of Murcia and Technical University of Cartagena, Spain, respectively. The researchers applied a dynamic factor modela statistical technique that is used to identify and analyze patterns and relationships between variables that change over timeto more than 20 years' worth of data. They employed both "forecasted" and "backcasted" analyses on historical dates using mixed-frequency data available at that time, forecasting up to one year and backcasting as recently as the month preceding the time of analysis. The researchers confirmed their model predicted monthly homicide rates more accurately than the competitor models, by comparing its results to data in CDC's annual reports for those historical dates. Other than the CDC, the data sources analyzed in the research were the Gun Violence Archive; New York City, Chicago, and Philadelphia police departments; The New York Times and The Washington Post (presence of keywords in news stories); Google Trends; National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NCIS); Economic Policy Uncertainty index; and geo-targeted Twitter data reflecting certain keyword presence. The new model could be incorporated into a public dashboard or another tool, said Porifiri, so researchers and others could put it to use easily. This latest study contributes to Porfiri's ongoing data-based research related to U.S. gun prevalence and violence, and his overall efforts to study the "firearm ecosystem" in the United States. Previous projects focused on factors that prompt gun purchases and state-by-state gun ownership trends. More information: Salvador Ramallo et al, A dynamic factor model to predict homicides with firearm in the United States, Journal of Criminal Justice (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2023.102051 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Map of live green vegetation across the county. Credit: UCLA Fielding School of Public Health Improving tree coverage and access to parks and green spaces in Los Angeles County, particularly in lower-income communities of color, could significantly boost life expectancy for local residents, according to a new study by UCLA public health researchers and colleagues. Their study, published in the open-access journal Environment International, is the first in the U.S to combine life expectancy data at the census tract level with data on parks, trees and overall neighborhood vegetation. Prior research has suggested that parks and greenery have mental and physical health benefits for residents of urban areas, providing clean air to breathe, shade during hot weather, and open and secluded areas for recreation and mental relaxation. The current findings extend those potential benefits and, the study authors say, provide policymakers with a blueprint for targeted green strategies that could increase longevity among predominantly Black and Latino residents of "park poor" neighborhoods and help reduce health disparities in the region. "If policies are implemented where they are needed most, there could be a significant decrease in life expectancy disparities across Los Angeles," said Michael Jerrett, professor of environmental health sciences at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and corresponding author of the study. Life expectancy estimates for Los Angeles County by census tracts. Credit: UCLA Fielding School of Public Health Adding nearly a million years in life expectancy across the county Using newly available data from the U.S. Small-Area Life Expectancy Estimates Project, the research team developed a model that quantified the relationship between life expectancy and the amount of tree canopy coverage, live green vegetation and accessible park space in Los Angeles County's census tracts. The data on greenery was drawn from the Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the local environmental organization Tree People and other sources. The researchers found that socially and economically disadvantaged census tracts tended to have far less tree canopy and green space than other neighborhoods and that roughly two-thirds of the county's Black and Latino populations live in areas with disproportionately less green coverage. Additionally, tracts in affluent and better-covered areas like Beverly Hills had life expectancies as high as 90, while just 15 miles away, in South Los Angeles communities, median life expectancy was 77. Controlling for other variables that could impact life expectancy, like smoking, obesity and physical inactivity, the team looked at all of Los Angeles Countya population of roughly 10 million covering 4,000 square milesand made a number of predictions. Among them: If tree canopy and green vegetation were brought up to the county's median levels in each census tract, residents in areas currently below those medians could gain between 570,300 and 908,800 years collectively in life expectancy. If park acreage was increased to the median level of 54 acres in census tracts with below-median park space and tree canopy, approximately 155,300 years in life expectancy could be gained across the county. The above 155,300-year total increase includes a gain of more than 110,000 years in life expectancy for Black and Latino residents alone. However, the researchers found that increasing park access in areas already above the county median for green space and tree canopy, like many Westside neighborhoods, would not have a significant impact on life expectancy. Potential years of life saved from added park space in greenness-deprived census tracts in the southern portion of Los Angeles County. Credit: UCLA Fielding School of Public Health Informing L.A. and California green policies The study, the researchers said, could help guide proposals by the County Board of Supervisors and local city councils concerning Measure A funding allocations. Approved by county voters in 2016, the parcel tax measure provides millions of dollars annually, in perpetuity, toward the creation and improvement of parks. A third of those funds are set aside to improve park equity. Findings from the study are already being used in related research funded by the California Air Resources Board to estimate the health benefits of increasing green space and tree canopy in California. Such information will help the board develop a scoping plan for managing the impacts of climate change by investing in parks, tree planting and green space expansion. Following more than 50 years of increases in life expectancy, the U.S. has seen declines in the past 10 years, likely due to the effects of the opioid epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic. "It's critical to understand modifiable environmental factors, such as access to green spaces, that can increase life expectancy," said UCLA doctoral candidate Rachel Connolly, lead author of the study. More information: Rachel Connolly et al, The association of green space, tree canopy and parks with life expectancy in neighborhoods of Los Angeles, Environment International (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107785 Journal information: Environment International Provided by University of California Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy QUEENSBURY A Queensbury man is facing prison time after pleading guilty to violating an order of protection while on parole for committing the same crime in Washington County. Gary L. Carpenter, 34, admitted in Warren County Court on Wednesday that he violated an order of protection and physically restrained a woman with whom he shares a child in a hotel room on Christmas Day 2022. Warren County Judge Robert Smith asked Carpenter, who has been in jail since his arrest in December, about the day in question in order to accept his guilty plea for a felony charge of aggravated family offense, in satisfaction of all the charges against him. With his lawyer Tucker Stanclift alongside him, Carpenter admitted to being at the Baymont Inn in the town of Queensbury on Christmas and said the woman joined him at some point during the day. Judge Smith went over Carpenters criminal history. He was convicted in August 2021 in Glens Falls City Court of second-degree criminal contempt for violating an order that protected the victim. In April 2021, Carpenter was also arrested twice, once in Queensbury and Whitehall, after he was a passenger in the car of a party with a protective order against him on April 9 and April 24. In September of 2021, he was sentenced in Washington County Court to 1 1/2 to 3 years in prison for the charges that stemmed from the Whitehall arrest. An 8-year order of protection was also imposed on Sept. 10, 2021. According to New York State Department of Corrections records, Carpenter was released from prison on parole in December 2022 and could have completed his parole this month. Assistant District Attorney Ben Smith stated for the record on Wednesday that the protective order issued in 2021 was also on the victims behalf. Sentencing was adjourned to April 19 to allow for a pre-sentencing investigation to be completed, but due to his prior felony conviction, Carpenter is expected to receive a state prison sentence. WASHINGTON, April 6 (Xinhua) -- The spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the United States Wednesday delivered remarks regarding Tsai Ing-wen's "transit" in the United States and her meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. In disregard of China's repeated solemn demarches and warnings, the U.S. side has insisted on arranging for Tsai Ing-wen to "transit" in the United States and meet with House Speaker McCarthy as well as bipartisan members of the Congress. This has blatantly violated the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, violated the U.S. government's commitments on the Taiwan question, and sent a serious wrong signal to the "Taiwan independence" forces. China expresses strong protest and firm opposition, and will respond resolutely to the wrong move by the U.S. side, the spokesperson noted. The Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests, the bedrock of the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, and the first red line that should never be crossed in this bilateral relationship, said the spokesperson, adding that the Congress, as a part of the U.S. government, is obligated to strictly abide by the foreign policy that the latter has adopted and committed to. House Speaker McCarthy is the third highest-ranking official in the U.S. government. His meeting with Tsai Ing-wen on the U.S. territory is a grave mistake that elevates the official interactions and substantive relationship between the United States and Taiwan, said the spokesperson, noting that using the Taiwan question for a show with political purposes, the U.S. politicians concerned have acted highly irresponsibly and turned themselves into problem-makers for China-U.S. relationship and the situation at the Taiwan Strait. The historical ins and outs of the Taiwan question are all clear, and so are the facts and status quo that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China, said the spokesperson. While declaring its commitment to the one-China policy and not supporting "Taiwan independence" or "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan," and not seeking to use the Taiwan question as a tool to contain China, the U.S. side has continued to fudge and hollow out the one-China principle, stepped up official interactions with Taiwan, carried on arms sales and deepened military connections with Taiwan, the spokesperson continued. The United States has been helping Taiwan expand its so-called "international space," deliberately distorting the nature of the Taiwan question of being purely China's internal matter. It has co-opted other countries into meddling with the Taiwan question, hammered out Taiwan-related bills infringing on China's sovereignty, and emboldened "Taiwan independence" separatist forces in bringing tension and volatility to cross-Strait relations. While doing all these, the U.S. side has accused the mainland of "coercion", "pressurizing Taiwan" and "unilaterally changing the status quo." By so doing, the U.S. side is emboldening the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and obstructing China's efforts toward peaceful reunification, said the spokesperson. Tsai Ing-wen's "transit" is not so much a "transit," but an attempt to seek breakthroughs and propagate "Taiwan independence." Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have adopted a separatist stance, and colluded with the U.S. side in taking successive provocative moves designed to divide China. Such moves have strained cross-Strait relations, endangered peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and undermined the prospects and space for peaceful reunification. These have become major obstacles to advancing the process of peaceful reunification, the spokesperson continued. China urges the U.S. side to abide by the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, honor the promises that U.S. President Joe Biden has made on multiple occasions, stop upgrading its substantive relationship with Taiwan, stop all forms of official interaction with Taiwan, and stop fudging and hollowing out the one-China principle, said the spokesperson. China's complete reunification is a process that cannot be halted. Those seeking the U.S. support for "Taiwan independence" will be discarded by history. Those seeking to use Taiwan to contain China will find that they stir up the fire only to burn themselves. No individual should underestimate China's strong determination, firm will, and great capability to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, said the spokesperson. CORINTH A Hadley man is facing charges for allegedly driving while intoxicated and crashing into a home. State police responded to the area of state Route 9N in Corinth for a report of a one-car crash into a home. The driver was identified as 36-year-old Mark D. Holcomb. Police said Holcomb was uncooperative with law enforcement and medical personnel. The investigation determined that he had an active warrant for his arrest and did not have a valid drivers license. After being discharged from Saratoga Hospital for injuries in the crash, Holcomb was charged with felony first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and misdemeanors of DWI and second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation. He was taken to the state police Wilton station, where he refused to provide a sample to determine the alcohol content of his blood. Holcomb was arraigned in Corinth Town Court and sent to Saratoga County Jail. PLEASE BE ADVISED: Soon we will no longer integrate with Facebook for story comments. The commenting option is not going away, however, readers will need to register for a FREE site account to continue sharing their thoughts and feedback on stories. If you already have an account (i.e. current subscribers, posting in obituary guestbooks, for submitting community events), you may use that login, otherwise, you will be prompted to create a new account. A former Atlantic City firefighter will avoid prison time for his role in a prescription compound medication scandal that cost state health care plans nearly $50 million. Michael Pepper was sentenced to three years of probation Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Pepper, who was living in Northfield at the time charges were brought against him, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health benefits fraud before U.S. District Court Judge Robert B. Kugler in August 2017. Sentencings postponed to next year in prescription fraud case CAMDEN Sentencings have been postponed again this time to next year for the more than Under local pharmaceutical salesman William Hickman, also of Northfield, Pepper and others used unneeded compound medications prescribed by doctors to get health insurance kickbacks once those medications were fulfilled by a pharmacy in Louisiana. The prescriptions included compounded pain creams, scar creams, antifungal creams, libido creams and certain vitamin combinations. As part of his plea, Pepper agreed in 2017 to relinquish $113,627 and pay restitution of $719,481. Pepper was a 10-year veteran of the Atlantic City Fire Department before resigning last month with a salary of $101,741, according to state records. ATLANTIC CITY Two 23-year-old Pennsylvania men wanted for murder were arrested at a city rental property Thursday, authorities said. Marquise Johnson, of Philadelphia, and Cody Reed, of Norristown, were sought in the death of Daquan Tucker, the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office said Friday. U.S. Marshals and city police arrested both men at an AirBnB on North Rhode Island Avenue, the District Attorneys Office said in a news release. Reed was apprehended about 5:15 p.m. Thursday, but Johnson was not at the rental at the time. Johnson was arrested at 11:14 p.m., nearly four hours after he returned to the apartment, authorities said. Johnson barricaded himself inside the rental unit, the District Attorneys Office said. Police entered the apartment and found him in a washing machine. Agreement in place for 198-unit affordable housing complex in Galloway GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP A new project is set to meet state requirements to make township housing Reed and Johnson are each charged with murder, robbery, conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit robbery, person not to possess a firearm and related offenses. Tuckers body was found about 100 feet from the Schuylkill River Trail by a bicyclist, the District Attorneys Office said. Authorities say Tucker went to Reeds residence about 7 p.m. the night before his body was found. Reed, Johnson and Tucker walked together toward the trail, venturing off to a spot where Tucker was shot multiple times. Detectives say the men all knew each other. Reed and Johnson are scheduled to be extradited to Montgomery County before being arraigned. Both are ineligible for bail. The New Jersey State Board of Education is trying to limit participation in public hearings on incorporating climate change and environmental justice into math and English classes, a state senator said this week. They want public hearings without the public, said state Sen. Michael Testa, R-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic. Testa said the board opened the registration period in late March but only announced it publicly via email the Thursday before Easter weekend. He questioned why people must register to testify by Monday for hearings that will take place weeks later, calling it another failure by the State Board of Education to be open and transparent with parents and concerned citizens. The Southern Region hearing will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at Camden County College. The Northern Region hearing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. April 24 at Warren County College, and the Central Region hearing will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. May 3 at the New Jersey Department of Education in Trenton. To testify at any of the public hearings, register by noon Monday at https://homeroom5.doe.state.nj.us/events/, or call the Office of the State Board of Education at 609-376-9071. Street repaving underway in Atlantic City ATLANTIC CITY Several streets are being repaved, causing a need for detours in the city, o Van Drew on school security U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd, and other congressional Republicans last week introduced legislation to prioritize hiring military veterans and retired law enforcement officers to protect schools as school resource officers. After the numerous, unconscionable events that have taken place in our schools across the country, it is way past time that Congress address the need for better security in schools, Van Drew said. We protect our nations leaders and celebrities with armed security, why not our children? The other House members introducing the Ensuring Safer Schools Act were Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas; Andy Barr, R-Ky.; Don Bacon, R-Neb.; and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa. The legislation also recommends that school resource officers undergo yearly tactical training and a mental health screening, and encourages schools to promote engagement between the officers and students. Public contractors campaign contributions Public contractors disclosed making $8.8 million in campaign contributions in 2022, according to reports filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission. That was down 15% from $10.4 million in 2021, when the Governors Office and all legislative seats were up for reelection. ELEC Executive Director Jeff Brindle said contractor contributions surged above $10 million in all four gubernatorial elections dating to 2009. Engineers gave nearly $4 million (44%), while lawyers contributed $2.3 million (26%). Among the top 10 contracting firms making contributions, eight were engineering firms while two were law firms. The top 10 made 33% of the contributions and received 2% of contracts. Remington & Vernick Engineers led the donors, giving $588,350. It received about $56 million in public contracts. Atlantic City briefs: City to leave state health plan ATLANTIC CITY City Council approved a resolution to move health coverage for employees out Total contracts increased 10% to a new high. Business entities reported more than $15.1 billion in contracts in their 2022 disclosure reports. Under pay-to-play laws, all businesses that have received $50,000 or more through public contracts must indicate whether they have made any reportable contributions and if so, must disclose contracts and contributions to ELEC by March 30 for the previous calendar year. The average contribution made by contractors in 2022 was $1,252, an increase of 0.2%. The record high average was $1,372 in 2020, according to ELEC. The top 10 contractors were led by affiliates of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield. They received $12.9 billion worth of contracts, or about 86% of the total contracts. The group gave $165,573 in contributions, which is 2% of the total, ELEC said. Authorities say law enforcement officers shot and killed a man in eastern Pennsylvania who was wanted in an arson at a New Jersey motel and being sought for questioning in a double slaying there. State police say the 53-year-old Philadelphia man was spotted in Wyomissing on Thursday evening. They say he had a rifle with a scope across his chest and was shot and killed by officers. He was wanted in a Monday arson at a Gloucester, New Jersey motel and was wanted for questioning in a double slaying in another room there. Police said the same person shot two people on a Philadelphia porch Thursday afternoon. July 12, 1961, will always remain etched in Punes memory. On this day, I, Panshet Dam, the then under-construction dam off Pune, had breached, causing massive floods in Pune. Over sixty years have passed since that fateful day, but it seems like yesterday. Today, I am opening up my dam of emotions. Today, I am full of water; I am full of life. However, deep inside the pages of my history book, I hold a tragedy, a misery, a face of death that I had brought in. With a growing population then, Punes water infrastructure was in dire need of improvement. In the late 1950s, the Government of India took an initiative to build me. Environmentalists were against my idea, but development won. The budget was passed, consummate architects and engineers finalised a design, and workers started bringing me into shape. I was not extraordinaire; I was not an epitome of beauty or a marvel of engineering. I was just another dam that was looking forward to the day when he would stand on his knees and quench Punes thirst. All I wanted was to watch the moony nights, wake up to the chirping of the birds, share the elixir of life till divinity, and enjoy the sunsets at sixes and sevens. Antara Bhoi But, I could see something fishy in me. None realised the very first drop that came out of me was my tears. I was crying, deeply crying, for my construction had severe loopholes. Due to the shortage of steel, my concrete lacked reinforcement. The concrete was not concrete enough. It was sheer negligence, a severe pitfall, and a display of antipathy by the inconsiderate government. With a weak structure for so much water, I knew I would give up. The calamity was lurking around the corner. Pune was in grave danger! A few residents noticed I had started developing cracks. Even then, against recommendations, I was filled up to the brim during the 1961 monsoon, whence I was still under construction. Indispensable it was, for I was the only one providing drinking water to the city. Debates on whether I was an imminent danger led nowhere. There is always calm before a storm! A few samaritans positioned thousands of sandbags to delay the flood. If not for their valiant effort, I would have burst at night, creating severe havoc for the sleeping residents. But, when fate is destined, efforts cease to work. I was unable to hold it any longer. In the wee hours of the wretched day, I finally gave up after a spell of almost continuous rain for nearly a fortnight. My catastrophic failure caused a raging torrent of water to sweep through Pune. The flooding was massive. In no time, my water rushed into the old abbeys, and then the entire city. Roads got submerged; rivers overflowed; bridges were damaged; houses collapsed. The heavy downpour just added to the perils. If that was not enough, my floods also broke a part of the Khadakwasla Dam in my neighbourhood. I brought in severe fatalities, havoc, and destruction. The worst hits were the riverside neighbourhoods and the low-lying areas. I was hapless; I could oversee the people dying their deaths and a city that was in distress. With over 1000 precious lives lost, I changed the face of Pune and the fate of thousands of its residents beyond recognition. I experienced something dreadful, sending shivers down the spine of Pune. I caused it pain which, I knew, would take decades to heal. The losses were colossal. It took a days time for the water to drain out. It rained heavily the rest of the day and night. The military took over the rescue operations and tried its best to save lives. After the water had receded, it took a few months to clear the rubble the water had left. The subsequent trying times were difficult. But the flood that engulfed Pune was not bigger than the zeal of the city. Over the years, the city rebuilt itself, standing testimony to the belief that stronger things emerge from destruction. People learnt every flood stops in the end and goes down. They made the government learn to own the responsibilities. I was reconstructed and brought back to my new life. And here I am, sharing the divine nectar with a flood of tragic memories. Antara Bhoi, Std 8, Shri Sant Tukaram Vidyalaya, Lohegaon Former Deputy Chief Minister and senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar on Friday said that the state government does not seem to be taking COVID seriously despite cases increasing every day. He said the government should issue orders to make mask mandatory in government offices. "The cases of COVID-19 are increasing but nobody seem to be taking it seriously. If the situation is serious government should make masks mandatory at government offices but no such orders have been issued" Pawar said while interacting with media in Pune. He also slammed ministers for not wearing masks and setting wrong example for citizens. "Even the cabinet ministers in the state government are not seen wearing masks anywhere due to which people also stopped taking this virus seriously" he added. Pawar urged the government to take the situation seriously. "I would request the government to take this issue seriously and explain the situation to the citizens so that they know what precautions to take" he said. Business leaders from across the region packed into an auditorium to hear how they could support philanthropy in the Quad-Cities. John Deere World Headquarters served as the host site for the United Way Quad Cities,' "The Generosity Dividend Event." United Way CEO Renee Gellerman kicked off the event by reflecting on the need for nonprofits and their services in the region. According to the census, 15% of residents in the Quad-Cities live below the poverty line, including more than 16,000 children. According to government statistics, 2021 poverty guidelines range from $12,880 for a one-person household to $44,660 for an eight-person household. Additionally, 78% of the public schools in the region are Title 1, which means the majority of the students receive free and/or reduced-price lunch. "Their families are in such fragile economic state that their children are at risk of not having food if they are not fed at school," she said. Through dividends, the United Way is able to help these students and continue to extend its reach, she said. In September, the United Way launched The Caring Assignment, a project where 50 young adults were given $100 each with the goal of multiplying the money and using the proceeds to positively affect their community. In 90 days, the students turned the $5,000 investment into $70,000 a 1,400% return, according to Joe Slavens, president of Northwest Bank and Trust who presented on behalf of United Way. Immediately following the event in September, a group of seven pooled their money together to help buy items and raise funds for a refugee family that settled in the region. "The money they raised is helping this new Quad-City family with recurring costs as they continue to adjust to their life here," he said. "They may be young, but they sure do set a high bar for the power of caring and generosity." The power of generosity was an overarching theme at Wednesday's event. Brian Crimmins, a co-author of the book "The Generosity Crisis: The case for Radical Connection to Solve Humanity's Greatest Challenges" spoke at length about the importance of donating to nonprofits. "Twenty years ago, more than two-thirds of Americans gave to nonprofit organizations," he said. Now, less than 50% of people contribute. Based on this current trajectory, giving to nonprofits will end entirely in 49 years. Co-author Nathan Chappell said one of the issues was people thinking their money was not needed because larger corporations already donated. Disassociation of religion is another reason, he said. Those with religious affiliation are twice as likely to donate, and typically donate twice as much. A big issue with nonprofits is they have to compete for the attention of for-profits to get funding. Individual giving is one way to get around this problem, he said. Crimmins agreed, saying for-profits cannot shoulder the burden of generosity alone. "We need the best minds in all sectors working together to solve this," he said. "From a company standpoint, its understanding who you are and understanding where you can have the most impact with whatever resources you have." In May 2021, the John Deere Foundation the philanthropic arm of Deere & Company announced it would invest $200 million over the next 10 years. The focus of the commitment is on supporting poor farmers around the globe as well as families and youth who have struggled with access to child care and online learning as well as making ends meet during the COVID-19 pandemic, including in the Quad-Cities. Josh Jepson, chief financial officer for Deere, said Wednesday the company donated $50 million last year alone. This is part of Deere's commitment to dedicating 1% of its net income to philanthropic endeavors, he said. Supporting local philanthropy begins with individuals said Kent Pilcher, CEO of Estes Construction. Being part of the generosity dividend in the Quad-Cities impacts everyone in the region. "We want to be a community of businesses that give at least 1%," he said. "Encourage others to be all in. We are a community of leaders, and that's how we provide leadership: by providing an example." China ready to issue joint call with France for political settlement of Ukraine crisis: Xi Xinhua) 09:16, April 07, 2023 Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron jointly meet the Chinese and foreign press after their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. Xi held talks with Macron in Beijing on Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) BEIJING, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday in Beijing that China stands ready to issue a joint call with France for political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. Xi told the press, after the talks between him and French President Emmanuel Macron, that China is committed to facilitating peace talks and political settlement on the Ukraine crisis, and stands ready to issue a joint call with France for the international community: To stay rational, exercise restraint, and avoid taking actions that might cause the crisis to further deteriorate or even spiral out of control; To strictly abide by international humanitarian law, avoid attacking civilians or civilian facilities, and protect women, children and other victims of the conflict; To earnestly honor the solemn pledge that nuclear weapons must not be used and nuclear wars must not be fought, oppose the use of biological weapons under any circumstances, and oppose armed attacks against nuclear power plants or other civilian nuclear facilities; To resume peace talks as soon as possible, observe the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, accommodate the legitimate security concerns of all parties, seek political settlement, and foster a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture; To jointly address the spillover effects of the Ukraine crisis in food, energy, finance, transportation and other fields, and reduce the negative impact of the Ukraine crisis on the world, especially on developing countries. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) HARARE, April 6 (Xinhua) -- The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ)'s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has frozen the assets of four people suspected to be part of an alleged gold-smuggling and money-laundering syndicate. The FIU has frozen the assets of Fredrick Kunaka, general manager of Fidelity Printers and Refiners, and three others who were suspected to be enablers in the illicit scheme, The Herald newspaper reported Thursday. Fidelity Printers and Refiners is the RBZ's gold-buying entity. The others who have had their assets frozen are head of security at the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe Cleopas Chidodo, the RBZ's Aurex Jewellery head of finance David Chirozvi and Mehlululi Dube, who is associated with a company called Golden Beryl Limited. Editor's Note: This story first appeared in the March edition of Insight magazine, which offers in-depth insights into the Quad-Cities business landscape. In July 2021, Col. Shari Bennett broke two glass ceilings in one when she became the first woman, and first person of color, to lead the JMTC at the Arsenal. Bennett's path to the Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (JMTC) on the Rock Island Arsenal began more than 20 years ago. As a child, the Virginia Beach, Virginia, native grew up idolizing her aunt, who served in the Army. "When I was in elementary school, she was stationed in Germany, and she would write me letters," Bennett, the 51st commander of the JMTC, said. Photos of her aunt lined the walls of her bedroom, and every time the mail came, she hoped for something special. The stories about what was happening on the other side of the world sparked Bennett's interest. In high school, she spoke with a recruiter, but the military path was not for her yet. "I didn't think that was the best route for me. I wanted to go to college first," she said. While in high school, Bennett visited her beloved aunt at Fort Campbell in Kentucky. After seeing how everyone worked together and built each other up, she was sure the Army was where she belonged. "I never thought about any other service," she said. "I always wanted to be a solider." For college, Bennett attended the University of Virginia, where she intended to study law. Two years in, her passion for the military was burning once more and she signed up to be part of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program. This allows students to earn their academic degree while training to be a commissioned member of the military. Col. Shari Bennett 51st commander of JMTC at the Rock Island Arsenal After her graduation in 1998, she was commissioned as a second lieutenant, following in the steps of both her grandfathers and her aunt. She continued her education with the Army and was deployed the following year. "For me, as a soldier, you get to do your job in a deployed environment," she said. "My journey is one that is not very different from most military officers. The Army has invested a whole lot of resources in me and my professional development." Her first deployment was to Germany, and she was soon sent to Kosovo, where she was promoted to First Lieutenant. Despite having formal training, nothing compared to the first-person experience of seeing how soldiers in other countries operated and managed day-to-day complexities. "Being exposed to them and how they deal with leadership challenges, how they make their mission happen and also collaborating with them for our joint mission, always stands out to me," she said. Other deployments included trips to the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), which has authority over U.S. forces in 21 countries. "Even though the times could have been challenging, that cammaradarie that I saw in my aunt was evident on the battlefield," she said. The deep bonds and connections she made on the field influenced how she dealt with being thousands of miles from family. "After a while, it's easy and you start to get stir crazy," she said. "Growing up as a kid, I never thought that I was confined to a certain area. I always thought I would go out and see the world, similar to my aunt." Throughout her career, Bennett has had 12 duty assignments. During that time, she earned two master's degrees and a certificate in supply-chain management. In 2021 she was selected to lead the JMTC. "I can say that the Army trained me well for this job," she said. "What we do here is so very important to our country." As a whole, the Arsenal employs more than 6,000 people 80% of whom are civilians. The JMTC consists of more than 30 buildings with more than 3 million square feet of manufacturing space. Of its 750 employees, 99% are civilian. Employees work on as many as 300 projects at a time. This summer, the center will become home to the world's largest 3D printer. It will be capable of fabricating large metal components, including hulls and other equipment for military vehicles, in one solid piece, rather than requiring dozens of individual parts to be welded. It also will be faster and more efficient than traditional manufacturing by producing less scrap. With great work comes great responsibility. But, Bennett said, she was never anything but confident. "I felt ready. I was ready for the challenge. I was ready to move here, get to work, and see if I could implement all the things the Army instilled in me," she said. "I looked at it as a challenge." But there was one challenge she didn't expect to take on: The 50 people who held the position before her were white men. "When I got here I didn't know I was the first female. And I didn't know I was the first Black person," she said. "I'm very proud to be in this position. I am extremely grateful for all the women who came here before me and who dedicated their life to service." The women who came before her were the ones who broke through barriers and allowed her to take this position, she said. But she also is aware how important it is for women and children to see a woman taking on a massive leadership role now. "I am completely aware that my role in this factory is extremely important for young people to see," she said. For that reason, she always has one piece of encouragement ready to give out. "There is space for you in the military. And I'm proof of it," she said. Looking back on her career, Bennett said she is proud of where she has been and excited for what lies ahead. Even with more than two decades of experience, she still loves her job as much as she did when she started. "My mom told me a long time ago, as I was trying to figure out what I would do with my life, do something that you love. And when you stop loving it, that's when you move on to something else," she said. "I hit 25 years with the Army in May, and I still love it." A Davenport man who has served time in federal prison for trafficking in crack cocaine was arrested Wednesday by Davenport Police for allegedly selling the drug. Lorenzo Markey Cook Sr., 51, is charged in Scott County District Court with one count of possession with the intent to deliver between 40 and 200 grams of cocaine base, commonly known as crack. The charge is a Class B felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of 25 years. Cook also is charged with violating Iowas drug tax stamp law, a Class D felony that carries a prison sentence of five years, and possession of a controlled substance-marijuana-first offense, a serious misdemeanor that carries a jail sentence of up to one year. According to the arrest affidavits filed by Davenport Police Detective Emily Rasche, at 11:52 a.m. Wednesday, members of the Davenport Police Department Tactical Operations Bureau conducted a traffic stop on Cooks Chevrolet Silverado in the 200 block of Western Avenue. From the pickup truck officers seized 1.55 grams of crack cocaine that had been split into three separate rocks and packaged for sale. Also seized was 1.65 grams of a partially smoked marijuana blunt, three pre-rolled marijuana cigars and $58 in cash. A search of Cooks residence in the 1500 block of West 8th Street yielded a total of 66.4 grams of crack cocaine that was found in the bedroom closet. Also found in the closet were $6,000 in cash and an HK 9mm handgun. From the bedroom nightstand officers seized 6.2 grams of marijuana, $1,000 in cash and ammunition. As of Thursday, Cook had not been charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition. Cook refused to speak with police post-Miranda warning. During a first appearance on the charges Thursday in Scott County District Court, Magistrate Peter Gierut scheduled a preliminary hearing in the case for April 14. Cook was released from the Scott County Jail on Friday after posting 10% of a $25,000 bond through a bonding company. On Dec. 12, 2008, a federal grand jury indicted Cook and two other men on a charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine base, or crack. On April 24, 2009, Cook pleaded guilty to the charge during a change of plea hearing in U.S. District Court, Davenport. On Sept. 18, 2009, U.S. District Judge John Jarvey sentenced Cook to 92 months, or 7 years and eight months, in federal prison. Cook appealed his sentence to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, which affirmed Cooks sentence. According to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons website, Cook was released from federal prison on April 4, 2015. He then served four years on federal supervised release. A Davenport man has been sentenced to five years in the Iowa Department of Corrections after pleading guilty last year to child pornography charges. During a sentencing hearing Wednesday in Scott County District Court, District Judge John Telleen sentenced Eric Tovar Rodriguez, 39, to serve concurrent five-year sentences on three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. A concurrent sentence on each count means they are served at the same time. Each charge is a Class D felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of five years. Scott County Sheriffs investigators arrested Rodriguez on July 8, 2021, on five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of possession of a depiction of a minor in a sex act after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. According to the arrest affidavits filed by Scott County Sheriffs Investigator Ethan Roling, Rodriguez had utilized a Yahoo account to transmit sexually explicit images of children. Yahoo terminated the account after discovering the transmitted materials. In total there were 160 files of child pornography transmitted by Rodriguez over the course of three emails with the subject lines Girls, Girls 2, and Girls 3. During a hearing held Dec. 16, 2022, in District Court, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. The other charges were dropped in accordance with the plea agreement, according to District Court electronic records. According to Telleens sentencing order, Rodriguez will be required to register as a sex offender and serve 10 years on supervised release after he completes his prison sentence. A fight years in the making to save the historic Sioux San Hospital building took a major blow Thursday as demolition began despite ongoing efforts to prevent the buildings demise. Around a dozen people showed up just in time to witness two excavators begin the weeks-long demolition and clean-up planned for the building. Clouds of dust and shards of twisted metal rained down onto the ground below as the grating sounds of heavy machinery echoed across the hilltop. Oglala Sioux Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out arrived at the Sioux San Hospital building just after 8 a.m. Thursday. In a tense interaction with construction personnel, Star Comes Out said he and his attorney, Mario Gonzalez, had talked with IHS that morning and were told operations would be stopped. A construction worker replied to Star Comes Out and said without a written stop-work order, demolition would continue. "They're not supposed to demo; they started early," Star Comes Out said. "I don't know if this was planned." After a brief pause, the demolition resumed. An elderly woman wiped tears from her eyes as she watched. In a Facebook post Thursday afternoon, Star Comes Out condemned the actions of the federal government and called on IHS Director Roselyn Tso to stop the demolition until discussions can be had with tribal governments. I believe the action taken by the government was misleading, disrespectful and insulting to the president of [the] Oglala Sioux Tribe, Chairman of the Great Plains Tribal Chairmens Association, and the people, Star Comes Out said. I believe we need to be better communicators amongst each other and work together for the betterment of the people. Donna Gilbert, a leader in the movement to save the historic Sioux San Hospital building from the beginning, said she hand-delivered an injunction to the U.S. Attorneys Office Wednesday. No injunction was on the federal courts electronic filing system as of Thursday afternoon, but that does not mean one wasnt filed. In late March, Gilbert requested an injunction to stop the demolition on the grounds IHS contracted out the project before making the plan public to Rapid City's Indigenous community. U.S. District Judge Charles Kornmann dismissed the injunction Monday because it wasn't formatted with correct legal wording, it failed to certify the efforts made to give notice to the defendants, it failed to establish federal jurisdiction, and failed to include their phone numbers as required by law, according to his ruling. The defendants argued they would lose $21,000 a day for any delays on the demolition, leading Judge Kornmann to require a $365,000 bond during any proceedings. Gilbert told the Journal witnessing the demolition was emotional because of their impassioned efforts. "I woke up [Wednesday] and said, 'I'm not done fighting, and I need to go file another injunction and make those corrections,'" she said. "I filed a new injunction not a re-file and I hand-delivered the complaint and the summons to the second floor to U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell." Gilbert shared Star Comes Outs frustrations around the lack of communication and transparency between IHS and the Indigenous people in Rapid City. She said in response to their March injunction, the government said the decision to take down the buildings had already been made, but later opened the project up for public comment, with Gilbert calling it too late. I feel like that public comment should have been posted on the Federal Register and should have stayed on there for a year this whole project was behind closed doors, she said. Instead of being destroyed, Gilbert suggested repurposing the building into a homeless shelter or even a museum. Some people get assistance from the tribes to travel to Rapid City and stay overnight for early appointments, while others get discharged and dont have a ride home immediately. She said using part of the building as a cheap hotel could help alleviate those concerns. Theres a lot of different things that could have been done, Gilbert said. It was big enough to host different things. As an emotional Gilbert stood by watching the work, she said the fight isnt over. I can only stand here and pray that the machines stop. Gilbert previously led a separate effort to invalidate the 638 contract, which the Great Plains Tribal Leaders' Health Board used to assume control of the Rapid City Indigenous health care facilities. Larry Brewers family moved to Rapid City after the 1949 blizzard. He had an uncle that went to the boarding school at Sioux San and later a cousin in the sanatorium with tuberculosis. He sat solemnly as the bricks and rubble fell Thursday. Its a monument, Brewer said. 50 years from now, youre not going to know that Lakota people were ever here. Not everyone was sad to see the building fall. Wohpe Claymore and her brother, Cekpa, came to watch the demolition with a different view. It was where they brought our people to come die, basically, Wohpe said. Im excited to see it come down, and they can build a whole new building on top of this that doesnt have the memories and the energy and all this hurt and pain our people went through in these buildings. Claymore, saying she represents the younger Indigenous generation, wants the negative energy and memories gone. The brown-and-tan brick building, which stood on a hill overlooking west Rapid City, was built in 1898 for use as an Indian boarding school. The school, like many across the United States, worked to assimilate Native American children into mainstream society, often through abuse and punishment for speaking native tongues, having long hair or practicing cultural traditions. At least 40 children died at the school, with names sometimes not recorded and families not identified. Many of the children were buried in unmarked graves. The boarding school history is often called Rapid City's "inconvenient truth." The school was closed for good in 1933 and functioned as a Civilian Conservation Corps camp for several years. Sioux Sanatorium opened in 1938 and was a tuberculosis clinic for Native Americans until the 1960s. The hospital became part of the Indian Health Service in 1955, continuing IHS control until the tribes took over in 2019. The new, $120 million Oyate Health Center opened in February 2023. Shalom Baer Gee contributed to this report. On April 22, 11 collection sites in South Dakota will accept any unused, unwanted or outdated prescription medications. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced they're hosting the 24th annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 22. More than 4,000 sites nationwide will be participating. West River locations include the Rapid City Police Department at the Public Safety Building, the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety in Pine Ridge and the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office in Madison. Collection sites will accept tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Syringes, sharps and illicit drugs will not be accepted. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container with the cap tightly sealed to prevent leaks. Were encouraging families to look through their medicine cabinets and remove the temptation for experimentation that can come when others know youre holding onto a medication, DEA Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Justin C. King said in a press release. If youre no longer using a prescription medication, were encouraging you to take this opportunity to stop by one of our Take Back sites where you can drop them off both safely and anonymously. Since Take Back Day began in 2010, more than 8,300 tons of medication have been removed from circulation, according to the DEA. Former Rapid City Mayor Jerry Munson, 67, died Thursday at his home. Munson served as Rapid City mayor from 2001-2003 and was the citys 54th mayor. He had previously served on the Rapid City Council from 1999-2001. During his Council tenure, Munson served as council president. Munson was born and raised in Rapid City. He attended Rapid City public schools and attended Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. He owned and operated a fishing boat dealership in Rapid City for 15 years before retiring in 1996. He also founded, established and sold a successful outdoor advertising company. I am deeply saddened to learn of the death today of former Rapid City Mayor Jerry Munson," Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender said in a statement posted online Thursday. "Jerry served on the Rapid City Council, including in a leadership capacity as council president before serving the community as mayor for two years. As mayor, Jerry helped guide the community through the difficult days and months that followed the 9-11 attacks, which impacted all Americans and every community in our nation. "Jerry was a long-time Rapid City businessman who cared deeply about the Rapid City community and its citizens and that was reflected in his commitment to public and community service. He served the past six years as a dedicated volunteer with the West River Retired Senior Volunteer Program. Jerry didnt shy away from sharing his opinion on issues of importance to him. I offer my condolences to Jerrys family and friends. The cause of death was not immediately available. Since the death occurred at Munsons home, Rapid City police are continuing their investigation which is normal operating procedure, the City said in its statement. Mayor Allender said he did not anticipate any further release of information. South Dakota Mines is hosting two events that will highlight the research and design success of graduating seniors and graduate students. The 13th annual Student Research Symposium at Mines starts at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 11, at the Surbeck Center Ballroom. Oral PowerPoint presentations start at 8 a.m. in the McKeel, Hardrock and Dorr rooms in the Surbeck Center. The event features an array of innovative research across many fields of scientific study. The symposium includes poster presentations and talks from students on many different topics including biology, particle physics and chemistry. Awards will be presented during a ceremony starting at 5:30 p.m. to the top presenters in both undergraduate and graduate categories. As part of the annual Design Fair, teams of Mines seniors will display and demonstrate around 60 different projects in the Surbeck Center Ballroom from 9 a.m.-noon on Thursday, April 13. Some of the senior design projects include a robotic dental drilling device sponsored by Carpenter Dental, a mobile trailer-turned-stage to enable remote concerts with the Rushmore Music Festival students and instructors, a shipping container design for a hydroponic growing room to provide fresh vegetables to local communities, and a software program that aims to create a mathematical model to predict future cattle market trends and provide model comparisons via historical data analytics Mines has a history of turning student and faculty innovation into start-up businesses that benefit the local economy. Some of the inventions displayed at the fair are industry- or government-sponsored efforts that will see real-world application. The South Dakota National Guard promoted Deborah Bartunek, of Rapid City, to the rank of brigadier general during a ceremony at Joint Force Headquarters on April 1, 2023. Brig. Gen. Bartunek is the first female general officer for the South Dakota National Guard. Brig. Gen. Bartunek was recently appointed as the Director of the Joint Staff. She is the principal advisor to Maj. Gen. Jeff Marlette, South Dakota National Guard Adjutant General, for all joint staff issues relating to domestic operations, support to civil authorities, and homeland defense. Bartunek assumed this position following the retirement of Brig. Gen. Scott Petrik in March 2023. After recently returning from a tour with US Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, as the Chief of Operations, Bartunek is excited to work with the Soldiers and Airmen of the South Dakota National Guard. I am humbled and grateful for the support from my family and fellow service members, Bartunek said. None of us achieve a position like this by ourselves. Ive had a lot of love, support and friendship from so many. Maj. Gen. Jeff Marlette, South Dakota National Guard Adjutant General said, Deb has had a wonderful career; she has given so much to this organization and has met every challenge. This is a great day to honor a great Soldier, who has excelled at every turn, Enlisting to the National Guard in 1983, Bartunek received her commission to second lieutenant upon graduation from the South Dakota Regional Training Institute in 1991 and was qualified as a transportation officer. Bartunek was mobilized after the 9/11 attacks as the commander of the 665th Maintenance Company and provided security operations at Ellsworth Air Force Base and Joe Foss Field in Sioux Falls in support of Operation Noble Eagle/Iraqi Freedom from January 2003 to January 2005. She was also part of Task Force Rushmore in Panama from September 1992 to June 1993. Some of her previous military assignments include, 1st Battalion196th Regiment commander, 109th Regional Support Group Deputy Commander, Director of Logistics, 196th Regiment Commander, and South Dakota National Guard Director of Human Resources. Bartunek holds a bachelors degree in education from South Dakota State University, Master of Business Administration from Touro University, and a masters degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. A Pennington County judge ordered a Rapid City woman on Thursday morning to stay away from Paddy O'Neill's after she appeared in court for allegedly threatening three people she didn't know with a knife on Monday night. Magistrate Judge Scott Bogue, referencing law enforcement reports of the incident, said 34-year-old Troy One Star allegedly brandished a knife within five feet of the people who were standing outside of the downtown Irish pub located on 6th Street in Rapid City. One Star is charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Each count is a class 3 felony with a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine. According to Deputy Pennington County State's Attorney Alexandra Weiss, there were "slurs being stated by the defendant" and "it's apparent she didn't know who these people are." Elizabeth Regalado, appearing on behalf of the Public Defender's Office, asked the judge to issue a personal recognizance bond for One Star with the possibility of wearing an ankle monitor. Regalado also noted One Star recently moved to the area. Bogue set One Star's bond at $2,500 cash only. Kathmandu, Nepal, March 7, 2023: A delegation of European Union (EU) led by Ambassador Nona Deprez called on Finance Minister Dr Prakasharan Mahat on Friday. During the meeting held at the Ministry of Finance, discussions were held on ranges of issues related to the EUs assistance to Nepal. NAIROBI, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Kenya is targeting 10 million foreign tourist arrivals in the next five years, an official said on Friday. Francis Gichaba, chairperson of the Kenya Tourism Board, said the country will align its marketing initiatives so that the goal can be achieved gradually by the year 2027. Kenya received 1,483,752 tourist arrivals in 2022. "The tourism sector is one of the key pillars expected to positively impact lives from the lowest levels, and we have no options but to deliver," Gichaba said in a statement. Gichaba said that Kenya's best performing year was 2019, which closed at 2.05 million arrivals, and the government has already set in motion a number of initiatives to deliver the ambitious arrival figures. He said that in the first two months of 2023, Kenya received 293,440 international tourist arrivals, up from 184,228 recorded in January-February 2022. For decades, a sprawling plastics facility on the James River has been the crown jewel of Hopewells industrial hub. Under different names, including Honeywell and Allied Chemical, the plant is part of the reason Hopewell earned its moniker as the chemical capital of the South. It is currently owned by Parsippany, New Jersey-based AdvanSix and is a descendant of the company responsible for the 1975 Kepone disaster, which shut down fishing in the James for years. Regulatory filings reviewed by the Richmond Times-Dispatch indicate that the plant has been flagged 66 times in the past eight years for violations of the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, releasing toxic chemicals into Hopewells air, as well as into the James. Hundreds of documents from the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality offer a window into how one of the area's largest factories breaks environmental law, according to the agencies. Since 1990, the EPA and the DEQ have had the company on their radar. According to the EPA, AdvanSix violated the federal Clean Air Act, the country's primary air quality law, every month over the past two years. The Hopewell factory is one of the world's largest production sites for caprolactam, a chemical used to make a strain of nylon known as Nylon 6. The product shows up in seat belts, tires, clothing and rugs. The plant sits at the southern end of the small city, within a mile of more than 900 residences, including public housing projects and a more affluent stretch of the neighborhood known as City Point. It commands about half a mile of real estate overlooking the James River. 'Patterns of noncompliance' On March 29, 2022, the plant released a mist containing 7.23 tons of sulfuric acid, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers toxic even in small amounts. The leak came from equipment that inspectors had asked the company to repair years before, records show. On May 6, regulators wrote to the plants manager to discuss more than 390 tons of sulfur dioxide that the company had released over 10 years, records show. Each year, they said, its machinery had blown past its sulfur dioxide limitation, releasing more than 113 times the limit allowed by the state. Sulfur dioxide is a harmful gas tracked by the EPA. The gas can damage the human respiratory system, particularly for children or people with asthma. The EPA says it's also harmful to trees, contributing to acid rain. AdvanSix said this release was still within the limit of its overall permit. Between 2015 and 2016, AdvanSix released at least five excess tons of a gas called phenol. The company told regulators about the release on Jan. 26, 2018, nearly two years later, filings show. Phenol can cause gastrointestinal damage, cardiovascular disease after long exposures, and respiratory and skin damage at high levels of exposure, according to the CDC. The factory also has been polluting directly into the river, the reports show. The EPA said the agency had documented "numerous and significant exceedances of stormwater benchmarks." The state also flagged the release of millions of gallons of cooling water into the James. Chemical runoff, particularly nitrogen runoff, creates dead zones in the watershed around Hopewell. Dead zones indirectly kill life in the river. Scientists who study the Chesapeake Bay say dead zones are a known problem in the Hopewell area, where the river widens to the size of a lake. The Times-Dispatch has published a full link to the violations at richmond.com. AdvanSix says most violations were promptly corrected and that a majority of regulators' findings were actually self-reported by the company. At AdvanSix, we are committed to being good partners and neighbors in the communities in which we operate, said Janeen Lawlor, a spokesperson for the company. "This commitment includes a strong focus on ensuring responsible environmental stewardship and strict compliance with all regulatory requirements. Lawlor said the company has spent millions of dollars upgrading the Hopewell plant. AdvanSix said it is committed to transparency and engaging with regulators and that all of the water compliance issues had been addressed. State regulators offered a different perspective. DEQ spokesperson Aaron Proctor described the plant as having patterns of noncompliance dating back as far as 1990, when the facility was owned by Honeywell. In 2013, the EPA and the DEQ brought Honeywell to the table to pay $3 million in damages for releases of benzene, a toxic gas, as well as failing to control nitrous oxide and particulate matter emissions. Two years later, Honeywell was hit with another consent order and made to pay $300,000 in civil charges. This time, the company had spilled a cocktail of lethal chemicals into the James River, killing more than 2,000 fish. And in each subsequent year since then except 2020 the plant's managers have received notices from regulators about gas leaks, spills, monitoring failures and reporting issues first when it was owned by Honeywell and continuing into its current ownership by AdvanSix. The DEQ is slowly building a case to make the plastics producer comply with environmental rules. The state has the authority to file an injunction or fine the company. To do either, all that state lawyers need to prove is the potential for harm, according to a DEQ manager familiar with AdvanSixs case. Eric Schaeffer, who served as head of enforcement at the federal EPA under President Bill Clinton, reviewed the factory's regulatory records. Schaeffer now heads the Environmental Integrity Project, a Washington, D.C-based nonprofit group that investigates pollution at U.S. plants. Schaeffer said he was surprised regulators had not done more to penalize AdvanSix. The company was fined $50,000 in 2022 for its most recent offense. That same year, AdvanSix announced $171 million in income, a slice of which the company used to perform stock buybacks. Thats not gonna do it. Its just not going to do it, Schaeffer said. Especially when you have a repeat situation like this one. When the penalties are too small, I almost think of them as fees. Its not enough to even qualify as a penalty. Schaeffer described the releases as significant violations. Benzene is a Class A carcinogen, and at pretty low levels of exposure. Phenols bad news. And sulfur dioxide reacts with ammonia to make fine particles, which are nasty and have a very high public health price, Schaeffer said. 'Cleaner air to breathe, pure water to drink' The AdvanSix plant is one of five mega-facilities in Hopewell, where manufacturing has been an economic staple for generations. Pollutants released from the plant create potential health hazards in a community with one of the highest rates of poverty in Virginia. Hopewells life expectancy is five years lower than the state average. Its cancer mortality rate is nearly double the state average, and its rates of hospitalization for asthma stand at three times the Virginia norm, according to state data. The citys public health district said the Hopewell health trends are concerning, but hesitated to draw any clear links. Life expectancy rates can't be attributable to any single determinant, said Julie Thacker, population health manager for the Crater Health District. Thacker said air quality was among a number of other factors, including access to health care and rates of poverty. Those warning signs are not an excuse, Schaeffer said, although they are a common refrain he heard in his time at the EPA. AdvanSix statement "As an American Chemistry Council Responsible Care company with all sites RC14001 certified, we have a sharp focus on the safety and sustainability of our operations. We actively engage with local officials, regulatory agencies and our communities to help safeguard the environment and innovate to make products and processes safer. We are dedicated to proactively identifying and self-reporting opportunities for improvement. Our local community can be assured that the safety, health and well-being of our local community is our top priority. Janeen Lawlor, AdvanSix spokesperson If there are a lot of other (health) factors, the last thing you want is a bunch of chemicals in the air, he said. Some of the houses nearest to AdvanSix include Hopewells City Point, a higher-end suburban neighborhood near the Old City Point Waterfront Park, where Gen. Ulysses S. Grants Civil War headquarters still stand. Even closer to the plants are the Davisville and Bland houses a predominantly Black federal housing project less than a mile from AdvanSixs smokestacks. Mike Harris, a Hopewell City Council member, lives in the Davisville neighborhood. His house faces directly onto the plant. At night is when the light show begins, said Harris, referencing the spouts of smoke and flames that make a dramatic painting against the night sky. He can watch the performance from his window. Harris is a new face in Hopewell city government, but grew up in the neighborhood in the 1950s and 1960s. He ran to represent the Davisville Ward Ward 2 by advocating for the basics. Cleaner air to breathe, pure water to drink, reads one of his campaign posters. Five years ago, Harris said, the city and federal Housing and Urban Development partners had planned to tear down the Davisville project, citing hazardous health conditions from nearby industry. The plan fell apart as resistance to being relocated and zoning ordinances created hurdles. Harris, 73, said the City Council had never been told about any leaks from the plant. After his election in November, Harris was invited to lunch by an AdvanSix lobbyist, he said. About the AdvanSix plant THE FACTORY AdvanSix is a plastics producer in Hopewell, Virginia. It manufactures nylon, which is used in rugs, tires, and seatbelts. The massive complex of buildings covers about 200 acres. THE COMPANY AdvanSix, based in Parsippany, New Jersey, is a publicly traded company with reported a net income of $172 million in fiscal year 2022. The company has plants in Frankford, Pennsylvania; Bucks, Alabama; and Portsmouth, Chesterfield and Hopewell. HOPEWELL PLANT The company is under scrutiny by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. The violations include: Illegal release of over 390 tons of sulfur dioxide, a hazardous air pollutant. Illegal release of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and benzene into Hopewell's ambient air. Misreporting nitrogen levels of runoff into the James River. Harris said the company lobbyist never mentioned the violations, but did bring up an $8 million special tax that the company pays to the city. They never said anything to us about these violations, Harris said. And when I told my peers on the City Council, they said, Michael, what are we going to do about it? AdvanSix declined to make local plant managers available for an interview. The city's mayor, John Partin, is a former AdvanSix employee. Partin says Hopewell has pushed the company to do more by raising taxes on the plant to help fund projects for the city. "I think it's concerning," said Partin, who explained that he had not been notified of the pollution violations, either. "That's why I'm reaching out to see what can be done to make sure we're holding the company accountable." Legally, the company has a permit that allows it to dump over 1 million pounds of nitrogen into the river each year, more than any other company in Virginia. That is as much nitrogen as is produced by Henrico County, which has a population of over 300,000, according to state permit records. AdvanSix secured the nitrogen allowance in the wake of its numerous consent orders and controversial history. In 1975, a company called Allied Chemical was dumping a toxic pesticide called Kepone in the Chesapeake Bay between 1966 and 1975. Allied then bought Honeywell in 1999, later spinning off AdvanSix in 2016. Across the street from AdvanSix is a massive Dominion Energy power plant, as well as industrial plants that produce paper, chemicals and food additives. AdvanSix is among the largest, commanding premium space along the James River waterfront, as well as a railway that allows the plant to bring in chemicals from across the country by train. The Hopewell plant is one of four owned by the company, which also operates a Nylon 6 plant on Bermuda Hundred Road in Chesterfield County. In 2021, company CEO Erin Kane issued a sustainability report, lauding the companys platinum rating for corporate social responsibility, which was issued by an independent group called EcoVadis. The report "reflects our commitment to continuously improving our health, safety and environmental performance to best serve our customers, our key stakeholders and the communities where we live and work, Kane said. That same year, however, AdvanSix was cited again by state regulators this time for giving the state misleading readings of how much nitrogen one of its drains was releasing into the James, according to a DEQ violation report. A drain that should have been releasing 56 milligrams per liter of nitrogen was actually releasing 1,270 milligrams per liter, more than 20 times what discharge records said. Downloable violation notices for AdvanSix from DEQ and EPA can be downloaded here. Contact lpowell@timesdispatch.com with questions. Correction: A previous version of this story stated that Hopewell is in Prince George County. That is incorrect. The story has been updated to reflect that Hopewell city is its own locality and not within Prince George County. A judge has sentenced a convicted killer to life in prison for a May 2021 shooting in Dinwiddie County. Anthony Lamont Brown, convicted of first-degree murder, was handed the sentence last month by Circuit Court Judge Joseph M. Teefey Jr. Teefey also sentenced Brown to 30 years for aggravated malicious wounding and six years collectively on two charges of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Brown was convicted of the charges on Dec. 6, 2022, by a Dinwiddie County jury. The charges stemmed from a May 2021 incident. At the time, investigators believe that an argument at a neighborhood cookout led to the gunfire. At trial, Colonial Heights Special Prosecutors Deputy Commonwealths Attorney Ashley P. Henderson and Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Raychel E. Webster presented testimony from eyewitnesses, responding officers and investigators from the Dinwiddie Sheriffs Office, along with evidence from the Department of Forensic Science and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. According to a press release from the Colonial Heights commonwealths attorney, Webster argued at sentencing that the defendant shot an unarmed victim in the back and that there was nothing to mitigate or explain the defendants conduct to warrant a lesser sentence. In May 2021, police responded to the 4100 block of Beth Lane in North Dinwiddie to answer the report of a person shot. Waekuon Quendrick, 23, of Petersburg, was taken to Southside Regional Medical Center and was pronounced dead upon arrival, according to the sheriffs office. Chesterfield County homeowners and businesses will save $125 on average this year with the help of a real estate tax rebate. The Chesterfield Board of Supervisors approved a 5% rebate for real estate bills due June 5. The tax rebate combined with a one-cent reduction of the real estate tax rate makes the 2023 effective rate 89 cents per $100 of assessed value. The county increased income brackets for the elderly and disabled by 8.7% to ensure that they would maintain eligibility for the 2023 tax relief program. 2024 budget The board approved the $1.94 billion fiscal year 2024 budget, with 50.4% of the total going toward education. The annual base transfer from the general fund to Chesterfield County Public Schools is increasing by $20 million, a high for the county. Weighing a decision on a budget this large takes a lot of consideration, Board of Supervisors Chair Kevin Carroll said. We have all worked collaboratively with staff and the community. Emails that have been sent in didnt fall on deaf ears: fund schools, fund public safety and cut my taxes. The Board received the blessing of the Chesterfield County Citizens Budget Advisory Committee (CBAC), which sent a letter to the board in March in support of the proposed budget, which goes into effect July 1. Pay raises Education and public safety were the top two items mentioned in citizen surveys. The FY24 budget includes large investments for those working in those fields. Chesterfield teachers are receiving a 7% raise for the 2023-24 school year with the help of local funding. $36.7 million will be placed toward educator recruitment and retention. Additionally, Chesterfield County Public Schools plans to raise teacher starting salaries to $52,421. Beginning salaries for public safety workers will increase 10%, and a 2.25% step increase will be granted to current employees. Sworn personnel will receive a 10% raise Jan. 1. The county is also raising their government employee minimum hourly wages to $16. Eligible employees are set to receive a 3.5% merit increase in January. The culminating actions taken will position the collective county and school workforce to provide the services needed by our citizens and students, while being mindful of the tax burden incurred in balancing a budget, Chesterfield County Administrator Joe Casey said. Powhite Parkway extension A total of $153.9 million from the budget will be used for the first phase of the Powhite Parkway (State Route 76) extension. A section of the highway will expand from two to four lanes, and will be extended from Little Tomahawk Creek to Woolridge Road. The project also adds an interchange at Charter Colony Parkway and overpasses on Brandermill and Watermill parkways. The extension is part of the long-term plan to increase access to and through the future Upper Magnolia Green mixed-use development. For the past year, Virginias Medicaid program has been preparing for the big moment it now faces. On May 1, the program could begin dropping coverage for an estimated 300,000 Virginians who rely on Medicaid for health coverage as the state re-evaluates their eligibility over the next 12 to 14 months. An additional 80,000 people could lose coverage, at least temporarily, for failing to respond to letters requiring them to apply to renew their coverage. More than 2.2 million Virginians and their children rely on the federal-state program for the elderly, disabled and people with low incomes. But now they will have to show they are still eligible for their benefits after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency that began more than three years ago. The same thing is happening across the United States and its territories, with almost 16 million Americans expected to lose Medicaid coverage as the program reassesses eligibility for 92 million people over the next year. This is the largest enrollment event in the history of Medicaid, said Deborah Oswalt, executive director of the Virginia Health Care Foundation. The nonprofit foundation is working with state and local agencies, insurance companies, free clinics and federally qualified health care centers, and other advocates to ensure that people either do not lose their health coverage or replace it with subsidized polices on the insurance marketplace. People who lose their eligibility may be able to find affordable health coverage on the federal health insurance marketplace, which the state will soon run to provide insurance coverage with subsidies for premiums and out-of-pocket costs, based on income. The federal government also has created a special enrollment period in the marketplace for anyone who loses coverage from now until July 2024. We have pulled out all the stops in how we work with the states, said Daniel Tsai, deputy administrator at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which runs the federal program. Virginia began reviewing eligibility of Medicaid participants last month and will continue the process over the next year. The state could begin dropping people from the program on May 1 if they no longer meet income or other eligibility requirements, which the state estimates at 14% of program participants, or about 308,000 people. The state also is concerned about people losing their benefits because they did not receive letters about renewing eligibility or else did not respond to them. They may have moved and not forwarded their mail, may not have understood the letters because of language barriers or simply may have failed to follow through on the requirement that they apply to renew their eligibility for benefits. Those lapses, called administrative churn because they are based on administrative causes rather than eligibility, could cost about 80,000 Virginians their coverage, or an additional 4% of program participants, and more than seven million people across the country. We need everyone engaged on this, Tsai said at CMS. Normally, people in the program must undergo an annual review of their eligibility, but he said, For many folks in Medicaid, it will have been more than three years since they were required to go through eligibility determination. Reducing the churn For advocates in Virginia, reducing the churn is a top priority, but it will not be easy because people in the program do not know when they will receive their renewal letters over the next 12 months, as the state staggers through the massive recertification process. Its a hard message: keep an eye on the mail for the next year, said Sara Cariano, senior health policy analyst at the Virginia Poverty Law Center. It runs a ENROLL Virginia, a statewide network that includes 24 navigators to guide people through the system. The federal rules require people to respond in 30 days, but they also allow a 90-day grace period for reinstating people who are still eligible but did not respond in time. We have started to hear from some people, Cariano said. Folks are getting the renewal (letters) and expressing some confusion about what they are. Oswalts organization also has 21 employees across the state to help protect Medicaid eligibility or find new sources of health care coverage, but it has not received many calls yet from people in need of assistance. Its a little early, she said. Its just starting. Virginia has benefited from the long delay in ending the federal health emergency, which is the trigger for unwinding Medicaid eligibility that has been protected for more than three years under the terms of successive emergency relief packages approved by Congress and the White House during the pandemic. The state has received about $2.6 billion in enhanced federal funding for Medicaid since Congress adopted the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act in March 2020. The money represents an additional 6.2% of the federal share of Medicaid costs. In exchange, states could not drop those people from their Medicaid programs during the public health emergency. Last year, Congress adopted legislation to end the emergency, begin redetermining eligibility for benefits and phasing out the additional funding to states, which will end entirely on Dec. 31. State officials and advocates have been preparing for the transition since last spring even though they were uncertain when it would begin. That allowed them to improve technology for automatically determining whether people remain eligible and forgoing the need for them to apply for renewal. It also has given them time to inform people of what is coming and develop options for those who will lose their eligibility. I think the extra time has been helpful, Oswalt said. The Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, which runs the program for the state, also is working closely with health insurance companies and advocates to help people maintain their coverage under Medicaid or find help elsewhere. I think they are really coming from a good place, Oswalt said. From the archive: Times-Dispatch front pages during the Apollo 13 mission April 11, 1970 April 12, 1970 April 13, 1970 April 14, 1970 April 15, 1970 April 16, 1970 April 17, 1970 April 18, 1970 April 19, 1970 April 20, 1970 The expulsion of two Tennessee state lawmakers over participation in a protest has generated national outcry and concern over free speech protections. While the expulsion of lawmakers is permissible within state constitutions, its rare and in Tennessees case, opponents of the move say it could have violated the First Amendment guarantee of free speech and the 14th Amendment guarantees of due process and equal protection of the law. The Tennessee and Virginia constitutions allow for expulsion from the legislature but its hazy as to which grounds constitute valid reasons that dont infringe on federal protections. In 1876, Virginia legislators expelled Del. R.D. Ruffin, a lawyer from Dinwiddie County, after he was accused of taking $30 from the House in addition to his $6 per-diem payment. Ruffin denied the accusation. No Virginia lawmaker has been expelled in modern times, though a couple of senators have been censured for their conduct. Dubbed the Tennessee Three, by supporters, state representatives Justin Jones of Nashville, Justin Pearson of Memphis and Gloria Johnson of Knoxville were reprimanded by their colleagues for participating in a protest from the House floor concerning gun violence. Apparently violating decorum of the chamber, they spoke without being formally recognized. The legislators had also used a megaphone to help lead chants from demonstrators in the Houses gallery. Their demonstration followed a spate of mass shootings across the nation, including a March 27 shooting at a private school in Nashville that killed three 9-year-old children and three adults. According to Nashville outlet WSMV, Jones said that he and his colleagues microphones had been cut off when they had tried to speak about gun violence previously. Our mics were cut off throughout the week whenever we were trying to bring up the issue, Jones said in the local reporting. In votes to expel the three from the legislature, Jones and Pearson who are Black men were kicked out, while Johnson who is a white woman was spared. It might have to do with the color of our skin, Johnson said to reporters Thursday. If provable, that could fall within protections from the U.S. Constitution, said A.E. Dick Howard, a University of Virginia law professor who was involved in the crafting of Virginias current state constitution that took effect in 1971. If you could show that the grounds for expulsion were the speech of the legislators, the expelled legislators, then youve got a First Amendment issue, he said. According to Article IV, Section 7 of Virginias constitution: Each house shall judge of the election, qualification, and returns of its members, may punish them for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds of its elected membership, may expel a member. Theres really not much law on this because the legislators even if they dont like what a member is doing I think they know that to expel a member is to play with fire, Howard said. Even if some Virginia lawmakers sought to expel a fellow legislature, the legislature is closely divided politically, which would make a two-thirds vote a high bar to clear. In 2021, the Virginia Senate censured Sen. Amanda Chase, R-Chesterfield, for conduct unbecoming of a senator, citing a history of public clashes that began with her berating a Virginia Capitol Police officer over a parking spot and culminated with her support for political rallies that preceded an assault by supporters of President Donald Trump on the U.S. Capitol. She was also removed from committee assignments. (Committees are where much legislation is filtered and adjusted before full floor votes. Its a way for legislators to have more impact on what proposed bills can become laws). In 1987, Virginia senators censured Sen. Peter Babalas, D-Norfolk, for his actions in the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor to kill legislation that would have hurt one of his clients. He had been charged with two counts of violating state law on conflict of interest, but was acquitted in August 1986. Censures, Howard said, are a way to take disciplinary action against a lawmaker without potentially triggering federal intervention. Following the expulsions of Jones and Pearson in Tennessee, special elections will be set to fill their seats. Some local leaders have already expressed support for the ousted lawmakers, and they could return to their seats. Before his expulsion, Jones noted that the vote could galvanize people to take sustained action. The idea resonated with Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, who tweeted Thursday night: Six people shot to death with an AR 15, and yet what is Tennessee legislature worried about? Expelling Black representatives for decorum of the body. Stay woke people! Recognize these places? 26 photos from The Times-Dispatch archives A man who served a 19-year prison sentence and a nonprofit that helps former inmates return to society are suing Gov. Glenn Youngkin over the way he is restoring voting rights to people whove been convicted of a felony. The governors case-by-case policy reverses the automatic restoration process that Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell initiated in 2013 and that Democratic Govs. Terry McAuliffe and Ralph Northam expanded. The lawsuit, filed by Gregory Williams and Nolef Turns Inc., asks the U.S. District Court in Richmond to order Youngkin to set criteria, rules and time limits for restoration decisions. But now, Youngkins decision whether to grant or deny a restoration application rests with his unfettered discretion, the lawsuit says. Applicants may be granted or denied for any reason or no reason, the lawsuit says. The absence of objective, transparent rules or criteria for restoration opens the door to political or viewpoint discrimination based on widely available information on that applicants political views or informed speculation based on racial, religious, wealth or any other demographic or personal information, as well as the applicants public statements or writing including social media posts. That power violates the 1st Amendment, the lawsuit asserts. Youngkin has said he changed the process after consulting with Secretary of the Commonwealth Kay Coles James, whose office administers the restoration program. The process is constitutional and will be defended vigorously in court, Youngkins press secretary, Macaulay Porter, said. The lawsuit says the problem is that Youngkins discretion is absolute. There are no laws, rules, or criteria governing Defendant Governor Youngkins decisions to grant or deny voting rights restoration applications, the lawsuit says. Such unfettered discretion in considering restoration applications is apparent from Defendants vague characterizations of the new process and their references to highly subjective, nebulous concepts. It asserts that the lack of any time limits for a decision also violates the 1st Amendment rights of people seeking to end their disenfranchisement. The lawsuit says it is only challenging what it describes as an arbitrary voting rights restoration scheme for people with felony convictions and is not seeking to do away with Virginias authority to disenfranchise individuals upon their conviction for a felony. The lawsuit also names James, the Secretary of the Commonwealth, whose office receives and processes rights restoration requests. According to the nonprofit Sentencing Project, an estimated 211,344 Virginians with past felony convictions are barred from voting even after completing their sentences and probation. They account for more than 5% of Virginias voting age adults. Williams, whose application for restoration of his right to vote is pending, finished a 19-year prison term in 2007 and was on parole until 2010. His attorneys declined to say what he was convicted of and Williams could not be reached immediately for comment. The lawsuit notes that Youngkin does not actually deny any applications for voting rights restoration, but that some applications are indefinitely held in limbo by the governors office, without any final decision. Youngkins new approach has slashed the number of people whose rights were restored last year to 4,300, compared with the more 8,000 whose rights were automatically restored by McDonnell when he launched the policy near the end of his term, the more than 173,000 restorations under McAuliffe and the more than 126,000 under Northam. Virginia is the only state that says restoration of voting rights to anyone with felony convictions is subject to the discretion of public officials. While Kentucky also bars people with felony convictions from voting, Gov. Andy Brashear has issued an executive order allowing for limited restoration for some. All other states allow people with felony convictions to vote, generally after theyve completed their sentences and any probation. From the Archives: Scenes from Grace Street in the RTD archives Grace Street Grace Street Grace Street Grace Street Grace Street Grace Street Grace Street Grace Street Grace Street Grace Street Its an everyday problem in many a Virginia emergency room: Someones intoxication with drugs or alcohol brings out behavior that looks like a mental health crisis. Its a problem, too, for Virginias badly overcrowded state hospitals. State law says they have to take patients held under a 72-hour temporary detention order because the patients are about to hurt themselves or others and need to be assessed to see if they need psychiatric treatment. So when state Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, approached the University of Virginia Law Schools State and Local Government Law Clinic seeking a fix, everyones initial thought was to extend the time limit on the first step on the path that lands people in a state mental hospital. That would bring Virginias eight-hour Emergency Custody Order more in line with the 24-hour period most other states have adopted. Moving from that concept to two major pieces of legislation Gov. Glenn Youngkin has now signed into law offers an inside look at how a general idea becomes a specific law. Extending an emergency order for up to 16 hours usually results in more than enough time for the intoxication to ease as ER staff treats the patient, said UVa second-year law student Michael Ferguson. But it also can tie up the police officer or sheriffs deputy who brought the person in to the ER, he said. So he had to find another way and the hint came from the state association of ER doctors. The General Assembly had tried in 2020 to deal with the issue, authorizing so-called medical TDOs temporary detention orders. They allowed for intoxicated individuals who pose a danger to themselves or others to be held against their will for up to 24 hours for treatment, as long as a judge or if no judge was available, a magistrate approved. The aim was to protect individuals rights and get them the treatment they needed quickly, instead of shipping them off to a psychiatric hospital for the 72 hours of a standard temporary detention order. But in a busy ER, tracking down a judge can take a lot of time and a lot of calls, Ferguson learned. It turns out not that many emergency rooms were bothering it was easier to just start the process of a standard temporary detention order, usually handled by magistrates who are available 24 hours a day and are often quite familiar with the legalities and requirements of a TDO. So Fergusons bill says the ER can go directly to a magistrate for a medical temporary detention order. Which brings up another way of tackling the ER bottleneck that fellow student Clare Hachten took a lead on, as Ferguson wrote a proposal that Deeds sponsored, the Senate and House of Delegates passed unanimously and Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed into law two weeks ago. It facilitates getting people what they need sooner, Ferguson said. TDOs are meant to give mental health clinicians time to assess whether an individual in a mental health crisis needs to be committed against their will to a state hospital for treatment. Its a process that involves not only a persons mental health but also their civil rights, as the individual, mental health clinician and a lawyer prepare for a hearing by a circuit or district judge or a special justice on such a commitment. The assessment is supposed to take place in a psychiatric facility, but it can take time to find a bed. Sometimes that can mean driving across the state for one of the last free spaces in state hospital; sometimes, it can mean a person is strapped to a bed in an ER for the whole time the TDO is in effect, or even longer, Hachten said. Sometimes, though, the crisis abates and the person no longer meets the TDO requirement that he or she is in danger or is a threat to others. This could be because the alcohol or drugs wear off, or some time and space away from whatever triggered a crisis helps, because the ER finds the right immediate treatment for a sufferer. But theres nothing in the code that says the ER can release them, Hachten said. That didnt make sense to me. Her initial draft tweaked language in the existing Code of Virginia that says the director of a state hospital or of a private psychiatric facility assessing a person held under a TDO can release them before a commitment hearing. Thats allowed if after consulting with the psychiatrist or clinic psychologist treating the person, they no longer meet the criteria for an involuntary commitment that because of mental illness, he or she will, in the near future, either cause serious physical harm to himself or others or lacks the capacity to provide for his or her basic human needs. The tweak said the director of the facility holding a patient while the search was going on for a bed for the actual TDO-mandated assessment could release the person after consulting with the persons doctor as well as any hospital psychiatrist or clinical psychologist. The first round of meetings with some of the groups interested in the bill hospitals, ER doctors, police and sheriffs, the Youngkin administration that Hachten and Ferguson held a couple of days after the start of this years General Assembly found one issue right off the bat. Some hospitals dont have psychiatrists or clinical psychologists on staff. Suggestions about who else might be qualified to participate started flying around the conference room table in the legislatures Pocahontas Building office tower. Meanwhile, Del. Rob Bell, R-Albemarle, who serves with Deeds on the legislatures Behavioral Health Commission, had a similar bill and felt strongly that Community Services Board staff needed to play a role in any early release. Theyre the people who make the recommendation to a magistrate when a TDO is necessary and theyre involved in the assessments that can result in a court order for involuntary commitment to a hospital. I think there was concern about adverse incentives, Hachten said. Would the ER be thinking about being overwhelmed and needing to move people out? ... We wanted someone who had been with the patient all along to be involved, she said. That meant both the Community Services Board staff and a hospital physician. Hachtens revisions she figures she went through at least a dozen back-and-forths with interested parties brought CSB staff in as well. Id hear from someone, do the new language and circulate that, and then someone who hadnt commented the first time would have a suggestion, she said. Coordinating hospital and CSB interaction was the final piece in a sense, the person at the center of everyones concern was in the care of both, law clinic director Andy Block said. The final version said the facility director can release a person whose crisis has abated if a CSB staffer or designee and the individuals treating physician, which could include the ER doctor or the hospitals psychiatrist or clinical psychologist, do an evaluation of the person, formally find they no longer meet the criteria for being held and provide a plan for their discharge, which could involve CSB services. It wasnt people looking out for their institutions interests. Everyone wanted the same thing a better process, Block said. Still, said Hachten, shes left with this. The bills are important, she said. But theyre really Band-Aids. Theres a lot more work that needs to be done. Recognize these places? 26 photos from The Times-Dispatch archives Cancun joins forces with Yucatan research center for cleaner cenotes Cancun, Q.R. The Yucatan Scientific Research Center (CICY) and the Benito Juarez City Council will work hand-in-hand in the analysis of water quality and conservation of urban cenotes in Cancun. Cancun mayor Ana Patricia Peralta has signed a collaboration agreement on education, research promotion, scientific dissemination, and institutional strengthening with the CICY. The agreement will allow the city to reinforce the actions of prevention and conservation of the bodies of water located within the urban zone of the municipality. Together with the general director of Ecology, Tania Fernandez Moreno, and the director of the CICYs Water Sciences Unit, Antonio Almazan Becerril, the mayor formally renewed the coordinated work between the municipal government and the institution in which it contemplates the reinforcement of the Monitoring Program of the state of condition in urban cenotes in the Municipality of Benito Juarez, adding 12 studies and samplings that will be carried on the water quality of the bodies of water in the city. Ana Patricia Peralta thanked the CICY for contributing the reports that allow them to know the state of the cenotes and apply effective programs and actions to guarantee the conservation of the ecosystems, as well as raise awareness among the population about their care. Fernandez Moreno explained that since 2021, they have worked with the Yucatan Scientific Research Center to study the water in 12 cenotes, for which another 12 bodies of water would be added, contemplating 24 of these structures with sampling, as well as in the Nichupte lagoon system and the Manati and Chacmuchuc lagoons. Mexico joins alliances to promote its destinations to LGBTQ+ tourism segment Riviera Maya, Q.R. The Secretary of Tourism, Miguel Torruco Marques, highlighted the importance of tourism in the LGBTQ+ segment, which represents 35 million travelers and an estimated income of $218 billion USD. He pointed out that since 2019, through the alliance with Queer Destination, the First National Strategy for LGBTQ+ Tourism was launched through which work is done with 13 destinations and 12,500 trained tourism service providers. He indicated that the alliance is working to democratize the benefits of tourism for Mexicans, reduce the inequality of the population historically discriminated against, and strengthen the diversification of the countrys tourism offer. In this sense, the head of the Ministry of Tourism (Sectur) highlighted the First National Strategy for LGBTQ+ Tourism that was launched through the alliance with Queer Destinations in 2019, through which specific actions have been promoted to serve this niche, one of the most economically generated worldwide. When meeting with Oriol Pamies, CEO of Queer Destinations, they agreed on the importance of LGBTQ+ tourism since it represents more than 35 million travelers worldwide, according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Torruco Marques also indicated that it contributes to diversifying tourist activity and detonating the economic flow in the 235 places with a tourist vocation, allowing the benefits to reach the communities and complying with the instruction of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to make tourism a social reconciliation tool. He pointed out that since 2019, Sectur established this strategic alliance with the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) and Queer Destinations with the purpose of democratizing the benefits of tourism for Mexicans, reducing the inequality of the population historically discriminated against and strengthening diversification. of the countrys tourist offer. The foregoing has allowed Mexico, as a destination, to advance in the certification of governments and tourism companies in order to provide security and quality care to the traveler in this market niche as well as comfortable, dignified spaces free of all discrimination, he commented. The Secretary of Tourism stressed that the joint work between the government and the private sector includes training for destinations, hotels and service providers, the promotion of the segment, the development of specialized products, and the creation of international alliances. He pointed out that Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, has been the first destination in Mexico to receive the Queer Destinations accreditation. And hand-in-hand with municipal, state and federal authorities and various actors in the tourism field, Sectur and this international company work with 12 more destinations. These being the states of Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Puebla, Oaxaca, Zacatecas, Chihuahua, Guerrero, Sonora, Hidalgo and Mexico City as well as Mazatlan and Huatulco. The CEO of Queer Destinations, Oriol Pamies, highlighted the work undertaken by Sectur, as a pioneer in the development of national tourism strategies focused on the LGBTQ+ segment, and stressed that Mexico is an example in this important market niche. The head of Sectur recalled that within the framework of the International Tourism Fair (FITUR) 2023, held in Madrid, Spain, the agency under his charge was recognized for the promotion of the First National Strategy for LGBTQ+ Tourism by Queer Destinations. He commented that the recognition was granted for his involvement, participation, responsibility and development of this strategy, which reflects the commitment to the community that integrates this important tourist segment. He also added that within the framework of FITUR, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism of Spain, headed by Maria Reyes Maroto, signed an agreement with which it follows in the footsteps of Mexico in the reception of tourists from the LGBTQ+ segment through a model of responsible, sustainable and appropriate work to the needs and trends of the sector in the tourism market. Zhang Wei (L), charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Madagascar, shakes hands with Malagasy Foreign Minister Yvette Sylla at a signing ceremony in Antananarivo, Madagascar, April 6, 2023. China will grant preferential credit to Madagascar for implementation of a hydroelectric power plant project in the northwest of the Malagasy capital of Antananarivo, said Zhang Wei at the signing ceremony of the agreement on Thursday. (Photo by Sitraka Rajaonarison/Xinhua) ANTANANARIVO, April 6 (Xinhua) -- China will grant preferential credit to Madagascar for implementation of a hydroelectric power plant project in the northwest of the Malagasy capital of Antananarivo, said Zhang Wei, charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Madagascar, at the signing ceremony of the agreement on Thursday. "This project is the largest financial cooperation project in the history of cooperation between our two countries, and at the same time one of the largest Chinese financing projects in Africa in recent years," Zhang said. The project includes the construction of a 64-MW hydroelectric power plant, with 90 km of transmission lines and transformers to connect to the regional grid of Antananarivo, he said, adding that once completed, the power generation volume of the plant is expected to reach an average of 311 million kilowatt-hours per year. This project "highlights the importance of energy production, not only for access to electricity for each household, but also constitutes an inescapable lever for the country's industrialization, which is one of the foundations of Madagascar's emergence," Malagasy Foreign Minister Yvette Sylla said on the same occasion. "It is undeniable that this will contribute to achieving the objective of access to energy for all" in Madagascar, she stressed. For his part, Malagasy Minister of Energy and Hydrocarbons Soloniaina Rasamoelina Andriamanampisoa said this project will also contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas production and the protection of the planet. The head of Madagascar's diplomacy thanked the Chinese government and people "for their continuous support, not only to Madagascar's development efforts, but also to the efforts to overcome various challenges that this country and the Malagasy people face during difficult times." Roanoke Area Ministries was a recipient of more than 350 pairs of new socks collected during the 108th Annual Rotary District Conference in early March. With a 1950s Sock Hop theme for one of the conferences social events, Rotarians collected 5,500 pairs of new socks to be distributed to those in need of clothing assistance in the communities served by the 77 district clubs. The LoveToNic Organization in Winchester donated 2,000 pairs of socks, and Walmart gave a generous discount on socks purchased by the Rotary Districts. The Roanoke Valley Rotary Club packed up 352 pairs of socks for donation to the RAM House. The socks were primarily the Bombas brand and came in all sizes for men and women. RAM Executive Director Melissa Woodson said that the socks are much needed and will be distributed to the homeless and others in need. The Links honors female veterans Five women recently were honored for their military contributions during a virtual Celebration of Women Veterans by the Roanoke Chapter of The Links Inc. The honorees were nominated as part of a national Links initiative spotlighting Black American women who served or are currently serving in all branches of the U.S. armed forces. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, women now make up an estimated 10% of the current veteran population. The honorees are: Dr. Rhoda Murray who served 10 years in the U.S. Army Reserves as a medic. As a veteran and military wife, she has worked across the United States in nursing leadership, nursing education, community health, primary care, geriatric medicine and critical care. She is now the academic director and dean of the graduate masters degree programs at Chamberlain University and is a nationally certified Family Nurse Practitioner. LaFonda Jernigan, who served from 1989 to 2009 in the Army and was employed with the U.S. Department of the Army in civilian service from 2009 to 2022. Shes received numerous military awards, including the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and campaign badges for tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Diane Marks, a veteran of the Air Force and U.S. Air Force Reserve. The daughter of a decorated World War II U.S. Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient, Marks has received numerous military awards including Airman of the Month, Air Force Achievement Medal Ribbon and Air Force Good Conduct Medal. Sheila Smith, of Charlotte, North Carolina, an Army veteran. She is the daughter, sister, and niece of military veterans, and has an extensive service record that includes active duty in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm. Military awards she has received include: the Army Service Ribbon; National Defense Service Medal; and NCO Professional Development Ribbon. Silverine James, who had a distinguished career in the U.S. Army. When James, now 93, retired from the Army, she had served more than 22 years on active duty and attained the rank of Master Sergeant (E-8), often serving as the highest-ranking enlisted woman, in fully integrated Army units. In 2022, the Womens Health Clinic at the Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center was named in her honor, becoming the MSG Silverine Vinyard James Womens Health Clinic. The Roanoke chapter is one of 299 chapters of The Link, Inc., one of the oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of women committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry. SPCA veterinarian honored Dr. Jennifer McFarling, who has served as the full-time veterinarian for the Roanoke Valley SPCA for over 17 years, recently received the Veterinary Service Award from the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association. The award honors an individual who has been an excellent representative of the profession through active community involvement and/or veterinary service. During McFarlings tenure, the SPCA has become a leader in shelter medicine and implemented the highest standards of care, said a news announcement, adding her selfless service to the organization is one of passion, dedication, and commitment. It is a true labor of love where she is sacrificing personal financial advancement for the care of animals that are in most need in our community. It has been and continues to be my desire to provide the highest quality medicine possible for the benefit of the animals and the organization, McFarling said. Love Thy Neighbor walk planned Church Women United of Roanoke Valley is inviting Roanoke Valley residents to join its April 29 Love Thy Neighbor Walk. Registration for the 2.5-mile walk begins at 9:30 a.m. at Loudon Avenue Christian Church, 730 Loudon Ave. N.W. The walk starts at 10 a.m. and crosses the 10th Street bridge in Southwest Roanoke with visits at Jerusalem Baptist Church, West End United Methodist Church, and McCray Court to learn how God is working through the outreach efforts of these congregations. Walkers also will pray at various community prayer points. The walk will conclude with lunch at Loudon Avenue Christian Church. There is no charge to participate but pre-registration is required. Contact Barbara Pendergrass Richmond at 540.818.0520 to register. Richard Henry Wilde Dillard, an influential writer, critic and longtime professor at Hollins University, died this week. He was 85. Dillard became synonymous with our English and Creative Writing program. I know our community will grieve this tremendous loss, Hollins President Mary Dana Hinton wrote in an email to the university community. Hinton wrote that she received news of Dillards death on Tuesday. She did not give a cause of death. Mike Allen, a Roanoke-based writer, editor and publisher, and a former editor and writer at The Roanoke Times, recalled Thursday his years of interactions with Dillard, both as a student and later publishing some of Dillards poetry in an anthology. To put it simply, meeting Richard and taking classes in the creative writing program he oversaw changed my life for the better, Allen wrote in an email. Years upon years worth of students who took his classes could say the same. He was an incredibly entertaining, clever, challenging teacher, Allen wrote. Known professionally as R.H.W. Dillard, his own books included six collections of poetry, two novels, a critical study of horror films, and more. He may have received wider notice for teaching and influencing a host of other writers, two of whom he married. Annie Doak Dillard, whose Pilgrim at Tinker Creek won the 1975 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction, was Richard Dillards student when she married him in 1965. They divorced in 1975. Richard Dillard also was married, from 1979 to 1992, to Cathryn Hankla, an author and artist who also held an array of positions at Hollins and is a professor emerita of English and creative writing there. According to Southern Writers: a New Biographical Dictionary, other writers associated with Dillard included Henry Taylor, Lucinda MacKethan and more. Born in Roanoke, Dillard earned a bachelors degree at Roanoke College, then a masters and doctorate at the University of Virginia. In 1964, he became an instructor at what was then Hollins College. Hinton wrote in her email that Dillard served Hollins for 59 years. He was named chairman of Hollins creative writing program in 1971 and continued in that role for many years. Most recently, his faculty page on the university website said, Dillard was a professor of English, creative writing, and film, as well as the longtime editor of The Hollins Critic. Among many recognitions he received was the 2007 George Garrett Award, given by the Association of Writers and Writing Programs for community service in literature. At the time of the award, best-selling author Lee Smith, a former student, said Dillards entire valuable life has been spent supporting writers, literature, and cultural literacy. Dillards page on the university website described his approach to teaching with a quote from philosopher Paul Tillich: The Existential thinker cannot have pupils in the ordinary sense. He cannot communicate any ideas, because they are not the truth he wants to teach. He can only create in his pupil by indirect communication that Existential state or personal experience out of which the pupil may think and act. Got it? Dillard asked. The Virginia Board of Medicine has reprimanded a pediatrician for spanking a 4-year-old patient during an exam at a Roanoke clinic. Regulators found that Dr. Juan Olazagasti, who works for Carilion Clinic, engaged in unprofessional conduct, the March 2 reprimand said. After the incident, which occurred a year ago, Olazagasti underwent an evaluation and was cleared to return to work. He paid a $1,000 fine after being convicted of misdemeanor assault, court records showed. A woman alleged in a handwritten complaint that she saw Olazagasti spank her son during an April 5, 2022, examination. I immediately grabbed my child off the table and said, I cant believe you just hit my child. Who do you think you are? the complaint said. Although the board said the incident occurred at a pediatric gastroenterology clinic in Roanoke, the woman complained to Lexington police and the doctor was charged in Lexington/Rockbridge Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. Judge Robert Hagan convicted Olazagasti of a single count of misdemeanor assault and battery and levied the fine in June 2022. The regulatory agencys discipline followed. By his own admission Dr. Olazagasti spanked Patient A, who was clothed and wearing a diaper, once on his right buttock during a physical examination after the patient slapped Dr. Olazagasti on the face with a rubber glove, the board reprimand said. Board officials found that the doctor violated a medical regulation that prohibits intentional or negligent conduct that causes or is likely to cause injury to a patient. Olazagasti practices at Carilion Childrens Pediatric Medicine-Tanglewood Center and in Lynchburg with a specialty in pediatric gastroenterology, according to his online profile. He has been a doctor for 34 years, the board said. The woman told Lexington authorities that she advised medical officials when she made the appointment that the child was afraid of doctors and might run or hit if not approached in a way that hes comfortable. When the doctor went to lower the boys pants, the child panicked and put up a foot to kick or block the doctor, her complaint said. Olazagasti yelled, You do NOT hit me and spanked the child, according to the mothers narrative. The child had a glove balloon in his hand as well as my phone so he could not hit, it said. The woman wrote that she stormed out with the child and stopped at the front desk and told someone there, Your doctor just hit my child. This is ridiculous. Olazagasti went to the same area and said, Im sorry. Im so sorry, the womans complaint said. Olazagasti was put on leave three days after the incident and ordered to undergo an evaluation and comply with any treatment recommendations, the board reprimand said. After about three weeks, Olazagasti returned to work on the condition that a nurse be present during visits by his patients, the reprimand said. He completed 11 hours of additional education, the reprimand said. A month after his return, a Rockbridge County hospital revoked his privileges as a result of the conviction, according to the reprimand, which did not name the hospital. Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital is the countys lone major medical facility. The reprimand also said that, two days after the revocation, Olazagasti was appointed as a senior staff member of the ambulatory practice group, effective July 1, 2022. The reprimand did not identify the group or the reason for the appointment. Olazagasti signed a consent order in which he said that he did not deny or admit the states findings, the board reprimand said. Carilion Clinic had no comment, and neither did Olazagasti or his attorney, Ben Thurman. The Roanoke Times was unable to reach the mother of the child. A longtime state delegate from Botetourt secured his partys nomination for state Senate on Thursday, and so did a first-time state House candidate from Blacksburg. Thursday was the final day for Virginians to enter as candidates in party primary elections, which are set to happen later in spring and summer, before the main election in November. But Del. Chris Head, R-Botetourt, will not face a primary election in Virginias Third Senate District, stretching from Staunton and Waynesboro down to northern Roanoke County. He was the only Republican to file for the seat, making him the partys candidate by default. I decided to run for Senate because conservatives in the Valley need a champion in Richmond who will stand up for traditional values, Head said in an announcement Thursday night. The Senate needs a fighter who will defend the sanctity of life, protect our constitutional right to bear arms, and fight to cut taxes that are crippling Virginians already struggling to make ends meet. After 36 years as a state lawmaker, Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Augusta, announced Thursday he was not running for reelection. As a result of turf shakeups caused by statewide political redistricting, Hanger was contemplating a move from the Second Senate District to the Third, but he decided to retire instead, thus avoiding what would have been a nomination contest with Head. I am continually grateful for the volunteers and supporters who have dedicated so much time to our campaign, Head said in the announcement. Because of their hard work, our conservative message, and the prayers of many people we were able to fend off a primary challenger, allowing us to focus on retaking the Senate come November. On Election Day in November, voters in the new Senate district will decide between Head, who has been a delegate since 2012, and Democrat Jade Harris, a Rockbridge native who ran unsuccessfully for a House seat during a special election earlier this year. Head has raised more than $128,000 for his campaign so far, while Harris campaign does not show any money raised, according to data from the Virginia Public Access Project. During the gubernatorial election in 2021, about 68% of district voters cast their ballots for Republican Glenn Youngkin. Meanwhile in Blacksburg, Democrat Lily Franklin on Friday morning said she secured her partys nomination for Virginias 41st House District, covering eastern Montgomery County and western Roanoke County. If you envision a world where we thrive at all stages of life, consider this your invitation, Franklin said in a video. Join me as we claim this district not only for the Democrats, but for our community, for our neighbors, and for all the people in Southwest Virginia who feel like theyve been left behind by politicians in Richmond. Another Blacksburg Democrat, James Harder, briefly entered the 41st District race as a candidate, but he withdrew in March and endorsed Franklin. Republicans of the 41st will select a nominee between candidates Chris Obenshain, a Montgomery County prosecutor, and Lowell Bowman, a contractor also from Montgomery County, during a mass meeting May 4. The winner will face Franklin for the House seat. The 41st District is a highly competitive open seat that has been targeted by the Virginia House Democratic Caucus, said the Friday announcement from Franklin. Its battleground status makes it a must-win seat for Democrats to flip the House of Delegates this fall. Virginia Tech is included in the district. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. " " The alkali metals are on the left column of the periodic table highlighted in hot pink. bamlou/Getty Images There are alkali metals all around you right now. Sodium is found in table salt, lithium in your phone battery and potassium in your bananas. Alkali metals make up six different elements found in the first column of the periodic table. These are: lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs) francium (Fr) They're part of the S-block of elements in the periodic table, that along with hydrogen, helium, calcium, and others, have their outermost electron in an S-orbital. The alkali metals are soft metals that are highly reactive with water and oxygen. They're so soft that you can cut them with a plastic knife. They also have a silver-like shine and are great conductors of heat and light. Advertisement Alkali metals are so-called because when they react with water, they create highly alkaline substances. Alkalinity refers to the pH of the substance, or the ability to neutralize acid. Substances that are highly alkaline can form strong bases able to neutralize acids and maintain a stable ph level. Every element has a nucleus, made up of protons and neutrons, and alkali metals are no different. Surrounding the nucleus of atoms are electrons, which are particles with a negative charge. These electrons exist in energy shells around the nucleus of the atoms, each of which can hold a varying number of electrons. The first shell can hold up to two electrons, the second up to eight, the third, 18 and the fourth, 32. It's these shells of electrons and how alkali metals are structured that make them so reactive. All atoms naturally want to have a completely full outermost shell of electrons. However, elements in that first column of the periodic table all have one electron in their outermost shell. This outermost shell is also called the valence shell, and the electrons that reside there are called valence electrons. Having only one electron in the outermost shell makes it very easy for the atoms of alkali metals to reach points of stability they just need to lose one electron! This willingness and ease of losing an electron to reach a state of equilibrium is known as high reactivity. In fact, reactivity in chemistry is defined by the number of electrons in the outermost shell. Noble gases (elements like neon and helium) are very unreactive because their outermost electron shells are full. "Since the alkali metals only have one valence electron, they typically achieve this state by giving up that electron. In this process, the alkali metal is said to be oxidized, and whatever takes the electron from the alkali metal is reduced. All of the alkali metals like to give up their single valence electron," says Dr. Chip Nataro, chemistry professor at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. "As electrons have a charge of -1, losing an electron causes the atom to have a charge of +1. When this happens, the atom is referred to as an ion and since it would have a positive charge, it is called a cation. So, all of the alkali metals like to make cations that have a charge of +1." Since alkali metals are so reactive, they are usually found in conjunction with other metals in nature. If an element is highly reactive, it's harder to find naturally. "All of these elements were first discovered in compounds [and] some of the discoveries are hard to attribute due to the abundance and usage of the compounds," says Nataro. "As you go down the periodic table, the alkali metals become more inclined to lose their valence electron" and thus, "the amount of the element found in nature also decreases, [resulting in] later discovery dates." " " Musk ox forage on grasses in the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve before the harsh winter settles in. During the winter months, musk ox migrate vertically or to higher elevations where winds blow away snow, making it easier to find food. National Park Service The Diomede Islands are the closest geographical connection between Alaska and Russia, with a mere 2.4 miles (3.8 kilometers) of water separating the two countries. The Chukchi Sea lies to the north, and the Bering Sea lies to the south, framing these otherwise insignificant landmasses as symbolic sentinels of either nation's farthest claims into the Pacific Ocean. However, these national declarations from both Russia and the U.S. fail to respect the Indigenous Inupiat people's 15,000-year claim to these two islands, as well as the remaining small islands in the Arctic Sea. The Bering Strait This frigid waterway separates Russia and Alaska with 55 miles (88.5 kilometers) of ocean at its narrowest point between the Kamchatka Peninsula (Russia) and Seward Peninsula (U.S.). The Bering Strait is named after the Danish explorer Vitus Bering, who was the second European to discover the waterway the first person being the Russian explorer Semyon Dezhnev, who ventured to the area 80 years earlier. Bering also mapped two islands on his travels, deciding to name them after the Greek Christian Saint Diomede, whose feast day coincided with the discovery on Aug. 16, 1728. From that day forward, the isles were known as Big Diomede Island and Little Diomede Island. Advertisement The Bering Strait is also one of the most important ecological zones for wildlife because it is the only marine gateway between the North Pacific and the Arctic Ocean for mass migrations of beluga, bowhead and gray whales. These whales, along with scores of various species of fish, seals and walruses, rely on the Bering Strait for access to nutrient-rich Arctic Ocean environments, such as the Beaufort Seas. Although the Bering Strait acts as a pathway, it can also become a bottleneck for increasing ship traffic that can pollute this fragile ecosystem with engine noise and oil spills. The Big Diomede Island This Russian island, also known as Ratmonov Island, has been the easternmost point of the country since the $7 million sale of the Alaskan Territory in 1867. Although remote, the strategic location of Russia's Big Diomede Island made it the perfect location for Soviet military outposts during World War II and the Cold War. The flat, rocky island is now home to 11 species of birds and a lone weather station that monitors storm conditions in the Chukchi Sea. The Little Diomede Island The smaller of the two Diomede islands is the only one with a permanent population of roughly 80 to 100 citizens. The Alaskan island's small footprint of less than 3 square miles (7.8 square kilometers) makes it accessible to the outside world only by sea or a single heliport in town. This area is the only way for residents to receive supplies from mainland Alaska, forcing locals to carve landing zones into the thick ice sheets when the islands froze during past harsh winters. Little Diomede Island is only 2.4 miles (3.9 kilometers) from its larger sister island to the west. " " Two prototype Starship spaceships sit at the private SpaceX Starbase located in Boca Chica, Texas, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of Brownsville, Texas, on the U.S. Gulf Coast. SpaceX Humans have long looked up at a night sky and yearned to explore it. Today, we are living through a time when the science-fiction dreams of previous generations are coming to reality, and one very large rocket is likely going to lead the way. We're talking about SpaceX's Starship. This massive spaceship may very well be the latest and most public of Elon Musk's many entrepreneurial endeavors, but it has the potential to quite literally open up a gateway to the stars and put humans on Mars. But what exactly is Starship? And why does it keep exploding? Will it ever reach Mars? Advertisement Some of these questions undoubtedly keep Musk awake at night, and perhaps they intrigue you too. Starship is a fascinating project, and learning more about it is an enlightening and invigorating prospect as we sit at the precipice of Starship's first orbital flight. During remarkable criminal justice week, rounding up a lot of notable (Trump-free) criminal justice stories | Main | "The Ex Post Facto Clause: Its History and Role in a Punitive Society" April 7, 2023 A Good Friday update on the relatively good homicide news from cities to start 2023 A few months ago, in this post just a few weeks into 2023, I flagged the AH Datalytics collection of homicide data from police reports in nearly 100 big cities. I noted in that post that, after significant increases in homicides throughout the US in 2020 and 2021, the dashboard showed that nearly two-thirds of big cities reported homicide declines in 2022 relative to 2021 and that nationwide murders in large cities were cumulatively down nearly 5% for 2022. Of course, these reported homicide declines for 2022 followed particularly high homicide rates in many locales in 2021, and we still have a way to go to get back to pre-pandemic homicide levels. But I found the nationwide city homicide data to be encouraging for 2022, the now we have additional data suggesting the positive recent homicide trends are continuing and perhaps even accelerating across cities. Specifically, according to this AH Datalytics webpage which is now updated with early 2023 data from police reports, there is so far cumulative 10% decline in murders across the nation's cities for roughly the first quarter of 2023. And, as I have done for some prior recent posts on homicide rates, this morning I also took a closer look at a few updated police reports to see about 2023 homicide trends in our biggest US cities: Chicago homicides down 14% in 2022, and down another 15% in first three months of 2023 Houston homicides down 9% in 2022, and down another 34% in first two months of 2023 Los Angeles homicides down 5% in 2022, and down another 26% in first three months of 2023 New York City homicides down 11% in 2022, and down another 11% in first three+ months of 2023 Philadelphia homicides down 9% in 2022, and down another 14% in first three months of 2023 As I have said before, these homicide data from cities are likely not fully representative of what may be going on with homicides nationwide, and it seems that the homicide data from the month of March in the biggest cities are not quite as positive as they were to start the year. Moreover, homicide trends are always unpredictable and data can change in lots of ways. Still, these new encouraging nationwide homicide data from the AH Datalytics webpage continue to reinforce my hope that the surging number of homicides in just about every part of the US through 2020 and 2021 were mostly a pandemic era phenomenon and that lower homicide rates may soon be more common. April 7, 2023 at 10:52 AM | Permalink Comments totally off subject. but can't help remark on Justice Thomas's waiving away his failure to report the free travel vacations to exotic locations (worth many hundreds of thousands of dollars)from right wing megadonors for the last 20 years. This on top of his wife's right wing fanaticism-- Something is indeed rank, foul and rotten in the state of the Supreme Court. Posted by: anon | Apr 7, 2023 2:52:12 PM I guess the follow-up to close out quite a week, anon, is to wonder aloud whether Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg is convening a new grand jury. (I kind of mean that as a bipartisan topical law joke, though I am unsure if it is still possible to joke in a bipartisan way.) Posted by: Doug B | Apr 7, 2023 4:06:55 PM anon -- The items were never required to be reported under the rules that existed at the time. Do a little research rather than follow your racism. https://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/propublica-cherry-picks-ethics-experts-on-justice-thomass-alleged-disclosure-obligation/ Posted by: Bill Otis | Apr 8, 2023 3:07:18 PM Efforts by community leaders, churches and the local government to reduce the number of homicides in Lexington-Fayette County, Kentucky, after 5 record-setting years in a row (thru 12/31/2022) have bourne tremendous fruit in 2023. We had the first January in more than 10 years during which there was not a single homicide in Lexington. During January 2022, there had been 7 homicides. For all of 2022, there were a record 43 homicides. As of April 8, 2023, Lexington has had a total of just 3 homicides. If this rate continues, Lexington might have just 12 to 15 homicides for the year. The second homicide was a case where a 20-year old shooter walked up to a car parked in a gas station, and fired 4-5 rounds thru the driver's window, killing the driver and wounding (grazing) his passenger. Interestingly, the shooter's identity was confirmed in part by the fact that he was wearing a GPS ankle monitor at the time of the shooting, because he was out on bond for other, pending charges. A second defendant was charged with tampering with evidence in the case for disposing of the ankle monitor, when the shooter cut it off after the shooting. Posted by: Jim Gormley | Apr 8, 2023 5:18:53 PM MAGA= My Ass Got Arrested. That's funny. Posted by: federalist | Apr 10, 2023 12:17:52 PM Post a comment OpenAI said in a blog post on 6 April, 2023, that it is committed to keeping powerful AI safe and broadly beneficial' (iStock/ Getty Images) ChatGPT creator OpenAI has defended its popular AI chatbot following concerns over the danger it poses to society. In a blog post published on Wednesday, the AI firm acknowledged the real risks associated with the technology but claimed its artificial intelligence systems were subject to rigorous safety evaluations. After completing the training of its latest GPT-4 model, OpenAI said it undertook six months of safety testing before releasing it to the public. The company also called for greater regulation to ensure safety standards are followed across the industry. But even with tighter regulation and safety testing, it remains a major challenge to predict all the ways people may misuse the technology when it is publicly available. Despite extensive research and testing, we cannot predict all of the beneficial ways people will use our technology, nor all the ways people will abuse it, the blog post stated. We will be increasingly cautious with the creation and deployment of more capable models, and will continue to enhance safety precautions as our AI systems evolve. The blog comes a week after more than 1,000 experts called for AI development to be paused until the full risks are properly understood. If such a pause cannot be enacted quickly, governments should step in and institute a moratorium, the authors wrote. OpenAI said it was eager to contribute to such discussions and is actively engaging with governments on the best form such regulation could take. The company also addressed recent accusations surrounding its collection of user data, with Italy becoming the first Western country last week to ban ChatGPT as a result of privacy concerns. Other European countries, including Germany and Ireland, are reportedly considering similar bans and are currently in conversation with Italys data protection agency. While some of our training data includes personal information that is available on the public internet, we want our models to learn about the world, not private individuals, OpenAIs blog post stated. So we work to remove personal information from the training dataset where feasible, fine-tune models to reject requests for personal information of private individuals, and respond to requests from individuals to delete their personal information from our systems. OpenAI did not respond to a request for comment from The Independent about the prospect of further bans. CAIRO, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Thursday held talks with his Yemeni counterpart Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak in Cairo, calling for a comprehensive political solution in war-torn Yemen. Shoukry said that Egypt encourages all efforts "aimed at finding a comprehensive and sustainable political solution in Yemen, to be agreed upon by the various Yemeni sects, in order to preserve the country's unity," said the Egyptian Foreign Ministry in a statement. The Egyptian minister reiterated Egypt's support for the legitimate government led by the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, and for the UN-sponsored truce between warring forces in Yemen, particularly those between the internationally recognized government and the Iran-backed Houthi militia. For his part, Bin Mubarak affirmed Yemen's appreciation for Egypt's constant support of the Yemeni government and Cairo's "efforts to reach a political settlement that would restore security and stability to the country." The Yemeni top diplomat briefed his Egyptian counterpart on the latest developments in Yemen and the ongoing efforts to reach a political solution in the country. Bin Mubarak handed Shoukry a letter from Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Rashad Al-Alimi, addressed to Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi. Since a truce came into effect in early April last year, Yemenis have witnessed almost a year of reduced violence and the overall situation in Yemen has been relatively stable in the past months. Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia stormed several northern cities and forced the Saudi-backed Yemeni government out of the capital of Sanaa. A Saudi-led military coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in 2015 to support the Yemeni government. WASHINGTON Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said Friday he was not required to disclose the many trips he and his wife took that were paid for by Republican megadonor Harlan Crow. Describing Crow and his wife, Kathy, as "among our dearest friends," Thomas said in a statement that he was advised by colleagues on the nation's highest court and others in the federal judiciary that "this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable." Thomas did not name the other justices or those in the judiciary with whom he had consulted. The nonprofit investigative journalism organization ProPublica reported Thursday that Thomas, who has been a justice for more than 31 years, has for more than two decades accepted luxury trips from Crow nearly every year. Thomas, 74, and his wife, Virginia, have traveled on Crow's yacht and private jet as well as stayed at his private resort in New York's Adirondack Mountains, ProPublica reported. A 2019 trip to Indonesia the story detailed could have cost more than $500,000 had Thomas chartered the plane and yacht himself. Supreme Court justices, like other federal judges, are required to file an annual financial disclosure report which asks them to list gifts they have received, but provides exemptions for hospitality from friends. Ethics experts have offered conflicting views about whether Thomas was required to disclose the trips. Last month, the federal judiciary bolstered disclosure requirements for all judges, including the high court justices, although overnight stays at personal vacation homes owned by friends remain exempt from disclosure. New York University law professor Stephen Gillers, an authority on legal ethics, said Thomas' statement "is an abdication of his responsibility" under ethics guidelines. "Thomas is shamelessly seeking to shift the blame for his failure to report Crow's princely hospitality to advice he allegedly received from other Justices when he joined the court more than 30 years ago. Most of them are now dead and, conveniently, cannot contradict him," Gillers wrote in an email. Charles Geyh, a law professor at Indiana University who studies judicial ethics, wrote in an email that he doubts any justice would have advised Thomas against disclosure if he had laid out the details in ProPublica's report, "hundreds of thousands of dollars in luxurious travel and accommodations at exotic locales spanning decades, from a benefactor who has a deeply rooted partisan and ideological interest in the future of the Court on which the justice sits." University of Pittsburgh ethics expert Arthur Hellman said that even if Thomas could reasonably have believed he did not have to report Crow's gifts, he still should have. "It would have been preferable in the sense of public confidence in the courts if he had disclosed," Hellman said. Thomas, the longest-serving member of the court, said he has always tried to comply with disclosure guidelines. Regarding the recent changes, "It is, of course, my intent to follow this guidance in the future," he said in the statement. The new reporting requirements appear to cover almost all the travel and lodging Crow provided, Hellman said. The mere need to disclose could make judges more reluctant to accept the gifts in the first place, he said. "If I had to predict, I'd say Justice Thomas will be seeing less of Harlan Crow's luxurious properties," Hellman said. Democratic lawmakers said the ProPublica story was the latest illustration of why the Supreme Court should adopt an ethics code and further tighten the rules on travel and other gifts. It is by no means clear that the justices will agree to subject themselves to an ethics code or that Congress will seek to impose one on the court. Thomas did not refer to any individual trips paid for by Crow. But he said, "As friends do, we have joined them on a number of family trips during the more than quarter century we have known them." Last year, questions about Thomas' ethics arose when it was disclosed that he did not step away from election cases following the 2020 election despite the fact that his wife, a conservative activist, reached out to lawmakers and the Trump White House to urge defiance of the election results. SPENCER, Iowa A judge has ruled a liquid carbon dioxide pipeline developer satisfied legal notification requirements to survey a Sioux Rapids, Iowa, landowner's property. But District Judge John Sandy's ruling stopped short of granting Navigator Heartland Greenway's request for an injunction to access the property until a ruling is made on the constitutionality of Iowa's law giving pipeline companies the right of entry to private land to survey it. That issue remains scheduled for trial before Sandy on April 19 in Clay County District Court. Navigator sued Martin Koenig in August after being twice denied entry to his Sioux Rapids property that lies in the route of the company's proposed CO2 pipeline. Surveyors left a second visit in April after Koenig's wife threatened to "let the dog go" on them if they didn't leave, according to the lawsuit. Navigator sought an injunction to allow survey crews to enter the property. Koenig responded with a counterclaim challenging the constitutionality of Iowa's right of entry law. In Thursday's ruling, Sandy granted Navigator's request for summary judgment, ruling the company had met notification requirements, including sending a 10-day written notice to Koenig in advance of the survey attempts. Koenig's attorney had argued the envelope mailed to him did not say "deliver to addressee only," as required on restricted certified mail by Iowa law. Sandy found that the U.S. Postal Service requires mail sent via restricted certified mail to be delivered only to the addressee, and Koenig received and signed for the letter. "In short, 'Deliver to addressee only' occurred," Sandy said in his ruling, convincing him Navigator complied with notification statutes. "Navigator is pleased the court affirmed the project complied with Iowa law regarding required notice provisions to landowners prior to survey activity. We have not yet determined next steps on survey work on this parcel," the company said in a released statement. Omaha attorney Brian Jorde, who is representing Koenig, said the ruling was not surprising and it doesn't give Navigator permission to do the survey, but that could be moot if the courts decide Iowa's right of entry law is constitutional. "If it's not constitutional, it doesn't matter if they mailed him the letter correctly or not," Jorde said. As Koenig's constitutionality trial nears, Navigator and Jorde both await a judge's ruling in a separate case involving Woodbury County landowners also challenging the state law. Like Koenig, Vicki Hulse denied surveyors entry to her land north of Moville and filed a constitutional challenge after Navigator took her and her husband, William, to court to obtain an injunction to gain access to the property. District Judge Roger Sailer in October denied Navigator's injunction request. Both sides returned to Sioux City on March 7 for a one-day trial to determine whether Navigator complied with notification requirements and if the right of entry law is constitutional. Sailer has yet to issue a ruling. Navigator has applied for a state permit to build a pipeline through five states that would collect carbon dioxide from ethanol and fertilizer processors in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota and Illinois, convert it to liquid form and transport it under high pressure to an Illinois site, where it would be pumped thousands of feet beneath the surface. Many Iowa landowners have refused to grant surveyors access to their land or sign easements. Navigator has filed lawsuits against other landowners who have denied access to their property. Those landowners also have filed constitutional challenges similar to those in the Koenig and Hulse cases. Navigator's pipeline would run through 36 Iowa counties, including Woodbury and Clay counties. Other Siouxland counties in the route include Plymouth, Lyon, Osceola, O'Brien, Cherokee, Dickinson and Buena Vista in Iowa and Dakota, Dixon and Wayne counties in Nebraska. It's one of two carbon pipelines proposed to run through the area. The other pipeline developer, Summit Carbon Solutions, also has gone to court against landowners who have denied access to surveyors to gain an injunction to access the parcels. Landowners in those cases, too, have responded with constitutional challenges. SIOUX CITY A motion to strike filed by the Sioux City Community School District and school board members named in former Superintendent Paul Gausmans lawsuit has been denied. The motion to strike filed by the defendants asked the court to remove evidence and references to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners' complaints as well as possible removal by the court of the elected officials. Gausman filed a lawsuit in Woodbury County District Court in January claiming school board members Dan Greenwell, Jan George, Taylor Goodvin and Bob Michaelson violated Iowa Open Meetings laws. Board members filed their motion to strike in February. District Judge Patrick Tott denied it on March 31. According to the lawsuit, board members held two illegal meetings citing the wrong Iowa code sections in order to avoid notifying Gausman or the public of their discussion of him and the following board decision to file a complaint against him with the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners. Gausman is seeking the removal of the four school board members from the board as well as monetary damages and attorney fees. He is also asking the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners to dismiss the complaints filed against him by the district and Greenwell. The motion to strike stated an elected official can be removed from office by the court if that individual has had prior open meeting violations and damages were assessed against the member during the members term. The motion stated none of the defendants have had prior open meeting law violations, and therefore the references to removal should be removed from the lawsuit. In response, Gausman said his lawsuit contains two separate potential open meeting law violations, and if the court were to find those violations occurred, the court could remove the members from office. Tott ruled Iowa Code does allow the removal of a school board member from office as a possible remedy if Gausman is able to establish that prior violations had occurred. Tott said the defendants position may have merit, but it is a determination that cannot be made in a motion to strike. While the defendants position may ultimately be correct, namely that the prior violation must have been established before the current petition has been filed, this is a legal issue that must be determined at a later stage of the proceeding, Tott said in his conclusion. The motion to strike also stated the references to complaints filed against Gausman with the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners are not admissible as evidence in the lawsuit. Therefore, all references to pending and former complaints before the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, information related to the complaints, and the complaints themselves all should be struck from the plaintiffs petition, according to the motion to strike. Gausman responded that state law does not prohibit him from disclosing the information, and the lawsuit specifically involves the discussion of these documents. (Gausman) asserts that these materials are not being offered in evidence at this time and are only being used to provide proper notice of the basis of the Plaintiffs claims against the defendants, according to court documents. Iowa Code specifically states complaints filed with the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners in the possession of the board or its employees are confidential and not subject to legal compulsion for their release other than to the respondent, the board or other agents involved. Tott added the code section requires the Board of Educational Examiners to release the materials to the respondent, Gausman in this case, after certain requirements have been met. He said the code does not prohibit Gausman from then disclosing the materials of the complaint. In addition, it is clear that such documents are highly material to the plaintiffs claims herein in that the complaints filed with the Board of Educational Examiners are the result of the alleged closed meetings conducted by the Defendants which led to the filing of said complaints, Tott said in his conclusion. The school board voted in November 2022 to file a complaint regarding Gausman with the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners. Greenwell filed the complaint on Dec. 2. The complaint claims Gausman attempted to bribe Michaelson and George on Nov. 17, 2021, before their official swearing-in five days later. Greenwell claimed it was an attempt to solicit their support to re-elect Alarcon-Flory as board president, in the letter sent to the Iowa Board of Education Examiners. Dr. Gausman directly offered to allow Mr. Michaelson (board member-elect) and Mr. George (board member-elect) to make any of their desired changes in school operations, programs, activities, and other matters in exchange for their vote for Ms. Alarcon-Flory as president of the board, Greenwell said in the letter. Greenwell claims the conversation took place at a public place in Des Moines with Gausman, Michaelson, George and Alarcon-Flory present. Greenwell states the pair objected to Gausmans offer multiple times. Ms. Alarcon-Flory remained silent regarding the bribery offer during the discussions at the table, he said in the letter. Greenwells letter claims Gausman admitted to the bribery at a meeting on Jan. 27, 2022, with Greenwell and Goodvin present, as well as in a separate discussion with Scarlett. The letter to the examiner's office also claims Gausman disclosed confidential closed board meeting information to staff members. It states Gausman acquired information from the closed session from Alarcon-Flory and shared it with cabinet members. Greenwells letter claims Gausman admitted to Greenwell and Goodvin that he shared the information with the cabinet members. He states cabinet members have confirmed the information was shared with them. The complaint is pending and is meritless and made false claims, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit also states Greenwell himself filed a complaint against Gausman on Aug. 1, 2022, with the same claims in a similarly worded letter, without board support. The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners requires complaints to be from the district, and the one filed in August was not approved by the school board. Gausman requested Greenwell's complaint be dismissed because of lack of jurisdiction, but Greenwell had withdrawn his complaint prior to any ruling. SIOUX CITY Firefighters battled a grass fire south of the Floyd Monument Friday afternoon. Hazy white smoke billowed across the road, as fire crews worked to extinguish the blaze in a ditch between Lewis Boulevard and Interstate 29. Sioux City police officers had southbound traffic blocked off at the intersection of Lewis Boulevard and Lincoln Way, shortly after 3:30 p.m., and, then, later, at the intersection of Lewis Boulevard and Glenn Avenue. Interstate 29 railroad tracks fire Firefighters work to contain a grass fire between Interstate 29 and Lewis Boulevard south of the Floyd Monument on Friday. Several fires start Temperatures were in the upper 60s and winds were gusting at 16 miles per hour from the southwest around the time of the fire. A red flag warning remains in effect until 8 p.m. for portions of Northwest Iowa, far Southeastern South Dakota and far Northeastern Nebraska. Warm temperatures, very low humidity and stronger winds are expected to combine to produce an increased risk of fire danger. A fire weather watch is in effect for Sioux, O'Brien, Clay, Plymouth, Cherokee, Buena Vista, Woodbury and Ida counties in Iowa, as well as Dixon and Dakota counties in Nebraska and Union County, South Dakota, from Saturday afternoon through Saturday evening, according to the National Weather Service. Grass fire Firefighters work to contain a grass fire between Interstate 29 and Lewis Boulevard south of the Floyd Monument on Friday. Several fires start A 30-year-old Lincoln man was sentenced Wednesday to 24 to 32 years in prison for sexually abusing a teenage runaway. Earlier this year, Sheldon Edwards pleaded no contest to first-degree sexual assault and attempted possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. In the affidavit for Edwards' arrest, a Lincoln police investigator said a 15-year-old girl, who had been reported missing, told police that she had been living with him in his car and "had sex with him regularly." On July 5, police arrested Edwards in connection with the allegations and found a partially dismantled firearm in his vehicle. He told police he thought the girl was 18, which isn't a legal defense in Nebraska. Lancaster County District Judge Susan Strong sentenced him Wednesday. As part of the sentence, Edwards will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and be subject to an evaluation for civil commitment when he completes his sentence. Who are they? NE children reported missing as of March 25 These are recent reports of missing children made to local law enforcement. If you think you have seen a missing child, contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678). Norah Hodge had a dance class the same day a shooter walked into a dance studio in California thousands of miles away and killed 11 people. "I couldn't believe people were killed doing what they loved and expressing themselves," said Hodge, a fifth grader at Woodbrook Elementary School in Elkhorn, referring to the massacre in Monterey, California, in January. And when 19 children and two teachers died in a shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, last May, Hodge realized that one of the students who died was her age. Since those shootings, there have been more and yet lawmakers aren't doing anything to fix the epidemic of gun violence, said Hodge, one of the dozens of people students, parents, concerned citizens who rallied outside the state Capitol on Thursday in support of "common sense" gun legislation. The demonstration comes a day after students across the country walked out of class to demand action on gun violence and more than a week after a shooter killed three students and three staff members at a private Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee. It also comes as a priority bill from state Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon (LB77) that would allow people to carry a concealed weapon without a permit nears a final vote in the Legislature before heading to Gov. Jim Pillen. "We know this bill will make our communities less safe and is the wrong step for Nebraska," said Conestoga senior Jayden Speed with Nebraska Students Demand Action, a student-led group that helped organize Thursday's rally along with Nebraska Moms Demand Action and Nebraska Against Gun Violence. "We want our lawmakers to prioritize commonsense gun laws." Speed said he was approaching his freshman year in high school when 17 people were killed in a shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida. He was struck by the fact that schools were a target in the gun violence epidemic, that students have to go to school and worry about whether or not they're coming home. Now, gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and teens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "We are fed up," Speed said. Lincoln Sen. Jane Raybould, who spoke Thursday, said LB77 is a "Trojan horse" bill that would harm law enforcement and prevent local governments from regulating firearms. Raybould said Nebraskans are in favor of background checks, regulations on licensing and storage and restrictions on high-capacity assault weapons. "Enough is enough," she said. Bryn Pick, a fifth grader at St. Cecilia's Catholic School in Omaha, said she and her classmates shouldn't be afraid to go school. She also said she doesn't want teachers to be armed. According to police calls from the Covenant shooting, staff members carried guns for security. "Guns have killed so many people, but we're still letting this happen," Pick said. "Protect kids, not guns." For Elkhorn fifth grader Hodge, there are many ways people can do just that. "We can show up to more rallies, we can write letters to our lawmakers," she said. "We can be louder than a gunshot." This article was originally published in 2014. Were reprinting it on this Good Friday. This Friday is Good Friday, the day on which Christians commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. The name may seem counterintuitive to many Christians and nonbelievers, since the day is typically viewed as a solemn one, often observed with fasting and somber processions. Why is Good Friday called Good Friday? Probably because good used to mean holy. There are a few theories about why Good Friday is called Good Friday, but only one seems to be supported by linguists and by historical evidence. Advertisement The first of these theories is that Good Friday is called Good Friday because, Christians believe, there is something very good about it: It is the anniversary, they say, of Jesus suffering and dying for their sins. That terrible Friday has been called Good Friday because it led to the Resurrection of Jesus and his victory over death and sin and the celebration of Easter, the very pinnacle of Christian celebrations, the Huffington Post suggests. Perhaps this logic has helped the name stickit is certainly how many Christians today understand the namebut it is not where the name originally comes from. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second theory is that the Good in Good Friday derives from God or Gods Friday. Wikipedia, for example, puts this theory forward citing a 1909 entry in The Catholic Encyclopedia. In a separate article on the same subject, the Huffington Post does the same. However, there seems to be no basis for this etymology. The origin from God is out of the question according to Anatoly Liberman, a professor at the University of Minnesota who studies the origins of English words. (Liberman also told me that English speakers have a long history of speculating about a relationship between the word good and the word god where there is none.) The linguist and lexicographer Ben Zimmer agreed, noting that the German for Good Friday isnt actually Gottes Freitag (Gods Friday), as the Catholic Encyclopedia suggests, but rather Karfreitag (Sorrowful Friday). None of the early examples in the Oxford English Dictionary imply that it started off as Gods rather than Good, so I dont really see this as more than speculative etymology, Zimmer added. Advertisement The third and final theory, the one supported by both the Oxford English Dictionary and every language expert I contacted, is that the name comes from an antiquated meaning of good. The answer seems pretty clearly to be that its from good holy, responded Jesse Sheidlower, the president of the American Dialect Society, when I put this question to him. Liberman agreed, noting that if you consider the other names for Good FridaySacred Friday in the Romance languages (Viernes Santo, e.g.), Passion Friday in Russianthe OEDs explanation makes excellent sense. The OED also notes that there was once Good Wednesday, the Wednesday before Easter, which these days is more commonly known as Holy Wednesday. As a devoted fan of the PBS painting guru Bob Ross, whose landscape-painting instructional program The Joy of Painting ran on the station for an astonishing 31 13-episode seasons between 1983 and 1994, I was all-in when I heard that Owen Wilson would be playing a character based on the soft-spoken, perm-topped creator of countless almighty mountains, majestic trees, and happy little clouds. Wilsons stock comic persona, a naive optimist with a streak of melancholy and a permanent air of being ever-so-slightly stoned, seemed like a natural match with Ross particular brand of eccentric wisdom: Is there another actor you can imagine convincingly delivering the line Theres nothing wrong with having a tree as a friend, or priming a canvas while accompanied by his pet, Peapod the Pocket Squirrel? The recently exhumed story of the alleged exploitation of Ross name by his longtime business partnersthe subject of the 2021 Netflix documentary Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal and Greedoffered the possibility that a Bob Ross biopic might be more than a goofy sendup of the beloved brush-wielder; it could be the tragicomic story of an indefatigably sincere man trying to practice his art in a cold and unethical world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the most important thing to know before seeing Brit McAdams strangely blurry comedy Paint is that it is not really a Bob Ross biopic, comic, tragic, or otherwise. Paints lead character, Vermont-based TV painter Carl Nargle (Wilson), may share Rosss spherical hairdo and gentle hippie demeanor. He may even guide his viewers through the creative process with the same transfixing blend of earnest self-help speak and spacy non sequiturs. But McAdams (who also wrote the screenplay, which way back in 2010 landed on the roundup of most liked but never-produced projects known as the Black List) seems to want to use Ross mainly as a stylistic template, an idea of a type of guy that it might be funny to write a movie about. Sadly for all concerned, above all the eternally game Wilson, Paint is not that movie. Bob Ross fans looking for insight into the complexities behind the placid face of a man who once said he spoke softly so as to forget the constant screaming he had been required to do as an Air Force sergeant training new recruits will be puzzled and disappointed to see such a sui generis cultural figure used as little more than an embroidered-Western-shirt-clad scarecrow on which to hang a frustratingly skimpy plot about the professional and romantic rivalry between two would-be small-screen Seurats. Advertisement Sign up for the Slate Culture Newsletter The best of movies, TV, books, music, and more, delivered to your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. After decades of onscreen painting, Carl Nargle has become a fixture in the Vermont cultural firmament. A reporter from the Burlington Bonnet who visits the set to interview him tells him he is fourth on the publications upcoming list of local treasures, tied with snow. And in a running joke that works only because Wilsons innate sweetness makes it impossible to see him as creepily predatory, Carl can also get it on with pretty much any local lady who catches his eye, especially when she gets a gander at the nifty fold-down bed in the orange camper van Carl has outfitted with PAINTR vanity plates. Advertisement Carl did once have a shot at true love, revisited in soft-focus flashbacks: the PBS stations assistant manager, Katherine (Michaela Watkins), who broke off their affair when she found him in the tricked-out Chevy love nest with another woman. They continue to work together, both still secretly pining, while their anxious boss (the always great Stephen Root) brainstorms about how to turn around the stations declining ratings. In a bid to increase audience engagement during the yearly round of fundraising, he hires another TV painter, the younger and more dynamic Ambrosia (Ciara Renee), to start her own show. Ambrosias taste leans toward the surreal rather than the picturesque. (Her first time on air, she produces an image she identifies as a UFO covered in blood.) Carl is offended when audiences respond well to Ambrosias oil-on-canvas stylings, and soon the two daubers are competing not only for prime public-TV airtime but for the affection of the neurotic but endearing Katherine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Think Amadeus, but with pledge-drive tote bags. Paint deliberately seeks to make a joke out of the lowness of these dramatic stakes, reminding us over and over that the mild-mannered world of Vermont public television is a far cry from the Sturm und Drang of most onscreen portraits of artistic rivalry. (Think Amadeus, but with pledge-drive tote bags.) This could have been the setup for a terrific workplace comedy if McAdams script didnt seem at every turn to blunt the edge of its own satire. About half an hour in I found myself wondering what exactly this gentle comedy was supposed to be sending up: the petty narcissism of small-town celebrities? The self-seriousness of wannabe artists convinced that their sunset-tinged landscapes and two-bit De Chirico impersonations are worthy of hanging in a museum, rather than on the wood paneling over their moms couch? To the films credit, nothing in Paint comes off as mean-spirited or patronizing, including the treatment of the towns many less-than-sophisticated consumers of televised artmaking. But by the last half, the ambient niceness felt so pervasive and the films ultimate purpose so vague that, even when the performances and much of the dialogue remained sharp and funny, the movie around them seemed to dissolve into one of those happy little clouds. To his great credit, Owen Wilson, who has spent a whole career specializing in just this type of cheerfully oblivious, tirelessly self-confident holy fool, almost makes this chiffon-weight movie worth watching through the sheer force of his doofy charisma. Had the script only given him a chance, Wilson is comedian enough (and, as other roles hes played reveal, leading man enough) to have turned the real Bob Ross into an unlikely romantic hero. Maybe well still get that biopic somedayand if Gods in his heaven, itll also include a cameo from Peapod. This piece was originally published on Just Security, an online forum for analysis of U.S. national security law and policy. With the indictment of former President Donald Trump, the U.S. justice system is putting teeth behind the idea that no one in a democracy is above the law. As this case winds its way through the court system, the weeks and months ahead will be contentious. There is no denying the unique circumstances, logistics, pressures, and scrutiny associated with indicting a former president. One of the judiciarys early challenges will be maintaining Trumps Sixth Amendment right to an impartial jury to dispense impartial justice. Federal and state courts frequently confront high-profile and politically sensitive cases against elected officials, and the U.S. judiciarys procedures and legal standards were designed to meet this moment. Advertisement The Sixth Amendment provides that in all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury. While it will be practically impossible to find a juror who is entirely unaware of who Trump is and has not been exposed to at least some media detailing the allegations against him, the Supreme Court has made clear that an impartial jury protected by the Sixth Amendment does not require ignorance. What is required, is that the jurors themselves are unbiased, meaning that they are willing to decide the case on the basis of the evidence presented rather than on the basis of outside influences. Impermissible outside influences include both attempts at witness tampering and juror animus, such as in Pena-Rodriguez v. Colorado where the Supreme Court threw out a criminal conviction after two jurors made clear statements indicating that racial animus was used to convict a criminal defendant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In high profile and emotionally charged cases, the prosecution and defense will go through a lengthy process, where prospective jurors are questioned about their background and potential biases before being chosen to sit on a jury. If questions of bias arise after a jury has been empaneled, a trial judge can conduct a hearing, in which the defense participates, to determine if impartiality has been undermined. In October 2022, it took a New York court just three days to seat a jury in the tax fraud case against the Trump Organization, proving that an impartial jury in a Trump case can not only be found, but can be seated in a reasonable period of time. There is no reason to doubt that the judiciary will be able to do the same thing with this new indictment against Trump. The U.S. legal system has effective processes in place at the state and federal levels to select impartial juries and ensure the safety of jury members, all while maintaining a defendants Sixth Amendment right to an impartial jury. The judiciary has tools at its disposal to protect members of the jury against harassment and ensure their security, which may include taking steps such as a full sequestration, partial-sequestration, and anonymous juries. The judiciary has successfully navigated these issues in the past, including in the high-profile 1992 case of organized crime boss John Gotti. Recognizing the unique security needs presented by charging a leader of the mafia, the trial against Gotti was actually the first time a Brooklyn courthouse had a fully sequestered and anonymous jury. Not only were the jurors separated from their families for the duration of the three-month trial by staying in hotels whose location are kept secret, but their identities were also kept secret from litigants and the public. These actions demonstrate that it is possible to both ensure a defendant maintains their Sixth Amendment rights and that the safety and wellbeing of members of the jury is protected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While prosecuting a former president of the United States is unprecedented, other democracies have prosecuted former heads of state for criminal misconduct before. Several countries that rank higher than the United States in political rights and civil liberties, including France, Italy, Israel, the Philippines, South Africa, and South Korea have all charged, and in many cases convicted, former presidents and prime ministers for crimes committed while they were in office. In each of these circumstances, prosecutors with significantly more independence than that afforded by our justice system, such as prosecutors in France and Italy who are part of the judiciary rather than part of the executive branch, brought credible charges against elected leaders.. In so doing, they demonstrated that political leaders are no different from ordinary citizens when it comes to being held accountable under the law. Advertisement South Koreas experience is instructive. In 2016 and 2017, thousands of mostly peaceful protestors took to the streets calling for the removal of South Korean President Park Guen-hye in response to corruption allegations. Shortly after Park was impeached by the National Assembly for illegal influence peddling, the Constitutional Court upheld her impeachment in a unanimous 8-0 ruling. Their decision was broadcast live by media outlets given the countrys intense interest in the outcome. In a sign of South Koreas democratic resilience, the countrys snap elections in May 2017 to replace Park resulted in a peaceful transition of presidential power and societal acceptance of her 2018 criminal convictions for bribery and coercion. Advertisement Advertisement The American legal system was built to dispense equal justice under the law. We expect that seating an impartial jury will take time and likely raise novel legal issues that will need to be worked out in the courts. But given the overwhelming evidence of criminality against Trump, including the 56 potential criminal violations related to his campaign and presidency that our organization, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has identified, working through these issues and ensuring that Trump receives a fair trial while maintaining his Sixth Amendment rights is a necessary step on the path toward accountability. While results have not always been perfect, the U.S. system has proven that justice can be dispensed fairly against elected officials and other high-profile defendants. There is no reason to doubt its ability to do that again here, beginning with selecting an impartial jury to adjudge Trumps guilt. More From Just Security: The United States Proposal on Prosecuting Russians for the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine is a Step in the Right Direction Saudi Arabia and Iran: The Politics of Detente Late Thursday evening, Tennessee Republicans made the unprecedented move of expelling two Democrats from the state Legislature over their participation in a gun controlrelated protest following last weeks school shooting in Nashville. The vote, the first partisan expulsion in Tennessee since the Civil War era, is a chilling portent of the future of Republican governance and the state of democracy nationwide. A week prior, demonstrators, many of them teenagers, marched on the statehouse calling for tighter gun laws after a shooting left six people dead. Democratic representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, both of whom are Black and in their 20s, headed onto the House floor, interrupting the Legislature by chanting no action, no peace; Jones held up a hand-drawn sign reading Protect kids, not guns. (Three children were killed in the recent Nashville school shooting, and guns are now the No. 1 cause of death for children ages 1 to 18.) Their call to colleagues to pass legislation brought the chamber to a temporary halt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Republican speaker of the House, Cameron Sexton, responded with what the New York Times has called an extraordinary act of retribution for the protests. He compared the demonstration to the Jan. 6 insurrection attempt at the U.S. Capitol, and deemed the Democrats participation in the protest a violation of House rules on decorum. He swiftly revoked ID badge access to the State Capitol building and removed two of the three participating lawmakers from their committee assignments. A few days later, Sexton successfully spearheaded the first partisan expulsion in modern Tennessee history, on the grounds that those lawmakers did knowingly and intentionally bring disorder and dishonor to the House and generally engaged in disorderly and disruptive conduct. A third Democrat, Gloria Johnson, who is white, survived expulsion by just one vote. (At least one Republican was outed as having broken House rules just in the course of the pre-vote hearing, and he, predictably, did not face expulsion.) The last such action came in 1866, when six legislators were expelled for their efforts to prevent the ratification of the 14th Amendment, which granted citizenship to freed slaves. Two expulsion votes have happened sincein 1980 and 2016though both were bipartisan and involved bribery convictions and sexual misconduct allegations. Advertisement Advertisement The expulsion of these Democratic lawmakers, who represent Nashville and Memphis, came despite the fact that no criminal charges or even criminal investigations have been brought or pursued. Republicans, however, uncowed by charges of hypocrisy, can do whatever they want because they enjoy a supermajority in the chamber: There are 73 Republicans to just 26 Democrats. One question loomed over the proceedings: Where was Joe Biden? Biden has prided himself on his record as a defender of democracy and a no-nonsense legislator on gun control. On the campaign trail and in his most recent State of the Union, he celebrated the extremely limited gun control legislation that was passed in his first term, and a similarly narrow pro-democracy reform bill. Advertisement Advertisement Yet in Tennessee, where his fellow Democrats were engaged in clearly protected speech in the name of a policy he greatly supports, Biden was nowhere to be seen. In fact, as a group of protesters rallied outside the Legislature Thursday, no prominent national Democrats managed to turn up. The absence of the national party is especially alarming given the antidemocratic register of whats happening. Unprecedented though it is, the Tennessee Legislatures move seems to augur a new tactic in the Republican war on democratic governance. In red states, especially those with supermajorities, Republicans seem newly committed to removing their opponents from office under even the thinnest of pretenses. Advertisement Advertisement A similar situation is developing in Wisconsin. On Tuesday, in an election that garnered national attention, Democrats swung control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, with the election of liberal Janet Protasiewicz securing a 43 liberal majority. Advertisement But on the same day, Republican Dan Knodl was elected to the state Senate, giving Republicans a supermajority in the chamber. With it comes the power to impeach public officials. The chamber currently has 22 Republican senators to just 11 Democratsthis, in a state where registered Republicans outnumber Democrats by just one percentage point of the states total electorate. All of this is the result of a fiercely and shamelessly gerrymandered electoral map that many hope the election of Judge Protasiewicz might remedy, if and when the maps come before the state Supreme Court. Of course, Republicans might not wait long enough for us to find out. Already, Knodl has signaled some support for the idea of using his newly established supermajority swing vote for help in impeaching Protasiewicz. Just a few days before Election Day, he said he would certainly consider launching impeachment proceedings against her. The idea has already gained some traction among his Republican colleagues. Advertisement Advertisement This new strategy looks like a red-state variation on the impeachment frenzy that Republicans have pursued in recent years in blue states. In places like California, where Republicans dont have the faintest chance of competing for office legitimately, theyve looked for other ways to override the democratic process. In 2021, that resulted in the very expensive and very failed effort to recall Gavin Newsom. But there have also been times those recall efforts have worked. In San Francisco, progressive district attorney Chesa Boudin got recalled after moderate Democrats made common cause with Republicans to overturn the democratic election result and help install a tough-on-crime successor. Now, Republicans seem to be rolling out their red-state equivalent. And given the nature of the gerrymanders that have secured Republican supermajorities in places like Wisconsin and North Carolina, which are still battleground states in national and statewide elections, this could happen in purplish and dark-red states, both. While Republicans have focused on gerrymandering and voter suppression as the primary prongs of their assault on democracy (as well as the occasional insurrection attempt), the willingness to expel democratically elected Democrats for minor-verging-on-made-up infractions portends a terrifying new development. If Democrats want to defend democracy, and defend themselves, theyre going to have to show up. (CNN) A geometry problem that has been puzzling scientists for 60 years has likely just been solved by an amateur mathematician with a newly discovered 13-sided shape. Called "The hat" because it vaguely resembles a fedora, the elusive shape is an "einstein" (from the German "ein stein," or "one stone"). That means it can completely cover a surface without ever creating a repeated pattern something that had not yet been achieved with a single tile. "I'm always looking for an interesting shape, and this one was more than that," said David Smith, its creator and a retired printing technician from northern England, in a phone interview. Soon after discovering the shape in November 2022, he contacted a math professor and later, with two other academics, they released a self-published scientific paper about it. "I'm not really into math, to be honest I did it at school, but I didn't excel in it," Smith said. That's why I got these other guys involved, because there's no way I could have done this without them. I discovered the shape, which was a bit of luck, but it was also me being persistent." Going from 20,426 to one Most wallpapers or tiles in the real world are periodic, meaning you can identify a small cluster that's just constantly repeated to cover the whole surface. "The hat," however, is an aperiodic tile, meaning it can still completely cover a surface without any gaps, but you can never identify any cluster that periodically repeats itself to do so. Fascinated by the idea that such aperiodic sets of shapes could exist, mathematicians first mulled the problem in the early 1960s, but they initially believed the shapes were impossible. That turned out to be wrong, because within years a set of 20,426 tiles that when used together could do the job was created. That number was soon reduced to just over 100, and then down to six. In the 1970s, the work of British physicist and Nobel Prize winner Roger Penrose further reduced the number of shapes from six down to two in a system that has since been known as Penrose tiling. And that's where things were stuck for decades. Smith became interested in the problem in 2016, when he launched a blog on the subject. Six years later, in late 2022, he thought he had bested Penrose in finding the einstein, so he got in touch with Craig Kaplan, a professor in the School of Computer Science at the University of Waterloo in Canada. "From my perspective, it started with an email out of blue," Kaplan said in a phone interview. "David knew that I had recently published a paper describing a piece of software that could help him understand what was going on with the tile." With the help of the software, the two realized they were onto something. How 'The hat' works There's nothing inherently magical about "The hat," according to Kaplan. "It's really a very simple polygon to describe. It doesn't have weird, irrational angles, it's basically just something you get by cutting up hexagons." For that reason, he adds, it might have been "discovered" in the past by other mathematicians creating similar shapes, but they just did not think about checking its tiling properties. The finding has created quite a stir since its release in late March. As Kaplan points out, it has inspired artistic renditions, knitted quilts, cookie cutters, TikTok explainers and even a joke in one of Jimmy Kimmel's opening monologues. "I think it might open a few doors," Smith said, "I've got a feeling we'll have a different way of looking at how to find these sorts of anomalies, if you like." The shape is publicly available, even for 3D printing, and it's not going to be copyrighted. "We're not trying to protect it in any way," Kaplan said. "It belongs to everyone, and I hope people will use this in all kinds of decorative, architectural and artistic content." What about bathroom tiling? "I can only hope we'll see lots of bathrooms decorated with it, but it's going to be a little bit tricky," he added. "One of the reasons we use periodic tilings in places like bathrooms is because the rule for how to lay them is pretty simple. With this, you have a different challenge you could potentially start laying it down out and hack yourself into a corner where you've created a space that you can't fill with more hats." Peer review ahead Far from being content with having rewritten math history, Smith has already discovered a "sequel" to "The hat." Called "The turtle," the new shape is also an einstein, but it's made of 10 kites, or sections, rather than eight, and therefore bigger than "The hat." "It's a bit of an addiction," Smith confessed about his constant quest for new shapes. The scientific paper on "The hat," coauthored with Joseph Myers, a software developer, and Chaim Goodman-Strauss, a mathematician at the University of Arkansas, has not yet gone through peer review the process of verification by other scientists that is standard in scientific publications but will do so over the next few months. "I really look forward to seeing what comes out of that process," Kaplan said, acknowledging that it could mean that the findings could be disputed. "I believe strongly in the importance of peer review as a way of conducting science. So, until that happens, I would agree that there should be reason to not be certain yet. But based on the evidence that we accumulated, it's hard to imagine a way that we could be wrong." The discovery, once confirmed, could be significant across other fields of research, according to Rafe Mazzeo, a professor in the department of mathematics at Stanford University, who was not involved in the study. "Tilings have many applications in physics, chemistry and beyond, for example in the study of crystals," he said in an email. "The discovery of aperiodic tilings, now many years ago, created a stir, since their existence was so unexpected. "This new discovery is a strikingly simple example. There are no standard techniques known for finding new aperiodic tiles, so this involved a really new idea. That is always exciting," he added. Mazzeo said it's also nice to hear of a mathematical discovery that is so easy to visualize and explain: "This illustrates that mathematics is still a growing subject, with many problems that have not yet been solved." This story was first published on CNN.com, "Newly discovered einstein shape can do something no other tile can do." Rose Marie Longmire, 71 of Leonardtown, MD passed away on March 31, 2023, in Fairfax, VA. She was born on June 27, 1951, in Evanston, IL to the late Fred Fuller and Mildred Miles. Rose grew up in Evanston, Illinois. In 1969, she graduated from Evanston Township High School. Upon graduation she attended Northern Michigan University where she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English. She was a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She met her future husband, Ronald Deacon, in Washington DC in 1978. They married on March 24, 1983, in Honolulu, Hawaii. They lived in Hawaii, Japan, Prince George's County, and Calvert County, MD, before moving to St. Mary's County, MD, 7 years ago. She worked for Long & Foster as a Realtor. Her love of showing property and helping people find their perfect home led to a fulfilling career spanning 35 years. Rose was a people person, made friends easily, often befriended her clients, and always was relied on for sound advice. She loved keeping up with her friends and family; she was always talking on the phone, writing messages on Facebook, sending cards and gifts to commemorate birthdays and holidays. She loved cruising around town in her red BMW convertible. Rose and Ron enjoyed travelling together. Some of their most memorable trips were to Thailand, Singapore, and France. Her favorite color was red, but pink and green were always prevalent throughout her life. She enjoyed international cuisine, especially Middle Eastern, Indian, and Thai. She had various hobbies including oil painting, crafting, reading, singing, and playing the piano, but most of all she cherished spending time with her child and her grandchildren. She is survived by her husband, Ronald Louis Deacon, her daughter, Lauren Marie Rivers of Hollywood, MD; her sister, Harriette Elizabeth Chiavacci; her brothers, Fred Timothy Fuller, Frank Madison Fuller, John Everette Fuller; and two grandchildren, Mildred Rose and Antonio Quenton Rivers. She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred Fuller and Mildred Miles, and her brothers, James Ellis Fuller, William Henry Fuller, and Carl Wayne Fuller. Family will receive friends for Rose's Life Celebration on Friday, April 14, 2023, from 5:15 to 7:00 p.m. with Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m., at Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650. A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., at St. George's Episcopal Church, 19167 Poplar Hill Lane, Valley Lee, MD 20692. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation www.donate.akaeaf.org which will honor Rose's dedication to the mission of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Please be sure to write in the comment box of your donation "donated in the name of Rose Longmire." Memorial contributions may also be made to the Bishop John Bryson Chane Scholarship for Social Justice www.ecw-edow.org. The Scholarship was initiated and established during Rose's term as President of the Episcopal Church Women of the Diocese of Washington in 2011. A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order against the infamous drag ban" in Tennessee. According to USA Today, U.S. District Judge Thomas Parker said the law as written is too vague and leaves the door open for differing outcomes based on a person's assessment of what is, and isn't, obscene. "A law is unconstitutionally vague if individuals of common intelligence must necessarily guess at its meaning and differ as to its application," Parker wrote in the 15-page decision, USA Today reported. The law was to go into effect this past Saturday. The lawsuit against the new law was brought by Friends of Georges, a Memphis-based LGBTQ theater group. If Tennessee wishes to exercise its police power in restricting speech it considers obscene, it must do so within the constraints and framework of the United States Constitution, Parker added in his ruling. The Court finds that, as it stands, the record here suggests that when the legislature passed this Statute, it missed the mark. Floridas medical governing boards may have eliminated healthcare for trans youth, but four families are fighting back. The families anonymously filed a federal lawsuit against Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, as well as members of the Florida Board of Medicine and Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine. Both entities voted in March to stop the treatment of gender dysphoria in youth, an offense that could strip a doctor of their medical license. The transgender medical bans violate the rights of parents to make medical decisions to ensure the health and wellbeing of their adolescent children, the lawsuit reads. The lawsuit was filed with the help of the Southern Legal Counsel, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and the Human Rights Campaign. One of the defendants, Jane Doe, is living in Florida after her husband was stationed in the Sunshine State because of his work in the Navy. Their daughter, who is 11, cannot receive treatment. She is a happy, confident child, but this ban takes away our right to provide her with the next step in her recommended treatment when she reaches puberty, Doe said in a press release. The military doctors we work with understand the importance of providing that evidence-based, individualized care. Were proud to serve our country, but we are being treated differently than other military families because of a decision by politicians in the state where we are stationed. Brenda Boe, another parent included in the lawsuit, said of her 14-year-old son, He was finally getting to a place where he felt hopeful, where being prescribed testosterone was on the horizon and he could see a future for himself in his own body. That has been ripped away by this cruel and discriminatory rule. Youth who began gender-affirming hormone therapy prior to March 16 are exempt from the law and can continue their treatment. Due to the ban, some parents have looked to seek treatment with doctors in other states. However, Florida Sen. Clay Yarborough, a Republican, introduced a bill that would protect the child from being subjected to sex-reassignment prescriptions or producers in another state and could impact a parents custodial rights to their children. Fellow Republican Rep. Randy Fine compared gender-affirming care to the experiments done on Jews in concentration camps during World War II by Dr. Josef Mengele. He called supporters of the treatment baby butchers. Lawmakers are also coming after trans adults HB1421 has been filed and would add loopholes for adults seeking gender-affirming care. Governors in Alabama, Arkansas, South Dakota, Tennessee and Utah have signed into law restrictions on treating gender dysphoria, according to NBC News. However, the bans in Alabama and Arkansas have been blocked by federal judges as lawsuits have been filed. Our daughter has been saying she is a girl since she was three it hasnt gone away, plaintiff Carla Coe said of her 9-year-old daughter. Since she started being able to live as a girl she has been so much happier and better adjusted. Having the resources and support to make the best decisions for her wellbeing has been so important for our family. Im scared this ban will take away the essential medical care she may need when she gets older. We just want to do whats right for our kid. Classical music, traditions and insight into a painter's memory. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Easter Where to gather Easter goodies Slovaks are known for keeping up Easter traditions dating back to the days of their ancestors. Whether weaving whips, baking traditional pastries or preparing elaborate meals, singing and dancing in traditional attire or dunking young women in water (or surprising them with a bucket of cold water), Slovaks like to enjoy Easter to its fullest. You dont have to weave the whip yourself to fully enjoy Easter, though. Bratislava Castle will hold a medieval-themed Easter market, presenting the traditions held across various time periods. On days from April 7 to April 10, sellers will present local products as well as traditional items tied to Easter. Visitors will be able to see medieval crafts, clothing, and taste some old time foods. The event will be held at Bratislava Castles courtyard. Traditionally decorated Easter eggs in a basket. (Source: Jan Kroslak, SME) MORE FROM EASTER BETLIAR: If you happen to be near the Betliar Manor House, try and take your kids for an egg hunt in Betliar Park on April 10. Betliar is also preparing an Easter night on April 8. TRADITIONS: Filipina YouTuber Chasing Kimberly compares Easter in Slovakia and Philippines. Kimberly shares her experience as a foreigner living in Slovakia with a Slovak husband. In her video, she enjoys the first days of spring in a typical Slovak countryside setting. https://www.youtube.com/embed/-4yu_13EHFM Exhibitions Presenting memory Twenty-three years of creating. An exhibition aptly titled Memory explores all the repeating cycles of motives, symbols and more captured in the creative work of painter Jana Farmanova. It moves from one mood to another, traveling in different contexts and atmospheres. The author mostly captures the topics of a womens world, their body, motherhood, cycles, love and more. Paintings portray the relationship between a mother and daughter as well as the authors adoring look on nature, identity and home. Find the exhibition in Nitra Gallery. While in Nitra, also stop by Nitra Castle. (Source: ana Benova, TASR) MORE EXHIBITIONS TIPS POPRAD: See what artifacts of blacksmiths, shoe makers, woodworkers and more looked like in Podtatranske Museum. TRNAVA: The exhibition Excitable Boy, They All Say in Jan Koliarik Gallery plays with satire and irony as a way to comment on current events in our society. Music 7 countries, 12 interpretations Classical music lovers might appreciate the upcoming festival Allegretto in Zilina that features local orchestras as well as interpretations from overall seven countries. Kosice State Philharmonic, violinist Milan Al-Ashhab and Nikolas Benjamin Hoffman and more will all have their concerts there. Classical symphonies, orchestras and solos are on the program. Slovak Philharmonic in Bratislava also hosts concerts regularly. (Source: Oliver Filan, TASR) MORE MUSIC TIPS KOSICE: Get into the classical music mood early before the festival. Enthusiasts of classical music might enjoy Vivaldis Four Seasons interpreted by the State Philharmonic Kosice. PRESOV : Presov will host a Nina Kohout concert on April 12 in Wave Klub. Kohout is an upcoming artist with international influence growing. BEFORE YOU GO : Presov will host a Nina Kohout concert on April 12 in Wave Klub. Kohout is an upcoming artist with international influence growing. WHAT TO LISTEN TO : Get into the Easter mood with a Slovak folk group in the niche of traditional music. The latest music video Krcmarocka (The Innkeeper) from the band Hrdza gives you a view into traditional clothing, markets and music. : Get into the Easter mood with a Slovak folk group in the niche of traditional music. The latest music video Krcmarocka (The Innkeeper) from the band Hrdza gives you a view into traditional clothing, markets and music. WHAT TO VISIT FOR FREE : With the Easter break, it is time to get a break. Without spending any money, you can try out Open Mic Comedy event and try out the life of a comedian for a bit. Learn more in our free tips on how to enjoy weekend in Bratislava for free. : With the Easter break, it is time to get a break. Without spending any money, you can try out Open Mic Comedy event and try out the life of a comedian for a bit. Learn more in our free tips on how to enjoy weekend in Bratislava for free. WHAT TO DO IN BRATISLAVA : When gathering all goodies for Easter, also swing by Bratislava's market. For all chess masters and chess novices, there will be a chess event on April 12, too. Here's where to train your chess mind, get local stuff and sing your heart out on a concert. : When gathering all goodies for Easter, also swing by Bratislava's market. For all chess masters and chess novices, there will be a chess event on April 12, too. Here's where to train your chess mind, get local stuff and sing your heart out on a concert. WHAT TO ENJOY: Have you been in English theatre in Bratislava yet? The Bridgin'Drama theatre belonging to a language school brings draws in both foreigners and Slovaks. WEATHER FORECAST For Saturday, cloudy and rainy weather is expected for the whole country with temperatures around 8C. For Sunday, weather clears up. Sunny in all parts of Slovakia. Temperatures will vary from 10C to 12C. For Monday, sunny weather will remain. Temperature is expected to rise to 14C. (SHMU) That's it for this week. Take care, and have a restful weekend! -Maria Do you have any tips? You can reach Maria at maria.jurikova@spectator.sk Over almost 70 pages, they seek to discredit police methods and evidence in high-profile cases. Ex-special prosecutor Dusan Kovacik (in grey shirt) with his lawyers on May 19, 2022. (Source: SME - Jozef Jakubco) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Three lawyers have sent a long memorandum to Brussels in an attempt to influence the drafting of a European Commission annual report on the rule of law in Slovakia. The three Erik Magal, Jakub Krizan and Jan Krsiak represent convicted former special prosecutor Dusan Kovacik. Kovacik is currently standing trial in a second corruption case. They claim their recent initiative has nothing to do with Kovacik. The letter sent to EU institutions is 67 pages long, the Sme daily reports. The "independent lawyers", as they sign themselves at the bottom of their text, warn the EU that evidence in prominent criminal investigations in Slovakia has been manipulated. For example, they claim that witnesses have been influenced or that some investigations are politically motivated. The group of lawyers state they are surprised that this alleged state of affairs was not reflected in last years report on the rule of law in Slovakia. In that report, the European Commission praised Slovakia for its investigation of corruption cases. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230406/stowaway-shocks-south-african-pilot-comes-face-to-face-with-venomous-cobra-after-takeoff-1109221142.html Stowaway Shocks: South African Pilot Comes Face-to-Face With Venomous Cobra After Takeoff Stowaway Shocks: South African Pilot Comes Face-to-Face With Venomous Cobra After Takeoff A deadly poisonous cobra got into the cockpit of a passenger plane during a flight from Cape Town to Pretoria. As a result, the flight was aborted, but no one was injured. 2023-04-06T22:51+0000 2023-04-06T22:51+0000 2023-04-06T22:58+0000 viral south africa plane flight cockpit snake deadly snake incident /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/06/1109220980_0:151:1600:1051_1920x0_80_0_0_a5ba9d55a561740d19b2fed62bb86d18.jpg South African pilot Rudolph Erasmus was recently forced to make an emergency landing after a deadly Cape cobra was caught hiding under his seat midflight.Erasmus was flying with four passengers from Bloemfontein to Pretoria in a Beechcraft Baron 58 at 11,000 feet when he felt a "cold sensation" against his body. Looking down under the seat, the pilot discovered the cobra, whose venom can kill a person in half an hour.After gathering his strength, the pilot reported an unexpected companion. To the credit of all the passengers, they managed to avoid panic.The pilot has stated he and others initially searched for the snake before takeoff after being informed that a reptile had been spotted near the plane. However, when the group did not find it, they believed the snake had slithered away elsewhere - not onto the aircraft.Erasmus later radioed officials about the emergency situation, after which he was allowed to land at the nearest airport. All passengers left the plane safely and no one was injured. South African Civil Aviation Commissioner Poppy Khoza thanked Erasmus for his "great airmanship indeed, which saved all lives on board.""I think that's a bit blown up if I can be direct," Erasmus said, adding that "It's also my passengers that remained calm as well." https://sputnikglobe.com/20220817/toddler-bites-snake-back-kills-it---report-1099693089.html south africa Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Egor Shapovalov Egor Shapovalov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Egor Shapovalov cape cobra in a cockpit, south african pilot rudolph erasmus, plane incident, deadly snakes, venomous snakes https://sputnikglobe.com/20230406/trump-says-biden-responsible-for-afghan-exit-debacle-blames-his-disinformation-game-1109223866.html Trump Says Biden 'Responsible' for Afghan Exit Debacle, Blames His 'Disinformation Game' Trump Says Biden 'Responsible' for Afghan Exit Debacle, Blames His 'Disinformation Game' Former US President Donald Trump said in a statement that President Joe Biden is solely responsible for the debacle of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and the new report the White House released blaming the Trump administration for the withdrawal is disinformation. 2023-04-06T23:38+0000 2023-04-06T23:38+0000 2023-04-06T23:38+0000 world us afghanistan us troops in afghanistan us withdrawal taliban donald trump joe biden biden administration /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/08/0d/1099557934_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_c8ce93dc7301f1f7581f50608d688a91.jpg Trump criticized the Biden administration for taking the military out of Afghanistan first ahead of the airlift evacuation operation, leaving $85 billion worth of US military equipment in the country, and losing more than a dozen US troops in an attack at the airport.Earlier on Thursday, the White House released a summary report of the operation to evacuate US forces, citizens and Afghan allies out of Afghanistan in August 2021. The report claims Biden's plan to withdraw US forces from Afghanistan was "severely constrained" by the strategy he inherited from his predecessor.The summary report mentions Trump's reduction of American forces in Afghanistan from 10,000 to some 2,500 as he prepped for a withdrawal of US forces from the country, avoiding consultations with US allies while negotiating with the Taliban*, and pressuring the Afghan government to release 5,000 Taliban fighters from prison.The withdrawal that took place featured images of utter chaos at Kabul Airport and beyond with experts comparing the images to the fall of Saigon. The situation resulted in thousands of stranded Afghan allies and Americans left behind, a Taliban terror attack that left 13 US troops and 170 Afghan civilians dead and a retaliatory US strike that mistakenly killed an innocent family.The Taliban took power in Afghanistan in August of 2021, triggering the collapse of the US-backed government and accelerating the United States' troop pullout. On August 31, 2021, US forces completed their withdrawal from the country, ending the 20-year-long military presence there.*The Taliban is an organization under UN sanctions for terrorism. https://sputnikglobe.com/20221229/year-in-review-how-afghanistan-withdrawal-continued-to-haunt-washington-in-2022-1105887691.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20220813/afghan-allies-one-year-after-us-withdrawal-daring-escape-to-europe-hopeless-wait-1099539788.html afghanistan Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us withdrawal from afghanistan, trump blames biden for afghan, why did us fail in afghan, who is responsible for us fail in afghanistan, a summary report of the operation to evacuate us forces from afghan https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/blinken-admits-uss-lack-of-preparedness-for-hasty-afghanistan-withdrawal-1109232413.html Blinken Admits US's Lack of Preparedness for Hasty Afghanistan Withdrawal Blinken Admits US's Lack of Preparedness for Hasty Afghanistan Withdrawal The rapid fall of Kabul in 2021 took the United States by surprise and showed deficiencies in the US State Department's preparedness for the worst-case scenario in Afghanistan, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said. 2023-04-07T09:21+0000 2023-04-07T09:21+0000 2023-04-07T09:21+0000 americas us antony blinken afghanistan afghanistan war taliban /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/08/0d/1099557934_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_c8ce93dc7301f1f7581f50608d688a91.jpg Blinken spoke at a staff meeting on Thursday after the White House released the results of an after-action report on the Afghanistan withdrawal. Blinken spoke, as cited in the report, about the five lessons derived by the State Department from the review spanning from January 2020 to August 2021. In addition to poor planning, this included "competing and conflicting guidance" from Washington and lack of clear authority during evacuations, insufficient tracking of Americans in Afghanistan, and the US's not wanting to "send the wrong signal to Afghans and to the [US-backed Afghan] government," which eventually "inhibited" Washington's own contingency plans. The Taliban* took power in Afghanistan in August of 2021, triggering the collapse of the US-backed government and accelerating the US's troop pullout. On August 31, 2021, US forces completed their withdrawal from the country, ending the 20-year-long military presence there. The withdrawal of US troops featured images of utter chaos at Kabul Airport and beyond, with experts comparing the images to the fall of Saigon. The situation resulted in thousands of stranded Afghan allies and Americans left behind, a Taliban terrorist attack that left 13 US troops and 170 Afghan civilians dead and a retaliatory US strike that mistakenly killed an innocent family.*The Taliban is an organization under UN sanctions for terrorism. https://sputnikglobe.com/20221229/year-in-review-how-afghanistan-withdrawal-continued-to-haunt-washington-in-2022-1105887691.html americas afghanistan Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us, blinken, kabul evacuation, afghanistan, taliban, taliban overtakes kabul https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/bulgarian-farmers-resume-protests-over-cheap-ukrainian-grain-1109236302.html Bulgarian Farmers Resume Protests Over Cheap Ukrainian Grain Bulgarian Farmers Resume Protests Over Cheap Ukrainian Grain Bulgarian farmers will hold a new protest on Friday to demand that the government stop allowing duty-free imports of cheap Ukrainian grain, Bulgarian Association of Grain Producers head Ilia Prodanov has said. 2023-04-07T10:53+0000 2023-04-07T10:53+0000 2023-04-07T10:53+0000 economy ukrainian crisis bulgaria political protest /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/09/0e/1100758304_0:0:3094:1740_1920x0_80_0_0_cd66d0cb8c9a9bbe9f9aab9085d5d147.jpg The previous protest took place in late March, with Bulgarian farmers blocking the roads leading to border points through which Ukrainian grain is imported. The Friday blockade will be coordinated with Romanian farmers across the border. The four-hour protest will take place in the Bulgarian towns of Ruse and Kardam, he added. According to Prodanov, 3.5 million tonnes of Bulgarian wheat and 1 million tonnes of Bulgarian sunflower seeds are sitting in warehouses at the moment. He cited farmers in northern Bulgaria as complaining that the traffic of trucks carrying Ukrainian grain only intensified after their protest last week. In late March, the prime ministers of several European countries appealed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to resolve the crisis caused by the influx of Ukrainian grain. The letter, signed by the prime ministers of Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia said that a significant increase in supplies from Ukraine has caused an unprecedented growth in imports of grain, oil crops, eggs, poultry, sugar, apple juice, berries, apples, flour, honey and pasta products. On April 5, Polish Minister of Agriculture Henryk Kowalczyk resigned due to his inability to tackle the unbridled inflow of Ukrainian grain. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230402/influx-of-ukraines-cheap-grain-to-europe-fuels-anger-erodes-support-for-kiev-regime-1109048118.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230307/europe-uses-grain-deal-to-profiteer-from-africa-expert-says-1108137213.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International bulgaria, ukrainian grain, duty-free imports, ukrainian crisis https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/china-france-support-ideas-on-preventing-nuclear-war-arms-race-1109243919.html China, France Support Ideas on Preventing Nuclear War, Arms Race China, France Support Ideas on Preventing Nuclear War, Arms Race Beijing and Paris reaffirm their support for the prevention of a nuclear war and arms race, and call on the international community to prevent any armed attacks of peaceful nuclear facilities, China and France said in a joint statement on Friday. 2023-04-07T14:23+0000 2023-04-07T14:23+0000 2023-04-07T14:23+0000 world china france xi jinping emmanuel macron ukrainian crisis /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/06/1109198527_0:0:3115:1753_1920x0_80_0_0_d9c0d1242acf7fd264a6b1796b202c99.jpg Macron arrived in China on Thursday for a state visit, along with a delegation from the European Commission. He met with Chinese President Xi Jinping as well as other high-ranking Chinese officials. Both China and France condemn armed attacks on nuclear power plants and other peaceful nuclear facilities. Also Beijing and Paris agree to deepen strategic cooperation, namely the dialogue between the military. Meanwhile Beijing and Paris emphasize the importance of high-level exchanges and strategic dialogue. Finally, Beijing and Paris said in a joint statement on Friday that they support all efforts aiming to restore peace to Ukraine based on international law. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230406/macron-faces-the-dragon-1109206844.html china france Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International china, france, beijing, paris, ukrainian crisis, xi jinping, emmanuel macron Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 7) Thousands of devotees flocked to the streets of Quiapo in Manila for the return of the yearly procession of the image of the Black Nazarene on Good Friday. The motorcade, which started a few minutes after 11 p.m. Thursday, lasted for about one hour and 30 minutes. Roughly 11,000 people marched along the vicinity of the Quiapo Church, according to the Manila Police District (MPD). Authorities said they opted to begin the procession earlier than midnight to avoid any untoward incident. Security was tighter, with about 1,600 personnel deployed. We can say na very successful at nailatag lahat ng plano, MPD Director PBGen. Andre Dizon said when asked about their assessment. [Translation: We can say that it was very successful, and we were able to execute the plan well.] Fr. Earl Valdez, attached priest of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, shared the sentiment, noting the discipline of the devotees. Ito pong ruta na we are supposed to cover ay nadaanan natin. Nakita natin na mapayapa at sumusunod ang ating mga deboto, Valdez told reporters Kahit papano, yung pakiramdam na pananabik ng mga tao, naisakonteksto, naisalugar, napirmi. Alam nila na kung may kaguluhang naganap, hindi matutuloy, he added. [Translation: We were able to follow the designated route. The procession was peaceful, and our devotees were obedient. People must have learned to at least control their excitement. They knew any commotion could stop the procession.] Charlotte Mae Colon, who came all the way from Leyte, said it was her first time to see upclose the image of the Black Nazarene. Natuwa ako sobra kasi ilang years tayong nagkaroon ng pandemic [I was so happy because we were not able to do this for years because of the pandemic], Charlotte said. Very [overwhelming] and exciting. Long-time devotees John Paolo Oliveros and Adeng Reybas also could not hide their excitement. They both wished they could have at least laid a hand on the image of the holy statue. "Talagang sanay ako na naghahawak ng lubid, sumasampa sa karosa yung natural talagang tradisyon. Yun po sana yung gusto naming maibalik, pero masaya pa rin kami, John Paolo said. [Translation: Im used to the tradition of holding the rope to pull the Black Nazarene or riding on the carriage itself. Thats what I really wanted to experience again, but Im happy.] Okay naman. Pero sa susunod sana ilabas naman yung Poon para mabuhay na yung tunay na panata talaga, Adeng said as the carriage of the Nazarene was sealed with transparent cover. [Translation: It was okay. But I hope wed get to see the actual image of the Black Nazarene again next time to fully relive the tradition.] The annual Good Friday procession was called off in 2022 due to crowd control problems. It was supposed to be the first after two years amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials said the cooperation of devotees, which drove the success of the procession this time around, could be a good sign for the possible return of the Traslacion in 2024. Ito rin siguro yung kanilang expression na gusto na nilang maranasan muli yung Traslacion, the MPD director said. [Translation: This is perhaps their way of expressing how much they want to experience Traslacion again.] Masasabi ko pong positibong tanda ito, Valdez said. Itong improvement natin dito ay magiging benchmark natin sa mga susunod na pagpaplano. [Translation: I can say this is a positive sign. Such improvement could be a benchmark for our future plans] https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/chinas-saudi-iran-deal-indicates-us-no-longer-pulling-mideast-strings-1109246891.html China's Saudi-Iran Deal Indicates US No Longer Pulling Mideast Strings China's Saudi-Iran Deal Indicates US No Longer Pulling Mideast Strings Saudi Arabia and Iran held a high-level meeting in Beijing on April 6 and signed an agreement to reopen embassies and consulates following a breakthrough deal... 07.04.2023, Sputnik International 2023-04-07T16:51+0000 2023-04-07T16:51+0000 2023-04-07T17:01+0000 analysis us middle east opinion iran saudi arabia peace deal ukraine embassies joint comprehensive plan of action (jcpoa) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/0a/1108275765_0:120:1280:840_1920x0_80_0_0_57d0b17ed6b36ad1130c9235ae4c03c9.jpg "Iran has been trying to reestablish relations with Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf states for a number of years, as made evident in President Rouhanis 2019 proposal called the Hormuz Peace Endeavor, or HOPE," Mehran Kamrava, professor of government at Georgetown University in Qatar, told Sputnik. "President Raisi came to office declaring that improving relations with Irans Arab neighbors was also a top priority. The question then becomes: Why did the Saudis decide on normalization of relations now?"As per Kamrava, a few factors are at play here: first, the Iranians may help the Saudis to settle their longstanding conflict with the Houthis in Yemen; second, Saudi Arabia has realized that Iran is "a permanent neighbor, whereas the United States is an impermanent friend."Both Tehran and Riyadh were interested in ending hostilities, echoed Iranian-American activist and scholar Leila Zand.On March 10, Iran and Saudi Arabia announced that they had agreed to re-establish diplomatic ties after years of hostilities. At the time, the two Middle Eastern powers signaled their intent to re-open their respective embassies and re-implement a 22-year old security pact under which Tehran and Riyadh agreed to cooperate on terrorism, drug-smuggling and money-laundering.China's Role as Peace BrokerThe breakthrough became China's first major diplomatic victory in the Middle Eastern region which has long been considered Washington's domain of influence.The professor admitted that Beijing's mediation of the Middle Eastern row had come out of the blue: "China has traditionally not been a diplomatic presence in the Middle East, and this is an important development," he noted.Earlier, Beijing maintained working relations with both powers. In March 2021, China concluded a 25-year strategic cooperation agreement with Iran. "Both Iran and Saudi Arabia, of course, trade a great deal with China, and therefore there is significant influence that China can bring to bear on both states," the professor noted.Beijing has its own interest in mediating peace in the troublesome Middle Eastern region: on the one hand, it needs interrupted energy deliveries from the Persian Gulf; on the other hand, the region plays an important part in Beijing's ambitious Belt and Road Project.China sees peace as a vital condition for both domestic and global economic development. To that end, the Chinese leadership issued the country's new Global Security Initiative. The document, which was published in late February, lays out practical measures to address current security challenges and maintain peace around the world.US Losing Grip in Middle EastThe Saudi-Iranian deal brokered by China is a clear indication that Washington is losing its grip in the Middle East and elsewhere in the word, according to Mehran Kamrava.One should bear in mind that up until nowadays the United States has been the only power where it called itself as a mediator in various areas in the Middle East, including Israel, Palestine, for Egypt, noted Leila Zand.However, the Trump administration damaged relations with Tehran, while his successor, Joe Biden, almost ruined ties with the Saudi royals, most notably, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. OPEC+'s latest decision to further cut oil production was seen by some observers as a slap in the face of the Biden administration.To complicate matters further, the US has been dragged into internal power struggle and failing to manifest itself as an influential player in the region, according to Al Ibrahim.Washington is by no means enthusiastic about China's growing influence in the Middle East. Instead of hailing the settlement process between Iran and Saudi Arabia, some DC-based scholars lamented the fact that the Iran-Saudi Arabia detente could complicate efforts by the US and Israel to "strengthen a regional alliance to confront Iran" referring to Tehran's nuclear program.Last year, the Biden administration largely froze negotiations over the revival of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, which Washington unilaterally tore apart. Then-US President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018 even though Tehran fully observed the accord. In response, Iran started to loosen the requirements of the deal concerning the enrichment of uranium.On April 3, Axios reported that the Biden administration had recently been in discussion with its European and Israeli partners about striking a deal with Iran that would include some sanctions relief in exchange for Tehran freezing parts of its nuclear program. The effort followed the International Atomic Energy Agency's February report alleging that Iran had amassed 87.5 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium.It appears that the newly brokered Saudi-Iran detente could prompt the Biden administration to bring the issue of negotiations with Tehran back on the table after Washington suspended the nuclear talks and openly supported protests against the Iranian government last year.Meanwhile, it's likely that China may help diplomatically resolve other longstanding conflicts in the Middle East, according to Jeff J. Brown. However, it will take time, he added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230311/china-brokered-iran-saudi-deal-threatens-to-push-us-out-of-the-gulf-and-washington-knows-it-1108298905.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230312/praising-iran-saudi-pact-china-says-agreement-will-help-rid-region-of-external-interference-1108316681.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230406/foreign-ministers-of-saudi-arabia-and-iran-meet-in-beijing--1109187679.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/judge-napolitano-dems-want-trump-to-become-gop-nominee-to-make-him-lose-in-2024-1109234625.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230403/us-informs-israel-about-possibility-of-partial-nuclear-agreement-with-iran-1109094317.html iran saudi arabia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova china peace broker, china mediated deal iran and saudi arabia, saudi arabia and iran signed agreement in beijing, china reconciliation, us losing influence in middle east, opec+ cut oil production, biden's relations with saudi arabia, iran nuclear deal, joint comprehensive plan of action, china diplomacy, china belt and road initiative https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/ex-judge-lays-bare-nuances-of-trumps-court-affair-1109237563.html Ex-Judge Lays Bare Nuances of Trump's Court Affair Ex-Judge Lays Bare Nuances of Trump's Court Affair As Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg appears dead set on trying to have former US President Donald Trump convicted on numerous charges whose origins date back all the way to 2016, people begin pondering on ramifications of this unprecedented case. 2023-04-07T14:01+0000 2023-04-07T14:01+0000 2023-04-07T14:01+0000 americas donald trump donald trump's indictment video /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/07/1109241838_7:0:1141:638_1920x0_80_0_0_d346366c34f9d61f5d1364a9a2663bfe.jpg The ex-POTUS himself has so far appeared unflappable as he pleaded not guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records brought against him by the prosecution. Former New Jersey Superior Court Judge Andrew Napolitano sat down with Sputnik to discuss the nuances and potential consequences of Trumps litigation. americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Andrew Napolitano, Former New Jersey Superior Court Judge and host of the Judging Freedom Podcast Andrew Napolitano, Former New Jersey Superior Court Judge and host of the Judging Freedom Podcast 2023-04-07T14:01+0000 true PT38M21S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International donald trump indictment, donald trump charges, us, manhattan court, alvin bragg https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/france-should-submit-its-own-plan-on-conflict-resolution-in-ukraine-xi-jinping-says-1109245840.html France Should Submit Its Own Plan on Conflict Resolution in Ukraine, Xi Jinping Says France Should Submit Its Own Plan on Conflict Resolution in Ukraine, Xi Jinping Says Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday told French President Emmanuel Macron that Paris should propose its own plan on political settlement of conflict in Ukraine, adding that Beijing will support it. 2023-04-07T15:17+0000 2023-04-07T15:17+0000 2023-04-07T15:29+0000 world china france xi jinping emmanuel macron ukrainian crisis /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/04/1109096786_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_7b33cb22f96808e456b895c0772dffc8.jpg Xi added that China will never view the Ukrainian crisis in terms of self-interest.Xi also noted that the causes of the crisis in Ukraine are complex, and that its prolongation harms all parties. He stressed that "a political settlement is the only right way."Emmanuel Macron stressed that France is ready to closely work with China on a settlement to the Ukrainian crisis as soon as possible. A political solution to the Ukrainian crisis requires that the concerns of all parties should be taken into account, the president added. china france Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukrainian crisis, china, xi jinping, france, emmanuel macron https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/idf-israeli-military-currently-striking-targets-in-lebanon-after-earlier-rocket-attack-1109226666.html IDF Strikes Targets in Lebanon After Retaliatory Gaza Strip Launches: Videos IDF Strikes Targets in Lebanon After Retaliatory Gaza Strip Launches: Videos The Israel Defense Forces revealed early Friday that it has conducted airstrikes against Lebanon after an earlier rocket barrage by Palestinian forces located in the neighboring country were directed toward Israeli positions. 2023-04-07T01:25+0000 2023-04-07T01:25+0000 2023-04-07T05:55+0000 world israel lebanon airstrike hamas idf retaliatory strikes /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/04/11/1082654442_0:0:2972:1673_1920x0_80_0_0_ea3104e778c2350a6ea453953d2e7926.jpg The Israel Defense Forces revealed early Friday that it has conducted airstrikes against Lebanon after an earlier rocket barrage by Palestinian forces located in the neighboring country were directed toward Israeli positions."The IDF is currently striking in Lebanon," reads a tweet issued by the military force. A follow-up tweet detailed that Israeli military forces struck Hamas' infrastructure targets in southern Lebanon.A Lebanon-based broadcaster reported that three Israeli rockets landed south of the Lebanese city of Tyre. Two of the rockets landed in agricultural areas, and another one landed in the Qlaileh plain.A European news agency quoted its sources as reporting at least three explosions in southern Lebanon's Tyre region, also adding that one of the rockets allegedly fell on a farmhouse near a Palestinian refugee camp. Abu Ahmad, currently residing in the refugee camp said he "heard explosions," and that "at least two shells fell near" the camp.Acting Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Azmi Mikati stated earlier that Beirut condemned the rocket launches, and that the Lebanese army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were actively investigating the incident.He added that the Lebanese authorities "condemn the rocket launches from the south of the country, and the army and UNIFIL forces are stepping up their investigation."The prime minister said that all forces operating in the south of the country notified Beirut that they condemned the rocket launches.Earlier, 34 rockets were fired from Lebanese territory towards Israel, 25 of which were intercepted by the air defense systems. Five other projectiles landed on Israeli soil.UN peacekeepers in Lebanon were previously put on alert after rocket launches were fired at northern Israel on Thursday, a source at the mission told Sputnik.Shortly after news broke of the Israeli strikes in Lebanon, UNIFIL issued a statement on the latest rocket fire, noting that the body's chief was engaging in talks over the development.Shortly after detailing the Lebanon strikes, the IDF also announced new rocket attacks against the Gaza Strip."This morning (Friday), following continuing rocket fire from the Gaza Strip into Israel, IDF tanks and aircraft struck military positions of the Hamas terrorist organization along the border with the Gaza Strip," the IDF said.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned earlier Thursday that the Israeli government would be united in its actions against Israel's "enemies." After a security cabinet meeting, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant added that "Israel's defence establishment is prepared to face any threat, on any front." israel lebanon Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International idf, israeli military, lebanon, rocket attack https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/is-japan-plunging-ever-deeper-into-nato-1109200370.html Is Japan Plunging Ever Deeper Into NATO? Is Japan Plunging Ever Deeper Into NATO? Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi is convinced that it is time for his country to deepen its cooperation with NATO. At the same time, Tokyo is determined to take the lead in maintaining and strengthening the free and open international order. 2023-04-07T04:15+0000 2023-04-07T04:15+0000 2023-04-07T04:15+0000 asia japan nato militarization /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/06/1109214671_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_70054393758b71165627fcf39b7aa0bc.jpg Sputnik discussed with experts how such statements and its increasing militarization amid prospects of joining and becoming a full-fledged participant in NATO's strategy to militarily confront China in Asia fit in with Japan's pacifist constitution.According to Andrei Fesyun, an expert in Japanese studies at the Russian Higher School of Economics, Japan is not an independent country that makes or presents new proposals and initiatives in the international arena without the approval of the United States:This is especially evident at this time when Japan is led by Prime Minister Kishida, who is a completely pro-American figure. Therefore, Japan is now declaring what Washington and NATO need at the moment. A few decades ago, the US had the idea of creating a separate, so-called Far East NATO. A group of allied countries under the aegis of the Western military alliance and the US would focus on the European continent, and their interaction would be aimed exclusively at Russia. At the same time, the White House had plans to create a separate Far East NATO aimed exclusively against China. Meanwhile, at the moment there are no sharp differences between Russia and China. Today, their leaders meet and, even without concluding a military or political alliance, declare that their views and goals about what is happening in the world largely coincide. That is why NATO's earlier plan to divide the military bloc into two parts is no longer relevant to today's realities. And the statement of the head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry reflects the current main goal of the United States - to create a so-called anaconda loop around Russia and China. According to their strategy, this suffocating noose should consist of a chain of countries in Asia, ready at any moment to attack or conduct military operations against China and Russia.Earlier it was expressed in the tightening of the ring of NATO military bases and command centers only around Russia, allowing the rapid transfer of tank units and air strike groups of the Western military alliance to its European borders.Today, NATO is ready to implement this plan in Asia for the containment and, if necessary, military neutralization of China.This is precisely why the Western military alliance needs Japan, according to military analyst Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of National Defense magazine and director of the Center for Analysis of World Arms Trade:To create a nexus between NATO's global mission and its new military formats in the region, such as AUKUS. And not only with the help of Japan, but also with the help of South Korea and the inclusion of India, which would essentially constitute a NATO in the Far East. This, of course, affects the security issues of China, against which it will be primarily oriented. From a geopolitical point of view, the main inspirer of this combination is Washington, and Japan is only the executor. NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg recently visited the Asian region on this mission, visiting Tokyo and Seoul. And the agreements that were discussed with him behind closed doors are now being implemented by Tokyo in the form of statements on the international stage. Earlier, Prime Minister Kishida also initiated a series of doctrinal documents that expand the country's ability to project military power. First and foremost is the development of such destabilizing weapons as cruise missiles with a range of up to 1,500 km. Accordingly, as part of these changes, Japan will no longer have a Self-Defense Force, but a full-fledged armed force with increased size and strike capability.In the future, Japan may also apply to join the club of nuclear powers. The country's technological potential allows it to create nuclear weapons in a very short time, and the carriers will already be deployed in the country, believes Igor Korotchenko."China, of course, is extremely negative about this. Beijing is well aware that all the initiatives put forward today by the US, Japan and NATO are anti-Chinese in nature. They are aimed at deterring China in its desire to extend its influence to Australia. AUKUS was created as a counterbalance with the establishment of a nuclear submarine fleet. And the main goal is to create a new military bloc so that, among other things, China will not be able to carry out an operation to take control of Taiwan. The Chinese leader marked the readiness of the Chinese army for this by 2027. And the current actions taken by the US and its allies are Washington's response to disrupting these plans," the expert added.Korotchenko believes that it would also help to impose a new format of arms race on China and slow down its further economic development.Fesyun, for his part, believes that the words of Japan's chief diplomat that security in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region can no longer be discussed separately deserve special attention in this context.Japan and NATO are currently developing the Individually Tailored Partnership Program. And through this program, Japan intends to significantly strengthen its cooperation with NATO in many new areas.Meanwhile, Japan has never fought anywhere since 1945, despite having a technically well-equipped army. This raises the question: "Will tomorrow's Japanese military be willing to die for goals that are not Japanese but American?" the expert concluded. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230404/japan-sets-up-permanent-diplomatic-mission-to-nato-1109127308.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20170707/japan-nato-expand-security-cooperation-1055311231.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20150714/1024605456.html japan Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International japan, nato, militarization https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/israel-boosts-infantry-artillery-presence-in-south-north-1109233223.html Israel Boosts Infantry & Artillery Presence in South, North Israel Boosts Infantry & Artillery Presence in South, North TEL AVIV (Sputnik) - The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Friday it had expanded its infantry and artillery deployment in the south and north of the country... 07.04.2023, Sputnik International 2023-04-07T10:23+0000 2023-04-07T10:23+0000 2023-04-07T10:40+0000 world israel israel-gaza conflict lebanon hamas /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/07/1109233572_0:0:2927:1646_1920x0_80_0_0_46e4f0079e67b3184ba34da47a417b0b.jpg "Based on situation assessment, we have made a decision to expand our regular infantry and artillery forces the Southern Command and the Northern Command to strengthen the defense for all possible scenarios," IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said. The Israeli offensives in multiple directions overnight to Friday is a "clear indication" that the IDF is "capable, ready and prepared to carry out its missions," the spokesman said. Israeli media reported, citing Hagari, that 44 rockets had been fired overnight from the Gaza Strip in the direction of southern Israel. Nine of them failed to reach the border of the Palestinian territory, 12 fell into the sea, 14 landed in fields, one hit an apartment building in the city of Sderot, and eight were intercepted by the Iron Dome air defense system. Hagari also said that the Israeli air defense hit more than ten Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, using about 50 tonnes of ammunition. On Thursday, Israeli media reported that dozens of missiles had been fired from Lebanon, targeting border towns and cities located in the northern and western Galilee region. The IDF said that 34 missiles had been fired from Lebanon, 23 of them intercepted by the air defense systems. It blamed the attack on the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered command control to prepare for any potential response. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the same day that the perpetrators would pay for every act of aggression, adding that no internal political debate would interfere with that. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230405/israels-military-aircraft-striking-targets-in-gaza-strip-1109135836.html israel lebanon Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International israel, israel-gaza conflict, lebanon, hamas https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/kremlin-on-us-remark-on-kievs-counteroffensive-such-statements-carefully-monitored-1109234360.html Kremlin on US Remark on Kiev's Counteroffensive: Such Statements Carefully Monitored Kremlin on US Remark on Kiev's Counteroffensive: Such Statements Carefully Monitored Washington's statements about an imminent counteroffensive of the Ukrainian military are carefully monitored by the Russian military and are taken into account when planning the special military operation in Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday. 2023-04-07T12:31+0000 2023-04-07T12:31+0000 2023-04-07T12:31+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukrainian crisis antony blinken counter-offensive /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/0e/1105461261_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_c3d53e0f889aa37472cd48f9ebc1724e.jpg Earlier in the day, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told German news outlets that there could be a possible counteroffensive by Ukraine in the coming weeks. Antony Blinken has repeatedly commented on alleged Ukrainian counteroffensive. Previously he stressed that Washington is not actively encouraging Ukraine to retake control of Crimea. He added that the attack on Russian peninsula will be a red line for Moscow that may provoke full-scale retaliation. However Blinken strressed that it is up to Kiev alone to decide.Crimea reunited with Russia in 2014 after a referendum in which over 96% of the peninsula's voters were in favor of reunification. On March 6, 2014, the Crimean parliament voted for the autonomous republic's reunification with Russia. The referendum date was set for March 16. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on March 21 to ratify the reunification treaties with the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230405/bill-clinton-regrets-stripping-ukraine-of-nukes-but-not-nato-expansion-which-sparked-a-proxy-war-1109169000.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia special operation in ukraine, russia special op, moscow, kremlin, blinken, ukrainian crisis https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/latest-developments-in-israel-palestine-sonflict-1109235922.html Latest Developments in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Latest Developments in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Regional tensions reached a boiling point earlier this week, when Israeli forces stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque, arresting hundreds of Palestinian worshippers for "violently barricading" themselves inside the religious sanctuary. 2023-04-07T18:54+0000 2023-04-07T18:54+0000 2023-04-07T19:04+0000 sputnik explains israel lebanon hamas tensions airstrikes /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/07/1109235587_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_b9f5a1c1119deb3889da7f04847e16b2.jpg Things took a turn for the worse earlier this week when Israeli security forces raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque one of the holiest places in Islam, located on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem where thousands of Muslim worshippers were performing an overnight prayer.The Israeli police ended up arresting hundreds of Palestinian worshippers, alleging that the latter were "violently barricading" themselves inside the religious sanctuary.The raid, conducted amid the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, prompted a rocket barrage fired from Lebanon into northern Israel, which Israeli authorities blamed on Hamas.The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) retaliated with airstrikes against targets in southern Lebanon and Gaza on Friday, claiming that they were attacking Hamas assets, while Palestinian militants in Gaza responded by launching rockets at Israeli territory.So what are these rising regional tensions all about and will there be further escalation? Sputnik explores.What are the Latest Developments?The IDFs Home Front Command has lifted restrictions on residents of towns located close to the border with the Gaza Strip. These include the southern city of Sderot and the nearby towns of Ibim and Nir Am, according to Israeli media.The developments came hours after the IDF instructed residents to remain close to bomb shelters, anticipating further rocket attacks from Gaza. Several media outlets have quoted unnamed sources as saying that unless more projectiles are launched at Israel, the current round of hostilities might be over.A spokesman for the IDF has also said that the Israeli operation was over for the moment, stating that nobody wants an escalation right now.""Quiet will be answered with quiet, at this stage I think, at least in the coming hours, he added.Tel Aviv's Stance on Missile ExchangeThe Israeli military says it hit a number of targets belonging to Hamas in southern Lebanon. According to the IDF, they attacked infrastructure targets and other sites of what Tel Aviv sees as a terror group.The IDF will not allow the terrorist organization Hamas to operate from Lebanon and considers the state of Lebanon responsible for all fire from its territory, the military noted.Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned earlier on Thursday that the Israeli government would be united in its actions against the states "enemies." After a security cabinet meeting, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant added that the countrys defense establishment is prepared to face any threat, on any front."How Lebanon Reacted to Israeli Strikes?Lebanese authorities have condemned the Israeli attacks, describing them as a flagrant violation of Lebanons sovereignty.Lebanese Foreign Ministry said that the country's mission to the UN would submit a complaint to the UN Security Council against the Israeli "bombing and aggression."What Does Hamas Say?Hamas, for its part, said in a statement that they strongly condemn the blatant Zionist aggression against Lebanon." This was echoed by Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who said that the government categorically rejects any military escalation, as well as the use of Lebanon to stage acts that threaten stability.Hamas member Basem Naim has, meanwhile, told the Qatar-based broadcaster that people in Gaza have no place to hide and that rocket fire was a way for the enclave to defend itself from Israel.What Does UN Peacekeeping Force Think?The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), in turn, has called for restraint.Both sides (Lebanon and Israel) have said they do not want a war. The actions over the past day are dangerous and risk a serious escalation, UNIFIL said in a statement, adding that mission head Major General Aroldo Lazaro was speaking to authorities on both sides of the border.What Fuelled Current Escalation? The latest surge in tension followed fresh Israeli violence inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem on Tuesday, when dozens of Palestinians were injured during clashes with Israeli riot police who used stun grenades, gas, rubber bullets, batons and stocks of rifles.Prime Minister Netanyahu insisted that the police "had to act to restore order", adding, "Israel is committed to maintaining freedom of worship, free access to all religions and the status quo on the Temple Mount, and will not allow violent extremists to change this."It was echoed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh, who condemned the raid, describing it as an attack on Muslim worshippers. "We warn the Occupation [Israel] not to cross the red lines in the holy places, which will lead to the big explosion," the spokesman said.Palestine Center for Prisoners Studies director Riyad Al-Ashqar, for his part, told journalists that the Israeli forces detained over 200 Palestinians during the raid, which reportedly left at least 50 Palestinians injured.Following the clashes, at least 16 rockets from Gaza and 34 more from Lebanon were launched on Israel, triggering sirens in communities located in the Jewish states southern areas.What is Al-Aqsa Mosque?The al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, is located on a hill known by Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary) and by Jews as the Temple Mount, which is regarded as a holy place by Muslims, Christians and religious Jews.The 14-hectare (35-acre) compound houses the al-Qibli Mosque and the Islamic shrine Dome of the Rock.The clashes over the status of the complex have been going on for a long time, since the hill it sits upon is considered holy both by Muslim Palestinians and by Jews.Palestinians have repeatedly accused Israel of hindering their access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and allowing large numbers of Jewish visitors to the site under police escort, claiming it is a violation of the present agreements on the site between the two sides.Al-Aqsa Mosque-related tensions in May 2021 prompted Hamas to fire scores of rockets towards Jerusalem, triggering an 11-day conflict with Israel, which claimed the lives of at least 256 Palestinians and 13 people in the Jewish state.Two-State Solution The two-state solution is a proposal championed by the United Nations, which is meant to peacefully resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and perhaps create a foundation for lasting peace in the Middle East.This plan envisions the creation of a Palestinian state that will peacefully coexist with the existing state of Israel.Relations between Israelis and Palestinians remain volatile since Israels creation back in 1948.While Palestinians seek to secure recognition of their state that would exist on the territories of the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and the Gaza Strip, Israel simply does not regard the Palestinian Authority as an independent political and diplomatic entity and continues building settlements on the lands that Palestinians consider their own. israel lebanon Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg conflict between palestine and israel, israelipalestinian conflict, arab-israeli conflict, hamas-israel missile exchange https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/lavrov-attends-working-dinner-with-cavusoglu-in-ankara---turkish-foreign-ministry-1109226226.html Lavrov Attends Working Dinner With Cavusoglu in Ankara - Turkish Foreign Ministry Lavrov Attends Working Dinner With Cavusoglu in Ankara - Turkish Foreign Ministry Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, after arriving in the Turkish capital of Ankara on Thursday, has held a working dinner with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, a video released by the Turkish Foreign Ministry showed. 2023-04-07T01:09+0000 2023-04-07T01:09+0000 2023-04-07T01:09+0000 world russia turkiye sergey lavrov mevlut cavusoglu akkuyu akkuyu nuclear power plant grain exports /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107865/53/1078655337_0:178:3007:1869_1920x0_80_0_0_dde28a6d79319d59543cb7e82eef66ac.jpg The short video, obtained by Sputnik from the Turkish ministry, shows the two diplomats together with their accompanying delegations over dinner. The Turkish ministry noted in the video's description that it was an iftar dinner, the fast-breaking evening meal of Muslims during Ramadan, although the Russian minister does not fast as he is not a Muslim.The video has no sound, so the topics of the meeting is yet unknown.Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also posted pictures of the dinner on Telegram, noting "Sergey Lavrov arrived on a visit in Ankara. Today - a working dinner, tomorrow the negotiations."On Friday, Lavrov is expected to meet with Cavusoglu to discuss the prospects of bilateral cooperation, in particular in energy and tourism, as well as regional issues, including the resumption of relations between Armenia and Turkiye and the situation in the Middle East.The two ministers will also exchange views on the Ukrainian crisis and its peace settlement, discuss the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the issue of unblocking access to the Russian agricultural products and fertilizers for international economic operators.The normalization of the Syrian-Turkish relations is expected to be another key topic of the negotiations, following four-party consultations held by Syrian, Turkish, Russian and Iranian deputy foreign ministers in Moscow from April 3-4.Lavorv and Cavusoglu are also set to focus on the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant with Russian participation. The ceremony of loading of nuclear fuel at the Turkiyes first nuclear power plant will be held on April 27. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230406/lavrov-in-turkey-whats-on-the-agenda-of-his-talks-with-cavusoglu-1109187989.html russia turkiye Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International lavrov visits turkey, lavrov cavusoglu dinner, akkuyu nuclear power plant, syrian, turkish, russian and iranian deputy fm in moscow, russia affects middle east how, russia turkey relations, https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/macrons-beijing-mission-will-fail-to-split-china-from-russia-experts-say-1109233941.html Macron's Beijing Mission Will Fail to Split China From Russia, Experts Say Macron's Beijing Mission Will Fail to Split China From Russia, Experts Say Emmanuel Macron may have hoped to drive a wedge between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, but he will instead go home red-faced, argue K J Noh and Dr Kenneth Hammond. 2023-04-07T14:30+0000 2023-04-07T14:30+0000 2023-04-07T14:30+0000 world us china taiwan emmanuel macron ursula von der leyen xi jinping european union (eu) european commission ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/06/1109208051_0:161:3070:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_20ed30ef3b2e13be855e734a0a987beb.jpg French President Emmanuel Macron's will leave Beijing empty-handed if he hopes to change China's stance on Russia and Ukraine, scholars have said.Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen flew to the Chinese capital on Wednesday for talks with President Xi Jinping.On the agenda was China's 12-point blueprint for a ceasefire in Ukraine, which calls on the Kiev's western backers to abandon their "Cold War" mentality and unilateral use of coercive sanctions and heed Russia's security concerns.Dr Kenneth Hammond told Sputnik that the leaders' mission was based on a "false expectation" that China would "jump ship and suddenly throw itself in with the US-led forces in the West" against Russia's military operation in Ukraine.The lecturer condemned the "demonization of China" in Western media and politics in his country."The negative portrayal of China has been so relentless, for at least the last decade and more," Hammond said. "The American government, especially in just the last few years, has been relentless in trying to shut down communication, knowledge, information exchange between people in China and people in the West."The Confucius Institutes, where Americans can learn the Chinese language, have been suppressed, while Chinese academics working in the US "have been targeted by the FBI and the Justice Department on grounds that are all almost always dismissed as having no real basis in fact."He recalled taking many groups of Americans on trips to China over the years. "When they get there, the first thing they say is 'What the heck is going on here? Where are all the police? Why do these people look happy? How come they're wearing decent clothes?'," Hammond said. "We just have this this mythology that China is poor and oppressed and everybody's suffering and the government is brutal and all."K J Noh pointed out to Sputnik that Macron's trip to Beijing came as he was facing "terrific" protests against his attempt to raise the state pension age from 62 to 64, "so now he's beating down protesters all over France."Macron is "trying to do the kind of global statesman impression," the scholar said, walking a tightrope between his country's interests and those of the US which "has been putting tremendous pressure on France and all the EU nations to fall into line... they want them to decouple from China."The journalist argued that Macron's approach was a "veiled refutation of the US position" and an "endorsement of China's peace plan" which Washington has rejected out of hand.Von der Leyen's presence, by contrast, was on US orders to act as a "chaperone" to make sure Macron doesn't go too far off the track."Macron has a weakness for matronly people who tell him what to do, and he may fall in line," the scholar cracked in a jibe at the French president's marriage to his former schoolteacher."Von der Leyen is charging that China is pursuing systematic change of the international order, and she wants to reset relations with China and she wants to 'de-risk' relations," Noh noted. "De-risk means it's a soft word for decouple."Beijing's refusal to criticize Moscow over its conflict with US proxy Ukraine in defence of the Russian-speaking population of the Donbass, Crimea, Zaporozhye and Kherson may stem from Washington's recent change in stance towards Taiwan.Former US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi, a member of President Joe Biden's Democratic Party, made an unannounced visit to Taipei last August on a US Air Force jet, meeting President Tsai Ing-wen in breach of Washington's stated 'one China policy' of recognizing Beijing's authority over both the mainland and the island province.That prompted a breakdown in relations with China and a rise in military tensions, more recently exacerbated by the US shooting-down of a Chinese weather balloon that drifted over US territory. "The reality of it is that the US is escalating to war," Noh warned, tracing Washington's hostility to Beijing back to the end of the Second World War and the Chinese revolution.Even after the US altered its 'one China' policy to recognise only the People's Republic of China, it still maintained "grey-zone relations" with Taiwan where "we send them troops and we send them weapons, but not really... kind of don't ask, don't tell situation."For more sharp analysis, check out our radio line-up. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230406/macron-xi-talks-french-president-wants-to-relaunch-strategic-and-global-partnership-with-china-1109185978.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230406/china-will-not-make-any-concessions-on-taiwan-issue-xi-jinping-says-1109210832.html china ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png china, france, emmanuel macron, xi jinping, beijing, russia, ukraine, us, taiwan, ursula von der leyen, european union, eu Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 7) The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Friday said three Africans were recently intercepted at the Mactan international airport for possibly being victims of an international human trafficking syndicate operating in the Philippines. It appears that these Africans were victimized by a trafficking syndicate that uses the Philippines as a transit point for smuggling illegal aliens to other countries, BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said in a statement. Tansingco said the passengers from Senegal, which included two minors and their mother, were intercepted on March 30 and were supposed to board a Korean Airlines flight to Seoul, the agency noted. Upon inspection, authorities noticed that their passports did not have immigration arrival stamps, BI said. The victims claimed that they arrived in the Philippines onboard a boat, it added. The female Senegalese and her two children were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Cebu for assistance, prior to their return to their originating port, BI said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/moscows-deputy-pm-visits-made-in-russia-stand-in-vietnam-1109247369.html Moscow's Deputy PM Visits Made in Russia Stand in Vietnam Moscow's Deputy PM Visits Made in Russia Stand in Vietnam The official delegation of Russia led by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko visited the "Made in Russia" stand organized by the Russian Export Center... 07.04.2023, Sputnik International 2023-04-07T16:49+0000 2023-04-07T16:49+0000 2023-04-07T16:49+0000 russian export center jsc (rec) economy russia vietnam made in russia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/07/1109248085_0:20:3100:1764_1920x0_80_0_0_586928c7e9f1bfa0bf7a5be49f63fdcb.jpg As part of the trade fair tour, the official delegation assessed the potential of the developments and the companies that are interested in a quick entry into the markets of Vietnam and Southeast Asia.The deputy prime minister recommended that companies submit their proposals to the "Plan-2030", which is being developed within the framework of the Russian-Vietnamese intergovernmental commission. The plan sets specific parameters for doing business in Vietnam year-by-year. The Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education are responsible for this direction.Russian national exposition under the brand "Made in Russia" is presented for the first time at the Vietnam Expo. Russian companies showcase a wide range of services, food products, technologies and industrial equipment. These include soya-based vegetable drinks, beef, unique natural mineral Baikal water, NEMS electrical insulation inserts, weld protection sleeves, and polyethylene-lined steel pipes.In addition, entrepreneurs conduct negotiations with potential foreign partners. These are representatives from Southeast Asia, China, Korea, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, and other countries. In total, more than 200 B2B meetings are planned, organized by the experts of the Russian Export Center. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230405/made-in-russia-showcases-products-technologies--services-at-vietnam-expo-1109163394.html russia vietnam Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian export center jsc (rec), russia, vietnam, made in russia https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/no-10-to-restart-us-uk-trade-deal-talks-amid-bidens-upcoming-visit-to-northern-ireland-report-1109229583.html No 10 to Restart US-UK Trade Deal Talks Amid Bidens Upcoming Visit to Northern Ireland: Report No 10 to Restart US-UK Trade Deal Talks Amid Bidens Upcoming Visit to Northern Ireland: Report With bilateral negotiations in place since 2020, a trade agreement between Britain and America is not expected soon, according to the UK parliaments website. 2023-04-07T06:26+0000 2023-04-07T06:26+0000 2023-04-07T06:26+0000 world us uk trade deal negotiations northern ireland joe biden visit /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/07/1109229425_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_7ec9ea4dc487fed12717cca75164ff32.jpg No 10 wants to privately lobby the US to restart talks on a bilateral trade deal when President Joe Biden visits Northern Ireland on April 11, a US news outlet has reported.It cited unnamed sources as saying that UK Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch has been leading Downing Streets efforts to get what London hopes will be a trade accord in all but name.The next step is expected to be negotiations on unresolved issues not related to market access, the insiders argued, adding that the final stage may see talks on the reduction or removal of tariffs.When asked about the plan, the Department for Business and Trade only said that the UK would continue working with the US at a state and federal level to unlock huge opportunities for businesses and boost collaboration on SMEs, supply chains and digital trade.Senior US officials have also kept mum on the matter, with the countrys National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett only stressing the importance of continuing to deepen the strong, enduring economic relationship between the UK and the US.Democratic lawmakers are, however, calling for a reinvigoration of the Washington-London trade talks, pointing to the fact that the UK and the EU had managed in late February to clinch a deal over Northern Ireland, known as the Windsor Framework.He spoke as Chris Coons, the Democratic senator from Delaware and a close ally of Biden, reportedly introduced legislation that would give the US president the authority to negotiate a free trade agreement with the UK.According to the British newspaper, the bill would give Biden two years, or until a few months into a hypothetical second term, to secure an agreement and fast-track a vote in Congress to approve any deal.London and Washington have been negotiating a trade deal since the UKs withdrawal from the EU in 2020. British lawmakers remain downbeat about progress in the talks, claiming that the agreement is not expected in the immediate future. https://sputnikglobe.com/20220520/us-delegation-heads-to-europe-to-defuse-tensions-over-ni-protocol-broker-uk-eu-trade-deal--1095653126.html northern ireland Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg us-uk trade deal, talks on us-uk trade deal, us president joe biden's upcoming visit to northern ireland, windsor framework https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/no-donald-trump-is-above-the-law-1109224590.html No Donald Trump is Above the Law No Donald Trump is Above the Law In the United States, no man is above the law, not even the presidenteven if his name is Donald J. Trump. 2023-04-07T00:17+0000 2023-04-07T00:17+0000 2023-04-07T00:14+0000 analysis donald trump donald trump's indictment stormy daniels hush money /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/05/1109135571_0:155:2964:1822_1920x0_80_0_0_4b77c387f93819331e9bd4cd8c404be6.jpg A decade before 1884, when he was elected to his first US presidential term, Grover Cleveland fathered a child with Maria Halpin, a widow. Thing is, she testified under oath that Cleveland had raped her. Ambitious and wealthy, Cleveland did what any rich, mean 19th century dude would do: he arranged to have the baby sent off to an orphanage and the mother committed to an insane asylum. (It didnt take. They let her go.) For good measure, he had her smeared in the press as an alcoholic. As it happened, Halpin turned out to be an upstanding churchgoer with a good reputation.No charges were ever filed against Cleveland.Former US President Ronald Reagans best-known scandal was the Iran-Contra affair, in which his administration violated its own sanctions and sold weapons to Iran and broke federal law by spending the proceeds on right-wing death squads in Central America. He wasnt new to this sort of thing.Worried that the American embassy personnel who were seized as hostages by Iran might get released before the 1980 election, thus allowing Jimmy Carter to win reelection, three top Reagan officialscampaign manager and future CIA director James Casey, former Texas governor John Connally and Connallys protege Ben Barnespromised the Iranians to sell them arms in exchange for their promise not to release the hostages until after the election. True to their side of the deal, Iran sent them home a few hours after Reagan took the inaugural oath. Reagan reneged on the weapons.Reagan was never charged.The Gipper may have been inspired by the Chennault Affair, then-GOP candidate Richard Nixons scheme to undermine incumbent Lyndon Johnsons efforts to achieve peace in Vietnam and thus deny the White House to Hubert Humphrey.Two weeks before the 1968 election, things were looking up for the Democrats. Worried about a Nixon victory because he was rabidly anti-communist, the USSR ordered its North Vietnam, its client state, to agree to a peace deal. LBJ agreed to stop bombing the North. All that remained was getting South VietnamAmericas clienton board.So Nixon used back channels (Mrs. Chennault) to ask South Vietnams president to boycott the peace talks, promising continued military and economic support after he won. The South Vietnamese leader scuttled the deal, Nixon won and the war ground on seven more years, killing hundreds of thousands more people. This is treason, LBJ said when FBI wiretaps revealed the plot.Nixon wasnt charged.Executive Order 12333, signed by Reagan, states: No person employed by or acting on behalf of the United States Government shall engage in, or conspire to engage in, assassination. Its still the law of the land.Reagan didnt follow his own rule. He ordered a hit on Lebanese cleric Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah in 1984; Fadlallah escaped unscathed but 80 innocent bystanders were killed. In 1986, he bombed Moammar Gaddafis home, killing the Libyan rulers infant daughter.No charges there.Fellow US Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden murdered thousands of people in drone strikeseach and every one of them by definition a political assassination (a person killed for what he represents politically). Obama ordered the murder of Osama bin Laden and Trump murdered Qasem Soleimani, a top Iranian general.No charges.Actress Heather Lind accused George H.W. Bush of groping her at a 2014 photo-op. Juanita Broaddrick says Bill Clinton raped her in 1978, when he was Arkansas attorney general. Tara Reade claims Joe Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993.No charges have been filed in any of these cases.Richard Nixon received a presidential pardon from his successor, Gerald Ford, whom he had appointed. So he was immune from prosecution for Watergate.Bill Clinton paid $25,000 in order to avoid being prosecuted for perjury in the Paula Jones case.From Andrew Jackson, who killed a guy in a duel in 1806dueling was already illegal at the timeto Bush, Obama and Trump, who all presided over Guantanamo torture campthe US is a signatory of the Convention Against Torture, which makes it a treaty obligation and thus carries the full weight of federal lawno president or former president has ever faced criminal charges.Until now.Merciful and easygoing by nature, the American people can easily turn a blind eye to a run-of-the-mill political assassinationor a thousand of them. Who of us can say we havent killed a man in a duel? Rape is unpleasant for the victim, but think how much worse it would be for the rapist if that rapist were a president or former presidentbetter to move on.Conspiring with a foreign country to manipulate a presidential election strikes one as gauche, even tackyespecially when they mean extra-long wars or extra time spent as a hostage. But going after a president or former president over such things seems excessive. Best not to think about such matters, much less act upon them.Even in America, this most permissive of countries if youre rich and white and powerful, there are limits. And that limit is: falsifying business records in order to violate federal campaign finance laws in the course of paying a former mistress to shut up. Donald J. Trump has crossed that hard line.And he must pay.If Trump, the worst president America has ever had and ever could have, and the worst person the human race has ever produced, doesnt go to prison for the maximum five years over paying hush money to Stormy Daniels, it will send an awful message:Anything goes.Cant have that!(Ted Rall (Twitter: @tedrall), the political cartoonist, columnist and graphic novelist, co-hosts the left-vs-right DMZ America podcast with fellow cartoonist Scott Stantis. You can support Teds hard-hitting political cartoons and columns and see his work first by sponsoring his work on Patreon.) https://sputnikglobe.com/20230405/dangerous--illegal-overreach-gop-allies-slam-trumps-criminal-indictment-1109142759.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230405/trump-indictment-to-set-precedent-for-law-manipulation-for-political-purposes-us-senator-1109158106.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ted Rall https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125340_0:0:360:360_100x100_80_0_0_1ed1a3494a53cde87e19521c3658fe92.jpg Ted Rall https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125340_0:0:360:360_100x100_80_0_0_1ed1a3494a53cde87e19521c3658fe92.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ted Rall https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125340_0:0:360:360_100x100_80_0_0_1ed1a3494a53cde87e19521c3658fe92.jpg donald trump, us, hush money payments, us public https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/over-60-of-french-think-macron-becoming-more-authoritarian-since-2017-1109244253.html Over 60% of French Think Macron Becoming More Authoritarian Since 2017 Over 60% of French Think Macron Becoming More Authoritarian Since 2017 Over 60% of the French believe that President Emmanuel Macron has become more authoritarian since taking office in 2017, according to a poll conducted by Viavoice for the French newspaper 2023-04-07T14:28+0000 2023-04-07T14:28+0000 2023-04-07T14:28+0000 world france emmanuel macron /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/02/1c/1107863570_0:0:2855:1606_1920x0_80_0_0_903ef6b28588c4857732ccddf59c90a7.jpg The survey also showed that 72% of respondents think Macron has become worse at uniting people than at the beginning of his first term, with almost 60% doubting his ability to counter the country's economic challenges. Fifty-five percent said Macron's professional performance overall declined. Only 15% of people consider Macron to be close to ordinary citizens, which is down 11 percentage points compared to September 2021, according to the poll. The poll was conducted from March 31 to April 4. Macron's popularity has flagged ever since he pushed a controversial pension reform through parliament without a vote to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. In March, Macron's approval rating dropped to 28%, a low unseen since the 2019 Yellow Vest protests, according to an IFOP poll commissioned by French magazine. Earlier in April, an Elabe survey found that French right-wing leader Marine Le Pen would beat Macron 55% to 45% if a vote took place now. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230319/macrons-approval-rating-drops-to-record-low-of-28-amid-pension-reform-poll-1108576489.html france Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International emmanuel macron, emmanuel macron authoritarian, poll, macron poll https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/report-biden-administration-investigating-leak-of-alleged-us-nato-military-plans-for-ukraine-1109227800.html Report: Biden Administration Investigating Leak of Alleged US, NATO Military Plans for Ukraine Report: Biden Administration Investigating Leak of Alleged US, NATO Military Plans for Ukraine The Biden administration is reportedly investigating a leak of classified documents that allegedly detail US and NATO plans for the Ukrainian military ahead of its counteroffensive this spring against Russian forces. 2023-04-07T03:30+0000 2023-04-07T03:30+0000 2023-04-10T12:47+0000 world nato us biden administration military future plans pentagon leaks /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107731/08/1077310812_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_b9d03b62407b2c11af15139cf691bb99.jpg Citing senior officials, the New York Times reported the documents were leaked on Twitter and Telegram and represent a significant breach of US intelligence. The documents reportedly contain information of anticipated weapons deliveries, US estimates of Ukrainians and Russians killed in the conflict, and force strength estimates, but no specific battle plans. The documents are from March 1 and depict US and Ukrainian perspectives of what is needed for the counteroffensive, but there were no details about when or where Kiev would launch its operation, according to the report. The report said the documents outline that 12 Ukrainian combat brigades are being assembled with nine of them apparently being trained and supplied by the United States and other NATO countries. The documents also claim that more than 250 tanks and more than 350 vehicles would be needed. Moreover, the report said the documents show the expenditure rate of US-supplied HIMARS munitions, which had not been previously disclosed by the Pentagon. The US administration, as of Thursday evening, has unsuccessfully tried to get the documents deleted on the social media platforms, the report added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230323/us-and-eu-cant-afford-natos-long-proxy-war-against-russia-in-ukraine-1108732153.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International biden administration, us, nato, ukraine, military plans, https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/russia-and-turkiye-seeking-to-restore-europes-eurasia-ties-disrupted-by-us-1109249960.html Russia and Turkiye Seeking to Restore Europe's Eurasia Ties Disrupted by US Russia and Turkiye Seeking to Restore Europe's Eurasia Ties Disrupted by US Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu on April 7 after arriving in the Turkish capital of Ankara. The two... 07.04.2023, Sputnik International 2023-04-07T18:44+0000 2023-04-07T18:44+0000 2023-04-07T18:44+0000 russia turkiye analysis europe us eurasia grain nato ukraine nord stream /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/07/1109231161_0:17:1280:737_1920x0_80_0_0_6334bd3b882afcbe1d9cc811fa12137d.jpg Sergey Lavrov and Mevlut Cavusoglu drew particular attention to the grain deal brokered by Turkiye last year between Moscow and Kiev during their joint presser Thursday.Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu emphasized that it is necessary to lift all obstacles to the supply of Russian grain and fertilizers to world markets. Russia is one of the biggest exporters of food and other agricultural commodities and its role in thwarting the food crisis in the Global South could hardly be overestimated, according to Sputnik's interlocutors.Moscow, Kiev, Ankara and the United Nations concluded a deal to ensure safe passage of vessels carrying food and fertilizers from Ukrainian Black Sea ports on July 22, 2022. The deal, originally scheduled to expire on November 18, was extended for another 120 days on November 17. On March 18, 2023, Russia extended the grain deal again, for 60 days.The grain deal makes Turkiye and Russia a viable alternative for the Global South, according to Turkish political expert Dr. Bilal Sambur.Meanwhile, earlier this week Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin chastized the US, the EU and the UK for falsely claiming that sanctions they have imposed over the Ukrainian conflict do not curb Russian exports of food and fertilizers.The Global South is struggling to survive the food crisis and the Russian agricultural industry has means to help it. In 2022, Russia collected over 150 million tons of grain, including more than 100 million tons of wheat. In his February address to the Federal Assembly, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that until the end of the agricultural year, by June 30, 2023, Russia would be able to bring the total volume of grain export to 55-60 million tons.Turkiye-Syria NormalizationThe Russian and Turkish top diplomats also touched upon the situation in the Middle East and the preparation of the ministerial meeting between Turkiye, Russia, Iran and Syria. The primary goal of the forthcoming talks is to normalize relations between Damascus and Ankara which were disrupted during the Syrian civil war. Earlier, the meeting of Turkish and Syrian defense ministers took place in December 2022 for the first time in 11 years.The Turkish expert also placed emphasis on the importance of expelling the US-backed Kurdish militias as well as Daesh*-like terrorist organizations operating on Syrian territory. Ankara sees the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) and their political wing (PYD) as affiliates of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) designated as a terrorist organization in Turkiye."Turkiye, Russia and Iran have developed a joint initiative for the solution of the Syria problem with the Astana process that started in 2015. And today we have come to the last point," Guzaltan stressed."Russia is the only country which could convince Syria to enter a dialogue with Turkiye," echoed Dr. Sambur. "Everything depends on Russia in Syria-Turkish relations. Without Russia nothing is possible."Russo-Turkish Gas HubWhile peace in Syria could help restore stability in the region, the Russo-Turkish gas hub project could reinvigorate its economic development. On Friday, Lavrov and Cavusoglu brought focus to the work on the creation of the gas infrastructure for the transportation of Russian hydrocarbons.Following the sabotage attack on Russia's Nord Stream pipelines in September 2022, which, according to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Seymour Hersh was conducted by US and Norwegian operatives, the presidents of Turkiye and Russia came up with the Turkish gas hub plan. According to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, the idea is not only to create a trading platform in Turkiye but also to develop infrastructure and increase the volume of supplies to Europe. Algeria, Qatar and Azerbaijan could jump on the Russo-Turkish bandwagon as suppliers.For his part, Onur Guzaltan suggested that Putin and Erdogan are fixing to solve a broader problem, i.e. Washington's attempts to separate Europe from Eurasia through the Ukraine conflict. The same reason is behind the US-based sanctions and the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline: to break the Old Continent's ties with the East and Russia thus forcing the European countries to become completely dependent on the US. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230320/cooperation-between-russia-africa-reaches-new-level-president-putin-says-1108598711.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230401/mozambique-sees-no-un-ships-with-grain-as-wheat-products-grow-more-expensive--envoy-1109025247.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230406/turkish-parliament-approves-botas-structural-changes-to-create-new-gas-hub-media-reports-1109197902.html russia turkiye eurasia ukraine syria Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova russia-turkish meeting, russia-turkiye gas hub, grain deal, extension of russo-ukrainian grain deal, russian gain and fertilizers, turkiye-russia energy cooperation, nord stream sabotage, syria-turkiye talks, syria-turkiye normalization, europe's ties with russia, europe ties eurasia, europe dependant on the us, europe dependant on us gas, eu energy crisis https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/russia-venezuela-trade-may-grow-to-300mln-per-month---commerce-chamber-head-1109233805.html Russia-Venezuela Trade May Grow to $300Mln Per Month - Commerce Chamber Head Russia-Venezuela Trade May Grow to $300Mln Per Month - Commerce Chamber Head Trade between Russia and Venezuela is projected to rise to $300 million per month, excluding oil sales, with the launch of a direct transport corridor, Roman Frolenko, the head of the Russian-Venezuelan Chamber of Commerce, told Sputnik. 2023-04-07T10:24+0000 2023-04-07T10:24+0000 2023-04-07T10:24+0000 world russia venezuela trade turnover /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/08/18/1099931902_0:96:1921:1176_1920x0_80_0_0_52707891e77bccca0267a6cb0034e947.jpg The two countries seek to launch a direct transport corridor in the near future, the commerce chamber head, adding that they have worked out options for routes from three Russian ports Sevastopol, St. Petersburg and Novorossiysk. Breaking down the items in trade, the Russian official said Venezuelan coffee producers plan to increase the supply of coffee to Russia. In December, Venezuelan Agriculture Minister Wilmar Castro said the country could benefit from exporting tropical fruit to Russia. Late last year, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Carlos Faria told Sputnik that trade between the countries had been complicated due to the sanctions imposed by Western countries, but had not become impossible. The parties are already finding ways to continue cooperation, he added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230401/venezuelas-oil-revenues-reached-5-billion-in-2022-1109020458.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230217/us-oil-firms-import-100000-barrels-of-venezuelan-oil-per-day-in-february-source-1107555232.html russia venezuela Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia, venezuela, russia-venezuela economic relationship, trade turnover https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/russian-foreign-ministry-summons-acting-head-of-canadian-diplomatic-mission-1109252590.html Russian Foreign Ministry Summons Acting Head of Canadian Diplomatic Mission Russian Foreign Ministry Summons Acting Head of Canadian Diplomatic Mission The Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday summoned Brian Ebel, the minister-counselor at the embassy of Canada in Moscow, over a statement made by Canadas Permanent Representative to the UN Rober Rae about the death of Russian military correspondent Vladlen Tatarsky. 2023-04-07T18:59+0000 2023-04-07T18:59+0000 2023-04-07T18:59+0000 russia canada summoning vladlen tatarsky's assassination /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/02/17/1107745660_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_8d6ed510b9e59ae9e81809cac5eecd9a.jpg Earlier in April, Roe tweeted that there is no reaction in the West to the killing of Tatarsky "because he was not a journalist" but "vitriolic propagandist" and a "spreader of hate." "Canadian Minister-Counselor B. Ebel, who was summoned to the Foreign Ministry on April 7, was made aware of a strong protest in connection with the statements of Canada's Permanent Representative to the UN R. Roe, who, in fact, supported the terrorist act committed against military correspondent Vladlen Tatarsky (M.Y. Fomin)," the ministry said in a statement.On April 2, an unidentified explosive device had gone off in a cafe in the center of St. Petersburg. As a result of the incident Russian military reporter Vladlen Tatarsky (real name Maxim Fomin) had been killed and 32 people had been injured, including ten people in a serious condition. The Russian Investigative Committee told Sputnik that the incident is being investigated as an act of terrorism. The Investigative Committee also said that Daria Trepova was detained on suspicion of involvement in the explosion, and Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee stated that special services of Ukraine and the supporters of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK, designated extremist organization and foreign agent, banned in Russia) planned the attack. Later, Trapova was charged with planning the terrorist attack.Last year, Russian journalist Daria Dugina, daughter of political philosopher Alexander Dugin, was killed in a car bombing that the Kremlin tied to Ukraines special services. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230404/russian-envoy-says-sending-demarche-to-trudeau-to-condemn-murder-of-tatarsky-dugina-1109172682.html canada Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian foreign ministry, canada, russian mfa summonis canadian, vladlen tatarsky https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/south-africa-views-brics-as-platform-to-promote-continents-needs-1109245553.html South Africa Views BRICS as Platform to Promote Continents Needs South Africa Views BRICS as Platform to Promote Continents Needs South Africa, as one of the members of BRICS, a group of the worlds largest emerging economies, will host the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India and China at the 15th BRICS Summit in August this year. 2023-04-07T15:05+0000 2023-04-07T15:05+0000 2023-04-07T15:05+0000 africa south africa southern africa sherpa brics brics summit russia africa insight /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/07/1109245366_0:78:3098:1821_1920x0_80_0_0_66bf9dae7ebb9b2388eb8f3903e734ac.jpg South Africa considers BRICS a platform for advancing and addressing wider African developmental needs, said Professor Anil Sooklal, ambassador-at-large for Asia and BRICS.Sooklal, who is also South Africa's BRICS sherpa, explained that since the state joined the group in 2011, it considered itself a representative for the whole continent. When South Africa assumed the presidency of BRICS in 2013, he recalled, the country put forward the idea that if BRICS is happening on African soil, it can't be about South Africa, it must be about Africa.Moreover, since the country became a member of the group, he underlined, every BRICS declaration touches upon the topic of Africa and discusses ways of resolving its socio-economic issues.According to the professor, the group has always been inclusive in terms of cooperating with other countries that are not members of the bloc, in particular with nations of the Global South.There are two initiatives within the organization that provide for inviting other states to the BRICS dialogue. He called them the main dimensions for interacting with the world. The Outreach initiative was proposed by South Africa in 2013 and has since been supported by all members. In 2017, Sooklal stated, China brought an additional layer" in terms of the groups cooperation with the world - BRICS+.However, he highlighted, unlike the G7, BRICS has always been positive for Africa as every member state has a dynamic relationship with the countries of the continent. He further drew examples of the member states organizing regular meetings, bringing together African leaders to discuss their nations needs and support them in any way possible. Thus, Sooklal underscored, all BRICS countries are deeply involved in a dialogue with Africa.Talking about the pressure from the West faced by African countries over their cooperation with Russia, he noted that the main result of it was the reverse of what it looked to achieve. Sooklal emphasized that cooperation with Russia is as strong as ever. Furthermore, the interaction between African states and the BRICS group has recently intensified and strengthened, with more than a dozen countries from the Global South seeking to become part of the BRICS family. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230215/brics-to-discuss-reforming-global-political-and-economic-architecture-south-africa-says-1107453992.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230109/south-africa-to-advance-african-agenda-in-brics-ramaphosa-says--1106167858.html africa south africa southern africa russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Maria Konokhova Maria Konokhova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Maria Konokhova southern africa, south africa, brics, russia, cooperation, brics summit, sanctions, g7, brics+, global south, south-south cooperation https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/sweden-hungary-ties-at-a-low-amid-stockholms-nato-bid-orban-aide-warns-1109229166.html Sweden-Hungary Ties at a Low Amid Stockholm's NATO Bid, Orban Aide Warns Sweden-Hungary Ties at a Low Amid Stockholm's NATO Bid, Orban Aide Warns Despite applying to NATO jointly, Stockholm and Helsinki ultimately drifted apart, as Finland is already a member, while Sweden's bid remains bogged down by problems. 2023-04-07T06:11+0000 2023-04-07T06:11+0000 2023-04-12T17:05+0000 world hungary sweden nato nato expansion nato membership european union (eu) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/104111/69/1041116997_0:6:3601:2031_1920x0_80_0_0_c9dcd44b6204bdeb5b907ba12b09615d.jpg Relations between Sweden and Hungary are at a low, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff Gergely Gulyas has warned, calling on Stockholm to take steps to boost Budapest's confidence to gain acceptance for its NATO bid, which is still under consideration.Sweden and neighboring Finland filed a joint bid to join the US-led bloc last year, putting behind decades of formal non-alignment and originally intending to "walk the NATO path" together. However, as Sweden's application was held up by alliance members Turkiye and Hungary, Helsinki decided to proceed on its own, ultimately becoming the bloc's 31st member earlier this week.Budapest in particular has voiced grievances over Stockholm's criticism of Hungarian democracy and the rule of law and what it interprets as "insults" against Prime Minister Victor Orban, Hungarian politicians in general, and the country as a whole. Orban has personally accused both Nordic countries of spreading "outright lies" about the state of democracy in Hungary.Orban's chief of staff has largely reiterated the ruling party's concerns over Sweden's NATO bid. According to Gulyas, Budapest's concerns were aggravated by Sweden and Finland recently backing a lawsuit brought against Hungary by the European Commission over what it labeled the "anti-LGBT" law. In 2022, the Hungarian law banned the use of materials seen as promoting homosexuality and gender change in schools. The Commission, however, claimed it violates the EU's internal market rules and the fundamental rights of individuals, as well as common EU values.Hungary's ratification process has been stranded in parliament for months, with Orban and the ruling party stressing that questioning the democratic nature of the Hungarian political system was "unacceptable."NATO and US officials have been actively pushing both Ankara and Budapest to accept Sweden's bid. Tellingly, while welcoming Finland's entry, US President Joe Biden urged Turkiye and Hungary to conclude their ratification processes for Sweden "without delay".At the same time, even regardless of disagreements over Sweden's NATO bid, Hungary is in the midst of a lengthy tiff with the EU. Among others, Brussels has frozen billions earmarked for Budapest and accused Orban's government of undermining the EU's fundamental values, eroding media freedom and indulging in authoritarian tendencies. In one of its resolutions, the European Parliament even labeled Hungary a "hybrid regime of electoral autocracy."Hungary, which borders Ukraine and has a sizable Hungarian minority in the Transcarpathia region of the country, has also deviated from the EU in its response to the Ukrainian conflict. Among others, Budapest has stopped weapons deliveries to Kiev from its territory, repeatedly blocked some of the sanctions against Russia and struck energy deals with Moscow. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230406/turkish-foreign-minister-likens-sweden-to-nazi-germany-over-quran-burning-verdict-1109185529.html hungary sweden Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Igor Kuznetsov Igor Kuznetsov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Igor Kuznetsov sweden nato, sweden nato membership, sweden nato progress, sweden hungary relations, sweden nato bid, nato expansion Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 7) Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula urged the faithful on Good Friday to make sacrifices for others like how Jesus Christ made a sacrifice for humanity. We must also remember we are called to love one another as Jesus loves us. This means that we must be willing to make sacrifices for the sake of others just as Jesus did for us, Advincula said during his homily at the Manila Cathedral. As Catholics commemorate Jesus' crucifixion and death, Advincula called on the faithful to respond to Gods love with humility and gratitude. We must recognize that we are unworthy of such a great gift and yet God still chose to give it to us, he said. In the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, also known as Baclaran Church, hundreds of Filipino Catholics flocked inside as restrictions eased for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. At 1 p.m., devotees solemnly reflected on Christ's seven last words before his final breath, with the churchs modern reenactment of the Lords passion and death. The faithful were also urged to reconnect with their faith by surrendering to the Lord, especially during times of suffering. For devotees, the Holy Week marks a period of repentance and a solemn tradition that has spanned many generations. Kaugalian natin 'yan kaya dapat talaga natin i-celebrate dahil sa paghihirap ni Kristo para sa atin, Mary Grace Mallard told CNN Philippines. [Translation: It is in our tradition. That is why we should celebrate because it is Christs sacrifice to us.] She added that intentions in her prayers include easing the hardships of Filipinos, especially with the rising prices of commodities, and finding solutions to the countrys problems. For Jas Cabisas, going to church means repenting and expressing gratitude, especially during Holy Week. Hindi naman tayo perpekto lahat so eto na ang araw ng Holy Week kaya pumunta po tayo sa simbahan para makapag hingi ng sorry at magpasalamat sa mga natatamo natin sa buhay,he said. [Translation: Of course, we are not perfect. That is why this Holy Week, we go to church to ask for forgiveness and to thank the Lord for the blessing we received.] The same goes for Al Cruz who went to church this Holy Week as a way of expressing his gratitude to the Lord. Pasalamat dahil nagdaan ang COVID(-19) nakita niyo naman, yung hirap na inabot natin noon. Hindi natin alam pano makakalusot pero eto tayo ngayon, nagkakausap kahit papano buhay, Cruz said. [Translation: Thankful because during the COVID-19 we experienced hardships. We do not know how to get by but here we are, alive.] CNN Philippines digital producer Mariel Celine Serquina and correspondent Pauline Verzosa contributed to this story. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/talks-on-ukrainian-crisis-can-only-be-held-with-taking-into-account-russias-interests-lavrov-1109232881.html Talks on Ukrainian Crisis Must Take Russias Interests Into Account: Lavrov Talks on Ukrainian Crisis Must Take Russias Interests Into Account: Lavrov Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu held a press-conference after bilateral talks. On presser the top diplomats covered a broad range of international issues. 2023-04-07T10:21+0000 2023-04-07T10:21+0000 2023-04-07T11:04+0000 world sergey lavrov mevlut cavusoglu moscow ankara turkiye russia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/07/1109235010_0:0:3129:1760_1920x0_80_0_0_29cebebf8decaf393acf262ddd5bd7d5.jpg Ukrainian CrisisTurkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday that he had discussed the situation in Ukraine, as well as regional issues, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov."We held one-on-one talks, then the delegations met ... Certainly, Ukraine was one of the topics discussed at our meetings, and we also discussed a number of regional problems," Cavusoglu said at a joint press conference.Cavusoglu also noted that Ankara is concerned about the possible escalation of the situation in Ukraine in the spring.Earlier in the day, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told news outlets of Germany's Funke Mediengruppe media group that there could be a possible counteroffensive by Ukraine in the coming weeks."We share the concern about the possible escalation in Ukraine in the spring months. We have always said there will be no winner in this war. We believe that the war will end with negotiations, so we continue to make efforts. We will continue our objective and balanced policy," Cavusoglu said at a press conference after talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.Lavrov in turn said that negotiations on the settlement of the situation in Ukraine can only take place with taking into account Russia's legitimate interests and concerns.The minister recalled that Russia's concerns are ignored by Western countries.At the same time Russia is always ready to consider any serious proposals for negotiations with the United States, the top diplomat highlighted.On Monday, Nebenzia said that Lavrov is open to meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in New York if the latter requests it.Gas Hub in TurkiyeRussian Foreign Minister said that he had discussed the construction of a gas hub in Turkiye and the work of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant (NPP) with his Turkish counterpart"We discussed in detail the implementation of bilateral strategic projects in the energy sector, which are traditionally the locomotive in our relations, first of all, we are talking about the Akkuyu NPP, the first on Turkish soil," Lavrov told journalists after the talks, adding that they also discusses "the work on the creation in Turkiye of a gas hub for the transportation of Russian hydrocarbons."Black Sea Grain InitiativeIt is necessary to lift all obstacles to the supply of Russian grain and fertilizers to world markets, Cavusoglu said during the press conference."We are in solidarity that it is necessary to remove obstacles to the supply of Russian fertilizers, [grain]," Cavusoglu said.Lavrov in turn highlighted that Russia will think about the necessity of the grain deal if there is no progress on the fulfillment of the Russian part of the deal."We offered to extend this deal only for 60 days, based on the fact that if there are no further shifts in removing obstacles to the export of Russian fertilizers and grain, then we will rethink about whether this deal is actually necessary," Lavrov told journalists after talks with Cavusoglu.Ankara-Yerevan RelationsAnother issue discussed by foreign ministers was the normalization of ties between Ankara and Yerevan and the conclusion of a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.The top diplomats also discussed the situation in Libya, stressing the importance of uniting disparate groups into a single security force.Peace Process Between Israel and PalestineLavrov and Cavusoglu also discussed the settlement process between Palestine and Israel. Russian Foreign Minister believes that it has been pushed far back due to a number of events. Lavrov stressed that Moscow stands for direct dialogue between the parties.Moscow believes that there is a need to return to the fundamental decisions of the UN, on which there should be direct dialogue between Palestine and Israel in the format of a two-state solution, Lavrov added.Syrian SettlementThe two diplomats also discussed the situation in Syria and the preparation of the ministerial meeting of Turkiye, Russia, Iran and Syria with Lavrov."We have discussed the situation in Syria. We thank Mr. Lavrov and the Russian Foreign Ministry for preparing and holding a meeting of the deputy foreign ministers of Russia, Turkiye, Iran and Syria in Moscow on April 4," Cavusoglu said.Ankara hopes that the Syrian settlement process will continue in the same transparent and open form as before, the minister said.The last time Lavrov and Cavusoglu met in person was on the margins of the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting in New Delhi in March. The two ministers have held two phone calls since then, with the latest conversation having taken place on March 15.In March, Russia and Turkiye agreed another two-year extension of the bilateral platform of consultations on the level of foreign ministries. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230227/diplomacy-instead-of-arming-ukraine-how-peace-movement-is-scaling-up-in-europe-1107850285.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230318/black-sea-grain-deal-should-run-at-its-full-potential-says-eu-envoy-to-un-1108524659.html moscow ankara turkiye russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International sergey lavrov, mevlut cavusoglu, turkiye, ankara, moscow, nuclear power plant, gas hub https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/the-elite-love-war-and-hate-peace-1109222795.html The Elite Love War and Hate Peace The Elite Love War and Hate Peace On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including Democrats calling for the impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and Robert F. Kennedy announcing his challenge for the Democratic Partys 2024 nomination. 2023-04-07T04:07+0000 2023-04-07T04:07+0000 2023-04-07T09:28+0000 the backstory radio cnn france soros opec europe dnc /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/06/1109222638_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_1493ba0bb0e65ba3cea29ffaffedfb96.png The Elite Love War and Hate Peace On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including Democrats calling for the impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and Robert F. Kennedy announcing his challenge for the Democratic Partys 2024 nomination. Ian Shilling - Geopolitical Analyst, Researcher, and Blogger | Grooming Gangs in the UK, Unvetted Migrants, and Food Insecurity in the United KingdomTed Rall - Political Cartoonist, Syndicated Columnist | The Socialist Party in America, The Sedition Act of 1918, and President Warren HardingIn the first hour, Lee spoke with Ian Shilling about the British government's plan for grooming gangs, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and the Black Rock building overrun by protesters in Paris. Ian commented on the government's response to British Pakistani grooming gangs and the tensions in Israel. Ian talked about the prosecution against Donald Trump and how quickly America has turned into a banana republic. In the second hour, Lee spoke with Ted Rall about the Woodrow Wilson administration, the importance of the Eugene Debs story, and Robert F. Kennedy running for the DNC nomination. Ted spoke about the Donald Trump indictment and D.A. Alvin Bragg's reputation. Ted discussed the RFK Jr. announcement and the continuous protests across France.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comThe views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik. france Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Lee Stranahan https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png Lee Stranahan https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Lee Stranahan https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png the backstory, trumps hash pay, what is donald trump indicted for, donald trump arrest, trump arraignment, what is trump accused of, trumps felony counts, grooming gangs in uk, who runs for presidency in 2024, kennedy jr runs for president, french protests, https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/trade-sea-route-between-russia-venezuela-to-be-launched-soon-commerce-chamber-head-says-1109244749.html Trade Sea Route Between Russia, Venezuela to Be Launched Soon, Commerce Chamber Head Says Trade Sea Route Between Russia, Venezuela to Be Launched Soon, Commerce Chamber Head Says Trade shipping route between Russia and Venezuela will start operating soon, the options for three Russian ports have been studied: Sevastopol, Saint Petersburg and Novorossiysk, head of the Russian-Venezuelan Chamber of Commerce Roman Frolenko told Sputnik on Friday. 2023-04-07T14:43+0000 2023-04-07T14:43+0000 2023-04-07T14:43+0000 economy russia venezuela trade /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/05/03/1082788574_0:159:3076:1889_1920x0_80_0_0_93cdb3e0a91e198ebcfa4ee1f6808abe.jpg Frolenko listed three options of the routes from Russia as Sevastopol, Saint Petersburg and Novorossiysk. The transport corridor will go to Puerto Cabello in Venezuela, Frolenko stated. Late last year, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Carlos Faria told Sputnik that trade between the countries had been complicated due to the sanctions imposed by Western countries, but had not become impossible. The parties are already finding ways to continue cooperation, he added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/russia-venezuela-trade-may-grow-to-300mln-per-month---commerce-chamber-head-1109233805.html russia venezuela Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia, venezuela, trade, trade route https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/trump-wont-go-to-jail-even-if-convicted-of-all-charges-former-judge-says-1109244466.html Trump Won't Go to Jail Even If Convicted of All Charges, Former Judge Says Trump Won't Go to Jail Even If Convicted of All Charges, Former Judge Says Former US President Donald Trump is unlikely to go to jail even if convicted of all charges after being indicted in a hush money case, former New Jersey Superior Court Judge Andrew Napolitano told Sputnik. 2023-04-07T14:34+0000 2023-04-07T14:34+0000 2023-04-07T14:34+0000 americas us donald trump's indictment donald trump /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/02/1109041015_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_a98f7f823ebb8d7e0ff447ec9a9903de.jpg Trump has been charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree in connection to his alleged involvement in a $130,000 hush money payment and subsequent cover-up involving a purported affair with adult film actress Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which prosecutors elevated from misdemeanors to felonies by arguing that the fraud was linked to violations of election and tax laws. The fines the former US president may face, however, "could be heavy even for a man of his wealth," but he is unlikely to go to jail because of no prior record, Napolitano continued. Former President Trump currently faces three additional investigations in connection with his purported role in the January 6 riot, his handling of classified documents at his Florida home, and alleged interference with the 2020 Georgia election results. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230406/stormy-daniels-says-trump-doesnt-deserve-jail-time-for-crimes-against-her-1109213382.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230405/trumps-case-pales-in-comparison-with-biden-destroying-us-standing-around-the-world-1109159477.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International donald trump, donald trump indictment, donald trump persecution https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/us-congressman-ukrainian-spring-offensive-to-show-whether-crimea-off-table-for-kiev--1109247941.html US Congressman: Ukrainian Spring Offensive to Show Whether Crimea Off Table for Kiev US Congressman: Ukrainian Spring Offensive to Show Whether Crimea Off Table for Kiev WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Crimea is not off the table for Ukraine and the upcoming spring counteroffensive will show what decisions have been made by Kiev in this... 07.04.2023, Sputnik International 2023-04-07T16:45+0000 2023-04-07T16:45+0000 2023-04-07T16:45+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia ukraine crimea /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/104492/45/1044924597_0:87:3335:1962_1920x0_80_0_0_60e8089b882c3686ab7e929a1f6056e0.jpg "As far as Crimea, certainly this is territory that Russia took back from Ukraine, and that is something that the Ukrainians regard as their sovereign territory and they are making the decisions as to where they are going to move forward. I don't think Crimea is off the table," Sherrill said during an event hosted by The Washington Post. To date, the Ukrainians have been more focused on other areas, but we will see in the spring offensive, what the decisions are, Sherrill said. Various senior US officials have repeatedly said that Crimea is Ukrainian territory, despite the fact that the Crimean residents held a referendum in 2014 and overwhelmingly voted to rejoin Russia. In February, Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland said the United States supports Ukrainian strikes on military targets in Crimea. However, Secretary of State Antony Blinken had said prior Nuland issuing her statement that the Biden administration is not actively encouraging Ukraine to retake Crimea. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230123/russia-slams-us-psychological-warfare-after-lawmaker-demands-missiles-for-kiev-to-strike-crimea-1106623377.html russia ukraine crimea Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia, ukraine, crimea Massachusetts welcomes back live harness racing on Monday, April 10 at 4 p.m. when Plainridge Park begins its 24th season of live racing action featuring the best horses, drivers and trainers from New England who will compete for the next eight months over the lightning fast five-eighths mile oval. The live racing schedule for 2023 starts with a Monday-Tuesday-Thursday rotation from April through September, except for Tuesday, April 11 and Tuesday, July 25, which are both dark. There is also a special 2 p.m. matinee card on Sunday, July 23 for Spirit of Massachusetts Day. Racing expands to four days a week for the last two months of the meet when Friday is added on Oct. 6. The one exception for that stretch is the track will be dark on Thursday, Nov. 23 in observance of Thanksgiving. Post time for all race days from April through August is 4 p.m. (except for Sunday, July 23). In September and October, post time rolls back to 2 p.m. and in November, it moves back one more time to 1 p.m. All the top Plainridge drivers will be back this year including several chasing major career milestones. Bruce Ranger, who led everyone in 2022 with 163 wins and fell only $3,103 short of earning $2 million in purse money, comes into this meet a mere 35 wins shy of his 10,000th lifetime victory. Kevin Switzer Jr., Jay Randall, Nick Graffam and Drew Monti all earned in excess of $1 million driving last year and will look to increase those numbers in 2023. Graffam is also on the verge of a career marker as he is only 26 wins shy of 1,000. Shawn Gray joins the fray and needs only 14 more wins to visit the winners circle for his 5,000th time. Jimmy Nickerson was last years leading trainer and became the first conditioner ever to win purses totalling in excess of $1 million during a single meet at Plainridge, and he did it on the strength of 92 wins. He brings back another large stable to the track looking to defend that title. Also returning is Elisha Lafreniere, who banked $914,030 in purses and posted 90 wins, placing her second in the standings. Those two will be joined by Melissa Beckwith, Domenico Cecere and Jolene Andrews, who rounded out the 2022 top five along with a host of others. The 2023 meet has the distinction of offering the richest slate of stakes races not only in the history of the track, but also the state of Massachusetts as an estimated $3.27 million will be up for grabs during the year. First on the schedule is the $100,000 (estimated) Paul Revere Open Pace for three-year-olds, which will be held on Thursday, May 4. Then on Monday May 15, the $100,000 (estimated) Battle Of Bunker Hill Open Trot will return. On Sunday, July 23, the Grand Circuit returns to Massachusetts for the biggest day of the summer featuring the $250,000 (guaranteed) Spirit Of Massachusetts Trot and $100,000 (guaranteed) Clara Barton Distaff Pace. Both of these races have rewritten track records several times since their inception and have enticed some of the best Open class competitors from across North America to compete at Plainridge. The Grand Circuit presence at Plainridge Park brings national attention to the quality harness racing being conducted in Massachusetts. Then the fall classic, $2.56 million (estimated) Massachusetts Sire Stakes start on Monday, Sept. 25 and features three preliminary legs before culminating with Million Dollar Tuesday on Oct. 24, when eight $125,000 (estimated) finals will be contested. There are also two new stakes on the Plainridge Park calendar this year and they will debut on Monday, Oct. 9. The $40,000 (esimated) Reynolds Stake for three-year-old pacers debuts and will be contested by gender. The Tar Heel is the colt and gelding division and The Leta Long is for fillies. The $40,000 (estimated) Colonial Trot for three-year-old trotters is the companion stakes to the Reynolds and will also be contested by gender with the filly division going as the Colonial Oaks. These Plainridge Park stake races were made possible by the continued support of the Massachusetts Race Horse Development Fund and the local horsemen and women of the Harness Horseman's Association of New England. This years betting menu includes an early and late Daily Double, Exactas and Trifectas available in every race, Superfectas available in every race (except Wicked Hi-5 races), Wicked Hi-5 Pentafecta in the sixth and last race, Pick-3 in race three and race six and Pick-4 in race four. Minimum wagers are as follows: Daily Double $2, Exacta $1, Pick-3 $1, Pick-4 50 cents, Trifecta 50 cents, Superfecta 20 cents and Wicked Hi-5 20 cents. Fans on hand for live racing will have the pleasure of viewing a brand new toteboard alongside the large video screen on the infield. Equipped with the lasted LED technology, the board will clearly present odds, exotic probables and have a separate dedicated message board as well. Fans will also again be able to download free full past performance programs from the Plainridge Park website. Mondays 12-race opening card features three $17,500 condition events -- two on the pace and one on the trot -- and is the first of 108 racing days that will make up the 2023 Plainridge Park meet that runs through Thursday, Nov. 30. (Plainridge Park) Those of us from rural Nebraska know there can be challenges when the closest urban center is hours away. When we need specialized medical care, this distance can be even more daunting. Medical care is essential for people in many stages of life, including expectant mothers. According to the Perinatal Data Center, many rural counties in our state have low access to obstetric, or childbirth-related, care. In Nebraska, over 4,000 babies are born each year to parents who live in counties with no OB-GYN or certified nurse-midwife. Mothers living far away from their medical providers may not have the resources necessary to travel miles for routine pregnancy care. Health outcomes for moms and babies can suffer because of this lack of access to care. The issue of maternal health is especially relevant following the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new data on maternal mortality rates in the U.S. The CDC found that maternal deaths increased by almost 40% from 2020 to 2021. Maternal mortality rates have been increasing since 2000, but the size of this recent increase is alarming. In 2021, 1,205 women died of maternal causes a rate of 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births. Thats compared to only 861 deaths in 2020, or 23.8 deaths per 100,000 live births. Restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic made it even more challenging for women, especially those located in rural areas, seeking prenatal and postnatal care. Rural mothers often lacked the home internet access necessary to take advantage of telehealth services, which could have eased the strains of pandemic-related closures and lockdowns. All of these factors led me to introduce the Data Mapping to Save Moms Lives Act with my colleague U.S. Senator Jackie Rosen (D-Nev.). All 100 U.S. senators voted unanimously to pass our bill, and then in December, President Biden signed it into law. A POLITICO article recently highlighted this new law as one of the notable changes made by legislators in recent years to combat rising maternal mortality rates. The Data Mapping to Save Moms Lives Act requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to identify areas with poor maternal health outcomes that lack access to broadband, and incorporate that data into the agencys broadband health mapping tool. This online platform will pinpoint the high priority locations most in need of reliable broadband to improve maternal health outcomes. This mapping will provide the FCC with necessary insights to deploy telehealth services to areas where a lack of broadband is worsening maternal mortality risks. Once these areas have broadband, theyll be able to benefit from the telehealth services they need which means greater wellbeing for expectant moms and their babies across our country. When something as basic as broadband access can make the difference between life and death for mothers and their babies, it is clear that we need to do something to help. Im proud that this critical bill was passed last year and that the FCC can get to work making changes that will protect American mothers and children. This Congress, Ill continue working on solutions that provide all the support we can for women and children. Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week. The Hastings teenager who was arrested Tuesday after making a "credible threat" of violence toward a student at a Clay County school did so amid a dispute surrounding his ex-girlfriend, investigators alleged in new court filings. Connor Black-Lintz, 18, messaged a student at Sandy Creek School early Tuesday morning and threatened to break his neck after the student, a teenage boy, started dating Black-Litz's ex girlfriend, according to the court filings. Soon after Black-Lintz allegedly hurled the threat, a "young male" called the school just before 8:30 a.m. Tuesday and inquired about the student before telling administrators the teen had a gun and had threatened violence, mentioning school shootings, Nebraska State Patrol Trooper Christopher Slocum said in the affidavit for Black-Lintz's arrest. The school's principal, Jason Searle, called authorities, placed the school under lockdown and pulled the teen who had been the subject of the phone call from class, Slocum said in the affidavit. Clay County Sheriff's deputies searched the teen's locker but did not find a gun. The teen told administrators and law enforcement that Black-Lintz had sent him threatening messages on Snapchat three minutes before the unidentified "young male" called the school to report the teen had a gun, Slocum said. Authorities reviewed a screenshot of Black-Lintz's alleged conversation with the teen, in which he told the student "there no doubt in my mind I could crush you," according to the affidavit. Black-Lintz, who is not a student at Sandy Creek, at one point told the teen that he'd be at the school in 30 minutes, the State Patrol alleged. The State Patrol found Black-Lintz at a house in Hastings, about 30 miles from the school, and took him into custody. Prosecutors in Clay County charged Black-Lintz with terroristic threats, a felony, and two misdemeanors: false reporting and intimidation via phone or electronic communications. In Adams County, prosecutors charged Black-Lintz with felony assault on an officer for allegedly hitting, kicking and spitting on troopers when they arrested him at his father's house in Hastings, according to court records. Troopers took the 18-year-old to Richard Young Behavioral Health Center in Kearney for an emergency protective custody evaluation Tuesday evening, but he was later taken to the Buffalo County jail after an alleged assault at Richard Young, according to jail booking records. He remained jailed in Kearney as of Friday. The threat and subsequent lockdown upended school operations Tuesday at Sandy Creek, forcing administrators to cancel two sporting events scheduled for Tuesday and release students early. Searle, the school's principal, told troopers the threat "caused panic at the school" and resulted in "major disruption" when parents began pulling their children from school. Photos: Majestic sandhill cranes in Nebraska Flying in a clear blue sky Pair of sandhill cranes at sunset near Gibbon, Nebraska Sandhill cranes on and above a field near Gibbon Sandhill cranes Cranes Cranes Sandhill cranes Cranes Cranes Cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes flying high Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes The Nebraska Project cranes The Nebraska Project The Nebraska Project Sandhill Cranes Sandhill crane Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Rowe Bird Sancutary Cranes in January Cranes in January Cranes in January Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Cranes at sunset Cranes in the water Cranes fly in waves over trees at sunset Sandhill cranes begin to roost at sunset Sandhill cranes glide in for a landing to roost for the night Viewing sandhill cranes from Richard Plautz viewing site A sandhill crane flies above a field south of Gibbon Sandhill cranes silhouetted against the evening sky Sandhill cranes fly over a field Sandhill cranes flock near an irrigation pivot Sandhill cranes forage for food in a field A pair of sandhill cranes glide in a clear blue sky Sandhill cranes gather near farm machinery Sandhill cranes on the Platte River in Nebraska Last week, I spoke on the Senate floor to fight a blatant power grab by the federal government. The Senate considered a resolution attempting to block the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule from President Bidens Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This rule would change the definition of navigable waters to include things like roadside ditches, puddles on construction sites, and farm ponds. Think about that President Bidens EPA and his Army Corps of Engineers apparently believe that drainage ditches, construction site puddles, and farm ponds are navigable waters. If allowed to stand, this rule would increase costs and uncertainty for farmers and ranchers, property owners, and small businesses. To say this rule defies all common sense is an understatement. I know that Nebraska is a land-locked state, but it doesnt take a Ph.D. to understand that the word navigable means you can put a boat in the water and go someplace. The Merriam Webster definition of navigable is deep enough and wide enough to afford the passage of ships. If you put a boat in a roadside ditch, you arent going anywhere. If you put a boat on the construction site puddle, you arent going anywhere. If you put a boat on a pond, youre not leaving the pond. Nebraskas farmers and ranchers know that what the EPA is proposing just isnt right. Beyond that, the Biden administration is trying to change the meaning of a law without coming to Congress. The 1972 Clean Water Act says navigable waters 50 times. Congress intent was very clear. The EPA had authority over streams, rivers, and oceans, not temporary water sources. The Biden administration is trying to subvert our laws and the correct response from Congress is to stop it. President Biden and liberal bureaucrats have absolutely no business regulating this, and I think the President knows it. Why? Because President Bidens EPA and Army Corps of Engineers quietly finalized this new rule on the last working day of the year. It appears that the regulators hoped no one would notice this power grab. Well, we noticed. Nebraskas farmers and ranchers noticed. My colleagues and I noticed and we pushed back hard. Our resolution passed with bipartisan support, sending a message to President Biden that our farmers and ranchers need relief, not regulation. We provided needed oversight and accountability in response to executive overreach. We defended Article I of our U.S. Constitution which says that Congress makes laws, not D.C. bureaucrats. I recently participated in a telephone townhall with my colleague Senator Deb Fischer where we heard directly from Nebraskans about this issue. One woman told us that she was tired of fighting EPA bureaucrats. For years, she had rallied her friends and neighbors to write letters and comments opposing a similar rule proposed by President Obamas EPA in 2015. She was angry that President Bidens EPA refused to listen, forcing her to raise grassroots opposition once again. I fought the Obama rule in 2015 as Governor, and I am fighting the Biden EPA now as Senator. It is clear that Washington bureaucrats are in desperate need of some Nebraska common sense. I was proud to join a bipartisan group of colleagues in opposing this rule. Along with Senator Fischer and the rest of my colleagues in the Nebraska delegation, my team and I are here to serve you. Contact my team and I anytime by phone at 202-224-4224, on my website www.ricketts.senate.gov, or via email contactricke@ricketts.senate.gov. I am honored to serve our great state and will continue to work to protect the Good Life from Washington overreach. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 7) Curriculum evaluation and assistance to seafarers were some of the programs discussed by authorities during a recent interagency meeting to address the deficiencies raised by the European Commission and enhance the countrys maritime industry, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said. The meeting held this week, led by DOTr Sec. Jaime Bautista, focused on the Maritime Industry Authoritys (MARINA) response to narrow the gaps and issues concerning the European Maritime Safety Agencys (EMSA) findings in relation to Philippine compliance with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for seafarers, the department said. This was conducted after the EU Commission for Transport confirmed on March 31 that it will continue recognizing certificates for seafarers issued by the Philippine government. It also cited several areas that Manila has to improve on, which includes monitoring, and evaluation of training; assessment of competence; and program and course design. READ: Seafarers group: Issue with EU caused by inconsistencies in PH maritime industry During the discussions, Bautista requested the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to help evaluate and monitor the curriculum of maritime schools, the DOTr said. CHED and the MARINA were also tasked to recommend areas where the EU may provide technical assistance, it added. READ: EU hopes to implement assistance to PH maritime industry before end-2023, envoy says The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, under the DMW [Department of Migrant Workers], was requested to look into any possible assistance that can be extended for Filipino seafarers to be able to pursue further training for career advancement, the DOTr said. Bautista said there should also be closer coordination between his department and the DMW for better monitoring of Filipino seafarers. Authorities are also thinking of placing the National Maritime Polytechnic, which is under the DMW, tentatively under the DOTr, the department said. This will be included in a draft memorandum of understanding to include the responsibilities and tasking of participating agencies, it noted. Representatives from the Department of Labor and Employment, and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) were also present during the meeting. The DFA earlier said that 50,000 Filipino seafarers deployed in the EU were at risk of losing their jobs if the commission decided to stop recognizing seafarers certificates issued by the Philippine government. Morganton native Jeffrey Kendall no longer works as an active Catholic priest, but that doesnt mean he has given up looking for God. Im always going to be Catholic I can never change that, Kendall said. Im not antichurch. Im antiabuse. Kendall left his post in the Diocese of Charleston due to what he calls a culture of cruelty. He said the abuses of power and mistreatment he experienced left him broken and distant from God. I went back, and I tried to heal in the Catholic Church, he said. But healing was impossible in the Diocese of Charleston. Thats a damning statement. In his new memoir, A Walk to the End of the Earth, Kendall, a Freedom High School graduate and the first Catholic priest to hail from Morganton, recalls the abuse he endured and his journey away from the priesthood. The book recounts his anger at God, his dysfunctional relationship with a heroin-addicted prostitute named Anna and, ultimately, his decision to leave his post. (Being a) Catholic priest is a character sacrament so Im always going to be a priest, Kendall said. But Im not an active priest anymore. The story centers on his walk down El Camino de Santiago, the only medieval Christian pilgrimage route people still walk today. Along the 100-mile journey, Kendall said he finally came to an understanding with God. As he walked, the memoir tells his story through flashbacks told in reverse chronological order. It was the only way that really made sense, Kendall said. As I walk down the trail, the deeper we go into my past. He said he hopes his efforts will begin to shed some light on the problem of spiritual abuse. The abuses of power I went through were rather severe, and they did a tremendous amount of damage, Kendall said. I really go through the impact and the consequences of the abuses of power in the book. Kendall said he knows this kind of spiritual abuse is an all-to-common experience and hopes his book will be a source of comfort for others who have been victimized. If people who have gone through that find peace and healing that would be a great thing, he said. Thats what I was searching for, and if they can get some of that by reading my book, I would just be overjoyed. So far, the memoir has already helped at least one person find some peace. Kendall said publishing the book has been a source of healing for him. I had nightmares for years bloody, violent night terrors, he said. About a week after I published the book, my nightmares disappeared I was carrying so much emotional pain for so long and publishing this book has relieved me of it. He said he is not the only priest he knows who has suffered like this. I talked to another priest who I havent talked to in a while, and without me telling him, he started telling me about him having nightmares for years as well, Kendall said. He hopes his story coming to light will sound the alarm about the prevalence of spiritual abuse and the serious consequences it can have. These are pretty systemic abuses of power, Kendall said. Its just not dealt with one of the problems is, theyve been getting away with this for years because nobodys speaking up about it. But Im not going to let them get away with it anymore. A Walk to the End of the Earth is available on Amazon and through select booksellers. Superintendent Jeff James and representatives from Iredell-Statesville Schools met with members of the city council, the mayor and other city representatives on Tuesday to discuss academic, behavioral and safety issues within the school system and the dangers students face outside of school grounds. While the meeting was conducted with the Statesville City Council declaring ahead of time that no motions would be made during it, the council members present and representatives from Iredell-Statesville Schools came together hoping to find ways to improve. I-SS indicated they would like to city to fund a Pre-K program at N.B. Mills Elementary, as James said students there are often two years behind educationally, even as they enter kindergarten. Thats a gap we cant expect to be made up by itself, James said. Weve got to have a better plan to get them in the right direction. James said that many of the issues with academic performance, especially on the A-F scale that schools are graded on by the state, stem from the economic issues students and families face before they enter school. He said the school system has plans to hold back what might be a record number of kindergarteners this year. He said it is critical to do that when they are in kindergarten, as holding them back in higher grades leads to a higher dropout rate. There are behavior issues, which sometimes lead to safety issues as well, but James said a small number of students at any school are responsible for most of the issues. Suspensions and expulsions are used as needed, he said, but often students return the next year and cause issues again. Councilwoman Amy Lawton said that was surprising to hear, as the impression most of the public gets is of a widespread issue among the student body. James said despite the lockdowns that made headlines earlier in the year, there has been a major improvement since certain students were removed from campus. Executive Director of Student Services Kelly Marcy said the school system works with the police department to catch threats before they get to campus, and takes preemptive action when needed, which includes lockdowns. Community help James and Marcy said a difference can be made with after-school programs that keep students active and engaged, especially if they are leaving school and being left unsupervised. We bus around 300-plus kids to Boys & Girls Club in the afternoon. Bussing-wise, it costs around $55,000 a year but thats not an issue. I want kids somewhere around adults caring adults that can mentor them, James said. He said he would like to see a Boy Scouts group come into the city and take students as they cant be transported by the school system to the far reaches of the county. The superintendent said transportation to programs isnt the issue, but finding enough volunteers is. There are a number of different after-school programs, but there is a need in particular for volunteers to work and support young African American males within the school system. James said while there are people like NAACP President Todd Scotts Men of Valor who work with young men, there is a need for more men like him who are willing to volunteer their time and effort. Director of Community Engagement Marlene Scott said that while there are services like counseling within the school system, the trauma they experience outside of school, especially when they are out of school for two months over the summer, makes the task more difficult. On top of that, if a student moves, some of that support has to be rebuilt. As if pancakes were not enough to make you happy on a Thursday ... At sunrise on April 20, the Statesville Convention & Visitors Bureau will be partnering with five local hot air balloon pilots to launch balloons carrying guests in town from the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina for the Tourism Resource Assistance Center (TRAC) later that day at Southern Distilling. Pilots from Airtime Balloons, Tree Top Flyer, Air-Olina Aviation, Big oh! Balloons and Lucky Day Balloons will be participating. In support of the Boys and Girls Club of the Piedmonts Pancake Day, these balloons will be launched from various locations in downtown Statesville. Balloons will launch from behind the Statesville Civic Center, the side grassy area at Broad Street Methodist Church and the front lawn of Mitchell Community College. When coordinating a familiarization tour for our partners at Visit North Carolina, we knew a hot air balloon flight was a must, said Cindy Sutton, executive director of SCVB. When we called Kristie Darling from Big oh! Balloons to coordinate, she immediately wanted to launch from downtown Statesville to create a unique opportunity to bring additional visibility to the inaugural Boys and Girls Clubs Pancake Day. We love our community and the people who make it up. Just another way that Statesville emulates Where It All Comes Together! The Statesville Convention & Visitors Bureau, in partnership with Southern Distilling Company, will host the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina/Visit North Carolina team for their Tourism Resource Assistance Center (TRAC) on April 20 from 3-7 p.m. The event will be at The Preserve at Southern Distilling, 211 Jennings Road in Statesville. TRAC, which is a community-based training program designed to help small tourism-related businesses, takes place multiple times a year in cities and towns across the state. Tourism-related businesses in Iredell County plus the surrounding counties in the area around the TRAC meeting can work with Visit North Carolina staff to learn more about its research, development and marketing services, and discuss best practices in reaching travelers, the media and increasing tourism visitation and spending. There is no charge to attend, no reservation is required, and there is no PowerPoint presentation. This is a come-when-you-can/stay-as-long-as-you-like event opportunity for all tourism-related businesses to meet one-on-one with program managers to discuss better ways to promote their property or event. TRAC brings Visit North Carolinas program managers to local communities to discuss the nuts and bolts of working with the organization. This invaluable program is designed to help tourism-related businesses engage more fully with programs offered by Visit North Carolina and its partners. Representatives from the EDPNCs Business Services, N.C. Welcome Centers/Visitor Services, N.C. State Parks, Agritourism and NC Green Travel are often on hand to discuss services they can provide businesses, including strategic planning, assisting with identifying funding sources and serving as liaisons with other local, state and federal agencies. We are excited to be partnering with the Statesville Convention & Visitors Bureau to host TRAC, said Elizabeth Page, Southern Distillings new director of tourism and hospitality. This is only one of many ways we are coming together with the Statesville community to grow tourism in our city, region and beyond. Pancake Day-Iredells Happiest Day is April 20 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Statesville Civic Center. Tickets for the event are $9 and are on sale at the club, from board members and staff and various locations around town. For more information, visit piedmontbgc.org. Mark Twain once said, Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. Our volunteers, supporters and donors are impacting the kids who need us most here in our community with your kindness, said Brady Johnson, director of development of the Boys and Girls Club. The staff, our board and our kids look forward to seeing you at Pancake Day-Iredells Happiest Day, Thursday, April 20, at the Statesville Civic Center. Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools officials have asked Forsyth Technical Community College to better communicate with them when it has events on campus that may not be suitable for high school students attending school there. The move comes weeks after a drag performer was seen on video straddling a high school student during a Pride event on campus. WS/FCS's Early College and Middle College are based at Forsyth Tech, giving students access to its facilities. In a statement released earlier this week, the school district apologized that students in its schools were exposed to an "inappropriate dance." "That performer's dance was not something students of that age should have been able to access or witness," the statement said. High school freshmen are typically 14- or 15-years-old. Libs of TikTok, a social media channel that routinely reposts videos that are critical of drag performers, issues involving gender-identity and teachers promoting diversity, posted a video clip of the performance, catching the attention of several right-wing media outlets including the national desk of Fox News, the National Review and the New York Post. In the video, a drag performer straddles a student who is sitting in a chair. The student, whose face is blocked out, stood up and hugged the performer after the dance. The performance at a campus restaurant was part of a Pride event on March 22 that the school's Pride Club organized. According to the school district's statement, Middle College and Early College administrators knew of the event and a drag performance but were not aware that there would be an entertainer performing "in a manner that was not appropriate for underage students." Had it known, the school district said it would have limited access to the event. "Prior knowledge would have also given Early and Middle College administrators a chance to alert parents that an adult performance was going to take place in a space often frequented by Early and Middle College students during lunch," the statement said. As a result, the school district has asked Forsyth Tech to improve communication with Early College and Middle College administrators. On Wednesday, Forsyth Tech issued a response explaining its version of events: Forsyth Techs student-led PRIDE Club held an on-campus event. They advertised the event, which featured a drag performance, through flyers posted on campus and social channels. Forsyth Tech staff were not aware the performance portion of the event included audience participation, nor would we have allowed it to take place. "Our shared campus and educational experience provides Winston-Salem/Forsyth County high school students access to all Forsyth Tech facilities and events, unless high school administrators decide access should be limited. They were aware of this event and knew it featured a drag performance, and, to our knowledge, they didnt limit access. "We are reviewing current policies regarding student organizations use of campus facilities. We are also reminding our student organizations that visitors and invited guests must abide by all college policies. The performer at the event declined to comment. A thousand abandoned cars have been removed from Longview streets in roughly the past six months and the police department says officers have a new way to make sure a backlog of similar complaints doesnt happen again. But the city is still working removing abandoned RVs, which police say is more complicated. The Longview police reported this week the department removed 1,016 abandoned vehicles on public roadways since September 2022 in the citys roughly year-long plan to remove the eyesores. In March 2022, Capt. Branden McNew said the department had received complaints of 200 junk cars lining city streets over just the past three months. In addition to citizen reports, officers also identify abandoned cars while on patrol. The departments two employees who handle the lower priority call of towing or tagging abandoned vehicles were not able to address the backlog and current calls, McNew said at the time. Noncommissioned uniformed civilian staff take police reports on all suspected property crime no longer in progress, as well as abandoned vehicles, according to the department. Hundreds of cars were impounded during the vehicle removals, and police say they now have a system to determine when repeat offenders repark on streets. The statement released Wednesday says, in most cases, vehicle owners could remove items inside their vehicles before they were impounded. But complaints continue today. We receive new abandoned vehicle complaints every day, McNew said the in statement. In March 2022, the department conducted a concentrated sweep to remove abandoned vehicles, and in May the department planned to tow abandoned or illegibly parked RVs and store them on city property, as local towing companies had limited space for larger vehicles. McNew said Wednesday the department has difficulty moving abandoned RVs because they take up a lot of space at tow truck companies yards, and the companies have to pay to dismantle the RVs before disposing of them, based on state law. You cant just take them to a junk yard, he said. Tow truck companies dont want them because they cant get rid of them, and I dont blame them. Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the time frame of the plan and 1,000 vehicle removals. The old guard at the Kelso Police Department are on their way out and the department is preparing its succession plan. Chief Darr Kirk said at Tuesdays City Council meeting that his top priority for this year is to prepare the departments younger and incoming officers for leadership roles to make up for a wave of upcoming retirements. Kirk said 13 employees had been with the Kelso Police Department since 2006 and he expected most or all of them to leave in the next five years. The worst thing that you can do is not recognize the talent that you have in the agency that youre in and not cultivate that. So thats No. 1 for me, Kirk said. The Kelso Police Department is currently fully staffed at 33 employees, at least until a retirement near the end of April. That number includes new recruits that are still completing their training. Not included in that list is the mental health expert working with the police through the Behavioral Health Unit. Last year was the first full year the Kelso police had the position, which is funded by the same grant as the Longview Police Departments behavioral health unit. Kirk said the partnership was very effective at assisting residents who had previously been the subject of regular 911 calls. The Kelso police report Kirk presented at the meeting included virtually no difference in the number of calls for service between 2021 and 2022, with both years seeing around 15,000 calls. Last year saw an increase in the number of the highest-priority calls but also a larger decrease in the second highest-priority calls. The number of arrests increased to 1,059, up 14% from 2021. Kirk said the department only had rough numbers for the different types of crimes but highlighted that the number of burglary arrests had jumped from 56 to around 150. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 7) The chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday expressed belief that the emergency status of COVID-19 could be lifted sometime this year. I think we will be able to lift it this year, said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a press conference, answering a question from the press. The UN health agency head, however, did not expound and give a specific time frame. The expert committee on the pandemics status is next due to meet in May. The WHO said it continues to consider COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern. It declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a pandemic in March of 2020 after recording 118,000 cases and more than 4,000 deaths, detecting the virus in every continent except for Antarctica. For the 39th consecutive year, Longview has been recognized as a Tree City USA. To celebrate this distinction and mark Arbor Day, the city is hosting a tree-planting event at Lake Sacajawea on Wednesday. The event, hosted by the city of Longviews Forestry and Parks crew, begins at 10 a.m. at Lake Sacajawea Park. The Rotary Club of Longview has donated two trees to the event, a scarlet oak and Green Mountain maple, to mark the citys centennial anniversary and to symbolize the clubs local service. According to a press release from the city, Rotary has given over $1 million to college scholarships, social welfare projects, books for kids and Christmas gifts for families. For Longview to be recognized as a Tree City USA, it had to meet four benchmarks: having a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, a community forestry program funded with at least $2 per capita, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. Washington states Arbor Day is the second Wednesday in April, while nationally it is celebrated on the last Friday in April. An effort to compel Oregon data centers to meet the states climate goals died in a legislative committee Monday, a victory for big tech companies and for small-town officials who felt House Bill 2816 could undermine one of their fastest-growing industries. This bill is dead, said co-sponsor Rep. Pam Marsh, D-Ashland, who pulled the bill from the House Committee on Climate, Energy and Environment Monday. There had been sufficient confusion planted in the community about what it might do. The bill would have required newly built Oregon data centers and big cryptocurrency miners to power their facilities with 80% clean energy by 2030, and 100% by 2040. The bill didnt apply to other industries, but officials and lawmakers from some rural communities said they felt it targeted their economies. Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google have spent billions of dollars building data centers in central and eastern Oregon. Those regions are generally exempt from climate regulations lawmakers approved two years ago because theyre served by consumer-owned utilities that primarily use federal hydropower, which doesnt contribute to climate change. But data centers can use as much electricity as a small town. And in Morrow and Umatilla counties, Amazons rapid growth has exhausted the small communities allocation of hydroelectricity. That has contributed to a huge spike in the regions carbon footprint. Amazon, which lobbied against the Oregon bill, says its committed to moving to net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. But the company said HB 2816 didnt provide a path to get there. The bill does not address the build-out of electric infrastructure that is needed to bring more clean energy to the grid, Amazon said in a statement. The company said new renewable energy projects require grid upgrades that face obstacles in permitting and interconnections, and Amazon said it wants to work with Oregon leaders to enable renewable energy development in the state. Accelerating energy infrastructure permitting and interconnections for renewables like solar and wind would have a greater impact on reducing emissions, bringing more clean energy to the grid, and helping achieve our goal of accessing more clean energy in Oregon, Amazon said. On Tuesday, Amazon announced an agreement to buy renewable energy through the Umatilla Electric Cooperative, which serves its data centers near the eastern Oregon cities of Boardman and Hermiston. Amazon said its Oregon data centers are now powered with 95% renewable energy, but it wasnt immediately clear how the company was calculating its climate impacts in eastern Oregon. Previously, Amazon had filed plans to shift three of its data centers near Boardman, in Morrow County, to fuel cells powered by natural gas, a non-renewable fossil fuel, routed from a controversial pipeline from British Columbia. State regulators say the fuel cells have a carbon footprint comparable to gas-fired generators. The fuel cells could someday be converted to hydrogen, which would substantially reduce their carbon impact, though hydrogen production is currently expensive and power-intensive. A coalition of environmental advocates rallied in support of HB 2816 last month but encountered fierce resistance from public officials and industry groups. Marsh said she intends to talk to the bills opponents after the current session about whether theres a path that moves data centers toward clean power without undercutting the industry. But she said its too soon to know whether shell bring a version of the bill back for the short legislative session that begins early next year. We need to regroup, Marsh said. Things quite often dont get through the Legislature on first go. Most of the time they dont. So, we started the conversation. Airbus SE will double production capacity in China of its top-selling jet in a bold bet on future demand in one of the world's biggest aviation markets. The European planemaker will add a second final assembly line for A320 narrow-bodies at its existing factory in Tianjin, under a deal signed by Chief Executive Officer Guillaume Faury in Beijing on Thursday. The move is a boost for Chinese manufacturing as other firms like Apple Inc. rethink production in the nation amid rising tensions with the US. The expansion of the Tianjin facility will be an important part of Airbus's plan to produce as many as 75 A320neo family jets a month by 2026, Faury said on a call with reporters from Beijing. At the plant, which opened in 2008, workers stitch together major sections such as wings and fuselage assemblies, giving the aircraft its final shape. Airbus and chief rival Boeing Co. have struggled to raise output amid supply-chain constraints as demand for passenger planes has surged coming out of the pandemic. We're paving the way for the growth of the market here in China, Faury said. He was part of a delegation of dozens of French business executives traveling with President Emmanuel Macron, many of whom were returning to China for the first time since the pandemic. No Order Airbus however, looked set to leave China without a new plane order during Macron's three-day state visit, despite intensive talks over the past weekend with Chinese customers. Bloomberg reported this week that the company was targeting a follow-on order that would include A350 and possibly A330neo wide-body aircraft. Faury said Airbus remained optimistic about winning more business in China, where it holds a sizable advantage over Boeing Co. We are all discussing with our customers and looking at the future, said Faury. Orders, if any and there will be some I'm sure will come at a later stage. The extra line in Tianjin will bring Chinese production capacity into proportion with its share of global demand, Faury said. It will come into service in the second half of 2025. Airbus now builds four A320s a month in Tianjin, and Faury said it plans to raise monthly output to six later this year, restoring a pre-Covid goal. The new investment will eventually bring capacity to 12 a month with the possibility of going higher, Faury said. While Tianjin now serves only Chinese customers, planes assembled there could potentially be delivered elsewhere, but these would be case-by-case decisions, he added. In Beijing, Faury also signed a so-called general terms agreement, formalizing previously announced orders covering 160 aircraft, including 150 A320 family jets and 10 A350 wide-bodies, according to statements from Airbus and Macron's office. Chinese carriers ordered more than 300 narrow-body aircraft from Airbus last year, valued at more than $40 billion before customary discounts. Airlines in China make up about a fifth of Airbus deliveries. China, with its massive global tourism potential, is only just starting to emerge from a three-year freeze on international travel because of its Covid-19 border shutdowns. Europe's Advantage Tensions between Washington and Beijing have also been on the rise, providing Toulouse, France-based Airbus with an opening in an important market while Boeing has been effectively locked out, with no major deals signed in China since 2017. The largest US exporter is still waiting on airlines there to restart deliveries of its re-engined 737 Max jet. China Eastern Airlines Corp. and China Southern Airlines Co. have said they plan to start accepting more of the model this year. The popular single-aisle jet resumed flying in China in January after almost four years, following two fatal crashes that precipitated a global grounding. Boeing's main manufacturing plants are in the US although it does have its own completion and delivery center for the 737 Max in Zhoushan in Zhejiang province, where aircraft are painted and interiors are fitted. The partnership with Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China opened in 2018. At the time, Boeing said Chinese customers accounted for one-third of Max deliveries, underlining the importance of the growing market. Order Race While Airbus secured substantial orders in China last year, Boeing has picked up momentum elsewhere. It edged out its European rival to win a narrow-body deal with Japan Airlines Co. last month, while scooping up a $37 billion order from Saudi Arabia's Saudia airline and new carrier Riyadh Air. Airbus and Boeing shared the spoils from Air India Ltd's mammoth 470-plane order in February. Large plane orders have become a customary goal of trade visits. Airbus locked in a $35 billion deal for 300 jets during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Paris in March 2018. ChatGPT producer OpenAI plans to present measures on Thursday to remedy concerns that led to an Italian ban on the chatbot last week, Italy's data protection agency Garante said. Microsoft Corp-backed OpenAI took ChatGPT offline in Italy after Garante last week temporarily restricted it and began a probe into a suspected breach of privacy rules. The agency last week accused OpenAI of failing to check the age of ChatGPT users and the "absence of any legal basis that justifies the massive collection and storage of personal data". On Thursday it said it has no intention of putting a brake on developing AI but reiterated the importance of respecting rules aimed at protecting the personal data of Italian and European citizens. In a video conference late on Wednesday attended by CEO Sam Altman, OpenAI pledged to be more transparent about the way it handles user data and verifies the user's age, Garante said. The company said it would send Garante a document regarding measures to respond to its requests on Thursday. The data authority said it would evaluate the proposals made by OpenAI. A source familiar with the matter said it would likely take several days to assess the contents of the letter. OpenAI, which is based in San Francisco, did not respond to a request for comment on the agency's statement. On Thursday, the company published a blog post, titled "Our approach to AI safety", which said it was working to develop "nuanced policies against behavior that represents a genuine risk to people." "We don't use data for selling our services, advertising, or building profiles of people," it said. "We use data to make our models more helpful for people. ChatGPT, for instance, improves by further training on the conversations people have with it. "While some of our training data includes personal information that is available on the public internet, we want our models to learn about the world, not private individuals." The company said it removed personal information from its datasets where possible, fine-tuned models to reject user prompts asking for such information, and would respond to individual requests to delete their data from its systems. The ban by Italy has piqued the interest of other privacy regulators in Europe who are studying if harsher measures are needed for chatbots and whether to coordinate such actions. In February, Garante banned AI chatbot company Replika from using the personal data of Italian users, citing risks to minors and emotionally fragile people. Vietnam's communications ministry said TikTok isn't doing enough to remove toxic and false content and warned that the government could soon take measures to restrict operations of the popular social media platform and others seen as violating national laws. Poor management and oversight has led to the spread of fake news and deviant and anti-government content on TikTok, threatening and corrupting the country's culture and morals, Le Quang Tu Do, the director of Vietnam's Authority of Broadcasting, Television, and Electronic Information a part of the ministry told reporters on Thursday. Do, who said he's seen similar violations by Meta Platform Inc.'s Facebook and YouTube, cited weak management at TikTok that has ultimately led to content that violates intellectual property rights and facilitates illegal business operations. The comments are the latest by governments around the world looking more closely at the impact of social media. TikTok has been of particular focus in many nations: it's already been banned in India and is under severe scrutiny in the US, where several states have barred its use on government phones because of concerns the app's Chinese owner, ByteDance Ltd., could be required to share its data with Beijing. The communications ministry plans a comprehensive inspection of TikTok's business in Vietnam in May amid rising toxic content and fake information on the social media platform, according to a posting on the ministry's website. Unlike China, people in Vietnam have access to the world's most popular social platforms. The nation's internet, though, is tightly monitored by the communist government, which is stepping up efforts to rid websites of content it objects to. How TikTok Became a US-China National Security Issue: QuickTake Officials are also pressuring foreign tech companies, telecom operators and data storage providers to store local data in the country if the services they offer violate Vietnam's cybersecurity regulations and remedies aren't put in place to the government's liking. The communications ministry has previously proposed a decree requiring some information deemed malicious be removed from social media within three hours, while what is deemed false news must be pulled down within 24 hours of being notified by authorities. The ministry is also looking to increase the fine for disseminating false information. All cross-border platforms when entering Vietnam's market have to comply with Vietnamese law, Do said. If any one doesn't, it will not be welcomed and will not be allowed to operate in Vietnam. In the first six months of last year, Facebook agreed to block more than 1,370 posts with toxic content while Alphabet Inc.'s YouTube and TikTok removed 5,363 videos and 182 clips, respectively, local media reported, citing a report from the communications ministry. YouTube also blocked access from Vietnam to about 1,500 clips having anti-state content in March 2022, the report said. Multiple Facebook fan pages experienced posting restrictions this week, VnExpress International news website reported. The Southeast Asian nation had roughly 78 million internet users in January out of a population of more than 98.5 million people, according to a report compiled by Kepios Pte. and We Are Social Ltd. TikTok was ranked the third most used social media platform in Vietnam, with 77.5% of the country's internet users aged 16 to 64 using it as of the third quarter last year, the report said. Facebook and local social network Zalo, owned by VNG Corp., attracted 91.6% and 90.1% of users, respectively. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain When a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Turkey in the early morning hours of Feb. 6, it was identified as the most powerful seismic incident to hit the country since 1939. When a 7.6 magnitude earthquake was triggered just a few hours later, disaster spiraled to catastrophemany buildings that had survived the initial impact were reduced to rubble and the death toll has reportedly surpassed 50,000. How could those buildings have been designed differently, and what lessons can be applied to boost the strength of our cities against future tectonic shifts? That was the question posed to Bora Gencturk, an associate professor at the Sonny Astani Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE) and an expert in the resilience of reinforced concrete structures in the context of extreme events, specializing in the application of high performance materials. Gencturk was among a select group of structural engineers chosen by the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) to travel to Turkey as part of the organization's Learning from Earthquakes program. The team's on-site observations will be channeled into a comprehensive reconnaissance report informing future strategies to guide design, permitting, construction and inspection efforts. For now, Gencturk is still processing his exposure to the disaster zoneswe caught up with him shortly after his return to Los Angeles. How are you feeling since your return, and what were your first impressions? To be honest, I'm exhausted. When you're working in the field, you have to absorb sights of extreme destruction. Our team visited most of the affected areas while we stayed in Adana for three days and Gaziantep for four days. According to most recent government reporting, there's an estimate of over 60,000, buildings collapsed and another 100,000 buildings that are heavily damaged. When you're on the streets, you mostly meet demolition workers or teams employed to remove debristhere are people living in tents and temporary housing, but otherwise the most hardly hit areas have been mostly abandoned. The majority of residents have fled the city because their homes are no longer inhabitable. Credit: University of Southern California Has the experience given you a new perspective as a researcher? It's worth noting that these types of earthquakes are very rare events, with an average return period of anywhere from 500 to 2000 years. So, it's very important to observe how buildings behave in such circumstances. My research focuses on using high-performance new materials to enhance the reinforced concrete infrastructure of buildings and bridges, improving the way they respond to seismic activity. It was very important for me to witness the way these buildings fail, so we can identify solutions to prevent these failures in the futurenot only in Turkey, but also in the United States and globally. What was a typical day during the trip? I was part of a team of 6 focusing on buildings. Other members of the EERI program included a team focusing on hospitals and another larger team focused on lifelinesinfrastructure components such as ports, dams, roads and power transmission lines. On a typical day, I'd leave very early in the morning and stay out in the field gathering information for anywhere between 816 hours, coming back late in the evening. We had two vans and our team would split into groups of threeaccompanied by our local contactsand travel to different locations to gain more coverage of the region. It could take two to three hours of driving to get to our destination; we would stop based on recommendations from our local contacts, making observations from the outside and entering the less heavily damaged structures. Overall, we inspected approximately 200 buildings, in addition to general observations of the condition of areas such as historical and downtown districts. The whole team would then meet at the end of each day to debrief, swap notes and plan for the following day. What are some of the initial takeaways from those investigations? We're still processing the observations and the data. From an initial overview, it appears that the main problem was the performance of residential, commercial and industrial buildings, whereas the lifelines and critical buildings such as schools and hospitals performed relatively well from a structural perspective (but not always in terms of continued operation). We focused primarily on new buildings that were constructed after an adjustment in code that occurred after the Kocaeli earthquake in 1999. In addition to pervasive design and construction deficiencies, I noted a combination of problems that had arisen from designing according to the code minimum (not always following better engineering practice) which wasn't sufficient when faced with a major disaster. For instancesplicing steel reinforcement at the foundation level (which was prohibited by the 2018 code change in Turkey), as opposed to higher up at the story level where the earthquake demands are lower. The fact that critical facilities such as schools and hospitals performed fairly well structurally is a good signit shows that the other buildings could have withstood the earthquake if they were designed to a higher standard. What are the next steps for the reconnaissance report? We are analyzing the data collected and identifying common types of failures, correlating with factors such as the number of stories in the building, the year of construction, the lateral force resisting systems and the intensity of shaking. We're also doing case studies of certain buildings selected from the data set, referring to the earthquake ground motions in the area and seeing how these buildings performed. This will allow us to identify what was done well and what was done poorly in terms of engineering practicesnew knowledge that will allow us to accelerate understanding of how our cities can survive extreme events, preventing significant loss of life in the future. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: With technology for drones far advanced, the next step is to ensure they can fly safely in cities. Credit: CC0 via Unsplash Unmanned aerial vehicles will make their way into urban skies only if the safety of people below can be ensured. The Spanish resort town of Benidorm is known for its sandy beaches with clear waters, a skyline dominated by towering hotels and tourists from northern Europe. But one day in February, it also served as a testing ground for European society's future with drones. Since the local economy depends on tourism during the summer, Benidorm is relatively empty in winterand that's a plus when it comes to safety while testing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The tall buildings that dominate the skyline also stand in nicely for those of a big city. Sun, sea and...satellite signals In sum, it's an ideal place to try out new drone technology. And an EU-funded project called DELOREAN has done just thattesting new types of satellite tracking for drones on 9 February. 'Benidorm's skyline is quite similar to what you would find in larger cities like, say, New York,' said Santiago Soley, the project coordinator who is also chief executive officer of Spanish aeronautics-engineering company Pildo Labs. 'Generally, regulations limit drone flights over dense urban areas. It's the first time in Europe we did these intense tests in a challenging city environment.' Drones have been a hyped technology for years, during which the media popularised predictions that such aircraft would soon be used for all kinds of daily services including delivering packages to people's doorsteps. Yet so far, widespread civilian use has failed to take off. The bottleneck is safety and the need to demonstrate to city governments that drones can be operated in large numbers in populated areas without being a hazard. If a UAV crashes onto a busy street or into a plane that's landing or taking off, the result could be severe damage or even deaths. Scientists and companies are now addressing these concernsand the experiments in Benidorm might hold the key to the future success of drones. 'Drone technology is getting thereit's the least of our problems,' said Soley. 'What's more important is to demonstrate how drones would safely be deployed over cities.' DELOREAN is wrapping up after three years. The main goal was to develop navigation and positioning requirements for urban air services and show how the European Global Navigation Satellite System, or EGNSS, can help. Non-GPS options Drones need to know exactly where they are at all times. For that, UAVs currently rely on satellites, mostly the US Global Positioning System, or GPS. Another alternative to GPS is Europe's Galileo network. DELOREAN is also testing Galileo's potential for drones. While led by Pildo Labs, the project has featured an international consortium whose members include France-based aircraft manufacturer Airbus, Spanish postal-servicer provider Correos and the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, or Eurocontrol, in Belgium. A challenge for satellite tracking in urban areas is that signals might be deflected or otherwise hindered by buildings. Galileo will help avoid such disruptions because of the waveform and structure of its signals, according to Soley. In addition, Galileo is pioneering new services that could pinpoint drones' locations with higher accuracysomething DELOREAN tested in Benidorm. Furthermore, Galileo adds a layer of security. An authentication service that allows the drone to verify whether the satellite signal is real would counter any future efforts by criminal groups to misdirect UAVs and steal their contents through fake signals, according to Soley. An ARQUIMEA drone being tested in Marugan, Segovia, Spain. Credit: Labyrinth, 2023 Airborne parcel deliveries If experiments of the kinds conducted by DELOREAN prove successful, many applications could open up. While drones are already in use over cities, it is often in small-scale operations by local authorities. Police departments, for one, use them to monitor crowds or track speeding cars. 'There are limitations on drone flights and you need to close the area,' said Soley. 'At the technical level, however, the flights are quite easy to handle.' The next step could be mass urban air delivery. No more vans zigzagging through city streets with all the congestion and pollution. Instead, fleets of drones would drop off packages across town. Companies like Amazon are already rolling out these services in limited areas. 'Logistics will, I think, be one of the most promising uses of drones,' said Soley. Self-flying craft An EU-funded project called LABYRINTH is tackling the challenge of ensuring that autonomous drones keep track of each other. Autonomous drones require no ground-based human pilots, who are generally needed for the current generation of UAVs. 'In the future, those drones will be operated autonomouslythey will fly themselves,' said Luis Moreno Lorente, the project coordinator and a professor of systems engineering and automation at the University Carlos III of Madrid in Spain. 'But if you want to do that safely, you need to know exactly where each one of them is located.' LABYRINTH, which is due to end in May after three years, is developing software that acts as an air traffic control system for drones. The 3D position of each is tracked and the aircraft then relays this information to other drones in the vicinity so they don't crash into each other. Similarly, if a drone faces technical troublessay one of its motors failsit needs to be able to direct other UAVs away from it. 'Before businesses like urban air delivery can develop, we first need safety,' said Moreno Lorente. 'That's what we're building now.' Together, LABYRINTH and DELOREAN are helping to clear the way for a future in which large numbers of drones fly over cities. 'It's just a matter of time before they do,' said Moreno Lorente. Research in this article was funded by the EU. The article was originally published in Horizon, the EU Research and Innovation Magazine. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Structure of a federated LF program for target language L. Credit: Intelligent Computing (2023). DOI: 10.34133/icomputing.0013 Imagine you want to withdraw some cash from an ATM. You expect it to show your account balance correctly and process your request quickly. However, network delays make it hard for the system to meet both of these simple expectations at the same time. If an ATM system tries to achieve high "consistency," meaning that it displays the latest account balance by checking a remote database, it could make you wait or even prevent you from accessing your accounts during busy times. On the other hand, if an ATM system favors "availability," it could let you access your accounts fast, but risk showing inaccurate information. To avoid undesired results, designing ATM systems and other distributed systems requires making smart trade-offs. Seeking to help system designers make those trade-offs, a group of researchers from the University of California, Berkeley and the Technical University of Dresden discovered a simple algebraic relationship between consistency, availability and network latency. This research was published in Intelligent Computing. The researchers call this algebraic relationship the consistency-availability-apparent latency theorem; it quantifies consistency, availability and apparent latency as time intervals. The CAL theorem builds on Eric Brewer's well-known consistency-availability-network partitioning theorem. Unlike the CAP theorem, which makes system designers choose upfront to sacrifice consistency, availability or both when a network lapse occurs, the CAL theorem allows system designers to adjust their choices depending on the situationa method that enables "rigorous design with clearly stated assumptions." Rigorous design is essential for distributed systems that control complex networks of connected devices such as factory robots, medical devices and security systems, which have varying latencies at different nodes and are prone to network failures. Using the CAL theorem and Lingua Franca coordination language, a powerful tool that lets programmers specify how different nodes should interact with each other, system designers can model complex networks and use the results to customize distributed systems for reliability and efficiency. The researchers demonstrated the effectiveness of their approach using a simple ATM network for tracking balances and processing transactions. They used the CAL theorem to model a network of ATMs and derive bounds on the network's latency based on minimum consistency and availability requirements specified using the LF coordination language. Keeping within these bounds, they were able to optimize the design of the network by making decisions about software placement and trade-offs between consistency and availability. In the real world, such optimization may be necessary for the achievement of business goals. The researchers also showed how to detect and handle violations of network latency requirements after deploying such a system. With built-in fault handlers provided by the LF coordination language, system designers can choose to sacrifice consistency or availability and "handle such failures gracefully." Additionally, the researchers implemented two coordination extensions based on the CAL theoremone centralized and one decentralizedthat support flexible trade-offs between consistency and availability as network latency changes. The centralized coordination mechanism prioritizes consistency, while the decentralized one prioritizes availability. A system employing these mechanisms can be customized according to the needs of the context. More information: Edward A. Lee et al, Trading Off Consistency and Availability in Tiered Heterogeneous Distributed Systems, Intelligent Computing (2023). DOI: 10.34133/icomputing.0013 Provided by Intelligent Computing SARASOTA Visit Joe Whitefeather (and bring the family!) is the latest from award-winning playwright Bruce Graham. Florida Studio Theatre, which commissioned Graham to write the play, will open its production Friday in FSTs Gompertz Theatre. Its the 1970s in Beaver Gap, Pennsylvania, a small town with a problem. Tourism has declined and it doesnt look like there is any hope on the horizon. When a new resident joins forces with the bewildered city council, they devise a plan to rename the town to honor a dead, Native American war hero who had never visited the town before. Its a plan so wild and insane that it just might work. "As Sarasotas Contemporary Theatre, we are heavily committed to supporting the development of new plays, said Richard Hopkins, FSTs Producing Artistic Director. "We do that in various waysthrough commissions, like we have done with Visit Joe Whitefeather, by presenting staged readings of plays-in-progress for live audiences, and in giving works their World Premiere productions. Visit Joe Whitefeather is inspired by real events.In the 1950s, a small town formerly known as Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, was renamed after Jim Thorpe, the first Native American to win a gold medal for the United States in the Olympics. The idea to rename the town after the late athlete came from civic leaders efforts to strengthen the local economy. Today, Jim Thorpe is a popular tourist destination in the Pocono Mountains. "I grew up thinking that Jim Thorpe, PA, was the home of Jim Thorpe, said playwright Bruce Graham. "It wasn't until I got to college that someone informed me that, not only was he not born there, but hed also never visited when he was alive. The absurdity of this sat in the back of my mind for many, many years. Why would a town name itself after a dead Native American who never even drove through it? For schedule and ticket information, visit the FST website Commentary: Washington's despicable manipulation of "Taiwan card" doomed to failure Xinhua) 09:45, April 07, 2023 BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Despite China's solemn representations and repeated warnings, Washington still arranged a mousey "transit" trip for Tsai Ing-wen and her meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. This is a calculated political provocation against China and a potentially dangerous move in support of "Taiwan independence." Washington's longstanding tactic of playing the "Taiwan card" to contain China is doomed to fail, and will consequently backfire. In the China-U.S. Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations in 1978, Washington clearly promised to maintain only unofficial contact with Taiwan. In recent years, U.S. leaders have repeatedly emphasized their commitment of not supporting "Taiwan independence" or "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan." Noteworthy, however, is the fact that Kevin McCarthy is the third highest-ranking official of the U.S. government. Therefore, such a meeting arrangement is a blatant violation of the commitments made by the United States in the three China-U.S. joint communiques and a serious breach of the one-China principle. The United States has been playing nasty tricks on the Taiwan question recently. It is now using Tsai Ing-wen's so-called stopover to heighten tension across the Taiwan Straits, which is bringing new troubles to China-U.S. relations. For some time, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in Taiwan have been touting Tsai's sneaky trip to the United States as a so-called "diplomatic breakthrough." Washington's reckless instigation of such behavior is concrete proof of deliberately trampling on the one-China principle. Rather than contain the "Taiwan independence" forces, the United States has instead chosen to wink at and support the so-called "breakthrough" efforts of the Taiwan authorities, a dangerous move to undermine the political foundation of China-U.S. relations and cast a new shadow over the entire Pacific Ocean region. As a matter of fact, the United States remains bent on providing Tsai, a staunch advocate of the "Taiwan independence" forces, with various platforms to make a political show, sending wrong signals to the separatist forces. The mainstream public opinion at home and abroad believes that the U.S. connivance in "Taiwan independence" forces is precisely a significant external factor that has fomented instability across the Taiwan Straits, and that its collusion with "Taiwan independence" forces poses a threat to the overall security of the Asia-Pacific region. It is now increasingly clear that in order to contain China and to preserve its global supremacy, the United States is always ready to deliberately manipulate the "Taiwan card," and intentionally disrupt both regional and global stability. Over the years, from its "Rebalance to Asia and the Pacific" to "Indo-Pacific Strategy," from messing up China's Hong Kong to mongering rumors about China's Xinjiang and Tibet, the United States has resorted to various despicable schemes to defame and suppress China. By branding China as a "strategic competitor," the United States has roped other countries into its small circles, bolstered the Five Eyes alliance, peddled the Quad grouping, created AUKUS alliance, and tried every possible means to build an Asia-Pacific version of NATO. And the "Taiwan card" is considered the linchpin of the U.S. strategy to contain China. A veritable double-dealer on the Taiwan question is the United States, which seeks to distort and hollow out the one-China principle through its blatant and furtive attempts to cross the red line on the issue. It unilaterally adopted the so-called "Taiwan Relations Act" and boosted arms sales to the Chinese island. Its orchestration of Tsai's so-called "transit" is merely another attempt to provoke and suppress China. Separatists like Tsai are frankly nothing but a pawn for the United States to contain China. Proof abounds of Washington prioritizing its own interests at the cost of others. The "Taiwan independence" forces will eventually and inevitably be abandoned by Washington, as some U.S. politicians have reportedly claimed to abandon or even destroy Taiwan. The Taiwan question is at the very core of China's core interests, the bedrock of the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, and the first red line that must not be crossed in the relationship. The United States is playing with fire by supporting "Taiwan independence." China will never tolerate the U.S. manipulation of the Taiwan question to serve its domestic politics or the interests of certain politicians. An article recently published on The Diplomat website pointed out that Washington should place clear limits on Taiwan-U.S. interactions to emphasize that they are unofficial, and do not involve contact between senior officials. It stressed that only through actions instead of words can Washington revive the credibility of its one-China policy, in return for credible Chinese actions. The misleading policies of the United States on Taiwan will have a devastating impact on China-U.S. relations. Mounting tension across the Taiwan Straits and souring relations with China make it imperative for Washington to honor its political commitment to China. And such political farces as the so-called stopover must be rooted out. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) (CNN) China has slapped sanctions on two American organizations that hosted Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen during her recent travel in the United States, which Beijing had fiercely condemned. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Friday the Washington-headquartered think tank Hudson Institute and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California would be banned from any cooperation, exchange or transaction with institutions and individuals in China. Key leaders of the organizations would also be barred from visiting China, unable to transact or cooperate with organizations or individuals there, and have any assets in the country frozen, the statement said. "The Hudson Institute and the Reagan Library have provided a platform and facilitated Tsai's separatist activities... which seriously undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the ministry said, using a term often used to criticize the actions of Taiwan's leader. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library was the site of a meeting between Tsai and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday -- the first time a Taiwan president had met a US Speaker on American soil. And last week, the Hudson Institute presented a Global Leadership Award to Tsai in New York City. Both occurred during stopovers in the course of the Taiwan President's 10-day international tour, which included official visits to Central America. CNN has reached out for comment to the Hudson Institute and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. It's unclear if either organization or its leaders have assets or cooperation in China that would be impacted. China had repeatedly said it would take "resolute and strong measures" in response to Tsai's meeting with McCarthy. China's Communist Party claims the self-governing democracy of Taiwan as its own despite never having controlled it, and has vowed to take the island, by force if necessary. China also imposed sanctions on two Taiwanese organizations, The Prospect Foundation and Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats, on Friday, according to the Taiwan Affairs Office. A spokesperson accused the groups of promoting Taiwan independence and said they could not cooperate with mainland organizations and individuals. Their directors were also barred from entering the mainland. Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan representative to the US, was also hit with sanctions on Friday, according to Chinese state media. Hsiao was previously sanctioned by China last August, following a visit from then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the island. On her Twitter account on Friday, Hsiao reacted to the sanctions saying, "Wow, the PRC just sanctions me again, for the second time." Taiwan's foreign ministry responded later Friday calling China's decision to impose new sanctions over Tsai's meeting with McCarthy "irrational and absurd." It was Taiwan's "fundamental right" to conduct diplomatic activities overseas, and "coercion and suppression" from Beijing would only boost its "insistence on freedom and democracy," the statement said. Beijing's overall response to the latest meeting has appeared muted so far compared with its actions following Pelosi's visit. Then, Beijing launched extensive military drills around the island following the Speaker's departure and suspended several lines of communication with Washington. This time there has been little clear military response toward the island, which sees regular incursions into its air defense identification zone and patrols in surrounding waters by the Chinese military. Ahead of the meeting between Tsai and McCarthy, Taiwan's Defense Ministry said it had tracked a Chinese aircraft carrier group, led by the carrier Shandong, passing through waters southeast of Taiwan for training in the Western Pacific. China's retaliation against the US organizations comes at a tense time between the two powers, which have struggled to stabilize their relationship amid friction over a range of issues. Among those is bolstered American support of Taiwan in the face of increased military, economic and diplomatic pressure on the island democracy from Beijing. The US maintains an unofficial relationship with Taiwan and Tsai's transit in the country was therefore not an official visit in order to keep Washington aligned with its longstanding "One China" policy. Under the policy, the US acknowledges China's position that Taiwan is part of China, but has never officially recognized Beijing's claim to the island of 23 million. Tsai is expected to return to Taiwan Friday. This story was first published on CNN.com, "China sanctions US organizations for hosting Taiwan leader during stopover." (CNN) Israel said it struck targets belonging to the Palestinian militant group Hamas in southern Lebanon and Gaza early Friday, amid rising tension days after Israeli police stormed the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. The launches came hours after dozens of rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israeli territory, a barrage the Israeli military blamed on Palestinian militants. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) international spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said Friday the Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon were focused mainly on Palestinian targets in the area from which they believe the rockets were launched into Israel. The Al-Manar news outlet, backed by Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, reported that three Israeli strikes hit an open area in the Tyre region. The Lebanese national news agency (NNA) said the area was mostly agricultural, and reported damage to homes and cars, a livestock pen and other infrastructure. "The IDF will not allow the Hamas terrorist organization to operate from within Lebanon and holds the state of Lebanon responsible for every directed fire emanating from its territory," the IDF said in a statement. Lebanon said it would submit an official complaint to the UN Security Council, calling Israel's strikes a "flagrant violation of Lebanon's sovereignty." Hamas also condemned the strikes in a statement Friday, and expressed "solidarity with the Lebanese people." In a separate statement, it condemned Israel's strikes on the Gaza Strip. Earlier, a CNN journalist in Gaza City heard the sounds of planes and explosions, minutes after the IDF announced it was targeting Gaza. The Israeli strikes hit multiple areas, and several rockets were fired from Gaza toward Israel in response. The Palestinian Ministry of Health said a children's hospital in Gaza City was damaged by the Israeli strikes, distressing the young patients inside. "This is not the first time that health facilities have been targeted, and it is unacceptable," the ministry added in a statement. Hecht said the Israeli strikes targeted 10 sites in Gaza, including production sites and research and development sites as well as tunnel infrastructure. In earlier statements, the IDF said it hit several Hamas weapons manufacturing sites, an underground weapons complex, and "terror" tunnels in Beit Hanoun and Khan Yunis. An IDF drone also struck a heavy machine gun in northern Gaza that was used to fire rounds toward IDF jets and Israeli territory, one statement said. "Nobody wants an escalation right now," Hecht told reporters Friday. "Everybody's talking to everyone. There's a lot of messaging going through political spheres to try to deescalate it." Photos from Gaza show heavily damaged cars half-buried in the ground, and dirt and debris covering the pink bedsheets of children's beds. Hours before the IDF strikes in Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Israel would "hit our enemies and they will pay a price for every act of aggression." Anger over police raids on mosque The exchange of fire comes as anger boils across the region over Israeli police raids at the al-Aqsa mosque, one of Islam's holiest sites, in Jerusalem on Wednesday, which drew widespread condemnation from the Arab and Muslim world and sparked retaliatory rocket fire from Gaza into Israel. Then on Thursday, the IDF said some 34 rockets were launched into Israel from Lebanon in the largest such attack since a 2006 war between the two countries left around 1,200 Lebanese people and 165 Israelis dead. Videos posted on social media showed rockets from Lebanon streaking through the skies over northern Israel, and the sounds of explosions in the distance. Israel closed its northern airspace in the wake of the barrage. An Israeli military spokesman said they believed Hamas or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group was behind the attack, not Hezbollah. The Lebanese army confirmed a number of a rockets were launched from the country's south, but did not say who had fired them. It said on Twitter that a unit had found "missile launchers and a number of rockets intended for launch" in the vicinity of the Lebanese towns of Zibqin and Qlaileh, and was "currently working to dismantle them." On Friday, the Lebanese military said it had also found a rocket launcher and unused missiles in the southern Marjayoun area. Hezbollah, which dominates Lebanon's southern border region militarily and politically, neither denied nor claimed responsibility for the rocket fire in Israel. But the powerful Iran-backed armed group appeared to hint at it in a statement Thursday, warning that "hundreds of millions of Muslims" were prepared to "shed blood" for al-Aqsa. In recent months, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said that violations at the mosque compound in Jerusalem's old city would cause "all hell to break loose in the region." Footage from inside the mosque showed Israeli officers beating people with their batons and rifle-butts, then arresting hundreds of Palestinians. Israeli police said they entered the mosque after "hundreds of rioters" tried to barricade themselves inside. Hecht, the IDF international spokesman, linked the rocket fire to the two Israeli incursions into the al-Aqsa mosque, saying they had created "very negative energies." "The context of the story starts two days ago on Temple Mount with these very, very harsh pictures coming out of the prayer at night," Hecht said, using the Jewish name for the Jerusalem holy site, which is known to Muslims as the Haram al-Sharif, or Noble Sanctuary. The foreign minister for Jordan, the custodian of the al-Aqsa mosque and other Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, said "we are at a very dangerous moment." "What we see unfolding on the Lebanese border is obviously a consequence, a reaction to what we saw happening in al-Aqsa [mosque]," Ayman Safadi told CNN on Thursday. Lebanon and Israel are considered enemy states, but a truce between them has largely held since the 2006 war. On Friday, the UN's peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said its head of mission and force commander was speaking with authorities on both sides, and that both Israel and Lebanon have said "they do not want a war." There have been several small-scale rocket attacks from Lebanon in recent years that have prompted retaliatory strikes from Israel. Few casualties were reported in those incidents, with the largest death toll in an exchange of fire in 2015 that left two Israeli soldiers and a Spanish peacekeeper dead. Palestinian factions in Lebanon were believed to be behind those rocket attacks. Escalation is 'extremely serious' The Israeli military pinned the blame for the rockets from Lebanon on either Hamas or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, with Hecht saying the IDF assumed that "Hezbollah knew about it, and Lebanon also has responsibility." But he emphasized several times that the IDF viewed the attack as having come from a Palestinian source, and that it did not represent a widening of the conflict to actors outside of the direct Israeli-Palestinian conflict, raising hopes that tensions could be ratcheted down after the incident. The Lebanese Foreign Ministry also said it was ready to cooperate with the United Nations and take steps to "restore calm and stability" in the south, while calling on "the international community to put pressure on Israel to stop escalation," the state-owned National News Agency reported. The IDF has been concerned for some time about an escalation on the Lebanese border, and hosted a high-level seminar in the spring of 2022 to brief journalists and policy makers about it. UNIFIL, the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, said Thursday's escalation of violence between Lebanon and Israel was "extremely serious." UNIFIL also said it had directed its personnel stationed at the border between the two countries to move to air raid shelters, as a "common practice." The White House said it was "extremely concerned by the continuing violence and we urge all sides to avoid further escalation." This story was first published on CNN.com, "Israel launches strikes in Lebanon and Gaza after barrage of rockets fired across border." The Texas House on Thursday gave preliminary approval to a historic $302.6 billion state spending plan for the next two years, preparing to send to the Senate a proposal that would bring pay raises to state employees, as well as tax cuts and more mental health services to millions of residents. The plan pushes some $136.9 billion in general revenue to some of the state GOP leaderships biggest priorities for the next two years, including $17.5 billion for property tax cuts, $5 billion in new money for schools and $4.6 billion on border security. The budget plan also leaves tens of billions of dollars in unspent general revenue available to them after record-breaking tax collections left the state flush with more cash than ever before. That includes a $37.2 billion surplus higher than the entire budgets of 24 states. House Bill 1 passed on a voice vote. I am extremely proud of the work that weve done, House Appropriations Committee Chair Greg Bonnen said at the end of a surprisingly short, fairly good-natured day of debate. This bill provides historic investments in property tax relief and public education higher education and infrastructure critical to our state. Some lawmakers who voted against the budget bill cited reasons that included too little cash for public schools and teachers, as well as a ban on diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Ive never voted against a budget in all my years here, said Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, who was president of the Austin ISD school board before winning election to the House in 2016. For parents, for moms all across the state, who know that our public schools are in desperate need. Other Democrats voted for the bill because they liked some of its aspects and wanted to support those historic efforts. Rep. Donna Howard, an Austin Democrat and member of the House Appropriations Committee, said the budget bill includes nearly $20 billion in new spending. I think we need to go forward with it and continue to work on it and make sure we get more that addresses the needs of Texas, Howard said. House members also were poised to approve a $14 billion emergency spending bill for the current cycle that spends $1.6 billion on school safety, $3.5 billion for cost-of-living pension increases for retired teachers, $400 million for flood mitigation projects and $1.5 billion for the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund. Republicans protected funds to support property taxes from Democrats attempts to redirect them for additional teacher pay raises, more money to public schools or increased funding for special education. A legislative commission recently said special education in Texas is underfunded by about $2 billion. The budget bill includes a pay raise for teachers, but Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, the House Democratic Caucus chair, pushed for another $4 billion to raise it from about $3,800 per teacher to $10,000 over the next two years. The effort went down on a 79-66 party-line vote. Thanks for not caring about teachers, Martinez Fischer said, eliciting boos and catcalls from the House floor. Republicans said repeatedly during the debate that their vote against the amendment was not a vote against teachers. When we talk about taking money for property tax reduction to put into teachers salary, Ill remind you that teachers pay property taxes as well, and theyre looking for some relief, said Gary VanDeaver, R-New Boston. Thursdays House debate was one of the shortest floor debates on the budget in recent Texas House memory, wrapping up after only about 10 hours. Historically, it starts early in the day and lasts well past midnight. Democrats prepared for a partisan beatdown in the GOP-dominated House chamber, but they avoided many of those battles when, in a sweeping move early in the day, lawmakers from both parties dropped hundreds of previously planned challenges to parts of the 979-page budget. In doing so, they appear to be poised to skip public debate on three-quarters of the nearly 400 prefiled amendments members submitted earlier this week. It was a parliamentary maneuver that allowed the outnumbered Democrats to avoid outright defeat on some of their efforts, which would have included defunding Abbotts border mission Operation Lone Star. And it benefited House Speaker Dade Phelan, Bonnen and the rest of the House members by allowing the chamber to avoid some divisive votes on politically tricky issues during the budget process although many of those are likely to pop up in future legislation. The budget is the only thing the lawmakers are constitutionally required to pass during the session, and budget leaders often try to keep the bill clear of issues that could bog them down during the arduous process. The chamber didnt avoid all the wedge issues, though. Spirited debates over abortion and diversity programs at campuses ended in party-line wins for Republicans, who succeeded in banning programs that promote diversity, equity and inclusion, while re-upping state funding for anti-abortion programs. Most of the scuttled amendments went into an unfunded wishlist to be considered during budget negotiations behind closed doors later in the session, including $4.2 billion in supplemental pension checks and pay raises for some 123,000 retired state employees. A number of amendments by North Texas state Rep. Bryan Slaton, R-Royse City, one of the most hardline conservative members of the chamber, were pulled down or delayed when Slaton was marked absent from the House floor for the entire day. Those amendments ranged from defunding the Texas Commission on the Arts to directing Comptroller Glenn Hegar to include statements about abortion, gun rights and defining genders in his tax policy e-newsletter. They also included an attempt by Slaton to name county morgues funded with border security dollars after President Joe Biden. Amendments that passed included measures creating a grant program for kindergarten readiness, training first responders on how to handle the deadly drug fentanyl when they encounter it on the street and increasing the oversight of how state money was spent on the botched prosecution of the El Paso Walmart shooter. Abbotts office was able to survive, without any votes or debate, the attempted raids by both parties on his special programs that fund economic development projects, disaster relief and Operation Lone Star his border security mission that has cost nearly $4 billion in taxpayer funds since it started in early 2021. House budget leaders were able to guard the border security funding, which is spread out over several agencies in the bill, including $1 billion for Abbott to use at his disposal for the border. The House tossed tens of millions in taxpayer dollars to crisis pregnancy centers that have been taking on more pregnant clients now that abortion has been largely banned in Texas. They desperately need this significant increase in funding to keep up with demand, said state Rep. Cody Vasut, R-Angleton, author of an amendment that earmarked $80 million in general revenue to the states Alternatives to Abortion program. The demand is there. The need is there. The funding passed on a mostly party-line vote of 88-59. Most Democrats objected, with several arguing the centers are largely unregulated and dont offer actual health care. Why should this body be investing more funds in a program that has very little accountability and is not shown to actually help women and families when we have good programs and good options, like funding our social support networks that are already in place? said Rep. Erin Zwiener, D-Driftwood. House members also approved $402 million to stabilize the states juvenile justice system and $343.8 million to install air conditioning in the states prisons. The bill includes billions of dollars for mental health services, including new funding for community mental health services, new hospitals and substance abuse treatment. The conservative state budget leaders who ran the process were staunch in their defense of the bill against statutory and constitutional spending limits, and they showed no appetite for breaking them. Constructed over 95 hours of testimony by more than 700 witnesses in addition to Thursdays floor debate the legislation now goes to the Senate Finance Committee which has been readying its own proposal that is significantly different from the House version. After their version passes the Senate floor later this month, the two chambers will meet in conference committee to negotiate a compromise bill. Then both chambers will have to approve it before it can be sent to the comptroller for certification and the governor for his chance to veto parts of the budget before it becomes law. One major disagreement between the two chambers is over how to shell out property tax relief long promised by the states top Republicans with House and Senate leaders sparring over their main proposals. The Houses chief idea to cut taxes is to limit property appraisals for homes and businesses while the Senate wants to boost the states homestead exemption and give targeted tax cuts to businesses. Another sticking point could arise over $10 billion to address the stability of the energy grid, approved by the full Senate but missing from the House budget. The House has yet to have a hearing on the bill and has so far declined to commit to any funding for the legislation part of a priority energy-related package pushed by Patrick, who presides over the Senate. Kate McGee and Josh Fechter contributed to this story. Now is a time of woe, not just for Never Trump conservatives, but also for the much larger group of Republicans who made peace with Trump once but dread having to do it again. In fact, just going by my unscientific survey, the melancholy is worse for those Republicans who may have agreed with the Never Trump crowd in principle (and in private), but for pragmatic and professional reasons found it necessary to spend years eating the steaming bowl of unpalatable fare that fate had put in front of them. But after disappointing Republican performances in 2018, 2020 and 2022, almost entirely because of Trumps influence, a lot of these former accommodationists and transactionists have concluded correctly that Trumps an albatross for the GOP. For all the talk about how this indictment helps Trump solidify Republican support, it hurts his and the partys prospects in 2024. People who voted against Trump in 2020 and against his most sycophantic disciples in 2022 are unlikely to suddenly change their minds about him because he got indicted for a scheme to pay hush money to an adult film actress. And contrary to the alternate reality peddled by Trump and his biggest fans that he is the voice of the American majority, more Americans dislike him than like him. And, again, contrary to the echo-chamber mythmaking of Trumps PR team, reaction to the New York indictment confirms it hurts him. A new CNN poll finds that 1 in 5 Republicans approve of the indictment and 1 in 4 conservatives do. Majorities of independents (62%) and Democrats (94%) approve. Overall, 6 in 10 Americans support the indictment. Meanwhile, Republican voters are rallying around Trump. In other words, this indictment is good for Trump in the hothouse of Republican primary politics 10 months before the Iowa Caucus, but affirmatively bad for a party that wants to win general elections. At least Never Trumpers get the consolation prize of saying I told you so. The Never Again camp, however, is probably despondent at the prospect of having to get out the spoon for another helping and losing again. The despair is understandable but possibly premature. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs indictment may be the first indictment of a former president, but it is unlikely to be the last. Georgia is likely to indict Trump for his effort to overturn the 2020 election, and most legal observers believe that special counsel Jack Smith will likely indict Trump on federal charges related to his actions on Jan. 6, 2021, or his absconding with classified materials or both. Predicting what the future will look like is always a mistake. After months of revelations and Trump outbursts, its not inconceivable that the MAGA forces will disperse from exhaustion. But one should not bet the mortgage on a sudden outbreak of intestinal fortitude, strategic resolve or conservative principle among GOP leaders when it comes to Trump. At least for some Republicans, supporting Trump on the New York indictment might be the best way politically to prepare for more serious indictments if they happen. (As a critic of Braggs decision, I think opposing the indictment is a defensible position on the merits.) Such positioning now could help inoculate against charges of reflexive Trump-hatred should weightier indictments drop. Right now, even Mike Pence and Ron DeSantis feel the need to defend Trump. But given that they want to run for the presidency, theyre simply waiting for the opportunity to argue the GOP needs a fresh start. Its worth recalling that despite the immediate frenzy of Republican support for Trump after the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago last August, Trumps poll numbers did not improve much, even among Republicans. Indeed, Trumps unfavorability numbers are remarkably high and stable. As the New York drama unfolds, and the unseemly facts about porn star payoffs and Trumpian drama once again fill Americans headspace, new indictments may seem less like fresh outrages from the deep state and more like last straws and justifications for pushing away the bowl. Interestingly, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson seized this moment to move up his formal announcement that he will be challenging Trump for the nomination and that Trump should drop out of the race because of all of his baggage. Perhaps even more revealing, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, among the most pliant of Trump enablers, recently suggested the front-runner now i.e. Trump may not be the eventual nominee. The 2024 race needs to be a referendum on Biden, he explained, and therefore the GOP needs a candidate who can make that case. Its about addition, not subtraction, he told podcaster Dave Rubin. Thats not exactly a brave repudiation of Trump, but it is a baby step in the right direction. Sigma Investment Counselors Inc. lessened its position in iShares Gold Trust (NYSEARCA:IAU Get Rating) by 0.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 212,166 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 1,350 shares during the quarter. Sigma Investment Counselors Inc.s holdings in iShares Gold Trust were worth $7,339,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Psagot Value Holdings Ltd. Israel purchased a new stake in iShares Gold Trust in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC grew its stake in iShares Gold Trust by 73.5% in the 4th quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC now owns 928 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 393 shares during the last quarter. Accurate Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in iShares Gold Trust in the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. Valley National Advisers Inc. grew its stake in iShares Gold Trust by 98.2% in the 3rd quarter. Valley National Advisers Inc. now owns 1,092 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 541 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fiduciary Alliance LLC acquired a new stake in iShares Gold Trust in the 4th quarter worth $36,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 62.40% of the companys stock. Get iShares Gold Trust alerts: iShares Gold Trust Trading Down 0.7 % Shares of iShares Gold Trust stock opened at $38.05 on Friday. iShares Gold Trust has a twelve month low of $30.69 and a twelve month high of $38.52. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $36.01 and its 200-day simple moving average is $34.26. About iShares Gold Trust iShares Gold Trust (the Trust) is to own gold transferred to the Trust in exchange for shares issued by the Trust (Shares). Each Share represents a fractional undivided beneficial interest in the net assets of the Trust. The assets of the Trust consist of gold held by the Trusts custodian on behalf of the Trust. Read More Receive News & Ratings for iShares Gold Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Gold Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Conagra Brands (NYSE:CAG Get Rating) had its price target decreased by equities researchers at Morgan Stanley from $48.00 to $46.00 in a research note issued on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The firm presently has an overweight rating on the stock. Morgan Stanleys price objective suggests a potential upside of 19.85% from the stocks current price. Several other research analysts also recently commented on CAG. UBS Group cut their price objective on shares of Conagra Brands from $45.00 to $43.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 31st. Bank of America raised their price objective on shares of Conagra Brands from $40.00 to $42.00 in a report on Thursday. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on shares of Conagra Brands from $35.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Friday, January 6th. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on shares of Conagra Brands from $44.00 to $40.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on shares of Conagra Brands from $38.00 to $43.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, January 6th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $40.73. Get Conagra Brands alerts: Conagra Brands Stock Up 0.3 % Shares of CAG traded up $0.11 on Thursday, reaching $38.38. The companys stock had a trading volume of 4,635,448 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,858,119. The company has a current ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92. Conagra Brands has a twelve month low of $31.01 and a twelve month high of $41.30. The stock has a market capitalization of $18.29 billion, a PE ratio of 27.22, a PEG ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 0.56. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $36.44 and a 200-day moving average of $36.54. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Conagra Brands Conagra Brands ( NYSE:CAG Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, April 5th. The company reported $0.76 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.64 by $0.12. The company had revenue of $3.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.08 billion. Conagra Brands had a net margin of 5.66% and a return on equity of 14.38%. The firms revenue was up 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.58 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Conagra Brands will post 2.68 EPS for the current year. A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of CAG. Securian Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in Conagra Brands by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. Securian Asset Management Inc. now owns 39,071 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,275,000 after purchasing an additional 286 shares during the last quarter. Czech National Bank boosted its holdings in Conagra Brands by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 56,097 shares of the companys stock worth $2,171,000 after acquiring an additional 295 shares during the period. Fortitude Advisory Group L.L.C. raised its position in shares of Conagra Brands by 3.7% in the 2nd quarter. Fortitude Advisory Group L.L.C. now owns 8,265 shares of the companys stock valued at $283,000 after purchasing an additional 298 shares in the last quarter. Utah Retirement Systems raised its position in shares of Conagra Brands by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. Utah Retirement Systems now owns 83,870 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,737,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Louisiana State Employees Retirement System raised its position in shares of Conagra Brands by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 31,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,200,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. 81.08% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Conagra Brands (Get Rating) Conagra Brands, Inc engages in the manufacture and sale of processed and packaged foods. It operates through the following segments: Grocery and Snacks, Refrigerated and Frozen, International, and Foodservice. The Grocery and Snacks segment includes branded, shelf stable food products sold in various retail channels in the United States. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Conagra Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Conagra Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. (CNN) Dozens of rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel on Thursday, the Israeli military said, in a major escalation that comes amid regional tensions over Israeli police raids at the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. Some 34 rockets were launched from Lebanese territory into Israeli territory, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said, with the majority intercepted but six landing in Israel. It was the largest such attack since a 2006 war between the two countries left around 1,200 Lebanese people and 165 Israelis dead. Videos posted on social media showed rockets streaking through the skies over northern Israel, and the sounds of explosions in the distance. The country closed its northern airspace in the wake of the barrage. No deaths were reported, and it is not yet known which group in Lebanon launched the rockets. Israel said it would decide on the place and time of its response, an IDF defense official who asked not to be named told CNN. An Israeli military spokesman said they believed a Palestinian militant group was behind the attack, not the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. The Lebanese army confirmed a number of a rockets were launched from the countrys south, but did not detail who had fired them. It said on Twitter that a unit had found missile launchers and a number of rockets intended for launch in the vicinity of the Lebanese towns of Zibqin and Qlaileh, and was currently working to dismantle them. Hezbollah has not yet commented on the incident. It comes a day after Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, arrived in Beirut for meetings with Hezbollah officials. Tensions are sky-high in the region after Israeli police stormed the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem on two separate occasions Wednesday, as Palestinian worshipers offered prayers during the holy month of Ramadan. Footage from inside the mosque showed Israeli officers beating people with their batons and rifle-butts, then arresting hundreds of Palestinians. Israeli police said they entered the mosque after hundreds of rioters tried to barricade themselves inside. The incident, which was met with widespread condemnation from the Arab and Muslim world, sparked retaliatory rocket fire from Gaza into Israel. Jordans Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told CNN we are at a very dangerous moment. What we see unfolding on the Lebanese border is obviously a consequence, a reaction to what we saw happening in al-Aqsa [mosque]. Safadi said. Lebanon and Israel are considered enemy states, but a truce between them has largely held since the 2006 war. There have been several small-scale rocket attacks from Lebanon in recent years that have prompted retaliatory strikes from Israel. Few casualties were reported in those incidents, with the largest death toll in an exchange of fire in 2015 that left two Israeli soldiers and a Spanish peacekeeper dead. Palestinian factions in Lebanon were believed to be behind those rocket attacks. The 2006 conflict was the biggest flare-up between Lebanon and Israel since 1982. Around 1,200 Lebanese people and 165 Israelis died in an exchange of fire that involved a nationwide Israeli aerial assault, and a naval and aerial blockade. Hezbollah fired many rounds of rockets reaching deep into Israeli territory during the conflict. Escalation is extremely serious The Israeli military pinned the blame for the rockets on either Hamas or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, with international spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht saying the IDF assumed that Hezbollah knew about it, and Lebanon also has responsibility. But he emphasized several times that the IDF viewed the attack as having come from a Palestinian source, and that it did not represent a widening of the conflict to actors outside of the direct Israeli-Palestinian conflict, raising hopes that tensions could be ratcheted down after the incident. The Lebanese foreign ministry also said it was ready to cooperate with the United Nations and take steps to restore calm and stability in the south, while calling on the international community to put pressure on Israel to stop escalation, the state-owned National News Agency reported. The IDF has been concerned for some time about an escalation on the Lebanese border, and hosted a high-level seminar in the spring of 2022 to brief journalists and policy makers about it. The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said Thursdays escalation of violence between Lebanon and Israel was extremely serious. UNIFIL also said it has directed its personnel stationed at the border between the two countries to move to air raid shelters, as a common practice. The White House said it was extremely concerned by the continuing violence and we urge all sides to avoid further escalation. This story was first published on CNN.com, Dozens of rockets fired from Lebanon into Israel after raids on al-Aqsa mosque" Safe Bulkers, Inc. (NYSE:SB Get Rating) Jefferies Financial Group reduced their FY2023 earnings per share estimates for shares of Safe Bulkers in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, April 4th. Jefferies Financial Group analyst O. Nokta now anticipates that the shipping company will earn $0.78 per share for the year, down from their prior estimate of $0.92. Jefferies Financial Group has a Hold rating and a $3.00 price target on the stock. The consensus estimate for Safe Bulkers current full-year earnings is $0.78 per share. Jefferies Financial Group also issued estimates for Safe Bulkers FY2025 earnings at $1.24 EPS. Get Safe Bulkers alerts: Separately, StockNews.com downgraded Safe Bulkers from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, March 24th. Safe Bulkers Price Performance Institutional Trading of Safe Bulkers SB stock opened at $3.60 on Wednesday. Safe Bulkers has a 1 year low of $2.35 and a 1 year high of $5.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 1.54 and a current ratio of 1.73. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $3.49 and its 200 day moving average price is $3.05. The firm has a market cap of $437.91 million, a P/E ratio of 2.63 and a beta of 0.88. A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in SB. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. increased its holdings in Safe Bulkers by 1,074.3% in the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 8,220 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 7,520 shares in the last quarter. Financial Advocates Investment Management acquired a new stake in Safe Bulkers in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Ethic Inc. purchased a new position in Safe Bulkers in the 3rd quarter valued at about $26,000. Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new position in Safe Bulkers in the 2nd quarter valued at about $42,000. Finally, Mirabella Financial Services LLP purchased a new position in Safe Bulkers in the 1st quarter valued at about $56,000. 25.95% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Safe Bulkers Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 1st were issued a dividend of $0.05 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 28th. This represents a $0.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.56%. Safe Bulkerss payout ratio is 14.60%. About Safe Bulkers (Get Rating) Safe Bulkers, Inc provides international marine drybulk transportation services. The firm offers transporting bulk cargoes, particularly coal, grain and iron ore, along worldwide shipping routes for some of the worlds largest users of marine drybulk transportation services. The company was founded on December 11, 2007 and is headquartered in Les Acanthes, Monaco. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Safe Bulkers Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Safe Bulkers and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Franklin County Public Schools is narrowing its search for the divisions new superintendent. Interviews are scheduled with several applicants later this month. The position was posted to job sites in February to fill the role of current superintendent Bernice Cobbs, who announced she would not be renewing her contract when it ends June 30. Cobbs was hired as superintendent in 2020. Cobbs announced last year that she would not seek a new contract after her current one ends. She was the assistant principal of Franklin County High School before taking the position. During Tuesdays Franklin County School Board meeting, Chairman Jeff Worley said the county had 22 inquiries into the superintendent job. Of those, 17 applied for the position. Worley praised the diversity of the applicants. He said two were current superintendents, five were central office administrators and four were principal/building level administrators. The other six were listed in other positions, he said. Out of the 17 applicants, 12 were from Virginia. The remaining five consisted of two applicants from Maryland, one from South Carolina, one from North Carolina and one from California. We had a good varied group and we had some good candidates, Worley said. The school board met in closed session with the Virginia School Board Association on March 23 to discuss the candidates. Worley said they spent time looking over all the applicants during the meeting. It was tough to look through these and try to decide who to talk with, because there are some extremely good candidates, Worley said. Interviews with candidates are expected to begin April 22 and continue until May 6. The meetings will be closed to the public. Worley has said in previous interviews that the goal of the school board is to hire a new superintendent and have the person in place by July 1, a day after Cobbs is set to step down from the position on June 30. A workhorse tool serving the National Weather Services Blacksburg office is offline for maintenance so it can continue whirring weather data for another 20 years or more. One of a nationwide network of 159 radars, the KFCX WSR-88D, which is located on a mountain in Floyd County, is down until April 10 while work is done to refurbish its pedestal, said Phil Hysell, warning coordination meteorologist in Blacksburg. The Doppler radar is a really critical tool for the National Weather Service, Hysell said. The primary use of the Doppler radar is in our warning operations. It allows us to scan the skies, to see how storms are evolving over time. The radar device spins above the tree line on an 82-foot stand, protected beneath a white dome from the elements that it measures. Hysell said it works by sending pulses of electromagnetic energy out and upward into the atmosphere. As it scans, were sampling the atmosphere to see how much power is returned to the radar, Hysell said. From that, we can tell where precipitation is falling, we can tell the rate of precipitation, and we can also measure the winds inside that shower or thunderstorm. Thats how the weather service knows when to issue warnings for severe thunderstorms, flash flooding and tornados. Those warnings save lives, Hysell said. This life-saving instrument can continue to help us issue warnings for years to come, he said. Think about if you have a car youve been driving for like 25 straight years. This daily driver just needs some fresh parts, said Justin York, electronics systems analyst for the National Weather Service in Blacksburg. Pedestal work that started this week is the third of four projects scheduled to expand the life of the radar, with a final installment coming later this year. The pedestal is the actual stand up on top of the tower that the dish is mounted to, York said. This is a 20,000-pound steel tube, basically, filled with electronics. And that equipment has been whirring up there for more than its expected lifespan of 25 years, he said. All that spinning and vibration starts to wear on a radar, after long enough. In order to extend the life of this system, the best thing to do would be to pull the pedestal completely down to the ground and put in a brand new one that has been completely refurbished back on top, York said. While the radar dedicated to the Blacksburg office is down, a nationwide mosaic of radars, plus a bunch of other tools, inform the regions meteorologists who record daily data, keep track of weather patterns and issue warnings across 40 counties in Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina, Hysell said. Another tool that we use here at the National Weather Service to collect weather data are our weather balloons. We launch those twice a day from our office, at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Hysell said. Those weather balloons, with a radiosonde attached, collect wind, pressure and temperature data, all the way up to 10 to 12 miles above the earths surface. The radar, balloons and other devices are what allow people to access some of the weather data that shows up on cell phone applications and internet search results. Its not just potentially life-saving information, its also useful to decide, how necessary is a rain coat today? With spring arrived in Southwest Virginia, Hysell said people should remember to have a severe weather plan in place for home, work, school, and wherever else they congregate. April, May and June are peak months for tornadoes. Through an app on your cellphone, through weather radio, make sure you have multiple ways to receive weather warnings this severe weather season, Hysell said. Also in that plan, talk to your family and friends about where to go when a tornado or severe thunderstorm warning is issued. Work on the Blacksburg offices radar is part of an eight-year, $135 million program from the National Weather Service, United States Air Force, and Federal Aviation Administration to extend lifespans of the nations radars into the 2030s, an announcement said. For weather information from your neck of the woods, go online to www.weather.gov/rnk. Hope Harbor names new board members Paul Hoos, Natalie Lukens, Travis Mittan, Robert Heagy and Bana Stec have become members of Hope Harbors board of directors. Hoos has been an agent with Shelter Insurance since 1993. He was born and raised in Grand Island and graduated from Grand Island Senior High. He received his bachelors degree from University of Nebraska at Kearney. Lukens is originally from New Jersey and attended Brigham Young University in Utah where she studied history and economics. She then moved to St. Louis. In 2008, she was awarded the Lifetime Dedication to Service award by the RubinBrown Charitable Foundation for her work with underserved and impoverished teenagers in St. Louis City. Since moving to Grand Island in 2016, she has been working as a community volunteer. In 2020, she graduated from Leadership Unlimited in Class 35. Natalie also serves on the board for Choice Family Healthcare Clinic. She is currently working with Healthy Nebraska on its local efforts for the Maternal and Child Health Project. She also works with the STOP Fund, GIPS, as well as other local groups. Mittan is the business director at Associated Staffing, Inc. where he has held various positions since 2007. He is a graduate of Leadership Unlimited Class 29 and previously served on the board for Hall County Leadership Unlimited. He has also worked with Habitat for Humanity, Grand Island Chamber Young Professionals, and Greater Grand Island Community Foundations Youth Philanthropy Program. Heagy is a project manager with Tally Creative and has been with them since July 2022. From Spokane, Wash., Heagy and his family moved to Grand Island in 2021 after his wife, Alyssa, (a Grand Island native) accepted the executive director position with Habitat for Humanity. He graduated from Eastern Washington University with a bachelor of arts degree in studio art and spends his free time creating and building with a variety of different materials. Stec has been a physicians assistant for Mary Lanning Health Care for five and half years. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a masters degree from Union College. She is also serving on the social committee board at Riverside. She looks forward to being a member of the Hope Harbor board to be able to serve our community and help those in need to set them up for success. Outgoing board members include Brad Bell, Bishop William Dendinger and Lissa Moeller. Bell served on the board from 2017 to 2022, working with the finance and the personnel committees. Bishop Dendinger served on the board from 2017 to 2022 as a member of the personnel and events committees. Moeller was a board member from 2018 to 2022 and served on the personnel and shelter committees. Hope Harbors new board president is Brad Mustion, with Alicia ODonnell, vice president, Keith Mingus, treasurer, and Josh Conner, secretary. Other board members include Mavin Andersen, Laura Dexter, Dana Fries, Sandra Kraft, Dan Walter and Jennifer Worthington. Hope Harbor serves families, women and children experiencing homelessness or nearly experiencing homelessness by providing safe shelter, meals, intensive case management and educational programs to assist residents in becoming self-sufficient. Local officials are looking at potential new recreational opportunities along the Platte River near Grand Island. The Grand Island City Council was presented with an idea to turn Camp Augustine into a public recreation venue during a study session on Tuesday. However, there are currently no set design plans and no deal has been made. Camp Augustine is a 123-acre campground located along the bank of the Platte River. The Boy Scouts of America own the camp and have been using it since 1956. According to Dave Plond, scout executive for the Overland Trails Council, they cant continue to run Camp Augustine as it is financially "in the red." Their camp operations dont make money, with Plond estimating a loss of around $50,000 to $75,000 each year. Youre taking other resources from donors that want to see other programing to maintain your camp, said Plond. Does it make sense to still continue to run a camp when youve got four camps within two hours? Plond said that they would try to negotiate with a potential buyer for the Boy Scouts to continue using the camp. As much as we love Camp Augustine, said Plond, we want to continue to have a scouting program. The campsite has not been put out on the market yet, but Plond said many are interested in purchasing the property. Plond also said that the Grand Island Convention and Visitor Bureau started pursuing the potential sale after early discussions. According to Grand Island Tourism Executive Director Brad Mellema, the idea of purchasing Camp Augustine and turning it into a public venue came about after a few discussions with Plond and Mayor Roger Steele. With the Mormon Island State Recreation Area, owned by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, directly south of the camp, there is the potential for public recreation areas on both sides of the Platte River. Mellema argued that turning Camp Augustine into a public recreation area would benefit Grand Island by increasing tourism and revenue. Mellema cited annual reports from Nebraska Game and Parks showing that 2020 and 2021 had been record years for camping revenue. Outdoor recreation and camping is huge, said Mellema. COVID maybe spurred that on a little bit, but this is a trend that is nationwide and there is insatiable demand for that type of activity. Nebraska Game and Parks has also acquired more land that could be used to expand Mormon Island. The Nebraska Department of Transportation recently transferred 176 acres of land directly east of Mormon Island to Nebraska Game and Parks. They are also in the process of acquiring around 40 more acres along South Locust street from the federal government. If Camp Augustine were to be turned into a public venue, there would be more than 500 total acres for outdoor recreational activities. Going from 178 to 500 acres, you can see the potential, said Mellema. Where each of these parcels, if they're brought together, can really create something special. There are also plans to connect the Riverway Trail down to the Mormon Island Trail. The new trail will potentially be 6.23 miles and extend down South Locust Street and end near the west lake of Mormon Island. With more recreation planned for the area, Mellema thinks it makes sense to turn Camp Augustine into a public recreation area. However, Mellema only presented an idea to the City cCouncil, as there are no official plans being worked on. There has been no agreement between Grand Island Tourism and the Boy Scouts of America. Mellema said Grand Island Tourism is looking at several different ways to acquire the land, including temporarily holding it until a permanent buyer comes. Grand Island Tourism is currently trying to find a buyer for the campsite. Once in a while, an idea comes along that makes sense, said Mellema. Its even better when that idea stands for the benefit and enjoyment of the public. YORK U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts was the special guest at this weeks York Rotary meeting, as he spoke about what he is doing on behalf of Nebraskans in Washington D.C. York Mayor Barry Redfern opened the meeting saying, Its an absolute pleasure having Senator Ricketts with us today. When you first became governor, I remember talking to you one time and you told me you started your first campaign in York County. We were fortunate enough to have Senator Deb Fischer here a few months ago to talk about the new trail grant, Project Access York. Its been such an honor to have both of you and I thank everyone for coming today. Ricketts gave a thank you to the Rotary Club for the projects they work on, both in this country and nationally. Ricketts said hes excited for the opportunity to be able to continue to serve the state as a senator. Weve been working to get everything put in place to serve Nebraskans and its a privilege to continue to serve Nebraskans, said Ricketts. Weve got one of the best places in the world. He discussed his first objective is to open constituent services across the state of Nebraska. Ricketts introduced Sarah Mills, who is the director of Central Nebraska Constituent Services in Kearney. Ricketts said, We are up and running with a constituent office in Kearney. This is to give people the opportunity to come into the office and give us feedback on a legislative issue or someone who wants to talk policy, they can, or if they need help navigating federal bureaucracy, thats what our offices are for. We have one in Kearney, Omaha and we just opened one in Scottsbluff yesterday. We will have one in Lincoln in the near future. People can turn to these offices to get assistance on getting passports, visas or needing access to Medicaid. His second priority is to bring the same Nebraska values to Washington D.C. We still have those values that make America great, said Ricketts. We treat each other with dignity and respect, we value the principles our founders put in place like federalism, checks and balances, rule of law, all of those are the things that make us great and we need that in Washington D.C. We need that attitude of believing the government can work and can serve people well, while keeping our expenses in line. Ricketts touched on the multiple committees he is on including the Environment and Public Works Committee. Ricketts said being on the Environment and Public Works Committee is beneficial to the state because it oversees the Environmental Protection Agency and regulations that would impact farmers and ranchers in Nebraska, specifically Waters of the United States. Ricketts reflected on his concerns about the Waters of the U.S. rule. The rule expands the definition of navigable waters to include things like ponds on farms, puddles on construction sites and roadside ditches that occasionally have water, he said. Ricketts said, Its a huge expansion of federal power. If the EPA regulates those waters, it could be detrimental to farmers, ranchers, business owners and private properties because it would cause a huge amount of uncertainty, cost and expense for all of those people. While on the committee, Ricketts has had the opportunity to promote ethanol, discuss the beneficial uses of ethanol and why there should be an expansion of the use of ethanol. Another project Ricketts has been working on with his colleagues is discouraging illegal immigration on the southern border. Ricketts said, The Biden administration is not doing enough. He added, Last year we had two million people come across the border, thats how many we encountered. Ricketts said, The folks coming across the borders are being exploited by cartels and its not just human trafficking that is going on at the southern border either. Drugs are also coming across. My last two years as governor we saw this. Our state patrol confiscated twice as much methadone, three times as much fentanyl and 10 times as much cocaine than in previous years. Ricketts noted the leading cause of death among Americans ages 18 to 45 is drug overdose. He stated his frustrations of the Biden administration asking for $535 million for advanced technology for border security, but asked for $3.9 billion dollars for climate resiliency programs. My colleagues and I at the Senate are working to highlight this crisis and hold the administration to doing more, said Ricketts. Other ways Ricketts has been serving is being involved in the Special Committee of Aging that oversees workplace environments for assisted living and nursing homes. He also serves on the Committee of Foreign Relations that helps foster relationships with foreign allies and develops trade with other countries. (CNN) Every year scientists in New Zealand fly over some of the countrys most iconic glaciers ancient ice rivers that descend from the Southern Alps, a spine of mountains that extend along the South Island. And almost every year, they find them shrinking. This year was no different. At the end of March, the team of scientists spent eight hours flying over the peaks, taking thousands of photographs of glaciers for the annual snowline survey. Andrew Mackintosh, a professor at Monash University in Australia who was on the flight, said in a statement that he was shocked by what they saw. Some of the smaller elevation glaciers had largely disappeared, he said, while the famous Franz Josef and Fox glaciers showed marked signs of retreat. The observations this year reinforce the view that we are continuing to see ice loss across the Southern Alps, Andrew Lorrey, principal scientist at the research body National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and coordinator of the survey, told CNN. Glaciers are huge masses of ice that build up in and around mountains. They grow in cold, snowy winters and retreat when temperatures warm. Glaciers are fresh water sources for nearly 2 billion people globally, but their rapid melting poses a huge risk: not only is it increasing the risk for deadly flash flooding, the melting ice is driving sea level rise. Two years of severe, record-breaking heat have taken a toll on the glaciers 2022 was New Zealands hottest year ever, beating a record that was set just a year earlier. But the trend of declining ice is long term. Its difficult to witness, said Lorrey, who has been on these aerial surveys since 2009. Im seeing this beautiful part of our natural environment slipping through our fingers. And if youve experienced a glacier firsthand, they are absolutely breathtaking and mind-blowing and life-altering. The snowline survey, organized by NIWA, has happened almost every year for nearly five decades and aims to capture a snapshot of a set of more than 50 glaciers ranging in size and elevation as close as possible to the end of snow and ice melt season. The scientists are looking specifically at the snow that coats them. By understanding where the snowline is you capture something about the health of our glaciers, Lorrey said. The snow, which provides a nourishing and protective layer for the glaciers, starts in the autumn and continues until spring. Lorrey has a financial analogy for the process: The snow is like a savings deposit for the glacier, a buffer against the warmer period ahead. When the melt season starts in the spring, it has to go through this savings account of new snow before it reaches the body of the glacier. In years when the snowline is lower on the mountain, the glacier can bulk up and is able to advance further down the slope it has a healthy balance. But when the snowline is higher up, more of the glacier is exposed to melting sending it into the red and it will shrink. Right now, we see rapid changes happening in the mountains, with indications that the snowline rise is accelerating along with ice loss, Lorrey said. The results from this years flight will be fed into a report on longer term variability in the glaciers which will come out later in the year. The climate crisis is having a huge impact. Its mostly temperature changes that drive what glaciers in New Zealand are doing, Lauren Vargo, a glaciologist at the Victoria University of Wellington, who was part of the survey, told CNN. The extreme melting in 2018, one of the worst years on record for New Zealands glaciers, was made up to 10 times more likely by climate change, according to a 2020 study co-authored by Vargo and Lorrey. As a scientist, at first the dramatic change in the glaciers was exciting in some ways, said Vargo, who has been studying them since 2016. But the persistence of this trend is tough. It also feels sad and scary when you think about whats driving it, she said. As the current warming trend continues, we will keep losing more glaciers, said Lorrey. And this is a global trend. Up to half the worlds glaciers could disappear by the end of the century, even if ambitious climate targets are met, according to research published in January. In addition to the impacts of climate change, natural climate variations have also played a role. The unusually long run of La Nina years, which have just ended, brought warmer-than-average sea and air temperatures, helping to drive glacier melting. Its counterpart, El Nino, which often brings cooler conditions to this part of New Zealand, is forecast for later in the year and may provide a temporary reprieve. I always look forward to an El Nino and seeing a snow line that is where it normally should be, Lorrey said. But, he cautioned, its not going to save the bacon of the glaciers. These years occur too few and far between to counteract the ongoing warming trend that weve been experiencing. The loss of ice is is keenly felt, Vargo said. People in New Zealand have this connection to the glaciers. Where once it was possible to park in the car park of a national park and walk a short distance to touch a glacier, now thats much less common people often need to go further into the mountain, even fly there on small planes. Its an experience that will be out of reach for many, Lorrey said. A loss of our glaciers will have a significant impact on our relationship with and experiences in the environment. These water towers, as Lorrey calls them, also have an important role in supplying high Alpine streams, especially during years of drought. The shifts that are happening are a reminder that our mountains and other places around the world are changing quickly, he said. Glaciers are a a highly visual element of environmental change that tells us there are other things that we are not seeing. This story was first published on CNN.com, Shocked by the loss: Scientists sound the alarm on New Zealands melting glaciers" WEST FRANKFORT Festival organizers have announced the name of the 2023 Old King Coal. Steve Sawalich, long time Old King Coal Festival president and former coal miner, will reign over this years festival as 2023 Old King Coal. The festival will be May 11 through 14 in downtown West Frankfort. Sawalich will be officially crowned on April 15 at the Princess Flame Scholarship Pageant in the Benton Civic Center. For Sawalich, serving as Old King is an honor because he knows the men he has followed in the position. He said it was a full circle moment. Sawalich wanted to be a coal miner, worked in the mines for 10 years, served as president of the Old King Coal Festival for 21 years and has now been named Old King Coal. Its a very heartfelt reward. This is the icing on the cake, Sawalich said. His nomination letter, submitted by his family, said mining has been a way of life for the Sawalich family dating back to 1905 when the family came to the U.S. from Germany. That heritage went from grandfathers and uncles to Sawalichs father, Mike, who worked in mine sales, then on to Sawalich. Sawlich knew he wanted to be a coal miner. He went to the Old Ben mine office every day trying to get a job interview. He knew George Hopkins, who worked for the company, and finally mentioned his desire to go to work to Hopkins. He got an interview the next day. At the interview, he was asked to start at the mine that evening. Sawalich started at Old Ben 21 as a belt shoveler. He worked his way through the ranks as a shuttle car operator, roof bolter, electrician and face boss until the mine shut down. Not wanting to leave the area after the mine closed, he went into the hearing aid business until his retirement in 2022. Sawalich had a passion for the coal industry that did not stop with his job as a miner. When the West Frankfort Chamber of Commerce decided to no longer sponsor the Old King Coal Festival in 2001, Sawalich and a small committee of volunteers decided to revive the festival. They brought the festival back in 2003 after a year of planning. Sawalich also has a long tenure of service to the community in addition to serving as president of the Old King Coal Festival. He has participated in the Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade and helped start the Care Association, which developed Strand Park in downtown West Frankfort. His devotion and support helped Sharon Ossig create a Coal Miners Memorial the Park in downtown West Frankfort to honor all coal miners. The memorial was a dream of fellow festival member, Richard Voorhess, who died before the memorial was created. On Dec. 21, 2006, Sawalich started the Orient 2 Memorial service. The service is held every five years to remember the 119 miners who lost their lives in the explosion at the mine on Dec. 21, 1951. His effort to never forget the sacrifice of the Orient 2 miners, came to fruition in 2020. A granite monument honoring the 119 miners was dedicated on July 4, 2020 at Coal Miners Memorial Park. Sawalich has received several awards for his work in West Frankfort. He was named the Daily Americans West Frankfort Citizen of the year in 2003 and West Frankfort Business of the Year in 2011. In 2015, Sawalich was named to the Walk of Honor in downtown West Frankfort. Being named Old King Coal was a surprise for Sawalich. He said there is nothing more to accomplish. Of all of the extraordinary people that we have profiled in this series on Extraordinary Ordinary People, Margaret Nesbitt is perhaps the most extraordinary of all. Nesbitt has received every award imaginable and has been applauded by city and community leaders all over Southern Illinois and far beyond. She has petitioned mayors, governors and presidents as a crusader in the fight for civil rights, and undoubtedly, all of us are beneficiaries of her tireless dedication and hard work. Margaret Jean Simon Nesbitt, known simply as Miss Margaret to many, was born in Kerrville, Kentucky in 1929. She moved to Carbondale in 1940 with her father and mother and six siblings. The family settled in Carbondales northeast side, and the children began attending Attucks School, both of which were expected of black families in Carbondale at the time. Attucks High School was not able to offer many of the classes that were available at the all-white Community High School, classes which prepared students for college or a career after high school. Nesbitts parents, Lit and Jeanether Simon, petitioned the school board to allow their children to attend Community High School so that they would have the same opportunities as other children. Their requests were repeatedly denied. This fight for educational equality bore in Nesbitt a lifelong desire to ensure that every student is given an equal opportunity in education, and the best possible start to life. This desire would lead to the formation of the I Can Read program in 1998 which she founded along with other members of the Attucks High School class of 1948. In the past 25 years, I Can Read has faithfully fulfilled the simple mission to ensure that all children can read, while also teaching them to be good citizens. As Nesbitt said recently, The philosophy of I Can Read was never to denigrate or preach to students about their shortcomings or failures but to build upon their inner strengths and potential. We always told them how good they are. In its 25 year history, I Can Read has helped hundreds of local children to get the best possible start to their academic life. In addition to education, Nesbitt has also been a champion for civil rights as a lifelong member and leader of the NAACP. She led efforts to ensure that families in Carbondales northeast side had access to important government programs, and her efforts, along with other community leaders, led to the establishment of the Erma Hayes Center, which is still providing those services today. In Nesbitt's working life, she enjoyed two 30-year careers, one as a food service supervisor at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and one as the co-owner of Ds Quick Stop in Carbondale where she and her brother Elbert served up what many called the best fish sandwiches in all of the Southern Illinois. And, most importantly to her, Nesbitt has been a long-time member of Rock Hill Baptist Church where she is still an active volunteer. It is simply impossible to capture even a fraction of Nesbitts life in this short profile or to adequately convey the impact of her life on the forgotten, unseen and persecuted. She has been a champion for education and equality and has inspired generations to live better lives and do all they can do to improve the world around them. Melvin Macklin, author of a recent book about the work and life of Margaret Nesbitt titled A Voice for the Voiceless, summarized her life in these words: A woman dedicated to the improvement of the life of citizens who had no voice, a women who could not see injustice without stepping in to eliminate it. Editor's Note: Nesbit will be receiving a Life Leadership and Achievement Award from Ingenuity Press, at 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 24 at the SIU Student Center. The event is free, but reservations are required. For more information, call (540) 206-4249. PHOTOS | Carbondale Arboretum springs to life The rotary club was celebrating it's 101st year as an organization with Illinois Comptroller Susanna Mendoza as guest speaker. Debbie Bracy, Sharon Frattini, Cookie Goodwin, Tracy Rone and Ashley Watson were awarded for their contributions to the community of Herrin. "With so many women in our town that have dedicated so much of their life to the Rotary's moto of "service Above self" we felt Women's Appreciation Month was a great time to show them our appreciation for everything they do," Said Herrin Rotary Club President Rex Piper. The Herrin Rotary Club has been named the fastest growing club in the state the past two years. Northwestern Medicine nephrologist Dr. Aleksandra Gmurczyk regularly sees patients with failing kidneys. Shes noticed that many of those she treats would rather stay on dialysis than undergo a kidney transplant. Gmurczyk said she believes that some patients distrust for the medical system leaves them unconvinced that a transplant could improve their health. During a news conference at Northwesterns Prentice Womens Hospital in Chicago, the doctor talked about the enormous impact of receiving a kidney donation. But she also spoke from her firsthand experience as a donor. Gmurczyk donated one of her own kidneys eight weeks ago, she said last week. Her motivation was the pursuit of changing her patients attitudes about the process. I wanted to help someone, Gmurczyk said. I know people can live healthy lives with one kidney, and I know the high need for living donor organs. I hoped by donating my kidney Id help someone, and I also wanted to inspire others to donate. April is National Donate Life Month, prompting her to share the story. The doctor said the next step during her donation process was deciding who would receive her kidney. In February, she began a kidney paired donation, which occurs when a patient has a kidney donor in mind, but the donor isnt a good match with their designated recipient. In this case, two donors swap recipients, giving their kidneys to the patients who are the better matches. Gmurczyks kidney went to a patient in Virginia named Ginger. Gingers husband, Gary, ended up donating a kidney to Northwestern Medicine patient Art Reyes. The group of four met for the first time Thursday morning during an emotional event raising awareness of living organ donation. (Ginger and Gary requested that their last names not be used.) Ginger said she became diabetic after pregnancy. For 18 years, her health declined as she experienced high blood pressure and, later, high creatinine. She began dialysis about two years ago, which she said went well for some time, but became increasingly difficult over time. While her husband hoped to donate his kidney, the couple learned they werent a match. They entered the paired program together and ultimately helped save two lives. Ginger, speaking by Zoom, said to Gmurczyk, Youre as beautiful outside as you are inside. When Gmurczyk said, Youre going to make me cry, Ginger said shed been holding it back. But we need to be positive and move on and get the story out so there can be more stories like this, she said. Reyes, who received Garys kidney, quickly began to cry as he spoke about the experience. He said the transplant has been an emotional journey and he thanked Gary for his lifesaving donation. Before the transplant, Reyes said, he had no hope. But his life has changed completely with the new kidney. Theres really no words to say thank you, Reyes said. Youve given me life back, and Im so grateful. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias on Thursday also highlighted the importance and simplicity of organ and tissue donation during another moving news conference, held in the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago. One single donor can save or improve the lives of up to 25 people, he said. While more than 7.5 million Illinois residents are registered donors, he said, about 4,000 people remain on the transplant waiting list today, and 300 people die waiting for a transplant every year in the state. About 2,000 transplants happen in Illinois each year, but we can and we must do better, Giannoulias said. The secretary of states office launched a public awareness campaign focusing on the critical need for organ donors, especially in communities of color, where the need for some organs is the greatest, he said. Giannoulias mentioned Bonnie Raitts song Just Like That, which received the 2023 Grammy Award for Song of the Year, during the news conference. Raitt wrote the song after hearing a story about a mother meeting the recipient of her deceased sons heart. Giannoulias said the song is tremendously impactful. Part of raising public awareness is drawing on the support of celebrities involved in the cause, he said. For the song to win a Grammy Award is also powerful, he said. Sheila Chalmers-Currin, village president of Matteson, shared that she lost her son to kidney disease. He died while waiting for a kidney transplant, she said. I no longer have my son, but theres so many others that could be saved if we make the difference, she said. That is my statement to you that if you want to make a difference in the lives of others and improve the lives of others, please commit to making this different by being an organ donor. Kim Gossell, a three-time kidney recipient from Palatine, also urged the public to join the organ donation registry. After a long health journey, her most recent kidney transplant is failing. Still, Gossell said, The good news is Im here. I ask that if you have any thought of helping a friend, family member or a perfect stranger return to their normal life and to their family, please consider becoming a living organ donor, Gossell said. To enroll in the states organ and tissue donor registry, go to LifeGoesOn.com, call 800-210-2106 or visit a secretary of state facility. More information can be found at donatelifeillinois.org. Photos: Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - File Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 A Denmark resident discovered a mans body on his porch Thursday. The man had apparently been shot and killed, Denmark Police Chief Leroy Grimes said. A Heritage Highway resident went to take the trash from his home around 10:45 p.m. and noticed an unresponsive man laying by his porch. The resident called 911. Bamberg County EMS checked the unresponsive man for signs of life, but none were found. Grimes called the S.C. Law Enforcement Division to assist with the case. Other agencies who responded to the scene include the Bamberg County Coroners Office, Bamberg County Sheriffs Office and the S.C. Highway Patrol. Bamberg County Coroner Wallace Hicks Jr. identified the slain man as Christopher Byars, 17, of Jericho Court, Denmark. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday in Newberry. Anyone with information about the mans death is asked to call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC. Grimes said tips may also be mailed to the Denmark Police Department, 64 City Hall St., Denmark, SC 29042. People dont have to give their names when reporting tips. A 54-year-old St. Matthews man is accused of pocketing deposits for fiberglass swimming pools instead of passing the money to the manufacturer. His attorney blames supply chain issues. Thomas Wayne Riley, who goes by Wayne, of 839 True Blue Road, is facing eight counts of breach of trust with fraudulent intent valued over $10,000 each. Warrants accuse Riley of using the deposits for personal use such as tuitions for his children at Clemson University and Calhoun Academy, as well as airline tickets and fishing trips to Alabama and Louisiana. The alleged offenses occurred between June 3, 2021 and June 8, 2022 when Riley was operating as Lowcountry Fiberglass Pools LLC. Accompanied by his attorney, Ian Duggan, Riley surrendered to the Calhoun County Sheriffs Office on Thursday morning. He appeared in bond court before Calhoun County Magistrate Jeffrey Bloom a couple of hours later. Some of those who claimed to have been fleeced by Riley spoke during the bond hearing. David Lilly, of Bluffton, told the court hed paid Riley to install a pool for his wife. Lillys wife planned to use the pool for therapeutic purposes following multiple surgeries. Lilly said the $16,518 check he paid to Riley on Sept. 14, 2022 was cashed the next day. The couples pool was never installed, he claimed. Greg and Marye Jo Hartley, of Beaufort, told the court about their alleged experience with Rileys business. The couple said they paid Riley a deposit of $11,110 on Sept. 16, 2021. They claim the pool was never installed and, despite numerous calls to Riley, their money wasnt returned either. He hid like a coward and would not come forward, Marye Jo Hartley told the court. In late December 2022, she left two messages for Riley. In one, Harley said Wayne, we know somethings up. Were not angry. Were not upset, but we need to work together. We need to know how we can correct this and move forward. She claims he never returned those phone calls. Shes started a Facebook page so anyone else who claims they had similar experiences with Rileys business can discuss concerns. The grand total of money Riley allegedly pocketed, based on the eight charges he currently faces, is around $150,000. Bloom said in court, Bank records show Mr. Riley was using other peoples money to pay for what was obviously non-business expenses. Paying your childs tuition at Clemson with someone elses pool money is not a valid expense. Paying your childrens tuition at Calhoun Academy is not a proper business expense. Fishing trips to Louisiana and Alabama are not proper business expenses, Bloom said. Duggan told the court that the customers ordered the pools during the COVID-19 pandemic and there were delays in production during that time. Bloom noted that investigators have reached out to the Georgia-based pool manufacturing company. The company told them there werent any supply chain issues during that time, he said. Bloom set Rileys bond at $80,000 cash or surety. As part of Rileys bond conditions, Bloom stipulated that if Riley continues in self-employment, he must report every business transaction to the sheriffs office. He also ordered Riley to report to the sheriffs office copies of any new corporations he may file with the S.C. Secretary of States Office. The investigation is ongoing. If Riley is convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison on each of the charges. Springfield residents are excited about the upcoming Governor's Frog Jump and International Egg Strike. This is always a huge event. This is something just everybody looks forward to and everybody in town participates, Town Clerk Sheryl Carson said. Mayor Ed Furtick agreed. Were really excited, always. Its kind of like Christmas. We don't jump but once a year," Furtick said. The festivals origins go back to 1966 in Columbia, when the governor of California asked the governor of South Carolina to send a frog to California to compete in the famous Calaveras County Frog Jump. PHOTOS: 53rd annual Governor's Frog Jump and International Egg Strike Photos from the 53rd annual Governor's Frog Jump and International Egg Strike Saturday in Springfield. Photos by T&D Correspondent Yon Line. In 1968, a Springfield frog named Buckwheat won the contest in Columbia. Then-Gov. Robert McNair asked Springfield officials if the town wanted to sponsor the festival. Springfield accepted. This is the 57th year of the Frog Jump festival and a lot of people are ready to celebrate. When we didn't have it during the COVID years, it was kind of sad. People look forward to it. Everybody spruces up. You notice spring is just coming in, and we look to clean up the town and everybody cleans up the yard, Furtick said. It's just an exciting time for a small town, Furtick said. Townspeople are continuing to plan for the event despite the forecast calling for rain. You know people are getting their frogs and getting them ready for the jump and their eggs ready as well, Carson said. Visitors can expect a warm welcome from the people in town. If you want to experience small-town hospitality and fun, come to Springfield for the Frog Jump, Carson said. Furtick says the day offers an opportunity to see old friends and family and feel a sense of community. I think one of the biggest things besides the frogs jumping is to see people that come back home or people that visit Springfield every year for the jumps just get to see rekindled friendships," Furtick said. Carson says everyone can gather around and enjoy the festivities. "The first time I was there, I was amazed that they really jumped frogs and watching the frog and they try to escape, that makes it funny and the kids love it. Then we have adults and children that do the extra contest, which is a lot of fun," Carson said. Last years winners were: Egg Strike winners Youth First Hallie Augustine Second Ames Still Adult First Ben Dempsey Second Mark Williams Frog Jump winners First Gunnar Alberson, 14 feet, 6 inches Second Carson Sumner, 13 feet, 10 inches Third Jude Still, 12 feet, 6 inches Members of the Orangeburg Lions Club are fulfilling their commitment to community service by helping to detect vision issues among students in several schools in The T&D Region. Club members Nilsa Kennerly, Lee Ashe and Pearl Youmans visited Branchville High School on a Friday morning to perform eye screenings on sixth through eighth-graders. While Ashe assisted with signing children in, Kennerly was armed with a Welch Allyn Spot Vision Screener, which is a handheld portable ocular screening device designed to help quickly and easily detect vision issues in children as young as 6 months. "This is a program that the Lions came up with. The reason why we do this is because there are a lot of kids out there that don't have a place to go. ... Sometimes the nurses don't have time to go out and do the vision (screening). They're overcome," Kennerly said. "We have this special eye instrument, and ... we as Lions go out as volunteers and provide this service for them to help them out. It helps and it makes the process a lot faster for them, too," she said. Geri Dukes, the school nurse, said the visit from the Lions Club members was welcome. "It helps us out, and we can focus more on like chronic health conditions. We still do our hearing screenings, blood pressure screenings and things like that, but this component of it, I think, is one of the biggest screenings. "Their service is so vital, and I feel like it's very accurate and it's very quick. So we can get a lot of kids seen in a small amount of time vs. something that may take me all year to have kids trickle in a little at a time between visits," she said. The nurse said she appreciates that the screening device is able to pick up what maybe the nursing staff can't among students. "It feels like they can catch a little more than we can catch. So we're grateful for this service. It's a very quick service, in and out ... then they actually have a really nice sheet that they send home with a student if they have a referral and that they can take right to the doctor," Dukes said. Kennerly said outdated prescriptions among children with glasses have even turned up with the screening service. "Sometimes we catch things that they're not aware of. Sometimes we have kids that have been wearing glasses since the fourth grade, and they're not even aware of (the problem)," she said. Youmans handed out stickers to students who completed the vision screening. She said she enjoys what she does with the Orangeburg Lions Club. "I've been part of the club for probably about a year now. I enjoy it. We do more than eyes. We have different organizations that we support. I love children. I had foster children for about seven years. I substitute teach, I have managed companies. "I've done so much, but the compensation is beyond all things because these children are very well mannered. We go from school to school doing it. I love it. I love serving the public, and that's what we're doing," she said. Ashe recently retired from a 32-year teaching career. She retired from Richard Carroll Elementary as a fourth-grade teacher. She, too, enjoys being a part of the Orangeburg Lions Club. "I've been in the Lions Club for about a year now. I'm a new retiree. So they got me to come in. It's a wonderful group of people with a true heart for service. Having the opportunity to go out to different events and to talk with the people and do work for others is just rewarding for others," Ashe said. Kennerly said, "We just like working with the kids. It's very enjoyable just talking to them." Ashe said, "The Lions Club in Bamberg doesn't have quite the membership that we have. So they have more limited opportunities. We were in touch with them, and they agreed for us to come to Bamberg and do schools in Bamberg and Denmark. So we've also done schools in Bamberg and Denmark." Kennerly said, "If we can provide for other areas, we will." Branchville High School Principal Charles Gregory said he appreciates what the club does with its free eye screenings. "I just think that it's great that an organization comes out to serve, and I think it's great that our kids get to see that because it's important to give back. Of course, it's important for kids to see that so they'll know that one day they may need to do the same thing," he said. Gregory continued, "Our kids get a lot of screen time between their phones and, of course, using devices. So they need to make sure they're checking that (their vision) on a regular basis." Seventh-grader Kayden Dukes, 13, and sixth-grader Chance Lawrence, 11, were among the students who got a clean vision report. Kayden said she appreciated the club volunteers for coming out to perform the service. "I think it's great because you're helping out so many kids that could have vision problems and they don't even know it," she said. Lawrence said, "It makes me free great because of the opportunity to make sure that we have to not wear glasses and know that we can see without them and can read without them." The Orangeburg Lions Club meets the first and third Monday of each month at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center. WASHINGTON Nearly three dozen House Democrats raised concerns this week about the Biden administrations use of a smartphone application for migrants to request an appointment to seek asylum, the latest in mounting criticism from the presidents own party over his border policies. The group of 35 Democrats, led by Reps. Jesus Chuy Garcia of Illinois and Raul M. Grijalva of Arizona, called on Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to take immediate steps to resolve the serious equity and accessibility issues migrants are facing when using the CBP One app, in a letter sent Monday and obtained by CQ Roll Call. The app, developed in 2020 for other uses by travelers, was recently expanded to allow migrants to schedule appointments at the U.S.-Mexico border to request the opportunity to seek asylum. But CBP One has since come under fire by immigrant advocates and nonprofits at the border for technological glitches and accessibility limits, which they say makes it harder for migrants who speak only Indigenous languages or who do not have access to smartphones or reliable internet service to access protection. The Democrats said in their letter that their offices have received numerous reports of unusability, inaccessibility and inequity that have already resulted in grave harm to asylum seekers, and they asked Mayorkas to increase accessibility and usability of this app. While technology can be helpful to facilitate processing, it should never be used to create a tiered system that treats groups differently according to economic status, gender identity, age, language, nationality or race, the Democrats wrote. They suggested the department make the app more accessible for migrants who speak other languages besides the three offered English, Spanish and Haitian Creole and for migrants with disabilities, including those who are blind. They also asked the department to ease the photo verification requirement of the app, after advocates reported problems for migrants with darker complexions and babies and toddlers. The lawmakers further asked Mayorkas to reverse course on plans to implement a policy proposal that would limit asylum eligibility for migrants who arrive at the border and request protection, unless they had secured an appointment through the CBP One app or attempted to seek asylum in another country first, among other exceptions. That proposed asylum rule was publicly released last month. The administration should withdraw this rule and pursue rational policies that ensure pathways to asylum for all migrants arriving at the southern border, the lawmakers wrote. The recent letter is the latest example of heightening critiques the administration has faced from other Democrats over efforts to restrict asylum and reduce the number of unauthorized border crossings. In February, Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., sent a letter to Mayorkas that asked the Department of Homeland Security to shelve the CBP One app immediately. Markey said the app raises troubling issues of inequitable access to and impermissible limits on asylum, and has been plagued by significant technical problems and privacy concerns. The recently proposed asylum restrictions, paired with reports that the administration considered reinstating migrant family detention, has also frustrated members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, who have complained the administration has left them out of the loop on major immigration policy developments. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., a vocal proponent for passing comprehensive immigration legislation, said earlier this month that the lack of communication on immigration-related policy decisions is an insult. Photos: 39 killed at migrant detention center near US border Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 7) Using dating applications to meet a potential partner is normal, while church teachings on sex remain in the early stages, Pope Francis said in a new documentary released this week. In The Pope: Answers, the pontiff engaged in a question-and-answer dialogue with ten young people from around the world, where he was quizzed on a range of societal topics like sex, pornography, and the LGBTQIA+ community, among others. Sex is one of the beautiful things God gave human beings, the Pope told his audience. To express oneself sexually is something rich, he added. Sex has a dynamic of its own. It exists for a reason. Its an expression of love. The Pope, however, also admitted that catechism on the topic is still at a very early stage. I think we Christians havent always had a mature catechism regarding sex, he noted. Pressed about the use of mobile dating applications such as Tinder, the Pope maintained that its fine for people to meet with one another. He also praised young peoples eagerness to embark on such journey. One of the things I admire about young people is the absence of borders, and I mean it in a good way. You have family borders, country borders, maybe religious borders. But, as humans, you go further, the Pope added. In the course of the 80-minute film, the church leader was also asked: Do people who identify as part of the LGBT community have a space in the Catholic church? The Pope replied in the affirmative, saying that everyone remains a child of God. My duty is to always welcome. The Church cannot close its doors on anybody, he said. Other issues the Pope tackled in the documentary include abortion, racism, depression, and reports of abuse in the Catholic church. The Pope: Answers is currently streaming on Disney+. Watch its trailer here. (TBTCO) - Hon 100 doanh nhan cac nuoc trong khu vuc, ac biet la cong ong nguoi Hoa ang hoat ong trong nhieu linh vuc khac nhau a quy tu trong su kien hop mat cac doanh nhan tai The Global City va truc tiep tham quan du an. Phan tich ky cac loi the kinh doanh va kha nang phat trien cua trung tam moi, rat nhieu nha au tu sanh soi a quyet inh nam bat co hoi au tu som vao trung tam moi cua TP. Ho Chi Minh e mo rong kinh doanh. You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). It took 18 years to identify the remains of Roger Ellis, found along the Beartooth Highway in 2004, but he went missing 46 years ago. Will his murder be solved? A jury trial was set this week in a wrongful death lawsuit that accuses a Texas-based railroad company of negligently causing a crash that killed a Wyoming man in 2021, new filed court documents show. BNSF Railway Company is accused of negligent hiring practices, training and supervision of its employees, the complaint shows. The company operates one of the largest freight railroads in North America, with nearly 400 different railroad lines, their website states. Patrick Lynne Moore died on June 18, 2021, in Hot Springs County, the complaint shows. His daughter, Kellie Martin, of Montana, is suing on his behalf. Moore was driving north on U.S. Highway 20 in Wind River Canyon during the early evening, the complaint states. At the same time, a driver for BNSF Railway Company was traveling south in a modified Ford F-250, which was specifically altered to be able to drive on railroad tracks. U.S. Highway 20 is a two-lane road with designated passing zones. A man was towing a boat and trailer on the highway. His son was directly behind him in a Chevy pickup. The BNSF high rail truck was behind them both. As the BNSF high rail truck driver attempted to pass the two cars back-to-back, Moore was headed in the opposite direction in his Mercury Grand Marquis. Moore was hit head on by the high rail truck, the complaint states. His vehicle was plainly visible, and the driver did not have room to safely pass. The driver breached his duty to operate the BNSF vehicle in a safe, prudent and responsible manner and to keep an eye out of other vehicles when he negligently entered Moores lane causing a head-on collision with Moores vehicle at highway speeds, the complaint states. Martin is seeking damages for her fathers death, as the drivers conduct was outrageous and utterly reckless and a reasonable person would know that such outrageous conduct was highly likely to injure or kill someone, the complaint said. The railroad company has either denied the allegations or stated they lacked sufficient knowledge to form a belief on them, a filed response shows. They also requested a jury trial. On Tuesday, a jury trial was set for June 26. BNSF Railway Companys attorneys did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday. Martins attorneys declined to comment. Trinidad and Tobago should expect more visitors to the islands in the 2024 cruise season, according to Tourism Minister Randall Mitchell. He explained that for the past six months, the Ministry of Tourism, along with Tourism Trinidad Ltd (TTL), has been increasing its marketing reach and putting action plans in place to increase arrivals. 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. A Freeport family is grieving after one of their loved ones became the countrys latest road (CNN) The World Health Organization is monitoring the Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, which has been identified in about two dozen countries. The subvariant has not been found in the United States, but it is similar to the XBB.1.5 subvariant that has been dominant in the country since January. XBB.1.16 has one additional mutation that, according to lab studies, makes it more infectious and potentially more pathogenic, Maria Van Kerkhove, WHOs technical lead for Covid-19, said at a recent briefing. This is one to watch, she said. Its been in circulation for a few months. We havent seen a change in severity in individuals or in populations, but thats why we have these systems in place. Most of the samples of XBB.1.16 are from India, where it has become dominant. Weekly Covid-19 cases in the country have more than doubled in the past week but remain far below peak levels, WHO data shows. Omicron remains the variant of concern worldwide and hundreds of sublineages continue to circulate. We are in a much better situation than we were since the beginning of this pandemic, Van Kerkhove said. One of the big uncertainties we face going forward is the virus itself. It hasnt settled into a predictable pattern. It continues to evolve. The number of Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths continues to fall in the United States. Less than 1% of counties in the United States have a Covid-19 community level of high, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This story was first published on CNN.com, WHO warns new Omicron spinoff XBB.1.16 is one to watch, but hasnt shown to be more severe" Authorities have identified the three people who who were killed in a one-vehicle crash Thursday morning on Interstate 10 north of Tucson. A 2005 Dodge Ram rolled over and crashed at milepost 240 near Tangerine Road in Marana. The driver, Oreste Carrasco, 78, of Phoenix, and the two passengers, Barbara Garcia-Guerrero, 81, of Phoenix, and Maria Hernandez-Torres, 69, were all thrown from the pickup truck, the Arizona Department of Public Safety said. All three died at the crash scene, the DPS said. The interstate was closed for hours after the wreck. A couple in their 80s died after they crashed into a concrete barrier on Tucsons east side Wednesday afternoon. William Burdett Shope, 86, and Hilda Maness Shope, 85, were traveling west on Tanque Verde Road in a white 2022 Toyota Camry about 12:40 p.m. when he exited onto the southbound Pantano Road ramp and failed to negotiate a curve. The car left the roadway and smashed into a concrete barrier, a news release from Tucson police said. Hilda Shope was pronounced dead at the scene. William Shope died later at St. Jospehs Hospital said. Detectives are working to determine if William had possibly experienced a medical issue prior to the crash. So far this year, TPD has investigated 11 fatal vehicle crashes, which is one more than last year. Getting a medical marijuana card in Arizona could soon be both easier and cheaper for patients and free for veterans if a new bill working its way through the state legislature passes and is signed by Governor Katie Hobbs. Senate Bill 1466 recently passed the House Human Services Committee and will soon move back to the full House. As a state, we embraced cannabis as a medical-use first, and its our obligation as an industry to make sure that we provide that ongoing, said Ann Torrez, executive director of the Arizona Dispensaries Association. If passed, the bill would lower the initial registration and two-year renewal price of a medical marijuana card or green card as theyre affectionately known in the industry down from $150 to $50 for the typical patients and make the process free for veterans. Other provisions within the bill would also add, subtract and help better align the program with the states recreational program. It would add autism spectrum disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder to the list of medical conditions a physician can recommend a green card for, and the ability of physicians to issue medical cannabis recommendations through telehealth appointments. The potential addition of autism and PTSD to the list of qualifying conditions is owed to a shift in public perception about cannabis and an increasing acknowledgment by the medical community that marijuana has many potential medical uses and benefits, said Clark Wu, a lobbyist and senior attorney with the Phoenix-based law firm Bianchi & Brandt. It was viewed as really just a mechanism for treating serious pain and conditions involving serious pain, Wu said. While the cannabis community viewed it as viable, it wasnt really as broadly adopted until now. As for recommendations by telehealth, the move would bring into law a pandemic-era emergency change that was allowed during COVID, according to Torrez. We would like to see that codified so that patients who need that additional assistance in order to have access to medicine can get it, she said. The bill would eliminate the Medical Marijuana Testing Advisory Council, a committee that recommends testing rules to AZDHS. The MMTAC would be replaced by quarterly meetings held by AZDHS where the public could comment on laboratory testing requirements. However, Wu said he believes that particular provision in the bill seems to still be in flux. I think this is a concept thats still being fleshed out, he said. The current version of bill... might not be the final version. The bill would also bring into line certain packaging and advertising rules. For example, recreational products are bared from using certain imagery like fruits and animals on packaging. Thats not necessarily so for medical products. The changes are necessary for the program to remain viable, proponents of the measure say. Arizonas medical marijuana program has seen declining membership ever since Prop. 207 legalized recreational cannabis in the state. That was to be expected, according to Wu. Between increased access due to more dispensaries and more products, and the willingness of some cannabis companies to cater to the larger and slightly more lucrative recreational market, Arizonas medical program has gone the way of most states that later adopt a recreational program. You have increased access for essentially anybody whos over the age of 21 and you dont have to go out and pay for a potentially costly card, he said. While SB-1466 would bring down the cost of a green card, patients would still be looking at at paying for a visit to a doctor to recommend the card. That can range anywhere from $75 to $150, according to Dustin Klein, former owner of Sun Valley Certification Clinic, one of the largest medical marijuana certification clinics in the state. In general, youre looking at about $275 to be covered for two years in Arizona, Klein said. And you gotta repeat the process every two years, all the paying the state, seeing the doctor, completing the documentation. Once a thriving program with more than 350,000 patients enrolled, the latest state report from the Arizona Department of Health Services in February this year indicates there are just over 125,000 patients enrolled. That slide can be stopped, and perhaps reversed with passage of the bill, Torrez said. Pima Countys new migrant services site is receiving a larger proportion of people from non-Spanish-speaking countries, following the Biden administrations policy changes. And it could be in for a huge influx of people as policy changes will likely continue next month. The new location on Tucsons south side on West Drexel Road near Interstate 19 is part of the migrant services run by Pima County and Catholic Community Services. It has a current capacity of 170 people, as about half the site is being used. Officials are working on opening the rest, which will raise capacity to about 400 people. The Pima County operation is currently receiving about 400 to 500 migrants a day. Women and children usually go to Casa Alitas or one of the countys other locations, and single men stay at the new location. Up to 85% of single men receiving services, most recently, are from India, says Teresa Cavendish, director of operations for Catholic Community Services. It also is receiving a significant number of migrants from African countries. Now instead of interacting in one or two different languages a day, people are now most comfortable in one of five to seven different languages. Finding people who can communicate with the variety of languages spoken at the centers is an additional challenge, and sometimes theyre left to communicate with Google translate, Cavendish says. Language justice is important to us, she said. So as we work to offer and honor language justice, theyre patient with us while we do everything we can. This is some of the most important information that they will ever receive in their lives. We know that, and so we work very hard to make sure it is being delivered to them in the language of their choice. Staff help the migrants with a number of important services, including assessing that they have the proper paperwork from border officials, whether they have a sponsor, and how they plan to arrive at their final destination. The shift in countries of origin is connected to the recent policy changes, Cavendish says. Theres a vacuum, so when theres kind of an opening in the vacuum, it fills with the next groups who are trying to come in, who dont have a specific path that will allow them entry and are experiencing things in their home countries that are unsustainable for them, Cavendish says. President Joe Biden began a policy in October to immediately expel more migrants from Venezuela, under public health policy Title 42, while simultaneously creating more legal pathways for them to enter the country. He announced an expansion to this policy on Jan. 5, to include migrants from Nicaragua, Cuba and Haiti. These migrants and others can apply for an exemption to Title 42 and a chance to enter the country and apply for asylum by applying on the CBP One app. Since then the number of migrants from those countries has dropped drastically. The number of times Border Patrol apprehended migrants from the four countries in the program has decreased from a high of nearly 99,000 in December, nationwide, to almost 36,000 and 38,000 in January and February, respectively, the last months with data available. Besides more languages to navigate, the change in demographics at Casa Alitas and the Drexel Center means there are also added cultural accommodations to account for, especially in the different religious and spiritual practices. Thats something that were integrating into the culture of Alitas, is a shift in religious practices and cultural norms, Cavendish says. That includes having prayer rugs, stations where people can wash their feet before prayer, supporting people to observe Ramadan, fulfilling various food requirements, including the types of meats served, adding more vegetarian meals and accommodating fasting schedules. Were altering our food requests and our food service to make sure that they know that we respect their beliefs and respect their practices and are doing our best to accommodate, Cavendish says. Another consideration is changing medical needs based on what people experienced in their home country. Our tenet, of course, is that each person matters, Cavendish says. So even though we make plans that impact large groups, when there are exceptions, its important that we work with those exceptions because these folks matter. On May 11, two federal policies that affect immigration are anticipated to change, which could lead to an unmanageable increase in migrants. Title 42, the public health policy that allows the government to immediately expel some migrants from the country, is set to end and new asylum rules are proposed that could limit the number of people who enter the country. Throughout 2022, the average number of migrants coming through Pima County daily and using services ranged from 224 to 770. The record was 850, and all the countys migrant resources were maxed out. Border Patrol estimates when Title 42 ends, the county could receive up to 1,200 to 1,500 people per day, which would overwhelm existing local capacity without significant federal support, according to a Pima County Board of Supervisors memo issued Tuesday. The estimates are possible, Cavendish said. However, shes not sure what the community response would be at that point, even with partner resources at the International Rescue Committee in Phoenix. I think its really hard to think of any community along the border that is fully equipped to respond to the type of numbers that are being projected, she said. Casa Alitas has been offering migrant services since 2014, and the various policy changes have had temporary effects on numbers, but migrants continue to come. Agreeing with many who are experts on border policy and immigration, Cavendish says that comprehensive immigration reform is the only thing that will have a lasting impact. History has shown that theres not a permanent impact, she says about short-term policy changes. Desperation of suffering people makes its own rules. Gas prices surged this week across Arizona and the nation after OPEC announced planned production cuts, AAA says. The statewide average gas price rose 8 cents in a week to $4.37 per gallon of regular gas on Friday, while Tucson's average jumped 20 cents to $4.20. The national average was up 8 cents from a week before, at $3.58 per gallon, according to AAA. The Sierra Vista-Douglas market had the state's lowest average gas price at $3.85 per gallon, while Scottsdale had the highest at $4.79 per gallon. Gas prices have risen more than 60 cents in the past month statewide, and are up about 80 cents over the month in the Tucson area. Arizona has seen a spike in gas prices in recent weeks due to a changeover to a cleaner burning, summer-blend gas required in California and the Phoenix area, amid limited pipeline capacity. Crude-oil prices, which comprise more than 50% of gas costs, jumped over $80 per barrel this week after OPEC last weekend announced impending production cuts to prop up prices, AAA said. Circle K, a major gas retailer in Tucson and across the state, said ongoing fuel-supply shortages at some of its local stations are the result of various supply chain issues that are affecting retailers across Arizona. A man wanted for suspicion of sexual assault in Maryland was found and arrested Tuesday in Tucson. The Pima County Sheriffs Department was made aware that Adrian Vildusea, 33, was possibly in the Tucson area on March 30, but were unable to find him. Vildusea was known to utilize social media dating sites to find and exploit victims and had an arrest warrant for sexual assault out of Baltimore County, Maryland, a Sheriff's Department news release said. On Tuesday, authorities found Vildusea near West Orange Grove and North Oracle road and arrested him. Vildusea was booked into the Pima County jail for his warrant. The new Casa Alitas Drexel Center is located in the southwest area of Tucson. The shelter is only allowing single men to stay there and can currently hold 170 people. Families from detention centers are brought to the shelter, but are placed upon a bus and driven to Phoenix where they will receive aid from the International Rescue Committee. PHOENIX Kari Lake shouldnt be required to pay legal fees of Katie Hobbs and others in connection with her appeal of the election results to the Arizona Supreme Court, at least in part because she honestly believes that electoral misconduct and illegal votes determined the outcome of the 2022 gubernatorial election, her attorneys are arguing. In new filings with the states high court, Lake essentially is telling the justices that they were wrong last month when they said her claim that 35,563 unaccounted ballots were added to the total count is not reflected in the court record. She is presenting even more arguments that there were additional ballots inserted into the Maricopa County system by Runbeck Election Services, the private firm the county uses to help process ballots. And legal fees aside, Lakes attorneys are asking the court to reconsider and reverse its refusal to consider her claim that the county did not follow chain-of-custody rules. Her arguments come after the justices gave her one last chance to prove that the results of the 2022 gubernatorial election should be overturned. They sent the case back to a trial judge to hear evidence she says she has that the county used improper procedures to verify the signatures on early ballot envelopes. That, Lake argued, allowed votes to be counted even though the signatures did not actually match the voters registration record as she contends. But the justices tossed out the other claims by the failed Republican candidate that there was misconduct in how the election was conducted. And that includes her contention that chain-of-custody laws were not followed, allowing 35,563 new ballots to show up more than twice as much as her margin of loss to Hobbs. The justices asked the parties to address the question of whether Lake should be sanctioned for making such a claim in her filings with the court. In her new filings, Lake said that claim is not new. She told the justices that the appellate court, which previously rejected her claim and whose decision she was asking the Supreme Court to overturn should have considered the undisputed fact that 35,563 unaccounted for ballots were added to the total of ballots a a third party processing facility. The justices said that statement to them wasnt true. The record does not reflect that 35,563 unaccounted ballots were added to the total count, wrote Chief Justice Robert Brutinel for the court. The motions for sanctions will be considered in due course. But Bryan Blehm, Lakes attorney, said it is the justices who are mistaken. In the new filing, he claims the record indisputably reflects that there were at least 35,563 early ballots for which there is no record of delivery to Runbeck. Blehm contends they were added at Runbeck and that the issue was, in fact, raised at the Court of Appeals. Beyond that, Blehm claimed its improper to seek sanctions against Lake and not just because she honestly believes that the outcome of the race she lost to Hobbs by 17,117 votes was affected by electoral misconduct and illegal votes, regardless of court rulings to the contrary. He said the attorneys for Hobbs as her foe and for the Secretary of States Office, which also is a party to election challenges, are seeking sanctions under provisions of state law and court rules. Blehm said those provisions govern appeals brought without substantial justification or primarily for delay or harassment. To warrant sanctioning a party or their counsel for exercising First Amendment rights, a court must find either that they brought a claim for an improper motive or that they pressed issues that are not supportable by any reasonable legal theory and for which there is no colorable legal argument about which reasonable attorney could differ, Blehm told the justices. He said that is not the case here. He said the parties seeking sanctions have no even attempted to show any evidence rebutting Lakes claims regarding the 35,379 ballots for which Runbeck has no record of receiving. That presumes, however, that the claim had been part of the trial court record and that there was something to which to respond. And Deputy Maricopa County Attorney Thomas Liddy, in an earlier filing with the Supreme Court, argued that Lake has not even kept her stories straight. He said when she first filed suit she alleged that the chain-of-custody records, required for early ballots dropped off on Election Day, did not exist. Later, Liddy said, she did acknowledge there are records. And only then did she argue to the Supreme Court that those records show there were 35,563 ballots illegally added to the system by Runbeck. He said that it was only then after all the evidence was presented at trial that she changed the allegation and mischaracterized the record to make yet another fantastical claim. PHOENIX A judge said Thursday afternoon he was helpless to provide any immediate relief to the family of a murder victim who wanted the state to go ahead with the scheduled execution that day of his killer because a death warrant issued by the Arizona Supreme Court was expiring. That leaves Aaron Gunches, who had sought his own execution, and the sister and daughter of murder victim Ted Price, who also wanted it carried out, with no way to get the relief they sought, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Frank Moskowitz said during the court hearing. Moskowitz said that with the Supreme Court declining late Wednesday to extend the warrant set to expire at 12:01 a.m. Friday, he had nothing to order the state to do. I have an expiring order, Moskowitz said to the Price familys lawyers during the hearing. If it expires (the law) provides the Supreme Court shall issue a warrant of execution, not this court. Gunches, who asked late last year to have his sentence carried out for the 2002 murder of Price, sounded frustrated. This all goes back to me filing my own death warrant because I want my sentence carried out, Gunches told the court by phone from the prison in Florence where he remains on Death Row. But the attorney general said that wasnt happening, he said. I want whatever gets my sentence carried out, as fast as possible. The planned execution was never really on track after new Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, asked on Jan. 20 that the high court not issue the death warrant that former Republican Attorney General Mark Brnovich had sought. New, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs announced that same day that she was initiating a top-to-bottom review of how the death penalty is carried out in the state. She said Arizona would conduct no executions in the meantime. That set off a series of court battles, with the Supreme Court eventually ruling there was no reason not to issue the warrant. But Hobbs and Mayes declined to move ahead. And the justices refused to order Hobbs to do so, saying a warrant permits but does not require the governor to execute a prisoner. The family and Republican Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell then filed a separate suit in Superior Court, saying that delaying the execution violates the victims bill of rights in the state constitution. That was the case before Moskowitz on Thursday. He had ordered lawyers for Hobbs and the state corrections department to appear to answer the suit filed by Karen Price, Ted Prices sister, and Brittney Kay, his daughter. But the judges ability to move the case forward was sidetracked when the high court refused to issue the warrant extension. With both women listening to the court hearing, Hobbs lawyer said the governor understands their feelings. We see them, we feel for them and we feel for every Arizona whos a victim of a crime, attorney Bo Dul told the women. But she went on to say that when it comes to the most dramatic and irreversible of the state powers, implementing a death sentence, it is the duty of the governor and the corrections department to ensure it is carried out lawfully, effectively and as humanely as possible. Hobbs and Mayes had pointed to Arizonas history of problematic executions and its struggles to legally obtain drugs to put people to death when they halted executions and ordered the review. The state had resumed executions just last year after an eight-year pause following the botched execution of Joseph Wood. Wood took more than two hours to die after receiving 15 doses of drugs. Despite Moskowitz saying he saw no way to order the state to carry out Thursdays execution, and little legal chance for the attorneys for Kay and Price to prevail, he did not immediately dismiss their case. Instead, he is giving them time to reframe their legal arguments in a way that might give them a chance to bring their constitutional claims. But he said at this point, there was little he could do. Renderings of the fifth Desert Diamond casino in Arizona have been released by the Tohono Oodham Gaming Enterprise. The first phase of the $450 million project west of Glendale is expected to be completed near the end of 2024, according to a news release. It is located near Loop 303 and Northern Parkway. The first will include: 184,000-square foot casino floor 900 slot machines 30 table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette and baccarat A 12-table poker room Sportsbook A fine dining restaurant A casual restaurant A four-venue food hall The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: A visitor drives up a dirt road to find a parking area packed with cars along both sides of the road and families trying to navigate their way down the busy street. Once they exit their vehicle, they make it to the trailhead where towering saguaros, mesquite trees, and flowers surround them. They have arrived at Tanque Verde Falls, but while beautiful, cant grasp why it has that name, or how they are going to get to the falls. Accessibility issues, degraded infrastructure, out-of-date information, and sun-bleached/missing signs are commonplace, but hopefully not for much longer. The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) was enacted into law on August 4, 2020. To date, the Coronado National Forest has received approximately $9,780,000 to implement much-needed recreation and transportation system infrastructure improvements that will enhance public safety and the recreational experience for Forest visitors. Since enacted, the Coronado National Forest has used these funds to implement projects such as vault toilet facility replacements, repaving/improving the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area roads, and helping employ partnership groups like Wild Arizona to perform trail maintenance on over 50 miles of trails. Additionally, designs and contract preparation are underway to perform Forest-wide water and wastewater system improvements, renovate the Marshal Gulch Picnic Area and trailhead, perform several restroom replacements, replace multiple roadway bridges, improve trailhead and roadway infrastructure/access, and fund partnership agreements to improve trail networks. Looking to the future, we are anticipating more funding to replace more bridges and dilapidated toilet facilities, continue Forest-wide road reconstruction and trailhead access improvements, and perform large recreation enhancement projects such as improvements at Tanque Verde Falls Trailhead. This money has allowed us to focus on hiring local contractors that better serve all the residents, visitors, and employees across southeast Arizona. We are making areas safer for our employees to service, increasing accessibility for all people, and positioning ourselves to be a destination. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) Arkansas lawmakers approved a proposed $6.2 billion budget and an overhaul of the state's sentencing laws on Friday as they wrapped up an 89-day legislative session that's been marked by approval of Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' school voucher program and a push for new restrictions on transgender people. The House and Senate approved identical versions of the legislation laying out the budget plan, which calls for increasing state spending by more than $177 million in the fiscal year that begins July 1. The biggest increases are directed toward public schools and the corrections system. We have prioritized the things we should prioritize: public safety, education of our children, Senate President Bart Hester, a Republican, told reporters after the vote. And we believe we're going to continue to have significant surpluses in Arkansas. But the only lawmaker who voted against the legislation, Republican Sen. Bryan King, said he thinks the state's budget has been growing too quickly and lawmakers should find cuts to offset the spending increases. Every time we talk about Washington D.C. or Joe Biden or somebody expanding the debt, we have to first look at ourselves," King said. Legislative leaders say they believe the state has some cushion against changes in the economy, noting that Arkansas has more than $1.3 billion in a catastrophic reserve fund. The budget plan also forecasts the state will build up a $391 million surplus in the coming fiscal year. We've positioned ourselves that if there is a downturn, the state will be able to manage it and continue to provide the type of services the public expects, House Speaker Matthew Shepherd, a Republican, told reporters. The Senate also gave final approval to a change in the state's sentencing laws that will end parole eligibility for certain violent offenses. Sanders and Attorney General Tim Griffin advocated for the proposal. It would require anyone sentenced beginning in 2024 for any of 18 violent offenses including capital murder, first-degree murder and rape to serve 100% of their sentence. Starting in 2025, the bill would also require prisoners to serve at least 85% of a sentence for a list of other offenses, such as second-degree murder. Offenders convicted of other crimes would be required to serve 25% or 50% of their sentences, but the table spelling out which crimes fall under those minimums will be developed later. The changes wont apply to people who had already been sentenced before the law takes effect. The Legislature this week approved a separate bill tapping into the state's surplus for several needs, including $330 million for new prison space and $300 million for a new crime lab building. Lawmakers plan to reconvene by May 1 to formally adjourn this year's session and consider any veto overrides. Since taking office in January, Sanders hasn't yet vetoed any bills that reached her desk, her office said. Sanders' top agenda items were approved during the legislative session. Those include a massive education law that will create a school voucher program and raise minimum teacher salaries. Lawmakers this week approved another key part of Sanders' agenda, a cut in income taxes that will cost the state $124 million a year. Lawmakers since January have pushed for several bills targeting the rights of transgender people, including a law Sanders signed that's aimed at reinstating Arkansas' blocked ban on gender affirming care for minors. The law, which will take effect later this summer, will make it easier to sue providers of such care for minors. The governor has also signed a law that will prohibit transgender people at public schools from using restrooms that align with their gender identity. The top Democrat in the Senate called the series of bills horrifying. I think it also sends the message to anyone outside of Arkansas that the state is not welcoming and inclusive, Senate Minority Leader Greg Leding said. There are several major bills awaiting action from Sanders. They include a measure she has supported that would require age verification to use social media sites and parental approval for users under 18, which would make Arkansas the second state to enact such a restriction. CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) Regulators will consider a rate proposal by two FirstEnergy subsidiaries that would keep a West Virginia coal-fired power plant open past its scheduled May 31 closing date. The state Public Service Commission said Friday it has scheduled an April 21 evidentiary hearing on the request by Monongahela Power and Potomac Edison. The companies are seeking to enter into a letter of intent with the operator of the Pleasants Power Station along the Ohio River to run the plant from May until June 2024 while exploring a long-term solution. Houston-based Energy Transition and Environmental Management is currently leasing the plant from the previous owner, Akron, Ohio-based Energy Harbor. The FirstEnergy subsidiaries are seeking a surcharge for all customers that would raise $36 million to recover costs to keep the plant open for 12 months. Ratepayer and environmental advocates oppose the plan. State lawmakers in 2019 voted overwhelmingly to give the struggling power plant a $12.5 million tax break. Local and state officials have said closing the plant would devastate the local economy, coal producers and other industries. The 43-year-old plant employs about 150 workers. This story corrects the date of the hearing to April 21. The family of a Native American woman who went missing from her home on the Navajo Nation pleaded with the man accused of assaulting her and taking her pickup truck, asking during a court hearing Friday that he tell them where he left Ella Mae Begay so they could bring her home and find closure. The tearful messages of family members resonated through a courtroom in Flagstaff, Arizona, as they told the judge about what they have endured since Begay disappeared nearly two years ago. Theres nothing thats coming out of this whole situation except all the pain that hes caused, the anger, the frustration, her son Gerald Begay said. I mean, this is a mother, an aunt, a grandma, a sister, you know, that doesnt deserve this type of assault. A soft-spoken woman who was known as a master weaver, Begay was always cautious and never drove around at night. So her family knew immediately that something was wrong when they saw her gray pickup truck leaving her home in the remote community of Sweetwater, Arizona, that June night in 2021. Prosecutors outlined the allegations against Preston Henry Tolth, 23, after he entered not guilty pleas to assault and carjacking charges that stemmed from Begay's disappearance. The indictment naming Tolth had been under seal until earlier this week. Tolth was ordered to remain in custody pending trial after U.S. Magistrate Judge Camille Bibles determined that he was dangerous and that no conditions of release would guarantee the community's safety. The proffered facts of the case are extremely concerning, the judge said. They involve senseless acts of extreme violence against a victim who was defenseless. Luke Mulligan, a federal public defender for Tolth, did not argue with the prosecution's request that Tolth remain in custody. Begay was 62 at the time she disappeared. Her case has garnered national attention as tribal leaders, state legislators and law enforcement agencies across the country have been working to establish special commissions and task forces aimed at investigating missing person cases and unsolved slayings in Indian Country. A year after Begay disappeared, her niece Seraphine Warren began walking from the Navajo Nation to Washington, D.C., to bring attention to the decades-long epidemic of violence that has disproportionately affected Indigenous people. Begay's family members also have met with U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who recently joined Justice Department officials in hosting the first in-person session of the Not Invisible Act Commission in Washington. The commission is developing recommendations for preventing and responding to violence affecting tribal communities. Warren addressed Tolth directly during Friday's hearing. Will you please just tell us where my aunt is? You know exactly what you did to her," Warren said before breaking down in tears. Federal prosecutors said the indictment naming Tolth marked an important step in determining the truth about what happened to Begay. They told the judge that Begay's daughter had called authorities the night of the disappearance to report that someone was breaking into her home. She hid while the suspect rummaged around and took some drinks before leaving and walking down the road in the direction of her mother's home. The daughter called police again after they did not respond to the first call and told them that she saw her mother's truck leaving the home and that she could not reach her. Police arrived about 20 minutes later and the search began. Navajo Nation authorities previously identified Tolth as a person of interest, and federal prosecutors confirmed Friday that shoe prints found between the two homes matched shoes belonging to Tolth. Investigators also found bloody clothing that belonged to Tolth at a relative's home. Authorities said Tolth admitted to taking the truck so he could drive to New Mexico, where ultimately he ended up selling the vehicle for $200 and methamphetamines. Authorities determined through multiple interviews that Tolth had been drinking that night and got into a fight with his father, resulting in him being left on the side of the road. The spot where he was dropped off was about 11 miles (18 kilometers) from Begay's home. Tolth told federal agents during a series of interviews that he snapped and struck Begay in the face multiple times, causing her to bleed from the nose and mouth. He told authorities that he wasn't sure if she was dead when he drove away and that he regretted hitting her since all he wanted was the truck. Tolth has a criminal history including charges of aggravated battery, resisting arrest, residential burglary and drug possession dating back to 2019, according to New Mexico court records. Montoya Bryan reported from Albuquerque, New Mexico. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Three men have been arrested in connection with a fatal shootout between rival motorcycle gangs at an Oklahoma City bar, according to police. Affidavits filed against the three suspects say Sunday's fight involved the rival Bandidos and Homietos biker gangs and began when a Bandido hit a member of the Homietos in the head from behind. Three people ended up dead and three more wounded, one of whom has been arrested, police Sgt. Gary Knight said. A 41-year-old man and a 47-year-old man were arrested Thursday, after the 34-year-old man was arrested Monday. Knight said Friday that police were still investigating what sparked the fight at the Whiskey Barrel Saloon in the citys southwest. Two of the suspects were arrested on first-degree murder warrants and the third on a warrant alleging shooting with intent to kill, conspiracy and other charges. Court documents do not show that formal charges have been filed against any of the men, who are jailed in lieu of bond, and no attorneys are listed who could speak on their behalf. Police identified the third person killed as 28-year-old Andrew Sump, having earlier named victims 29-year-old Eric Oberholzer and 38-year-old Francisco Tanajara. The Advocate. April 2, 2023. Editorial: Coastal cliff demands coordinated response For a state whose terrain is flat, Louisiana has encountered an extraordinary number of cliffs in recent decades, at least metaphorically. The term nonetheless applies to a handful of dramatic yet entirely foreseeable losses of significant state revenue sources. The latest example is the coastal cliff the day in 2032 when a fire hose of funding for Louisianas hurricane protection and coastal restoration projects suddenly slows to a trickle. In real money terms, revenue that currently averages more than $1 billion a year will drop to $200 million or less. Much of the falloff relates to funds flowing from the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Several legal settlements in the wake of that tragedy produced a torrent of funding for coastal and flood risk reduction projects in the states Coastal Master Plan. That money will run dry by 2032, and the state has not yet found a way to fill a massive fiscal hole that some officials fear could grow to $71 billion. Louisiana currently relies on 23 different revenue sources to fund coastal restoration and flood risk reduction projects, but the biggest chunks come from BP funds. The next biggest and more permanent supply of money for coastal projects comes from the federal Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, known as GOMESA. Under GOMESA, Louisiana gets 37.5% of revenue derived from certain offshore oil and gas projects in federal waters off our states coast. Thats far less than the 50% other states receive for onshore oil and gas development on federal lands and our share is capped by law at about $132 million a year. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, offers hope via his proposed Lower Energy Costs Act. Scalises bill, which the House has passed, would increase Louisianas GOMESA share to 50% and extend revenue sharing to offshore wind energy in federal waters. State officials also hope Congress will remove GOMESAs $132 million-a-year revenue cap; they say doing so could increase Louisianas annual share to $285 million. While Scalises bill reflects a reasonable ask on Louisianas part, political realities strongly suggest his measure is DOA in the Senate, at least in its present form. The prospects of a compromise bill clearing both the Senate and the House with the GOMESA revisions intact are uncertain. Thats unfortunate, because the argument for a significant federal investment in Louisianas coast is compelling. The Mississippi River levee system has protected massive federal investments in the river and its economy, but it also has deprived coastal wetlands of vitally needed, land-building sediment. Major problems that arise from federal decisions justify demand, even a major federal response. At the same time, we must bear part of the burden ourselves. The state already dedicates a share of its mineral revenues to a trust fund for coastal protection and restoration and it expects to continue receiving funds through the federal Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act, which is dedicated to restoration projects. Looking ahead, state Rep. Joseph Orgeron, R-LaPlace, has proposed a state constitutional amendment to require money from offshore wind development to go into the states coastal trust fund. Meanwhile, the state and coastal parishes hope to derive billions via parish lawsuits against oil and gas companies. If that money materializes, it should be spent on coastal restoration and preservation, not pork barrel projects. The coastal cliff affects all of Louisiana. A revitalized coast weakens incoming storms and protects inland communities including those located many miles from the coastline. In the long run, strengthening Louisianas coast will require a coordinated, multifaceted effort and the same level of detailed strategizing that went into the Master Plan itself. END JACKSON, Miss. (AP) A guard at a Mississippi prison has been arrested and accused of smuggling drugs into the facility, authorities said Friday. The Mississippi Department of Corrections said in a statement that Jasmeshia Wilkins, 32, of Mendenhall, was arrested this week at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Pearl and transported to the Rankin County Detention Center. She faces one count each of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, introduction of contraband into a correctional facility and conspiracy. The department said investigators seized from her car several bags of suspected marijuana, edible gummies containing THC and three cellphones allegedly intended for inmates. Bond was set at $142,500. It was not clear if Wilkins had an attorney who could speak on her behalf. She started working as a correctional officer in November. PIPESTONE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) A southwestern Michigan man suspected of domestic violence has died after being struck by a police stun gun and arrested in a wooded area. State police used the stun gun on Josh Tanner Wednesday as he was holding a knife to his own throat in Berrien County's Pipestone Township, according to state police. Officers and a police dog had tracked Tanner, 49, and found him sitting against a tree. After refusing to comply and to protect the suspect from injury, troopers successfully deployed a taser, which allowed them to take him into custody, police said in the news release. Tanner indicated he was physically unable to walk out of the wooded area on his own, and paramedics were called. He experienced a medical emergency and became unresponsive, state police said. Officers performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation until paramedics arrived. Tanner later died at a hospital. His death is being investigated by the state police. Autopsy results and a toxicology analysis are pending. Troopers assisted Berrien County sheriff's deputies in tracking Tanner, of Baroda, who was accused of aggravated domestic assault and attempted arson. He also was wanted on warrants, state police said. Pipestone Township is about 90 miles (144 kilometers) southwest of Grand Rapids. Two young artists- turned-business owners are filling an important niche in Tulsas artistic community. At the beginning of April, Ruby Clay Co., 409 E. Eighth St., celebrated its grand opening. The ceramic supply store, started by artists Jessica Walker and Maddie Schmidt, aims to supply other artists, educators or those curious about the art of ceramics with everything they need to create the art they desire. We want to serve the community as best we can by offering the biggest selection we can and offering great customer service, Schmidt said. Were still learning ourselves, so were eager to learn from the community, too. In addition to providing all the supplies necessary to create ceramic artwork clay, glazes, brushes, tools, forms and molds Walker, Schmidt and their team of artists are the manufacturers of Lo Home Ceramics, which they craft on-site in their store. Ruby Clay Co. also offers a host of other goods and handmade ceramics crafted by local artists, with the goal of creating a one-stop shop experience for its customers, where they can purchase supplies as well as gifts for family and friends. The interior of Ruby Clay Co. is striking, with high ceilings and large windows allowing light to pour through the space. Ceramic products, such as clay from New Mexico Clay and Armadillo Clay & Supply, as well as glazes from Coyote Clay, fill their storefront. Before starting their business, Walker and Schmidt recognized a real demand for these products within the community of artists in Tulsa. Many people had to travel out of state to get their supplies and clay before, Schmidt said. We knew there was a need for ceramic supplies in Tulsa. A lot of the artists weve met have said theyve been waiting for something like this to open for a long time, Walker said. Walker and Schmidt both discovered a love for ceramics in their teens while enrolled at Edison Preparatory School and Union High School. At Union, the only 3D art classes that were offered were ceramics, so that kind of pushed me into it, which is great, Schmidt said. The pair met and became close friends while in college at the University of Tulsas Kendall College of Arts and Sciences. While at TU, Walker and Schmidt learned extensively about ceramics, painting and photography, ultimately earning their bachelor of fine arts degrees in 2017 and 2018, respectively. After graduating college, Walker and Schmidt became artists in residence at Red Heat Ceramic Art Studio, 1645 E. Eighth St., a place where local ceramic artists can find community and a place to create and exhibit their work. The studio is owned and operated by artist and educator Whitney Forsyth, whom Walker and Schmidt studied under at TU. Whitney is awesome we love her to death, Schmidt said. Shes really great at getting the Tulsa clay community to come together. At Red Heat Ceramic Art Studio, Walker and Schmidt said they were able to connect with other artists, hone their skills and gain more confidence to go forward with ceramics professionally. When they started offering classes, it just took off, Walker said. Now, when you go in, theres tons of people there. When they do ceramic artwork sales, so many people show up. That really encouraged us. We knew that wed have a customer base we could count on. It was also at Red Heat Ceramic Art Studio where Walker and Schmidt connected with Lauren Haskell, designer of Lo Home Ceramics. They started working for Haskell as artisans in 2022 and later took the leap to take over production of Lo Home Ceramics and occupy her lease, where Ruby Clay Co. is currently located. The opportunity just fell into our laps, Walker said. Having the opportunity to work here for several months and see how everything worked really prepared us to start our own business. When the two started laying the groundwork for Ruby Clay Co. in January, they said the process for starting the business was intimidating but worthwhile. There were times when we were like, Wow, this is kind of scary! but its definitely so worth it, Schmidt said. We pinch ourselves all the time. We kept going and looking at certain milestones and saying, OK, if we can make it to this point and it goes well, then we can keep going, Walker said. Things kept going well, and now here we are. The pair said their friendship and relationship as business partners has made the journey of starting their own business even more meaningful. Because were friends, were able to check in with each other and make sure were also taking care of ourselves as well as the business, Walker said. And if we have constructive criticism, we know it comes from a place of wanting to grow and be better for each other, Schmidt said. The Tulsa communitys response to Ruby Clay Co. so far has been positive, Walker and Schmidt said. The grand opening on April 1 was attended by many local artists and ceramic enthusiasts. People have been so excited, Schmidt said. Weve been able to meet a lot of new ceramic artists in town who are really happy about what were doing. In the future, Walker and Schmidt said they hope Ruby Clay Co. keeps growing. The two are intrigued by the idea of expanding the line of finished ceramics they offer, and even creating their own clay bodies and glazes one day. They also recognize the need for more youth education in ceramics and aim to one day offer classes and take-home ceramics kits for kids. Theres a lot of room to grow in the ceramics field, and I learn new things about it every day, Schmidt said. Im so excited that the clay community in Tulsa seems to be growing more and more. OKLAHOMA CITY Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is dismissing charges against state Rep. Terry ODonnell and his wife, calling the charges political retribution. After a thorough review of the matter, I have concluded that former Attorney General Mike Hunter referred you for investigation not in the interest of serving justice, but for the purpose of political retribution, Drummond wrote in a letter to ODonnell. It was no secret then, and it is well established now, that the former Attorney General had ample motive to target you. He concealed this motive from the District Attorneys office, resulting in a series of events that culminated in criminal indictments. ODonnell, R-Catoosa, had disagreed with Hunters handling of a settlement with drug maker Purdue. Hunter could not be reached for comment. The charges against ODonnell and his wife, Teresa ODonnell, included three counts of violating the law regulating official conduct; two counts of illegal use of computers; and one count each of perjury, conspiracy and obtaining something exceeding $15,000 in value. The ODonnells were accused of illegally using his influence as a lawmaker and member of House leadership to facilitate the transfer of a tag agency earning about $100,000 a year to Teresa ODonnell from her late mother, who died in 2019. An Oklahoma County grand jury alleged that Terry ODonnell voted for three bills that removed barriers to prevent tag agency ownership by lawmakers and their immediate families. ODonnell and his wife maintained their innocence, saying they would fight the politically motivated charges. This is not to say that I find you blameless or endorse your conduct, Drummond wrote. I question your judgement in authoring legislation that resulted in benefit for your family. But Drummond went on to say the law had not been aggressively or equally enforced. The law says a member of the Legislature who has a personal or private interest in a bill shall disclose it and not vote on the measure. The fact that you were singularly referred for prosecution guides my decision to dismiss the charges against you, Drummond wrote. In doing so, I make clear that this law, and all others, will be fairly and fully enforced in the future against all members of the Legislature. Drummond said he was aware that ODonnell had resigned as speaker pro tem of the House, forfeited a lucrative business that had been in the family for years, and spent thousands of dollars and hours defending against the charges. In closing, I remind you that you and I are servants to, of and for the People of Oklahoma, and we have a duty to be above reproach, Drummond wrote. I admonish you to remain true to the oath you have sworn. I will tolerate nothing less. ODonnell, who resigned from his leadership position after being indicted but then was reelected in November while the charges were pending, now serves as House majority whip. He did not immediately respond for comment. On May 26, 2021, Hunter announced that he was resigning as attorney general. Gov. Kevin Stitt then appointed John OConnor to the spot. Drummond defeated OConnor in the 2022 Republican primary with 50.87% of the vote and won the general election. Hunter had defeated Drummond in the 2018 primary runoff for attorney general with 50.05% of the vote. Prohibition lasted from 1920 until 1933 in the United States. But in some states, like Oklahoma, strict alcohol laws lasted a bit longer. Humorist Will Rogers once said, "Oklahomans will vote dry as long as they can stagger to the polls," and it was a pretty accurate commentary long after his' 1935 death. Oklahoma had been officially dry since statehood in 1907, but liquor was available by free delivery 24 hours a day from bootleggers; cocktails and wine were served at banquets and in clubs, restaurants and hotels. In July 1933, Oklahomans had voted by a wide margin to legalize weak beer, but harder alcohol remained illegal. On April 7, 1959, Oklahomans voted to end 51 years of liquor prohibition. Voters had considered efforts to repeal some or all of the Prohibition amendment six times between 1908 and 1959. Lingering restrictions (and bootleggers) The first liquor store opened in September 1959. While Oklahoma wets celebrated the repeal, the bootleggers were less happy. A Dallas bootlegger told a Tulsa World reporter: "Just like that. It happens just like that. After building up my business for years, those damn Oklahomans go to the polls and vote to make me a bankrupt. "I tell you, it just ain't right," he added. However, even after Oklahoma legalized package liquor store sales, a few die-hard bootleggers hung around. Liquor stores close at 10 tonight, said a Dec. 30, 1961, Tulsa Tribune story, not to reopen until 10 a.m. Tuesday (Jan. 2). The citys few remaining bootleggers expect to augment their year-end income substantially. And for those wishing to boogie the night away, city commissioners lifted a ban on public dancing after midnight for that years observance. On the down side, Tulsa Police Capt. Larry Coulson said officers would not be offering their usual taxi service for inebriates who couldnt drive home, because the force simply would be spread too thin. In 1981, party poopers in the Oklahoma Legislature outlawed the Tulsa tradition of letting clubs stay open until 6 a.m. on New Years Day. Take a look back at the state's changing alcohol laws: OKLAHOMA CITY Oklahomas attorney general is urging an appeals court to vacate the murder conviction of the states highest profile death-row inmate. Attorney General Gentner Drummond asked the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals to vacate Richard Glossips conviction in keeping with recommendations from an independent review of the case and remand the case to district court. In a Thursday court filing, Drummond specified that the state is not contending that Glossip is innocent of the charge that he orchestrated the 1997 beating death of his boss, Oklahoma City motel owner Barry Van Treese. Glossip was twice tried and convicted of first-degree murder charges following Van Treeses death. But an independent review of the case found instances of error that cast doubt on Glossips conviction, according to a news release from Drummonds office. After thorough and serious deliberation, I have concluded that I cannot stand behind the murder conviction and death sentence of Richard Glossip, Drummond said in the news release. This is not to say I believe he is innocent. However, it is critical that Oklahomans have absolute faith that the death penalty is administered fairly and with certainty. Considering everything I know about this case, I do not believe that justice is served by executing a man based on the testimony of a compromised witness. During his nearly 25 years on death row, Glossips execution date has been postponed roughly half a dozen times. He has been served his last meal at least three times. Glossip has long maintained that he was framed for Van Treeses murder. Glossips attorneys claim that their client was set up by a motel maintenance man who they argue killed Van Treese during a botched robbery and shifted the blame to avoid getting the death penalty himself. That maintenance worker, Justin Sneed, confessed to the killing but said he committed the crime only because Glossip promised to pay him $10,000 if he would do so. Sneed, who pleaded guilty to the murder, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The new independent review of the case casts doubt on Sneeds credibility as a key witness in Glossips trial. Don Knight, Glossips attorney, urged the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals to quickly grant Drummonds request. He added that his client is ecstatic at the possibility that his conviction could be overturned. I think there was a moment there where he just realized that finally somebody is listening to what hes been saying all along, Knight said. The latest independent review of the case came to the same conclusions as a report from a prior independent review, Knight said. An independent review completed last year by a Texas law firm also questioned Sneeds credibility and noted that some evidence in the case was lost or destroyed. Knight said his client is relieved that the state is finally recognizing Sneeds lies and acknowledging that the co-defendant was not a credible witness. Sneed made material misstatements to the jury, according to Drummonds filing with the appeals court. The filing also notes multiple and cumulative errors during Glossips trial. For eight years, weve been trying to get someone from the state to look seriously at our case, Knight said. Attorney General Drummond gets elected, and for the first time, we have somebody with a lot of integrity who has come in and said, Ill go ahead and take a look at this. The Court of Criminal Appeals has rejected Glossips recent challenges to his conviction. Glossips legal team has petitioned in recent years for an evidentiary hearing to present new information that they said would prove their clients innocence. Drummond in January appointed former prosecutor Rex Duncan to review the facts in Glossips case. Duncan submitted on Monday a 19-page report to the Attorney Generals Office with his findings. In addition to the states relying on Sneed as a key witness, Duncan raised concerns about physical evidence that was either lost or destroyed. He noted that John OConnor, the states previous attorney general, also failed to share certain documents with Glossips defense attorneys. I believe Glossip was deprived of a fair trial in which the State can have confidence in the process and result, Duncan concluded in his report. A spokeswoman for Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna did not return a call for comment seeking information on whether she would pursue a new trial for Glossip if the appeals court overturns his conviction and remands his case to district court. In a news release, Drummond said his heart goes out to the Van Treese family. He added that he hopes they are able to find peace despite this new development in the Glossip case. Glossip is scheduled to be executed May 18. While Duncans review of the case was ongoing, Drummond had asked the Court of Criminal Appeals to postpone Glossips execution until next year. The court has not yet responded to that request. Death row in Oklahoma: Pace of executions in 2023 slows on AG's request Richard Glossip Jemaine Cannon Anthony Sanchez Phillip Hancock James Ryder Michael D. Smith Wade Lay John Fitzgerald Hanson Oklahoma corrections director on execution: 'Not pleasant to watch, but ... not inhumane' Alfred Mitchell Marlon Harmon Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez Clarence Goode Jr. Emmanuel Littlejohn James Pavatt Kendrick Simpson Kevin Underwood Raymond E. Johnson Richard Rojem Ricky Malone Ronson Bush Termane Wood Wendell Grissom Check out our latest digital-only offer and subscribe now TAHLEQUAH When Chuck Hoskin Jr. was born in 1975, the Cherokee Nation had a top-down health care system run by the federal government. No doubt the doctors and nurses worked hard, said Hoskin, now the tribes principal chief. But everyone knows that when native peoples can control their health care destiny, he said, health care is delivered better. Its more efficient. The outcomes are better. Its done with a level of compassion and caring that is unmatched. The Cherokee Nation broke ground Thursday on a $400 million hospital that will solidify what officials described as the tribes health-care independence. We are today a tribe, an Indian nation, that has seized control of its health-care destiny, Hoskin told a large crowd that had gathered under a tent to watch the groundbreaking. The new facility will replace and double the size of the nearly 40-year-old W.W. Hastings Hospital in Tahlequah, but it will keep the Hastings name, officials said. Being built on a parking lot at the tribes existing Tahlequah medical campus, the new 127-bed hospital will connect by sky bridge with the Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Clinic. And it will offer several features not available at the current Hastings Hospital, including a rooftop helipad, a neonatal intensive care unit, a surgery center and a hospice. Not only will the new hospital save lives and create jobs, but it will represent a new attitude within the Cherokee Nation, said Mike Shambaugh, speaker of the Tribal Council. Were not going to wait for something to happen, Shambaugh said. This is what were going to do and how were going to do it. Planning for the hospital started in December 2021, when Hoskin Cherokee Nation breaks ground on $400 million hospital signed legislation authorizing $440 million worth of investments in capital improvements for the tribes health care system. The rest of the funds will provide for a new clinic in Salina and improvements at Northeastern State Universitys College of Optometry. The hospitals construction will take about two years, officials said. I cant wait to see the possibilities that this hospital is going to bring and the new opportunities its going to bring, said Dr. R. Stephen Jones, executive director of Cherokee Nation Health Services. Its going to impact this generation, and its going to impact generations to come. November 2022 video: Cherokee Nation opens $20 million language facility Photos: Ground breaking ceremony of Cherokee Nation hospital in Tahlequah Cherokee Nation Hospital groundbreaking Cherokee Nation Hospital groundbreaking Cherokee Nation Hospital groundbreaking Cherokee Nation Hospital groundbreaking Cherokee Nation Hospital groundbreaking Cherokee Nation Hospital groundbreaking Cherokee Nation Hospital groundbreaking Cherokee Nation Hospital groundbreaking Cherokee Nation Hospital groundbreaking Cherokee Nation Hospital groundbreaking Cherokee Nation Hospital groundbreaking Cherokee Nation Hospital groundbreaking Cherokee Nation Hospital groundbreaking Cherokee Nation Hospital groundbreaking Cherokee Nation Hospital groundbreaking Cherokee Nation Hospital groundbreaking Check out our latest digital-only offer and subscribe now Photos: A tour of the Cherokee Nation's new language center and immersion school About $3 billion in state agency spending almost $6 of every $7 paid out bypassed scrutiny by the Central Purchasing Division, according to a report delivered to lawmakers on Thursday. The Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency, known as LOFT, told a House and Senate joint committee that the widespread use of exemptions to the Central Purchasing Act contributed to the controversy over state park restaurant management contracts and is at odds with the intent of state law. LOFT primarily blamed the growing number of exemptions to the act and weak enforcement of statutory safeguards for what it called a direct conflict with the legislative intent of the original Central Purchasing Act of 1959. In fiscal year 2022, the report said, $3 billion in exempt expenditures were reported by state agencies, compared to $538 million in nonexempt expenditures. Included in the $3 billion is $1.3 billion spent by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, which is exempt from the Central Purchasing Act but required to follow procurement procedures that are approved by the central purchasing director. Although amended many times, the Central Purchasing Act remains the basis for state procurement practices. It requires most state purchases, including contracts, to go through a single process as a guard against favoritism and graft. According to the report, the original act included seven exceptions. Eighty-seven full or partial exceptions are now scattered through the state statutes. During this evaluation we really saw a shift from centralized to decentralized, where agencies are now really in charge of spending, said LOFT Executive Director Mike Jackson. According to Thursdays report and statements by officials of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, Central Purchasing and LOFT, the Central Purchasing Division concluded at some point that it did not have the authority to review procurements made under exemption claims. Jackson said his staff believes that conclusion to be incorrect because state law says the central purchasing director shall review state acquisitions for the purposes of ensuring state agency compliance with provisions of the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act. He said LOFT has asked the Attorney Generals Office for an opinion. OMES Executive Director John Sutter, whose agency includes Central Purchasing, said he agrees with most of LOFTs findings but would like legislation to clarify the departments authority. Weve acted in good faith, said Sutter, who took over OMES leadership in October. The report cites the complexity and time-consuming nature of the states purchasing process as a major reason agencies have sought to circumvent it. The standard purchasing procedure has a 61-point checklist and takes, on average, nearly 100 days from start to final acquisition. Exempt procurement, on the other hand, takes just 15 days with little chance of recrimination. The report says only 13% of major procurements over a 10-year period were audited by Central Purchasing and that only two agency purchasing officers had their certifications revoked. Among the changes made over the years was increasing to as much as $250,000 the amount of single purchases agencies can make without going through Central Purchasing. The maximums vary by agency, but the lowest is $25,000. Another change is the introduction of p-cards cards that allow employees to make transactions of up to $5,000. The report says Central Purchasing monitors those fairly closely, but it chided the department for not enforcing policy violations. LOFT concluded that the department also should actively review exemption claims. It said the Tourism Department used an exemption intended for items for resale at state parks to slide invoices for consulting, construction and other expenses related to the state park restaurants past inspection. The report notes that Steven Harpe, then OMES executive director, told legislators he wasnt responsible for determining other agencies interpretation of the law. A graph included in the report shows exempt expenditures turning higher in 2018 and accelerating after Gov. Kevin Stitt took office in 2019. They reached about $3.4 billion in FY 2021 before declining in FY 2022. The report says some but by no means all of the increase was the result of emergency spending during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. April 2022 video: Oklahoma House to look into possibly fraudulent Swadleys contract with state Tourism office OKLAHOMA CITY Gov. Kevin Stitt and State Superintendent Ryan Walters are urging the Oklahoma Legislature to pass controversial new rules for the State Department of Education despite an attorney generals opinion that indicates the rules are unenforceable. Pressure is mounting on lawmakers after Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued a formal opinion this week that says the State Board of Education doesnt have the authority to craft new agency rules without the Legislatures permission. Although Drummonds office did not outright take issue with the two newly approved rules, the opinion says the board cannot adopt new rules without direction from the Legislature. Any rules pursued by the board unilaterally are void and unenforceable, the opinion states. The Legislature has not directed Walters or the board to create any new state agency rules. Walters on Thursday said Drummonds opinion doesnt apply to the two new rules passed by his agencys governing board. He also accused the media of distorting Drummonds opinion. The press is seeking to stir controversy between myself and the Attorney General regarding rules, but I do not believe there is any controversy between us, Walters wrote in a letter to legislative leaders. The rules are now available for consideration and adoption by the Legislature, he added. The opinion followed a request from Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, who questioned whether Walters had any authority to make new state agency rules. A spokesman for Drummond did not directly respond to a question about whether the opinion applies to the newly approved rules. One proposed rule would allow the State Board of Education to downgrade the accreditation status of schools whose libraries are found to contain pornographic materials or sexualized content. The other would allow parents to review and object to sex education materials and require school employees to notify parents if their child is considering changing his or her gender identity, such as the pronouns the student uses at school. The formal opinion is a matter of law that answered a broad question about rulemaking authority, but determining whether a specific rule exceeds that authority is ultimately something the courts will decide, said Drummond spokesman Phil Bacharach. If the rules are adopted, the state could face a lawsuit. In a press release, Stitt said he fully supports Walters efforts to implement new rules that would apply to Oklahomas public schools. Stitt, who will get a say on the agency rules after the Legislature acts on them, did not address Drummonds opinion. This is common sense, he said in the release. Parents dont want their tax dollars paying for pornographic material to be available to their kids in school. I urge my colleagues in the Legislature to swiftly approve this rule and keep inappropriate, pornographic material out of our public schools. Several GOP lawmakers have applauded the proposed education rules. Asked to present proof of his repeated claims that explicit and obscene books are being made available to students in schools, Walters told lawmakers this week that he had found four pornographic books in Oklahoma districts. He didnt specify which schools had two of the books. In most cases, the Tulsa-area districts accused of having the other books said the titles are not available in their schools. Walters also flagged 194 additional books that he said dont belong in schools, but he didnt say whether any of those titles are currently available to students. The Legislature will review all state agency rules before the legislative session ends in late May. It is springtime, and the legislative session is moving forward, reaching the halfway mark of the 2023 session. The Oklahoma Legislature is embroiled in heated debates over substantial education policy, including tax credits and a potential pay raise for educators. In addition, lawmakers are discussing corporal punishment of students who fall under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The Oklahoma House rejected a ban on paddling special needs students as proposed in House Bill 1028. Then it returned with broader support for a narrower version of the measure. The bill has moved to the Oklahoma Senate and has been assigned to its Education Committee for a possible hearing. Recently, I had the opportunity to debate one of the lawmakers who opposed the first version on a statewide newscast. Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland, was against the bill, but after it was amended and representatives used a tactic to ensure it returns to them before going to the governor, Olsen voted yes. Our conversation was broadcast on OETAs Oklahoma News Report and is available to be viewed online. The discussion was a civil one in which we both pointed to data and Scripture to justify our positions. In addition, my points were backed by peer-reviewed clinical studies showing that paddling these students simply does not work to correct behaviors. He countered with data that he took from a colleague who expressed a different point of view. I thoroughly enjoyed the back-and-forth with Olsen. He is one of the few lawmakers who reaches out to me on a regular basis to discuss the impact of legislation on the youth of Oklahoma. While we often disagree on the path, we always agree on our shared goal: improving lives of Oklahomas children. I sincerely appreciate the dialogue; I know that I can go to him at any time with an issue and he will share his honest position on the topic. Occasionally, we even reach agreement. I wish lawmaking today were more like this. I appreciate the principled stands that individuals take on issues, along with the ability to meet in the middle when it is necessary to accomplish a better path forward. After all, that is what the quest for knowledge should bring. Far too many people refuse to give an inch on their beliefs, even when the facts are laid out. Somewhere, compromise became a dirty word; it most certainly is not. Caring people communicating with lawmakers can make positive change. This past week, one of our collaborative partners, the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness, held an advocacy event called Invest in Kids Day at the Oklahoma Capitol. The event focused on improving access to child care. The program assembled child advocates together to learn advocacy tips and to receive a legislative update. The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy promoted this event in our newsletter, and we were pleased to be a part of the group participating to encourage lawmakers to support beneficial legislation for young Oklahomans. It takes efforts like this to interact with lawmakers and provide information to help them do their jobs better. I hope you will consider joining OICA for our next advocacy day on May 4 at the state Capitol. Details are at oica.org. Me Linh Flower Festival in Hanoi will take place annually in November, following the success of the previous edition last year which attracted tens of thousands of visitors, said a local official. Nguyen Xuan Dai, director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Hanoi, made the statement at a working session on Thursday with the administration of Me Linh District on agricultural production. The department will team up with Me Linh District in expanding high-quality, organic rice fields, investing in machinery and equipment to serve the post-harvest processing and preservation of agro products, he said. Earlier at the meeting, the outlying district proposed the municipal Peoples Committee seek other ministries and agencies nod to implement a project to upgrade the left embankment of the Red River section running through the district. The district also suggested the municipal administration formulate policies and mechanisms for the development of projects combining agricultural production, ecotourism, and experience tourism. Wrapping up the working session, Dai said Me Linh is the largest producer of flowers and vegetables in Hanoi, with its agricultural production value on the rise. The district needs to develop its orientations for agricultural development during the urbanization period, and expand flower and vegetable farming areas, he added. Agricultural production land accounts for nearly 8,100 hectares in Me Linh. Some agro projects in the district have proved economically effective, such as the production of Japonica organic rice or a project combining organic rice production with experience tourism in Tam Dong Commune. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Me Linh Flower Festival in Hanoi will take place annually in November, following the success of the previous edition last year which attracted tens of thousands of visitors, said a local official. Nguyen Xuan Dai, director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Hanoi, made the statement at a working session on Thursday with the administration of Me Linh District on agricultural production. The department will team up with Me Linh District in expanding high-quality, organic rice fields, investing in machinery and equipment to serve the post-harvest processing and preservation of agro products, he said. Earlier at the meeting, the outlying district proposed the municipal Peoples Committee seek other ministries and agencies nod to implement a project to upgrade the left embankment of the Red River section running through the district. The district also suggested the municipal administration formulate policies and mechanisms for the development of projects combining agricultural production, ecotourism, and experience tourism. Wrapping up the working session, Dai said Me Linh is the largest producer of flowers and vegetables in Hanoi, with its agricultural production value on the rise. The district needs to develop its orientations for agricultural development during the urbanization period, and expand flower and vegetable farming areas, he added. Agricultural production land accounts for nearly 8,100 hectares in Me Linh. Some agro projects in the district have proved economically effective, such as the production of Japonica organic rice or a project combining organic rice production with experience tourism in Tam Dong Commune. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! In 1868, Angelina Grimke read in an abolitionist newspaper about a thrillingly, powerfully impressive student named Archibald Grimke, enrolled at a Black college in Pennsylvania. Thats how Angelina and her sister Sarah, famous white abolitionists whod forsaken their familys South Carolina plantation decades earlier, came to learn that they had three Black nephews, the children of their late brother Henry and Nancy Weston, a woman he enslaved. This moment arrives more than halfway through Kerri K. Greenidges gripping book The Grimkes: The Legacy of Slavery in an American Family. In its early chapters, the Tufts University historian tells of how the sisters, objecting to their familys slaveholding, left the South, joined a Quaker community in Philadelphia, and became known for their abolitionist and feminist lectures and writings. Greenidge also details the brutal childhood experiences of Archibald, known as Archie, and his brothers, Francis and John, under slavery. After the Civil War, their mother, with help from the Boston Freedmens Aid Commission, was able to send them north to be educated. The book also introduces the Fortens, wealthy Black Philadelphians dedicated to building up Black community institutions but who also worked in uneasy alliance with white antislavery activists like the Grimke sisters. They have a place in the proceedings because one of the Fortens, Lottie, married Francis Grimke, known as Frank, in 1878. All told, there are many characters to keep track of, and, while always compelling, the books first half jumps around among them. The narrative gains momentum when the storylines converge as Angelina and Sarah, who had always believed their brother Henry was a kind master, are confronted with living proof suggesting otherwise. The famous sisters immediately embraced their nephews, promising to support them financially. While their acceptance of their Black relatives helped burnish Sarah and Angelinas heroic reputations, Greenidge digs deeply into the familys archives to reveal their complex and often severe treatment of their nephews. Story continues Sarah was unmarried and had no children. Angelina was married to abolitionist Theodore Dwight Weld, and the couple had two sons and a daughter; all three were acknowledged by their parents and aunt to be unexceptional. Upon meeting her Grimke nephews, Angelina told them, You, my young friends, now bear this once honored name. I charge you most solemnly, by your upright conduct and your life-long devotion to the eternal principles of justice and humanity and religion, to lift this name out of the dust where it now lies, and set it once more among the princes of our land. That fervent declaration set the tone for their relationship, which the author summarizes as a combination of deep love and relentless criticism. Greenidge writes that the price of their aunts affection was high: the brothers unwavering personal and professional exceptionalism and constant genuflection before the Grimke sisters supposedly steep sacrifice. In exacting this price, the Grimke-Welds neither acknowledged Archie, Frank, or Johns actual needs nor accounted for their nephews trauma. Still, Archie and Frank willingly paid the price, making their aunts proud. (John eventually became estranged from the family.) Archie attended Harvard Law School and was a co-founder of the NAACP. At the end of the 19th century, he served as American consul to the Dominican Republic. Frank, after studying at the Princeton Theological Seminary, became the minister at the most prominent Black church in Washington. In short, they were both stalwart members of the colored elite, a culturally conservative cohort for whom respectability was key. For instance, as a trustee of Washingtons colored schools, Frank moved to have two Black female teachers fired merely for getting married. Greenidge observes that the concerns of Archie, Frank, and other members of the elite ignored the harsh realities confronting the majority of Black people in post-Reconstruction America: lynching, legalized segregation, and Black disenfranchisement. The weight of these two generations expectations came bearing down on Angelina Weld Grimke, known as Nana, born in 1880 to Archie and his white wife, who abandoned the family when Nana was a child. Frank and his wife, Lottie, had a daughter at almost the same time, but she died in infancy, making Nana the sole descendant. The babys death set in motion the devastating repetition of a painful family psychodrama: Just as Sarah and Angelina expected their nephews to stand in for the unremarkable next generation of white Grimkes, Frank and Lottie expected Nana to stand in for the daughter theyd lost. Unlike Archie and Frank, however, Nana chafed against her familys strict demands. She engaged in romantic relationships with girls from a young age, leading Frank and Lottie, her guardians while Archie served in Santo Domingo, to cast her out of their Washington home. You are not becoming a young woman ... with whom the race can be proud, Frank scolded in a letter. Lottie piled on: I have loved you since you were born as if you were my own child. It pains me still that you fail us again and again. When Nana later fell in love with a man, her father, Archie, upset by the suitors skin color, worried that he would darken the family line. He forced Nana to choose between her boyfriend and him. Already abandoned by one parent, she chose Archie. Nana went on to become a Harlem Renaissance playwright and poet of some repute, but while Greenidge doesnt say much about Nanas later years, the impression is that they were lonely. Nanas literary work, in Greenidges words, punctured the lie told to her generation: that elite educations, disavowal of their enslaved past, and economic success could compensate for their ancestors various racial traumas. The authors affecting account of Nanas tragic life demonstrates that these traumas are not so easily overcome. Related stories Read this story at csmonitor.com Become a part of the Monitor community (Bloomberg) -- Russia has formally charged detained Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich with espionage, an accusation the White House and newspaper denied again on Saturday. Most Read from Bloomberg Ukraines credit score was cut on Friday by S&P Global Ratings after the government unveiled a plan to restructure its external debt before mid-2024. The war-torn nation was lowered to CCC from CCC+, with a negative outlook. The Pentagon is investigating a leak of classified war documents detailing US and NATO plans for building up the Ukrainian military ahead of a planned offensive against Russia, the New York Times reported. The documents were posted this week on social media channels, it said. (See RSAN on the Bloomberg Terminal for the Russian Sanctions Dashboard.) Key Developments Russia Formally Charges US Journalist With Spying, Tass Says Ukraine Aid From Chelsea Sale Delayed as Approval Process Drags Ukraine Rating Downgraded by S&P on Debt Restructuring Plan Macron Urges Xi to Bring Putin Back to Reason Over Ukraine Zara Owner Gets Approval to Sell Russian Business to UAEs Daher Ukraine Has Decimated Its Oligarchs But Now Fears New Ones (All times CET) Wall Street Journal, White House Deny Spying Allegations Against Reporter (10:40 p.m.) The Wall Street Journal and the White House on Saturday again denied accusations by Russia that detained correspondent Evan Gershkovich is a spy. Russian media reported on Saturday the US citizen has been formally charged with espionage. Weve seen media reports indicating Evan has been charged. As weve said from the beginning, these charges are categorically false and unjustified, and we continue to demand Evans immediate release, the Journal said in a statement. The White House called the charges baseless. Story continues Ukraine Resumes Electricity Exports to Europe (10 p.m.) Ukraine will resume electricity exports to Europe as it has a surplus, the countrys Energy Ministry said. The most difficult winter is over, Energy Minister German Galushchenko, who signed a document allowing the export, said Friday in a statement. Next step is to open electricity export which will allow for attracting additional financing for needed restoration and repair of damaged energy infrastructure. Ukraine can export 400 megawatts under an agreement with ENTSO-E, the European grid operators network. Russia started to attack Ukraines energy infrastructure with missiles and drones in September, causing electricity cutoffs across the country. It prompted Ukraine to suspend electricity exports from October. Russian News Agencies Say WSJs Gershkovich Has Been Charged (6 p.m.) Russia has formally charged Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich with espionage, Russian state media reported, citing people familiar with the case. The reported charges by Russias Federal Security Service, come more than a week after the US citizen was detained during a reporting trip to Yekaterinburg in Russias Ural Mountains region. A spying conviction could carry a sentence in Russia of up to 20 years in prison. Read more: Russia Formally Charges US Journalist With Spying, Tass Says Ukraine Suspends Wheat, Corn Exports to Poland (5:30 p.m.) Ukraine will suspend exports of wheat, corn, sunflower and rapeseed to Poland until the new marketing year, the Ukrainian agriculture ministry said on Telegram, citing minister Mykola Solskyi. The decision followed a meeting between Solskyi and his Polish counterpart Robert Telus, amid protests by Polish farmers about the volume of Ukrainian grain coming into the country. The situation is difficult for the Ukrainian farmers, but obviously for the Polish ones, Solskyi said. Read more: A Grain Glut Is Straining the Goodwill That Ukraine Badly Needs Grain will still be allowed to transit through Poland to other EU countries and beyond, though the transit procedure will be simplified to remove bottlenecks, he said. Poland, Baltics Countries Call for Sanctions on Russian Nuclear Industry: Report (4:30 p.m.) The three Baltic states plus Poland are calling for measures against Russias nuclear energy industry in the next round of European sanctions, according to Polands RMF Radio, citing a document from late March. According to RMFs report, the proposal called for individual sanctions against board members of Russias Rosatom and various other measures. The next round of sanctions will be the 11th by the European Union against Vladimir Putins regime since the invasion of Ukraine. Getting approval from the entire EU like a long-shot, but Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukraines president, praised the ideas as exactly what is needed. US Senate Leaders Condemn Detention of WSJ Journalist (4 p.m.) Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer and Republican leader Mitch McConnell issued a joint statement condemning the detention last month of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and demanding his release by Russia. The senators also criticized Russia for denying US embassy access to Gershkovich, and called for Russia to also release another US citizen, former Marine Paul Whelan. Let there be no mistake: journalism is not a crime. We demand the baseless, fabricated charges against Mr. Gershkovich be dropped and he be immediately released, Schumer and McConnell said, reiterating their condemnation of the Russian governments continued attempts to intimidate, repress, and punish independent journalists and civil society voices. France, China Back Every Effort For Peace in Ukraine (3 p.m.) France and China agreed to endorse every effort for the return of peace in Ukraine based on international law, the countries said in a joint statement following a three-day visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to the Asian nation. The two countries reiterated that theyre against attacks on peaceful nuclear plants and urged all parts in the conflict in Ukraine to abide by international humanitarian law. China and France also plan to deepen the dialogue between Chinas army and the Asia-Pacific command of Frances forces. Zelenskiy Discussed Leak Prevention With Top Commanders (2:42 p.m.) Volodymyr Zelenskiy held a regular meeting with key commanders and top officials Friday, with measures to prevent the leakage of information regarding the plans of the defense forces of Ukraine among the items discussed, according to a statement on the presidential website. The talks followed a New York Times report that the Pentagon is investigating the leak of classified war documents detailing US and NATO plans for building up the Ukrainian military ahead of a counteroffensive. The plans, in a partly altered state, have appeared on Twitter and Telegram. Fridays meeting also included a report from Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, commander-in-chief of Ukraines armed forces, about the general military situation as well as an assessment from military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov about Russias possible actions in near future. More Ukrainians Crossing Back From Poland Around Easter (12:30 p.m.) Since start of April 210,000 people have crossed Polish border into Ukraine, boosting net outflows from Poland to 77,700 people for the month the highest wave of return of refugees since the start of war, Polish border guard data show. Ukrainians are said to be more willing to return to their homeland around Easter for an extended period after Poland eased the path to grant temporary stay permits from start of April. Russia Warns Grain Deal At Risk if Obstacles Not Resolved (11:30 a.m.) Russia may quit the safe-transit deal for Ukrainian grain shipments from the Black Sea if obstacles to Russian grain and fertilizer exports arent resolved during the present 60-day extension period, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Ankara after talks with his Turkish counterpart. If there is no further progress in removing obstacles to export of Russian fertilizers and grains, we will consider whether this deal is necessary, Lavrov said. Despite Lavrovs comment, Russia is forecast to be the worlds largest wheat exporter in the 2022-23 season and its export prices have become the de facto global benchmark. Moscows foreign ministry this week discussed with the UN the Ukraine grain deal and the TogliattiAzot ammonia pipeline, which was suspended after Russias invasion of its neighbor a year ago. Read more: Global Food Supply Risks Rise as Key Traders Leave Russia China Trying to Have It Both Ways, Blinken Says (9 a.m.) Secretary of State Antony Blinken said some of the peace ideas China has proposed for the Ukraine conflict are positive, but that Beijing is trying to have it both ways by advancing a cease-fire proposal while also backing Vladimir Putin. It wants to be seen as trying to advance peace and at the same time, it continues to support Russia in different ways, rhetorically making its case in international institutions, advancing Russian propaganda, the top US diplomat said in an interview with the European news network Euronews. Chinas focus should be on convincing Russia to actually respect Ukraines sovereignty and to give back the territory that it seized by force, Blinken said. Ukraine Aid From Chelsea FC Sale is Delayed (9 a.m.) A foundation being set up to aid Ukraine with $2.9 billion in proceeds from Russian billionaire Roman Abramovichs sale of Chelsea Football Club is nearly ready to go with a proposed chair lined up, but UK government approval is taking longer than expected. There are complexities and delays based around political approval both between the UK and the EU and within the UK, said Mike Penrose, the former Unicef UK chief executive who is acting CEO for the new foundation. Abramovich sold the club to a consortium led by US investor Todd Boehly in May, after he was sanctioned by the UK and the EU over his alleged links to Vladimir Putin. Nearly a year on from the sale, the funds remain frozen in a UK bank account and none of them have reached Ukraine. Read more: Ukraine Aid From Chelsea Sale Delayed as Approval Process Drags Russian Troops Regaining Momentum in Bakhmut, UK Says (8:30 a.m.) Kremlin forces have regained some momentum in their effort to capture the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, the UK defense ministry said. The troops have highly likely advanced into the town center and now threaten Ukraines key supply route into town, the UK said in a Twitter thread. Russian regular forces, likely including airborne troops, have probably reinforced the area, and Russia is again using artillery more effectively in the sector. Ukraine Rating Downgraded by S&P on Debt Restructuring Plan (8 a.m.) Ukraines credit score was cut by S&P Global Ratings on Friday after the government unveiled a plan to restructure its external debt before mid-2024. The war-torn nation was lowered to CCC from CCC+, with a negative outlook. The ratings firm cited plans for an upcoming debt restructuring as part of Ukraines recent arrangement with the International Monetary Fund for a $15.6 billion bailout. The downgrade puts Ukraine on par with Ethiopia. In February, Moodys Investors Service cut Ukraines credit rating to the second-lowest score of Ca, on par with Argentina, citing long-lasting challenges to its economy and public finances from the war with Russia. Read more: Ukraine Rating Downgraded by S&P on Debt Restructuring Plan Pentagon Probes Leak of Secret War Plans on Social Media (7 a.m.) The Pentagon is investigating a leak of classified war documents detailing US and NATO plans for building up the Ukrainian military ahead of a planned offensive against Russia, the New York Times reported. The documents, dated from about five weeks ago, were posted this week on social media channels, including Twitter and Telegram, the popular Russian messaging app. They focus on what arms Ukraine may need for its offensive but didnt detail battle plans. Apparent modifications for example, to overstate US estimates of Ukrainian war casualties suggest an effort at disinformation by Russia, the newspaper reported, citing Biden administration officials. US Opposes Offering Ukraine a NATO Membership Roadmap, FT Reports (5:25 p.m.) The US is opposing efforts by some European nations to offer Ukraine a clear road map to NATO membership at the alliances July summit in Lithuania, the Financial Times reported, citing four officials involved in the talks. Lines were drawn at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels this week, the newspaper reported. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has warned that hell only attend the summit if given tangible steps toward membership in the military alliance, the FT said. The US is instead urging allies to stay focused on short-term military, financial and humanitarian aid to Ukraine as Russias invasion moves deeper into its second year, according to the report. (Updates with new intro, top 2 sections) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. A total of 15 European Union countries have joined a legal case against Hungary's Child Protection Law, widely criticised as being anti-LGBT. Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Austria, Ireland, Denmark, Malta, Spain, Sweden, Finland, Slovenia, France, Germany and Greece, together with the European Parliament, will act as third parties in the lawsuit filed last year by the European Commission. The deadline to join the case ended on 6 April. "We stand firm in our commitment to an inclusive society and equality for all," said the Belgian Foreign Affairs Ministry, which had led the charge against the controversial bill. The Hungarian law, approved in June 2021, contains one provision that prohibits or heavily restricts depictions of homosexuality and gender reassignment in media content and educational material addressed to audiences under 18 years of age. This triggered a political backlash, with countries signing joint letters and prime ministers openly voicing their discontent with their Hungarian counterpart, Viktor Orban. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte went as far as suggesting that if Hungary moved ahead with the plans "as far as I am concerned, then there is nothing left for them in the EU". The legislation also came under fire for conflating paedophilia with homosexuality, as the text's stated purpose is to strengthen the protection of children against sex offenders. This bill 'goes against EU values' The European Commission, which oversees the compatibility of national law with EU rules, asked Hungary to explain why the ban on LGBT content was necessary to achieve the law's main objectives. Unconvinced by Budapest's reasoning, the EU executive launched an infringement procedure, arguing the legislation infringed upon fundamental rights and several regulations of the single market. "This Hungarian bill is a shame," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in 2021. Story continues "This bill clearly discriminates against people on the basis of their sexual orientation and it goes against all the fundamental values of the European Union: this is human dignity, it is equality and it's the human fundamental rights. So we will not compromise on these principles." As Hungary refused to back down, the Commission submitted in July last year a legal case before the European Court of Justice (ECJ), which has the power to impose changes on national legislation. "The Hungarian law violates EU law, fundamental rights and EU values. We referred Hungary to the ECJ and it is now up to the Court to rule on the case," a European Commission spokesperson told Euronews. Reacting to the news, Budapest remained defiant and vowed to push ahead with the legislation, citing a 2022 referendum that showed vast support for the government's position but failed to reach the necessary threshold of valid votes. "For us, the matter of child protection knows no compromises, we will protect our children," Peter Szijjarto, Hungarys foreign affairs minister, said this week. "This is not a simple government decision, nor a parliamentary decision, but this is the will of the people, as it was expressed in a referendum and we do not know of a higher-level decision in a democracy. Therefore, of course, we will stand by child protection, by protecting Hungarian children, regardless of how many countries decide to join the ongoing lawsuit against us." The list of countries that participate in the legal case has a markedly Western component, reflecting a long-standing West-East gap when it comes to the protection of LGBT+ rights in Europe. Italy, Estonia, Latvia and Cyprus, whose leaders had in 2021 signed a collective letter denouncing the Hungarian law, did not add their names to the lawsuit. By contrast, Slovenia, which last year became the first former Communist country to allow same-sex couples to marry and adopt, opted in this time around. It's unclear if any other member state can still become part of the case after the expiration of the deadline, which had already been extended. Still, the turnout of 15 countries is "ground-breaking," says Katrin Hugendubel, advocacy director at ILGA-Europe, an umbrella NGO that encompasses over 600 entities across Europe and Central Asia. "It clearly shows that the majority of EU countries wish to actively take steps towards ensuring effective respect for EU law, and the fundamental rights of every citizen in the Union," Hugendubel told Euronews. "In the understanding that Hungary may ignore a successful infringement, we will continue to monitor the implementation of the anti-LGBTI law to support the Hungarian community and document their human rights violations." Unite warned that dozens of oil and gas platforms will be brought to a standstill starting April 24. (Image: PA) More than a thousand offshore workers will walk out in a dispute over pay in a 48-hour strike on North Sea oil and gas platforms. Unite the Union is planning coordinated industrial action at five different companies and warned that dozens of oil and gas platforms will be brought to a standstill on April 24. The trade union previously warned of a tsunami of industrial unrest among oil and gas workers. Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, said a total of 1350 workers are expected to take part. READ MORE:Northern Ireland police expect attacks on officers on Easter Monday Oil and gas companies in the offshore sector are enjoying record windfall profits," she said. Theres no question that contractors and operators can easily afford to give Unite members a decent pay rise. The scale of corporate greed in the offshore sector has to be challenged. 1,350 offshore workers will now take part in an unprecedented tsunami of industrial action over 48 hours with hundreds more set to join them. Unite will support all our members every step of the way in this fight for better jobs, pay and conditions. READ MORE: The historic Scottish town where homes sell faster than anywhere else in UK Workers taking industrial action include electrical, production and mechanical technicians in addition to deck crew, scaffolders crane operators, pipefitters, platers and riggers. John Boland, Unite industrial officer, added: Unite has received an emphatic mandate in support of strike action. It is historic and it will be the biggest offshore stoppage in a generation. Unites members are determined to get their fair share and to establish a better working environment. This is not exclusively about pay but also working rotas, holidays, and offshore safety. The workforce has been taken for granted for years but now their value will be acutely felt when strike action will bring dozens of platforms to a standstill. Rapper Coolio died from the effects of fentanyl and other drugs, a coroner has ruled. The 59-year-old star, best known for his 1995 single Gangsta's Paradise, died at a friend's home in Los Angeles in September. His manager, Jarez Posey, said the rapper's family had been informed on Thursday by the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office that the musician had died from a fentanyl overdose. Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid used to treat severe pain, including during and after an operation. The coroner also listed the effects of heroin and methamphetamine as a cause of death - and ruled the death was accidental. A form of heart disease - known as cardiomyopathy - and asthma were listed as contributing factors. Born in Pennsylvania in 1963, Coolio began performing as part of the West Coast hip-hop scene after moving to Compton, California. He released his debut album, It Takes A Thief, in 1994, scoring a top 10 hit with the single Lakeside. Read more on Sky News: What is Fentanyl? Sam Neill gives health update after cancer diagnosis Wife of former Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Lydon dies The following year, he released his hit single Gangsta's Paradise, which featured in the film Dangerous Minds. The song, which topped the singles charts in the US, UK, Europe and Australia, won a Grammy Award for best rap solo performance the following year. He was nominated for five other Grammys during his career and sold more than 17 million records, according to his website. Alongside music, Coolio made a number of TV and film appearances, including finishing third in the sixth series of Channel 4's Celebrity Big Brother in 2009. His manager said his children planned to honour their father in future documentary and film projects. SWNS Three teenagers from the same school have died in a horror crash as their headteacher paid tribute to the "remarkable and unique" pupils. Emergency services raced to the two-vehicle collision on the B4035 near Shipston, Warks., at around 4.10pm on Friday (21/4). Harry Purcell, 17, and Matilda Seccombe, 16, were airlifted to hospital but died on Saturday. A third pupil, Frank Wormald, 16, was also airlifted to hospital with multiple injuries but died on Sunday. Another 17-year-old, Edward Spencer, is in a stable condition following surgery. The crash happened when a Ford Fiesta, which the teenagers had been travelling in, collided with a Fiat 500. A woman and two children, who were in the Fiat, all sustained serious injuries and are in a stable condition in hospital. The teenagers were lower 12 students who attended Chipping Campden High School. In a letter to parents, Principal John Sanderson said: There are no words that I can find to express the sense of loss that we feel, both as a community and for Harry's, Tilly's, and Frank's families and close friends. Each one of these young people has been part of our extended school family and each loss is felt profoundly. In time, I would like to try and find the words to pay tribute to each of the young people we have lost, as each was remarkable and unique, having touched the lives of so many in such profound ways. We continue to hope and pray that he will make good progress in recovering from his injuries over the coming weeks and months. Edward and his family are very much in our thoughts. I'm very conscious that we will need to take each day at a time but wanted to express my sincere thanks for the professional and personal help and advice that has been offered to us at school over the last 48 hours. This is a very difficult time for us all but there is strength and hope in knowing we walk it together. The school has set aside an area next to the flagpole for members of the community to lay flowers and messages of condolence, with the school flag at half-mast. Students and staff gathered on Sunday afternoon to offer support to one another as books of condolence were opened for each of the students. More than 4.9 million people live with diabetes in the UK and 90% of those have type 2. (Image: AndreyPopov) A NEW test analysing changes to DNA in the blood can improve the ability to predict a persons risk of developing type 2 diabetes within a decade, research has found. Scientists from the University of Edinburgh looked at the influence of DNA changes known as DNA methylation, which is when a small molecule called a methyl group is added to DNA. Alongside this, other risk factors such as age, sex, BMI and family history were examined in about 15,000 volunteers to predict the likelihood of developing the condition years in advance of any symptoms developing. The findings could lead to preventative measures being put in place earlier, reducing the economic and health burden caused by the disease. Researchers found that the inclusion of DNA methylation data alongside the other commonly used risk factors provided a more accurate prediction. The scientists used their results to estimate the predictive performance using a hypothetical screening scenario of 10,000 people, where one in three individuals develop type 2 diabetes over a 10-year period. READ MORE: Tory MP Mark Spencer spared punishment after inconclusive inquiry The model that used DNA methylation correctly classed an extra 449 individuals compared with traditional risk factors alone. More than 4.9 million people live with diabetes in the UK and 90% of those have type 2. It is a serious condition where the insulin a pancreas makes cannot work properly, or a pancreas cannot make enough insulin. This can lead to high blood sugar levels and, in turn, a range of health issues such as heart disease and stroke, nerve damage and foot problems. Data from 14,613 volunteers came from the Generation Scotland study group, designed to help scientists investigate the causes of disease, understand the countrys healthcare priorities, and inform future medical treatments and health policies. The team repeated the analyses in 1451 individuals from a study based in Germany to ensure their findings could be replicated in people from different backgrounds. Story continues Yipeng Cheng, a PhD student from the University of Edinburghs Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, said: It is promising that our findings were observed in the Scottish and German studies with both showing an improvement in prediction above and beyond commonly used risk factors. Delaying onset is important as diabetes is a risk factor for other common diseases, including dementias. Professor Riccardo Marioni, the studys group leader, said similar approaches could be taken for common diseases. from a a blood or saliva sample. He added: We are incredibly grateful for our study volunteers who make this research possible the more people that join our study, the more precisely we can identify signals that will help delay or reduce the onset of diseases as we age. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh were supported by experts at the University of Helsinki, the German Research Centre for Environmental Health and the German Centre for Diabetes Research. The study is published in the journal Nature Aging. 'The world needs tranquillity': Ukraine urged to give up Crimea by Brazil's Lula Ukraine has been urged to give up Crimea by the Brazilian President. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva suggested on Thursday that Ukraine cede the Black Sea peninsula to Russia to end the war, adding his Ukrainian counterpart "can not want everything". Russian President Vladimir Putin "cannot seize the territory of Ukraine. Perhaps Crimea will be discussed. But what more he invaded, he has to think about," Lula said during a meeting with journalists in Brasilia. "Zelenskyy can't want everything either," he continued. "The world needs tranquillity... We have to find a solution." Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, a move widely condemned as an illegal land grab. Before Moscow's February invasion, Kyiv saw political and diplomatic means as the best way of returning the peninsula to its control. This changed with the outbreak of war. To date, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has refused to negotiate with Moscow, insisting it must first withdraw all of its troops from Ukraine. Western allies, notably the UK, have supported this. Many arguments have been raised against Ukraine handing over Crimea, such as it could embolden Russia to conduct further attacks and seize more Ukrainian soil. A majority of Ukrainians are also against handing over Crimea. A poll in February and March by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found 87% of Ukrainians deemed any territorial concessions to establish peace unacceptable. It revealed that 64% of Ukrainians want their country to try and retake all of its territory, including Crimea, "even... if there is a risk of protected war". Though vague, Brazil's Lula has put forward a proposal to mediate the conflict with a group of countries. He is due to present his proposal to Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing next week. In March, China also presented its own peace plan, which was flatly rejected by Ukraine and the West. Story continues Lula's international affairs adviser Celso Amorim met Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow at the end of March. Russia's president is expected in Brazil on April 17. On Thursday, an adviser to Zelenskyy hinted Ukraine may be willing to discuss the future of Crimea with Moscow if its military forces reach the border of the peninsula. If we will succeed in achieving our strategic goals on the battlefield and when we will be on the administrative border with Crimea, we are ready to open a diplomatic page to discuss this issue," said Andriy Sybiha, Deputy Head of the Presidents Office in an interview with the Financial Times. It is unclear if these remarks were sincere or if they are red herring to trick Moscow into believing Kyiv's upcoming offensive will focus on the south. Domhnall Gleeson is starring in 'Echo Valley' credit:Bang Showbiz Domhnall Gleeson has been cast in 'Echo Valley'. The 39-year-old actor is to star alongside Julianne Moore and Sydney Sweeney in the Apple Original Films project that is being directed by BAFTA-winning filmmaker Michael Pearce. Brad Ingelsby has written the screenplay and will produce the movie with Sir Ridley Scott, Michael Pruss and Kevin Walsh. Moore will play Kate Garretson, who spends her days training horses at the secluded Echo Valley Farm in Pennsylvania as she reels from a personal tragedy. Late one night, her wayward daughter Claire (Sweeney) turns up at her doorstep, frightened and covered in someone else's blood. Gleeson has been cast as a local criminal who forces himself into Kate's life and disturbs her tranquil existence by spilling secrets about her family. The Irish actor previously featured in the 'Star Wars' sequel trilogy as the antagonist General Hux and says that being involved in the iconic sci-fi franchise was a "ridiculous privilege". Speaking at the premiere of 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' in 2019, Domhnall said: "It's a ridiculous privilege to be a part of something that means something to so many people. I think you want to try and do that all the time, and it doesn't work out nearly all the time, and when it does, it feels really special." Domhnall was a fan of 'Star Wars' before taking the part but explained that acting in the films and seeing the premieres on a "big screen" was a "bigger deal" for him than the first time he had experienced the franchise. When asked if he was a fan growing up, the 'Harry Potter' actor said: "Yeah. I'd seen them all, but honestly what changed it for me was seeing it on a big screen. So that was kind of ... that was a bigger deal for me than the first time around." Flores De Mayo - (Flowers of May) is a festival in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary celebrated in the Philippines during the month of May. (Image: Pixabay) A celebration of the Filipino community in Devon and Cornwall will take place this May in Falmouth. Flores De Mayo (Flowers of May) is the annual festival to honour the Blessed Virgin Mary celebrated in the Philippines during May. The popular and traditional festival is now celebrated in many parts of the world where Filipinos are residing. The Festival of the Holy Cross (Santacruzan) is a legend and a festivity depicting the search and finding of the true Holy Cross by Queen Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, who was a new convert to Christianity. After the Holy Cross was found in Jerusalem and bought back to Rome, it was welcomed with a joyful Thanksgiving celebration. The celebration is now in its 11th year and will take place on May 23. Festivities start at 3.30 pm with an assembly at the Prince of Wales Pier, followed by the Crowning of the Statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary at 4.30, before leading on to a procession heading to the church of St Mary Immaculate Catholic Church in Killigrew Street at 4.45pm. At 5.30pm, the procession will arrive at the Church followed by a flower offering to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Between 6pm and 7pm there will be a celebration of the Holy Mass, a short cultural show composed of Filipino folk dance before celebrations end with food at the Church Hall after the event. For more information, contact: 07962875223 / 01579383903 Wow, y'all. Is this really how they see us? I've heard from a lot of us who are activated by the anti-Soros rhetoric coming from the GOP this week. I happen to be a fan of Mr. Soros' philanthropy, but in this moment that's almost beside the point. Blaming the world's ills on any Jew strikes fear into a lot of hearts, and not without reason. Conspiracy theories about Soros are rooted in lies about nefarious Jewish control. (That Washington Post piece is from 2018, but it's no less true now than it was then.) Hearing this ugliness during Holy Week, historically a season when Christian slaughter of Jews has surged, adds to the anxiety. The Catholic church officially blamed Jews for the death of Jesus until 1965. And for centuries, Eastertide passion plays blamed us for that death in no uncertain terms... which dovetailed with the popular conspiracy theory that we put Christian children's blood in our Passover matzah. The false allegation that Jews make ritual use of the blood of non-Jewish children was popularized in the 12th century, resulting in Eastertide violence against Jews in England at the time, and against Jews in Prague in the fourteenth century, and against Jews in Lisbon in the sixteenth century. In the 20th century, as you might imagine, things got worse. See 1903:Easter Week | A Proclamation Inciting a Pogrom of the Jews, with accompanying write-up from Kishinev. And of course, Hitler and his Nazi propagandists were big fans of this vile rhetoric, and they slaughtered six million of us. The claim that Jews kidnap and kill Christian children to put their blood in our Passover matzah is so ridiculous it's hard to take it seriously. But scratch the surface of QAnon's lies about a secret cabal harvesting children's blood, and it becomes clear that the lie of blood libel is still with us. So yeah, Holy Week is a time of heightened anxiety for many Jews. Even if we haven't experienced violence at this season, many of us know that our ancestors did... which becomes part of our inheritance, whether via epigenetic trauma or because we empathize with our ancestors' suffering. (Christianity Today ran an article about this in 2004: Why Some Jews Fear The Passion. They were trying to understand why so many of us were afraid around the movie The Passion of the Christ. I give them credit for recognizing that yeah, we had reason to be afraid. Unfortunately, we still do.) I used to not be afraid of antisemitism. I thought it was a horror of the past. I thought humanity had finally reached a level of post-triumphalist spiritual evolution in which no one hates other human beings because of how we mark holy time or understand scripture or experience the presence of God. (Of course, that's not actually why most of them hate us, setting aside for the moment those who shoot up synagogues because they hate Jewish support for refugees. They just need to blame someone for everything that's wrong in the world, and for thousands of years we've been a favorite scapegoat.) I thought antisemitism was old news. Then came "Jews will not replace us." And antisemitism at an all-time high. And antisemitism in schools. And did you know Ye has twice as many Twitter followers as there are Jews on earth? And now there's the antisemitic demonization of George Soros... again. When I started this blog in 2003, people would occasionally ask why I didn't write about antisemitism. My answer then was that I didn't want to give it any energy by naming it, and besides, it wasn't part of my lived Jewish experience, honestly. But these days, I can't not mention it. It's everywhere. I don't want to be marinating in the fact that some Christians hate us. Especially not during this glorious festival week of Passover which just began. I guess this reality is part of what I'm experiencing as this year's Mitzrayim, the "narrow place" of constriction from which I (and we) yearn to be free. In the face of this, I want to say: your hatred can't stop Jewish joy. Your hatred can't stop the sweetness that is Shabbat, or the sparkling gems of our festivals set in the wheel of the year. You can't destroy the wonder of our encounter with that Mystery we name as God, or our tapestry of teachings. Today is the first day of the Omer, lovingkindness within lovingkindness. Today I'll eat matzah, the humble cracker of servitude and the mnemonic waybread of our flight to freedom. Tonight I'll light Shabbat candles, blessing the twin flames that evoke the light of Torah and the light of creation. I woke with Jewish words of prayer on my lips, and I'll go to sleep the same way. Today I'll serve my Jewish community as best I can, and parent my Jewish child, and I'll do so knowing that there is joy in my tradition that haters like you can't begin to imagine. No one can take that away from me. For more on the appalling artwork that accompanies this post: here's a fascinating and distressing article about the original image and its origins "on a blog discussing the conspiracy behind Jewish ritual murder of Christians." In 2001, which is to say, in this century. I wish I were making this up. Collusions between U.S., Taiwan doomed to fail 09:49, April 07, 2023 By Zhong Sheng ( People's Daily Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen recently had a "transit" trip through the United States and met with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other congressional members. Such political provocation that engaged in official interaction and elevated the substantive relations between the U.S. and Taiwan seriously violated the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiques. It seriously infringed upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, impacted the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, and undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. During the so-called "transit" trip, Tsai attempted to package herself as a "peace lover" and a responsible party in cross-Strait relations, which was total self-deception. There is but one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. These are indisputable facts grounded in history and law, and have been recognized by 182 countries around the world, including the U.S. The special state of protracted political confrontation between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait has not imbued Taiwan with a status and rights in international law, nor can it change the legal status that Taiwan is a part of China's territory. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities of Taiwan refuse to acknowledge the one-China principle and claim that Taiwan is a "democratic country" free from the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China. On the island, they press for "de-sinicization" and promote "incremental independence," constantly stirring up troubles on the Taiwan question. They have forgotten their heritage, betrayed their motherland, and put aside the security and development interests of the people in Taiwan. Their practices are completely against their rhetoric about upholding "peace" and being "responsible." During the so-called "transit" trip, Tsai flattered the trumped-up narrative of "democracy versus authoritarianism" foisted by the U.S. side and deliberately exaggerated the differences in the social system between Taiwan and the mainland. Such dangerous practice of seeking "Taiwan independence" in the name of "democracy" further revealed the despicable intention of the DPP authorities. The differences in the social system are neither an obstacle to reunification nor a justification for secessionism. The DPP authorities are making excuses for "Taiwan independence" by distorting the relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait as the so-called confrontation between "democracy" and "authoritarianism." This is what really threatens the people in Taiwan. Taiwan's future lies in the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and China's reunification. The Chinese on the two sides of the Strait should work together to achieve reunification. The DPP authorities, in pursuit of private political gains, are willing to be a "servant" of hegemony, which causes tensions in the Taiwan Strait. It has made more and more Taiwan compatriots realize that the collusion between the DPP authorities and the U.S. is a scourge to Taiwan. The one-China principle is what underpins peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. It is consistent with the basic norms of international relations. Under the banner of the so-called "transit" trip, Tsai conducted political activities in the U.S. and had high-profile contact with the number three in the U.S. government, just to fan up the "one China, one Taiwan" or "two Chinas" in the international community, and relying on the U.S. to seek "Taiwan independence." In disregard of China's serious representations and repeated warnings, the U.S. broke the political promises it has made in the Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the People's Republic of China and the United States of America, deliberately greenlighted the transit of Tsai and allowed her to have contact with the number three in the U.S. government. This was to upgrade the substantive relations between Taiwan and the U.S., hollow out the one-China principle, and send an egregiously wrong signal to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. The ultimate goal of Washington is to take Taiwan as a political pawn to contain China, trying to hinder China's complete reunification and stop the country from achieving the great revitalization of the Chinese nation. This dirty plot is no longer a secret and will never succeed. In an attempt to mislead the public, some U.S. politicians chicaned that Tsai's meeting with McCarthy was a compromise and that the U.S. has exercised restraint on Tsai's "transit" trip, saying the Chinese side should not overreact. Such sheer misrepresentation of facts further revealed the hypocrisy of the U.S. Washington explicitly recognizes that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government of China in the Joint Communique. The leader of the incumbent U.S. administration has repeatedly made promises that the U.S. would not support "Taiwan independence," "two Chinas," or "one China, one Taiwan." However, the U.S. side betrayed its promises, engaged in official interaction and elevated the substantive relations between the U.S. and Taiwan, blatantly allowing Tsai to sell "Taiwan independence" claims in the U.S., and permitting high-ranking U.S. officials to support "Taiwan independence" activities launched by DPP authorities. The U.S. is talking about "restraint" but keeping provocative actions. This fully exposes its hegemonic, domineering and bullying nature. Tsai's "transit" trip through the U.S. once again told the world that the tensions in the Taiwan Strait stem from the DPP authorities clinging to the U.S. to seek "independence," and from U.S. efforts to contain China with the Taiwan question. The collusion between the U.S. and Taiwan is the real threat to the peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese government and people will strike hard at the separatist forces seeking "Taiwan independence" and firmly oppose the collusion between the U.S. and Taiwan. It is a justifiable move to defend the national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to maintain the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait and the world at large. (Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People's Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.) (Web editor: Chang Sha, Du Mingming) As a federal enterprise, the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH supports the German Government in achieving its objectives in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. On behalf of the German Government, GIZ provides advisory services to the Vietnamese Government in three priority areas: (1) Vocational training, (2) Environmental policy and sustainable use of natural resources, and (3) Energy. For further information, please visit www.giz.de/viet-nam. The Climate Protection through Sustainable Bioenergy Markets in Vietnam (BEM) project implemented by GIZ is looking for a Local Consulting Firm to conduct a development of calculation tools for estimation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction potential of pilot projects under cooperation of BEM project. On behalf of Climate Protection through Sustainable Bioenergy Markets in Vietnam (BEM), the GIZ Office Hanoi is conducting a public tender to seek qualified Local Consulting Firm(s) (here after called as LCF) for the assignment as follows: Tentative duration: from 15th June 2023 until 30th Aug 2023Place of assignment:Hanoi LCFs number of working days: Up to 140 mandaysRequirements: - The selected LCF is expected to have extensive expertise, from 15 years, but not below 10 years of experiences in the field of sustainable development, climate change including GHG inventory, carbon monitoring, bioenergy technology as well as carbon financing. - Having a clear organization and personnel structure - The LCF shall have a representative office in Hanoi - Ability to mobilize a team of local experts. The below-specified qualifications represent the requirements to reach the maximum points, in which: o 04 positions must be staff of the LCF: - 01 Team Leader to be responsible for overall coordination, consolidated reporting, and quality assurance of deliverables. Team leader is expected to have at least 20 years of experience in sustainable development as renewable energy, energy efficiency, green financing, piloting, etc. ...; particularly being familiar with GHG emission calculation, knowledge of IPCCs GHG inventory protocol, emission factor, worldwide bioenergy generation markets and project management. Education: Masters degree in Climate Change, environment or similar. - 01 Technical expert in bioenergy technology to be responsible for validation of technical inputs of pilot projects for calculation tools. Technical expert should have at least 18 years of experience in sustainable development as renewable energy, waste minimization, low carbon technology... and good understanding of the measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) framework on GHG reduction. Experiences in the field of bioenergy is an asset. Education: Masters degree in Energy, Waste engineering or similar. - 01 Climate change expert on Green House Gas (GHG) inventory to be responsible for selection and development of GHG emission reduction calculation methods. Climate Change expert should have at least 18 years of experience in sustainable development as renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy transition, GHG emission inventory, GHG emission reduction... and extensive knowledge of IPCCs GHG inventory protocol, emission factor, good understanding of the measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) framework on GHG reduction and bioenergy projects. Education: With preferable Master degree in climate change, sustainable development, environment engineering, energy economic or similar. - 01 Coordinator to be responsible to engagement with different stakeholders in this study. Coordinator should have at least 11 years of experience in sustainable development as renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy transition, environmental management and/or engineering as well as stakeholder engagement; 5 years of experience in supporting the implementation of research, projects, preferred in sustainable development; Working experience in survey, interview, communication with different levels of stakeholders, coordination. Working experience in documentation/ reporting/ knowledge management work. Education: At least Masters degree in environment, business administrative, sustainable science or similar. e. Rejection criteria: LCF or leading firm of consortium will be rejected if having less than 10 years experiences in the field of sustainable development, climate change including GHG inventory, carbon monitoring, bioenergy technology as well as carbon financing; and cannot provide Valid Legal Status (having copy of business registration/ decision establishment + VAT code, incl. related business area about sustainable development or similar area); Missing either audited financial report or annual tax report of the last 3 years (for Firm). Interested LCFs are requested to send the eligibility dossier in Vietnamese and English or English only including 1. Letter of interest (with Directors or authorised persons signature and company stamp) 2. LCF profile (incl. Business license (for firm) or Decision of establishment (for association), Tax code registration, organisational chart, summary of experience in policy sector) 3. Audited financial reports of the last 03 years. Important/key information in the audited financial reports or in annual tax reports must be translated into English if documents are in Vietnamese 4. Consortium agreement and nomination of consortium leading firm (if at least 02 entities joint the assignment) For your better preparation, receipt of Eligibility Assessment Sheet, Code of Conduct, Guidance on filetransfer and Regulation for Bidder-Contractor on consequences when submitting falsified information and bidding documents, please send email request to Question-from-bidder-PoS-VN@giz.de before 21.04.2023 LCFs send Eligibility dossiers to VN_PoS_Quotation@giz.de latest by 17:00 (Hanoi time) on 05.05.2023 with email subject: Tender 83436038-BEM/GIZ: Eligibility dossier. GIZ is obliged to ensure the confidentiality of all bidding documents submitted. Important notes: 1. Request of eligibility assessment to be sent to Question-from-bidder-PoS-VN@giz.de before 21.04.2023 2. Eligibility assessment related questions to be sent to Question-from-bidder-PoS-VN@giz.de before 26.04.2023 3. Eligibility dossier to be sent to VN_PoS_Quotation@giz.de before 5 PM on 05.05.2023. Sending documents to wrong email address will lead to disqualification of the bidder. 4. For data protection and information security reason: In case the total volume of your bids is below 10 MB, you can attach them directly in the email sent to us. In case the total volume of your bids is above 10 MB, the files must be sent via GIZ filetransfer system. We will provide the guidance on how to use filetransfer to interested bidders. Files sent via other applications/systems such as google drive, dropboxwill not be accepted. 5. Only selected bidders will be contacted for receipt of tender dossier. HA NOI Viet Nam exported 1.7 million tonnes of rice during the first quarter of 2023 worth over US$900 million, a 19 per cent increase in quantity and 30 per cent increase in value compared to the same period in 2022. These latest figures were released in a latest report by the General Department of Customs. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), Vietnamese rice has seen some success in improvements in quality and demand over the last several years. The majority of exported rice came from the Mekong Delta, with the rest of the country's rice production centres mainly serving the domestic market. Le Thanh Tung, deputy head of the plant cultivation department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) said rice production this year for the Mekong Delta alone is projected to reach 24 million tonnes. Consumption for the Delta and HCM City, Viet Nam's most populous city, will stay around 11 million tonnes, leaving 13 million tonnes for export. Of which, premium-quality rice for export accounts for 3 million tonnes, specialty rice 2.1 million tonnes and regular rice 1 million tonnes. Vietnamese rice will likely continue to be sought after in the second quarter of the year as demand has been on the rise in major markets including the Philippines, China and Africa, said the Vietnam Food Association (VFA). Nguyen Ngoc Nam, president of the VFA, said Vietnamese rice has been fetching good prices on the international market despite a gloomy outlook for the global economy as countries look to stock up on food for uncertain times ahead. In addition, major free trade agreements including the European Union - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) have seen tariffs on Vietnamese rice reduced by as much as 175 euros per tonne, giving Vietnamese premium rice an advantage in the European markets. As demand soars, exporters have been trying to purchase additional amounts from farmers to maximise efficiency and profit. However, many have voiced concerns over a lack of capital. Phan Van Chinh, head of MoIT's import/export department, said the ministry has been working closely with exporters to find solutions to minimising logistic costs and dealing with import/export protocols in international markets. On the other hand, the ministry said it is to keep a close watch on the amount of rice being exported to ensure the country's food security. In an earlier development, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has ordered commercial banks to review and streamline the borrowing process for rice traders to help them access additional capital sources. VNS HA NOI Backbase, the global leader in Engagement Banking, has partnered with An Binh Commercial Joint Stock Bank (ABBANK) to transform financial services for millions of Vietnamese customers. Supported by their local partner CMC Technology and Solution, Backbase will deliver the full suite of the Engagement Banking Platform, which encompasses Digital Onboarding, Digital Banking, Digital Assist and Digital Engage. The platform will enable omni-channel banking, increase ease in customer acquisition, retention, cross-sell, hyper-personalisation, and improve customer servicing through a 360 degree unified customer view for ABBANK retail banking and business banking lines of business. Omnichannel banking is not only a trend, but also a necessary service for banks to keep up with the increasingly diverse needs of users, which are rapidly changing along with the progress of technology," said Le Thi Bich Phuong, CEO of ABBANK. "In cooperation with experienced partners such as Backbase and CMC in this project, ABBANK expects to optimise the customers experience across different customer segments for corporate and retail clients, as well as transform the customers experience in digital sales across different customers touchpoints. With the plan to launch Omnichannel Banking, ABBANK's customers would experience financial services in a seamless, synchronous and transparent manner across all touchpoints, she said, adding that ABBANK would also be able to strengthen its capability in customers data management, operation efficiency resulted in improvement in competitive advantage for ABBANK in the market. Riddhi Dutta, Regional Vice President for Asia at Backbase said in this region, Viet Nam is set to take the lead in digital banking usage for the next three years thus it is imperative for banks to harness scalable and agile architecture and be empowered to dynamically execute against shifting customer needs while continuing to deliver the highest standard in digital customer experience. VNS HA NOI Vietnamese tech firms are acutely aware of the need for regular up-skilling, but many are struggling to keep pace with the latest developments in training, according to a recent seminar held in Ha Noi. The event, "Staying ahead of the curve during economic slowdown", was convened to discuss potential solutions for businesses grappling with the prospect of a global economic downturn in 2023. Nguyen Hung Son, a member of VINASA's standing committee, highlighted the challenges facing Vietnamese companies as they seek to optimise their use of training resources. Many firms remain unfamiliar with the latest technology-powered learning services, he said. Greg Brown, CEO of Udemy, the world's foremost training platform, offered insights into global trends shaping up-skilling efforts across organisations. These include an ageing population, the growing importance of skills over qualifications, job mobility, a hybrid workforce, and rapid digital transformation. Against a backdrop of economic uncertainty and volatility, Brown warned that the global economy is now in a steep slowdown, with even a moderate hit capable of tipping it into recession. According to the latest report by the World Bank, after a year of uncertainty in 2022, the world economy is precariously balanced. In these uncertain times, its even more crucial for employers to bridge the skills gap. By building integrated learning programs, organisations can turn the tide and find new revenue streams through up-skilling their teams, Brown said. Browns presentation showed some thought-provoking statistics. One study of three million workers highlighted career development as a top driver of employee engagement. Low employee engagement caused organisations an estimated US$7.8 trillion per year, or 11 per cent of global GDP. By fostering a learning culture, businesses are 2.6 times more likely to exceed financial targets and 7.2 times more likely to engage and retain employees. Organisations with the most engaged employees are 23 per cent more profitable. Loyal employees also typically plan to stay 6-10 more years than other employees Udemy CEO also shared success stories of Udemy's customers, such as Panasonic, Booz Allen - the world's leading consulting firm, Eventbrite - a global self-service ticketing platform, and Lyft - a Silicon Valley-based ride-sharing tech company. With its Marketplace model, Udemy is one of the world's biggest Massive Open Online courses (MOOC) platforms. Udemy's partners have experienced 1820 per cent growth thanks to investment in employee learning. Le inh Thinh, Talent Development Lead at One Mount, proposed applying agile thinking to business up-skilling. For example, it should be flexible and timely rather than perfect. Thinh brought up the concept of "Buy and Build", in which "Buy" is to attract talent with benefits, and "Build" is to retain them by establishing a learning path for each position. At One Mouth, Udemy's in-depth analytics on users has given management valuable insights to provide timely support to learners. A learning solution highly recommended by panellists is to take advantage of online learning platforms and help employees build learning habits by providing personalized, on-demand content. As employees apply what they learn to their work, a learning culture is formed, enabling organisations to adapt quickly to unpredictable market changes. Udemy's CEO expressed the belief that for learning to be effective, businesses need to build learning programs to match what they need. To do so, they should enlist support from professional learning solution providers. At the seminar, Brown introduced Udemy Business, a robust employee training and development platform trusted by more than 14,000 companies worldwide. It boasts 59 million learners and more than 200,000 online courses designed by 71,000 instructors. FUNiX, an online learning platform specializing in IT Professional training, is Udemys exclusive partner in Viet Nam. According to Nguyen Thi Thu Hien, Director of the Enterprise Training Academy under FUNiX, the two companies are both committed to equipping learners with practical, in-demand skills, thereby enhancing businesses competitive edge. Since signing a partnership agreement in May 2022, FUNiX and Udemy have worked together to provide nearly 2,000 courses with Vietnamese subtitles and original content designed by local experts on Udemy Business. The platform aims to provide content which can meet virtually all upskilling needs of Vietnamese businesses. VNS A NANG Okay Airways and Pacific Airlines will begin their flights connecting the central city with Hunan, China and Muan, Korea from late of April, increasing number of airlines restarting operations at the a Nang International Airport to 28. A source from the a Nang International Terminal company said Okay Airways plans to reconnect a Nang and Hunan, China from May 2 with three regular flights per week, while Pacific Airlines will restart chartered flights between Muan, Korea and a Nang with 30 flights from April 28 to October 9. AHT also said the national flag carrier (VNA), Vietnam Airlines will resume a Nang-Guangzhou, China, flights from April 24 to October 27 with two flights per week on Monday and Friday. The airlines will reconnect a Nang-Shanghai and a Nang-Chengdu on Thursday and Sunday between April and October. VNA, which covers three of 16 international routes connecting a Nang and global destinations, has already resumed four flights, from a Nang to Bangkok, Thailand and daily a Nang-Incheon, Korea. It has reopened the Narita-a Nang route on March 28. a Nang has 24 direct air routes, of which 16 are internationals, hosting an average of 100 and 112 flights per day since last March. The a Nang International Airport terminal, which is designed to handle 28 million passengers and 200,000 tonnes of cargo by 2030, has earned the four-star standard by the SkyTrax a consult on airline and airport star rating making it as the only airport in Viet Nam in the list of top 23 four-star airports in Asia. Deputy general director of AHT, o Trong Hau said the terminal has drastically improved service quality as well as speeding up digitalisation of procedure since 2021. The company, in co-operation with Hoi An Art Troupe, introduces traditional art performance in serving passengers at the boarding lobby on Friday evening. VNS HA NOI The lack of parking spaces at apartment buildings across the capital is leading to conflicts between vehicle owners and security guards, with sometimes deadly consequences. On March 28, Nguyen Trung Dung, 28, a security guard at a residential complex in Gia Lam District, was killed after a taxi driver purposefully crashed into Dung from behind. Dung was seriously injured and taken to Viet Nam - Germany Hospital, but did not survive. The taxi driver had parked in the wrong place, so Dung clamped his taxis wheels, leading to the conflict. Although the consequences are more extreme, these conflicts are playing out across the capital. Hai Son, 28, living in Nam Tu Liem District, said his apartment complex has 34 floors and only one basement. The other garage built by the apartment building's investor, about 800m away from the complex, is always full. Son often has to park his car on the side of an internal road of the apartment building. "Tomorrow, the security guard will clamp my cars wheels," Son said. "I know that, but I have no choice. Hong Minh, a resident living in an urban area with many residential buildings in Nam Tu Liem District, said she has a space at a garage, but it is about 1km from her building. She said it takes a lot of time to go to the garage on foot every day and vice versa. It is also inconvenient if guests come to her house because there is no slot to park their car, she said. "If you park in the wrong place, the security guard will clamp the car's wheel, she said. Then it takes time to handle it, she added. Growing problem A resident and a member of the Management Board of an apartment building in Ha Noi said the apartment complex where she lives has four buildings. Each building has only one basement for parking. At first, few people owned cars, so the basement space was adequate. As the number of cars has increased and the basement is full, the investor has to build more garages to serve the residents demand. However, some residents still park their cars on internal roads of the residential complex or even on the sidewalk, she said. She said people visiting their relatives or friends also park their cars in the wrong place. The buildings Management Board always creates conditions for residents or guests to park on internal roads for a very short time temporarily. Still, many people take advantage of the chance to park for a very long time, she said. "Parking in the wrong place affects other residents," she said. In the past, security guards only reminded people about parking at the right place, she said. Now, they clamp cars wheels but do not require the owner of the car to pay a fine, she said. The security guard just wants to change the mindset of residents, who often park in the wrong place, she added. However, many residents thought that the security guards did not have the right to lock the cars wheels off the residents, she added. The owner often uses tools to cut the lock, causing conflict with the security guards, she said. Clamping: right or wrong? ang Van Cuong, head of Chinh Phap Law Office under the Ha Noi Bar Association, talked to Zing online newspaper that there are two main reasons leading to the conflicts related to parking issues between residents and security guards in residential buildings over the past time. The understanding of some residents about apartment-building management is incomplete, while the behaviour of some security guards is also substandard, he said. He also said to clearly determine whether a security guard has the right to clamp cars parked in the wrong place, it is necessary to determine whether that roads section is under the management of the apartment complex or the State. If the roads section belongs to the common ownership part of the apartment building, Clause 2, Article 100 of the Law on Housing 2014 stipulates that the management board of the apartment complex has the right to act on behalf of the owners to perform the management according to the regulations on management of the apartment building approved by the Ministry of Construction in Circular No 02/2016. They have the right to set internal requirements, prohibited stopping and parking locations and sanction for violators," he said. "The security guard is allowed to clamp a vehicle's wheel if the vehicle is found parking in the wrong place. If the roads section belongs to the technical infrastructure system used for public purposes or is under the list of roads that have to be handed over to the State, it is not considered to belong to the common ownership part of the apartment building, he said. In this case, the security guards are not allowed to apply regulations on parking locations set by the apartment building's Management Board, and stopping, and parking must comply with the provisions of the Road Traffic Law. He said that handling violations must comply with the Government's Decree No 100 detailing penalties for administrative road traffic offences and rail transport offences. He said that only State management agencies are allowed to deal with the violations. "In this case, if a security guard clamps a cars wheel, it is against the law and infringes the ownership rights of the vehicle owner," he said. A representative of the Traffic Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security said it needs a written decision from the Minister of Transport to consider a road section in an apartment complex to be a traffic route if the road connects with national highways and expressways. A written decision is needed from the chairman of the provincial People's Committee to consider a road in an apartment complex to be a traffic route, if it connects with local roads. He said that if there is no written decision, it is considered a public area or an internal area of an individual or organisation. VNS by Nguyen My Ha This week, Viet Nam remembers the medical personnel who died 20 years ago trying to stop the deadly SARS disease from spreading further. The deadly respiratory disease took the life of medical staff at Ha Noi's French Hospital. The first nurse Nguyen Thi Luong died on March 15, 2003, followed by French doctor Jean-Paul Dirosier a few days later. Two Vietnamese, doctor Nguyen The Phuong and nurse Pham thi Uyen both died on March 24, followed by Dr Carlo Urbani, a WHO Viet Nam specialist who died in Thailand. Dr Nguyen Huu Boi died in April in Ha Noi, and Dr Jacques-Yves Ketelers lost his life to SARS three months later on July 8 in France. As a result of their work, Viet Nam was spared from a medical catastrophe that spread to 30 countries and claimed more than 800 lives. Every life is precious, and the medical staff who risked their lives to identify the disease and were exposed to the virus when taking care of the first patients should be commemorated as heroes. This week, a museum dedicated to Carlo Urbani, the Italian MD who served as World Health Organisation Chief Representative in Viet Nam and helped identify the virus, was unveiled in his home country of Italy. Having had prior job assignments with Doctors without Borders in Cambodia, Urbani and his family arrived in Ha Noi in May 2000, taking up the position as WHO's specialist in charge of malaria and other parasitic diseases. After being consulted at Hanoi French Hospital on the case of a Chinese-American businessman, suspected of having bird flu, Urbani died from sudden acute respiratory syndrome just weeks after he had helped identify it and alerted the world to its dangers. Urbani, who was a public health specialist in charge of malaria and other parasitic diseases, first came across the syndrome when he administered the foreign Chinese-American businessman who had arrived in the capital on February 23, and was admitted to the French Hospital three days later. When the businessman's condition worsened, the hospital called Urbani to examine him. Two days later, not only had the man's condition worsened, but several members of the hospital staff had developed similar symptoms: a dry cough, difficulty breathing, and a fever. Urbani issued prompt medical orders to isolate staff with symptoms and strengthened control practices. Though the disease could have been generated from Hong Kong, where the first case in Viet Nam came from, Urbani alerted WHO head office in Geneva, and with support of the regional office in Ha Noi let the world know that something grave was happening. In less than a week, the WHO team in Ha Noi won the support of government authorities to bring in international assistance and called for international experts, who came over from the Philippines a couple of days later. Urbani convinced health authorities of Viet Nam to keep a close health watch on tourists to the country, which slowed the spread of cases. World leading epidemiologists kept coming to Ha Noi to help contain and study the outbreak in mid-March when WHO declared the syndrome a "worldwide health threat." According to WHO, it had "never reacted with such speed to an outbreak, and in part this was thanks to Urbani and his colleagues in Ha Noi." Having been in close contact with patients for two weeks, Urbani felt unwell on a trip to Bangkok and went straight to the hospital. He was reportedly asked to donate his lungs for future research on the disease. He soon died of SARS, the disease he helped identify. Thanks to Urbani, Viet Nam became the first country to announce it had stopped the SARS outbreak and in May 2003, Viet Nam's Ministry of Health posthumously awarded him the honourable Friendship Order and Medal for People's Health. His legacy in Viet Nam does not stop there: a project to build the Carlo Urbani Medical Centre, based at the School of Medicine in Hue, started in 2007 with financial assistance from the Italian Association of Higher Education Organisations Institutions. This will be Viet Nam's second-largest centre for parasite studies, training and scientific research on respiratory infections. Throughout history, people in Viet Nam have sacrificed their lives to save others. Many are seen as saints and even worshipped in temples throughout the country. Urbani may not have followed Vietnamese beliefs, but his dedication to the health of the people inspired others, and gave way to further research. We will not forget the names of all the other medical staff who also died trying to contain and stop the spread of this fatal disease; further recognition for their contribution awaits decisions from the government and health authorities. VNS According to Jakarta Post, the Indonesian government has deported two foreign tourists with Russian and Australian passports for violating local laws as part of a major crackdown. A 24-year-old Russian man who posed semi-naked in photos on Mount Agung, a sacred destination on Bali, has been barred from entering Indonesia for at least six months, the Bali immigration office stated on Wednesday. The man was detained by Balinese police after his images surfaced on social media last month, and after apologizing, he was ordered to take part in a cleansing ritual in front of the mountain. Mount Agung is a dwelling place of gods in the Karangasem Regency in the northeast corner of Bali. In another case, an Australian woman was deported by Indonesian immigration after a viral video showed her arguing with police officers who had reprimanded her for riding a motorbike without a helmet. Immigration sources in Bali said that 72 travelers have been deported from Bali so far this year, with twenty of them being Russians. Bali is known for its beautiful beaches, temples, waterfalls, and nightlife and drew 6.2 million foreign visitors in 2019. However, the island has been increasing its crackdown on foreigners who disrespect local laws and disrupt public order. Vietnam Immigration Blacklist While Vietnam is known for its warm hospitality and vibrant culture, its immigration laws are notoriously strict. Despite efforts to simplify visa policies, many foreigners still struggle with the complicated and time-consuming application process. In some cases, this has led to people resorting to visa agents who use ghost companies to expedite work visas, but this approach often results in illegal stays. Foreigners seeking long-term careers or family life in Vietnam must avoid violating immigration laws at all costs. Those who do risk being placed on the Vietnam Immigration blacklist, which can have disastrous consequences. There are several reasons why someone may be blacklisted by immigration, including visa violations, engaging in criminal activities such as drug trafficking, posing a threat to national security, participating in public disturbances, and violating immigration laws by providing false information. While Vietnams immigration laws may seem daunting, it is important for foreigners to abide by them and avoid risking their future in the country. Vietnam is one of the nations actively participating in the Asia Architecture Design Awards (AADA) 2023, according to early data provided by the organizing committee. Dylan Yip, Vice President of partnership development at Asia Awards Organization, organizer of AADA, said that most Vietnamese entries came from a pseudo-classical and post-modern design perspective. Regarding the look, "super skyscrapers" still need work compared to those in Dubai, Singapore, and Hong Kong. "I have always believed that Vietnamese architecture must preserve its national cultural identity while integrating with the rest of the world in an unusual endeavor. This will drastically change Vietnamese design compared to other nations. For example, there are buildings in Singapore or China that are well-known and have a sense of place, he said. Mai Chau Culture Resort, Vietnam - Nominee of the 2023 Best Resort Architecture Design Award. Photo: AADA According to Yip, a cultural imprint will be a building block for Vietnamese architecture's rapid development and global expansion. Yip would like to see a famous structure created in Vietnam by local or foreign architects. Vietnam will increase its influence in Asia if one of its landmarks is recognized by Guinness World Records. He advocated preserving Vietnam's national cultural character through architecture to pass it on to future generations. They will feel proud of the country's past and famous architectural structures. Since its debut in December 2022, AADA has attracted great interest from architects, designers, and large and small organizations in the industry, with hundreds of projects and works submitted from countries across Asia. The organizing committee has received approximately 325 entries submitted, with many outstanding projects from India, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines. All of these countries are experiencing strong infrastructural and architectural development. Each country has its own unique cultural and architectural characteristics, creating diversity in the scope of the Asia Architecture Design Awards, which is under the Asia Awards Organization (AAO). "We are not surprised to receive AADA registration profiles from India, Thailand, and Vietnam," said Dylan Yip. India dominates the residential architecture category with several outstanding examples of religious and contemporary technological fusion. Thailand stands out in the commercial interior category with projects for museums, amusement parks, and car showrooms. Meanwhile, Vietnam has many buildings, including hotels, resorts, and offices. Thirty award categories in six disciplines (Architecture Design, Interior Design, Furniture Design, Architecture Design Firm, Interior Design Firm, and Firms in Furniture Manufacturing) are open for submissions in the Asia Architecture Design Awards, which are scheduled to close on April 30, 2023. Between April and June 2023, a distinguished panel of 20 experts from the fields of real estate, architecture, and interior design, among others, will preside over judging the awards. The most outstanding projects and companies will be announced at the Winners' Night in Singapore in July 2023. The AAO, a Singapore-based group, is proud to host three prestigious awards recognized in various industries and fields. The first is the AADA aiming to promote talented individuals or companies in the developing Asian architecture and design sector and provide them with a platform to showcase their excellent work internationally. Hanoi Times These latest figures were released in a latest report by the General Department of Customs. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), Vietnamese rice has seen some success in improvements in quality and demand over the last several years. The majority of exported rice came from the Mekong Delta, with the rest of the country's rice production centres mainly serving the domestic market. Le Thanh Tung, deputy head of the plant cultivation department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) said rice production this year for the Mekong Delta alone is projected to reach 24 million tonnes. Consumption for the Delta and HCM City, Viet Nam's most populous city, will stay around 11 million tonnes, leaving 13 million tonnes for export. Of which, premium-quality rice for export accounts for 3 million tonnes, specialty rice 2.1 million tonnes and regular rice 1 million tonnes. Vietnamese rice will likely continue to be sought after in the second quarter of the year as demand has been on the rise in major markets including the Philippines, China and Africa, said the Vietnam Food Association (VFA). Nguyen Ngoc Nam, president of the VFA, said Vietnamese rice has been fetching good prices on the international market despite a gloomy outlook for the global economy as countries look to stock up on food for uncertain times ahead. In addition, major free trade agreements including the European Union - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) have seen tariffs on Vietnamese rice reduced by as much as 175 euros per tonne, giving Vietnamese premium rice an advantage in the European markets. As demand soars, exporters have been trying to purchase additional amounts from farmers to maximise efficiency and profit. However, many have voiced concerns over a lack of capital. Phan Van Chinh, head of MoIT's import/export department, said the ministry has been working closely with exporters to find solutions to minimising logistic costs and dealing with import/export protocols in international markets. On the other hand, the ministry said it is to keep a close watch on the amount of rice being exported to ensure the country's food security. In an earlier development, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has ordered commercial banks to review and streamline the borrowing process for rice traders to help them access additional capital sources. Bizhub Vietnam has recorded a remarkable growth in rice exports in the first quarter of 2023, according to the latest data from the General Department of Customs. The country shipped 1.7 million tonnes of rice worth over US$900 million abroad, up 19 per cent in volume and 30 per cent in value year-on-year. 10 The Mekong Delta, Vietnams rice bowl, contributed most of the exported rice, while other rice-producing regions mainly supplied the domestic market. The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) said that Vietnamese rice has improved its quality and competitiveness in recent years, attracting more demand from foreign buyers. The Mekong Delta is expected to produce 24 million tonnes of rice this year, of which 13 million tonnes will be available for export. The export volume includes 3 million tonnes of high-quality rice, 2.1 million tonnes of specialty rice, and 1 million tonnes of ordinary rice. Foreign tourists deported for law violations and things to know about Vietnam Immigration Blacklist Vietnam will probe TikToks operations in the country from May. Heres why Not all visitors to Hoi An will be charged an entry fee, say Authorities You Might Be Interested In The MoIT forecasted that Vietnamese rice will continue to enjoy high demand in the second quarter of 2023, especially from major markets such as the Philippines, China, and Africa. Despite the global economic downturn, Vietnamese rice has secured good prices on the international market as many countries have increased their food reserves amid the uncertainty caused by the pandemic. Additionally, Vietnam has benefited from several free trade agreements that have reduced or eliminated tariffs on its rice exports. For instance, the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has slashed tariffs on Vietnamese rice by up to 175 euros per tonne, giving it an edge over other competitors in the European markets. As the demand for rice rises, exporters are seeking to buy more rice from farmers to optimize their production and profit. However, some exporters have faced difficulties in accessing capital and lowering logistic costs. The MoIT said it has been coordinating with exporters to address these issues and facilitate their trade activities with foreign partners. The ministry also stressed the need to monitor the export volume of rice to ensure food security and balance the domestic and foreign markets. It advised exporters to diversify their products and markets and enhance their branding and marketing strategies to boost their reputation and sales. The Vietnam Trade Office in Australia has helped Vietnamese enterprises to sign a contract to export ten containers of ST25 rice to Vanuatu. Head of the trade office Nguyen Phu Hoa said that the parties have also agreed on the next shipments, with the total demand expected to be up to thousands of tonnes of Vietnamese rice to Vanuatu. In addition to supporting the successful signing of contracts and completing bank procedures to transfer 30% deposits to Vietnamese businesses, the trade office head and the business visited each major supermarket in Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu, to give supermarket owners a try, and invite the consumption of Vietnamese rice. In Australia, with the slogan "Vietnam, land of world's best rice" initiated by the Vietnam Trade Office in Australia, Vietnamese rice has said its quality and gained a foothold in the market for three years. Source: Nhan Dan News Bahrain remains an important partner, as it joins other GCC countries to hopefully sign a historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the UK Bahrain remains an important partner, as it joins other GCC countries to hopefully sign a historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the UK, stated a top official. The UK-GCC FTAs chief negotiator Tom Wintle said yesterday that progress continues to be made on the historic trade pact which, once finalised, is expected to increase two-way trade (UK and the GCC bloc) by at least 16 per cent. The official, currently visiting Bahrain, held talks yesterday to discuss the possible trade agreements potential as it looks to unlock new opportunities for both sides. Our aim is to reach a modern, comprehensive and ambitious trade agreement, said Mr Wintle, during a roundtable held at the British Embassy yesterday. We want the best value for the GCC and the UK and the more ambitious we can be, the more we can benefit each others economies. Raise The current trade (bilateral) is something like 54.5 billion pounds (up to Q3 2022) and we think a trade agreement can raise that by 16pc and add about 1.2bn pounds to the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the six GCC states. Trade negotiations started last year and since then Mr Wintle has held talks with GCC officials with the third round of talks held last month. He said the team of negotiators will once again meet in London this summer as they discuss the draft treaty text covering various topics. Mr Wintle did not reveal a timeframe for the deal to be signed, sealed and delivered but added that a team of more than 100 UK negotiators were working on what is set to be a substantial economic agreement. For the UK, we dont put a deadline because its more important for us to get the right deal, he explained. We are, however, absolutely committed to going at pace. He added they were looking to discuss market access, rules of origin and other technical barriers to make it easier for UK and GCC companies to trade. On the services side of things, we are working on modern areas such as digital, telecoms, financial services and transport, he said. Were also looking at lots of new areas to work together with the GCC, such as the environment and womens economic empowerment. Mr Wintle said if there were Bahraini traders exporting goods to the UK the trade pact would result in exemption of some tariffs and excise duty. Bahrain is a really important partner to the UK, he added. Once we have finished this agreement, there will be a big job to make sure that everyone understands the benefits. He believes that when the ink dries on the new UK-GCC deal it would mean significant benefits for British farmers and producers, as the Gulf is highly dependent on imported food. Tariffs could be slashed on cereals, chocolate, baking products, sweet biscuits and smoked salmon, for example. Equivalent to the UKs seventh largest export market, the GCC blocs demand for international products and services is expected to grow rapidly to 800bn pounds by 2035, a 35pc increase opening huge new opportunities for UK businesses. The UK has signed three new trade agreements since leaving the EU. The agreement with Australia was signed in December 2021 and that with New Zealand in February 2022. These are not yet in force. The digital trade agreement with Singapore was signed in February 2022 and entered into force on 14 June 2022. In addition, FTA negotiations are now underway with India, Canada, Mexico and Israel. The UK earlier this week was accepted into an Indo-Pacific trade bloc in what the government says is its biggest trade deal since Brexit. The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a FTA between 11 countries across the Indo-Pacific, including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam and now the UK. Source: ZAWYA 10 On the afternoon of April 6, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regular press conference, Deputy Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang responded to a reporters question about Vietnams views on information about the documentary film about the process of searching for Malaysias MH370 plane with incorrect content, claiming that Vietnam is not cooperative or proactive in assisting in the search for the plane. According to Deputy Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang, Immediately afterward the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, Vietnamese authorities took the initiative and urgently prepared response plans, actively sharing information and coordinating with Malaysia and other countries wishing to conduct large-scale search and rescue. At the same time, Vietnam encouraged international journalists to join in reporting. The worldwide community, as well as the local and international press, appreciated Vietnams efforts during that time. So far, the authorities have not made any conclusions about the disappearance of Flight MH370. Therefore, Ms. Pham Thu Hang stated that the documentary film MH370: The Plane That Disappeared makes statements when there is no official conclusion from the authorities, which is untrue, has no basis, does not properly reflect the efforts of the Vietnamese authorities, and causes discontent in the Vietnamese public. Vietnam expects production companies and filmmakers to appropriately reflect Vietnams assistance in the search, rescue, and recovery of Malaysias MH370 plane, as well as to delete and alter incorrect information. @vtv.vn Three airlines will resume flights connecting Da Nang and China's Chengdu, Hunan, Shanghai and Guangdong from late of April. (Photo courtesy of AHT) Da Nang - Okay Airways and Pacific Airlines will begin their flights connecting the central city of Da Nang with Hunan (China) and Muan (the Republic of Korea) from late April, increasing the number of airlines restarting operations at the Da Nang International Airport to 28. A source from the Da Nang International Terminal Investment and Operation JSC (AHT) said Okay Airways plans to reconnect Da Nang and Hunan, China, from May 2 with three regular flights per week, while Pacific Airlines will restart chartered flights between Muan (the RoK) and Da Nang with 30 flights from April 28 to October 9. The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines will resume Da Nang-Guangzhou, (China) flights from April 24 to October 27 with two flights per week on Monday and Friday. The airlines will reconnect Da Nang-Shanghai and Da Nang-Chengdu on Thursday and Sunday between April and October. Vietnam Airlines, which covers three of 16 international routes connecting Da Nang and global destinations, has already resumed four flights, from Da Nang to Bangkok, Thailand and daily Da Nang-Incheon (RoK). It has reopened the Narita (Japan)-Da Nang route on March 28. Da Nang has 24 direct air routes, of which 16 are internationals, hosting an average of 100 and 112 flights per day since last March. The Da Nang International Airport Terminal, which is designed to handle 28 million passengers and 200,000 tonnes of cargo by 2030, has earned the four-star standard by the SkyTrax a consult on airline and airport star rating making it as the only airport in Vietnam in the list of top 23 four-star airports in Asia. AHT Deputy General Director Do Trong Hau said the terminal has drastically improved service quality as well as speeding up digitalisation of procedure since 2021. The company, in cooperation with Hoi An Art Troupe, introduces traditional art performance in serving passengers at the boarding lobby on Friday evening. Vietnam Airlines resumes direct flights between Da Nang and Japan"s Narita A ceremony to welcome the first direct flight from Narita airport in Tokyo (Japan) to Da Nang after a long suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic was held by the national carrier Vietnam Airlines in the central beach city on March 26. Positive parenting skills and practices are scientifically proven to be critical to childrens physical, cognitive, emotional, and psycho-social development. A new online tool launched today has been designed with the needs of Vietnamese parents in mind providing them with practical activities, skills, and approaches that support them on their parenting journey. Launched by UNICEF, the MoLISA, and other partners today, the initiative is part of a partnership to expand the IECD Holistic Parenting agenda in Vietnam and promote nurturing care for children. Giving his opening remarks at the launch, Dang Hoa Nam, director of the Childrens Affairs Department at the MoLISA said, We have long recognised the need for holistic parenting in the early years of children's lives and the indispensable nature of promoting the necessary skills to help parents and caregivers to do their best as the main providers of the care, nutrition, stimulation, and protection that every child needs for their healthy development. This course supports a crucial window of opportunity, where with the right approaches, childrens development and happiness benefit greatly. We will successfully move the parenting agenda forward in Vietnam, he added. Science shows that there are time-bound windows of opportunity (the 1,000 first days), where if children receive the right nutrition, stimulation, encouragement, space for creativity, healthcare, and protection, they thrive in all areas and grow with confidence. Their brains make many more neural connections, and they do better in education, have fewer behavioural problems, and face less substance abuse and mental health challenges in the future. Often, the challenge rests with knowing what to do, when to do it, and how to manage oneself as a parent. Developed by a group of experienced IECD experts in Vietnam, the course consists of 20 lessons targeting parents and caregivers of children aged 0-8 years old, with creative visual aids illustrating parenting situations and challenges. The lessons include managing children's physical and mental health, stimulating exercise through play and encouragement, developing children's cognitive ability, responding to their behavioural challenges, and protecting them from violence and abuse, among others. At the launch, Nguyen Thi Y Duyen, officer-in-charge of the Child Protection Programme at UNICEF Viet Nam said, Parenting is too important to be left to chance. Reliable information, skills, and tools can support parents and caregivers, allowing them to enjoy their role and give children a brilliant start on the journey to reaching their full potential. UNICEF is supporting MoLISA and other partners to pioneer IECD in Vietnam, helping ensure children are healthy, ready to learn, and able to thrive, continued Duyen. The course is part of the Vietnam IECD Holistic Parenting Programme, which was developed based on an initiative by the Public Health Agency of Canada. It is now being implemented in 15 provinces, with an aim to reach hundreds of thousands of parents and caregivers throughout the country. Vietnams parenting e-learning course has built on the platform of the National Child Helpline 111. Tina Nguyen, CEO of Generali Vietnam an active member of The Human Safety Net said, Promoting early childhood development and supporting Vietnamese families is key to Generali Vietnams community agenda with the Sinh Con, Sinh Cha (Born Parents, Born Children) parenting programme being our flagship corporate social responsibility initiative. Parenting is an important, full-time job, yet not every parent is fully conscious of the fact that such a job requires learning and training to best benefit our children." "Sinh Con, Sinh Cha has found a smart and effective approach to deliver and promote parenting knowledge and skills to parents via interesting online educational videos with practical and useful content. Were pleased to be able to contribute content and video clips from our offerings to this e-learning course by UNICEF and MoLISA. We hope this vital parenting knowledge will be able to reach millions of families across the country, she added. Through this online course, parents and caregivers will find useful and up-to-date knowledge and skill-building resources for their childrens upbringing. More importantly, parents will know how to express love and care properly for their children, enabling them to feel loved, safe, and enjoy the mental wellbeing that is so important for them to reach their fullest potential. Supporters of UNICEF have contributed to the development of the course, including the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Government of Japan, and The Human Safety Net of Generali Group. UNICEF and MoLISA have worked with the Central Vietnam Women's Union, the Vietnam Confederation of Commerce and Industry, and The Human Safety Net Vietnam to widely promote the course to parents with children under eight years old across the country. CEO of Generali International visits Vietnam Jaime Anchustegui, CEO of Generali International, made a visit to Vietnam on February 27 as the group continues to pledge its long-term commitment to the market with its fast-growing, successful local business Generali Vietnam Life Insurance Co., Ltd. Generali Group touts best-ever operating results in 2022 Generali achieved its best operating results in 2022 with continued growth in premiums and net results, putting it in an extremely solid capital position. Luu Ngoc Hoang, deputy director of the Vietnam Chemicals Agency Speaking at the announcement on April 6, Vinh said, "The inordinate reliance on imported raw materials has diminished the competitiveness of industrial production. How can businesses adapt to satisfy environmental and social responsibilities while simultaneously becoming more competitive, effectively utilise their resources, and access the global value chain?" Vietnam, a nation whose development is dependent on exports, is presently experiencing a bottleneck in its industrial production due to a lack of production input. According to Dang Van Son, vice president and general secretary of the Vietnam Pulp and Paper Association, the price of cellulose has risen to $700 per tonne, placing a significant strain on the paper industry. "Vietnam exports more than 15 million metric tonnes (MT) of wood chips annually but imports nearly all the raw materials for paper production," Son said of the current insufficiency. Vietnam's paper production requires between 500,000 and 600,000 MT of newsprint annually, resulting in price rises of raw materials as demand soars. "Investing in a pulp mill is a hazardous endeavour with a lengthy return period," Son said, adding the mechanism to stimulate growth in paper manufacturing is a very complicated subject. "Developing the domestic paper material market will reduce reliance on imports and encourage proactive production," he suggested. In Vietnam, many industries, including paint, paper, rubber, and plastics, are undergoing a digital transformation, allowing for more integration with the international distribution network, the development of sustainable raw material schemes, and the avoidance of external forces that disrupt supply. Currently, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) is concentrating on completing the draft Industrial Development Law for consideration and approval by the National Assembly that should provide a unified legal basis for industrial development initiatives. The MoIT anticipates that the processing and manufacturing industries will continue to be economic growth engines for Vietnam this year, as they were in 2022, with a growth rate of 8.1 per cent. Rubber producers continue to brood over tough prices and tax complexities Vietnams rubber industry is facing difficulties from the global market and internal problems in tax policy, with farmers, associations, and businesses alike waiting for much-needed funds. Low input material price to support profit margins of plastic businesses Vietnam is currently heavily dependent on the import of PVC resins - input materials in the construction plastic production chain. In the second half of this year and 2023, Vietcombank Securities Co (VCBS) forecasts that a low PVC price will support profit margins of businesses. One of Hanoi's luxury apartments. Photo: SOHO @ Heritage West Lake According to a report by the Vietnam Association of Realtors (VARS), in 2022, approximately 15,900 apartments were made available for sale with an absorption rate of 47.4 per cent, which equates to approximately 7,500 transactions. The average primary selling price was approximately $2,132 per square metre, an increase of 10 to 15 per cent compared to 2021. In 2021, the total number of flats on the market stood at around 16,800, and the number of transactions totalled almost 7,500. Despite being in the midst of the pandemic, the sale prices still increased by 5 per cent compared to 2020. According to the VARS, the rising cost of mid- and high-end housing is the result of consumer demand, which is expected to persist. The VARS survey also revealed that 92 per cent of respondents still intend to purchase real estate, with the majority planning to do so within the next six months. In the view of Hoang Nguyet Minh, senior director of Commercial Leasing at Savills Hanoi, house prices in all areas of Hanoi will remain stable until the end of the first quarter. Prices on the primary market will be essentially stable, but may fluctuate marginally by year's end. On the secondary market, property prices will be affected by monetary policy. For the year-to-date, Batdongsan.com.vn data indicates that the Hanoi apartment real estate market has displayed evidence of price appreciation. As of February, the flat market in Hanoi has recorded an excellent rate of price growth, with the average price of affordable apartments rising by 16 per cent, mid-range options climbing by 17 per cent, and the luxury sector increasing by 9 per cent. People will benefit from limited-term apartment ownership: expert In the controversy over limited-term apartment ownership, some experts see positives and say it could change the situation of slum areas and reduce housing prices. Unpredictability stemming from housing market Even if the threat of recession seems to be on the wane in Vietnam, the real estate sector may encounter more battles in 2023, necessitating the elimination of legal and capital barriers, including real estate corporate bonds. At the forum, First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam Ishii Chikahisa said, 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan. The forum has been organised to promote appropriate human resource exchange between Vietnam and Japan. Cooperation in labour and human resource development between Vietnam and Japan is increasingly valued and has made great progress. Currently, among 15 countries that send interns to Japan, Vietnam leads the way in terms of participants. According to Pham Viet Huong, deputy director of the Department of Overseas Labour, there are currently more than 200,000 Vietnamese trainees living and working in Japan, accounting for more than half of the nation's foreign trainees. This is a very positive result, showing that the scheme to send Vietnamese trainees to Japan has grown significantly. Despite these results, the initiative still faces several issues, including instances of trainees quitting their contracts and others who violate Japanese laws. The reason for some of these situations is a lack of oversight or scrutiny in the recruitment process by a number of Vietnamese enterprises, and language training and orientation for some interns could be considered inadequate. Some Japanese partners also require the sending company to pay a commission when receiving interns, creating a cost burden on employees who then find themselves unable, or unwilling, to pay the management and dispatch fees as agreed. Shishido Kenichi, special adviser to the president of JICA, said that the biggest problem faced by Vietnamese workers is the high cost of getting work in the first place. This is not in line with regulation and has had an adverse effect on the rate of those who flee their contracts. "In December 2022, Japanese agencies began to discuss a new mechanism for how to let foreign workers come to Japan at no cost," said Kenichi. Ingrid Chriestensen, director of ILO Vietnam, said that according to its calculations, Vietnamese workers in Japan send home about $3 billion in remittances each year. However, the cost they have to pay to work in Japan is the highest among the sending countries, at about $8,000 each. Chriestensen said that Vietnam and Japan need to make efforts to eliminate the costs related to labour cooperation. Vietnam accounts for the second-largest expat community in Japan, contributing significant numbers of human resources. According to Chikahisa, Vietnamese workers are highly appreciated for their industriousness, hard work, and enthusiasm, all indispensable attributes for the further development of Japan. The body of the last victim in the helicopter crash is found on April 7. - Illustrative image (Photo source: congthuong.vn) Quang Ninh The body of the last victim in the helicopter crash was found on April 7 morning, two days after the incident occurred in the sea area between Hai Phong city and Quang Ninh province. Earlier, the bodies of the pilot and three other victims were found in the night of April 5, and the morning of April 6. The Bell-505 helicopter, owned by the Northern Vietnam Helicopter Company under the Vietnam Helicopter Corporation, got an accident at about 5:06pm on April 5 in the sea area of Gia Luan commune in Cat Hai district of the northern port city of Hai Phong while carrying four Vietnamese tourists on a sightseeing tour of Ha Long Bay. During the last two days, more than 500 officers, soldiers, and dozens of vessels were mobilised for rescue and search activities, which also saw joint efforts of many other forces and local fishermen. Authorities Quang Ninh province and Ha Long city have proactively given financial support to the victims families. On April 6, Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam Dinh Viet Thang said that the Vietnam Helicopter Corporation has postponed all helicopter sightseeing tours in provinces and cities after the incident. Search and rescue operations underway for victims in helicopter crash on Ha Long Bay A Bell-505 helicopter coded VN-8650, owned by the Northern Vietnam Helicopter Company under the Vietnam Helicopter Corporation, took off at 4:56pm and lost contact at 5:15pm on April 5 while carrying four Vietnamese tourists on a sightseeing tour of Ha Long Bay from above. PM orders rapid search, rescue of helicopter crash victims Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang has signed a Prime Ministers dispatch ordering relevant ministries, agencies and localities to take measures and mobilise forces and vehicles to conduct fastest and most effective search and rescue activities for the victims of a helicopter crash in Ha Long Bay area of northern Quang Ninh province. Air pollution shrouds Chiang Mai in northern Thailand on March 10, 2023. (Photo source: AFP) Hanoi - Government agencies in Thailand's Chiang Mai were ordered to let staff work from home to protect their health as levels of PM2.5 smog surged to almost unprecedented levels. Local residents have been requested to limit going outdoors amidst hazardous levels of air pollution. On April 7 morning, the air monitoring website IQAir ranked Chiang Mai as the most polluted major city in the world, ahead of regular hotspots such as Delhi and Lahore of India. Levels of the most dangerous PM2.5 particles - so tiny they can enter the bloodstream - were more than 66 times the World Health Organization's annual guideline, according to IQAir. This tourist city has been shrouded in smoke from forest fires and seasonal agricultural burning in recent weeks. According to the Thai Ministry of Health, nearly 2 million people in Thailand have been hospitalised for respiratory illnesses related to air pollution so far this year. In February, the Thai government advised people to wear masks when going out and consider working from home to avoid PM2.5 fine dust pollution. Thailand to launch AI to scrutinise taxes Thai Director General of the Revenue Department Lavaron Sangsnit hass aid the department is using artificial intelligence (AI) to examine tax payments, enabling deeper scrutiny and preventing tax evasion. Thailand: Phuket, Isan listed among Worlds Greatest Places for 2023 Phuket and the northeastern provinces of Thailand (Isan) have been included on the TIME magazines list of The Worlds Greatest Places of 2023. On April 7, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, together with Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) organised an official naming ceremony for the Van Phong 500kV substation and connection line. Nguyen Duc Tuyen, director of the Central Power Projects Management Board (CPMB) said, During the construction process, the investors and contractors encountered many challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic causing delays in the construction. In particular, the sharp increase in the price of iron and steel materials, petrol, and labour costs put a lot of pressure on investors and contractors." To ensure the progress of the project, the EVN National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT) and CPMB set up a detailed schedule to urge workers on and to solve problems promptly, ensuring the quality of the project, he said. At the ceremony, Tran Hoa Nam, Deputy Chairman of Khanh Hoa People's Committee showed appreciation for EVN, EVNNPT, CPMB, and others for their efforts to complete the construction. Hoa Nam said, "This project will help the province create trust in foreign investors, leading to an increase in the state budget." The Van Phong 500kV substation and connection line is owned by EVNNPT and cost a total of VND1.1 trillion ($47 million). Located in Khanh Hoa province, the project's two transformers have a capacity of 500/220kV - 900MVA. The 220kV connection line has a total length of about 26 km, with two circuits connecting the 500kV substation to the 220kV substation. A further two circuits are connected to the existing Van Phong - Tuy Hoa 220kV transmission line. The Van Phong 500kV substation project, together with the Van Phong - Vinh Tan 500kV transmission line, will secure electricity supply for Khanh Hoa and neighbouring provinces and meet the socioeconomic development needs of the key economic region of the south central coast. Ninh Phuoc 220kV transformer substation officially connects power lines The Power Project Management Board of the Central Region, in cooperation with relevant units, organised the ceremony to power up and put into operation the Ninh Phuoc 220kV transformer substation and connect power lines on June 29. EVN accelerates 500kV Van Phong-Vinh Tan transmission line Electricity of Vietnam has proposed changing the use purpose of the forest land while accelerating land clearance to develop the 500kV Van Phong-Vinh Tan transmission line project. Lao Bao 220kV substation and Dong Ha-Lao Bao 220kV power line project inaugurated The Lao Bao 220kV substation and Dong Ha-Lao Bao 220kV power line projects are ready to meet the transmission needs of wind power plants in the western part of Quang Tri province in preparation for commercial operation. JESUP, Ga. (AP) A Georgia chiropractor who served in the military as a Navy SEAL died Thursday when the small plane he was piloting crashed as he tried to land at a rural airport, the local sheriff said. The National Transportation Safety Board said it is investigating to determine what caused the single-engine Cirrus SR22 aircraft to crash in Wayne County, roughly 60 miles (96 kilometers) southwest of Savannah. Officials said the impact killed the pilot, who was the only person on the plane. Wayne County Sheriff Chuck Moseley told WJCL-TV that the pilot had been identified as Howard Wasdin. Wasdin was a chiropractor in the county seat of Jesup. Before that, he served in the U.S. Navy as a member of the elite SEAL Team Six. In 2011, Wasdin co-authored a memoir about his military service titled SEAL Team Six: Memoirs of an Elite Navy SEAL Sniper. According to his website, Wasdin served 12 years in the Navy, including nine years as a SEAL. He was medically retired after being wounded in the 1993 battle in Mogadishu, Somalia, later featured in the book and film Black Hawk Down. VINE GROVE, Ky. (AP) Three people were found dead in rural Kentucky and a 28-year-old suspect was arrested at the residence and charged with murder, police said Thursday. The bodies were found late Wednesday when authorities in Breckinridge County responded to a call asking them to check on the residents of a home near Vine Grove, which is 48 miles (77 kilometers) southwest of Louisville, Kentucky State Police said. Audrey Whealan, 77, and Michelle Whealan, 51, were found dead inside the home, while Doss Smothers, 58, was found dead outside, state police said. They appeared to have received their fatal injuries from blunt force trauma, police said. Tyler Wehmeyer, 28, was arrested at the residence and charged with three counts of murder, tampering with physical evidence and second-degree cruelty to animals, police said. Wehmeyer was being held in the Breckinridge County Detention Center. Two dogs were found dead in the home, police said. State police did not immediately indicate the relationship among the three victims or whether Wehmeyer knew them. No possible motive was immediately released. It couldnt be immediately determined if Wehmeyer had an attorney. LINCOLN Local students were awarded the Nebraska State FFA Degree at the 95th annual Nebraska FFA State Convention held March 29-31. The State FFA Degree is the highest degree bestowed by the Nebraska FFA. From the Bishop Neumann FFA chapter, Avery Mayberry, Aaron Ohnoutka, Kearsten Peterson, Seth Williams received State FFA Degrees. From the Mead FFA Chapter, state degree winners were Lillian Flynn and Janie Munter. The Nebraska State FFA Degree recognizes FFA members who have received the Chapter degree, been active FFA members for at least two years, completed at least four semesters of agricultural science at or above the ninth grade level, maintained a supervised agricultural experience (SAE) program, demonstrated their leadership skills, and have shown a commitment to the FFA through involvement at the chapter level and above. The 95th annual Nebraska State FFA Convention recorded approximately 7,634 members and guests. Members of the agricultural youth leadership organization spent the week attending leadership workshops, participating in events and activities, being recognized for their achievements, and serving as the legislative body for the Nebraska FFA Association. WAVERLY City officials put forth lots of effort over the last few years to try and come up with a feasible water quality project through an available state program. However, they reported to City Council on Monday that theyve met challenges relating to the targeted areas ground composition and disagreements over price on the necessary private land that make the plans infeasible. The city would have taken advantage of funding, similar to a reimbursable grant, through the Iowas Clean Water State Revolving Fund to construct the prairie strips needed to mitigate nutrient and nitrate runoff from agriculture land that may adversely affect water quality. But the council agreed to wave the white flag, voting 6-0 to approve cancellation of Waverlys State Revolving Fund Sponsored Local Water Quality Project for the land in northwest Waverly near the railroad crossings and municipal airport at 20th Street Northwest. Additionally, it terminated an agreement with WHKS & Co. for engineering work related to a project that city documents indicate was estimated to cost upward of $710,000, although the city could have been eligible for upwards of $1.4 million through the revolving fund. Thats the kind of money that I really wish we could have done something with to improve water quality in the area and kind of wish more could have been done. Its very disappointing, said Councilmember Brian Birgen. The city has incurred $30,000 in design, appraisal and geotechnical expenses to date, according to meeting documents. Administrator James Bronner acknowledged land in general as having been costly, but more specifically referenced possibly gold in the ground as one reason why in this case. He said the city had a second reappraisal done when the market went up, but just could not get to a number that made sense. Ultimately, it got us a lot more than it was going to be, but thats still not enough. Were to the point where we think its best for everybody involved just be done with this and just to leave it as it is, said Bronner. I dont know if we can even move forward to another project. I think were running out of time. A lot of efforts been put into both of these projects, and they just simply did not work. Its unfortunate, but at this point, we just want to be done with it, he added. Planning began back in 2019 for what at first was a project just east of the city. The city pivoted in 2020 to a project in northwest Waverly consisting of about eight acres, and later 34.4 acres with a vision of meandering wetland and prairie. The wetland component was abandoned because its soil was would not retain the water, and the proposed nitrate and nutrient reduction plan became just focused on prairie. Considering the challenges, there is no clear path forward to identifying, developing and completing a newly conceived project in a timely manner. Therefore, the city should consider canceling the SRF Local Water Quality Project due to the absence of a viable and practical project at a reasonable cost, emphasized City Engineer Mike Cherry in a memo to the City Council. Photos: Hotel President renovations 2016 092314file-President-Hotel-1968 092116bp-hotel-president-2 092116bp-hotel-president-4 092116bp-hotel-president-3 092116bp-hotel-president-1 Authorities allege he traveled to the apartment complex as part of an ongoing disagreement with another person. While there, he allegedly fire PRIMGHAR, Iowa A Rock Rapids, Iowa, man has been formally charged with murder in connection with his mother's fatal shooting last month. Assistant O'Brien County Attorney Rachael Becker and Assistant Iowa Attorney General Scott Brown on Thursday filed a trial information charging Nathaniel Kassel with first-degree murder. His arraignment was scheduled for April 17 in O'Brien County District Court. He remains in custody on a $1 million bond. Kassel, 41, is accused of shooting Jody Duskin in the head on March 22 in her Sheldon, Iowa, home. He was arrested two days later in South Dakota in possession of her car and two guns believed to be stolen from her home. A complaint filed in the case said Kassel was living with Duskin, but listed a Rock Rapids home for his address. According to court documents, Kassel sent a message to family members the day before her body was found, telling them, "I'm killing Jody." Hours later, he was overheard having a phone conversation in which he said he "made a mistake and hurt someone." On March 23, Kassel informed others Duskin, 62, was sick and could not make it to work. Another family member found Duskin's body that afternoon. Police found a .45-caliber shell casing and bullet at the scene. Thursday's court filing contained no new details in the case. If found guilty of first-degree murder, Kassel would face a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole. DES MOINES The Iowa Supreme Court will hear oral arguments next week over a request from Gov. Kim Reynolds to reinstate a law that would ban abortion in the earliest weeks of pregnancy. Reynolds, a Republican, launched the lawsuit last year asking a district court to lift an injunction on a 2018 law that banned abortion after cardiac activity is detected in a fetus, usually around six weeks. The court denied the request in December, and Reynolds appealed to the Supreme Court. Reynolds encouraged people gathered Thursday at an annual prayer breakfast in Des Moines to pray for the outcome of the case. She called back to the 2022 prayer breakfast, which was held weeks before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal right to an abortion in the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision in 2022, giving states more power to restrict abortion. In the weeks that followed, our prayers were answered in the high courts recognition that the Constitution contains no right to take an innocent life from abortion, she said. ... Its still hard to believe that it happened. Just weeks before the federal decision, the state Supreme Court also overturned a 2018 decision that the state constitution contains a fundamental right to an abortion. Those two rulings spurred Reynolds to ask the court to overturn the injunction on the so-called fetal heartbeat law. If reinstated, the law would block abortions at around six weeks of pregnancy, often before a person is aware of the pregnancy. Medical experts say the sound detected by an ultrasound in those early weeks is not a heartbeat because the fetus heart is not fully formed but instead electrical impulses. Abortion is currently legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks. Court to hear arguments On Tuesday, lawyers representing the state and Planned Parenthood will argue their cases before the Iowa Supreme Court. In briefs filed with the court, the states lawyers have argued the court has a duty to reinstate the law because the legal precedent that led to it being blocked federal and state Supreme Court decisions that protected the right to an abortion are no longer in place. Lawyers representing Planned Parenthood and others have argued the law should remain blocked because it was unconstitutional at the time it was enacted, and that the states request is not allowed by law. The court will likely not decide on the case for several months, but the decision could have major implications for lawmakers ability to restrict abortion. Legislative leaders weigh in Democratic House and Senate leaders said on Thursday they hoped the justices would uphold the current standard and keep the law blocked. Democrats have said they expect Republicans to enact stricter abortion measures going forward. House Democrats proposed a package of legislation to protect reproductive rights last month, including a measure to amend the state constitution to guarantee the right to an abortion. The bills have not received any consideration from the Republican majority. Theyre going to stop at nothing to try and prevent Iowa women from being able to access safe and legal abortion, Senate Minority Leader Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, said. Thats the Republican agenda, and thats exactly what theyre trying to obtain in front of the state Supreme Court next week. Republican legislative leaders have said since the beginning of the session theyre waiting on the courts decision to enact any further restrictions on abortion. Republican House Speaker Pat Grassley of New Hartford said Thursday he did not have any expectations for the outcome of the case. Once we have that guidance and we see where the court lands, then the Legislature is going to stand prepared to act on the issue of life, as weve said since the beginning of session, Grassley said. I think weve been pretty consistent in that policy. MARENGO A Tama County man suffered severe burns on one-third of his body in a Dec. 8 explosion at the C6-Zero plant, where he worked as a contractor, according to a lawsuit filed in Iowa County. Kelly Regenold and his wife, Tammy Courbat, filed the suit March 21 against C6-Zero Iowa, C6-Zero Holdings and Heartland Crush LLC, the company that owns the Marengo building where the blast happened. The explosion blew Plaintiff off of a ladder and across the floor of the building. The subsequent fire destroyed the building and Plaintiff barely escaped with his life, the lawsuit states. Plaintiff was taken by ambulance to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics where he was admitted for severe burns over 30 to 39% of his body, plus other injuries caused by the explosion and fire. Regenold is the second person working at C6-Zero to announce suffering major injuries in the explosion and fire. A GoFundMe page was set up soon after the fire for Cody Blasberg, who was severely burned and had to temporarily be put on a ventilator because of his injuries. C6-Zero did not have state permits to operate at the warehouse in Marengo. The company was attempting to dissolve used roofing shingles using chemicals, oils and solvents the vapors from which were toxic and flammable, the suit states. The morning of Dec. 8, when C6-Zero owner Howard Brand III was testing out the equipment, a mechanical failure ignited the air vapors and caused an explosion. Regenold, who was working for Deep Lake Outsourcing LLC at the C6-Zero plant, was on a ladder near the chemical vats when the blast occurred. He was among employees and others transported by ambulance to UIHC, where he remained for a month, the suit states. He has been left with extensive scarring and disfigurement throughout his body from the burns and skin grafting required to treat his burns, the suit states. Nine employees were injured in the blast, with six needing one day away from work, according to an OSHA Form 300 C6-Zero filed with the Department of Labor. The Gazette obtained a redacted copy of the form through a Freedom of Information request to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A seventh injured employee required an on-job transfer or restriction and an eighth employee had no information listed for how long they missed work or whether they required a transfer. Regenold and Courbat are seeking financial compensation for Regenolds injuries and damages the couple has suffered as well as punitive damages against C6-Zero in such amount as will deter C6-Zero and others from similar conduct. C6-Zero Spokesman Mark Corallo said the company had no comment on the pending litigation. Demolition begins The Iowa Demolition Company on Monday started tearing down part of the burned-out plant. The demolition, expected to last several days, has stalled environmental cleanup at the site, according to EcoSource, a Des Moines-area company C6-Zero hired to deal with water and soil polluted by chemicals stored at the site. Due to the structural issues present in the structure, EcoSource does not want excavation equipment and personnel around the building until the structure is down, the company said in a March 20 update to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. EcoSource said it still does not know where it will dispose of contaminated water and soil. Iowa DNR and Metro Waste are both resistant to allowing standard disposal methods (solidification, landfilling, landfarming), the company wrote. The preferred location for liquid is Metro Park East landfill, and the Iowa County landfill for the soil disposal. The delays seem to indicate EcoSource did not meet a March 31 deadline for implementing a Site Assessment Plan. On April 4-5, meetings of the North Atlantic Council at the level of foreign ministers were held in Brussels. The event is dedicated not only to the preparations for the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius this summer, but also timed to coincide with the 74th anniversary of the existence of the alliance, this rudiment of the Cold War , which, according to its founders, was supposed to ensure the superiority of the collective West over the rest of the world. The alliance, in fact, has nothing to brag about. Behind NATO allies are wars , the transformation of states into ruins , war crimes with impunity, the killing of civilians and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. Yugoslavia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya. Who is next? At the same time, representatives of the North Atlantic bloc do not get tired of repeating that it is a defensive alliance. However, the entire history of the organization suggests otherwise. And now we see how NATO, seeking to usurp the entire European security system , is again expanding towards Russia, creating threats to our security. Finland became another victim of the North Atlantic Alliance, whose authorities decided to say goodbye to their countrys long-term neutrality in exchange for turning it into a frontline zone a springboard to contain Russia in the northwestern direction. As we can see, NATO does not intend to stop there. Increasingly, NATO Secretary General J. Stoltenberg makes statements about the global role of the alliance, the need for it to go beyond the traditional zone of responsibility Euro-Atlantic. In fact, the foundation is being laid for the widespread imposition of NATO-centric approaches to building regional security systems. Hence the pumping of Ukraine with weapons and motivating it to continue the war with Russia, attacks on China, flirting with Japan and South Korea, plans to militarize the Arctic. Everything is being done to make the world even more dangerous , in order to prevent the existence of alternative centers of power that can undermine the hegemony of the West. In general, it can be stated with confidence that security and NATO are incompatible things . In this regard, only one conclusion suggests itself at the age of 74 , it is time for the North Atlantic bloc to retire. Weather Alert .Near record high temperatures Thursday through Sunday will bring significant streamflow rises, especially for snow covered terrain below about 8000 feet. Rises will likely increase daily through the weekend following a diurnal melt cycle with the highest flows often in the evenings and overnight. ...FLOOD WATCH FOR SNOWMELT IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Flooding caused by snowmelt is possible. * WHERE...Portions of California and western Nevada, including the following areas, in California, Greater Lake Tahoe Area, Lassen-Eastern Plumas-Eastern Sierra Counties, Mono County and Surprise Valley California. In western Nevada, Greater Lake Tahoe Area, Greater Reno-Carson City-Minden Area and Mineral and Southern Lyon Counties. * WHEN...From Thursday afternoon through Monday morning. * IMPACTS...Creeks and streams will be running high and fast. Low-water crossings may be flooded. Minor mainstem flooding is currently forecast along the Forks of the Carson River beginning late Friday. The Susan and Walker Rivers will also need to be closely monitored as flooding cannot be ruled out. Anyone participating in outdoor recreation this weekend should use caution as water will be running high, fast, and potentially out of banks for some creeks and streams. The water will be extremely cold as well, quickly causing shock. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop. && Nevada Legal Services will soon be hosting a free law fair. The event is meant for low-income Nevadans to get legal help. It's happening May 1st at the Reno Justice Court at 1 South Sierra Street. The group is offering help with family law, minor and adult guardianship, bankruptcy, estate planning, eviction sealing and more. Anyone interested is asked to pre-register ahead of time. For your mental health, its never too early to plan a summer vacation. But should memories of the summer of 2022 with its overcrowded airports, understaffed airlines and flight-grounding weather deter you from moving forward with 2023 plans? No. Experts predict a smoother travel experience this summer. But they also recommend you act now, especially if you have your sights set on popular destinations (such as Italy) or specific accommodations (say, an ocean-view room at a Hawaiian resort) or even an affordable rental car. We are anticipating record-breaking numbers for travel this year that are likely going to exceed pre-pandemic levels, says Michael Johnson, president of Ensemble, a travel agency association where business has already more than doubled the pace of 2022. So when should you book? The sooner the better, Johnson says. Fares and rates are only going to go up, and many travelers are already finding that their preferred dates are sold out or much more expensive than they anticipated as a result of the high demand. As travel normalizes in the first largely restriction-free post-COVID summer, heres what to expect in terms of travel prices, congestion and trending destinations. Busy airports, cheaper airfares Nearly four in 10 American leisure travelers say they would travel more if the flight experience were better, according to a recent survey from the U.S. Travel Association, which also found that nearly half of respondents ranked the air travel experience as average or below average. The federal government announced nearly $1 billion to fund airport improvements in February, but results may be distant. We arent going to see better travel experiences this summer as a result of infrastructure spending, says Gary Leff, a travel specialist and author of the aviation blog View From the Wing. Leff says the lack of funding for air traffic control technology and the need for more runways are among the issues that will take years to resolve. On the bright side, he adds, both airlines and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) should be better staffed than last summer. After months of waiting, the Albuquerque Public Schools board finally approved an academic calendar for next year last night. The calendar, a different one from what the district originally presented in March, nixed a previous idea to release many younger students early on several Wednesdays throughout the year amid a flurry of community members speaking out against that plan. Here are some of the things we know and still dont know about the calendar the school board approved. Teachers are split over the approach. What did we hear from them? Some said they really liked the idea of releasing younger students early on Wednesdays, pointing out that it would afford them more time for collaboration with other teachers and prep work. Others, though, said that a mid-week short day would disrupt students routines, especially for special education students. Some also worried that letting students out early on Wednesdays would result in more absences, and others still were concerned that not every Wednesday would be a short day. With respect to the shorter summer breaks, parents and teachers have worried about pushing an arguably already-early start to the school year even further. One parent told board members Wednesday that an earlier start date impedes on summer opportunities for students. Is there any chance the calendar could change again? With no regular board meeting scheduled for before the state Public Education Department deadline of next Friday for districts to submit their calendars, its unlikely for next school year. There is some flexibility in that deadline, a PED spokeswoman told the Journal, but thats typically for school boards with meetings scheduled just after April 14. Before approving the academic calendar Wednesday night, board President Yolanda Montoya-Cordova said that it is not a perfect calendar, and added that we can always come back after looking into how things go during the coming school year. Wednesday early releases are out and extra professional development days are in. What does that mean for teachers and students? According to the alternative and ultimately approved calendar that was given to the Journal last night, the additional professional development days for most K-8 teachers would not be school days for students. How exactly those days are meant to be spent is still subject to negotiation, according to an Albuquerque Teachers Federation email to teachers. What do the new start times mean for kids who take the bus? APS hasnt yet released how bus routes might be impacted by some of the districts new proposed class start times. Those draft start times, which the district has said would need to be staggered because of bus driver shortages, would see high school students going to school over an hour later, many middle schoolers starting about 45 minutes earlier, and 15- to 20-minute adjustments for elementary school students. When the district unveiled its first calendar proposal in mid-March, it said it was mulling different start times for high schoolers because of research showing that later start times improve outcomes for teenagers, including in terms of attendance and academics. Those start times are not approved yet, a district spokeswoman said, and there will be a lot of discussion before a vote. Got more questions that werent answered here? Call Journal reporter Esteban Candelaria at 505-823-3842, or email him at ecandelaria@abqjournal.com. SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) New Mexicos top prosecutor is seeking new authority to safeguard the rights of children in state custody amid allegations of inadequate care and protection. Attorney General Raul Torrez has won the backing of the Democratic-led Legislature in his mission to create a civil rights division in New Mexico in the spirit, he says, of anti-discrimination work initiated by the U.S. Department of Justice in the late-1950s to desegregate schools in the South. We have state agencies that unfortunately have had a history of failing to adequately protect children in state custody, Torrez said this week ahead of a Friday deadline for the governor to authorize or veto the civil rights initiative. Our primary focus would be on the protection of children and particularly vulnerable children who are the victims of child abuse. Gov. Lujan Grisham expressed mixed feelings Wednesday about the bill, saying it might limit her administrations leeway to overhaul the states lead agency for protecting children from neglect and abuse. That bill isnt signed or vetoed, and I want (prosecutors) to have every tool, Lujan Grisham said. They have these tools already, in my view. I think the concept is valid. Lujan Grisham in February announced plans to restructure the Children, Youth and Families Department amid allegations that children were neglected or abused in foster care and indications that foster children have routinely slept in the central offices of the overwhelmed agency. Torrez points out that private civil litigation against child welfare agencies can result in financial settlements that dont openly address civil rights violations or result in institutional changes. They waive their rights to talk about the litigation in any detail and also to demand large-scale corrective action, said Torrez, the former district attorney for the Albuquerque area who won statewide election in November 2022. He said a civil rights division could initiate investigations and seek broad injunctive relief by court order to address patterns of discrimination or other constitutional violations. The new office would initially employ between five and 10 attorneys in addition to investigators and support staff, also pursuing other civil rights concerns such as consumer and environmental protection, he said. We are looking and will be looking at applying the law in that way, and protecting groups that have been historically discriminated against, but also taking it into a more modern space, which is the protection of the civil rights of children, Torrez said. Torrez highlighted support from Democratic legislators as well as many House Republicans on a 51-13 floor vote in March. Republican state Sen. David Gallegos of Eunice voted against the bill, even while championing other bills aimed at greater accountability at the Children, Youth and Families Department. Gallegos said he worries that anti-discrimination efforts wont be evenhanded. Separately, the governor signed a bill establishing new deadlines and procedures for regulators to follow when children are taken into state protective custody. Bill cosponsor and Republican Sen. Crystal Diamond said the legislation aims to ensure that children who are victims of repeated abuse get the utmost attention from the judicial system. An Albuquerque man in the throes of an apparent mental health crisis allegedly started a fire in a Northeast Heights apartment complex last week, causing one woman to lose everything and four others to be displaced from their homes. Christopher Romero, 46, is charged with arson over $20,000, aggravated assault upon a peace officer with a deadly weapon, criminal damage to property and other offenses in the March 31 incident. Romero is currently behind bars at the Metropolitan Detention Center. At the time of the incident, according to court records, Romero was on pretrial release in a 2022 case where he allegedly battered officers trying to arrest him during a fight with his sister. His attorney could not be reached for comment Thursday. Prosecutors have filed a motion to detain Romero until trial, saying he put the lives of all of the responding officers in danger, and he put the lives of everyone in the apartment building in danger. Even if the defendant had been on house arrest, this case makes it clear that he still puts the people near him in danger, according to the motion. Albuquerque Police Department officers were called around 2:15 p.m. to the Candlelight Square Apartments in the 7500 block of Montgomery NE on Friday at around 2:15 p.m., according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. Police said Romeros brother, who lives in the complex with their mother, told them he woke up to the sound of his brother screaming at their mother. The mother told police Romero trashed the apartment while he yelled (expletive) this family. The family locked themselves in a room and Romero tried to break in before leaving the apartment, pulling a fire alarm and breaking into another apartment, according to the complaint. Arriving officers found Romero on the balcony and he threw furniture, appliances and clothing at them. Police said they tried to calm Romero by talking with him but he screamed they couldnt help him, and repeatedly told them just shoot me. At one point, Romero held up a pellet gun and told them Ive got a gun, now you can shoot me, but then he threw it at them. Romero threw a kitchen knife at officers before starting a fire in the apartment and telling them he was going to wait for it to burn down, according to the complaint. Officers evacuated neighbors as the smoke became heavier and, eventually, Romero left the apartment and collapsed. Police said the woman who owned the apartment lost everything in the fire and the ability to live there. Most of the womans belongings that Romero threw out of the balcony were also damaged beyond use. Neighbors who lived in at least five other apartments were displaced as their homes were not habitable due to fire damage. Mark Ronchetti has run two unsuccessful campaigns as the Republican nominee for high-profile political offices. In both cases, a political consulting firm prematurely launched his campaign websites before Ronchetti publicly announced his candidacies in those races, he contends in a lawsuit. The suit alleges that Ronchetti had not finalized his decision to oppose incumbent Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham when the media obtained a live link to his campaign website in October 2021 announcing his candidacy for governor. The premature leak forced his immediate resignation as a meteorologist for an Albuquerque television station, and damaged his campaign and employment prospects, Ronchetti alleges. The lawsuit was filed against Go Big Media Inc., a Florida-based consulting firm that primarily serves political candidates. Go Big Media denied the allegations in a response filed last month in 2nd Judicial District Court. The firm argued in its response that some other person or entity, other than the firm was at fault, but offered no additional details. The firms attorneys did not immediately respond Thursday to phone messages seeking comment. The lawsuit alleges that Ronchetti didnt approve either launch and was blindsided by media reports about the websites. On Oct. 21, 2021, the media obtained a live link to the completely unsecure draft website, and reported to the public that Mr. Ronchetti was running for governor, the suit said. The disclosure occurred before Mr. Ronchetti had announced his candidacy, and in fact before he had made his final decision whether to run, it said. As a result of this leak, Mr. Ronchetti was forced to resign immediately and without warning from his job at KRQE-TV, it said. The Journal published an article on Oct. 22, 2021, reporting that Ronchetti had abruptly resigned from KRQE after the campaign website briefly went live. The website was taken down shortly after the Journal inquired about it. A longtime television meteorologist, Ronchetti has twice run unsuccessfully as a Republican nominee for statewide office. In 2020, he lost his race for an open U.S. Senate seat to then-U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, a Democrat. And in 2022, Ronchetti lost his bid to unseat Lujan Grisham. Ronchetti alleges that Go Big prematurely leaked a draft campaign website in 2020 when he was considering his bid for the U.S. Senate. Before Ronchetti announced his Senate candidacy, the website became publicly viewable and was leaked to the media, the suit alleges. The release was premature to Mr. Ronchettis surprise and without his permission. The disclosure occurred on Jan. 6, 2020 the last day of Ronchettis employment at KRQE and the day before he announced his candidacy. Ronchetti regained his job at KRQE after his unsuccessful Senate bid. Go Bigs CEO stated that the premature leak of the website was a mistake, apparently caused by inadequate password protection on the site as it was being prepared to go live, the suit alleges. The suit seeks undisclosed damages, alleging that Ronchetti experienced financial losses and damage to his reputation, his campaign and employment prospects as a result of the firms actions. Copyright 2023 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE With a deadline rapidly approaching, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham might have more options than previously thought when it comes to a massive tax package that includes $500 rebates. But she still hadnt announced her decision as of Thursday the day before the deadline to act on bills passed during this years 60-day legislative session. Under the state Constitution, the governor can only partially veto spending bills. All other approved bills must be either signed or vetoed in their entirety. While this years tax package does not directly fund any state programs, it could be considered an appropriations bill since it contains the $500 per person rebates married couples filing jointly would get a $1,000 check for all state residents who filed 2021 tax returns. That means Lujan Grisham could veto certain parts of the bill, while signing the remaining provisions into law. But previous court rulings have established that governors cannot use their line-item veto authority to change numbers in a bill. The governor expressed concern this week about the $1.1 billion annual revenue reduction the tax package will incur once its fully phased in by 2027, saying it might lead to future spending cuts in New Mexico, which relies heavily on the oil and natural gas industries as a revenue source. Specifically, Lujan Grisham said she had doubts about whether the package would be sustainable if state revenue levels were to drop precipitously. On Thursday, former Senate Finance Committee Chairman John Arthur Smith, a Deming Democrat, and John Bingaman, a Santa Fe private equity firm executive who previously worked as the governors chief of staff, described the tax package as imprudent in a letter to the Journal. As the elected leader of New Mexico, Gov. Lujan Grisham has a responsibility to future generations of New Mexicans to veto this bill, Smith and Bingaman said in their letter. At the very least, it must be carved down to a more responsible size. In addition to the rebates, other provisions included in the tax bill, House Bill 547, include a phased-in reduction of the states gross receipts tax rate, an expanded child tax credit and changes to the states personal income tax system aimed at benefitting lower-income New Mexicans. Meanwhile, there is at least some precedent for governors partially vetoing tax-related bills. In 2010, for instance, then-Gov. Bill Richardson, vetoed the proposed reimposition of city and county gross receipts taxes on most food items from a bill increasing the states base tax rate. The food tax proposal had been dubbed a tortilla tax by opponents. Copyright 2023 Albuquerque Journal El Paso Electric christened a new, 120-megawatt solar facility on Wednesday in Otero County, making it the largest solar farm to date to come online in New Mexico. The facility, located near Chaparral in southern New Mexico, will supply enough electricity to power about 60,000 homes, according to EPE, which serves about 460,000 electricity customers in West Texas and southern New Mexico. It includes a back-up battery storage system that can supply 50 MW per hour of additional power for up to four hours after the sun goes down, according to renewable developer NextEra Energy Resources, which built the facility and will operate it for EPE over the next 30 years. The facility, dubbed the Buena Vista Energy Center, doubles the amount of solar generation now operating on EPEs grid from 107 MW previously to 207 MW now. Its the first of a number of newly-planned solar farms that EPE will inaugurate over the next three years as the company works to replace fossil fuels with renewable resources. That includes another 150 MW solar system expected to come online next year, followed by more facilities in 2025 to increase total solar generation to 700 MW or about 40% of EPEs total electric production according to company executives. EPEs transition to renewables began in 2016, when the company completely withdrew from coal-fired generation, said EPE President and CEO Kelly Tomblin. In 2016, we proudly took the step to generate electricity 100% coal-free, Tomblin said in a statement. In 2021, we made a bold commitment to our customers to transform the energy landscape by 2023 and that continues today. Under the states Energy Transition Act, New Mexicos three public utilities are required to transition their grids to 50% renewables by 2030, 80% by 2040, and 100% carbon-free generation by 2045. To meet those requirements, the utilities are planning a lot more solar generation, starting with some huge solar additions by Public Service Co. of New Mexico this year. PNM shut down the coal-fired San Juan Generating Station near Famington last summer, and it plans to replace that power with at least three solar facilities, beginning with a massive 300 MW plant in McKinley County that will come online in phases starting next month, said PNM Principal Generation Advisor Tom Fallgren. That facility, dubbed the Arroyo plant, includes a 150 MW per hour battery storage system that will become operational in May, Fallgren said. Then, the first 70 MW of solar generation will come online in June, followed by another 70 MW in August, and the remaining 160 MW in December. EPEs new solar facility is currently the largest single solar farm operating in New Mexico, Fallgren told the Journal. But over the coming months, well be installing a system thats more than three times that size. PNM will also bring a 50 MW solar plant with a 20 MW per hour battery storage system online between May and June in Rio Arriba County. And, to round out the San Juan replacement power, it will inaugurate another 200 MW system with 100 MW per hour battery backup in San Juan County in May 2024. PNM expected those facilities to begin operations last year, but pandemic-induced supply-chain problems and labor shortages significantly delayed deployment, Fallgren said. In fact, those problems led to cancellation of a fourth San Juan replacement project that would have added another 100 MW of solar generation. Separately, PNM plans to replace power it lost this year from the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station in Arizona with yet another massive, 300 MW solar plant with 300 MW per hour battery backup that will come online in mid-2024 on the West Mesa in Bernalillo County, Fallgren said. For now, EPEs Buena Vista Energy Center is the largest solar facility currently operating in New Mexico. NextEra Energy leased 2,700 acres of state trust land to accommodate the plant, which occupies about 1,200 acres. The lease will generate about $12 million in revenue for the State Land Office over the 30-year life of the facility, said Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard. New Mexico is blessed with amazing sun and wind resources, and we have a great opportunity before us to harness these resources and create new and steady streams of revenue for our public schools and other beneficiaries, Garcia Richard said in a statement. The Buena Vista project adds to this rapidly expanding footprint of renewable energy production on state lands and moves us one step forward to a clean energy future. JERUSALEM (AP) Palestinian assailants carried out a pair of attacks on Friday, killing three people and wounding at least six as tensions soared after days of fighting at Jerusalems most sensitive holy site, officials said. Earlier in the day, retaliatory Israeli airstrikes had hit Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, sparking fears of a broader conflict. Israeli authorities said an Italian tourist was killed and five other Italian and British citizens were wounded when a car rammed into a group of tourists in Tel Aviv, Israels commercial hub. In a separate incident, two British-Israeli women were shot to death near a settlement in the occupied West Bank. The spasm of violence in Israel and the West Bank heightened fears of an even more intense surge, with the rare convergence of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, the Jewish Passover holiday and Easter currently underway. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was calling up all reserve forces in Israels border police, a paramilitary force usually deployed to suppress Palestinian unrest, to confront the terror attacks. The additional border police would be activated Sunday and join other units that have recently been deployed in Jerusalem and Lod, a town in central Israel with a mixed Jewish and Palestinian population. Israel had unleashed rare airstrikes on Lebanon and bombarded the Gaza Strip on Friday morning, but later in the day there were signs that both sides were trying to keep the border hostilities in check. The fighting subsided after dawn, and midday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem a flashpoint for violence in recent days passed peacefully. The round of violence erupted after Israeli police raided the mosque earlier in the week, sparking unrest in the contested capital and outrage across the Arab world. Militants fired an unusually large rocket barrage at Israel from southern Lebanon on Thursday some of the heaviest and most serious cross-border violence since Israels 2006 war with Lebanons Hezbollah militants as well as from Gaza. In the Tel Aviv car-ramming late Friday, the alleged attacker rammed his vehicle into a group of civilians near a popular seaside park, police said. Israels rescue service said a 30-year-old Italian man was killed, while five other British and Italian tourists including a 74-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl were receiving medical treatment for mild to moderate injuries. Police said they shot and killed the driver of the car and identified him as a 45-year-old Palestinian citizen of Israel from the village of Kafr Qassem. A video circulating on social media showed the car hurtling along a sidewalk for several hundred yards (meters) before crashing out of control. Italian Premier Giorgia Melonis office expressed closeness to the family of the victim and solidarity with the Israel for the vile attack. She identified the man killed as Alessandro Parini from Rome. The shooting in the West Bank meanwhile killed the two sisters, who were in their 20s, and seriously wounded their 45-year-old mother near an Israeli settlement in the Jordan Valley, Israeli and British officials said. The family lived in the Efrat settlement, near the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, said Oded Revivi, the settlements mayor. Medics said they dragged the unconscious women from their smashed car, which appeared to have been pushed off the road. No groups claimed responsibility for either attack. But the Hamas militant group that rules Gaza praised both incidents as retaliation for Israeli raids earlier this week on the Al-Aqsa mosque the third-holiest site in Islam. On Tuesday, police arrested and beat hundreds of Palestinians there, who responded by hurling rocks and firecrackers at officers. Fridays airstrikes on neighboring Lebanon targeted Hamas militant sites, the Israeli military said, accusing the group of firing the nearly three dozen rockets that slammed into open areas and towns in northern Israel on Thursday. The bombardment seemed designed to avoid drawing in Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shiite group that Israel considers its most immediate threat. There were no reports of serious casualties from the airstrikes, but several people in the southern Lebanese town of Qalili, including Syrian refugees, said they were lightly wounded. I immediately gathered my wife and children and got them out of the house, said Qalili resident Bilal Suleiman, who was jolted awake by the bombing. A flock of sheep was killed when the Israeli missiles struck a field near the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh, according to an Associated Press photographer. Other airstrikes hit a bridge and a power transformer in nearby Maaliya, and damaged an irrigation system. In the Gaza Strip, Israels military pounded what it said were Hamas weapons production sites and underground tunnels. A childrens hospital in Gaza City was among sites sustaining damage, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. After the retaliatory strikes, Israelis living along the southern border returned home from bomb shelters. Most missiles that managed to cross into Israeli territory hit open areas, but one landed in the town of Sderot, sending shrapnel slicing into a house. There were no reports of casualties on either side of the southern border. The Israeli military said everyone wanted to avoid a full-blown conflict. Quiet will be answered with quiet, said spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht. A Qatari official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the emirate was mediating. Even as a fragile calm took hold along the Lebanese and Gaza borders, the West Bank remained volatile. Violence has surged to new heights there in recent months, with Palestinian health officials reporting the start of 2023 to be the most deadly for Palestinians in two decades. Nearly 90 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank since the start of the year, at least half of them affiliated with militant groups, according to an Associated Press tally. During that time, 17 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks on Israelis all but one of them civilians. Its just a matter of time, and not much time, until we settle the score, Netanyahu said as he toured the site of the deadly shooting in the West Bank with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. We acted in Lebanon, we acted in Gaza, we beefed up forces in the field. Al-Aqsa has long been a nexus of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the skirmishes between Palestinian worshippers and Israeli police at the holy compound this week spiraled into a regional confrontation. The mosque sits on a hilltop sacred to both Muslims and Jews. In 2021, an escalation triggered by clashes there spilled over into an 11-day war between Israel and Gazas Hamas rulers. Before dawn prayers Friday, chaos erupted at an entrance to the esplanade as Israeli police wielding batons descended on crowds of Palestinian worshippers who chanted slogans praising Hamas as they tried to squeeze into the site. Later, people leaving prayers staged a large protest on the limestone courtyard, raising their fists, shouting against Israel and waving Hamas flags. Israeli police said they forced their way into the compound in response to masked suspects who threw rocks toward officers at a gate. Israeli authorities control access to the area but the compound is administered by Islamic and Jordanian officials. The unrest comes at a delicate time for Jerusalems Old City, which was suffused with religious fervor and teeming with pilgrims from around the world. The Christian faithful retraced the route Jesus is said to have taken for Good Friday and Jews celebrated the weeklong Passover holiday, while Muslims prayed and fasted for Ramadan. ___ Associated Press writer Abby Sewell in Beirut, Jill Lawless in London, Frances DEmilio in Rome and Joseph Krauss in Ottawa, Canada, contributed to this report. Farmington police responding to an argument went to the wrong house Wednesday night and shot and killed the homeowner when he came to the door with a gun in his hand. New Mexico State Police spokesman Ray Wilson said officers mistakenly went to the home of 52-year-old Robert Dotson and killed him before shooting at his wife in a neighborhood near the Animas River. Wilson said Dotsons wife fired back at police from the doorway and officers shot at her but missed. Wilson added, Once she realized that the individuals outside the residence were officers, she put the gun down and complied with the officers commands. Shanice Gonzales, a spokeswoman for the Farmington Police Department, said three officers who were directly involved have been put on administrative leave. She would not say how many of those officers fired their weapons, give their names or say how long they had been with the department. Gonzales said the call police were initially to be responding to was for a verbal argument and nobody was injured or detained in that incident. She did not say how the address mix-up occurred. By Friday morning the incident had made national news and a Facebook video posted by Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe garnered hundreds of comments from those criticizing the officers, demanding Hebbes resignation and talking about what a good man Dotson, a father, was. In the video Hebbe said it was a very dark day for the department. What I will tell you, as the chief, is this is an extremely traumatic event and that I am just heartbroken by the circumstances surrounding this, he said. Mr. Dotson was not the subject of the call that our officers were responding to and this ending is just unbelievably tragic. I am extremely sorry that we are in this position. He added, There is nothing I can say that will make this better. Hebbe said the department would release videos and more information on the shooting within a week. Barron Jones, with the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico, said the public deserve to trust that calling a police officer will help make a situation safer not cause it to end in tragedy. It is deplorable that the Farmington Police Department not only failed to show up to the right house when someone called for help, but also fatally shot an innocent man in the process, he said. There needs to be an independent and thorough investigation of the incident, and the Farmington Police Department and the officers involved must be held accountable. Wilson, the State Police spokesman, said Farmington officers responded around 11:30 p.m. to a domestic violence incident at 5308 Valley View. He said officers mistakenly approached a house across the street, 5305 Valley View, knocked on the door and announced themselves as police. Wilson said there was no answer and police asked dispatchers to have the reporting party on the initial call come to the door. He said lapel footage showed as officers backed away Dotson opened the screen door with a gun. At this point in the encounter, officer(s) fired at least one round from their duty weapon(s) striking Mr. Dotson, Wilson said in a release. After the initial shooting, Mr. Dotsons wife, also armed with a handgun, fired from the doorway of the residence. Once again, officer(s) fired. He said when Dotsons wife realized it was police she put the gun down and obeyed officers commands. Wilson said Robert Dotson died at the scene and his wife, who was not injured, has not been charged with a crime. In the Facebook video, Hebbe said after Dotson came to the door what followed was a chaotic scene, with officers retreating and opening fire. He said the department has been looking over the facts to figure out what had happened and how it happened so fast. Numerous people commented on the video, calling Dotson a great guyand demanding punishment for the department. One man wrote, of Dotson, He had two kids in the home he was protecting. I hope they all are fired. Maybe even charged and the chief resigns. All he was doing was what anyone of us would do when someone knocks on our door at that time of night. Answering the door locked and loaded to protect our family. Im not one to bash our cops but this is just wrong, another wrote. A third commented, This shouldve never happened. Had these cops done what theyre supposed to do an innocent man wouldnt have been killed. These officers need to be fired and face charges. SANTA FE On her final day to sign bills passed during this years legislative session, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham used her veto pen Friday to gut a massive tax package shed described as bloated and fiscally unstable. Specifically, the Democratic governor struck from the bill a phased-in reduction of the tax New Mexico consumers pay on most goods and services, a 20% alcohol tax increase, an electric vehicle tax credit and changes to the states personal income tax system aimed at benefiting low-income residents. She left intact a $500 tax rebate married couples filing jointly will get a $1,000 check and an expanded child tax credit of up to $600 per child, along with changes to the states film incentive program, but stripped most of the other 20 or so provisions from the tax bill. In an executive message to lawmakers, Lujan Grisham said the bill contained many laudable tax reform measures, but said she had grave concerns about its future sustainability. Given the unpredictable nature of the economy and our states reliance on oil and gas revenues, I am not confident this package is fiscally responsible, she said in her message. She also said the provisions left in place would benefit working families and the states economy, describing them as necessary and beneficial. The sweeping vetoes irked some lawmakers and advocates who had pushed for the tax changes amid an unprecedented state revenue windfall. The Sierra Clubs Rio Grande Chapter specifically criticized the governors veto of tax credits for electric vehicles, geothermal development and energy storage, saying the proposals could have helped the state respond to climate change. Vetoing the only progress we made in this session is turning us around and moving us in the wrong direction, the Sierra Club chapter said in a statement. Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, who helped craft the tax package, called the vetoes disappointing, but said lawmakers would continue working to improve the states tax code. There were a lot of things in there that I believe are important to the state and its frustrating when those get taken away, Wirth told reporters Friday. But he suggested the Senate would not pursue a veto override on the tax package, which would require a two-thirds majority vote. The Democratic-controlled Legislature has not tried to override any of Lujan Grishams vetoes since she took office in 2019. Rep. Derrick Lente, D-Sandia Pueblo, the chairman of the House Taxation and Revenue Committee, said this years tax package was carefully crafted. It is disappointing that we will not be able to reduce the tax burden on local businesses, educators, veterans and everyday New Mexicans, or help our state improve access to rural health care and reach our climate goals, Lente said in a statement. Concern over cost The governor herself had previously advocated for some of the vetoed tax provisions, including the reduction in the gross receipts tax rate that would have gradually dropped the states base tax rate from 4.875% to 4.375% over a four-year period. But she expressed concern in the run-up to the bill-signing deadline that the packages recurring annual cost of $1.1 billion by 2027 when it would have been fully implemented could lead to future spending cuts. During a news conference Friday, Lujan Grisham said she would prefer more gradual changes to the tax code. I just want us to be more pragmatic, she said. I didnt think it was prudent to do it all at once. The governor also said the numbers werent quite right in the proposed alcohol tax increase that was pushed by backers as a way to decrease consumption in a state with the nations highest rate of alcohol-related fatalities. By trimming most of the tax changes from the bill, the recurring cost will drop to $150 million as of the 2024 budget year, according to the state Taxation and Revenue Department. It will then gradually increase to $246 million by 2027, primarily due to the changes to the film incentive program. Those figures do not include the tax rebates, which will be sent out starting in the next several weeks. The rebates will cost the state about $670 million in one-time funding and will be available to all taxpayers who filed 2021 tax returns. New Mexico adults who do not qualify for the tax rebates, either because they did not file tax returns or for another reason, will be able to apply for similarly sized financial relief payments under a separate $15 million appropriation. $9.6 billion budget The governor also signed off Friday on a $9.6 billion budget plan for the coming year that will boost state spending to record-high levels for the third consecutive year amid a revenue windfall. Among other provisions, the spending bill includes $100 million to bolster a law enforcement officer recruitment fund, another $100 million to set up two new funds for conservation programs and about $90 million to increase reimbursement rates for Medicaid providers. It also provides funding to give 6% pay raises to state employees and teachers, starting in July. But she vetoed about $21 million from the spending plan before signing it, while also striking some budget language that she said intruded into the executive branchs authority. The New Mexico revenue bonanza that allowed lawmakers to increase state spending and approve the tax package is primarily fueled by an uptick in consumer spending and surging oil production in the Permian Basin that recently made New Mexico the nations second-highest oil producer behind only Texas. Meanwhile, the governor also signed Friday a package of bills intended to expand access to health care in a state thats long struggled with a provider shortage. The measures include emergency legislation to revise New Mexicos medical malpractice law to ensure independent outpatient clinics can obtain the insurance they need to keep operating next year. Also approved were bills intended to help rural hospitals and address high prescription drug costs. During a news conference attended by doctors, hospital leaders and legislators, the governor thanked top-ranking Republican and Democratic lawmakers for overseeing negotiations that produced the medical malpractice compromise. Its a deal thats good for New Mexico, Lujan Grisham said. Senate Minority Leader Greg Baca, R-Belen, said the malpractice legislation is proof positive that we can get things done by working together. Journal Capitol Bureau reporter Dan McKay contributed to this report. A Santa Fe magistrate judge was suspended without pay Friday by the New Mexico Supreme Court pending the outcome of criminal charges stemming from a Feb. 26 crash on Interstate 25. Magistrate Judge Dev Atma Singh Khalsa was charged with driving while intoxicated and other charges after he was allegedly involved in a single-vehicle rollover crash on northbound I-25 near the St. Francis Drive exit, according to a petition filed by the Judicial Standards Commission. Santa Fe police arrested Khalsa on charges of DWI, driving on an expired license and careless driving, the petition said. Khalsas attorney, Briggs Cheney, did not immediately respond Friday to a request for comment. In a written response to the judicial inquiry, Khalsa said he has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges and denied that his actions were willful or violated the states judicial code. Khalsa acknowledged that he lost control of his vehicle and left the roadway, the response said. Khalsa also admitted his license had expired three days before the crash but since had been reinstated, it said. The commission on March 1 recommended Khalsas immediate temporary suspension pending the outcome of the criminal prosecution. Khalsa extracted himself from the vehicle after the rollover crash, the petition said. He was taken to a hospital but refused medical attention or a blood test, it said. Breezy Blue is just a homegrown baby bot from Albuquerque, but its autonomous disinfection capabilities could soon gain nationwide status through the national janitorial supply chain Pro-Link. Georgia-based Pro-Link announced a new partnership this week with Albuquerque-based Build with Robots to promote Breezy Blue among the commercial cleaning products and services it supplies through 100 distribution points around the country. That gives the Breezy Blue minibot a high-profile pathway into janitorial sanitation services via exclusive distributors that work with Pro-Link, said Build with Robots Business Development Representative Christian Slough. This essentially grows our sales force ten-fold through every distributor that works with us in states across the country, Slough told the Journal. Well be attending Pro-Links annual conference in North Carolina this month, which basically offers speed dating with all of Pro-Links distributors and suppliers. Thats the real kick-off for us. Thats a rapid ascent for the tiny bot, which Build with Robots officially unveiled at its Downtown headquarters in February to demonstrate Breezy Blues autonomous disinfection capabilities. The portable minibot, which sells for $2,500, allows users to place it in compact spaces in facilities or vehicles for near-immediate, continuous disinfection against a wide range of pathogens, including coronavirus. Its wired with smart technology for automated service, with LED lights and voice alerts when the bot initiates its disinfection routine, spraying a benign mix of such household chemicals as hydrogen peroxide to produce a light fog that settles over all nooks and crannies in enclosed spaces. Its already being used in school classrooms, buses, fire stations, and emergency vehicles in Arizona and New Mexico, including the vehicle fleet managed by Albuquerque Ambulance Service. For janitorial service companies, the minibot offers new technology to improve sanitation, save time and reduce labor costs in an industry thats seen little innovation, Slough said. In terms of technology, theres been real under-investment in this industry and theres a big push now to bring innovation in to get away from traditional ways of doing things, Slough said. Thats a central motivating factor for Pro-Link to partner with Build with Robots. They bring a new set of expertise to our members with their automation and fogging technology, Pro-Link Regional Manager Michael Kauffman said in a statement. Justin Ellis, sales manager for LD Supply a Pro-Link-connected wholesale cleaning supply company said Breezy Blue offers affordable technology to help modernize the janitorial-santitation, or Jan-San, industry. Breezy Blues durability and automation are helping us bring Jan-San into the future, as were always looking for cutting-edge products that solve common challenges for our clients in new and better ways, Ellis said. Build with Robots is a homegrown Albuquerque startup that launched in 2017. Its raised $6 million in local venture investment to date. The company previously developed a much larger, mobile disinfection robot that autonomously roams through large facilities such as the Albuquerque International Sunport. The partnership with Pro-Link now allows the company to expand into new markets, said Build with Robots founder and CEO Chris Ziomek. Its the next phase in building our company with a national footprint, Ziomek told the Journal. Were really excited. Instagram/Cover Images/Roger Wong Celebrity 'Love and Hip Hop: New York' alum Raqi Thunda takes to her social media account to publicly accuse the video vixen, who is now going by her real name Angela White, of paying her degree. Apr 7, 2023 AceShowbiz - One person casts doubt on Blac Chyna's doctorate degree. The former star of "Love & Hip Hop: New York" Raqi Thunda took to her social media account to publicly accuse the video vixen, who is now going by her real name Angela White, of paying her degree. Raqi wrote in an Instagram comment, "It needs to be clear and noted how much she paid and if she can even recite the books of the Bible off the top of her head. That's all." She went on to say, "Not to mention it's Liberal Arts not Liberate. But yeah Hallelujah Karma misses no one." Upon catching wind of the allegations, fans were quick to slam Raqi and defend Angela. "Baby college aint free we all paid for our degree," one fan wrote. "This girl comes from where she comes from (aka her mama), trying to change her life and share a personal success, and yall just cant help but to pull it apart and be negative. Why do you even care?? Sis if you that concerned go buy you one too," someone else added. "Its really crazy how people literally rise up from the dead (cause I aint seen this lady since she was arguing with Tahiry) just to tear people down. Get a life blog lady," another critic said. Another comment read, "Girl sit down Why hate on another black women getting her degree?" Angela announced her milestone in an Instagram post on Monday, April 3. The 34-year-old shared on Instagram a picture of herself proudly displaying her diploma. In the background, she put a sweet picture of her two children, 10-year-old son King shared with ex Tyga as well as 6-year-old daughter Dream Kardashian, whom she shares with her former fiance Rob Kardashian. In the caption, Chyna wrote, "On January 17, 2023 I got my Doctorate of Liberal Arts from Sacramento Theological Seminary and Bible College." She added, "Doctor Angela Renee White." You can share this post! Hollywood Pictures/Universal Pictures Movie John Leguizamo who played Luigi in the 1993 live-action 'Super Mario Bros.' refuses to watch the Chris Pratt-fronted new take due to lack of 'inclusion' in the casting. Apr 7, 2023 AceShowbiz - John Leguizamo is not interested in watching "The Super Mario Bros. Movie". The 62-year-old actor portrayed Luigi in the panned 1993 live-action film "Super Mario Bros." and revealed that he won't be seeing the new animated flick due to a lack of "inclusion" in the casting. Chris Pratt and Charlie Day take on the roles of Mario and Luigi respectively but the decision not to put Latin actors in the roles has been criticised by Leguizamo. "Hell no! No I will not (be watching). They could've included a Latin character," the Colombian-born actor told TMZ when asked if he plans to see the movie. "Like I was groundbreaking and then they stopped the groundbreaking. They messed up the inclusion. They dis-included. Just cast some Latin folk! We're 20 per cent of the population. The largest people of colour group and we are underrepresented." It is not the first time that John has criticised the movie as he described it as a "backwards" step to have two white actors voicing Mario and Luigi last year. The "Carlito's Way" star told IndieWire, "I'm O.G. A lot of people love the original." "I did Comic-Con in New York and in Baltimore, and everyone's like, 'No, no, we love the old one, the original.' They're not feeling the new one. I'm not bitter. It's unfortunate. The directors Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton fought really hard for me to be the lead because I was a Latin man, and they (the studio) didn't want me to be the lead. They fought really hard, and it was such a breakthrough. For them to go backwards and not cast another (actor of colour) kind of sucks." You can share this post! Movie The 'Harry Potter' actor is set to share screen with Julianne Moore and Sydney Sweeney in the upcoming feature film which will be directed by BAFTA-winning filmmaker Michael Pearce. Apr 8, 2023 AceShowbiz - Domhnall Gleeson has been tapped in "Echo Valley". The 39-year-old actor will join forces with Julianne Moore and Sydney Sweeney in the Apple Original Films project that is being directed by BAFTA-winning filmmaker Michael Pearce. The screenplay is written by Brad Ingelsby who will also produce the movie with Sir Ridley Scott, Michael Pruss, and Kevin Walsh. Moore will play Kate Garretson, who spends her days training horses at the secluded Echo Valley Farm in Pennsylvania as she reels from a personal tragedy. Late one night, her wayward daughter Claire (Sweeney) turns up at her doorstep, frightened and covered in someone else's blood. Gleeson has been cast as a local criminal who forces himself into Kate's life and disturbs her tranquil existence by spilling secrets about her family. The Irish actor previously featured in the "Star Wars" sequel trilogy as the antagonist General Hux and says that being involved in the iconic sci-fi franchise was a "ridiculous privilege." Speaking at the premiere of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" in 2019, Domhnall said, "It's a ridiculous privilege to be a part of something that means something to so many people. I think you want to try and do that all the time, and it doesn't work out nearly all the time, and when it does, it feels really special." Domhnall was a fan of "Star Wars" before taking the part but explained that acting in the films and seeing the premieres on a "big screen" was a "bigger deal" for him than the first time he had experienced the franchise. When asked if he was a fan growing up, the "Harry Potter" actor said, "Yeah. I'd seen them all, but honestly what changed it for me was seeing it on a big screen. So that was kind of ... that was a bigger deal for me than the first time around." You can share this post! The wait is over, my dear friend! The long weekend has finally arrived, bringing with it a much-needed opportunity to take a break from the daily grind and indulge in some much-needed self-care. Whether you crave the thrill of an action-packed film or the captivating allure of a heartwarming series, this is your chance to escape into a world of drama and excitement. Make the most of your long weekend with some exciting and engaging shows on OTT platforms. Whether you're looking for a solo escape or some quality time with loved ones or embark on a soul-stirring journey, we've got you covered with our top picks of binge-worthy content. So, sit back, relax, and get ready to be entertained! Jubilee Jubilee, the much-anticipated series of Prime Video, is a visual treat for fans of period dramas. Set in the Golden Age of Indian cinema, the show offers a glimpse into the world of the Bombay film industry of the '40s and '50s. The series features an ensemble cast including Prosenjit Chatterjee, Aditi Rao Hydari, Aparshakti Khurrana and Ram Kapoor, and tells a poetic story of passion, ambition and dreams. Created by acclaimed filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane, Jubilee is a must-watch for anyone who loves historical dramas and is looking for something fresh and exciting to binge-watch during the long weekend. Gaslight: Gaslight is a spine-tingling thriller that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat this long weekend. Directed by Pawan Kripalani, this Disney+Hotstar series follows a young woman who returns to her family's estate after 15 years only to find her father missing. As she tries to unravel the mystery, she is plagued by haunting visions that leave her questioning whether her father is dead or alive. Starring Sara Ali Khan, Chitrangada Singh, and Vikrant Massey, Gaslight is a must-watch for fans of suspense and mystery. Rna: Dhruv's fall from grace shocked the Bravery Team, leaving them with no explanation. But for Dhruv, it was a devastating blow after years of hard work. He refused to give up on his dreams, trained harder than before, and found a new sense of purpose in helping others. Dhruv emerged as a true leader within the team, inspiring his fellow heroes and forging new alliances. Follow Dhruv's journey in Super Yoddha, a thrilling sci-fi adventure on Pocket FM. Rana Naidu: Netflix's Rana Naidu is an intense and thrilling Indian adaptation of the popular American series, Ray Donovan. With Rana Daggubati as the lead character, this show follows the life of a well-known fixer who has the solution to every problem a celebrity might face. But when his father (played by Venkatesh) is released from prison, Rana's world turns upside down. With Ashish Vidyarthi, Priya Banerjee, Abhishek Banerjee, Gaurav Chopra, and Sushant Singh in supporting roles, the series promises to be a rollercoaster of action and drama. So, if you're looking for an exciting series to binge-watch this long weekend, Rana Naidu is definitely worth your time. Taj: Divided by Blood: Set in the Mughal era, Taj: Divided by Blood is a historical drama that offers a riveting glimpse into the politics, lust, betrayals and corruption in the vast empire. As Emperor Akbar tries to find a worthy successor to the Mughal throne, his children turn against each other, sparking a war that threatens to destroy the empire. Directed by Vibhu Puri and starring a stellar cast including Aditi Rao Hydari, Naseeruddin Shah, Rahul Bose, Dharmendra, Sandhya Mridul and Aashim Gulati, Taj: Divided by Blood is an epic saga that is sure to keep you hooked this long weekend. Catch it now on ZEE5! The Lady in Dignity 'The Lady in Dignity' is a Korean drama that follows the lives of two women, Woo-A-Jin and Park Bok Ja, with conflicting views. Woo-A Jin is a dutiful daughter-in-law living a luxurious life in the midst of a wealthy yet dysfunctional family. However, her world turns upside down when she hires a new caretaker, Park Bok-Ja, who seduces her ailing father-in-law and becomes his wife, leaving the family in disbelief. The drama delves deep into the intricacies of the societal class system and exposes the hypocrisy of the supposedly elegant upper class. It is a captivating tale of power, manipulation, and betrayal that showcases how seemingly perfect lives can unravel and how one's status can be both a blessing and a curse. The Lady in Dignity is now streaming on MX Player. Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh is a captivating story that revolves around Anika, an 18-year-old who returns to Manali with her daughter after six years of absence. Anika is met with a mixed reception from the people who once disapproved of her, but now want her back in their lives. As she tries to settle into her new life, Anika is haunted by a secret she has been keeping for years, one that involves the father of her children and the search for her other twin child. With its intriguing plot and relatable characters, Pocket FM's Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh is a must-listen audio series for this long weekend. Google will launch conversational Artificial Intelligence features to its flagship search engine, The Wall Street Journal has reported, quoting Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai. This is a significant development amid the growing dominance from the likes of ChatGPT. In an interview with WSJ, Pichai sought to dispel the widespread notion that chatbots are posing a threat to Googles search business. Pichai said that people will be able to ask questions to Google and engage with LLMs in the context of search. For long Google has remained a leader in coming up with computer programmes called LLMs (large language models), which is capable of processing and responding to natural-language prompts in a human-like manner. But the search giant is yet to use the technology to influence the way people use search. For a long time, Google has deployed AI to process complex search queries. However, the arrival of ChatGPT in November has triggered a never-seen-before competition to integrate the AI technology into consumer products. Search rival Microsoft Corp. has already adopted the AI technology in its Bing search engine. And Pichai has to act fast as its search engine business model is facing a threat like never before. Investor pressure is mounting. Alphabet, in Januarys, announced that it would cut about 12,000 jobs. Recently Google CFO Ruth Porat warned that more spending cuts are in the offing. Shipyaari, is Indias fastest-growing provider of SaaS-based supply chain solutions, headquartered in Mumbai, onboarded Manish Bhardwaj as the new National Sales Director. In his new position, Manish will oversee the development and execution of Shipyaari's customer acquisition strategy along with driving India expansion and identifying new business opportunities to drive revenue growth. Manish comes with a strong logistics background, he has worked in different capacities and supply chain roles for prominent companies such as Amazon, FedEx, DHL and MyPACCO. Prior to joining Shipyaari, Manish also made his entrepreneurial debut as a Co-Founder with Preet's Candyceuticals and launched Emme, India's First Period Chocolate for menstrual pain relief. Welcoming Manish to the team Rahul Karwa, Chief Transformation Officer, Shipyaari, said, " We are excited to have Manish on board as our National Sales Director. The depth and width of his logistics experience in varied environments and in different avatars made him an easy choice for us to drive our sales agenda. His experience with carrier brands like DHL and FedEx brings along a lot of domain authority. His Amazon experience adds a much-needed operational understanding of the e-commerce ecosystem. His latest stint at a D2C brand set-up completed the loop that started with domain expertise and closed with customer empathy. We have ambitious growth plans for the next 18-24 months. Having someone like Manish as my co-pilot gives me a tremendous amount of confidence to go full throttle. Exciting times ahead! "I am thrilled to be a part of this exciting growth plan and to join this dynamic team at Shipyaari. I am looking forward to contributing my expertise and experience to help drive the company's success. With a strong focus on customer satisfaction and sales growth, I am confident that we will achieve our ambitious goals and exceed expectations. I am excited to be a part of this journey and can't wait to see what we can achieve together" said Manish Bhardwaj, National Sales Director, Shipyaari. Manish has a postgraduate degree in international business, trade, and commerce from NMIMS, Mumbai, and a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Rajasthan. As Shipyaari celebrates its 10th anniversary and enters a new phase of growth, the appointment of Manish Bhardwaj as its new national sales director marks an important step towards advancing the company's sales and growth strategies, as well as meeting the logistical needs of businesses across India. A young Sikh who spent most of his life in a foreign land all of a sudden returns to India and hits the headlines for the wrong reason. Since the government changed in Punjab, many such separatist elements have become active in the state. Amritpal Singh Sandhu, a radical, self-styled Indian Khalistani separatist activist from Punjab, heads an organization called Waris Panjab De. This is a Sikh separatist movement seeking to create a homeland for Sikhs by establishing a sovereign state, called Khalistan (the Land of the Khalsa), in the Punjab region. He has been recently appointed as the head of Waris Punjab De, an organization founded by Deep Sidhu, an actor and activist who died in a road accident in February last year. Amritpal Singh is also a Sikh preacher. Singh has since invoked the teachings of slain militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, with renewed calls for the freedom of Punjab and the creation of Khalistan. He gained a cult-like following in Punjab due to his radical views. It is important to note that Amritpal Singh Sandhu has been arrested and detained by the police on multiple occasions for his alleged involvement in promoting Khalistani ideology and activities. But he is not deterred. He has also been accused of making provocative statements and promoting separatism. Some reports suggest that he and his organization have been involved in violent clashes with other groups in Punjab. His arrest has sparked controversy and discussion about the Khalistan movement and the use of violence in advocating for political goals. Additionally, his arrest has implications for national security and has raised concerns about the spread of extremist ideologies.The news of his detention and the subsequent developments in the case have been widely covered by the media and have generated a lot of interest among the public.The exact reason for his arrest may vary depending on the specific instance. In one recent case, he was detained by the Punjab Police on March 18, 2023, after a major search operation. It is not entirely clear what specific charges were brought against him in this instance, but they are believed to be related to his alleged involvement in promoting and supporting Khalistani causes. Additionally, Daljeet Singh Kalsi, an alleged advisor and financier of Amritpal Singh, was arrested by authorities in another recent case, suggesting that the authorities are cracking down on individuals associated with this movement. Disquiet against Amritpal Singh and his activities has been growing, and recently, hundreds of his supporters stormed a police station in the northern Indian state. Ultimately, whether to support or accuse Amrit Pal Singh Sandhu is a matter of personal judgment based on a deep understanding of the specific situation and the various factors at play. Khalistan is a foreign-funded agenda, and Amritpal is probably on their payroll just like the Kashmiri separatists were funded by ISI. After Article 370 was lifted, the Kashmiri Separatist Movement also died, which clearly reveals their link with the ISI, as funding the separatists after the lifting of 370 became a useless activity and was stopped. Now the question is: why is the ISI funding Khalistan when they can fund Islamic terrorists who are closer to the ISI agenda? Let us note that Amritpal has been in the news for the last month or so, and before that, nobody even bothered to gather any news about him. Pakistans economy has been spiraling downward since the last few months, which is no secret, and the big Pakistani crash has been well publicized by not only the media of India but also by the Pakistani media themselves. As long as Pakistan is in the business of supplying terrorist action in exchange for money, there have always been countries willing to fund Pakistan for carrying out cross-border terror as per their motive. In such a financial mess of a condition, if Pakistan sends out Islamic terrorists as they normally do, they will attract blatant international attention and get criticized globally, which clearly Pakistan cannot afford. They cant risk the international community commenting: Oh, these people have a begging bowl in hand and still want to send out terrorists. There are still countries that are willing to fund Pakistans terrorism. Pakistan is specialized in fighting proxy wars with terrorism but cannot send Islamic terrorists in the current situation without risking international criticism. So now ISI, using the received funding, has activated the Khalistanis to fight proxy wars instead, and no one can point fingers at Pakistan for doing so. That is why Khalistanis dont demand Lahore or any Pak-occupied Punjab territory, though that is what they should be demanding. Sikhs have lived well in India overall, but Islamists have treated them badly over the ages, and they have faced persecution from Islamic invaders just as Hindus have too. Is the torture and martyrdom of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj any different from the torture meted out to Sikh martyrs Guru Tegh Bahadur and Baba Banda Bahadur, who were all inhumanely tortured and killed by the Mughal invaders? It is unpalatable that the Khalistan movement be funded by the ISI, which espouses the very cause that the said Hindu and Sikh martyrs have opposed. In India, whether it is Om or whether it is Ek Omkar, all are ours, and the liberation of Sikhs from Pak-occupied Punjab and Taliban-infested Afghanistan is more important. When Amritpal Singh arrived in India, he was a baptized Sikh and started dressing like Bhindranwale. Like Bhindranwale, he started moving with a band of armed followers to soon gain the moniker Bhindranwale 2 during his Dubai stay. Amritpal Singh also has links with SFJ and has even campaigned for the latters activities on social media, he added, identifying Khalistani activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun as a close contact for Amritpal. Pannun has been designated a terrorist by the Indian government under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Agencies have also found that Amritpal Singh was running a drug smuggling network in India, aided by known linkages in the ISIPakistans spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligenceand was creating a private militia in drug de-addiction centers in Punjab, where weapons procured from Pakistan were being stockpiled. As part of the conspiracy to revive militancy, Singh and his AKF were not only defying government orders on open display of weapons but were actively misleading the youth towards a gun culture. A 59-year-old Alabama woman has been sentenced to federal prison after authorities say she stole nearly $90,000 from her church. Carmen Ramer Davis, of Opp, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to eight counts of wire fraud, according to a Friday announcement by Middle District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Sandra Stewart. The judge also ordered Davis to serve one year of supervised release once her prison term is complete. Davis in 2006, according to court records and testimony, was appointed by the Brooklyn Congregational Methodist Church in Coffee County to serve as its secretary. As the church secretary, Davis had authority to pay bills and expenses incurred by the church and had access to the churchs bank accounts. She eventually obtained a debit card associated with the churchs bank account without the churchs knowledge. Authorities said Davis began using the card to make fraudulent cash withdrawals at ATMs and to purchase personal items at various retailers. She also fraudulently wrote checks from the churchs bank account to herself or made them out to cash. Davis did not make the withdrawals and purchases with the knowledge or consent of the church, nor were they for the churchs benefit. Evidence gathered during the investigation indicated that Davis used some of the illicit proceeds for trips to casinos in Mississippi and Alabama. The fraudulent activity was not discovered until August 2019, when a church leader received a letter from the churchs bank indicating there were insufficient funds to cover a $75 check written against the churchs account. During Fridays sentencing hearing for Davis, the judge determined that from July 2008 until July 2019, Davis defrauded the church of $89,440.32. The judge ordered Davis to pay restitution to the church in that amount. Soon after the church leaders discovered Daviss fraud, the Brooklyn Congregational Methodist Church closed due to financial hardship and has not reopened. The crimes committed by Ms. Davis victimized an entire faith community, Stewart said. The harm will continue to be felt for quite some time. I am hopeful that the sentence imposed will deter others from engaging in such deceitful conduct. The FBI and the Coffee County Sheriffs Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Feil prosecuted. The actions of the defendant significantly damaged not only the church, but also the community at large, stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. I am proud of the work by the FBI and U.S. Attorneys office to hold Davis accountable for her actions and work toward repairing the publics trust. Alabama is set to spend close to $1 billion on a new prison near Montgomery and is planning to spend at least $600 million more to build a second mega prison by 2026. But the new construction likely wont end the states legal problems with overcrowding. There were nearly 19,000 male inmates in Alabama correctional facilities as of January, in buildings designed to house just 11,000. That means the states prisons are operating at 168% of capacity, with one of the highest incarceration rates in the entire world. Alabama's prisons were operating at 168% of their designed capacity as of January 2023. | Graphic by Ramsey Archibald As the two new mens mega prisons open, the Alabama Department of Corrections will close four older, overcrowded prisons and move those inmates to the new buildings. After all of the shuffling of inmates and staff, Alabama will wind up with more prison space overall. However, unless the number of inmates drops suddenly, the state system will still be well over capacity. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Alabama in 2020 over what they called overcrowded and dangerous conditions. The Justice Department cited failure to protect prisoners from inmate-on-inmate violence and sexual abuse, failure to protect them from excessive force by staff, and failure to provide safe conditions of confinement. The Legislature and Gov. Kay Ivey agreed on the plan in October 2021 to build two new mens prisons, one in Elmore County and a second in Escambia County. Each new prison is designed to house 4,000 inmates. Despite the plan, Alabama remains on track to face trial against the U.S. Department of Justice next year. In the federal governments 2019 letter to the state, the Department of Justice said that building new prisons wouldnt solve Alabamas prison crisis. While new facilities might cure some of these physical plant issues, it is important to note that new facilities alone will not resolve the contributing factors to the overall unconstitutional condition of ADOC prisons, such as understaffing, culture, management deficiencies, corruption, policies, training, non-existent investigations, violence, illicit drugs, and sexual abuse. And new facilities would quickly fall into a state of disrepair if prisoners are unsupervised and largely left to their own devices, as is currently the case, said the letter. Alison Molman, ACLU of Alabamas senior counsel, said a mega redesign isnt the solution to Alabamas prison woes. The DOJ couldnt have been more explicit when they told Alabama this wouldnt be proceeding towards a trial if Alabamas new prisons were enough, she said. Once the new mens prisons are opened, Kilby, Staton, Elmore and eventually St. Clair Correctional Facilities will all close, according to legislation. Those four prisons were designed to hold a total of around 2,500 inmates. Designed capacity of the new prisons is roughly 4,000 each, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections, which means the plan will result in a net increase in designed capacity of roughly 5,500 for the state. But that would bring the designed capacity of all mens prisons in the state to just 16,691. The system already housed 18,839 prisoners this January. [Cant see the chart? Click here.] If the new prisons opened today, the current numbers would mean an occupancy rate of 113%. Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm said recently that the expectation is that once the new prisons are completed and older ones are closed, there wont be any net gain in the number of prisoners that can be housed. He said that could change depending on projections of the prison population and decisions made by a repurposing committee that is studying options for the use of some of the states older prisons. But, he said, the new prison designs will allow better management of the inmate population than the existing prisons, which mostly hold inmates in large dorms that have housed as many as several hundred in a single room. The new prisons will have more individual cells. Just in round numbers, we have about 80 percent dorms now, 20 percent cells, Hamm said. Were going to have about 70 percent cells and 30 percent dorms. So it will be a little bit easier to control. But, Molman isnt convinced. Converting to cells is not going to make anything safer, said Molman. Its a misconception that cells are going to make everything safer. Nearly all of Alabamas mens prisons are overcrowded, including the four that are set to close under the states plan. Both Staton and Kilby have close to three times as many prisoners as they were built to hold, and the four closing prisons together held nearly 5,000 prisoners as of January, the last month for which data was available. Alabama has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world. According to data from the Prison Policy Institute, Alabama has the sixth highest incarceration rate in the United States, which itself has by far the highest rate of any nation. If Alabama were its own country, its incarceration rate would be roughly 1.7 times higher than El Salvadore, the next closest country outside the U.S. [Cant see the chart? Click here.] Molman said for cells to be effective in the way the state envisions, there must be working locks-- something the DOJ cited several times in its lawsuit as a problem in Alabama prisons. And if prisoners are locked in cells, Molman said, the matchups in roommates could be fatal. Unless ADOC is going to make drastic changes to how they make housing assignments, they will be just as deadly as the prisons we have now. She said that Alabama has an external classification system to determine which prison someone should be housed in. But once someone gets there, the department doesnt use an internal classification systemmeaning an elderly inmate without a history of violence can be housed with a young, violent prisoner. New prisons arent enough to change the culture of violence within Alabamas prisons, Molman said. She pointed to Alabamas documented lack of staffing inside correctional facilities. One of the problems with Alabamas prisons is the lack of staffing. Cells are blind spots when you dont have adequate staffing, youre actually creating more dangerous environments. She described issues at St. Clair Correctional Facility, a prison that is designed with more cell space than dorms. Several years ago, she said, an inmate had a heart attack inside his cell; although the rest of the inmates were yelling for help, there were no guards nearby. When they finally came to check the cause of the commotion, the man was dead. Molman said that often when prisoners are in medical distress, other inmates are left to care for them. Videos posted across social media platforms like TikTok show men in Alabamas prisons caring for their dormmates during overdoses without any prison staffers in sight. Other times, Molman said, inmates are the ones carrying their fellow prisoners to the infirmary in cases of emergencies. She said Molman said incidents like these show how dangerous cells can be, if the persons locked inside cant get help. Ive heard them described as death traps. She pointed back to staffing as a primary issue with the system, another area the DOJ focused on when it sued the state. Hamm recently announced salary increases for correctional officers as a hiring incentive. The issue with DOC is not the paythe issue is culture, Molman said. People dont feel like they have the support they need in these prisons. People dont feel empowered to do their jobs and follow the rules because they dont have the support they need. Molman said the state continues to say the new construction will assuage the DOJ, but she doesnt think that will happen. The new prisons will be unconstitutional if changes to the culture arent made. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said Friday he was not required to disclose the many trips he and his wife took that were paid for by Republican megadonor Harlan Crow. Describing Crow and his wife, Kathy, as among our dearest friends, Thomas said in a statement that he was advised by colleagues on the nations highest court and others in the federal judiciary that this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable. Thomas did not name the other justices or those in the judiciary with whom he had consulted. The nonprofit investigative journalism organization ProPublica reported Thursday that Thomas, who has been a justice for more than 31 years, has for more than two decades accepted luxury trips from Crow nearly every year. Thomas, 74, and his wife, Virginia, have traveled on Crows yacht and private jet as well as stayed at his private resort in New Yorks Adirondack Mountains, ProPublica reported. A 2019 trip to Indonesia the story detailed could have cost more than $500,000 had Thomas chartered the plane and yacht himself. Supreme Court justices, like other federal judges, are required to file an annual financial disclosure report which asks them to list gifts they have received, but provides exemptions for hospitality from friends. Ethics experts have offered conflicting views about whether Thomas was required to disclose the trips. Last month, the federal judiciary bolstered disclosure requirements for all judges, including the high court justices, although overnight stays at personal vacation homes owned by friends remain exempt from disclosure. New York University law professor Stephen Gillers, an authority on legal ethics, said Thomas statement is an abdication of his responsibility under ethics guidelines. Thomas is shamelessly seeking to shift the blame for his failure to report Crows princely hospitality to advice he allegedly received from other Justices when he joined the court more than 30 years ago. Most of them are now dead and, conveniently, cannot contradict him, Gillers wrote in an email. Charles Geyh, a law professor at Indiana University who studies judicial ethics, wrote in an email that he doubts any justice would have advised Thomas against disclosure if he had laid out the details in ProPublicas report, hundreds of thousands of dollars in luxurious travel and accommodations at exotic locales spanning decades, from a benefactor who has a deeply rooted partisan and ideological interest in the future of the Court on which the justice sits. University of Pittsburgh ethics expert Arthur Hellman said that even if Thomas could reasonably have believed he did not have to report Crows gifts, he still should have. It would have been preferable in the sense of public confidence in the courts if he had disclosed, Hellman said. Thomas, the longest-serving member of the court, said he has always tried to comply with disclosure guidelines. Regarding the recent changes, It is, of course, my intent to follow this guidance in the future, he said in the statement. The new reporting requirements appear to cover almost all the travel and lodging Crow provided, Hellman said. The mere need to disclose could make judges more reluctant to accept the gifts in the first place, he said. If I had to predict, Id say Justice Thomas will be seeing less of Harlan Crows luxurious properties, Hellman said. Democratic lawmakers said the ProPublica story was the latest illustration of why the Supreme Court should adopt an ethics code and further tighten the rules on travel and other gifts. It is by no means clear that the justices will agree to subject themselves to an ethics code or that Congress will seek to impose one on the court. Thomas did not refer to any individual trips paid for by Crow. But he said, As friends do, we have joined them on a number of family trips during the more than quarter century we have known them. Last year, questions about Thomas ethics arose when it was disclosed that he did not step away from election cases following the 2020 election despite the fact that his wife, a conservative activist, reached out to lawmakers and the Trump White House to urge defiance of the election results. A healthcare company that runs six hospitals in Alabama announced Thursday that patient and other information may have been disclosed during a cybersecurity incident in January. Among the personal information possibly disclosed includes full names, addresses, medical billing and insurance information, medical information like diagnoses and medication and demographic information such as dates of birth and Social Security numbers, according to Community Health Systems, Inc. The company, whose hospitals in the state include Grandview Medical Center in Birmingham and Crestwood Medical Center in Huntsville, said the cybersecurity firm it contracts with to provide secure file transfer software became aware of the incident on the night of Jan. 30. The actual incident occurred sometime between Jan. 28 and Jan. 30, CHS said. Fortra, the cybersecurity firm, took down impacted systems offline on Jan. 31. CHS was told of the incident on Feb. 2, the company said, and the healthcare provider began its own investigation. The healthcare companys investigation so far has determined that personal information on patients, a limited number of employees, and other individuals may have been disclosed to the unauthorized party as a result of the Fortra incident, CHS said. CHS said it would provide identity restoration and credit monitoring services for free for two years among those that request it. Those wishing to enroll in those services or those with questions on the incident were asked to call 1-800-906-7947. That number is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The deadline to enroll in the services is June 30. The full list of hospitals operated by CHS are: Crestwood Medical Center - Huntsville Flowers Hospital - Dothan Gadsden Regional Medical Center - Gadsden Grandview Medical Center - Birmingham, Alabama Medical Center Enterprise - Enterprise South Baldwin Regional Medical Center - Foley Rapper Coolio died in September due to the effects of fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine, the Los Angeles medical examiner determined Thursday. The Grammy-winning Gangstas Paradise rapper, whose real name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr., died Sept. 28, 2022. He was 59. According to information in the coroner database on Thursday, cardiomyopathy, asthma and recent PCP use also factored into the musicians death. Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body, according to the Mayo Clinic. His death was ruled an accident. In September, Coolios representative Jarez Posey told TMZ that the musician was found unresponsive on the bathroom floor at a friends house. He suspected cardiac arrest was to blame. Posey told the website Thursday that fentanyl was found to have killed the rapper, who also had traces of heroin and methamphetamine in his system. We are saddened by the loss of our dear friend and client, Coolios manager Sheila Finegan announced in September. He touched the world with the gift of his talent and will be missed profoundly. Shortly after news of the rappers death spread, fellow musicians and Hollywood stars paid tribute on social media. RIP Coolio, tweeted Weird Al Yankovic. In 1996, he parodied the rappers biggest hit with Amish Paradise. Dangerous Minds star Michelle Pfeiffer honored the gift artist in an Instagram video. A life cut entirely too short, Pfeiffer captioned an Instagram video. As some of you may know I was lucky enough to work with him on Dangerous Minds in 1995. He won a Grammy for his brilliant song on the soundtrack which I think was the reason our film saw so much success. The rappers family will honor his legacy through documentaries and film, TMZ said Thursday. Coolio was cremated. He is survived by 10 children. He was married only once to radio personality Josefa Salinas, who died in November. 2023 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene laced into Mayor Eric Adams and condemned New York City as repulsive and crime-ridden following her brief visit to Manhattan this week to protest former President Donald Trumps arraignment. Greene, a far-right Georgia Republican and purveyor of wild conspiracy theories, said on Tucker Carlsons Fox News program Wednesday that the city is disgusting and that its streets are filled with people basically dying on drugs they cant even stand up. Theres so much crime in the city, she said. It smells bad. I think its a terrible place. A spokesman for Adams, Fabien Levy, issued a brief statement Thursday: Is Marjorie Taylor Greene referring to the hate speech she spews day after day? Greene, a close ally of Trump with a flair for falsehoods, has asserted that the Democratic Party is driven by pedophiles, that former President Barack Obama is secretly a Muslim and that Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, the former Democratic House speaker, is guilty of treason. Greenes galling comments about New York came one day after she was drowned out and jeered at a rally in lower Manhattan near the courthouse that hosted Trumps historic arraignment, and two days after Adams publicly admonished her to stay on her best behavior during her visit. New York Citys our home not a playground for your misplaced anger, Adams, a Democrat, said at a Monday news conference. Carlson teed up Greenes rant by asking her about Adams comments. How did his home look? Carlson asked. Pretty neat and tidy? I cant comprehend how people live there, she said in her harangue. Earlier in the segment, Greene said Adams had threatened her before her visit and claimed New Yorkers did not want her to be able to exercise her First Amendment rights. They wanted violence, she claimed, though there was no significant violence in connection with the former presidents circus-like arraignment. Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, a Democrat, described Greenes commentary as bizarre. He said the congresswoman is angry that her political patron is facing justice, and shes even angrier that she couldnt have her protest. This is not a serious person making a serious policy critique, Levine said of Greenes invocation of crime. Shes not making fact-based arguments. In fact, New York City remains the safest big city in America. Georgias violent crime rate was higher than New York States in 2020, according to FBI figures, though the data is incomplete. In New York City, crime rates climbed across the pandemic, but have started to drop this year, according to Police Department data. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the progressive Bronx-Queens Democratic firebrand, wrote on Twitter that Greene sounded like a petty HOA complaint, referring to private homeowners associations. If anyone went on TV and talked about a rural area like this, itd be gloves off and deservedly so. This is no different, Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. If she doesnt like the greatest city in the United States, thats her problem. 2023 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Two Florida girls reported missing Thursday are reported safe after turning themselves in to police in Bayou La Batre, WGFL in Gainesville has reported. The girls, 12 and 14, left the Lake Butler, Fla., area north of Gainesville after one stole her fathers Ford Taurus and then picked up Larsen. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) sent out a missing child alert Thursday morning. The two girls drove from Lake Butler to Alabama before turning themselves in to Bayou La Batre police after seeing themselves on a television broadcast while in a store. The FDLE believes the girls were headed to the Baton Rouge, La., area to meet someone they met online. The FBI is investigating the unknown person the girls were reportedly going to meet, according to the report. Fire swept through a Birmingham home late Thursday night, leaving a man dead.. Firefighters were dispatched about 11:20 p.m. to a report of a blaze with a person trapped at 4904 Seventh Ave. South, said Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service Battalion Chief Jackie Hicks. They arrived to find heavy smoke and fire coming from the one-story house. Hicks said crews quickly knocked down the flames. Unfortunately, while searching the home, one resident was found deceased, Hicks said. The Jefferson County Coroners Office said the man was found in the front living room of the home and pronounced dead at 11:26 p.m. His identity has not yet been confirmed, but Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said was an adult white male. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Authorities have released the name of a motorcyclist killed on Interstate 59/20 in Birmingham earlier this week. The Jefferson County Coroners Office identified the victim as Jeremy Jamal Williams. He was 27 and lived in the Birmingham. Authorities said Williams was traveling northbound on I-59/20 near Arkadelphia Road Wednesday night when he tried to pass two semi-tractor trailers by going between the two trucks. According to Birmingham police, Williams struck one of the tractor trailers, lost control of his motorcycle and crashed. He was pronounced dead on the scene at 12:10 a.m. Thursday. Birmingham police worked the deadly crash. A child was killed Thursday night when she was struck by two vehicles in northwest Jefferson County. Sheriffs deputies were dispatched just after 8 p.m. to a report of a pedestrian struck on Heflin Avenue West near Oak Ridge Drive in Forestdale. They arrived to find the 13-year-old girl critically injured. She was taken to Childrens of Alabama where she was pronounced dead at 9:01 p.m, said sheriffs Lt. Joni Money. Money said evidence indicates the girl was walking with friends in the road when she was hit by a vehicle. She was then struck by a second vehicle that was traveling in the opposite direction. The Jefferson County Coroners Office identified the girl as Yasmine L. Swain. Both drivers were interviewed. The investigation is ongoing by the Jefferson County Sheriffs Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team. Authorities initially said the girl was 12 years old, but later updated to say she was 13. The story was updated to reflect that change. Two people were found dead in a Lauderdale County home Thursday afternoon in what investigators say was an apparent murder-suicide involving a common-law marriage. WAFF is reporting the Lauderdale County Sheriffs Office discovered the bodies inside a home on Arnold Lane at about 5 p.m. Sheriff Joe Hamilton identified the couple as Virginia McDougal, 40, and Dwayne Pigg, 58, both of Florence. McDougal was found inside the home, while Piggs body was discovered in a shed on the same property. Investigators believe Pigg shot McDougal, then shot himself. The investigation is continuing. Now fully in the swing of the 2023 legislative session, legislators from Mobile County are readying their priorities for the next few months. Only one legislator in the group is new: state Rep. Mark Shirey, a Republican, who replaced retiring Rep. Victor Gaston as the representative for House District 100. But, following the redistricting process, some legislatorssuch as state Sen. Vivian Davis Figures and state Rep. Shane Stringerhave to grapple with representing different people, whose priorities may differ from their previous districts. Of the legislators the Lede spoke with, a few common priorities arose. Like their counterparts in Baldwin County, economic development incentives were a high priority. Both state Rep. Chris Pringle (R-Mobile), and Shirey said that renewing the states economic development incentives, such as the Alabama Jobs Act, was a priority. Both cited a high return on investment as the reason to renew the jobs act, which is set to expire this summer. Education Both Republicans and Democrats in the Mobile County delegation said that education was a priority for their districts. Last year, eight schools in Mobile County were listed as failing by the Alabama State Department of Education, which lists the schools that rank in the bottom 6% of the state as failing. A Montgomery community activist has filed a $100,000 claim against the citys mayor, saying Steven Reed in February damaged his character by calling him, among other things, a liar, charlatan and shyster. Charles Lee, the owner of the youth nonprofit Thats My Child, filed the claim with the Montgomery City Clerks office on March 30. It stems from a Feb. 21st news conference that came during an imbroglio between Lee and Reed over comments recorded back in 2020. In February, a series of audio recordings of Reed were released in which the mayor peppered diatribes with profanity while referencing the Black vote, economic development and apathy toward Maxwell Gunter Air Force Base. Reed at the time said the audio features carefully selected sound bites of my voice and was surreptitiously recorded three years ago. According to Reed, the sound bites came from a meeting with Lee that took place on June 1, 2020 at the office of the Alabama Democratic Conference in Montgomery as part of meetings with community leaders in an effort to avoid violence in the city following the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota. Reed said he sought out meetings with community leaders to help maintain the peace. At a news conference, Reed said he would seek an investigation into what he said was an attempt by Lee to extort him of $30,000, ostensibly for his organization. Lee denied making the recording but did not say who was responsible. In his claim, Lee said Reed made several slanderous statements at his February news conference, such as saying that Lee attempted to extort money from him at the meeting. Because of Reeds statements, Lee claims he has suffered mental anguish and damage to my reputation and character. In a statement to the Alabama News Network, Reeds office said, We have met with the appropriate law enforcement agencies and we will not be able to comment further until all criminal investigations into the attempted extortion of the mayor are complete. Sign up for Roy S. Johnsons newsletter: Enter your email to subscribe to Roys weekly newsletter, The Barbershop: This is an opinion column. Nixon lied. Richard Nixon, the worst President in my lifetime (though the poll is still open) lied about his knowledge of and involvement in the break-in at Democratic Party headquarters at the Watergate Hotel in 1972. His downfall was a tapean old-school thread-on-a-reel recording of a conversation with trusted advisor H.R. Haldeman revealing how they would hinder any investigation into the crime. Nixon resigned from the presidency in August 1974, the summer after I graduated from high school, and not long after that smoking gun tape found daylight. It choked his circle of support, even among fellow Republicans. How lucky am I to have this sort of historic political drama happen twice in my lifetime? Charges that Nixon obstructed justice by using hush money (does it actually ever make anyone hush?) and pushed government officials to stifle the investigation hung over him like a sword of Damocles. Until Republican party leaders told him they had the votes to convict him. On August 8, Nixon boarded a helicopter on the south lawn of the White House lawn bound for Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, where he caught a flight. A flight bound for infamy. A month later, President Gerald R. Ford pardoned his predecessor. Thirty-four felony charges that Donald Trump using hush money to stifle Stormy Daniels, an adult film actress and director (her given name is Stephanie Clifford) woman with whom hed had an affair and lied in business documents to shield its true purpose and prevent it from adversely impacting the 2016 presidential campaign hang over the real estate developer and former president like the sword that dangled over Nixon nearly half a century ago. In a twist on a phrase made famous by another Republican president, Ronald Reagan: Here we go again. Im in no way making light of whats transpiring now. I dont claim to be an expert on what will unfold in a New York courtroom over the coming months, but from this vantage, Trump looks to be in serious trouble. Not just in New York. Investigations elsewhere could spawn more charges. In Georgia, Fulton County DA Fani Willis is assessing whether Trump illegally tried to overturn the states 2020 election results. (The smoking gun there may be yet another recording, this of a phone call on January 2, 2021, in which Trump pushed Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to find 11,780 votes. There, too, remain special probes into Trumps role in instigating the seditious January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol and his handling of classified documents (which nobody seems to handle appropriately). Claims from some corners and crevasses within the Republican Party that the charges, levied by a grand jury after an exhaustive investigation by Manhattan District attorney Alvin Bragg are political are mere partisan whining. Especially a Twitter tantrum from Sen. Tommy Tuberville labeling the charges against Trump an attack on democracy. Thats truly laughable since Tuberville is infecting the entire U.S. military with his own partisan virus. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Tuberville is singlehandedly blocking a flotilla of key senior military nominations because he doesnt believe the brave women whove sworn to protect our democracy should have access to reproductive health care, in accordance with military policy. Just hush, Senator. Full disclosure: The payoff at the heart of the charges against Trump was partially facilitated by trusted advisor David Pecker, my former boss at American Media, Inc., where I worked as Editor-in-Chief of Mens Fitness. Pecker was among many who testified before the grand jury brought its indictment. Just before Nixons helicopter left the White House lawn, the ex-president said: I found myself thinking not of the past but of the future. What could I do now? The look on Trumps face as he sat in the courtroom last Tuesday awaiting the charges against him to be revealed seemed to emote the same sentiment. What can he do now? Not a darn thing. Arent we lucky? Again. More columns by Roy S. Johnson Even amid trash taunting, embrace Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark, in full Black and white Heroism takes many forms; Nashville, Huntsville tragedies may tweak police narrative After Gov Ivey signs law-and-order fentanyl bill, real work will just begin Woke is the far rights sky is falling; it fell on them Alabama Republicans parents rights bill smells like states rights; Im holding my nose Roy S. Johnson is a Pulitzer Prize finalist for commentary and winner of the Edward R. Murrow prize for podcasts: Unjustifiable, co-hosted with John Archibald. His column appears in AL.com, as well as the Lede. Subscribe to his free weekly newsletter, The Barbershop, here. Reach him at rjohnson@al.com, follow him at twitter.com/roysj, or on Instagram @roysj Former Alabama Sen. Doug Jones voiced his anger over the expulsions of two of three Democratic state lawmakers from the Tennessee Legislature for their roles in protesting gun violence days after a deadly school shooting, calling the action a dark day for democracy. Jones used an expletive to describe the expulsions of Tennessee state Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson on Thursday, referring to the incident as the bullshit that went down in Nashville. What you saw was just a complete and full-on assault of democracy, the likes of which we havent seen since Jan. 6, the former U.S. senator from Alabama said in a video posted to his Twitter account. What happened in Tennessee today is outrageous and frightening. Its an assault on Democracy the likes of which we havent seen since January 6, 2021. Lets talk it through https://t.co/GekLBWT9dU Doug Jones (@DougJones) April 7, 2023 Jones attributed the expulsions of Jones and Pearson to the Republican supermajority in the Tennessee House and because the GOP cant put forth policies that address issues like gun violence. This supermajority can expel three Democrats for standing up, speaking out and causing a little good trouble just like John Lewis said we should always be doing, Jones said, referring to the late Alabama-born civil rights leader and U.S. senator from Georgia. A third Democratic lawmaker, Rep. Gloria Johnson, survived an expulsion vote. Johnson is white, and said she believed she was not expelled because of her skin color; Jones and Pearson are Black. Jones said the vote had a racial overtone. She is also a white female. She survived the vote. The two young Black males did not survive their votes and were expelled. You figure it out folks, Jones said. It is easy. The three Tennessee Democrats joined demonstrators on the House floor to rail against gun violence after the deadly shooting at a Christian school in Nashville that left six people dead, including three children. While demonstrators filled galleries in the chamber, the three Democrats approached the front of the chamber with a bullhorn and participated in a chant. All this bullshit that happened in Nashville today started with the gun deaths, the violent gun deaths of three children and three adults in Nashville, at a school, at a private school, Jones said in the video. Today is a really dark day for democracy, he said. We dont need to get too down about it, we need to get organized. The former senator said he was outraged over the speaker of the Tennessee House likening the protestors to the Jan. 6 insurrectionists. Give me a damn break, give me a break, people, he said. They werent trying to overturn an election, they were simply trying to [tell lawmakers] to do your damn jobs, to save peoples lives. China's inland space launch site advances commercial services Xinhua) 10:06, April 07, 2023 A Long March-4C rocket carrying the Yaogan-34 04 satellite blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on March 31, 2023. (Photo by Wang Jiangbo/Xinhua) JIUQUAN, April 6 (Xinhua) -- The Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, which is currently China's only site for launching manned spacecraft into orbit, is looking to tap into the burgeoning commercial market by offering more services and stronger capabilities. Located in northwest China's Gobi Desert, the Jiuquan launch center has carried out numerous space missions since its establishment in 1958. It frequented media headlines for launching Chinese space station taikonauts over the past two years. But staff members at the inland site are also working hard to support commercial launches, just as they have done in the state programs. It has witnessed at least three successful commercial launches this year, and the newly-launched carrier rocket TL-2 Y1 is the latest example of the site's efforts to serve private space companies. Launched on April 2, the privately developed rocket placed a remote-sensing satellite into orbit during its debut flight. In light of the growing demand, the launch hub has taken the lead to build a handful of new facilities for multiple types of commercial spacecraft, including a new liftoff field for liquid oxygen-methane launch vehicles and one more pad for solid-fuel rockets. For testing and launching cryogenic liquid rockets, Jiuquan has also set up a team of professionals who have mastered technologies like fast and automatic propellant filling. Construction on the country's first launch site dedicated to commercial missions began in the island province of Hainan last year. The first of the country's four major launch centers, Jiuquan has pioneered techniques to adapt the existing launch site system for high-quality development. Luo Guanghua, a senior engineer and a member of the site's commercial services team, said the launch center has taken various new measures in mechanism, management, and service process to make it smarter, more reliable, and more efficient to support diversified commercial missions. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Donald Trumps indictment makes one wonder if the members of the Democrat party have ever picked up a history book, walked by one in a library, or accidentally heard an episode of the History of Rome podcast. I doubt it because if they had, theyd know that Rome didnt transition from a republic to an empire overnight, and theyd be familiar with the modern iteration of the George Santayana adage: Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it. By the time Caesar became dictator in 49 BC, the Republic was already gone in everything but name only. The Republics collapse had been put in motion 80 years before with the murder of Tiberius Gracchus. Gracchus was a populist Plebeian tribune, essentially the equivalent of being a member of our House of Representatives. Citizens loved him, and the aristocratic Senate hated him. His assassination points the way to Caesar: [T]he oligarchy had introduced violence into the political system with the murder of Tiberius Gracchus and over the years the use of violence became increasingly acceptable as various political disputes in Rome led to more and more bloody discord. With Gracchuss death, violence became an increasingly common political weapon in Rome, with Sullas purges early in the 1st century BC as the clearest example. Sulla executed 9,000 rival Marian partisan supporters, without regard for age or sex. Image: The murder of Tiberius Garcchus. Public domain. Three decades later, Caesar would take control, only to lose his life at the hands of a cabal of his establishment rivals. This widespread political violence only came to an end (temporary as it might be) when his adopted son, Augustus, become emperor. Tellingly, however, Augustus achieved that peace only after executing thousands of his political enemies. Rome devolved from a republic in which domestic politics were decided mostly by words and relatively objective laws, to a dictatorship where laws were anything but objective, and the emperor could take life and property on a whim. The late Roman Republic had the equivalent of our Swamp, which it called the Senate. While ostensibly there were balancing powers of influence, such as the assemblies, two Consuls (a split executive office with a term of one year) and, occasionally, the appointment of a temporary Dictator, the reality is that the Senate, made up of the richest and most powerful citizens, ran the Republic. Even when one of the assemblies or one of the Consuls seemed to be ascendant, it was the senators calling most of the shots through their relationships with the state officials, familial connections to this or that general, and their control of the purse strings. So, you have a body of rich and powerful citizens having ostensibly limited power through the visible levers of government, but actually exercising real power through the connections, relationships, and shared ideology of the apparatchiks in the bureaucracy, the opinion makers, and those who indoctrinate the youth who always act as the frontline shock troops. Sound familiar? Things have changed a lot in 2,000 years, but the nature of mannot so much. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. As with most things today, political changes happen faster than they did in the past. It took 100 yearsfrom Gracchuss emergence on the Roman stage until Augustuss ascendancefor Rome to transform from a republic to an empire. It has taken less than 20 years since Barack Obama promised to fundamentally transform America for the country to change from a functioning but imperfect republic into a farce of a country characterized by a banana-republic-level tyranny. With a complicit bureaucracy, Obama used the IRS to target political opponents, the Justice Department to coerce banks into blacklisting businesses he didnt like, and Obamacare to give government unprecedented control over Americans health decisions while doubling the cost. He unconstitutionally opened the immigration spigot that has now become a torrent. Within six months of taking office, Obama would set the tone for an administration that would set race relations back 50 years. His evolution on gay marriage would give cover to the spineless Supreme Court to impose that travesty on the country and lay the ground for the fascist LBTQ hellscape America endures today. And finally, he weakened two of the most foundational elements of American society: The military and residential communities. Obama set in motion a new set of rules in America, and Trumps indictment, the Soviet-style attack on J6 attendees, and the prosecution of Douglass Mackey combine to demonstrate exactly what those new rules are: Thou shalt not oppose the Democrat party, thou shalt not speak badly of or mock the Democrat party or its minions, thou shalt not push back against the regulatory state, and thou shalt not express traditional American values. These sham prosecutions are really persecution. They are nothing more than the Democrats regulatory state wrapping itself around American citizens necks like the Burmese Pythons killing most native species in the Everglades. The indictment of a former president and current presidential candidate on such a weak and preposterous theory as this one puts the lie to the idea that the Constitution limits our government. This is nothing less than the established swamp inventing new legal theories while ignoring existing law to crush a political opponent. That foretells the end of the Republic. Our Republic has survived for 230 years because most Americans believe in our Constitution and respect the laws that emanate from it. But the Constitution is nothing more than a piece of paper its not a gun, its not an army, its not police state stormtroopers. Its a piece of paper that states how the government should operate, limits that governments power, and guarantees the citizens various inherent liberties and freedoms. For most of our history, the Constitutions words guided how our nation operated. Citizens had two ways to change the way the country was governed: voting and amending the Constitution. Today, however, neither works. The former has been undermined by a Democrat party that steals elections under the cover of night and calls you a conspiracy nut when you notice. The latter isnt even a consideration because the Democrat party and the apparatchiks running the regulatory and security states are no longer constrained by its words. America has become a tyranny where the people in power no longer feel the need to seek validation from the citizens. They decide on the outcome and manipulate the numbers to produce the result without even a fig leaf hiding their disdain for citizens. Whether it was Bernie Sanders in 2016, Donald Trump in 2020, or Kari Lake in 2022, the Democrat party and its entrenched government comrades have decided they no longer need to subject themselves to the will of the citizenry and, if anyone objects, they use the judiciary to crush that person. America has been loosed from the anchor of the Constitution and the rule of law that kept our citizens free for two centuries. While the blood of the regimes enemies may not yet be flowing in the streets, history very clearly tells us that, unless we change whats happening, it will be. The question is, are there enough Americans who are familiar with history and willing to pull us out of our national death spiral before that terrible end is upon us? How Americans respond to Donald Trumps persecution is the canary in the coal mine that will likely answer that question. You can follow Vince on Twitter at ImperfectUSA. Should the U.S. leave the World Health Organization? Yes. Is the United States on the verge of ceding its sovereignty to the WHO? No. There is no question that the World Health Organization (WHO) does more harm than good and the United States should flee its grasp as quickly as possible. The WHO response to COVID-19 proves the organization is not only ineffective, but pushes policies and agendas that are harmful to American patients and our nation's well-being. For example, while initially assisting the Chinese Communist Party in suppressing details about COVID's origins and transmissibility, the WHO later promoted China's unconscionable lockdowns and other violations of human rights as measures other nations should emulate. As the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) presciently warned over 60 years ago in our March 1955 newsletter: "the World Health Organization... is another United Nations agency... where the American taxpayers pay for most of the activities but have an exceedingly small voice in opposing the socialistic programs offered by the agency." So it is clearly not in the best interest of the U.S. to remain the largest funder of the WHO, "providing between $400 million to $500 million each year," as reported by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Adding to the reasons to leave are ongoing efforts to double-down on failed WHO leadership with a proposal to create a new agreement or treaty that could hand international regulators more tools aimed at directing nations response to future events the WHO deems pandemics. In addition, the WHO continues to consider questionable amendments to existing International Health Regulations (IHR) that aim to expand WHO authority. Many well-meaning groups that defend warn of dire consequences for medical freedom and national sovereignty. A current U.S. senator even states that President Biden plans to cede American sovereignty to the WHO without the Senate's advice and consent. These claims absolutely deserve close scrutiny. However, a closer look reveals that the current threat from the WHO is not as severe as is being stated, and is certainly less that the attack on the rights of Americans being perpetrated by our own U.S. states and federal government. Please consider the following: Even with the consent of the Senate, treaties the U.S. enters into cannot legally abrogate the rights of American citizens conferred by the Constitution or intrude on States sovereignty to oversee policy within its borders. [T]he President cannot make any treaties displacing state sovereignty, and the Constitution does [not give] Congress the authority to implement a treaty in a way that displaces state sovereignty, explains Sen. Ted Cruz in a Harvard Law Review analysis of the limits on treaty power. Nor can treaties violate independent constitutional [rights of individual], Cruz continues. Numerous Supreme court decisions confirm this conclusion. [N]o agreement with a foreign nation can confer power which is free from the restraints of the Constitution, wrote Chief Justice Brennan in a 1957 ruling. More recently in a 2014 ruling in Bond vs. U.S., the Court stated: "While Congress has the power to create laws that enforce treaties, that power does not extend to the enforcement of laws that would infringe on states' rights. While the International Health Regulations already bind the U.S. federal government to take certain actions, they do not impose binding pandemic-related restrictions on U.S. states or citizens. The proposed amendments, even if enacted, do not change this. The obligations imposed by the regulations on the federal government, generally relate to the federal government maintaining an ability to detect, assess, report, and respond to public health events. The regulations also lay out measures governments may impose to manage risks pertaining to international trade and travel. Certainly the U.S. does not need the WHO to manage or regulate these types of activities. And there is a risk that WHO involvement could increase the possibility that some type of digital vaccine passport might be required for international travel, for example. This would be unwise and unethical, of course. That said, neither the regulations or the proposed amendment would allow the WHO to order the United States or any states within our nation to impose any specific type of pandemic measures like lockdowns, masking requirements, or vaccine mandates, within our borders. even if enacted, do not change this. The obligations imposed by the regulations on the federal government, generally relate to the federal government maintaining an ability to detect, assess, report, and respond to public health events. The regulations also lay out measures governments may impose to manage risks pertaining to international trade and travel. Certainly the U.S. does not need the WHO to manage or regulate these types of activities. And there is a risk that WHO involvement could increase the possibility that some type of digital vaccine passport might be required for international travel, for example. This would be unwise and unethical, of course. That said, neither the regulations or the proposed amendment would allow the WHO to order the United States or any states within our nation to impose any specific type of pandemic measures like lockdowns, masking requirements, or vaccine mandates, within our borders. The proposed new WHO treaty similarly will not, give the WHO authority over U.S. domestic pandemic policies. Instead it is focused on forcing countries to equitably redistribute knowledge, technology, and other resources with nations the WHO deems to be underserved, reports the Heritage Foundation. Yes, these are harmful DEI policies (socialistic policies AAPS warned about in 1955) that are spreading all too quickly across our nation to our peril. To reiterate, no, the U.S. should not sign on to these agreements that would obligate the U.S. to send potentially hundreds of billions of dollars to countries the WHO favors and that likely benefit corporations making pandemic related products like vaccines. Americas governors, presidents, and bureaucrats within U.S. Federal agencies like HHS, the FDA, CDC, and NIH, are the individuals who are the proven actual threat to the rights of Americans. Governors have abused emergency powers to impose lockdowns, vaccine mandates, masking policies, and other harmful rules. Governors appoint medical licensing board members who suspend physicians ability to practice for daring to question their harmful mandates. Federal agencies, under the orders and oversight of presidents Biden and Trump have pushed questionable COVID-19 treatments and vaccines on the nation with little or conflicting safety and efficacy data. President Biden mandated COVID shots on health care workers, federal employees, employees of large corporations, and members of the military. All these harmful decisions were made, not by the World Health Organization, but by our own leaders right here in the United States. In fact, certain WHO recommendations were even disregarded by our leaders, for example regarding the use of remdesivir. The WHO rejected the drug as unhelpful for hospitalized patients; nonetheless the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) continues to reward hospitals with handsome bonuses when they push patients into taking it. So who has stolen our rights? The WHO or our own leaders? Could it be that focusing on what the WHO is or isnt doing is distracting Americans from fixing problems within our own borders? Is there any danger in saying that the WHO has more power than it actually does possess? If people are given the impression that the WHO dictates U.S. pandemic restrictions can our governors and federal elected officials try to plausibly deny they are truly the ones who are to blame? The answers may unfortunately be yes. That isnt to say that the WHO proposals should be brushed aside as meaningless. But instead of possibly exaggerating what the WHO negotiations are leading to, it is past time to hold our own leaders accountable and ensure that the errors of the last few years, enabled by our own overreaching emergency powers statutes, are not allowed to be repeated (and at the same time exit the WHO). Image: WHO It's obvious that Gavin Newsom is running for Joe Biden's job on the assumption that the geriatric mediocrity will not run for re-election or that he can be defeated if he does run. Polls show that a majority of Democrats would rather someone else head the ticket in 2024, after all. And veteran political reporter Mark Halperin has a column citing anonymous White House insiders on the possibility Biden won't run. Meanwhile, Newsom is out touring red states and attacking Republicans, especially Ron DeSantis. Half-a-minute video: He's also announced something grandiosely titled The Campaign for Democracy, focused on how red states are denying your freedom (never mind keeping California schools closed longer than any other state and hindering the use of ivermectin for COVID). This is almost two minutes, so your patience may be tested. Given his awful track record in California, driving away half a million residents in just the last two years managing to see California's population actually decline for the very first time ever it's clearly to his advantage to go in the offense. But now he has gone farther. He is hampering media access to information on California's state government. CalMatters reports: Like so much else about California, its state government is large: A $300 billion budget. More than 230 departments and agencies. More than 234,000 employees. Keeping the public apprised of everything that's happening in that massive bureaucracy requires its own small army of communications staff, who craft messages, write press releases and answer questions from journalists covering everything from the governor to welfare programs, prisons to water policy. Lately, however, the information isn't flowing as freely raising transparency concerns among the press corps that acts as a watchdog for Californians. Last month, the Capitol Correspondents Association of California, which represents journalists who cover the state Capitol and advocates for improved press access, distributed guidelines to its members about how to handle some of the increasingly common hurdles they encounter, including government agencies asking for questions in advance and refusing to attribute information to their spokespeople. (snip) [T]he extraordinary step was prompted by years of complaints from Capitol press about problems reporting on Gov. Gavin Newsom, his administration and the Legislature. Newsom is a human Potemkin Village all facade. Underneath the Brylcreem-rich hairdo he sports, there is no substance. He publicly admits to dyslexia, but a veteran political observer of California avers to me that he is functionally illiterate, which might be a first of a president if, God forbid, he ever makes it to the White House. He is very pretty, I admit, though I am no expert on male beauty. But that, and the sponsorship of the Getty fortune, is all he has. Photo credit: Grabien screen grab. Joe Biden is about to start lying again about employment numbers, and Issues & Insights has the full debunking even before he gets started. When the numbers are released, there will probably be some kind of positive printout, and Joe or his surrogates will immediately tout that he himself "created" them. It's a put-up job, the editorial page writes, bringing all the receipts. Here are a few to start: But the numbers getting bandied about these days about job growth and unemployment are wildly misleading because they ignore important bits of context. Such as: The pace of job growth slowed considerably once Biden started "rescuing" the economy. It took just nine months under President Donald Trump for the economy to regain 57% of the 22 million jobs lost during the COVID lockdowns. It took 17 months under Biden to regain the other 43%. The economy was adding jobs at an average of 1.3 million a month in Trump's last nine months in office. In the first nine months of Biden's term, job growth averaged 620,000. As a result, job growth is now behind the pace set by most recoveries since 1948, according to the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank. The editorial page group, which is run by my former colleagues at Investor's Business Daily's now shuttered editorial page, is full of sharp minds that understand actual economics. They pointed out that most of the jobs growth that Biden will tout from today's Department of Labor report, will largely be coming from red states think Texas, Florida, and other job-creating engines while blue states run by leftists will lag far behind. It's easy to cover up that sorry breakdown through national statistics, isn't it? They also explain how the corresponding unemployment numbers is largely the result of discouraged workers dropping out of the workforce, and thus not even being counted as unemployed. The real figure is around 5% which they note, is "not terrible, but it's hardly anything to brag about." The broad picture shows that Joe Biden has "smothered" the economic recovery that came as a result of the lifting of COVID lockdowns like a damp blanket. What a thing to have imposed on an event that naturally occurs and always has occurred historically following a downturn, all because Joe has heaped punishing taxes and regulations onto the productive private sector of the economy for almost two long years. As I read the horrid stories from the San Francisco Bay Area in blue-state California about one leading restaurant after another closing down forever because their owners can't take it anymore, this I&I essay explains what's really going on far better than any spin the Biden spin team or Joe himself can gaslight out. Everyone knows there's a problem with the economy when we read stories like this: Treasured East Bay barbecue restaurant closes after 55 years ...with descriptions like this: KC's BBQ, a beloved East Bay barbecue institution, has closed after 55 years serving ribs, smoked sausage links and mac and cheese. The Berkeley restaurant, at 1235 San Pablo Ave., announced the closure on social media on Wednesday night. Kristen Davis, the third-generation co-owner of KC's, said the restaurant had been struggling for months to keep up with the increasing cost of doing business in the Bay Area. As KC's ingredients and supplies became more expensive, the owners raised prices multiple times, ultimately by as much as 35%, Davis said. But it wasn't enough to turn a profit. "The aftereffects of COVID really are still hitting a lot of businesses. There was just a point where we had to make a decision. Is this really worth it?" she said. It's the latest in a spate of Bay Area restaurant closures. ...and quotes like this: KC's isn't gone forever, however. Kristen Davis said the family hopes to pivot to catering and private events or maybe open a food truck, which has lower overhead than a full-service restaurant. But there will likely never again be another KC's restaurant, she said. "I give kudos to all those small businesses that are still going. It's a lot," she said. "I don't really have the desire to try to take on the monster that is a brick and mortar." There's your real Joe Biden economy for you, smothered in the crib by a foul old phony in the White House who is about to assure you he's handling the economy swimmingly. No, he's not. Read the whole I&I editorial here. Image: Pixabay, Pixabay License. Kudos to the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin for posting to the web copies of tapes that prove that Lyndon Baines Johnson stole his seat in the Senate when first running for it. Johnson went on to absolutely dominate the Senate as Majority Leader, and from there he managed to become president when JFK was assassinated in his home state of Texas while he was VP. The stolen election was the Democrat primary, which back then was tantamount to election because Democrats dominated the segregated South of the era. Johnson defeated former Texas Governor Coke Stevenson by 87 votes, after a box of votes was discovered. It is honorable of the Library, which after all is devoted to LBJs memory, to allow this blot on his record to be aired. They are more honest than the man whose presidency they commemorate. But the Associated Press, whose reporter made the tapes in 1977 and who wrote about them then, is less forthright in its article about the release. It does provide the basic information: The audio recordings from Associated Press reporter James W. Mangans interviews for the 1977 story were posted this week on the LBJ Presidential Library and Museums archival website, Discover LBJ. After Mangans death in 2015 at the age of 87, his family found the labeled cassette tapes at his San Antonio home and donated them last summer to the library on the campus of the University at Texas at Austin. Luis Salas, the former South Texas election judge, told Mangan for the story: Johnson did not win that election; It was stolen for him. And I know exactly how it was done. Senator Johnson But it obviously occurred to someone at AP that this story about Democrat election fraud at the very basis of one of its presidents who served within living memory kind of makes the possibility of election fraud now seem more realistic. Cant have that! The AP has become a propaganda outlet for the Democrats, and reinforcing the narrative of Republicans just cant be done on its wires. So, it added Democrat gospel: And now, at a time when election fraud is rare but former President Donald Trump and his allies amplify baseless allegations blaming it for his 2020 loss, the tapes and story show what compelling evidence of actual fraud looks like. Does anyone believe that todays Democrats fighting against Donald Trump whom they believed was the ultimate evil -- were more honest in 2020 than in 1948, when LBJ first won his Senate seat by defeating another Democrat who had been Governor of Texas? Photo credit: public domain There is a segment among President Donald Trumps supporters who find themselves exhausted by what they think are his constant battles. They hope to find a candidate who stands for the MAGA agenda but lacks the 'baggage.' For these skeptics, the great thinker, writer, and military historian Victor David Hanson in his excellent recent piece compared President Trump's 'baggage' to that of many sanctimonious superstars in the Democrat party. He enumerated the following violations that President Trump did not commit. 1) Trump did not violate federal law, as did Hillary Clinton, by destroying federally subpoenaed emails and devices in order to hide evidence. 2) Trump did not violate federal law, as did Hillary Clinton, by sending classified government communications on her own, through an unsecured home-brewed server. 3) Trump did not violate federal law, as did Hillary Clinton, by hiringthrough three paywallsa foreign national, who is prohibited from working on presidential campaigns, to compile a dossier to smear her presidential opponent. 4) Trump did not violate federal campaign laws, as did Hillary Clinton, by hiding her payments (as legal services) to Christopher Steele through bookkeeping deceptions. 5) Trump did not, as did Bill Clinton, use a crony to search out a high-paying New York job for a paramour in order to influence her testimony before a special counsel. 6) Trump did not, as did Bill Clinton, receive a $500,000 honorarium for speaking in Moscow while his wife, our secretary of state, approved a longstanding and lucrative desire of the Kremlin for North American uranium to be sold to a Russian consortium. 7) Trump did not, as did Barack Obama, promise Vladimir Putin that he would be flexible on missile defense if during his own reelection bid Putin in return would give him space. That quid pro quo arrangement led to the U.S. abandonment of key joint missile defense systems with Poland and the Czech Republic, and, reciprocally, less than two years later a Russia invasion, mostly unopposed by the United States, of eastern Ukraine and the Crimea. 8) Trump did not boast publicly, as did Joe Biden, that he used U.S. foreign aid monies as leverage to have the Ukrainian government fire a prosecutor who may have been looking into the Biden familys efforts to sell influence to corrupt Ukrainian interests. 9) Trump did not, as the Bidens did, set up a family consortium to leverage monies from Ukraine, Russia, and China, on their shared expectations that he might soon run for and be elected president and become compromised. Trump is not mentioned, as is Joe Biden, in family business communications as a recipient of a 10 percent commission on such payoffs. 10) Trump did not, unlike Joe Biden, remove presidential paperswithout any authority to declassify themand leave them scattered and unsecured in a garage and various residences and offices. 11) Trump did not, as did the FBI, wipe clean subpoenaed mobile phone records. 12) Trump did not, as did interim FBI head Andrew McCabe, admittedly lie under oath on four occasions to federal investigators. 13) Trump did not, as did CIA Director John Brennan, admittedly lie on two occasions while under oath to the U.S. Congress. 14) Trump did not, as did Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, admittedly lie on one occasion to the U.S. Congress. 15) Trump did not, as did James Comey, claim amnesia or ignorance 245 times while under oath before the U.S. Congress. 16) Trump did not, as did FBI Director James Comey, summarize a confidential private conversation with a president and then deliberately leak that classified memo to the media for his own agenda of appointing a special counsel to investigate the presidentwhich turned out to be his friend Robert Mueller. 17) Trump did not, as did Robert Mueller, claim ignorance while under oath when asked about the Steele dossier and Fusion GPS, the catalysts for Muellers own investigation. 18) Trump did not, as did private citizen and former secretary of state John Kerry, meet clandestinely while out of office with Iranian officials to help them resist current U.S. policy toward Iranor what the Boston Globe characterized as unusual shadow diplomacy to apply pressure on the Trump administration from the outside. 19) Trump did not, as did the FBI and CIA, pay clandestine money to Twitter to monitor and smother news stories deemed unhelpful to their agendas. 20) Trump did not, as did then-Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, whip up a mob at the doors of the Supreme Court by threatening two sitting justices by name to intimidate them concerning an impending judicial ruling: I want to tell you Gorsuch, I want to tell you Kavanaugh: You have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price. You wont know what hit you. None of these Democrats have faced any serious consequences for their actions. Very rarely are any of the Democrats probed. If they are probed, they are given the benefit of doubt, and their crimes are branded as honest unintentional mistakes or carelessness. At worst, they pay a fine. None has ever been indicted or has been subjected to the humiliation associated with indictments. This proves that it isn't the 'baggage' or the rhetoric or the tweets that make Trump the target leading to the battles. It is merely what Trump stands for that the Democrats despise. Hence they use all the might of their government machinery to bring him down. This is a disgraceful fall because legal egalitarianism is a fundamental tenet of a civilized democracy. Some have criticized Trumps indictment and subsequent arrest, citing history, i.e., the last time this happened was in 1872 when President Grant was arrested for speeding in his horse-drawn carriage in D.C. The only point of going through history is to learn the disparity in the application of justice. But the rule that a politician should not suffer the consequences for his or her actions is anti-democratic, because all citizens are equal, irrespective of their vocation or career choice. The only reason to object to Trumps indictment is that as many legal experts such as Alan Dershowitz have opined that the case has no basis, there is no victim and the statute of limitations has passed. The solution to resolve this disparity in the application of justice is for the GOP to give identical treatment to the Democrats. As Victor Davis Hanson revealed, the Democrats have many more skeletons in their cupboards than Republicans. It is time that the cupboards are opened and looked into. Let district attorneys in red states begin probing, subpoenaing, and indicting Democrats for their violations. Let the GOP House investigate Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) for targeting a political opponent. Let the Democrats realize how it feels to be a target and feel such hardships that they return back to the table and beg for a truce. Perhaps the GOP must rewatch and apply Sir Sean Connery's advice in The Untouchables (1987) about taking on a dangerous adversary: Image: Screen shot from Fox News video, via YouTube The Hollywood Reporter and its at-large editor and veteran reporter Kim Masters are the last places one would expect to see anything even hinting that catering to LGTBQWERTY sensibilities might explain poor performance with audiences. Hollywood may be the gay-friendliest place on Earth, after all. That must be why it took almost 2,500 words in this long article on troubles at Amazon Studios before the subject of discarding the system of audience ratings was introduced. Amazon's Prime Video is the greatest rival of Netflix and spends enormous amounts of money seeking "tent pole" series that will cause people to want to subscribe or renew their subscriptions. Yet Netflix dominates Prime when it comes to the most popular streaming series. It seems that the problem with letting audiences tell them what they like (and presumably making decisions on what to make and release) is this: Another complaint is that Sanders [head of television programming] relies heavily on feedback from focus groups, which tend to favor broad and less inclusive programming. Several Amazon insiders say the reliance on testing and data led to a clash late last summer, when an Amazon executive said in a marketing meeting for the series A League of Their Own that data showed audiences found queer stories off-putting and suggested downplaying those themes in materials promoting the show. Series co-creator Will Graham became greatly concerned about bias built into Amazon's system for evaluating shows, which multiple sources say often ranked broad series featuring straight, white male leads above all others. One executive calls A League of Their Own "a proxy for how diverse and inclusive shows are treated." Graham launched into an interrogation of the system, questioning multiple executives about it. Amazon took the issue seriously and dropped the system of ranking shows based on audience scores. Insiders cite this show as one that Sanders did passionately support, but for months after it dropped, there was no word on whether it would be renewed. Ultimately, Amazon agreed to a four-episode second and final season. Still, several Amazon veterans believe the system remains too dependent on those same test scores. "All this perpetuation of white guys with guns it's a self-fulfilling prophecy," says one. And another: "Relying on data is soul crushing ... There's never, 'I know the testing wasn't that great, but I believe in this.'" Graham declined to comment. In a Not The Bee report on Masters's article, Joel Abbott writes: Note that this executive didn't say stop making gay storylines, but to hide it from the marketing materials. Abbott posits that audiences are not necessarily avoiding gay content so much as wanting to be entertained: Viewers don't have to worry about a 10-minute background on the character's victimhood and oppression. They don't need to worry that 10 minutes in, there will be a short sermon on climate change and transgenderism. They don't need to worry that the main character will go French-kissing his boyfriend every other scene so we know how awesome and amazing it is to be gay. Masters may have said the quiet part out loud by bringing this to light, albeit delicately and without connecting a lot of dots. Amazon can afford to spend lots of money on programming because, unlike Netflix, it has a larger parent company whose main business is retailing. But eventually, Jeff Bezos has to get tired of being number two. Prime Video executives probably aren't going to be giving a lot of interviews about internal matters in the wake of this report, especially now that conservatives have noticed it. The media say they have always been concerned about big money in elections. They also say they are very concerned about foreign money in elections, and honest elections, so here is a trial should draw great interest. It also involves a billionaire and stolen money. It has a major movie star, Leonardo DiCaprio, who is testifying about corruption. Yet so far it hasn't. It is too bad that DiCaprio wasn't testifying about green energy. Then it would get major coverage. Or if Gwyneth Paltrow had a ski accident, or if Johnny Depp was getting sued, then it would have had massive coverage. If there was a fake dossier to destroy Donald Trump, paid for by the DNC, and Hillary alleging Russian collusion, the media would have covered this story for years despite no evidence. The only problem with this story is that it involved millions of illegal foreign donations being laundered to support their chosen one, Barack Obama in 2012. Movie star Leonardo DiCaprio testified in federal court Monday morning as part of a trial involving international money laundering, bribery and a prominent rap artist. Prakazrel Pras Michel a founding member of the iconic 1990s hip-hop group, The Fugees is accused of funneling money from a fugitive Malaysian financer through straw donors to Barack Obamas 2012 reelection campaign. Five years later, prosecutors say he tried to squelch an investigation into that same financer under former President Donald Trumps administration. At the heart of the case is Low Taek Jho, usually known as Jho Low. He is accused of masterminding an international money laundering and bribery scheme that stole billions from the Malaysian state investment fund known as 1MDB. According to the charges, Michel essentially became a conduit for Lows pilfered millions and his attempts to influence the U.S. government. Prosecutors allege that from June to November 2012, Low directed more than $21.6 million to be moved from foreign entities to Michels accounts in order to funnel money into the 2012 presidential election. They say Michel then paid about 20 straw donors and conduits so they could make the donations in their names and conceal where the money actually came from, according to the indictment. The media had as much interest in illegal contributions in the above story as they did in the crypto crook donating millions in illegal contributions with stolen money, mostly to Democrats. All this, as they pretend that the 2020 election was the cleanest ever. Most of the media didnt care that billionaire Mark Zuckerburg spent hundreds of millions in the 2020 election to get Democrats elected in what Wisconsin officials called bribery. A 2020 election integrity probe in Wisconsin reported findings Tuesday that a nonprofit group funded by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg committed election bribery when it targeted $8.8 million in get-out-the-vote funds to five heavily Democratic jurisdictions. They still pretend that the 2020 election was clean. The media has gone into full protection mode to catch and kill stories that their billionaire piggy bank, George Soros, didnt donate big money to support Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney targeting Trump, and other soft-on-crime DAs. They hope we are so ignorant we dont understand that when Soros funnels money through leftist groups to candidates, that amounts to a contribution. Most of the media still dont care how the corrupt Biden family gets massive kickbacks from foreign parties, no matter how much evidence they see. But Trump paying off a nuisance fee of $130,000 to a porno "actress" for something that may have occurred seventeen years ago is somehow a great threat to our democracy and demands endless coverage. What a joke. The media and other Democrats have never cared about big money in elections or clean elections. They care about power for leftists, nothing more. They are the existential threat to our survival as the greatest country that has ever existed. Image: Screen shot from Rotten Tomatos Coming Soon video, via YouTube It's pretty clear that Bud Light has set off a firestorm by using Dylan Mulvaney, a man who pretends to be a woman, to promote its product. Gareth Boyd, the marketing & PR director at Forte Analytica, says Bud Light lit its brand on fire and has lost touch with its core audience with the ad campaign. "I really cannot understand their approach for this because their core audience just cannot relate," Boyd said. (snip) "Kid Rock is the poster boy for Bud Light, and for someone like him to come out and shoot cans it tells you a lot about the reaction from their core base customers. "People pouring beer down their sink, it says quite a bit about how out of touch they have been with this campaign." I am not 100% sure who drinks Bud Light, but I expect that people wanting to lose weight and women are some of their target consumers. It's possible that the marketers thought that these groups would find Mulvaney amusing. If so, they missed the fact that having "Bud" in the name implicates Budweiser and their other brands. As a matter of fact, Annheuser-Busch, Bud's parent company, was sold to a multinational conglomerate based in Belgium, InBev, 15 years ago. If you enter an adult birth date here, you can see their many, many brands of beer, including Stella Artois, Modelo, Beck's, and Lowenbrau. People angry at the aggressive trans movement, now becoming increasingly violent, can easily publicize these brands and boycott them all. But Matt Walsh has laid out an explanation in this hour-long video that posits what amounts to extortion being at the root of InBev's move. InBev may be choosing the lesser harm of a consumer boycott in order to avoid the greater harm of being labeled "transphobic" by groups such as the Human Rights Campaign, which then would lead to poor ESG ratings and, because of that, diminished access to capital from massive fund managers like BlackRock. Dan Bongino offered a similar explanation on his syndicated radio program Wednesday. It's a plausible explanation, especially when you consider that in addition to capital access, a negative campaign from homophile interest groups like HRW could lead to effective boycotts from gay and lesbian bars, which sell a lot of beer. (This ignores the growing tension between lesbians and gays on the one hand and transsexuals on the other.) The trans movement seemingly came out of nowhere and has replaced Antifa and BLM as the shock troops of violent demonstrators attacking and silencing mainstream Americans. This has to be a movement that is top-down in some respects., since it has gained such acceptance and endorsement from major corporations and NGOs. Photo credit: screen grab via Slaynews. In 1997, on the eve of the release of James Cameroons blockbuster movie Titanic, a curious story from Japan came to light. It was about Masabumi Hosono, a Japanese civil servant, who found himself on the ill-fated ship on the night of 15 April 1912 during its maiden journey from Southampton to New York City. Hosono survived the disaster, but going back home had to face the scorn of his native people. According to them, Hosono should have gone down with the ship as any proud Samurai would have when faced with adversity. In 1910, Hosono was working as the railroad director for the Ministry of Transport. Because of his proficiency in the Russian language, Hosono was sent to Russia to study the Russian state railway system. After staying two years in Russia, Hosono went to London and then to Southampton where he boarded Titanic on 10 April 1912 as a second class passenger. Sinking of the Titanic by Willy Stower (18641931). On the night of 15 April, the ship stuck an iceberg and breached its hull. Water started to pour in. Passengers panicked. It was certain the ship was going down. Hosono was awakened by a steward. He quickly made his was to the boat deck, and what he saw there sank his heart. All the while flares signalling emergency were being shot into the air ceaselessly, and hideous blue flashes and noises were simply terrifying. Somehow I could in no way dispel the feeling of utter dread and desolation, Hosono wrote. At first Hosono contemplated giving up his life. I tried to prepare myself for the last moment with no agitation, making up my mind not to leave anything disgraceful as a Japanese. But the thought of not seeing his beloved wife and children again tugged at his hearts strings. Eventually, he found himself looking for and waiting for any possible chance for survival. His chance came when an officer loading lifeboats shouted Room for two more, and a man jumped in. Sensing an opportunity, Hosono jumped after. After the ship sank there came back again frightful shrills and cries of those drowning in the water. Our lifeboat too was filled with sobbing, weeping children and women worried about the safety of their husbands and fathers. And I, too, was as much depressed and miserable as they were, not knowing what would become of myself in the long run. Masabumi Hosono The next morning, Hosonos lifeboat and the passengers it was carrying were rescued by another ship. Hosono had in his coat pocket a sheaf of stationery with Titanic's letterhead on which he started writing a letter to his wife in English. During the ships voyage to New York, he used the same paper to write an account in Japanese of his experiences. At first, Hosonos story drew little attention. Hundreds had survived the sinking of the Titanic, and each one had, no doubt, a harrowing tale to tell. One New York newspaper, however, ran his story as the Lucky Japanese Boy. But back in Tokyo, Hosono found his native people hostile towards him. Sacrifice, courage and selflessness run deep in Japanese culture. The countrys history is filled with stories of samurai sacrificing themselves through seppuku rather than fall into the hands of enemies. During World War two, hundreds of pilots rammed their airplanes against Allied targets in kamikaze attacks. The Japanese society did not expect Hosono to behave in anything less than an exemplary manner. Hosono was condemned as a coward by the Japanese press, and in a knee-jerk reaction, the government fired him from his job, only to re-hire him on a contractual basis. Hosono weathered the attacks from his fellow Japanese and attempted to lead a life of low key. He died peacefully in his sleep in 1939 at the age of 68. Hosono's story remained a source of shame for his family for decades. It wasnt until James Camerons film was released in 1997 that Hosonos story received a wider audience. Masabumi's grandsons Haruomi Hosono, who is the leading member of the band Yellow Magic Orchestra, declared that he was "extremely relieved that the true story became better known. Honour has been restored to the Hosonos, he said. References: # Masabumi Hosono, Encyclopedia Titanica # The Last of the Last, Encyclopedia Titanica Samsung has released the April 2023 Android security patch for a few more Galaxy devices in the US. The latest security update is now rolling out to the Galaxy S21 series, Galaxy Z Fold 3, and Galaxy Z Flip 3. The company has already pushed the new SMR (Security Maintenance Release) to the Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Z Flip 4, Galaxy S22 series, Galaxy Note 20 series, and Galaxy A53 5G stateside. As of this writing, the April SMR is only available for the factory-unlocked variants of the Galaxy S21, Galaxy Z Fold 3, and Galaxy Z Flip 3 in the US. The new firmware build numbers for the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra is G99*U1UEU6EWCA. The new firmware version for the 2021 Fold model is F926U1TBS3FWC9 and the Flip model is F711U1TBS4FWC9. None of these devices is receiving any major user-facing change or new feature. The update is all about security fixes for this month. The April update for the Galaxy S21 trio, Galaxy Z Fold 3, and Galaxy Z Flip 3 is yet to be available outside the US. Samsung will likely widely release this update over the next few days, also covering the carrier-locked units stateside. The update for the Galaxy Note 20 series and Galaxy A53 5G is also currently exclusive to the US. The Galaxy S22 series, meanwhile, is also receiving the April SMR in Latin America. A global rollout for all of these devices should be just around the corner. Samsung has also released the latest security update for the Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy S20 series, Galaxy A52, and Galaxy A22 5G. But these updates havent reached the US yet. The latest Galaxy flagships are receiving a host of camera-related changes, improvements, and new features with this release. We will let you know when the rollout begins stateside. You can also manually check for updates from the Software update section of the Settings app on your phone. Advertisement The April security update for Galaxy devices patches more than 60 vulnerabilities This months security update for Samsungs Galaxy devices patches more than 70 vulnerabilities. Around 50 of those are Android OS patches from Google and other partner vendors. Google labeled four of them as critical flaws. The 23 Galaxy-specific patches include one critical vulnerability that allowed local attackers to access protected data. It affected Galaxy smartphones and tablets running Android 11, Android 12, and Android 13. Installing the latest security update will keep your device safe from all of these vulnerabilities. After the United States initiative to boost its semiconductor manufacturing capabilities and reduce its reliance on Taiwan, the EU is also taking significant steps to strengthen its semiconductor industry with its own Chips Act. According to a report from the South China Morning Post, the European Union plans to reduce its dependence on US and Asian suppliers with a $47 billion investment, aiming to increase the EUs share of global chip output to 20% within a decade. While initially, the European Commission proposed funding only for advanced chip plants, in the wake of the global chip shortage, the EU governments and lawmakers further expanded the scope to include the entire value chain, including older chips and research and design facilities. Additionally, this expansion is also in response to the growing importance of Belgium-based IMEC, a leading innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies. With over 600 major industry players, lawmakers see IMEC as a significant reason to invest more in research and development. Advertisement Funding negotiations and potential deal clinching EU countries and lawmakers will meet at the European Parliaments monthly session in Strasbourg on April 18th to negotiate the funding details for the Act. And, according to sources familiar with the matter, the likelihood of clinching a deal is high. However, discussions so far have pointed to a 400 million shortfall, but the EU executive has reportedly secured the bulk of the funds. Moreover, the EUs move to provide funding for the entire value chain will also address the complaints of smaller EU countries about being left out after Intel and STMicroelectronics announced plans to build chip manufacturing facilities in Germany and France, respectively. The EU Chips Act is a significant step towards boosting the European semiconductor industry and its success will be crucial in securing the EUs position in the global technology landscape and reducing its reliance on Taiwan and the United States. Google CEO Sundar Pichai has confirmed that GPT-style conversational AI would be added to the search. Speaking with The Wall Street Journal, Pichai asserted that users could ask questions from Google and engage with LLMs. Google has been the dominant power of the Internet search business for many years, and no rival could threaten the companys reign. With ChatGPT, however, everything changed, and Googles dominance was in danger. Microsoft seized the opportunity to invest in ChatGPT and integrate it into its search engine Bing. Bing is now using GPT-4, which is the most advanced language model developed by OpenAI. With Microsoft empowering its search business with ChatGPT, Google also wants to bring conversational AI to its search product. The company CEO says he saw AI not as a threat but as a way to expand the search business. The opportunity space, if anything, is bigger than before, Pichai added. Google search will soon get GPT-style conversational AI Given that Google holds 93.4% of the worldwide Internet search share, adding conversational AI to the search product will significantly impact the Internet and user behavior. Users are using ChatGPT to revoke parking tickets and many other things that Google Search is now incapable of. Advertisement But with conversational AI and the amount of data Google gathers, the companys search business capabilities will tremendously increase. Microsoft stole the show with ChatGPT-powered Bing, but Google will undoubtedly catch up. Bard was Googles first initiative to compete with ChatGPT, but it must be integrated with search products. It also lags behind ChatGPT in many ways, but the company CEO promised an upgrade last week that adds a more advanced language model to Bard. World tech leaders recently wrote an open letter to warn that the AI race has become out of control and that all AI experiments should be halted for six months. Google CEO, however, said he isnt worried about AI safety because you have to anticipate this and evolve to meet that moment. He also added the topic needs a lot of debate. The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite launched a couple of days ago. The phone got announced in India, and we were wondering in what markets will the phone be offered later on. Well, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite will be offered in the US, but under a different name. The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is coming to the US under a different name This does make sense, as the Nord N20 was on offer since April last year. OnePlus did not officially confirm this, though. A user shared some evidence of this on the OnePlus forums. He dug around the archive containing software builds. There, he spotted the OnePlus Nord N30 5G name, which more or less proves that a market-specific variant is coming. Chances are that this phone will be identical to the variant that already launched. The device will be available from OnePlus directly, but also from T-Mobile. The phones FCC ID is also mentioned in this software library, which only further confirms that the phone is coming to the US. Advertisement The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite aka Nord N30 features three cameras on the back, and a flat display on the front. A display camera hole is included in the package, and the bottom bezel is slightly thicker than the rest of them. The device features a 120Hz display, and a 108-megapixel main camera This smartphone comes with a 6.72-inch fullHD+ LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The phone is fueled by the Snapdragon 695 SoC, and it packs in 8GB of RAM. Two storage models were announced initially, 128GB and 256GB models. Both of them offer storage expansion, by the way. A 5,000mAh battery is also included in the package, and the phone supports 67W SuperVOOC fast charging. Android 13 comes pre-installed on the device, along with OxygenOS 13.1. You will find a 108-megapixel main camera on the back of the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite. A 2-megapixel depth camera also sits on the back, and the same goes for a 2-megapixel macro camera. Advertisement If youd like to know more about the device, click here. Were still not sure when will the Nord N30 arrive to the US, but chances are it will happen at some point this month. Einen Baren in so schlechter Verfassung haben wir seit Jahren nicht gesehen: Dawns Geschichte 7. April 2023 Unser Rettungsteam glaubte, schon alles gesehen zu haben. Insgesamt haben unsere Rettungsteams Hunderte von Baren von Gallefarmen weggeholt und weitere Hunderte versorgt. Sie verfugen uber die Erfahrungen aus Jahrzehnten, wenn es um seelisch und korperlich gebrochene Baren geht. Doch als Dawn in unserem Rettungszentrum Vietnam eintraf, nachdem wir sie und vier andere Mondbaren von einer Barengallefarm in Vietnam gerettet hatten, waren wir erschuttert und zutiefst betroffen uber ihr Verhalten. In den ersten Tagen nach der Ankunft in unserem Rettungszentrum, als die Baren in Quarantane waren, wollten wir es ihnen so behaglich wie moglich machen und ihnen das Gefuhl der Sicherheit geben, erklart Heidi Quine, Leiterin der Abteilung fur Baren und veterinarmedizinische Versorgung in unserem Rettungszentrum Vietnam. Sie fahrt fort: Doch Dawn reagierte nicht. Sie hatte sich zu einer Kugel zusammengerollt, das Gesicht von uns abgewandt, den Kopf wiegte sie immer wieder hin und her. Heidi erklart, wie es dazu gekommen war, dass Dawn sich so abgeschlossen hat, und wie unser Team alles in seiner Macht Stehende tut, um ihr dabei zu helfen, gesund zu werden Zwanzig Jahre auf einer Gallefarm Dawn hat sich jetzt emotional vollig verschlossen. Sie verbrachte 20 Jahre auf einer Farm, und in der Zeit spielte es keine Rolle, was sie tat, ob sie sich auflehnte oder alles akzeptierte: das Schlimme geschah ihr so oder so immer wieder. Ich mochte Sie, die Sie dies lesen, bitten, einmal innezuhalten und daruber nachzudenken, wo Sie sich vor 20 Jahren befanden, und was seitdem alles passiert ist. Und dann stellen Sie sich vor, dass in derselben Zeit, in der all diese Erinnerungen entstanden, unsere geliebte Dawn Gefangene der Barengalleindustrie war. Ich glaube, zuerst begehrte sie dagegen auf, und dann war sie gebrochen und gab auf. Vertrauen lernen Dawn zeigt alle Symptome dessen, was wir Menschen Stress und Angst nennen wurden. Und das kann sich, wie wir wissen, sehr stark auf die Fahigkeit eines Menschen und, ja, auch eines Baren auswirken, sich angemessen zu verhalten, zu lernen und Fortschritte zu machen. Und wir mochten, dass Dawn lernt: dass sie in Sicherheit ist, dass sie geliebt wird, dass das Leben anders sein kann und anders sein wird als das, was wie bislang erlebt hat. Eine Mischung unterschiedlicher Ansatze zur Barenheilung Unsere Teams fur Baren und Veterinarmedizin haben einen kompletten Verhaltensbericht uber Dawn erstellt, der skizziert, wie wir ihr helfen werden, diese Anfangshurden zu uberwinden. In unseren Rettungszentren hier in Vietnam und China verfolgen wir einen sachverstandig zusammengestellten Ansatz zur Rehabilitation der Baren, bei dem Erkenntnisse der Verhaltensforschung und der Veterinarmedizin vereint sind. Zu unserem Plan fur Dawn gehort es, ihr ein Medikament namens Fluoxetin zu verabreichen, ein Antidepressivum. Unsere Tierarzte glauben, dass sich das Gehirn der Baren durch jahrelangen Stress verandern kann, und wenn wir Dawn dieses Medikament geben, wird ihr Geist hoffentlich mit der Heilung beginnen konnen, sodass wir Zugang zu ihrem Herzen erlangen und allmahlich ihr Vertrauen gewinnen. Wir werden Dawn niemals aufgeben Ich kenne keinen einzigen Baren, dessen Vertrauen wir nicht gewonnen hatten. Und ich wei, das wird uns auch bei Dawn gelingen. Ich habe Dawn versprochen, dass wir sie wieder zusammenfugen werden, und eines Tages werden wir Ihnen die Geschichte erzahlen konnen, wie sie ihre ersten Schritte drauen unternimmt, das Gras unter ihren Pfoten und die Sonnenwarme auf ihrem Pelz spurt, wie sie ihre ersten Barenfreunde kennenlernt und wie sie schlielich erfahrt, was es heit, ein Bar zu sein. Es gibt noch weitere Baren wie Dawn da drauen Animals Asia hat es sich zur Aufgabe gemacht, die letzten Baren zu retten, die noch auf Gallefarmen in Vietnam leben die meisten von ihnen in der Region, aus der Dawn gerettet wurde. Bitte schlieen Sie sich heute unserem Barenrettungsteam an, und gemeinsam werden wir sie alle erreichen und sie nach Hause in unser neues Rettungszentrum bringen. Lesen Sie weiter: Funf Baren aus Brennpunkt der Gallefarmen gerettet (ANSA) - ROME, APR 7 - 'Designing Future Society for Our Lives' is the theme of the upcoming Expo 2025 Osaka, which places the human being at the centre of development and innovation with the goal of creating a major event centered on the humanism of life sciences, economic and social policies, technologies and the digitization of learning systems and information and communication. The theme of the Italian Pavilion is 'Art Regenerates Life'. "We want to bring to Osaka Italian know-how and Italian art, interpreted in its many declensions and in the broadest possible sense, as a creative human action, the result of inspiration, the bearer not only of innovation but also of fundamental values for the future of human and social relations," said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani. "The uniqueness of this proposal lies in Italy's millennial vocation to bring about through art - also understood as science, technology and philosophy as well as the new frontiers of design and digital - the emancipation of man and his ability to regenerate himself in order to face the future challenges affecting our society," continued the minister. "Italy and Japan continue to experience shared crucial historical moments and challenges, such as the rapid ageing of the population, the effects of the pandemic and of digitalization of social relations among the younger generations, and the scarcity of resources. At the same time, our peoples are known around the world for the innovative solutions with which they have tackled difficult historical moments, for their respect for the arts, for excelling in the field of technology, and for the love and attention they devote to culture and identity, which are also expressed through their culinary traditions". These issues were addressed by Minister Tajani during his mission to Japan on April 13-18. The Italian Pavilion 'Art Regenerates Life' concept must therefore aim to show how human action and creation can have a positive impact on the lives of people and the planet. The Pavilion, with its interactive installations, must be seen as a multi-sensorial experience combining art, nature and technology. It will describe Italy, presenting a fresh image of the country while at the same time remaining faithful to its deep-rooted identity; the image of a nation that strengthens its cultural heritage and at the same time positions itself at the forefront of scientific and technological innovation. The technical specifications for the design and construction should incorporate the requirements stipulated by the Organizer and the BIE, as well as the applicable local rules and regulations, in light of the Design Guidelines drawn up by the Commissioner's Office. The ability to convey the Italian identity, bringing together skills, talents and cultures, will be decisive, since this is a major opportunity for the country for competition in a crucial geographical area such as Asia. The bidding process - with an auction base of 16,250,000.00 and a maximum value of 24,000,000.00 - has been launched by Invitalia as the Central Contracting Authority on behalf of the General Commissioner for the Italian participation in Expo 2025 Osaka. Bids must be submitted by May 15, 2023, at 15:00. The deadline for interested economic operators to request clarifications is Friday May 5, 2023, exclusively via the telematic platform in the designated "Messages" area. The bids will be opened on May 15, 2023, at 15:30. The procedure is scheduled to close in July with the awarding of the contract, which will include the creation and development of the concept and exhibition route, production of the general design (first-level design) and final design (second and final-level design), as well as the construction, routine and special maintenance, with the option of dismantling. All other information is contained in the call for tender on the website of the Commissariat General, www.italyexpo2025osaka.it. (ANSA). A 12-year-old boy has been charged with murdering a 60-year-old pillar of her community who was hit by a car. South Yorkshire Police said the boy, who cannot be identified due to his age, will appear before Sheffield Youth Court on Saturday charged with murdering grandmother Marcia Grant. Emergency services were called at 7.10pm on Wednesday to reports of a collision between a car and a woman in the Greenhill area of the city. Marcia Grant (South Yorkshire Police/PA) Mrs Grant has yet to be formally identified but her family has released a statement, saying: Marcia was a warm, loving and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend and a pillar of her community. Her loss has already sent shockwaves through all who knew her or was lucky enough to be included in her orbit. We ask for privacy at this time while further investigations are under way and the family try to come to terms with this enormous loss. Police remained outside a semi-detached house on Hemper Lane, in Sheffield, on Thursday evening. A number of floral tributes had been left outside the property which had police tape across the driveway. One message read: Im so sorry for your loss. She was a beautiful soul. A 13-year-old who previously went viral after raising more than 250,000 for Ukrainian children via a raffle to win his handmade wooden bowl hopes his latest fundraiser will have the same magical energy. Gabriel Clark became a viral sensation last year when his Bowl for Ukraine a wooden bowl he carved, which was etched with a blue-and-yellow ring in the colours of the Ukrainian flag garnered the attention of avid supporters, who helped him to raise a staggering amount for Save the Children, following a social media post from his father Richard. This year, the 13-year-old who lives in Cumbria has decided to create another bowl, called The Hope Bowl, which was inspired after seeing how the money from his first fundraiser has benefited children in a school in Warsaw, Poland, last week. Gabriel told the PA news agency: I had an absolutely amazing time. All the children were so polite and they had amazing English. 13-year-old Gabriel Clark playing ping pong with children in a school who have benefited from a fundraiser he set up (Save the Children) We played some traditional Ukrainian board games I got horribly beaten in a game of ping pong and I painted wooden eggs with the children, which is very traditional for Ukrainians. It was really interesting to learn about their culture and experience that firsthand. Gabriel Clark getting a painting from Karina at the school her name has been changed (Save the Children) He added that what stood out to him the most was how much the children were just like me and my friends. It just stuck with me so much that there were so many children that, despite what they have been through, were so similar to me there was one that did Taekwondo and another that played the drums. But I think the highlight of the trip was being given a beautiful blue-and-yellow painting by a young girl called Karina (whose name has been changed for safeguarding reasons), that represents Ukrainian fields and sky. It now hangs on my wall above my desk. Easter eggs which Gabriel painted with children he visited in the school in Warsaw, Poland (Save the Children) The school supports more than 450 children from Ukraine aged between six and 17 to study the Ukrainian curriculum in their native language, as well as providing Polish language lessons. This year, Gabriel is raising money for Save the Childrens Emergency Fund, to support children further afield, in places including East Africa. I feel as though children can sometimes be underappreciated and they need our support because they cant work to earn money to help themselves, Gabriel said. And the world has so many issues with it so I think if I can do my part to straighten some of them out then I want to try. Gabriel working on his bowl next to an image of his finished bowl (Save the Children) His bowl took him 10 hours to turn and includes three types of wood ash, sapele and zebrano which represent three of the main areas of Save the Childrens work around the world education, food and medicine. I wanted to use different types of wood to make the bowl stripy or segmented to represent the different countries Save the Children work in and to show how they help different people around the world, Gabriel added. Gabriel has already raised more than 6,000 and added that seeing people support his project both via his fundraising page and on his Instagram page where he documents the journey behind making the bowl has been amazing. Im delighted by how well its going and everyone is so nice. I was not sure if I would get a similar response or not and the support really keeps me going and inspires me. Reminiscing on his first fundraiser, Gabriel said: Presenting the Baftas with Jason Isaacs was a real highlight for me. He was so sweet, hes just an absolutely brilliant guy. And getting support from Stephen Fry and JK Rowling and Cher just blew me away. A draw for the bowl closes on April 14, and Gabriel hopes it provides some joy around the Easter period. Gabriel Clark said he hopes his bowl provides some Easter cheer for the winner of the draw (Save the Children) I wanted to make a bowl to support Save the Children, but also give people something to look forward to and bring back some of that magical energy that happened in 2022, he added. Gabriels father Richard, 53, a writer and TV director added: This project was hugely ambitious and it was much more work from the ground up this time round. Gabriels spent weeks planning and designing the bowl and then going to Poland. Piecing the bowl together was also incredibly tricky because it involved gluing several pieces of wood together and there was a real danger that because the woods have different densities, when you turn it, it could explode. Gabriel Clark working on his bowl (Save the Children) Mr Clark said that Gabriel also hoped to demonstrate the strides made in his woodworking skills since last year. We are hugely proud of him for also giving up a lot of his Easter holidays to create and promote the bowl and bring some Easter cheer, he added. Lisa Aubrey, head of regional fundraising and engagement at Save the Children, added: We are incredibly grateful for Gabriels continued support and everyone who has so far entered the draw for his latest wooden masterpiece. Our ambition to make the world a better place for children simply couldnt happen without the efforts of young people like Gabriel. The fundraiser can be found here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/thehopebowl Gabriels Instagram page can be accessed here: https://www.instagram.com/clarkie_woodwork/ The UK appealed for de-escalation as Israel launched strikes in southern Lebanon and bombed targets in the Gaza Strip in retaliation at rocket attacks. The cross-border fighting, while Jews are celebrating the Passover holiday and Muslims are marking Ramadan, erupted following violent scenes at Jerusalems Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon came after militants fired nearly three dozen rockets from there. The Israeli military said it targeted installations of Palestinian militant group Hamas in Lebanon. The UKs Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said both sides in the Israel-Palestine dispute should recommit themselves to a negotiated settlement. Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike in central Gaza Strip on Friday (Fatima Shbair/AP) He said: The UK condemns the indiscriminate rocket attacks from southern Lebanon and Gaza and recognises Israels right to self-defence. Now is the time for all parties across the region to de-escalate tensions. At the convergence of Passover, Ramadan and Easter, the UK calls for all parties to respect the historic status quo arrangements at Jerusalems holy sites and cease all provocative action. The UK is a strong supporter of freedom of religion or belief and calls for places of worship to be respected. We value Jordans important role as custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem and condemns the Israeli police violence at the Al Aqsa Mosque. When Israeli security forces conduct operations, they must ensure they are proportionate and in accordance with international law. In Jerusalem violence flared again at the Al Aqsa Mosque before dawn prayers, with Israeli police stationed at one of the gates forcibly dispersing vast crowds of worshippers who chanted praise for Hamas. Human rights campaign group Amnesty International UK criticised Mr Cleverlys response. The charitys Kristyan Benedict said: James Cleverlys belated response to shocking Israeli violence against Palestinians at Al Aqsa Mosque isnt just weak and tokenistic its also dangerously misguided because it effectively isolates individual incidents of violence from the overall context, which is decades of apartheid, occupation and systematic injustice against the Palestinian people. Despite the Foreign Secretarys usual platitudes about peace and de-escalation, the UK continues to oppose vital international measures such as the ongoing ICC (International Criminal Court) investigation, designed to bring justice and accountability for Israeli and Palestinian civilians. People from across Northern Irelands divided communities have come together at one of the regions most notorious peace walls to mark the anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. Northumberland Street in west Belfast connects the predominantly Catholic and nationalist Falls Road with the mainly Protestant and unionist Shankill Road. However, it remains divided 25 years after the historic peace accord with two sets of steel gates which are locked at night for security reasons. On the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, a peace line seems an appropriate place to be. At an event linking the Shankill and Falls on Northumberland St. Much achieved but much more to do. pic.twitter.com/yowGImwXZj Michael Long (@CllrMichaelLong) April 7, 2023 On Friday lunch time the former no-mans land was filled with people forming a human chain spanning the gates. Those attending included West Belfast MP Paul Maskey, Lord Mayor Tina Black and Alliance Party councillor Michael Long. The event was organised by Pastor Jack McKee, whose New Life City Church stands between the two gates. He said while the agreement has not been perfect, they wanted to mark the fact that the last 25 years were better than the previous 25 years. Pastor Jack McKee (Liam McBurney/PA). But the tragedy is that even during the past 25 years, there has not been a year gone by in Northern Ireland where someone has not died at the hands of paramilitaries or those connected to them, he said. As were singing and praying today, our prayers are beyond this day and that we will see an end to the violence. While the peace agreement is not perfect, its better than what it was, and our hope now is beyond today, that things will get even better, and the next 25 years will be even better for our children and our childrens children. Mr Maskey described the scene as very poignant. This is the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, its great to see, on the middle of a peaceline, people coming together from all sides of our community to celebrate what has been achieved over the last 25 years, but also look forward to the next 25 years and try and make an even more positive society today is a step in the right direction for that, he said. Current political leaders in Northern Ireland need to act with the same courage and vision as those who secured the Good Friday Agreement, the man who chaired the 1998 negotiations has said. Senator George Mitchell said history would judge favourably those who had helped to bring about the historic peace deal. Several events are taking place in Northern Ireland as people reflect 25 years on from the Good Friday Agreement. While the 25th anniversary of the signing of the accord is April 10, the holy day of Good Friday will always be associated with the diplomatic feat that brought 30 years of bloodshed largely to an end. A number of key architects of the deal as well as current politicians gathered for a commemorative event at Stormont. (l to r) Bertie Ahern, George Mitchell and Tony Blair after they signed the Good Friday peace agreement in 1998 (Dan Chung/PA) Delivering a video address, Mr Mitchell said the greatest heroes from that time were the people of Northern Ireland and their political leaders. He said: The people supported, worked for and established a democratic, peaceful process as their preferred form of governance. They rejected violence as a way to resolve their differences. Mr Mitchell said many politicians had taken huge risks. He added: But they did what was right for the people they represented and history will judge them favourably. The former senator said the Good Friday Agreement did not resolve all outstanding issues but that it did end political violence. The anniversary of the historic deal comes as Northern Irelands powersharing institutions remain collapsed in a protest by the DUP over post-Brexit trading arrangements. Mr Mitchell added: It is now up to the current leaders of Northern Ireland, of the United Kingdom, of Ireland, to act with the same courage and vision as did their predecessors 25 years ago. Current leaders can and must do whatever is necessary to preserve peace, to restore self-government to Northern Ireland, to ensure for those they represent freedom, hope and opportunity for all. Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern told the Stormont ceremony it was not fair to the people of Northern Ireland that some institutions of the Good Friday Agreement are not currently working. He said: Personally, I dont think it is sustainable or desirable or fair to the people of Northern Ireland that the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, whether they be here in the Assembly, the north south bodies or the British Irish council, are not working. I just wish that those who have the power nowadays to make these things happen will do so very quickly when these few weeks are over. Otherwise, our efforts are partially in vain and I dont think any of us wish that. A number of Northern Ireland politicians who helped to negotiate the peace deal also addressed the event. Former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams told the Stormont event countless lives had been saved by the Good Friday Agreement (Liam McBurney/PA) Former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said countless lives had been saved by the Good Friday Agreement. He said: The last 25 years have been up and down, and there have been many twists and turns, but one thing is for certain, we are all in a better place. Despite current challenges, the future is bright. If you doubt that, think of the countless lives that have been saved or reflect on events in other parts of the world at this time. Referring to a number of young people who took part in the ceremony, former Ulster Unionist leader Lord Empey said: They are the second generation that has grown up in this country who have no working knowledge of what violence and our Troubles meant. If theres nothing else it has achieved, that in itself is a victory. Former SDLP leader Mark Durkan said those who negotiated the agreement provided a lesson for today. He said: We can bring back the spirit and the ethic that they put into achieving the agreement. That sense of collective purpose, that ability to cut through all the noise of difference and create shared institutions and shared arrangements. Victims and survivors of the Troubles gather in Killough to watch the sun rise to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement (Liam McBurney/PA) On Friday morning, some victims of the Troubles gathered on a Co Down beach to watch the sun rise as they looked back on the deal that changed the regions future and became a blueprint for resolving global conflicts. In Belfast, people from the Shankill and Falls areas formed a human chain and stood in silence for 25 seconds. In Dublin, the names of the nearly 3,600 people who died as a result of conflict in Northern Ireland between 1966 and 2019 are being read out loud as part of a ceremony on St Stephens Green. Next week, US President Joe Biden will visit Belfast in a trip to commemorate a quarter of a decade since the US-brokered peace accord. The following week, further events will be held which are to be attended by former US president Bill Clinton and his wife, former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton. Family members of Troubles victims have been recalling the sense of hope brought about by the signing of the Good Friday Agreement 25 years ago. A number of victims and survivors gathered on the beach at Killough in Co Down on Friday morning to watch the sun rise to mark the anniversary of the historic peace deal. Paddy McKenna Gallagher (left) whose father Peter Gallagher was killed by the UDA as he was getting out of his work van and Louis Johnston whose father David Johnston, a serving police officer, was killed by the IRA (Liam McBurney/PA) Among them was Paddy McKenna Gallagher, whose father Peter Gallagher was shot as he went to work in 1993 by the UDA. He said he was 13 when the Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998. He said: I remember that feeling of hope that was everywhere at the time. There was that feeling that we young people were the future, that we had a much brighter future than our parents and the people who had lived throughout all of the Troubles. That has faded in terms of young peoples involvement in how we move forward, but it has been a success because people are not being murdered on the streets in the levels that they were. Mr McKenna Gallagher said the agreement should now evolve as society moves into the next 25 years. He said: The politics havent really worked but the people of this wee country are the success of the Good Friday Agreement. Louie Johnstons father David, a reserve constable in the RUC, was shot dead by the IRA nine months before the agreement was signed. He said: The Good Friday Agreement is important, it is important that we mark the occasion. I was only eight when the agreement was signed. I remember growing up at the tail-end of the Troubles, I have memories of the Troubles. The Troubles very directly came to my house. But I also remember that post the agreement I was able to grow up in relative peace, that is something that is very important, something that should be celebrated, that we were able to achieve that. Mr Johnston added: It has been successful in the terms that we have relative peace in Northern Ireland. Is the Agreement perfect? No, but what peace agreement is? There are always aspects that from the lens of history you might want to review or look at again. Josephine McAteer (left) whose father Gabriel Wiggins was killed in 1979 by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) when he answered a knock at the front door of his home and Alan McBride who lost his wife Sharon and father-in-law Desmond Frizzell in the Shankill Bomb panted by the IRA (Liam McBurney/PA) Josephine McAteers father Gabriel Wiggins was shot dead by loyalists. She said watching the sun rising symbolised a new beginning. Ms McAteer said the legacy of the Good Friday Agreement was peace in Northern Ireland. She said: Everybody wants to live in peace. We just have to agree. If we could all agree on one thing it would be peace. Let the orange and green go. Watching the sun come up is hope for new beginnings. Alan McBride, whose wife and father-in-law were both killed in the 1993 IRA Shankill bomb in Belfast, added: It was incredible being here with all these people, Catholic and Protestant, unionist and nationalist, republican and loyalist, we have all lost people. To look out at the sea and see the sun come up, that is the vision of the Good Friday Agreement, people standing together. The event in Co Down was organised by the Wave Trauma Centre. The firm which audits the SNPs accounts has resigned, it has emerged. Accountancy firm Johnston Carmichael informed the party that it took the decision after reviewing its client portfolio. Earlier this week, former chief executive Peter Murrell, who is Nicola Sturgeons husband, was arrested on Wednesday morning by police investigating the SNPs finances. He was later released without charge pending further investigation. The partys treasurer is now seeking another firm to audit the partys finances. An SNP spokesman said: We can confirm that Johnston Carmichael will not be providing audit services to the SNP this year. The national treasurer is undertaking a tendering process for alternative provision and we have advised the Electoral Commission of that position. The BBC reported that Johnston Carmichaels resignation took place before Mr Murrells arrest. Johnston Carmichael had worked with the party for more than a decade. They informed the party they had taken the decision to resign following a review of our client portfolio and existing resources and commitments. Large political parties are required to submit independently-audited accounts to the Electoral Commission each year. The decision means the SNP now have until the first week of July to present their accounts or face possible sanctions, including an independent audit. The SNP is seeking new auditors (Andrew Milligan/PA) On Thursday, new SNP leader Humza Yousaf said it was very, very clear that the governance of the party was not as it should be. He has promised a review of governance and transparency with external input, which will be discussed at a meeting of the partys national executive committee later this month. As Mr Murrell was arrested, a large number of police were seen entering he and Ms Sturgeons house in Glasgow as well as the SNPs offices in Edinburgh. A spokesman for Johnston Carmichael told the PA news agency: As a regulated organisation, we adhere to our obligations on client confidentiality and do not discuss client business. Conservative MSP Donald Cameron said: This resignation only raises further questions about the increasingly murky picture surrounding the SNPs finances. Given this firm have audited the partys accounts for so long, the SNP must be fully transparent over why they have decided to quit now. The extraordinary events of recent weeks leave the SNP with big questions to answer and their auditors resignation only adds to the growing number of issues they must address. The public are sick of the SNP shrouding matters relating to their finances behind a wall of secrecy and senior figures including Humza Yousaf and Nicola Sturgeon must be upfront about this situation. The Good Friday Agreement was not written in stone and can be changed to prevent the recurring deadlocks at Stormont, the deputy leader of the Alliance Party has said. The peace deal established a system of powersharing in a mandatory coalition at the Stormont Assembly. The Alliance Party does not designate in the Assembly as unionist or nationalist and have called for changes to the system, primarily moving away from community designation. Stephen Farry said this would diminish the veto power that has been used by both Sinn Fein and the DUP to block the formation of government. Mr Farry was a researcher for the party during the Good Friday Agreement negotiations in 1998. He said some of the details were rushed as the deal reached its conclusion. There is this sort of concept that the Good Friday Agreement was sort of written on tablets of stone and that people thought very carefully around every aspect and every word of the agreement, he said. In practice, the broad framework was clear from a very early stage, but a lot of the details were hammered out in probably the last week, and often in a somewhat rushed way. So there wasnt, shall we say, deep intellectual thinking going in behind the precise details of how everything was worked out. Stephen Farry MP, deputy leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (Liam McBurney/PA) Mr Farry said the partys concerns on powersharing were not fully accommodated in the deal. Its probably fair to say at the same time though, while we were very enthusiastic about the agreement, understood its significance for Northern Ireland moving forward, we did have some degree of concern about some of the details that were emerging at that time because they werent necessarily consistent with our particular model of powersharing, he said. He added: We had quite considerable reservations around issues such as designations, the mandatory form of coalition that was put in place. We saw those as, first of all, institutionalising division in society and also being too rigid. Stephen Farry MP is open to reform (Liam McBurney/PA) The Stormont government has collapsed a number of times in the past 25 years, most recently due to the DUPs protest against post-Brexit trade agreements. Mr Farry said that, if the type of reforms his party are now suggesting had been present in the Good Friday Agreement, Stormont would have seen less turbulence. We would have had a much more open and flexible system to manage those stress points that could have emerged during that process, he said And also if people felt that they didnt have a veto, they maybe wouldnt have made the same threats and ultimatums or indeed walked away, so I think we could have had a different future if we had of had maybe a different institutional design from the start. And the agreement itself always allowed for its own reform and evolution. Mr Farry added: We could have had a different future and a different path, but its not too late to change. Jeremy Renner has said he has no regrets about his serious snowplough accident earlier this year, and would do it again to save his nephew. The Marvel star, 52, said he was so grateful and forever in debt to those who had helped him in the aftermath of the incident, which took place near his US home on January 1. Renner was crushed by his own six-tonne snowploughing machine as he tried to help his nephew, Alexander Fries, free another vehicle. He was later air-lifted to hospital in Reno, Nevada, with significant injuries, that included over 30 broken bones. The Marvel star, 52, said he was so grateful and forever in debt to those who had helped him in the aftermath of the incident (PA) In an exclusive interview with journalist Diane Sawyer, broadcast on US network ABC on Thursday, he recalled the incident and detailed his ongoing physical and mental recovery. He told Sawyer he had been a dummy for stepping out of the vehicle while it was moving, saying: It was my mistake, and I paid for it. Asked if he remembered the pain, he replied: Oh yeah, I was awake through every moment. Its exactly like you imagined it would feel Its hard to imagine what that feels like It felt like someone took the wind out of you. Too many things are going on (in) the body to feel. Pain is everything its like if your soul could feel pain. I did one interview about last New Years Day incident with @DianeSawyer Tune in this week of you want to know the whole story. Bless you all pic.twitter.com/UpeofhqKxZ Jeremy Renner (@JeremyRenner) April 4, 2023 Recalling his thoughts at the time of the incident he continued: I said, Oh, that (leg), that ones really messed up that legs (going to) be a problem. (Im thinking) Whats my body (going to) look like? Am I just gonna be like a spine and a brain like a science experiment? But Renner added that he refused to be haunted by the incident, despite being triggered by the painful memories of what had occurred. Yeah, no regrets. I would do it again, he said. I refuse to have that be a trauma and it be a negative experience. That is a man Im proud of because I wouldnt let that happen to my nephew. So shift the narrative of being victimised or making a mistake or anything else. I refuse to be f****** haunted by that memory that way. The special programme also included parts of the 911 call made following the incident, as well as footage of Renner in hospital and physical therapy, with doctors praising both his physical and mental strength. The actor said he had used sign language to say Im sorry to his family because he felt bad his own actions had caused so much pain. I did that to them, its my responsibility you know? I felt bad that my actions had caused so much pain, he told Sawyer. This is what I talk to my family about from all their perspectives, which are horrifying, that I put upon them. What we just endured. Thats real love. Its suffering but that feeds the seeds of what love is. Becoming emotional he went on to describe how he had also written down what he believed might be his last words to his family while at the hospital. Dont let me live on tubes on a machine on drugs and painkillers. Just let me go now, he said. Renner has since returned to his Los Angeles home to continue his recovery, keeping fans updated on social media. During the programme Renner spoke to the first people that came to his aid his neighbours Rich Kovach and Barb Fletcher. Ms Fletcher said she had felt as though she had lost him for a second as she cradled the actors head in the snow and watched him turn a grey-green colour. I really felt he had passed away for a few seconds, she said. Speaking to the pair on the phone, Renner told them: It took an army to keep this old sucker alive and Im so grateful and forever in debt. If I was alone, if no one was there, Id be dead in front of your place. Renner has vowed to return to public life soon, and recently announced a new show on Disney+, Rennervations, in which he helps re-purpose used vehicles to help struggling communities. When asked about returning to do stunts as a Marvel superhero, he laughed and replied: Im okay with a stunt guy doing it. Im 52 Ive done enough. Ive lost a lot of flesh and bone in this experience, but Ive been refuelled and refilled with love and titanium. The Lord Speaker has renewed concerns that Parliaments upper chamber needs more independent and expert peers amid ongoing controversy over the appointments process. Lord McFall told The Guardian an eagle eye must be kept on the composition of the House, which he said was in danger of falling out of sync with its balance of legislators. It comes amid a row over plans by former prime ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss to hand peerages to dozens of allies and donors. Lord McFall with the King, Queen Consort and the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle (PA) The Lord Speaker, who has a neutral role, stressed he was making no direct criticism about recent peerages choices, according to the paper. But he said too many politicians without enough outside experts in the Lords could undermine its role in taking a wider view of legislation. The House of Lords doesnt challenge the House of Commons but it complements it, so the composition of the House of Lords has to be different from the House of Commons, he told the paper. Lord McFall is meeting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to urge him to lift the cap limiting the number of non-party expert peers that can be created by the House of Lords Appointment Commission (HOLAC) which is currently set at a maximum of two a year. The threshold was imposed as a temporary measure by David Cameron in 2012 but has never been lifted. From 2011 to 2022, HOLAC has created just 17 new peers out of nearly 400 in total over the same period. The Speaker, a former Labour MP who has previously called for reform of the Lords, argued that full-scale replacement with an entirely elected upper chamber would create fundamental challenges to the ability to deliver good and effective legislation. The Lords is under renewed scrutiny after former prime minister Boris Johnson faced allegations of using it to reward cronies and continuing the appointment of wealthy party donors. Tory peer Lady Mone has taken a leave of absence to fight allegations that she may have profited from PPE contracts worth more than 200 million after recommending a firm to ministers in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. And Ms Truss, whose 49 days in Downing Street made her the shortest serving prime minister in British political history, has reportedly been putting forward former aides and backers for a seat in the upper chamber as part of the honours a prime minister can recommend following their resignation. Labour and the Liberal Democrats have called on her successor Rishi Sunak to block the nominations. This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices. A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after one person, believed to be a woman, died in a fire at a block of flats in east London. Five others were taken to hospital following the blaze on Tollgate Road in Beckton, Newham, at around 5.28pm on Thursday. London Fire Brigade (LFB) said the person who died was found in a second-floor flat and was pronounced dead at the scene. A spokesperson for LFB said: The stairwell from the ground floor to the second floor of a residential block was destroyed by fire. Half of the second floor was also damaged by the blaze. Police said investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: It is believed that there has been one female fatality and a number of others injured. One male has been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the incident and inquiries are ongoing. The London Ambulance Service said five ambulance crews and the air ambulance attended the scene. A spokesperson said: We treated five patients before taking them to hospital. Sadly, a person was pronounced dead at the scene. Deepest thanks to @LFBNewham fire fighters, @MPSNewham and @Ldn_Ambulance for their emergency response efforts. @NewhamLondon officers are working closely with them to support affected residents. Tollgate Road E6 cordoned off in response to todays serious incident. https://t.co/hOcs9TcZ2S Rokhsana Fiaz OBE (@rokhsanafiaz) April 6, 2023 The mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz, said she was deeply saddened by the incident. She wrote on Twitter: Deepest thanks to @LFBNewham fire fighters, @MPSNewham and @Ldn_Ambulance for their emergency response efforts. @NewhamLondon officers are working closely with them to support affected residents. She added: We are deeply saddened by the news that there has been one fatality already from the fire that broke out in flats in Beckton. Our deepest condolences to loved ones now in mourning. More than 1,300 offshore workers are to stage a 48-hour strike in a dispute over pay. Unite warned that dozens of oil and gas platforms will be brought to a standstill by the walkout from April 24. The union has previously warned of a tsunami of industrial unrest in the offshore sector over pay and conditions. Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: Oil and gas companies in the offshore sector are enjoying record windfall profits. Theres no question that contractors and operators can easily afford to give Unite members a decent pay rise. The scale of corporate greed in the offshore sector has to be challenged. 1,350 offshore workers will now take part in an unprecedented tsunami of industrial action over 48 hours with hundreds more set to join them. Unite will support all our members every step of the way in this fight for better jobs, pay and conditions. Workers taking industrial action include electrical, production and mechanical technicians in addition to deck crew, scaffolders crane operators, pipefitters, platers and riggers. John Boland, Unite industrial officer, added: Unite has received an emphatic mandate in support of strike action. It is historic and it will be the biggest offshore stoppage in a generation. Unites members are determined to get their fair share and to establish a better working environment. This is not exclusively about pay but also working rotas, holidays, and offshore safety. The workforce has been taken for granted for years but now their value will be acutely felt when strike action will bring dozens of platforms to a standstill. The political vacuum in Northern Ireland is not to blame for an increased threat from dissident republicans, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said. The PSNI has warned of the potential of dissidents launching attacks on their officers in Londonderry on Easter Monday. But Sir Jeffrey said the idea that the collapse of the powersharing institutions had fuelled violence doesnt stack up. While Stormont was sitting for many years these dissident republicans engaged in violence, they murdered police officers, he told BBC Radio Four. The DUP leader added: I remember during one sitting of the Assembly they murdered two soldiers in Co Antrim as they were preparing for deployment to Afghanistan. Of course we want to see Stormont fully functioning, but the idea that when we get Stormont back up and running, that dissident republicans will put their guns away, I didnt hear the Chief Constable (Simon Byrne) suggest that. The idea that evil men and women who go out to commit murder react to political circumstances simply doesnt stack up. Some of the Chief Constables police officers have been murdered by these dissident republicans while Stormont has been sitting and indeed they have murdered other people and they have continued with their terrorist activity during all of the period that Stormont was sitting. All of the party leaders have stood together in solidarity with the Chief Constable when these attacks have taken place. MI5 recently raised the terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland to severe, meaning an attack is highly likely. This followed the gun attack on senior detective John Caldwell in Co Tyrone, who has been left with life-changing injuries. Police have blamed the New IRA for the attack. Mr Byrne said that more officers would be moved to frontline duties to counter any potential threats. Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Simon Byrne has warned about a threat to his officers from dissident republicans (Liam McBurney/PA) The DUP has withdrawn its support for the powersharing institutions as part of its protest against post-Brexit trading arrangements. Earlier this year, the UK Government and EU unveiled the Windsor Framework to mitigate some of the trading difficulties which had been caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol. While the DUP says the framework has gone some way to address its concerns, it feels some significant problems remain and has made clear its boycott will continue until it secures further assurances. Sir Jeffrey said his party would be considering a report within the next few days from a consultative panel he established on the framework. He said: It was in Washington that I gave the response, I indicated that there were a number of major areas of concern that we had about the Windsor Framework, that we were engaged in a consultation process. We consult with our people, we talk to our people, we listen to their views. I now have the report from our consultation panel. They have consulted widely with business, with people in the community, we have got that report. We will consider that report in the next few days and then we will go to the Government with the outcome of our consultation and we will press the government on the need to bring forward the legislation they have promised to protect Northern Irelands ability to trade within the United Kingdom and to restore our place within the UK. That is the key to unlocking the door to Stormont. Former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has said the DUP should be given a limited amount of time to make a decision on the Windsor Framework, but if the party does not return to Stormont the British and Irish governments should step in. Speaking to RTE, Mr Adams said the Good Friday Agreement provided for a British and Irish intergovernmental conference. Its rarely been called, the Irish government have not been proactive on it. It deals with non-devolved matters, issues pertinent to our current situation. However, he claimed Sir Jeffrey knows that his party will return to power-sharing. Basically, hes refusing to go into an Assembly over an issue which the Assembly has no responsibility for, or authority over, and can do very little about. Two British-Israeli sisters were killed and their mother badly injured in a gun attack on their car in the West Bank. The attack took place near an Israeli settlement in the Jordan Valley and the girls father witnessed the incident from a separate car following behind, local officials said. In London, the Foreign Office confirmed the deaths and appealed for all sides in the Israel-Palestine dispute to de-escalate a situation which has seen violence flare up in recent days. There was further bloodshed in Tel Aviv, as Britons were reportedly among those injured when a car rammed into a group of people near a popular seaside park. An Italian man was killed in the attack, but reports suggested Britons were among six people injured. Israeli security forces examine the scene of a shooting near the Israeli settlement of Hamra in West Bank at the Jordan Valley (AP) The family of the two sisters killed in the West Bank were residents of the Efrat settlement, near the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, according to Oded Revivi, the settlements mayor. He said: With great sorrow we received an update on a shocking terrorist attack in which terrorists shot a car including a mother and her two daughters, residents of Efrat. The two girls were murdered and the mother is in (a) critical condition and we all pray for her quick recovery. The father of the family who drove in another car from the front turned around and witnessed the efforts to take care of his wife and daughters. A Foreign Office spokesman said: We are saddened to hear about the deaths of two British-Israeli citizens and the serious injuries sustained by a third individual. Two Israeli border police officers are deployed to keep order while Palestinians cross from the West Bank into Jerusalem, for the third Fridays Ramadan prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound (AP) The UK calls for all parties across the region to de-escalate tensions. Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said: I am shocked by reports of the killing of two British sisters in an appalling and cowardly attack in the West Bank. My thoughts are with their family and loved ones. More civilian victims of this cycle of violence show the urgent need for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly had earlier called for calm after Israel launched strikes in southern Lebanon and bombed targets in the Gaza Strip in retaliation over rocket attacks. The cross-border fighting, while Jews are celebrating the Passover holiday and Muslims are marking Ramadan, erupted following violent scenes at Jerusalems Al-Aqsa Mosque. I am shocked by reports of the killing of two British sisters in an appalling and cowardly attack in the West Bank. My thoughts are with their family and loved ones. More civilian victims of this cycle of violence show the urgent need for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate. David Lammy (@DavidLammy) April 7, 2023 The Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon came after militants fired nearly three dozen rockets from there. The Israeli military said it targeted installations of the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Lebanon. Mr Cleverly said both sides in the Israel-Palestine dispute should recommit themselves to a negotiated settlement. Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike in central Gaza Strip on Friday (AP) He said: The UK condemns the indiscriminate rocket attacks from southern Lebanon and Gaza and recognises Israels right to self-defence. Now is the time for all parties across the region to de-escalate tensions. At the convergence of Passover, Ramadan and Easter, the UK calls for all parties to respect the historic status quo arrangements at Jerusalems holy sites and cease all provocative action. The UK is a strong supporter of freedom of religion or belief and calls for places of worship to be respected. We value Jordans important role as custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem and condemns the Israeli police violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. When Israeli security forces conduct operations, they must ensure they are proportionate and in accordance with international law. In Jerusalem, violence flared again at the Al-Aqsa Mosque before dawn prayers, with Israeli police stationed at one of the gates forcibly dispersing vast crowds of worshippers who chanted praise for Hamas. Human rights campaign group Amnesty International UK criticised Mr Cleverlys response. The charitys Kristyan Benedict said: James Cleverlys belated response to shocking Israeli violence against Palestinians at Al-Aqsa Mosque isnt just weak and tokenistic its also dangerously misguided because it effectively isolates individual incidents of violence from the overall context, which is decades of apartheid, occupation and systematic injustice against the Palestinian people. Despite the Foreign Secretarys usual platitudes about peace and de-escalation, the UK continues to oppose vital international measures such as the ongoing ICC (International Criminal Court) investigation, designed to bring justice and accountability for Israeli and Palestinian civilians. Local level contact between women across the divide during Northern Irelands darkest days helped pave the way for the peace process, a leading community worker has said. Scores of women, who rarely made the headlines, founded the first domestic violence refuges, integrated schools, supported victims and and fostered relationship across the towering peace walls. In 1998 when the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement was signed, talks chair Senator George Mitchell paid tribute to the people of Northern Ireland as the real heroes and heroines of the peace process. International Fund for Ireland boss Paddy Harte echoed this and also emphasised the role of women, describing an awful lot of work in extraordinary times which created the building blocks which led up to the peace accord. Then prime minister Tony Blair (right), then US Senator George Mitchell (centre) and then Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern after they signed the Good Friday peace agreement (File/PA) Avila Kilmurray said apple tarts were among the tactics used to keep all sides engaging with each other. She said there was a lot of politics going on at a local level during the Troubles which really had more of an impact on peoples lives. Originally from Dublin, Ms Kilmurray was drawn to the political situation in Northern Ireland in the late 1960s-70s, and was recruited by the Quakers to work in Londonderry. She got involved in the early days of the womens and community movement, and helped to set up the first Womens Aid refuge in the city, despite officials telling her there was no need for it. You had back channel communication between community activists on both the West Bank and the Waterside, both over socio-economic issues but also over threats being made, pressure being put on people to shift their housing, she told the PA news agency. It was very much based on relationships, community activists respecting each other, working together to improve their areas. She said 1981 saw the start of the Womens Information Network in the greater Belfast area to bring together local groups once a month, initially in neutral areas before going into each others areas. That actually broke down some of the stereotypes because people were being told, the others have it better than you, but when they met in each others centres, they realised they had very similar problems, she said. There was an amazing woman called Kathleen Feenan, who was co-ordinator of that, asked how she kept people together and stopped it splitting, she said she kept an eye on who did not come, and turned up at their door with an apple tart, and they had to invite her in for tea. It was literally that simple theory, if someone wasnt turning up, going and asking them, and see how the issue could be resolved. It was almost like the research and development side of peace building because women felt freer to move and talk to each other, partially because they were being ignored, but that gave a degree of confidence so when there were more macro political moves, it wasnt coming completely unawares. Anne Carr (Liam McBurney/PA) Anne Carr started her community involvement through joining the integrated education movement, helping to set up the first formally integrated primary school in Newcastle, Co Down. She went on to work for Women Together campaigning to end the violence in Northern Ireland and raising key issues such as the needs of victims of the Troubles. They helped support the start of the Wave Trauma Centre. Our journey in Women Together was about getting out and campaigning, we organised many campaigns and held vigils wherever there was a serious incident, to say it doesnt matter whos involved, what side of the community, we have to stop this violence, we have to support the families and build a society based on fairness and justice for all, she said. Ms Carr also got involved with the Yes campaign in the referendum for the 1998 agreement, helping to create documents and run workshops to aid peoples understanding of the text. Women Together became Community Dialogue and focused on bringing people together. Our dialogues were about getting the broadest number of views and opinions together and encouraging people to have those conversations, she said. We were dealing with people who couldnt sit in the same room often, but when we had created the right spaces and they could, amazing things happened. It was about developing peaceful relationships, that was my lifes work. By Lisa Richwine LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Oscar-nominated actor Jeremy Renner said he was at fault in a New Year's Day snowplow accident that left him close to death and that he apologized to his family for putting them through the ordeal. Renner, in an interview that aired on Walt Disney Co's ABC network on Thursday, said he was driving the plow after using it to pull one of the family's trucks out of the snow and onto pavement. As the plow started to skid on ice, Renner said he became worried about the safety of his nephew, Alex, who had just unhooked the chains connecting the truck and the plow. Renner stuck one foot out of the plow to look back at Alex and did not set the parking brake. The actor then lost his footing and fell out of the plow's cab. "You shouldnt be outside the vehicle when youre operating it, you know what I mean? It's like driving a car with one foot out of the car," Renner, seated in a wheelchair, told ABC News journalist Diane Sawyer. "But it is what it was," he added. "And its my mistake, and I paid for it." Renner, then worried that the snowplow would roll back and crush his nephew, said he tried to jump back into the vehicle to stop it. He stepped onto the plow's moving wheel tracks, which threw him forward, and the vehicle ran over him, breaking more than 30 of his bones, collapsing a lung and piercing his liver. Neighbors who tended to the 52-year-old actor, who is best known for playing Marvel superhero Hawkeye in the "Avengers" movies, said they found him with blood all around him, shallow breathing and a crack in his skull. When he woke up in the hospital, Renner said, he gestured to his family with a sign language motion that means "I'm sorry." "It's my responsibility," Renner said. "I feel bad that my actions caused so much pain." Doctors used titanium rods and screws to repair broken ribs and also placed metal in his legs and in his face to rebuild an eye socket. The actor was shown walking with the aid of a walker. He is still undergoing hours of daily therapy for his injuries. Renner was nominated for an Academy Award for best actor for his work in 2008 film "The Hurt Locker" and for best supporting actor for his work in 2010 movie "The Town." He is slated to make his in-person return to Hollywood on Tuesday at a red-carpet event for his TV series "Rennervations," in which he helps repurpose older vehicles such as buses and provide them to communities in need. Renner credited the support of his family with helping him survive the snowplow accident. "I've been refilled and refueled with love and titanium," he said with a laugh. (Reporting by Lisa Richwine) PARIS, FRANCE - JANUARY 16: Pop Smoke attends the Louis Vuitton Menswear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 16, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) One of four men charged in the killing of rapper Pop Smoke during a robbery at a Hollywood Hills mansion pleaded guilty Thursday to voluntary manslaughter. The 20-year-old man, who was 17 when the killing occurred, also pleaded guilty in Inglewood juvenile court to home invasion robbery. He was sentenced to four years and two months in a juvenile facility. The judge has barred the public use of his name because he was a minor at the time of the shooting. The 20-year-old New York rapper, whose legal name is Bashar Barakah Jackson, was killed on Feb. 19, 2020, at a rented home where he was staying while on a four-day trip to Los Angeles. A 911 call from a friend of someone in the house reported armed intruders inside the home, police said. The robbers knew the address because a day earlier, Jackson had posted a photograph on social media of a gift bag he had received and the address was on a label, authorities said. Jackson was in the shower when masked robbers confronted him. During a struggle, one attacker, who was 15, pistol-whipped the rapper and shot him three times in the back, according to court testimony cited by the Los Angeles Times. The attackers stole Jackson's diamond-studded Rolex watch and sold it for $2,000, a detective testified. The teenager, whose name also is being withheld, was charged in the case along with Corey Walker, who was 19 at the time, and Keandre Rodgers, who was then 18. They are accused of murder during the commission of a robbery and burglary. Pop Smoke arrived on the rap scene in 2018 and broke out with Welcome to the Party a gangsta anthem with boasts about shootings, killings and drugs that became a huge sensation, and prompted Nicki Minaj to drop a verse on a remix. He had several other hits, including the album Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon, which was released posthumously. FILE - An Atlantic salmon leaps out of the water at a Cooke Aquaculture farm pen on Oct. 11, 2008, near Eastport, Maine. A New Hampshire group wants to be the first to bring offshore fish farming to the waters off New England by raising salmon and trout in open-ocean pens miles from land, but critics fear the plan raises environmental concerns. Blue Water Fisheries wants to place 40 submersible fish pens on two sites totaling nearly a square mile about 7.5 miles off Newburyport, Massachusetts, according to federal documents from June 2022. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File) PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (AP) A New Hampshire group wants to be the first to bring offshore fish farming to the waters off New England by raising salmon and trout in open-ocean pens miles from land, but critics fear the plan could harm the environment. The vast majority of U.S. aquaculture, the practice of raising and harvesting fish in controlled settings, takes place in coastal waters or on land, in tanks and ponds. But New Hampshire-based Blue Water Fisheries wants to place 40 submersible fish pens in water about 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) off Newburyport, Massachusetts, on two sites that total nearly a square mile, according to federal documents reviewed by The Associated Press. The farm would grow millions of pounds of Atlantic salmon and steelhead trout, two popular seafood species, documents state. The proposal needs a battery of approvals, and would be the first of its kind off the East Coast. Hawaii was the first U.S. state to allow operation of commercial open ocean aquaculture. Supporters of the farms tout them as a new method of sustainable fish farming, but environmental groups have voiced concerns about pollution and the possibility of projects releasing non-native species. Other offshore fish farming projects have been proposed for the waters off California and Florida. The New England company hasn't said much about its plans. Scott Flood, who is listed as a representative for Blue Water Fisheries on documents, declined to comment on the project. Other representatives for the company did not return phone calls seeking comment. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is working with Blue Water Fisheries and other federal agencies on the regulatory and approvals process, said Allison Ferreira, a spokesperson for the agency. The company needs authorizations from NOAA and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, among other approvals. A key step in the approvals process for Blue Water Fisheries is the preparation of an environmental impact statement, Ferreria said. There is not yet a timeline for that process, she said. The aquaculture project would include pens submerged about 15 meters (49 feet) below the surface in depths of about 80 meters (262 feet), federal documents state. The project would yield "up to 25.6 million pounds of a combination of steelhead trout and Atlantic salmon annually," the documents state. The companys year-round operations would take place out of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The project also includes a proposal to aquaculture lumpfish, a species of fish that can be used to control parasites. Aquaculture of Atlantic salmon in ocean pens already takes place in New England, as fish farming giant Cooke Aquaculture cultures the fish off Maine. However, those operations are located in coastal areas. Any project involving the offshore culture of Atlantic salmon is likely to get the attention of conservation groups, as the salmon are listed under the Endangered Species Act in the U.S. Conservation groups have long made the case that farming salmon in the marine environment is bad for wild salmon, in part because the farmed fish can escape and jeopardize wild salmon by hybridizing with them and competing with them for food. They've also sounded alarms about the spread of parasites and the transfer of diseases. Conservation groups have also argued the fish farms are bad for the environment because of pollution in the form of the antibiotics and pesticides often used on the farms. Fish farming also has its supporters, who say the aquaculture of popular seafood species helps to take fishing pressure off wild fish stocks. The New Hampshire group's project raises potential alarms about possible fish escapes, said John Burrows, executive director for U.S. operations with the Atlantic Salmon Federation, a conservation organization. Using net pens far from the shoreside operations significantly raises the likelihood of storm damage or predators causing escapes that may go undetected for several days, Burrows said. Don't Cage Our Oceans, a national group that opposes offshore fish farming, is also monitoring the project, said Andrianna Natsoulas, the coalition's campaign director. This is highly problematic, especially at the massive scale of this proposed operation once fully built-out, Burrows said. A newborn baby died after she was abandoned outside in freezing conditions nearly four decades ago, Maine police said. Now, her mother has pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges. The newborns body was discovered when it was picked up by a dog and carried to its owners home in Frenchville, a small town on the U.S.-Canada border, in December 1985, according to a news release from Maine State Police. Police determined the dog had found the newborn, referred to as Baby Jane Doe, in a nearby gravel pit where her mother had given birth and abandoned her in the cold, police said. Police couldnt identify the infants mother, and the case went unsolved for decades. After countless hours of chasing leads, and thanks to advancements in DNA technology, investigators were eventually able to identify Baby Jane Does mother as Lee Ann Daigle, who was living over 400 miles away in Lowell, Massachusetts. Daigle, 59, was arrested at her home June 13 and taken to Maine, where she was charged with murder, according to previous reporting from McClatchy News. She pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter April 6, according to the Portland Press Herald. Before her plea was accepted, an assistant attorney general recited the evidence of the decades-old case, according to the Bangor Daily News. Armand Pelletier discovered the naked, bloody body of a baby girl on the lawn of his home located on the Bouchard Road in Frenchville, the assistant attorney general stated, adding the baby was partially frozen and a portion of its umbilical cord was still attached, per the outlet. It was an emotional, difficult day, Daigles attorney said in a statement, according to the Portland Press Herald. She is remorseful for what happened 37 years ago. It was difficult for her to hear the details of that night and morning as recited in the prosecution version. (Daigle) has always believed the baby was stillborn and has taken responsibility, through the manslaughter plea, for not seeking help or medical treatment at the time. Her sentencing is scheduled for June 20, and she faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, according to the Portland Press Herald. Woman kidnapped child in mall food court because she wanted to love it, cops say Man holds woman hostage in apartment, forces her to clean up own blood, WA cops say Fisherman dives into lake to save kayaker and never resurfaces, Washington cops say FILE - In this Aug. 22, 2021, file photo provided by the U.S. Air Force, Afghan passengers board a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III during the Afghanistan evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. (MSgt. Donald R. Allen/U.S. Air Force via AP, File) WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden's administration on Thursday laid the blame on his predecessor, President Donald Trump, for the deadly and chaotic 2021 withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan that brought about some of the darkest moments of Bidens presidency. The White House publicly released a 12-page summary of the results of the so-called hotwash of U.S. policies around the ending of the nation's longest war, taking little responsibility for its own actions and asserting that Biden was severely constrained by Trumps decisions. It does acknowledge that the evacuation of Americans and allies from Afghanistan should have started sooner, but blames the delays on the Afghan government and military, and on U.S. military and intelligence community assessments. The brief document was drafted by the National Security Council, rather than by an independent entity, with input from Biden himself. The administration said detailed reviews conducted by the State Department and the Pentagon, which the White House said would be transmitted privately to Congress on Thursday, were highly classified and would not be released publicly. President Bidens choices for how to execute a withdrawal from Afghanistan were severely constrained by conditions created by his predecessor, the White House summary states, noting that when Biden entered office, the Taliban were in the strongest military position that they had been in since 2001, controlling or contesting nearly half of the country. Trump responded by accusing the Biden administration of playing "a new disinformation game" to distract from their grossly incompetent SURRENDER in Afghanistan. On his social media site, he said, Biden is responsible, no one else!" The report does fault overly optimistic intelligence community assessments about the Afghan army's willingness to fight, and says Biden followed military commanders' recommendations for the pacing of the drawdown of U.S. forces. Clearly we didnt get it right," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Thursday, but sidestepped questions about whether Biden has any regrets for his decisions and actions leading up to the withdrawal. Kirby said of the report that the purpose of it is not accountability, but rather understanding" what happened to inform future decisions. The White House asserts the mistakes of Afghanistan informed its handling of Ukraine, where the Biden administration has been credited for supporting Kyivs defense against Russias invasion. The White House says it simulated worst-case scenarios prior to the February 2022 invasion and moved to release intelligence about Moscows intentions months beforehand. We now prioritize earlier evacuations when faced with a degrading security situation, the White House said. In an apparent attempt to defend its national security decision-making, the Biden administration also notes that it released pre-war warnings over strong objections from senior officials in the Ukrainian government. Republicans in Congress have sharply criticized the Afghanistan withdrawal, focusing on the deaths of 13 service members in a suicide bombing at Kabuls airport, which also killed more than 100 Afghans. Shawn Vandiver, a Navy veteran and founder of #AfghanEvac, an effort to resettle Afghans fleeing the country, called the NSC report an important next step. "We are glad to see acknowledgement of lessons learned and are laser focused on continuing relocation and resettlement operations," Vandiver said in a statement. But Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., tweeted Thursday that the withdrawal was an unmitigated fiasco," adding, Passing the buck in a blame-shifting report wont change that. The administrations report appears to shift any blame in the Aug. 26, 2021, suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport, saying it was the U.S. military that made one possibly key decision. To manage the potential threat of a terrorist attack, the President repeatedly asked whether the military required additional support to carry out their mission at HKIA, the report said, adding, Senior military officials confirmed that they had sufficient resources and authorities to mitigate threats. Kirby credited U.S. forces for their actions in running the largest airborne evacuation of noncombatants in history during the chaos of Kabul's fall. They ended our nations longest war," he told reporters. That was never going to be an easy thing to do. And as the president himself has said, it was never going to be low grade or low risk or low cost. Since the U.S. withdrawal, Biden has blamed the February 2020 agreement Trump reached with the Taliban in Doha, Qatar, saying it boxed the U.S. into leaving the country. The agreement has been blamed by analysts for undercutting the U.S.-backed government, which collapsed the following year. Under the U.S.-Taliban Doha agreement, roughly 5,000 Taliban prisoners were released as a condition for what were supposed to be separate future peace talks between the Kabul government and the Taliban. Kirby noted that release and other examples of what he said was a general sense of degradation and neglect inherited by Biden. But the agreement also left an opening for the U.S. to call off its withdrawal deal with the Taliban if the promised Taliban-Afghan peace talks failed which they did under Biden, as the U.S. military was pulling out and Taliban fighters advancing. The U.S. was to remove all forces by May 1, 2021. Biden pushed a full withdrawal to September but declined to delay further, saying it would prolong a war that had long needed to end. Since the withdrawal, the U.S. carried out a successful operation to kill al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri the groups No. 2 leader during the Sept. 11 attacks which the White House has argued is proof it can still deter terrorist groups in Afghanistan. But the images of disorder and violence during the fall of Kabul still reverberate, including scenes of Afghans falling from the undercarriages of American planes, Afghan families handing infants over airport gates to save them from the crush and violence of the crowd, and the devastation after the suicide bombing at the Abbey Gate. A February report by the U.S. governments special inspector general for Afghanistan placed the most immediate blame for the Afghan militarys collapse on both the Trump and Biden administrations: Due to the (Afghan security forces) dependency on U.S. military forces, the decision to withdraw all U.S. military personnel and dramatically reduce U.S. support to the (Afghan security forces) destroyed the morale of Afghan soldiers and police. Pressed by reporters Thursday afternoon, Kirby repeatedly defended the U.S. response and effort to evacuate American citizens and argued with reporters who referred to the withdrawal as chaotic. At one point, he paused in what appeared to be an effort to gather his emotions. For all this talk of chaos, I just didnt see it, not from my perch, said Kirby, who was the Pentagon spokesman during the withdrawal. At one point during the evacuation, there was an aircraft taking off full of people, Americans and Afghans alike, every 48 minutes, and not one single mission was missed. So Im sorry, I just wont buy the whole argument of chaos. The release of the NSC review comes as the State Department and House Republicans battle over documents for classified cables related to the Afghanistan withdrawal. Rep. Michael McCaul, the Texas Republican who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called Kirby's comments disgraceful and insulting. AP writers Josh Boak, Ellen Knickmeyer, Seung Min Kim, Lolita C. Baldor and Farnoush Amiri contributed. A former server at Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room is suing the upscale Crossroads restaurant, claiming wage and tip theft. Krisda Siriwangchai filed a class-action complaint in February in the U.S. District Court of Western Missouri against Raven Concepts LLC, the company under which Corvino does business. His suit claims that the restaurants policies had the effect of paying tipped employees servers, runners, hosts and bartenders less than what they were entitled to under the law. Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room did not respond to a request for comment, but its attorney, Greg Ballew of Fisher Phillips LLP, denied the allegations in a court response filed last month. Siriwangchai, a 2017 graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, worked at Corvino from 2018 to 2022. He alleges violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act as well as wage-related and unjust enrichment class claims under Missouri law. Those include: Minimum wage violations. Like many restaurants, Corvino claims a tip credit, which means it is allowed to pay its tipped employees $6 per hour half of the Missouri minimum wage of $12 per hour so long as those employees combined hourly wages and tips meet or exceed $12 per hour. But, the lawsuit alleges, Corvinos tipped employees were regularly required to work substantial amounts of time on non-tip-producing activities, such as polishing glasses, preparing linens, and performing end-of-night closing duties. As a result, those employees earned less than minimum wage while performing those duties, the suit states, and Corvino wrongfully claimed a tip credit for those hours worked. Overtime violations. For tipped employees who worked more than 40 hours per week, Corvino paid the customary time and a half in overtime wages but, the suit alleges, calculated those wages based on a $6 per hour wage rather than the full $12 per hour. That meant tipped employees working overtime earned only $9 per hour instead of $18 per hour. Illegal tip pool. Tips earned at Corvino are contributed to a tip pool, which is then administered by Corvino back to various individuals using a formula that factors in that individuals Corvino-determined point rating and the number of hours worked, according to the lawsuit. Some of those proceeds, Siriwangchais suit says, were then paid to ineligible non-tipped employees, such as managers and supervisors. Corvino wrongfully kept and diverted for its own benefit employee tips in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the suit states. Automatic gratuity ruse. In certain settings for parties of six or more, for diners in its tasting room, and at private events Corvino adds a 20% automatic gratuity to customers bills. Corvino treats these automatic gratuities as income to the restaurant, as opposed to tips for the employees who served them, the suit says. Corvino, the suit claims, uses some of the income from the automatic gratuities for general expenses such as taxes and to pay the salaries of managers and the wages of non-tipped kitchen staff, all at the expense of the tipped employees. Though Siriwangchai is the sole plaintiff in the lawsuit, more than a dozen current and former Corvino employees have so far opted in to its Fair Labor Standards Act claims, meaning they are eligible for compensation if the court rules in the classs favor. Those employees are: Brett Branstetter, Lauren Goode, Phoenix Cartwright, Frida Lara-Nunez, Courtney Sanderson, Christopher Young, MaKayla Allen, Kelly Piper, Martha Ramirez, Lisette Palacio, Zachary Domville, Nathan Henry, Alfredo Acevedo, Shelby Shearon and Kelly Maziarka. A ruling on the conditional certification of the class is expected later this year, Tim Riemann, attorney for Siriwangchai, told The Star. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner. Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room has earned numerous food-world accolades since opening at 1830 Walnut St. in 2017. Chef Michael Corvino is a three-time James Beard Award nominee for Best Chef: Midwest, and the restaurant has been featured in Food & Wine, The New York Times and Eater. Restaurant tip-pooling lawsuits like Siriwangchais are on the rise in recent years, though theyve been more common at larger restaurant chains than smaller operations like Corvino. If youre an owner, the best way to protect yourself from these lawsuits is to pay employees a cash wage thats equal at least to minimum wage, Riemann said. Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) said his race played a role in his expulsion from the state House on Thursday. I basically had a member call me an uppity Negro, Jones, who is Black, told MSNBCs Joy Reid after the 72-25 vote that expelled him. Its not about me, but its about the 78,000 people I represent, he added, noting his constituents would be disenfranchised because of his expulsion. These young people, one of the most diverse districts being silenced because theyre upset that we dont fall in line to their narrative of what Tennessee should be and that is a multiracial democracy, he said. Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) were expelled from the Republican-controlled House on Thursday after being stripped of their committee assignments earlier this week for participating in a gun violence protest days after a mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville left six dead, including three 9-year-old children. Both of the lawmakers who were expelled are Black. Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville), who is white, also participated in the demonstration earlier this week but survived her expulsion vote. Johnson was also removed from her committee assignments. Congressional leaders in Washington have rallied behind the lawmakers, who have become known as the Tennessee Three. Meanwhile, Black leaders including the Congressional Black Caucus and Rev. Al Sharpton have called out the overarching racial tones to Jones and Pearsons expulsions. According to Jones, he has also had members call him a disgrace, though he said they refused to say it on camera when he asked them. This is a very hostile environment, but more importantly, its hostile to democracy, Jones told Reid. And so what you see in there, theyre saying you should feel grateful to be here, but they didnt help me get here, the people in my district put me here. From the time I walked in in January, I was made to feel like I should not be welcome here because Ive led protests here. I was arrested in this building over 14 times trying to remove a KKK statue that we finally removed from this rotunda where were standing, he added. And so my colleagues on the other side of the aisle from the day I walked in, did not want me here, and today, they overturned democracy. They set a very dangerous precedent for the nation of expelling a duly elected lawmaker because of First Amendment activity. The former lawmaker made similar comments on CNN This Morning on Friday. What we saw in Tennessee yesterday was an attack on democracy and very overt racism, as you can see that the two youngest Black lawmakers were kicked out, but our colleague, my dear sister, Gloria Johnson, a white woman, was not, he said. And we see clearly, the nation has seen clearly what is going on in Tennessee. Updated at 10:23 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Family members of Tony Garza at a news conference Thursday in Pasadena. The family filed a $20-million wrongful-death claim against the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, alleging deputies killed Garza while he was in the middle of a mental health crisis. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) Tony Garza was once a star high school wrestler in Yucca Valley, but later in life, his family said, he didn't know how to grapple with his mental health issues. Garza suffered from paranoia, according to relatives, and on Feb. 5, 2021, they tried to help Garza, calling San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies to perform a welfare check on him. Garza wound up following the deputies in his truck, looking for their license plates, according to his family's attorney. Deputies arrested Garza on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after he allegedly drove toward them. Two years to the day of the welfare check, Garza was fatally shot by San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies during a pursuit that started in Yucca Valley and ended in Palm Springs. The family of Garza filed a $20-million wrongful-death claim Thursday against the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, alleging the 44-year-old was shot a dozen times by deputies while he was in the middle of a mental health crisis. "These officers shot Mr. Garza dead as he fled through the desert," Brian Olney, one of the attorneys representing Garza's family, said Thursday at a news conference. He added that Garza was failed not just by the deputies who fatally shot him but by the courts and a broken mental health system that was repeatedly unable to get Garza the help he needed. Garza was burning personal items on his property in Yucca Valley on Feb. 5, when deputies responded to a reported box trailer fire, according to his family's attorneys. When the deputies arrived and tried to make contact, Garza fled in his vehicle, the Sheriff's Department said. Garza led deputies on a 35-minute chase from Highway 62 to Interstate 10, with him jumping out of his truck and fleeing on foot, near the Whitewater Cutoff, according to witness video. The video shows four deputies running after Garza along the I-10 in Palm Springs, with Garza facing the deputies several times while holding an object in his hands. Garza took off again before falling to the ground as deputies fired at him, according to the video. Garza's attorneys have also filed wrongful-death claims against the Riverside County Sheriff's Department and the California Highway Patrol, both of which responded to the pursuit, alleging they failed to de-escalate the situation and ignored their training when Garza was killed on the side of the freeway. San Bernardino County sheriff's officials declined to comment, citing open litigation. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department is investigating the shooting since it happened in its county. An independent autopsy report showed Garza was shot a dozen times, Olney said. The autopsy showed that Garza was shot twice in the back, and at least twice when he was already on the ground. "The killing of Tony Garza was a heinous and cowardly act," Olney said. "They did everything wrong." Family members said Garza's death has left them wrecked and looking for answers. "I am heartbroken, devastated and a piece of my heart is now missing," said Matilde Garza, who lost her son. The deadly incident followed what the family said was a continued and failed struggle to get Garza help for his mental health illness. Garza's mental health began to deteriorate in 2021, according to family. Family members said they reached out to several independent and government organizations looking for assistance, including inquiring about conservatorship of Garza, but they were unsuccessful. "His mental health continued to decline and he became more paranoid and fearful," said his sister, Silvia Garza-Littman. Garza failed to see he was struggling, and several of the programs declined to offer assistance because he didn't seek help himself, she said. On Feb. 5, 2021, relatives called deputies for a welfare check on Garza. He was arrested that day on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after he allegedly drove toward deputies, Olney said. Garza was released, Olney said, and found to not be mentally competent to stand trial. He was ordered by a judge to be held in county jail for a week until he could be entered into a mental health facility. But what was supposed to be a week turned into five months, with Garza being held in the county's general jail population, Olney said. Family members continued to inquire whether space had opened up at a mental health facility, and the judge in his case held follow-up hearings asking when he could be transferred. Family members later learned Garza's name had not been put on the 800-person wait list. Instead, he remained in county jail without access to mental help. Olney said the experience was traumatizing for Garza. "Imagine how a healthy individual would react, and he was mentally ill," he said. Garza was released on Jan. 24 12 days before he was shot by deputies and told he needed to find mental health help within 48 hours. When Garza checked into the court-ordered offices, he was told there was a six-month wait list. "No one would step in to help our brother," Garza-Littman said. "Instead of helping, they only made things worse." The family is urging for changes in the mental health system. Relatives have rented billboards near Garza's home and the site where he was shot. The billboards have Garza's image and read, "My only crime was mental illness & the system killed me." Attorneys have reached out to the U.S. Department of Justice and the California attorney general's office to investigate the shooting, saying they've received little to no information from local law enforcement about what happened. "Our current system is broken from the top down," Garza-Littman said. "We want his name cleared." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Idaho governor Brad Little signed a landmark bill on Wednesday banning adults from assisting minors in their efforts to procure an abortion out of state. With the U.S. Supreme Courts reversal of Roe vs. Wade last summer, the right and duty to establish legal policy on abortion was finally returned to our state democratic process, Little wrote in a letter to state lawmakers on Wednesday. The abortion trafficking provision in the bill seeks to only prevent unemancipated minor girls from being taken across state lines for an abortion without the knowledge and consent of her parent or guardian, he added. Since the repeal of Roe v. Wade, Idaho has adopted one of the most stringent bans on abortion in the United States, making the termination of pregnancy illegal at all stages, apart from cases involving rape, incest, or threat to the mothers life. Giving minors money, giving them a ride, helping them organize the visit to a doctor out of state all of the activity thats required to help a young person leave the state any of that would be punishable, Elisabeth Smith, a director of policy and advocacy at the Center for Reproductive Rights, told NBC News. House Bill 242 might be the most extreme bill that Ive ever seen in my career, Smith added. The new bill appears to be a response to neighboring states, notably Oregon, identifying themselves as sanctuaries for women seeking legal access to abortions. Oregon doesnt turn away anyone seeking health care. Period, then-governor Kate Brown said last summer. For all the Americans today feeling scared, angry and disappointed for everyone who needs an abortion and does not know where they can access safe reproductive health care please know you are not alone, and the fight is not over. A local chapter of Planned Parenthood condemned the bills novel ban. This legislation is despicable, and were going to do everything in our power to stop it, the group tweeted on Wednesday night. Yet again, Idaho's governor disregarded constituents and signed HB 242 into law, creating the nations first crime of so-called abortion trafficking." This legislation is despicable, and were going to do everything in our power to stop it. #idleg https://t.co/8chQTwm7DO Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates West (@PPAAWest) April 5, 2023 This bill criminalizes an adult assisting a young person accessing abortion care with the intent of concealing the abortion from their parent. While most young people include their parents in the decision to get an abortion, some are in dangerous, abusive situations. The new legislation will go into effect in May. More from National Review The wooden, one-story building tucked into a once-rural neighborhood off of Old Todds Road sits behind the former Cadentown Baptist Church. Its easy to drive by it on Caden Lane and not realize its there or its historical significance. For many, the one-room Julius Rosenwald and Booker T. Washington-constructed Black school on Caden Lane means a great deal. Its the only remaining Rosenwald school, one of thousands built to educate Black students prior to desegregation in the South, left in Fayette County. Constructed in 1923 during a time when Fayette Countys Black residents couldnt attend white schools, it ceased being a school in 1943, according to records. The exterior paint is peeling. The one-room school with lots of natural light has been partially restored. It has so much potential, said Kathy Plomin, a Lexington-Fayette Urban County Councilwoman who is leading the charge to raise money and further preserve the Rosenwald school. The effort at the Rosenwald school is part of a much larger drive, spearheaded by Plomin, the city and other community remembers, to highlight and remember Fayette Countys Black rural hamlets. In coming months, the group hopes to raise money to turn the Rosenwald school into a type of museum, highlighting not only the separate Black school system in Kentucky but Black rural settlements in Fayette County. The former Rosenwald School in Cadentown, one of at least 20 historic Black hamlets that were settled by Black people in Fayette County, Lexington, Ky., Friday, March 31, 2022. There are efforts to save the Rosenwald School and to mark and celebrate Fayette Countys Black hamlets. Julius Rosenwald built 158 schools for Black students in Kentucky between 1917 and 1932. Most Black hamlets are no longer there Cadentown is one of nearly two dozen Black hamlets. Started in 1867 when Owen Caden purchased 43 acres in the Old Todds and Liberty road area, Cadentown was subdivided and sold to former slaves and their descendants during the reconstruction period after the Civil War. Between 1826 and 1924, at least 20 largely Black rural hamlets were created. They were near where many rural Black residents worked, and almost all were in what was then rural Fayette County. Many had grocery stores, churches and cemeteries. Cadentown had two churches and a lodge for community gatherings. Most of them are gone or they have been swallowed up by development, said Rev. Leon Slatter of Cadentown Baptist Church, who also serves on the rural Black hamlets steering committee. Takes Jonestown for example. Jonestown was started in 1893 and included 46 acres in land that is now off Tates Creek Road near Armstrong Mill Road, across from the Lexington Public Library. As the city of Lexington grew, that land was added to the citys urban service boundary. In the 1980s, the area was rezoned for homes and apartments, according to city records and research conducted by Krista Schneider. All the original buildings were torn down. It now looks like any suburban neighborhood. The only clue the settlement was once there is a street sign: Jonestown Lane. Jonestown Lane is one of the few clues that this area of Tates Creek Road was once a thriving Black rural hamlet. Jonestown was one of 20 rural, Black hamlets in Fayette County. Clarissa Thomas, director of education and outreach for the Lexington Public Library and member of the steering committee, said many people think the land was donated to Black residents. It wasnt. The formerly enslaved bought the land, Thomas said. It was purchased. Some of the rural Black settlements include: Athens Avon Bracktown Coletown Fort Springs Jimtown Uttingertown/Columbus Little Georgetown Maddoxtown Pricetown Centerville Jonestown Willa Lane Muir Station Warrentown Mitchelltown South Elkhorn Plomin said they are still working to find out more about those rural Black settlements, but record-keeping during that time period was spotty or non-existent. Many Black Fayette County residents may not live there now but many can trace their roots to those settlements, Slatter said. The group hopes that people who once lived in those settlements, or had family members who did, will be able to provide more information, photos and other memorabilia that could be placed in the Rosenwald school in Cadentown. This could become a receptacle for artifacts, photos, stories. We could have receptions, Plomin said. This is a community project thats long overdue. Rosenwald schools At least five of the Fayette County rural Black settlements had Rosenwald schools, according to research conducted by the steering group looking at commemorating Fayette Countys Black rural settlements. The former Rosenwald School in Cadentown, one of 20 historic Black hamlets that were settled by Black people in Fayette County, Lexington, Ky., Friday, March 31, 2022. There are efforts to save the Rosenwald School and to mark and celebrate Fayette Countys Black hamlets. Julius Rosenwald built 158 schools for Black students in Kentucky between 1917 and 1932. Between 1917 and 1943, Julius Rosenwald, a philanthropist and retail giant, helped build 158 Black schools and other buildings in Kentucky prior to the 1954 Brown vs . Board of Education, which desegregated schools, according to 1997 research conducted by the Kentucky Heritage Council and the Kentucky African-American Commission. Rosenwald, one-time president of Sears & Roebuck, met Booker T. Washington, a Black educator who pushed for the education of Black students during the Jim Crow era. Rosenwald, and other early 20th century philanthropists, set aside money to help build Black schools when local and state authorities refused or claimed there was no money to build them. In total, the Rosenwald and Washington school construction program helped fund 5,357 schools and other education buildings across 15 states in the south, according to the 1997 Kentucky Heritage Council report on Rosenwald schools. The school buildings werent free. According to the 1997 survey of Kentucky Rosenwald schools, Cadentown cost $3,300 to build. Rosenwald paid $500 and provided the designs for the building. The Black community raised $300. The white community, which raised funds for other Black schools in Kentucky, raised no money for the building. The public school system paid $2,500. Many people are ignorant of Rosenwald and Washingtons efforts to provide places for Black education during segregation, Plomin said. I run into so many people who have never heard of a Rosenwald school, she said. Thats one of the reasons that saving the Rosenwald school is so important. The former Rosenwald School in Cadentown, one of 12 historic Black hamlets that were settled by Black people in Fayette County, Lexington, Ky., Friday, March 31, 2022. There are efforts to save the Rosenwald School and to mark and celebrate Fayette Countys Black hamlets. Julius Rosenwald built 158 schools for Black students in Kentucky between 1917 and 1932. The school was owned by the Cadentown Baptist Church until 1978, when it was sold, Slatter said. The church moved to a different location in Cadentown. It needed the money from the sale of the property to help build the new church on Cadentown Road. Private owners owned the building and the former Cadentown Baptist Church for decades. The Cadentown Neighborhood Association stepped in to try to save the former church and the school during the late 1990s, thanks to the efforts of Alvin Seals, a longtime Cadentown resident who is also on the Black hamlets steering committee. Originally, the neighborhood wanted to get grants and other money to rehabilitate and save the school. But there wasnt enough money, Slatter said. Meanwhile, the building continued to deteriorate. In 2002, the National Trust for Historic Preservation listed the school as one of 11 most endangered buildings in the country. In 2005, the city took over the school and the church. It is overseen by the citys parks and recreation department. The city spent around $200,000 in federal and local funds to preserve the building. In 2006, the school was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Its not known how many Rosenwald schools are left in Kentucky. There were 41 Rosenwald schools still standing 15 years ago, according to 2007 re-survey of Rosenwald schools conducted for the Kentucky African American Heritage Commission and the Heritage Council. How much will it cost? How much money is needed to restore the Cadentown Rosenwald school is still being worked out. Plomin said that announcement will come closer to the Juneteenth celebration, June 19, which will be the official kick-off for the fundraising effort. That event will be held in conjunction with the citys Racial Justice and Equality Commission. Plomin said there is some city funding available through the citys surplus funds for capital projects in council districts. Plomin has a track record of raising money outside of city government for projects. She and former Councilwoman Jennifer Mossotti spear-headed efforts to raise money for a statue honoring suffragists in downtown Lexington in 2020. Its the first statue to honor women in downtown Lexington. Plomin, who is in her fourth term on council, was president of the United Way of the Bluegrass prior to being elected to council. In addition to the school, the group would like to put bathrooms at the back of the former church, which was turned into a residence, but it is now vacant. Behind the school is a former cemetery that also needs to be refurbished, Slatter said. Only two gravestone markers are visible. There are only a couple of graves remaining in the cemetery behind the Rosenwald School in Cadentown, one of 20 historic Black hamlets that were settled by Black people in Fayette County, Lexington, Ky., Friday, March 31, 2022. There are efforts to save the Rosenwald School and to mark and celebrate Fayette Countys Black hamlets. Julius Rosenwald built 158 schools for Black students in Kentucky between 1917 and 1932. Many of them have fallen down, Slatter said of the gravestones. Slatter said they think there are more than 100 people buried in the former cemetery. There are currently efforts to find out who is buried there. Plomin said the city is looking for former residents or family members who once lived in Fayette Countys Black hamlets to contact the group. Photographs and other memorabilia are welcomed. People can contact the group at lexingtonhameltsproject@gmail.com or can visit the groups website for updates and to find out more at www.lexingtonhamlets.org. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Chief Justice John Roberts in 2018. (Jim Young/Reuters) Chief Justice John Robertss stated mission to preserve the integrity of the Supreme Court suffered another setback this week when it was revealed that Justice Clarence Thomas had, for years, failed to disclose the acceptance of lavish gifts from a wealthy conservative donor. A story published by ProPublica on the unreported gifts Thomas accepted which included multiple trips on private jets and yachts owned by Texas billionaire and conservative donor Harlan Crow as well as stays at the moguls luxury retreat put new pressure on Roberts to establish a binding ethical code of conduct for the nations highest court, experts said. Something needs to be done, and as long as Chief Justice Roberts sits on his hands he is baiting Congress to do something, and meanwhile undermining himself and the court, Donald Sherman, deputy director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, told Yahoo News. Since being confirmed to the court in 2005, Roberts has led internal discussions about whether to establish a code of conduct for the justices. In 2019, Justice Elena Kagan said the court was studying the issue. But so far nothing has come of it. Roberts has said the justices are encouraged to consult the Code of Conduct for United States Judges, which governs the behavior of most federal judges, but they are not bound by it. Still, the 1978 Ethics in Government Act requires judges to disclose most gifts over $415, and Thomas may have violated that statute by not disclosing the gifts from Crow, experts told ProPublica. Conservative donor Harlan Crow in 2012. (LM Otero/AP) But the Supreme Court itself has found that gifts extended through personal hospitality are exempt from the Ethics in Government Act. Those, Steven Lubet, co-author of Judicial Conduct and Ethics, wrote in a recent op-ed in The Hill, had apparently been interpreted to mean something like extended by an individual rather than by a business or corporation, thus allowing the undisclosed acceptance of resort vacations and private jet travel, so long as the invitations were made by acquaintances, even if some other entity was underwriting the expense. That appears to be how Thomas interpreted the rules about accepting gifts. Early in my tenure at the Court, I sought guidance from my colleagues and others in the judiciary, and was advised that this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable, he said in a statement released after ProPublica published its story. While Thomas went on to say that the guidelines are now being changed and that he would follow the new rules in the future, failure to report gifts deemed to be personal hospitality wont be punishable until reforms are put in place. There is no enforcement mechanism for justices who balk at full disclosure, Lubet wrote. Alone among American courts, the Supreme Court has stubbornly refused to adopt a Code of Conduct. The justices own ethical standards have never been fully articulated, and the public must guess about the Courts grudging compliance with rules set by others. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., has tried to tighten the requirements of the 1978 law so it applies to the Supreme Court. But in the wake of the Thomas story this week, even Whitehouse acknowledged that in order for binding changes to be put in place, they would have to be agreed upon by the justices themselves. All of this needs robust investigation, and its the Chief Justices job to make sure that occurs, he tweeted Thursday. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., at a Senate hearing on March 15. (Mariam Zuhaib/AP) In other words, until undisclosed gifts like the vacations and travel received by Thomas are deemed by the people receiving them to be violations of a code of conduct, they will continue. At the end of the day, there are no consequences for [Thomass] actions, Sherman, who has testified multiple times before Congress on the subject of judicial ethics, said in an interview. These facts continue to highlight the need for the court to have a binding code of conduct, a process for discipline separate and apart from impeachment and a transparent and independent process for recusals. Numerous legal experts have joined the growing calls for the court to voluntarily impose some accountability. At a time when public institutions are redoubling their efforts to improve the publics trust, we maintain that a formal, written Code, offering a uniform set of principles that justices and the public alike would look to for guidance, would benefit the Court and the nation, a group of legal scholars wrote to Roberts last year. The scholars noted that if Congress were to pass a law requiring a code of conduct at the high court, it would raise weighty questions about the separation of powers. Nonetheless, the latest revelations about Thomas have prompted new statements of resolve by members of Congress who seek to force the courts hand. Americans confidence in our highest court is tanking because of this kind of conduct. We need answers. And the Court needs a code of ethics, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said in a statement. Van Hollen, who chairs the appropriations subcommittee that has jurisdiction over the Supreme Court, told the Washington Post this week that he is considering using the power of the purse to extract a concession on this issue from the court. That could come in the form of legislation that would tie the courts $200 million budget for fiscal year 2024 to the implementation of a code of conduct. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., with Whitehouse behind him, at a Capitol press conference on March 9. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) But that stipulation would also have to pass the Republican-controlled House. GOP leaders like House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio said last year that calls for higher ethical standards were part of a partisan attack by Democrats against Thomas and other conservative justices. Meanwhile, amid rising political polarization in the U.S., and acrimony over the courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and the leak of that opinion, public trust in the Supreme Court hit a historic low last summer. The Thomas story is only the latest blow for the court and may finally provide Roberts with the impetus to push the other justices to work together on a code of conduct. As long as 9 justices are exempt from any process for enforcing basic ethics, public faith in SCOTUS will continue to decline, and dark money and special interests will maintain their relentless grip on our democracy, Whitehouse tweeted. WASHINGTON For the past two years, John Heubusch and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation have hosted almost all the top 2024 Republican hopefuls, formally running or otherwise except for former President Donald Trump to pour out their souls on why the Republican Party is in crisis and how it can change its course. John Heubusch, executive director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, in October 2022. (Hans Gutknecht/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images) In 2020, Republicans lost control of the White House, we lost the House, the Senate. And a lot of people approached us with the thought that we should try to play a constructive role in acting essentially as a venue or as a stage for the Republican Party to look inside itself to question where it was at the time, the foundation's executive director told Yahoo News in a wide-ranging interview. Are there any course corrections or changes that might need to be made? What really are the fundamentals of the modern-day Republican Party? What do we stand for? If the postmortem on 2012s presidential election delivered solutions with a clinicians sense of detachment, the Reagan Librarys A Time for Choosing speaker series has delivered emotional paeans about the partys raison detre. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., longtime GOP power player Dick Cheney's daughter, who was bounced from the party leadership for breaking from Trump, used the platform to argue that freedom is protected and preserved by individuals acting on the principles ensconced in the founding of the United States and that it often takes a woman to muster the courage that her male colleagues cannot. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., speaks at the Reagan Library in June 2022. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) The Reagan Library also welcomed Peter Thiel, the tech billionaire, one of the leaders of the hard-right nationalist movement undergirding Trumps rise. Thiel used the stage to urge his fellow Republicans to place China at the center of a new Cold War and to use that to unite the party and the country against a common adversary. But the reigning leader of the party is Trump, who was impeached twice, once for refusing to provide military aid to Ukraine unless its government launched an investigation of his political rival, and a second time on charges that he caused the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol in an effort to cling on to power. Now, with his arraignment on 34 felony counts stemming from accusations that he paid hush money to a porn star in 2016, Trump appears to have remade the 2024 race for president into a referendum on himself. Again. Everyone knew exactly where Donald Trump came from and wanted to go, Heubusch said. This was an opportunity to give all the other voices a chance to state their viewpoint. And I think it turned out really well. I've no doubt if the former president wants to speak as part of the series, of course wed have been delighted to have him. But we didn't really see the necessity. Former President Donald Trump arrives at Trump Tower in New York City on Monday, the day before his arraignment. (Gotham/GC Images via Getty Images) Heubusch hasnt taken sides. Whether hes a Never Trumper, a Trump loyalist or somewhere in between, he hasnt let on. Asked about Trumps arrest on charges stemming from the payment of $130,000 to the porn star Stormy Daniels to allegedly cover up an affair, Heubusch commented, I make of it that the Democrat Party has decided that until his last dying breath, it is going to badger, poke, prod, insult, oppose use whatever word you want Donald Trump. And this is just one more example of it. Heubusch is a veteran operator who ran the National Republican Senatorial Committee decades ago, under then-Sen. Al DAmato, R-N.Y. In 2009 he was selected by Nancy Reagan and others to run the Reagan Library. Ronald Reagan, he said, always believed in the big tent, and the mission of bringing people into the party. But with the advent of Trump-branded national populism, what used to be bedrock issues, like cutting government spending and reducing the national debt, have fallen by the wayside. President Ronald Reagan in 1982. (Universal History Archive/Getty Images) There's no doubt the party is at odds with itself at times. It's changing its viewpoint, [with] the populism that President Trump brought to the table, Heubusch said, adding that there are "so many differences in the modern-day Republican Party, it doesn't have that kind of cohesiveness that it had under Ronald Reagan. The librarys speaker series is named after a 1964 speech Reagan gave in support of Republican presidential nominee Barry Goldwater. Reagan framed the ideas that would come to dominate conservatism and the Republican Party through his time in office, and after: limited government, individual liberty and a strong, hawkish national defense. But that was almost 60 years ago. Now Republicans find themselves split on issues like protecting Ukraine, a European democracy, against the continuing onslaught from Russia. If he were president, it's absolutely impossible to conceivably imagine Russia invading Ukraine, because Reagan, from a peace-through-strength standpoint, would have had the Ukrainians armed to the teeth from the very beginning, Heubusch said. Americas adversaries, like Russia and China, are doing more than taunting and challenging: They're out there invading. And so I think we are seeing the results of cracks in the peace-through-strength armor and America's willingness to step forward and to promote and defend democracy where it needs to be done." Heubusch is wrapping his 14-year tenure of service running the library and foundation with a chilling exhibit on the horrors of Auschwitz. Hungarian Jews arrive at Auschwitz in June 1944. (Galerie Bilderwelt/Getty Images) The trailer teasing the exhibition opens with a quote from Primo Levi, the author, chemist and Auschwitz survivor: It happened, therefore it can happen again: This is the core of what we have to say. It can happen, and it can happen everywhere. There has been a shocking rise in antisemitism across the U.S. with the rise of Trump, including his own decision to dine in November with the neo-Nazi Nick Fuentes and the rap superstar Kanye West, who has made antisemitic remarks. Today in the United States, we are at each other's throats. I mean, this is bordering on the definition of hatred, Heubusch said, comparing such hatred to "the seeds that were sown that eventually led to the Holocaust. Germany at the time was one of the most, if not the most, advanced nation in the world in terms of intellect and technology, he added. And yet it could happen there. So if it could happen there, then it could happen in the future and other places and it must not. Frances president Emmanuel Macron has urged his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to bring Russia back to its senses over its war in Ukraine. The conflict and need to avoid a nuclear escalation was notable on the agenda as Mr Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen visited Beijing, days after Moscow vowed to station part of its arsenal in Belarus. The United States has nuclear weapons stationed with several European Nato partners. Chinas leader agreed that all countries should abide by the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, with a French diplomatic source claiming that Mr Macron and Mr Xi had agreed to work hard to bring both parties to the negotiating table. Meanwhile, Britains Ministry of Defence said it believed that Vladimir Putin has fired Colonel-General Rustam Muradov as commander of the Eastern Group of Forces (EGF) in Ukraine, marking the most senior Russian military dismissal of 2023 so far. The group has suffered exceptionally heavy casualties in recent months as its poorly conceived assaults repeatedly failed to capture the Donetsk town of Vuhledar, the ministry said. Key Points Macron urges Xi to bring Putin to his senses on war and nuclear threats ... ... As Chinese president says all countries should respect nuclear non-proliferation Putin claims West helped Kyiv mount acts of terror and sabotage Bakhmut epicentre of fight with no let-up, 20 attacks repelled Putin responsible for Finlands historic accession to Nato, says alliance chief Paranoid Putin stays in bunker because he 'fears for his life', says ex-security guard Pentagon investigating leak of secret US and Nato war plans for Ukraine 06:20 , Arpan Rai The Biden administration is investigating the leak of classified war documents about secret American and Nato plans for bolstering the Ukrainian military ahead of an anticipated spring salvo against Russian forces, senior officials said. We are aware of the reports of social media posts and the department is reviewing the matter, said Sabrina Singh, the deputy press secretary at the Pentagon, reported The New York Times. The five-weeks-old documents reportedly reveal details of Ukraines requirements ahead of a planned counteroffensive to reclaim territory taken by Russia since the full-scale invasion last year, as well as how the US and Nato might meet them. Pentagon investigating leak of secret US and Nato war plans for Ukraine Street battles in Bakhmut as Wagner says fighting continues in western pocket 06:54 , Arpan Rai The months-long battle for Bakhmut has continued to flare up in the salt-mining city this week. (Battles) are underway in the streets, enemy attempts to encircle the city are failing. Our command fully control the situation, said Andriy Yermak, a senior adviser to Volodymyr Zelensky said. The leader of Russias private Wagner militia, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said fighting was continuing in the west of the city. It must be said clearly that the enemy is not going anywhere, he said on his Telegram channel. The Wagner chief has often complained of a lack of ammunition for his fighters in Bakhmut but there are signs of revival of ammunition supply to the mercenary group. But Ukrainian border guard Levko Stek, speaking in a video clip amid explosions, said Ukrainian forces did not sense any ammunition hunger on the Russian side. Russian media mocks Trump over arrest days after he defended Putin: Were getting lots of popcorn! 06:00 , Emily Atkinson Donald Trumps indictment in New York City has been met with ridicule by state TV in Russia, where hosts have enjoyed themselves by showcasing artwork depicting the former president wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and speculating about future jail time. Mr Trump appeared at Manhattan Criminal Courthouse on Tuesday afternoon to plead not guilty to 34 felony charges relating to the falsification of business records to conceal a series of hush money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels, Playboy model Karen McDougal and a former Trump Tower doorman on his behalf in exchange for their silence about his alleged extramarital affairs. Joe Sommerlad reports: Russian media mocks Trump over arrest: Were getting lots of popcorn! Watch: Defecting Russian protection officer labels Vladimir Putin 'war criminal' 05:00 , Emily Atkinson Bakhmut grinds on as Ukrainian forces wait for mud to clear 04:41 , Arpan Rai The Ukrainian forces are using their counteroffensive abilities in Bakhmut to bleed Russian forces and inflict maximum losses possible in a dogged defence as they wait for the sludgy terrain to clear and make way for an expected spring assault. Bakhmut is performing the key task of inflicting as many losses on Russia as possible and, most importantly, to prepare for a counter-attack to take place in late April-May, Pavlo Narozhniy, a Ukrainian military analyst, told NV Radio. Even as Western analysts play down the strategic significance of Bakhmut, the Ukrainian side has persisted with protecting the town despite its own heavy casualties. A 21-year-old commander outside Bakhmut said: We are ready, we have to do it, the sooner the better. The enemy must be chased away. At the moment we are waiting for the weather to change, the mud is an obstacle. Speaking from close to the frontline, the commander of Ukraines 5th separate assault brigade, who gave his name as Ivan, said: Those service members that are not on the frontline are training. Ukrainian military expert Vladyslav Selezniov said Ukraine would be able to defend positions in the more heavily built-up west of Bakhmut as long as their route to the west, the road of life for getting supplies in and wounded out, remained open. Russia has defended its special military operation in Ukraine by claiming it was necessary to protect its security against what it sees as a hostile and aggressive West. ICYMI: Putin sacks one of Russias most senior commanders in Ukraine 04:00 , Emily Atkinson The Russian ministry of defence has reportedly fired Colonel-General Rustam Muradov as commander of the Eastern Group of Forces (EGF) after Moscows heavy losses in eastern Ukraine. The British defence ministry had cited claims on Russian social media in its latest intelligence update on Thursday and pointed out that it is the most high-profile dismissal in the Russian military so far this year. The ministry said more dismissals are likely to follow as Russia continues to fail to achieve its objectives in the Donbas. My colleague Arpan Rai has the details: Putin sacks one of Russias most senior commanders in Ukraine Russias refusal to give consular access to WSJ reporter is inexcusable, says US 03:55 , Arpan Rai The White House has called Russias refusal to give consular access to detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich inexcusable. We need to get consular access to Evan, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in a White House briefing last night. On being asked why Russia is refusing the journalist consular access, Mr Kirby said: We still havent been able to get consular access. And thats a thats an issue that we continually bring up through our our embassy in Moscow with the Russians. On being asked about a potential prisoner swap with Russia, Mr Kirby said that the situation is at a very early stage right now. I wont get ahead of where we are. And I think you can understand why we would certainly not want to talk about potential negotiations here from the podium. Were at a very early stage here, he said. He added: Main goal is to get consular access to him so we can have that contact and that connectivity were and doing what we can to keep him his employer and the family informed. Our focus is squarely on that right now. Key images from Lukashenkos trip to Moscow 03:00 , Emily Atkinson (EPA) (EPA) (EPA) Russia continues information crackdown with new Wikimedia fine 02:00 , Emily Atkinson The Wikimedia Foundation, owner of the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, was fined by a Russian court on Thursday for failing to delete content considered extremist as Moscow pursues a drive to crack down on independent sources of information. Wikipedia, which says it offers the second draft of history, is one of the few surviving fact-checked sources of information in Russian since the crackdown intensified after Moscow sent its armed forces into Ukraine in February 2022. The Tagansky district court said it had fined Wikimedia 800,000 roubles ($9,900). Russian news agencies in the courtroom said Wikimedia had been charged with failing to remove materials related to a song by the alternative rock band Psychea, or Psyshit, which has been officially designated extremist. Russia has now fined Wikimedia around 9 million roubles ($110,000) in the past year, the agencies said. Wikimedia said the information that Russian authorities had complained about was well-sourced and in line with Wikipedia standards. Watch: Smoke rises from fire inside Russian defence ministry in Moscow 01:00 , Emily Atkinson Greece to send more arms to Ukraine, but sets limits 00:00 , Emily Atkinson Greece has pledged military assistance to Ukraine for as long as it takes but officials cautioned that the country needs to keep much of its Russian-made weaponry for its own defensive needs. Ukrainian defence minister Oleksii Reznikov visited Athens on Thursday as part of regular meetings with officials from Nato countries. He was promised more artillery and small arms ammunition shipments, access to Greek hospitals for wounded military personnel and additional Soviet-era BMP infantry fighting vehicles. Greece will provide every support to Ukraine at this very important, crucial stage of the war, Greek defence minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos said during a joint appearance with Reznikov. We will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes thats a very clear position that we have taken from the outset. Greece to send more arms to Ukraine, but sets limits Latest images from Ukraines Donetsk region 23:00 , Emily Atkinson (AFP via Getty Images) (AFP via Getty Images) (AFP via Getty Images) World Bank: Improved outlooks for Russia and Ukraine despite ongoing war 22:00 , Emily Atkinson The World Bank on Thursday lifted its 2023 economic growth forecast for eastern Europe and central Asia to 1.4 per cent from an earlier 0.1 per cent prediction, citing improved outlooks for both Russia and Ukraine despite their ongoing war. The regional forecast, released just days before the World Bank and International Monetary Fund hold their annual spring meetings, has Ukraines economy growing by 0.5 per cent this year following a staggering contraction of 29.2 per cent in 2022, the year Russia launched its invasion. While the economic toll suffered by Ukraine as a result of the invasion is enormous, the reopening of Ukraines Black Sea ports and resumption of grain trade, as well as substantial donor support, are helping support economic activity this year, the World Bank said in a statement. Russias economy shrank 2.1 per cent last year, considerably less than the 3.5 per cent contraction the World Bank forecast in January. For 2023, the World Bank forecast Russias economy to contract by 0.2 per cent, compared to its previous forecast of a 3.3 per cent contraction. The World Banks regional grouping includes Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Russian refusal to give consular access to detained reporter is inexcusable 21:17 , Emily Atkinson Russias refusal to give consular access to detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is inexcusable, the White House said on Thursday. We need to get consular access to Evan, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters. (AFP via Getty Images) Watch: Putin stands 60ft away from crowd during speech 20:00 , Emily Atkinson Ukraine sends conflicting signals on Crimea talks idea 19:30 , Emily Atkinson A top Ukrainian official has ruled out talks with Moscow about territory until it withdraws all troops, pushing back on a colleague who had touted the idea of negotiations to resolve the Russian occupation of the Crimean peninsula. Andriy Sybiha, deputy head of president Volodymyr Zelenskys office, told the Financial Times on Wednesday that Kyiv would be willing to discuss the future of Crimea with Moscow if Ukraines counter-offensive reaches the peninsula. Russia occupied Ukraines Crimean peninsula in 2014, long before it launched its full-scale invasion in Feb. 2022. It has a huge concentration of forces on the Black Sea territory. Ukraine, which has vowed to recapture all lost land, plans to launch a counter-offensive in the coming weeks or months to try to wrest back territory in the east and south. But on Thursday, Mykhailo Podolyak, a presidential adviser, appeared to directly contradict Sybihas remarks on Twitter. About basics. The basis for real negotiations with RF is the complete withdrawal of Russian armed groups beyond the internationally recognized borders of Ukraine in 1991. Including #Crimea. There is no question of any territorial concessions or bargaining of our sovereign rights. (@Podolyak_M) April 6, 2023 The basis for real negotiations with (Russia) is the complete withdrawal of Russian armed groups beyond the internationally recognised borders of Ukraine in 1991. Including #Crimea, he said. There is no question of any territorial concessions or bargaining of our sovereign rights. Russia says seven civilians killed in Ukraine shelling attacks 19:00 , Emily Atkinson Authorities in Russian-controlled areas of eastern Ukraine said a total of seven civilians were killed on Thursday in two separate Ukrainian artillery strikes, Russian news agencies said. Four civilians died in Donetsk when shells hit a car park, and another six people were injured, Tass said. RIA later said three people died in blasts at a bus stop in Lysychansk, some 120 km (75 miles) to the northeast of Donetsk. Donetsk, capital of the Ukrainian province of the same name, has been controlled by Russian proxy forces since 2014, but remains close to the front line of Russias war with Ukraine and regularly comes under fire from Ukrainian forces. The Independent was not immediately able to verify reports. Russia says deputy foreign minister discussed jailed WSJ reporter 18:30 , Emily Atkinson Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov discussed the case of jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich with the US ambassador to Russia on Thursday, the foreign ministry said, according to the state-run news agency TASS. Ryabkov repeated the ministrys position that the question of US consular access to Gershkovich case would be handled according to established procedure. Gershkovich was charged with espionage last week after being detained in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg, and remanded in custody for two months. The US government and the Wall Street Journal have denied that he was engaged in spying. What we know about the arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia 18:00 , Emily Atkinson American journalist Evan Gershkovich, a 31-year-old reporter for The Wall Street Journal, has been arrested and detained in Russia on suspicion of espionage, a crime that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The son of Jewish immigrants from the Soviet Union who grew up speaking Russian at home in Princeton, New Jersey, Gershkovich graduated from the prestigious Bowdoin College in Maine before embarking on a career in the media, firstly at The New York Times, then The Moscow Times and then Agence France-Presse before joining WSJ, where he began covering Russian affairs just a month before the invasion of Ukraine last year. Joe Sommerlad reports: What we know about arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia Xi agreed to speak to Zelensky when time is right, says von der Leyen 17:22 , Andy Gregory Chinas Xi Jinping expressed willingness to speak to Volodymyr Zelensky, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has claimed, after their meeting in Beijing. It was interesting to hear that President Xi reiterated his willingness to speak to the Ukrainian president, Ms Von der Leyen said, calling his words positive. She added that Mr Xi had told her a conversation with Mr Zelensky could happen when the conditions and time are right. (REUTERS/Tingshu Wang) Four civilians killed in artillery strike on Donetsk city 16:55 , Andy Gregory Four civilians have been killed in an artillery strike in the Russian-held city of Donetsk, Russias state-owned RIA news agency has said, citing a reporter on the scene. RIA said a car park in the citys Kalininsky district had been hit. The city has been controlled by Ukrainian separatist forces since 2014, but remains close to the front line of Russia's war with Ukraine and regularly comes under fire from Ukrainian forces. Kremlin voices possibility of Russian security guarantees for Belarus 16:18 , Andy Gregory Russia should consider providing security guarantees for Belarus, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said, according to the Interfax news agency. The Russian Federation, of course, should consider the possibility of providing security guarantees for Belarus as an ally and as a country with which we are in the most advanced form of integration, Mr Peskov told reporters, as he answered questions on president Alexander Lukashenkos visit to Moscow. Putin and Lukashenko did not discuss' moving nuclear weapons to Belarus in todays talks 15:59 , Andy Gregory Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko did not discuss plans to place Russian strategic nuclear weapons in Belarus in their talks on Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said. I cant tell you to what extent this was discussed in yesterdays conversation. The conversation was really very long, it went well after midnight. But today there was no talk of this, Mr Peskov told reporters, according to the Interfax news agency. The plans mark the first time Russia has said it would station nuclear weapons on the territory of another country since the end of the Cold War three decades ago. Mr Peskov said the deployment of American nuclear weapons at bases in Europe is of concern to the Russian Federation, adding that Russia would respond appropriately to these challenges. Macron urges Xi to bring Putin to his senses on war and nuclear threats 15:06 , Andy Gregory Emmanuel Macron has urged Xi Jinping to bring Russia to its senses, during a visit to Beijing, which is claimed to have seen the two presidents agree to work hard to end the war in Ukraine. Referring to the UN Charter on respecting countries sovereignty and an international nuclear weapons treaty, the French president said: I know I can count on you, under the two principles I just mentioned, to bring Russia to its senses and bring everyone back to the negotiating table. Mr Xi responded that China was willing to jointly appeal with France to the international community to remain rational and calm, adding: Peace talks should be resumed as soon as possible, taking into account the reasonable security concerns of all sides with reference to the UN Charter seeking political resolution and constructing a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework. A French diplomatic source did not say whether China had indicated any change in its position during the 90-minute meeting, but told Reuters that the President and Xi agreed to work hard in order to accelerate the end of the war and to obtain that a negotiation opens in the full respect of international law. (Ludovic MARIN/AFP via Getty Images) Lukashenko threatens that if necessary Belarus and Russia will use all we have to protect our countries 14:29 , Andy Gregory On the second day of the Belarusian presidents visit to Moscow, Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko discussed expanding their economic cooperation and boosting their defence links, which include a plan to station Russias nuclear weapons in Belarus. In opening remarks at Thursdays talks at the Kremlin, which involved senior officials, following Wednesdays one-on-one meeting between the two presidents, Mr Lukashenko warned that if necessary, we will use all we have to protect our countries and peoples. We arent blackmailing anyone. It will be so, he added. The Belarusian leader cited the importance of close cooperation on defence and asserted that Belarusian factories have developed the expertise to replace Western companies as a source of electronic components for Russian weapons. We oriented ourselves toward the West in the past, but now we have come to realise that they arent our friends and we need to produce all that ourselves, Mr Lukashenko said. Von der Leyen says she encouraged Xi to contact Zelensky 14:20 , Andy Gregory European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has said that she encouraged Chinas Xi Jinping to reach out to Volodymyr Zelensky, during their talks as part of her visit to Beijing. Ms Von der Leyen was responding to a question from reporters on whether it was realistic that China might pressure Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP (AP) Full report: Macron tells Xi world is counting on China to bring Russia to reason 13:28 , Andy Gregory French president Emmanuel Macron has said he can count on China to reason with Russia and bring everyone to the negotiating table, after a meeting between the two leaders in Beijing. The Russian aggression in Ukraine has dealt a blow to (international) stability, Mr Macron told Chinese president Xi Jinping. I know I can count on you to bring back Russia to reason and everyone back to the negotiating table, he said. The French president is currently on a three-day joint trip to Beijing, accompanied by Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission. My colleague Stuti Mishra has the full report: Macron tells Xi world is counting on China to bring Russia to reason Wagner chief says no sign Ukraine leaving Bakhmut 12:59 , Andy Gregory Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Russias private Wagner militia, has warned that Ukrainian forces are not abandoning the city of Bakhmut and that his army needed more support from Moscow before trying to advance further. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has raised the prospect of a withdrawal from the city, saying on Wednesday that Kyiv would take the corresponding decisions if its forces risked being encircled by Russian troops. Wagner forces are leading the battle for the city, which has become the bloodiest of the 13-month war, and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has said its capture would open up the battlefield and allow Russia to advance further into eastern Ukraine. But Yevgeny Prigozhin, who has accused Russian military chiefs of ineffectiveness bordering on treason in recent months, said this was still some way off. It must be said clearly that the enemy is not going anywhere, he said on his Telegram channel. Ukrainian troops had organised staunch defences inside the city, particularly along railway lines and in high-rise buildings in the west of the city, and if they fell back would take up new positions in the outskirts and in Chasiv Yar to the west, he said. Thats why, in my opinion, theres no talk for now of any offensive. Ukrainian service members operate in the trenches at the frontline in Bakhmut (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach) Eyes turn to Crimea as Ukraine plans counter-offensive 12:30 , Andy Gregory Dmitry Suslov, an adviser to Vladimir Putin has said that Ukraines looming counter-offensive is likely to focus on the Sea of Azov and cutting off the illegally annexed peninsula of Crimea. If the Kiev offensive fails, the West will be short of weapons and at that point Russia will be able to mobilise 400,000 men for the final attack, the Russian presidential aide told Italys Corriere della Sera newspaper. In comments that seemed to confirm the importance of Crimea in any Ukrainian counter-offensive, an adviser to Volodymyr Zelensky told the Financial Times that Kyiv would be willing to discuss the future of the Black Sea peninsula if its forces reached the boundary of Crimea. If we will succeed in achieving our strategic goals on the battlefield and when we will be on the administrative border with Crimea, we are ready to open [a] diplomatic page to discuss this issue, Andriy Sybiha said. How the battle lines sat on the anniversary of Russias invasion (Datawrapper/The Independent) State actor involvement in Nord Stream blasts is absolute main scenario, prosecutor says 11:59 , Andy Gregory The absolute main scenario in the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines is that a state actor was involved, the Swedish prosecutor investigating the explosions has said. The blast in the Swedish zone occurred at a depth of 80 meters, which the Swedish prosecutor said made it complicated to investigate. We believe it will be rather difficult to determine who did this, prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist told Reuters, pointing to the fact that the blast in the Swedish zone of the Baltic Sea occurred 80 metres below sea level. The people who did this have probably been aware that they would leave clues behind and probably took care so that the evidence would not point in one direction, but in several directions, he added. That makes it difficult to clearly point to one actor. Xi Jinping says all countries should respect nuclear non-proliferation 11:27 , Andy Gregory Chinas president Xi Jinping has urged all countries to respect international agreements on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, as he met with Frances Emmanuel Macron in Beijing. China, France, Russia, the UK and the US have all made commitments under the United Nations treaty which aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, established in 1970. Russias defence minister Sergei Ryabkov was reported as saying on Tuesday that suspending participation in the New START nuclear arms control treaty with the United States had given Moscow new opportunities to guarantee its security. Meeting on Thursday, Mr Xi and Mr Macron both agreed that nuclear weapons should not be used in the war in Ukraine, as the French president urged his Chinese counterpart to bring Russia back to reason. The UN treaty demands that all signatories should pursue negotiations in good faith on disarmament measures, and that states which do not have nuclear weapons should not acquire them. Russia has announced plans to station nuclear weapons in neighbouring Belarus, a move the Kremlin claimed on Tuesday was in response to a growing Nato presence on its borders, after Finland joined the military alliance. Watch: Smoke pours from fire at Russian defence ministry in Moscow 10:56 , Andy Gregory Here is footage of the fire which broke out at the Moscow headquarters of Russia's defence ministry yesterday evening. The blaze was put out shortly after it started with no casualties, the TASS news agency reported. Nuclear deployment to Belarus is response to Nato expansion, claims Kremlin 10:27 , Andy Gregory Russia has defended its decision to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, rejecting criticism of the move by Natos secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday that Nato was the one expanding towards Russia, not the other way round, and therefore Moscow had to take steps to defend its own security. NASHVILLE Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday praised three Tennessee Democratic lawmakers who staged a protest in favor of gun control on the statehouse floor in an act of defiance that led angry Republicans to expel two of them from the General Assembly. In a surprise trip to Nashville, Harris said the three Democrats Reps. Justin Jones of Nashville, Justin Pearson of Memphis and Gloria Johnson of Knoxville showed courage in pushing for gun reform following a mass shooting at a Nashville private Christian school that killed six people. It wasnt about these three leaders it was about what they were representing, she said during an event at Fisk University. Its about whose voices they were channeling. Is that not what a democracy allows? House Republicans voted Thursday to expel Jones and Pearson, both of whom are Black, for their role in the protest. Johnson, who is white, dodged an expulsion by one vote. Stay in the conversation on politics: Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter That is not a democracy, Harris said of the expulsions. In a democracy, she said, "you dont silence the people, you do not stifle the people, you do not turn off their microphones when they are speaking about the importance of life and liberty." Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at Fisk University on Friday, April 7, 2023, about the expulsion of Justin Jones and Justin Pearson from the Tennessee House of Representatives the day before. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, survived an effort to expel her. President Joe Biden also spoke to the three Democrats, who have become known as the "Tennessee Three," during a conference call Friday ahead of Harris' visit. He thanked them for their leadership in seeking to ban assault weapons and standing up for democratic values, the White House said. He also invited them to the White House in the near future. Harris' hastily arranged trip to Nashville came after Tennessee House Republicans voted overwhelmingly Thursday to expel Jones and Pearson. Jones was expelled on 72-25 vote. The vote to remove Pearce was 69-26. The expulsions have become a national flashpoint on the issues of gun control and race. Upon arriving in Nashville, Harris met privately with the three Democrats at Fisk, which hosted a gathering of community leaders to support the expelled lawmakers. Afterward, she met with other Tennessee Democratic lawmakers and Nashville Mayor John Cooper. Pearson was met with raucous applause and cheers as he arrived for the event. They thought they could expel democracy, he said, addressing the crowd from a stone platform. But were still here! In her remarks, Harris also praised students and other young leaders who converged upon the state Capitol en masse to push for gun control after the school shooting but haven't swayed the state's Republican majority. She encouraged them to continue the fight. "I do believe that every generation has its calling, that there are moments in time that find you and require and depend on your leadership," she said. "And so, in particular to all the young people, this issue is going to require your leadership." Harris renewed Biden's call for Congress to pass a nationwide ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Assault weapons "were designed to kill a lot of people quickly" and have "no place on the streets of the civil society," she said. More: Tennessee Republicans expel two of 'Tennessee Three' House Democrats for leading pro-gun reform protest Former Reps. Justin Jones, D-Nashville (left) and Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, were expelled from the state legislature on Thursday. Among those waiting outside Fisk ahead of the event was Nicholas Umontuen, who teaches business administration at the university. Umontuen said he was "shocked" and "demoralized" by the decision to expel the lawmakers. But he said the national attention gives him hope to elevate the voices of young people fighting for change. The trio of lawmakers were accused by Republican leadership of breaching decorum and floor rules for speaking at the House podium on March 30 without recognition. More: 'Congress has to act': Biden says there's nothing more he can do on his own to address guns But by moving ahead with the expulsions, the state's Republican House speaker, Cameron Sexton, turned two Democrats who held no legislative power in a Republican supermajority into national heroes on the political left. Biden, in a statement, called the expulsions "shocking, undemocratic and unprecedented." He said that "rather than debating the merits" of gun control, "these Republican lawmakers have chosen to punish, silence, and expel duly-elected representatives of the people of Tennessee." Vice President Kamala Harris is greeted by Col. Ted Geasley, Commander of the 118th Wing, as she arrives at Berry Field Air National Guard Base before meeting with Tennessee legislators at Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn., on Friday, April 7, 2023. Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison and Michael Collins @mcollinsNEWS. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tennessee House expulsion: Kamala Harris meets with ousted members Latoya Hawkins wears a mask as her 4-month-old daughter is examined at MLK Community Hospital in January. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) In a world moving on from the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals and medical offices have been the last bastions of mandatory masking. But new research finds that in communities where pandemic precautions have been largely abandoned, mask mandates in healthcare settings do little to prevent coronavirus infections among patients. The findings, presented on Thursday at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases in Copenhagen, suggest that hospitals, nursing homes and clinics could adopt "mask optional" policies without putting their patients at increased risk. The study's findings come almost a year after most European governments decided to let the virus spread unimpeded among their highly vaccinated populations. But with some of the last masking requirements now being dismantled in the United States, many here continue to debate the wisdom of declaring an end to the public health emergency. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to recommend indoor masking for all in communities where new infections, hospitalizations and local hospital capacity combine to push COVID-19 into a "high" risk level, and for people who may become severely ill with COVID-19 if they live in communities where the risk level is "medium." But for the 96% of counties where the risk is deemed "low," masks are neither recommended nor discouraged. This week, California health officials lifted the general masking order for healthcare settings throughout the state while allowing individual hospitals, doctors offices and other facilities to set their own requirements. Los Angeles and San Francisco counties have lifted their masking orders for patients and visitors. But under new local orders, doctors, nurses and other employees will be required to wear masks while providing patient care or working in patient areas at hospitals, clinics, skilled nursing facilities, dialysis centers and the like. L.A. County rules also require continued masking by janitors, security officers, secretaries and volunteers who work in patient-care areas, as well as by firefighters, emergency medical technicians and police officers who enter such places. The British authors of the new study appeared to question the value of such broad masking policies, both in the absence of masking outside of hospital walls and in light of evidence that the pandemic virus has become less likely to kill than it was three years ago. A low-tech, low-cost intervention without well-established benefit was reasonable in the context of the early pandemic, wrote the authors of the new study, referring to the widespread use of face-coverings. However, with a reduction in the severity of COVID-19 disease, in later variants, the risk-benefit balance becomes more questionable. Dr. Aodhan Breathnach, an infectious disease physician with the National Health Service Foundation Trust and one of the studys authors, said many hospitals have retained masking at significant financial and environmental cost and despite the substantial barrier to communication. He expressed hope that the studys findings can help inform a rational and proportionate mask policy in health services. In the United Kingdom as in the United States, continuing mask mandates "became politicized," Breathnach said. "Rather than people just flocking to their political tribe, we said, 'Let's see how much they actually work.' The data were just sitting there." Breathnach and his colleagues in the U.K.'s National Health Service set out to test whether changes in masking policies for hospital visitors and staff resulted in changed infection rates among patients on the wards of St. Georges Hospital in southwest London. They focused on a 40-week period that began in December 2021, when the Omicron variant had established itself as the dominant coronavirus strain. In the first 26 weeks, masking was required of all hospital visitors and healthcare workers. The researchers captured rates of infection among patients upon admission and rates of hospital-acquired coronavirus infections during that time. In-hospital infection rates were much lower that those detected at admission, but the two tracked up and down largely in tandem. On June 2, 2022, masking became optional for healthcare workers and visitors in most wards of St. Georges. However, on cancer wards, in dialysis suites and intensive care units, and at medical admissions, the mask mandate stayed in place. That allowed those areas of the hospital to serve as the studys control group. For the next 14 weeks, researchers found that patients admitted to wards where masks were optional were no more likely to become infected inside the hospital than were patients in units where masking remained mandatory. For both sets of patients, the relationship between infections at admission and hospital-acquired infections followed the patterns established in the first 26 weeks of the study. That held up even in July 2022, when London experienced a huge Omicron surge: Infections among newly admitted patients rose dramatically, and throughout the hospital, rates of in-hospital infection continued their customary pattern of rising less dramatically. Breathnach said the stability of the group's findings, even as a surge swept through London, gave them confidence that universal masking in hospitals had become hard to defend. Still, he said he understands why demands for continued masking would be the final fall-back for many people. "There's a certain psychological aspect to masking: it's the most visible control measure, and you feel you have control over it. And other public health measures, like social distancing, are so much harder to do," he said. But when virtually all other strictures have gone by the boards and only hospital workers are wearing masks, their face coverings barely make a difference. "They have a marginal ability to protect against a disease thats increasingly less severe," Breathnach said. At the Copenhagen meeting of microbiologists, experts continued to debate how much less severe COVID-19 has become. Another study presented Thursday assessed the virus's power in the context of another widespread respiratory disease, influenza. While the Omicron variant appears to have rendered the coronavirus less virulent, research from Israel affirms that it remains deadlier than flu. Scientists compared the characteristics and outcomes of 167 Israeli hospital patients admitted with COVID-19 between December 2021 and January 2022 to those of 221 admitted with a flu infection during the same period. The COVID-19 patients, half of whom were older than 71, were more likely to require oxygen support, to be put on a ventilator and to die than were the slightly younger patients with influenza. Of the 167 patients hospitalized for COVID-19, 26% died within 30 days of admission. By contrast, 9% of the 221 flu patients died in that timespan. That jibes with a study published Thursday in JAMA Network Open, which found that among people 65 and over treated in U.S. Veterans Affairs hospitals, the death rate for patients with COVID-19 (6%) was nearly twice as high as for patients with the flu (3.75%). The Israeli research underscored that COVID-19 is increasingly a disease that exacts its greatest toll on older, sicker patients. Most patients hospitalized with flu had asthma, whereas those hospitalized for COVID-19 more frequently had diabetes and high blood pressure, and needed more assistance with daily activities. Both studies were peer reviewed by a panel of the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, and have been submitted to medical journals for publication. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. 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. YEREVAN, APRIL 7, ARMENPRESS. U.S. Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary for Global Markets Arun Venkataraman has arrived in Armenia, the US Embassy reported. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan will hold a meeting with Assistant Secretary Venkataraman, according to the embassy. During his April 6-8 visit, Assistant Secretary Venkataraman will meet with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and give opening remarks at the U.S.-Armenia Strategic Dialogue, during which he will underscore the United States interest in deepening commercial ties and promoting commercial partnerships between both countries, particularly in the energy sector, the US embassy said in a statement. YEREVAN, APRIL 7, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan on April 7 held a meeting with the delegation led by U.S. Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary for Global Markets Arun Venkataraman. The sides discussed the prospects and opportunities of cooperation in Armenian-American investments, improvement of business environment and the areas of high technologies and energy, and also touched upon the implementation of joint programs by outlining the further directions of cooperation, Grigoryan's office said in a press release. The importance of further strengthening the Armenian-American economic cooperation was highlighted. China and Brazil say their bilateral ties of 50 years will go to a higher level Improvements to the current relationship will get a boost in trade and economic concerns Both nations discussed further plans during the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2023 China and Brazil vow to increase their bilateral ties after a trade forum reaffirmed it. The Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2023, held in Hainan and attended by other nations, covered trade and economic concerns. China, Brazil Upgrade Ties After Trade Forum Alessandro Golombiewski Teixeira, an ex-economic adviser to Brasilia, said diplomatic ties would improve as part of the 50 years the two nations have been cooperating, reported China Daily. A former minister of tourism and development, industry, and foreign trade said last March 30 that both nations intend to assist other countries. Teixeira said that cooperative trade between Brasilia and Beijing is 'strong and winning' with good relations in terms of trade while attending the Boao Forum in Hainan. The Chinese imports soybeans, beef, oil, sugar, and even iron ore, while the PRC exports chemicals and electric vehicles to Brazil. The two partner nations are part of the BRICS, which includes Russia, India, and South Africa as present members. Adding that BRICS is the alternative bloc of the global south to represent them in the up-and-coming BRICS Plus, noted DW. One of the goals of BRICS is to bolster mutual relationships between nations on all levels. All five participants agree that multilateral institutions with reaching a goal of success for everyone. Read Also: Premier Li: China Intends To Boost Global Economic Development Trade Forum Discusses Crucial Matters Golombiewski Teixeira said that not all want peace, and some nations, except China, are leading the world to conflict. Its peace and stability with Beijing lead to a win-win. "Without peace, you don't have anything," he added. A scheduled trip to China of the Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva got canceled due to health concerns, cited Ani News. The former Brazilian official commented that 40 percent of the total Latin American economy is part of the Belt and Road Initiative. He added the BRI, defined as a multi-nation cooperation platform, not a simple endeavor, is the most influential cooperation mechanism active in the global community. He mentioned China's Global Security Initiative (GSI), which was announced at the Boao Forum last April, regarded the GSI and Global Development Initiative as two parts that complement. Entry of more firms into the market is crucial, like the Chinese car industry which has trended as buyable cars. Car companies like BYD and Great Wall (Motors) play an essential role. Beijing has been investing in the country with infrastructure, and electronic products, with Sino-tech firms starting to enter the Brazilian sphere. The Latin American nations are where TikTok and Kuaishou are beneficial for the market, the same as the ones in China. Brazilian companies have entered the Chinese market with a deal to drop the US dollar to settle accounts. There is fear the financial upheaval in the West is prevented from reaching either country. China and Brazil will amp bilateral ties, reacted a former Brazilian official in a trade forum in Hainan. Related Article: China-EU Summit: Russia-Ukraine War Not To Be Discussed @YouTube @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Modi said those fighting an 'existential battle' had become 'desperate' after the exposure of their corruption NEW DELHI: Cautioning BJP leaders and workers not to get complacent as there is a view that no one can defeat the party in 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday attacked the Opposition for its badshahi mindset and for insulting the poor and backward classes. In the wake of the Congress and other Opposition parties accusing the Modi government of running away from their demand for a JPC probe on the Adani issue and misuse of constitutional institutions against their leaders, the PM said they have been battling an existential crisis and are resorting to levelling allegations and hatching conspiracies against the ruling party. The PM had recently cautioned BJP leaders that the more the party wins electorally, the more aggressive the Oppositions onslaught would get. Addressing BJP members at the partys 44th foundation day celebrations, Modi said those fighting an existential battle had become desperate after the exposure of their corruption and were, therefore, conspiring against his government, that was committed to taking tough steps to rid India of corruption, nepotism and law and order challenges. Full of hate, these people are speaking one lie after another. They have become restless and desperate at the exposure of their corrupt deeds. They can see now only one way out. They are openly saying Modi teri kabar khudegi. They are issuing threats to dig (my) grave, he said. Cautioning BJP members, who listened to his nearly 50-minute address at over 10 lakh locations, Modi said: Despite being the worlds biggest political party, we dont have to be complacent. People have already started saying that no one can defeat the BJP in 2024. This is true, but as BJP workers we have to win the heart of every citizen of the country We should not be confined to winning polls. Our goal is to win over the hearts of crores of people. We have to fight every poll with the same hard work that we have put in since the time of the Jan Sangh. In an apparent reference to the BJPs ongoing campaign highlighting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi insult of the OBC community, Modi attacked those with a badshahi mindset for insulting the poor and backward since the party stormed to power in 2014 and accused them of treating people like slaves for decades after Independence. The British might have left in 1947 but they left behind the seeds of treating people as slaves in the minds of some This class of people prospered a lot in the years after Independence who considered power their birthright, he added, in a clear swipe at the Congress, which had ruled the country in the early decades after freedom. Drawing parallels between Lord Hanuman, whose birth anniversary is being observed by the devout on Thursday, Modi asserted that the BJP believes in the ideals of selfless service, something with which the Ramayan character is identified. India has realised its potential and strength after 2014 just like Lord Hanuman did after eliminating his self-doubt If we see the whole life of Lord Hanuman, he had a can-do attitude that helped him achieve big successes, said the PM. As Lord Hanuman took on demons fiercely, the government will also act stringently in ridding the country of ills like corruption, nepotism and law and order challenges, the Prime Minister added. In his words: "I am just a professional writer, which means I don't do blogs and try and get money for whatever I write." Only with root and branch reform will public faith in the Met be restored The Mets publicity department will undoubtedly attempt to inform the public about the purges and reforms of systems that its implementing in the post-Casey era. (Photo: Twitter) O Bachchoo the eye of heaven glares Unblinking through the trees Stare back at it any who dares To embrace blindness with ease. Whats all this about heavens eye I thought you didnt believe? Gods sake, I know its all a lie But what else can relieve The pain of that which stalks the day We sceptics must regret! Ah! So now youre ready to pray? O Bachchoo No! Not yet! From Faith Ki Pooja, by Bachchoo Wayne Couzens was a Metropolitan Police officer who, in March 2021, accosted the 33-year-old Sarah Everard, arrested, handcuffed and pushed her into a hired car. He drove her to a secluded forest in Kent where he raped and strangled her. The murder became a crucial national issue. Thousands of women demonstrated, demanding that the streets be made safe for them. Couzens was finally apprehended, tried and sentenced to life imprisonment. A report into criminality and untenable attitudes in the Metropolitan Police was commissioned under the chairwomanship of Baroness Louise Casey. The idea that there were a few bad apples in the by-and-large decent force was dismissed. More like an orchard full of them bred in poisonous, fungoid soil. Caseys report says: The Metropolitan Police is broken and rotten, suffering collapsing public trust and is guilty of institutional racism, misogyny and homophobia. The Met Police commissioner accepted the report with one caveat. He says he will solemnly set out to implement its recommendations, even though he doesnt accept that his force is institutionally racist. But thats a quibble. Whats important is that all traces which means police conduct in action and in the culture of police stations be rid of racism, misogyny, homophobia and the other ills that Casey has said the institution is heir to. Only with root and branch reform will public faith in the Met be restored. Acting on his stated determination, the Met Police last week arrested two policemen of the Met who were tried, convicted and sentenced for the rape of women whose acquaintance they had made through being assigned to them on official duties. The Mets publicity department will undoubtedly attempt to inform the public about the purges and reforms of systems that its implementing in the post-Casey era. Earlier this week, the Met even announced that hundreds of police officers will face the sack over the next year as the investigation proceeds. Whether that will restore the Met to being a barrel-full of beaming apples is unlikely, but infinitely desirable. My own experience tells me, through reportage and one encounter, that the reforms will have to be very deep and wide to gain the trust, for instance, of the young black men and women of the city. For decades there have been constant reports, complaints and political resistance to the police implementing stop and search powers on young blacks walking the streets. The police officers say they are looking for drugs, knives and guns, but the reported experience of the community and of some horrific cases of the killing of unarmed black men, of the body-searches of very young pre-pubic girls, the stopping of an Olympic athlete because she is black and was in an expensive car I could go on, but I presume, gentle reader, that the picture is clear. These bad apples are attracted to young black faces as Newtons apple was attracted to earth. What about the good apples, as surely there are some? Well, my only experience of being arrested was decades ago, when I was with a political organisation to which I belonged, exercising my right to free speech in a demonstration outside a factory in London which had dismissed its almost 100 per cent Asian workforce for attempting to form a trade union branch. The very powerful and numerous National Union of Miners (NUM) had also rallied to the cause of the Grunwick factory workers and their absolute right to join a trade union. The day the NUM had chosen to voice their support, they brought down literally thousands of miners from the north of England, Wales and Scotland to demonstrate solidarity. The picket line faced a massive force of police. A cry went up: Arthurs been arrested! The miners surged forward to release their NUM leader. I was caught in the crush and three coppers threw me to the ground. Then, still chained to a constable, I was dragged to a police van and driven to Willesden police station. I was charged with assaulting three policemen. Weeks later, in court, I defended myself and played in my cross-examination on my weight and size compared to that of my supposed victims. The police gallery burst out laughing when I finally asked one burly supposed victim: Are you telling this court that the likes of me assaulted three of the likes of you? The judge stopped the case and told me I was discharged, but not to go near Grunwick again. And another good apple experience? After Islamist terrorist bombings on the London Underground in 2005, I was, obliviously, walking down Edgware Road a few hundred yards from where one of the bombs had gone off. There was a mob gathered there and a police cordon. An authoritative policeman grabbed me by the arm and led me with another cop down the road. I protested. I really thought they were leading me to their van. Not arresting you, he said. But you look Asian and theres a nasty mob out there baying for blood. Just f off as fast as you can! by Vladimir Rozanskij This year for Muscovite Catholics the Easter Way of the Cross without being able to leave the area around the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Mgr Paolo Pezzi: "Our path is embedded in communion with Christ". The 'foreign' roots of the capital's Catholic community. "Christ did not choose the cross, it was given to him". Moscow (AsiaNews) - This year Catholics in the capital were able to gather for the Stations of the Cross in the open air on April 1st, but without obtaining permission to leave the area around the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The local Polish community built the Gothic church just before the revolution, only to have it immediately closed, then rebuilt and re-consecrated after the end of the communist regime in the 1990s. The archbishop of the Mother of God in Moscow, Monsignor Paolo Pezzi, opened the procession by reminding us that 'our journey is embedded in communion with Christ, it is the entrance of Christ and His salvation into our lives, which is fulfilled on the cross'. Never as much as this year, on the centenary of the Petrograd trial that condemned Russian Catholic martyrs to death, is the way of the cross truly an expression of shared sorrow, for the dramatic circumstance of the ongoing war against Ukraine, which leaves everyone with the desire for redemption and reconciliation. Thus the archbishop recalls that 'the way of the cross is our way, to grow in friendship with Christ. He brings us even closer to Him in an even more intense way: if we have encountered Christ, if we live from the memory of Him, then in front of His bloody face there can be no other way of relating between men, other than that of friendship and fraternity'. It is precisely the history of Catholicism in Russia that recalls the many tragedies of history in the confrontation between the Eastern Slavs on both sides of the rivers, and the need to rediscover the sense of coexistence and exchange of gifts between peoples and Churches. The Catholic community in Moscow, and in the whole of Russia, constitutes a minority historically formed precisely by citizens with ancient Polish and Ukrainian roots, but also Lithuanian, German and from many 'friendly' countries from Soviet times: Africans and South Americans, but also Armenian Catholics who fled the civil wars in the Caucasus, and many Russians who have recognised in the traditions of Catholicism a part of the Russian tradition itself, which has always been open to the encounter between East and West. The four dioceses of Moscow, Saratov on the Volga, Novosibirsk in the centre of Siberia and Irkutsk near Lake Bajkal bear witness to these stories, to the dispersion and deportations, but also to the rebirth of the faith in a country where it had long been persecuted. On 19 March, in Murmansk, above the Arctic Circle, the ethnic Russian auxiliary bishop of St Petersburg, Mgr Nikolai Dubinin, had the joy of consecrating as deacon another Russian Catholic, Claret-born Denis Malov, who will become a priest to continue his congregation's great mission of evangelisation and charity in Russia. Now Moscow's Catholics follow their pastor around the sides of the cathedral's large courtyard, which the Soviets had transformed into a four-storey building of workshops and offices, and under the vault was the auditorium for lectures on 'scientific atheism', which characterised all the institutions of the communist regime. In the early nineties, the Polish community in Moscow celebrated Holy Mass with Salesian priests in front of the locked door, even in the winter cold that made even the consecrated wine in the chalice freeze, until the whole building, renovated thanks to the charity of confreres from all over the world, was returned. Today, there are two official Catholic churches in the capital: the Immaculate Conception and the historic French church of St. Louis, the only one that remained open during the years of Communism, together with that of Our Lady of Lourdes in Leningrad, also historically linked to the presence of French diplomats. However, there are other registered parishes, which meet in turn in the two churches or in private premises, and for the past two years have also been using the premises restored around the historical building of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, the church of Moscow Catholics since the 19th century. After a long and troubled legal process, the Catholics have obtained at least part of the complex, where there were the educational and charitable institutions of the lively Moscow community, and await the final restitution of the entire 'Catholic quarter' in the centre of the city from the Supreme Court. During the Stations of the Cross, meditations were read at the various stations by authors such as Charles Peguy, Boris Pasternak, Anna Akhmatova and the saintly Pope John Paul II, who would have loved to consecrate the rebuilt cathedral in person, later sending his Secretary of State, Card. Angelo Sodano. Arriving at the concluding altar of the service, Archbishop Pezzi recalled that 'the Church has spread throughout the world thanks to the preaching of the apostles and doctors, priests and lay people, and each of us, thanks to Baptism, has become a foundation stone of the spiritual edifice in which Christ the Lord unites us in the one Body'. The archbishop emphasised that "Christ did not choose the cross, it was given to him, and it is not up to us to choose what our cross should be, we must carry it, even when it seems too heavy". I'm fine, as I'm very fortunate to own my home I own, but I'm feeling the pinch on my mortgage with other inflation costs I rent and it's expensive, but it could be worse I'm seriously considering leaving the valley if something doesn't give Vote View Results Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. San Angelo, TX (76909) Today Cloudy early with partial sunshine expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 82F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 63F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. As reported by Reuters, Honeywell International has announced its first deal for its most powerful generator with Flying Whales Airships Quebec Inc. (Photo: by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 05: General view of the Honeywell mask factory where US President Donald Trump will visit and hold a roundtable on Native American issues on May 05, 2020, in Phoenix, Arizona. The one-megawatt generator will be used on a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) airship that is 200 meters long. With the growing number of companies working on electric or hybrid aircraft, Honeywell's generator may be used for other hybrid aircraft applications. In fact, one megawatt of power is enough to power Honeywell's 110-acre campus for testing engines in Arizona. As for Flying Whales, they will use four generators per airship. Also read: UTC-Honeywell Merger Not A Good Idea, Says Airbus CEO VTOLs and Hybrid Electric Aircraft Today The aviation industry is constantly evolving, and today, there is a growing interest in vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) airships and electric hybrid aircraft. These aircraft offer several benefits over traditional fixed-wing planes, including increased efficiency, reduced noise pollution, and improved safety. VTOL airships are designed to take off and land vertically, eliminating the need for a runway. These aircraft are typically smaller than traditional planes and can be used in various applications, including transportation, search and rescue, and military operations. One example of a VTOL airship is the Lockheed Martin hybrid airship, which uses buoyancy and aerodynamics to stay aloft and can carry up to 18,000 pounds of cargo. On the other hand, electric hybrid aircraft use a combination of electric and traditional fuel sources to power their engines. These aircraft are more fuel-efficient and produce fewer emissions than traditional planes, making them a greener alternative. Electric hybrid aircraft can also be quieter than traditional planes, reducing noise pollution in communities near airports. One example of an electric hybrid aircraft is the Ampaire Electric EEL, which uses a combination of electric and traditional fuel sources to power its engines and can travel up to 500 miles on a single charge. Several factors drive the rise of VTOL airships and electric hybrid aircraft. One of the main drivers is the need for more sustainable and efficient transportation solutions. As concerns about climate change continue to grow, there is a growing demand for greener alternatives to traditional transportation methods. VTOL airships and electric hybrid aircraft offer a more sustainable and efficient way to transport people and goods. Another driver is the need for safer and more flexible transportation solutions. VTOL airships can be used in various applications, including search and rescue operations and military operations, where traditional planes may not be able to operate. Electric hybrid aircraft are also safer than traditional planes, as they are less prone to mechanical failures and can operate at lower altitudes. The rise of VTOL airships and electric hybrid aircraft is a promising development in the aviation industry. These aircraft offer several benefits over traditional planes, including increased efficiency, reduced noise pollution, and improved safety. As the aviation industry evolves, we will likely see more VTOL airships and electric hybrid aircraft in the skies. Related article: United Technologies Rejects Honeywell International Merger Offer @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The 127m Oceanco Koru, formerly known as Y721, has been handed over to her new owner who is reported to be Jeff Bezos.https://t.co/4jHJjsW7Ja Boat International (@boatint) April 6, 2023 Koru has been in the news since it was announced in 2018, and not only because of its size, luxury amenities or even the reported $500 million price tag, which doesnt include the price of its shadow vessel. Koru, internally known as Y721 or Project 721, was constantly in the news because the owner is believed to be Amazon founder Jeff Bezos , one of the richest men in the world, who wanted his own, custom take on the iconic Black Pearl, another Oceanco legend and record-breaker.Koru was completed late last year after a very controversial launch that included egging threats, and returned from sea trials at the Oceanco dock in the Netherlands, in January 2023, awaiting delivery. Also then, it started broadcasting its position and new name on AIS (automated identification system), which was the first solid clue that it was preparing for its maiden journey and subsequent delivery to the owner.Both took place on April 6, and Koru is now underway on its maiden journey, which sees it heading towards Gibraltar at a speed of 16 knots (18.4 mph/29.6 kph). Whether the owner is onboard is not known, as neither is the exact timeline or circumstances of the delivery. The project has been shrouded in secrecy since day one, for all the obvious reasons: you dont pay $500 million for a boat to have staff chit-chat with the press about it.With the delivery, Koru has officially become the largest sail-assisted yacht in the world, and the largest sailing yacht built in the Netherlands impressive achievements and awesome conversation starters. It is 127 meters (417 feet) long and is designed as a three-mast schooner with a black hull and white superstructure. Details about its interiors remain a secret, but it wouldnt be far-fetched to imagine theyre up to par with the hype around the vessel and the incredible price tag.Koru will be joined by its shadow vessel on the maiden journey. Codenamed YS 7512 and delivered by Damen Yachting earlier this year under the moniker Abeona, this shadow vessel will carry all the toys and additional staff for Koru, but is technically a superyacht on its own. It is the largest vessel delivered by the shipyard (246 feet/75 meters) and the only existing SeaAxe 7512 model to date, and offers incredible amenities beyond extra storage, including a master suite with a private deck, and accommodation for as many as 45 people. How Find My works Photo: Apple The Texas nightmare Photo: Apple Apples (lack of) response A man in Texas claims people keep coming to his door accusing him of stealing their Apple devices. At first, he had no idea what was happening, but after eventually chatting with some of the calmer visitors, he figured it out.These people were all Apple users who lost their devices. The Find My application on their iPhones claimed these devices were located at his address. As such, everybody followed the directions provided by Apple Maps and came to his door.Needless to say, he isnt a serial thief, nor is he playing hide and seek with their devices. The man says he has nothing to do with the lost Apple products. Yet, he now warns hes going to sue Apple because the company is ignoring his calls for help.Apple has developed a clever way to keep track of its devices. The Find My application, which is installed on iPhones, iPads, and other products developed by Apple, allows users to register these devices for live tracking.Once enrolled in the application, the devices location can be monitored in real time. Nobody else can control a device because its paired with the master account.The purpose of the application is to make it easy for owners to find their lost devices. At the same time, it also ended up becoming a valuable tool against thieves. Apple customers reach out to the police with Find My information, eventually pointing law enforcement precisely to the location of criminals.Apple uses multiple approaches for broadcasting live location information in the Find My application. AirTags, for example, can connect to nearby iPhones to show their location to the owner. As a result, something thats tracked with an AirTag will almost always show up in Find My, unless someone removes the CR2032 battery.When the location of a lost device shows up in the Find My app, users can explore the region and get directions to the address with Apple Maps. The navigation application offers the typical route guidance right to the point indicated by Find My.In the case of Scott Schuster, Apple Maps pointed all these people to his door for no reason. Angry people were knocking at his door at random times of the day and night to ask for their devices. Some were confused, others were impatient, but all wanted their devices back.After further inspection, he figured out what was happening. It was all caused by Apple Maps.The man's home was the first built in his neighborhood. Built several years ago, the house complex is already available on Apple Maps with Look Around and everything. Apple, therefore, has updated data on the region.What Apple doesnt have is the correct address. The man found out that all houses in the neighborhood have the same address. His address, that is. This is because when it was built, his home was the first to get a registered address, so when the complex was added to Apple Maps, this was the only information available.In other words, no matter where you point Apple Maps in the neighborhood, it still sends you to the mans door.In theory, this can be easily updated by adding the correct information to Apple Maps. Such things happen occasionally, and this is precisely why both Google and Apple have editors in charge of updating Google Maps and Apple Maps with the correct details.In Schusters case, however, Apple seems to ignore all requests for help. The man says he reached out to Apple, but his ticket was eventually closed.The man is afraid someone drunk or outraged would eventually show up at his door looking for their devices, eventually leading to something a lot more dangerous. He says he already has video recordings of angry people knocking on his door and shouting for their gadgets, so the Apple Maps update must be made quickly.Without an Apple response, the man says hes ready to take the whole thing to court. Expect to receive a lawsuit from me, he told Apple in a post on Instagram, claiming hes had enough. People keep coming to his door asking for their devices, and yet, Apple still ignores all his requests for support.The iPhone maker hasnt yet commented on the case, but the more exposure it gets, the bigger the chances for the Apple Maps data to be updated accordingly. I have also contacted the company for an official statement on the accusations and will update the article if and when I hear back from it. For now, the only thing Schuster can do is reach out to Apple Support repeatedly, hoping the case would be forwarded to someone in charge of Maps data. EV Battery development doesn't seem to advance as fast as people would want, but progress is visible. Besides scientists' efforts to develop new chemistries and improve existing ones, battery manufacturers are also working on pushing the boundaries of current Li-Ion technology. Fine-tuning the packaging, manufacturing, and chemistry can yield tangible improvements that, in the case of electric vehicles, mean squeezing more miles from a battery charge.These small improvements can make a difference, especially for companies that fight their way up the supply chain ladder. CALB is a relatively small Li-Ion battery supplier from China, at least when compared to the industry leader CATL. The Chinese company reported a 4% global market share in 2022, placing seventh among the biggest Li-Ion cell manufacturers. During a recent event in China, CALB introduced a new battery technology based on structural and chemical innovations developed in-house.CALB's U-type cells represent a departure from the tabless design that has become popular for cylindrical cells. CALB vice president Xie Qiu explained that a tabless structure does improve some of the current path problems. Treating the cell's shell as a conductive component results in a relatively long path for the current to flow through. To make matters worse, the shell is made of steel, which doesn't conduct electricity very well.The U-type structure CALB presented at China100 Forum offers advantages over traditional cylindrical batteries thanks to a current flow path reduced by 70 percent and space utilization improved by 3 percent. This allows the battery to reduce structural components' electrical resistance by 50 percent, maximizing current. CALB claims its new battery supports fast charging at more than 6C, which means a full charge takes one-sixth of an hour or ten minutes.Structural innovations also improve energy density, and CALB claims 300 Wh/kg when an NCM (Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese) chemistry is used. With LFP (Lithium-Iron-Phosphate) and LMFP (Lithium-Manganese-Iron-Phosphate) chemistries, the energy density is lower, at 200 Wh/kg. The new technology not only improves battery performance, but also simplifies manufacturing, promising lower production costs. Qiu says the number of welding machines on the production line can be reduced by about 70 percent compared to the tabless design.CALB battery technology aims to compete with CATL's cell-to-pack (CTP) batteries, which entered mass production last month. CATL claimed its LFP-based Qilin battery offers a 255 Wh/kg energy density thanks to clever CTP 3.0 packaging. CATL said its Qilin battery delivers 13 percent more power than Tesla's 4680 batteries when using the same chemistry and similar pack sizes. It also claimed improved safety, longevity, and low-temperature performance. The all-too-famous Chevy engineer that nurtured the 'Vette, Zora Arkus-Duntov, was a loving father with a keen eye for his mechanical child upbringing. He knew that the little gorgeous-looking two-seater would have to make its name in the fiery forges of endurance raging if it was to have a long-lasting future.So, he and his team concocted a heavy-duty variant of the 427 cubic-inch engine (the 7.0-liter ogre ), which would later gain fame as the L-88. The powerplant's baptism of fire came in the furnaces of motoring Tartarus. Roger Penske's Sunoco racing team had the honor of field-testing the mighty V8 in the 1966 Daytona 24 Hour Continental.The race concluded with several certainties about the performance-purposed engine: it broke the GT-class record, took first place in its class, and was 11th overall. It was quite an achievement for a debutant, but the L-88 was just getting warmed up. Eager for more competition-fused adrenaline, the newly developed thoroughbred took its place on the grid at the 12 hours of Sebring.Having shaken off the emotions of the first-time appearance on the howling world of motorsport, one of Penske's L-88s placed itself at the front of the class pack and stayed there for the entire race. The general race results saw a Corvette in the ninth position at the time, the best-ever Corvette Sebring score to date.All that was in 1966, so the Corvettes responsible for launching the fearsome L-88 into the piston battlefield were of the C2 family. When the long-lasting C3 version came about, the grand V8 again saw the Daytona action.However, a few changes occurred before and after that 1968 race. Driving one of the three C3 L-88 of the Sunray-DX team was a certain piston-overdosing gearhead by the name of Don. Don Yenko - who managed a second-place finish in that race in the GT class. Accompanying him on the podium were the other two team cars' drivers. Not much can be said after this stunning 1-2-3 finish, courtesy of a magnificent car with a formidable engine.The history of that particular car that Don Yenko led to fame is a rather intriguing one. The vehicle wasn't a factory-tuned all-out racer, but a true-blue Yenko magic work of necessity. Because GM was having delivery issues with the L-88-powered racecar that the famous driver ordered, he turned some wrenches and made one himself.In the purest Don Yenko approach, he stripped the L-71 427/435 out of a showroom vehicle, stuffed the L-88 in the engine bay, and that was it. Any further questions? The Daytona performance speaks for itself, the car, and its driver.But it wasn't over; Sebring was just around the corner. Yenko teamed up for the 12-hour gallop with Pedro Rodriguez, slapped a "2" race number sticker on the Corvette, and floored it. While the V8 did its job with L-88 accuracy and energy, suspension and differential issues forced the cars (all three Sunray-DX team cars) to retire early. No 2. completed 43 laps before collapsing to mechanical failures.It should have been on the starting grid in France, among the other participants at the 1968 24 Hours of Le Mans edition. Car racing isn't always as smooth as fresh transmission oil, unfortunately. Due to political upsets in France, the race was postponed from June to September, leaving the L-88 out of Europe.Don Yenko continued to race the car to SCCA Midwest Division events and won the title at the end of that season. But, like all good things, the Yenko-L-88 love story ended when the car was sold by Sunoco (the oil company behind Sunray-DX) to another SCCA racer.Robert Luebbe, a Yank from New York, got possession of the now-famous no. 2, and the car faded away in relative anonymity. All in all, the track-destined Corvette had a long racing career that spanned decades. When the time for permanent retirement came, the car went into the possession of former racing driver Frank Joyce (who also campaigned the car during the '70s and '80s).As in the case of most celebrity racer cars, this one, too, made its way into a collector's treasure trove, and it was there that it was restored to its Don Yenko-period state. To certify the quality of the renovation work, the vehicle was honored with the NCRS American Heritage Award representing the Corvette racing legacy.During the historical accuracy validation stage, the car underwent scrutinous verification to confirm the validity of its racing past. Apart from the official judicators, the original team members attested to the car's authenticity. It retains the 427-cubes/7.0-liter L-88 V8 engine factory-rated at 430 hp/436 ps, estimated at around 560 hp/568 ps with its single Holley 850 CFM four-barrel carburetor.The three pedals you can admire in the gallery point to a Muncie M-22 close-ratio four-speed manual transmission. Four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes tamed the roaring Corvette that sits on independent suspensions front and rear (A-arms and coil springs on the front, lateral struts, radius rods, and transverse leaf spring at the back).A rare piece of American automotive racing legacy and history, this renowned L-88 Corvette is for sale with a "call for price" tag. It would only make sense, as the extraordinary Chevy deserves a discerning new owner. Here is why you should know about H2Fly. It claims to hold the world altitude record for hydrogen aviation, after its aircraft, the HY4, managed to fly as high as 7,230 feet (2,203 meters).It happened in 2022, in Germany, and followed another world-first for the same aircraft demonstrator, when it completed a 77-mile (124 km) flight between Stuttgart and Friedrichshafen. That was the first time when a passenger airplane flew between two commercial airports, powered by hydrogen.These achievements didnt come easy. The Stuttgart-based fuel cell expert has been working on this for over a decade. Its four-seat passenger aircraft, the HY4, took to the sky for the first time back in 2016. Four years later, the latest version of the HY4, equipped with a fully redundant powertrain, was given permission to fly, which marked a milestone for hydrogen aviation.By the end of last year, H2Fly also announced the success of a newly-developed liquid hydrogen tank during initial tests. This was part of a large-scale European project, called HEAVEN, which brought together important names in the industry, including DLR (The German Aerospace Center), Pipistrel Vertical Solutions, and Air Liquide Advanced Technologies.By the Fall of 2022, the liquid hydrogen tank developed by Air Liquide had passed vibration and leakage tests and then went on to successfully complete the integration stage.This month, it hit another milestone in the form of successful on-ground filling tests. The demonstration was carried out at Sassenage, France. This is where the Air Liquide facility, Campus Technologies Grenoble, is located. During the tests, the two companies demonstrated refueling operations for the hydrogen tank, integrated onto the HY4 aircraft.This is a huge step, but not the last one. Next, the storage system for liquid hydrogen will be coupled with a fuel cell system. Then, the company will kick off a major flight test campaign this summer. H2Fly wants to have a regional aircraft demonstrator ready to take to the sky by 2025. This wont be one thats built from scratch for the hydrogen-electric powertrain, but a retrofitted one. H2Fly will work with the German manufacturer Deutsche Aircraft to convert a Dornier 328 for hydrogen operations.The ultimate goal is to have the H2Fly fuel cell system certified by EASA ( the European Union Aviation Safety Agency) for large aircraft (the CS25). This will enable regional airliners to operate on medium and even long-distance routes using only hydrogen. It will take some time, but many believe that this is the path toward green flights. Photo: SpaceX Starship preparing for launch ???? pic.twitter.com/M1pR8rsmYt Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 6, 2023 Elon Musks space company is getting ready for the first orbital flight of the Starship . As per the man himself, the moment weve all been waiting for should be upon us as soon as next week, pending regulatory approval.At the time youre reading this, the Starship is fully stacked at the companys location in Boca Chica, Texas. That means the Ship 24 spaceship is now connected to the Booster 7 Super Heavy first-stage rocket, and the combo tied to the launch tower that will help it get on its way.A few hours ago, however, things were just coming together. You can see how that unfolded in the video attached below, but be warned, there are images in there that are both distressing and comforting at the same time.The video starts with the Starship caught in the claws of its support equipment, dangling many feet above the ground below. At this point, the ship has no direct connection to the ground per se, looking like a precariously balanced half-rocket about to be dropped to the ground.But then the reality of the images hits you. Starship is dangling above the ground because it awaits its booster, the one that will finally send it into orbit and prove that yet another crew-capable space machine has arrived. One that should, years from now, really open up the Moon and Mars for us.Although simple in design, the first Starship orbital flight is crucial for the development of future versions of it. When it departs (we hope to learn the exact launch time soon), the booster will push Starship into orbit, then come down to land on its designated pad.After separation, the Starship will move higher up and enter an orbit that will take it one time around our planet. After it completes the mission, it will come back down to Earth, to splash down off the coast of Hawaii. The entire flight is not expected to last more than 90 minutes, but theyll likely be the minutes that either make or break the design.If all goes according to plan, the ignition of the boosters 33 Raptor engines, each developing 510,000 lbf of thrust, could make the Starship the most powerful rocket ever flown.Before launching Starship, SpaceX plans to conduct a launch rehearsal, so well also keep an eye out for that. EV Photo: YouTube/Philip Koopman Photo: AI Addict/John Bernal ADAS FSD Photo: Tesla Photo: AI Addict/YouTube Hey @Reuters as a former Tesla AP employee I can confirm I once saw data from China where a Tesla struck 5 elderly pedestrians in a cross walk at approximately 62mph with AP activated. It was also shared in private mattermost chats Very valid reportinghttps://t.co/T8hA6osmEG Aiaddict (@Aiaddict1) April 6, 2023 The media outlet put three of its finest journalists to work after reports that Tesla was sharing private images and videos captured by its BEVs. These guys contacted more than 300 former employees and managed to get more than a dozen to confirm the situation. In other words, Tesla was not only filming its customers without their knowledge: its employees were also sharing the material among themselves.According to Reuters, that all began in 2019. That was when themaker started data labeling things for Autopilot and Full Self-Driving on its own. Before that, Tesla had hired a company called Samasource to do that job, but it was not very happy with the results. Soon after the EV maker started the data-labeling work, its employees began sharing personal videos and pictures on Mattermost, Teslas internal messaging system.The employees Reuters talked to said the material was shared as jokes and memes, often with shocking footage, such as a vehicle running a boy on a bicycle. The idea was to share cool stuff with other team members. Some of the former workers thought that had an effect on promotions: the funny guys would be assigned to leadership positions. In a way, it is almost as if these Tesla workers were trying to emulate Elon Musks behavior on Twitter.The shared videos often portrayed scandalous stuff, such as scenes of intimacy, even if the former employee who said that denied they saw nudity. They also saw embarrassing objects, sexual wellness items, and things they would not want anyone to see in their own private lives. Ironically, there was a prize for the best data labelers at the San Mateo office: getting a company car for a day or two. The employees who won feared being surveilled by the BEVs. Some even pledged never to buy a Tesla after what they saw at the company. John Bernal is a formertest operator who was fired for publishing YouTube videos that showeddoes not work as it should. Identified as AI Addict on Twitter, he shared the Reuters article stating that he once saw data from China where a Tesla struck 5 elderly pedestrians in a crosswalk at approximately 62 mph with AP activated. According to Bernai, it was also shared in private Mattermost chats. Not long ago, Chinese authorities forbid Tesla vehicles from entering military facilities in the country.Curiously, an anonymous website called Crazy Days and Nights has spoken about similar situations involving a celebrity CEO, usually the way it refers to Musk. On May 29, 2021, the author said cases of employees hijacking the car cameras had been happening for as long as two years. That matches with what Reuters said about the images and videos being shared since 2019. The difference is that the blog accused the celebrity CEO would do that on purpose because he would love to see celebrities. Allegedly, there are several files of people having sex in their cars.Reuters tried to get answers from Tesla and its main executives. It contacted Elon Musk and Andrej Karpathy, but did not hear back from any of them. At least it did not get a poop emoji as reporters trying to contact the Twitter press department started receiving.This is not the first data protection infringement involving Tesla even if it may be the one that will make its customers more concerned. On May 3, 2020 , the white-hat hacker GreenTheOnly helped me break the news about how Tesla dealt with old computers it replaced in its cars. The EV maker just threw them in the garbage, which is not the most environmentally responsible thing to do. They ended up on eBay and other classified ad websites, and the hacker bought four units to take some tests. He was shocked by what he found.As GreenTheOnly told me at the time, the computers had owners home and work location, all saved wi-fi passwords, calendar entries from the phone, call lists and address books from paired phones, Netflix and other stored session cookies. The hacker said that Netflix session cookies allowed hackers to take control of these accounts, while Spotify passwords were stored in clear text. God knows what else he found while investigating those computers and several others he bought after that.GreenTheOnly tried to warn Tesla about the situation before going public, but the company refused to warn the affected customers apart from one. To the hacker, the EV maker said it would let them know about the situation, but it had not done it until I published the article. Three of these customers learned about the story when I contacted them, and they were flabbergasted by the situation. Some considered taking legal action against Tesla, but I never heard back from them. Apparently, the story died as if it never happened. Perhaps the new Reuters story about data privacy will have more relevant repercussions. Pope Francis asked priests to prevent divisions in the Roman Catholic Church and washed the feet of juvenile jail inmates on Holy Thursday. At St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, the pontiff convened with nearly 1,800 priests and several cardinals, bishops, and other dignitaries to reaffirm their vows when ordained, according to Reuters. In his homily, Pope Francis warned priests against leading "double lives" by becoming church administrators in search of promotions with benefits and being egocentric. "Let's think about the tenderness of priests," the pontiff said. He then pointed out that the Catholic faithful has nowhere to go for peace if they perceive the priests as full of resentment and discontent. "How many people fail to approach us, or keep at a distance, because in the Church they feel unwelcomed and unloved, regarded with suspicion and judged?" Pope Francis asked in his Holy Thursday homily, as reported by Straits Times. Without the Lords Spirit, there can be no Christian life. Without his anointing, there can be no holiness. It is fitting that today, on the birthday of the priesthood, we acknowledge that He is at the origin of the ministry, the life and vitality of every Pastor. #HolyThursday Pope Francis (@Pontifex) April 6, 2023 Read Also: Toymaker Brings Comfort to Grieving Owners With Lifelike Pet Plushies Pope Francis Leads Commemoration of Jesus Christ's Death, Resurrection as His Health Condition Improves RTE reported that Pope Francis later visited the Casal del Marmo prison on Rome's outskirts and washed and kissed the feet of 12 juvenile prisoners to honor Jesus Christ's humility toward his disciples on the night before his crucifixion. The 86-year-old leader of the Roman Catholic Church was hospitalized with bronchitis last week and stayed there for four days. Antibiotics aided in his speedy recovery. On Good Friday, the day Christians remember the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, Pope Francis will preside over two ceremonies, one of which will be a Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) ceremony in the Colosseum in Rome. On Saturday evening, Pope Francis officiates the Easter Vigil Mass, and on Easter Sunday, he gives his twice-yearly "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the globe) blessing and message in St. Peter's Square. Related Article: Pope Francis: 5 Interesting Facts @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Photo: Renault MPV SUV Photo: Renault You might not know the Austral (which is not sold in the U.S.), but you surely heard about its cousins sold under Nissan's badge, the Qashqai, the Rogue , and the X-Trail (in the U.S.). All of them are built on the same CMF-CD platform, and all tests made on one of them are reflected in the quality of its other stablemates. Still, the other vehicles were not tested as intensively as the Austral. The French product went through some thorough tests before it was introduced on the market in 2022.Behind all these tests is a man named Thierry Charvet, Chief Industry & Quality Officer for the Renault Group. He envisioned the Confirmation Runs, on which vehicles are extensively tested on various road conditions, highways, mountain roads, cities, and test tracks. But make no mistakes. These are additional ones after the vehicle was already green-lighted for production and before all commercial launches.The Confirmation Run project started at the Aubevoye Technical Center near Paris. They have an excellent facility there that I had the chance to visit some years ago. Thanks to its banked track, Renault's test pilots can perform high-speed runs and all sorts of wading, slaloms, comfort, and sound tests. Afterward, a small fleet of pre-production vehicles from the model they wanted to try was handed over to other expert pilots to drive under various conditions. The first vehicle that went through this project was the 2020 Megane E-Tech electric.The automaker used 160 vehicles from the pre-production series for the Austral and gave them to 100 Renault employees for testing. One of them, the Spaniard Alvaro Rodriguez Sastre, drove the Austral between 1,000 and 1,500 kilometers (621 to 932 miles) per week to see how the car was behaving. Using an app for his smartphone, he had to fill out a report for various parts of the vehicle.For instance, some stone-covered roads induce high-frequency vibrations in vehicles. These shakings are usually dampened by shock absorbers and bushings. Still, some of them are founding their way onto the car's interior, and thus you can hear unpleasant squeaks and noises coming from the dashboard. With the right tune of the suspension and maybe other improvements on mounting points, the car can perform better.Nevertheless, other components need to be tested in the real world, such as the infotainment display, the gear changes, the materials' quality, and so on. All of them were tested on the Austral during its 2.8-million kilometers (1.72-million mile) Confirmation Run. It showed the carmaker how the vehicle would behave in such difficult situations. But not all of them are following the same route. Some were driven between Spain and France. Others were tested in Germany or Romania, with the latter being known for its Transfagarasan highway. And yes, the Austral was tested there for elevation changes and suspension settings.After all the results are gathered in a database, the engineers have to figure out how to solve the problems on the production lines. Sometimes it's just a minor software adjustment. Other times, a different part might need to be developed. Of course, this doesn't mean that the final product is going to be flawless and will run over one-million miles (1.6 million kilometers), but still, there are fewer chances of seeing these vehicles falling apart. Renault-Nissan doesn't have the "sell now, fix later" policy like other brands. Moreover, they want to avoid seeing their cars recalled over and over again.So, what's the result? After the Austral, the French automaker introduced the sixth generation of the Renault Espace . This vehicle was no longer anas its previous five generations, but a seven-seat. Thus, many components were already tested during the Confirmation Run project. In addition, you might expect to see some improvements on the 2024 model-year Nissan vehicles that are built on top of the same platform.As for the Austral, this is a very important bet for the French automaker. It was launched in 2022 and is a compact SUV. Its predecessor was the Kadjar, which sold almost 700,000 units during its seven years lifespan. But it had flaws and was built on the same platform as the 2022 Austral, yet with different engines.This compact SUV is good for transporting up to five people inside its cabin. It is sold in the UK with a starting price of 35,000 GBP (43,536 USD) for the base model, with an expected price of 45,000 GBP (56,000 USD) for the range-topper, but you won't find it on the U.S. shores. As long as the Alliance has Nissan, Infiniti, and Mitsubishi on the North American continent, it doesn't have to sell its vehicles there. Furthermore, there are still many people who remember the awful Renault Alliance lineup.But the good news is that thanks to this program, other models built on the same platform will benefit. So, if you're looking for a Rogue or an X-Trail, you might have the chance to get a better version of it for the 2024 model year. It doesn't really matter that the Austral is built in Spain and the Japanese-branded vehicles are made in Tennessee . They are sharing this kind of information regarding upgrades. And if you like it, you might thank Mr. Alvarez, a six-time national racing champion in Spain, for his input, especially on suspension, brakes, and performance. EV In December 2021, Toyota announced 30 new electric vehicles by 2030 in an unprecedented move by the company's CEO, Akio Toyoda. Everyone thought this was Toyota's awakening moment that would spur fierce competition in thesegment. The push proved a false alarm, and Toyota's EV push fizzled in the following months, as it pledged to keep the internal combustion engine as its main option. Toyota kept telling everyone about choice and exploring all the possibilities, but nobody bought that: the Japanese carmaker hated entering the EV game late.Today, we're seeing another aha moment for Toyota, as its new CEO Koji Sato appears to give EV plans a new boost. Could this be the real deal, or is the young tiger still a paper tiger ? In the first press conference of his tenure, Sato announced plans to sell 1.5 million electric vehicles in 2023 after launching 10 EV models by then. As reported before, Toyota will develop a new, dedicated EV platform to enable increased efficiency and an improved cost structure.The new EV platform will not replace the e-TNGA but will complement it. The current architecture will evolve and continue to underpin electric vehicles, most likely for models designed for internal combustion engines and electric powertrains. The new strategy still doesn't mark the dismissal of the combustion engine, as Toyota continues to pursue hybrids and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles even as it dials up EV development.Chief Technology Officer Hiroaki Nakajima, tasked with global product development, explained how Toyota wants to slash production costs. He clearly saw Tesla's "unboxed vehicle" presentation because he announced a "complete transformation" of Toyota's production plants. Nakajima said the new generation of Toyota EVs would be made in a completely different way by leveraging automation, connected technologies, and automated inspections.One important takeaway from the conference was Toyota's plans to begin local production in the U.S. of a new three-row electric SUV . Executives did not provide further details but said the new model would source Li-Ion batteries from a new plant it plans to build in North Carolina. We learned earlier that Toyota wants to overhaul an existing factory in Kentucky and start with a monthly output of 10,000 EVs. This doesn't sound like the manufacturing revolution promised by Nakajima.Toyota CFO Yoichi Miyazaki was even more bullish, saying that the Japanese carmaker could reach the 1.5 million EV threshold even earlier, but the battery supply is not yet there. Late last year, Toyota announced plans to triple its investment in the North Carolina battery plant to $3.8 billion from the initial $1.3 billion. The plant is expected to start operations in 2025. Armenia was initially listed among 26 countries which the Pentagon said will take part in the Defender 23 exercise designed to deter those who would threaten the peace of Europe and defend the continent from aggression. Approximately 9,000 U.S. troops and about 17,000 troops from 26 allied and partner nations will participate and portions of the exercise will stretch across 10 different European countries, Sabrina Singh, a Pentagon spokeswoman, told reporters late on Wednesday. The Armenian Defense Ministry did not confirm its participation in the two-month drills that will begin on April 22. A report on Singhs announcement posted on the Pentagons website was edited on Thursday evening to exclude Armenia from the list. No official explanation was given for that revision. The Armenian government did not comment on it either. It was thus not clear whether Yerevan had initially agreed to join the war games before deciding to pull out of them. The Armenian military was reportedly close to sending troops to the U.S.-led drills held in 2021 but opted out of them at the last minute. It said at the time that Armenian soldiers join only those NATO drills that simulate international peacekeeping operations and train military personnel for them. Armenias relations with Russia, its traditional ally, and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) have deteriorated in recent months due to what Yerevan sees as a lack of support from its allies in the conflict with Azerbaijan. Earlier this year, the Armenian government cancelled a CSTO military exercise planned in Armenia and refused to appoint a deputy secretary-general of the Russian-led military alliance It also rejected other CSTO member states offer to deploy a monitoring mission to the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. The unprecedented tensions have called into question Armenias continued membership in the CSTO. A senior Russian diplomat said last week that Moscow hopes to end the South Caucasus countrys growing estrangement from its CSTO allies. Tensions between Russia and NATO have escalated dramatically since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin said recently that the U.S.-led alliance is increasingly hostile to Russia and more and more involved in the war in Ukraine. We welcome the process of normalizing relations between Armenia and Turkey which began with our support, Lavrov said after talks with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu. We welcome efforts to unblock transport links and communication routes. Russia, which has thousands of troops deployed along Armenias border with Turkey, hosted in January 2022 the first meeting of Turkish and Armenian envoys held as part of that process. They held three more rounds of negotiations in the following months. The two neighboring states agreed last July to allow mutual air freight traffic and to open the Turkish-Armenian border to citizens of third countries. Turkey has for decades made the full opening of the border and the establishment of diplomatic relations with Armenia conditional on an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace deal acceptable to Azerbaijan. Turkish leaders have reaffirmed this precondition since the start of the normalization talks with Yerevan. Speaking at a joint news conference, Cavusoglu said Turkish-Armenian relations and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict were on the agenda of his talks with Lavrov. He said Armenia should sign a peace treaty with Azerbaijan as soon as possible. Lavrov stuck to the official Russian line that agreements brokered by Moscow should serve as a blueprint for the normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. We hope that our non-regional partners will not interfere in this process and instead will prod the parties to strictly implement the trilateral [Russian-Armenian-Azerbaijani] agreements, he said in a clear reference to the West. Over the past year, Moscow has repeatedly accused the United States and the European Union of trying to hijack those agreements and squeeze Russia out of the South Caucasus. The Western powers have denied that. 7 April 2023 09:00 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more If once Armenia was meant as the only enemy state, today Iran stands next to that name. As the saying goes, a true friend is known in time of need... The deterioration of relations between Iran and Azerbaijan began in 2020 after the great victory of Azerbaijan in the Second Karabakh War. At that time, while Azerbaijan was fighting on the battlefield against the occupier Armenia, Iran's diplomatic pressure against Azerbaijan began to intensify. Iran's expertise on terrorism In fact, very sufficient information has been given about Iran's illegal acts against Azerbaijan. For example, Iran's secret religious sects that encouraged the society in Azerbaijan with anti-Azerbaijan propaganda, fininacing some resistance groups who tried to establish a so-called "Karima" state in Azerbaijan by attempting a coup and backing Armenia and acting against Azerbaijan in a comprehensive way are very clear evidences. However, as Tehran's hopes are watered down, it decides to resort to more brutal methods such as terrorism. And for Iran, terrorism is actually a simple and very practical activity. Because it has an extensive experience with terrorism, whether in Lebanon, Yemen, or Syria. In order to hide its heinous crimes, the regime has now started increasing pressure on interstate relations. Iran, which supposedly condemned the relations between Israel and Azerbaijan in the parliament and therefore adopted a so-called decision against Azerbaijan, behaves as if Azerbaijan is blind to realities. Iran perhaps wants to say that either it fools someone, or it has made a fool of itself. As a result of 30 years of successful relations, Israel's welcoming Azerbaijan's first ever diplomatic embassy in its territory and its generous support in the Patriotic War are purely positive from the viewpoint of reasonable diplomatic relations. However, for Iran, it is completely different. The regime wants to say that it can be a staunch brother to Armenia, which has occupied the lands of Azerbaijan for 30 years, and can even support Armenia unfairly by taking steps against the nation. Nevertheless, when it comes to Baku's close relations with Tel Aviv, Iran does not accept it and even unleashed its parliament members under the regime's dictatorship against Azerbaijan with the baseless statement that expresses threat: this action of the statesmen of the Republic of Azerbaijan will have many negative political consequences against them. Of course, Baku is not in a position to be powerless in front of these words. It is aware of Tehran's actions... The expulsion of 4 spies from the Iranian Embassy in Baku after being declared 'as persona non grata' was a soft lesson that Baku gave to Tehran. The action came hours after Baku said it arrested six men, who it said were linked to Iranian secret services and were allegedly plotting a coup in the country. Iran simply did not expect this from official Baku. The Tehran government thought that Azerbaijan did not see what it was doing and avoided it despite all its illegal acts. But the last lesson it received probably reminded it of the Ottoman slap. How hypocritical mullah regime exposes itself No matter how much is said about the deficiency in Iran's neighborhood policy, it will be less. It is enough to pay attention to one point: Turkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia cut off diplomatic relations with Armenia or did not establish relations at all because of Azerbaijan. And what did Iran do? On the contrary, Iran supports Armenia on the one hand, and on the other hand, finances terrorism within Azerbaijan, and shamelessly expresses empty and ambitious ideas against Azerbaijan. Using the month of Ramadan as an excuse, the regime began to criticize Azerbaijan's alleged violation of Islam and relations with Israel, which it calls a Zionist state. In such a case, a question is asked: The Tehran regime especially talks about the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and Islamic Solidarity; and how come it is totally indifferent to the organization's decisions..? This is not the end yet. During the 30-year occupation, when Armenia turned the ancient mosques of Azerbaijan into a pigsty, we wonder where the descendants of Hassan-i-Sabbah in Iran were looking? --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 April 2023 13:53 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Farmers of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan will cooperate in the field of hazelnut cultivation, Azernews reports. The issues of mutual cooperation were discussed in the meeting between the leadership of the Scientific Research Institute of Fruit and Tea Cultivation in Guba district, Azerbaijan and Ilyos Haydarov, Deputy Chairman of the Uz Nuts Association of Fruit Plants Producers and Exporters of Uzbekistan. The director of the institute, Ilham Garagurbanli, informed the Uzbek specialist about the development of hazelnut cultivation in Azerbaijan, the establishment of hazelnut orchards using an innovative method, and the institute's work in the field of hazelnut cultivation. Ilyos Haydarov spoke about the shortcomings in the field of hazelnut cultivation in Uzbekistan and voiced his proposals for further expansion of bilateral relations in this field. After the meeting, an inspection was held of the hazelnut orchard built on the basis of the new super-intensive technology in the territory of the Scientific-Experimental Base named after Zardabi of the Scientific-Research Institute of Fruit and Tea Cultivation. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 April 2023 12:49 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more The Governor of Azerbaijans Central Bank (CBA) met with the representatives of the Azerbaijan Fintech Association, Azernews reports, citing a tweet by the Governor. The meeting discussed the ways to expand payment services, the roles of non-bank payments service providers, etc. In addition, the Governor filled in on the reforms and projects in the development of payments services markets and initiatives to expand non-cash payments. We met with the representatives of the Azerbaijan Fintech Association at the Central Bank. During the meeting, we discussed ways to expand payment services and strengthen the role of non-bank payment service providers in the payment market in order to ensure the sustainable development of the country's financial system. At the meeting, fintech representatives exchanged views on legislative projects, as well as issues they face in their current activities. Information was provided on the reforms and projects carried out by the Central Bank in the direction of the development of payment services markets, as well as initiatives to expand non-cash payments, the Governor tweeted. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 April 2023 15:44 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Negotiations were held between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan on the draft agreement on the elimination of double taxation and prevention of tax evasion in relation to income taxes, Azernews reports, citing the State Tax Service (STS) under the Ministry of Economy The STS said that the experts of the service and authorized representatives of the Ministry of Finance, officials of the Ministry of Economy and Trade, and the State Tax Service from Kyrgyzstan participated at the event. During the discussions, Orkhan Musayev, head of the International Taxation and Tax Monitoring Department of the Ministry of Economy, emphasized that the start of negotiations on the agreement with Kyrgyzstan is of great importance for both countries. It was noted that if the agreement is signed, favorable conditions will be created for investors, and effective mutual relations will be formed in the exchange of information. As a result of the three-day discussions, an agreement was reached on all provisions of the draft agreement related to taxation. During the discussions held in the conditions of mutual understanding, the parties agreed to strengthen efforts to reach an agreement on the remaining issues in a short period of time. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 April 2023 15:00 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more The high level of relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in every field and the positive dynamics of relations meet the interests of both Central Asia and the South Caucasus region, Azernews reports, citing The Chairman of the Analysis of International Relations (AIR) Center Farid Shafiyev telling in the round table dedicated to Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan relations. "There is no doubt that Kazakhstan is a country with a unique role in the world economic scene, and therefore the development of relations between our countries meets the interests of both countries. The development of transit relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan serves as a bridge between Asia and Europe. Undoubtedly, the mutual visits of the leaders of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan provide great support and impetus to the development of bilateral relations," Farid Shafiyev stressed. He noted that Azerbaijan stands with Kazakhstan in the projects implemented in Central Asia and the two countries support each other. "Our state and people highly appreciate the support provided to our country by various institutions of Kazakhstan. Both countries have huge energy potential. Undoubtedly, the cooperation of our countries in this field is of great importance in the economic map of the world, he said. Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Kazakhstan Aghalar Atamoghlanov who participated online in the same event noted that economic relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are rapidly and actively developing and expanding. "The development of bilateral relations with Kazakhstan and cooperation within the framework of international organizations is one of the priority directions in the course of our country's foreign policy, all the prerequisites for the development of our relations are present. For the development of economic and political relations, our countries have high economic potential, energy resources, favorable geographical location, and other factors, the ambassador said. The ambassador expressed hope that bilateral meetings, as well as the results of today's round table, will have a positive impact on the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz China concludes 39th Antarctic expedition as ships return Xinhua) 10:14, April 07, 2023 Chinese researchers wave goodbye as the research icebreaker Xuelong 2, or Snow Dragon 2, sets off for the country's 39th Antarctic expedition from Shanghai, east China, Oct. 26, 2022. (Polar Research Institute of China/Handout via Xinhua) SHANGHAI, April 6 (Xinhua) -- China's research icebreaker Xuelong 2, or Snow Dragon 2, returned to Shanghai on Thursday, marking the end of the country's 39th Antarctic expedition. Two icebreakers participated in the Antarctic expedition, with the Xuelong arriving in Shanghai on Monday. This is the third time that China has sent two icebreakers to the Antarctic since the 36th polar expedition. The icebreakers embarked on the scientific trip in late October 2022, and traveled more than 60,000 nautical miles over the past 163 days. The trip involved a range of tasks, including researches on the global climate change, as well as the replenishment of materials and staff rotation at China's Zhongshan Station and Great Wall Station in the South Pole. With a total length of about 122 meters, a width of about 22 meters, a designed displacement of nearly 14,000 tonnes and an endurance of 20,000 nautical miles, Xuelong 2 is China's first domestically built icebreaker for polar research. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Militants in Lebanon launched an attack of rockets into northern Israel This was the largest single assault since the Lebanon War in 2006 Thousands of people were horrified by the sight of the rockets tearing across the sky Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to respond forcefully to a barrage of rockets fired from Lebanon on Thursday, as tensions threatened to spiral out of control following Israeli police assaults on the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem this week. Following the largest rocket attack from Lebanon since Israel's conflict with the heavily armed Hezbollah group in 2006, Netanyahu was scheduled to meet with his security cabinet ministers. Lebanon Rockets Hit Northern Israel In brief televised remarks before the meeting, he urged calm at Al-Aqsa, also known as the Temple Mount by Jews. Thursday saw the launch of 34 rockets from Lebanon, 25 of which were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system. According to Israel's ambulance service, one individual suffered minor shrapnel injuries. Following police searches on consecutive evenings at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which this year coincides with the Jewish Passover holiday, Israel has come under international pressure. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the projectile attacks, but Israeli officials blamed Hamas, the Islamist organization that governs the Gaza Strip, as per Reuters. Hezbollah, the potent Shi'ite group that aids Israel's principal enemy Iran in projecting its influence throughout the region, must have given its permission, according to security experts. Social media videos depicted rockets from Lebanon streaking through the heavens over northern Israel, accompanied by distant explosions. Israel shut down its northern airspace in response to the bombardment. No fatalities have been reported; it is unknown which faction in Lebanon fired the rockets. Over the last couple of hours, 34 rockets were fired from Lebanon at Northern Israel, putting innocent lives in danger. The Israeli government will take all necessary measures to defend its citizens against acts of violence! pic.twitter.com/MRNIzQi9X0 David Saranga (@DavidSaranga) April 6, 2023 Massive escalation as reportedly 30 plus Rockets fired from southern Lebanon into Israel in one hour. Despite Iron Dome, reports of damage coming in. Airspace in northern Israel including Hafia airport closed. Israel authorizes intial directives of Artillery and Air response pic.twitter.com/H6Rtn7hMDf Megh Updates (@MeghUpdates) April 6, 2023 For the first time since 2006, the northern Israeli colonies are under attack by heavy rocket shelling coming from Lebanon. Israeli Iron Dome failed to intercept. How will Israel deal with more sophisticated and powerful Hezbollah missiles in a future war?pic.twitter.com/JXjY76CGVO Hadi Nasrallah (@HadiNasrallah) April 6, 2023 CNN was informed by an unidentified IDF defense official that Israel stated it would "determine the location and time" of its response. A spokesperson for the Israeli military stated that they believed a Palestinian militant group, not Hezbollah, was responsible for the attack. Wednesday marks the second time Israeli police assaulted the al-Aqsa mosque. Before Thursday's Israeli security cabinet meeting, Netanyahu stated that Israel "will strike our adversaries, and they will pay for every act of aggression." The Lebanese army verified that a number of rockets were discharged from the south of the country but did not specify who was responsible. Ismail Haniyeh, the commander of the Palestinian militant organization Hamas, arrived in Beirut the previous day for consultations with Hezbollah officials. Israeli police invaded the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem on two separate occasions on Wednesday, during the sacred month of Ramadan, as Palestinian worshippers were offering prayers. Israeli officers were captured on camera assaulting Palestinians with batons and rifle stocks before arresting hundreds of Palestinians. "Hundreds of protesters" attempted to barricade themselves inside the mosque, according to the Israeli police. Read Also: Bob Lee's Death Shocks Tech World, Leads to Anger Palestinian Group Praises the Attack The incident, widely condemned by the Arab and Muslim world, prompted Gaza to launch retaliatory rockets at Israel. Since Ramadan began on March 22, many Muslim devotees have repeatedly attempted to spend the night in the mosque, permitted only during the last ten days of the month-long holiday. The nightly entry of Israeli police to evict the devotees has stoked tensions with young Palestinians who insist on praying at the sacred site until dawn. Tensions over control of the sacred site have been exacerbated by Jewish ultranationalists' demands to slaughter a goat in the compound, imitating a biblical Passover ritual sacrifice. Per NBC News, the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad praised the rocket attacks as "a heroic operation against Israeli atrocities in the Al-Aqsa Mosque." According to state media in Lebanon, Ismail Haniyeh, the commander of the Palestinian Hamas group that controls Gaza, also arrived in Beirut on Wednesday. In response, Palestinian militants in Gaza fired rockets at southern Israel, resulting in repeated Israeli bombardment. Separately, the Israeli military reported that one soldier was wounded in occupied West Bank territory. The violence occurs during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Jews started celebrating Passover on Wednesday evening. In the meantime, many Christians are celebrating Holy Week. Related Article: North Korea Warns US, South Korea Against Joint Military Exercises @YouTube @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 7 April 2023 18:16 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more The State Film Fund invites cinema lovers to be taken on an interesting journey through Azerbaijani documentary cinema. Within a cycle of retrospective of Azerbaijani films, cinema lovers watched films by prominent film director, People's Artist Tofig Ismayilov (1939-2016), Azernews reports. Director of the State Film Fund Honored Art Worker Jamil Guliyev spoke about Tofig Ismayilov's films. He stressed that the film director significantly enriched the national cinema. For many years, Tofig Ismayilov worked at AzerbaijanFilm studio and AzTv channel. Later, he headed the directing department at the Institute of Arts (1988-1994). From 1994 to 2006, he worked in Turkiye at the Memar Sinan State University of Arts. He was a cultural adviser to the Istanbul Municipality. In addition to working in cinema as a director and screenwriter, Tofig Ismailov starred in the films of the People's Artist, laureate of the State Prizes of the USSR and Azerbaijan, the prominent film director Rasim Ojagov "Temple of the Air" and "Hotel Room", in the film of the prominent film director and screenwriter, laureate of the State Prize, People's Artist Eldar Guliyev "Istanbul flight" and other films. Tofig Ismayilov is the author of the famous film "Muslim Magomayev Sings", filmed in 1971. In September 2014, his latest work "Memories of Muslim Magomayev" was presented to the audience, which consists of three artistic parts, including "You are my song", "True friends" and "Blue Sea". He is also the author of five children's books, many excellent plays and television and radio scripts. The film director has shot more than 30 feature and documentary films. Tofig Ismayilov is the creator of the first three-part film in Azerbaijan based on Mehdi Hussein's novel "Absheron". Among his works are such films as "Stones of our city", "Music teacher", "Special position", "I invent a song". His film "Difficult Ways" was among the 17 best Soviet films selected for screening in the United States. Further, the films "Stones of our city (1968)", "Prima (1994) about the famous choreographer, dancer, People's Artist Amin Dilbazi were screened as part of the event. After the screening, Chairman of the Azerbaijani Filmmakers Union, People's Artist Shafiga Mammadova, People's Artist, film director Abdul Mahmudov, Honored Art Worker, cameraman Rafig Gambarov, Honored Artist, actor Otkam Iskandarov, Honored Art Worker, film critic Aydin Kazimzade, son of the famous People's Artist of Azerbaijan Amina Dilbazi - Mikail Hajiyev shared their memories of Tofig Ismayilov, spoke about his merits in the national cinema. In conclusion, the daughter of Tofig Ismailov, Vafa Ismayilova, expressed her gratitude to the leadership and staff of the State Film Fund, as well as to all participants in the evening for their attention to the creative heritage of the film director. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 April 2023 10:25 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Azerbaijan's Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov met with Oleg Serebrian, Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration within the framework of his visit to Moldova, Azernews reports. At the meeting, the importance of a peaceful and sustainable solution to the Transnistrian conflict with unconditional respect for the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity was emphasized, and the existing cooperation between Chisinau and Tiraspol was discussed. Deputy Prime Minister Oleg Serebrian stressed that the 5+2 negotiation format will remain frozen during the ongoing military operations in neighboring Ukraine, and Chisinau will continue its interactions with all partners involved in the process of settling Transnistria. At the same time, he noted the efforts of national institutions and foreign partners to manage all the problems arising from the complexity of the internal and regional situation. Oleg Serebrian thanked Azerbaijan for the interest shown in strengthening the cooperation between Moldova and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Moldova Qudsi Osmanov also participated in the meeting. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 April 2023 11:40 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Human bones were unearthed in Agdam, Azernews informs per the Prosecutor Generals Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan. According to the source of information, during the excavation work in the area called Ergi Plain, Aghdam district, bones similar to human skeletons were discovered and the investigation is being conducted in the Aghdam district prosecutor's office. We should note that mass graves were discovered earlier in the liberated territories from Armenian occupation including Dashalti of Shusha district, Edilli of Khojavend district, Syrkhavand villages of Aghdam district, as well as Farrukh village of Khojaly district, and other areas. In addition, some former Armenian warmongers spoke about the mass slaughters of Azerbaijanis during the first Karabakh War in their books and memoirs. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 April 2023 11:14 (UTC+04:00) President Ilham Aliyev signed an order recalling Anar Huseynov from the post of Azerbaijan's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Greece. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 April 2023 11:11 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijans capital city of Baku is hosting the opening ceremony of the 9th meeting of the National Commissions for UNESCO of the TURKSOY Member States at ADA University, Azernews reports. The ceremony was opened with a speech of Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayraov. Addressing the audience via a video message, the minister spoke about the importance of cooperation of Azerbaijan and UNESCO. He then talked about the liberation of Shusha, which was named the cultural capital of the Turkic World. And briefed the audience about the 30-year-old occupation of Azerbaijan, the policy of ethnic cleaning and destruction of Azerbaijani cultural and historical heritage by Armenia in Karabakh and in the Western Azerbaijan. Among the participants there were Bilal Cakici TURKSOY Deputy General Secretary and Azerbaijani Ecology Minister Mukhtar Babayev who also gave speeches. According to TURKSOY Deputy General Secretary, the declaration of Shusha as the cultural capital of Azerbaijan in 2023 was welcomed as a significant event for the Turkic world. He expressed his hope that Shusha, which once again waved the Turkish flag after regaining its freedom, will have a positive impact on the development of the culture of the entire Turkic world. Besides, Azerbaijan's Ecology Minister Mukhtar Babayev touched on Armenian aggression and illegal exploitation of Azerbaijan's natural resources. The deputy minister said the destruction of ecology by Armenia is not of the cultural and historic monuments, but the burning of trees and forests. Emphasizing that Azerbaijan has a unique nature, he mentioned the request to include some forests in the country in the list of UNESCO. Speaking at the event, First Deputy Culture Minister and Acting Culture Minister Adil Karimli emphasized the exceptional role of National Leader Heydar Aliyev in the establishment of TURKSOY. The deputy minister also said that the declaration of this year as the year of Heydar Aliyev coincides with the 100th anniversary of the national leader. "Heydar Aliyev was not only the great leader of Azerbaijan but also was an irreplaceable part of the whole Turkic World. The 30th anniversary of the foundation of TURKSOY will be celebrated greatly. This year was hard for Turkic countries as the heavy quake hit Turkiye taking many lives and destroying cultural monuments," the official stated. Adil Karimli also emphasized the importance of Azerbaijan expanding relations with UNESCO. He brought to the attention of the participants the serious reconstruction works in the territories freed from occupation after the Second Karabakh War. The deputy minister also noted the invaluable contributions of the First Vice President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva in the development of Azerbaijani culture. It should be noted that the chairman of the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO Ocal Oguz, former Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Hasan Hasanov and others have addressed the event. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 April 2023 12:07 (UTC+04:00) Sabina Mammadli Read more As reported earlier, Baku hosted the opening ceremony of the 9th meeting of the National Commissions for UNESCO of the TURKSOY Member States at ADA University. At the end of the event Bilal Cakc, the Deputy General Secretary of TURKSOY answered questions of journalists. Azernews reports that the TURKSOY Deputy General Secretary underlined the importance of this event and said that next event is expected to take place in Shusha. "Today we held the 9th meeting of UNESCO National Commissions of TURKSOY member states within the framework of Shusha 2023, the cultural capital of the Turkic world. The next meeting will be be held in Shusha with the discussion of a number of important issues. We hope that the upcoming meeting in Shusha will be very successful." --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 April 2023 13:45 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more A commission was established to prepare the response statement of the Milli Majlis to the Iranian parliament, Azernews reports. Fazail Ibrahimli, the deputy chairman of the Milli Majlis will lead the commission in the preparation of the text of the statement. The Commission includes Zahid Oruj, Rafael Huseynov, Cavanshir Pashazade, Afat Hasanova, and Kamran Bayramov. Besides that, The Speaker of The Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova criticized the biased Statement of the Iranian Parliament over the opening of an embassy in Israel by Azerbaijan. "Iran has never objected to Armenia, which kept Azerbaijani lands under occupation for over 30 years and brutally looted the wealth of Azerbaijan. Iran, which supported Armenia with various means, today is worried about the opening an embassy in Israel, she said. In addition, Sahiba Gafarova noted that Azerbaijan is an independent country and it is Azerbaijans internal affair to build relations with any country. "No one has the right to interfere with the sovereign rights of Azerbaijan. We strongly reject the groundless accusations made by the Iranian parliament against our country, we call on the Iranian parliament to stop such provocations against Azerbaijan and refrain from actions that could harm bilateral relations," said Sahiba Gafarova. We should note that the Iranian Parliament adopted a statement against Azerbaijan over the opening embassy in Israel. The Statement reads about the occupation of Quds, as well as criticizes and threatens Azerbaijan for building bilateral relations with Israel. However, we should recall that Azerbaijan has sound relations not only with Israel but also with Palestine state. In addition, always voicing that the vast majority of Azerbaijan's population is Muslim Shia, Iran emphasizes and even requires that Azerbaijan should side with Palestine in the Israeli-Palestine conflict, somehow defying the fact that the Azerbaijani population is Muslim Shia in the Karabakh conflict which Armenians dispelled about one million people from their homelands and kept under occupation the 20 percent of Azerbaijani lands over 30 years. Further, for demonstrating Iranian support to Armenia against Muslim Azerbaijan, Iran opened the Consulate General in Gapan last year and held several military drills in the Azerbaijani-Iranian borders. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 April 2023 15:21 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Hirkan Forests might be included in the UNESCO Heritage list in 2023. The Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mukhtar Babayev made this statement at the 9th meeting of the National Commissions for UNESCO of the TURKSOY Member States in Baku, Azernews reports. "The transnational Hirkan Forests nomination was prepared based on three areas with a total area of 24,000 hectares within the Hirkan National Park and submitted to UNESCO World Heritage Committee at the end of 2022," the minister said. "Up to 350 of the over 2,500 mud volcanoes spread across the world are located in Azerbaijan. Our country occupies a unique place in the world in this area. For this reason, work is underway on the creation of geoparks in Azerbaijan and joining UNESCO's Global Geoparks Network (GGN) in accordance with the resolution adopted at the 8th meeting of the National Commissions for UNESCO of the TURKSOY Member States. We truly believe that the validation of mud volcanoes as a geopark will boost the development of geotourism in the country as well as Azerbaijan's recognition as a country with the world's greatest concentration of mud volcanoes," he added. The Hirkan Forests are a zone of lush lowland and mountain forests covering about 55,000 square km (21,000 sq m) adjoining the shores of the Caspian Sea. The forest is named after the ancient region of Hirkan. In the World Wide Fund for Nature categorization, the eco-region is referred to as the Caspian Hirkan mixed forests. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 April 2023 16:13 (UTC+04:00) Armenian Armed Forces have subjected to fire the Azerbaijan Army positions in Lachin district, Azernews reports, citing Azerbaijans Defense Ministry. According to MoD, on April 7, from 1:20 p.m. to 1:45 p.m., units of the Armenian armed forces opened fire on the positions of the Azerbaijani Army in the direction of the Minkend settlement in Lachin district from positions located in the direction of the Saybali settlement in Garakilsa district. Adequate response measures have been taken by our units located in the mentioned direction. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 April 2023 16:23 (UTC+04:00) In the future, we will actively work on new directions of cooperation in the field of energy. Rather, this work has already begun, said Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev as he made a press statement following his meeting with Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili in Gabala. Recalling that Azerbaijan, Georgia, Hungary and Romania had signed an important agreement at the end of last year and that the first steering committee meeting on the green energy project had been held in Baku in February of this year, the president said: "This is a large-scale project and, of course, the successful implementation of this project will be possible thanks to cooperation of all four countries. At the same time, as you know, the European Union attaches great importance to this project. It is no coincidence that the President of the European Commission also participated in the signing ceremony." --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Two of Canada's most populous provinces were left without power following a massive ice storm There were at least two fatalities recorded in Quebec and Ontario Repairs to restore power were expected to last for several days Two of Canada's most populous provinces have recorded two fatalities and have had more than a million residents experience no power on Thursday following a powerful ice storm ahead of the holiday weekend. The storm system brought freezing rain and strong winds that were able to topple trees in the area and weigh down power lines. Just under a million Canadians lost power in Quebec and roughly 110,000 in Ontario as of 4:00 p.m. The number of outages for both provinces totaled at least 1.3 million earlier in the day. Powerful Ice Storm Hits Canada Electricity providers in Quebec and Ontario said that they were working on restoring power to the regions. However, they noted that repairs were expected to continue for several days, meaning many Canadians could spend their Easter holiday weekend without power, as per Reuters. Officials reported that one man was killed in Quebec by a tree that fell on top of him due to the powerful winds. Canadian Premier Francois Legault spoke during a briefing, cautioning people to watch for live wires and weakened trees amid the storm. Another individual lost his life in Ontario after being struck by a falling branch. In a statement, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered federal assistance if needed. He noted that this was a challenging moment for the people as power was down for many, trees were coming down, and buildings and cars were being damaged. Montreal was among the areas considered to be the worst stricken in Quebec, as it accounted for roughly half of the total outages in the region. Trudeau said that when he saw the beautiful trees down and the lives facing challenges, he knew it would be a difficult Easter weekend. Read Also: China Sends Aircraft Near Taiwanese Territory Millions Left Without Power During the peak of the powerful ice storm, Environment Canada issued warnings to five different provinces amid the mix of rain and dangerous conditions. According to CTV News, the system was found to have started in Manitoba, where it released about 15 centimeters of snow on southern communities, forcing officials to close down schools and highways temporarily. In several areas of Ontario, the storm changed to freezing rain, covering Ottawa with roughly 38.5 millimeters of ice, causing trees to be downed and widespread power outages. Power officials said on Thursday that roughly one-third of the customer base could expect to see their power restored within 24 hours. Some areas of Winnipeg also accumulated more than 10 to 15 centimeters of snow, with more than 20 centimeters being seen in regions in the southeast. Yahoo News said the snow and powerful 50 to 70-kilometer-per-hour winds in Manitoba resulted in reduced visibility. Related Article: Lebanese Rockets Hit Israel, Prompting Warning @YouTube @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 7 April 2023 20:00 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili have visited the Gabala Food Village. Director General of the Gabala Food Village Fuad Babayev briefed the Azerbaijani President and Georgian Prime Minister on the Food Village. It was noted that the canning factory fitted with advanced European Technologies has 13 production lines, which put out 130 items of product in six package types. The factory has the capacity of 360 thousand tons of finished products. The first line of the facility produces bottled juice and ice tea through a hot filling system with the capacity of 10,000 litres per hour. Another line, with the capacity of 35,000 litres per hour manufactures lemonade and other soft drinks, sparkling and still water. All compositions are tested in the lab before being produced. The production process is fully automated in the complex. The potato processing facility has two production lines. It produces semi-finished frozen potato and chips. The semi-finished frozen potato production line has a production capacity of two tons per hour. The chips production line has the capacity of one ton per hour. Both production lines are fully automated. Raw materials are stored in a cooling warehouse, which occupies a total area of 6,000 square meters. There are also quality control labs in the complex. Physical and chemical qualities of products are examined here. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 April 2023 21:43 (UTC+04:00) The Israeli armed forces struck targets including infrastructures belonging to Hamas in southern Lebanon, the Israeli militarys press service said. "The IDF will not allow the Hamas terrorist organization to operate from within Lebanon & hold the state of Lebanon responsible for every directed fire emanating from its territory," the Israeli Defense Forces said in a statement. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 April 2023 23:12 (UTC+04:00) Turkiye's largest warship TCG Anadolu will be delivered to the country's navy on Monday, a senior Turkish official said. On Thursday, Ismail Demir, the head of Turkiye's Defense Industries Presidency (SSB), said at the ceremony that the TCG Anadolu will be delivered to the Turkish Naval Forces Command with a ceremony on Monday. Demir stated that they aim to complete the integration of the Turkish combat drone Bayraktar TB3 into TCG Anadolu this year. He said Turkiye's indigenous aircraft Hurjet is also planned to be used on the ship. Demir added that it is too early to talk about the deployment of another Turkish combat drone Anka-3 to the ship. The TCG Anadolu ship, produced within the scope of the Multi-Purpose Amphibious Assault Ship Project, will be able to transfer at least a battalion-sized force to the designated location with its own logistics support, without the need for home base support. TCG Anadolu will carry four mechanised, two landing craft air-cushion (LCAC), and two personnel landing vehicles (LCVP), as well as aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles. With a length of 231 metres (some 758 feet) and a width of 32 metres (105 feet), the full load displacement equals some 27,000 tonnes. TCG Anadolu will be an important power multiplier for the Turkish navy, especially with the unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAV) to be deployed on it. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 April 2023 16:47 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Azerbaijan and Venezuela have exchanged views on expanding tourism cooperation within the 19th Azerbaijan International Tourism and Travel Fair (AITF 2023). During the meeting, chairman of the Management Board of the Association of Azerbaijan Tourism Agencies (ATAA) Goydeniz Kahramanov exchanged views on strengthening tourism relations, expanding communication ties, as well as planning info-tours to attract tourists, Azernews reports. The launch of direct flights between the two countries was also discussed at the meeting. Speaking at the meeting, the Venezuelan Ambassador to Azerbaijan Christopher Alberto Martinez Berroteran emphasized that the embassy will support the simplification of conditions for issuing visas to tourists, increasing mutual visits and developing bilateral cooperation. Noting that Venezuela is planning to open new routes, the ambassador noted that Azerbaijan can turn into a transit country for Venezuela. "We consider Azerbaijan to be a hot spot on the Eurasian continent. Now we are trying to make Azerbaijan a transit country for Venezuela in the future. Venezuela, in turn, is a gateway to the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. Our cooperation in this direction means there are endless possibilities for our cooperation," the ambassador said. Later, the representative of the Ministry of Tourism of Venezuela Lisbet Rosales gave detailed information about the tourism opportunities of her country and presented a slide show depicting the sights of Venezuela. During the meeting, there was also a detailed exchange of ideas on the development of cooperation between tourism organizations, the organization of mutual information tours for promotional purposes. The meeting ended with an interactive question-and-answer session. Note that, AITF 2023 draws attention to the tourism industry after a three-year hiatus caused by the pandemic. Traditionally, the fair gathers representatives of the tourism industry, including national and regional tourism organizations and government agencies from different countries. The Azerbaijan International Tourism and Travel Fair serves as a major platform, which makes it possible to establish new contacts, significantly expand the sales geography, learn about the latest innovations and trends in the industry, as well as find new partners and customers. Outbound tourism, domestic tourism, inbound tourism are on the agenda of AITF 2023. The event is organized by Caspian Event Organisers with the support of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMBDA), Azerbaijan State Tourism Agency and Azerbaijan Tourism Board. This year, Bulgaria, a traditional participant of the exhibition, acts as the AITF 2023 General Sponsor, while Uzbekistan is a partner country. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz A Tehachapi woman who was acquitted of murder in the shooting death of her partner but jurors deadlocked on an voluntary manslaughter charge i Tennessee lawmakers expel Democratic officials over alleged House floor protests The Democratic lawmakers were allegedly protesting against gun violence in the state The first to be removed by the GOP was Rep. Justin Jones Tennessee Republicans caused an uproar after they worked to expel Democratic lawmakers in the state over House floor protests against gun violence. In the first vote, GOP lawmakers expelled Rep. Justin Jones, marking the first time in the state's history that a member of the House had been removed for alleged chamber rules violations. Tennessee House Republicans Expel Three Democrats In their second vote, the House GOP voted to expel Rep. Gloria Johnson but failed to follow through. Following that particular vote, cheers erupted in the chamber, with some lawmakers chanting, "Gloria!" In the expulsion of Jones, the House voted unanimously 72-25, but the effort to remove Johnson failed to reach the required two-thirds majority and only resulted in a 65-30 tally. On Thursday, lawmakers will hold the next and final vote that targets Rep. Justin Pearson, as per NBC News. The Republican lawmakers' votes immediately drew attention nationwide to the partisan divisions that have shaken the Tennessee Legislature in the last few months. The votes also came amid protesters outside the state House as Republicans started the proceedings against the three Democrats. In a statement, Jones held a speech that he was granted in defense of himself ahead of the vote where he argued that the situation was where the jury had already publicly announced the verdict. He noted that there was a lynch mob that assembled not for him but for the democratic process. He said that his participation in the protests amounted to him "standing for those young people," whom he said many were not even capable of voting yet. However, Jones argued that they were terrified over the continuous trend of mass shootings that have plagued the state and the United States. Read Also: Biden Administration Proposes New Transgender Regulation Causing Disorder to the House The demonstrators outside the Tennessee State Capitol roared in opposition to the votes and called for lawmakers to take immediate action on gun control in the region. According to Fox News, many people who attended protests chanted, "Free, free, free the Tennessee Three" as lawmakers made their way into the chamber. Before the votes, Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton said that the three targeted Democrats had a chance for due process. This was in a state that had an overwhelming Republican presence. Sexton said that the situation had nothing to do with the protest outside of the House chamber or outside of the Capitol. He argued that the expulsions were due to the three members' actions on the House floor. The formal resolutions against the three Democrats read that they "did knowingly and intentionally bring disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives." Prior to the vote, Tennessee House Republicans stripped the memberships of the three Democrats and deactivated their ID badges. Lawmakers' expulsion is a rare occurrence in the state's history, with reporter Natalie Allison posting on Twitter that officials did not do so even against a Republican legislator who was accused of sexually assaulting three teenage girls, said the New York Times. Related Article: Stormy Daniels Speaks Out Over Donald Trump Hush Money Case @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Actor Jim Caviezel, as our Savior Jesus Christ, hangs from the cross, suffering the last indignities of the cruelty of Roman Law as prescribed by the Jerusalem Sanhedrin, in Mel Gibson's epic film "The Passion of the Christ": Above. The great misnomer for non Christians that the day Jesus Christ was executed by occupying Romans, is celebrated by Christians as "Good" Friday must be a paradox of ominous proportions. If one does not, or can not accept and believe in the Resurrection, celebrated as Easter by over one billion Christians: How could non believers possibly receive that terrible day, around 1985 years ago, as the Good Friday?Simply, The Passion of Jesus Christ is that He willingly, as was God's inexorable will, allowed Himself to be tortured to death by the terrible execution of Crucifixion is the paradox of the Passion; dying on that terrible cross only to rise again less than two full days later from the fine tomb, owned by a wealthy pharisee, Joseph of Arimathea, who donated this last resting place for Jesus as an atonement for this Man so terribly wronged. Incredibly, Jesus Christ only borrowed the tomb for a short while, surrendering that tomb of stone that wonderful Sunday morning to then walk upon the earth for another 40 days; until He ascended into Heaven to sit at the right hand of God Almighty, and thus taking His forever place in the Holy Trinity of Christendom. 27 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: 2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. 3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. 6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. 7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. 8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. 9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; 10 And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me. 11 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. 12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? 14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. 15 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. 16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. 17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? 18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. 19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. 22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. 23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. 24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. 25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. 26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. 27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. 28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! 30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. 31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. 32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. 33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, 34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. 35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. 36 And sitting down they watched him there; 37 And set up over his head his accusation written, This Is Jesus The King Of The Jews. 38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. 39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. 44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. 45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. 48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. 49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. 50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. 54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. 55 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: 56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedees children. 57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: 58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. 59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. 61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. 62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, 63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. 65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. 66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. A loophole in North Carolina law allows ballots from unverified registrations to be counted About 1,760 ballots from never verified voter registrations were counted in the 2020 election alone Ballots from unverified registrations should be made provisional, and affected registrants should be given an opportunity to verify their registrations Was it a judicious ploy for Joe Biden's FBI to execute the unprecedented raid of President Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate? Yes; the Cheneys despise this former Republican president, and for good reason ... so they say. No; never has a former president been treated with this level of vindictive abuse by those temporarily in power. Who cares? It's Trump. 841 total vote(s) What's your Opinion? This post appears here courtesy of the John Locke Foundation . The author of this post is Dr. Andy Jackson A loophole in North Carolina election law causes county election boards to accept ballots from individuals even though the boards could not verify their voter registrations. Over 1,700 such(defined here as people who cast ballots despite not existing on voter rolls) cast ballots in the 2020 election. In that election, just 401 votes decided the North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice race.Discovering the Existence of theProblemNorth Carolina allows same-day registration (SDR) during early voting.The North Carolina(those who register to vote during early voting) contains the following:Those two sentences describe a situation in which someone registers to vote, claiming to live at a particular address. The county board of elections cannot verify that the person lives at that address, but the board still accepts the ballot from that unverified registration. The only thing that might prevent the ballot from that unverified registration from being counted is that itAs we will see below, the threat of a challenge is empty. Nothing in current law or practice requires verification of SDR registrations before the associated ballots are counted.Nor is this a new problem. The Civitas Institute conducted a study in 2008 in which letters were sent to regular and same-day registrants before the 2008 primary. The study found that mailings to SDR addresses were returned as undeliverable atSome of those undeliverable addresses included closed businesses and empty lots. The Voter Integrity Projected pointed out a decade ago thatRight on cue, two candidates in a 2013 local election in Robeson County exploited SDR to get ineligible people to register and vote:It is unknown whether those candidates' exploits were unusual or just unartful enough to be caught.The North Carolina State Board of Elections (SBE) has long been aware of the problem. They warned county election boards in a 2016 memo that they had to work to address the problem:Still, the loophole persists.Discovering the Extent of the Ghost Voter ProblemI tried to discover the extent of the ghost voter problem as part of a report on the 2020 election. I filed a public records request with the SBE on July 21, 2021 (Request 21-91) and received a reply on Aug. 12, 2021.The SBE could not answer my question at that time about how many same-day registrations in the 2020 general election were not verified through a verification mailing. That is because the datarather than on election day.Their answer to my other question was concerning:So, there was evidence that unchallengeable ghost voters existed, but the extent of that problem remained unknown.I made another public records request on May 27, 2022 (Request 22-165) that again asked for the number of same-day registrations in the 2020 general election that were not verified through a verification mailing.The SBE replied on Mar. 2, 2023. This time they had an answer to the question: about 1,760.(The actual number may be slightly less because a tiny fraction of people who register during early voting do not vote on the same day.)Here is the list of those 1,760 unverified registrations provided by the SBE, listed by county. They are in thecolumn.Unverified Same-Day Registrations (SDRs) and New Voter Registrations in the 2020 Election, By CountyAs seen in those data, the unverified rate for SDRs (1.82%) is almost twice as high as the unverified rate for non-SDR new registrations (0.95%). That finding is consistent with the results of the 2008 Civitas Institute study cited above.Discovering a Solution to the Ghost Voter ProblemThe SBE, in their answer to my second public records request, stated why they believe county election boards should accept ballots from unverified SDRs:So we have a conflict between evidence that someone registering to vote lived at an address a few weeks or years ago and evidence that the same person did not live at that address at the time of the election.How do we resolve that conflict?If we are going to have same-day registration, a solution to the unverified registration loophole is to make ballots associated with SDRs that are unverified on election day provisional. Provisional ballots are a stopgap measure election officials use when there are questions about whether or not someone is legally eligible to vote. Those ballots are set aside until officials can determine the person's eligibility.The unverified SDR ballots should remain provisional until either the registration is verified through normal means or the registrant otherwise confirms his or her address with the county board of elections in time for the county canvas (when the board certifies the election). Ballots from SDRs that remain unverified by the time of the county canvas would not be counted.SDR period ends three days before election day. The county canvas is ten days after election day. That would give the county board at least 13 days to verify SDRs. If election officials cannot verify SDRs within that timeframe, the General Assembly should change the SDR deadline to give them the time they need to perform that verification.The General Assembly should close the unverified registration loophole that allowed 1,760 ghost voters to cast ballots in 2020. Irwin Thompson/The Dallas Morning News, MBR / TNS A Beaumont man has been arrested after allegedly assaulting a Family Dollar clerk while attempting to rob the store on Saturday morning. Derrick Derane Jones, 54, just before 8:30 a.m. robbed the Beaumont Family Dollar clerk and pistol-whipped her with an air soft pistol before forcing her at gunpoint to an area of the store where the money was kept, according Beaumont police spokesperson Ofc. Carol Riley This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The conviction and death sentence for Oklahoma death row inmate Richard Glossip should be thrown out and a new trial ordered, the state's new attorney general said Thursday, as support has grown even among death penalty supporters who say Glossip is innocent. In a filing with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, Attorney General Gentner Drummond said that although the state is not suggesting Glossip is innocent, the key witness against Glossip lied to the jury about his psychiatric treatment and reasons for taking the mood-stabilizing drug lithium. That information was only recently disclosed to Glossip's defense team after Drummond turned over a box of evidence, consisting largely of prosecutors' notes in the case, that Drummond's predecessor, John O'Connor, had previously designated as work product." After thorough and serious deliberation, I have concluded that I cannot stand behind the murder conviction and death sentence of Richard Glossip, Drummond said in a statement. This is not to say I believe he is innocent. However, it is critical that Oklahomans have absolute faith that the death penalty is administered fairly and with certainty. Considering everything I know about this case, I do not believe that justice is served by executing a man based on the testimony of a compromised witness. Glossip, now 60, was convicted of the 1997 murder-for-hire killing of his boss, motel owner Barry Van Treese, at two separate trials based largely on the testimony of his co-defendant, Justin Sneed. Sneed admitted robbing and killing Van Treese, but claims he only did so after Glossip agreed to pay him $10,000. Sneed received a sentence of life in prison. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals must decide whether to vacate Glossip's conviction and order a new trial. Glossip is scheduled to be executed on May 18. Glossip's attorney Don Knight said in a statement that Drummond's filing states what he has long maintained, which is that Sneed, the state's key witness, is not credible. It is now clear that it would be unconscionable for the state to move forward with Mr. Glossips execution when there is so much doubt surrounding his conviction, Knight said. Drummond's motion comes on the same day he released the findings of an independent counsel's review of Glossip's case. That report, conducted by former District Attorney Rex Duncan, raised numerous concerns about his conviction, including uncertainty about whether an actual polygraph exam was administered to Glossip, evidence in the case that was destroyed and a failure by the state to disclose certain information to Glossip's attorneys. The state's murder case against Glossip was not particularly strong and would have been, in my view, weaker if full discovery had been provided, Duncan wrote. Given the passage of 26 years, death of witnesses, destruction and loss of evidence, and 2023 evidentiary disclosures, it is, in my view, less tenable today. A message left Thursday with Van Treese's family seeking comment was not immediately returned. Drummond said he acknowledges the pain the family must be going through. My heart truly goes out to the Van Treese family, who have been waiting decades for a final measure of justice, Drummond said. Glossip's case attracted international attention after actress Susan Sarandon who won an Academy Award for her portrayal of death penalty opponent Sister Helen Prejeans fight to save a man on Louisianas death row in the 1995 movie Dead Man Walking took up his cause in real life. Prejean herself has served as Glossips spiritual adviser and frequently visited him in prison. His case also was featured in a 2017 documentary film titled Killing Richard Glossip. Republican state Rep. Kevin McDugle, a self-described death-penalty supporter, called on the Court of Criminal Appeals to grant a new trial last year, after he said an independent report produced by a Houston law firm suggested there were numerous problems with his conviction. ___ Follow Sean Murphy on Twitter: @apseanmurphy EVERMAN, Texas (AP) A 6-year-old Texas boy whose mother has given various stories to explain his absence since last fall is believed to be dead, police said Thursday. Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez was last seen around the time his mother gave birth to twin girls in October, Everman police Chief Craig Spencer said at a news conference. He said searches for the boy's body have been focused near the family's home in Everman, located just south of Fort Worth. Around the time that Noel was last seen, he was described as appearing unhealthy and malnourished, Spencer said. On March 31, arrest warrants on charges of abandoning and endangering a child were issued for the boy's mother, Cindy Rodriguez-Singh, and her husband, Arshdeep Singh. They are believed to have flown to India on March 22 along with six children. Two days earlier, police had been asked by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to do a welfare check on the children at the couple's home. During that visit, Rodriguez-Singh told officers that Noel was staying with family in Mexico. Spencer said that Rodriguez-Singh has been known by relatives to be abusive and neglectful to Noel. Also, he said, investigators learned through interviews that Rodriguez-Singh had referred to Noel as evil, possessed or having a demon in him and believed he'd harm the twins. Police have said that Noel suffers from numerous physical and developmental challenges. Relatives and witnesses stated that food and water were often withheld from Noel because Cindy did not like changing Noel's dirty diapers, Spencer said. A relative even witnessed Cindy strike Noel in the face with keys because he drank water. Spencer said that on Nov. 1, 2022, Rodriguez-Singh got passport photos for all of the children living with her except for Noel. And then, the next day, she applied for passports for herself and all of the children except for Noel. Spencer said that in November, Rodriguez-Singh began to try to explain Noel's absence with various stories, including that he was either with his biological father or aunt in Mexico, or that she'd sold him to a woman in a grocery store parking lot. Spencer said that investigators have looked into all of those stories and none were true. Bryan Woolston/AP President Donald Trump is a supremely gifted con artist whose business and political dealings have operated in the gray area between shady and criminal. Like other great con artists, Trump is a sociopath with the ability to shake your hand, look you in the eye and lie to your face with complete conviction. Also, like other great con artists, Trump is quick to play the role of persecuted victim anytime he is criticized or accused of wrong doing, as he has been doing nonstop for the past week. It is a national disgrace that the Republican Senate put party politics ahead of justice and their constitutional duty when they refused to convict Trump of the crimes charged in his two impeachments. Fortunately, a New York district attorney and grand jury had the courage and moral fortitude to finally hold Trump liable for his probable criminal actions and indict him. Scientists say that late-stage RSV vaccine trials show "exciting promise" in treating the respiratory infection The experimental vaccine was found effective in preventing RSV-associated respiratory conditions The scientists also gave the vaccine to women in late-stage pregnancy and found it was 82% effective among infants Scientists say that the late-stage RSV vaccine trials show "exciting promise" in the continued efforts to fight against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). In one company-funded trial conducted on adults aged 60 and older, researchers published the results in the New England Journal of Medicine. The treatment was found to prevent RSV-associated lower respiratory tract illness. This includes acute bronchitis and pneumonia. Late-Stage RSV Vaccine Trials Show Promise Furthermore, scientists observed that the experimental vaccine prevented RSV-associated acute respiratory illness and had no apparent safety concerns. In a separate company trial, the interim results of which were published on Wednesday in the journal, the experimental vaccine was given to women during late-stage pregnancy. Within that trial, the vaccine was effective in preventing severe RSV-associated lower respiratory tract illnesses such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia in infants. The former is the inflammation of the small airway passages entering the lungs, as per CNN. Pharmaceutical company Pfizer is now seeking the approval of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its RSV vaccine for older adults. The company also filed a separate request asking the health agency to approve its experimental vaccine for pregnant people to protect infants. Officials said that it expects to receive a decision on the matter by August. Furthermore, the FDA is also considering a monoclonal antibody treatment designed to protect children up to two years old. Vaccine advisers to the FDA in March voted in favor of approving RSV vaccine candidates from Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) for people over the age of 60. Read Also: US Observes Rise in ADHD Cases Treatment on Infants The latest vaccines could be the first maternal vaccine in the world if the FDA decides to approve and agree with the advisory committee's decision. The trials showed that the experimental vaccine is 82% effective in preventing severe infection among infants, according to The Hill. Despite the promising results of the late-stage vaccine trials, scientists are urging for the monitoring of older adults for Guillain-Barre syndrome. This comes after two people were found to have developed the nervous system disorder after receiving the treatment. The scientists added that if the experimental RSV vaccine is approved and recommended, there should be close monitoring for the adverse effects in future studies, real-world data, and postmarketing surveillance. The condition is a rare disorder where a person's immune system mistakenly attacks the nerves inside the body. Symptoms of this syndrome can range from brief weakness to paralysis, based on data from the National Institutes of Health. Fortunately, most people who develop the disorder recover, even from severe cases. Now, the scientists' call for monitoring the condition echoes the position of the FDA, which has asked Pfizer to include Guillain-Barre as an "important potential risk" to its experimental vaccine. They also asked the pharmaceutical company to develop a safety study to monitor for such cases if the treatment is approved in May, said CNBC. Related Article: EU Says Cancer-Causing Compound Not a Risk @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Inside Hook Running from Abingdon to near the North Carolina border in Damascus, the Virginia Creeper Trail, above a former rail line, curves nearly 35 miles along the Holston River. A popular weekend getaway for DMV residents, its named for the train that crept up the mountain during the early 1900s. The 35-year-old path welcomes bikes, pedestrians and even horses, and it can be done in a (long) day or over multiple outings. Some sections are fairly flat, while others have a steeper grade, so its appropriate for all skill levels. Along the way, you can stay at rustic campgrounds or in stylish inns, many of which offer shuttle services to points on the trail. Those in the know have also found wineries, breweries and restaurants along the way, including some right off the path. Add these to your next trip, and be sure to bring your appetite. Below are 33 hospitals ending services that Becker's has reported on since Feb. 6: Gardner, Ma.-based Heywood Hospital will close its pulmonary unit in mid-April due to financial reasons. CHI Mercy Health in Roseburg, Ore., is cutting several jobs and closing its home health service line. Renton, Wash.-based Providence said it is ending labor and delivery at Petaluma (Calif.) Valley Hospital, effective May 1, until further notice. Chelsea (Mich.) Hospital is closing its adult inpatient behavioral health unit at the end of 2023. Emmett, Idaho-based Valor Health will close maternal inpatient labor and delivery services June 1 and instead focus on pre- and postnatal care for women. Renton, Wash.-based Providence plans to at least partially close the Family Birthing Center at Petaluma (Calif.) Valley Hospital beginning May 1. Danbury, Conn.-based Nuvance Health will close a 100-bed rehabilitation facility in Rhinebeck, N.Y., and lay off its 102 employees. McLaren St. Luke's Hospital in Maumee, Ohio, will lay off 743 workers when it permanently closes this spring, according to a notice filed with state regulators. Plymouth, Ind.-based St. Joseph Health System is the latest system to announce closures of women's health services. Springfield, Mass.-based Baystate Health and medical services provider Shields Health are closing their urgent care clinic locations in Feeding Hills, Longmeadow and Westfield, Mass. Eastern Niagara Hospital in Lockport, N.Y., is set to close June 17 after years of financial turbulence. An ambulatory center operated by the hospital will close the same day but will reopen immediately under Buffalo, N.Y.-based Catholic Health's management. Cabell Huntington (W.Va.) Hospital will close its CHH Surgery Center, effective April 28, and phase out its home health services over the next 90 days. Marble Falls, Texas-based Hill Country Memorial Hospital, which was recently acquired by San Antonio Methodist Hospital, will close its surgery center March 31. The only hospital in Manitowoc, Wis., a city of nearly 35,000 Froedtert Holy Family Memorial Hospital will stop all obstetrics care beginning June 1. Astria Toppenish (Wash.) Hospital is one of many rural hospitals closing labor and delivery care due to costs, creating maternity deserts in areas that need care most, The New York Times reported. Portland, Ore.-based Legacy Health said it is on track to close the family birth center at its Mount Hood Medical Center on schedule, even as the Oregon Health Authority said it cannot give a timeline for approval, according to multiple reports. HSHS St. Mary's Hospital in Decatur, Ill., temporarily closed its labor and delivery floor March 9. Phoenix-based Banner Health will close its ambulatory surgery center in Loveland, Colo., on March 31. Rochester, N.H.-based Frisbie Memorial Hospital was approved to discontinue labor and delivery services after a $2.75 million settlement agreement. Citing a lack of provider coverage, Ocean Springs, Miss.-based Singing River Health System said it will end obstetric services, which include labor and delivery, at Singing River Gulfport (Miss.), at least temporarily. Cleveland-based University Hospitals is ending labor and delivery services at UH Lake West in Willoughby, Ohio, effective April 15. Jefferson, Mo.-based Capital Region Medical Center will close two clinics in Holts Summit and St. Elizabeth, Mo., effective April 15. Trinity Health Muskegon (Mich.) plans to temporarily close a 30-bed surgical floor due to staffing shortages. St. Mark's Medical Center in La Grange, Texas, is cutting nearly half its staff and various services as it looks to survive amid significant financial challenges. Service cuts include inpatient and surgical services, post-acute skilled rehab care, its orthopedic clinic, speech therapy and ambulatory care. OhioHealth's Shelby Hospital will cease to provide maternity services starting 11:59 p.m on Feb. 28. Maternity services are provided 13 miles away at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital. Arcata, Calif.-based Mad River Community Hospital is cutting 27 jobs as it suspends its home health services program. The program will be suspended upon the completion of services to the hospital's existing patients, which is expected to be in April. Oroville (Calif.) Hospital is closing Golden Valley Home Health, the hospital's home health business. Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk, Va., abruptly closed the retail pharmacy it leased to Hague Pharmacy Feb. 8 following the end of its lease. The hospital's in-house pharmacy is still open. Ascension Providence Hospital-Southfield (Mich.) is ending midwifery services at the end of February. Rumford (Maine) Hospital is closing its maternity program March 31 after 97 years in service. Oroville (Calif.) Hospital is closing Golden Valley Home Health, the hospital's home health business. Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters in Norfolk, Va., abruptly closed the retail pharmacy it leased to Hague Pharmacy Feb. 8 after its lease expired. Fredericksburg, Texas-based Hill County Memorial Hospital will close its Marble Falls, Texas-based Hill Country Memorial Surgery Center. The closure comes after the November announcement that Hill Country Memorial Hospital was acquired by San Antonio Methodist Hospital. Joseph Dorn, MD, is suing the Florida Department of Health after he was subjected to an undercover probe and was cleared of any wrongdoing, Tallahassee Democrat reported April 6. Dr. Dorn, a medical marijuana physician, was accused in 2019 of failing to conduct proper physical examinations of two undercover investigators. The state sought to take away his medical license, ban him from prescribing marijuana and enforce a $10,000 fine. The Florida Board of Medicine in December unanimously agreed Dr. Dorn didn't do anything wrong when he prescribed medical marijuana for the investigators who told him they had medical conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the Democrat. Dr. Dorn's lawsuit alleges the state department and the agents overstepped authority and violated laws throughout the probe, according to court documents obtained by the publication. He is seeking $50,000 for alleged loss of income and damage to his professional reputation. A spokesperson for the health department told the publication it did not have any comment on the lawsuit. In October, OB-GYN Associates of Iowa City & Coralville (Iowa) filed for bankruptcy following a malpractice judgment of $97.4 million. Now, a federal judge has blocked the clinic's efforts, according to an April 6 report from the Sioux City Journal. In March 2022, an Iowa jury awarded Kathleen and Andrew Kromphardt $97.4 million in damages after they alleged their son sustained brain damage in the hours leading up to his birth because medical workers failed to recognize signs of oxygen deprivation. The award was later reduced to $75.6 million. Bankruptcy Judge Anita Shodeen dismissed OB-GYN Associates' bankruptcy claim, ruling there is evidence that the filing is intended to shield the clinic's insurer from a $12 million payout. Following the malpractice verdict, the clinic appealed and requested a halt on collection efforts until the appeal could be heard. The Iowa Supreme Court denied the request. The Kromphardts' attorney initially challenged the bankruptcy filing, claiming it was filed in "bad faith" to prevent the couple from gaining a financial award. The clinic's attorney has filed an appeal on Ms. Shodeen's decision in the case. Former California physician Thomas McNeese Keller was sentenced to 30 months in prison for distributing controlled substances outside the scope of his practice, according to an April 6 report from the Press Democrat. Mr. Keller overprescribed patients out of his pain management practice in Santa Rosa. He was convicted in November on four counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances, including oxycodone, valium and carisoprodol. In addition to this case, Mr. Keller was arrested in 2020 for second-degree murder charges following the drug overdose deaths of four patients who were under his care from 2016 to 2017. He was found not guilty of two of the deaths, and the jury was hung on five other counts. Mr. Keller previously served six months in jail for sexual misconduct with patients in 1989. As procedures increasingly move to the outpatient setting, ASC leaders are hopeful about the future of surgery centers in the next decade. Erika Wilcox, BSN RN, CEO and administrator of Surgery Center of Boerne (Texas), recently joined Becker's to discuss what the ASC industry will look like in 10 years. Editor's note: This response was edited lightly for brevity and clarity. Question: What do you think the ASC industry will look like in 10 years? Erika Wilcox: The ASC industry is limitless. We have seen this through the last several years of higher-acuity cases being performed in these settings with arguably better outcomes and satisfaction than inpatient stays. Total joint replacements, spine cases and cardiovascular service lines are prime examples. While patient selection is key, candidates who would have been an immediate "no" for an ASC setting are having their health barriers addressed and becoming great candidates. Leslie Jebson, regional administrator at Greenville, S.C.-based Prisma Health, joined Becker's to discuss what the ASC industry will look like in the next decade. Question: What will the ASC industry look like in the next 10 years? Leslie Jebson: Continued evolution in surgical technique and anesthetics will continue to allow for higher-acuity, more complex procedures to migrate towards the outpatient arena. Cost containment pressures from payers will continue to encourage the movement to outpatient or one-day surgical/procedural interventions. Additionally, staffing and lifestyle considerations will continue to make the ASC environment one of the most desirable from a clinical and clerical support staffing perspective. Underutilized ASCs will introduce more cardiology and cardiovascular procedures. Some legislative changes at state-specific levels will influence the site of care. Health systems will continue to propagate a hub and spoke model, with the hub being a tertiary program, feeding out to community hospitals, feeding out further to outpatient surgery-clinic facilities. This redistribution of care across a network will drive 15 percent inpatient tertiary growth. The industry will witness further maturation in the consolidation of regional and national management companies. Real estate developer NexCore Group has broken ground on the new Westfield (Ind.) Ambulatory Surgery Center and Westfield Medical Office Building. The three-story medical office building will feature 60,000 square feet of rentable space and will house the ASC, wound care, laboratories, diagnostic imaging and a complement of clinical spaces and physician services, according to an April 7 news release from NexCore. The building is expected to be complete in 2024. Epic is constructing three new buildings at its 260-acre Wisconsin headquarters that will provide office space for an additional 1,100 employees, the Verona (Wis.) Press reported. The new facilities will be called "Sci-Fi" at the EHR vendor's Storybook campus, which will also get a third large restaurant for employees, and "Guilds" and "Creatures" at the Wizards Academy section, according to the April 6 story. Construction began recently and is set to wrap in 2024. Epic has themes at each of its buildings, to go with such amenities as a treehouse, slide and small farm. Rather than cubicles, the company uses offices, collaborative areas and other distraction-free workspaces, the newspaper reported. Epic has a cozy, fun environment to make employees feel like they're "coming home to work," technical recruiter Nicole Hilsenhoff told the Press. The buildings top out at three stories, to maximize face time among staffers. Epic has about 11,600 employees at the Verona campus, with plans to add another 1,700. They will include software developers and project managers, as well as people to work in administration, facilities and culinary, according to the story. The American Civil Liberties Union plans to take legal action against recent transgender care bans in Idaho and Indiana. On April 4, Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed House Bill 71, effectively banning transgender minors under 18 from receiving hormone therapy, puberty blockers and gender confirmation surgery. Physicians who prescribe these therapies can be charged with a felony and face up to 10 years in prison. The ACLU of Idaho shared plans to sue the state in an April 5 news release, alleging the law violates families' rights to make their own healthcare decisions. "For any individuals directly impacted, we seek partnership as we challenge this law in court," said Leo Morales, executive director of the state's ACLU. "We will sue to stop this harmful and unconstitutional law." Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a similar bill into law on April 5. Senate Bill 480 prohibits physicians from knowingly providing gender-affirming care to minors under age 18, or from aiding or abetting another provider in doing so. The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Indiana filed a lawsuit April 5 on behalf of four transgender youth and their families. Under Senate Bill 480, the children will lose access to the care they are already receiving within six months of July 1. Catherine Bast, MD, and Mosaic Health and Healing Arts her family medicine practice for LGBT individuals in Goshen, Ind. are also plaintiffs in the case. The lawsuit alleges the measure violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, as well as the federal requirements of the Medicaid Act and the Affordable Care Act. "Studies show that when gender dysphoria is treated with gender affirming care, the risk of self-harming behaviors, including suicide, diminishes, said Mixhi Marquis, executive director of Mosaic Health and Healing Arts, in an April 5 news release from the ACLU. "When politicians require us to deny essential lifesaving care, they ignore science and instead mandate harm and endanger lives." The European Space Agency (ESA) is kicking off its JUICE mission next week, which will orbit Jupiter's largest moon, the Ganymede, a first probe of its kind for the space agency. Several months after ESA's Jupiter mission, NASA will launch another Jupiter mission, the Europa Clipper. ESA's JUICE Mission: Europe's First-Ever Jupiter Probe The ESA has yet to launch any probe into the largest planet in the solar system until now. Interesting Engineering reports that the Europe agency is now gearing up for its first-ever Jupiter probe mission. Next week or on April 13, to be more precise, the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission is lifting off at around 8:15 am Eastern Daylight Time. JUICE launches from Europe's Spaceport, which sits at Kourou, French Guiana. JUICE is not launching itself to Jupiter's largest moon. Instead, it will lift off atop an Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket. The rocket will be one of the last to launch before the space exploration company introduces the next-generation Ariane 6 rocket sometime in 2023. According to Space.com, the JUICE is set to orbit Jupiter for several years. Its journey should end in 2031. Besides the largest moon of Jupiter, the Ganymede, it will also fly by to probe the other Galilean moons on the planet, such as Callisto and Europa. The probe of these Jupiter moons seeks to confirm if they have water beneath their icy terrain. The ESA further disclosed what the upcoming probe seeks to do. It states that "the mission will characterize these moons as both planetary objects and possible habitats." Above and beyond that the JUICE mission also aims to "explore Jupiter's complex environment in depth." On top of these objectives, the probe should also help study the planet's system, considering it as an archetype for other gas giants in the entire universe, according to the mission description of the ESA. Although Interesting Engineering notes that Jupiter currently flaunts 92 moons, the probe only seeks to study the four Galilean moons discovered by Galileo Galilei, an astronomer from Italy, in the first four years. Read Also: Researchers Think Venus Has an Active Volcano as Seen in Images NASA's Mission to Jupiter Besides Europe, the National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) is also looking to launch another mission to Jupiter by late next year. In fact, NASA currently has an ongoing Jupiter probe, the Juno. By next year, the space agency plans to launch the Europa Clipper. If everything goes well, it is expected to lift off atop the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket next year or sometime in October 2024. As the name of the upcoming NASA mission gives away, the next Jupiter probe seeks to probe the "Clipper" moon of the largest planet in the solar system. Like ESA's JUICE, it will orbit the planet once it launches. Related Article: Newborn Jupiter Burned Its Moons Surface With Intense Light @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems has struck agreements to sell four hospitals across three states in 2023: 1. El Dorado-based South Arkansas Regional Hospital signed a definitive agreement April 3 to acquire El Dorado-based Medical Center of South Arkansas from subsidiaries of Community Health Systems. The Medical Center of South Arkansas is a 166-bed hospital that had more than 95,000 patient encounters in 2022. The acquisition includes all of the hospital's related businesses, including physician clinic operations and outpatient services. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close this summer. 2. Community Health Systems completed a $92 million sale of Oak Hill, W.Va.-based Plateau Medical Center to Charleston, W.Va.-based Vandalia Health on April 1. Vandalia will assume control over Plateau Medical's 25-bed hospital, outpatient services and physician clinic operations. Vandalia signed an agreement to acquire the medical center in January. 3. Community Health Systems signed a definitive agreement Feb. 28 to sell two hospitals to Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health. Subsidiaries of CHS will sell Lake Norman Regional Medical Center in Mooresville, N.C., and Davis Regional Medical Center in Statesville, N.C., and their associated assets to Novant Health for cash consideration of approximately $320 million. The transaction is expected to close later this year. The Center for Digital Health Innovation at San Francisco-based UCSF Health has been honored for employing artificial intelligence to sort through millions of faxes. The center got Global Excellence Awards from AI Journal for best use of AI in the public sector and best use of intelligence automation for a tool developed with AI cloud company H2O.ai. The Refs & Docs platform automates the processing of the roughly 1.4 million faxes received at UCSF Health annually, saving thousands of hours of staff time. "We believe that AI has the power to transform healthcare and make it more accessible, affordable and effective for all," said Prashant Natarajan, vice president of healthcare analytics at H2O.ai, in an April 5 company news release. "We are proud to partner with organizations like CDHI to drive this transformation forward." Kettering (Ohio) Health officials said their ongoing internal investigation into misconduct allegations is not tied to donor funds, the Dayton Daily News reported April 5. "These allegations do not include funds received through donation to any one of the four Kettering Health foundations, and our internal investigation has confirmed this to be accurate," the health system said in a statement, according to the report. "Our foundations have stringent policies to ensure that all donated funds are appropriately accounted for, used in line with the request of each donor, and in compliance with applicable laws." The specific focus on Kettering's internal investigation is unknown, according to the report. Kettering announced March 27 it hired an outside firm to conduct an internal investigation into allegations of inappropriate fiscal and operational management. A pair of anonymous complaints were filed with the Ohio attorney general's office alleging abuse of charitable funds. The complaints reference former CEO Fred Manchur and former board Chair Dave Weigley. Among other things, the complaint accuses Mr. Manchur of expensing trips and using hospital network funds to remodel his home. The complaints also involved Mr. Weigley's alleged car expenses. Mr. Manchur retired at the end of 2022 and Mr. Weigley left the board in January. Kettering said in its March 27 statement that while the investigation is ongoing, it is taking steps to address wrongdoing and shortcomings it identifies. "These steps include making necessary personnel changes inclusive of employees and members of the board to ensure both individual accountability and strict compliance with updated and comprehensive governance practices," the statement read. Hospitals evolved into health systems over the last several years with multiple care sites and expanded focus on health and wellness. Millions of dollars were spent in rebranding and strategy to become "health systems." Now, the term is becoming obsolete. Health systems are so much more than care providers, with ancillary businesses such as retail pharmacy, venture capital investing, telehealth, hospital-at-home, and more. The best new term to describe evolving health systems hasn't been universally defined, but a few organizations have begun internally rebranding. Stony Brook (N.Y.) Medicine's growth strategy isn't focused on more inpatient services, or even expanding its 240 community-based physician clinics. Instead, the organization is zeroing in on at-home services, urgent and immediate care, and triaging patients appropriately. Stony Brook also includes five growing life sciences schools. "We've stopped calling ourselves a health system and started calling ourselves a health platform because we've got to have partnerships to make this happen," said Liz Popwell, chief strategy and transformation officer at Stony Brook Medicine, during an April 3 panel at the Becker's 13th Annual Meeting. "We know we're not experts in all spaces, but we need to find the right experts to partner with." She said patients were willing to travel for care before the pandemic, but now they're looking for more convenient access and extended telemedicine and remote patient monitoring options. The focus on at-home care models means Stony Brook is growing "around the fringes of the platform," according to Ms. Popwell. The forward-looking strategy extends to the system's medical and life sciences schools training future clinicians and scientists. Many graduates want to stay local, Ms. Popwell said, which is good news for the organization. "We're not thinking about what's the care model of today," she said. "We're thinking about what's the care model 10 years from now and throughout our strategic planning process, we're going to start to implement different curriculum items related to artificial intelligence, machine learning, you name it. We're thinking about what [healthcare will] look like down the road so we can prepare the workforce for the future." John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General Hospital and Florida Health Sciences Center at the University of Southern Florida, said he doesn't think about the organization as a health system either. "We look at ourselves as a family of businesses," he said. "We are more of a conglomerate in a good way. It's the notion of having all sorts of joint ventures and wholly owned subsidiaries, and of course our mothership. But it's really a family of businesses to address the healthcare challenges." Tampa General and Florida Health Sciences Center is a collaboration with the University of South Florida its health services division. The organization has a large academic medical center and more than 130 locations, and deep relationships with a few great partners. Only 12 percent of nurses are men. Raising that number would benefit not only the healthcare profession, but men themselves, Bloomberg editors suggested in an April 6 viewpoint piece. There are several benefits to recruiting more male nurses, according to the editors. More obviously, it would help fill gaps in the hurting healthcare workforce; less obviously, it would keep men in jobs during a period where their overall workforce participation is diminishing. Male nurses would increase diversity in the female-dominated field, which could positively affect male patients particularly teenage boys, who have a harder time confiding in female nurses and are facing a mental health crisis. It has been historically difficult to attract men to the profession, which is traditionally viewed as feminine. But that does not mean the gender scales can never balance, the editors say. "To start, lawmakers should follow the tested model of encouraging women in STEM," they wrote. "Recent legislation, for example, directed the National Science Foundation to channel more of its K-12 funding to elementary and pre-K-age students to encourage STEM careers earlier in the pipeline." Nursing schools could also employ tactics used to pique women and girls' interest in STEM careers, per the editors. Colleges that engage middle and high school students to guide them toward nursing careers should make a point to include male faculty as role models. They should also offer loan forgiveness and scholarship opportunities specifically for male applicants. The editors noted that "men aren't immune to the broader forces driving the nursing shortage." "Yet, a renewed focus on recruiting men can only help," they wrote. Washington lawmakers have passed staffing legislation aimed at reducing nursing shortages, The Spokesman-Review reported April 6. A bill that would require hospitals to follow staffing standards passed the state House of Representatives 92-6. It had already passed the state Senate and now heads to Gov. Jay Inslee for potential approval. The bill reflects a compromise between unions and the Washington State Hospital Association, according to a news release from unions shared with Becker's. Unions have pushed for specific, required patient-to-staff ratios at hospitals in state law, saying ratios could ease nurses' workloads. Hospitals expressed concerns that such ratios would lead to service cuts and closures if floors cannot be adequately staffed. The legislation does not establish specific, required ratios in state law. However, hospital staffing committees would make ratio recommendations to their leadership, and executives would make adjustments and submit the plan to state officials, according to the Puget Sound Business Journal. If hospitals fall below 80 percent compliance with their staffing plans, they are required to report noncompliance to the state, unions said in their release. State deoartments would then assign noncompliant hospitals a corrective action plan. Under the bill, hospitals that do not follow corrective action plans could face a fine of $50,000 per month. "While this bill isn't everything we called for, this is a real and meaningful step towards better safety for Washington healthcare workers and patients," Faye Guenther, president of UFCW 3000, said in the unions' release. "For years we've fought for strong, enforceable staffing standards, while hospital executives have sought to preserve the status quo. This is progress." In February, Chelene Whiteaker, senior vice president of government affairs at the state hospital association, said, "We all want to support hospital staff and also ensure access to healthcare for our communities. We are pleased to be able to reach an agreement that recognizes the importance of the voice of staff at the local level, who are best positioned to develop staffing plans that appropriately match the needs of patients with the experience of staff." The bill, which also expands meal and rest break laws, would take effect in 2025. Three orthopedic surgeons connected with Becker's to discuss what they are most afraid of. Ask Orthopedic Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy issues affecting orthopedic care. We invite all orthopedic surgeon and specialist responses. Next question: The benefits of robotic joint replacement are widely touted, but what do you see as the technology's biggest drawbacks today? Please send responses to Riz Hatton at rhatton@beckershealthcare.com by 5 p.m. CDT Thursday, April 13. Note: Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity. Paul Perry, MD. President of Tri-State Orthopaedic Surgeons (Evansville, Ind.): As an orthopedic surgeon, my greatest fear is a loss of autonomy, and the subsequent disruption of the doctor-patient relationship. The surgeon-patient relationship is the fundamental core of orthopedic practice. Surgeons should be able to advocate for patients free of the agendas of other participants in the healthcare system. As the independent practice of medicine continues to decline, it will become harder and harder to maintain separation of the patient's needs from the financial goals of the healthcare system and/or insurance company. Some independence in physician decision-making must be protected, and even codified, if we are to maintain the highest levels of patient care. Arjun Saxena, MD. Adult Hip and Knee Reconstruction Surgeon at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute (Philadelphia): As a private practice orthopedic surgeon for the last 10 years, I am most afraid of rising overhead costs and decreasing reimbursement throughout medicine. I am not talking about my income; I am talking about disincentivizing people to go into healthcare or care for certain populations or go the extra mile for their patients. How often do we see nurses get abused by patients and family members and as they walk out the door that day they say, "This just isn't worth it anymore"? How many surgeons have been victim to a lawsuit because a patient sustained a known complication of a surgery? Surgeons carry the stress of a lawsuit and worry about the immediate and future ramifications, both professional and financial. I fear that access to care will decrease as time goes on, creating a terrible healthcare system that makes us sicker, not healthier. Not what you would expect in the world's greatest country. Jason Snibbe, MD. Orthopedic Surgeon at Snibbe Orthopedics (Los Angeles): I'm most afraid of the lowering reimbursement from all insurers. The cost of practicing orthopedic surgery has increased due to higher cost of employees, rent and insurance. Insurance companies are basically eliminating private practice in America by forcing private practice doctors to join large medical groups owned by hospitals or large health systems. This has taken away the autonomy of physicians and eliminated their ability to practice the way they want to practice. In my opinion, it is very sad that medicine has gone in this direction. The insurance companies have not increased reimbursement for over 20 to 30 years. It's the elephant in the room that the leaders of our government won't address. Becker's reported on four spine and orthopedic surgery firsts since March 30: 1. Douglas Unis, MD, completed the first fully remote simulated robotic total knee arthroplasty from 1,700 miles away, using a system from Monogram Orthopedics. 2. Eric Tannenbaum, MD, medical director of orthopedics at Decatur County Memorial Hospital in Greensburg, Ind., has completed the system's first hip arthroscopy. 3. Fernando Villamil, MD, completed the first clinical case with ZSFab's cervical interbody implant. 4. Stanley Hoang, MD, performed the first robot-assisted single position prone lumbar fusion surgery in Louisiana. An Apple Store in Washington got robbed after thieves cut a hole through a bathroom hole, stealing over 400 iPhones. While previous Apple Store break-in only includes a few devices, the recent incident at the Alderwood Mall has successfully taken more than $500,000 worth of products. This is one of the biggest theft cases involving a retail store of the Cupertino-based tech giant in recent times. Apple Store Thieves Cut a Hole in a Wall to Steal $500,000 Worth of iPhones According to 9to5 Mac, thieves entered the Alderwood Mall Apple Store in Washington at around 7 in the evening. The burglars took the chance to attack on a day when the stores were closed. The thieves reportedly got a bit creative with this heist. Instead of directly entering the store, they found a way to prevent them from being detected. These folks created a hole in the bathroom of a coffee shop at the Alderwood Mall. The tunnel they cut through was big enough to fit a person and a box of products, giving them access to the Apple Store. Apple's latest 5G smartphones go on sale in the UK today. The iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max will be available from November 13. The tunnel, created by the thieves, paved the way for them to steal around 436 iPhones, including other products such as Apple Watch and iPads. Perhaps they left them behind due to the size of MacBooks and Macs. Read Also: Apple Stock Market: How Did Tech Giant Lose Over $1 Trillion in Value in Just a Year? Burglars Passed Through an Adjacent Coffee Shop The security system of the Apple retail store at the Alderwood Mall reportedly failed to detect the burglars, according to Mac Rumors. They passed through a Seattle Coffee Gear adjacent to the shopping center's Apple Store. The manager of the Seattle Coffee Gear, Eric Marks, never actually thought that they are adjacent to the retail store, which offers iPhones, iPads, and Macs. He points out that the layout could have been more obvious to him. Contrary to the thieves, the manager says, "I would have never suspected we were adjacent to the Apple Store." And as such, the Seattle Coffee Gear manager believes the burglars had it all planned out. Marks thinks that "some had to think it out." Besides that, he suggested that they might "have access to the mall layout" as it was not that obvious for everyone else. The burglars only intended to steal the iPhones. The adjacent coffee shop reportedly did not have anything stolen after the incident besides the hole in the bathroom. The cost of fixing the damage is estimated at around $1,500. Meanwhile, the Lynnwood Police Department communications manager, Maren Mckay, notes it was a well-organized operation." The heist was free from any fingerprints that would expose the culprits' identity. As the investigation is still ongoing as of writing, the police refused to release the security footage of the Apple Store incident. Related Article: Woman Freaks Out at Apple Store After Being Told to Wait in Long Line @YouTube @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The meeting held by the Northern Ireland Womens Rights Network in the Errigle Inn An English beer brand has cut ties with a Belfast bar after it was identified as the venue where a secret screening of a documentary exploring the clash between womens rights and trans ideology took place. The Northern Ireland Womens Rights Network shared a picture of the International Womens Day event which was attended by dozens of people at the beginning of last month on social media. The group kept the location of the sold out screening of Adult Human Female a secret to protect the venue and those in the audience. However, the Errigle Inn on the Ormeau Road was identified as the host pub by a user on Twitter. It is claimed the brewery in question will no longer be providing beer to the Errigle Inn. The supplier, Cloudwater Brew Co which has a Queer Brewing guest range of canned products, was contacted for comment on its commercial decision. But the Belfast Telegraph understands the impact on the pub will be minimal. A spokesperson for the Errigle Inn said it did not know the 92-minute film at the centre of the row was being screened at the venue. Our attention has been drawn to the content of a film screened by a group who booked our private function room at the beginning of March under an individuals own name, they said. "We understand that the screening of this film has caused offence. We take bookings for private functions and groups on a regular basis, from corporate organisations, charities and community groups. We are very proud of our long-standing reputation as an inclusive local venue where everyone is welcome. The documentary directed by Deirdre O'Neill and Mike Wayne claims to be the first in the UK to look at the clash between women's rights and trans ideology and warns that the transgender movement has captured big institutions in record time. The police, the political parties, the media, the universities and major corporations have taken up the cause in the name of inclusiveness, the website states. But is it really harmless when men identify into the female sex? Is it progressive for doctors to modify the bodies of young people in the name of changing their gender? The film highlights dissenters who have been cast as haters and cancelled and claims that the issue goes beyond defending womens rights. "At risk is safeguarding for children and young people, biological reality, reason and even democracy, the website continues. Reality denial comes at a price. The fallout has divided social media users with many threatening to boycott the pub where the film was screened on March 4. But others have expressed alarm at activists trying to destroy a business because it didnt interrogate customers about their personal and political beliefs before hiring out its venue. A celebration of the life of economist John Simpson OBE has recalled his remarkable contribution to public life in Northern Ireland. Mr Simpson, who died last month aged 90, was an economist, writer and Belfast Telegraph contributor who also filled a vast array of public sector, voluntary sector and academic roles. Tributes were paid by his daughter Joanne Elliott, his friends Sir Des Rea and Professor Ken ONeill, and Canon Nigel Baylor at the service of thanksgiving in St Patricks Church, Jordanstown. Sir Des described a litany of roles held by Mr Simpson over the years, including chairman of the Eastern Health and Social Services Board, chair of Bryson House and the Probation Board and an executive position at the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools. He said his media career had begun in 1965 as an expert on the economic development plan devised by the NI government led by Prime Minister Terence ONeill. Mr Simpson, who was also a keen sailor, continued to write for the Belfast Telegraph and was working on the annual Top 100 Companies magazine until just before his death. A booklet at the thanksgiving service for the life of John Simpson OBE Of his time at the Eastern Health Board, Sir Des said: He asked the critical questions, the questions that keep recurring in NI today about how we go about our healthcare. He did it so conscientiously. Mr Simpson had also worked extensively overseas, with his first job as a statistics officer for the Federation of Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. He then served in its army and was later a visiting expert at the Central Bank of Sierra Leone and the Central Bank of Malta. Mr Simpson had chaired the North Belfast Housing Association and remaining on its board until his death. He was also an outstanding arbitrator for the NI Labour Relations Agency, Sir Des said, sitting on a panel the week before his admission to hospital last month. And he had continued to enjoy making his contributions to the Belfast Telegraph, which Sir Des described as Mr Simpsons old friend. His media career flourished to the point where he was producing and presenting his own TV and radio show. Later, he continued to make frequent appearances on BBC and UTV. "This part of of his life he found the most rewarding, Sir Des said. He wrote a weekly company report for the Belfast Telegraph and was actually working on his years Top 100 feature just prior to going into hospital. He added: John will be sadly missed by so many on this province but above all by his daughters and wider family He will also be missed by so many more within this province for his contribution to public life. Thank you, John. A booklet at the thanksgiving service for the life of John Simpson OBE Prof Ken ONeill said his friend prepared to speak truth to power and for that, he was widely respected. "An abiding memory of mine was how civil servants and ministers made sure to read his weekly Belfast Telegraph and made sure they had it safely filed for reference. "His legacy will be long-lasting and truly missed as an economist, a gentleman and a friend. Canon Baylor recalled Mr Simpsons upbringing in the Methodist Church and the influence of his father Vivian, a member of the NI Labour Party who became the MP for Old Park in the Northern Ireland Parliament. "John was the son of someone who could think for himself and stand out from the crowd and this probably created a very independent streak in him that lasted his lifetime. "Ive heard of Vivian Simpson has a very, very fine man who contributed a lot he stood up for the people of the Oldpark Road in no uncertain terms and that must have had an impact on John in his lifetime. He also joked about the erudition Mr Simpson displayed with a knowledge so vast that his grandsons Ryan and Connor would quip: Granddad knows everything, and if he doesn't, he can make up something, real fast. Canon Baylor said: "Youve heard about a very impressive man who made a huge contribution to Northern Ireland that was so good, so important, and will be remembered... He had time for others and took the broader picture, not the narrow picture, which is so necessary. Mr Simpson is survived by his daughters Joanne and Susan and grandsons Ryan and Connor. Tanaiste and Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin has called for a Northern Ireland Executive to be formed without delay as he addressed a business event in Belfast. Mr Martin said that as the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement approaches, it remained the foundation for building a thriving future or Northern Ireland, the island of Ireland and across these islands. The former Taoiseach was addressing 450 businesspeople at the annual presidents lunch of the Belfast Chamber in the Crowne Plaza Hotel. He said he believed Northern Ireland was at the start of a new chapter but that a return to local government was required. It is incontrovertible that the people of Northern Ireland are best served by their elected representatives returning to the Assembly, forming an Executive and operating fully the North South Ministerial Council. This should happen without delay. He said US President Joe Bidens visit to both sides of the border next week was hugely welcome. And he thanked NI business people for their role in the implementation of the NI Protocol, the controversial post-Brexit trading agreement which has kept an open border on the island of Ireland. However, it has introduced trading frictions between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, leading to the DUPs boycott of power sharing. However, Mr Martin said the voice of business throughout had been consistent and constructive and that they had established trust. He called the Windsor Framework, which has been agreed between the UK and EU to replace the protocol, a comprehensive response to the real life, practical concerns raised by businesses and people in Northern Ireland. Most importantly, however, the Framework is an opportunity for Northern Ireland. Your message, supported by other stakeholders in civic society, by political representatives, by consumers, was clear and consistent. Northern Ireland needs stability and certainty. The Windsor Framework provides this. It will allow Northern Ireland business to continue to access the EU Single Market. It protects Northern Irelands place in the UK internal market, ensuring that the same food and medicines will be available here in Belfast as in Birmingham. And it gives Northern Irelands political representatives and stakeholders a greater say in how the arrangements will apply in the future. This unique access to both markets is a massive opportunity - to attract investment, create jobs, provide stability and grow the economy. I believe this opportunity needs to be firmly grasped. Now that the Framework has been formally adopted by the EU and the UK, it is important that it is implemented in good faith and can start delivering for people in Northern Ireland. The endorsement of the Windsor Framework should provide momentum towards early restoration of all institutions of the Good Friday Agreement. Belfast Chamber president Alana Coyle told the audience that a restored Executive is essential for NIs future economic success. She said: Recent political events and the upcoming presidential visit have once again thrust this tiny corner of the world into the international spotlight. "We have been reminded that we may be small, but we are perfectly positioned. We are located on the edge of Europe, but we are still very much at the centre of things. And that helps us remember that looking beyond Belfast to markets outside of Northern Ireland will be at the centre of Belfasts future economic success. And she said that investors were likely to scratch their heads when they see that the missing ingredient in Belfast is a government making decisions and generating stability. Matthew Howse, dispute resolution and litigation partner at law firm Eversheds Sutherland Belfast, which was supporting the event, added: As the largest and most established international law firm on the island of Ireland, we were encouraged to hear the positive remarks from Tanaiste Micheal Martin as we approach the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and how we can work together on all-island basis to harness the full potential of the Northern Irish economy." Daisy Ridley attending the Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Premiere at Cineworld, Leicester Square, London. Ian West Daisy Ridley will reprise her role as the Jedi Knight Rey in a new live-action Star Wars film, it has been announced. The film, directed by Ms Marvels Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, will be set after the events of 2019s Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker, and see Rey build a new Jedi Order after the apparent defeat of the dark forces in her last movie. This is one of three upcoming films from the franchise, confirmed by Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy on stage at the Star Wars Celebration event in London on Friday. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content James Mangold, who is known for directing superhero movie Logan and is also behind the highly anticipated Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny, will direct a film that will focus on the dawn of the Jedi. Bringing in the interconnected stories from three of the live-action Disney+ series, The Mandalorian, The Book Of Boba Fett and Ahsoka, is director Dave Filoni. He will focus on the development of the New Republic, which rises after the destruction of the Galactic Empire and Darth Vader in Star Wars: Episode VI Return Of The Jedi. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan with Kathleen Kennedy and two Stormtroopers as they attend the Star Wars Celebration at New City Hall, London (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Jordan Pettitt Ridley, who appeared on stage wearing a red dress, also played Rey in 2015s Star Wars: The Force Awakens and 2017s Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The films also saw appearances of the characters from the original films including the late Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia, Harrison Ford as Han Solo and Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker. They focused on how Leia and Hans son, Kylo Ren, had been corrupted by the dark side of the force and The First Order supreme leader Snoke as Rey saw her power grow and develop as a Jedi and continued her friendship with John Boyegas former stormtrooper Finn. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Elsewhere, a trailer showing Rosario Dawson in the title role of Ahsoka, written by Filoni, has also been unveiled by Disney+ and Lucasfilm. The clip teases the August release of the series which will overlap with the events of The Mandalorian that also sees the appearance of the Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano and is set after the fall of the Empire in the original trilogy of films. Ahsoka says in the teaser: Somethings coming, something dark, I can sense it as lightsabre battles and starship fights are also seen. A synopsis said Ahsoka is set to investigate an emerging threat to a vulnerable galaxy. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The series will also reportedly star Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren, Eman Esfandi as Ezra Bridger, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla and David Tennant as Huyang. The characters had appeared in other animated series such as Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars Forces Of Destiny and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Ahsoka is also set to see the return of Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, otherwise known as Darth Vader, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Another new Star Wars series, The Acolyte, created by Russian Dolls Leslye Headland, will also be released on Disney+ in 2024. The lead roles will be portrayed by Amandla Stenberg, who starred in The Hunger Games, and Squid Game actor Lee Jung-Jae. The story sees a former padawan reunite with her Jedi master. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content At the event, Russian Doll star Charlie Barnett said on stage that the show would be set during the High Republic Era, which saw a golden age for the Jedi Order before the events of 1999s Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace. The 35-year-old actor added: So it kind of like, makes it a little bit more free (as) were coming into a place that isnt established. Manny Jacinto, Jodie Turner-Smith, Rebecca Henderson, Dafne Keen, Dean-Charles Chapman and Joonas Suotamo who first took over from the late Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca in Star Wars: The Force Awakens also appeared on stage as they were also confirmed among the cast. Russian Doll actress Henderson also said she was wearing the robes of the Jedi while in the peacekeeping organisations temple, as she teased what the story would be about. Health & Wellbeing Me and my Health: Everything in moderation is the best attitude to have towards food Chief Constable says 300 cops from Britain will be drafted in to help policing effort here over the next fortnight Thirty-seven officers have quit the PSNI in the last four weeks, piling even more pressure on the force ahead of one of the busiest months in its existence. During yesterdays Policing Board meeting Chief Constable Simon Byrne said 300 extra officers from across the UK will be deployed here in April to help the overall policing operation, which is expected to cost around 7 million. Mr Byrne also said it is expected officers will be drawn into possible gun and bomb attacks by dissident republicans in the next few weeks. The policing effort will oversee US President Joe Bidens visit next week, the expected arrival of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, as well as other events marking the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. There are also 90 notified Easter parades, and the Chief Constable said the PSNI expects several unnotified parades to take place, which may include paramilitary shows of strength. As well as these events, there are also a number of Irish League games between today and Wednesday, a high-profile Cyber UK conference in Belfast, and a Belfast Giants All-Star game against Dnipro Kherson. Commenting on the terrorist threat level, which was increased to severe last month, Mr Byrne said it comes at a time of unprecedented policing demand. Reflecting on the normal attrition of events and people since we last sat here, another 37 officers have left policing, he revealed. So not only are we dealing with more, were doing it increasingly with less. After careful assessment, weve decided that in order to maximise the safety of our officers and staff and the wider community, it is necessary to increase our operational capacity immediately. Mr Byrne said the PSNI has now initiated Operation Inspire, which will redeploy officers in an effort to prevent terrorist attacks and increase patrol visibility. This is the first time in a number of years that weve had to activate this plan and its a reflection of the quite difficult and exceptional circumstances we find ourselves in, he added. Operation Inspire will last for 10 days before a review takes place. The policing operation will be significant and our role is to facilitate all of these events in a safe way and provide protection to the variety of visitors, and also to keep the venues safe, said Mr Byrne. We do not have the capacity to resource all of this ourselves given the competing requests were dealing with. Im grateful to colleagues from across UK policing that have now provided in the region of 300 officers that will be based here over the next two weeks to provide specialist support services to help police some of our operation. He said all of this months events will drain resources available for day-to-day policing and put additional cost pressure on our already stretched budget. We assess it will be in the region of 7m to police the events over the next few days, but that cost may change as we get more clarity, he added. Expecting to relax in some Easter sunshine? You could have already missed your best opportunity to do so. Friday turned out to be good in every sense, but along with Saturday, it is set to be the best day, weather-wise, of the Easter break. While not exactly T-shirt weather, Easter Saturday will be pleasant. However, things are likely to take a turn for the worse before the end of the weekend. But it could be a case of trying to dodge the showers on Easter Monday and Tuesday as more changeable weather arrives, while there could even be a risk of localised thunder, according to the Met Office. That doesnt bode well for the visit of US President Joe Biden, due to arrive in Northern Ireland on Tuesday. And anyone hoping to head into Belfast city centre to watch the president open the new Ulster University campus expected to take place on Wednesday, before he heads to the Republic of Ireland will need to bring an umbrella and hold on to it tightly. Its likely hes going to get wet, said Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud of the weather forecast for next week, when many will be looking forward to a few days off work and schools continue their Easter break. Saturday is the day to head to the seaside. Temperatures will be in the mid-teens after a hazy start, but it should be rather nice by lunchtime. Therell be a bit of a build-up of cloud in the afternoon, but nothing to worry about. Dan said Easter Sunday will start off reasonably, but there will soon be a noticeable drop in temperatures as the winds freshen from the west. Easter Sunday will see a change. As the day goes on therell be more showers about and the temperatures will be cooler, the wind getting stronger. Itll still be OK if you manage to avoid the showers, but some of them could be locally heavy, if youre unluckily caught. The west of Northern Ireland, coming in from Donegal, will see the rain first, but it will spread across the country during the afternoon. Easter Monday is always a traditional family day out, as seaside resorts open for the summer season. Thousands head to Portrush and Portstewart, while further-south towns, such as Bangor and Newcastle, always see an uplift in visitors. This Easter the weather might not be so kind. Were keeping a very close eye on a low-pressure system forming out in the Atlantic, said Dan. The further we head into next week, the more likely well be getting wet and windy conditions coming in across the country from off the west coast of Ireland. Summers not here yet. The best advice for anyone who does want to get out of the house and enjoy a day out and about around the country is to get out there today, possibly Sunday. Top officer also acknowledges public unease after torching of vehicle outside PSNI station Police watch on as houses are boarded up in the Weavers Grange area of Newtownards: Photo by Kevin Scott Kevin Scott Policing the loyalist feud in north Down has cost the PSNI 75,000 in just three weeks. Officers have maintained a presence in the area since the violence broke out between a faction of the South East Antrim UDA and members of a group calling itself the North Down UDA. To date 13 people have been arrested, eight have been charged, and one has been reported to the Public Prosecution Service. Meanwhile, more than 30 families have left Newtownards since the feud began. Providing an update on the policing operation in the area, Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton told the Policing Board on Thursday it had been a week since the last attack in the area but were absolutely not complacent about that. Since March 22, however, a number of homes have been attacked, many of which were occupied at the time, he added. Houses have been attacked with pipe bombs, petrol bombs and other implements. Whilst these attacks have reputedly been focused on members of rival gangs, at the time of the attacks there have been children in the houses, and in fact some of the attacks have happened at the homes of innocent parties who have either been identified through mistaken identity or the recklessness of those involved. He said more than 50 individuals had been subject to some form of threat during the feud, which has created a large policing operation. Police watch on as houses are boarded up in the Weavers Grange area of Newtownards: Photo by Kevin Scott Kevin Scott Read more UDA feud: Masked men strip murals and plaques from walls of Newtownards estate He also revealed a firelighter was used by two men to set a car alight outside Dundonald PSNI station on Sunday after its owner failed to collect it. The BMW X5 was seized in connection with the feud last Friday after officers arrested four men following a disturbance at a shopping centre in Newtownards. The vehicle was parked just yards from the main entrance gates to the station when it was torched. Mr Singleton said the BMW was seized to facilitate a search by specialist officers and a dog unit, and two males were involved in the blaze, one of whom should be identifiable by CCTV images. Following criticism of police following the incident, Mr Singleton said he accepts the perception about how this was played out, and it was a massive frustration after the work to arrest the four males. He added police believe it was not an attempt to destroy evidence, but an incident between the two gangs. He explained that on completion of the search, arrangements were made with the owner, who was one of the four males arrested and still in custody at the time, to collect it. It was agreed by both parties to place it outside the police station in the expectation it would be lifted in the near future. However, the BMW was not collected on Friday evening or Saturday. It was targeted in the early hours of Sunday. The incident itself is being treated as arson and is being investigated by detectives from our Bangor CID office and the CCTV imagery will provide us with a very strong line of inquiry in terms of taking this investigation forward, said Mr Singleton. Revealing the cost so far in policing the feud had reached 75,000, Chief Constable Simon Byrne said the issues around the attack on the vehicle were being reviewed, but the job of the security staff at Dundonald are to protect the police station, not the parking bay outside. The BMW X5 outside Dundonald PSNI station: Picture by Kevin Scott Kevin Scott I think weve explained this morning that there were two attempts, which were effectively not responded to, for the owner to come and collect the vehicle, he added. There were other choices, which included impounding it, which would have incurred a cost to the third party. Meanwhile, Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan also provided details of the work carried out by the Paramilitary Crime Task Force (PCTF) since January 1. This did not include the loyalist feud. Fifty-two searches, 19 arrests, 17 charges and 14 reports were initiated, along with 17 drug seizure incidents with a combined estimated street value of 107,000. Seven firearms were seized, there was one ammunition seizure, and approximately 79,000 worth of cash was recovered. I think you can see from that we are determined to do our bit in diminishing these peoples ability to control and cause harm in our communities, but in regard to this particular incident [in north Down], we are treating them as two drug gangs, which is what they are, said Mr McEwan. A California Dermatologist was captured poisoning her husband's tea Dr. Yue Emily Yu was charged with four felony crimes If convicted of all allegations, she could spend more than eight years in prison A grand jury indicted a California dermatologist for allegedly poisoning her husband with liquid drain cleaner, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office. According to a press release issued on Wednesday, Yue "Emily" Yu, 46, has been indicted on three felony counts of poisoning and one felony of domestic battery with corporal injury. California Dermatologist Indicted on Charges of Poisoning Yu's counsel Scott Simmons states that his client will enter a not-guilty plea. He claims the spouse orchestrated these events to gain an advantage over Yu in divorce court. Jack Chen, the physician husband of Yu, stated in court documents that he was poisoned with a liquid cleanser and that she attempted to murder him. According to the district attorney's office, Chen installed cameras in the kitchen after detecting a peculiar flavor in his drink to capture evidence as to why his drink tasted strange. On three separate occasions, Chen has videos of Yu "pouring Draino from beneath our kitchen sink into my lemonade." Per CNN, Chen stated in one of the recordings that his heated lemonade was wrapped in plastic. According to him, the video depicts Yu "removing the Draino from under the sink, removing the cellophane to discharge the Draino, and then replacing the cellophane and replacing the Draino." According to the district attorney's office, Chen collected and turned over beverage samples to the Irvine Police Department. The FBI subsequently tested the samples and determined that the substance was consistent with liquid drain cleaner. According to authorities, the substance caused the victim to develop gastrointestinal ulcers. CBS Los Angeles reports that Chen's attorney claims hours of concealed camera footage are available to prove their case and that Chen is now recovering from his ulcers. "Our residences should be where we feel the safest," said Todd Spitzer, district attorney of Orange County. Yet, a licensed medical professional took advantage of her husband's daily rituals to afflict him by adding a Drano-like substance to his tea to cause him agony and suffering. The indictment requires Yu to self-report to the Medical Board of California, which will determine whether she will be allowed to continue practicing medicine. Attorneys stated that "Drano is not an undercover poison. It has a pungent odor and taste and is extremely caustic," She is "looking forward to her day in court when the truth will be revealed." District Attorney Todd Spitzer of Orange County stated that Yu intentionally devastated her husband's sense of security by tormenting him with poison without his knowledge. Read Also: 'John Wick' Star Lance Reddick Cause of Death, Revealed Yue 'Emily' Yu Reported Abuses Husband, Children for Years Chen's attorney, Steve Hittleman, said that the father had guardianship of the couple's children and was delighted to learn of the indictment. According to court documents, after his wife's arrest in August, Chen claimed she had abused him and their children for years, at one point telling the children to "go die." Chen wrote in a court document seeking a restraining order against his wife that when Emily becomes angry and screams at the children, she frequently uses a Chinese phrase that translates to "go die." After Yu's detention, she was released on a $30,000 surety, and Chen filed a restraining order against her, as per Daily Mail. No motive has emerged for the horrific crime. Yu, an employee of the Mission Viejo-based Providence Healthcare system, has had her professional photograph removed from her employer's website. Chen stated that he and Yu met in 2011 and were married on July 4, 2012. Chen asserted that his wife's behavior altered after the birth of their now-aged seven-year-old and eight-year-old children in 2013 and 2014, respectively. He also asserted that Yu's mother, Yuqin 'Amy' Gu, verbally and physically assaulted their children. Chen did seek medical attention after becoming unwell but could not specify whether a blood test disclosed the presence of the poison in his bloodstream. Due to the integrity of the case, the contamination occurred over time. Related Article: Cash App Founder Bob Lee Killer: San Francisco Police Release Update @YouTube @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Detectives from the PSNI who are assisting colleagues in An Garda Siochana with the investigation into the murder of a woman in her 20s in Limerick have arrested a 26-year-old man of suspicion of murder. He has been taken to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite for questioning. Gardai in Limerick are continuing to investigate the fatal assault of a woman that occurred at 1.30pm on Tuesday, April 4 at a residential property on Dock Road in Limerick City. Investigating Gardai said they are aware that Detectives from the PSNI Serious Crime branch have arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of murder. "Detectives based at the Garda incident room at Henry Street Garda Station remain in close contact with our colleagues in the Police Service of Northern Ireland at this time. The Garda Technical Bureau is continuing with their examination of two scenes in Limerick, a spokesperson added. Gardai continue to appeal to any person who has information that can assist with this investigation to contact them at Henry Street Garda Station on 061 212 400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. An update will follow in due course. The PSNI has warned motorists to expect traffic disruption in Belfast on Tuesday and Wednesday ahead of the much anticipated visit from US President Joe Biden. Mr Biden is expected to only make stop at Ulster Universitys Belfast campus as part of events to mark the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, according to the BBC. However, despite the scale of events planned for his arrival, the PSNI said they are engaging with local communities and businesses who may be impacted. We are putting in place an appropriate policing operation for the visit of President Biden to Northern Ireland next week, the PSNI said in a statement. "We are engaging with local communities and business who may be impacted. "We are also working to develop effective traffic and crowd management plans that will help to keep disruption to a minimum. "There will be traffic disruption on Tuesday and Wednesday and will we continue to provide further updates. Parts of the city centre are expected to be closed off during the presidential visit with motorists likely to be advised next week to plan or seek alternative routes when travelling. Mr Biden is expected to leave Northern Ireland by early afternoon and travel to the Republic of Ireland where he will be making stops in Co Mayo, Louth before arriving in Dublin. People from across Northern Ireland's divided communities come together at one of the region's most notorious peace walls, at Northumberland Street in west Belfast, to mark the anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement (Pic: Colm Lenaghan/ Pacemaker) People from across Northern Ireland's divided communities come together at one of the region's most notorious peace walls, at Northumberland Street in west Belfast, to mark the anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement (Pic: Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker) People from across Northern Ireland's divided communities come together at one of the region's most notorious peace walls, at Northumberland Street in west Belfast, to mark the anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement (Pic: Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker) People from across Northern Ireland's divided communities come together at one of the region's most notorious peace walls, at Northumberland Street in west Belfast, to mark the anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement (Pic: Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker) A priest and a pastor meet at a peace wall. It sounds like the start of a bad local joke, but its what happened on Good Friday morning, when Pastor Jack McKee and Father Paddy McCafferty met for a peace-building event at the dividing gates of Northumberland Street. Mr McKee and his New Life City Church organised a human peace wall, which saw residents from the Falls and Shankill Roads join arms through the divide, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Throughout the event, he repeated that this day is not about religion or politics, it is about coming together as one. Mr McKee, often referred to as the pastor on the Shankill, actually spent his early years living in the largely Catholic/nationalist Ballymurphy area of west Belfast. It is where Fr McCafferty is now the parish priest at Corpus Christi Church. Ironically, he too grew up across the community divide in the predominantly Protestant/unionist area of Rathcoole in Newtownabbey. Both mens families moved homes during their childhoods due to the Troubles and sectarian intimidation. Today marked the first time they have met in person, after previously connecting with each other on social media. Human peace wall brings Father Paddy McCafferty and Pastor Jack McKee together in person for first time Read more Sons of John Hume and David Trimble speak of fathers sacrifices for peace deal Situated right on the peace line, Mr McKee said his evangelical church welcomes all members. Most of what we do is cross-community outreach, he said. Its important that we find ways to reach out to the other side so that we dont continue to see each other as the other side. We often talk about communities. Were one community; we just happen to be divided. Fr McCafferty agreed: We are a very broken and wounded community, a traumatised community, and the suffering is the same for the so-called two sides. We have to help each other. What our people came through is horrific. The community needs to be healed. Whilst acknowledging that Northern Ireland has come far since the Good Friday Agreement, both men expressed hope that paramilitaries and disorder can be totally obliterated over the next quarter-century. Hopefully its still not about politics and still not about religion, and there are more people genuinely working together, Mr McKee continued. We, sadly, are still talking about the ongoing violence, because there are those who havent gone away and still control our communities. We want them to disappear off the scene. Hopefully the next 25 years will achieve that. Fr McCafferty added: We dont need these shadowy figures who are still kneecapping people, still dealing drugs, still causing havoc. Referring to the fatal shooting of Sean Fox in a west Belfast social club last year, he noted: I did a funeral last October of a man who was murdered in cold blood in front of people in a club up the road. These people are not welcome. They need to repent. Nearby to the church on Northumberland Street is Glow NI, a charity that seeks to empower women and young girls through personal development and mental health programmes. Rachel Creagh (27) and her son, Peadar James One of its workers, Rachel Creagh, also attended Fridays Human Peace Wall event and took her 15-month-old son, Peadar James, to watch. Originally from the Antrim Road, she said that all she wants for her child is a peaceful future. All I know is my parents struggled through the Troubles. They were from Ardoyne, she explained. My mummy was burned out of her house when she was a young girl. My daddy was actually a reporter, so hes been in all sorts of situations. They've brought me up very neutral. To me, Catholic and Protestants none of it really matters and it never will. Her colleague Natasha Kane hopes that by the 50th anniversary of the agreement, the Northumberland peace divisions will be entirely removed. These gates are still a barrier and a reminder of the Troubles. Younger ones who never experienced any violence, or didnt know about it, its just a massive reminder for them every day. When trouble does kick off, thats the first place they go to. Natasha Kane, project co-ordinator at Glow NI Many more events took place on Friday to mark the Good Friday Agreement anniversary on April 10. Through the Wave Trauma Centre, some victims and survivors gathered on the beach at Killough in Co Down to watch the sun rise. Josephine McAteers father, Gabriel Wiggins, was shot dead by loyalists. Everybody wants to live in peace, she said. We just have to agree. If we could all agree on one thing it would be peace. Let the orange and green go. Watching the sun come up is hope for new beginnings. Alan McBride, whose wife and father-in-law were both killed in the 1993 IRA Shankill bomb in Belfast, added: It was incredible being here with all these people, Catholic and Protestant, unionist and nationalist, republican and loyalist. We have all lost people. To look out at the sea and see the sun come up that is the vision of the Good Friday Agreement, people standing together. A woman has been threatened by three masked men armed with a gun in north Belfast. The intruders forced their way inside the property in the Hillman Street area at around 8.15pm on Tuesday. However, it was only reported to police on Thursday evening. A dog inside the property was struck with a flick baton during the incident. The female, aged in her 50s, escaped physical injury. PSNI Detective Sergeant Ash said: The male armed with the suspected firearm is described as being aged between 40-45 years old, 57 in height and of short, stocky build. "He is described as wearing a navy coat with the hood pulled over his head and a dark coloured snood around his face. "The second man is described as being around 60 in height, aged between 40-45 years old and of heavy build. "He is described as wearing a green, waist-length army style coat, blue jeans black snood and black hoodie under the coat. "He is described as being armed with a flick baton. "The third man is described as of slim build, in his mid 20s and about 58 in height. He is described as wearing a black tracksuit, black snood and a hood pulled tightly over his face. Enquiries are continuing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and we would appeal to anyone with any information to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 1807 06/04/23. Jeremy Renner says he has no regrets about serious snowplough accident (PA) Daniel Leal-Olivas Jeremy Renner has said he has no regrets about his serious snowplough accident earlier this year, and would do it again to save his nephew. The Marvel star, 52, said he was so grateful and forever in debt to those who had helped him in the aftermath of the incident, which took place near his US home on January 1. Renner was crushed by his own six-tonne snowploughing machine as he tried to help his nephew, Alexander Fries, free another vehicle. He was later air-lifted to hospital in Reno, Nevada, with significant injuries, that included over 30 broken bones. The Marvel star, 52, said he was so grateful and forever in debt to those who had helped him in the aftermath of the incident (PA) Ian West In an exclusive interview with journalist Diane Sawyer, broadcast on US network ABC on Thursday, he recalled the incident and detailed his ongoing physical and mental recovery. He told Sawyer he had been a dummy for stepping out of the vehicle while it was moving, saying: It was my mistake, and I paid for it. Asked if he remembered the pain, he replied: Oh yeah, I was awake through every moment. Its exactly like you imagined it would feel Its hard to imagine what that feels like It felt like someone took the wind out of you. Too many things are going on (in) the body to feel. Pain is everything its like if your soul could feel pain. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Recalling his thoughts at the time of the incident he continued: I said, Oh, that (leg), that ones really messed up that legs (going to) be a problem. (Im thinking) Whats my body (going to) look like? Am I just gonna be like a spine and a brain like a science experiment? But Renner added that he refused to be haunted by the incident, despite being triggered by the painful memories of what had occurred. Yeah, no regrets. I would do it again, he said. I refuse to have that be a trauma and it be a negative experience. That is a man Im proud of because I wouldnt let that happen to my nephew. So shift the narrative of being victimised or making a mistake or anything else. I refuse to be f****** haunted by that memory that way. The special programme also included parts of the 911 call made following the incident, as well as footage of Renner in hospital and physical therapy, with doctors praising both his physical and mental strength. The actor said he had used sign language to say Im sorry to his family because he felt bad his own actions had caused so much pain. I did that to them, its my responsibility you know? I felt bad that my actions had caused so much pain, he told Sawyer. This is what I talk to my family about from all their perspectives, which are horrifying, that I put upon them. What we just endured. Thats real love. Its suffering but that feeds the seeds of what love is. Becoming emotional he went on to describe how he had also written down what he believed might be his last words to his family while at the hospital. Dont let me live on tubes on a machine on drugs and painkillers. Just let me go now, he said. Renner has since returned to his Los Angeles home to continue his recovery, keeping fans updated on social media. Ms Fletcher said she had felt as though she had lost him for a second as she cradled the actors head in the snow and watched him turn a grey-green colour. I really felt he had passed away for a few seconds, she said. Speaking to the pair on the phone, Renner told them: It took an army to keep this old sucker alive and Im so grateful and forever in debt. If I was alone, if no one was there, Id be dead in front of your place. Renner has vowed to return to public life soon, and recently announced a new show on Disney+, Rennervations, in which he helps re-purpose used vehicles to help struggling communities. When asked about returning to do stunts as a Marvel superhero, he laughed and replied: Im okay with a stunt guy doing it. Im 52 Ive done enough. Ive lost a lot of flesh and bone in this experience, but Ive been refuelled and refilled with love and titanium. Israeli police stand around a car involved in an attack in Tel Aviv (AP) Ariel Schalit Two British-Israeli sisters were killed and their mother badly injured in a gun attack on their car in the West Bank. The attack took place near an Israeli settlement in the Jordan Valley and the girls father witnessed the incident from a separate car following behind, local officials said. In London, the Foreign Office confirmed the deaths and appealed for all sides in the Israel-Palestine dispute to de-escalate a situation which has seen violence flare up in recent days. There was further bloodshed in Tel Aviv, as Britons were reportedly among those injured when a car rammed into a group of people near a popular seaside park. An Italian man was killed in the attack, but reports suggested Britons were among six people injured. Israeli security forces examine the scene of a shooting near the Israeli settlement of Hamra in West Bank at the Jordan Valley (AP) Nasser Nasser The family of the two sisters killed in the West Bank were residents of the Efrat settlement, near the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, according to Oded Revivi, the settlements mayor. He said: With great sorrow we received an update on a shocking terrorist attack in which terrorists shot a car including a mother and her two daughters, residents of Efrat. The two girls were murdered and the mother is in (a) critical condition and we all pray for her quick recovery. The father of the family who drove in another car from the front turned around and witnessed the efforts to take care of his wife and daughters. A Foreign Office spokesman said: We are saddened to hear about the deaths of two British-Israeli citizens and the serious injuries sustained by a third individual. Two Israeli border police officers are deployed to keep order while Palestinians cross from the West Bank into Jerusalem, for the third Fridays Ramadan prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound (AP) Nasser Nasser The UK calls for all parties across the region to de-escalate tensions. Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said: I am shocked by reports of the killing of two British sisters in an appalling and cowardly attack in the West Bank. My thoughts are with their family and loved ones. More civilian victims of this cycle of violence show the urgent need for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly had earlier called for calm after Israel launched strikes in southern Lebanon and bombed targets in the Gaza Strip in retaliation over rocket attacks. The cross-border fighting, while Jews are celebrating the Passover holiday and Muslims are marking Ramadan, erupted following violent scenes at Jerusalems Al-Aqsa Mosque. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon came after militants fired nearly three dozen rockets from there. The Israeli military said it targeted installations of the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Lebanon. Mr Cleverly said both sides in the Israel-Palestine dispute should recommit themselves to a negotiated settlement. Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike in central Gaza Strip on Friday (AP) Fatima Shbair He said: The UK condemns the indiscriminate rocket attacks from southern Lebanon and Gaza and recognises Israels right to self-defence. Now is the time for all parties across the region to de-escalate tensions. At the convergence of Passover, Ramadan and Easter, the UK calls for all parties to respect the historic status quo arrangements at Jerusalems holy sites and cease all provocative action. The UK is a strong supporter of freedom of religion or belief and calls for places of worship to be respected. We value Jordans important role as custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem and condemns the Israeli police violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. When Israeli security forces conduct operations, they must ensure they are proportionate and in accordance with international law. In Jerusalem, violence flared again at the Al-Aqsa Mosque before dawn prayers, with Israeli police stationed at one of the gates forcibly dispersing vast crowds of worshippers who chanted praise for Hamas. Human rights campaign group Amnesty International UK criticised Mr Cleverlys response. The charitys Kristyan Benedict said: James Cleverlys belated response to shocking Israeli violence against Palestinians at Al-Aqsa Mosque isnt just weak and tokenistic its also dangerously misguided because it effectively isolates individual incidents of violence from the overall context, which is decades of apartheid, occupation and systematic injustice against the Palestinian people. Despite the Foreign Secretarys usual platitudes about peace and de-escalation, the UK continues to oppose vital international measures such as the ongoing ICC (International Criminal Court) investigation, designed to bring justice and accountability for Israeli and Palestinian civilians. Glorious sunshine could make Easter Sunday the warmest day of the year so far (Ben Birchall/PA) Ben Birchall Glorious sunshine and temperatures as high as 18C could make Easter Sunday the warmest day of the year so far. Forecasters said high pressure moving across the UK has timed itself nicely, with sunny days expected over the bank holiday weekend. At 18C the country could be warmer than some Greek islands including Santorini, Mykonos and Crete where people may have flocked on their Easter holidays. The Met Office warned Britons not to underestimate the strength of the sun, with UV levels as strong as the back end of summer, carrying the risk of sunburn. UV levels are as strong as they are in late summer, forecasters said (Ben Birchall/PA) Ben Birchall However, rain will arrive in Northern Ireland on Sunday, before sweeping across the rest of the country on Bank Holiday Monday, which is described as the day to do anything you want indoors. Craig Snell, a Met Office forecaster, told the PA news agency: Saturday is going to be another fine day for the vast majority. However, some of the eastern coast of Scotland and north-eastern England will remain disappointingly grey. Inland, the sun will be shining for a lot of the UK and its going to be a relatively reasonable Saturday out there; temperature-wise in the sunshine it will feel pleasantly warm, reaching as high as 17C in some parts. Then on Easter Sunday for a good chunk of the UK its going to be fairly reasonable, the only place well probably see a change is Northern Ireland where itll turn increasingly breezy, cloudy and eventually damp. But for the most part it will be fairly sunny and temperatures may peak at around 18C so, pleasantly warm out there. Parts of the country will be warmer than some Greek islands (Ben Birchall/PA) Ben Birchall That would set a new warmest day for 2023, exceeding the current highest temperature of 17.8C on March 30 in the village of Santon Downham, Suffolk. It comes as an estimated two million British holidaymakers are heading overseas during the Easter bank holiday weekend, according to travel trade organisation Abta, which calculated the figure. Mr Snell went on: Its a bank holiday weekend, so the weather has timed itself nicely really because it looks like its going to turn wet and windy as we go into next week. People can enjoy the early spring sunshine, but even though its not really warm the sun is still strong its as strong as it is towards the back end of summer now. Just be careful if youre out for a long time, you can easily get sunburned out there. This time of year catches a lot of people out. But its not going to last too long Monday is certainly going to be that day of change, as low pressure starts to dominate the scene. With blustery showers its the day to do anything you want indoors. Smoke rises from a fire after rockets fired from Lebanon struck Bezet, northern Israel (Fadi Amun/AP) Fadi Amun By Isabel Debre and Sam McNeil, Associated Press By Isabel Debre and Sam McNeil, Associated Press PA Media The Israeli military has struck targets in the Gaza Strip, pushing the region towards a wider conflagration after a day of rocket fire along the countrys northern and southern borders following two days of unrest at Jerusalems most sensitive holy site. Gaza militants quickly fired off a new barrage of rockets, setting off air raid sirens across southern Israel. The Israeli air strikes set off at least four loud explosions in Gaza. The Israeli military said it struck a pair of tunnels and two weapons manufacturing sites. Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli air strike in the central Gaza Strip (Fatima Shbair/AP) Fatima Shbair The sound of outgoing rocket fire could be heard in Gaza. It was the latest sign of rising tensions during a sensitive holiday period. Similar fighting in 2021 led to an 11-day war between Israel and Hamas. The air strikes came after militants in Lebanon fired a heavy barrage of rockets at Israel earlier in the day, forcing people across Israels northern frontier into bomb shelters, wounding at least two people. In Gaza, militants also fired rockets towards Israel. Israeli military officials said the rocket fire on both fronts was carried out by Palestinian militants in connection with this weeks violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the heart of Jerusalems Old City, where Israeli police stormed into the building with tear gas and stun grenades on two straight days. The violent scenes from the mosque have ratcheted up tensions across the region. The air strikes came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was meeting with his Security Cabinet to discuss the rocket fire. Palestinians burn tyres and wave the national flag during a protest against an Israeli police raid of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, along the border fence with Israel, east of Gaza City (Adel Hana/AP) Adel Hana Following the nearly three-hour meeting, Mr Netanyahus office put out a short statement saying a series of decisions had been made. Israels response, tonight and beyond, will extract a heavy price from our enemies, Mr Netanyahu said. There was no immediate Israeli response in Lebanon, where militants fired some 34 rockets across the border. The military said 25 were shot down by its Iron Dome aerial defence system. Five rockets struck Israeli territory and the rest of the strikes were being investigated. Israel said two people were wounded. The unusually large salvo of rockets raised fears of a wider conflagration, as Israels bitter enemy, the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, holds sway over much of southern Lebanon. Over the past two days, tensions have skyrocketed at the sacred compound home to the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and along Israels tense border with Gaza. Israeli police detain a Palestinian in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound (Mahmoud Illean/AP) Mahmoud Illean In a briefing with reporters, Lt Col Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, said the army drew a clear connection between the Lebanese rocket fire and the recent unrest in Jerusalem. Its a Palestinian-oriented event, he said, adding that either the Hamas or Islamic Jihad militant groups, which are based in Gaza but also operate in Lebanon, could be involved. But he said the army believed that Hezbollah and the Lebanese government were aware of what happened and also held responsibility. He declined to say how Israel might respond, saying there were all sorts of scenarios. Earlier on Thursday and late on Wednesday night, Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired several rockets towards Israel in protest over the Israeli police storming into the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the heart of Jerusalems Old City with tear gas and stun grenades. On Thursday, Hezbollah condemned Israels storming of Al-Aqsa. The shrine the third-holiest site in Islam stands on a hilltop revered by Jews as the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism. No faction in Lebanon claimed responsibility for the salvo of rockets, which set off air raid sirens across the countrys north. Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli air strike in the central Gaza Strip (Fatima Shbair/AP) Fatima Shbair A Lebanese security official said the countrys security forces believed the rockets were launched by a Lebanon-based Palestinian militant group, not by Hezbollah militants. The official said there were no casualties on the Lebanese side. A spokesperson for Hezbollah did not respond to a request for comment. Both Israel and Hezbollah have avoided an all-out conflict since a 34-day war in 2006 ended with a draw. Tensions have simmered along the Lebanese border as Israel appears to have ratcheted up its shadow war against Iranian-linked targets in Syria, another close ally of Iran, Israels archenemy in the region. Suspected Israeli air strikes in Syria in recent weeks have killed two Iranian military advisers and temporarily put the countrys two largest airports out of service. Lt Col Hecht said Thursdays rocket fire was not believed to be connected to events in Syria. In Washington, Principal Deputy State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said: Israel has legitimate security concerns and has every right to defend themselves. But he also urged calm in Jerusalem. An Israeli police officer stands beside a crater where remains of an intercepted rocket fired from Lebanon fell in Shlomi, northern Israel (Ariel Schalit/AP) Ariel Schalit We emphasise the importance of upholding the historic status quo at the holy sites in Jerusalem and any unilateral action that jeopardises the status quo to us is unacceptable, he said. In Israel, Thursdays rocket fire from Lebanon sent shrapnel flying that wounded at least two people, according to the Galilee Medical Centre. Israeli police said a bomb squad removed a number of fragments from areas in the north. Videos on social media showed huge plumes of dark smoke billowing from Israels northern hills and streaks through the sky left by the Iron Dome defence system. Widely circulated photos showed shrapnel that punched a hole in a street in the northern Israeli town of Shlomi and at least one building with its windows blown out. The Lebanese army said it found missile launchers and a number of rockets intended for launch in the vicinity of the towns of Zibqin and Qalila in south Lebanon and was working to dismantle them. The Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad hailed the rockets as a heroic operation against the Israeli crimes in the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which rules Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, is visiting Lebanon, where he met with exiled leaders of Palestinian militant groups late on Thursday. Our Palestinian people will not remain passive towards the ongoing aggression, he said. Smoke rises from a fire after rockets fired from Lebanon struck Bezet, northern Israel (Fadi Amun/AP) Fadi Amun In Jerusalem, tensions ran high after two nights of unrest. Conflicting claims over the sacred compound home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque have spiralled into violence in the past, including a bloody 11-day war in 2021 between Israel and Hamas. For the past two nights a volatile time during which the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish holiday of Passover overlap Palestinians have barricaded themselves in the mosque with stones and firecrackers. Worshippers have been demanding the right to pray overnight inside the mosque which authorities typically only permit during the last 10 days of the month-long holiday. They have also stayed in the mosque in protest over threats by religious Jews to carry out a ritual animal slaughter at the sacred site for Passover. Israel bars ritual slaughter on the site, but calls by Jewish extremists to revive the practice, including offers of cash rewards to anyone who even attempts to bring an animal into the compound, have amplified fears among Muslims that Israel is plotting to take over the site. Early on Wednesday, Israeli police raided the mosque, firing stun grenades and rubber bullets to evict worshippers who had locked the doors of the building. Palestinians hurled stones and fireworks at officers. After a few hours of scuffles that left a trail of damage, police managed to drag everyone out of the compound. Police fiercely beat Palestinians and arrested more than 400 people. Israeli authorities control access to the area but the compound is administered by Islamic and Jordanian officials. The violence at the site has resonated across the region, with condemnations pouring in from Muslim leaders. President Joe Bidens administration has blamed his predecessor, Donald Trump, for the deadly and chaotic withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan in 2021. The White House publicly released a 12-page summary of the results of the so-called hotwash of US policies around the ending of the nations longest war, asserting that Mr Biden was severely constrained by Mr Trumps decisions. It does acknowledge that the evacuation of Americans and allies from Afghanistan should have started sooner but blames the delays on the Afghan government and military and on US military and intelligence community assessments. The brief document was drafted by the National Security Council, rather than by an independent entity, with input from Mr Biden himself. The administration said detailed reviews conducted by the State Department and the Pentagon, which the White House said would be transmitted privately to Congress on Thursday, were highly classified and would not be released publicly. President Bidens choices for how to execute a withdrawal from Afghanistan were severely constrained by conditions created by his predecessor, the White House summary states, noting that when Mr Biden entered office, the Taliban were in the strongest military position that they had been in since 2001, controlling or contesting nearly half of the country. Mr Trump responded by accusing the Biden administration of playing a new disinformation game to distract from their grossly incompetent SURRENDER in Afghanistan. On his social media site, he said Biden is responsible, no one else! The report does fault overly optimistic intelligence community assessments about the Afghan armys willingness to fight, and says Mr Biden followed military commanders recommendations on the pace of the drawdown of US forces. Clearly we didnt get it right, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday, but sidestepped questions about whether Mr Biden has any regrets for his decisions and actions leading up to the withdrawal. Afghan passengers board a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III during the Afghanistan evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan (MSgt. Donald R Allen/US Air Force via AP) MSgt. Donald R. Allen Mr Kirby said of the report that the purpose of it is not accountability but rather understanding what happened to inform future decisions. The White House asserts the mistakes of Afghanistan informed its handling of Ukraine, where the Biden administration has been credited for supporting Kyivs defence against Russias invasion. The White House says it simulated worst-case scenarios prior to the February 2022 invasion and moved to release intelligence about Moscows intentions months beforehand. We now prioritise earlier evacuations when faced with a degrading security situation, the White House said. In an apparent attempt to defend its national security decision-making, the Biden administration also notes that it released pre-war warnings over strong objections from senior officials in the Ukrainian government. Republicans in Congress have sharply criticised the Afghanistan withdrawal, focusing on the deaths of 13 service members in a suicide bombing at Kabuls airport, which also killed more than 100 Afghans. Shawn Vandiver, a Navy veteran and founder of #AfghanEvac, an effort to resettle Afghans fleeing the country, called the report an important next step. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby speaks during a press briefing at the White House (Patrick Semansky/AP) Patrick Semansky We are glad to see acknowledgment of lessons learned and are laser focused on continuing relocation and resettlement operations, Mr Vandiver said in a statement. The administrations report appears to shift any blame in the August 26 2021 suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport, saying it was the US military that made one possibly key decision. To manage the potential threat of a terrorist attack, the President repeatedly asked whether the military required additional support to carry out their mission at HKIA, the report said, adding, Senior military officials confirmed that they had sufficient resources and authorities to mitigate threats. Mr Kirby credited US forces for their actions in running the largest airborne evacuation of non-combatants in history during the chaos of Kabuls fall. They ended our nations longest war, he told reporters. That was never going to be an easy thing to do. And as the president himself has said, it was never going to be low grade or low risk or low cost. Since the US withdrawal, Mr Biden has blamed the February 2020 agreement Mr Trump reached with the Taliban in Doha, Qatar, saying it boxed the US into leaving the country. The agreement has been blamed by analysts for undercutting the US-backed government, which collapsed the following year. The Afghan government released roughly 5,000 Taliban prisoners after the Doha agreement as a condition of having peace talks with the Taliban. Mr Kirby noted that release and other examples of what he said was a general sense of degradation and neglect inherited by Mr Biden. Shutterstock.com Everyone has taken a personality quiz at some point. Whether its a Which Abbott Elementary Character quiz you saw on Facebook or one you saw while skimming through Cosmopolitan Magazine, personality quizzes have become a popular part of entertaining the masses. However, have you heard of the Enneagram Personality Test? The Enneagram Personality Test, or EPT, is a personality typing system that illustrates patterns in how people handle emotions and see the world. It describes nine personality types and plots each type on a nine-pointed diagram which explains how the types relate to each other. Enneagram is the combination of two Greek words. Ennea is Greek for nine, and Gramma means something that is written or drawn. What does the Enneagram Personality Test tell us? The EPT says that each of the nine personality types is defined by a specific core belief about how the world works. This core principle drives your deepest fears and motivations, fundamentally shaping someones worldview and viewpoint through how they see the world and the people around them. Our core beliefs arent wrong, but they can serve as blinders for some people. Understanding your Enneagram type and how it influences our perceptions can help us broaden our perspective and approach situations more efficiently. Understanding someones Enneagram type helps us see why they behave the way they do. Each Enneagram has a collection of beliefs that will encourage them to make certain choices. Behavior that may seem inconsistent or unclear can be explained when we understand someones Enneagram type. The Enneagram also assists with understanding how people react to stress. The Enneagram shows openings for personal development and gives a foundation for understanding each other by describing how each type responds and adapts to supportive and stressful situations. Controversy with the Enneagram Personality Test. As eye-opening as the EPT may be for personalities, some Christians believe Christians shouldnt take the test because they see it as evil. Christian author Jackie Perry shared her concerns about the Enneagram test, saying she was skeptical about the controversy surrounding the test. However, Perry says the Lord prompted her to look more into the history of the test. Perrys issue is that the current personality Enneagram derives from Claudio Naranjos development of occult teacher Oscar Ichazos work with later expansions by Russ Hudson and Don Riso. Claudio Naranjo was a psychiatrist and creator of the nine personality types of the Enneagram test. Its said that Naranjo got his idea for the types from automatic writing, a form of channeling spirits when a demon guides your hand or mind to assist you with writing down ideas. The nine personality types are based on the seven deadly sins, the nine divine forms, and some Kabbalah traditions. Ichazos influences came from philosophical, occultic and religious traditions, including Roman Catholicism, mystical Judaism, Taoism, Greek philosophy, and Taoism, making the Enneagram of Personality a combination of numerous differing ideas. According to Perry, when someone engages with the EPT and identifies their types, they apply their identity to the wisdom of demons. Positives about the Enneagram Personality Test. While some Christians denounce the EPT, others see it as a positive tool. John Starke, the lead pastor of Apostles Unknown, said that while some use the Enneagram test in a goofy way and it might be a fad for others. However, Starkes says that some spiritual directors and counselors use the test carefully and wisely. He added that these groups had been using the test before it became popular and will continue to use it. Starke maintains that the Enneagram test isnt a chant that summons demonic forces whenever you use it in counseling or post about it online. According to Starke, the Enneagram is nothing for Christians to fear. Starke believes that Satan is trying to divide the church and destroy lives and that demons are real, but the Enneagram isnt what Christians should worry about. He says that pastors and counselors use the Enneagram to help others see where they could be inclined to trust in their strength instead of Christ. Starke also added that dozens of self-professing Christians have written books about Enneagrams within trustworthy publishers and encouraged Christians to read about them instead of watching YouTube videos because Starke believes YouTube sources can be untrustworthy. Ian Cron, an Episcopal priest, believes that every number on the EPT teaches us something about the character and nature of God. Roman Catholic Friar Richard Rohr wrote that the EPT is concerned with making a turnaround and change with what religious traditions call repentance or conversion. Christopher Heuertz, another Roman Catholic author, thinks the EPT is more than a personality tool, but it gives us nine ways to find our way back to God. Should Christians take the Enneagram Personality Test? The Enneagram Personality Test might be an exciting way to understand personality types, but it contradicts the Bible. 2 Timothy 3:5 says it has a form of godliness but denies its power. While the Enneagram Institute is correct in the thought that we are spiritual beings and not living like were meant to live. However, instead of getting in touch with our true nature, we should look to God for salvation. Were sinners who need Gods forgiveness, made available by His grace through trust in Jesus. The dead cant get a spiritual awakening by themselves. They have to receive the life of Christ, regardless of their personality type. Christ rebirths us, making us anew. His power makes us righteous, and our lives should be lived for His glory. Nothing in the Enneagram is derived from the Bible. The EPT is a way to determine personality types, but its something that Christians should be wary of. Some believe that the EPT originates from demonic or occult practices, while others see it as a helpful tool for spiritual counselors. Ultimately, it would be best to use the EPT at your discretion. If you feel this test would benefit your life, use it wisely. However, remember that the test doesnt come from the Bible. If you think you should stay away from the test, do what you feel is best. Actor Jeremy Renner said it was his fault when he got into a snowplow accident on New Year's Day. The accident almost left the actor dead, and he had to apologize to his family for putting them through that, as reported by The Straits Times. (Photo: by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Disney) NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 22: Jeremy Renner attends the Hawkeye New York Special Fan Screening at AMC Lincoln Square on November 22, 2021, in New York City. In an interview on the ABC Network, Renner said he was driving the plow after using it to pull one of the family's trucks out of the snow and onto the pavement. Renner said that as the plow skidded on ice, he worried about his nephew's safety, who had just unhooked the chains connecting the truck and plow. He then stuck one foot out of the plow to look back at Alex and did not set the parking brake. The actor lost his footing and fell out of the cab. He got worried that the snowplow would roll back and crush his nephew, he tried to jump back into the vehicle to stop it. He stepped onto the plow's moving wheel tracks, throwing him forward, and the vehicle ran over him. The accident broke over 30 bones, collapsing a lung and piercing his liver. Neighbors tended to The Avengers actor said that they found him with blood all over him, and his breathing was shallow. Renner also had a crack in his skull. Also read: Jeremy Renner Update: 'Avengers' Actor Released From Hospital Renner Takes Responsibility Renner recalls apologizing to his family and admitting his fault the next day when he woke up at the hospital. Titanium rods and screws were used on Renner to repair his broken ribs, and metal was placed in his legs and face to rebuild an eye socket. Currently, the actor is undergoing hours of daily therapy to help him recover from his injuries. Renner received a nomination for the best actor Academy Award for his role in The Hurt Locker (2008), which took home the Oscar for Best Picture. He was nominated for a supporting actor role for his performance in The Town (2010). Following his success in The Hurt Locker, Renner appeared in several Marvel and other movies, including two Mission: Impossible films in 2011 and 2015, 'Arrival' (2016) and 'American Hustle' (2013). Renner has been a homeowner in Washoe County, Nevada, for quite some time. This region in northern Nevada experienced significant snowfall on New Year's Eve. Over the weekend, the National Weather Service put out a winter storm alert in the area, and authorities cautioned about slippery roads and hazardous driving conditions due to the weather. Related article: Jeremy Renner Tries To Save Nephew During Snowplow Accident @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Shutterstock.com Hearing changes are expected as you get older. However, like going gray, the changes rarely happen instantly. Imagine someones first silver strands showing in a specific light. The beginning of age-related hearing issues can be just as subtle. Can you repeat that? Huh? If youre having more issues hearing what someone is saying than before, you may have early hearing loss. Its a widespread issue, with age-related loss affecting half of the people over 65. Younger people can also experience hearing loss caused by machines at work or loud music. You can treat some types of hearing loss, but most require timely medical attention. Its essential to pay attention to the early signs. People with untreated hearing loss are more likely to feel isolated, suffer depression, and have memory issues. Here are some signs of hearing loss that you shouldnt ignore. Sudden hearing loss in one ear. The majority of hearing loss is steady. However, if you suddenly go deaf in one ear or over a few days, it may be time to call your doctor. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is an inner ear condition that affects close to 66,000 Americans each year. Doctors must treat this condition within 10 to 14 days before permanent hearing loss. Some will notice a pop sound, and then the sound disappears. Others will wake up hearing nothing in one ear. You may also experience steady diminishing hearing over a day or two. If you notice these signs, you should immediately speak with your doctor. Balance issues. If you notice that youre becoming clumsier, experience vertigo, or have issues with your ability to balance, the reason may be your ears. Balance and hearing are connected to mechanisms within our inner ears. A Johns Hopkins University study found that people with hearing loss are more likely to experience falls than people without hearing loss. Your physician should evaluate these symptoms to establish whether hearing correction, like with hearing aids, is necessary. Your ears start ringing. Tinnitus is defined as ringing or other noises in your ears, like buzzing, clicking, roaring, or hissing. Tinnitus can signify numerous conditions like heart disease, thyroid problems, or ear infections. However, one of its leading causes is noise-induced hearing loss. Its typically the initial sign for older people that their hearing ability is fading. If you experience tinnitus, it may be time to talk to your doctor about getting your hearing tested. Experiencing pain with specific sounds. Another sign of hearing loss is hearing other sounds more intensely to the point of feeling pain. As your hearing fades overall, you might start feeling more sensitive to specific sounds in one or both ears. This pain is a symptom of a condition called hyperacusis. The sounds youre vulnerable to might create physical discomfort or seem excessively loud. Its linked to hearing loss of the inner ear by exposure to loud noise. If these symptoms persist, it may be best to consult a hearing professional to see if you suffer from hearing loss and what treatments may be available. Problems hearing in groups. If youre talking with one person in a quiet, peaceful environment, you might not experience any trouble with your hearing. However, if youre trying to talk with a group of people in a louder location, like a party or restaurant, you may realize you have issues grasping what people are saying. This common issue is sometimes called hidden hearing loss because it may not be found in typical hearing tests. However, it might be a precursor to hearing loss. Frequent use of closed captioning. Do you find yourself increasing the TV volume higher than others in your household? Are you disgruntled by how many characters on TV mumble? Have you started using closed captioning more frequently? If you answered yes to any of these questions, these might indicate your hearing loss. The human voice falls within the range of high-frequency tones often affected by hearing loss. Having trouble with hearing the television is a sign for you to contact your doctor. Becoming more forgetful. Are you getting appointment times mixed up or picking up the wrong thing for your spouse at the grocery store? Sometimes, what looks like forgetfulness can be because of hearing loss, making you miss important information. Researchers have found that hearing loss can cause cognitive issues. Our brains need auditory stimulation to function correctly, or we risk developing Alzheimers disease and other dementias. This is another reason its vital to address hearing problems early and get hearing aids when necessary. Hearing aids dont make you old; they keep you mentally connected and engaged with the people around you. Retreating from conversations. Another early hearing loss sign is listening fatigue. You might get tired after a day of listening to customers or a night of trying to understand dinner party discussions, so much so that you start avoiding talking in groups. You may also feel that its harder to comprehend what people are saying, and youre scared that youll make an awkward comment or ask a dumb question. So you withdraw from conversations completely. This withdrawn nature is a sign that you need to find an audiologist and take an assessment. You watch lips instead of making eye contact. When one sense doesnt work correctly, the brain tries to overcompensate with another sense, in this case, eyesight. Imagine the shape of someones lisp when they say p or f. You can see the sounds even though you cant hear them. This may cause you to move your eyes from making eye contact to watching the speakers lips instead. Hearing loss is a common thing that people experience. However, it can be easy to catch it early on, so there arent any lasting effects. If you find yourself having trouble hearing, now is the time to talk to your doctor or an audiologist. You dont want to wait too long because the damage may already be done. An audiologist can help diagnose your issues and create a plan moving forward. The countrys main opposition bloc has slammed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for his reckless statement this week that Kuala Lumpur would negotiate with Beijing on South China Sea territory disputed between the two nations. Anwars statement, made after his first official visit to China as PM last week, risked the countrys sovereignty because it referred to Malaysian territory, said Perikatan Nasional leader and former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in a Facebook post late Thursday. On Tuesday, Anwar told Parliament that the issue of the disputed waterway was discussed when he was in Beijing, when China brought up Malaysian state petrochemical firm Petronas offshore work in the Southeast Asian nations Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea. Anwar said he told China that Petronas would continue its work because Malaysia considered the area as part of its territory, but should China feel that they have the rights to the area, we could discuss and negotiate the matter. Muhyiddin, leader of the Bersatu party that heads the Perikatan coalition, said Anwars statements were irresponsible. This statement is reckless and should never be issued by a prime minister. The indirect implications of this statement have indirectly acknowledged the Chinese claim to territories that are already Malaysian territory that must be defended, Muhyiddin said on Facebook late Thursday. In fact, the Petronas area referred to by the prime minister is in Malaysian territory and cannot be negotiated even though claimed by the Chinese country. Anwar didnt specify which project was being referred to, although it is believed to be the Kasawari project off the coast of Sarawak and southeast of the Luconia Shoals, within Malaysias EEZ. Kasawari is seeing heightened activity as it is slated to begin production this year, according to a Washington think tank. Muhyiddin said Anwars statement invited a risk of threat to Malaysias sovereignty. Malaysia must firmly defend the sovereignty of the province and national security to protect the rights and claims of the country's territories, Muhyiddin said on Facebook. The prime minister's statements made in Parliament are very weak, very irresponsible and appear to be pledging the dignity and sovereignty of the country to foreign powers. China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, including waters within the EEZs of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan. While Indonesia does not regard itself as a party to the South China Sea dispute, Beijing claims historic rights to parts of the waterway overlapping Indonesias EEZ as well. The South China Sea is one of the worlds busiest waterways and has an abundance of natural resources. It is home to several flashpoints involving maritime disputes over oil and gas exploration projects and fishing rights. China has been asserting its presence in the South China Sea by having its ships, military or non-military, at almost all times in the disputed waters, near Beting Patinggi Ali, which is known internationally as Luconia Shoals, analysts have said. In January, Malaysia sent a military ship to shadow a Chinese ship patrolling close to the Kasawari project. The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington noted that the China Coast Guard ship CCG 5901 arrived at Luconia Shoals on Feb. 17 and as of Thursday was still there. ASEANs position Muhyiddin said any discussion on Chinese claims ought to be in line with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) consensus and the South China Sea Code of Conduct. While Malaysia recognizes China as a global economic power, our country's sovereignty cannot be compromised at all, Muhyiddin said. Considering ASEAN's position as a combination of 10 countries, Malaysia must address the international maritime issue more cautiously guided by the principle of national sovereignty and ASEAN idea. This years ASEAN chair, Indonesia, has restarted negotiations with China on a code of conduct for the South China Sea. ASEAN member-states and Chinese officials held their first round of talks during the second week of March. ASEAN members want a code of conduct for the disputed South China Sea to be effective, substantive and actionable, Jakarta said after the talks, although an Indonesian Foreign Ministry official skirted the issue when asked if the code would be binding. Anwar apparently told a Chinese media outlet that said the South China Sea issue should not be that contentious, and dialogue with other Southeast Asian claimant states should be the way to resolve differences. I have stated that we have potential for oil and gas in that area, and we have to pursue that area, but the Chinese want to discuss it, so we discuss it, Anwar told the Chinese media company, according to Malaysian state news agency Bernama. I believe that there is no easy solution to that problem. As we think of each other as friends, we continue to have dialogue. This problem is not insurmountable. Chinese nationals, who are members of the Shenzhen Holy Reformed Church, also known as the Mayflower Church, leave Pattaya Provincial Court in Pattaya, Thailand, on March 31, 2023. Updated at 8:57 p.m. ET on 2023-04-07 Dozens of Chinese Christian asylum seekers who fled alleged religious persecution in their homeland left Thailand for the United States after being released from Thai custody for an immigration violation, police and United Nations officials said Friday. The 63 members of the Shenzhen Holy Reformed Church (also known as the Mayflower Church) had feared Thailand might deport them to China, but American officials and a lawmaker reportedly intervened and persuaded Thai authorities to send them to the U.S. They flew out last night on multiple flights, a police official who works closely with Gen. Surachate Hakparn, the deputy national police chief, told reporters in Bangkok on Friday. Radio Free Asias Mandarin Service confirmed with China Aid staff on Friday that only 59 of the 63 church members had left for the U.S. They were expected to arrive at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on early Friday evening (local time). One family of four stayed behind in Thailand. RFA is a news service affiliated with BenarNews. Earlier in the week, Surachate said that Thai authorities had met with American Embassy officials and the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR to arrange for the Chinese Christians to be sent to the U.S. for resettlement, and their departure from Thailand was expected to happen on Friday. We understand this group left to the U.S. However, we are unable to provide details on the procedures involving these cases due reasons of confidentiality and protection, Morgane Roussel-Hemery, a spokeswoman for UNHCR, told BenarNews in an email Friday. The American embassy in Bangkok declined to confirm the information and referred questions to the U.S. State Department. While talking to reporters on Wednesday, Surachate said that authorities arrested the members of the church group last week after the National Police Bureau launched a crackdown on undocumented Chinese visitors who may commit crimes while staying in major Thai cities such as Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket. The 63 were detained in Pattaya and tried at a court there for overstaying their visas by at least six months, officials said. They were fined and then bused to Bangkok, where they were placed in immigration detention before their release. The mothers and children in the group were held at a center for mothers and children in Don Mueang district, while the rest were held at the Suan Plu immigration detention center, according to Surachate. During a visit to Washington in late February, Surachate said he met with U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, who asked the senior Thai police official to help take care of the Chinese Christians. Smith, a New Jersey Republican who chairs the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, did not immediately respond to an email query from BenarNews. Surachate met with officials from the American embassy and UNHCR on Wednesday and an agreement was reached to send the Christian exiles to the U.S., he said. We came to the conclusion to send them to the U.S. as soon as possible, Surachate told reporters later that day but asked that the information not be made public until after the group had departed for the U.S. The Chinese exiles fled China in 2019 amid what they said was escalating persecution. The group first traveled to South Koreas Jeju Island, and then to Thailand in 2022, according to RFA. Based on the investigation, these people for two years were seeking asylum and a certificate from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Korea, but to no avail, Surachate said. Therefore, they traveled to Thailand because they heard it is easier to obtain UNHCR papers here They received the certificate just after four months of arrival. We did not know they already had papers when they were arrested, he added. Thailand is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, but the non-refoulement principle under international human rights law states that people cannot be sent back to a country where they are likely to be persecuted, tortured, mistreated or have their human rights violated. According to U.S.-based Freedom House, Christianity has expanded rapidly in China since 1980, but is strictly controlled by the state. The Chinese authorities seek to monitor and control Christians by encouraging them sometimes forcefully to join state-sanctioned churches that are affiliated with patriotic associations and led by politically vetted clergy, said a 2017 Freedom House report . Religious leaders and congregants who refuse to register for theological or practical reasons risk having their place of worship shuttered and face detention, beatings, dismissal from employment, or imprisonment. Freedom Seekers International, an American faith-based group that assists people fleeing from religious persecution aboard, was working this week to arrange for the members of the Mayflower Church to be allowed to travel to Texas. FSI Freedom Seekers International has been working with them for two years. And we are taking the lead on their resettlement in the United States, Deana Brown, the founder and CEO of the group based in Tyler, Texas, told BenarNews in an email on Wednesday. Several organizations were working with the State Department to facilitate the release of the Mayflower Church people from Thai custody, she said. Since Monday we have been able to take supplies daily to the detention center for the 63 Mayflowers: baby formula, water, Pedialyte, diarrhea medicine, bug bite, medicine, underwear for everyone, a change of clothes for the children, shirts for the adults, snacks, bread, toilet paper, etc., Brown said. Late on Friday, Brown notified BenarNews that the group of asylum seekers had arrived at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport. The Mayflower have landed in the United States and are on U.S. soil, she said in an email. This report has been updated to add information about several members of the Mayflower Church staying behind in Thailand for the time being. Residents cross Thaung Yin River that divides Myanmar and Thailand as they flee intense fighting between the pro-junta Karen Border Guard Forces and anti-junta KNUs Karen National Liberation Army near Shwe Kokko, Myanmar, April 5, 2023. Intense fighting in southeastern Myanmars Kayin state has prompted more than 4,000 people to flee across the Thai border where many have crowded together in makeshift camps on goat and cattle farms, aid workers said. Citizen video obtained by Radio Free Asia, a news service affiliated with BenarNews, showed several dozen people wading chest-deep across the Thaung Yin River into Thailand. Some carried bags or wore backpacks while others appeared to be crossing without any personal possessions. The refugees staying on goat and cattle farms around Mae Sot dont have enough access to toilets and are dealing with hot weather, aid worker Myo Myint Aung told RFA. April is the hottest time of year. There is no toilet for them at the goat farm, he said. We will have to relocate them to the cattle farm but since there are too many refugees there and transportation is difficult, they are still kept at the goat farm. A person helping the displaced war refugees said there are 3,000 in Thailands Mae Sot district and more than 1,000 in Mae Yama district. The refugees have fled intensifying fighting in Kayin state between forces for and against the military junta, which took over the government in a 2021 coup. On Wednesday, the anti-junta Karen National Liberation Army, or KNLA, raided two outposts of the military junta and the Karen Border Guard Force an ethnic Karen force aligned with the Myanmar military near Shwe Kokko in Myawaddy township. Shwe Kokko is the site of a Chinese-backed U.S $15 billion real estate and casino mega-project that has gained notoriety as a bastion of illegal activity, including drug trafficking. Fierce fighting also broke out at a casino residence and at the villages Kayin New Year celebration grounds. Myanmar citizens from Shwe Kokko are seen at the Thai border after fleeing fighting between the pro-junta Karen Border Guard Forces and anti-junta KNUs Karen National Liberation Army, April 5, 2023. [Citizen journalist] We left everything at home People only had time to grab a few clothing items before leaving their homes, said Min Thant, a Myawaddy township resident who fled to one of the new camps in Thailand. Shwe Kokko residents said earlier that they were going to flee as the sound of heavy artillery shelling was too close to our village, he said. The artillery shelling got even closer to the village around 8 a.m. and everyone fled here. We couldnt bring much with us except some necessary clothes and ran. We left everything at home. Thai authorities are helping displaced people flee from Myanmar to Thailand and are helping them find shelter in five locations, said Ye Min of the Aid Alliance Committee, a Thailand-based migrant worker rights organization. Thai authorities have designated some places in Thai villages, schools and some locations on the opposite side of the border from where battles broke out, he said. Thai residents from nearby villages cook food and send it to them. The Thai military is also providing them with water and health care. Worries of possible forced return A staff member at Friends without Borders, a Thai NGO that works on the Thai-Myanmar border, told BenarNews that she is worried that the refugees may be deported prematurely even though they are being treated with leniency by Thai authorities. I praise the authorities for not barring them, Pornsuk Kedsawang said. But what worries me is that they may send them back too soon, so I beg the authorities to keep them until the situation is calm. A Mae Sot resident said residents are planning to provide food to refugees with physical and mental injuries. When a war breaks out, people develop anxiety and fear, he said. They are scared of bullets or injuries. They are worried that their homes and belongings would burn. They cry with such worries and anxieties. Saw Khin Maung Myint, the juntas Karen state spokesman, said to RFA that he has reported the refugee situation to government officials in Nay Pyi Taw. Our government (state administration) cant reach out to the refugees who are in Mae Sot, he said. If I may say, I think that the Union government is responsible for such cases. Thats why we report the issues to the Union government. Saw Khin Maung Myint did not answer RFAs inquiry about the situation of the fighting. Junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun also did not respond to a request for comment from RFA. A Myawaddy resident said fighting had calmed down by Thursday morning. The Karen Border Guard Force has not released information about the casualties on both sides as a result of the fighting. RFA reached out to the KNLA joint forces by telephone, but was unable to contact them. People in masks and colorful costumes that depict a Philippine interpretation of Roman centurions are seen during Holy Week in the town of General Luna, Quezon province, Philippines, April 4, 2023. [George Calvelo/BenarNews] A man whose back has a tattoo of Jesus Christ flogs himself on the streets of Mandaluyong city, Metro Manila, April 7, 2023. [Jojo Rinoza/BenarNews] A Filipina uses her mobile phone to capture the depiction of Christ carrying the cross in Bulacan province, north of Manila, April 6, 2023. [Gerard Carreon/BenarNews] Men wearing paper mache masks and dressed as Roman centurions -- with a Filipino cultural twist -- participate in rituals in a remote village in the town of General Luna, Quezon province, Philippines, April 4, 2023. [George Calvelo/BenarNews] A tattooed man wearing a red hood leads a group of penitents in flagellating themselves on the streets of Mandaluyong city, in Metro Manila, as the Catholic Philippines marked Good Friday, April 7, 2023. [Jojo Rinoza/BenarNews] A man depicting Jesus Christ is whipped as he carries a cross on the streets of suburban Mandaluyong city, Philippines, to mark Good Friday, April 7, 2023. [Jojo Rinoza/BenarNews] Updated at 2:43 a.m. on 2023-04-08 The predominantly Catholic Philippines marked the holiday of Good Friday with a remembrance of Jesus Christ, as devotees whipped themselves or were nailed to the cross in a tradition officially frowned upon by the church. Around 80% of the countrys nearly 114 million population is Catholic and the country was shut down for business most of this week, which is considered holy for Christians. Good Friday represents Jesus suffering and dying on the cross, and Filipinos perform extreme acts of penance in the belief that hurting themselves can cleanse sins, cure illnesses, or grant wishes. Many of the faithful did not heed warnings by the Catholic Church in the Philippines to refrain from such acts. Theology tells us that Christ suffered and died on the cross to cleanse our sins. That is why we dont need to repeat it, Rev. Jerome Secillano, a spokesman for the church, said in an interview with a Philippine television network. So if people want to have themselves crucified on the cross or want to flagellate themselves to cleanse their sins, that view is not right, he said. In Mandaluyong district in Manila, men wore red hoods to cover their faces as they flogged themselves using whips made of bamboo. In the town of Paombong in Bulacan province just outside the capital, three people had themselves nailed to crosses for a few minutes. Farther north in the farming village of San Pedro Cutud, 12 devotees participated in crucifixions Ruben Enaje, 62, a laborer who has chosen to be nailed the cross 34 times, said he was doing it this year to pray for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic and an end to Russias invasion of Ukraine. I really want to end this because it is too painful and I am already old, he said. When I am put on the cross, my body can feel the stress. But I just pray and tell myself that I can do this. Jojo Rinoza in Manila, and Basilio Sepe and Gerard Carreon in Bulacan, Philippines, contributed to this report. This report has been updated to add more photos and clarify information in a caption. Friday's tea with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Guangzhou, China's business hub, capped French President Emmanuel Macron's official China tour. China's diplomatic approach to France is viewed with skepticism in Washington. According to US government sources, if its relations with the US worsen, China is looking to align with Europe strategically. On Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron concluded his official China visit by having tea with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Guangzhou, the commercial center of China's export-driven economy. Guangzhou, where Xi Jinping's father was a high-ranking official, was chosen to show Macron that the Chinese leader cared about him as an individual. Notwithstanding Western fury at Xi's backing for Vladimir Putin and his reluctance to condemn Russia's attack on Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron China visit signified a desire to retain trade and economic ties with Beijing, per The Financial Times. I am convinced that China has a major role to play in building peace. This is what I have come to discuss, to move forward on. With President XI Jinping, we will also talk about our businesses, the climate and biodiversity, and food security. Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 6, 2023 Ursula von der Leyen, chief of the European Commission, accompanied Emmanuel Macron for a portion of his three-day tour to demonstrate European unity in its approach to China. However, von der Leyen was omitted from several opulent activities while the French leader was pampered with a luncheon, military march, and other state visit formalities. Jean-Pierre Raffarin, a former French prime minister, remarked on the sidelines of an agreement ceremony in the Great Hall of the People that the charm of Xi Jinping was working. "Isn't diplomacy, at one point or another, a bit of flattery?" he said, noting that it is inevitable in every human interaction, and each side uses it. US Skeptic of China's Friendly Gesture To France China's diplomatic outreach to France is met with some suspicion in Washington. According to persons acquainted with the US government's perspective, China would desire a realignment that strategically brings it closer to Europe as its ties with the US deteriorate. The sources, who asked not to be identified, said that Washington is adopting a wait-and-see attitude to European interactions with China over Ukraine, per Reuters. Ursula von der Leyen also appreciated Xi's willingness to meet with Zelensky. Although Macron has been friendly with Chinese officials, von der Leyen has taken a firmer stance. She warned Beijing on Thursday that sending armaments to Russia would "significantly harm" connections, saying she had expressed grave worries about the worsening of the violation of human rights in China. Read Also: Biden Administration Proposes New Rule on Trans Athletes in Schools Moscow, though, has cast doubt on the likelihood of China mediating, stating on Thursday that it has "no choice" but to continue its onslaught in the Russia-Ukraine war. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov remarked that "undoubtedly," China possesses an extremely powerful and "commanding" capability for mediation. "But the situation with Ukraine is complex, and so far, there are no prospects for a political settlement." Emmanuel Macron China Visit Highlights France's Business Partnerships with China Emmanuel Macron China trip has been about more than just ending the Russia-Ukraine war; it has also been strengthening a vital trading relationship. According to Inquirer, the top executives of Airbus, EDF, and Veolia are among the more than 50 French business leaders who are accompanying the country's leader. In a joint statement, the two governments promised to "improve market access" for each other's businesses. Regarding the digital economy and 5G, France has also promised Chinese companies that their license applications would be handled "fairly and without prejudice." In light of France's current limitations on Huawei, it's unclear what effect such a promise would have. In 2024, the two countries will mark the "China-France Year of Culture and Tourism," an initiative to see collaborations between cultural institutions in both countries. After easing COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions, France has been actively courting high-spending Chinese visitors. Related Article: China's Train Ticketing App Goes Global @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Bennington, VT (05201) Today Some sun in the morning with increasing clouds during the afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High near 55F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low around 35F. Winds light and variable. FILE FBI investigators remove a backhoe seized from the Crawford, N.Y., property of former Briarcliff Manor Police officer Nicholas Tartaglione, Dec. 21, 2016. Tartaglione was convicted in the strangulation death of one man and the execution-style murders of three others, Thursday, April 6, 2023, in White Plains, NY, federal court after a three-week trial. New York prison officials were accused in a lawsuit of subjecting people to prolonged solitary confinement in violation of a state law meant to strictly limit a practice increasingly criticized as inhumane Donald Trump surrendered to authorities in New York for his arrest and arraignment Tuesday. A chorus of we got him broke out among left-wing commentators on air and on social media. Trump was processed, his fingerprints taken and logged into the New York legal system. Its just like any other person charged with a crime, the left said giddily. Trump then made his way to the courtroom, looking stern, for his arraignment. Its just like any other indicted individual. No one is above the law. It was a vain attempt to put a veneer of normalcy over the ordeal. At the arraignment, the charges were unveiled. The indictment, unsealed shortly thereafter, lists 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree with a max sentence of 136 years in prison, though no one expects Trump will serve that kind of time, if any. Trump then entered his "not guilty" plea himself. Bragg and the prosecution requested a gag order on the former president, highlighting recent social media posts they claimed could incite violence. Trump's team turned it back on the prosecution, which has been leaking details of the proceedings to the press, and said Trump has a right to defend himself. The judge refused to put a gag order on Trump, but told his legal team he should refrain from edgier social media posts. While negotiations will continue with what proceedings Trump should attend, based on the burden it puts on the city and Trump's campaign schedule, the judge said he expects to see Trump in person for a hearing scheduled on December 4. Surely, these are the proceedings of just another guy getting charged with a crime. The corporate media treated it simply as normal proceedings, too. For hours on end, news cameras were fixed to the spectacle. They gathered outside Mar-a-Lago, then followed Trumps motorcade by helicopter. Then there was Trumps plane taking off in Florida and touching down in New York; another motorcade; outside the courthouse, then inside. Most of the airtime was dead space with only brief glimpses of the former president before his arraignment. Cameras fixed on closed doors with some officers meandering in front as political commentators and legal experts speculated on what comes next. Reader financed- No Advertising - No Government Grants - No Algorithm - This Is Independent Get Our Free Newsletter The day's events betrayed the fact that Trump is not just any individual. To state the obvious, hes the former president of the United States and the first to be indicted with a crime after leaving office. Hes the lefts ultimate bogeyman, a symbol of everything wrong with the world. For seven years, theyve stopped at nothingeven total fabricationto arrive at this moment. In part because of their attempts to destroy him, hes become a symbol of something else entirely for his supporters: a symbol of resistance and retribution. And this is not just any other case. The 34 felony counts of falsifying business records stem from an $130,000 payment made by Trumps then-lawyer, and now convicted felon, Michael Cohen to porn-star Stormy Daniels on Trumps behalf. Trump repaid Cohen for his services and allegedly misclassified these payments as legal expenses. While he lets violent criminals roam the streets of New York and downgrades all kinds of other crimes, D.A. Alvin Bragg is preparing to argue that this misclassification was intentional; intended to advance or conceal other criminal activity. What that criminal activity is, one can only speculate because Bragg himself cast a wide net in his news conference Tuesday after the arraignment, pointing out that the indictment does not have to specify the underlying crime that allegedly elevated these misdemeanors to a felony. From Bragg's statements, however, it appears the main point of his attack will be in relation to violations of New York election law or campaign finance violations, and would rest on torturing preexisting legal theory. As my colleague John Hirschauer has pointed out, the Obama Justice Department tried, and failed, to secure a campaign finance conviction against John Edwards on a similar theory. That wont chill fever dreams of fantasies of picturing the orange man in an orange suit. But its less oranges and more bananas. Bananas that a Soros-funded D.A. would elevate an alleged misdemeanor to a felony to escape the statute of limitations even after federal authorities refused to pursue charges in the same case. Bananas that Democrats would arrest the sitting presidents chief political challenger in the upcoming election in a long-shot attempt to remove Trump from the ballot. Welcome to the new normal you were promised. Its not banana republic stuff. The republic is gone. Bananas are all that is left in store. Bradley Devlin is a Staff Reporter for The American Conservative. You can follow Bradley on Twitter @bradleydevlin. Was your home damaged in a tornado? Here's what to do next Deadly storms in the past two weeks unleashed dozens of tornadoes that killed at least 63 people and damaged or destroyed hundreds of people's homes WILLIAMSTOWN The Jewish folktale of the golem has captured imaginations across the ages. A giant being made out of clay is magically brought to life to protect the ghetto community; but, as often happens, worthy intentions lead to unforeseen consequences. Golems have appeared in both religious and popular texts, most notably Austrian author Gustav Meyrinks 1915 novel, "The Golem," which was liberally adapted, from film and television to stage and opera. If You Go The Golem: How He Came into the World What: Part of the Visionary Architecture on Film series. Live musical accompaniment provided by percussionist Matthew Gold and cellist Paul de Jong. Where: Auditorium, Manton Research Center, Clark Art Institute, 225 South St., Williamstown When: 6 p.m. April 13 Admission: Free, registration not required COVID protocols: Masks are optional. Information: 413-458-0524, clarkart.edu Of three silent films German actor and director Paul Wegener made about the golem, only his third The Golem: How He Came into the World, released in 1920, remains. On April 13, it will be screened at The Clark Art Institute with live accompaniment by Berkshires-based musicians Matthew Gold, percussionist, and Dutch-American cellist Paul de Jong, part of a free film series complementing The Clark's exhibit Portals: The Visionary Architecture of Paul Goesch. Set in medieval Prague, The Golem: How He Came into the World is a masterful example of German expressionist filmmaking. With set designs by visionary architect Hans Poelzig and his future wife Marlene Moeschke, looming ghetto buildings curve up to sharp points like Gothic flames, inside and out. Unlike the painted backdrops of the better-known contemporary film, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Poelzigs sets were constructed in three dimensions, allowing characters to inhabit them more fully. Both Gold and de Jong are international musicians who live in Williamstown and North Adams respectively. De Jong rose to cultural fame during the early 2000s in avant-garde duo, The Books, with fellow North Adams musician Nick Zammuto. Gold has long taught and led ensembles at Williams College, and performs widely with a number of groups and orchestras. They each express an adventurous sense of contemporary musicality. While theyve shared a stage on many occasions, this is their first time creating music together. The collaboration is long overdue, de Jong said. Gold sublet de Jongs New York City apartment in 1996 while attending Juilliard, an arrangement that lasted for years, Gold said. A frequent performer at The Clark, Gold invited de Jong to participate in this project. Ive accompanied my own movies for years, de Jong explained, so its really interesting to have a different kind of approach with something thats not by my own hand. He had worked with silent movies as a 20-something in his native Netherlands. I was a very different person back then, he said. While Gold has performed live with video and film before, this is his first time creating original music for a silent film. Percussion is an ideal accompaniment because we have this whole range of instruments and sounds, Gold said. He starts with a drum set, then builds it out, playing a kick drum inherited from his father; a 1940s snare drum with animal skin head; a wrenchaphone made from found pitched wrenches; and marbles spinning in mixing bowls; among many others. De Jong has amassed an eclectic collection of instruments and extensive library of film, video and recorded sounds. He will bring his cello, bass guitar, and rarely-heard arpeggione bowable guitar, along with an arsenal of electronics. The film has five acts, and our approach has been to look for a different sonic approach for every chapter, de Jong said. We identify physical moments in the movie and the dramatic buildup, with the goal of loosening that up and concentrating on the musical interaction. Were not merely responding to the action or creating sound effects, Gold added, there are through-lines related to the themes. I start with rhythm and pattern, but a melody always finds a way to emerge. De Jong had read Meyrinks novel and visited what remains of Pragues 12th-century ghetto, but had never seen the golem film. I find it fascinating, the visual set design was extremely avant-garde," he said. "Its rooted in theater, but takes advantage of the technical possibilities camera and editing provide. Its early film done with enormous insight in the medium. Its a very powerful idea to bring something inanimate to life, Gold added, but also dangerous. The Visionary Architecture on Film series began with The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" in March. Other films being screened as part of the series include Fritz Langs 1927 sci-fi masterpiece Metropolis on April 20; H.G. Wells 1936 futuristic tale Things to Come on May 4; and dystopian modern classic Blade Runner on May 18. The film series is organized by Ella Comberg as part of her master's degree through the Williams Graduate Program in the history of art. My studies focus on the history of architecture and design, and I work under Robert Wiesenberger, Clark curator of contemporary projects, Comberg said. I was really excited to work with him on the [Goesch] exhibition. A lot of beloved cinema was coming to the fore in Germany in the 1920s, so we thought it would be a great opportunity to screen these iconic German expressionist films [as] a way of bringing the exhibition to life. Right after World War I, it wasnt possible to build in Germany because of the economy and lack of materials, Comberg said, so film sets offered an opportunity to experiment with new forms of architecture. Set designer Hans Poelzig was involved in a lot of the same architecture and design circles in Weimar Germany as Paul Goesch, she said. Goesch, a visionary architect of the time, corresponded with other top architects as part of The Glass Chain." Many of these films are a way of placing him into this context of really radical aesthetic experimentation, she said. The urban environment of The Golem looks fantastical and futuristic but also nostalgic. In Goeschs work you see a lot of medieval technologies, pulling a lot of different references. Film and [unbuilt] paper architecture become a venue to test out ideas that Goesch and his circle are exploring, Comberg added. IF YOU GO The Golem: How He Came into the World What: Part of the Visionary Architecture on Film series. Live musical accompaniment provided by percussionist Matthew Gold and cellist Paul de Jong. Where: Auditorium, Manton Research Center, Clark Art Institute, 225 South St., Williamstown When: 6 p.m., April 13 Admission: Free, registration not required COVID protocols: Masks are optional. Information: 413-458-0524, clarkart.edu Erica von Kleist will perform her musical comedy, "Boobs!," at The Foundry in West Stockbridge on April 15. Features Editor Jennifer Huberdeau is The Eagle's features editor. Prior to The Eagle, she worked at The North Adams Transcript. She is a 2021 Rabkin Award Winner, 2020 New England First Amendment Institute Fellow and a 2010 BCBS Health Care Fellow. Nobody believed this could be restored, Nicholas Felix said. Architects didnt believe it. Realtors didnt believe it. Even the attorney said I was out of my mind. Community News Editor / Librarian Jeannie Maschino is community news editor and librarian for The Berkshire Eagle. She has worked for the newspaper in various capacities since 1982 and joined the newsroom in 1989. Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect that the BVNA petition had received 350 signatures by the time the banner was printed and ready to present. An earlier version misstated the figure. PITTSFIELD Members of the Berkshire Visiting Nurse Association union want their bosses to know the community supports them. Thats what prompted the union members to print a banner taller than most of them with a list of community members who have signed on to their cause supporting the unions and Berkshire Health Systems development of a first contract. On Wednesday, a small group of union officers dressed in the blue jackets of the Massachusetts Nurses Association walked into the lobby of the Greylock Federal Credit Union on West Street in Pittsfield. The union represents 53 of the 86 nurses; occupational, speech and physical therapists; social workers; and support staff that travel back and forth across the county every day and take care of patients in their homes. They were hoping to show the depth of the support they have by unveiling their banner with 350 signatories to John L. Bissell, the president and CEO of the credit union and vice chair of the Berkshire Health Systems board of trustees. The union members only made it as far as the lobby. Thats where a credit union employee told them they were out of luck. Johns not here hes not even local at the moment. There was a slight moment of deflation, but the union members decided to hang out in front of the credit union building and take advantage of the midday traffic to tell people about what theyre working toward. In December 2021, the majority of the staff with the BVNA voted to unionize, and two months later, the union members began working to negotiate a contract. Tamaryn Clowdus, a union co-chair and physical therapist with BHS, said that while contract negotiations have now gone on for over a year, union members have seen some immediate benefits. Just having the protections of the union and being able to go and to meet one on one with management they have to talk and have to have an open door with us now, Clowdus said. So weve already started getting some changes implemented that have been really great. Meghan Clements, the union secretary and an occupational therapist, said she felt the tenor of the conversations between the union and BHS negotiating team have been respectful. Michael Leary, director of media relations at BHS, said the health system deeply values our skilled and compassionate clinicians, who are integral to our mission of advancing the health and wellness of everyone in Berkshire County and chose a similar description for negotiation talks. We have been holding productive, respectful negotiations with our MNA partners for more than a year, Leary said in a statement. We remain committed to negotiating in good faith, and we are confident that we will reach a fair and equitable agreement. Even so, union members said they feel its time to publicly discuss what have become sticking points in their conversations with BHS: wages and caseloads. Union officials shared wage data with The Eagle that shows that BVNA staff make anywhere from $30 an hour to $63 an hour depending on their position and time within the health system. They said they were offered a 2 percent wage increase while nonunion staff received a 4 percent wage increase and the hospitals nurses union received a 4.5 percent increase this year. Members said they want to be on par with their in-hospital counterparts on wage increases and pay systems like step scales that set out guaranteed increases based on tenure and education. The also are looking for change in the productivity and caseload expectations being set by management. Clowdus said that the expectation is that each clinician see about six patients a day. Union members said that number obscures the reality of the expectation. BVNA members are one-person clinics who drive sometimes up to a 100 miles a day, toting health care equipment, materials for lab tests, medications and more to their patients, and reporting their progress to their patients care teams. Clowdus and co-Chair Shaun Mattoon, a BVNA wound nurse, said their members often work on their own time and unpaid to get all the medical charting and patient care done each day. The biggest thing that management comes back to is that theyre trying to help the community and they need us to see this caseload in order to help our community that theres this need within the community, Clowdus said. But its that question of does help the community if youre loading the health care workers to such a level that they no longer have a healthy work/life balance and they leave, she said. Clowdus said since negotiations began, the union has lost about 12 members, most of whom took jobs in other health care settings with better pay and better hours. Union members said more departures are likely if they dont reach a contract that gives staff a relief on some of these work issues. A man walking into the credit union Wednesday afternoon, who only identified himself as Ernie, told the union members he hopes it doesnt come to that. I think that everybody who has been helped by you loves you, Ernie said of the BVNA. He asked what support the union needed, if members were being paid fairly. We need more time with our patients, to take care of you guys, Clowdus said. We need to make sure we get the time in the home to do what we need to do. Some think 20 homes is too much on that parcel off Route 41/North Plain Road. Others think there should have been 30. Yunnan helps cranes make migration journey Xinhua) 10:18, April 07, 2023 Staff members guarding the cranes feed black-necked cranes at the Yunnan Dashanbao national nature reserve, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 23, 2023. (Photo by Shen Chunyan/Xinhua) KUNMING, April 6 (Xinhua) -- The local villagers in the city of Zhaotong of southwest China's Yunnan Province view the black-necked crane as auspicious birds, and many, along with professional staff, volunteer to keep them fit and healthy ahead of their northward migration each spring. The black-necked crane is under top-class protection in China. The Dashanbao national nature reserve is among the protected areas with the largest populations of black-necked cranes per unit area in China. It is also an important wintering habitat and migration transit point for the birds on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. The cranes fly to Dashanbao for wintering at the end of October every year, heading north again in March to return to their breeding grounds. According to the latest monitoring by the reserve's management and protection bureau, the northward migration means the number of cranes in Dashanbao has dropped from over 1,900 during past the wintering season to some 200 at present. Local authorities are making efforts to strengthen the work of feeding, patrol monitoring and rescue activity, thereby helping the remaining birds make the spring migration in good health. The Dahaizi Wetland is one of the main wintering habitats of black-necked cranes in Dashanbao, and it is also the nighttime resting place and foraging place with the largest population in the reserve. Since the northward migration period started, volunteers guarding the cranes have started feeding the birds twice a day on average, rather than just once. Zheng Yuanjian, a staff member with the management and protection bureau, said that, based on the monitoring results from the past two years, the population of black-necked cranes in Dashanbao has increased year by year. "From the perspective of family structure, we found that three-member or four-member crane families are on the rise compared to previous years," he said. Authorities have been restoring wetlands and setting up food-source bases for the cranes. The bases established in the reserve currently cover an area of 250 hectares. Over the past three years, the average number of black-necked cranes coming to the reserve for wintering was 1,500 per year. Wu Taiping, an engineer with the reserve's management and protection bureau, said, "The migration of black-necked cranes is related to the weather, wind speed and wind direction. The weather has been fine recently, which is suitable for the long-distance flight of the cranes traveling northward." He added that most of the birds flew northward in middle and late March in previous years, while a few young cranes would stay until the end of April or the beginning of May. The bureau will continue to carry out wetland and grassland restoration work to create a more comfortable wintering environment for black-necked cranes, said Wu. This photo taken on March 23, 2023 shows black-necked cranes at the Yunnan Dashanbao national nature reserve, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo by Shen Chunyan/Xinhua) This photo taken on March 23, 2023 shows black-necked cranes at the Yunnan Dashanbao national nature reserve, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo by Shen Chunyan/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) By Roger McKenzie April 07, 2023: Information Clearing House -- Imagine the uproar if China or Russiaor any other country for that mattersaid it aimed to exercise military control over land, sea, air, and space to protect its interests and investments. This amazingly has been the stated United States policy since 1997. Full spectrum dominance, as the doctrine is known, is the reason the United States behaves the way that it does on the international stage. The United States demands that the world bow down to its leadership. A failure to do so is met with the full force of the international military-industrial complex controlled by the US government. Enforcement has included everything from the funding of opposition forces in sovereign nations, the removal or even assassination of political leaders who refuse to toe the line, economic sanctions, and military intervention. Of course, there are choices to be made by the United States about which approachor combination of approachesit might take. There are also decisions to be made about the degree of action within each approach. But fundamentally the point is that Washington believes it has a right to inflict on the rest of the world its interpretation of democracywhich seems to essentially amount to agreeing with whatever course of action the United States wants to take. So what is full spectrum dominance really for? Theres a famous scene in the Oscar-winning film Reds where the great revolutionary journalist and activist John Reed, played by Warren Beatty, was asked at a dinner what the war in Mexico he had just returned from was all about. Before sitting down he said just one word: profits. The United States is interested in safeguarding the profits of monopoly capital, which carries politicians in Washington around in its pockets like loose change. The United States also will not tolerate others, such as China, muscling in on potential new markets or swaying people away from its sphere of influence. China is seen as the biggest threat to the profits of the companies that currently decide pretty much what we will eat and even when we can eat it. Anyone who expects the Chinese to simply sit back and take the provocations dealt out by the two-faced United States is living in cloud cuckoo land. Chinas State Council Information Office recently issued a report that accused the United States of being the worlds biggest offender of human rights. In The Report on Human Rights Violations in the United States in 2022, the Chinese government said the United States has sanctions in place against more than 20 countries, including Cuba since 1962, Iran since 1979, Syria since 2011 and Afghanistan in recent years. Calling the United States out as the most prolific enforcer of unilateral sanctions in the world, the report said Washington pursues power politics in the international community, frequently uses force, provokes proxy wars, and is a saboteur of world peace. The report added that under the guise of anti-terrorism activities, the US has killed some 929,000 civilians and displaced some 38 million others in 85 countries. Between 2017 and 2020, the United States launched 23 proxy wars in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific region, the report stated. The report said that violations of immigrant rights and the refusal of Washington to close the Guantanamo Bay detention camp created an ugly chapter of unrelenting human rights violations. The report slammed the United States for holding up to 780 people at Guantanamo, most of whom were held without trial for years, while subjecting them to cruel and inhumane treatment. Essentially the United States will go to any lengths to enforce what it sees as its unipolar dominance of the world. As far as it is concerned, might is right, and there are no consequences for its behavior. There is no legal redress as the United States is not part of the International Criminal Courtwhich it lauds for threatening to prosecute Russian President Vladimir Putin, even though Russia is also not a signatory. It has a veto at the United Nations and much of the world relies on its military shield as well as the mighty dollar with which to trade. Given the cards stacked against those of us who oppose US full spectrum dominance and the seemingly invincible power of the biggest bully on the planet, the question is: What can we do? The answer to full spectrum dominance is full spectrum resistance and organizing. It is necessary to gear our efforts away from piecemeal change and toward revolutionary transformation. This will mean bringing together unions, climate activism, equality organizing, and a range of other social and economic movements in a serious change away from liberal posturing. The guardians of capital are highly organized and put the resources where they need to go to protect and expand what they have. Activists generally just pretend that we are organized and fall out with each other at the first available opportunity. I am not arrogant enough to believe I have all the answers. But what I do know is that we have to gaze beyond the Global North for what radical transformation might look like. It really is time to shift the paradigm and bring movements together to work out how to pool our resources for real resultsfull spectrum resistance and organizing. Former President Donald Trump appears in court Tuesday for his arraignment on 34 felony counts in a scheme to allegedly cover up hush money payments. He is also the subject of other, more serious criminal investigations. Reading The Eagle recently, I was disturbed by an article informing me that the sale of the Great Barrington Triplex that seemed a fait accompli might be stalled. The company that was supposed to purchase the theater seems to be having trouble raising the necessary investment money. If it fails to raise the needed cash, the theater will be shut down. This would be a grievous loss for the towns cultural and social life. The Triplex may never have turned into my dream of an art cinema that would screen primarily a mix of classic repertory films and new American indies and foreign artworks, but it did show A-list Hollywood movies and once in a while an indie and art film would be thrown in (for which I was always grateful). I always felt at home entering the simply built, unadorned theater and saw it as a refuge. It was the only way I could satisfy my craving for the full experience of watching cinematic narratives and images while up in the Berkshires during the summer. I remember going there one afternoon in the summer of 2021, with the pandemics virulence diminishing but far from over, and being inside a theater for the first time after more than a year and a half. I was watching a first-run commercial film, Lin-Manuel Mirandas In the Heights. For this New Yorker, who intimately knew that neighborhood Washington Heights because my parents had lived there in the latter part of their life, the film provided special meaning and pleasure. There were about 20 other people consciously scattered about the theater, and my joy watching the films choreography and slightly romanticized evocation of that immigrant, working-class neighborhood on a large screen in the Triplexs darkness made me forget the films flaws. I taught film at the City University of New York for almost four decades. Ive collaborated on books on the subject and Im still an editor on a major film magazine (Cineaste) and continue to write film criticism into my 80s. Movie theaters have always had an extraordinary significance for me. In pre-pandemic New York, I used to attend six to eight films a month. Today, I go to at most about a film a month and watch much too many films and TV series on computer and television many of them mediocre works that at best merely serve to pass the time. But my favorite Manhattan theaters still survive. Theres the IFC, the Angelica Film Center and the one that has had the profoundest role in my filmgoing history since the 80s: my temple, the Film Forum on West Houston Street. The Forum began in 1970 as an alternative screening space for independent films with 50 folding chairs, one projector and a $19,000 annual budget, open only on weekends. Its present director Karen Cooper took the leadership position in 1972, and still holds it today. Other gifted people, like Director of Repertory Programming Bruce Goldstein and Artistic Director Mike Maggiore, have helped run things and select programs for more than 30 years. Cooper guided the theater over the years in different venues into its present four-screen cinema home on West Houston Street. The theater has 280,00 annual admissions, nearly 500 seats, 50 employees, an operating budget of $5 million, and a $6 million endowment. Its the only autonomous nonprofit cinema in the city and one of the few in the country. The staff raises approximately 45 percent of their operating income, and approximately 79 percent of the theaters budget is spent on programming. Public funders include The National Endowment for the Arts, The New York State Council for the Arts, and various New York City agencies including the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. Private donors include individuals, foundations and corporate entities. Additionally, the members contribute more than $500,000 annually. A few days ago I spoke about how the Forum is doing with the deputy director Sonya Chung, who will this summer be taking over for the theaters founder and director of 50 years, Karen Cooper. Chung has been working at the Forum since 2020 (though shes had a 20-year relationship with the theater) when she was appointed deputy director to broaden the Forums outreach to younger and more diverse audiences. I asked Chung if audiences have returned since COVIDs severity has lessened. She informed me that the numbers have begun to slightly increase, but the audiences are somewhat younger and habits of film consumption have changed. Its all very fluid and unpredictable. Audiences increase and decrease dependent on what film is being shown. There are repertory series like the ones centering on the Japanese star Toshiro Mifune and on the director Yasujiro Ozu that have been popular. Audiences also embrace Iranian cinema and the classic films directed by Renoir, Fellini and Bergman. The theater attracts large audiences when directors appear to discuss their films for two or three nights. It also has done brilliantly reviving Nathaniel Kahns 2003 film about his father, My Architect, and continues to revive Bertoluccis great The Conformist. She made it clear to me that the Forum may schedule a number of films that deal with social and political reality, but it chooses films primarily on aesthetic grounds and not ideological ones. Its the artistic quality of a film that takes preeminence in their choice of what to show. Chung will clearly not veer from the Forums half-century stated commitment to screening films that break the rules tell stories in a new way, deal with controversial or provocative subject matter and give emerging filmmakers the opportunity to reach the general public for the first time. May the Forum thrive for another 50 years and the Triplex survive its economic troubles both as havens for those who find that cinema can deepen our understanding of the world and ourselves Home Search ICH Question Everything! Click Here To Support Information Clearing House The Tennessee Expulsion Is a Glimpse of the Future By Jeff Greenfield April 07, 2023: Information Clearing House -- Tennessee Republicans really went there. Despite the outcry, the GOP-controlled state legislature expelled two Democrats Thursday for engaging in a boisterous protest against gun violence. But the key lesson out of Nashville is not what did or did not happen in the chamber; its another reminder of what it means for a legislature to gain a supermajority enabling it not only to dominate legislative matters, but to deploy overwhelming power more broadly, even over the other branches of government. In virtually every state, each house of the legislature is the judge of its members. The U.S. Constitution similarly gives each house of Congress the same power. Members can be reprimanded, censured, fined, stripped of committee assignments and expelled for a wide variety of conduct, though this sanction is rarely applied. In the entire history of the U.S. House, only five members have been expelled the last, Ohio Democratic Rep. James Traficant, was removed after being convicted of bribery, racketeering and tax evasion and didnt have the decency to step down on his own. The Tennessee House last expelled a member in 2016, when Jeremy Durham was ousted for rampant sexual misconduct. Thirty-six years earlier, Robert Fisher was booted for soliciting a bribe. But what if a legislature decides to exercise power just because it can? Can it expel or refuse to seat a member for purely political reasons? Once upon a time it seemed so. In the fevered nationalism of World War I, Congress refused to seat Socialist Victor Berger after he won a seat in 1918. He ran again in 1919 and won again, and Congress again refused to seat him. At the same time, the New York State Assembly expelled all five Socialists on general grounds of disloyalty. The mood of the time was captured by the Assembly speaker, who thundered: We are building by our action today a granite bulwark against all traitors within the boundaries of our republic. Our flag of the republic is whipping the breeze in defiance of enemies from without. A few decades later, a similar attempt to ban an elected legislator was rebuffed. Julian Bond, a key civil rights leader, had been elected to the Georgia House; but in 1966, the legislature voted by an overwhelming margin not to seat him on the grounds that he had opposed the war in Vietnam and expressed sympathy for draft resisters. But later that year, a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Bonds First Amendment rights had been violated and ordered him seated. He served for more than 20 years in the Georgia House and then the state Senate. The case of the two Tennessee Democrats involves neither criminal nor immoral conduct nor the mere statement of opinions. It involves conduct encouraging demonstrations and bringing a bullhorn and posters to the state House floor that violates the rules of the House. Still, the legislature has never imposed before so severe a penalty for rules violations, and over the past few years, a number of legislators have kept their posts even after being charged with serious sexual misconduct. Clearly, expelling these members is an explosive move and temporarily leaves their constituents no representation, at least until a special election is held; in fact, the state party is already raising money for the members to win back their seats. Meanwhile, theres another story playing out 600 miles to the north that highlights another, potentially even more consequential use of hard-ball legislative power. While liberals were celebrating the election Tuesday of a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice who will tip the court to the left, voters in the states 8th senatorial district were sending Republican Dan Knodl to Madison. That gives the GOP a Senate supermajority and with it, the power to remove key officials through impeachment including judges. In late March, Knodl said he would certainly consider impeaching Janet Protasiewicz, the new state Supreme Court justice, though he was talking about her role as a county judge. Would Wisconsin Republicans impeach a justice simply because they dont like the courts rulings? Well, there is nothing hypothetical about how the states GOP legislature has used its power against other branches of government. In 2018, after Wisconsin voters elected a Democratic governor and attorney general, the legislature and the lame duck Republican governor, significantly cut back the power of both offices. And while it might be politically risky to remove a justice whom voters overwhelmingly elected, its not at all far-fetched to imagine that if the new liberal court majority strikes down the states gerrymandered legislative districts, that legislature would respond by trying to remove one or more justices from office. And theres nothing hypothetical about other states looking at you, North Carolina where supermajority GOP legislatures have cut deeply into the power of the executive branch once Democrats won those posts. In the coming weeks and months, the Nashville battle may well be just a footnote as legislatures exercise their powers over everything from the makeup and reach of the courts to the traditional powers of a governor, to the will of the voters who vote for ballot propositions. Its another reminder that the most important elections of the 21st century happened in 2010 when legislatures from one end of the country to the other turned red and began to reshape the politics of the nation. Views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Reader financed- No Advertising - No Government Grants - No Algorithm - This Is Independent Get Our Free Newsletter Registration is not necessary to post comments. We ask only that you do not use obscene or offensive language. Please be respectful of others. See also Search Information Clearing House The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MECOSTA COUNTY A Mecosta County dog took off recently on its own adventure leaving its owner concerned for the dog's safety but that didn't stop the owner from rallying up Canadian Lakes community members to help find her furry companion, Oreo. On Thursday, April 6, Heather Miller, owner of 1-year-old sheepadoodle Oreo, gathered with community members who assisted in her with Oreos safe recovery after a three-day search when he went missing in Canadian Lakes. Morton Township Fire and Rescue representatives, as well as friends of Millers who assisted in Oreos recovery, were in attendance. After Oreos rescue, Miller wanted to make a donation to Morton Township Fire Department for its help, but the organization instead told her to pick a local organization that would benefit from the donation. Millers choice for a beneficiary was the Canadian Lakes Association, and her broker at Century21 White House Realty additionally matched Millers donation of $100 bringing the total to $200. The Canadian Lakes Association was organized in 1975 to enhance the social activities in the area and they assist in putting on a number of local events such as Easter egg hunts, trunk or treats, ice cream socials and new years eve celebrations. Miller said she was appreciative of the effort to help find Oreo when he went missing. Clearly he meant a lot to the people in this community, Miller said. It was just really heartwarming to see all that. They're people with really big hearts in Canadian Lakes and in the surrounding area because people were coming in from all over to help look for Oreo. I've never experienced anything like it to see everyone coming together. It was just amazing. The celebration of Oreos safe return came only days before his first adoption day anniversary of April 9. OREOS ESCAPE The incident began when Miller was out of town and had left Oreo to be watched by friend and co-worker Teah Webster. On March 21, during a period of play time outdoors, Oreo suddenly hit a burst of energy and took off before Webster could get Oreo back inside. What ensued was a search and rescue mission for Oreo, which lasted four days and three nights of constant searching. Miller said she quickly got on social media for help finding him and sought help from community pages, as well as Michigan Doodle Rescue which she donated an additional $100 before his eventual rescue to reach more people. She received thousands of shares, likes and comments from concerned people across Michigan on the posts she made about Oreo's escape. I stayed out here 'till six in the morning driving the streets up and down, back and forth, Miller said. That night, there were several people out looking because you could see spotlights in the woods. You'd hear people calling his name, so the word had gotten out very quickly. The first night went by with no sightings, and Miller got only 20 minutes of sleep as people kept searching. There were two sightings in the next two days that gave hope for Oreos return, but it wasnt until the fourth day that Miller received a call about a third and final sighting. Miller quickly got together with her friend, Jennifer Bollman, to meet with fire department representatives who helped corral him. When I yelled his name, he just looked at me and kept running, Miller said. The animal control officer told me for the last four days everyone's been calling his name and he's not going to come to me anymore. Like he doesn't even recognize your voice, the only thing you got going for you is your scent. I was waving one of his toys and Jennifer (Bollman) was throwing his food like crazy to get him to come to us, she said. I could tell he probably smelled something because of the toy I was waving in the air, and then all of a sudden he full-on sprinted toward me and did that whiny cry, and we had this really big reunion moment that we had been envisioning for the last three days. After nearly four full days on the run, Oreo was wet, cold and smelly, according to Miller, but largely exhausted and happy to be reunited with his family. Oreo received several warm baths and lots of love upon his return home, and Miller was able to share the news of his rescue with all of the community members who helped her during the scary time. Miller said she believes Oreo has learned a big lesson from his ordeal. He was just so exhausted that he just leaned on me and let me bathe him when we got home, Miller said. After that, he slept for about two days straight, and he is definitely more mellow and is with me wherever I go. Im very fortunate I get to bring Oreo to work with me and to many appointments. Everyone refers to him as their emotional support dog. I simply cannot tell you how unbelievably happy we are to have him home." EVART Lindsay Wallin has been teaching her meditative, breath-focused brand of yoga in Evart for almost a year. Wallin teaches classes that focus on the same spiritual nourishment she found in doing yoga during Michigans winter. It started for me about 15 years ago. I was traveling and ended up returning to Michigan after moving to Oregon for a little while. I started doing yoga there and came back to Michigan unexpectedly. It was the dead of winter, and I was just depressed. I needed to find something to do that was nourishing for me, Wallin said. Wallin said she found she could do yoga forever. After that, I started traveling, and I just started teaching it at hostels. I put fliers wherever I was. I would just teach at a park or whatever. It was a pretty easy thing to take with me wherever I went, she said. Community Yoga, 123 N. Main St., has garnered more attention than Wallin expected, and she hopes to expand the space to provide more experiences beyond just yoga. My vision for the space isnt just yoga. I really want there to be several people teaching all kinds of stuff, she said. Wallin focuses on the breath, which is something people often neglect and, according to her, has the power to completely change ones mindset when properly focused. My style of teaching is breath-focused. Thats something that I try to focus on more than even the movements because I think that when youre aware of the power of your breath it allows you to live your life from that place, she said. Wallin said its easy to get worked up and not realize youre not breathing correctly. Youre in a different headspace when you are deep breathing, and its a way to change your entire mental state, she said. While there are other styles of yoga such as hot and power yoga, Wallin focuses on a more low-key style that mixes meditation with the movements. If youre looking for something more relaxing, and something thats going to cultivate some calm and peace into your life, be brave enough to allow yourself the opportunity the experience something that will benefit you, she said. The classes are nonjudgmental, and there are few expectations placed on students. Whatever youre doing on your mat, its about your relationship with your body and what feels good to you. I think that thats also something that I focus on teaching is permitting people to like, be in their body, she said. The teachings of yoga extend beyond the poses, and its something that Wallin said can be taken everywhere you go. I dont think that life is about just holding your breath and tensing up and just getting through it. We forget not everything has to be that way, and not everything has to be grit and bear it, she said. Wallin encourages people to try new things if it seems interesting. If something like yoga is intriguing to someone or its calling out to them, give it a try, she said. India sets a new bioeconomy target of $3 trillion for 2047 At the 20th anniversary celebration of Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE) held on 7th April in New Delhi, industry captains got together with the government officials to discuss the growth of India as a resilient global biotech destination. While a target of $500 billion is set up for the countrys bioeconomy by 2047, when India will be celebrating 100 years of independence, a six-fold multiplier effect was pointed out by Dr Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Executive Chairperson, Biocon, to set a new target of $3 trillion of bioeconomy in 2047. By looking at end-to-end supply chains, we can actually have a six-fold multiplier effect in our bioeconomy. If we take the example of COVID-19 vaccination, the whole process of developing a vial of vaccine at a cost of $3, to hospital charges, cold chain logistics, Arogya setu data management, exhibited a 6x multiplier effect at the end. This multiplier effect with respect to the supply chains is going to become a very important part of the $30 trillion economy target for 2047 that our Prime Minister has been talking about. It is going to be a twin play of digital economy and bioeconomy, said Dr Kiran Mazumdar Shaw during the event. Backing this thought, Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister for Science and Technology, Government of India said, Our biotechnology pool is very large. As we move forward in attaining our ambitious bioeconomy target, I visualise increased participation of the industry which is extremely important. A forum like ABLE should act as a coordinating body between the industry, academia and startups to devise a mechanism of involving all the stakeholders right from the beginning of an idea or a research project. Dr Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology laid focus on grasping opportunities to harness biologys economic potential using disruptive innovations. For instance, developing a vaccine in 100 days, ability to programme our own cells to cure a disease, using virus assembled batteries, or engineering microbes for sustainable and nutrition-rich agriculture. We need to envision economic activities driven by research and innovation in biotechnology enabled by technological advances. New innovations and products likely need to come from public private partnership. This is Indias moment to enable BioE3- i.e. Biotechnology, Employment, Economy and Environment. For example, India has the potential to become a manufacturing hub for cell and gene therapy, for which our focus should be IP creation by deep tech innovation instead of business model innovation, Dr Gokhale said. The biotechnology sector in India is indeed growing at a rapid speed which was clearly witnessed in 2021, a year when the bioeconomy grew from $70.2 to $80.12 billion. India generated $219 million of bioeconomy daily. And this remarkable achievement was possible with the participation of all regions within the country. As a result, this year onwards ABLE will be releasing bioeconomy reports not only for India as a country, but also for different regions highlighting their role in increasing our bioeconomy. Dr Manbeena Chawla (manbeena.chawla@mmactiv.com) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. - Matthew 5:9 April 07, 2023: Information Clearing House -- In a brilliant op-ed published in the New York Times, the Quincy Institute's Trita Parsi explained how China, with help from Iraq, was able to mediate and resolve the deeply-rooted conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia, whereas the United States was in no position to do so after siding with the Saudi kingdom against Iran for decades. The title of Parsi's article, "The U.S. Is Not an Indispensable Peacemaker," refers to former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's use of the term "indispensable nation" to describe the U.S. role in the post-Cold War world. The irony in Parsi's use of Albright's term is that she generally used it to refer to U.S. war-making, not peacemaking. In 1998, Albright toured the Middle East and then the United States to rally support for President Clinton's threat to bomb Iraq. After failing to win support in the Middle East, she was confronted by heckling and critical questions during a televised event at Ohio State University, and she appeared on the Today Show the next morning to respond to public opposition in a more controlled setting. Albright claimed , "..if we have to use force, it is because we are America; we are the indispensable nation. We stand tall and we see further than other countries into the future, and we see here the danger to all of us. I know that the American men and women in uniform are always prepared to sacrifice for freedom, democracy and the American way of life." Albright's readiness to take the sacrifices of American troops for granted had already got her into trouble when she famously asked General Colin Powell, "What's the use of having this superb military you're always talking about if we can't use it?" Powell wrote in his memoirs, "I thought I would have an aneurysm." But Powell himself later caved to the neocons, or the " fucking crazies " as he called them in private, and dutifully read the lies they made up to try to justify the illegal invasion of Iraq to the UN Security Council in February 2003. For the past 25 years, administrations of both parties have caved to the "crazies" at every turn. Albright and the neocons' exceptionalist rhetoric, now standard fare across the U.S. political spectrum, leads the United States into conflicts all over the world, in an unequivocal, Manichean way that defines the side it supports as the side of good and the other side as evil, foreclosing any chance that the United States can later play the role of an impartial or credible mediator. Today, this is true in the war in Yemen, where the U.S. chose to join a Saudi-led alliance that committed systematic war crimes, instead of remaining neutral and preserving its credibility as a potential mediator. It also applies, most notoriously, to the U.S. blank check for endless Israeli aggression against the Palestinians, which doom its mediation efforts to failure. For China, however, it is precisely its policy of neutrality that has enabled it to mediate a peace agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and the same applies to the African Union's successful peace negotiations in Ethiopia, and to Turkey's promising mediation between Russia and Ukraine, which might have ended the slaughter in Ukraine in its first two months but for American and British determination to keep trying to pressure and weaken Russia. But neutrality has become anathema to U.S. policymakers. George W. Bush's threat, "You are with us, or you are with the terrorists," has become an established, if unspoken, core assumption of 21st century U.S. foreign policy. The response of the American public to the cognitive dissonance between our wrong assumptions about the world and the real world they keep colliding with has been to turn inward and embrace an ethos of individualism. This can range from New Age spiritual disengagement to a chauvinistic America First attitude. Whatever form it takes for each of us, it allows us to persuade ourselves that the distant rumble of bombs, albeit mostly American ones, is not our problem. The U.S. corporate media has validated and increased our ignorance by drastically reducing foreign news coverage and turning TV news into a profit-driven echo chamber peopled by pundits in studios who seem to know even less about the world than the rest of us. Most U.S. politicians now rise through the legal bribery system from local to state to national politics, and arrive in Washington knowing next to nothing about foreign policy. This leaves them as vulnerable as the public to neocon cliches like the ten or twelve packed into Albright's vague justification for bombing Iraq: freedom, democracy, the American way of life, stand tall, the danger to all of us, we are America, indispensable nation, sacrifice, American men and women in uniform, and "we have to use force." Faced with such a solid wall of nationalistic drivel, Republicans and Democrats alike have left foreign policy firmly in the experienced but deadly hands of the neocons, who have brought the world only chaos and violence for 25 years. All but the most principled progressive or libertarian members of Congress go along to get along with policies so at odds with the real world that they risk destroying it, whether by ever-escalating warfare or by suicidal inaction on the climate crisis and other real-world problems that we must cooperate with other countries to solve if we are to survive. It is no wonder that Americans think the world's problems are insoluble and that peace is unattainable, because our country has so totally abused its unipolar moment of global dominance to persuade us that that is the case. But these policies are choices, and there are alternatives, as China and other countries are dramatically demonstrating. President Lula da Silva of Brazil is proposing to form a " peace club " of peacemaking nations to mediate an end to the war in Ukraine, and this offers new hope for peace. During his election campaign and his first year in office, President Biden repeatedly promised to usher in a new era of American diplomacy, after decades of war and record military spending. Zach Vertin, now a senior adviser to UN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, wrote in 2020 that Biden's effort to "rebuild a decimated State Department" should include setting up a "mediation support unit staffed by experts whose sole mandate is to ensure our diplomats have the tools they need to succeed in waging peace." Biden's meager response to this call from Vertin and others was finally unveiled in March 2022, after he dismissed Russia's diplomatic initiatives and Russia invaded Ukraine. The State Department's new Negotiations Support Unit consists of three junior staffers quartered within the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations. This is the extent of Biden's token commitment to peacemaking, as the barn door swings in the wind and the four horsemen of the apocalypse - War, Famine, Conquest and Death - run wild across the Earth. As Zach Vertin wrote, "It is often assumed that mediation and negotiation are skills readily available to anyone engaged in politics or diplomacy, especially veteran diplomats and senior government appointees. But that is not the case: Professional mediation is a specialized, often highly technical, tradecraft in its own right." The mass destruction of war is also specialized and technical, and the United States now invests close to a trillion dollars per year in it. The appointment of three junior State Department staffers to try to make peace in a world threatened and intimidated by their own country's trillion-dollar war machine only reaffirms that peace is not a priority for the U.S. government. By contrast , the European Union created its Mediation Support Team in 2009 and now has 20 team members working with other teams from individual EU countries. The UN's Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs has a staff of 4,500 , spread all across the world. The tragedy of American diplomacy today is that it is diplomacy for war, not for peace. The State Department's top priorities are not to make peace, nor even to actually win wars, which the United States has failed to do since 1945, apart from the reconquest of small neocolonial outposts in Grenada, Panama, and Kuwait. Its actual priorities are to bully other countries to join U.S.-led war coalitions and buy U.S. weapons, to mute calls for peace in international fora, to enforce illegal and deadly coercive sanctions , and to manipulate other countries into sacrificing their people in U.S. proxy wars. The result is to keep spreading violence and chaos across the world. If we want to stop our rulers from marching us toward nuclear war, climate catastrophe, and mass extinction, we had better take off our blinders and start insisting on policies that reflect our best instincts and our common interests, instead of the interests of the warmongers and merchants of death who profit from war. Medea Benjamin is co-founder of Global Exchange and CODEPINK: Women for Peace. She is the co-author, with Nicolas J.S. Davies, of War in Ukraine Nicolas J. S. Davies is an independent journalist and a researcher with CODEPINK. He is the co-author, with Medea Benjamin, of War in Ukraine Correction: This article has been updated to accurately quote George W. Bush. The First Amendment is at a critical juncture. Recent congressional hearings on the Twitter Files brought the matter into full public view. Freedom of speech and of the press are hanging by a precarious thread. Do we want a future in which information flows freely, or one in which an information elite controls those flows for our own good? The choices we make over the next few years will determine which of those futures we get. Its tragic that we have let the problem reach this dangerous state. What heightens the tragedy, however, is that the war against Americas most cherished freedoms was predictable and preventable. If those of us who value freedom want to win, were going to need a strategy grounded in a clear understanding of whats happening and why. The Twitter Files story is shocking. Allegations that big tech and social media manipulate information have been around for as long as weve had tech and social media companies. Allegations of bias among the mainstream media are even older. In recent years, however, both the allegations and the supporting evidence have ratcheted upward to unprecedented levels. When Elon Musk acquired Twitter, he opened his companys internal archives to scrutiny. He assembled a team of journalists with a curious pedigree: registered Democrats with a distaste for Donald Trump and his supporters, whose track records skewed considerably left of center, and whose recent work has demonstrated deep concern about the politicization of journalism. Musk gave them unfettered access. They found a deep, broad, and disturbing pattern of collaboration between big government and big tech designed to promote official stories on multiple issues, throttle competing theories and arguments, and sanction those who dared to question government propaganda. When two of those journalists Matt Taibbi and Michael Shellenberger testified before Congress, their Democratic inquisitors sought to belittle their credentials, question their motives, and tar them as part of some Republican-funded, far-right conspiracy. The still-left-leaning journalists are trying to absorb their shock at the depths to which the formerly civil-libertarian left has fallen. Far from shocking, however, that fall was predictable and predicted. In 2001, amidst the public disgust with tech companies following the collapse of the dotcom bubble, I set out to make sense of life during the transition from the late industrial age to the early information age. I analyzed what I called the first four front-page stories of the information age: the dotcom bubble, the Microsoft antitrust trial, the rise of open-source software, and the Napster-driven wars over digital music. Contrary to popular opinion of the time, I believed that these stories were far from distinct. I saw them as four manifestations of a single underlying phenomenon. My goal was to understand that phenomenon. I found it. It appeared most clearly in the digital music arena, but it ran through all four stories and through much that has happened since. It appears just as clearly in todays war on free speech. It involves an entirely predictable pattern of opportunity, action, and reaction. The starting point is digitization and quantification. The Internet changed the economics of information. Throughout human history, information was scarce, hard to acquire, and expensive to process. Skilled professionals spies, scholars, lawyers, accountants, clerics, doctors could command a premium for their knowledge. When the Internet went public, anything that could be digitized and quantified suddenly flowed freely. Information was there for the asking. The premium shifted to filtering the ability to discard unwanted information and arrange what remained. Economic shifts generate massive opportunities for creative, entrepreneurial people and bring glorious benefits to millions of consumers. The Internet was no exception in this regard, and neither was the predictable backlash against it. Anything that benefits new businesses and empowers consumers is a warning shot across the bow of powerful incumbents whod grown accustomed to serving those consumers in a predictable, profitable, manner. In the music industry, anything that let individual consumers share digital music files reduced the revenues, profits, power, and control of record labels. Pre-digitization, these powerful incumbents determined what music got recorded and how it was packaged, distributed, presented, and priced. It was a comfortable business model that gave us the music industry as we knew it. The Internet undermined it entirely. Powerful incumbents never fade quietly into the night when challenged. They fight, using whatever weapons they can muster. In our society, the most effective ways to undermine new technological and economic opportunities tend to lie in law, regulation, and public policy. The record labels fought largely successfully to apply and reinterpret existing laws and to change laws in ways favorable to their interests. Theres the pattern: Technology creates opportunities. New businesses exploit those opportunities. Consumers benefit. Powerful incumbents fear their loss of control. Threatened incumbents seek allies in government. Government changes laws and regulations to protect incumbent interests. Media campaigns educate the public on the merits of the new policies. The new laws ensure that the next wave of technological change runs largely through the powerful incumbents, rather than against them. By 2003, I had distilled this pattern, showed numerous ways that it had already unfolded, predicted that it would soon hit parts of our economy and our lives far more significant than the music industry, and suggested some ways that we might prepare ourselves for the coming battles. It took another two years to get my analysis published. It went largely unnoticed. Twelve years later, then-Senator Ben Sasse described the ways that this pattern had forever disrupted the dynamics of employment. This, too, went largely unnoticed. Today, we see that disruptive pattern threatening the most basic of our civil liberties. Its manifestation in the arenas of speech, propaganda, and censorship is clear. Consider how each step in the process I identified above has played out here: Technology creates opportunities. The Internet opened entirely new vistas for the creation and exchange of ideas, information, theories, opinions, propaganda, and outright lies. New businesses exploit those opportunities. The companies founded since 1995 that created and control the worlds most important conduits for information have joined the ranks of historys most powerful entities. Consumers benefit. The centrality of these communication systems to our lives (for better or for worse) proves that they confer real value. Powerful incumbents fear their loss of control. The twin political shocks of 2016 Brexit and Donald Trump highlighted the extent to which official channels had lost control of the narrative. With the entirety of elite media, government, big business, and the intelligentsia aligned behind Remain and Hillary, the newly empowered masses understood for the first time that there were viable alternatives to the official story. Threatened incumbents seek allies in government. A coalition of elite forces assembled quickly, laser-focused on stomping out the populist threat. Masses empowered to conduct their own analyses, draw their own conclusions, and share their opinions among themselves threatened the stability of the power structure as we know it. Government changes laws and regulations to protect incumbent interests. Prior to Musks Twitter, the entirety of Silicon Valley committed itself to protecting the public from disinformation, roughly defined as anything that threatened to undermine an official, sanctioned narrative. Allies throughout the administrative state, Congress, and the Biden White House are working to embed those protections in law. Media campaigns educate the public on the merits of the new policies. The same mainstream media that vilified Napster, Grokster, and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file sharing is now working to turn public opinion against the evil purveyors of alleged disinformation. Will the information age be an era of informed, empowered citizens or an era of a dominant, information-controlling elite? Stay tuned. Thats the question we need to answer. Visitors driving into Montanas Glacier National Park this summer must buy a vehicle pass on Recreation.gov. The pass is free, but visitors pay a $2 fee to book the reservation. Visitors might assume that, like entrance fees, the reservation charges help pay for improving trails around the parks Running Eagle Falls or expanding the parks volunteer program. But a chunk of the money ends up with consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. Booz Allen runs Recreation.gov, the website and app where people book campsites, hikes and permits on U.S. public land. The company has a five-year contract that is up for renewal this year. In its bid for the work, Booz Allen used data provided by the government to estimate that over the first five years of the contract, it would receive $87 million, and a total of about $182 million over 10 years. By Caitlin Johnstone April 07, 2023: Information Clearing House -- - "China is preparing to kill Americans and we've got to prepare to defend ourselves," empire propagandist Gordon Chang told Fox Business during an interview on Monday. Chang, who has famously spent more than two decades incorrectly predicting the imminent collapse of China, bizarrely made these comments while discussing a future attack on Taiwan. Taiwan is of course not the United States and any potential war between Taiwan and the mainland would be an inter-Chinese conflict that needn't involve a single American, and Chang is most assuredly not part of any "we" who will ever be engaged in combat with the Chinese military under any circumstances. Chang frames his narrative as though China is menacing Americans in their homes, when in reality only the exact opposite is true: the US has been militarily encircling China for many years, and is rapidly accelerating its efforts to do so. Just the other day the Philippines announced the locations of four military bases the US will now have access to in its ongoing encirclement operation, most of them in the northern provinces closest to China. Antiwar's Dave DeCamp writes: Three of the Philippine bases will be located in northern Philippine provinces, a move that angers China since they can be used as staging grounds for a fight over Taiwan. The US will be granted access to the Lal-lo Airport and the Naval Base Camilo Osias, which are both located in the northern Cagayan province. In the neighboring Isabela province, the US will gain access to Camp Melchor Dela Cruz. The US military will also be able to expand to Palawan, an island province in the South China Sea, disputed waters that are a major source of tensions between the US and China. The US will be granted access to Balabac Island, the southernmost island of Palawan. The new locations are on top of five bases the US currently has access to, bringing the total number of bases the US can rotate forces through in the Philippines to nine. The expansion in the Philippines is a significant step in the US effort to build up its military assets in the region to prepare for a future war with China. So it's very clear who the aggressor is here and who is preparing to attack whom. Imperial spinmeisters like Gordon Chang are just lying when they frame China's militarizing to defend itself against undisguised US encirclement as China militarizing to attack Americans. Fun fact: US officials used to pretend China was crazy and paranoid for saying this encirclement was happening. In the 1995 book "Killing Hope: U.S. Military and CIA Interventions since World War II," William Blum wrote the following: In March 1966, Secretary of State Dean Rusk spoke before a congressional committee about American policy toward China. Mr. Rusk, it seems, was perplexed that "At times the Communist Chinese leaders seem to be obsessed with the notion that they are being threatened and encircled." He spoke of China's "imaginary, almost pathological, notion that the United States and other countries around its borders are seeking an opportunity to invade mainland China and destroy the Peiping [Peking] regime". The Secretary then added: "How much Peiping's 'fear' of the United States is genuine and how much it is artificially induced for domestic political purposes only the Chinese Communist leaders themselves know. I am convinced, however, that their desire to expel our influence and activity from the western Pacific and Southeast Asia is not motivated by fears that we are threatening them." Another fun fact: thanks to a 2021 revelation by Daniel Ellsberg, we now know that the secretary of state's comments about how crazy and paranoid China was for thinking the US wanted to attack it came just eight years after the US had seriously considered acting on plans it had drawn up to launch a nuclear strike on the Chinese mainland. Mainstream western imperialists of all stripes have long recognized that a hard conflict with China will be necessary at some point in the future if they're to continue their domination of the world. In his 2005 book "Superpatriot", Michael Parenti wrote that the unipolarist neoconservative "PNAC" (Project for the New American Century) ideology that had by that point taken over US foreign policy was ultimately geared toward a future conflict with China: "The PNAC plan envisions a strategic confrontation with China, and a still greater permanent military presence in every corner of the world. The objective is not just power for its own sake but power to control the world's natural resources and markets, power to privatize and deregulate the economies of every nation in the world, and power to hoist upon the backs of peoples everywhere including North America the blessings of an untrammeled global 'free market.' The end goal is to ensure not merely the supremacy of global capitalism as such, but the supremacy of American global capitalism by preventing the emergence of any other potentially competing superpower." But you can see the twinkle of this looming conflict in the eyes of western imperialists long before any of this. In a 1902 interview (which was not published until 1966 a year after Churchill's death), Churchill candidly voiced his support for partitioning China at some point in the future in order to preserve the dominance of the "Aryan stock" over "barbaric nations": The East is interesting, and to no one can it be more valuable and interesting than to anyone who comes from the West. I think we shall have to take the Chinese in hand and regulate them. I believe that as civilized nations become more powerful they will get more ruthless, and the time will come when the world will impatiently bear the existence of great barbaric nations who may at any time arm themselves and menace civilized nations. I believe in the ultimate partition of ChinaI mean ultimate. I hope we shall not have to do it in our day. The Aryan stock is bound to triumph. The word "partition" here means breaking a nation up into smaller nations, i.e. balkanization. To this day we see western imperialists pushing for the partitioning of disobedient nations like Russia and Syria, and we still see this with China in the push to permanently amputate regions like Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan from Beijing. China's sheer size, social cohesion and geostrategic location have long been recognized as a potential problem in the future for western imperialists who wish to ensure their ability to dominate and control, and now we're seeing that all come to a head. Churchill said of a future confrontation with China "I hope we shall not have to do it in our day" because that confrontation has always been certain to be horrific, and today in the Atomic Age this is far more true than it was in 1902. And in fact we do not have to do it in our day, either. We don't have to do it in any day. The only reason we're being pushed toward a profoundly dangerous conflict with China is because it's the only way for western imperialists to maintain their hegemonic control of this planet, but their hegemonic control of this planet has brought us to a point of endlessly escalating nuclear brinkmanship and looming ecosystemic collapse. It hasn't exactly been working out great, is what I am saying. There's no reason the west can't simply accept the existence of other powers and stop trying to dominate everyone on earth. We have long been ruled by tyrants who continually push our world toward suffering and death in the name of securing more power and control, but we don't need to accept their rule. They do not have a healthy vision for our species, and there are a whole lot more of us than there are of them. Their rule is done as soon as enough of us decide it is. Caitlin's articles are entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece please consider sharing it around, liking her on Facebook, following her antics on Twitter, checking out her podcast, throwing some money into her hat on Patreon or Payp al , or buying her book Woke: A Field Guide for Utopia Preppers . New book! Lao Sue And Other Poems, available in paperback or PDF/ebook. - https://caitlinjohnstone.com The Medusa ransomware group made a threat to expose sensitive data it obtained from the Open University of Cyprus (OUC). Medusa claimed responsibility for the cyberattack on OUC last month, which paralyzed the organization's major functions. OUC Given 14 Days to Forward $100,000 in Exchange for Private Data of Students, Research Contractors As reported by Bleeping Computer, the Medusa ransomware gang updated its data leak website with a post listing OUC as its latest cyberattack victim. According to the post, Medusa is giving the educational institute 14 days to deliver the $100,000 ransom, or else the group will leak private information from OUC on its leak site. Medusa also plans to sell the hacked data for the same price to anyone interested to get a hold of it. The group also offers to delete the data for good if OUC will pay them a separate $100,000, or give them a deadline extension for the price of $10,000 per day. To prove that Medusa has OUC's private files, the group posted data samples that show lists of students' personal information and financial records of the university's research partners, among others. OUC made the confirmation last week that the organization was targeted by a cyberattack on March 27, which led to the disruption of its main services. The institute had to shut down its network system to prevent the threat actors from accessing more data. "As a precaution, access is not provided to the University's eLearning Platform, Employment Portal, the Portal for applications of prospective students, and other critical systems that mainly concern the University community," the OUC stated. Furthermore, the institute said that the deadlines for the submission of school works shall be extended by the academic staff. As an online university based in Nicosia, Cyprus, OUC offers a remote learning setup to its students. It offers 30 tertiary education programs to its current roster of 4,200 students. OUC is also an active participant in several scientific research projects. Before the OUC cyberattack, the island nation of Cyprus has been targeted many times by threat actors since the year started. The other recent major cyberattack on the country was on March 8, wherein the online portal of Cyprus' national land registry was compromised. This caused the freezing of registrations amounting to 150 million. The agency also had to pull its network offline for an extended period, and the only plausible solution was to build a new portal. Related Article: Ransomware Attack on Oakland Worsens with More City Data Leaked on the Dark Web The History of Medusa Ransomware Gang Most ransomware groups target huge private corporations and government offices to extort money, but educational organizations seem off-limits to them. Unfortunately, Medusa appears to spare no one when it comes to its online criminal activities. The ransomware gang's recent activity before the OUC attack was in early March, where it targeted Minneapolis Public Schools District. Medusa demanded a $1 million ransom. The group reportedly attempted to hack the system of the University of Cyprus and the Ministry of Defense. Fortunately, these two organizations were able to detect Medusa's attempt and secured their respective networks. Medusa's first sign of activity was traced back to June 2021, Tech Radar reported. However, the group has only become infamous this year with its successful heists. It should be noted that other ransomware groups go by the same name, which can be confusing to the media. Read Also: City of Toronto Suffers Cyber Attack from Clop Ransomware Group The death of tech executive Bob Lee shocked the tech world especially after learning what caused it. The grief brought by his passing had only worsened after footage revealed what had transpired before Lee succumbed to his wounds. Ignored by Bystanders The surveillance footage showing the events after Lee was stabbed revealed how the former CTO of Square asked for help after the attack. He approached a parked white Camry on the sidewalk of 300 Main Street near the Bay Bridge on April 4th. Bob Lee attempted to show the bystanders how severe his stab wounds were by lifting his shirt, but the footage showed that the people in the parked Camry simply drove away instead of helping the fatally wounded 43-year-old, according to Gizmodo. Lee fell on the ground after the people in the vehicle refused to help and left, but got back up again and walked the street before collapsing again. It was then that the late tech executive called 911 for help at 2:35 a.m., to which the San Francisco police responded. Help arrived in less than six minutes, and Bob Lee was found on the ground with two apparent stab wounds on his chest. He was rushed to the San Francisco General Hospital immediately, but Lee did not survive despite the efforts of the responders. San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott expressed his deepest condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of Lee. he added that there was no place for this kind of crime against anyone in the city and that investigators are working tirelessly to make an arrest. Read Also: San Francisco Police Petition License For Robots To Use 'Deadly Force' The Aftermath The incident is still under investigation, and law enforcement stated that it is still in its early stages. They refuse to comment on evidence due to that fact, and will not "speculate on the circumstances" regarding the violent crime that killed Bob Lee. Police Chief Bill Scott assured people in San Fransisco that their department is staffed and ready to respond to all calls of service, and that they will commit the necessary resources and personnel to the investigation of the heinous crime, according to his statement. Stevie Graham, the CEO of the banking API Teller, read the news about how Bob Lee was "frantically" asking people for help after he was stabbed and asked "what kind of monster" could do that to a person who is in that much need of help. Jake Shields, former UFC and MMA fighter also expressed his disdain over the people who blamed Lee for being killed by walking at 2:30 am. He then pointed out that these were the same "losers" who would blame a girl who was defiled. people are blaming Bob Lee for getting murdered because he was walking at 2:30 am He was in neighborhood where apartments start at 5k a month When we pay that much in taxes and are not protected we are living in a failed city These are the same pathetic losers who would Jake Shields (@jakeshieldsajj) April 6, 2023 San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins stated that no one who commits a violent crime, or who's a repeat offender is receiving overly lenient plea deals, which may be in response to Twitter CEO Elon Musk saying that "if attackers are caught, they are often released immediately." Related: CashApp Creator Bob Lee Passed Away After Being Stabbed in San Francisco Current political leaders in Northern Ireland need to act with the same courage and vision as those who secured the Good Friday Agreement, the man who chaired the 1998 negotiations has said. Former US senator George Mitchell said history would judge favourably those who had helped to bring about the historic peace deal. Several events are taking place in Northern Ireland as people reflect 25 years on from the Good Friday Agreement. While the 25th anniversary of the signing of the accord is April 10th, the holy day of Good Friday will always be associated with the diplomatic feat that brought 30 years of bloodshed largely to an end. A number of key architects of the deal as well as current politicians gathered for a commemorative event at Stormont. (l to r) Bertie Ahern, George Mitchell and Tony Blair after they signed the Good Friday peace agreement in 1998 (Dan Chung/PA) Delivering a video address, Mr Mitchell said the greatest heroes from that time were the people of Northern Ireland and their political leaders. Advertisement He said: The people supported, worked for and established a democratic, peaceful process as their preferred form of governance. They rejected violence as a way to resolve their differences. Mr Mitchell said many politicians had taken huge risks. He added: But they did what was right for the people they represented and history will judge them favourably. The former senator said the Good Friday Agreement did not resolve all outstanding issues but that it did end political violence. The anniversary of the historic deal comes as Northern Irelands powersharing institutions remain collapsed in a protest by the DUP over post-Brexit trading arrangements. Mr Mitchell added: It is now up to the current leaders of Northern Ireland, of the United Kingdom, of Ireland, to act with the same courage and vision as did their predecessors 25 years ago. Current leaders can and must do whatever is necessary to preserve peace, to restore self-government to Northern Ireland, to ensure for those they represent freedom, hope and opportunity for all. Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern told the Stormont ceremony it was not fair to the people of Northern Ireland that some institutions of the Good Friday Agreement are not currently working. He said: Personally, I dont think it is sustainable or desirable or fair to the people of Northern Ireland that the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, whether they be here in the Assembly, the north south bodies or the British Irish council, are not working. Advertisement I just wish that those who have the power nowadays to make these things happen will do so very quickly when these few weeks are over. Otherwise, our efforts are partially in vain and I dont think any of us wish that. A number of Northern Ireland politicians who helped to negotiate the peace deal also addressed the event. Former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams told the Stormont event countless lives had been saved by the Good Friday Agreement (Liam McBurney/PA) Former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said countless lives had been saved by the Good Friday Agreement. He said: The last 25 years have been up and down, and there have been many twists and turns, but one thing is for certain, we are all in a better place. Despite current challenges, the future is bright. If you doubt that, think of the countless lives that have been saved or reflect on events in other parts of the world at this time. Referring to a number of young people who took part in the ceremony, former Ulster Unionist leader Lord Empey said: They are the second generation that has grown up in this country who have no working knowledge of what violence and our Troubles meant. If theres nothing else it has achieved, that in itself is a victory. Advertisement Former SDLP leader Mark Durkan said those who negotiated the agreement provided a lesson for today. He said: We can bring back the spirit and the ethic that they put into achieving the agreement. That sense of collective purpose, that ability to cut through all the noise of difference and create shared institutions and shared arrangements. Victims and survivors of the Troubles gather in Killough to watch the sun rise to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement (Liam McBurney/PA) On Friday morning, some victims of the Troubles gathered on a Co Down beach to watch the sun rise as they looked back on the deal that changed the regions future and became a blueprint for resolving global conflicts. In Belfast, people from the Shankill and Falls areas formed a human chain and stood in silence for 25 seconds. In Dublin, the names of the nearly 3,600 people who died as a result of conflict in Northern Ireland between 1966 and 2019 are being read out loud as part of a ceremony on St Stephens Green. Next week, US president Joe Biden will visit Belfast in a trip to commemorate a quarter of a decade since the US-brokered peace accord. The following week, further events will be held which are to be attended by former US president Bill Clinton and his wife, former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton. Gardai think the person believed to have stabbed a woman to death in an apartment in Limerick City acted alone. A source familiar with the investigation said gardai do not currently suspect that the person had assistance. On Thursday, a 26-year-old man was arrested by police in Northern Ireland "on suspicion of murder". The man was held and questioned at Musgrave Police station in Belfast. Detectives attached to Limericks Divisional Headquarters are believed to have travelled to the North to assist the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in their investigation. The victim, a woman aged in her 20s from Romania, was found with multiple stab wounds in an apartment on the Dock Road in Limerick City at around 1.30pm on Tuesday. Romanian television reported the woman was a 27-year-old mother of four. Advertisement Senior garda sources said the joint investigation was at an advanced stage following the mans arrest. The sources said gardai have contacted the victims family in Romania and a garda family liaison officer has been appointed. Cross-border cooperation In Limerick, gardai have harvested CCTV from the Dock Road and O'Curry Street areas, in addition to other locations in the city. The footage is being examined in an attempt to trace the movements of a man seen in the area between 1pm and 2pm on the day of the woman's death. A senior garda source said cross-border legislation has allowed gardai to "assist" the PSNI in the investigation. Gardai did not comment on whether a weapon has been recovered after teams combed a stretch of the Dock Road, OCurry Street and Henry Street searching for evidence. Forensic investigators have examined two locations - the apartment in which the woman's body was discovered and a nearby business premises. Gardai are appealing for anyone with information to contact Henry Street Garda station on 061-212400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666 111, or any Garda station. Former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has rejected suggestions by Tanaiste Micheal Martin that his party over-glorified paramilitary violence during The Troubles and failed to respond sufficiently to the victims of that violence. Micheal Martin made the comments during a Q&A session with Boston Globe journalist Kevin Cullen at the JFK Library in Boston last month. He told the audience of up to 200 people that Sinn Fein has to deal with the past". He claimed the party had attempted to rewrite history to justify terrible atrocities and acts of violence". And Sinn Fein, in my view, have over-glorified what happened in the last thirty years and havent responded sufficiently to the victims of violence that they were responsible for." However, in an interview with RTE Radio 1's Morning Ireland, Mr Adams said that we "all need to be careful with how we deal with the past". Advertisement Broadcaster Aine Lawlor also put comments made by Nichola McKee Corner, sister of murdered Lyra McKee, to Mr Adams. She said that Ms McKee Corner had told the Week in Politics that a lot of young people in Northern Ireland are being pulled down a road of glorifying what happened during the Troubles. Mr Adams said that he would take "take that from Lyra McKee's sister, but I won't take it from Micheal Martin". "Micheal Martin glorifies, rightly if you like, the men and women of the IRA of Cork in his time. I don't glorify. I deal with the reality. The people made a stand here. "Let's look to the future in all of this. It is nothing short of ridiculous that 25 years on without institutions in place, when Republicans are playing a very, very positive role, when the IRA has gone away. Here we are talking about the IRA. In God's name. With no institutions in place. " Mr Adams accused the Irish Government of being "asleep at the wheel" in terms of its responsibilities to the North. "In terms of its responsibilities to lead. To come in to the gap. To be there. To be putting it up to a British government which has no instinct whatsoever for this place -- right, wrong or indifferent. Unionist or Nationalist." Advertisement However, he said that he believes "the future is bright" for Northern Ireland in spite of certain difficulties being experienced currently. "Whatever about families of victims, including families of the IRA, want to say and needing to be heard and to be respected. An Tanaiste, a former Taoiseach has a responsibility to lead us all out of this current difficulty and there is a structure which the Irish Government is not working which is there to be worked. "You talked about victims a moment ago. What about the legacy the British government tore up? The Stormont House Agreement. It is not enough for An Tanaiste or An Taoiseach to give off about it. They should take an interstate case. "Face up to the British within the rules and regulations by which these matters are supposed to be governed. If Micheal Martin is as much concerned about the victims as he says he is then let him do what the victims are asking which in this case they are asking for the Irish Government to take an interstate case against the British government." Meanwhile, Mr Adams said that the DUP should be given a limited amount of time on the Windsor Framework. Ireland Events to be held in Northern Ireland to reflect o... Read More "Jeffrey (Donaldson) should be given a limited amount of time. Basically he is refusing to go in to an Assembly over an issue for which the Assembly has no responsibility for or authority over. "I think give them a limited amount of time. Don't put them under any unforeseen pressure. But make it clear. And don't wait. We are not waiting. Time is of the essence in all these matters." He added that he understood the decision by US president Joe Biden not to visit Stormont during his upcoming visit to Northern Ireland. "I sympathise with him not going. Why would he go to an empty building? He might as well go to a wake. It is a silliness to make a story out of that. I hope he has a good trip." The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has ruled out the prospect of subsidised housing for healthcare workers struggling to secure or retain accommodation. It follows calls from the Irish Nurses and Midwives organisation for the Housing Minister to consider the idea - particularly for new builds. The union is concerned the accommodation shortage could lead to further delays in the opening of the new National Children's Hospital - given the scarcity of housing in Dublin 8. This hospital, which is set to open in 2024,and has cost over 1 billion, could face delays due to a lack of staff. Construction workers for the building of the hospital are also struggling to find accommodation. However, Mr Donnelly says the solution to housing for nurses and doctors is the same as the solution for everyone else. Advertisement "There are no plans for that at this time. What the Government is focused on, is continuing to build new houses, affordable houses, social houses, owner-occupied houses, at record levels. Ireland Events to be held in Northern Ireland to reflect o... Read More "The solution for housing for nursing is the same solution for housing for everybody else, which is we need more housing." Sinn Fein is accusing the Government of having "its head in the sand" over the housing crisis, as the health spokesperson for the party David Cullinane said the affect of the housing crisis is being seen in the nursing sector. "If you talk to any of the nurses that have travelled, and have now left Ireland to go to Australia and elsewhere to work in their health services, it's mainly because of the pressures in the Irish health service and the cost of living. "Also, the inability of many of those same nurses to be able to afford to purchase their own homes in their own country, and that is a big problem." A young Ukrainian woman has found light at the end of the tunnel after landing a job as a tour guide in an Irish lighthouse. Julia Kozachenko arrived from war-torn Ukraine last September but has immersed herself in Irish life. She fled with her family as her home in the city of Mykolaiv began to come under threat from Russian forces. She recently landed herself a job as a tour guide at Fanad Lighthouse. And the multilingual young professional is looking forward to giving tours of the fabulous facility in both English and her native Ukrainian And she just couldn't hide her love for Fanad, Co Donegal and its people. Julia fled with her family as her home in the city of Mykolaiv began to come under threat from Russian forces. Julia said I am from Ukraine, down south, the city is called Mykolaiv and I arrived here in September and absolutely love Fanad. People here are brilliant, they are very friendly and helpful. Advertisement "I like this job over here because its a great experience for me to exchange a bit of culture and learn things for myself and give the information to other people; so, I just love it! The young Ukrainian woman had to quickly learn all about the history of the lighthouse and the region, so she was capable of giving tours. Julia admits that she has both sad and happy days since arriving in Ireland with her family but says she feels welcomed as well as safe and protected. Julia Kozachenko has settled in well in Fanad, Co Donegal. She added "I am thankful to all the amazing people who helped me, supported me, and stayed with me on my sad and happy days. "I am thankful to this land, country, and people who welcome me and my family. It is a pleasure to know that we can feel comfortable here, safe and protected. "I am surrounded by peace, kindness, and love of wonderful Irish people. May God protect and bless this country and the Irish people." Julia's new colleagues at the lighthouse are also delighted to have her on board - especially when they get tours of visiting Ukrainian people. A quick mention on the lighthouse's Facebook page said "Big welcome to our newest member of staff Julia. Multilingual and now a very happy resident in Fanad, Julia will be available to do our tours in Ukrainian." The 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement leads the front pages this Good Friday across Ireland. The Irish Times front page leads with a picture of former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair signing the agreement. The Irish Examiner leads with a warning from the PSNI that the New IRA are planning attacks in Derry on Easter Monday. It also has a picture of Shane Lowry, after a solid start to the Masters. The Irish Independent reveals that Air BnBs in tourist hotspots are set to be exempt from new regulations that are set to be introduced. The Echo shares the story of a woman from Cork who recently won 500,000 in the Lotto. The Irish Daily Star leads with preparations for the visit of US President Joe Biden to Ireland next week, while the PSNI have arrested a man in connection with the murder of a woman in Limerick. Advertisement British papers No story dominates the Good Friday newspaper front pages with a range of different splashes although one bank holiday tradition does appear in several titles. Both the Daily Mirror and The Sun warn of Easter getaway chaos, while The Independent joins them in warning of another difficult weekend for travellers. The Independent front page says two million Britons are heading abroad in the biggest getaway since Brexit with long queues for passport checks at Dover, cancelled flights and French protests lying in wait. The Sun adds gridlock for those staying at home to the mix on what it labels Bad Friday. On tomorrow's front page: Millions of Brits face Easter holiday from hell with motorways gridlocked and riots in France sparking travel mayhemhttps://t.co/gQclE0AGrT pic.twitter.com/vp5KpF3A6r The Sun (@TheSun) April 6, 2023 The Daily Mirror at least finds a silver lining for the holiday weekend in the shape of the weather. The visit of US President Joe Biden to Northern Ireland for the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement features on the front of The Daily Telegraph with warnings of attacks on police by dissident republicans. Advertisement The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph: 'IRA terror threat fear ahead of Biden visit'#TomorrowsPapersToday Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4OoUh6 pic.twitter.com/kLgN9H2k0T The Telegraph (@Telegraph) April 6, 2023 The Telegraph also features potential reparations after the King ordered research into the royal familys links with the slave trade, a story which dominates the front of The Daily Mail. MAIL: Royals hit by new payout demands over slavery links #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/A7buMeYaLK Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) April 6, 2023 That story also features on The Guardian which focuses on a call from the Lord Speaker for more experts appointed to the House of Lords, rather than government allies. THE GUARDIAN: Lords needs more experts, says speaker, as former PMs line up allies #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/1iPEiGsaS0 Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) April 6, 2023 The Times looks ahead to next weeks planned junior doctors strike and warns it could overwhelm A&E departments. Ukraine is the focus for the Daily Express, which reports on the war-torn countrys ambassador to the UK insisting they will fight to the last man rather than negotiate with Russia. Advertisement For the second day running, the i leads on smart motorways as it says pressure is growing to scrap the entire network. And the Daily Star reports that Italy is looking to ban English words and insisting on the correct pronunciation of bruschetta. The series "Duty After School" follows a group of high school seniors fighting insect-like creatures. Courtesy of Tving By Lee Gyu-lee The creators of Tving's original series "Duty After School" said that they felt overwhelmed at first to make a live adaptation of the hit webcomics. "Duty After School" series director Sung Yong-il / Courtesy of Tving "The original webcomics were very popular and there are fans of that original work. So there was a lot of pressure on how they might accept the parts that changed" the series' director Sung Yong-il said during an interview with The Korea Times via video chat, Thursday. Based on the webcomics of the same name by the popular cartoonist Ha Il-kwon, the action thriller series follows students at Sungjin High School, fighting against insect-like creatures. When mysterious beings start to invade the world and attack humans, the Korean government makes it mandatory for all high school seniors, both boys and girls, to enlist in the armed forces. With only 50 days left to their university entrance exams, the students at Sunjin High School take up guns instead of pens to commence their military training in the schoolyard, preparing themselves for battle with the invading creatures. A scene from the series "Duty After School" / Courtesy of Tving Lee Nam-gyu and Yoon Soo, the screenplay adaptation cowriters who adapted the webcomics for the series, said that their priority in scripting the adaptation was to make the story relatable. "I'm a huge fan of Ha, the cartoonist. So I put a lot of thought into actualizing the original work and making it realistic," Yoon said. "The concept of high school seniors getting into a war felt like it could be unconvincing. So unlike the original work, we put in real civil defense and reserve force concepts." Lee said he tried to fill in the gaps between stories that were not covered in the original webcomics. Yoon Soo, screenplay adaptation cowriter of series "Duty After School" / Courtesy of Tving "Every time I write a series, I always prioritize making things believable. There were some things that only webcomics could do so I focused on finding relatable elements to make into series," he said. "We put in a lot of effort to fill up the characters and stories to connect the in-betweens." The series, which released the first six episodes on March 31, is enjoying huge success on the platform, breaking a record by collecting the highest number of new subscriptions out of all of Tving's original series. The director said that he wanted the viewers to follow the story from the students' perspectives. "I tried not to make the kids look bad. I wanted them to look as bright as they can be and emphasize how they care for each other," he said. "I remember seeing some comment that said, 'save the kids.' I've tried to make each of the students leave an impression on the viewers, and seeing that kind of response assured me that the viewers are empathizing with the students." A scene from the series "Duty After School" which commenced streaming on March 31. Courtesy of Tving The firm which audits the Scottish National Party's accounts has resigned, it has emerged. Accountancy firm Johnston Carmichael informed the party that it took the decision after reviewing its client portfolio. Earlier this week, former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, who is former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeons husband, was arrested on Wednesday morning by police investigating the party's finances. He was later released without charge pending further investigation. The partys treasurer is now seeking another firm to audit the partys finances. An SNP spokesperson said: We can confirm that Johnston Carmichael will not be providing audit services to the SNP this year. The national treasurer is undertaking a tendering process for alternative provision and we have advised the Electoral Commission of that position. The BBC reported that Johnston Carmichaels resignation took place before Mr Murrells arrest. Advertisement Johnston Carmichael had worked with the party for more than a decade. They informed the party they had taken the decision to resign following a review of our client portfolio and existing resources and commitments. Large political parties are required to submit independently-audited accounts to the Electoral Commission each year. The decision means the SNP now have until the first week of July to present their accounts or face possible sanctions, including an independent audit. The SNP is seeking new auditors (Andrew Milligan/PA) On Thursday, new SNP leader Humza Yousaf said it was very, very clear that the governance of the party was not as it should be. He has promised a review of governance and transparency with external input, which will be discussed at a meeting of the partys national executive committee later this month. As Mr Murrell was arrested, a large number of police were seen entering he and Ms Sturgeons house in Glasgow as well as the SNPs offices in Edinburgh. A spokesperson for Johnston Carmichael told the PA news agency: As a regulated organisation, we adhere to our obligations on client confidentiality and do not discuss client business. Conservative MSP Donald Cameron said: This resignation only raises further questions about the increasingly murky picture surrounding the SNPs finances. Advertisement Given this firm have audited the partys accounts for so long, the SNP must be fully transparent over why they have decided to quit now. The extraordinary events of recent weeks leave the SNP with big questions to answer and their auditors resignation only adds to the growing number of issues they must address. The public are sick of the SNP shrouding matters relating to their finances behind a wall of secrecy and senior figures including Humza Yousaf and Nicola Sturgeon must be upfront about this situation. Florida governor Ron DeSantis has chosen a finance director for his prospective US presidential campaign, two sources close to Mr DeSantis said on Thursday. The selection and other recent hires by Mr DeSantis and Never Back Down PAC, the main outside spending group supporting his likely run, show the governor is moving full steam ahead, although he has yet to formally launch his bid. Lauren Lofstrom, who served as finance director for Texas senator Ted Cruz during his 2016 presidential campaign, is joining Mr DeSantis' political operation and has begun meeting with the governor's allies to discuss fundraising strategies, said the sources who spoke on condition of anonymity. Ms Lofstrom did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for Mr DeSantis also did not respond to a request for comment. Advertisement The hire comes as Mr DeSantis' main rival, former US president Donald Trump, enjoys a bump in the polls. Some 58 per cent of Republican primary voters support Mr Trump, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Thursday, after he was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records by prosecutors in New York City. That is up from 48 per cent from the Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Monday, prior to his arraignment. Mr DeSantis' support stood at 21 per cent in the Thursday poll. Others who have joined Mr DeSantis' political operation include Jason Johnson, who served as Mr Cruz's chief strategist in 2016, the sources said. Several high-profile operatives supporting Mr DeSantis are Cruz alums. While the Texas senator ultimately lost to Mr Trump, Mr Cruz won the pivotal state of Iowa and finished second in a crowded field to the former president. A third source said Roy Bailey, described in news reports as Mr Trump's former national finance committee co-chairman, was also under consideration for a role. Mr Bailey did not respond to a request for comment. The Israeli military has struck targets in the Gaza Strip, pushing the region towards a wider conflagration after a day of rocket fire along the countrys northern and southern borders following two days of unrest at Jerusalems most sensitive holy site. Gaza militants quickly fired off a new barrage of rockets, setting off air raid sirens across southern Israel. The Israeli air strikes set off at least four loud explosions in Gaza. The Israeli military said it struck a pair of tunnels and two weapons manufacturing sites. Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli air strike in the central Gaza Strip (Fatima Shbair/AP) The sound of outgoing rocket fire could be heard in Gaza. It was the latest sign of rising tensions during a sensitive holiday period. Advertisement Similar fighting in 2021 led to an 11-day war between Israel and Hamas. The air strikes came after militants in Lebanon fired a heavy barrage of rockets at Israel earlier in the day, forcing people across Israels northern frontier into bomb shelters, wounding at least two people. In Gaza, militants also fired rockets towards Israel. Israeli military officials said the rocket fire on both fronts was carried out by Palestinian militants in connection with this weeks violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the heart of Jerusalems Old City, where Israeli police stormed into the building with tear gas and stun grenades on two straight days. The violent scenes from the mosque have ratcheted up tensions across the region. The air strikes came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was meeting with his Security Cabinet to discuss the rocket fire. Palestinians burn tyres and wave the national flag during a protest against an Israeli police raid of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, along the border fence with Israel, east of Gaza City (Adel Hana/AP) Following the nearly three-hour meeting, Mr Netanyahus office put out a short statement saying a series of decisions had been made. Israels response, tonight and beyond, will extract a heavy price from our enemies, Mr Netanyahu said. Advertisement There was no immediate Israeli response in Lebanon, where militants fired some 34 rockets across the border. The military said 25 were shot down by its Iron Dome aerial defence system. Five rockets struck Israeli territory and the rest of the strikes were being investigated. Israel said two people were wounded. The unusually large salvo of rockets raised fears of a wider conflagration, as Israels bitter enemy, the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, holds sway over much of southern Lebanon. Over the past two days, tensions have skyrocketed at the sacred compound home to the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and along Israels tense border with Gaza. Israeli police detain a Palestinian in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound (Mahmoud Illean/AP) In a briefing with reporters, Lt Col Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, said the army drew a clear connection between the Lebanese rocket fire and the recent unrest in Jerusalem. Its a Palestinian-oriented event, he said, adding that either the Hamas or Islamic Jihad militant groups, which are based in Gaza but also operate in Lebanon, could be involved. But he said the army believed that Hezbollah and the Lebanese government were aware of what happened and also held responsibility. Advertisement He declined to say how Israel might respond, saying there were all sorts of scenarios. Earlier on Thursday and late on Wednesday night, Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired several rockets towards Israel in protest over the Israeli police storming into the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the heart of Jerusalems Old City with tear gas and stun grenades. On Thursday, Hezbollah condemned Israels storming of Al-Aqsa. The shrine the third-holiest site in Islam stands on a hilltop revered by Jews as the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism. No faction in Lebanon claimed responsibility for the salvo of rockets, which set off air raid sirens across the countrys north. Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli air strike in the central Gaza Strip (Fatima Shbair/AP) A Lebanese security official said the countrys security forces believed the rockets were launched by a Lebanon-based Palestinian militant group, not by Hezbollah militants. The official said there were no casualties on the Lebanese side. A spokesperson for Hezbollah did not respond to a request for comment. Both Israel and Hezbollah have avoided an all-out conflict since a 34-day war in 2006 ended with a draw. Tensions have simmered along the Lebanese border as Israel appears to have ratcheted up its shadow war against Iranian-linked targets in Syria, another close ally of Iran, Israels archenemy in the region. Advertisement Suspected Israeli air strikes in Syria in recent weeks have killed two Iranian military advisers and temporarily put the countrys two largest airports out of service. Lt Col Hecht said Thursdays rocket fire was not believed to be connected to events in Syria. In Washington, Principal Deputy State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said: Israel has legitimate security concerns and has every right to defend themselves. But he also urged calm in Jerusalem. An Israeli police officer stands beside a crater where remains of an intercepted rocket fired from Lebanon fell in Shlomi, northern Israel (Ariel Schalit/AP) We emphasise the importance of upholding the historic status quo at the holy sites in Jerusalem and any unilateral action that jeopardises the status quo to us is unacceptable, he said. In Israel, Thursdays rocket fire from Lebanon sent shrapnel flying that wounded at least two people, according to the Galilee Medical Centre. Israeli police said a bomb squad removed a number of fragments from areas in the north. Videos on social media showed huge plumes of dark smoke billowing from Israels northern hills and streaks through the sky left by the Iron Dome defence system. Widely circulated photos showed shrapnel that punched a hole in a street in the northern Israeli town of Shlomi and at least one building with its windows blown out. Advertisement The Lebanese army said it found missile launchers and a number of rockets intended for launch in the vicinity of the towns of Zibqin and Qalila in south Lebanon and was working to dismantle them. The Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad hailed the rockets as a heroic operation against the Israeli crimes in the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which rules Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, is visiting Lebanon, where he met with exiled leaders of Palestinian militant groups late on Thursday. Our Palestinian people will not remain passive towards the ongoing aggression, he said. Smoke rises from a fire after rockets fired from Lebanon struck Bezet, northern Israel (Fadi Amun/AP) In Jerusalem, tensions ran high after two nights of unrest. Conflicting claims over the sacred compound home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque have spiralled into violence in the past, including a bloody 11-day war in 2021 between Israel and Hamas. For the past two nights a volatile time during which the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish holiday of Passover overlap Palestinians have barricaded themselves in the mosque with stones and firecrackers. Worshippers have been demanding the right to pray overnight inside the mosque which authorities typically only permit during the last 10 days of the month-long holiday. They have also stayed in the mosque in protest over threats by religious Jews to carry out a ritual animal slaughter at the sacred site for Passover. Israel bars ritual slaughter on the site, but calls by Jewish extremists to revive the practice, including offers of cash rewards to anyone who even attempts to bring an animal into the compound, have amplified fears among Muslims that Israel is plotting to take over the site. Early on Wednesday, Israeli police raided the mosque, firing stun grenades and rubber bullets to evict worshippers who had locked the doors of the building. Palestinians hurled stones and fireworks at officers. After a few hours of scuffles that left a trail of damage, police managed to drag everyone out of the compound. Police fiercely beat Palestinians and arrested more than 400 people. Israeli authorities control access to the area but the compound is administered by Islamic and Jordanian officials. The violence at the site has resonated across the region, with condemnations pouring in from Muslim leaders. At least one person has been killed and six others including British citizens were wounded when a car was driven into a number of people in Tel Aviv, Israeli authorities said. The driver rammed into a group of people near a popular seaside park in the city, which is Israels commercial hub, police said. Israels rescue service said a 30-year-old Italian tourist was killed and five other Italian and British citizens including a 74-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl received mild to moderate injuries. Police said they shot and killed the driver of the car, later identifying him as a 45-year-old Palestinian citizen of Israel from the village of Kafr Qassem. Smoke rises from a fire after rockets fired from Lebanon struck Bezet, northern Israel (Fadi Amun/AP) Advertisement Italian Premier Giorgia Melonis office expressed sympathy for the family of the victim and solidarity with Israel for the vile attack. She identified the man killed as Alessandro Parini, from Rome. The attack came against the backdrop of heightened tensions after Israeli air strikes on Palestinian militant targets in both Lebanon and Gaza, as well as a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank that killed two people. That followed days of violence and unrest in Jerusalems most sensitive holy site, the compound of the Al-Aqsa mosque in the Old City. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was calling up all reserve forces in Israels border police to confront the terror attacks. The Hamas militant group that rules Gaza praised the attack in Tel Aviv as a response to Israels crimes against Al-Aqsa Mosque and worshippers. Earlier, an alleged Palestinian shooting attack near an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank killed two British-Israeli sisters and seriously wounded their mother, Israeli officials said. The attack, coming after weeks of heightened unrest in the West Bank, suggested the recent tensions in Jerusalem could be spilling over to the occupied territory. The scene of the attack in Bezet, northern Israel (Fadi Amun/AP) Advertisement Even as quiet returned to Israels northern and southern borders, the early morning Israeli strikes on Lebanon which analysts described as the most serious border violence since Israels 2006 war with Lebanons Hezbollah militants threatened to push the confrontation into a new phase. Israeli strikes came in retaliation for a major barrage of rockets from Lebanon the day before, after Israeli police raids at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem spiralled into unrest and sparked outrage across the Arab world. Although the Israeli military was quick to emphasise that its warplanes struck sites belonging to only Palestinian militant groups, the barrage risks drawing in Israels bitter foe Hezbollah, which holds sway over much of southern Lebanon and has in the past portrayed itself as a defender of the Palestinians and the contested city of Jerusalem. The shooting in the West Bank, near an Israeli settlement in the Jordan Valley, killed the sisters in their 20s and seriously wounded their 45-year-old mother, Israeli officials said. The women were British citizens, the Foreign Office said, expressing remorse for their deaths and calling for both sides to de-escalate. The three were residents of the Israeli settlement of Efrat, near the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, said Oded Revivi, the settlements mayor. Advertisement The girls father was driving in a car behind his wife and daughters and witnessed the attack, the mayor added. Medics said they dragged the unconscious women from the smashed car, which appeared to have been pushed off the road. Israeli police detain a Palestinian in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound (Mahmoud Illean/AP) Mr Netanyahu and defence minister Yoav Gallant toured the site of the shooting late on Friday and vowed to catch the attacker. Its just a matter of time, and not much time, until we settle the score, Mr Netanyahu said. Israeli missiles had earlier struck an open field in the southern Lebanese town of Qalili, near the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh, according to an Associated Press photographer and residents, killing several sheep and inflicting minor injuries on residents, including Syrian refugees. Other strikes hit a small bridge and power transformer in the nearby town of Maaliya and damaged an irrigation system providing water to orchards in the area. The Israeli military said it was boosting infantry and artillery forces in a defensive move to prepare for all possible scenarios. A Palestinian official said Egyptian security officials were working with Hamas and Israel to de-escalate the situation. Advertisement Later on Friday, there were signs that both sides were trying to keep the hostilities in check. Fighting on Israels northern and southern borders subsided after dawn, and midday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque passed peacefully after an early flashpoint. In 2021, an escalation also triggered by clashes at the compound spilled over into an 11-day war between Israel and Gazas Hamas rulers. A protest against an Israeli police raid on the Al-Aqsa Mosque (Khalil Hamra/AP) Chaos erupted at one of the entrances to the esplanade before dawn prayers as Israeli police wielding batons descended on crowds of Palestinian worshippers, who chanted slogans praising Hamas as they tried to squeeze into the site. An hour later, according to videos, people leaving the prayers staged a vast protest on the limestone courtyard, with Palestinians raising their fists and shouting in support of Hamas rocket fire, and Israeli police forced their way into the compound. Police did not comment on the earlier beatings, but said security forces entered the compound after prayers in response to masked suspects who threw rocks towards officers at one of the gates. The Israeli military said Palestinian militants in Gaza had so far fired 44 rockets from Gaza, only 23 of which crossed into Israeli territory. The others either failed to launch, fell into the Mediterranean Sea or were intercepted by Israels Iron Dome aerial defence system, the military said. Advertisement Most missiles that crossed the border struck open areas in Israels south, but one landed in the town of Sderot, sending shrapnel slicing into a house. The Israeli military said it pounded Gaza with more air strikes, hitting 10 targets described as underground tunnels, along with weapons production and development sites belonging largely to the Hamas militant group. There were no immediate reports of casualties in Gaza, but the Palestinian Health Ministry said one of the strikes caused some damage to a childrens hospital in Gaza City. US road safety regulators have sent a team to investigate a crash involving a Tesla that may have been operating on a partially automated driving system when it struck a student who had just got off a school bus. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it will investigate the crash in Halifax County, North Carolina on March 15th which injured a 17-year-old student. The State Highway Patrol said the driver of the 2022 Tesla Model Y, a 51-year-old man, failed to stop for the bus, which was displaying all its activated warning devices. Tesla Model Y (Alamy/PA) Sending special investigation teams to crashes means the agency suspects Teslas were operating systems that can handle some aspects of driving, including Autopilot and Full Self-Driving. Despite the names, Tesla says these are driver-assist systems and drivers must be ready to intervene at all times. Advertisement Tillman Mitchell, a student at Haliwa-Saponi Tribal School in Hollister, had just got off the bus and was walking across the street to his house when he was hit, according to the Highway Patrol. He was flown to hospital with life-threatening injuries but was listed in good condition two days after the crash. Israel has conducted rare air strikes in Lebanon and continued bombarding the Gaza Strip in an escalation that sparked fears of a broader conflict after violence over Jerusalems most sensitive site. With tensions running high across the region, an alleged Palestinian shooting attack near an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank killed two British-Israeli sisters and seriously wounded their mother, Israeli officials said. The attack, coming after weeks of heightened unrest in the West Bank, suggested the recent tensions in Jerusalem could be spilling over to the occupied territory. Even as quiet returned to Israels northern and southern borders, the early morning Israeli strikes on Lebanon which analysts described as the most serious border violence since Israels 2006 war with Lebanons Hezbollah militants threatened to push the confrontation into a new phase. Advertisement Smoke rises from a fire after rockets from Lebanon struck Bezet, northern Israel (Fadi Amun/AP) Israeli strikes came in retaliation for a major barrage of rockets from Lebanon the day before, after Israeli police raids at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem spiralled into unrest and sparked outrage across the Arab world. Although the Israeli military was quick to emphasise that its warplanes struck sites belonging to only Palestinian militant groups, the barrage risks drawing in Israels bitter foe Hezbollah, which holds sway over much of southern Lebanon and has in the past portrayed itself as a defender of the Palestinians and the contested city of Jerusalem. The shooting in the West Bank, near an Israeli settlement in the Jordan Valley, killed the sisters in their 20s and seriously wounded their 45-year-old mother, Israeli officials said. The women were British citizens, the Foreign Office said, expressing remorse for their deaths and calling for both sides to de-escalate. The three were residents of the Israeli settlement of Efrat, near the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, said Oded Revivi, the settlements mayor. The girls father was driving in a car behind his wife and daughters and witnessed the attack, the mayor added. Medics said they dragged the unconscious women from the smashed car, which appeared to have been pushed off the road. Advertisement Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and defence minister Yoav Gallant toured the site of the shooting late on Friday and vowed to catch the attacker. Its just a matter of time, and not much time, until we settle the score, Mr Netanyahu said. Israeli police detain a Palestinian in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound (Mahmoud Illean/AP) Israeli missiles had earlier struck an open field in the southern Lebanese town of Qalili, near the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh, according to an Associated Press photographer and residents, killing several sheep and inflicting minor injuries on residents, including Syrian refugees. Other strikes hit a small bridge and power transformer in the nearby town of Maaliya and damaged an irrigation system providing water to orchards in the area. The Israeli military said it was boosting infantry and artillery forces in a defensive move to prepare for all possible scenarios. A Palestinian official said Egyptian security officials were working with Hamas and Israel to de-escalate the situation. Later on Friday, there were signs that both sides were trying to keep the hostilities in check. Fighting on Israels northern and southern borders subsided after dawn, and midday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque passed peacefully after an early flashpoint. Advertisement In 2021, an escalation also triggered by clashes at the compound spilled over into an 11-day war between Israel and Gazas Hamas rulers. A protest against an Israeli police raid on the Al-Aqsa Mosque (Khalil Hamra/AP) Chaos erupted at one of the entrances to the esplanade before dawn prayers as Israeli police wielding batons descended on crowds of Palestinian worshippers, who chanted slogans praising Hamas as they tried to squeeze into the site. An hour later, according to videos, people leaving the prayers staged a vast protest on the limestone courtyard, with Palestinians raising their fists and shouting in support of Hamas rocket fire, and Israeli police forced their way into the compound. Police did not comment on the earlier beatings, but said security forces entered the compound after prayers in response to masked suspects who threw rocks towards officers at one of the gates. The Israeli military said Palestinian militants in Gaza had so far fired 44 rockets from Gaza, only 23 of which crossed into Israeli territory. The others either failed to launch, fell into the Mediterranean Sea or were intercepted by Israels Iron Dome aerial defence system, the military said. Most missiles that crossed the border struck open areas in Israels south, but one landed in the town of Sderot, sending shrapnel slicing into a house. Advertisement The Israeli military said it pounded Gaza with more air strikes, hitting 10 targets described as underground tunnels, along with weapons production and development sites belonging largely to the Hamas militant group. There were no immediate reports of casualties in Gaza, but the Palestinian Health Ministry said one of the strikes caused some damage to a childrens hospital in Gaza City. Advertisement Eating outRestaurant news Is St Kilda about to have a restaurant and bar renaissance? New restaurant and bar openings and shiny new developments point to a brighter future for the beleaguered suburb. Emma Breheny April 7, 2023 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share Its early days, but the opening or renovation of 10 quality hospitality venues in St Kilda, plus an influx of high-profile property investors, suggests the suburb may be on the cusp of a renaissance. Vacancy rates for Fitzroy Street dropped to 5.6 per cent in December 2022, according to local council data, down from the circa 30 per cent norm in the years preceding COVID. The Saint team, from left, James D Field, Mrinal Beekarry and Gary Lai, are a welcome addition to down-at-heel Fitzroy Street. Simon Schluter The construction of high-end residential and retail premises is exciting, says James D. Field, co-owner of the newly renovated Saint Hotel that opened last month with premium food and cocktails. Other new St Kilda additions include cocktail bar Lady Peacock, a revamped Post Office Club Hotel, Italian restaurant Abbiocco and Loti on the ground-floor of the luxury St Moritz apartments near the foreshore. Advertisement Similar residential projects are due over the next five years from upscale developers such as Fortis, who have spent $25 million on a five-storey mixed-use project, while a QT Hotel is also proposed. Cafe Di Stasio, which has traded for 35 years on Fitzroy Street, reopened last October after a long hiatus, partly caused by staff shortages. Loti is part of a wave of new upscale hospitality openings in St Kilda. Wayne Taylor The St Kilda end of Carlisle Street was highly desirable to Michael Woods and his business partners who opened Latin American restaurant Rufio in January. Its a central location and undervalued, I think, compared to Chapel Street and Richmond. We saw it as an area of growth post-COVID, Woods says. Advertisement David Blakeley, president of the Fitzroy Street Business Association, describes the strip as the street that had COVID before COVID came. But a drying up of tourists due to the pandemic may have finally shifted the beleaguered boulevard away from backpackers and late-night revelry towards a place for locals. Revival hopes as locals begin to reclaim Fitzroy Street in pandemic Since 2020, projects such as Renew Fitzroy Street have helped fill empty shops with short-term tenants from creative fields. The next step would be daytime traders, such as butchers, that the local community can use, Blakely says. Geospatial data gathered by Propella.ai from mobile phones shows only five per cent of visitors to Fitzroy Street live in St Kilda. Real estate agent Tom Larwill of Colliers, who has worked in the area for six years, is part of a new project to improve this. Under High Street CPR, Colliers will be the sole agent for a strip of Fitzroy Street shops, hand-picking retail tenants that complement each other. Advertisement The attitude of just putting any tenant in because youve had a property vacant for a long time needs to change. It needs a bit of thought, he says. The art-filled Cafe Di Stasio has reopened its doors on Fitzroy Street, a positive sign for the area. Supplied Rinaldo Di Stasio and Mallory Wall of Cafe Di Stasio say bold ideas are needed in St Kilda, such as converting vacant shops into residences with retail at the front, similar to Naples bassi. They also want City of Port Phillip to improve street cleaning, remove bike lanes that affect car access and to present a vision for revitalisation. Its all up to individuals and private money, says Wall. There has to be some sort of support and gameplan from the council. Di Stasio agrees. We just cant roll the dice and hope that it works, he says. Advertisement Port Phillip mayor Heather Cunsolo sees a change in the conversation in local residents Facebook groups, with more enthusiasm about hospitality and fewer concerns about safety. I think we are starting to see [the rebirth]. It feels like murmurs, but it feels really like its coming. But it doesnt mean we stop, she says. St Kildas unique history and location are worth celebrating, according to local traders. Simon Schluter Among the reasons for St Kildas upswing, she identifies private investment and the councils own efforts, such as improving safety and supporting events and trader associations. The councils St Kilda Strategic Plan is also being implemented over 20 years to improve the businesses along Carlisle, Fitzroy and Acland streets. The council is currently considering two high-end developments, she adds. Advertisement Woods, who lives in St Kilda, says the signs are positive, with cleaner streets, an improvement in the quality of venues, and more late-night trade on Carlisle Street compared to 10 years ago. The rebooted Prince Hotel, with its newly hatted Dining Room, is held up by many locals as a symbol of St Kildas potential. The Prince of Wales has a new identity that many feel better suits the St Kilda of today. Penny Stephens The sticky carpet days are long gone, says Blakeley. Theyve repositioned the pub. It reflects the demographic of now, not the demographic of 30 years ago. He believes that Fitzroy Streets failure to move with the times contributed to its demise. The perfect Fitzroy Street would be a mix of the old, something contemporary, and a bit of a daytime trade with the night-time trade Theres nothing like it in Melbourne: its not northside, and its not Brighton. A lot of brands are pulling out [of plus-size], she says. Its not cost-effective to stay in retail spaces like that ... We constantly reach out to brands and ask [how] they are catering [for plus-sized consumers]. Curvy Sam also relayed in her video that Myer staff told her that Myers own plus-sized brand, Taking Shape, was no longer on the shop floor at Chadstone, despite it being one of the companys more high-profile locations. Model Ashley Graham has appeared in campaigns for The Commonry. Credit: AP David Jones head of menswear, childrens wear and home, Chris Wilson, says the company has invested in more brands with extended sizing, including The Commonry, which has featured model Ashley Graham in its campaigns. This month, David Jones will launch Curve Project, which offers up to size 24, in seven stores across four states. Previously, this brand has only traded online, but we see an opportunity to expand into stores to offer a destination for curvy women, Wilson says. Curvy Sam says the fact that many curvy brands are only available online is a form of discrimination, or at the very least exclusion, denying plus-sized consumers the in-store experience, and sometimes forcing them to pay postage that straight-sized people can avoid by going to the shops. She accuses some brands of performative inclusion, possibly for the halo effect of being seen to be doing something. They will take our money, but they wont actually cater for us, she says. I want to be proved wrong. Department stores have the space, they have the floor, they could make a lot of money. I wouldnt blink at spending $300 on a dress. Department stores have the space, they have the floor, they could make a lot of money. Curvy Sam, plus-size fashion influencer The frustrations Curvy Sam has experienced are in part what led her to create her own brand, Hildas, which launched this week with a range of robes and sleep dresses in size 8 to 34. Gary Mortimer, a professor of marketing at Queensland University of Technology, says its unacceptable for brands to be tokenistic about inclusivity. If this is a segment you [a brand] wish to move into, you simply cant pay it lip service, you cant bolt it on without doing the necessary research styles and cuts and tailoring to suit a person of a larger figure, Mortimer says. Wilson says David Jones is aiming to increase its options for larger men, including a dedicated section on its website to make shopping easier. Theres obviously still lots of work to do, he says. Myer carries several brands up to size 30, according to a spokeswoman. The dominant players in the plus-size industry in Australia, which was worth $1.2 billion in 2022 according to market analysts IBISWorld, are City Chic, Taking Shape and Mosaic Brands, which owns the Beme and Autograph labels. Tara McKeon, a former emergency nurse whose weight reached 140 kilograms after the birth of her first child, started Proud Poppy Clothing four years ago after feeling disenfranchised while trying to buy clothes. Women shouldnt have to feel like this. I was 31 at the time and shopping at Millers or Kmart and thinking, This is not OK, she says. Tara McKeon, a former emergency nurse who founded Proud Poppy Clothing. Proud Poppy has grown to three stores two in Melbourne and one on the Gold Coast plus a thriving online business, and caters for sizes 6 to 28, though McKeon, who is size 18, has plans to extend that to size 32. She says she has had customers burst into tears from finally being able to buy clothes they love. One woman messaged to say that although McKeon was no longer an emergency nurse, she was saving lives by giving women hope. Its given women back choice, quality of life, they can go out and experience things and feel good, she says. The demand for plus sizes among fashion-conscious consumers has also led brands such as Portmans, Gorman and Forever New to expand into curve sizing. But Curvy Sam says the experience she documents her shopping trips to these stores, among others, for her TikTok audience is mixed. She says some brands have good intentions, but they fall short when trying to adapt straight-sized styles to a larger pattern. Regardless of someones health and size, we should be able to buy clothes, she says. Being in a bigger body, we have lumps and bumps, we arent just straight up and down like a size 10. Portmans, for example, only offers its curve range online and in three stores, all of which are located inside outlet centres. Gorman, which integrates curve into its main line, goes up to a size 20. Loading A spokeswoman for Forever New says it has 41 dedicated curve stores, and carries its plus-size range in two regular stores. The company recently extended its curve range to a size 24, up from a size 22, and uses size-18 models in its marketing and e-commerce. Managing director Carolyn Mackenzie says the company has recently added six new curve stores, and has entered the Canadian market. As we continue on our journey to becoming more size-inclusive, we have expanded the number of locations where our curve range is available, she says. McKeon says she cant understand why some brands jump on the curve bandwagon but stop short of being truly inclusive in their sizing. They just dont want fat people associated with their brands. Theyre happy to take their money but there ... is this stigma. The demand is there, the women are there, they need to wear clothes, they want to buy clothes, she says. When you see these brands jumping on, when they have been around for years, [you have to ask] are they truly passionate about helping women, and the body positivity movement, or do they just not want to miss out on sales? Car rolls down embankment into freight train in Sydney Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Were working to restore it. Please try again later. Dismiss A man was shot dead by police after he allegedly stabbed an officer in the upper back on Friday morning. Police were called to a home on Bishopsgate Street in Wickham, an inner suburb of Newcastle, about 8am following reports of a theft. When two constables arrived at the home, a man allegedly threatened them with a knife. The man then allegedly stabbed one of the officers in the upper back. The second officer suffered injuries to her hands. Police then shot the man, and he died at the scene. Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho speaks during a meeting held at Samsung Electronics's chip plant in Pyeongtaek, 65 kilometers south of Seoul, April 7, in this photo released by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Yonhap Korea will spare no effort to support local chipmakers amid the industrywide slump, the finance minister said Friday, vowing to provide various incentives, such as tax cuts. "Chips act as the brain for cutting-edge industries including artificial intelligence and future mobility," Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho said during his visit to Samsung's production line in Pyeongtaek, 65 kilometers south of Seoul. South Korea has been struggling to revitalize its semiconductor industry, the backbone for Asia's fourth-largest economy, amid the global downcycle in the industry. Exports of chips, the mainstay product, reached $8.59 billion in March, plunging 34.5 percent on-year. The parliament last month passed a revision of the Act on Restriction of Special Taxation, also dubbed the K-Chips Act, which centers on expanding the tax credit rate for chipmakers. Under the bill, the tax credit rate for conglomerates will rise to 15 percent from the current 8 percent, while the rate for small and medium-sized businesses will increase to 25 percent from 16 percent. Choo added he "highly evaluates" Samsung's decision to spend 300 trillion won ($227.3 billion) over the next 20 years for a new chip cluster in Yongin, 40 kilometers south of Seoul, despite uncertainties in the industry. Earlier in the day, Samsung Electronics said it cut memory production, as its first-quarter profit marks the worst in more than a decade amid the chip downturn. The world's largest memory chip and smartphone maker estimated its January-March operating profit at 600 billion won, sharply down from 14.12 trillion won a year ago. (Yonhap) State and territory treasurers have urged the federal government to deal with the pressures on the nations jobs market by increasing the availability of childcare, fast-tracking skilled migrants and solving a shortage of workers in the care sector. In a submission to the governments employment white paper, the board of treasurers said reducing barriers to work including giving parents better access to early childhood education would improve productivity and employment. Improved access to early childhood education, including out-of-hours care, is vital for improved workplace participation. Credit: Ryan Stuart High-quality, accessible and affordable early childhood education and care are critical not only for early childhood development but also for increasing workforce participation, improving gender pay equity and creating a more inclusive workforce, the treasurers said. On Saturday, federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers will release all 400 submissions to the white paper that was promised after last years jobs and skills summit. Jerusalem: A shooting in the northern West Bank on Friday killed two Israeli sisters and seriously injured their mother, adding to an already tense atmosphere in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories during a holiday week marred by violence. The sisters, 21 and 16, lived in Efrat, a settlement just south of Jerusalem, according to a statement from Oded Revivi, the mayor of Efrat. Their mother, who is in her 40s, was injured in the attack, Revivi said in a voice message. The family was on its way to a holiday gathering in the north when the attack occurred, Revivi said. Palestinians inspect damage from overnight Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on Friday. Credit: Israeli soldiers blocked roads around the scene and were searching for the perpetrators of the shooting, which they are treating as a terrorist attack, the Israel Defence Forces said on Twitter on Friday afternoon local time. Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, praised the shooting in a statement, though it did not explicitly claim responsibility. Wellington: New Zealand citizens living in Australia have been thrown a lifeline that could make them eligible to vote in this years election even if they were locked out of the country during the pandemic. New Zealanders head to the polls on October 14, when Chris Hipkins Labour government, inherited from Jacinda Ardern, vies for a third term. New Zealand is keen to have its overseas citizens and permanent residents vote in October. Credit: NZ Herald/AP There are around 700,000 Kiwis living in Australia, many of whom may be eligible to vote, though fewer than less than 10 per cent are currently registered. Under electoral laws, voters must have visited New Zealand in the previous three years to be eligible to cast a ballot. However, parliament has now widened that eligibility to reflect the difficulties of travel during the COVID-19 border closures. campus news Journey from $5 to MD, PhD inspires story-sharing podcast Daniel Oluwagbemileke Popoola records his podcast in a sixth-floor studio inside the Jacobs School building. The podcast, Debriefing With The DOPe Doctor, encourages guests to share their stories about the obstacles they have overcome along their paths to success. Photo: Sandra Kicman My goal is to see people rise up to the fullness of their potential. Daniel Oluwagbemileke Popoola, fourth-year medical student and host Debriefing With The DOPe Doctor podcast Fourth-year medical student Daniel Oluwagbemileke Popoola hopes his podcast about the true paths to success will inspire and empower listeners. Popoola calls his upcoming MD convocation later this month a humbling privilege to see my childhood dreams finally come true after myriad obstacles. Born in Nigeria, Popoola has wanted to be a brain doctor since childhood and notes that his parents did not have much of an education, but they were determined to give my siblings and me that which they could not get. He attended medical school in Nigeria as a teenager, but had to drop out two years into his education due to a lack of funding after his father died of abdominal cancer. But God has always showed up, as He did, when I won the visa lottery that same year. God has been very faithful, and in those moments when obstacles threatened to steal my dreams, He has always sent help, Popoola says. I came to this country at the lowest point in my life with $5 and a high school diploma and a crystal-clear vision of becoming a doctor. The journey from $5 in the hands of an immigrant to an MD-PhD was undoubtedly daunting. On several occasions, it felt impossible to continue and I contemplated quitting more often than I can count, he adds. I would not wish the pain and challenges that I have experienced on anyone, but they are some of the strongest motivations for my adamant commitment to the pursuit of success and passion to help others evade such experiences. While an undergraduate at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, he had a research poster accepted at a conference he wanted to attend. Popoola says attending that conference ultimately paved the way for him to attend graduate school at Binghamton University and earn a masters degree in psychology and a doctoral degree in neuroscience. However, the conferences cost was prohibitive, and he had to learn to knock on countless doors and get comfortable with rejection before meeting Kenneth Durgans, who eventually funded his conference registration fee and facilitated the funds for other attendance-related costs. Helping others overcome obstacles Since returning from that conference, Popoola says, I have passionately sought ways to enlighten others to avoid similar struggles and that passion continues to grow with every subsequently surmounted obstacle. As Popoola debuts his podcast, Debriefing With The DOPe Doctor, hosted on his online motivational platform Success Clinic, he says the inspiration is the motivational power of story-sharing. He explains that the most inspiring, soothing and empowering pieces of advice he has received contained the phrase, it is OK, I have been in your shoes. It came from mentors who shared their stories in an attempt to encourage him. When Popoola began his studies at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, he and his wife had two young sons. One day my son was in tears because he wanted me to spend about five more minutes with him before I left for school early in the morning, he says. I chose to go to campus, but when I got in the car, that guilt overwhelmed me and I started crying. I was pouring out tears. Even when I walked into the building, I could not hold back those tears. He remembers very clearly that Charles M. Severin, emeritus professor, had heard about him crying and called him to his office. He sat me down and told me he had gone through similar experiences when he was in medical school, Popoola says. He told me that sometimes he would have to take lecture notes to study while he was attending a sporting event his children were participating in. In between cheering for his child, he would be studying his notes in the bleachers. The late Jonathan D. Daniels also took time to console Popoola. He heard about it as well, and the next time he saw me on campus, he pulled me into his office. He shared a similar story about raising his daughters when he was a medical student, Popoola says. He said sometimes you have to be selfish so you can be there for the people that you care about in the future. Dori R. Marshall, associate dean and director of medical admissions, also talked to Popoola about what it was like for her attending medical school while she was a mother. These words calmed me down, knowing that these people had gone through this as well, he says. All of those people gave me the hope to pick myself up and continue pushing hard simply by sharing their stories. Subsequently, he decided to pay this forward by co-founding the PASS (Parents and Spouse Students) Club at the Jacobs School, which has expanded into a support group and resource that is currently serving its fourth cohort of medical students with family responsibilities. Paying it forward through mentoring With his podcast recorded in a sixth-floor studio in the Jacobs School building, Popoola intends to amplify efforts to pay forward the support that has helped make his achievements possible. After serving as a mentor for over a decade, he realized that for every referred mentee, there were several others who had no access to referral services and were drowning in their challenges. I am saddened by, and tired of seeing dreamers, intelligent people, and individuals with great potentials surrender their beautiful dreams to seemingly insurmountable obstacles, he says. This inspired him to establish Success Clinic, the freely accessible online motivational platform that hosts his podcast. Unfortunately, people often feel as if they are alone in the world when they are going through tough times, Popoola says. I hope such folks from across the globe, especially in socioeconomically challenged and historically undermined communities and countries like my roots can join at no cost and find motivation from the resources provided to power and pursue their dreams. Popoola also intends the podcast as a quasi-therapy session for his guests, a period of self-reflection for letting out the steam, which is often long overdue. So many things go into what I call the grit the real parts of our stories that most people never know about. I see this as an opportunity for the guests to sit down for one hour and really reflect on the truths in their journeys. Popoola defines success as where you find yourself and you feel you are fulfilling your purpose. I have found redemption in the arms of people who have encouraged and empowered me based on their experiences with the same or similar situations, he says. My goal is to see people rise up to the fullness of their potential. READER COMMENT Tripathi named co-chair of AAU Task Force on Expanding U.S.-India University Partnerships President Satish K. Tripathi is one of five AAU leaders who have been named co-chairs of the Association of American Universities Task Force on Expanding United States-India University Partnerships. Photo: Douglas Levere As we forge and strengthen research and education partnerships with our colleagues in India, we will do so with an eye to bringing the benefits of this binational collaboration to our respective countries and our broader global society all in service of the greater good. President Satish K. Tripathi is among AAU leaders named as co-chairs of a new Association of American Universities task force to study expanding research and higher education partnerships between the United States and India. Venu Govindaraju, vice president for research and economic development, has been named a member of the task force, which was created in coordination with the Biden administrations U.S.-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET). iCET seeks to grow technological and industrial collaboration between the two nations. The AAU task force will meet monthly to determine key focus areas for bilateral research and education cooperation, identify existing programs that could provide blueprints for future partnerships and formulate strategies on how best to move forward. Other co-chairs of the AAU Task Force on Expanding United States-India University Partnerships are Neeli Bendapudi, president, The Pennsylvania State University; Robert J. Jones, chancellor, University of Illinois Urbana-Campaign; Pradeep K. Khosla, chancellor, University of California San Diego; and Sunil Kumar, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, Johns Hopkins University. Kumar will become president of Tufts University on July 1. Task force members include administrators at AAU institutions including MIT, Vanderbilt University, Purdue University and the University of Chicago. It is an honor to be named to the AAU Task Force on Expanding United States-India University Partnerships, Tripathi said. As we forge and strengthen research and education partnerships with our colleagues in India, we will do so with an eye to bringing the benefits of this binational collaboration to our respective countries and our broader global society all in service of the greater good. I look forward to helping cultivate these productive partnerships with our Indian higher education counterparts, and to building on the work we are doing at the University at Buffalo and across the AAU. Govindaraju noted that international collaboration in science and technology is paramount in our collective efforts to tackle societys most pressing global challenges. This historic task force will bring together leading research institutions from the U.S. and India, such as the India Institutes of Technology, to promote technological and industrial innovation, as well as educational cooperation, he said. AAU President Barbara R. Snyder also stressed the importance of international collaboration. It is nearly impossible in todays world to make advancements in scientific research and technology without international collaboration and cooperation, Snyder said. This is why the Association of American Universities is proud to lead this effort to strengthen relationships between leading U.S. and Indian research universities and to lay the groundwork for shared future scientific and economic success. UB has long been collaborating with Indian universities. The university last May hosted the UB-Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) UB-Indo Workshop focusing on the development of joint projects relating to nanomaterials. During the workshop, UB and six institutes of higher learning from India signed a five-year memorandum of understanding in which the institutes agree to collaborate in educational and research fields that are relevant to the academic, scientific, industrial, social, and cultural interests and needs of the counties involved. Those fields include, but are not limited to, nanomaterials and nanotechnology, biotechnology, advanced sensors, photonics and cyber-physical systems including artificial intelligence, the agreement states. And just last month, UB partnered with the Indian Institutes of Technology to create joint centers of excellence: IIT Jodhpur (AI and data science), IIT Delhi (quantum photonics), IIT Kanpur (biosciences and biotechnology) and IIT (BHU) Varanasi (nanomaterials). UB maintains institutional partnerships with 13 universities in India, including the Indian Institute of Information Technology and the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi, Bombay and Hyderabad. Airbus last year clawed back two deliveries to reflect Western sanctions on Russia. Also in this year's first quarter, Airbus delivered 11 wide-body jets including 5 A350s, 10 small A220 jets and 106 of its best-selling A320neo-family aircraft, the sources said. Airbus deliveries fell by 11% on an industrial basis to 127 jets in the first quarter, underscoring pressure on global supply chains, industry sources told Reuters. Deliveries were down 11% from 142 physical deliveries in the same period last year, or down 9% compared with an adjusted year-ago total of 140. Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) currently operates two LCA assembly lines in Bengaluru, which allow it to churn out 16 Tejas fighters per year. Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane on Friday inaugurated a third production line for the Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) in Bengaluru. With the Indian Air Force (IAF) having placed orders on HAL for 40 Tejas Mark 1 and 83 Tejas Mark 1A fighters, it is essential to build these quickly so that the Tejas assembly lines are free for building six squadrons of Tejas Mark 2 aircraft. The new line will enable the company to enhance Tejas Mark 1 A production capacity from 16 to 24 aircraft per year, said C B Ananthakrishnan, HALs chairman and managing director. Developing the Tejas Mark 2 will involve replacing the Tejas Mark 1As current General Electric F-404 engine with the more powerful GE F-4I4 and upgrading avionics and weaponry. Prototype development is expected to take till 2025 and another two-to-three years would go in flight-testing the Tejas Mark 2 and preparing production drawings. Senior HAL and Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) officials agree that the Tejas Mark 2 is unlikely to enter production until 2027-28. Also Read HAL gets LoI for 9 helicopters from Indian Coast Guard; stock rallies 7% HAL disinvestment: Offer for sale subscribed two-fold after slow start Start of 'Atmanirbharta' as country explores export of Tejas Mark 1 fighter TMSEp370: Air India, lithium reserve, defence stocks, fifth-gen fighter jet Guns vs Butter-4: We took giant leap with the Tejas, says Indian Air Force Coffee Day Enterprises' total default at Rs 436.06 crore in Jan-Mar qtr SpiceJet had worst on-time performance in March; Akasa was best: Govt data Godrej Consumer to invest Rs 100 crore in early-stage consumer fund ChatGPT like alien intelligence but lacks human-like reasoning: Rosedale Temasek buys majority stake in Manipal Health in largest wellness deal The Mark 1A would be faster and more agile than the current Mark I. Developing it would involve shaving off 800 kg of weight from the current fighter, especially from systems like the landing gear, which are currently over-engineered, or built heavy, for safety. Meanwhile, HAL wants the IAFs order of 83 Tejas Mark I-A to keep the current production lines occupied till 2028. Sukhoi-30MKI overhauled HAL also proposes to remove 300 kg of dead weight distributed across the Mark I to balance the fighter evenly. He lauded HALs efforts in setting up a ROH facility for the Su-30MKI and also establishing a new production line for LCA manufacturing. The government has come out with several Aatmanirbhar Bharat policies, and that puts HAL in a very important position, he said. The defence secretary also handed over to the IAF the 100th Sukhoi-30MKI fighter that had undergone repair and overhaul (ROH) at HALs Nashik Division today. The Nashik division set up a ROH facility for its large fleet of 272 Sukhoi-30 MKI in 2014, the first of its kind anywhere in the world. Having gained experience from manufacturing and overhauling MiG-series and Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, HAL mastered ROH technology with valuable support from the IAF, regulatory bodies and private industries. HALs Nashik division has achieved peak overhaul capacity of 20 Sukhoi-30MKI aircraft per year, despite confronting supply chain issues caused by the current geopolitical situation. Three biddersTorrent, Hinduja, Oaktreeare still in talks with the committee of creditors (CoC) on certain issues they have raised. The deadline for the resolution process ends on April 16. A second round of auction for the bankrupt company, scheduled April 11, is likely to be postponed by another one week till all issues raised by bidders are resolved, said a banking source. In the first round of auction on December 21 last year, Torrent emerged as the highest bidder by offering Rs 8,650 crore for Reliance Capitals assets. The CoC then decided to hold another auction to maximise the value of the assets, prompting Torrent to go to the Supreme Court. Bidders are seeking more transparency from the CoC for the next round of auction and have demanded that a separate e-portal be created on the extended challenge mechanism. Also Read Hinduja sweetens offer for RCap to counter Torrent group's winning bid Hinduja Global Solutions approves buyback of 6 mn shares at Rs 1,700 each Hinduja group, Torrent, Piramal, Oaktree, bid for Reliance Capital Torrent wins race to acquire RCap with Rs 8,640 crore offer to lenders NCLAT allows another round of bidding for bankrupt firm Reliance Capital Twitter to show 50% less ads with better visibility to Blue subscribers Byju's lenders ready for loan restructuring but want $200 mn prepayment SFL's powertrain components division receives General Motors award Samsung Electronics cuts memory chip production as profit declines Meta releases AI model 'SAM,' can identify items within photographs The lenders to Reliance Capital plan to extend the deadline to complete the resolution process to the end of May after litigation by one bidder. This marks the tenth time that SFL has received the award, underlining the company's dedication to delivering quality products that exceed GM's expectations, it said in a statement. Sundram Fasteners Ltd's (SFL) powertrain components division received the prestigious Supplier of the Year award from General Motors (GM) at its 31st Annual Supplier of the Year awards. Our long-standing association with GM has been built on a foundation of mutual trust, collaboration, and an unyielding focus on delivering exceptional quality and customer satisfaction. This prestigious recognition is a source of inspiration and encouragement for us to continue pushing boundaries. We express our deepest gratitude to General Motors for this honor and remain steadfast in our commitment to driving excellence in all that we do, said Arathi Krishna, managing director, Sundram Fasteners. SFL's range of products includes key automotive components from fasteners to transmission shafts, pumps and assemblies, and radiator caps, among others. This award recognises global suppliers that distinguish themselves by fulfilling GM's requirements, which in turn provides customers with innovative technologies of the highest quality. Winners of the Supplier of the Year awards were chosen by a global team of GM purchasing, engineering, quality, manufacturing and logistics executives. Parameters for evaluation included product purchasing, global purchasing and manufacturing services, customer care and aftersales, and logistics. "We are thrilled to recognise these outstanding suppliers after yet another challenging year in the automotive industry," said Jeff Morrison, GM vice-president of Global Purchasing and Supply Chain. "They overcame countless obstacles and exemplified what it means to be resilient, resourceful and determined. Beyond that, these suppliers demonstrated their commitment to sustainable innovation and to driving advanced solutions in collaboration with the GM team. Also Read Sundram Fasteners posts 7% rise in Q3 net profit as global orders rise Auto component firm Sundram Fasteners posts 6% dip in Q2 net profit Oscars 2023 full winner list: Naatu Naatu bags Best Original song award Sundram Fasteners wins $250 mn international contract to supply EV parts Oscars 2023: A list of all the Indians that have won the Academy Award Samsung Electronics cuts memory chip production as profit declines Meta releases AI model 'SAM,' can identify items within photographs CCI approves SREI Infrastructure Finance's acquisition by NARCL, IDRCL D-Mart's revenue up by 20.1% to Rs 10,337.12 cr in quarter ending March On-tap application to set up fab plants likely; Meity may consider proposal Sundram Fasteners has been a supplier to General Motors for over three decades, providing critical components such as transmission shafts, radiator caps, and pumps and assemblies for use in well-known GM brands such as Cadillac, GMC, and Chevrolet. This photo released by the Ministry of Economy and Finance shows First Vice Finance Minister Bang Ki-sun speaking during a meeting with other economy-related vice ministers held in Seoul, April 7. Yonhap Korea is expected to continue experiencing volatility in its current account through this month, the vice finance minister said Friday, with the government set to roll out various measures to revitalize the tourism industry and boost domestic consumption. The remark came shortly after the Bank of Korea (BOK) announced the country's current account shortfall came to $520 million in February, following a record deficit of $4.21 billion a month earlier. "While the trade deficit has sharply narrowed compared to January, the recovery was limited due to the decreased dividend payments from overseas," First Vice Finance Minister Bang Ki-sun said ahead of a meeting with economy-related vice ministers. But Bang added as the number of foreign tourists has been rising since March, with the trade balance set to improve gradually, Asia's No. 4 economy is anticipated to post a current account surplus of $20 billion this year. Korea plans to make efforts to revitalize the local tourism industry to boost domestic consumption, Bang added. The country has been resuming local festivals starting this month after a three-year hiatus following the COVID-19 pandemic. The cultural ministry plans to host the Korea Travel Expo 2023 for a four-day run starting next Thursday as well. The government plans to offer discounts on accommodation and other facilities starting in late May to induce more people to travel across the country, Bang added. To attract more foreign tourists, Korea will increase the number of flights connecting to China, Japan and other Asian countries and offer discounts on tickets, he said. Korea said it hopes to attract 10 million foreign tourists this year. The number of foreign visitors to Korea hit a record high of 17.5 million in 2019, generating tourism revenue of $20.7 billion, according to data compiled by the Korea Tourism Organization. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of visitors dropped sharply to 2.5 million in 2020 and 967,000 in 2021 before increasing to 3.19 million in 2022. (Yonhap) GIC is in talks with Canadian investor Brookfield to buy 50 per cent of the latters assets in Mumbai. Brookfield is in the process of selling the remaining 50 per cent to its listed Reit (real estate investment trust). The deal is expected to happen at $1.8 billion, including GIC striking it at $500 million. According to sources, GIC is in the final leg of three real-estate deals in the country. They relate to properties or significant stakes in portfolios of key investors. With this, the Temasek stake will increase to 59 per cent from 18 per cent. Banking sources said plans for an initial public offering of the hospital had been shelved for the time being, considering the exit of the current shareholders. In the largest transaction in the health care segment, Singapore-based private-equity giant Temasek Holdings has increased its stake in Manipal Health Enterprises by buying an additional 41 per cent from the promoters and other investors including TPG, a US-based private-equity firm, and the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) at an enterprise valuation of Rs 40,000 crore, people in the know said. After the transaction, TPG will hold part of its 21 per cent stake and the Pai family a portion of its current 52 per cent stake. Temasek has stayed invested in Manipal for the past six years and plans to remain a long-term investor. Temasek is writing a Rs 16,000-crore cheque to buy out the additional stakes from the existing shareholders. The management of the company, led by Ranjan Pai, will remain the same, a banking source said. An email sent to Temasek did not elicit a response. Manipal executives did not comment. Also Read Manipal Health may launch IPO after deal to buy AMRI Hospitals TPG Capital to sell Nykaa shares worth Rs 1,000 cr via block deal on Friday Manipal Health Enterprises set to buy AMRI Hospitals for Rs 2.3K crore Online Manipal announces a scholarship of 25% for female candidates Manipal Health Enterprises, Emami Group break logjam on AMRI Hospitals Microsoft rolls out Edge's AI image generator to everyone on desktop GCPL to invest Rs 100 cr in early-stage consumer startups in India Planning to buy Innova Hycross? Toyota temporarily halts bookings Backed by big deals, GIC ahead of western peers in office properties Airbus deliveries down 11% to 127 jets in Q1, supply chain issues to blame In April 2021, Manipal Health had acquired the Columbia Asia Hospital chain for Rs 2,100 crore, taking its bed strength to 7,300 across 27 locations. In June 2021, it bought Vikram Hospitals in Bengaluru from Multiples Private Equity for Rs 350 crore. Backed by private-equity players, Manipal Health has been expanding its footprint and emerged the largest hospital chain in the country after Apollo Hospitals. The network is estimated to have 8,700 beds across 28 locations. A churn is happening in the health care sector. In August last year, private-equity firm KKR sold its 27 per cent stake in Max Healthcare for Rs 9,200 crore via block deals to a number of shareholders. In 2018, Malaysias IHH acquired 31 per cent in Fortis Hospitals by infusing Rs 4,000 crore into the company. Manipal Health Enterprises will also acquire Emami Groups stake in AMRI Hospitals at a valuation of Rs 2,350 crore. AMRI operates four hospitals, of which three are in Kolkata and one in Bhubaneswar, with a capacity of around 1,100 beds, which can be ramped up to 1,200. Bengaluru-based ZestMoney, which is backed by Goldman Sachs and Xiaomi, has about 450 employees, all of whom were expected to be absorbed by PhonePe if the acquisition had proceeded. ZestMoney is laying off 100 employees, or about 20 per cent of its workforce, after fintech firm PhonePe recently decided to halt its proposed acquisition of the buy now, pay later (BNPL) platform. The company is working on business continuity or a survival plan and layoffs are part of it, said a person familiar with the matter. PhonePe management is also having conversations with ZestMoney to hire some portion of the 350 employees left at the firm and those discussions are still going on. ZestMoneys founders held a town hall on March 30 evening and told employees about the layoffs across departments, sources said. PhonePe is in talks with ZestMoney to hire some of the staff. The laid-off employees would get a severance package, which includes health insurance. ZestMoney didnt respond when asked for a comment. Also Read PhonePe calls off deal to acquire BNPL platform ZestMoney: Report ZestMoney looking to lay off employees after deal with PhonePe fails PhonePe set to acquire fintech start-up ZestMoney for about $300 mn Walmart-owned PhonePe calls off deal to acquire fintech startup ZestMoney PhonePe in talks to raise $700 million at $12 billion valuation Avaada Energy gets 421 MW solar project from Damodar Valley Corporation Kalyani Forge's CFO Laxmi Narayan Patra resigns due to personal reasons $500,000 worth Apple products, including 436 iPhones, stolen from US store Reliance Capital resolution process deadline likely to be extended again Twitter to show 50% less ads with better visibility to Blue subscribers The deals collapse is also being attributed to a slowdown in the financial technology (fintech) sector amid a funding winter, a difficult regulatory environment, and macroeconomic uncertainty, said other sources. The deal with PhonePe, which was to fetch between $150 million and $300 million, collapsed over lapses in due diligence, disagreement over valuation, business sustainability, and ZestMoneys shareholding structure, according to people cited above. PhonePe gave about $18 million as loan to ZestMoney when it was evaluating the acquisition. The acquisition was expected to help Walmart-backed PhonePe strengthen its lending services and compete with Google Pay, Paytm, and Amazon Pay in Indias fintech sector, which is to be projected to be worth $350 billion by 2026. We pursued five acquisitions last year. We successfully completed the fourth. The fifth didnt go through, unfortunately, due to a reason that I cant reveal, said Nigam. I think it would be unfair to say that we abandoned anybody. Clearly, four out of five acquisitions is not bad. When asked to comment about the perception that the acquisitions collapse had left ZestMoney in distress , PhonePe founder and CEO Sameer Nigam said it would be unfair to say that. ZestMoney has a registered user-base of 17 million and is live at 85,000 retail touchpoints across India. Founded by Lizzie Chapman, Priya Sharma, and Ashish Anantharaman in 2015, ZestMoney allows customers to pay for products over time, but use them right away. Increasing smartphone penetration, the cheapest data plans in the world, and a boom in online shopping have propelled the demand for pay-later offerings in the country. The company had a valuation of $470 million that it achieved in the last funding round. ZestMoney raised $50 million in September 2021, which the company had topped with an additional $20 million raise as part of its Series C round. The firm has raised a total of $140 million from investors such as Australias BNPL platform Zip, Goldman Sachs, Quona Capital, and Xiaomi. The company has enough money in the bank to run its operations, otherwise if it would have been cash-strapped around 60 per cent-80 per cent of the employees would have been laid off, said a person familiar with the matter. The board and investors are fully backing the firm to continue running the business. ZestMoneys loss in 2021-22 (FY22) surged 216 per cent to Rs 398 crore, from Rs 125.8 crore in the previous financial year, according to data accessed by business intelligence platform Tofler. Revenue grew 62 per cent to Rs 145 crore in FY22, from Rs 89.3 crore in 2020-21. Business-to-business (B2B) start-up ElasticRun is one such firm, which has decided to focus on its core business and wind up expansion projects. The current funding winter has prompted start-ups to refocus on their core strategy and be selective on expansion. The company had taken this bet nine months ago. However, it has been put off as this would mean higher cash burn and capex investment in order to take on the intense competition from rivals. Some cities where it has wound up include Bhopal, Indore and Delhi. The SoftBank and Prosus Venture-backed ElasticRun, which typically runs distribution for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) products in rural areas, decided to cater to retailers within city limits. These urban markets already have a robust infrastructure in place due to companies having direct distribution. We initiated a pilot for serving our customers in urban markets. But during the year, as the macro changed, we decided not to pursue the urban pilot and focus on our core rural business. As part of this foray, the company hired some warehouses as well as people to cater to the urban market. Also Read Rural demand for FMCG dips 17% in Nov as post-festive consumption slows Why are Indian start-ups facing such a severe funding winter? FMCG companies may see price hike-led revenue growth In July-September Gatik's driverless B2B delivery service gains pace in US and Canada Race for space: Funding for space start-ups skyrockets 61 per cent in 2022 Curefoods raises Rs 300 cr in round led by Binny Bansal's investment fund India Accelerator announces Dubai foray, will invest $20 mn in start-ups Nykaa expects BPC biz FY23 revenue growth rates 30%, Q4 performance robust How Souled Store is riding young India's swelling pop culture wave Global investors slash valuation of Indian unicorns amid funding winter ElasticRun extends the reach of a brands direct distribution network to deep rural markets. It enables access to new stores and customers for the brands. These were not accessible through traditional distribution networks. As part of this restructuring, we have to part ways with almost 2 per cent of our employees, said Sandeep Deshmukh, co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO), ElasticRun. For ElasticRun, its maximum revenue comes from smaller or rural markets. The urban segment foray is just about 1.2-1.5 per cent of the company. According to data from Tofler, ElasticRun reported consolidated revenue of Rs 3,824.9 crore in FY22, a growth of 2.5 times from Rs 1,0871.1 crore in FY21. We have a deeply-entrenched B2B kirana business in rural markets. We have very strong partnerships with national and regional FMCG brands. This rural business has been growing at an extremely high pace over the last three years. FY23 has been a bumper year for us, he added. Owing to this roll back, ElasticRun had to lay off employees. Since the company expanded its distribution networks pan Indian, its losses also burgeoned. For FY22, the companys net loss came in at Rs 372.88 crore from the previous years Rs 101 crore. We are aggressively hiring in rural business. At an organisational level, we have been a net positive hirer for the past few quarters. We are one of the largest recruiters for Indian upcountry markets, he added. Though the company absorbed over 40 per cent of the impacted employees, those who did not move to smaller towns were asked to go. Rural segment generates over 98 per cent of our overall business. This business continues to rapidly grow in different geographies, shares Deshmukh. Deshmukh said that the company, which has a total headcount of 3,000, will end the financial year with 3,300 employees. We have raised $330 million last year. Most of this money is in the bank, unutilised. The company has an extremely strong cash position and we are very well-funded for a long journey, he added. He also added that from a funding point, ElasticRun is perhaps among a handful of unicorns that are sitting on a strong bank balance. Some of the brands that ElasticRun works with include Marico, Godrej, Johnson & Johnson, ITC, Britannia and Reckitt Benckiser, among others. ElasticRun has presence in 26 states, reaching out to over 80,000 villages and has over 400 brands. These projects will provide multimodal connectivity and seamless movement of goods and passengers as well as increase logistics efficiency across the country. They were approved in meeting chaired by industry department special secretary Sumita Dawra earlier this week. An inter-ministerial panelNetwork Planning Group (NPG)under PM GatiShakti initiative has recommended four infrastructure projects under Indian railways to improve connectivity across various regions in the country. One of the projects pertaining to the construction of a Broad-gauge double line between Sawai Madhopur and Jaipur in Rajasthan state was examined by the NPG. The project spans approximately 131 km, from Sawai Madhopur to Jaipur. Upon completion, the project is expected to improve the line capacity to 71 per cent 2026-27. The development is crucial since Jaipur-Sawai Madhopur route serves as a feeder to the Delhi-Mumbai route, and it represents the primary conduit connecting Jaipur, its environs, and Mumbai, southern and eastern parts of India. These projects will be developed in tandem with the PM GatiShakti Principles using the integrated and holistic approach, the industry department said in a statement. A new Broad-Gauge line between Junagarh to Nabarangpur station in Odisha state was examined by the NPG. The construction of this new line is expected to reduce the distance from Bailadila iron ore mines to various steel plants in the Raipur region by 131 km. Another project is the construction of a new Broad-gauge line between Anand Nagar Ghughuli via Maharajganj on Northeastern Railway in Uttar Pradesh state. The railway line is expected to facilitate the movement of cement, fertilizer, coal, and food grains, thus providing benefits to the related industries and also enable freight movement to Nepal. Also Read One year of PM-GatiShakti: National masterplan drives infra projects Indian Railways seeks quicker land acquisition for stalled projects PM GatiShakti recommends 66 big-ticket projects worth Rs 5 trillion How did railways turn around the freight train? 235 critical road infrastructure projects shortlisted under GatiShakti Wheat crop loss likely to be 1-2 MT due to untimely rains: Govt RBI estimate too optimistic, will pivot to rate cuts in October: Nomura CNG, piped gas prices to be cut but no clarity on deregulation: Analysts Govt exploring possibilities of investing in lithium mines abroad Network Planning Group under PM Gati Shakti approves 4 infra projects The fourth project was for the provision of Automatic Block Signaling on Freight Dense high utilisation network on Western Railway. The project aims to cover 895 RKM and four major sections of Western Railway in Maharashtra & Gujarat State. Meanwhile, certain states ruled by the Opposition have declared a shift for employees covered under the national pension system (NPS) to the old pension scheme that provides 50 per cent of the last drawn salary as pension, while other states, like Maharashtra, where the BJP is part of the ruling alliance, are considering the same move. The finance ministry on Thursday notified the establishment of a committee to assess the pension system for government employees, in line with finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman's announcement during the amendments to the Finance Bill of 2023 in Parliament. What is Old Pension Scheme (OPS)? But what exactly are these schemes, and how do they differ? Take a look: What is the New Pension Scheme (NPS)? The old pension scheme, introduced in the 1950s, is exclusive to government employees. It guarantees a monthly pension equivalent to 50 per cent of the last drawn basic salary, along with a dearness allowance upon retirement or an average of the wages earned in the previous ten months, whichever is more favourable. To qualify for these benefits, employees must have completed ten years of service. There is no employee contribution required for this scheme, and income is not taxed. Also Read Old pension scheme: Is politics trumping economics? NPS guaranteed return product to have floating rates, reset every year Govt will set up a committee to review pension scheme: FM tells Parliament No provision to refund accumulated corpus under NPS to state govt: FinMin Old Pension Scheme applicable to all CAPF personnel: Delhi High Court Centre notifies committee on pension schemes for govt employees RBI monetary policy review: What led to the interest rate pause? It's just a pause, not a pivot, says Shaktikanta Das on RBI's status quo Sebi asks investment advisers to display info prominently in advertisements Monetary policy: Bond yields soften after RBI hits pause on rate hike What is the difference between OPS and NPS? In contrast, the new pension scheme was introduced in 2004 and is available to both government and private sector employees. Under this scheme, employees must contribute 10 per cent of their base pay, while employers can contribute up to 14 per cent. Participants can also actively engage in the NPS. The scheme offers market-linked returns but does not guarantee returns. At maturity, 60 per cent of the corpus is tax-free, while the remaining 40 per cent is taxable when invested in annuities. 2) Regarding tax benefits, the old pension scheme exempts income from taxation. On the other hand, the new pension scheme allows a tax exemption of 60 per cent of the corpus upon maturity, and the remaining 40 per cent is taxable when invested in annuities. 1) The old pension scheme guarantees return certainty by calculating the monthly pension based on the last salary received by the employee. In contrast, the new pension scheme offers market-linked returns that come with no assurance. 3) The old pension scheme was limited to government employees after retirement, but the new pension scheme is available to all citizens aged between 18 to 65 years. 4) In terms of contributions, the old pension scheme requires monthly payments of 50 per cent of the last salary earned, while the new pension scheme obliges employees to contribute 10 per cent of their salary, with employers having the option of contributing up to 14 per cent. 3) The old pension scheme was limited to government employees after retirement, but the new pension scheme is available to all citizens aged between 18 to 65 years. 5) Each of the pension schemes (OPS or NPS) presents its own set of pros and cons. With OPS, there is certainty in returns and tax-free income. However, NPS provides increased autonomy, management, and a chance of yielding higher returns. What is Andhra Pradesh's Guaranteed Pension Scheme (GPS) 5) Each of the pension schemes (OPS or NPS) presents its own set of pros and cons. With OPS, there is certainty in returns and tax-free income. However, NPS provides increased autonomy, management, and a chance of yielding higher returns. Waris Punjab De's fugitive leader Amritpal Singh went to Georgia for cosmetic surgery to resemble Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the Indian Express reported. Amritpal Singh has been on the run since March 18. The police so far have arrested eight of his close aides, including his uncle Harjit Singh and Daljit Singh Kalsi, who has been sent to Dibrugarh. According to the report, before Singh returned to India in August last year, he went to Georgia, where he underwent cosmetic surgery to look like Bhindranwale. Also Read Amritpal Singh and Waris Punjab De: Everything you need to know about them No leaves for Punjab police till Apr 14 as Amritpal calls for Sarbat Khalsa Amritpal Singh in Hoshiarpur? Police launch door-to-door operation India to launch the world's longest river cruise from Varanasi to Dibrugarh Top headlines: UBS eyes Credit Suisse takeover, Amritpal declared fugitive Third gender denoted as a 'caste' in Bihar's recent caste-based survey About 150,000 farmers practising natural farming in HP to be certified Superstar Shah Rukh Khan secures top position in 2023 TIME100 reader poll Udaipur DC bans hoisting religious flags on public buildings for 2 months Rajasthan Right to Health Act: The provisions and why doctors protested The reports said that Singh's close aides, now lodged in Dibrugarh Central Jail, had revealed that Singh spent two months in Georgia. However, the investigating authorities are yet to investigate this claim. The intelligence agencies are investigating Singh's sudden rise to become the leader of Waris Punjab De after Punjabi actor and activist Deep Sidhu's death. Punjabi actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu, who was arrested over the farmers' protest at Red Fort on January 26, 2021, founded Waris Punjab De after he was granted bail. The stated objective of the outfit was to fight for the "rights of Punjab". Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was killed in Operation Blue Star by Army in Golden Temple. Amritpal projects himself as a Bhindranwale follower. Just like Bhindranwale, Amritpal too carries an arrow and moves with armed guards. However, unlike Bhindrawale, Singh has no orthodox religious background before taking over as the Wari Punjab de chief. Amritpal Singh came to the limelight when a huge mob of his supporters attacked a police station on the outskirts of Amritsar in February and extracted an assurance from police for the release of his key aid Lovepreet Singh. "Waris Punjab De" literally means the "heirs of Punjab" and was started by lawyer turned actor Deep Sidhu on September 30, 2021, before the Punjab Assembly elections. Sidhu started the organisation as a pressure group to protect and fight for the rights of Punjab and raise social issues. Deep Sidhu came made headlines during a farmers' protest in 2020. Delhi Police later booked him for his alleged role in the violence on Republic Day in 2021 at Red Fort. Amritpal, a Dubai return, took over the organisation in September 2022. However, Deep Sidhu's family has denied any links with saying they never appointed him as the chief of their son's organisation and had no idea how he took over as "Waris Punjab De" head. Union Home Minister Amit Shah targeted opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh on Friday, recalling the terror tag attached to Azamgarh and claiming that rural UP got 24-hour electricity only during Ramzan when they were in power. Speaking after laying the foundation stone of the Harihar music college, Shah said Azamgarh was known for terrorism during SP, BSP and Congress rule, but it is witnessing development under the BJP government. "I want to congratulate Yogi ji (CM Yogi Adityanath). In Azamgarh, which was considered the centre of terror across the country, he got the foundation of a music college laid to give respect to its heritage," he said, adding, "Azamgarh was known for Harihar 'gharana' of music, that image was spoiled by SP and BSP." Shah said Azamgarh used to face law and order problems in the past but the double-engine government of BJP has made it a centre of development. "I was the home minister of Gujarat when there were bomb blasts in Ahmedabad. The police had caught the main 'sutradhaar' (culprit) of it from Azamgarh," he said. Recalling his earlier visits to Uttar Pradesh, before the BJP government came to power in the state, he said there was hardly a night when power was available in rural areas. "Twenty-four-hour power supply was available only during Ramzan," he said. "Now the BJP government has ensured power to entire Uttar Pradesh and heralded a new period of development," Shah said. Also Read UP govt gets investment proposals worth crores in Azamgarh, Lakhimpur Kheri Uttar Pradesh Police arrests 11 for using unfair means in PET 2022 UP govt likely to table supplementary Budget in today's Assembly session Modernisation of police force improved law and order in UP, says CM Yogi Uttar Pradesh delegation to visit US to attract investments for 'Invest UP' Domestic gas price for April at $7.92, price for consumers capped at $6.5 Cyber cell begins probe into Venugopal's complaint on cloning of number Rajasthan healthcare model should be implemented across country: Congress Governor's guidelines to VCs of state varsities trigger row in Bengal NGT panel to revisit clearance granted for Great Nicobar Island project He also said it was difficult to imagine UP being "riot-free" but the Adityanath government has made it possible. Slamming SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, who contested and won from Azamgarh Lok Sabha seat in the previous election, Shah asked the people whether he "was he seen" during the coronavirus pandemic. "Had he come here to give vaccination doses? The prime minister got the entire country vaccinated, provided foodgrains to the poor," the Union minister said. "People have given their blessings in the form of votes in all elections and the prime minister has also opened the purse for development of Uttar Pradesh," Shah said, adding all development schemes now pass through the state. When Yadav vacated the Azamgarh Lok Sabha seat after becoming MLA in last year's assembly poll, Bhojpuri star Dinesh Lal Yadav "Nirahua" won the bypoll on a BJP ticket. Shah cautioned the people that opposition parties will again "try and mislead" them but they should have faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ensure his victory in the next general election. "Uttar Pradesh has marched on the path of development under the BJP government. Can SP, BSP or Congress work for the development of the state. In 2024 they will come again with 'pariwarvaad' (dynasty) and 'jatiwad' (casteism) to mislead people," Shah warned. Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh on Friday alleged that the BJP is going to demolish a government school adjacent to its new central office on Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg and take its possession. Addressing a press conference here, Singh alleged that BJP's new central office encroaches on a government school adjacent to it and that the party is now "planning to run bulldozers on it." "A government school right beside BJP's new office is going to be demolished as the party wants to take possession of the land. First, they built a party office by occupying the school and now, they are planning to run bulldozers on it. AAP will never let that happen," Singh, a Rajya Sabha member, claimed. Future of over 350 children will be at stake if the school is demolished, he said. "As long as the AAP government is there in Delhi, no school will be allowed to be demolished. BJP is planning to get that school demolished in the name of re-development. The party has its own private schools and in order to do their business, they are closing down government schools," he alleged. Referring to Manish Sisodia's letter from the prison, Singh said that the former Deputy Chief Minister has expressed his concerns over the Prime Minister's lack of education, and said the country cannot be run by someone who "does not understand the importance of education." Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal posted a letter on Twitter in which his former deputy said, "It is very dangerous for the country if the prime minister is less educated." "(Narendra) Modi does not understand science Modi ji does not understand the importance of education," Sisodia claimed in the letter. Sisodia alleged that 60,000 schools have been closed in the country in the last few years. Also Read Aim of BJP-led Centre is to defame Kejriwal, AAP leaders: Sanjay Singh Allahabad HC grants bail to man who threatened to demolish Gyanvapi AAP ends BJP's 15 year-rule in MCD, wins civic body poll with majority Delhi BJP leaders hold protest outside AAP HQ against Gopal Italia Security tightened in Delhi ahead of AAP protest against Sisodia's arrest Rahul created powerful narrative via Bharat Jodo Yatra: Congress Country won't forgive Oppn for disrupting Parliament for Rahul: Amit Shah Amid rising temperatures, Delhites struggle to find favourite beer brands Centre to provide financial aid to poor prisoners unable to secure bail DGTR reviews need to continue anti-dumping duty on Chinese flax yarn The Central government will provide financial support to states in order to extend relief to those poor prisoners who are unable to avail bail or get released from prison due to non-payment of fines on account of financial constraints, a statement from Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Friday. The step being taken by the MHA will enable poor prisoners, the majority of whom belong to socially disadvantaged or marginalised groups with lower education and income level, to get out of prison. "The broad contours of the scheme have been finalised in consultation with concerned stakeholders under which the Government of India will provide financial support to States in order to extend relief to those poor prisoners who are unable to avail bail or get released from prisons due to non-payment of fine, on account of financial constraints," the statement said. The move is aimed at addressing the issues of undertrials in prisons under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The MHA has been taking various steps to address the issues of undertrials prisoners from time to time. These include the insertion of Section 436A in the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the insertion of a new chapter XXIA 'Plea Bargaining' in the CrPC. Free legal aid is also being provided to poor prisoners through Legal Services Authority at various levels. "Further to ensure that the benefits of the Budget are extended across all intended sections of society, one of the priorities of the Budget, namely the Guiding 'Saptarishis' is Reaching the Last Mile," read the statement. Also Read Budget 2023 to increase capex for infra projects for growth: Experts HC seeks ED reply on co-accused bail pleas in Satyender Jain PMLA case Delhi excise policy case: HC seeks ED's reply in Benoy Babu's bail plea MK Stalin defamation case: Kishore K Swamy sent to custody till Dec 5 Aaftab Poonawala withdraws bail plea applied 'erroneously' at Delhi court DGTR reviews need to continue anti-dumping duty on Chinese flax yarn Punjab paid back entire Rs 20,200 cr electricity subsidy for FY22: Mann 90% urban people in Himachal don't have adequate water supply: CAG Govt imposes gas price caps: Here is how the prices of PNG, CNG will change Former AP CM Kiran Kumar Reddy joins BJP, slams Congress leadership Under this, one of the announcements is 'Support for Poor Prisoners', pointed the statement, adding, "It envisages provision of required financial support to poor persons who are in prisons and unable to afford the penalty or the bail amount." To further strengthen the process, the statement said, "Technology-driven solutions will be put in place to ensure that benefits reach the poor prisoners; reinforcing the E-prisons platform; strengthening of District Legal Services Authority and sensitization and capacity building of stakeholders to ensure that quality legal aid is made available to needy poor prisoners." Prisons are an important part of the Criminal Justice System and play a significant role in upholding the rule of law. The MHA has been sharing important guidelines with State Governments through various advisories issued from time to time. The Ministry has also been providing financial support to the state governments for enhancing and modernizing the security infrastructure in prisons. gettyimagesbank By Lee Min-hyung Lee Jin-seok, a 35-year-old office worker, increased his spending on trips after the government lifted the outdoor mask mandate in January. He plans to increase the frequency of trips not just in Korea, but also to neighboring countries despite the cost burden. Lee said he will continue traveling abroad, because the COVID-19 pandemic prevented him from doing so for the past three years. "I enjoy vising other regions during the weekends, but have not been able to do so frequently due to the pandemic," he said. "I have plans to visit other cities at least twice a month until the end of this year." Another office worker surnamed Choi also shared her plans to embark on an overseas trip this summer for the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic in early 2020. "I will visit Hungary sometime between July and August despite surging airfares and spend what I can there, as this is my first overseas trip in almost three years," Choi said. Recent credit and debit card data showed that a growing number of people are spending more than they routinely spent before the pandemic. Total card spending here reached 87.5 trillion won ($66.3 billion) in February, up 13 percent from a year ago. The number of card transactions also jumped by 15.8 percent to 200 million during the same period, data from the Credit Finance Association showed. But of particular note is a surge in spending on transportation. Card transactions in for public transportation, taxis and flights came in at 1.47 trillion won, up 129.2 percent in February from a year earlier. Spending on accommodation and restaurants also rose 48.7 percent during the same period to 11.61 trillion won. The data indicates people have been spending more on travel since Korea scrapped its indoor mask mandate. In all likelihood, the figure will continue to grow over the next few months, with the arrival of spring and people engaging in more outdoor activities. More companies have been instructing their employees to return to working on-site as pandemic restrictions have been done away with, which is forecast to increase overall spending by office workers. Amid the arrival of a number of new electronic voting machines in Odisha, the state chief electoral officer (CEO) D N Gupta Friday has asked the media to refrain from speculations about early state Assembly poll. The CEO's office said in a statement that there is no connection between EVMs being supplied to the state and timing of the state poll, which is held simultaneously with Lok Sabha electtion. EVMs have a life span. The factory-made machines are being supplied to different states, including Odisha for use in future elections, the statement said. Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had earlier dropped hints about early polls in Odisha. The arrival of a batch of 8200 new EVMs in the first phase from Electronics Corporation of India Limited, Hyderabad to the state on Tuesday triggered speculation in the media about early Assembly election in the coastal state. Representatives of different political parties were present when the EVMs arrived at the Puri district warehouse. Lok Sabha and Odisha Assembly election are both due in April 2024. Also Read Odisha writes to Centre seeking release of pending food subsidy to state Odisha assembly's Budget session to be held from February 21 to April 6 Odisha by-poll: Nearly 76% turnout recorded till 5 pm in Padampur assembly Odisha govt health scheme helps over 600,000 poor people get free treatment Odisha receives 145 proposals worth Rs 7.26 trn so far in biz conclave Tarnishing India's image on foreign land should be forbidden: VP Dhankhar Shinde flags off special train to Ayodhya, to visit temple town on Sunday BMC launches demolition drive against illegal film studios in coastal area World Health Day: 'Right to health' should be guaranteed to all, what is it World Health Day 2023: Here's a look at govt healthcare schemes for all Odisha requires 95,000 EVMs for its about 37,100 polling booths in 147 assembly and 21 Lok Sabha constituencies. This is double the number of EVMs required for holding a single election in the state and the requirement will be met by direct procurement from the manufacturer and other states as mandated by the Election Commission, an official in the CEO's office said. The new EVMs that arrived will be soon sent to Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Balangir, Sonepur, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts, he added. Meanwhile, Odisha's three major political parties - the ruling BJD and opposition BJP and Congress have said that they were prepared to face elections any time. The Congress on Thursday accused the Adani Group of having business links with a Chinese company in all its infrastructure projects in roads, railways, ports and airport sectors, saying it posed a threat to national security. The remarks prompted Law Minister Kiren Rijiju to hit back at the opposition party. Responding to a tweet by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, Rijiju said, "Do not comment on sensitive matters. The Congress has no moral right to speak about Arunachal Pradesh." Ramesh had alleged that business tycoon Gautam Adani has business links with Chinese citizens. He wondered whether it was compromising national security. The law minister also shared a video in which the then defence minister A K Antony is purportedly telling Lok Sabha that for long India had a policy not to develop borders as an undeveloped border was safer than a developed border. "First respond to this reality," Rijiju, who represents Arunachal Pradesh in the Lok Sabha, said. Addressing a press conference, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said the company, fully owned by a Chinese national -- Chang Chian Ting -- was a subcontractor for the Adani Group and is a partner of Adani's brother. Also Read Adani Group stocks sink up to 20%; CLSA sees limited risk to banks Six Adani Group stocks locked in 5% lower circuit; ACC hits 52-week low Law minister Rijiju reviews performance of matters on railway litigations Rijiju supports view that lawyers with political affiliation can be judges Gautam Adani lost Rs 3,000 crore a week in 2022-23: M3M Hurun report Yogi to perform Ram Lalla's ritual with rivers water from 155 nations Cabinet approves Indian Space Policy 2023 to boost Isro activities Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay granted bail in SSC paper leak case Rajasthan bans religious flags on public properties, angers state BJP chief No one thought Scindia, Azad would use such language for Rahul: Gehlot The Adani Group has not made any comments on the charges made by the Congress yet. The firm had earlier denied indulging in wrongdoing. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also cited a media report and said on Twitter, "PMC Projects - Pradhan Mantri Chinese' Projects?" "Why are India's critical ports, airstrips, railway tracks and electricity lines being built and controlled by a Chinese company?" he asked. Shrinate said China made several transgressions along the border on the Indian side and killed 20 of our soldiers. It changed names of places in Arunachal Pradesh thrice, but the links that a Chinese-owned company has with the Adani Group shows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's special relationship with China. "This is totally anti-national," she said. "If this is not a threat to national security, then what is?" she added. The Congress spokesperson further alleged that Modi gave a clean chit to China because of "this relationship" and that is why, he has not broken his silence yet on either China or the Adani issue. "The veil now stands lifted," she said, and asked, "When will the government hold a probe into the Chinese company?" Shrinate also asked the government to find the source of Rs 20,000 crore alleged to have been found deposited in "shell companies" of the Adani Group. AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter, "Everyday the reason for the PM's eloquent silence on Chinese is becoming evident. This is largely because of Adani's intimate links to China. We had mentioned this first on March 3 in the 'Hum Adanike Hain Kaun' series and today there are further revelations." Congress leader Amitabh Dubey also said the Congress has asked several questions on China and the Adani issue, but the government is yet to break its silence. "Now this is an issue of national security and they will have to reply," he said. The inmates who were granted emergency bail or parole during the Covid-19 pandemic queued outside Tihar prison here on Friday to surrender before the authorities following the apex court's direction. Bajrang Saini, who came to drop off his two brothers who were arrested in a murder case in Delhi's Kirti Nagar, said, My brothers were arrested in a murder case around five-year-ago. They came out of the jail in 2021 and since then they have been doing private jobs. "We are hoping that the case will end in the near future, and they will be able to start their life afresh. We know that they are not criminals. They committed the crime in anger," Saini said. The Supreme Court on March 24 directed that all convicts and UTP, who were released during the Covid-19 pandemic in a move to decongest jails, to surrender within 15 days. The Delhi prisons department said that a total of 128 undertrial prisoners (UTP) and convicts returned to jail in the last 10 days, from March 27 to April 5. Among the 128 prisoners, 73 were UTP and 55 were convicts. A total of 82 -- 62 UTP and 20 convicts -- returned to Tihar jail, while four UTP returned to Rohini Jail and 42 prisoners -- seven UTP and 35 convicts -- returned to Mandoli jail, the official data stated. Also Read Kejriwal should apologise to nation, dismiss Jain: BJP on Tihar video Influential people get all kinds of favours: Ex-law officer of Tihar Jail Umar Khalid released on bail from Tihar jail to attend sister's marriage Leaked videos: Sisodia says Jain undergoing physiotherapy for spine injury Tihar Prisons DG Sandeep Goel suspended after conman Sukesh's allegations Lawyers move Delhi HC, seek law for protection, safe atmosphere to practice TMC accuses Shah of 'double standards' in addressing Ram Navami violence Maha govt must take Covid-19 seriously, apprise citizens, says Ajit Pawar CEO asks media to refrain from speculations about Odisha Assembly poll Tarnishing India's image on foreign land should be forbidden: VP Dhankhar Under-trial prisoner Narender Kuamr, who is lodged in the jail in a murder case, said, I was caught in a murder case lodged in the Vasant Kunj police station. The incident took place around four years ago. I came out of prison in August 2021. When I was out of jail, I was doing small part-time work," Kumar said. A young mason, who did not disclose his identity, stated that he had come to Tihar jail to drop his mother. "My mother was arrested in a murder case in west Delhi around three years ago. She came out in 2021, but last year, she again went inside the jail for 15 days and was later released. I work as a mason and came here to drop her off," he said. The apex court had said undertrial prisoners, who were released on emergency bail during the pandemic, can move for regular bail before competent courts after their surrender. Several convicts and undertrial prisoners, mostly those who were booked for non-heinous offences, were released during the pandemic in various states on the recommendations of a high-powered committee set up in pursuant to directions of the apex court. Concerned by the deployment of heavy security here, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh Friday asked the Punjab government to not try to create panic ahead of Baisakhi. The Jathedar called a special gathering at Takht Damdama Sahib on Friday to discuss the role of Sikh and Punjabi journalism, Sikh media contribution, and challenges the state is facing at present. The gathering comes at a time when concerns about the rise of secessionist forces in the border state are being expressed, especially in the wake of a major law and order breach in Ajnala Police Station attack led by radical preacher Amritpal Singh, who has been declared a fugitive by police. Addressing the gathering, the Jathedar of Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, said because of the security strictness, only a fraction of the usual number of devotees has come here this time ahead of Baisakhi. "Every year, we see a big gathering which starts from April 5 (for Baisakhi). But (at present), the number of 'sangat' is just 10 per cent. The reason is the panic created by the government," he said. "I want to tell the Punjab government through this platform that this strictness has created a panic, and it should be ended," he asserted. Also Read Akal Takht Jathedar asks radical preacher Amritpal to surrender to police Grant on-arrival visas to Sikhs: Akal Takht jathedar to India, Pak Another pee-gate incident, this time on train by TTE in Akal Takht Express Prove you are boss: Amritpal tells Akal Takht chief in new audio clip 'XBB' Covid variants unlikely to cause new wave, don't create panic: Expert FinMin to respond in 3 weeks to plea seeking mechanism on unclaimed funds Prices of dairy products likely to remain firm on account of higher demand PM Modi to inaugurate slew of developmental projects in TN on April 8 Punjab paid back entire Rs 20,200 cr electricity subsidy for FY23: CM Mann Rising Covid cases: Experts say cold-like symptoms indicate endemicity Apparently referring to certain media reports, the Jathedar said, "earlier they said Amritpal Singh will surrender here. Now they will start saying that he will surrender on Baisakhi day, and an attempt will be made to create panic in his name. The government should avoid it." The Jathedar said when such a situation is created, it does not affect only the image of Punjabis and Punjab, but also the government which is ruling Punjab. "At least save your image." The Jathedar said leaves of police staff in Punjab have been cancelled and they have been asked to be present for duty. "All of them have been sent to Damdama Sahib. What will happen here?" he said. Punjab Police has cancelled leaves of all its staff till April 14, said sources on Friday. Baisakhi, one of Punjab's biggest festivals in north India, marks the foundation day of the 'Khalsa Panth' (Sikh order) by the tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh. It also marks the onset of harvest season. On the day of the festival, people across Punjab offer prayers at gurdwaras. Security has been stepped up in Talwani Sabo in Bathinda ahead of Baisakhi. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, his South Korean counterpart Park Jin on Friday held discussions on taking forward India-South Korea Special Strategic Partnership. "Glad to welcome @FMParkJin of Republic of Korea on his first official visit to India," Jaishankar tweeted on Friday. "Our discussions today will take forward our Special Strategic Partnership," he further wrote. Park on Friday said South Korea would like to upgrade its existing successful partnership with India and focus on trade, investment and supply chain stabilization in manufacturing sector and also critical minerals. Park said he will be holding a meeting with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar to further promote India-South Korea partnership. "Commemorating half a century of our diplomatic relationship, we would like to upgrade our existing successful partnership with India. So, I'm going to meet with my counterpart S Jaishankar, the Foreign Minister of India to discuss our efforts, joint efforts to promote our partnership and to explore possibilities in deepening and widening our cooperation," the South Korean Foreign Affairs Minister told ANI. Also Read EAM Jaishankar calls on Australian PM to discuss bilateral strategic ties EAM calls on Australian PM Albanese to discuss bilateral strategic ties India crucial partner, trade among key focus areas: South Korea minister S Korea, US to hold simulated drill to prevent North Korea's use of nukes S Jaishankar meets Sri Lanka's High Commissioner, bilateral ties discussed Delhi govt 'misled' HC on transfer of schools, alleges L-G's office Azad's comments on Kashmiri Pandits' displacement to bail out culprits: BJP Nitin Gadkari likely to inaugurate Kiratpur-Ner Chowk road on May 15 Telangana Minister KTR writes to Amit Shah on CRPF recruitment notification Cong has released 2 lists, BJP unable to declare candidates: Shivakumar The South Korean Foreign Minister on Friday also met Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar. "FM of the Republic of Korea @FMParkJin called on Hon'ble @VPIndia Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today," the Indian Vice President tweeted. "Highlighting 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the leaders discussed the significance of cultural & people-to-people ties in strengthening - Special Strategic Partnership," the tweet further read. Park Jin is currently on a two-day official visit to India starting Friday. His visit to India comes as the two countries mark the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Friday welcomed Park Jin to India, said his visit will help strengthen India-South Korea Strategic Partnership. "A warm welcome to FM @FMParkJin of the Republic of Korea on his first official visit to India," Bagchi tweeted on Friday. "As India-South Korea celebrate 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, the visit will strengthen our Special Strategic Partnership," the tweet further read. Park Jin on Friday arrived in India at the Delhi airport. A fresh round of tussle between the state secretariat and Raj Bhavan has started snowballing in West Bengal over a fresh set of guidelines imposed on the vice-chancellors of state universities by the Governor's House. The Raj Bhavan on Thursday issued a letter to all the vice-chancellors of state universities, directing them to take the concurrence of the Governor's House in all finance-related matters. The VCs have also been asked to submit a weekly report on the overall functioning of their respective universities. On Friday, state Education Minister Bratya Basu questioned the legal validity of the guidelines issued by the Governor. "I have asked the education secretary to seek legal advice on how far the letter from the Governor is legally valid," Basu said. The minister also alleged that the letter was sent to the vice-chancellors keeping the education department in the dark. Basu further questioned if the Raj Bhavan can directly send such instructions to the state universities by bypassing the state education department. Also Read Former bureaucrat Dr CV Ananda Bose takes oath as West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose to take oath as new governor of West Bengal on Wednesday DA crisis: Bengal governor has agreed to mediate, claim agitators New Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose may visit Delhi on Thursday, meet Shah 74-year-old official 'History of INA' remains shrouded in mystery: TMC MP NGT panel to revisit clearance granted for Great Nicobar Island project Akali Dal exposes Rs 200-crore liquor scam in Punjab, demands CBI probe Govt has firm resolve to address complaints in time-bound manner: L-G Sinha Rajasthan gives a fillip to millet production, distributes free seed kits Punjab to miss fiscal targets by a wide margin due to freebies: Ind Ra This is the second major tussle between the state secretariat and the Raj Bhavan. Earlier this year, the Governor's House had sought to replace the erstwhile principal secretary to the Governor, Nandini Chakaroborty. After initial hesitancy, the state government had replaced Chakroborty. However, the post vacated by her is still lying vacant as the Governor has not given concurrence to any of the three names suggested by the state secretariat as Chakroborty's replacement. Recently, Governor C.V. Ananda Bose had issued strongly-worded statements against the state administration over the attack on the convoy of Union minister Nisith Pramanik at Dinhata in Cooch Behar district, as well as on the recent clashes over Ram Navami processions in the state. --IANS src/arm By Sudhi Ranjan Sen, Khine Lin Kyaw and Philip J. Heijmans India has confronted Myanmar in recent months with intelligence showing that China is providing assistance in building a surveillance post on a remote island in the Bay of Bengal, according to Indian officials with knowledge of the matter. In the meetings, representatives from Myanmars ruling junta denied any Chinese involvement and dismissed Indias concerns, the officials said. Still, India remains worried that the infrastructure will allow China to monitor communications from naval bases and track missiles from test sites on its eastern coastline, they said. Indian government representatives at various levels have shared satellite imagery with Myanmar counterparts that they said depicted Chinese workers helping to construct what appears to be a listening post on the Coco Islands in the Indian Ocean, said the officials, who asked not to be identified discussing sensitive information. The workers were also seen extending an airstrip, they said. Myanmar and India always have discussions at many levels, but there was no specific discussion on this issue, he said. The Indian government already knows perfectly well that only Myanmar security forces are based there, and they are doing defense activities for their own country. Major General Zaw Min Tun, a spokesman for Myanmars ruling State Administration Council, called the allegation that China was building a spy facility in the Coco Islands absurd. He denied that the topic ever came up with Chinese or Indian officials, and said Myanmar would never allow access to foreign troops. Also Read Myanmar resistance steadfast against military rule two years later India, China and Russia abstain on first UNSC resolution against Myanmar Singapore doesn't authorise transfer of arms to Myanmar: Foreign Ministry FATF blacklists Myanmar, calls for due diligence to transactions in nation UN agency seeks information on origin of Rohingya refugees in Indonesia India crucial partner, trade among key focus areas: South Korea minister Azamgarh became 'terror hub' under previous govts: Amit Shah targets Oppn Domestic gas price for April at $7.92, price for consumers capped at $6.5 Cyber cell begins probe into Venugopal's complaint on cloning of number Rajasthan healthcare model should be implemented across country: Congress The government keeps a constant watch on all developments having a bearing on Indias security, he said. In a response to questions, Arindam Bagchi, a spokesperson for Indias Ministry of External Affairs, said the country would take necessary measures to safeguard its interests. Military tensions between India and China have risen since 2020, when the worst fighting in decades erupted on their Himalayan border. Prime Minister Narendra Modis government has also taken action to restrict Chinese apps in India and woo foreign investors looking to diversify away from the worlds second-biggest economy. The Chinese ambassador to Myanmar, Chen Hai, who met with some junta ministers earlier this week, didnt respond to a request for comment. Chinas Foreign Ministry didnt immediately reply to questions. India has assessed that China has no offensive military capabilities on the specific island Great Coco Island and Chinese research vessels used for snooping in the Indian Ocean havent docked there to avoid stoking suspicions, the officials said. They added that no Chinese personnel are stationed on the islands permanently, even though the workers show up often to help set up equipment. Reports that Myanmar allowed a Chinese signals intelligence facility on the archipelago have been circulating since the 1990s. The issue came into focus again last week after London-based policy research group Chatham House released a report speculating that Myanmar was militarizing the Coco Islands, with the intention of conducting maritime surveillance operations in the area. China is Myanmars largest trading partner, and has invested in ports and energy pipelines in the Southeast Asian nation as a way to bypass the Strait of Malacca, which would be a choke point in any wider Asian conflict. India plans to continue pressing Myanmars junta to block China from operating the spy post, the officials said, but they assess that the generals have become more economically dependent on Beijing since a 2021 coup brought several rounds of sanctions from the US and Europe. The US has warned of Chinese efforts to establish military installations in other parts of Asia. The Pentagon last year said that facilities at Cambodias Ream Naval Base will be the first PRC overseas base in the Indo-Pacific, even though the government in Phnom Penh has repeatedly denied the accusation. Chinas surveillance activities came under the spotlight earlier this year when the US shot down an alleged spy balloon flying over its territory, a move that derailed plans for more engagement after US President Joe Biden met Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Indonesia last November. The Pentagon said last week the balloon managed to gather intelligence from military sites, but the US was able to limit what it collected. India has a military facility in the Andaman and Nicobar Island group less than 60 kilometers (37.2 miles) away from the Coco Islands. The nation is ramping up its capacity in that island chain, the officials said, without giving more information. Martin Meiners, a Pentagon spokesperson, said the US is concerned that China is seeking to establish a global network of logistics and basing infrastructure that will allow the PLA to project and sustain military power at greater distances. Beijing has also sought to gain a foothold in the Pacific. China Civil Engineering Construction Co. won a tender to redevelop an international port in the Solomon Islands, Reuters reported last month. Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa remarked at the time there were fears that it might move into something else, such as a dual-use military and civilian port. While he didnt comment on the alleged Chinese activities in the Coco Islands, Meiners said a particular concern is the lack of transparency and clarity around the terms it negotiates with host countries and the intended purposes of these facilities. On World Health Day, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya today said that 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' is India's heritage and the country has fulfilled its responsibility by providing medicines and vaccines to more than 180 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. "On the occasion of World Health Day, I wish for the health of the whole world. The concept of Vasudev Kutumbakam is our heritage and in this series, the country is fulfilling its responsibility for the world in the health sector under the leadership of Modi ji. During the Corona period, we had seen that there was a shortage of medicines all over the world, then our country made medicines available to more than 180 countries, and along with it vaccines were also made available," the Health Minister told ANI. Mandaviya arrived at Delhi's Vijay Chowk to take part in the walkathon on the occasion of the World Health Day. The medical staff and paramedical staff walk from Vijay Chowk to Nirman Bhawan. India today recorded 6,050 new cases in 24 hours while the active case tally stood at 28,303. Mandaviya has called a review meeting with the health ministers of all the states on Friday amid the surge in COVID-19 cases across the country. He would meet with health ministers of all the states through video conferencing. The health minister will discuss the upward trend in Covid cases in all states. On Thursday, India reported 5,300 covid-19 cases with 13 deaths, which is the highest in 195 days, according to Union Health Ministry. The last time over 5,000 cases was recorded was in September last year. On September 23, 2022, a total of 5,383 cases were reported. Also Read Tamil Nadu NEET PG 2022 Counselling Round 2 Allotment List released Health Minister to hold meeting with Indian Medical Association today State prepared to handle Covid-19 wave, says Kerala Health Minister Union Health Minister to chair two-day global conference on digital health Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission crosses over 40 mn linked health records No entry for heavy vehicles on Noida expressway from 7 am to 10 pm No leaves for Punjab police till Apr 14 as Amritpal calls for Sarbat Khalsa 'Don't spread rumours': Punjab Police denies news of Amritpal's surrender Decoded: Centre's plan to identify, take down 'fake' or 'misleading' news Daily Covid cases cross 6000-mark in India, positivity rate at 3.39% On Thursday, India reported 5,300 covid-19 cases with 13 deaths, according to Union Health Ministry. Several states have witnessed an uptick in Covid-19 cases. Maharashtra reported a spike of 41 per cent in new infections in just 24 hours on Thursday. While on Tuesday, active Covid-19 cases in Tamil Nadu crossed the four-digit mark with 1,086 patients, when 198 new Covid-19 cases were reported. Delhi on Thursday reported 606 new Covid-19 cases and 340 recoveries in past 24 hours. Days after the DCW issued summons to authorities after finding ill-maintained public toilets during an inspection, Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi on Friday said an "inquiry" has been ordered and "appropriate action" will be taken. Delhi Commission for Women chairperson Swati Maliwal along with two other panel members had inspected certain toilets with a team of counsellors and local residents on Wednesday. The DCW had then summoned the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board officials over the "pathetic condition" of toilets managed by them. "We are initiating an inquiry into the matter. Appropriate action will be taken against whoever who will be found guilty of negligence," a statement from the Delhi Mayor's office quoting Oberoi said. During the inspection of the MCD toilet at Sanjay Colony Jhuggi in Gokul Puri, the panel members observed that there was no caretaker present and human excreta was lying all around inside as well as outside the toilet in the building complex, the DCW had said. There was overflowing excreta everywhere on the floor with thousands of flies swarming over it. Evidently, due to the unhygienic condition of the toilets, several women and girls are being forced to defecate in the open. The smell in the complex was also extremely nauseating, it had said. Also Read Maliwal makes visit to public toilet in Daryaganj, finds 50L acid in open BJP demands Swati Maliwal's removal after court orders framing of charges Delhi BJP seeks Maliwal's removal for impartial probe of molestation charge Delhi court grants bail to man accused of dragging DCW chief Swati Maliwal Delhi HC stays trial court proceedings against DCW chief Swati Maliwal Azamgarh faced crisis of identity but its glory being brought back: UP CM Delhi records 733 fresh Covid-19 cases, positivity rate at 19.93% Don't repeat the mistake you made in 2018 polls: Piyush Goyal to K'taka EAM Jaishankar, his South Korean counterpart Park Jin hold discussions Delhi govt 'misled' HC on transfer of schools, alleges L-G's office In the wake of the killing of an advocate earlier this month, two lawyers have moved the Delhi High Court for directions to the Centre and the city government to enact a law for protection of legal professionals. Lawyers Deepa Joseph and Alpha Phiris Dayal, in their petition, said there has been an "alarming rise" in incidents of violence inside the court premises in the city and it was "high time now" for a decision to be taken for the enactment of "Advocates Protection Act" to guarantee protection to the fraternity and help remove the fear that has been embedded in their minds. The petitioners stated their concern about their own safety has been "aggravated by seeing the visuals and video of the cold-blooded murder of an influential and senior member of the Bar" and if "Advocates Protection Act" is not passed in Delhi, audacity of criminals to commit crimes against lawyers will increase. Advocate Virender Kumar Narwal, 53, was shot dead in southwest Delhi's Dwarka by two motorcycle-borne assailants on April 1. "The scenario particularly post the death of Advocate Virender Narwal has created an atmosphere that does not feel favourable to practise the profession without fear and hence it impinges upon the right to practise any profession or to carry on any occupation, trade or business to all citizens under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India and also violates Article 21 of the constitution that guarantees protection of life and personal liberty," the petition before the court said. In the petition filed through lawyer Robin Raju, the petitioners said Rajasthan has already passed a law which provides for police protection to any lawyer who is attacked or against whom criminal force and criminal intimidation is used while also prescribing a punishment for the offender. Also Read What do unique terms in the data protection bill mean? Centre notifies appointment of Chief Justices for four high courts James Webb telescope reveals exoplanet atmosphere as never seen before IFC invests Rs 300 cr in agro-chemical firm Crystal Crop Protection Centre recommends elevation of two judges as CJs of Karnataka and J-K HC TMC accuses Shah of 'double standards' in addressing Ram Navami violence Maha govt must take Covid-19 seriously, apprise citizens, says Ajit Pawar CEO asks media to refrain from speculations about Odisha Assembly poll Tarnishing India's image on foreign land should be forbidden: VP Dhankhar Shinde flags off special train to Ayodhya, to visit temple town on Sunday It added that advocacy is considered to be a noble profession which also involves risks and threats, and a safe atmosphere is essential for practising the legal profession without fear. A "bare google search" would show that there have been incidents of attack on advocates in the recent past, it said. "The Petitioners are constrained to move this Hon'ble Court as they have felt a sense of despair among fellow members of the Bar as well..The murder of Late Sh. Virender Narwal has compelled the Petitioners to think about their own safety," the plea said. The court was told that after the incident, the district bar associations even decided to abstain from work over the demand for quick enactment of Advocates Protection Act, and that its intervention was of utmost importance. "Only an Act that guarantees protection to the fraternity of lawyers practising in Delhi will help remove the sense of fear that has embedded in the minds, particularly among young first-generation lawyers like the Petitioners herein due to the repeated acts of firing inside court premises and altercations to state the least," the plea said. Feature: Int'l secondary school students experience traditional Chinese medicine in Malta Xinhua) 10:20, April 07, 2023 Dong Xiaoyan, a member of the 18th Chinese Medical Team for Malta, explains moxibustion therapy to a group of secondary school students from Germany and Luxembourg who are on a cultural exchange trip in Paola, Malta, April 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Chen Wenxian) VALLETTA, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Over 20 secondary school students from Germany and Luxembourg on Wednesday experienced traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) during their cultural exchange trip to Malta. The students visited the Mediterranean Regional Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine (MRCTCM) in Paola, Malta, where doctors from the 18th Chinese Medical Team for Malta demonstrated TCM treatments, such as moxibustion, cupping and massage, and explained their effects in an easy-to-understand way. In addition to TCM treatments, the students had the opportunity to taste traditional Chinese food, make dumplings and learn about the liver-cleansing and detoxifying effects of chrysanthemum tea. The activity was organized by the Confucius Institute Trier in Germany, with support of the Confucius Institute at the University of Malta. Li Yi, Chinese director of the Confucius Institute Trier, told Xinhua that the trip was organized for students to come to Malta for cultural exchange during their holidays because Malta has rich Chinese cultural resources. Experiencing TCM is an important part of the week-long trip, Li said, adding that within a week, students not only had Chinese language classes but also had a comprehensive experience of Chinese culture, which was "a very good opportunity." During the students' visit to the MRCTCM, Zhang Yilong, a member of the medical team, gave a brief lecture on some basic theories of TCM for them. They were then divided into groups to observe and experience different TCM treatments. Students showed great enthusiasm for the TCM treatments. Adrien Ricciardi, a 16-year-old student from Luxembourg, expressed his excitement after experiencing cupping therapy. "It is interesting to see the different treatments," he told Xinhua after his first TCM experiment. Ricciardi started learning Chinese in October of last year, and showed a strong interest in TCM. He said he took a lot of notes while listening to the doctor's explanations. "I am surprised of the feeling," said Thalia Dumortier, 16, from Luxembourg, after she tried cupping therapy. "It is a good experiment, very interesting," she added. Dumortier, who has studied Chinese for two years, watched videos about TCM before, but she never knew it very well. She said the experiment was "very helpful" for her to learn TCM. Karl-Heinz Pohl, the foreign director of the Confucius Institute Trier and a German sinologist, described TCM as "a wealth of tradition and very valuable," adding that "we still have not really, fully explored this rich tradition." Pohl has visited China many times and enjoys practicing Qigong and Tai Chi. He emphasized that this experience showed the participants one important aspect of Chinese culture, and he expected more opportunities as such for students to explore rich Chinese culture. According to Dong, besides clinical diagnosis and treatment, strengthening international exchanges in TCM and promoting the TCM overseas is also an important mission of the medical team. The international secondary school students who came for the exchange all love the Chinese language and Chinese culture, and through the exchange and experience, they could have a deeper and more vivid understanding of TCM and Chinese culture, Dong said. Dong Xiaoyan, a member of the 18th Chinese Medical Team for Malta, demonstrates moxibustion therapy for a group of secondary school students from Germany and Luxembourg who are on a cultural exchange trip in Paola, Malta, April 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Chen Wenxian) Zhang Yilong, a member of the 18th Chinese Medical Team for Malta, gives a lecture on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to a group of secondary school students from Germany and Luxembourg who are on a cultural exchange trip in Paola, Malta, April 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Chen Wenxian) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) A South Korean liaison officer talks to his North Korean counterpart at the Seoul bureau of their joint liaison office, Oct. 4, 2021, in this photo provided by the unification ministry. Yonhap North Korea remained unresponsive to regular contact via the inter-Korean military hotline for the second day Saturday, military officials said. The North did not respond to the regular morning and afternoon calls between the two sides, the officials said, after daily calls through the military line and another cross-border liaison channel went unanswered the previous day. The two Koreas typically hold phone calls twice a day using the joint liaison office channel and their military channel. While the liaison office channel operates only on weekdays, the military channel also conducts calls on weekends. "Regular calls aren't being made due to an unspecified reason from the North's side," a military official said. "We will monitor the situation, leaving all possibilities open, including a (technical) problem in the North's line." The suspension comes amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula in the wake of North Korea's recent weapons tests in protest of joint military drills between South Korea and the United States. Earlier in the day, the North's state media reported that the country staged an underwater detonation test of its Haeil-2 nuclear-capable attack drone earlier this week. Daily phone calls via inter-Korean communication channels have previously gone unanswered due to technical reasons. Last June, Pyongyang did not respond to a regular hotline call apparently due to technical glitches caused by heavy rains. In July 2021, the North restored the inter-Korean hotline, about a year after it severed the contact channel in protest against Seoul activists' leaflet campaigns critical of Pyongyang. The liaison line was again cut off in August that year and restored later. (Yonhap) Maharashtra Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar on Friday said the state government should look into the COVID-19 situation immediately, as cases have been on the rise and apprise citizens. As per the state health department, Maharashtra had on Thursday recorded 803 fresh coronavirus cases and three fatalities that raised the tally of infections to 81,47,673, which includes 1,48,454 deaths. "During the recently concluded Assembly sessions, we had asked the state government about measures it was taking and the line of action it had decided to enable people's representatives to go back to their constituencies and work on dealing with the COVID-19 situation by taking officials into confidence," Pawar told reporters in Pune. During the Maha Vikas Aghadi rule, the Uddhav Thackeray-led government had been united in its fight against coronavirus. Expressing concern, Pawar said that while the number of infections was increasing by the day, no one seemed to be taking the situation seriously. "If the situation is serious, the government should give instructions that people working in government offices must use masks mandatorily and people who visit these offices should also wear masks. However, no such order has been issued as yet," the NCP leader said. Also Read Maha govt must compensate farmers: Ajit Pawar after unseasonal rain damages Power does not remain with anyone forever, says NCP leader Ajit Pawar Ajit Pawar targets government over ministers' absence; Fadnavis apologises Ajit Pawar flays Maharashtra government for losing major projects NCP chief Sharad Pawar opposes govt's plan to import milk products CEO asks media to refrain from speculations about Odisha Assembly poll Tarnishing India's image on foreign land should be forbidden: VP Dhankhar Shinde flags off special train to Ayodhya, to visit temple town on Sunday BMC launches demolition drive against illegal film studios in coastal area World Health Day: 'Right to health' should be guaranteed to all, what is it He further urged the government to take the COVID-19 situation seriously and inform people about the same by holding a press conference so that they know the ground reality and are able to take necessary precautions. On Chief Minister Ekanth Shinde's upcoming visit to Ayodhya, Pawar said the chief minister can go to Ayodhya if he wishes to and the deputy chief minister and health minister can handle the COVID-19 situation. The Punjab police have cancelled the leaves of gazetted and non-gazetted officers in the state till April 14 after the radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh gave a call for the "Sarbat Khalsa" gathering, the NDTV reported. Amritpal has been on the run since his supporters took over a police station over the arrest of one of his aides and have asked the chiefs of Akal Takht to convene a gathering of Sikhs in Bhatinda on the occasion of Baisakhi on April 14. In the wake of this, the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav has sent out a message to the officers cancelling all previously sanctioned leaves, and the heads have been asked not to approve any leave till April 14, the report said. Also Read Amritpal Singh and Waris Punjab De: Everything you need to know about them Amritpal Singh in Hoshiarpur? Police launch door-to-door operation Vivo V27 Pro review: All-round smartphone with focus on imaging capability Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro: Lightweight laptop lifted by ecosystem benefits BNPL platform Simpl introduces menstrual, adoption and pet care leaves 'Don't spread rumours': Punjab Police denies news of Amritpal's surrender Decoded: Centre's plan to identify, take down 'fake' or 'misleading' news Daily Covid cases cross 6000-mark in India, positivity rate at 3.39% PM doesn't understand importance of education: Jailed AAP leader Sisodia Govt working to make Assam Police "zero vacancy force": Assam CM Sarma Amritpal released two video messages last month appealing for the gathering. He also further asked the jathedars (chiefs of Akal Takht) to take out a religious procession from the Akal Takht in Amritsar to Damdama Sahib in Bathinda ahead of the gathering on Baisakhi. Only the Akal Takht chief can decide whether to call such a congregation after consulting with Sikh scholars and intellectuals, the top gurdwara body Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), said following Amritpal's request. SGPC general secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal PTI, that it is the personal wish of Amritpal Singh. "It is the sole prerogative of the Akal Takht Jathedar to call or not call a 'Sarbat Khalsa'. The jathedar would see what needs to be done under the prevailing circumstances," What is Sarbat Khalsa? Literally meaning "all congregation", it is a traditional mass gathering of all factions of Sikhs (Khalsa) to discuss political, social, and religious issues. The concept originated during the Mughal period, when Zakarya Khan, the governor of Lahore, offered the title of Nawab to the Sikhs as a reward for their services. The Sikhs refused the title and called for the first Sarbat Khalsa to discuss the issue. Pre-independence, the Sarbat Khalsa was called in 1920 to discuss control over the gurdwaras. In 1986, it was called Operation Blue Star. The Sarbat Khalsa was called again on November 10, 2015, by Sikh bodies opposed to the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) After Rajasthan's Udaipur administration banned the placing of flags carrying religious symbols on public properties without due permission for the next two months, state BJP chief CP Joshi on Thursday questioned the Ashok Gehlot government saying if "saffron flag won't be unfurled in Udaipur then where it will be in Afghanistan where Taliban is in power". "Udaipur is the land of brave Shiromani Maharana Pratap who defeated the Mughals. Now, if the saffron flag won't be unfurled in Udaipur then where it will be in Afghanistan where Taliban is in power?" Joshi said (translated from Hindi) on Thursday while speaking to ANI . He further alleged that the Gehlot government is deliberately targeting temples and religious festivals. "Government is deliberately targeting temples and religious festivals. Don't know who they want to please," he added. The district administration of Rajasthan's Udaipur administration has banned the placing of flags carrying religious symbols on public properties without due permission for the next two months. In an order by the District Magistrate Tara Chand Meena dated April 5, he said that there is an attempt to spoil the law and order situation in the district on the pretext of religious purposes. Also Read Udaipur railway explosion: Police doubt Asarwa-Udaipur Express sabotage IND vs BAN Live Streaming: When and how to watch the T20 WC match in India Rajasthan 2nd grade teacher recruitment exam paper leaked; 44 held Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot to present state budget for FY24 on February 8 Rajasthan ATS, SOG begin probe into Udaipur train track blast on CM orders No one thought Scindia, Azad would use such language for Rahul: Gehlot Portal for unclaimed deposits across banks to be ready in 3-4 months: RBI Delhi mayor inspects slum dwellings, asks officials to renovate dhobi ghat Indian government forms panel to review pension system, says FinMin 'Veer Mata', 'Veer Pita' identity cards for parents of martyrs in Rajasthan "The undersigned has been informed by the District Superintendent of Police, Udaipur that no person can use flags carrying religious symbols on public property without approval or consent for the religious purposes to be organized in the Udaipur district affecting the law and order situation. An attempt is made to spoil the law and order, due to which there is a possibility of disturbing public peace and adversely affecting law and order and social harmony. In such a situation, it is necessary to take preventive action immediately to maintain public peace," the order read. "Therefore, keeping the above circumstances in view, I, Tara Chand Meena, District Magistrate, Udaipur, using the powers conferred under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, prohibit the use of flags carrying religious symbols on public properties in the entire urban and rural areas of Udaipur district without approval or consent," it further read. The Magistrate instructed the people to follow the order and warned of action if the order is violated. "I instruct all citizens to follow this order and not disobey it. If any person violates the above prohibitory orders, then he can be prosecuted under section 88 of the Indian Penal Code. This order will remain effective in the entire urban and rural areas of Udaipur district from 05/04/2023 till the next two months," the order read. Under the scheme, over 830,000 mini kits of high-yielding millet seeds were distributed by the state government for Kharif 2022. In a bid to encourage millet production in the state, the Rajasthan government is taking various steps, including distribution of free seed mini kits of millets, to encourage farmers to take up the cultivation of these crops. The United Nations declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets. Agriculture commissioner Kanaram said that for value addition and better post-harvest management, a Millets Centre of Excellence is being set up in Jodhpur at the cost of Rs 5 crore. Millets include pearl millet, sorghum, finger millet, kodo millet, proso millet, browntop millet, rajgira, common buckwheat, barnyard millet, foxtail millet and little millet. India ranks first globally in the production of millets and Rajasthan's share is 28.6 per cent in the entire country. Also, 36 per cent area is under millet cultivation in the state. Also Read What has made Odisha Millets Mission a success story in such a short time From packaged food to hotel menus: ITC goes gung ho on millets Over 200K farmers in Rajasthan become self-dependent by producing seeds Free seeds under 'Mukhyamantri Krishak Sathi Yojana' helping women farmers Rajasthan Right to Health Act: The provisions and why doctors protested Punjab to miss fiscal targets by a wide margin due to freebies: Ind Ra Covid-19 surge: Maha reports 926 cases, three deaths; Mumbai sees 27% rise Women's scheme 'Ladli Behna' an early success in Madhya Pradesh Convicts, undertrials released during Covid return to jail after SC order Lawyers move Delhi HC, seek law for protection, safe atmosphere to practice Kanaram said that pearl millet (bajra) and sorghum (jowar) are the main millets grown in Rajasthan. These coarse grains have nutritious elements and are rich in protein, vitamin B and minerals. So, scientists believe that these millets should be included in food for complete nutrition. The government also launched the Rajasthan Millet Promotion Mission in 2022-23. It has made a provision of Rs 40 crore for setting up 100 primary processing units by farmers, entrepreneurs and voluntary organisations. The state also ranks first in the entire country in the production of bajra with a 41.7 per cent share. Meanwhile, the Rajasthan government has made some important decisions for farmers to extend support. He said that to provide nutritious food, the state government also included millets in mid-day meals, Indira Rasoi and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) schemes. Now, the farmers will have to repay their loans by June 30, 2023, or 12 months after taking the loans, whichever is earlier. Providing a big relief, chief minister Ashok Gehlot has approved a proposal of extending the payment of short-term crop loans of Kharif-2022. The government has also approved a financial proposal of Rs 736 crore, including Rs 560 crore under the interest-free crop loan subsidy scheme. And, a proposal of Rs 176 crore was also okayed under the compensatory interest subsidy scheme. The Congress on Friday claimed the healthcare model of Rajasthan is being studied the world over and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to emulate the state's Chiranjeevi scheme and Right to Health initiative across the country. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera and Rajasthan Health Minister Parsadi Lal Meena said at a press conference at the party headquarters here that the Chiranjeevi scheme helped a large number of people during the COVID-19 period as they did not have to spend even a single penny on their treatment in hospitals. Khera said there is an atmosphere of celebrations in the state as this scheme has touched so many lives and the "Rajasthan model" is being talked about all over the world and has become a subject of research abroad. He claimed that today the situation is such that the people of Gujarat are getting their treatment done in Rajasthan. Rajasthan Health Minister Meena said today people are getting free treatment up to Rs 25 lakh in Rajasthan. He said this has gone up from Rs 10 lakh earlier. "The way the right to health is being given to people in Rajasthan, it should be given across the whole country. The prime minister should implement it in all states," he said. Also Read World TB Day: PM Modi launches initiatives to eliminate disease by 2025 Rajasthan Right to Health Act: The provisions and why doctors protested Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission crosses over 40 mn linked health records Need to build resilient health system across world: India at G20 Health World Thrift Day 2022: 5 simple ways you can adopt to become a better saver Governor's guidelines to VCs of state varsities trigger row in Bengal NGT panel to revisit clearance granted for Great Nicobar Island project Akali Dal exposes Rs 200-crore liquor scam in Punjab, demands CBI probe Govt has firm resolve to address complaints in time-bound manner: L-G Sinha Rajasthan gives a fillip to millet production, distributes free seed kits He said that the issues raised by the doctors protesting against the Right to Health Bill have been resolved. Rules under the Right to Health Act will be framed in such a way that they will be in the interests of doctors as well as the general public, he said. On World Health Day on Friday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, "We are extremely proud that Congress governed Rajasthan has become the first state in the country to guarantee right to health." "Key schemes like Chiranjeevi Yojana in Rajasthan and Mukhyamantri Haat-Bazaar Clinic Yojana in Chhattisgarh have immensely benefitted people," he said on Twitter. He said that on this day it is imperative to express gratitude to the countless healthcare warriors - ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, auxiliary nurses and midwives (ANMs), doctors, nurses, medical staff and everyone involved in saving lives. On the occasion, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said it is a matter of great pleasure to inform that the Congress-ruled Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh have given first priority to the health of citizens. "Rajasthan's right to health law will give more than 8 crore citizens the right to free treatment. The Chiranjeevi Health Scheme, which provided free treatment facilities to lakhs of people of the state, became the basis of this achievement," she said in a tweet in Hindi, adding that the Chhattisgarh government is providing affordable health facilities to every citizen sitting at home through various schemes. She also expressed gratitude to all healthcare professionals. Under the Chiranjeevi scheme, free treatment is provided in empanelled hospitals. The Rajasthan Right to Health Bill stipulates that every resident of the state will have the right to emergency treatment and care "without prepayment" at any public health institution, health care establishment and designated health care centres. Additionally, many doctors were worried that they would not be paid the right amount or on time under the proposed system. The doctors were concerned that their salaries could be delayed or reduced in case the health insurance system became defunct, making it hard for them to maintain their practices. Despite the good intentions behind the bill, there were protests from doctors, who expressed concerns about the impact of the bill on their autonomy and compensation. They were worried that the Act would force doctors to work in state-run hospitals, thereby taking away their ability to make independent decisions about their practice. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday flagged off a special train to Ayodhya carrying activists of his party Shiv Sena amid fanfare, two days ahead of his own visit to the temple town in Uttar Pradesh. Sporting a traditional saffron shawl, Shinde, accompanied by his son, Kalyan Lok Sabha MP Srikant Shinde, Kalyan unit in-charge of the Shiv Sena Gopal Landge, local leaders and hundreds of party activists, showed the green flag to the train at Thane station around 4.40 pm amidst slogans of Jai Shri Ram. Shiv Sainiks travelling by the special train, which was well decorated with a 'Chalo Ayodhya' board mounted in the front, will welcome their leader when he lands in the town on Sunday. Amid blowing of trumpets and music bands playing, the CM walked the entire stretch of the platform No. 5 accompanied by hundreds of Shiv Sainiks carrying saffron flags with pictures of Lord Ram and the party's 'bow and arrow' poll symbol printed on them. They also displayed placards bearing pictures of Shiv Sena founder the late Bal Thackeray. Shinde carried the flags and placards for some distance, and entered train bogies and greeted passengers on their way to Ayodhya. The chief minister will leave for Lucknow on April 8 evening and visit Ayodhya the next day and perform 'aarti' on the banks of the Saryu river, according to an itinerary circulated among media persons. I will visit Ayodhya on April 9 with my party ministers, MLAs, MPs and other functionaries, Shinde said on Sunday last. The Shiv Sena has released a teaser on social media with regards to Shinde's visit to Ayodhya, his first after becoming chief minister on June 30, 2022, and a short video on his life. Former Thane Mayor and Sena spokesman Naresh Mhaske along with some other leaders are camping in the temple town to oversee arrangements for Shinde's visit, which is being seen as a mega show of strength by his party, which remains locked in a bitter battle for supremacy with the rival Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray). Shinde's trip to Ayodhya, where a grand Ram temple is coming up, will be closely watched in political circles in Maharashtra as he seeks to establish himself as the true inheritor of Bal Thackeray's legacy and reaffirms his Hindutva credentials. The veteran politician was in the sacred city in June 2022 to make arrangements for then-Cabinet minister Aaditya Thacekray's visit, and the trip came just days ahead of his rebellion against the leadership of the undivided Shiv Sena. Also Read Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde to visit Ayodhya after end of Budget session Train cancelled? Know IRCTC rules to check status, get ticket refund Covid-19 pandemic, political drama rocked Mumbai civic body in 2022 We accept CM Eknath Shinde as new Shiv Sena chief, says Uday Samant Ayodhya Mosque construction to begin after Ramzan, layout gets clearance BMC launches demolition drive against illegal film studios in coastal area World Health Day: 'Right to health' should be guaranteed to all, what is it World Health Day 2023: Here's a look at govt healthcare schemes for all Govt will continue working to augment health infrastructure: PM Modi DMK, allies to hold 'massive protest' against Governor Ravi on April 12 Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday called the "house arrest" of party MLA Pallavi Patel an "extreme form of negative politics of the BJP". Patel is the leader of Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) and daughter of Apna Dal founder Sone Lal Patel. A member of the Samajwadi Party in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, Patel represents the Sirathu constituency in Kaushambi district. Earlier in the day, Patel claimed that she was put under house arrest at her party office in Sirathu and not allowed to welcome Union Home Minister Amit Shah. However, Additional Superintendent of Police Samar Bahadur dismissed the charge. In a tweet in Hindi, Yadav said putting a woman MLA of the opposition under "house arrest" and not allowing her to meet people in her constituency on the foundation day of Kaushambi is an "extreme form of negative politics of the BJP". Also Read National parties should support regional ones against BJP, says Akhilesh Bypolls: Voting underway in Mainpuri, 6 assembly constituencies in 5 states SP candidate Dimple Yadav to file nomination for Mainpuri bypolls on Monday CM Yogi Adityanath framing Samajwadi Party leaders in false cases: Akhilesh One who wants to serve country will never become Agniveer: Akhilesh Yadav Crops on 60k hectares in Marathwada damaged, affects 122k farmers India confronted Myanmar about Chinese spy post on remote island India crucial partner, trade among key focus areas: South Korea minister Azamgarh became 'terror hub' under previous govts: Amit Shah targets Oppn Domestic gas price for April at $7.92, price for consumers capped at $6.5 "The people of Kaushambi will show the exit door to the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections," he said. In the 2022 assembly elections, Patel defeated Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya by 7,337 votes. Kaushambi was carved out of the-then Allahabad district on April 4, 1997. In a review meeting held by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, states were also told to conduct mock drills to demonstrate and strengthen their preparedness across all health facilities on April 10 and 11 in the case of a further spurt in cases. As Covid cases across the country went past 6,000 on Friday, the highest in 203 days, the Union health ministry has asked the states to stay alert, be prepared, and avoid panic. India has been witnessing a steady increase in Covid cases with average daily cases rising to 4,188 in the week ended April 7, from 571 in the week ended March 17. There were 29,318 cases detected during the week ended April 7, compared to 15,119 cases in the week ending 31 March. The weekly positivity rate stands at 3.02 per cent. Eight states are reporting a high number of Covid cases with over 10 districts in Kerala, Maharashtra and Delhi reporting a positivity rate of over 10 per cent. The number of Covid-19 cases has risen from just over 3,000 at the end of March to 6,050 as of April 7. The number of cases on April 7 was the highest since September. Also Read States to conduct mock drills next week to review Covid preparedness How did India waste over 100 million Covid vaccines? Rising Covid cases in India a non-event for markets for now: Analysts Deja-vu moment as govt hospitals start mock drills to test Covid infra Bharat Biotech gets nasal vaccine nod for use as mix-match booster Goa begins in-patient Covid testing at govt hospitals amid spike in cases K'taka Cong chief promises to cancel scrapping of 4% quota for Muslims Withdraw 'draconian' amendments notified to IT Rules, says Editors Guild Amit Shah slams Congress: Autocracy of one family is in danger With Covid cases on rise, Madras HC to opt for virtual hearings The number of weekly cases were around 38,000 for the seven days ending September 16, declining from around 42,000 in the previous week. The previous high of 6,298, was detected on September 16. The latest figure is a rise of 93.9 per cent over the previous week. The data considered numbers available with the World Health Organisation (WHO), and used the health ministry data where this was unavailable for recent days. Centre and states need to continue working in a collaborative spirit as they did during the previous waves, Mandaviya said. The review meeting was attended by various state health ministers who were asked to review preparedness of their district administration and public health officials on Saturday and Sunday. Fighting Covid States told to identify emergency hotspots, ramp up testing and vaccination, and ensure readiness of hospital infra States advised to stay alert and keep all preparedness for Covid-19 management Test, track, treat, vaccinate, and adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour to remain the policy focus The health ministry said Omicron and its sub-lineages continue to be the predominant variant, adding that most of the assigned variants have little or no significant transmissibility, disease severity or immune escape. The health ministry, taking note of the low coverage of precaution dose, asked the states to ramp up vaccination of all eligible population, especially of the elderly and vulnerable population group. The prevalence of XBB.1.16 increased from 21.6 per cent in February to 35.8 per cent in March, 2023. However, no evidence of an increase in hospitalisation or mortality has been reported, a statement by the health ministry said. The health ministry called for expeditiously increasing the rate of testing and the share of RT-PCR in overall tests in 23 states where the testing level was found to be below the national average. At the current rate, India is conducting 100 tests per million, according to the health ministry. A total of 1,78,533 tests were conducted in the country on Thursday. Mandaviya asked all the state health ministers to personally monitor and review the preparedness of all logistics and infrastructure, including availability of sufficient designated hospital beds and ensure that there is adequate stock of essential medicines. He also asked states to regularly update their Covid data on the COVID India Portal. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday took a veiled jibe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his comments in London, saying tarnishing India's image on foreign land should be forbidden. Addressing an event here after the release of a postage stamp marking the birth anniversary of noted social reformer Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Dhankhar said some Indians in some foreign institutions are scheming to stall the country's growth. The vice president invoked Swami Dayanand's quote about independence and his resistance to foreign rule and expressed displeasure over the alleged remarks made overseas to tarnish the image of India and its democratic institutions. "It hurts when some amongst us go to foreign land and tarnish the image of an emerging India. This should be forbidden," he said. The vice president said a person having faith in India and Indianness will focus on enhancing the country's image and contribute towards it. "There may be shortcomings, he will think of addressing those shortcomings but criticising on a foreign visit, making comment which are undignified on all parameters, this behaviour is contrary to the views of Swami-ji," Dhankhar said. Also Read Rahul Gandhi convicted in Modi surname defamation case: What we know so far VP Dhankhar meets Indian community in Doha, lauds role played by them We are in our extended family, says Vice-President Dhankhar in Cambodia Digvijaya offers residence to Rahul after he was asked to vacate bungalow Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi pay tribute to 2001 Parliament attack victims Shinde flags off special train to Ayodhya, to visit temple town on Sunday BMC launches demolition drive against illegal film studios in coastal area World Health Day: 'Right to health' should be guaranteed to all, what is it World Health Day 2023: Here's a look at govt healthcare schemes for all Govt will continue working to augment health infrastructure: PM Modi During an event in the UK, Rahul Gandhi had alleged that the structures of Indian democracy are under attack and there is a "full-scale assault" on the country's institutions. Dhankhar said there was a period when institutions were named after a select few and it gave an impression that there was a dearth of great personalities in the country. "Since ancient times, India has been a land of sages. It has seen many incarnations of God... Ram is not imaginary. Ram for us is part of our civilisation. A reality," Dhankhar asserted. He said that the slogan of swaraj was given by Swami Dayanand in 1876 which was carried forward by Lokmanya Tilak after which it became a public movement. The Rajya Sabha chairperson said there are some foreign institutions that are working towards stopping India's growth story. "Their objective is to stop the pace of growth of India.... Our billionaires, industrialists contribute in crores to trusts established there. I am not saying that they have wrong intent but maybe they have missed it. Due to the contribution of those crores, our own people design a programme that they should be able to tarnish India," he claimed. The vice president said that those institutions have students and teachers from several countries. "Why this improper work is done by our own people? Why don't people from other countries do it? It is a matter of great concern. Now there has been a big transformation that such things don't impact India," Dhankhar said. He said Swami Dayanand wanted Indians to achieve mental freedom. "Even after Independence we felt that we needed freedom from it. Swami-ji's soul would be happy in this period of Amrit Kaal. The slavery of foreign power has ended," he said. He said India became the fifth largest economy of the world and, according to economists, it is going to be the third largest by the end of this decade. The vice president emphasised the need to promote Sanskrit in the country. "There is no language in the world and no grammar of the kind that Sanskrit possesses. In a way it is the mother of all languages and we cannot let it perish," he said. Yoga proponent Ramdev said Maharshi Dayanand brought the Vedas to Shudras and women. He said that Dayanand never compromised on anything wrong and expressed his views against anything he found wrong -- be it among brahmins or in Quran or Bible. This photo provided by the presidential office shows President Yoon Suk Yeol, sixth from left, posing for a photo with members of a U.S. congressional delegation at the presidential office in Seoul, April 5. Yonhap U.S. congressional leaders have invited Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to address a joint session of Congress, noting it will provide an opportunity to share his vision for the future of U.S.-South Korea alliance, an invitation letter to Yoon released Thursday showed. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also said the historic event will highlight the progress made by the allied countries over the years. Yoon's office earlier said the president has been invited to address a joint session of the U.S. Congress on April 27, one day after he will hold a bilateral summit with President Joe Biden. "The relationship between the United States and the Republic of Korea is one of great importance and significance," says the letter, also signed by Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. "Your leadership has been instrumental in strengthening this partnership, and we believe the Joint Meeting would provide a platform for you to share your vision for the future of the U.S.-Korea alliance and to highlight the progress that has been made in recent years," it adds. The Korean president is set to make a state visit to the U.S. from April 24, becoming the first Korean president to do so in 12 years. He will be the first Korean head of state to address a joint session of the U.S. Congress since 2013. The congressional leaders also noted that Yoon's trip to the U.S. will highlight the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-Korea alliance. "With this year marking the 70th anniversary of the alliance between our two countries, it is an especially important time to reflect on the achievements of our partnership and reaffirm our shared commitment to democracy, economic prosperity and global peace," they said. (Yonhap) : Minister K T Rama Rao on Friday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding that the test for the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) be conducted in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and other official languages as well, other than English and Hindi. As per the notification, the Computer-based test will be conducted only in English and Hindi, a press release from KTR said. Rama Rao said the test put students who did not study in English medium or are not from Hindi-speaking states at a disadvantage. The Minister reminded Shah that the National Recruitment Agency had decided to facilitate a Common Eligibility Test (NRA-CET) to replace multiple examinations, and to conduct these in 12 Indian languages. "However, it's not being implemented properly, including in the CRPF recruitment notification," he said in the letter. Rama Rao also said that conducting competitive exams only in Hindi went against the spirit of the Constitution as there were several official languages in India. Also Read Telangana seeks funds in Union Budget for various industrial projects Telangana ranks number one in per capita income in 2022-23, says KTR Start with Gujarat if you can: TRS dares BJP to 'impose' Hindi across India Diverting, diluting issue: BJP leader slams KTR's remarks on Hindi row After ED questioning over Delhi liquor policy, Kavitha meets Telangana CM Cong has released 2 lists, BJP unable to declare candidates: Shivakumar NCP may have its view but 19 Oppn convinced Adani issue real: Congress Delhi BJP office to be shifted to DDU Marg, construction to begin soon SP chief Akhilesh Yadav hits out at BJP over party MLA's 'house arrest' Crops on 60k hectares in Marathwada damaged, affects 122k farmers According to him, the CRPF notification denies people the right to equal opportunities guaranteed by the Constitution. He recalled a letter written by Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao to the central government on November 18, 2020, urging it to hold all competitive exams to central government jobs in regional languages. Rama Rao appealed to Shah to revise the CRPF notification so that crores of youth studying in regional languages got equal opportunities without any discrimination or inequality. The District Collector of Udaipur prohibited hositing of flags with religious symbols under Section 144 of the Udaipur Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 The order prohibited any such hoisting without the prior approval of competent authorities. Udaipur district collector Tarachand Meena issued an order on Wednesday, April 5, which prohibited the installation of religious symbols such as flags on public or other people's property, The Times of India (TOI) has reported. The order has been implemented in the entire urban and rural districts of Udaipur. The order will be applicable from April 5 until the next two months. The West Bengal government has drafted an action plan with the help of Dutch experts to tackle floods, prevent embankment damage and decrease salinity level in Sunderbans and in the coastal areas. Principal Secretary of Irrigation and Waterways department Prabhat Kumar Mishra told PTI that the department had signed the letter of intent (LoI) with the Netherlands government in the sixth edition of the Bengal Global Business Summit in April last year for technical assistance in delta management and development of the Sunderbans and coastal areas of Digha. "An action plan has been formulated and pilot project already taken off near Mousumi islands in South 24 Parganas district to strengthen embankments and the Dutch team - consisting of experts - has made three-four visits to the delta areas of south Bengal to take forward the work," he said. Mishra said various waterways, including blocked water canals and river channels, crisscrossing parts of south Bengal, had been connected with Hooghly river system at one time before tectonic shifts and other activities made them defunct and the links were severed. "Our aim is for restoring those links so that fresh water inflow is made possblle in those parts again and decrease the salinity level," he added. These defunct waterways in the zone, once excavated, will facilitate flow of fresh water and cause dip in the salinity level, the principal secretary said, adding that Dutch experts have been roped in for the ambitious project as they are the "best" in this. Also Read Bengal wants to promote new tourist spots on PPP mode: Babul Supriyo NGT directs authorities to demolish hotel constructed in Sundarbans OneWeb satellites soon to offer space-based internet services globally CES 2023: Qualcomm announces 'Snapdragon Satellite' for android smartphones Flood alert in TN's Tiruvannamalai as water level rises in Sathanur dam Kanataka polls: Cong faces dissent & rebellion after 2nd list announcement BJP plans demolish school close to its central office: Sanjay Singh Rahul created powerful narrative via Bharat Jodo Yatra: Congress Country won't forgive Oppn for disrupting Parliament for Rahul: Amit Shah Amid rising temperatures, Delhites struggle to find favourite beer brands The team, apart from making on the spot visits to different zones, has been building up a satellite image-based map. Mishra told PTI that the measures would help in mitigating flood in Kolkata, particularly southern parts of city and stop inundation of low lying areas during heavy rains. "Once the system is implemented both upper delta and lower delta will be benefitted," he said but did not give a time frame. "The Dutch experts have advocated natured-based solution" apart from sharing their engineering expertise in building a multi-pronged system which can prevent flooding, stop erosion in coastal areas," the principal secretary added. He said the move will also lead to stop in washing of saplings in coastal areas like Sunderbans which include species like Mangroves. "We are working on both medium-term and long-term approaches to address the situation with one of the best collaborators in the world," he added. Another state official said the government will seek funding from World Bank and Asian Development Bank for the project. He said till this date the department has already excavated 500 km for storing freshwater in south Bengal upper delta. The medium term plan is to excavate over 700 km of land in five years. "In the Netherlands dykes have proved to be effective in checking inundation of areas. We think as embankments in coastal areas of both South 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur districts gave way to breaching during disaster, we urgently need a mechanism to put in place to stop its recurrences," Mishra said. However, overall production, according to the government official, would still be in the range of 112 million tonnes, as predicted earlier. Indias wheat production in FY24 might go down by 1-2 million tonnes due to the recent unseasonal rains, a senior government official said on Friday. A similar estimate was made by a private study commissioned by flour millers. This production before the rains was projected to be about 104 million tonnes, which implies that untimely rains may have shaved off 1-1.3 million tonnes of wheat output this year. The study commissioned by the roller flour millers and conducted by Agriwatch, an initiative of Indian Agribusiness Systems Ltd, put wheat production in the 2023-24 crop season at 103 million tonnes after accounting for the recent unseasonal rains Top central government officials had been claiming that unseasonal rains wouldn't bring about a significant reduction in this estimate. This number is different from that projected by the government, which in its second advance estimate, released in mid-February, said that wheat production in FY24 is projected to be over 112 million tonnes. Also Read Will India become a net importer of wheat? Govt further cuts reserve price of FCI wheat to Rs 2,150 per quintal Wheat price rise normal; have enough stocks to meet demand: Govt Wheat acreage surges 25% from last year; but weather remains a concern Centre may sell surplus wheat in small tranches to control atta prices Don't create panic ahead of Baisakhi: Akal Takht Jathedar to Punjab govt FinMin to respond in 3 weeks to plea seeking mechanism on unclaimed funds Prices of dairy products likely to remain firm on account of higher demand PM Modi to inaugurate slew of developmental projects in TN on April 8 Punjab paid back entire Rs 20,200 cr electricity subsidy for FY23: CM Mann The Centre's production estimate for FY23 was 107.7 million tonnes. There was a difference in wheat production projected by the government and industry last year. However, this year, there are some commonalities in crop estimates. The first is that there is 3-5 per cent increase in wheat acreage, the second is production loss due to untimely rains and hailstorms would be about 1-2 million tonnes and the third is that there would be an additional 5-5.5 million tonne production over the last year, Subodh Singh, additional secretary in the food ministry, said at the release function. He said due to the banning of exports and higher annual production, the total availability of wheat this year in the market was almost 10 million tonnes more than last fiscal. Whatever figure you take, we are fairly confident that wheat production this year, even after accounting for the unseasonal rains, will be around 5-5.5 million tonnes more than last year, Singh said. He said the Centre is considering requests from Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana governments. Food Corporation of India Chairman Ashok Meena, who was present at the programme, said that the government's wheat procurement at minimum support price (MSP) is underway and about 700,000 tonnes have been lifted so far, higher than 200,000 tonnes a year ago. The Centre on Friday told the states and Union territories that currently the World Health Organisation is closely tracking one variant of interest (VOI), XBB.1.5 and six other variants are under monitoring BQ.1, BA.2.75, CH.1.1, XBB, XBF and XBB.1.16. During a review meeting on the Covid-19 situation, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya virtually interacted with the health ministers of the states and union territories and advised them to ramp up vaccination of all eligible population, especially of the elderly and vulnerable population group. It was highlighted that while Omicron and its sub-lineages continue to be the predominant variant, most of the assigned variants have little or no significant transmissibility, disease severity or immune escape. The prevalence of XBB.1.16 increased from 21.6 per cent in February to 35.8 per cent in March, 2023. However, no evidence of an increase in hospitalisation or mortality has been reported. It was also informed that while India has achieved over 90 per cent coverage of primary vaccination, the coverage of precaution dose is very low. --IANS Also Read Arizona county refuses to certify election despite lack of evidence Kenya warns of worsening food crisis as drought escalates in arid counties Union Health Minister to chair two-day global conference on digital health Stellar healthcare professionals helped India defeat Covid-19: Mandaviya Govt working to level number of medical UG and PG seats in 4 yrs: Mandaviya G20 presidency: CAG team reviews preparations for SAI20 meet in Goa YSRCP launches mega survey to reach out to 50 mn people ahead of state poll How reward-driven are top-level appointments to World Bank and IMF? More than 6,000 Covid cases reported, Mandaviya asks states to stay alert Goa begins in-patient Covid testing at govt hospitals amid spike in cases miz/svn/ What is Right to health? As the World Health Organisation (WHO) celebrates World Health Day 2023 with an aim to garner attention on global health issues and raise awareness about universal health coverage and 'Health for all', experts and civil society organisation have continued to voice the need for legislating people's 'Right to health'. This right is guaranteed to all individuals, without any discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity, or socio-economic status, WHO stresses. According to WHO, the Right to health is the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, including access to medical care, sanitation, nutrition, clean water, and all other socio-economic determinants of health. Right to health in India The Constitution of India makes multiple references to public health and the role of government in the provision of healthcare to citizens, it gives no explicit recognition of the right to health or healthcare as a fundamental right. Also Read Budget 2023-24: Manufacturing sector eyes revised taxations, new PLIs Union Budget 2023: Experts don't expect surprises in social sector outlay Rajasthan Right to Health Act: The provisions and why doctors protested Budget 2023: A look back at some major announcements in previous Budget FIH Men's Hockey World Cup 2023: Obstacles India will face on its home turf World Health Day 2023: Here's a look at govt healthcare schemes for all Govt will continue working to augment health infrastructure: PM Modi DMK, allies to hold 'massive protest' against Governor Ravi on April 12 Kerala train blaze: Accused Shahrukh Saifi sent to 11 days police custody Wheat output in FY24 may decline by 1-2 mn tonnes due to untimely rains According to Dr Yogesh Jain, a member of Jan Swathya Abhiyan (People's health movement), recognising the right to health as a fundamental right is important in ensuring and safeguarding people's access to basic health facilities. He added that it will not force the policymakers and health agencies to allocate substantially for building better health infrastructure but will also reduce the out-of-pocket expenses of patients in the country. He added that high out-of-pocket medical expenses is one of the biggest reasons for people falling into poverty, leading to a vicious cycle of poor health outcomes and poverty. Article 21 of the Constitution guarantees the protection of life and personal liberty to every citizen, Article 39 (E) directs the State to secure the health of workers, Article 42 directs the State to just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief, Article 47 casts a duty on the State to raise the nutrition levels and standard of living of people and to improve public health, Article 243G endows the Panchayats and Municipalities to strengthen public health, The Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV of the Indian Constitution also provides a basis for the right to health. Status of health infrastructure in India According to the National Health Profile 2021 data released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), India's current doctor-to-population ratio is 1:1456, which is lower than the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended ratio of 1:1000. Similarly, the nurse-to-population ratio in India is 1:670, while the WHO recommends a ratio of 1:300. The Covid-19 pandemic has further put burden on India's healthcare system and highlighted the gaps it has been suffering. The shortage of essential medical supplies, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and lack of coordination between state and central governments have adversely impacted the healthcare response to the pandemic. Varanasi, Bhadohi, Mirzapur and Moradabad are patently identified with the production and export of handloom, carpets and brassware, respectively. About a dozen UP cities figure in the list of 43 centres of export excellence in India as identified by the Narendra Modi government. These include Moradabad, Varanasi, Bhadohi, Malihabad, Kanpur, Agra, Firozabad, Saharanpur, Mirazpur, Noida, among others. Uttar Pradesh, which is targetting to double merchandise exports to Rs 3 trillion in the near future, is looking to boost exports of handloom, carpets and brassware from the landlocked state. Meanwhile, a senior UP government official said the notified export oriented areas will have priority access to export promotion corpus under the flagship Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) scheme. We have increased merchandise exports from Rs 89,000 crore to Rs 1.57 trillion over the span of 5-6 years. Now we are targetting to hit the exports volume figure of Rs 3 trillion, he added. UP Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi said UP has large potential to emerge as a major export hub in India. We are committed to developing UP as an export hub and the state government is standing firmly with exporters and entrepreneurs in this regard. With the establishment of dry ports and opening of a water route between Varanasi and Haldia, the government has made new vistas of investment, the official noted. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is laying emphasis on exporting traditional products under the one district one product (ODOP) scheme by improving upon the Ease of Doing Business matrix. Also Read Uttar Pradesh: Global defence firms to attend investment meet in Lucknow Rs 14,000 crore to be infused via paddy procurement in Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh govt asks commercial banks to step up credit flow Uttar Pradesh plans to buy 43,000 acres of land for Rs 7.3 trillion Uttar Pradesh sets a target of Rs 40,000 cr investments in energy sector Indian tea after 'Sri Lanka effect': Challenge will be to focus on quality Portfolio, risk manager among highest paid jobs in BFSI sector: Report 27,000 ckm of power transmission lines to be added by 2024-25: Govt Coal production rises by 12% to 107.84 mn tonnes in March 2023: Ministry Realty, auto firms expect demand to remain intact after RBI holds rate While UP is targetting to become a $1-trillion economy, it is looking to build upon its strength of expressways and slew of international airport projects. Moreover, the Yogi government has introduced the concept of dry ports through the UP Warehousing and Logistics Policy 2022 to facilitate transportation of export cargo to sea ports. Besides, the state is working on faster implementation of investment projects totalling almost Rs 35 trillion netted at the recent UP Global Investors Summit (GIS) 2023. Gold price plunged Rs 380 from yesterday's close during Friday's early trade with 10 grams of 24-carat gold trading at Rs 60,980, according to the GoodReturns website. Meanwhile, silver prices fell by Rs 600, with 1 kg of the precious metal selling at Rs 76,490. The price of ten grams of 22-carat gold fell by Rs 350 to Rs 55,900. The price of ten grams of 24-carat gold in Delhi, Bengaluru, and Chennai is Rs 61,130, Rs 61,030, and Rs 61,640, respectively. The price of ten grams of 24-carat gold in Mumbai is at par with the price of gold in Kolkata and Hyderabad, at Rs 60,980. The stock of casting & forging company, therefore, surpassed its previous high of Rs 290.75, touched on March 15, 2023. Shares of Ramkrishna Forgings hit a record high of Rs 310 apiece, as they soared 10 per cent during intraday trade on the BSE on Thursday amid heavy volumes, before ending the day at Rs 305.45 per share, up 8.16 per cent. The consortium of Ramkrishna Forgings and Titagarh Wagons (RKFL-TWL Consortium) had received a Letter of Award (LOA) on Wednesday from the Ministry of Railways (MoR), Government of India with respect to 'Manufacturing and Supply of Forged Wheels under long term agreement under Aatma Nirbhar Bharat. In less than 10 months, the market price of the company has zoomed 107 per cent from the level of Rs 149.55 on June 22, 2022. In the past year, it has rallied nearly 70 per cent, as against 0.39 per cent rise in the S&P BSE Sensex. The consortium will set up a manufacturing facility in India for forged wheel production and will supply approximately 1.6-million-wheel discs of different rolling stocks of Indian Railways over a period of 20 years at about 80,000 wheels per annum. According to the company, the size of contract was Rs 12,226.50 crore for manufacturing and supply of 1.54 million forged wheels of different rolling stocks to the MoR over a period of 20 years in accordance with the terms and conditions of the agreement. Also Read Titagarh Wagons hits new high; zooms 65% in 6 months on healthy outlook Stocks to watch: JSW Energy, Federal Bank, Zuari Inds, Titagarh Wagons Rail Vikas, Titagarh: Bullish trend in railway-related stocks may continue Rail stocks may chug along till budget; book profit selectively: Analysts Podcast: How long will the rally in railway stocks sustain? Mutual funds' equity bets touch record Rs 1.73 trillion in FY23 Investors' wealth jumps over Rs 10.43 trn in last 5 days of market rally Unauthorised investment advisory services: Sebi bans 4 for six months Stock market holiday: BSE and NSE to remain closed today on Good Friday Mkts see optimism in RBI's status quo, gain for 5th day after initial fall The actor received death threats from gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his associates in connection with the Blackbuck poaching case. Bishnoi is believed to belong to the community that considers blackbucks sacred, which is said to have triggered the gangster, the HT report said. Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has bought a bulletproof Nissan Patrol luxury SUV, Hindustan Times (HT) has reported. He arrived at the venue in his new bulletproof SUV, accompanied by his personal security team and a police escort team. Salman Khan was seen in his new car at the opening of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in Mumbai, the report said. All you need to know about the vehicle His new Nissan Patrol replaces his earlier bulletproof Toyota Land Cruiser LC200. Since Nissan does not officially offer this vehicle in India, the Patrol seems to be an imported vehicle. Also Read NIA conducts raids at locations linked to Lawrence Bishnoi, aides Renault Nissan inks agreement with Kamarajar Port for car shipments Congress in self-destruction mode, has no future: Kuldeep Bishnoi NIA raids 70 locations linked to Bishnoi, Bawana, other gangsters Gangster-terrorist case: Khalistani terrorist among six arrested by NIA Hanuman Jayanti 2023: Puja Timing, Rituals, History, Importance, Wishes Mahavir Jayanti 2023: History, importance, best wishes to your loved ones Mahavir Jayanti 2023: Everything you need to know about the festival Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Death Anniversary 2023: 10 things you must know From SRK, Varun Dhawan, Nick Jonas, to Gigi Hadid, stars at Ambani Gala There is little clarity about the levels of protection offered in the vehicle. However, it is expected to have B6 or B7 levels of security. B-6-level security provides protection against high-powered rifle fire with a 41-mm-thick glass for ballistic protection. The Nissan Patrol is very popular in the Middle East and Southeast Asian countries. It is especially known for its bulletproofing and is considered one of the best choices for armoured vehicles for civilian use. The Nissan Patrol is powered by a 5.6-litre V8 petrol engine that produces 400 bhp and delivers 560 Nm of peak torque. The vehicle comes with a 7-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive capability. On the other hand, the B-7 level offers a shield against armour-piercing rounds and comes with 78 mm of thick glass, the HT report said. This captured image shows Vedant Patel, deputy spokesperson for the Department of State, speaking during a press briefing at the department in Washington, U.S., April 6, Yonhap China and any other countries that have a relationship with North Korea have an obligation to encourage Pyongyang to halt its provocative actions, a state department spokesperson said Thursday, amid reports that the North is prepared to conduct a nuclear test at anytime. Vedant Patel, deputy spokesperson for the state department, added the U.S. will continue to implement United Nations Security Council sanctions on North Korea to prevent further escalation. "We have been very consistent that countries that have influence and relationships with the DPRK have a responsibility to engage with them and to encourage them to cease their dangerous, reckless and destabilizing activities that have the potential to impact not just across the Indo-Pacific but the region more broadly," he told a daily press briefing, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "We believe that needs to be a case under the auspices of the U.N. Security Council as there are a number of U.N. Security Council sanctions in place as it relates to (the) DPRK," he added when asked if the U.S. had any means to pressure China, a close neighbor of North Korea, to stop Pyongyang from conducting what will be its seventh nuclear test. Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), earlier said indications of activity have been detected at North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear test site in what he called a "deeply troubling" development, also noting that the site "remains prepared to support a nuclear test." North Korea conducted its sixth and last nuclear test in September 2017. Patel declined to comment when asked if China may have enough influence over Pyongyang to stop the country from conducting a nuclear test. This captured image shows John Kirby, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, speaking during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 6. Yonhap At least 34 rockets were fired into northern Israel from Lebanon, of which 25 were successfully intercepted, according to the latest information from the Israeli army. Six rockets fell in Israeli territory and two caused damage. Israel fought off a barrage of rockets from Lebanon on Thursday in the most sustained attack since a 2006 war, adding to tensions a day after a spike in confrontations in Gaza and Jerusalem that coincided with religious holidays. It is the largest barrage of rockets from Lebanon since 2006, said Major General Amos Yadlin, a former head of Israeli military intelligence. Two people in the Galilee region were injured, including a man hit by shrapnel and a woman as she ran to a shelter, according to the Israeli medical aid society Magen David Adom. Israel Faces Biggest Rocket Barrage From Lebanon Since 2006 The decision on how to respond will be made in the coming hours, he told journalists in an online briefing. A full-scale war is likely to be avoided, he said. Also Read No, Israel has NOT found two cases of a new variant of coronavirus Lebanon and Israel sign US-mediated sea border deal, deliver them to UN Israel hits Gaza with rockets as Netanyahu vows to extract 'heavy price' Hezbollah ends anti-Israel mobilisation after maritime demarcation deal World Bank pledges $500mn to support Lebanon's agri, vulnerable population Israel hits Gaza with rockets as Netanyahu vows to extract 'heavy price' Biden review blames Trump for 'chaotic' 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal It's big vs small as banks square off to avoid new rules after failures Live: Israel hits 2 tunnels, weapon factories in response to Hamas attack Putin, Lukashenko pledge to boost integration between Russia, Belarus President Joe Biden has been briefed and US officials continue their dialogue with their Israeli counterparts on this and other issues, according to the National Security Council. Were very concerned about the violence there, John Kirby, a spokesman for the council, told reporters. We call on all sides to de-escalate. The fresh confrontation coincides with an escalation in Israels shadow war with its main regional enemy Iran, which supports militant groups committed to Israels destruction like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Islamic Jihad in the Palestinian territories. Hamas and Islamic Jihad are believed to be responsible this time, with Hezbollah assumed to have known about the attacks, said Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman. Hezbollah, as well as Palestinian groups, have been behind past rocket attacks from Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was to meet later Thursday with the inner security cabinet, his office said. It sets important defense and foreign policy, including having the authority to order serious military activity. The state-run Lebanese news agency said Israel struck back with artillery fire, which the Israeli army denied. Sirens sounded in the towns of Shlomi and Moshav Betzet and in the Galilee region. Tensions have been building with the weeklong Jewish Passover holiday overlapping with the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. Late Wednesday, renewed clashes broke out between Israeli police and Palestinians inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, a flashpoint. Israeli police used force to remove people at Al-Aqsa, which lies in a hillside spot sacred for both Muslims and Jews and has sparked conflict in the past, for the second time Wednesday. They said they intervened in the compound after mostly masked men tried to barricade themselves inside, throwing stones and fireworks. Earlier, seven surface-to-air rockets exploded in midair without being intercepted after being launched from Gaza toward southern Israel and the Gaza Strip Sea, the Israeli military said. A U.S. review led by the National Security Council of the chaotic 2021 withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan largely lays the blame on former President Donald Trump, saying President Joe Biden was severely constrained" by the decisions of his predecessor. The White House on Thursday publicly released a 12-page summary of the results of the so-called hotwash of U.S. policies around the ending of the nation's longest war, taking little responsibility for its own actions during some of the darkest moments of Biden's presidency. The administration said most of the after-action reviews, which were transmitted privately to Congress on Thursday, were highly classified and would not be released publicly. President Biden's choices for how to execute a withdrawal from Afghanistan were severely constrained by conditions created by his predecessor, the White House summary states, noting that when Biden entered office, the Taliban were in the strongest military position that they had been in since 2001, controlling or contesting nearly half of the country. The report does fault overly optimistic intelligence community assessments about the Afghan army's willingness to fight, and says Biden followed military commanders' recommendations for the pacing of the drawdown of U.S. forces. The White House asserts the mistakes of Afghanistan informed its handling of Ukraine, where the Biden administration has been credited for supporting Kyiv's defense against Russia's invasion. Also Read Why has Donald Trump been indicted and can he run for 2024 elections? US House committee to release Trump's personal tax returns for 6 yrs Donald Trump to appear in New York court today: What happens next? Facebook still banning Trump for now despite 2024 presidential campaign Trump to contest 2024 polls; Biden says ex-president failed America It's big vs small as banks square off to avoid new rules after failures Live: Israel hits 2 tunnels, weapon factories in response to Hamas attack Putin, Lukashenko pledge to boost integration between Russia, Belarus World Health Day 2023: Know about the day promoting 'health for all' India-US working closely to address fentanyl challenge: US health official The White House says it simulated worst-case scenarios prior to the February 2022 invasion and moved to release intelligence about Moscow's intentions months beforehand. We now prioritise earlier evacuations when faced with a degrading security situation, the White House said. In an apparent attempt to defend its national security decision-making, the Biden administration also notes that it released pre-war warnings over strong objections from senior officials in the Ukrainian government. Republicans in Congress have sharply criticised the Afghanistan withdrawal, focusing on the deaths of 13 service members in a suicide bombing at Kabul's airport. Former Marine Sgt. Tyler Vargas-Andrews, who was badly wounded in the explosion, told a congressional hearing last month that the withdrawal was a catastrophe and there was an inexcusable lack of accountability. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby credited U.S. forces for their actions in running the largest airborne evacuation of noncombatants in history during the chaos of Kabul's fall. They ended our nation's longest war," he told reporters. That was never going to be an easy thing to do. And as the president himself has said, it was never going to be low grade or low risk or low cost. Since the U.S. withdrawal, Biden has blamed the February 2020 agreement Trump reached with the Taliban in Doha, Qatar, saying it boxed the U.S. into leaving the country. The agreement gave the Taliban significant legitimacy and has been blamed by analysts for undercutting the U.S.-backed government, which would collapse so quickly a year later. But the agreement also gave the U.S. the right to withdraw from the accord if Afghan peace talks failed which they did. The agreement required the U.S. to remove all forces by May 1, 2021. Biden pushed a full withdrawal to September but declined to delay further, saying it would prolong a war that had long needed to end. As part of a Cost of the crown series, The Guardian newspaper has been chronicling an investigation into Britains royal wealth and finances in the lead-up to the Coronation of Charles III on May 6. In one of the reports this week, it references a remarkable 46-page file uncovered from the India Office archives that detail an investigation, apparently commissioned by Queen Mary the grandmother of the late Queen Elizabeth II, into the imperial origins of her jewels. The discovery of a colonial-era file from the archives of the India Office, the then-British government department responsible for its rule over the Indian subcontinent, has shed light on many precious gems and jewels that came into the possession of the royal family, including many jewels of King Charles III. The report, from 1912, explains how priceless pieces, including Charless emerald belt, were extracted from India as trophies of conquest and later given to Queen Victoria, The Guardian investigation reveals. Among its references is an emerald-encrusted gold girdle used to decorate the horses in the stables of Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab, which now forms part of King Charles royal collection. Dazzled by his kingdoms jewels, Eden wrote: He puts his very finest jewels on his horses, and the splendour of their harness and housings surpasses anything you can imagine. The items described are now owned by the monarch as property of the British crown, it notes. Among the discoveries included a journal recording a tour in 1837 of Punjab by the British society diarist Fanny Eden and her brother George, then Britains governor general of India, who visited Ranjit Singh. Also Read King Charles coronation to take place on May 6 next year: Buckingham Palace UK Queen consort Camilla, King Charles visit Bengaluru health centre NIIT acquires US-based St Charles Consulting Group for $23.4 million Bank of England unveils its first banknotes featuring King Charles III King Charles III won't appear on new Australian bank notes: Central bank 11 hurt in Detroit apartment building fire, nearly 20 displaced: Official Pak needs to pay $77.5 bn in debt; risk of default 'real': US think tank Tesla cuts prices on EV models for 3rd time this year in US to lure buyers Yields, expectations for rate hikes rise after US jobs' market report Pak Army Chief's personal data breach prompts formal inquiry by Parliament The infamous Koh-i-Noor diamond is said to have come into the possession of Queen Victoria as a result of just such a plunder by East India Company officials. The Huanan seafood and wildlife market has been a focal point in the search for the origin of the coronavirus. A research team in China has published analysis of samples taken more than three years ago from the market linked to the outbreak of Covid-19. By linking the virus with animals sold in the market, it, according to reports, could open new lines of inquiry into how the outbreak began. Some scientists say this is further evidence that the disease was initially transmitted from an infected animal to a human while some cautioned in interpreting the data. The research published in Nature reveals swabs that tested positive for the virus also contained genetic material from wild animals. No definitive proof It remains unclear why it took three years for the genetic content of the samples to be made public. Also Read India now has 20,000 tonnes per day Oxygen capacity. 90% of it lying idle Winter is coming: New Covid-19 variants prompt alert for illness season New Omicron variants not causing significant rise in infections: Experts India reports 157 new coronavirus cases; active tally increases to 1,862 India reports 95 new coronavirus cases; active tally rises to 1,921 Bank of Japan's Haruhiko Kuroda bows out after decade of shock and awe Colonial-era file sheds light on Indian jewels in UK's royal treasury 11 hurt in Detroit apartment building fire, nearly 20 displaced: Official Pak needs to pay $77.5 bn in debt; risk of default 'real': US think tank Tesla cuts prices on EV models for 3rd time this year in US to lure buyers The Chinese research team posted an early version of their study online back in February 2022, but they did not publish the full genetic information that was contained in the samples gathered from the market. At least eight people were dead and scores injured after violent clashes broke out between two ethnic outfits in the rugged terrains of Bandarban district in Bangladesh, sparking panic and forcing locals to flee their homes, police said on Friday. The incident took place on Thursday night in Rowangchhari upazila in Bangladesh's south-eastern Bandarban District, which is a hotbed of insurgency. Clashes and gunfire were witnessed in a remote corner of Roangchhari upazila (sub-district) of Bandarban on late Thursday. We have recovered eight bodies from the scene, police officer Abdul Mannan said. Mannan said the bodies were brought to the upazila headquarters on Friday for autopsy and other legal formalities. Police said nearly 200 people fled their homes following the clashes, fearing violence among feuding groups, and took refuge at an army camp at Roangchhari. Also Read Turkey probes contractors as earthquake death toll breaches 33,000 mark 'India, Bangladesh play significant role in ensuring security of region' Morbi bridge collapse: Death toll rises to 135, rescue operations still on Death toll of oil tanker blast mounts to 19 in Afghanistan, says official Death toll in Turkey, Syria earthquakes reaches 9,400; deadliest in 10 yrs Bank of Japan's Haruhiko Kuroda bows out after decade of shock and awe Covid-19 pandemic origin: China scientists publish long-awaited data Bank of Japan's Haruhiko Kuroda bows out after decade of shock and awe Colonial-era file sheds light on Indian jewels in UK's royal treasury 11 hurt in Detroit apartment building fire, nearly 20 displaced: Official The reason for the clashes is not known. But police suspect the incident involved members of the newly-formed outfit called Kuki Chin Front (KNF), which is the break-away faction of the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF). The UPDF is a regional political party based in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. Chakmas form the majority ethnic group in the party. Formed in 1998, the group claims to seek a fully autonomous Hill Tracts through peaceful and democratic means. Security officials said the KNF emerged as an armed group dominated mostly by the Bom ethnic community and reportedly formed an alliance with an Islamist militant group in the hills. The KNF claims to be representing six of the 16 ethnic minority groups of Chittagong Hill Tracts. They are demanding a separate state be formed with several sub-districts of two of the three hill districts. The KNF's terrorist activities forced residents there to leave their abode and come to our (army) camp for temporary refuge. We have sheltered them and arranged their food with the help of civil administration, Captain Fahim, an official of Bangladesh Army's Bandarban Zone told journalists. Bangladesh's security agencies said a manhunt was underway to track down and arrest Nathan Bome, the KNF chief. Meanwhile, authorities will maintain heightened security in the affected areas. In the event of further violence, they may enact movement-restrictive measures, such as imposing a curfew in the region, officials added. After a six-month stint as Niti CEO, Iyer replaced Rajesh Khullar, who was repatriated six months before his term. Khullar was Principal Secretary to Haryana CM and had been Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, before his posting as the ED. The recent appointment of Parameswaran Iyer, former NITI Aayog CEO, to the post of World Banks executive director was the first such since 2014, in which a retired official was nominated by the government for such a position. In 2011, M N Prasad, a 1972 batch Bihar Cadre IAS was the retired official who served as secretary to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, held the position of World Banks executive director in Washington DC from 2011 to 2014. Prasad was also a student of Singh at the Delhi School of Economics. World Bank and IMF are a path for government-to-government arrangements. India has a certain number of positions. These posts are usually used for rewarding people, preferably serving bureaucrats, but at times even somebody recently retired, Pronab Sen, economist and former chief advisor to the Planning Commission said. "If you want to benefit from that experience you need that official to come back. A retired officer would not be of any use with all that knowledge," a top government official who retired a few years ago said. Experts pointed out that the appointment of relatively younger officials is a recent phenomenon as previously soon to retire officials were the one who almost always got such posts. Also Read BVR Subrahmanyam new NITI CEO, Param Iyer to join World Bank as ED Is it time to rethink the collegium system of judicial appointments? From UPA govt's CEA to PM Modi's NITI Aayog member: Who is Arvind Virmani? Asian Paints slips 3% after Q3FY23 result misses street estimates Ministries of coal, power to finalise freight cost cut plan: NITI Aayog Motherhood no hurdle to leadership: Ex-New Zealand PM Ardern quits politics Residual emissions to be tackled to meet net-zero goal in 2050: Study Software firm Amplitude lays off 99 employees, 13% of workforce globally India gives $2 million to African Union Transition Mission in Somalia World food prices fall for 12th month running in Mar following Ukraine war These are patronage posts and given to officers who the government wants to reward. This is pure favouritism and nothing else, said former finance minister Yashwant Sinha. The veteran politician, however, said there are rare occasions when the government can use these postings to remove certain officials from their current post. Foreign postings such as those to the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, International Monetary Fund, policy experts said are almost always used as a reward. WHAT EXPERTS SAY Appointment of younger officials is a recent phenomenon Previously, soon to retire officials were the ones who almost always got foreign postings Foreign postings such as those to the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, International Monetary Fund are usually used as a reward Top economic officials however have enjoyed these postings for a few decades now. In 1989, finance secretary Gopi Arora made way for Bimal Jalan and took the posting of executive director at the IMF. Former revenue secretary M R Sivaraman, known for transforming customs and excise duty structure in 1994-95, was rewarded with IMF posting by former PM Manmohan Singh in 1996. In August 2020, Ashok Lavasa, former election commissioner resigned from his post with two years still left in his tenure to join the Asian Development Bank. Lavasa was next in line to become the Chief Election Commissioner and the only one who did not agree with Election Commissions decision to give clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for alleged poll code violations. It is a pretty good appointment and usually grabbed by senior guys. The amount of exposure you get by sitting on a board of the World Bank is immense.the top official said. Experts also said that these positions involve international salaries which the government salaries cannot match. Aparna Subramani, who was appointed as executive director of World Bank in 2017, returned to join the government as pharma secretary in 2020. She was preceded by 1983-batch IAS officer Subash Chandra Garg who served as ED for a three year term in 2014, later returned as the economic affairs secretary in the Ministry of Finance in June 2017. An Indian national has been sentenced to 33 months in prison, and ordered to pay $2.4 million in restitution for his role in an international conspiracy that preyed on elderly victims in the US. Ashish Bajaj, 29, pleaded guilty in August last year before District Judge Kevin McNulty in Newark federal court to information charging him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court, from April 2020 to August 2021, Bajaj and his conspirators preyed on elderly victims by impersonating fraud prevention specialists from various banks, online retailers, and online payment companies. They contacted victims and falsely claimed that they were fraud prevention specialists employed by reputable companies and that the victims' accounts with banks, online retailers, or online payments companies were being targeted for fraud. Bajaj and his conspirators then falsely told the victims that their fraud prevention efforts required the victims' assistance in a sting operation to catch the perpetrators. Bajaj and the conspirators asked the elderly victims to send money from their bank accounts to accounts controlled by the former and falsely promised to return their money within a few days of the purported sting operation. Also Read Appliances, consumer electronics sector aim for double-digit growth in 2023 Fino Payments discussing SFB transition internally: MD & CEO Rishi Gupta Paytm UPI LITE crosses 2 mn users with over half million daily transactions Paytm bank gets RBI nod to operate as Bharat Bill Payment Operating Unit Bank loan fraud case: Bombay HC to hear Dhoot's plea against CBI arrest China sanctions groups, Taiwan official in US in response to meet UK fined TikTok nearly $16 mn for misusing children's personal data Banking crisis has increased odds of recession, says JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon 34 rockets fired into Israel from Lebanon, most sustained attack since 2006 Israel hits Gaza with rockets as Netanyahu vows to extract 'heavy price' The victims were also falsely promised that once they sent the money, the sting operation would result in the arrest of the purported perpetrators. The victims sent international wire transfers to various banks located in India, China, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. The victims also sent money through an online application to bank accounts held by Bajaj in the US. The victims further sent cash and cashier checks to Bajaj at an address in California. The scheme resulted in losses of more than $250,000. --IANS mi/khz/ Iran's envoy to the United Nations said Iran will not hesitate to give a "decisive response" to any threat from Israel, state media reported. Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations, made the remarks on Wednesday in a letter to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the head of the UN Security Council, after two officers of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Syria last week, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported on Thursday. He described the incident as "heinous crimes as well as another flagrant instance of constant Israeli aggressions against and a blatant violation of international law on Syrian soil". Iravani said Israel is incessantly continuing its "aggressive actions" against Syria without any concern about their consequences and receiving punishment from the international community, Xinhua news agency reported. He called on the international community and, particularly, the UN Security Council to take decisive actions to put an end to such "violations" and hold Israel accountable for all its "anti-international law" actions. Israel launched two missile attacks on sites in Damascus on Thursday and Friday last week, according to Syrian national TV. Also Read Iran to uphold nuke commitments, if sanctions removed: Iranian atomic chief Iran to send delegation to Vienna for talks with IAEA, says FM Abdollahian Iranian drones used by Russia in Ukraine shows how war has helped Iran Iran calls for expanding trade with Belarus to counter Western sanctions Baghdad mediated talks with Iran reported stalled over protests in Iran India, China to account for half of global economic growth: IMF chief Canada's employment continues to show upward trend, up by 0.2% in March World Bank downgrades Ukraine's GDP growth forecast to 0.5% this year US to forbid schools, colleges to ban trans athletes but allow exceptions Biden is set to propose toughest-ever rules on car pollution to spur EVs The IRGC strongly condemned the Israeli missile attacks, saying they violated the sovereignty and territorial integrity of an independent Arab country. --IANS int/khz/ Visiting French President Emmanuel Macron has asked his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping "to bring Russia to its senses" in an effort to end the ongoing war in Ukraine, according to media reports. Macron arrived in Beijing on Wednesday on his state-visit to China with high expectations for a possible breakthrough on working with the Asian giant to find solutions to end the war, reports CNN. While Ukraine tops the agenda, Macron's trip also has a strong economic component, with the President being accompanied by a delegation of some 50 business leaders, with some expected to finalise or even sign new deals during the trip. He is also joined by European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen. Macron and Xi engaged in closed-door talks on Thursday, which officials from the two nations described as being "frank" and "friendly", the BBC reported. Later in the day, the two Presidents joint addressed the media at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Also Read Biden hosts his french counterpart Macron amid friction over US climate law Pope, French President Macron meet at Vatican; Ukraine concerns loom large French President Macron floats new military spending plan amid Ukraine war White House state dinner draws names from fashion, business, politics Macron calls on France, Germany to become pioneers of Europe refoundation Providing 24/7 gas supply to masses not possible, says Pakistan minister Pakistan needs foreign loans to avoid public debt crisis, says World Bank EPA proposes measures to reduce health risks near US chemical plants India among top 3 markets for AI-powered Bing preview: Microsoft official Indian gets jail-term, ordered to pay $2.4 mn for defrauding elderly in US In his opening statement, Macron told Xi: "I know I can count on you to bring Russia to its senses, and bring everyone back to the negotiating table." He went on to say Russia had "put an end to decades of peace in Europe" and that finding a "lasting peace" that respected internationally recognized borders was "an important issue for China, as much as it is for France and for Europe". "We can't have a safe and stable Europe," as long as Ukraine remained occupied, Macron said,adding that it was "unacceptable" that a member of the UN Security Council had violated the organisation's charter. On his part, the Chinese leader emphasised his country's position on the Ukraine issue which is "consistent and clear", Xinhua news agency reported. "It is essentially about facilitating peace talks and political settlement. There is no panacea for defusing the crisis." Xi said it requires all parties to do their share and create conditions for ceasefire and peace talks through a buildup of trust and added "China supports Europe in playing its role in the political settlement of the crisis". He also said that peace talks should resume as soon as possible and urged the international community to "stay rational, exercise restraint, and avoid taking actions that might cause the crisis to further deteriorate or even spiral out of control". The Chinese leader reiterated that "nuclear weapons must not be used and nuclear wars must not be fought", as well as opposed the "use of biological weapons under any circumstances". "China is ready to stay in touch with France and play a constructive role in the political settlement of the crisis," the President added. Since the war began in February 2022, China has claimed neutrality and attempted to frame itself as an agent of peace. It has also released its own peace plan which Western nations have been generally dismissive of, saying it sides too much with Russia. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed interest in it and called for direct talks with Xi, who is yet to publicly respond. Macron's trip, which comes four years since his last visit, marks the most politically significant interaction Xi has had with a Western leader since he met US President Joe Biden at the G20 summit in Bali last November. Macron will continues his state visit on Friday with a trip to China's southern commercial hub of Guangzhou, where he is expected to dine with Xi. --IANS ksk/ Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern urged women not to let motherhood stand in the way of leadership roles as she bowed out of politics. I leave knowing I was the best mother I could be, Ardern, 42, said in her valedictory speech to parliament Wednesday in Wellington. You can be that person, and be here. By Ainsley ThomsonFormer New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern urged women not to let motherhood stand in the way of leadership roles as she bowed out of politics. She will be remembered as a crisis manager who led her country through some of its darkest days during her five-year premiership. They included the Christchurch terrorist attack on two mosques in 2019 that left 51 worshippers dead, a volcano eruption later that year that killed 22 people, and the Covid-19 pandemic. Lauded globally for her empathy and strong leadership, Arderns resignation in January came as a shock. But she had increasingly become a divisive figure at home and her Labour Party was falling in opinion polls ahead of an election later this year. Young, female and charismatic, Ardern quickly gained prominence as a torch-bearer for liberal values after exploding onto the world stage in 2017. Having sadly seen our nation in horrific moments of grief, Ive concluded that countries dont move on from tragedy, rather they become part of your psyche, she said. But the way these moments weave themselves into our being will be determined by how we confront them. Also Read Chris Hipkins sworn in as New Zealand PM, succeeds Jacinda Ardern Indian politics needs more like her: Jairam Ramesh on New Zealand PM Ardern New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern resigns, says won't seek re-election Chris Hipkins to succeed Jacinda Ardern as New Zealand prime minister Jacinda makes final appearance as New Zealand leader, says 'joy of job' Residual emissions to be tackled to meet net-zero goal in 2050: Study Software firm Amplitude lays off 99 employees, 13% of workforce globally India gives $2 million to African Union Transition Mission in Somalia World food prices fall for 12th month running in Mar following Ukraine war Samsung cuts memory chip output, Q1 profit to drop 96% on weak demand Ardern opened up about her fertility journey in her speech, saying she was told at age 37 that there were a range of factors preventing her becoming pregnant, including stress. In 2018 she became just the second world leader to give birth in office, after former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, blazing a trail for working women. When Ardern announced she was stepping down, saying she didnt have the energy or inspiration to seek re-election, it sparked a wave of global commentary about the abuse and threats female leaders are subjected to. I had not long experienced a failed IVF round when I became leader of the Labour Party, she said. I thought I had found myself on a path that meant I wouldnt be a mother. Imagine my surprise when a couple of months later, I discovered I was pregnant. Ardern also used her final speech to urge action on climate change. It also put the spotlight on a wave of senior-level women leaving their jobs because of exhaustion. Since Arderns decision, Nicola Sturgeon resigned as Scotlands first minister, citing burnout. Japanese chief nuclear negotiator Takehiro Funakoshi speaks during talks with his South Korean and U.S. counterparts over North Korea's denuclearization at the foreign ministry in Seoul, Friday. Yonhap South Korea and Japan held working-level diplomatic consultations Friday as a follow-up to last month's summit between President Yoon Suk Yeol and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, according to the foreign ministry. The meeting between Seo Min-jung, director general for Asia and Pacific affairs at South Korea's foreign ministry, and her Japanese counterpart, Takehiro Funakoshi, comes amid a recent attempt to mend bilateral ties after South Korea announced a plan to compensate forced labor victims on its own without asking for Tokyo's contribution. During their talks, Seo and Funakoshi were expected to discuss follow-up measures to the compensation plan, as well as ways to resume a long-suspended security consultative meeting involving senior officials from the defense and foreign ministries of the two countries. "The two sides exchanged views on the direction of the development of bilateral ties and areas of mutual interest based on the results of the South Korea-Japan summit last month," the ministry said in a press release after the meeting. Seoul and Tokyo agreed to maintain close coordination at various levels, including among high-level officials, to further deepen their relations, it added. Funakoshi is currently in Seoul for South Korea-Japan bilateral talks, as well as a trilateral meeting with his South Korean and U.S. counterparts. Last month, South Korea decided to pay the victims through a South Korean government-affiliated foundation using donations from local companies, not the accused Japanese firms. Victims and supporting civic groups have rejected South Korea's compensation plan, demanding Tokyo's apology and blasting Yoon for cozying up to Japan at the expense of the national interest. Meanwhile, the South Korean government has called for Japan's "sincere response" to the resolution and voiced hopes that the Japanese companies will make voluntary contributions. (Yonhap) A powerful panel of Pakistan's Parliament has sought a criminal investigation against officials of a government agency who allegedly accessed the personal information of Army chief General Asim Munir and his family, a media report said on Friday. According to the Dawn newspaper, two Pakistani journalists claimed in a vlog earlier this week that in October 2022, personal data and travel records of Gen. Munir's family were allegedly accessed by National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) officers in a bid to stop his appointment as the Chief of Army Staff. NADRA also confirmed the news of the personal information of the Army chief's family being accessed and stolen. At a Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (PAC) meeting on Thursday, chaired by Member of the National Assembly Noor Alam Khan, expressed serious concerns over media reports about the breach, the report said. Khan said that those involved in the data theft should be behind bars, adding that Military Intelligence and Inter-Services Intelligence should be a part of the criminal investigation. It should be determined how the family's personal information was stolen, Khan was quoted as saying in the report. Also Read Pak President Alvi okays appointment of Asim Munir as Chief of Army Staff Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif names Lt Gen Asim Munir the next army chief General Asim Munir takes charge as Pakistan's new Army chief Ready for war with India if attacked, warns Pak's new Army chief Asim Munir Ready to talk with Army Chief for Pakistan's betterment: Imran Khan General Motors' Cruise recalls 300 robotaxis after crash involving bus West must remove obstacles to its grain exports, says Russian official US job growth strong in March; unemployment rate falls to 3.5% from 3.6% Lack of Wuhan data disclosure by China is simply inexcusable: WHO Alibaba invites users to test its in-house ChatGPT-like AI Chatbot Munir was serving as a Lieutenant General at the time of the alleged data breach, in line to be appointed to the top post. The PAC also summoned the NADRA chairman Tariq Malik, who was absent from the meeting due to other engagements. Stating that the news has become viral, Khan added that he also saw a vlog in which two journalists discussed the issue. Munir, a former spymaster, assumed charge as the country's new Army chief late last year and became the 17th Chief of the Army Staff. He replaced Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, who retired after two consecutive three-year terms. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko have vowed to push ahead the integration process between the two countries. The two leaders made the remarks on Thursday when jointly chairing a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State of Russia and Belarus in the Kremlin. At the meeting, Putin noted that "significant achievements" had been made in the integration of 28 prioritised sectors approved during the previous Supreme State Council meeting in 2021, Xinhua news agency reported. "To date, both governments and the relevant agencies have completed 74 per cent of the activities planned under those prioritised programs and this work is yielding tangible results. We will certainly continue this without slowing down," he said. Russia and Belarus will continue to create a unified oil and gas market, while an agreement on the formation of a single electricity market is being prepared, Putin added. In addition, Moscow and Minsk will continue to build up defence and security cooperation, which meets the underlying interests of the two countries given the complicated international situation, he told the meeting. Also Read Ukraine demands emergency UNSC meeting over Putin's Belarus nuclear plan Ukraine boosts border defence with Belarus amid fear of fresh attacks Russia and Belarus sign agreement for spent nuclear fuel management Russia, Belarus ambassadors barred from Nobel ceremony in Stockholm Russian President Putin visits Belarus as he eyes next steps in Ukraine war World Health Day 2023: Know about the day promoting 'health for all' India-US working closely to address fentanyl challenge: US health official WHO calls for renewed drive for health equity on 75th anniversary Iran says won't hesitate to give 'decisive response' to Israeli threat India, China to account for half of global economic growth: IMF chief Lukashenko stressed the significance of fully implementing the Treaty on the Creation of the Community of Belarus and Russia signed in 1996, a fundamental document that started the integration process of the two neighbours. Over the past 27 years since then, the Belarus-Russia trade volume has increased by more than 4.5 times, he said, adding that industrial cooperation has led to the partnership of more than 8,000 Belarusian and Russian enterprises and created hundreds of thousands of jobs. In the defence field, Lukashenko said that the steps taken to strengthen border security have made it possible to effectively protect the Union State from international terrorism, uncontrolled migration flows, arms and ammunition smuggling, drug trafficking and illegal economic activities. After the meeting, the two sides signed seven documents in a bid to further deepen Russia-Belarus integration. --IANS int/khz/ Russian forces used ground- and air-fired missiles, rocket launchers and weaponised drones to bombard the provinces of Ukraine it has illegally annexed but doesn't fully control, causing casualties, building damage and power outages Friday. The Ukrainian military said Russian forces launched 18 airstrikes, five missile strikes and 53 attacks from multiple rocket launchers between Thursday and Friday mornings. According to the General Staff statement, Russia was concentrating the bulk of its offensive operations in Ukraine's industrial east, focusing on the cities and towns of Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka in Donetsk province. Most of Friday's battlefield reports concerned the four Ukrainian provinces Russia annexed in September: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his military to gain complete control of the provinces, while Ukraine has indicated it will soon launch a counteroffensive to take back more territory. Russia also annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014, a move that most of the world also regarded as illegal. Also Read ISRO conducts 200th consecutive successful launch of RH200 sounding rocket Vikram-S rocket launch shows what an Indian start-up can do: Skyroot exec Skyroot to signal India's SpaceX moment on Fri with Vikram-S rocket launch Can India launch space firms like Skyroot into higher orbit? What is a phishing attack? Russia formally charges Wall Street Journal reporter Gershkovich: Report China's Nasdaq-style index of tech stocks is on a tear in 2023 China sanctions US firm for hosting Taiwan President Tsai during stopover Eight killed in Bangladesh following clashes between ethnic outfits Bank of Japan's Haruhiko Kuroda bows out after decade of shock and awe Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vowed to regain all Russian-occupied areas. In the latest fighting, the Ukrainian military said it downed a Russian Su-25 ground attack jet near Marinka. A video showed a big explosion as the plane slammed into the ground, with its pilot descending on a parachute. The Russian military, in keeping with its general silence on losses, didn't confirm the warplane's downing. British military officials said in their latest daily analysis that Russian forces have likely advanced into the centre of Bakhmut and captured the western bank of the Bakhmutka River. Russia's eight-month campaign to take Bakhmut and Ukraine's determination to defend the city have produced the longest and potentially bloodiest battle of the war that Putin started on Feb. 24, 2022. The U.K. Defence Ministry said Russia's progress, which had largely stalled since the end of March, had regained momentum. According to British intelligence, Ukraine's key supply route to the west of Bakhmut was under threat, with Russia using artillery more effectively and benefiting from reinforcements by regular forces that likely include airborne troops. British military officials noted also that regular military commanders and those from the Wagner Group, a private Russian military company that has sent its soldiers to fight in multiple African countries, had probably improved cooperation and put on hold their feud. The Wagner Group, which has appeared to take the lead in the Bakhmut fighting, has frequently complained about the regular Russian military's strategy as well as its failure to provide sufficient ammunition and other support. Also in Donetsk province, Russia launched a missile attack on the city of Sloviansk, destroying residential buildings, while one civilian was wounded during fighting in Bakhmut. Donetsk regional Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said Friday morning that 15 cities and villages on the front line were shelled in the region. The Moscow-installed mayor of Donetsk city, Aleksei Kulemzin, said Ukrainian shelling killed one person and wounded six. Each side tends to report only the losses it inflicts on its enemy, and their claims are generally impossible to verify independently. In the partially occupied southern Kherson province, seven people were wounded over the previous 24 hours, regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said Friday. Writing on Telegram, Prokudin said that Russia had carried out 46 attacks on the province, including seven attacks on the regional capital, also called Kherson, with heavy artillery and aircraft fire. A 10-year-old girl, a three-year-old boy and 30-year-old woman were wounded Friday in Russian shelling of the village of Stanislav in the Kherson region, the head of Ukraine's presidential office Andriy Yermak, reported. Earlier, debris from Russian ammunition killed a 36-year-old resident of the city of Beryslav in Kherson province. Residential areas of the city of Kherson were shelled seven times, damaging energy facilities and residential buildings. A drone attack on the village of Zmiyivka wounded six people. Shells hit Nikopol and Marhanets across the Dnieper River from the occupied and shut-down Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine's eastern Dnipropetrovsk province, damaging power lines. Further north, shelling in the Novhorod-Siverskyi district of the Chernihiv region left four towns and villages without electricity, authorities reported. Mortar fire damaged residential buildings in the town of Vovchansk in Kharkiv province, near the border with Russia. A 39-year-old man was killed in Russian shelling in the border village of Borysivka, Kharkiv Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said. Samsung Electronics on Friday said it has cut memory production in the short term, as its quarterly profit plunged significantly (likely 96 per cent) amid the chip downturn, in a sharp departure from its previous position that it would not artificially reduce output. The world's largest memory chip and smartphone maker earlier in the day estimated its January-March operating profit at 600 billion won ($454.9 million), sharply down from 14.12 trillion won a year ago. Samsung blamed sluggish demand for tech devices, coupled with customers' inventory adjustment, for the poor performance, reports Yonhap news agency. "We are adjusting memory output to a meaningful level for products that we have secured enough inventory to deal with future demand," the company said in a regulatory filing, in an apparent effort to deal with falling prices and a supply glut. It did not elaborate on what a meaningful level means. "While we have adjusted our short-term production plan, we will continue to invest in infrastructure to secure clean rooms and expand R&D expenditures to strengthen our technology leadership as we forecast solid demand in the medium and long term," it said. Also Read Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro: Lightweight laptop lifted by ecosystem benefits Samsung announces Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus, Galaxy S23 Ultra smartphones Samsung to unveil flagship Galaxy devices at Unpacked event today: Details Samsung Unpacked event highlights: Galaxy S23 series, Book3 series unveiled Samsung Galaxy A04, Galaxy A04e budget smartphones go on sale: Details here With an eye on the Indian Ocean, China planning radar base in Sri Lanka South Korea, US, Japan call for support of ban on North Korea workers Tesla slashes prices of its electric vehicles in US to spur demand US-based firms sack over 270,000 employees in Q1, up by nearly 400% Macron counting on Xi 'to bring Russia to senses' for ending Ukraine war Samsung's first-quarter sales likely fell 19 per cent to 63 trillion won from 77.78 trillion won from a year earlier. The data for net profit was not available. The operating profit was 16.7 per cent lower than the average estimate. The tech giant did not provide the results of each business division and will release its final earnings report later. Samsung's Device Solution (DS) division, which oversees its chip business, is forecast to run a deficit of around 4 trillion won, in its first financial loss in 14 years, according to analysts' estimates, as a surplus chip inventory has been growing significantly amid tapering global demand. The last time Samsung saw its backbone unit trade at a deficit was the first quarter of 2009, when the world was emerging from the 2008 financial crisis. The world's largest memory chip maker forecast the global chip market will shrink 6 per cent on-year to $563 billion this year, due to a sharp drop in demand, and warned of difficult conditions continuing throughout the year. --IANS na/dpb South Korea, the US and Japan called for stronger international support of efforts to ban North Korea from sending workers abroad and curb the North's cybercrimes as a way to block the country's means to fund its nuclear program. The top South Korean, US and Japanese nuclear envoys met in Seoul on Friday in their first gathering in four months to discuss how to cope with North Korea's growing nuclear arsenal. The North's recent weapons tests show it is intent on acquiring more advanced missiles designed to attack the US and its allies, rather than returning to talks. Despite 11 rounds of UN sanctions and pandemic-related hardships that have worsened its economic and food problems, North Korea still devotes much of its scarce resources to its nuclear and missile programs. Contributing to financing its weapons program is also likely the North's crypto hacking and other illicit cyber activities and the wages sent by North Korean workers remaining in China, Russia and elsewhere despite an earlier UN order to repatriate them by the end of 2019, experts say. In a joint statement, the South Korean, US and Japanese envoys urged the international community to thoroughly abide by UN resolutions on the banning of North Korean workers overseas, according to Seoul's Foreign Ministry. Also Read Kim Jong Un presides over big military parade, featuring nuclear weapons North Korea's Kim calls for key party meeting to review state affairs Kim Jong Un's daughter called 'most beloved' child in 2nd appearance N Korea sustains high defense spending in budget despite economic troubles North Korea to boost nuclear warhead production 'exponentially': Kim Jong US-based firms sack over 270,000 employees in Q1, up by nearly 400% Tesla slashes prices of its electric vehicles in US to spur demand Macron counting on Xi 'to bring Russia to senses' for ending Ukraine war Providing 24/7 gas supply to masses not possible, says Pakistan minister Pakistan needs foreign loans to avoid public debt crisis, says World Bank The ministry said a large number of North Korean workers remains engaged in economic activities around the world and transmits money that is used in the North's weapons programs. It said the three envoys tried to call attention to the North Korean workers because the North may further reopen its international borders as the global COVID-19 situation improves. We need to make sure that its provocations never go unpunished. We will effectively counter North Korea's future provocations and cut their revenue streams that fund these illegal activities, Kim Gunn, the South Korean envoy, said in televised comments at the start of the meeting. Sung Kim, the US envoy, said that with its nuclear and missile programs and "malicious cyber program that targets countries and individuals around the globe, North Korea threatens the security and prosperity of the entire international community. South Korea's spy agency said in December that North Korean hackers had stolen an estimated 1.5 trillion won (USD 1.2 billion) in cryptocurrency and other virtual assets in the past five years, more than half of it last year alone. The National Intelligence Service said North Korea's capacity to steal digital assets was considered among the best in the world because it has focused on cybercrimes since UN economic sanctions were toughened in 2017 in response to its nuclear and missile tests. Friday's trilateral meeting will likely infuriate North Korea, which has previously warned that the three countries' moves to boost their security cooperation prompted urgent calls to reinforce its own military capability. North Korea has long argued the UN sanctions and US-led military exercises in the region are proof of Washington's hostility against Pyongyang. The North has also said it was compelled to develop nuclear weapons to cope with US military threats, though US and South Korean officials have steadfastly said they have no intention of invading the North. Earlier this week, the United States conducted anti-submarine naval drills with South Korean and Japanese forces in their first such training in six months. The US also flew nuclear-capable bombers for separate, bilateral aerial training with South Korean warplanes. North Korea hasn't performed weapons tests in reaction to those US-involved drills. But last month, it carried out a barrage of missile tests to protest the earlier South Korean-US military training that it sees as an invasion rehearsal. There are also concerns that North Korea could carry out its first nuclear test in more than five years, since it unveiled a new type of nuclear warhead last week. Foreign experts debate whether North Korea has developed warheads small and light enough to fit on missiles. In addition to this, the proposed radar will have the capability to track US military movements at its military base in Diego Garcia. ET has reported that the Aerospace Information Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences could be the agency steering this project in the forests of Dondra Bay, Sri Lanka. China is planning to set up a radar base in Sri Lanka with the objective of keeping an eye on India's presence in the Indian Ocean region, The Economic Times (ET) has reported. The radar base will focus on monitoring the activities of the Indian Navy, apart from attempting to evaluate India's strategic assets in South India. The radar is expected to have the range to track Indian territory as far as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. There is concern that the radar will be able to keep track of the activities at the Kudankulam and Kalpakkam Nuclear Power Plants. If successfully deployed, the radar set-up will be detrimental to India's strategic interests in the region and would endanger Indian military installations as they will be in the range of the proposed radar, according to the report, which quoted people familiar with the development. China has obtained the lease of the port of Hambantota for 99 years. A PLA ship visited the port last year, which raised eyebrows in the Indian defence establishment. The region has been closely monitored by the Indian establishment since then, the report said. Sri Lanka remains sceptical of China's designs in the region but feels vulnerable because of the Chinese debt owed to the country. Dondra Bay is located at the southernmost tip of Sri Lanka. It forms a significant part of Sri Lanka's history. SES (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) today in Betzdorf, Luxembourg. The shareholders approved all proposed resolutions, notably the company's 2022 accounts and the proposed dividend of EUR 0.50 per A-share, which will be paid to shareholders on 20 April 2023. Shareholders confirmed the appointment of Mrs Fabienne Bozet for a two-year mandate and re-elected Mr Frank Esser, Mr Ramu Potarazu, Mr Kaj-Erik Relander, Mr Jacques Thill and Mrs Anne-Catherine Ries for another three-year mandate. Following the shareholders meeting, the Board of Directors elected Mr Frank Esser as Chairperson for a period of one year and both Mrs Anne-Catherine Ries and Mr Peter van Bommel as Vice-Chairperson also for a period of one year. The complete composition of the Board and short biographies on each of the Directors are available at: https://www.ses.com/about-us/board-directors The 2022 Annual Report is available for download at: https://www.ses.com/investors/annual-reports Follow us on: Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn | Instagram Read our Blogs > Visit the Media Gallery > About SES SES has a bold vision to deliver amazing experiences everywhere on earth by distributing the highest quality video content and providing seamless connectivity around the world. As the leader in global content connectivity solutions, SES operates the worlds only multi-orbit constellation of satellites with the unique combination of global coverage and high performance, including the commercially-proven, low-latency Medium Earth Orbit O3b system. By leveraging a vast and intelligent, cloud-enabled network, SES is able to deliver high-quality connectivity solutions anywhere on land, at sea or in the air, and is a trusted partner to the worlds leading telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners. SESs video network carries over 8,000 channels and has an unparalleled reach of 369 million households, delivering managed media services for both linear and non-linear content. The company is listed on Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges (Ticker: SESG). Further information is available at: www.ses.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230406005473/en/ Unification Minister Kwon Young-se, right, meets with Sung Kim, left, U.S. special representative for North Korea, at the government complex building in Seoul, Friday. Yonhap The top U.S. nuclear envoy said Friday that President Yoon Suk Yeol's upcoming state visit to the United States would be a "historic" occasion to show the strong alliance between Seoul and Washington to the world. Sung Kim, U.S. special representative for North Korea, made the remarks during a meeting with Unification Minister Kwon Young-se in Seoul to discuss the North's nuclear issue and the security situation on the Korean Peninsula. Yoon will make a state visit to the U.S. for a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden on April 26 as the two nations mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the alliance this year. "We're excited about President Yoon's upcoming state visit. It would be a historic occasion to highlight for the international community the strength of the U.S.-ROK alliance," Kim said, using the short form of South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea. Seoul and Washington are doing very well when it comes to coordination over North Korea and other important issues, he said, adding it is still important to find diplomatic solutions to North Korea's escalating provocations. He highly appreciated the Seoul government's efforts to improve North Korean human rights amid the North's advancing nuclear and missile capabilities. Kwon voiced hope Seoul-Washington relations will further develop and the strong alliance could pave the way for better inter-Korean ties, according to his office. (Yonhap) A suspect handing over a drink spiked with drugs to a student in Seoul, April 5, is seen in this image provided by Gangnam Police Station. Yonhap The last suspect of a scam ring allegedly handing over beverages laced with drugs to random high school students in Seoul with the purpose of extortion has been taken into custody, police said Friday. The female suspect, whose identity has been withheld, is one of the four individuals accused of giving out such drinks to students in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, Monday night, after tricking them into believing they were helpful for concentration. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said the suspect was arrested in Daegu, 237 kilometers southeast of Seoul, Thursday night and is currently undergoing questioning. At least six students reported exhibiting abnormal symptoms after drinking the beverages given to them by a group of people in two separate areas in Gangnam that are lined with private tutoring academies. An investigation later revealed that the bottles contained methamphetamine, and false labels were attached claiming that they were intended to improve memory and concentration. The group allegedly offered the beverages for free, claiming that it was a tasting event, and also asked the students for their parents' contact information, according to the police. The suspects then allegedly blackmailed the parents and demanded money, threatening to report their children to the police for taking drugs. The police are currently tracking down the alleged mastermind behind the scheme. Following this shocking event, President Yoon Suk Yeol has ordered the mobilization of all investigative capabilities to root out drug rings and retrieve their criminal proceeds. On Friday, Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon called for a massive crackdown on drugs. "We should not become a country where we have to tell children to watch out for drugs when we send them to school," Han told reporters during a visit to the Busan District Prosecutors Office. "Drugs can be brought under control only when we crack down on them strongly enough for people to say it's too much," he said. "The prosecution should do so." (Yonhap) Two people hold drinks laced with drugs to hand them over to students in Seoul, Monday, in this surveillance camera image. Courtesy of Gangnam Police Station By Jun Ji-hye Education and law enforcement authorities are moving fast to develop countermeasures to cope with drug-related crimes targeting students. This follows a recent incident involving a ring of four individuals who allegedly distributed beverages laced with drugs to random high school students in Seoul. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said Friday that it will bring forward drug education schedules for students to the spring semester from autumn and carry out separate education sessions for teachers and parents between May and July. The office has also sought cooperation with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and the Korean Association Against Drug Abuse which deals with drug addiction and the rehabilitation of students. The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Justice have been working together to draw up countermeasures, as the increasing exposure of teenagers to illicit drug trafficking and use due partly to instant messaging platforms, including Telegram, has become a major concern in the country. A drink containing methamphetamine, which was handed out to random students in Seoul, Monday / Courtesy of Gangnam Police Station On Monday, the four individuals allegedly handed over beverages laced with drugs to high school students in areas near Gangnam-gu Office Station and Daechi Station that are lined with renowned cram schools. According to the police investigation, the four allegedly offered the beverages for free claiming it was a "tasting event" and tricked students into believing that such beverages were helpful for improving memory and concentration. After asking the students for their parents' contact information, the four allegedly blackmailed the parents and demanded money, claiming otherwise they will report the students to the police for drug use. The police investigation revealed that the beverages contained methamphetamine. The police caught the last suspect in Daegu, 237 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Thursday night and are expanding their investigation based on the belief that there could have been a mastermind in the case. On Saturday, the police confirmed that the empty beverage bottles were sourced from China and the origin of threatening phone calls to the parents of students who drank the beverages was also determined to be China. Police plan to identify the suspects and obtain arrest warrants in cooperation with China's investigation, while requesting an Interpol red notice. The shocking event led President Yoon Suk Yeol to order the police and the prosecution to mobilize all investigative capabilities to root out drug-related crimes targeting teenagers and retrieve criminal proceeds. The police said the relevant authorities are taking the latest case as a serious crime, as the suspects gave out the drug-laced beverages to random students and blackmailed their families. "We will focus our efforts on carrying out publicity activities to prevent similar crimes," a Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency official said. The police agency has decided to notify 1,407 schools and some 830,000 parents in Seoul of the latest case to raise the alarm about drug-related crimes targeting students. The police are also planning to strengthen patrol from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Mok-dong of Yangcheon District, Junggye-dong of Nowon District and Chang-dong of Dobong District that are lined with private tutoring academies, in addition to Daechi-dong of Gangnam District where the latest incident occurred. Police investigators examine the site of a collapsed sidewalk on Jeongja Bridge over a stream in Seongnam, south of Seoul, April 7. Yonhap Police raided the Seongnam City Hall and other locations Friday as part of an investigation into the collapse of a bridge sidewalk that killed one person. On Wednesday, a section of the guardrail and an adjacent sidewalk lining the outer edge of Jeongja Bridge over a stream in Seongnam collapsed, killing one pedestrian and injuring another. Investigators from the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police seized relevant documents from Seongnam City Hall and the ward office building of Bundang, as well as five other sites. Police are looking into the exact cause of the accident, whether there were any defects, and records of inspection and maintenance. The accident initially left one woman in her 30s in cardiac arrest and another man in his 30s with an injured back. The two fell off the bridge onto a walking trail about 5 meters below. (Yonhap) According to state education department authorities, the state government has decided to open ten new government Sanskrit secondary schools in Uttar Pradesh to encourage Sanskrit education. Varanasi, Rae Bareli, Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Moradabad, Shamli, Jalaun, Etah, Amethi, and Hardoi are among the ten districts where these schools are expected to open. There is currently only one government Sanskrit secondary school and one government Sanskrit degree college in the entire state. According to a state government spokesman, after receiving in-principle approval from the state government, officials from the state directorate of education have formally requested that funds be allocated for the establishment of these new Sanskrit schools. Deepak Kumar, the principal secretary, sent a letter to the district magistrates of these five districts on March 22 seeking details on the feasibility of three acres of land for each proposed new college's establishment. In the 2023-24 budget, the state government additionally set aside INR 10 crore for scholarships for students studying Sanskrit. Formerly, Sanskrit students in the state received a scholarship allocation of INR 2 lakh. The secondary department of education recently suggested a scholarship payment of INR 131 crore to all students who study Sanskrit from school to college levels in Uttar Pradesh's government-run, unaided, and self-financed Sanskrit institutions and colleges. It is worth mentioning that the state government has budgeted Rs 100 crore for the establishment of Sanskrit schools in 2023-24. In addition, the government is planning to establish intermediate-level government Sanskrit secondary schools in Gorakhpur, Prayagraj, Ayodhya, Chitrakoot, and Mathura. These cities are being built to serve as significant religious centres. Kang Chan-mo, right, a researcher of ETRI, poses with ETRI President Bang Seung-chan during an award ceremony at the research institute in Seoul, Wednesday. Kang won this year's ETRI Researcher of the Year award for his contribution to OLED research. Courtesy of ETRI By Baek Byung-yeul Kang Chan-mo, a display researcher at the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), has won this year's ETRI Research of the Year award for his contribution to OLED research, the state-run IT research institute said Wednesday. ETRI said Kang, who has developed the key technology for OLED microdisplays, critical components for virtual reality and augmented reality devices, was honored with the award. To achieve a realistic metaverse system, it is essential to develop small displays that can be used for glasses and head-mounted display devices. Moreover, to achieve high-resolution screen quality in small displays, microdisplay technology with a resolution much higher than that of mobile phone screens is required. "Kang has led the development of key components and process technology for high-resolution microdisplays and successfully transferred research outcomes," ETRI said. ETRI also awarded prizes to researchers and laboratories that have produced outstanding research results. In the technology transfer category, the end-to-end voice recognition technology from Superintelligence Creative Research Laboratory received the highest honor thanks to the laboratory's excellent research. ETRI said the technology resulted in about 2.7 billion won ($2.04 million) in technology royalties through a total of 13 technology transfers that occurred in 2022. The voice recognition technology was applied to artificial intelligence (AI)-based speech recognition for children's content of I-NARA and real-time captioning services for the National Assembly. The technology will also be used in the Korean Language Proficiency Test, conducted by the Ministry of Education. "On the occasion of the 47th anniversary of establishment, we will continue to make efforts to realize the vision of ETRI as a technology pioneer creating a happy future world through digital innovation," Bang Seung-chan, president of ETRI, said. Its not often that a spec ad catches our eye the way that this Air Jordan short, Become Legend, has. Its no wonder Nikes ad agency Wieden+Kennedy has worked with the pieces producer Image+Noise in the past. Production of the short was led by Michael Emry, a producer and director at L.A. and Portland-based Image+Noise. The mission, according to Emry, was to create a vibrant, quirky world of myth and adventure around Nikes most iconic shoes. Similar to how swords were revered in old legends, the shoes would seem like secret artifacts bestowed upon the brave and bold to aid them on their journey to great trials and deeds. Think Excalibur, but for your feet. Emry has found a great deal of success doing commercial work for several major global brands Toshiba, Red Bull Media House, Puma, and more but his latest project was done without a commission. Its execution is indicative of Emrys desire to do more independent work, where the full creative burden falls onto his shoulders. To put together Become Legend, Emry and the Image+Noise team teamed with U.K. visual artist Troy Browne, whose specialty is collage. Together, they were able to get a full narrative across in just 30 seconds, featuring some exciting visuals that had us pausing time and again to more closely examine some of the intricate details. We spoke with Emry about the challenges he and his team faced while putting together their distinct-looking short, and his ambitions to get into more independent animation in the future. Cartoon Brew: How did this piece come together, and what were your goals in making it? Michael Emry: It was a pretty organic process. I stumbled upon Troys Instagram and loved the loudness of his style. I wondered what kind of story could fit well in the look and thought of this concept while out on a run. A few days passed and I saw he had come back from paternity leave and was open for projects. So, it seemed like perfect timing! How did you split up the labor to produce the short? Was this something you were working on in the background or was it a priority at the studio? Emry: It was a priority for me because it was just one of those projects that gave you energy as you worked on it. So, it was hard to pull yourself away from it or put it on the back burner. Troy built out the initial characters while I went into the environment design and the initial animatic. Danny Stern, being a mograph master, was crucial in making sure the project didnt get stuck anywhere from a technical side. Can you briefly talk us through the process of blending the different techniques used to produce the short? Which tools did you use to realize your vision? Emry: Since Troys style relies on photo collages to build the characters, there was a lot of hunting for royalty-free assets to build scenes with. It can be a slog, but you get a big dopamine hit when you find the exact photo of a rock at the exact perspective you need. From an animation side, characters were rigged in Duik or hand-animated with rotation and parenting. Environments were made in 3d AE layers to get a truer parallax. What challenges did you encounter during production, and how did you overcome them? Emry: It all comes back to the photos. Working with baked-in 2d assets, perspective was tricky to achieve. Turning a characters head 3/4 is easy enough with shape layers. But it proved challenging to modify photo layers to achieve the same effect. Lots of tweaking and distortion were needed frame-by-frame to make it seem organic and natural. Sometimes you need to search and find new reference photos to swap to get to the next pose. Most of the work youve done has been commissioned, but do you have plans to do independent work in the future? Emry: Of course! Its all about what the idea is and who you have in your corner to make it happen. The concept for me is a priority over the medium, whether commercial, narrative, or some flavor between. Presently Im in pre-production on an animated childrens book I wrote about loneliness in early adolescence, which Im incredibly excited to move forward on. Roger Chouinard, co-founder of the esteemed commercial animation studio Duck Soup Produckions, Inc. (rebranded to Duck in 2003), died on March 24, 2023. He was 81. Chouinard was born on February 18, 1942, and raised in Riverside, California. After graduating from Riverside Polytechnic High School, he studied art at the Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles (despite the last name, he was not related to the schools founder). Following his graduation, Chouinard worked at various studios in Los Angeles, including John Urie & Associates and Spungbuggy Works, before co-founding Duck Soup Produckions Inc. with the late Duane Crowther in 1972. For years, Duck Soup was based in Venice on Pier Ave. and Main St., and later moved to Santa Monica and again to West Los Angeles after the 1994 earthquake. Besides being a principal in Duck, Chouinard worked as a designer and director on hundreds of television commercials. He and the Duck Soup staff participated in ad campaigns for global brands including Levis, 7Up, Nestle, Kelloggs, Verizon, and the U.S. Olympic Committee, to name a few. Chouinard directed the Levis Roundup ad linked below. The crew working on the ad Xeroxed live-action footage onto cels and animated the clothing being herded as if it were cattle. After hearing the news about Chouinards passing, long-time Duck Soup employee Carolyn Bates posted a touching tribute on Facebook: Roger was an incredible designer/director, later sculptor. Very kind and generous. Duck Soup was an animation family I belonged to for more than 20 years To me, Duck Soup represented a perfect animation studio of bygone days. It had great animation talent, lots of opportunities, so many fun, creative projects. This was when animated commercials had memorable characters. The studio was a significant employer of talent in L.A. for decades, with many artists who passed through, including Corny Cole, Mel Sommers, Toby Bluth, Amby Paliwoda, Bonita Versh, Istvan Banyai, Sam Cornell, and Tom Sito. Chouinard often contributed designs and layouts, in addition to directing many of the spots. Heres a small sample of some of the work done by Chouinards studio: Over his career, Chouinard was honored with numerous recognitions including the Communication Arts Award of Excellence and several Clio Awards. In addition to his animation work, Chouinard worked in several different forms of artistic expression from editorial illustration to writing and illustrating childrens books and creating public sculptures. His editorial illustrations were published in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, the Boston Globe, Business Week, and the Wall Street Journal, among others. Chouinard painted as well, and his Robot collage paintings and sculptures have been exhibited at Mori, Hands on 3rd, and LA Artcore in Los Angeles as well as the Hakone Art Museum, Gallery EcruNoMori, and Atogoyama Art Works in Japan. A selection of his work can be seen on his personal website. For years, Chouinard traveled every summer to Japan where he would participate in art workshops for children. Active until the very end of his life, Chouinard was most recently working on making assemblages, sculptures, collages, and mixed-media paintings that often incorporated found objects. Roger is survived by Mariko Chouinard, his wife of 37 years, daughter Christine (Max) Kilger (with Deanna Chouinard), daughter Nicole (Martin Hiemer) Chouinard, and son Paul Chouinard. This photo provided by Hanwha Solutions shows U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaking during a tour of Hanwha Solutions' solar panel factory in Dalton, Georgia, April 6. Yonhap U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has visited a solar panel factory in Georgia run by Korea's Hanwha Solutions, announcing what the Joe Biden administration says will be the largest community solar energy project in the history of the United States. Harris toured the operating solar panel module factory in Dalton, and a nearby site where Hanwha has been expanding its production line, in the southeastern U.S. state, Thursday (U.S. time), Hanwha Solutions said in a release. Harris addressed a new partnership Hanwha has signed with the Virginia-based Summit Ridge Energy (SRE) to supply solar panel modules capable of generating 1.2 gigawatts (GW) of electricity. Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan and Hanwha Solutions CEO Lee Koo-yung were present to welcome the vice president. "Our administration has made the largest investment in solar energy in our nation's history," Harris was quoted by Hanwha as saying in a speech at the plant. "This order was made possible by the investments our administration has made to expand American manufacturing and increase demand for clean energy. When we invest in climate, clean energy and manufacturing, we invest in America." The partnership will enable Hanwha and SRE to take part in over 350 community solar projects that are designed to allow people to get access to solar power generated at a shared site instead of at individual houses. It is regarded as a way to increase public accessibility to clean energy and promote energy equality. Hanwha said such projects are expected to be carried out across states like California, New York and Ohio over the next four years, powering more than 140,000 homes. This photo provided by Hanwha shows Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan speaking during a visit by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris to Hanwha Solutions' solar panel factory in Dalton, Georgia, April 6. Yonhap Ma Ying-jeou's trip to mainland aids cross-Strait relations: official Xinhua) 10:26, April 07, 2023 SHANGHAI, April 6 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland official on Thursday commended Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang party, on his visit to the mainland, saying the trip has aided cross-Strait relations. Song Tao, head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said that Ma's trip to the mainland is conducive to the communication and exchange between compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations. Song made the remarks at an event held in Shanghai to send off Ma and his entourage, who are about to conclude their trip. Song expressed hope for more communication and interactions between compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, and said that the mainland will provide relevant opportunities and convenience. Compatriots on both sides of the Strait are Chinese people, and ought to uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, said Song. He underscored zero-tolerance toward any secessionist activity seeking "Taiwan independence," and noted that seeking "Taiwan independence" by colluding with external forces is doomed to fail. Ma said that during his trip, he felt profoundly that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait should cherish the common political foundation of the 1992 Consensus. He said that people on both sides of the Strait are members of the Chinese nation, and should join forces in promoting peace and strive together for China's prosperity. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) A poster of Musinsa's pop-up event / Courtesy of Musinsa Musinsa, a Korean fashion platform, said Friday it opened its first pop-up store in Japan, as the unicorn startup plans to expand its presence in the neighboring country. The company will introduce various homegrown fashion brands, including AMOMENTO, Matin Kim and Mardi Mercredi, to Japanese consumers during the 10-day event that ends on April 16. "We expect the pop-up store will serve as an opportunity to introduce the various content of Korean culture to the Japanese fashion market," a company official said. Musinsa has been focusing on the Japanese market lately, as it sees a growing number of young consumers interested in K-fashion and the broader Korean Wave. The startup established a local office in Japan in 2021 to strengthen operations there. (Yonhap) This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions Thomas Goisque plans to promote Busan's Expo bid by portraying the city's local landscapes that represent the past, present and future. Courtesy of Busan Metropolitan City By Ko Dong-hwan Picturesque photos and drone-shot videos of Busan, eager to host the World Expo 2030 in a race with three other cities, have served as a critical part of visually promoting the city to the world so far. Now, a new unique set of images is expected to come along, raising anticipation over how Korea's biggest port city will be portrayed to the world. Busan Metropolitan City invited Thomas Goisque, a renowned French photographer, to the southeastern coastal city. Arriving on Thursday, the 54-year-old accepted the city government's request to stay until next Wednesday shooting photos across the city. The travel photographer is known to have mainly photographed urban landscapes, coastal sceneries, mountains, people, industrial sites and ports in his professional career, according to the city government. Having traveled the globe as a photographer for more than 15 years, Goisque worked for popular French and international magazines including National Geographic, Le Figaro and Le Monde. He won the Marc Flament Prize in 1995 which was awarded by the Ministry of the Armed Forces of France. His 2014 picture of French and Nigerian soldiers at Fort Madame won the Sergeant Sebastien Vermeille Prize, which rewards the best photographs taken by military and civilian photographers on missions with French military forces. He is expected to visit North Port, the proposed central venue of World Expo 2030 now under major redevelopment to make it more tourist-friendly, as well as the city's major beaches like Haeundae and Gwangalli. The Provisional Capital Memorial Hall, a city heritage site preserving Busan's history as the country's temporary capital during the 1950-53 Korean War, is another spot Goisque will visit, according to the city government. The Expo Promotion Bureau under the city government said Goisque's photos will be categorized under the city's past, present and future. While the memorial hall and other heritage sites show the significant role Busan played during the critical years of Korea and other tumultuous periods, beaches and other tourism spots represent the city's popularity among global visitors. The port area under construction, meanwhile, will be a testament to how the city's oldest port will cater to the public better with the latest technologies that embrace people and the surrounding maritime landscape. North Port in Busan is busy with barges and fishing vessels, March 31. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon, front right, shakes hands with Bureau International des Expositions Administration and Budget Committee President Patrick Specht at the Gimhae International Airport, Friday. Yonhap By Lee Kyung-min The enthusiasm and high level of civic pride shown by Busan citizens led to a successful end to the weeklong visit by an eight-member delegation from the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), according to Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon, Friday. BIE is an intergovernmental organization in charge of overseeing and regulating World Expos. The Enquiry Mission, led by BIE Administration and Budget Committee President Patrick Specht, visited Korea this week to assess the country's viability and feasibility to host the high-profile international event in Busan in 2030. The eight members returned to Paris on Friday. In a "thank you" letter to Busan, Park attributed the success of the inspection to its residents. Cempa Community Care and Metropolitan Ministries (MetMin) are partnering to open a new walk-in clinic at MetMins Impact Hub at 4001 Rossville Blvd. on May 2. Through the partnership, clients will have access to a suite of "robust healthcare services in a convenient neighborhood location, home to a trusted community organization."Location is often one of the greatest barriers keeping people from accessing high-quality healthcare, said Shannon Stephenson, CEO at Cempa. By bringing easy-to-access primary care services to the Impact Hub, we, along with our friends at MetMin, are knocking down that barrier for many in our community.Now, well be able to provide the same level of care for clients in the Rossville Boulevard area that we offer at our main location on 3rd Street. We look forward to continuing our mission to champion healthy communities through a more extensive service footprint across Chattanooga.Services provided at the Cempa Impact Hub location will include:- primary medical care;- womens health;- laboratory services;- health maintenance for preventative care; and- integrated health screenings (including mental health and syndemic comorbidities, such as HIV).Our goal at the Impact Hub is to identify the opportunities for bringing together individuals, agencies and strategic partnerships to provide wrap-around services that support all members of our community, said Bill Rush, CEO at Metropolitan Ministries. We are fortunate to align in our belief that all people have a right to fair housing, high-quality healthcare and the basic human needs that each of us have in common. When we come together in a common and shared vision, much can be accomplished.A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 28 at 4001 Rossville Blvd. Cempa will begin seeing patients at the Impact Hub the following Tuesday, May 2. To celebrate the partnership, Cempa and MetMin, are hosting a family-friendly community block party at the Impact Hub, featuring live music, food trucks and more on May 20, starting at noon. The graduates of the second cohort of GNTCs Electrical Lineworker Program are (from left, front) Martin Yanez, Jackson Pullen, Bryan Guerrero, Alex Richmond, Perry James Minford, Jacob Mulkey, Brodee Hutcheson, Hunter Henderson; (back) Frederick Daniel Orellana, Tyler Blake Sutton, John Dickens, Everette Drake Childers, Joseph Jones, Chase Murphy, Angel Barboza and Caden Booth. Angel Barboza (left) receives congratulations from Dr. Heidi Popham, GNTC president John Dickens (left) receives congratulations from Dr. Heidi Popham, GNTC president Previous Next Leaders from Georgia Power, Georgia Northwestern Technical College and the City of Rockmart gathered on Wednesday at GNTCs Polk County Campus in Rockmart to congratulate the second cohort of graduates of GNTCs Electrical Lineworker Program.Through the collaboration between Georgia Power and GNTC, 16 students experienced a vigorous training program that included donated equipment such as trucks, poles and climbing equipment, as well as hands-on expertise from Georgia Power and GNTC instructors.Upon completing the program, students received four certificates of completion for Electrical Lineworker, a restricted Class A Commercial Truck Driving (CDL) license, OSHA 10-Hour General Industry and an overall certificate verifying 395 training hours completed.Our partnership with Georgia Power at this campus dates back nearly 15 years, said Dr. Heidi Popham, GNTC president. The addition of the Electrical Lineworker Program reinforces Georgia Powers continued commitment and investment in providing a skilled workforce.Georgia Power has proven to be one of GNTCs most committed partners. We are grateful for the continued support of our college and of technical education. It is through partnerships like this that GNTC is able to provide the opportunities for students and meet workforce needs for the communities we serve.Dr. Popham cited numerous local, state, public and private partners that helped build the program.Youve got an important job, whether it be a local job or you are part of the cavalry who shows up after a catastrophe, Rockmart Mayor Sherman Ross told the graduates, adding that he remembers the important job lineworkers have whenever he sees utility trucks on the interstate headed to restore power after a catastrophic event.The program is offered through GNTCs Office of Economic Development.As our instructors and this great college have invested in you, be proud of making this investment in yourself, said Angela Berch, GNTCs vice president of Economic Development. Your return on investment will provide you with a sustaining-wage careerone that will support a family and provide opportunities for advancement.Graduates from the second cohort of the program are Angel Barboza, Caden Booth, Everette Drake Childers, John Dickens, Bryan Guerrero, Hunter Henderson, Brodee Hutcheson, Joseph Jones, Perry James Minford, Jacob Mulkey, Chase Murphy, Frederick Daniel Orellana, Jackson Pullen, Alex Richmond, Tyler Blake Sutton and Martin Yanez.Ms. Berch said GNTC will host three lineworker cohorts of 16 students each in 2024.Officials said, "Installing and maintaining electrical line equipment is a highly rewarding career field, but it can also be challenging. Lineworkers often face challenging conditions in the field, especially following severe weather. Robust training and education programs for lineworkers are critical to help prepare them to work safely in real world conditions as they help ensure reliable electrical service for millions of Georgians."Georgia Power is actively hiring qualified line personnel. Visit www.PoweringCareers.com to learn more about becoming a lineworker with Georgia Power.The next cohort of GNTCs Electrical Lineworker Program starts in July and is already full. However, GNTC continuously accepts applications for future cohorts. After July, the following cohort of the Electrical Lineworker Program will begin in January 2024 and is currently open. For more information about the program, go to https://www.gntc.edu/lineworker or contact the Office of Economic Development via email at lineworker@gntc.edu. The state House, in a raucous, all-day session, voted to expel Rep. Justin Jones and Rep. Justin J. Pearson for their part in a March 30 "insurrection" involving themselves and another state House member. A two-thirds vote was needed. The vote was 72-25 in the Jones case and 69-26 in the Pearson case. However, there not enough votes to expel Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville. The vote was 65-30. There were to be special elections to replace expelled members. There were charges and counter charges in the "angry" session that members said was being watched "throughout the nation and the world." The upstairs gallery was filled with gun control advocates, who also ringed the outside of the House Chambers and could be heard in chants and singing. It was only the fourth expulsion vote in the more than 225-year history of the House. The three were earlier stripped of their committee posts and had access to Capitol buildings restricted. The three were charged with "disorderly behavior" after they interrupted a House session with a bullhorn and led protest chants for gun reform in the House "well." That came after the deadly shooting in Nashville at the Covenant School in which three children and three staff members were killed by a woman with an assault rifle. Rep. Johnny Garrett, Goodlettsville Republican who acted as the chief prosecutor, said the trio "shut down the order of this body and silenced seven million people." He said they "implied that this body was complicit with what happened at the Covenant School." Rep. Garrett said after the trio came out with the loudspeaker "the Speaker had no choice but to recess with the emotional explosion in the chamber." Rep. Joe Towns Jr., a Memphis Democrat, said of the playing of the video that was apparently mostly taken by a House member, "This is not fair. It's wrong. It's an ambush. The only goal is to upset this body again." Rep. Jones called the expulsion action "a farce of democracy" and "a lynch mob." He said the trio had "voiced the grievances of people who have been silenced. We had no other choice. At no point did we encourage violence." Rep. Jones said the group had only violated a House rule, whereas prior expulsions had been for criminal and ethical behavior. He said the effort was "to silence the two youngest black members and one of the few Democratic women." Rep. Karen Camper said the trio "had only wanted to elevate the voice of the people after the mass shooting." She and other Democratic legislators called expulsion "a dangerous precedent." Democrat Bob Freeman urged that the expulsions not go forward. He said Rep. Jones was "a powerful advocate who brings up uncomfortable issues. We need his voice." Rep. Gino Bulso said the three members "effectively committed a mutiny." He said Rep. Jones "shows no remorse. He calls the speaker a liar. He says each and every one of us are beholden to special interest groups." Noting that he is an immigrant, he said Rep. Jones had referred to him as "a brown skin." Rep. Jones said he had not been accepted in the GOP-controlled House, saying he was regarded as "an uppity Negro." He said Speaker Cameron Sexton "gave a dog whistle to the Proud Boys to show up" at local gun control rallies. A speaker for Rep. Johnson said House rules are often broken, noting he had witnessed House members in fights and one having to be guarded by state troopers. He said in this case, "No one was hurt. No one was threatened." He said expulsion had previously been reserved for "the worst of the worst." He said, "Members of both parties are shocked at what's happening today." Another speaker said the expulsion resolution incorrectly said that Rep. Johnson shouted and pounded at the table. Rep. Sam McKenzie of Knoxville said, "Plans have been made by the county mayor in Knox County to put in a Republican. That's in a district that Gloria won by double digits and President Biden won by double digits." Rep. Johnson, a retired special education teacher, said she had held up her hand for as long as 45 minutes without being called on and moved to a closet-sized office for going against the Speaker. She denied she had rapped on the dais or shouted. She said, "I did it for the kids in my district, for the kids in my state." She stated, "It seems like some people want tanks. They want violence at the schools. We've got to keep the guns out of the schools." Rep. Pearson said, "We have a real problem in this state with the proliferation of guns and significant incidents of gun violence. That is a real issue that needs to be addressed" - rather than expulsion. After the Pearson expulsion and just before adjournment, the crowd in the gallery began loud protests of the House actions. The session was then recessed until Monday at 5 p.m. Vice President Kamala Harris flew into the Chattanooga Airport on Thursday, rode in a motorcade to Dalton, Ga., and announced what was called the largest community solar effort in U.S. history. During a visit to the Qcells solar plant, she said the project would be able to power 140,000 homes and businesses in three states. Hanwha Solutions Corp. officials said earlier that they would invest $2.5 billion to expand the Dalton plant and build another facility in Cartersville. Qcells plans to supply some 30 percent of total U.S. solar panel demand by 2027. Qcells and Summit Ridge Energy are planning community solar projects aimed at supplying 1.2 gigawatts of electricity in Illinois, Maryland and Maine. These projects used a shared solar generating site rather than having units on individual homes and businesses. With absolute disgust, I watched Rep. William Lamberth address a group of children protesting the availability of extremely lethal weapons of war most frequently used for mass shootings. Lambreth, responding to demands for rational restrictions of assault style weapons, rhetorically asked the group which gun they would prefer to be shot with. All nastiness implied by Mr. Lamberth aside, the irrationality of his question is glaring. Mr.Lamberth via his brutish rhetoric means to imply that since any gun, or weapon of any type, may be used to kill people then all weapons are equal in their capacity to kill people. This is an absurd argument on the face of it. To illustrate imagine being in a public gathering and seeing someone walk in with a long rifle. Would you hope that that rifle was a single shot 22 caliber or a high muzzle velocity semi automatic with a 30 round clip employed and five other 30 round clips in the assailants pockets? There is no doubt that virtually anything may be used as a weapon that can kill people. There is also no doubt that some weapons are specifically designed for maximum efficiency in killing people. High muzzle velocity semi automatic long rifles fit this latter category. This type of rifle is commonly considered to be an assault rifle. Assault rifles are lightweight, and have low recoil so that they may be easily handled and fired rapidly to kill as many people as possible as quickly as possible. Individuals in group settings stand a much better chance of survival if a shooter entering that setting is armed with a six round 30 caliber rifle then if the shooter is armed with an AR-15 with a 30 round clip. The protesters want you, Mr. Lamberth, to address restrictions of the most likely and lethal weapon systems utilized in mass shootings. This action may be combined with a variety of other measures to reduce availability of weapons to dangerous individuals. All of this may be included in a set of rational gun laws. Outlawing assault style weapons certainly will not end all gun violence. To sarcastically suggest such inanity is empty argument. Reducing gun violence overall will require a multi-faceted approach. This will include weapon and accessory restrictions, improving mental health treatment availability and tracking, and addressing dead end poverty situations that tend to provoke young people to violence as reaction to hopelessness. Unfortunately, Mr. Lamberth has other agendas and is uninterested in having a rational discussion about reducing mass shooting success stories. Robert Landry, M.D. * * * There is one (and only one) simple answer to the firearm issue which you rail against. The Founding Fathers installed very clear procedures for amending the U.S. Constitution. In fact, it has been done 27 times. So, clearly, it can be done. Urge your elected representatives to familiarize themselves with the amendment procedures and act upon them to repeal the 2nd Amendment. Then you and those who share your position on the subject will not be fighting a losing battle. So long as the 2nd Amendment remains unrepealed in the Constitution, you might as well save your breath. Would there be vehement opposition to amending the 2nd amendment to the Constitution? Of course. However, there was strong opposition to virtually every amendment to the Constitution. I guess prohibition seemed like a good idea at the time. And I'm sure there was strong opposition to giving women the right to vote, even though that seems like a no-brainer now. But continuing to try to restrict gun ownership with words is just not going to work. Go after the only target that has any chance of limiting gun ownership; the Constitution. Jim Roberts * * * Dr. Landrys overwrought letter regarding the demonstrations at the Tennessee Capital regarding gun control legislation is a carbon copy of those who are unwilling to discuss, in a legislative body, the different viewpoint each legislator brings to the debate. Dr. Landry would prefer that these public servants ignore the constituents that elected them and confer legitimacy to those who scream the loudest, agree with Dr. Landry and rate outsized media attention such behavior always delivers. Like a Greek Chorus, the foul victim vultures always loudly proclaim the righteousness of their arguments by using whatever means necessary to deflate and demean those who oppose their empty promises of solutions. That Kamala Harris would travel to Tennessee to weigh in on this issue is as appalling as her grotesque ineptitude in office. It seems that the precedent setting rates of crime in Chicago, San Francisco, New York and other cities who share Dr. Landrys views are inconsequential. But hey, Doctor, go ahead and bemoan the Tennessee Legislature for insisting that their body be able to function in spite of the conceited, vain and self-absorbed individuals. How many of the three legislators ever expressed sorrow or heartbreak at the death of three sweet children or the three brave adults without parading their political agendas? Leah Geraghty Tennessee Promise student, Gilzamiret Garcia, will graduate in May with an associate degree in business entrepreneurship. She serves as the president of the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization (CEO) and has been a member since its inception in 2021. A finalist for the Student Pitch Competition on campus this March, Ms. Garcia wants to open her own business one day. She says, There are definitely a lot of options. I dont know if I want to continue school or see what happens with my business idea. With a love for animals, Ms. Garcia entered the competition with a cat cafe plan, an alternative to an animal shelter for cats. As a CEO Club member and entrepreneurship major, Ms. Garcia is a recipient of the George R. Johnson Entrepreneurship Scholarship. The scholarship funds can be used to assist with the cost of books and other educational expenses. Ms. Garcia appreciates the scholarship and said, Knowing that these people gave up their money to help me is amazing. Ms. Garcia enjoys working at Southern Heritage Bank as a student intern with the Work-Based Learning program at Cleveland State. She works part-time at the bank while taking mostly online classes during her final semester. When asked about her decision to go to Cleveland State, Ms. Garcia said, When I was coming out of high school, there was so much pressure to go to a four-year university. In my mind, I didnt want to be in debt. Going to Cleveland State not only gives you time to find out what you want to do, but it is an affordable college. It is nice knowing that at a smaller college you can get one-on-one attention. The bond that you get from professors is amazing. I dont know that I could have done anything without my professor, Ms. Godsey. I am so thankful for her. Sandra Godsey, assistant professor of business, said, I have had the privilege of working with Gilzamiret during her academic journey, as she has served as president for the CEO Club. She demonstrates a willingness to learn and give back to her community. She is highly competent and passionate about the work that she does and intends to pursue." Previous Next Labor and Delivery and NICU nurses at Parkridge East Hospital helped these little bunnies get ready for their first Easter.They decorated the babies and their cribs in Easter decor to make the occasion special for them and their families. The proliferate Joro spider, an East Asian species that is currently spreading rapidly in Southeast regions of the United States, is the elusive subject of a research team that includes David Nelsen, PhD, biology professor at Southern Adventist University. These researchers are appealing to communities in Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina to be on the lookout to report any sightings. More eyes in the field will contribute immensely to our research efforts and results, Dr. Nelsen said. Anybody can be a scientist in this case, and photographs can give us strong data for tracking and measuring this ongoing invasion. Several professors working in the Southeast formed the research team in 2020 to study the spiders locations, rate of spreading, and its impact on native spiders and other species. These educators hail from various institutions, including Clayton State University in Georgia, Clemson University in South Carolina, and University of Tennessee, in addition to Southern. In 2021, there were four sightings of the yellow, red, and silver-blue arachnid in the Chattanooga area, including one on Southerns campus. Last year, sightings increased to approximately 20, along with the presence of males, which suggests a stable breeding population. Known for highly organized, three-dimensional, wheel-shaped webs of gold silk, the spiders use a ballooning technique by creating a special silk to hitch a ride and float on air currents to move into new territories, according to Dr. Nelsen. A member of the genus Trichonephila, they can measure three inches across with legs fully extended and survive brief freezes due to a high metabolism and heart rate. Dr. Nelsen has involved Southerns ecology students in the research by incorporating the project into labs and educational outreach. For example, students taught several young outdoor adventure groups about spiders and included the local impact of the Joro on the community. Research brings what the students are studying to life, Dr. Nelsen said. This work helps students answer the questions: How do I take what Im doing as a biologist and give back to the community? How do I get people excited about the wonders of Gods creation? The project will continue for several more years in order to determine whether or not the arachnid newcomer is harming native species. If you spot what appears to be a Joro spider, email Dr. Nelsen at dnelsen@southern.edu and include a photo. You can also upload photos to the iNaturalist app or website. Georgia Northwestern Technical College will hold a Career Fair for GNTC students and graduates on Tuesday. The Career Fair will be open to GNTC students and graduates, as well as members of the community, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Conference Center in Building H on GNTCs Floyd County Campus in Rome. More than 30 employers will attend the event. GNTC's Career Fair is a great opportunity to make meaningful connections with the employers in our community, said Medina Safic, GNTCs Career Services coordinator. I encourage all students and graduates, no matter where they are in their programs, to attend and take a positive step forward in their career path. Industry representatives will be on-hand to provide information and discuss employment opportunities with attendees. Area employers participating in GNTCs job fair will include: AdventHealth, Atrium Health Floyd, Barnsley Resort, Bob Richards Regional Youth Detention Center, Cherokee County Health and Rehabilitation Center, City of Rome, Duffey Southeast Construction Inc., Engineered Floors, EVCO Plastics, Floyd County Government, GENESYS Health Alliance, GNTC, Hamilton Health Care System, Harbin Clinic, Highland Rivers Behavioral Health, Integrated Fiber Solutions, International Paper, Jefferson Southern Corp., Labrie Group, Logical Systems Inc., Lowes Distribution Center, Mannington Mills, Mohawk Industries Inc., Miura America Co. Ltd., Pirelli Tire North America, Shaw Industries Group Inc., Steel King Industries Inc., The Cottages at Rockmart, United Way of Rome & Floyd County, Watters & Associates Landscape and WinShape Foundation. For more information about GNTCs Job Fair, contact Career Services via email at careerservices@gntc.edu. "A 44-year-old Mexican National who distributed large amounts of meth in Chattanooga has been sentenced to serve 292 months in federal prison. Armando Mejia-Almazan appeared before Judge Travis McDonough. As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Mejia-Almazan agreed to plead guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. After his release from imprisonment, Mejia-Almazan will be on supervised release for five years and may be subject to deportation. According to court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Mejia-Almazan, who had previously been removed from the United States and unlawfully returned, distributed more than 50 kilograms of ice methamphetamine to a Chattanooga-based drug trafficking organization. Mejia-Almazan used multiple apartments in the Atlanta metro area to facilitate his drug trafficking and acted under the direction of a Veracruz, Mexico-based methamphetamine broker affiliated with the Cartel de Jalisco Nuevo Generacion (CJNG). The United States Attorneys Office is committed to targeting the ongoing threat to our communities from cartel-based drug traffickers, said United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who seek to profit from flooding our communities with dangerous drugs will face justice. Im very proud of the work done by the dedicated men and women of DEA in this case, said Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott, head of Drug Enforcement Administrations (DEA) Louisville Field Division. Mr. Mejia-Almazan had tentacles reaching down into Mexico, straight to the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation Cartels, the two ruthless, violent, criminal organizations that are intentionally poisoning Americans to drive addiction. The sentencing was the culmination of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks, officials said. The Appalachia HIDTA mission is to use a multi-disciplinary approach to deal with the ongoing threats to public health and safety, particularly as it regards prescription drug diversion, the emerging threat of heroin, as well as the continued threats of marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, and synthetic drugs. "The Appalachia region is arguably the epicenter of this crisis and requires unprecedented multi-disciplined cooperation to effectively address the many faceted health and public safety problems that result from this daunting threat," officials said. Law enforcement agencies participating in the joint investigation which led to the indictment and subsequent conviction of Mejia-Almazan, included DEA Chattanooga Resident Office, DEA Atlanta Field Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation Chattanooga Resident Agency, Chattanooga Police Department, and Hamilton County Sheriffs Office. Numerous agencies from the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin T. Brown represented the United States. Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and France's President Emmanuel Macron review troops during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, April 6. AP-Yonhap French President Emmanuel Macron called on his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping Thursday to "bring Russia to its senses" over Ukraine and urged him not to deliver weapons to Moscow. The French president, who arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for a three-day state visit, has made clear he is seeking to dissuade China from supporting Russia's invasion of its neighbor. "I know I can count on you to bring Russia to its senses and everyone to the negotiating table," Macron told Xi during a bilateral meeting. The two leaders met Thursday after a formal welcome ceremony in Tiananmen Square, complete with a 21-gun salute. In remarks to the press following their meeting, Xi said he "stood ready to issue a joint call with France" for the resumption of "peace talks as soon as possible", according to Chinese state media Xinhua. He reiterated his support of the "solemn pledge that nuclear weapons must not be used" and for all parties to "avoid attacking civilians or civilian facilities". "In this regard, everyone must be reminded of their duties, especially Russia," Macron replied. A recent announcement by Russian President Vladimir Putin that he plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus "is not consistent with the commitments made to you, to us and to international law," Macron said next to the Chinese leader. Xi went to Moscow last month to reaffirm his alliance with Putin framed as an anti-Western front but has not yet spoken directly with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. According to a French diplomat, Xi expressed a willingness to speaking with Zelenskyy, but only when the time is right. Macron "pressed Xi Jinping not to deliver anything to Russia that would be used for its war against Ukraine", added the French diplomat, following Western claims that Beijing could be mulling arms shipments to support Russia's war. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, who is accompanying Macron on his visit, welcomed Xi's openness to speaking with Zelenskyy. She said that in her own meeting Thursday with Chinese leaders, she warned that arms shipments to Russia would "significantly harm" relations. "As a member of the UN Security Council, there is a big responsibility and we expect that China will play its role and promote a just peace, one that respects Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, one of the cornerstones of the UN charter," von der Leyen said. French President Emmanuel Macron, left, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping after meeting the press at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing,, April 6. AP-Yonhap The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum has transferred ownership of Steam Locomotive 5288 to the Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust of Boyertown, Pa. The partnership will return to Pennsylvania a historic steam passenger locomotive. Locomotive 5288, a 4-6-2 Pacific-type locomotive built by the Montreal Locomotive Works in 1919, will be moved to the Colebrookdale in the next few weeks for eventual restoration. It will be displayed later this year near the railroads Boyertown, Pennsylvania, station. Over the past few years TVRM carefully reviewed the current status and future possibilities for operation of the locomotive said Tim Andrews, TVRM president. After being an outdoor display since arriving in 2001, the TVRM board determined that the Colebrookdale could provide 5288 a broader range of options for the future. Mr. Andrews said, The probable multi-million-dollar restoration cost of the locomotive did not make sense for us in light of the limited operating options and higher priorities to see the rest of the TVRM collection protected from the elements. This in no way diminishes TVRMs commitment and dedication to the preservation and operation of vintage steam locomotives, particularly those with regional significance, for the education and enjoyment of the public. We are absolutely overjoyed to welcome the 5288 as a star in the Colebrookdales growing stable of steam locomotives, said Nathaniel Guest, executive director of the non-profit Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust. We portray that halcyon era of passenger railroading that took place in the first decades of the Twentieth Century. The noble lines of 5288 absolutely capture the look of that period. She will be a fine stablemate for Grand Trunk 5030 and LS&I 18, he said. Steam Locomotive 5288 was built for the Grand Trunk Railway and was later owned and operated by the Canadian National until being sold to Nelson Blount in 1961. It became part of the Steamtown Foundation in 1969. It was transferred to the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 1995 before coming to TVRM in 2001. In recent weeks, the nation has witnessed yet another troubling example of democracy under threat, as Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, two advocates for gun violence prevention, were expelled from the state capital in Tennessee for their vocal calls for change. The incident is a stark reminder of how those in power will go to great lengths to silence dissent and maintain the status quo, even at the expense of the democratic process. This latest episode also indicates a more significant problem within the Democratic Party, which has long struggled to effectively organize and mobilize rural areas and communities of color. As Martin Luther King Jr. pointed out in his 1967 book, Where Do We Go From Here, "The weakness of the Democratic Party in the South is the result of its failure to organize and to give full and vigorous expression to the hopes and aspirations of the Negro people." But this failure is not limited to the South alone, as Dr. Carol Anderson's book, White Rage, demonstrates. Anderson argues that throughout American history, whenever people of color have made strides toward equality, white Americans have responded with a coordinated effort to push back against those gains. This kind of white backlash is not new. We can look to historical examples of elected officials being expelled from their positions for speaking out against injustice. Henry McNeal Turner, a Black legislator in Georgia, was expelled from the state legislature in 1868 for his vocal opposition to the state's restrictive Black Codes. And in 1966, the Georgia legislature refused to seat Julian Bond for his public criticism of the Vietnam War. These incidents underscore how the disenfranchisement of voters is not limited to outright suppression tactics like gerrymandering and voter ID laws. Instead, it can also take the form of subtle yet insidious efforts to silence dissenting voices. One such tactic is the notion of "decorum," often used as a tool of white aggression veiled in passive-aggressive expectation. When politicians call for "civility" or "respectful discourse," they often mean they want to maintain the status quo and prevent any challenge to their power. So what can be done in the face of such systemic oppression and suppression? One solution lies in the power of grassroots organizing, which has the potential to mobilize communities and effect real change. But this cannot be done by the Democratic Party alone. As King pointed out, "the movement must go beyond the political parties" and become a collective effort by all those who seek justice and equality. Individuals can also catalyze change by speaking out against injustice and holding those in power accountable. As Anderson writes, "Change is made by those who speak up, who stand up, who march, who sit-in, who write, who organize, who vote." The struggle for democracy and equality is ongoing, and incidents like the expulsion of Jones and Pearson serve as a stark reminder of the obstacles that lie ahead. But as long as individuals and communities are willing to stand up and demand change, there is hope for a brighter future. Marie R. Mott Prince Louis is the youngest son of Prince William and Kate Middleton. During past royal events, Louis has played up to the cameras, acting out in a very unroyal albeit adorable manner. However, his past behavior could exclude Louis from his grandfather, King Charles coronation, an event rich in historical significance. This is why Prince Louis may not attend alongside his parents and older siblings, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Prince Louis sat on his grandfather King Charles lap in 2022 | Chris Jackson/Getty Images How old is Prince Louis, King Charles second grandson? Kate Middleton and Prince William welcomed Prince Louis Arthur Charles of Wales to their family on Apr. 23, 2018. He is the Prince and Princess of Wales third child after Prince George and Princess Charlotte. The Princess of Wales shared how quickly Louis had grown up during a royal visit to Little Village Hub in Brent, United Kingdom, in July 2022. I keep thinking Louis is my baby, but hes a proper boy now, Kate said of her son. The couples older children, Prince George. 9, and Princess Charlotte, 7, regularly appear alongside their parents at royal events. Brother and sister appeared poised as they attended the funeral of their great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022. However, at just four years old, the length and serious nature of King Charles coronation ceremony may be too intense for Prince Louis. Here are some of the reasons why. Prince Louis past behavior may exclude him from the coronation and balcony pics The Prince and Princess of Wales entire family supported the late Queen Elizabeth during her Platinum Jubilee celebration in June 2022, where she marked 70 years on the throne. Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their three children celebrated the event on Buckingham Palaces balcony. Louis joined his sister and brother for his first official royal carriage ride at the late queens annual birthday parade. Seated between George and Charlotte, Louis mastered his royal wave to the attending crowds. The couple sat across from their mother, Kate, and Camilla Parker Bowles. However, there were moments when the events excitement became a bit too intense for Prince Louis. When a military flypast took place over Buckingham Palace, Louis reacted to the loud planes by covering his ears and appearing to yell out loud. While Louis reacted in a very typical way for a boy his age, the seriousness and length of King Charles coronation may be too intense. Therefore, Kate and William may allow him to remain home. However, he may attend Charles official balcony debut as the United Kingdoms king alongside other senior members of the royal family. While still an official moment, a balcony appearance is historically more relaxed than the Westminister Abbey service. Will any of Prince Louis siblings attend King Charles coronation? Prince George, Prince Louis, and Princess Charlotte waving to crowds at Queen Elizabeths Jubilee parade | Karwai Tang/WireImage Thus far, Prince George is the only one of Prince William and Kate Middletons children to participate in the historical royal event. George will serve as one of four Pages of Honor for Charles at the coronation, which will be held May 6 at Westminster Abbey. ABC News reported George, who is second in line to the British throne, and his fellow pages are expected to process behind Charles in the ceremony and hold his ceremonial robes. A Kensington Palace spokesperson shared the following remarks to ABC News ahead of Georges involvement in his grandfathers ceremony. Were all very excited about Prince Georges role in the Coronation, the statement read. It will be an incredibly special moment. Princess Charlotte, who acted poised during her great-grandmothers funeral, a Christmas Day outing, and the late queens platinum jubilee celebration, will likely be in attendance to support her brother. Upon her fathers death, King George VI, Princess Elizabeth, became Queen Elizabeth II. Elizabeth was a young mother of two children when taking on this important role in the United Kingdom. However, she wanted her young son, Prince Charles, to feel special when, in 1953, she stepped into the role she would eventually hold for over 70 years. She gifted the then-4-year-old with a child-friendly coronation invitation. Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, and Prince Charles at the Queens 1953 coronation | Hulton Archive/Getty Images How old was Queen Elizabeth when she was crowned? Queen Elizabeth ascended to the throne at the age of 25. She and her husband, Prince Philip, had two children at that time. Prince Charles was born in November 1948. His sister, Princess Anne, arrived in August 1950. Elizabeth was the 40th monarch since Edward the Conquerer reported History. She was taught from a young age that she would succeed her father. However, she likely didnt anticipate this life-changing shift to happen so soon. From the start, Elizabeth knew how important it was to make the public a part of the coronation, a historically private ceremony. She allowed the ceremony to be televised, letting cameras capture the pomp and circumstance of the royal familys most sacred tradition. Elizabeth also wanted to prove she could balance the demands of the crown with motherhood. Therefore, she invited her then-four-year-old son Prince Charles to her coronation. She had a hand-painted invitation made for her son that included many childlike touches. Queen Elizabeth made 4-year-old Prince Charles feel special with his coronation invitation Four-year-old Prince Charles was the first child to witness his mother's coronation as Sovereign. HRH received his very own specially illustrated invitation. 50 facts about The Queens Coronation: https://t.co/kIKeS3u3SB pic.twitter.com/aWYht1fc3a Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) June 2, 2018 Elizabeth sent out formal invitations to over 8,000 guests to commemorate her ascension. These attendees, representing 129 nations and territories, packed Westminister Abbey for the ceremony. Guests watched as Elizabeth was crowned in St Edwards Chair. This unique seat has been used for every coronation since Edward I. Atop her head was placed the St. Edwards Crown, which weighs almost 5 lbs. and is made of solid gold. Watching among the spectators was Elizabeths son, Charles. He was the first child to witness the crowning of a monarch and sat between Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, and his aunt, Princess Margaret. Elizabeth wanted to ensure her oldest son felt special before her coronation ceremony. Therefore, Elizabeth had a special invitation commissioned just for Charles. By Command of the queen, the Earl Marshal is directed to invite His Royal Highness Prince Charles to the Coronation, the invitation reads along with the date. Clarence Houses official Twitter shared an image of the child-friendly invitation made for the future king of the United Kingdom. Charles hand-painted invitation included British guards in their traditional bearskin hats playing instruments and a cartoon lion and unicorn, symbols on Queen Elizabeths royal coat of arms. Queen Elizabeth reigned for over 70 years until her September 2022 death Remarkably, Queen Elizabeth II reigned for just over 70 years. Her death marked a turning point for many in the United Kingdom, who never knew a sovereign other than Elizabeth. She served alongside 170 prime ministers and 13 United States presidents. Elizabeth was only the third monarch to rule for more than 70 years, reported The New York Times. She holds that title alongside Louis XIV of France, Johann II of Liechtenstein, and Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. Elizbeth also has the distinction of being the longest-serving British monarch, overtaking Queen Victoria in 2015. Before her death, she was the longest-serving female monarch. Queen Elizabeth died on Sept. 8, 2022, at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, at 96. Her son, the newly ascended King Charles III, said the following after his mothers death. Her son King Charles III said the death of his beloved mother was a moment of great sadness for him and his family and that her loss would be deeply felt worldwide, per Sky News. He said: We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign and a much-loved mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the realms, and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world. The coronation of King Charles III and his wife, Camilla, Queen Consort, will take place on May 6, 2023. The event will be held at Westminister Abbey. Becoming friends with your co-workers is pretty easy to do, given the amount of time that is spent together on a weekly basis. This is true for the actors as well. Sophia Bush gained many new friendships while working on the set of Chicago P.D., including with co-star Marina Squerciati. Bush even invited her former co-star to her recent wedding. However, not every co-star made the cut. Heres the scoop on Bushs wedding, her new husband, and their guest list. Marina Squerciati got an invite to her former co-stars wedding After working on the set of Chicago P.D. for four seasons, co-stars Sophia Bush and Marina Squerciati formed a strong friendship. So, its really no surprise that Squerciati made the star-studded guest list at Bushs recent wedding. According to IMDb, Squerciati has portrayed Officer Kim Burgess on Chicago P.D. since 2014. Bush also joined the cast in 2014, portraying Detective Erin Lindsay. While Bush decided to leave the show in 2017, Squerciati still maintains her original role on Chicago P.D. Sophia Bush didnt stay friends with all her former Chicago P.D. co-stars While Bush and Squerciati remained friends after Bushs departure from the show, Bush did not remain friendly with all of her former co-stars. About a year after leaving Chicago P.D., it was revealed that Bush actually left the show after continued conflict with co-star Jason Beghe. According to CBR, NBC Universal and Wolf Productions actually opened an investigation into Beghes behavior as multiple cast members had made complaints against him. Bush stated that she experienced both verbal abuse and sexual harassment at the hands of Beghe. While NBC dolled out a series of reprimands to Beghe, he has ultimately maintained his role as Sergeant Hank Voight on the show. Beghe definitely didnt make the guest list for her wedding, and neither did her former co-star Jesse Lee Soffer. According to US Weekly, Bush and Soffer dated from 2014 to 2016. Soffer portrayed Detective Jay Halstead in the series from 2014 to 2022. After his split from Bush, Soffer went on to date Chicago Med star Torrey DeVitto before breaking things off in May 2019. Grant Hughes and Sophia Bush tied the knot in June 2022 Sophia Bush walks the pink carpet ahead of a game between NJ/NY Gotham FC and Angel City FC I Katharine Lotze/Getty Images While Bush has dated a number of actors over the last two decades, it seems that she has finally found her happily ever after with someone outside of her own industry. In May 2020, Bush began dating businessman Grant Hughes. According to People, Hughes is a well-educated entrepreneur. The businessman has collected quite a few degrees over the years. In 2005, he earned two undergraduate degrees from the University of Oklahoma, a Bachelor of Arts in Letters and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship & Venture Management. Hughes then went on to earn his Master of Education degree from Loyola Marymount University in 2009 while simultaneously working as a teacher in Los Angeles. After completing his first masters degree, Hughes went on to earn two more from the University of Michigan. His second masters degree was an MBA in Strategy, Innovation, and Design Thinking, and his third was a Master of Science degree in Environmental Psychology and Decision Making. Throughout his education, Bushs future husband also started a number of businesses, including Drink Good Wine, a beverage manufacturing company. After just two years of dating, Bush and Hughes decided to exchange vows at a beautiful wedding ceremony at the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in June 2022. We wish the 40-year-old actor a long and fruitful marriage with her new husband. Palestinians inspect damage from overnight Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City, Friday. AP-Yonhap Two Israeli women were killed in a shooting in the occupied West Bank on Friday and Israel reinforced troops near its borders after cross-frontier violence and police raids at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque raised concerns of a broadening conflict. But despite militants firing salvoes of rockets from Lebanon and Gaza over the past day and the Israeli military replying with air strikes, no other serious injuries were reported along the borders and neither side seemed keen to intensify the fighting. "Nobody wants an escalation right now," an Israeli army spokesman said. "Quiet will be answered with quiet, at this stage I think, at least in the coming hours." One official with a Palestinian militant group told Reuters they were ready to keep the calm should Israel do the same, with the group having "made its point". Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem's walled Old City, which draws hundreds of thousands of worshippers during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and where Israel has deployed large police forces, passed without major incidents. Apart from some stone-throwing, police said the compound was quiet. The Palestinians and Jordan, who is custodian of holy sites in East Jerusalem, reject any Israeli police presence in the compound, revered in Judaism as Temple Mount, a vestige of the two biblical temples. Earlier in the week Israeli police raided Al-Aqsa and beat Palestinian worshippers, arresting and removing hundreds of people from the compound in what they said was an effort to remove agitators holed up in the mosque. The action drew condemnation from across the Arab world. During Ramadan, Muslims see it as a religious duty to remain overnight and pray at mosques. In Friday's West Bank shooting, two Israeli women, reported by local media to be sisters, were killed when their car came under fire near the Jewish settlement of Hamra. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was holding a security assessment. Palestinian militant group Hamas Hamas, which rules Gaza, praised the shooting attack but stopped short of claiming responsibility. Israel blamed Hamas for Thursday's rocket attacks, although the group did not say it was behind them. The salvoes included the largest from Lebanon since a 2006 war. They interrupted the Jewish holiday of Passover and sent residents running for shelters. Rocket fire from Gaza hit at least one house. Israel called on the United Nations Security Council to condemn Lebanon and Hamas for the rocket fire. Before noon on Friday, however, Israel's military said residents near the Gaza border no longer needed to keep close to bomb shelters. Military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said extra infantry and artillery forces were sent to the north and south to help defend against "possible scenarios". This picture taken early on Friday shows explosions in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip during Israeli air strikes on the Palestinian enclave. AFP-Yonhap Pexels/Bennet P Biju A different fire occurred at the beginning of Holy Week and caused damage to three wooden statues of the Virgin Mary. These incidents happened in the town of Chiclana in Cadiz province, the town of Velez-Malaga and the town of Almaden de la Plata in Seville province. Three Separate Incidents on Wooden Statues of the Virgin Mary The statues of the Holy Mother in Spain are generally draped in elaborate robes, as the country has a strong religious tradition. However, throughout the weekend, two Virgin Mary statues were burned by candles, and an electrical short circuit likely caused one. The Catholic News Agency reported that on Mar. 31, the Friday before Holy Week, also known as the Friday of Sorrows in Spain, the mantle of Holy Mary of the Disconsolate in Candiz went up in flames as a result of a piece of wick that fell from a candle. This day is observed to honor the seven sorrows that the Mother of Jesus experienced as her son's crucifixion drew closer. The organizers said that the fire destroyed the mantle and caused damage to "the polychromy of her cheek and right hand," but the picture of Jesus as the Father of the Afflicted remained unharmed due to the rapid intervention of those who were aiding with the reverence of the image. In addition, during the Holy Week procession in Velez-Malaga, two congregation members were hurt while attempting to extinguish the flames consuming the mantle of the Lady of El Roco. The incident occurred on Palm Sunday. As mentioned, in the procession planned by the Confraternity of Our Father Jesus in his Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem and the Mary of El Roc'o, a candle shattered and caused a fire to start. A portion of the mantle sustained some damage, and the confraternity initially stated that it appeared as though the carving had only suffered "superficial" damage. On the other hand, on the night of April 1-2, a fire broke out at the Virgin Mary of Grace Church in Almaden de la Plata, Seville province. The local government claims that "one of the altarpieces began to burn," The firemen initially thought that the blaze had been started "by an electrical short circuit." Also Read: Indian Government Destroys 20-Foot Jesus Statue What Happens When A Religious Statue is Broken or Destroyed? According to the Archdiocese of Superior, Catholics are acquainted with having religious artifacts "blessed," which refers to permanently sanctifying an object and devoting it to some sacred purpose. After a holy thing has been consecrated and blessed for divine worship or adoration, it must be handled with reverence. It cannot be utilized in a manner that is either improper or profane. However, burning or burying the rosary or statue is the recommended disposal method when the rosary or statue breaks. It is called the "rule of thumb" and applies to the object itself and the ashes it produces. Moreover, About Catholics stated that it is not a sin to throw away sacred objects; nonetheless, one should do it appropriately out of respect for those items. The holy artifacts should be buried, as this is believed to be the most respectful way to get rid of something blessed. Related Article:Holy Family Roman Catholic Church's Angel Statue Destroyed By Teenagers Pexels/RODNAE Productions Before the start of Holy Week, an act of vandalism was committed in St. Paulinus Catholic Church. St. Paulinus Catholic Church's pastor, Father Ryan Salisbury, said, "Somehow, in the Lord's providence, this was allowed." His journey was reportedly defined by injustice, brokenness, and injury done to his own body, and in certain instances, this was permitted to happen in Syracuse. Vandalism at St. Paulinus Catholic Church A report from the Catholic News Agency reported that on Saturday morning, Apr. 1, a Sacred Heart of Jesus statue was shattered beyond repair, as were the candlesticks and the altar stone damaged. The pastor said that the damage came to a total of $5,000. Luckily, the Tabernacle and the Eucharist did not suffer any damage. As mentioned, Father Salisbury said that an investigation had been opened into the alleged criminal act, which was not captured on a surveillance camera. Moreover, a Mass and baptism took place on the same day, and the church could be cleaned up in time. The pastor extended the individuals responsible for the crime an offer of forgiveness. "While this does not excuse what took place, we want to meet them with forgiveness in any ways that they're hurting or broken because Our Lord wants to bring them healing as well," Father Salisbury added. As per Fully Catholic, on Twitter, state Senator Julie Slama of Nebraska, also a parishioner of St. Paulinus, expressed her grief over the devastation at the church. Slama, who had recently converted to Catholicism, requested prayers on behalf of the local parish. She said that people who desire to worship should be allowed to do so without being restrained by fear and in complete freedom. Also Read:Wooden Statues of Virgin Mary Damaged By Fire on Three Separate Incidents at the Start of Holy Week Act of Vandalism at Catholic Churches According to the findings of the report "Hostility Against Churches Is on the Rise in the United States," published by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (COAI), there were 420 incidents of hostility committed against 397 churches in the United States between January 2018 and September 2022. The New York Post reported that the attacks were carried out in all 45 states that make up the United States and Washington, D.C. In addition, the report's authors stated that the increase in attacks might be related to "a collapse in societal reverence and respect for houses of worship and religion," specifically churches and Christianity. Survey says that Americans seem increasingly comfortable striking out against church buildings which points to a bigger cultural problem of marginalizing essential Christian teachings. These beliefs touch on contentious political issues connected to human dignity and sexuality. Accordingly, CatholicVote has found that just 25% of the attacks against churches it has documented have resulted in arrests. In a letter that he sent to the Department of Justice in December 2021, the President of CatholicVote, Brian Burch, cited at least 114 incidents that had occurred since May 2020 and criticized its leadership for making "no meaningful effort to raise awareness or address the disturbing rise in hate-filled attacks on Catholic religious symbols, shrines, statues and churches." Related Article:Holy Family Roman Catholic Church's Angel Statue Destroyed By Teenagers Wikimedia Commons/Alfredo Borba In a new Spanish Documentary, Pope Francis candidly answers questions that have been given by ten fearless youths. The 83-minute documentary titled "Amen. Francisco responde" premiered on Disney+ on April 5 this year. The film directors Jordi evole and Marius Sanchez feature Pope Francis, which he answers tough questions regarding sex, tinder, and other sensitive issues. The film was said to be filmed in June in Rome's Pigneto district last year. Questions About the Pope's Salary and the Decline in Churchgoers According to the story in Vatican News, the Pope's right knee was in excruciating discomfort by that time, making him walk with an unsteady posture. However, he was his usual self-calm and prepared to converse-when responding to the challenging questions provided by the young Spanish-speaking audience. In the film, he converses with a young man Victor, in which Victor asks if the Pope receives a salary for his service as the catholic leader, and Francis replies that he doesn't. He relied on donations for his daily needs and described his life as simple, similar to that of an average employee. He also said that he wants the Holy See to be free of financial expenses and instead suggested using the money for those people or communities that are evident to be in need. Pope Francis also emphasized that he is willing to aid and support social outreach organizations by giving them the resources they need, for he has connections and knows where to get these resources and who to go to. He emphasized that a simple life is better and would be the best if paired with helping others. Another topic opened up about the members that are leaving the Catholic Church. Pope Francis stressed the importance of going out of the peripheries, as he believes that the church suffers when it becomes a society of good people who only performs the religious traditions without reaching out to the sides. According to the Pope, reaching out to the peripheries is crucial to the church'schurch's mission. He contends that when people see reality from the center, they unintentionally set up walls to the connection that keeps them distant from the conflicts and difficulties faced by those in the periphery. Also Read: Pope Francis Presides Palm Sunday After Discharge From Hospital Questions About the Modern Society Celia, a non-binary, asked the Pope if he knew about the app Tinder, a dating app. According to Hindustan Times, Pope Francis honestly said that he did not know what the app was. Still, he acknowledged that the younger generation is eager to meet and engage with new people, which he innocently considers reasonable. Celia also asked about the people or priests promoting hate and using the Bible to support hate speech. According to Channels TV, Pope Francis replied that these people are "infiltrators" who exploit the church for their petty interests. He named one of the "corruptions" plaguing the church as "narrow ideologies." The Pope highlighted that everyone is a child of God and that God does not reject anyone when asked about the position of LGBTQ Catholics in the church. He feels that he has a duty always to welcome everyone and that it is not his authority to expel anyone from the church. The film is very educational and eye-opening to some. This film can help everyone realize what they are doing wrong and right when there is still time. Related Article: Pope Francis Undergoes Treatment for Respiratory Illness, Expected to Stay for Several Days in the Hospital Pexels/Kat Smith Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown revealed shocking clergy abuse on minors and teens. The 463-page report was released on Wednesday and showed a church hierarchy that systematically failed to investigate and restrict access to children, allowing the abuse to continue. A Large Number of Clergy Abuse Revealed in a Report According to New York Times, the report describes the abuse as "pervasive and persistent," and cover-ups and document dismissals by the hierarchy of the church. Even though the victim's groups have already discovered the widespread abuse and have been acknowledged to some extent by the current church officials, a detailed account of how the church failed to prevent it has been reported. The report's authors stressed that it is meant to be the complete account of the abuse within the Archdiocese of Baltimore. They are hoping that it will shed light on the scope and scale of abuse and the cover-ups that have been done by the church, which have not been publicized not until now. State representatives have said, however, that they do not anticipate filing criminal charges in response to the report's conclusions, despite the considerable record of abuse and cover-ups. Some campaigners and abuse survivors have criticized this decision, saying the church must be held accountable for enabling the abuse. According to NBC News, a recent report revealed that at least 600 children were victims of the abuse performed by 156 people, but the real number is much more likely to be higher. Parishes like St. Mark Parish in Catonsville are where 11 of the 156 child abusers reside and have worked from 1964 to 2004. The severity of the abuse was widespread, as it was common for some adults to perform such malicious acts on minors. The report also claimed that the clergy members used their position and power to exploit the children's minds and make the families trust them. The investigation reached up to four years before it was completed; the report, the first public accounting of more than 60 years of abuse and cover-up in Maryland, demonstrates that the Archdiocese routinely prioritized institutional preservation over the protection of the youngsters entrusted to its care. Also Read: Pope Francis Takes Bold Step to Combat Sexual Abuse, Extends Church Law to Include Lay Leaders The Victims' Mixed Emotions The victims of the sexual abuse have shown mixed emotions wherein they expressed their anger and relief after knowing the report. In the story in Associated Press News, Jean Hargadon Wehner revealed that she was abused by A. Joseph Maskell, a priest that served as a high school chaplain and counselor, and she reported this way back in the 90s. She voiced frustration that when she first reported the assault, the church did nothing. Maskell, who assaulted at least 39 women, was never charged criminally and refuted the claims until his passing in 2001. Kurt Rupprecht, another victim of torture, didn't piece together his awful memories until he was in his late 40s. He felt comforted by this knowledge but was also overcome with rage and shock. This report shows the incompetence of the Archdiocese in that it took years before these allegations were served. Related Article: Around 445 Sexual Abuse Victims of Priests and Church Officials in Spain Break Their Silence Pexels/Khwanchai Phanthong The Department of Justice of the United States has agreed to engage in a settlement arising from the November 2017 mass shooting at a Texas church estimated at $144.5 million. 26 deaths resulted from the mass shooting and had left 22 other people injured. The Federal Court in 2021 made the U.S. government liable for the damages caused by the shooting, as the US Air Force failed to provide reasonable care by failing to provide the criminal's history to the FBI's background checking system. DOJ Agrees Settlement for Victims of Sutherland Springs Church Shooting According to the report shared in CNN, Devin Patrick Kelley in which is the suspect in the shooting, was an ex-member of the US Air Force; it is believed that the Air Force had not given information to the civilian law enforcement of his court-martial conviction for domestic assault in which this may have prevented him from buying and carrying firearms. Some parts of the settlements still require court approval. Although the grief of the Sutherland Springs shooting cannot be lessened by money, Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta said that the announcement ends the legal proceedings and closes a difficult chapter for the victims. In November 2017, the shooter was dress in all-black tactical gear, opened fire on the churchgoers at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs that, claimed the lives of 26 people, including the pastor's 14-year-old daughter and the criminal's grandmother-in-law and 22 others had been left injured. A local man with a rifle confronted the shooter as he left the church, and they engaged in gunfire. After fleeing in his car, the shooter was later discovered dead from his own gunshot wound. According to another source, NPR, the judge ordered the government to pay the families $230 million. Still, the DOJ appealed the decision in January, claiming that it could not be held primarily accountable and objecting to paying damages. The National Rifle Association have commended this decision, which surprised the gun control groups and organizations. This will be the third time the United States government will compensate the victims' families after a massacre if the settlement comes to authorization. The other settlements include Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015 and Parkland, Florida, in 2018. The families of the Sutherland Springs shooting, according to trial lawyer Jamal Alsaffar, have prevailed in two legal battles against the federal government while experiencing great suffering and loss. According to ABC News, even though the settlements are needed to be approved by Attorney General Merrick Garland, it would put an end to the DOJ's drawn-out and uneasy attempt to overturn a judge's ruling that the government was mostly to fault for the massacre. Also Read: 42 Suspects Detained in Connection with Deadly Jerusalem Synagogue Shooting Related Cases of Settlements on Massacres In the related article in CBS News, Settlements of $127.5 million and $88 million were reached in situations similar to the Parkland, Florida high school massacre and the Charleston, South Carolina, Black church shooting. In response to claims alleging that the Federal Bureau of Investigation's mistakes led to the shootings, settlements were reached. After several months of mediation in an effort to change the initial verdict, Sutherland Springs filed an appeal and offered a settlement. The extended Sutherland Springs families were first offered a total $31.8 million by the government, which argued that settlements from other instances shouldn't serve as a precedent for this one. Related Article: Nashville Christian School Shooting Takes 6 Lives Including 3 Students; Shooter Found Dead at the Scene The past several years have seen a sharp rise in violence against Asian Americans. In 2020, the FBI recorded a 73 percent increase in anti-Asian hate crimes. Over the next two years, the Stop AAPI Hate reporting center documented over 11,000 self-reported discriminatory incidents, two-thirds of which were categorized as harassment. Acts of violence against Asian Americans, including a rash of physical assaults in New York City and the 2021 Atlanta spa shooting, have captured the national media. And a recent shooting in Monterey Park, California, by a Chinese American man stirred up similar sentiments of stress and anxiety. But that heightened anxiety is contrasted against a sense of personal and cultural sublation among the diaspora that can make both verbalizing and addressing these stressors difficult. While a wide majority of Asian Americans believe that violence against them is increasing, they are also the least likely of all US racial groups to report incidents of hate or utilize mental health services. Instead, many Asian Americans slouch into a form of cognitive dissonance, often defaulting to criticisms of themselves and their own cultural values while struggling to fully acknowledge the racialization they facea result of what author Cathy Park Hong calls minor feelings, or the racialized range of emotions that are negative, dysphoric, and therefore untelegenic. For Asian American Christians to address the increased stressors within their communities, Daniel D. Lee, a professor of theology and Asian American studies at Fuller Theological Seminary, believes theyll need to more fully embrace and examine their own heritage and theologyunderstanding the way both have been shaped by their racialized experiences in the United States. If you think the only problem that arises within the Asian American community is cultural, then everything will be a cultural problem. Its Asian shame. Its Asian values. Its something wrong with our family dynamic. Its indirect communication, Lee said. But what if its racial? Were a racial minority. What if its internalized racism? What if its self-hatred? What if its actually how we evaluate our cultural values based on a white norm? Maybe its something that comes out of the migration experience; maybe its your family. How do you tease this out? If you are actually proficient in multiple categories, you can say, Oh, its not this; its that. Article continues below Author of the new book Doing Asian American Theology: A Contextual Framework for Faith and Practice, Lee spoke with Christianity Today about distinguishing racial trauma from cultural values, contextualizing Asian American history, and bringing ethnic identity under the lordship of Christ. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. Are there particular ways that Asian American Christians tend to grieve difficult situations? When we talk about [Asian American] churches in general, theres a kind of contextual confluence, certain things within the context that overlap and stress each other. You have the Christian thing, and you have the Asian American Christian thing. On top of all that, sometimes cultural values of shame and collective identity can play a role. I say it that way because people are too quick to blame their Asian heritage based on more of a white norm of what it means to be human. That becomes very toxic for Asian Americans because, compared to white normative communities, everything we do is wrong: Were too quiet. Were too indirect. Somethings wrong with us. Were not assertive enough. All those [presumptions] are based on a norm that isnt beneficial for us, but how do you know that this is racism as opposed to our culture being at fault? There are layers and layers that play against each other, and they can create a nice cocktail to where its difficult for Asian Americans in certain spaces to navigate and find the right kinds of resources that can really nourish and heal our community. You talked about this confluence of layered ideasthe white normative culture, the Asian American subculture within that, and the Asian American Christian framework within thatbut in your book you argue that a lot of Asian Americans dont realize that those dynamics are playing out. Why is that? A lot of Asian American churches are relationally and societally Asian American, but they have no idea how to consciously be theologically or spiritually Asian American. I dont mean you have to put the word Asian American on a sign above your church. Im just saying that these are the people you are ministering to; these are what their issues are. It doesnt mean we erase individuality. People have different experiences, but there are some themes we should at least be aware of. Not everybody might fit some of those themes, but at least you have an idea that because of societal forces, because of historical forces, these are some of the things in the waters. Average Asian Americans dont know those things. Our leaders dont know them. Article continues below The problem is, they have a white normative education that basically doesnt talk about Asian American stuffor maybe some of these people learned all their rhetoric and concepts from the Black community, which is obviously very beneficial, but thats not necessarily particularly Asian American. If you use somebody elses categories that are normative to them, then you start distorting your experience. You start distorting your experience so that it fits more of their understanding, and thats basically where stereotypes come from. When we internalize [those stereotypes] for Asian Americans, we describe ourselves the way other people would describe usin a very crude way. And thats whats taking place devoid of [an understanding of Asian American culture and theology]. We typically say, Oh, its because of our Asian shame, but some things are not cultural; theyre actually racial. Weve experienced racism, and weve turned this way as a result of it. How does that intersect with the faith of Asian American Christians? So much of evangelical Christianity has been colorblind. In my book, I talk about the fact that it started out with this kind of supersessionist theology where we forgot the fact that Jesus is Jewish; we forgot that Jesus Jewishness has soteriological significance. And Jesus wasnt just fully human, fully divinehe was actually Jewish, and that covenantal relationship actually mattered to God. Thats why the Bible has all these genealogies, right? Now, we think that no matter who you are, you are in Christ, but no. Youre in a Jewish Christ. So it means that I cant just come to God in my generic humanity, because thats not how the Bible talks about what it means to be human. Sometimes Asian American identity can be fraught; it can be painful, because society makes it very painful, or even our common community can make it very painful. So we say, Oh, you know what, I dont want to deal with this painful identity. I am a child of God. Its a shortcut. Its a simple answer. Its a Band-Aid. Is it true? Yes, it is true. But its not like theres a self that can be extracted out of or separated from my body and my culture and who I am. Who would that be, right? Article continues below The one that God loves is all of mewith the Asian American, Korean American male aspects of who I am. I am in Christ, because Im in a Jewish Christ, not just some generic human Christ. If we have a generic human Christ, maybe I can be generically human, but thats not what the Bible says. So I am in Christ as all of who I am, not in spite of who I am. What does it mean to embody ourselves as Asian American Christians more holistically? I always clarify that I dont actually think that our goal is to become more Asian American. I dont know what that meanslike should we eat more Asian food or learn our language or only marry another Asian? What it actually means is that I allow Gods presence and Gods shalom to fully impact that aspect of my life. But to do that, we have to own that part of ourselves. The fact that were Asian Americans isnt all of who we are. I mean, we have other identities, right? Im a theologian. Im a son. I have my personality. I have my family identities. Im an Angeleno. All those things matter, but being Asian American intersects with everything else, and its a significant part of who I am, just like other identities that I have. And all these identities need to be reconciled because I want Jesus to be Lord over all these identities. Otherwise, they will have a life of their own apart from Christs lordship. What that looks like its hard to say. Theres no template for what being an Asian American Christian looks like. Asian Americans are such a broad pantheon of cultural groups from different backgrounds that the application of being more embodied may vary quite a lot. A lot of people will talk about the fact that the Asian American category is inadequate, but the white category is inadequate. The Black category isnt adequate. Every racial category is inadequate, but its part of how the US decided to organize society. You cant just get rid of it, because its baked into our society. Now, we have to hold [these categories] lightly; we have to make sure we dont use them toxically. But there is a way in which these categories have some function, and it doesnt mean that every use of them is toxic. The Asian American categorysame thing. Sometimes Ill walk into a room, and it doesnt matter that Im Korean American. Everybodys stereotypes about a general East Asian Americanlooking man will be projected on me whether I like it or not. I still have to navigate that. Whatever happens in China might impact me. Im not Chinese. It doesnt matter. Its part of how implicit bias works. Thats just navigating the world, and thats not going to just go away because I want it to. Article continues below So, I always tell people, Yeah, Im Korean American, but Im also Asian American. And I have to make sense of that. I have to actually own that to some degree. This week former president Donald J. Trump was arrested and arraigned for his alleged role in hush money payments made in 2016. And nobody was surprised. About the indictments, about the sex scandal, about the narcissism that bragged of a perp walk to the court to face the judge. This is the political system in which we find ourselves. On this weeks episode of The Bulletin, host and editor in chief Russell Moore talks with CTs chief impact officer, Dr. Nicole Martin, and Daily Beast columnist Matt Lewis about the death of shame, the rise in cultural decadence, and the numbness that has infected us as we head to the polls. Reflecting on the ill effects of pornography and the diminished dignity of women, Moore, Martin, and Lewis, discuss Trumps indictment, the Wisconsin supreme court election results, and the ambitions of a pro-life movement where Donald Trump is its partys avatar. If the world feels dark and vulgarian lately, perhaps its because were still longing for salvation -- a longing that we bring with us into this Holy Week. Russell Moore ends the episode with special guest pastor David Platt on how to get ready for the Easter in world that feels desperately in need of gospel hope. Joining us this week: Dr. Nicole Martin serves Christianity Today as chief impact officer after serving on its board of directors. Nicole oversees three major strategic initiatives that are shaping the future of CT including The Global Initiative, the Big Tent Initiative, and the Next Gen Initiative. Dr. Martin worked as a business analyst for Deloitte before receiving her master of divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, where she was the recipient of the David Hugh Jones Award in Music and the John Alan Swink Award in Preaching. Matt K. Lewis is a center-right critic of American politics and pop culture. He is a senior columnist for The Daily Beast, and his work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, GQ, The Washington Post, The Week, Roll Call, Politico, The Telegraph, The Independent, and The Guardian. He previously served as senior contributor for The Daily Caller, and before that, as a columnist for AOLs Politics Daily. Lewis dissects the days issues in conversation with other thinkers, authors, and newsmakers on his podcast Matt Lewis and the News, and co-hosts The DMZ Show with liberal pundit Bill Scher. Lewis is author of the forthcoming book Filthy Rich Politicians. David Platt serves as lead pastor of McClean Bible Church in metro Washington, D.C. He received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Dont Hold Back, Radical, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, Before You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series. Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Resources Referenced: Trump Has Made Politician Sex Scandals Passe by Matt Lewis Have Evangelicals Who Support Trump Lost Their Values? by Russell Moore Dan Kellys concession speech The Bulletin is a production of Christianity Today Executive Producer: Erik Petrik Hosts: Mike Cosper and Russell Moore Producer: Matt Stevens Associate Producer: Azurae Phelps Editing and Mix: TJ Hester Music: Dan Phelps Graphic Design: Bryan Todd Additional Design: Amy Jones Social Media: Kate Lucky Its been three years since Easter set records for church streaming, with churches canceling in-person worship during the early weeks of COVID-19. Though church doors have long reopened for services in the United States, the pandemic has had a lasting effect on attendance. A multisite church based in Riverside, California, Sandals Church had about 80,000 people watch its services over the 2020 holiday weekend, up from around 3,0004,000 before. Like churches across the country, Sandals saw online attendance numbers drop and level out once it resumed gathering, but it was still drawing in three to four times as many online participants as before. The congregation has since launched a dedicated online campusSandals Church Anywheredesigned to be watched in small groups in peoples homes. Sandals Church Anywhere is an opportunity for a group to meet in person, but theyre not near a Sandals Church location, said pastor Alfredo Ramos. They can watch the service together, process it together, have a meal together, and have time to facilitate through the group questions. These are groups that I get to directly oversee and offer pastoral care to. Staff at Sandals are looking into the microchurch model for the 12,00013,000 people in their online community and have adapted the service itself. Instead of the typical structure of a few worship songs before the sermon and a few after, the online Sandals service has a shorter intro and clear call to giving before quickly getting into the sermon. The digital service then concludes with only one or two songs. Weve just tried to figure out how do we give an honest service that actually makes sense to that particular environment or platform, Ramos said. While online church participation isnt as high as during lockdowns, 22 percent of Christians said they watch online services more often than before the pandemic, according to a Pew Research Center report released last month. Pew found that the overall percentage of Americans going to church regularly has dropped slightly. But the demographics most likely to attend church before the pandemic saw more dramatic declines, with white evangelicals down 5 percent between 2019 and 2022 and Black Protestants down 15 percent. There arent as many people showing up on Sunday mornings at Woodland Park Community Church, according to Pastor Kirk Greenstreet. Before the pandemic, the Woodland Park, Colorado, congregation usually drew 550600 people between its two services on a Sunday. Three years later, average attendance is around 500550. At the start of the pandemic, the church had already been moving toward offering a livestream service, and once shutdowns began, the staff was able to quickly get the technology in place so they could offer their Easter 2020 service online. Though Woodland Park reopened in June 2020, its kept the livestream for about 100150 people each week. The hybrid model has become a new normal for churches. Pushpays State of the Church Tech report, released in January, found that 89 percent of churches surveyed offered services through a hybrid model. But adding a streaming component or digital campus also brings news challenges, even without the complications of shutdowns and social distancing. Whether they added online options for the first time over the past few years or saw a boost in engagement due to the pandemic, churches must consider technology costs, staffing hours, and ministry philosophy for those they serve through screens. They have to think about what they are aiming to do through their presence online. How many people sat in our building on Sunday? How many people consumed our product online? It's easy to judge the spiritual success of our church by having the usher stand in the back and count heads, wrote Jeff Reed of theChurch.Digital, whose experience in Internet ministry dates back to an online Bible study in 2000. Nickels and noses is a great way to measure success of a corporation. But Matthew's 28's Great Commission holds us to a different standard, one that takes more time and is proven far more effective. Reed has spent the past three years helping churches implement new strategies and technology for digital ministry: how to make sense of analytics and numbers, what to do combat burnout while always connected, ways to rethink small groups, and strategies reach kids and teens. One common issue is how to lead online participants to spiritual transformation and discipleship. Digital is a consumeristic mindset, said Reed. The standard [for churches] is online to offline. The gospel we hear in our online world has to influence our offline relationships. Otherwise, all were doing is creating consumers. Both Greenstreet and Ramos have seen this firsthand. While many new members who have come to his church since the pandemic first connected by watching services online, Greenstreet said that fewer congregants are joining small groups and serving. He believes that digital church has contributed to these trends. It's just so easy to be at home, stay in your pajamas, sip your coffee, watch the livestream and feel like you did church but not ever be connected with other believers, encouraging one another and loving one another, Greenstreet said. It's been one of the biggest dangers of the online [services] that Ive seen. For Ramos, who is shepherding a congregation where most of the members never set foot on a physical campus, these challenges are perhaps even more pronounced. The challenging thing continues to go back to how we effectively measure discipleship amongst our viewers and help people take steps beyond just attending or consuming, he said. To this end, Ramos and the staff at Sandals Church have created a lot of short-form video content around different spiritual practices to help viewers grow in their faith. Additionally, theyve tried to get people connected in small groups and tried to ensure people have clear opportunities to give to the church and hear stories about how God is working in the church. With all of these strategies, the hope is those attending the church virtually wont just consume content but actually participate in the church, and that the new models will lead to more opportunities to evangelize and make disciples. Theres a whole mission field in digital. Missions for the next 10 years can be found in virtual reality, said Reed, whose site and podcast discusses church involvement in the metaverse and streaming platforms like Twitch. Its unbelievable, the opportunities that we have to engage in dialogue with people in this space. Both Reed and Ramos brought up the decline in institutional trust, especially in recent years. Many who have spiritual questions are no longer turning to churches or pastors for answers but instead look to the internet. With this in mind, Ramos also believes the digital space offers an important platform for evangelism. The digital space then becomes a really natural place for people to go to as sources of authority, so why not get ourselves in those places and be curious, honest, and helpful in the way that we offer content to try to reach people who may never step foot in your church but happen to scroll across something that moves them, he said. Churches are still navigating how to best engage in the digital space, remaining faithful to both the standards the Bible sets for a church and the commands it gives to reach the lost. Yet, the pandemic made it abundantly clear that ignoring the digital components of church attendance and discipleship is no longer an option. In the years to come, the church needs both. We need the digital, and we need the physical, Reed said. We need both of these for the Great Commission. [ This article is also available in ] 'Un-woke' school board candidates win more than 2 dozen seats in Illinois, Wisconsin An advocacy group supporting school board candidates opposed to teaching critical race theory and other progressive ideologies in public schools saw over two dozen of its endorsed candidates win their elections Tuesday. The 1776 Project PAC reported on Twitter Wednesday that about 30 of its endorsed candidates emerged victorious in school board races in Wisconsin and Illinois the day before, earning a 46% success rate. The political action committee is dedicated to electing school board members nationwide that seek to abolish critical race theory and The 1619 Project curriculum from public schools. "Our PAC's endorsed candidates won 24 school board elections in Wisconsin. That's 24 new school board members that will defend parents rights and remove left-wing ideologies from the classroom," the group tweeted. "Our endorsed candidates also won 6 races in Illinois last night. Change is happening one county at a time." The results are in: Our PACs endorsed candidates won 24 school board elections in Wisconsin. Thats 24 new school board members that will defend parents rights and remove left-wing ideologies from the classroom. pic.twitter.com/gT9z9lvwtP 1776 Project PAC (@1776ProjectPac) April 5, 2023 Specifically, 24 of the 50 candidates the group endorsed in school board races in Wisconsin won, while six of the 15 candidates it supported in Illinois won their seats. This amounts to a success rate of over 46% on an evening when progressive candidates' victories in a Wisconsin Supreme Court race and the Chicago mayoral election dominated headlines. Three days until Election Day in Wisconsin and Illinois. Parents have a chance to vote in new school boards that will support parents rights and remove left-wing ideologies from the classroom. Get out an vote on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/otKurRKTKH 1776 Project PAC (@1776ProjectPac) April 1, 2023 In Wisconsin, the 1776 Project PAC saw its endorsed candidates win seats in the Phillips School District, the Waterford School District and the Elkhorn School District. One of the three candidates the group supported in the Hartford Union School District won, as did one of the two candidates it favored in the Kettle Moraine School District. Also victorious was one of its two endorsees in the Elmbrook School District, both of its preferred candidates running in the Germantown School District and all three endorsed candidates in the Mukwonago Area School District. Two of the group's three endorsed candidates won races in the Waukesha School District, while one of its two preferred candidates secured a spot on the Muskego Norway School Board. The PAC had a 50% success rate in the Pulaski and West DePere School Districts and went two for two in the La Crosse School District. The group also saw its favored candidates emerge victorious in elections in the Hamilton School District, the Oshkosh School District, the DePere School District, the Whitnall School District and the Oconto Falls School District. One additional candidate not included on the list of endorsements published on Twitter Saturday, Noah Strohm of the Burlington School District, won. The group's endorsed candidates suffered defeats in the Sheboygan Area School District, the Milwaukee-area West Bend School District, the Milwaukee-area Mequon-Thiensville School District, the Milwaukee-area North Lake School District, the Milwaukee-area Cedarburg School District, the Eau Claire School District, the River Falls School District, the Kenosha Unified School District, the Kiel Area School District, the Prentice School District and the Oconto Falls Schools District. In Illinois, the 1776 Project PAC endorsed three candidates running for school board seats in the Chicago-area Minooka School District, and two of them won. One of the two candidates the group endorsed in the Chicago-area Roselle D12 secured a place on the school board as did both of the candidates it supported in the Chicago-area Yorkville School District. Although not included on a list of endorsed candidates posted on the group's Twitter account Saturday, the 1776 Project PAC listed Melissa Hendrix, a school board candidate in the Marshall Community Unit School District, as one of the six winners from Illinois. 1776 Project PAC-endorsed candidates running for school board seats in the Barrington School District and the Oswego Community Unit School District 308, located in the Chicago area, came up short. Initially established in response to the parental complaints that elements of critical race theory were included in public school instruction in many school districts, the 1776 Project PAC's Twitter account now describes itself as committed to electing "un-woke school board members." Encyclopedia Brittanica defines critical race theory as "an intellectual and social movement and loosely organized framework of legal analysis based on the premise that race is not a natural, biologically grounded feature of physically distinct subgroups of human beings but a socially constructed (culturally invented) category that is used to oppress and exploit people of color." The push to reform school boards came as many parents and community members descended on school board meetings across the nation to raise concerns about the inclusion of sexually explicit material in public school curricula and school libraries. The inclusion of graphic material in public schools enabled 15 of 16 Texas school board candidates endorsed by the 1776 Project PAC to win their races outright in primary elections last May. 1776 Project PAC-endorsed candidates flipped school boards in several of Florida's most populous counties from majority-liberal to majority-conservative in elections last summer. The group had a mixed success rate in last year's general election, although its candidates won over 100 races nationwide. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoes bill requiring abortionists to save babies born alive in botched abortions Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has vetoed a bill that would require abortionists to try and save the lives of babies who survive an abortion, arguing that it interfered with reproductive rights. Hobbs vetoed Senate Bill 1600 on Thursday, claiming in an official letter sent to Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen claiming that the legislation was uniformly opposed by the medical community and it interferes with the relationship between a patient and a doctor. Its simply not the states role to make such difficult medical decisions for patients. As a candidate I promised to veto any bill that interferes with the reproductive rights of Arizonans, Hobbs added. Cathi Herrod, president of the Center for Arizona Policy Action, a pro-life group, denounced Hobbs' veto, saying in a statement that the governor just gave the okay to infanticide. Newborns with life-threatening conditions are sometimes put on a slow code, meaning they dont get the medically appropriate treatment babies without the condition get. Death by neglect is not healthcare, Herrod said. SB 1600 would have ensured those newborns got the chance to beat the odds and live. It is what every human deserves and what every parent expects from healthcare providers entrusted with the lives of new babies. Introduced in February, SB 1600 passed the Arizona Senate by a vote of 16-13 with one abstention and then the Arizona House by a vote of 32-26, with two abstentions. The bill stated that a baby born during the course of an abortion will be treated as a legal person under the laws of this state and shall have the same rights to medically appropriate and reasonable care and treatment. Any health professional who is present at the time an infant is born alive shall take all medically appropriate and reasonable actions to preserve the life and health of the infant who is born alive, continued SB 1600. A health professional may not deprive any infant who is born alive, whether or not the infant is likely to survive, of medically appropriate and reasonable medical care or treatment. The legislation exempted medical professionals from providing life-saving care if it would only temporarily prolong the act of dying when death is imminent. The law would have also allowed the infants parents or guardian to refuse to give consent to medical treatment or surgical care that is not medically necessary or reasonable. Arizona law currently prohibits most abortions after 15 weeks into a pregnancy. Christian charity builds new home for family in just 11 days and they are moved to tears A Kentucky family that lost their home in a flood last year were moved to tears Thursday when they were gifted a new house built by more than 150 volunteers from seven different states in just 11 days, thanks to the efforts of a Christian charity. In what time that theyve been here that they could do something this beautiful its remarkable, Jamie Smith, the matriarch of the family in Letcher County that lost their home last July, told WYMT after she saw her new home. The volunteers and funding for the new Smith family home came thanks to the efforts of the nonprofit crisis response organization Gods Pit Crew, which aims to become one of the most effective disaster relief organizations in America so that we can continue responding as God leads to hurting people in times of crisis whether it be across the street or around the world, according to their website. "We just felt compelled to try to do something to help them get their lives back together. So after all of our interview processes, we chose them and we're thankful we were able to raise the funds," Randy Johnson, who founded Gods Pit Crew with his wife, Terri, in 1999 told WCHS. According to their website, Gods Pit Crew is now also responding to the disaster in Winona, Mississippi, after 26 people died in a tornado that also caused widespread damage. They are also responding to crises in Little Rock, Arkansas, and Adamsville, Tennessee, where residents have suffered tornado damage. Weve built a lot of houses over the years and theyre all special, but I cant tell you how many volunteers and people have said theres something different about this one. And we dont know what it is but its special, and I say its because of you all, Randy Johnson told the Smith family shortly before they were given the keys to their new home. Its more than we could have ever dreamed of, and we are forever grateful to Gods Pit Crew because from the beginning to the end of this process they have been absolutely wonderful, Smith said of her new home. She said her husband makes instruments and they were able to save some of them from the flood and she was moved by how the builders were able to include what they saved in the design of their new home. He makes instruments, and these instruments he had made we saved them from our house. They didnt get in the water, and we were able to save them, so that meant a whole lot. Just the little touches that theyve put on the house. I mean you know they just think of everything, she said. When youve lost everything, you wonder where to go from here. I could have never dreamed we would be here today, she added. God is good. God is amazing and we are so blessed. Filipinos resume Good Friday crucifixion reenactments after COVID-19 pause Despite warnings from health officials and objections from the Catholic church, Filipinos were nailed to crosses this Good Friday as the nation continued its controversial tradition of reenacting the crucifixion of Christ. In San Fernando, Pampanga, Wilfredo Salvador had his hands and feet nailed to a cross on Friday. The Philippine News Agency reports that the 66-year-old fisherman went through the act to thank Christ for helping him overcome a mental breakdown 15 years ago. According to The Associated Press, about eight men participated as crucifixions resumed in the farming village of San Pedro Cutud in Pampanga, north of Manila, for the first time in three years. Among those who participated in the brief display was 62-year-old sign painter Ruben Enaje. "To be honest, I always feel nervous because I could end up dead on the cross," he told AP before the event. "When I'm laid down on the cross, my body begins to feel cold. ... When my hands are tied, I just close my eyes and tell myself, 'I can do this. I can do this.'" The health department of Asia's largest Catholic nation urged worshipers to avoid the traditions of crucifixion and self-flagellation as part of the country's observance of Holy Week due to the risk of tetanus and other infections. "First of all, you could get tetanus when you are crucified," Department of Health Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said at a press conference on Tuesday, according to The Daily Tribune. "You may also get tetanus from flagellation due to the (dirt) at the end of some whips used for the beating." Filipinos were cautioned against the national tradition of kissing religious statues, which officials said could also spread other diseases. One of the country's longstanding practices, known as pahalik, involves kissing a statue of the dead body of Christ. "We don't have any restrictions regarding the kissing of religious statues," said Vergeire. "As I've said, we can do the things that we usually do. However, each of us should know how to take care of ourselves." This year's ceremonies marked a return to tradition following a three-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the decades-old Lenten ceremony, participants reenact Christ's crucifixion as villagers in the city of San Fernando in the Philippines' province of Pampanga dressed as Roman centurions hammer steel nails about four inches long through their palms before lifting them up on the crosses before the crowd. A Christian devotee named Wilfredo Salvador has been nailed to a cross and a Crown of Thorns placed on his head during the re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday in Pampanga province in the Philippines on April 7, 2023. #eyeradioupdates#SSOT. | ???? AFP. pic.twitter.com/p0HUfhnVxA Eye Radio (@EyeRadioJuba) April 7, 2023 Other participants engage in self-flagellation and crawling on rough pavement. Some in the past have cut open the backs of other participants to "ensure the ritual was sufficiently bloody," according to AP. The tradition began in earnest in 1962 with the actual crucifixion of a San Fernando resident who officials called "a quack doctor who dreamt that he would become a religious leader and full-fledge (sic) healer." Since then, some participants have been crucified dozens of times, many taking a vow of sacrifice known as panata. Despite the longtime practice, the Roman Catholic church has been a vocal opponent of crucifixion, even as an act of worship. Church leaders have previously called the ritual "self-serving" and corrupting Christ's message of suffering for others. "Penance does not mean you hurt yourself, because your body is a temple that houses the spirit," Archbishop Emeritus Aniceto Paciano of San Fernando told Reuters at the time. Following a 2013 reenactment, Auxiliary Bishop Pablo Virgilio David said that the church is unable to stop the practice. "I do not think it is right to close our doors to them just because they are more attracted to these folk practices than to our Roman liturgy, which they may find too foreign or cerebral," he told Reuters. Bishop Joel Baylon of Legazpi, chairman of the bishops' commission on youth, believes there are "other forms of sacrifice and suffering that would lead to real conversion." "The Lord appreciates all these forms of sacrifices, but sometimes the kind of sacrifice that we impose on ourselves is not what the Lord wants us to do," Baylon said. Mother sues school district that gave daughter a breast binder A mother has filed a lawsuit against a Maine school district, claiming that a social worker gave her 13-year-old daughter a breast binder and was allowed to secretly identify as the opposite sex without parental knowledge or consent. The Goldwater Institute, a conservative and libertarian public policy think-tank and nonprofit organization, filed the lawsuit Tuesday on behalf of the mother, Amber Lavigne, in the United States District Court for the District of Maine. The Great Salt Bay Community School Board and Superintendent Lynsey Johnston, among other school employees, are listed as defendants in the lawsuit. The suit contends that the defendants violated Lavignes constitutionally protected rights as a parent. According to the suit, Lavignes daughter, referred to as A.B., began attending Great Salt Bay Community School in September 2019. In December 2022, while assisting her daughter with cleaning her room, the plaintiff discovered a chest binder among her daughters belongings. Breast binders are often used by girls who identify as male to flatten their breasts. The potential side effects of wearing a binder include breathing difficulties, breast tissue damage, and cracked ribs. When she asked A.B. where the binder had come from, the plaintiffs daughter said she had received it from Samuel Roy, a social worker at the school. The school had not informed Lavigne that her daughter had been provided with a chest binder, according to the suit. Plaintiff is informed and believes, and on that basis alleges, that Defendant Roy gave A.B. the chest binder in his office and told A.B. that he was not going to tell A.B.s parents about the chest binder, and A.B. need not do so either, the suit reads. In addition to the chest binder, the plaintiff discovered that the school had been referring to A.B. by a different name instead of the one on her birth certificate and using pronouns not associated with A.B.s biological sex. Plaintiff is informed and believes, and on that basis alleges, that Defendants withheld and concealed this information from her pursuant to a blanket policy, pattern, and practice of withholding and concealing information respecting gender-affirming treatment of minor children from their parents, the suit alleges. The mother met with the school superintendent and principal, who are both named in the suit, on Dec. 5, 2022. While both school officials appeared to express sympathy for Lavigne, the lawsuit states that during a separate meeting two days late, Superintendent Johnston claimed that the school had not violated any policy. Following Lavignes decision to withdraw her daughter from school and begin homeschooling her, the plaintiff received a visit from the Maine Office of Child and Family Services on Dec. 12, 2022. The agents claimed they had received a tip that Lavigne was emotionally abusive toward A.B. With no evidence to support the claim, however, the investigation was ended the following month. During a Great Salt Bay School Board Meeting on Dec. 14, 2022, Lavigne spoke publicly about what had transpired between her and the school. She stated that the school had violated her trust by concealing vitally important information from her respecting her [daughter's] psychosexual development and said the decisions made [by the school] drove a wedge between a child and her parents. The Great Salt Bay Community School did not respond to The Christian Posts request for comment. As CP previously reported, School Superintendent Lynsey Johnson appeared to address the mothers allegations and defended the school's actions in a December statement that has since been removed from the schools webpage. The superintendent said the school boards first priority is always to provide a safe, welcoming and inclusive educational environment for all students and staff. Johnson explained that the administration follows specific policies and procedures after receiving concerns from parents and students. The superintendent asserted that these policies align with state law, which ensures equal access to education and students privacy rights, regardless of age or gender identity. Pastor, wife indicted in alleged sexual assault, child abuse of 'God daughters' A Las Vegas pastor and his wife have been indicted on multiple charges of sexual assault, child abuse and other crimes they allegedly committed with multiple underage victims under their leadership 10 years ago. Pastor Bobby Cornealius Smith and his wife, Lashawn Nicole Smith, of New Beginnings Ministries Church of God in Christ in Las Vegas, Nevada, were both formally charged after one of their alleged victims reported them to police in August 2022, according to 8 News Now. Bobby Smith was charged with one felony count of attempted sexual assault, nine counts of sexual assault, and one count of child abuse, neglect or endangerment, while Lashawn Smith was charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of child abuse, neglect or endangerment. No one responded to calls made by The Christian Post to New Beginnings Ministries Church of God in Christ on Friday, but a message on the churchs answering service stated that we are under the leadership of Pastor Bobby Smith. The couple are also still listed as leaders of the congregation on the churchs website. We have a no-judgment policy! Come in as you are, but refuse to stay the same, and allow God to complete His perfect work in you, a message above the couples photo on the website declares. When the couple were first arrested last August, according to a KTNV report, two of their alleged victims, who are now all adult women, told police that Bobby Smith gave them a sex toy and told them to go to the bathroom and use it. He later allegedly used the toy on his then-underage victims and told one girl that "God had told him if (she) did not participate, it would ruin her life." Bobby Smith allegedly use four different sex toys with one victim who told police it definitely happened over 30 times." Another woman, who said she was known as one of the pastors "God daughters," told police she was abused while she was staying with the pastors family as a teen. He allegedly used a sex toy on her periodically for months." When she turned 18, she said Pastor Smith invited her to an apartment and "convinced her" to have sex with "an unknown older guy" and someone else whose name was redacted in police records. A third woman said she was just 17 when she joined Pastor Smiths church and revealed she was having marital problems. She obeyed him when he told her she "needed to leave her husband." And she quickly became one of his God daughters. She eventually joined other God daughters in spending more time at the pastors family home, including sleepovers. One night, according to the woman, Pastor Smith called her to his room and coerced her to perform a sex act on him. When she became "terrified Bobby was going to rape or hurt her," she told police she pushed him away and alerted the other God daughters. She said she pushed him away and ran downstairs to tell one of the other girls what happened. The name of the church Bobby Smith was pastoring at the time of the alleged incidents, which reportedly occurred on or between 2012 and 2014, was unclear because it was redacted from police reports. The three women claimed they reported the pastor to multiple people, including his mother and many other church leaders. Smith stepped down from the church in 2014. In an interview with police last year, Smith's wife alleged that one of the victims had "lied when she was younger about Bobby using a sex toy on her." She explained that she believed her husband when he denied the allegations and admitted that one of the girls was given a sex toy "to keep her from having sex with boys." She also admitted to participating in a threesome with one of the girls at an apartment. Virginia university accused of failing to protect free speech after violent mob disrupts pro-life event A Virginia-based university is accused of failing to protect the constitutionally protected rights of students and speakers after a pro-choice mob violently disrupted a pro-life event. The Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian conservative legal group, sent a letter on Wednesday to Virginia Commonwealth University's president and administrators on behalf of Students for Life of America and the pro-life campus group Students for Life VCU. According to the letter, SFL-VCU scheduled an event on March 29 called "Lies Pro-Choice People Believe" featuring SFLA President Kristan Hawkins and conservative speaker Isabel Brown. Before the event had begun, a crowd of protestors, some identifying themselves as members of the violent, far-left extremist group ANTIFA blocked the doors to the venue. Once people were allowed to enter, the crowd chanted things like Fascists go home, Nazis go home and f--- pro-lifers to drown out the speakers. Campus police were called multiple times, but the letter states that it took more than 27 minutes for them to respond and, by then, "the protesters had turned violent" with the hostile group "continuing angry chants, destroying audio-visual equipment, and even shoving and assaulting numerous SFL-VCU members, including the groups student leader and a staff member filming the event. EMTs were called to the scene, as multiple students sustained physical injuries." The letter claims that when campus police arrived, they did not protect students who were being assaulted and did not attempt to arrest the protestors. City of Richmond police eventually arrived on the scene by moving SFL-VU members to a separate, locked room for nearly two hours, which the letter said allowed the activists to leave or continue to disrupt as they saw fit. For his part, VCU President Michael Rao released a statement last Saturday denouncing the protesters' actions, noting that the two individuals who were arrested for disrupting the event were not connected to the university. "The overwhelming majority of events at VCU take place without incident, and we are very disappointed that a student organization's meeting was disrupted. Speakers or groups who are invited guests on our campus deserve the right to complete their remarks in a respectful and civil environment," Rao added. "VCU is committed to promoting a safe environment for our students, faculty, staff and visitors so that the rights of everyone to gather and speak freely in a civil manner are protected." The ADF letter argued that Rao's statement did not reflect VCUs actions on the night of the event, noting that the university did not attempt to stop the violent disruptions. Rather than protect the right of free speech, VCU facilitated the disruption and then ratified and condoned it by detaining the hosts rather than the disruptors and by breaking up the event entirely, the letter stated. The ADF is calling on VCU to invite the speakers back to campus before the end of the semester, cover the damages sustained to property and students, provide adequate security and release a written statement affirming the universitys commitment to free speech. The Christian Post reached out to Virginia Commonwealth University and President Michael Rao for this story, with the university responding on Friday with a brief statement: "At VCU, speakers who are invited guests on our campus deserve the right to complete their remarks in a respectful, civil environment. The overwhelming majority of events on campus take place without incident. There are no additional updates to share about the March 29 event at this time," they stated. Virginia Commonwealth University allowed a Hecklers Veto to disrupt a peaceful pro-life presentation conversation planned by students at the school, stated Hawkins in an ADF press release on Thursday. Threats and violence ended the event, which is an injustice the school can begin to correct by inviting me back and properly protecting myself and the students who will gather, as we must ensure that students are safe on campuses. In an uncensored March 30 video posted on SFLAs YouTube channel, protestors can be seen shouting and holdings signs that read, Pro-forced birth is anti-life and bans off our bodies. Hawkins is also heard asking security why theyre not attempting to stop the disruption, with security later intervening after the crowd started assaulting an audience member. Near the end of the video, Brown shared how she and Hawkins had to be removed from the room. Jesus Christs resurrection: The best documented event of ancient history While Christmas the birth date of the Messiah, Jesus Christ marks the watershed of splitting calendar history into two epochs, B.C. and A.D., Easter marks the day and commemorates actual events, however miraculous, that followed the crucifixion and death of Christ that transformed the world forever. But how and why would that torturous event and extreme sorrow associated with the death of the Messiah affect eternity in a positive way? Why should Easter be a joyful time? The answer is neither elusive nor complicated. There are many religions of the world going back thousands of years. But only one of them, Christianity, has a founder who professed to be the Messiah the son of God who provided irrefutable proof of who He was by conquering death through resurrection. Easter is the celebration of Christs resurrection. Christ is absolutely unique in being the only person in history who was pre-announced starting a thousand years before He was born, with over 100 prophetic accounts from 18 different prophets from the Old Testament between the 10th and the fourth centuries BC predicting the specifics of His coming birth, life and death. Hundreds of years later, the details of Christs birth, life, betrayal, and death validated those prophecies in surprisingly accurate and minute detail. One thousand years BC, David prophetically wrote about the crucifixion of Christ at a time crucifixion was unknown as a means of execution. Every other consequential person of history came into the world to live. The death of other religious leaders such as Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Mohammad, and Confucius brought an anticlimactic end to their lives and their work. But Christ came into the world as Gods son in order to die and pay the price for mans sin. His sacrifice was the ultimate climax of his life, done for the benefit of all mankind opening the way to eternal life in Heaven for all who believe. Of the five major world religions built on personalities, only Christianity claims its founder is still alive, having overcome death through resurrection. No Jew ever believed that, after Abraham died and was interred, his tomb never became empty. After Buddha died, no disciple claimed that he or she saw or spoke to him again. As for Mohammed, the founder of Islam, there is no trace of his appearing to his disciples or followers after he died. His occupied tomb is located in Medina and is visited by tens of thousands of devout Muslims every year. Christ was unique in giving up his life as a sacrifice to fulfill why he came into the world. Christ showed the highest standard of love possible, through compassion for outcasts and healing the afflicted, by his teachings, and ultimately in making the ultimate sacrificegiving his life to rescue and save mankind. Then, to provide seeing is believing evidence, God brought Jesus back from being dead in a tomb to being alive resurrected so people would have living proof of who He was. The New Testament provides accounts from multiple sources who witnessed Jesus firsthand after the resurrection. In fact, Jesus made at least 10 separate appearances to his disciples between the resurrection and his ascension into Heaven, over a period of 40 days. Some of those appearances were to individual disciples, some were to several disciples, and once to some 500 at one time. Particularly noteworthy is that there were no accounts of witnesses who came forth and disputed these appearances or called it a hoax. Not a single one. Nor do we find any historical record of any witness accounts that were contradictory. While there are skeptics of the biblical Jesus, theres actually far more reliable historical evidence for His life, teachings, miracles, death, and resurrection than for any other historical figure of ancient times. Consider, for instance, that the authenticity of Alexander the Great, who was born some 350 years before Christ, is based on two original biographical accounts of his life by Arrian and Plutarch, which were written some 400 years after Alexander died. The manuscripts of Virgil and Horace, both of whom lived within a generation of Christ, were written more than four centuries after their deaths. The copy of works by Livy and Tacitus on Roman history and the works of Pliny Secundus on natural history were written more than 500 years after the time of the original account. Yet no one doubts Virgil and Horace lived and authored great poetic masterpieces. Nor do we hear questions about the authenticity and accuracy of accounts of Livy and Tacitus in chronicling the events of the Roman Emperors Augustus, Claudius, Nero, or Tiberius. We know the historical Jesus through four different accounts known as the Gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John not written hundreds of years later, but within a generation or two of Jesuss life. Apostles Matthew and John provide eyewitness accounts from their years of walking with Jesus as disciples. Mark also had eyewitness experience, although he was only a teenager when Jesus began his public ministry. Luke, the doctor, learned about Jesus from his friend Paul, the apostle who wrote the most letters in the New Testament. About 1,000 times more manuscripts preserve the deeds and teaching of Jesus in the New Testament (about 25,000 total) than there are preserving other classical ancient works of historic figures who lived at approximately the same time, with the exception of Homer, whose Iliad is backed by 1,800 manuscripts. But that is still less than one-tenth the number of ancient manuscripts that back the authenticity of the New Testament. Because of their experience with the resurrected Jesus, the apostles were in a unique position, knowing with certainty that Jesus was truly the Son of God. They had been present for the life, ministry, miracles, and death of Jesus. If the claims about Jesus were a lie, the apostles would have known it. Thats why their commitment to their testimony was so powerful and compelling. Additionally, the apostles willingness to die for their claims has tremendous evidential value, also confirming the truth of the resurrection. No one will die for something he invented or believes to be false. Seeing, talking to, and touching the risen Jesus transformed the apostles, who then committed the rest of their lives to educate and advocate for the truth about the message of salvation through Christ. Eleven of the 12 apostles including Matthias who replaced Judas, the betrayer of Jesus died as martyrs for their beliefs in the divinity of Christ. The 12th, John, was exiled to Patmos Island, where he recorded the book of Revelation. It turns out that Easter, which has its ultimate meaning in the resurrection, is one of ancient historys most carefully scrutinized and best-attested events. The resurrection is real and changes everything. Easter is the commemoration and celebration of the single event that transformed the world forever. University of Alabama agrees to drop 'speech zones' after student group files lawsuit An Alabama college has agreed to abandon policies deemed by critics as efforts to suppress free speech in response to a lawsuit from a student group. In a statement published Monday, Alliance Defending Freedom, a legal nonprofit specializing in religious freedom cases, announced that the University of Alabama in Hunstville will eliminate speech zones and a requirement that students obtain a permit three days in advance before they have the opportunity to speak on campus. The actions by the college come in response to a lawsuit from the schools Young Americans for Liberty chapter and one of its student members contending that the policies violated the Alabama Campus Free Speech Act and the state constitution. The lawsuit, filed in July 2021 in the Alabama Circuit Court for the Madison County-based 23rd Judicial Circuit, challenged the University of Alabama in Huntsvilles revisions to its policies governing the Use of Outdoor Areas of Campus. The revised policy implemented a requirement that those seeking to hold an outdoor event on campus must submit a Grounds Use Reservation application at least three days before an event. Additionally, the policy established an exemption to the requirement to receive advanced permission to hold an outdoor event on campus for spontaneous activities of expression, defined as those generally prompted by news or affairs coming into public knowledge less than 48 hours prior to the impromptu gathering. However, it limited the places where students could engage in spontaneous activities of expression to a few defined areas. The lawsuit characterized the University of Alabama in Huntsvilles policy as a violation of the Alabama Campus Free Speech Act, which gives students the right to spontaneously and contemporaneously assemble, speak and distribute literature and declares that outdoor areas of a public institution of higher education shall be deemed to be a forum for members of the campus community, and the institution shall not create free speech zones or other designated outdoor areas of campus in order to limit or prohibit protected expressive activities. The complaint also maintained that the University of Alabama in Huntsville violated Article I, Section 4 of the Alabama Constitution, which states no law shall ever be passed to curtail or restrain the liberty of speech or of the press; and any person may speak, write, and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty. The plaintiffs asked a judge to declare the prior approval requirement, spontaneous expression exception, speech zones, and associated policies and practices unconstitutional and prevent the school from enforcing them. The latest version of the policy, released along with the settlement Monday, has removed all references to spontaneous expression and a defined area. The plaintiffs and the attorneys representing them have rejoiced in the development. College students have the freedom to share their beliefs anywhere on campus; they dont need permission from college officials to speak, nor should they have to jump through burdensome and illegal hoops just to talk with their classmates outside, said ADF Senior Counsel Tyson Langhofer. Alabama state law guarantees that all students at public universities can freely speak outdoors on campus grounds. We commend the University of Alabama in Huntsville for doing the right thing by amending its policy to respect students free speech rights. JP Kirby, the director of Student Rights at Young Americans for Liberty, cited the ruling as evidence that students must be vigilant and stick to their principles against university bureaucrats. He expressed gratitude for the plaintiffs and attorneys seeing this fight through to the end, vowing to continue to use this momentum to fight for student free speech in Alabama. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, formerly known as the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, has given the University of Alabama in Huntsville a yellow light rating, indicating that it has at least one ambiguous policy that too easily encourages administrative abuse and arbitrary application. FIRE has rated hundreds of colleges and universities based on the free speech climate, with green light schools having the best policies protecting free speech and red light schools having the most hostile environments for free speech. Two other schools that are part of the University of Alabama system, the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, also received red light ratings while Auburn University, also located in the state, received a green light rating. Christian group holds Good Friday service on Capitol grounds amid free speech legal battles After a legal battle spanning nearly two years, a Christian group held a large Good Friday service at the United States Capitol to celebrate the redemptive and healing power of the cross. The Rev. Patrick Mahoney, the leader of the Christian Defense Coalition, announced in a statement on Twitter Thursday that after fighting for two years, we will be allowed to have our Good Friday service at the U.S. Capitol. We were prohibited from having it there, we filed several lawsuits and now we are delighted to report that we will be having our prayer and worship time as we celebrate the redemptive and healing power of the cross, he explained in a video accompanying the announcement. After fighting for 2 years, we will be allowed to have our Good Friday service at the U.S. Capitol. Please join us on the lower western terrace of the Capitol on Friday, April 7, at 12:00 PM. #GoodFriday#ThankfulForTheCross#ReligiousFreedom#HolyWeekpic.twitter.com/Bipbq9vwlx Rev. Patrick Mahoney (@revmahoney) April 6, 2023 The Good Friday service took place three days after a federal judge ruled in favor of the Christian Defense Coalition in its third lawsuit against the U.S. Capitol Police Board and its individual members over the defendants refusal to allow the group to hold large gatherings on Capitol grounds. In a statement following Tuesdays decision, Mahoney proclaimed that The Christian Defense Coalition is thankful religious freedom and the First Amendment are once again being celebrated and honored on the grounds of the United States Capitol this Good Friday. Mahoney added, Our efforts to open the Capitol back up to the people, is a powerful reminder that all Americans must continually be vigilant in ensuring our rights are protected. Good Friday reminds us of Gods extraordinary love and mercy for all of humanity as Christ experienced untold suffering to bring us into a personal relationship with God, he continued. In a highly partisan and divided city and nation, the cross of Christ towers over America as a bright beacon of hope and healing. A picture posted on Mahoneys Twitter account Friday showed a 15-foot cross on its way to the U.S. Capitol, accompanied by the hashtag #CherishtheCross. Video footage from the event shows one participant singing In Christ Alone. Mahoney told CP that attendees at the service included Mark Lee Dickson, the founder of Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn movement that involves drafting and working to pass ordinances banning abortion at the local level. Ready to go for our Good Friday Service at the US Capitol! Heres the truck taking our 15ft cross to Washington, DC! #GoodFriday#HolyWeek#CherishTheCrosspic.twitter.com/YwWPaNxxEn Rev. Patrick Mahoney (@revmahoney) April 7, 2023 Ready to go for our Good Friday Service at the US Capitol! Heres the truck taking our 15ft cross to Washington, DC! #GoodFriday#HolyWeek#CherishTheCrosspic.twitter.com/YwWPaNxxEn Rev. Patrick Mahoney (@revmahoney) April 7, 2023 While the opinion filed by Chief Judge James Boasberg of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia provided good news to Mahoney by allowing his third lawsuit to move forward, it indicated that his application for a permit for his Good Friday vigil was recently granted, meaning that Tuesdays ruling was not the reason he is able to hold the event. The opinion stated: After the January 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol, Defendant U.S. Capitol Police Board imposed heightened restrictions upon entry on to the Capitol Grounds, many of which persist today. It identified such limits as crowd-size caps in certain areas to blanket prohibitions on demonstrations in others. As stated in the ruling, Mahoney, a clergyman who would like to hold large group vigils on the Capitol grounds for a range of occasions, brought this suit challenging those limitations and the Boards practices as unconstitutional. The Presbyterian minister had previously attempted to hold a vigil on the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks but was initially informed that he could not do so. Mahoney contended that the defendant engaged in selective approval of permits on certain parts of Capitol grounds, as it had previously approved three permits for events that were sponsored, organized or advocated for by a member of Congress (or their staff). This prompted him to file a lawsuit. Shortly after the lawsuit was filed, the Capitol Police Board opened up certain parts of the Capitol grounds to groups of fewer than 20. He ended up holding a Sept. 11 vigil with just his wife. Two months later, he filed an amended complaint alleging violations of his First Amendment rights to freedom of speech, freedom of association and assembly, and free exercise of religion; his Fifth Amendment right to due process; his Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment rights to equal protection, and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Mahoney filed to hold a Good Friday service on the Capitol grounds last year but was only allowed to hold one with three people. Shortly thereafter, much larger protests took place at areas where groups of larger than 20 were not allowed to congregate, with Mahoney concluding that those events could take place because they were sponsored, organized, or advocated for by a member of Congress (or their staff). Even after the larger protests took place, the Capitol Police Board denied Mahoneys requests to hold events drawing a similar crowd size. After filing a second amended complaint, the Capitol Board granted his request to hold a vigil on the 21st anniversary of the 9/11 attacks but denied him a permit to conduct a vigil ahead of the 2022 midterm elections. The most recent lawsuit, at issue in Boasbergs opinion, stems from his efforts to hold a series of vigils on Capitol grounds in 2023, including the Good Friday service. While he is able to hold the Good Friday service, he wants to hold an additional 5,000-person demonstration on the first anniversary of the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision that declared that the U.S. Constitution does not contain a right to abortion in an area where such events are currently limited to 250 people. Mahoney is seeking a ruling declaring that the restrictions on events at the U.S. Capitol are unconstitutional as well as an injunction barring the Board from enforcing any of those practices and its Regulations and directing it to permit him to conduct his proposed vigils and demonstration activity. Boasbergs decision will enable his litigation to move forward. Church leaders condemn radical Jewish attack on Armenian restaurant in Jerusalems Christian quarter Christian leaders in the Holy Land have condemned an assault on an Armenian restaurant in the Christian quarter of Jerusalem by a group of radical Israelis, warning that the radical aggression is aimed at imposing an exclusively Jewish character on the city. Thursdays attack was caught on CCTV footage and showed the group shouting and carrying Israeli flags as a shoving match ensured and chairs were thrown violently toward patrons outside the Taboon Wine Bar restaurant. One agitator was seen with an aerosol can spraying an unknown liquid at those gathered outside the restaurant. Police reportedly arrived at the scene an hour after they had been informed about the attack. While they ordered the attackers to leave the area, none were arrested. This unprovoked violence instilled fear in the shopkeepers and residents of the Christian quarter as well as visitors, the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land, which brings together the leaders of the various Catholic churches in the region, said in a statement. It is only the latest in a series of episodes of religious violence that is affecting the symbols of the Christian community and beyond. The Christian leaders said they condemn such attacks and express our concern for the escalation of violence in the Holy City. They noted that the incident took place in the street which leads to the Holy Sepulcher, the most sacred Christian place in the world, and in the Christian Quarter which hosts many monasteries and churches. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is built on the spot where Catholics and Orthodox Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. It is a priority that the political and religious authorities work according to their own responsibility to bring the civil and religious life of the city back to greater serenity, they said. Jerusalem must remain the homeland of believers of all faiths and not hostage to radical groups. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, paid a visit to the restaurant owner as well as the owners of nearby shops that were also affected, as a demonstration of support in the face of what he described as a growing threat to the Christian presence in Jerusalem. The Orthodox Jerusalem Patriarchate also strongly condemned the incident. The Old City, which is part of East Jerusalem in Israel, has sites sacred to Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Last January, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem said Israeli radical fringe groups were seeking to drive the Christian community out of the city. Our presence in Jerusalem is under threat, Theophilos III, the patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, wrote in an op-ed in The Sunday Times (U.K.) at the time. Our churches are threatened by Israeli radical fringe groups. At the hands of these Zionist extremists the Christian community in Jerusalem is suffering greatly. Our brothers and sisters are the victims of hate crimes. Our churches are regularly desecrated and vandalized. Our clergy are subject to frequent intimidation, he continued. Last June, the Office of the European Union Representative in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip warned that the heritage and traditions of the Christian community and the established religious equilibrium in the Old City of Jerusalem were at risk after Israels Supreme Court legitimized the takeover of Greek Orthodox properties by a Jewish settler group. The court ruled Jewish settler group Ateret Cohanim legally purchased the Little Petra Hotel and Imperial Hotel in the Old City of Jerusalem in 2004. The properties are located in the Jaffa Gate area, which lies on the pilgrim route to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Good Friday: What Was Jesus Charged With That Got Him Crucified? As hundreds of millions of Christians around the world remember the crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday, a group of scholars analyzed what Jesus was charged with. In an episode of "The Table Podcast" from earlier this week, professors at Dallas Theological Seminary noted that the charges against Jesus were both religious and political, namely blasphemy and treason. Darrell Bock, executive director of Cultural Engagement and senior research professor of New Testament Studies, explained on the podcast that the first charges against Jesus were religious in nature, specifically the charge of blasphemy. Bock touched upon a verse from an apocryphal ancient document known as First Enoch, which reads, "the high officials shall see how he sits on the throne of his glory and they'll be terrified, the pain will cease them and they will see the Son of Man sitting on a throne of glory." Bock explained to those listening to the podcast that while the Enoch passage was not divinely inspired, it provides a good look into how Ancient Jews viewed the Messiah. And thus, noted Bock, when in Matthew 26 a priest tears his robe in response to Jesus identifying himself as the "Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven," he does so because "he's understanding what it is that Jesus is claiming." "Now he doesn't believe it, so he tears his robes, but he understands the claim. If Jesus is not who he claims to be, then what he's uttered is blasphemy," noted Bock. "But if he is who he claims to be, then he's proclaiming that God is going to exalt him and one day, he's going to be their judge." In addition to the blasphemy charge from the Jewish leadership, the scholars on the podcast explained that a political charge was also included so that Jesus could be executed. Mark L. Bailey, senior professor of Bible Exposition, explained that the Jewish authorities had to come up with a political charge (sedition) so as to get the Romans to execute Jesus. "The Jews were not allowed to put somebody to death, even though the Herodians and the Pharisees had taken council earlier in his life [on] how they could get rid of him," explained Bailey, adding, "I think it's the combination of those two that escalates it from the Jewish leadership to the Roman authorities." "In fact, Pilate will play with the Jews a little bit, 'here's your king. King of the Jews. Now he's not big enough to trump Rome, but he's your king, isn't he?' And he's going to play with that very idea but that is the linkage." Bock added that the expedience of the trial was due to the Jewish leaders' need to quickly get rid of Jesus and contributed to what Bock described as "a buffer in what happens to Jesus." Bock described this "buffer" for the Jewish authorities as being that it was a follower of Jesus, Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him, and a Roman official, Pontius Pilate, who put him to death. "So if you came to the Jewish leadership and said 'you're responsible for Jesus' death,' they would go 'wait a minute, slow down, okay, alright? One of his own turned him in and Rome made the call,'" said Bock. "So they've got insulation on both ends in terms of the events. Now this has to happen of course because only Rome can crucify somebody, so they had to translate the religious into a political charge." Hillsong leaders accused of money laundering, tax evasion, shopping that would embarrass a Kardashian Church spokesperson says claims are 'out of context' Armed with reams of financial records and genuine Hillsong Church board documents he received from a whistleblower, Andrew Wilkie, an independent member of the Australian Parliament, accused Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston and other leaders, including the newly appointed Global Senior Pastor Phil Dooley, of money laundering, tax evasion and shopping sprees that would "embarrass a Kardashian." Records from the cash cow Evangelical megachurch network also showed popular American televangelists like Joyce Meyer and T.D. Jakes being paid tens of thousands of dollars in honorariums for engagements with the church. Meanwhile, others like Chris Hodges, founder and leader of Church of the Highlands, received "curious payments." "Last year a whistleblower provided me with financial records and board papers that show that Hillsong is breaking numerous laws in Australia and around the world relating to fraud, money laundering and tax evasion," Wilkie alleged during his presentation in Parliament Thursday. He then pointed to a document showing that in 2021, as the world grappled with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, four members of the Houston family jetted off with friends to Cancun, Mexico, for a luxury retreat lasting three days and billed the church $150,000 for it. "These other documents show former leader Brian Houston treating private jets like Ubers again, all with church money. For example, in one three-month period, Brian Houston's trips cost $55,000, $52,000, $30,000, $22,000 and $20,000," Wilkie said. Wilkie alleged that Dooley, who was just anointed as Hillsong's new global senior pastor last month with high praise from the church, allegedly splurged right along with the church's embattled founder. "The new head of Hillsong, Phil Dooley, has told church followers he only flies economy, but these documents show him clocking up $58,000 in business-class flights for him and his daughter to Guatemala, $42,000 in business-class flights to Mexico and $32,000 in business-class flights from Cape Town to Sydney via the US," Wilkie said. "Hillsong followers believe that the money they put in the poor box goes to the poor, but these documents show how that money is actually used to do the kind of shopping that would embarrass a Kardashian." Among the lavish spending detailed by Wilkie are a $6,500 Cartier watch for Brian Houston's wife, Bobbie, $2,500 in Louis Vuitton luggage, a $2,500 watch for Phil Dooley, two watches worth $15,000 for Joel and Julia A'Bell, shopping sprees for designer clothes at Saks Fifth Avenue and $16,000 for custom skateboards. Those close to the church's inner circle also benefited from cash gifts, Wilkie contends. "For instance, $15,000 for Darren Kitto's 50th birthday, $36,000 for Gary Clarke's 30th anniversary and $4,300 for his 60th birthday, plus up to $30,000 to board members, some of whom allegedly helped cover up the sexual abuse carried out by Frank Houston, Brian Houston's father," Wilkie said. Wilkie also pointed to "curious payments" made to Chris Hodges, founder and leader of Church of the Highlands, one of the largest churches in America, and Paul de Jong, founding pastor of Life, a multicampus church spread across New Zealand and Australia. Both Christian leaders were part of a team that investigated a 2019 sexual misconduct claim against Houston, which eventually triggered his ouster from the church a year ago. "There are also the curious payments of $10,000 each to Paul de Jong and Chris Hodges, the external pastors who investigated allegations of Brian Houston's 2019 sexual misconduct in a Sydney hotel room involving a female parishioner," Wilkie said. The Australian politician pointed to more than $1 million per year going to Hillsong musicians like Brian Houston's son, Joel Houston, for royalties. "The documents show a $15.7 million loan from Hillsong very unlikely ever to be repaid which funded the purchase of Festival Hall in Melbourne. At face value, this appears unremarkable, except that this is a commercial venture run by Hillsong's Community Venues company and is ineligible to benefit from tax-deductible church donations. All of this is in the context of the documents also revealing that Hillsong earns $80 million more in Australian annual income than it reports publicly," Wilkie said. Jakes and Meyer were named in Wilkie's presentation as he accused Hillsong Church of using honorariums to hide income. "The criminality isn't limited to Australia, as evidenced by these further documents, which show how honorariums are used to disguise income and avoid tax. For example, U.S. pastor Joyce Meyer enjoyed honorariums of $160,000, $133,000, $100,000 and $32,000, and U.S. pastor T.D. Jakes received $71,000 and $120,000, with a staggering $77,000 worth of airfares to and from Australia thrown in," Wilkie said. "In return, Mr. Houston goes to America and receives you guessed it his own eye-watering honorariums. Moreover, sending millions of dollars of Australian charitable donations overseas is illegal in some circumstances," he argued. Wilkie further alleged that the documents he has in his possession also show that disgraced former Hillsong NYC Pastor Carl Lentz was earning some $220,000 annually, which was mostly tax-free, in addition to "tens of thousands of dollars" to operate his "celebrity green room to cover catering and the cost of gifts for visiting celebrities." In response to Wilkie's claims, a spokesperson for Hillsong said in a statement shared with media that the church network has been "open and transparent with our congregation about past governance failures, and over the past twelve months we have engaged independent, professional assistance to overhaul our governance and accountability procedures." "The claims made in federal parliament by Mr Andrew Wilkie are out of context and relate to untested allegations made by an employee in an ongoing legal case," the statement reads. "These allegations, made under parliamentary privilege, are in many respects wrong, and it is disappointing he made no effort to contact us first. If he did so we would have answered his questions and provided him with financial records to address his concerns." "Hillsong has sought independent legal and accounting advice on these matters since the employee involved in the legal case made these claims, and we believe that we have complied with all legal and compliance requirements," the Hillsong statement continues. "We have filed our defence and will provide evidence at the appropriate time. We cannot do so at this stage due to the ongoing legal case. ... We are fully cooperating with regulatory authorities as part of their enquiries." Wilkie argued that the whistleblower presented the documents to several watchdog agencies, including the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission, and no action was taken against the church. "I've verified that these documents are genuine. I'm shocked that, when offered to the ATO, ASIC and ACNC last year under whistleblower legislation, not one of those agencies acted," Wilkie said. "That is a failure of regulatory oversight every bit as alarming as Hillsong's criminality. To remedy this, I now seek leave to table the evidence provided to me by the whistleblower." American tourist arrested for vandalizing Jesus statue at church in Jerusalem: 'You can't have idols' An American tourist has been arrested for vandalizing a statue of Jesus Christ at a church in Jerusalem, reportedly due to his belief that the statue constituted idolatry. A man in his 40s, whose name has not been released to the press, was arrested Thursday after he defaced and broke parts of a statue of Jesus at the Franciscan Church of the Condemnation, a property that includes the Church of the Flagellation. In a video taken at the church, the man could be heard shouting, "you cant have idols in Jerusalem, this is a holy city," Fox News reported. According to tradition, the church was built on the space believed to be where Jesus was flogged by the Roman soldiers back in the first century and presented with a cross to carry. "We take very seriously damage to religious institutions and sites," an Israeli police spokesperson said in a statement. "The police will continue to act against acts of violence and vandalism in the holy places of all religions." Custodia Terrae Sanctae, a Franciscan organization that oversees the care and protection of Catholic Church holy sites in the Middle East, released a statement denouncing the vandalism. The vandalism marked the fifth incident within the last month, according to Custodia Terrae Sanctae, which cited examples of recent vandalism that included attacks on a monastery and a local Christian cemetery. We follow with concern and strongly condemn this growing succession of serious acts of hatred and violence against the Christian community in Israel, added Custodia Terrae Sanctae. It is no coincidence that the legitimization of discrimination and violence in public opinion and in the current Israeli political environment also translates into acts of hatred and violence against the Christian community. The group went on to call upon the Israeli government to act decisively to guarantee security for all communities, to guarantee the protection of religious minorities and to eradicate religious fanaticism. Last month, a group of people believed to be radical Jewish Israelis attacked an Armenian restaurant in the Christian quarter of the city, waving Israeli flags and throwing chairs at patrons. The Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land denounced the violence leveled against the restaurant, expressing concern over the escalation of violence in the Holy City. This unprovoked violence instilled fear in the shopkeepers and residents of the Christian quarter as well as visitors, stated the Assembly. It is only the latest in a series of episodes of religious violence that is affecting the symbols of the Christian community and beyond. 600 Kids Abused By Baltimore Catholic Clergy Over 60 Years, Oregon Prevents Christian Mom From Adopting link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 07:02 07:02 Top headlines for Friday, April 7, 2023 More than 600 children were abused by clergy belonging to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore over 60 years, according to a new report released by the Maryland Attorney Generals Office. Court documents from Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston's February 2022 DUI arrest allege that he had a blood alcohol content of 0.20% or more, which addiction experts classify as the "blackout drunk" stage. A school district in Virginia has garnered controversy for refusing to allow a teacher to include a Bible verse in her email signature. A Wyoming lawmaker has apologized after sharing what critics contend is a social media post encouraging violence in support of the trans-identified community less than a week after the Tennessee school shooting. Subscribe to this Podcast Follow Us on Social Media Get the Edifi App Subscribe to Our Newsletter Links to the News Top headlines for Friday, April 7, 2023 More than 600 children were abused by clergy belonging to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore over 60 years, according to a new report released by the Maryland Attorney Generals Office. Court documents from Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston's February 2022 DUI arrest allege that he had a blood alcohol content of 0.20% or more, which addiction experts classify as the "blackout drunk" stage. A school district in Virginia has garnered controversy for refusing to allow a teacher to include a Bible verse in her email signature. A Wyoming lawmaker has apologized after sharing what critics contend is a social media post encouraging violence in support of the trans-identified community less than a week after the Tennessee school shooting. 'Something Demonic': Why Transgenderism Is A Medical And Social Scandal link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. Transgenderism has exploded around the world. What's going on and what's driving the social contagion? Dr. Jeff Myers, president of Summit Ministries, and Brandon Showalter, journalist at The Christian Post, have joined forces for season two of "Generation Indoctrination." Each episode of the show this season will be a different audio chapter from the duo's new e-book, "Exposing the Gender Lie: How to Protect Children and Teens from the Transgender Industrys False Ideology" (FREE e-book available here). Here's just a snippet: "The debate over gender ideology has revealed a raging fury against the idea that human beings bear the image of God. Nowhere is this indignation more clearly seen than in the deconstruction of the very definition of male and female. Sincere and faithful Christians cannot remain on the sidelines. We must speak with biblically informed, compassionate wisdom. The philosophical and moral questions are complex. But what is at stake is whether we, as a human society, will be able to recognize truth, discern reality, and prepare the rising generation to live confidently as image-bearers of God." Today's episode explores chapter one of "Exposing the Gender Lie" titled, "Why Transgenderism Is a Medical and Social Scandal." Debunking 4 myths against Jesus' resurrection Every year at this time we see magazine covers questioning the resurrection of Jesus and whether it actually occurred. Here, I want to investigate the biblical and historical claims about the resurrection and debunk four myths against it. The biblical accounts of the resurrection are historical and worth investigating because if what the Gospel writers said is false, then as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:17, our faith is futile, we are still in our sins, and the resurrection is the biggest hoax mankind has ever known. But if they are right, and Jesus was resurrected from the dead, thats a game changer for the human race and the most vital piece of historical information that every human being must know for the sake of their own souls. Besides the four Gospel writers who were eyewitnesses, other historians wrote about the crucifixion of Jesus. Josephus, Tacitus and Pliny the Younger were three of them. The Swoon Theory Roman crucifixion was common in the first century. Romans used this method of execution to punish members of the lower class, slaves, soldiers, the violently rebellious, and those accused of treason.[1] We know for a fact that Jesus was crucified. But adherents of the Swoon Theory argue that Jesus never really died in the first place. He only swooned, then fainted from exhaustion. After several hours, in the cool of the tomb, He recovered His strength, rolled the stone away, dealt with the guards, and then appeared to His disciples. This theory not only completely ignores the details of His death that we know, but is so far-fetched that it would take more faith to believe this theory than the truth of the resurrection. The historical record shows that Jesus' legs werent broken to speed up his death, as were the legs of the other two men who were crucified. His legs werent broken because the guards saw that Jesus was already dead. In fact, they pierced his side to make sure he was dead, watching blood and water come out a sure sign of death. In addition, Pilate the Roman Prefect acknowledged that Jesus was dead, and released the body to Joseph of Arimathea for burial. Last, after Jesus rose again, and appeared to His disciples, his body was transformed and was anything but weak. He was able to enter locked rooms. He was able to walk the seven miles on the Emmaus Road to appear to eyewitnesses. After what Jesus had just been through, neither of those things could have happened had His body not been transformed after the resurrection. The Swoon Theory falls flat. The body was stolen When the Jewish leaders were told by the tomb guards that Jesus body was missing, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, You are to say His disciples came during the night and stole Him away while we were asleep. Heres the problem with this theory it doesnt explain how the seal on the tomb was broken. The day after Jesus died, Pilate ordered that a very large, and heavy stone be rolled in front of the tomb, and a seal put on it to prevent the disciples from stealing Jesus body. He even placed guards there to protect the tomb. These two factors, the seal and the stone, make the religious leaders claim impossible. First, if the guards fell asleep, and let someone steal a body, that was an offense punishable by death. These were highly disciplined and skilled Roman soldiers. The threat of death was enough to keep them on their toes. The spiritual resurrection theory There are two Spiritual Resurrection Theories. One claims that Christs body decayed in the tomb and His resurrection was only spiritual (a ghost). The other theory asserts that God destroyed Christs body in the tomb and that His resurrection was also only spiritual, and not physical.[2] Both of these theories maintain that witnesses didnt see Jesus risen, physical body, only His ghost. There are some sizable problems with this theory. First, by definition, a resurrection must include a physical body or its not a resurrection. Its a resuscitation. A resurrected body is enhanced. A resuscitated body is the same body that has been brought back to life that will die again, such as the body of Lazarus. Second, Jesus completely debunked this theory when He said in Luke 24:39, See My hands and My feet, that it is I myself. Touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have. Then He ate with them! A spirit doesnt eat. In Matthew 28:9, His followers took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. One cannot grab the feet of a spirit! The hallucination theory Skeptics such as German Theologian Gerd Ludemann argue that Paul and the other apostles had an active sensual perception of Jesus resurrection and that they communicated this vision to the other followers, by way of a chain reaction, which resulted in subjective visions among the masses. Over 500 people had this vision, amounting to mass ecstasy.[3] In a nutshell, Ludemann makes the assumption that everyone who saw the risen Christ imagined it. There are two problems with that claim; He has no basis for proof, and there is too much biblical and psychological evidence to refute his argument. First, as Gary Habermas argues, hallucinations are subjective experiences, which cannot be shared. Clinical psychologist Gary Collins tells us that hallucinations are individual occurrences. By their very nature, only one person can see a given hallucination at a time. Neither is it possible that one could induce a hallucination in someone else. Since hallucinations are individual experiences, it is obvious that others cannot witness them.[4] Collins isnt the only psychologist who maintains this opinion. Most psychologists dispute the possibility of group hallucinations. Second, Claremont McKenna College professor of Philosophy Dr. Steven T. Davis, notes that typical causal factors were not present. There were no drugs, no hysteria, deprivation of food, water, or sleep that would have caused the disciples to hallucinate.[5] In other words, the disciples were not delusional, and the historical record does not reveal that these traits existed in the witnesses. The evidence for the resurrection of Christ is overwhelming. None of these resurrection theories can explain every detail that is historically known about the resurrection. Since the aforementioned theories do not adequately explain all parts of the biblical testimony, and are constructed from pre-conceived notions, which do not let the historical evidence speak for itself, the traditional hypothesis of Jesus resurrection is still the most plausible theory. [1] Gary R. Habermas and Michael R. Licona, The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus, (Grand Rapids, MI., Kregel, Inc. 2004) 48 [2] Josh and Sean McDowell, Evidence for the Resurrection: What it Means for Your Relationship With God, (Wheaton, Ill., Tyndale House, 1996) 204 [3] Gerd Ludemann, The Resurrection of Jesus: History, Experience, Theology (Minneapolis: Fortress, 1994), 50. [4] Gary Habermas, Did Jesus Rise From the Dead? (San Francisco, Harper and Row, 1987), 50. [5] Steven T. Davis, Risen Indeed (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1993), 184. Political prosecution, indictment and the empty tomb Sadly, tragically, irritatingly, I have been forced to join millions of my fellow Americans in witnessing American elected officials and others who manifestly should know better, take actions and make statements that have revealed a profound disagreement with, as well as fundamental misunderstanding, of the basic foundations and elements of our American legal system. Over the past few days, Americans have been subjected to the virtually unprecedented spectacle of former President Donald Trump being arrested and charged with a crime. This shocking arrest of a former president was a nakedly partisan illegal persecution of a faux crime masquerading as a non-partisan prosecution of a legitimate challenge to the American political system. For virtually the first time in the long, illustrious, and noble history of the United States, a former president has been indicted for a crime. And this particular former president is the leading candidate for the Republican nomination for the office of President of the United States in the 2024 presidential election. So, we have a Democrat prosecutor arresting the leading Republican candidate for president during the actual election campaign. This unprecedentedly and unconstitutionally involves and intrudes the current government into partisan election campaigns. A Manhattan Democrat District Attorney has, to some degree, taken away the American electorates opportunity to elect their own president. Some observers believe that for some leaders in the Democrat Party, indicting him enhances the possibility of Donald Trumps being the Republican nominee (and the assumption that he would be the easiest candidate to defeat in 2024) was the intent in the first place. It may well be that Trump is the only likely candidate President Biden could defeat in 2024. In the midst of these unprecedented events the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, could not resist making a breathless comment following the announcement of former President Trumps forthcoming indictment. Ms. Pelosi declared that former President Trump now had the opportunity to prove himself to be innocent, thus revealing a fundamental misunderstanding of the basis and foundation of our entire legal system that in America a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a jury of their peers. Ms. Pelosis profound shallowness reminded me of former CNN commentator Chris Cuomo asking, in the midst of the ongoing riotous violence of 2020, Who says that protests have to be peaceful? The Constitution, Chris! Its called the First Amendment which says that Americans have the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. As I peruse the American political landscape, I am frustrated and anxious for my country, my home, and my native land. The Columbian philosopher Nicolas Gomez Davila once observed, Each civilization dies from indifference toward the unique values which created it. And when indifference turns to hostility and contempt, the funeral dirge has commenced. So, why am I not terminally depressed? This is Easter week. This is the week that we as Christians celebrate Jesus victory over death, Hell and the devil. This is the week we celebrate the empty tomb! Americas fate may be dire. I hope not. I pray fervently for repentance, revival and reformation. No matter what happens with America, Jesus eternal spiritual victory over evil is secure. Amazing grace! How sweet the sound, That saved a wretch, like me. I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see. Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed. The Lord hath promised good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be As long as life endures. When weve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun. Weve no less days to sing Gods praise Than when we first begun. For two millennia now, Christians have proclaimed, He is Risen. This Sunday I will celebrate the 70th anniversary of my baptism as a 6-year-old Christian boy and the 60th anniversary of my surrender to full-time service as a minister of the Gospel. Praise God, He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed! The madness of crowds: Sobering thoughts on Good Friday Explain to me the current mass political hysteria going on in our country? a friend recently begged me over lunch. He was referring to the progressive dogmas being forced on every level of society at the current cultural moment. Dogmas such as: men can have periods, that a male swimmer is actually a female, that abortion-on-demand up to the point of birth is simply womens health care, that all whites are racists, that the rush to pump children full of hormones and operate on them the minute they express even a passing confusion about their gender is enlightened, that everything is political, that tolerance should be repressive, that free speech is dangerous, not to mention the emerging tyranny of wokeness. I responded by telling him of the British journalist Douglas Murray who has written about this recently in his book The Madness of Crowds. Murray begins his book with this sentence: We are going through a great crowd derangement. In public and in private, both online and off, people are behaving in ways that are increasingly irrational, feverish, herd-like and simply unpleasant. Murray then writes about all the things we are supposed to buy into in the name of social justice, identity politics and intersectionality. Identity politics, he says, has come to mean the endless fomenting of racial animus, the vilification of all things male, the insistence that sexually eccentric people of all kinds not only should be tolerated but idolized. Murray says this is what is playing itself out in workplaces, universities, schools and homes, and all at a staggering speed. He refers to this as crowd madness and makes an impassioned call for free speech, shared common values, and sanity in an age of mass hysteria. I then told my friend that our society is not the first in which a kind of corporate madness takes hold. For instance, why did the Germans of the 1930s buy into Hitlers delusions? Why did so many in totalitarian Soviet society buy into its lies? That system depended on ideological conformity and believing the lie. People were afraid to challenge the lies. I also told him about George Orwells 1949 book 1984, about a totalitarian society where the party decreed that two plus two equals five and everyone was supposed to believe this lie, along with other such lies. Most importantly, I told him that we are not the first society to experience mass hysteria and reminded him of the events of Holy Week itself. On that Friday of Jesus crucifixion, a misguided crowd pressed the Roman Governor Pilate to release an insurrectionist named Barabbas, and execute Jesus. Pilate knew Jesus was innocent. Jesus had done nothing worthy of death. In fact, Pilate wanted to release him. But he gave into the pressure of the crowd, which was shouting crucify, crucify him. Let me pass on to you three sobering reminders about that momentous day. First, Good Friday reminds us that crowds, as persuasive as they sometimes are, can be maddeningly wrong. We all know that group pressure, the momentum of the crowd, the trends of popular culture can be powerfully intoxicating. But the majority is not always right. There is a higher law than opinion polls. Peer pressure to go along can be intense. But what is hot is not always good. On that Good Friday it was not Jesus who was on the wrong side of history. The crowd was. In his teaching, Jesus made the same point. One day he said, Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. For small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life (Matthew 7.13,14, NIV). Second, Good Friday reminds us that what we perceive as progress is sometimes regress. If we just get rid of him, then things will finally settle down, many thought. Moral inversion is a mark of societal decline. The prophet Isaiah said, Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness. (NIV, Isaiah 5.20) Empires can crumble from within. Societies can become decadent and mistake decadence for light. History is full of examples. Finally, Good Friday reminds us that crowd hysteria does not have the final word. Which is why we call that dark Friday good. From the cross, Jesus cried out, Father, forgive them. For they know not what they do. The good news is, on that day and in the end, madness does not win. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting peoples sins against them (LB, 2 Corinthians 5.19). Suspect in deadly Spanish church attacks ordered to have psychiatric evaluation (CP) A Moroccan man who allegedly killed a church officer and injured a priest during attacks on two churches in the southern city of Algeciras in Spain has been ordered by a judge to have a psychiatric evaluation. The alleged assailant in the Jan. 26 machete attacks that killed one person and left four others injured in attacks on San Isidro Church and Nuestra Senora de La Palma Church in Algeciras has been named as 25-year-old Yassine Kanjaa, according to authorities. A Spanish court told The Associated Press the judge's order is temporary as the incident is being investigated as a terrorist attack. Police suspect the perpetrator acted alone. Spain's Interior Ministry said Kanjaa had been under a deportation order since June 2022 because of his unauthorized immigration status. Francisco Garcia, secretary general of Spain's Episcopal Conference, told Reuters at the time he experienced "great pain" because of the attack on the two priests. "These are sad times of suffering; we are united by the pain of the victims' families and for the Cadiz Diocese," he stated. The Telegraph reported that witnesses heard the suspect shout "Allahu akbar" and "death to Christians" as he attacked the churches. Kanjaa had "no prior criminal or terrorism convictions in Spain or allied countries," AFP quoted an interior ministry spokesperson as saying. A roommate of Kanjaa's noticed disturbing developments in the suspect's behavior in the weeks leading up to the attacks, including thinking that a teddy bear is the devil. "He is a paranoid person; it is not jihadism," the roommate told the Spanish newspaper El Pais. "He threatened his own roommates with a knife. That kid is unwell; he used drugs, then he quit and started to pray." Last October, the Migration Policy Institute issued a report that said that Spain is "one of Europe's largest migrant destinations," with roughly 7.3 million of its residents being immigrants. "[R]esponsibility for immigrant integration has largely been handed to Spain's 17 autonomous communities, which enjoy wide authority as result of the country's devolved political system," noted the report. "Matters relating to asylum, border control, and legal status are exclusive to the national government, but policies key to integration including social services, housing, and employment have been granted to subnational governments." According to a 2018 report from the British Broadcasting Corporation, over 30,000 individuals illegally entered Spain that year, "the highest in more than a decade." "Once they reach Spain, they keep on moving some continue to other European countries, others try to start a new life in Spain," reported the BBC at the time. Throughout Europe, hate crimes and persecution against Christians have skyrocketed in recent years. According to a report released last fall by the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe, there were more than 519 incidents classified as hate crimes against Christians in 2021, with 30 occurring in Spain. The Christian Post UN to investigate death of Archie Battersbee The UN has agreed to investigate the tragic death of Archie Battersbee after his life support was switched off against the wishes of his mother. The 12-year-old died in August last year, several months after being found unconscious in his home with a ligature around his neck. His mother, Hollie Dance, fought in the courts against the decision to switch off his life support but ultimately lost. Prior to his death, the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) issued an injuction requiring the UK to keep Archie alive while it considered his case. However, the UK Court of Appeal ruled that a High Court order to turn off his life support took precedence over the UN injunction. Archie passed away on 6 August, shortly after his life support was turned off. Lawyers acting on Ms Dance's behalf submitted a complaint to the UN. In a response received last week, the UN confirmed that it will consider the merits of her complaint and whether Archie's rights as a disabled person were violated by the UK. Ms Dance said she was "so grateful" for the UN's decision to proceed. "We have received so little support from the UK 'system', this means so much," she said. "At the time, we felt completely betrayed that the government intervened and went against us despite the UN's intervention. "All we had ever wanted was for Archie to have time. The UN intervention granted that time, but in our hour of need, that was taken away from us. "Nothing can now bring Archie back, but I am determined to continue to pursue justice for him and to hold the UK government properly accountable." Bruno Quintavalle, Ms Dance's barrister, said: "The UK government refused to take action to comply with the UN Committee's interim measures and the UK courts refused to ensure that the government satisfied its obligations under international law. "This important investigation by the UN CRPD will now clarify if these omissions are compatible with the UK's Treaty obligations as well as set limits on future best-interests decision-making by the UK courts." CLC chief executive, Andrea Williams, said: "It is vital that justice is seen to be done. I am sincerely grateful that the UN is taking this matter seriously and scrutinising the UK's decision making to ensure full transparency." A youth-focused media company that churns out fast-paced videos has netted another billionaire backer, bringing the total to four of the world's wealthiest people. Brut, the six-year-old operation whose name means raw, has added French shipping tycoon Rodolphe Saade as an investor, Brut CEO Guillaume Lacroix said in an interview. Saade, who began amassing media assets in France in recent months, separately told Bloomberg News while on a trip to China that he acquired a 16% stake. The CMA CGM chief executive officer and his family are worth $22.4 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Saade joins James Murdoch, the younger son of News Corp. founder Rupert Murdoch, French telecom billionaire Xavier Niel and Gucci owner Francois-Henri Pinault as financial backers of Brut. Brut has now raised about $153 million since it was founded. The latest funding round, which also brought in digital asset start-up MoonPay, netted between 35 million and 40 million ($43.7 million), Lacroix said. The platform has about 500 million monthly unique viewers worldwide. Brut is but one example of how ultrawealthy people who made fortunes in other sectors have pivoted to invest in media companies, often in a bid to gain prestige and influence. Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos bought the Washington Post a decade ago, while Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff acquired Time magazine more recently. In Europe, auto-making Agnelli scion John Elkann holds stakes in the Economist and Italian dailies la Repubblica and La Stampa while luxury goods tycoon Bernard Arnault, the world's richest person, controls influential French newspapers Les Echos and Le Parisien. --- Brut's funding drive comes while controversy swirls around editorial independence at Arnault's outlets. Last month, the journalist guild at Les Echos raised questions over the owner's possible role in its editor in chief's departure. This week, Le Parisien's reporters' guild criticized coverage of France's ongoing political crisis over pension reform as being too favorable to President Emmanuel Macron's government. Unlike legacy publications, Brut remains a niche provider of news-related content that mostly depends on social media for distribution. Its headquarters are tucked inside a refurbished former shopping mall on a dowdy street in the French capital. "We're trying to build a global champion." Lacroix said Thursday. "Our fundraising has validated the robustness of our business model." The company, self-described as creating "media for new generations," was co-founded by Lacroix and two French TV executives, with stated values of feminism, ecology, education and minority protection. Brut aims to be profitable this year, and has already reached that goal in France and India, Lacroix said. It has expanded into the U.S. and India, and makes money through advertising and deals such as one with retailer Carrefour to create 'Brut Shop,' a web-based shopping site. Initially distributing short video content on Facebook and Twitter, Brut has moved to TikTok and Snapchat and started its own app and website. --- The changes in many social media algorithms have made it harder to consistently reach big audiences, leading Brut to adjust its business model. It launched a Netflix-like paying section in 2021 called 'BrutX,' with long-form documentaries. It didn't attract as many subscribers as anticipated - fewer than 100,000 instead of the million expected, according to reports. Brut gained wider notoriety in France with its live coverage of the 2018 'Yellow Vests' street protests and interviews with Macron. The French president used the platform to try to connect with young people in 2020 and on the campaign trail two years later. Brut's TikTok page documenting protests in France over pension reform has drawn tens of thousands of simultaneous viewers in recent weeks. This included live coverage of police opposing demonstrators and piles of garbage being set on fire. Saade's investment in Brut makes good on his signaled ambition to amass more media assets. Last year he bought La Provence, a regional newspaper based in the southern city of Marseille where his family's closely held container liner has its headquarters. He has acquired about a 10% stake in French broadcaster M6. "I believe Brut offers quite a lot of good solutions and that is why we have decided to invest 16% in this media," Saade said in China, where he was part of a business delegation accompanying Macron on a state visit. Niel was among the first investors in Brut via his personal holding NJJ. He has a net worth of $7.7 billion, according to the Bloomberg wealth index. The investment in Brut is part of Murdoch's pivot after resigning from News Corp.'s board in 2020, citing disagreements over news judgment and strategy. He founded and heads a private investment company called Lupa Systems. To Lacroix, Brut's ownership by some 20 investors provides a way to preserve independence. "Brut media is totally independent of its shareholders editorially," he said. "We have a shareholder environment that respects this independence and would never take any measures to threaten this." --- Bloomberg's Samy Adghirni contributed to this report. Former Theranos executive Ramesh Sunny Balwani will be heading to prison later this month after an appeals court rejected his bid to remain free while he contests his conviction for carrying out a blood-testing hoax with his former boss and lover, Elizabeth Holmes. After the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision refusing Balwani's request, U.S District Judge Edward Davila on Friday ordered him to start his nearly 13-year prison sentence on April 20. One of Balwani's lawyers had filed a motion late Thursday seeking nearly two weeks to give Balwani time to make travel arrangements and make other preparations for a trip that will send him to a federal prison in Southern California. The April 20 reporting date means Balwani will be heading to prison a week before Holmes, Theranos' founder and CEO, is scheduled to begin a more than 11-year prison sentence after being convicted on four counts of fraud and conspiracy last year. Holmes, 39, appeared before Davila last month along with her lawyers in an effort to persuade the judge to allow her to remain free while she pursues her own appeal. Davila hasn't ruled on Holmes' request yet. Davila last month rejected Balwani's request to remain free while he appeals his conviction on 12 counts of fraud and conspiracy and ordered him to report to prison March 16. Balwani then avoided having to report on that date by appealing Davila's ruling against him. But three judges on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals concluded Balwani hadn't provided enough compelling evidence to convince them that his conviction is likely to be overturned. Balwani will serve his sentence in a prison near a harbor in San Pedro, California, located about 30 miles (50 kilometers) from downtown Los Angeles. The Terminal Island prison has incarcerated several other prominent figures, including gangster Al Capone in the 1930s, apocalyptic cult leader Charles Manson for an auto theft in the 1950s, and LSD evangelist Timothy Leary in the 1970s. Although they had separate trials, Holmes and Balwani were accused of essentially the same crimes centered on a ruse touting Theranos blood-testing system as a revolutionary breakthrough in health care. The claims helped the company become a Silicon Valley sensation that raised nearly $1 billion from investors. But its technology never came close to working like Holmes and Balwani boasted, resulting in Theranos scandalous collapse and a criminal case that shined a bright light on Silicon Valley greed and hubris. DETROIT (AP) U.S. road safety regulators have sent a team to investigate a crash involving a Tesla that may have been operating on a partially automated driving system when it struck a student who had just exited a school bus. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Friday that it will probe the March 15 crash in Halifax County, North Carolina, that injured a 17-year-old student. The State Highway Patrol said the driver of the 2022 Tesla Model Y, a 51-year-old male, failed to stop for the bus, which was displaying all of its activated warning devices. Sending special investigation teams to crashes means that the agency suspects the Teslas were operating systems that can handle some aspects of driving, including Autopilot and Full Self-Driving. Despite the names, Tesla says these are driver-assist systems and that drivers must be ready to intervene at all times. A message was left Friday seeking comment from Tesla. Tillman Mitchell, a student at the Haliwa-Saponi Tribal School in Hollister, had just exited the bus and was walking across the street to his house when he was hit, according to the Highway Patrol. He was flown to a hospital with life-threatening injuries but was listed in good condition two days after the crash. Messages left with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol were not immediately returned Friday. A spokesperson for WakeMed hospital in Raleigh did not immediately provide an update on the students condition or indicate whether he had been discharged. NHTSA has sent investigative teams to more than 30 crashes since 2016 in which Teslas suspected of operating on Autopilot or Full Self-Driving have struck pedestrians, motorcyclists, semi trailers and parked emergency vehicles. At least 14 people were killed in the crashes. In March the agency sent a team to a Feb. 18 crash in which a Tesla Model S hit a fire department ladder truck in Contra Costa County, California. The Tesla driver was killed, a passenger was seriously hurt, and four firefighters suffered minor injuries. Authorities said the California firetruck had its lights on and was parked diagonally on a highway to protect responders to an earlier accident that did not result in injuries. The probes are part of a larger investigation by NHTSA into multiple instances of Teslas using Autopilot crashing into parked emergency vehicles that are tending to other crashes. NHTSA has become more aggressive in pursuing safety problems with Teslas in the past year, announcing multiple recalls and investigations. NHTSA is investigating how the Autopilot system detects and responds to emergency vehicles parked on highways. The agency wouldn't comment on open investigations, but it has been scrutinizing Teslas more intensely in the past year, seeking several recalls. Tesla and NHTSA need to determine why the vehicles dont seem to see flashing lights on school buses and emergency vehicles and make sure the problem is fixed, said Michael Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety in Washington. Ive been saying probably for a couple of years now, they need to figure out why these vehicles arent recognizing flashing lights for a big starter, Brooks said. NHTSA needs to step in and get them to do a recall because thats a serious safety issue. Earlier this month the agency revealed an investigation of steering wheels that can detach from the steering column on as many as 120,000 Model Y SUVs. It's also investigating seat belts that may not be anchored securely in some Teslas. NHTSA also has opened investigations during the past three years into Teslas braking suddenly for no reason, suspension problems and other issues. In February, NHTSA pressured Tesla into recalling nearly 363,000 vehicles with Full Self-Driving software because the system can break traffic laws. The problem was to be fixed with an online software update. The system is being tested on public roads by as many as 400,000 Tesla owners. But NHTSA said in documents that it can make unsafe actions such as traveling straight through an intersection from a turn-only lane, going through a yellow traffic light without proper caution or failing to respond to speed limit changes. The U.S. Justice Department also has asked Tesla for documents from Tesla about Full Self-Driving and Autopilot. ____ Associated Press Writer Hannah Schoenbaum in Raleigh, North Carolina, contributed to this story. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SEATTLE (AP) Cannabis regulators have halted operations at several outdoor pot farms and processing facilities on a stretch of former fruit orchards in north-central Washington state after testing found high levels of chemicals related to a dangerous pesticide used decades ago. The sweeping action announced Thursday night by the state Liquor and Cannabis Board renewed concerns about pesticides in marijuana and put dozens of people at least temporarily out of work just as they were preparing for spring planting. We are very concerned about the jobs and businesses, but we felt we needed to get a message out to our licensees and to take action for public safety, said board spokesperson Brian Smith. Over the last several months, officials collected samples from grow operations and processors along a nearly 5-mile (8-kilometer) stretch of the Okanogan River north of Brewster, a region of former orchards where fruit growers used the cancer-causing pesticide DDT before the U.S. banned it in 1972. Marijuana growers in the area are now dealing with the legacy of soil contamination at the orchards. The results of tests at seven licensees showed high levels of DDE, a chemical that remains when DDT breaks down, the board said. Regulators decided to issue administrative holds on 16 producer licenses and two processing licenses in the area, forcing them to cease operations until further notice. It wasn't clear how many businesses were affected, because each one can hold multiple licenses. One of the businesses, large-scale grower Walden Cannabis, advertises its cannabis as sustainably sungrown and pesticide-free, but its plants apparently absorbed contaminants from the soil which then wound up in its products. CEO Anders Taylor said he was stunned by the board's action because it had not provided him test results or warned him that the administrative hold was coming. He called it completely arbitrary and said he was trying to figure out if he would have to lay off his employees. Orchards used DDT for a generation, and that caused widespread contamination throughout the Pacific Northwest and the whole country, really, Taylor said. I'm still trying to process what this means." Taylor said there are seven licensed grow operations on his property as well as processing operations, with roughly 50 workers in all. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, studies have shown that women with high amounts of DDE in their blood were more likely to give birth prematurely or to have a baby with a wheeze. However, studies have focused on ingestion of the chemical, such as by eating fruit contaminated with pesticide residue; less is known about the effects of inhaling DDE. Much of the marijuana grown in the area was sold wholesale to other processors. The Liquor Control Board said it is working with the growers and processors to identify which products the tainted cannabis wound up in so they can be tested off the shelf. Officials also asked affected companies to issue recalls. Cannabis is known for its strong ability to remove contaminants from soil, and it has been studied for use in environmental cleanup. The levels of contaminants can be especially high in marijuana extracts and concentrates. Due to marijuana's illegal status under federal law, states have largely come up with their own rules about pesticide testing for their cannabis markets, said Gillian Schauer, executive director of the Cannabis Regulators Association, which includes cannabis officials from 35 U.S. states and territories. There is wide variety among the states about which pesticides are regulated and what their tolerance levels are; it was unknown how many require testing for legacy pesticides or their components, such as DDE. Regulators in Vermont early this year pulled pesticide-contaminated pot from five retail stores after a customer reported feeling sick, and Nevada officials issued an advisory about widely available products possibly being tainted with an unapproved pesticide. Over the years, Washington has halted the operations or destroyed product in dozens of cases where cannabis tested above accepted levels for pesticides, but those have involved the recent spraying of unapproved pesticides. This is believed to be the first time the Liquor and Cannabis Board has issued an administrative hold related to the legacy use of pesticides, and it is the first time it has issued a hold covering an entire geographic area rather than an isolated business, the board said in an email. Washington was one of the first two states, along with Colorado, to legalize the use and sale of cannabis by adults in 2012. Washington's Liquor and Cannabis Board has long conducted random tests for pesticides on products, including DDE, but they did not require producers to send in samples to state-certified labs for mandatory pesticide testing until last year. Washington was the only state with legal medical and recreational marijuana that had not already done so. Under Washington's testing requirements, samples sent in by businesses are screened for 59 pesticides. For now, DDE is not one of them, but the board said it would begin making rules to require testing for DDE and a related compound, DDD, in cannabis products though what form that testing might take and whether it would be required of all growers and processors was not clear. Washington has also never required soil testing for outdoor marijuana farms. Jeremy Moberg, a licensed marijuana grower who owns CannaSol Farms in Okanogan County, north of the area targeted by regulators Thursday, said he nevertheless tested the soil at the former alfalfa farm he bought for his operation to make sure it was clean. I did due diligence, because I knew there was lots of toxic ground in this county due to the historical application of pesticides, Moberg said. People who did their due diligence did not buy land on old orchards. STAMFORD Last week, WWE announced the largest deal in its history: an agreement to merge with mixed martial arts firm UFC that will create a new publicly traded company worth more than $21 billion. But state economic development officials said Thursday that the transaction with Las Vegas-headquartered UFC will not disrupt WWE's big move in its home city. WWE is planning to open in 2023 its new headquarters in the complex at 677-707 Washington Blvd., in downtown Stamford replacing the firm's longtime main offices, two miles east, at 1241 E. Main St. The new headquarters will cover about 400,000 square feet, including offices in the propertys 13-story tower and production space in the adjacent seven-story pavilion. We have been in contact with WWE this week and are encouraged that there has been no change to WWEs plan to move into its new Stamford headquarters this year, Jim Watson, a spokesman for the state Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), said in an email. A spokesperson for WWE confirmed receiving messages this week from Hearst Connecticut Media that inquired about the status of the new headquarters, but the spokesperson did not provide an on-the-record comment from the company. WWE is planning to move all of its Stamford-based employees to the new headquarters, with more than 800 people working there once all of its space has opened, company officials have previously said. For many years, WWE has been headquartered at 1241 E. Main, off Interstate 95's Exit 9, on Stamford's east side. The company also has a production center at 88 Hamilton Ave., a few blocks from 1241 E. Main. The building at 1241 E. Main is not for sale, but WWE would entertain discussions with interested parties, a company spokesperson said around the beginning of this year. Alongside its decades-long operations in Connecticut, public funding provides further motivation for WWE to remain in the state. Since 2009, the company has received from DECD a total of approximately $177.5 million in film and digital media production tax credits and film infrastructure tax credits, related to company expenditures in Connecticut during that period of nearly $617 million, according to DECD data. In addition to those subsidies, WWE is eligible to receive up to $8.5 million in additional tax credits if, by July 1, 2025, it spends $160 million related to the new headquarters, retains 668 jobs and creates 275 more jobs, for a total of 943 jobs in Connecticut, according to DECD. Overall the impact of the incentives has been positive, George Norfleet, director of DECD's Office of Film, TV & Digital Media, said in an email. WWE has increased its head count and physical footprint and has helped attract other digital media companies into the states ecosystem and to Stamford in particular. While WWE is moving ahead with opening the new headquarters, it is unclear, however, whether the Stamford hub will also serve as the headquarters for the to-be-named company that will be created through the merger with UFC. Much more clear is the leadership roster for the to-be-named new company. WWE Executive Chairman Vince McMahon, who returned to WWE in January following a short-lived retirement, is expected to serve in the same role of the new company. Ariel Emanuel, chief executive officer and president of Beverly Hills, Calif.-based Endeavor Group Holdings, which acquired UFC in 2016 and will hold a 51 percent controlling interest in the new company, is expected to serve as CEO of the new firm. Nick Khan, WWE's current CEO, is set to serve as WWE president in the new company, while Dana White is set to continue as UFC president. The merger is anticipated to be completed in the second half of 2023. WWEs new headquarters is crucial to the revitalization of 677-707 Washington Blvd., which stood entirely empty for a couple of years after banking giant UBS relocated in 2016 its local offices across the street to 600 Washington Blvd. WWEs production space will be housed in the seven-story pavilion, which once hosted one of the worlds largest trading floors when UBS was based there. Tobacco giant Philip Morris International is the propertys second-largest tenant. Last November, it opened its new main offices, which cover about 71,000 square feet. PMI was formerly headquartered in midtown Manhattan. There are several other tenants, including professional-services firm KPMG and architecture firm Perkins Eastman. With their respective arrivals in the fall of 2018 and spring of 2019, Perkins Eastman and KPMG became the first companies to take space at 677-707 Washington following the departure of UBS. In 1956, George Stevens brought Hollywood to West Texas. Giant, the director's sweeping epic about a family of ranchers-turned-oil-barons, placed crude oil at the heart of narratives about modern Texas. In the decades that followed, films like Peter Bogdanovichs The Last Picture Show and David Mackenzies Hell or High Water would expand on the complicated relationship between the oil industry and the communities it impacts. But if Giant created the modern Texas mythology, then the new thriller How to Blow Up a Pipeline returns that myth to the now-tainted soil from whence it came. The film is based on Andreas Malms 2021 academic text of the same name. The book, which calls for escalation in tactics in the fight against fossil fuel providers, made an immediate impact on Daniel Goldhaber. I'm not an activist, I'm a filmmaker, the writer-director explains. He is calling from New Orleans, where he's in pre-production on his latest film. I have a limited set of tools at my disposal to engage with this fight, he adds, noting that Pipeline is his attempt to provoke an urgent and immediate cultural conversation around this question of what kind of tactics are necessary and justifiable to fight climate change. How to Blow Up a Pipeline follows a group of climate activists who come together to take more immediate action against oil industry infrastructure. Recruited by Xochitl (co-writer Ariela Barer), the team selects a stretch of pipeline in West Texas to destroy as a way of creating new challenges to the systems that serve to uplift oil companies. If we were to set a legal precedent that destroying fossil fuel infrastructure is a form of self-defense, Goldhaber explains, that really changes the nature of how we think about what fossil fuel is doing to our world. If the idea of climate self-defense seems melodramatic, consider recent headlines about fracking in Texas. Just last week, the Texas Tribune reported that drilling sites in Texas run the risk of releasing tens of thousands of pounds of forever chemicals into the air and water supplies of local communities. And that's to say nothing of the concerns around the long-term health of Earth itself. If you read the most recent [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] climate report, we are on a time scale of action here that needs to be taken in the matter of months, not years," Goldhaber says. Several of the characters in the film are struggling with chronic illness or generational poverty as a result of land depreciation. One character, Dwayne, a devoutly religious family man and West Texas resident, joins the cause after his family home is seized by the government in imminent domain. This intersectional approach to climate justice sits in stark contrast to many of the Hollywood stereotypes we see about activism. There are so many misconceptions that I find, especially on the coast, about what conservative political ideology actually is, Goldhaber notes. People in those worlds do participate intersectionally in politics. Christina Zisa; Neon Meanwhile, the films West Texas setting required careful collaboration. Actress Olive Lorraine, who was raised in Texas by a family of oil rig workers, shared her insights to the script and even weighed in on the accuracy of exterior locations through on-set photography. Goldhaber also worked with a Texas pipeline expert who he says offered valuable insight into the economic stranglehold that pipelines and the fossil fuel industry has over life in Texas. The goal was to create a film that would honor the lived experiences of people who grew up in oil towns. But not everything in the film is rooted in docudrama. Those who watch How to Blow Up a Pipeline expecting cinema verite will be surprised to discover one of the most gripping thrillers of the year. This is how Goldhaber works. In 2018, he directed Cam, screenwriter Isa Mazzeis thriller about a virtual sex worker whose life unravels when confronted by a lookalike. Like that film, How to Blow Up a Pipeline walks a fine line between issue and genre. If you understand the political idea you're trying to communicate, you should make it as entertaining as humanly possible, Goldhaber says. Pipeline is his take on a heist film, in which a group of strangers with complimentary skills come together to pull off one big job. Throughout the movie, Goldhaber even introduces flashback sequences to show how the various collaborators were recruited. And looming in the background, dotting the horizon like the bones of long dead dinosaurs, are the refineries themselves. Even these take on elements of horror or fantasy to cement their status as a threat to the group. The film has an extraordinarily realistic and grounded sound design, except for all the fossil fuel infrastructure, which has this Darth Vadery quality, he adds. This is a movie where the infrastructure is the enemy and we needed to give it a voice." As the director of a film that engages earnestly in dialogues about violence, Goldhaber knows that How to Blow Up a Pipeline will spark debate. When asked to compare the message of his movie to that of Just Stop Oil, a self-declared civil resistance group that recently made headlines for throwing tomato soup at famous paintings, Goldhaber is measured. At the end of the day, I'm pro-soup and I'm even, to some extent, pro-soup discourse, he says. This was an act of social disruption that essentially had no collateral damage. But he knows there is no easy path to change. When it comes to this problem of building cultural consensus to support actual, active resistance to climate apocalypse, it's never going to be a straightforward or streamlined process, he notes. And with audiences already turning to social media to debate, for example, the oil industry ties of the film's distributor, NEON, Pipeline has begun to chart its own messy course through climate dialogue. All that's left is for audiences to have their own conversations. I just hope that the film positively contributes, Goldhaber concludes. How to Blow Up a Pipeline is now playing in select theaters. It opens in Houston on Friday, April 14. UPDATE: Monday, April 10 Texas park officials have come to the conclusion that the identity of a mysterious animal recently caught on a trail camera at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park last week is not so mysterious after all. On Saturday, just days after a photo the park posted on Facebook went viral and garnered hundreds of guesses at what the elusive creature pictured hidden among trees at nighttime might be, officials announced that they too agree with most that the animal is most likely an American badger. They added that the critter is not to be confused with the honey badger that lives in Africa and Asia and "is rumored to not care very much." The blurry photo of the badger was reportedly taken by a park visitor, so park officials are not aware of the exact location where it was spotted, though it was indeed in the Rio Grande Valley. "While American badgers are not commonly seen in the valley (partly due to their nocturnal behavior), this is part of their natural range," they wrote. --- End of Update --- A mysterious animal was recently filmed lurking inside a South Texas state park inside the Rio Grande Valley, but officials are confused about its true identity. On Thursday, officials with the Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park posted a photo captured by a trail camera showing a four-legged creature walking among the park's trees at nighttime. "We're scratching out heads trying to identify this elusive creature," officials captioned the post. "Is it a new species? An escapee from a nearby zoo? Or just a park ranger in disguise? Regardless, it's thrilling to see such an incredible animal in its natural habitat." Under the post, several people made some guesses on what they thought it could be. "Clearly a chupacabra," wrote Jeremy Haldeman. "I think it's a wolverine," wrote Rose Steele. "Looks like two wild boar moving in opposite directions," added Melissa Smith Knerr. "It looks like a bear with its head down sniffing the ground to me, it's not little," commented Heather Eaglebarger. "Looks like a capybara or nutria large rodent found in South America," replied Phil Alyward. "This is very clearly an American badger," wrote Justin LeClaire. Texas Parks and Wildlife officials said they are investigating the "mystery" and will provide updates to the public on any findings. The 797-acre Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park is located a few miles southwest of Mission, Texas and is home to about 360 species of birds, along with butterflies, javelinas, bobcats and more. Last year, Amarillo city officials similarly filmed a mysterious-looking creature they dubbed an "Unidentified Amarillo Object" that was spotted lurking just outside of the Amarillo Zoo in the early morning hours of May 21. Some social media user also theorized it could be a chupacabra. Despite seeking help from the public online, which was followed by a generous donation of brand new security cameras from a Seattle company who heard about the viral mystery, Amarillo officials still haven't been able to nail down what the animal was. Will Robinson was about 100 miles into his hike on the Pacific Crest Trail when the dark clouds started to lift. Not the ones high in the California sky, but the ones clustered in his head. "I learned that I was capable of living, I was capable of leading. I was capable of inspiring and motivating people. That was something I had completely lost for a decade-plus," said the 41-year-old Army veteran who struggled with depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder after his medical discharge in 2003. "I started peeling back the layers, mile after mile after mile." Since that first long-distance hike in 2016, his mileage has multiplied to more than 11,000 miles and counting. In 2019, he became the first Black American man to earn the Triple Crown of thru-hiking by completing the trifecta of legacy trails: the 2,650-mile PCT from California to Washington state, the 2,194-mile Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine and the 3,100-mile Continental Divide Trail from New Mexico to Montana. Two years later, ESPN declared Robinson "the trailblazing superstar of thru-hiking." He also received the 2022 George Mallory Award, which honors exceptional outdoor explorers. The superlatives still apply. During the height of the pandemic, he bagged several more epic hikes, including the Tahoe Rim Trail (165 miles) in California and Nevada, the Arizona Trail (more than 800 miles) and the Ozark Highlands Trail (270 miles) in Arkansas. He was about 100 miles into the Buckeye Trail when a sprain forced him to abandon the 1,400-mile route in Ohio. This year, he is training for the AT again - not because he enjoyed it so much the first time, but because he didn't. "I was expecting the AT to be like the PCT, but you can't compare the two. That is part of the reason I am going back to hike it," he said from his home in San Marcos, Tex. "Did I really give it a chance?" --- Inspired by 'Wild' Before the PCT, Robinson had never seriously hiked, though the military had prepared him for similarly tough challenges. "The closest thing I did to hiking was drill marching," said Robinson, who grew up on bases with his Army father. "It's a lot different with a 100-pound pack and an M16, but it gave me a basis for hiking." In the armed forces, he powered through his pain, a practice he had to unlearn as a trekker. "In the Army, you suck it up and drive on," he said. "If you hurt your foot, you keep moving. In a thru-hike you learn how to listen to your body." After six months in Iraq and a stop in Germany for medical treatment, he returned to Louisiana, where he often felt too broken to leave the house, much less pursue outdoor activities. He underwent multiple surgeries and tried various therapy treatments and medications to no avail. "After Iraq, I was disabled at 23," he said. A chance "encounter" with celebrity long-haul hiker and "Wild" author Cheryl Strayed provided the jolt he needed to recharge his life. On that fateful day in March 2016, Robinson was in his room "like always" when he glanced at the TV and saw "Wild" on the small screen. In the film version of Strayed's best-selling memoir, he watched Reese Witherspoon lug her pack by a PCT trail marker, a scene that stirred up a memory from Iraq. During his downtime, Robinson would often pore over a PCT guidebook, which someone had sent to the soldiers in a care package. "One day I'd love to do this," he said, reminiscing about that period in his life when he envisioned a future filled with adventure. Without waiting for the closing credits, he jumped onto his computer and acquired a free long-distance permit, one of 5,657 issued that year. On April 2, he arrived in Southern California and embarked on a journey of personal discovery and recovery that resembled Strayed's transformative quest two decades earlier. "When I picked up 'Pacific Crest Trail: Volume 1' at the REI store outside of Minneapolis, I had a very similar moment to what I imagine Will had. He saw Reese as me on the trail in the movie and I read a paragraph on the back of the book describing this long-distance trail," Strayed said by phone last week. "I felt something inside of me that said, 'You can do this and you should do this,' because I intrinsically knew this would be healing." --- Beyond the physical benefits In addition to the physical benefits of hiking in nature, medical experts extol its psychological virtues. Stanford University-led research from 2015 determined that walking at least 90 minutes in a non-urbanized setting can help alleviate depression, lower stress and anxiety, and reduce rumination, the infinite loop of negative thoughts. A 2019 study called "Nature and mental health: An ecosystem service perspective" also explored the wide-ranging rewards, such as a happier state of mind, more positive social interactions, a clearer sense of purpose and a sturdier grip on life's demands. "Before I left, I imagined that I would get to a place of mental well-being by reflecting on my life and being contemplative. But the surprise of my journey was how healing the physical act of walking was," Strayed said. "There is something very comforting and consoling about taking that one step and then another step and then another step after that." --- The arrival of 'Akuna' Robinson did not initially set out to complete the entire PCT, which runs from the Mexican border to the Canadian border. His primary goal, he said, "was to try to see if I could find me again, regardless of how many miles it would take." With only a few weeks to prepare, he trained around Slidell, about 30 miles northeast of New Orleans, and ordered gear based on suggestions from hiking blogs. "People who backpack tell you those are the best things for backpacking, but they might not necessarily be the best for long-distance hiking," he explained. His tent, for instance, weighed about nine pounds, three times more than the models typically carried by thru-hikers. He also wore traditional hiking boots instead of lighter trail runners. Early in the hike, he found his trail family and earned his trail name, "Akuna," a riff on a Swahili phrase (and "The Lion King" refrain) that translates to "no worries." The nicknames are bestowed by other long-distance hikers or are given to oneself. They are often fanciful, silly or philosophical. About five miles in, he was resting on a rock, feeling sluggish, when a woman named "Cookie" appeared at his side. She determined that he needed food and proceeded to stuff her namesake snack into his mouth. The pair forged a bond along with "2Pie," a teacher from Ohio, and "Nothing Yet," a veteran who had tackled the AT the previous year to quell his PTSD. The group hiked together for long stretches, a major breakthrough for Robinson, who for years had avoided social situations because of his fraught mental state. "Being around people triggered panic and anxiety attacks, and I didn't want any part of it. I just shut down," he said. "But on the trail, I ran into so many great individuals who were there for me. All they wanted was to be part of my adventure and help me accomplish my goal." At around the 700-mile mark, Robinson revised his objectives: "It finally hit me that maybe I could do this whole thing." Unfortunately, he had to bail at Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the Lower 48, because of a dislocated knee. But the physical setback didn't diminish his mental health achievements. "Nature can be healing. It can be an alternative method when the standard treatments aren't working for someone's suffering," he said. "For me, every hike is like a therapy session in progress. I'm going through things in my head, working out problems. When I find a solution, I can zone out and be in peace." Robinson, it turned out, had a lot in common with AT's first documented thru-hiker. According to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Earl Shaffer, a World War II vet, hiked the entire route in 1948 to help with his war-related anxiety. --- Love and friendship on the trails In April 2017, Robinson returned to the PCT. For his second attempt, he packed lighter and smarter, but without sacrificing his small comforts and luxuries. He carried an automatic pump for his sleeping pad and a photo of his mother holding him in her arms. "It was my motivation on those rough days," he said of the image from his infancy. He also brought a stash of Black and Mild cigars and gummy bears. "They were my reward for finishing the day," he said. After consecutive stints on the PCT, he found his next long-distance trail tougher to love. The AT's terrain was more technical and hilly - a lot of "PUDS," or pointless ups and downs, he said. A biblical amount of rain fell. "In all honesty, by Day 2 or 3, I absolutely hated the Appalachian Trail," he said. "What kept me on that trail were the people. I enjoyed their company; the trail itself, I didn't." Two of the more memorable hikers he met were "Emergency Tuna" and "Undecided." "Emergency Tuna" lacked confidence and was usually the last person to arrive at camp. His group encouraged her, but she was impaired by self-doubt. He didn't see her for about a thousand miles, but she resurfaced on Mount Katahdin in Maine. She was descending as he was ascending the last leg of the trail. "She beat us to the end," he said with awe and respect. "Seeing her growth was a total highlight of the A.T. She went from a timid hiker who didn't have a lot of confidence to blasting by us." As for "Undecided," Robinson buddied up with Dawn Potts, her off-trail name, for the first 100 miles of the trek. Several hundred miles later, they were dating. In 2019, they completed the Continental Divide Trail as a couple. "We triple crowned together," Robinson said of the honor the American Long-Distance Hiking Association-West has bestowed to only 575 hikers since 1994. "Akuna is a wonderful and inspirational member of our hiking community," said Lisa "Hummingbird" Slutsken, an officer-at-large at ALDHA-West. After earning the coveted award, they celebrated by taking a Caribbean cruise. "Let's go have a vacation where we don't have to walk a thousand miles to get to where we want to go," he said. On March 29, the Lone Star Honor Flight veterans group presented local resident and Montgomery Junior High teacher Brenda Beaven with a certificate of appreciation at the dedication of the Brenda Beaven Lone Star Honor Flight Museum room in honor of her dedicated service to Montgomery County World War II veterans. After watching a documentary on the Honor Flight, a nonprofit organization that provided free flights for World War II veterans to visit the newly completed World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., Beaven, with the help and support of the then principal of Montgomery Junior High, Duane McFadden, the Lone Star Honor Flight was founded. All total, Brenda was instrumental in taking approximately 500 World War II veterans free of charge to Washington D.C. to visit the memorial in their honor. Brenda acknowledged that it couldnt have happened without all of the support from the students, Montgomery County schools and residents and remarked that, we raised over $400,000 dollars in order to make this happen, but anybody could have done this. Veteran Darrell May, presenting the certificate of appreciation said, That is true, but when you make that decision to do it thats where you separate yourself from the rest. Brenda is the one who took that step to make it happen. Beaven continued, After the second flight, business owner Jack McClanahan asked me what the one thing was that I would like to see happen and I told him I would really like to see these guys get together after the flights. McClanahan designated the front area of Storage 105 for the veterans to meet weekly. As the group grew, McClanahan and his wife, Mary, now owners of Poplar Business Park, opened a new building for the veterans weekly meetings and envisioned a room dedicated to the Lone Star Honor Flight and its memorabilia. Overwhelmed with emotion, as Beaven toured the room dedicated in her honor, remarked the large photo on the wall reflects many of the original World War II veterans we took on the flights. Theyve all passed away. It was a remarkable time and experience never to be forgotten. While the last official flight was in 2010, the impact of Beavens efforts continues today. Although most of the original World War II veterans are no longer living, many local Korean, Cold War, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and supporters continue to meet each Wednesday. Speaking on behalf of the veterans, Darrell May continued, Because of Mrs. Beaven the Lone Star Honor Flight Group has turned into what it is today, a group of veterans who have served in various wars and conflicts to preserve the freedoms we have in America today. There are not enough words to express how deeply grateful we are for what you have done for this group. The Lone Star Honor Flight Veterans group meets each Wednesday morning from 7 to 11 a.m. for breakfast and fellowship at the Lone Star Honor Flight Veterans building located at 13610 Poplar Circle, Suite 104, Conroe, TX. Breakfast for the veterans is provided by the following local businesses, Vernons Kuntry Katfish, Kuntry Katfish Catering, Pizza Shack, Sam Houston Funeral Home in Montgomery, Amore, and the Conroe Womens Service League. A recent HOA-organized heavy trash day event at a Lake Conroe-area neighborhood led to nearly 7 tons of debris dumped in another nearby subdivision under construction, allegedly by a Houston man who has now been charged with a felony. The developer of Town Creek Crossing, K. Hovnanian Homes, called the Montgomery Police Department on Feb. 22, 2022 to report household trash and furniture found dumped along Little Dog Drive, according to court documents. On YourConroeNews.com: Conroe ISD considers nearly $2 billion bond package to address aging infrastructure, capacity levels The investigating police officer viewed photos taken of the trash, which included personal mail belonging to residents in Lake Conroe Village. After visiting with one resident, the officer learned the homeowners association had hosted a heavy trash day Feb. 19, 2022, documents show. The officer contacted Spectrum Management, which serves as the homeowners association for Lake Conroe Village, and confirmed they held a heavy trash day. Officials with the company said there was so much debris, many residents had to leave items outside the provided dumpsters, which were then removed and taken to the landfill. Spectrum hired a third party to remove the leftover trash, and that third party subcontracted Deverek Divantwun Wade, 34, for the job. (Wade) refused to meet (with law enforcement) in person and denied being in the Lake Conroe Village subdivision and the City of Montgomery on February 22, 2022, the court documents state. Using cell phone records and the assistance of the Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constables Office, the officer was able to show Wade in the area of the dumpsite the day of the incident. Wade was arrested Feb. 16 and was indicted on a charge of illegal dumping April 4. Illegal dumping is a state jail felony and carries a fine of not more than $10,000. Wade is currently out on a $1,500 bond and his next court appearance is May 17 in the 221st state District Court. The Town Creek Crossing developer hired TNT Waste Container Service to remove the trash and take it to the landfill. Officials with TNT Waste confirmed the debris totaled 6.8 tons, court records state. NEW YORK (AP) A fire set by an inmate at New York City's troubled Rikers Island injured 20 people on a day that lawmakers visited the jail complex, authorities said. Fifteen staff members and five inmates were injured in the fire that started about 1:30 p.m. Thursday, the city Correction Department said. The New York City Fire Department extinguished the blaze within an hour, a department spokesperson said. Fifteen of the injured were taken to hospitals for treatment, while the other five declined medical attention, the Fire Department said. Information on the victims' conditions was not available Friday. The health and safety of those who work and live in our facilities is our main priority," James Boyd, the Correction Departments deputy commissioner for public information, said in a statement. "We take arson very seriously, and will pursue re-arrest of the individual involved pending the outcome of the investigation. The fire broke out on a day when a group of Democratic state lawmakers visited Rikers Island to underscore their opposition to Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposed changes to New York's bail laws. The plan to give judges greater leeway in setting bail is among the key issues stalling negotiations over the state budget. The lawmakers noted the rise in deaths at Rikers Island and warned of dire results if bail reforms passed in 2019 are rolled back and more inmates are sent to Rikers and other jails. We will have blood on our hands if we allow there to be these changes implemented in our New York state budget, Assembly member Zohran Mamdani said. The state legislators did not visit the unit where the fire took place and appear to have left before it was reported. WASHINGTON - Lily Pastor knew who she was and wanted to celebrate it. So, last month, she joined about 50 other volunteers to turn a Capitol Hill sidewalk into a rainbow-filled dance party outside Crazy Aunt Helen's, a restaurant that was hosting a story time event with a drag queen. Anti-trans protesters had gathered across the street and were deriding hormone therapy, a treatment that provided Pastor a way to feel more like herself. But Pastor said standing alongside the people she met - a trans man, a queer teacher, straight allies - was empowering. "It is a reminder there's a whole bunch of odds, but we're in this together," said Pastor, 37, of Baltimore. "We can come together and feel awesome." This role - as defenders of drag queens, as blockers of hate - felt personal. But underneath all of that, Pastor said it was hard to ignore the frightening reasons they all felt compelled to crowd the pavement. Drag story hours are events where toddlers listen as a drag queen reads books that teach them to be kind and inclusive and to love themselves, no matter how different they may feel from others. Republican legislators, conservative commentators and far-right extremists have protested and criticized the story hours as part of a broader backlash to expanded LGBTQ rights, including false and dangerous claims that gay and transgender people are "grooming" children. These events have also been the targets of bomb threats, including at a restaurant in Virginia's Fairfax County in December; a coffee shop in Tempe, Ariz., in February; and a bookstore in Indianapolis last month. Shane Mayson, the owner of Crazy Aunt Helen's, said there was a bomb threat to his home and D.C. restaurant during the drag story hour in March, too, though it did not end up being credible. Such threats and protests served as the catalyst for the creation around the country for defense groups like the national nonprofit Parasol Patrol and the one Pastor stood alongside Saturday morning, called the Rainbow Defense Coalition. That group now has about 200 event-day volunteers to join its dance parties around the D.C. region, said Kristin Mink (D), a council member for Maryland's Montgomery County and one of the Rainbow Defense Coalition's organizers. Of those, usually about 50 to 100 people show up at a given event, said Beth DiGregorio, president of the local Drag Story Hour chapter. "We're showing that we are not scarce," said Rune Kuhns, 29, who is nonbinary and has been volunteering at these events for about seven months, including the March story time at Crazy Aunt Helen's. "We are here and we are a force." The defenders have a system for what they see as their joyful resistance. They arrive at an event at least half an hour early to claim space, standing shoulder to shoulder. A few scan for protesters. They blast Disney music, which organizers say doubles as familiar songs for children and a tactical strategy: If such songs play in the background of videos that protesters post, social media platforms may remove them because of copyright infringement. The defenders cheer in the face of protests but don't engage with protesters, because they say even verbal fights can look scary to children. Their rainbow umbrellas double as shields. When families made their way into Crazy Aunt Helen's in March, the defenders lifted the umbrellas over and around them, so the children wouldn't see the people across the street holding a sign that read "PRIDE IS OF THE DEVIL." "We're going to do everything we can to keep each other safe, because we are a community and that is what we do," an organizer told the crowd before the story hour kicked off. "And let us know if you see something suspicious." For a few hours, at least, the defenders hoped to wash out any of that negativity with celebration. Carly Hughes stood on the sidewalk holding her rainbow umbrella, the same one she used to defend herself in February when members of the Proud Boys, a far-right group with a history of violence, shoved people defending a drag story hour in Maryland and shouted, "You're bad parents!" at families walking into a Silver Spring bookstore. Hughes wore a blue sweatshirt that said "keep it kind" and blew bubbles toward the men voicing anti-trans rhetoric on the other side of the street. Even though she said it was scary to confront members of the Proud Boys, Hughes, who is queer and a kindergarten teacher, has kept coming back. She said she hopes the presence of so many people on the street dancing, singing and laughing can inspire children to live full and vibrant lives, no matter how they identify. "Seeing queer adults alive and happy is something that's really important for queer kids and just for any kid," Hughes, 24, said. "Seeing people who are free in their self-expression and free in who they love and free to be who they want to be, I think is empowering for anybody." Drag queen Evita Peroxide held back tears as she watched the defenders escort families into Crazy Aunt Helen's under the canopy of umbrellas. She thought of the times she performed at drag shows in Northern Virginia, the two bomb threats she said those venues faced, and how she wished such a crowd had been there to support her through it. "There's a lot of hate out there," said Peroxide, who, in another outfit, is a public school teacher. "I'm proud to be a member of the community. I'm proud to be a performer. I'm proud to work with children as well." Inside the restaurant, drag queen storyteller Tara Hoot, decked out in a shimmering green dress, matching green heels, pearls and rainbow earrings, read some of her favorite books, including one she reads at every story hour titled "Be Brave Little One." These were the kinds of events Mayson, who described himself as the gay son of a Pentecostal preacher, had in mind when he opened his restaurant almost two years ago. Mayson has been defending his rights since he came out as gay in 1982, and when he first started going to gay bars, he said the drag queens were the first people to take him under their wings. He has since hosted bingo, trivia, burlesque shows, stand-up comedy, open mic nights and a gospel drag brunch. The drag story times, he noted, are also "not a gay event." He emphasized that most of the audience is heterosexual: cisgender parents choosing to bring their children. Mayson remains resolute in his desire to create a space at Crazy Aunt Helen's that is welcoming for everyone. Or, as he puts it: "We're a neighborhood restaurant that has a lot of fairy magic." "Here we are, again, having to fight for the same rights that we've already secured," Mayson recalled thinking at the event last month. "Now, they're knocking on this door and they're trying to say, 'You can't do what it is you're doing,' even though my neighbors want it. Even though the city is embracing us. And everyone who's coming here is having an amazingly good time." Simon Heil, 25, of Silver Spring, joined the chorus of defenders chanting "I scream! You scream! We all scream for ice cream!" Across the street, a protester used a microphone to tell them: "You are going to hell. But if you repent you can receive salvation." To Heil, they were not fighting the protesters. They were singing and chanting to preserve their own joy. Heil kept thinking of his younger self, he said, the kid who in middle school knew he was trans but did not have the vocabulary for it. When he finally met a trans man while in high school he realized: "Oh, that's me." He looked at the public display of solidarity for the LGBTQ community around him and said he hoped queer or questioning children think: "Maybe I can also be allowed to express myself in a way that doesn't completely match up with how I've been told I should be." He stayed outside as the defenders blasted "Let it Go" from "Frozen," "Friend Like Me" from "Aladdin" and "Under the Sea" from "The Little Mermaid." "My goal, my want for trans kids who are facing so much violence is to be able to dream of living a boring life," Heil said. "That's what I wanted. I wanted to know that there was someone like me who was older who had made it, who had made it to the point where they didn't have to worry about who they were every day." Once the event ended, defenders escorted Kathryn Grandstaff-Bradford, 41, of Alexandria and her 4-year-old daughter away from Crazy Aunt Helen's. Mayson said he has been working with law enforcement and volunteers to increase security measures at the restaurant's next event, scheduled for this weekend. And despite the bomb scare, this March story hour had proceeded safely, too. Grandstaff-Bradford's daughter clutched a unicorn plushie as her mom asked: "Did we have so much fun? Can you say, 'Thank you, Rainbow Brigade'?" "Thank you!" her daughter said. She looked up at the volunteers and smiled. CASTINE, Maine (AP) The 20-year-old driver of sport utility vehicle that crashed into a tree and burst into flames, killing four Maine Maritime Academy students, is facing 17 charges including four counts of manslaughter. Joshua Goncalves-Radding, of North Babylon, New York, was indicted Thursday by a grand jury after investigators concluded he was speeding and under the influence of alcohol at the time of the December crash in Castine, officials said. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas accepted luxury trips around the globe for more than two decades, including travel on a superyacht and private jet, from a prominent Republican donor without disclosing them, according to a new report. ProPublica reported Thursday on an array of trips funded by Harlan Crow, a Dallas businessman. The publication said Thomas typically spends about a week every summer at Crow's private resort in the Adirondacks. It said the justice also has vacationed at Crow's ranch in East Texas and has joined him at the Bohemian Grove, an exclusive all-male retreat in California. ProPublica cited a nine-day trip that Thomas and his wife, Virginia "Ginni" Thomas, took to Indonesia in 2019, shortly after the court released its final opinions of the term. That trip, which included flights on Crow's jet and island-hopping on a superyacht, would have cost the couple more than $500,000 if they had paid for it themselves, the publication said. The report prompted furious reactions from Democrats, some of whom called for Thomas, the court's senior justice, to resign. Republicans either defended Thomas's right to vacation with friends or were silent. Ethics experts disagreed on whether the law or judicial regulations at the time required disclosures of the lavish gifts. If not, some critics said, that is even more reason the Supreme Court should adopt an enforceable code of conduct. That is apparently a topic of discussion among the justices, although the process has been stalled for years. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) vowed in a statement that his panel would take action in response to the ProPublica investigation, calling the report "simply inconsistent with the ethical standards the American people expect of any public servant, let alone a Justice on the Supreme Court." ProPublica said Thomas did not respond to detailed questions about its reporting, and he did not respond to questions from The Washington Post and other media outlets Thursday. Some members of Congress called on Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. to launch an investigation, although his powers to police his life-tenured colleagues are limited. Roberts and a court spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment. In a statement, Crow acknowledged that he has extended "hospitality" to the Thomases "over the years" but said that the couple "never asked for any of this hospitality" and that he has not tried to influence the justice on matters before the court. "We have never asked about a pending or lower court case, and Justice Thomas has never discussed one, and we have never sought to influence Justice Thomas on any legal or political issue," Crow said. "More generally, I am unaware of any of our friends ever lobbying or seeking to influence Justice Thomas on any case, and I would never invite anyone who I believe had any intention of doing that. These are gatherings of friends." It is unclear exactly who attended the gatherings and thus had access to the justice. Crow is an influential donor to Republican candidates and causes related to the law and judiciary. Federal law mandates that top officials from the three branches of government, including the Supreme Court, file annual forms detailing their finances, outside income and spouses' sources of income, with each branch determining its own reporting standards. Judges are prohibited from accepting gifts from anyone with business before the court. Until recently, however, the judicial branch had not clearly defined an exemption for gifts considered "personal hospitality." Revised rules adopted by a committee of the Judicial Conference, the courts' policymaking body, seek to provide a fuller accounting. The rules took effect March 14. Gifts such as an overnight stay at a personal vacation home owned by a friend remain exempt from reporting requirements. But the revised rules require disclosure when judges are treated to stays at commercial properties, such as hotels, ski resorts or other private retreats owned by a company, rather than an individual. The changes also clarify that judges must report travel by private jet. Thomas's trips funded by Crow do not appear on his most recent financial disclosures. Since 2004, Thomas has reported only two gifts: one an award from his alma mater Yale Law School and the other a bust of Frederick Douglass given to him by Crow. Ethics experts and court transparency advocates said Thursday that until the change in the regulations in March, the exemption for "personal hospitality" was ambiguous and Thomas arguably did not have to publicly disclose the free flights on Crow's private jet or his regular stays at Crow's luxury retreat in the Adirondacks. "Justice Thomas could plausibly claim, and I think has claimed (as have others) that so long as an invitation itself came from a 'person,' not a corporation or business entity, it was 'personal hospitality' and he did not need to report it," Stephen Gillers, a legal ethics expert at NYU School of Law, wrote in an email. Even so, Gillers said, "this was not the only reading of the prior rule and some, including me, believe that the exemption from reporting applied only if the person extending the invitation was paying for it personally. That's now the rule." Before the March revisions, private jet transportation could be considered exempt from disclosure if it was provided as part of "personal hospitality." Going forward, judges and justices will have to report any free flights on private jets, in addition to overnight stays at a property owned by "an entity, rather than by an individual." ProPublica reported that the Adirondack property is owned by Crow's company. Gabe Roth, head of the transparency group Fix the Court, said that the new rules do not go far enough and that judges and justices should be subject to the same stricter travel and gift rules that apply to members of Congress. "Remember, if a judge or justice took a flight on a private plane today, the public would not learn about it until their 2023 disclosure comes out, which would be mid-June 2024 at the earliest (assuming the jurist even reported it)," he said in a statement. "Such an unnecessary delay makes real oversight impossible." Durbin and other Democrats renewed calls for the Supreme Court to adopt a strict ethics code that would include a process for investigating alleged misconduct, and some Democrats called on Thomas to resign. "This cries out for the kind of independent investigation that the Supreme Court - and only the Supreme Court, across the entire government - refuses to perform," tweeted Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), who has sponsored legislation that would direct the court to adopt an ethics code and pressed the courts to close the loophole for personal hospitality gifts. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who is chairman of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on financial services and general government, promised to use the appropriations process to ensure the Supreme Court adopts a code of conduct similar to other members of the federal judiciary. "The Supreme Court should have a code of ethics to govern the conduct of its members, and its refusal to adopt such standards has contributed to eroding public confidence in the highest court in the land," Van Hollen said in a statement. "Is Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas corrupt? I don't know," Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), a member of the House leadership team, said in a tweet. "But his secretive actions absolutely have the appearance of corruption. . . . For the good of the country, he should resign." White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment on Thursday. While the wide scope of Crow's funding of Thomas's travel has not been previously reported, the largesse directed at the justice by the billionaire donor has provoked controversy previously. In 2011, the New York Times reported that Crow had done many favors for Thomas and his wife, notably financing the multimillion-dollar purchase and restoration of a cannery in Pin Point, Ga., that was a pet project of the justice. Crow helped finance a Savannah, Ga., library project dedicated to Thomas, presented him with a Bible that belonged to Douglass and reportedly provided $500,000 for Ginni Thomas to start a tea-party-related group. Thomas, who joined the court in 1991, has drawn scrutiny on other ethical issues in recent years, several related to the political activism of his wife. She has been allied with numerous people and groups that have interests before the court, and she has dedicated herself to right-wing causes involving some of the most polarizing issues in the country. Ginni Thomas has privately pressed then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows to pursue efforts to overturn Donald Trump's loss in the 2020 presidential election, and she sent emails urging swing-state lawmakers to set aside Joe Biden's popular-vote victory in awarding electoral votes. When those efforts were revealed by The Post last year, they intensified questions about whether her husband should recuse himself from cases related to the election and attempts to subvert it. The Post also reported last month that a little-known conservative activist group led by Ginni Thomas collected nearly $600,000 in anonymous donations to wage a cultural battle against the left over three years. The previously unreported donations to the fledgling group Crowdsourcing for Culture and Liberty were channeled through a right-wing think tank in Washington that agreed to serve as a funding conduit from 2019 until the start of last year, according to documents and interviews. - - - The Washington Post's Jonathan O'Connell, Ann E. Marimow, Shawn Boburg and Emma Brown contributed to this report. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on Friday said he had been advised "by colleagues and others in the judiciary" that luxury trips financed by a billionaire friend and conservative activist was "personal hospitality" that did not have to be disclosed. Thomas's statement came more than 24 hours after ProPublica reported that he had accepted trips around the globe for more than two decades, including travel on a superyacht and private jet, from Harlan Crow, a Dallas business executive and influential donor to causes related to the law and judiciary. In the statement issued through the court's public information office, Thomas said Harlan and Kathy Crow were among the "dearest friends" of the justice and his wife, Virginia "Ginni" Thomas. "As friends do, we have joined them on a number of family trips during the more than quarter century we have known them," Thomas said in the statement. "Early in my tenure at the Court, I sought guidance from my colleagues and others in the judiciary, and was advised that this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable." Federal law mandates that top officials from the three branches of government, including the Supreme Court, file annual forms detailing their finances, outside income and spouses' sources of income, with each branch determining its own reporting standards. Judges are prohibited from accepting gifts from anyone with business before the court. Until recently, however, the judicial branch had not clearly defined an exemption for gifts considered "personal hospitality." Thomas noted that just last month, a committee of the Judicial Conference, the courts' policymaking body, revised those rules to be more specific. Gifts such as an overnight stay at a personal vacation home owned by a friend remain exempt from reporting requirements. But the revised rules require disclosure when judges are treated to stays at commercial properties, such as hotels, ski resorts or other private retreats owned by a company, rather than an individual. The changes also clarify that judges must report travel by private jet, although some ethics experts said the law already anticipated that. In his statement, Thomas noted this "new guidance." "And, it is, of course, my intent to follow this guidance in the future," he said. But his statement did not satisfy critics. Stephen Gillers, a law professor and ethics expert at New York University who had earlier said the wording of previous disclosure regulations could be seen as ambiguous, nevertheless called it "breathtaking" for Thomas to "blame" unnamed judges. "Despite the seven-figure dollar value of Crow's hospitality over the decades, Thomas apparently did no independent research at the time or in ensuing years to ensure that he was acting lawfully," Gillers wrote in an email. "Yet that was his personal responsibility under the Ethics in Government Act, which he abdicated." ProPublica reported Thursday on an array of trips funded by Crow, saying Thomas typically spends about a week every summer at Crow's private resort in the Adirondacks. It said the justice also has vacationed at Crow's ranch in East Texas and has joined him at the Bohemian Grove, an exclusive all-male retreat in California. It cited a nine-day trip that the Thomases took to Indonesia in 2019, shortly after the court released its final opinions of the term. That trip, which included flights on Crow's jet and island-hopping on a superyacht, would have cost the couple more than $500,000 if they had paid for it themselves, the publication said. It is unclear exactly who attended the gatherings and thus had access to the justice. The report prompted furious reactions from Democrats, some of whom called for Thomas, the court's senior justice, to resign. Republicans either defended Thomas's right to vacation with friends or were silent. Thomas's one-paragraph statement left questions unanswered. The justice has said he became friends with Crow after his appointment to the Supreme Court in 1991, and it is unclear which of his colleagues or other judges he turned to for advice. None of his colleagues from the time remain on the court. And Thomas did report one private jet trip with Crow to the Bohemian Grove retreat in California. But after a Los Angeles Times report in 2004 on how Thomas was the court's leader in reporting gifts, there was a drastic change in the justice's reporting. During the past 18 years, Thomas has reported receiving just two gifts, according to a Washington Post review of his financial disclosure forms: One was an award from his alma mater, Yale Law School, and the other a bronze bust of Frederick Douglass given to him by Crow that's valued at $6,484.12. It is just one of many kindnesses shown to Thomas by the Crows. Over the years, news reports show, the business executive and his wife have funded a library wing in Thomas's honor in the justice's hometown, turned a cannery where Thomas's mother once worked into a museum, contributed to organizations connected to Ginni Thomas, a conservative activist, and financed a documentary about Thomas. In a statement, Crow said that the couple "never asked for any of this hospitality" and that he has not tried to influence the justice on matters before the court. "We believe Justice Thomas to be one of the greatest Americans of our time, and we believe it is important to make sure as many people as possible learn about him, remember him, and understand the ideals for which he stands," Crow said in the statement to ProPublica. "We will continue to support projects that advance this goal." Ethics experts and court transparency advocates said Thursday that until the change in the regulations in March, the exemption for "personal hospitality" could be read as ambiguous, and they were divided on when private air travel needed to be reported. But critics said the extravagant travel provided by the Crows - described by Thomas as "family trips" - showed the need for a specific code of conduct for the Supreme Court. The justices for years have discussed such a code, without reaching agreement. ProPublica reported that Mark Paoletta, a lawyer and friend who has defended the Thomases, paid for his portion of one of the Crow-sponsored trips because he was a lawyer for a government agency at the time, and executive branch rules prohibited accepting the trip as a gift. It is unclear why Thomas delayed responding to the ProPublica report, but it is characteristic of the life-tenured justices' reaction when questioned by the media or even members of Congress. The news organization said Thomas did not respond to detailed questions about its reporting in advance of publication. He similarly did not responds to questions from The Post and other media outlets Thursday. Some members of Congress on Thursday called on Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. to launch an investigation, although Roberts's powers to police his colleagues are limited. Roberts and a court spokeswoman have not responded to a request for comment. When the court in January released a report saying it could not identify with certainty the person who leaked to Politico a draft of the court's opinion in a case that overturned Roe v. Wade, there were immediate questions because the report was silent on whether the justices themselves were interviewed by investigators. The court waited a day before disclosing that the court's members participated in interviews but did not sign sworn affidavits, as others were required to do. - - - The Washington Post's John Wagner contributed to this report. A felony statute criminalizing obstruction of government proceedings can be used to prosecute members of the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, a federal appeals court ruled Friday. The decision empowers prosecutors pursuing hundreds of cases involving participants in the Capitol riot, while blessing an interpretation of the law that both judges and lawmakers have argued applies to former president Donald Trump. But it also split the three-judge panel and left key questions open for future court challenges. Judge Florence Y. Pan, a President Biden appointee, and Judge Justin Walker, a Trump appointee, ruled together for the government, despite a partial disagreement. Judge Gregory G. Katsas, also a Trump appointee, dissented. While federal guidelines generally call for far lower sentences, obstruction of an official proceeding carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison. A misdemeanor conviction for trespassing or illegally demonstrating in the Capitol garners a sentence of a year at most. The House committee that investigated Jan. 6 urged the Justice Department to prosecute Trump himself of obstructing Congress, and a grand jury in D.C. is investigating the former president's efforts to stay in power after losing the 2020 election. A federal judge in California has written that Trump "more likely than not" committed the obstruction crime by summoning a crowd to march on Congress. While its impact is expansive, the ruling hinges on a narrow question - what the word "otherwise" means in the context of a law written in the wake of the Enron scandal, which involved document-shredding by the company's accountants. The Corporate Fraud Accountability Act of 2002 holds that anyone who "corruptly- (1) alters, destroys, mutilates, or conceals a record, document, or other object, or attempts to do so, with the intent to impair the object's integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding; or (2) otherwise obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding, or attempts to do so" can be punished. Never before has the law been used outside of the context of evidence in a criminal or civil investigation. But 14 of the judges overseeing riot-related cases in D.C. federal court agreed with the government that rioters who sought to keep Congress from certifying Biden's victory were "otherwise" obstructing that proceeding. One, Trump appointee, Judge Carl J. Nichols, ruled that "otherwise" could only refer to other kinds of document-tampering, setting up the disagreement resolved by Friday's decision. Pan, writing for the majority, called Nichols's ruling a "cramped, document-focused interpretation" that ignored the plain meaning of the words in the statute. "We cannot assume, and think it unlikely, that Congress used expansive language to address such narrow concerns," she wrote. "We must accept, and think it far more likely, that Congress said what it meant and meant what it said." Defense attorneys argued that such a broad reading would put many otherwise law-abiding activists at risk of lengthy felony sentences, a position Katsas endorsed. While the riot involved "extreme conduct" not protected by the First Amendment, Katsas wrote, a "peaceful protestor in the Senate gallery" could be convicted of a felony under this interpretation for trespassing while exercising free speech rights. He argued that the law can apply beyond documents but only to people who "hinder the flow of truthful evidence to a proceeding." Pan and Walker agreed that such concerns were alleviated by the law's requirement that a person act "corruptly." But that word caused its own disagreement in the court. Pan said it was unnecessary to define "corruptly," because the rioters' conduct fits "any proposed definition." Walker disagreed, saying "we must define that mental state to make sense of" the law. Walker said acting "corruptly" means "with an intent to procure an unlawful benefit either for himself or for some other person." In this case, he said, the government could easily argue that the crime was "an attempt to help Donald Trump unlawfully secure a professional advantage - the presidency." "Many obstruction convictions are in serious jeopardy," said Ed Ungvarsky, who represents multiple Jan. 6 defendants. "The government pushed those cases forward on an untried legal theory and liberal reading of statute; the split shows that judges don't necessarily agree with them." That split will likely be revisited soon; another Jan. 6 defendant, former police officer Thomas Robertson, has appealed his felony obstruction conviction over the definition of "corruptly." And Walker argues that his definition "may" be the one binding on lower courts, because it is narrower than Pan's and was critical to his joining the majority. Pan disagrees, but that contention paves the way for people found guilty under the obstruction statute to argue their convictions are invalid because the wrong definition was used. It's also not clear how the ruling would apply in cases not involving violence; all three defendants who appealed are accused of assaulting police, and it was those allegations that the court found "clearly meets the test of independently unlawful conduct." About 150 people have already been convicted under the obstruction charge for participation in the Jan. 6 riot; even more are awaiting trial. Five prominent members of the far-right Proud Boys group, including its former chairman, are currently on trial accused of obstructing Congress along with other crimes. At a trial in the fall, three associates of Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes were acquitted of engaging in a seditious conspiracy but convicted of obstructing an official proceeding. The charge has also been used successfully against other Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, including individuals who never went inside the Capitol. - - - The Washington Post's Spencer S. Hsu contributed to this report. MILFORD A former Oxford woman arrested after the 2020 overdose death of her infant son could be spared prison time in the case if she stays off drugs for the next five years. If not, 37-year-old Rebecca Dixon, who her lawyer said had used heroin for close to 20 years, could face up to a decade in prison under the terms of a plea deal she agreed to Wednesday. The prosecutor in the case, Supervisory Assistant States Attorney Howard Stein, said that he agreed to offer Dixon the deal because she has stayed clean for nearly two years and is agreeing to waive any right to have a five-year probation term end early. I did not make that decision lightly, Stein said. Miss Dixon has earned it, and I hope that she does not disappoint the trust we have all put in her by losing sight of where she is today and what is in store for her in the future. We intend to monitor Miss Dixon and her continued sobriety for a full five years, the prosecutor said. And if she violates our trust she will have 10 years of jail time hanging over her head. Dixon was charged with second-degree manslaughter after her son, who was three weeks shy of his first birthday, died in her Blue Ridge Terrace home July 6, 2020. His cause of death was acute intoxication due to the combined effects of fentanyl and morphine, with recent cocaine exposure, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. It was unclear exactly how the baby ingested the drugs. The childs death is one among a wave of infant overdoses involving fentanyl across the nation. Investigators found evidence of drug use in the home, and a blood sample taken voluntarily from Dixon contained more than six different substances, including fentanyl, morphine, cocaine and benzodiazapines, the warrant said. Dixon was jailed briefly following her arrest before her family posted a $75,000 bond for her to enter a drug treatment program in November 2020. But after a relapse in January 2021, Judge Peter Brown ordered her bond raised and she was jailed again for about six months. In August 2021, Dixon pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter under the terms of a deal calling for a 10-year prison sentence to be suspended after up to five years or get a suspended sentence if she did well in rehab following her release on a promise to appear in court. Dixon has done well since, Stein said, and relocated to Florida to continue treatment. We have a two-year proven track record that Miss Dixon seems to be able to hold herself together, he said, noting she had no prior convictions. The prosecutor said that Dixon has already suffered a profound loss as a result of her drug use. My ultimate belief is that there is not anything the state of Connecticut or the criminal justice system could possibly do to Miss Dixon at this point that would be any greater penalty than what she has suffered in the loss of her child, Stein said. At this point in time if she does not get the consequences of this behavior I do not believe there is anything I could possibly do to drive home that message to her more. Dixons lawyer, Tim Sullivan, agreed. The easy decision would have been to lock her up and throw away the key, he said. Every conversation weve had about this case has usually ended up with her in a ball of tears. The judge then granted his request to vacate Dixons prior manslaughter plea and instead plead guilty to risk of injury to a minor. Both crimes are Class C felonies punishable by up to 10 years behind bars, Stein noted. This has been a difficult journey, Sullivan said, adding that Dixon works part-time cleaning houses and continues to do well in drug treatment. I think this is the appropriate decision. It allows her to continue on this journey to get away from what was essentially two decades of heroin use. The judge continued the case to June 28. There is a lot to be said and there will be a lot more said at sentencing, Brown said. I believe that this is the correct way to proceed in this matter. "Post Reports" is the daily podcast from The Washington Post. Unparalleled reporting. Expert insight. Clear analysis. Everything you've come to expect from the newsroom of The Post - for your ears. - - - In this episode: As the United States is getting more diverse, the opposite has been happening in American cities over the past decade. In some cities, local governments have invested more money in public infrastructure such as parks and transportation to attract residents as developers have built new upscale apartment buildings. Based on an analysis of census data by The Post, Marissa Lang and her colleagues took a closer look at four U.S. cities to understand the different ways that gentrification is changing life for residents. One of these cities was Denver, where Marissa spent time with politicians and residents who are fighting to prevent displacement and heard about what it's been like to see their city change rapidly in shape and demographics. The Proud Boys leader who learned of his upcoming arrest from a D.C. police lieutenant days before the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol was in regular contact with the officer over the prior 15 months, according to evidence entered in federal court this week. Enrique Tarrio, then chairman of the far-right extremist group, repeatedly shared outlines of members' plans in D.C. and elsewhere at the request of Shane Lamond, a 22-year veteran of the D.C. police department, according to text exchanges read by Tarrio's defense in his trial on seditious conspiracy charges with four other Proud Boys leaders. Tarrio argues that his relationship with Lamond showed there was no Proud Boys conspiracy to oppose police or federal authority, or plan to disrupt Congress's confirmation of Joe Biden's 2020 election victory on Jan. 6. Exchanges highlighted by the defense show Lamond forwarded his information to his D.C. police command, a Virginia State Police contact, and even U.S. Capitol Police. But prosecutors say the bulk of the exchanges occurred long before the alleged conspiracy, triggered by Donald Trump's call in mid-December 2020 for supporters enraged by his false and inflammatory claims that the presidential election was stolen to attend a "wild" rally in Washington as Congress met. U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly has previously said in court that other conversations between the officer and Tarrio cited by prosecutors revealed a "closeness" and "inappropriateness" that undercut Tarrio's defense. The exchanges, the judge said, show how much the then-head of intelligence for the D.C. police was sharing with Tarrio, even as prosecutors allege Tarrio was hiding their actual intentions, particularly after a Proud Boys member was stabbed in Washington following another pro-Trump rally on Dec. 12, 2020. Lamond remains under federal investigation for his exchanges with Tarrio. He has not been charged with a crime but has been unavailable to testify at the seditious conspiracy trial, invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Tarrio's defense secured prosecutors' agreement to allow the jury to view the additional text exchanges Thursday in the ongoing trial. Lamond's attorney, Mark E. Schamel, has said that his client's only contact with outside groups was part of his duties and that he stands against anyone engaged in criminal activity and those who support overturning a valid election. In an email, Schamel said, "To the extent that Lt. Lamond collected information from any group, he shared it with his colleagues at MPD and other police agencies. As it is clear from the evidence offered at trial, nobody told Lt. Lamond they were coming to DC to attempt an armed insurrection and he has done nothing to assist any of those who have harmed [our] great city." The 46 court exhibits center on about two dozen exchanges between the two men beginning Oct. 24, 2019, with Lamond asking, "Enrique, what's going on brother?" and ending on Dec. 12, 2020, with Lamond confirming the Proud Boys plans at another pro-Trump rally in Washington that day. Amid the ensuing violence between Proud Boys and left-wing activists, several people were stabbed, and Tarrio was eventually arrested entering D.C. on Jan. 4, 2021, for his part in burning a Black Lives Matter flag stolen from a historic African American church. Earlier, from November 2019 to September 2020, Lamond generally asked briefly about the Proud Boys plans in Washington and Richmond, and Tarrio tersely obliged, confirming or denying on a half-dozen instances. As the group's activity increased, Lamond asked Tarrio about whether other high-profile individuals would join them, such as at a July 4, 2020, celebration in Washington. They also discussed Tarrio's events elsewhere in the country, such as on Sept. 22, when ahead of a Proud Boys event in Portland, Ore., Lamond gave Tarrio the name of a law enforcement counterpart, a Washington County sheriff's deputy serving on the FBI's local Joint Terrorism Task Force. Lamond and Tarrio remained on cordial terms through Election Day, talking about getting drinks after Tarrio did a "small pop up" event with fewer than 20 Black Republican club members near CNN's offices in Washington. "Perfect. I'm going to let SOD [Special Operations Division] know for their awareness so they don't freak out," Lamond replied. "And we def have to catch up for drinks before you leave." Lamond shared Tarrio's tips with his superiors and law enforcement contacts. "Didn't want to put this in email but just spoke with ET. He is coming this weekend and he expects approx 150-200 PBs for Saturday's event," Lamond told a Virginia State Police trooper ahead of a Nov. 14 Million MAGA March. He told Tarrio their communications were for his own good - that the more the Proud Boys cooperated with police, the safer they would be. On Nov. 10, Lamond wrote to Tarrio: "That's why I keep hitting you up for your plans. I don't want you to think that I/we are keeping tabs on you guys, but the more details we have about your plans the better we can plan to keep separation between the groups [of demonstrators]." But Lamond also seemed to conceal their dealings. "Need to switch to encrypted," he wrote to Tarrio on Nov. 7, according to earlier messages played by the government, warning him: "Alerts are being sent out to LE that Parler accounts belonging to your people are talking about mobilizing and 'taking back the country'. Getting people spun up." That day, according to the government, Lamond told a Pentagon security official, "Still no issues here. Some chatter about PB mobilizing and calling for violent action. Spoke with my source - totally fake news and taken out of context. Source is aware of gatherings in Michigan and Phoenix but calling for peaceful protest." Lamond repeated to D.C. police superiors on Dec. 19, "From my source about Jan. 6, if we do [come] it'll be extremely small and not in colors. No-night march." Lamond echoed the same on Jan. 1 to Capitol Police's intelligence division head, Jack Donohue, saying: "Enrique and his 'exec staff' are coming dressed in all black but I think dressed up, not like antifa." Donohue did not rely entirely on Lamond's information, Capitol Police have disclosed. "Supporters of the current president see Jan. 6, 2021, as the last opportunity to overturn the results of the presidential election," Donohue's division concluded a final threat assessment on Jan. 3. "This sense of desperation and disappointment may lead to more of an incentive to become violent. The targets of the pro-Trump supporters are not necessarily the counterprotesters as they were previously, but rather Congress itself is the target on the 6th." An elderly California man is back to cycling across the city after his bike was stolen a few weeks ago. Cecil Quillan, 74, bikes everywhere, and it is his only way of getting around since he has a hard time walking. One day in early March, Quillan went to pick up a few groceries, but when he came back outside, his locked bike was nowhere to be found. "I was only in there a couple of minutes. I went out and they had snapped the cable with the bolt cutters," Quillan said. Sacramento police officers Joey Schock, Ken Napper and Pedro Vazquez were inside the store at the same time Quillan was, so Quillan asked them for help. "We took a bike theft report for him. We viewed some camera footage to see if we could get any clues of what happened. We checked the area for the bike. Unfortunately, we were unable to locate it," Schock said. Schock and the other officers drove Quillan home so he could put his groceries away. Quillan said what happened next was a huge surprise: They brought him a brand-new bike. "I couldnt even believe that. That was really nice," Quillan said. Schock said he and the other officers contacted the Sacramento Police Department's outreach team in order to get Quillan a new bike. Police told sister station KCRA that in 2019, the department was awarded a $15,000 grant through the Union Pacific Railroad and a $10,000 grant through the Sacramento County District Attorney's office, and those funds went toward purchasing approximately 150 bicycles, locks and helmets per year, which are given directly to community members in need. In this case, Quillan was a community member in need. "They were able to provide a bike for Cecil, so once we got all that situated, we went and picked it up and brought it back to him and were able to get him back something that he could use for transportation. Its the right thing to do," Schock said. "It was nice seeing how excited he was, because I know it was hard for him to get around." Now, Quillan is back on two wheels, and he is beyond thankful for the help he received. "I can't thank them enough. They were there for me," Quillan said. ChiccoDodiFC/Getty Images/iStockphoto AUSTIN, Texas (AP) A U.S. Army sergeant was convicted of murder for fatally shooting an armed protester in 2020 during nationwide protests against police violence and racial injustice, a Texas jury ruled Friday. Sgt. Daniel Perry was working for a ride-sharing company in July 2020 when he turned onto a street and into a large crowd of demonstrators in downtown Austin. In video that was streamed live on Facebook, a car can be heard honking before several shots ring out and protesters begin screaming and scattering. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has officially apologized for calling downtown Houston 'butt ugly,' according to Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, who said the two chatted on the phone Thursday afternoon. "A couple of moments ago, I spoke with Connecticuts @GovNedLamont and we both had a good conversation. The Governor apologized for the remarks he made about #Houston following the #FinalFour. I accepted his apology and again congratulated his @UConnMBB team on their victory," he wrote. Lamont's personal call to Turner comes after a day of criticism from Houstonians, who were shocked and disgusted that the Connecticut governor would criticize their city. "You walk around downtown Houston, which is butt ugly, not much there," Lamont said in a Wednesday radio interview with WPLR after visiting the Bayou City for the NCAA Final Four tournament. Everyone from Texas politicians to sports commentators and Houstonians from all walks of life clapped back at the governor for his comments. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz advised Lamont to "stay classy" while Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo invited the Connecticut governor for a personal tour so she could show him all the Houston spots he missed. Turner, on the other hand, had a different reaction. "Oh, hell no!" Turner said in a Wednesday interview with KHOU. "We not gon feed you, dine you, host you, house you, clean up after you, and then you win, and then you're going to go back and talk about but ugly which end was he looking from." Nonetheless, it seems the two politicians have made peace. Lamont has not addressed his comments publicly. A Houston-area school district is investigating one of its teachers after the educator allegedly singled out the lone Black student in class to play the role of a slave during a social studies lesson. A student at Kahla Middle School, part of Cy-Fair ISD, was "singled out Thursday during a lesson about slavery," the student's parent told KHOU 11's Brittany Ford. "The parent also claims it wasnt the first time," according to Ford. The teacher also made "inappropriate comments about the confederate flag during class," the parent told KHOU 11's Ford. Houston-based civil rights activist Quanell X elaborated on the alleged roleplay lesson, telling Ford that the teacher was "Using the analogy with her daughter about a slave auction, using the analogy with her daughter about how she could be captured, how the teacher could take her to the south and sell her," Ford reported Thursday. "No student present should have been used as an example to teach any part of this lesson," the mother told Ford. "It was uncalled for, it was unnecessary, it was damaging and hurtful." the mother continued. "I wanted you to know that we have been made aware of allegations involving a staff member and improper role-playing during a social studies lesson. We are thoroughly investigating these allegations, and the staff member will not be on campus prior to the outcome of this investigation," Kahla Middle School's principal said in a statement, according to KHOU 11. "We look forward to a swift resolution to this matter and remain committed to providing a respectful, safe and supportive learning environment for our students. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please reach out to me," the principal continued in the statement. In a lengthy Thursday session, Texas lawmakers in the House of Representatives voted in favor of an amendment that would exclude school vouchers from the state budget. The 86-52 vote signals the tough opposition facing Senate Bill 8Gov. Greg Abbott's top legislative priority for the current session. Senate Bill 8 would create a program for parents to use state funds to pay for their children to go to private school. The measure would provide $8,000 in taxpayer money for "education saving accounts" for any families who want to use it for private school tuition, books and supplies. On the same day as the House's vote against school vouchers, state senators led by Lt.Gov. Dan Patrick approved the school voucher proposal in their budget meetings. On Thursday the Senate passed the bill 18-13 along party lines, with Jacksonville Sen. Robert Nichols marked as the only Republican to vote against it. According to Texas law, the bill is required to be approved by both chambers before making its way to Abbott's desk for the final sign-off. Nonetheless, Abbott has decided to continue his school voucher tour, according to The Texas Tribune's Patrick Svitek. In a tweet Friday morning, Svitek said he received an email from the Texas Public Policy Foundation announcing that Abbott is scheduled to speak in favor of vouchers at a "Parent Empowerment Night" in San Antonio on Thursday, April 13. Houston-area Sen. Brandon Creighton R-Conroe, the author of Senate Bill 8, said his bill empowers parents financially. "Parental involvement is the most significant factor for student success, and as lawmakers, its our responsibility to ensure that parents are connected and engaged in their childrens education, he said. On the other hand, Houston Democrats have said they think that public taxpayer dollars should be used for funding public schools. "Public schools also have strict state requirements and testing benchmarks tied to the school district's success and failure," Sen.Borris Miles said in a statement. "Private schools do not have these same requirements. They can discriminate against students for a number of reasons, including a disability. The majority of the students educated in urban areas, like my district, are students of color. To give private schools special treatment and no-strings attached public dollars is unconscionable." Plainview Rotarians held their weekly meeting at noon Tuesday, April 4, at the PISD Board Room, 2411 Yonkers. Guests included Rotary Students of the Month Caleb Haines and Sterling Berry. Santiago Riano Hernandez and Yoherlian Molina (visiting Rotarians from Waylands Rotoract Club) attended. Garret Bush, a Wayland baseball player and Exercise Management major, and Wayland graduate student Fany Smith, also visited. In addition, past club president in 1977-78 Mike Howell rejoined the club as an active Rotarian. Leslie Gattis reminded us about the District Conference in Lubbock on May 5-7 Rotarians can sign up at the District 5730 website. The Rotaract Club will volunteer at Snak Packs for Kids this week. This weeks program was presented by Tanya Hall, a member of the Sunshine Coast Rotary Club in British Columbia, Canada. We first met Tanya at the Rotary International Convention in Houston last June. Her compelling story convinced us to arrange a Zoom program. After the pandemic Tanya, who owns a small paint contractor company, embarked on a 100 Days of Service trip that took her from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to Bogota, Columbia. During her trek she completed many service projects in Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama, and Columbia. Most of the projects involved painting. She trained many people in how to properly apply paint to buildings. Her projects included schools, youth care facilities, a police station, community centers, and, perhaps the most interesting, a prison. The Central Prison in Belize is the small countrys only prison. The operating board of 12 members includes nine Rotarians. This board has completely revamped the day-to-day operations of the prison, instituting policies to treat everyone like a human being. The Rotary 4-Way Test is being applied to both the prisoners and the staff. This has been transformative. Tanya trained 10 female inmates in painting skills and awarded them a Certificate as a trained, professional painter. In Bogota, Columbia she gathered a team to paint a home for young cancer patients. The children normally reside there for several months during their treatments. Tanya raised all of the funds to purchase the materials with the help of Rotarians in Canada, Mexico, and the other countries she visited. She even acquired enough funding to get computers for the children in the cancer center so their schooling would not be interrupted any more than necessary. Tanya Hall fully embodies the Rotary Motto of Service Above Self. Following the meeting, the club dismissed and looked to the community for ways to Imagine Rotary through Service Above Self. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said Friday he was not required to disclose the many trips he and his wife took that were paid for by Republican megadonor Harlan Crow. Describing Crow and his wife, Kathy, as among our dearest friends, Thomas said in a statement that he was advised by colleagues on the nation's highest court and others in the federal judiciary that this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable. Thomas did not name the other justices or those in the judiciary with whom he had consulted. The nonprofit investigative journalism organization ProPublica reported Thursday that Thomas, who has been a justice for more than 31 years, has for more than two decades accepted luxury trips from Crow nearly every year. Thomas, 74, and his wife, Virginia, have traveled on Crows yacht and private jet as well as stayed at his private resort in New York's Adirondack Mountains, ProPublica reported. A 2019 trip to Indonesia the story detailed could have cost more than $500,000 had Thomas chartered the plane and yacht himself. Supreme Court justices, like other federal judges, are required to file an annual financial disclosure report which asks them to list gifts they have received, but provides exemptions for hospitality from friends. Ethics experts have offered conflicting views about whether Thomas was required to disclose the trips. Last month, the federal judiciary bolstered disclosure requirements for all judges, including the high court justices, although overnight stays at personal vacation homes owned by friends remain exempt from disclosure. New York University law professor Stephen Gillers, an authority on legal ethics, said Thomas' statement is an abdication of his responsibility under ethics guidelines. Thomas is shamelessly seeking to shift the blame for his failure to report Crows princely hospitality to advice he allegedly received from other Justices when he joined the court more than 30 years ago. Most of them are now dead and, conveniently, cannot contradict him, Gillers wrote in an email. Charles Geyh, a law professor at Indiana University who studies judicial ethics, wrote in an email that he doubts any justice would have advised Thomas against disclosure if he had laid out the details in ProPublica's report, hundreds of thousands of dollars in luxurious travel and accommodations at exotic locales spanning decades, from a benefactor who has a deeply rooted partisan and ideological interest in the future of the Court on which the justice sits. University of Pittsburgh ethics expert Arthur Hellman said that even if Thomas could reasonably have believed he did not have to report Crow's gifts, he still should have. It would have been preferable in the sense of public confidence in the courts if he had disclosed, Hellman said. Thomas, the longest-serving member of the court, said he has always tried to comply with disclosure guidelines. Regarding the recent changes, It is, of course, my intent to follow this guidance in the future, he said in the statement. The new reporting requirements appear to cover almost all the travel and lodging Crow provided, Hellman said. The mere need to disclose could make judges more reluctant to accept the gifts in the first place, he said. If I had to predict, Id say Justice Thomas will be seeing less of Harlan Crow's luxurious properties, Hellman said. Democratic lawmakers said the ProPublica story was the latest illustration of why the Supreme Court should adopt an ethics code and further tighten the rules on travel and other gifts. It is by no means clear that the justices will agree to subject themselves to an ethics code or that Congress will seek to impose one on the court. Thomas did not refer to any individual trips paid for by Crow. But he said, As friends do, we have joined them on a number of family trips during the more than quarter century we have known them. Last year, questions about Thomas ethics arose when it was disclosed that he did not step away from election cases following the 2020 election despite the fact that his wife, a conservative activist, reached out to lawmakers and the Trump White House to urge defiance of the election results. WASHINGTON (AP) Top sanctions officials from the U.S. Treasury Department plan special international trips this month to pressure firms and countries still doing business with Russia to cut off financial ties because of the war on Ukraine. The message is that those working with Russias government must decide: 1. Continue to provide Moscow with material support or 2. Keep doing business with countries that represent 50 percent of the global economy. Those are the choices to be laid out, senior Treasury officials told reporters on a call Friday. They spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the travel plans. Treasury officials Liz Rosenberg and Brian Nelson specialists in sanctions and terrorist financing will travel to Europe this month to meet with leaders of financial institutions in Switzerland, Italy and Germany. They plan to share intelligence on potential sanctions evaders and to warn of the potential penalties for failure to comply with international sanctions. Rosenberg will also make a stop in the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan to urge the country's private businesses not to provide material or intelligence support to the Kremlin. Earlier this year, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Kazakhstan to pledge U.S. support for its independence and to stress the importance of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence. Central Asian states have been neutral on Ukraine, neither supporting Russias invasion nor U.S. and Western condemnations of the war. Senior Treasury officials on Friday pointed to Russia's slowing economic growth as a sign that efforts to sanction Russian oligarchs and large swaths of the Russian economy have been successful. The value of the ruble also is falling. Officials credit the oil price cap plan that was rolled out at the end of 2022 among Group of Seven countries in an effort to clamp down on Vladimir Putins access to cash as he wages war on Ukraine. The countries have agreed to pay $60 per barrel for Russian oil. The intention is to deprive Putin of money to keep prosecuting the war while still allowing oil to flow out of Russia and help to keep global prices low. Thus far, the U.S. and allies have directly sanctioned more than 2,500 Russian firms, government officials, oligarchs and their families. The sanctions block them from access to American bank accounts and financial markets, preventing them from doing business with Americans, traveling to the U.S. and more. On the anniversary of the invasion, the U.S. began taking aim at entities that helped Russia evade earlier rounds of sanctions. Russias metals and mining sectors are also among those targeted in what Treasury has called one of the most significant sanctions actions to date. NEW ORLEANS (AP) Unjustified use of force, dangerous vehicle pursuits and racially biased policing continue to be problems for the New Orleans Police Department, the U.S. Justice Department said in a Friday court filing, opposing the city's move to terminate a decade-old court-backed reform agreement. The city has made progress in turning itself around, Justice Department lawyers said. But progress towards compliance is not the same as full and effective compliance that has proven durable, Friday's court filing said. The pact, known as a consent decree," was negotiated in 2012, after a harshly critical Justice Department review of the long-troubled police department. It came after the deaths of unarmed civilians in the chaotic aftermath of levee failures during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan approved the decree in 2013. It is one of nearly two dozen such consent decrees in cities around the country. Mayor LaToya Cantrells administration now is trying to get the city released from the agreement, which governs a wide array of issues, including recruiting, training, discipline and use of force. An independent monitor keeps track of the police force's compliance with the reforms. Cantrell, a Democrat, has argued that the bureaucratic demands imposed by the agreement add to the expense and workload on an understaffed police force. And she has said that most of the reform requirements have been met. But, while lauding the city's efforts at compliance, and its self-reporting of problems, the Justice filing said there is still work to be done. "NOPDs own files, along with the Monitors reports, reveal that the City is out of compliance with key sections of the Decree," the filing said. NOPD officers have used unjustified force, engaged in dangerous pursuits, and failed to justify pat-downs. Friday's filing did not site examples of unjustified, deadly police gunfire, such as the post-Katrina shootings that left two dead at the city's Danziger Bridge. But it said a police department review board has fallen behind in investigating officers use of force. When the Review Board did conduct hearings, the findings were troubling, the filing said. According to the Office of the Independent Police Monitor, the Review Board determined that 17 of the 28 serious uses of force by NOPD officers in 2021 61 percent were not justified. The filing specifically cited a police officer's use of a Taser on an unarmed man who had his hands raised and was wanted only for a municipal summons. The police department's own assessment of bias in its enforcement found that white drivers were less likely to be asked to get out of their cars during traffic stops, the Justice Department said. New Orleans has the opportunity to seek changes to the consent decree, according to the Justice Department. Because the City can obtain the relief it seeks by simply filing a motion to enforce its interpretation of the Consent Decree, it cannot show that complete termination of the Decree is appropriate, let alone required, Justice Department lawyers said. Morgan, who continues to oversee the reform effort, has repeatedly praised the city's progress. But, in recent months, she has expressed concerns that workforce and resource shortages at the police department could undermine reforms. The department has fewer than 1,000 officers down from more than 1,300 a few years ago. Friday's filing by the Justice Department comes as Morgan and Cantrell's administration continue a legal back-and-forth over public hearings related to the decree. Morgan cancelled a public meeting about the reform agreement at a local university last week after Cantrell said she wouldn't allow police officials to speak there, saying preparation for the meeting was a needless drain on police time and resources. On Monday, Morgan followed up with an order that interim police Chief Michelle Woodfork and other officials appear at a hearing in her courtroom next week. She said they should prepare to provide information on issues, including the Alternative Police Response program, a plan to improve police emergency response by using non-officers to handle some types of nonemergency matters. On Thursday, the city asked the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to cancel Morgan's order. The city's motion repeatedly refers to next week's hearing as a court-ordered press conference. It said that in ordering the hearing, Morgan overstepped the authority she has as the judge overseeing the consent decree. A 5th Circuit panel on Friday put off an immediate ruling but did put Morgan's order regarding the meeting on a temporary hold. The panel ordered the Justice Department to respond to the city's motion by noon Monday. ___ This story has been corrected to show that the post-Katrina shootings left two dead at the citys Danziger Bridge, not four. Chinese hybrid rice boosts rice supply in Madagascar 11:03, April 07, 2023 By Yan Yunming ( People's Daily Over an hour's drive away from Antananarivo, capital city of Madagascar, there lies Fiadanakely village, Mahitsy, a town northwest of the capital. Rice in the vast paddy fields was earring as breezes brushed against the green seedlings. Dina, a 44-year-old rice grower in the village, was checking the growth of her crops on the ridge fields. "We will reap the rice a month later," she said, expressing her confidence in a harvest. Photo shows the demonstration fields of hybrid rice varieties in Mahitsy, a town northwest of Antananarivo, Madagascar. (People's Daily/Yan Yunming) The rice grown by Dina was a hybrid variety tailored by Chinese experts for local farmers, which featured high productivity, high quality and multi-resistance. Dina started growing the variety in a trial planting in 2017 when Madagascar agricultural technicians and Chinese experts came to the village to promote hybrid rice technologies. According to her, the field for testing could only harvest 300 kilograms of rice in the past, and the woman didn't have much expectation for the Chinese hybrid rice, especially in a dry year. However, she ended up reaping more than 900 kilograms of rice on the lot. Tina could still remember the surprise even years later. After the testing, Dina planted Chinese hybrid rice on all her land. In the beginning, Dina knew little about the growing techniques of hybrid rice. "Chinese experts taught us hand in hand to sow and transplant in a scientific way. No matter what problems we had, be it droughts, waterlogging or insect attacks, they would always offer timely help for us," Dina told People's Daily. She said that due to local climate conditions, the rice yield was low in the past and could only feed her family for less than six months each year. She still had to spend a lot of money on buying food. "Now, our rice yield has improved from 3 tons to nearly 10 tons per hectare, and we would still have a surplus of 800 kilograms of grain at the year's end. We sell the rice at 1,300 ariary ($0.3) per kilogram, and that makes our main family income," Dina noted. She told People's Daily that growing Chinese hybrid rice has led her family to a better life. The increased income afforded the family a newly-built two-story building with red walls and white tiles beside her rice fields. Rice is an important source of food in Madagascar, where 44 percent of the arable land is planted with rice and 70 percent of the population is engaged in rice planting. However, rice production was low for a long time in the country and couldn't satisfy its domestic demand due to complicated climate conditions and a lack of fine varieties and core cultivation techniques. A farmer in Madagascar works in a hybrid rice field. (People's Daily/Yan Yunming) In 2007, a China-aided demonstration center of hybrid rice was launched in Madagascar, which brought a batch of Chinese agricultural experts to the country in the Indian Ocean, including Hu Yuefang. In more than ten years, they have visited almost all rice-growing regions in Madagascar and trained hundreds of local technicians in hybrid rice. "When we just arrived here, rice was not available for many local residents, and they could only take cassavas, sweet potatoes and corn as substitutes. Under the assistance of Chinese experts, rice is coming to the tables of more and more local families," Hu said. Local agricultural technician Aro is a student of Hu. As an official of Madagascar's agricultural department, he has twice joined training programs in Changsha, central China's Hunan province. After returning to his country, Aro has been committed to offering technical support in hybrid rice planting for growers in Ambohidratrimo, a town in the central highlands of Madagascar. "More and more farmers are starting to grow hybrid rice. In the region that I work in, there are over 200 people skilled in growing hybrid rice," Aro said, hoping that Madagascar and China could carry out closer agricultural cooperation. "Chinese hybrid rice helps Madagascar achieve self-sufficiency in rice supply. I hope it can be promoted to more African countries and thus help relieve the issue of food security in Africa," he told People's Daily. In 2019, the China National Hybrid Rice Research and Development Center opened its African branch in Madagascar. It is committed to training advanced agricultural technicians and selecting hybrid rice varieties that suit the diverse climate conditions in the region. Fanja Raharinomena, former secretary-general of the Malagasy Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, noted that hybrid rice development is under smooth progress thanks to the support of the Chinese government. She said China is a global leader in hybrid rice studies, and thanked the Chinese government's contributions to the breeding of hybrid rice in Madagascar and to the agricultural development of Africa. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Du Mingming) This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SAN PEDRO CUTUD, Philippines (AP) Eight Filipinos were nailed to crosses to reenact Jesus Christs suffering in a bloody Good Friday tradition, including a carpenter, who was crucified for the 34th time with a prayer for Russias invasion of Ukraine to end because it has made poor people like him more desperate. The real-life crucifixions in the farming village of San Pedro Cutud in Pampanga province north of Manila resumed after a three-year pause due to the coronavirus pandemic. About a dozen villagers registered but only eight people showed up, including 62-year-old carpenter and sign painter Ruben Enaje, who screamed as he was nailed to a wooden cross with a large crowd watching in the scorching summer heat. In a news conference shortly after his crucifixion, Enaje said he prayed for the eradication of the COVID-19 virus and the end of Russias invasion of Ukraine, which has contributed to gas and food prices soaring worldwide. "It's just these two countries involved in that war, Russia and Ukraine, but all of us are being affected by the higher oil prices even if were not involved in that war, said Enaje. Ahead of the crucifixions, Enaje told The Associated Press that the steep increases in oil and food prices after Russia invaded Ukraine made it harder for him to stretch his meager income from carpentry and sign making. Thousands of people, including foreign tourists, came to watch the annual religious spectacle in San Pedro Cutud and two other nearby rural villages. Kitty Ennett, a veterinarian from Ireland, said the crucifixions were a very religious experience and they were worth the long trip from her home in the United Kingdom. When I was seeing the young man doing the flogging and going up to the cross, its very moving to see how much they sacrifice for their faith, Ennett told The AP. They really put themselves in the shoes of Jesus. Enaje survived nearly unscathed when he fell from a three-story building in 1985, prompting him to undergo the ordeal as thanksgiving for what he considered a miracle. He extended the ritual after loved ones recovered from serious illnesses, one after another, turning him into a village celebrity as the Christ in the Lenten reenactment of the Way of the Cross. Ahead of their crucifixion on a dusty hill, Enaje and the other devotees, wearing thorny crowns of twigs, carried heavy wooden crosses on their backs for more than a kilometer (more than half a mile) in the brutal heat. Village actors dressed as Roman centurions later hammered 4-inch (10-centimeter) stainless steel nails through his palms and feet, then set him aloft on a cross under the sun for about 10 minutes. Other penitents walked barefoot through village streets and beat their bare backs with sharp bamboo sticks and pieces of wood. Some participants in the past opened cuts in the penitents backs using broken glass to ensure the ritual was sufficiently bloody. The gruesome spectacle reflects the Philippines unique brand of Catholicism, which merges church traditions with folk superstitions. Many of the mostly impoverished penitents undergo the ritual to atone for their sins, pray for the sick or for a better life, and give thanks for miracles. Church leaders in the Philippines have frowned on the crucifixions and self-flagellations, saying Filipinos can show their faith and religious devotion without hurting themselves and by doing charity work instead, such as donating blood. Robert Reyes, a prominent Catholic priest and human rights activist in the country, said the bloody rites reflect the churchs failure to fully educate many Filipinos on Christian tenets, leaving them on their own to explore personal ways of seeking divine help for all sorts of maladies. Folk Catholicism has become deeply entrenched in the local religious culture, Reyes said, citing a chaotic annual procession of a black statue of Jesus Christ called the Black Nazarene, which authorities say draws more than a million devotees each January in one of Asias largest religious festivals. Many bring towels to be wiped on the wooden statue, believing it has powers to cure ailments and ensure good health and a better life. The question is, where were we church people when they started doing this? Reyes asked, saying the clergy should immerse itself in communities more and talk with villagers. If we judge them, well just alienate them. The decadeslong crucifixion tradition, meanwhile, has put impoverished San Pedro Cutud one of the more than 500 villages in rice-growing Pampanga province on the map. Organizers said more than 15,000 foreign and Filipino tourists and devotees gathered for the cross nailings in Cutud and two other nearby villages. There was a festive air as villagers peddled bottled water, hats, food and religious items, and police and marshals kept order. They like this because there is really nothing like this on earth, said Johnson Gareth, a British tour organizer, who brought 15 tourists from eight countries, including the U.S., Canada and Germany, to witness the crucifixions. Its less gruesome than people think," Gareth told The AP. "They think its going to be very macabre or very disgusting but its not. Its done in a very respectful way. ___ Associated Press journalists Aaron Favila and Cecilia Forbes contributed to this report. WFO AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, April 10, 2023 _____ FLOOD WARNING Flood Statement National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX 904 AM CDT Fri Apr 7 2023 ...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Texas... Sandies Creek Near Westhoff affecting DeWitt County. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov. The next statement will be issued this evening at 915 PM CDT. ...FLOOD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM THIS AFTERNOON TO EARLY MONDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Moderate flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Sandies Creek Near Westhoff. * WHEN...From this afternoon to early Monday morning. * IMPACTS...At 24.0 feet, Major lowland flooding from the headwaters southeast of Seguin to the Guadalupe River confluence near Cuero. The flow is over one half mile wide. Livestock are cut off and potentially drowned in low areas of the flood plain. Roads and low bridges near the creek are flooded and impassable. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 8:00 AM CDT Friday the stage was 14.2 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise above flood stage late this afternoon to a crest of 23.9 feet late tonight. It will then fall below flood stage Sunday afternoon. - Flood stage is 21.0 feet. - Flood History...This crest compares to a previous crest of 23.9 feet on 06/05/2020. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood Fld Observed Forecasts (10 am CDT) Location Stg Stg Day/Time Sat Sun Mon Sandies Creek Westhoff 21.0 14.2 Fri 8 am CDT 23.8 22.1 16.9 ...FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING TO MONDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Guadalupe River Near Cuero. * WHEN...From Saturday morning to Monday morning. * IMPACTS...At 24.0 feet, Minor low lying flooding extends into the floodplain above and below Cuero. Steen Road (between FM 766 and US Hwy 183 near Hochheim) monitored for flooding. - At 8:30 AM CDT Friday the stage was 13.4 feet. tomorrow morning to a crest of 25.3 feet late tomorrow evening. It will then fall below flood stage Sunday evening. - Flood stage is 24.0 feet. 25.4 feet on 06/29/1993. Fld Observed Forecasts (10 am CDT) Location Stg Stg Day/Time Sat Sun Mon Guadalupe River Cuero 24.0 13.4 Fri 8 am CDT 24.2 24.8 20.3 _____ Copyright 2023 AccuWeather WFO AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Friday, April 7, 2023 _____ FLASH FLOOD WARNING The National Weather Service in Austin/San Antonio has issued a * Flash Flood Warning for... Southeastern Atascosa County in south central Texas... Southwestern Karnes County in south central Texas... * Until 400 PM CDT. * At 1251 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Recent heavy rains have left soils saturated. Additional rainfall will quickly lead to runoff. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing flash flooding. SOURCE...Radar. IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses. * Some locations that will experience flash flooding include... Karnes City, Falls City, Coy City, Deweesville, Fashing, Hobson and Peggy. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads. _____ Copyright 2023 AccuWeather We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Tech salaries are on the rise thanks to a demand for talent across nearly every industry. Salaries increased 2.3% between 2021 and 2022, reaching an average tech salary of $111,348 per year, according to the 2023 Dice Tech Salary Report. Salaries vary by location, with the technologists reporting the highest average salaries of $144,962 per year in Silicon Valley, the original tech hub. But you dont have to live in Silicon Valley to earn a high-tech salary. There are several other cities that are considered growing tech hubs where technologists can earn higher than average salaries, often with a lower cost of living. Dice defines a growing tech hub as a city with universities and colleges to recruit from, venture funding opportunities, a strong social scene for networking, and existing companies looking to hire talent. These 10 cities are the fastest growing tech hubs by salary, according to Dice. 1. Phoenix Phoenix is home to the Silicon Desert, and its quickly becoming a hot spot for the tech industry, with a focus on telecommunications, electronics manufacturing, and aerospace. Operational costs in Phoenix are 36% less than in California, according to the Phoenix Business Journal, making it an appealing spot for tech companies looking for a less expensive home base for headquarters. Its also the fifth-largest data center market in the nation, with a low natural disaster risk, inexpensive power, and a competitive colocation and cloud market. Phoenix is home to tech companies such as ADP, Workiva, ServiceNow, Traffic Tech, BigTime Software, and General Motors. The average tech salary in Phoenix is $120,731 per year a 26.2% increase from 2021, according to Dice. 2. Tampa, Fla. Tampa alone makes up 25% of Floridas tech jobs, with more than 50 IT and software companies located in the city and an additional 2,000 jobs expected to be added in the coming year. Companies such as Amazon, Infosys, IBM, Wipro, Apple, Oracle, Microsoft, Capgemini, Uber, Dell, Google, and Salesforce all have offices in Tampa. The Tampa Bay Tech organization was formed over 21 years ago to connect the technology community in Tampa and has since grown into one of the biggest networks for technologists. Tampa is also home to Embarc Collective, billed as the states fastest-growing startup hub. Embarc Collective raised a total of $107 million in venture capital in the past year, according to Tampa Magazines. As globalization evolves, accounting becomes more central to the development of a modern economy, with the need for greater trust in digital financial transactions. Some African entrepreneurs have begun to address this urgency by developing atypical accounting automation and new management systems where CIOs drive the ins and outs of the processes to keep up with ever-changing markets. Digital transformation is crucial for the sustainability and resilience of professional accountancy organizations to meet changing business and market demands, according to the International Federation of Accountants. At the 7th African Accounting Congress, taking place May 15 to 18 in Cote dIvoire, digital professionals, accountants, entrepreneurs and other experts will focus on holistic and integrated digital solutions to broaden the tax base in African economies. This sector, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is an essential component of most sub-Saharan economies, contributing up to 65% of GDP, and accounting for up to 90% of non-farm employment. It also includes either family businesses that produce some market value without being registered, or, more broadly, underground production carried out by registered businesses that may not be reported to the authorities in order to avoid regulation or taxation, or because theyre simply illegal. The Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA), in their program at the Congress, invites future participants to prepare a pragmatic approach to the challenges and constraints for successful digitalization, but also to innovative solutions to expand the digital tax base. So what are ways to store, structure, analyze, and disseminate data collected and centralized to develop digital solutions that promote this? Some entrepreneurs say theyve already found solutions to make management easier and more beneficial to organizations. Before specializing as a payment solution for developers, Lipana, a Kenyan fintech that balances books for SMEs, started in 2021 as a simple accounting software company managing invoices and tracking expenses, according to Shadrack Apollo, its co-founder and CIO. Sorry, no valid subscriptions were found for this Publication. Please select from an option below to start a subscription. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 24 Hour Access Primeste notificari pe email Nota bene: Adresele email cu extensia .ru nu sunt acceptate. Contractare si Achizitie Bunuri Anunturi de Angajare Granturi - Finantari Burse de studiu Stagii Profesionale Oportunitati de voluntariat Toate Articolele Background UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Organizational Context Under the guidance and direct supervision of the UN House Administrative Associate, the UN House Receptionist provides telephone communication and general reception and information services as well as support in administrative and logistic processes in the UN House ensuring high quality and accuracy of work. The Receptionist displays a client-, quality- and results-oriented approach and promotes the values of United Nations. The Receptionist works in close collaboration with the UN agencies staff located in UN House to exchange information and ensure consistent service delivery. Scope of Work a) Provision of front-desk service and telephone communications services b) Provision of administrative and logistical support c) Support to UN Communication Unit maintenance of databases. d) Contribute to knowledge building and knowledge sharing. a) Ensure the provision of front-desk service, telephone communication services and mail registration focusing on achievement of the following results: Monitoring of all visitors to the UN House through the reception area: - greet visitors with a smile and determine visitors needs in a professional manner; - assist visitors by providing directions and accurate information related to UN and UN Agencies; - deal tactfully with complaining and/or difficult visitors, without getting agitated or jeopardizing the image of UN; - closely cooperate with UN House Security Guards in line with protocol and security instructions; - follow up with colleagues if the visitors have not received the information/services requested. Operation and management of the telephone switchboard in accordance with appropriate protocol: - answer and address incoming phone calls in a timely and polite manner, clearly determine the purpose of the call; - screen calls before forwarding to the appropriate staff; - deal with queries and provide clear and correct information; - keep her-/himself informed about the developments in the UN to be able to respond to queries and requests. Weekly check and test of all lines of the telephone switchboard; Maintenance of recording information in the system, solution of minor technical problems, and reporting to telephone service provider for regular maintenance and repair. Management and planning of the front desk coverage. Ensure welcoming touches in the waiting area, such as flowers and magazines, UN brochures and other materials handy. Manage mail: - sort, register and distribute all incoming mail (postal, diplomatic, electronic); - translate incoming letters, and/or other official documents; - prepare outgoing mail for pick-up or courier; ensure financial authorization accompanies any request for express courier services and forwards to Finance unit along with the airwaybill; - follow up with staff and customers with regard to the undelivered mail. Helps the Executive Associates of the Agencies located in the UN House with information, and administrative duties and acts as back-up and alternate for UNDP Executive Associate when is applicable. Helps the UN House Administrative Associate with information, logistic and administrative support and acts as back-up as per request. b) Ensure the of administrative and logistical support focusing on achievement of the following results: Support to UN Agencies located in the UN House in administering the tender processes, including registration of offers, in full compliance with the latest instructions on receipt of offers. Provide clarifications and information regarding the tender procedures to interested persons/companies. Monitoring of the use of UN House Conference rooms/spaces. Daily keep track of booking system. Coordination of the requests for logistic arrangements of the events in the UN Conference Room. Support in logistic and administrative arrangements for organizing events. c) Provide support to the UN Communication team and ensure maintenance of the most updated UN staff and other contacts information, focusing on achievement of the following results: Collection and update of UN staff contact information on a monthly basis, ensuring all data and information is correct and accurate. Update of the UN House telephone list and UN Directory, as well as of the contact lists of the counterparts, including Government, Parliament, NGOs, diplomatic missions, international organizations, think tanks, NGOs, media, educational establishments, public libraries and other important contacts. Dissemination of major publications issued by UN House Agencies, such as the UN Magazine and other corporate key reports such as MDG Reports, HDR, NHDR, as well as Christmas cards, etc. to counterparts. Regular update of the distribution list of publications and documents. d) Contribute to knowledge building and knowledge sharing, focusing on achievement of the following results: Support in spreading of important information about UN mandate internally and externally. Contribute to the positive image of the organization through professional and friendly interactions at the reception. Participation in trainings for the operations/projects staff on relevant topics. Contribute to identification, documenting and drafting of best practices and lessons learned. Institutional Arrangement Under the guidance and direct supervision of the UN House Administrative Associate, the incumbent provides telephone communication and general reception and information, as well as support in administrative and logistic processes in the UN House ensuring high quality and accuracy of work. Competencies Core Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discriminationCross-Functional & Technical competencies Business Management/Change Management: Ability to prepare, support, and help individuals and teams in designing and implementing organizational change. Business Management/Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels. Business Management/Customer Satisfaction/Client Management: Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyon clients immediate requests. Ability to anticipate clients upcoming needs and concerns. Administration and Operations/Documents and records management: Overall document (hard or electronic) management; registry and retention policy including storing and archiving. Administration and Operations/Inventory management: Each office to ensure sufficient inventory items are available for use as well as reporting for items which are beyond the corporate threshold of $5k and above. Administration and Operations/Registry & correspondence management: Ability to collect, register, maintain and deliver mail and UN pouch; ability to manage archives. Minimum Education requirements High School Education + 4 years of experience in Degree in economics, business administration, international relations, public administration or other related fields. Or Bachelors Degree + 1 year of experience in economics, business administration, international relations, public administration or other related fields. Min. years of relevant work experience Minimum 4 years of experience with High School education or 1 (one) year with Bachelors Degree of relevant working experience. Required skills Experience in administrative support. Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel etc.) is mandatory. Desired skills Ability to operate and maintain a variety of computerized business machines and office equipment to provide efficient delivery of service is an advantage. Experience in an international organization is a strong advantage. Required Language(s) Fluency in oral and written English, Romanian and Russian. Working knowledge of one or more additional languages relevant for Moldova, including Bulgarian, Gagauzian, Romani, Ukrainian or sign language is an asset. The following documents shall be required from the applicants: a) Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers. b) A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position. c) Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials. Disclaimer Applicant information about UNDP rosters Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements. Scam warning The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web. Data de incheiere a postului vacant: 24 April 2023 Pentru a aplica, va rugam sa adresati link-ul: Apply Now Termen extins - pentru selectarea unui expert/ unei experte sau a unei agentii pentru realizarea Entry si Exit Survey intr-un proiect din domeniul prevenirii violentei si asistenta incluziva pentru femeile in etate Tabloid stories dont get any better: Manhattan real estate developer has an affair with a porn star shortly after his wife has had a baby. He pays hush money to keep the whole thing quiet, is ratted out by his lawyer, then is indicted for covering it up. If only we werent talking about the former president of the United States. Donald Trump has a knack for befouling most everything he touches. The scene in lower Manhattan this week was a vivid reminder of that. It was also a moment of diminishment for the press that covered it, returning us to the worst media moments of 2016, with the live shots of Trumps branded airplane or rally of sycophants. And both the coverage and the substance of the case against Trump were a throwback to his decades of manipulation of the tabloid press, especially in New York City. Reporters in New York cling to the notion that they gave Trump as much as they got from him, but thats an optimistic view. The truth is that many of his shell-game business tactics, his retrogradeeven racistpolitics, and his lewd behavior were open secrets in New York media for years, but were ignored by reporters who needed Trump for airtime and copy. Lloyd Grove reported on Trump at the Daily News and the Daily Beast after spending twenty-three years at the Washington Post. In 2017, Grove wrote for CJR about his experience, and how it was reflected in the wider media coverage of the 2016 election. Groves piece is worth re-reading today, as a reminder of how expert Trump is at manipulating the profession that is supposed to serve as his watchdog. Through a combination of ego, ruthless energy, laser-like focus, utter availability, and even charm, he controlled the narrative about himself for the better part of four decadesespecially in the New York tabloids, of which I was a partand turned his name into a valuable commodity, Grove wrote. Grove tells, for example, the story of how Linda Stasi, a former gossip writer for Newsday and the Daily News, was senton pain of losing her jobto get an exclusive from the Florida hospital where Marla Maples, Trumps then-wife, was giving birth in 1993: Stasi called Trump, who, after she begged and said she would lose her job otherwise, agreed to let her into Mapless hospital room. I know its insane, but he let me into her room right after the baby was born. Marlas reaction was, What is she doing here? And Trump said, Well, shell get fired if she cant be here. And I said, Can I take a picture of the baby?because Id brought a photographer who was waiting outside. And Marla said no. And Trump said, What if I just take this blanket and pretend Im holding the baby? And I said, No, I dont think so. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Of course, the fascination ran the other way, too. A.J. Benzaa former Daily News gossip columnist who once fought with Trump on Howard Sterns radio show after Trump called in to brag that he had stolen Benzas girlfriendtold Grove: He doesnt check his pulse to see if hes alive. He checks the papers and the internet so he can know that he exists. Hes been in a battle with the media his whole life, but opportunistically, we were there to get him where he wanted to go. Were complicit with him being president right now. Dont you agree? Trump continues to lure reporters in, continues to cut corners, continues to treat national affairs as a tabloid storynot least in the run-up to, and during, his arraignment. There were serious storylines that unfolded inside and outside the courthouse this week, and those werent ignored. (The press and legal pundits still cant seem to decide whether Alvin Bragg, the district attorney in the case, nailed the indictment or whiffed.) But the far more prevalent storyline was the circus itself, which played into Trumps argument that the indictment was a stunt. Perhaps it was inevitable that there would be more reporters than protestors outside the courthouse. The Naked Cowboy, of Times Square fame, was there, too. Hilarious. Except that we are nearing yet another epochal election and the prospect that a major-party nominee could be in the middle of criminal proceedings as it unfolds. Things can get unfunny fast. Politics is not a tabloid world. Or at least, it shouldnt be: the substance of the case against Trump involves serious claims about the suppression of newsworthy information during an election, with the complicity of a tabloid. According to Braggs indictment, shortly after Trump announced that he was running for president in 2015, David Pecker, then the chief executive of the publisher of the National Enquirer, agreed to help with the Defendants campaign, saying that he would act as the eyes and ears for the campaign by looking out for negative stories about the Defendant and alerting Lawyer A before the stories were published. (Lawyer A here is Michael Cohen.) During the campaign, leaders at the Enquirer paid to hush up two potentially embarrassing stories about Trumpa practice known as catch and killand knew about another such deal, though it was Cohen who principally orchestrated it. According to Bragg, Pecker also vowed to publish negative stories about the Defendants competitors for the election. In a 2019 piece for CJR, Simon V.Z. Wood wrote about what happened to the National Enquirer after it went all in for Trump. Theres a temptation, in a story like this, to write about the sorry TMZ-ification of American media. About how a gossip rag like the Enquirer laid the groundwork for the rise of fake news and a mendacious president, Wood wrote. But the real shame is that, in the Trump era, the Enquirer strayed from its underappreciated penchant for muckraking. Mainstream reporters tend to look down on their tabloid colleagues. They would certainly never engage in catch-and-kill schemes like the one outlined in Woods piece and, now, Braggs indictment. But in a broader sense, tabloid sensibilities touch us all. How different, really, are tabloid journalists from the cable-news anchors who were forced to keep riffing this week over video of Trumps motorcade stuck in traffic in lower Manhattan? You can read Woods piece here and Groves piece here. Some news from the home front: To better understand the challenges journalists face in covering our current politics, CJR and Columbia Journalism School are convening a two-day eventFaultines:Democracyon April 25-26. Join usalong with some of the worlds top journalists, historians, and academicsfor a series of conversations about the threat to democracy and the medias role in covering it. You can find more information here. And, take a new look at CJRs homepage today, at www.cjr.org. Weve redesigned it to better showcase our work. We hope you like it as much as we do. Other notable stories: ICYMI: Checkmarks, doge, and poop star in yet another Twitter circus Correction: A previous version of this post misstated Lloyd Groves professional trajectory. Kyle Pope is the editor in chief and publisher of the Columbia Journalism Review. JEFFERSON, Ohio An Ashtabula County man convicted of the rape of young children was sentenced Thursday to life in prison with no chance of parole. Stewart Stacy, 55, was found guilty by a jury Monday of two counts of child rape with force, and of four counts of gross sexual imposition, according to the Ohio Attorney Generals Office. Authorities say Stacys victims were under 10 years old when they were assaulted. The forceful violation of children is unthinkable, heinous evil that deserves the harshest punishment possible, Attorney General Dave Yost said in a statement. This defendant will rape no children in prison. Punishment is important, but keeping this man away from children and the rest of society is even more important. Stacy is the third person convicted and sentenced in connection with the case. Charise Griffith, 43, was sentenced in December 2020 to life in prison after she pleaded guilty to four counts of child rape. Griffith will be eligible for parole in 2039, according to prison records. Dannail Obhof, 36, was convicted of four counts of rape and was sentenced to 25 years in prison in October 2020. Obhof is not eligible for release until 2044. The cases were investigated by the Ashtabula Police Department and the Conneaut Police Department. DAYTON, Ohio A former police officer who was in charge of a school districts D.A.R.E. program was sentenced Thursday to 15 years in prison on child pornography charges. Kevin Kovacs, 60, of Fairborn, also was sentenced by a federal judge to 15 years of supervised release after he serves his sentence and ordered to pay $45,000 in restitution to his victims, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Ohio. Kovacs pleaded guilty in February 2022 to transporting and possessing child pornography. Kovacs was an officer with the Beavercreek Police Department from 1992 until he retired in 2018, prosecutors say. He spent the last six years of his career as the D.A.R.E. officer in Beavercreek City Schools. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Daisy Ridley is headed back to a galaxy far, far away. The actress, who played Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, will reprise the role in a new film to be directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy announced Friday at Star Wars Celebration in London. The movie, which doesnt have a title or a release date, will focus on Rey as she builds a new Jedi Order. Obaid-Chinoy, a two-time Academy Award winner for documentary short who most recently directed two episodes of the Disney+ series Ms. Marvel, will be the first woman and first person of color to direct a Star Wars movie. The film is one of three upcoming movies planned for the franchise, which hasnt appeared on the big screen since The Rise of Skywalker in 2019. James Mangold (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) will direct a film that goes back to the dawn of the Jedi, earlier than any previous film in the Star Wars timeline. And Dave Filoni will spearhead a movie focusing on the New Republic era between the original and sequel trilogies. The film will also serve as a finale for the shows he produces on Disney+, including The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett and Ahsoka, which premieres this summer. Of course, feel free to take these announcements with a grain of salt. Recent Star Wars history is full of planned movies that eventually fell apart in development. Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins, Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, Marvel chief Kevin Feige and The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson are among those who have been attached to Star Wars films no longer in the works. Kennedy didnt mention the status of the project headed by Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit) and Krysty Wilson-Cairns (1917). MDCS Nyanga Senator Edith Baipai has dragged her husband Allan Chinowaita to court as he has been allegedly abusing her physically and financially, it has been established. It has also emerged that while Chinowaita had told Senator Baipai that he had separated with his first wife, they are still seeing each other. The cat was let out of the bag at the Mutare Magistrates Civil Court as Senator Baipai was applying for a protection order against Chinowaita. It also emerged that Senator Baipai handed over to Chinowaita the US$40 000 housing loan she got from Parliament. During the court session last week, Senator Baipai demanded the return of her property. Chinowaita also stands accused of forging Senator Baipais signature. I gave him the money I received from Parliament and he promised to return it, but failed to do so. He has been giving flimsy excuses since last year. I have tried to communicate with him, but it seems he does not want to give me back my money, said Senator Baipai. She also said Chinowaita is in the habit of assaulting and threatening her as he is over protective. He is over protective and jealousy. I think he is insecure because I have more money than him. The car he is driving around with other women is mine. He once assaulted me at Rainbow Towers where I had gone for a meeting with my bosses. Maybe he thought I was having an affair. He also assaulted me at Holiday Inn. I just want the law to protect me, pleaded Senator Baipai. She also added that Chinowaita is abusing her social media accounts, adding that she wants him barred from accessing them. Senator Baipai said Chinowaita is refusing to hand over her documents, including her drivers licence. He has everything, including proof of ownership of some of my property. He has my academic certificates, drivers licence and money. I want them back. If he wants to move on like he has done, then he should leave with nothing, said the lawmaker. She added: Last year l was supposed to get a residential stand under my name, but he wrote a letter to Parliament stating that the residential stand should be in his name since he is my husband. This was done behind my back. I inquired with Parliament why I was yet to get the residential stand, but was shocked to hear that it had been allocated to Chinowaita. I was left with nothing, said Senator Baipai. She said Chinowaita lied to her that he had separated with his first wife. He is still seeing his first wife. He has been lying to me that they broke up, yet they are still seeing each other. I look stupid now because I was being fooled all along. His wife is waiting for him outside in my car as we speak, said the heartbroken woman. In response, Chinowaita said the US$40 000 that Senator Baipai had men tioned was invested in a shop. I invested the money in a shop that will benefit both of us as it is a family business, he said. However, Baipai objected: I have never been to the shop. I have never received anything from that shop. He is lying that he invested in a shop. If it is there, then he is squandering my money with his wife. Are you not ashamed of reaping where you did not sow? Why cant you work for yourself and earn an honest living? All I want is my property back then you can move on, charged Senator Baipai. Mutare magistrate, Mr Xavier Chipato presided over the matter. He granted the protection order in Senator Baipais favour. The order will be valid for five years. Mr Chipato also ordered Chinowaita to return Senator Baipais documents and property. Manica Post CLEVELAND, Ohio The Tikvat Yisrael Messianic Synagogue of Chester Township celebrated its Messianic Jewish Passover Seder on Thursday night at the Ariel International Center in Cleveland. Rabbis Eric D. Lakatos and Elliott Katz led the seder, with music by Messianic worship artist Ted Pearce. We celebrate the ancient biblical tradition of Passover, Rabbi Lakatos said. This is a full Seder experience. Passover began at sundown Wednesday and continues through nightfall on Thursday, April 13. More than 220 people, about one-fourth of whom had never attended a Seder, took part in the celebration that included the classic Seder plate with Mitzah, and a meal that included a full Kosher-for-Passover style buffet. A new Messianic Jewish Trilogy Haggadah provided guidance throughout the Seder. The Seder followed the last supper by Jesus and his disciples. The evening also included music, dancing, a childrens search for the Afikomen and more. According to a news release from Tikvat Yisrael Messianic Synagogue, it is a member of the International Alliance of Messianic Jewish Congregations and Synagogues (iamcs.org) and is part of a worldwide Biblically based movement of people who, as committed Jews, believe in Yeshua (Jesus) as the Jewish Messiah of Israel of whom the Jewish law and prophets spoke. BEAVERCREEK, Ohio A mall in southwest Ohio issued an apology after unruly parents spoiled an Easter egg hunt for young children, with some adults seen shoving kids aside in order to get to eggs. In the apology posted on Facebook, which has been deleted, The Greene Town Center wrote that it had an extremely difficult time with crowd control, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. The post said several factors contributed to the event going awry. Everyone was very upset with the outcome of the Egg Hunt and the way they were treated by community members at the conclusion of the event, the post said before it was taken down, according to WHIO Channel 7. Ten staff members and 12 girls from a local softball team volunteered to help run the event, the mall said. The mall hid more than 2,000 eggs for the second annual event on Sunday, reports say. The plan was to let children ages 1 and 2 years old hunt for eggs first in a designated area. Three- and 4-year-old children accompanied by parents would then get a 60-second head start, with older children joining in last. The post says helpers were bombarded with participants that would not follow instructions. As staff members took 1- and 2-year-old children to their designated hunting area, parents went to a grassy area and began picking up eggs, the mall says, leading to a rush from the other participants. Mall officials say they saw grown adults pushing children out of the way and that people were knocked over in the rush to get eggs. Adults were not permitted to pick up eggs, yet we saw so many do so, which resulted in some children leaving empty-handed, the post said. This is absolutely unacceptable behavior and we apologize to anyone who was affected by these actions. Jessica Baer, the assistant manager of the mall, says the event will not be held next year, the Dayton Daily News reports. Instead, the mall will hold a prize raffle, with each child receiving one ticket. MIDLAND, Mich. -- The Biden administrations pause on federal student loan payments is being challenged in court once again. The pause on student loan payments, set to end in August, has been extended eight times since first being instituted by President Donald Trump in March 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. A new lawsuit filed Thursday by the New Civil Liberties Alliance (NCLA), however, wants the pause on student loan payments to end immediately. NCLA filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a nonprofit research and educational institute, according to its website. Related: Student loan forgiveness coming for 3.6 million borrowers; See if youre impacted by IDR The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, argues the pause on student loan payments negatively impacts nonprofit employers like the Mackinac Center, which utilizes the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program as a debt-relief incentive to recruit employees. The Biden administration most recently extended the pause on federal student loan payments in November 2022. Perpetual deferment of federal student loans is bad policy because it shifts the burden from those who took out student loans to those who did not, Patrick J. Wright, vice president for legal affairs at the Mackinac Center, said in a news release. More importantly, it is illegal, as it strips congressional powers and unilaterally hands them to executive bureaucrats. We have a proud history of making sure that the executive branch acts within their constitutional authority, even during a national emergency. The U.S. Department of Education, however, pushed back on those claims, saying the Biden administrations pause on federal student loan payments is necessary to protect borrowers. This lawsuit is an attempt by partisan special interest groups to put millions of borrowers at serious risk of financial harm, the agency said in a statement to CNN. The Department will continue to fight to deliver relief to borrowers, provide a smooth path to repayment, and protect borrowers from industry and special interests. In March, the Department of Education announced it is preparing to forgive student loans through the Biden administrations income-driven repayment (IDR) account adjustments, which will impact more than 3.6 million borrowers. The account adjustments are intended to address past inaccuracies with IDR payments, the Department said in a news release. Heres a look at some of the top stories trending online today. They include the latest on the Ukraine War, Clarence Thomas and much more. Top stories Clarence Thomas Secretly Accepted Luxury Trips From Major GOP Donor (Pro Publica) Senators seek probes into report on undisclosed luxury trips by Supreme Courts Thomas (Reuters) Ukraine readies spring offensive expected to be largest mobilization since war with Russia began (Fox) Over 8 million Ukrainians are now refugees; Kyiv may negotiate on Crimea (CNBC) U.S. review of chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal blames Trump (PBS) Tennessee House votes to expel 2 of 3 Democratic members over gun protest (NPR) There are storm clouds ahead for the economy, JPMorgan Chase CEO says (CNN) Other trending headlines Israel stages rare strikes in Lebanon and also hits Gaza Strip (NBC) Masters 2023 leaderboard: Three tied at top at Augusta (USA Today) Tiger Woods looks to inch my way back at Masters after opening 74 (ESPN) Bud Light Partnership With Trans Star Dylan Mulvaney Prompts Backlash From Conservative Artists (Variety) Fentanyl Contributed to Coolios Death, Medical Examiner Says (NY Times) Emmy Rossum Quietly Welcomes Her Second Baby, a Son (People) Rotunda Rumblings Ahead of the amendment: Gov. Mike DeWine called on the legislature to clarify the states existing abortion laws now that a proposed abortion rights constitutional amendment is targeted for the November ballot box. DeWine wants voters to see a contrast between the amendment proposal, which he thinks goes too far, and the states existing abortion laws, which he said aim to protect human life but are often struck down by courts for being too vague, overly broad and confusing, Laura Hancock reports. Delay tactic: Two former FirstEnergy executives say they face looming potential indictments after a federal jury convicted the former Ohio House speaker and a lobbyist in a bribery scheme that delivered the company a bailout worth more than $1.3 billion. Jake Zuckerman reports that ex-CEO Chuck Jones and former top lobbyist Mike Dowling cited their potential arrests as reason to delay scheduled depositions in a lawsuit filed by shareholders in the Akron-based utility. Drills down? Environmental advocates filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking to block a state law from taking effect that requires state agencies to lease their lands to certain oil and gas companies, Zuckerman reports. They say lawmakers ignored constitutional requirements when they passed the bill, which also redefined climate-warming natural gas as green energy. Come for vacation, stay for life: In Gov. Mike DeWines two-year budget recommendations, TourismOhio is to become the State Marketing Office, and would expand its role from promoting tourism to enticing people to move to the state, writes Susan Glaser. The Ohio Department of Development, which oversees TourismOhio, said the need for workers is urgent and the trends of Ohio getting older and the states population loss is not helping. $15/hour minimum wage: Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost cleared a proposal to increase the state minimum wage to advance to the next stage in the winding process to amend the Ohio Constitution. Yost originally approved the proposal Oct. 28, but the backers decided to make additional changes, which led to the latest approval on Wednesday. The proposal would increase the minimum wage for most workers to $15 an hour by Jan. 1, 2026. For tipped workers, the minimum wage would increase to $15 on Jan. 1, 2029. They would earn tips on top of that. The Ohio Restaurant Association recently said it opposes efforts to raise the minimum wage and likely will fight the campaign. The next stop for the proposal is the Ohio Ballot Board, which will decide whether the petition is one or more constitutional amendments. Field trip: Gov. Mike DeWine visited a Columbus elementary school Thursday that teaches the science of reading, which emphasizes sounding out words and putting the sounds together. It was the eighth school hes visited in recent weeks to promote his $162 million budget proposal to get all students on the science of reading approach to literacy education. Many students the exact number will be revealed in an Ohio Department of Education audit thats underway learn reading in a method known as three-cueing, balanced literacy, or whole language that requires students to learn to read from looking at pictures, considering a storys context and looking at a words letters, among other clues. Cut up: A tax cut is expected to be folded into the states two-year budget when it emerges from the Ohio House, even though Gov. Mike DeWine didnt put one in his budget recommendations. I think that youre going to see the will of our caucus to want to have some sort of cut in there, but how deep that is, well see, Ohio House Finance Chair Jay Edwards told Ohio Public Radios Karen Kasler. Once voted out of the House, the budget will then go to the Ohio Senate. Enhancing Marcys Law: A law took effect Thursday that will put more power behind Marsys Law, a constitutional amendment voters approved in 2017 that gave crime victims the new rights, such as the right to be notified of hearings and trials of the accused. While prosecutors and courts established processes to comply with the amendment, the new law makes the processes uniform and enforceable, the Blades Jim Provance reports. Subpoena power: U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, a Champaign County Republican and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, subpoenaed a former Manhattan prosecutor who resigned after leading an investigation into former President Donald Trump. The Associated Press reports that Jordan ordered Mark Pomerantz to testify to the committee by April 30 as it intensifies its investigation into the district attorney who brought an indictment this week against the former president. Buckeye Brain Tease Todays question is provided by Capitol Letter reader Emily Redman of Pataskala. Question: In time for Opening Day for the Cleveland Guardians, what Ohioan is rumored to have originated the seventh inning stretch? Email your response to capitolletter@cleveland.com. The first correct respondent will be mentioned in next weeks newsletter. Thanks to everyone who responded to last weeks trivia question: There is only one remaining washboard manufacturer in the United States. Where is it? Answer: The Columbus Washboard Co. in Logan, Ohio, was founded in 1895. The Columbus Washboard Co. has remained in business by catering to a mix of home decorators, musicians and yes, people who use them to wash their clothes. The company, recently featured in the Wall Street Journal, sells its signature products for $24.79 each. Capitol Letter reader Kevin Servick, a senior advisor for Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, was first to correctly answer the question. Were always looking for new questions to include in the Buckeye Brain Tease. If you have suggestions, send them to capitolletter@cleveland.com. You wont be eligible to win that week, but well tip our caps to any reader submissions we use. Birthdays Friday, April 7: State Rep. Michael Loychik, ex -state Sen. Edna Brown; ex-state Rep. Brian Hill Saturday, April 8: None Sunday, April 9: Rachel Coyle, founder, State Action Initiative; Haylee Dunahay, director of boards and commissions for Gov. Mike DeWine Straight From The Source Working people dont see us as for them, and that is the underlying problem. -Former U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, a Niles-area Democrat who lost in Ohios U.S. Senate race last year, on The Warning with Steve Schmidt. Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. Subscribe to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free. SAN FRANCISCO -- The stabbing death of Cash App creator Bob Lee this week in a densely populated area of San Francisco has prompted howls about the safety of the city and violent crime. The fury erupted almost immediately, particularly from the tech community, after it was learned that the man who was found on the ground outside high-rise condominiums was Lee, himself a tech executive. The leaders of lawless San Francisco the ousted former city prosecutor and criminal-loving city council had Lees literal blood on their hands, Matt Ocko, a tech entrepreneur and venture capitalist in Palo Alto, Calif., posted on Twitter. Michael Arrington, the founder of the industry blog TechCrunch, described Lee as one of the best humans he ever met. Im so glad we were able to spend time together recently, Arrington posted. RIP. I hate what San Francisco has become. Elon Musk, Twitters chief executive, was more to the point. Violent crime in SF is horrific and even if the attackers are caught, they are often released immediately, Musk tweeted. Previous story: Cash App creator Bob Lee found stabbed on San Francisco street and later died; police investigating San Francisco police found Lee on the ground, stabbed, early Tuesday morning, April 4, along Main Street in Rincon Hill, near downtown. The densely populated neighborhood is a mix of offices and modern condo buildings, San Franciscos KTVU-TV reported. The neighborhood is near Googles offices and Oracle Park, home to the San Francisco Giants. Lee was taken to a hospital, where he died of his injuries. The cryptocurrency company MobileCoin, for whom Lee was chief product officer, confirmed his death on Wednesday. Police are still investigating, looking for leads in the case, KTVU said. Lee, a tech investor, worked at Google before serving as chief technology officer of Square, the company now known as Block that makes payment transfer app Cash App. He also invested in several tech companies, including SpaceX, Clubhouse and Figma, according to his LinkedIn profile. Cash App is a popular mobile payment app that enables people to send each other money directly. Lee was a technologist who also helped develop MobileCoins Moby app. San Francisco officials have pushed back on the chatter that the city is riddled with violent crime and a haven for criminals. A small minority has tried to weaponize this tragedy to advance a narrative about a crime wave that just isnt borne out by the data in San Francisco, Kevin Benedicto, a police commissioner and lawyer, told The New York Times. There are real problems about crime that need to be addressed in San Francisco. But youre seeing people from tech, from certain political circles, who are trying to draw explicit connections to certain policies and elected officials when we dont even yet know the facts of the case. Data shows violent crime especially homicides are well below that of many other cities of a similar size, CNN reported. Homicides did increase for 2022 and 2021 by more than 36% from 2019, CNN said, citing police department data. But the homicide rate in San Francisco is well below that of other cities of a similar size, data from the Major Cities Police Chiefs Association shows. Violent crimes in San Francisco, including murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault, peaked in 2013 with 7,164 violent crimes, but have tapered off significantly in the past couple of years, according to California Department of Justice data. San Francisco now falls in the lower middle of the pack when compared with several cities of a similar population, according to data from the Major Cities Police Chiefs Association. George Tita, a criminal justice professor at the University of California, Irvine, told CNN the perception of crime has more to do with the profile of those involved in certain crimes than the actual data. When a very high-profile tech person is murdered, it is just going to get more publicity than if it was an impoverished person in a neighborhood of color, Tita said. Its just low-hanging fruit. Nobody wants to look at actual statistics. Most of the states and counties with the highest level of crime statistics are in red states vs. blue states. FARMINGTON, N.M. Police officers responding to a late-night report of domestic violence Wednesday showed up at the wrong house and ended up killing the homeowner. The shooting happened around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday. Officers were sent to a home on Valley View Avenue in this northwestern New Mexico city of about 46,000. Officers mistakenly went to a nearby house on the same street, police Chief Steve Hebbe said in a video posted to the departments Facebook page. After police tried several times to get a response at the wrong-address house, the owner, identified as Robert Dotson, 52, answered the door. Dotson was armed with a handgun as he opened the door, Hebbe said. What followed was a chaotic scene, with officers retreating and opening fire. Not knowing who was outside, the mans wife returned fire from the doorway and officers fired again, The Associated Press reported. State police said the woman put down her gun after realizing the individuals outside her home were police officers. Dotson was shot during the melee and later died at the scene, Hebbe said. New Mexico State Police have taken over investigation of the shooting, Hebbe said. State police confirmed late Thursday that the three officers involved are on paid administrative leave pending a review of the case. Hebbe expects more details will be released within a week, once statements from officers are collected. What I will tell you as the chief is that this is an extremely traumatic event and that I am just heartbroken by the circumstances surrounding this, Hebbe said. ... This ending is just unbelievably tragic. I am extremely sorry that we are in this position. SOLON, Ohio An officer was placed on administrative leave Friday after he fired shots at a teen who led police on a chase near an elementary school. The decision came a day after Patrolman Bryan Butto tracked a 16-year-old boy who led police on a pursuit near Roxbury Elementary School. The teen was arrested Thursday on charges of receiving stolen property, improper handling of a firearm, fleeing, aggravated menacing and carrying concealed weapons. He was transferred to the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center. BAINBRIDGE TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- When I saw the forecast for high winds last month, I knew our family was certain to lose power, just as we have seven times since October. I made a big breakfast, knowing dinner would likely be pizza delivered in the dark. We showered and I did loads of laundry, knowing our well water would be shut off for hours or even days. It was off four days, from Saturday, March 25, until the following Tuesday. This is what FirstEnergys corruption looks like in real life. Consumers are held hostage, shivering in the dark at the whims of a utility seemingly accountable to no one. Its what happens when a giant utility can, with impunity, ignore decades of pleas from customers, who can find no meaningful recourse. The fact that FirstEnergy has admitted paying bribes to get lucrative legislation passed on the backs of ratepayers is egregious enough. The company also admitted to bribing the head of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, the public entity which is supposed to regulate the utility behemoths and protect consumers like us. When we moved our young family to Geauga County 16 years ago, it was for all the predictable reasons. Bigger house. Better schools. In almost every regard, Ive been happy with the move. Soon after moving in, I heard the first pop that I would come to instantly recognize. A stretch of about 20 houses in our development operate on an outdated grid. Our stretch has never been upgraded in a meaningful way, despite years of pleading with FirstEnergy. So about once a month, the transformer overloads, we hear a pop, and the neighborhood loses power. The outages can last from hours to days. Older neighbors have been complaining for decades. We average more than an outage a month, but FirstEnergy assures me there is no larger problem. Just grin and endure. And throw out hundreds of dollars of groceries that spoil after the circuit pops. Most of my neighbors have caved and purchased gas-powered generators that provide enough power to run a refrigerator and well water during an outage. But why should I have to spend thousands of dollars to ensure a baseline level of service? Isnt that why we have utilities that are regulated? Not when it comes to FirstEnergy. My neighbors and I have filed complaints with the PUCO that were summarily denied. Weve contacted our elected officials about the situation. The answer we get is some variation of: Yeah, Ive been getting complaints like this for years. It stinks, but theres really nothing we can do. And why would they? The trial of former House Speaker Larry Householder revealed a world in which FirstEnergy spent tens of millions of dollars to get whatever it wanted -- in that case, a bailout worth more than a billion dollars. The company has admitted to paying bribes, and we wait for indictments of its fired CEO, other high-level former executives and the former PUCO chair. In the meantime, the company assures us it is doing all it can to address our concerns. But our grid problem persists, as it has for decades. Jennifer Tobin, a former teacher, has had to endure regular power outages since moving her family to a Geauga County subdivision 16 years ago, where neighbors blame FirstEnergy for the faulty distribution infrastructure. Power has gone out regularly for years, but neither FirstEnergy nor the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has seen fit to help fix the problem, Tobin writes in a guest column today. Admittedly, that Saturdays winds were extreme. Trees were knocked over and power lines were toppled across the region. Crews from FirstEnergy came out and restored power to our larger development on Sunday. But for the same 20 houses that regularly lose power, it would be off for two more days. That led to an exchange where I was standing in the middle of our cold, dark home as the FirstEnergy customer service representative assured me power was restored and that our house had power. Only, we didnt have power. Literally or figuratively. When it comes to FirstEnergy, the customer rarely has any recourse. Were just forced to endure as a corrupt utility keeps doing what it does, even as its customers sit in the dark. Jennifer Tobin is a former teacher who lives in Bainbridge Township, Ohio. Have something to say about this topic? * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this opinion column to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com. LEWISTON, Maine The April of my senior year of high school, in 2021, was one of the most simultaneously exhilarating and stressful months of my life. From finally receiving admissions decisions from the last of the 15 colleges I had applied to and comparing aid offers, to finally having to make a decision about where I would spend the next four years of my life, while managing high school coursework, it was a busy month. This years high school seniors are right in the thick of that process. Most schools released their final round of admissions decisions this past month. For hundreds of thousands of kids across the country, its commitment crunch time. Theres a degree of blindness inherent in making one of the most influential decisions of young adulthood, and that can be overwhelming. Sometimes its not obvious what factors should influence our decision, or what we should be paying attention to. So last week, I set out on a mission to ask some of my classmates including my fellow graduates from Cleveland Heights High School and people I now share classes with at Bates College in Maine, where Im a sophomore what factors they think current high-schoolers should keep in mind when making tricky college decisions. Noah (graduated high school in Colorado; currently attends college in Maine): Read the student newspaper on campus. It will give you an inside perspective of the campus culture and tea that only current students are exposed to. Also, when visiting a school, look at the license plates on the cars in the student lots. This was a funny piece of advice I got, but it speaks to the larger idea of understanding who the student body is made up of and where everyone is from, looking beyond the stats the colleges love to push on you. Charlotte (graduated high school in Massachusetts; currently attends college in Maine): The feel of a campus (if your school has one) is very important. You want to like the place you will be living or at least spending lots of time at for the next four years. Zelda (graduated high school in Cleveland Heights; currently attends college in Athens, Ohio): A big decision for me was whichever school or program felt like it was actually going to invest in me as much or more than I was going to be putting into going to their school. Im going there, Im paying them, Im a person they can show off, but I think that a college should also be this kind of mutual exchange. They need to be able to provide for you and actually be interested in supporting your dreams, because thats the reason I went to college. Xanthe (graduated high school in New Jersey; currently attends college in Maine): Ask about the food. College is not just a place where you go to study, its where you will be eating four years worth of food. Dining halls are one of the only places where the whole student body goes, so you should feel excited to go interact with your community instead of dreading it. Maddie (graduated high school in Cleveland Heights; currently attends college in Ireland): Ultimately Id say go with your gut. If a campus looks nice and you can imagine yourself at the school, it will probably be a good fit. At least for me, campus has been a massive part of my college experience, and if you dont like it and dont like being there, it will not be fun. Marissa (graduated high school in Cleveland Heights; currently attends college in Columbus, Ohio): The physical layout of your campus can have a big impact. I like going to a big state school, but one thing to keep in mind is that the walks to class at a large university can be pretty long. Academic buildings are a 10-15 minute walk away from some dorms, so it can throw off your schedule, especially if youre in a place where the winter gets harsh. If youre used to rolling out of bed 10 minutes before school, you might have to break that habit to make it to class on time. Ellie (graduated high school in Colorado; currently attends college in Maine): When I was making my college decision, a lot of what I heard was when you know, you know or you step on campus and it feels like home. If that is true for you, by all means, pursue it, but if like me, this is not the case for you, know that thats okay too. I chose the school that had most of the little things I was looking for: location, authenticity, academic programs, four seasons and friendliness. Even if it wasnt screaming home at me when I was in high school, I have built my life around this place, and the people here and I wouldnt want it any other way. Maple thats me!: Dont let one flaw turn you completely off from a school you like. I love Bates and Im having an amazing time, but there are also things that frustrate me or things I wish I could change from the lack of soundproof music rooms to some of the registrars policies. But there are a lot of benefits that outweigh those drawbacks, like my schools connection with the local elementary schools for volunteering and the ability to be involved in many different things. No school is perfect, and no matter how deeply you love a certain school, there will always be something that you wish could be better. Dont let one flaw dissuade you. If any of this advice feels overwhelming or stressful: remember, this is not a decision that will make or break the rest of your life. It is, at most, four years worth of education and transferring is always an option, if your first choice is truly not the best fit. And whether you attend college at all will not determine the worth of your life. Many people lead fulfilling and productive lives without setting foot on a college campus. We have decades more to live and learn and grow; I hope you can use this advice to guide a delicate choice, but please, do not let this one decision paralyze you. A big congratulations to the class of 2023. Celebrate your graduation and what comes next youve earned it. Maple Buescher is a northeast Ohio native and a 2021 graduate of Cleveland Heights High School. She is currently a politics major at Bates College, where she writes for the student newspaper and is a member of the sailing team, orchestra and student theater club. You can reach her at maplebuescherPD@gmail.com. The representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States Bi-khim Hsiao waits to be introduced during the opening ceremony of the Taiwan Expo at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center on October 12, 2022 in Washington. China has imposed further sanctions on Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan's de facto ambassador to the United States, prohibiting her and family members from entering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, state media reported on Friday. The sanctions, announced by China's Taiwan Affairs Office, also prohibit investors and firms related to Hsiao from cooperating with mainland organizations and individuals. They come after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during a stopover in the United States this week. "Wow, the PRC (People's Republic of China) just sanctioned me again, for the second time," Hsiao tweeted in response to the announcement. China also imposed similar sanctions on The Prospect Foundation, which is headed by a former Taiwanese foreign minister, and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats, a multinational alliance Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) co-founded in 1993. China's Taiwan Affairs Office accused the institutions of promoting the idea of "Taiwan independence" internationally, state media reported. Last August, after former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, China imposed sanctions including an entry ban on seven Taiwanese officials and lawmakers including Hsiao whom it accused of being "independence diehards," drawing condemnation from the democratically governed island. China considers Taiwan its own territory and not a separate country. Taiwan's government disputes China's claim. Others on the August sanctions list also include Taiwan foreign minister Joseph Wu and Secretary-General of Taiwan's National Security Council Wellington Koo, and DPP politicians. Chinese sanctions will have little practical impact as senior Taiwanese officials do not visit China while Chinese courts do not have jurisdiction in Taiwan. DPP lawmaker Chao Tien-lin told reporters the sanctions on Hsiao were "absurd." "This will have no impact on her," he told reporters at parliament. Gina Raimondo, US secretary of commerce, speaks during an interview in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, March 2, 2023. Senior officials from the Department of Commerce will be traveling to Beijing and Shanghai next week as part of an effort to lay groundwork for a potential trip by Secretary Gina Raimondo later this year, according to people familiar with the planning. Elizabeth Economy, a senior advisor to the secretary on China issues, and Scott Tatlock, the deputy assistant secretary for China and Mongolia, will assess whether such a meeting between Raimondo and her Chinese counterparts would produce results to justify the visit. A spokesperson for the Commerce Department confirmed the trip "to meet with U.S. Commercial Service officers, government counterparts and industry to discuss bilateral trade and commercial opportunities for U.S. businesses." But the optics of a potential visit by Raimondo the former governor of Rhode Island whose political ambitions are said not to end with the Commerce job could be fraught with risk if the visit produces no deliverables, according to the people familiar with the planning. After a recent visit by French President Emmanuel Macron, for instance, Beijing agreed to deliver 160 Airbus planes, and Airbus agreed to double its production in the country. A visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, set for early February, was postponed indefinitely as tensions escalated during a Chinese surveillance balloon's cross-country trip. The tensions paused economic discussions between Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and her counterparts, which have since resumed. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in late March that the White House was discussing potential visits by secretaries Yellen and Raimondo to "talk about economic issues keeping those lines of communication open is still valuable." Beijing has missed key benchmarks in a 2020 trade pact between the countries, which Raimondo has pledged to enforce including a promise by China to purchase planes made by Airbus rival Boeing. "China is holding up the purchase of tens of billions of dollars in Boeing airplanes that Chinese airlines have already ordered," Raimondo told reporters in September 2021. "That's a lot of American jobs on the line." Since then, Commerce has taken an ad hoc approach to sensitive trade issues. On high-tech exports that could advance China's military ambitions, Raimondo has drawn a hard line expanding restrictions that prevent Beijing from acquiring leading semiconductors. On TikTok, where support for a ban is growing on both sides of the aisle, Raimondo has taken a more dovish approach. "The politician in me thinks you're gonna literally lose every voter under 35, forever," she told Bloomberg Businessweek. "However much I hate TikTok and I do, because I see the addiction in the bad s--- that it serves kids you know, this is America." STILLWATER, OK - OCTOBER 1: Student Union building on the campus of the Oklahoma State University on October 1, 2005 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The U.S. Department of Energy is investing tens of millions of dollars in colleges and universities around the country to bolster a program designed to help small manufacturers identify ways they can cut costs by reducing waste and saving energy. The Energy Department said on Friday that Oklahoma State University, Georgia Tech University, Lehigh University, Texas A&M University and San Francisco State University will be the prime recipients of a combined $18.7 million in funding authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for new regional, Industrial Assessment Centers (IACs). Three out of five of the new programs have specific expertise in climate mitigation strategies, including energy management, industrial electrification, industrial decarbonization, resiliency planning, renewable energy, and waste and water management, according to the Energy Department. At the universities, teams perform assessments that will typically identify more than $130,000 in potential annual savings for small manufacturers. In addition to focusing on waste reduction and energy savings, the assessments look at improved productivity and competitiveness. Small manufacturers typically implement 60% of the recommendations that IACs make in the first year, the DOE says. High upfront costs can stand in the way of them implementing all of the recommendations. To address this, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes $400 million in grants available to small manufacturers to make the necessary efficiency-enhancing and greenhouse gas-reducing investments. Most of the new universities, Texas A&M being the exception, will have regional partner institutions, which may also get some of the funding. The IAC at Georgia Tech in Atlanta will focus on energy management and industrial electrification. The program at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas, will specialize in industrial decarbonization, electrification, and resiliency planning. San Francisco State University's center will study renewable energy, energy demand management, thermal systems design, and waste and water management, especially in the Western U.S. The other two IACs are focused on expanding and improving the program, which has already been operating at 37 universities in 28 states. So far, the program has provided 20,000 assessments since 1976. Between 2014 and 2020, the IAC program was able to identify 2.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide abatement opportunities, the equivalent of the amount of electricity used by 450,000 homes in a year, according to a 2022 impact study, the DOE says. The IAC at Lehigh in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, will look to bring unions, trade schools, and community colleges into the network. And at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, the goal will be to improve the technology used in these manufacturing assessments with mobile applications, drones, and virtual and augmented reality. For manufacturers to qualify for a free assessment, they must have annual sales of under $250 million, fewer than 500 employees at the manufacturing facility and annual energy bills between $100,000 and $3.5 million. About 500 students a year participate in the manufacturer assessments. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a statement that the investment is designed to "ensure America's global leadership in advanced manufacturing and green building technologies." In addition to the new centers, the Department of Energy said on Friday that it's using $54 million, also authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to expand the IAC programs to community colleges, trade schools, and union training institutes. The assessment will be broadened to include energy-efficient building design and operation. Of the 37 universities that were already part of the manufacturing assessment program, 17 had been participating in a pilot to expand it into energy-efficient building design and operation. This program will now be official and known as the Building Training and Assessment Centers. WATCH: Cities are largely to blame for climate change Goldman Sachs has warned that European automakers are at risk of losing market share to Tesla and Chinese firms. The investment bank's pessimistic view came as it downgraded BMW from buy to neutral and Volvo Cars from neutral to sell, while upgrading Ferrari from sell to neutral. Goldman also raised the price target for Fiat-Chryser's parent Stellantis by 10.5%. The Wall Street investment bank said the transition toward battery electric vehicles in Europe could spark swings in some share prices. Europe's incumbent mass-market brands accounted for 72% of sales last year, Goldman Sachs analysts said. But they added that if the automakers want to retain their strong standing, they will need to produce products with industry-leading powertrain efficiency. "To date, we believe there is limited evidence of industry leading products when we consider European BEV offerings based off the overall efficiency of the powertrain," wrote the analysts led by George Galliers in a note to clients on April 6. The table below shows Goldman Sachs' changes to its price targets: Goldman raised price targets for just two stock: Porsche , where it increased its target multiple by 24%, and Ferrari, where it changed the company's capital costs in its valuation methodology. The bank noted that Tesla's reported gross margins were significantly higher than those on Europe's battery electric vehicles, suggesting a wider technology gap between the two regions. The report also highlighted risks from Chinese competitors looking to expand internationally due to high levels of competition and discounting in their domestic market. This could also eat into the market share of established players over time. Chinese electric car maker Nio announced plans to open a manufacturing plant in Hungary last year. Similarly, Warren Buffet-backed BYD plans to open a plant on the continent in 2025. Several Chinese EV battery makers, including CATL, have already begun production in Europe. Goldman noted that European automakers had already begun adapting to the changes in the market, however. For example, it said several firms have already started to focus on luxury markets where they believe less competitive risk exists, along with more resilient consumer demand during economic softening. The change in regulation allowing for e-Fuel a synthetic drop-in replacement for gasoline also has the potential to de-risk companies and brands, according to Goldman Sachs. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report. Jenny Cheng likens her career to Goldilocks' search for the perfect bowl of porridge: She tried different roles at different companies, but none fit "just right." Then, a recruiter at Google called her. "Google had been talking to me on and off for years, but it was never the right time or quite the right role," says Cheng, who just celebrated one year as the vice president and general manager of Google Wallet. She got the call about the open role at Google Wallet in early 2022, about 10 months after leaving her VP role at PayPal, where she worked for four years. She had planned to take a year off from work after experiencing "really intense" burnout while managing an international team at home in San Francisco for several months through the Covid-19 pandemic. Before taking the job at Google, Cheng asked herself two questions to make sure the job aligned with her values and goals: "Is this work I am passionate about?" and "Am I excited to work with this team?" The secret to building a "happier, more successful career," Cheng has discovered, can be boiled down to two rules: Find work you're passionate about, and people you like doing it with. Jewish worshippers take part in the traditional priestly blessing prayer on the holiday of Passover, at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City, April 9, 2023. Senior right-wing politicians, along with West Bank settler leaders, announced plans for a march through the northern West Bank on Monday, setting the stage for further tensions. However, the country is now governed by the most right-wing government in its history, with ultra-nationalists who seek changes in the arrangements in senior positions. Such tours by religious and nationalist Jews have increased in size and frequency over the years, and are viewed with suspicion by many Palestinians who fear that Israel plans one day to take over the site or partition it. Israeli officials say they have no intention of changing long-standing arrangements that allow Jews to visit, but not pray in the Muslim-administered site. Hundreds of Jews also visited the Al-Aqsa compound under heavy police guard Sunday, to whistles and religious chants from Palestinians protesting their presence. By sundown, the observances had passed without serious incident. Thousands of Jewish worshippers gathered at the city's Western Wall, the holiest place where Jews can pray, for a mass priestly benediction prayer service for the Passover holiday. At the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a walled esplanade above the Western Wall, hundreds of Palestinians performed prayers as part of observances during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Israeli warplanes and artillery struck targets in Syria following rare rocket fire from the northeastern neighbor, as Jewish-Muslim tensions reached a peak Sunday at a volatile Jerusalem shrine with simultaneous religious rituals. Tensions have soared in the past week at the flashpoint shrine after an Israeli police raid on the mosque. On several occasions, Palestinians have barricaded themselves inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque with stones and firecrackers, demanding the right to pray there overnight, something Israel has in the past only allowed during the last 10 days of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Police removed them by force, detaining hundreds and leaving dozens injured. The violence at the shrine triggered rocket fire by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon, starting Wednesday, and Israeli airstrikes targeted both areas. In Lebanon, Hezbollah's media office announced that the militant group's chief, Hassan Nasrallah, received a delegation headed by Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Sunday. The two discussed "the most important developments in occupied Palestine, the course of events at al-Aqsa Mosque, and the escalating resistance in the West Bank and Gaza, in addition to general political developments in the region, the readiness of the resistance axis and the cooperation of its parties," the statement said. Haniyeh, who arrived in Lebanon last week shortly before rockets were launched at Israel from south Lebanon, had been scheduled to make a public appearance in Beirut on Friday. But it was canceled for security reasons following the exchange of strikes between Lebanon and Israel. No group has officially claimed responsibility for the rocket attacks, but Israel has accused Hamas of being behind them. Late on Saturday and early Sunday, militants in Syria fired rockets in two salvos toward Israel and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. A Damascus-based Palestinian group loyal to the Syrian government claimed responsibility for the first round of rockets, saying it was retaliating for the Al-Aqsa raids. In the first salvo, one rocket landed in a field in the Golan Heights. Fragments of another destroyed missile fell into Jordanian territory near the Syrian border, Jordan's military reported. In the second round, two of the rockets crossed the border into Israel, with one being intercepted and the second landing in an open area, the Israeli military said. Israel responded with artillery fire into the area in Syria from where the rockets were fired. Later, the military said Israeli fighter jets attacked Syrian army sites, including a compound of Syria's 4th Division and radar and artillery posts. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the violence in a telephone call with Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog late Saturday, telling Herzog that Muslims could not remain silent about the "provocations and threats" against the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and said the hostilities that have spread to Gaza and Lebanon should not be allowed to escalate further. In addition to the cross-border fighting, three people were killed over the weekend in Palestinian attacks in Israel and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Hundreds of people, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, attended the funeral for two British-Israeli sisters, Maia Dee, 20, and Rina Dee, 15, who were killed in a shooting Friday in the West Bank. They were buried following an emotional ceremony in the Jewish settlement of Kfar Etzion in the West Bank. As the two bodies were brought into the room, one of their sisters threw herself down and hugged the covered bodies. Their mother, who was also shot in the attack, remains hospitalized in critical condition. "May we and no one else in the whole world ever know so much sorrow. Amen," said their father, Lee Dee. An Italian tourist, Alessandro Parini, 35, a lawyer from Rome, had just arrived in the city a few hours earlier with some friends for a brief Easter holiday. He was killed Friday in a suspected car-ramming on Tel Aviv's beachside promenade. Over 90 Palestinians and have been killed by Israeli fire so far this year, at least half of them affiliated with militant groups, according to a tally by The Associated Press. Palestinian attacks on Israelis have killed 19 people in that time. All but one were civilians. High-profile tech and media executives shared their experiences of working in and competing with China with lawmakers who visited California this week. A delegation of about 10 members of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party made the trip west to meet with industry leaders and subject matter experts about key areas of concern when it comes to dealing with China. Over the three-day trip that kicked off on Wednesday, lawmakers were scheduled to meet with Disney CEO Bob Iger and Apple CEO Tim Cook, as well as high-level executives from Google , Microsoft , Palantir and Scale AI. Also on the agenda were events with a group of producers, screenwriters and former studio executives who have experience working with China, as well as with venture capitalists and Stanford University experts, according to a source close to the committee. The trip highlights the key role tech and media industries play in America's increasingly complex relationship with China. While these industries often rely on the massive audiences and workforces available in China, dependence on the country raises concerns of human rights and free speech issues because of the government's censorship controls, as well as supply chain risks. The trip comes on the heels of a historic meeting in California between House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday. That meeting, which former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., also praised, enraged the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party. The Chinese government called the meeting a "provocation" and promised "resolute actions." In Hollywood, the group of lawmakers from the select committee learned about a range of topics related to competition with China. In a meeting with Disney's Iger and later at a dinner with unnamed studio executives, censorship of creative content was a big focus, according to the source familiar with the committee's activities. Executives discussed dealing with self-censorship to try to ensure a movie won't offend the Chinese government even before filming begins, as well as edit requests they receive from the government in order to show films in the country. In Silicon Valley on Thursday, according to the source, Microsoft President Brad Smith gave a presentation about artificial intelligence, warning that there is a narrow gap between the U.S. and China in the development of generative AI, which has been made popular by tools such as ChatGPT. He also discussed rare earth mineral mining and processing, which make up key components in certain tech devices. Smith and executives from Google, Palantir and ScaleAI attended a luncheon with committee members. Lawmakers also met with experts from Stanford University, including those from the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, according to center founding member Steve Blank. In a phone call following the discussion Thursday, Blank said he communicated the need for a defense strategy that involves more public-private partnerships across different industries to get the U.S. up to speed with China. Blank said he was impressed by the bipartisanship and interest he saw from lawmakers in attendance. "In general, the questions they asked, you would have been very proud to be an American sitting in that room," Blank said. "They were bipartisan, and they were to the point and they were very smart. These people understand the issues, and they're trying to help the country be better." Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., a committee member who represents Silicon Valley, told CNBC in a phone interview ahead of the trip on Tuesday that he was excited for his colleagues to visit his home district. Khanna said it's always valuable for lawmakers to spend time learning about cutting-edge technologies such as AI, quantum computing and climate tech to better understand how to both regulate and foster it. "I think it would be wise for every member of Congress to spend a week in Silicon Valley," Khanna said. "Technology is going to define so many fields from the economy to national security to our issues of citizenship, and we need people to be immersed in it, at least understanding it." Khanna and others have described the purpose of the trip as primarily a fact-finding mission. While the conversations will likely inform future policymaking and hearings, lawmakers entered the meetings aiming to learn from industry executives on the ground. The group was also slated to meet with venture capitalists on Thursday, including Andreessen Horowitz, Khosla Ventures and SV Angel. Khanna expected the VCs would discuss how the government could "better collaborate with the private sector" to stay ahead of China in key areas of emerging technology. On Friday, lawmakers were set to discuss cryptocurrency with experts at Stanford before traveling to Cupertino to meet with Cook at Apple's headquarters, according to the source familiar with the committee's plans. Khanna said he anticipated the business leaders would inform the policymakers of any progress they've made in diversifying their supply chains out of China and how they use export revenue from China to invest in the U.S. When it comes to the meeting with Apple's CEO, Khanna said he expected Cook would "speak candidly about the supply chain issues," including the complexities and progress of diversifying production outside of China. In a phone interview partway through the trip on Thursday, Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., said she saw common themes between the sorts of challenges the tech and media industries face when it comes to China and those facing the automotive industry in her home state. "Every meeting we've been in, in my opinion, has related back to Michigan's economy and our ability to manufacture as a country," Stevens said. "One of the themes that I came into the committee with as a manufacturing champion and as someone who understands the interrelatedness between manufacturing and tech is: What else do we need to do to incentivize and grow industrial policy in the United States of America?" Stevens said. She pointed to the passage of the Chips and Science Act as an example of incentivizing domestic semiconductor manufacturing. "Now, we're looking at other areas specific to supply chain vulnerabilities and weaknesses that are going to impact our economy and, aside from chips, we want to be competitive in quantum and artificial intelligence," Stevens said. CNBC's Steve Kovach contributed to this report. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. WATCH: Why all eyes are on Zimbabwe's lithium industry A man walks out of the pre-trial detention center Lefortovo, where U.S. journalist for the Wall Street Journal Evan Gershkovich is being held on espionage charges, in Moscow, Russia, April 6, 2023. Russian Federal Security Service investigators have formally charged Evan Gershkovich with espionage but the Wall Street Journal reporter denied the charges and said he was working as a journalist, Russian news agencies reported on Friday. Russia's Federal Security Service, the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB, said on March 30 that it had detained Gershkovich in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg and had opened an espionage case against the 31-year-old for collecting what it said were state secrets about the military industrial complex. "Gershkovich has been charged," Interfax quoted a source as saying. TASS reported that FSB investigators had formally charged Gershkovich with carrying out espionage in the interests of the United States, but that Gershkovich had denied the charge. "He categorically denied all the accusations and stated that he was engaged in journalistic activities in Russia," TASS citied an unidentified source as saying. The TASS source declined further comment citing the classified nature of the case. Gershkovich is the first American journalist detained in Russia on espionage charges since the end of the Cold War. The Journal has denied that Gershkovich was spying and demanded the immediate release of its "trusted and dedicated reporter". The Journal said his arrest was "a vicious affront to a free press, and should spur outrage in all free people and governments throughout the world". The Kremlin said that Gershkovich had been carrying out espionage "under the cover" of journalism. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has told the United States that Gershkovich was caught red handed while trying to obtain secrets. The United States has urged Russia to release Gershkovich and cast the Russian claims of espionage as ridiculous. U.S. President Joe Biden has called for Gershkovich's release. Russian President Vladimir Putin has yet to comment publicly on the case. A fluent Russian speaker born to Soviet emigres and raised in New Jersey, Gershkovich moved to Moscow in late 2017 to join the English-language Moscow Times, and subsequently worked for the French national news agency Agence France-Presse. Russia announced the start of its "special military operation" in February 2022, just as Gershkovich was in London, about to return to Russia to join the Journal's Moscow bureau. It was decided that he would live in London but travel to Russia frequently for reporting trips, as a correspondent accredited with the Foreign Ministry. A man walks out of the pre-trial detention center Lefortovo, where U.S. journalist for the Wall Street Journal Evan Gershkovich is being held on espionage charges, in Moscow, Russia, April 6, 2023. Russian investigators have formally charged Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich with espionage, Russian news agencies and Reuters reported on Friday. But the American denied the charges and said he was working as a journalist, not for the U.S. government. Russia's Federal Security Service, the successor to the infamous Soviet-era KGB, said late last month that it had detained Gershkovich and had opened an espionage case against the 31-year-old. Reuters reported that the FSS said he was collecting alleged state secrets about the military industrial complex. "Gershkovich has been charged," Interfax quoted a source as saying. Reuters said TASS a Russian news agency reported that FSB investigators had formally charged Gershkovich with carrying out espionage in the interests of the United States, but that Gershkovich had denied the charge. "He categorically denied all the accusations and stated that he was engaged in journalistic activities in Russia," TASS citied an unidentified source as saying. Gershkovich's detention marks the first time an American journalist has been detained in Russia on espionage charges since the end of the Cold War. Read the report from Reuters here. Michele Luhn South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol attends a meeting with Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (not pictured) at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo on March 16, 2023. Congressional leaders on Thursday invited South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to address a joint meeting of Congress on April 27. In a press release, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., announced that they had invited Yoon "in honor of the 70th anniversary of the alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea." "The relationship between the United States and the Republic of Korea is one of great importance and significance," the congressional leaders wrote in the invitation. "Your leadership has been instrumental in strengthening this partnership, and we believe the Joint Meeting would provide an ideal platform for you to share your vision for the future of the U.S.- Korea alliance and to highlight the progress that has been made in recent years," they added. The move comes as the U.S. continues efforts to strengthen its relationships with parts of Asia amid worsening tensions with China. A bipartisan delegation arrived in Taiwan on Thursday, a day after McCarthy defied Beijing by meeting with the president of the self-ruling island. It was the delegation's third overseas trip following visits to U.S. allies in Japan and South Korea. Earlier this week, the U.S. and South Korea, along with Japan, also conducted joint military training, including anti-submarine drills designed to improve the nations' ability to respond to underwater threats, such as North Korea's submarine-launched ballistic missiles, according to a South Korean Defense Ministry spokesperson. The White House announced last month that President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden will host Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, for a visit on April 26, which will include a state dinner. Biden had previously met with Yoon in November at the East Asia Summit in Cambodia. During that trip, Biden and his South Korean and Japanese counterparts vowed to stand together in coordinating a response to North Korea's nuclear programs. Project: to Explore how Climate Change Affects Mental Health Colorado College senior Maddi Schink has won the trifecta of student awards. Not only has she been selected to be part of the 55th class of Thomas J. Watson Fellows, but she also has won a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award to Colombia. Last year, Schink won the Truman Scholarship. The Watson Fellowship provides fellows with the opportunity to test their aspirations and abilities through a personal project experienced on an international scale. They are nominated by 41 college and university partners across the United States. Schinks project will focus on how climate change and mental health interact with each other, specifically investigating how climatic events impact the psychological and emotional well-being of affected communities. She will travel to Argentina, Kenya, Thailand, and Estonia to conduct her research. Each country was selected for a different reason, whether it was the types of climate change impacts they have faced or geographic and cultural elements, says Schink. I wanted to seek out diverse perspectives during my Watson year and these are all places I have never been before. Fellows receive $40,000 for twelve months of travel and college loan assistance as needed. Following the year, they join a community of peers who provide a lifetime of support and inspiration. Part of her reason for choosing climate change and mental health for her project is rooted in her familys direct experience with the deadly Marshall Fire in Boulder County in December 2021. My family was impacted by the fire, which opened my eyes to the impacts of climatic events on mental health, she shares. I have watched my community struggle through the aftermath of the fire and yet I have also seen so much resilience. Exploring the intersection of these two issues is deeply personal and I see it as part of a broader journey to humanize the story of climate change. Schink will graduate in May with an education major and environmental studies minor at CC. She says she has a longstanding passion for addressing climate change and related environmental injustices, as well as equitable access to environmental education and can see herself working in those areas. Shes excited for what the Watson year holds in store. It still feels surreal when I think about the year ahead of me! Schink has leveraged the unique opportunities available at CC, from interning at the Collaborative for Community Engagement to working closely with Campus Activities and local organizations. I learned so much about how I want to show up in a community and work with others. I know that these lessons inspired my Watson proposal and I will carry them with me throughout my year. She thanks the advisers who supported her at CC, specifically Writing Center Specialist Roy Jo Sartin, Student Success Specialist Gretchen Wardell, and Assistant Director of Grants, Research and Fellowships Lisa Schwartz. I could not have done this without them and I am extremely grateful that they were part of my CC journey. Schink was also a Gilman Award-winner and a Henri Skip Meis 1963 Emerging Student Leader Award winner. 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. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form 3 Two Weeks After Vancouver Got Its First Fire Department, the Whole City Burned Down Motorized firetrucks did exist a bit before Boulder got theirs. An automaker called Seagrave, which still makes firetrucks today, was building them as early as 1907, and Vancouver bought three of them that year. By this point, Vancouver had had a fire department for several decades. The department first formed in on May 29, 1886. That must have seemed like a landmark day, the end of fires reign of terror, except that the entire town burned down two weeks later. J.S. Matthews The fire ironically even burned down Water Street. Advertisement The whole town burned in just 45 minutes. Granted, Vancouver wasnt quite as large in those days as it is now, but it still had around 1,000 buildings, and the fire ate them right up. It started because workers set fires to clear land west of town, for a new train station and just for general expansion. The wind blew two fires together, and the men abandoned trying to contain them and ran through town warning everyone to flee. Most people heeded the warning. Others took the opportunity to go into the big hotel and raid the liquor supply; this hotel would turn out to be one of the few buildings to survive the blaze. The fire department didnt do much of anything to extinguish the fire because they couldnt do much of anything to extinguish the fire. They had no fire engine. The reason weve been tracking the introduction of fire engines so far is that a fire department without a fire engine is just a bunch of people with buckets and good intentions, and we all know where that leads. Beijing supports EU's role in Ukraine political settlement 13:46, April 07, 2023 By CAO DESHENG ( Chinadaily.com.cn President Xi Jinping holds a trilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] President Xi Jinping reaffirmed China's commitment on Thursday to facilitating peace talks and a political settlement of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, saying that Beijing supports the European Union in playing its role in the political settlement of the crisis and advancing efforts to build a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture. Xi made the remark during talks in Beijing with visiting French President Emmanuel Macron. He emphasized that China's position on the Ukraine issue is consistent. "There is no panacea for defusing the crisis. It requires all parties to do their share and create conditions for a cease-fire and peace talks through a buildup of trust," Xi said. The president said that China stands ready to issue a joint call with France for the international community to stay rational, exercise restraint and avoid taking actions that might cause the crisis to further deteriorate or even spiral out of control. He underlined the need to strictly abide by international humanitarian law, avoid attacking civilians or civilian facilities, and protect women, children and other victims of the conflict. Xi said the solemn pledge that nuclear weapons must not be used and nuclear wars must not be fought should be earnestly honored. He also called for opposing the use of biological weapons under any circumstances and opposing armed attacks against nuclear power plants or other civilian nuclear facilities. He said peace talks should be resumed as soon as possible, and he called for observing the principles of the United Nations Charter, accommodating the legitimate security concerns of all parties, seeking political settlement and fostering a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture. Xi, Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis during a trilateral meeting on Thursday. The European leaders said that China is not the party that created the crisis and they appreciated China's efforts to advance a political settlement of the issue. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Infamous hacker marketplace Genesis, which was taken down this week by an international law enforcement operation involving 17 countries, was selling access to millions of victim computers gained via the DanaBot infostealer and likely other malware. Trellix, the cybersecurity firm that assisted in the takedown of the Genesis site, said that malware used by Genesis provided access to browser fingerprints, cookies, autofill form data, and other credentials. The disruption of Genesis Market is yet another successful takedown that proves that public-private partnerships are vital in fighting cybercrime, said John Fokker, head of threat intelligence at the Trellix Advanced Research Center in Amsterdam. We had been monitoring the marketplace for many years now and are proud to have been able to play a part in the takedown of this notorious market. A Trellix analysis could only trace 450,000 malware bots listed on the marketplace, out of the 1.5 million announced by law enforcement officials, mainly because Trellix had access only to advertized data and not the full historic database. The bots on sale and analyzed by Trellix are malware with real-time links to victim machines, and were the result of infections that were carefully crafted in stages. Among other observations, Tellix detected a final DanaBot payload. Malware bots sold for hundreds of dollars The price per bot on the site ranged from as little as $0.70 up to several hundred dollars, depending on the amount and nature of the stolen data, according to a Europol filing. The international operation was led by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Dutch National Police, with a command post set up at Europols headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands. It resulted in 119 arrests, 208 property searches and 97 "knock-and-talk" measures. Forty-five FBI field offices worked on the investigation dubbed Operation Cookie Monster the US Justice Department said in a press release announcing the takedown Wednesday. Based on a forensic timestamp provided by law enforcement, Trellix observed a setup.exe file as the initial infection vector. This was a multistaged executable file whose size was inflated (99.3%) to 440MB through null padding, a trending technique used to avoid cybersecurity sandboxes. The executable was observed to be a genuine Inno Setup, a benign software installer file that was used by Genesis for malicious injection. In the second step, the executable would drop a dynamic link library (DLL) file, yvibiajwi.dll, in the temporary folder of the victim computer located at %temp%. The DLL, which includes junk code to avoid detection, executes functions that decrypt a 150MB buffer at the end of the malicious script binary, yielding a portable executable (PE) file targeted at the users explorer.exe, a Windows startup process. The final leg of the attack is to use the compromised system to establish a connection with the command and control (C&C) server used by the attacker to download another binary which, as found in the samples analyzed by Trellix, resembled the DanaBot family. Using commodity malware As the C&C domain was unavailable at the time of Trellixs analysis, it made an assumption that the domain primarily distributes commodity malware including not only DanaBot but others, such as AZORult, Raccoon, and Redline. The samples that we have examined that were shared by the Dutch Police belonged to the DanaBot family as well as propriety malware (javascript files) that Genesis installed in the victims browser to steal the valuable browser data," Fokker said. "The other families have also been linked to Genesis Market in the past either by industry peers or from our own observations. In the last stage of the malware attacks, the downloaded binary (DanaBot) is executed into a malicious Chrome extension and associated JavaScript files. The Chrome extension is used to steal browser information such as cookies, browser history, tab information and more, in a uniform format. The JavaScript files include email injection codes that use an exposed Chromium API to track user mailboxes from open Chrome tabs and access information to stage a fake emergency e-mail that induces the user to access targeted websites. The malicious Chrome extension can then monitor communications with the targeted sites typically, cryptocurrency sites. An invitation-only malware site Genesis Market had been in existence since 2018, and was an invitation-only site that required referrals from current members. It was among the first to use browser fingerprints and cookies to enable account takeovers, despite growing MFA adoption. It used the principle that for an effective MFA-resistant attack, the attacker must exploit a victims trusted status by accessing both their credentials and browser fingerprint. In addition to infected bots, Genesis Market also advertised and sold a custom browser and plugin called Genesium on several underground forums, making it easier for hackers to effect attacks. It is possible for hackers already in possession of Genesis bots to continue attacks as long as victims dont refresh cookies and change compromised credentials. Genesis bots have real-time links that update passwords when victims change them. After the takedown of Genesis infrastructure, clearing browser cache and cookies, or restoring an infected computer to factory default, can invalidate the infection. Victims still vulnerable unless remediation taken Victims are still vulnerable as long as they havent followed the remediation steps. We recommend checking if they are in the Genesis data set through the portal of the Dutch Police, which also provides remediation advice that Trellix helped formulate, Fokker said. Data set information is available at https://www.politie.nl/en/information/checkyourhack.html. Additionally, organizations should most importantly implement MFA and severely limit the amount of time that browser cookies can be used before they expire, Fokker added. Using antivirus programs; regularly updating software; avoiding suspicious links, pop-ups, and dialog boxes; and using unique passwords have been advised by law enforcement as effective ways to prevent access thefts. A detailed list of remediation steps is provided by Trellix in its analysis of the Genesis bots. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Russian forces used ground- and air-fired missiles, rocket launchers and weaponized drones to bombard the provinces of Ukraine it has illegally annexed but doesn't fully control, causing casualties, building damage and power outages Friday. The Ukrainian military said Russian forces launched 18 airstrikes, five missile strikes and 53 attacks from multiple rocket launchers between Thursday and Friday mornings. According to the General Staff statement, Russia was concentrating the bulk of its offensive operations in Ukraines industrial east, focusing on the cities and towns of Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka in Donetsk province. Most of Friday's battlefield reports concerned the four Ukrainian provinces Russia annexed in September: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his military to gain complete control of the provinces, while Ukraine has indicated it will soon launch a counteroffensive to take back more territory. Russia also annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014, a move that most of the world also regarded as illegal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vowed to regain all Russian-occupied areas. Looking ahead to how the war might end, Ukraines defense minister, Oleksii Reznikov, told Cypriot state broadcaster CyBC ahead of talks with his Cypriot counterpart on Friday that his country would negotiate peace with Russia only after its occupied territory is liberated. He said Zelenskyy has made clear he would negotiate only with Putin's successor to ensure peaceful coexistence. Regarding armament procurement, Reznikov said Ukraines top priority is for antiaircraft systems, followed by artillery ammunition, infantry vehicles, tanks and electronic warfare equipment, including drones and anti-drone technology. In the latest fighting, the Ukrainian military said it downed a Russian Su-25 ground attack jet near Marinka. A video showed a big explosion as the plane slammed into the ground, with its pilot descending on a parachute. The Russian military, in keeping with its general silence on losses, didnt confirm the warplane's downing. British military officials said in their latest daily analysis that Russian forces have likely advanced into the center of Bakhmut and captured the western bank of the Bakhmutka River. Russia's eight-month campaign to take Bakhmut and Ukraine's determination to defend the city have produced the longest and potentially bloodiest battle of the war that Putin started on Feb. 24, 2022. The U.K. Defense Ministry said Russias progress, which had largely stalled since the end of March, had regained momentum. According to British intelligence, Ukraines key supply route to the west of Bakhmut was under threat, with Russia using artillery more effectively and benefiting from reinforcements by regular forces that likely include airborne troops. British military officials noted also that regular military commanders and those from the Wagner Group, a private Russian military company that has sent its soldiers to fight in multiple African countries, had probably improved cooperation and put on hold their feud. The Wagner Group, which has appeared to take the lead in the Bakhmut fighting, has frequently complained about the regular Russian military's strategy as well as its failure to provide sufficient ammunition and other support. The Wagner Group's owner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said Ukrainians continued to put up fierce resistance in Bakhmut. The enemy is not going anywhere, Prigozhin wrote in a Telegram messaging app post Thursday. They organized defense inside the city, first by rail, then in the area of high-rise buildings in the western quarter of the city. Also in Donetsk province, Russia launched a missile attack on the city of Sloviansk, destroying residential buildings, while one civilian was wounded during fighting in Bakhmut. Donetsk regional Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said Friday morning that 15 cities and villages on the front line were shelled in the region. The Moscow-installed mayor of Donetsk city, Aleksei Kulemzin, said Ukrainian shelling killed one person and wounded six. Russia's Defense Ministry reported inflicting dozens of casualties on Ukrainian forces and destroying drones and other Ukrainian weapons and combat vehicles in several battlefront hot spots in the annexed provinces. Each side tends to report only the losses it inflicts on its enemy, and their claims are generally impossible to verify independently. In southern Ukraine's partially occupied Kherson province, seven people were wounded in 24 hours, regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said Friday. Writing on Telegram, Prokudin said that Russia had carried out 46 attacks on the province, including seven attacks on the regional capital, also called Kherson, with heavy artillery and aircraft fire. A 10-year-old girl, a 3-year-old boy and 30-year-old woman were wounded Friday in Russian shelling of the village of Stanislav in the province, the head of Ukraines presidential office Andriy Yermak, reported. Earlier, debris from Russian ammunition killed a 36-year-old resident of Beryslav, another city in Kherson province. Residential areas of Kherson city were shelled seven times, damaging energy facilities and residential buildings. A drone attack on the village of Zmiyivka wounded six people. Shells hit Nikopol and Marhanets across the Dnieper River from the occupied and shut-down Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraines eastern Dnipropetrovsk province, damaging power lines. Further north, shelling in the Novhorod-Siverskyi district of the Chernihiv region left four towns and villages without electricity, authorities reported. Mortar fire damaged residential buildings in the town of Vovchansk in Kharkiv province, near the border with Russia. A 39-year-old man was killed in Russian shelling in the border village of Borysivka, Kharkiv Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said. At a mosque on the outskirts of Kyiv, Zelenskyy met Ukrainian Muslim soldiers on Friday to celebrate Iftar, the evening meal marking the end of the Ramadan fast, and to underscore that Kyiv wont give up on Crimea, a historic homeland of the Crimean Tatars, a Muslim ethnic minority. He noted that Russia began its campaign against Ukraine with the 2014 annexation of Crimea, and vowed: Where the path of evil began, victory awaits us there, I am sure. Victory over this evil. The liberation of Crimea has no alternative." Crimean Tatars were deported en masse from their historic homeland of Crimea to Central Asia by the Soviets 70 years ago. They began returning to Crimea in the 1980s. ___ Associated Press reporters Hanna Arhirova, Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia and Menelaos Hadjicostis in Nicosia, Cyprus, contributed to this report. ___ Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine-war This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) The Senate's top two leaders demanded on Friday that Russia immediately release Evan Gershkovich in a rare bipartisan statement that condemned the detention of the Wall Street Journal reporter and declared that journalism is not a crime. The statement from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., comes as the United States is working to swiftly end what it calls the unlawful detention of Gershkovich, the first journalist to be held on alleged espionage since the Cold War. We strongly condemn the wrongful detention of U.S. citizen and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, and demand the immediate release of this internationally known and respected independent journalist, Schumer and McConnell said. They said Gershkovich was accredited by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work as a journalist in Russia and Russian authorities have failed to present any credible evidence to justify their fabricated charges. Schumer and McConnell wrote: "Let there be no mistake: journalism is not a crime." U.S. officials are working for the release of Gershkovich, 31, who was arrested late last month and was being held in a Moscow prison. The son of immigrants from the Soviet Union, he grew up speaking Russian at home in Princeton, New Jersey. Russias top security agency said Gershkovich was trying to obtain classified information about a Russian arms factory. Gershkovich has been formally charged with espionage in Russia and has entered his official denial, Russian state news agency Tass reported Friday. President Joe Biden told reporters last Friday that his message to Russia was: Let him go. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday he has no doubt that Russia has wrongfully detained Gershkovich. On Thursday, the U.S. ambassador to Russia, Lynne T. Tracy, and Russia's deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, met to discuss the situation. The Wall Street Journal has adamantly denied the allegations against Gershkovich and demanded his release. The Senate leaders said the U.S. Embassy has been denied consular access against standard diplomatic practice and likely in violation of international law. Schumer and McConnell also said that Russia has a long history of unjustly detaining U.S. citizens, and called for the release of another American, Paul Whelan. Whelan, a Michigan corporate security executive, has been imprisoned in Russia since December 2018 on espionage charges that his family and the U.S. government have said are baseless. He is serving a 16-year sentence. Connecticut, a state with a rich history of innovation and economic development, has the potential to become a hub for technology talent. In todays rapidly evolving digital landscape, information technology certification training programs are more important than ever. These programs not only provide a pathway for individuals to enter the high-demand tech sector but also create a skilled workforce that can fuel the states economic growth. It is time for Connecticut to prioritize and invest in IT certification training programs to foster innovation, bridge the digital divide, and promote economic development. The demand for skilled IT professionals is skyrocketing across the United States, and Connecticut is no exception. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment in computer and IT occupations will grow by 13 percent from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations. By supporting IT certification training programs, Connecticut can equip its residents with the skills needed to fill these in-demand roles, helping to close the current skills gap and ensuring that the state remains competitive in the global tech landscape. Fostering economic growth and innovation Investing in IT certification training programs can create a domino effect of economic benefits for Connecticut. By building a skilled IT workforce, the state can attract and retain businesses, particularly those in the technology sector, which can lead to increased job opportunities and economic growth. Furthermore, a robust IT workforce can help local businesses leverage emerging technologies, fostering a culture of innovation that can drive the states economy forward. Promoting workforce diversity and inclusion Supporting IT certification training programs can also help Connecticut address the persistent lack of diversity within the tech industry. These programs often target underrepresented groups, such as women, people of color, and individuals from low-income backgrounds, providing them with a pathway to enter the IT field. By creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce, Connecticut can tap into the wealth of creativity and innovation that comes from a variety of perspectives and experiences. Addressing unemployment and underemployment IT certification training programs offer an opportunity for Connecticut residents who may be unemployed or underemployed to gain valuable skills and credentials, opening doors to new job opportunities. These programs can provide an alternative or supplement to traditional higher education, making them more accessible and affordable for individuals who may face barriers to pursuing a four-year degree. By investing in these programs, Connecticut can ensure that its workforce is adaptable and prepared to meet the changing needs of the job market. Now is the time for Connecticut to make a strategic investment in IT certification training programs. By doing so, the state can create a skilled and diverse workforce ready to meet the demands of the ever-evolving tech sector. This investment will not only help to bridge the digital divide but also propel Connecticut into a new era of economic growth, innovation, and prosperity. Lets seize this opportunity and position our state as a leader in the technology industry for years to come. Kevin Conlan is a resident of West Haven. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PHOENIX (AP) Native American tribal members fighting plans for an enormous copper mine on land they consider sacred say they are increasingly worried U.S. officials will publish an environmental review paving the way for the project even as they await a federal appeals court ruling in the case. A U.S. government attorney said during last months hearing of a full panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that the final environmental impact study for construction of the mine at Oak Flat, Arizona, could be published this spring. San Carlos Apache Tribe Chairman Terry Rambler said during a visit last week that U.S. Forest Service officials confirmed plans to push forward on publication of the environmental analysis. That step would kick off a 60-day period culminating in a land swap allowing the project to go forward. Obliterating Oak Flat for a copper mine will be a grave human rights violation against Indigenous people and an environmental catastrophe, Rambler said in a written statement this week. The Biden Administrations commitment to Indian Country will be seriously eroded if it approves this mine. Apache Stronghold, a group composed of San Carlos Apache members and others, wants to halt the land swap while the case plays out in court. The panel of 11 judges on the appeals court is expected to issue a decision in the next few months. Apache Stronghold sued the U.S. government under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to protect the land known as Chichil Bildagoteel, an area of ancient oaks and traditional plants the San Carlos Apaches consider important for their ceremonies at Oak Flat in the Tonto National Forest about 70 miles (110 kilometers) east of Phoenix. The Forest Service is now revising the environmental analysis, which is expected to be completed in the coming months, national press officer Wade Muehlhof said Friday in a written response to emailed queries about the agency's plans. He wrote that the Forest Service has committed to providing at least 60 days notice before any future environmental analysis and Draft Record Of Decision (DROD) for the Land Exchange and Project is issued. Muehlhof also said consultation with tribal members is ongoing, including a planned April 25 meeting. Representatives of the Resolution Copper mining company said they were unaware of the meeting or any plans by the agency. U.S. Rep. Raul M. Grijalva, a Democrat who represents southern Arizona, has introduced legislation aimed at halting the project. He urged Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack this week to continue withholding publication of the environmental review. If allowed to proceed, Resolution Copper would desecrate Oak Flats tribal cultural and religious heritage sites, deplete already scarce water resources in Arizona, adversely impact imperiled species, and create a crater up to 1,115 feet deep and roughly 1.8 miles across, Grijalva wrote. The destruction this mine would cause far outweighs its benefits. The swap was a provision included in a must-pass defense bill to give Resolution Copper 3.75 square miles (9.71 square kilometers) of national forest land for eight other parcels the company owns elsewhere in Arizona. Publication of the environmental analysis will start the clock on the 60-day period for the Forest Service to transfer Oak Flat to Resolution Copper. An earlier environmental survey was pulled back while the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the Forest Service, consulted for months with Native American tribes and others about their concerns. The mining company says it has been addressing concerns about the project. It notes there is broad local support for the mine, which could create thousands of jobs, add up to $1 billion annually to Arizona's economy and potentially supply enough copper to meet up to one-quarter of U.S. demand. Resolution Copper is a joint venture of global mining firms Rio Tinto, which has headquarters in Australia and the U.K., and BHP, which is based in Australia. A smaller 9th Circuit panel previously ruled 2-1 that the federal government could give the Oak Flat land to Resolution Copper for the project. The court later agreed to let the larger panel hear the case. Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media BRIDGEPORT A man was taken into custody after police say he shot a resident in the leg multiple times last month. Tomas Laporte, 48, was charged March 27 with first-degree assault, criminal possession of a firearm and carrying a pistol without a permit. He is being held on a $500,000 bond, Capt. Kevin Gilleran, who is with the department's Detective Bureau, said in an email Thursday night. BRIDGEPORT A U.S. District judge has ordered the forfeiture of more than $825,000 to halt the illegal export of a machine that was made in Connecticut and was on its way to Russia, possibly for use in its nuclear defense program, according to the U.S. attorneys office. The machine, a jig grinder, is a high-precision grinding machine that can be used for nuclear proliferation because of its accuracy. For that reason, a license is required to export the machines to Russia, although one is not required to export them to European Union countries, the U.S. attorneys office says. At no time did the defendants apply for, receive or possess a license of authorization from the U.S. Department of Commerce to export or reexport the jig grinder to Russia, as required by the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), which restrict the export of items that could make a significant contribution to the military potential of other nations or that could be detrimental to U.S. foreign policy and national security, federal officials said in a news release. U.S. authorities, working with Latvian authorities, intercepted the jig grinder in Riga, Latvia, before it was to be shipped to Russia, the officials said. According to court documents, beginning in 2018, operators of a Latvia-based corporation conspired with the operator of By Trade OU, an Estonia-based company, as well as individuals in Russia and a Russia-based company, to violate U.S. export laws and regulations and smuggle the jig grinder to Russia, the release states. No charges are expected to be filed against the Connecticut manufacturer, Moore Tool Company of Bridgeport. Several individuals and companies involved in the alleged scheme have been charged by indictment in the District of Connecticut with conspiracy, violation of the Export Control Reform Act, smuggling goods from the United States, and international money laundering conspiracy offenses, the U.S. attorney's office said. On Dec.1, By Trade OU pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act and one count of international money laundering conspiracy. In pleading guilty, By Trade OU admitted it received money from a Russian company, identified in the indictment as Company B, to purchase a jig grinder on its behalf from a Latvian company that had arranged to purchase the machine from the Connecticut manufacturer, the federal authorities said. On March 29, in a related civil forfeiture action in U.S, District Court in Bridgeport, U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden ordered the forfeiture of $484,696 that had been delivered to the Connecticut manufacturer as part of the attempted purchase of the jig grinder, they said. And on April 4, in association with the sentencing of By Trade OU, Judge Bolden ordered the forfeiture of an additional 312,192.44 (approximately $342,000) seized from By Trade OU, according to the release. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Suzanne Kreiter/AP Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Charles Krupa/AP Show More Show Less 3 of 3 REVERE, Mass. (AP) Police searched a marshy area in Massachusetts on Friday as part of their investigation into the 2019 disappearance of a 5-year-old New Hampshire girl who is presumed dead. The search was in Revere, Massachusetts, as part of the investigation in the Harmony Montgomery case, according to New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella and Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg. They declined to give any further information. BRIDGEPORT A state judicial panel is recommending that Mayor Joe Ganim not get his law license back. In a 10-page decision, the Hartford Standing Committee on Recommendation for Admission to the Connecticut Bar stated that Ganim has not proved that his efforts to rehabilitate himself outweigh the damage he did when he was convicted on corruption charges while serving as mayor. The applicants rehabilitation, impressive as it is, does not outweigh the damage his re-admission would cause to the integrity and standing of the Bar or to the administration of justice, the committee stated. John C. Matulis Jr., the chairman of the committee, declined comment. The application now goes before a three-judge panel. Ganims lawyer, Suzanne Sutton, pointed out that the committee voted 3-2 to deny the application. The committee had a difficult job and we are disappointed with the decision, she said. But I think they left it open for a decision by a three-judge panel. If the judges deny the application, Ganim could appeal that decision to the state Supreme Court. A spokeswoman for the mayor did not immediately return calls for comment. In July, Ganim told Hearst Connecticut Media, Regaining my law license is a separate matter from being the mayor or running for another term. He further clarified his intent would be to again take up law at some point in the future after serving as mayor. Ganim, who worked as a lawyer with his familys law firm until he was first elected mayor in 1991, was convicted in 2003 of 16 federal charges including racketeering, extortion and bribery and sentenced to nine years in prison. He was released after serving seven years. In 2012, a panel of local lawyers agreed Ganim deserved to get his law license back, but a three-judge panel rejected his application stating he had shown no remorse for his crimes. The mayor then unsuccessfully appealed that ruling before the state Supreme Court. In February 2021, Ganim again applied to get his law license back. This time his application was assigned to a panel of Hartford area lawyers. During a hearing before the standing committee in August in Hartford, Ganim wiped tears from his eyes as he told the five members, I dont know how I can explain it. The person that I am now recognizes that I was a willing participant in that kind of activity. On the witness stand, Ganim was asked by his lawyer, Suzanne Sutton, if in fact he was guilty to each of the charges he was convicted of. To each charge Ganim answered yes. There is a breach of public trust the moment you step over the line, and I stepped over that line, Ganim said. Asked by Sutton if he had testified wrongfully when he told a jury he did not accept any bribes or participate in corruption, Ganim continued: I lied on the (witness) stand, I tried to cover up. I feel terrible now, it was reprehensible. Under cross examination by Brian Staines, the states disciplinary counsel, Ganim admitted he lied about being addicted to drugs to get into a program that knocked two years off his sentence. My motivation to get into the program was to get out early and thats it, Ganim said. But he said he learned a lot in the program. Also during the hearing, Ganim and other witnesses, including his aide Thomas Gaudett, testified Ganims conduct has been exemplary since running and being elected mayor in 2015. He was then reelected in 2019. But while the committee stated in its decision that it wasnt disputing that assertion, it continued that Ganims conduct as mayor has been subject to intense public scrutiny since his corruption conviction. Consequently staying out of trouble is less impressive an accomplishment than might otherwise be the case so far as the committee is concerned, they stated. In its decision, the standing committee said it considered the 10 criteria stated by the state Supreme Court when it rejected Ganims readmission in 2014, specifically, criteria number 10 proof the applicants return to practice will not be detrimental to the integrity of the bar and the administration of justice. Against the history of sordid, brazen, egregiously corrupt conduct for which the applicant was suspended and criminally convicted, we cannot conclude that he has proved compliance with criterion no. 10 by clear and convincing evidence, the committee wrote. But the two dissenting members of the commission, Richard Brown and Rene Rosado, wrote in a separate memorandum that they were impressed with Ganim's testimony during the hearing and stated he appeared to testify with sincerity and honesty. "Mr. Ganim's full commitment to giving back to the people of Bridgeport, the real victims of his misconduct, is clear for all to see," they wrote. They recommended he be reinstated with the conditions that he work with a mentor and not practice law on his own for three years. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) This Easter, Americans will devour more than 1 billion Peeps those radiant marshmallow chicks whose appearance on store shelves each year is as much a herald of spring as azaleas at the Masters. What makes the treats so vibrant is erythrosine, a chemical that shows up on ingredient labels as Red No. 3. It's one of several chemicals, along with titanium dioxide, used to color some of the most popular candy in the country including Skittles and Hot Tamales. Both chemicals have been linked to cancer. More than 30 years ago, U.S. regulators banned Red No. 3 from makeup. The U.S. still has not banned the chemical from food, to the dismay of some consumer safety groups. Now, a state lawmaker wants to ban erythrosine and titanium dioxide in California, plus three other chemicals used in everyday favorites like tortillas and some store brand sodas. The bill, scheduled for its first public hearing next week, has prompted headlines around the world declaring California wants to ban Skittles and other candy. Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, a Democrat who authored the bill, said he wants to ban the chemicals, not the candy. He said plenty of alternative ingredients are available, noting the chemicals are already banned in Europe and that companies still find a way to sell candy there. They still produce Skittles in other parts of the world. What they do is they take out these toxic ingredients, and they replace them with something else, Gabriel said. What we really want is for these companies to make the same minor modifications to their recipes that they made in Europe and elsewhere. The National Confectioners Association, the trade group that represents candy companies, says it's not that easy. Tastes vary across cultures, it said, meaning just because a candy is accepted by Europeans doesn't mean it will be received well in the United States. Plus, changing ingredients would be a hardship for regional candy makers who don't sell their products overseas, according to the trade group. There's a lot more here at play than a simple soundbite solution, said Christopher Gindlesperger, spokesperson for the association. We need a comprehensive look at this to make sure there aren't unintended consequences for chocolate and candy companies. In addition to erythrosine and titanium dioxide, the bill would ban potassium bromate and propylparaben, two chemicals used in baked goods, and brominated vegetable oil, which is used in some store brand sodas. The U.S. has allowed dyes like erythrosine in food since 1907. Decades later, researchers found rats exposed to lots of erythrosine over a long time developed thyroid cancer. In 1990, based in part off of that research, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned erythrosine from cosmetics. Consumer safety groups have tried for years to get the agency to ban the chemical in food to no avail. Researchers have since linked the chemical to other health problems besides cancer, including hyperactivity and other neurobiological behaviors in some children, according to a 2021 report from the California Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. The International Association of Color Manufacturers argued in a 2021 statement that California study was based on insufficient scientific evidence. Titanium dioxide is a white powder that, because it scatters light, can make colors appear brighter. It's been used for 100 years in products like paints, paper, rubber, toothpaste, soap and food coloring. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has listed titanium dioxide as a possible carcinogen in humans. The Titanium Dioxide Manufacturers Association maintains there is no evidence of it causing cancer in humans. The candy industry insists the chemicals California is considering banning have been thoroughly reviewed by the federal and state systems and many international scientific bodies and continue to be deemed safe, according to a letter signed by various industry trade groups. These scientifically based regulatory processes should be allowed to continue without second guessing their outcomes, the letter stated. Scott Faber, senior vice president for governmental affairs for the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, said the only reason the chemical is still deemed safe by federal regulators is because of a loophole that has been exploited by chemical companies. He says regulators have not reviewed their prior decisions in light of new science. The confectioners and the food industry know the review process at the FDA is broken. They have been hiding behind it for decades. We shouldn't let them hide behind it anymore," Faber said. If FDA wont fix this review system and keep us safe from dangerous chemicals in our food, its up to states like California to keep us safe. Just Born Inc., the Pennsylvania-based company that makes Peeps, said in a statement the company complies with FDA regulations and gets their ingredients and packaging exclusively from reputable suppliers who adhere to high quality and safety standards. The company noted its development team is looking for other options, including colors derived form natural sources that can deliver the same visual impact and stability as their certified counterparts. ___ Daley reported from San Francisco. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) Just weeks after Burkina Faso's junta ousted hundreds of French troops, signs appeared that the West African country could be moving closer to Russia, including the mercenary outfit, the Wagner Group. One signal was Burkina Faso authorities requested in February, nearly $30 million in gold from its mines to be handed over for public necessity. Its unclear what the gold was used for but some suspect the gold could be used to hire mercenaries from the Wagner Group that already is entrenched in other troubled African countries like Mali and Central African Republic. It might be a coincidence that the Burkinabe demanded the purchase of the gold right after they kicked out the French and started moving closer to the Russians, said William Linder, a retired CIA officer and head of 14 North Strategies, an Africa-focused risk advisory. Still, it strikes fear among investors that the state will renege on existing agreements and disadvantage established industrial miners to pay for Russian military contractors." Burkina Faso's government denies hiring Wagner mercenaries but the government is expecting Russian instructors to come train soldiers on how to use equipment recently purchased from Russia, said Mamadou Drabo, executive secretary for Save Burkina, a civic group that supports the junta. We asked the Russian government because of the bilateral collaboration between Burkina and Russia, that they send us people to train our men, he said, adding that the instructors will teach soldiers about weapons, military techniques as well as culture. The sale of arms and bilateral military cooperation agreements between Russia and some African countries have in some instances been a precursor to the deployment of Wagner's mercenary troops, said a report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. Observers say countries using Wagner Group fighters often refer to them as Russian instructors. Wagner, founded by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a Russian millionaire businessman with ties to President Vladimir Putin, has had about 1,000 forces in Mali for more than a year. In January, Burkina Faso ordered the departure of some 400 French special forces based in the country, cutting military relations with France amid soaring jihadi violence thats killed thousands and plunged the once peaceful nation into crisis. In addition to ejecting the special forces, in February the government told all French military personnel working with Burkina Fasos army and administration to leave, severing a military accord with France dating back to 1961, according to a confidential document by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs seen by The Associated Press. Anti-French sentiment in the former colony has grown since junta leader Capt. Ibrahim Traore seized power in September. Earlier this month, two French journalists were expelled from the country without reason. In March, French broadcaster, France 24, was suspended for interviewing a top jihadi rebel and months earlier the government suspended French broadcaster Radio France Internationale for having relayed an intimidation message attributed to a terrorist, according to a statement from the junta. The anti-French sentiment coincides with increasing Russian support, including demonstrations in the capital, Ouagadougou, where hundreds of protesters have waved Russian flags. France has had troops in West Africa's Sahel region since 2013 when it helped drive Islamic extremists from power in northern Mali. But it's facing growing pushback from populations who say France's military presence has yielded little results as jihadi attacks are escalating. Burkina Faso's junta says it has nothing against France but wants to diversify its military partners in its fight against the extremists and, notably, has turned to Russia. Thats what weve seen happening in country after country. We saw it in CAR, Mali. Its just been dominos, said Sorcha MacLeod, member of the United Nations working group on the use of mercenaries. Theres a vacuum now where France used to be (and) Russia has imperialist ambitions in Africa," she said. "Its destabilizing for the region. If Wagner mercenaries arrive in Burkina Faso the risk increases of human rights atrocities, including war crimes and crimes against humanity, she said. Rights groups and communities have already accused the junta of committing more extrajudicial killings against civilians since Traore came to power in September. Wagner Group mercenaries have established a foothold for Russia in at least half a dozen African countries. Earlier this year, the group was designated a significant transnational criminal organization by the United States and was sanctioned by the European Union for human rights abuses in Central African Republic, Sudan and Mali. African countries have often paid the Russian group for its mercenary fighters by granting Wagner access to natural resources, such as mining concessions. Western countries say the use of Wagner mercenaries in Africa is a red line. French President Emmanuel Macron called the Wagner group criminal mercenaries and the life insurance of faltering and putschist regimes. Burkina Fasos government said it has no plans to contract Wagner. Instead its working to secure the country from jihadis by recruiting and arming tens of thousands of volunteer fighters, which it refers to as its own Wagner force. We already have our Wagners. The (civilian volunteers) who we are recruiting are our first Wagners, said Traore during an interview on state media in February. But for much of Burkina Faso's population, this provides little comfort. Like Wagner, the volunteers who fight alongside Burkina Fasos military, have been accused by civilians and rights groups of committing atrocities such as extrajudicial killings and abductions of people alleged to be working with the jihadis. An investigation by The Associated Press into a video circulating on social media, determined that Burkina Fasos security forces killed children in a military base in the countrys north. Many locals say theyd rather work with Western countries like France, than turn to forces like Wagner. But they say the French are unwilling to sell them the weapons they need, leaving them little choice. The French have everything, aircrafts, everything, but they dont help us," said a soldier who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. "They are here for their own business. ___ Associated Press reporter Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed. For Betsy Bonner, driving along the Oregon coast is almost dangerous she cant keep her eyes off the ocean. Its electrifying. At high tide in Yachats, where the water spouts and sprays against the coastal basalt at landmarks like Thors Well and the Devils Churn, the ocean is even frightening. Its an emotional place for Bonner. When she knew that novelist and essayist Paul La Farge was sick with colon cancer, she took a trip to the coast. La Farge had been a good friend of hers for 20 years. He helped her when she began writing her memoir. After he passed away on Jan. 18 at age 52, she went back to the coast. Something feels connected to grieving in a way that feels healthy to me, going to the ocean, Bonner said when we chatted in her office in late February. Grief is a major theme of Bonners work. Her mother and her sister, both deceased, are at the heart of many of the poems in her debut collection Round Lake. Publishers Weekly wrote that her poetry functions as a cathartic outlet and serves as a comforting map of emotions for anyone that has felt unnavigable sorrow. Despite Bonners concern with grief, she doesnt seem to wallow in it. Her writing succeeds in avoiding the sensational and overly sentimental, and it shows great admiration for those who are no longer with us. Bonner carries these ghosts with her, intent on sharing their beauty and brilliance. It was the stirring poems of Round Lake, beautiful for their elegiac tone, which won Bonner a job teaching at the University of Oregon, according to Daniel Anderson, poetry professor and director of UOs creative writing program. Since September, Bonner has been working as a visiting assistant professor, filling in for poetry professor Geri Doran, who went on a yearlong sabbatical. Bonner has been teaching intermediate and advanced poetry courses as well as graduate workshops and conferences. Anderson described Bonner as lively and energetic. As a teacher, Bonner is wonderful, warm and welcoming, said Kait Leggett, MFA candidate in poetry. Bonner took the time to individualize the books that she shared with Leggett, to make sure they spoke to Leggetts own voice as a poet. One of the books Bonner recommended, Maggie Nelsons Bluets, was one Bonner herself read in grad school, and Nelson would later be an influence for Bonners memoir. Bonner hadnt really aspired to write a memoir, but she had to find a way to tell her sisters story. On June 20, 2008, in a hotel room in Tijuana, Mexico, a woman died from a heroin overdose. The body didnt match the ID in a purse nearby. The ID belonged to an Atlantis Black, who was none other than Bonners sister, who had disappeared fleeing felony charges in California. Bonner hadnt been there in Tijuana. All she had was report after report. So she was left wondering: what really happened to her sister? This story grew into Bonners memoir, The Book of Atlantis Black: The Search for a Sister Gone Missing. It would become one ofVanity Fairs best summer reads for July 2020 and forNPR, one of the best books of the year. Eventually. It began with her trying to write the subject into a poem, an attempt to see through her sisters eyes in that hotel room. But the two women in her writing group helped her realize that this story might not fit into a poem. At the same time, Bonner was struck by childhood memories that were coming to her in sentences, not lines of verse. There was so much she couldnt understand, but prose could at least seem sensible, more sensible than poetry. The content dictated the form, Bonner said. Its not really that I set out to write a memoir. Its more like it was not gonna work in poetry, the narrative itself. It took Bonner years of building, of learning how to write a chapter. But she had support: her editor, Masie Cochran at Tin House, and her agent, Mary Krienke at Sterling Lord Literistic. She also had New York City. She let herself work at the beginning and the middle of the day and spent the end of the day attending readings and seeing friends. I think it would have been much more isolating if I hadnt had a community to see, Bonner said. And even if I didnt know someone, I met my partner, for example, by going to a reading in Brooklyn at a bookstore that used to exist called BookCourt. It was so wonderful. It was hard, writing the memoir, Bonner said, but she feels lucky. Years later, she is no longer teaching herself to write a memoir but teaching others. Since March 2020, Bonner has been teaching a remote memoir-writing class through the 92nd Street Y, New York, a cultural and community center which offers a wide variety of classes remotely and in person. There were some students in their 20s in her class, but others were in their 60s, 70s and 80s, some cancer survivors, people whod lived in this world a long time. Bonner has taught people of all ages she taught K-12 for two years at the Pierrepont School, a private school in Westport, Connecticut, with classes sometimes as small as four kids and she has taught all over the world. Her first teaching job was on the Greek island of Paros. She owes the opportunity to the late poet Linda Gregg. And she owes that opportunity to Marie Howe. Howe, the author of the powerful 1998 collection What the Living Do, was Bonners poetry teacher when she was an undergraduate studying English and film at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York. Howe changed Bonners life. She recommended Bonner apply to Columbia Universitys MFA program, and Bonner attended from 2000-2002. There, she took a workshop with Gregg. Bonner had worshiped Greggs work she had photocopies of Greggs poems up on her walls as an undergraduate. Fellow students, Bonner recalled, my classmates asked me, Betsy, youre gonna have this workshop with your hero what are you gonna do if you dont love her? What are you gonna do? Cause its dangerous to meet your heroes. And of course, I had no answer. Bonner met her hero, and she was fine. Later, when Bonner was working as an administrator at the 92nd Street Ys Unterberg Poetry Center in 2007, she and Gregg had a fateful conversation over the phone while planning a dinner honoring the poet Jack Gilbert. Linda [Gregg] and I connected, Bonner said, and she asked me, What are you doing? Youre a poet, and youre administering all this. Are you writing? And I realized Ive been so busy I havent really been writing. Ive been doing the community thing and organizing events and organizing classes for students. And she said, I really think you should get a sabbatical and teach in Greece. Bonner took the chance. She taught a poetry seminar to junior-year abroad students from about 30 different institutions through Hellenic International Studies in the Arts. She also worked on manuscripts for students as a writer in residence at the Aegean Center for the Fine Arts. When Bonner had a free weekend, she wrote and she toured. As much as Bonner loved New York City, Paros had a different energy. She swam in the Aegean Sea with the sun on her skin. She felt the presence of the ancient world still there. She also visited Turkey, toured the remains of the ancient city of Ephesus. I had more time, Bonner said of Greece. I perceived that I had more time because we dont actually ever have more or less time, right? Bonner wasnt paid to teach in Greece. Only her housing was covered. But she had saved enough working at the 92nd Street Y that she wouldnt go broke. She wanted to teach so badly that she didnt mind being frugal. Shes been teaching ever since. Bonner grew up in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, a semi-rural township about 40 minutes from Philadelphia. Even in her youth, she knew she wanted to write and teach, but she also loved acting (despite having stage fright) and film. She did theater through high school, and she worked as a film projectionist at a local AMC and in college. She even worked a summer at a Blockbuster. Bonner owes much of her creativity to her mother Marybeth, or Beth. Bonner and her sister were mostly raised by their father, as Beth was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and she attempted suicide when Bonner was just 2 years old. But she was brilliant. She studied mathematics at Dickinson College and worked in computer systems as a means to take care of her family, being the eldest of four, since her mother was busy working as a nurse and her father died of a heart attack when she was 12. Beth loved literature. Her books had annotations, Bonner said of her mother, and it was one way that I could connect with her. I knew that my mother was so smart. Bonner read those annotated copies of 19th century classics like Wuthering Heights and Tess of the d'Urbervilles, and they became Bonnersfavorites to read and read again. Bonner saw her mother writing on the sofa during periods when she couldnt work. Bonner saw her mothers typed drafts of short stories. It inspired her. Sometimes Ive wondered if I chose poetry because, on the one hand, I wanted to connect with my mom, Bonner said, but its something that she couldnt really criticize. She laughed. Beth passed away in November 2008, the same year as Atlantis Black. Although Bonner might not think about her mother every day, 14 and a half years later, her mother doesnt leave her mind. I miss her. She gave me a lot, Bonner said. Bonner writes a lot out of emotion. Her readers seem to like her sad poems better, she said, as an elegiac poem might be easier to appreciate than a humorous one. To just be playing with language and words I do love words thats thrilling, Bonner said. But achieving emotional insight or arriving at something that comes out of passion and intensity and intense emotion, I think thats where I feel the most satisfied. This spring, Bonner will continue to teach advanced poetry and oversee independent graduate studies. Once her nine-month appointment as a UO professor is up in June, shes off, back to teaching remote classes through the 92nd Street Y and back to Vermont, where her partner lives with their two feral-born, bonded sister cats, Maggie and Murphy. Bonner is working on a novel and another poetry collection too. Theres no certainty when those will be published. Bonner isnt ashamed to revise. (Herpoem Stopping on Delos took five years.) She learned that as a student of the late Marie Ponsot, who would revise hundreds of times, Bonner said. Its something Bonner will teach to another generation of students. Thats her job, it seems, remembering the dead, passing their books and their lessons on to the living. Her work is an act of memory, connecting her to everyone who has taught her something, to everyone she loves. As a lifelong west coaster, Kyle Trefny grew up around wildfire. He remembers how summer smoke would consume San Francisco's bay and filter into his high school, where fellow students coughed incessantly. As Trefny watched friends and relatives evacuate under the threat of losing their homes, he grasped how severely wildfires impacted peoples lives. Now 20 years old and a junior at the University of Oregon, Trefny not only remains intimately fused to wildfire but is actively working to transform how fire management operates on a national scale. Over the past few months, Trefny has collaborated with a diverse group of young, fire-focused leaders to develop, build power around and present a vision to the United States Forest Service (USFS), the Department of Interior (DOI) and other government officials. Its called the FireGeneration Collaborative, or FireGen for short, and their ask is simple: to provide young people, particularly those from Indigenous and other marginalized communities, with the space to influence wildfire policy-making. We can tangibly feel the crisis were facing, says Trefny. Were not comfortable just letting go and waiting for our turn to come to power through the traditional system we need solutions now. As of 2021, 72% of wildland firefighters are white and less than 16% of wildland firefighters are women, according to a recent U.S. Government Accountability Office report. While data on queerness in the fire workforce is not available, Trefny says that as a queer firefighter, he has experienced related challenges firsthand. In addition to firefighting being a homogenous profession, young people already have and will continue to be more exposed to the effects of climate change than older generations. These factors motivated Trefnys involvement in the campaign for equitable representation in wildfire policy-making, as did his experiences on the frontlines. In the summer of 2021, Trefny began firefighting with an Oregon-based wildland fire and forest restoration company after witnessing one of the worst fire seasons in American history a year earlier. In 2020, wildfires burned over 17,000 structures in the U.S., more than tripling the annual average, according to a National Interagency Coordination Center report. Yale Climate Connections estimates that the fires directly killed 43 people, and due to smoke impacts, they are estimated to have indirectly killed thousands more. In the aftermath of 2020, Trefny says the growing risks of firefighting jobs and outdated federal labor policies set up the perfect storm: a severely understaffed fire workforce in the face of another intense season. As the Bootleg and Dixie fires ignited in Southern Oregon and Northern California, Trefny says federal agencies devoted almost all their labor force to the West Coast. But Trefny and his crew werent just needed on the West Coast. After extinguishing a fire in Eastern Oregon, they traveled to Montana where they remained for nearly 50 days. During that time, they realized they werent receiving the support they needed to safely work on the blaze. We didnt have many people in Montana, Trefny says, and there werent enough eyes on the fire. Short-handed and under-equipped, the firefighters found themselves in a hazardous position as weather conditions worsened and the originally small fire exploded in size. Rather than creeping across the ground, the flames jumped from treetop to treetop, forcing Trefny and his crew to take refuge in an already burned patch of trees. Trefny says this was a systemic safety failure. Youre supposed to know well in advance when a crown fire is coming towards you, because thats the most dangerous form of fire, he says. Instead, we had to just stay on the hill as it passed around us. Thankfully, Trefny and his crew emerged unscathed, but the experience stuck with him because it was a concrete example of how the Forest Services policies endangered lives on the ground. The Forest Service compounded this danger with other measures that limited controlled burns and managed wildfires, which would improve the health and safety of both communities and landscapes. In May 2022, about a year later, Trefny attended the International Fire and Climate Conference in Pasadena, California. Surrounded by researchers and fire scientists, Trefny listened as Randy Moore, chief of the USFS, gave a speech about the importance of reintroducing fire to American landscapes, despite his contrasting policies. Trefny was the first to raise his hand in the crowded room once Moore finished. With Montana in mind, Trefny asked Moore, In regards to accumulation of risk onto todays young people and young firefighters, how can us young people work together with you to shape policies that include our disproportionately-impacted voices? To Trefnys surprise, Moore noted that the USFS has policy collaboratives around the country and could envision a policy collaborative with younger generations. Email me, said Moore. In that moment, the vision for a young collective shaping fire policy began, and has been rapidly gaining momentum since. Trefny knew he wasnt best suited to represent diverse young generations, and that this opportunity called for the assembling of a powerful team. Trefny turned to Dr. Timothy Ingalsbee to advise the effort. Ingalsbee is a professor in the Department of Sociology at the UO, a former wildland firefighter and the founder of a nonprofit organization called Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics & Ecology (FUSEE). Trefny connected with Ingalsbee during his freshman year at the UO and worked with the organization for two years. Ingalsbee has escorted firefighters to D.C. several times in the past and has experience navigating those spaces of power. Along with advising, Ingalsbee also helped Trefny build his team. At a graduation party, Ingalsbee spread the word about the opportunity to Ryan Reed, a now-graduated UO student, Indigenous fire practitioner, wildland firefighter and member of the Hupa Tribe in Northern California. Reed was immediately intrigued by the idea, and with his commitment, FireGen launched at the end of summer 2022. I always grew up with folks who didnt understand certain concepts of what it is to be Indigenous or what the environment meant to Indigenous peoples, Reed says. FireGens purpose aligned with Reeds personal missions. Trefny met the remaining two members of FireGen, Alyssa Worsham and Bradley Massey, at the John Freemuth Student Congress in Boise, Idaho in October 2022. Worsham graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a bachelors degree in environmental science, and is currently pursuing her masters in environmental management at Western Colorado University. Unlike the others, Worsham is more research-oriented, currently examining prescribed fire use in designated wilderness areas. Massey is a forestry student at Alabama A&M University and is the co-captain of the universitys wildland fire crew called the FireDawgs. Alabama A&M is the only Historically Black College or University (HBCU) with an accredited forestry program, and Masseys presence ensures that the Southeast, a region where fire management is typically overshadowed by the West Coast, is incorporated into the groups focus. Once together, the D.C. Coalition still had much to prepare before they traveled to the East Coast. They needed to research all the officials they were scheduled to meet with, determine the structure of FireGen and figure out what narratives would guide a successful pitch. Leaning into their organizing abilities, the team launched the FireGen Challenge: a three-week think tank intended to answer lingering questions around FireGen and provide the D.C. coalition with tangibles, like an informational booklet and presentation, to support their pitch. Made up of the UOs Student Fire Alliance and other fire-focused advocates, the challenge succeeded in defining FireGen and, through rigorous petitioning, amassed a body of support totaling over 2,000 people in more than two dozen states across the U.S. Right after the challenge, the group hurried to Washington D.C. for their first meeting with Moore and John Crockett, the associate deputy chief for state and private forestry, on Nov. 15, 2022. The evening before, Trefny found himself unable to sleep, as months of work reached its culmination point. En route to the Forest Service headquarters the following morning, Trefny soothed his nerves with a little bit of Taylor Swift. Soon enough, they were walking past Gifford Pinchots original desk and into the meeting room with Moore. Then FireGen began its most crucial pitch. During the meeting, Massey says Moore and Crockett broadly stressed the importance of implementing diversity in their workforce and in their workplace. According to Trefny, Moore and Crockett also acknowledged that young people are really missing in the decision space and pledged that the D.C. coalition can continue collaborating with the Washington headquarters on meaningful representation for young people in wildfire policy-making. The group proceeded to build relationships with senators, members of the DOI, and other government officials. Everywhere they went, those in power wanted to listen, an experience that was very impactful for Reed in particular. Not very many people, especially in my community, have the opportunity to speak with senators or any folks of high leadership in the political realm, Reed says. So just being in that atmosphere was surreal. However, before this whole ordeal began, Reed knew that centering Indigenous perspectives in wildfire policy wouldnt be an easy task, given the history of Indigenous burning and oppression in the United States. The only folks who have ever lived with fire cohesively and in an organized structure are Indigenous, Reed says. Since contact, fire has been eradicated. Its been violently prohibited and separated from nature. It was viewed as a very savage, very primitive way of operation. The systematic oppression of fire has been incredibly damaging to Indigenous peoples because fire is often an essential cultural practice. Fire not only teaches ecosystem management, which Indigenous peoples rely on for sustainability and sustenance, but also informs Indigenous identities. When we sever this cultural practice of putting fire back in the landscape, then essentially, our culture is dying, Reed says. Along with preserving and uplifting Indigenous culture, FireGen is seeking to disrupt hegemonic narratives about wildfire. Ever since its conception in 1905, the USFS has distorted the way mainstream society thinks about fire. Through advertising campaigns like Smokey Bear, the USFS has consistently painted fire as a destructive force that must be suppressed at all costs, which enables the agency to paint burned landscapes as lifeless and justify profit-generating activities like post-fire salvage logging. Recognizing the colonialism, patriarchy, militarism and exploitative capitalism embedded in the fire suppression complex, FireGen wants to instigate ideological change, trailblazing the way to a future where society can coexist with fire. We need to reframe our mindset to show that fire is not the problem and recognize that we can use fire to our advantage and make both our communities and ecosystems safer, Worsham says. Since young people and other marginalized groups dont shy away from confronting the status quo, Trefny says, its critical these voices are represented in decision making to initiate this restructuring. By working to change our collective understanding of fire, FireGen is also engaging with the various equity issues in the fire world. One of the reasons that Trefny was initially drawn to wildfire was because of this intersectionality: wildfire acts as a window into many forms of structural injustice. In order to think critically about the modern moment FireGen is addressing, along with these ongoing, structural struggles, Trefny credits Dr. Catalina de Onis, a professor in the Clark Honors College that specializes in environmental justice and Latine/x studies. Like Ingalsbee, De Onis was an important mentor for Trefny. FireGen broadly unites structural injustice in the fire world under one goal of intergenerational justice. It centers around the idea that present generations have a responsibility to protect the livelihoods of future generations while mitigating disproportionate impacts, Trefny says. Where De Onis really influenced Trefny, though, is recognizing that intergenerational justice also means learning from past social movements that all contemporary justice struggles are rooted in a long history of grassroots activism. I think when youre a new organization, especially for me as a white person in this space, its important not to enter these spaces thinking I have the answers, says Trefny. We all need to recognize we have a lot to learn from. With their trip to the East Coast months in the past, the D.C. coalition is now figuring out how to bring FireGen to fruition. Trefny says their first step is listening. The D.C. coalition recently got into contact with Wonder Labs, a social enterprise located in San Jose, California, that provides funding through the Living with Fire Design Challenge for student-led fire resilience projects. The D.C. coalition successfully applied for a $20,000 grant and is planning on conducting a research and listening project to determine barriers, opportunities and needs for fire resilience and restoration across communities of young people. This decision, to do extensive information gathering before pursuing action, will help FireGen in two ways. First, it will allow a wider variety of young people to voice the challenges they face, how they want to be involved in the fire world and how communities should respond to the climate crisis, says Trefny. The results will provide FireGen with a breadth of potential solutions and policy initiatives before the collaborative formally begins. Second, by doing all this listening and forming community connections, were building a network that can then be leveraged to both fill and provide power behind the spaces of access FireGen seeks, Trefny says. Even though the D.C. coalition is months away from completing their project with Wonder Labs, he remains confident about their endeavors, in part because of the support from other similar organizations. Through connections with leaders in youth climate organizations like the Sunrise Movement, the D.C. coalition will incorporate the experience of other mass organizers to develop FireGen, Trefny says. Ultimately, Trefny recognizes that establishing FireGen will be a slow process, but he believes that FireGen can be part of uniting labor, social justice and environmental movements, all under the banner of fire. I know that young people are bold, and were going to help hold those spaces accountable to our best long-term interest and speak for all sorts of people who cant be in those meetings, Trefny says. Our generation has shown we can do that when were able to have some power, so Im really excited for what that would mean. Bennie Jordan, clad in a Golden State Warriors beanie and a blue puffer jacket, sat at a table nestled between bike racks outside of the Student Rec Center, inviting people to SIGN HERE if the cost of living is TOO DAMN HIGH. It was a rainy afternoon in mid-January, and Jordan was visiting the University of Oregon as part of his job as a petition promoter. But despite being there for work, he was quick to share other, more personal details about himself. My storys deep, he says. Bennie is 66 years old, born in 1956, and has a family history intertwined with centuries of racism in America. His grandmother, Josie Jordan, was born enslaved. His grandfather, James Jordan, was killed in the Tulsa Race Massacre on June 1, 1921, when 35 city blocks of the affluent Black community known as the Greenwood District were left looted, charred and destroyed by white rioters in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Three hundred people were murdered, thousands were left homeless and almost $100 million in property was burned. James had property on Black Wall Street. He died when his building was bombed by the white mob that took to the streets that day. Bennie Jordan is now older than his grandfather ever was. The Massacre definitely affected generations of people, including myself, Bennie says. He thinks his parents were traumatized by the experience of the Massacre. Bennie says his older relatives made a point not to talk about the brutal nature of James death, and they shut down questions about it from Bennie and his cousins. They believed children should be seen and not heard, Bennie says. Though Bennie is based in Stockton, California, he travels all over the country for his work collecting signatures for petitions. He is happy to share his story with anybody who cares to listen, and in a way, is sowing the seeds of information across America. The events of the Tulsa Race Massacre were not taught in Oklahoma schools for decades, but are currently part of the statewide curriculum and are included on statewide tests. Officials assure that this will not change with Oklahoma House Bill 1775, but opponents argue it will cast this teaching in a new light. In May 2021, Kevin Stitt, the Republican Governor of Oklahoma, signed the bill into law. HB 1775 essentially prohibits teaching critical race theory which explores racisms impact on society in Oklahoma schools, and restricts lessons that an individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive. Some proponents of the bill in the Oklahoma House of Representatives and in the education system cited the importance of keeping leftist teaching out of schools. Those opposed, including the Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission, said it could oversimplify lessons on complicated history. A clause in the bill states that teachers cannot include lessons that suggest an individual, by virtue of their race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex. Teachers are encouraged to teach events in a historical sense, but opponents say this will minimize the effects of the Massacre that people still feel today in favor of white students comfort. American and Oklahoma history is uncomfortable; and reconciliation requires truth and processing that is not comfortable, Phil Armstrong, project director for Greenwood Rising History Center, wrote in a letter to Stitt. Our entire mission and work is centered in this necessary discomfort. The timing of the bill was also a problem for opponents, who said passing a bill limiting teachers discretion on their lessons about racist history nearing the 100-year anniversary of the Massacre sets a bad precedent. 2021 not only marked 100 years since the Massacre, but it also marked a time where a concentrated focus was on racism in America. Following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, Bennie says he noticed a big shift in Americans willingness to discuss the Massacre and other traumatic events for Black Americans. Theres been so much dirt hidden under the carpet, Bennie says. It shouldnt have taken this long to talk about it. The organization Justice for Greenwood was founded in 2020. It aims to share information and advocate for those affected by the Massacre. Its a nonprofit organization based in Tulsa that states its mission with three Rs: Respect, Reparations and Repair for the Greenwood community. Reparations programs acknowledge that human rights violations in the past have caused lasting harm and attempt to provide money and other resources to people experiencing those harms in the present. These programs have been effective at increasing faith in the government, providing closure and emotional relief and alleviating economic hardships for Japanese Americans who survived World War II internment camps, according to a study by University of Michigan professors Donna Nagata and Yuzuru Takeshita. Justice for Greenwood put resources toward a lawsuit filed by 11 people affected by the Massacre, including the last three known living survivors of the attack, against the City of Tulsa and other Tulsa organizations demanding accountability and restitution for the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and 100 years of continued harm, according to the organizations website. Bennie says he started receiving emails from Justice for Greenwood shortly after the murder of George Floyd and the eruption of Black Lives Matter activism. These emails come almost daily and have persisted over the years. Before Justice for Greenwood, Bennie says nobody tried to contact him about his connection nearly as adamantly. DJ Mercer, a lawyer on the plaintiffs side of the case, contacted Bennie and many others with family history connected to the Massacre. The testimonies of people like Bennie helped Mercer make the case for reparations. The case was dismissed in July 2022, but Justice for Greenwood is still fighting. While Justice For Greenwood was fighting for reparations and the state of Oklahoma passed limitations on education about the Tulsa Race Massacre, Oregon made its own attempt at providing reparations. In 2021, the Oregon Senate passed Senate Joint Memorial 4, which acknowledged the racist history of the state and the nation and stated that we, the members of the Eighty-first Legislative Assembly, recognize the need to pursue avenues to implement reparations for the descendants of African slaves in the United States. It urged those in national power, including the US Congress and the President, to take steps towards establishing reparations programs. This bill came in response to Oregons deep history of anti-Blackness. Oregon passed its first exclusionary law in 1844, when it was still a territory and not yet a state. While the law banned slavery, it also excluded Black people from living in Oregon territory for more than three years, with violent consequences for violation. In 1849, Oregon passed another law stating that no Black Americans not already living in Oregon territory could enter. When Oregon became a state in 1859, its state constitution continued this precedent. It enshrined that no Black people shall come, reside or be within this state or hold any real estate, or make any contracts, or maintain any suit therein, according to section 35 of the Oregon state constitutions bill of rights. These laws were repealed in the early 1900s, but the presence of white supremacy remained strong. In 1923, the KKK claimed 35,000 active members, representing about 4% of the states population at the time. In contrast, according to the 1920 Oregon census, 14,243 Oregon residents were Black, representing less than 2% of the population. Racist language was removed from Oregons constitution just over 20 years ago, in 2002, and to this day Oregon remains primarily white. According to the 2020 census, 74.8% of the state is white alone and 84.8% is white alone or in combination. Only 3.2% of the population is Black or African American alone or in combination. Oregon tried to take the next steps on reparations in 2021 with Oregon Senate Bill 619. SB 619 states that "The Department of Revenue shall establish a program to pay reparations to Black Oregonians who can demonstrate heritage in slavery and who submit an application to the department," and "the department shall pay to each eligible applicant the amount of $123,000 in the form of an annuity payable annually for the life of the applicant." SB 619 attempted to begin the process of providing reparations for those negatively affected by racism written into law, but in 2022, the bill stalled in the Senate. Like the effort from Justice for Greenwood, the bill was propelled by the events of 2020 but ultimately failed. Oregons legislature will try again to establish a task force on reparations with Senate Bill 776, which was referred to the Ways and Means committee on March 24, 2023. Regardless of where Bennie travels to share his story, there is some history of racism and harm that remains unaccounted for. Examples of reparations programs in America are few and far between, while examples of stories like Justice for Greenwoods lawsuit and SB 619 are much more common. Bennie is not confident that the efforts to provide restitution will affect his life meaningfully. Its been over 100 years, and hes not sure what restitution would look like. He is 66, and his life is already established, and he likes it. He is more hopeful for his daughter, who is younger and grew up with much more information than Bennie did about the Jordan familys past. You have to share information, he says, or it just might get lost. An 80% increase in suicides and 1,458 deaths by suicide in Lane County over the course of 20 years these are the latest figures from the Suicide in Lane County report published on Feb. 7. The report, which draws on data from between 2000 and 2020, reveals the rate of suicide in Lane County was 65% greater than the U.S. average. Nearly one in four of people who died by suicide were veterans or military service members. Suicide rates typically rise in the spring months for reasons not entirely known. Roger Brubaker, a Lane County Public Health suicide prevention coordinator and the author of the report, said the causes for Lane Countys particularly high suicide rate cannot be chalked up to a single reason. However, he said one of the possible reasons could be that Lane County is a rural county, and, on average, rural communities experience more deaths by suicide. Cities such as Junction City and Cottage Grove experience a suicide mortality rate more than twice that of more urbanized Eugene, Brubaker said. This is due to a variety of reasons, he said, ranging from difficulty obtaining mental health services because of cost and distance to a stigma around mental health that can be more prevalent in rural communities. However, as with many other fields, there are simply not enough workers to fill the necessary positions within the healthcare system. "Within our healthcare system, we're currently in the state experiencing a very significant workforce shortage, Brubaker said. Meaning that our healthcare system is actually not terribly well prepared locally or at the state level to provide sufficient care for people with health problems." The health care and mental health support systems in both Lane County and Oregon at large have been placed under great strain in recent years, according to a 2018 report by the Oregon Health Authority. Oregon ranks 30th in the nation in regard to access to healthcare, 48th in adult mental illness and last in relation to prevalence of mental illness and access to services among youth, according to the nonprofit Mental Health America. This means while the healthcare system may be sufficiently funded, it is overwhelmed by the vast number of Oregonians in need. However, Lane County has increased the budget for the Lane County Department of Health and Human Services by over $70 million in the past decade, from about $104 million to nearly $175 million, according to Lane Countys website. These budget increases have led to more funding for two major mental health services: the Behavioral Health Services and the Community Health Services. Dawn Lesley, a citizen member of the Lane County Budget Committee for the 202223 budget, said the budget for the Department of Health and Human Services makes up nearly 18% of the entire county budget. Lesley said access to healthcare and mental healthcare were one of the countys top concerns. "The budget is the truest expression you can get on the relative priority of things," Lesley said. While county administrators grapple with managing mental illness and trying to reduce deaths by suicide, many local organizations have also been committed to helping. The GriefShare group, a grief recovery support group located at Cove Church in Eugene, is one of these organizations. Jan Hahn was one of the many people who benefited from the listening and community at GriefShare. In 2015, she lost her son to suicide, then just four years later, in 2019, her daughter passed away from cancer. After losing her only children, Hahn said she felt alone and as if she no longer had a purpose in life. "Losing a loved one after a long, painful illness is heartbreaking, knowing there is nothing you can do to help except be by their side and hold their hand, Hahn said. But losing a loved one to suicide is devastating. You had no idea life was so painful for them, and they hid their mental anguish from you." Hahn said she was grateful for the community and comfort that GriefShare provided in her darkest hours. When someone loses a loved one or friend to suicide, it is important to have a group there to support each other says Hahn. "Friendships change when tragedy strikes. People you think will always be there are not, Nina Charlson, the lead facilitator at GriefShare said. New friendships are formed in these groups. Having supportive friends is vital to healing." Community healing is critical for suicide survivors in its aftermath. However, a supportive community is also important as a preventative measure, Burbaker said. If people want to take steps to improve mental health, it is incredibly important to take a more community-centric approach to mental health support, he said. Burbaker said he believes one of the most important ways the community can help reduce deaths by suicide is by providing a supportive environment for those in need. Suicide prevention is far from only a Lane County issue. Oregon legislators heard testimony on Senate Bill 818 and 514 on Feb. 13 bills that, if passed, would direct the Oregon Health Authority to do a suicide risk assessment and provide education opportunities for healthcare providers in regard to suicide. It also establishes a Adult Suicide Prevention Coordinator within the Oregon Health Authority, a position dedicated to adult suicide prevention. Brubaker said he believes these are steps in the right direction. When we think about suicide, we think about the health of our community, not just the health of an individual, he said. Brubaker points to SB 52, more commonly known as Adis Act, that was passed in 2019 as crucial in combating suicide. Adis Act requires school districts to develop a plan for suicide prevention, intervention and post-vention response activities. "We can state at this point that every single educator in the county has essentially, over the past three years, received training in suicide intervention skills, and we're really proud of that," Brubaker said. Brubaker said this in relation to the work that the Lane County Public Health Department has done in helping to implement Adis Act through strategies such as screening, assessment and safety planning practices in schools since the bills passage. Lane County and the University of Oregon provide excellent services for those struggling with mental health or experiencing suicidal thoughts, Brubaker said. In Lane County, there is the Suicide Prevention Coalition, which includes groups such as GriefShare at Cove Church and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. On campus, the University Health Services provide free counseling for anyone and an After-Hours Support and Crisis Line at 541-346-3227. Hope is not just an optimistic disposition; it is an action, the Suicide in Lane County report wrote. Students and parents in the Bethel School District are upset after the removal of advanced classes including algebra for middle schoolers and advanced English. But the district says the changes allow all students to have access to rigorous coursework, based on recommendations from the Oregon Department of Education. At a Bethel School Board Meeting on Feb. 27, two Willamette High School students used the public comment portion of the meeting to express their frustrations with a change to advanced courses. Both stated that advanced courses prepare students better for IB courses, and not allowing students to take a class above their grade level puts barriers on how much they can learn. A Willamette High School student made a petition urging Bethel to bring back the advanced English and math courses. Students are concerned that the lack of advanced classes available for freshmen and sophomores would lead to students not feeling challenged and increase student dropout rate, the petition said. It has over 700 signatures. Alisha Dodds, a spokesperson for Bethel School District, said that all students will take the same two-credit core math courses as underclassmen, but there are still options for 8th graders to accelerate into algebra if they meet testing requirements. She said that doing away with advanced classes allows all students to experience rich & relevant learning in their classes. Dodds said schools in the district have taken that approach based on recommendations from the Oregon Department of Education. In September 2022, Willamette High School sent out a communication to families explaining the changes in math sequencing at the school. The communication states that Bethel School District has worked hard to offer high quality math courses so that students would no longer need to skip a math class if they are advanced. All students would have access to advanced math of their choice in the 11th and 12th grade. On October 21, 2021, the Oregon State Board of Education adopted a new set of mathematics standards for the foundational expectations of the Oregon diploma. This 2+1 course design is for high school mathematics in which there are two core credits all students have to take, and then they may choose a +1 course of math that aligns with their interests when they are upperclassmen. The ODE states that a number of national reports have called for change in high school mathematics, which is why they have revised the Oregon Mathematics Requirements into the 2+1 course design. Dodds said that the removal of Advanced English 9 and 10, which was mentioned in the student petition, was in an effort to allow all students to have access to the rich and relevant learning occurring in those classes. Maddy Ahearn, instructor in the College of Education at the University of Oregon and Jennifer Ruef, assistant professor in the College of Education, said that the tracking system puts students in a race to get to advanced classes, which only harms students. When math success is narrowly defined as accelerating through classes quickly, learning is shallow and brittle, and we lose students along the way, they said. Ahearn and Ruef said students most often failed by the system are students of color, low income, disabled and second language learners. Even when students are appearing to succeed, they said, this system will ultimately fail them in the long run. The recommendations from the Oregon Department of Educations Math Project are aligned to research on increasing access to rigorous mathematics for all students, Ahearn and Ruef said. Bethel is building a better system that supports all students and increases access to advanced math courses. Their work is both research-informed and commendable. Opinion: The Greater Idaho Movement fails to recognize the dangers and problematic nature of redrawing state lines due to a large cultural divide. ---------- Anyone who has spent time traveling or living in Oregon has realized the vastness of this states urban and rural cultural divide. A 10-minute drive in any direction from any of Oregons more populous cities will prove this. In one moment, every store is covered with progressive signs and messages and then boom Trump merchandise and Confederate insignia glitter Oregons rural towns and communities. It is no surprise that many of these rural communities feel such a strong disconnect from the Democratic majority Oregon State Government. This disconnect is nothing new, as it has been growing over the years as political extremism has exponentially grown since the 2016 presidential election. Political extremism is dangerous no matter which side one falls on. Eastern Oregon, the states highest concentration of conservative ideology, feels the biggest detachment to the Willamette Valleys leadership and left-leaning ideology. Many of its residents have supported Idaho, a conservative majority state government, to completely absorb their counties in a move known as the Greater Idaho Movement. The Greater Idaho Movement is rural Oregons desperate attempt to find cultural reassurance in their state government. In a CNN interview, Kyung Lah spoke with Sandie Gilson, an Eastern Oregon resident and Greater Idaho Movement supporter, who said that they dont think the Oregon Government as a whole and the super majority that has been in power for many decades is listening to Eastern Oregon at all. This disconnect is so strong that Idaho state Rep. Barbara Ehardt (R) co-sponsored a bill to begin dialogue with Oregon to absorb Eastern Oregon counties. In a time of political division, this bill unsurprisingly passed and now stands before the state senate. If this bill is passed by the state senate, Idaho would then be in the process to redraw state lines for the first time since 1864. Rep. Ehardrt told Kyung Lah in the same CNN segment that she believes that if these counties are not absorbed into Idaho, then violence and battle will ensue internally. As dramatic as that may sound, it is important to emphasize that Eastern Oregon residents do not see a connection to their state government and want to be represented by a state that fits their ideologies. Logically speaking, this makes sense; democratically speaking, this is completely irresponsible and problematic. In the Idaho House of Representatives, the bill discussing the borders of Oregon and Idaho that has passed onto its state senate makes an interesting point. The bill points out that the Portland metro area is home to approximately 47% of Oregon's voters, while accounting for less than 4% of the state's land mass; WHEREAS, this small urban area is setting policy for the entire State of Oregon and is determining how all people in the State of Oregon, both urban and rural, are governed. While this may be understandable, it is wrong to point out that land mass equates to population. This is a repeated conservative rhetorical point that incorrectly represents demographic maps and analysis. It may be true that Eastern Oregon counties contain a conservative majority along with a large percentage of the states land mass, but land does not equal people. In a democratically run society it is the people who decide who is in charge. In Oregons case, more people live in cities, and their votes are just as important as any Eastern Oregon voter. It makes sense that Oregon has a Democratic majority state government. People are the power, and together they can always be stronger. Oregonians need to learn to live in harmony with one another as we can find common ground in our shared environment and experiences. We should not give up on unity, and we most definitely should not move forward with the Greater Idaho Movement. We are all Oregon. Introduction to Moving Averages: Moving Average Talking Points: What is a moving average? How do you calculate moving average? What is the purpose of moving averages? How do you interpret moving averages? What is a Moving Average? In technical analysis, the moving average is an indicator used to represent the average closing price of the market over a specified period of time. Traders often make use of moving averages as it can be a good indication of current market momentum. The two most commonly used moving averages are the simple moving average (SMA) and the exponential moving average (EMA). The difference between these moving averages is that the simple moving average does not give any weighting to the averages in the data set whereas the exponential moving average will give more weighting to current prices. How do you calculate moving average? As explained above, the most common moving averages are the simple moving average (SMA) and the exponential moving average (EMA). Almost all charting packages will have a moving average as a technical indicator. The simple moving average is simply the average of all the data points in the series divided by the number of points. The challenge of the SMA is that all the data points will have equal weighting which may distort the true reflection of the current markets trend. The EMA was developed to correct this problem as it will give more weighting to the most recent prices. This makes the EMA more sensitive to the current trends in the market and is useful when determining trend direction. The mathematic formula for each can be found below: Simple Moving Average: SMA = Where: A= Is each of the data points n = Number of time periods For example, looking at a 5-day SMA on a daily chart of EUR/USD and the closing prices over the 5 days are as follows: Day 1: 1.321 Day 2: 1.301 Day 3: 1.325 Day 4: 1.327 Day 5: 1.326 SMA = (1.321 + 1.301 + 1.325 + 1.327 + 1.326)/5 SMA = 6.6/5 SMA = 1.32 Exponential Moving Average: EMA = Where: EMAt= EMA today Vt= Value today EMAt = EMA today s =smoothing d = number of days Steps for calculating EMA: 1. Calculate the SMA for the particular time period 2. Calculate the multiplier for weighting the EMA using the formula: [2 (selected time period + 1)]. So, for a 10-day moving average, the multiplier would be [2/(10+1)]= 0.01818. 3. Use the smoothing factor combined with the previous EMA to arrive at the current value. For example, looking at a 10-day EMA for a share, the table below displays how the EMA would be calculated: Date Price 10-day SMA Smoothing Constant 2/(10 + 1) 10-day EMA 1 24-Apr-18 23.24 2 25-Apr-18 22.99 3 26-Apr-18 22.85 4 27-Apr-18 23.00 5 28-Apr-18 22.96 6 29-Apr-18 22.21 7 30-Apr-18 21.99 8 1-May-18 22.43 9 2-May-18 22.24 10 3-May-18 22.55 22.65 22.65 11 4-May-18 22.15 22.54 0.1818 22.56 12 5-May-18 22.39 22.48 0.1818 22.53 13 6-May-18 22.38 22.43 0.1818 22.50 14 7-May-18 22.61 22.39 0.1818 22.52 15 8-May-18 23.36 22.43 0.1818 22.67 16 9-May-18 24.05 22.62 0.1818 22.92 17 10-May-18 23.75 22.79 0.1818 23.07 18 11-May-18 23.83 22.93 0.1818 23.21 19 12-May-18 23.95 23.10 0.1818 23.35 20 13-May-18 23.63 23.21 0.1818 23.40 Recommended by Tammy Da Costa Overwhelmed by fear of trading? Build your confidence now Get My Guide What is the purpose of moving averages? The main purpose of the moving average is to eliminate short-term fluctuations in the market. Because moving averages represent an average closing price over a selected period of time, the moving average allows traders to identify the overall trend of the market in a simple way. Another benefit of the moving average is that it is a customizable indicator which means that the trader can select the time-frame that suits their trading objectives. Moving Averages are often used for market entries as well as determining possible support and resistancelevels. The moving average often acts as a resistance level when the price is trading below the MA and it acts as a support level when the price is trading above the MA. How do you interpret moving averages? There are 3 ways in which traders use the moving average: To determine the direction of the trend To determine support and resistance levels Using multiple moving averages for long- and short-term market trends 1. To determine the direction of the trend: When prices are trending higher, the moving average will adjust by also moving higher to reflect the increasing prices. This could be interpreted as a bullish signal, where traders may prefer buying opportunities. The opposite would be true if the price was consistently trading below the moving average indicator, where traders would then prefer selling opportunities due to the market signaling a downward trend. 2. The moving average for support and resistance levels: The moving average can be used to determine support and resistance levels once a trader has placed a trade. If the trader sees the moving average trending higher, they may enter the market on a retest of the moving average. Likewise, if the trader is already long in an uptrend market, then the moving average can be used as a stop loss level. The opposite is true for down trends. The charts below are examples of how the moving average can be used as a both a support and a resistance level. 3.Making use of multiple moving averages It is common for traders to make use of multiple moving average indicators on a single chart, as depicted in the chart below. This allows traders to simultaneously assess the short and long-term trends in the market. As price crosses above or below these plotted levels on the graph it can be interpreted as either strength or weakness for a specific currency pair.This method of using more than one indicator can be extremely useful in trending markets and is similar to using the MACD oscillator. When making use of multiple moving averages, many traders will look to see when the lines will cross. This phenomenon is referred to as The Golden Cross when a bullish pattern is formed and The Death Cross when the pattern is bearish. A Golden cross is identified when the short-term moving average (such as the 50-day moving average) crosses above the long-term moving average (such as the 200-day moving average), while the Death cross represents the short-term moving average crossing below the long-term moving average. Traders that are long, should view a Death Cross as a time to consider closing the trade while those in short trades should view the Golden Cross as a signal to close out the trade. Moving Average Indicator: A Summary In summary, the Moving Average is a common indicator used by traders to determine trends in the market. Many traders use more than one Moving Average at a time as this gives a more holistic view of the market. Moving averages are often used to determine market entries as well as support and resistance levels. Become a Better Trader with Our Trading Tips Australian Dollar, AUD/USD, Jobless Claims, NFPs Asia Pacific Market Open: Australian Dollar falls as US jobless claims data briefly jitters markets All eyes now turn to US NFPs as cracks slowly emerge in the economy AUD/USD eyes an Ascending Triangle chart formation, support in focus Recommended by Daniel Dubrovsky Get Your Free Equities Forecast Get My Guide Asia-Pacific Market Briefing US Economy Showing Early Cracks Ahead of NFP Data The Australian Dollar underperformed against its major counterparts on Thursday. The sentiment-linked currency received a boost following the latest round of US initial jobless claims, which surprised higher at 228k compared to the 200k median estimate. However, that outcome turned out to be a decline from the previous period, which was revised higher to 246k. Meanwhile, a separate report showed that US-based employers reported 89.7k job cuts in March. That was a 15% increase compared to February. The initial reaction to these prints saw US equities weaken and the haven-linked US Dollar strengthens. Combined, this pushed AUD/USD lower. Still, by the end of the Wall Street session, equities reversed losses and finished in the green. Traders might be looking to a solid non-farm payrolls report for March, which is due later today at 12:30 GMT. However, US markets will be closed for the Good Friday holiday, lowering liquidity and increasing volatility risk to an unexpected outcome. The US economy is seen adding 230k non-farm payrolls as the unemployment rate holds steady at 3.6%. However, some early cracks are appearing in the economy. The Citi Economic Surprise Index has fallen to its lowest since late February. This is a sign that lately, economic outcomes have been coming in softer than estimated. Meanwhile, a custom momentum indicator I made is at its lowest since the immediate aftermath of the 2020 global pandemic see the chart below. With numerous trading exchanges offline until next week, the focus will shift to the currency market reaction to the US jobs report. With fears of a recession growing after US banking system woes, a softer NFP print could induce risk aversion. Traders have lately been focusing on what a dovish Fed could mean for markets, this could quickly switch to panic if economic data starts to quickly turn south. That may bode ill for AUD/USD. Is the US Economy Slowing? Australian Dollar Technical Analysis From a technical standpoint, AUD/USD could be increasingly looking at a bearish setup. An Ascending Triangle seems to be carving out since February. Breaking lower could open the door to extending Januarys top. This is as the 50-day Simple Moving Average appears to be holding as key resistance, maintaining the downside bias. Extending losses places the focus on the March low. Trade Smarter - Sign up for the DailyFX Newsletter Receive timely and compelling market commentary from the DailyFX team Subscribe to Newsletter AUD/USD Daily Chart Chart Created in TradingView --- Written by Daniel Dubrovsky, Senior Strategist for DailyFX.com To contact Daniel, follow him on Twitter:@ddubrovskyFX There can be no doubt that Britains involvement in the slave trade during the 17th and 18th centuries was abhorrent, causing untold misery for millions of people. Yet while utterly indefensible by todays standards, in those brutish times the buying and selling of human beings was considered a legitimate commercial enterprise. Indeed, anyone who possessed wealth would almost certainly have derived some benefit from this vile practice either directly or indirectly. So it is hardly a great shock that an unearthed document shows that in 1689, one of King Charless ancestors William III was gifted shares in a slave-trading company, from which he earned extra income. This revelation has prompted Charles to signal his support for an independent university study into the Royal Familys historic links to the Atlantic slave trade. King Charless ancestors William III was gifted shares in a slave-trading company, from which he earned extra income If this inquiry were purely an academic exercise, it would be uncontroversial. But with self-appointed moral arbiters shrilly demanding that people repent for the ills of their forebears, it may well end in cringing self-flagellation. Should the study find that the monarchy profited from the ghastly cargos, even if it was centuries ago, he will be under pressure to offer further apologies. This would inevitably lead to more calls for reparations payments to atone for historic misdeeds, which equally inevitably could never be large enough to satisfy the activists. Nor would a heartfelt apology defuse the outrage of the Left over the supposed wickedness of the Empire, Rather, it would embolden Republicans and those who want the Royal Family abolished. And what would be next? Reparations for the French because we once occupied Calais? How many royal treasures should be handed back to foreign powers? Talk about opening up a can of worms. Despite what campaigners argue, the truth is that far from covering up this dark chapter in our history, this country has worn its regret on its sleeve unlike others. Britain didnt invent slavery. Virtually every society on the planet has practised this horror at some time not least those in Africa. We were the first to outlaw slavery, then deployed the Royal Navy to wipe out the scourge in other parts of the world. What the reparations enthusiasts and virtue-signallers wont accept is that we can never undo the sins of the past. What we can do is learn from those abominations and build a better, and a more just, future. Driving into danger When Rishi Sunak was battling to become Tory leader, he vowed to ban new smart motorways if he became Prime Minister. So we share bereaved families anger that now he is in No 10, he is dithering. Some in Cabinet argue that reinstating the hard shoulder would worsen traffic congestion, thereby harming the economy. But since 2021, this newspaper has uncovered lethal flaws in the system which have contributed to the deaths of people marooned on smart motorways. Thats why we urge Mr Sunak to stick to his word and end this deadly experiment with motorists lives. When Rishi Sunak was battling to become Tory leader, he vowed to ban new smart motorways if he became Prime Minister GP service in ill health The family surgery is supposed to be the bedrock of the NHS. Yet, depressingly, almost six million patients every month give up on seeing a GP because it takes so long for an appointment. There are many factors for this horrendous situation. More family doctors are working part time or retiring early and too few are being trained. The population is older and larger because of mass immigration. But nothing can justify the tragedy of patients living in pain, having diseases undiagnosed or dying needlessly because the healthcare they pay taxes for is crumbling. The news this week that King Charles is supporting an inquiry into the Royal Familys historic links with slavery, currently under way at the University of Manchester, is hardly surprising. Because of its prominence, it was only a matter of time before the monarchy became a target in the so-called culture wars. The King is right to have pre-empted any attacks and to have approved this research openly. Historians such as me have always known about these links, though they are buried deep in the national past. In all probability, the inquiry will merely uncover what is already understood. The real question, therefore, is what should then be done? My answer is simple: nothing. We should face the future, not the past. This ugly saga goes back to the Restoration in 1660 of King Charles II after the Civil War. To raise personal funds for an indebted monarchy, he and his brother, James, Duke of York (later King James II), founded the Royal African Company to trade with and exploit West Africa. LAWRENCE GOLDMAN: The news this week that King Charles is supporting an inquiry into the Royal Familys historic links with slavery, currently under way at the University of Manchester, is hardly surprising Though the Company traded in commodities and gold, it also traded in slaves. Local tribes captured Africans in the interior and brought them to the coast to be sold to the Companys agents and frogmarched on to the ships. They were transported across the Atlantic, in appalling conditions, to the new North and South American colonies. Its estimated that about 220,000 slaves were transported by the Company, of whom some 45,000 died during the Middle Passage the voyage from Africa to the Americas, which lasted perhaps 80 days. By the early years of the 18th century, the Royal African Company was in decline. It ceased slave-trading entirely in 1731 and the Company was wound up in 1750. It is a terrible story. Today we rightly abhor the very idea of slavery, which was brutal, inhuman and murderous. The trade was a stain upon civilisation and human progress. But if it seems so to us now, to people from the past this was not the case. Two centuries ago, more people across the world worked as slaves or forced labourers than as free men and women. Other European nations shipped slaves and founded colonies based upon their labour as well: France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands. The organisation of anti-slavery movements in Britain and America did not begin until the late 1700s, more than a century after the Royal African Company had been founded. Edward Colston's statue was thrown into Bristol Harbour by anti-racism protesters (pictured as it happened in June 2020) Though Britain took the lead in the campaign against slavery, the trade in the British Empire wasnt abolished until 1807 and slavery itself didnt end in British colonies overseas until 1833. These facts arent offered as an excuse for anyone or anything. But they do provide the necessary context for assessing the supposed guilt of royalty in the past. What has all this to do with King Charles today? Not much. The Royal African Company flourished under Charles II and James II, both Stuarts whose royal line effectively ended in 1688 when James II was kicked out in the Glorious Revolution. That means that if anyone is liable to pay reparations for slavery, it will be the descendants of Bonnie Prince Charlie, the grandson of James II and the great-nephew of Charles II, who tried and failed to win back the throne in 1745. Or we might turn to George I and George II, under whom the Royal African Company continued trading, in a reduced way, in the 18th century. They were both Electors of Hanover ducal figures in north-western Germany who had the power to vote in the Holy Roman Emperor. Hanover ceased to have any place in the British state and monarchy when Victoria became Queen in 1837. Try asking for compensation today from their German descendants living somewhere in the middle of Europe. All of this will seem utterly obscure and irrelevant and thats exactly the point. The Royal African Company was a personal venture by Stuart and Hanoverian monarchs from another age. Professor Lawrence Goldman is an Emeritus Fellow of St Peters College, Oxford and taught the history of slavery for three decades in the Oxford History Faculty The House of Windsor now reigns in Britain. King Charles has vanishingly small direct connections to these figures from the past. Nor can the British people be held responsible for the actions of monarchs and their advisers more than 300 years ago. Most of us know little or nothing about our ancestors from the 17th century; in the case of many millions of Britons today, those ancestors werent even living in Britain. Why should the descendants of agricultural field hands and factory workers, or of people who lived abroad, be told to pay reparations for things over which they had no control and for which they werent responsible? But the King can take comfort from the actions and opinions of the Victorian monarchy, much closer to us in time and spirit. This was in an age in which Britain, through its diplomacy and deployment of the Royal Navy, led the worldwide fight against slave-trading and slavery. Queen Victoria read the great anti-slavery novels of the American writer Harriet Beecher Stowe. When Mrs Stowe sent her a copy of Uncle Toms Cabin in 1852, she paid tribute to Victorias good & noble heart a heart ever ready to feel for the suffering of the oppressed and the lowly. The character of Uncle Tom himself was based on Josiah Henson, a runaway slave from the American South. Queen Victoria read the great anti-slavery novels of the American writer Harriet Beecher Stowe Queen Victoria met Henson at the Great Exhibition in the Crystal Palace in Londons Hyde Park in 1851, and invited him and his wife to Windsor in 1876. Meanwhile, her husband, Prince Albert, was a patron of the African Civilization Society. Anyone who visits the royals family home, Osborne House, on the Isle of Wight, will be impressed by the evidence of their interest in and respect for the peoples of the Empire. As for Victorias descendant, the late Queen Elizabeth II, no one could ever have doubted the sincerity of her commitment to the peoples of the Commonwealth an organisation to which she dedicated her life. Of course, it is entirely right and necessary to teach the history of Atlantic slavery and to raise awareness of its nature and impact though in teaching it, as I have done throughout my career, we must try to understand the world as it was centuries ago. History cannot be studied through our eyes and modern values. But reparations are a different matter altogether. It may be right to demand compensation for illegal acts that are committed now or within living memory. Who could blame the Ukrainians for demanding Russian reparations to help them repair their war-racked country today? Or tomorrow if the Uyghur population in China currently locked up in their hundreds of thousands, and subject to torture and forced sterilisation were to press the Chinese Communist Party for restitution? But history shows that reparations often have the opposite effect to that intended. King Charles III arrives on a boat for a trip at the port in Hamburg, Germany, Friday, March 31, 2023 Germany demanded monetary reparations from the French after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, stoking tensions between the two nations that led to World War I. After that conflagration, France demanded reparations from the Germans, thereby precipitating the rise of the Nazis and World War II. Accusations of historic guilt and claims for compensation do not build amity, understanding or tolerance. There is a better way, and it is to King Charless credit that he has been pursuing it all his life: to build for the present and future through organisations such as the Princes Trust, whose many projects for the young and underprivileged have helped transform lives in Britain and other nations. Leave history to the historians. People today should be judged not by our actions in regard to a past we cannot change, but by our legacies to the future. King Charles has spent his life working for the environment, for better architecture, for the arts and for international co-operation. These are the things on which we should focus. Millions of people around the world still work as slaves and forced labourers even here in Britain. It would be far more appropriate to campaign strongly for the end of slavery now than to argue over compensation for slavery then. Read more: Can YOU solve the riddle that has left the internet stumped The puzzle asks if you can spot the heart-shaped berry amongst all the berries An Easter-themed brainteaser is challenging players to put their observation skills to the test. The seek-and-find puzzle, which has been created by British company BlindsbyPost, challenges Brits to find the bunny amongst the eggs! And while some may think the puzzle sounds straight forward, it may be a little difficult to find the naughty rabbit hiding amongst the chocolate treats. Put your observation skills to the test and see if you can spot it. Think you can do it quicker? Scroll down to see the puzzle. An Easter-themed brainteaser is challenging players to put their observation skills to the test (pictured) The puzzle is made even trickier by the repetitive colour throughout the illustration. If you are struggling to the the bunny, try looking towards the left of the picture. It's not the only puzzle which has been leaving Brits scratching their heads in recent weeks. Valentines Day is the day of love when you show your favourite people significant other, friends, parents, or even secret crush just how much you care. To celebrate, a new brainteaser created by IWOOT (I Want One Of Those) an online retailer specialising in gifts and homeware, challenges you to find 'love' in under one minute. This Valentines Day puzzle asks if you can spot the heart-shaped berry amongst all the berries. Scroll down right to the bottom for the answer. The playful bunny can be found peeping out from behind an Easter Egg to the left of the picture The illustration, created by IWOOT (I Want One Of Those) an online retailer specialising in gifts and homeware, challenges you to find 'love' in under one minute The puzzle is made even harder by the repetitive pink and purple colour throughout the illustration. If you are struggling to the the heart-shaped berry try looking towards the bottom of the picture. Do you think you have what it takes to find the answer in just one minute? Scroll down for the answer! Fancy more brainteasers? There is one simple trick you can use to stop this mind-bending optical illusion in its tracks - but do you hold the key to shut it down? The illustration, created by UK-based company Rainbow Riches Casino, features dozens of green hearts which appear as though they're moving in waves. But according to the designers, there is actually a very simple way to make the movement stop. At first glance, it appears that waves are sweeping across the image from one corner to the next. The puzzle is made even harder by the repetitive pink and purple colour throughout the illustration There are several reasons as to why the image looks like it's moving - from the white lines which create a contrast to the spacing in between the rows of hearts. The optical illusion relies on a pattern which merges it into one moving image when you move your eyes around it. However, if you focus your gaze on a fixed point on the image, you will find that it'll stop moving completely. Fancy more brainteasers? This next one will put your observation skills to the test by challenging you to find the set of hidden keys. The tricky image, provided by UK-based company Rainbow Riches Casino, appears like it's moving in waves. Can you use your brain to make it stop? Do you think you have what it takes to find the answer to this brainteaser from British business comparison site iCompario, in less than 36 seconds to break the record? The fiendishly tricky test, provided by British business comparison site iCompario, hides a set of keys within several cars of different colours. Do you think you have what it takes to find the answer to this test in less than 36 seconds to break the record? Try it out below and let us known how you fared in the comments! And no cheating! Did you get it right? The set of keys was attached to this semi-truck to make the brainteaser even trickier Figure it out yet? A set of keys is cleverly hidden in this drawing showing different types of vehicles. You'll need to pay attention to the finer details of this picture in order to find the keys. Struggling and in need of a hint? Focus on the left side of the snap of find your answer? Giving up or think you got it? Check out the asnwer below, and other fun brainteaser to sink your teeth into. A vibrant new brainteaser from one of the internet's most popular illustrators has challenged players to find the three empty glasses in a festive party. The Hungarian artist Gergely Dudas, better known as Dudolf, released a typically playful seek-and-find puzzle, showing a New Year's Eve celebration with adorable animals. The tricky puzzle is set at a party full of various characters dressed in paper hats enjoying a chaotic time. But while each animal holds a glass of fizz, only three of the glasses are empty. Will you be able to seek them out in the fun? A vibrant new brainteaser from one of the internet's most popular illustrators has challenged players to find the three empty glasses in a festive party The cartoonist has added character and charm to the puzzle by adding little hats to the various types of animals at the celebration. He has made the glasses tricky to find by colouring the entire background of the scene blue, which is the same shade as the items players need to find. You'll need to have your eagle-eyes trained on the details of the drawing to pick out the glasses from the festivities. Still having no luck? Scroll down to see the solution. The cartoonist has added character and charm to the puzzle by adding little hats to the various types of animals at the celebration. Above, the empty glasses are revealed For another challenge, try this Christmas one from Protectivity Insurance. This one for the eagle-eyed is set at an office Christmas party. Somewhere in the hectic festive scene is a sprig of mistletoe, but will you be able to seek it out of the chaos and frivolities? The time to beat is 14 seconds. Scroll down to see if you can find it among the dancing workers and desks. Insurance company Protectivity has created a trick seek-and-find festive puzzle. Will you be able to find the mistletoe within the office Christmas party scene? From loud festive jumpers and jumping people, to presents and even potted plants, this festive scene is bound to get your Christmas off to a swinging start. But can you find the mistletoe, hiding somewhere is the party scene? If you are struggling, try casting your eyes over the large Christmas tree and looking around the red and white candy canes. If you are struggling, try casting your eyes over the large Christmas tree and looking around the red and white candy canes If you fancy another challenge, Online Mortgage Advisor has created a festive brainteaser to put your observation skills to the test. Just in time for the big day, they have released a special nutcracker edition puzzle, with all your festive favourites. The online advisor has hidden the Christmas nutcracker within a hectic festive living room. Scroll down to see if you can find him, by searching the fireplaces and Christmas sacks and letters in this new design. Online Mortgage Advisor has created festive brainteaser for Christmas/ Seek-and-find puzzle challenges you to find a nutcracker in a festive living room From roaring cozy flames under the mantlepiece to snow globes and woolly hats, this festive imagery features everything you need for a classic Christmas. But, can you spot the cheeky nutcracker hidden within the picturesque scene? If you are struggling, try searching Santa's sacks of gifts. Can you spot the cheeky nutcracker hidden within the picturesque scene? If you are struggling, try searching Santa's sacks of gifts. Try these Yuletide brainteasers from DFS, featuring beloved Christmas items with an interior twist. Just in time for December, DFS has released a series of Yuletide brainteasers, featuring beloved Christmas items with an interior twist. The furniture retailer has hidden some of its most iconic sofas and armchairs within Christmas jumper and wrapping paper patterns. Can you bust these brainteasers by spotting the sofas in the stunning festive designs. Just in time for December, DFS has released a series of Yuletide brainteasers, featuring beloved Christmas items with an interior twist From candy canes to delicious mugs of hot chocolate, this adorable wrapping paper features the very best of Christmas time! But can you spot the three two-seater sofas within the image? If you're still struggling then here is a hint, all three sofas are positioned near branches of holly. If you're still struggling then here is a hint, all three sofas are positioned near branches of holly (pictured) Whether you go for loud and proud or an understated sparkle, everyone loves a Christmas jumper! But can you find the three cosy armchairs hidden in this special design from DFS? One of the armchairs can be found in an ornament youd typically hang on a Christmas tree. Whether you go for loud and proud or an understated sparkle, everyone loves a Christmas jumper! But can you find the three cosy armchairs hidden in this special design from DFS? Are you still struggling? Try looking at the second bubble from the left theres also two smaller sofa's to find! If you still haven't fund them try looking at the top left of the design for another one. Scroll down for the answer! Are you still struggling? Try looking at the second bubble from the left theres also two smaller sofa's to find! Christmas markets are a staple for the holidays, from sweet treats to stocking filler gifts, they are filled with friends, families and couples enjoying the holiday festivities. As the festive season is here, Christmas Tree World has created some fun brainteasers to get you into the festive spirit this year! This seek-and-find puzzle asks you to find the robin in the Christmas market. But spotting the little bird amongst the busy market scene, filled with shoppers and Christmas trees, is not as easy as it sounds. How long will it take you? Scroll down for the answer, but no cheating! As the festive season is here, Christmas Tree World has created some fun festive brain teasers to get you and your family and friends into the Christmas spirit this year The snow covered illustration shows plenty of busy people doing their Christmas shopping. To make it more challenging the robin is hidden within a multitude of colourful trees, houses and people. If you are struggling, it may be worth noting that the robin is sitting on one man's presents. To make it more challenging the robin is hidden within a multitude of colourful trees, houses and people The Christmas fun is always accompanied by the touch of cold frost in the air. Christmas Tree World have also created this adorable polar bear scene and asked if you can spot the hidden dog amongst the polar bears. All of the polar bears are huddled together to keep warm, and it looks like there is someone that wants to join in on the fun Scroll down for the answer... Christmas Tree World have also created this adorable polar bear scene and asked if you can spot the hidden dog amongst the polar bears The white bears are all looking the same direction but to make it more challenging some are wearing bunny ears. To make it even more challenging the polar bears are all white and the dog is also. If you are struggling, it may be worth checking the ears on the animals as the polar bears have rounded ears while the dogs are pointed. If you still can't find the pooch try looking to the left centre of the illustration. If you are struggling, it may be worth checking the ears on the animals as the polar bears have rounded ears while the dogs are pointed Another festive illustration by Christmas Tree World could be mistaken for a Christmas card as it is such a pretty scene. The scene is filled with endless Christmas trees that have been decorated with lights and tree toppers. For one of the trees, there is a star that sits on top. Can you spot the star on the Christmas tree? Scroll down for the answer... Another festive illustration by Christmas Tree World could be mistaken for a Christmas card as it is such a pretty scene You can spot many people among the the trees and even a Santa Clause on a scooter. To make it more challenging the star is hidden within a multitude of colourful tree decorations. If you are struggling, it may be worth noting that the star is not on the top of a tree like you would expect. Still struggling? Look to the bottom left side of the illustration you might spot it on the bottom of a tree. If you are struggling, it may be worth noting that the star is not on the top of a tree like you would expect It comes after online casino Casumo created this spot-the-sparkler brainteaser for Bonfire Night. Catherine wheels, rockets and roman candles create a magical, thrilling display on Bonfire Night. Also known as Fireworks Night or Guy Fawkes Night, Bonfire Night originated from the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when Guy Fawkes failed to blow up the houses of parliament and assassinate the King. This seek-and-find puzzle asks you to find the three hidden sparklers within the firework display. The smaller handheld fireworks are discoverable within the bright, electric night sky, ready to make you jump. Scroll down for the answer, but no cheating! Online casino Casumo has created a thrilling brainteaser for Bonfire Night. Seek-and-find puzzle challenges you to find 3 sparklers in the firework display To make it more challenging the sparklers are hidden within a multiude of vibrant fireworks. It takes the average person two minutes to find the three sparklers, how long will it take you? If you are struggling, it may be worth noting that the sparklers are their more common orange colour. If you are struggling, it may be worth noting that the sparklers are their more common orange colour. It takes the average person two minutes to find them For Halloween, Online Mortgage Advisor created a spooky pumpkin puzzle to celebrate the eerie time of year. This brainteaser challenges you to find the hidden pumpkin within the haunted bedroom. The teeny pumpkin is hiding somewhere in the ghost-filled room, waiting to jump out of spook anyone who dares to enter. Can you find the hidden pumpkin in this haunted bedroom? Online Mortgage Advisor has created a spooky seek-and-find challenge in time for Halloween To make it extra tricky the company has cluttered the room with boxes, lanterns ad chest of drawers. Scattered between an array of not-so-scary ghosts and moonlit windows is the devilish pumpkin. But it's not that easy to spot the grinning decoration amongst the cobwebs and candles. If you are struggling to spot evil pumpkin face, try looking at the cabinets and chest of drawers. Disney fans are not happy that the company is changing the lyrics to some classic Little Mermaid songs for its upcoming live-action remake. The new version of the animated classic, which is set to hit theaters on May 26 and will star Halle Bailey as the iconic mermaid, is going to feature different lines for the tracks Kiss the Girl and Poor Unfortunate Souls, composer Alan Menken revealed earlier this week. He explained to Vanity Fair that they made 'some lyric' changes to Kiss the Girl after people became upset over the 'idea that Prince Eric would force himself on Ariel,' and that they 'revised' the parts of Poor Unfortunate Souls 'that might make young girls somehow feel that they shouldnt speak out of turn.' During the latter song, the evil sea witch Ursula is trying to convince Ariel to trade her voice for human legs. She sings: 'The men up there don't like a lot of blabber. Disney fans are not happy that the company is changing the lyrics to some classic Little Mermaid songs for its upcoming live-action remake The new version of the animated classic, which will star Halle Bailey as the iconic mermaid, is going to feature different lines for the tracks Kiss the Girl and Poor Unfortunate Souls 'They think a girl who gossips is a bore. Yet, on land it's much preferred for ladies not to say a word.' She also says that 'she who holds her tongue get's a man' and that 'true gentlemen avoid conversation when they can.' However, people on the web are outraged over the changes, with some pointing out that Ursula's statements are a very important part of the plotline. 'The whole point of that section of Poor Unfortunate Souls was for Ursula to lower Ariel's self esteem and manipulate her into giving her voice, without that part of the song Ariel will just accept giving up her voice with less manipulation from Ursula?' asked one person. Someone else wrote: 'It makes sense that the villain say those things. Maybe instead of changing the lyrics, teach kids to think and reflect about those topic so they can develop critical thinking.' He also said they 'revised' the parts of Poor Unfortunate Souls 'that might make young girls somehow feel that they shouldnt speak out of turn' 'Ursula was trying to convince and manipulate Ariel into thinking the solution she is offering is the best,' another user pointed out. 'It's supposed to be awful and wrong. I watched this movie 100 times as a kid and it never made me feel like I couldn't speak up or express myself around a man.' 'Not sure why you'd change a villain's song to make it less villainous? Ursula was an empowered woman,' read a fourth tweet, while a fifth said, 'Omg. They're ruining it.' 'This is like changing the way you make a sandwich when you already have the perfect combo,' stated a different person. 'Ursula is playing on Ariels love for Eric and manipulating those feelings by belittling her self-value,' tweeted another. During the song Kiss the Girl, Ariel's pal Sebastian tries to encourage Prince Eric to kiss Ariel as they enjoy a romantic boat ride together. 'Yes, you want her. Look at her, you know you do,' the crab belts out. 'Possible she wants you too, there is one way to ask her. It don't take a word, not a single word, go on and kiss the girl.' As part of the deal that Ariel made with Ursula, Prince Eric had to kiss her within three days or she becomes another one of the octopus' poor, unfortunate souls. 'No. I'm not having it. I refuse to accept a change in any lyrics,' one user, named Kelly Keegs, said in her video, which got nearly 100,000 views However, people on the web are outraged over the changes, with some pointing out that Ursula's statements in the song are a very important part of the plotline On Twitter, one user pointed out that since Ariel can't speak she can't actually give Eric her consent. Others explained that it should be obvious to the viewer that the mermaid wants the prince to kiss her since her 'future depends' on it. 'Of course consent is so so important... but in the film Ariel CAN NOT speak while this song is being sung and the lyrics of song make perfect sense in the context of the movie/scene,' one person wrote. 'I'm all for consent but Kiss the Girl is simply about a kiss. There is nothing wrong with a man going for a kiss (especially in a romantic setting) without having to ask,' someone else said. 'I'd prefer that over being asked actually. And yes it will be awkward if he gets denied but thats life sometimes. 'This woke sensitive narrative is going to make dating extremely awkward for the next generation.' 'I thought Sebastian was singing it because Ariel wanted to be kissed? Her life depended on the kiss. I'm confused,' agreed a different person. Another TikToker, named Mikaila, slammed his interpretation of the first movie, adding that it 'does a disservice' to Howard Ashman, who was one of the original writers of The Little Mermaid The lyric updates also became a hot topic on TikTok, where numerous people posted videos ranting about it. 'No. I'm not having it. I refuse to accept a change in any lyrics,' one user, named Kelly Keegs, said in her video, which got nearly 100,000 views. 'Ariel needs the kiss from Prince Eric to get her voice back, to be a human, to save her family. 'She needs Sebastian to get on the percussion and stir up a mood so he could lean in and kiss her without her asking him to. 'She can't ask him to because she has no voice. It's f**king ridiculous. It's ruining the cartoon for me.' The director of the live-action Little Mermaid, Rob Marshall, recently told Empire Magazine that the 1989 cartoon made it seem like Ariel 'gave up her voice for a guy,' but that the new movie has a deeper underlying message. 'She doesn't give up her voice for a guy that's something that was sort of baked into that original. That's not how we play it in our film,' he said. 'She wants so desperately to be part of this other world and wants to prove to her father and to everyone that there's nothing wrong with [the people there].' Composer Alan Menken explained to Vanity Fair that they made 'some lyric' changes to Kiss the Girl after people became upset over the 'idea that Prince Eric would force himself on Ariel' When it comes to Kiss the Girl, one user pointed out that since Ariel can't speak she can't actually give Eric her consent Another TikToker, named Mikaila, slammed his interpretation of the first movie, adding that it 'does a disservice' to Howard Ashman, who was one of the original writers of The Little Mermaid. 'Howard changed Disney movies to be more like Broadway musicals - a method of storytelling and songwriting that Disney still uses to this day,' she explained. 'He brought the "I want" song into Disney movies. In "I Want" songs, the protagonist tells the audience what they want. 'It makes you immediately root for the character and their dreams. Giving an "I Want" song to the leading women in these Disney movies gave them much more agency and drive. 'Nowhere in Ariel's "I Want" song does she ever say, "I want a man." She wants to walk on land, the hot prince just happens to be the cherry on top. 'Howard fought tooth and nail to keep Part of Your World in the movie because he understood how essential it was that Ariel tells the movie what she wants most, more than anything else, is to live on land.' The co-founder and CEO of one of the world's most popular travel brands has shared his secrets to a comfortable flight every time - even if you're in the middle seat. Founded in 2013 by mechanical engineers Michael Corrigan and David Kellock, Trtl has fast become the most recognisable companies in the travel industry thanks to its uniquely designed neck pillow. The pair had travelled in economy countless times and wanted to find a solution for sleeping on the go that was different to the traditional neck pillow options. And 80 prototypes later they launched what is now the Trtl Pillow. The $72.99 gadget has more than 30,000 positive reviews on Amazon and hundreds of thousands of five-star reviews worldwide and is popular thanks to its internal support system. The hidden support provides 'premium comfort' using the 'loop wrap and nap' method and keeps your head and neck in an ergonomic position while you sleep - preventing the dreaded 'head bobbing'. The $72.99 Trtl Travel Pillow has more than 30,000 positive reviews on Amazon and hundreds of thousands of five-star reviews worldwide and is popular thanks to its internal support system The hidden support provides 'premium comfort' using the 'loop wrap and nap' method and keeps your head and neck in an ergonomic position while you sleep - preventing the dreaded 'head bobbing' 'Our travel pillows are scientifically proven to provide better neck support than standard U-shaped pillows. The versatility and design of this product is one of its key features,' Mr Corrigan told FEMAIL. 'It can be adjusted to fit any neck size, and can be worn in different ways. And its compact nature makes for easy storage. They're also made with different materials from warm fleece to dry-fit mesh cotton, which is breathable and cool to the touch. Since the launch and the pillow's skyrocketing popularity, the brand has also launched two new pillows - the $135 Travel Plus with breathable mesh material, and the $105 Pillow Cool with bio-blended fabrics. The reviews for the viral pillows speak for themselves, with regular travellers refusing to fly with anything else. 'Our travel pillows are scientifically proven to provide better neck support than standard U-shaped pillows. The versatility and design of this product is one of its key features,' Mr Corrigan told FEMAIL Founded in 2013 by mechanical engineers Michael Corrigan (pictured) and David Kellock, Trtl has fast become the most recognisable companies in the travel industry thanks to its uniquely designed neck pillow 'Simple to adapt to personal preference and the softness of the fabric scarf kept me nice and warm. I highly recommend this as your go to pillow for any flight not just night flights,' a Sydney to Singapore passenger wrote. 'I recently travelled to Singapore, Morocco and Spain, the travel pillow was a game changer. I was able to sleep longer in comfort, no neck problems. I am always freezing on the plane and the blanket came in handy and love the design. I am never traveling without these items again,' another added. He also shared his simple yet often forgotten 'must-dos' while travelling long-haul for Australians used to booking flights 14 hours or more. Try organising your carry-on belongings into separate bags based on when they will be needed: pre-flight, during, and after USE PACKING CUBES IN YOUR CARRY-ON This makes it easier to locate items exactly when you need them. Try organising your belongings into separate bags based on when they will be needed: pre-flight, during, and after. PACK A SMALL TOOTHBRUSH AND TOOTHPASTE Keep a small toothbrush and toothpaste on hand to freshen up after snacks or meals, particularly during take-off and landing. WRAP YOUR TRAVEL PILLOW AROUND THE HANDLE OF YOUR LUGGAGE You can conveniently wrap it around the handle of your suitcase or bag strap, freeing up space inside your carry-on. This allows you to pack more essentials or even leave extra room so you don't have to dig through everything to find items at the bottom of your bag, like those sweet treats you brought along for the trip. DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE PERSON BEHIND YOU Always utilise the reclining seats for added comfort, even if it means feeling slightly guilty towards the person behind you. PACK SLIDES Bring sliders to wear during the flight to avoid discomfort and the hassle of putting on and taking off shoes when using the restroom. PACK/WEAR LAYERS Be prepared for different temperatures by wearing comfortable clothing and layers that can easily be added or removed to find the perfect level of warmth. INVEST IN PROPER NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES Invest in noise-cancelling headphones, especially if seated in the aisle, to block out distractions and allow for a more peaceful flight. A young woman has revealed the skincare secret that drastically reduced her acne and left her complexion plump and glowing in just 21 days. Lizzy developed adult acne for the first time in her life and was introduced to Australian skincare brand Eco Tan and the company's Hydration Skin System by a friend who had raved about it. Within three weeks she was singing the same praise. The popular brand, best known for its 'game-changing' face tan water and 'glory oil', was developed by flight attendant and mum, Sonya Driver, in 2009. She was driven to start a natural, organic skincare brand (that actually worked) after her sister's Melanoma diagnosis and subsequent scarring and started researching the best ingredient combinations. Lizzy developed adult acne for the first time in her life and was introduced to Australian skincare brand Eco Tan and the company's Hydration Skin System by a friend who had raved about it (pictured before and after) The popular brand, best known for its 'game-changing' face tan water and 'glory oil', was developed by flight attendant and mum, Sonya Driver (pictured) in 2009 What resulted was an award-winning range with thousands of fans both in Australia and the world over. 'I knew that clearing up my new skin issues would take time, but I quickly noticed improvement,' Lizzy said of her skincare transformation. She used six products totalling $269.70; the hydration system is designed for healthy, youthful, and glowing skin with a focus on targeting dryness. 'The Super Citrus Cleanser leaves my skin feeling so smooth and clean and the Acai Exfoliator scrub smells divine - I use this product a few times a week to help clear my skin,' Lizzy said. Skincare red flags: Why you should read the labels With such a saturated market these days we need to be aware of greenwashing, the phenomenon where brands advertise themselves as more 'clean' and planet friendly than they really are without much transparency Synthetic fragrance: You might know someone (or it might be you) who is extremely sensitive to fragrances and perfumes. Many people are allergic, and it doesn't take much digging to find out why. Whenever ingredient labels just say 'fragrance' or 'parfum', it is often an umbrella term for a bunch of added chemicals that legally don't need to be disclosed. But many of these can have adverse effects on your hormones, skin, and respiratory system when exposed to over a long period of time Oxybenzone: Often used in sunscreen, it's extremely harmful to coral reefs, as well as having negative hormonal effects to human health. Look for an active ingredient of Zinc Oxide, a natural mineral based UV blocker that is reef-friendly and works even better Talc: Often used as a smoothing agent in makeup, talc is a seemingly harmless ingredient. However studies have shown it can irritate the eyes, as well as cause respiratory problems and lung disease when inhaled. When in doubt, opt for organic! Organic ingredients contain no chemicals or synthetic substances like pesticides. Our ingredients are Certified Organic by the Organic Food Chain Australia. This means absolutely NO synthetic or artificial ingredients, no chemical, animal derivatives, amino's, pesticides or herbicides. Advertisement This woman also resurrected her skin using the same routine 'I was unsure about using an oil, but I ended up loving the Glory Oil. My skin does not feel greasy, only very hydrated. I also used this product on a fresh scar on my sons face and it helped minimise it. 'The Serum of Plenty helps to minimise some of those lovely melasma spots that I developed in after pregnancy. I use the Super Fruit Hydrator on the days that my skin was feeling extra dry. Lizzy is one of thousands who have raved about the small business since it launched, with many noticing results within a week of trying the skincare. Others swear by the brand's face tan water which gives a natural bronzed glow overnight. Others swear by the brand's face tan water which gives a natural bronzed glow overnight 'Many years down the track, my love of organics and cruelty free products has never wavered. The mighty dollar is not my idol. I am super proud to be a part of the Australian organic industry,' Sonya said How do the ingredients work to transform the skin so fast? Super Citrus Cleanser: Aloe, Lemongrass and Caviar Lime deeply cleanse and help regenerate the skin for a smoother and more even complexion Super Acai Exfoliator: Designed to intensely exfoliate whilst enriching the skin with the powerful antioxidant and brightening properties of Acai. It also has anti-inflammatory and healing properties from coconut and magnesium salts Super Fruit Hydrator: Pure Hyaluronic Acid and Wild Harvest Plum will naturally help reduce the appearance of ageing. It will plump and nourish the skin Glory Oil: The organic cold pressed oil is a powerhouse of omegas and antioxidants. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial ingredients perfect for calming acne and irritated skin as well as brightening scars and discolouration Face Compost Purple Power Mask: This is a purifying and powerful antioxidant rich, anti-inflammatory treatment mask. It has Kaolin Clay to soak up impurities and detoxify the skin, and Avocado Oil to soften and nourish Serum of plenty: This targets pigmentation and fine lines, reduces redness, and brightens the skin by stimulating collagen production Advertisement 'My research and development began from my tiny kitchen. I started to buy samples of all things natural and organic. I bought my lab equipment from eBay and joined chemist forums, trying to teach myself to be a chemist. It was much harder than I thought,' Sonya says. 'Looking back, even when I was teenager, I was always interested in health food stores and organic food. While my friends would go to Maccas, I would get a vegetarian jaffle. 'Many years down the track, my love of organics and cruelty free products has never wavered. The mighty dollar is not my idol. I am super proud to be a part of the Australian organic industry.' A man has revealed that his grieving wife wants to name their baby Charles in honor of her brother who suddenly died. The only problem? Their last name is Manson. Reddit user ThrowRA_Names12 took to the 'Am I the A**hole' subreddit to share his concern over his child having the same name as Charles Manson, the notorious cult leader and convicted murderer. In his anonymous post, he explained that his wife, Melissa, 31, legally took his last name when they got married four years ago and is eight months pregnant with their son. 'Unfortunately, our last name is Manson. As in Charles Manson,' he wrote. 'It really sucks but it's what I have. Neither of us [has] ever had a problem with that until now.' A Reddit user whose last name is Manson revealed that his pregnant and grieving wife wants to name their son Charles after her brother, who recently died of a heart attack Notorious cult leader Charles Manson spent more than four decades behind bars after ordering members of his Manson Family cult to go on a murderous two-day rampage in 1969 He shared that Melissa lost her brother a few weeks ago after he suddenly died of a heart attack at the age of 35. 'We were both shocked and [devastated]. He was a great man who was always healthy, and we were very close to him. Nobody saw it coming. He left behind his wife and three kids,' he said. 'Melissa now wants to name our son after her brother.' He noted that he wouldn't have any issue with the tribute if her brother's name wasn't Charles. Charles Manson, who was born Charles Milles Maddox, spent more than four decades behind bars after ordering members of his Manson Family cult to go on a murderous two-day rampage in 1969. During the spree, his followers killed seven people: pregnant actress Sharon Tate, coffee heiress Abigail Folger, hair stylist Jay Sebring, writer Wojciech Frykowski, teen Steven Parent, and married couple Leno and Rosemary LaBianca. The murders were carried out in upscale, mostly white neighborhoods of Los Angeles in order to blame the crimes on African Americans, in the hope of sparking what he termed a 'Helter Skelter' race war. Manson was also later convicted of the slayings of musician Gary Hinman and stuntman Donald 'Shorty' Shea. He died in prison in 2017 at the age of 83. The Reddit user explained in his post that his reluctance to name his child Charles Manson given the associations with the murderous cult leader caused him to get into an argument with his wife. 'I told her I was not okay with naming our child Charles Manson, and she insisted that nobody would notice or care. She is calling me an a**hole for disrespecting her brother like that,' he said. 'So, should I let this go and just name our son after a guy who has been so important in Melissa's life?' he asked. 'I really do not want our kid to have to go through life having the same name as a serial killer. Imagine how hard it would be to get a job.' Horrified commenters insisted that the man can't let his wife name their son Charles Manson, saying the child will be 'bullied relentlessly' The vast majority of the commenters advised the man to stand his ground, insisting that people will make the connection and their child will be 'bullied relentlessly.' 'Yes, people will notice. Like immediately, and it's gonna make y'all look like some true crime glorification nut jobs. OP this is the hill to die on,' one Reddit user wrote. 'Charles Manson is not a deep dive true crime villain but a household name mentioned regularly in pop culture,' another pointed out. 'Use her brother's name as a middle name [if] anything, but for crying out loud don't name your kid Charles Manson.' 'She is setting your child up for a life of torture. And yes, people will notice and care. They will also judge you, as the parents, for giving that name and question your morals and values,' someone else added. A number of people advised using Charles as the baby's middle name or a variation of the name such as Charlemagne, Charleston, or Carl. Some suggested using her brother's middle name instead, but the man explained that wouldn't fly with his wife because it's the same name as her 'abusive father.' Using Reddit's chat feature, Fox News Digital reached out to the user about his post. He claimed his name is Aaron Manson, but he declined to provide proof of his name due to privacy reasons. 'Melissa did some more research on Charles Manson, and also read my Reddit post, and agreed that it would be unkind to subject our unborn son to a life of torture by naming our son Charles,' he wrote in the message. He said they have chosen to name their son Cian Summit Manson, which is still a tribute to Melissa's late brother. 'We decided on the name Cian because it is similar enough to Charles to honor him enough, but different enough that nobody will be suspicious,' he explained. 'His middle name will be Summit, after the Summit Lake in Indiana, a place that Charles and I loved to go camping in.' She's pregnant with her second child - but that seemingly hasn't slowed down Princess Eugenie. The Duke and Duchess of York's daughter, 33, last week visited Herbert Morrison Primary School in Lambeth to discuss modern slavery with a Year 6 class. Eugenie - who also shares two-year-old son August with her husband Jack Brooksbank - looked chic in a black midi dress teamed with a burgundy sleeveless jacket for the outing. Three photographs from the occasion were shared on The Anti-Slavery Collective's Instagram account yesterday, showing the royal sitting in a classroom full of schoolchildren as they talked about 'modern slavery in an age appropriate way'. The princess, a granddaughter of the late Queen Elizabeth II, founded the charitable organisation with her friend Julia de Boinville in 2017. The Duke and Duchess of York's daughter (pictured centre right), 33, last week visited Herbert Morrison Primary School in Lambeth to discuss modern slavery with a Year 6 class 'Last week @the_anti_slavery_collective visited Herbert Morrison Primary School in Lambeth with Heather from the @thebravebeartrust representing @invisibletraffick and Kim Ann Williamson MBE, Civil Servant at the Cabinet Office and Chair of UK Modern Slavery Training to raise awareness and deliver training on modern slavery to the education sector,' read the caption. It continued: 'We used the book "Brave" to talk to a Year 6 class about modern slavery in an age appropriate way. 'Brave is a story of friendship and freedom. Inspired by true stories of a little girl who was rescued from exploitation with her teddy bear and a coffee roasting business that empowers survivors of exploitation. 'It was a privilege to meet the children at Herbert Morrison Primary and talk to them about how to keep themselves safe. 'The Brave Bear Trust works within schools and community organisations internationally to educate 8-10 year olds through the use of the book Brave. 'Invisible Traffick is a Northern Ireland based charity which aims to tackle human trafficking in the UK and Ireland by raising awareness through the delivery of the Junior Education Programme in primary schools. 'The programme teaches children how to stay safe, enabling them to be aware of modern day slavery in a child appropriate manner and empowering them to speak out to a trusted adult. Eugenie - who also shares two-year-old son August with her husband Jack Brooksbank - looked chic in a black midi dress teamed with a burgundy sleeveless jacket for the outing Three photographs from the occasion were shared on The Anti-Slavery Collective's Instagram account yesterday, showing the royal sitting in a classroom full of schoolchildren as they talked about 'modern slavery in an age appropriate way' 'Invisible Traffick and The Anti-Slavery Collective are members of the UK Modern Slavery Training Delivery Group,' it concluded. Earlier this month, Eugenie's growing baby bump was on display as she joined her husband at a wedding in Mayfair. The Duke and Duchess of York's youngest daughter looked effortlessly elegant in a Veronica Beard floral midi dress that skimmed over her bump. Proving her fashion prowess, she teamed the chic number with a Max Mara camel coat and a matching M2Malletier crossbody bag. She attended the wedding in London alongside her husband Jack. The couple, who wed in 2018 and are expecting their second child together, already share two-year-old August. Cressida Bonas, who dated Prince Harry for two years until 2014, was also thought to have attended the ceremony. It's unclear whose wedding it was. A 54-year-old grandmother has revealed that strangers often mistake her for being 'too young' for her fiance - but he's actually 12 years her junior. Nathalie Gagnon, from Quebec, Canada, garnered a strong social media fanbase since she stopped drinking alcohol and started intermittent fasting in 2016 which she says had a dramatic effect on her health and left her in tip-top shape. Trolls have since hit out at her fiance David Poirier, 42, in videos of the couple and suggest that the pair's love is 'not true' because of how young they believe Nathalie looks. And while Nathalie gets a lot of attention - especially after going TikTok viral when she flaunts her enviable figure in skimpy bikinis - the influencer says it doesn't negatively impact them. 'The age gap doesn't affect us, it's just like any other relationship,' she said. 'I always get told I look so much younger [than him] and most people think I'm in my 30s.' Nathalie Gagnon (pictured), from Quebec, Canada, garnered a strong social media fanbase since she stopped drinking alcohol and started intermittent fasting in 2016 Nathalie, who has 21,200 TikTok followers, insists David is 'very proud of her' and knows all the effort she puts into her work. 'We are a team and he knows it is just a job,' she added. 'He trusts me and we support each other.' However, he has in the past struggled with seeing his fiancee be on the receiving end of romantic attention. After Nathalie previously went viral for one bikini video on TikTok, David didn't like 'people trying to flirt' with his partner. 'But I gave him access to my cell phone and I never hide anything from him,' the social media star said. She added: 'We spoke and I asked him if he trusts me and he said yes, as he knows how faithful I am. He knows that even though I love naughty messages from my fans, he is the one.' The couple first met over a dating app in 2008, when pastry chef David was 27 and Nathalie was 39. Despite the 12 year age gap, sparks began to fly. Her family are very accepting of their relationship - including Nathalie's daughter, 32 - but the TikToker admits she had to get rid of some 'toxic people' from her life. While Nathalie gets a lot of attention - especially after going TikTok viral when she flaunts her enviable figure in skimpy bikinis - the influencer says it doesn't negatively impact her and her partner (pictured) Reaction: Trolls have since hit out at David Poirier, 42, in videos of the couple and suggest that the couple's love is 'not true' 'I got a few negative comments, but I can be quite rude when someone shares their opinion on my life,' she said. 'It's no one else's business and it never will be. 'I got rid of all the toxic people who didn't like it, family related or not, as toxicity brings you down and I want to live a happy life.' Nathalie says she always asks herself: 'Do I deserve happiness or do I care about what others think?' - and 'always chooses the first answer'. Before making the move to Quebec in 2010, David lived in Montreal, which was two hours away and they had no other choice but to be long distance. Nathalie, who has 21,200 TikTok followers, insists David is 'very proud of her' and knows all the effort she puts into her work However, David has in the past struggled with seeing his fiancee be on the receiving end of romantic attention Nathalie has also previously revealed the 'saucy' messages she receives online from men as young as 20, who send her X-rated snaps, as well as fetish pictures and offers of affairs After daily video calls and ironing out their concerns about the age difference, the pair made the decision to make things official. Nathalie has also previously revealed the 'saucy' messages she receives online from men as young as 20, who send her X-rated snaps, as well as fetish pictures and offers of affairs. In one TikTok clip, which has racked up nearly 10,000 views and hundreds of likes, Nathalie poses in a black bikini as David 'creeps' up behind her. As he tries to take off her clothes, she wags her finger with the caption: 'No chance for him.' Users flocked to the comments to share their reactions, with many suggesting she's 'too young' for him. The couple first met over a dating app in 2008, when pastry chef David was 27 and Nathalie was 39. The couple pictured earlier in their relationship Before making the move to Quebec in 2010, David lived in Montreal, which was two hours away and they had no other choice but to be long distance. The couple pictured when they first met Her family are very accepting of their relationship - including Nathalie's daughter, 32 - but the TikToker admits she had to get rid of some 'toxic people' from her life. The couple pictured in the early days of their relationship Despite the 12 year age gap, sparks began to fly as the couple - who are still going strong - met 'Think she's too young for you,' one remarked. 'Wish I had a chance,' a second lamented. 'Fine a** woman,' a third simply said. Another fan added: 'A beautiful couple.' Elsewhere, one wrote: '20 bucks says it's not true.' Nathalie, who used to be a commercial director, added: 'The majority of my followers are younger than me and I've become known as the "hot cougar" after revealing to fans that my partner is younger than me. 'I love making naughty content and still respect myself a lot. I never thought I could go viral or successful in this kind of business. It brings me more freedom, confidence and is truly enjoyable. 'Being a hot grandma doesn't change anything of who I am inside, as I'm a nice kind woman who loves to empower other women.' Queen Consort Camilla has sported blue ensembles since it was confirmed she would be known simply as 'Queen' once King Charles III is crowned at his coronation. The monarch's wife, 75, opted for the sapphire hues to show 'reassured confidence' as well as 'nobility and status', according to a colour psychologist. Lancashire-based Lee Chambers told FEMAIL that Camilla's decision to wear royal and navy blue outfits following the confirmation of her title suggests she is 'calm and 'composed'. The royal sported a bright blue Fiona Clare dress in a new official portrait with the King, which was released alongside the coronation invitations that announced that the monarchs wife will be known as Queen Camilla after the historic event. Then, for their first outing after the King confirmed his wife's new title, to the North Yorkshire town of Malton on Wednesday, Camilla again opted for blue. She donned a pinstriped navy blue blazer and skirt. Queen Consort Camilla has sported blue ensembles since it was confirmed she would be known simply as 'Queen' once King Charles III is crowned at his coronation Thursday, the Queen Consort again decided to wear sapphire hues, stunning in a royal blue dress from Bruce Oldfield teamed with a matching white and blue Philip Treacy hat. Lee said: 'With Camilla to be crowned Queen, it is no surprise to see her dressed in both royal and navy shades of blue. 'Blue carries a historical symbolism of nobility and status, and this still makes it a strong royal statement colour to this day. 'In addition, blue conveys that the wearer has a calm, reassured confidence, and it's associations with trustworthiness and loyalty are qualities that Queen Camilla will be wanting to send as a message during this time. The expert continued: 'Both of these shades of blue have emotive ties to a sense of calm and peace, and Camilla will no doubt be wanting to project these values during her public appearances. The new official portrait of Their Majesties was taken last month in the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace by Hugo Burnand, who will also take their official Coronation photographs. 'And finally, the choice of blue often gives us consideration for how an individual is feeling. 'It is likely to suggest that the wearer is feeling reflective and thoughtful, but also composed and grounded, ready for a significant event.' Thursday, the Queen Consort again decided to wear sapphire hues, stunning in a royal blue dress from Bruce Oldfield teamed with a matching white and blue Philip Treacy hat For their first outing after the King confirmed his wife's new title, to the North Yorkshire town of Malton on Wednesday, Camilla again opted for blue. She donned a pinstriped navy blue blazer and skirt Lancashire-based Lee Chambers told FEMAIL that Camilla's decision to wear royal and navy blue outfits following the confirmation of her title suggests she is 'calm and 'composed' Dressed in blue to coordinate with her husband, Camilla is wearing a favourite Fiona Clare dress with a diamond clasp pearl necklace and pearl earrings. The profile photos for the Royal Family's social media pages were refreshed with the new portrait of the monarch, 74, and his wife. The image can now be found on the Royal Family's Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube accounts ahead of the coronation on May 6 in Westminster Abbey. Updates of the Royal Family's social media profiles have happened before, with the pages typically being changed to show more sombre images for Remembrance Day each November, for around a week, for instance. Charles and Camilla attending the Royal Maundy Service at York Minster yesterday Camilla holds a bouquet after the service at York Minster on April 06, 2023 A luxurious home on Sandbanks that has dual aspect views of the beach on one side and the harbour on the other is up for sale for 12m. The modern mansion was built six years ago by a businessman who bought a pair of semi-detached houses on the 'pan handle' of the exclusive peninsula in Poole Harbour for 4m. Ashley Faull gained planning permission to demolish the 1970s homes and build two four-storey contemporary properties on the same plot. He kept the bigger house for himself and wife Heather and sold the smaller one for 4m. Mr Faull, a former ITV executive and founding director of a TV shopping group, is now getting divorced and has reluctantly put their house on the market. The 12 mansion in Sandbanks boasts a huge open plan living area, as well as impressive and extensive views of the water It has a massive open plan living space where there is the kitchen, dining and lounge along with a separate snug on the ground floor. There are three bedrooms and a study on the second floor and the master bedroom suite and an evening lounge facing the harbour on the third floor. There is a roof terrace which has stunning views of the sea and the harbour. The ground floor also has a large terrace that overlooks the beach and wraps around one side to the front. It also has a basement where there are two garages, a gym and a games room. Mr Faull, 56, said: 'There are only nine houses on the pan handle that have the dual aspect views where you get the sunrise and the sunset. 'It isn't just a house, it is a lifestyle that is up for sale. 'You wake up and walk straight out onto the beach and go for a swim or go kayaking or paddleboarding. The main terrace is perfect for sunbathing and is right by the beach. The property, which was built six years ago, boasts an open plan and very spacious living area (pictured) Three bedrooms and a study are on the second floor, while the master bedroom suite and an evening lounge facing the harbour are on the third The outdoor space offers inhabitants the perfect spot for enjoying an evening drink - will taking in the impressive views Stylish: the property has a modern style throughout, mixing calming contemporary colours like blue with classic materials like wood and glass 'Then in the evening, the roof terrace is the best place for having cocktails while watching the sunset. 'We love living there but are sadly having to sell it now. 'I would like to sell it to someone who will live there and fit in with the community. 'Before Covid, it would probably have been bought by someone who is fabulously wealthy and would use it as a beach house or someone retiring having made their money in London. Calm: like the rest of the interior, the sitting room (pictured) has been decorated in calming colours, offering an open plan, restful space Open air: the roof terrace (pictured) is one of the home's many luxurious features, and one which is likely to appeal to prospective buyers Rare views: the home is one of a handful of properties which offers dual aspect views of the beach on one side and the harbour on the other Another of the home's many amenities is this games room, situated in the basement of the property Not your average sitting room: residents can soak up the vista from the large windows while taking a break in the sitting room (pictured) 'But now people can work from home, it could be a full-time home for someone relocating from London but can run their business from there.' The property on Banks Road is being sold by Tailor Made estate agents. A spokesperson for Tailor Made said: 'This is more than just a house; it's a lifestyle. 'The property was built in 2019 as a 'forever' home for the current occupants. No expense was spared in creating innovative features best suited to the beachfront location. The luxurious home is located in the desirable Sandbanks area of Poole, on the 'pan handle' of the exclusive peninsula in Poole Harbour The property, which is being marketed by Tailor Made estate agents, has been described as 'more than a house', with agents branding it a 'lifestyle' Businessman Ashely Faull (pictured) built the home after buying a pair of semi-detached houses on the 'pan handle' of the exclusive peninsula, and demolishing them to replace with two three-storey contemporary properties on the same plot 'The true genius of the design is in the way the location is celebrated at every turn. 'Large scale glazing frames stunning sea and harbour views and the floorplan is designed to ensure no sunrise or sunset goes unappreciated. 'An extensive terrace along the back of the main living floor overlooks and gives access to the famous Sandbanks beach. 'The top floor of the property is a real jewel with an enclosed glass watch tower and roof terrace with a breathtaking outlook with 360 degree views. 'It is a magical place to spend summer evenings with friends.' New banners featuring an illustration of Charles have appeared in Russell Square Royal fans have been treated to the first image of King Charles wearing a crown as coronation preparations get under way in central London. King Charles' crowning will take place on May 6 at Westminster Abbey, where 2,000 guests will watch the historic ceremony. Yesterday new banners were installed on lampposts in Russell Square, Bloomsbury, featuring an illustration of the monarch. The navy-and-white banners include a profile image of King Charles, who appears to be wearing the St Edward Crown. The crown, which is currently being resized ahead of the event, was made for King Charles II in 1661 and was previously on display in the Tower of London. A new banner featuring an illustration of King Charles appeared in Russell Square in Bloomsbury yesterday What's more, the coronation's official emblem features at the top of the banner, above the illustration of Charles. Created by Sir Jony Ive, the former chief design officer at Apple and the man behind the iPhone, it includes the flora of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the rose, the thistle, the daffodil and the shamrock. They form the shape of St Edwards Crown, encircled by illustrations of red flowers. The emblem, which was revealed in February by Buckingham Palace, has been designed using the red, white and blue of the union jack. A logo for the Central District Alliance - a Bloomsbury-based business network company - features at the bottom of the banners. Workers were also pictured preparing seats at the Horse Guards Parade in St James's Park yesterday. The site is used for the Trooping the Colour every June and will welcome thousands of spectators next month. Earlier in the week, Buckingham Palace released this new image of King Charles and Camilla as the coronation invites were unveiled On top of this, new Union Jack flags have also been installed outside Buckingham Palace as the preparations for the coronation get under way. Earlier this week, Buckingham Palace released the official coronation invite and confirmed Queen Camilla's new title. It has been designed by Andrew Jamieson, a heraldic artist, calligraphist and manuscript illuminator with 40 years of experience. He is a brother of the Art Workers' Guild, a body of more than 400 artists, craftspeople and architects working at the highest levels in their professions. The King is an honorary member. Mr Jamieson is a scribe and illuminator for His Majesty's Crown Office in London where he produces royal letters patent and documents of state. He illuminated the royal letters patent issued in 2011, making Prince William the Duke of Cambridge, the Earl of Strathearn and the Baron Carrickfergus when he married. The King has used wildlife and flowers associated with new beginnings on the invitation's borders, signalling an age of rebirth and regeneration The theme nods to Charles's love of nature, sustainability and climate conservation. Workers install seats in Horse Guards Parade as the preparations for the coronation begin around London The Horse Guards Parade is used for Trooping the Colour every June and will welcome thousands of spectators next month Members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment pictured going about their daily routine yesterday Union Jacks have been installed outside Buckingham Palace as the preparations for the coronation get underway Pictured: King Charles' coronation invite was released earlier this week. The King has used wildlife and flowers associated with new beginnings on the invitation's borders, signalling an age of rebirth and regeneration The Green Man is one of many features that signals a new dawn. It stems from ancient English folklore and represents the cycle of life that begins every spring. It may also be a nod to the crowning site of Westminster Abbey, which features a carving of the symbol on top of the quire screen facade. The Green Man has taken many forms throughout history - it is often seen as a Pagan symbol and references to the symbol are said to date back to the 2nd century. A man whose wife was murdered on their honeymoon in Mauritius 12 years ago has revealed that he still thinks about what could have happened if he hadn't asked for an upgrade to the room in which his new bride was killed. In a new documentary for BBC Northern Ireland, Murder in Paradise, which is released on Easter Monday, John McAreavey candidly opens up about the pain of losing 27-year-old-Michaela just 12 days after they got married when he discovered her body in the bathtub of the hotel room. Speaking to journalist Darragh MacIntyre, who presents the three-part series revisiting the murder alongside fellow reporter Allison Morris, he heartbreakingly revealed he still questions whether the incident would have taken place if they stayed in another suite. 'That particular hotel was actually very popular with Irish honeymooners, I guess there was a degree of security in that,' he said. 'I always have this habit whenever you go to a hotel, you ask about an upgrade. In a new documentary for BBC Northern Ireland - coming out Monday, April 10 - John McAreavey candidly opened up about the painful process of losing his 27-year-old-bride Michaela just days after they got married 'And I've often wondered, you know, if I hadn't have requested that would we have been, in another room, something like that couldn't have happened. 'Who's to know?' The couple, from Ballygawley, County Tyrone, set off on a dream holiday to the Legends Hotel on the paradise island in 2011, but their celebration soon turned to tragedy. Michaela's death sparked a huge murder investigation on the island nation in the Indian Ocean - but after more than a decade, the authorities appear no closer to tracking down the killer. Two men who worked as cleaning staff at the hotel, Avinash Treebhoowoon and Sandeep Mooneea, were charged with her murder but were later acquitted. In the first episode of the documentary John became visibly emotional as he heartbreakingly recalled the events which led to him finding his new bride dead in their hotel room. He had been waiting for her in the nearby restaurant where the pair had lunched, as she slipped away to fetch some biscuits from their hotel room to have with her tea. Worried, he decided to follow her after it had been a while. Michaela - who was the only daughter of Irish Gaelic sporting legend Mickey Harte (left) - touched the hearts of hundreds in her home country who attended her deeply moving funeral. A heartbroken John (right) clearly struggled to contain his emotions The couple, from Ballygawley, County Tyrone, set off on a dream holiday to the Legends Hotel on the paradise island in 2011, but their celebration soon turned to tragedy John spoke to journalist Darragh MacIntyre, who hosts the programme, Murder in Paradise - alongside fellow reporter Allison Morris 'On the walk back I started to feel anxious because quite a bit of time had passed,' he said. Once inside the room - he could 'immediately see into the bathroom'. 'I could hear the gushing water and I could see Michaela bobbing in the bath,' he recounted. 'I just grab her out and she was very, very cold and I could see the marks on her neck.' John had 'screamed for help', and said the crime scene then soon descended into chaos. 'I can remember different people coming in,' he said. 'The security guard coming in. Placing a towel over Michaela's head. And then there was just other people there. It was just pandemonium. 'I was adamant about getting the staff to perform CPR and...but sure they knew immediately she was gone.' John's nightmare didn't stop there, as he was then considered a suspect. He told the documentary about the horror of being seen as someone who could have killed Michaela. Despite two men who worked as cleaning staff at the hotel - Avinash Treebhoowoon (right) and Sandeep Mooneea (left) - facing trial, no one was found guilty Michaela's death sparked a huge murder investigation on the island nation in the Indian Ocean. John pictured at the funeral with Michaela's father 'I can remember feeling sort of annoyed that these policemen were with me but yet they should be out trying to find out who did this,' he said. 'And I can always remember the policeman saying "what are you crying for, you're young, you'll get another wife."' He explained that at one they 'took his top of' and 'observed his body' before placing him in handcuffs. 'I did sort of think - "God, there's a chance that these guys...they think it's me".' But once police had determined John wasn't responsible, he recalled being told that 'they'll get the b******'.' Michaela's brother Mark Harte also recounted the heartbreaking moment he had to identify her body. 'I'm still holding on to that hope, holding on to that thought that I'm going to see somebody else,' he recalled. 'But that all disappeared the second that I saw Michaela. Michaela, who was a teacher, was buried in her wedding dress at St Malachy's church outside Ballygawley. Pictured, a photograph on the Order of Service at her funeral Allison Morris - who has worked as a crime reporter for more than 20 years and covered the original case 12 years ago - hit out at the investigation. John, Mickey and Michaela's mother Marion pictured at the funeral 'I remember giving her a kiss on the forehead, I remember saying that we were there to take her home, that we loved her. 'We flew home together, all of us, including Michaela. I can remember touching down in Ireland. It doesn't bring peace but it just brings a sense of, "great, we're one car journey away from allowing us to grieve properly as a family".' Allison Morris - who has worked as a crime reporter for more than 20 years and covered the original case 12 years ago - has also hit out at the investigation, which she says from the beginning was frantic and unprofessional. 'It was day three by the time I had checked into the hotel and there was no indication that Michaela has been murdered,' she told Darragh. 'You go to a crime scene and it's cordoned off with a considerable distance to allow police to do fingertip searches around the location.' But what Allison saw when she got to the island was a far cry from what was expected. 'There was a small piece of tape in front of the room and the back doors, the patio doors of the room, and that was it,' she recalled. Prosecutors alleged that Michaela had caught the two hotel workers stealing, and they had then strangled her, but the jury rejected this claim. John and Mark Harte (right) pictured at the Supreme Court in Port Louis, Mauritius in 2012 John has in past said in the past that nothing can stop his first wife remaining part of his life. Pictured carrying Michaela's coffin She also felt the investigation too heavily focused on the assumption that the incident had been a case of a robbery gone wrong. Prosecutors alleged that Michaela had caught the two hotel workers stealing, and they had then strangled her, but the jury rejected this claim. Allison says she can why police considered the motive, but felt they ruled out all other possibilities too quickly. 'Other guests at the hotel were unaware that a murder had even happened, so clearly they hadn't been questioned,' she added. 'I asked the police, had they compiled the hotel guest list and the other staff list to see if there were people in the hotel who might have been previously offenders. 'They hadn't done any of that. They basically just identified these suspects and that was their case.' Michaela - who was the only daughter of Irish Gaelic sporting legend Mickey Harte - touched the hearts of hundreds in her home country who attended her deeply moving funeral. A heartbroken John clearly struggled to contain his emotions as he held his head in his hands and at one point, tenderly kissed the casket of his bride of just 12 days as the mourners made their way towards church in bright winter sunshine. Michaela, who was a teacher, was buried in her wedding dress at St Malachy's church outside Ballygawley and then-Irish president, Mary McAleese, was among those paying their respects. In 2015, it was revealed that John, after his horrifying ordeal, was remarrying a woman called Tara Brennan. He has in past said in the past that nothing can stop his first wife remaining part of his life - and in the BBC programme said he still feels her 'guiding them'. He has also set up a charity foundation in her honour. According to a press statement on the BBC's site: 'Murder In Paradise starts on Monday 10 April at 10.30pm on BBC One NI. The full series will be available on BBC iPlayer. The Bank of England has begun the process of printing millions of banknotes featuring King Charles's image but they won't be in circulation until summer 2024. The 74-year-old royal is only the second British monarch to appear on a banknote. In December, the Bank of England unveiled the King's portrait for the notes, which was supplied by Buckingham Palace in 2013 and updated over the years. Charles, without a crown, will be on the front of all polymer 5, 10, 20 and 50 notes. Although the Bank of England has started printing millions of the updated bank notes, they will not be available for over a year. Pictured: the Bank of England's Chief Cashier Sarah John holding up a new 10 note featuring a portrait of King Charles According to the Bank of England's chief cashier Sarah John, the delay will give businesses a chance to update their self-service tills to recognise the design. She told the BBC: 'There is a lot to do to ensure that machines used up and down the country can accept the banknotes. 'They all need to be adapted to recognise the new design, with software updates, and that takes months and months 'Otherwise, we will be putting a banknote out there that people simply would not be able to use.' Until the new notes enter circulation next year, the current notes featuring a portrait of the late Queen will remain legal tender. The Bank of England has made no other changes to existing designs - meaning the portraits of Jane Austen, Sir Winston Churchill, Alan Turing and JMW Turner will continue to appear on the notes. The first note to carry a portrait of a British monarch was the 1 note in 1960, which showed the late Queen. The King's image will appear on the front of the notes, as well as in the see-through security window. The Bank of England has unveiled his portrait for the notes, taken from an original image of King Charles III supplied by Buckingham Palace in 2013 These new notes are due to enter circulation by mid-2024, with current ones featuring the late Queen remaining legal tender The reverse of the banknotes, featuring historical figures, will remain unchanged, allowing them to be checked using existing security features Charles III has become only the second British monarch to appear on a banknote - as the updated designs have started being printed in their millions In line with guidance from the Royal Household to minimise the environmental and financial impact of this change, new notes will only be printed to replace worn banknotes and to meet any overall increase in demand for banknotes. Notes featuring both the late Queen and her son will, therefore, circulate together at the same time. Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said: 'I am very proud that the Bank is releasing the design of our new banknotes which will carry a portrait of King Charles III. 'This is a significant moment, as the King is only the second monarch to feature on our banknotes. People will be able to use these new notes as they start to enter circulation in 2024.' The new portrait of Charles shows the King, wearing what appears to be his Garter Robes, facing the camera and looking slightly to his left. The Bank of England has shared new images and videos of the banknotes carrying the portrait of King Charles III The updated banknotes have been printed in their millions - but will not be released into circulation until summer 2024 In line with guidance from the Royal Household to minimise the environmental and financial impact of this change, new notes will only be printed to replace worn banknotes Pictured: a wad of 10 notes featuring King Charles' portrait are packaged up after receiving approval Pictured: the Bank of England's Chief Cashier Sarah John inspects a set of 20 notes The image of his late mother on banknotes showed her in a side profile looking to the right. According to tradition, each King or Queen faces in the opposite direction to their predecessor. Banknotes have been produced by the Bank of England since the 17th century but, unlike coinage, did not feature a portrait of the monarch of the day until relatively recently, instead using a likeness of Britannia. In 1956, the Treasury gave permission to the Bank of England to use the late Queen's portrait in a new series of notes. The first Bank of England note to feature her portrait came in 1960. This was followed by a ten shilling note in 1961. King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands has revealed that his daughters 'see everything' posted about them on social media but said that they have to learn to deal with online criticism. Speaking on the Through the eyes of the King podcast yesterday, Willem-Alexander, 55, told Dutch radio presenter Edwin Evers that he has 'very open discussions' with his three daughters who are encouraged to share their feelings about online trolling. Willem-Alexander and his wife, Queen Maxima, 51, have three chidren: Catharina-Amalia, 19, who is heir apparent to the Dutch throne, Alexia, 17, and Ariane, 15. As quoted in the NL Times, he said: 'They are not blind and deaf, they see everything on social media, they read everything, they hear everything. We don't cut them off from anything. And they talk about it.' 'It affects them,' he added, saying that he has also had to learn to deal with negative comments on social media during his time in the public eye. King Willem-Alexander said that his three daughters 'see everything' posted about them on social media. Pictured L-R: Princess Ariane, King Willem, Princess Alexia, Queen Maxima, Princess Amalia The monarch explained that he encourages his daughters not to see social media criticism as a personal attack, saying that for children growing up, it was 'very annoying' to see the criticism posted online. 'Kids dont have a filter in that regard, but its reality, and they have to learn to deal with that.' He said it is important to teach his children not to take things personally as, for the most part, he believes online trolling is not personal. According to RoyalCentral, the King has recorded ten episodes of the podcast to mark his first decade on the Dutch throne. Elsewhere, Willem-Alexander told the podcast that he hopes his eldest daughter Catharina-Amalia, formally known as the Princess of Orange, can enjoy spending time on herself and with her family before she becomes a monarch in the 'distant future'. He said he wished the heir apparent a long time to prepare for the role so she can start a family or do whatever she pleases. Then he revealed he will sit down with his daughter to decide together when she will ascend the throne, but added it was a decision to be made 'between Amalia and me'. He said that he has 'very open discussions' with his three daughters Catharina-Amalia (centre), Alexia (right) and Ariane (left) who are encouraged to share their feelings about online trolling King Willem-Alexander spoke to Edwin Evers about his reign so far on the Through the Eyes of the King podcast yesterday King Willem-Alexander said he hopes his eldest daughter, Princess Catharina-Amalia (left), will have time for herself before she becomes monarch Willem-Alexander ascended the throne in 2013 after his mother, Queen Beatrix, abdicated. He told Evers that he and his wife had known about his mother's plans a year and a half before the event, and that during that time, they were the only people to know. In an authorised biography entitled Amalia, released in 2021, the heir apparent admitted she did not feel ready to be Queen yet. She said she would ask her mother to step in temporarily if her father were to die suddenly. 'But I said to my father: you just keep on eating healthy and exercising a lot,' the teenage princess added. The young princess joined her parents for a two-week tour of the Dutch Caribbean Islands earlier this year - her first official tour of her career. The trio travelled to Bonaire, Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius and Saba to introduce Amalia to those parts of the Caribbean with links to The Netherlands. The King's comments about his daughters come after Catharine-Amalia, was forced to move out of her accommodation at the University of Amsterdam last year due to safety concerns. The Princess began studying Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics in September, revealing she would live in a rented houseshare with her fellow students but returned to The Hague the following month because of a gangster plot to kidnap her. Princess Catharina-Amalia, heir apparent to the Dutch throne, was forced to leave her student accommodation last year because of a gangster plot to kidnap her Her mother, Queen Maxima (right), said Catharina-Amalia can 'hardly leave the house' The young princess joined her parents for a two-week tour of the Dutch Caribbean Islands earlier this year - her first official tour of her career Earlier this year, the royal opened up about 'missing normal life' over the incident and in a clip shared by Dutch broadcaster NOS, she said: 'I'm going to be very honest, I'm still having a very hard time. 'I miss the normal life, the life of a student. Walking the streets, being able to go to a store,' she added. Her uncle Prince Constantijn spoke out about the Princess's 'very restrictive' existence. According to RoyalCentral, while speaking on NPO 1 he said: 'If you are a young woman you want to be able to live freely during your student days and that is not granted to her.' Speaking candidly about her daughter's situation while on a state visit to Sweden, Maxima was quoted by Dutch news agency ANP saying: 'She can hardly leave the house. 'The consequences are very difficult for her. There is no student life for her like others have.' This Easter weekend will mark the Royal Family's first without Queen Elizabeth II While Easter is a time for families to come together, this year will no doubt be bittersweet for the Royal Family as they celebrate the occasion without Queen Elizabeth II. This weekend will mark the British royals' first Easter without the late monarch after she died aged 96 on 8 September 2022. It is also the second anniversary of the death of her devoted husband Prince Philip on Sunday. As is tradition, it is expected the royals, such as King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla, as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales, will gather together in Windsor for the holiday weekend. However, with Charles now the head of the Firm, it is thought there will be some relaxing of the late Queen's strict dinner rules, according to one royal expert. Meanwhile, mother-of-three Kate, 41, will reportedly organise an Easter egg hunt for the royal children during the weekend. While Easter is a time for families to come together, this year will no doubt be bittersweet for the Royal Family as they celebrate the occasion without Queen Elizabeth II (pictured attending the Easter Mattins Service at St George's Chapel on April 21, 2019 in Windsor) 'Kate is a great organiser and will almost certainly organise an Easter egg hunt the children can also go to the royal mews and see the horses there and there is an indoor pool for swimming and ponies for them to ride,' royal expert Ingrid Seward told The Sun. The Royal Family - including members like Princess Anne, Prince Edward and the Duchess of Edinburgh - will attend the church service at St George's Chapel on Sunday. Upon their return, they will enjoy a roast dinner together, with menu items sourced from the royal estates, such as venison, pheasant chicken, spring vegetables, new potatoes, carrots, salmon and roast ham. But editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, Ms Seward, suggested there could be one dinner rule of Queen Elizabeth's that Charles might relax. She explained: 'They will all have dinner together but not the young children they will eat in the nursery dining room. 'The Queen always said until they could hold a knife and fork properly they could not eat at the table, but Charles might have relaxed that rule a bit. But dinner is only for grown-ups.' It comes after King Charles and Queen Consort updated their social media accounts ahead of the Coronation. The profile photos for the Royal Family's social media pages were refreshed with the new official portrait of the monarch, 74, and his wife, 75, which was released this week along with the official coronation invitation. As is tradition, it is expected the royals, such as King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla, as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales (pictured with Prince George and Princess Charlotte on Easter Sunday 2022), will gather together in Windsor for the holiday weekend However, with Charles (pictured on Thursday) now the head of the Firm, it is thought there will be some relaxing of the late Queen's strict dinner rules, according to one royal expert The portrait of Their Majesties was taken last month in the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace by Hugo Burnand, who will also take their official Coronation photographs. Dressed in blue to coordinate with her husband, Camilla is wearing a favourite Fiona Clare dress with a diamond clasp pearl necklace and pearl earrings. The image can now be seen on the Royal Family's Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube accounts ahead of the coronation on May 6 in Westminster Abbey. Updates of the Royal Family's social media profiles have happened before, with the pages typically being changed to show more sombre images for Remembrance Day each November, for around a week, for instance. A man has told of his shock after discovering a bottle of wine lurking in his basement could be worth up to $80,000. Mark Paulson, a 72-year-old retired commercial painter and Vietnam War veteran from San Francisco, purchased a jeroboam of Domaine de la Romanee Conti La Tache 1971 shortly after its release in the 1970s for $250. The self-described punk rocker said it was expensive at the time - the equivalent of around $2,000 in today's money - but he had been tipped off by the liquor store owner that it was a top tipple and he bought it as an investment. At one point, he thought he would save the three liter bottle for his daughter's wedding but when she tied the knot last year, the family believed selling it would be a better move. However, Mark said he was 'floored' when he learned of its appreciation. Mark Paulson from San Francisco, purchased a jeroboam of Domaine de la Romanee Conti La Tache 1971 shortly after its release in the 1970s for $250 The Paulsons went about contacting a specialist wine auction house and the sale of their rare bottle is now being handled by Bonhams Skinner He thought it might be worth a few thousand dollars and was on the verge of selling it to a buyer for $5,000. However, when his son decided to double check the average selling price online, the sale was swiftly halted. The family were amazed to learn that a similar bottle sold at auction in November 2022 for $81,250. Touching on their surprise, Mark told The Washington Post: 'We were just, you know, flabbergasted, couldn't say anything. We just kind of hugged each other and smiled a lot.' The Paulsons went about contacting a specialist wine auction house and the sale of their rare bottle is now being handled by Bonhams Skinner. The wine experts believe the bottle of wine could sell for between $50,000 and $80,000 when it goes up for auction online between April 16 and 26. Louis Krieger, the deputy director of fine wines at Bonhams Skinner, told DailyMail.com that there are various reasons as to why Mark's bottle is so special. He explained: 'There was considerable hail during the 1971 harvest but, because of when and how the vineyards were picked, this La Tache doesnt show the ill effects. 'Another thing which pushes the price up is that the production of La Tache that year was staggeringly small with roughly 1,300 cases produced. The wine experts believe the bottle of wine could sell for between $50,000 and $80,000 when it goes up for auction online between April 16 and 26 In addition to the La Tache, he is auctioning off five vintage Madeiras, with the dates ranging from 1795 to 1870 'The vast majority of cases were also filled with 750ml bottles and very few three-liter bottles were made.' In a bid to give his wine cellar a spring clean, Mark has put forward six bottles in total for the April sale. In addition to the La Tache, he is auctioning off five vintage Madeiras, with the dates ranging from 1795 to 1870. Mark, who was born and raised in Panama, said he got into collecting wine by mistake, and he would generally stock up on bottles before getting together with his rock 'n' roll friends. He told CBC that some of their wine-fueled night would get 'pretty crazy.' 'There was usually about six of us. We'd probably have six bottles of old rare wines,' he recalled. 'San Francisco was a whole new world after growing up in the jungle.' Luckily Mark's bottle of La Tache went untouched and it remained in his basement for decades. Asked if he was worried about the bottle smashing, the grandfather said that he was, especially when the 1989 earthquake hit. He explained: 'My house sustained some pretty good damage. 'One of the beams down in the cellar actually snapped but in the area where the wines are... it was all good.' The only nicks to Mark's bottle, as highlighted in the auction listing, include a 'cracked wax capsule' and some 'light scuffing.' One vintage photo, which captures Mark when he first bought the jeroboam, shows the wax seal was originally intact. He can be seen with the large bottle in one arm, along with his baby son in the other, showing how both are equal in size. Mark, who admits he's more of a beer drinker these days, says he plans to mark the sale of his pricey plonk by uncorking another vintage from his collection - a 1959 Chateau Latour. Meanwhile, his son will get a cut of the sale for discovering the wine's true worth. An NICU nurse decided to adopt a 14-year-old mother of triplets after seeing her in the hospital day after day with no support or family. Katrina Mullen was working at the neonatal intensive care unit at Community Hospital North in Indianapolis when she first met Shariya Small. Shariya, who was in eighth grade at the time, gave birth to Serenitee, Samari and Sarayah at just 26 weeks with the triplets - weighing less than two pounds each - spending more than five months in hospital. Katrina, 45, said that the young mom would be alone 'for days at a time' as she sat by the babies' bedside which spurred her to step in. Shariya, who was in eighth grade at the time, gave birth to Serenitee, Samari and Sarayah at just 26 weeks with the triplets spending more than five months in hospital Katrina Mullen was working at the neonatal intensive care unit at Community Hospital North in Indianapolis when she first met Shariya Katrina fostered Shariya and the babies for 668 days before officially adopting the teenager in February Katrina began offering support to Shariya but the youngster was initially resistant. But the nurse said that she was able to start breaking down the walls after revealing that she had been a teen mom herself who put her own son up for adoption. Shariya was still reluctant to share information about her family life - but Katrina gave her mobile number shortly before the triplets were discharged. The pair exchanged frequent calls as the nurse offered her continuing support to the often overwhelmed youngster. But Katrina was concerned and drove for more than an hour to Kokomo, Indiana, where Shariya was staying with a relative. She said that she was alarmed by the conditions and told Today: 'It was not a place for her to raise babies.' Newborn Samari, who had digestive problems since birth, was underweight and suffering with eczema. He was admitted to hospital and later diagnosed with 'failure to thrive' - defined as decelerated or arrested physical growth. Katrina said that she did not hesitate to welcome the young mom into her already bustling household The nurse said that she was able to start breaking down the walls after revealing that she had been a teen mom herself who put her own son up for adoption Katrina had initially set up a GoFundMe page in the hopes of raising $20,000 to 'build a financial cushion' for Shariya and her now two-year-old children The Department of Social Services was informed about the situation and Katrina was stunned to receive a call from the caseworker. She told the publication: 'The caseworker said that Shariya and her babies were being removed from their home and then she goes, "Shariya said she'd like to come live with you. Would you be willing?"' Katrina said that she did not hesitate and welcomed the young mom into her already bustling household with open arms. Three of her kids - SeQuayvion, 16, ShaKovon, 14, and JJ, seven - live at home and she is also a mother to two others Sevonte, 23, and Shai, 22. Katrina fostered Shariya and the babies for 668 days before officially adopting the teenager in February. She had initially set up a GoFundMe page in the hopes of raising $20,000 to 'build a financial cushion' for Shariya, who wants to pursue a career in social work, and her now two-year-old children - but it has already smashed its target. It said that it wanted to be for Shariya's 'future college experience and adventures... as she grows into a strong woman and mother.' A mother whose daughter hanged herself after years of torment over childhood sexual abuse says she feels let down by mental health services. Jade-Ann Williams was only 28 years old when she died in March 2021. An inquest last week recorded a verdict of misadventure. Jade's mother, Pippa, 53, from West Yorkshire, who supported her throughout her battle, has spoken for the first time about. The mother-of-three said: 'Jade's father died when she was little and, in the years after, she developed mental health issues. 'I always presumed she was traumatised by her dad's death. But as an adult she confided in me that a man who had helped our family, after my husband died, had actually been sexually abusing her. I couldn't believe it. A mother whose daughter hanged herself when she was 28 years old has said she feels let down by mental health services. Jade-Ann Williams (pictured right as a five-year-old) was sexually abused as a child and never recovered from the trauma 'All along, I'd thought he was helping us with our grief, and he was abusing my child. 'Jade struggled with her mental health, and I saw her every day. The day she died, I was in hospital myself, with kidney problems. I will always blame myself; if I'd been there, I feel as though I could have saved her.' Jade was the middle of Pippa's three children and was a happy little girl with no problems. But when she was eight years old, her father John passed away suddenly aged just 30. Pippa says: 'John died on the sofa, there was no warning, he had seemed perfectly healthy. He was looking after the children whilst I was at work. It was thought he had an undiagnosed heart problem, and we were all devastated. 'In the months afterwards we had lots of support from family friends and neighbours. One man in particular was very kind, and I was grateful. 'Jade really missed her Dad. She developed separation issues, she refused to go to school, she became anxious and upset. I worried about her.' After school, Jade worked as a carer before being accepted onto a programme as a trainee radiographer. She moved in with her boyfriend and Pippa hoped this was the end of her problems. But Jade struggled with social situations and had to give up her radiography training. Jade (pictured as an adult) worked as a carer and had been accepted onto a programme to train as a radiographer when she died According to Jade's mother Pippa, her second eldest child had a close relationship with her younger sister Ellie (pictured together) Jade-Ann (pictured right) was only 28 years old when she died in March 2021. An inquest last week recorded a verdict of misadventure Pippa says: 'Jade lived near me and I saw her every day. She had lots of happy days; she loved to bake cakes and she was an animal lover. She enjoyed spending time with her sister, Ellie. We had dogs which she adored, and she was a dog walker too. 'But she had very difficult patches; she'd threaten suicide and I had to get her into hospital. She took overdoses and harmed herself. I was always worrying what she might do next.' In 2019, Jade confided in Pippa that she had been abused as a child by a man who had befriended their family after the death of her father. Pippa says: 'I was shell-shocked. Jade told me a family friend, who had really helped after her dad died, had sexually abused her. The betrayal was horrific. 'I had trusted this man, and accepted his support whilst I was grieving. He was dead by the time Jade told me, so she had no chance of justice and I don't think she was strong enough to face court anyway. Jade's mental health continued to deteriorate throughout her adult life and she was in and out of hospital Jade's mother, Pippa (pictured together), 53, from West Yorkshire, who supported her throughout her battle, has spoken for the first time about Pippa(pictured with Jade) said: 'Jade's father died when she was little and, in the years after, she developed mental health issues' 'All along, I'd thought her mental illness was due to her father's death. Of course, that affected her. But her trauma was caused by sexual abuse. She told me she felt absolutely worthless.' Jade's mental health continued to deteriorate, and she was in and out of hospital. Pippa says: 'It was difficult to get the right support and treatment. It was my worst fear that one day, she'd go through with it.' Early in 2021, Pippa was herself admitted to hospital with kidney stones and sepsis. In March that year, she returned to hospital in severe pain. Pippa says: 'I knew Jade was spiralling. She'd taken two overdoses in the previous days. She'd been in hospital herself but was sent home, despite me pleading with doctors to keep her in. Jade (pictured with her sister) was the middle of Pippa's three children and was a happy little girl with no problems Jade pictured with her late father and her sister. When she was eight years old, her father John passed away suddenly aged just 30 In 2019, Jade (pictured with the Disney character Minnie while on holiday) confided in Pippa that she had been abused as a child by a man who had befriended their family after the death of her father Pippa says: 'I was shell-shocked. Jade told me a family friend, who had really helped after her dad died, had sexually abused her. The betrayal was horrific'. Pictured, Jade Jade's mental health continued to deteriorate, and she was in and out of hospital. Pictured, Jade as a teenager 'Whilst I was stuck in hospital she messaged, saying: "I love you. Please don't come to my house you will find a dead body." I was frantic. I discharged myself and rushed to her house and her friend called the police.' But Pippa was too late. Jade was found dead, aged 28. Pippa and her family were heartbroken. She says: 'Jade had her problems, but she needed support. If I'd been there, I felt I could have saved her as I had so many times before. I felt frustrated with the doctors who had sent her home.' An inquest last week at Bradford Crown Court heard Pippa and her family felt let down by mental health services, and had wanted Jade to be admitted, before her death. Early in 2021, Pippa was herself admitted to hospital with kidney stones and sepsis. In March that year, she returned to hospital in severe pain. Pictured, Jade as a child, aged 12 Pippa says: 'I knew Jade (pictured) was spiralling. She'd taken two overdoses in the previous days. She'd been in hospital herself but was sent home, despite me pleading with doctors to keep her in.' 'Whilst I was stuck in hospital she messaged, saying: "I love you. Please don't come to my house you will find a dead body." I was frantic. I discharged myself and rushed to her house and her friend called the police,' said Pippa. Pictured, Jade But Pippa (pictured with Jade) was too late. Jade was found dead, aged 28. Pippa and her family were heartbroken Pippa says: 'Jade (pictured with sister Ellie) had her problems, but she needed support. If I'd been there, I felt I could have saved her as I had so many times before. I felt frustrated with the doctors who had sent her home.' According to Yorkshire Live, the assistant coroner said 'the conclusion of doctors, that Jade did not meet the criteria for detention under the Mental Health Act, was a "reasonable, balanced analysis" at the time it was undertaken.' A verdict of misadventure was recorded, with coroner Crispin Oliver saying it was clear Jade's self-suspension at home was a deliberate act but he concluded it was a misadventure rather than a suicide because Jade had alerted a friend and her mother and because her past actions were characterised by parasuicide. Pippa has been supported and assisted by Nic Stojanovic of Ramsdens solicitors. An inquest last week at Bradford Crown Court heard Pippa and her family felt let down by mental health services, and had wanted Jade (pictured with her sister) to be admitted, before her death According to Yorkshire Live , the assistant coroner said 'the conclusion of doctors, that Jade did not meet the criteria for detention under the Mental Health Act, was a "reasonable, balanced analysis" at the time it was undertaken.' Pictured, Jade with her family A memorial to Jade, including bright yellow flowers, roses and cuddly toys A schoolboy with scoliosis spent every day for four months being suspended from a frame to prepare for surgery after doctors said his condition was too severe to treat. Jackson Sledge, 11, from Houston, Texas, will have surgery today thanks to a halo gravity traction device which improved the curvature in his spine by more than 50 per cent. Doctors were unable to perform spinal fusion surgery due to the severe 128 degree bend in Jackson's back. In December last year, he was moved into a hospital in north Texas and spent 12 hours a day using a halo gravity traction device, which involves being suspended from a frame by a halo device attached to the skull to pull and straighten the spine. Jackson's sister Maya, 20, said: 'The night before he got his halo, I sat Jackson down. I said to him "you can be sad about this, or you can go into hospital and have a great few months and walk out with some good memories." Jackson Sledge, 11, from Houston, Texas, will have surgery today thanks to a halo gravity traction device which improved the curvature in his spine by more than 50 per cent 'Thanks to the halo gravity traction he can finally have his surgery and doctors are hopeful for the best results.' What is scoliosis? Scoliosis is the abnormal curvature of the spine in an S-shape. Signs include a visible curve in the spine, one shoulder or hip being more prominent than the other, clothes not hanging properly and back pain. In most cases, the cause of the scoliosis is not known but it can be caused by cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy. Most children with the condition do not require treatment as it is mild and corrects itself as the child grows. However, in severe cases the child may need to wear a back brace until they stop growing. Occasionally, a child needs surgery to straighten their spine. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement Jackson has been living at the hospital full-time, even going to school there, and is surrounded by other children. He lives five hours away from his parents in Houston and Maya in Lubbock, and they go and visit him on weekends. Jackson was born with scoliosis but he seemed at first like a 'normal kid' until it grew more severe as he got older. The family tried everything to improve his condition, such as getting body casts on his chest. Speaking of the traction device, Maya said: 'We had seen other kids with it, but nothing can prepare you for your brother to wake up with a big titanium thing on his head with screws sticking out.' She added: 'With Jackson, it was so severe they needed something to loosen the spine before they could do the surgery. 'They need to stretch it out and loosen it up, or he'd be really short and his back wouldn't be as straight as we wanted it. 'The first few days it was uncomfortable for him and he was taking pain relief. 'But as soon he got used to the feeling he was like any other normal kid. 'When Jackson's curvature was at its worst, his spine began pushing onto his lungs. 'As he got his halo on, we realised he could run for much longer and his appetite got better because his spine stopped pushing onto other organs.' Doctors were unable to perform spinal fusion surgery due to the severe 128 degree bend in Jackson's back The device improved the curvature in his spine by more than 50 per cent - from 128 degrees to just 60 Jackson moved into the hospital full-time in December, even attending school there, and was surrounded by other children Jackson was able to have fun in the hospital, practising tricks and stunts where he dangles from his head and spins in circles to show off when his family visit. At his last X-Ray at the beginning of March, after more than three months using the device, his spinal curvature improved from 128 degrees to just 60. The improvement in his spine meant doctors are happy to go ahead with his spinal fusion surgery today. Jackson's family tried everything to improve his condition, such as getting body casts on his chest, before trying the halo gravity traction device Jackson lives in a hospital five hours away from his parents in Houston and Maya in Lubbock, and they go and visit him on weekends A woman has claimed her romantic holiday with her 'too good to be true' Tinder date ended 'like a scene from Jeremy Kyle' when his furious pregnant girlfriend confronted them at the airport. Madeleine Jaye, from Sheffield, first matched with Jason* on the dating app in December and the two exchanged messages for nearly a month before meeting. The 22-year-old thought that her match was 'too good to be true' after they 'agreed on everything', even discussing children and their plans for the future. Madeleine says she even thought Jason was marriage material, and the two travel enthusiasts booked a holiday to Spain together on 26 March, three months into their 'whirlwind romance'. However, when the couple landed back at East Midlands Airport a week later, Madeleine says a pregnant woman was waiting for them at arrivals, claiming to be Jason's girlfriend. Madeleine Jaye, from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, pictured with Jason* on the recent holiday they took together before being confronted by a woman claiming to his be girlfriend The 22-year-old thought that her match was 'too good to be true' after they 'agreed on everything' The woman said that she was due to give birth to his child in two weeks, according to law student Madeleine. The mother-to-be was said to be accompanied by her parents, who started 'shoving cameras in [Jason's] face' and shouting at Madeleine in what she likened to a 'scene from Jeremy Kyle'. The pregnant woman later revealed to Madeleine that her seemingly perfect match had lied about his name and even his age - claiming to be 32 when he was actually 37. He had allegedly cheated on his girlfriend of four years with four women, and his partner claimed that he had a history of pursuing younger girls. The distraught student also discovered that the serial cheater had a second son that he had kept a secret. Madeleine even claims she had two dreams that Jason had kids two weeks before the holiday, and that he just 'laughed it off'. The singleton claims that Jason was her first Tinder date - and that she has been so scarred by the experience that she has deleted the app for good. Madeleine said: 'I'd never been on a Tinder date before in my life, so I was scared. On our first date, we met at 3pm. I had no intention of staying too long, and then it got to 10pm and we'd just been talking the entire time. Madeline compared the scene at the airport to something out of 'Jeremy Kyle'. She says the girlfriend's parents shoved cameras in their faces as they arrived back in the UK Pictured: Madeleine Jaye enjoying some drinks on her recent travels. The 22-year-old said she was delighted to have met someone who enjoyed exploring the world too Madeline pictured with her now ex-boyfriend Jason - who claimed he was single and didn't have any children 'We were talking about the future. We literally agreed about everything: when we want kids, what we want our lives to be like, what we want our future to be like and we matched so well. 'It sounded too good to be true, and that's because it was. It was a whirlwind romance. The whole thing happened so fast. I didn't get any sense that something was off. 'He [pretended to be] very withdrawn, he said he's not had much luck with women, and that he's been focused on his business but now he's ready to find someone. 'When we landed [in East Midlands Airport], this girl walked up to him and said, "I'm his girlfriend, I'm giving birth in two weeks". The mum and dad come over, they're shoving cameras in his face, they're shouting at me. 'I literally went into shock, like full-body shock. I've never felt anything like it. I was not expecting it in the slightest. Madeline shared her side of the story in a series of viral TikToks. She spoke of her shock after finding out her boyfriend had been lying about his identity Madeleine Jaye says her ex-boyfriend Jason* even gave her a fake surname so she couldn't look him up online 'I was there thinking we were going to get married, and this is the guy for me, and all of a sudden he's got this whole different life behind my back. 'I had woken up [one night] and I said I had dreams that he had kids, and he'd just laughed it off. He told me he was 32, which is already pushing it. Then his girlfriend told me he was actually 37. 'He lied about his last name. I Facebooked his last name, and his account showed up with pictures of him and his girlfriend. I've deleted Tinder and I'm never going back now.' Madeleine claims that Jason texted her after she left the airport, swearing that his girlfriend was a 'crazy ex' who had 'trapped him with a kid'. However, the unlucky-in-love dater has cut off all communication with her ex, and hasn't seen him since their holiday's bitter ending. Madeleine is now warning other fellow swipers to 'trust their gut' when it comes to internet dating Madeleine Jaye says she feels as though she has 'no trust in any man' following the humiliating betrayal Madeleine is now warning other fellow swipers to 'trust their gut' when it comes to internet dating - as the travel enthusiast now feels as though she has 'no trust in any man'. Madeleine said: 'He lied to me and said it was a crazy ex who has mental problems who had trapped him with a kid. Then he started trying to gaslight me, and said that me of all people should understand the emotional stress he's been going through. 'His girlfriend had an inkling that he was on holiday with another girl. She was absolutely lovely. She said this hasn't been the first time [he cheated] and it won't be the last time. 'I felt awful, because I felt like a bad person even though I had nothing to do with it. I would never dream of going out with someone who has got a family. I never wanted to be involved in any of this, and I made that clear to his girlfriend. 'I feel like I have no trust in any man now really. Now going into a new relationship, I feel like I won't be as trusting as I was when I met him. If it's too good to be true, it probably will be. And always trust your gut.' *Name has been changed. Face, arms, speech, time. Stroke symptoms are commonly remembered under this four-letter acronym, FAST. Patients experiencing a stroke can often have their face drop on one side, struggle to lift both arms and have slurred speech, while time is essential. This is because immediate treatment for a transient ischemic attack (TIA), or minor stroke, can substantially slash the risk of a much deadlier major stroke. But other just as common tell-tale signs of a looming stroke, often fall under the radar, despite one in seven stroke patients not experiencing any FAST symptoms. Two experts revealed to MailOnline the additional signs of a stroke to look out for. Other - just as common - tell-tale signs of a looming stroke, often fall under the radar. These include sudden numbness on one side of the body, sudden vertigo and difficulty swallowing Stroke symptoms are commonly remembered under this four-letter acronym, FAST. Patients experiencing a stroke can often have their face drop on one side, struggle to lift both arms and have slurred speech, while time is essential, as immediate treatment for a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke can substantially slash the risk of a much deadlier major stroke Strokes affect more than 100,000 Britons annually one every five minutes claiming 38,000 lives. This makes it the UK's fourth biggest killer and a leading cause of disability. Almost 800,000 people in the US are struck down each year, causing 137,000 deaths. Age, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyle and diabetes are all known to increase the risk of stroke. The problem occurs when the blood supply to the brain is cut off, killing brain cells. The damage can lead to long-term disability and affect how people think and feel. How can FAST save you during a stroke? The main symptoms of stroke can be remembered with the word F.A.S.T. This will help you more quickly identify someone having a stroke. Face: the face may have dropped on one side, the person may not be able to smile, or their mouth or eye may have dropped. Arms: the person with suspected stroke may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in one arm. Speech: their speech may be slurred or garbled, or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing to be awake. Time: it's time to dial 999 immediately if you see any of these signs or symptoms. Source: NHS Advertisement The most common cause is a blockage by a blood clot in arteries supplying the brain. This happens due to cardiovascular disease, when blood vessels become narrowed or blocked over time by fatty deposits known as plaques a process known as atherosclerosis. Sudden numbness on one side of the body Numbness that affects the hand, arm, leg or part of the face are very common. The symptom is often due to nerve compression, especially if it occurs while sitting or laying down, as this can put pressure on nerves, Professor Martin Dennis, an expert in stroke medicine at the University of Edinburgh, told MailOnline. However, if sudden numbness occurs in the face and arm or the arm and leg, 'at the same time', this could be a cause for concern. Not everyone will experience all of the signs of stroke. But if you experience numbness alongside any one of those under the FAST acronym, help should be sought. Loss of sight in one or both eyes Stroke can cause blurred vision, or loss of vision in one eye or both eyes. However, this symptom may not be as well recognized as facial weakness. This is despite a 2017 study, published in the journal Stroke, concluding that, of the one in seven stroke sufferers who do not experience FAST symptoms, four in 10 list visual problems as one of their stroke symptoms. 'Loss of sight to one side or double vision which disappears when closing either eye are both important symptoms of stroke,' Professor Dennis said. He said: 'Loss of vision in one eye either transient, or lasting more than a day may indicate a problem with the circulation to the eye and indicate a risk of stroke. 'However, it would not require treatment with thrombolysis or thrombectomy. 'Sometimes patients with stroke may suddenly be unable to use a TV control, or a household appliance, or be unable to wash, or dress for no apparent reason.' Professor Dennis cautioned: 'Sudden inability to be able to do things should not be ignored.' Sudden memory loss While not a symptom of a stroke itself, someone who appears to be suffering from memory loss may actually be experiencing the life-threatening condition. Confusion and difficulty understanding speech are signs of a stroke, which to a normal person, may seem like someone has lost their memory. Therefore, sudden memory loss can appear to be a 'rare' sign of a stroke, according to Professor Dennis. 'People who develop aphasia or dysphasia (difficulties understanding language) will jumble their words, and may not be able to say anything, or understand anything,' Professor Dennis said. 'Their reading and writing may be affected. They may be described by lay peoples as being confused or having loss of memory because they cannot answer questions.' Sudden Vertigo Vertigo the sensation that you, or the environment around you, is spinning is a symptom caused by an array of health conditions. It is often harmless and the sign of an ear infection or headache. But, when coupled with double vision, weakness or clumsiness of the limbs and slurred speech, it can be a sign of a stroke. 'Isolated vertigo is very common and usually is due to a minor problem of the balance system in the ear,' Professor Dennis said. One 2016 study even suggested that between 15,000 to 25,000 people annually who suffer a stroke and present with dizziness or vertigo symptoms, may suffer serious or potentially preventable harms from initial misdiagnosis. A separate 2017 study suggested four in 10 stroke victims, who did not experience typical symptoms, said they suffered from vertigo. Stroke symptoms are commonly remembered with the four-letter acronym, FAST, which stands for face, arms, speech and time. Patients experiencing a stroke can often have their face drop on one side, struggle to lift both arms and have slurred speech, while time is essential, as immediate treatment for a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke can substantially slash the risk of a much deadlier major stroke A sudden, severe headache While uncommon, a sudden, severe headache may indicate signs of a stroke. Often associated with migraines, it could in some rarer cases 'be a feature of a subarachnoid or intracerebral bleed,' Professor Dennis said. A subarachnoid haemorrhage, an uncommon type of stroke, is bleeding in the space around the brain. This bleeding between the thin layers of tissue that cover the brain can often cause serious side effects, including disability or can even prove to be fatal. Professor Martin James, consultant stroke physician at the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust in Devon told MailOnline that while it is not often a stroke sign, it is 'a medical emergency nonetheless, for fear of subarachnoid haemorrhage'. However, Dr Joseph Kwan, senior stroke physician at Charing Cross Hospital in London, noted that a headache is not a specific enough symptom to include in the FAST list as it would result in 'too many false alarms'. Difficulty swallowing While it is 'very very rarely a sign of a stroke on its own', Professor James cautioned, difficulty swallowing should still be taken seriously. 'Food or more often liquids going down the wrong way, causing the person to choke,' may indicate someone is experiencing a stroke, Professor Dennis said. It is 'almost always associated with other stroke symptoms such as weakness of the limbs or face, or problems with slurring or jumbling of speech,' he added. This is often associated with severe strokes, according to the Stroke Association. 'Swallowing is a complicated task that needs your brain to coordinate many different muscles,' Professor Dennis added. 'If your stroke damages the parts of your brain that do this, then this will affect your ability to swallow. Swallowing problems are also known as dysphagia.' Dysphagia is thought to affect up to 15million adults in the US and around 4million in the UK. Julie Bouverie, chief executive at the Stroke Association, told MailOnline: 'Experiences of stroke and stroke symptoms can vary from person to person, however if something doesn't feel right or if you spot the signs of a stroke in you or someone else, it's vital to call 999 straight away. 'This lines up getting scanned and seen by a stroke specialist as soon as possible when you arrive at hospital giving you or a loved one the best chance of survival and recovery.' A Nebraska woman claims she had to have a hysterectomy and was robbed of the chance to grow her family after baby powder caused cancerous tumors to form in her ovaries. Lora Stahl, 56, is one of tens of thousands of patients suing Johnson & Johnson over claims the company's talc products contributed to their deadly tumors. Mrs Stahl was diagnosed with stage 2 ovarian cancer at age 35 and doctors had to remove her uterus, ovaries, and part of her cervix to halt the disease's spread to other parts of her body. She told DailyMail.com: 'I was still in my childbearing years, my husband and I were still young. I was lying there, and it just hit me, "Oh, my gosh, I can't have kids anymore. We're done having a family, we don't have a choice. It's not my choice anymore." The operations were successful but Mrs Stahl and her husband Herb were thrust into financial ruin, as Lora was unable to keep working and her husband's employer unexpectedly shut its doors. Mrs Stahl, pictured here with her husband Herb and grandson, is thankfully cancer free now Mr Stahl went to work on a Friday, which happened to be a payday, to find doors locked and a notice that the company had closed. 'We were shocked,' Lora said. Because they lost their jobs, they also lost their health coverage and then their home. J&J agreed earlier this week to pay nearly $9 billion to settle roughly 40,000 lawsuits, many of which came from women with ovarian cancer or mesothelioma, a type of cancer on the thin tissue that lines the lung, chest wall, and abdomen. The settlement is thought to be the biggest in pharmaceutical company payout history. Mrs Stahl told DailyMail.com her ordeal began roughly 20 years ago when a pregnancy test returned a positive result. She and her husband Herb already had three daughters aged three, five, and seven at the time, but they were keen on growing the family further. What should have been one of the happiest moments in the couple's life took a shocking turn. An ultrasound scan revealed the positive result was triggered by a mass of tumors on her ovaries. The cancer had also begun to spread to other parts of her pelvis. Ms Stahl has three daughters and seven healthy grandchildren, a fact that she does not take for granted. She told DailyMail.com: 'There was a time when I didn't think that was going to happen' Mrs Stahl said: From that moment on my life changed because that's when he said I think that we're dealing with something, possibly ovarian cancer, and it just became a blur for a while. Her life was turned upside down and plans for the future of her family were foiled. Johnson & Johnson's baby powder, a fixture in American homes for decades, was a part of Mrs Stahl's life until her diagnosis. She began using it when she was 'probably 12 years old.' Talc is a drying agent that is commonly used in cosmetics as well as personal care products. It is believed overall to be fairly innocuous. But the naturally occurring mineral is often found in the same mines as the carcinogen asbestos. While the Food and Drug Administration has reported a possible association between the use of powders containing talc in the genital area and the incidence of ovarian cancer, those studies have not conclusively demonstrated such a link, or if such a link existed, what risk factors might be involved. The greatest risk to one's health comes from inhaling asbestos. Lung cancer is the leading cause of death in subjects exposed to asbestos followed by mesothelioma, cancer that mainly affects the tissue membrane around the lungs. It is believed that asbestos-laced talcum powder could cause ovarian cancer if powders used for feminine hygiene purposes were to travel through the vagina, uterus, and fallopian tubes to the ovaries. Mrs Stahl said: I never even knew that using talcum powder all my life, that that was what was possibly what gave me ovarian cancer. J&J, meanwhile, insisted their product could not have caused her life-altering injuries. A company spokesperson told DailyMail.com: 'We deeply sympathize with anyone suffering from cancer and know they are seeking answers. Thats why the facts are so important and the facts are that research, clinical evidence and over 40 years of studies by independent medical experts has confirmed that Johnsons Baby Powder is safe, does not contain asbestos and does not cause cancer.' At the time, doctors did not know the cancer could be linked to long-term use of talc powder. Since then, findings linking the substance to ovarian cancer have been mixed. A 1982 case-controlled study was the first to establish a link. Mrs Stahl said about seven years ago she began reading up on the J&J baby powder controversy, which was when she contacted her now-attorney for advice. Once asbestos fibers enter the body, they can lodge themselves in soft tissue permanently causing severe cellular damage and inflammation over time. The embattled manufacturer of talc-based baby powder Johnson & Johnson has faced years of litigation amounting to millions of dollars to settle claims that asbestos-laced formulas caused cancers in long-time users. While she is cancer-free now, the ordeal that Mrs Stahl had to endure in her 30s was devastating for her, Herb and their three daughters who were just three, five, and seven years old at the time. Rather than being able to remove the offending mass through laparoscopy a minimally-invasive surgical technique surgeons had to cut open her entire torso in order to remove all of the cancerous tissue. They had to surgically remove part of her cervix, her ovaries as well as her uterus, plunging her into menopause at the early age of 33. She added that she has osteoporosis, thinning of her bones that causes painful aches, that began when she was thrust into menopause. She said: We just lost everything. And I am so glad I'm here, but I'm so pissed that I had to go through that. Just to tell you. It makes me so angry. Johnson & Johnson has not admitted wrongdoing in litigation against it. The proposed $9 billion settlement must still be approved by the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. That sum dwarfs the $6 billion that some members of the infamous Sackler family, several of whom were heads at OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma, will have to pay over the course of 18 years to settle a mountain of lawsuits alleging it helped drive the opioid epidemic. Despite that, the company maintains that its powder has always been safe and admits no wrongdoing. In 2018, the company said: 'Johnson & Johnsons baby powder is safe and asbestos-free. Studies of more than 100,000 men and women show that talc does not cause cancer or asbestos-related disease.' The company announced last year that it would start using cornstarch in all the baby powder it sells around the world. While the products on store shelves today may be safe, the talc at issue in the mountain of lawsuits was sold and used over the past six decades. In the 1950s, an Ohio lab tasked with testing Johnson & Johnsons talcum powder describe contaminants in the product from J&Js Italian supplier as fibrous and a crystalline needle-like compound called tremolite, a heat-resistant form of asbestos that can easily be inhaled or ingested. In 1976, while the FDA was considering imposing limits on asbestos content in cosmetics, J&J insisted that no asbestos was detected in any sample of talc produced between December 1972 and October 1973. But in reality, at least three tests by three different labs from 1972 to 1975 had found asbestos in its talc, including a rather high amount in one sample. In the intervening years into the 2000s, outside labs testing J&Js powder had yielded similar results, according to a 2018 bombshell investigation by Reuters into the companys practices. Mrs Stahl said her anger at Johnson & Johnson mounted further when she started learning about other women enduring similar health crises, which compelled her to contact the Beasley Allen Law Firm about six years ago to join the class-action lawsuit. [Johnson & Johnsons] name means nothing to me now. I am to the point where they owe it to the thousands of people that have suffered and either are living or passed away, their families that have suffered. And while she is still angry and hopes for justice, Mrs Stahl does not take her good fortune for granted, knowing full well that her encounter with cancer could very well have been fatal. I'm so glad that my kids get to still see me every day, and that I'm married to my husband 32 years now. But there was a time when I didn't think that was going to happen. I thought that I was going to leave my husband with three little girls to have to weather the world. And I thank God every day that it didn't happen that way. But, you know, there are people that aren't so fortunate. That's just how it is. So I try to live every day to the fullest. A blood test could tell people whether they are at risk of getting type 2 diabetes within the next ten years of their life. Around two million Britons are believed to have prediabetes, which means they have a 50/50 chance of developing the condition in the next five to ten years. Those at risk have no red flags because symptoms such as excessive thirst do not appear until someone is actually diabetic. But that may change as scientists develop a blood test to look for early signs of type 2 diabetes. The test looks for DNA methylation chemical changes in the blood which show the activity of genes linked to diabetes being dialled up or dialled down when someone is in the early stages of developing it. A blood test could tell people whether they are at risk of getting type 2 diabetes within the next ten years of their life Around two million Britons are believed to have prediabetes, which means they have a 50/50 chance of developing the condition in the next five to ten years That provides a more precise prediction when combined with the method used by doctors which works out risk based on factors including age, weight and family history of the disease. Professor Riccardo Marioni, lead author of the study which developed the blood test, from the University of Edinburgh, said: A blood test giving people their risk of developing type 2 diabetes could be part of an improved health MoT in the future. To develop the blood test, researchers looked at 14,613 people who agreed to have their health monitored for 15 years in a study in Scotland. Using half this group, they could see how the blood of those who developed type 2 diabetes differed from those who did not. They then checked how well their test would work on the other half for predicting cases of which occurred within the decade after a blood test was taken. The blood test, reported in the journal Nature Aging, could pick up an extra 18 per cent of people who would develop type 2 diabetes in the next decade. That brought the percentage of people at risk detected using the standard method used by doctors, which was 30 per cent, up to 48 per cent when the blood test was used at the same time. Tesco has recalled one of its own-brand cereals over fears it may contain milk and hazelnuts which aren't mentioned on the label. The supermarket's Free From Bran Flakes with a May 26 2024 'use by' date might pose a risk to people who are allergic or intolerant to the ingredients. This is because some of its 300g boxes may be mixed with pieces from its Chocolate Pillows cereal, which contains both milk and hazelnut. The Food Standards Agency (FSA), which published the alert, told people in the UK who are intolerant or allergic to these components not to eat the breakfast cereal. Instead, they can return the 2 box to the Tesco store they bought it from for a full refund, even if they don't have a receipt. The supermarket's Free From Bran Flakes with a May, 26, 2024 use by date ' might pose a risk to those who are allergic or intolerant to hazelnut and milk or its components You can return the 300g, 2.00 box to the Tesco store they bought it from for a full refund, even if they don't have a receipt There is a risk some boxes may be mixed with chocolate pillowcase cereal which contains both ingredients The FSA issues food recalls when customers are asked to return a product when problems are spotted with food that means it should not be sold. Tesco wrote on the notice: 'We have been made aware that some packs of Tesco Free From Bran Flakes 300g may contain a small amount of another variant of cereal (chocolate pillows), which contains milk and hazelnut. 'This is not declared on the Tesco Free From Bran Flakes 300g packaging and therefore the product could pose a safety risk to those people with an allergy or intolerance to milk and/or nuts.' The Free From Bran Flakes are made from rice and maize bran. Its label states that it does not contain gluten, wheat or milk. Those with a gluten intolerance or coeliac disease when the body attacks substances found inside gluten can suffer diarrhoea, stomach aches and bloating if they consume it. Those who can't eat hazelnut are allergic to the molecules found in tree nuts. Hazelnut allergy symptoms can include hives or eczema, coughing swelling of the lips, tongue and around the lips. People who can't consume milk are either allergic to the proteins in cow's milk or they cannot digest the sugar in the product known as lactose intolerance. Milk allergy symptoms can range from a rash, itching and swelling on the skin to vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhoea that starts within minutes of eating or drinking items that contain dairy. In severe cases, those with milk or hazelnut allergies who consume products containing these ingredients, can suffer anaphylaxis a severe, life-threatening reaction when swelling in the throat can block the airways. More overseas doctors joined the health service last year than the number of British students who enrolled in medical schools, figures show. NHS England recruited more than 12,000 doctors from overseas in 2022, while only around 7,000 Brits began studying medicine across the country. The figures, collected by think tank Migration Watch UK, also show that nearly half of all doctors joining NHS England last year came from abroad. It urged accused the Government of a 'dereliction of duty' and urged it to boost the number of medical places available to students in the UK. NHS England recruited more than 12,000 doctors from overseas in 2022 (red line), while only around 7,000 Brits began studying medicine across the country (yellow line) These charts, based on NHS workforce data, show the proportion of doctors and nurses joining the NHS in England based on where they originally trained. In both professions the number of UK trained joiners has decreased over time (red lines) whereas the number of non-EU trained professionals has increased (yellow lines). The proportion of EU professionals joining the NHS has declined over time, taking a sharp dive in the years after the 2016 Brexit vote The report, published today, shows that NHS England hired 26,321 doctors in 2022, of which 12,148 (46 per cent) were foreign nationals. The vast majority (10,193) were from outside the EU. The figure is 73 per cent higher than the 7,015 British students who enrolled to train to be doctors in English medical schools last years, according to research from Migration Watch UK, which campaigns for lower immigration. It also means twice as many doctors were recruited from oversees last year compared to 2018, when the figure stood at 6,222. Over the same period, the number of British medical trainees has increased by just 17 per cent. READ MORE Fresh NHS chaos: Four days of strikes could see HALF of doctors absent in England next week amid fears walkout will 'utterly overwhelm' A&Es and put patients' lives at risk Medical chiefs warn junior doctor walkout from Thursday could 'overwhelm' A&E services. Junior doctors are here pictured on strike in London on March 14, 2023 Advertisement As a result, within the next few years, the majority of new doctors joining the NHS in England will be foreign nationals, the think tank claims. The health service will be left reliant on overseas recruitment as a result, it said. It noted that more than 10,000 applicants hoping to study medicine were rejected last year, despite many meeting grade requirements for the course. Medical school places in England are capped at around 7,500 due to the Government's strict limit on funding. Doctors' unions have hit out at chronic staff shortages in the NHS which has more than 130,000 vacancies in England which it says has left the health service reliant on international recruitment due to a lack of long-term workforce planning. Migration Watch called for the Government to instantly increase medical training capacity in the UK by 1,500, which it says would cost 427million. It said all available places should be filled by British students. The UK's Medical Schools Council has previously warned an extra 5,000 places are needed and questioned why a 'highly developed country like the UK should be reliant on other countries' for medics. But hiring medics from overseas shows no signs of slowing, with the Department of Health last year launching an international recruitment taskforce to consider 'innovative ways to boost staffing numbers' in the health service and social care. The NHS spent around 584million on hiring foreign staff over the last five years, including on recruitment agencies, overseas trips and visas. India and Pakistan are two largest non-UK countries that doctors currently registered to work in Britain originally trained in with about 30,000 and 17,000 respectively. This is followed by Nigeria, Egypt , Ireland, South Africa, Greece, Sudan, Italy, and Romania Jeremy Hutton, a researcher at Migration Watch UK said: 'That the Government have failed to increase the number of funded training places while demand has grown is nothing short of a dereliction of duty. 'It is one thing to recruit foreign doctors to fill short-term needs, it is another to rely on them long-term instead of training up future doctors here in Britain, and now we're hiring more doctors from overseas than we're even bothering to train.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'International recruitment is only one part of our plans to grow the NHS workforce and the supply of homegrown staff is increasing with record numbers of doctors and nurses. 'We have funded an extra 1,500 medical school places per year - a 25% increase since 2020 and we created five new medical schools as part of this process. 'We will publish a long-term workforce plan this year focused on recruiting and retaining more staff.' Doctors in the US should be on the lookout for Ebola-like symptoms amid fears one of the world's deadliest pathogens has reached the US, health officials say. Marburg virus which kills roughly half of the people it infects is causing outbreaks in densely populated parts of Africa for the first time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an urgent alert to healthcare professionals on Thursday, telling them to be ready for the 'potential for imported cases'. The CDC insisted the risk of a largescale issue in the US is low and stressed that no domestic cases of the disease had been reported. Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea have reported their first-ever outbreaks of Marburg virus this year. The figures above are based on the latest report from the World Health Organization, issued on March 22. In Equatorial Guinea, local health authorities (*) say they are now monitoring 604 close contacts. Fears were also raised that the Marburg virus had reached Burundi after three people in the country died from a mysterious nosebleed disease (shown in yellow). But none of the patients have tested positive for Marburg The CDC issued the warning Thursday. It has also advised enhanced precautions when traveling to Equatorial Guinea In its Health Alert Network advisory, the CDC said: 'Currently, the risk of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) in the United States is low. 'However, clinicians should be aware of the potential for imported cases.' The agency added: 'It is important to systematically assess patients for the possibility of viral hemorrhagic fevers (including MVD or Ebola) through an... evaluation process, including a detailed travel history.' The note added that early identification of the disease would ensure patients receive the right treatment quickly. Both Marburg and Ebola cause viral hemorrhagic fevers conditions that can cause internal bleeding and damage multiple organ systems. Symptoms appear abruptly, including severe headaches, fever, diarrhea, stomach pain, and vomiting. They become increasingly severe. In the early stages of MVD the disease Marburg causes it is very difficult to distinguish from other tropical illnesses, such as Ebola, and malaria. Infected patients become 'ghost-like', often developing deep-set eyes and expressionless faces. But in later stages bleeding from multiple orifices including the nose, gums, eyes and vagina can emerge. Like Ebola, even dead bodies can spread the virus to people exposed to its fluids. The disease is spread between people via contact with bodily fluids, such as saliva, blood, semen, sweat or feces. People can also catch it by touching towels or surfaces that also can into contact with an infected person. The CDC also said Americans traveling into Equatorial Guinea or Tanzania from the US would receive a text message warning about the outbreak and what symptoms to watch out for. Equatorial Guinea reported its first-ever outbreak of Marburg virus on February 7. It has now triggered 14 cases and 10 deaths, according to official state figures. There were also 20 probable cases, all of whom died. In the time since, the nation's health ministry has confirmed three more case, adding a tenth death to the toll on Monday. There are fears that the disease is spreading undetected in the country because it has now reached four provinces. Of major concern are the eight cases reported by local health authorities in Bata, a port city home to some 173,000 people. Tanzania also reported its first-ever Marburg virus outbreak on March 21, saying eight cases and five fatalities had been confirmed in the northern Kagera region. Two of the cases were in healthcare workers, with one of these individuals having since succumbed to the disease. MVD has a mortality rate of up to 90 percent. There are currently no vaccines or treatments approved to treat the virus Marburg virus (MVD) is initially transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials. There is no evidence that the outbreaks are linked, with some experts saying it was caused by separate spillover events from bats to humans. There are no direct flights from the US to Tanzania or Equatorial Guinea, with travelers instead needing to go via another airport such as those in Paris or Doha. Last month the CDC issued a level two travel alert for those heading to Equatorial Guinea, advising 'enhanced precautions' telling Americans to avoid all non-essential travel to areas of the country that have reported cases. It also advises travelers to avoid sick people, dead bodies or visiting healthcare facilities in outbreak areas while they are in the country. The US Government has already limited travel to the country for its employees. Marburg virus as only been spotted once in the US when a 44-year-old woman from Colorado who had just returned from a two-week safari in Uganda was diagnosed with the disease in 2008. The woman had visited a fruit bat cave, with the bats known to harbor the disease. She was hospitalized but made a full recovery. There were concerns last week that the virus had spilled into Burundi after three patients died of a mystery disease that caused nosebleeds. But a diagnosis of Marburg virus was ruled out via testing. Concerns were also raised last month that the virus had reached Equatorial Guinea's neighbor Cameroon, but health authorities in the country say all suspected patients have tested negative. Gruesome images show a parasitic tick feasting on the eyeball of an elderly patient in Argentina. The patient, who has not been named and is reportedly in his 70s, went to hospital complaining that his eye was 'itchy' and bloodshot. Doctors found the tiny blood-sucking, eight-legged creature wriggling around on his sclera, the tough outer layer of the eyeball, which is visibly red and irritated. No further details were revealed, but ticks are normally removed by numbing the eye and using tweezers. The video was revealed online by TikTok account neuquencapitaltiktok, which says it is based in Neuquen, a city in the Patagonia region of Argentina. It was originally posted last month but has since gone viral and racked up more than 2.6million views. Those who watched the clip have expressed shock and disgust, with one saying it 'made me itch' while a second said they had a 'new fear unlocked'. About 30,000 Americans get bitten by ticks - which are relatives of spiders - every year. They are most active from April to September, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which warns they live in areas with grass, brush or trees. Camping, hunting or just spending time in grass could expose you to the pests, which can attach to hosts for days. The individual, who has not been named and was reportedly in his 70s, went to doctors in Argentina complaining of a burning sensation in his eye. Medics said a tick was there Doctors say it is 'very uncommon' to find the insects biting the eye itself, with most normally stopping at the eyelid. But in rare cases it 'can be sight-threatening'. Ticks are also known to harbor infections, such as Lyme disease. Another case of a tick getting into someone's eyeball was reported in 2019 in Kentucky. Chris Prater, an electrician, had sprayed himself with insect repellant before climbing a ladder to work untangling a powerline from a tree. By the end of the day, he was starting to feel an 'irritation' in his eye. He asked his office safety manager to take a look, who quickly noticed a 'spot' on his eye that would not move. Mr Prater then decided to go to see a doctor, who took a look at his eye before diagnosing a tick. It was removed with tweezers and Mr Prater suffered no long-term damage. '[The doctor] said: "It's a tick". That's when I got scared a little bit,' he told WYMT-TV at the time. 'I leaned around and looked at him and I asked him if he was joking and he said: "No, you have a deer tick or some type of tick." It was very little.' Describing how the tick was removed, he said: 'Once he grabbed ahold of it and pulled it off, the tick made a little, like a little popping sound when it came off of my eye.' He was sent home with antibiotics and steroid drops for his eye. Art Dog: Clever Canines Of The Art World (Smith Street 12.99, 96pp) There are around 10.2 million pet dogs in the UK today, but our obsession with canines is far from recent There are around 10.2 million pet dogs in the UK today, but our obsession with canines is far from recent: hounds have played the role of mans best friend for 15,000 years, while artists, from Gauguin to Picasso, have captured their loyal personalities and hilarious antics for millennia. The tender relationship is beautifully depicted in this celebration of dog-themed art, including oils, charcoal, sculpture, engravings and watercolours proof that our passion is long-standing and universal. This has been a tough old year for billionaires. As the latest Forbes list of the top 25 richest people in the world shows, their collective fortune is down by $200billion to $2.1trillion, mainly due to sharp falls in big tech firms such as Amazon and Tesla. What the Forbes World's Billionaires list of the planet's 2,640 billionaires also shows is a fascinating shift over the last year in how they made their money. Of the 25, those making their riches from fashion and retail rose to seven while those making their fortune from technology was eight. Americans still top the ranks, taking 17 of the 25 top spots, but next in line are French and Indians. By far the world's wealthiest person is Bernard Arnault whose shares in LVMH, his French luxury goods empire, are at high, making his fortune worth $200billion-plus By far the world's wealthiest person is Bernard Arnault whose shares in LVMH, his French luxury goods empire, are at high, making his fortune worth $200billion-plus. He becomes only the third person in history to be worth so much, after Amazon's Jeff Bezos and Tesla's Elon Musk. The other French billionaire to be included in the top 25, in 11th place, is the L'Oreal heiress Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, who is still the world's richest woman with a net worth of $80billion. Her cosmetics group, L'Oreal, which has just shelled out 2billion to buy Aesop, Australia's luxury beauty brand, just keeps on growing with the shares up by 12 per cent over the last year. Together these two French giants are worth $694billion and dominate the Paris Bourse. They are the main factor as to why the French stock market has been beating the London market by value. Yet this is a misleading comparison however much the French may enjoy pipping the Brits to the post because it measures firms which have only a primary listing whereas London has far more dual listings. In 13th position is Amancio Ortega, founder of Inditex, the Spanish fashion giant which includes the Zara and Massimo Dutti brands. His fortune has rocketed over the last year by 14.5billion to 61.9billion as Inditex shares soared by 39 per cent. Building a vast empire is often the easiest bit. The harder part of running any dynasty is the choice of heir to take the business forward What these rankings illustrate is that there is real value in making great products that consumers want, whether it's Zara's cheap and cheerful fashion on the High Street or Tiffany & Co on Old Bond Street. And they are all products which appeal to customers around the world, particularly in the developing countries in the East where the middle-classes are growing fast. On the flip side, the rankings show how vulnerable tech giants like Amazon, Tesla and, indeed, Facebook are proving to be when buffeted by the vagaries of the market, and how they all over-expanded during the pandemic years. All eyes now are on how these three giant European companies manage succession planning. As the hit TV series Succession shows, the squabbling among rival children jostling for supremacy is not only unsightly but unsettling for business. So far, both Inditex and LVMH appear to be taking sensible steps to avoid such in-fighting. The 87-year-old Ortega has bitten the bullet, handing over the chair to his daughter, Marta Ortega, last year in a clear line of succession. To date, the young Ortega looks on a roll. The 74-year-old Arnault has also been quick to start handing over power. He recently reorganised the holding company, Agache, giving equal stakes to all his five children and appointing them to key roles within the business. His eldest, Delphine, took over at Christian Dior, while his son, Antoine, heads Agache and the family fortune. Building a vast empire is often the easiest bit. The harder part of running any dynasty is the choice of heir to take the business forward and not mess up, as so often happens with second generations. Rotting fish For years the CBI has boasted that it is the voice of British business, claiming that it represents 7million workers and 190,000 firms. It was always boastful, with the top brass making much of access to powerful ministers. Indeed, some would say power has gone to its head. As many small firms will testify, the CBI spoke mainly for big business, often ignoring the needs and the demands of the country's SMEs. Yet it is these 6m or so companies who need the bigger voice. Unless the CBI can demonstrate allegations of sexual misconduct by female employees against its senior staff are wrong, its days could be numbered. As the Chinese proverb reminds us: 'The fish rots from the head.' So it is with businesses and other organisations. One of the City's most powerful women last night declared 'enough is enough' as she urged members to quit the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) over allegations of sexual misconduct and drug abuse. Baroness Helena Morrissey, a renowned executive who founded the 30% Club to push for better gender balance in the boardroom, said businesses needed to act following claims about some of the lobby group's most senior figures. Admitting that she has 'not been a fan of the CBI for a while', she told the Mail: 'We can't just stand by and wait for the next scandal to happen. Cutting ties: Baroness Helena Morrissey 'Members should say enough is enough and say we don't need this. We can find other organisations or make new ones to directly meet the Government with.' Ministers are already cutting ties with the group after more than a dozen women approached The Guardian newspaper claiming to be victims of sexual misconduct by senior figures. One woman said she was raped at a CBI staff party on a boat on the River Thames. There were also claims of widespread cocaine use. Both the Treasury and the Department for Business and Trade this week suspended engagement with the CBI. The CBI said: 'We understand the Government's decision to pause engagement pending the outcome of the independent investigation. 'Soon after Easter, the board expects to have preliminary findings and actions from the first phase of the investigation.' The CBI claims to represent 190,000 businesses employing nearly 7m workers. Although member companies including Rolls-Royce, Ernst & Young, and Marks & Spencer have raised concerns, only the brewer Adnams has said that it could actually quit. Members should say enough is enough and say we don't need this Adnams chief executive Andy Wood said that management at the Suffolk-based company would make a decision to leave the CBI depending on the outcome of an independent investigation. Asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme if he had had discussions 'at the top' of Adnams about leaving the CBI, he said: 'Indeed we have, yes. 'Reputations take decades to build and moments to destroy, and the CBI need to get on with this and sort it out quickly, and restore our trust and confidence in the organisation.' He added: 'It's in a very difficult place isn't it? 'I'd say if there is any scintilla of truth in this, I think I can speak for all members that such behaviour is completely unacceptable and there is no place for it in the workplace.' The latest allegations follow complaints made against CBI director general Tony Danker (pictured), who agreed to step down last month while an investigation takes place Russ Shaw, who heads the start-up group Tech London Advocates, said that the current situation was a 'train wreck' for the body that represents many of Britain's biggest companies. 'Following allegations of just how toxic the CBI's culture may be, members should definitely have exiting on their agenda,' he told the Mail. Gwen Rhys, boss of campaign group Women in the City, urged more members to take a stand. 'Businesses are just stalling before they make a decision on whether to leave until it looks too dangerous for them not to,' she said. The latest allegations follow complaints made against CBI director general Tony Danker (pictured left), who agreed to step down last month while an investigation takes place. The fresh allegations that have been made are understood to not relate to Danker. A junior colleague is said to have complained about 'unwanted contact' from Danker which she regarded as sexual harassment. According to reports, he sent a barrage of messages, some of them featuring sexually suggestive language, over a period of more than a year. The father-of-two apologised for causing any unintentional offence and has pledged to co-operate with law firm Fox Williams, which was brought in to conduct an inquiry into the claims. The former head of Barclays bank has hit back at allegations about his connection to the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, dubbing them 'slanderous and baseless'. Jes Staley faces a lawsuit from his former employer JP Morgan, which wants to hold him liable for penalties it incurs amid claims it enabled Epstein's crimes. Staley, the former head of JP Morgan's private bank, has asked the court for his October trial to be delayed until March 2024. Allegations: Jes Staley (pictured) faces a lawsuit from his former employer JP Morgan, which wants to hold him liable for penalties it incurs amid claims it enabled Jeffrey Epstein's crimes The timeline gave him 'grossly insufficient' time to defend himself against what he argues are false claims. JP Morgan faces two civil suits alleging it enabled Epstein's sex trafficking and believes Staley, 66, should have to pay compensation if it loses the cases. In a letter to a Manhattan court last week, Staley asked for the lawsuit against him to be severed from the other civil lawsuits. But JP Morgan said he was 'inextricably linked to these cases' and it made 'no sense to separate him'. The disappearance of a beloved grandmother remains a mystery almost three years after she vanished while walking to a campground toilet, a coroner has ruled. Annemarie Jeffery, 73, vanished on a camping trip with her husband and friends in August 2020 Coffs Harbour woman Annemarie Jeffery, 73, was last seen on August 25, 2020, during a camping trip with her husband David and some of their friends at Lake Arragan, about 130km north of her home on NSW's North Coast. The retired nurse walked towards an amenities block - which was just 185m away - about 9am that day but failed to return to the campsite. Her husband raised the alarm about an hour later, sparking a large-scale search over four days involving rescue helicopters, police dogs and dozens of volunteers with no success. At the time, Coffs-Clarence Acting Inspector Richard Garrels said 65 volunteers had combed through the rugged terrain in a 5km radius from where she was last seen. The search was suspended on August 29, 2020 and officially became a missing persons investigation. In a hearing last month, Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame said the 'exact circumstances of Ms Jeffery's disappearance remain mysterious' and 'there is still no firm evidence to indicate exactly what happened' as no trace of her has ever been found. However, Ms Grahame ruled that Ms Jeffery - who was close with her family and has not accessed her bank accounts since she vanished - had died sometime shortly after her disappearance. The grandmother said she was heading to the toilet block, about 185m away, but never returned to the campsite. Pictured are search volunteers at the site in 2020 Although she could not determine her cause of death, Ms Grahame ruled it was likely she died 'in the vicinity of the Lake Arragan and Red Cliff Campgrounds' in Yuraygir National Park. Ms Grahame told the court the group had arrived at the campsite about 10am on August 24, set up camp, walked down to the beach, then enjoyed a congenial campfire in the evening before going to bed about 10pm. The next morning, they woke up around 8am and Ms Jeffery walked to the toilet block alone before coming back to their site at the Red Cliff campground to begin cooking breakfast. Making plans for the day, the group decided to go on hikes, with two of the women heading south on a dry track while Ms Jeffery, her husband, and another friend went north on a wetter route. Before they departed, Ms Jeffery told her husband she wanted to head to the toilet one last time before they set off on their walk. A short time later, one of their female friends left for the toilet not realising Ms Jeffery had gone. She did not see Ms Jeffery while she was there and when she returned to the site on her own, Mr Jeffery began to panic. After searching the toilets to no avail, Mr Jeffery told the group his wife was missing before jumping in his car and driving around to try and find her on the surrounding roads. He then drove to the Campground Manager who contacted the police around 30 minutes later when they still could not find her. Ms Grahame said Ms Jeffery had been in good spirits the morning she disappeared, despite grappling with an health battle that had gradually impacted her mental health. The court heard that Ms Jeffery had been diagnosed with epilepsy in 2013, which had impacted her cognitive abilities, but was well-managed through medication. Born in South Africa, Ms Jeffery was a qualified nurse and midwife and mother of two In December 2019, Ms Jeffery visited a specialist neurologist after suffering episodes of disorientation, which were particularly apparent in unfamiliar settings or when travelling far from home. Her medication was revised and the doctor noted her condition had improved and stabilised once they met again for an appointment in June, 2020. Her last confirmed sighting was by a camper who spoke to Ms Jeffery between 8.45am and 9am as she walked past her caravan on her way to the toilet block. The woman said they had a conversation and Ms Jeffery pointed out her group and their campsite before heading to the amenities area. Mr Jeffery said he and his wife (pictured) were avid travellers and had been enjoying camping trips in outback Australia in their later years She said she saw Ms Jeffery leave the toilet block a short time later but they didn't speak that second time. However, the camper said the mother-of-two appeared to be in 'good spirits and happy to be away with friends' and did not seem 'upset or disoriented' during their interaction. In her findings, Ms Grahame ruled that the search was adequate, commenced very soon after the disappearance, and 'it remains a mystery that she was not found'. Ms Grahame said Ms Jeffery came from a 'close and loving family' and acknowledged that many questions remained unanswered for her husband, children, brother, sister-in-law and niece as they sat in court to hear the proceedings. 'Once again I offer my sincere and heartfelt condolences,' she said. 'The pain of losing Annemarie must surely be exacerbated by the devastating fact that despite an investigation we remain unable to say what actually occurred.' Speaking to a local paper in September, 2020, Mr Jeffery said he and his wife of 46 years were enjoying a short break with long-term friends when she vanished. Mr Jeffery said he met the 'love of his life', who was born in South Africa, while he was studying at a university in Johannesburg. The couple married and had two children, Renee and Stephen, in Africa before travelling around the globe. 'By all measures Annemarie and I had a wonderful, fulfilling and fortunate life together living in South Africa, Rhodesia, Canada and finally Coffs Harbour where we made great friends,' Mr Jeffrey told News Of The Area. 'Annemarie gave up her nursing career to devote her time to the children and run the family home. Later she ran my office and worked as a bookkeeper. We were a good team. 'We loved travel and managed many memorable trips to all corners of the world.' Mr Jeffery said the search for his wife was 'thorough and extensive' but 'frustratingly unsuccessful', adding that it was 'cruel' to think he and his family may never know what happened to her. Covid-19 pandemic travel restrictions in place around the time Ms Jeffery disappeared compounded her family's grief as Mr Jeffery was separated from his daughter, who lives in Brisbane, and UK-based son. The inquest was initially scheduled to start in Grafton on August 29 last year but was adjourned to November 4 because the Coroner was not ready to proceed. It was subsequently pushed back to March 24 this year. Hunter Biden's top criminal defense lawyer was himself scrutinized by the Justice Department after he allegedly represented a suspected Chinese spy, court documents reveal. Abbe Lowell, Hunter's hotshot attorney, has allegedly represented three Chinese 'agents' and was questioned by prosecutors over potential conflicts of interest for these former legal representations. Lowell is currently battling investigations by the FBI and the House Oversight Committee into the First Son's shady dealings with CEFC, a Chinese oil giant with corrupt executives and close links to the nation's Communist Party. Court records and interviews reveal Lowell, 70, has a prolific history of representing and dealing with Chinese government-backed crooks and alleged spies which raised conflict of interest concerns among prosecutors he faced in past cases. His dealings with foreign agents seeking to influence US officials led to the head of the Justice Department's Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) unit sending a notice to Lowell as early as 2019, DoJ documents obtained by DailyMail.com reveal. Hunter Biden's attorney Abbe Lowell has allegedly represented three Chinese 'agents' and was questioned by prosecutors over potential conflicts of interest in his representations. Lowell is now representing Hunter as he battles investigations by the FBI and the House Oversight Committee into the First Son's shady dealings with China On April 6, 2020, FARA unit chief Brandon Van Grack wrote to Lowell about a 'possible obligation to register pursuant to the Foreign Agents Registration Act.' Lowell, 70, has a history of representing and dealing with Chinese government-backed crooks and alleged spies, court records and interviews reveal Senior Justice officials even drafted a waiver for one of his clients they were prosecuting, stating that Lowell 'may have potential civil and/or criminal exposure,' which Lowell claimed was inaccurate, and warned of 'potential conflicts of interest with Mr. Lowell'. The FARA generally requires anyone lobbying US officials on behalf of a 'foreign agent' or power to register with the DoJ. Most recently Lowell represented Nickie Lum Davis, a Hawaiian businesswoman sentenced in January to two years in prison for secretly lobbying for China in an illicit multi-million-dollar scheme. Lowell represented Nickie Lum Davis, a Hawaiian businesswoman sentenced in January to two years in prison for secretly lobbying for China in an illicit multi-million-dollar scheme Davis, 47, admitted to attempts to influence top DoJ officials and even then-President Trump, including to allow Beijing to extradite Chinese dissident Guo Wengui. Lowell also allegedly represented Ng Lap Seng, a billionaire Macau casino tycoon who was a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, convicted in 2017 of bribing the United Nations General Assembly President John Ashe with $500,000. Ng's close links to the Chinese government were known as early as 1998, when a Senate report identified him as the source of hundreds of thousands of dollars illegally channeled to the Democratic National Convention under the Clinton Administration. Ng set up an NGO, South-South News, that got official status at the UN, and in August 2013 began funneling $20,000 per month to Ashe in exchange for his support of a UN-sponsored conference center in Macau that Ng's company would develop. While Ng was under house arrest in September 2017, a US court granted his request to meet with Lowell 'with a view to possibly formally retaining him.' During negotiations with prosecutors in the Davis case in August 2019, it emerged that Davis knew Ng. Lowell was told that his previous legal involvement with the casino tycoon could cause a 'conflict of interest' which 'could lead to issues surrounding any potential judicial outcome for Lum Davis', according to FBI documents seen by DailyMail.com. The documents a write-up of a call between Lowell, FBI agents and prosecutors say the attorney told federal law enforcement there was no conflict. A write-up of a call between Lowell, FBI agents and prosecutors say the attorney told federal law enforcement there was no conflict of interest in August 2019 Lowell also allegedly represented Chinese national Qin Fei, who was reportedly suspected by US authorities of being a Chinese spy, and was wiretapped under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) . US officials believed that Qin was Ng's handler, and was an intelligence officer with the Ministry of State Security, China's main foreign intelligence agency, a former intelligence official told Yahoo News. Qin, who lives in China, was never charged and remains a shadowy figure. He bought a mansion on Long Island in 2014 according to real estate records, but by 2016 neighbors still hadn't seen him, the Wall Street Journal reported. Speaking to Yahoo News in 2018, Ng's attorney Hugh Mo denied his client had any connection with Chinese spooks, but did claim that Qin was being wiretapped. The FBI documents seen by DailyMail.com say that Lowell told prosecutors he represented Qin 'years' before the Davis case, and that it was also not a conflict of interest but the documents also suggested that his representation of Qin was around the time of the UN bribery investigation in 2015. Lowell assured law enforcement that he had 'no obligation to tell Ng or Qin what Lum Davis is reporting to the Government' in her plea deal. The Chinese names were redacted when the FBI documents were publicly filed in Davis' criminal case, but Ng and Qin were identifiable based on unredacted information in the documents, and a source familiar with the investigation confirmed their identity to DailyMail.com. Exhibits from the Davis court case also include Justice Department emails revealing the investigation into Lowell by the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the DoJ's National Security Division. Lowell also allegedly represented Ng Lap Seng, a billionaire Macau casino tycoon who was a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He was convicted in 2017 of bribing the United Nations General Assembly President John Ashe with $500,000 Ng's close links to the Chinese government were known as early as 1998, when a Senate report identified him as the source of hundreds of thousands of dollars illegally channeled to the Democratic National Convention under the Clinton Administration. Ng and the Clintons are pictured in the late 90s During negotiations with prosecutors in the Davis case in August 2019, it emerged that Davis knew Ng. Lowell was told that his previous involvement could cause a 'conflict of interest,' according to FBI documents seen by DailyMail.com On April 6, 2020, FARA unit chief Brandon Van Grack wrote to Lowell about a 'possible obligation to register pursuant to the Foreign Agents Registration Act'. 'We are seeking information to help us determine whether you have an obligation to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act [] by virtue of your activities directed towards agencies and officials of the Government of the United States, on behalf of [redacted], all of whom are foreign principals under the Act,' the largely blacked-out letter said. 'FARA requires the registration of certain 'agents of foreign principals' engaged in political activities or other activities specified under the Act.' Four months later on August 25, 2020, Justice official John Keller, chief of the Public Integrity Section, drafted a waiver for Davis to sign acknowledging the probe into Lowell and potential conflicts of interest over his alleged previous representation of Qin and Ng. 'The defendant understands that one of her attorneys, Abbe D. Lowell, has previously represented other individuals against whom Ms. Lum Davis may potentially cooperate,' the waiver said. 'Ms. Lum Davis also understands that Mr. Lowell has been notified by the United States Department of Justice that he may have potential civil and/or criminal exposure for conduct unrelated to this matter.' Lowell angrily shot back that the 'letter did not say I have potential civil or criminal exposure or anything close', and the waiver was revised a few days later to remove the 'exposure' reference. Now Lowell is representing Hunter, who received millions of dollars from CEFC executives convicted of a similar UN bribery scheme to Ng's, bank statements obtained by DailyMail.com show. CEFC's secretary general Patrick Ho who Hunter described in a recorded conversation on his abandoned laptop as the 'f***ing spy chief of China' was convicted in 2019 of bribing Ashe with $50,000 and Ashe's successor Sam Kutesa with half a million dollars. CEFC Chairman Ye Jianming (left) fled the US in 2017 before he could be arrested, after allegedly receiving a tipoff about the FBI investigation into his company. Former CEFC advisor Dr. Gal Luft (right) has made sensational claims to the Oversight Committee that Hunter had a senior former or current FBI official nicknamed 'One-Eye' feeding information on the Bureau's probe to Ye Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon said of Lowell: 'You couldn't get a guy who was more dialed into that D.C.-D.O.J. revolving door and the Democratic establishment' Ho hired Hunter for $1 million to represent him as his lawyer in September 2017, two months before his arrest at JFK Airport. Ho also oversaw an energy deal between Hunter's company and CEFC which resulted in over $5 million wired to members of the Biden family. The deal is currently under investigation by the House Oversight Committee, and reportedly in a criminal probe by a federal prosecutor in Delaware, according to the New York Times and other publications. CEFC Chairman Ye Jianming fled the US in 2017 before he could be arrested, after allegedly receiving a tipoff about the FBI investigation into his company. Former CEFC advisor Dr. Gal Luft, an Israeli energy expert, has made sensational claims to the Oversight Committee that Hunter had a senior former or current FBI official nicknamed 'One-Eye' feeding information on the Bureau's probe to Ye. Hunter told the New Yorker in 2019 that Ye had expressed concerns that his right hand man Ho was under federal investigation as early as summer of 2017. Lowell's alleged former client Qin also avoided an entanglement with US authorities after he was tipped off by an Air China staffer and fled America back to his homeland in October 2015. The former Air China employee, Ying Lin, pleaded guilty in April 2019 to smuggling packages on flights for Chinese military personnel. A DoJ sentencing memo says Lin alerted Qin to the government's espionage investigation and got him on a flight from JFK to Beijing on October 28, 2015. Qin is not named in the memo, but Reuters identified him in a September 2016 article through matching his description to property records. The notes of the FBI phone calls with Lowell from August 2019 obtained by DailyMail.com say he was representing Qin around the time the suspected spy fled the US. On August 25, 2020, Justice official John Keller drafted a waiver for Davis to sign referencing possible 'civil and/or criminal exposure' for Lowell and potential conflicts of interest over his alleged previous representation of Qin and Ng Lowell angrily shot back that the 'letter did not say I have potential civil or criminal exposure or anything close', and the waiver was revised a few days later to remove the 'exposure' reference Hunter hired Lowell in December, reportedly causing controversy within his current legal team. It even prompted one, Joshua Levy, to quit, according to the New York Times. But Lowell has been a towering figure in top Democrat circles for decades including ties to Hunter's father. In 1998 he was hired by House Judiciary Committee Democrats as chief investigative counsel in the fight against Bill Clinton's impeachment, and argued the case in Congress. Lowell worked alongside then-Senator Biden, who had previously served as Senate Judiciary Committee Chair, was a member of the committee at the time, and took an active role in the impeachment battle. In a Washington Post story from 1998 noting Lowell's appointment by the committee, President Biden's current personal attorney Robert Bauer, a friend of Lowell, was quoted complimenting the ambitious attorney, telling the Post that he 'doesn't shy away from intellectual combat'. Christopher Tigani says he was not aware of Lowell's history with Biden when he hired the attorney in 2011 to help him negotiate a cooperation deal with the FBI in which he would wear a wire and try to catch the then-Vice President and his confidants in quid pro quo deals with donors. The Delaware beer distributor flipped after he was caught flouting campaign finance laws while serving as a bundler for Biden's 2008 presidential campaign, reimbursing Tigani's staff for contributions made in their names. He told Politico that he hired Lowell, who was then at Mcdermott Will & Emery, in February 2011, and the lawyer brokered a meeting for him with the Justice Department. Despite evidence of Lowell's later negotiation with federal law enforcement for his clients, the attorney told Tigani he was reluctant to take the case because he didn't deal with the FBI, according to the 2020 Politico report. 'Chris, normally I'd say, 'Yeah, we want to take your case.' But you already sat down with the FBI and told them everything,' Tigani said Lowell told him. 'I don't even talk to the FBI in court. I don't even say hi to them in court.' Lowell also represented Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner during the Russia investigation in 2017, in which Kushner's suspect financial relationships with foreign governments including Saudi Arabia were scrutinized In an interview with the New York Times, President Trump's former advisor Steve Bannon said of Lowell: 'You couldn't get a guy who was more dialed into that D.C.-D.O.J. revolving door and the Democratic establishment.' Tigani said that he went ahead with the sting, and managed to covertly tape a former Senate staffer in 2011 suggesting the Bidens knowingly took illegal straw donations from bundlers. But prosecutors didn't deem the evidence substantial enough and no charges were ever brought against the Vice President or his aides. Lowell also represented President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner during the Russia investigation in 2017, in which Kushner's suspect financial relationships with foreign governments including Saudi Arabia were scrutinized. The New York Times reported that before he began representing Kushner that year, Lowell was investigated by the DoJ over his alleged involvement in a possible 'bribery-for-pardon scheme,' as well as potential foreign lobbying violations related to his work for Kushner. Heavily redacted court documents were unsealed in 2020 showing the probe into a suspected scheme to offer a bribe in exchange for clemency for a tax crimes convict. Berkeley psychologist Hugh Baras had been sentenced to 30 months in prison for improperly claiming social security benefits. Billionaire real estate developer Sanford Diller enlisted Lowell and Kushner's help trying to get him clemency, allegedly in exchange for a large political donation. Diller died in February 2018, Baras did not receive clemency, and an attorney representing Lowell told the Times no bribe was paid. The case was closed without charges. Pope Francis has revealed his views on sex and described it as 'one of the beautiful things that God has given to the human person'. The 86-year-old pontiff made the comment in the Disney+ documentary 'The Pope: Answers', which sees him in a meeting with ten people in their early 20s, captured last year in Rome. Francis was quizzed by them on a variety of topics, including LGBT rights, abortion, the porn industry, sex, and faith and sex abuse within the Catholic Church. 'Sex is one of the beautiful things that God has given to the human person,' he said in the documentary. 'To express yourself sexually is a richness. So anything that detracts from real sexual expression lessens you and depletes this richness,' he said, referring to masturbation. Pope Francis has said that sex is a 'beautiful thing' and described it as 'one of the beautiful things that God has given to the human person' The 86-year-old pontiff made the comment in the Disney+ documentary 'The Pope: Answers', which sees him in a meeting with ten people in their early 20s, captured last year in Rome The film sees ten youngsters from across the globe meeting with Pope Francis, with the 'aim of talking and conveying to him the main concerns of their generation'. Francis was also asked whether he knew what a 'non-binary person' is, and he replied affirmatively. He repeated that LGBT people must be welcomed by the Catholic Church. 'All persons are the children of God, all persons. God does not reject anybody, God is a father. And I have no right to expel anyone from the Church,' he said. On abortion, Francis said priests should be 'merciful' towards women who have terminated a pregnancy, but said the practice remains unacceptable. 'It good to call things by their name. It is one thing to accompany the person who had one (abortion), quite another to justify the act,' he said. The pope's remarks were published by L'Osservatore Romano, the official Vatican newspaper, which described his conversation with the young people as an 'open and sincere dialogue'. It comes after The Pope an intense four days in the lead up to Easter, renewing vows and urging priests to avoid fomenting division in the Church On Holy Thursday, Francis and dozens of cardinals and bishops, and some 1,880 priests, gathered in St Peter's Basilica, Rome, to renew the commitments they made on their ordination. The Pope travelled to the jail of Casal del Marmo on the outskirts of the city, where he washed and kissed the feet of 12 young inmates in a gesture meant to commemorate Jesus' humility towards his apostles on the night before his death Pope Francis celebrates the Mass of the Lord's Supper at the Casal del Marmo juvenile penitentiary earlier today on Maundy Thursday The Pope later travelled to the jail of Casal del Marmo on the outskirts of the city, where he washed and kissed the feet of 12 young inmates in a gesture meant to commemorate Jesus' humility towards his apostles on the night before his death. Francis, 86, appeared to have fully recovered from a bout of bronchitis which kept him in hospital for four days last week after complaining of breathing difficulties. Francis celebrated the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday with inmates from the juvenile prison. It was the same place he presided over the East Triduum service immediately after his 2013 election. Union leaders have pulled back from announcing fresh Royal Mail strikes, but have stressed that talks aiming to resolve pay, jobs and conditions will not continue past the end of next week. It follows the breakdown in negotiations between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union (CWU), which represents around 115,000 postal workers, earlier this week. Royal Mail previously said it was 'deeply concerned' that the talks had concluded without an agreement, adding that the service had increased its offer for workers to a 10 per cent pay rise over three years, with a lump sum of either 500 or 1,500. While the CWU has not announced more strikes, it has declared a hard deadline for further discussions to conclude by. Dave Ward, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), told an online briefing for union members: 'Discussions cannot go beyond next week.' Dave Ward, pictured here in December, said 'discussions cannot go beyond next week' Mr Ward said further discussions will be held over the Easter weekend and early next week despite talks ending without agreement earlier this week. He said the union's objective was to close the gap between the two sides and reach an agreement which would benefit workers and the company. He accused some senior Royal Mail managers of not wanting to reach a deal. Mr Ward said the union accepted that the company was in a serious financial position but talk of going into administration was 'overstated'. For a company said to be facing administration it was 'surprising' that its share price was going up, he said. Mr Ward said the union's leaders did not believe that more strikes were the right thing to do at the moment but there might come a time when more industrial action is called. Royal Mail workers staged a series of walkouts last year, including in the run-up to Christmas. The CWU stressed it had not walked away from negotiations and believed it has closed the gap on issues preventing a deal. Mr Ward said: 'We believe there is a way to help this company move forward, make it successful again so you can share the benefits and we can alleviate the pressures on the workforce.' A Royal Mail spokesperson reiterated the company's commitment to reaching an agreement with CWU, telling MailOnline: 'After 11 months of talks, including mediation by Sir Brendan Barber and Acas, we are deeply concerned that our talks with CWU have concluded without an agreement. 'We made substantial efforts to reach an agreement, including making a number of further improvements to our offer. These improvements were all based on feedback from the CWU, and we were hopeful that the CWU would put a deal to its members. 'We remain committed to reaching an agreement with the CWU. We have been clear throughout the dispute that not transforming our network and working practices is not an option in a business losing more than 1 million a day. In the best interests of the business, our customers, and the job security of our postmen and women, change cannot be delayed any further.' Communication Workers Union (CWU) general secretary Dave Ward (centre) joins postal workers on the picket line at the Camden Town Delivery Office in London in November 2022 Royal Mail has been crippled by 18 days of strikes over the last year amid clashes over pay and conditions. The company warns it risks going into administration, having lost 450mn in the last financial year and currently losing 1mn a day. The company claims the 18 days of strikes have cost the company in excess of 100mn so far. In February, a CWU ballot showed almost 96% of workers were prepared to strike again if needed. Mr Ward said it was a 'stunning' result as workers campaigned against proposed cost-saving changes, including the slashing of 10,000 jobs across the company. MailOnline has contacted Royal Mail for comment. Prosecutors in Idaho are putting together a very strong case against murder suspect Bryan Kohberger, according to three legal experts who spoke with DailyMail.com. Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani, Jacksonville State University forensics professor Joseph Scott Morgan and forensic psychiatrist Dr. Carole Lieberman have dissected the abundance of evidence against Kohberger and uncovered clues as to what else prosecutors might have in their back pocket. The 28-year-old who stands accused of the vicious stabbing deaths of four college students in November 2022 allegedly left behind DNA at the scene, according to police, as well as evidence of stalking. But, experts agree that Kohberger's car will emerge as perhaps the most damning piece of evidence against him. 'What I think the key piece of evidence is, is that white Hyundai Elantra,' Rahmani said. 'And to the extent that any of the victims have any blood, hair, DNA in that vehicle, that's going to be very helpful for the prosecution.' Morgan added: 'Just his car alone is a rolling crime scene. This thing has been pretty much completely dismantled, and they are going to be using this thing bit by bit.' Kohberger heads back to court at the end of June where he will enter a plea in the murders of Maddie Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Ethan Chapin, 20, and Xana Kernodle, 20. However, this may not be his only legal battle on the horizon. Authorities in his home state of Pennsylvania are searching cold cases to look for links connecting them to the Idaho murder suspect. Authorities have said in the past that Kohberger has no prior criminal record and, so far, no evidence linking Kohberger to unsolved cases has been found but the investigation is still underway. The disastrous Afghanistan evacuation - and the scenes of Afghans falling from planes wasn't chaotic, the White House said Thursday 'These Morons in the White House ... have a new disinformation game they are playing - Blame 'TRUMP'' Former President Trump tore into President Biden's 'grossly incompetent SURRENDER' in Afghanistan after the White House blamed his timeline for the withdrawal's chaos. 'These Morons in the White House, who are systematically destroying our Country, headed up by the biggest Moron of them all, Hopeless Joe Biden, have a new disinformation game they are playing - Blame 'TRUMP' for their grossly incompetent SURRENDER in Afghanistan,' Trump mused on Truth Social, two days after he was indicted for hush money payments. 'I watched this disaster unfold just like everyone else. I saw them take out the Military FIRST, GIVE $85 Billion of military equipment, allow killing of our soldiers, and leave Americans behind. Biden is responsible, no one else!' The disastrous Afghanistan evacuation - and the scenes of Afghans falling from planes and the Taliban shooting people in the streets wasn't chaotic, the White House said Thursday. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby defended the Biden administration's actions in Kabul during the disastrous withdrawal in August 2021, after releasing a report detailing the reasons why they think it unfolded. Kirby said the administration was 'proud' of how U.S. forces carried out the withdrawal, as the Taliban toppled the American-backed Afghan government the U.S. spent trillions over 20 years to keep stable. He also said that no member of the administration would be fired for what happened, insisting the investigation was not about 'accountability.' Their findings, released just minutes before President Joe Biden escaped to Camp David for Easter weekend, follows relentless pressure from veterans and Republicans for answers for the horrific scenes that unfolded more than 18 months ago. Former President Trump tore into President Biden's 'grossly incompetent SURRENDER' in Afghanistan after the White House blamed his timeline for the withdrawal's chaos National Security Council spokesman John Kirby defended the Biden administration's actions in Kabul during the disastrous withdrawal in August 2021, after releasing a report detailing the reasons why they think it unfolded Thirteen American service members died when the suicide bomber detonated explosives packed with ball bearings amid the chaos of the city's airport The US Marine Corps posted a photo to Twitter of the flag-draped caskets of their fallen brethren killed in the suicide bomb attack in Kabul, after the coffins arrived back on home soil on August 29, 2021 'All this talk of chaos, I just don't see it,' Kirby said in a White House briefing, referring to the withdrawal that culminated in a suicide bombing at the Kabul airport that 13 Americans and some 170 others dead. 'I just don't buy the whole argument of chaos.' Kirby said the president is 'proud' of the service personnel involved and no operation 'ever goes perfectly according to plan.' Republicans echoed Trump's criticism of the newly released report, with Foreign Affairs chairman Michael McCaul saying it was Biden who 'made the decision to withdraw and even picked the exact date; he is responsible for the massive failures in planning and execution.' McCaul's committee now has a fuller review of the withdrawal from the State Department to review. 'John Kirby's comments during today's White House press briefing were disgraceful and insulting,' McCaul added. Armed Services Chair Rep. Mike Rogers called the public after-action report a 'spineless piece of fiction.' 'We know for a fact President Bidens top military advisors warned him against leaving Afghanistan he ignored their advice,' Rogers said. Meanwhile Oversight Chair Rep. James Comer announced a new hearing on April 19 with the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), 'Nobody's saying that everything was perfect,' Kirby said. 'But there was a lot that went right. And a lot of Afghans are now living better lives in this country and other countries around the world, because of the sacrifices and the work of so many American government officials. So yeah, there's a lot to be proud of,' he added. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin echoed the sentiment of being 'proud' of U.S. servicemembers in a statement he released Thursday afternoon. 'Even on the hardest days, including August 26, 2021 when we tragically lost 13 of our finest, our force performed admirably under incredibly challenging conditions,' Austin noted. Kirby noted that even though the 'mission changed' it 'doesn't mean that anybody who served in Afghanistan doesn't have something to be proud of.' 'Doesn't have ..., ' he said, briefly finding his words and then adding, 'Sorry, doesn't have, doesn't have service to this country that they can take with them the rest of their lives and feel honorable about it.' Both Kirby and the White House document characterized the decision-making process around the withdrawal as being 'deliberate, intensive, rigorous, and inclusive.' 'President Biden's choices for how to execute a withdrawal from Afghanistan were severely constrained by conditions created by his predecessor,' the White House report read. The administration said most of the after-action reviews were classified but would be transmitted privately to members of Congress. It then went on to give other reasons for pulling out, including 'America's goal was never to nation-build' and saying the U.S. presence there had 'unclear objectives and no end in sight.' 'All this talk of chaos, I just don't see it,' Kirby said in a White House briefing. 'I just don't buy the whole argument of chaos' The document notes that when Donald Trump took office in 2017 there were 10,000 troops in Afghanistan. Trump had drawn down troops from 8,600 in June 2020 to 4,500 in September 2020 to the remaining 2,500 when he left office. 'President Trump ordered direct talks with the Taliban without consulting with our allies and partners or allowing the Afghan government at the negotiating table. In September 2019, President Trump emboldened the Taliban by publicly considering inviting them to Camp David on the anniversary of 9/11,' it said. Kirby also noted that 'transitions matter,' alluding to the fact that Trump and his allies were contesting the election up until the inauguration, which made for a rocky transition period between the Republican and Democratic administrations. Afghan people climb atop a plane as they wait at the Kabul airport in Kabul on August 16, 2021 Some hundreds of people run alongside a U.S. Air Force C-17 transport plane as it moves down a runway of the international airport, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Aug. 16. 2021 The document said the Biden White House was carrying out a Trump White House order to withdraw troops by summer 2021 but claimed the Trump team left them with 'no plans' for how to conduct the withdrawal of the last 2,500 troops who remained. Trump had made an agreement to withdraw troops by May 2021 but Biden promised to have them out by September. The document said Biden had to carry out the withdrawal Trump had agreed to or the Taliban would begin attacks on U.S. forces. The document also blamed Trump for the backlog in special immigrant visa (SIV) processing, saying the previous administration's 'disregard and even hostility toward our commitment to Afghan allies' led to some 18,000 waiting for their visas to be processed. It said Trump had 'all but stopped' SIV interviews despite making plans for withdrawal. Responding to reports the U.S. left billions in equipment in Afghanistan upon leaving, Kirby said 'It's their stuff ... it belongs to the Afghans.' 'This idea...is just ludicrous. That we left millions of dollars of stuff in Afghanistan -- we didn't!' He likened it to the security aid the U.S. has heavily supplied Ukraine with - the U.S. does not expect to get that equipment back. Vargas-Andrews recalled the 'surreal' scenes at the airport which included Afghans trying to kill themselves on the razor wire because they didn't want to face Taliban 'torture' The White House in the document reiterated that no one expected Kabul to fall to Taliban control as quickly as it did, but said it learned from the incident to communicate early and aggressively about the security risks to Americans and allies who might wish to leave. 'As the security situation in Afghanistan worsened over the summer, the Administration grappled with the tension between highlighting growing warning signs of potential collapse and undermining confidence in the Government of Afghanistan and Afghan forces' will to fight,' the document said. 'In a destabilizing security environment, we now err on the side of aggressive communication about risks. We did this in advance of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.' Poor planning by the U.S. military before the withdrawal from Afghanistan and a lack of oversight contributed to the rapid collapse of the government as the Taliban overran the country in August 2021, a damning new watchdog report has said The withdrawal was 'abrupt and uncoordinated' and gave war-ravaged locals the impression that the U.S. was 'simply handing Afghanistan over to a Taliban government-in-waiting', the report continues. Members of the Taliban are pictured celebrating a victory in March 2020 During Thursday's briefing, Kirby wouldn't say if any heads would roll. 'Who's going to get fired over this?' asked Fox News Channel's Peter Doocy. Kirby answered that the 'purpose of it is is not accountability.' CBS' Ed O'Keefe hammered Kirby and the White House at the top of the briefing for how the Afghanistan document was released. Reporters were given it under embargo - meaning they couldn't immediately publish the content - about 20 minutes before Kirby and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre appeared in the briefing. As they appeared, and the embargo lifted, the Bidens departed the White House, two hours early, for their Easter holiday at Camp David. O'Keefe called the White House's move the 'modern major holiday news dump.' 'You're releasing this at the beginning of the high holidays and after months of requests from Republicans and the broader public,' O'Keefe steamed. He also asked, 'Is this all we get?' Reaction from Republicans was swift and furious. 'These Morons in the White House, who are systematically destroying our Country, headed up by the biggest Moron of them all, Hopeless Joe Biden, have a new disinformation game they are playing - Blame 'TRUMP' for their grossly incompetent SURRENDER in Afghanistan,' former President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social Thursday afternoon. 'I watched this disaster unfold just like everyone else. I saw them take out the Military FIRST, GIVE $85 Billion of military equipment, allow killing of our soldiers, and leave Americans behind. Biden is responsible, no one else!' the ex-president and 2024 contender added. The $85 billion is the total amount of money the U.S. gave to the Afghan military and police. A Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction said in a report that the amount is closer to $7 billion. SIGAR said the Pentagon told the group that '$7.2 billion worth of aircraft, guns, vehicles, ammunition, and specialized equipment like night vision goggles and biometric devices remain.' The chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Michael McCaul, called Kirby's comments 'disgraceful and insulting,' according to Fox News. 'President Biden made the decision to withdraw and even picked the exact date; he is responsible for the massive failures in planning and execution,' McCaul said. 2024 GOP hopeful Nikki Haley tweeted, 'This was 'chaos,' John Kirby. America is less safe today because of Joe Biden.' The 13-year-old son of a Florida 'whistleblower' who claimed Governor Ron DeSantis' office fabricated Covid-19 statistics during the pandemic was arrested after allegedly threatening a school shooting. Rebekah Jones took to Twitter on Tuesday night to announce the arrest, which she alleged was personally ordered by DeSantis and carried out by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office. Jones said her son was taken into custody over memes he had sent in a private group chat which joked about school shootings including one which made fun of lazy school security guards, and another which joked about being tempted to grab a school security guards' guns. But a police report released by the Sheriff's office Thursday indicated the motivation for the arrest went beyond the memes, and suggested Jones had played down the gravity of the charges her son faces. Footage from the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office showed Rebekah Jones bringing her 13-year-old son in for his arrest after he was accused of threatening a school shooting Cops allege Jones' son had made numerous statements explicitly describing his desire to shoot and stab students Holley Navarre Middle School, even going so far as to set a date for his planned rampage. The boy was charged with 'making written [or] electronic threats' that he was planning a 'mass shooting [or] terrorist act.' He was released Thursday after denying that he wanted to carry out a shooting and placed under home detention, according to the Miami Herald. The arrest comes three weeks after Jones filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the Florida Health Department demanding that she get her job back and receive backpay and other damages. She was fired from the Department for insubordination in 2020 after leaking data which the state said was phony. Rebekah Jones gained national attention in 2020 after she accused the Florida Department of Health of falsifying their Covid-19 statistics at the direction of Governor Ron DeSantis One of the snapchats that Jones' son sent which prompted his arrest over shooting fears. He is not believed to be the man featured in this image Jones said that somebody who said they were the cousin of a classmate joined her son's group chat, and later reported the memes and images her son shared to police, according to the Pensacola News Journal. The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office confirmed to DailyMail.com that the images include a SnapChat of a man drinking a box of Hi-C captioned 'I'm feeling so silly I might shoot up a building full of people.' It's unclear who the man in the image is, although he does not appear to be Jones' son. Another showed an animated brain with a thought bubble illustrating an intrusive thought reading 'Reach for officer's gun,' and captioned 'Me every time I see school security.' A third meme showed an overweight man asleep in a chair captioned 'Cops in their car waiting for the school shooter to kill himself so they can go in.' Jones wrote on Twitter that the memes were recored and report just a week after she filed her suit against Florida. 'A week after we filed our lawsuit against the state, a kid claiming to be the cousin of one of my son's classmates joined their snapchat group,' she wrote. 'They recorded their conversations, and anonymously reported my son to police for sharing a popular internet meme.' She said her son is autistic and that police would not let him take his medication with him when he was arrested. According to the police report, warnings about Jones' son had been raised before an investigation into him was launched, Pensacola News Journal Reported. A snapchat Jones' son sent which he was arrested for over fears of a school shooting plans A meme Jones' son sent in a private group chat. Jones said it was one of the reasons her son was arrested over fears he was planning a school shooting That report alleged Jones son had said verbally and through text message things like 'I want to shoot up the school,' and 'If I get a gun I'm gonna shoot up hnms lol.' HMNS presumably stood for Holley Navarre Middle School. Other messages allegedly read 'I'm getting a wrath and natural selection shirt so maybe but I don't think many ppl know what the columbine shooters look like.' A noted in the report read 'Okay so it's been like 3-4 weeks since I got on my new antidepressants and they aren't working but they're suppose to by now so I have no hope in getting better so why not kill the losers at school.' The boy allegedly said he planned to carry out his shooting before spring break, but pushed it back to March 31. Jones has framed the arrest as a retaliatory attempt to silence her after filing her lawsuit against the state. 'It's been three weeks since we filed our lawsuit against the state. Last night, they arrested my son for non- threatening snapchat memes. The officer said it was the state's call,' she wrote. 'My family is not safe. My son has been taken on the gov's orders, and I've had to send my husband and daughter out of state for their safety. THIS is the reality of living in DeSantis' Florida. There is no freedom here. Only retaliatory rule by a fascist who wishes to be king.' Jacinta Price has criticised the ABC for allowing Indigenous activist and Voice to Parliament supporter Noel Pearson 16 minutes of uninterrupted airtime to attack Peter Dutton. The Opposition Leader this week formally opposed the Voice in a move which Mr Pearson described as a 'Judas'-style 'betrayal of the country' on radio on Thursday. Now, Northern Territory senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has described the segment as divisive and an example of 'partisan political point scoring'. 'Anytime anyone like me or Peter Dutton asks a question or expresses some scepticism about what would be the biggest ever change to our constitution, the ABC goes straight to their contact list of Voice activists to trot out their divisive political talking points,' Ms Price told the Daily Telegraph. 'They let Voice activists label their opponents racist, call them names, and launch into partisan political point scoring all while accusing the 'no' side of stoking division.' The ABC hit back with a statement of their own, insisting interviewer Patricia Karvelas at multiple times during the interview referred back to Mr Dutton's reasons for opposing the Voice. 'Anytime anyone like me or Peter Dutton asks a question or expresses some scepticism about what would be the biggest ever change to our constitution, the ABC goes straight to their contact list of Voice activists to trot out their divisive political talking points,' NT Senator Jacinta Price said of the ABC interview with Noel Pearson 'Previous editions of RN Breakfast have featured interviews with senior Coalition MPs and other prominent figures including Julian Leeser, Paul Fletcher, Barnaby Joyce, Sussan Ley, Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe and business advisor and commentator Warren Mundine,' an ABC spokesperson said. 'It should also be noted Mr Dutton was interviewed just prior to Mr Pearson on the AM program.' Mr Dutton revealed on Wednesday the Liberal Party would oppose Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's policy in its current form - a decision the PM described as a significant blow in the lead up to the referendum. Ken Wyatt, the former minister for Indigenous Australians, quit the Liberal party in protest. On the back of the announcement - which did not come as a surprise to many after weeks of Mr Dutton and senior Liberals questioning the mechanics of the Voice - Mr Pearson revealed he was struggling to sleep. Indigenous activist and Voice to Parliament supporter Noel Pearson condemned Peter Dutton for his 'Judas betrayal of the country' in opposing the Voice 'I couldn't sleep, I was troubled by dreams and the Dutton Liberal party's Judas betrayal of our country,' he told RN Breakfast. 'I have a great belief that the Liberal Party and Dutton are greatly out of step with the sentiment of the Australian people... this is more about [Dutton's] calculations of Liberal v. Labor, rather than what's good for the country. 'He doesn't mind chucking Indigenous Australians and the future of the country under the bus to preserve his miserable political hide... and it's sad.' Mr Albanese said he was disappointed but not surprised by the Liberals' decision and took aim at Peter Dutton's suggestion the party would support symbolic constitutional recognition for Indigenous people without the element of the Voice. 'It appears some people don't want a Voice; they'd rather have a whisper,' Mr Albanese said, noting it is a blow not to have bipartisan support on the matter and it would make it more difficult for the referendum to succeed. The Liberal party room voted on Wednesday to reject the government's proposed model for the Voice in favour of establishing local and regional Voices which would be legislated but not embedded in the Constitution Aboriginal leader Noel Pearson argued the Coalition had 11 years in power to enact a 'proper proposal for recognition' The Liberal Party room voted on Wednesday to reject the government's proposed model for an indigenous body, known as the Voice, which would be formally recognised in the constitution and give advice on any proposed laws which affected Aboriginal and Torres Strait people. The Liberals will now campaign against the Voice in the upcoming referendum and instead propose local and regional Voices which would be legislated but not embedded in the constitution. But Mr Pearson argued the Coalition had 11 years in power to enact a 'proper proposal for recognition'. 'I see the leader of the Liberal Party Peter Dutton as an undertaker, preparing the grave to bury Uluru and I think that that is a very sad day for Australia that we can't have bi-partisanship in this important national enterprise.' Anthony Albanese says he knows Liberal frontbenchers who want to support a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous Voice to parliament Mr Dutton said he thinks the Voice will divide Australia and will not support it in its current form Poll Do you understand the purpose of the PM's proposed Voice to Parliament? YES NO Do you understand the purpose of the PM's proposed Voice to Parliament? YES 245 votes NO 1946 votes Now share your opinion Mr Pearson said it was important that supporters of the Voice 'meet hate with love, fear with understanding, face negativity with hope' and, most importantly, 'not contemplate failure'. He refuses to believe this decision will be reflected in a referendum later this year and that the Voice to Parliament will be voted down. 'It's never going to happen... Peter Dutton's decision will highly motivate people. It makes very clear what the decision is,' he said. Mr Albanese spoke further to the decision on Thursday morning, accusing Mr Dutton and his party of 'taking the low road'. 'This pretence of ''we are up for discussion'' whereas everyone knows that from day one, Peter Dutton, the person who walked out on the apology to Stolen Generations... is now walking away from his responsibilities. 'He is defined by what he is against, not what he is for. He has not learned or heard any of the messages that were given in May last year or in Aston on Saturday. He is determined to just be negative.' Key moderates Andrew Bragg and Bridget Archer were quick to break ranks to signal their support for the Voice after their party room agreed to allow backbenchers a conscience vote on the matter. Ms Archer almost immediately confirmed she would defy the party line and campaign for a 'yes' vote and said the Liberals' verdict on the Voice was the latest in a series of decisions which had tested her faith in the party. The outspoken Tasmanian backbencher, who has crossed the floor to vote with Labor in the past, told the ABC after the party room meeting that she thought the Voice was worth fighting for and there was a 'moral imperative' to back the proposal. The Albanese government has maintained that amending the Constitution is the form of recognition Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders asked for in the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart Since confirming the wording of the question that will be asked of all Australians in the referendum later this year, the Prime Minister has been inundated with questions from political opponents, the media and the general public about the scope of power the Voice will hold Senator Bragg released a statement saying he maintained an open mind as a long-term supporter of the Voice 'concept', adding he was committed to achieving the 'best' possible constitutional amendment to both empower communities and protect 'institutional framework'. 'The process to date has been poor, but that is not a good enough reason to oppose the referendum in my opinion,' Senator Bragg said. Senator Bragg and Ms Archer will be allowed to support the referendum because neither of them sits on the Opposition frontbench. But Liberals in the shadow cabinet will have to oppose the Voice, meaning any MPs who support the proposal will need to fall in line behind the Coalition's position or resign from their frontbench positions. Speaking after the Liberals' party room meeting on Wednesday, the Prime Minister said he was aware of shadow ministers who would like to cross the floor to support the government's proposal. 'But it's a matter for them,' Mr Albanese told ABC Radio Sydney. Later on Wednesday, Mr Albanese told ABC's Hack radio program he had met with Mr Dutton 'in good faith' on seven occasions to discuss the Voice. In publicly confirming his decision on Wednesday, Mr Dutton said: 'I don't think this is in our country's best interests. 'I have spent literally months, like many Australians, trying to understand what it is the Prime Minister is proposing. We cannot get the basic detail out of them. We think it is deliberate. We are waiting, waiting for advice.' A high school psychology teacher in Florida was fired after he assigned his students a task where they wrote their own obituaries ahead of an active shooter drill at the school. Jeffrey Keane taught at Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando until this week, when his lesson apparently went too far. He asked the students: 'If they died 24 hours from now, what would they do differently than they did yesterday?' Keene wanted to use the drill to teach his students about safety and thinking about the important things in life. Students were asked to write a paper on how they perceived the drill and wanted them to answer multiple questions. Jeffrey Keane taught psychology at Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando until this week, when his lesson apparently went too far He asked the students: 'If they died 24 hours from now, what would they do differently than they did yesterday?' 'Why is the United States having so many mass shootings? What kind of positive actions can we take to decrease the number of mass shootings?' and 'How, if at all, has this mass shooting epidemic affected you as a person in your plans for the future?' A student in his first-period class apparently became upset and asked to speak to a counselor and he was soon fired after a school official lectured him. The teacher was then offered a chance to resign from his job without violating his contract. 'I said, 'I didn't do anything wrong.' I said, 'If I did, tell me what it is.' They said, 'We can't do that.' I said, 'In that case, since I don't know what I did wrong, you can go ahead and terminate me without cause.' They then did that on Tuesday, shocking Keene, who made several Facebook posts in protest of the decision. 'I'm a bit confused by this. Have our schools put more emphasis on censoring and entitlement than preparing these 'young adults' for 'the world in which we live'?' He added that the lesson was for 10th through 12th graders, the sophomore through senior classes at the public school. Keene also noted that he'd put a disclaimer at the end of the assignment saying that this was 'in no way to upset you.' A student in his first-period class apparently became upset and asked to speak to a counselor and Keene was soon fired after a school official lectured him Dr. Phillips High School fired Keene on Tuesday, shocking him. He made several Facebook posts in protest of the decision Keene also noted that he'd put a disclaimer at the end of the assignment saying that this was 'in no way to upset you' The psychology teacher had tried to explain himself and the assignment but it was not enough. Keene told Fox 35: 'I was stunned. I was talking to students about the world they live in. Gun safety, active shooters.' A spokesperson for the school told the Miami Herald Keene was a 'probationary employee' who had been terminated, but did not elaborate on his firing. Keene has promised to appeal his termination. Four people have died and another taken to hospital following a tragic Good Friday car crash involving two utes. Police were called at around 6:45am on Friday morning after reports of a crash during heavy rain on the Barton Highway near Casuarina Lane at Jeir, near Murrumbateman in New South Wales', north of Canberra. The highway has been closed in both directions since around 7am after emergency services from both ACT and NSW, including three rescue helicopters, attended the scene. Holiday traffic was seen to quickly build up either side of the accident scene. On arrival at the scene officers from Hume Police District found a Ford Ranger utility and a Mitsubishi Triton utility had collided. 'The driver, a 52-year-old woman, and the front passenger, a 54-year-old man, travelling in the Mitsubishi died at the scene,' a statement from NSW Police reads. 'The driver and a rear passenger of the Ford Ranger all men believed to be aged in their 20s also died at the scene. 'They have not been formally identified.' The Easter Weekend is off to horror start after two cars collided at around 6:45am, Friday, on the Barton Highway, leaving four people dead and another injured and in hospital Another male passenger of the Ford was treated by NSW Ambulance at the scene and has been taken to hospital. The man, believed to be in his 20s, is understood to be in a critical condition. NSW Fire and Rescue attempted to 'cut out' several passengers who were trapped in the wreckage at around 8:30am. A crime scene has been established and police are conducting investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash. As inquiries continue, anyone with dashcam vision or further information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Emergency services, including three rescue helicopters, attended the scene at around 7am and closed the Barton Highway in both directions shortly after Emergency services had to 'cut out' several passengers that were trapped within the wreckage at about 8:30am Emergency services have urged Easter travellers to avoid the highway as it could be closed in both directions for some time. Traffic NSW has advised those travelling southbound to divert to Murrumbateman Road and Sutton Road and join the Federal Highway in Canberra. Those travelling northbound from Canberra on the Federal Highway should use Sutton Road and connect to Murrumbateman Road to avoid the crash and then rejoin the Barton Highway. Easter travellers are urged to avoid the Barton Highway near Murrumbateman in New South Wales, just north of Canberra, as the highway will be closed 'for some time' Royal Mail managers and union bosses are heading for last-ditch talks over the weekend after sources said a deal to end the industrial dispute was 'half' done. The 507-year-old company faced a deepening crisis earlier this week when pay talks with the Communication Workers Union (CWU), which represents around 115,000 postal workers, ended after 11 months without an agreement. But last night the union appeared to offer an olive branch to the beleaguered company, defying predictions it would call more strikes or ask members to vote against a new pay offer. CWU general secretary Dave Ward said: 'By far the best option... is to reach an agreement with the company.' He also said the current hiatus could not go on 'beyond next week', raising the prospect of more walkouts being announced after Easter. The 507-year-old company faced a deepening crisis earlier this week when pay talks with the Communication Workers Union (CWU), which represents around 115,000 postal workers, ended after 11 months without an agreement CWU general secretary Dave Ward (pictured) said: 'By far the best option... is to reach an agreement with the company' A union source said they 'remain hopeful that some resolution... can still be found in the coming days'. Another source said: 'There is half a deal ready. Negotiations over the Easter weekend are a possibility.' Under Royal Mail's revised pay deal, workers are being offered a 10 per cent rise over three years with a lump sum of either 500 or 1,500. The CWU's reconciliatory tone followed a warning from Royal Mail which suggested the union's chiefs were 'becoming more comfortable' with the business falling into administration after it admitted it was losing more than 1million per day. In a letter to union bosses, the company said it was 'not correct' for the union to tell members that re-nationalisation would automatically follow if the company collapsed. This is because legally Royal Mail could be placed into special administration at the request of Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch or the regulator Ofcom. The dispute saw employees walk out for 18 days last year, costing the company hundreds of millions of pounds despite raising prices. Friends of socialite Petronella Wyatt, 54, suggest she'd be a suitable fifth bride for media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, 92, who apparently hates being on his own but has terminated his engagement to feisty Californian holy roller Ann Lesley Smith, 66. Murdoch and Ms Wyatt's late father, former Labour MP Lord Wyatt of Weeford, were friends, I am told. 'The widowed Lady Wyatt, Verushka, still talks fondly of Rupert. As for Petronella she was heavily influenced by Woodrow. She enjoys all the old Hollywood movies and music he liked. Also she is drawn to older men. The less said about her disappointing affair with Boris Johnson the better.' Friends of socialite Petronella Wyatt, 54, (left) suggest she'd be a suitable fifth bride for media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, 92 (right) Photos of Sir Paul McCartney, 80, smoking a 'suspicious-looking cigarette' with fans in LA recall his arrest in Japan in 1980 for marijuana possession, for which he was jailed for nine days. John Lennon was amused to hear his Beatles rival was forced to sing their song Yesterday ('All my troubles seemed so far away') for prison guards. The new waxwork of King Charles, pictured, at the Paris equivalent of Madame Tussauds, the Musee Grevin, disappoints some visitors. 'No wonder he cancelled his visit to Paris,' says one. I don't think it's that bad. If anything it enhances our monarch's looks. Our own Madame Tussauds Blackpool's waxwork of him, due in June, might easily be worse. The waxwork of Britain's King Charles III is unveiled during a presentation at the Grevin wax museum in Paris, France, March 24, 2023 Ex-glamour model Jilly Johnson, 69, says she may pose naked to mark her 70th birthday later this year. However she does have one grandmotherly preoccupation. 'I have recently taken up knitting,' she tells Femail Magazine, adding: 'Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood put me on to the joys of it when I sat next to him on a flight.' President Joe Biden's decision not to attend the Coronation is not unusual. It's customary to send representatives. In 1953 President Eisenhower, who actually knew the Queen and her father well, sent a four-member Special Delegation to attend her coronation. Moreover Biden will get a better view of proceedings on TV. At the Queen's funeral he was in Westminster Abbey's row 14 facing a forest of hats. President Joe Biden's (pictured) decision not to attend the Coronation is not unusual. It's customary to send representatives The Guardian's headline yesterday 'Royals took 1.2billion in private income from estates' is old, cold fried potatoes. The suggestion we are being taken for a ride might be applied to the paper itself. The Guardian Media Group received 619million for its shares in the used-car group Auto Trader. But it still begs cash donations from its readers. The Coronation in May will have an interesting distinction. It will be the first time two known adulterers will be crowned. Camilla will become the first maitresse-en-titre to be crowned since Henry VIII wed Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour. My historic adviser points out: 'But they both made King Hal wait for his oats until he'd put a ring on their fingers.' Militant dissidents could attack Northern Irish police officers with guns and explosives on Easter Monday, the day before President Joe Biden's visit, an assistant chief constable warned. The Police Service of Northern Ireland has received 'strong intelligence' that dissidents plan to launch terror attacks against its officers in Londonderry over the Bank holiday, Bobby Singleton said. The force plans to deploy strategies that have not been used in years to counter the threat, including moving back-office personnel to frontline roles. The warning comes ahead of Mr Biden's visit to Belfast on Tuesday. The US president, whose trip marks 25 years since the Good Friday agreement, will travel to Dublin, County Louth and County Mayo in the days that follow. The Police Service of Northern Ireland has received 'strong intelligence' that dissidents plan to launch terror attacks against its officers in Londonderry, Bobby Singleton (right) said Dissidents could attack Northern Irish police officers with guns and explosives on Easter Monday, the day before President Joe Biden's visit, police said Last week, MI5 raised the terror threat level in Northern Ireland to severe, meaning an attack is highly likely. This was following the gun attack in County Tyrone on senior detective John Caldwell. Police have said the New IRA were behind the attack. 'It's going to be a really significant weekend for the PSNI,' Assistant Chief Constable Singleton said. 'There is a real concern there may be attempts to draw police into serious public disorder and to use that as a platform to launch terrorist attacks on police... We've seen [explosives and guns] in the past and we will be prepared for all eventualities on Monday.' Prisoners could be held on boats under new plans being considered by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, according to Government sources. The plan is part of an initiative to tackle over-crowding in Britain's jails, Government insiders said. It comes after the Home Office confirmed this week migrants would be housed on barges as a cheaper alternative to hotels. But the plan has sparked fears it would be unsafe and cost millions to refit boats with prison security. Talks were understood to be at an early stage and officials have been asked to see if the plans could work, according to the Sun. Prisoners could be held on boats under new plans being considered by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (pictured), according to Government sources The prison population of England and Wales quadrupled in size between 1900 and 2018 roughly half of this increase taking place since 1990. HMP Pentonville was recently said to be at almost double its capacity, with 1,205 inmates in a prison built in 1842 for 520 inmates. The latest prison count for the week up to Friday, March 31, shows the number of people incarcerated in Britain was 84,372. The British prison population is expected to increase sharply to 99,700 by 2027, figures show. The prison ship HMP Weare in Portland Docks, Dorset, was used between 1997 to 2005 and held 400 criminals. But the Home Office closed it down after it was deemed 'unnecessary' and too costly to maintain. Prisoners and staff complained it was claustrophobic. Don Wood, of the Prison Officers Association for the Weare, told the Guardian at the time: 'It did feel cramped - a bit like the cabin decks of a cross-channel ferry. 'The cells with sea views were okay, but others had no natural light so conditions were pretty miserable. The ventilation system was very old and starting to wear and it was noisy.' The prison ship HMP Weare (pictured) in Portland Docks, Dorset, was used between 1997 to 2005 and held 400 criminals The Home Office confirmed on Wednesday the 'Bibby Stockholm' barge would be used to accommodate up to 500 migrants in Portland, Dorset. Immigration minister Robert Jenrick hailed the move as part of Government efforts to trim down the current 6million-a-day cost of housing asylum seekers in hotels. The barge would provide 'basic and functional accomodation' as well as healthcare and catering facilities, according to the Home Office. There will also be around-the-clock security on board to 'minimise the disruption to local communities'. But the plan has also faced fierce opposition from both MPs and migrants who have raised concerns. South Dorset MP Richard Drax, a Tory backbencher, is threatening legal action against the plan to anchor the flat-bottomed craft in Portland Harbour. Mr Drax said the barge was being 'dumped' on Dorset's door without consultation by the Home Office as he urged Home Secretary Suella Braverman to scrap the idea. He said: 'Every option is being looked at including legal action. We want to get this consigned to the dustbin before anythings signed. 'We want to activate ourselves and say "look Home Secretary, sorry, this is not the right place, can you please cancel this".' Mr Drax also raised concerns about the practicality of keeping hundreds of vulnerable individuals in a 'very, very restricted area' - placing extra pressure on the ports 'very small' police force - as well as the impact on businesses in the seaside resort of Weymouth. The Bibby Stockholm barge will provide 'basic and functional accomodation' as well as healthcare and catering facilities, according to the Home Office There will also be around-the-clock security on board to 'minimise the disruption to local communities', according to the Home Office The barge can house 506 people but has caused fierce opposition from both MPs and migrants who have raised concerns South Dorset MP Richard Drax, a Tory backbencher, is threatening legal action against the plan to anchor the flat-bottomed craft in Portland Harbour A group of migrants also suggested yesterday they would rather live rough than be housed on the vessel. One told Sky News he feared the planned Dorset barge was a holding facility for those destined to be sent to Rwanda. A Sudanese refugee called Imad told the broadcaster: 'I don't want to go... I would rather go homeless.' A second, called Sadam, added that he 'can't move' and urged people to protest outside his hotel. Meanwhile, Labour's shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the Home Office's announcement about the Bibby Stockholm was 'a sign of the Conservatives' 'total failure to clear the asylum backlog, tackle the criminal smuggling gangs or get any kind of grip on the system'. She added: 'This barge is in addition to hotels, not instead of them and is still more than twice as expensive as normal asylum accommodation. 'It will house just 0.3 per cent of the current Tory backlog which has sky-rocketed and is continuing to grow under the Conservatives. 'Until the Government takes serious action to clear the backlog, this problem is going to keep getting worse with more people in costly accommodation, not less.' A group of migrants also told Sky News they would rather live rough than be housed on the vessel Steve Valdez-Symonds, Amnesty International UKs refugee and migrant rights director, also said: 'Confining hundreds of people in isolation on a barge is just more of the political theatre that the Government has created to obscure its gross mismanagement of the asylum system. 'Along with the disastrous Rwanda scheme, all talk of barges, cruise ships and former military barracks should be abandoned. 'Anyone seeking asylum in this country should be housed in decent accommodation with proper facilities and, crucially, their claims should be properly and consistently processed.' He was trying to correct the mistake of a 30kg shipment meant for Germany Jonathan Parkhill, 55, from Clacton, was busted through his encrypted messages A drug baron branded the 'Escobar of Essex' has been jailed for 16 years after he bungled a 20million cocaine operation by mistakenly sending the narcotics to South Africa. Jonathan Parkhill, 55, originally of Clacton, Essex, was busted by investigators through his encrypted digital messages as he tried to correct the mistake of a 30kg shipment of the drug meant for Germany, which was seized in 2020. Another of his criminal escapades that year saw Parkhill and his right-hand man Kevin Hanley, 44, smuggle over 16million's worth of cocaine, about 500kg of it, to Belgium. According to The Sun, the money from that job was meant to be split between Parkhill and 'Colombian groups' - but the deal went south and his co-smuggler was beaten up as a result. Parkhill's arrest was upon his return to the UK at Heathrow Airport in 2021 as he flew back from Colombia, the home and base of infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar, the sole leader of the Medellin Cartel. Drug baron Jonathan Parkhill, 55, originally of Clacton, branded the 'Escobar of Essex' has been jailed for 16 years after he bungled a 20million cocaine operation by mistakenly sending the narcotics to South Africa Parkhill's arrest was upon his return to the UK at Heathrow Airport in 2021 as he flew back home from Colombia, the home and base of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar (pictured, his mugshot in 1977), the sole leader of the Medellin Cartel A source told the publication that Parkhill 'is one of the biggest drugs traffickers caught in the UK for a long time'. Hanley was 'held' not far from his home in Uxbridge, West London. Officers also reportedly found a sawn-off shotgun in the property. Appearing at Isleworth Crown Court, Parkhill and Hanley admitted conspiracy to import cocaine as well as admitting a 'string of other offences'. Parkhill was sentenced to 16 years in prison. Hanley was handed an 11-and-a-half year prison sentence. Their arrests were among 746 others as part of the National Crime Agency's Operation Venetic. Set up in 2020, the NCA's objective was to 'take down the encrypted communication platform EncroChat', which 'at the time was one of the largest providers of encrypted communication'. Parkhill was busted by investigators through his encrypted digital messages as he tried to correct the mistake of a 30kg shipment of the drug meant for Germany, which was seized in 2020. He was jailed for 16 years at Isleworth Crown Court (pictured, file photo) The EncroChat system used modified Android phones and cost 1,500 for just six months of use. Handsets could only communicate with other identical phones. They only had the special chat app on them, apart from a currency converter to help calculate profit on deals. There were thought to be 10,000 users in the UK, with an estimated 60,000 worldwide. A Brazilian pro surfer has been filmed brutally punching an American woman several times in the head after she clashed with his friend over a wave in Indonesia. US national Sara Taylor and Brazilian Adriano Portela were both surfing in Uluwatu, in Bali's south-west, on Wednesday when they caught the same wave at the same time. Both believing they had the right of way, a brief skirmish broke out as the pair bumped into one another as they mounted their boards before Portela bailed and left the wave to Ms Taylor. But outraged on behalf of his mate Portela, professional surfer Joao Paulo 'JP' Azevedo was not prepared to let bygones be bygones and instead launched a violent attack on the female surfer. Footage posted online shows Azevedo paddling over to Ms Taylor and punching her in the back of the head as she swam back towards the surf line up. Azevedo, Portela and their entourage then pursued Sara and her British friend Charlie McCharg once they were all back on shore to continue their assault. American Sara Taylor (pictured) was attacked by Brazilian surfer Joao Paulo 'JP' Azevedo in Bali on Wednesday 'Don't film me!' Azevedo screams, before appearing to throw his fist into Sara's face and then yank her towel from her shoulder. The group of eight men can then be seen surrounding the women, with one appearing to kick Ms McCharg's motorbike and push Ms Taylor. Ms Taylor can be heard screaming 'go away' at the men before the clip cuts out. The video of the savage attack has gone viral and outraged the surfing community - with big names including 11-time World Surf League champion Kelly Slater and Australian pro surfer Felicity Palmateer condemning the men's 'disgusting' behaviour. 'This is so disgusting and actually terrifying,' Palmateer wrote. 'I hope youre alright. Get these guys deported ASAP!' Tagging friends who live in Bali in his post, Kelly Slater wrote: 'Do you guys know these guys? What's the deal?' 'Get this guy [Azevedo] sent home where he belongs.' Footage shows Joao Paulo 'JP' Azevedo paddling over to Ms Taylor and punching her in the back of the head His attack continued on shore as he yelled at the American women and demanded they stop filming him Brazilian professional surfer Filipe Toledo offered his apologies and sent his well wishes to Sara and Charlie. 'Im sorry that happened to you guys!' Toledo said. 'Hope you guys are ok! Dont stress with people with this kind of energy! They dont last long, life will come back to them!' Azevedo and Portela's identities were unknown when the video was first published - but the pair were quickly outed as the men in the vision by internet sleuths. While he has not competed on the World Surf League, Azevedo is a star surfer in Brazil, having won titles in the national Espirito Santo competition in the beginner, child, junior, and professional divisions. He was invited to Indonesia to make a surfing documentary in 2019 and, despite filming being delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he fell in love with the area and relocated permanently. On Thursday, Azevedo's sponsor Quebra Onda announced they were dumping him as a result of the incident. 'After becoming aware of the unfortunate events that have occurred, reiterates that we repudiate all kinds of violence being mainly against women,' the brand said in a statement. Azevedo, who lives in Bali with his wife and child, has since been dumped by his sponsor A group of angry men were filmed surrounding and intimidating the women as they tried to leave the beach 'Having this type of behavior inadmissible, we inform you that we have made the immediate decision to end our partnership with the athlete JP Azevedo.' Azevedo - who boasts more than 2,000 fans online - has shutdown his Instagram account in the wake of his viral infamy. However, speaking to a Brazillian media outlet on Thursday, Azevedo claimed he hit Ms Taylor because she looked like a man. 'I didnt know she was a woman. She surfed like a man, dressed like a man,' he told Globo. 'She was riding everyones wave, she wasnt respecting anyone. She went with my friends wave and pushed my friend out of the loop. 'I went to ask why she had done that to my friend. She went by and threw water in my face, cursed me. And then I lost my mind due to momentary stress and ended up attacking her. I lost my reason. After I attacked her I saw that it was a woman. She was wearing a T-shirt and I couldnt see her bra. Soon after I apologized, a friend of mine came paddling up and I said, Calm down, its a woman. In a video later posted on YouTube, Azevedo said he was 'deeply sorry and ashamed' about what happened but claimed he was the true victim. He said the video posted online did not show the whole story and that its publication 'put me in a dangerous position'. 'I saw a surfer push my friend and went to ask [them] why [they did it] and got punched on my face and then I retaliated,' he claimed. 'Then I realised it was a woman. Then I got out of the sea to apologise. 'They took my board inside the car.. I went to get my board back defending myself from attacks.. And in between attacks I also attacked.' Meanwhile, Portela fired up his social media on Thursday to issue a lengthy statement apologising about the ordeal. 'I would like to make it clear for everyone what happened,' he began. 'I have not hit or touched anyone. I spoke and acted with anger and disrespect. 'Im deeply ashamed and sorry for how I acted.' While Sara said in a post online that Portela 'dropped in' on her wave, Portela claimed he was the one 'pushed out' - but said he only yelled and did not physically abuse the women. Surfing legend Kelly Slater was among those who called on Azevedo to be deported after he punched Ms Taylor Fellow surfers - including Mick Fanning, comedian Ivy miller and Othmane Chouf - weighed in on the incident Former ormer British surfing champion Laura Crane slammed the men for attacking Ms Taylor 'Unfortunately after that a punch was thrown in the water, however not by me and I was not involved in it happening,' he said. 'I continued surfing and noticed a fight between the girl who pushed me out of the wave, her girlfriend and my friend who threw the punch in the water. 'I swam out of the water to see what was happening and not fully understanding what had happened I lost my temper and spoke with disrespect towards the girls and acted in a disgusting way that I'm very ashamed of.' Portela said he has never assaulted anyone and the video 'does not show everything that happened. However, he said that he accepted that his behaviour was wrong and there was 'no excuse' for the way he spoke to the women. 'I have reached out to the girls to apologise and try to make amends,' he said. 'Thank you and Im sincerely sorry for what happened.' A Bali Police spokesperson confirmed to local media outlet Coconuts Ms Taylor and Ms McCharg had reported the matter to South Kuta Police. '[Taylor] suffered bruises on the back of her head and felt nauseous,' spokesman Stefanus Satake Bayu Setianto said. '[McCharg] suffered bruises on her legs.' Bayu said both Portela and Azevedo live in Uluwatu and the matter would be investigated by Bali Water Police. Dutton still has plenty of support within party A handful of senior state and federal Liberal politicians are scratching their heads over Peter Dutton's decision to formally oppose the Voice to Parliament in a sign the position could divide the party. Ken Wyatt, the former Minister for Indigenous Australians, resigned over the stance on Thursday, saying: 'I still believe in the Liberal party values but I don't believe in what the Liberals have become. 'Aboriginal people are reaching out to be heard but the Liberals have rejected their invitation.' And Tasmanian backbencher Bridget Archer also considered handing in her resignation, but opted to stay in an attempt to continue supporting the Voice from within the party. 'It is going to be an unpleasant and divisive road ahead if that continues, and we should collectively stand to reject that,' she said. 'I stay because I think the Liberal Party is at a crossroads. And for people like me, that means that there's a decision between either walking away and leaving them to it, if you like, or fighting for what I believe the Liberal Party used to be and what it should be into the future.' Ken Wyatt, the former Minister for Indigenous Australians, already resigned over the stance on Thursday, saying: 'I still believe in the Liberal Party values but I don't believe in what the Liberals have become' Tasmanian backbencher Bridget Archer also considered handing in her resignation, but opted to stay in an attempt to continue supporting the Voice from within the party Fellow backbencher Andrew Bragg has reportedly registered his concern over the decision to formally oppose the Voice, and was among a handful of members to suggest a conscience vote. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff - the last Liberal state premier in office - also opposed Mr Dutton by revealing he would campaign 'vigorously' for the Voice. Peter Dutton has committed to opposing the Voice at the referendum He told The Australian 'My views are clear: this is a pivotal moment in our nation's history. I fully support the Voice being enshrined in the Australian Constitution. I welcome discussion around the wording. 'I recognise and respect there are differing opinions (but) I will campaign vigorously for a Yes vote as I passionately believe it is an important opportunity for all Australians to move forward in unity and understanding.' West Australian Opposition Leader Shane Love has also confirmed he supports a constitutionally enshrined Voice. Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto said he and his party still have an 'open mind' on the matter, as did Queensland Liberal leader David Crisafulli. South Australia in March introduced its own Voice to parliament in a move that was hailed as historic. But Mr Dutton said he'd given Prime Minister Anthony Albanese 'literally months' to provide more detail on the questions he asked about the proposal. 'We cannot get the basic detail out of them. We think it is deliberate. We are waiting, waiting for advice,' he said. I dont think this is in our countrys best interest.' Since confirming the wording of the question that will be asked of all Australians in the referendum later this year, the Prime Minister has been inundated with questions from political opponents, the media and the general public about the scope of power the Voice will hold Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull was withering in his response to the saga, telling followers he and his wife, Lucy, would also 'be voting yes' to the Voice when the referendum takes place later this year. 'A big hug for Ken from me too,' he said, referring to Mr Wyatt's resignation from the party. 'He is a wise history making leader and now with a referendum to win. We will be voting YES with millions of Australians.' Poll Do you understand the purpose of the PM's proposed Voice to Parliament? YES NO Do you understand the purpose of the PM's proposed Voice to Parliament? YES 245 votes NO 1946 votes Now share your opinion Mrs Turnbull revealed she does not financially support the Liberal Party in any way and will soon no longer be a member whatsoever when her membership formally lapses in June. She said: 'My father was an MP in the federal Liberal Party in the 1960s-70s. It is not like it was back then, even the same as a few years ago. Liberalism seems to have died. I wish there had been a conscience vote for the Voice as there was for Marriage Equality and the Republican referendum.' Since rolling out the wording of the question that will be asked of all Australians in the referendum later this year, the PM has appeared intent on not getting bogged down in the nitty-gritty of the Voice. He's swatted away questions about whether the Voice could provide an input on climate, defence or foreign affairs matters and slammed anyone questioning his pet project as 'disingenuous'. Political commentator and professor of politics and public policy, Peter van Onselen, told Daily Mail Australia the PM appears to be relying on community goodwill and his own popularity to gain support for the Voice. 'He's in a bind because not answering questions makes it look like he's concerned about providing details... but I think he knows that if he answers these questions, it only raises more questions and possibly more concerns,' he said. The Albanese government has maintained that amending the constitution is the form of recognition Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders asked for in the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart 'He's hoping to carry the Voice on his personal popularity and community goodwill toward Indigenous Australians rather than because people are relaxed and comfortable about the contents of the policy.' Mr Albanese says the body will have a say in all matters relating to First Nations people, but this can be interpreted in many ways depending on who is asked. And there are plenty within the Liberal party who have backed Mr Dutton's take on the matter. Shadow Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews accused the PM of 'going out of his way to avoid answering questions on the detail of the Voice' prior to her party confirming its stance. 'We are seeing the Prime Minister very clearly refusing to answer questions, being very aggressive in his responses, trying to diminish the shadow attorney general, trying to belittle him, trying to de-legitimize the questions that are being asked of him,' Ms Andrew said. 'That is appalling behaviour by the Prime Minister. 'If he is so strong that the Voice is the appropriate way forward, it, he should be out there advocating for it, providing the details so that Australians have the information to make the decision.' Senator Jacinta Price is another outspoken critic of the Voice, arguing it won't address real problems in communities that genuinely need additional support. Rishi Sunak will not take action against an ex-chief whip accused of telling a Muslim MP her faith was 'making colleagues feel uncomfortable' after she was sacked from the frontbench. Mark Spencer, now a farming minister, allegedly told Nus Ghani her 'Muslimness was an issue' during a meeting in 2020 after she was removed as transport minister. An investigation by the Prime Minister's ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus found it was 'not possible to conclude' whether such comments were made. Mark Spencer (pictured), now a farming minister, allegedly told Nus Ghani her 'Muslimness was an issue' during a meeting in 2020 after she was removed as transport minister In his report, he wrote: 'I do not believe... that the shortcomings identified in Mr Spencer's response to Ms Ghani's concerns amount to a clear failure to meet the standards set out in the Ministerial Code.' Mr Sunak last night said that 'in the absence of clear evidence, it would not be right to take further action'. Trigger warnings have been given to university students reading Dracula to prepare them for its 'descriptions of spiders and other insects'. On top of content warnings for creepy crawlies, academics at the University of Greenwich helpfully tell readers to expect 'the supernatural' in Bram Stoker's classic Gothic horror about a Transylvanian vampire. Published in 1897, the novel is one of the most famous works of English literature ever written and has been studied at universities across the world for decades. But those studying for English degrees at Greenwich are now warned about the 'misogyny' in Stoker's text, which contains vampire brides as well as scenes of the titular Count Dracula attacking the female characters, Mina and Lucy. The character of Renfield, an asylum inmate, busies himself with eating spiders, insects and birds - which may account for the university's trigger warning of 'animal abuse'. Students reading Dracula are being given 'trigger warnings' to prepare them for its 'descriptions of spiders and other insects'. Pictured: Christopher Lee as Dracula in 1972 Documents from Greenwich's English department advise readers that a Gothic literature module 'by its nature contains elements that students might find disturbing'. The content warning specific to Dracula states: 'Violence, death, murder, child abduction and death, depictions of mental illness, misogyny, the supernatural, imprisonment, references to suicide, animal abuse, descriptions of spiders and other insects.' It is thought that similar warnings were introduced for other texts studied at Greenwich in 2021 on the request of students. Documents from Greenwich's English department advise readers that a Gothic literature module 'by its nature contains elements that students might find disturbing' Prof Dennis Hayes, an education expert at the University of Derby, told The Daily Telegraph: 'It is time to stop this nonsense and recognise that students are adults and can actually enjoy horror stories. 'Will nursery rhymes need trigger warnings next - students studying early childhood at the university might have to be warned about the horrors of Little Miss Muffet and Incy Wincy Spider? 'Trigger warnings seem innocuous but they create a climate in universities in which quite normal things are seen as anxiety-making.' The professor explained that the frequent use of trigger warnings can make students feel that going to university is 'a threatening and stressful experience'. He added: 'But universities with their exaggerated concern with wellbeing, mental health and being safe, over-protect and mollycoddle students. This mollycoddling is there at every level.' The University of Greenwich has previously said: 'It was agreed that content warnings should be included in reading lists so that students would be able to take them into account before encountering each text.' Woke protestors were accused of destroying a bible while screaming down a conservative speaker at the University of Albany on Tuesday. Conservative speaker Ian Haworth posted a picture of a crumpled up bible which he said protestors destroyed 'for no reason whatsoever' while they were shouting down his remarks about free speech on college campuses. He had been invited to the public university to speak by its chapter of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), an organization dedicated to promoting conservative politics founded by right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. But as he began his presentation, Haworth said a crowd of students 'stormed' into the room and began shouting profanities at him, calling him a fascist member of the KKK, and even forming a conga line and dance circle to prevent him from speaking. He noted that the protesters did help themselves to the event's pizza. Haworth was eventually able to continue his speech after law enforcement and faculty helped remove the disruptive students. In their 'official response' to the incident, the Young Democrat Socialists of America group which organized the protest said their removal was 'a clear suppression of free speech.' A protester screaming at the conservative event about free speech at the University of Albany Speaker Ian Haworth posted this picture of a bible that was destroyed during the protests Things started to get REAL weird when a conga line formed. Not one person seemed concerned that this is a traditional Cuban carnival dance, and is therefore an act of cultural appropriation.@TPUSA pic.twitter.com/REzH9clyq9 Ian Haworth (@ighaworth) April 5, 2023 Haworth took to Twitter to share photos and videos from the event, which showed a large group of people clearly preventing him from speaking by screaming and dancing, a tactic he referred to as 'the heckler's veto.' He wrote that his planned discussion was about how he felt 'free speech is being destroyed on college campuses.' 'Like clockwork, some deranged protesters showed up and used the heckler's veto to try and shut down the event,' he wrote. He posted videos of the protestors shouting things like 'F**k TPUSA,' 'Trans rights are human rights,' 'F**k Ian,' 'F**k you, fascists,' and 'No cops, no KKK, no TPUSA.' Haworth noted that he was Jewish. At one point, a woman could be seen screaming 'This is what free speech looks like.' In a video showing the protesters dancing in a conga line, Haworth wrote 'Not one person seemed concerned that this is a traditional Cuban carnival dance, and is therefore an act of cultural appropriation.' Haworth published a piece in the Washington Examiner reflecting on the event, in which he wrote 'It's spectacularly ironic that these students aggressively attempted to prevent free speech during an event dedicated to the importance of free speech on college campuses.' 'Yes, the event was able to proceed after several hours, but only after protesters were escorted away by police. The fact remains, as these activists demonstrated, that college campuses are no longer a place for ideas to flourish. They're where ideas go to die.' Last night, I was at the University of Albany to speak with @TPUSA. My argument: free speech is being destroyed on college campuses. And like clockwork, some deranged protesters showed up and used the heckler's veto to try and shut down the event. pic.twitter.com/NZdUgh2emm Ian Haworth (@ighaworth) April 5, 2023 Protestors dancing at at the event to prevent Ian Haworth from speaking about free speech Students turned the speech into a dance circle to prevent Haworth from speaking The University of Albany said it supports students protesting in 'a manner that promotes constructive dialogue' and supports its principles of free speech In their official response, the protesters accused Haworth of being an 'infamous transphobic alt-right figure,' and that his presence was a 'clear danger and significant threat to the many queer students at the University.' The group said 'students attended the event as a peaceful demonstration of queer solidarity and joy,' and that their rights to free speech were denied them when authorities later removed them so the event could continue. They insisted that was 'ironic considering that TPUSA and their guest Ian Haworth claim to uphold these rights.' After quoting a number of rules in the student handbook they claimed were violated in the removal of dancing and screaming students from a lecture, the group demanded the university install a number of gender affirming measures. They also asked that any pictures of videos of them at the protest be removed from the internet. In a statement to Fox News, the University of Albany said 'Consistent with the mission of an institution of higher learning, we expect members of our community to be able to voice their views in a manner that promotes constructive dialogue and honors UAlbany's commitment to freedom of expression.' 'This is especially important when it involves speech that members of our community find offensive or objectionable.' 'Our constitutional obligation to protect speech, even when that speech fundamentally conflicts with our core values, is a pillar of our democratic system. We are equally committed to fostering an environment in which all students feel safe and included and that the right to protest is also protected.' A transgender teen is in custody after authorities say they recovered a manifesto detailing her plan to attack three schools and churches in Colorado just four days after Audrey Hale murdered six people at the Covenant School in Nashville. William Whitworth, 19, who goes by the name Lilly and is referred to with female pronouns in arrest documents, was arrested on March 31. She was a student in the school district that she planned to attack between 2014 and 2016, authorities say. In a manifesto that was recovered in her home, Whitworth called Columbine killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold 'losers,' said that Sandy Hook shooter Adam Lanza was 'smart' and that ex-President Donald Trump was a 'con man.' She was also in possession of The Communist Manifesto. The suspect is charged with two counts of criminal attempt to commit murder in the first degree, criminal mischief, menacing and interference with staff, faculty or students of educational institutions. Police were called to Whitworth's home by the suspect's sister who reported that the suspect was exhibiting violent behavior and making threats. Someone at the home told responding officers that Whitworth was 'very upset' and had 'punched holes in a wall.' William Whitworth, 19, who goes by the name Lilly and is referred to with female pronouns in arrest documents A spokesperson for he 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office told the Colorado Springs Gazette that Whitworth is in the process of transitioning from male to female. All of the schools targeted by Whitworth have an armed school resource officer on campus who is a member of the Colorado Springs Police Department. DailyMail.com has learned that Whitworth's mother is registered homeschool teacher in the district. The officers who went to the suspect's home said that Whitworth was drunk, sitting on her bed, which had brown stained sheets. When asked if she planned to shoot up a school, she responded with a head nod, it is claimed. When asked why she wanted to do it, Whitworth allegedly replied: 'Why does anyone do it?' 'Once entering the home there was trash piled up all around the house to where it made it hard to walk inside. There were numerous containers filled with half eaten food with mold growing inside and numerous alcoholic beverage containers laying around the house,' one section of the arrest affidavit reads. Whitworth said that there was 'no specific reason' that she wanted to shoot up Timberview Middle School, a school where she was once a student, according to cops. She is said to have referred to Timberview as her 'main target.' Authorities have described Timberview Middle School as the shooter's main target In total, Whitworth spent just nine months in the school district that she was targeting She attended the school between August and October 2016. In total, Whitworth spent just nine months in the school district that she was targeting. Investigators searched the home and recovered Whitworth's four page rambling manifesto and a floor plan that was written on a dry erase board. Nearby, a notebook with a list of names was recovered. The suspect said that she had been planning her attack for the past two months, it is claimed. Among her alleged materials that police recovered were details on how to create and detonate bomb, as well as a list of guns and how to 3D print them. Police did not recover any guns at the home but did find firearm cleaning supplies. When asked by investigators if she was schizophrenic, Whitworth reportedly answered: 'I hope not.' Authorities recovered a copy of The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrick Engels among Whitworth's possessions. 'There's a page in my manifesto and there's a bunch of mass killers,' Whitworth said when asked how much she knew about other shootings. In that section, the suspect said that the Columbine shooters were 'losers' and that Sandy Hook shooter Adam Lanza was 'smart.' She also called far-right YouTuber Lauren Southern 'pathetic,' and left wing vlogger Vaush a 'terrorist.' Whitworth also called serial killer Israel Keyes a 'degenerate' and made disparaging remarks about police. The home where she was arrested is a five bedroom house that sprawls across nearly 4,000 square feet. Whitworth is being held on a $75,000 and will make her first appearance in court on May 5. Audrey Hale, 28, had detailed writings plotting her sick attack months before she butchered three kids and three adults at The Covenant School last week Her plans were uncovered just three days after transgender killed Audrey Hale, 28, killed three students and three staff members at a Christian school in Nashville. Hale legally bought seven weapons in recent years and hid the guns from their parents before carrying out the attack by firing indiscriminately at victims and spraying gunfire through doors and windows. She had drawn a detailed map of the school, including potential entry points, and conducted surveillance of the building before carrying out the massacre, authorities said. Hale, who is believed to have been living as a trans man called Aiden, did not target specific victims among them three 9-year-olds and the head of the school. Hale was under a doctor's care for an undisclosed emotional disorder and was not known to police before the attack, Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake said at a news conference. If police had been told that Hale was suicidal or homicidal, 'then we would have tried to get those weapons,' Drake said. 'But as it stands, we had absolutely no idea who this person was or if (Hale) even existed.' Tennessee does not currently have a red flag law, which lets police step in and take firearms away from people who threaten to kill, Colorado does have a law on the books in which guns can be confiscated for up to two weeks from persons who are deemed a 'significant risk.' A tourist has faced a backlash for filming a selfie with a dingo in the same place a six-year-old girl was mauled and held underwater by a wild dog. Video of the woman taking a selfie video with a dingo on K'gari, formerly Fraser Island, emerged online on Friday - thought it's not certain when it was filmed. The little girl was attacked on the holiday island's beach last Monday afternoon. The woman filmed herself as the dingo pounced, snarled and raised its tail - all signs of dominance testing. Before disembarking the ferry onto K'gari, tourists are repeatedly warned about the dangers of interacting with wild dogs and are urged to avoid dingoes at all costs. Still, the woman is all smiles as she films herself just metres from the dangerous animal. A woman has faced criticism after she filmed herself in close proximity with a dingo (above) on K'gari Hundreds of commenters were outraged by the woman's actions and called her out for posting the video. 'It's a golden rule on Fraser. Do not interact with the dingoes, in any way. It couldn't be more simpler. Ignore them!,' one person wrote. 'This is a perfect example of how it all goes wrong! They're not domesticated dogs,' another said. 'So much wrong with this. Another entitled act by someone not using their head,' a third wrote. 'Surely this has to be a tourist, surely by now Aussies aren't this stupid?' another commenter said. A fifth wrote: 'Leave the dingoes alone. They pay the ultimate price if something happens.' However, not everyone believed the dingo was being aggressive and defended the woman. The woman shared her video with the dingo (above) just days after a six-year-old girl nearly died from a dingo attack on the same island Commenters called the woman (above) 'entitled' and urged people to stay away from wild animals 'This dingo looked pretty friendly to me! She was not being intimate towards the dingo and it was not in group! I applaud her for having an awesome moment,' a commenter wrote. 'The dingo is being playful, not aggressive, but people shouldn't get to close or interact. It's a wild animal and should be respected as such,' another said. 'Australians so precious about a wild dog. If she gets bitten she will learn a life lesson,' a third person commented. In 2020 the Palaszczuk government increased penalties for those who intentionally feed, disturb or approach dingoes, hiking fines from a minimum of $2,135 per offence but potentially reach a maximum of $10,676. There is no suggestion the woman who filmed her interaction with the dingo fed or intentionally approached the dingo. Queensland Ambulance Service supervisor Martin Kelly said the number of attacks will likely increase as dingos become more comfortable around people. 'They learn behaviours, and the more they interact with humans, the less they become concerned about us,' he said. 'When they become more confident, they're more likely to attack people.' Roice says the Biden administration's words have forced them to relive their grief. Rylee had just gotten married, and his girlfriend was heavily pregnant Her brother Rylee was among 13 US military personnel killed in a Taliban bomb blast at Kabul airport , which also murdered 170 Afghan civilians Roice McCollum has slammed the Biden Administration's decision to blame the Trump White House for the chaotic August 2021 withdrawal A woman whose Marine brother was killed by the Taliban during the chaotic Afghan withdrawal has blasted the Biden administration for blaming the fiasco on Trump. Roice McCollum's brother Rylee McCollum, 20, died while guarding Kabul airport on August 26, 2021. The blast killed Rylee and 12 other members of the US military, as well as 170 Afghan civilians. McCollum, from Jackson, Wyoming, told DailyMail.com her family was angered by the Biden administration's report, which said the Trump Administration was at fault over the withdrawal. She said: 'This administration is a disgrace to this country. They are destroying America from the inside out. 'Of course Biden would blame it on Trump, he said a couple days ago they have to do everything in their power to keep Trump from getting elected again. It's just propaganda. They are trying to manipulate public opinion.' Roice McCollum, left, is pictured with her dad Jim, right, and a painting of her late brother Rylee. She has blasted the Biden administration's decision to blame the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan that led to her brother's death on the Trump White House team Rylee, pictured, was one of 13 US military personnel who died in the Kabul airport blast in August 2021. The bomb also killed 170 Afghan civilians trying to flee This photo shows the moment that the bomb which killed Rylee, his fellow military personnel, and the Afghan civilians went off at Kabul airport's Abbey Gate in August 2021 Asked how she and her family felt at Thursday's decision to blame Trump, McCollum said: 'This administration keeps twisting the dagger and blatantly stating they have zero remorse for the death and tragedy that took place under their leadership, or lack there of. 'Every time this administration is forced to acknowledge Biden's incompetence as commander in chief, we get to relive Rylee's unnecessary death.' Rylee was killed shortly after marrying his wife Jiennah Crayton, who was heavily pregnant with the couple's first child at the time. She gave birth three weeks later, to a daughter called Levi Rylee Rose McCollum. The grieving Wyoming sister spoke after the Biden team pointed to a series of failures from the Trump administration in preparing for the withdrawal. Those included agreeing excessively generous terms with the Taliban, and slow-walking the process of giving visas to those Afghans who merited evacuation to the United States, White House officials alleged. White House officials sparked controversy on Thursday after insisting harrowing footage of desperate Afghans falling from US planes and Taliban members shooting people on the streets was not 'chaotic'. Nearly three weeks after McCollum was killed in the ISIS-K blast in Afghanistan, his wife Gigi gave birth to the couple's daughter and named her Levi Rylee Rose in honor of her father Jiennah Crayton, who goes by Gigi, is pictured with her newborn daughter - named her after her father, who she will never meet McCollum married Gigi in February 2021, when the couple eloped to Las Vegas National Security Council spokesman John Kirby defended the Biden administration's actions in Kabul. Kirby said the administration was 'proud' of how U.S. forces carried out the withdrawal, as the Taliban toppled the American-backed Afghan government which the U.S. spent trillions, over 20 years, to keep stable. He also said that no member of the administration would be fired for what happened, insisting the investigation was not about 'accountability'. Their findings, released just minutes before President Joe Biden escaped to Camp David for Easter weekend, follow relentless pressure from veterans and Republicans for answers for the horrific scenes that unfolded more than 18 months ago. 'All this talk of chaos, I just don't see it,' said Kirby in a White House briefing. 'I just don't buy the whole argument of chaos.' Kirby said the president is 'proud' of the service personnel involved and no operation 'ever goes perfectly according to plan.' 'Nobody's saying that everything was perfect,' Kirby said. 'But there was a lot that went right. And a lot of Afghans are now living better lives in this country and other countries around the world, because of the sacrifices and the work of so many American government officials. 'So yeah, there's a lot to be proud of,' he added. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby defended the Biden administration's actions in Kabul during the disastrous withdrawal in August 2021, after releasing a report detailing the reasons why they think it unfolded Thirteen American service members died when the suicide bomber detonated explosives packed with ball bearings amid the chaos of the city's airport The US Marine Corps posted a photo to Twitter of the flag-draped caskets of their fallen brethren killed in the suicide bomb attack in Kabul, after the coffins arrived back on home soil on August 29, 2021 Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin echoed the sentiment of being 'proud' of U.S. service members in a statement he released on Thursday afternoon. 'Even on the hardest days, including August 26, 2021 when we tragically lost 13 of our finest, our force performed admirably under incredibly challenging conditions,' he said. Kirby noted that even though the 'mission changed' it 'doesn't mean that anybody who served in Afghanistan doesn't have something to be proud of.' 'Doesn't have...' he said, briefly choked up while finding his words, and then adding, 'Sorry, doesn't have, doesn't have service to this country that they can take with them the rest of their lives and feel honorable about it.' Both Kirby and the White House document characterized the decision-making process around the withdrawal as being 'deliberate, intensive, rigorous, and inclusive.' 'President Biden's choices for how to execute a withdrawal from Afghanistan were severely constrained by conditions created by his predecessor,' the White House report read. The administration said most of the after-action reviews were classified but would be transmitted privately to members of Congress. It then went on to give other reasons for pulling out, including 'America's goal was never to nation-build' and saying the U.S. presence there had 'unclear objectives and no end in sight.' 'All this talk of chaos, I just don't see it,' Kirby said in a White House briefing. 'I just don't buy the whole argument of chaos' The document notes that when Donald Trump took office in 2017 there were 10,000 troops in Afghanistan. Trump had drawn down troops from 8,600 in June 2020 to 4,500 in September 2020 to the remaining 2,500 when he left office. 'President Trump ordered direct talks with the Taliban without consulting with our allies and partners or allowing the Afghan government at the negotiating table,' the report states. 'In September 2019, President Trump emboldened the Taliban by publicly considering inviting them to Camp David on the anniversary of 9/11.' Kirby also noted that 'transitions matter' - alluding to the fact that Trump and his allies were contesting the election up until the inauguration. The bad blood made for a rocky transition period between the Republican and Democratic administrations. Afghan people climb on top of a plane as they wait at the Kabul airport on August 16, 2021 Some hundreds of people run alongside a U.S. Air Force C-17 transport plane as it moves down a runway of the international airport, in Kabul, Afghanistan on August 16. 2021 The document said the Biden White House was carrying out a Trump White House order to withdraw troops by summer 2021. They claimed the Trump team left them with 'no plans' for how to conduct the withdrawal of the last 2,500 troops who remained. Trump had made an agreement to withdraw troops by May 2021 but Biden promised to have them out by September. The document said Biden had to carry out the withdrawal Trump had agreed to, or the Taliban would begin attacks on U.S. forces. The document also blamed Trump for the backlog in special immigrant visa (SIV) processing, saying the previous administration's 'disregard and even hostility toward our commitment to Afghan allies' led to some 18,000 waiting for their visas to be processed. It said Trump had 'all but stopped' SIV interviews - despite making plans for withdrawal. Responding to reports the U.S. left billions in equipment in Afghanistan upon leaving, Kirby said: 'It's their stuff ... it belongs to the Afghans.' He added: 'This idea...is just ludicrous. That we left millions of dollars of stuff in Afghanistan - we didn't!' He likened it to the security aid the U.S. has heavily supplied Ukraine with - the U.S. does not expect to get that equipment back. Afghans are seen handing a baby over the fence to soldiers at Kabul airport The White House in the document reiterated that no one expected Kabul to fall to Taliban control as quickly as it did, but said it learned from the incident to communicate early and aggressively about the security risks to Americans and allies who might wish to leave. 'As the security situation in Afghanistan worsened over the summer, the Administration grappled with the tension between highlighting growing warning signs of potential collapse and undermining confidence in the Government of Afghanistan and Afghan forces' will to fight,' the document said. 'In a destabilizing security environment, we now err on the side of aggressive communication about risks. 'We did this in advance of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.' Poor planning by the U.S. military before the withdrawal from Afghanistan and a lack of oversight contributed to the rapid collapse of the government as the Taliban overran the country in August 2021, a damning new watchdog report has said The withdrawal was 'abrupt and uncoordinated' and gave war-ravaged locals the impression that the U.S. was 'simply handing Afghanistan over to a Taliban government-in-waiting', the report continues. Members of the Taliban are pictured celebrating a victory in March 2020 During Thursday's briefing, Kirby wouldn't say if any heads would roll. 'Who's going to get fired over this?' asked Fox News Channel's Peter Doocy. Kirby answered that the 'purpose of it is is not accountability.' CBS' Ed O'Keefe hammered Kirby and the White House at the top of the briefing for how the Afghanistan document was released. Reporters were given it under embargo - meaning they couldn't immediately publish the content - about 20 minutes before Kirby and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre appeared in the briefing. As they appeared, and the embargo lifted, the Bidens departed the White House, two hours early, for their Easter holiday at Camp David. O'Keefe called the White House's move the 'modern major holiday news dump.' 'You're releasing this at the beginning of the high holidays and after months of requests from Republicans and the broader public,' O'Keefe steamed. He also asked, 'Is this all we get?' Former President Donald Trump sent out a furious reaction on Truth Social Thursday afternoon Reaction from Republicans was swift and furious. 'These Morons in the White House, who are systematically destroying our Country, headed up by the biggest Moron of them all, Hopeless Joe Biden, have a new disinformation game they are playing - Blame "TRUMP" for their grossly incompetent SURRENDER in Afghanistan,' former President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social Thursday afternoon. 'I watched this disaster unfold just like everyone else. I saw them take out the Military FIRST, GIVE $85 Billion of military equipment, allow killing of our soldiers, and leave Americans behind. Biden is responsible, no one else!' The $85 billion is the total amount of money the U.S. gave to the Afghan military and police. A Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction said in a report that the amount is closer to $7 billion. SIGAR said the Pentagon told the group that '$7.2 billion worth of aircraft, guns, vehicles, ammunition, and specialized equipment like night vision goggles and biometric devices remain.' The chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Michael McCaul, called Kirby's comments 'disgraceful and insulting,' according to Fox News. 'President Biden made the decision to withdraw and even picked the exact date; he is responsible for the massive failures in planning and execution,' McCaul said. Nikki Haley, a 2024 Republican hopeful, tweeted: 'This was "chaos," John Kirby. 'America is less safe today because of Joe Biden.' We Are China China launches commercial carrier rocket Xinhua) 13:50, April 07, 2023 JIUQUAN, April 7 (Xinhua) -- China successfully launched SQX-1 solid commercial carrier rocket into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:00 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Friday. The flight will verify the overall program of the rocket and obtain flight data. It was the 5th flight mission of the SQX-1 commercial carrier rocket. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) The Australian Federal Police will be the subject of a probe by the nation's anti-corruption watchdog over officers' conduct during and after Brittany Higgins aborted rape trial. The former junior Liberal staffer accused colleague Bruce Lehrmann of raping her in Parliament House in 2019. The accusations were heard in court but the trial was aborted due to juror misconduct. Mr Lehrmann has always denied the accusations made agasint him. The watchdog will investigate whether police 'attempted to pervert the course of justice' when private materials were sent to Mr Lehrmann's defence team, including psychological counselling notes and a videotaped interview with police. Mr Lehrmann's barrister on the case said the defence never opened the email, which was sent in 2021. The Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (ACLEI) will also consider whether officers pressured Ms Higgins to abandon the case in an attempt to pervert the course of justice, news.com.au reported. The former junior Liberal staffer accused colleague Bruce Lehrmann of raping her in Parliament House in 2019 Specifically, the force will be tasked with determining whether officers 'bypassed administrative processes that enabled protected information contained in a brief of evidence to be served on the Defence at the time the summons and charge were served'. Generally, sensitive information is redacted before being provided to the defence. Ms Higgins' lawyer Leon Zwier has also asked the body to investigate whether documents and photographs were potentially leaked to the media, after one outlet published the contents of her private diary. She said at the time: 'This is the third time private images, texts and WhatsApps from my phone have been published by this particular news outlet. 'I voluntarily provided this material to the police to help them form the brief of evidence and none of it was tabled in court. 'Therefore, no journalist should have seen the photo of my diary. I entrusted police with my private information for the sole purpose that it could aid their investigation into my sexual assault, nothing else.' Mr Lehrmann has always maintained his innocence and is in the process of suing some media outlets for defamation Ms Higgins first made her allegations of sexual assault public in 2021 via two media interviews - one with news.com.au and a second with The Project. She never named Mr Lehrmann as the alleged perpetrator. Mr Lehrmann has always maintained his innocence and is in the process of suing both outlets for defamation. On Wednesday, Mr Lehrmann also filed a case in the Federal Court against the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The media firms and Ms Wilkinson are trying to shut the cases down, arguing they were filed outside of a 12-month window typically required for defamation suits. Mr Lehrmann argues he could not have filed the cases sooner because of the criminal charges, legal advice and for mental health reasons. The pilot of a medical transport plane has escaped with minor injuries after an emergency landing in a rail corridor. Emergency services were called to Hillcrest, in Brisbane's south, at about 6:06am on Friday after reports a freight-carrying aeromedical aircraft had made the forced landing. The aircraft, a Piper PA-31-350, departed from Western Sydney's Bankstown airport earlier that day tasked before reporting a mechanical fault while on approach to Archerfield Airport, in Brisbane's south. The pilot and sole person onboard, a Brisbane woman aged in her 30s, was forced to make an emergency landing along the rail corridor. She was taken to Logan Hospital with minor injuries . The female pilot, 30, of a medical transport plane has escaped with minor injuries after an emergency landing (pictured) in the southeast Queensland rail corridor Flight details from FlightRadar24 show the aircraft cruising at an altitude of about 9,000 feet for a majority of the flight until it reached the Border Ranges National Park in northern NSW. However, the plane slowed down and descended sharply about 15 minutes after crossing the national park. The pilot then made two 90-degree turns before crash landing in a rail corridor at a speed of about 120km/h, the aircraft sustaining severe damage. 'At 6am there was a descending noise of a plane like you would expect and then a big crash,' Stuart Davies, who lives nearby to the crash site, said. 'You could tell it was an aeroplane... it was a really loud bang, you knew it wasn't a car. 'I got out of bed and jumped the fence and made my way as quick as I could. 'She (the pilot) was limping and I was trying to get her away from the plane and then up over the train tracks with a sore leg and then I got her over the train tracks to safety.' The aircraft was severely damaged after crash landing at a speed of about 120km/h, however the pilot was taken to hospital only as a precaution Emergency services arrived at the scene within 10 minutes of the crash and were surprised to see the pilot not seriously injured. 'It was a really good outcome for the circumstances,' James Van Den Bogert, Balmoral Ambulance station operation supervisor, said. 'When I first arrived I saw the plane adjacent to the rail line and it looked like there was significant damage to the front cockpit area of the plane and the right engine appears to sustain some severe damage as well.' Anyone with any information or relevant footage has been asked to contact the police. The medical airline, AirMed, said they are working with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and assisting the Australian Transport Safety Bureau with investigations. An Iranian-born history professor at San Francisco State University is being investigated by the school's 'Equity Programs & Compliance' office after a Muslim student complained that he showed a picture of Prophet Muhammad during a lecture. Professor Maziar Behrooz was teaching his class about the history of the Islamic world between 500 and 1700 last fall when he showed the image of the Muslim prophet, aggravating a devout student. In some sects of Islam images of Muhammad are strictly forbidden, a long-held practice intended to prevent people from worshiping the man as a god. The student told this to Behrooz, who insisted that what was and wasn't shown in his class was his decision. Behrooz says similar images are widely sold in Tehran, and displayed in the homes of Shi'ite Muslims, who have no qualms about sharing images of Muhammad. The student then went to Behrooz's department chair and to school administrators to complain, leading to the school's Equity office to open an official investigation into the matter in March. Behrooz is scheduled to have a meeting with the office in early April. He told the Chronicle of Higher Education that though he isn't terribly worried about the investigation, he remains uncertain about what might happen. 'How it goes from here is anybody's guess,' he said. Professor Maziar Behrooz showed a picture of Muhammad in his Islamic history class at San Francisco State University in Fall 2022, and is under investigation Academic freedom organizations have sent letters to San Francisco State University president Lynn Mahoney demanding that the investigation into Behrooz be dropped Behrooz said he had shown the same image in his class for years without ever receiving a complaint, and that he was baffled to receive one. 'This is the first time that this has happened,' he said. 'I was not prepared for somebody to be offended, in a secular university, talking about history rather than religion.' After the student complained to Behrooz, they went to the department chair who then spoke with the professor about the situation. Behrooz explained to the chair not only were the student's beliefs not held by all Muslims, but that the image of Muhammad he'd shown was widely available for purchase even in the capital of Iran - where Behrooz was born - and that some branches of Islam had the drawings on their homes walls. The student then complained to 'authorities higher up,' which led to the investigation being opened. Behrooz had shown the image in his classes at San Francisco Stat University for years After news of the investigation broke, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) sent a letter to San Francisco State University president Lynn Mahoney demanding that the case be dropped, arguing that even an investigation into the situation was an affront to academic freedoms. 'An instructor's right to navigate difficult material like whether to display a historical painting even though some Muslims believe Muhammad 'should not be pictured in any way' falls well within the First Amendment's protection of academic freedom and our nation's broader commitment to it,' the organization wrote. FIRE argued that the use of possibly sensitive materials were necessary for properly teaching history, and that to penalize somebody for doing so would be out of line. 'Pedagogically relevant material may include words, concepts, subjects, or discussions that some, many, or even most students find upsetting or uncomfortable, including displaying materials that may offend those who practice a certain religion. Faculty must be free of institutional restraints in attempting to confront and examine complex issues, as was Behrooz in teaching Islamic history,' FIRE wrote. It was announced Monday that Hamline University President Fayneese Miller would retire in 2024 It comes just days after the president of Hamline University said she would retire months after a scandal involving a professor who showed images of the Prophet Muhammad in an art history class. President Fayneese Miller initially defended the small school in Minnesota's decision not to renew the contract of adjunct professor Erika Lopez Prater who had shown students the Muslim prophet - after providing them with a warning. But the school finally backtracked after widespread criticism and a lawsuit filed by the professor. Previously, leaders at Hamline said 71 of 92 faculty members who attended a meeting in January voted to call on Miller to resign immediately. They said they had lost faith in Miller because of her handling of an objection lodged by a Muslim student who said seeing the artwork violated her religious beliefs. A bombshell new reports has exposed Tesla staffers as sharing videos of customers, including one showing a naked man approaching a car, another showing 'sexual wellness items' while yet another exposed Elon Musk as owning the white Lotus submarine from The Spy Who Loved Me. The leaked clips were all recorded on Tesla's integrated dashcams and were shared through the internal messaging network Mattermost between 2019 and 2022, reports Reuters. An employee told the agency that the clips spread 'like wildfire' through the company, with some even using the videos to make memes. 'We could see them doing laundry and really intimate things. We could see their kids,' said the staffer. According to the report, the camera was able to record people's lives because it was charging. Tesla employees, known as labelers, who work with the company's AI system to help it to identify things in every day life were privy to the footage. The report says that those who shared the funniest clips even earned promotions with Tesla. Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk has not commented on the shocking new Reuters report, it's unclear if he was aware of the practice One of the integrated cameras shown on a Tesla in April 2021 Nicknamed 'Wet Nellie,' the white Lotus Esprit sub had been featured in the 1977 James Bond film, The Spy Who Loved Me. The car was purchased by Musk in 2013 'People who got promoted to lead positions shared a lot of these funny items and gained notoriety for being funny,' a labeler told Reuters. At times, Tesla managers would crack down on inappropriate sharing of images on public Mattermost channels since they claimed the practice violated company policy. Still, screenshots and memes based on them continued to circulate through private chats on the platform, several ex-employees said. Workers shared them one-on-one or in small groups as recently as the middle of last year. One of the perks of working for Tesla as a data labeler in San Mateo was the chance to win a prize use of a company car for a day or two, according to two former employees. But some of the lucky winners became paranoid when driving the electric cars. 'Knowing how much data those vehicles are capable of collecting definitely made folks nervous,' one ex-employee said. Tesla vehicles that are outfitted with self-driving capabilities are equipped with eight cameras. The cameras aid in self-driving and parking. 'No one but you would have knowledge of your activities, location or a history of where you've been,' the motoring giant's privacy policy reads. One of the perks of working for Tesla as a data labeler in San Mateo was the chance to win a prize use of a company car for a day or two, according to two former employees 'It was a breach of privacy, to be honest. And I always joked that I would never buy a Tesla after seeing how they treated some of these people,' said one former employee However staffers told Reuters that cameras record street signs and other landmarks that can easily identify a driver's whereabouts. The privacy policy does not mention how employees handle the recorded footage. 'We could see inside people's garages and their private properties. Let's say that a Tesla customer had something in their garage that was distinctive, you know, people would post those kinds of things,' a former employee told Reuters. About three years ago, some employees stumbled upon and shared a video of a unique submersible vehicle parked inside a garage, according to two people who viewed it. Nicknamed 'Wet Nellie,' the white Lotus Esprit sub had been featured in the 1977 James Bond film, The Spy Who Loved Me. Musk, who had bought it for about $968,000 at an auction in 2013. It is not clear whether Musk was aware of the video or that it had been shared. Two ex-employees said they weren't bothered by the sharing of images, saying that customers had given their consent or that people long ago had given up any reasonable expectation of keeping personal data private. Three others, however, said they were troubled by it. 'It was a breach of privacy, to be honest. And I always joked that I would never buy a Tesla after seeing how they treated some of these people,' said one former employee. Another said: 'I'm bothered by it because the people who buy the car, I don't think they know that their privacy is, like, not respected We could see them doing laundry and really intimate things. We could see their kids.' Tesla's 'sentry mode' which records a car's surroundings, has caused a series of disputes in countries from China to the Netherlands. The company says the function is to protect from theft or vandalism but authorities worry lead to filming without consent. A lawsuit filed in Germany by the consumer advocacy group VZBZ in July alleged that the carmaker was misleading consumers by not informing them in advertising that the driver could be violating data protection regulation if the feature was used in public spaces and filmed passers-by without their knowledge. After a hearing on the case in Berlin, the company issued a cease-and-desist declaration stating it would no longer advertise that way, according to a statement by VZBZ. The carmaker's manual for buyers in the U.S. states that 'it is your sole responsibility to consult and comply with all local regulations and property restrictions regarding the use of cameras.' Reuters contacted more than 300 former Tesla employees who had worked at the company over the past nine years and were involved in developing its self-driving system. More than a dozen agreed to answer questions, all speaking on condition of anonymity. Reuters wasn't able to obtain any of the shared videos or images, which ex-employees said they hadn't kept. The news agency also wasn't able to determine if the practice of sharing recordings, which occurred within some parts of Tesla as recently as last year, continues today or how widespread it was. Some former employees contacted said the only sharing they observed was for legitimate work purposes, such as seeking assistance from colleagues or supervisors. A Sydney resident's apartment window has divided Aussies over whether a regulation code is necessary or just more proof Australia is a 'nanny state'. The resident shared a photo of the small gap in their chainwinder window on Tuesday and questioned why windows with bigger openings aren't available to tenants living on high floors. 'Why are most modern houses and apartments built with these windows that inhibit fresh air circulation?,' they captioned the photo. The post received hundreds of comments from angry renters with the same question. A Sydney resident shared a photo of the apartment's chainwinder windows (above) on Tuesday with their narrow openings for air flow 'We're not allowed to open windows on any floor above the ground floor now, well, not enough that it allows air flow. It's frustrating,' one person wrote. 'The last three summers have been disgustingly humid. People with these windows should be checking for mould,' another said. 'It's the most frustrating thing ever! My rented apartment gets so much condensation in winter, water literally dripping down the windows. It's horrible!,' another wrote. A fourth person simply wrote: 'Nanny state'. However, other commenters were quick to jump to the defence of builders and landlords by explaining the windows are required for some apartments by law. The National Construction Code states all bedroom windows that have a fall height of two metres must only be able to open up to 12.5cm. The law was introduced in 2013 and landlords who are caught not complying face a $550 fine. At the time the law was adopted, Fair Trading Minister Anthony Roberts said NSW had seen 39 children under the age of nine hospitalised after falling from windows. 'Residents will still be able to open their windows as they do now, however they will have the security of knowing that when the lock is engaged, children in their care will be protected,' he said. 'These devices are inexpensive and can be easily installed by anyone but it is crucial window safety devices are fitted correctly the first time. 'I urge owner corporations to act sooner rather than later, so no more children have to suffer permanent, debilitating injury or death due to falls from windows.' Windows in NSW that have a fall height of two metres or more must only be able to open up to 12.5cm (pictured, Sydney CBD) 'If a tenant's child falls out an unrestricted window, the landlord would be held liable,' one commenter said. But the law failed to convince other Aussies who said the blocked window could prevent tenants from being rescued from their building in an emergency. 'They prevent rescue in a fire,' one person said. 'The entire thing is silly. About the time window restrictions were introduced there was a paper from the fire brigade saying 'if you have window locks make sure your children know how to open them in case of fire',' another wrote. A Tennessee politician who narrowly escaped being expelled from the legislature while her two black colleagues were kicked out said she was saved because she is white. Gloria Johnson, 60, who represents Knoxville, staged a noisy protests on March 30 to demand tougher gun control, after the March 27 murder of three students and three staff members at a Nashville school. Johnson was accompanied by two fellow Democrats - Justin Johnson and Justin Pearson, both 27. The trio were prevented from speaking, so used a bullhorn on the floor of the House demanding to be heard. Their Republican colleagues were furious, and on Thursday voted to expel Johnson and Pearson from the house - a move only carried out twice previously since the Civil War. Johnson, asked why she was spared, told reporters that it 'might have to do with the color of my skin.' Joe Biden called the vote 'shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent'. Gloria Johnson, 60, representing Knoxville, is seen standing with Johnson and Pearson. She was spared expulsion, while the two 27-year-old black men were kicked out Justin Jones (left), a Democrat representing Nashville, and Justin Pearson (right), who represents Memphis, were both expelled on Thursday - a week after the two 27-year-olds joined Rep. Gloria Johnson in a protest over gun laws on the House floor Justin Jones is seen speaking to reporters shortly after the vote to expel him from the House of Representatives in Tennessee, as a punishment for his participation in a March 30 protest Jones said after the vote that it showed Tennessee was 'on a path toward authoritarianism', and his lawyers were analyzing whether the expulsion vote was legal. 'This should sound the alarm across the nation, that we are entering some very dangerous territory,' he said. He said that the three 'are in this together', and he was heading to the public gallery to support the other two as he is no longer allowed to enter the House floor. Jones said: 'We are multiracial, intergenerational - we represent Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville. We stand united. 'Because this is not the end. 'But if we don't act, we lose our democracy. Today was a signal that we have lost democracy in Tennessee and we are on a path toward authoritarianism, to be quite honest.' He said he was not sure if he would run for office again, but would 'stand with the people', and added: 'We were saying, let's pass an assault weapons ban. And they assaulted democracy.' He said expelling him from the House was 'unconstitutional', and said he is consulting his legal advisers for the next steps. The House was shown video of the March 30 demonstration, with the three Democrats joined by protestors. They used a bullhorn to lead supporters in the public gallery in chants for gun reform, and as a result were accused of 'disorderly behavior' in the Tennessee House of Representatives. The three Democrats raised their fists in the air as video of the disruption played, during the vote to expel them. Cheers and applause were also heard as the video played. All three progressive representatives were seen speaking with one another as the short clip ended. Tennessee State Troopers blocked the stairwell leading to the legislative chambers on Thursday Tennessee State Representative Justin Pearson, Gloria Johnson and Justin Jones link arms as they walk in the State House Heavy security was present as the vote was held. Tennessee Republicans accused the protestors and the Democratic House members of disruption when they interrupted House proceedings March 30. The resolution to expel the lawmakers says that they brought: 'disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives through their individual and collective actions.' The trio had joined hundreds of protestors who marched to the State Capitol last week calling for stricter gun laws. Six people, including three nine-year-old children, were killed when Nashville shooter Audrey Hale opened fire at The Covenant School on March 27. Three adults - Cynthia Peak, 61, Katherine Koonce, 60, and Michael Hill, 61 - were killed, along with three nine-year-old students: Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney. Hundreds of people invaded the Capitol on March 30, demanding that the Republican-led Statehouse pass gun control measures. House leadership later described it as an 'insurrection,' aping language used around the attack on the U.S. Capitol by Donald Trump's supporters in January 2021. Protestors and Democrats accused of 'disorderly behavior' in the Tennessee House of Representatives salute with their fists in the air as video of 'disruption' is played during vote to expel the three members Footage from the House floor showed protestors, Democratic members - Reps. Justin Jones, and Justin Pearson - all saluting in support of their behavior when they used a bullhorn to lead supporters in the public gallery in chants for gun reform last week Heavy security was present at the House of Representatives in Tennessee as they prepare to vote on a resolution filed by Republican leadership to expel three Democratic leaders for 'disorderly behavior' Protesters gathered calling for the ban of 'assault weapons' as the House of Reps. prepared to vote Jones and Johnson were stripped of their committee assignments in the aftermath by Republican leadership. Pearson, however, did not serve on a committee. Expulsion votes are rare and in Tennessee. The House of Representatives has only voted to expel a member twice since the Civil War. One vote was to expel a sitting lawmaker who was convicted of soliciting a bribe, and another for a majority whip who was facing allegations of sexual misconduct. Two-thirds of the House needed to vote in favor of the expulsion in order for it to pass. Tennessee State Troopers stand guard at the outside the House chamber Rep. Justin Jones speaks at the statehouse, as Republicans who control the Tennessee House of Representatives prepare to vote on whether to expel him and two others Rep. Justin Pearson gestures while entering the statehouse on Thursday A demonstrator holds a placard while protesters gather ahead of the Republican vote to expel three Democratic members On Monday, three Republicans filed resolutions that the three Democrats be expelled and they successfully asked for an expedited process with a vote Thursday. The resolutions claim the three 'did knowingly and intentionally bring disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives,' according to the Tennesseean newspaper. The result was fresh chaos on Monday when the first resolution, targeting Pearson, was introduced. Protesters shouted from the galleries and Pearson raised his fist in salute, while other Democrats raised their hands to object. Members of the public chanted: 'Fascists! Fascists!' and wagged their fingers and fists at members. Instead of taking a vote, the speaker called for state troopers to clear the House galleries. On Monday, Reps. Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones, and Justin Pearson used a bullhorn to lead supporters in the public gallery in chants for gun reform as they face expulsion Johnson with protesters inside the state Capitol building last week demanding gun reform Protestors last week as they gathered at the Tennessee State Capitol Building to demand action from lawmakers on gun control after The Covenant School shooting Johnson later said she would consider a lawsuit if expelled, saying their protest was constitutionally protected. 'We're going to push back, and we're going to fight this because it's unprecedented and utterly ridiculous,' she told the Tennessean. She accused Republicans of double standards. 'We had a child molester on the floor for years, they helped him get reelected and did nothing to expel him,' she added. 'We've had members pee in each other's chairs and nothing happened. But talk on the floor without permission, and you'll get expelled.' House Democrats said they stood behind the three. Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, all around the country we see Democrats standing up against the GOPs new reign of authoritarianism. And theyre fierce. I love it. pic.twitter.com/oRdOWcOhjd Michelle (@LivingBlueTX) April 4, 2023 Lawmakers leaving on Monday evening after protests in the chamber Tonight as Tennessee House Republicans push forward to schedule vote on our expulsion, Speaker Sexton orders the gallery cleared as crowd chants fascists. Media forced out at as well. Then, Rep. Lafferty (R-Knox) pushes me and grabs my phone. This is a sad day for Tennessee. pic.twitter.com/Lh08Ma5kdS Rep. Justin Jones (@brotherjones_) April 4, 2023 'The Democratic Caucus has unanimously, formally voted to oppose the baseless resolutions for expulsion and will zealously oppose them should they come up for a vote on the House floor,' they said in a statement. The Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators also protested the resolutions. 'This political retribution is unconstitutional and, in this moment, morally bankrupt,' it said. 'The people who elected us are calling for meaningful action to end gun violence and the people have a right to be heard through their duly elected representatives.' Democrats and Republicans have strongly disagreed about how to respond to the Nashville massacre. Biden reiterated his call for a ban on assault weapons. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, a Republican, proposed $155m to place an armed security guard at every public school in Tennessee and to boost security presence at both public and private schools. A 12-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of a 60-year-old woman who died after being run over by a car in Sheffield, South Yorkshire Police said. Marcia Grant, 60, was pronounced dead at the scene in the Greenhill area of Sheffield on Wednesday after emergency services were called at around 7.10pm to reports of a collision between a car and a woman. The family of Mrs Grant, who is understood to have been a foster carer, said she was a 'warm, loving and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend', adding that she was 'a pillar of her community'. They said in a statement: 'Her loss has already sent shockwaves through all who knew her or was lucky enough to be included in her orbit. 'We ask for privacy at this time while further investigations are under way and the family try to come to terms with this enormous loss.' Marcia Grant, 60, died after being hit by a car in the Greenhill area of Sheffield on Wednesday Mrs Grant died at the scene after she was found seriously injured A boy, 12, was arrested shortly after on suspicion of murder and possession of a bladed article Neighbours said two boys lived with Marcia Grant in the smart semi-detached home on Hemper Lane, Sheffield. A police car is parked on Hemper Lane on Thursday The boy was found shortly after emergency services attended the scene and was arrested on suspicion of murder and possession of a knife. South Yorkshire Police said: 'A 12-year-old boy has been charged in connection with the death of a Sheffield woman.' Formal identification and a post-mortem examination have not yet taken place. Detective Chief Inspector Andrea Bowell, from South Yorkshire Police, said: 'This will be a deeply distressing time for the families of those involved in this incident, and I would ask their privacy is respected as they seek to understand what has happened.' Witnesses or anyone with information should contact police via 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers. Police outside a house after a 12-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder after Marcia Grant, 60, was run over and killed by her own car in Sheffield Police were called to the Sheffield suburb at 7.10pm on Wednesday after reports of a crash Floral tributes have been left near the scene in Sheffield Police remained outside a semi-detached house on Hemper Lane, in Sheffield, on Thursday evening. A number of floral tributes had been left outside the property which had police tape across the driveway. One message read: 'I'm so sorry for your loss. She was a beautiful soul.' Anthony Albanese enjoyed some downtime with puppies and farm animals during his visit to the Royal Easter Show alongside his partner Jodie Haydon on Good Friday. The Prime Minster wore his signature look of an open collar shirt with a suit as he headed to the show at the Olympic Park where he rubbed shoulders with kid goats and sheep before picking up a puppy to pose with. Meanwhile Ms Haydon dressed for the autumn weather in a simple black trouser and white T-shirt combo which she paired with a stylish brown and orange blazer. Mr Albanese chatted to large crowds at the event, which has been regularly attended by prime ministers over the years. Anthony Albanese enjoyed some downtime with puppies and farm animals during his visit to the Royal Easter Show alongside his partner Jodie Haydon on Good Friday The Prime Minister wore his signature look of an open collar shirt with a suit as he headed to the show at the Olympic Park The Labor leader chatted to big crowds at the event, which has been regularly attended by prime ministers over the years The Labor leader is a known dog lover and was snapped in several photos holding a puppy in his arms, which cheekily gave him a few licks. While at the show, Mr Albanese announced the federal government would be donating $6million over three years to the Good Friday Appeal. The Good Friday Appeal raises funds for The Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne. He also revealed he'd been going to the Easter Show since he was a boy. 'And when my son was little we brought him every year. He's 22 now, so he is too cool to hang around with dad at the Easter Show, he'd rather come with his mates,' Mr Albanese told Seven News. 'But it's a great tradition, as is the Good Friday Appeal, of course. 92 years it's been going. And that is just sensational.' The Easter Show will be toned down this year, with NSW Police given special powers to stop anti-social behaviour following the fatal stabbing of carnival worker Uati 'Pele' Faletolu, 17, at last year's event. Teenagers and young adults linked to postcode wars will be stopped at the front gates while guests showing disruptive behaviour will be kicked out. The carnival will close at 9.30pm every night, more police will patrol the grounds, and lighting will also be increased. Sydney Royal Easter Show general manager Murray Wilton said the show would be 'lit up like a Christmas tree'. Ms Haydon dressed for the autumn weather in a simple black trouser and white T-shirt combo which she paired with a stylish brown and orange blazer Ms Haydon also got to enjoy some time with a puppy at the Royal Easter Show Paws for a photo! The Labor leader received a few licks from the cheeky puppy He backed the draconian rules and refused to apologise to any guests who felt inconvenienced by the changes. 'Following the incident last year we did a detailed security risk analysis, we have been working with NSW Police for months on this and the outcome is a fairly detailed, and sophisticated plan,' he told The Daily Telegraph. 'The carnival operators are all on-board with us closing earlier, lighting up more and changing the kind of music that's played. They want it to be a safe environment for everyone.' NSW Police have already set about to stop a list of dangerous teenagers and individuals from setting foot in the show. The prime minister is a vocal dog lover and is frequently pictured with his cavoodle, Toto (pictured with a dog at the show) A British national and a Thai woman have been arrested on suspicion of human trafficking in Thailand's seedy 'Sin City' resort of Pattaya. Cops raided the 'Flirt' bar on the area's notorious Soi 6 road - packed with dozens of sex bars - next to the beach at around 9pm on April 5. Footage from the raid shows dozens of young women being frogmarched into a police truck and taken to the local station to be questioned. Englishman William Reece and local woman Jaranya Deeppair, 31, were detained by police chiefs. The Brit was seen being led into the police station in what appeared to be handcuffs. Officers said that arrest warrants had been issued against the British man on April 4 for allegedly conspiring to commit human trafficking. A British national and a Thai woman have been arrested on suspicion of human trafficking in Thai 'Sin City' Pattaya. Englishman William Reece and local woman Jaranya Deeppair, 31, were detained by police chiefs. The Brit was seen being led into the police station in what appeared to be handcuffs (pictured) Cops raided the 'Flirt' bar on the area's notorious Soi 6 road - packed with dozens of sex bars - next to the beach at around 9pm on April 5. Pictured: Police officers are seen at the bar The charges relate to young women being ferried from poverty-stricken regions in the rural northeast of the country to serve tourists in the sex industry, where they are paid around 1,500 Baht (35 GBP) for sex. Police Colonel Thanapong Phothi, superintendent of the Pattaya City Police Station, said: 'We made the arrest to build confidence in Pattaya's image among tourists. We have invited the store's employees to give their statements at the station.' The accused were remanded in police custody as they await further legal proceedings. Cops said they raided the shop but did not find any illegal substances. The employees inside were also all above 18-years-old, the legal age for working as prostitutes in the country. The bar is believed to be owned by 'Nightwish Group', which is believed to be run by a British ex-pat. A website connected to the group says it was founded in 2012 with a single bar, and has since grown into a company that employs over 500 people, with 27 bars. A spokesperson for Nightwish Group told MailOnline: 'We often see these kinds of raids taking place in Thailand, and we are pleased to work with the local police.' 'The police have confirmed that no illegal substances were found in our bar, and that no person was under 18 - we maintain high standards. 'We believe that the raid took place following the inaccurate testimony of just one individual, who had been paid to make a false statement, and we do not expect anything to come of the charges,' the group added. 'Nightwish takes our responsibilities seriously, and cares deeply about the welfare of all our staff. We would never be involved in harmful practices.' Military top brass from Bangkok have been trying for several years to clean up Pattaya, dubbed the 'sex capital' of the world. Pictured: A young women holds up a line of shots in a picture on the bar's Instagram page Pictured: Police officers are seen searching the bar during the raid on April 5 Footage from the raid shows dozens of young women being frogmarched into a police truck and taken to the local station to be questioned. Pictured: A police officer speaks to women inside the bar as it is raided on April 5 They are battling to kick out badly behaving Brits and Aussies, and turn the region into a family-friendly resort to tap into lucrative family markets in China, India and Russia. However, they face an uphill struggle against its entrenched 24-hour sex industry and endemic corruption that allows it to continue unabated. The bars - many of which are run by British ex-pats and function as shop windows for prostitutes - along with massage parlours and street workers are also a lucrative part of the tourism industry. Before the pandemic, the industry accounted for 21 percent of Thailand's annual GDP, generating 1.8 trillion baht (52.3 billion USD) in revenue. Secret documents that provide details of US and NATO plans to help prepare Ukraine for a spring offensive against Russia have spilled onto social media platforms, the New York Times reported on Thursday. The Pentagon said it is assessing the reported security breach. 'We are aware of the reports of social media posts, and the Department is reviewing the matter,' Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said. The documents were spread on Twitter and Telegram, and reportedly contain charts and details about weapons deliveries, battalion strengths and other sensitive information, the New York Times said. Information in the documents is at least five weeks old, with the most recent dated March 1, the report said. Ukrainian servicemen fire an artillery shell near the frontline area amid the Russia-Ukraine war, in Bakhmut, Ukraine on April 2, 2023 One of the documents summarised the training schedules of 12 Ukraine combat brigades. It said nine of them were being trained by US and NATO forces, and needed 250 tanks and more than 350 mechanised vehicles, according to the newspaper. The documents - at least one of which carried a 'top secret' label - were circulated on pro-Russian government channels, it said. Information in the documents also details expenditure rates for munitions under Ukraine military control, including for the HIMARS rocket systems, the US-made artillery rocket systems that have proven highly effective against Russian forces, it added. The report quoted military analysts who warned that some documents appear to have been altered in a disinformation campaign by Russia, in one document inflating Ukrainian troop deaths and minimising Russian battlefield losses. Military analysts said the documents seem to have been modified in parts from their original format, overstating American estimates of Ukrainian war dead and understating estimates of Russian troop losses. The modifications could be indicators of a push for disinformation by Moscow, the analysts said. However, the disclosures in the original documents, in the form of photographs of charts of expected weapons deliveries, battalion and troop strengths, and other plans, amount to a major breach of American intelligence in the effort to aid Ukraine. US President Joe Biden's officials attempting get them deleted but had not, as of Thursday evening, been able to do so. The documents do not give specific details on how, when, and where Ukraine plans to launch its offensive, which American officials say will probably come in the next month or so. The documents are five weeks old and as such offer the American and Ukrainian view, as of March 1, of what Ukrainian troops might require for the campaign. Ukrainian soldier of the Aidar battalion fires artillery in the direction of Bakhmut in Donetsk oblast, April 4, 2023 Analysts said on Friday it could be hard to assess the impact of the documents' disclosure on the frontline conflict now and in the months ahead. Russia has found it difficult to advance in eastern Ukraine and Western analysts are uncertain whether the Russian military, after having sustained huge losses, will be able to press forward with another attack, or stave off a push from Ukrainian troops. It is not known how the documents ended up on social media. The analysts said that documents released by Russian sources could be selectively changed to present Russia's disinformation. 'Whether these documents are authentic or not, people should take care with anything released by Russian sources,' said Michael Kofman, the director of Russian studies at CNA, a research institute in Arlington, Virginia. On Tuesday it was reported that the United States intends to send Ukraine further air defense interceptors and munitions as part of a $2.6 billion aid package. Some of this will be used to help Ukraine prepare for a planned spring offensive against Russian troops. The package includes $500 million in ammunition and equipment from US military stockpiles and $2.1 billion that the United States will use to purchase munitions, radar and other weapons to send to Ukraine in the future. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said in a statement: 'Russia alone could end its war today. Until Russia does, the United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine for as long as it takes.' The $2.1 billion is from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, a funding program led by the Defense Department. It will be used to buy missiles for NASAMS air defense systems. The money will also be used to buy anti-aircraft ammunition, fuel tankers, mobile laser-guided rocket systems, and other equipment, the Pentagon has said. The air defense systems contain two new anti-drone weapons systems: nine trucks that each carry a 30-millimetre gun and 10 mobile rocket launchers. A senior defense official said in a briefing to reporters from the Pentagon that the mobile launchers would fire a laser-guided rocket that was previously provided to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia has captured the west bank of the Bakhmutka River, putting a key Ukraine supply route in danger, in its push to regain control of the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut, the British defence ministry said on Friday. It said: 'In recent days, Russian forces have regained some momentum in the battle for Bakhmut. Since late March 2023 their advance had largely stalled. 'Russia has made further gains and has now highly likely advanced into the town centre, and has seized the west bank of the Bakhmutka River. Ukraine's key 0506 supply route to the west of the town is likely severely threatened. 'Russian regular forces, likely including airborne troops, have probably reinforced the area, and Russia is again using artillery more effectively in the sector. 'There is realistic possibility that, locally, Wagner and Russian MoD commanders have paused their ongoing feud and improved co-operation.' The SNP's external auditors quit today amid a police probe into missing donations that has plunged the party into chaos. Accountancy firm Johnston Carmichael severed ties with the SNP. It comes amid the fallout from the police raid of the beleaguered party's headquarters, the arrest of Nicola Sturgeon's and search of the couple's home. It is the latest blow to Humza Yousaf and his splintered party, as he faced astonishing demands to re-run the leadership election that put him in power in Scotland less than a fortnight ago. The First Minister last night lashed out at 'conspiracy theories' from critics who questioned whether Ms Sturgeon, his close ally, knew action was imminent against Peter Murrell when she resigned. Mr Murrell, 58, was arrested and released on Wednesday, with police spending two days examining the family home in Glasgow in scenes that have rocked Scottish politics. Detectives are probing what happened to more than 600,000 in donations made to the party to fund a second independence referendum when he was chief executive. An SNP spokesman said: 'We can confirm that Johnston Carmichael will not be providing audit services to the SNP this year. 'The national treasurer is undertaking a tendering process for alternative provision and we have advised the Electoral Commission of that position.' Peter Murrell, 58, was arrested and released on Wednesday, with police spending two days examining the family home in Glasgow in scenes that have rocked Scottish politics. Detectives are probing what happened to more than 600,000 in donations made to the party to fund a second independence referendum when Mr Murrell was chief executive Allies of Kate Forbes, pictured with Humza Yousaf, last night suggested that the SNP leadership election should be re-run in light of recent events. One told The Telegraph: 'There has been a material change in circumstances. For people to argue it should not be re-run means the party establishment had no knowledge about this, but that is quite unbelievable.' Mr Yousaf was elected leader of the SNP and voted in as First Minister after beating Kate Forbes last month. But critics have questioned whether Ms Sturgeon or Mr Yousaf was aware police action was imminent when she stepped down. Allies of the runner-up last night suggested that the election should be re-run in light of recent events, with one telling The Telegraph: 'There has been a material change in circumstances. For people to argue it should not be re-run means the party establishment had no knowledge about this, but that is quite unbelievable. 'People [within the SNP] will want to avoid a re-run because Kate Forbes would win, but Humza is going to be left holding this particularly ugly baby.' Last night Mr Yousaf said claims police are 'in cahoots' with the SNP over the timing of Mr Murrell's arrest are a 'conspiracy theory'. Speaking to media at his official residence, Bute House in Edinburgh, he said the last few days have been 'difficult and bruising' for the party. Scottish Tory constitution spokesman Donald Cameron said Mr Yousaf had not previously raised issues about governance of the party publicly and accused him of trying to 'distance himself' from Mr Murrell in recent statements. 'These belated calls for transparency and about how the SNP should be run simply will not wash,' Mr Cameron added. Asked if the leadership election would have been impacted by Mr Murrell's arrest had it happened while it was taking place, Mr Yousaf said: 'To me, that sounds like a bit of a conspiracy theory that somehow we are in cahoots with Police Scotland. 'The timing of an investigation is absolutely for Police Scotland, that's not determined by anybody else.' Mr Yousaf was candid about the impact the arrest of Mr Murrell, and the sometimes testy leadership election which preceded it, would have on support for his party and for Scottish independence, but said it could present an opportunity for the 'next generation' of the party to shine. 'There's no doubt the last few weeks and the events of yesterday have been difficult and bruising for the party,' he said. 'But there's also an opportunity - with a new leader in place and a new chief executive in place, generally a next generation coming through. 'You've seen that with my Cabinet, you've seen, of course, the Westminster leadership in terms of Stephen Flynn and Mhairi Black. 'There's a huge opportunity for us to re-energise, to refresh, and to make sure we are being as bold and as ambitious as we possibly can be for the people of Scotland.' The First Minister also said Ms Sturgeon would not be losing the SNP whip. A spokesman for Johnston Carmichael said: 'As a regulated organisation, we adhere to our obligations on client confidentiality and do not discuss client business.' Rescuers in Japan have found parts of a military helicopter floating in the sea a day after it disappeared from radar with 10 people on board, the coastguard said Friday. Two pilots, two mechanics and six crew members were on board the UH-60JA Black Hawk helicopter when it went missing shortly before 4:00pm local time (0700 GMT) on Thursday as it flew above waters off Miyako island in southern Okinawa. Coastguard rescuers have discovered several pieces of debris that appear to be from the helicopter, including a door, a snapped blade and a yellow life raft that was still packed inside a bag. Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada appeared to hold back tears as he promised Friday to continue the search. 'We conducted search and rescue operations in the area throughout the night, but we have yet to find General (Yuichi) Sakamoto of the Ground Self Defence Force 8th division as well as the nine other individuals,' he said, his voice quavering. 'We will make every effort to find the 10 people who are missing.' Coast guard members retrieve a door from the sea, off Miyako Island, Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan, Friday, April 7, 2023 Flotsam is floating on the surface in the search area after a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) military helicopter with 10 people on board disappeared This photo provided by the 11th Regional Japan Coast Guard Headquarters, the door that the coast guard found and retrieved from the sea, off Miyako Island An undated handout photo made available by Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) shows a JGSDF UH-60JA helicopter at an undisclosed location in Japan Lieutenant General Yuichi Sakamoto, commander of the 8th Division of the Ground Self-Defence Force, in Kumamoto, was aboard the helicopter that disappeared There was no indication yet of what caused the apparent accident, which occurred as the aircraft was on a reconnaissance mission in the area. It disappeared from radar only 10 minutes after departing from a base on Miyako Island and is believed to have crashed into the water between Miyako and nearby Irabu Island to the northwest. The area is about 1,120 miles southwest of Tokyo. Coast guard patrol ships found an unused lifeboat whose serial number matched that of the missing helicopter and a door believed to belong to the same aircraft near the presumed crash site, army officials said. The helicopter was stationed at a key army base in Kumamoto prefecture on Japan's southern main island of Kyushu, Morishita said Thursday night. One of its 10 crew members is the division commander, Yuichi Sakamoto, who was just promoted to the post at the end of March. The army said the helicopter had a routine safety inspection in late March. No abnormality was found during its subsequent test flight or on its trip from its home base of Kumamoto to Miyako island. According to the Defense Ministry, Japan started deploying the Black Hawk, a twin-engine, four-bladed utility helicopter developed by U.S. manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft and produced by the Mitsubishi Heavy Industry, in 1999 for rapid response, surveillance and disaster relief missions. A handout photo made available by the Japan Coast Guard 11th Regional Headquarters via Jiji Press shows a part believed to be that of the missing helicopter in the sea off Miyako Island, Okinawa Prefecture This photo provided by the 11th Regional Japan Coast Guard Headquarters shows a part of rotary wing that the coast guard found and retrieved from the sea, off Miyako Island Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force personnel look out from the northern top of Irabu Island during the search operation for a missing UH-60JA helicopter in the sea off Miyako Island Japan is aggressively building up its defence capability in its southwestern islands in response to China's increasingly assertive military activity in the region, including near Taiwan. But its military, which is limited to ostensibly defensive activity by the country's post-war constitution, has seen occasional accidents. In January 2022, a Japanese fighter jet crashed in waters off central Ishikawa region, killing two pilots on board. And in 2019, an F-35A stealth jet crashed into the sea, after taking off from northeastern Japan on a training mission. The accident sparked a scramble to recover the pilot and secrets on board. Japan's defence ministry subsequently said the pilot, who died in the crash, appeared to have suffered spatial disorientation. Like other supermarkets across the UK, Sainsbury's will change its opening times over Easter. The Easter Bank Holiday begins with Good Friday, which falls on Friday, 7 April this year. This is the first of two Bank Holidays across the long Easter weekend, with the second falling on Easter Monday, 10 April. So, when does Sainsbury's open on Good Friday? Are stores open on Easter Sunday? Will shops operate on Easter Monday? Here is everything you need to know about Sainsbury's opening times across the Easter weekend. Sainsbury's will operate with different hours across the long Easter weekend, which contains two Bank Holidays What are Sainsbury's opening times on Good Friday? On Good Friday, 7 April, 2023, Sainsbury's is operating normal opening hours across its stores. However, this may vary depending upon the size of the store, as well as your location, so you are advised to check their website for full details. What are Sainsbury's opening times on Easter Sunday? On Easter Sunday, 8 April, 2023, Sainsbury's will close all of its 600 larger stores across England and Wales. This must be done by the company in order to comply with government regulation on Sunday trading laws. These rules stipulate that any shops in England and Wales larger than 280 square metres must close on Easter Sunday, as well as Christmas Day. Different Sunday trading laws apply in Scotland, where Sainsbury's stores will be open on Easter Sunday. The chain's 800 smaller, convenience-style shops will retain normal opening hours across the UK on Easter Sunday. What are Sainsbury's opening times on Easter Monday? On Easter Monday, 10 April, 2023, all Sainsbury's stores will be open to the public across the UK, though operating hours will vary. The supermarket's larger branches are expected to open between 8am and 8pm. Competitors Aldi, Asda and Tesco will operate in similar fashion to Sainsbury's, which will allow supermarket staff to enjoy the Easter weekend. Labour doubled down on a brutal attack advert targeting Rishi Sunak today despite demands from its own MPs to drop the 'gutter politics' campaign. The opposition is refusing to take down a tweet suggesting the Prime Minister does not believe adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should be jailed. The advert mimicked the style of Mr Sunak's own political tweets. Using the claim that 'Labour is the party of law and order', the advert asked: 'Do you think adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should go to prison? Rishi Sunak doesn't.' But the party was accused of 'pandering to prejudice' after sharing the poster on social media yesterday, with Labour MPs and supporters among the harshest critics. The tweet was also subject to an explanatory note from Twitter, explaining that Conservative policy was to jail abusers. However a party spokeswoman said: 'The Conservatives have left dangerous convicted criminals free to roam the streets.' Amid criticism that the attacks used figures from the time before Mr Sunak became an MP in 2015, party sources pointed to times when Mr Sunak has claimed credit for policies from the Coalition years onward, adding: 'He cant own the record when he suits him then disown it when it doesnt.' However the Tories hit back, pointing out that Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, when he was director of public prosecutions, sat on the Sentencing Council which was responsible for deciding how long people should be jailed for. Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell urged his party to climb down, saying: 'This is not the sort of politics a Labour Party, confident of its own values and preparing to govern, should be engaged in.' Labour was under fire last night over an advert claiming Prime Minister Rishi Sunak does not believe adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should be jailed The tweet was also subject to an explanatory note from Twitter, explaining Conservative policy was to jail abusers Shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell declined to say she stood by the tweet suggesting the Prime Minister does not believe adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should be jailed. Meanwhile a Labour frontbencher refused to support the attack this morning. Shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell declined to say she stood by the tweet but insisted it was part of the 'cut and thrust' of political debate which sought to highlight the Tories' record on law and order. 'I say to the people who have taken the decision to publish this ad, please withdraw it. We, the Labour party, are better than this. 'What I stand by is what that graphic is trying to show, which is that the Prime Minister of our country is responsible for the criminal justice system of our country and currently that criminal justice system is not working,' she told BBC Breakfast. Asked again whether she stood by the message, she said: 'I stand by what this tweet and this campaign is trying to highlight.' She added: 'The graphic itself, obviously, is a skit based on his own graphics that he extensively uses.' Labour was accused of a 'vile and desperate' campaign strategy by Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson and 'cheapened and debased' politics by SNP MP John Nicolson after posting the advert on Twitter. Ex-frontbencher Diane Abbott, who served under Jeremy Corbyn, added: 'Sunak is responsible for lots of things. But sentencing is the responsibility of the judiciary. You would think a former DPP would know that. Horrible ad.' Meanwhile Tory MP George Freeman added: This really is a new low in British politics. An official Labour Party advertisement accusing the Conservative PM Rishi Sunak *personally* of wanting convicted child abusers to escape justice. 'Appalling. Gutter politics from a leader, Keir Starmer, who should know better.' A Tory source said: 'During Sir Keir's controversial tenure as Director of Public Prosecutions, less than 30 per cent of child pornographers saw the inside of a prison cell. 'It's no wonder only 12 per cent of his staff thought he was any good and criminals want a Labour government.' Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer. His party defended itself, saying it is the party of 'law and order' last night A Labour spokesman said last night: 'The Conservatives have left dangerous convicted criminals free to roam the streets. Labour is the party of law and order, and we will implement tougher sentences for dangerous criminals.' The party said the poster was based on analysis of official figures which suggested more than 4,000 adults convicted of sexual assault or sexual activity on children under 16 have dodged jail sentences since 2010. Some 2,026 were let off with community sentences and 2,474 with suspended sentences, it said. Kevin Maguire, associate editor of the pro-Labour Daily Mirror newspaper, wrote on Twitter: 'Take this down Labour. Gutter politics.' New Statesman journalist George Eaton said: 'This is one of the worst political adverts in recent UK history and not the first time Labour has pandered to prejudice in the hope of electoral gain.' He criticised Labour for singling out Mr Sunak. Conservative commentator Iain Dale said it was 'a new low in British political attack ads'. 'Just as I criticised Rishi Sunak for saying Keir Starmer was the 'friend of people traffickers', I think this is a disgrace too,' he wrote on Twitter. 'I assume these people who didn't get sent to prison wouldn't have done under Blair and Brown either.' A couple whose son died at just five months old left The Repair Shop's Jay Blades and viewers in tears after their poignant restoration was featured. Emese and Luke Carter-Whittley, from Leicester, had brought in a treasured picture of their late son David and his footprints. Sadly the clay-cast imprints had cracked and the couple asked Jay, 53, and his team to repair the damage. Emese choked back tears as she told the team their heartbreaking story. Little David passed away after a cardiac arrest, and was survived by his twin brother Joshua. She said: 'It's our baby boy's footprints. This is David on one side and his footprints on the other side.' She added that a mother 'should never have to decide' when to turn off her baby's life support. Emese Carter-Whittley with her premature twins Joshua and David Emese and Luke said: 'This is David on one side and his footprint on the other side but as you can see it is cracked up on the footprints but also on the other side it has shrunk' She added: 'As you can see, it's cracked up on the footprints, but also on the side it shrunk. 'David was our son and he passed away at five months. We did the footprints at the hospital a couple of days before he passed away so it is really precious to us.' Husband Luke added that David and Joshua and they had been born pre-term at 26 weeks. Emese said: 'Three months early so they actually spent almost three months in the hospital neo-natal. We actually only had him for two months at home. 'I do remember increasingly how worried I was about David because I noticed he was not doing as well as he should and obviously I had his brother who was thriving and I took David to A&E because we had a very bad night with him. 'That's when he had the cardiac arrest. The Repair Shop's Jay Blades was left in tears during Wednesday night's episode of the show when a couple showed him their late baby son's footprints The mould of their late son's footprints had sunk and cracked 'One day after we found out that he had a very serious heart condition and the doctors couldn't do anything for him sadly.' Emese said that doctors had asked when they wanted to turn off his life support. She said: 'In a sense, the hardest was that they said we could decide when we wanted the life support to be turned off. 'I said to Luke "I can't decide". As a mother, you should never.' Emese broke down and was comforted by her husband, who added: 'Those last days are etched on your heart forever.' His wife said: 'We would just love to be able to see our little boy's perfect little footprints as they were.' Hearing them speak, Jay become emotional. Jay told restorer Kirsten: 'I really don't know how you are going to do this, this seems really tricky to me' The result of the repair was stunning and was described as 'beautiful' by the emotional couple They asked if the show's Kirsten Ramsey was able to help with the footprints. She said: 'He is a beautiful boy, I can see that. 'It must break your hearts to see that like that. It is going to be genuinely very tricky but I will do everything that I can to make it look as good as possible.' As the couple went out of shot, Jay removed his hat and took a deep breath, while struggling to compose himself. He told Kirsten: 'I really don't know how you are going to do this, this seems really tricky to me,' before wishing her good luck. The programme showed how Kirsten delicately removed filler that had been put on the precious memorial. She then used a consolidant to stabilise the broken parts of the moulding. Epoxy putty was then used to fill the gaps created by the damage. She then tested a number of fillers to find the best one to make the fix. Kirsten added: 'I want this to be perfect when it goes back to Emese and Luke.' The couple were delighted at the result, wiping away tears as the memorial was returned to them. Emese gasped: 'Oh look at that. It's beautiful.' A notorious vegan activist has branded the consumption of chocolate eggs made with cows' milk 'the largest Holocaust in history' as she protested the sales of the seasonal treat at a Coles in Perth. Tash Peterson, 29, wore just a T-shirt and held up a sign as she shouted a shoppers inside the supermarket, a video posted to Instagram on Friday shows. Holding up a sign that read: 'Don't celebrate Easter with a Holocaust', Ms Peterson told shoppers they were 'complicit in rape' if they ate chocolate eggs made with dairy milk. 'In order for you to get dairy milk Easter eggs, a mother was raped, had her baby kidnapped from her and murdered if they were born male,' Ms Peterson said as sounds of cows crying out played in the background. 'Listen to the cries of mothers screaming out for their babies. Their babies are shot in the head so you can consume her breast milk. 'This is not fair, this is the largest holocaust in history. You have the right to know the truth!' Tash Peterson, 29, shared a video of herself shouting at shoppers who were buying chocolate eggs and bunnies made with dairy milk at a Coles supermarket in Perth this week Holding up a sign that read: 'Don't celebrate Easter with a Holocaust' Ms Peterson told shoppers they are 'complicit in rape' if they consumed dairy milk chocolate eggs Sharing the video to her Instagram account, Ms Peterson said: 'If you're not vegan, you pay for rape, enslavement, torture, abuse and murder'. Comments on the video were divided with some supporting Ms Peterson's fight, while many criticised her for 'disturbing the peace'. The Western Australian activist has become notorious for her often semi-nude demonstrations across Australia and she believes anyone who isn't vegan is an animal abuser. She recently laid flowers in the raw meat section of a supermarket and held a vigil for the dead animals in a bizarre protest. In November, she poured red paint on the ground and screamed at punters as they entered Ascot racecourse in Perth during Melbourne Cup Day. The Western Australian activist has become notorious for her often semi-nude demonstrations across Australia and believes anyone who isn't vegan is an animal abuser The stunt caused the serial provocateur to be banned from all racecourse across Victoria. Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Wendy Steendam listed 15 grounds for her determination, recounting Ms Peterson's long history of in-your-face protests over the past three years. 'On the basis of the above matters I believe your attendance at a specified racecourse may pose a threat to the safety of riders, horses, and the public at each of these racecourses during race meets,' she wrote. The list included incidents of the animal rights activist harassing Coles and Woolworths customers and diners at KFC restaurants, often topless or dressed as an animal stained with fake blood. Tash Peterson (pictured) has a history of outrageous displays in the name of veganism - earning her a legion of fans, and critics, online Other points included Ms Peterson's pitch invasion at an AFLW match in February 2020, and the infamous August 2021 Louis Vuitton protest where she smeared her torso with her own menstrual blood. She now lives between WA and the east coast, returning in September to protest against livestock shows at the Perth Royal Show. Ms Peterson moved to Melbourne earlier this year after being banned from all licenced venues in Western Australia until March 4, 2023. 'I find WA very draconian in the legal system in comparison to most other states in Australia,' she told 3AW. A notorious vegan activist laid flowers in the raw meat section of a supermarket and held a vigil for the dead animals in a bizarre protest 'They're really hammering down on me in my activism, criminally charging me, using the law in ways that it shouldn't be used to try and stop me and silence me as an activist.' While in Melbourne she joined a topless PETA protest at Bourke Street Mall where she was upstaged by OnlyFans star Stefania Ferrario, and confronted the city's famous horse and cart drivers, one of whom threatened to 'beat her to death with her camera'. Then in Sydney she lay topless inside a human-sized meat tray in the Pitt Street Mall as shocked shoppers strolled past. Ms Peterson claims to earn about $40,000 a month posting raunchy content to OnlyFans as her activism makes it impossible to hold down a job. On first impressions, it was the kind of love at first sight story you'd hear in a wedding speech. Fawziyah Javed, a lawyer in her late twenties, had walked into a Vision Express in Leeds to help her mother buy some new glasses when she met Kashif Anwar - an optical assistant two years her junior. After Anwar later saw Ms Javed alone he told her she was just the kind of woman he wanted to marry, and they began dating in August 2019. By July 2020 they were engaged and on Christmas Day 2020 the couple wed in an Islamic ceremony. Nine months later she would be dead - plunging 50ft off Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh after being shoved by her husband in an act that also killed their unborn son. Yesterday, he was found guilty of murder and jailed for a minimum of 20 years. The trial at the High Court in Edinburgh heard how concerns had been raised about Anwar's abusive, controlling and violent behaviour just weeks into their marriage. Pregnant Fawziyah Javed, 31, fell 50ft to her death when Kashif pushed her off the Edinburgh landmark. Anwar, 29, was found guilty of her murder yesterday Ms Javed, pictured working for a Bradford homeless charity, told a witness: 'Don't let my husband near me, he pushed me' Ms Javed's mother, Yasmin, 56, said her son-in-law was 'abusive, controlling, manipulative, aggressive and violent' towards her daughter, who she said had contacted divorce lawyers. In a desperate attempt to keep her safe, Yasmin told her daughter to text her the code 'I like cream cakes' if she ever felt in danger so she could call the police. She said the marriage was dominated by 'abuse, violence, aggression, and coercive control', which included Anwar monitoring her texts and taking 12,000 from her bank account while she was sleeping. Just before their sightseeing trip to Edinburgh, Ms Javed - who was 17 weeks' pregnant and spent her spare time volunteering for various charities - told West Yorkshire Police that Anwar had knocked her unconscious in a graveyard. In another incident, he put a pillow over her head and punched it repeatedly. The jury was also shown video of Anwar harassing his wife in a street and was told Anwar had been overheard in a Leeds hospital telling his wife that if she died in childbirth that 'would be okay' because he would 'be free'. She reported the abuse to officers, at one point telling them what had happened in a face-to-face meeting. At trial in Edinburgh, Anwar denied a charge of murder but was convicted by the jury after prosecutors used his wife's testimony to expose his lies. They also heard how Ms Javed had been able to identify her killer to witnesses as she lay dying from injuries sustained in the fall. Ms Javed, an employment solicitor, with her proud parents on her graduation day Just before their sightseeing trip to Edinburgh, Ms Javed told West Yorkshire Police that Anwar had knocked her unconscious in a graveyard. Ms Javed fell around 50ft from Arthur's Seat (from the blue arrow to the red arrow). She used her final words to make sure witnesses knew she had been shoved by her husband David Green, Scotland's procurator fiscal for homicide and major crime, said her bravery in reporting Anwar helped convict her husband of her murder. 'This young woman was being degraded and controlled by her husband, but she found the strength to place on record what was going on,' he said. 'Her own words, which were recorded by West Yorkshire Police, helped us prosecutors show that the tragedy on Arthur's Seat was the terrible culmination of a campaign of abuse.' As Anwar was handcuffed and taken to the cells, a family member of Ms Javed shouted 'die you b***ard' at him. The trial heard how he had walked 'arm-in-arm' with his pregnant wife to Arthur's Seat after a meal at Wagamama before he pushed her off the Edinburgh landmark. Lord Beckett told him: 'She was willing to trust you that you would keep her safe when she agreed to accompany you on your project to climb Arthur's Seat despite having a fear of heights and being pregnant.' The judge said that Anwar showed no remorse and made no attempt to save his wife and instead played out 'a self-serving charade'. The jury was shown video of Anwar (pictured) harassing his wife in a street Chilling CCTV footage captured the moments leading up to Ms Javed's death. She is seen walking behind Anwar in Edinburgh, shortly before he killed her Ms Javed, seen here walking behind her husband, had wanted to leave him Ms Javed met Anwar at an opticians in Leeds city centre, where he worked as an optical assistant. When he saw Ms Javed alone one day, he told her 'she was the type of woman he wanted to marry' He added: 'Had she lived, she would have given birth to your child some months later but that life was also extinguished by you.' Lord Beckett said he had read victim impact statements from family members describing the grief and pain suffered at the loss of 'a beautiful soul both inside and out'. The judge said the court must do what it can to deter such 'lethal domestic violence'. The court heard that the victim had a fear of heights, but that her husband was keen to visit the hill on their trip. Hillwalker Daniyah Rafique, 24, was first to reach Ms Javed after the fall. She said: 'She told me not to let her husband near her and that he had pushed her.' The engineer said that at one point the injured woman told her: 'Don't let Kash near me.' PC Rhiannon Clutton arrived first on the scene and spotted Ms Javed 'writhing in pain'. She asked her what happened and was told: 'He pushed me.' PC Clutton, 35, said: 'I asked her who had pushed her and why. She said her husband.' PC Clutton added: 'She asked me if she was going to die and she asked me if her baby was going to die.' Anwar denied assaulting and murdering his wife and causing the death of her unborn child. Rescue teams are shown trying to save Ms Javed on Arthur's Seat on September 2, 2021 Natasha Rattu, executive director of the Karma Nirvana charity, reads out a statement behalf of the family of Fawziyah Javed outside the High Court in Edinburgh A family member wears a sweatshirt in memory of Ms Javed He claimed that he had accidentally knocked her over after standing up to take a selfie. He was described as 'calm' when he gave his version of events to firefighter Sean Stratford. Anwar's defence counsel Ian Duguid KC told the court after the verdict: 'He was 27 at the time of this terrible offence taking place. 'He has no history of being prosecuted in any shape or form and no history of having committed offences of violence in the past. 'I recognise everyone in these proceedings would have sympathy for the family of the deceased and of course what befell her that night.' Prosecutor Alex Prentice KC said that moving statements on the impact of Ms Javed's death on her family and others were provided to the court. One wrote: 'There are just no words to describe the depth of pain and grief. There are no words in the English dictionary that go deep enough.' The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) told MailOnline: 'We received a mandatory referral from West Yorkshire Police in September 2021 followed by a complaint referral the following month. 'We decided that the matter should be investigated and that it should be carried out by the force, to assess whether there were any failings or missed opportunities to safeguard Ms Javed from harm given the multiple reports she had made to officers prior to her death. 'We advised the force that should its investigation identify any conduct matters, then a re-referral should be made.' West Yorkshire Police have not responded to requests for comment. Hundreds of UK businesses are attempting to recruit post-millennials who are not attracted to the traditional nine to five by offering the perk of an early finish on Fridays. As many firms grapple with the post-Covid pandemic recovery, they are attempting to coax staff back into the office by offering perks such as attendance to summer festivals, days off on your birthday and an extended weekend. Data revealed by the job market statistics and insights firm Adzuna has found that there has been a sharp increase in job postings offering shorter days. And an expert has said that this trend could be here to stay. The weekend extension pack is part of an effort by many firms to coax younger staff who have proritised a better work-life balance post-pandemic Hundreds of businesses are attempting to recruit post-millennials who are not attracted to the traditional 9 to 5 by offering the perk of an early finish on Fridays Adzuna found that this weekend extension pack is part of an effort by many firms to recruit younger staff who have proritised a better work-life balance post-pandemic. With this in mind, hundreds of UK companies have also been offering bizarre add-ons to the roles they advertise, including perks such as free barista-style coffee, massages, company nights out paid for and yearly holiday incentives with one hot and one cold destination. In the data gathered by the online jobs portal, provided to Bloomberg, there were 1,426 job ads on the site citing 'early finish Friday' last month. This compares to only 583 in the same month five years ago - before Covid-19 changed the way Brits work. It was also found that the perk is targeted more heavily towards junior roles. More than 75 per cent of jobs advertised with such perks were aimed at recruiting staff on salaries between 20,000 and 40,000. This suggests that employers are trying to target Gen Z and newly-graduated staff as they enter the workplace. Of the hundreds of roles advertised on Adzuna, 4,536 job advertisements sprung up in the UK when the words 'early finish Friday' were put into the search bar. Andrew Hunter, co-founder of Adzuna, said the trend may be here to stay, saying that the company has 'seen a surge in work perks offering flexibility or reduced hours to tempt new joiners' A lower-level Electrical Technician job in Bristol that pays between 14.63 and 19.00 per hour was on Adzuna found to be advertising the early finish on Friday. Another role advertised on the site was a Management Accountant position offering 40,000 to 50,000 per year. The company, which said it was seeking an individual who produces 'high-quality' work, offered an early finish on Fridays as well as flexible working. An IT apprentice role paying just 13,000 per annum offered the same perk, as well as 'company nights out paid for'. Another role paying 40000 to 55000 per annum as a Software Systems Engineer in Leicester offered perks including an early end of week exit, as well as 'WFH options', 'Christmas shut down' and social events. A City of London firm was offering graduates the position of Technology Recruitment Consultant with a hefty salary of up to 50,000 per annum, and an 'early finish Fridays at 3pm'. Alongside this, one of the benefits included 'monthly team nights out on the company card' as well as 'yearly holiday incentives' to one hot and one cold destination. Andrew Hunter, co-founder of Adzuna, said the shift reflects the fact that employees are 'demanding more' from employers after the pandemic. And he has said the trend may be here to stay. 'Work-life balance has come into focus since the pandemic and employees are demanding more. The perk of early Friday finishes was found to be more targeted towards junior roles 'In response, we've seen a surge in work perks offering flexibility or reduced hours to tempt new joiners we expect this figure to stay strong as employers seek new methods to tempt top talent.' About 156 of the vacancies offering an early finish on Fridays were in tech and 90 were in general graduate positions, according to the Adzuna data. The next largest cohort was in the sales and marketing field, which accounted for 74 job advertisements listing the perk. Hunter said: 'For job seekers, if a company offers early finish Fridays it signals that they are flexible in their attitude to working hours and care about their employees' wellbeing, which are two factors of utmost importance to today's job hunters,' Mr Hunter said. Police in India have arrested a man who raped an eight-year-old girl before strangling her to death and hacking her corpse apart to dispose of her remains. Kamlesh Rajput, 21, was arrested on suspicion of rape and murder on Sunday after police officers investigating the disappearance of the girl discovered bloodstains by Rajput's house in Lopda village, near Udaipur city. Investigators later found plastic bags containing the girl's remains in a patch of isolated wasteland not far from the farm of the victim's family. Rajput was taken into custody and later confessed to kidnapping the girl from the farm, taking her to his family home and raping her. He then admitted he strangled her and hacked her body apart to dispose of her remains. A sea of protesters from Lopda village and surrounding towns took to Udaipur's city streets this week to demand a death sentence for Rajput and greater protections for women and girls. They also called for authorities to award the girl's family the equivalent of 50,000 in compensation for their loss. Kamlesh Rajput, 21, admitted to raping and strangling an eight-year-old girl before hacking apart her remains Enraged villagers took to the streets to demand justice and call for better protections for women and girls Kamlesh Rajput is pictured centre after being detained alongside his parents Udaipur police superintendent Vikas Sharma told Times of India: 'When [the girl] did not return home on March 29, her family members lodged a missing complaint at the Mavli police station. Since she was a minor girl we lodged an FIR and started searching for her. 'Our men in plain clothes made a visit near [Rajput's] house and found blood spots. Hence, on the basis of suspicion he was detained. 'Later, we recovered the chopped body parts of the girl at an isolated place near his house on Saturday evening. The accused was questioned and he confessed to have kidnapped, strangulated the girl to death and later chopped off her body parts in several pieces.' Sharma added that Rajput was a 'high-school dropout' who appeared 'unperturbed' by the heinous crime he had committed. Udaipur police said they are analysing swabs taken from the victim's remains during postmortem, but confirmed they already have enough evidence to prove the girl was raped. Images circulating on social media showed Udaipur police officers, Rajput and his parents who police said were protecting their son. They have also been detained. A British woman returning to Manchester Airport from a holiday in Turkey claims she was detained by police and asked 'if she thinks bombing is OK' for having a similar name to ISIS bride Shamima Begum. Shamina Begum, 37, said she was told to seek assistance at the e-gate machines and claims Border Force staff said the problem was her name, which was similar to 'someone of interest'. Shamina, who was returning from a trip with her partner, alleges that five officers raced towards them and detained her under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000. She claims her phone and bag were taken off her and that she was questioned for three hours over her name, why she is a Muslim, her family and mortgage. She also says she had her DNA and fingerprints taken. Shamina, who works at a government agency, claims she had to go to the toilet in an unlocked bathroom with a male officer present, while she was on her period. She was eventually released with no further action but has been left traumatised. Shamima Begum was just 15 when she travelled to Istanbul in Turkey from Gatwick Airport to join the so-called Islamic State (IS) 'Just because I am a Muslim with a Muslim name and background, it doesn't make me a terrorist,' she told The Independent. She added: 'After I was let go, I cried all the way from the airport to my house and I couldn't face the outside world for about four weeks. 'In the immediate days after this happened, I'd wake up every day and wish I had not. I'm not a terrorist and didn't deserve to be treated that way. It was a dark and difficult time which still impacts me, unfortunately.' The woman, from the North, says she has had to have medication from her GP as a result of the incident. She says there was no reason for her to be stopped and claims she didn't receive an apology. Shamina now dreads going on holiday again. She wrote a complaint letter to Greater Manchester Police, dated October 2022, arguing that she believes she was stopped due to religious and cultural ignorance, according to The Independent. The newspaper says it was told by GMP the reason for why she was stopped was related to her 'biodata'. Isis bride Shamima Begum passing through security barriers at Gatwick Airport on February 17, 2015 Her complaint was reportedly not upheld by police who say the stop was justified, reasonable and proportionate, but Shamina has put an appeal forward. 'We are, however, aware of an appeal against the outcome of this review so we will not be commenting any further at this time,' the force added. 'Schedule 7 remains a vital piece of legislation to protect the UK Borders and is subject to review by the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation to ensure it is used effectively and fairly.' MailOnline has contacted GMP for further comment. Shamima Begum was 15 when she travelled to Istanbul in Turkey from Gatwick Airport to join the so-called Islamic State (IS) with her close friends at east London's Bethnal Green Academy - Kadiza Sultana, 16, and Amira Abase, 15. She was eventually found nine months pregnant in a refugee camp in Al-Hawl in February 2019 by a Times journalist. Shamima was stripped of her British citizenship after announcing her desire to return to the UK. Since then, she has been embroiled in a battle with the British legal system and lost her latest legal challenge over the decision to deprive her of her British citizenship. She lost her first appeal to return to the UK but successfully challenged the decision at the Court of Appeal. But the Government submitted a fresh appeal, meaning her return was put on hold pending a Supreme Court battle. She was dealt a fresh blow when the Supreme Court ruled she could not come back to the UK - leading to her begging the British public for forgiveness. ITV newsreader Nicola Heywood-Thomas has died just two months after her final broadcast. The 67-year-old had suffered with health problems in recent months but continued to broadcast as recently as February. She leaves behind her three children, Tom, Becca and Alys. Her former colleague at ITV's Wales at Six Jonathan Hill announced her death on the show yesterday. He said: 'I am afraid we have some very sad news to share with you. Our friend and colleague, former HTV presenter Nicola Heywood-Thomas sadly passed away earlier today. 'Nicola has been a familiar face for Welsh audiences presenting news, current affairs, and arts programmes in a career spanning more than three decades. Mother-of-three Nicola Heywood-Thomas, 67, had suffered with health problems in recent months but continued to broadcast as recently as February At HTV - which became ITV Wales - she was the main news reporter for 18 years, presenting features and current affairs programmes BBC Radio Wales editor Carolyn Hitt said her colleague had been the voice of arts coverage in Wales and had championed the country's culture. Pictured: with Welsh actor Michael Sheen 'We have of course presented many editions of this programme together and she will be greatly, greatly missed by all of us here at ITV Cymru Wales. 'Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this very sad time.' Ms Heywood-Thomas, who lived in Cardiff, started at BBC Wales as a news reporter fresh from university. She went on to work as a sub-editor, reporter and presenter on their flagship Wales Today programme. At HTV - which became ITV Wales - she was the main news reporter for 18 years, presenting features and current affairs programmes. While at the broadcaster she won a Bafta Cymru Award for Best Music Programme for her show Not A Bad Voice, about Welsh bass-baritone Geraint Evans. In a statement, they said she was 'one of ITV Cymru Wales 'most iconic faces.' She also presented on BBC Radio 4 and Radio 3, broadcasting live concerts. Ms Heywood-Thomas, who lived in Cardiff, started at BBC Wales as a news reporter fresh from university. She went on to work as a sub-editor, reporter and presenter on their flagship Wales Today programme She also presented on BBC Radio 4 and Radio 3, broadcasting live concerts She won a Bafta Cymru Award for Best Music Programme for her show Not A Bad Voice, about Welsh bass-baritone Geraint Evans The presenter starred in a cameo in cult classic film Human Traffics, starring Danny Dyer, John Simm and Andrew Lincoln. She appeared as a news reporter, interviewing youngsters about British club culture and drug use. BBC Radio Wales editor Carolyn Hitt revealed the broadcaster had been undergoing 'very gruelling chemotherapy', the BBC reported. She said her colleague had been the voice of arts coverage in Wales and had championed the country's culture. She wrote on Twitter: 'A huge loss to Welsh broadcasting. 'All of us at BBC Radio Wales are deeply saddened at the death of our wonderful colleague & friend Nicola Heywood Thomas. 'An iconic journalist and champion of Welsh arts. Condolences to Nicolas family - especially her children Tom, Beca and Alys.' Opera writer Hugh Canning paid tribute to his 'oldest friend', who he called a 'broadcaster extraordinaire'' He said: 'Devastating news - my oldest friend, Nicola Heywood-Thomas, broadcaster extraordinaire, passed away today. 'We met in my first year at Oxford - 1972 - when she was 16 and I was 18 and we have been friends ever since. BBC Radio Wales editor Carolyn Hitt said Ms Heywood-Thomas's death was a huge loss to Welsh broadcasting Opera writer Hugh Canning paid tribute to his 'oldest friend', who he called a 'broadcaster extraordinaire' 'I owe her so much. RIP Nicola.' In a statement, ITV Cymru Wales said: 'The ITV Cymru Wales family are very sad to hear of the passing of broadcaster Nicola Heywood-Thomas. 'As one of ITV Cymru Wales most iconic faces, she anchored Wales at Six for more than 15 years. 'Thoughts are with all her friends and colleagues tonight.' Beijing said Taiwan is an 'inseparable' part of China as it sent warplanes and aircraft near the country for a second day today, after President Tsai Ing-wen angered CCP officials by meeting US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Three Chinese warships sailed in waters surrounding the self-ruled island, while a fighter jet and an anti-submarine helicopter also crossed the island's air defence identification zone, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said. On Wednesday, China's Shandong aircraft carrier, one of two in its naval fleet, sailed through Taiwan's southeastern waters on its way to the Pacific, hours before Tsai met McCarthy in Los Angeles. Tsai told reporters her government was committed to ensuring 'the free and democratic way of life of the people of Taiwan' before she left LA, where she was stopping on her way back from Latin America. 'We also hope to do our best to maintain peace and stability between the two sides,' she added. But in comments likely to further inflame tensions in the region, Beijing said 'Taiwan is an inseparable part of China' after repeatedly warning against the meeting between the senior officials. Beijing has said that Taiwan is an 'inseparable' part of China as it sent warplanes and aircraft near the country for a second day on Friday. Pictured: A military helicopter flies past tourists at a viewing point over the Taiwan Strait on Pingtan island, the closest point to Taiwan, in China's southeast Fujian province on April 7 China's warning came after President Tsai Ing-wen angered CCP officials by meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (pictured together on April 5 in California, US) 'China's sovereignty and territorial integrity will never be divided and division won't be allowed,' foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing. 'The future of Taiwan lies in the reunification with the motherland'. Beijing views the island as an autonomous Chinese province and has long sought reunification. Taiwan sees itself as an independent state. Last August, China deployed warships, missiles and fighter jets around Taiwan for its largest show of force in years following a trip to the island by McCarthy's predecessor Nancy Pelosi. Beijing's response to the Tsai-McCarthy meeting has so far been more muted and China's incursions in the past two days have not risen beyond the activities of an average week. But Taiwan is still on alert, with Premier Chen Chien-jen warning that Taipei's defence and security agencies were keeping a close eye on developments. On Thursday, Taiwan's defence ministry said three warships had been detected around the Taiwan Strait and one Chinese naval helicopter crossed the island's air defence identification zones (ADIZ). This prompted the US asking China 'to cease its military, diplomatic and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful diplomacy'. 'We remain committed to maintaining open channels of communication so as to prevent the risk of any kind of miscalculation,' State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters. A PLA Navy tugboat sails in the Taiwan Strait, past tourists on Pingtan island, the closest point to Taiwan, in China's southeast Fujian province on April 7. Three Chinese warships sailed in waters surrounding the self-ruled island, while a fighter jet and an anti-submarine helicopter also crossed the island's air defence identification zone, Taiwan said Pictured: Chinese coast guard ships are seen patrolling the Taiwan Strait on Thursday Pictured: Taiwan navy ships are seen at the port in Keelung, Taiwan April 7 Pictured: Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong sails in Pacific Ocean waters, about 186 miles south of Okinawa prefecture, Japan, in this handout image taken by Japan Self-Defence Force on April 5, 2023 and released by the Joint Staff Office of the Defense Ministry of Japan April 6 McCarthy, who is second in line for the US presidency (after Vice President Kamala Harris), had planned to go to Taiwan, but opted instead to meet Tsai in California. The decision was viewed as a compromise that would underscore support for Taiwan but avoid inflaming tensions with China, a move analysts say has so far proven successful. Tsai said on Thursday that it was 'quite common for us to meet our US friends during transits'. 'I also hope the Chinese side can exercise self-restraint and don't overreact,' she added. McCarthy had vowed that US arms sales to Taiwan, which have infuriated Chinese leadership, would continue, in what he said was a proven strategy to dissuade aggression. 'And what we know through history, the best way to do that is supply the weapons that allow people to deter war,' he added. 'It is a critical lesson that we learned through Ukraine, that the idea of just sanctions in the future is not going to stop somebody'. Tsai acknowledged the weapons deal on Thursday but did not provide further details. 'We have purchased arms from the US and we hope the arms will be delivered on time,' she said. China has ramped up its rhetoric against Taiwan in recent years, with President Xi Jinping emboldened by being handed an unprecedented third term - seeing him become the country's most powerful leader since Chairman Mao Zedong. He has made it clear that he wants to bring Taiwan under Chinese rule during his time in office. In October, Xi said China harbours ambitions of a 'peaceful reunification' with the island but warned it 'must be realised, and will definitely be realised'. 'Reunification through a peaceful manner is the most in line with the overall interest of the Chinese nation, including Taiwan compatriots,' he said. The CIA's director William Burns warned in February that Xi has ordered his military to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027, and China has carried out several rounds of war games, seemingly in preparation for an assault on Taiwan. But some analysts have suggested Russia's failing invasion of Ukraine and the global response against fellow autocrat Vladimir Putin has caused the Chinese leader some doubts about his chances of success. Earlier this year, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a prominent Washington think-tank, ran war game simulations of a potential conflict involving Taiwan and the US. CSIS claimed at the time that it was one of the most extensive war-game simulations ever conducted on a possible conflict over Taiwan. The report titled The First Battle of the Next War covered two dozen war scenarios. According to the data, if China invaded Taiwan in 2026, it would lead to thousands of casualties among Chinese, United States, Taiwanese and Japanese forces, and it is not likely that Beijing would triumph, CSIS told CNN at the time. On Friday, China slapped sanctions on Taipei's de facto ambassador to the United States, Hsiao Bi-khim, banning her from entering China and accusing her of 'deliberately inciting cross-strait confrontation'. Chinas President Xi Jinping attends a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron (not pictured) in Beijing on April 6. Xi has set his sights on taking Taiwan during his tenure as China's president Beijing views Taiwan as an autonomous Chinese province and has long sought reunification. Taiwan sees itself as an independent state. Pictured: A map of Taiwan Beijing's foreign ministry also announced sanctions against the Hudson Institute, a Washington-based conservative think-tank, as well as the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, for 'providing a platform and facilitating Tsai Ing-wen's engagement in 'Taiwan separatism' activities in the United States'. The two organisations are now barred from engaging in transactions and cooperation with Chinese entities, while four individuals linked to them are blocked from entering or conducting business in China. On Thursday, Taipei's top China policy-making body, the Mainland Affairs Council, said Chinese coast guard vessels were 'obstructing' trade by carrying out on-site inspections on cargo and passenger ships. Tsai responded to the potential spot checks by saying Taipei's national security team was 'closely monitoring the situation' to ensure the safety of its ships 'and to prevent China's interference in our territorial waters'. Shops across the UK and Ireland will operate with different opening hours over Easter, with two Bank Holidays to mark the occasion. Supermarkets, DIY stores, department stores and post offices will all be opening at different times to normal. The Easter Bank Holiday starts with Good Friday, which falls on Friday, 7 April this year. This is the first of two Bank Holidays across the long Easter weekend, with the second falling on Easter Monday, 10 April. When are shops open over the Bank Holiday weekend? Will supermarkets be open over Easter? Which shops are open near you? Read on below for all you need to know about shop opening times during the long Easter weekend. The majority of Tesco Express stores will be open for customers to visit on Easter Sunday Asda will give staff the day off on Sunday, 9 April, meaning all of their larger stores will shut Aldi will open between 8am and 8pm on Easter Monday, 10 April, but will close on Easter Sunday Supermarket opening times What are Tesco opening times over Easter? On Good Friday, most Tesco stores will operate with normal trading hours but those that are normally open late will close earlier than usual (10pm). On Easter Sunday, all of the brand's larger branches stores in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be closed. Scottish stores will open for normal Sunday trading, as they are subject to different Sunday trading laws. The majority of Tesco Express stores will remain open. Tesco's opening hours will vary on Easter Monday, depending on location and store type. The company confirmed that many large stores will be operating with reduced hours, and said their smaller Express stores will be open as usual. What are Aldi opening times over Easter? Aldi have published their opening hours for the long Easter weekend, which will see stores open between 8am and 10pm on Good Friday. On Saturday, 8 April, their stores will operate between 8am and 10pm as well. A statement from Aldi reads: 'As with previous years, stores will be closed on Easter Sunday'. The chain will shut on Easter Sunday in order to comply with Sunday trading laws dictated by the Government. These rules dictate that shops in England and Wales larger than 280 square metres must close on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day. On Easter Monday, 10 April, Aldi's stores will open between 8am and 8pm. What are Asda opening times over Easter? Asda have also released their opening hours for the long Easter weekend. On Good Friday, the supermarket's stores will be open between 7am and 10pm. The same opening hours (7am to 10pm) will be operated by Asda on Saturday, 8 April. In line with other supermarkets, Asda will give staff the day off on Sunday, 9 April, meaning all of their larger stores will shut. Some of the company's smaller Asda Express stores may be open on Easter Sunday. For the final day of the Easter Bank Holiday weekend (Monday, 10 April) Asda's branches will open between the hours of 7am and 8pm. What are Sainsbury's opening times over Easter? On Good Friday, 7 April, Sainsbury's is operating normal opening hours across its stores. However, this may vary depending upon the size of the store, as well as your location, so you are advised to check their website for full details. On Easter Sunday, 8 April, Sainsbury's will close all of its 600 larger stores across England and Wales. Sainsbury's stores will be open across Scotland on Easter Sunday. The chain's 800 smaller, convenience-style shops will retain normal opening hours across the UK on Easter Sunday. On Easter Monday, 10 April, all Sainsbury's stores will be open to the public across the UK, though operating hours will vary. The supermarket's larger branches are expected to open between 8am and 8pm. What are Lidl opening times throughout Easter? Lidl stores across England and Wales will be open as normal on Good Friday, with a closing time of 10pm. However, stores will shut on Easter Sunday, opening again between 8am and 8pm on Easter Monday. Store opening times may vary, with customers advised to check online for details on their local branch. Most TK Maxx stores will be open between 9am and 9pm on Good Friday, but the brand's stores will close on Easter Sunday What are TK Maxx, John Lewis and Primark opening times during Easter? Most TK Maxx stores will be open between 9am and 9pm on Good Friday, but the brand's stores will close on Easter Sunday. Stores are set to return to a normal schedule on Easter Monday, from 9am until 9pm, but hours may differ between branches. Primark's opening hours vary on Good Friday, depending upon the size of the store. Stores are shut on Easter Sunday, but will be open to visit again on Easter Monday. John Lewis has been struggling in recent months, but will be open to customers on Good Friday, with opening times differing between stores. The brand's branches will shut on Easter Sunday, before being open on the Monday Bank Holiday. B&Q branches will be closed on Easter Sunday, 9 April, giving staff the opportunity to have a well-deserved day off DIY store opening times Is B&Q opening throughout Easter? On Good Friday, 7 April, B&Q stores will largely operate as normal, opening between the hours of 7am and 8pm. B&Q branches will be closed on Easter Sunday, 9 April, giving staff the opportunity to have a well-deserved day off. However, stores will be back open on Easter Monday, opening at 7am and closing at 8pm. Specific opening hours may vary from store to store, depending on its size and location. As a result, it is best to check online to see if your local B&Q store is open before visiting. Will Homebase be open at Easter? Stores across the UK and Ireland will be open to customers between 8am and 8pm on Good Friday, 7 April. However, on Easter Sunday, 9 April, Homebase will close all of its branches in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Stores in Scotland and the Republic of Ireland will remain open on this day, operating as normal. Homebase stores will operate with uniform opening hours across the UK and Ireland on Easter Monday, 10 April. Stores will open at 8am and close at 7pm. Opening hours may vary from store to store, so Homebase customers are advised to check the company's website for full details. When is Wickes open during Easter? Wickes stores are open on Good Friday, 7 April between the hours of 7am and 8pm across England, Wales and Scotland. Stores in England and Wales will then shut to observe Easter Sunday on 9 April, but will remain open in Scotland. Branches will operate across the UK on Easter Monday, 10 April at 7am before closing at 8pm. Many post offices will be shut on Good Friday and Easter Monday, with all closed on Easter Sunday Post Office Easter opening hours The majority of post offices will be shut on Good Friday, 7 April this year. All post offices will close on Easter Sunday, with most branches remaining closed on Easter Monday. Some branches may be open on Good Friday or Easter Monday, but no branch will be open on both Bank Holidays. Ensure to check online if your local post office is open before you visit. Around half of civil servants are still working from home nearly two years after the end of Covid lockdown, figures have revealed. The number of workers going into the office is as low as a third, the government data for each civil service department from March 2023 shows. The department with the fewest staff in the workplace last month was Defra, which saw 29 per cent of workers attend the office in the week commencing March 13. The Home Office also scored among the lowest for staff working from the office last month. In the first week of March, 56 per cent worked from the HQ at Marsham Street, London, followed by 44 per cent the next week, 58 per cent the week after that and 54 per cent in the final week of the month. Other departments which had some of the lowest turnouts at their headquarters for March included HMRC, the Foreign Office, and the Department for Education. The Home Office saw around half of staff working from home last month. Jacob Rees-Mogg took this picture in the Cabinet Office to highlight the issue of WFH civil servants last year In the first week of March, 56 per cent of Home Office staff worked from the Marsham Street HQ in London. Defra, which is also based there, saw just 29 per cent in the office in the week commencing March 13 In the second week of March, HMRC recorded 39 per cent of staff in their HQ. By contrast the Ministry of Defence had 91 per cent of staff in the office during a couple of weeks last month - the highest turnout. The Department of Health and Social Care also had among the highest percentage of staff in the office, with 79 per cent of workers at the HQ for half of March. A government spokesperson said: 'There is agreement across government on there being clear benefits from face-to-face, collaborative working and departments remain committed to having staff working in offices at pre-pandemic levels.' DEFRA said it has a broad range of employees who work across a variety of sites, from fieldworkers and vets, to laboratory workers and policy teams. They have around 240 workplaces to suit their workforce, who are all continuing to work to meet the needs of stakeholders, customers and the communities they serve. HMRC said it has more than 60,000 members of staff, with 14 regional sites and other specialist sites around the UK, including 100 Parliament Street. The Government said the Home office data accounts for staff based at 2 Marsham Street, which is a minority of Home Office staff. Staff work at over 200 locations across the UK, including Ports, Airports, passport office, protecting borders and national security. Last year, then Minister of State Jacob Rees-Mogg attempted to end civil servants' remote working culture by leaving these notes at empty desks Last year, Jacob Rees-Mogg attempted to end civil servants' remote working culture. His attempts to end working from home included conducting spot head counts in offices at Whitehall and leaving notes on empty desks in a move which was branded insulting by unions. The note, printed on government paper with Mr Rees-Mogg's title, was left at empty desks and read 'I look forward to seeing you in the office very soon'. Mr Rees-Mogg said at the time: 'My experience of working from home is you spend an awful lot of time making another cup of coffee and then, you know, getting up, walking very slowly to the fridge, hacking off a small piece of cheese, then walking very slowly back to your laptop and then forgetting what it was you're doing.' Any possible future reparations for the Royal Family's historic involvement in slavery should be paid by the monarch himself, not the state - a Tory MP has argued. King Charles yesterday expressed his support for the first time for a study researching links between the British monarchy and the transatlantic slave trade - prompting critics to warn this could fuel calls for Britain to pay compensation. Former Tory MP Harvey Proctor called for any reparations to be paid by Charles personally and not by taxpayers. He said: 'Payment of any reparations must not come from the state. Otherwise, we should sue the French for the damage caused by the Norman Conquest in 1066 and similar to the USA for the price of the tea lost in Boston Harbour.' The new research is expected to analyse previous rulers' involvement with slave-trading companies, including the Royal African Company and its deputy governor, Edward Colston, whose statue was thrown into Bristol Harbour by anti-racism protesters. King Charles yesterday expressed his support for the first time for a study researching links between the British monarchy and the transatlantic slave trade People calling for slavery reparations protest outside the British High Commission during the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's visit to Jamaica in March 2022 Charles's support for the academic work, carried out by the University of Manchester with Historic Royal Palaces, was welcomed by researchers and campaigners. But others voiced fears it could open the door to the Royal Family and the Government facing demands to pay compensation, or reparations, for their role in the slave trade and colonialism. In the past, there have been calls for the Royal Family to pay compensation on the grounds that previous generations of the monarchy profited from the slave trade. Britain's leading black newspaper, The Voice, last year called for the Royal Family to apologise and pay slavery reparations after a backlash from readers over its decision to let Charles 'guest edit' an edition. Last night, there were immediate calls from Caribbean campaigners for new talks about reparations. Arley Gill, of the National Reparations Commission of Grenada, said: 'The Royal Family must make repair and atonement for the people and societies that would have suffered because of their involvement in the slave trade. Reparations now cannot be a subject that can be swept under the royal rug of the Royal Household.' But historian Rafe Heydel-Mankoo told GB News: 'Only 3 per cent of the British economy in around 1770 had any relation to the slave trade. So this myth that we hear a lot in this country now that the Empire, the Industrial Revolution, and the monarchy's wealth was built on slavery is absolute nonsense.' The study began without fanfare in October and came to light only after the emergence of a document which showed a transfer of 1,000 of shares in the Royal African Company from Colston to King William III in 1689 The research is expected to analyse previous rulers' involvement with slave-trading companies, including the Royal African Company and its deputy governor, Edward Colston, whose statue was thrown into Bristol Harbour by anti-racism protesters (pictured as it happened in June 2020) Fellow historian Andrew Roberts said the Royal Family was descended from the Hanoverians, who ruled from 1714, and should not be blamed for the actions of previous dynasties. He added: 'There is no justification for blaming Charles III for the actions of Charles II.' It is understood to be the first time the Palace has publicly stated that it supports research into the monarchy's historical links to the vile trade. The Palace said it was granting researchers full access to the Royal Archives and the Royal Collection as part of a detailed study which is expected to run until 2026. A spokesman said the King wanted to continue his pledge to deepen his understanding of slavery's impact with 'vigour and determination'. They added: 'This is an issue that His Majesty takes profoundly seriously.' Suggestions that the King might be willing to pay reparations or make a donation to charity were described by royal sources last night as 'utterly speculative'. They also emphasised that the project was being undertaken by the charity Historic Royal Palaces, as opposed to the King personally, and was designed to 'deepen understanding' of the issue. The study is being led by Manchester University PhD student Camilla de Koning, who said previous monarchs had been 'diplomatic players' who had influenced the transatlantic slave trade. King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla after a Maundy Thursday service in York yesterday She told Radio 4's World At One: 'I hope it will become a very important new perspective on how the monarchs were actually involved with the colonial empire.' Dr Edmond Smith, who is supervising the study, said the project would not consider the controversial topic of compensation for those affected, but could affect future discussions about reparation. The study began without fanfare in October and came to light only after the emergence of a document which showed a transfer of 1,000 of shares in the Royal African Company from Colston to King William III in 1689. The company shipped up to 150,000 enslaved people from Africa to America and the Caribbean. The document, published by The Guardian, was unearthed by US historian Dr Brooke Newman. She said: 'There is no doubt that the centuries of investment in African slavery, and the slave trade, contributed hugely to building the status, prestige and fortune of today's Royal Family.' Eric Phillips, of the Caricom Reparations Commission, which represents Caribbean nations where European powers enslaved people to work on plantations, said: 'King Charles knows enough to apologise, and should.' Tributes have poured in for a popular pub owner who was stabbed to death after an 'altercation' outside a busy Skegness restaurant yesterday. Gareth Hart, 43, had been on holiday in the coastal town when he was set upon and repeatedly stabbed in the shadow of Skegness's Fantasy Island theme park. When police found Mr Hart in the Ingoldmells area just before 1am on Thursday he was severely injured and died at the scene. A 33-year-old man has since been arrested on suspicion of murder. Mr Hart's friends and family have paid tribute to him on social media. Friends of Gareth Hart (pictured) have paid tribute to his memory after he was stabbed to death Despite the best efforts of police and paramedics Mr Hart died at the scene The shocking incident happened next to popular Skegness theme park Fantasy Island One wrote: 'R.I.P Gareth Hart fly high mate.' Another said: 'Rip Gareth Hart thinking of all my family at this sad time especially my auntie Yvonne Darnley Hart. Love you.' One person wrote: 'For you my brother, my best mate Gareth Hart.' Mr Hart reportedly owned the Thurnscoe Tap pub in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. In a statement on Thursday, the pub said: 'Due to unforeseen circumstances Thurnscoe Tap will be closed until further notice.' Yesterday, Lincolnshire Police confirmed two men had been arrested following the incident but that one had been released without charge. A spokesman said: 'We have arrested a 33-year-old man, from Derbyshire, on suspicion of murder. 'This relates to the death of a man in Ingoldmells, in the early hours of this morning. 'A 30-year-old man who was arrested earlier today on suspicion of murder has now been released with no further action.' A Fantasy Island spokesperson said the park would not be shut. But they added: 'Some of our operational procedures may be adapted, and there may be some ride closures in place in order to respect the sensitivity of the incident.' A British tourist has been found dead lying face down in a sewer in Cambodia. Charlie Gray, 30, from Bristol, was discovered by locals in the Kampot province, around 90 miles from the capital of Phnom Penh on Thursday afternoon. His family are now being supported by Foreign Office officials, a spokesperson said. Gray was wearing a pair of black trainers and black shorts but did not have anything on his upper body. Locals tried to rouse him but he had no signs of life. Residents had pulled him up on to the grass next to the drainage ditch and turned him on to his back. He was surrounded by thick grass several metres from the nearest road. Police arrived shortly after he was found at around 4pm local time. They pronounced him dead at the scene and his body was taken away for a post-mortem examination. The 30-year-old was discovered by locals in the Kampot province, around 90 miles from the capital of Phnom Penh on Thursday afternoon (file image of the region) Resident Bong Chea, one of the neighbours, who saw the victim's body, said: 'The man was dead when we found him. Somebody moved him to check if he was alive and try and wake him up. He was already dead. 'Nobody knows how he fell into the sewer. We also don't know who the man was. We hardly see foreigners in this area.' Police believe that the victim could have fallen face down into the sewer and drowned from swallowing the shallow water. However, an officer said today that his body could have been dumped in the ditch. They are now waiting for the results from his dead body to find the cause of death. Officers from the Krong Kampot district station said Charlie's body was currently at the Wat Teuk Thla temple in Phnom Penh. Lieutenant Colonel Seang said: 'The autopsy results will show how the foreigner died. If they show there was foul play, yes, we will investigate this further. 'He could have fallen into the sewer and died. Yes, it's possible he died somewhere else and his body was left at the sewer.' UK Foreign Office spokesperson said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who died in Cambodia, and are in touch with the local authorities.' Macron was given a hero's welcome by university students in city of Guangzhou Emmanuel Macron was greeted by hundreds of students at a university in China today as at the end of a three-day visit in which he has repeatedly pushed his counterpart Xi Jinping to help end the Ukraine conflict. The French president, who landed in the capital Beijing on Wednesday, has said he is seeking to dissuade China from supporting its ally Russia's invasion of its neighbour. This morning he flew to the southern city of Guangzhou, where he was mobbed by hundreds of students desperate for a selfie or a high-five with the leader a stark contrast to the hundreds of thousands of protesters, some of whom set fire to one of his favourite Parisian restaurants amid riots over pension reforms. La Rotonde where Macron celebrated his 2017 election win was targeted with Molotov cocktails. The venue's chic outside awning lay in ruins last night and some of its windows were smashed, as police made 20 arrests in the surrounding area. Macron, whose name was chanted by some in the crowd in Guangzhou, then spoke to students in the campus gym and answered their questions before an early dinner with Xi ahead of meetings with Chinese investors and a flight home. It comes after the French leader met Xi for talks in Beijing on Thursday, ultimately failing to encourage him to change his stance on Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron arrives for a visit at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou on April 7, 2023 Students mobbed the French president as he strolled through the grounds outside the university hall Chinese students wait for the arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou on April 7, 2023 PARIS: Meanwhile, furious protesters in Paris set fire to one of Macron's favourite restaurants amid continued fury over his pension reforms Workers repair the sign of the restaurant La Rotonde in Paris which was partially burnt amid protests An effigy burns during a demonstration at Place d'Italie, on the 11th day of action after the government pushed a pensions reform through parliament without a vote, using the article 49.3 of the constitution, in Paris on April 6 Putin's invasion of his neighbour has dominated Macron's visit, his first to China since 2019. He told students in Guangzhou that the war was 'a manifest violation of our international law'. Russia, Macron said, was 'a country that has decided to colonise its neighbour and not to respect the rules'. 'The international order is now weakened and we have a responsibility, China and France, to preserve it and at the same time to reinvent it in the light of the realities of the 21st century,' he said. Macron also urged them to embrace a 'critical spirit' that would allow them to become 'free, rational individuals' - another stark contrast with the rigid, state-controlled education to which Chinese students are subject. In his talks with Xi on Thursday, Macron said: 'I can count on you to bring Russia to its senses and everyone to the negotiating table.' A French diplomat told AFP that Xi expressed a willingness to speak with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, but only when the time is right. At a press conference after the talks, Macron delivered a lengthy speech which eclipsed the Chinese leader's clipped remarks, a political 'faux pas' that appeared to annoy Xi who was seen sighing and shifting his weight uncomfortably as Macron rambled on. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, who is accompanying Macron on his visit, welcomed Xi's openness to speaking with Zelensky. In contrast with the amicable Macron, von der Leyen has struck a more firm tone in her talks with Chinese officials this week. On Thursday, she said she had shared her 'deep concerns about the deterioration of the human rights situation in China' with officials, and warned Beijing that arms shipments to Russia would 'significantly harm' relations. French President Emmanuel Macron (L) meets and speaks with Chinese students during his visit to Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou on April 7, 2023 Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, and France's President Emmanuel Macron talk prior to a tea ceremony at the Guandong province governor's residence in Guangzhou, China, on April 7 Macron and Xi sip tea at the Guandong province governor's residence in Guangzhou Macron gestures as he speaks to students at Sun Yat-sen University President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron after the signing ceremony in Beijing on April 6, 2023 President Xi Jinping holds a trilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen Moscow, however, has poured cold water on prospects of Beijing's mediation, insisting on Thursday it had 'no choice' but to press on with its Ukraine offensive. 'Undoubtedly, China has a very effective and commanding potential for mediation,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. 'But the situation with Ukraine is complex, so far there are no prospects for a political settlement.' Beyond the war in Ukraine, Macron's visit has also focused on firming up a crucial trade partnership. The French leader is accompanied in China by more than 50 French business leaders, including the top bosses of Airbus, EDF and Veolia. Airbus announced Thursday it would open a second final assembly line in China that will double its production capacity in the country, with the framework for the deal signed by chief executive Guillaume Faury in Beijing. Asia has become a key market for both Airbus and its US rival Boeing, as demand for air travel climbs with an expanding middle class. The grandfather of a pregnant lawyer who was pushed to her death from Arthur's Seat did not tell her grieving family he had terminal cancer because he didn't want to 'divert attention' from her murder case - and died before the killer was jailed. Relatives called Abdul Latif their 'leading investigator' as they fought to get justice for Fawziyah Javed, 31, who was murdered by her husband of less than a year Kashif Anwar, 29. They told MailOnline the courageous 70-year-old kept quiet about his terminal diagnosis until just 48 hours before he died on November 1 - in an extraordinary act of love for his late granddaughter. Ms Javed's uncle, Shahid Farouk, 53, said Mr Latif was present when his granddaughter's body was identified on her birthday, September 4, 2021, and his death had been a 'huge blow' to the family. He said it was 'devastating' he was unable to get the 'closure' he had sought when Anwar was jailed for 20 years for Ms Javed's murder yesterday. Relatives called Abdul Latif, 70, (right) their 'leading investigator' as they fought to get justice for Fawziyah Javed, 31 Ms Javed was murdered by her husband of less than a year Kashif Anwar, 29 Mr Farouk said: 'He was like our leading investigating officer. He was with us all the way. But he sadly died from cancer. And the worst thing about it was that he kept it inside him. 'Doctors were telling him, ''You must tell your family. You've not got long to live.'' They gave him a year, but sadly he went within a couple of months. 'When we went to identify Fawziyah on September 4, we should have been celebrating her birthday, not going to a mortuary to identify her body, and Fawziyah's grandad went with us. READ MORE: Inside the violent marriage that ended in murder Advertisement 'The reason why he didn't want to tell anybody was that he knew the family was going through a lot of grief with Fawziyah's ongoing case, so he didn't want to trouble us and divert us to his attention. 'It wasn't until 48 hours, when his condition deteriorated a lot, that he actually told us. 'It's a huge blow for us, losing Fawziyah's grandfather, not having the closure of the case before he passed away.' Ms Javed was murdered when she was 17 weeks pregnant after her abusive husband Anwar lured her on a trip to Scotland before shoving her off Arthur's Seat down a 50ft drop on September 2, 2021. She used her dying breaths to tell police that her husband was responsible for her death, which helped lead to his successful conviction in Edinburgh's high court. Her uncle Mr Farouk said Anwar would have pulled off the 'perfect murder' if it was not for her intervention. The businessmen said: 'He was a jealous, controlling freak. He didn't show any remorse at all for what he did, taking not only her life but her child's life as well. 'I would have said this guy is a psychopath. It beggars belief. Who would do that? A woman who was educated, she bought him things, and it just wasn't enough for him. 'God gave her that strength that she was alive when the police got there. Ms Javed, pictured working for a Bradford homeless charity, told a witness: 'Don't let my husband near me, he pushed me' Ms Javed, an employment solicitor, with her proud parents on her graduation day Ms Javed fell around 50ft from Arthur's Seat (from the blue arrow to the red arrow). She used her final words to make sure witnesses knew she had been shoved by her husband 'But it was almost the perfect murder for him to get away with, had she not been alive, I don't think there would be much evidence.' 'What person not only kills his wife but his own child as well? He showed no remorse whatsoever and he was a coward. 'He depleted our trust. I remember him telling us, 'I'll look after her'. And they bought her home in a body bag. He's completely ruined our lives. Paying tribute to his niece, he said: 'Fawziyah was god gifted. She was educated, and she was the best in my family. She was an only child. She went to gateways private school in Leeds. She was just very humble. 'Fawziyah was a lawyer by profession. She was a kind-hearted, honest girl. I never shouted at Fawziyah. I brought her up as my own niece. She was just impeccable. 'She was just a level-headed girl that didn't show off about anything, that wanted to be loved, but unfortunately she met the wrong guy.' Mr Farouk said he had hoped Anwar's sentence would be longer but understood under Scottish law that 20 years was the maximum that the killer could receive. However, he criticized West Yorkshire Police for not intervening sooner in the abusive relationship between Ms Javed and Anwar when they lived in Leeds. Just before their sightseeing trip to Edinburgh, Ms Javed - who was 17 weeks' pregnant and spent her spare time volunteering for various charities - told West Yorkshire Police that Anwar had knocked her unconscious in a graveyard. In another incident, he put a pillow over her head and punched it repeatedly. The jury was shown video of Anwar (pictured) harassing his wife in a street Chilling CCTV footage captured the moments leading up to Ms Javed's death. She is seen walking behind Anwar in Edinburgh, shortly before he killed her Ms Javed, seen here walking behind her husband, had wanted to leave him The jury was also shown video of Anwar harassing his wife in a street and was told Anwar had been overheard in a Leeds hospital telling his wife that if she died in childbirth that 'would be okay' because he would 'be free'. She reported the abuse to officers, at one point telling them what had happened in a face-to-face meeting. Mr Farouk said: 'She should have got better protection, and West Yorkshire Police were in all honesty a bit slow to take action. 'I think they were going to talk to him, but they'd already taken her to Edinburgh. And he was adamant all the time. 'She was scared of heights, but she felt if this is going to stop this from happening, maybe this will work. 'And he had that evil plan. And I don't think it was planned for a couple of weeks, I think it was something planned for months.' He added: 'No sentence is ever going to be enough, but it gives us some comfort and I welcome the judge's verdict.' The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) told MailOnline: 'We received a mandatory referral from West Yorkshire Police in September 2021 followed by a complaint referral the following month. 'We decided that the matter should be investigated and that it should be carried out by the force, to assess whether there were any failings or missed opportunities to safeguard Ms Javed from harm given the multiple reports she had made to officers prior to her death. 'We advised the force that should its investigation identify any conduct matters, then a re-referral should be made.' West Yorkshire Police have not responded to requests for comment. Natasha Rattu, executive director of the Karma Nirvana charity, reads out a statement behalf of Ms Javed's family outside the High Court in Edinburgh Multiple US special forces commandos have been killed or seriously injured when their parachutes deployed unexpectedly inside aircrafts in a gust of wind from an open jump door. A Navy SEAL, an Air Force commando, and an Army Green Beret were among the victims of catastrophic malfunctions with T-11 reserve parachutes since 2014, according to a Washington Post report on Friday. Most of the victims were jumpmasters, the experienced parachutists who lean out of the aircraft to spot drop zones, and their chest-mounted reserve parachutes apparently activated when wind gusts caught the lightweight fabric ripcords. A Pentagon spokesperson told DailyMail.com that the Department of Defense is aware of reports of the incidents, but referred questions about safety procedures to the service branches. In a federal lawsuit filed this week, Army Staff Sgt. Brycen Erdody, a Green Beret medic, said he nearly died last year when his T-11 opened after a wind gust came through an aircraft door. A Navy SEAL, an Air Force commando, and an Army Green Beret were among the victims of catastrophic malfunctions with T-11 reserve parachutes since 2014 Army Staff Sgt. Brycen Erdody, a Green Beret medic, said he nearly died last year when his T-11 opened after a wind gust came through an aircraft door Erdody was sucked out of the door, slamming his body into the airframe and partially severing his arm. He survived and an Army investigation cleared him of negligence in the incident. 'Both my first ribs were fractured, my sternum was caved in, my bicep was cut in half, my nerves were pulled from my spine,' Erdody told the Post. 'They'll probably end up having to amputate my arm because there's no nerve activity and never will be again.' His lawsuit names T-11 manufacturer Airborne Systems, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com on Friday afternoon. It is not the first suit to accuse Airborne Systems over alleged defects with the T-11. In 2014, Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer Bradley Cavner was killed over El Centro, California, when his T-11 reserve was activated by a wind gust, according to a lawsuit filed by Cavners parents. That suit ended in a confidential settlement in 2017, according to court records. And in 2019, Air Force Special Operator Staff Sgt. Cole Condiff was missing and presumed dead when his T-11 reserve opened from a wind gust over the Gulf of Mexico, according to the Post. Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer Bradley Cavner (left) was killed over El Centro, California in 2014 and Air Force Special Operator Staff Sgt. Cole Condiff (right) was missing and presumed dead over the Gulf of Mexico in 2019 in T-11 malfunctions The incidents relate to the T-11 reserve parachute, seen above The T-11 canopy is seen during test jumps above. Multiple US special forces commandos have been killed or seriously injured when their parachutes deployed unexpectedly inside aircrafts Critics of the T-11's design say that the parachutes fabric ripcord is more sensitive to strong winds than the parachute it replaced a decade ago, a 50-year-old design with a metal ripcord. There are signs that military leaders were aware of issues with the T-11 and took steps to address them. In January 2021, the Army's Airborne and Special Operations Test Directorate tested updates to the T-11 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina to 'eliminate the potential for premature reserve activations,' according to a press release. Certified parachute test jumpers finished 23 'risk reduction jumps' with the redesigned T-11R Single Pin Troop reserve parachute to ensure it worked properly. The updated version of the T-11 included a change where the reserve ripcord handle was changed to single pin pull, and the geometry of the reserve handle was changed to 'eliminate the risk of windblast.' The changes were made to address the previous versions premature activation thought to be caused by wind blast, officials said at the time. However, those tests were carried out more than a year before Erdody was seriously injured on May 25, 2022. In January 2021, the Army's Airborne and Special Operations Test Directorate tested updates to the T-11 at Fort Bragg to 'eliminate the potential for premature reserve activations' Certified parachute test jumpers here finished 23 risk reduction jumps with the T-11R Single Pin Troop reserve parachute, making sure it works as it should during equipment test jumps According to his lawsuit, Erdody was sucked out of an aircraft 1,250 feet over Fort Bragg when his T-11 'deployed and opened violently and unexpectedly inside the aircraft.' The staff sergeant was ripped from the aircraft, partially severing his arm against the door frame, and blacked out as he fell to the earth. Erdody woke up to find himself tangled in tree limbs, and the trained medic realized he would bleed out imminently unless he could get help. According to the suit, Erdody cut himself free from his parachute cords, reached directly into the gaping wound in his arm to press the severed artery against the bone, and stumbled into a nearby clearing for helicopter evac. Tony Blair today urged unionists to show 'political leadership' and return to power-sharing in Northern Ireland today ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Events to mark the quarter century of the deal that officially ended 30 years of bloodshed will take place next week, including a visit by US president Joe Biden. But the Democratic Unionist Party is still refusing to rejoin the power-sharing executive in the Stormont Assembly, citing its opposition to the Brexit deal covering the border with Ireland. In the last elections for the assembly, Sinn Fein replaced the DUP as the largest party for the first time, allowing it to choose a First Minister. Earlier this week, Northern Ireland Minister Steve Baker hinted that the government may reintroduce direct rule from London if there is no sign of the local government restarting. Speaking to Politico's Westminster Insider podcast, Mr Blair, who signed the GFA as PM in 1998, said: 'In the end, politics only makes progress when political leaders lead, and that usually means persuading your own support of something they don't want to be persuaded of. 'And instead of playing to the gallery, being prepared to look at the genuine interests of the people you represent.' Speaking to Politico's Westminster Insider podcast, Mr Blair, who signed the GFA as PM in 1998 (pictured with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern), said: 'In the end, politics only makes progress when political leaders lead, and that usually means persuading your own support of something they don't want to be persuaded of.' He added: 'Instead of playing to the gallery, being prepared to look at the genuine interests of the people you represent.' Sir Jeffrey Doinaldson today rejected claims that the political vacuum in Northern Ireland is to blame for an increased threat from dissident republicans. A third of Brits happy to see NI leave UK - poll A third of people in Great Britain would not mind Northern Ireland leaving the UK, while a fifth believe it will no longer be part of the union in 10 years from now, new research suggests. Some 39 per cent of those surveyed in England, Scotland and Wales said they think Northern Ireland breaking away from the UK and uniting with the Republic of Ireland 'would not make much difference' to the remaining three nations. The exclusive polling for the PA news agency by Ipsos sought to gain the views of English, Scottish and Welsh residents. Respondents were asked if they would prefer Northern Ireland to choose to remain in the UK or to leave and join with the Republic of Ireland were there to be a referendum. While 40 per cent said they would prefer it to stay part of the UK, 33 per cent said they did not mind either way and 17 per cent said they would prefer Northern Ireland to break away. In February 2019, 36 per cent of people polled said they would prefer Northern Ireland to stay in the UK, 36 per cent said they did not mind either way, and 18 per cent said they would prefer it left the UK. Some 41 per cent of respondents said they think Northern Ireland will still be part of the UK in five years, while 14% think it will not. Certainty around Northern Ireland's place in the union decreased as the timeline lengthened - with 31 per cent saying they think Northern Ireland will still be in the UK in 10 years, and 21 per cent in 20 years. A fifth (20 per cent) said they did not think it would be in the UK in 10 years, rising to almost a quarter (24 per cent) when asked about 20 years from now. Respondents were also asked to imagine Northern Ireland leaving the UK and becoming united with the Republic. Almost two-fifths (39 per cent) said they believed this would not make much difference to the remaining nations in the UK, and 30 per cent said it would not make much difference to Northern Ireland. A fifth (20 per cent) said they believed the remaining nations would be worse off, while 13 per cent said England, Scotland and Wales would be better off. Some 21 per cent said Northern Ireland would be worse off in this instance, while 19 per cent said they thought it would be better off. Most Britons asked whether the Windsor Framework is a good or bad deal for Northern Ireland and the UK did not have an opinion, the polling suggested. The framework was unveiled in February as a means of adapting the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol to deal with trade disruption between the region and the rest of the UK. The deal has been formally signed off by the UK Government and the EU. Around a quarter of people said they thought it was a very or fairly good deal for Northern Ireland (25 per cent) and the UK (24 per cent) while 9 per cent said they thought it was a very or fairly bad deal. The remainder thought it was neither a good or bad deal, said they did not know or that they had not heard anything or enough about the deal. Ipsos polled 2,166 adults aged 18 to 75 living in Great Britain between March 30 and April 2 Advertisement Mr Baker has urged the DUP to seize the moment on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement to accept compromise. He said the Government is 'extremely reluctant' to reintroduce direct rule from Westminster for Northern Ireland. But he added that a 'spectrum of options' are being considered to deal with the lack of governance in the region caused by the collapse of the Stormont powersharing institutions. Mr Baker told the BBC Good Morning Ulster: 'We would very much prefer to restore local ministers to their place but clearly we cannot allow things to go on very much longer with the current arrangements because it is not a sustainable basis to be asking officials to take difficult decisions without ministers in place. 'But equally we are very well aware that direct rule would be a very serious step. We will try to persuade politicians to get on with the job they are elected to do.' The DUP has withdrawn its support for the powersharing institutions as part of its protest against post-Brexit trading arrangements. Earlier this year, the UK Government and EU unveiled the Windsor Framework to mitigate some of the trading difficulties which had been caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol. While the DUP says the framework has gone some way to address its concerns, it feels some significant problems remain and has made clear its boycott will continue until it secures further assurances. Its leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson today rejected claims that the political vacuum in Northern Ireland is to blame for an increased threat from dissident republicans. The PSNI has warned of the potential of dissidents launching attacks on their officers in Londonderry on Easter Monday. But Sir Jeffrey said the idea that the collapse of the power-sharing institutions had fuelled violence 'doesn't stack up'. 'While Stormont was sitting for many years these dissident republicans engaged in violence, they murdered police officers,' he told BBC Radio Four. The DUP leader added: 'I remember during one sitting of the Assembly they murdered two soldiers in Co Antrim as they were preparing for deployment to Afghanistan. 'Of course we want to see Stormont fully functioning, but the idea that when we get Stormont back up and running, that dissident republicans will put their guns away, I didn't hear the Chief Constable (Simon Byrne) suggest that. 'The idea that evil men and women who go out to commit murder react to political circumstances simply doesn't stack up. 'Some of the Chief Constable's police officers have been murdered by these dissident republicans while Stormont has been sitting and indeed they have murdered other people and they have continued with their terrorist activity during all of the period that Stormont was sitting. 'All of the party leaders have stood together in solidarity with the Chief Constable when these attacks have taken place.' MI5 recently raised the terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland to severe, meaning an attack is highly likely. This followed the gun attack on senior detective John Caldwell in Co Tyrone, who has been left with life-changing injuries. Police have blamed the New IRA for the attack. Mr Byrne said that more officers would be moved to frontline duties to counter any potential threats. Former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has said the DUP should be given 'a limited amount of time' to make a decision on the Windsor Framework, but if the party does not return to Stormont the British and Irish governments should step in. Speaking to RTE, Mr Adams said the Good Friday Agreement provided for a British and Irish intergovernmental conference. 'It's rarely been called, the Irish government have not been proactive on it. 'It deals with non-devolved matters, issues pertinent to our current situation.' However, he claimed Sir Jeffrey 'knows' that his party will return to power-sharing. 'Basically, he's refusing to go into an Assembly over an issue which the Assembly has no responsibility for, or authority over, and can do very little about.' Engineering works across Britain's railways could affect your travels over the Easter weekend. Improvements to the network will take place over the long Easter weekend, affecting routes from London Euston, London Victoria and elsewhere in the UK. The Easter Bank Holiday starts with Good Friday, which falls on Friday, 7 April this year. This is the first of two Bank Holidays across the Easter weekend, with the second falling on Easter Monday, 10 April. Are there Easter engineering works? Are London Victoria and London Euston open this weekend? When is the West Coast main line closed? Here is everything you need to know about train travel and cancellations over the Easter weekend. Customers waiting at London Euston on Thursday, 6 April. The station will be closed for four days, starting on Good Friday, 7 April. Will my train be cancelled over Easter? A statement on National Rail's website has warned customers to expect disruption if they are travelling during the Easter period. The statement reads: 'There will be disruption to services on many routes between Friday 7th April and Monday 10th April 2023 (inclusive) - and Friday 28th April and Monday 1st May 2023 (inclusive). Some train services will be affected as we work to improve the railway. So, be in the know before you go.' Customers should check their journeys before they travel using the National Rail Journey Planner. To use the tool, click here. To find the cheapest possible fare for your journey, click here. Is London Euston station open? London Euston station will be closed for four days, as engineers carry out maintenance work on the West Coast main line, which connects London to Glasgow. Improvements are being made to the stretch of track on the West Coast main line at Watford, resulting in the closure of one of London's busiest termini. Consequently, services that normally run to and from Euston must start or end at Milton Keynes. This means passengers have to rely on rail replacement buses to go to or from Bedford, where they change for Thameslink services. Buses are also running to Potters Bar to allow passengers to connect with services into Kings Cross. Is London Victoria station open? London Victoria will be part-closed. No trains will run between Victoria and East Croydon, because of engineering work being carried out at Streatham. As a result, the majority of services operated by Southern Railway will be diverted to London Bridge Due to the part closure of Victoria station, the Gatwick Express - which takes customers to and from Gatwick Airport - will not run. Is the Tube running? London Underground services will also be affected by engineering works across the Easter weekend. No trains will run between West Hampstead and Stanmore on the Jubilee line from 14:00 BST on Good Friday, 7 April until the morning of Tuesday, 11 April. From Good Friday until Easter Monday, there will be no service on the Metropolitan line from Aldgate to Harrow-on-the-Hill. Customers are advised to take Chiltern Railways services from London Marylebone to Wembley Stadium. London Underground services will also be affected by engineering works across the Easter weekend Is the Overground running? London Overground services will also be disrupted by the closure at Euston. There will be no services between Kilburn High Road and Euston from Friday, 7 April until Saturday, 8 April. From Sunday, 9 April until Monday, 10 April, there will be no services between Euston and Watford Junction. Overground services between Gospel Oak and Barking Riverside will not run on Sunday, 9 April. Is the Elizabeth Line running? From Friday, 7 April until Monday, 10 April, a reduced service will operate between Paddington and Maidenhead, owing to signalling system upgrade works. Two trains per hour will serve West Drayton, Langley, Slough, Burnham and Maidenhead, and four trains per hour will serve Ealing Broadway, Southall and Hayes & Harlington. A 'beautiful' 14-year-old girl who died in a fire at a block of flats in east London has been pictured as a 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder. The victim of the fire in Beckton, east London, yesterday has been named locally as Tiffany Regis, with devastated tributes made to the schoolgirl on social media. Shocked friends of the teen said she had been hosting a house party at a second floor flat in Tollgate Road, Newham. The Met, who are treating the incident as arson, were called to the blaze shortly after 5pm along with the London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade. Tiffany was pronounced dead at the scene. Five others at the address were injured. Their injuries were not life threatening and they have since been discharged from hospital. Eyewitnesses said several of those inside the block of flats jumped to safety, landing on a discarded mattress outside the building. Fire Brigade investigators believe an accelerant, most likely petrol, was used to start the fire. The victim of a fire at a flat in Beckton yesterday has been identified locally as Tiffany One friend, who laid a bunch of flowers at the scene said: 'Tiff was so lovely. I can't believe someone would do this. Why would they start a fire knowing people were inside.' Weeping family members stood outside a relatives home in Beckton. One man had his head in his hands while another said: 'We are waiting for the police to arrive.' Social media has been filled with posts of condolences following the tragic news. One comment read: 'Tiffany was a beautiful person inside and out. She was funny and loving.' One TikTok user wrote: 'So sad. We were outside at the shop when her friend ran saying she was in there and he was going to get her mum. Heart bleeds for her family. RIP tiff.' Raza Nowsin, 26, who manages a Lidl opposite the scene of the fire, told MyLondon at the scene last night that people were jumping out of the windows to escape. 'People were running around everywhere,' the witness said. 'They had a mattress there and they were trying to jump on it but some people didn't get to the mattress.' Rahina Begum, who lives opposite the flats, said: 'The fire went up very quickly, within a few seconds. In 10 to 15 seconds the whole building was on fire, from the bottom to the top. 'The flames were so high. Somebody dying is so sad.' A local resident who stood looking at the blackened and charred building said: 'It was absolute chaos yesterday afternoon. 'The screaming was piercing. It was horrific. People were shouting for help and I saw someone jump from the third floor.' Another said: 'We're heartbroken. It's absolutely awful.' 'Tiffany was a beautiful person inside and out,' one tribute to the 14-year-old said The burnt out scene of the fire on Tollgate Road in Beckton, east London Fire services and emergency responders at the residential property last night Five other people taken to hospital following the blaze have since been discharged Six fire engines arrived with 40 firefighters to extinguish the flames Flowers at the scene this morning. Tributes have also been left on social media Six fire engines arrived with 40 firefighters as they tried to extinguish the flames, which fire services said had taken hold of the first and second floors of the flats. Chief Superintendent Simon Crick said: 'My thoughts at this time are with the victim and their family and friends. 'Incidents such as these send shockwaves through our communities and I don't underestimate the impact this will have in the local area and beyond. 'Your officers will be on patrol in the immediate vicinity over the Easter weekend, please talk to them if you have any concerns.' A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the incident and enquiries are ongoing. A scene and safety cordons remain in place. Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke of the Met's Specialist Crime Command added: 'We are at the very early stages of our investigation and are still keen to hear from anyone who has information but has not yet spoken with police. 'I understand the effect an incident of this kind will have on the local community and I reiterate Chief Superintendent Crick's advice that anyone with concerns should speak with local officers. 'I would like to thank residents in the immediate area for their co-operation while my team conduct their enquiries. 'Our thoughts are with the family of the victim.' One teenager died in the fire and five other people were injured as a blaze ripped through the residence in Tollgate Road in Beckton, east London Fire crews near the scene last night The scene has been cordoned off by police tape The mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz, yesterday expressed condolences to the family of the victim. She wrote on Twitter: 'Deepest thanks to @LFBNewham fire fighters, @MPSNewham and @Ldn_Ambulance for their emergency response efforts. '@NewhamLondon officers are working closely with them to support affected residents. 'Tollgate Road E6 cordoned off in response to today's serious incident.' 'We are deeply saddened by the news that there has been one fatality already from the fire that broke out in flats in Beckton. Our deepest condolences to loved ones now in mourning.' Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Tweet @MetCC quoting 5315/6APR. To remain anonymous call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit Crimestoppers-uk.org. A model has alleged one of Harvey Weinstein's former right-hand men raped her at a New York hotel when she was 19 after luring her to a penthouse suite with the promise of a meeting with the disgraced film mogul. Sara Ziff, 40, said Fabrizio Lombardo attacked her in 2001 when she was aged 19 after a screening of Black Hawk Down. Lombardo is the former head of Miramax Italy and has previously been described as a 'fixer' for Weinstein who 'procured' girls for the producer - claims he's denied. The suit was filed on Thursday under New York's Adult Survivors Act, which allows alleged victims of sexual abuse to bring a lawsuit regardless of how much time has passed. Ziff is also suing Disney, Miramax and Weinstein in the suit, alleging they knew Lombardo was a 'danger to women' but did nothing about it. Sara Ziff, 40, said Fabrizio Lombardo attacked her in 2001 when she was aged 19 after a screening of Black Hawk Down Lombardo is the former head of Miramax Italy and has previously been described as a 'fixer' for Weinstein who 'procured' girls for the producer - claims he's denied The suit says Ziff attended the film screening with Lombardo on the advice of her agent, who said it could lead to a meeting with Weinstein and help her career. But Weinstein 'barely acknowledged her' at the screening, the suit said. Ziff alleges that Lombardo invited her to a hotel afterwards with the promise of a meeting with Weinstein and possibly his brother, Bob Weinstein. 'Ms. Ziff did not know that what awaited her at the hotel was not the promised chance to discuss her acting career with the Weinstein brothers, but a trap set by Mr. Lombardo to get Ms. Ziff alone and rape her,' according to the lawsuit. Ziff 'began to doubt that anyone else would be joining them' after she arrived at the penthouse with Lombardo. He then began to make 'unwelcome advances' that included rubbing her thigh, causing her to push his hand away. The lawsuit added: 'Desperate to stop Mr. Lombardo from touching her, but afraid that she might lose professional opportunities if she offended him, Ms. Ziff made clear she was not interested in Mr. Lombardo by saying that she was flattered, but she had a boyfriend.' Ziff claims Lombardo then forced her onto a bed and raped her. Fabrizio Lombardo (right), who has denied claims he was a 'fixer' who 'procured' girls for Harvey Weinstein, is accused of raping a model in a New York City hotel after luring her with the promise of a meeting with the disgraced movie mogul After the attack, he allegedly said 'it was fantastic that a girl Ms. Ziff's age would find a man of his age attractive'. The suit says that Ziff went onto attend several meeting with Lombardo, Weinstein and fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier in the weeks that followed. She attended because she feared that 'if she did not, Mr. Lombardo would retaliate against her by using his powerful connections in the modeling and acting industriesincluding with Mr. Weinsteinto deny her work at an early stage in her career,' the suit said. 'Mr. Lombardo would never have been able to rape Ms. Ziff if not for his position at Miramax and Disney,' the suit said. It continues: 'In short, Harvey Weinsteinand thus Miramax and Disneywere fully aware Mr. Lombardo was a danger to women whom he encountered at work. Despite this knowledge, they did nothing to properly supervise Mr. Lombardo or prevent him from victimizing more women. 'As a result, Mr. Lombardo was able to use his position with Miramax and Disney, as well as the offices and resources of those companies, to lure Ms. Ziff, then only a teenager, to a fake meeting where he raped her.' Lombardo was a close friend of Weinstein at the time of the alleged attack and Weinstein was the best man at Lombardo's 2003 wedding. He is described in the suit as a citizen and resident of Italy. Weinstein is likely to die in prison after he was jailed for sex attacks against several women. His pattern of offending emerged through the #MeToo movement 2017. In February, he was handed a 16-year prison sentence for rape and sexual assault. He was already serving a 23-year prison sentence after he was found guilty of more attacks in a previous case. A lawyer for Stormy Daniels warned former President Donald Trump's lawyer Joe Tacopina of a possible ethical breach because the porn star previously shared 'confidences' with his firm. On Thursday, Manhattan Attorney General Alvin Bragg's office made a letter public that Daniels' lawyer Clark Brewster wrote Monday to Tacopina, the day before Trump's arraignment. It told Tacopina that there could be a conflict of interest in him representing Trump because Daniels had reached out to Tacopina's firm to represent her in February of 2018, after her 2006 tryst with Trump became public knowledge. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, later hired lawyer Michael Avenatti, but Brewster said his client shared important 'confidences' about her liaison with Trump the letter said, according to Bloomberg. 'The confidential communications she shared with you and your colleagues - leading to a quote of a retainter fee - consisted of shared confidences regarding an opposing party clearly identified in those communications,' Brewster wrote. 'For you to now represent that opposing party - Donald Trump - would be an ethical breach damaging Ms. Clifford and potentially leading to professional discipline.' A lawyer for Stormy Daniels wrote a letter to former President Donald Trump's (left) attorney Joe Tacopina (right) and warned there could be a potential conflict of interest because Daniels shared 'confidences' with him firm in 2018 when seeking representation Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, reached out to Joe Tacopina's firm in 2018 after her 2006 tryst with Trump became public. She ended up hiring lawyer Michael Avenatti Stormy Daniels' lawyer Clark Brewster (pictured) wrote a letter Monday to Trump's lawyer Joe Tacopina, alerting him there could be a conflict of interest Brewster warned that Daniels' meeting with Tacopina's firm was 'about substantially the same subject matter' as the ongoing case - which saw a former U.S. president charged with a crime for the first time in history. In court Tuesday, prosecutor Christopher Conroy brought up the content of the letter telling Manhattan State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan that Tacopina may have a conflict of interest in representing Trump. While Trump has hired a team of defense lawyers, Tacopina has been the face of the former president's case. Conroy said Tacopina had 'privileged communications with Stormy Daniels, who we expect to be a witness.' During the hearing, Tacopina denied ever meeting the adult film actress. 'I never met Stormy Daniels,' Trump's lawyer said. 'She called my office, like many people do, and tried to hire me or asked about hiring me.' 'She spoke to an associate and a paralegal, gave some facts, sent over a document, and it went no further than that. We refused the case. I did not offer her representation,' he continued. 'Didn't speak to her. Didn't meet her. And it is as simple as that,' Tacopina added. Tacopina denied that Daniels ever shared any privileged information with him or members of his team - but also pointed out that those privileges would be waived -as she described the whole ordeal in her October 2018 book, Full Disclosure. Tacopina also told Merchan that he would not question Daniels at the trial if there was a concern about a perceived conflict of interest. Two women killed and third injured after their car was shot at in the West Bank Two Israeli women were killed and one was wounded in a shooting in the occupied West Bank today, hours after Israel launched air strikes in Lebanon and Gaza. The women were in a car near the settlement of Hamra in the Jordan Valley when their vehicle was fired at, causing them to crash. The Israeli army said it had launched a manhunt for the 'terrorists' who had carried out the attack. The ambulance service said the two victims were in their 20s while a 48-year-old woman is in a critical condition in hospital. 'Soldiers are blocking routes adjacent to the scene of the shooting attack. A pursuit after the terrorists has begun,' the military said in a statement. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. The attack came hours after the Israeli army launched rare strikes on southern Lebanon early this morning and bombed targets in the Gaza Strip, in an escalation in the region following violence at Jerusalem's most sensitive holy site. Two Israeli women were killed and another seriously injured in a shooting in the occupied West Bank today Israeli forces take security measures after two female Israeli settlers were killed and one is seriously injured after the attacks at the Jordan Valley near West Bank in April 7 Flames rise after Israeli warplanes launched airstrikes on the Gaza Strip early this morning Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike in the central Gaza Strip Flames rise from the area after Israeli warplanes launched airstrikes on the central part of the Gaza Strip, on Friday in Gaza City It was the heaviest rocket fire from Lebanon since Israel fought a 34-day war with Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in 2006 and the first time Israel has confirmed an attack on Lebanese territory since April 2022. READ MORE: How calls for the ritual slaughter of a goat has increased tensions at al-Aqsa Mosque Advertisement Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier vowed to 'strike out enemies' who will 'pay a price for every act of aggression' after Palestinian militants fired nearly three dozen rockets from Lebanon at Israel. Warplanes bombed targets belonging to Hamas militants near the southern city of Tyre in Lebanon at dawn today, according to Israel's military. The Lebanese army said it had found and dismantled multiple rocket launcher in an olive grove in the Marjayoun area near the border, still loaded with six rockets primed to fire at Israel. The fighting started at a time of heightening religious tensions, with fresh violence breaking out at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque before pre-dawn prayers on Friday. Israeli police stationed at one of the hilltop mosque's gates dispersed worshippers who chanted praise for Hamas while pushing their way into the limestone courtyard. Videos showed police beating groups of men with sticks until they went backward, falling and knocking down vendors' tables. Israeli air strikes on Gaza also resumed early today, after militants fired more rockets from the blockaded territory, which set off air raid sirens in the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon. Israel's military said its targets included an entry shaft to an underground network used for making weapons. Several missiles fired by planes struck an open field in the town of Qalili near the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidieh, close to Lebanon's coastal city of Tyre. Other missiles struck a bridge and power transformer in the nearby town of Maaliya and a farm on the outskirts of Rashidieh, killing several sheep. The strikes risk drawing Lebanon's Hezbollah militia into the fighting, which could lead to war. The Iran-backed group holds sway over much of southern Lebanon and is seen by Israel as a bitter foe. The Israeli military was careful to note that it was targeting sites linked to Palestinian militants. In recent years, Hezbollah has stayed out of other flare-ups related to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which stands on a hill revered by both Muslims and Jews. Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike in central Gaza Strip, Friday 7 April Israeli soldiers take up a position with a tank near Shtula, bordering Lebanon, on April 7 Italian UN peacekeepers inspect a small bridge that was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike, in Maaliya village, south Lebanon, on Friday Palestinians hold the Palestinian national flag and the flag of the Hamas militant group during a protest by the Dome of Rock at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, on Friday This round of violence began on Wednesday after Israeli police raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem's Old City twice. That led to rocket fire from Gaza on Thursday and, in a significant escalation, the barrage from Lebanon. Mr Netanyahu convened his security cabinet for a three-hour meeting on Thursday. 'Israel's response, tonight and beyond, will extract a heavy price from our enemies,' he said following the meeting. Almost immediately, Palestinian militants in Gaza began firing rockets into southern Israel, setting off air raid sirens across the region. Loud explosions could be heard in Gaza from the Israeli strikes, as outgoing rockets whooshed into the skies toward Israel. There were reports on Thursday that Israel's Iron Dome aerial defence system had intercepted 25 of 34 missiles fired from Lebanon into Israel and attributed by the Israeli security forces to Palestinian militants. For now, Palestinian militants have fired only short-range rockets from Gaza, rather than the long-range projectiles that can reach as far as Tel Aviv and typically invite harsher Israeli retaliation. The Israeli military said the rocket fire on its northern and southern fronts was carried out by Palestinian militants in connection to this week's violence at Al-Aqsa. Israeli police had stormed into the building with tear gas and stun grenades to confront Palestinians barricaded inside. In a briefing with reporters, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, said the army drew a clear connection between the Lebanese rocket fire and the recent unrest in Jerusalem. 'It's a Palestinian-oriented event,' he said, adding that either the Hamas or Islamic Jihad militant groups, which are based in Gaza but also operate in Lebanon, could be involved. He added that the army believed Hezbollah and the Lebanese government were aware of what happened and also held responsibility. Britain's Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said both sides in the dispute should 'recommit themselves to a negotiated settlement'. He added: 'The UK condemns the indiscriminate rocket attacks from southern Lebanon and Gaza and recognises Israel's right to self-defence. Now is the time for all parties across the region to de-escalate tensions. 'At the convergence of Passover, Ramadan and Easter, the UK calls for all parties to respect the historic status quo arrangements at Jerusalem's holy sites and cease all provocative action. 'The UK is a strong supporter of freedom of religion or belief and calls for places of worship to be respected. We value Jordan's important role as custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem and condemns the Israeli police violence at the Al Aqsa Mosque. 'When Israeli security forces conduct operations, they must ensure they are proportionate and in accordance with international law.' Competing claims to the holy hill, also revered by Jews as the Temple Mount the holiest site in Judaism have repeatedly spilled over into violence over the years. Smoke and flames rise from the area after Israeli warplanes attacked the Gaza Strip overnight Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike in central Gaza Strip on Friday overnight Clashes have escalated since Israeli police cracked down on reports of agitation at Al Aqsa Smoke rises amid buildings during Israeli airstrikes in Gaza in response to rocket attacks Prime Minister Netanyahu promised an aggressive response for attacks in Israel Lebanon's caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati condemned the firing of rockets from Lebanon. He added that Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers were investigating and trying to find the perpetrators. Mikati said his government 'categorically rejects any military escalation' and the use of Lebanese territories to stage acts that threaten stability. Hezbollah has condemned Israeli police raids in Jerusalem. Both Israel and Hezbollah have avoided an all-out conflict since a 34-day war in 2006 ended in a draw. The escalation comes against a backdrop of domestic problems for Netanyahu. For the past three months, hundreds of thousands have been demonstrating against his plans to overhaul the country's judicial system, claiming it will lead the country toward authoritarianism. Key military units, including fighter pilots, have threatened to stop reporting for duty if the reforms are passed, drawing a warning from Defense Minister Yoav Gallant that Israel's national security could be harmed by the divisive plan. Netanyahu said he was firing Gallant, but backtracked as he put the overhaul on hold for several weeks. Critics could also accuse him of trying to use the crisis to divert attention from his domestic woes. The prime minister said that the domestic divisions had no impact on national security and that the country would remain united in the face of external threats. Tensions have simmered along the Lebanese border as Israel appears to have ratcheted up its shadow war against Iranian-linked targets in Syria, another close ally of Iran, Israel's archenemy in the region. Suspected Israeli airstrikes in Syria in recent weeks have killed two Iranian military advisers and temporarily put the country's two largest airports out of service. Lt Col Hecht said Thursday's rocket fire was not believed to be connected to events in Syria. In Washington, the principal deputy State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said 'Israel has legitimate security concerns and has every right to defend themselves.' But he also urged calm in Jerusalem, saying 'any unilateral action that jeopardises the status quo to us is unacceptable'. In Jerusalem, the situation remained tense at Al-Aqsa. For the previous two nights, Palestinians barricaded themselves in the mosque with stones and firecrackers. Worshippers have been demanding the right to pray overnight inside the mosque - which authorities typically only permit during the last 10 days of the month-long Ramadan holiday. They also have stayed in the mosque in protest over threats by religious Jews to carry out a ritual animal slaughter at the sacred site for Passover. Israel did not try to prevent people from spending the night in the mosque early on Friday - apparently because it was the weekend, when Jews do not visit the compound. But tensions could re-ignite on Sunday when Jewish visits resume. Israel bars ritual slaughter on the site, but calls by Jewish extremists to revive the practice, including offers of cash rewards to anyone who even attempts to bring an animal into the compound, have amplified fears among Muslims that Israel is plotting to take over the site This week, Israeli police fired stun grenades and rubber bullets to evict worshippers who had locked the doors of the building. Palestinians hurled stones and fireworks at officers. After a few hours of scuffles that left a trail of damage, police managed to drag everyone out of the compound. Police arrested more than 400 people. Israeli authorities control access to the area but the compound is administered by Islamic and Jordanian officials. The violence at the site has resonated across the region, with condemnations pouring in from Muslim leaders. Streaks of light are seen as Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercept rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from Ashkelon, 7 April 2023 A long exposure of an Israeli Iron Dome air defense system intercepting a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip Smoke rises from a fire after rockets from Lebanon struck Bezet, north Israel, on Thursday Firefighters tackle blazes after rockets fired from Lebanon hit Bezet in Israel on Thursday A man stands outside a building damaged in the aftermath of intercepted rocket fire launched from Lebanon and intercepted by Israel in its northern town of Shlomi on 6 April 2023 Israeli police block passage to Palestinians going to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan near the Damascus Gate of the Old City area in East Jerusalem on 5 April Members of Israeli security force detain a Palestinian man at the Al-Aqsa compound, also known to Jews as the Temple Mount, amid initial clashes on Wednesday On Thursday, Hezbollah condemned Israel's storming of Al-Aqsa, calling it 'a flagrant violation'. The importance of the mosque comes from its association with the Prophet Muhammad's miraculous journey in which he travelled from Mecca to Jerusalem and then ascended to heaven. Al-Aqsa also has significance to Muslims, as it was the first qibla (direction of prayer) for Muslims before it was changed to Mecca. It is also the site where the second caliph, Umar, led the first Muslim prayer after the Muslims conquered Jerusalem in 638 CE. The mosque is an important symbol of identity and a source of tension between Palestinians and Israelis. A batch of Easter bunnies seized by veteran customs officer Pol Meuleneire was crafted from a lump of MDMA - the raw essence of the party drug, ecstasy. Known as the gateway into Europe for Latin-American cocaine, Belgium has now also become an arena for mail-order synthetic drugs, made in Europe and sent worldwide. The false chocolate bunnies had been parceled up and posted in Belgium, addressed to a buyer in Hong Kong, only to be intercepted at the Brussels airport freight terminal. Using a scanner which adopts Raman spectroscopy to identify substances by their chemical fingerprint - Meuleneire took a reading against a chocolate rabbit. The screen flashed green and the analysis was clear: 'Caution: MDMA (ecstasy)'. This photograph taken on April 6, 2023, at the Brussels Airport in Zaventem shows a package with statues containing ecstasy A Belgian customs officer opens a bottle that contains ecstasy pills as he controls packages at Brussels Airport in Zaventem on April 6, 2023 A Belgian customs officer uses a "Raman" scanner to control what seems to be a chocolate bunny at Brussels Airport in Zaventem on April 6, 2023 'So you see? It's pure MDMA,' the 61-year-old said, according to France24. 'So here we have, bumpety-bump, one or two kilogrammes of this. With one kilogramme you make six thousand ecstasy pills.' Several more illicit drug deliveries began to arrive from packages received within the past week. A Peppa Pig branded lunchbox destined for New Zealand itself proved harmless, but the packaging it was carried in was another story. Packed into a corrugated plastic parcel divider was ketamine, an anaesthetic and horse tranquillizer misused as a recreational drug and one of the fastest growing illegal exports through the airport postal depot. A Belgian customs officer opens a package with bed sheets, inside the carton there is MDMA A Belgian customs officer finds crystal meth in a children's toy at Brussels Airport in Zaventem on April 6, 2023 A Belgian customs officer uses a "Raman" scanner to control what seems to be a chocolate bunny at Brussels Airport in Zaventem on April 6, 2023 A Belgian customs officer open a bottle that contains ecstasy pills as he controls packages at Brussels Airport in Zaventem on April 6, 2023 This photograph taken on April 6, 2023 at the Brussels Airport in Zaventem shows ecstasy pills A Belgian customs officer inspects what seems to be a chocolate bunny at Brussels Airport in Zaventem on April 6, 2023 A Belgian customs officer open a bottle that contains ecstasy pills as he controls packages at Brussels Airport in Zaventem A child's toy chemistry set for studying the growth of crystals was found to contain a shrink-wrapped bag of crystal meth, an illegal and addictive synthetic stimulant. Most of the mail-order exports are of synthetic drugs made in rogue labs and covert pharma plants in Belgium and especially, according to Belgian officials, the Netherlands. Ketamine, MDMA and methamphetamine are disguised in everyday objects or packaged in jars marked as legal vitamin supplements, then mailed from ordinary post offices in Belgium, France and Germany. 'Here, we're talking mainly about using the Belgian postal service, which might attract less attention from customs officers in the arrival countries than the Dutch one,' a customs officer told AFP. 'The smugglers use mules to transport the parcels and to post them from all over Belgium, and other European countries, and send them all around the world.' The Air Force is allowing recruits to have a higher percentage of body fat to 'broaden the pool' of Americans they can call to service as it struggles to find new members. Male recruits are now permitted to have up to 26 percent body fat up from 20 percent while females can have 36 percent up from 28 percent. According to medical experts, however, a high percentage of body fat can increase the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other health conditions with the proposed percentage points reaching 'dangerously high' levels. Air Force Recruiting Service spokeswoman Leslie Brown said that it's hoped the changes will encourage more people to join, although they will still be expected to meet the same fitness standards. Male Air Force recruits are now permitted to have up to 26 percent body fat up from 20 percent, while females can have 36 percent up from 28 percent The Air Force is allowing recruits to have a higher percentage of body fat to 'broaden the pool' of Americans they can call to service as it struggles to find new members, says Air Force Recruiting Service spokeswoman Leslie Brown (pictured) Brown said the new standards is one of several initiatives to increase the pool of candidates without 'lowering standards' 'The Air Force is looking to open the aperture on qualifying a broader pool of young Americans for service in the Air Force. These changes bring the Air Force in line with DOD policy,' Brown told Fox News. 'While recruits will be allowed to join with greater body fat percentages, they will still be expected to meet the same fitness standards as everyone else to stay in the service. That means meeting the waist-to-height ratio requirement the Air Force announced in January and implemented this month. The military service branch is expected to miss its 'active-duty' recruiting goal by 10 percent this year after it dipped into a pool of delayed entry applicants to meet last year's goal. Brown said the new standards is one of several initiatives to increase the pool of candidates without 'lowering standards.' 'We are recruiting today's generation, not my generation who joined more than 30 years ago, where a tattoo may have been taboo but is now a societal norm,' she told Fox News. 'Or where youth now live a more sedentary lifestyle than before we can take those new recruits and can promote physical fitness and overall healthier living decisions into their everyday routines as Airmen.' The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that obesity is a scourge on American youth and is 'impacting national security.' It says one out of every three young adults aged 17 24 are too heavy to serve in the military. 'Among the young adults who meet weight requirements, only 3 in 4 report physical activity levels that prepare them for challenges in basic training,' it said. Consequently, only 2 in 5 young adults are both weight-eligible and adequately active. In 2018 the latest figures showed that 71 percent of young people would not be able to join the military if they wanted to. Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General, Mark Hertling said: 'The military has experienced increasing difficulty in recruiting soldiers as a result of physical inactivity, obesity, and malnutrition among our nation's youth. Not addressing these issues now will impact our future national security.' Brown said that it's hoped the changes will encourage more people to join, although they will still be expected to meet the same fitness standards The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that obesity is a scourge on American youth and is 'impacting national security' The Department of Defense (DOD) spends about $1.5 billion annually in obesity-related health care costs for current and former service members and their families, as well as costs to replace unfit personnel. Lost workdays due to overweight and obesity for active-duty military personnel is 658 ,000 days per year costing DOD $103 million per year. New research from the World Health Organization found that obesity in the U.S. military surged during the pandemic, in the Army alone, nearly 10,000 active-duty soldiers developed obesity between February 2019 and June 2021. Increases were seen in the U.S. Navy and the Marines, too. More recent data won't be available until later this year, said Koehlmoos. But there's no sign that the trend is ending, underscoring longstanding concerns about the readiness of America's fighting forces. Military leaders have been warning about the impact of obesity on the U.S. military for more than a decade, but the lingering pandemic effects highlight the need for urgent action, said retired Marine Corps Brigadier General Stephen Cheney, who co-authored a recent report on the problem. 'The numbers have not gotten better,' Cheney said in a November webinar held by the American Security Project, a non-profit think tank. 'They are just getting worse and worse and worse.' In fiscal year 2022, the Army failed to make its recruiting goal for the first time, falling short by 15,000 recruits, or a quarter of the requirement. That's largely because three-quarters of Americans aged 17 to 24 are not eligible for military service for several reasons, including extra weight. Being overweight is the biggest individual disqualifier, affecting more than 1 in 10 potential recruits. In fiscal year 2022, the Army failed to make its recruiting goal for the first time, falling short by 15,000 recruits, or a quarter of the requirement Brown told Fox News up to 100 more recruits will now be eligible to join the Air Force each month. Body mass index (BMI) is a rough estimate of body fat percentage. It's useful as a rough guide. It has limitations, such as, people with high muscle mass may have a high BMI without high body fat. Accurately measuring body fat is essential for assessing health risks. The newly proposed percentages cross the 'dangerously high' levels for men and women according to Medical News Today. For women ranging from 20 - 69, 36 percent is reaching dangerous high levels while men ranging from 20 - 39, 26 percent is dangerously high. A raging rooster turned on its owner during a cockfight in Mexico, leaving him with several deep gashes in his leg. In a video of the attack, blood can be seen pouring onto the sand as staff flock to give the man medical assistance at the illegal cockfighting venue in the city of Villa de Alvarez. The video shows two men clutching their birds in the pit as they face off and get them hyped up before the fight. The roosters are placed on the ground yards apart as the event kicks off, but instead of fighting, one immediately turns against its owner and savages him. The owner picks up his bird as its rival tries to fight it. In the video, the rooster turns immediately on its owner at the start of the fight The man was left with deep gashes in his leg. Afterwards, he was taken to a nearby hospital to receive stitches Both birds are restrained as the man hobbles over to the entrance and passes his rooster on to someone else. He stretches out his leg and receives treatment as blood gushes over the floor. The footage also shows that the man has sustained injuries to his wrist, which he displays to staff members as they treat his leg with a cloth. Blood can be seen spurting down his leg and onto his shoes, with deep cuts visible. Someone else provides a blanket to try to control the bleeding as he lies on the floor writhing in agony in front of the concerned spectators. A tourniquet is used to control the blood flow. The man, who is wearing shorts and a t-shirt, is then carried out of the venue. The video shows the two competitors clutching their birds in the pit as they face off and get the birds hyped up for the fight. They are then placed on the ground yards apart But one of the roosters shows no interest in fighting its rival and immediately turns against the owner and savages him The owner picks up his bird as the other cock tries to fight it Both birds are restrained as the man hobbles by the entrance and passes the bird over to someone else One local resident commented: 'That's good, so now you feel what the poor little roosters feel' Another posted: 'Cockfights, dogfights, etc. To think there are still people who enjoy this. Barbarians' A third wrote: 'Excellent! Bravo for the rooster! It's amazing these caveman 'shows' still continue' Afterwards, he was taken to a nearby hospital to get stitches on his left leg. One local resident commented: 'That's good, so now you feel what the poor little roosters feel.' 'Cockfights, dogfights, etc. To think there are still people who enjoy this. Barbarians,' wrote another. A third user posted: 'Excellent! Bravo for the rooster! It's amazing these caveman 'shows' still continue.' According to local reports, the venue has been operating illegally since 2021, when the authorities closed it down. It is unclear if the police plan to carry out an investigation into its apparent continued use. The video shows the owner hobbling over to the other side of the venue He passes the bird over so that he can receive treatment Staff flock around him to help him with his injuries He stretches out his leg as blood gushes all over the floor His leg is put in a tourniquet to control the blood flow The man is then carried out of the venue before being taken to a nearby hospital for stiches In January, two men bled to death at cockfighting events in India after being sliced by knives attached to roosters. One victim, Gande Suryapraksha Rao, was tying blades to the feet of his prized cockerel ahead of a fight in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, when the bird became spooked by the crowd, flew up and cut his leg. The 43-year-old was taken to hospital but he was declared dead on arrival, The New Indian Express reported. In a second incident, a 20-year-old spectator at an event in East Godavari was hit by a bird as he stood near the cockfighting pit. The blade attached to the bird cut his hand open, causing him to bleed profusely. He died on the way to hospital. Within Andhra Pradesh, a state on India's south-east coast, cockfighting is common, especially during Sankranti, an important day in the Hindu calendar. Cockfighting is a tradition in the region, but many have made the sport more extreme by attaching blades to the feet of the birds. Indian authorities made cockfighting illegal in 1960, with courts upholding the ban in 2016. In 2018, however, the Supreme Court gave the green light for cockfighting to be held in the traditional way, with the more extreme version still banned. Police have tried to curtail the activity in previous years, but the events have garnered a lot of popular support, with hotels being booked well in advance within the Godvavari districts of Andhra Pradesh. A mystery bystander is seen prowling the scene of slain tech mogul Bob Lee's stabbing and wheeling away a suitcase in startling CCTV footage obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com. The suspicious figure - wearing a hood or hat and dressed head to toe in black - can also be seen searching flower beds in the downtown San Francisco street where Lee was knifed twice in the chest. Cops have declined to say whether the stranger is a potential suspect or person of interest in Tuesday morning's murder or whether any items - such as a suitcase - were stolen from the Cash App founder, 43. A spokesman for the San Francisco Police Department told DailyMail.com that detectives were aware of the security camera video but discussing the details could 'affect the integrity of the investigation.' CCTV footage obtained by DailyMail.com shows a mystery man wearing a hat and dressed in black wandering around the 300-block of Main St, while Bob Lee lay dying yards away Timestamps show the shadowy figure wheeling a suitcase at 2:36am, just minutes after Lee was stabbed and dialed 911 Father-of-two Lee relocated from San Francisco to Miami last year because he was worried about the West Coast city's soaring crime rate and rampant homelessness, according to friends. He returned on a business trip and was attacked at 2:30am while walking through the swish Rincon Hill neighborhood where residents have become so wary of violent robberies that they pay for private security patrols. The video provided to DailyMail.com reveals Lee, chief product officer at crypto firm MobileCoin, staggering along Main Street and trying to flag down a passing car at the intersection with Harrison Street. When the motorist shockingly drives off without helping, Lee stumbles 70 yards back down Main towards the Portside luxury apartment complex - but collapses as he reaches for the door entry system. Less than a minute later a second camera angle shows the mystery bystander emerging from the east side of Harrison Street, glancing in Lee's direction, then hurriedly crossing Main Street, heading west. DailyMail.com on Thursday revealed harrowing surveillance footage that captured the dying tech mogul's final moments as he staggered towards an apartment building on 403 Main shortly after being stabbed in San Francisco in the early morning hours of Tuesday The shadowy figure - who appears to have a mask or scarf covering the lower part of his or her face - is pushing a dark carry-on suitcase with one hand and carrying a smaller bag with the other. Less than a minute after Lee was seen collapsing outside an apartment building, a second camera angle shows the bystander emerging from the east side of Harrison Street, glancing in Lee's direction, then hurriedly crossing Main Street, heading west The mystery man appears again seconds later - this time without a suitcase - roaming around an office building At one point he appears to be searching flower beds on the northwest corner of Main and Harrison but it is unclear if he picks something up Once the person reaches the other side of the street he or she disappears from sight. But 50 seconds later the figure is spotted again - minus the suitcase and bag - loitering at the northwest corner of Main and Harrison before inspecting a nearby row of flowerbeds. The stranger stoops down several times but it's not clear what if anything is picked up because the camera is so far away. The bystander then heads back toward the intersection and walks out of shot at 2:38am - minutes before police arrived on scene to try to save Lee. Bloodied and dazed, Lee was able to ring cops himself to say he'd been stabbed but couldn't give his precise location. First responders reached the fading tech exec within six minutes but by then it was too late. 'The victim was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Despite efforts by first responders and medical personnel, the victim succumbed to his injuries,' the San Francisco Police Department said in a statement. A kitchen knife with a 4-inch blade was found in a parking lot across the street, according to ABC7 News. Cops are yet to make any arrests. 'This is all very fluid. It's still an active and open investigation,' a police spokesman added. 'We want to assure everyone that investigators are working diligently and doing the best they can to bring justice for Mr. Lee and his loved ones.' At one point, Lee attempts to get a passing car's attention by desperately waving his hand to no avail He eventually gets to his feet, his face drained of all color, and he staggers out of the picture at 2:36am, clutching his chest and leaving a trail of blood spatter on the sidewalk He is then seen texting frantically in an apparent attempt to seek help The brutal killing in former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's staunchly Democrat electoral district has ignited concern over public safety and soaring homelessness in San Francisco. So far this year there have been 39 murders while the San Francisco Police Department buckles under a shortfall of 541 officers. Mayor London Breed insisted this week the city was 'prioritizing public safety' and would be dipping into a $27million budget supplemental, passed last month, to hire more cops. Breed was one of the first mayors in America to implement the 'defund the police' approach demanded by Black Lives Matter supporters in the wake of the George Floyd's death. She 'reallocated' $120million from the police budget in 2021 but has reversed course several times since after complaints of brazen shoplifting and rampant fentanyl use in the City by the Bay. Another of Breed's failed liberal experiments, an open-air drug market in the downtown Tenderloin District, was supposed to draw addicts away from the rest of the city and cut overdose deaths. It was ditched after less than a year. San Francisco, like many progressive California cities, has also seen an explosion in homelessness, with an estimated 8,000 recorded living rough or in shelters in 2022. The toll on the community was laid bare when DailyMail.com visited last August and captured shocking images of homeless people passing out on drugs and living in unthinkable squalor in a city where a one-bed apartment will set you back at least $3,000 per month. A general view of the Portside apartment complex on Main St in Rincon Hill, where officers later arrived to find a fatally wounded Lee on the ground unconscious Shown is the Rincon Hill neighborhood along Main Street near where Bob Lee was fatally stabbed in San Francisco Bob Lee, pictured with his wife Krista and two daughters, had decided to stay an extra day in San Francisco on a business trip. He had recently moved out of the city and relocated to Miami because of San Fran's soaring crime Twitter and Tesla CEO Elon Musk was among a host of tech leaders hitting out at the lawlessness in the wake of Lee's slaying, writing on Twitter: 'Many people I know have been severely assaulted. 'Violent crime in SF is horrific and even if attackers are caught, they are often released immediately.' Locals told DailyMail.com they blamed the 'soft-on-crime' progressive policies brought in by the likes of former District Attorney Chesa Boudin, who was tossed from office in a recall election last year. 'It's too liberal. Too much. And we're paying for it,' said one. 'Repeat offenders are back out on the streets in a heartbeat and there's nothing we can do about it. We're scared.' Lee had left the San Francisco area six months ago and moved to Florida but was back in the city on business. He had extended his trip by one day when he was murdered. 'He did comment on San Francisco deteriorating, which is why he actually had just relocated to Miami,' said Jake Shields, a champion UFC fighter who knew Lee well. Shields told NewsNation that Lee had 'no enemies,' adding: 'He was a good human being, he added to society, he was a good person, everyone loved him. 'He was really respected in the tech community, never talked about his accomplishments, other people would tell me, 'Oh yeah, Bob's a super big deal in the tech industry.'' Twitter and Tesla CEO Elon Musk also commented on the horrific incident, asking the San Francisco DA what she is doing to 'incarcerate repeated violent offenders' Lee's shocking murder has drawn attention to San Francisco growing crime and homelessness problem, which some critics have blamed on the city's progressive 'anti-law enforcement' policies 'Zombie-like' drug addicts are pictured using and being strung-out on drugs in Downtown San Francisco on Thursday Residents have complained of brazen shoplifting and rampant fentanyl use becoming commonplace in the city thanks to its soft stance on drugs and crime Lee, dubbed 'Crazy Bob' by friends, was an active investor in numerous companies, such as SpaceX, Clubhouse and Figma. Shaken friends and colleagues paid tribute to him, with Joshua Goldbard, MobileCoin's founder, saying: 'My heart is broken tonight'. Co-Founder of Twitter Jack Dorsey added: 'It's real. Getting calls. Heartbreaking. Bob was instrumental to Square and Cash App.' Lee was chief technology officer at Square, recently renamed Block, when it developed and launched Square Cash in 2013. The brand grew into Cash App, with tens of millions of users in the US and the UK. Lee's stabbing happened despite the swish Rincon Hill neighborhood boasting 24/7 private security patrols funded by sky-high property taxes, according to the SF Gate website. At the time of the murder, two security guards were roaming through their 67-block route, but were not nearby, Andrew Robinson, executive director of the East Cut Community Benefit District, told the outlet. Police are urging anyone with information to come forward by calling the SFPD tip-line on 415-575-4444. This is the terrifying moment a McDonald's worker was held at knifepoint by two thugs in Western Australia before his attackers ran off with a pile of cash. Two people - one in a motorcycle helmet and another in a balaclava - approached the till at the fast-food restaurant in Canning Vale, about 20km southeast of Perth, in the early hours of January 2. The pair are seen lingering in front of the worker before they each suddenly pull out a knife and start pointing them towards the employee. Police allege the duo demanded the worker hand over money before shoving the cash into a backpack and fleeing the scene. Two people - one in a motorcycle helmet and another in a balaclava - approached the till at the fast-food restaurant in Canning Vale, about 20km southeast of Perth, in the early hours of January 2 this year The footage has been released by police in the hopes someone will be able to identify the culprits. The duo had managed to cover themselves completely, and were both seen wearing gloves and long sleeve tops. One was in a red and black helmet with a black jacket and dark pants, while the other donned a blue hoodie with a red balaclava. Anyone with further information about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. The pair are seen lingering in front of the worker before they each suddenly pull out a knife and start pointing them towards the employee French prosecutors are seeking to try 14 people over the murder and beheading of a schoolteacher by an Islamic extremist in 2020, a crime that shocked France, a source close to the case told AFP today. The most serious charges - complicity in a terrorist murder - have been recommended for two friends of the Chechen refugee who murdered Samuel Paty after he showed pictures of the Prophet Mohammed to his pupils during an ethics class. The national terror crime prosecutor's office has also recommended charges against six other adults - and six children - for alleged offences linked to Paty's slaughter in the Paris suburb of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine. The murderer, 18-year-old Abdullakh Anzorov, was shot dead by police at the scene. A photograph depicting French history and geography teacher Samuel Paty is seen at his tribute ceremony in Eragny-sur-Oise, northwestern Paris The terrorist who beheaded a French teacher near Paris, 18-year-old Abdullakh Anzorov Crowds gathered at Place de la Sorbonne to watch the National Tribute to the murdered school teacher Samuel Paty lead by French president Emmanuel Macron on October 21, 2020 in Paris Prosecutors believe his friends, named as Azim E. and Naim B. in the investigation, accompanied Anzorov to buy a knife and Naim. B travelled with him to the school. Investigating magistrates will make the final call on whether to charge the suspects and send them to trial. Mr Paty was targeted after messages spread on social media that he had shown cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed from the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo to his class. The 47-year-old history and geography teacher had used the magazine as part of an ethics class to discuss free speech laws in secular France, which does not criminalise blasphemy. Prosecutors have also recommended charges of associating with terrorists for the father of a student at Mr Paty's school, a radical Islamic preacher, as well as a Muslim convert in contact with Anzorov via Twitter. A teenager was jailed in October for two years for her role in the horrific beheading of French teacher Samuel Paty (pictured) Many paid tribute to the slain teacher in October 2020 following his death, with the phrase 'Je Suis Samuel' shared in solidarity Mr Paty has become a symbol of France's fight to maintain its strict secular values, with president Emmanuel Macron calling him a 'quiet hero' of the republic. News of the investigation into Anzorov's alleged accomplices comes just months after a Muslim girl, 17, was jailed for two years last October for her role in Mr Paty's murder. The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced for 'terrorist criminal association' by the Paris Children's Court. The teenager relayed the terrorist's demands at the time of the killing and was found to have Isis imagery and weapons information on her phone. During sentencing, she expressed a desire to travel to Turkey or Chechnya, with prosecutors saying she still showed sign of radicalisation. But in custody, police said she had made comments condemning the assassination. She was handed a three-and-a-half-year sentence, 18 months suspended. A woman has issued a dire warning to dog owners after her beloved pet was left fighting for her life when she accidentally ate rat bait. Georgina Young had taken her dog Coco out for a walk in Erskineville, in Sydney's inner west, last week when she noticed her eating something on the ground. Because it was dark, she couldn't tell what the dog had eaten, but days later when the 11-year-old animal was acting strange, Ms Young realised Coco had ingested potentially deadly rat poison. Georgina Young from Sydney had taken her pet Coco (pictured) out for a walk in Erskineville when she noticed her eating something from the ground 'She just took herself off to bed and started crying out in a way with pain that she has never done before,' Ms Young told 7News. Ms Young rushed Coco to the vet where it was found she was in shock and had internal bleeding. 'They basically couldn't guarantee anything. They just said, ''she's very, very ill and the next few hours are very important'',' Ms Young said.. 'I think the most distressing thing was just looking into her eyes and she was just so helpless and really wanted me to do something... it's just so sad.' Ms Young rushed Coco to the vet where it was found she was in shock and had internal bleeding The dog spent three nights in the ICU and had multiple blood transfusions before being released from hospital on Sunday. She is still quiet, eating and drinking less, and is not quite back to herself, but is doing okay, Ms Young said. In another difficult blow, Ms Young recently cancelled her pet insurance due to the cost of living crisis, leaving her with a $13,500 vet bill for six weeks of treatment. RSPCA warns that rat baits are dangerous and potentially deadly to animals and people that consume them. The baits used are normally flavoured to make them attractive to rodents and these can also entice other animals to eat them. JPMorgan Chase Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon has dodged questions about links to pedophile sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein as the banking giant is accused of exploiting a claim of sexual assault against its former private banking chief Jes Staley. When asked about allegations - made in a lawsuit brought forward by the U.S. Virgin Islands - that the bank helped 'facilitate payments to Epstein's victims and benefited from human trafficking' Dimon replied that he 'can't talk about current litigation.' Epstein who had been charged with sex crimes and pleaded guilty in 2008 to solicitation of prostitution remained a client with the bank for a further five years. In response to the bank's decision to not act quickly on removing Epstein as a client Dimon said: 'Hindsight is a fabulous gift.' JPMorgan Chase Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon (pictured) has dodged questions about links to pedophile sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein as the banking giant is accused of exploiting a claim of sexual assault against its former private banking chief Jes Staley Epstein who had been charged with sex crimes and pleaded guilty in 2008 to solicitation of prostitution remained a client with the bank for a further five years. Epstein, pictured in 2017, was in a Manhattan jail awaiting trial for sex trafficking when he killed himself aged 66 Aug 2019 Jamie Dimon, who is set to be deposed over his bankss links to Jeffrey Epstein, to @PoppyHarlowCNN on if JPMorgan should have acted sooner: Hindsight is a fabulous gift. pic.twitter.com/nD8U5fG82y Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) April 7, 2023 The comments were made during an exclusive interview with CNN's Poppy Harlow in which Dimon also spoke of how the banking crisis has increased the chances of a U.S. recession but would likely resolve quickly. Harlow said: 'JPMorgan is now being sued by the U.S. Virgin Islands they're alleging that your bank helped facilitate payments to Epstein's victims and benefited from human trafficking while ignoring warnings do those allegations have merit.' 'So, I cannot talk about current litigation except to say that whenever these things come up we have some of the best lawyers in the world who review all of these things and make decisions at the time based on what they know as best as they know,' Dimon replied. She followed by saying: 'You're going to be deposed now in this case in the spring in retrospect Jamie do you think JPMorgan should have acted more quickly after Epstein pleaded guilty to one of these charges in 2008, because he was your client for five more years.' 'Hindsight is a fabulous gift,' Dimon said. JPMorgan was sued late last year for unspecified damages by the U.S. Virgin Islands, where Epstein had a home, and for potentially billions of dollars by Epstein victims led by an unnamed Jane Doe 1 for allegedly aiding in Epstein's sex abuse. The comments were made during an exclusive interview with CNN's Poppy Harlow in which Dimon also spoke of how the banking crisis has increased the chances of a U.S. recession but would likely resolve quickly Last month, the New York-based bank sued Jes Staley, who had been an Epstein friend, saying his 'intentional and outrageous conduct' justified having him cover the bank's potential losses in the other lawsuits and forfeit eight years of compensation Staley accused JPMorgan of 'slanderous' attacks as he seeks to delay a trial in the bank's lawsuit accusing him of concealing what he knew about Epstein Last month, the New York-based bank sued Jes Staley, the former JPMorgan Chase private banking chief and Barclays chief executive, who had been a friend of Epstein. JPMorgan Chase alleged that Staley aided in hiding Jeffrey Epstein's years-long sex abuse and trafficking in order to keep the financier as a client. It seeks to hold Staley personally liable for any financial penalties that JPMorgan may have to pay in two related cases. It is also seeking to force Staley to pay back wages he earned during the time he allegedly was aware of the abuse and 'personally observed' Epstein's behavior on multiple occasions. 'In light of Staley's intentional and outrageous conduct in failing to disclose pertinent information and abandoning (JPMorgan's) interests in favor of his own and Epstein's personal interests, (the bank) is entitled to punitive damages,' the bank said in its lawsuit. The litigation drew added attention when Staley was accused of swapping sexually suggestive messages about young women with Epstein and committing sexual assault himself. In a separate letter, lawyers for the Epstein accusers also supported severing the Staley case, but for a different reason. They said JPMorgan's motive for suing Staley was to 'harass and intimidate' Epstein victims who seek accountability from the bank and force Jane Doe 1, a former ballet dancer, to divulge private medical records and 'intimate' communications. 'It sends a message to potential class members (dozens and dozens of Epstein sex abuse victims) that the same thing will happen to them,' wrote Brad Edwards, a lawyer for Jane Doe 1. Staley accused JPMorgan of 'slanderous' attacks as he seeks to delay a trial in the bank's lawsuit accusing him of concealing what he knew about Epstein. In a letter filed on Thursday in federal court in Manhattan, Staley asked a judge to sever the case from two lawsuits against the largest U.S. bank over its work for the late financier and sex offender, a client from 2000 to 2013. Staley also asked to delay the Oct. 23 trial in his case to March 2024, saying the current 'breakneck' schedule affords him 'grossly insufficient' time to defend against and disprove JPMorgan's 'false and highly-publicized' accusations. JPMorgan was sued late last year for unspecified damages by the U.S. Virgin Islands, where Epstein had a home, and for potentially billions of dollars by Epstein accusers led by an unnamed Jane Doe 1 for allegedly aiding in Epstein's sex abuse 'The stakes could hardly be higher for Mr Staley,' his lawyer Brendan Sullivan said in the letter to U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff. 'The allegations against him are slanderous, and the potential damages are astronomical.' Epstein was in a Manhattan jail awaiting trial for sex trafficking when he killed himself at age 66 in August 2019. Some of his victims are also suing Deutsche Bank AG (DBKGn.DE), where Epstein was a client from 2013 to 2018. Staley became Barclays' chief executive in 2015, nearly three years after leaving JPMorgan. He resigned in November 2021 amid regulatory concerns about his relationship with Epstein. The Government has been forced to put its controversial plan to house hundreds of asylum seekers on a former RAF airbase on hold after the council sought an injunction to stop the move. Braintree District Council petitioned judges to block moves to convert RAF Wethersfield in Essex into temporary housing by arguing it was too isolated and a sudden rise in population would strain local services. The High Court has now granted the local authority a full injunction hearing against the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence to be held in twelve days' time. Work is said to have already started to convert the former airfield, with ten-foot high fencing set up around the perimeter. A spokesman for Braintree District Council said getting a full-day hearing on the legality of the Home Office's actions means they will be able to get further information about how the site will be used. Braintree District Council petitioned judges to block moves to convert RAF Wethersfield in Essex into temporary housing for asylum seekers The local council argue the site, which is next to this picturesque village - is too isolated In the meantime, the Home Office has confirmed to the judge hearing the case that they will not move asylum seekers on to Wethersfield Airfield until after the court hearing. The Home Office confirmed it had already begun converting the site, but vowed to respect the court's decision. There has been a widespread outcry against the planned development, with residents complaining their 'rights' were not being respected. One woman told ITV News: 'I don't think they should be here. What are they going to do? There's nothing here, is there? Absolutely nothing. They say about their rights, what about our rights? This is our country isn't it?' Another local said: 'I don't think it's a matter of no refugees, it's just not the right place for them.' One woman added: 'It's not fair on the asylum seekers to start with. It's inhuman, isn't it, to put all these people in a place like that.' Their concerns were mirrored by people living near RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, which has also been lined up to house asylum seekers. West Lindsey District Council fears the move will jeopardise a 300million regeneration project to turn the site into a heritage, aviation and research centre - and is also seeking a High Court injunction to block the move. The Government is also facing a backlash over its bid to house 500 migrants on a barge to be moored at Portland Port in Dorset. Locals have come out against the plans. Pictured are publicans Jackie Braithwaite and Paul Pilgrim with retired teacher Helen Turner Mayor of Portland, Peter Roper, said it will 'put a load' on local health services, which had 'diminished' over the years. 'The fact sheet [about barge facilities] does say basic healthcare facilities... there's not [any] definition of that,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 'If there's anything more serious, the individuals on the barge will probably have to go over to Weymouth or the Dorset General Hospital up in Dorchester. 'It's not just putting a load on the area of Portland but also of south Dorset itself.' Asked if it would have an impact on tourism, the mayor said: 'Going by hearsay that we've heard about other areas where asylum seekers have been housed in hotels, it has had a detrimental effect on the towns around those particular hotels. 'Our tourism industry will be kicking off just about the time these first occupants will be coming onto the barge. 'We have no idea what effect that will have on our tourism industry.' The 306ft barge, 'Bibby Stockholm', will offer 'basic and functional accommodation, healthcare provision, catering facilities and 24/7 security to minimise the disruption to local communities', the Home Office has said. It will be the first time asylum seekers in the UK have been housed aboard an accommodation barge, a type of vessel normally used for maritime or offshore workers. Accommodation blocks on the former air base in Wethersfield pictured earlier this month RAF Scampton (pictured) has been listed as one of the sites that will be used to house illegal migrants Local Tory MP Richard Drax has said the multi-million pound plan could face legal action. More than 4,500 people have been detected crossing the English Channel in small boats this year despite Rishi Sunaks promise to crack down on the problem. The latest Home Office figures show 77 people in two boats risked the voyage on Thursday. They followed 492 people on Wednesday, the years highest daily total and a figure which was revised up after it was first published. It brings the total number of people detected making crossing in small boats this year to 4,563 according to the provisional figures. The total number of crossings last year was 45,755. More than 51,000 asylum seekers currently housed in hotels at a cost of more than 6million a day are not expected to be relocated to the new sites. Last year saw a record 45,728 migrants cross the Channel, dwarfing 2021's total of 28,526. A Braintree District Council spokesman said: 'While this means that its legal action has not yet stopped the Home Office from starting to prepare the site for asylum seeker accommodation, the court hearing will provide an opportunity for the issues to be fully considered and for the High Court to rule on the legalities of the proposal. 'We still maintain that Wethersfield airfield is an unsuitable site to house asylum seekers, given the lack of capacity in local services, its isolated location and the fact that the scale of the development proposed could have a significant impact upon the local community.' An 11-year-old boy is suspected to be involved in the death of a ten-year-old girl at a children's care home in Germany, police have claimed. The girl was found dead in her room at a child and youth welfare facility in Wunsiedel, in Germany's Bavaria region, on Tuesday. Evidence collected at the crime scene 'indicates the involvement of an 11-year-old boy' staying at the same facility, local police and prosecutors said in a joint statement. 'Since the 11-year-old boy is below the age of criminal responsibility, he has been placed in a secure facility as a preventive measure,' they added. It is unclear how the girl died, though a police spokesperson told German media she suffered a 'violent' death. It comes with Germany still reeling from the killing of 12-year-old Luise Frisch, who was found dead in the western town of Freudenberg last month after suffering multiple stab wounds. Two schoolgirls, aged 12 and 13, have confessed to the murder. Ulrike Scharf (third from right), family affairs minister, leaves the Child and Youth Care Center with Martin Schoffel, member of the Bavarian State Parliament, to lay flowers in front of the facility Ulrike Scharf pays tribute to a girl killed at a child care centre in Bavaria A police patrol car blocks off the road to the child and youth care centre Ulrike Scharf, family affairs minister, speaks outside the child and youth welfare centre where a ten-year-old girl was found dead Police and prosecutors declined to give further details on the Wunsiedel case but said the boy had not yet been questioned. They added that they were coordinating closely with local youth authorities. Bavaria's regional interior minister, Joachim Herrmann, praised the investigators for identifying a suspect so quickly. READ MORE: Hints of what caused a child to bully and then KILL 12-year-old friend emerge in picturesque village Advertisement 'It is thanks to the meticulous and highly-committed investigations that a person involved in the crime could be identified in a comparatively short time. 'What's important now is to clarify the exact circumstances of this tragedy,' he said. The child and youth welfare centre in the small town of Wunsiedel, home to around 90 children and teenagers, said it was 'deeply shocked' by the girl's death. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with the parents, the family, our children and our colleagues,' it said in a statement. On its website, the institute describes itself as supporting 'young people and their families who need help with their upbringing'. Investigations into the girl's death will continue unhampered throughout Easter weekend, a police spokeswoman on Friday. Less than a month ago, the town of Freudenberg, near Cologne, was rocked when Luise Frisch, 12, was found dead after vanishing following a play date. Her killers, named as Luisa Halberstadt, 13, and Anna-Marie Hoffman, 12, stabbed their victim 32 times with a nail file before pushing her down a steep embankment in nearby woods. Luise Frisch was found dead after vanishing following a play date Flowers and candles placed close to the scene of where Luise's body was discovered The 13-year-old suspect posted a video on TikTok showing herself dancing just hours after Luise's body was found The classmates also put a plastic bag over Luise's head before one chillingly told the other to 'hit her with a stone or she would be lying next to her'. The pair confessed to the crime but will avoid punishment as they are too young to bear criminal responsibility in Germany. Police fear Luise may have been alive before she was thrown down the embankment and died from her injuries and the sub zero conditions that hit the area in early March. An investigating source told MailOnline: 'The act itself was terrible. Experienced officers who have been involved in many homicide cases have been left shocked by the murder. 'Not only by the age of the victim but also the age of the suspects - the murder weapon has yet to be found and although initially we thought it may be a knife we now suspect it may be a nail file.' Officers urged people not to share the identities of the suspects on social media in the wake of the attacks, but their pleas fell on deaf ears. Pictures of the girls with the word 'killer' were circulated on various sites as outrage grows over the fact both will escape justice because they are below the age of criminal responsibility in Germany, which is 14. A petition demanding the law be changed gathered hundreds of thousands of signatures. Death threats were also made online against the girls and they and their families have been moved from their homes in the sleepy village of Freudenberg. Police were forced to station patrol cars outside the suspects' homes to discourage enraged citizens from damaging the properties and it is unlikely that the families will ever be able to return. The retired cop turned drug dealer who shared a jail cell with Jeffrey Epstein shortly before the notorious sex predator's death has been convicted of murdering four men. Nicholas Tartaglione, 55, was convicted on Thursday on all counts by a federal jury in White Plains, New York, after strangling one man and shooting three others execution-style in a 2015 gangland dispute. 'Tartaglione's heinous acts represent a broader betrayal, as he was a former police officer who once swore to protect the very community he devastated,' said Damian Williams, US attorney for the Southern District of New York, following the verdict. A muscle-bound bodybuilder and former cop in Westchester County's Briarcliff Manor, Tartaglione briefly shared a cell with Epstein at the Manhattan Correctional Center in 2019. On July 23 of that year, Tartaglione alerted guards, his lawyer said at the time, and Epstein was found on the floor of the cell with neck injuries after an apparent failed attempt to kill himself. Nicholas Tartaglione, 55, was convicted on Thursday on all counts by a federal jury in White Plains, New York, after strangling one man and shooting three others execution-style Epstein (seen in 2005) was found dead in a solitary cell on August 10, 2019 in what the New York City medical examiner ruled a suicide Epstein was placed on suicide watch and transferred to a solo cell, and on August 10, he was found dead inside the cell hanging from a makeshift noose, in what officials ruled a suicide. Prosecutors say that Tartaglione masterminded the brutal gangland killings of four men in 2015 after suspecting that one of the victims, Martin Luna, had stolen money from him. Tartaglione lured Luna into meeting him in a bar in Chester in what became a 'deadly trap' for the man and three others he brought along, said Williams. Martin Luna brought with him to the meeting his nephews Miguel Luna and Urbano Santiago and a family friend, Hector Gutierrez. 'What occurred next could only be described as pure terror, as Tartaglione tortured Martin, then forced one of his nephews to watch as Tartaglione strangled Martin to death with a zip tie,' Williams said. Tartaglione and two of his henchmen then bound and transported the other three victims to a remote wooded location in Otisville, forced them to kneel, and executed them with gunshots to the back of the head, the court heard. All four bodies were buried together in a mass grave, which was discovered by investigators in December 2016. Williams said the conviction will ensure that 'Tartaglione faces a lifetime in federal prison for his unconscionable murder of four men.' Martin Luna (left) was strangled to death with a zip tie by Tartaglione in 2015. His nephew Miguel Luna (right) was among the three other victims shot dead execution-style The other victims were Urbano Santiago (left) and Hector Gutierrez (right). All four bodies were buried together in a mass grave A muscle-bound bodybuilder and former cop in Westchester County's Briarcliff Manor, Tartaglione briefly shared a cell with Epstein at the Manhattan Correctional Center in 2019 At trial, Tartaglione's attorneys insisted he had nothing to do with the killings and was being used by the government as a convenient patsy for the crimes. Tartaglione's two alleged henchmen in the murders were Gerard Benderoth, who was also a retired police officer and bodybuilder, and Joseph Biggs, a school security guard. Benderoth fatally shot himself in 2017 as police and FBI agents attempted to pull him over in a traffic stop. Biggs was arrested and charged alongside Tartaglione, but agreed to cooperate, testifying that he and Benderoth worked collecting debts from customers who bought steroids from Tartaglione at local gyms. He also detailed how he, Benderoth and Tartaglione carried out the quadruple murder, according to the Journal News. The conviction came nearly four years after Tartaglione briefly shot to national fame through his connection to Epstein. In the incident when they were cell mates, Epstein was found semiconscious in a fetal position on the floor of the cell. Epstein accused Tartaglione of assaulting him, which the former cop denied, saying the disgraced financier had inflicted the injuries himself. A prison investigation later cleared Tartaglione of assaulting Epstein. A noose Epstein allegedly made out of bedsheets is seen in his jail cell Prison officials said at the time they believed the Epstein's story of being attacked was an attempt to avoid being put on suicide watch. Weeks later, Epstein was found dead in a solitary cell in what the New York City medical examiner ruled a suicide, though his lawyers disputed that finding. His death, at age 66, came a little over a month after he was arrested and charged with sex trafficking dozens of underage girls as young as 14 from at least 2002 to 2005. Epstein's extensive ties to some of the world's cultural, financial and political elite put the case at the center of international scrutiny. In June 2022, Epstein's former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role in the sexual exploitation and abuse of multiple underage girls over the course of a decade. Maxwell is appealing her conviction. In a galaxy not so far away - these are the thousands of Star Wars fanatics descending on the Excel Centre in East London. The Star Wars Celebration 2023 promises the 4,500-strong crowd fan-inspired activities including screenings, autograph sessions and exclusive merchandise. And the four-day event has seen film nuts from across the globe flocking in-costume in the hope of catching a glimpse of celebrities, watch panels and catch wind of major developments. Disney and Lucasfilm bigwigs at the event confirmed today that a new series of Star Wars films are on their way starring Daisy Ridley as Rey - and it will tell the story of the rebuilding of a new Jedi order. Pheobe Waller-Bridge and Mads Mikkelson also showed a new trailer for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny - in which the witty Fleabag actor can be heard describing Harrison Ford as an 'aging grave robber', Deadline reported. Bosses also revealed a final season of hit series Andor will debut in August 2024, showing a new trailor to expectant crowds, while a Ahsoka season will star in August 2023. An elite Death Trooper hops off the carriage and carefully minds the gap after a long to the Star Wars convention Star Wars fanatics look out on a galaxy far, far away as they cautiously step off the tube as hoards arrive at the Excel Centre 'Do you need a straw with that?' A casual Mandalorian picks up a coffee while his ultra-cool Grogu hangs out in his papoose sporting Aviator sunglasses A Death Trooper graciously glears the way for an Imperial Inquisitor as he lets her out of the lift before him, as they arrive at the Excel Centre A Darth Maul holds sensibly onto the tube as the doors open - as he is watched cautiously by a Jedi and a Mandalorian, complete with Grogu the baby Yoda in his helmet A glamorous Imperial inquisitor looks dark and mysterious struts across the tube platform A Tusken Raider wearing a Mandalorian helmet looks a bit confused - as they try to use the force on other commuters A jawa looks out of the darkness of their hood with bright eyes in a stunningly realistic costume A fan dressed as a Twi'lek walks stone-faced into the event. Twi'leks were a species known for a pair of appendages sprouting from their skulls - known as 'lekku' 'Committed, I am.' A larger than life Yoda arrives at the event complete with three-taloned arms and feet An Ashsoka Tano fan holds onto her hood as she covertly waits by the shrubbery. The character was one of Anakin Skywalker's Jedi Padawans The sun lights up the skin of Ashsoka Tano as they walk towards the event alongside a Mandalorian A rebel pilot steers his craft through crowds as a youngster dressed as Din Djarin holds tightly onto his hand 'Aren't you a little short for a stormtrooper?' A clone trooper leads the way past the ticket machines as a younger storm trooper follows with a matching rucksack Sith warrior Savage Opress - the brother of Darth Mail - looks a little sheepish as he queues ain front of a vibrant Hawiian shirt 'You don't disappoint me...' A Count Dooku lookalike is the spitting image of Christopher Lee Two fans share a sweet moment as they drink in the sun outside the event's crowds Two glamorous women dressed as Padme Amidala tap in as they stride towards the venue A devilish Han Solo waits outside with his four Princess Leias and two hooded figures A stormtrooper commander pulls on his helmet as he descends an escalator - casually chatting with Din Djarin as he dresses Two Mandalorians stroll into the Excel Centre - one with a blade and one with a gun. Originally, Boba Fett was designed with white armour and meant to be one of the Empire's 'super commandos' A fairly typical rush hour - a Darth Maul lookalike bares their teeth and looks fierce as they face off against a ice-cool Jedi New banknotes featuring King Charles III are currently being printed to mark his ascension to throne. Charles became King of the United Kingdom following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. He will be officially crowned as Britain's reigning monarchy at Westminster Abbey on Saturday, 6 May. When will the new King Charles III banknotes be issued? What do they look like? What should people do with their old banknotes? MailOnline reveals all you need to know about the upcoming release of the new legal tender. The Bank of England has published new images of what the banknotes featuring King Charles III could look like Pictured: A specimen of the new 5 banknote, featuring a portrait of King Charles III The 10 depicts a portrait of Charles on the right hand side, along with an inset of the King next to Westminster Abbey When will new banknotes come out? The new banknotes featuring a portrait of King Charles III will not be released straight after his coronation. They are currently scheduled to enter public circulation in mid-2024. This is because machines, including self-service tills, will need to recognise the new image so that cash transactions can be successfully completed. The reverse side of current polymer Bank of England banknotes, which feature significant figures in British history such as Sir Winston Churchill, Jane Austen, JMW Turner and Alan Turing, will be unchanged. What do new bank notes look like? Images of the new banknotes depict Charles on the right hand side of notes, along with an inset image of him on the left hand side next to historic landmarks including Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and Nelson's Column. The denomination of notes will remain the same, with 5, 10, 20 and 50 all available to use. What do I do with old bank notes? Since the new banknotes featuring King Charles will not come into circulation until the middle of 2024, people should continue using their old banknotes as normal. There are currently 4.7 billion Queen Elizabeth notes in circulation, worth a whopping 82billion can still be used when paying for anything with cash. The King Charles notes will only replace existing ones when they are no longer fit for use, or if there is an increased demand for them upon release. The 20 note features King Charles III pictured next to Nelson's Column, with a crown above Is cash still king? Cash transactions have declined enormously during and after the pandemic. In 2021, just one in six payments were made using cash and coins. 'There is a lot to do to ensure that machines used up and down the country can accept the banknotes', said Sarah John, whose role at the Bank of England means her signature appears on the new banknotes, according to BBC News. 'They all need to be adapted to recognise the new design, with software updates, and that takes months and months. 'Otherwise, we will be putting a banknote out there that people simply would not be able to use', she continued. 'There are still a lot of people who rely on cash for their day-to-day spending. It might not be obvious to everyone, but it is still really important that they have cash available when they really need it.' Pope Francis, who left hospital last weekend following a bout of bronchitis, will skip Friday night's outdoor 'Way of the Cross' procession due to cold weather, the Vatican said in a statement. The 86-year-old pontiff will still attend an indoor Good Friday service earlier in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in response to a question from Reuters. It is the first time the pope will not preside at the 'Via Crucis' service since he was elected in 2013. The event was moved to the Vatican during the COVID-19 pandemic and held in slimmed-down versions, but Francis presided. The Vatican said Francis would follow the service, which usually lasts more than two hours and is attended by thousands of people, from his residence. The temperature in Rome was expected to be about 10 degrees Celsius (50 F) on Friday night. The temperature has fallen in recent days and a light snow fell on Rome's outskirts on Thursday. TODAY (April 7): The pontiff, who was recently treated in hospital for bronchitis, will still attend the Passion celebration at St Peter's Basilica Instead of presiding over the torch-led procession at the Colosseum, Francis will watch from the hotel where he lives in the Vatican During the traditional service, the pope sits outdoors near the upper section of the Colosseum while participants process around the ancient monument. The participants stop to pray and hear meditations at the 14 'Stations of the Cross,' which commemorate the events in the last hours of the life of Jesus, starting with his arrest and ending with his burial. Francis spent four days in hospital last week for treatment for bronchitis after complaining of breathing difficulties. He recovered quickly after receiving antibiotics. The pope, who appeared fine at two services on Thursday, usually speaks at the end of the Good Friday procession at the Colosseum. The Vatican did not announce any changes to the rest of the pope's Holy Week schedule. He is due to preside at an Easter vigil Mass on Saturday night in St. Peter's Basilica and on Easter Sunday he is due to deliver his twice-annual 'Urbi et Orbi' (to the city and the world) blessing and message in St. Peter's Square. The Easter Sunday blessing is held from the basilica's outdoor central balcony at noon. The last pope to skip a Good Friday service was Pope John Paul II. Failing health prevented him from leaving the Vatican in the last weeks of his life in 2005. Pope Francis greets the crowd ahead of the Chrism Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, April 6, 2023 Pope Francis celebrates the Mass of the Lord's Supper at the Casal del Marmo juvenile penitentiary on April 06, 2023 On April 6, Pope Francis began an intense four days in the lead up to Easter, renewing vows and urging priests to avoid fomenting division in the Church. On Holy Thursday, Francis and dozens of cardinals and bishops, and some 1,880 priests, gathered in St Peter's Basilica, Rome, to renew the commitments they made on their ordination. READ MORE: How Pope Francis has battled health problems over the years: From a lung operation aged 22 to sciatica, colon surgery and knee ligament pain that left him wheelchair-bound Pope Francis celebrates the traditional rite of the washing of feet at the Casal del Marmo juvenile penitentiary Advertisement The Pope later travelled to the juvenile prison of Casal del Marmo on the outskirts of the city, where he washed and kissed the feet of 12 young inmates in a gesture meant to commemorate Jesus' humility towards his apostles on the night before his death. It comes after his health has attracted increasing scrutiny ever since his predecessor, Benedict XVI, became the first pontiff to resign from his post as head of the Vatican as a result of ill-health in 2013. Benedict died on December 31, 2022, and Francis has since been open about the prospect of following his predecessor's example and stepping down from the papacy should his health continue to deteriorate. The 86-year-old's hospitalisation in March 2023 with a bout of pneumonia has revived speculation over the possibility Francis will soon tender his resignation. He was taken to Rome's Gemelli hospital after a weekly general audience on March 29 after he had difficulty leaving the event and experienced difficulty breathing. It was reported he was struggling with a respiratory infection before doctors established he had contracted a mild case of pneumonia. Medical staff said he would remain in the hospital for several days and undergo appropriate treatment, though they hoped to discharge him ahead of the Vatican's packed Easter schedule. But Francis is particularly susceptible to respiratory infections, owing to the complications of a severe condition he contracted in his 20s. The billionaire widower of a murdered baroness has filed a lawsuit against his own son - as he attended his slain wife's funeral on Friday - in the latest twist to a Belgian case involving an aristocratic family feud. Myriam 'Mimi' Ullens, 70, was with her husband, Baron and mega-collector Guy Ullens, 88, when she was killed in the village of Ohain. The alleged shooter was Nicolas Ullens, the son of Guy Ullens, who has since been detained by police. The pair were in their car outside their home at around 10am when Nicolas allegedly fired on his stepmother, who died at the scene, according to reports at the time. Baron Ullens, who survived the incident on March 29, is now suing his son Nicolas who prosecutors believed carried out the killing over a financial dispute. But even as the funeral for 'Mimi' Ullens was held on Friday, the ignominious family feud continued to play out in the public eye, with Nicolas's sister Brigitte backing her suspect brother - telling local media that their stepmother 'plagued the family'. Guy Ullens - the widower of a murdered baroness - has filed a lawsuit against his own son in the latest twist to a Belgian case involving an aristocratic family feud. News of the lawsuit came as he attended the funeral of his late wife on Friday (pictured) Pictured: Guests arrive for the funeral of Myriam 'Mimi' Ullens who was killed last week Pictured: Flower wreaths for Myriam 'Mimi' Ullens outside the church for her funeral today Pictured: Myriam 'Mimi' Ullens, 70, was with her husband, Baron and mega-collector Guy Ullens, 88. The couple opened the Ullens center in 2007 - considered at the time to be the first contemporary art museum in China Prosecutors are understood to believe the motivation for the killing of Mimi was financial, amid reports that she had been trying to block Nicolas and his sister's inheritance that would come from their elderly father. According to reports, the baroness and her stepson had been in long-running disputes over the issue, which allegedly came to the fore last week. Pictures on Friday showed guests arriving for the funeral of Mimi, held at a church in Ohain, Belgium. Relatives and friends attending to pay their respects included fashion designers, business people and bankers. Flowers were laid outside the church, including one wreath from Claude Lelouch - the critically acclaimed French film director. Originally a cake-maker from Cologne, Mini lived an extraordinary life, falling in love with a married nobleman, brushing shoulders with the world's royals - including Britain's King Charles III - and funding passion projects around the world. But last Wednesday, she was executed in front of her house, shot four times in the head, reportedly after an argument with her stepson over 'squandering his billionaire father's money'. Reports say Nicolas, 57, ambushed Myriam and her husband, ramming them in their car as they left the family estate and firing multiple shots in their direction. The next day, he walked into a police station, handed over a handgun and told police he had shot his stepmother, it is understood. But not everyone showed sympathy towards the murdered Mini. 'Mimi devastated the family,' was the initial reaction Brigitte after the killing. 'She wanted everything for herself. We weren't even allowed to see dad any more.' 'Only one thing mattered to Myriam: she wanted the family fortune for herself.' Nicolas Ullens, a former Belgian state security officer, is one of the baron's four children with his first wife, Micheline Franckx. Now, according to local reports, Guy Ullens has sued Nicolas over the alleged assassination of his late with. The baron and baroness - who opened the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing - married in 1999, and have been influential art collectors ever since. They began their career by collecting classical Chinese art scroll paintings, before switching their attention to contemporary art. The couple opened the Ullens center in 2007 - considered at the time to be the first contemporary art museum in China. In 2004, baroness Ullens, who went by Mimi and was a cancer survivor, founded the Mimi Foundation to create centers within hospitals to provide physical and mental therapy for patients undergoing cancer treatment. In 2013 she co-organised an exhibition and benefit auction during Frieze Week in London to support the Mimi Foundation. 'If many of the artists in this project are Chinese that is because of our long and close relationship with them. This is just the tip of our icebergthat we are continuing to follow and collect intensively with the new generation,' the baroness told Ocula at the time. 'A collection is like a living breathing body. It evolves in an organic manner.' The baroness Ullens was born in Colgone, Germany, in 1952. Relatives and friends arrive for the funeral ceremony for the 70 year old Baroness Myriam 'Mimi' Ullens de Schooten Whettnall on Friday in Ohain Maurice Lippens, Belgian businessman and banker, (right) attends the funeral ceremony Pictured: Guests arrive for the funeral of Myriam 'Mimi' Ullens who was killed last week Fashion designer Edouard Vermeulen arrives for the funeral ceremony for the 70 year old Baroness Myriam 'Mimi' Ullens de Schooten Whettnall, on Friday Pictured: A wreath is carried into the church at Mimi's funeral on Friday Relatives and friends arrive for the funeral ceremony for the 70 year old Baroness Myriam 'Mimi' Ullens, who was shot dead last Wednesday. It is believed that she was killed by her son Myriam (L), with husband, totes a Maison Ullens bag of her own Belgian women's fashion label Nicolas Ullens surrendered himself to police after shooting his stepmother last week Nicolas Ullens, meanwhile, was a former Belgian state security officer. He spent his career working in Belgium's security service in the Russian counter-espionage department. 'He was very haughty and sometimes boasted about his wealth,' a former colleague of his told The Times. 'In state security you have to be discreet and diplomatic, but he was not like that. He was a loudmouth. He learnt to shoot with us.' A total of 77 migrants were detected crossing the English Channel in two boats yesterday, latest Government figures have shown. This follows on from the 500 that risked the voyage into Dover on Wednesday 5 April, which saw the highest daily total so far this year. The number of migrants crossing the English Channel so far this year has now risen to over 4,500, according to the Home Office figures. The total number of crossings last year was 45,755. The stark number of migrants entering the UK comes despite Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's promise to crack down on the problem and 'stop the boats'. A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, from the RNLI Dover Lifeboat following a small boat incident in the Channel on Thursday 6 April The latest Home Office figures show that 77 people in two boats risked the voyage as they entered Dover docks in Kent in misty conditions The latest Home Office figures show that 77 people in two boats risked the voyage on Thursday. A group of people thought to be migrants were brought in to Dover, Kent, from the RNLI Dover Lifeboat following a small boat incident in the Channel yesterday. Pictures showed around 30-35 people, mainly men, being brought ashore at the immigration processing centre at the former jetfoil terminal from one of the boats. They were brought into the harbour onboard the Dover lifeboat after being rescued at sea with visibility said to be very low. Many were wrapped in blankets to protect them from the cold. It comes after 492 people crossed the Channel on Wednesday, the year's highest daily total and a figure which was revised up after it was first published. This now brings the total number of people detected making crossing in small boats this year to 4,563, according to the provisional figures. This sharp increase in numbers comes despite the Prime Minister promising to 'stop the boats' as one of his five main priorities. Around 30-35 people, mainly men, were brought ashore at the immigration processing centre on Thursday This sharp increase in numbers crossing the English Channel comes despite the Prime Minister promising to 'stop the boats' as one of his five main priorities On Wednesday, a total of 492 people crossed the Channel, the year's highest daily total and a figure which was revised up after it was first published Officials have also warned that as many as 80,000 migrants could enter the UK on small boats this year In March this year, Mr Sunak announced legislation to toughen up Britain's asylum system in an attempt to make asylum claims inadmissible from those who travel illegally to the UK on small boats. Instead they will either be sent back to their home country or to a nation like Rwanda with which the UK has a deal, although so far legal challenges have meant no flights carrying migrants have taken off for Kigali. The Government's Illegal Migration Bill is currently going through Parliament. Officials have also warned that as many as 80,000 migrants could enter the UK on small boats this year. A Home Office spokesperson said: 'The unacceptable number of people risking their lives by making these dangerous crossings is placing an unprecedented strain on our asylum system. 'Our priority is to stop this illegal trade, and our Small Boats Operational Command is working alongside our French partners and other agencies to disrupt the people smugglers. 'The government has gone further by introducing legislation which will ensure that those people arriving in the UK illegally are detained and promptly removed to their country of origin or a safe third country.' This is the shocking moment a downed Russian warplane exploded in a huge fireball today over the embattled Donetsk region of Ukraine. The Su-25 Grach jet was reportedly hit by Ukraine's airborne assault troops who targeted the low-flying close air support aircraft with a man-portable air defence weapon (MANPAD). The clip misses the moment the plane is hit by the missile, but the white smoke of the stricken aircraft can be seen trailing through the air towards the crash site as another warplane flies past. Moments later, the wreckage ignites and erupts in a huge fireball. This is the moment the wreckage of a Russian jet ignited after being downed by a man-portable air defence system The wreckage ignited in a huge fireball which rose above the fields outside the town of Marinka in Ukraine's Donetsk oblast White smoke is seen trailing through the sky towards the crash site as the fireball subsides The Su-25 Grach jet (file picture) was reportedly hit by Ukraine's airborne assault troops who targeted the low-flying close air support aircraft Miraculously, the Russian pilot managed to eject before his aircraft slammed into the turf in the countryside on the outskirts of Marinka town, according to multiple pro-Russian Telegram channels. The commentators refused to acknowledge that Moscow's plane had been hit by a Ukrainian anti-air weapon, stating simply that 'the causes of the crash are being investigated'. 'Lately, the Ukrainians have had nothing to do with the downing of our planes.' The pilot was said to have made an escape and was shuttled to safety by Russian forces, who still occupy much of the land around Marinka despite bloody battles raging mere miles away in and around the towns of Bakhmut and Vuhledar. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal is planning to visit Canada to seek supplies of ammunition and armoured vehicles to launch a counteroffensive against invading Russian forces, the Globe and Mail reported on Friday. Shmyhal said in an interview with the Canadian newspaper that he was not concerned about the lack of new military aid allocated for Ukraine in Canada's federal budget, and hoped the country would provide more aid among other forms of assistance. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal attends a news conference in Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, March 3, 2023 Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov stand on one of the first Leopard 2 tanks delivered from Poland 'Now, we need heavy armoured vehicles. And we need more artillery shells: ammunition for howitzers and ammunition for tanks,' Shmyhal said. 'It's crucially important for the organisation of our counteroffensive.' Ukraine is expected to launch a counter-offensive to seize back land in the south and east of the country from Russian forces in the coming weeks or months. Shmyhal will visit Canada in coming weeks, the Globe and Mail said, adding that for security reasons the Kyiv government was not divulging the date of the trip. The Ukrainian premier was quoted by the Globe as saying Ukraine would also like Canada to offer war risk insurance to Canadian companies investing in Ukraine to support reconstruction and foreign investment. 'So if a Canadian company will decide to invest money into Ukraine, we will ask the Canadian government to create some mechanism to support Canadian investments,' he said. Ukraine faces an unprecedented budget deficit this year due to ballooning military spending to fight off Russia's invasion and it relies heavily on foreign financial aid. A New Mexico officer responding to a domestic violence call went to the wrong house and fatally struck the confused homeowner who opened the door holding a gun. The 52-year-old homeowner, Robert Dotson of Farmington, died in the officer-involved shooting on Wednesday night around 11:30pm. Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe said he is 'heartbroken' over the 'extremely traumatic event.' Police were called to the home at 5305 Valley View Avenue - when they were supposed to go to 5308 Valley View Avenue, located across the street. When officers knocked on the door and announced themselves no one answered the door. An armed Dotson then emerged at the screen door of his home, the officer fired at least one round striking and killing him. The 52-year-old homeowner, Robert Dotson (pictured) of Farmington died in the officer-involved shooting on Wednesday night around 11:30pm. His wife, Kimberly Jones- Dotson was also armed but cooperated with the authorities once she realized who they were Dotson's wife, Kimberly Jones Dotson, who was also holding a handgun, fired from the doorway of her home. The officers fired back. Once Kimberly realized that the individuals outside her home were officers, she put the gun down and complied with their commands. She was uninjured and has not been charged with a crime. The officers involved were also not injured and their identity have not been disclosed. On Thursday, Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe issued a video statement, and called the incident 'an extremely traumatic event.' 'I am just heartbroken by the circumstances surrounding this,' Hebbe said. 'Mr. Dotson was not the subject of the call that our officers were responding to. This ending is just unbelievably tragic. I am extremely sorry that we are in this position.' He added: 'This is a very dark day.' Farmington Police Department said in a Facebook post early Friday morning that they 'will have further information in the coming days as the investigation proceeds. 'We will release the body camera videos after the officer's statements, expected within a week,' the statement said. Police were called to the home at 5305 Valley View Avenue - when they were supposed to go to 5308 Valley View Avenue, located across the street Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe said he is 'heartbroken' over the 'extremely traumatic event.' A photo taken in 2022 of the Dotsons and their son The New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau is working independently to determine the series of events that led up to the Wednesday night shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews. The bureau said their findings will be shared with the district attorney for their review and consideration. 'The New Mexico State Police act solely as factfinders in their cases and do not determine whether an officer's actions were justified in these types of matters,' according to a release issued by the New Mexico Department of Public Safety. They added: 'That decision rests with the district attorney's office. This incident remains under investigation by the New Mexico State Police.' On Friday morning, Dotson's wife received many messages on Facebook from friends wishing her prayers including a post of a virtual hug. 'We love you Kim. Our prayers are with you and your beautiful family,' one person wrote. 'My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family,' another said. College swimming champion Riley Gaines has told how she was punched twice by a trans activist in a terrifying attack at a university campus - and laid blame squarely on the White House for 'betraying' women. In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com's Maureen Callahan, Gaines, 22, told how her assailant - who she says was a transgender woman - hit her first in the shoulder and then in the face before an undercover campus cop came to her rescue. The swimmer said she was barricaded in a room at San Francisco State University for three hours to protect herself from the 'vengeful' mob who were demanding they be let in to 'fight' her. San Francisco police said there were no arrests. Gaines also turned her ire on the Biden administration for suggesting the trans community is under threat, when it is women who are being assaulted. In a wide-ranging interview, Gaines hit out at proposals by the President that would mean misgendering someone could be considered sexual harassment - and accused the White House of fostering a narrative that has encouraged violence and threats towards women. College swimming champion Riley Gaines has filmed herself being reportedly ambushed by screaming trans activists who physically attacked her following a speech about saving women's sports A terrified Gaines, 22, was forced to barricade herself inside a room at the San Francisco State University campus last night after a group of activists ambushed her 'I think this narrative was built because we have people in administrative roles, whether that be at universities or college campuses, or even the Biden administration...saying that the trans community is under threat,' she said. 'So I think they like to think they're constantly being persecuted...But in my experience...I have always been on the receiving end of that hate.' The swimmer was speaking as she returned to her home in Nashville after giving a talk on women's rights at the university Thursday night. But the event was hijacked by around 100 protesters who swarmed the campus. Gaines said the talk itself, which started at around 7.30pm, was 'really awesome', with 75 attendees respectfully sharing differing views on transgender athletes in sport. But as she was leaving the room where the talk was being held she was ambushed by angry trans activists, who rushed into the venue from the hallway outside. 'All of a sudden ambushers swarm in, tons of them,' she said. 'They immediately rush to the front of the room where I am, so I'm kind of cornered at a podium at this point. 'They're screaming in my face. This is the point where I was struck twiceI believe, aiming for my shoulder both times, but hit me the first time on the shoulder, and then the second time it grazed my face.' Gaines said she thought she was hit with a closed fist by the transgender woman, before demonstrating the upward punching motion that was used. 'I'm not entirely sure if it [her first] was closed or open, but it was 100 per cent intentional,' she added. Inside: Protestors inside the event are starting to raise their voices in response to Riley Gaines. Doors to the event are closed. pic.twitter.com/CyhJTvceXd Golden Gate Xpress (@GGXnews) April 7, 2023 Protesters hang a flag and start chanting go the fuck home as Riley Gaines hides in HSS room 325. Protesters wait for her to come out pic.twitter.com/2PkiapnzvJ Golden Gate Xpress (@GGXnews) April 7, 2023 Police have moved into another hallway of HSS at 11:13 p.m pic.twitter.com/q2LBMgZL54 Golden Gate Xpress (@GGXnews) April 7, 2023 Riley Gaines left campus at 11:38 p.m pic.twitter.com/kZyFLJcx4n Golden Gate Xpress (@GGXnews) April 7, 2023 The swimmer said she was then whisked away by an undercover campus cop, but was met by 'an even bigger crowd' of protesters coming from both directions. 'Because there was no clear exit out of this hallway we were kind of forced into a side roomwhere we essentially had to lock ourselves in for three hours,' she said. Gaines said the protesters remained outside the room for the duration, 'screaming and yelling vulgar and violent things'. 'They were screaming there will be vengeance, and that this is a fight and that I'm using my white privilege. There were threats, intimidation. They kept saying: 'Open the door. Let us at Riley. We want to fight her.' 'A lot of these are empty threats in a way, but at the same time you do have to kind of fear for your safety in a situation like that.' She said the protesters were 'clearly unhinged' and 'vengeful'. 'It was violent and it was not progressive,' she added. Gaines slammed the Biden administration for 'betraying' women by failing to protect them Former President Donald Trump with swimmer Riley Gaines speaks at the CPAC Convention, Hilton Anatole, Dallas, Texas. August 06 2022 Riley Gaines on Tucker Carlson - Re: Former University of Kentucky swimmer shares 'extreme discomfort' at having to change alongside Lia Thomas because of her 'different parts' and blasts NCAA bosses for letting the trans athlete compete Trans swimmer Lia Thomas 'dropped her pants' and exposed her 'male genitalia' in a women's locker room after a meet claimed University of Kentucky athlete Riley Gaines Gaines defended those who had come to protest peacefully and said she had no problem with people yelling 'trans women are women', but said inciting violence was never acceptable. She said she has regularly received violent threats prior to giving talks at universities and blamed the Biden administration for its stance on transgender issues. She pointed to comments made by White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre suggesting that the trans community in America was 'under attack' in the wake of a Nashville school shooting by a transgender former student. Gaines said: 'In my experience I have never once said anything remotely threatening, remotely hateful towards the trans identifying individual or anyone in the LGBT community. 'I have always been on the receiving end of that hate, and I find it a bit ironic, because it comes from the party who claims to be tolerant and accepting and loving and welcoming.' She also referred to her experience of competing against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas and seeing Thomas' male genatalia in the changing room in the context of changes to Title IX being pursued by the White House, which would mean misgendering someone - refusing to use a person's preferred pronouns - could be considered sexual harassment. 'It just felt like maybe two years ago, this person would have been arrested for indecent exposure, for voyeurism, for sexual harassmentBut now we are the ones who are committing sexual harassment.' Gaines recounted her experience competing against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas and seeing her male genatalia in the changing rooms Speaking about her encounter with Thomas in the female changing rooms, she said: 'Of course you're awkward. It's embarrassing. It's uncomfortable. It felt like belittlement, but more than anything it was betrayal. Former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines 'The people who were supposed to be protecting us were not protecting us. It's heartbreaking. 'We should not lose the ability to consent in areas of undressing where we will be exposed to and exposing ourselves to the opposite sex.' House Speaker Kevin McCarthy had earlier Friday condemned the incident as 'an appalling attack on free speech on a college campus'. He tweeted: 'House Republicans stand with Riley Gaines and her brave and tireless efforts to protect women's sports.' The San Francisco Police Department said it was investigating the incident but there were 'no arrests related to the event'. A spokesman added: 'The disruption occurred after the conclusion of the event which made it necessary for UPD officers to move the event speaker from the room to a different, safe location.' State Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over former President Donald Trump's hush-money case, gave President Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign a $15 donation. NBC News reported late Wednesday that Merchan gave a small dollar donation to the Democrat on July 26, 2020. A day later, he gave two left-leaning groups Stop Republicans and Progressive Turnout Project donations of $10 each. While it's not uncommon for judges to give money to political candidates, the revelations will help Trump characterize Merchan as a 'Trump-hater' - as Trump was running against Biden at the time of the donation - as he did Tuesday night at Mar-a-Lago after spending the day in criminal court. Trump's targeting of Merchan and his family - including a daughter who works in Democratic politics - has the judge under heightened protection. State Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over former President Donald Trump's hush-money case, gave President Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign a $15 donation Earlier this week The New York Daily News reported that Merchan had received dozens of death threats since Trump's highly public court battle. During Tuesday's court proceeding Merchan asked the former president and current presidential candidate to tone it down, after he encouraged supporters to 'protest!' as the indictment hung over Trump's head. Instead, Trump returned to Mar-a-Lago and blasted Merchan and his wife and daughter during an event in the Florida estate's ballroom surrounded by supporters and press. 'I have a Trump-hating judge, with a Trump-hating wife and family, whose daughter worked for Kamala Harris and now receives money from the Biden-Harris campaign and a lot of it,' Trump charged from the podium at his Florida home and resort. Merchan's daughter Loren, 34, is president and partner of a progressive digital form called Authentic campaigns, where she's worked for a number of Democratic causes and campaigns. She was the digital director for Harris' short-lived 2020 presidential bid. 'I have a Trump-hating judge, with a Trump-hating wife and family, whose daughter worked for Kamala Harris and now receives money from the Biden-Harris campaign and a lot of it,' Trump charged from the podium at his Florida home and resort Merchan's 34-year-old daughter Loren (right) works for consulting firm Authentic Campaigns, which counts, Vice President Kamala Harris, the Biden-Harris campaign, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and California Rep. Adam Schiff among its past clients Merchan was at the center of negotiations in 2021 that led to the Trump Organization's longtime CFO Allen Weisselberg pleading guilty to charges that he skipped out on taxes over big-dollar perks he took in from the company - like Manhattan apartments, a car and school tuition. On Friday, Trump declared on social media that Merchan 'HATES ME' and is the same person who 'railroaded' my 75-year-old former CFO, Weisselberg, to take a 'plea' deal.' Weisselberg, who received a reduced sentence in exchange for testifying against the Trump Organization, is spending his five-month sentence at Rikers Island in Queens and is expected to be released on April 19. After Weisselberg testified, Merchan said he was particularly struck by Weisselberg's wife receiving a one-time $6,000 payment from the company for a no-show job so that she would qualify for Social Security, even as her husband was making a lot of money. 'So many Americans work so hard with the hopes that they may someday benefit from their contributions to Social Security,' the judge said. Merchan said he would have imposed a 'stiffer sentence' if he hadn't already agreed to the five-month plea deal. West Bank shooting leaves two British nationals dead and mother in hospital A vigil was held this evening in the Israeli settlement of Efrat for the victims of a shooting in the West Bank earlier today. Two British-Israeli nationals were shot dead and their mother suffered critical injuries after an attack in Hamra, in the Jordan Valley. The mother, 48, was rushed into hospital by helicopter after unknown attackers opened fire with a Kalashnikov-style weapon. Her daughters, one reportedly aged 15 and the other in her 20s, were pronounced dead earlier today. Israel said that its forces were blocking roads in the area and 'had started a pursuit of the terrorists' responsible for the attack. The IDF also called up an unspecified number of air force reservists including fighter pilots and drone operators as tensions rise. It comes as violence escalates between Palestinians and Israeli forces over clashes at the Al-Aqsa mosque in East Jerusalem earlier this week. Israeli medics and police check a damaged car at the scene of a shooting, in the Jordan Valley in the Israeli-occupied West Bank April 7, 2023 Israeli forces gather near the Hamra junction in the northern part of the Jordan valley in the occupied West Bank following a shooting attack on April 7, 2023 The Israeli military reported earlier that the incident in the Jordan Valley was caused by a collision between Israeli and Palestinian drivers. Troops then said that they had found bullet holes in the Israeli vehicle and deemed it a deliberate attack. Kan, an Israeli public broadcaster, said that 22 bullet casings were found. Medics found the three victims in critical condition and were unsuccessful in saving the lives of the two younger daughters. Sky cited local media, claiming the two women who died were sisters, one aged 15 and the other in her 20s. The BBC has reported that the sisters were in their 20s. The sisters' father had been driving ahead in a separate car when the women were attacked. He turned the car around to find paramedics treating his wife and daughters. The family were from London and had emigrated to Efrat, an Israeli settlement in the West Bank. The settlement is considered illegal under international law, a source of conflict for Palestinian and Israeli factions. Israel disputes the status. In response to the shooting, Israel Police commissioner Kobi Shabtai called on all Israelis with firearms licences to start carrying their weapons. Israeli Major General Yehuda Fuchs said they were reinforcing in all sectors and would find those responsible. The shooting follows the Israeli bombing of Gaza and Tyre on Thursday night as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised an 'aggressive response' to rockets fired from Lebanon into northern Israel that afternoon. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the rocket attack, but an IDF spokesperson blamed Hamas, the de facto governing authority of the Gaza Strip. The barrage, in turn, followed Israeli police storming the holy Al-Aqsa mosque compound with tear gas and stun grenades on Wednesday morning. Violent scenes showed police using weapons to beat worshippers barricaded in the mosque, who retaliated by shooting fireworks and throwing stones. The Israeli bombing of Gaza reportedly damaged a children's hospital, further fomenting tensions ahead of the two outbursts today. After the shooting on Friday, British tourists were reportedly among the victims of a harrowing attack in Tel Aviv as a car mounted the pavement near a popular park, killing one and injuring at least seven. Israeli soldiers are seen near the scene where a shooting attack occurred in the Jordan Valley, on April 7, 2023 Israeli medics and policemen check a damaged car at the scene of a shooting attack, in the Jordan Valley in the Israeli-occupied West Bank April 7, 2023 Al-Araby al-Jadeed reported earlier today that in response to the attacks Israeli forces had 'closed all entrances to Jericho with military checkpoints, and are searching all vehicles' to find those responsible for the shooting in Hamra. The outlet, founded by a former Israeli MP, cited local sources claiming that settlers under protection of the Israeli army were pursuing revenge attacks, 'burning houses and farm machinery' in Faroush and 'beginning to mount further attacks on local residents'. Hamas did not claim responsibility for the attack but said it was a 'natural response to [Israel's] ongoing crimes against the Al-Aqsa mosque and its barbaric aggression against Lebanon and the steadfast Gaza.' In London, the Foreign Office confirmed the deaths of the two sisters and appealed for all sides in the Israel-Palestine dispute to de-escalate a situation which has seen violence flare up in recent days. A Foreign Office spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We are saddened to hear about the deaths of two British-Israeli citizens and the serious injuries sustained by a third individual. 'The UK calls for all parties across the region to de-escalate tensions.' Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said: 'I am shocked by reports of the killing of two British sisters in an appalling and cowardly attack in the West Bank. 'My thoughts are with their family and loved ones. More civilian victims of this cycle of violence show the urgent need for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate.' The shooting reflects a sudden intensification of violence between opposing regional factions. The IDF stressed Israeli warplanes last night targeted infrastructure belonging to Palestinian armed groups, as opposed to civilian infrastructure. Hamas targets in the city of Tyre in the south of Lebanon were also hit in the assault. There were no reports of serious casualties, but residents in Qalili, Lebanon, were injured in the bombardment. The Palestinian health ministry said 'partial damage' was done to the Al-Dorra children's hospital in Gaza City during the strikes. Hecht said the IDF was aware of the allegation and was looking into it as the local UN forces urged restraint. Earlier today, pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered in Kensington, London, where the Israeli embassy is located, to protest perceived Israeli aggression. Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters have taken to the streets of Kensington, in central London, this afternoon, near the Israeli embassy, following last nights airstrike against Gaza by Israel. pic.twitter.com/0983cRSxpQ Tom Cotterill (@pn_tomcotterill) April 7, 2023 Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gather near the Israeli embassy in Kensington, London, today Protestors gathered today as violence escalates between Palestinian and Israeli factions Violence between factions has escalated this week following clashes at the Al-Aqsa mosque in East Jerusalem. Israeli police stormed the mosque with tear gas and stun grenades to confront Palestinians barricaded inside with improvised weapons. Muslim worshippers have been demanding the right to pray overnight inside the mosque, which authorities typically only permit during the last 10 days of the month-long Ramadan holiday. They also stayed in the mosque in protest threats by religious Jews to carry out a ritual animal slaughter at the sacred site for Passover. At least 14 Palestinians were injured and hundreds arrested on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning as Israeli police raided the mosque, sparking global condemnation. Video footage dated 5 April showed police beating protestors with rifles. Other footage showed Palestinians inside the mosque shooting fireworks at the security forces. Palestinian groups in Gaza fired rockets into southern Israel on Wednesday and Thursday in response to the clashes. Israeli planes attacked multiple sites in Gaza after four missiles reached Israel. The mosque was again stormed by Israeli forces on Thursday. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly called for calm after Israel launched strikes in southern Lebanon and bombed targets in the Gaza Strip in retaliation over the rocket attacks. Mr Cleverly said both sides in the Israel-Palestine dispute should 'recommit themselves to a negotiated settlement'. He said: 'The UK condemns the indiscriminate rocket attacks from southern Lebanon and Gaza and recognises Israel's right to self-defence. 'Now is the time for all parties across the region to de-escalate tensions. 'At the convergence of Passover, Ramadan and Easter, the UK calls for all parties to respect the historic status quo arrangements at Jerusalem's holy sites and cease all provocative action. 'The UK is a strong supporter of freedom of religion or belief and calls for places of worship to be respected. 'We value Jordan's important role as custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem and condemns the Israeli police violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. 'When Israeli security forces conduct operations, they must ensure they are proportionate and in accordance with international law.' Human rights campaign group Amnesty International UK criticised Mr Cleverly's response. The charity's Kristyan Benedict said: 'James Cleverly's belated response to shocking Israeli violence against Palestinians at Al-Aqsa Mosque isn't just weak and tokenistic - it's also dangerously misguided because it effectively isolates individual incidents of violence from the overall context, which is decades of apartheid, occupation and systematic injustice against the Palestinian people. 'Despite the Foreign Secretary's usual platitudes about 'peace' and 'de-escalation', the UK continues to oppose vital international measures such as the ongoing ICC (International Criminal Court) investigation, designed to bring justice and accountability for Israeli and Palestinian civilians.' Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike in central Gaza Strip, Friday, April 7, 2023 The Israeli military struck targets in the Gaza Strip, pushing the region toward a wider conflagration after a day of rocket fire along the country's northern and southern borders Rockets hit Bezet and Shlomi in the north of Israel on Thursday as regional violence worsens Late yesterday, the IDF said it had shot down 25 of an unusually large barrage of 34 rockets fired from southern Lebanon. Civilians were injured in the attack. The IDF initially said it would investigate possible Iranian involvement amid fears the missiles may have come from Iranian proxy Hezbollah, sympathetic to the Palestinian cause. Hezbollah had condemned the assault on Al-Aqsa. The two powerful military factions have avoided any major conflicts since 2006. But Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, later said it was 'a Palestinian-oriented event', adding that either the Hamas or Islamic Jihad militant groups, which are based in Gaza but also operate in Lebanon, could be involved. He tied the attacks to the spate of violence at Al-Aqsa since Wednesday. Hecht added that the army believed Hezbollah and the Lebanese government were aware of what happened and also held responsibility. Lebanon's caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati condemned the firing of rockets from Lebanon. He added that Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers were investigating and trying to find the perpetrators. Netanyahu, currently in the midst of a domestic political crisis and losing popular support, firmly vowed to 'strike our enemies' who will 'pay a price for every act of aggression'. The family of Harmony Montgomery claim they were not informed that law enforcement would be carrying out a search of wetlands in Revere, Massachusetts in hopes of finding new evidence about the murdered five-year-old's disappearance. Montgomery was last seen alive in New Hampshire in 2019, and although authorities allege she was killed by her father Adam Montgomery, who has pleaded not guilty to her murder, her body has never been found. But a renewed investigative lead came as a surprise to the missing child's family, with her uncle Michael Flanagan telling DailyMail.com: 'What you know is what we know.' 'Just imagine yourself and your family having a murdered child in the family... the cops don't tell us s***. Five-year-old Harmony Montgomery went mysteriously missing in 2019, and her body has never been found Her father Adam Montgomery, 33, of Manchester, New Hampshire, was indicted on charges of second-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, falsifying evidence, and witness tampering over the disappearance Massachusetts State Police and Manchester Police began scouring along Route 107 on Friday morning, which was 'prompted by information developed by investigators,' David Procopio, State Police spokesman, said in a statement. Several law enforcement agencies have been tasked with the renewed search, including 18 troopers from the Special Emergency Response Team, four K9s and their handlers, a drone, and detectives assigned to Suffolk District Attorney Kevin R. Haydens office, Procopio added. But the multi-agency operation was slammed by Flanagan, who condemned authorities for keeping his family out of the loop. The girl's uncle also hit out at officials for allowing the 'tragedy' to occur, saying: 'My little niece got stuck with a monster and paid with her life, because the state saw fit a violent offender, drug abuser and wife beater as acceptable.' In February 2019, a Massachusetts judge placed Harmony in Montgomery's care, despite a lengthy rap sheet that included a guilty plea five years earlier to shooting a man in the head during a drug deal. 'As a family we are a true American tragedy,' continued Flanagan. 'My sister was trying to put the pieces of her shattered existence, not for herself but to show and raise her kids better than we were raised. 'You want answers, ask the DCF and those folks because they seem to know what's good for people'. Montgomery was last seen in 2019, but law enforcement were not made aware of her disappearance until 2021 The search began winding down in the early afternoon, however it remains unclear if any new evidence was found in the marshland. In January, the girl's 33-year-old father was indicted on murder charges over her disappearance. He is also facing charges of abuse of a corpse, falsifying evidence, and witness tampering. The career criminal, who has a rap sheet dating back to 2007, has been accused of killing Harmony by repeatedly striking her in the head with a closed fist in early-December 2019. Her body has never been found since her disappearance three years ago, and she was last seen alive by her mother Crystal Sorey in 2019. However, police only began investigating the alleged murder in September 2021 after Harmony was eventually reported missing. And in August 2022, authorities concluded that she was murdered in December 2019, after new 'biological' evidence came to light in the tragic case. According to the Boston Globe, Adam Montgomery has deep family ties to Revere, where the investigation has been refocused to. The area is approximately 50 miles from the home he lived in with Harmony, and was reportedly the site of his childhood family home. Harmony, then five, was allegedly killed by her father as authorities say he repeatedly struck her in the head with a closed fist in early-December 2019 Massachusetts State Police and Manchester Police began scouring along Route 107 on Friday morning The renewed search for evidence was announced by New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formellas office. The prosecutor, who is leading the investigation into her murder, attempted to temper hopes that the renewed search could mark the end of the heartbreaking case, maintaining 'caution against any speculation related to the potential results of this search.' Formella has previously stated the investigation's focus had moved from finding her body to finding the person responsible for killing her. Harmony was born in Massachusetts in 2014. Her parents were unmarried, were no longer together and had a history of substance use, according to a report this year by the Massachusetts Office of the Child Advocate. Adam Montgomery was in prison when she was born. She was blind in one eye and had behavioral needs, and went into the custody of child protective services in Massachusetts when she was 2 months old. She was moved between the homes of her mother and her foster parents multiple times, the report said, causing 'significant trauma and harm.' Adam Montgomery was awarded custody of Harmony in February 2019. Harmony's case led to vigils and the creation of social media sites. Police offered cash rewards for information and dedicated a 24-hour tip line to the case. 'I ask that in memory of Harmony that we all make every effort to do something nice for a child today,' Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg said at the news conference. He added, 'Just take a few moments out of your day to say something nice to a child, give him or her a hug, some special words of encouragement.' In June of last year, investigators were seen removing evidence, including a refrigerator, from the Manchester, New Hampshire, apartment, where Harmony had lived with her father and stepmom before her disappearance The five-year-old was allegedly last seen alive by her mother Crystal Sorey, pictured, in 2019. Sorey has denied having Harmony in her care, telling police she had not seen her daughter in two years and had been trying to track her down Harmony's stepmother Kayla (pictured) was also arrested in January 2022 after she allegedly lied about the disappearance of Harmony Harmony's stepmother Kayla Montgomery was also arrested in January 2022 after she allegedly lied to investigators about the child's disappearance. Alongside telling the state Department of Health and Human Services that Harmony was in her care, she also faces charges of wire fraud for reportedly collecting $1,500 worth of food stamps in the child's name for a year following her disappearance. According to court records, Kayla agreed to cooperate with New Hampshire law enforcement last year. She is currently incarcerated and is not set for release until 2029. In February 2019, a Massachusetts judge had placed the little girl in Montgomery's care, despite pleading guilty five years earlier to shooting a man in the head during a drug deal. The father did not have to go through a suitability assessment to gain access to his daughter as the judge overruled it, despite state's lawyer objecting it. In the years following that decision, relatives accused Montgomery of abusing Harmony, causing case workers to visit the Manchester apartment multiple times in 2019, 2020, and 2021 - several coming after the girl was last seen. Montgomery's uncle, Kevin, recounted incidents including spanking, forcing the then five-year-old to scrub the toilet with her toothbrush, and leaving her standing in the corner for hours, investigators say. In the months before she was last seen alive, there were multiple reports from people in her life to child services that she had bruises and red marks on her face. In June of last year, investigators were seen removing evidence, including a refrigerator, from the Manchester, New Hampshire, apartment, where Harmony had lived with her father and stepmom before her disappearance. A recovering alcoholic has sued the maker of a 'wellness tonic' alleging that the beverage left him addicted due to its high concentration of the controversial supplement kratom. Romulo Torres filed the federal class-action lawsuit against Botanic Tonics in California, saying he became hooked on the company's Feel Free kava drinks, drinking up to 10 per day. The suit alleges Torres was hospitalized twice last year, once with symptoms of alcohol poisoning, despite a blood-alcohol level of zero, and later with 'psychosis and delirium,' after consuming the Feel Free tonics. In a statement to DailyMail.com on Friday, Botanic Tonics spokeswoman Ashlie Keener Kuehn said: 'We believe the suit is without merit and we will vigorously defend our product in court.' Extracted from the leaves of a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia, kratom is used to make capsules, powders and liquids and is marketed as an aid for pain, anxiety and drug dependence. It is legal and unregulated in many states. But the FDA has previously warned that 'kratom, which affects the same opioid brain receptors as morphine, appears to have properties that expose users to the risks of addiction, abuse, and dependence.' A lawsuit alleges Botanic Tonics' Feel Free tonics contain addictive levels of kratom. Botanic Tonics founder Jerry Ross is seen above Marketing materials for Feel Free describe it as 'a feel good wellness tonic' Botanic Tonics is based in Santa Monica, and was incorporated in March 2020 by founder Jerry Ross, according to corporate filings. 'Botanic Tonics is dedicated to offering a feel-good wellness tonic that provides a synthetic-free boost of energy, focus, and mood,' said Kuehn. 'Our product features ancient plants from the South Pacific and Southeast Asia that have been used socially and in wellness for centuries.' Marketing materials for Feel Free describe it as 'a feel good wellness tonic, a healthy productivity enhancer and alcohol alternative featuring kava and other ancient plants from the South Pacific and Southeast Asia.' Kava is derived from a Pacific Island plant and is traditionally consumed in teas and tinctures for relaxation. Feel Free's product label says it contains 2600mg of a 'proprietary blend' of kava root extract and kratom leaf, but does not disclose the exact proportions or amounts of each substance. In the suit, Torres alleges that kratom is actually the primary ingredient in the drink, but does not offer further details. 'Our client was driven to take action because of the physiological addiction and side effects so severe they sent him to the hospital,' Torres' attorney, Shounak Dharap, told DailyMail.com. 'Had he been warned in Botanic Tonics advertising that he could suffer these effects, he would never had purchased the product,' he added. The suit alleges that Botanic Tonic insidiously markets the kratom-filled drink to recovering alcoholics as a 'a safe, sober, and healthy alternative to alcohol' without revealing the drink's risks. Dharap said Torres had filed the suit as a class action 'because he believes that hundreds of people have had similar experiences of purchasing this product under false pretenses, only to suffer from the very addiction they sought to avoid.' Indeed, a Reddit forum named r/Quittingfeelfree has 185 members, who share stories about their struggles to stop drinking the Feel Free tonic and encourage each other to stop using it. 'I managed to get a few hours of sleep last night,' one person posted on Friday, celebrating seven days free of the beverage. 'Insomnia is still pretty rough. My emotional state seems to go up and down throughout the day.' 'Botanic Tonics is dedicated to offering a feel-good wellness tonic that provides a synthetic-free boost of energy, focus, and mood,' said a spokeswoman Feel Free's product label says it contains 2600mg of a 'proprietary blend' of kava root extract and kratom leaf, but does not disclose the exact proportions Company spokeswoman Kuehn told DailyMail.com: 'Botanic Tonics products are safe and manufactured, marketed, and distributed to the highest industry standards including product safety testing from certified third-party laboratories and adherence to the FDAs good manufacturing requirements.' In his suit, Torres says that he struggled with alcoholism for several years before getting sober in 2014. The complaint says that he first saw ads on social media for Feel Free in 2020, and purchased the drink for the first time in December 2021 at a 7-Eleven convenience store. 7-Eleven is also named as a defendant in the suit, and did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday afternoon. It is not the first lawsuit to raise disturbing allegations about the addictive and harmful qualities of kratom. In October, Georgia parents Dana and John Pope filed a wrongful death lawsuit after their their 23-year-old son, Ethan, was found dead on the kitchen floor in his apartment. A Georgia Bureau of Investigation autopsy found that Ethan Pope died from mitragynine intoxication and had no alcohol or illegal drugs in his system. The Pope lawsuit named about a dozen people, companies and organizations connected to the manufacturing, marketing and sale of kratom. Dana and John Pope pose with a photo of their son Ethan, following a news conference announcing their wrongful death suit in October Peter McPherson, a security guard and father who died after mixing the supplement Kratom with orange juice, is pictured In December 2022, another lawsuit in Georgia implicated kratom in the death of 43-year-old father Peter McPherson. McPherson, a security guard, sat down to drink his orange juice with the supplements shortly before he began shaking and collapsed in front of his family members. His wife and son preformed CPT until emergency services arrived, who took him to a hospital in Chatsworth, where he was pronounced dead. The Gordon County Medical Examiner said McPherson died from 'acute mitragynine (kratom) toxicity,' according to the wrongful death lawsuit the family filed. In 2021, kratom was made illegal in six states - Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin. In some states - California, Colorado, Florida and Mississippi - kratom is legal but banned or controlled in some individual cities, towns and counties. Kratom legislation is still pending in various states. Jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has been charged with espionage in Russia and has entered his official denial. Russian state news agency Tass said a law enforcement source informed the news agency that Russia's Federal Security Service officially charged the American journalist with espionage. The outlet did not specify if the action was taken during a court hearing. In the Russian legal system, the filing of charges means the formal start of a criminal probe. Jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has been charged with espionage in Russia and has entered his official denial Tass quoted its source as saying: 'The FSB investigation charged Gershkovich with espionage in the interests of his country. He categorically denied all accusations and stated that he was engaged in journalistic activities in Russia.' The source declined further comment because the case was considered secret. Russian authorities arrested Gershkovich last week and accused him of trying to obtain classified information about a Russian arms factory. The Wall Street Journal has denied the accusations. Lawyers for the WSJ staffer revealed on Tuesday that the journalist was in 'good health' - after finally being granted a jailhouse visit nearly a week after his arrest. Gershkovich is being held at a notorious prison in Moscow, Lefortovo, which was once host to mass executions during Stalin's Great Purge. More recently, the gulag doubled as an interrogation site - and former inmates have also recounted horror stories of weeklong stints of isolation and overly cramped cells. After a brief visit Tuesday, lawyers for the journalist said that this was not the case, and that Gershkovich was in good spirits. WSJ publisher and its top editor Emma Tucker, relayed the lawyers' message. 'Evan's lawyers were able to meet with him in prison today,' wrote Tucker and Almar Latour, the CEO of the Journal's publisher, Dow Jones. 'They said Evan's health is good, and he is grateful for the outpouring of support from around the world,' the written statement went on to reveal. Apart from the brief update, no further insight was provided as to the staffer's condition, though Tucker told Fox News Monday she had heard reports from a Russian government group that he was 'well' and 'joking' - despite the prison's notorious reputation. The TV spot also saw the editor reiterate the publication's stance that Gershkovich's arrest was both unwarranted and unjustified, with Tucker calling for her employee's immediate release. The update on the 31-year-old's health serves as the first since his arrest last week, and the first since he was seen escorted to an arraignment hearing on Thursday On Tuesday - five days after the journalist was seen being escorted out of Lefortovo's courthouse - Tucker and Latour repeated this demand after receiving the lawyer's update. 'We stand with Evan and continue to call for his immediate release,' the pair wrote in the brief written statement. 'Evan is a distinguished journalist who is accredited by the Russian government to report from Russia. He was doing what journalists do asking questions and providing an eyewitness account in the region to help keep the world well informed. 'His imprisonment is wholly unjustified and an attack on a free press,' they went on to declare. They added: 'We are doing everything in our power to bring Evan home safely and will not rest until he is reunited with his family.' Gershkovich - a Russian speaker whose parents came to the U.S. from the Soviet Union - was arrested last week in Yekaterinburg while reporting on a notorious mercenary group run by a Russian oligarch with close ties to Vladimir Putin He has worked as a correspondent for the Journal's Russia desk for a little over a year - around the time of the Ukraine invasion - and previously worked as a reporter in Russia for the Moscow Times, starting in 2017 He then moved on to Agence France-Presse in 2020, before starting at the Journal last year. Prior to that, he held a position as news assistant at the New York Times. More recently, he wrote about the impact of Western sanctions on Russia's economy - leading many to posit that his arrest may be the result of a burgeoning schism between the Kremlin and Washington. During his initial arraignment Thursday, Gershkovich pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against him - and it was subsequently ruled he would be held in pre-trial custody until May 29, Russian media reported at the time. After being kept in the dark about the jailed correspondent's condition over the weekend, Tucker took to TV to demand an update from Russian authorities - while also conceding that she 'reassured by reports' he is not being mistreated. 'We've heard reports that a Russian government group say they've been into the prison and seen him. We're cautiously reassured by their reports,' she said. 'But we cant verify these reports. what we really want is to have our own eyes on Evan so we can report back to his family that he's OK and he's not being mistreated,' she added. 'We're still, you know, obviously very worried for him.' Gershkovich in Russia. Gershkovich was put in Moscow's Lefortovo prison, which dates from the czarist era and has been a terrifying symbol of repression since Soviet times In the meantime, Gershkovich is being held at a notorious prison in Moscow, Lefortovo, which was once host to mass executions during Stalin's Great Purge The notorious prison was used by the NKVD secret police for torture, violent interrogations and executions to solidify Joseph Stalin's control over civilians through fear Lefortovo Prison was used for mass executions during Joseph Stalin's Great Purge between 1936 and 1938 A journalist for the Financial Times said on Monday that Gershkovich had been issued prison garb and was able to obtain a copy of what she said was a favorite book, Life and Fate by Vasily Grossman. Tucker said she was in close contact with his parents, who, as previously mentioned, fled the Soviet Union. 'His parents are here, they came in the 70s,' she said. 'They know Russia and are under no delusion as to how long this process can take,' she said. She said that over the weekend she had gone to visit the family in person. 'They live in Philadelphia, they're obviously very, very worried about Evan. The thing they're finding hardest of all is not being able to get a message to him, not being able to hear any messages from him,' she added. Lefortovo Prison has a long and violent history. It currently houses former US marine veteran Paul Whelan who was handed a 16-year jail sentence in 2020 after also being accused of spying. It was built in 1881 and is the most secure prison in Russia, housing those accused of terrorism, high-profile ex-officials and 'spies'. The cells in Lefortovo reportedly only have cold water and inmates can only shower once a week. The section of the prison where foreign inmates are held is freezing and the prisoners are not equipped to deal with the cold. It was used for mass executions during Soviet Union leader Joseph Stalin's Great purge between 1936 and 1938 and by the NKVD secret police for torture, violent interrogations and executions to solidify Stalin's control over civilians through fear. Zoya Svetova, who observes prison conditions with the Public Monitoring Commission of Moscow, a non-government organization, said officials want to psychologically break foreign prisoners. 'This period is some sort of humiliating time meant to 'cook' them,' she previously told the Daily Beast. 'People feel naked, left without any private belongings.' Tucker also confirmed she had been in touch with the administration, which was seeking to label him as 'wrongfully detained'. 'When that happens you get an official recognition that the charges against him are bogus and then I think the government machine will go up a notch, they've been very supportive,' she said. 'This is a reporter who had a visa. He was accredited by the Russian government - the Russian foreign ministry had accredited him. Apart from the brief update, no further insight was provided as to the stagger's condition, though Journal editor EMMA Tucker told Fox News Monday she heard reports from a Russian government group that he was 'well' and 'joking'. She is demanding his immediate release 'He had the official paperwork, he was out there doing his job, he was on a typical reporting mission and he was straightforwardly grabbed from the street. And that is simply unacceptable,' she said. 'It's an assault on the free press and it's something that we should all be very concerned about.' The person Gershkovich had been investigating, 61-year-old Yevgeny Prigozhin, is a Russian oligarch with close ties to president Putin, and has previously owned up to interfering in US elections Called 'Putin's chef,' officially, Prigozhin's Concord catering company is a favorite of the Kremlin and even Putin himself. However, unofficially, the caterer also oversees a group of cutthroat mercenaries that do Moscow's dirty work, known as the Wagner group. Prigozhin, whose estimated illegal net worth is at least $1billion, has been sought by the US government since September as a fugitive for his supposed part in the 2016 presidential election. 'We have interfered [in US elections], we are interfering and we will continue to interfere,' Prigozhin wrote in response to a request for comment from a Russian news site last year. 'Carefully, accurately, surgically and in our own way,' the cook continued, as we know how to do.' The remark was posted on the eve of the US midterm elections - an apparent act of defiance after the Biden Administration put him on the FBI's most wanted list. Prigozhin has long been charged by officials with spearheading of a misinformation campaign during the 2016 US presidential election - allegations he seemingly flaunted in a series of cryptic, and arguably violent comments. 'During our pinpoint operations, we will remove both kidneys and the liver at once,' wrote Prigozhin, who founded Concord catering in 1990. He did not elaborate on the cryptic post. Prigozhin, who is referred to as 'Putin's chef' because his catering company almost exclusively operates Kremlin contracts, has also been formally accused of sponsoring Russia-based 'troll farms' that seek to influence US politics. As of Tuesday, he remains a fugitive. Lawyers for The Wall Street Journal reporter have appealed his arrest on espionage charges, a court in Moscow announced on Monday. Gershkovich's arrest was the first time a US correspondent has been detained on spying accusations in Russia since the Cold War. The Wall Street Journal has said it 'vehemently denies' the charges and demanded his release. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has also demanded Gershkovich's 'immediate release'. The prison where the reporter is being held was also an infamous KGB prison and interrogation site for political prisoners for decades The person Gershkovich had been investigating, 61-year-old Yevgeny Prigozhin, is a Russian oligarch with close ties to president Putin, and has previously owned up to interfering in US elections 'His arrest is of great concern. It is important to respect freedom of the press, the rights of journalists and the right to ask questions and to do their job,' he said on Monday. Stoltenberg said he expected the issue of the reporter's detention to be taken up by NATO foreign ministers at their meeting on Tuesday. At a hearing on Thursday, Moscow's Lefortovsky District court quickly ruled that Gershkovich would be kept behind bars for two months pending the investigation. On Monday, the court reported it has received an appeal against Gershkovich's arrest filed by his defense. No date for the appeals hearing has been set yet. The Tennessee Democrat expelled from the House of Representatives over a bullhorn gun protest is set to be reinstated. Justin Jones was booted from the legislature last week after leading a protest from the House floor where he used a loudhailer to lead chants from anti-gun activists in the public gallery. As Jones represented Nashville, the city's Metropolitan Council is responsible for selecting a lawmaker to take his seat. Twenty-three members of the 40-seat chamber confirmed today that they will hold an emergency meeting Monday where they plan to vote him back to the House. Republican leadership said they would work with Jones if he is returned to the body, just as any other member. But warned that they must observe 'decorum'. Legislative leaders cannot stop an ousted member from running for office again, and they cannot expel them for the same offense if they are reelected. Tennessee Democrat Justin Jones, who was the first of two to be expelled from the House of Representatives has vowed to keep fighting gun laws and promised to be back on the steps of Capitol along with others demanding change Justin Jones (left), a Democrat representing Nashville, and Justin Pearson (right), who represents Memphis, were both expelled from their seats on Thursday - a week after the two 27-year-olds joined Rep. Gloria Johnson in a protest over gun laws on the House floor Knoxville Rep. Gloria Johnson (center back) commented that she believed she retained her seat because it came down to the fact that she is a '60-year-old white woman and they are two young black men' Jones, 27, earlier said he would be back at the Capitol on Monday to continue his protesting for gun reform - action which was sparked last week after trans shooter Audrey Hale killed three children and three adults at a Christian school in Nashville. 'I'll be back at the Capitol on Monday with those protesting,' Jones said. He was the first to be voted out followed by Justin Pearson, also 27, who represented Memphis, while Rep. Gloria Johnson, who represents Knoxville, retained her seat by one vote. Johnson commented that she believed it came down to the fact that she is a '60-year-old white woman and they are two young black men.' It comes amid online posts from supporters who have threatened calls for arson at the House of Rep. several saying: 'Burn it down.' Speaking to CNN's Don Lemon, Jones said that he hadn't slept since the vote but won't let it compromise his dissidence. 'What they're trying to do is to bring us back to days that we don't want to go to,' he said. 'If I didn't know this happened to me I would think this was 1963 instead of 2023. 'We'll continue to lift up the issue and we'll continue to speak truth to power and I'll be back at the Capitol on Monday with those protesting - demanding action from my former colleagues.' Tennessee Republicans accused the protestors and the Democratic House members of disruption when they interrupted House proceedings March 30 with a bullhorn. The resolution to expel the lawmakers said that they brought: 'disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives through their individual and collective actions.' The trio had joined hundreds of protestors who marched to the State Capitol last week calling for stricter gun laws in the wake of the grisly massacre at the Covenant School in Nashville at the hands of twisted gunman Hale, 28. Johnson, who also spoke to the broadcaster said she believes she was spared because the issue came down to race. 'I'm a 60-year-old white woman and they are two young black men listening to the questions and the way they were talked to,' she said. 'I was talked down to as a woman mansplained to but it was completely different from the questioning that they got.' Supporters lashed out at the House of Rep. with many threatening online to 'burn it down.' Among those citing violence following the historic vote was University of North Carolina at Charlotte associate professor Anita Blanchard. Gloria Johnson, 60, representing Knoxville, is seen standing with Johnson and Pearson. She was spared expulsion, while the two 27-year-old black men were kicked out Until Thursday, only two people had been expelled from the Tennessee state legislature since the Civil War. U.S. president Joe Biden called the vote 'shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent'. He tweeted: 'Three kids and three officials gunned down in yet another mass shooting. And what are GOP officials focused on? Punishing lawmakers who joined thousands of peaceful protesters calling for action. 'It's shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent.' Jones said after the vote that it showed Tennessee was 'on a path toward authoritarianism,' and his lawyers were analyzing whether the expulsion vote was legal. 'This should sound the alarm across the nation, that we are entering some very dangerous territory,' he said. He said that the three 'are in this together', and he was heading to the public gallery to support the other two as he is no longer allowed to enter the House floor. Jones said: 'We are multiracial, intergenerational - we represent Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville. We stand united. Because this is not the end. 'But if we don't act, we lose our democracy. Today was a signal that we have lost democracy in Tennessee and we are on a path toward authoritarianism, to be quite honest.' He said he was not sure if he would run for office again, but would 'stand with the people', and added: 'We were saying, let's pass an assault weapons ban. And they assaulted democracy.' He said expelling him from the House was 'unconstitutional', and said he is consulting his legal advisers for the next steps. Tennessee State Troopers blocked the stairwell leading to the legislative chambers on Thursday Tennessee State Representative Justin Pearson, Gloria Johnson and Justin Jones link arms as they walk in the State House Protesters gathered calling for the ban of 'assault weapons' as the House of Reps. prepared to vote The House was shown video of the March 30 demonstration, with the three Democrats joined by protestors. They used a bullhorn to lead supporters in the public gallery in chants for gun reform, and as a result were accused of 'disorderly behavior' in the Tennessee House of Representatives. The three Democrats raised their fists in the air as video of the disruption played, during the vote to expel them. Cheers and applause were also heard as the video played. All three progressive representatives were seen speaking with one another as the short clip ended. Heavy security was present as the vote was held. Tennessee Republicans accused the protestors and the Democratic House members of disruption when they interrupted House proceedings March 30. The resolution to expel the lawmakers says that they brought: 'disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives through their individual and collective actions.' The trio had joined hundreds of protestors who marched to the State Capitol last week calling for stricter gun laws. Six people, including three nine-year-old children, were killed when Nashville shooter Audrey Hale opened fire at The Covenant School on March 27. Tennessee State Troopers stand guard at the outside the House chamber Protestors and Democrats accused of 'disorderly behavior' in the Tennessee House of Representatives salute with their fists in the air as video of 'disruption' is played during vote to expel the three members Footage from the House floor showed protestors, Democratic members - Reps. Justin Jones, and Justin Pearson - all saluting in support of their behavior when they used a bullhorn to lead supporters in the public gallery in chants for gun reform last week Heavy security was present at the House of Representatives in Tennessee as they prepare to vote on a resolution filed by Republican leadership to expel three Democratic leaders for 'disorderly behavior' Three adults - Cynthia Peak, 61, Katherine Koonce, 60, and Michael Hill, 61 - were killed, along with three nine-year-old students: Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney. Hundreds of people invaded the Capitol on March 30, demanding that the Republican-led Statehouse pass gun control measures. House leadership later described it as an 'insurrection,' aping language used around the attack on the U.S. Capitol by Donald Trump's supporters in January 2021. Jones and Johnson were stripped of their committee assignments in the aftermath by Republican leadership. Pearson, however, did not serve on a committee. Expulsion votes are rare and in Tennessee. The House of Representatives has only voted to expel a member twice since the Civil War. One vote was to expel a sitting lawmaker who was convicted of soliciting a bribe, and another for a majority whip who was facing allegations of sexual misconduct. Two-thirds of the House needed to vote in favor of the expulsion in order for it to pass. Rep. Justin Jones speaks at the statehouse, as Republicans who control the Tennessee House of Representatives prepare to vote on whether to expel him and two others Rep. Justin Pearson gestures while entering the statehouse on Thursday A demonstrator holds a placard while protesters gather ahead of the Republican vote to expel three Democratic members On Monday, three Republicans filed resolutions that the three Democrats be expelled and they successfully asked for an expedited process with a vote Thursday. The resolutions claim the three 'did knowingly and intentionally bring disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives,' according to the Tennesseean newspaper. The result was fresh chaos on Monday when the first resolution, targeting Pearson, was introduced. Protesters shouted from the galleries and Pearson raised his fist in salute, while other Democrats raised their hands to object. Members of the public chanted: 'Fascists! Fascists!' and wagged their fingers and fists at members. Instead of taking a vote, the speaker called for state troopers to clear the House galleries. On Monday, Reps. Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones, and Justin Pearson used a bullhorn to lead supporters in the public gallery in chants for gun reform as they face expulsion Johnson with protesters inside the state Capitol building last week demanding gun reform Protestors last week as they gathered at the Tennessee State Capitol Building to demand action from lawmakers on gun control after The Covenant School shooting Johnson later said she would consider a lawsuit if expelled, saying their protest was constitutionally protected. 'We're going to push back, and we're going to fight this because it's unprecedented and utterly ridiculous,' she told the Tennessean. She accused Republicans of double standards. 'We had a child molester on the floor for years, they helped him get reelected and did nothing to expel him,' she added. 'We've had members pee in each other's chairs and nothing happened. But talk on the floor without permission, and you'll get expelled.' House Democrats said they stood behind the three. Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, all around the country we see Democrats standing up against the GOPs new reign of authoritarianism. And theyre fierce. I love it. pic.twitter.com/oRdOWcOhjd Michelle (@LivingBlueTX) April 4, 2023 Lawmakers leaving on Monday evening after protests in the chamber Tonight as Tennessee House Republicans push forward to schedule vote on our expulsion, Speaker Sexton orders the gallery cleared as crowd chants fascists. Media forced out at as well. Then, Rep. Lafferty (R-Knox) pushes me and grabs my phone. This is a sad day for Tennessee. pic.twitter.com/Lh08Ma5kdS Rep. Justin Jones (@brotherjones_) April 4, 2023 'The Democratic Caucus has unanimously, formally voted to oppose the baseless resolutions for expulsion and will zealously oppose them should they come up for a vote on the House floor,' they said in a statement. The Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators also protested the resolutions. 'This political retribution is unconstitutional and, in this moment, morally bankrupt,' it said. 'The people who elected us are calling for meaningful action to end gun violence and the people have a right to be heard through their duly elected representatives.' Democrats and Republicans have strongly disagreed about how to respond to the Nashville massacre. Biden reiterated his call for a ban on assault weapons. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, a Republican, proposed $155m to place an armed security guard at every public school in Tennessee and to boost security presence at both public and private schools. A corrupt solicitor who swindled millions of pounds to fund his jet-set lifestyle has been jailed for four years and eight months. Christopher Bilmes, 45, who was the sole partner and founder of Bilmes Law LLP, used client cash to fly himself around the world and and bankroll his other failing business, Hove Crown Court heard. Bilmes was given a 56-month jail term for one offence and a year for the six other offences of fraud he committed between November 2014 and October 2017 when he appropriated 1,767,322 from the client account of his law firm. The Solicitors Regulation Authority Compensation Fund also received claims from 52 of Bilmes's clients with a total value of 3.9million. Sentencing Bilmes, Recorder David Brock said: 'In my opinion the offending is so serious an immediate term of imprisonment is appropriate.' Christopher Bilmes (pictured, left), 45, who was the sole partner and founder of Bilmes Law LLP, used client money to fly himself around the world and and bankroll his other failing business, Hove Crown Court heard Bilmes was given a 56-month jail term for one offence and a year for the six other offences of fraud he committed between November 2014 and October 2017 when he appropriated 1,767,322 from the client account of his law firm Initially based in Fleet Street, London, Bilmes moved his firm to a converted barn in Groombridge, Kent, without telling his clients. An unpaid mortgage following a house sale led two of the firm's employees to report Bilmes to the SRA when only around 150,000 of the 380,000 needed to pay the bank was in the client account - despite the house sale completing weeks earlier. The fraud then came to light in October 2017 when the firm stopped trading and the SRA intervened. When staff found there were huge gaps in paperwork for the firm, Bilmes told them: 'It's all Greek to me.' Victim Hanneke Koekkoek was left owing 80,000 after Bilmes said he could arrange a loan of 45,000 to cover his legal fees when she split from her partner in 2014. Reading from Hanneke Koekkoek's witness statement, prosecutor Daniel O'Donoghue said: 'You should feel nothing but shame for what you have done. 'You sent me to the brink. This is what your greed did. I've had nearly a decade of despair, grief and anxiety. 'I've had to fight huge battles created by your dishonesty. I took it for granted I could put my trust in you. You were just a thief masquerading as someone who cared for your clients.' A confiscation hearing will be held later this year. Chicago's incoming liberal mayor has already raised eyebrows by blaming the city's poverty problems and surging crime rates on businesses that don't pay tax. Brandon Johnson, a former union organizer who was elected on Tuesday, said the city doesn't have money to solve its problem because '70 percent of large corporations in the state of Illinois don't pay a corporate tax'. 'It's that type of restraint on our budget that has caused the type if disinvestment that has led to poverty, of course that has led to violence,' said Johnson, who didn't give the source for his claim. The 47-year-old Cook County commissioner beat candidate Paul Vallas, 69, who had the backing of Chicago's police union, by around 13,000 votes. Johnson will replace ousted mayor Lori Lightfoot, who fell out of favor after crime surged under her. Top of Johnson's agenda will be reversing the city's spiraling crime rate and dealing with out-of-control homelessness that's transformed part of O'Hare International Airport into a grubby makeshift shelter. Brandon Johnson, a former union organizer who was elected on Tuesday, said Chicago doesn't have money to solve its problem because '70 percent of large corporations in the state of Illinois don't pay a corporate tax' Johnson will replace outgoing mayor Lori Lightfoot, who fell out of favor after crime surged by 47% under her watch Part of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport has been turned into a homeless camp During the campaign, Johnson called for $80 million to be raised by taxing the wealthy. He has also called for a freeze in property taxes. Speaking on Thursday, he told CBS: 'I'm not going to raise property taxes, that's been the lazy form of governance for a long time in the city of Chicago and quite frankly around the country.' Following his election, Johnson recalled growing up in a poor family, teaching at a school in Cabrini Green, a notorious former public housing complex, and shielding his kids from gunfire in their west side neighborhood. He referenced Civil Rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and the Rev. Jesse Jackson and called his victory a continuation of their legacies. He also noted that he was speaking on the anniversary of King's assassination. Chicago saw violent crime increase during the COVID-19 pandemic, hitting a 25-year high of 797 homicides in 2021, though the number decreased last year. Rises in robbery and sexual assault contributed to a 47 percent rise in overall crime in the year to March 12 2023. Johnson says he will promote 200 new detectives from the existing pool of police officers. He also wants to strengthen police accountability. His other priorities include a struggling public school system, the city's fiscal woes and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic that closed many businesses and offices. Pictures emerged in February of homeless encampments that have sprung up inside O'Hare International Airport, leading some travelers to express concerns for their safety. Ken Griffin, the wealthiest person in Illinois, announced in 2022 that he is moving his family and his hedge fund's headquarters down to Miami In 2021, Chicago became the first state in America to pay reparations to black residents after a scheme was launched in the suburb of Evanston for people who suffered lasting damage from decades of discriminatory practices Lori Lightfoot was ousted as mayor of the Windy City following a dramatic rise in crime on her watch One grim photo showed a man collapsed inside an entrance vestibule, and another showed a man slumped over with no shoes on. In another, a group of half a dozen people had taken over an indoor area next to a set of escalators. The issues in Chicago have led some high-profile residents to flee the city and the state. Illinois' former richest man, Ken Griffin, left last year and moved his billion dollar firms Citadel and Citadel Securities with him to Florida. The father-of-three, who is worth around $30 billion, also tore into the Chicago schools' system for pushing 'woke ideology' on his children. In 2021, Chicago became the first city in America to launch a reparations program for black residents whose families suffered damage from discriminatory policies. The suburb of Evanston established its reparations program in 2019, committing $10million over a decade using funding from the city's three percent tax on recreational marijuana sales. A French mayor has been charged over allegedly trying to bribe a political rival with a video of him being massaged by a male escort in a Paris hotel. Gael Perdriau, a 50-year-old conservative who runs Saint-Etienne, is suspected of using the secret recording to manipulate his centrist rival and one-time deputy, Gilles Artigues, over a period of eight years. He is accused of using 50,000 euros (43,000) of public funds to pay for the footage, which was filmed in 2015. After nearly two days in police custody, Perdriau - who protests his innocence - was charged on Thursday evening, a statement from the local prosecutor's office said. 'A decisive stage has passed which demonstrates that Gilles Artigues has been a victim of organised bribery, which is what he said from the beginning,' Artigues' lawyer Andre Buffard told AFP. 'We can't pre-judge who ordered it, but there are serious and corroborated indications pointing to the mayor of Saint-Etienne,' he added. Gael Perdriau, Mayor Les Republicains of Saint-Etienne, was charged with bribery on Thursday The scandal in the former mining town, which is home to around 400,000 people, erupted in August last year when a whistle-blower told investigative news organisation Mediapart about the existence of the video. Mr Rossary-Lenglet, former partner of Deputy Mayor Semy Kefi-Jerome, claimed the video was ordered by Perdriau and his chief of staff, Pierre Gauttieri. Perdriau admits having knowledge about the video. The footage of Artigues, a married father of four and practising Catholic known for his conservative views, was shot in 2015, allegedly on a hidden GoPro camera which belonged to the council. Artigues claims that he was drugged. He says that Kefi-Jerome offered him a drink after he was invited to a hotel room. He said that he became aware of the tape 18 months after it was filmed. He filed a complaint for 'aggravated blackmail' in late August 2022. In an apparent recording of a conversation in the mayor's office in 2017 published by Mediapart, Perdriau can be heard threatening Artigues over the video while his chief of staff Pierre Gauttieri says 'your children will never recover'. The Mediapart report claims that in one meeting, Gauttieri warns Artigues: 'I've got a video showing your bum in the air with a bloke. Doesn't that worry you?' Gauttieri and Kefi-Jerome were also charged on Thursday. Gilles Artigues (left) was reportedly the victim of a bribery plot by Perdriau and allies Whistle-blower Gilles Rossary-Lenglet, who admitted to taking part in the plot to Mediapart, was charged with complicity in bribery, which was condemned by his lawyer. Perdriau has been expelled from the right-wing Republicans party to which he belonged, but has refused to step down as mayor and continues to protest his innocence. 'I am not the instigator, the organiser or a user of this video,' he told AFP in December. 'I have never had or seen this document.' Perdriau has been mayor of the town since 2014 and was re-elected in 2020. The party said in a statement: 'While it is up to justice to decide on guilt and Mr Perdriau's involvement, the Republicans can only condemn the abominable methods used by the mayor of Saint Etienne.' Ron DeSantis has joined Donald Trump's call to defund the Justice Department and FBI over its 'weaponization' of the legal system by its investigations of the former president. The Florida governor also attacked Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who indicted Trump earlier this week, saying 'if we had somebody in Tampa that was trying to pursue that agenda, I'd yanked him from his position.' DeSantis' tough talk comes as polls show that, even in the wake of his indictment, Trump leads him in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. DeSantis has not officially announced he's running but is widely expected to announce a bid. Previously, DeSantis has hammered the legal system, including calling on Congress to defund the two powerful federal agencies, hinting that, if he were president, he wouldn't be afraid to slash their budgets. Ron DeSantis has joined Donald Trump's call to defund the Justice Department and FBI over its 'weaponization' of the legal system Ron DeSantis has been echoing Donald Trump (above) in criticizing the Justice Department and the FBI Speaking at Hillsdale College in Michigan on Thursday, DeSantis said of the Justice Department and FBI: 'If you never hold them accountable through the legislative process, either through law or through budget, of course, power is going to accumulate there.' He brushed back against arguments made by President Joe Biden and other leaders that the agencies needed to maintain their 'independence.' 'You've also had kind of a trope that a lot of Republican presidents have accepted over the years that DOJ and FBI are, quote, independent of the White House. And first of all, these people have guns, they can put you in jail, saying they're independent means they're unaccountable,' he said. 'No, they are executive branch agencies that report to the elected President of the United States,' he said, adding that a president should use their executive power 'to hold those agencies accountable.' 'You've had an executive branch that's not wanted to do anything to reel them in by holding them accountable and getting involved in what they're doing. And then I think you've had a Congress, which is just totally given up on using the purse strings and it's almost like these agencies just have a right to operate infinitum. When you send that signal over many decades, it's just human nature. They are going to abuse their power. I mean, the founders would have predicted that in a New York minute,' he concluded. His argument aligns with ones made by Trump, who has ramped up his calls post-indictment, where he faces felony charges tied to hush money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. DeSantis originally took a few digs at Trump - saying he didn't know what went into paying hush money to porn stars - but as polls showed Trump's popularity, the Florida governor switched tactics, saying he would block New York if it attempted to extradite Trump (the state did not as the former president surrendered voluntarily). Trump faces over 30 charges related to a $30,000 payoff to a doorman trying to sell information about a child that Trump allegedly fathered out of wedlock, $150,000 to former Playboy model Karen McDougal, and a $130,000 payment to Daniels. All together, the charges - falsifying business records in the first degree - carry a maximum sentence of more than 100 years in prison under New York law, but even if convicted on all charges, it's unlikely Trump would be sentenced to that much time. Each charge is a low-level felony that carries a maximum of four years in prison for each count. Any conviction would not keep Trump from running for president. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bratt (above) also has been targeted by Trump and DeSantis Former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis want to defund the Department of Justice and FBI for 'weaponizing law enforcement' The FBI and Department of Justice are both in the crosshairs of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump, claiming the Democrats have 'weaponized law enforcement' Trump, on the morning after his indictment, called on Republicans in Congress to defund the DOJ and the FBI. The federal government is not involved in the New York case, but the Justice Department is pursuing two separate cases against the former president: one on the classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago and another on his attempts to reverse the 2020 election results. 'REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS SHOULD DEFUND THE DOJ AND FBI UNTIL THEY COME TO THEIR SENSES. THE DEMOCRATS HAVE TOTALLY WEAPONIZED LAW ENFORCEMENT IN OUR COUNTRY AND ARE VICIOUSLY USING THIS ABUSE OF POWER TO INTERFERE WITH OUR ALREADY UNDER SIEGE ELECTIONS!,' Trump wrote on his Truth Social media platform. But GOP lawmakers don't have enough votes in Congress to make that happen. Trump also has attacked the Manhattan DA, calling Alvin Bragg a 'criminal.' 'The criminal is the district attorney because he illegally leaked massive amounts of Grand Jury information for which he should be prosecuted, or at a minimum, he should resign,' he said Tuesday night at Mar-a-Lago in a speech where he railed against the charges against him. DeSantis also attacked Bragg on Friday, although he didn't mention him by name. 'You got the guy in Manhattan, but honestly, he's one of maybe a dozen or more across the country that get elected on an ideological agenda, usually with funding from people like George Soros, and they come in and they're trying to manipulate the law or advance a political agenda,' he said. 'If we had somebody in Tampa that was trying to pursue that agenda, I'd yanked him from his position,' he added. Trump also claims Bragg is funded by billionaire George Soros, who many conspiracy theorists claim is using his money to control world events. 'Bragg is a (Soros) Racist in Reverse, who is taking his orders from D.C. I beat them TWICE, doing much better the second time, and despite their DISINFORMATION campaign, they don't want to run against 'TRUMP' or my GREAT RECORD!' Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform last month. Soros, who made his fortune in hedge funds, said he never contributed to Bragg's election campaign. Soros has become a figure of hate for Trump and his allies. A woman in Brazil survived a week adrift on a boat with her husband's body, fighting off vultures and living on raw fish. Maria das Gracas Mota Bernardo, 68, was on her first fishing trip down the Rio Negro with her husband, Jose Nilson de Souza Bernardo, when he suffered a heart attack and died at the start of their excursion on 29 March. When the boat's motor broke, Maria was left to paddle her way to safety for days through a sea of killer caimans - alligator-like creatures that can grow up to 4ft long. Their daughter, Cristiane, told reporters: 'After dinner, [Jose] went to lie down in the hammock, but the rope snapped and he was startled. He got up and hit his knee. 'He sat down again and started fanning himself, telling my mother that he was feeling hot. She said he then stood up, screamed, and fell over. She caught him, lifted his head, and he took his last breath.' Maria das Gracas Mota Bernardo (left) is pictured with her husband Jose Nilson de Souza Bernardo, who died from a heart attack while during a fishing trip in 'They planned this trip for months. He wanted her to take lots of pictures. It was going to be their moment,' Cristiane said of her parents who set out on a fishing trip on 28 March Maria told family she had tied the canoe to the tree and went to seek help in the other boat. She then found the engine would not turn back on. Cristiane said: 'She went to the bow and started paddling. She spent all those days paddling.' She said she feared falling in, surrounded by caimans, but also because she could not swim. On the third day, a man passed by in a rabeta, a canoe with a motor. When Maria called for help, the man 'just kept going', leaving her stranded, paddling for days on end without proper food. Cristiane said her mother spent the first days eating raw fish and flour they had on the boat. She added: 'One day she only drank water. On another day, she only ate flour with water and drank pure lemon juice.' While adrift on the river, Maria banged pots and pans and screamed for help from the top of her lungs. According to Maria's daughter, she 'screamed and screamed and no one answered'. She said Maria decided to move to the other side of the boat and covered her airways with a cloth when her husband's body started to decompose. Cristiane stated: 'She couldn't sleep anymore. All her strength went into bringing his body home, for the family to give him a dignified burial.' The elderly woman had to defend her husband's body from the harsh Amazonian elements, including blistering sunshine, tropical storms, and even predatory animals. Cristiane said: 'My mum said vultures started to perch on top of the vessel. 'She hit them and they screamed. She took the tarp off the top of the awning and put it over the body because bees and mosquitoes were already sitting on his corpse.' After being rescued and receiving medical treatment, Maria is still struggling to come to terms with her ordeal. She was released from the hospital on 5 April. Cristiane said: 'She is shaken and weak. She can't sleep.' Maria was found by the navy in Iranduba, just south of Manaus, 100 miles from where the couple set off a week prior Maria and Jose, also 68, set off on 28 March. They had a fishing boat and a smaller canoe for exploring flooded forests. A search operation was launched when they failed to arrive home. Worried family members alerted the authorities when they discovered the couple's canoe tied to a tree. Rotting fish was found inside and a net was still stretched out in the water. On 4 April, the Brazilian Navy found the couple's vessel adrift in Iranduba, about 100 miles (161 km) from their departure point, a week after they set off. A Navy helicopter rescued Maria from the scene and officials administered first aid and support for the bereaved woman. She was then flown to Manaus for medical checks. The Amazonas State health department said Maria is receiving clinical and psychological care at this time. Meanwhile, the Brazilian Navy confirmed that an investigation is underway. The evening slot was formerly given to Chris Cuomo before he was publicly fired She will present the show next week, fueling speculation of a 'trial run' Kaitlan Collins is set to take on CNN's coveted 9pm primetime anchor slot CNN's Kaitlan Collins is set to take over the network's prized 9pm timeslot left vacant by Chris Cuomo's high-profile sacking. The move is sparking rumors about a potential anchor changeup at the broadcaster following an alleged falling out with embattled presenter Don Lemon. Collins, 31, will leave her usual gig co-hosting CNN's 'This Morning' to take on the primetime slot from Monday to Thursday next week, fueling speculation she is being given a 'trial run' at the coveted role. The changeup comes after a rift between Collins and Lemon has reportedly rocked CNN, which kicked off after the former primetime anchor allegedly berated the ex-White House correspondent for interrupting him on the air. CNN 'it girl' Kaitlan Collins will host the network's coveted 9pm primetime slot next week, fueling speculation she could be handed the role full time The evening news anchor position was previously held by Chris Cuomo before his public sacking Although a source close to Collins denied the move is a 'trial run' to land the big job, according to The New York Post, another insider said 'anything is possible'. 'I think its fair to say Chris Licht and leadership have been impressed,' they added. Licht joined CNN in May 2022, and vowed to rid the outlet of a its left leaning bias and overhaul its anchor line up - with Collins seemingly finding herself in his good graces since the network took a new direction. Another source said Collins is the CNN boss' 'favorite', and despite clashing with veteran broadcaster Lemon, she is seen to have quickly become the broadcaster's 'it girl'. She would be set to take up the mantle left by former star anchor Chris Cuomo, who was pushed out of the network amid a sexual assault allegation, which he denies, and claims he advised his brother Andrew Cuomo when the then-New York governor faced sexual harassment allegations. Collins' primetime run, first reported by Puck, comes after a series of blunders by Lemon while on the network in recent months. On Friday morning's broadcast, the duo suffered an awkward on-air moment while trying to celebrate Collins' birthday. While approaching her with flowers and presents, Lemon gave his co-host a bizarre 'air kiss' that was potentially telling about their fractured dynamic. The changeup comes amid reports that Don Lemon, pictured, berated Collins in December in a behind the scenes clash Attempting to put their behind the scenes dust up behind them, Lemon handed her a gift and telling her it was 'something that you told me that you wanted.' He then wrapped one arm around Collins and grazed her cheek in an awkward embrace - while co-host Popp Harlow crossed the desk and gave Collins a hug - which she returned, unlike with Lemon. The uncomfortable back and forth comes months after Lemon allegedly screamed at Collins after they got off the air because his co-host interrupted him. In December, Lemon's tirade reportedly led Collins to run off the set in tears, while stunned crew members and colleagues watched on. Licht, who pledged to give CNN a makeover since taking over the outlet last year and then announced shocking layoffs, was supposedly stunned at the news and told Lemon to take the following day off to 'cool off.' A source told The Post that Lemon's rant left Collins 'visibly upset'. And soon after their fiery clash, Collins dropped her 'superagent' that she shared with Lemon amid the ongoing CNN drama. The veteran broadcast host has faced several on air blunders in recent times, most notably his February outburst where he branded presidential candidate Nikki Haley 'past her prime'. Don Lemon, 56, came under fire for suggesting that Nikki Haley, 51, was past her prime as a woman After Haley called for mental competency tests for elderly politicians, Lemon said the 2024 hopeful should tread lightly on the topic because 'a woman is in their prime in 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.' Lemon, who at 56 is five years older than Haley, 51, faced severe backlash for the comments which were branded sexist. Weeks before, he also sparked outrage after asking a female co-host who stumbled on her words whether she had 'mommy brain'. Throughout the days immediately after the Queen's death, amid all the grief and nostalgia, there was one spectacle that warmed the hearts of many. Could it be true? Had Harry and William finally reconciled? Rushing to our television sets, we watched as the two princes and their wives emerged from Windsor Castle together to greet the crowds and look at their floral tributes. It had been Prince William's idea, we later learned, to put on a show of unity a gesture that would surely have touched his deeply Christian grandmother. And for a few minutes, it looked as though the warring couples had slipped back in time, before bitterness and harsh words had destroyed their relationship. Sadly, it was all an illusion as sources close to the Royal Family have confirmed to me. Catherine later admitted to a senior royal that, such was the ill feeling between the two couples, the joint walkabout was one of the hardest things she had ever had to do. Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex on the long Walk at Windsor Castle to greet well-wishers The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex visit floral tributes and meet members of the public at Windsor Castle Bear in mind this was before Prince Harry published Spare, the autobiography that not only revealed family secrets but laid bare his resentment of his brother. It was before the cloying Netflix documentary series he did with Meghan, and the succession of TV interviews in which he criticised the royal institution. If Catherine found it almost unbearable before all this to share a walkabout with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, then how one has to wonder do she and William feel about them now? In truth, by the time his grandmother died, Harry had precious few supporters left in the family. Even the Queen, who had always had great affection for him, eventually tired of his outbursts. First, she had wearied of the volatile exchanges between Harry and his brother, which sometimes took place in her presence. Then Harry and Meghan had started publicly criticising both the monarchy and members of the Royal Family. At that point, the Queen was frankly mystified by the couple's behaviour, describing it as 'quite mad'. She came to believe, however, that her grandson was 'so consumed' by his love for his wife that it was 'clouding his judgment'. And she felt let down: not only was Her Majesty disappointed in Harry's decision to abandon his royal duty, but she also saw the departure of the Sussexes as a missed opportunity. Despite that, the Queen sincerely hoped that her grandson would find peace and happiness living the life he had chosen. Harry, for his part, phoned her regularly from California. But it troubled the Queen when he kept trying to air his grievances. In the end, she asked him to speak directly to his father instead. A source said: 'Her Majesty found Prince Harry's calls quite difficult and wearisome. She didn't want to interfere in the father/son relationship and would urge him to speak to his father.' Kate found her Windsor walkabout with Harry and Meghan after the Queen's death 'one of the hardest things she'd ever had to do', a sensational new royal book reveals today Not only was Her Majesty disappointed in Harry's decision to abandon his royal duty, but she also saw the departure of the Sussexes as a missed opportunity. Pictured: Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle on April 28, 2022 That didn't work out either. Prince Charles simply stopped taking Harry's calls after his son swore at him and repeatedly asked for funds. When the Queen asked Charles why he hadn't given in, he told her that he wasn't a bank. News of Harry's relationship with an American actress had broken on October 31, 2016. Meghan Markle didn't seem perturbed: on the same day, she posted a picture on Instagram of two spooning bananas. But her mood seemed quickly to change. Photos of the prince's stunning new girlfriend were suddenly at a premium, and she was inevitably being targeted by the paparazzi. 'Terrified' for her safety, Harry later admitted he feared history would repeat itself and Meghan would suffer the same relentless hounding his mother endured, which he believed had led to her death. On November 8, he released a formal statement in which he called on the Press and online trolls to stop what he called the 'wave of abuse and harassment' directed at his girlfriend, claiming he had been involved in 'nightly legal battles' to stop the media from publishing defamatory stories about Meghan and their relationship. Unfortunately, he had consulted neither Charles nor William before letting loose this incendiary broadside. His father was given only 20 minutes' notice before Harry released a formal statement in which he called on the Press and online trolls to stop 'abuse' directed at Meghan. Pictured: Meghan, a then Prince Charles, and Harry on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on June 9, 2018 His father was given only 20 minutes' notice before it was released. On that day, Prince Charles had just arrived in Bahrain on a Foreign Office-sponsored visit to the Gulf states. As any member of the Royal Family could have predicted, Press attention immediately switched from the tour to his besotted son and the new girlfriend. Reports at the time suggested Charles was 'crushed', but this was far from the truth. Instead, he was disappointed at what he regarded as his son's bad manners. 'He would never have done such a thing if the Queen was on tour,' said one former aide. 'Understandably, there is a hierarchy and a grid system, but Prince Harry seemed to think when it came to Meghan Markle, she would always take precedence.' William was also uneasy. Privately, he thought his brother had overreacted. 'It was all a bit dramatic, a bit OTT,' one of his former aides later recalled. As for Harry, he took offence when told that the massive attention Meghan was getting was only to be expected. He was also angry at what he considered his family's lack of support. As he later explained in the Netflix docu-series he made with Meghan, 'as far as a lot of the family were concerned, everything that she was being put through, they had been put through as well' As he later explained in the Netflix docu-series he made with Meghan, 'as far as a lot of the family were concerned, everything that she was being put through, they had been put through as well. 'So, it was almost like a rite of passage, and some of the members of the family were like, 'My wife had to go through that, so why should your girlfriend be treated any differently? Why should you get special treatment? Why should she be protected?' I said, 'The difference here is the race element.' ' The 'race element' that so exercised Harry's protective instincts had somehow eluded his royal grandmother. At their first meeting, the Queen had tea with Meghan without even realising she was mixed race. Used to being briefed in advance whenever she met someone new, the monarch explained later in conversation with a member of her close circle that she simply hadn't been told. Of course, had she known then that Meghan's mother was black, the Queen who had counted Nelson Mandela as one of her dear friends would not have been in the least concerned. In fact, she was pleased that Harry had at last found love and warmly welcomed Meghan into the Royal Family. But when Her Majesty suggested she should turn to Sophie, Countess of Wessex, for support and advice, Meghan dismissed the idea, saying: 'I've got Harry.' Her response surprised the Queen, who had doubtless expected her well-meant suggestion to be taken up with gratitude. Still, that hardly mattered: Meghan, she felt, had the potential to be a great asset to the monarchy. The Queen was pleased that Harry had at last found love and warmly welcomed Meghan into the Royal Family. Pictured: Meghan and Queen Elizabeth II at a ceremony to open the new Mersey Gateway Bridge on June 14, 2018 The actress's confident presentation skills, combined with her black heritage, convinced the Queen that she would be a great champion for young women as she worked alongside Harry in his role as a Youth Ambassador with the Commonwealth Youth Programme. Meghan, for her part, was said to be 'hugely excited' about this new venture. She would certainly have known that the Commonwealth was particularly close to the Queen's heart, and that her endorsement was a great honour. Sources tell me that Meghan subsequently made a diligent study of the Commonwealth and was seen poring over her notes. Within months of the Queen's death, however, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's documentary series for Netflix seemed to suggest that she'd had a radical change of heart. To the astonishment of those who remembered Meghan's enthusiasm for her new role, the series dismissively branded the Commonwealth as 'Empire 2.0'. As we now know, William had urged his brother to be cautious before committing himself to a life with Meghan Markle. Even when Harry said he definitely wanted to marry her, William apparently told him: 'She's an American actress after all, Harold, anything might happen.' William had previously urged his brother to be cautious before committing himself to a life with Meghan Markle It wasn't the most tactful comment, but he had his reasons. He knew that even before meeting Meghan Harry had been obsessed with the idea of marrying and settling down. Having always looked out for his younger brother, William was concerned that a whirlwind affair was so quickly leading to marriage. But Harry, whose passion for Meghan had reached fever pitch, was hurt. There was another unpleasant surprise in store when he announced his intention to marry to his father (who already knew about this from his elder son). First, William, who was present at this meeting, asked: 'Are you sure, Harold?' He said he was. Then Charles dropped a bombshell, saying he couldn't afford to pay for Meghan in the future as well as for Camilla, and for William and Catherine and their young family. This infuriated Harry. As his wedding day approached, the slights built up in his mind. The first introduction of his bride-to-be to William and Catherine at Kensington Palace had left Meghan with the impression that Catherine was stand-offish. Later, the Duchess of Cambridge pregnant at the time had demanded an apology after Meghan had talked about Catherine's hormones, suggesting she had 'baby-brain'. And then there'd been that famous spat involving a bridesmaid's dress for Princess Charlotte. Charles dropped a bombshell, saying he couldn't afford to pay for Meghan in the future as well as for Camilla, and for William and Catherine and their young family William and Charles noticed that Harry seemed to be permanently on edge. Members of the bride and groom's entourage also noted that the prince had become 'petulant and short-tempered' raising his voice on occasion to staff and even swearing. Harry, for his part, was now convinced that William didn't approve of his choice of bride. Whether this was the case or not, the once close bond between the siblings was fraying badly. As simmering resentments threatened to boil over, Prince Charles wondered what he could do. For his part, he had welcomed Meghan, pronouncing himself captivated by her intelligence and vivacious personality. Camilla, too, had played her part as a sort of 'super-granny', dispensing humorous, down-to-earth advice to her. But the actress made it clear that she would make her own decisions. Like any loving father, Charles was distressed when his sons clashed with each other, especially when the ill feeling between them appeared to extend to both Meghan and Catherine. Aware that both Harry and William were stubborn and strong-willed, he feared the conflict between them would be very difficult to manage and might have a detrimental impact on the monarchy itself. Sometimes the level of belligerence between his sons and indeed towards himself when they challenged him shocked Charles. One particular exchange with William had become so heated that it had actually left him shaken. Although Charles himself has a short fuse, his temper is always short-lived. Averse to confrontation, he decided not to intervene in the clash between William and Harry, trusting that in time it would blow over. On May 19, 2018, the day of Harry and Meghan's wedding, the exuberant crowds were blissfully ignorant about the feud On May 19, 2018, the day of Harry and Meghan's wedding, the exuberant crowds were blissfully ignorant about the feud between the brothers and lingering animosity between their wives. It wasn't until October 2019 when an ITV documentary was screened about the Sussexes' tour of South Africa that the rift was openly acknowledged. Harry spoke for the first time of his strained relationship with his brother, while his wife acknowledged that her life behind the scenes had been a struggle. This angered Prince William, who saw it as a betrayal. One member of his circle said he felt especially let down. He believed the trust between them was gone. William was now also concerned at reports that the Sussex household was not a happy place to work. There was an unusually high staff turnover, and unsettling claims of bullying (vehemently denied by the Sussexes' lawyer) by Meghan. From Harry's viewpoint, this was rubbish fertilised by planted stories. But enough was enough: the swirl of negativity around Meghan helped them both conclude it was time to forge a new life away from the palace, Press and Royal Family. As Christmas 2019 approached, he told his father that he and his wife no longer wished to serve as full-time working royals but wanted a workable plan for them to be part in and part out, splitting their time between the UK and North America. They moved to California and started signing multi-million-dollar deals with Netflix and other companies Charles, who was used to his son letting off steam periodically, listened but eventually said that the idea was unworkable. Oblivious to his considered opinion, the Sussexes went public with their plans. As nothing had been agreed, Charles was understandably upset. The Sussexes had ignored what he had said, staking everything instead on their belief that the Queen would back them. There followed the famous Sandringham summit, convened by the Queen in January 2020 to work out what to do. So concerned was the monarch about privacy that, on taking advice, she had the library where the meeting was to take place swept for bugs. There was a suggestion that Meghan should join Charles, William and Harry via video link from Canada, but the Queen ruled that her attendance in any form was 'not necessary' as Harry would represent her. It was also felt that a video link wouldn't be secure, as Charles and William wouldn't be able to tell if the meeting was being recorded or if Meghan had anyone else listening in as they spoke. The Sussexes, of course, did not get what they wanted; they had made their play and lost. No longer working royals, they moved to California and started signing multi-million-dollar deals with Netflix and other companies. There were even reports that Meghan was considering running for president of the United States. The Sussexes' interview with Oprah Winfrey, in March 2021, marked a chilling new low in Harry's relationship with his father and brother. The Sussexes' interview with Oprah Winfrey, in March 2021, marked a chilling new low in Harry's relationship with his father and brother In the aftermath, William went to his father and told him that the Royal Family needed a clear strategy in dealing with the renegade royals. Charles agreed. From then on, Harry's father and brother decided, they would no longer treat him as a trusted if often infuriating member of the family. In short, they would never again meet Harry alone. There would always have to be another person in the room. Not only had Harry heavily implied to Oprah that a member of the family was racist, but he'd had the gall to claim that his father and brother knew they were 'trapped' in their royal roles 'and I have huge compassion for that,' he had added, twisting the knife. Both Charles and William had been extremely upset by Harry's arrogance, aghast at his lack of discretion and furious that he'd had the audacity to speak about their supposed feelings. Or, as a senior source in the Royal Household put it rather more tactfully: 'They were both deeply disappointed in him. He had no right or authority to speak on their behalf.' There was no meaningful conversation when Harry saw his brother and father again at Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021 Perhaps unsurprisingly, there was no meaningful conversation when Harry saw his brother and father again at Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021. Nor was there any attempt at a rapprochement when Harry joined his brother for the unveiling of a statue of their mother at Kensington Palace on July 1, 2021. However, the Queen did meet Harry and Meghan at Windsor Castle when they made a stopover in April 2022, en route to The Hague for the Invictus Games. She'd agreed to see her grandson on the proviso that he met and talked with his father, too. The couple were welcomed warmly by the Queen, in what turned out to be the last time Harry saw his grandmother. Charles was also at the castle along with Camilla where he was standing in for his mother at the annual Maundy Thursday service. To add insult to injury, Harry and Meghan turned up late, meaning the meeting with Prince Charles lasted less than 15 minutes. It was agreed that the Sussexes should later join the rest of the Royal Family for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Harry and Meghan duly arrived at St Paul's Cathedral on June 3 for the National Service of Thanksgiving for the Queen Nevertheless, in a spirit of reconciliation, it was agreed that the Sussexes should later join the rest of the Royal Family for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Again there was a proviso: the Netflix film crew accompanying them would not be allowed access to royal palaces or members of the family. Harry and Meghan duly arrived at St Paul's Cathedral on June 3 for the National Service of Thanksgiving for the Queen (which she could not attend). They were booed by some in the large crowd. If the message hadn't yet got through, the couple could no longer doubt that they were outsiders, no longer part of the charmed circle of the British Royal Family. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona is preparing to run as an Independent in 2024, setting up a three-way contest in the highly competitive state for a seat that could decide control of the Senate. Sinema, who left the Democratic party in December, huddled with aides in Arizona this week to hash out a campaign plan and time frame, the Wall Street Journal reported. The 46-year-old senator has been a thorn in the side of Democratic leaders and infuriated liberals with her failure to support some of President Joe Biden's plans for social programs. Sinema's controversial positions and her switch to independent status led to questions about whether she'd seek a second term. Currently she still caucuses with Democrats so they can keep their one-seat majority in the Senate. Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is preparing to run as in independent in 2024 But others argue Sinema has displayed remarkable political savvy, setting herself up as an influential power player in the upper chamber. She has been at the center of the ring during negotiations on some of the biggest pieces of legislation before Congress. But she's also declined to support some of Democratic leadership's priorities: such as ending the filibuster. She's not only drawn attention for her political power, but for her fashion sense: she's hard to miss in her colorful outfits. During the pandemic she wore brightly-colored wigs, saying it was because she couldn't get to the hair salon. The slide show - put on by Sinema's team and seen by the Journal - indicated the one-term senator is looking to have a poll done in the state by Sept. 30 and have her campaign team in place by Dec. 31. Her campaign strategy includes emphasizing her independence. She has tried to tie herself to Arizona's late Senator John McCain, who proudly boasted of his 'maverick' nickname and his ability to zigzag along the political line. Even before her party switch, she hung out on the Republican side of the aisle, forming a close friendship with GOP Senator Mitt Romney. The filing deadline to appear on the ballot in Arizona is April 2024. Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego has already filed to run on the Democratic ticket as a Senate candidate. Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego has filed to run on the Democratic ticket as a Senate candidate Failed Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake is mulling a Senate bid Sinema already filed the paperwork to run as an independent, which allows her to fundraise for the 2024 campaign. It also allows her to avoid a primary with Gallego, a favorite of liberals and a Marine veteran, who has emphasized his local roots, his closeness to his family and how he grew up in poverty to become a member of Congress. But running as an independent also has its challenges for Sinema. First, in order to appear on the ballot, she will need to gather an estimated 40,000-plus signatures from independent voters. Then Sinema will have to run against a Democratic and Republican candidate - setting up a three-way competition. On the GOP side, Kari Lake, the former television anchor who narrowly lost a bid for governor in 2022, has been considering a bid. Some Republicans are worried her association with Donald Trump could cost them a Senate seat. And some Democrats are worried Gallego is too liberal for that state that is a political hodge podge. Arizona's electorate is split evenly about three ways. Among voters: about 35% are registered Republicans, 31% are registered Democrats (30.5%), and 34% are independents. Sinema's path to victory could include those independent voters with a combination of peeling off her old Democratic supporters along with moderate Republicans who are concerned about the GOP's more right-wing contenders. She is already trying to insulate herself with them. 'Removing myself from the partisan structure not only is it true to who I am and how I operate, I also think it'll provide a place of belonging for many folks across the state and the country, who also are tired of the partisanship,' she told CNN shortly after her party switch. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is known for her political savvy and bold fashion sense Even before becoming an independent, Sen. Sinema was friends with many Republicans, including GOP Sen. Mitt Romney Sinema has faced tough races before. When she first ran and won in 2018, she became the first Democrat in three decades to win a Senate race in Arizona. Arizona is a competitive state for both parties but Democrats have made gains there in the past few cycles. In addition to winning the governor's office last year, Democratic Senator Mark Kelly won his race. And President Joe Biden carried the state in 2020, the first Democratic presidential candidate to do so since 1992. A business associate of Hunter Biden with ties to the Mob and China scored an official visit to the White House under the Obama administration. James J. Bulger, the nephew of the late crime boss and convicted killer Whitey Bulger, managed to land a tour of the West Wing when Joe Biden was vice-president. Visitor records show Bulger met with Anne Marie Person, one of Biden's aides from his stint as Barack Obama's right-hand man, on August 25th of 2016. Before joining the then vice-president's team, Person previously worked for a shadowy investment firm run by Hunter Biden. But it is unclear whether the self-styled fixer managed to secure meetings with any other White House staffers. Bulger has been a regular adviser to the current commander-in-chief's son on his Chinese business ventures since 2010. James J. Bulger, the nephew of notorious mobster Whitey Bulger murdered in jail in 2018, has long been a self-styled China 'fixer' for Hunter Biden Hunter Biden and his father Joe Biden in 2016. Hunter has been repeatedly accused of exploiting his father's connections to benefit his business dealings He was the chairman of a Boston-based advisory group that helped Hunter Biden launch a joint-venture with Chinese investment house Bohai Capital. Emails, first obtained by Fox News, show that he repeatedly relayed information to Hunter Biden about various deal in China between 2015 and 2016. One such message shows Bulger proposing to set up a meeting with the Chinese ambassador to 'talk about' the BHR fund. He suggested that Hunter Biden and his co-founder Devon Archer attend the meeting. Bulger claimed that it was 'pretty interesting that someone at the Embassy in Beijing would be interested in what the domestic Bohai PE Fund was up to.' 'Thought you guys should see this," Bulger writes. 'I still believe a meeting early next week with the Ambassador if possible would be best, hope this has not caused to[sic] much of an a ache.' It remains unknown as to whether those talks ever went ahead. Another leaked email showed Bulger asking Hunter to introduce business partners Jonathan Li and Andy Lu to Tung Chee-hwa, a Chinese billionaire and former first chief executive of Hong Kong. Tung Chee-hwa, a businessman and senior politician in post-colonial Hong Kong, is close to the Beijing regime's top officials. 'Please let me know if you can introduce these two to Mr Tung by email it is very important to our BHR intiative [sic] at this moment,' Bulger wrote. Bulger's visit to the White House in 2016 is the latest example of a former Hunter Biden business partner gaining access to the White House. Eric Schwerin, a longtime associate of Hunter Biden, visited the White House at least 27 times when Barack Obama was president. John Robinson "Rob" Walker, another ex-business partner, appeared on the White House visitor logs at least 16 times during Biden's stint as vice president. Walkers name resurfaced last month when House Oversight Committee Republicans said they obtained new information about payments made to the Biden family. The records show members of the family received more than $1 million in payments from accounts related to Walker and their Chinese business ventures in 2017. The US president has repeatedly refused to discuss his son's business controversial dealings. But he met with at least 14 of Hunter's business associates from the U.S., Mexico, Ukraine, China and Kazakhstan over the course of his vice presidency. Two of Hunters Mexican business contacts Miguel Aleman Velasco and Miguel Aleman Magnani, visited the West Wing on Feb. 26, 2014, according to the Obama White House visitor logs. The then-vice president was later photographed with Hunter giving Velasco and Magnani a tour of the White House Brady Press Briefing room. A photo found on the laptop allegedly abandoned by Hunter Biden. Social media posts about its contents were restricted by Facebook and Twitter prior to the November 2020 presidential election. The business dealings of Joe Biden's son have been in the spotlight since leaked data emerged from a laptop that he had dropped off at a Delaware repair store. The New York Post ran a story in October 2020 about his activities in Ukraine based on emails found on the device. The laptop bombshell was originally restricted on platforms like Twitter and Facebook. Details of their decision to restrict news that could damage Biden just ahead of the election have trickled out through Elon Musk's release of the Twitter Files. There were also a slew of unflattering images found on the computer, including photos of Hunter Biden smoking drugs or posing for naked selfies. Student activists at the University of Chicago are demanding the institution pledge $1billion in reparations to residents of the city's South Side. The UChicago Against Displacement group accuse the university of harming and forcing out poor and black residents who live in the area. Demands include $1 billion in grant funding for affordable housing and a $20 million-per-year fund for rental assistance, and commitment for no further expansion by the university into the Woodlawn or Washington Park areas. The group cites the Obama Foundation's $500million 'presidential center' - which is currently under construction - as a project that could displace South Side residents and harm the community. Rents in the area around the center have surged since it was announced. A UCAD mission statement said: 'Utilizing our unique connection to the school, we are pushing the university to recognize its history of harm, support the passing of a community benefits agreement, and pay reparations to the South Side.' The UChicago Against Displacement group has staged several protests as it pushed for reparations for the South Side area, including interrupting a speech by university president Paul Alivisatos The group cites the Obama Foundation's $500million 'presidential center' - which is currently under construction - as a project that could displace South Side residents and harm the community. Pictured: Barack and Michelle Obama launch construction of the center In a statement to DailyMail.com, the University of Chicago said that the school has 'developed deep partnerships with our community and the City of Chicago, and we are continuing to make far-reaching contributions to address community priorities and enhance the quality of life on the South Side.' 'With the ongoing input of community residents and elected officials, we work on a range of community priorities, including N-12 education, college readiness, health care, public safety, workforce development, nonprofit capacity building, and economic inclusion,' the press release continued. The campaign follows similar movements across America that demand reparations for black people - including descendants of enslaved people - who have been harmed by historical racist policies like redlining. UCAB said: 'Reparations are an attempt to restore what resources have been stolen and kept from people for years and years so that they can live their lives with the same benefits and resources as those who pushed them out in the first place. 'As affiliates of the university that is preying on the South Side and its residents, we have a responsibility to work to undo what harm has been done while mitigating future harm. 'No amount of money will ever equate to all that has been lost and stolen from Black South Side residents over generations, but it's vital that we act not to protect the South Side's future.' UCAD staged a protest in February to 'relaunch' its reparations campaign after initially starting the movement in around January 2022. The protest started in the Woodlawn area, which the activists described as 'symbolic of the way that UChicago isn't respecting its boundaries or the people around them in their community'. One activist said: 'Not only does [the University] have a connection to slavery, it has its own form of removing [and] institutionally forming policies to further remove and displace Black and brown people from the South Side of Chicago.' The group was also involved in a demonstration in 2022 when a speech by university president Paul Alivisatos was hijacked by activists who called for reparations. The campaign comes as demands grow across America for reparations for black people whose families were impacted by racist policies - with several states pursuing high-profile policies to pay hundreds of billions of dollars in compensation. A UCAD mission statement posted to its Instagram page said: 'Utilizing our unique connection to the school, we are pushing the university to recognize its history of harm, support the passing of a community benefits agreement, and pay reparations to the South Side' The activists claim the University of Chicago has harmed residents in the city's South Side area through discriminatory practices Activists disrupted a speech by University president Paul Alivisatos in 2022 as part of the campaign for reparations In 2021, Chicago became the first city in America to launch a reparations program for black residents whose families suffered damage from discriminatory policies. The suburb of Evanston established its reparations program in 2019, committing $10million over a decade using funding from the city's three percent tax on recreational marijuana sales. California's reparations plan is by far the most controversial - and ambitious. The state's reparations board was told at a recent meeting to increase the amount given to each black resident from $5 million to $7.6 million - as one economist said the proposed $800 billion budget was not enough. The figures were mooted as the Golden State's reparations committee held a hearing in Sacramento on Wednesday - their 13th since launching in June 2021. The group have until July 1 to provide their complete set of recommendations. That money is primarily aimed at foundational black Americans, who are descendants of black people who were enslaved in the U.S. A 42-year-old Wisconsin woman was killed in a car crash five hours after burying her husband. Sara Nowak had just attended the funeral for her husband, Louis Nowak, when she was killed in a single-vehicle crash Saturday night on State Highway 106 near Calkins Road in Palmyra. A preliminary investigation found that the driver lost control of the vehicle, which then entered a ditch and overturned. One occupant was ejected from the vehicle, but both died at the scene, Jefferson County Sheriff Paul Milbrath told People. Louis Nowak, who died on March 19 of cancer, had been married to Sara for six years, and shared six children together, CBS 58 reported. 'I don't think she could be without him,' Sara's grieving mother Patricia Cartwright told the news outlet, 'So, she is with him.' Sara Nowak was killed in a car crash after her husband, Louis Nowak's funeral on Saturday The couple shared six children together between them 'I don't think she could be without him,' Sara's grieving mother Patricia Cartwright told the news outlet, 'So, she is with him' Her mother added, 'We want everyone to remember her as being full of life.' Sara's father, Randal Cartwright, was shattered by the news of his daughter's sudden and tragic death. 'It's really hard because you get done and then five and half hours later, you get a call saying that your daughter was in an accident,' he said. Sara's parents said the past six months had been harrowing for their daughter, who cared for her husband, as he was battling the disease. 'He fought, he fought really hard,' Cartwright said about his son-in-law Louis. He described his daughter as a positive person. 'Whenever there was something that somebody needed,' Cartwright said his daughter would say, 'Don't worry we got this.' When Sara's husband was first diagnosed with cancer in February 2022, her friend Kathy Palmer created a GoFundMe to help raise funds for him. Sara had created a GoFundMe to help raise money for her husband who was diagnosed with cancer in Feburary 2022 Sara cared for her husband Louis until he lost his battle with cancer on March 19 A GoFundMe was created by family friend, Cindy Krey, to help the grieving family with their unimaginable loss After Sara's sudden death, Cindy Krey, a family friend created a GoFundMe, to help the grieving family with funeral expenses and living costs. 'Sara went to visit Louis in heaven after his funeral,' Krey wrote. 'Please help them even if its only a couple extra dollars that you have,' she said. 'They just lost their grandpa a couple weeks ago so they have a lot of healing to do.' She added: 'They need all the help they can get during this horrific time.' As of Friday afternoon nearly $11,400 was raised towards their goal of $25,000. McDonald's has laid off hundreds of workers and cut pay packages for others after shuttering officers across the US. The fast food firm slashed roles across all departments including marketing, operations, store staff and field offices, the Wall Street Journal reported. It comes as part of a huge restructuring at the burger giant, which is reportedly part of a bid to re-invent the drive thru across the world. McDonald's even temporarily shut down offices across the US on Monday as it started to tell some corporate workers about the layoffs. In recent months, the fast food giant recruited pop culture icons Cardi B and Offset in an attempt to revive the company's fortunes. In December 2022, McDonald's opened a test location of its new concept drive-thru store in Fort Worth, Texas In recent months, McDonald's has recruited pop culture icons Cardi B and Offset to revive the company's fortunes The full automated McDonald's drive thru shown here could be introduced nationwide Bosses reportedly offered some workers the chance to keep working for the fast food firm but with reduced salaries and changes to their benefits. The changes are expected to impact at least 10 offices across the US for those working in operations, finance and marketing, leaked emails revealed. President of McDonald's USA Joe Erlinger said: 'While the McDonald's Brand is in the strongest position it has been in years, we also recognize that our business has grown increasingly complex in recent years.' Meanwhile an internal email last week said employees should work from Monday to Wednesday so staffing changes could be made virtually. McDonald's also asked all staff to cancel all in-person meetings with vendors at its headquarters. U.S. employees laid off exited the company but will remain on the payroll till June 15 and will receive severance after that time. Meanwhile, employees with company cars who have been sacked will also have the option to return the vehicles in June or purchase the cars, according to the outlet. Among the lay-offs were senior employees who had worked for the company for decades - some going as far as to write emotional goodbye messaged to colleagues after receiving the news. McKinsey & Co. served as an adviser to McDonald's on the chain's restructuring. This isn't the first time McDonald's has slashed jobs with the chain cutting its management to be 'more dynamic, nimble and competitive' in 2018. President of McDonald's USA Joe Erlinger (pictured) said: 'While the McDonald's Brand is in the strongest position it has been in years, we also recognize that our business has grown increasingly complex in recent years' Erlinger was seen celebrating National intern day last year ahead of the restructure The cuts were part of a half-billion-dollar plan to shrink administrative expenses by 2019. Chief Executive Chris Kempczinski told WSJ that he expected to save money as part of this year's workforce assessment but didn't have a figure in mind. In January, McDonald's said the company operated too many silos, leading to redundancies and slowing its innovation. Before the layoffs, McDonald's employed more than 150,000 people globally in corporate roles and its company-owned restaurants - 70 percent outside the U.S. the chain said in February. At least seven people have been wounded in a suspected attack in Tel Aviv, Israeli authorities have said. Unconfirmed reports said British and Italian tourists were among the victims of the attack earlier this evening. It was not clear if the attack was targeted at particular groups. The Israeli Foreign Ministry referred to it as a 'terror attack', identifying the attacker as 44-year-old Yousef Abu Jaber from Kafr Qassem. Israeli police said a car rammed into a group of people near a popular seaside park before flipping over. Police said they shot the driver of the car. Israel's rescue service described the incident as a shooting attack. According to a police source no weapon was found in the vehicle except a toy gun. The attack came against the backdrop of heightened tensions after Israeli air strikes on Palestinian militant targets in both Lebanon and Gaza, as well as a shooting in the occupied West Bank today that killed two British-Israeli sisters. In response to the rising violence, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mobilised police and army reserves late on Friday. Israeli officials work at the scene of an attack in Tel Aviv after a shooting in the West Bank One was killed and seven were injured in the attack which took place this evening in Israel A person wounded in the attack is brought to a hospital by medics in Tel Aviv earlier today The Magen David Adom emergency service said the casualty was a man around the age of 30, and reports have said he was a foreign tourist visiting Israel. 'All the victims were tourists,' the Magen David Adom emergency service said, without providing details on their nationalities. Italian news outlet Repubblica named the Italian victim as 36-year-old Alessandro Parini from Rome. Walla, an Israeli internet company based in Tel Aviv, said a 74-year-old man, a 39-year-old man, a 17-year-old girl in 'moderate' condition, a man in his 50s and a 70-year-old woman were taken to the Wolfson Hospital in Holon and Ichilov. A 31-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman, both tourists, were later taken to hospital with slight injuries. The attacker was seen to drive south near the Charles Clore promenade, hitting tourists on the pavement. The vehicle lost control, flipped, and the attacker was shot dead by officials. The attack follows a spate of violence between Palestinian and Israeli factions leading on from a police raid of the Al-Aqsa mosque in East Jerusalem on Wednesday morning. After rockets landed in Israel from Lebanon on Thursday, which Israel blamed on pro-Palestinian forces, Prime Minister Netanyahu gave the green light for bombing of targets in Lebanon and Gaza overnight. Nobody has yet claimed responsibility for the barrage of rockets. Iran's foreign ministry today condemned the Israeli strikes that followed. Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said the ministry 'strongly condemned the attacks as a violation of Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity and a gross violation of international law and human rights of the oppressed Palestinian nation, and called for an effective response by world bodies.' In the wake of violent scenes late on Thursday, two British-Israeli nationals were shot dead in an attack on their car near Hamra, 30 miles north of Jerusalem, today. Again, nobody took responsibility for the attack but Palestinian group Hamas, the de facto governing authority of the Gaza Strip, said it was a 'natural response to [Israel's] ongoing crimes against the al-Aqsa mosque and its barbaric aggression against Lebanon and the steadfast Gaza.' A Foreign Office spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We are saddened to hear about the deaths of two British-Israeli citizens and the serious injuries sustained by a third individual. 'The UK calls for all parties across the region to de-escalate tensions.' Hamas did not take responsibility for the car ramming into crowds in Tel Aviv either, but praised the attack as a response to Israel's 'crimes against Al-Aqsa Mosque and worshippers'. Israeli police and emergency service stand around a car involved in an attack in Tel Aviv today Violence has spiralled since Israeli police stormed the Al Aqsa mosque in East Jerusalem with tear gas and stun grenades to confront Palestinians barricaded inside with fireworks and stones. Muslim worshippers have been demanding the right to pray overnight inside the mosque, which authorities typically only permit during the last 10 days of the month-long Ramadan holiday. They also stayed in the mosque in protest threats by religious Jews to carry out a ritual animal slaughter at the sacred site for Passover. At least 14 Palestinians were injured and hundreds arrested on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning as Israeli police raided the mosque, sparking global condemnation. Video footage dated 5 April showed police beating protestors with rifles. Other footage showed Palestinians inside the mosque shooting fireworks back at the security forces. MailOnline approached the Foreign Office for comment. In the wake of the Oprah Winfrey interview, online trolls accused Prince Charles of being the unnamed member of the Royal Family mentioned by Harry who had made a crass remark about the possible colour of Meghan first baby. It was a ludicrous insult to the future king, who had for years been trying to improve diversity in his household. Indeed, now that he is King, Charles has asked Prince William to do the same. A senior member of the Royal Household told me that making a racist comment goes against everything The Boss [Charles] believes in. He believes diversity is the strength of our society. Its a bit rich coming from Harry, given [Prince Charles] had to defend him when he was forced to apologise for dressing up in a Nazi uniform and for filming himself making a racist remark to a fellow Sandhurst officer cadet from Pakistan back in 2009. In disgrace: Harry as a young boy with Princess Diana and Inspector Ken Wharfe Nor was this the first time Harry had been admonished for what he now calls his unconscious bias. When he was a little boy, around eight years old, his mother took him and William for a ride on a London bus as a treat, arranged by her police protection officer Inspector Ken Wharfe. On the bus, Diana had to tell Harry to stop mimicking the Sikh bus conductors pronounced Punjabi accent every time a passenger pressed the bell to get off. The conductor, a jovial chap wearing a bright yellow turban, was relaxed about Harrys casual racism, but Diana was so mortified that she eventually told Ken Wharfe to abandon the trip. Diana, Ken, William and Harry all got off at Green Park and Diana immediately smacked Harry and told him: Dont you ever do that again. The Duchess of Sussex during their interview with Oprah Winfrey on March 7, 2021 Afterwards, she made Harry write to Inspector Wharfe to apologise for his behaviour and for spoiling the day he had arranged for the boys. I have spoken to Wharfe, who confirms the incident, and I have also seen the letter, still in his possession, in which Harry jokes about the phrase he used. As he was a child at the time, he can probably be forgiven but the incident demonstrates that on one issue at least, Diana was in complete agreement with Charles. She would not tolerate any form of racism from their two sons. The King's support for a study into the monarchy's links to slavery could lead to him funding scholarships for the descendants of enslaved people, a prominent campaigner predicted yesterday. Former BBC correspondent Laura Trevelyan whose family donated 100,000 this year in apology for their ancestors' ownership of slaves said Charles's backing for the research was a 'welcome first step in the process of acknowledgement'. She said he would need to consider whether he should apologise for previous British monarchs' involvement with the transatlantic slave trade. She added: 'I can see the King, who has shown himself to be very philanthropic through the Prince's Trust, funding scholarships and educational opportunities targeted at descendants of the enslaved in Britain and the Caribbean.' Her comments follow warnings that Charles's support for the academic research by the University of Manchester and Historic Royal Palaces could open the door to the Royal Family facing demands to pay compensation, or reparations. King Charles III is expected to wait for the results of the academic study before deciding on his response. Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday that it was co-operating with a landmark study into the Royal Family's historical involvement with the transatlantic slave trade and said the King took the issue 'profoundly seriously'. Ms Trevelyan's family made a public apology this year after it emerged their ancestors had owned more than 1,000 slaves on plantations on the island of Grenada. They donated 100,000 to establish the Reparations Research Fund at the University of the West Indies. The family has also called on the Government to enter negotiations with authorities in the Caribbean over national reparations for Britain's role in the slave trade. Ms Trevelyan, 54, who quit the BBC to join the 'Caribbean's fight for reparatory justice' full time, welcomed the King's backing for the study project. She tweeted: 'The King supporting research into the Royal Family's links to slavery is a welcome first step in the process of acknowledgement. Then the King will consider how best to respond. To apologise to descendants of the enslaved, in the Caribbean and in Britain?' Following the Palace's announcement this week, there were immediate calls from campaigners in the Caribbean for talks. But royal sources said the question of paying reparations or making donations to charity was 'utterly speculative'. The King is expected to wait for the results of the academic study before deciding on his response. The three-year project, reporting in 2026, is expected to probe previous rulers' involvement with slave-trading companies, including the Royal African Company and its deputy governor Edward Colston, whose statue was toppled into Bristol Harbour by anti-racism campaigners. Former BBC correspondent Laura Trevelyan said Charles's backing for the research was a 'welcome first step in the process of acknowledgement' Historians welcomed the decision to open the Royal Archives and the Royal Collection to researchers for the study, but said Charles needed to go further. Professor Trevor Burnard, director of the Wilberforce Institute for the Study of Slavery and Emancipation at the University of Hull, said: 'What needs to happen is for the monarch to take some responsibility for the personal connections that his family has with this history, which is so well established. 'That would mean doing what other institutions have done: acknowledge what happened, and examine what they are going to do in response. That goes beyond supporting further research.' Last month, The Guardian newspaper published an apology after it revealed that nine of its first 11 backers were involved in the slave trade through textiles and cotton manufacturing, including its founding editor John Edward Taylor. The Scott Trust, which owns the newspaper, promised to invest more than 10 million in improving the lives of black people in Britain and the rest of the world. The National Trust was accused of pursuing a 'woke' agenda' when it produced a report investigating connections between its properties and colonialism, including slavery. And English Heritage has updated online entries for its blue plaque recipients to include links to the slave trade. Charles has previously condemned the trade as an 'appalling atrocity'. Campaigners have called on Britain to wipe out debts owed to it by countries affected by slavery, and to lift visa restrictions for the descendants of enslaved people. Embattled former Jackass star Bam Margera, who was arrested earlier this week for public intoxication and last month for domestic violence accusations, is now being sued for threatening to use brass knuckles on a neighbor. Daniel Cardenas, 28, claimed the Viva La Bam prankster wanted him to stop having 'very loud sex' because Margera's girlfriend and her 8-year-old daughter could hear them. Margera was arrested at a restaurant in Burbank on Wednesday, his second arrest in a month after he was handcuffed on domestic violence charges. The troubled 43-year-old Jackass star who has dealt with substance abuse issues and violent behavior in recent years got into an argument with a woman at the restaurant, law enforcement sources told TMZ. Cardenas said that Margera's new girlfriend, Jessica, and her daughter were staying with the man while Margera was in jail. TMZ reports that Jessica is the girlfriend who accused him of domestic violence in early March. Embattled former Jackass star Bam Margera, who was arrested earlier this week for public intoxication, is now being sued for threatening to use brass knuckles on a neighbor 'All I can figure is Jessica told Bam about the loud sex which her daughter overheard and this is why he was so upset, although it of course gives him no right to attack me, threaten my life, or kick me out of a home he has no rights to,' Cardenas said. He added that Bam told him the girl 'will have PTSD' for the rest of her life.' A California judge granted a temporary restraining order for Cardenas. Margera must stay 100 yards away from both him and his home. Margera's estranged wife is also considering filing for a restraining order for the sake of their child after he was last arrested. The 43-year-old troubled Jackass star's wife Nikki Margera is looking into filing for legal protection against him after his latest brush with the law according to TMZ on Friday. A source told the publication that she hopes to make the legal filing so it would protect her and their five-year-old son Phoenix. She told the site that the incident on Wednesday 'was scary for me and even more scary for Phoenix,' adding that it was a shame as 'the visitation that Bam had with Phoenix the prior day in Hollywood went reasonably well.' Nikki claimed her famous husband had arrived at the restaurant on Wednesday intoxicated and belligerent as she explained: 'This is the umpteenth time that Bam takes one step forward and ten steps back.' Her attorney David Glass told TMZ that they had been trying to work with Bam on setting up regular visitation for their child but as it is contingent on him staying sober and treating Nikki with respect it hasn't quite happened. This comes after the former television personality who has dealt with substance abuse issues and violent behavior in recent years got into an argument with a woman at the restaurant, law enforcement sources told TMZ. The police were reportedly called around 3:45 p.m. to a Thai restaurant, and Margera was allegedly in a shouting match with the woman that continued to escalate after the officers arrived. Despite the intervention from police, Margera allegedly couldn't get himself under control, so he was arrested and booked for misdemeanor public intoxication. In video of the confrontation filmed by the comedian Evan Breen, the former pro skateboarder could be seen going back into the restaurant and then out of it again after police had arrived. At an officer's request, he sat down on the ground in the parking lot, and although his conversation with the officer couldn't be heard, he waved his arms about and gesticulated wildly. The arrest may have been preceded by some kind of family drama, as Margera's estranged wife Nikki Boyd and their five-year-old child Phoenix were both in the restaurant, according to a witness on the scene. However, police didn't clarify if he was arguing with his ex, or if it was another woman. Family first: A source told the publication that she hopes to make the legal filing so it would protect her and their five-year-old son Phoenix The sources added that Margera will be forced to pay $500 to be released early on bail, unless he opts to stay behind bars until sobering up. The Jackass star's public controversies escalated earlier this month when he was arrested on domestic violence charges. The Viva La Bam star was arrested after police responded to a home in Escondido, California, where a woman claimed that he had kicked her, according to TMZ. The alleged victim was not named, but she is reportedly Margera's current girlfriend, and not his ex. He was released on $50,000 bail, though the local District Attorney said charges would not be filed against him. After Margera quickly posted bail, Boyd's attorney claimed that he had not supported her for two months, leaving her with 'no car, no money,' and eviction looming. Family affair: Margera's estranged wife Nikki Boyd (pictured) and five-year-old son Phoenix were at the restaurant, but it's unknown if she was the woman he was shouting at; seen in 2013 Deeper in trouble: The Jackass star was arrested early this month on domestic violence charges for allegedly kicking a woman, though it was his new girlfriend and not his ex Over the top: Last week, he revealed that he got his son's name tattooed on his face in Arabic as a reminder to Boyd that 'she is breaking my heart by not letting me see him' She filed for divorce from Margera in February of this year after claiming that he was not sober during a visit with his son. She has requested legal and physical custody of Pheonix, though she says Margera should still be allowed to have supervised visits with his son in the Los Angeles area. The Jackass star tried to show his commitment to Phoenix last week by taking the extreme step of tattooing his son's name on his face in Arabic. 'I miss Phoenix the wolf so much I had to to get his name tattooed on my f***in face to remind Nikki she is breaking my heart by not letting me see him,' he claimed on Instagram. A jury in Austin, Texas, has convicted an Army sergeant and Uber driver of murder after he shot dead an AK-47 wielding Black Lives Matter protester during the George Floyd riots in the summer of 2020. Daniel Perry, 37, said that he killed Garrett Foster, 28, in self defense. The jury deliberated 17 hours over two days to reach its decision, after an eight-day trial. He sobbed when the guilty verdict was read out, and hugged his attorney. Perry faces up to life in prison. Foster's wife, Whitney Mitchell, hugged friends and cried after hearing the verdict, The Austin-American Statesman reported. Perry was driving his ride share vehicle through downtown Austin on July 25, 2020, and found himself in the midst of a BLM protest. The city, and much of the nation, was at the time roiled by demonstrations following the May 2020 murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis. Daniel Perry, a 37-year-old Uber driver and Army sergeant, was found guilty of murder on Friday Perry killed Garrett Foster, 28, who is pictured with his wife Whitney Mitchell Activists are pictured on July 26, 2020 holding a vigil for Foster, the day after he was killed Defense lawyers said that Foster raised his AK-47 at Perry, and that Perry fired in self-defense. Witnesses have said during the trial that Foster never raised his rifle at Perry. On Friday, a jury found Perry guilty of murder, but not guilty of aggravated assault. Perry's defense attorneys, in their closing arguments, insisted that he had no choice but to shoot Foster five times as he approached Perry's car with an AK-47 rifle. Prosecutors said Perry had plenty of choices, including driving away before he fired his revolver. Guillermo Gonzalez, prosecuting, said Perry's posts on social media showed he was vehemently opposed to protesters. Perry also said that in Texas you could get away with shooting them. Perry's phone showed he was texting a woman shortly before the 9:51pm encounter with Foster. The woman he wanted to meet up with sent him a text asking for money, said Gonzalez. 'This is an age-old story about a man who couldn't keep his anger under control,' said Gonzalez. 'It's not about police, and it's not about protest marchers.' The scene of Foster's shooting in Austin, Texas on July 25, 2020 Police are pictured on the scene of Foster's killing in July 2020 in downtown Austin Foster was a frequent presence at BLM protests, and was armed with an AK-47 when he was killed A memorial to Foster is seen in Austin on July 28, 2020 - two days after his killing Gonzalez said Perry drove angrily into the crowd even though he could clearly see the protesters marching from three different angles. The state argued Perry sped into the crowd, but that was disputed by the defense's expert witnesses who used science and data to track the speed of his car. The expert testified he was slowing down when his car entered the demonstration. Doug O'Connell, defending Perry, said prosecutors wanted the jury 'to believe (Perry) had this evil plan when he turned right.' 'The protesters didn't know anything about Perry when they attacked the car and boxed it in,' he said. 'And Daniel had no choice, and that could have happened to anyone.' O'Connell argued that Foster was dressed for battle at the protest, including wearing a neoprene vest under his T-shirt and carrying an AK-47, a club and a knife. Perry was wearing a T-shirt, shorts and flip-flops. 'Garrett Foster is dressed for war,' O'Connell said. 'Daniel Perry is dressed for the beach.' House Oversight Committee Republicans are forging ahead in their probe of President Biden and key family members amid howls from Democrats, this time demanding financial information from a host of financial institutions. The subpoenas came to light during a week when committee staff met with former Joe Biden executive assistant Kathy Chung in a separate probe of the president's handling of classified documents. It all has top Oversight Democrat Rep. Jamie Raskin of raising alarm about Comer's 'misrepresentations' about the committees aggressive investigatory work. Fox News confirmed the subpoenas to financial institutions, which include Bank of America, Cathay Bank, JPMorgan Chase, and and other HSBC USA, as did Comer. House Oversight chairman James Comer (R-KY) is probing President Joe Biden's handling of classified documents. His staff interviewed Biden's former executive assistant Tuesday The panel also subpoenaed former Hunter Biden associate Mervyn Yan. That comes after the panel last month subpoenaed another Hunter associate, John R. Walker, who wired cash to Biden family members including Beau Biden widow Hallie Biden. 'OversightDems have again disclosed Committees subpoenas in a cheap attempt to thwart cooperation from other witnesses,' Comer tweeted Friday. 'No one should be fooled by Ranking Member Raskins games. We have the bank records, and the facts are not good for the Biden family.' Raskin blasted Comer's conduct in a letter Thursday, where he accused of him trying to 'shield' information from the minority, in contravention of ordinary practice on the panel, which features partisan battles. Comer hit back in a statement to Fox complaining about Raskin's disclosure. The GOP-led committee has subpoenaed bank information on Biden family members Democrats are demanding access to the Hunter Biden laptop that has served as a road map for GOP investigators Comer and top Democrat Rep. Jamie Raskin are exchanging barbs 'Ranking Member Raskin has again disclosed Committees subpoenas in a cheap attempt to thwart cooperation from other witnesses. Given his antics with the first bank subpoena, the American people and media should be asking what information Ranking Member Raskin is trying to hide this time,' he said raising suspicion against the ranking member. Raskin had written Comer that 'I have grown increasingly alarmed by your efforts to shield information from Committee Democrats, including information collected as part of your investigation into members of the Presidents family. I am also troubled by your apparent public misrepresentations about certain investigative steps Committee Republicans have taken in this mattera probe you have deemed your top priority in the 118th Congress.; Raskin, a constitutional lawyer who served as an impeachment manager during former President Trump's impeachment trial, demanded the GOP share a copy of Hunter Biden's infamous laptop, which is informing its probe. 'For the past ten months, you have refused to share with the Minority a copy of the hard drive reportedly obtained from Hunter Bidens missing laptop even as you repeatedly refer to it in letters and reports, and frequently invoke documents purportedly obtained from it. You have even used this information to seek the personal financial information of private citizensdating as far back as January 2009through the use of compulsory process,' he said. Comer took a shot at Raskin in a statement to Axios, accusing him of 'playing lawyer for the Biden family instead of engaging in real oversight for the American people.' Prince Harry was 'infuriated' when King Charles told him he could not keep paying for Meghan Markle, a bombshell new book serialised in the Daily Mail reveals. Harry was hurt when he told his father he was planning to marry the actress and did not receive the response he may have hoped for. The revelation comes in Robert Jobson's new book Our King: Charles III The Man And The Monarch Revealed - with part two being published in this weekend's Mail on Sunday. First, William, who was present at this meeting, asked: 'Are you sure, Harold?' He said he was. Then Charles dropped a bombshell, saying he couldn't afford to pay for Meghan in the future as well as for Camilla, and for William and Catherine and their young family. This infuriated Harry. As Harry's wedding day approached, the slights built up in his mind. The first introduction of his bride-to-be to William and Catherine at Kensington Palace had left Meghan with the impression that Catherine was stand-offish. Later, the Duchess of Cambridge pregnant at the time had demanded an apology after Meghan had talked about Catherine's hormones, suggesting she had 'baby-brain'. And then there'd been that famous spat involving a bridesmaid's dress for Princess Charlotte. His father was given only 20 minutes' notice before Harry released a formal statement in which he called on the Press and online trolls to stop 'abuse' directed at Meghan. Pictured: Meghan, a then Prince Charles, and Harry on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on June 9, 2018 Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex on the long Walk at Windsor Castle to greet well-wishers Meanwhile, if Catherine found it almost unbearable before all this to share a walkabout with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, then how one has to wonder do she and William feel about them now? In truth, by the time his grandmother died, Harry had precious few supporters left in the family. Even the Queen, who had always had great affection for him, eventually tired of his outbursts. First, she had wearied of the volatile exchanges between Harry and his brother, which sometimes took place in her presence. Then Harry and Meghan had started publicly criticising both the monarchy and members of the Royal Family. At that point, the Queen was frankly mystified by the couple's behaviour, describing it as 'quite mad'. She came to believe, however, that her grandson was 'so consumed' by his love for his wife that it was 'clouding his judgment'. And she felt let down: not only was Her Majesty disappointed in Harry's decision to abandon his royal duty, but she also saw the departure of the Sussexes as a missed opportunity. Despite that, the Queen sincerely hoped that her grandson would find peace and happiness living the life he had chosen. Harry, for his part, phoned her regularly from California. But it troubled the Queen when he kept trying to air his grievances. In the end, she asked him to speak directly to his father instead. A source said: 'Her Majesty found Prince Harry's calls quite difficult and wearisome. She didn't want to interfere in the father/son relationship and would urge him to speak to his father.' The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex visit floral tributes and meet members of the public at Windsor Castle Kate found her Windsor walkabout with Harry and Meghan after the Queen's death 'one of the hardest things she'd ever had to do', a sensational new royal book reveals today That didn't work out either. Prince Charles simply stopped taking Harry's calls after his son swore at him and repeatedly asked for funds. When the Queen asked Charles why he hadn't given in, he told her that he wasn't a bank. News of Harry's relationship with an American actress had broken on October 31, 2016. Meghan Markle didn't seem perturbed: on the same day, she posted a picture on Instagram of two spooning bananas. But her mood seemed quickly to change. Photos of the prince's stunning new girlfriend were suddenly at a premium, and she was inevitably being targeted by the paparazzi. 'Terrified' for her safety, Harry later admitted he feared history would repeat itself and Meghan would suffer the same relentless hounding his mother endured, which he believed had led to her death. On November 8, he released a formal statement in which he called on the Press and online trolls to stop what he called the 'wave of abuse and harassment' directed at his girlfriend, claiming he had been involved in 'nightly legal battles' to stop the media from publishing defamatory stories about Meghan and their relationship. Unfortunately, he had consulted neither Charles nor William before letting loose this incendiary broadside. Not only was Her Majesty disappointed in Harry's decision to abandon his royal duty, but she also saw the departure of the Sussexes as a missed opportunity. Pictured: Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle on April 28, 2022 His father was given only 20 minutes' notice before it was released. On that day, Prince Charles had just arrived in Bahrain on a Foreign Office-sponsored visit to the Gulf states. As any member of the Royal Family could have predicted, Press attention immediately switched from the tour to his besotted son and the new girlfriend. Reports at the time suggested Charles was 'crushed', but this was far from the truth. Instead, he was disappointed at what he regarded as his son's bad manners. 'He would never have done such a thing if the Queen was on tour,' said one former aide. 'Understandably, there is a hierarchy and a grid system, but Prince Harry seemed to think when it came to Meghan Markle, she would always take precedence.' As he later explained in the Netflix docu-series he made with Meghan, 'as far as a lot of the family were concerned, everything that she was being put through, they had been put through as well' William was also uneasy. Privately, he thought his brother had overreacted. 'It was all a bit dramatic, a bit OTT,' one of his former aides later recalled. As for Harry, he took offence when told that the massive attention Meghan was getting was only to be expected. He was also angry at what he considered his family's lack of support. As he later explained in the Netflix docu-series he made with Meghan, 'as far as a lot of the family were concerned, everything that she was being put through, they had been put through as well. 'So, it was almost like a rite of passage, and some of the members of the family were like, 'My wife had to go through that, so why should your girlfriend be treated any differently? Why should you get special treatment? Why should she be protected?' I said, 'The difference here is the race element.' ' The 'race element' that so exercised Harry's protective instincts had somehow eluded his royal grandmother. At their first meeting, the Queen had tea with Meghan without even realising she was mixed race. Used to being briefed in advance whenever she met someone new, the monarch explained later in conversation with a member of her close circle that she simply hadn't been told. Of course, had she known then that Meghan's mother was black, the Queen who had counted Nelson Mandela as one of her dear friends would not have been in the least concerned. In fact, she was pleased that Harry had at last found love and warmly welcomed Meghan into the Royal Family. But when Her Majesty suggested she should turn to Sophie, Countess of Wessex, for support and advice, Meghan dismissed the idea, saying: 'I've got Harry.' Her response surprised the Queen, who had doubtless expected her well-meant suggestion to be taken up with gratitude. Still, that hardly mattered: Meghan, she felt, had the potential to be a great asset to the monarchy. The Queen was pleased that Harry had at last found love and warmly welcomed Meghan into the Royal Family. Pictured: Meghan and Queen Elizabeth II at a ceremony to open the new Mersey Gateway Bridge on June 14, 2018 The actress's confident presentation skills, combined with her black heritage, convinced the Queen that she would be a great champion for young women as she worked alongside Harry in his role as a Youth Ambassador with the Commonwealth Youth Programme. Meghan, for her part, was said to be 'hugely excited' about this new venture. She would certainly have known that the Commonwealth was particularly close to the Queen's heart, and that her endorsement was a great honour. Sources tell me that Meghan subsequently made a diligent study of the Commonwealth and was seen poring over her notes. Within months of the Queen's death, however, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's documentary series for Netflix seemed to suggest that she'd had a radical change of heart. To the astonishment of those who remembered Meghan's enthusiasm for her new role, the series dismissively branded the Commonwealth as 'Empire 2.0'. As we now know, William had urged his brother to be cautious before committing himself to a life with Meghan Markle. Even when Harry said he definitely wanted to marry her, William apparently told him: 'She's an American actress after all, Harold, anything might happen.' William had previously urged his brother to be cautious before committing himself to a life with Meghan Markle Charles dropped a bombshell, saying he couldn't afford to pay for Meghan in the future as well as for Camilla, and for William and Catherine and their young family William and Charles noticed that Harry seemed to be permanently on edge. Members of the bride and groom's entourage also noted that the prince had become 'petulant and short-tempered' raising his voice on occasion to staff and even swearing. Harry, for his part, was now convinced that William didn't approve of his choice of bride. Whether this was the case or not, the once close bond between the siblings was fraying badly. As simmering resentments threatened to boil over, Prince Charles wondered what he could do. For his part, he had welcomed Meghan, pronouncing himself captivated by her intelligence and vivacious personality. Camilla, too, had played her part as a sort of 'super-granny', dispensing humorous, down-to-earth advice to her. But the actress made it clear that she would make her own decisions. Like any loving father, Charles was distressed when his sons clashed with each other, especially when the ill feeling between them appeared to extend to both Meghan and Catherine. Aware that both Harry and William were stubborn and strong-willed, he feared the conflict between them would be very difficult to manage and might have a detrimental impact on the monarchy itself. Sometimes the level of belligerence between his sons and indeed towards himself when they challenged him shocked Charles. One particular exchange with William had become so heated that it had actually left him shaken. Although Charles himself has a short fuse, his temper is always short-lived. Averse to confrontation, he decided not to intervene in the clash between William and Harry, trusting that in time it would blow over. On May 19, 2018, the day of Harry and Meghan's wedding, the exuberant crowds were blissfully ignorant about the feud On May 19, 2018, the day of Harry and Meghan's wedding, the exuberant crowds were blissfully ignorant about the feud between the brothers and lingering animosity between their wives. It wasn't until October 2019 when an ITV documentary was screened about the Sussexes' tour of South Africa that the rift was openly acknowledged. Harry spoke for the first time of his strained relationship with his brother, while his wife acknowledged that her life behind the scenes had been a struggle. This angered Prince William, who saw it as a betrayal. One member of his circle said he felt especially let down. He believed the trust between them was gone. William was now also concerned at reports that the Sussex household was not a happy place to work. There was an unusually high staff turnover, and unsettling claims of bullying (vehemently denied by the Sussexes' lawyer) by Meghan. From Harry's viewpoint, this was rubbish fertilised by planted stories. But enough was enough: the swirl of negativity around Meghan helped them both conclude it was time to forge a new life away from the palace, Press and Royal Family. As Christmas 2019 approached, he told his father that he and his wife no longer wished to serve as full-time working royals but wanted a workable plan for them to be part in and part out, splitting their time between the UK and North America. They moved to California and started signing multi-million-dollar deals with Netflix and other companies Charles, who was used to his son letting off steam periodically, listened but eventually said that the idea was unworkable. Oblivious to his considered opinion, the Sussexes went public with their plans. As nothing had been agreed, Charles was understandably upset. The Sussexes had ignored what he had said, staking everything instead on their belief that the Queen would back them. There followed the famous Sandringham summit, convened by the Queen in January 2020 to work out what to do. So concerned was the monarch about privacy that, on taking advice, she had the library where the meeting was to take place swept for bugs. There was a suggestion that Meghan should join Charles, William and Harry via video link from Canada, but the Queen ruled that her attendance in any form was 'not necessary' as Harry would represent her. It was also felt that a video link wouldn't be secure, as Charles and William wouldn't be able to tell if the meeting was being recorded or if Meghan had anyone else listening in as they spoke. The Sussexes, of course, did not get what they wanted; they had made their play and lost. No longer working royals, they moved to California and started signing multi-million-dollar deals with Netflix and other companies. There were even reports that Meghan was considering running for president of the United States. The Sussexes' interview with Oprah Winfrey, in March 2021, marked a chilling new low in Harry's relationship with his father and brother. The Sussexes' interview with Oprah Winfrey, in March 2021, marked a chilling new low in Harry's relationship with his father and brother In the aftermath, William went to his father and told him that the Royal Family needed a clear strategy in dealing with the renegade royals. Charles agreed. From then on, Harry's father and brother decided, they would no longer treat him as a trusted if often infuriating member of the family. In short, they would never again meet Harry alone. There would always have to be another person in the room. Not only had Harry heavily implied to Oprah that a member of the family was racist, but he'd had the gall to claim that his father and brother knew they were 'trapped' in their royal roles 'and I have huge compassion for that,' he had added, twisting the knife. Both Charles and William had been extremely upset by Harry's arrogance, aghast at his lack of discretion and furious that he'd had the audacity to speak about their supposed feelings. Or, as a senior source in the Royal Household put it rather more tactfully: 'They were both deeply disappointed in him. He had no right or authority to speak on their behalf.' There was no meaningful conversation when Harry saw his brother and father again at Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021 Perhaps unsurprisingly, there was no meaningful conversation when Harry saw his brother and father again at Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021. Nor was there any attempt at a rapprochement when Harry joined his brother for the unveiling of a statue of their mother at Kensington Palace on July 1, 2021. However, the Queen did meet Harry and Meghan at Windsor Castle when they made a stopover in April 2022, en route to The Hague for the Invictus Games. She'd agreed to see her grandson on the proviso that he met and talked with his father, too. The couple were welcomed warmly by the Queen, in what turned out to be the last time Harry saw his grandmother. Charles was also at the castle along with Camilla where he was standing in for his mother at the annual Maundy Thursday service. To add insult to injury, Harry and Meghan turned up late, meaning the meeting with Prince Charles lasted less than 15 minutes. It was agreed that the Sussexes should later join the rest of the Royal Family for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Harry and Meghan duly arrived at St Paul's Cathedral on June 3 for the National Service of Thanksgiving for the Queen Nevertheless, in a spirit of reconciliation, it was agreed that the Sussexes should later join the rest of the Royal Family for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Again there was a proviso: the Netflix film crew accompanying them would not be allowed access to royal palaces or members of the family. Harry and Meghan duly arrived at St Paul's Cathedral on June 3 for the National Service of Thanksgiving for the Queen (which she could not attend). They were booed by some in the large crowd. If the message hadn't yet got through, the couple could no longer doubt that they were outsiders, no longer part of the charmed circle of the British Royal Family. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are on the brink of confirming whether they will attend King Charles's Coronation next month, sources have claimed, while the Duke of Sussex has 'a lot of questions about how the event will work'. Buckingham Palace is making final preparations for the once-in-a-generation ceremony, which will see Charles ascend to the throne at Westminster Abbey on May 6 - while Camilla will be made Queen. But despite the deadline for RSVPs reportedly passing on Monday, it is understood the Sussexes have yet to tell palace aides if they will be flying in from California for the service. However a source told The Times: 'I hear they are going to confirm their plans soon, particularly now that Biden has.' US President Joe Biden called Charles to let him know he will not be attending the service in central London, sending his wife Jill instead, in what some commentators have viewed as a snub. Despite the deadline for RSVPs reportedly passing on Monday, it is understood the Sussexes have yet to tell palace aides if they will be flying in from California for the ceremony Another source said Harry has 'a lot of questions about how the event will work' The New York Post reported that plans are being finalised for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to fly in for the Coronation. Poll Should Harry and Meghan go to the coronation? Yes No Should Harry and Meghan go to the coronation? Yes 282 votes No 4255 votes Now share your opinion A source said: 'There have been lengthy discussions between the Sussexes and the palace. 'There is a time crunch on this, of course. It is such a historical event and it's hoped that Harry and Meghan will be there.' Another source said: 'All families are difficult, but this is no normal family, of course. 'Harry has a lot of questions about how the event will work.' The service is expected to be watched by hundreds of millions across the globe in what will be a masterclass in pomp and pageantry - despite the King's decision to 'slim down' the occasion. If Harry and Meghan do attend the service, they will not take part in the Coronation procession afterwards nor join senior royals on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, it was previously reported. Prince William will be the only royal liege at the ceremony, and only he will kneel to 'pay homage' to the King, before touching the crown and kissing his father's cheek. The action is usually performed by all the royal dukes, but Charles scrapped the traditional obligation, effectively absolving Prince Harry of any ceremonial duties. Harry and Meghan's children, Archie, aged three, and one-year-old Lilibet, are too young to perform roles in the ceremony. They have reportedly not been invited to the event. Royal author Phil Dampier previously told MailOnline: 'They are too young to be involved in the actual ceremony but of course the King would love to see his grandchildren if they came over and it must be heartbreaking for him that he never sees them.' The late Queen Elizabeth II, Charles, Camilla, William, Kate, Harry and Meghan attend the Commonwealth Day Service on March 9, 2020 Prince William will be the only royal liege at the ceremony, and only he will kneel to 'pay homage' to the King, before touching the crown and kissing his father's cheek The Sussexes should not expect to play a significant role in the coronation of King Charles when they cannot even decide if they are going, royal experts said this week Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliam said the Sussexes will 'almost certainly have no role' in the Coronation. He told MailOnline this week: 'They want the Royal Family to own that they treated them badly when they were senior working royals and apologise. This won't happen. 'Lili is not yet two and is almost certainly too young to have attended but the ceremony falls on Archie's fourth birthday. 'He might have attended, though he is obviously too young for a role. They have reportedly not been invited.' He added: 'Harry and Meghan will almost certainly attend as they would be isolated if they did not. 'When they do attend, as I fully expect they will, they will almost certainly have no role to perform in the ceremony. Charles will be the 40th monarch to be crowned in the Abbey and at 74 at the time of the ceremony, the oldest to ever be crowned READ MORE: Ultimate reward for Queen who played the long game: How 'warm, fun and friendly' Camilla won over the hearts of the nation despite once being a pariah who Elizabeth II 'wanted nothing to do with' Charles and Camilla at the Service of Prayer and Dedication blessing their marriage at Windsor Castle on April 9, 2005 Advertisement 'The Royal Family knows how to deal with them and is only too aware of the harm they have willfully done the Royal Family for monetary gain. 'The talk with other royals will be of the weather. 'They will not, with reason, be trusted. They have only themselves to blame for that and for their declining ratings.' Westminster Abbey will be filled with 2,000 people for the service - down from a potential guestlist of 7,000 - including leaders from the likes of France, Spain and Japan. Charles will be the 40th monarch to be crowned in the Abbey and at 74 at the time of the ceremony, the oldest to ever be crowned. The service itself will be 'solemn and religious' while also offering 'celebration and pageantry', according to the Royal Family website. While the start time has not been confirmed, Queen Elizabeth II's ceremony began at 11.15am and lasted nearly three hours. However the Mail on Sunday previously revealed that the service is expected to last for just over an hour. It will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and 'will reflect the Monarch's role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions.' Among those will be the role of the Page of Honour, carried out by Prince George and seven other boys. The historic ceremonial position will see the eight youngsters - four for each monarch - carry the King and Queen's robes into the Abbey. Kate found her Windsor walkabout with Harry and Meghan after the Queen's death 'one of the hardest things she'd ever had to do', a sensational new royal book reveals today. The Princess of Wales told a senior royal it was so difficult for her because of the 'ill-feeling' between the couples, veteran royal correspondent Robert Jobson says. The new book, called Our King - serialised in The Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday this weekend - lays bare the inside story of the Royals' war with the Sussexes before, during and after Megxit. It also tells how: Charles was frustrated at Harry's 'bad manners' for overshadowing his 2016 Gulf tour by releasing the statement confirming his relationship with Meghan but demanding they be left alone; The Queen was mystified by Harry and Meghan's public criticisms of the monarchy and members of the royal family - and described their behaviour as 'quite mad'; Charles and William decided they could not risk being alone with Harry again after the Sussexes' bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021 and would no longer treat him as a trusted member of the family; There were fears that if Meghan was allowed to join by video link from Canada the so-called Sandringham Summit to thrash out details of the Sussexes' future in January 2020 it would not be 'secure'. Kate found her Windsor walkabout with Harry and Meghan after the Queen's death 'one of the hardest things she'd ever had to do', a sensational new royal book reveals today Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex on the long Walk at Windsor Castle to greet well-wishers Kate and William's appearance with Harry and Meghan to greet well-wishers and view the flowers outside the gates of Windsor Castle came two days after the Queen's death at the age of 96 in September last year. To many, the couples' joint walkabout - said to have been William's idea to put on a show of unity - might have seemed like some kind of reconciliation. But Mr Jobson says sources close to the royal family have confirmed to him that was an 'illusion'. 'Catherine later admitted to a senior royal that, such was the ill feeling between the two couples, the joint walkabout was one of the hardest things she'd ever had to do,' he writes. It comes as relations between the Sussexes and the rest of the Royal Family remain at an all time low following a series of blistering attacks over the past year. The Harry & Meghan Netflix documentary in December criticised King Charles as a father before taking a swipe at the choice of wives by male members of the Firm. Harry insisted that his decision to marry Meghan set him apart from his family because it was 'from his heart' and not because she 'would fit the mould'. Meanwhile the Duke's bombshell memoir, released in February, dealt further blows to the reputation of the monarchy. Harry accused his brother of assault, branded his stepmother a 'villain' and repeatedly spoke of the family's 'unconscious bias' when it comes to race. There has yet to be a reconciliation and all eyes are on the King's Coronation on May 6 - and crucially whether or not the Sussexes will attend. Another source said Harry has 'a lot of questions about how the event will work' The late Queen Elizabeth II, Charles, Camilla, William, Kate, Harry and Meghan attend the Commonwealth Day Service on March 9, 2020 Despite the deadline for RSVPs reportedly passing on Monday, it is understood Harry and Meghan have yet to tell palace aides if they will be flying in from California for the service. However the New York Post reported that plans are being finalised for the couple to fly in for the Coronation. A source said: 'There have been lengthy discussions between the Sussexes and the palace. 'There is a time crunch on this, of course. It is such a historical event and it's hoped that Harry and Meghan will be there.' Another source said: 'All families are difficult, but this is no normal family, of course. 'Harry has a lot of questions about how the event will work.' A law professor has been falsely accused of sexually harassing a student in reputation-ruining misinformation shared by ChatGPT, it has been alleged. US criminal defence attorney, Jonathan Turley, has raised fears over the dangers of artificial intelligence (AI) after being wrongly accused of unwanted sexual behaviour on an Alaska trip he never went on. To jump to this conclusion, it was claimed that ChatGPT relied on a cited Washington Post article that had never been written, quoting a statement that was never issued by the newspaper. The chatbot also believed that the 'incident' took place while the professor was working in a faculty he had never been employed in. In a tweet, the George Washington University professor said: 'Yesterday, President Joe Biden declared that "it remains to be seen" whether Artificial Intelligence (AI) is "dangerous". I would beg to differ... Professor Jonthan Turley was falsely accused of sexual harassment by AI-powered ChatGPT 'I learned that ChatGPT falsely reported on a claim of sexual harassment that was never made against me on a trip that never occurred while I was on a faculty where I never taught. ChatGPT fast facts - what you need to know It's a chatbot built on a large language model which can output human-like text and understand complex queries It launched on November 30, 2022 By January 2023, it had 100million users - having grown faster than TikTok or Instagram The company behind it is OpenAI OpenAI secured a $10billion investment from Microsoft Other 'big tech' companies have their own rivals such as Google's Bard Advertisement 'ChatGPT relied on a cited Post article that was never written and quotes a statement that was never made by the newspaper.' Professor Turley discovered the allegations against him after receiving an email from a fellow professor. UCLA professor Eugene Volokh had asked ChatGPT to find 'five examples' where 'sexual harassment by professors' had been a 'problem at American law schools'. In an article for USAToday, Professor Turley wrote that he was listed among those accused. The bot allegedly wrote: 'The complaint alleges that Turley made "sexually suggestive comments" and "attempted to touch her in a sexual manner" during a law school-sponsored trip to Alaska. (Washington Post, March 21, 2018).' This was said to have occurred while Professor Turley was employed at Georgetown University Law Center - a place where he had never worked. 'It was not just a surprise to UCLA professor Eugene Volokh, who conducted the research. It was a surprise to me since I have never gone to Alaska with students, The Post never published such an article, and I have never been accused of sexual harassment or assault by anyone,' he wrote for USAToday. The AI bot cited a Washington Post article that didn't exist to back its falsified claims The false claims were investigated by the Washington Post which found that Microsoft-powered GPT-4 had also shared the same claims about Professor Turley. This repeated defamation seemed to have occurred following press coverage highlighting ChatGPT's initial mistake, demonstrating how easily misinformation can spread. Following the incident, Microsoft's senior communications director, Katy Asher, told the publication that it had taken measures to ensure its platform is accurate. She said: 'We have developed a safety system including content filtering, operational monitoring, and abuse detection to provide a safe search experience for our users.' Professor Turley responded to this in his blog, writing: 'You can be defamed by AI and these companies merely shrug that they try to be accurate. 'In the meantime, their false accounts metastasize across the Internet. By the time you learn of a false story, the trail is often cold on its origins with an AI system. 'You are left with no clear avenue or author in seeking redress. You are left with the same question of Reagans Labor Secretary, Ray Donovan, who asked "Where do I go to get my reputation back?"' MailOnline has approached OpenAI and Microsoft for comment. Professor Turley's experience follows previous concerns that ChatGPT has not consistently provided accurate information. Professor Turley's experience comes amid fears of misinformation spreading online Researchers found that ChatGPT has used fake journal articles and made-up health data to support claims it made about cancer. The platform also failed to provide results as 'comprehensive' as those found through a Google search, it was claimed, having answered one in 10ten questions about breast cancer screening wrongly. Global Cybersecurity Advisor at ESET, Jake Moore, warned that ChatGPT users should not take everything it reads 'as gospel' to avoid the dangerous spread of misinformation. He told MailOnline: 'AI-driven chatbots are designed to rewrite data that has been fed into the algorithm but when this data is false or out of context there is the chance that the output will incorrectly reflect what it has been taught. 'The data pool in which it has learnt from has been based on data sets including Wikipedia and Reddit which in essence cannot be taken as gospel. 'The problem with ChatGPT is that it cannot verify the data which could include misinformation or even bias information. Even worse is when AI makes assumptions or falsified data. In theory, this is where the "intelligence" part of AI is meant to take over autonomously and confidently create data output. If this is harmful such as with this case then this could be its downfall.' These fears also come at a time when researchers suggest ChatGPT has the potential to 'corrupt' people's moral judgment and may prove dangerous to 'naive' users. Others have told how the software, which is designed to talk like a human, can show signs of jealousy - even telling people to leave their marriage. Mr Moore continued: 'We are moving into a time when we need to continually corroborate information more than previously thought but we are still only on version four of ChatGPT and even earlier versions with its competitors. 'Therefore it is key that people do their own due diligence from what they read before jumping to conclusions.' Researchers have found evidence of drug use during Bronze Age ceremonies. Analysis of strands of human hair from a burial site in Menorca, Spain, indicates ancient human civilisations used hallucinogenic drugs derived from plants. The findings are the first direct evidence of ancient drug use in Europe, which may have been used as part of ritualistic ceremonies, researchers say. Researchers detected scopolamine, ephedrine and atropine in three replicated hair samples. Atropine and scopolamine are naturally found in the nightshade plant family and can induce delirium, hallucinations and altered sensory perception. Researchers have found evidence of drug use during Bronze Age ceremonies (artist's impression) Analysis of strands of human hair from a burial site in Menorca, Spain, indicates ancient human civilisations used hallucinogenic drugs derived from plants Psychedelic-like drug boosts the body's 'feel good' hormone WITHOUT hallucinations - and it could be used to treat depression and PTSD - READ MORE If synthesised, AAZ-A-154, a 'previously unstudied' molecule, could be an effective treatment for humans with depression and PTSD (concept image) Advertisement Ephedrine is a stimulant derived from certain species of shrubs and pines which can increase excitement, alertness and physical activity. Writing in the Scientific Reports journal, the authors said: 'As early as the Paleolithic period, humans came across the non-food properties of certain plants. 'The results presented here indicate that several alkaloid-bearing plants were consumed by Bronze Age people from Menorca (although Solanaceae and Ephedra were not the only ones to have been consumed). 'Interestingly, the psychoactive substances detected in this study are not suitable for alleviating the pain involved in severe palaeopathological conditions attested in the population buried in the cave of Es Carritx, such as periapical abscesses, severe caries and arthropathies. 'Considering the potential toxicity of the alkaloids found in the hair, their handling, use and applications represented highly-specialised knowledge. 'This knowledge was typically possessed by shamans, who were capable of controlling the side-effects of the plant drugs through an ecstasy that made diagnosis or divination possible.' The scientists suggest the presence of these substances may have been due to consumption of some nightshade plants, such as mandrake, henbane or thorn apple, and joint pine. It is thought these drug plants may have been used as part of ritual ceremonies performed by a shaman. A wooden bowl and spoon were found by researchers in the hoard with the human hair containers The findings are the first direct evidence of ancient drug use in Europe, which may have been used as part of ritualistic ceremonies, researchers say. Pictured: the inner chamber of Es Carritx cave Strands of hair from certain individuals were dyed red, placed in the wooden and horn containers decorated. Pictured: a wooden comb found in the hoard with the human hair containers Peru's Wari empire may have mixed hallucinogenic seeds into beer - READ MORE These molle drupes were used to make an alcoholic beverage called chicha. This sample was excavated in Quilcapampa, Peru Advertisement The concentric circles on the wooden containers they were found in may have depicted eyes and could have been a metaphor for inner vision related to a drug-induced altered state of consciousness, the researchers suggest. Due to cultural changes around 2,800 years ago, the authors speculate the containers were sealed in the cave chamber in order to preserve these ancient traditions. Previous evidence of prehistoric drug use in Europe has been based on indirect evidence such as the detection of opium alkaloids in Bronze Age containers, the finding of remains of drug plants in ritualistic contexts and the appearance of drug plants in artistic depictions. Elisa Guerra-Doce, from the Universidad de Valladolid in Spain, and colleagues examined strands of hair from the Es Carritx cave in Menorca, which was first occupied around 3,600 years ago and contained a chamber used as a funeral space until around 2,800 years ago. According to past studies, around 210 individuals were interred in this chamber. However, strands of hair from only certain individuals were dyed red, placed in the wooden and horn containers decorated, and removed to a separate sealed chamber further back in the cave. These hair strands date to approximately 3,000 years ago. With its pale pink colour and delicious flavours of summer berry, the rose found in Provence has become synonymous with the region. If you've been to the South of France, you may have even liked the wine so much that you decided to buy a few bottles to bring home and enjoy with friends. But despite tasting incredible in the French summer sun, the wine never tastes quite the same on a cold winter's night in Britain. Now, Oxford University's Professor Charles Spence has explained the phenomenon, which he's dubbed the Provencal Rose Paradox. 'The same wine can taste so different, depending on the situation in which we happen to find ourselves,' Professor Spence said. With its pale pink colour and delicious flavours of summer berry, the rose found in Provence has become synonymous with the region Anyone for a Brumdeaux? Climate change means Chardonnay grapes could be grown near Birmingham by 2050 - READ MORE Brumdeaux could become a reality by 2050 because of climate change (stock image) Advertisement Professor Spence worked with wine distributors, Berkmann Wine Cellars, to understand why the same food and wine can taste so different under different scenarios. The team surveyed 2,000 respondents, and found that 62 per cent appreciate the taste of food and drink more when dining out with friends than at home. However, 58 per cent said that having dinner with someone they don't like can ruin the taste of a meal for them. Professor Spence said: 'There is an intrinsic link between social and emotional cues and the experience of eating food and drinking wine. 'This plays into the idea of the "social facilitation effect", a well-known gastrophysics theory in which we tend to enjoy food and drink more when in the presence of people we like.' It's not just the people we're with that can influence taste location is also important, according to Professor Spence. 'The flavour and enjoyment of a specific wine can change based on the context and environment,' he said. 'Many of us are familiar with the experience of enjoying rose wine in the South of France. 'It can taste so wonderful that we end up buying a few bottles to bring back home and share with friends on a cold winter's night. 'Only it is very often a disappointment the wine tastes different, somehow much less enjoyable. Despite tasting incredible in the French summer sun, the wine never tastes quite the same on a cold winter's night in Britain (stock image) 'This is the paradox how the same wine can taste so different, depending on the situation in which we happen to find ourselves.' On holiday, we're usually happy and relaxed, which can boost our appreciation of flavours, according to Professor Spence. 'The social situations we are in can really influence the way we experience taste enjoyment which comes from a preferred social interaction will automatically boost our mood, meaning our ability to appreciate flavour is significantly increased,' he added. The study comes shortly after researchers claimed that when it comes to white wine, you should avoid varieties that come in clear bottles. Researchers from the University of Trento found that wines stored in transparent vessels known as 'flint glass' can react with light to develop nasty aromas, including 'boiled cabbage' and 'wet dog'. 'Light can dramatically damage the aroma profile and sensorial identity of varietal white wine in less than a week of shelf-life in flint glass bottles,' the researchers wrote in their study, published in PNAS. How do you celebrate your parents' 50th wedding anniversary? Traditionally, it's giving a gift made of gold, but if you're Anna Friel then dressing up as a superhero for the day is de rigueur. The 46-year-old actress appeared in a metallic blue leotard and red cape looking somewhere between Wonder Woman and Supergirl. She sported a glam makeup palette, which consisted of a bronzed base and a smokey blue eye look. 'Someone's going to a fancy dress gathering,' says Anna, whose parents Desmond and Julie are both retired teachers. She told her 212k Instagram followers: 'It's in honour of my parents' visit before they head off to Australia to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Love you mama and papa' Wow! Anna Friel donned a metallic blue leotard and red cape as she transformed into Supergirl to celebrate her parents 50th wedding anniversary She told her 212k Instagram followers: 'It's in honour of my parents' visit before they head off to Australia to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Love you mama and papa' Anna is known for roles on British soap Brookside and US comedy-drama Pushing Daisies. The actress shares daughter Gracie, 17, with Harry Potter star David Thewlis, 59, who she split from in 2010 after almost a decade together. It comes after her ex Toby Anstis claimed he could now be married to her after she propositioned him in the 90s, but said he lost out to love rat Darren Day. The TV presenter, 51, has revealed that the Marcella star chatted him up during the 90's while at a party and asked him to stay out that night - but when he went for a drink, Darren swooped in and went on to date her for three years. And the hapless radio DJ claims that while he dated Cassie Bancroft a year ago, he is still single because Tinder has banned his profile, believing it to be fake. Toby said during the Diary of a Name Dropper podcast: 'Even thinking about it I'm still bitter about this....Darren Day' The Heart Dance host explained how he and Anna were having a few drinks and were 'getting on really really well.' He said: 'I did feel there was a bit of chemistry and then she asked me, "you're not going back to London tonight?" and I said "yeah I'm on tele tomorrow afternoon and she said "no stay up the night and go back in the morning."' Shocked Toby continued: 'I just went bl**dy hell all of me is thinking Jesus Christ I've been chatted up and asked to stay up here whether she meant stay at her place, one would hope, but I didn't know what that meant, but I thought I'd stay up.' As Toby went to get the pair a drink Darren moved in on Anna which the star is convinced his 'management thought it would be a good publicity thing.' As he returned he witness the pair getting on and 'the next day they were all over the papers, but she asked me to stay the night before you Darren.' Despite the couple being together for three years and becoming engaged Toby still seemed a little irked. Regrets? Anna's outing comes after her ex Toby Anstis claimed he could now be married to her after she propositioned him in the 90s, but said he lost out to love rat Darren Day Relationship: The actress and Darren were together afterwards for three years and he even proposed before the pair eventually went their separate ways (pictured in the 90s) He added: 'I could have been married to Anna Friel and she could have had my children.' Anna later married David Thewlis whom she shares a daughter with but separated in 2010. She also married Notting Hill star Rhys Ifans in 2011 but the pair went their separate ways in 2014. Darren has also found love since with actress Stephanie Dooley who he wed in 2010. But Toby is still having no luck with his love life after being banned from the dating app Tinder. Dogs were central to Paul OGradys happiness. He was never more content than when at home with his pooches or being covered in sloppy canine kisses while filming For The Love Of Dogs. Following Pauls shock sudden death last month at the age of 67, ITV is paying tribute to the comedy legend with tomorrows new documentary celebrating his life, For The Love Of Paul OGrady, in which colleagues and friends will share memories of Pauls life and career - from drag queen Lily Savage to quizmaster, talk show host and beyond. In the last decade of Pauls life, his reputation as a national treasure was cemented as host of Paul OGrady: For The Love Of Dogs, celebrating the work of Battersea Dogs And Cats Home as it rehabilitates and rehomes unwanted canines. It captured the hearts of viewers and has been running since 2012, with Pauls passion for pooches shining through. Its such a simple show, Paul said in a recent interview promoting what would be his final series. There are no special effects, no shiny floor. Just the dogs, the incredible people who work with the dogs, and me. But the reaction it still gets is really lovely. Following Paul O'Grady's sudden death last month at the age of 67, ITV is paying tribute to the comedy legend with tomorrows new documentary celebrating his life, For The Love Of Paul OGrady, airing at 8pm on ITV1 ITV has decided to screen Pauls final outing on the programme as part of their tribute. ITV chief Kevin Lygo says, Paul had a profound passion for animals, which resonated with so many viewers, and For The Love Of Dogs remains one of our best-loved series, and a really special programme for so many. I adored Peggy, but she was the size of a donkey! Yet so loving. Its often smaller dogs that are most feisty In the new series we see Paul in danger of adopting yet another furry friend, even though his Kent farmhouse already echoed to the barks of several former Battersea residents. In the 11 years Ive been at Battersea Ive fallen head over heels quite a few times, he confesses. I did rehome little Eddie, gorgeous Conchita, Arfur, Nancy, and the latest is Sausage. Oops! He forgot Boycie, the Shih Tzu he adopted in 2014 and who died during lockdown in April 2020. As Paul finds his heartstrings twanged by another adorable doggie, you can see him contemplating whether to add her to his collection. There was a beautiful Newfoundland called Peggy and I absolutely adored her, he explains. An unloved dog comes in, and the staff will transform them with their patience and kindness The thing is, she was the size of a donkey! She was huge, but she was so loving, Id just go in the kennel with her and shed lie on me. Shed hear my voice and jump up. It was special and I was obsessed with her. 'But I thought, I cant bring her back. I dont know what my other dogs would say. Especially Eddie, my Chihuahua hed go for her. Eddies got no idea of his own size: hed be straight in for a fight, even though weve got bigger rats than Eddie! Paul manages to resist Peggy, but he does use her to highlight the plight of larger dogs at Battersea, saying they can make perfect family dogs. Bigger dogs are often so loving, he says. Its often the little dogs youve got to watch! I was holding a Chihuahua and saying on camera, Theyre such lovely little dogs, but can be quite feisty, and right on cue it went for me! In the last decade of Pauls life, his reputation as a national treasure was cemented as host of Paul OGrady: For The Love Of Dogs, celebrating the work of Battersea Dogs And Cats Home as it rehabilitates and rehomes unwanted canines. Stock picture 'Then in the kennel next door is a massive Staffie [Staffordshire Bull Terrier] licking my face, sitting on my lap, really gentle. Dont judge a book by its cover. The thought of dogs lacking forever homes was brought cruelly home to Paul when meeting much-loved family dogs whod become victims of the cost-of-living crisis. A recent survey found that four million UK pet owners were struggling with the cost of feeding their animals. Some felt they had no choice but to give up their pets. People are coming in and saying, I cant afford to keep my dog any more. Ive got two kids and I cant afford it, says Paul. And theyre crying; they are genuinely upset and its heartbreaking. The staff at Battersea are wonderful and dont judge. They always say, Dont worry, well look after him. Its so sad to see. The aim of the series is to showcase Batterseas good works. Its a Cinderella story, Paul muses. This poor dog comes in, often in an appalling state, unloved. Then the staff come in with their patience and kindness and medication and experience and they transform the dog, and it goes off to a nice home. Sadly, not every dog can have a happy ending. But to make this programme is a privilege, even when it means rolling around on the floor of the kennels with the dogs all day. Its poignant to think that Paul has visited Battersea for the final time, but his legacy as a devoted animal-lover will outlive him. For The Love Of Paul OGrady, Easter Sunday, 8pm, ITV1. He may be a TV tough guy, but even Ross Kemp can be overcome by the unpredictable forces of nature. The ex-EastEnders hard man and intrepid presenter of documentaries from the worlds danger spots reveals he had a close shave when diving during filming for the new series of his Sky History show Ross Kemp: Deep Sea Treasure Hunter, which starts this week. Ross and his co-diver, marine archaeologist Mallory Haas, both developed a condition called hypercapnia while diving for relics on shipwrecks in Plymouth Sound. It involves a dangerous build-up of carbon dioxide levels in the body, and is potentially life-threatening if divers do not take action. Wed found some lead used for repairing boats in the 1600s and 1700s buried in the seabed, Ross explains. He may be a TV tough guy, but even Ross Kemp can be overcome by the unpredictable forces of nature I was exerting myself trying to get it out and I forgot I was at depth. I was breathing out a load of carbon dioxide, which gets trapped in a mask unless you expel it. We were too busy doing what we were doing we were getting brass fever and were both in trouble. Brass fever refers to the errors of judgment divers make when distracted by their finds under water. Ross and Mallory started feeling disoriented and seeing stars so, realising what was happening, they expelled the CO2 from their masks, took in extra oxygen and sat on the seabed to calm their breathing before aborting the dive. Although accompanied by a safety diver and trained to deal with such emergencies, Ross was rattled. I think Mallory and I were both a bit shaken by it, he says. Im a qualified diver, but it shows how easily you can get over-confident. This is one of the many dramatic moments in the new four-episode series, in which Ross dives deeper than ever to tell captivating stories of Britains maritime history as he searches for relics and treasure. In episode one Ross and Mallory are granted rare permission to dive on the remains of the Mary Rose, Henry VIIIs famous warship which sank in battle just off Portsmouth in 1545. In episode one Ross and Mallory are granted rare permission to dive on the remains of the Mary Rose, Henry VIIIs famous warship which sank in battle just off Portsmouth in 1545 Although the main body of the ship was lifted in 1982, they didnt get all of it off the bottom, explains Ross, 58. Mallory and I found pottery and some wood we believe to be from the bowcastle [the raised part at the front of the ship]. So that was a huge honour. Ross and Mallory find more treasure from a wreck in Plymouth Sound in episode two before the hypercapnia incident. It was only one 1700s silver coin, but finding real booty was amazing, he says. Episodes three and four focus on World War II wrecks first in the Red Sea off Egypt, where on their deepest dive, to 55m, they try to find out why the relatively insignificant British coal ship Rosalie Moller was sunk in 1941. Then in Normandy Ross dives to Allied ships from D-Day, and tries to find out why a US tank-landing ship sank two weeks later when the Allies controlled the area. He also reflects on the loss of life. I realised while diving on the D-Day ships that some of those young men never got the chance to go to war. So I went to the cemetery at Omaha Beach. There Ross partook in a practice that honours the lost Allied soldiers. The cemeterys curator gave me a bucket of sand from the beach. You rub it into the lightly engraved name on the white marble crosses and it sits in the crevices so the name suddenly appears in front of you because the sands darker. I was not far off crying. It was very emotional. Richard Armitage has the good grace to blush. Three years ago, as he approached his 50th year, the Spooks star - whos always been uneasy with his heartthrob status - heaved a very public sigh of relief that he was way past having to take my shirt off. Yet when we meet today Im still slightly goggle-eyed after bingeing on all four episodes of his latest series Obsession, which he spends a good chunk of totally naked. Indeed we both blush at the thought of what Ive seen. The Netflix thriller - a channel hes already had huge success on recently with The Stranger and Stay Close - is a new adaptation of the erotic novel Damage, which was made into a hit 1992 film with Jeremy Irons and Juliette Binoche. And its the sexist thing youll see on TV this year. It makes Bridgerton look like Songs Of Praise. I wont be watching, Richard confides. I dont really like to watch most things Ive done and this one was pretty intense... intense in a brilliant way. Im left with a happy memory of what we did. The show stars Richard as surgeon William Farrow, who has an illicit affair with his sons fiancee Anna Barton, played by Happy Valleys Charlie Murphy, with devastating consequences. He and Charlie spent ten days naked or near-naked filming raunchy scenes in the flat where most of the affair takes place. Richard Armitage watched European movies in order to prepare for his role as William Farrow in Netflix's new adaptation of the erotic novel Damage. Pictured: Richard with Indira Varma and Charlie Murphy in Obsession Yes, theres an irony in that I thought once I turned 50 I wouldnt have to take my shirt off any more, he laughs. When I mentioned that to the producers of Obsession they said, We dont want just the shirt off... we want it all off! But this story is about sexual psychology, a trap that people get caught up in. I thought it was interesting, an exploration of psychology through physical vocabulary. Richard is known for the way he throws himself into researching his roles. For hit BBC spy series Spooks he even allowed himself to be waterboarded for real (hes said he lasted about 30 seconds!) to prepare for a particularly harrowing scene. To play Farrow, whose obsession with the damaged Anna takes over his work and his home life, he began by watching sexy European dramas. Theyre much more laid-back about nudity on screen, not as prudish as us. They see it as, This is life, this is the human body. Its not a big deal. In French films, when they get out of bed to go to the bathroom, they dont hold a sheet in front of them. At home I do walk around naked, although sometimes I think Id better close the curtains! The Netflix thriller is a new adaptation of the erotic novel Damage, which was made into a hit 1992 film with Jeremy Irons and Juliette Binoche, pictured He also turned to his first love, dance. Born in Leicester - his father was a nuclear engineer, his mother a school secretary - Richard knew he wanted to dance from a young age and attended the performing arts boarding school Pattison College from the age of 14, before turning to acting via musical theatre. The body is amazing, isnt it? he muses. I do tend to fall down a rabbit hole when it comes to watching dancers doing extraordinary things with their bodies. I like to see sinews. Im a bit obsessed with the Achilles tendon. I love hands, wrists and how they move. Because William is a surgeon when we meet him, hes just spent days separating conjoined twins - I brought that into the character. In one shot William brushes Annas neck and you can see her vein pulsing. Another time we filmed her getting goose pimples. You dont often see these things on screen but hes fascinated by the landscape of her body. For the first time in his long career, Richard, whose other roles have included Thorin in the Hobbit films, worked with an intimacy co-ordinator for the more physical scenes. Shes part director, part choreographer and part psychologist, he says of Adelaide Waldrop. She talked about how when youre doing these scenes you need to talk about the characters body parts, not your own. So this was Williams body and hes touching Annas body. Separating myself from the character and what he was doing felt like a good way around it. Yet at the same time, he knew it was his body that would be plastered over our screens. There was no point going to the gym because William, as a surgeon, wouldnt be a beefcake, he says. But I wanted to look fit and well. Charlies younger than me and I didnt want it to look inappropriate. Charlie and I were both vain enough not to eat anything before the intimate stuff. So wed arrive on set starving and my stomach would start grumbling and then hers would too, like they were having a conversation. Something of a method actor, Richard deliberately took himself away from the rest of the cast between scenes and says the whole time they were filming he couldnt look Indira Varma, who plays his wife Ingrid, or Rish Shah, who plays his son Jay, in the eye. I first met Richard 15 years ago when hed become the resident heartthrob on Spooks, having already attracted a huge fanbase called the Armitage Army on costume drama North & South, pictured, Indira is brilliant in the role, which somehow made it ten times worse, he laughs. After wed finished filming I went to see her in a play and we had a drink afterwards. Even then I struggled to make eye contact. I was thinking, She must think Im an awful human being because of what Ive done. Or what William has done. I couldnt get over it because I dont think its something Id ever do. Richard came out as gay to his family when he was 19 but not publicly until a few years ago, saying he was worried if I said the wrong thing or revealed too much, it could all come crashing down and my parents wouldnt be proud of me any more. You cant always be in charge of your body when someone touches it. You cant switch it off Hes still uncomfortable discussing his private life, but says he and his partner of five years have become friendly with Charlie and her husband. When I ask if he was worried his sexuality might stop casting directors choosing him for certain roles he shrugs. Hes not sure, but he believes acting means always putting yourself in the skin of someone else. Attraction is attraction and I know this is asked a lot more of straight actors playing gay characters whats it like to kiss a man? The answer is its just like kissing a woman, he says. Its the same feeling; a pair of lips. And because youre kissing a stranger youre trying to engage with them and create chemistry, but at the same time youre holding them at a distance. He admits that distance isnt always possible and says he fell in love with Charlie platonically, but it was still sexually charged. You cant always be in charge of your body when someone touches it. You cant switch it off. I find the mouth the most intimate area of the body - the closeness in the lips I had with Charlie was more revealing than anything else. Richard is no stranger to a Netflix thriller, having starred in The Stranger, pictured, and Stay Close I first met Richard 15 years ago when hed become the resident heartthrob on Spooks, having already attracted a huge fanbase called the Armitage Army on costume drama North & South. He seemed uncomfortable then with being seen as totty, and it still makes him cringe. Ive struggled to prove Im not just eye candy, he says. Its an ongoing battle as it means people dont see me as a serious actor. It feels like they think, We need someone with sex appeal so well hire Richard. Its a challenge, but then I do want to work. And in some ways hes just getting started. Hes recently finished filming Holocaust film The Boy In The Woods, about a farmer who helps a Jewish boy to hide, and hes now working on Fool Me Once, his third Harlan Coben drama for Netflix. But the thing he seems most excited about is a completely new sideline. With his deep baritone voice hes long been a fan favourite as a narrator on audiobooks app Audible, and the company encouraged him to write his first thriller Geneva last year. Not only did it become a bestseller, but he reveals its now being turned into a TV series that hell star in. Its beyond anything I could ever dream of, he says. Id been hoping I could develop someone elses book as a producer, but I never had an ambition to write something I could be in. My ego is just not that big. But to think that something Ive been able to create from scratch is going into production is incredible. He smiles, and then this charming, self-effacing man blushes again... Matty 'J' Johnson took his eldest daughter Marlie-Mae for her first ever haircut on Thursday. The former Bachelor star, 35, decided it was time to trim the three-year-old's blonde locks at Willomina hair salon. Sharing a series of posts to his Instagram Story, the reality star revealed Marlie was getting a new hairdo after he cut her a fringe. 'Took Marlie to get her first chop (that was a fringe cut by dad),' he wrote alongside a photo of his smiling daughter. Marlie grinned as she stood patiently while stylist and salon owner Christopher Hunter chopped off the ends of her hair. Matty 'J' Johnson took his eldest daughter Marlie-Mae (pictured) for her first-ever haircut on Thursday The former Bachelor star, 35, decided it was time to trim the three-year-old's blonde locks at Willomina hair salon. Marlie grinned as she stood patiently while stylist and salon owner Christopher Hunter chopped off the ends of her hair The chopped locks fell into a white envelope as part of a keepsake for Matty to remember the milestone moment. Matty then thanked the hairdresser for his incredible work. '@christopher__hunter you're a bloody legend - thanks for making her feel so special!' he wrote. Matty then thanked the hairdresser for his incredible work Willomina is a Sydney hair salon located in the eastern suburbs. It offers gender-neutral pricing for all hair-cutting services. Matty and his Bachelor star wife Laura Byrne welcomed daughters Marlie-Mae in 2019 and Lola in February, 2021. They got engaged while on holiday in Fiji in April 2018. They wore their hearts on their sleeves and displayed their cheeky humour while exchanging wedding vows in November. The happy couple, who tied the knot on the South Coast, joked about their sex life together while professing their undying love for each other during the ceremony. Matty and his Bachelor star wife Laura Byrne welcomed daughters Marlie-Mae in 2019 and Lola in February, 2021. They got engaged while on holiday in Fiji in April 2018 Matty delivered some hilarious and heartfelt vows he'd penned himself, calling Laura his 'perfect' woman and joked she'd 'finally managed to lock him down'. Their nuptials came after Laura confessed she almost lost her chance at true love after she almost pulled out of The Bachelor at the last minute. Laura and Matty are one of the most successful couples to come out of the show, but the brunette beauty told the I've Got News For You podcast it almost didn't happen because she got 'cold feet' the day before filming was set to begin in 2017. 'I had a change of heart and almost didn't rock up for filming,' she admitted. Charli DAmelio and boyfriend Landon Barker put on a loved-up display for Mini V magazine in a glamorous photoshoot. Published on Thursday, the spread featured D'Amelio, 18 who recently rocked five different outfits at the Kids' Choice Awards and Barker, 19, in a variety of edgy looks as they posed up a storm. Gen Z's 'It couple' starred in a short video for the magazine titled Dance Like Nobody's Watching, and they did not disappoint. Famed for her dancing, Charli looked gorgeous as she executed flawless moves in a collection of show-stopping dresses, in the photoshoot that was shot by Mathew Brooks and styled by Nicola Formichetti. And Landon, an aspiring musician, looked like a mini-me of his rockstar dad Landon Barker brooding through the photoshoot with punk fashions and his signature jet-black hair. Glamorous romance: Charli DAmelio, 18, and Landon Barker, 19, put on a loved-up display for Mini V magazine in a glamorous photoshoot Young love: Published on Thursday, the spread featured D'Amelio and Barker in a variety of edgy looks as they posed up a storm The young pair's sultry black-and-white video used a dark and dramatic aesthetic to accentuate their passionate looks and loving poses. Charli and Landon cuddled in matching black outfits before she twirled around the set in a white crystal dress. The influencers held hands and swanned around for the camera before D'Amelio changed into a midriff-baring ensemble and gazed into a mirror. She reunited with Landon in front of a window where they embraced and gazed into each other's eyes. Moving to the roof of their industrial building, Landon sported a black ensemble that featured body chains across his bare chest and torso while his girlfriend leapt through the air in a voluminous gown of shimmering fabric. Charli's final look was a white ballerina outfit that paired well with her boyfriend's stylish black attire. The on-off couple started dating in June of last year and reunited in December after a short-lived breakup. In their subsequent interview with Mini V, Charli and Landon answered the Proust questionnaire a classic personality quiz popularized by French essayist Marcel Proust. Swooning: Gen Z's 'It couple' starred in a short video for the magazine titled Dance Like Nobody's Watching, where they cozied up and gazed into each other's eyes Power couple: Famed for her dancing, Charli looked gorgeous as she executed flawless moves in a collection of show-stopping dresses Turning heads: Moving to the roof of their industrial building, Landon rocked an eye-catching black-and-white suit while his girlfriend leapt through the air in a voluminous gown Stunning: The TikTok star was breathtaking as she jumped in her angelic dress Future rockstar: Landon rocked a black ensemble that featured body chains across his bare chest and torso Gorgeous: D'Amelio changed into a midriff-baring ensemble and gazed into a mirror The up-and-coming A-listers kept it sweet and simple with their answers, which tackled a list of questions that ranged from naming their biggest fear to their greatest dislike. For instance, Charli dislikes 'the panic after you sleep through your alarm' and Landon hates 'being stagnant!' Family and music were go-to themes for Barker as he answered his questions, while Charli kept it cutesy by naming her dog as the greatest love of her life and saying that 'longer legs' would be the one thing she would change about herself. And when it comes to when and where they were 'happiest,' D'Amelio said the grand finale of Dancing with the Stars and Barker said Milan Fashion Week. Kim Kardashian has been working on a 'dream project' in collaboration with Japanese architect Tadao Ando for the past two years, according to her latest Instagram post. 'Met with the master himself, Tadao Ando to review and discuss a dream project we have been working on for the past two years,' captioned the reality TV star, 42. Tadao, 81, is considered the most famous architect in Japan and recognized worldwide for his 'minimalist concrete buildings.' Kim flew to Japan to look over designs with Tadao for an impressive structure that will be built in Palm Springs, California. She continued: 'I visited his office in Japan so that we could make the finishing touches before we break ground.' 'Dream project': Kim Kardashian has been working on a 'dream project' in collaboration with Japanese architect Tadao Ando for the past two years, according to her latest Instagram post Kim revealed that she flew to Japan to look over designs with Tadao for an impressive structure that will be built in Palm Springs, California Along with pictures from the visit, Kim included a digital mockup of a massive concrete fortress with a roof shaped like the bow of a ship Along with pictures from the visit, Kim included a digital mockup of a massive concrete fortress with a roof shaped like the bow of a ship. The front of the building runs linearly while the entry is recessed and obscured by a tall pillar providing support for the protruding roof. The SKIMS founder closed out the post by expressing gratitude to Tadao as well as her excitement over building the latest addition to her real estate portfolio. 'So deeply honored and incredibly humbled to have the opportunity to work with him and finally see this special project come to life.' Tadao is entirely self-taught and his style is classified as 'critical regionalism,' which relies heavily on local topography in order to counter the principles of modernist and post-modernist architecture. He opened his own studio in Osaka, Japan back in 1968 after shelving his career as a professional boxer. The Ibaraki Kasugaoka Church is considered to be one of Tadao's most famous designs while the Row House in Sumiyoshi is one of his earliest. Tadao also created The Hill of the Buddha, which is a famous Buddhist shrine in the capitol of Hokkaido, Japan. 'Met with the master himself, Tadao Ando to review and discuss a dream project we have been working on for the past two years,' captioned the reality TV star, 42 Famous: Tadao, 81, is considered the most famous architect in Japan and recognized worldwide for his 'minimalist concrete buildings' Impressive: Kim included images from inside Tadao's Osaka studio He received a Pritzker Prize in 1999 for his groundbreaking contributions to the architectural world. While spending time with Kim, Tadao presented her with a large book featuring a sketch of their 'dream project' with 'Palm Springs' scrawled in white marker. It also featured a sketch of Kim standing next to the structure and the date they met with one another, which was April 4, 2023. Kim included images from inside Tadao Ando Architect & Associates in Osaka, Japan in Thursday's post. The SKKN by Kim CEO has been vacationing in Japan with her daughters North, nine, and Chicago, five, sons Saint, seven, and Psalm, three. She also brought along her sister Kourtney Kardashian's 10-year-old daughter Penelope, as well as several of the ladies in her tight inner circle. They visited Universal Studios Japan earlier this week, where they enjoyed go carting and tested out the park's famous rides. Her sons got a major kick out of Super Nintendo World, which she documented on her Instagram along with other highlights for the day. On Monday, Kim and visited a hedgehog cafe with North, Chicago and Penelope. In a photo slideshow, Kim was seen holding up one of the little animals with gloved hands while making a kissy face at the camera. Chicago appeared amused as she watched her mom interact with the spiny mammal, known for its coat of stiff, sharp spines. Meanwhile a warning on the blackboard behind them gave instructions on how to interact with the hedgehogs. 'We are looking out. With our spines pointing into the air, their might hurt, but please don't drop us!' At the end of the carousel Kim also shared a video of the fun experience. Kim, North and Chicago were seen holding hedgehogs in the clip. Vacation: The SKKN by Kim CEO has been vacationing in Japan with her daughters North, nine, and Chicago, five, sons Saint, seven, and Psalm, three She also brought along her sister Kourtney Kardashian's 10-year-old daughter Penelope, as well as several of the ladies in her tight inner circle Fun-filled day: They visited Universal Studios Japan earlier this week, where they enjoyed go carting and tested out the park's famous rides Adorable! On Monday, Kim and visited a hedgehog cafe with North, Chicago and Penelope Kim shares all four of her children with ex-husband Kanye West, 45, who she split from in 2021 after six years of marriage. The duo resolved their divorce in November and the rapper agreed to pay Kim $200,000 a month in child support. They also agreed to have 'equal access' to their children and would split their real estate portfolio, which is worth an estimated $100million. The KUWTK star previously admitted that it's been 'f***ing hard' co-parenting with the volatile hitmaker and she's done her best to shield their kids from the headlines. Reunion Hotel Rating: Dreamland Rating: Here's a handy 'life hack'. Whenever somebody offers you a clever, new, time-saving way to perform a chore, ignore them. You'll save yourself a lot of trouble. Internet tips on ingenious ways to open cans of beans, pack suitcases or lace your boots never work. That's because they're invented by teenage influencers for TikTok videos, who assume that everything new must automatically be better. Alex Jones's Reunion Hotel (BBC2, and BBC1 Wales) supplied a prime example of the hopeless hack, the duvet sausage... an innovative way of getting yourself in a knot as you struggle to put a quilt into a cover. This is how it works: Turn the cover inside out and lay it on the mattress. Place the duvet on top. Roll them up, towards the open end. Peel the cover back around the sausage, give the whole thing a hefty shake, sprain your shoulder, keep shaking, bellow in frustration, and eventually you'll have a lumpy continental quilt. Marvellous. Alex Jones's Reunion Hotel (BBC2, and BBC1 Wales) supplied a prime example of the hopeless hack, the duvet sausage... an innovative way of getting yourself in a knot as you struggle to put a quilt into a cover Before the internet existed, we had sheets and blankets. So much easier, so much cheaper, and so old-fashioned. In the TikTok era, tucking in a blanket seems as medieval as sleeping on straw with a pig for warmth. The duvet hack was just an extra, a bit of 20-tog filler in Alex's show bringing people together at a boutique hotel in North Wales for an emotional meeting. Her tagline was intriguing: 'If you had the chance to meet someone from your past, who would it be?' But the format is an uneven hodge-podge, like a badly wrapped quilt. It took bits from Long Lost Family, from DIY SOS and from hotel reality documentaries, and stuffed them all together into a giant pillow case. One couple brought their children to thank the volunteer builders who helped them convert their bathroom after their daughter was born with a painful skin condition. Another man and his wife came to meet the brother he never knew he had. The concept had to be stretched for the most interesting story, since 22-year-old Tegan Badham was there to meet a man who featured in her past for just a few seconds. Last July, she slipped on the platform at King's Cross tube station, and had to be pulled to safety from the tracks by a stranger. Lily Allen (right), the jaded and rebellious sister of Trish (Freema Agyeman, left), proved what we already knew, that she's good at playing characters with attitude and a sneer Beautician Tegan suffered burns from the 420-volt electric rail 'like a cramp in your leg, but in your whole body.' The rubber soles on her boots saved her from a fatal shock, but if 31-year-old Anthony Smith from Australia hadn't grabbed her, she would have been hit by the incoming train. By the time she knew what was happening, Anthony was gone. 'I'm gonna give him the biggest cwtch [cuddle] of all time,' she promised. Alex was plainly hoping the two would fall in love and be Married At First Sight, but even she couldn't cram that extra filling into her quilt cover. The family sitcom Dreamland (Sky Atlantic) crammed a lot into its opening half-hour, too, as we met four generations at a party for pregnant mum Trish (Freema Agyeman) in Margate, and then veered off to hospital for a rant about racism in the NHS. Lily Allen, as Trish's jaded and rebellious sister Mel, proved what we already knew, that she's good at playing characters with attitude and a sneer. Then she revealed something I hadn't guessed: she's hopeless at physical comedy. Lily can't fall over. Frances Barber, Martina Laird, Aimee-Ffion Edwards and Gabby Best co-star, with Sheila Reid as the port-swilling Nan. That's too many first-rate actresses with not enough space to shine. It's an overstuffed quilt of a comedy. Angelina Pivarnick brought her new boyfriend Vinny Tortorella to New Orleans and he got pumped to meet her friends on Wednesday's episode of Jersey Shore Family Vacation. The 36-year-old reality star, after recently revealing that so-called 'Vinny 2.0' had moved in with her, was apprehensive about him meeting her roommates. 'Like, anybody talk s*** about my Vinny, there's going to be a problem,' Angelina said in a confessional. Vinny before meeting Angelina's friends was repeatedly shown pumping up his biceps with an exercise band. Angelina skipped Family Fun Day with her roommates to instead welcome Vinny to New Orleans. She even cleaned the toilet in her hotel room after vomiting in it the night before after drinking too much. New boyfriend: Angelina Pivarnick brought her new boyfriend Vinny Tortorella to New Orleans and he got pumped to meet her friends on Wednesday's episode of Jersey Shore Family Vacation Vinny Guadagnino, 35, and Paul 'DJ Pauly D' DelVecchio, 42, talked about meeting Vinny 2.0 shortly after Angelina confessed to having feelings for Guadagnino. Flashbacks showed Angelina giving Vinny a lap dance and admitting to her friends that she liked him. They both said they wouldn't bring it up to Vinny 2.0 and agreed that Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino, 40, would for sure tell him. Angelina and Vinny kissed and hugged when he arrived and held hands as they walked to their hotel room. 'This is something I need at this point in my life. Like, I didn't feel loved in my last relationship,' said Angelina, who divorced Chris Larangeira in 2022, in a confessional. 'I mean, I would, like, literally wear lingerie walking around the house half naked, and, like, he wouldn't even look at me,' she added. Angelina while on a balcony with Tortorella told him how she recently tossed beads to woman who flashed her and he playfully asked to see her breasts. 'Going into a relationship where the guy likes to, like, be intimate, tells you how beautiful you are. I mean, Vin's hands can't get off me. Like, it's a different world for me, you know? And it feels good to be loved,' Angelina said in a confessional. Pumped up: Vinny Tortorella got pumped up to meet Angelina's friends in New Orleans Duly warned: 'Like, anybody talk s*** about my Vinny, there's going to be a problem,' Angelina said in a confessional Tender moment: Angelina and Vinny kissed and hugged when he arrived and held hands as they walked to their hotel room Balcony fun: Angelina while on a balcony with Tortorella told him how she recently tossed beads to woman who flashed her and he playfully asked to see her breasts Angelina and Tortorella later went to lunch and he asked how the trip was going. She told him how Mike confronted her during a group dinner about their Twitter feud. 'I wish he would have did that with you sitting there. Like, say he would have brought that up in front of you, what would you do? Like, would you have my back on that?,' Angelina said. 'Of course, I'd have your back. Everyone's significant other should always have their other person's back through everything,' Tortorella replied. Mike meanwhile at Family Fun Day asked Vinny and Pauly if it was right for Angelina to bring in her 'new boo'. In a confessional, Mike said it was 'only right' to explain to 'new Vinny about the old Vinny' and the 'old Vinny soft porn lap dance.' 'It's only right. We full disclosures around here,' Mike added. Angelina meanwhile was going over the 'pros and cons' of her roommates with Tortorella. Lunch outing: Angelina and Tortorella later went to lunch and he asked how the trip was going Significant other: 'Of course, I'd have your back. Everyone's significant other should always have their other person's back through everything,' Tortorella replied Family fun: Family Fun Day included matching T-shirts for the group Only right: In a confessional, Mike said it was 'only right' to explain to 'new Vinny about the old Vinny' and the 'old Vinny soft porn lap dance' She told him that she and Vinny both grew up on Staten Island. 'But he's gonna be jealous of you. He's very immature,' Angelina said. 'Last night, he's like, no-nut November is over now. ...It was so weird.' 'November's a long month,' Tortorella quipped. Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi, 35, meanwhile shared with Deena Cortese, 36, and Jennifer 'JWoww' Farley, 37, that she had stolen Angelina's wedding dress to burn as part of her divorce celebration. 'Angelina is known for being a wild card. So I am petrified as to how she's gonna take this wedding dress thing,' JWoww said in a confessional. Vinny and Pauly chatted about Angelina before meeting her new boyfriend and she was gifted a black veil and sash by Snooki, JWoww and Deena for her divorce party. 'Finally another Vinny can take Angelina off my back,' Vinny said. Angelina told Vinny that she was nervous. 'Is there a gym here?,' Tortorella asked while working on his biceps. Mike joked to Pauly and Vinny that he would tell Tortorella about Angelina's recent lap dancing while they were shaking hands. Jersey Shore Family Vacation will return next week. Good one: 'November's a long month,' Tortorella quipped Divorce party: Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi, 35, meanwhile shared with Deena Cortese, 36, and Jennifer 'JWoww' Farley, 37, that she had stolen Angelina's wedding dress to burn as part of her divorce celebration Good question: 'Is there a gym here?,' Tortorella asked while working on his biceps It's been 24 years since Nicole Kidman last took on an erotic role when she starred alongside Tom Cruise in the steamy and controversial Eyes Wide Shut. And now the 55-year-old Hollywood actress is due to star in two big-screen erotic thrillers. She will play a femme fatale in a pair of projects that are filming back-to-back in a couple months. The first flick is a 'Hitchcockian' thriller called Holland, Michigan, where she will star alongside Matthew Macfadyen. Macfadyen, whose star is on the rise thanks to his career-making performance as Tom Wambsgans in Succession, will play Kidman's husband in the picture. Nicole Kidman (pictured) is due to star in two big-screen erotic thrillers It's a cat-and-mouse story about a teacher who starts an affair, only to find out her husband has a double life of his own. It appears the actress is keen be launched back into the erotic movie scene, as there are reports that once filming on Holland, Michigan wraps, she has agreed to be the lead in Babygirl. The steamy script is about a career woman in her 40s who has a dangerous liaison with a 21-year-old intern. It's been 24 years since Nicole Kidman last took on an erotic role when she starred alongside Tom Cruise in the steamy and controversial Eyes Wide Shut (both pictured) Kidman it set to be very busy as she will also grace Netflix in it's new limited series The Perfect Couple. She will lead alongside Liev Schreier in the star-studded adaptation of the thriller novel of the same name by Elin Hilderbrand. The Hollywood actress will play murder-mystery novelist Greer Garrison Winbury as she plans a wedding for her son and future daughter-in-law, played by Eve Hewson. Kidman it set to be very busy as she will also grace Netflix in it's new limited series The Perfect Couple The plot follows Hewson's character, Amelia Sacks, as she is about to marry into one of the wealthiest families on Nantucket when a dead body turns up on the beach. As the plot unfolds, everyone is a suspect in an investigation that plays out like one of the mystery novels Kidman's character would write. Production will begin on the series in April, with Jenna Lamia serving as showrunner and executive producer and Susanne Bier directing and executive producing. Kidman- who shares her older children, Isabella, 30, and Connor, 28, with ex-husband Tom Cruise, and younger girls Sunday, 14, and Faith, 12, with country crooner Keith Urban - recently wrapped filming on her latest spy thriller project Lioness in Spain. Two-time Daytime Emmy winner Hunter King received an uproarious response to a swollen-lipped selfie she posted last Saturday from Internet trolls and concerned fans, alike, accusing her of going overboard on the lip fillers. Not only has the 29-year-old SoCal native's pout increased in volume since she was 20 years old, but her brows appeared to be lifted significantly higher on her forehead. 'After my last post and all the negative comments I just wanted to address something. No I don't have any lip filler,' Hunter - who boasts 668K Instagram followers - wrote via Instastory on Monday. 'But even if I did, I don't think that people should feel so comfortable commenting such rude things about people's appearance. Keep your negative comments to yourself. I [don't know] who raised people to think it's okay to spew such negativity. It's rude. And it's hurtful. 'I personally don't get lip filler (my lips are just extra swollen in the mornings for some reason?). But for anyone who does, good for you! Do what makes you happy! And for the love of god can we all just be kind? The world needs more of that. That's all... rant over.' 'Still look tired': Two-time Daytime Emmy winner Hunter King received an uproarious response to a swollen-lipped selfie she posted last Saturday from Internet trolls and concerned fans, alike, accusing her of going overboard on the lip fillers Slide me 2023 vs. 2014: Not only has the 29-year-old SoCal native's pout increased in volume since she was 20 years old, but her brows appeared to be lifted significantly higher on her forehead King was defended in the comments by her mother Jamie King, who wrote: 'Extra puffy morning lips! Why do us King ladies wake up so puffy?' The Royal Corgi Christmas actress has two sisters, one of whom just so happens to be Emmy nominee Joey King last seen in Netflix's Bullet Train. Also defending Hunter's (born Haley) natural beauty was her boyfriend since July, Filmless executive producer Andy McNeil. 'Lol relax internet trolls, I wake up next to her every morning and this is a common thing!' McNeil assured. 'She's gorgeous even when her lips get swollen. And spoiler alert to all the medical experts leaving comments about fillers - the swelling goes down an hour or so after waking up, calm down.' But the most 'enraged' defense came from the Nikki & Nora: Sister Sleuths star's colleague Benjamin Hollingsworth, who called her a 'beautiful soul' and asked the trolls 'who raised you and where is your decency?' 'Why a grown man... or woman feels the need to go to out of their way to comment on a woman's body blows my mind,' Hollingsworth blasted. 'Imagine if you had a daughter - imagine for a second - another grown man or woman unsolicitedly negatively commenting on her body. [Please] regardless of how strongly you feel about something ask yourself "Will this cause harm and would I want my child to have to endure something like this?"' Hunter (pictured December 8) wrote via Instastory on Monday: 'After my last post and all the negative comments I just wanted to address something. No I don't have any lip filler. But even if I did, I don't think that people should feel so comfortable commenting such rude things about people's appearance. Keep your negative comments to yourself' King (pictured in 2021) continued: 'I [don't know] who raised people to think it's okay to spew such negativity. It's rude. And it's hurtful. I personally don't get lip filler (my lips are just extra swollen in the mornings for some reason?). But for anyone who does, good for you! Do what makes you happy! And for the love of god can we all just be kind? The world needs more of that' The Royal Corgi Christmas actress was defended in the comments by her mother Jamie King, who wrote: 'Extra puffy morning lips! Why do us King ladies wake up so puffy?' Full lips run in the family? Hunter has two sisters, one of whom just so happens to be Emmy nominee Joey King (L, pictured in 2021) last seen in Netflix's Bullet Train 'Lol relax internet trolls!' Also defending King's natural beauty was her boyfriend since July, Filmless executive producer Andy McNeil (R, pictured October 8) McNeil assured: 'I wake up next to her every morning and this is a common thing! She's gorgeous even when her lips get swollen. And spoiler alert to all the medical experts leaving comments about fillers - the swelling goes down an hour or so after waking up, calm down' But the most 'enraged' defense came from the Nikki & Nora: Sister Sleuths star's colleague Benjamin Hollingsworth, who called her a 'beautiful soul' and asked the trolls 'who raised you and where is your decency?' King will next play Maggie Bailey in Peter Benson's romance The Professional Bridesmaid, which premieres this Saturday on the Hallmark Channel. The project is part of the multi-picture deal The Young and the Restless alum signed with Hallmark Media back in November. 'I feel so incredibly grateful and lucky to be part of the Hallmark family!' Hunter said in a statement to Deadline at the time. 'Growing up, I would drive past Hallmark's headquarters nearly every day and dream about getting the chance to be in one of their movies some day. Getting to make three Hallmark movies this year has already been so amazing and I'm so excited for what's to come. I get to be in Hallmark movies for a living! Are you kidding me? Is this real life?' King will also play Jael Jones in Gary Auerbach's indie thriller Give Me Your Eyes. Pregnant Peta Murgatroyd showcased her cleavage and baby bump on Thursday when she wore a busty beach dress in a collection of Instagram pictures. The Dancing with the Stars pro, 36, was enjoying a lavish dinner with her husband Maksim Chmerkovskiy, 43, and their six-year-old son Shai. Peta and her family are on a luxurious 'babymoon' vacation in Los Cabos, Mexico this week, soaking up the sunshine and flaunting her belly in bikinis. 'Last night was a dream,' gushed Murgatroyd, captioning her collection of images. Celebrating the 30-week mark of her pregnancy, the New Zealand native is staying with her husband and young son at the five-star Nobu Hotel in Los Cabos. Beauty and the bump: Peta Murgatroyd, 36, showcased her cleavage and baby bump on Thursday when she wore a busty beach dress in a collection of Instagram pictures. The Dancing with the Stars pro was enjoying a lavish dinner with her husband Maksim Chmerkovskiy, 43, and their six-year-old son Shai That Cabo glow: Peta and her family are on a luxurious 'babymoon' vacation in Los Cabos, Mexico this week, soaking up the sunshine Peta looked gorgeous in her ivory crochet dress that featured a gold ring at the center of her cleavage and a midriff-baring cutout. The Peta Jane Beauty founder wore her lustrous hair slicked back in a bun and adorned her ears with gold hoops. Her sun-kissed skin glowed with a radiant tan and she carried a designer handbag from Italian fashion brand Salar. Peta and Maksim took their adorable son to their favorite restaurant Cocina del Mar, where they dined on exquisite food and took in the breathtaking view. Posting a snippet of their dreamy night out on his Instagram Story, Chmerkovskiy wrote: 'One of our absolute favorites in Cabo is @cocinadelmaresperanza where they always take extra care of Shai :)' Maksim was referring to his son's special accommodations as Shai was cosseted in multiple blankets and lounging in two chairs pushed together. Taking to her Instagram Story, Peta posted a few sweet pictures of Shai enjoying bread at the dinner table and sporting his spiffy Ralph Lauren outfit. 'In his new @ralphlauren outfit,' gushed the proud mom. 'I truly never buy expensive brands anymore because they just get ruined too quickly or never worn, AND you can get just as cute clothes from cheaper places......BUT this set was too cute to resist.' Gorgeous: Peta looked gorgeous in her ivory crochet dress that featured a gold ring at the center of her cleavage and a midriff-baring cutout. The Peta Jane Beauty founder wore her lustrous hair slicked back in a bun and adorned her ears with gold hoops Baby on the way: Celebrating the 30-week mark of her pregnancy, the New Zealand native is staying with her husband and young son at the five-star Nobu Hotel in Los Cabos Adorable: Taking to her Instagram Story, Peta posted a few sweet pictures of Shai enjoying bread at the dinner table and sporting his spiffy Ralph Lauren outfit Spiffy: 'In his new @ralphlauren outfit,' gushed the proud mom. 'I truly never buy expensive brands anymore because they just get ruined too quickly or never worn, AND you can get just as cute clothes from cheaper places......BUT this set was too cute to resist' Family fun: The influencer went on to document a family day at the beach that included burying Shai in the sand and having a relaxing nap under the Mexican sun The influencer went on to document a family day at the beach that included burying Shai in the sand and having a relaxing nap under the Mexican sun. Married for five years, Maksim and Peta announced their pregnancy earlier in January via Instagram, with Peta writing: 'It brings me immense joy to finally announce that @maksimc and I are expecting our Chmerkovskiy #2.' She added: 'After 2 years of constant struggle and heartache, 3 miscarriages and a failed embryo transferwe have a healthy bun in the oven :)) It was a shock to all of us and we found out right before I was going in for my second round of IVF.' In a subsequent interview with People magazine, Peta confirmed that she was nearly 18 weeks pregnant and said: 'All natural, it just happened.' Kim Kardashian's joint TikTok account with daughter North West was temporarily taken down Thursday amid word the nine-year-old is seeking to 'take a break' from social media. The social media page had a message that read, 'Couldn't find this account' for about an hour on Thursday, spurring speculation the celeb family had taken it down. An insider close to the reality TV family told TMZ that North, nine, was behind the decision to temporarily scuttle the account, which had 15.5 million followers under the handle @kimandnorth. 'North has been more interested in focusing her creativity in other areas lately and is taking a break from TikTok,' a source told the outlet. 'Like most kids, interests change often, so she may be back on as early as tomorrow - or never again.' The mother and daughter created the account two years ago, and have posted their shared experiences on there. The latest: Kim Kardashian's joint TikTok account with daughter North West was temporarily taken down Thursday amid word the nine-year-old is seeking to 'take a break' from social media North's father and Kim's ex-husband, embattled rapper Kanye West made clear he was not comfortable with his daughter's presence being blasted on social media during a rant on his ex wife in January of 2022. He told Hollywood Unlocked last year, 'Tell her don't have my daughter wearing lipstick on TikTok and don't have her on TikTok at all if I don't approve that, and I said it after it was done without me knowing, and it happened again. 'So I feel like there's some poking the bear, trying to antagonize me or create this, like, "crazy" narrative. Because to say someone is crazy, they're trying to take the power away and do anything to get people to not pay attention to me.' Kardashian responded in an Instagram Stories post in February 2022, saying that her troubled ex was trying to control and manipulate her with the public statement about TikTok. 'As the parent who is the main provider and caregiver for our children,' she said, 'I am doing my best to protect our daughter while also allowing her to express her creativity in the medium that she wishes with adult supervision - because it brings her happiness.' She continued: 'Divorce is difficult enough on our children and Kanye's obsession with trying to control and manipulate our situation so negatively and publicly is only causing further pain for all.' Dailymail.com has reached out to Kim's reps for comment on the story. Pricey! North West showed she's got the same expensive taste as her famous parents as she showed off her $3,500 bag in new snaps from her holiday to Tokyo Luxury: It's not the only designer bag she's flaunted on the trip, displaying two more while visiting a Hello Kitty theme park North earlier this week showed she's got the same expensive taste as her famous parents as she showed off her $3,500 bag in new snaps from her holiday to Tokyo. Kim took to Instagram to share a slew of shots of the family's visit to a hedgehog cafe, where the nine-year-old was seen holding the pink crystal-encrusted Prada handbag. North teamed the expensive accessory with an oversized green T-shirt and a pair of swirl patterned flares. She elevated her height in a pair of black platform sandals and hid her eyes behind pink tinted sunglasses. It's not the only designer bag she's flaunted on the trip, displaying two more while visiting a Hello Kitty theme park. North toted a Hello Kitty x Judith Leiber crystal clutch that retails for $895 and an Olympia Le-Tan bag shaped like a milk carton worth $905. It's not the first time Kim's eldest child has displayed a taste for all things designer, after she shared a video on TikTok showing off a crystal pink phone purse from Judith Lieber worth $6,000. Last year, Kim revealed that North needs no help picking out items for her wardrobe and even insisted on styling herself and her siblings for their recent Vogue spread. In a past appearance on Ellen, the reality star admitted that her daughter rejected the outfits picked out by the fashion bible and confessed that she finds doing photoshoots with her children 'the worst'. Kim covered the March 2022 edition of Vogue with her children North, Saint, seven, Chicago, five, and Psalm, three, also featuring in the spread. Expensive: North toted a Hello Kitty x Judith Leiber crystal clutch that retails for $895 and an Olympia Le-Tan bag shaped like a milk carton worth $905 She revealed: 'North styled the whole thing! They were all going to wear black but she walked out and was like "this is so boring I cant believe this is what we're going to wear. I'm going to style everyone."' Kim continued: 'She went in everyone's closet and picked it all out. 'Any time I have to do a photoshoot with my kids or the cousins it's like the worst day of my life and I always say I'll never do it again, but then you get amazing pictures like this. 'It was meant to be a group shot but no one wanted to take pictures together and everyone was crying and wanted me to hold them so that's what we got... but it's so perfect and cute.' Kim shares her four children with her third ex-husband Kanye, whom she split from in February 2021. Just weeks after giving birth to her first baby, Martha Kalifatidis has showed off her trim post-partum body. The former Married At First Sight's star led arrivals at a glitzy Naked Sundays event alongside Home and Away star Jodi Gordon. She kept it casual but stylish for the star-studded event at Sydney's Park Hyatt hotel on Thursday. The 34-year-old, who welcomed her first child Lucius in February with her fiance Michael Brunelli, donned a beige monochrome look. She wore a pair of baggy cargo trousers, a beige T-shirt and a military style jacket in a different colour of beige. Martha Kalifatidis (pictured) showed off her trim post-partum body at a glitzy Naked Sundays event in Sydney on Thursday On her feet, she also kept the monochrome theme going by wearing a pair of beige boots. She gave the outfit a pop of colour by holding a multi-coloured Louis Vuitton mini-bag. The mother-of-one kept her shoulder-length dark locks down and curled as she opted for a glam makeup look with dark eyeliner and a nude-pink lip. Actress and model Jodi Gordon (pictured) looked as stylish as always at the glamorous event as she wore an all-black ensemble Actress and model Jodi Gordon looked as stylish as always at the glamorous event as she wore an all-black ensemble. She donned a pair of loose baggy trousers and a crop top that showed off her toned midriff. The 38-year-old paired the outfit with black strappy heels and a $5k Bottega Venetta brown woven bag. She kept her long dark locks down in a loose wave and wore a dewy makeup look with false eyelashes. Former WAG Nadia Bartel (pictured) also posed for pictures at the event as she looked stylish and professional in a pinstriped skirt-suit Former WAG Nadia Bartel also posed for pictures at the event as she looked stylish and professional in a pinstriped skirt-suit. The fashion designer paired the long skirt and blazer with a white singlet and a pair of black heeled boots. Her caramel locks were styled in a loose wave and she showed off her sunkissed skin with a dewy makeup look. Nick Kyrgios' girlfriend Costeen Hatzi also arrived in business-casual attire as she donned a pair of brown trousers and a white shirt. Nick Kyrgios' girlfriend Costeen Hatzi also arrived in business-casual attire as she donned a pair of brown trousers and a white shirt She paired it with a $12k black Chanel handbag and wore her dark hair down with a loose curl. The Naked Sundays event was in collaboration with US makeup artist to the stars Ariel Tejeda. Ariel, who is best known as Kylie Jenner's makeup artist, arrived in style to the event as he wore a pair of straight-leg jeans and a white crop top. He dressed his outfit up with a pair of white pumps and a slouchy cream blazer. William H. Macy has been sued for $600,000 by his neighbor Pierce Brown, who says the actor 'knowingly and intentionally' ordered landscapers to chop down trees on his property. Brown's legal team said last week in docs filed in Superior Court of Los Angeles County that the Oscar-nominated Fargo actor, 73, did considerable damage to his property in having the trees removed in December of 2021, People reported. Attorneys for Brown said in court docs, 'Macy's workers ... destroyed and removed or seriously damaged several healthy, decades-old mature pine trees and other vegetation from the Brown Property.' Brown's legal team said that 'pine trees and other vegetation' that were eliminated at Macy's command 'were located well inside of the Brown Property line.' Workers for The Cooler star 'damaged the gate that connected the two properties' while 'accessing the Brown' property, Brown's attorneys said. The latest: William H. Macy has been sued for $600,000 by his neighbor Pierce Brown, who says the actor 'knowingly and intentionally' ordered landscapers to chop down trees on his property. Pictured last month in NYC The workers, acting upon orders from The Shameless star, did 'damage to and destabilization of the hillside itself' adjacent to the neighboring properties, Brown's lawyers said. Brown told the court he was vacationing at the time Macy's crew did the work, and that the Boogie Nights actor 'came to Brown's door to discuss the condition of Brown's hillside' the month after. Brown's attorneys said Macy 'acknowledged the entry of his workmen onto the Brown property, their lack of permission to do so, and their destruction and removal of, and damage to, the Brown's trees and vegetation.' Brown says the $600,000 he is suing for accounts for 'loss of property value, loss of use and enjoyment of his property, a loss of privacy, an increase in noise, as well as emotional distress, irritation, annoyance, and discomfort.' Macy is father to daughters Sofia, 22, and Georgia, 21, with wife Felicity Huffman, 60. He remained a loyal presence at his wife's side during her legal troubles with the college admissions scandal in 2019 (which also involved actress Lori Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli). Huffman pleaded guilty in the case and was sentenced to 14 days in prison with a $30,000 fine and a year of supervised release. A neighbor of Macy (pictured last month in NYC next to actor Sam Waterston) said the actor ordered landscapers to chop down trees on his property without his permission Commentary: Ma Ying-jeou's mainland trip embodies kinship, shared culture Xinhua) 15:21, April 07, 2023 BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang party Ma Ying-jeou's tour on the mainland has embodied that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family bound by blood and share common culture and historical memories. Over the past 12 days, Ma has led a group of young people from Taiwan to visit memorial sites and cemeteries. Ma also visited the tomb of his grandfather in the county of Xiangtan in Hunan Province and honored the family's ancestors at the site. The students from Taiwan have had communication and exchange activities with their peers at several mainland universities. They also visited factories. The trip has offered a window for compatriots at home and abroad into the kinship of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, the same ancestry, culture, and historical memories. It highlights that compatriots across the Taiwan Strait are all Chinese who share natural kinship, and national identity can never be changed by anyone or any force. History should never be forgotten. The trip is helpful for Taiwan compatriots to understand that the destiny of both sides of the Taiwan Strait is closely linked and inseparable and that the history and facts that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to China can never be altered by anyone. The mainland's rapid development has deeply impressed Ma and the young people of the visiting group. More exchanges among young people on both sides of the Strait will inject fresh vitality into the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations. During the trip, Ma said several times that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to the same Chinese nation and should be committed to revitalizing China. The Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait working together will certainly create the lasting well-being of the Chinese nation and share the great glory of national rejuvenation. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Jeremy Renner had the support of a close friend during his hospital recovery, after he was crushed by a seven ton snow plow. The actor, 52, revealed his Hurt Locker co-star and fellow Avengers castamte, Anthony Mackie, 44, was right there beside him, in a new interview with Diane Sawyer, which aired on ABC Thursday. 'It's the actions,' Renner said after Sawyer, 77, asked him about 'the best thing anyone said to you' following the accident. 'Mackie was there at my bedside in Reno,' the Marvel star shared, as the broadcast showed tributes from his other co-stars Evangeline Lilly, Chris Evans, and Chris Pratt. Renner suffered 30 broken bones, a collapsed lung and had his liver pierced by a shattered rib in the horrific, death-defying accident on New Year's Day. Good friend: Jeremy Renner revealed he had the support of Hurt Locker co-star Anthony Mackie as he recovered from being crushed by a snow plow; The duo pictured 2010 Recovery: The actor, 52, opened up about his recovery in a new interview with Diane Sawyer, which aired on ABC Thursday The duo co-starred in the 2008 Oscar-winning film - directed by Kathryn Bigelow - with Renner playing thrill seeking Sergeant First Class William James, and Mackie starring as Sergeant J. T. Sanborn. The two will also appear in Disney+ docuseries, Rennervations, which is focused on Renners own local community of Reno, Nevada. Rennervations was filmed in 2022 and the production was finished before the accident. Premiering on April 12, Rennervations will revolve around the Hawkeye star as he enlists his celebrity pals to repurpose vehicles which can serve communities. Aside from Mackie, the show will also feature Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical), Anil Kapoor (Mission Impossible) and Sebastian Yatra (Encanto). Renner and Mackie are also fellow Avengers, with Renner playing Clint Barton/Hawkeye, and Mackie Sam Wilson/Falcon. During the interview Renner showed Sawyer that he still has his Avengers tattoo, located on the back of his neck. Another Hurt Locker and Avenger co-star who has shown support for Renner is actress Evangeline Lilly - who plays Hope van Dyne/Wasp in the Marvel universe, and who starred as Renner's ex-wife Connie in the war flick. Support: 'It's the actions,' Renner said after Sawyer, 77, asked him about 'the best thing anyone said to you' following the accident, 'Mackie was there at my bedside in Reno'; Pictured 2008 They go back: The duo co-starred in the 2008 Oscar-winning film, with Renner playing thrill seeking Sergeant First Class William James, and Mackie starring as Sergeant J. T. Sanborn Superheroes: They are also both fellow Avengers, with Renner playing Clint Barton/Hawkeye, and Mackie Sam Wilson/Falcon; Still from Captain America: Civil War Close friends: Another Hurt Locker and Avenger co-star who has shown support for Renner is actress Evangeline Lilly, 43, who previously shared that the actor 'has recovered like a mo-fo' just a little over one month following the accident; The duo pictured 2010 Lilly, 43, previously told Access in February that the actor 'has recovered like a mo-fo' just a little over one month following the accident. 'I walked in his house and got chicken skin, 'cause I was like, "Why are you mobile? Why are you mobile? What's happening?" I expected to sit at his bedside and hold his hand while he moaned and groaned in pain and wasn't able to move,' she said. 'He was wheeling himself around, laughing with his friends. It's a miracle, a straight-up miracle.' Elsewhere in the interview Renner contemplated his existence wondering whether he'd be 'just a spine and a brain' after his injury, and that he signed 'I'm sorry' to his family who sat by his side as he recovered. Renner had been using a Snowcat plow to try to help his adult nephew, Alexander Fries, pull his car out of deep snow when he jumped out, forgetting to put on the emergency brake. The plow started barreling towards his nephew and the actor is believed to have tried to get back into the snowplow while it was moving in in an effort to bring it to a halt. That's when he was pulled beneath it and crushed. Sitting in his wheelchair speaking to ABC's Diane Sawyer, Renner held back tears as he revealed the moments in hospital when he couldn't even speak to his loving family who were desperate to see him survive the accident. 'I was signing that I'm sorry, cause I am sorry,' he said before speaking of how his mother never left his side. Scary: Renner suffered 30 broken bones, a collapsed lung and had his liver pierced by a shattered rib in the horrific, death-defying accident on New Year's Day Silver lining: Jeremy Renner: The Diane Sawyer Interview A Story of Terror, Survival and Triumph will be available to stream on Hulu on Friday Renner said he refuses to be victimized by the situation. 'So I shift the narrative of being victimized, or making a mistake, or anything else,' he said. 'I refuse to be haunted by that memory, that way that's what I talk to my family about, all their perspectives, which are horrifying.' 'We just endured, that's real love. Suffering, but that feeds the seeds of what love is.' Jeremy Renner: The Diane Sawyer Interview A Story of Terror, Survival and Triumph will air on ABC on Thursday April 6th at 10pm EST, and will be available to stream on Hulu on Friday. Stassi Schroeder proudly displayed her baby bump in a chic white dress on Thursday when she went to meet the new baby boy of her close friend, and fellow Vanderpump Rules star, Kristina Kelly. The podcaster, 34 who recently cracked a joke about her sex life looked radiant and chic as she took a mirror selfie and cradled her growing belly. Taking to her Instagram Story, Stassi documented the sweet moment of her holding Kristina's new little boy River. Kelly, 35, and her boyfriend Max Ville, 36, welcomed their first child last month, and Schroeder finally got to meet the latest addition to the Vanderpump Rules family. Captioning a photo of her cradling little River in a chair, Stassi wrote: 'I can't believe we've been friends for almost 15 years and now we get to have baby boys together @kristinakelly.' Radiant: Stassi Schroeder, 34, proudly displayed her baby bump in a chic white dress on Thursday when she went to meet the new baby boy of her close friend, and fellow Vanderpump Rules star, Kristina Kelly Special moment: Taking to her Instagram Story, Stassi documented the sweet moment of her holding Kristina's new little boy River Kristina originally announced the good news with a sweet photo of her newborn wrapped in a white blanket, sleeping on a green pillow with a groove in the middle to keep him from rolling over. The proud mom captioned the post, 'Youre more than I could have ever dreamed of, welcome to the world River.' Stassi took to the comments section and wrote, 'The most perfect little angel boy I have ever seen and I'm not being dramatic.' Schroeder is currently expecting a baby boy with her husband Beau Clark, 43, with whom she shares a two-year-old daughter named Hartford. The couple revealed that they were expecting last month when Stassi shared the happy news with her Instagram followers in a post uploaded on March 1. It included a photo of their daughter Hartford placing a hand on Stassi's noticeable baby bump as they relaxed on a couch together. 'Secrets stress me out. Baby #2, I love you so much already,' captioned the Vanderpump Rules alum. She was flooded with love from the likes of her BFF Katie Maloney and Glee's Lea Michele in the comment section of her pregnancy reveal. So sweet: Captioning a photo of her cradling little River in a chair, Stassi wrote, 'The most beautiful baby boy. Little River @kristinakelly @maxvmaxv' New mom: Kelly, 35, and her boyfriend Max Ville, 36, welcomed their first child last month, and Schroeder finally got to meet the latest addition to the Vanderpump Rules family Welcome to the world: Kristina originally announced that she's a new mom with a precious shot of her newborn baby wrapped up in his crib Expecting: Schroeder is currently expecting a baby boy with her husband Beau Clark, 43 Big reveal: Stassi shared the happy news with her Instagram followers in a post uploaded on March 1 that included a photo of her and Clark's 2-year-old daughter Hartford placing a hand on Stassi's noticeable baby bump Ultrasound: In his own IG post, Beau gave fans their first look at the ultrasound images Stassi and Beau haven't said when their little boy will make his debut, but have revealed he was conceived during a trip to Las Vegas in December, putting his due date sometime in September or October. Beau proposed to the blonde beauty in July 2019 after two years together. The couple married in September 2020 but were forced to postpone their big wedding due to COVID-19. In January 2021, Stassi gave birth to the couple's daughter Hartford. They would go on to marry for a second time during a lavish ceremony in Rome, Italy in May 2022. Drake has released a new track featuring voice samples from Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner, titled Search & Rescue. The Toronto native, 36, uses an excerpt from the family's former series Keeping Up With the Kardashians about halfway into the new release. The audio from 2021 features Kim speaking about the end of her marriage to Kanye West with Jenner. She says, 'I didn't come this far just to come this far and not be happy - remember that,' to which her mother Kris agrees with her. The sampling has sparked speculation that entertainer, whose full name is Aubrey Drake Graham, might be taking a jab at West in the wake of past tensions. Raising eyebrows: Drake sampled Kim Kardashian on a new song, leaving fans to wonder if he was possibly throwing shade at Kanye 'Ye' West Amid the lyrics in the new tune from the Canadian superstar include 'Come and rescue me / Take me out the club / take me out the trap / Take me off the market, take me off the map.' Drake - who recently announced he is considering a 'graceful exit' from the music industry - premiered the track, previously believed to be titled Rescue Me, last week on The Fry Yiy Show on SiriusXM Radio. Although Kanye has performed with Drake and produced his 2010 hit Find Your Love, the outspoken duo have been known to feud over the years. A huge reason behind the rift between Ye and Drake is also centered around Kim as the Canadian rapper has made multiple references in his lyrics to her and even previously alluded to an affair between the two in a 2021 song titled Wants And Needs. Drake also suggested he and the starlet had a fling on his 2018 track In My Feelings. He famously repeats the line 'Kiki, do you love me?' on the hit song, leading fans to point out that Kiki is a nickname Kim's sisters sometimes use for her. Kim went on to publicly warn Drake to 'never threaten' her family as she waded into West and Drake's explosive feud. Kim warned Drake to stay away from her partner and their children and directly addressed @drake on Twitter writing, 'Never threaten my husband or our family. He paved the way for there to be a Drake.' Reunited and it feels so good! Ye and Drake put their differences aside when they posted a friendly photo together at Drake's house; pictured with James Prince (L) in November, 2021 Timeline not mentioned: The 36-year-old Hotline Bling rapper mentioned last month that he was starting to consider a graceful exit though he didn't give a timetable for such an exit (pictured 2022) 'Competitive industry': The interview, posted to Yachty's YouTube channel, continued with Drake adding, 'I feel like a lot of people that Ive watched as the years have gone on, its a really addictive competitive space. Oftentimes youre addicted to the competition itself (pictured 2022) Making amends: In 2021 Drake revealed that he and Ye were spending time together in his hometown of Toronto in a video on his Instagram account The two top rappers reportedly settled their differences in 2021 when they joined forces for a benefit concert and posted a friendly photo together standing next to each other outside of Drake's Toronto mansion. In February, Drake mentioned during an interview with rapper Lil Yachty that he was considering a graceful exit from the music industry though he didn't set any timetables. 'Well, I think on a broader scale, I think I'm at the point now where I just wanna I feel like maybe we talked about this the other day but I feel like I'm kind of introducing the concept in my mind of a graceful exit,' he told the 25-year-old Broccoli rapper. The interview, posted to Yachty's YouTube channel, continued with Drake adding, 'I feel like a lot of people that Ive watched as the years have gone on, its a really addictive competitive space. Oftentimes youre addicted to the competition itself.' When asked if he's ready for retirement, the Degrassi: The Next Generation actor quickly shut that speculation down. Drake last came out with a full-length album last year titled Her Loss. The collaborative album was made with 21 Savage. The One Dance rapper stayed busy last year, releasing a solo album titled Honestly, Nevermind. Even if he decides to walk away from the music industry, Drake has several other projects outside of it to work on. Working in film: Even if he decides to walk away from the music industry, Drake has a number of other projects outside of it to work on (pictured 2019) Busy father: Drake has also been busy as a father, spending quite a bit of time with his son Adonis who turned five in October. He shares Adonis with French artist Sophie Brussaux (Drake left, Adonis center) The Ice Age: Continental Drift actor has recently expanded his interests into film and television production. He serves as an executive producer on the hit show Euphoria and produced the Christian Bale movie Amsterdam which came out last year. He has a pair of projects currently in the works. The movie Sprial 'follows a former influencer whose addiction to social media is causing her body to literally fall apart,' according to its IMDb page. It will star Selena Gomez as the former influencer, while famed music video director Petra Collins will helm the movie. He's also part of the team producing The 48 Laws of Power. It is a Quibi series all about getting and maintaining power. Drake has also been busy as a father, spending quite a bit of time with his son Adonis who turned five in October. He shares Adonis with French artist Sophie Brussaux. On Wednesday, Dancing with the Stars married couple Jenna Johnson and Val Chmerkovskiy shared an inside look at their 'life lately' with 'Rainbow baby' Rome Valentin, who turns three months next Monday. And that's not the only milestone coming up as the Cali-born, Utah-raised hoofer celebrates her 29th birthday on April 12 immediately followed by her fourth wedding anniversary with the Ukrainian 37-year-old on April 13. Jenna - who boasts 1.2M social media followers - revealed on her list of 10 blessings that she's already nicknamed their baby boy: 'Rolly Polly Olly.' Johnson shared a quick video of Val (born Valentin) getting their son's birthdate tattooed in Roman numerals on his left forearm. The Mirrorball champ #26 also posted a clip of her first dance session with Ukrainian dancer Sasha Altukhov six weeks after welcoming little Rome. 'My everything!' On Wednesday, Dancing with the Stars married couple Jenna Johnson and Val Chmerkovskiy shared an inside look at their 'life lately' with 'Rainbow baby' Rome Valentin, who turns three months next Monday But before the baby bliss, Jenna and Chmerkovskiy suffered from 'two years of infertility' during which they had at least one miscarriage in 2021. 'We were in Dallas for a show, and while we were practicing, we did something, and I just turned to him. I'm like, "Oh, I'm - I think I'm bleeding,"' Johnson recalled to Good Morning America on March 30. 'And immediately my heart just dropped. I could see in his face just went like, white. And I sprinted to our hotel room, and I lost the baby in our hotel room.' The L'Occitane paid partner added: 'No one knew that we were pregnant, and we were so excited. I was so, so sad. I was hurting so much.' The two-time Mirrorball champion felt even closer to Jenna after the baby arrived: 'The rush of love, I think, definitely flooded me more in regards to my wife.' Val and Johnson originally met on the set of the dancing competition in 2014 before embarking on their romance in 2015. The Latin and ballroom dancers famously split in 2016-2017 when Chmerkovskiy had a three-month fling with his big brother Maksim Chmerkovskiy's season 23 dance partner Amber Rose, before eventually rekindling their romance. Val and Maks will next star in an immersive wine-tasting, magic and dancing cabaret show called SAVOR After Hours, which runs from June 3 to September 3 at JaM Cellars Ballroom at the Napa Valley Opera House in Napa, CA. 'Leaking': And that's not the only milestone coming up as the Cali-born, Utah-raised hoofer celebrates her 29th birthday on April 12 immediately followed by her fourth wedding anniversary with the Ukrainian 37-year-old on April 13 Jenna - who boasts 1.2M social media followers - revealed on her list of 10 blessings that she's already nicknamed their baby boy: 'Rolly Polly Olly' Inked! Johnson shared a quick video of Val (born Valentin) getting their son's birthdate tattooed in Roman numerals on his left forearm Back in action! The Mirrorball champ #26 also posted a clip of her first dance session with Ukrainian dancer Sasha Altukhov (L) six weeks after welcoming little Rome But before the baby bliss, Jenna and Chmerkovskiy suffered from 'two years of infertility' during which they had at least one miscarriage in 2021 Johnson told GMA on March 30: 'We were in Dallas for a show, and while we were practicing, we did something, and I just turned to him. I'm like, "Oh, I'm - I think I'm bleeding." And immediately my heart just dropped. I could see in his face just went like, white. And I sprinted to our hotel room, and I lost the baby in our hotel room' Olivia Palermo looked stunning during a photoshoot in the streets of New York City on Wednesday. The 37-year-old fashion influencer bundled up in a navy blue peacoat and donned a Ferrari silk midi skirt adorned with a colorful design as she pranced the streets of the bustling city. Underneath her stylish outerwear, the socialite wore a blue, mock-neck sweater to match the colors in the rest of her outfit. The model who enjoyed a private Starbucks dinner with Anna Wintour during Milan Fashion Week in February sported a pair of pointed-toe, knee-high boots. For a pop of color, the entrepreneur carried a structured, latex red purse that she swung as she walked. Fashion shoot: Olivia Palermo, 37, looked stunning during a photoshoot in the streets of New York City on Wednesday And for an added attention to detail, she also modeled a shiny red manicure. The New York native pulled her light brunette tresses back into a sleek and polished low ponytail. For makeup, she opted for a minimal makeup look to showcase her natural beauty. She rocked a monochromatic, nude glam that spotlighted a sultry, smokey eye. Just last month, Palermo was spotted in London at The Twenty Two to celebrate PAIGE's spring collection. For the extravagant affair, she was also joined by her husband, Johannes Huebl. The longtime couple have been married for nine years and have been together for over a decade. Palermo and the German model originally met through mutual friends and later began dating in the late 2000s. Red and blue: The fashion influencer bundled up in a navy blue peacoat and donned a Ferrari silk midi skirt adorned with a colorful design as she pranced the streets of the bustling city Red hot: For a pop of color, the entrepreneur carried a structured, latex red purse that she swung as she walked Longtime couple: For her latest appearance in London, she was joined by her husband, Johannes Huebl; the longtime couple have been married for nine years and have been together for over a decade After dating for six years, the pair got engaged in 2014. Shortly after, Palermo and Huebl tied the knot just months later in the same year. The couple exchanged vows during an intimate ceremony and romantic wedding held in Bedford, New York. 'We really wanted to keep this beautiful day very private and special to us and enjoyed the whole day with our family and two friends,' the reality star had written in her blog. 'Bedford is such an amazing and romantic countryside.' Kimberly Stewart put on a leggy display in a black velvet dress as she enjoyed dinner at Craig's in West Hollywood on Thursday evening. The American socialite, 43, who is the daughter of rocker Rod Stewart, looked incredible in the number which boasted a plunging neckline. She teamed the evening outfit with a pair towering lace up heels which donned a large red flower on the back. The beauty draped a coordinated leather jacket over her shoulders and toted her belongings around in a chic designer bag. Kimberly styled her long blonde tresses in luxurious waves and applied a radiant palette of makeup including a swipe of bold red lipstick. Stunning: Kimberly Stewart put on a leggy display in a black velvet dress as she enjoyed dinner at Craig's in West Hollywood on Thursday evening Leggy display: The American socialite, 43, who is the daughter of rocker Rod Stewart, looked incredible in the number which boasted a plunging neckline It comes after Kimberly and Scott Disick's romance was reportedly affecting her relationship with her younger brother Sean, who is 'very protective' of his longtime pal. While the reality star has dated a slew of high-profile woman, including Kourtney Kardashian and Sofia Richie, a source told Page Six last year that the son of music legend Rod Stewart is 'scared that Kimberly will break [Disick's] heart.' 'Sean is very protective of Scott,' the insider revealed to the outlet, before claiming the siblings 'do not get along at all.' Apparently the source alleges that Kimberly 'doesn't think' her brother is 'smart' and lacks 'any ambition.' 'He was constantly complaining about her. She bosses him around, yells at him and basically tries to tell him how to run his life,' the insider revealed. Additionally, the informant stated that Kimberly seemed to be 'jealous' of the attention Sean received about his clothing line. 'Her relationship with Scott can't make things any easier between the two siblings either,' the insider explained. The source noted that the trio are all 'super dysfunctional' and the siblings relationship is constantly 'up and down.' All smiles: She teamed the evening outfit with a pair towering lace up heels which donned a large red flower on the back Glam: Kimberly styled her long blonde tresses in luxurious waves and applied a radiant palette of makeup including a swipe of bold red lipstick 'Now that Scott is back [in Sean's life], Sean is being overly greedy about the time he's spending with him,' the source explains. Scott and Kimberly first sparked dating rumors back in 2015 after his split with Kourtney Kardashian. However, Kimberly's mum shut down speculation by telling the world they're just old 'friends' and there was 'absolutely no truth to' the rumors. 'They [the Stewarts] introduced Scott to Kourtney,' Alana Stewart told People at the time. 'I was there when it happened, so I can tell you they're all great pals.' Scott was then spotted hanging out with Kimberly, Rod, and her brother Sean in May last year as Kourtney prepared to tie the knot with Travis Barker in Italy. All That Glitters: Britain's Next Jewellery Star has been axed after two seasons. The popular competition show, fronted by comedian Katherine Ryan, launched on BBC Two in April 2021 but plans for a third season have been scrapped, TV Zone revealed. The show was similar to the format of Bake Off, but with jewellery instead of cakes, seeing eight talented crafters battle it out in two tasks over the course of six weeks. Under the watchful eye of host Katherine and judges Shaun Leane, Solange Azagury-Partridge and Dinny Hall, the contestants would compete to be named 'Britain's Next Jewellery Star'. Jewellers took on a Best Seller challenge, tasked with making jewellery that met a certain criteria, before the Bespoke Brief, where they would make items requested by a member of the public. Axed: All That Glitters: Britain's Next Jewellery Star has been axed after two seasons. The popular competition show was fronted by comedian Katherine Ryan All That Glitters managed a respectable 2.6 million peak audience during the launch show, averaging at 2.3 million and was lauded by critics. Speaking about the success of the show, Katherine previously said: 'Jewellery making is so visual and satisfying to watch, but its the jewellers themselves that make the show unmissable. 'Theyre all so warm and different, and they all have uniquely compelling personalities and stories that they bring into their craft.' MailOnline has contacted Multitude Media for comment. Despite losing her role on the BBC show, Katherine is keeping busy with her thriving comedy career. The comic recently spoke to MailOnline about being a woman in a male-dominated field, explaining she had to carve out her own niche in comedy, something she says was an asset rather than a hindrance. She explained: 'I think that I was in the unique positions that I was never able to fit into a space that wasnt mine or try to change myself. 'I have always been quite authentic to a fault. Even when I tried to be a cheerleader or tried to be quiet because I thought that was the kind of woman that people would like I would still always came out as myself.' No more: All That Glitters launched on BBC Two in April 2021 but plans for a third season have been scrapped, TV Zone revealed She continued: 'So I think I probably benefitted from the industry of being male dominated when I started. 'I am a great example of pedestal white feminism! I got to where I am partly because I was different. She advised: 'Lean into your authentic self, youll never be as successful doing an impression of someone else. 'And forget about those boys, I think theyre more gladiatorial with each other than with us, its wonderful to be different in this industry and if the boys want to ignore you and think their only competition is with each other, well theyll be wrong. Katherine is also kept busy by her three children, Fenna Grace, four months, Fred, 22 months, and Violet, 13. They recently enjoyed a romantic getaway in Belgium. And Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Jason Statham made the most of their time in Europe as they spent in time in London. The couple, who live in the States, enjoyed time back in their native country as they headed on a lunch date at the swanky fish restaurant, Scott's in Mayfair. Supermodel Rosie, 35, looked effortlessly chic in a tan leather trench coat that she wrapped around her lithe frame. She teamed the garment with plain black trousers and chunky boots, completing the look with a small brown clutch bag. On tour: They recently enjoyed a romantic getaway in Belgium, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Jason Statham made the most of time in Europe as they spent in time in London By her side was Jason, 55, who cut a casual figure for their outing. The action movie star teamed a black bomber jacket and trousers with a light grey T-shirt, The typically clean shaven star was also sporting a rash of salt and pepper stubble while growing out the hair on his head. The couple's outing in London comes after Rosie recently spoke of her longing to return to her home county of Devon after living in celebrity enclave Malibu, California for years. She and Jason - who share five-year-old son Jack and daughter Isabella, 14 months, together - sold their Malibu mansion for $18.5 million to move to the Chelsea district of London. Rosie was born in the Devon city Plymouth before moving to market town Tavistock, also located South West English county, and she admits that part of the world is still her favourite. In an interview with Great British LIFE, she said: 'I'm a country girl at heart... 'I spend a lot of my time living in LA which is lovely. I spend a lot of time in other major cities too.' Out and about: Rosie enjoyed time back in her native country as they headed on a lunch date at the swanky fish restaurant, Scott's in Mayfair Lovely in leather: The 35-year-old supermodel Rosie looked effortlessly chic in a tan leather trench coat that she wrapped around her lithe frame Low-key: By her side was Jason, 55, who cut a casual figure for their outing. The action movie star teamed a black bomber jacket and trousers with a light grey T-shirt She added: 'There might be the glamour and fun to enjoy in a city but the real beauty is in the countryside and especially in my home county where the people are so nice and ready to volunteer smile for no particular reason. 'The country air smells so fresh and I still love to see the sheep, the pigs, the ducks, chickens and, of course, the horses. 'Whenever I am here and I really don't like to be away for very long, I just find it all so relaxing and lovely. It is home to me.' Despite being engaged since 2016, Rosie and Jason are in no hurry to rush their wedding preparations. Welcoming their son, Jack, a year after her beau got down on one knee, Rosie told ET in 2018 that the wedding wasn't a 'huge priority.' She said: 'We're looking forward to that time. It's also not a huge priority for us; we're so happy. I think it will be fun to do it when the baby's grown up a bit and he can be involved in the wedding.' Hair he is: The typically clean shaven star was also sporting a rash of salt and pepper stubble while growing out the hair on his head Kate Beckinsale sparked concern among fans as she revealed she was suffering from a mystery ailment. The actress, 49, took to Instagram on Thursday to share a selfie displaying her IV drip as she revealed it had been a 'tough' time for herself. Adding to her woes, the Underworld star revealed her beloved cat Clive was also struggling and had been admitted to the vet. Alongside a series of snaps, the mother-of-one penned: 'Tough week or two for both of us .Thanks to everyone who has been loving us through. 'Prayers up for my Clive and brighter days ahead x'. Struggling: Kate Beckinsale sparked concern among fans as she revealed she was suffering from a mystery ailment on Thursday and posed with an IV drip in Kate did not specify either her own or her cat's health issues but fans were quick to share their support and well wishes. As one commented: 'That is a really poorly executed iv', Kate explained: 'Ran out of veins that didnt get infiltrated or blew .no ones fault.' MailOnline has contacted Kate's representatives for comment. Kate was last seen in public on March 22nd when she attended the Fashion Trust U.S. Awards in Los Angeles. The English actress looked sensational on the red carpet and dazzled in a see-through silver jeweled gown that showed off her spectacular figure. She last posed with Clive in January, sharing a snap of the pair on Instagram. Animal lover Kate often poses for kooky snaps with the Persian cat, who has garnered a fanbase of his own. The Underworld star also regularly features her other cat Willow, and her Pomeranian pooch Myth. Struggle: Alongside a series of snaps, the mother-of-one penned,'Tough week or two for both of us .Thanks to everyone who has been loving us through' Oh no! Adding to her woes, the Underworld star revealed her beloved cat Clive was also struggling and had been admitted to the vet Kate previously hit back when a troll accused her of trying too hard to be 'eccentric' with a feline-themed snap. The Critics' Choice Awards nominee shared a hilarious snap cradling her pet puss in a baby sling that she captioned: 'is Canada ready tho [sic]'. Although the post garnered more than 100,000 likes and praise from her celebrity pals, Kate did find herself under fire from trolls. As one commented: 'You pride yourself on being eccentric, the whole thing smacks of to much effort', Kate clapped back in reference to their profile picture, 'omg its too funny you saying that with that hair do'. Courtney Love has posed a poignant tribute to her 'twin flame' Kurt Cobain. The 58-year-old Hole star marked 29 years since the death of her husband on April 5, 1994, by sharing a black-and-white picture of his hands clasped together taken by R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe and revealed the image makes her miss the Nirvana frontman 'deeply' almost three decades after he took his own life. In a post on Instagram, Courtney wrote: 'I love beautiful hands, its the first thing I look at in another. I love that the only photograph of Kurt that @michaelstipe took, ... Micheal saw these hands. These left handed beautiful hands like a votive/ a mudra, a shot this singular, powerful photograph of my twin flame. 'It is one of the only images (or sounds/ tastes etc) that makes me miss him deeply.' Courtney went on to reveal the picture reminds her of the Buddhist the couple used to take part in together and insisted she knows he's in an 'enlightened place' since his death. 29 years apart: Courtney Love, 58, posted a photo of her late husband Kurt Cobain's hands that was taken by R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe to pay tribute to the fallen rocker, who died by suicide on April 5, 1994 She added: 'He chanted with me and often, and truly was moved by our Buddhist practice. Thus, I know hes in an enlightened place, more so, than we here in mappo are. "The arms of a 1000 Buddhas outstretched to greet you," the gosho says.' The rocker concluded her post by signing off with a Japanese chant from both her and the couple's daughter Frances Bean Cobain, writing: 'Nam myoho renge kyo dear Kurt D. C. ... I and we loveand miss you ... ' Cobain was one of the most popular rock musicians of the 1990s thanks to his band Nirvana, which helped lead the grunge revolution until his untimely death. The band, which also featured bassist Krist Novoselic and eventually drummer Dave Grohl, scored a number one hit with its second album, 1991's Nevermind, which has gone on to be one of the most influential and popular albums of the decade. The trio would release one more album, the darker but still popular In Utero. But Cobain suffered from depression on and off throughout his life, as well as a heroin addiction in his later years. He died of a self-inflected shotgun wound on April 5, 1994, though his body was not discovered for several days. Cobain and Love had met sometime in the late '80s or early '90s, and they tied the knot in February of 1992. They subsequently welcomed their daughter Frances Bean Cobain in August of that year. A profile that was also published in 1992 in Vanity Fair featured details of the couple's dueling heroin addictions, which led the Los Angeles Department of Child and Family Services to temporarily move Frances to the custody of Love's sister. Frances also paid tribute to her late father on the anniversary of his death in a since-deleted Instagram Stories post. Loving: In a post on Instagram, Courtney wrote: 'I love beautiful hands, its the first thing I look at in another. I love that the only photograph of Kurt that @michaelstipe took, ... Micheal saw these hands'; seen with Cobain in 1993 Family life: The couple were married in 1992 and welcomed their daughter Frances Bean Cobain later that year; seen in 1993 Missing him: Love's daughter Frances Bean Cobain also shared a quotation in memory of her father on the anniversary of his death; seen with Love in 2007 'Life is like a wave crashing upon the shore & death is like the wave returning back to the ocean, back to its most natural state,' she wrote, sharing a previously existing quotation. 'I forget exactly where I heard this quote but hearing it makes loss seem less scary and more like a return to the collective consciousness of loving awareness. Free from pain or human worry. Death serves a purpose. It is what makes life so precious, in the same way pain is purposeful because we wouldn't know joy without it,' she continued. 'Everyday I aim to have gratitude for everything that surrounds this life including loss. It's the ultimate teacher. Hold the people you love a little more tightly and a little bit closer for me today.' If you or a loved one needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-8255. Nikki Osborne has slammed her son's private school after they demanded the teenager chop off his 'Harry Styles' style hairdo. The furious mum-of-two, 41, penned an angry article in The Courier Mail on Thursday, lashing out at the school's 'outrageous' request. She was still up in arms on Friday, telling The Project that Will, 15, has 'normal hair' inspired by the British pop star. 'He just looks like an earlier version of Harry Styles! Which I think is a good thing' she said. 'I don't understand why they're bringing in all these stupid rules for, you know, just little bits of hair.' Nikki Osborne (pictured) has slammed her son's private school after they demanded the teenager chop off his 'Harry Styles' style hairdo She was up in arms on Friday, telling The Project that Will, 15, has 'normal hair' inspired by the British pop star. Pictured with her husband Jamie Starr and their two boys Will and Teddy She added: 'When I got the letter I was mad! In fact I was so mad I spilt my Prosecco and that made me double mad! Because, like, his hair - it just looks like he has got normal hair.' Nikki says that Will was asked to cut his hair because his locks are 'touching his collar' and that she is reluctant to fulfill the request. 'I'm really torn between having him look like he could get a job or just being free-spirited and being himself and looking like Harry Styles' she said. 'I mean, I bet Harry Styles' mum got a letter and I hope when he won his first million she rolled it into a joint and smoked it!' 'He just looks like an earlier version of Harry Styles! Which I think is a good thing' she said. 'I don't understand why they're bringing in all these stupid rules for just little bits of hair'. Harry Styles is pictured 'I'm really torn between having him look like he could get a job or just being free-spirited and being himself and looking like Harry Styles' she said Nikki earlier lashed out at Will's private school in a column for The Courier Mail. She revealed her 15-year-old son bought home a letter informing her she had seven days to cut his hair. 'My immediate reaction was: I beg your pardon! That's an outrage!' she wrote. 'I can't even get in to see my hairdresser this quarter let alone in seven days and also how dare they?!' The Australian comedian went on to say her 'inner Karen' came out as her husband Jamie Starr, with whom she also shares 10-year-old son Teddy, told her to 'just get [the hair] cut'. Nikki earlier lashed out at Will's private school in a column for The Courier Mail. She revealed her 15-year-old son bought home a letter informing her she had seven days to cut his hair Nikki added: 'I ran into my son's room and asked why he needed his locks cut. 'It touches my collar,' he said. In a fit of outrage she told her son to claim he 'identified as bogan' with the pronouns 'sick dawg' and 'eshay bruh'. However, after she calmed down a little, the former Quizmania host admitted she was being 'hypocritical'. She revealed she purposefully enrolled her son in a 'conservative' school to keep him amongst 'respectable' peers. 'I want all of the other kids shorn and respectable while my kid rocks his Harry Styles do,' she said. By the end of her rant, Nikki concluded she would just suck it up and get Will's hair cut. The stars of the Lucasfilm universe were out in force as they attended the Star Wars Celebration convention in London. Phoebe Waller-Bridge looked incredible as she attended the event at ExCeL on Friday clad in an eye-catching strapless silver top. The actress - who was promoting Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny - teamed the garment with black cigarette trousers and slung a blazer over her shoulders. She completed the look by adding a pop of colour in the form of plum lipstick. Phoebe will soon hit screens in the upcoming Indiana Jones prequel - the fifth film in the decades-long franchise. Here she is: The Lucasfilm stars were out in force as they attended the Star Wars Celebration convention at ExCel in London on Friday, including Phoebe Waller-Bridge Two's company: Jude Law also appeared at Star Wars Celebration and posed for snaps alongside Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy The British actress and writer will be introduced as Helena, Joness adventure-seeking goddaughter. She posed for snaps alongside co-star Mads Mikkelsen, who is joining his latest franchise as the villain. After months of anticipation it was announced the movie will have its world premiere at Cannes Film Festival in May. The film festival also plans a tribute to Harrison Ford's long and illustrious career. Indiana Jones 5 marks the Star Wars actor's last time donning his brown fedora and stepping into the role of the famous archeologist that he has been playing since 1981's Raiders Of The Lost Ark. Film-makers have kept details of the plot under strict guard but actors including Toby Jones, Antonio Banderas and John Rhys-Davies (who plays Indys close friend Sallah in three of the previous four movies) are all in the new film. One source who has seen an early cut of the film said: 'Theres everything youd want; Nazis, fighting on top of a moving train, a chase sequence through a parade and Indy using his bullwhip to fight bad guys with guns. 'The film is being shown to test audiences. No one knows which ending they will use.' It's been claimed that Fleabag star may replace ageing action hero Harrison as the next Indiana Jones. Striking: Phoebe looked incredible as she attended the event clad in an eye-catching strapless silver top, black cigarette trousers and a blazer over her shoulders Here they are: She posed for snaps alongside co-star Mads Mikkelsen, who is joining his latest franchise as the villain Three of a kind: Director James Mangold cosied up for snaps with the duo As seen on screen: Phoebe will soon hit screens with Harrison Ford in the upcoming Indiana Jones prequel - the fifth film in the decades-long franchise Another big project in the Lucasfilm pipeline is the hotly-anticipated Star Wars live-action series Skeleton Crew. Created by Spider-Man: No Way Home director Jon Watts, the show will take place after the events in Return Of The Jedi and will star Jude Law. Jon said: 'It's the story about a group of kids - about 10 years old - from a tiny little planet, who accidentally get lost in the Star Wars galaxy and it's the story of their journey trying to find their way home.' 'It's as much of a kids' show as Clone Wars,' said producer Dave Filoni. 'And I'm like, we cut people's heads off in Clone Wars, so I'm not sure that's the best measure.' Jon added: 'We liked the idea of using kids to give you a different perspective and see the galaxy through a different pair of eyes.' Jude also appeared at Star Wars Celebration and posed for snaps alongside Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy. This is one of a handful of Star Wars projects still in development at Disney-owned LucasFilm, amid several others being canceled. Exciting: Elsewhere, Daisy Ridley, 30, confirmed she will reprise her role as Rey in upcoming Star Wars film as she made a surprise appearance at the event Cast and crew: Daisy looked sensational in a bold dress that featured a large bow as she joined producer Kathleen Kennedy and director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy at the ExCeL Centre Red carpet ready: She boosted her height with a pair of nude stilettos and slicked her dark hair back into a neat updo (pictured with Ali Plumb) Dapper: Jude Law looked as handsome as ever in a cream blazer Cute: The actor was joined at the event by (L-R) Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Robert Timothy Smith, and Kyriana Kratter Pals: Jon Favreau flashed a smiile while posing with Ravi and Jude Suited and booted: Mary Elizabeth Winstead looked radiant in a mustard trouser suit Chirpy: Andy Serkis and Genevieve O'Reilly looked in good spirits as they posed together Lovely ladies: Rebecca Henderson dazzled in a white legged white suit while Natasha Liu Bordizzo was gorgeous in a green ensemble VIPs: Director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy looked stylish in an electric blue suit Elegant: Rosario Dawson looked sophisticated in a navy blue velvet blazer Stunning: She teamed the plunging number with a pair of chunky heeled boots Beauties: Natasha Liu Bordizzo turned heads in a satin two piece as she joined Rosario and Mary on the red carpet Bold: Katee Sackhoff stood out from the crowd in a patterned blazer and leather trousers Taika Waititi is still developing a Star Wars project that he is expected to both direct and star in, slated for release December 19, 2025. It was also reported in November that Shawn Levy (Stranger Things, Free Guy) was set to develop and direct a Star Wars project, though it will come after he directs Deadpool 3, which is set for a November 8, 2024 release. Disney has removed several other projects from their development slate, though, including two last month. The studio quietly pulled Star Wars: Rogue Squadron from director Patty Jenkins from its late 2023 release and it is now no longer in active development. Disney was also developing a Star Wars feature from Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige since September 2019, though that has also been taken out of active development. It was still being developed going back to May 2022, when Feige brought on Michael Waldron (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) to write the script. However, just five months later, Feige brought on Waldron to write Avengers: Secret Wars, which would wrap up Marvel's Multiverse Saga. J.D. Dillard (Devotion) was also slated to develop a Star Wars project though he revealed in November that is no longer happening. Dapper: Giancarlo Esposito donned a black trilby hat and fitted suit while Charlie Barnett teamed a grey suede jacket with white chinos Smiles: Jude and Rosario posed together backstage Catching the eye: Jodie Turner-Smith looked sensational in a red satin gown Lori Harvey looked stunning in her very skimpy orange bikini as she spent some time in the sun. On Thursday the actress posted several images in her swimsuit as she enjoyed her beach vacation alongside her 31-year-old boyfriend Damson Idris. The photos were shared to her Insta Stories with no caption. In one snapshot the model - who was seen kissing her beau just days ago - took a selfie as she reclined on a lounger with her hand blocking out the sun. And the 26-year-old beauty was also seen from the back as she sat up in the tropical location while holding a cocktail. Damson was laying face down in the lounger next to her. Hard life... not! Lori Harvey looked stunning in her very skimpy orange bikini as she spent some time in the sun Harvey was wet from a dip in the ocean and her hair was slicked back until she put on a straw hat. Lori was also wearing plenty of gold jewelry like hoop earrings and a necklace that went over her belly. This comes after she attended Paris Fashion Week in March, Lori, who is the adoptive daughter of comedian Steve Harvey, flaunted her fantastic figure in a partially sheer corset with small pieces of fabric barely covering her chest. Over her shoulders, she threw on a sheer black button-up top that she left open to show off her thin frame. For pants, the model opted for a pair of loose black trousers that she let hang low on her hips. Her caption on the post was simple, having only written: 'Bonjour.' She also added an emoji of the French flag. Lori shared photos from many different angles, showing off as much of her toned physique as she could. She started off the slew of photos with a selfie so her 5M followers on Instagram could get a better look at her flawless visage and perfect makeup look. Love the look: On Thursday the actress posted several images in her swimsuit as she enjoyed her beach vacation In love: She was with her 31-year-old boyfriend Damson Idris. The photos were shared to her Insta Stories with no caption One shot looked like she was leaning against the wall of an elevator as she revealed a look at the side of her ensemble, including her voluptuous chest, which was almost falling out of the sides of her top. The bombshell glowed with a full face of makeup, including bronzed and highlighted cheekbones, brown eyeshadow, and dark lipgloss. She also added a touch of glitter to her chest and around her eyes to give a shimmering effect in the light. The SKN by LH founder styled her hair in a classic French look. It was cut very short and slicked back over her head, with only a small piece of left out in the front that she curled and left sitting on her forehead. Flaunting it: Lori Harvey stunned in an all-black sheer look at Paris Fashion Week For jewelry, she kept it simple with only a small pair of stud earrings and a singular gold ring on one of her fingers. The previous week, Lori was a staple member of Milan Fashion Week, having made an appearance at the Bally show. At the event, she was clad in a plunging denim shirt without a bra and a very leggy black skirt that featured a thigh-high slit nearly up to her hip. Lori was in good company at the A-list show as she sat in between Dixie D'Amelio and J Balvin. The busy star was also seen supporting her leading man boyfriend, Idris at the premiere of the sixth and final season of his show Snowfall. After initially playing it coy about their budding romance, the handsome couple, who only just went Instagram official at the beginning of 2023, wasn't shy in packing on the PDA at the premiere. Showing support: The beauty supported her beau Damson Idris at the premiere of his show Snowfall in February Before sparking her relationship with Damson, Lori was in a highly publicized relationship with actor heartthrob Michael B. Jordan, 36. The pair began dating in November 2020, and nearly a year later, Jordan declared in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that he "finally found what love was" with Harvey. Then in June 2022, it was revealed that Jordan and Harvey had called it quits on their relationship. The highly-anticipated first trailer for Ahsoka was released as it saw Rosario Dawson in the titular role as she portrays one of the last Jedi in the Star Wars Galaxy. The 43-year-old actress looked ready for action in the nearly-two minute clip which dropped at the Star Wars Celebration event in London on Friday after character posters were released of Lizzo and Jack Black in The Mandalorian. In it Rosario portrays Ahsoka Tano who is the exiled Jedi Padawan of Anakin Skywalker, who eventually turned to the Dark Side to lead the Galactic Empire as Darth Vader. The trailer appears to show that the live action series directly follows up on several threads from the animated series Star Wars Rebels. One of the more crucial scenes in the clip see's Ahsoka reuniting with Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) which came years after the disappearance of their friend Ezra Bridger (Eman Esfandi). In a galaxy far, far away: The highly-anticipated first trailer for Ahsoka was released as it saw Rosario Dawson in the titular role as she portrays one of the last Jedi in the Star Wars Galaxy Sabine tells her 'it's been a while,' as Ahsoka quickly retorts 'things have changed.' It also confirms that Mary Elizabeth Winstead will portray Hera Syndulla who is one of the leading characters from that series. However, there is an overarching darkness over the trailer as Genral Admiral Thrawn is addressed in the trailer though he was not shown other than the back of his head. The most mind-blowing part of the clip came when Ahsoka tells Sabine: 'I started hearing whispers about Thrawn's return as air to the Empire.' No doubt there had to be action showcased as Ahsoka whipped out a lightsaber to do battle. The trailer featured an epic showdown between the lead and Baylan Skoll (Ray Stevenson) who had the iconic red Sith lightsaber. At that point Hera could be heard saying: 'We have to prepare for the worst.' Ahsoka addresses that her kind is near extinction as she then says: 'The Jedi fell a long time ago. There aren't many left.' Together at last: One of the more crucial scenes in the clip see's Ahsoka reuniting with Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) which came years after the disappearance of their friend Ezra Bridger Sabine tells her 'it's been a while,' as Ahsoka quickly retorts 'things have changed' Going green: It also confirms that Mary Elizabeth Winstead will portray Hera Syndulla who is one of the leading characters from that series Man of mystery: However, there is an overarching darkness over the trailer as Genral Admiral Thrawn is addressed in the trailer though he was not shown other than the back of his head Dark side: The trailer featured an epic showdown between the lead and Baylan Skoll (Ray Stevenson) who had the iconic red Sith lightsaber Huyang (voiced by David Tennant) - who is a Mark IV architect droid professor to the Jedi - replies: 'Perhaps it is time to begin again' The trailer epically concludes with Ahsoka holding her white duel lightsabers as she engages in battle. Not shown in the clip was Hayden Christensen who will be returning in his signature role as Anakin Skywalker for the series. Star Wars: Ahsoka is set to stream on Disney+ in August. Epic: Ahsoka is seen engaging in battle Mysterious: Ivanna Sakhno is shown as Shin Hati A vision: Senator Mawood (Maurice Irvin), Senator Rodrigo (Jacqueline Antaramian), Chancellor Mon Mothma (Genevieve OReilly), Senator Xiono (Nelson Lee) and Gran Senator (Erica Duke) are seen left to right Goosebumps: The trailer epically concludes with Ahsoka holding her white duel lightsabers as she engages in battle In the shadows: Not shown in the clip was Hayden Christensen who will be returning in his signature role as Anakin Skywalker for the series; he is seen in 2005's Revenge of the Sith Advertisement The official trailer for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny debuted on Friday morning. It is the fifth film in the decades-long franchise. Harrison Ford, 80, picked up his famous whip once again and slipped back on his hat to play Indiana Jones. And he was seen back in action, literally, as he rode a horse in NYC, raced a tuk-tuk and jumped out of a burning plane while being chased by bad guys. There is also a scene with a giant rolling boulder. Also seen was Phoebe Waller-Bridge in a prominent role as Indy's goddaughter who pulls the archeologist out of retirement. She wants to search for treasure that Indy says he has been looking for 'all my life.' The official trailer for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny debuted on Friday morning. It is the fifth film in the decades-long franchise The female lead: Also seen was Phoebe Waller-Bridge in a prominent role as Indy's goddaughter who pulls the archeologist out of retirement A new bad guy is seen as well: The villain is played by Mads Mikkelsen 'Dad told me you found something on a train, a dial, which could change the course of history,' says Waller-Bridge, revealing exactly what the chase was about. Ford is also seen in flashback images with Nazis that seems to have required de-aging technology. Or they could have been lifted from Raiders Of The Lost Ark. The villain is played by Mads Mikkelsen who is seen looking menacing in a hat, glasses and leather jacket. This fifth installment in the movie franchise is from director James Mangold, who helmed Girl, Interrupted (1999), Walk the Line (2005), which he also co-wrote, the 2007 remake 3:10 to Yuma (2007), The Wolverine (2013), and Logan (2017). This comes after news the film will debut at the Cannes Film Festival on May 18. Ford will be there as well as Antonio Banderas, John Rhys-Davies, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, and Ethann Isidore. The film festival also plans a tribute to Ford's long and illustrious career. This film marks the Star Wars actor's last time donning his brown fedora and stepping into the role of the famous archeologist that he has been playing since 1981's Raiders Of The Lost Ark. So much to take in! Also on Friday a new poster was shared with Harrison holding his whip France bound: Ford, 80, and director James Mangold will attend the screening at the Palais des Festivals on May 18 The Indiana Jones franchise is to end for good following the release of the fifth and final movie. Ford first picked up his whip to play the adventurous archeologist in 1981 blockbuster Raiders of the Lost Ark. And he returned for two more sequels, Indiana Jones And The Temple of Doom in 1984 and Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade in 1989. Then there was a break of nearly 20 years before he came back for 2008's Indiana Jones And The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull. The fifth movie Indiana Jones And The Dial of Destiny is due for release in June and now bosses at Disney - who acquired the rights with the purchase of Lucasfilm - have confirmed Indy won't be back for any more adventures. In a press release issued to confirm details of the new film, the Dial Of Destiny is described as 'the highly anticipated final installment of the beloved franchise'. Director Mangold added: 'My legendary collaborators and I are very excited to share a brand new and final Indiana Jones adventure with you!' Flashback scene: Ford is also seen in flashback images with Nazis that seems to have required de-aging technology Forty years: Ford has been playing the iconic character since 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark There had been speculation the movies could continue without lead actor Ford - with any future films possibly being focused around the character of Helena Shaw, Indy's goddaughter, who is played by Waller-Bridge in the new movie. However, the latest update appears to confirm there will be no more Indiana Jones films in the pipeline. Reports also suggested there may have been plans to bring an Indiana Jones spin-off TV series to the Disney Plus streaming service but the plans is believed to have been shelved. Ford is coming off the smash success of his AppleTV+ series Shrinking, co-starring Jason Segal, Christa Miller, Michael Urie, Jessica Williams, Ted McGinley, Luke Tennie and Lukita Maxwell. The series set in a Los Angeles-area psychiatric practice recently got renewed for a second season. Segal also serves as co-creator with Ted Lasso co-creator Bill Lawrence and Ted Lasso star/writer Brent Goldstein. Last time: The fifth film in the storied franchise will reportedly be the last time Ford puts on the brown fedora Daisy Ridley stunned in a fitted red dress as she confirmed she star in the upcoming Star Wars films as she made a surprise appearance at Star Wars Celebration 2023. The actress, 33, who will reprise her role as Rey, first appeared in 2015's The Force Awakens and went on to star in The Last Jedi in 2017, before wrapping up her character in 2019's The Rise of Skywalker. Speaking at the event in London on Friday, she revealed that she would be continuing Rey's journey in a film that will take place after the 2019 instalment. Daisy looked sensational in the bold number that featured a large bow on one shoulder and nipped in at her waist. She boosted her height with a pair of nude stilettos and slicked her dark hair back into a neat updo. Exciting: Daisy Ridley, 30, has confirmed she will reprise her role as Rey in upcoming Star Wars film as she made a surprise appearance at Star Wars Celebration 2023 (pictured at the event) Role: The actress first appeared in 2015's The Force Awakens (pictured with John Boyega) and went on to star in The Last Jedi in 2017, before 2019's The Rise of Skywalker Producer Kathleen Kennedy introduced a new series of Star Wars films at the event, that will 'tell the story of the rebuilding of a new Jedi order', Deadline reports. According to People, Daisy told the audience at the ExCeL Centre: 'I am very thrilled to be continuing this journey.' She first starred as Rey alongside longstanding stars Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher in 2015, as well as new stars of the series John Boyega and Adam Driver. The trilogy wrapped in 2019 with Rey visiting Luke Skywalker's abandoned homestead to bury Luke (Mark Hamill) and Leia's (Carrie) lightsabers. Earlier this year, Daisy responded to whether she would be open to reprising her role in the epic space opera franchise. Joining Emilia Clarke at Sundance Film Festival the actresses, who both wrapped up their characters' stories in the films, were presented with the question. For Clarke, she didn't mince words when she shot back with a quick 'no', while Ridley had a different answer when she confessed she would definitely consider returning. Clarke, 36, played the role of Qira, Han Solo's childhood friend and romantic interest, in Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018). Cast and crew: Daisy looked sensational in the bold number that featured a large bow as she joined producer Kathleen Kennedy and director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy at the ExCeL Centre Red carpet ready: She boosted her height with a pair of nude stilettos and slicked her dark hair back into a neat updo (pictured with Ali Plumb) Character: She starred as Rey alongside longstanding stars Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher, as well as new stars of the series John Boyega and Adam Driver (pictured in 2017's The Last Jedi) Return: Speaking at the event in London on Friday, she revealed that she would be continuing Rey's journey in a film that will take place after the 2019 instalment (pictured) When asked she said: 'I mean no,' with a laugh, according to Indie Wire adding, 'That would be lovely, that would be very nice. I'm genuinely having a wicked time on Marvel, though, they're absolutely brilliant.' Meanwhile, in an interview with IMdB, Daisy confessed she would definitely consider returning to the fold: 'I mean, I'm open to a phone call. I'm looking for employment!' she said. The actress also spoke to TheWrap about how she has watched the various Star Wars franchise shows on Disney+, and considers herself a big fan. 'I haven't watched all of them, but it's just because of timing and stuff like that. But yeah, I mean the work everyone's doing is amazing,' she shared. 'I worked with Pedro Pascal and I was like, "This is really cool; he's The Mandalorian." I still find it all very exciting.' Advertisement She is following in her sister's footsteps. Kylie Jenner is the face of the new Dolce & Gabbana campaign, it was announced on Friday morning. This comes months after 42-year-old Kim Kardashian did it first with a very sultry photo shoot that had a slick Nineties feel. The 25-year-old reality TV star was seen in a black outfit with her raven hair worn down over her shoulders. She was almost spilling out of her black bra as she flashed her toned legs in thigh-high stockings for added glamour. The mother of two lay on a cheetah print blanket over ornate gilded furniture as she held onto D&G purses - one in ivory, the other in red. Roar: She is following in her sister's footsteps. Kylie Jenner is the face of the new Dolce & Gabbana campaign, it was announced on Friday morning 'Kylie stars in the new #DGLogoBag campaign, photographed by @mertalas and @macpiggott,' it says in the caption. 'The DG Logo Bag is the new #DolceGabbana staple with a minimal silhouette in lacquered and matte hues for a crisp finish, featuring the iconic three-dimensional #DGLogo. 'Styling @rosegrandquist and @makkaroo Hair @jesushair Makeup @makeupbyariel.' It was added the items were made in Italy. Kylie has modeled for D&G's eyewear before. The television personality showed off several of the brand's glasses while lounging in a swimming pool in March. The entrepreneur, who also serves as the face of her own beauty company Kylie Cosmetics, wore her black hair down and soaking wet. Curvy chick: This comes months after 42-year-old Kim Kardashian did it first with a very sultry photo shoot that had a slick Nineties feel - but Kylie did it her own way Lovely lady on a lounger: The 25-year-old reality TV star was seen in a black outfit with her raven hair worn down over her shoulders Jenner wore a low-cut black dress and a matching pair of gloves during the video shoot. The social media figure also donned a pair of high-heeled shoes that matched the color of her clothing. The entrepreneur added a bit of shine to her look with a pair of gold Dolce & Gabbana earrings and cycled through several different pairs of sunglasses. Her gorgeous brunette hair cascaded onto her back and shoulders as she spent time in front of the camera. Although she has been featured in numerous promotional campaigns in the past, Jenner is the longtime face of her own beauty brand, Kylie Cosmetics. Noir nights: The mother of two lay on a cheetah print blanket over ornate gilded furniture as she held onto D&G purses - one in ivory, the other in red Kim did it first: Her older sister Kim Kardashian has also been working for Dolce & Gabbana this year The social media personality was featured in several images and a video meant to promote the line's offerings that were shared to her Instagram account late last month. In the shots, the reality television figure applied eyeliner to her lashes during a photoshoot. She also wrote a message in her post's caption and revealed that new products from her brand would be 'coming soooooooon.' Jenner initially founded Kylie Cosmetics in 2014 and has appeared in several of its promotional campaigns since then. The entrepreneur previously spoke to Harper's Bazaar and discussed several aspects of her professional life. Wet wonder: Jenner was featured in a promotional shot and video for Dolce & Gabbana's new Eyewear campaign in March Leading lady: The 25-year-old reality television personality showed off several of the brand's glasses while lounging in a swimming pool During the sit-down, she expressed that she did not envision herself managing a beauty company. 'I didn't think it was possible. I didn't think that this could really be my job,' she said. The entrepreneur went on to state that she had been interested in cosmetics ever since her early years. 'I always loved makeup, though. I wanted to watch tutorials. I would play with my own makeup or my mom's...and I was obsessed with lipstick,' she said. Her older sister Kim Kardashian has also been working for Dolce & Gabbana this year. She was seen modeling fashion in several print ads and even flew to Italy to support the stunning campaign that makes her look like an Italian film star from the 1990s. S Club 7 star Paul Cattermole has died at the age of 46, with shocked fans and fellow celebrities leading an outpour of heartfelt tributes. The singer, who was set to embark on a reunion tour with S Club in October, was found dead at his home in Dorset on Thursday. There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his passing. The news is said to have come as a 'shock' to his fellow band members, including his ex-girlfriend Hannah Spearritt who has been left 'inconsolable'. A statement released by his family read: 'It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of our beloved son and brother Paul Cattermole. 'Paul was found yesterday, 6th April 2023 at his home in Dorset and was pronounced dead later that afternoon.' RIP: S Club 7 star Paul Cattermole has died at the age of 46, with his bandmates and fans paying emotional tributes (pictured on Wednesday) Tragic news: While his cause of death has not been revealed, the band's manager reportedly said that there were 'no suspicious circumstances' Humble abode: Paul was found dead at his home in Dorset on Thursday this week It continued: 'While the cause of death is currently unknown, Dorset Police has confirmed that there were no suspicious circumstances. 'Paul's family, friends and fellow members of S Club request privacy at this time.' The band paid tribute to Paul on Twitter, writing: 'We are truly devastated by the passing of our brother Paul. 'There are no words to describe the deep sadness and loss we all feel. We were so lucky to have had him in our lives and are thankful for the amazing memories we have. 'He will be so deeply missed by each and every one of us. We ask that you respect the privacy of his family and of the band at this time.' A number of stars took to social media to pay tribute to Paul after the sad news broke. Television presenter Vernon Kay wrote: 'This is so very sad. From when I first started in TV all the way through CBBC, T4, TOTP, smash hits poll winners Paul and Sclub were always there. He always had time for a chat. RIP.' Breakfast television host Lorraine Kelly tweeted: 'This is so sad. Lovely man and he was so looking forward to the #sclub7 reunion. Interviewed them all many times and struck by how gentle and shy he was.' Reunited: (L-R) Rachel Stevens, Paul, Jo O'Meara, Jon Lee, Hannah Spearritt, Bradley McIntosh and Tina Barrett were gearing up to reform for a 25th anniversary tour later this year Heyday: The group were one of the biggest bands of the Noughties and had a string of hits (clockwise L-R: Hannah Spearritt, Jo O'Meara, Jon Lee, Tina Barrett, Bradley McIntosh, Paul and Rachel Stevens) Paying tribute: The news prompted an outpouring of tributes from his fans and fellow celebrities Responding to S Club 7's words, TV presenter Rylan Clark wrote: 'Sending all the love to you all xxx.' Former Celebrity Big Brother housemate India Willoughby posted: 'Omg. Such sad news. Paul was always my favourite. Cheeky smile. Be with the brightest stars now. Love and condolences to all his family and friends.' Television personality Lizzie Cundy shared: 'So shocked and sad to hear S Club 7 Paul Cattermole has past away. Such a lovely guy . All my thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends #RestInPeace.' Sugababes singer Keisha Buchanan wrote: 'Such sad news about Paul #Sclub7 he was always lovely on the occasions where we saw each other throughout our pop journey. My heartfelt condolences & prayers to his family, friends and band mates urghh I hate this. Love while you can guys.' Actor Jeremy Edwards, who was previously engaged to Paul's S Club bandmate Rachel Stevens, wrote: 'RIP Paul Cattermole. My thoughts and love go to all your friends and family.' Paul and his bandmate Hannah Spearritt dated from 2001 to 2006, with Hannah said to be distraught at the news of his death. A source close to Paul's ex-girlfriend and bandmate Hannah told MailOnline: 'She is absolutely devastated and inconsolable. This came as a massive shock, and she is struggling to believe he is no longer with us. 'Just as they rekindled their friendship, the worst happened. The band are all in pieces. 'They were all looking forward to the reunion tour and reliving their amazing memories together. 'Paul has and always will be a huge part of Hannah's journey. Right now, she is just beside herself.' Hannah and Paul's friendship predates the creation of the noughties group after they became friends in their teens at the National Youth Music Theatre. They first kept their romance private with Paul later revealing he would sneak to and from Hannah's house in the early hours of the morning to avoid being spotted by fans. As the band announced his passing this afternoon in a tribute, fans left their own memories of the popular star. Jaylan Salah wrote: 'RIP Paul Cattermole. I was obsessed with S Club 7 when I was little, had a major crush on Hannah and Bradley, and even watched their TV series Miami 7 with my sister and Grandpa on the Gramps old TV set. 'Their songs always uplifted my spirit and made me feel like dancing. Sad news.' Elizabeth Bond said on Twitter that the musician made her remember happy times in her life. She said: 'Truly shocked and sorry to hear this. I saw S Club 7 back in 2002 with a friend of mine. 'We were both about ten years older than the average age of the audience, but I still feel nostalgic for that innocent and fun time. RIP Paul and condolences to your loved ones.' JenWren said: 'This is so bloody sad. My friend and I saw S Club a few years back in the Echo arena, relived our youth. Rest in peace Paul.' Ellie Walker added: 'This is so sad. RIP Paul. He was a big part of my childhood. My thoughts are with you all and his loved ones.' Paying their respects: As the band announced his passing this afternoon in a tribute, fans left their own memories of the popular star Outpouring of emotion: Fans took to Twitter to share some emotional words after hearing news of Paul's death Elsewhere, another fan wrote: 'So sad to see that Paul Cattermole has died. His family, friends and the band must be devastated. My heartfelt condolences to all. 'Reach' is one of, if not THE, greatest pop songs of all time. Paul's acoustic version is gorgeous.' 'Oh man a big part of my childhood paul cattermole has died honestly it makes you cherish life a lot,' another devotee wrote. 'Really sad to hear Paul Cattermole of S Club 7 has died. No age at all. Their music was the background noise to my early teaching life. So many happy scenes of the kids singing and dancing along to their songs,' posted another fan. While another fan tweeted: 'As someone who watched S Club on TV and became a fan of the group and their music because of it, I am stunned by the loss of Paul Cattermole - especially happening shortly before the group was to reunite for a tour. RIP Paul. Thank you to all you did for the group & music.' 'Saddened to hear of the passing of Paul Cattermole. He was my first celebrity crush as a kid. He was great in S Club 7. I even followed his tarot channel he set up. He was a star. 46 is no age to die. It's not fair. Rest in peace x,' posted another fan. 'Devastated to hear of the passing of Paul Cattermole from S Club 7 - absolutely loved them when I was a child! Sending love to all of his loved ones,' wrote someone else. Another emotional fan posted: 'The saddest part about Paul Cattermole, is that he lived much of his life feeling worthless & invaluable to people. In his death, the messages of love pour in. In life, he rarely felt it. Don't wait until people have died to say what you think, tell them in life, when it matters.' Romance: Paul and his bandmate Hannah Spearritt dated from 2001 to 2006, with Hannah said to be distraught at the news of his death (pictured in 2004) Tough times: Hannah and Paul were said to have fallen out after they broke up but they later made amends (pictured in 2005) Back on: Hannah and Paul appeared to have confirmed they'd rekindled their romance after being caught kissing on the London Underground Rekindled: The sighting came days after it was reported Hannah had dumped her fiance Adam Thomas in order to rekindle her flame with fellow bandmate Paul Loved ones: Paul is seen enjoying time with his family in 2020 Siblings: Paul is seen with his brothers Martin (centre) and Colin (left) Memories: Fans took to Twitter to share pictures of Paul and S Club 7 in the years before his death Heartwarming: Paul's final Instagram post was on March 16 - the day before Red Nose Day - in which he shared a skit of S Club 7 'auditioning' for Eurovision Sketch: In the heartwarming clip Paul shared, the group auditioned to be the United Kingdom's Eurovision act in front of judges Graham Norton, Lulu and Sam Ryder Paul had shared his last social media post before his death on March 16 - the day before Red Nose Day - in which he shared a skit of S Club 7 'auditioning' for Eurovision. In the heartwarming clip Paul shared, the group auditioned to be the United Kingdom's Eurovision act in front of judges Graham Norton, Lulu and Sam Ryder. The judges explained they were 'on the hunt' for the UK's next entry, with Lulu adding: 'You won't believe who's trying to get in on the action.' The camera then revealed the famous faces who were auditioning including S Club 7, Fleur East and Miranda Hart. The news of Paul's shock death comes just weeks after S Club 7 announced they will reunite for an 11-date tour of the UK and Ireland, performing classics such as Reach, Bring It All Back, and Never Had A Dream Come true. Fans of the group will not only remember S Club for their music after the band including Rachel Stevens, 44, Tina Barrett, 46, Jon Lee, 40, Bradley McIntosh, 41, and Jo O'Meara, 43, also starred in their very own BBC series Miami 7 and LA 7. All seven of the group agreed to the comeback, been masterminded by music mogul Simon Fuller the man who put them together in 1998 after the Spice Girls, his previous band, sacked him as their manager. He called each of the seven stars in person to suggest the project and made it clear it would only work if all of them were to agree. Speaking on coming back together, the band said: 'After eight years it feels amazing to announce that we're reuniting and performing together again. 'We're so excited to bring the S Club Party back to our fans across the country to celebrate 25 years of S Club 7. We can't even believe it's been so long! 'Music and friendship have always been at the core of everything that we've ever done. We hope everyone can join us for one big party!' S Club 7 recorded four studio albums, released 11 singles that all entered the Top 5 UK charts, and went on to sell over 10 million albums worldwide. In 2002, Paul sent shockwaves through S Club 7's global fanbase when he spectacularly announced he was quitting the group citing 'creative differences'. The band announced their split the following year. Paul had a rocky road after leaving the band, becoming bankrupt in 2015 and even putting his Brit Award up for sale on eBay saying: 'There's bills to pay'. He admitted to trying to sign up to reality shows like I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and Dancing On Ice but was told he wasn't 'famous enough'. During an appearance on Loose Women in 2018 he admitted he had run out of money and had to borrow a shirt for the show. The following year he made an emotional appearance on the dating show First Dates Hotel. The star went on a date with music lover Anna but after being let down gently, sobbed on camera and asked for a 'moment' to pull himself together. Bandmate Tina said at the time: 'I'm always here for Paul. It is hard when you see someone you've worked with look like they're struggling.' Touching on his life following the disbandment of the group, Paul revealed how his 'mental health got worse' and things were 'tricky' in his life. He told how he knew there were 'trouble and turbulent times' ahead as he touched on him being declared bankrupt in 2014. However, he knew there was hope on the horizon as he started getting strong senses of energy and knew he being 'called to do something else.' Throwback: In 2002, Paul sent shockwaves through S Club 7's global fanbase when he announced he was quitting the group citing 'creative differences' (pictured in 2000) New venture: In 2021, Paul launched a new YouTube channel called Tarot Me This, where he called upon fans to make a donation in exchange for a reading After their split in 2003 the band all went in different directions. Rachel went onto have a solo music career and came runner up on Strictly Come Dancing in 2008. Hannah, who's a mum to daughters Tora and Taya, enjoyed an acting career, performing on the likes of BBC One soap EastEnders and Brit drama Primeval. In 2021, Paul launched a new YouTube channel called Tarot Me This, where he called upon fans to make a donation in exchange for a reading, explaining 'clairvoyance' was his new line of work. He later revealed he hid his psychic abilities from the rest of S Club 7 because he feared it would make him sound 'crazy'. The pop star swapped his mic for tarot cards after reinventing himself as a 'spiritual psychic detective', earning money by charging 39.99 for reading on a spiritual website. Paul explained how he enters rooms and reads the 'energy within them', adding that the older he's got, the better he's able to 'process' what's going on. After leaving his pop career behind, Paul spend a decade honing his skills to build the career he had today, but told how his abilities first surfaces in his teens, before growing more 'intense' in his 20s. But at the height of his fame during his time in S Club, Paul admitted he couldn't tell the truth about his abilities for fear of sounding insane. He said: 'I didn't know what it was but I was getting premonitions of certain things. I would see photos of people in newspapers and certain things about them would jump out of the image. Then in my 20s it got more intense, but I could never tell anyone, even my bandmates, because it would sound like I'm crazy.' In February, Paul spoke to MailOnline about his hopes for 'new beginnings' and 'good luck' ahead, revealing he'd studied his tarot cards. He told MailOnline: 'I saw wheel of fortune - that's good, that's good luck. I genuinely did look at the cards. 'There were other cards as well, ace of clubs - passion, new beginnings, your cup over-runeth with genuinely passionate emotion. 'It's positivity - something to be passionate about.' Looking back: S Club 7's Paul Cattermole became a heartthrob among his legions of teenage fans around the world (pictured late 90s) Born in St Albans, Hertfordshire, as a young man Paul reportedly dreamt of becoming a rugby star, but opted to pursue musical theatre instead. He studied at the National Youth Music Theatre and appeared alongside future bandmate Hannah, in Pendragon (1994). He was just 17 when they met while Hannah was 14. While at college, Paul also reportedly duetted with Emma Bunton, who would later become Baby Spice in 90s girl group the Spice Girls. Paul had also been in a rock band with some friends, his preferred style of music to the pop genre he would later master. His big break came when Spice Girls manager, Simon Fuller, spotted him during a show and picked him for S Club. After a string of auditions, he became one of the band's founding members along with Hannah, Tina Barrett, Jon Lee, Bradley McIntosh, Jo O'Meara, and Rachel Stevens in 1999. His bandmates, like him, had tried other avenues before they were picked for the group, including acting, modelling and dancing. During their five years together, the band released four number-one singles and one number-one album in the UK as well as fame globally. Pro: Paul studied at the National Youth Music Theatre and appeared alongside future bandmate Hannah, in Pendragon. (pictured in 1999) They had a string of popular TV shows all named after the number of bandmates - Miami 7, LA 7, Hollywood 7 and Viva S Club. The band went on to record four studio albums, released 11 singles that all entered the Top 5 in the UK charts, and sold more than 10 million albums worldwide. In 2001, Paul and his bandmates Bradley and Jon were arrested for using drugs, shattering the band's squeaky-clean image for many. Paul, then 24, and his bandmates, were spotted smoking cannabis in a back street off Leicester Square in London. The boys later issued a statement apologising unreservedly to their young fans. 'We have been very stupid. We know we've made a mistake and we are very sorry,' they said. A spokesman for their record company, Polydor, said the three were 'learning the hard way' and 'deeply regretted' their actions. Selling his awards In 2018, Paul made sold the best newcomer BRIT he won with S Club in 2000 for 66,100. Several weeks later he tweeted: 'Well I am gutted that the winning bidder was total time waster. He Just wanted to wreck my sale. Grab yourself a bargain! Everyone thinks it's sold!' The item later made 61,000. Advertisement 'The band are gutted by this. They rate their fans very highly and they know that they have let a lot of people down.' In March 2002, Paul said he would be stepping down from the band to go solo, becoming the first member of S Club 7 to leave. He said: 'I've had some of the best times of my life over the past four years with S Club and I'd like to thank all my fans for that and also the other six guys. 'It will be a sad day for all of us when I leave and I'll really miss not being with them every day - they are my best mates. 'I've reached a point in my life where I'd like to experiment in different types of music as a solo artist. 'I love S Club to bits and I know they'll continue to be hugely successful. I'll be watching them every step of the way and wish them all the best.' However, he joined the band and members of Queen to perform at Buckingham Palace for the Golden Jubilee that year. He went on to reunite with his old school friends in the nu metal band Skua. Sadly, the band had little success and split in 2003, after failing to sign with a record label. In 2014 it reformed, releasing a series of singles and a debut album. They continued to struggle to promote themselves without a label, and soon S Club would come calling for Paul again. In October 2014, the original S Club lineup regrouped for the first time in almost ten years, and performed a few of their best-known songs for the BBC Children In Need appeal. They reunited again in 2015 for the Bring It All Back tour, which took them to arenas across the UK. Paul previously said the tour was 'difficult' and that 'not everyone in the band sees eye-to-eye'. After a run of shows, Paul decided to leave the group behind again. In 2015, Paul took to the stage again, reprising his musical theatre training in The Rocky Horror Show. He toured across the UK in the role of Eddie, which he said he loved doing. 'I was a fan of the show before,' he told the Oxford Mail. 'I loved it! So I'm having a great time being part of it now. It's a brilliant show with so many excellent moments, and I'm having a ball with it.' He left the tour when received a back injury after a dancer fell on him during an dance number, and later said he was struggling to find work because of his injury. In February 2023, all original members of S Club 7 announced they were reuniting for a UK and Ireland arena tour in October. The 11-date tour was expected to see them perform classics such as Reach, Bring It All Back, and Never Had A Dream Come true. On stage: Paul performs as a cast member of 'The Rocky Horror Show' tour at Richmond Theatre on May 6, 2016 The band said: 'After eight years it feels amazing to announce that we're reuniting and performing together again. 'We're so excited to bring the S Club party back to our fans across the country to celebrate 25 years of S Club 7. 'We can't even believe it's been so long. Music and friendship have always been at the core of everything that we've ever done. 'We hope everyone can join us for one big party.' Ardent vegan activist Joaquin Phoenix finds himself uncomfortably on horseback in the new Napoleon film by British director Ridley Scott. Indeed, you can see in Phoenix's face just how much he enjoys it.. the answer being, not a lot. Phoenix will have found himself horribly conflicted when forced to get back in the saddle. He has been vegan since the age of three and believes that using any animal products or using animals full stop is a 'gross abuse of power'. In 2018 he talked about having to ride horses in The Sisters Brothers and how he regretted it. Horse riding: Ardent vegan activist Joaquin Phoenix finds himself uncomfortably on horseback in the new Napoleon film by British director Ridley Scott 'I didn't really think about it until I was there and realised: "Oh, it's a western and we're on horses a lot." 'I felt bad about riding them. I had the feeling that they were like, "I don't really want you on my back." When somebody suggested the experience might be mutually enjoyable for rider and mount, Phoenix said: 'Yeah, but the horses tell you something different.' The Apple TV+ movie will get a cinema release in November. British actress Vanessa Kirby co-stars as 'not tonight' Josephine. In 2020 Phoenix took to the streets of London in a bid to urge Londoners to embrace a vegan lifestyle as he protested on behalf of animal rights. The screen star, who just hours later would scooped the coveted Leading Actor trophy at the EE British Academy Film Awards, also tied himself to the city landmark Tower Bridge as he joined forces with activist group Animal Equality. Showing his commitment to the cause, the Hollywood actor joined fellow protesters as they unfurled a huge 390 square-foot banner over the bridge, which read: 'Factory farming is destroying our planet. Go vegan.' Oh dear! Phoenix will have found himself horribly conflicted when forced to get back in the saddle Further sharing his views on the matter, he said: 'I think we have a personal responsibility to take action right now and one way that we can mitigate climate change is by adjusting our consumption and by going plant-based.' He added: 'I feel sometimes like it s not being talked about enough. So I'm just encouraging people to learn more about eating plant-based and to make a difference to make whatever personal impact they can on the climate emergency.' To further drive the message home, Joaquin joined the activists in holding placards, which showed the impacts of animal agriculture on the environment and climate. Days later Phoenix won the coveted Oscar award for Best Actor for his performance in the film Joker and launched a passionate speech animal rights and Speciesism, the idea that human superiority leads to the exploitation of animals. Russell Crowe has revealed that he'd love to play an Australian Prime Minister in a biopic. The New Zealand-born, Australian-raised actor, 59, told Sky News Australia's Erin Molan he would be keen to bring the life of Gough Whitlam to the big screen. 'I think he was one of Australia's great statesmen. I think he set things in place that give us the confidence that we have as a nation today,' he said. Crowe praised Whitlam's purchase of the painting Blue Poles by Jackson Pollock, which he acquired for the National Gallery of Australia in 1973 for what was a record price at the time - $1.3 million. 'You know, little decisions that he made, like buying blue poles, the painting. And everybody just castigated him at the time and called him irresponsible' Crowe said. Russell Crowe (pictured) has revealed that he'd love to play an Australian Prime Minister in a biopic. The New Zealand-born, Australian-raised actor, 59, told Sky News Australia's Erin Molan he would be keen to bring the life of Gough Whitlam to the big screen 'That painting is worth $500 million now or something every government decision should have that result. You know, you get a 500 multiple out of every single dollar you spend and we'd be in a great place.' Australian Labor Party leader Gough Whitlam was the 21st prime minister of Australia, serving from 1972 to 1975. The Gladiator star went on to say that the country is 'lucky' to now have Anthony Albanese as leader, who he sees as a down to earth guy. The pair have known one another for 20 years via the South Sydney Rabbitohs rugby league club, which the actor part-owns. 'He always turned up. If there was something big going on for the club and we wanted his presence, he always turned up' Crowe said. 'I think he was one of Australia's great statesmen. I think he set things in place that give us the confidence that we have as a nation today,' he said. Whitlam is pictured The Gladiator star went on to say that the country is 'lucky' to now have Anthony Albanese (centre) as leader, who he sees as a down to earth guy. The pair have known one another for 20 years via the South Sydney Rabbitohs rugby league club, which the actor part-owns 'And he kept up his own membership, and he buys his own tickets. You know that, to me, shows the quality of the guy.' It comes after Russell revealed who he wouldn't ever play in a film - former US president Donald Trump. The actor was discussing his new film The Pope's Exorcist on Channel Seven's Sunrise when host Natalie Barr asked him whether he'd ever play Trump in a movie. 'Donald Trump is the story of the day. Would you think of playing him in the future? I don't think you've played him yet Russell,' Natalie asked. The Robin Hood star avoided answering the question and looked down at his watch. 'I've got lots and lots of things to do,' Russell jokingly responded. One of the people accused of killing the rapper Pop Smoke has pleaded guilty to the crime. The man, who was 17 at the time of the killing, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. The killing is believed to have taken place during a home invasion robbery, and the defendant also pleaded guilty to home invasion robbery. Judge J. Christopher Smith sentenced the defendant, who is now 20, to four years and two months in a juvenile treatment facility, due to his status as a minor at the time of the crime. His name has also been withheld throughout the trial due to that status. Three other men have also been charged in the death of Pop Smoke (born Bashar Barakah Jackson) after he was gunned down on February 19, 2020, during a robbery. Admission: One of the men accused of robbing and killing the late rapper Pop Smoke has pleaded guilty and has been sentenced to four years and two months in a juvenile treatment facility; Pop Sokes seen in January 2020 in Paris Tragic: Pop Smoke was gunned down on February 19, 2020, after four men allegedly broke into a house he was staying at in LA to rob it, before struggling with him and shooting him Pop Smoke was only 20 at the time of his death. The hitmaker was spending time in a rented house in Los Angeles was owned by former Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star Teddi Mellencamp and her husband for a four-day trip to the city. LAPD detectives initially believed the killing to be gang-related, but later determined that it was a robbery turned violent, as Pop Smoke had shared posts to Instagram in the days leading up to the killing that showed off pricy gifts he had recently received. The address for the home was also clearly visible in at least one of the posts. The rapper was ambushed while in the shower, and a struggle reportedly ensued, at which point he was pistol whipped by one of the assailants before being shot three times in the back. A friend of someone staying in the house had called 911 to report the intruders, according to police. The rapper's body was discovered shortly afterward, and he was subsequently declared dead after being transported to a hospital. Pop Smoke, who was born in Brooklyn, was a rising star at the time of his tragic death early last year. He had a string of popular singles starting in 2019, and he released two acclaimed mixtapes, Meet The Woo and Meet The Woo 2. The latter, released on February 7, 2020, debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 album chart, making his first top 10 placing. But the rapper would be gunned down less than two weeks after the success. Defendants: Corey Walker has also been charged with the crime, as well as two other men who were minors at the time. The juvenile defendants have not had their names publicly released; seen in 2020 in Paris Late success: Pop Smoke was a rising star at the time, and two posthumous albums released in 2020 and 2021 were hits; seen in 2019 in LA Detective Christian Carrasco of the LAPD testified in court in 2021 that a woman who was in the house with Pop Smoke saw the robbers take his 'large gold watch,' which they allegedly sold for $2,000. Following his murder, Pop Smoke's debut album Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon was released in July 2020 and topped the Billboard 200 chart. It was followed by a second hit album, Faith, in July of this year. It was also a number one hit, though both albums received mixed reviews. Corey Walker has also been charged in the crime, as well as two other men who were minors at the time. Siblings Kiera, Spencer and Laura Chaplin reunited on Thursday evening for a family dinner at Lusin restaurant in London's Mayfair. The grandchildren of cinema legend Charlie Chaplin, who died in 1977, made a rare public appearance together while heading out for a meal at the upmarket Armenian eatery. Dressing up for the occasion, Laura donned a monochrome bodycon minidress while sister Kiera sported a bright pink jumper and leather skirt. Appearing to be a pre-wedding celebration for her upcoming nuptials to Swiss lawyer Etienne Monnier, the family sipped on wine while enjoying a selection of dishes. The summer wedding will once again bring the iconic Hollywood family together, including their actress mother Geraldine Leigh Chaplin. Back together: Charlie Chaplin's grandchildren Kiera, Spencer and Laura beamed for a rare family snap on Thursday while reuniting for dinner at London restaurant Lusin Mayfair Wine and dine: The trio appeared in high spirits while enjoying drinks and a meal at the upmarket Armenian eatery Sporting a grey bodycon dress with black figure-accentuating panels on each side, Laura teamed the number with a pair of grey pumps and sheer tights. Her blonde locks were left to fall freely in a straight style for the outing, where her siblings headed out to celebrate the bride-to-be. Standing in the middle of his two sisters was musician Spencer, who opted for a checked navy and red shirt with dark trousers. Finishing the trio was model Kiera, who showed off her sense of style in a leather skirt from brand SybaBliss and a bright pink V-neck jumper. Sipping on white wine, the siblings flashed a huge smile while enjoying the meal together. Showing their close relationship, sisters Laura and Kiera departed the central London restaurant hand-in-hand. The dinner comes ahead of Laura's wedding to fiance Vinaros, in Castello - which will bring the Chaplin clan out in full force. Laura and Kiera are thought to live in Switzerland while Spencer currently resides in London with his girlfriend. Celebrate: It appeared to be a pre-wedding celebration for Laura's upcoming nuptials to Swiss lawyer Etienne Monnier Style: Sporting a grey bodycon dress with black figure-accentuating panels on each side, Laura teamed the number with a pair of grey pumps and sheer tights Smiles: The sisters posed for a snap with PR Stuart Watts in the restaurant Squad: They were joined by a number of pals for the dinner, all gathering for pictures Kiera has previously spoken about her grandfather Charlie in interviews, saying there was a statue of him in the Swiss town where she was raised. It comes after Keira and Spencer took to London last year after three years apart, taking to the city to launch their new YouTube channel as well as to promote the documentary The Real Chariie Chaplin. She told the San Francisco Gate in 2006: 'I grew up in the same town in Switzerland where my grandfather lived from the time he fled the US in the 1950's until the end of his life, so there was a Charlie Chaplin statue and a Charlie Chaplin park, and a bar named after him. 'I remember thinking, "OK, I know he was a famous actor, but is that our park because our names are on it? Is that our bar?" ' She revealed it was only after undertaking some research she discovered just how influential her relatives were. She said: 'I remember being a young girl in school and looking in the dictionary and seeing the names "Charlie Chaplin" and "Eugene O'Neill" and starting to realize little by little that, my God, they were both immensely important to the whole world, not just our family.' Bright: Kiera showed off her sense of style in a leather skirt from brand SybaBliss and a bright pink V-neck jumper In the middle: Musician Spencer wrapped up in a padded jacket whilst in the middle of the two girls Close: Showing their close relationship, sisters Laura and Kiera departed the central London restaurant hand-in-hand It's a question that has vexed fans of the movie Grease for years: Why are the main actors so much older than the high schoolers they are portraying? The film, which featured leads John Travolta and the late Olivia Newton-John, was released in 1978 but was set at a Los Angelesarea high school exactly two decades earlier. Travolta was actually one of the younger members of the cast, as he was still in his early 20s, while several of the major supporting actors were well into their 30s despite playing youths in their late teens. However, a new oral history of the classic musical that was published by The Guardian this week is shedding new light on the film's unorthodox casting. Grease's casting director Joel Thurm, who would been pivotal to assembling the final cast, has finally answered the question. Clearing it up: The casting director for Grease has spoken out about the ages of the film's primary cast after fans have puzzled over why they were so much older than their high school characters for years; Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta seen in Grease (1978) Ballpark figure: According to casting director Joel Thurm, the film 'is not a documentary; it's a fantasy.' He said the actors just need to look about the same age as each other; (LR) Didi Conn, Dinah Manoff, Stockard Channing and Jamie Donnelly According to him, using older actors was a completely intentional choice on the creative team's part. Thurm pushed back on common criticisms of the actors' ages, noting that the stylized comedy is 'not a documentary.' 'People might say the cast is too old, but Grease is not a documentary; it's a fantasy,' he clarified. 'It is a non-PC fairytale that is better for the cast not being teens,' Thurm explained. 'The only thing that was important was that the cast all looked about the same age as each other, which they did.' The choice to eschew strict realism meant that Travolta and his costar Michael Tucci, who was eight years older than him, could both sport the kind of five o'clock shadows that most high school boys can only dream of growing. Principal photography on Grease commenced in the summer of 1977, the year before the film was released, and Travolta who played Danny Zuko was already 23 at the time. Newton-John who was six years older than her co-lead, which was reportedly a source of concern for her would have been around 29 at the time of filming when she played the visiting Australian student Sandy Olsson. Tucci, who played a member Sonny LaTierri, a member of Danny's T-Birds gang, was over 30 by the time shooting began. 'By the time the film came around, I was in my early 30s and too old for the role,' Tucci admitted to The Guardian. Mismatch? Travolta was among the youngest at 23, while Newton-John was older at 29. She reportedly worried about the age difference Nailed it: Michael Tucci (top R) was one of the oldest and over 30, which he thought meant he wouldn't work for the film, though he scored a role thanks to his presence in the stage musical Mature men: All of the film's male stars were considerably older than high school boys and sported five o'clock shadows most high schoolers could only dream of growing But after the casting team heard that he had been featured in the stage production of the musical, he secured an audition and still got the job. Among the principal cast, Stockard Channing's Rizzo was the oldest, as she was 33 during filming. Didi Conn, who played Frenchy, recalled bonding with her costars and putting their true ages behind them to get into character. 'Once we got our makeup on, I was Frenchy and we all called each other by our characters names. That really helped because I was 27 at the time, and there were a few others there who were older than that, so this gave us a licence to be goofy and crazy and horny,' she explained. 'It was all the things that teenagers in the '50s would be.' Jeff Conaway, who played Danny's close friend Kenickie, would have been around 27 when shooting the film. He suffered from drug abuse throughout the 1980s and 2000s, and he died from pneumonia and sepsis in 2011. One of the older looking actors in the film, the antagonist Leo 'Crater-Face' Balmudo nicknamed for his acne scars would have been around 30 when production started. He died in 1994 of complications from AIDS. Although the film initially received mixed reviews from critics, audiences didn't seem to mind and turned out in droves to see Grease. 'I knew it was going to be a hit there wasnt a question in my mind. The critics didnt matter, since they forgot that audiences go to movies to have fun,' Thurm said. 'The timing was right as we were having a '50s revival with Happy Days on TV and the music put the album on the charts for a decade. 'I love going on YouTube now and watching flashmobs still performing songs from the film around the globe,' he added. Instant success: Casting director Thurm wasn't only unconcerned about the cast's ages, but he 'knew it was going to be a hit,' as the film coincided with a wave of '50s nostalgia Saying goodbye: Travolta paid tribute to Olivia and referenced their Grease roles after her death from cancer on August 8, 2022 Newton-John died on August 8, 2022, after she suffered a recurrence of breast cancer in 2017. By the time it was discovered, it had metastasized and spread to her lower back and bones. Travolta paid tribute to her after her death with a heartbreaking note posted to Instagram. 'My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better, he wrote. 'Your impact was incredible. I love you so much. We will see you down the road and we will all be together again.' He signed off the letter by reference their greatest on-screen collaboration: 'Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John!' Toni Collette is a prolific actress who has been working steadily since her debut in 1994's Muriel's Wedding. The Sixth Sense actress turned 50 in November - a milestone that leaves many people feeling out of sorts - but not her. 'I wasn't fussed about the number itself,' she told People. 'I know a lot of people are, but I think accumulatively, over time, I've gotten to know myself, accept myself, love myself and all these things really enrich your life.' The Power star - who announced she was getting divorced in December - shared that she feels that's the real secret being totally okay with aging. 'The more you nurture your internal world, the richer your experience is of engaging with the external world. So it just makes everything deeper and more beautiful.' Aging gracefully: Toni Collette turned 50 in November - a milestone that leaves many people feeling out of sorts - but not her Wasn't fussed: 'I wasn't fussed about the number itself,' she told People . 'I know a lot of people are, but I think accumulatively, over time, I've gotten to know myself, accept myself, love myself and all these things really enrich your life' 'Life is so magical and magnificent and I'm in a position where I'm really able to see that clearly. I'm just so grateful for all of the experiences I've had,' the Australian actress added. Collette hasn't been hampered in her career by her age - she's currently starring in the Amazon Prime series Power and shooting Mafia Mamma. Power is a sci-fi drama of the novel about a group of teenage girls mysteriously develop a special power that allows them to produce electricity from their fingertips which leads to them overthrowing the patriarchy. 'It's such a big, beautiful fantastical idea,' the Little Miss Sunshine star said. The series also stars Auli'i Cravalho and John Leguizamo. 'That moment where Auli'i says she can wear both of her airpods while jogging because she knows she can protect herself ... it makes me tear up. It's so incredibly moving. We all deserve that kind of freedom,' she said of women no longer having to be afraid of going about their days and lives. And she loved shooting the comedy Mamma Mia about a woman with an average, boring life who inadvertently becomes the head of a crime family. 'It was such a joy,' she said about shooting in Rome last summer. 'Italy has always been one of my favorite countries. I think I'm meant to be there. I must have a had a past life there. Life just makes sense for me there.' And if it feels like Collette is everywhere lately - there's a reason for that. In just the last year she's starred in Netflix's Pieces of Her, HBO's The Staircase, and the black comedy The Estate. Divorcing, The Australian actress, pictured here in 2002, recently announced her divorce from husband Dave Galafassi Magical life: 'Life is so magical and magnificent and I'm in a position where I'm really able to see that clearly. I'm just so grateful for all of the experiences I've had,' the Power actress added Prolific career: Collette has worked steadily since her debut in 1994's Muriel's Wedding, pictured here in 2004 in Connie and Carla with Nia Vardalos She's everywhere: If it feels like Collette is everywhere lately - there's a reason for that. In just the last year she's starred in Netflix's Pieces of Her, HBO's The Staircase, and the black comedy The Estate About a month after she turned 50, Collette announced she was divorcing her husband of 20 years, the musician Dave Galafassi, 45. The couple, who are parents to daughter Sage, 15, and son Arlo, 12, married in 2003. She announced the split on her newly re-activated Instagram accounts after photos surfaced of Galafassi frolicking in the surf with chiropractor Shannon Egan. 'It is with grace and gratitude that we announce we are divorcing,' she wrote in the joint statement. 'We're united in our decision and part with continuing respect and care for each other. Currently showing: Power is a sci-fi drama of the novel about a group of teenage girls mysteriously develop a special power that allows them to produce electricity from their fingertips which leads to them overthrowing the patriarchy Mom of two: The Emmy and Golden Globe winner is mom to daughter Sage, 15, and son Arlo, 12 with her ex 'Our kids are of paramount importance to us and we will continue to thrive as a family, albeit a different shape. We're thankful for the space and love you grant us as we evolve and move through this transition peacefully. Big thanks.' Hours before her divorce announcement Collette posted a cryptic note to Instagram stating: 'No matter what your current circumstances are, if you can imagine something better for yourself, you can create it.' She reactivated her account five days before the divorce announcement, sharing a photo of herself drinking from a 'Happy Birthday' cup with the caption: 'I'm back. Hello world. I love you.' Collette and Galafassi have divided their time between Australia and the United States in recent years. The pair met in 2002 at the launch of Galafassi's band Gelbison's debut album Metal Detector in Sydney and their second encounter came just a few days later at a house party. She retired from jewellery design last month in the hope that it would bring her 'new love'. And Jade Jagger appears to have succeeded in her mission as she was pictured hand-in-hand with a new man in London, two years after she split from her ex-husband Adrian Fillary. The pair were spotted walking out of a lingerie shop and enjoying a drink together, and at one point swapped jackets. The designer the daughter of Rolling Stone rocker Sir Mick Jagger and his first wife Bianca was wearing a blue dress and matching shoes and carrying an Isabel Marant bag. Her companion is believed to be Barbadian Anthony Hinkson who was offering bespoke sunset dining experiences at a beach bar in Barbados last year, with Instagram videos showing him manning the BBQ for customers. Couple: Jade Jagger was pictured with new man Anthony Hinkson on an outing in London, two years after she split from her ex-husband Loved-up: The pair were spotted walking out of a lingerie shop and enjoying a drink together, and at one point swapped jackets Jade, 51, has liked a string of images on his account, writing 'beautiful life on the beach living the dream' on one picture of an oil drum BBQ. He has also liked images on Jade's account, including one of her in a low-cut swimming costume while at sea. In January 2022, Jade launched her 'paradisica' jewellery collection which she said was 'inspired by my Caribbean life'. The businesswoman split from DJ Adrian Fillary in 2021, nine years after their star-studded Cotswolds wedding which was attended by guests including Kate Moss and her ex-husband Jamie Hince. She was said to be 'devastated' by the breakdown of their relationship, with a source at the time telling the Mail on Sunday: 'This is all very sad. They thought they would be together for ever but it didn't work out quite like that.' They said the estranged couple were '100 per cent committed' to co-parenting their son Ray, now eight, adding: 'Things remain amicable for his sake.' Jade gave birth to Ray just one month after she delivered her first grandchild when her daughter Assisi Jackson, 30, went into labour. 'People are often amazed to hear that, I delivered my first granddaughter, Ezra, myself,' she told British Vogue in 2018. Outfit: The designer the daughter of Rolling Stone rocker Sir Mick Jagger and his first wife Bianca was wearing a blue dress and matching shoes and carrying an Isabel Marant bag Business: In January 2022, Jade launched her 'paradisica' jewellery collection which she said was 'inspired by my Caribbean life' New man: Instagram videos show Anthony manning the BBQ for customers Ex: The businesswoman split from DJ Adrian Fillary in 2021, nine years after their star-studded Cotswolds wedding (pictured together in 2018) 'All of this might have been slightly easier to handle if I hadn't been almost nine months pregnant myself. 'But I suppose that's the sort of thing that happens when your family doesn't worry too much about convention.' Jade has Assisi and Amba with her film producer ex-partner Piers Jackson. Last month, Jade, who also has a grandson from her daughter Amba, 26, revealed that she had stopped making jewellery. Posts: Jade, 51, has liked a string of images on his account, writing 'beautiful life on the beach living the dream' on one picture of an oil drum BBQ 'Today is the first day I decided to stop working well at jewellery,' she wrote on Instagram on March 20. 'I think it will bring new light new love and new opportunities thank u to all that supported me. 'Thanks for the sweet messages change is good.' Jade's representatives were contacted for comment. Casey Affleck and Hong Chau looked like they were having fun as the shot a scene for their new film, The Instigators, in New York Friday. Casey, 47, who is re-teaming with pal Matt Damon, 52, in the crime drama, was costumed in a green Dartmouth hoodie and jeans for the scene. Although it appeared to be snowing in the scene, the Massachusetts native stepped out in a pair of black slide sandals and white socks in the 56 degree temperatures. His dark hair was slightly tousled and his brown beard was closely cropped. Hong, 43, smiled as she sat on a stoop with the Oscar winner, dressed in a long brown sweater with suede elbow patches and jeans. Fun: Casey Affleck and Hong Chau looked like they were having fun as the filmed a scene for their new film, The Instigators, in New York Friday The Whale star's long brown hair was styled straight, and although she had been made up for the camera, appeared to have a natural look. Casey co-wrote the script about two thieves who go on the run with the help of one of their therapists after they bungle a job. The project will be directed by Doug Liman, 57, who directed The Bourne Identity and produced several other projects in the franchise. Jack Harlow, Paul Walter Hauser, Ving Rhames, Ron Perlman, Alfred Molina and Michael Stuhlbarg are among the A-list cast in the crime drama. Hong can currently be seen in the Netflix series, The Night Agent. She stars as the White House Chief of Staff in the thriller about an low-level FBI agent who becomes involved in a conspiracy that leads all the way to the Oval Office. The actress told Collider it was exciting to be part of a series that features strong women. It was nice to get to play in this fictional world. We have a female president on the show and Diane Farr, my character, is her chief of staff. So I'm really looking out for her best interest and doing everything that I can,' she explained. Sandals: Casey, 47, was costumed in a green Dartmouth hoodie and jeans for the scene. Although it appeared to be snowing in the scene, the Massachusetts native stepped out in a pair of black slide sandals and white socks in the 56 degree temperatures Natural: Hong, 43, smiled as she sat on a stoop with the Oscar winner, dressed in a long brown seater with suede elbow patches and jeans. Her long brown hair was styled straight, and although she had been made up for the camera, appeared to have a natural look Script: Casey co-wrote the script about two thieves who go on the run with the help of one of their therapists after they bungle a job. Jack Harlow, Paul Walter Hauser, Ving Rhames, Ron Perlman, Alfred Molina and Michael Stuhlbarg are among the A-list cast in the crime drama 'And, you know, because there's so many different interest groups and so many different departments and personalities that you have to navigate, you know, every day is a different day.' The actress, who wore a beautiful pink dress honoring her Vietnamese heritage to the Oscars, explained what she looks for in a character to ABS-CBN News. 'Because I'm an Asian woman, people often asked me about lack of opportunity or about stereotypes. I think at the end of the day,' she contended, 'the only thing that offends me is bad writing and no matter what color or gender, I think it's just about having a really layered character.' Katie Price shared some emotional words with her fans as expressed her gratitude at surviving a shock suicide attempt. The former glamorous model, 44, said she had been 'near death' after previously attempting to take her own life. But the reality star insisted she is now in a much better place after seeking help from mental health professionals and with the support of her family. Taking to her Instagram Stories on Friday, she wrote: 'I'm just sticking to being strong and sticking to therapists' advice, and focusing on the future knowing I've been near death in causing my own suicide actions that thankfully I survived and realised I have a future and life. 'I can only thank the #priory #myconsultandtherapist Alan, family, close friends and children.' Honest: Katie Price, 44, shared some emotional words with her fans as expressed her gratitude at surviving a shock suicide attempt Staying close: Kate, who is mother to (L-R) Bunny eight, Princess, 15, Jett, nine, and Junior, 17, as well as son Harvey, 20 (not pictured), thanked her loved ones for their support Looking forward: The reality star insisted she is now in a much better place after seeking help from mental health professionals and with the support of her family Katie - who is mother to Harvey, 20, Junior, 17, Princess, 15, Jett, nine, and Bunny eight - previously admitted she tried to end her life as she candidly discussed her mental health struggles, saying: 'I hit rock bottom'. Speaking on Mark Dolan Tonight on GB News in January, Katie said she was having therapy once a week and how, at her lowest point, she tried to take her own life. But the mother-of-five said her darkest days are behind her - and that she was on her way back. She said: 'What I want from the future is to definitely make a comeback and prove to people I can, because I've been there, and I've told my story. 'Literally, I hit rock bottom. It was that bad that I tried to commit suicide, but I've come up from that. You can get out of that rut. If I can do it, you can do it.' The reality star previously admitted she was suicidal around the time of her arrest for drink driving. Katie admitted she 'let herself down' when was arrested for drink-driving after reaching a dark place in her mental health. Happy place: Katie, pictured here with son Harvey, said her loved ones have been there for her through her difficult times Candid: Katie previously admitted she tried to end her life as she candidly discussed her mental health struggles, saying: 'I hit rock bottom' In September 2021, Katie was arrested for drink-driving after flipping her uninsured BMW X5 on its side on a country lane near her home in West Sussex. The star admitted drink-driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance at court, and immediately checked into The Priory following the arrest. She was handed a 16-week suspended sentence and two-year ban at Crawley Magistrates' Court. Offering advice to others, Katie said: 'Remember, nothing is that bad. It's just when you're in that bad place your mind ruminates and you think you can't get out of that rut, but you can do it. If I can do it, you can do it.' She went on: 'But do you know what the best thing I do now is? I have therapy every week. I wish I'd had it years ago. 'I know what my triggers are now, like on Instagram and stuff you'll notice I don't really attack anyone or do anything anymore because where's it going to get me? It doesn't get you anywhere. 'So, now, even if I receive a text from someone and I want to go on and have a go, I'll think about it, and then I just don't bother. And it has helped a lot, yeah.' She added: 'I've had a lot of trauma. Ex-husbands have been traumatic, I broke my feet, my mum is ill, there's just quite a lot of things. 'I've had kidnap threats, ransom demands, it has just all happened. My therapist actually said to me he's never met someone who's had so much actual real trauma-events happen in their life as me. 'Sometimes one person might have one bit of trauma and they're affected, I've had loads.' Revealing how she nearly died after breaking her feet in a fall whilst on holiday larking around with her kids, Katie said: 'I was on holiday with the children while I was getting my teeth done. Crash: In September 2021, Katie was arrested for drink-driving after flipping her uninsured BMW X5 on its side on a country lane near her home in West Sussex 'I just jumped over a bush in the dark and I fell 20 feet and dropped into an underground carpark. And well I'm lucky to be alive actually.' But Katie told Mark she was a survivor and believes all the things she has got to do over the years are 'quite amazing'. She said: 'I'm still here and I don't know why I'm still here. Look I've definitely had my ups and definitely had my downs, but I am a survivor.' For support, call the Samaritans on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org Macaulay Culkin and finance Brenda Song were spotted with their two children taking pictures with the Easter Bunny. The adorable family of four wore coordinating outfits as they were seen at The Grove outdoor mall in Los Angeles on Thursday. Brenda, 35, looked beautiful in a blue, yellow and pink floral gown as she cradled their newborn son Carson, three months. Macaulay, 42, had a matching mohawk with their eldest son Dakota, two. Brenda sat on the Easter Bunny's lap with Carson in her arms for a sweet snap, with Dakota also taking photos with the character. Such a cute family: Macaulay Culkin and finance Brenda Song were spotted with their two children taking pictures with the Easter Bunny Doting parents: The adorable family of four wore coordinating outfits as they were seen at The Grove outdoor mall in Los Angeles on Thursday Gorgeous! Brenda looked beautiful in her long-sleeved spring frock, which had a knee-length hemline Brenda looked beautiful in her long-sleeved spring frock, which had a knee-length hemline. The former Disney star paired the colorful dress with loose waves, center parted and pink lipstick on her pout with slightly smokey eye makeup. The mom of two carried Carson in her arms; he wore a striped onesie for the picture day with the Easter Bunny. Macaulay donned black slacks with a striped button up, adding a slim tie and rocking his mohawk with sunglasses. The former child star carried Dakota for part of their outing; he was rocking a blue set. Their Easter Bunny photo op comes just days after the actors were seen for the first time since welcoming their second child. Macaulay and Brenda secretly welcomed baby number two sometime before Christmas, according to Us Weekly's sources. The star's pregnancy was kept under wraps, with the outlet revealing the news in mid May via their insiders. They welcomed their first child, Dakota Song Culkin on April 5, 2021, also keeping her pregnancy under wraps. They did not announce she was expecting a baby, only revealing her pregnancy post labor. In a joint statement, the couple said they were 'overjoyed' with the arrival. Too cute: The former Disney star paired the colorful dress with loose waves, center parted and pink lipstick on her pout with slightly smokey eye makeup Family is everything: The mom of two carried Carson in her arms; he wore a striped onesie for the picture day with the Easter Bunny Last year, Brenda revealed that her and Macaulay don't use a nanny and their parenting style is 'very hands-on', during an interview with The Cut. The actress said: 'My fiance and I are very hands-on. We don't have a nanny, but my mom has been here with us since my son was born.... Adding: 'When I was working, my mom would bring [my son] to set so I could breastfeed and see him during the day.' The star went back to work on her Hulu series Dollface 12 weeks after giving birth to film season two. The former Disney star said that 'people tell you a lot about labor and pregnancy, but not about the fourth trimester.' 'To my girlfriends that are pregnant I say, make sure you have help. Because your instinct is to want to do it all and you physically can't.' Brenda said she used to always be on set early but coming back after the baby 'was harder than I thought.' Explaining: 'I pride myself on always being first on set. So to be like, "Hey, I need 20 minutes to pump" was difficult.' Happiness: They did not announce she was expecting their first child, only revealing her pregnancy post labor; the couple pictured September 7, 2018 in Santa Monica Mom and dad: The actress said: Adding: 'When I was working, my mom would bring [my son] to set so I could breastfeed and see him during the day;' seen together on December 29, 2019 Lovebirds: Macaulay, 41, and Brenda sparked dating rumors in June 2017 after meeting on the set of the film Changeland; their engagement news was revealed in January 2022 after over four years of dating; seen on September 7, 2018 in Santa Monica And while her mom was taking care of her son while she worked, she said 'the hours away' from him 'took a toll on me.' 'Learning my own boundaries while trying to take care of my son and my family - that was hard. But I had a great support system and I knew my son was taken care of. I just had FOMO.' Adding that 'missing those hours with my newborn son, it pains me, but at the end of the day, Mama's got to put food on the table. You've got to make sacrifices. Hopefully he'll understand.' Macaulay and Brenda sparked dating rumors in June 2017 after meeting on the set of the film Changeland; their engagement news was revealed in January 2022 after over four years of dating. Gwyneth Paltrow's mother, actress Blythe Danner, 80, was spotted shopping at her daughter's GOOP store in New York City on Friday. The Meet the Parents actress was dressed casually in a pair of well-fitting jeans and a long black coat which she wore open over a green t-shirt. The grandmother of Apple, 18, and Moses, 16, added a cream-colored fedora with a black band, a colorful floral print scarf in purple, blue, green, white, orange and red, white trainers and a large red tote bag to her look. The Meet the Fockers star purchased a number of items from the popular boutique but there's no word on whether or not she got a family discount. The rare sighting of the Emmy winner comes months after she shared she feels lucky to be alive after battling the same form of cancer that killed her late husband, and Gwyneth's father, Bruce Paltrow in 2002. Family business: Gwyneth Paltrow's mother, actress Blythe Danner, 80, was spotted shopping at her daughter's GOOP store in New York City on Friday Mom and Dad: Blythe is in remission from oral cancer, the same type of cancer that killed her husband Bruce Paltrow, pictured here in 1997 The Tony winner battled oral cancer for several years, the same disease that killed her husband, director Bruce Paltrow, some 20 years ago. The Emmy winning actress told People she was diagnosed with a rare form of the disease, adenoid cystic carcinoma, which often forms in the salivary glands, in 2018. An estimated 54,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer every year, according to the Oral Cancer Foundation. 'Everyone is touched by cancer in some way, but it's unusual for a couple to have the same cancer,' the Will and Grace actress said. She and the Duets director were marred for 33 years. Blythe was working in London when she went for a checkup. 'I started feeling very woozy and I was forgetting everything, and then I felt a lump in my neck, right next to where Bruce had found his [in 1999]. 'I remember I looked up at heaven and said to Bruce, 'Are you lonely up there?' The American Gods actress didn't tell anyone, including her children, Oscar winner Paltrow, 50, and director Jake Paltrow, 47, about her diagnosis at first. Chic: The Meet the Parents actress was dressed casually in a pair of well-fitting jeans and a long black coat which she wore open over a green t-shirt Secrets: The Tony winner didn't share her diagnosis with her daughter at first Secret battle: 'I kept it from my kids for a long time. I wanted to forge ahead as a mother, and I didn't want them to worry,' Blythe shared 'I kept it from my kids for a long time. I wanted to forge ahead as a mother, and I didn't want them to worry,' she shared. When the Butterflies Are Free actress finally broke the news to her family, it came as a shock. 'It was scary,' Gwyneth admitted. 'And it felt really eerie because it was so similar [to my dad's].' Blythe underwent two surgeries, radiation, chemotherapy and alternative treatments to combat the disease. Retail therapy: The Meet the Fockers star purchased a number of items from the popular boutique but there's no word on whether or not she got a family discount A third surgery in 2020 removed the remaining cancerous tissue. 'She went through it with so much grace,' Gwyneth recalled. 'I was amazed at how strong she was able to be.' And she's been in remission for the last few years and said, 'I think we've all become somehow stronger. It's a bit of a crapshoot this disease and this life. But I've had a career, great kids and a loving husband. I'm very grateful.' Blythe has continued to raise awareness of oral cancer, something she has been doing since her husband's death in 2002. 'You never get over that kind of loss. Bruce was the heart of our family. And life is so much paler without him around. But grief is the price we pay for love.' Hailey Bieber works out every day. And on Friday the Vogue model showed off what all that exercise can do. The 26-year-old star from Arizona displayed her abs and tiny waistline in a bandeau top with a towel wrapped around her waist. The cover girl - who was seen topless earlier this week - also had on heavy bangle bracelets in a mustard color and red. In another image, the wife of Justin Bieber had on a floral print bikini top as she was seen holding pieces of passion fruit on a beach. 'PASSIONFRUIT JELLY IS HERE- had the most fun shooting this and creating this flavor. I hope you love it as much as I do- available now on rhodeskin.com @rhode,' wrote the star in her caption. A 10: Hailey Bieber works out every day. And on Friday the Vogue model showed off what all that exercise can do Earlier this week she was seen topless. Also on her chest was a yellow gold chain 'bra' that went around her breasts, around her neck, and behind her back. And that 'bra' did not come cheap as it was diamond encrusted. PageSix revealed the chain is Jacquie Aichies 50 Diamond Bra which costs over $10,000. Models Emily Ratajkowski and Olivia Culpo are also fans of Aichie's designs. The photo shoot was not new, however. It was first seen last week when the close friend of Kendall Jenner debuted her new collection for her skincare brand Rhode. Rhode is the cover girl's middle name. Last week Bieber shared the images to Instagram as she added the caption, 'PASSIONFRUIT JELLY. New passionfruit jelly peptide lip treatment is coming 4/6 sign up for the waitlist now rhodeskin.com @rhode.' In those older images the runway fixture had on a multi-colored bikini top. Hailey launched her Rhode skincare line named after her middle name in June 2022. Fun chica: The 26-year-old star from Arizona was seen on a beach Playful: The wife of pop star Justin Bieber had a glowing tan as she held the half pieces of fruit just so in a very suggestive move Silly Hails: Also on her chest was a yellow gold chain 'bra' that went around her breasts, around her neck, and behind her back With top on: Last week Bieber shared the images to Instagram as she added the caption, 'PASSIONFRUIT JELLY. New passionfruit jelly peptide lip treatment is coming 4/6 sign up for the waitlist now' The business has been booming ever since. CEO Melanie Bender, who joined the company in October 2022, recently talked to Vogue Business about the brand's astronomical sales. 'We crossed the eight-figure [sales] threshold in just 11 days of selling. Its surpassed anything Ive ever seen,' Bender said. She added that Bieber is also involved in all aspects of the business. Bender stated, 'As founder and creative director, she plays a major role in product development and overall creative direction of the brand. 'We are speaking to her more than once a day to build our formulas and priorities around what she identifies as a need in the market,' she added. Less than one year in, Bieber is now planning a global expansion, with the line's launch in Canada to be followed by a United Kingdom branch. All four now: She was also seen with no top on earlier this week Justin accompanied his wife to a dinner party in Toronto last week to help her celebrate Rhode's Canadian debut. Last fall Hailey was included on Forbes magazine's 30 Under 30 list, where she earned a spot for her flourishing business. The star took to social media to share the news and she wrote, 'Thank you so much @forbes @forbesunder30 so beyond excited about this cover, and so very excited for everything that is to come with @rhode and thank you to team @rhode for being the most bad a** team I could ask for. 'The journey has been one that causes me to pinch myself on the daily. Cover shot by @timtadder story written by the wonderful mcgrathmag @hairinel @leahdarcymakeup @danixmichelle #ForbesUnder30.' In the accompanying interview, Hailey revealed that she and her business partners went through several rounds of reformulating products during the development process until they met her standards, while making sure the price tag on any product did not exceed $30. The cast members of Jersey Shore are enjoying some fun in the sun after they were spotted apparently filming the new series in Florida. Several of the stars of the long-running reality series were spotted checking into the Margaritaville Resort in Orlando this week, as pictured in photos obtained by TMZ on Friday. The pictures show Deena Cortese and Vinny Guadagnino at the front desk, and they were followed by a camera crew, indicating that they are filming their reality series. Also seen with them was long-absent star Sammi 'Sweetheart' Giancola, whose return to the series was announced last month. The trio were all dressed in matching pink T-shirts that read 'Family Fun Trip' on the back. Going south: Deena Cortese, Vinny Guadagnino and returning Sammi 'Sweetheart' Giancola were spotted filming Jersey Shore: Family Vacation at Margaritaville Resort in Orlando, Florida. More of the as were also spotted on social media Enjoying the sun: People around the resort told TMZ that the cast have been at Margaritaville throughout the week and have been filming Jersey Shore there. The group also reportedly rented a pool for a private party One video posted to Twitter showed more of the cast enjoying the Florida sun. The group were seen in less touristy clothing and backpacks as they stepped out of their resort and headed toward a massive swimming pool. People around the resort told TMZ that the cast have been at Margaritaville throughout the week and have been filming Jersey Shore there. The group also reportedly rented a pool for a private party, though it wasn't clear if that was to shoot the show, or just for a celebration. Notably, Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino, Jenni 'JWoww' Farley and Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi haven't been seen in either of the last photos or footage. However, The Situation was pictured with the group in a twitter post from Wednesday. The group, which included Sammi, were seen arriving at Reggiano's restaurant in Celebration, which is a suburb of Orlando. The news about the new shooting location comes after Sammi was announced to be rejoining the cast 10 years after she last appeared on Jersey Shore. MIA: Notably, Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino, Jenni 'JWoww' Farley and Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi haven't been seen in either of the last photos or footage Back in action: The group, which included Sammi, were seen arriving at Reggiano's restaurant in Celebration, which is a suburb of Orlando Back in the fold: Sammi 'Sweetheart' Giancola, 35, was also glimpsed arriving at Reggiano's restaurant in Celebration, which is a suburb of Orlando 'Still the sweetest b***h you'll ever meet': Sammi is set to appear on Jersey Shore: Family Vacation, 10 years after starring on the original Jersey Shore reality show, it was announced in March MTV teased her appearance on the popular reality TV series with a photo in front of a green screen that appeared to be part of a confessional interview. 'She's still the sweetest b***h you'll ever meet,' the caption under the photo read, a nod to her original tagline from the show. Fans were thrilled about the news, with one writing: 'This is so f***** iconic.' Another added, 'This is gonna break the internet.' Jersey Shore premiered in 2009 and followed housemates Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino, Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi, Jenni 'JWoww' Farley, Pauly DelVecchio Angelina Pivarnick, Vinny Guadagnino, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro and Giancola. Just hours after Casey Affleck was seen filming with Hong Chau, his brother's BFF Matt Damon joined him on set. The 52-year-old actor enjoyed a laugh with the 47-year-old brother of Ben Affleck as they filmed The Instigators together in New York City on Friday. Matt drove a beat up orange van as he chatted it up with Casey while filming the scene. He seemed to be in good spirits as he had a giggle while behind he wheel of the massive vehicle. When Matt stepped out of the car he could be seen wearing a long black coat with patches all over the bottom of it over a black sweater, blue jeans, and black lace-up boots. Bonded: Just hours after Casey Affleck was seen filming with Hong Chau , his brother's BFF Matt Damon joined him on set His greying brown locks were combed to the side as he sported minimal scruff on his face. Hours earlier Casey and Hong Chau looked like they were having fun as the shot a scene for the film. Casey, who is re-teaming with pal Damon, in the crime drama, was costumed in a green Dartmouth hoodie and jeans for the scene. Although it appeared to be snowing in the scene, the Massachusetts native stepped out in a pair of black slide sandals and white socks in the 56 degree temperatures. His dark hair was slightly tousled and his brown beard was closely cropped. Hong, 43, smiled as she sat on a stoop with the Oscar winner, dressed in a long brown sweater with suede elbow patches and jeans. The Whale star's long brown hair was styled straight, and although she had been made up for the camera, appeared to have a natural look. Casey co-wrote the script about two thieves who go on the run with the help of one of their therapists after they bungle a job. Working relationship: The 52-year-old actor enjoyed a laugh with the 47-year-old brother of Ben Affleck as they filmed The Instigators together in New York City on Friday Interesting day on set: Matt drove a beat up orange van as he chatted it up with Casey while filming the scene And scene: The two were joined by director Doug Liman (right) Fun times: He seemed to be in good spirits as he had a giggle while behind he wheel of the massive vehicle Relaxed: His greying brown locks were combed to the side as he sported minimal scruff on his face Chill: When Matt stepped out of the car he could be seen wearing a long black coat with patches all over the bottom of it over a black sweater, blue jeans, and black lace-up boots Moving on: Matt ditched the jacket to reveal a black crewneck sweater The project will be directed by Doug Liman, 57, who directed The Bourne Identity and produced several other projects in the franchise. Jack Harlow, Paul Walter Hauser, Ving Rhames, Ron Perlman, Alfred Molina and Michael Stuhlbarg are among the A-list cast in the crime drama. Hong can currently be seen in the Netflix series, The Night Agent. She stars as the White House Chief of Staff in the thriller about an low-level FBI agent who becomes involved in a conspiracy that leads all the way to the Oval Office. The actress told Collider it was exciting to be part of a series that features strong women. Chill: Although it appeared to be snowing in the scene, the Massachusetts native stepped out in a pair of black slide sandals and white socks in the 56 degree temperatures Big scene: His dark hair was slightly tousled and his brown beard was closely cropped Talented: Also seen on set earlier on the day was their co-star Hong Chau who recently starred in The Whale; she is pictured at The Oscars last month 'It was nice to get to play in this fictional world. We have a female president on the show and Diane Farr, my character, is her chief of staff. So I'm really looking out for her best interest and doing everything that I can,' she explained. 'And, you know, because there's so many different interest groups and so many different departments and personalities that you have to navigate, you know, every day is a different day.' The actress, who wore a beautiful pink dress honoring her Vietnamese heritage to the Oscars, explained what she looks for in a character to ABS-CBN News. 'Because I'm an Asian woman, people often asked me about lack of opportunity or about stereotypes. I think at the end of the day,' she contended, 'the only thing that offends me is bad writing and no matter what color or gender, I think it's just about having a really layered character.' Seth Rogan has revealed the surprising reason why he used Russell Crowe as inspiration for his new film The Super Mario Bros. The Canadian comedian voices the character of Donkey Kong in the new animated movie based on the widely popular video game. While Seth made it clear to producers that he doesn't do voices, so the animated monkey will sound like him, he did take a few pointers from New Zealand-born actor Russell Crowe. The comedian told The Daily Telegraph that while voicing the boisterous character he channeled Russell's Gladiator in his opening scene. 'I think anytime you're entering an arena full of people to fight someone else to the death, you have to look to the classics,' he said. Seth Rogan (pictured) has revealed why he used Russell Crowe as inspiration for his new film The Super Mario Bros The 40-year-old was keen to take on the film after the 1993 live-action Super Mario Bros, which starred Brit Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo as Mario and Luigi, massively failed his expectations. Seth was just a pre-teen at the time it was released, and as a massive fan of the video game he was extremely disappointed. 'I was one of the poor sons of b**ches who went and saw the original in the theatre in 1993 and 11-year-old Seth was really disappointed by that experience,' he said. The Canadian comedian voices the character of Donkey Kong in the new animated movie based on the widely popular video game While Seth made it clear to producers that he doesn't do voices, so the animated monkey will sound like him, he did take a few pointers from New Zealand-born actor Russell Crowe (pictured) The comedian said that while voicing the boisterous character he channeled Russell's Gladiator in his opening scene 'The idea that potentially an 11-year-old could go to theatres and actually see a good Mario Brothers movie that wasn't terribly disappointing was really exciting, I was excited to vindicate that experience that I had when I was young.' The comedian and actor has had a busy year. In the past 12 months, he played Bennie Loewy in the Oscar-nominated The Fabelmans, starred an executive produced Pam and Tommy, and played the voice of Allen in the animated series Invincible. Jack Black, Seth Rogen and Charlie Day at a special screening of The Super Mario Bros. Movie in Los Angeles He began his comedic career at just 12 by performing at bar mitzvahs and just four years later his family relocated from Canada to Los Angeles to kickstart his long-standing career. The Super Bad actor, who wed his wife Lauren Miller in 2011, believes the decision to not have children has helped with his success. Speaking last month on The Diary of a CEO podcast, he said: 'Now, more than anything, the conversation is honestly, thank God we don't have children. 'We get to do whatever we want, we are in the prime of our lives, we are smarter than we've ever been, we understand ourselves more than we ever have, we have the capacity to achieve a level of work and a level of communication and care for one another, and a lifestyle we can live with one another that we've never been able to live before.' Fans who have paid to watch James Norton in a West End play have reportedly been walking out of the show about rape, torture and child abuse. The Happy Valley star, 37, is starring in the much-anticipated West End adaptation of cult novel directed by Ivo van Hove. A Little Life has left preview audiences traumatised by its graphic on-stage portrayals of suicide, self-harm and paedophilia - with one audience member counting 11 people walking out. One attendee at Richmond Theatre, where the stage re-telling of Hanya Yanagihara's 2015 book opened on Tuesday, told The Mirror they made the decision to leave at the interval after the 'relentless misery' became too much for them. Another audience member called the adaptation, brought to stage by director Ivo Van Hove, 'possibly the most upsetting, unflinchingly brutal and explicit play I've ever seen.' Tough watch: Fans who have paid to watch James Norton in a West End play have been walking out of the show about rape, torture and child abuse Talent: The Happy Valley star, 37, is starring in the much-anticipated West End adaptation of cult novel directed by Ivo van Hove. Theatre-goers are also given details of mental health charities for those disturbed by the content. The performance, which lasts a whopping 3 hours and 40 minutes and will soon transfer to the Savoy Theatre, has a star-studded cast, including James, It's A Sin actor Omari Douglas and Bridgerton 's Luke Thompson. The book, shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2015, became a word-of-mouth hit and won the author a following of dedicated fans. The novel is 814 pages long and follows four classmates from a small US college who move to New York and their relationships with one another, as well as complex issues including sexual abuse, disability and addiction. After attending early performances this week, fans of the play took to social media to express their shock at just how 'raw' the production is. One wrote: '#Only made it to the interval of 'A Little Life'. 1 hour 50' of relentless misery was more than enough for me....(I gather it didn't end 'happily') #Alittlelifeplay.' A fellow audience member wrote: '#ALittleLifePlay is brutal. Relentlessly brutal. But also brilliant theatre. The entire cast shines. But it's James Norton who is the powerhouse. Barely off stage for more than 3.5 hours, this may be his best work. Award winning stuff. But not for the faint hearted!' Awful: A Little Life has left preview audiences traumatised by its graphic on-stage portrayals of suicide, self-harm and paedophilia - with one audience member counting 11 people walking out Response: One attendee at Richmond Theatre, where the stage re-telling of Hanya Yanagihara's 2015 book opened on Tuesday, said they made the decision to leave at the interval after the 'relentless misery' became too much for them Another added: 'Possibly the most upsetting, unflinchingly brutal and explicit play I've ever seen which is definitely not for the faint of heart. The entire cast soars and James Norton is an absolute powerhouse in this heartbreaking epic.' One theatregoer penned on Twitter: 'It feels wrong to say you enjoyed something when the content is so raw & difficult, but I am extremely glad I got to see this masterpiece brought to life in such a thoughtful way.' The novel became a critically acclaimed bestseller, with celebrity fans including Dua Lipa who said the book 'changed her life' on her podcast. James Norton hasn't shied away from demanding roles - the actor was acclaimed for playing Tommy Lee Royce in Happy Valley, but this is likely to be one of the star's toughest acting challenges yet. The actor, who's a Type 1 diabetic, told The Graham Norton Show in November that the play, at 3 hours 40 minutes, is so long he has to eat on stage to keep his blood sugar levels stable. He told Norton: 'The added component is that I don't leave the stage for a couple of hours and I am a type 1 diabetic, so I have juice, and I can't bring it up because it's got branding on it! 'But I have sweet things which I'll have to have scattered around the stage just in case I go hypoglycaemic.' She recently enjoyed a trip to Abu Dhabi with her boyfriend Max George. And Maisie Smith was jetting off once more as she revealed she was heading to Paris for the weekend on Friday. The former EastEnders star, 21, took to her Instagram Stories and shared a snap of herself about to make the journey. The actress cut a casual figure in a grey hoodie and matching tracksuit bottoms which she paired with beige trainers. Wearing her flame-haired locks in a poker straight style, Maisie completed her look with a bright yellow beanie hat. Alongside the post, the former Strictly Come Dancing star wrote: 'Next stop Paris'. Trip: Maisie Smith was jetting off once more as she revealed she was heading to Paris for the weekend on Friday Getaway: The former EastEnders star took to her Instagram Stories and shared a snap of herself about to make the journey Maisie didn't reveal whether or not her boyfriend was accompanying her on the trip. The trip comes after the couple broke their silence after fans were left fuming over their 'pregnancy' prank. The Wanted star, 34, appeared to make light of the situation as he shared a photo of the couple sipping on huge milkshakes. He captioned it: 'Never. Eating. Again' while Maisie reshared the snap. They faced backlash when Maisie took to Instagram to pose with her hands cradling her stomach. She hid her belly behind a heart emoji, while Max looked down in shock, with his hand over his mouth. Captioning the snap, Maisie wrote: 'We've got some really exciting news...' But in the next post, she revealed the couple were only joking, writing: 'I just had the best five course meal of my life'. 'Never eating again': Maisie and her boyfriend Max George recently broke their silence after fans were left fuming over their 'pregnancy' prank Oh no: Former EastEnders actress Maisie, 21, and the Wanted star, 34, faced backlash when Maisie took to Instagram to pose with her hands cradling her stomach Max shared the same teasing post to his Instagram Stories, while adding the caption: 'Look at that lovely belly'. And while the pair thought their post was hilarious, many of their fans disagreed as they flocked to Twitter to blast them for being 'disgusting' and 'insensitive'. One wrote, 'Pregnancy jokes are not, and never will be funny. You've hurt many people, fans, with those thoughtless stories tonight. People who have lost children. People who cannot conceive for whatever reason. Please do better.' Others chimed in with, 'Max George and Maisie smith are so insensitive for that,' and, 'maisie smith and max george joking about being pregnant is disgusting. just not something to be joking about.' A fourth penned, 'Not @maisie_smith_ and @MaxGeorge making out that she's expecting, such a s***ty joke! Kick to all of us who struggle with fertility.' One more concluded, 'Joking about fake pregnancies is disgusting. Really made me think. Do I really like them anymore.' Seeing red: And while the pair thought their post was hilarious, many of their fans disagreed as they flocked to Twitter to blast them for being 'disgusting' and 'insensitive' The couple are currently enjoying a romantic Dubai getaway and have shared lots of glimpses into their trip so far. Maisie kicked off their lavish holiday by sharing a very racy snap to Instagram earlier in the week. She left little to the imagination as she went completely naked for a risque bathtub shot, while enjoying a glass of champagne. Resting her legs on the edge of the basin, she ensured to protect her modesty as she wrote, '...and relax,' in her caption. However, Maisie resisted a dip in the sea in a hilarious video shared by The Wanted star. The actress re-posted the video, which saw her run back onto the beach after realising just how cold the water was, while wearing a skimpy blue bikini. Max wrote, 'Cold water ain't for my girl,' while Maisie added, 'Can't say I didn't try.' Max and Maisie looked on cloud nine as they kicked back and relaxed at the beach together. The smitten couple have jetted off on holiday and immediately made the most of the warm weather as they worked on their tans. Admiring: Max shared the same teasing post to his Instagram Stories, while adding the caption: 'Look at that lovely belly' Maisie showcased her toned figure as she slipped into a light blue bikini with orange straps while relaxing on a beach chair. Sharing a photo of his girlfriend from the back, Max wrote: 'Cheeky. I wouldn't be anywhere else in the world right now '. Max went shirtless for the outing, with Maisie sharing a playful snap of him posing on the beach in a pair of dark green shorts. The pair also posted a snap from their flight as they snuggled beside each other, with Maisie writing: 'And we're off'. ISLAMABAD (AP) - A women-run radio station in northeastern Afghanistan has resumed its broadcasts, after officials shut it down for a week for playing music during the holy month of Ramadan, a Taliban official and the head of the station said Friday. Sadai Banowan, which means "womens voice" in Dari, was launched 10 years ago in Badakhshan province and is Afghanistans only women-run radio station. Six of its eight staff members are women. Moezuddin Ahmadi, the director for Information and Culture in Badakhshan, said the station was allowed to resume activities on Thursday after it had obeyed the "laws and regulations of the Islamic Emirate" and agreed to stop broadcasting any kind of music. Station head Najia Sorosh said after the station "gave a commitment to officials at the information and culture department, they unlocked the door of the station," and they started broadcasting again. The Afghan Journalist Safety Committee, an Afghan watchdog organization that promotes the safety of journalists and press freedom and which was involved in mediation for the station's reopening, welcomed the resumption of broadcasts. "Following AJSCs advocacy efforts, Sadia Banowan radio resumed its broadcasts," it said in a tweet. Najia Sorosh head of Sadai Banowan a women-run radio station, right, speaks with her Staff in the broadcasting studio in Badakhshan province, north-eastern of Afghanistan, Tuesday, Mar. 7, 2023. A women-run radio station in Afghanistan's northeast has been shut down for playing music during the holy month of Ramadan, a Taliban official said Saturday. (Sadai Banowan via AP) Representatives from the Ministry of Information and Culture and the Vice and Virtue Directorate had shut down the station a week earlier. Many journalists lost their jobs after the Taliban takeover in August 2021. Media outlets closed over a lack of funds or because staff left the country, according to the Afghan Independent Journalists Association. The Taliban have barred women from most forms of employment and education beyond the sixth grade, including university. There is no official ban on music. During their previous rule in the late 1990s, the Taliban barred most television, radio and newspapers in the country. Najia Sorosh head of Sadai Banowan a women-run radio station, left, speaks into a microphone in the broadcasting studio in Badakhshan province, north-eastern of Afghanistan, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023. A women-run radio station in Afghanistan's northeast has been shut down for playing music during the holy month of Ramadan, a Taliban official said Saturday. (Sadai Banowan via AP) Najia Sorosh head of Sadai Banowan a women-run radio station, left, speaks into a microphone in the broadcasting studio in Badakhshan province, north-eastern of Afghanistan, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023. A women-run radio station in Afghanistan's northeast has been shut down for playing music during the holy month of Ramadan, a Taliban official said Saturday. (Sadai Banowan via AP) Najia Sorosh head of Sadai Banowan a women-run radio station, left, speaks into a microphone in the broadcasting studio in Badakhshan province, north-eastern of Afghanistan, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023. A women-run radio station in Afghanistan's northeast has been shut down for playing music during the holy month of Ramadan, a Taliban official said Saturday. (Sadai Banowan via AP) The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office (PNAT) is asking that fourteen people be tried after the assassination, on October 16, 2020, of Samuel Paty, a history and geography professor who was beheaded by a radicalized Islamist shot dead by the police, learned the Agence France-Presse on Friday April 7 from a source familiar with the matter. On October 16, 2020, the 47-year-old teacher was stabbed and then beheaded near his college in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine (Yvelines) by Abdoullakh Anzorov, a Russian refugee of Chechen origin. The 18-year-old man, radicalized, accused him of having shown caricatures of Muhammad in class. In an audio message in Russian, he claimed responsibility for his action, congratulating himself on having "avenged the prophet". For this act which had caused a huge stir in France and abroad, the PNAT requests that the most serious offence, complicity in terrorist assassination, be retained only for two friends of the assailant Abdoullakh Anzorov. Azim E. and Naim B. accompanied him to buy a knife. The second had gone with him to the college of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine. The public prosecutor also requires the assizes for six other adults and requests that six college students be tried for offenses. Brahim Chnina, father of a schoolgirl targeted by an exclusion for indiscipline and who claimed to have attended the course, and the sulphurous Islamist activist Abdelhakim Sefrioui, authors of videos on social networks which had fueled the controversy, had been indicted for complicity , just like Priscilla M., a 30-year-old convert to Islam, linked on Twitter with the assassin in the days preceding the attack. But for these three people, as for three other adults, the PNAT finally requests a trial, also at the assizes, for criminal terrorist association, according to the source familiar with the matter. The PNAT requires that the schoolgirl at the origin of the case also appear before this court for slanderous denunciation, still according to the source close to the file. Closed in early October, the investigations were then reopened for a few weeks, the time according to a source familiar with the matter to check the schedule of relatives of Abdoullakh Anzorov. It is now up to the counter-terrorism investigating judges to make a final decision on whether to commit these people to trial. Moroccan Internet users have launched a campaign to boycott a concert by French rapper Booba because of his "degrading words towards Moroccan women" in several of his hits. An online petition to cancel the show, scheduled for June 21 in Casablanca, collected nearly 4,000 signatures on Thursday April 6. "Moroccans felt offended to learn that rapper Booba was going to perform in Morocco," reads the introduction to the petition, which has the primary objective of reaching the bar of 5,000 signatures. Very popular in Morocco, Booba (Elie Yaffa of his real name) is implicated for having made "degrading remarks towards Moroccan and North African women" in certain songs. This is the case of E.L.E.P.H.A.N.T, a title where the star raps: "Little Moroccan fucks Berlusconi", in reference to a Moroccan nicknamed Ruby who had participated in the "bunga bunga" parties of the former Italian "Cavaliere" while she was a minor. But also, in Generation assassin, when Booba sings: "I go to the chick only for the beurettes". "Shame... We can't welcome a guy who doesn't respect us," reacted a surfer on Twitter, where the hashtag The Islamist opposition party Justice and Development (PJD) joined the controversy this week by demanding the cancellation of the concert in a written parliamentary question addressed to the Minister of Youth and Culture. Contacted by AFP, the organizers of the concert did not respond. In 2017, Booba performed in one of the most important festivals in the country, Mawazine-Rythmes du monde, in Rabat. It had then drained 100,000 spectators, according to local media. The relevance of a voluntary movement in India and abroad, inspired by the Gandhian framework, is crucial for establishing a non-violent world order It had been 13 days since the march for Salt Satyagraha had already begun under the leadership of a 61-year-old Mahatma Gandhi from Sabarmati. Deciding to embark on a 240-mile foot march to Dandi to break salt at Dandi, he involved the entire country in this act of defiance. On the morning of March 25, the Satyagrahis (thousands of volunteers) started from Samni for Tralsa. While going to Tralsa, Gandhiji and his companions walked through water and deep mud. Here, they were given a warm welcome. Kasturba Gandhi, his wife, and Kakasaheb Kalelkar came here to meet Gandhiji. The Salt March had gathered momentum. It was on the previous night (March 24) at Samni village where Gandhiji emphasised the breach of the Salt Act, and wearing and making khadi. Dandi March and volunteerism The spirit of volunteerism and nonviolent protest has been a crucial aspect of India's history. The Gandhian era saw this in full glory during the Salt Satyagraha, which showcased the power of nonviolent protest in achieving social and political change through nonviolent protest, even when Satyagrahis were met with severest brutality by the British authorities. One of the significant aspects of the movement was the participation of volunteers ranging from students, farmers, labourers and women, who participated in the protest despite the risk of arrest, imprisonment and violence from the British. This (Gandhian) concept of volunteerism is based on the idea of selfless service or Seva, which involves giving one's time, skills and resources for the greater good of society without expecting anything in return. The movement sparked a wave of protests and civil disobedience and led to the release of thousands of political prisoners. The volunteers not only ensured the success of the protest, but helped collect funds, arrange food and accommodation for the marchers and provide medical aid to those injured during the protest. Beyond the protest, the volunteers continued to work towards building a sustainable economy based on cottage industries and promoting the use of khadi (hand-spun cloth), which the Mahatma had time and again emphasised upon. Gandhiji had felt the nations pulse. He knew of the springing of emotions and excitement and was cautious too. On March 28, after reaching Ramya, Mahatma Gandhi said, I feel it is difficult to leave any of the districts of Gujarat. I feel like staying in every district and starting manufacturing salt here, but we cannot do everything we like. We do whatever is appropriate, therefore, we should reach Dandi. Impact on India & the world The spirit of volunteerism in the Salt Satyagraha serves as an inspiration for people around the world and highlights the power of collective action towards a common goal. The principles of nonviolent protest that were championed by the Mahatma continue to be used in various movements worldwide, from the Civil Rights Movement in the US to the pro-democracy movement in Myanmar. The voluntary movement inspired by Gandhian leadership has been instrumental in bringing about social and political change in India. Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence, self-reliance and service to others has inspired generations of Indians to work towards building a better society. Gandhi's emphasis on self-reliance and service to others also played a crucial role in inspiring the voluntary movement in India. Gandhi believed that every individual had a responsibility towards society and that voluntary action was a way of fulfilling that responsibility. Gandhi's influence on the voluntary movement in India can be seen in various fields. Many organisations and individuals have been inspired by Gandhi's philosophy of service and have worked towards building a better society through voluntaryism. One of the most successful examples of a voluntary movement is the Chipko Movement, which was inspired by Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence and environmental conservation. Started in the 1970s, it was aimed at protecting forests and promoting sustainable development. It inspired similar movements across India and around the world as it helped raise awareness about the importance of environmental conservation and the role of voluntary action. Another example is Barefoot College, a voluntary organisation established by Bunker Roy in 1972, which has been successful in providing education and vocational training to rural communities, particularly women. Similarly, the Aravind Eye Care System in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, another voluntary organisation, has been successful in providing high-quality eye care to millions of people. Though there have been limitations and criticisms of many voluntary organisations in India for their lack of transparency and accountability and sustainability, it cannot be denied that the relevance of the voluntary movement in India and the world is crucial for the establishment of a non-violent world order with service to others, and collective action as its key principles. This is important from a world perspective for peaceful and sustainable social change. One such example is the Black Lives Matter Movement in the US, which has drawn inspiration from the Gandhian framework, with many activists emphasising the importance of nonviolence and community service. Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence, self-reliance and service to others has inspired generations of Indians and people across the world to work towards building a better society through voluntary action. This power of collective action towards a common goal continues. (The writer is Programme Executive, Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti) America is trying to neutralise Chinas attempts to influence market access In the shifting sands of geopolitics, several changes in the past few weeks would make agile diplomacy the key instrument of foreign affairs for any country. First up is the difficult, India-US-Russia tightrope trick. Russia last week announced their new foreign policy, which emphasises the deepening of ties with strategic allies India and China. The Russian NSA and his Indian counterpart also got into a huddle on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, NSA-level meeting, to discuss expanding the bilateral defence partnership. It now emerges that the two sides could have discussed expanding the partnership for joint research and manufacturing of next-generation supersonic Brahmos missile systems. Russia seems to have greater technological know-how for the development of this high-speed (at least five times faster than the speed of sound with higher degrees of manoeuvrability) missiles, ahead of both China and US. Meanwhile, India is all set to enhance its naval capabilities including its ability for defending its sea frontiers, from the recent acquisition of superior technology helicopters, missiles and torpedoes capable of taking down submarines, from the US. The initial reluctance from the US to have India as a strategic defence partner in the Indo-Pacific region now seems to have given way to a pragmatic approach, keeping in mind Indias strategic defence needs, and its centrality to the Indo-Pacific. The Indo-Pacific region, at one point in time, relegated to appendix sections of Washingtons foreign policy books, has found complete bipartisan support from opposite ends of the political spectrum in US politics. The imminent threat is the rising heft of China in the region, which has assumed the role of being the biggest bully, having clawed into some of the most influential national economies in the region. Most of the influence China wields in the Indo-Pacific rides on its opaque infrastructure funding policies, which have forced many of these growth-hungry economies to fall into a fatal debt trap. These economic blunders in turn give China the upper hand to start influencing the nations domestic politics, which goes well with the dragons expansionist agenda. However, the US has taken note and brokered a peace truce between Japan and South Korea, the two technology-aided Asian giants. These two countries, even though not too warm to each other due to historical reasons, are joined in the common threat of an aggressive China in their backyard. The US knows that any future dominance in the global world order would be defined by technological advancements, and the ability to integrate technology into their defence equipment. Every breakthrough, every new use case and standard set, for emerging technology such as Artificial Intelligence would be critical for the race to the top. It has already operationalised the US-India initiative on Critical and Emerging technologies, to expand the existing defence industrial partnership and strategic technology partnership to a wider set of stakeholders. Meanwhile, discussions regarding supply chain resilience, expansion and cooperation, on new technology form the pillars for all QUAD discussions, which has the US, India, Japan and Australia, as its members. The US is also aggressively pushing countries in South and South-Southeast Asia into a like-minded bloc of partners through the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework initiative, where India is also a founding member. China meanwhile has also managed to stitch together one of the largest free trade agreements in the world, through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, giving it market access to most of the economies in the region. India chose to sit out of RCEP, citing the unfair advantage accrued to China. Against this backdrop, the guns are still blazing in eastern provinces of Ukraine. Many expect China and India to play the silent backroom boys role to broker peace between Ukraine and Russia. It is going to be volatile situations ahead for every country. (The author is a foreign affairs commentator) Allu Arjun's first look from the much-anticipated sequel of his blockbuster hit "Pushpa" was shared by the makers on Friday on the eve of the Telugu superstar's 41st birthday. Directed by Sukumar, "Pushpa 2: The Rule" follows the first installment "Pushpa 1: The Rise", which sets up a clash between Arjun's titular character and Malayalam star Fahad Faasil's menacing inspector Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat. Production banner Mythri Movie Makers unveiled the first glimpse of the film on Twitter in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam languages. "Happy Birthday to Icon Star @alluarjun #HappyBirthdayAlluArjun #WhereIsPushpa? #Pushpa2TheRule," the post read. The video opens with news reports that Pushpa has escaped from the Tirupati jail and was shot multiple times. While some claim that the red sanders smuggler might be dead, others speculate Pushpa has made his way to foreign land. The over three-minute long clip also shows his supporters hoping for his return, with some coming on streets to protest leading to curfew in the area. Towards the end, an exclusive footage is seen being broadcasted on a news channel, which features Pushpa scaring away a tiger in the forest and giving a furious look to the night vision camera. In the last shot, Arjun sits on a chair and declares 'Pushpa's rule'. Produced by Naveen Yerneni and Y Ravi Shankar of Mythri Movie Makers in association with Sukumar Writings, the film also brings back Rashmika Mandanna as Srivalli and Faasil as Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat. Actors Dhanunjay, Rao Ramesh, Sunil, Anasuya Bharadwaj and Ajay Ghosh round out the cast. Music is composed by Devi Sri Prasad (DSP), with cinematography and editing by Miroslaw Kuba Brozek and Karthika Srinivas, respectively. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday claimed that people would not forgive the opposition parties for disrupting Parliament proceedings over Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Lok Sabha based on a legislation brought by the Congress-led UPA government. Addressing a public meeting after inaugurating the Kaushambi Mahotsav, he exhorted people to elect Narendra Modi as prime minister once again in 2024 for the all-around welfare of all sections of society. "The country will not forgive opposition parties for disrupting Parliament proceedings over Rahul Gandhi's disqualification... Democracy is not in danger, it is casteism and dynastic politics ('parivarwad') which are in danger," Shah said. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, his deputies Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, and state BJP president Bhupendra Chaudhry also attended the event. In a big blow to the Congress, its leader Rahul Gandhi was on March 24 disqualified from Lok Sabha, nearly 24 hours after a Surat court convicted him in a defamation case, an action the opposition party slammed as BJP's "vindictive politics" and vowed to fight legally and politically. The court in Surat sentenced Gandhi to two years in jail in a defamation case, filed on a complaint by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi for his remark, "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?" The disqualification will bar 52-year-old Gandhi, a four-time MP, from contesting polls for eight years unless a higher court stays his conviction and sentence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asserted the BJP is committed to effectively fighting and countering corruption and dynasty politics, and slammed people with baadshahi mindset, alleging they have been insulting the poor, backwards and deprived since 2014. Addressing BJP MPs and over 10 lakh BJP workers across the country on the partys 44th foundation day that coincided with Hanuman Jayanti, Modi expressed confidence that the party was sure to win 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Modi said the party has waged war against corruption, nepotism and crime just the way Lord Hanuman fought against demons. Selfless service to the nation, a virtue of Lord Hanuman, is the inspiration for BJP cadres, he said. The PM said that many people believe that no one can defeat the BJP in 2024, and this is true as well, he said. But we have to go beyond a win and ensure we also win every persons heart in the country, Modi said, adding while victories should be celebrated, we should be preparing for the next goal... We have to fight every poll with the same hard work that we have put in since the time of Jana Sangh. Modi said 2014 has brought a major shift in the politics and since the country was reclaiming its ancient culture and heritage. The Opposition parties never imagined that Article 370 would be history one day and they cannot digest the work BJP is doing, he said. Without referring to various allegations levelled by these parties against his government, the PM said they have been battling an existential crisis and resorting to levelling allegations and conspiracies against the ruling party. They are full of hate and frustration, he said. Today, they have become so desperate that they have openly started saying Modi teri kabar khudegi, he said and asserted that the support of the poor, tribals, backwards, Dalits and women among others would continue to protect lotus (BJPs symbol) and help it bloom. Taking a swipe at the Opposition, the PM said the identity of the Congress is dynasty, nepotism and corruption, whereas BJPs political culture is inclusive. Unlike Opposition parties, who used the slogan of social justice for political gains, BJP strives for social justice and employment of all segments and the free ration to 80 crore is a living example as it is being given without any discrimination, he said. Parties fighting their existential crisis will keep conspiring against us. The poor, deprived, Dalits and tribals are protecting the lotus, said the PM. Earlier in the day, BJP national president JP Nadda hoisted the saffron party flag at the party headquarters. Under PM Modis leadership, BJP has made groundbreaking achievements. We got the inspiration from Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat under the PMs leadership, Nadda said. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar echoed Modis remarks and said India discovered its strength in 2014 the same way Lord Hanuman discovered his and went on to achieve infinite feats. The way Lord Hanuman discovered his strength and then performed infinite feats, I think we discovered our strength in 2014 and have kept discovering it since then, he told ANI In the past, Jaishankar had said that Lord Krishna and Hanuam were the worlds greatest diplomats. The BJP president launched the ek baar phir se Modi sarkar wall-writing campaign across the country from the national Capital. The BJP has asked all its workers to organise seminars and discussions on the history of the party and the achievements of the Central government. The BJP was founded on April 6, 1980, in Mumbai when leaders of the erstwhile Jana Sangh quit the Janata Party to launch a new party. The BJP will also observe social justice week, beginning Thursday to the birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar, one of the framers of the Indian Constitution and a dalit icon, on April 14. The Delhi High Court (HC) on Thursday denied bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain in the money laundering case in which he had been in custody since May 30, 2022. The bail of co-accused Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain was also denied. The court said that all of the three accused failed to meet and pass the two conditions specified for bail under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Meanwhile, the Delhi HC on Thursday issued a notice to the CBI on the bail plea of former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with the alleged irregularities in the liquor excise policy. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma directed the investigating agency to file its response within two weeks on Sisodia's plea which claimed he is "totally innocent" and a "victim of a political witch-hunt", and asked the agency to state its stand. The High Court will next take up Sisodia's appeal on April 20. In Jain's case Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma held that he is an influential person and cannot be said to have satisfied the twin conditions for bail under PMLA. "The simple fact is the CBI has filed a case of Disproportionate Assets (DA). The present court cannot go into validity of these proceedings. Facts show that certain DAs were masked. The court has to see the prima facie case. The broad probabilities indicate that the companies associated to him are controlled and managed by him. The learned Special Judge's order (rejecting bail to Jain) does not have any perversity. Order is well reasoned," the High Court said. Jain is accused of having laundered money through four companies allegedly linked to him. Jain has been behind bars since May 2022 when he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The trial court had rejected his bail plea on November 17, 2022. Days after two Indian journalists posted in China by their respective organisations were told not to return to Beijing, India on Thursday said it has taken up the issue with the authorities there and hoped Chinese authorities will facilitate continued presence of the journalists there. Asked why China resorted to the suspension of visas of the two Indian journalists, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told the media on Tuesday that for a long-time Chinese journalists have received unfair and discriminatory treatment in India. In 2017, India shortened the visa for Chinese journalists from three months to one month. In 2020, India refused to approve applications from Chinese journalists to go to India. The Hindu newspapers representative Ananth Krishnan and Anupam Mishra of Prasar Bharti were visiting India for personal reasons when they were informed by Chinese officials not to return there as their visas were frozen. Reacting to the development, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi said here on Thursday, There are Chinese journalists who have valid Indian visas to undertake journalistic activities. From that perspective, we dont see any difficulties in doing reporting (by the Chinese journalists). With regard to Indian journalists working in China, we would hope that Chinese authorities would facilitate their continued presence and reporting from China, Bagchi said. We are in touch with Chinese authorities in this regard, he said. The Chinese action was reported on Tuesday and sources said China took this step after India reportedly asked a Chinese journalist to leave the country. The move followed the Indian side informing a New Delhi-based correspondent of State-run Xinhua news agency last month that his Indian visa would not be renewed. The Xinhua correspondent was asked to return to China by March 31 and has since gone back, sources said. Meanwhile, China has sought reciprocal measures from India for the facilitation of its journalists even as it defended its recent move to freeze the visas of the two Indian correspondents. Different reasons were given for the decision to ask the Xinhua correspondent to return to China, with some people saying it was done because he had been in India for too long having done a stint of about six years and others saying it was because he had indulged in activities beyond his journalistic brief. The two remaining Indian journalists in Beijing KJM Varma of Press Trust of India (PTI) and Sutirtho Patranobis of The Hindustan Times were told by officials of Chinas Foreign Ministry on Tuesday that they could stay on for now. It was also learnt the remaining Indian journalists were not expected to be allowed back into China if they leave the country. Reports indicated there were complaints from both sides about the handling of issues related to journalists. Sources said it was factually incorrect to suggest that Indias actions triggered a response from Chinese authorities. To be sure, Indian journalists posted in China have managed to extend their visas after meeting Chinese Foreign Ministry officials before the process. The Hindus correspondent was stopped at the airport and questioned by Chinese authorities for almost 30 minutes while he was returning to India on March 31, the people added. A few years ago, there were six Indian journalists working in Beijing but this number subsequently came down to four. Over the past few years, a handful of Indian journalists have also been given fellowships by Chinese authorities that allowed them to live in China and report for their media organisations. The number of Chinese journalists in India, all working for State-run organisations, was at a high of 14 about seven years ago. In July 2016, India expelled three journalists from Xinhua, including the organisations bureau chiefs in New Delhi and Mumbai, after they came under the adverse attention of security agencies for allegedly indulging in activities beyond their journalistic brief. Since then, the number of Chinese journalists in India has continued to come down. The visa of another Chinese journalist working in India was not renewed in 2021. Several of them left India during the Covid-19 pandemic and their organisations did not post anyone to replace them, sources said. At present, only one Chinese journalist is in India. India on Thursday condemned an incident of vandalism targeting a Hindu temple in Canada and said it has taken up the issue with the authorities there. The spate of vandalism against Hindu temples continues in Canada with the latest incident taking place in Windsor province of Ontario. The police termed it as hate-motivated and said it was looking for two suspects. It is suspected that alleged Khalistan supporters carried out the attack late on Tuesday night. The country has seen five such acts since July last year and no arrests have, so far, taken place. We condemn this, it is a very unfortunate incident. We have taken this up with the Canadian authorities, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arnidam Bagchi said here on Thursday. He also said Canada was urged to bring the perpetrators of the incident to book as soon as possible. The target this time was the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir as perpetrators spray painted it with anti-India graffiti. Slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi were also splashed on the walls of the temple compound. The local police in a statement said late on Wednesday that it has launched an investigation into the incident and was looking for two suspects. The High Commission of India in Ottawa, Canada has strongly condemned the act of vandalism. We have taken up with the Canadian authorities the hateful act of putting anti-India graffiti on the walls of the BAPS Swaminarayan temple in Windsor. We strongly condemn this act of vandalism, the Mission said in a tweet. The Windsor Police Service said officers were dispatched to the temple in the 1700 block of the Northway Avenue following a report of hate-motivated vandalism on Wednesday. Officers discovered anti-Hindu and anti-India graffiti sprayed in black on an exterior wall of the building, the police said in a statement. Through investigation, officers obtained a video that shows two suspects in the area just after 12 A.M. In the video, one suspect appears to commit the vandalism on the wall of the building while the other keeps watch, it said. At the time of the incident, one suspect wore a black sweater, black pants with a small white logo on the left leg, and black and white high-top running shoes. The second suspect wore black pants, a sweatshirt, black shoes, and white socks. Police asked residents in the immediate vicinity of the temple to check their home surveillance or dashcam video footage for evidence of the suspects. A spokesperson for the BAPS organisation reportedly said they were very shocked by the anti-Indian graffiti on our mandir walls. In an email to members of the Hindu Federation in Canada, a representative of the BAPS organisation said the incident was reported to the local police for their immediate necessary action. Images attached to the email showed slogans against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is the fifth such incident where a temple has been defaced with such graffiti since July last year. On February 14, the target was the Shri Ram Mandir in the town of Mississauga in the GTA. Slogans spray-painted included those attacking India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and describing the founder of the separatist Khalistan movement, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, as a martyr. On January 30, the Gauri Shankar Mandir in Brampton was similarly desecrated. Before that, a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, located at the Vishnu Mandir in Richmond Hill, was defaced in July last year. The 20-foot tall bronze statue was situated in the temples Peace Park. Weeks later, in September, an episode of such vandalisation occurred at the front entrance to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Toronto. Statues of Mahatma Gandhi have been targeted for vandalism with a similar modus operandi. The latest such incident involved the decapitation of a Gandhi sculpture located on the campus of the Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia. That incident occurred on March 27. On March 23, a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, located at the City Hall in the town of Hamilton in Ontario was defaced and anti-India and pro-Khalistan graffiti spray-painted near its base. That incident is being investigated by Hamilton Polices Hate Crime Unit. The Khalistan supporters also blocked the venue last month in British Columbia where Indian envoy to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma was to be felicitated. Some protestors also reportedly brandished swords. The protest was in apparent fallout of the ongoing operation to nab radical preacher Amritpal Singh in India. The Indian High Commissioner had to cancel his visit due to security concerns as alleged Khalistani supporters blocked the entrance to the venue there. Reports said the local police was not able to control the mob which started gathering a couple of hours before the event was scheduled to begin. The police reportedly advised the High Commissioner against attending the function. The celebration of the Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav-75 years of freedom struggle should lead us to seriously revisit all the promises we made during the freedom struggle and later, in the implementation of constitutional mandates, especially the most important mandate Article 21which says about Right to Life and Personal Liberty. The realization of Article 21 of the Constitution can only be possible with ensuring universal food security, primary education and universal healthcare for all. Everyone's life is meaningful, complete and the living must be dignified. The Right to Livelihood is part of the Right to Life as interpreted by the Supreme Court. In this context, food security is one of the most basic and non-negotiable areas of rights which is very fundamental to human existence. Food security for all has been quite challenging with changing global socio-economic and political scenario. In spite of growing economic inequality, it is expected by global leaders that the universal food security for all may be ensured by 2030. But the post Covid-19 has made the target more challenging. Mostly, a sizable population in Africa, South and West Asia, Latin America, Caribbean and Oceania has been reeling under acute poverty, hunger and malnutrition. India ranks 71 out of 113 countries of the world in global Food Security Index, 2021. The report observed deterioration in global food environment. Countries such as China are much ahead of India and countries in top of the index are Ireland, Australia, UK, USA, Finland, Switzerland, Nederland, Canada, Japan, and France. The Food Security Index measures food security based on factors such as affordability, availability, quality, safety, natural resources and resilience. The Government of India has many schemes such as the National Food Security Act 2013, Eat Right India Movement, POSHANA Abhiyan, Food fortification, ICDS and national innovation in climate resilient agriculture to arrest the growing hunger and malnutrition in the country, especially among the vulnerable communities while increasing the production in any kind of adverse situation. The Eat Right India Movement by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) aims to combat negative nutritional trends that impact the spread of life- style diseases. Rice fortification has been initiated in India to counter malnutrition. The rice fortification has been done by coating, dusting and extrusion to add iron, zinc, folic acid, vitamin A and B12. The State of Chhattisgarh has already launched the fortified rice scheme under a targeted public distribution system. Odisha is one of the poorest States of India having 80 per cent of its population as per 2011 census depending on free rice distribution schemes (Re 1) under the National Food Security Act 2013. Even some interior parts of the State and more particularly, the vulnerable social groups and ethnic communities still are more prone to hunger and malnutrition. The State Government runs a food security scheme (SFSS) which provides 5kg of rice at Re 1 added to the NFSA beneficiaries selected as per 2011 Census. This is not good for the economic, social and political health of a State having a major part of its population depending on free food schemes. Odisha must have to overcome the situation and ensure food security. The State also has a high risk of malnutrition. Considering the issues of malnutrition, the NITI Aayog has identified 15 districts of the country including the tribal-dominated Malkangiri district to implement fortified rice schemes and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has been asked to coordinate with the rice mills for the purpose. Added to these steps, the Central Government also has launched the national innovation in climate resilient agriculture to improve preparedness to cope with challenges of climate change and its impact on agriculture sector and food production. Odisha is getting more vulnerable with climate change impacts which has a bearing on agriculture and food security of the vulnerable social groups. Along with food security the other two important areas connected to the Right to Life and Dignity are universal primary education and universal healthcare which are equally important to build quality human resources and a civilized society. Education is one of the key means of social and economic transformation of any society. Historically, primary education has been neglected in the country including Odisha with some States such as Kerala as an exception. Even today, in spite of the RTE Act, a target to implement universal, free, and compulsory primary education is still miles away. Many industrially developed countries of the world such as China have started with building universal primary education. A UNESCO report on universal education goals says India will achieve universal primary education by 2050. A recent trend in education shows a gradual withdrawal of the Government from the responsibility of providing primary education and encouraging the private business in education sector. There are varieties of schools lacking uniformity and universal access in many ways. The school infrastructure, teachers and teaching methodology and many related things vary and also status wise, they lack equality. The education system discriminates against the poor and people of lower social strata to access education as equals. The so-called residential schools ghettoize the children of backward communities, low caste and ethnic groups in the name of separate schools and residential places. When will the children of all castes and classes sit together, stay together and read together in common schools for all? This is now a million dollar question. Many of our special residential schools for the poor and excluded groups are socially non-inclusive and lack universality. Ideally, there must be a common school system and all the students must avail equal facilities provided by the State without discrimination in any form. Similarly, in the health sector many countries such as Cuba, Brazil, China and Mexico have moved towards universal basic healthcare and social security facilities for their people. In any civilized country, no one should suffer due to lack of treatment facilities because of his poor financial status. But there has been a tendency towards privatisation of the health sector and reducing the role of Government that leads to depriving a majority of our population of Right to Life because of their social and economic status. The Covid-19 has well exposed our vulnerability in terms of poor public health infrastructure, shortage of doctors, heath workers, medicines and many more which need to be overcome with an approach of universal healthcare for all as a constitutional mandate. The elected Governments at the Center and State must act to respond to the Right to Life and Dignity to become a model for the rest of the world while celebrating legacies of freedom struggle. AIIMS BBSR ORGANISES HEALTH MELA (Pix) Bhubaneswar: The AIIMS Bhubaneswar organised a Health Mela in the village Sijua near here, which was inaugurated by AIIMS Bhubaneswar Executive Director Dr Ashutosh Biswas. As part of G20 Jan Bhagidari campaign, doctors, paramedical staffs and medical students provided health consultation and free medicines to the villagers. Sixty-five school students were given special attention regarding their nutrition status and overall health assessment. Similarly, geriatric groups were provided a holistic attention. Efforts were made to meet womens demands with special focus on creating awareness over menstrual and breast Health. A blood donation camp was also organised. PHYSICS WALLAH LAUNCHES VIDYAPEETH IN BBSR (Pix) Bhubaneswar: PW (Physics Wallah), India's affordable edtech platform, launched its Vidyapeeth centre in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. Earlier, the PW had opened Vidyapeeths in Jaipur and Siliguri. The Bhubaneswar centre was inaugurated by Odisha School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash. PUBLIC HEARING HELD FOR MSP PLANT EXPANSION (Pix) Keonjhar: A public hearing for capacity expansion of the MSP factory at Haladiaguna under Sadar block of Keonjhar district was held on Wednesday. Compnay director Pradeep Deos read out the summary statement of the proposed project and 51 affected villagers participated in the hearing and eight others submitted their written statements. DRDA PD Bishnu Prasad Acharya presided. Company sources said that after the plants expansion, around 760 people would be appointed and the company would enhance its peripheral development work under CSR. MILLET SHAKTI TIFFIN CENTRE IIN BARGARH (Pix) Bargarh: A Millet Shakti Tiffin Centre has been inaugurated by the Ma Mangala SHG. As the government continues to encourage farmers to increase the millet harvest by considering the quality and demand of food prepared from millets, the Millets Mission programme is progressing in this direction. Preparations from millets include gaja, mixture, jellebi, rasgola, seo and many other kinds of food products. The Chhattisgarh government on Thursday implemented the State Women Entrepreneurship Policy 2023-28 to provide financial assistance in manufacturing, service and business. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said the policy will give a new identity to women' efficiency and connect them with entrepreneurship. The policy envisages provision to provide financial assistance (loan) to women for setting up industries. It will help promote startups by women, increase women workforce and also their participation in industry and trade. The maximum loan provision is Rs 50 lakh for manufacturing projects, Rs 25 lakh for service enterprise and Rs 10 lakh for other businesses. Investment incentives will be provided to eligible micro, small and medium manufacturing and service enterprises. The women enterprises will have other relaxations on net State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) reimbursement, exemption from electricity duty, stamp duty, transport grant, exemption from market fee and rent grant. Women self-help groups will get an additional 5 percent in grants and an additional time period of one year in cases of exemption. All the Christians celebrated the Lord's last supper in their respective churches on Thursday from 6 pm reminding once again the Pasca festival celebrated by Israelis after their slavery from the Egyptians with the leadership of prophet Moses. Lord Jesus also celebrated this Pasca festival with his 12 disciples before his death inviting his disciples to have last supper with him. During the supper Jesus took the bread and said this is my body and took a little wine and said this is my blood and did it in memory of me. Since then the Catholics recall this action and celebrate Eucharist every day at different times. To celebrate the Eucharist he established priesthood. To remind his disciples what priesthood is, he washed the feet of the disciples and said those who wish to be my disciples should become humble servants of others. He gave a new commandment to the disciples "Love one another as I have loved you". Therefore Maundy Thursday is a very important day to reflect the importance of Eucharist, Priesthood, Love and Service. Archbishop AAS Durairaj SVD washing the feet of disciples at St Francis Cathedral, Jehangirabad said that Lord Jesus, in spite of the Son of God he never wanted the equality with God the Father but became the servant of all and taught them to wash the feet of others by giving a new meaning of love. Christianity exists because of the service to humanity, he said. Holy Thursday denotes the meaning of love, service and peace - added Archbishop Just before this Maundy Thursday, all the priests of the diocese came together on last Monday along with the Archbishop at Assumption church, Arera Colony to bless the oil of the sick, Catechumens and Chrism, to be used to administer the seven sacraments of the church. Fr. Maria Stephen, the PRO said that Christians are called to serve the poor, the needy in spite of the persecution come on the way to do service to the poor. He informed that after the Holy Mass there were long hours of adoration to the Blessed Sacrament to commemorate Good Friday (Jesus Passion and Death). Amidst rumours of former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Punjab Congress leaders, led by state party affairs in-charge Harish Chaudhary, and state president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, met the senior Dalit leader Channi a day before, asking him to join the party campaign for Jalandhar parliamentary byelections. Channi, a prominent Dalit leader, was picked by the Congress party as a replacement of political stalwart Capt Amarinder Singh to head the State Government, following the latters unceremonious exit. The party went on to lay its bet on Channi to be the partys face for the 2022 state assembly polls paying the Dalit card. Even as the Congress was restricted to 18 seats out of a total of 117, the party won five out of total nine assembly segments falling under Jalandhar Lok Sabha constituency, while the remaining four were bagged by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). It was believed that the Congress performance in Jalandhar, predominately a Dalit segment, was because the party had named Channi as its Chief Ministerial candidate. In fact, before the Congress had announced the name of Karamjit Kaur Chaudhary as its candidate for Jalandhar Lok Sabha by-election, Channi was also in the race for the party ticket. Notably, despite being the partys face in 2022 polls, Channi faced resounding defeats in his home constituency, Chamkaur Sahib, and also from another assembly segment, Bhadaur, he contested. Away from active politics after election results, Channi was reportedly eyeing Jalandhar seat as a means of rehabilitation. Moreover, he had been visiting the constituency, including significant religious places especially the ones related to the Dalits, over the past few months. But, the Congress choose Karamjit Kaur the widow of former MP Chaudhary Santokh Singh whose death necessitated the bypoll hoping to capitalize on the sympathy factor. Prominent Dalit leader and Jalandhar MP had suffered a cardiac arrest at the age of 76 while participating in the Jalandhar leg of Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra in January, and died. Confident of retaining the seat, Congress is mainly banking on the sympathy factor. Jalandhar would be nothing less than a prestige battle for the grand old party, as the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had announced the name of former Congress MLA Sushil Kumar Rinku as its candidate on Thursday, a day after he switched loyalties. Moreover, Jalandhar parliamentary constituency has been a Congress stronghold since 1952, with the party not losing any election here since 1999. Now, leaving no stone unturned, the party wanted to take Channi on board. Chaudhary and Warring, along with senior leader Capt Sandeep Sandhu, met Channi at his residence, requesting him to join the partys elections campaign considering that that party is eyeing a win which would eventually act as the much-needed morale booster ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. It was believed that Channi was little upset after the party high command ignored his claims on the seat. However, it is believed the senior leaders, who met Channi on Wednesday, prevailed upon him and persuaded him to join the poll campaigning. In the 2019 parliamentary polls, the Congress had won eight of the 13 seats in Punjab, with Shiromani Akali Dal getting two, the BJP two, and AAP just one. While Chaudhary Santokh Singhs death has brought the Congress tally down to seven, AAPs loss in Sangrur to SAD (Amritsar) Simranjit Singh Mann has left it without a parliamentary berth in Punjab. The voting for Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll will take place on May 10, and the result will be declared on May 13. Day After He Joined, AAP Names Rinku as its Candidate A day after Sushil Kumar Rinku joined AAP, the former Congress MLA from Jalandhar West was officially announced as the ruling partys candidate for Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll on Thursday. The announcement came within 24 hours of switching loyalties from Congress to AAP. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and AAPs national convenor Arvind Kejriwal had inducted Rinku into AAP on Wednesday. It is believed that AAP was not able to find a suitable candidate from within the party, and thus it worked on taking Rinku a prominent and known face in the segment on board. Jalandhar bypoll are crucial for the ruling AAP, as it had already lost Sangrur byelection, within three months of coming to power. The defeat was embarrassing as it came few months after the partys resounding victory in Punjab, and that too in the Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns home constituency. In 2012, Rinku contested his first assembly elections from Jalandhar West Assembly constituency but was defeated by BJPs Mahinder Pal Bhagat son of three-time MLA and former Minister Bhagat Chuni Lal, by a margin of over 17,000 votes. In 2017, Rinku won the segment riding on Congress wave; however, in 2022 election, Rinku once again faced defeat by AAP candidate Sheetal Angural by a margin of 4,254 votes. Rinku;s induction in AAP was strongly opposed by Angural, but the party leadership persuaded upon him. It has been learnt that Angurals brother Rajan Angural was also eyeing the party ticket. But considering Rinkus strong stronghold among the SC communities and being a grassroot leaders, AAP chose him as its candidate. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Thursday, said that Uttar Pradesh was the state with the most municipal bodies in the country and these bodies had become the axis of the positive change being witnessed in the state for the last six years. While inaugurating and laying the foundation stones of over 2,029 development projects worth Rs 8,731 crore in Lucknow, the chief minister said, There are 762 municipal bodies in the state with a population of about seven crores and municipal bodies with more than 4.32 crore voters will go to polls in near future. He said historic work had been done in the last six years to improve lives of people under Ease of Living and it would continue on a war footing in future also. He said the urban bodies had become the axis of this state's transformation. On the occasion, the chief minister also launched numerous books, including books related to the state's urban digital mission, progress of Swachh Bharat Mission, govansh protection, and a manual to protect dogs, among others. He also flagged off tempo tripper vehicles and handed over keys of houses to beneficiaries of the PM Awas Yojana (Urban). Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, Energy and Urban Development Minister AK Sharma, and Minister of State for Urban Development Rakesh Rathore 'Guru' were present on the occasion. Addressing the people, the chief minister congratulated everyone on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti and 43rd Foundation Day of Bharatiya Janata Party. Yogi said, The largest political party in the world, the BJP, was founded today. Although we do not mention the name of the political party in government events, the BJP has done the work of reaching different sections of society without discrimination under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. The chief minister praised the efforts made by the prime minister during the COVID-19 pandemic and stated that Uttar Pradesh was now receiving the benefits of all schemes under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. A pandemic like this had already arrived 100 years ago also in which people died not only of illness, but also of starvation whereas during the COVID-19 pandemic, free vaccinations, tests, rations, and facilities were made available to the people for the first time in the history of the country, thanks to Prime Minister Modi's leadership. Describing it as a successful model which was being praised by the entire world, the chief minister, in a veiled attack on the Congress party, said that it would serve well to open the eyes of all those who divided independent India on the basis of caste, region and language and made false promises. He went on to say that those who seek to divide the nation along the lines of caste, creed, and religion, have nothing to do with progress. They don't care about the underprivileged; they are only interested in themselves, he remarked. Stressing the importance of development projects, the chief minister stated further that the worth of the projects being introduced today in UP was over Rs 8,731 crore, which was equivalent to the annual budgets of some states. While we are spending money on development, countries like Pakistan are struggling for food, Chief Minister Yogi said. He added that all efforts were being made to transform urban life in the state, pointing out that seven municipal corporations within the state have been included in the Smart City Mission, while the process of connecting all 17 municipal corporations with the Smart City Mission is underway. Uttar Pradesh is currently leading the nation in the Smart City Mission's implementation, he asserted. Lauding the sanitation workers, the chief minister said that the government had formed a committee under the supervision of the chief secretary to ensure provision of a good honorarium to them and a state-level board would also be constituted, if there was a need. The sanitation workers must get the respect they deserve. In particular, the government will ensure the arrangement for the security of sewers, etc. along with the provision of additional honorarium for them, Chief Minister Yogi said. The chief minister said that 60 cities had been approved under the AMRUT scheme. Apart from this, the Urban Development department has also started other projects. In near future, 100 nagar panchayats will be selected, which will be developed as aspirational cities, he added. Yogi said that a states economy cannot gain momentum without urban development and no one should be deprived of development. The chief minister added that ambassadors, or any person from anywhere in the world, visiting Lucknow today clearly praised the city for its cleanliness. Prosperity will exist where there is cleanliness on one hand and security on the other, he said. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday urged Leader of Opposition Narayan Chandel to tell BJP MLAs to raise the states public issues before Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Baghel said in a letter to Chandel that in the last four-and-a-half years no such efforts were made by the BJP MLAs to seek a meeting with the Prime Minister. It needs to be appreciated that just before the state's assembly election, such an effort is being made cutting across the political divide, he said. He said the state government had been raising several issues related to Chhattisgarh. These include compensation of the Goods and Services Tax, release of Rs 4,000 as coal royalty, restoration of passenger trains and ensuring regular supply of coal and iron ore to local industries. The other points are recovery from chit fund companies, inclusion of reservation bill in the 9th Schedule, starting of metro rail service in the state, giving Raipur an international airport and expansion of Bilaspur airport. Baghel said these points can be raised when the BJP MLAs meet Modi in New Delhi. The Chhattisgarh government has decided to provided free treatment to a tribal girl of Dantewada district suffering from tree man syndrome Following instruction from Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, the Dantewada administration has sent Jageshwari to the Medical College Hospital, Raipur. An official communication on Thursday said she was detected for the ailment at a health camp in Pahurnar village three years ago. After that, treatment-related help was regularly sent by the district administration to Jageshwaris home. Under the guidance of Collector Vinit Nandanwar, a Health Department team reached Jageshwaris village Kaurgaon and she was taken to the Dantewada District Hospital where she got first aid. She was then sent to Raipur. The Health Department team will stay with her and will care for her till the treatment continues. All her medical expenses will be borne by the Chhattisgarh government, said the statement. The Delhi Government has moved the Supreme Court challenging the decision of Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena to prohibit Government schoolteachers from receiving foreign training in the future. The plea was mentioned before a Bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud by Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi and is listed for hearing on April 14. The issue triggered a war of words between the LGs office and the Government, with the AAP dispensation accusing Saxena of interfering in the governments work. Singhvi, appearing for the AAP Government, mentioned the matter before a Bench headed by Chandrachud seeking an urgent hearing. This is concerning the teacher training program, said Dr Singhvi, and sought urgent hearing in the matter. We will hear this on April 14, 2023, the CJI Chandrachud said. Since October last year, the LG and the AAP Government have been involved in a tussle regarding the training of government schoolteachers in foreign countries. As per the Delhi Government, the LG was halting the process of sending teachers for training by not replying to the proposal. On January 16, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had led Ministers, MLAs and workers of AAP to the LGs residence demanding immediate approval of the Governments proposal to send 30 teachers to Finland for training. On March 4, 2023, the the LG finally approved the proposal. The L-G recently had cleared some of the teachers names for the Finland programme but mandated against such exercises in future. The LG, in its decision, has increased the number of primary in-charges, who were to proceed to Finland for training, from 52 to 87, to ensure equal representation of primary in-charges from all 29 administrative zones of the education department. Considering that there are about 450 schools of the Directorate of Education having primary classes, it will only be in the fitness of things that the benefits of the learning from the training are extended, to all the students of primary classes simultaneously, the LGs directions said. The Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, is celebrating its foundation week, which from April 4 to 7. As part of that week's events, an outreach activity was organized at the Chiklod camp under the guidance of Dr. Vaishali Walke, Professor and Head of the Department. The event was a collaboration with Dr. Rajkumar Patil's team from the Department of Community and Family Medicine and Dr. Shweta's team from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. A cervical cancer screening camp was held on April 5th at Chiklod, Bhopal (M.P). This campaign was led by Dr. Hemlata Panwar, Associate Professor of Pathology and Lab Medicine. She raised awareness about early detection and prevention of cervical cancer among more than thirty women. They were also educated about the causes and risk factors of cervical cancer. Consent for cervical cancer screening was obtained, and only the details of consenting individuals were entered in the special clinic register (CFM). Out of these, Pap smear tests were conducted on 20 women. Conventional Pap smears and liquid-based cytology smears were taken by Dr. Surbhi Chetiwar, Senior Resident in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Dr. Garima Pandey, Senior Resident in the Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine; and Dr. Revadi G, Senior Resident in the Department of Community and Family Medicine. Pap smear reports were provided by the Department of Pathology and dispatched to the CFM department. In addition to the cervical cancer screening camp, the Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine organized Poster and Rangoli competitions on April 5th, 2023, as part of the foundation week activities. The topics for the poster competition were "Screening & Prevention of Cancer Cervix" and "Next Generation Pathologists in the Era of Precision Medicine". The theme for the Rangoli competition was "Art in Pathology". The topics were selected to encourage innovative ideas and raise awareness on the provided subjects. A total of 11 candidates participated in the activities. Several Delhi University students held a rally at the north campus on Thursday demanding justice for victims of alleged harassment during a cultural festival at the Indraprastha College for Women last week. The rally was called by the Left-backed All India Students Association (AISA). Krantikari Yuva Sangathan (KYS) activists also participated in the Rally. The protesting students demanded the resignation of the Indraprastha College for Women principal Poonam Kumria. They said the rally was taken out to protest the apathetic IPCW and DU administrations which have colluded to repress the movement of women students instead of taking immediate action in the matter. AISA along with more than 300 students marched the length of north campus demanding justice to IPCW, said Delhi AISA President Abhigyan. The protesting students submitted a memorandum to the DU Vice-Chancellor demanding the dismissal of the IPCW principal. Governor of Jharkhand CP Radhakrishnan today called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. They had discussion over a wide range of topics with development as the centre point. The Governor briefed the PM about the status of education, health, sanitation, drinking water, housing for all schemes in the State. Security scenario in the state was also discussed wherein development of LWE areas was the focal point. The Governor also briefed the PM about new reforms that are being implemented in the higher education sector in the state. Besides, the future roadmap for improvement of higher education in the state aims to create human capital which will act as a catalyst in the state's development. The Governor also apprised the PM of the expansion of air and rail network /connectivity in the state . The PM has assured all necessary support and cooperation in holistic development of the state. The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the bail plea of former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia in connection with the alleged irregularities in framing and implementing the now-scrapped 2021-22 Delhi liquor excise policy. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma directed the investigating agency to file its response within two weeks on Sisodias plea which claimed he is totally innocent and a victim of political witch-hunt, and asked the agency to state its stand. The high court will next take up Sisodias appeal on April 20. Issue notice. Let reply be filed positively within two weeks. Copy to be given to the other side as well, the Court ordered. Before the high court, senior advocates Dayan Krishnan and Mohit Mathur, appearing for Sisodia, challenged the trial courts decision and pointed out the other accused in the case were either not arrested or have been granted bail. This is a plea for regular bail. Everyone except me is granted bail, Krishnan submitted. Lawyer Anupam S Sharma appeared for the CBI and sought time from the court to file a reply. The court granted two weeks to the probe agency to file its response. In his plea filed before the court, Sisodia said there is no material to show his involvement in the offences alleged in the FIR and he has never received or ever gained any undue advantage. The Applicant is totally innocent, who is a highly respected citizen and he has highest respect for the law. The Applicant is a victim of political witch-hunt, which has led to his arrest by the Respondent on account of ulterior motive to drag the reputation of the Applicant through the mud, said the plea. The petition said the excise policy was the collective responsibility of the Cabinet and it was implemented after being drafted by the excise department. It was duly approved and Sisodia cannot be held criminally liable for the collective decision of the Cabinet, the excise department, finance department, planning department, the law department and the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. The GoM was only tasked with giving its report and suggestion to the cabinet and the policy had to be ultimately accepted by the Cabinet and various departments of Govt. Of NCT of Delhi, it said. A health institution will be set up in each assembly constituency of Himachal Pradesh to strengthen the health infrastructure of the hill state, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Thursday. To be developed as Adarsh Swasthaya Sansthan, these institutes will comprise 134 types of laboratory test facilities, specialists and medical staff to provide the latest state-of-the-art MRI, CT scan, ultrasound and digital X-ray facilities, he said while presiding over a meeting of the health department. There are 68 assembly constituencies in the state. The institutions will reduce the local residences dependence on district hospitals and strengthen the infrastructure of medical and nursing education, he said. The Congress-led state government has accorded top priority to the health sector so that world-class medical facilities could be provided to the patients within the state which would go a long way in saving the time and money of the masses, the chief minister said. The state government was now working on strengthening the health infrastructure and diagnostic facilities in the health institutions of the state to ensure better health care to the people at their doorsteps, Sukhu said. The robotic surgery facilities would be started on a pilot basis in Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital Shimla and Medical College Tanda in the next six months and training will be imparted to doctors and other staff in this respect soon, he said. The health secretary would submit a detailed report within 15 days detailing the requisite number of doctors and other staff in different categories to start the surgery, the chief minister said. Keeping in view the increasing number of cancer patients, a Centre of Excellence for Cancer Care would be opened in Dr Radhakrishanan Government Medical College in Hamirpur, he said. A provision of Rs 400 crore has been made for the hospital and 150 beds would be dedicated only to the oncology department, Sukhu added. The Delhi Assemblys Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has requested Lt Governor VK Saxena to take immediate steps to fill over 2,000 backlog vacancies reserved for these communities in the Delhi Police. Vishesh Ravi, the chairman of the panel, said in a letter to Saxena that a total 2,078 posts reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Delhi Police have been lying vacant for a long time. This is not only against the principles of equality and social justice enshrined in our Constitution, but it also undermines efforts for inclusive and diverse representation in our law enforcement agencies, Ravi wrote. The Committee on Welfare of SC/STs requested data from the Delhi Police regarding backlogs of SC/ST vacancies. The data provided by the Delhi Police revealed a total of 2078 vacant positions across various categories: 151 Sub-Inspector positions, 22 Assistant Sub-Inspector positions, 383 Head Constable positions, 1452 Constable positions, and 70 Multi-Tasking Staff positions. This backlog has led to qualified SC/ST candidates being deprived of job opportunities that they deserve. Leaders across party lines, academicians and social workers have mourned the untimely death of State Education Minister Jagarnath Mahto who passed away in Chennai on Thursday morning. The Jharkhand government has declared a two-day State mourning as a mark of respect for Education Minister Jagarnath Mahto, who died today while receiving treatment at Apollo Hospital in Chennai. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren mourning the death of the Education Minister described Mahtos death as an irreparable loss. Irreparable harm! Our Tiger Jagarnath Da is no longer with us! Jharkhand has lost one of its greatest agitators, a combative, hardworking, and well-liked leader. Respected Jagarnath Mahto ji died while receiving treatment in Chennai. May God grant the departed soul peace and the bereaved family strength to bear this difficult time of grief, he tweeted. We have lost our brother and a dedicated colleague who struggled with us for a long time in agitation for the party and people, said MLA Sudivya Kumar. Mahto represented Dumri constituency of Giridih in the Assembly. While addressing a condolence meeting at Giridih JMM district office JMM leaders said that four-time MLA and Education Minister Jagarnath Mahto was a natural thinker of Jharkhandi thought and a revolutionary leader of the people. Congress MLA from Mandar, Shilpi Neha Tirkey said today the whole of Jharkhand is crying. We have all lost our guide. The pain of losing the real Tiger of Jharkhand is unbearable. Due to the passing of our Jagarnath Mahato ji, who fought for the water, forest and land of Jharkhand, a vacuum has come. We will make Jharkhand by following his ideals. This will be our true tribute. Mahto was known for raising people's issues both inside the house and outside the house. He was one of the ardent supporters of 1932 Khatian. Opposition BJP too condoled the death of Mahto. Babulal Marandi, the leader of the BJP Legislature Party, expressed his condolences on Mahtos death. The departure of Jagarnath ji, who fought like a warrior for a long time while defeating the disease. It is a tragic incident for the entire state of Jharkhand. Regardless of political differences, I have always admired his vitality. May God grant him a seat at his feet, he wrote on Twitter. Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth has expressed his condolences on the sudden demise of State Education Minister Jagarnath Mahato. MP Seth said that Jagarnath Mahato was a very settled and respectable leader. His health started deteriorating since the time of Corona. Despite that, he continued to discharge his duties faithfully, may God rest his soul in peace and may God give strength to his family to bear the loss in this hour of grief. The State BJP has expressed deep condolences on the demise of Jagarnath Mahato. BJP State president and Member of Parliament Deepak Prakash expressed his condolence and said that late Jagarnath Mahato was a combative, struggling son of the soil. His sudden demise has caused irreparable damage to the state. Prakash prayed to God for the peace of his soul. May God grant patience and courage to the family members in their hour of grief. State Organization General Secretary Karmaveer Singh, State General Secretary and MP Aditya Sahu, Dr. Pradeep Verma, Balmukund Sahay etc. are among those who expressed condolences. Fifty Six year old Mahto is survived by four daughters and a son. After the passing away of the leader, the state government declared a two-day mourning period and also cancelled a cabinet meeting that was scheduled for this evening. Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh on Friday alleged that the BJP is going to demolish a government school adjacent to its new central office on Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg and take its possession. Addressing a press conference here, Singh alleged that BJP's new central office encroaches on a government school adjacent to it and that the party is now "planning to run bulldozers on it." "A government school right beside BJP's new office is going to be demolished as the party wants to take possession of the land. First, they built a party office by occupying the school and now, they are planning to run bulldozers on it. AAP will never let that happen," Singh, a Rajya Sabha member, claimed. Future of over 350 children will be at stake if the school is demolished, he said. "As long as the AAP government is there in Delhi, no school will be allowed to be demolished. BJP is planning to get that school demolished in the name of re-development. The party has its own private schools and in order to do their business, they are closing down government schools," he alleged. Referring to Manish Sisodia's letter from the prison, Singh said that the former Deputy Chief Minister has expressed his concerns over the Prime Minister's lack of education, and said the country cannot be run by someone who "does not understand the importance of education." Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal posted a letter on Twitter in which his former deputy said, "It is very dangerous for the country if the prime minister is less educated." "(Narendra) Modi does not understand science Modi ji does not understand the importance of education," Sisodia claimed in the letter. Sisodia alleged that 60,000 schools have been closed in the country in the last few years. The Supreme Court has permitted SBI to file a rejoinder to the reply of Suman Vijay Gupta, a citizen of the Dominican Republic and chairperson of a Mumbai-based private company, who was stopped from travelling to the UAE because of a case in which she is accused of defrauding the bank of Rs 3,300 crore. The top court had on March 16 taken up for urgent hearing the appeal of the State Bank of India against a Bombay High Court order permitting Gupta, the chairperson of Ushdev International Limited (UIL), to travel abroad on furnishing a personal undertaking that she will come back to face legal proceedings here. The Solicitor General (Tushar Mehta) submits that the applicant (Gupta) who took up the citizenship of the Dominican Republic after the declaration of her account as Non Performing Asset (NPA), has been permitted to travel by the impugned orders dated March 10, and 14 March 2023 of a Division Bench of the High Court of Judicature at Bombay... Pending further orders, there shall be a stay of the operation of the impugned orders..., a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said on March 16. On Thursday, the bench, also comprising Justice J B Pardiwala, took up the plea of SBI for hearing and was urged by lawyer Sandeep Kapur, appearing for Gupta, that she has filed her reply to the bank's plea and she be permitted to go abroad. The lawyer said the Bombay High Court rightly permitted Gupta to travel abroad. The solicitor general, appearing for the bank, opposed the plea saying he may be permitted to file a rejoinder to Gupta's reply. The State Bank India is permitted to file its rejoinder affidavit, if need be. List the Special Leave Petitions on April 14, the bench said. Earlier, the top court, while staying the Bombay High Court order, had taken note of the submissions of the top law officer that the law enforcement agencies have had a bad experience allowing economic offenders and fraudsters to go abroad on personal undertakings as they seldom honour them and come back to face legal proceedings. "She is the chairperson of a company which took a loan of Rs 3,300 crore. The CBI is investigating (the case). After the loan was declared an NPA (non-performing asset), she renounced the citizenship of India and got the citizenship of Dominica," the top law officer had said. A look out circular (LOC) was issued and she was prevented from travelling, he had told the court, adding the Bombay High Court said will let her go if she filed an undertaking stating that she will return to face legal proceedings in the case against her. "We have a very bad experience with the undertakings," Mehta had said. Mehta had said insolvency proceedings were initiated against UIL after the fraud was detected and the CBI later registered a case against Gupta, who relinquished her Indian citizenship and became a Commonwealth of Dominica citizen while residing in the UAE. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murty, have spoken of their pride in author and philanthropist Sudha Murty being conferred the Padma Bhushan at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. Akshata, the First Lady at 10 Downing Street, was present at the ceremony and later took to social media to express her emotions towards her parents Sudha Murty and Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy. Her husband, Britain's first Indian-origin Prime Minister, replied to his wife's post with the words a proud day. Yesterday I watched with unspeakable pride as my mother received the Padma Bhushan from the President of India, Akshata Murty posted on Twitter on Thursday after her 72-year-old mother got the award. On #IWD [International Women's Day] last month, I reflected on my mother's extraordinary journey, from STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) to storytelling, but her charitable and volunteering efforts have served as her greatest inspiration to me," Akshata writes. "Always asking if she can be doing more, she has given back to her community countless times: founding and running a series of philanthropic organisations for 25 years; funding numerous literacy initiatives; and jumping into action to aid those most in need many in the most remote parts of India after natural disasters have destroyed their lives, she writes. The First Lady said her mother's example has helped put volunteering, learning and listening at the heart of how she hopes to live at 10 Downing Street. My mother doesn't live for recognition. The values my parents have instilled in my brother and me hard work, humility, selflessness mean she is always on to the next thing. But it was such a moving experience to see her have a moment of recognition yesterday, she added. Her brother, Rohan Murty, similarly praised his mother as a positive force in their lives in his social media post. In her acceptance speech at the ceremony attended by her family, Sudha Murty thanked the people of India for their unconditional support. I owe this award to the people of India. I hope my recognition today inspires the younger generation to take up social welfare as a vocation. It is needed for the continuous development of our great nation. I always feel that the generosity of a few gives hope for a million, she said. French President Emmanuel Macron appealed on Thursday to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who received an effusive welcome from Vladimir Putin in Moscow last month, to bring Russia to its senses and help make lasting peace in Ukraine. Macron pointed to Chinese support for the United Nations Charter, which calls for respect of a countrys territorial integrity, and for nuclear agreements. He said peace and stability based on those were threatened by the Russian presidents invasion of Ukraine. I know I can count on you, under the two principles I just mentioned, to bring Russia to its senses and bring everyone back to the negotiating table, Macron told Xi. We need to find a lasting peace, Macron said. I believe that this is also an important issue for China, as much as it is for France and for Europe. Xi didnt mention Ukraine or Russia but said he welcomed relations with France. He said Beijing and Paris are staunch promoters of multipolarization of the world, a reference to reducing U.S. dominance in economic and political affairs. Xis government sees Russia as a source of energy and as a partner in opposing what they say is US aggression and unfair criticism of their human rights records. China is the biggest buyer of Russian oil and gas, which helps prop up the Kremlins revenue in the face of Western sanctions. That increases Chinese influence, but Xi appears reluctant to jeopardise that partnership by pressuring Putin. China has always adhered to an objective and fair position on the issue of the Ukraine crisis, said a Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning. We have been an advocate of a political solution to the crisis and a promoter of peace talks. Earlier, Macron said during a meeting with the ruling Communist Partys No. 2 leader, Premier Li Qiang, that France wants to build a common path in dealing with all the major conflicts in addition to Ukraine. Li said there was likely to be a broad consensus between Macron and Xi but gave no indication whether Beijing might be willing to lobby Moscow to make peace. The meeting will send positive signals of concerted efforts by China, France and Europe to maintain world peace and stability, Li said. Macron was accompanied to Beijing by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a show of European unity. Last week, von der Leyen warned that the European Union must be prepared to develop measures to protect trade and investment that China might exploit for security and military purposes. Meanwhile, NATOs 31 member countries warned Wednesday of severe consequences should China start sending weapons and ammunition to Russia. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said giving lethal aid would be a historic mistake. He warned there would be severe consequences but declined to give details. Mao, the Chinese spokesperson, rejected NATO criticism. When it comes to responsibility in Ukraine, I think the United States and military blocs such as NATO should take responsibility, Mao said. NATO is in no position to accuse or pressure China. Greece has pledged military assistance to Ukraine for as long as it takes but officials cautioned that the country needs to keep much of its Russian-made weaponry for its own defensive needs. Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov visited Athens Thursday as part of regular meetings with officials from NATO countries. He was promised more artillery and small arms ammunition shipments, access to Greek hospitals for wounded military personnel and additional Soviet-era BMP infantry fighting vehicles. Greece "will provide every support to Ukraine at this very important, crucial stage of the war, Greek Defence Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos said during a joint appearance with Reznikov. We will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes that's a very clear position that we have taken from the outset. Military officials said Greece has also provided trainers for Ukraine's special forces and tank operators, as a contribution to the massive military assistance effort led by the United States and its allies. Russia, which had traditionally close ties with Greece before the war in Ukraine, for decades had been a supplier of arms to the NATO member, including the S-300 air defence missile system. Moscow has singled out Athens for criticism over its support for Ukraine. Panagiotopoulos, speaking in Parliament on the eve of Reznikov's visit, said Greece would not provide any military assistance that could compromise its own defence, and stressed that major arms procurement plans remain unchanged despite a recent thaw in tension with neighbour and fellow NATO member Turkiye. German-made Leopard tanks, the minister said, could not be provided. The rumours are running rampant: That we will send fighter jets, and S-300s, and this and that. For goodness' sake, he told lawmakers. Japans coast guard says it is searching for an army helicopter carrying 10 crew members that went missing off a southern Japanese island. The coast guard said it received information that a Ground Self-Defence Force UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter disappeared from radar on a mission on Thursday evening in an area north of Miyako island. It said four patrol ships are participating in the search but have not found any traces of the missing aircraft. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the Defence Ministry is investigating and We will do our utmost to save their lives. NHK public television said the helicopter, participating in a land survey, disappeared from radar about an hour after it departed from a base on Miyako island and about half an hour before its scheduled return. Sri Lankas Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe on Thursday announced that the presentation of the new anti-terrorism Bill that would replace a draconian counter-terrorism law in parliament would be delayed further, a day after a powerful body of lawyers said it would not hesitate to challenge any legislation that would undermine the rule of law and the liberty of the citizens. The new Anti Terrorism Act (ATA) will replace the much maligned Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) of 1979. On April 1, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told reporters that the new counter terrorism law will be introduced later this month. However, the justice minister on Thursday said the bill would be delayed to either late April or early May. Sri Lanka is replacing the PTA with a new legislation called the Anti Terrorism Act (ATA) after the former law was roundly condemned for its draconian nature where people were allowed to be detained without being charged for indefinite periods of time. Sri Lanka faced international calls to repeal the PTA which was enacted in 1979 as a temporary measure to counter the rising Tamil separatist militancy. President Ranil Wickremesinghe earlier said that the new ATA would be presented by June. Todays announcement came as the lawyers body Bar Association of Sri Lanka on Wednesday asked for delaying its presentation claiming there had been no consultation of stake holders in preparing the draft bill. On March 17, the new Anti Terrorism Act (ATA) of 97 pages was published in the government gazette. The opposition and civil society groups objected to the new ATA saying it targets the civil society protests which took place mid last year over the then governments failure in handling the on going economic crisis. The European Union since 2016 has been urging the government to repeal the PTA and bring in a new counter terrorism legislation in line with international standards. The EU has linked its GSP+ export tariff concessions to Sri Lanka modifying its counter terrorism Act. The main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa had slammed the bill as undemocratic and authoritarian. The opposition and rights group fear that anyone expressing democratic opposition to the government could be targeted using the ATA. Sri Lanka, which currently is reeling under its worst economic crisis, has witnessed several activities that have threatened its national security. Nepal Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal called on China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Beijing on Thursday to discuss matters relating to strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries. Paudyal is the first Nepali official to meet Qin, China's newly-appointed Foreign Minister. He is currently in China, along with other members of the Nepalese delegations, to participate in the 15th meeting of the Bilateral Diplomatic Consultation Mechanism between the foreign ministers of the two countries, scheduled on Friday. "During the meeting, matters related to strengthening the longstanding bilateral relations and cooperation between Nepal and China were discussed," according to a press release issued by Nepal's Foreign Ministry. Nepal's Ambassador to China, Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, Joint Secretary at the MoFA Lok Bahadur Thapa and other senior officials from the Nepalese and Chinese Foreign Ministries were also present on the occasion. China, which is also one of the key development partners and immediate neighbours of Nepal, has invested heavily in the country's infrastructure projects including airports in recent years. Pakistan's Islamabad capital administration has notified the Hindu Marriage Act 2017, more than five years after its passage, a development that could benefit members of the minority community who can now solemnise their marriage in line with established rituals, a media report said on Friday. The notification titled Islamabad Capital Territory Hindu Marriage Rules 2023' will pave the way for the implementation of the marriage act passed in 2017 in the Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan provinces as well, the Dawn newspaper reported. An Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration official said the notification was forwarded for implementation to all Union Councils of the federal territory. According to the rules, relevant Union Councils in Islamabad will register a Maharaj' to solemnise marriages. According to the report, a Hindu male with adequate knowledge of Hinduism can become a Pundit' or Maharaj'. However, the 'Maharaj' will be appointed only after the submission of a character certificate from the local police and the written approval of at least 10 members of the Hindu community, the report said. Mehfooz Piracha, district attorney for Islamabad Capital Territory, who drafted the rules, told the newspaper that the notification is a major step towards ensuring the rights of the minority community. He added that the Punjab, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces can adopt these rules now. Politically and technically, it is easy for provinces to adopt the laws enacted in Islamabad rather than formulating new legislation for each jurisdiction, Piracha was quoted as saying in the report. Similar to the case of the registered nikah-khawan for Muslims, respective Union Councils will issue a Shaadi Pert (marriage certificate) to the Maharaj' registered with the relevant local government body. All marriages would be registered at the Union Councils as well, the report said. According to the rules, a Maharaj' appointed under the Marriage Act would not take any money for officiating the marriage except for the fees mandated by the government. According to the report, Section 7 of the rules deals with cases related to the termination of marriages and remarriages. These rules also allow Hindus living in Islamabad to approach courts under the West Pakistan Family Courts Act 1964 in case of marriage disputes. The crucial effort for the approval of Hindu marriage rules was made by a group called National Lobbying Delegation (NLD) for Minority Rights', according to the report. Jai Parkash, a member of the group, said that many Hindus permanently settled in Islamabad, and it was essential that the ICT administration implement this law retrospectively to benefit the local community, the report said. The Hindu community in Islamabad has grown significantly over the past decade due to migration from Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces owing to security concerns, the report said. Protesters disrupted vehicle traffic at Paris main airport and police fired clouds of tear gas in other French cities in the latest round of strikes and demonstrations on Thursday against President Emmanuel Macrons contested pension reforms. Macrons drive to raise the national retirement age from 62 to 64 has ignited a months-long firestorm of public anger. Talks between trade union leaders and Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne broke up Wednesday without a breakthrough, setting the stage for protesters return to the streets. However, the number of strikers has fallen, particularly in the transportation sector, since protests began in January. About 400,000 people joined the protest in Paris Thursday, down from 450,000 the week before, said the powerful CGT union. On Thursday, the Paris Metro ran almost normally, in stark contrast to previous days of action. Less than 8% of teachers were on strike, according to the Education Ministry. However, the sizeable TotalEnergies oil refinery in Gonfreville-lOrcher remained closed. In Paris, police were pelted by projectiles when the protest reached La Rotonde, a restaurant patronised by Macron during the 2017 presidential election that he went on to win. Parts of the facade of the chic venue were vandalised. Officers dispersed violent protesters, who were in the minority, with tear gas after they smashed up a branch of Credit Agricole bank. Experts say violence seen in the nationwide protests, with dozens of demonstrators and police hurt, has turned off less activist parts of the population. More than 5,000 people have fled from eastern Myanmar into Thailand in recent days as fighting between Myanmars army and armed resistance groups has intensified in the border area, Thai media and officials said Thursday. At least 5,428 civilians, including more than 800 children, crossed the border by Wednesday night from Myanmars Myawaddy district to seek refuge in Thailands Tak province, public broadcaster Thai PBS reported, citing an unidentified security official. It said they fled as ethnic rebels from the Karen minority, allied with guerrillas of the pro-democracy Peoples Defence Force, attacked two Myanmar government outposts near the border. The armys regular soldiers are assisted by members of the Border Guard Force, composed of militias of ethnic minority groups allied to the military government. Myanmars ethnic minorities have been fighting for greater autonomy for decades, but armed conflict in the country escalated sharply after Myanmars army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. Widespread opposition to the takeover shifted to armed resistance in many parts of the country as pro-democracy forces joined hands with several armed ethnic minority groups. Clashes and air strikes along the border have triggered a sporadic exodus of Myanmar villagers into Thailand's border provinces, where they are often offered temporary refuge before being sent back home. India has also seen streams of refugees from western Myanmar. A local health board in Wales in the United Kingdom is planning to hire around 900 nurses from overseas over the next four years to plug its workforce shortages, with many of these nurses coming from Kerala. According to BBCs Local Democracy Reporting Service, Swansea Bay University Health Board of the state-funded National Health Service Wales will get a total of 350 overseas nurses in the current financial year subject to approval by chief executive Mark Hackett. It is expected to cost about 4.7 million pounds to employ 350 overseas nurses in 2023-24, which would save 1.5 million pounds in agency and nursing bank costs. Gareth Howells, director of nursing and patient experience at Swansea Bay health board, said overseas recruitment provided an immediacy of really experienced staff. According to the report, overseas nurses are offered a Band 5 contract, with a starting salary of 27,055 pounds, but initially receive a Band 4 lower wage until they complete their UK registration. A board meeting was told that efforts were being made by the health board, which covers Swansea and Neath Port Talbot areas of Wales, and the Welsh government to train and retain more homegrown staff. The health board employs nearly 4,200 nurses and midwives, with the report saying it had 1,322 nurses and midwives currently over the age of 51 that could retire very soon or over the next few years. The health board told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that besides India, it recruited from the Philippines, Africa and the Caribbean. The overseas category also includes nurses from the European Union (EU), but the health board said it received very few EU applications. It comes as Health Education England (HEE), part of the NHS in England and in charge of recruiting and training, had said earlier this year that it was working with the West Yorkshire Integrated Care System (WYICS) to develop workforce relationships in India for the northern England region. A WYICS team recently held workforce related meetings with ministers in Kerala in collaboration with the Overseas Development and Employment Promotion Consultants (ODEPC), a Thiruvananthapuram-based state government undertaking, and Keralas Skills Council. HEE continues to work on developing relationships in India for doctors, nurses and other health professionals as part of our mandate to support the growth of the NHS workforce, the HEE said. China and the US flexed their naval might by deploying aircraft carriers in a rare showdown in the Taiwan Strait, the narrow channel that separates the Chinese mainland from Taiwan, as Beijing fumed over US House Speakers meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in Washington. The Taiwanese defence ministry said a Chinese naval fleet led by the Shandong aircraft carrier passed through the Bashi Channel which runs between the island and the Philippines before reaching waters southeast of Taiwan. The carrier was heading to its first manoeuvres in the western Pacific, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported on Thursday. Taiwans Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier was positioned some 400 nautical miles (740.8km) off eastern Taiwan. We cant say for sure if (the Nimitz) was there because of the Shandong, but it could be something related to the way it was there, the Post reported. Tsais meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy the third most senior official in the US on Thursday took place against the backdrop of repeated warnings from Beijing to Washington that it should not go ahead. It was the second high-profile meeting between an American official and the islands leader. China, which claims Taiwan as part of its mainland, mobilised a large naval fleet in Taiwan Strait and fired missiles over the island when then US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, ignoring Beijings warnings of crossing the redline eight months ago. China again braced for a similar showdown to highlight its resentment of Pelosis successor Kevin McCarthys meeting with Tsai this time in Washington. China for its part is hosting Taiwans former president Ma Ying-jeou, who is a pro-Beijing politician. Ma, who was President of Taiwan from 2008 to 2016, on Wednesday visited a deep water port in Shanghai on the last leg of his mainland trip, as the Chinese navy launched patrols near the self-ruled island. The Chinese foreign ministry for its part denounced the Tsai-McCarthy meeting, accusing the US of providing a podium for Taiwan separatists to carry out official exchanges between US and Taiwan and enhance ties between the US and Taiwan. The foreign ministry statement said Taiwan issues were the first red line in China-US relations which must not be crossed and Taiwan independence would come to a dead end. The Chinese defence ministry too weighed in saying the PLA maintains a high level of vigilance at all times, resolutely defends national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and resolutely maintains peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Taiwans Defence Minister Chiu said the Shandong was detected some 200 nautical miles (370.4km) off Olanpi in southern Taiwan and was on a training mission. Because of the sensitivity [of the issue] at this time, we are still studying the motive of the Chinese Communists, and there are several possibilities of which we have already worked out countermeasures for preparation. But it is not convenient for us to give more details, he said. Regarding the content of Shandongs mission, it should include warplane take-off and landing, but so far we have not detected such situations. We will continue to monitor its movement. China also hit back at NATO leader Jens Stoltenberg over his criticism of its position on Ukraine, questioning the security alliances own involvement in military conflicts. Stoltenberg cautioned Beijing against sending ammunition to Moscow, saying it would be a historic mistake with profound implications, and repeatedly used the phrase severe consequences to describe NATOs reaction if Beijing were to send military aid to Russia, the Post reported. Theres no reason to go into details, but China knows that there will be severe consequences, he said. Chinas mission to the EU criticised his remarks, saying we have noticed Stoltenbergs remarks and firmly oppose NATOs repeated slander and attacks on China. Also French President Emmanuel Macron who met Chinese leader Xi Jinping here on Thursday was expected to convey the European Unions concerns over any military action against Taiwan similar to Russias invasion of Ukraine. FedEx Co. (NYSE:FDX Get Rating) CEO Rajesh Subramaniam sold 11,125 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $231.01, for a total transaction of $2,569,986.25. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 39,483 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,120,967.83. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. FedEx Trading Up 0.9 % Shares of NYSE:FDX traded up $2.17 on Thursday, hitting $232.10. The company had a trading volume of 3,662,722 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,152,612. FedEx Co. has a 1 year low of $141.92 and a 1 year high of $248.76. The firm has a market capitalization of $58.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.06, a P/E/G ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 1.33. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $209.84 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $183.10. The company has a quick ratio of 1.27, a current ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81. Get FedEx alerts: FedEx (NYSE:FDX Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 16th. The shipping service provider reported $3.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.67 by $0.74. FedEx had a net margin of 3.23% and a return on equity of 17.71%. The company had revenue of $22.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $22.74 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $4.59 EPS. FedExs revenue was down 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that FedEx Co. will post 14.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. FedEx Increases Dividend Institutional Trading of FedEx The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 3rd. Investors of record on Monday, June 12th will be given a dividend of $1.26 per share. This is a boost from FedExs previous quarterly dividend of $1.15. This represents a $5.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.17%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 9th. FedExs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 39.72%. A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Physicians Financial Services Inc. increased its stake in FedEx by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Physicians Financial Services Inc. now owns 7,133 shares of the shipping service providers stock valued at $1,617,000 after purchasing an additional 43 shares in the last quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. increased its stake in FedEx by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. now owns 16,651 shares of the shipping service providers stock valued at $2,903,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. Spire Wealth Management increased its stake in FedEx by 4.3% during the 4th quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 1,220 shares of the shipping service providers stock valued at $211,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Mitchell Mcleod Pugh & Williams Inc. increased its stake in FedEx by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. Mitchell Mcleod Pugh & Williams Inc. now owns 2,659 shares of the shipping service providers stock valued at $461,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Laraway Financial Advisors Inc increased its stake in FedEx by 2.0% during the 1st quarter. Laraway Financial Advisors Inc now owns 2,490 shares of the shipping service providers stock valued at $575,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. 72.02% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts have issued reports on FDX shares. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of FedEx from $250.00 to $258.00 in a research report on Thursday. UBS Group set a $260.00 price objective on shares of FedEx in a research note on Friday, March 17th. Bank of America raised their target price on shares of FedEx from $233.00 to $305.00 in a research report on Friday, March 17th. Melius began coverage on shares of FedEx in a research report on Monday, March 27th. They issued a hold rating and a $240.00 target price on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of FedEx from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, March 24th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $241.41. FedEx Company Profile (Get Rating) FedEx Corp. provides a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services under the FedEx brand. It operates through the following segments: FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, FedEx Services, and Corporate, Other & Eliminations. The FedEx Express segment consists of domestic and international shipping services for delivery of packages and freight. Read More Receive News & Ratings for FedEx Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for FedEx and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mesa Royalty Trust (NYSE:MTR Get Rating) shares passed below its 50-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of $16.95 and traded as low as $16.80. Mesa Royalty Trust shares last traded at $16.92, with a volume of 8,861 shares traded. Mesa Royalty Trust Price Performance The business has a 50-day moving average price of $16.93 and a 200 day moving average price of $17.02. Get Mesa Royalty Trust alerts: Mesa Royalty Trust Cuts Dividend The business also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 31st will be given a $0.1581 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 30th. This represents a $1.90 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 10.84%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Mesa Royalty Trust Mesa Royalty Trust Company Profile A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. UBS Group AG raised its holdings in Mesa Royalty Trust by 28.6% in the 4th quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 5,026 shares of the energy companys stock worth $111,000 after acquiring an additional 1,118 shares during the last quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA raised its holdings in Mesa Royalty Trust by 67.3% in the 2nd quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA now owns 11,223 shares of the energy companys stock worth $122,000 after acquiring an additional 4,513 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fayez Sarofim & Co purchased a new stake in Mesa Royalty Trust during the 4th quarter valued at $209,000. 11.85% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. (Get Rating) Mesa Royalty Trust holds royalty interests in oil and gas producing properties in the United States. It earns specified interests in certain producing oil and gas properties such as Hugoton Royalty Properties located in Hugoton field of Kansas, San Juan Basin located in San Juan Basin field of New Mexico, and the San Juan Basin in San Juan Basin field of Colorado. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Mesa Royalty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mesa Royalty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM Get Rating) was the recipient of some unusual options trading activity on Wednesday. Stock investors bought 9,941 call options on the company. This is an increase of 1,498% compared to the typical daily volume of 622 call options. PulteGroup Trading Down 1.3 % PHM opened at $57.84 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.21, a P/E/G ratio of 0.49 and a beta of 1.33. The firms 50 day moving average is $55.78 and its 200-day moving average is $47.68. PulteGroup has a 52-week low of $35.03 and a 52-week high of $60.89. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. Get PulteGroup alerts: PulteGroup (NYSE:PHM Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 31st. The construction company reported $3.63 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.88 by $0.75. The business had revenue of $5.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.59 billion. PulteGroup had a net margin of 16.13% and a return on equity of 31.85%. The businesss revenue was up 18.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.51 earnings per share. Analysts expect that PulteGroup will post 7.52 EPS for the current fiscal year. PulteGroup Dividend Announcement Insider Activity at PulteGroup The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 4th. Investors of record on Monday, March 20th were paid a dividend of $0.16 per share. This represents a $0.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.11%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 17th. PulteGroups dividend payout ratio is currently 5.77%. In other PulteGroup news, VP Brien P. Omeara sold 4,924 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.00, for a total transaction of $295,440.00. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 17,308 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,038,480. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other PulteGroup news, VP John J. Chadwick sold 29,817 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $56.63, for a total transaction of $1,688,536.71. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 87,428 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,951,047.64. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, VP Brien P. Omeara sold 4,924 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.00, for a total transaction of $295,440.00. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 17,308 shares in the company, valued at $1,038,480. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 50,739 shares of company stock valued at $2,845,149. Insiders own 0.71% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On PulteGroup Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of PHM. American Century Companies Inc. raised its holdings in PulteGroup by 9.5% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 55,196 shares of the construction companys stock worth $2,313,000 after buying an additional 4,799 shares during the period. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC acquired a new stake in PulteGroup during the 1st quarter worth about $221,000. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its holdings in PulteGroup by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 22,505 shares of the construction companys stock worth $945,000 after buying an additional 382 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in PulteGroup by 11.1% during the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 4,487 shares of the construction companys stock worth $188,000 after buying an additional 449 shares during the period. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in PulteGroup by 26.7% during the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 70,856 shares of the construction companys stock worth $2,969,000 after buying an additional 14,918 shares during the period. 88.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms recently issued reports on PHM. Bank of America raised shares of PulteGroup from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their target price for the stock from $46.00 to $60.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 11th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their target price on shares of PulteGroup from $45.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, January 12th. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of PulteGroup from $56.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. Oppenheimer raised their target price on shares of PulteGroup from $64.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. Finally, KeyCorp raised their target price on shares of PulteGroup from $51.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, PulteGroup presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $61.86. PulteGroup Company Profile (Get Rating) PulteGroup, Inc engages in the homebuilding business. The firm is also involved in mortgage banking and title and insurance brokerage operations. It operates through the Homebuilding and Financial services business segments. The Homebuilding segment includes operations from Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Washington. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for PulteGroup Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PulteGroup and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal Bank of Canada set a GBX 2,900 ($36.02) price target on Shell (LON:SHEL Get Rating) in a report published on Tuesday morning, Borsen Zeitung reports. Several other brokerages have also recently weighed in on SHEL. Jefferies Financial Group set a GBX 3,000 ($37.26) price objective on Shell in a report on Monday. Credit Suisse Group restated a top pick rating on shares of Shell in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. UBS Group set a GBX 2,750 ($34.15) price objective on Shell in a research note on Thursday, March 23rd. Morgan Stanley raised Shell to an overweight rating and cut their price objective for the company from GBX 2,625 ($32.60) to GBX 2,405 ($29.87) in a report on Tuesday, March 21st. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their target price on shares of Shell from GBX 2,987 ($37.10) to GBX 2,854 ($35.44) in a report on Thursday, March 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of GBX 2,894 ($35.94). Get Shell alerts: Shell Stock Performance Shares of SHEL stock opened at GBX 2,417 ($30.02) on Tuesday. Shell has a 12 month low of GBX 1,908.60 ($23.70) and a 12 month high of GBX 2,613.50 ($32.46). The companys fifty day simple moving average is GBX 2,427.75 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 2,372.47. The firm has a market cap of 165.81 billion, a PE ratio of 519.78, a P/E/G ratio of 0.28 and a beta of 0.65. The company has a quick ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 43.51. Shell Increases Dividend Insider Activity at Shell The business also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 27th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 16th were paid a dividend of $0.29 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 0.99%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 16th. This is a boost from Shells previous dividend of $0.25. Shells dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 2,064.52%. In related news, insider Andrew Mackenzie acquired 8,235 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 7th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 2,418 ($30.03) per share, for a total transaction of 199,122.30 ($247,295.45). In other news, insider Andrew Mackenzie purchased 8,235 shares of Shell stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 7th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 2,418 ($30.03) per share, for a total transaction of 199,122.30 ($247,295.45). Also, insider Wael Sawan acquired 7,213 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 24th. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 2,482 ($30.82) per share, for a total transaction of 179,026.66 ($222,338.13). 0.07% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Shell Company Profile (Get Rating) Shell plc operates as an energy and petrochemical company Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, the United States, and Rest of the Americas. The company operates through Integrated Gas, Upstream, Marketing, Chemicals and Products, and Renewables and Energy Solutions segments. It explores for and extracts crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids; markets and transports oil and gas; produces gas-to-liquids fuels and other products; and operates upstream and midstream infrastructure necessary to deliver gas to market. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Shell Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Shell and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Samsara Inc. (NYSE:IOT Get Rating) insider John Bicket sold 83,894 shares of Samsara stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $19.71, for a total transaction of $1,653,550.74. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 27,807 shares in the company, valued at approximately $548,075.97. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. John Bicket also recently made the following trade(s): Get Samsara alerts: On Tuesday, March 28th, John Bicket sold 90,295 shares of Samsara stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.90, for a total transaction of $1,616,280.50. On Tuesday, March 21st, John Bicket sold 89,852 shares of Samsara stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $18.39, for a total transaction of $1,652,378.28. On Monday, March 13th, John Bicket sold 90,295 shares of Samsara stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $19.43, for a total transaction of $1,754,431.85. On Tuesday, February 28th, John Bicket sold 54,790 shares of Samsara stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.53, for a total transaction of $905,678.70. On Thursday, February 9th, John Bicket sold 10,943 shares of Samsara stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $15.15, for a total transaction of $165,786.45. On Tuesday, February 7th, John Bicket sold 47,868 shares of Samsara stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $15.01, for a total transaction of $718,498.68. On Thursday, January 19th, John Bicket sold 18,447 shares of Samsara stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $12.38, for a total transaction of $228,373.86. On Tuesday, January 17th, John Bicket sold 48,976 shares of Samsara stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $12.35, for a total transaction of $604,853.60. On Thursday, January 12th, John Bicket sold 23,002 shares of Samsara stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $11.42, for a total transaction of $262,682.84. On Tuesday, January 10th, John Bicket sold 23,877 shares of Samsara stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $11.45, for a total transaction of $273,391.65. Samsara Stock Up 1.6 % Samsara stock traded up $0.30 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $19.00. The stock had a trading volume of 1,264,788 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,805,835. Samsara Inc. has a 52-week low of $8.42 and a 52-week high of $21.49. The firm has a market cap of $9.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -39.58 and a beta of 1.04. The company has a fifty day moving average of $17.37 and a 200 day moving average of $13.62. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Samsara ( NYSE:IOT Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 2nd. The company reported ($0.02) earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.13) by $0.11. Samsara had a negative net margin of 37.92% and a negative return on equity of 21.20%. The company had revenue of $186.58 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $172.77 million. Equities research analysts predict that Samsara Inc. will post -0.42 EPS for the current year. IOT has been the subject of several research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Samsara from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the company from $16.00 to $27.00 in a report on Friday, March 3rd. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on shares of Samsara from $17.00 to $19.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Friday, March 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Samsara from $14.00 to $17.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of Samsara from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and increased their price target for the company from $18.00 to $19.00 in a report on Thursday, March 23rd. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Samsara in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Samsara currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $22.00. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Samsara A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of IOT. Bank of New York Mellon Corp purchased a new position in shares of Samsara during the first quarter worth approximately $558,000. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Samsara by 141.6% during the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 20,170 shares of the companys stock worth $322,000 after acquiring an additional 11,820 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in shares of Samsara by 17.3% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 3,227,576 shares of the companys stock worth $51,704,000 after acquiring an additional 477,013 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Samsara by 52.8% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 3,033,132 shares of the companys stock worth $48,591,000 after acquiring an additional 1,048,694 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Samsara during the first quarter worth approximately $3,109,000. 43.05% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Samsara Company Profile (Get Rating) Samsara Inc provides solutions that connect physical operations data to its Connected Operations Cloud in the United States and internationally. The company's Connected Operations Cloud includes Data Platform, which ingests, aggregates, and enriches data from its IoT devices and has embedded capabilities for AI, workflows and analytics, alerts, API connections, and data security and privacy; and applications for video-based safety, vehicle telematics, apps and driver workflows, equipment monitoring, and site visibility. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Samsara Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Samsara and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Jeppson Wealth Management LLC reduced its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Rating) by 13.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 14,082 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 2,257 shares during the period. Jeppson Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $1,546,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 154,563,421 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $14,955,557,000 after acquiring an additional 2,011,683 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 0.5% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 74,138,862 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $7,173,676,000 after purchasing an additional 351,136 shares in the last quarter. Polen Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 2.1% during the 3rd quarter. Polen Capital Management LLC now owns 15,689,512 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $1,518,117,000 after buying an additional 316,416 shares during the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc boosted its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 4.5% in the 2nd quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 13,252,430 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $1,439,881,000 after buying an additional 565,475 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 11,523,473 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $1,363,917,000 after buying an additional 218,683 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.93% of the companys stock. Get Abbott Laboratories alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other Abbott Laboratories news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 679 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total value of $68,375.30. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 70,427 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,091,998.90. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Abbott Laboratories news, SVP Julie L. Tyler sold 260 shares of Abbott Laboratories stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $103.24, for a total transaction of $26,842.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 40,896 shares in the company, valued at $4,222,103.04. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 679 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total transaction of $68,375.30. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 70,427 shares in the company, valued at $7,091,998.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 1,971 shares of company stock valued at $199,140. 1.10% of the stock is owned by insiders. Abbott Laboratories Price Performance ABT stock traded up $0.72 on Friday, reaching $104.93. 5,065,054 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,858,355. Abbott Laboratories has a twelve month low of $93.25 and a twelve month high of $124.36. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $103.21 and a 200-day moving average of $104.36. The firm has a market cap of $182.36 billion, a PE ratio of 26.84, a P/E/G ratio of 4.61 and a beta of 0.67. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 25th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $10.09 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.69 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 15.88% and a return on equity of 26.09%. The businesss revenue was down 12.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.32 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.38 EPS for the current fiscal year. Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Investors of record on Friday, April 14th will be paid a $0.51 dividend. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.94%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 13th. Abbott Laboratoriess payout ratio is currently 52.17%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts have issued reports on ABT shares. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. UBS Group assumed coverage on Abbott Laboratories in a research note on Tuesday, March 28th. They issued a buy rating and a $117.00 price objective for the company. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $122.00 to $125.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, January 27th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $140.00 to $136.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein lifted their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $125.00 to $132.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 26th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $121.88. Abbott Laboratories Profile (Get Rating) Abbott Laboratories engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, and sale of a broad and diversified line of health care products. It operates through the following business segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The Established Pharmaceutical Products segment refers to the international sales of a line of branded generic pharmaceutical products. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Abbott Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Abbott Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Advantage Energy Ltd. (TSE:AAV Get Rating) (NYSE:AAV)s share price crossed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$9.50 and traded as low as C$7.60. Advantage Energy shares last traded at C$7.68, with a volume of 560,695 shares. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages recently weighed in on AAV. Raymond James downgraded shares of Advantage Energy from a strong-buy rating to an outperform rating and cut their price objective for the company from C$14.00 to C$12.00 in a research report on Monday, January 16th. Stifel Firstegy reiterated a buy rating on shares of Advantage Energy in a research report on Thursday, January 12th. TD Securities restated a buy rating and issued a C$16.00 target price on shares of Advantage Energy in a research report on Monday, February 27th. Scotiabank reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a C$14.50 target price on shares of Advantage Energy in a research note on Thursday, February 9th. Finally, CIBC reissued a neutral rating and issued a C$12.00 price target on shares of Advantage Energy in a research note on Friday, February 24th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of C$13.45. Get Advantage Energy alerts: Advantage Energy Trading Down 1.6 % The company has a current ratio of 1.66, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 18.52. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of C$8.10 and a 200-day moving average price of C$9.49. The company has a market capitalization of C$1.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.32, a PEG ratio of -3.58 and a beta of 1.87. Advantage Energy Company Profile Advantage Energy Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, acquires, exploits, develops, and produces crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the Province of Alberta, Canada. The company focuses on the development and production of oil and natural gas resource that includes 228 net sections covering an area of 145,920 net acres of Doig/Montney rights in Glacier, Valhalla, Progress, and Pipestone/Wembley. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Advantage Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Advantage Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Arbor Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWF Get Rating) by 1.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 25,120 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 279 shares during the period. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF comprises 1.1% of Arbor Investment Advisors LLCs holdings, making the stock its 20th biggest position. Arbor Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF were worth $5,382,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Fort Pitt Capital Group LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter. Fort Pitt Capital Group LLC now owns 1,707 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $359,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares during the period. PFG Private Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 6.9% in the 4th quarter. PFG Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 773 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $166,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the period. Sage Capital Advisors llc lifted its position in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 2.5% in the 4th quarter. Sage Capital Advisors llc now owns 2,132 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $457,000 after purchasing an additional 53 shares during the period. Charter Oak Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 4.4% in the 4th quarter. Charter Oak Capital Management LLC now owns 1,245 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $267,000 after purchasing an additional 53 shares during the period. Finally, Ziegler Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 4.9% in the 3rd quarter. Ziegler Capital Management LLC now owns 1,145 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $241,000 after purchasing an additional 54 shares during the period. Get iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF alerts: iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Stock Performance Shares of IWF opened at $242.94 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $234.84 and a 200-day moving average price of $225.21. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF has a fifty-two week low of $202.05 and a fifty-two week high of $274.15. The stock has a market capitalization of $63.86 billion, a PE ratio of 26.14 and a beta of 1.07. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Company Profile iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment returns that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 1000 Growth Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of equity securities of Russell 1000 index issuers with relatively higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth. See Also Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Arbor Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO Get Rating) by 26.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 12,630 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 2,637 shares during the quarter. Arbor Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $803,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in Coca-Cola by 1.7% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 301,952,085 shares of the companys stock worth $16,915,357,000 after buying an additional 4,994,047 shares during the period. Capital World Investors lifted its holdings in Coca-Cola by 61.4% during the 1st quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 10,764,084 shares of the companys stock worth $667,373,000 after buying an additional 4,095,881 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its holdings in Coca-Cola by 141.0% during the 3rd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 6,834,434 shares of the companys stock worth $382,865,000 after buying an additional 3,998,128 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Coca-Cola by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 363,258,425 shares of the companys stock worth $20,349,737,000 after buying an additional 3,864,004 shares during the period. Finally, Two Sigma Investments LP acquired a new position in Coca-Cola during the 3rd quarter worth about $169,838,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.74% of the companys stock. Get Coca-Cola alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, CEO James Quincey sold 34,875 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.32, for a total value of $2,103,660.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 351,737 shares in the company, valued at approximately $21,216,775.84. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, insider Brian John Smith sold 126,972 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.07, for a total value of $7,881,152.04. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 116,168 shares in the company, valued at $7,210,547.76. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO James Quincey sold 34,875 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.32, for a total value of $2,103,660.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 351,737 shares in the company, valued at approximately $21,216,775.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 282,268 shares of company stock valued at $17,137,823. Corporate insiders own 1.00% of the companys stock. Coca-Cola Stock Performance Shares of KO opened at $62.84 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.41, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a current ratio of 1.15. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $60.39 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $60.42. The firm has a market capitalization of $271.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.56, a P/E/G ratio of 3.60 and a beta of 0.54. The Coca-Cola Company has a 52 week low of $54.01 and a 52 week high of $67.20. Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 14th. The company reported $0.45 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.45. The firm had revenue of $10.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.92 billion. Coca-Cola had a return on equity of 42.35% and a net margin of 22.19%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 6.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.45 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Coca-Cola Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 17th were issued a dividend of $0.46 per share. This is a positive change from Coca-Colas previous quarterly dividend of $0.44. This represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.93%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 16th. Coca-Colas payout ratio is currently 83.64%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages have commented on KO. StockNews.com raised Coca-Cola from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a $67.00 price objective on Coca-Cola in a research note on Tuesday, February 14th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price objective on Coca-Cola from $63.00 to $60.00 in a research note on Monday, March 20th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Coca-Cola from $68.00 to $70.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada set a $69.00 price objective on Coca-Cola in a research note on Tuesday, February 14th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $67.55. Coca-Cola Company Profile (Get Rating) The Coca-Cola Co engages in the manufacturing and marketing of non-alcoholic beverages. It operates through the following segments: Europe, Middle East and Africa, Latin America, North America, Asia Pacific, Global Ventures, and Bottling Investments. The company was founded by Asa Griggs Candler on May 8, 1886 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Coca-Cola Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Coca-Cola and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Baldwin Brothers LLC MA purchased a new stake in shares of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 66,116 shares of the natural resource companys stock, valued at approximately $2,512,000. Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new position in Freeport-McMoRan during the 1st quarter valued at about $26,000. M&R Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Freeport-McMoRan by 61.0% during the 4th quarter. M&R Capital Management Inc. now owns 805 shares of the natural resource companys stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 305 shares during the last quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC lifted its holdings in Freeport-McMoRan by 48.8% during the 4th quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 872 shares of the natural resource companys stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 286 shares during the last quarter. Founders Capital Management bought a new position in Freeport-McMoRan during the 3rd quarter valued at about $27,000. Finally, Duncker Streett & Co. Inc. bought a new position in Freeport-McMoRan during the 4th quarter valued at about $38,000. 77.12% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Freeport-McMoRan alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts have weighed in on FCX shares. Raymond James boosted their target price on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $40.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 31st. TheStreet raised shares of Freeport-McMoRan from a c rating to a b rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 25th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $40.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 26th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Freeport-McMoRan in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $35.00 to $40.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $39.38. Insider Activity at Freeport-McMoRan Freeport-McMoRan Trading Down 0.1 % In other news, CAO Ellie L. Mikes sold 11,678 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $43.17, for a total value of $504,139.26. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 32,333 shares in the company, valued at $1,395,815.61. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link . Corporate insiders own 0.72% of the companys stock. NYSE FCX traded down $0.03 during trading on Friday, reaching $40.29. 8,095,595 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 14,486,690. The firm has a market cap of $57.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.00 and a beta of 2.01. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $40.83 and its 200 day moving average price is $37.67. The company has a quick ratio of 1.64, a current ratio of 2.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $24.80 and a fifty-two week high of $51.34. Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 25th. The natural resource company reported $0.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.40 by $0.12. The firm had revenue of $5.75 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.42 billion. Freeport-McMoRan had a net margin of 15.22% and a return on equity of 14.59%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.96 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Freeport-McMoRan Inc. will post 2.04 EPS for the current year. Freeport-McMoRan Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Investors of record on Friday, April 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.49%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 13th. Freeport-McMoRans dividend payout ratio is currently 12.66%. Freeport-McMoRan Company Profile (Get Rating) Freeport-McMoRan, Inc engages in the mining of copper, gold, and molybdenum. It operates through the following segments: North America Copper Mines, South America Mining, Indonesia Mining, Molybdenum Mines, Rod and Refining, Atlantic Copper Smelting and Refining, and Corporate and Other. The North America Copper Mines segment operates open-pit copper mines in Morenci, Baghdad, Safford, Sierrita, and Miami in Arizona and Chino and Tyrone in New Mexico. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Freeport-McMoRan Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Freeport-McMoRan and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund reduced its position in shares of Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY Get Rating) by 8.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 122,606 shares of the technology retailers stock after selling 11,308 shares during the period. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund owned approximately 0.06% of Best Buy worth $9,834,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Private Advisor Group LLC lifted its holdings in Best Buy by 29.2% in the first quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 5,547 shares of the technology retailers stock worth $504,000 after purchasing an additional 1,252 shares during the period. Yousif Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Best Buy by 1.1% in the first quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 39,097 shares of the technology retailers stock worth $3,554,000 after buying an additional 415 shares during the last quarter. Aviva PLC increased its holdings in Best Buy by 31.1% in the first quarter. Aviva PLC now owns 105,369 shares of the technology retailers stock worth $9,578,000 after buying an additional 24,977 shares during the last quarter. Prudential PLC bought a new stake in Best Buy during the first quarter worth approximately $499,000. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its position in Best Buy by 6.3% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 5,144 shares of the technology retailers stock worth $468,000 after purchasing an additional 305 shares during the period. 78.48% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Best Buy alerts: Best Buy Trading Down 1.6 % NYSE:BBY opened at $75.08 on Friday. Best Buy Co., Inc. has a 12 month low of $60.78 and a 12 month high of $98.18. The stock has a market cap of $16.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.94, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.50. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $81.68 and a 200-day moving average price of $77.42. The company has a current ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 0.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. Best Buy Increases Dividend Best Buy ( NYSE:BBY Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 2nd. The technology retailer reported $2.61 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.09 by $0.52. The business had revenue of $14.74 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $14.80 billion. Best Buy had a return on equity of 55.81% and a net margin of 3.06%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 10.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.73 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Best Buy Co., Inc. will post 6.25 EPS for the current year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 13th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 23rd will be given a dividend of $0.92 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 22nd. This represents a $3.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.90%. This is an increase from Best Buys previous quarterly dividend of $0.88. Best Buys payout ratio is currently 58.51%. Insider Activity In related news, insider Jason J. Bonfig sold 10,963 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.95, for a total transaction of $854,565.85. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 46,250 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,605,187.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, insider Jason J. Bonfig sold 10,963 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.95, for a total transaction of $854,565.85. Following the sale, the insider now owns 46,250 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,605,187.50. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CAO Mathew Watson sold 2,704 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.95, for a total transaction of $210,776.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 22,329 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,740,545.55. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 52,274 shares of company stock valued at $4,074,758. 0.44% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms recently weighed in on BBY. DA Davidson lowered their target price on shares of Best Buy from $99.00 to $96.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 3rd. StockNews.com started coverage on Best Buy in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. UBS Group boosted their price target on Best Buy from $80.00 to $87.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, February 24th. Truist Financial upped their target price on Best Buy from $80.00 to $88.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Finally, Credit Suisse Group dropped their target price on Best Buy from $90.00 to $85.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 3rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $81.44. Best Buy Profile (Get Rating) Best Buy Co, Inc engages in the provision of consumer technology products and services. It operates through two business segments: Domestic and International. The Domestic segment includes operations in all states, districts, and territories of the U.S., operating under various brand names, including Best Buy, Best Buy Mobile, Geek Squad, Magnolia Audio Video, Napster, and Pacific Sales. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Best Buy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Best Buy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust (NYSE:HT Get Rating) have received an average rating of Hold from the ten research firms that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, four have given a hold recommendation and three have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $11.25. HT has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. B. Riley Financial reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust in a report on Saturday, February 25th. StockNews.com started coverage on Hersha Hospitality Trust in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. B. Riley reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust in a research report on Friday, February 24th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust from $10.00 to $7.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 30th. Finally, Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust from $10.00 to $9.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 10th. Get Hersha Hospitality Trust alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, Director Thomas J. Hutchison III purchased 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was bought at an average cost of $8.56 per share, with a total value of $42,800.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 151,319 shares in the company, valued at $1,295,290.64. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 20.80% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Hersha Hospitality Trust Hersha Hospitality Trust Stock Up 0.3 % Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of HT. Millennium Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust by 1,635.3% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,310,139 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $11,162,000 after purchasing an additional 1,234,641 shares during the period. Cantor Fitzgerald L. P. bought a new stake in Hersha Hospitality Trust in the third quarter worth about $4,788,000. Prudential Financial Inc. boosted its position in shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust by 112.6% during the first quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 468,931 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $4,258,000 after buying an additional 248,389 shares during the period. Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust by 131.7% during the third quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 354,043 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,822,000 after buying an additional 201,260 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Natixis raised its holdings in shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust by 57.1% in the second quarter. Natixis now owns 550,000 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $5,368,000 after buying an additional 200,000 shares during the period. 65.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Shares of HT stock opened at $6.41 on Friday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $7.83 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $8.50. The stock has a market cap of $254.73 million, a P/E ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 2.01. Hersha Hospitality Trust has a 12 month low of $5.76 and a 12 month high of $12.15. The company has a current ratio of 2.46, a quick ratio of 2.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49. Hersha Hospitality Trust Cuts Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 17th. Investors of record on Friday, March 31st will be given a dividend of $0.05 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 30th. This represents a $0.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.12%. Hersha Hospitality Trusts dividend payout ratio is 6.87%. About Hersha Hospitality Trust (Get Rating) Hersha Hospitality Trust is a self-advised real estate investment trust in the hospitality sector, which owns and operates hotels in urban gateway markets. Its hotel properties are located in in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, the District of Columbia, Miami, and select markets on the West Coast. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Hersha Hospitality Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hersha Hospitality Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chorus Aviation Inc. (TSE:CHR Get Rating) Equities research analysts at Cormark dropped their FY2023 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Chorus Aviation in a research note issued on Wednesday, April 5th. Cormark analyst D. Ocampo now forecasts that the company will post earnings of $0.42 per share for the year, down from their previous estimate of $0.43. The consensus estimate for Chorus Aviations current full-year earnings is $0.43 per share. Cormark also issued estimates for Chorus Aviations Q1 2024 earnings at $0.10 EPS, Q2 2024 earnings at $0.10 EPS, Q3 2024 earnings at $0.10 EPS, Q4 2024 earnings at $0.12 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $0.41 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $0.40 EPS. Get Chorus Aviation alerts: Chorus Aviation (TSE:CHR Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 15th. The company reported C$0.11 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of C$0.11. The business had revenue of C$439.76 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$409.16 million. Chorus Aviation had a net margin of 3.06% and a return on equity of 5.30%. Chorus Aviation Stock Down 1.3 % CHR has been the subject of several other research reports. Scotiabank cut shares of Chorus Aviation from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating and increased their target price for the stock from C$4.00 to C$4.40 in a report on Monday, January 23rd. Canaccord Genuity Group cut their price target on shares of Chorus Aviation from C$4.00 to C$3.25 in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. Finally, National Bankshares decreased their price objective on Chorus Aviation from C$4.80 to C$4.50 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Chorus Aviation has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$4.34. Shares of Chorus Aviation stock opened at C$3.08 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 160.06, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.69. Chorus Aviation has a 52-week low of C$2.24 and a 52-week high of C$4.24. The firm has a market cap of C$617.08 million, a PE ratio of 25.67, a P/E/G ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 2.20. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is C$3.32 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$3.11. Chorus Aviation Company Profile (Get Rating) Chorus Aviation Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides various aviation support services in the United States and Canada. The company operates through two segments, Regional Aviation Services and Regional Aircraft Leasing. The Regional Aviation Services segment includes all three sectors of the regional aviation, such as contract flying, including ACMI and charter operations; aircraft leasing; and maintenance, repair, and overhaul, as well as part sales and technical services. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Chorus Aviation Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chorus Aviation and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dynacor Group Inc. (TSE:DNG Get Rating) shares crossed above its 50-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of C$3.00 and traded as high as C$3.10. Dynacor Group shares last traded at C$3.10, with a volume of 60,284 shares changing hands. Dynacor Group Stock Up 0.3 % The company has a quick ratio of 3.50, a current ratio of 4.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. The firm has a market cap of C$119.52 million, a PE ratio of 7.59 and a beta of 0.90. The firms 50 day moving average is C$3.00 and its 200-day moving average is C$2.86. Get Dynacor Group alerts: Dynacor Group Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 19th. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 19th will be paid a dividend of $0.01 per share. This represents a $0.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.86%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 10th. Dynacor Groups payout ratio is 29.27%. Dynacor Group Company Profile Dynacor Group Inc engages in the exploration, development, and mining of minerals properties in Peru. It explores for gold, silver, and copper deposits. The company holds interest in the Tumipampa property covering an area of 7,027 hectares located in Peru. In addition, it holds 100% interest in the greenfield Anta silver/gold/copper exploration project located in Southern Peru. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Dynacor Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dynacor Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First Pacific Financial boosted its holdings in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM Get Rating) by 2.2% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 6,039 shares of the business services providers stock after purchasing an additional 131 shares during the quarter. First Pacific Financials holdings in Waste Management were worth $947,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of WM. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Waste Management in the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Twin Lakes Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Waste Management in the 3rd quarter valued at $31,000. TD Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Waste Management in the 3rd quarter valued at $33,000. Tortoise Investment Management LLC increased its stake in Waste Management by 232.1% in the 3rd quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 269 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $43,000 after buying an additional 188 shares during the period. Finally, HBC Financial Services PLLC acquired a new position in Waste Management in the 4th quarter valued at $47,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.48% of the companys stock. Get Waste Management alerts: Waste Management Price Performance NYSE WM traded up $0.84 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $163.66. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,290,538 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,116,808. The stock has a market cap of $66.57 billion, a PE ratio of 30.36, a PEG ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.73. Waste Management, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $138.89 and a fifty-two week high of $175.98. The companys 50-day moving average is $153.64 and its two-hundred day moving average is $157.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.12, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a current ratio of 0.81. Waste Management ( NYSE:WM Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 1st. The business services provider reported $1.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.39 by ($0.09). The firm had revenue of $4.94 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.97 billion. Waste Management had a net margin of 11.36% and a return on equity of 32.91%. Waste Managements revenue for the quarter was up 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.26 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that Waste Management, Inc. will post 6.03 EPS for the current year. Waste Management announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock buyback plan on Thursday, December 8th that permits the company to repurchase $1.50 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the business services provider to reacquire up to 2.2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are usually a sign that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued. Waste Management Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 10th were issued a $0.70 dividend. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.71%. This is a positive change from Waste Managements previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 9th. Waste Managements dividend payout ratio is 51.95%. Insider Buying and Selling at Waste Management In other news, EVP John J. Morris sold 15,204 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $155.03, for a total transaction of $2,357,076.12. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 95,461 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,799,318.83. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, CAO Leslie K. Nagy sold 800 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.11, for a total transaction of $120,888.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 5,210 shares in the company, valued at approximately $787,283.10. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP John J. Morris sold 15,204 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $155.03, for a total transaction of $2,357,076.12. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 95,461 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $14,799,318.83. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 31,027 shares of company stock worth $4,806,619. Corporate insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms have recently weighed in on WM. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Waste Management from $179.00 to $181.00 in a research note on Thursday. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Waste Management in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price target on shares of Waste Management from $157.00 to $151.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 6th. Stifel Nicolaus cut shares of Waste Management from a buy rating to a hold rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $185.00 to $171.00 in a research note on Monday, December 19th. Finally, UBS Group cut shares of Waste Management from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $190.00 to $165.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 10th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Waste Management currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $173.27. About Waste Management (Get Rating) Waste Management, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of waste management environmental services. It operates through the following segments: East Tier, West Tier, and Other. The East Tier segment consists of Eastern U.S., the Great Lakes Region, and Canada. The West Tier segment includes the upper Midwest region and British Columbia, Canada. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Waste Management Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Waste Management and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. IGM Financial (OTCMKTS:IGIFF Get Rating) had its price objective boosted by Scotiabank from C$47.00 to C$49.00 in a research note released on Tuesday morning, The Fly reports. Other equities analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. CIBC raised their target price on shares of IGM Financial from C$44.00 to C$50.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 24th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of IGM Financial from C$44.00 to C$45.00 in a report on Friday, February 10th. TD Securities lifted their price objective on shares of IGM Financial from C$43.00 to C$44.00 in a research report on Monday, February 13th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on shares of IGM Financial from C$43.00 to C$46.00 in a research report on Monday, February 13th. Finally, National Bank Financial boosted their target price on shares of IGM Financial from C$45.00 to C$48.00 in a report on Friday, February 10th. Get IGM Financial alerts: IGM Financial Stock Performance Shares of OTCMKTS IGIFF opened at $29.96 on Tuesday. IGM Financial has a 1 year low of $24.78 and a 1 year high of $35.80. The firms 50 day moving average price is $30.56 and its 200 day moving average price is $28.81. IGM Financial Increases Dividend About IGM Financial The company also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 28th. Investors of record on Friday, March 31st will be given a dividend of $0.4193 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 30th. This represents a dividend yield of 5.74%. This is a boost from IGM Financials previous dividend of $0.41. IGM Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 67.85%. (Get Rating) IGM Financial, Inc operates as a financial services company, which engages in the management and distribution of mutual funds and other managed asset products. It operates through the following segments: Wealth Management, Asset Management, and Strategic Investments & Other. The Wealth Management segment reflects the activities of operating companies that are principally focused on providing financial planning and related services to Canadian households, which includes the activities of IG Wealth Management and Investment Planning Counsel. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for IGM Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for IGM Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sigma Investment Counselors Inc. lifted its position in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IJR Get Rating) by 0.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 621,609 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 2,590 shares during the quarter. iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF comprises 4.8% of Sigma Investment Counselors Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 4th largest holding. Sigma Investment Counselors Inc. owned 0.09% of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF worth $58,829,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Align Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. JDM Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Pflug Koory LLC grew its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 293.8% in the 4th quarter. Pflug Koory LLC now owns 315 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 235 shares in the last quarter. IMA Wealth Inc. grew its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 76.5% in the 2nd quarter. IMA Wealth Inc. now owns 383 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 166 shares in the last quarter. Finally, EWG Elevate Inc. bought a new stake in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Get iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF alerts: iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF Stock Performance Shares of NYSEARCA IJR opened at $94.17 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $64.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.11 and a beta of 1.13. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $100.01 and a 200 day simple moving average of $97.35. iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF has a 52 week low of $86.40 and a 52 week high of $108.72. iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF Profile iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF, formerly iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Index Fund, seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Standard & Poors SmallCap 600 Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of publicly traded securities in the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Joel Isaacson & Co. LLC lifted its holdings in Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS Get Rating) by 0.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 44,502 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 213 shares during the quarter. Joel Isaacson & Co. LLCs holdings in Morgan Stanley were worth $3,784,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Fisher Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in Morgan Stanley by 68.9% during the 3rd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 18,416,436 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,455,083,000 after buying an additional 7,514,505 shares in the last quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board acquired a new position in Morgan Stanley during the 1st quarter worth $451,711,000. Neuberger Berman Group LLC raised its position in shares of Morgan Stanley by 123.3% during the 3rd quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 3,183,121 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $251,546,000 after acquiring an additional 1,757,682 shares during the last quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank raised its position in shares of Morgan Stanley by 152.3% during the 3rd quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 2,500,681 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $197,539,000 after acquiring an additional 1,509,589 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec raised its position in shares of Morgan Stanley by 479.4% during the 3rd quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 1,390,483 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $109,862,000 after acquiring an additional 1,150,483 shares during the last quarter. 83.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Morgan Stanley alerts: Insider Transactions at Morgan Stanley In related news, insider Daniel A. Simkowitz sold 44,910 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $97.05, for a total value of $4,358,515.50. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 348,531 shares in the company, valued at approximately $33,824,933.55. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Morgan Stanley news, insider Daniel A. Simkowitz sold 44,910 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $97.05, for a total transaction of $4,358,515.50. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 348,531 shares in the company, valued at $33,824,933.55. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Andrew M. Saperstein sold 24,556 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.23, for a total transaction of $2,412,135.88. Following the sale, the insider now owns 190,440 shares of the companys stock, valued at $18,706,921.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 341,699 shares of company stock worth $33,143,046 in the last three months. Insiders own 0.26% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets Morgan Stanley Trading Up 0.4 % Several brokerages have commented on MS. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their target price on shares of Morgan Stanley from $92.00 to $84.00 in a research report on Friday, January 6th. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Morgan Stanley from $105.00 to $125.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Morgan Stanley from $89.00 to $85.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Monday. Oppenheimer lowered their price objective on shares of Morgan Stanley from $107.00 to $95.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 23rd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on shares of Morgan Stanley from $90.00 to $80.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $95.63. Morgan Stanley stock opened at $84.19 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $93.26 and a 200-day moving average of $88.72. Morgan Stanley has a one year low of $72.05 and a one year high of $100.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.57, a current ratio of 0.79 and a quick ratio of 0.79. The company has a market cap of $141.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.71, a P/E/G ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 1.34. Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 17th. The financial services provider reported $1.31 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.25 by $0.06. Morgan Stanley had a net margin of 16.73% and a return on equity of 12.06%. The company had revenue of $12.75 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.16 billion. On average, equities analysts expect that Morgan Stanley will post 7.05 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Morgan Stanley Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, January 31st were paid a dividend of $0.775 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, January 30th. This represents a $3.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.68%. Morgan Stanleys dividend payout ratio is 50.49%. About Morgan Stanley (Get Rating) Morgan Stanley operates as a global financial services company. The firm provides investment banking products and services to its clients and customers including corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals. It operates through the following segments: Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Morgan Stanley Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Morgan Stanley and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC bought a new stake in Invesco BulletShares 2027 Corporate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:BSCR Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 18,556 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $352,000. Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in BSCR. Iowa State Bank raised its stake in shares of Invesco BulletShares 2027 Corporate Bond ETF by 4.8% during the 4th quarter. Iowa State Bank now owns 13,860 shares of the companys stock valued at $263,000 after purchasing an additional 634 shares during the period. YHB Investment Advisors Inc. raised its stake in shares of Invesco BulletShares 2027 Corporate Bond ETF by 6.4% during the 4th quarter. YHB Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 11,240 shares of the companys stock valued at $214,000 after purchasing an additional 675 shares during the period. Exchange Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Invesco BulletShares 2027 Corporate Bond ETF by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. Exchange Capital Management Inc. now owns 66,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,228,000 after purchasing an additional 701 shares during the period. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Invesco BulletShares 2027 Corporate Bond ETF by 7.1% during the 3rd quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC now owns 10,881 shares of the companys stock valued at $203,000 after purchasing an additional 721 shares during the period. Finally, Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Invesco BulletShares 2027 Corporate Bond ETF by 35.3% during the 3rd quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC now owns 2,875 shares of the companys stock valued at $54,000 after purchasing an additional 750 shares during the period. Get Invesco BulletShares 2027 Corporate Bond ETF alerts: Invesco BulletShares 2027 Corporate Bond ETF Stock Performance Invesco BulletShares 2027 Corporate Bond ETF stock opened at $19.41 on Friday. Invesco BulletShares 2027 Corporate Bond ETF has a 52 week low of $18.31 and a 52 week high of $20.04. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $19.13 and a 200 day simple moving average of $19.00. Invesco BulletShares 2027 Corporate Bond ETF Profile The Invesco BulletShares 2027 Corporate Bond ETF (BSCR) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund tracks an index of USD-denominated, investment-grade corporate bonds with effective maturities in 2027. The fund will unwind in December 2027 and return capital and proceeds to investors. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Invesco BulletShares 2027 Corporate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco BulletShares 2027 Corporate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC purchased a new position in Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 3,000 shares of the asset managers stock, valued at approximately $223,000. Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Whalerock Point Partners LLC purchased a new position in Blackstone during the third quarter worth about $282,571,000. Mach 1 Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Blackstone during the third quarter worth about $25,000. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Blackstone in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. HWG Holdings LP purchased a new stake in shares of Blackstone in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Trust Co. of Vermont raised its stake in shares of Blackstone by 133.3% in the 3rd quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 350 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the period. 62.39% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Blackstone alerts: Insider Transactions at Blackstone In other news, major shareholder Holdings L.P. Blackstone III bought 10,869,566 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 31st. The shares were acquired at an average price of $1.38 per share, for a total transaction of $15,000,001.08. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 24,727,216 shares of the companys stock, valued at $34,123,558.08. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, Director Joseph Baratta sold 85,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $86.32, for a total transaction of $7,337,200.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 1,145,448 shares of the companys stock, valued at $98,875,071.36. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, major shareholder Holdings L.P. Blackstone III purchased 10,869,566 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 31st. The shares were bought at an average cost of $1.38 per share, for a total transaction of $15,000,001.08. Following the acquisition, the insider now owns 24,727,216 shares of the companys stock, valued at $34,123,558.08. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have bought 10,950,338 shares of company stock worth $18,744,064 and have sold 140,617,616 shares worth $1,734,240,167. Insiders own 1.00% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Blackstone Stock Up 1.0 % BX has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. CICC Research initiated coverage on shares of Blackstone in a research note on Thursday, January 12th. They issued an outperform rating on the stock. Piper Sandler reduced their price target on shares of Blackstone from $114.00 to $111.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, December 21st. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Blackstone from $86.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, January 27th. Bank of America dropped their price target on shares of Blackstone from $115.00 to $98.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Blackstone in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating for the company. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $110.53. Blackstone stock opened at $82.19 on Friday. Blackstone Inc. has a 1-year low of $71.72 and a 1-year high of $126.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 0.97 and a quick ratio of 0.97. The stock has a market cap of $58.06 billion, a PE ratio of 34.68, a P/E/G ratio of 1.54 and a beta of 1.50. The stocks fifty day moving average is $89.63 and its two-hundred day moving average is $86.99. Blackstone (NYSE:BX Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 26th. The asset manager reported $1.07 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.95 by $0.12. Blackstone had a return on equity of 19.43% and a net margin of 20.52%. The company had revenue of $1.70 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.62 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.71 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Blackstone Inc. will post 4.62 EPS for the current fiscal year. Blackstone Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, February 13th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 6th were given a dividend of $0.91 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 3rd. This represents a $3.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.43%. This is a boost from Blackstones previous quarterly dividend of $0.90. Blackstones payout ratio is 153.59%. Blackstone Profile (Get Rating) Blackstone, Inc engages in the provision of investment and fund management services. It operates through the following segments: Real Estate, Private Equity, Credit and Insurance, and Hedge Fund Solutions. The Real Estate segment includes management of opportunistic real estate funds, Core+ real estate funds, high-yield real estate debt funds, and liquid real estate debt funds. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Blackstone Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Blackstone and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Lloyds Banking Group plc (NYSE:LYG Get Rating) have been given an average recommendation of Moderate Buy by the eleven research firms that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $62.67. A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 58 ($0.72) to GBX 60 ($0.75) in a research report on Wednesday, January 11th. Berenberg Bank upped their price target on Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 55 ($0.68) to GBX 58 ($0.72) in a research note on Friday, February 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 58 ($0.72) to GBX 61 ($0.76) in a research note on Monday, February 27th. Barclays raised Lloyds Banking Group from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, February 6th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Lloyds Banking Group in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Get Lloyds Banking Group alerts: Lloyds Banking Group Stock Performance Lloyds Banking Group stock opened at $2.39 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.47, a quick ratio of 1.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.78. Lloyds Banking Group has a 1 year low of $1.70 and a 1 year high of $2.63. The company has a market cap of $40.26 billion, a PE ratio of 6.46, a PEG ratio of 1.04 and a beta of 1.27. The companys 50-day moving average is $2.43 and its two-hundred day moving average is $2.22. Lloyds Banking Group Increases Dividend Hedge Funds Weigh In On Lloyds Banking Group The firm also recently announced a Semi-Annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, April 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.076 per share. This represents a yield of 5%. This is a boost from Lloyds Banking Groups previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.04. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th. Lloyds Banking Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 18.92%. A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Jane Street Group LLC boosted its position in Lloyds Banking Group by 10.9% during the 4th quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 35,079,795 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $77,176,000 after acquiring an additional 3,449,866 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in Lloyds Banking Group by 16.7% during the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 31,160,774 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $68,554,000 after acquiring an additional 4,454,102 shares during the last quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC boosted its position in Lloyds Banking Group by 91.5% during the 4th quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 27,526,155 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $60,558,000 after acquiring an additional 13,150,123 shares during the last quarter. Mondrian Investment Partners LTD boosted its position in Lloyds Banking Group by 3.2% during the 4th quarter. Mondrian Investment Partners LTD now owns 26,795,456 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $58,950,000 after acquiring an additional 828,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can boosted its position in Lloyds Banking Group by 26.0% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 22,183,022 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $40,595,000 after acquiring an additional 4,570,940 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 2.15% of the companys stock. Lloyds Banking Group Company Profile (Get Rating) Lloyds Banking Group Plc is a financial services company, which engages in the provision of banking and financial services. It operates through the following segments: Retail, Commercial Banking, Insurance and Wealth, and Other. The Retail segment offers broad range of financial service products, including current accounts, savings, mortgages, motor finance and unsecured consumer lending to personal, and small business customers. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Lloyds Banking Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lloyds Banking Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Means Investment CO. Inc. grew its stake in Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU Get Rating) by 0.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 16,261 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 136 shares during the quarter. Means Investment CO. Inc.s holdings in Prudential Financial were worth $1,617,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Park Avenue Securities LLC grew its position in Prudential Financial by 15.1% during the 4th quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 11,863 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,180,000 after purchasing an additional 1,553 shares during the last quarter. Kovack Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Prudential Financial by 26.1% in the 3rd quarter. Kovack Advisors Inc. now owns 3,040 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $261,000 after acquiring an additional 630 shares in the last quarter. Gradient Investments LLC increased its holdings in shares of Prudential Financial by 90.4% in the 3rd quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 1,165 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $100,000 after purchasing an additional 553 shares in the last quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Prudential Financial by 3.5% in the second quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC now owns 20,012 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,915,000 after purchasing an additional 670 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Diversified Trust Co boosted its position in shares of Prudential Financial by 50.2% during the third quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 8,504 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $729,000 after buying an additional 2,844 shares during the last quarter. 56.33% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Prudential Financial alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms have issued reports on PRU. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Prudential Financial in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and set a $110.00 target price on shares of Prudential Financial in a research note on Thursday, February 9th. Barclays dropped their price target on Prudential Financial from $106.00 to $105.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 10th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Prudential Financial from $112.00 to $114.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 10th. Finally, Piper Sandler restated a neutral rating and set a $106.00 price target on shares of Prudential Financial in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $103.00. Insider Transactions at Prudential Financial Prudential Financial Price Performance In other Prudential Financial news, EVP Andrew F. Sullivan sold 11,405 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.95, for a total value of $1,151,334.75. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 12,300 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,241,685. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website . In other news, EVP Andrew F. Sullivan sold 11,405 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.95, for a total transaction of $1,151,334.75. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 12,300 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,241,685. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . Also, EVP Andrew F. Sullivan sold 4,126 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $99.20, for a total transaction of $409,299.20. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 12,241 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,214,307.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders own 0.31% of the companys stock. Shares of PRU traded up $0.52 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $83.36. 1,921,499 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,955,993. The company has a market cap of $30.59 billion, a P/E ratio of -21.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.38. The company has a current ratio of 0.07, a quick ratio of 0.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. The companys 50-day moving average price is $93.00 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $97.44. Prudential Financial, Inc. has a 52-week low of $75.37 and a 52-week high of $122.54. Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRU Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 7th. The financial services provider reported $2.42 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.57 by ($0.15). Prudential Financial had a negative net margin of 2.33% and a positive return on equity of 13.31%. The business had revenue of $12.65 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $12.78 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $3.18 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that Prudential Financial, Inc. will post 12.17 earnings per share for the current year. Prudential Financial Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 16th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 21st were issued a dividend of $1.25 per share. This is a positive change from Prudential Financials previous quarterly dividend of $1.20. This represents a $5.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.00%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 17th. Prudential Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -126.90%. Prudential Financial announced that its board has authorized a stock buyback plan on Tuesday, February 7th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the financial services provider to reacquire up to 2.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are generally a sign that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued. Prudential Financial Profile (Get Rating) Prudential Financial, Inc engages in the provision of insurance, investment management, and other financial products and services to both individual and institutional customers. It operates through the following segments: PGIM, U.S. Businesses, International Businesses, Closed Block, and Corporate and Others. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PRU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Prudential Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Prudential Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shenzhen's Xichong named first International Dark Sky Community in China Xinhua) 15:52, April 07, 2023 SHENZHEN, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The Xichong Community in the southern Chinese metropolis of Shenzhen has been certified as an International Dark Sky Community, the first one of its kind in China, according to Shenzhen Astronomical Observatory. The recognition by International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) marks an important milestone in Shenzhen's efforts to achieve equilibrium between urban development and dark sky protection. An International Dark Sky Community is a town, city, municipality, or other legally organized community that has shown exceptional dedication to the preservation of the night sky through the implementation and enforcement of a quality outdoor lighting ordinance, dark sky education and citizen support of dark skies, according to IDA. Located at the southeast end of Shenzhen's Dapeng New District, Xichong is about 60 km from the city proper. It covers an area of approximately 10.9 square kilometers. Xichong is well-shielded from urban light pollution, as the picturesque destination is flanked by mountains on three sides, with the sea embracing its fourth side. This is where Shenzhen Astronomical Observatory is located. In August 2021, local authorities in Shenzhen began efforts to build a dark sky community in Xichong. In over a year, lighting facilities in the community were upgraded, and environmental standards for the dark sky community were formulated. "The Xichong International Dark Sky Community demonstrates that creating a safe, nocturnal environment that benefits the community and protects the natural world using thoughtful lighting design is possible," said Amber Harrison, a program associate with IDA. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Means Investment CO. Inc. lessened its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating) by 0.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 54,348 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 372 shares during the quarter. Means Investment CO. Inc.s holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $3,910,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 199,886,585 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $14,209,937,000 after purchasing an additional 3,058,491 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 174,002,852 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $12,369,862,000 after purchasing an additional 3,357,590 shares during the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc raised its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 4.1% in the 2nd quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 17,053,158 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,313,101,000 after purchasing an additional 674,921 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 14,659,982 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,042,264,000 after buying an additional 155,845 shares during the last quarter. Finally, California Public Employees Retirement System raised its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 11,442,639 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $813,457,000 after buying an additional 59,791 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.51% of the companys stock. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, EVP Ann Powell sold 11,183 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.69, for a total value of $835,258.27. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 23,043 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,721,081.67. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, EVP Ann Powell sold 11,183 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.69, for a total transaction of $835,258.27. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 23,043 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,721,081.67. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Giovanni Caforio sold 240,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.65, for a total value of $17,916,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 236,104 shares in the company, valued at $17,625,163.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Performance A number of brokerages have weighed in on BMY. Cantor Fitzgerald began coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Tuesday, January 17th. They issued an overweight rating and a $95.00 target price for the company. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $70.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 3rd. Atlantic Securities boosted their price target on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Monday, March 6th. They set a hold rating and a $62.00 price target for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $79.69. Shares of NYSE:BMY traded up $1.48 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $70.74. 9,669,523 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 8,460,232. The companys 50 day moving average price is $69.81 and its 200-day moving average price is $72.76. The firm has a market cap of $148.79 billion, a PE ratio of 23.98, a PEG ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 1.14. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 52 week low of $65.28 and a 52 week high of $81.43. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.82 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.71 by $0.11. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 51.60% and a net margin of 13.71%. The business had revenue of $11.41 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.20 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.83 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts expect that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.06 EPS for the current fiscal year. Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 10th will be paid a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 6th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.22%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs payout ratio is 77.29%. About Bristol-Myers Squibb (Get Rating) Bristol Myers Squibb Co engages in the discovery, development, licensing, manufacture, marketing, distribution, and sale of biopharmaceutical products. It offers chemically-synthesized drugs or small molecules and products produced from biological processes called biologics. The company was founded in August 1933 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Montrusco Bolton Investments Inc. lifted its stake in shares of The Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD Get Rating) (TSE:TD) by 4.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,784,847 shares of the banks stock after acquiring an additional 75,072 shares during the quarter. Toronto-Dominion Bank comprises approximately 2.7% of Montrusco Bolton Investments Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 16th largest position. Montrusco Bolton Investments Inc. owned about 0.10% of Toronto-Dominion Bank worth $115,486,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in TD. Financial Management Professionals Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank by 75.1% during the 3rd quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 408 shares of the banks stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 175 shares in the last quarter. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank during the 1st quarter worth about $26,000. McElhenny Sheffield Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank during the 4th quarter worth about $40,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV boosted its stake in shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank by 130.6% during the 3rd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 747 shares of the banks stock worth $46,000 after acquiring an additional 423 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hexagon Capital Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank by 149.3% during the 3rd quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC now owns 875 shares of the banks stock worth $54,000 after acquiring an additional 524 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 49.22% of the companys stock. Get Toronto-Dominion Bank alerts: Toronto-Dominion Bank Stock Performance Shares of TD stock traded up $0.09 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $59.07. The stock had a trading volume of 2,282,433 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,744,312. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $63.94 and its 200 day simple moving average is $64.45. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11. The Toronto-Dominion Bank has a one year low of $55.43 and a one year high of $78.22. The firm has a market cap of $108.10 billion, a PE ratio of 9.33, a P/E/G ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 0.88. Toronto-Dominion Bank Increases Dividend Toronto-Dominion Bank ( NYSE:TD Get Rating ) (TSE:TD) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 2nd. The bank reported $1.64 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.61 by $0.03. Toronto-Dominion Bank had a return on equity of 16.02% and a net margin of 18.23%. The company had revenue of $9.01 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.97 billion. On average, analysts forecast that The Toronto-Dominion Bank will post 6.57 EPS for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, April 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 6th will be given a $0.721 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 5th. This represents a $2.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.88%. This is an increase from Toronto-Dominion Banks previous quarterly dividend of $0.71. Toronto-Dominion Banks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 44.71%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth TD has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Scotiabank upgraded Toronto-Dominion Bank from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating in a research note on Friday, March 3rd. Desjardins increased their target price on Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$105.00 to C$106.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Toronto-Dominion Bank in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a sell rating for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $100.57. About Toronto-Dominion Bank (Get Rating) The Toronto-Dominion Bank engages in the provision of financial products and services. It operates through the following segments: Canadian Retail, U.S. Retail, and Wholesale Banking. The Canadian Retail segment offers various financial products and services, as well as telephone, Internet, and mobile banking services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Toronto-Dominion Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Toronto-Dominion Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Provident Financial Services (NYSE:PFS Get Rating) had its price objective cut by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods from $27.00 to $25.00 in a research report sent to investors on Thursday morning, Benzinga reports. They currently have a market perform rating on the savings and loans companys stock. Separately, StockNews.com started coverage on Provident Financial Services in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $25.25. Get Provident Financial Services alerts: Provident Financial Services Stock Performance PFS stock traded up $0.27 during trading on Thursday, hitting $18.38. The company had a trading volume of 606,447 shares, compared to its average volume of 819,889. The firm has a market cap of $1.38 billion, a PE ratio of 7.82 and a beta of 0.95. Provident Financial Services has a 1-year low of $18.04 and a 1-year high of $25.61. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $21.90 and a 200-day moving average price of $21.74. The company has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87. Provident Financial Services Announces Dividend Provident Financial Services ( NYSE:PFS Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 27th. The savings and loans company reported $0.66 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.62 by $0.04. Provident Financial Services had a return on equity of 11.06% and a net margin of 31.71%. The business had revenue of $132.33 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $132.70 million. On average, analysts expect that Provident Financial Services will post 2.39 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 24th. Investors of record on Friday, February 10th were paid a $0.24 dividend. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.22%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 9th. Provident Financial Servicess dividend payout ratio is 40.85%. Insider Buying and Selling at Provident Financial Services In other Provident Financial Services news, Chairman Christopher P. Martin sold 51,881 shares of Provident Financial Services stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $23.35, for a total transaction of $1,211,421.35. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now owns 535,241 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $12,497,877.35. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, Chairman Christopher P. Martin sold 51,881 shares of Provident Financial Services stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $23.35, for a total value of $1,211,421.35. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now owns 535,241 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $12,497,877.35. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Robert Mcnerney sold 2,500 shares of Provident Financial Services stock in a transaction on Monday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $23.87, for a total transaction of $59,675.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 8,713 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $207,979.31. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 4.29% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Provident Financial Services Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in PFS. Victory Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Provident Financial Services by 14.2% in the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 780,911 shares of the savings and loans companys stock valued at $15,228,000 after purchasing an additional 96,877 shares during the period. Beacon Investment Advisory Services Inc. grew its stake in shares of Provident Financial Services by 1.6% in the 4th quarter. Beacon Investment Advisory Services Inc. now owns 208,705 shares of the savings and loans companys stock valued at $4,458,000 after purchasing an additional 3,300 shares during the period. Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Provident Financial Services by 281.8% in the 3rd quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 62,809 shares of the savings and loans companys stock valued at $1,223,000 after purchasing an additional 46,360 shares during the period. Kistler Tiffany Companies LLC grew its stake in shares of Provident Financial Services by 8.1% in the 3rd quarter. Kistler Tiffany Companies LLC now owns 114,186 shares of the savings and loans companys stock valued at $2,227,000 after purchasing an additional 8,520 shares during the period. Finally, Hsbc Holdings PLC grew its position in Provident Financial Services by 24.4% during the 3rd quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 87,626 shares of the savings and loans companys stock worth $1,728,000 after acquiring an additional 17,165 shares during the last quarter. 65.22% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About Provident Financial Services (Get Rating) Provident Financial Services, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of banking services to individual and corporate customers in Northern and Central New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. The company was founded on January 15, 2003 and is headquartered in Jersey City, NJ. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Provident Financial Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Provident Financial Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rice Hall James & Associates LLC lifted its holdings in iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWO Get Rating) by 1,867.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 27,696 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 26,288 shares during the quarter. Rice Hall James & Associates LLC owned approximately 0.06% of iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF worth $5,941,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the business. CFS Investment Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF by 19,949.5% during the 3rd quarter. CFS Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 2,596,010 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $260,000 after purchasing an additional 2,583,062 shares during the period. Alaska Permanent Fund Corp increased its holdings in iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF by 15.1% during the 3rd quarter. Alaska Permanent Fund Corp now owns 2,528,125 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $522,286,000 after purchasing an additional 332,609 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,061,058 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $219,204,000 after acquiring an additional 18,747 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC boosted its position in iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 601,047 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $124,170,000 after acquiring an additional 7,355 shares in the last quarter. Finally, M&T Bank Corp boosted its position in iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF by 3.1% during the 3rd quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 542,109 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $111,996,000 after acquiring an additional 16,315 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF alerts: iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF Price Performance NYSEARCA IWO traded up $0.15 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $220.99. 351,941 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 453,108. The company has a market cap of $9.57 billion, a PE ratio of 17.55 and a beta of 1.14. iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF has a 52 week low of $192.88 and a 52 week high of $251.79. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $229.85 and its 200-day simple moving average is $223.01. About iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the Russell 2000 Growth Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the small-capitalization growth sector of the United States equity market. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sky Investment Group LLC lowered its holdings in Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (NYSE:FIS Get Rating) by 2.2% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 27,883 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 630 shares during the quarter. Sky Investment Group LLCs holdings in Fidelity National Information Services were worth $1,892,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Acadian Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Fidelity National Information Services by 491.5% during the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 3,904 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $391,000 after purchasing an additional 3,244 shares in the last quarter. Synovus Financial Corp raised its holdings in Fidelity National Information Services by 71.6% in the first quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 9,791 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $982,000 after purchasing an additional 4,085 shares in the last quarter. Prudential PLC bought a new position in shares of Fidelity National Information Services during the first quarter valued at $1,173,000. Baird Financial Group Inc. increased its holdings in Fidelity National Information Services by 8.2% in the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 194,714 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $19,553,000 after buying an additional 14,819 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. grew its stake in shares of Fidelity National Information Services by 83.3% during the 1st quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 286 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares during the period. 90.25% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Fidelity National Information Services alerts: Insider Transactions at Fidelity National Information Services In related news, CFO Erik D. Hoag sold 5,658 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $63.88, for a total transaction of $361,433.04. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 16,368 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,045,587.84. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, Director Jeffrey E. Stiefler purchased 2,243 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 22nd. The shares were purchased at an average price of $66.88 per share, with a total value of $150,011.84. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 3,343 shares in the company, valued at approximately $223,579.84. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CFO Erik D. Hoag sold 5,658 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $63.88, for a total transaction of $361,433.04. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 16,368 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,045,587.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.68% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Fidelity National Information Services Stock Up 3.2 % A number of research analysts recently commented on FIS shares. Raymond James lowered their price target on Fidelity National Information Services from $86.00 to $83.00 and set a strong-buy rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 14th. Mizuho dropped their target price on Fidelity National Information Services from $90.00 to $78.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 21st. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Fidelity National Information Services from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $73.00 to $79.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 14th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on shares of Fidelity National Information Services from $93.00 to $81.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 14th. Finally, Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of Fidelity National Information Services from $68.00 to $58.00 in a research report on Sunday, March 26th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Fidelity National Information Services has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $89.48. Shares of NYSE FIS traded up $1.71 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $55.43. The company had a trading volume of 5,721,738 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,259,764. The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $62.29 and its 200-day simple moving average is $68.45. Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. has a 12 month low of $48.57 and a 12 month high of $106.65. Fidelity National Information Services (NYSE:FIS Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 13th. The information technology services provider reported $1.71 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.70 by $0.01. Fidelity National Information Services had a negative net margin of 115.07% and a positive return on equity of 9.71%. The business had revenue of $3.71 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.69 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.92 earnings per share. Fidelity National Information Servicess revenue was up 1.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. will post 5.87 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Fidelity National Information Services Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 10th were issued a $0.52 dividend. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.75%. This is a positive change from Fidelity National Information Servicess previous quarterly dividend of $0.47. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 9th. Fidelity National Information Servicess dividend payout ratio is currently -7.37%. About Fidelity National Information Services (Get Rating) Fidelity National Information Services, Inc engages in the provision of technology solutions for financial institutions and businesses. It operates through the following segments: Banking, Merchant, Capital Markets, and Corporate and Other. The Banking segment focuses on serving financial institutions with core processing software, transaction processing software, and complementary applications and services. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FIS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (NYSE:FIS Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Fidelity National Information Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fidelity National Information Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sotera Health (NYSE:SHC Get Rating) has earned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the seven research firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $16.67. Several equities analysts recently commented on the stock. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of Sotera Health from $22.00 to $21.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on shares of Sotera Health from $8.00 to $19.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Sotera Health from an underweight rating to a neutral rating and increased their price objective for the company from $6.00 to $18.00 in a research report on Monday, January 23rd. Finally, Wolfe Research raised shares of Sotera Health from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $25.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 10th. Get Sotera Health alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On Sotera Health A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in SHC. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Sotera Health by 402.0% during the 4th quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 3,477,868 shares of the companys stock worth $28,275,000 after purchasing an additional 2,785,022 shares during the period. Boston Partners grew its stake in Sotera Health by 243.2% in the 3rd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 3,109,343 shares of the companys stock valued at $20,997,000 after acquiring an additional 2,203,400 shares during the period. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC grew its stake in Sotera Health by 3,594.8% in the 3rd quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 1,378,845 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,404,000 after acquiring an additional 1,341,526 shares during the period. Two Sigma Investments LP acquired a new stake in Sotera Health in the 3rd quarter valued at $7,422,000. Finally, State Street Corp grew its stake in Sotera Health by 75.5% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,518,749 shares of the companys stock valued at $49,342,000 after acquiring an additional 1,083,900 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.21% of the companys stock. Sotera Health Stock Performance About Sotera Health SHC stock opened at $17.05 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $4.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.00 and a beta of 2.09. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $17.47 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $11.88. Sotera Health has a one year low of $5.78 and a one year high of $24.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.15, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a current ratio of 0.81. (Get Rating) Sotera Health Company provides sterilization, and lab testing and advisory services in the United States, Canada, Europe, and internationally. The company's sterilization services include gamma and electron beam irradiation, and EO processing; Nelson Labs comprise microbiological and analytical chemistry testing; and advisory services for medical device and biopharmaceutical industries. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Sotera Health Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sotera Health and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NatWest Group plc reduced its position in shares of Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP Get Rating) by 6.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 9,432 shares of the railroad operators stock after selling 632 shares during the period. NatWest Group plcs holdings in Union Pacific were worth $1,953,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Chilton Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $40,000. Power Corp of Canada purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the 1st quarter worth approximately $40,000. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $44,000. Ten Capital Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in Union Pacific by 162.9% during the 3rd quarter. Ten Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 234 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $46,000 after buying an additional 145 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Boyd Watterson Asset Management LLC OH purchased a new stake in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $54,000. 77.27% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Union Pacific alerts: Insider Activity In other Union Pacific news, EVP Elizabeth F. Whited sold 2,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $213.00, for a total value of $532,500.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 39,080 shares in the company, valued at $8,324,040. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.28% of the companys stock. Union Pacific Trading Up 2.3 % NYSE:UNP traded up $4.43 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $198.64. 3,280,101 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,113,423. The company has a quick ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.60. The business has a 50-day moving average of $200.09 and a two-hundred day moving average of $203.95. Union Pacific Co. has a twelve month low of $183.69 and a twelve month high of $250.52. The company has a market capitalization of $121.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.70, a PEG ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.11. Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 24th. The railroad operator reported $2.67 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.75 by ($0.08). Union Pacific had a return on equity of 58.41% and a net margin of 28.13%. The firm had revenue of $6.18 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.26 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.66 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.46 EPS for the current year. Union Pacific Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 28th were paid a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.62%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 27th. Union Pacifics payout ratio is currently 46.35%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts have commented on the company. Barclays boosted their price objective on Union Pacific from $220.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 11th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price target on Union Pacific from $215.00 to $207.00 in a research report on Wednesday, March 15th. Cowen upped their price target on Union Pacific from $213.00 to $222.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 25th. Susquehanna upped their price target on Union Pacific from $215.00 to $218.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 25th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group dropped their price target on Union Pacific from $243.00 to $240.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 25th. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $218.48. Union Pacific Company Profile (Get Rating) Union Pacific Corp. engages in the provision of railroad and freight transportation services. The company was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Omaha, NE. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Union Pacific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Union Pacific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PDS Planning Inc cut its position in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:VWO Get Rating) by 6.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 775,070 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 51,891 shares during the quarter. Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF accounts for 4.8% of PDS Planning Incs portfolio, making the stock its 7th largest position. PDS Planning Incs holdings in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF were worth $30,212,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in VWO. Signaturefd LLC boosted its stake in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 3,906.2% in the third quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 4,950,880 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $180,658,000 after purchasing an additional 4,827,299 shares during the period. Jane Street Group LLC grew its holdings in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 843.4% during the 3rd quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 4,898,835 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $178,758,000 after acquiring an additional 4,379,584 shares in the last quarter. Yale University grew its holdings in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 49.6% during the 1st quarter. Yale University now owns 10,971,356 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $506,109,000 after acquiring an additional 3,637,900 shares in the last quarter. Adviser Investments LLC grew its holdings in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 6,844.1% during the 4th quarter. Adviser Investments LLC now owns 2,049,565 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $85,405,000 after acquiring an additional 2,020,050 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec acquired a new position in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF during the 3rd quarter worth $72,980,000. Get Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF alerts: Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Price Performance Shares of VWO stock opened at $40.49 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $70.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.00 and a beta of 0.70. Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF has a 1-year low of $34.88 and a 1-year high of $46.44. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $40.39 and a two-hundred day moving average of $39.35. Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Profile The Fund seeks to track the performance of the FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap China A Inclusion Index, that measures the return of stocks issued by companies located in emerging market countries. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VWO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:VWO Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Delek US (NYSE:DK Get Rating) had its price target reduced by equities researchers at Wells Fargo & Company from $24.00 to $22.00 in a report released on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an underweight rating on the oil and gas companys stock. Wells Fargo & Companys target price would suggest a potential downside of 6.06% from the companys current price. Several other research analysts have also commented on DK. Mizuho cut their price objective on Delek US from $30.00 to $25.00 in a research report on Friday, March 10th. Piper Sandler lowered shares of Delek US from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price target for the company from $49.00 to $32.00 in a report on Friday, January 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered shares of Delek US from a buy rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $33.00 to $24.00 in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. TheStreet lowered Delek US from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a report on Wednesday, December 7th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Delek US from $27.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Friday, January 20th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Delek US presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $30.42. Get Delek US alerts: Delek US Trading Down 1.6 % DK stock traded down $0.38 during trading on Thursday, reaching $23.42. 1,397,621 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,802,030. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $24.68 and its 200-day moving average price is $27.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.57 billion, a PE ratio of 6.67, a P/E/G ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 1.46. Delek US has a 52-week low of $20.63 and a 52-week high of $35.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.79, a current ratio of 1.20 and a quick ratio of 0.71. Insiders Place Their Bets Delek US ( NYSE:DK Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 28th. The oil and gas company reported $0.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.93 by ($0.05). Delek US had a return on equity of 35.96% and a net margin of 1.27%. The business had revenue of $4.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.14 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned ($0.61) earnings per share. Delek USs quarterly revenue was up 44.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Delek US will post 5.03 earnings per share for the current year. In related news, CEO Avigal Soreq bought 6,775 shares of Delek US stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 14th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $22.63 per share, with a total value of $153,318.25. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 94,400 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,136,272. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, CEO Avigal Soreq purchased 6,775 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 14th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $22.63 per share, for a total transaction of $153,318.25. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 94,400 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,136,272. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Reuven Spiegel purchased 2,000 shares of Delek US stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 14th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $22.60 per share, with a total value of $45,200.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 33,148 shares in the company, valued at approximately $749,144.80. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 1.50% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in DK. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. boosted its holdings in Delek US by 44.3% during the first quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 1,582 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 486 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. grew its holdings in Delek US by 22.1% in the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 22,726 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $482,000 after buying an additional 4,120 shares during the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. increased its position in Delek US by 3.6% in the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 76,831 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,630,000 after buying an additional 2,683 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Delek US by 55.2% in the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 36,779 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $780,000 after acquiring an additional 13,076 shares during the period. Finally, APG Asset Management N.V. bought a new stake in shares of Delek US in the first quarter valued at approximately $217,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.34% of the companys stock. Delek US Company Profile (Get Rating) Delek US Holdings, Inc engages in petroleum refining, and the transportation, storage, and wholesale distribution of crude oil. It operates through the following segments: Refining, Logistics, Retail, and Corporate and Other. The Refining segment processes crude oil and other purchased feedstocks for the manufacture of transportation motor fuels, including gasoline, diesel fuel and aviation fuel, asphalt, and other petroleum-based products. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Delek US Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Delek US and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Whitecap Resources Inc. (TSE:WCP Get Rating) shares passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$10.33 and traded as high as C$10.90. Whitecap Resources shares last traded at C$10.81, with a volume of 1,848,346 shares changing hands. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages have weighed in on WCP. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on Whitecap Resources from C$13.50 to C$14.00 in a report on Friday, February 24th. TD Securities increased their price objective on shares of Whitecap Resources from C$16.50 to C$17.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 21st. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on shares of Whitecap Resources from C$14.00 to C$12.00 in a research note on Tuesday, December 13th. National Bankshares raised their price target on shares of Whitecap Resources from C$15.00 to C$15.50 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group decreased their price target on shares of Whitecap Resources from C$15.00 to C$14.50 in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of C$14.83. Get Whitecap Resources alerts: Whitecap Resources Stock Performance The companys fifty day simple moving average is C$10.50 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$10.34. The company has a current ratio of 1.29, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 37.10. The stock has a market capitalization of C$6.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 3.98, a P/E/G ratio of -0.33 and a beta of 2.91. Whitecap Resources Increases Dividend Insider Transactions at Whitecap Resources The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 17th will be issued a dividend of $0.0483 per share. This is an increase from Whitecap Resourcess previous monthly dividend of $0.05. This represents a $0.58 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.39%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 30th. Whitecap Resourcess payout ratio is currently 21.48%. In other Whitecap Resources news, Director Grant Bradley Fagerheim purchased 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, March 13th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of C$10.14 per share, with a total value of C$101,400.00. In the last ninety days, insiders purchased 17,660 shares of company stock valued at $178,651. Insiders own 0.23% of the companys stock. Whitecap Resources Company Profile (Get Rating) Whitecap Resources Inc, oil and gas company, acquires and develops petroleum and natural gas properties in Canada. Its principal properties are located in West Central Alberta, British Columbia, Southeast Saskatchewan, West Central Saskatchewan, and Southwest Saskatchewan. As of February 14, 2022, it had a total proved plus probable reserves of 701,829 thousand barrels of oil equivalent. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Whitecap Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Whitecap Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. This page may be updated if the event is repeated Past Event - Saturday, April 22, 2023 This page may be updated if the event is repeated LGBTQIA2S+ high schoolers and allies are invited to attend this free, after hours event. DMLs PRIDE 365 Shines at Prom Dayton Metro Library will celebrate PRIDE by hosting a Teen Pride Prom at the Main Library, Saturday, April 22, from 5:30-9 pm. LGBTQIA2S+ high schoolers and allies are invited to attend this free, after hours event. Prom-goers can enjoy an evening of dancing, crafts, food, and other activities, including learning about resources that are available from DMLs community partners who support LGBTQIA2S+ and have helped make Teen Pride Prom possible: Q+ Health Alliance, Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region, The Rubi Girls, and PFLAG Dayton. Attendees are encouraged to dress to express their identity. Changing areas will be available at 5 pm, if needed. To attend the prom, teens must be in grades 9-12 and have completed a permission slip (digital or paper). Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay coming out of the district prison, Karimnagar (Photo by arrangement) Hyderabad: Telangana BJP President Bandi Sanjay Kumar who was arrested in SSC paper leak case was released from jail after a court in Hanumakonda granted him bail on Thursday night. Sanjay Kumar, a Lok Sabha MP from Karimnagar constituency, was named as the prime accused in the case relating to the alleged circulation of Class 10 (SSC) Hindi examination question paper in groups of an instant messaging app. He was arrested by the Warangal Police on April 5 on charges of criminal conspiracy and malpractices, among others. Speaking to reporters after being released from jail, Kumar demanded that the state government inquire into the paper leak case with a sitting judge and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's son and minister KT Rama Rao should be expelled from the cabinet. "The state government should announce an ex-gratia of Rs one lakh to each student who suffered due to question paper leak. These three demands should be met," he said. He alleged that 30 lakh candidates who appeared for service commission exam suffered due to paper leak and hence KT Rama Rao should be dropped from the cabinet. "Your (KCR) family is liquor and leaker family," he alleged and charged that the state government was trying to divert the issue of Telangana State Public Service Commission paper leak case. He dared the Warangal Police Commissioner AV Ranganath to swear on his cap which has the Indian emblem (three lions) that whatever the official said was true. He claimed that the police commissioner did not know the difference between paper leak and malpractice. The BJP leader asked in what way he was related to the case when somebody forwarded the leaked question paper to his mobile phone. He found fault with the police for not issuing a notice before the arrest. Kumar said his party would intensify the agitation against the TSPSC paper leak issue. The MP and three others arrested in the case were on April 5 remanded in judicial custody till April 19 by a court in Hanamkonda and they were lodged in a jail in Karimnagar. A minor boy, who had allegedly taken photos of the paper from the exam centre in Hanamkonda after being told to do so by two accused, was also apprehended. Sanjay Kumar had filed a bail application which the court accepted Thursday night after hearing the arguments and counter-arguments. The principal judicial magistrate court granted bail to Sanajy Kumar on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 20,000 with two sureties. Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay coming out of the district prison, Karimnagar (Photo by arrangement) Hyderabad: Shortly after walking out of the Karimnagar jail after being granted bail in the SSC Hindi question paper leak case on Friday, Telangana BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar vowed to expand the party's demand for a probe by a High Court judge to include the leak of SSC exam papers, along those of the TSPSC. Sanjay, speaking to the media after being released from jail on Friday, said the BJP would continue its tenacious fight against BRS misrule while criticising the Chandrashekar Rao-led state government for the manner in which he was arrested, questioning how he was detained without being given a notice. Sanjay, who was arrested after midnight on Wednesday in connection with the SSC paper leak and was remanded to 14-day judicial custody before securing bail, stated that the BJP would step up its agitation for a judicial investigation into the TSPSC exam paper leak, and that the party's demand that IT minister K.T. Rama Rao be removed from the Cabinet over the issue had not changed. Additionally, he demanded a Rs. 1-lakh compensation to each student affected by the TSPSC paper leak, claiming that 30 lakh candidates had suffered. "The BJP will not back down from its demands for thorough investigations into these paper leaks. We will intensify our protests to demand accountability from the government. Further, claiming that Warangal police commissioner A.V. Ranganath "has no idea what he is doing and he displayed his utter inefficiency in investigating the case," the BJP state president challenged the police officer to swear on his cap, which bears the National Emblem of the Sarnath Lions, that he was telling the truth. "By naming me and arresting me, he displayed his utter inefficiency in investigating the case. We will not let him go free after this, he will have to face the consequences for his actions," Sanjay remarked. "Just because someone sent me a question paper, does it imply that I am involved," Sanjay asked, adding that the charges that the person who shared the question paper was known to him were absurd. "Several hundred people take selfies and share information with me. I am willing to swear under oath that I had nothing to do with the SSC question paper leaks. Is the Warangal CP ready to do the same," Sanjay asked. The BJP leader stated that the police "behaved in a most heartless manner" when they detained him illegally without a warrant. "The police raided my house. I was in Karimnagar to attend the ninth day ceremony of my mother-in-law who treated me like a son. I was to perform the rites but the police did not even let me do that. We will seek legal remedies over the police action, the raid on my house. I have absolutely no connection with the SSC question papers leak issue." BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar. (Photo: Twitter/@bandisanjay_bjp) HYDERABAD: On BJP Formation Day, BJP state president Bandi Sanjay Kumar wrote a letter to party members from Karimnagar jail, where he has been remanded to two weeks judicial custody in the SSC paper leak case, stating that jails were nothing new to him because he has been fighting for the people's causes and that he was arrested because he had questioned Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao's continued silence on the issue of paper leaks, putting the future of about 30 lakh youth at a grave risk. Sanjay, who released the letter through his brother Bandi Sravan Kumar, stated that his arrest in the SSC paper leak case was part of a larger conspiracy by Chandrasekhar Rao to demoralise the party and the cadre, but that they would not be intimidated by the ruling party's "devious plans." Stating that there was no question of succumbing to the conspiracies of Chandrashekar Rao and giving up the fight, Sanjay recalled how Prime Minister Narendra Modi had withstood similar conspiracies hatched by the previous rulers against him post-Godhra violence in Gujarat in the form of court cases and malicious campaign in the media. "Yet, Modi did not backtrack and bounced back to power to become the Prime Minister with the support of party workers," he said. "Arresting me and harassing BJP workers is like hitting the ball to the ground. We shall bounce back with the same force," Sanjay said in the letter. Sanjay stated that the time had come to depose the corrupt Chandrashekar Rao government, which was embroiled in a slew of scandals including illegal liquor trade, drug peddling, question paper leakages, gambling, and land encroachment. "Because the BJP is exposing all of these scams involving KCR's son KTR and his daughter Kavitha, the government is targeting me and putting me behind bars in false cases in order to damage the BJP's image," he said. Stating that he was prepared to go to jail for the larger interests of the people, Sanjay claimed that the BRS government had brought false charges against him because he had championed the cause of the 30 lakh unemployed youth who had to suffer as a result of the TSPSC paper leak. In the letter, Sanjay reminded that the BRS government had "taken the lives of 27 Intermediate students due to malpractices in spot valuation in the past" and now, it was playing with the lives of SSC students. "It was the BJP which had raised its voice in Parliament over the sacrifices of the youths during the movement for separate state. Now, it is the same BJP which is fighting for the cause of the unemployed and the students," he asserted. Sanjay expressed regret that he would be unable to attend the Prime Minister's official programmes and public meeting in Hyderabad on April 8, and urged party leaders and workers to mobilise large crowds, including unemployed youth to make it a grand success. Quotes: "Arresting me and harassing the BJP workers was like hitting the ball to the ground. We shall only bounce back with the same force." "Because the BJP is exposing scams involving KCR's son KTR and his daughter Kavitha, the government is targeting me and putting me in jail on false charges in order to damage the BJP's image." Bandi Sanjay Kumar, state BJP president The stage is set for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Hyderabad on Saturday. (Photo: R. Pavan) Hyderabad: The stage is ready for Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Hyderabad on Saturday, with arrangements made for a slew of development projects to be launched by him, as well as the laying of foundation stones for others. After visiting the Secunderabad railway station to flag off a Vande Bharat Express to Tirupati, Modi will address a public meeting at the Parade Ground later in the morning. He will virtually lay the foundation stones from Parade round for various projects, including the redevelopment of the Secunderabad station. Though Modis visit is an official programme, the BJP has been working hard to mobilise people to attend the public meeting and party leaders said they expect more than one lakh people to attend to hear Modis address. Modi's visit comes as political developments have heated up in the last two days, with the arrest of state BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar in connection with the SSC Hindi question paper circulation case. Sanjay, who was released on bail from the Karimnagar jail on Friday morning, visited the meeting venue on Friday night to check on the arrangements. He said that his name was put in the case because of Modi's programme and an attempt to demoralise BJP cadres. However, such tactics will not be a setback, according to Sanjay, who thinks that a big number of people will attend the gathering to hear Modi speak about the development schemes that the Centre has undertaken and is implementing in Telangana. He claimed that one of the reasons his name was dragged into the case was in view of Modi's programmes in the city and an attempt to demoralise the BJP cadres. However, such tactics will not be a setback, Sanjay stated, adding that a large number of people will attend the gathering to hear Modi speak about the development programmes that the Centre has undertaken and is implementing in Telangana. Earlier in the day, Union minister G. Kishan Reddy told reporters that Modi's visit demonstrated the importance of development in the country, regardless of which state it is or which party is in power in that state. "People will understand that the Centre is for the development of all states, there is no place for politics here. The BJP government at the Centre and Prime Minister Modi do not discriminate between states. It is the BRS government that indulges in discrimination. This can be seen clearly in the constituencies that are represented by BJP MLAs by how the BRS government neglects development. Even in the Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency which I represent in the Lok Sabha, it is the same case," Kishan Reddy said. BJP state president and MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar being greeted by the party members in Karimnagar on Friday. (Photo: Y. Radhakrishna) HYDERABAD: The top brass of the BJP, including Union home minister Amit Shah and party president J.P. Nadda, threw their weight behind state BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar, and urged him to intensify the agitation against the K. Chandrashekar Rao-led BRS government for its "anti-people and undemocratic policies" as well as draw attention to the issues faced by the people. Following Sanjays release from the Karimnagar jail on Friday morning, Nadda and Shah, who called the state party chief to inquire about his well-being, reportedly encouraged and supported him, urging him to intensify the agitation for justice for the people and holding the BRS government accountable for its wrongdoings. The top BJP leaders reportedly told Sanjay that the party stood behind him and the people in the fight against the BRS government. Union minister Smriti Irani and BJP general secretary Sunil Bansal, who is in charge of the party's organisational affairs in Telangana, were among the others who reached out to Sanjay. BJP general secretary Tarun Chugh, who spoke to the media along with Sanjay in Karimnagar, maintained the events of the past few days "are a victory for Telangana students and youth. It is also a victory for all those who are standing up against the loot and undemocratic and unlawful acts of the KCR government." While stating that Sanjay's release was a slap in the face for the KCR government, Chugh claimed that, "Sanjay emerged as not only Telangana's hero leading the battle against the corrupt and dictatorial KCR, but also as an inspiration for everyone else". "The Chief Minister must understand that jail walls and bars can no longer contain the anger people of the state have against the KCR government," Chugh continued in the same tone. According to Chugh, Telangana was under the control of a "loot mafia," which has now evolved into the "question paper leak mafia". "How did these leaks happen? Who is in the kingpin behind these leaks? The BRS government manufactured Sanjay's arrest to deflect public attention away from these questions. We have an Alibaba government in Telangana, as well as 40 thieves who are plundering the people and the state. KCR put the final nail in his own coffin with the arrest of Sanjay," he remarked. Chugh further demanded that a sitting High Court judge investigate both the TSPSC and SSC paper leaks, that Rs 1 lakh be paid to each student affected by the TSPSC paper leaks, and that KTR be sacked from the Cabinet. Alexei Moskalyov, a Russian man who was charged with discrediting the country's army after his daughter drew an anti-war picture, is being held in Belarus, Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported, citing the Russian embassy in the country. TASS cited the embassy's press service as saying: "We confirm that citizen of the Russian Federation Alexei Moskalev was detained on the territory of the Republic of Belarus. Now he is in a pre-trial detention center in the city of Zhodino". Also Read | Russia seizes Bakhmutka River's west bank, says UK defence ministry Alexei Moskalyov was convicted of discrediting the armed forces and given a two-year jail term, leaving his daughter Maria, or Masha in the diminutive, in the hands of the state. Masha last year drew a picture in a school art class last year that featured Russian missiles flying towards Ukraine and the slogans "Glory to Ukraine" and "No to Putin, no to war", touching off her father's legal troubles. French President Emmanuel Macron was greeted by a huge crowd at a university in southern China as he neared the end of a three-day state visit in which he has repeatedly pushed his counterpart Xi Jinping to help end the Ukraine conflict. Macron, who landed in the capital Beijing on Wednesday, has said he is seeking to dissuade China from supporting Russia's invasion of its neighbour. On Friday, he flew to the southern city of Guangzhou, where he was mobbed by hundreds of screaming students and fans desperate for a selfie or a high-five with the French leader, in stark contrast with China's own staid political system. Also Read | France needs healing period, says PM without offering tonic Macron, whose name was chanted by some in the crowd, then spoke to students in the campus gym and answered their questions, before beginning an early dinner with Xi ahead of meetings with Chinese investors and a flight home. Russia's conflict with Ukraine has dominated Macron's visit to China -- his first since 2019. In talks with Xi on Thursday, he said: "I can count on you to bring Russia to its senses and everyone to the negotiating table". And, according to a French diplomat, Xi expressed a willingness to speak with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, but only when the time is right. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, who is accompanying Macron on his visit, welcomed Xi's openness to speaking with Zelensky. But in contrast with the amicable Macron, von der Leyen has struck a more firm tone in her talks with Chinese officials this week. On Thursday, she said she had shared her "deep concerns about the deterioration of the human rights situation in China" with officials, and warned Beijing that arms shipments to Russia would "significantly harm" relations. Moscow however, has poured cold water on prospects of Beijing's mediation, insisting on Thursday it had "no choice" but to press on with its Ukraine offensive. "Undoubtedly, China has a very effective and commanding potential for mediation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "But the situation with Ukraine is complex, so far there are no prospects for a political settlement." Beyond the war in Ukraine, Macron's visit has also focused on firming up a crucial trade partnership. Pakistan's Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has cancelled his visit to the US to attend the spring meetings of the World Bank and the IMF and hold talks with officials to unlock a much-needed $1.1 billion IMF bailout, amid deepening domestic political uncertainty and developing judicial crisis, according to a media report on Friday. During the visit, Dar was to meet the International Monetary Fund management for the removal of bottlenecks in the staff-level agreement on the revival of the stalled bailout package. Also Read | Pakistan responds to India's notice on Indus Waters Treaty Sources said that Dar would not attend the spring meetings of the World Bank and the IMF that will take place from April 10 to 16 in Washington, The Express Tribune newspaper reported. I am not going due to the domestic state of affairs, the newspaper quoted Dar as saying. The deepening political uncertainty and developing judicial crisis were said to be the reasons behind the cancellation of the trip to Washington, the paper said. Dar had the plan to address the financial and political worlds concerns regarding the continuity of the Pakistan government, future economic plans and bridging the once again trust deficit with the multilateral lenders. The sources said that Minister for Economic Affairs Sardar Ayaz Sadiq would also not go to the United States due to the prevailing uncertain political conditions. The economic affairs minister always represented Pakistan at the World Bank. Ayaz is considered very close to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and also handled the political affairs of the allied parties. The development came amid the widening chasm between the judiciary and the federal government over holding polls in the country's politically crucial Punjab province. The federal government asserts that it has the power to delay the polls and hold them with the general elections in the country after August this year. However, former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party has been pushing for early polls and demanding that instead of delaying the elections in the Punjab province, the national assembly should be dissolved and general elections called in the country. Finance Secretary Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh and Economic Affairs Secretary Kazim Niaz would now represent the government at the WB-IMF spring meetings. During the visit, Dar scheduled meetings with the presidents of WB, Asian Development Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank the three multilateral creditors that were very crucial for Pakistans plans to raise $6 billion in additional loans to meet the last IMF condition. Cash-strapped Pakistan is awaiting a much-needed $1.1 billion tranche of funding from the Washington-based IMF, which was originally due to be disbursed in November last year. The funds are part of a $6.5 billion bailout package the IMF approved in 2019, which analysts say is critical if Pakistan is to avoid defaulting on external debt obligations. The IMF programme, signed in 2019, is going to expire on June 30, 2023, and under the set guidelines, the programme cannot be extended beyond the deadline. The pending 9th review was scheduled to be completed in December 2022 and the 10th review should have been kick-started from February 2023. The 11th review was scheduled to commence on May 3. Also Read | Pak soldier, 8 terrorists killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province Pakistan and the IMF have been negotiating the resumption of the stalled programme for months but have yet to reach an agreement. There is no easy solution available to fix the ailing economy of Pakistan and the government is of the view that they have taken all the tough decisions for reviving the stalled IMF programme. Pakistan, currently in the throes of a major economic crisis, is grappling with high external debt, a weak local currency and dwindling foreign exchange reserves, enough to shore up for barely one month's imports. The current volatile political situation in Pakistan has become a factor in delaying a much-needed deal with the IMF. Indian political highlights: 'Why abolish the reservation of Muslims... It clearly shows vendetta, hate politics,' says Siddaramaiah Norway on Friday said the movie Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway was a "work of fiction" and incorrectly depicted the Nordic country's belief in family life. "It incorrectly depicts Norway's belief in family life and our respect for different cultures. Child welfare is a matter of great responsibility, never motivated by payments or profit," Norwegian Ambassador Hans Frydenlund said on Twitter. The film, starring Rani Mukherjee, depicts the story of an Indian immigrant couple whose children were put under foster care in 2012. "Child welfare is not driven by profit. The alleged claim that 'the more children put into the foster system, the more money they make' is completely false," the Norwegian embassy said in a statement. Also Read | Rani Mukerji shares experience of working with her 'hero, one and only' SRK It said alternative care was a matter of responsibility and not a money making entity. The statement said the film was a "work of fiction, even though it is based on an actual case". "The case being referred to was resolved a decade ago in cooperation with Indian authorities and with the agreement of all parties involved," it said. The statement said eating with hands or having children sleeping in bed with their parents were not considered practices harmful to children and were not uncommon in Norway, irrespective of cultural background. The embassy asserted that Norway is a democratic and multicultural society. "In Norway, we value and respect different family systems and cultural practices, also when these are different to what we are accustomed to - apart from corporal punishment in the upbringing. There is zero tolerance for violence in any shape or form," the embassy said. It said children are placed in alternative care when they face neglect or are "subject to violence or other forms of abuse". The statement highlighted that "such experiences" are difficult for those involved in it and that "child welfare cases are not easy" for the children, parents, and the Child Welfare Service. In another setback to the Congress, former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy joined the BJP on Friday amid mounting speculation that more politicians from the region are likely to join the saffron party in the coming days. Congress veteran AK Antonys son Anil Antony had joined the BJP on Thursday. Joining the party, Reddy said Congress was on the decline, and the leadership refuses to deliberate on what was ailing the party. Reddy, the last CM of the undivided Andhra Pradesh, quit the Congress in 2014 following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. He had floated his own outfit the Jai Samaikyandhra Party. In 2018, he rejoined Congress. He again resigned from the party on March 11. Also Read | Can joining BJP bring Kiran Kumar Reddy out of political oblivion? Sources said two former parliamentarians from the region are likely to join the BJP soon. There is speculation that Konda Vishweshwar Reddy and Dharmapuri Srinivas may join the BJP. BJP senior leader Arun Singh and Union minister Prahlad Joshi welcomed Reddy into the party. The four-time former MLA said he could not believe that there would be a day when he would leave Congress. Unfortunately, the Congress has lost elections in state after state, due to bad decisions by the party high command, he said. There needs to be a reality check within Congress. When one falls sick, we take them to the doctor. But in Congress, theres no such intent. Thats why I left. Welcoming Reddy, Joshi said: Reddy is a good cricketer, too. He opened his inning in the Congress, and now, after closing that inning, he has opened a new inning. And I know he will score and bat very well. NCP supremo Sharad Pawar on Friday surprised his colleagues in the Opposition with a spirited defence of the Adani Group through an interview in a news channel owned by the conglomerate and opposed the demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into it. Pawar, whose party has kept away from the Opposition protests on Adani that included a joint complaint to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against the group, questioned the Hindenburg report and expressed displeasure over disruptions in Parliament over the issue even as it batted for Opposition unity. Read | Pawar says cant ignore Savarkar's sacrifice in freedom struggle, but more pressing issues in country today Soon after, a surprised Congress underlined that the NCP may have its own views but 19 like-minded parties are convinced that the PM-linked Adani Group issue is real and very serious. Party General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said in a statement, but all 20 like-minded Opposition parties, including NCP, are united and will be together in saving the Constitution and our democracy from the BJP's assaults and in defeating the BJP's divisive and destructive political, social and economic agenda. However, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra minced no words in her tweet, "Adani-owned channel interviewing Adanis friends to tell us how he is being targeted. Long live Indian Media - you truly are a rare species!" Barring Trinamool Congress, which had openly favoured a Supreme Court-monitored probe, almost all Opposition parties were jointly raising the demand for a JPC. Pawar-led NCP also joined the Opposition inside Parliament but did not participate in joint protests against Adani. Referring to the Hindenburg report, he told NDTV, "such statements were given by other individuals too earlier and there was a ruckus in Parliament for a few days but this time out of proportion importance was given to the issue. The issues that were kept, who kept them, we had never heard of these people who gave the statement, what is the background. When they raise issues that cause a ruckus across the country, the cost is borne by the country's economy, we cannot disregard these things. It seems this was targeted." "An individual industrial group of the country was targeted, that is what it seems. If they have done anything wrong, there should be an inquiry," NDTV, which the Adani Group bought in December last year, quoted him saying. Read | Explained: How Adani moved stealthily to acquire NDTV stake He said that he did not support the demand for JPC, saying the Supreme Court has appointed a committee to probe the issue with a Supreme Court judge, an expert, an administrator, and an economist. "On the other hand, the opposition wanted a parliamentary committee to be appointed. If a parliamentary committee is appointed, then monitoring is with the ruling party. The demand was against the ruling party, and if the committee appointed for an inquiry has a ruling party majority, then how will the truth come out is a valid concern?" he said. "If the Supreme Court, who no one can influence if they were to conduct the inquiry, then there was a better chance of the truth coming to light. So, after the Supreme Court announced an inquiry, there was no significance of a JPC Probe. It was not needed," he said. Asked about why Congress was pushing for a JPC, he said he cannot say what was the intent but added the reasoning could be that the media would report the JPC proceedings on a daily basis and "perhaps someone" wanted the issue to "fester for two to four months". He claimed that the truth would not have come out through a JPC probe. A Dalit woman was allegedly raped and set ablaze in Rajasthan's Barmer district, police said on Friday. The victim, who suffered 40 per cent burn injuries, is undergoing treatment at a government hospital in Jodhpur, they said. Pachpadra police station SHO Rajendra Singh said the alleged incident occurred on Thursday. The accused, identified as Shakoor, allegedly raped the woman and then poured some chemical on her before setting her on fire. The accused, who lives near the victim's house, has been arrested, Singh said. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the police added. British and Irish diplomats have met Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and expressed concern about the slow pace of the trial in the case of 2017 rape and murder of British-Irish national Danielle McLaughlin. McLaughlin (28) was allegedly raped and murdered at Canacona in Goa in March 2017. A local man was arrested in the case and the trial is currently ongoing at the District and Sessions court in Margao. British Deputy High Commissioner Alan Gemmell and Anita Kelly, Consul General of Ireland, Western India, met CM Sawant on Thursday. In a joint statement released after their meeting, Gemmell and Kelly said it had been six years since Danielle's murder. "Ensuring a quick conclusion to the court case is a significant priority for the British and Irish Governments as well as, of course, for Danielle's family," the statement read. Also Read | Andhra youth kills woman mistaking her for Snapchat friend They had raised the case with the local authorities over the years and came to Goa together to express their concern about the pace of the trial and its impact on Danielle's family, the two said. "We are grateful to Hon'ble Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for being receptive to our appeal," they added. Andrea Brannigan, Danielle's mother, said in a statement: "My precious daughter Danielle's life was unexpectedly taken from her in a brutally savage attack over six years ago in Goa." "I continue to push for a conclusion to the court case in the hope that I may then try and rebuild my and my family's lives with the knowledge that I have done everything in my power that I could possibly do to get justice for Danielle," she added. Bard Financial Services Inc. raised its holdings in Chevron Co. (NYSE:CVX Get Rating) by 2.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 66,945 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,380 shares during the quarter. Chevron makes up 1.0% of Bard Financial Services Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 24th largest holding. Bard Financial Services Inc.s holdings in Chevron were worth $12,016,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of CVX. New England Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Chevron by 106.3% in the third quarter. New England Asset Management Inc. now owns 4,439,965 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $637,889,000 after purchasing an additional 2,288,050 shares during the period. Legal & General Group Plc lifted its holdings in shares of Chevron by 16.3% in the 2nd quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 13,569,692 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,964,620,000 after buying an additional 1,899,104 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its position in shares of Chevron by 7.6% during the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 12,052,751 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,731,739,000 after buying an additional 847,841 shares in the last quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC grew its position in shares of Chevron by 28.3% during the 3rd quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 3,477,683 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $499,801,000 after buying an additional 767,699 shares in the last quarter. Finally, California Public Employees Retirement System increased its stake in shares of Chevron by 18.3% during the third quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 4,550,363 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $653,751,000 after buying an additional 703,646 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 69.37% of the companys stock. Get Chevron alerts: Insider Activity at Chevron In other Chevron news, VP Rhonda J. Morris sold 19,666 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $170.00, for a total transaction of $3,343,220.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 3,967 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $674,390. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 0.32% of the stock is owned by insiders. Chevron Trading Down 1.3 % Shares of Chevron stock opened at $167.65 on Friday. Chevron Co. has a 12-month low of $132.54 and a 12-month high of $189.68. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $164.18 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $169.66. The company has a current ratio of 1.47, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. The firm has a market capitalization of $319.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.17, a PEG ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 1.16. Chevron (NYSE:CVX Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Friday, January 27th. The oil and gas company reported $4.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.16 by ($0.07). Chevron had a net margin of 14.40% and a return on equity of 23.52%. The firm had revenue of $56.47 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $53.97 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.56 earnings per share. Chevrons revenue was up 17.1% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that Chevron Co. will post 14.56 EPS for the current year. Chevron declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock buyback plan on Wednesday, January 25th that authorizes the company to repurchase $75.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the oil and gas company to buy up to 21.7% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are often an indication that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued. Chevron Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 16th were issued a dividend of $1.51 per share. This is an increase from Chevrons previous quarterly dividend of $1.42. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 15th. This represents a $6.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.60%. Chevrons payout ratio is 33.04%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on shares of Chevron from $195.00 to $192.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 27th. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on shares of Chevron from $169.00 to $179.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, January 31st. Mizuho restated a neutral rating and set a $206.00 target price on shares of Chevron in a report on Friday, March 17th. Raymond James cut their price target on Chevron from $215.00 to $212.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 30th. Finally, Piper Sandler decreased their price objective on Chevron from $206.00 to $199.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, December 19th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $189.76. Chevron Profile (Get Rating) Chevron Corp. engages in the provision of administrative, financial management, and technology support for energy and chemical operations. It operates through the Upstream and Downstream segments. The Upstream segment consists of the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas, the liquefaction, transportation, and regasification associated with liquefied natural gas, the transporting of crude oil by major international oil export pipelines, the processing, transporting, storage, and marketing of natural gas, and a gas-to-liquids plant. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Chevron Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chevron and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB Get Rating) Equities research analysts at DA Davidson reduced their Q1 2023 earnings estimates for shares of U.S. Bancorp in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, April 5th. DA Davidson analyst P. Winter now forecasts that the financial services provider will earn $1.13 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $1.16. DA Davidson has a Neutral rating and a $47.00 price objective on the stock. The consensus estimate for U.S. Bancorps current full-year earnings is $4.91 per share. DA Davidson also issued estimates for U.S. Bancorps FY2023 earnings at $4.88 EPS and FY2024 earnings at $5.28 EPS. Get U.S. Bancorp alerts: U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 25th. The financial services provider reported $1.20 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.11 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $6.37 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.61 billion. U.S. Bancorp had a return on equity of 16.13% and a net margin of 21.26%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 12.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.07 earnings per share. U.S. Bancorp Stock Up 1.8 % Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on U.S. Bancorp in a report on Sunday, February 26th. They set a neutral rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on shares of U.S. Bancorp from $55.00 to $49.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, March 24th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of U.S. Bancorp from $50.00 to $54.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, January 27th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of U.S. Bancorp in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Credit Suisse Group boosted their price objective on shares of U.S. Bancorp from $54.00 to $56.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, U.S. Bancorp has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $52.68. Shares of NYSE USB opened at $35.75 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90. U.S. Bancorp has a 52 week low of $32.72 and a 52 week high of $53.88. The firms fifty day moving average is $43.13 and its 200 day moving average is $43.41. The company has a market cap of $54.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.64, a PEG ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 0.93. U.S. Bancorp Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 31st will be paid a $0.48 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 30th. This represents a $1.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.37%. U.S. Bancorps payout ratio is 51.75%. Institutional Trading of U.S. Bancorp Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Mather Group LLC. boosted its holdings in U.S. Bancorp by 20.3% during the third quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 26,579 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,072,000 after buying an additional 4,487 shares in the last quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC raised its stake in shares of U.S. Bancorp by 9.4% during the 4th quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC now owns 145,471 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $6,344,000 after buying an additional 12,524 shares during the period. Allworth Financial LP lifted its position in shares of U.S. Bancorp by 142.8% during the 3rd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 18,239 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $735,000 after buying an additional 10,728 shares in the last quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC grew its stake in U.S. Bancorp by 146.1% in the 4th quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC now owns 61,885 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,699,000 after acquiring an additional 36,735 shares during the period. Finally, IFG Advisory LLC increased its holdings in U.S. Bancorp by 36.3% in the 3rd quarter. IFG Advisory LLC now owns 71,853 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,897,000 after acquiring an additional 19,144 shares in the last quarter. 71.83% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. U.S. Bancorp Company Profile (Get Rating) U.S. Bancorp operates as a bank holding company, which offers financial services including lending and depository services, cash management, foreign exchange and trust and investment management. The firm also offers mortgage, refinance, auto, boat and RV loans, credit lines, credit card services, merchant, bank, checking and savings accounts, debit cards, online and mobile banking, ATM processing, mortgage banking, insurance, brokerage and leasing services. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for U.S. Bancorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for U.S. Bancorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said that Irelands opposition to Britain's Legacy Bill is very clear. Mr Martin called on Westminster to halt the legislations progress. His call came after Amnesty International warned that the Irish Government needed to put a public marker down over the handling of the legacy of Northern Irelands past. Amnesty led a delegation of Troubles victims and families to meet Mr Martin in Belfast on Thursday to discuss concerns over the Bill. The legislation, which has been almost universally opposed, proposes offering immunity for people accused of crimes during the Troubles as long as they co-operate with a new truth recovery body and stopping future court processes. Speaking after meeting the families, Mr Martin said Irelands opposition was made very clear to the British Secretary of State, Chris Heaton-Harris, and to the British Government. We are opposed to the legacy Bill and we had further discussions with the Secretary of State, and we will be having more discussions on that into the future as well, the Tanaiste told reporters in Belfast. Were very anxious that anything that happens in respect of legacy is human-rights compliant and fulfils the European Convention of Human Rights. Mr Martin said there was significant and substantive continuing engagement between the British and Irish governments on the Bill. Everything remains on the table in terms of possibilities, the foreign affairs minister said. But in the first instance, we have to give room and space for the engagement thats currently under way. Mr Martin said the Irish Government wants the British Government to pause progress of the Bill and re-engage with Northern Irelands political parties and victims groups. The Good Friday Agreement the anchor of what underpinned that was the two governments working hand in glove with all of the political parties in Northern Ireland, he said. The big game changer was the synergy and the way that the Irish and British governments worked together and that remains the case. And one of our concerns in respect of the legacy has been theres been a unilateral approach to legacy. Grainne Teggart, Amnesty UKs Northern Ireland deputy director, had earlier called on Ireland to take an inter-state challenge to the European Court of Human Rights if the Bill becomes law. She said the Irish Governments opposition to the Bill should prompt this course of action. It was indicated to the delegation that all cards are on the table, and an inter-state case is under active consideration, she said. Weve called on the Tanaiste here today for the Irish Government to put a public marker down to signal to the UK Government that if they force the Bill through to law, that they will take an inter-state case, she said. We understand from the meeting here today that this is something that is being actively considered and that the Tanaiste is continuing to engage with the Prime Minister around negotiations in regards to dealing with the past and a way forward. Ms Teggart said Amnesty remains significantly and gravely concerned that the UK is not paying heed to the opposition to the Bill. For the victims that we work with, many have been fighting through the courts for decades for a measure of truth, justice and accountability, which the Bill which now permanently deny, she said. They simply dont have, in many cases, the years left that it will take to fight this Bill through the courts if it becomes law. The Irish Government has a critical role to play here they can petition and go directly to the European Court of Human Rights, they can lodge a case within four months of the Bill becoming law and they can expedite this process. Its very clear that the UK Government are not listening to victims here, its therefore all the more vital that the Irish Government do listen, have listened, and take this course of action. The delegation included Eugene Reavey, from Co Armagh, whose brothers were killed by the Glenanne Gang in 1976, Eugene Oliver, whose father Tom was killed by the IRA in 1991, Gerald McAnespie, brother of Aidan McAnespie, who was killed by a soldier in 1988, and lawyer Darragh Mackin. Mr Reavey said they were reasonably well satisfied by the responses from the Tanaiste and his team. He said the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement left victims to one side, adding: The victims have never got to the forefront, theyve been kicked down the road all the time and it is time that we had some sort of closure. I was well pleased with that meeting and I think that the Tanaiste is a man of his word. Mr Oliver said he wants to see the Irish Government put its foot down and not let this go through. Following reports the British Secretary of State plans an austerity budget, People Before Profit has called on all political parties to demand Stormont Permanent Secretaries refuse to implement further cuts. Derry City and Strabane District councillor, Shaun Harkin said: "While the focus is on dignitaries on the way here to celebrate 25 years of the Good Friday Agreement, food has been taken off the plates of tens of thousands of children this Easter. "The decision to slash funding for 'holiday hunger payments' (School Holiday Fund Grants) was a callous political one that can't be justified. "This vicious cut alongside the cynical and reckless DUP Stormont boycott sums up the reality of progress here. To compound this crisis, the Secretary of State has announced the budget will contain more massive across the board cuts. "People Before Profit calls on all political parties to demand Stormont Permanent Secretaries refuse to implement cuts on behalf of the Secretary of State." Cllr Harkin said there was a very clear demand from the "mainstream parties" for the DUP boycott to end, but they also need to make clear whether or not they will agree to implement austerity. He added: "If the Executive was reformed tomorrow, will they agree to implement the cuts to holiday hunger meals, the cuts to the Women's Centre Derry and pay cuts for workers? "This is a critical question. Stormont should not exist to be a vehicle for Tory privatisation and Tory austerity - as it has already with welfare reform, NHS outsourcing, Council cuts and workers pay. "All Stormont political parties should pledge they will not implement budget cuts for the Tories - and begin with a clear directive to Stormont Department chiefs not to agree to force through further damaging cuts." Rolling over for Tory cuts will bring more of them. Implementing Tory austerity only prolongs it. France is showing us how to resist austerity." The political vacuum in Northern Ireland is not to blame for an increased threat from dissident republicans, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said. The PSNI has warned of the potential of dissidents launching attacks on their officers in Derry on Easter Monday. But Sir Jeffrey said the idea that the collapse of the powersharing institutions had fuelled violence doesnt stack up. While Stormont was sitting for many years these dissident republicans engaged in violence, they murdered police officers, he told BBC Radio Four. The DUP leader added: I remember during one sitting of the Assembly they murdered two soldiers in Co Antrim as they were preparing for deployment to Afghanistan. Of course we want to see Stormont fully functioning, but the idea that when we get Stormont back up and running, that dissident republicans will put their guns away, I didnt hear the Chief Constable (Simon Byrne) suggest that. The idea that evil men and women who go out to commit murder react to political circumstances simply doesnt stack up. Some of the Chief Constables police officers have been murdered by these dissident republicans while Stormont has been sitting and indeed they have murdered other people and they have continued with their terrorist activity during all of the period that Stormont was sitting. All of the party leaders have stood together in solidarity with the Chief Constable when these attacks have taken place. MI5 recently raised the terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland to severe, meaning an attack is highly likely. This followed the gun attack on senior detective John Caldwell in Co Tyrone, who has been left with life-changing injuries. Police have blamed the New IRA for the attack. Mr Byrne said that more officers would be moved to frontline duties to counter any potential threats. The DUP has withdrawn its support for the powersharing institutions as part of its protest against post-Brexit trading arrangements. Earlier this year, the UK Government and EU unveiled the Windsor Framework to mitigate some of the trading difficulties which had been caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol. While the DUP says the framework has gone some way to address its concerns, it feels some significant problems remain and has made clear its boycott will continue until it secures further assurances. Sir Jeffrey said his party would be considering a report within the next few days from a consultative panel he established on the framework. He said: It was in Washington that I gave the response, I indicated that there were a number of major areas of concern that we had about the Windsor Framework, that we were engaged in a consultation process. We consult with our people, we talk to our people, we listen to their views. I now have the report from our consultation panel. They have consulted widely with business, with people in the community, we have got that report. We will consider that report in the next few days and then we will go to the Government with the outcome of our consultation and we will press the government on the need to bring forward the legislation they have promised to protect Northern Irelands ability to trade within the United Kingdom and to restore our place within the UK. That is the key to unlocking the door to Stormont. Former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has said the DUP should be given a limited amount of time to make a decision on the Windsor Framework, but if the party does not return to Stormont the British and Irish governments should step in. Speaking to RTE, Mr Adams said the Good Friday Agreement provided for a British and Irish intergovernmental conference. Its rarely been called, the Irish government have not been proactive on it. It deals with non-devolved matters, issues pertinent to our current situation. However, he claimed Sir Jeffrey knows that his party will return to power-sharing. Basically, hes refusing to go into an Assembly over an issue which the Assembly has no responsibility for, or authority over, and can do very little about. Farmers, fishermen and students were all represented in 60 members of a short-lived civic forum that, 25 years on, remains a forgotten part of the Good Friday Agreement settlement. While the agreement is known internationally for bringing peace to Northern Ireland, it is less well known that certain provisions and promises have either fallen by the wayside or never came into being in the first place. And while progress towards a Northern Ireland Bill of Rights has been intermittent over the last two decades, other parts of the agreement have been left in the doldrums. The Civic Forum, written into existence by a few lines in the historic agreement, is today one of those forgotten failures of the Good Friday Agreement architecture. But former members say that it was never destined to fail, with lessons too for politics in 2023. Those involved at the time recall it as a body that did have potential, with one recalling his hope, amid the optimism following the agreement, that the forum could act like citizens parliament. What happened instead was that, even while sub-committees were established and public meetings held, the forum never took on the pivotal role some members imagined. When Stormont collapsed in 2002, the forum folded too. When politicians returned to powersharing in 2007, it was never resurrected. Former member Brian Dougherty says that he never even received a letter telling him that the forum had stopped. As far as he is concerned, formally at least, it has never actually been dissolved. Mr Dougherty, a community worker then who now runs the New Gate Arts and Culture Centre in Derry, was among those who did think the forum could do some good. Initially, I thought it was certainly a worthwhile venture, he told the PA news agency. In hindsight, it never really had or was given a chance to work. He compares it with the much smaller Northern Ireland Policing Board, another body of which he was a member. It was always cumbersome and unwieldy, he said. The Civic Forum had met for the first time at Belfasts Waterfront Hall in 2000, with the gathering in October hailed by First Minister David Trimble and Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon. The chairman, Dr Chris Gibson, an experienced business figure in his early 60s, said at the time the body could tackle even the most complex subjects, telling members he was looking forward to creating the difference which will make this a society second to none to live in, invest in, to visit, or even to hear about and aspire to. To members, a lack of political backing and limited resources helped ensure that, after about 12 plenary meetings over a two-year period from October 2000, it would never get a chance to live up to that rhetoric. Mr Dougherty summarises the problem as far too many people, not enough resources. There wasnt even money for a cup of tea or book a room anywhere. None of the political parties really bought into the process, he said. Other former members have similar recollections. Sharon Haughey-Grimley, who went on to become lord mayor of Armagh City and District, was a student when she was appointed a forum member by Mr Mallon. The youngest member of the forum, she already had a profile in the region after then US president Bill Clinton read out the letter she had sent him as a 14-year-old as he visited Northern Ireland in 1995. Like others, she was excited at the prospect of the forum. Unfortunately, I dont think the forum really ever got an opportunity to properly get going. We were very much given a blank sheet, so whenever we started the forum it was, the forum ourselves, had to develop our terms of reference and a lot of time was given to that. We didnt have the full support of the Northern Ireland Assembly, in particular the unionist parties werent greatly supportive of the forum. But she points to achievements, saying the forum was ahead of politicians at Stormont when it came to tackling issues like the Irish language. I know one of the early issues that had to deal with, within the forum, for our own body, was the issue of language and how we address the Irish language and Ulster Scots as a matter of policy for the forum. When you look back on it now, we were doing that two decades before it was ever dealt with by the Assembly. As the politicians mark the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, powersharing remains suspended, with little indication that the DUP will return to Stormont soon. To some, it is an idea that could be beneficial amid recurring bouts of political deadlock. Initially, it was more of a concept than a fully-formed idea. The concept was for Northern Ireland to be able to address some of the really hard issues you would have to go beyond party politics, says Ulster Universitys Professor Duncan Morrow. In some ways, that concept has proven accurate, that if there isnt some kind of way in which you can address some of the more complicated issues in a wider forum, political parties effectively end up at loggerheads. Prof Morrow is clear that the forum had design problems and could have been better thought through. Nobody is really saying we should go back to the Civic Forum that existed immediately after the Agreement, because it wasnt seen to have worked. But we would need to put a lot of effort into redesigning what it looked like and you might be able to draw more now on ideas of participative democracy. Alan McBride, a victims campaigner, is among those former members with some regrets about the forum. But he also looks back with pride on the efforts to hold public meetings, as well as some of the sub-committee work on issues like poverty and life-long learning. At times, he said, it was even a little boring. But he is clear: We should never lose the vision of it. Laptops Microsoft Laptops Microsoft Surface Pro 7 (PUV-00028) price in India Microsoft Surface Pro 7 (PUV-00028) Updated on 07-Apr-2023 +2 Market Status : LAUNCHED Release Date : 07 Apr, 2023 Official Website : Microsoft Key Specifications OS Windows 10 Home Display 12.3" (2736 x 1824) Processor 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G4 | 1.1 GHz Memory 256 GB SSD/8 GB NA Microsoft Surface Pro 7 (PUV-00028) Price in India: 86,990 ( onwards ) Buy Now Available at Set Price Drop Alert See All Prices Overview PRICES Specs Photos News User Reviews Microsoft Surface Pro 7 (PUV-00028) Price in India Microsoft Surface Pro 7 (PUV-00028) Price In India Starts From Rs.86990 The best price of Microsoft Surface Pro 7 (PUV-00028) is Rs.86990 on Amazon. Merchant Name Availablity Price Go to Store Out of Stock 86,990 Buy Now Disclaimer: The price & specs shown may vary. Please confirm on the e-commerce site before purchasing. Error in pricing: Please let us know. Microsoft Surface Pro 7 (PUV-00028) Full Specifications Basic Information Model name : Surface Pro 7 Launch date (global) : 07-04-2023 operating system (with version) : Windows 10 Home laptop type : 2 in 1 Display Resolution : 2736 x 1824 display size (in inches) : 12.3 Connectivity connectivity : Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Memory ram included (in gb) : 8 GB Physical Specifications laptop weight (in kgs) : 0.770 laptop dimension (in mm) : 292 x 201 x 90 Processor processor model name : 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G4 clock speed : 1.1 GHz graphics processor : Intel Iris Plus Boost Clock Speed : 1.10 GHz Storage Storage drive type : SSD Storage drive capacity : 256 GB Power battery backup (in hours) : 10.5 Hours battery type : 4 Cell Sound Warranty And Manufacturer Info Details Of Pre-Installed Software Error or missing information? Please let us know. Microsoft Surface Pro 7 (PUV-00028) Price in India Updated on 7th Apr 2023 Store Product Name Price Amazon Microsoft Surface Pro 7 PUV-00028 12.3" (31.24 cms) Touchscreen 2-in-1 Laptop (10th Gen Intel Core i... 86,990 Disclaimer: Digit, like all other media houses, gives you links to online stores which contain embedded affiliate information, which allows us to get a tiny percentage of your purchase back from the online store. We urge all our readers to use our Buy button links to make their purchases as a way of supporting our work. If you are a user who already does this, thank you for supporting and keeping unbiased technology journalism alive in India. Microsoft Surface Pro 7 (PUV-00028) In News View All Microsoft Surface Laptop 3, Surface Pro 7, Surface Pro X announced Microsoft released a range of Surface devices at the October 2019 event. The company launched the Surface Laptop 3 and Surface Pro 7, powered by 10th Gen Intel Core processors. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 3... Microsoft Surface Pro X, Surface Pro 7 and Surface Laptop 3 now available in India Microsoft has announced that the Surface Pro X, Surface Pro 7 and Surface Laptop 3 are now available in India. The devices are available both offline and online. The ways in which we connect, work... Microsoft Surface Pro 7, Surface Laptop, ARM-powered Surface renders leak ahead of launch Microsoft will be hosting a launch event tomorrow, on October 2. The company is expected to release the 2019 Surfaces devices. However, the renders of Surface devices have appeared online, thanks to the popular tipster... Microsoft Announced Surface Pro 2 The Surface Pro gets a powerful update in the Surface Pro 2, at least on paper. Microsoft is also throwing in a bunch of new accessories to make the Hybrid more attractive. Microsoft has revealed... Explore More Mobile Laptop Gaming The Google Pixel 7 was launched in October 2022 along with Google Pixel 7 Pro. The Google Pixel 7 comes with flagship configurations carrying a Googles Tensor G2 chipset. Flipkart has offered crazy deals on the Google Pixel 7 including a 5% instant discount, bank offers and an exchange offer. The phone was launched at a price of 59,999 but the instant discount drops the price to 56,999. Flipkart offers on Google Pixel 7 Google Pixel 7 is available at a discounted price of 56,999. Flipkart has offered a 5% instant discount on Google's high-end phones. Google Pixel 7 has some bank offers as well on Flipkart which can give you more discounts on it: -7000 Off On American Express Bank Credit and Debit Card Transactions. -7000 Off On Axis Bank Credit and Debit Card Transactions. -7000 Off On HDFC Bank Credit and Debit Card Transactions. -7000 Off On ICICI Bank Credit and Debit Card Transactions. -7000 Off On SBI Credit and Debit Card Transactions. Last but not the least, we have an exchange offer available on the smartphone which promises a discount of up to 30,000. If you have an old spare phone which works well and is in good condition, then you can trade it in with the new Google Pixel 7. After availing of the exchange offer and bank offer, the Google Pixel 7 will cost you just 19,999. Google Pixel 7 specifications Google Pixel 7 is backed by the Google Tensor G2 chipset coupled with 8GB RAM and two storage options come along; 128GB and 256GB. The phone runs on the latest Android 13OS. It is equipped with a 6.3-inch AMOLED display with the support of a 90Hz refresh rate and HDR10+. It is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus. In terms of camera, the phone comes with a dual camera setup holding a 50-megapixel primary camera and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens. It boasts a 10.8-megapixel selfie shooter. The Google Pixel 7 is packed with a 4355mAh battery with the support of 20-watt wired fast charging and 20-watt wireless charging. For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. Vivo recently launched the Vivo X90 series in China and we have some good news. According to online reports, we might get an updated version of the same pretty soon. Digital Chat Station reveals that a refreshed model called the Vivo X90S will be released soon. It will run on the yet-to-be-announced Mediatek Dimensity 9200+ chipset. This will make Vivo X90S Vivo's second offering with MediaTek's Dimensity 9200+ chipset after iQOO Neo8 Pro. Reports further revealed that the MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ chipset will earn an AnTuTu score of about 1,350,000 points. This could beat the scores of the Vivo X90 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra which are the two most powerful Android phones available in the market currently. This score is a total of the CPU, GPU, memory, and UX performance. This means that whenever MediaTek announces the new platform, it is not just going to be a simple processor upgrade. Vivo X90 Specifications Let's take a look at the specifications of Vivo X90Ss predecessor. The Vivo X90 is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 9200 chip and has an Octa-core processor. It comes in an 8GB RAM and 128GB storage option. On the display front, it features a bezel-less 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz and a front-camera punch hole. The phone has a triple camera setup with a 50-megapixel wide-angle lens, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and an additional 12-megapixel lens for up to 20x Digital Zoom, and up to 2x Optical Zoom. It runs on a 4810mAh battery which supports 120W fast charging with USB type-C support. For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. Samsung develops closer connection in Vietnam than in India, according to DIGITIMES Research As the global manufacturing industry experiences diversification rarely seen in previous decades, Samsung Electronics has spearheaded the relocation wave. According to DIGITIMES Research, the significant investment by Samsung in Vietnam has created a reciprocal relationship between the company and local governments, representing a huge difference in Samsung's investments in Vietnam and India. According to Yen Chou, an analyst and project manager at DIGITIMES Research, South Korean suppliers moved to Vietnam a least a decade ago, with massive investments beginning in 2016, when South Korea agreed to deploy the THAAD missile defense system by the US, arousing fierce opposition from Beijing and anti-Korea sentiment among the Chinese population. Yen further said that South Korea-based companies, unable to reduce their reliance on China overnight, decided to invest in Vietnam, which is geographically closer to China-based suppliers of key electronics components. With massive investment comes more investment, resulting in a relatively matured and vertically integrated supply chain in Vietnam than in India for Korea-based companies. Korea-based memory makers, such as Hanyang Digitech and Hana Micro Vina, assemble memory modules in Vietnam before shipping them to their primary customers like SK Hynix and Samsung. Additionally, Samsung Electro-Mechanics' manufacturing facility for FC-BGA is expected to begin mass production in July 2023, further enhancing Korean companies' vertical integration in Vietnam. Aside from being more vertically integrated, the clustering effect of Samsung's suppliers in Vietnam is more apparent than in India, as Samsung's suppliers are geographically close to each other in the Southeast Asian country. According to Chou, although Samsung has maintained a close relationship with the Indian government, the interaction level is still lower than that with Vietnam, with Lee Jae-Yong, executive president at Samsung Electronics, frequently visiting Vietnam and meeting with high-level Vietnamese officials, such as Nguyen Xuan Phuc or Pham Minh Chinh, in Vietnam or South Korea. Chou further said Vietnamese local governments are willing to share Samsung-related news on their official websites due to Samsung's significant contribution to local economies, be it exports or job creation. On the other hand, Samsung periodically releases information disclosing its progress on supply chain localization on its Vietnamese website, including the numbers of tier-1 and tier-2 suppliers, which Samsung does not do in India. Still, Chou clarified that most Vietnam-based suppliers collaborating with Samsung are engaged in low-level materials, plastic products, or packaging solutions, as there were no influential local EMS giants in Vietnam as in India, such as Dixon Technology, for Samsung to outsource part of its product manufacturing. Chou said that while China-based EMS providers like Wintech are setting up manufacturing facilities close to Samsung's plants in Vietnam, it is possible that Samsung outsources to Chinese EMS players or India-based EMS companies for assembling before shipping worldwide. Although Samsung focuses more on investments in Vietnam, India will play a larger role in the mid-to-long term, at least for mobile phone manufacturing. Chou said that according to Samsung's roadmap, Samsung's Noida facility located in Northern India is expected to produce up to 108 million phones, close to the 127 million units made in Samsung's two plants in Vietnam and accounting for one-third of Samsung's total mobile phone production of 3.78 million units by 2026, adding that Samsung's roadmap may change depending on global demand for handsets. Credit: DIGITIMES Research About the analyst Yen Chou received a master's degree from the Graduate Program for Political Economy at National Cheng Kung University. He worked as an assistant researcher at the Institute for Physical Planning and Information and as an analyst at DIGITIMES Research. His research focuses on Samsung's global investment and operation, the electronics industry in Vietnam, and the display industry in South Korea. US export controls might be rolled out in stages, potentially covering all immersion DUV systems, according to DIGITIMES Research As the US rallies Japan and the Netherlands to tighten up semiconductor export controls against China, the world has been trying to estimate the extent of damage done to the Chinese semiconductor industry, especially to China's leading foundry Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC) Under US pressures, ASML has since 2019 stopped shipping its extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines. However, following the US export controls introduced last October against Chinese semiconductor industry that covered logic chips at 16/14nm or below, deep ultraviolet (DUV) machines have been under growing spotlight. Current sanction list only reflects ASML's preferred scenario According to ASML's statement on March 8, 2023, it will need to apply for export licenses to ship the most advanced immersion DUV systems. However, it will take time for these controls to be translated into legislation and take effect. Notably, in the statement ASML indicates that the additional export controls "do not pertain to all immersion lithography tools but only to what is called 'most advanced.'" Since ASML has not received any additional information about the definition of 'most advanced', it interprets the reference as TWINSCAN NXT:2000i and subsequent immersion systems. Meanwhile, citing an anonymous source, Bloomberg reported on March 13, 2023 that ASML is planning to restrict the sales of three immersion systems: TWINSCAN NXT:2000i, NXT:2050i and NXT:2100i. As the parameters of export controls remain vaguely defined, DIGITIMES Asia analyst Eric Chen believes that the potential scope of export controls negotiated between the Netherlands, the US and Japan could be wider, pointing to Washington's resolution to constrain Chinese advanced process technology development. The three aforementioned argon fluoride immersion (ArFi) DUV systems, according to Chen, likely only reflects ASML's preferred scenario. Even though conventional ArF lasers can only bring feature size down to 57nm technology node, immersion lithography allows ArF laser to further shrink feature size down to 38nm. With the aid of multiple patterning, ArF immersion DUV machines can further overcome lithographic limitations and produce chips at 16/14nm nodes. In other words, a ban on immersion DUVs can impede not only Chinese 16/14nm development, but also 28nm process technology. Noting the ongoing negotiations between Washington and the Hague, Chen doesn't rule out the possibility that the US export controls on lithography machines will be rolled out progressively. While the most likely scenario will see certain advanced immersion systems falling under US export controls, the full scope of US sanctions might cover all immersion lithography systems. Chinese semiconductor equipment market dominated by foreign suppliers Currently, more than 80% of China's semiconductor equipment market is dominated by suppliers not based in China. For example, ASML, Nikon and Canon lead the lithography segment, while Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment Co. (SMEE) is the only China-based lithography machine supplier. Other equipment segments such as etching, ion implantation, coating, wafer cleaning and testing have been led by players based in the US, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, and South Korea. Even though China is cultivating domestic champions like Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment Inc. China (AMEC) and NAURA Technology Group Co., these domestic players are still years behind their international peers, especially when China's semiconductor equipment ecosystem is not complete enough to support advanced process development. The piling US semiconductor curbs against China will certainly impact the production level of the Chinese chip industry. On the demand side, according to Chen, industrial downturn will decrease domestic demand for production capacity. As IC design houses or brand companies seek production diversification to reduce geopolitical risks, demand for China-based production capacity will be further dented. The only silver lining to the adverse situation would be the mid-to-long term demand for chip production capacity, particularly specialty process technologies, driven by Chinese 5G, AI and EV developments. According to DIGITIMES Research, when it comes to 12-inch wafers, SMIC's capacity is estimated to grow from 160,000 wafers per month (WPM) in the end of 2022 to more than 190,000 WPM by the end of 2023. For 8-inch wafers, the capacity is expected to remain the same at 350,000 WPM. Questions to be answered With the full scope of US sanctions remaining unknown, Eric Chen also drew attention to a potential issue that has largely evaded mainstream discussion: with China's legacy and advanced nodes at 28nm and below coming under sanctions, who can fill the capacity gap as the supply of 28nm production capacity remains tight? SMIC, for example, has been a major contributor to legacy capacity: as of 2022, 80% of SMIC revenue came from legacy nodes at 40nm and above, while advanced nodes at 28nm and below only accounted for 20%. Moreover, according to Chen, the current US sanctions still leave loopholes, as the chemicals necessary for semiconductor production - a sector led by Japan - are not covered by the current export conrol regime. Finally, Chen also raised the possibility that the US would gain better insights into Chinese industry's chip design capabilities as Chinese chipmakers turn to foundries based outside of China, though it remains to be seen to what extent the foundries in question would be willing to cooperate with Washington's requests. Chart 1: China's semiconductor equipment self-sufficiency remains to be strengthened Credit: DIGITIMES Chart 2: Legacy nodes still contribute to more than half of SMIC's revenue Credit: DIGITIMES About the Analyst: Eric Chen is an Analyst and Project Manager at DIGITIMES Research. Chen received his Master's degree in International Business from Taiwan's Soochow University. His research focuses on foundry industry as well as IC assembly & packaging industry. US, Japanese, and Dutch semiconductor equipment export values to China dropped; more substantial strategies demanded by expert Owing to the US-coordinated chip sanctions on China, the US, Japan, and the Netherlands have seen a significant drop in the total export value of semiconductor equipment to China. Official Chinese estimations have also reflected a drop. As reported by Nikkei, citing a senior official in the Japanese semiconductor industry, Japan's export value of semiconductor equipment to China has seen an annual decrease of 16% in fourth-quarter 2022, while the US and the Netherlands have respectively seen an annual decrease of 50% and 44% in the same period. In contrast, exports of semiconductor equipment to countries other than China have increased, with Japan and the US seeing a 26% and 10% growth, respectively. On the other hand, according to Chinese customs data, China's imports of semiconductor equipment will decrease by 15% annually in 2022 to only US$34.7 billion. Though the Netherlands and Japan have yet to unveil the exact export control measures, the export control has already left its marks. For example, in fourth-quarter 2022, Tokyo Electron saw the revenue share from China dropping by 5 ppt year-on-year, falling to 22%. Apart form the US-coordinated export controls, the sharp decline in China-bound equipment exports can be partly attributed to China's previous anti-covid policy, which stagnated logistics and production, resulting in a decline in equipment investment in China's semiconductor industry. From the second half of 2022, the global semiconductor market showed signs of recessions, which also depressed the investment in semiconductor equipment. Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced on March 10 that it will inform Japan's restrictive measures based on the export restrictive measures proposed by the Netherlands. The Japanese government is currently negotiating with the semiconductor equipment industry for specific measures. According to Dr. Frans-Paul van der Putten, a senior research fellow at the Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael partly backed by the Dutch Ministry of Defense, it is essential that the Dutch government is clear about the long-term aims for its policy on semiconductor technology, that it communicates clearly about these aims, and that they are firmly grounded in Dutch and EU's China strategies. "These strategies need to be considerably more substantial and robust than they currently are," said van der Putten. "Without such an approach, the Netherlands, and the EU as a whole, are likely to get deeply involved in a US-China technology and geopolitical confrontation without being able to steer their own course." Changes in India-Taiwan relations According to Taiwan's representative to India, Baushuan Ger, Indian economic and trade authorities have been keen on forging ties with Taiwan, hoping to have Taiwanese firms construct plants in India. People may still be skeptical about the Indian market. India lacks infrastructure support and people question whether the Indian government is sincere in supporting Taiwanese investors. High-level Indian officials have a "hidden agenda," namely to wean off India's reliance on China. Before 2020, India had been keen on wooing investments from China. But as India's trade deficit with China broke the US$100 billion mark in 2022, "China-less" is now the new political appeal. In the past, India would usually keep a low profile in trade talks with Taiwan, but now Indian government officials are asking the Taiwanese government to encourage wafer foundry houses to establish fabs in India. Within the framework of the US-China trade war, geopolitics is having great bearing on the semiconductor industry. During my visit to India's association of components suppliers, I got a clear message from its officials: it is time India and Taiwan join forces. DIGITIMES has a correspondent in Bengaluru. He joined us in Delhi during our stay in the city. How do we set our guidelines for reporting in India? We basically follow the five major areas that interest the Taiwanese firms: the big-four telecom companies; major EMS firms; unicorn companies; software outsourcing firms; and cross-boundary IC design service providers. Long-term tracking of Indian industries will enrich our database, which will better our understanding of India's high-tech industries. Are government policies important information? The government is eager to let the world know that it is seeking foreign investments. And companies from different sectors may need different government information. We are not in a position to help the Indian government promote its policies; rather we are here to provide Taiwanese firms and the global tech industry with essential information about its policies. We are a media outlet plus consultancy firm. We arrange professional activities that enhance collaboration between Indian and Taiwanese firms. A stronger Taiwanese electronics industry will give DIGITIMES a bigger stage. Next week sees The US President Joe Biden make his first official trip to Ireland since taking up the role back in early 2021. His trip will see him making stops in Belfast, Dublin, Mayo and even Louth, where the President has distant family based in Cooley. It will be a four day visit starting on April 11th and ending on April 14th. This visit will put more pressure on the Gardai, as they look to make sure the leader of the free world is kept safe while in Ireland. And this extra strain on resources has even forced the rescheduling of a Dundalk FC match, despite Biden being out of the country before a ball would've been kicked. "The League of Ireland can confirm one fixture in the SSE Airtricity Mens Premier Division has been rescheduled due to policing requirements for the official state visit of US President Joe Biden to Ireland" read a statement released late last night. "The SSE Airtricity Mens Premier Division fixture between Dundalk and Derry City at Oriel Park on April 14, 2023 has been rescheduled following discussions with An Garda Siochana who have had resources required to manage the fixture safely redeployed to assist the visit of US President Biden to Ireland. "The fixture will now be played on Sunday, 16 April, 2023 at 15:00." The Lilywhites are action twice in the coming days. They host Sligo Rovers later tonight (Friday 7th April), before making the trip to Munster to face Cork City at Turners Cross on Easter Monday (Kick off 5PM). Click the 'Next >' arrow above or 'Next Story' below to go through the gallery The Louth & Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB) Robert Ballagh Art & Photography Competition in its eighth year was open to students and learners attending LMETBs 20 Secondary Schools, three Post Leaving Cert Colleges, three VTOS Centres, nine Youthreach Centres and four Community National Schools. The competition is open to any student or learner who wishes to submit a piece of art. There are seven categories with a total of thirty-eight prizes on offer.The competition judge is arguably Irelands most well-known living artist, Robert Ballagh. A universal Photography Section is judged by internationally renowned Drogheda photographer, Des Clinton. The exhibition ran from Tuesday 14 to Saturday 25 March at the Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda and was a huge success, with 38 pieces of art adorning the gallery walls. The official opening and awards night was held at the gallery on Wednesday 15 March and was a great occasion. The gallery was packed with prize winning students, family, friends, teachers and principals. The competition organiser, Paul Mc Cann an art teacher at St. Olivers Community College, Drogheda, stated that the reason the competition was founded was to provide an opportunity for budding artists across LMETBs education providers to showcase their talents and to achieve some recognition for the same. He praised the students for their outstanding work and complemented their parents, teachers, principals and coordinators for their mentoring and encouragement. He mentioned that some of the winning students have joined our community and student ranks from other countries. Some in the most difficult of circumstances. He commended their bravery, optimism, creativity and contribution to this wonderful exhibition of work. John Halpin, principal of St. Olivers C.C. speaking on behalf of LMETB, expressed his delight that this years awards ceremony went ahead after two years without. He praised this competition that gives LMETB students an opportunity to be creative and to express themselves and said that this is one of the goals of the organisation underpinned by excellence in education, care, equality, community and respect. He congratulated all involved and complimented the winning entries. Robert Ballagh expressed his delight at the high standard of entries this year. He said that every year the quality of work increases and it gives him joy when entering the gallery for awards night and viewing the winning entries framed and hanging as an exhibition. He stated that the creative process is a great confidence booster and that submitting and winning, reinforced this confidence boost in the best possible way. He also mentioned that choosing the winners was an extremely difficult job and that in his eyes every student that entered was deserving of a prize. He congratulated the winners and wished them every success in their future artistic endeavours. Des Clinton congratulated the winners in the photography category and commented on the enjoyment he gained whilst judging due to the quality of work entered, some of which were taken on smartphone cameras. He mentioned that selecting the winners was a hugely difficult task and complemented many of the entries that just missed out on a prize. Declan Clarke, principal of Colaiste Rioga Dunshaughlin called the winning students up for their certificates and prizes. Paul Mc Cann congratulated the staff and students of Dunshaughlin Community College who scooped seven of the ten prizes in the Secondary Schools Category. A special achievement. Paul McCann said he would like to thank Collette Farrell, Tony Conaghy and all the staff in the Droichead Arts Centre for their continued support of the competition, Robuck ffrench from Tara Art Supplies who were responsible for the wonderful art pack prizes, and Conor Thorne of Dealg Design, Ardee, for the beautiful framing of the winning entries. Finally, he would like to thank Robert Ballagh and Des Clinton for judging the competition. Elephant, the musical vehicle of Dundalk based multi-instrumentalist Shane Clarke has just been announced as support for the upcoming Dani Larkin performance in the Oriel Centre, Dundalk Gaol on Saturday 29 April. The works of Elephant wander from an instantaneous summery folk pop, reminiscent of Badly Drawn Boy and Elliot Smith, to more mature meandering pieces with a deliberate deconstructed nature, akin to Broken Social Scene, Justin Vernon or Joanna Newsom. Elephant has rightly garnered much praise on the live front with his earnest vocal delivery and unique lyrical style capturing audiences and securing him performances with Martha Wainwright, BC Camplight and slots at most of the countrys top festivals including Electric Picnic, Body & Soul and Other Voices music trail. With three critically acclaimed albums released since 2015, albums which have been described as a 5 Star "bittersweet masterpiece" by The Irish Times, Elephant is set to release a much-anticipated album later this year. The acoustics and intimate, quirky settings of the Dundalk Gaol will showcase the extraordinary talents of Elephant and this performance is one that should not be missed by his loyal followers and anyone that has heard the tales of how uplifting his live performances are and want to experience it for themselves. Limited tickets for Dani Larkin with support from Elephant are 18 and available from www.orielcentre.ie or from reception in the Oriel Centre. ABOVE: FASTER Project steering group members from East Border Region, South West College, University of Strathclyde and HiTrans alongside elected officials from Monaghan County Council, Meath County Council and Newry Mourne and Down District Council travelled to Dundee recently on a fact-finding trip, hosted by Gary McRae and Claire Pennington from Urban Foresight. An EU-funded programme set up to help facilitate a sustainable transition to electric vehicle use in Northern Ireland, Louth and the other border counties of the Republic, and western Scotland is planning another series of webinars aimed at answering practical questions around EV ownership. The FASTER Project is a 6.4 million EU-funded initiative under the INTERREG VA programme. set up to support the overarching ambition to transition to low carbon transport systems and to demonstrate how each of the three jurisdictions can provide early systems learning in relation to electrification of transport. The project is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body to facilitate the transition to electric vehicles. Match-funding for the FASTER project has also been provided by the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland and the Department for Transport in Ireland, as well as Transport Scotland. One of its main tasks will be to implement the installation of 73 rapid charging stations (50KW capacity and above) across the programme area. This is in response to research which shows one of the main barriers to electric vehicle uptake is the lack of public charging sites and in particular rapid charging infrastructure. The FASTER Project webinar series produced by South West College kicks off on Wednesday April 19 at 10am when host Dr Euan McTurk will examine the topical issue of electricity prices and ask if its still cheaper to drive an electric vehicle. The webinar programme will also look at the following topics: May 24, 10am - Do you need a driveway to run an electric vehicle? June 14, 10am Profit or pitfalls? How easy is it to make money from hosting charge points? September 13, 10am Do we need private cars? Micro-mobility and future transport trends. October 25, 10am FASTER in Scotland and the evolving EV landscape. November 29, 10am FASTER in Ireland and its impact on the EV charging network. The latest series follows on from a successful opening round of webinars which included respected industry guest panellists. Recordings of the first series, which concluded in February, have been viewed more than 40,000 times on the FASTER Projects YouTube channel. Topics for discussion included Basics of EV Ownership, Buying a Used or New EV, Public EV Charging in NI, Caring for Your EV & the Costs of Ownership. Host, Dr Euan McTurk is a battery electrochemist who has been working with battery tech and driving electric vehicles since 2009. He said: The popularity of the webinars is an indication of the growing interest in electric vehicles. They are a really good tool for educating people about the transition to EVs and enhancing awareness of electric vehicles across the projects jurisdiction. We have worked hard to bring topics forward which help answer peoples practical questions around ownership of electric vehicles. A lot of the webinars cover areas which may not necessarily appear on a car brochure but nonetheless can be barriers to the uptake of EVs. To sign up to join the live webinar https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DlHH3DzXSJ6x9jKa6uhsWg#/registration For more information on the FASTER Project visit www.fasterevcharge.com 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. Sinn Fein TD Ruairi O Murchu has said that the huge attendance at the recent Armagh Down & Louth People's Assembly demonstrates the level of interest in planning for a new and united Ireland. Deputy O Murchu said: Over 300 people packed into the Carrickdale Hotel's Bernish Suite on Thursday past to attend the Armagh Down Louth Peoples Assembly. This Peoples Assembly was an opportunity for citizens from the border region to have their say on the future of Ireland. The ill-effects of living under British rule are keenly felt in this area and the implications of Brexit cast a long shadow. The Carrickdale event was the fourth organised by Sinn Feins Commission on the Future of Ireland. It was chaired by Dr Conor Patterson of Newry and Mourne Enterprise Agency. The panel included; Reverend Karen Sethuraman; ICTU Assistant General Secretary Gerry Murphy; Mairead McAlinden former CEO of the Southern Health & Social Care Trust and Aidan Browne of Dundalks DkIT's Regional Development Centre. Deputy O MUrchu continued: In addition to an excellent and varied panel, the contributions from the audience were thoughtful, spirited, informed and very interesting. It was standing room only and the packed gathering heard Uachtaran Shinn Fein Mary Lou McDonald open the event. In a wide ranging address Ms McDonald spelt out the difficulties caused by partition and the opportunities, which she believes, will be created by ending division. The Sinn Fein President extended the hand of friendship to unionists when she said: To those from the unionist culture I extend a sincere welcome the new Ireland must be a warm house for all and your traditions and beliefs must be respected and cherished. I invite you especially to be part of the conversation and for us all to plan for the future together. The Sinn Fein president urged the Irish government to facilitate and support the changing country by establishing a Citizens' Assembly on Irish unity. She said: This is an exciting time for us all; filled with opportunity and hope for a better future. Thats why we need to get it right. Our new constitutional national democracy will emerge from a phased transition and that is why planning and preparation should begin now. Grassroots communities should be involved at the beginning of that process, not at the end. Speaking directly about the challenges facing the border region Ms McDonald added: Our shared challenge is to create a future which is warm and welcoming for everyone and where the potential prosperity of areas like this border region can be fully unlocked. 6 jailed over woman trafficking, abuse in China's Jiangsu Xinhua) 16:22, April 07, 2023 NANJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- A court in east China's Jiangsu Province on Friday handed prison terms to six people after convicting them of trafficking, incarcerating and abusing a woman. Dong Zhimin was sentenced to nine years behind bars for abusing and illegally incarcerating Xiaohuamei, the woman with whom Dong has lived since 1998, according to the municipal intermediate people's court of Xuzhou. Five others received jail terms ranging from eight to 13 years, as well as fines, for the crime of woman trafficking, according to the verdict. Five of the six convicted have pleaded guilty during the two-day trial. In a case that caused a stir on the internet in 2022, the woman later identified as Xiaohuamei was abducted from her hometown in Yunnan Province and taken to Jiangsu Province in 1998. She was later trafficked three times before being purchased by Dong's family in Fengxian County. Between 1999 and 2020, Xiaohuamei gave birth to eight children for Dong. Police said Dong had shackled and incarcerated the victim, and frequently starved her since 2017 after Xiaohuamei's mental illness deteriorated. The court said Dong's abusive acts rendered Xiaohuamei's schizophrenia irreversible and caused serious injuries. Xiaohuamei has been diagnosed with a mental disability. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) WHAT began as a pandemic pastime drawing comic penguin characters, has turned into a major three-book deal for Cork illustrator Sheena Dempsey. Sheena, who grew up in Rochestown and now lives in Folkestone, Kent, already had a string of childrens book illustration credits to her name, including the Dave Pigeon series and Fearne Cottons Yoga Babies, when like many people, she found herself with time on her hands during the Covid pandemic. Keen to utilise the unexpected break from regular commitments, Sheena started creating the first incarnation of what would eventually become a series of graphic novels, now snapped up by Bloomsbury Childrens Books. Where it all kind of began was the very beginning of the pandemic - the first few days that we were in lockdown, said Sheena, a former pupil of Corks Eglantine primary school and Scoil Mhuire who after a spell at art college moved to England to pursue a masters degree and her career in illustration. Id been wanting to make a diary webcomic for a while and Id been talking about it to Mick, my husband. I said the pandemic seemed like a good time to do it; were going to be locked down; Ive extra time on my hands. Not only was he consulted about Isolation Penguin, but Mick became the source of inspiration behind one of two main webcomic penguin characters, fittingly described as polar opposites. An illustration from Sheena Dempsey's Pablo and Splash. It was basically me and my husband as penguins and how we navigated the pandemic together, and our dog was depicted as a tortoise, said Sheena. By the time the webcomic developed into full graphic novel format, the penguins had also undergone some character realignment. In a really good dynamic duo its good to have contrasting characteristics and some of my husbands characteristics are a little bit similar to mine, she said. So I actually gave my husband some of my anxiety and he became the neurotic one in the book and Im the really dynamic one with an impulsive streak! The penguins, who portrayed lighter moments of life during lockdown, soon became popular among Sheenas Instagram followers. I was really enjoying it, to be honest, and it was a respite from my other contracted books, she said. Isolation Penguin also caught the eye of one of Sheenas publishers, who suggested she develop the idea and pitch it as a childrens book. The publisher ultimately rejected the project, but Sheena, after licking my wounds for a while, became determined to see the work to fruition. I thought about it and took it out of the drawer again and said Im going to work on this. An extract from Sheena Dempsey's Pablo and Splash. Sheena, who has illustrated the work of Swapna Haddow, Niall Breslin, Lucy Courtenay, and Simon Philip among others, as well as creating the artwork for last years Holly Bough cover, transformed her waddling comic characters into time travellers Pablo and Splash, who flip back to the era of dinosaurs, the ice age, and ancient Rome. Pablo and Splash are loosely based on the characters from the webcomic, which were loosely based on my husband and I, said Sheena. I worked really hard on it, and I changed agents. My new agent pitched it to 12 publishers and seven out of the 12 came back within two weeks and I had seven offers. It was unexpected and I was completely gobsmacked. I just didnt expect there to be such an interest, she said. It turned into a publishing auction with three rounds and Bloomsbury were the winning publisher. The success of childrens graphic novels such as Dav Pilkeys Dog Manand Mark Bradleys Bumble and Snug for younger readers has highlighted the growing market for the genre, reflected in trends among publishers and agents at last months Bologna Childrens Book Fair. Graphic novels are the gap in the market at the moment, said Sheena. All the American imports like Dog Man are absolutely huge. Kids are just reading them voraciously and I dont think there are a lot of makers in the UK. A few years ago I was looking at graphic novels and I felt there wasnt much uptake from publishers but by the time I was actually pitching, they were all looking for them. I think its a recent thing that the English market has caught up with the US market - and I happened to have the right project at the right time, she said. An illustration from Sheena Dempsey's Pablo and Splash. All the publishers are looking for graphic novel projects and its filtering down to Bumble and Snug, the five-to-eight age group, and at Bologna there was huge demand. Bloomsbury, she said, was a perfect fit for her and the publisher was keen to aim Pablo and Splash at the eight-to-nine readership of the likes of Dog Man. The first book in the series is to be released next January, with book two in November 2024 and the third title in 2025, each book ending with historical facts and how-to-draw guides for budding graphic novelists. With a new Dave Pigeon title with Swapna Haddow also set for release this year, Sheena will certainly not be resting on her laurels after the announcement of the book deal. Im focusing on these three books for the next two years, she said. But I want to make more graphic novels and I have lots of ideas. AMERICAN author Kathleen Aldworth Foster will give her first book its Irish launch in Cork next week, with events at the Freemasons Hall in the city and in Doneraile. It would be an exciting few days for a debut novelist in any circumstances. But for Kathleen it is the culmination of a true labour of love, almost 20 years since she first set foot in Doneraile and more than a quarter of a century since she first heard about the woman on whom she has based her historical fiction novel - Elizabeth Aldworth. The Cork woman, born Elizabeth St Leger in 1695, was the first recorded woman to be initiated into regular Freemasonry. In Doneraile Court: The Story Of The Lady Freemason, Kathleen creates a narrative around what is known about Elizabeths initiation, and in the process offers a fascinating glimpse into the rituals of Freemasonry of the time. Her interest sparked by a chance conversation at the turn of the millenium, Kathleens book is the fruit of years of research. I went to the pyramids in Giza for Y2K, and met a man who told me I shared this Aldworth name with a Lady Freemason, Kathleen tells The Echo. I didnt really know a lot about Freemasonry then, he sent me a book called The Hiram Key and that was the first book on Freemasonry I ever read. Now, today, the author of that book wrote the blurb on the back of [my book]. Author Kathleen Aldworth Foster Kathleen initially assumed Elizabeth Aldworth was British, but the name stuck in the back of her mind, and rose to the surface before a family trip. In August, 2006, I was in northern Israel [for her work as a journalist]. I had one quiet day before I had to leave to meet my family in Ireland for a pre-planned genealogy trip, for another branch of the family. I decided to do a little bit of research before I left but instead of punching in names from Roscommon, I put in Aldworth, and up comes Elizabeth Aldworth, the first time I had seen anything about her on the internet. Thats when I saw she was from County Cork. When she landed at Shannon, she met her family and they joined the driver they had booked for the trip. He heard me telling my dad about Elizabeth Aldworth, that she was from Ireland. And he said, Yeah, not only that, her house is still standing, do you want to go? "He took us straight from the airport to Doneraile Court. At that time it was not open to the public, it was behind a chain link fence and he is the one who told me the whole story. Kathleen was gripped by the tale, particularly given the name. I always had a real connection with the Aldworth name, I was named after my great-grandmother, it is my middle name. Her subsequent research established a family connection to Elizabeth; certainly not direct, it is very, very distant through her husband, but she remained fascinated by the Doneraile womans story. I wanted to know everything about it, I just couldnt imagine how this story could possibly be true. Why would her father and brothers want to kill her? Who saved her, who was there? I just went down a rabbit hole that lasted years, and I focused a lot on Freemasonry because I had this interest from The Hiram Key. And I wanted to see what she had gone through that night to lead to such a story. I spent way too much time going down the wrong paths and having to veer back. I decided this couldnt possibly be a non-fiction book, there is just too much misinformation out there, so decided to roll with it and create a historical fiction novel. So, in addition to researching Elizabeth, Kathleen also found herself studying Freemasonry. Freemasonry is a huge part of the story. That has become a major audience for this book and I didnt see that coming. "I though this book was going to be written for tourists like me who would go to Doneraile and hear the story and want to know more. That was my goal. I thought the Freemasons might be kind of mad at me for writing this book, because they still dont allow women in the regular organisation, and second of all, that a girl could face death for something like this is something they have never denied. But I have had the opposite outcome, Freemasons all around the world are fascinated by her story and they want to know it as much I did. Doneraile Court by Kathleen Aldworth Foster. Through this I have become a lecturer on her life through the research and this family connection I have and the series of coincidences that led to this. Her experience of Freemasonry has not quite matched their famed reputation for secrecy. I have spoken to a lot of Freemasons over the years and they would say we are not a secret society, we are a society with secrets. However, a lot of it can be found out there. These rituals are all written down now. Women are now in co-masonry. They just said the information you seek is out there, you just have to go find it. They would never tell me but they would tell me where to find it. David Butler, who proofread my book, is a member of the Munster Freemasons. He is the provincial archivist and librarian for Munster Freemasonry. He is the man who is in charge of the small museum dedicated to her. The material on Elizabeth Aldworth is in storage at the moment but there are plans for a display following renovations of the Hall in Cork city. Kathleen made a return trip Doneraile in 2013 to continue her research and has been blown away by the assistance she received from many quarters - including then-groundskeeper Mick OSullivan, local historian Michael OOSullivan, David Butler and many others. She is also delighted her research and writing has coincided with major restoration work on the estate, with the house now open to the public for guided tours. The research took time, and there were pauses during busy times in her own life, particularly when twins Elizabeth and Mary came along. But Kathleen has always had a deep certainty that she would write a book and returned to her work until she had her final draft. My dad said this book was preordained when I was given this name. I always felt lucky to have this Aldworth middle name. "Kathleen Aldworth was my fathers grandmother, a wonderful lady. My mother came into the family and also fell in love with her, so much so that she named me after her, it was her that chose this name. I have since given the Aldworth middle name to my two daughters. Kathleens husband Chris, her daughters and extended family are all travelling with her for next weeks events, for the first of what she plans as a series of books based around the life of Elizabeth Aldworth. So for fans of historical fiction, for those who find themselves taken with Doneraile, and for those curious about Freemasonry, there is much more to come. Kathleen will appear at the Freemasons Hall in Cork on Friday, April 14 at 7pm. A limited number of lecture tickets are available. For more information, email Eamonn Connaughton at E.Connaughton@ucc.ie. Book sale proceeds will go to the Freemasons Hall Building Fund, which will include creating a new exhibit space for the Lady Freemasons personal effects. Kathleen is also involved in a number of events on Saturday, April 15. A book signing will take place at Philips Bookshop in Mallow from 12-1pm. A small, private reading will take place in the library at Doneraile Court at 3:30pm. From 5-7pm, a book signing and launch party will take place at Cafe Townhouse Doneraile. Proceeds from books sold at the Doneraile book launch will be donated to local charities. The book can also be bought at donerailecourt.com. Available now WHEN Valda Binding left Cork Airport destined for her dream job as international cabin crew, little did she know she wouldnt return until the world was turned upside down in 2020, with a husband, a toddler and a dog in tow! Valda loved her time in the clouds. During most of my time in the UK, I worked as a member of cabin crew for British Airways and I felt I had achieved my dream! She found love too. I met my husband, Brad, in the (then) traditional way, at a nightclub and we were married in an English country house four years later. She found a new idea as well. It was in preparation for our wedding that the kernel of my new business, takeNplace, was born. The couple intended to take their wedding celebrations to the next level with takeNplace - an Irish wedding photo-sharing platform that consolidates guest photos into a digital album. Valda Binding from Cork, originally from Douglas, now living in Clonakilty. Valda, who is from Douglas, living in Clonakilty, recalls her special day. Neither of us wanted to miss a moment of our wedding day, she says. But we knew we couldnt be everywhere. Our professional photographer would be capturing formal slices of the day but what about those candid moments between our friends and family? Polaroid cameras were still in fashion, but we were looking for something special and more environmentally conscious, so we went digital. Others rowed in to help get the novel idea of the ground. With the help of some good friends in IT, Brad spent the morning of our wedding setting up servers, mounting a TV and running wires in his Lingfield 3-piece suit! Brads technical wizardry allowed guests to capture their moments, store them in one place for us to look back on, and share them in a live sideshow to boot. Nobody missed out on the precious moments of the big day. Our guests loved sharing their favourite moments and we didnt miss a thing, says Valda. The novel idea started to grow wings and take off. Unbeknownst to us, takeNplace had been born, says Valda. Their son, Kaden, was born five years later, says Valda. As I returned to the skies, being away from my son, husband and dog was incredibly hard. I would spend my time off work being thousands of miles away in a hotel room. Missing her loved ones; the glamour and excitement of Valdas dream job wore off. I stuck it out for two more years. Flying was something I was passionate about and the only career Id had, says Valda. Her world changed utterly, when the pandemic hit the globe. In March, 2020, flights stopped. I was grounded immediately, says Valda. It was bitter-sweet. The world was in turmoil, and I experienced some personal loss, but I was home every day and every night with my family. Change was coming. After three months, we decided it was time to make the change wed been discussing for years, says Valda. Our home went on the market, and I started looking for a new role in Cork. Things happened fast. In the end, it all happened in a matter of weeks, says Valda. I was offered an amazing role at one of Irelands most prestigious wedding venues, so we packed up a van and we booked a one-way ticket from Pembroke to Rosslare. The family were destined for a new destination. While unpacking our lives in our new home in Clonakilty, I came across that same digital camera from our wedding day, says Valda. I remembered the delight it gave us and every guest. It had been nearly ten years, technology had progressed - could this be something we could share with more people? Valda Binding with the award from weddingsonline - takeNplace was awarded best Newcomer of the year 2023. It was. With my husbands help, I put together a more modern pilot and got feedback from couples who were finally taking their much-delayed vows, says Valda. With support from the Local Enterprise Office, I worked with developers to build the digital platform, proved it viable, and brought takeNplace to the market in April, 2022. Valda explains the ins and outs of the concept. My platform is designed to be sustainable and easy to use for every guest, she says. Couples print off their dedicated QR code, pop them on the tables, and guests can share their favourite parts of the entire day, straight from their smartphones, without the need for an app or cumbersome registration process. Special memories can be shared and stored away. These photos are securely stored in full quality, for the newlyweds to print, share and treasure, says Valda. Couples can even use existing screens in their reception venue to share these photos as they are being shared in what we call our live slideshow. Its very popular for day twos. The business took off. It was a joint effort. My husband provided technical (carrying), and logistic (driving), support as I started to attend weekend wedding fairs across Ireland, says Valda. She learned a lot during the process of developing taKeNplace. Building taKenplace as a sustainable business has been a learning journey, says Valda. I have learnt the value of shared expertise offered by joining Network Ireland, sales and marketing mentoring provided by Local Enterprise Office and my current participation in the EXXcel Programme for Women Entrepreneurs at the Rubicon Centre, Cork. Valda is a true high-flyer. I was delighted to be a finalist in the West Cork Business and Tourism Awards for our Ditch the Disposable sustainability campaign, and more recently I was thrilled to be awarded weddingsonline Newcomer of the Year 2023. Valda is a capable lady. When I started this new journey, to deliver my 10 year-old wedding project to the world, I understood the sacrifices Id have to make in balancing being mum and business owner. But I never imagined the joy Id feel helping wedding couples add something so special to their day. Valda has come far since she thought of her novel idea. In my first year, takeNplace has been part of over 50 couples big day, including Antigua and Spain, proving that you can take a QR code anywhere. We have saved almost 10,000 candid photos for them to treasure as they start life together, and I love speaking to new couples at wedding fairs as we continue to build. Valda got great support. The support from my family, my husbands technical, creative and administrative support, kind words from my family and friends, and especially time spent designing new posters with my five-year-old son, has been an unbelievable experience, says Valda. She plans expanding takeNplace to new sectors and markets this year. The hard work and late nights continue to award me with an amazing journey, she said. See www.takenplace.com THE prison service has changed hugely in the last 10 years or so, and the case of locking prisoners up and throwing away the key is gone, Ger Manley, governor of Cork Prison, told The Echo in an interview at the prison. Nowadays were looking at rehabilitating prisoners through our workshops, through MTU bringing in lecturers who will help give them the skills they need to get jobs on the outside. Mr Manley has served in the role of governor for the last 12 months. When Mr Manley spoke to The Echo, the prison was about to host its second pop-up restaurant, with meals prepared by prisoners who have graduated from the practical culinary skills course, a collaboration between the Irish Prison Service and the Munster Technological University (MTU), the Cork Education and Training Board (ETB) and the Irish Association for Social Inclusion Opportunities (IASIO). The night would prove to be a big success, with a number of the graduates receiving job offers from hotels and restaurants. One graduate was offered immediate employment and started as a chef this week. Another graduate is due for release in the coming months and has received an offer of employment with a Cork hotel (see panel). From the prisons perspective, were looking at rehabilitating prisoners, were looking at training them so that when they do go back out, theyll have an opportunity, with the skills theyve got in here, to get work, Mr Manley said. Its about realising the potential that prisoners have. Were lucky ourselves that things fell right for us, but some of these lads, a bit of bad luck, wrong career choices, and now were trying to put them on the right track. I often say to prisoners, If we were in opposite chairs, and I had your upbringing Sometimes its where you live, sometimes its peer pressure, sometimes you just take the wrong road. You could be from a very well-to-do family and you could just take the wrong career choice. Basically, what were trying to do when they do come in here is give them that support theyve lacked or need, and we do that through education, and work training, and they get a good structure in here. COURSES Mr Manley said Cork Prison offers many different courses, including painting, horticulture, and carpentry, but he said the process of participation is not always easy, with some prisoners lacking basic literacy skills when they begin their sentence. Were lucky to have the partnership with MTU and other outside agencies such as IASIO, and the ETB, he said. The ETB are so good to us. We have a full-time school here, with a full-time principal and teachers. In some cases we would be talking about teaching basic reading and writing, so, if you like, were teaching from baby infants right up to university level. Often the opportunities you get in life depend on where you came from, and whether you went to school. Mr Manley said the prison system has a renewed focus on rehabilitation in recent years, something he credits in large part to the Prison Services director general, Caron McCaffrey, who was appointed in 2018. The present DG is really pushing the idea that we have to be all about rehabilitation, and shes right. Its coming from the top down, and everybody is engaging. The staff here in Cork are doing a brilliant job, he said. Were trying to rehabilitate prisoners, and when they come in were trying to give them more options. We give them one chance, two chances, three chances, and we have to, just to help them back into society, because some of them have had a bit of bad luck. You have your career criminals, unfortunately thats in the system as well, but anybody that is looking for an opportunity is given one in the prison system. Every prisoner is given a sentence management plan put in front of them when they come in, an officer meets them and they have a plan and all the agencies are involved, the medical side, education, and once the prisoner wants to engage, we encourage them, but we cant force the, he said. Some lads coming in here are embracing the opportunity to work, they know it gives them better opportunities, and it gets them released earlier as well, but if they engage, the way forward is to try and get them employment before they go out. Ninety percent of the time, some of them never got chances. SUCCESS STORY William is described by Cork Prison governor Ger Manley as a real success story in the Prison Services focus on rehabilitation of prisoners and their reintegration into society. Coming from a disadvantaged background, William had left school early and a chaotic life of addiction and crime had led eventually to a four-year sentence in Cork Prison. I went down a bad road with drink and drugs and I came to a low point in my life where I needed to change, the 36-year-old told The Echo over a coffee in a Cork hotel. In Cork Prison he began working in the kitchen, cooking for approximately 300 prisoners every day. From there, he was promoted to the officers mess, where he was recommended for the practical culinary skills course. The programme, which is an intensive eight-week course offering prisoners the experience of working in a restaurant kitchen, is a collaboration between the Irish Prison Service and the Munster Technological University (MTU), the Cork Education and Training Board (ETB) and the Irish Association for Social Inclusion Opportunities (IASIO). When William completed the course, he and his five fellow graduates catered for a full meal at a pop-up restaurant in Cork Prison last year, meeting some 30 prospective employers from the restaurant industry. All six graduates were offered work, and of the six, four are currently in full-time employment, with the other two currently completing their sentences, and they have job offers awaiting when they come out. William said that completing the culinary course and taking up full-time work had completely changed his life. Im respected and liked by people in the community. I never had that before. They know my history, but they know who I am now as well. Governor Ger Manley said Williams successes were thanks to his own hard work in embracing the opportunities offered to him in prison. William got a job coming out of here, and hes nearly 12 months on and hes got two promotions since. He said the proudest moment was when his daughter said Are you going to work tomorrow, because he had never had a job before, Mr Manley said. He just didnt get the opportunities before. Last week, Cork Prison hosted its second Open Door pop-up restaurant, with prospective employers meeting this years six graduates. Colm Carey, resettlement co-ordinator with IASIO, told The Echo there had been several expressions of interest from employers, with one graduate being released on Monday morning of this week and starting in his new role as a chef this Thursday. THE number of Ukrainian pupils in Cork City and county schools has surpassed 1,580, according to the latest figures from the Department of Education. As of Friday, March 31, there have been 15,282 Ukrainian pupils enrolled in primary and secondary schools across Ireland. Out of that figure, 9,877 pupils have been accommodated in primary schools while 5,405 pupils have enrolled in post-primary schools. In Cork, there are now 1,583 Ukrainian children enrolled in schools across the city and county 1,058 at primary level and 525 at post-primary level. These figures represent an increase of 21 Ukrainian students attending primary and post-primary schools in Cork City and county when compared to the previous months figures. There has been an increase of 14 Ukrainian students attending primary school, while seven more students are attending post-primary school in Cork City and county. The department said that according to current data, there is an enrolment rate of 90% among Ukrainian children aged 5-18. To assist with the transition of Ukrainian students and their families into Irish schools, Regional Education and Language Teams (REALT) continue to operate, hosted by the 16 regional education and training boards around Ireland and staffed by regionally-based education support personnel. A 79-YEAR-OLD Cork grandfather, who is the sole carer for his profoundly disabled daughter, has said he felt humiliated when applying for a supplementary welfare payment to cover the repair of their broken-down drier. Billy Corcoran, a retired dock worker and Defence Forces veteran from The Glen, cares for his 43-year-old daughter Amanda, who has cerebral palsy. One of the side effects of the cerebral palsy is that Amanda is incontinent, so her bedclothes need changing constantly and the washing machine and drier are going non-stop, Mr Corcoran told The Echo. The drier packed up on me, and I had a fella call out to repair it, and that cost 170. Mr Corcorans 27-year-old granddaughter, who recently had a baby, also lives in his house because, due to the housing crisis, she cannot secure a place of her own. The laundry would be that high, Mr Corcoran said, holding his hand shoulder-high. I paid 70 before to fix it and theres a bearing going that could go any minute. Mr Corcoran applied for a supplementary welfare payment to cover the cost of the repairs and, he said, he found the Department of Social Protection unhelpful and the necessary form to be over-complicated. I have no problem filling in forms, but it says: Please produce a letter from the GP, he said. You have to wait three weeks for a GP appointment, so how am I going to get a letter from him? Similarly, Mr Corcoran said, the form required three months worth of bank statements, but he is not internet-savvy and cannot access statements. It was a very humiliating experience, he said I felt that their first reaction was to say No, or that I wouldnt be entitled. Mr Corcoran has cared for Amanda for almost two decades and also cared for his wife Mary for six years as she lived with an acquired brain injury until she died in 2012. I have great home helps who call in the morning and evening, and Enable Ireland take Amanda in the afternoon, but from 4pm Im here minding her, he said. Being a carer is a tough bloody job, but because Im on a widowers pension, 246 a week, Im only entitled to a half carers allowance, 127. I spend 100 a week heating the house, and the electricity is 40 a week. I worked hard all my life. I worked 30 years as a docker. I served my country. I was with the 36th Battalion at the Battle of the Tunnel, in the Congo in 1961, when we lost nine guys, three of them Irish soldiers. I was only just turned 18. I dont need charity from no one, I just wanted help when I was in trouble with my drier and it would be nice if you were treated with a small bit of humanity by the country you love. I think carers are very badly treated in this country, because we save the Government millions upon millions, Mr Corcoran added. If, for one day, every carer in Ireland brought the person theyre caring for and landed them in A&E, the country would collapse. The Department of Social Protection was contacted for comment. THE representative organisation for approved housing bodies (AHBs) has said it is not surprising there was a 1bn underspend in housing over the last three years. It follows the publication of expenditure figures from the Department of Housing which revealed a 1bn underspend in capital expenditure on housing across 2020, 2021, and 2022. The Irish Council for Social Housing said the construction sector lockdown of 13 weeks in 2021, with some exceptions, was a very challenging experience for residential housebuilding, particularly as it came after a seven-week construction lockdown and rolling delays in 2020. Brexit-related supply obstacles, price increases, and workforce issues are also understood to have negatively affected delivery. The cumulative impact of this meant that many social housing projects were delayed, and others were unable to commence on time, it said. The publication of the Department of Housings expenditure figures was in response to a parliamentary question from Sinn Fein housing spokesperson Eoin O Broin, who said the massive underspend has contributed to rising levels of homelessness. His party colleague, Cork North Central TD Thomas Gould, told The Echo that its a disgrace and a disaster that the sum of funding was left unspent. Since the ban on evictions was lifted, we have people who are going to become homeless, and at the same time, 1bn wasnt spent, and we have thousands of people on housing waiting lists, he said. Meanwhile, Fianna Fail TD for Cork North Central, Padraig OSullivan, said that he believes the Government will still reach its housing targets by the end of this year. We had the same conversation last year that we werent going to meet our targets, he said. Despite the underspend, we still essentially met the 30,000 threshold that we set ourselves. So, despite the ongoing difficulties in the construction sector, Im quite confident that we will meet our targets as we did last year. Although Mr OSullivan has faith in the department to deliver its target, he is hoping to see a shift of emphasis. I would like to see Government have a greater emphasis on affordable homes, he said. I believe that were building sufficient numbers of social homes in particular and I just think we need to have a greater emphasis on the affordable side of things for people. CALLS have been made for Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to assume responsibility for the failures of the Children Disability Network Teams (CDNTs). 16,342 children are still awaiting contact from their CDNT, said Labour Local Area Rep for Cork City Peter Horgan at the recent Labour Party conference in Cork. Referencing the most recent annual CDNT staff census and workforce review which was published in October 2022, he said: The latest staff census shows as the lead employer of CDNTs, the HSE managed to retain just 61% of its staff in 2022 with the overall vacancy rate across the 91 teams increasing by 6%. 57 teams have vacancy rates above the national average of 34%, with Wexford, Cork, Waterford, Meath and parts of Dublin being the worst affected. In 2022, we saw a reduction of 60,000 therapy hours for children. The effect of this is felt by teams nationally. Despite funding of 105 million allocated to disability services for 2022, we have seen a meagre increase in total staffing levels of 28 people. Mr Horgan said that the lack of pay parity between Section 38/39 teams is unacceptable and that action must be taken immediately to ensure equality and tackle retention. We cannot countenance the shrugging of shoulders from Fianna Fail and Fine Gael ministers any longer. Teams all across the country are decimated, as staff leave for better pay and conditions elsewhere, leaving thousands of children with no hope of essential therapeutic intervention and support." Mr Horgan said it is time for Mr Varadkar to assume responsibility and formally put the full weight of his office behind parents and children. Speaking to The Echo, a spokesperson for the HSE said: Everyone working in the HSE, at a national level, and in each of our Community Healthcare Organisations (CHOs) and our childrens disability network teams, is very aware of the importance of childrens disability services and early intervention in the lives of many families all over Ireland. It is not acceptable to have to wait an extended time for either an assessment of your childs needs or therapy that would help your child and your family. We are sorry to those families who have had a poor experience in trying to access services. Our 91 childrens disability teams are providing care and therapy to thousands of families around the country each day. Each team is supported by a Childrens Disability Network Manager, and team members typically include speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, physiotherapists, and social workers, amongst others, the spokesperson said. The HSE is currently running a national recruitment campaign and said it will continue to work hard to make a difference and to build a sustainable and better service for children. THE IDA has announced 35 new jobs for Cork, as part of wider plans to create 100 jobs across Cork, Galway, and Dublin. Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment Simon Coveney and IDA Ireland announced the creation of 100 jobs across the three counties on Wednesday. The roles are being created across five high-growth companies from Europe and the US. QbDVision, the creators of a first-of-its-kind Digital CMC platform, has announced the opening of its first international office in Cork, creating 15 jobs. The platform has been designed to accelerate the drug development lifecycle and help organisations swiftly and efficiently deliver the next generation of breakthrough therapies. Healthcare solutions company Movano Health has announced that it will expand its Cork base, growing its Irish subsidiary to more than 20 employees. Movano is a purpose-driven healthcare solutions company at the intersection of medical and consumer devices, and makers of the Evie Ring, a health wearable for women. Opened in 2021, Movano Healths Irish subsidiary currently employs five people with offices at the Rubicon Centre in Cork. Making the announcement, Mr Coveney said: I warmly welcome IDAs announcement today that five new companies will be coming to our shores, creating 100 new jobs. The positions will be spread across a range of sectors and indeed cities, demonstrating Irelands position as an excellent strategic choice for global business, both in terms of our geographic location and our wealth of diverse and highly skilled talent. UNIVERSITY College Cork (UCC) and Dell Technologies are working together to support the universitys IT transformation plan while increasing the overall energy efficiency of its IT infrastructure. Ever since the pivot to hybrid ways of learning and teaching, UCC realised it needed to put its IT infrastructure at the centre of its operations. The Cork university subsequently turned to Dell to adopt infrastructure that was fit for purpose and to modernise its processes. Director of information technology at UCC, Gerard Culley, said: We wanted to work with an organisation that shared our values and strategic goals. UCC is committed to working towards a more sustainable future. "Thats why we chose to partner with Dell Technologies. With Dells solutions, weve completely modernised our IT infrastructure, Mr Culley added. With the help of Dells PowerEdge servers, we were able to put in place modern, resilient storage and compute solutions, and achieve incredible results when it came to our energy and carbon footprints. We can deliver more flexible, sustainable, secure and resilient digital services and solutions to our staff and students for years to come. Vice president and managing director, Dell Technologies Ireland, Jason Ward, explained: With remote and hybrid learning now the reality for most third level institutions, UCC reached out to us to deploy a modern digital infrastructure and help UCC staff and students avail of a central and functional IT system. "By harnessing the power of modern storage solutions, we are able to support the university as it continues to thrive as an innovative, competitive and sustainable research-led hub. Dell Technologies is also helping UCC increase their energy efficiency with next-gen series. UCC is the worlds first Green Flag Campus and has a strong commitment to sustainable practices. Updating to Dell PowerEdge servers has reduced annual greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 70% year-on-year while reducing power usage by over 50% and requiring close to 40% less cooling. THE new Michael Collins statue planned for Cork City is set to be located on Grand Parade at almost the precise spot where the leading figure in the struggle for Irish independence gave a speech to an estimated crowd of 50,000 people more than a century ago. Last September, a motion proposed by Fine Gael Councillor Shane OCallaghan was passed by the members of Cork City Council, asking the local authority to facilitate the placing of a statue of Collins in the city centre, with the funds raised by the Michael Collins 100 Committee - a non-political organisation dedicated to honouring the legacy of Collins. Following a number of meetings with City Council officials and members of the Collins 100 Committee, a decision has now been reached to locate the statue - which will be based on the iconic 1922 photograph of Collins with a Pierce bicycle - on Grand Parade close to the city library. The site has historical links to Collins as on March 12, 1922 the so-called Big Fella attended a Pro Treaty rally on Grand Parade with a number of his fellow Pro Treaty TDs. That day, Collins delivered a passionate speech to a crowd of what was reported to have been around 50,000 people. Chairman of the Michael Collins 100 Committee, Tim Crowley, said: We discovered when lining up the buildings from the photographs and film footage that the site the Council is giving us is actually more or less on the spot of where he made the speech, which is incredible." Michael Collins addressing a mass meeting in Cork in March, 1922. A statue of Collins will be erected on Grand Parade to honour 'The Big Fella'. Photo: INA Renowned sculptor, Kevin Holland, has been commissioned to make the statue. The North Cork based sculptor has created many pieces of public art, seen throughout the country, including the Michael Collins statue in Clonakilty, unveiled by Liam Neeson in 2002. The new city centre statue was originally intended to be slightly over life size but, following the selection of the site, a decision has been made to make it a bit larger. Since we learned that this site is available its a big open site obviously on the Grand Parade weve been talking to the Council and weve come to the decision to make the statue slightly bigger so it will actually be 7ft to the top of the hat, Mr Crowley said. Originally, we were saying maybe 6ft 4 slightly over life size, Michael Collins was 5ft 11 but were now going to go to the 7ft because otherwise it could be a bit lost in such an open space. The figure will be made of bronze but the bicycle will be made of stainless steel and then coated with bronze because the bronze wouldnt be strong enough to support the whole thing. Cllr Shane OCallaghan said he believed the location to be the perfect site for the new statue given the historical links, and also the plans for upgrades to the area under the Grand Parade Quarter project. One site in particular on Patrick Street was located as also being suitable but, given the historical and cultural significance of the Grand Parade site, it was a collective decision of both the Collins 100 Committee and the City Council Executive that Grand Parade would be the ideal site, he added. The new statue is planned to be unveiled on August 20, just before the 101st anniversary of Collins death. Anyone who makes a donation can request and will receive a special commemorative certificate. For further information or to make a donation see www.michaelcollinsstatue.com/. A PROTEST is set to be mounted in the city next week in opposition to the Governments decision not to extend the eviction ban. The protest is being organised by the Cost of Living Coalition, which is made up of opposition parties such as Sinn Fein and the Socialist Party, trade unions, and other local community groups and activists. The protest will take place outside City Hall at 5pm on Tuesday. The Government are hiding behind the two-week Dail recess to shelter from the storm of protest over their decision to lift the eviction ban, said Socialist Party TD for Cork North Central, Mick Barry. Its important that the pressure is kept on them to reinstate the ban and I urge everybody who supports this aim to join the protest at the City Hall on Tuesday. Speaking at an event in Cork last week, Tanaiste Micheal Martin defended the decision not to extend the eviction ban, stating that the Government had been advised that prolonging the eviction ban would exacerbate the homeless situation in the fullness of time. Ahead of the protest, Sinn Fein councillor Mick Nugent said that the party is still campaigning to get the ban reinstated and has submitted a motion ahead of the Cork City Council meeting on Tuesday, proposing that the council would write to the housing minister for this purpose. If youve not been able to get to certain venues in the past while, owing to the immediate aftermath of the Covid crisis or life changes therein, it would be easy to have missed the foundations of another wave of young bands getting their start and putting in the hard yards toward getting noticed. Fred Zeppelins in particular has been a regular home to a brace of intrepid outfits, including The Cliffords, Mossy and Little Known among others. One band thats impressed in recent times has been alternative-rock four piece Pebbledash - having won over judges with a strong performance at UCCs Battle of the Bands heats and final, and sold out An Spailpin Fanach for their debut headliner, new single Running Away shows off the depth of influence, and wholesale earnestness of endeavour thats underpinned the bands existence to date. "I think it's been really positive", says guitarist Fionnbharr Hickey of the response to the single's release. "I think it's because we didn't expect it, compared to the last couple of songs we've released. I guess that's because we've just been gigging loads, trying to put our name out there a bit more, in Cork. We've gotten lots of nice messages, especially off of other bands. It's something that we put a lot of time into. I was just surprised at how positive everything was." It's not very commercial: five-and-a-half minute runtime, long enough, plenty of different parts, whereas our first two singles were nearly radio songs - it's definitely developed a good bit, adds drummer Sean OFarrell. But we got a feature on Void Magazine as well, online, which was pretty cool, an Irish magazine, they did a small piece on it, which was cool to see, as well. The song itself alternates in places between clean-cut, shimmering shoegazing and messy, recognisably Irish math-rock, to good effect - a document of the bands no-nonsense live presence, recorded in a weekend with Keelan OSullivan of Dublin band Post-Party. Says Hickey: What comes to me naturally is indie or kind-of pop songs, but then the bands I'd be into would be Just Mustard, NERVES, Fontaines DC, all that kind of stuff, which is a lot more melancholic and darker. I think that's something that really resonates with me, as well. I'd also be really big into Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan, so it's all about the writing, and what the lyrics are saying. Adds guitarist Micheal ODwyer: I think 'Running Away' was probably one of the first songs we'd written where I was completely doing my own lead parts [after joining six months ago], where I was really trying to contrast with what Fionn was doing, separating the guitar parts, effects and what we were doing sonically to mould things together and make something bigger. We're very happy with the interplay, I guess, between the two guitars in our sound, and how that fits together live and on recordings as well. While the bands satisfaction at how things are beginning to change and come together can be seen in their confidence on stage, it takes a lot of work to get there. In the past twelve or so months, the opportunities to do that foundational work have changed, as the dust continues to settle on the citys venue situation. Pebbledash have had an exciting start to their performing career post-pandemic. Picture: Emilyn Cardona The band gets into what the specific challenges are for a young band - one that hadnt gotten a taste of the local-music rite of passage as it was pre-crisis - as the post-Covid situation continues to play itself out. We weren't really involved in the music scene prior to Covid at all - we'd only started, I guess, as Covid was kind of coming to an end, almost, says Hickey. So that way, we didn't really know what the music scene was like in Cork previously, and whatnot, so it's almost like we were dropped in the deep end straight away. We didn't establish any rules, or know who people were, what the venues were like. I remember my first time going to Cyprus Avenue, it was to see [Galway shoegazers] NewDad. It was all still seated. I sat down next to the guys from The Love Buzz, and I only realised halfway in that I recognised them from somewhere. I feel like if Covid wasn't a thing, that I would have come to Cork for college in first year, and gotten straight into it, known everything after a year, what was going on. We almost had blindfolds on. We were messing around in my garage, performing all the time, during Covid, adds OFarrell. I guess we didn't even consider doing a gig, because we couldn't, like. It was just messing around, we didn't take it too seriously because the option wasn't even there. It was only when the restrictions were lifted and they started doing the Battle of the Bands again, that we said okay, we might throw something together to enter that. Theyve come out of the period with resolve and a set of songs, though - and while the fear for the band and their peers is that the immediate post-Covid spike in gig attendances and the general appreciation of live music that proliferated may be beginning to plateau, the lads are encouraged by the citys scene at present, even if all the pieces arent quite in place in terms of reaching people in a post-gig-poster/flyer world. The way that bands promote themselves seems to be shifting [entirely] towards the social media sphere, says ODwyer, and that seems to be one of the really dominant ways to communicate with your audience, more so than before, and I'm not sure if we're really all used to that. I think there's probably a steep learning curve to it, to be interested in marketing and promotion, emailing people - as well as the music. Aiding them in the process of figuring things out is that growing confidence thats caught the attention of local gig-goers in recent times - with a couple of singles under their belt now, as well as a consistent run of gigs - stemming from beginning to understand their own sound, musical interplay and commonalities. I guess it feels a lot more natural, more like authentic to ourselves, it doesn't feel like we're putting up so much of a facade anymore onstage, that it's like, 'we can kind of just go up there and it feels like you're at home, all the songs flow into each other'. The trouble of getting people to go to gigs can hold you back a little bit as well, especially since once you're not playing Fred's, there's nowhere, really, to go besides like Cyprus, and you're not necessarily going to sell 500 tickets for that, like. It's a struggle to be able to express yourself live when you can't do it too often, really. I think that it's great, these things like Seanie Buttons, to get that opportunity, but still we're very fresh to the whole thing. Pebbledashs new single Running Away is available now online via all streaming services. The band supports Flywheel on the May 6 edition of Seanie Buttons Presents at Cork Opera Houses Green Room; tickets on sale now from corkoperahouse.ie Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. Evidence from the last ice age has troubling implications for future sea level rise. The research, published in Nature Wednesday, found that ice sheets could collapse around 20 times faster than previously assumed as the climate warms. Our research provides a warning from the past about the speeds that ice sheets are physically capable of retreating at, research leader Dr. Christine Batchelor of Newcastle University in the UK said in a press release. Our results show that pulses of rapid retreat can be far quicker than anything weve seen so far. The scientists, who also hailed from the UK universities of Cambridge and Loughborough and the Geological Survey of Norway, studied an ice sheet that once extended from Norway around 20,000 years ago, towards the end of the last ice age. They used high-resolution seafloor imagery to find places where the retreating ice sheet forced up sediment into corrugation ridges during low tides as it moved backwards. Measuring the distance between these tidal ridges allowed them to determine the ice sheets pace of retreat, and they found it could move by as much as 50 to 600 meters (approximately 164 to 1,968.5 feet) per day. This is not a model. This is real observation. And it is frankly scary. Even to me, glaciologist Eric Rignot, who was not part of the research team, told The Washington Post. The rates of retreat are much higher than current observations. For example, during 2017, satellite data revealed that Antarcticas Pope Glacier retreated at a rate of around 105 feet per day. Now, researchers are concerned that Antacricas ice sheets could meet these historic retreat rates if countries keep burning fossil fuels and temperatures rise to what was seen at the end of the previous ice age. If temperatures continue to rise, then we might have the ice being melted and thinned from above as well as from below, Batchelor told The Washington Post, so that could kind of end up with a scenario that looks more similar to what we had [off] Norway after the last glaciation. Sea level rise is such a concern because so many major cities are located along the coasts, The Guardian noted. The entire West Antarctic ice sheet has the potential to raise sea levels by 3.3 meters (approximately 10.8 feet), as Universite du Quebec a Montreal Marta Moreno Ibanez wrote in March. The study [shows] that in the future faster retreat rates than presently observed in, e.g. Antarctica, are indeed possible under specific circumstances, Dr. Johannes Feldmann at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany, who was not part of the study, told The Guardian. The implications of such rapid retreat are serious, given the generally irreversible nature of ice sheet retreat. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. Ranchers observe cattle grazing in freshly opened pasture using regenerative grazing at CS Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico on June 1, 2022. Mario Tama / Getty Images A revolution is spreading across several states, where farmers and ranchers are adopting regenerative grazing methods that utilize the power of livestock to revitalize, restore and transform where they graze into thriving ecosystems. Regenerative grazing (also called rotational, managed, mob and prescribed grazing) is a holistic livestock management method that involves the practice of containing and moving animals through pasture to improve soil, plant and animal health. It can be used in lieu of continuous grazing, where livestock graze a pasture for an extended period of time without allowing rest for plants, which can be detrimental to soil structure and harmful to our waterways. Quick Key Facts Regenerative grazing methods allow plants to regrow between grazings and establish deeper roots which, in turn, improves soil health, nutrients, soil structure and fertility. It creates stronger resistance to drought by reducing soil erosion from overgrazing, leaving enough cover that slows water movement and increases absorption during heavy rains. It improves water quality. Regenerative grazed land doesnt require as much nutrient inputs, and deeper roots can absorb more nutrients in the soil which decreases contaminants in groundwater. It mitigates greenhouse gas emissions, both by increasing soil health, which increases ability to sequester carbon, and by more evenly spreading manure and increasing forage quality, which respectively helps mitigate methane emissions stemming from more concentrated areas, and the digestion process. It significantly lowers expenses for farmers. Feed is provided through forage, the healthy soil and cover crops help the soil replenish itself which reduces the need for fertilizer and pesticides. History of Grazing in the U.S. Grazing has existed for centuries, particularly the practice and benefits of regenerative grazing. The roaming bison, which is deeply sacred to a lot of Indigenous culture, served not only Indigenous communities livelihoods, but shaped the ecology of the land. Foraging on dominant grasses, these traveling mammals allowed grasses to recover, while increasing biodiversity and creating habitat for other animals through their grazing. Several Indigenous tribes, like the Navajo, would multi-species graze over 80-mile spans in a balance that involved conservation and preservation. During this time there were also range wars over the control of open ranges by settlers, as well as the Civil War, during which the cattle industry grew exponentially. Following the war, many settlers were incentivized to populate the west with homesteads. The development of railroads linking the west to eastern markets in the late 1800s led to a huge cattle boom with cows reliant on public lands to forage. This resulted in massive overgrazing. After droughts and harsh winters that eventually led to the deaths of millions of cattle, large swaths of land with eroded soils were left in its wake, which partly contributed to the Dust Bowl in the 1930s that killed livestock and around 7000 people, and left many homeless. To avoid this happening again, in 1935 President Franklin Delano Roosevelt took executive action to create the first grazing district. The Taylor Grazing Act would later be signed into law which ended open grazing on public rangelands and established the Division of Grazing in the Department of the Interior, which was organized into 59 grazing districts and oversaw around 170 million acres of federal land and 100 million acres of private and state land. Cattle graze in an allotment near the Bureau of Land Managments marker commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Taylor Grazing Act west of Jordan Valley, Oregon on June 8, 2017. Greg Shine / BLM Around the same time Indigenous Tribes, such as the Navajo, got singled out by the government for overgrazing. In the late 1800s, after the forced displacement, assimilation and genocide of many Indigenous peoples and government-ordered slaughter of bison to upend their livelihoods and culture occurred, reservation systems were put in place, and their rangelands were cut down to only a couple of miles. Instead of dealing with the issue of land reduction causing issues of overgrazing, the Bureau of Indian Affairs decided to reduce their livestock most of which was owned by Dine women through the Livestock Reduction Act. The government eventually forced the Navajo to give up 148,000 goats and 50,000 sheep, most of which were priced below market value or killed when they couldnt be delivered to trailheads. This caused formidable economic and nutritional damage to tribes, alongside emotional trauma due to the sacred connection to the animals. The Taylor Grazing Act was amended in the late 1930s and established grazing advisory boards that allocated permits and determined usage. Federal Range code also emerged from this time, as well as the Grazing Service, which was a name change from the Division of Grazing. After inadequate funding prevented observation and evaluation, the Grazing Service consolidated with the General Land Office to form the Bureau of Land Management in 1946, which still oversees grazing lands. Regenerative Grazing and the Environment The first person who was credited to promote regenerative grazing practices was Arthur Sampson, a plant ecologist for the Forest Service in the 1900s. Sampsons extensive research led to several books and what the USDA claims is referred to today as rangeland management and restoration ecology. While it is also known today that these practices existed for centuries prior to colonization, and are currently undergoing restoration culturally, the benefits of regenerative grazing practices are numerous, particularly for the environment. Regenerative grazing helps maintain a level of groundcover by moving livestock from paddock to paddock, which in turn protects the soil from erosion and runoff from rains, which allows the soil to maintain necessary nutrients. Soil compaction, which reduces soils ability to maintain moisture and air movement is avoided by preventing the same areas from constantly being trampled by livestock. There is also a better distribution of manure, which serves as a natural fertilizer for the soil. A combination of these makes pastures more resilient to droughts, and also is known to sequester carbon by keeping it in the ground. A 2017 study in the Amazon found that farms participating in these practices had 35% fewer emissions than non-participating farms. As an indirect benefit for the environment, regenerative grazing practices also limits the need to purchase feed due to foraging resources. In the U.S., feed crops take up a whopping 75% of cropland and when fed to livestock, provide an inefficient resource of calories. Farming for growing this feed also largely utilizes monocropping systems, which uses lots of water, fertilizer and pesticides, causes soil degradation, as well as contributes to the loss of biodiversity and increases greenhouse gas emissions. Regenerative Grazing and the Food Industry Currently, 90% of the United States meat and eggs comes from large concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). A CAFO is an industrial factory farm that keeps a large number of animals confined to a small, densely packed space. An industrial chicken farm in Maryland. Edwin Remsberg / The Image Bank / Getty Images 21,000 CAFOs exist nationwide and generate hefty amounts of fecal waste that has been known to pollute waterways, and emit over 160 gases including large amounts of greenhouse gases that affect the atmosphere, and cause ill health effects in communities nearby who are typically low-income communities of color. Over the last few years, reports and surveys have shown that there is a rising interest amongst consumers to buy climate-friendly food. In 2022, USDA awarded over $4.7 million towards climate-smart food production. Most recently, a study from a researcher from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health gave participants a menu of food with labels of high climate impact and low climate impact labeling, with an increased preference towards the latter. Another study done by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) has shown that 70% of consumers were concerned about climate change with 52% claiming that their concern impacts their food and beverage purchases. In 2022, reports showed that there was a surge in interest in grass-fed beef. Due to its high quality foraging, grass-fed beef is leaner, and higher in key nutrients. Currently, grass-fed beef comprises only 4-5% of sales in the U.S., and a lot of that meat is not raised and processed in the U.S., despite labeling. However, according to the USDA, more than 40% of cow-calf operations use regenerative grazing methods. Policy and Federal Programs The upfront costs of transitioning or establishing regenerative grazing and other regenerative agriculture methods can be pretty high, and many are calling for better policy to provide financial support to make it more economically feasible for existing and beginning farmers. In 2019s Green New Deal proposal, legislators were called to a policy overhaul to meet the challenges of climate change while furthering environmental and social justice. U.S. agriculture land was cited by think-tank Data for Progress as being one of the greatest sources for environmental change. Data for Progress created a Green New Deal Policy series which included a political agenda for regenerative farming and the Green New Deal. It calls out policies that favor incentivizing industrial monoculture, the lack of subsidies for healthy ecological practices, and the necessity for more funding for existing programs. The solutions involve more rewards, incentives and training for those who want to utilize more regenerative methods. While the Green New Deal didnt make it through the senate, in 2022 the USDA invested $1 billion in the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program to support Americas climate-smart farmers, ranchers and forest landowners, with an emphasis on small and underserved farmers. Other existing federal programs that include regenerative grazing methods include: The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) Starting in 2008, CSP is the largest conservation program in the U.S., helping farmers and producers maintain and adopt new conservation practices through free technical assistance and financial incentives. Renfroe Farms uses conservation practices developed with the USDA Conservation Stewardship Program in Carroll County, Tennessee on Sept. 18, 2019. U.S. Department of Agriculture The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Since 1996, EQIP has been helping farmers and ranchers develop conservation plans while also providing financial incentives and technical assistance for projects that provide environmental benefits. EQIP funds, however, have been said to disproportionately favor CAFOS where funds are used to likely pay for waste lagoons, animal mortality facilities, and waste treatment facilities, which negatively impact the environment. The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Beginning in 2014 through the 2014 Farm Bill, RCPP brings together stakeholders and state agencies to bring funding to help agriculture producers achieve conservation goals. The Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) Starting in Montana in 1991, this initiative also provides technical assistance to expand well-managed grazing systems that practice conservation. Recently, through this program, USDA announced a $12 million investment in partnerships that expand access for livestock producers, and to increase the use of conservation practices on grazing lands. Organizations Supporting Regenerative Grazing While stronger policy is still needed, several organizations across the country are already expanding models of regenerative grazing practices across several acres of land in the U.S. Here are some of those organizations: 7Gen Food Systems Led by the Sicangu Community Development Corporation, the project, based on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota and home to the Sicangu Lakota Oyate, is founded in the Indigenous belief system that we are under obligation to consider Seven Generations into the future when making decisions. One of their main projects is the Wolakota Buffalo Range, which is 28,000 acres filled with over a thousand buffalo where they rotationally graze to restore soil health and native prairie grasses. According to their website, the buffalo is an animal recognized by the Sicangu Lakota as a relative, and plays a healing and restorative role in the Native cultural economy. Dairy Grazing Project Part of the Pennsylvania-based nonprofit Pasa Sustainable Agriculture whose mission is to build environmentally sound, economically viable, community-focused farms and food systems this project serves as a supportive resource for both experienced graziers and conventional farmers who want to start grazing. The project provides mentorship programs in Pennsylvania, support on how to get USDA Certified Organic or Regenerative Organic, how to stay compliant, as well as support with technical, business and other financial services. Mountains-to-Bay Grazing Alliance (M2B) The alliance brings together private and public partners to promote the implementation of rotational grazing and related conservation practices. Created through a 2015 USDA Conservation Innovation Grant that brought together state-based groups promoting rotational grazing in Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania, they are now building on and expanding the partnership to leverage and share resources and to provide assistance to producers wanting to transition to rotational grazing systems in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Rodale Institute This nonprofit seeks to create a resilient global food system that improves human health and the environment and provides groundbreaking research and education to help enable farms and farmers to transition to regenerative organic agricultural practices. Country Natural Beef Based in Redmond, Oregon, Country Natural Beef is one of the largest cattle ranching cooperatives in the Western U.S. with over 100 members in 11 states, spanning over 6.5 million acres of land, and promotes their recent climate-friendly beef initiative Grazewell, which gets ranchers to test and adopt regenerative ranching methods by 2025. Carman Ranch Direct Based in Wallowa, Oregon, Carman Ranch Direct imagines a food system built around nourishing soil, people and animals. It started as a century-old family ranch and grew to include other producers in the Pacific Northwest, who promote regenerative, climate-smart ranching practices and provide a year-round supply of grass-fed cattle to local consumers. Regenerative Farmers of America Run by Blacksburg Virginia farmers, this organization supports farmers already practicing regenerative agriculture and provides resources to those who want to try, as well as to nonfarmers who want to learn more. DX Beef Located on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, DX Beef is an Indigenous-led community-focused regenerative agriculture operation that sells direct-to-consumer grass-fed beef, hoping to connect consumers to the landscape the Lakota stewarded for millenia. Sustainable Northwest This Portland-based conservation nonprofit works at the intersection of economy, environment and communities. They recognize and financially reward ranchers for adopting regenerative practices on public and private lands. Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products Unlike the iOS ecosystem, where Apple is the only game in town, one of the best things about the Android phone market is the wide range of different devices and manufacturers to choose from. That said, when it actually comes time to upgrade, that wealth of options can make it a bit more difficult to choose the right handset for you. If youre looking for a new phone and dont know where to start, weve got you covered with a selection of the best Android phones for every budget. What to look for in a new Android phone Performance When it comes to picking our favorite Android phones, the main things we look for are pretty straightforward: good performance (both compute and AI), a nice display, solid design, sharp cameras, long battery life and a significant commitment to ongoing software support. For performance, not only do we look at benchmarks and other metrics, but we also evaluate phones based on responsiveness. Regardless of whether youre reading, browsing social media or playing a game, no one wants a device that feels sluggish. Display Sam Rutherford/Engadget When it comes to displays, we generally prefer OLED panels that can produce rich, saturated colors with at least 600 nits of brightness, though many of our top mid-range and high-end phones can hit 1,000 nits or more. And more recently, most of our favorite devices also support screens with fast refresh rates of 90Hz or 120Hz, which adds an extra level of smoothness and fluidity. Design Now we will admit there is a bit of subjectivity when deciding which phones look the best, but there are other design aspects like dust and water resistance or screen durability that can make a big difference to long-term survival. Its also important to consider things like support for wireless charging, power sharing (aka reverse wireless charging) and UWB connectivity, which can have an impact on how your phone interacts with your other devices. Cameras Obviously, for photos were looking for sharp, colorful shots in both bright and low-light conditions. And we want video clips with high dynamic range, rich audio and smooth image stabilization. Extra cameras for ultra-wide and zoom lenses are a plus. Its also important to consider features like dedicated night modes, support for various video recording resolutions, and additional photo modes like timelapse, slow motion and more. Battery and software Finally, in terms of battery life, were looking for all-day longevity on devices that also delivered great results on our local video rundown test (at least 16 hours on a charge, but more is obviously better). Wireless charging capabilities have become almost ubiquitous over the past few years, and most of our top picks have this extra perk. Finally, with people holding onto their phones longer than ever, we like to see companies commit to at least three years of software support and regular security patches. The Best Android Phones Best Android phone overall: Google Pixel 7 Pro Best Android phone overall Photo by Sam Rutherford / Engadget Google Pixel 7 Pro The Pixel 7 Pro and the standard Pixel 7 might not be the absolute fastest phones on the market, but what they lack in pure performance they make up for with thoughtful software. $795 at Amazon $774 at Target The Pixel 7 Pro and the standard Pixel 7 might not be the absolute fastest phones on the market, but what they lack in pure performance they make up for with thoughtful software. Thanks to Googles Tensor G2 chip, the Pixel 7 series features powerful AI and machine learning capabilities that support things like on-device language recognition and real-time translation. You also get gorgeous OLED displays and the best overall camera quality of any smartphone available today. And with the standard Pixel 7 starting at just $600, Googles latest flagship is an incredible value too. The main differences between the two are that the Pixel 7 Pro has a larger 6.7-inch screen and features a third rear camera with a 5x optical zoom. But regardless of whether you prefer a smaller or larger device, you cant really go wrong with either the Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro. Read our Full Review of the Google Pixel 7 Pro Best mid-range Android phone: OnePlus 11 Best mid-range Android phone Photo by Mat Smith / Engadget OnePlus 11 For those who want a phone with a big screen, solid cameras and great performance, but for less than a traditional flagship, the OnePlus 11 strikes a good balance between budget phones and more premium devices. $700 at Amazon $700 at OnePlus For those who want a phone with a big screen, solid cameras and great performance, but for less than a traditional flagship, the OnePlus 11 strikes a good balance between budget phones and more premium devices. In a lot of ways, the OnePlus 11 is like a more affordable Galaxy S23+. Not only do you get a similar 6.7-inch 120Hz display, it also features a speedy Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and a big 5,000 mAh battery. Meanwhile, thanks to OnePlus blazing 100-watt wired charging, it juices up faster than any phone from Google or Samsung. And on the camera side, the companys ongoing partnership with Hasselblad has resulted in notable improvements in image quality. The main shortcomings of the OP11 are that its IP64 rating for dust and water resistance falls short of what you get from competing devices, and the cameras 2x optical zoom lens feels a bit on the short side. But with OnePlus adding wider carrier compatibility and committing four years of OS upgrades and five years of security patches, the OP11 is a well-equipped option that costs significantly less than its rivals. Read our Full Review of OnePlus11 Best budget Android phone: Google Pixel 6a Best budget Android phone Photo by Cherlynn Low / Engadget Google Pixel 6a If you just want a simple phone for a good price, the Pixel 6a cant be beat. Starting at less than $500, you get a vibrant 6.1-inch OLED and Googles Tensor chip along with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. $330 at Amazon $449 at Target If you just want a simple phone for a good price, the Pixel 6a cant be beat. Starting at just $449, you get a vibrant 6.1-inch OLED and Googles Tensor chip along with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. But the thing that separates the Pixel 6a from other budget phones are its cameras which, thanks to Googles superior image processing, produce pictures that are sharper and more accurate than competitors twice its price. Meanwhile, Googles commitment to software updates means you should get at least three years of OS support and five years of security patches. And thanks to all of the Pixel-specific software features like Call Screener, Hold For Me and the Pixel Recorder app, you can get a very affordable device with a ton of smarts. Read our Full Review of Google Pixel 6a Best premium Android phone: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Best premium Android phone Photo by Sam Rutherford / Engadget Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra The Galaxy S23 Ultra may be very expensive, but it has practically everything you could ever want or need in a smartphone. $1,000 at Amazon $1,200 at Samsung Starting at $1,200, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is very expensive, but it has practically everything you could ever want or need in a smartphone. It has a huge 6.8-inch OLED display with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, a total of five cameras (main, ultra-wide, 3x zoom, 10x zoom and a selfie shooter) and a built-in S Pen for drawing and note-taking. It also features a huge 5,000 mAh battery that delivers some of the longest runtime weve seen on any phone. And with Samsungs renewed commitment to software support, you can expect a minimum of four major OS upgrades and five years of regular security patches. Read our Full Review of Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Best foldable Android phone: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 Best foldable Android phone Photo by Sam Rutherford / Engadget Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 Samsung's Z fold 4 is like having three devices in one, which makes it a unicorn among mobile devices. $1,499 at Amazon $1,800 at Samsung While the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is arguably the most stylish and compact phone on the market, the bigger and more expensive Z Fold 4 is like three devices in one, which makes it a unicorn among mobile devices. When you just need to respond to a text or look up an address quickly, its 6.2-inch exterior cover screen makes that a cinch. But when you want to sit down to watch a movie or play a game, you can open up the Fold to reveal a stunning 7.8-inch flexible display. Its compact when you need it to be, while providing an immersive viewing experience when you dont. And thanks to support for stylus input, you even can use one of Samsungs S Pens designed specifically for the Fold to quickly draw or jot down a note. On top of all that, its OLED display makes the Z Fold 4 great for reading books and comics. And unlike practically any other non-Samsung foldable, the Fold also has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. In a lot of ways, this thing is the Swiss Army knife of phones. Sure, its a bit bulky, and at $1,800 its not what anyone would call affordable. But its ability to serve as a phone, a tablet, an e-reader and more depending on the situation puts the Z Fold 4 in a category of its own. Read our Full Review of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 Lawyers play a vital role in any legal system as they act as the cornerstone of the justice system. They are the ones who represent and protect the interests of their clients and ensure that justice is served. However, in recent years, the safety of lawyers in India has become a significant concern. The reasons behind the increasing violence against lawyers in India are numerous. Disputes are often settled through violence and lawyers are frequently caught in the crossfire. On 1 April 2023, an eminent advocate was shot dead in Delhi, leaving the legal fraternity in shock and mourning. Due to this incident, a huge protest was organised by lawyers in Delhi whereby they refrained from work in all district courts. It is pertinent to note that crimes against lawyers are not confined to a particular region, but it is rampant everywhere in the country. There have been several reported cases of attacks on lawyers in recent years, particularly those representing marginalised communities or cases involving high-profile clients. In some cases, lawyers have been targeted by criminal gangs, political parties, or even law enforcement agencies. In December 2022, there were similar protests in Goa where several advocates assembled outside the crime branch seeking an action to be taken against the police personnel who were involved in the assault of a lawyer. Furthermore, on 15 February 2023, a veteran lawyer was brutally stabbed to death in Jodhpur after which fellow lawyers carried out a strike. They boycotted courts demanding compensation for the family of the deceased lawyer. The protest then escalated into a larger movement with lawyers demanding the enactment of the Advocate Protection Act. Ultimately, on 22 March 2023, the Legislative Assembly of Rajasthan decided to pass the Rajasthan Advocates Protection Bill and made history by becoming the first state in the country to pass a law to ensure the safety of lawyers. The proposed bill aims to put an end to violence and false allegations against advocates by introducing strict provisions for the prevention of various offences against them, including assault, grievous hurt, criminal force, and criminal intimidation, as well as damage or loss to their property. While the bill tackles significant challenges encountered by lawyers in India, it falls short of being comprehensive and is confined to Rajasthan. 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 Friday, April 7, 2023 Dr. Grady Harp studied music and medicine at Occidental College and the University of Southern California School of Medicine (now Keck). Upon completing his internship at Los Angeles County Hospital he was transplanted into the US Marine Corps as a Battalion Surgeon on loan from the commissioning Navy, serving in Vietnam 1968-1969. In 1981 he and his partner created Lizardi/Harp Gallery, staging exhibitions in Pasadena and subsequently in Los Angeles. He has curated exhibitions in Southern California and touring shows in the US and Europe. In 2019, Dr. Harp published a collection of poems about his service in Vietnam titled WAR SONGS. Dr. Harp has given me permission to share his booklet with my readers. You may access it here>> Welcome to the News Release Wire Selection Control Panel. Instant News Wire Parts of San Antonio that have long dealt with slow online connectivity or no access at all are one step closer to better internet. On Thursday, the City Council approved a nearly $9 million contract for AT&T to lay fiber for 20,200 single-family homes and other locations on San Antonios East, West and South sides. Brian Dillard, the citys chief innovation officer, expects the Dallas-based telecommunications company to start work on the project in about six months and to complete it two years after that. The project is the first phase of the city and Bexar Countys plan to get reliable internet to nearly 30,000 single- and multifamily homes and businesses. San Antonio is a few steps ahead of the county, which is currently negotiating with Spectrum. The total cost of the project for San Antonio is $22 million, with $13 million coming from AT&T and about $8.88 million from the city. The city already had about $8.7 million ready for the project but was short $155,000. Mayor Ron Nirenbergs office filled the funding gap to keep the project from being delayed. We wanted to make sure that it gets going immediately because we are behind on the digital divide and families depend on internet connectivity to do everything they need to do, Nirenberg said. On ExpressNews.com: Absolute game-changer: San Antonio, Bexar County gear up to improve internet speeds The expenditure wont make a huge dent in his offices annual budget, which is $690,000, with another $635,000 that has carried forward from past years. The county is expected to contract with Spectrum to provide better service to 8,761 locations, likely with fiber. Spectrum has said it would spend $26 million on the project if the county puts in $5.4 million. The county and the cable and internet provider started hammering out an agreement in late March. AT&T will work in two phases in San Antonio, first tackling locations on the East and South sides in council Districts 2 and 3, then moving on to sites on the West Side in Districts 1, 4, 5 and 6. Spectrum would tackle areas south of San Antonio. It is exciting to be able to have this as a priority and for the city and county to work together, Dillard said. City and county officials say public dollars are necessary to get for-profit internet companies to develop high-speed digital service in lower-income communities. Marcie Trevino Ripper, a data and policy consultant for SA Digital Connects, said some service providers they think theyd land too few customers in those neighborhoods to justify the expense of laying fiber. SA Digital Connects is a nonprofit that works closely with the county and city on broadband policy. In addition to the combined 30,000 households and businesses the city and county are looking to extend broadband to, Trevino Ripper said another 50,000 locations could use the similar assistance in coming years. Rackspace Technology Inc. will have to wait at least a month to find out if legal claims over a December ransomware attack that left the San Antonio cloud computing company bruised will be dismissed or arbitrated. San Antonio federal Judge Xavier Rodriguez instructed parties in the case to sit tight as he took the case under advisement. Im not going to rule from the bench on something as complicated as this so Im going to give this some thoughtful consideration, he said Thursday. Lets all stand down for the next 30 days. No discovery or anything else except settlement talks. Four proposed federal class-action lawsuits have been filed in San Antonio since the breach, which shut down Rackspaces hosted Exchange email service and led the company to exit the business. The cases, which involve 28 plaintiffs from across the U.S. who lost access to email and related data, have been consolidated into one action. In response, Rackspace has argued its customer agreement stipulates such disputes will be arbitrated rather than litigated. Attorney Molly Munson Cherala demanded a jury trial on behalf of the Rackspace customers, arguing they couldnt afford the arbitration proceedings especially after financial damages stemming from the ransomware attack. 30,000 CUSTOMERS: Rackspace says customer data was accessed in ransomware attack; email service wont be rebuilt This is not a situation where were talking an arms length contract between two business equals, she told Rodriguez via Zoom. Were talking about a company that advertised to small business owners and people who lacked technological sophistication and then advertised that they were a company that had the technical expertise sufficient to provide the services without threat of third-party hacking. But in fact, they failed in all of those aspects and allowed our clients to have their right violated and their privacy invaded. Rackspace attorney Michael W. ODonnell argued he should dismiss the class-action suit and send individual cases to an arbitrator to be heard in private because of a long-standing provision in the contracts the companys customers agreed to when renewing their email-hosting services. The arbitration agreement has been in place for years, he said in the courtroom. I dont think we should be under the view that this is really going to proceed as a class-action case. If we add a million plaintiffs, it would be very cumbersome to work through this case in this court as well. Rackspace is defending two similar cases elsewhere. A case in Los Angeles federal court was filed Jan. 13. Rackspace has been given three extensions to answer that suit. It has until April 14 to file an answer. There is also a case in the Southern District of New York, filed Jan. 21. Rackspace has until April 24 to answer that one. Already, Rackspace has taken a hit to its reputation over the incident, which also has driven down its share price. Arbitration arguments Garrett Stephenson, president of Gateway Recruiting in New Braunfels, was the first to file a lawsuit in San Antonio over Rackspaces failure to properly secure and safeguard personally identifiable information and other confidential data stored in the companys network, according to an amended complaint filed Dec. 13. The other three San Antonio cases were consolidated into Stephensons case. They are representing dozens of customers who say they were affected by the ransomware attack and joined the suit against the company over its failure to maintain its hosted Microsoft Exchange environment to provide email and customer service and failure to notify customers of the outage and ransomware attack. RELATED: Rackspaces reputation taking a hit as response to ransomware attack falls short of customers hopes The suit against Rackspace, considered the largest technology company in San Antonio, seeks an award for damages that resulted from the attack late last year, according to the complaint. Among a number of requests, plaintiffs asked the court to ban Rackspace from maintaining their sensitive data on a cloud-based database, establish cyber training programs for its employees, hire outside advisors to help run automated security and educate customers about the threats that they face after a ransomware attack. Rackspace attorneys argued customers were bound by an arbitration provision in a so-called Master Services Agreement when renewing their email-hosting services on a monthly basis, according to attorney Jeffrey A. Webb, who signed a response filed March 24 in district court. The company said such provisions have been part of the agreements for more than a decade. Lawyers for customers argued Rackspace breached its agreement by failing to protect their sensitive data, according to the complaint. Nonetheless, Rackspace argues the claims fall within the arbitration provision. The lead case In the early hours of Saturday, Dec. 3, Stephenson noticed he wasnt receiving emails through his account hosted by Rackspace, according to the complaint. It was about 3 a.m. when he changed his email password. But that didnt help him access his account. He checked Rackspaces website, which noted the companys hosted Microsoft Exchange environment was having issues and had been taken off-line. He called Rackspaces customer service twice in search for answers. On the second conversation, a representative told him the company had suffered a security breach but wasnt yet sharing more information with the public. He called again but the phone rang for hours. He discovered the companys online support chat feature had been shut down. He also called his employees to ask them to come into the office to back up existing data on their computers, change their passwords, move email operations to Microsoft 365 and shift the companys domain to Microsoft from Rackspace. Indeed, the cost (employee time, loss of data, etc.) was extraordinary and the incurrence of such and other costs will continue as these representative plaintiffs continue to discover the full scope of the loss/inaccessible data, according to the complaint. At present, it appears that years of data (and associated work to accumulate it) has been lost. RELATED: Rackspaces reputation taking a hit as response to ransomware attack falls short of customers hopes Also in the complaint, lawyers described how thousands of Rackspace customers struggled to access their email accounts starting Friday, Dec. 2. Many of them reached out to the company for an explanation and were told only that it was experiencing an issue with the server and they wouldnt have access to their emails for an unknown amount of time. Rather than honoring its promise to be its customers most trusted advisor, it utterly failed to let its customers know that a data breach [sic] and occurred and that customer data was compromised, according to the complaint. Indeed, while Rackspace acknowledged that the event constituted a major disruption for its clients clients for whom it had previously guaranteed 100% connectivity defendant continued over the course of the day (and beyond) to downplay the severity of the event. At 8:19 p.m. on Dec. 2, Rackspace announced it had suffered a significant failure, shut down the service and encouraged customers to migrate their email accounts to Microsoft 365. Moving to Microsoft 365 meant they couldnt access past emails, attachments, contacts and other data. At 1:57 a.m. on Dec. 2, Rackspace announced the outage was the result of a security incident. Then, on Dec. 5, Rackspace announced the incident was a ransomware event. Many class members found out about the cause from press articles or sources other than the company, the suit says. Ransomware attack In a ransomware attack, hackers deploy malicious software that locks the owner of a targeted computer system out of their systems and demands payment in return for access. The attacks can result in stolen personal information being sold online. In interviews in late December, Rackspace executives said they hired a cybersecurity firm to help conduct a forensic investigation of the attack. It said it learned that a ransomware group known as Play used a new method to penetrate the companys hosted Microsoft Exchange network. The group, Rackspace said, used a customers credentials for an email account to gain access to a companys server on Nov. 29. Rackspace has said it doesnt know how the hackers obtained the credentials. The company has declined to identify the compromised customer or disclose whether it has paid a ransom to regain access to customers data. RELATED: Rackspace identifies group behind ransomware attack; recovery of customers data still uncertain Its also said it has restored customers emails but some customers say they have yet to retrieve their data and worry about it being misused. The severity of this breach is high, affecting thousands of businesses around the United States, according to the complaint. The lost revenue, extraordinarily increased costs, lost business opportunities, damage to their clients trust, and the continued and future reaching efforts required to determine the volume of lost emails/documents/transactions is almost immeasurable. Indeed, the crippling effect of the security incident may only be overshadowed by the damages attendant to the cyber criminals unlawful use of this sensitive informationthe full impact of which may not be known for years, the complaint continued. Staff writer Patrick Danner contributed. A San Antonio doctor says two State Farm insurance companies have wrongly labeled him a criminal, damaging his professional reputation. Dr. Sanjay Misra alleges in an amended countersuit filed this week that his pain management clinic has suffered more than $500,000 in damages caused by State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. and State Farm County Mutual Insurance Co. of Texas. His amended pleading comes more than eight months after the insurers sued him and his medical practice for allegedly performing unnecessary and expensive spinal surgeries and other procedures on patients injured in auto accidents to inflate the value of their insurance claims. He has denied the allegations in the suit filed in federal court in San Antonio. In their causes of action, the insurers cite a federal law often associated with prosecutions of mob bosses the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO. Submitting fraudulent bills through the U.S. mail amounts to a pattern of racketeering activity meant to defraud the insurers, they alleged in their July complaint. RELATED: Auto insurers sue San Antonio doctor over hundreds of unnecessary medical procedures The Texas Medical Board website shows Misra, who has been licensed for three decades, has no criminal history and no disciplinary actions against him. The insurers are using their lawsuit to squeeze him a well-regarded doctor and expert witness out of business to limit how much State Farm has and potentially will pay in the future to properly settle and litigate claims, Misra says in his countersuit. They also are trying to recoup money from legal cases previously settled and/or litigated with 335 patients Misra treated for neck and/or back pain, he says. The companies say they paid more than $6.5 million to settle claims. State Farm is engaging in a concerted litigation strategy designed to harass, intimidate and dissuade physicians like (Misra) from treating automobile accident victims who assert claims against those insured by State Farm, Misras countersuit says. He recommended or performed spinal injections on the patients, with about half advised to undergo spinal surgery, the insurers allege. When the injections dont resolve patients' complaints, they say, the doctor recommends expensive, medically unnecessary surgeries that cost more than $50,000. During a court hearing in the case last month, State Farm attorney Jared Heck told a judge what Misra allegedly said when a patient advised him that they didnt want an injection. The doctor told them, 'No shot, no money,' Heck said during the hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry Bemporad. The statement drew an immediate objection from Ricardo Cedillo, a lawyer for Misra. Cedillo called the statement an unsubstantiated allegation. I look very much forward to confronting the person who said it, and I can tell you its going to be a show because I know I can discredit that person, Cedillo said to the judge. RELATED: Texas Hammer Jim Adler, Davis law firm hit by insurers for info in case against San Antonio doctor In his countersuit, Misra says the insurers improperly miscast their underlying medical liability claims as a RICO action. The insurers sued less than a week after they received an adverse verdict in a case decided by a Bexar County jury, he says. The plaintiff who prevailed was a Misra patient. The doctor also testified about the patients treatment. The plaintiff was among those identified in court exhibits that are part of the insurers' complaint, he notes in his countersuit. Misras claims against the insurers are for negligence and tortious interference with prospective business relations. In his original action, he also sued for defamation and business disparagement. He and his practice had suffered a downturn of business opportunities because of State Farms smear campaign. It couldnt be determined why those claims were dropped. Cedillo couldnt be reached Friday but previously declined to comment on the original countersuit after its filing last month. The State Farm companies look forward to making our case in court, a spokesman has said. Theres new life coming to the space above Hugmans Oasis tiki bar on the River Walk in San Antonio. Hugmans owner Chris Hill, whose properties include The Esquire Tavern on the River Walk, is opening a new Japanese bar and restaurant called Tokyo Cowboy, in collaboration with Ben Cachila, formerly an executive with the renowned Austin sushi bar Uchi and its parent company Hai Hospitality. Promoted as a Japanese whisky diner, Tokyo Cowboy is scheduled to open April 29 in the street-level space in the renovated Witte building on East Commerce Street, on the same city block as The Esquire and Canopy by Hilton San Antonio Riverwalk hotel, another Hill development. A fox chirps. So does a cheetah. But what noise does a mystery animal make? The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is on the lookout for a mysterious, squat animal that appeared on nighttime footage taken at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park. The animal appears to be four-legged and rotund, almost like a hippo in miniature. The park took to social media to search for potential answers to the mystery on Thursday morning. The post has 81 likes and 211 comments in the time since it was posted, generating plenty of conversation. "We're scratching our heads trying to identify this elusive creature. Is it a new species? An escapee from a nearby zoo? Or just a park ranger in disguise?" Bentsen officials wrote. "Regardless, it's thrilling to see such an incredible animal in its natural habitat." Some took wild stabs in the dark to determine the identity of the creature. "Clearly a chupacabra," Facebook user Jeremy Haldeman commented on the post. Others guessed a wolverine or even two wild boars moving in separate directions. Others had varying estimates of the creature's size, including everything from badgers to bears to bush dogs, a species found farther south that weighs up to 13 pounds and resembles the Shiba Inu breed. In an update, officials wrote that they agree with many guesses that the mysterious creature is an American badger. Bentsen officials added that they don't have an exact location for where the photo was taken, just that it was within the Rio Grande Valley. "While American Badgers are not commonly seen in the valley (partly due to their nocturnal behavior), this is part of their natural range," officials wrote. The badger is not to be confused with the Honey Badger of Africa and Asia, "rumored to not care very much," officials wrote. Texas Parks is continuing to investigate the mystery. shepard.price@express-news.net A man who "bragged" about stealing $50,000 from the Cartel Del Noreste was kidnapped in Laredo and taken into Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, states an arrest affidavit filed in federal court. FBI special agents arrested Jonathan Cavriales on the charge of kidnapping. Meanwhile, the whereabouts of Erik Tadeo Ramirez remain unknown, authorities said. "The FBI is unable to provide comment on this ongoing investigation. The FBI relentlessly pursues all options when it comes to protecting the American people, and this doesn't change when they are endangered across the border. "The FBI pursues all cases with the same vigor and commitment to process. The public is urged to call the San Antonio Division at (210) 225-6741 with any information regarding this investigation. Tips may also be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov," the FBI said in a statement. At about 11 p.m. March 23, Ramirez was at a party at a residence in the 3400 block of Queretaro Loop in Las Americas neighborhood in south Laredo. Witnesses overheard Ramirez telling a female on the phone that he was in Laredo and that he was not in danger or afraid of her because he was in the United States, the affidavit states. Witnesses stated that Ramirez also bragged that Ramirez stole approximately $50,000 from the Cartel Del Noreste, states the affidavit. Ramirez gave the female his location on Queretaro. At about 12:45 a.m. March 24, a blue Dodge Ram arrived at the location on Queretaro. Two to three masked men armed with firearms exited the vehicle and assaulted Ramirez. Then, they forced Ramirez into the Dodge, authorities said. The Dodge then crossed into Nuevo Laredo, Mexico at about 1:09 a.m. March 24 via the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge. Authorities determined that the vehicle was registered to Cavriales mother out of the 200 block of Palo de Rosa Loop by the Laredo Ranchettes area, the affidavit states. A video recording showed a male with blood on his face opening the front passenger door of the Dodge while the vehicle was in motion. The male was attempting to exit the Dodge but was pulled back inside, states the affidavit. The Dodge then bypassed the bridge attendant and drove straight into Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, according to court documents. On March 24, 2023, Cavriales mother stated that at about 11 a.m., she received a call from Cavriales grandmother, who lives in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. The grandmother told the mother that Cavriales was at her home in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico sleeping and that the Dodge was parked outside her home. The grandmother further told the mother that Cavriales did not look well and that something was wrong with him, court documents state. Ramirez remained listed as missing as of Friday, according to police. A mobile app tracked him to the 3400 block of Queretaro during the evening and night of March 23. At about 1:30 a.m. March 25, FBI special agents and task force officers conducted a knock and talk at the residence on Queretaro. Two individuals stated they witnessed Ramirez being kidnapped by two to three armed individuals. Description was given on the Dodge, authorities said. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers would detain Cavriales at about 2:15 a.m. March 27 when he crossed into Laredo via the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge. In a post-arrest interview, Cavriales stated he drove the Dodge into Mexico the early morning of March 24 with a kidnapped victim, who was identified as Ramirez. Cavriales added that three other people also took part in the kidnapping, according to court documents. Cavriales stated that he was aware that the victim had stolen approximately $50,000 from (the) Cartel Del Noreste, states the affidavit. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Mario Marcel Salas was a boy during what some consider the dawn of a golden age in America when he visited the Alamo with his father. Hed grown up believing the heroic narrative of a badly outnumbered force fighting for freedom a tale that had just been co-opted by Walt Disney and John Wayne. Popguns and faux coonskin caps were flying off store shelves for boys wanting to be like Davy Crockett a screen persona of the real-life former Tennessee congressman and bear hunter who died with about 200 Anglo and Tejano combatants in the early morning battle of March 6, 1836. But when he and his dad emerged from the Alamo that day, a stranger an old man by his recollection uttered 12 words hell never forget. All of what you saw and heard in there is a lie, the stranger said. Read more: Alamos ties to slavery stir debate It was a formational moment that sent Salas on a decadeslong journey to reconcile Alamo mythology with the harsh realities of Texas and American history a true tale marred by indignities against people of color, including the institution of chattel slavery. It was always an issue with me, wondering about how much of this was true, how much was not true, Salas, 73, told about 60 people attending a forum this week to discuss his book, The Alamo: A Cradle of Lies, Slavery and White Supremacy. Salas grew up 2 miles from the Alamo on the East Side, in an era when San Antonio restaurants, swimming pools and businesses were racially segregated. He became a civil rights leader, professor, writer, school board trustee and city councilman. Through it all, his quest to unravel the mythology around the Alamo remained. Yearning to learn more about the Alamo, he read dozens of books before tackling his own provocatively titled work, which was released a year ago. He calls himself retired but still is teaching political science at the University of Texas at San Antonio an affiliation he noted is separate from the views expressed in his book. I make it a point: Im going to tell you something youve never heard, he said of his teaching style during the discussion held by the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum. He traces white supremacy to its roots under Spanish rule after the defeat of the Moors and the conquest of Indigenous people of Mexico in the 1500s. His book is full of examples of ironic inequities in San Antonio, including with HemisFair 68, the Worlds Fair, celebrating a confluence of civilizations, while young people of color his age were being falsely arrested and beaten by police. He also reveals tantalizing and little-known tidbits that require more research, including the role of Black soldiers fighting for Mexico at the Alamo and plantations along Cibolo Creek, where large numbers of enslaved human beings were subjected to forced labor in Bexar and surrounding counties. Salas reexamines Juneteenth, now a federal holiday and jubilant celebration of the arrival of emancipation in Texas after the Civil War, as the start of another arduous period for Black Americans that forced many formerly enslaved people to remain working on plantations under contract. While the stories are painful, many see the recognition of harsh truths of history as a first step toward healing. The state-owned Alamo, long preserved through legislation by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas as a shrine to the fallen Anglo and Tejano defenders of the fort, now is expanding its scope of storytelling to include Black, Mexican, Native American and Tejano perspectives on the mission and battle site, under a public-private partnership and 9-year-old guiding principles document that seeks to embrace the continuum of history to foster healing and understanding. Its a lofty goal, intended to mend many wounds. The recent opening of the Alamos new collections center revealed a few perspectives new to the site. A larger museum and visitor center set to open in 2026 will expand on that with a civil rights exhibit. In his recorded narration that plays on a loop by an Alamo diorama at the collections center, musician and artifact collector Phil Collins acknowledges the many Mexican heroes who died in the 1836 battle. The centers documents include two from Collins collection that touch on slavery: contracts for the 1834 sale of three slaves and eight cows and an 1835 sale of an indentured servant. Both sales were witnessed by William Barret Travis, a lawyer who served as Alamo commander. Salas book offers glimmers of hope and determination that full, honest narratives of history are driving a healing process. The initiative that human beings can live together in peace, and caring for one another, is an idea that will not easily be defeated, he writes. Visitors to the Alamo are ready for a truthful narrative, he told his audience, saying, The genie is out of the bottle. Read more: Forget the Alamo authors get forum to discuss book Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Calvert, who wrote a testimonial for the book and a speech published as an appendix, said he supported the countys commitment of $25 million for the museum because he believes the project could make San Antonio and the Alamo an epicenter for healing on the issue of white supremacy and slavery. It may take a lot of difficult conversations, thoughtful dialogue and careful listening to get there, said Calvert, who took office in 2015 as the countys first Black commissioner. In the end, I see a beautiful river, a stream of goodness that can come from reconciling these differences in our history, Calvert said. Calvert himself has gone through a struggle learning to accept he had a white slave-owning ancestor who fought for the Confederacy. Salas said he wished hed written more about women in history, including Black women of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, and Apaches and Comanches who were warriors on horseback. But he said hes going to do more. He encouraged people to read other books about the Alamo, especially Exodus from the Alamo (2010, Phillip Thomas Tucker) and The Alamo Reader (2003, Todd Hansen). Youve got to read those kinds of books to get below the surface, Salas said. Research doesnt stop. Youve got to keep doing it. Courtesy of the State of Texas The San Antonio Express-News today published a detailed examination of the role Border Patrol agents played in ending a standoff with the teenage gunman who had slaughtered 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde on May 24. Members of an elite Border Patrol tactical unit, called BORTAC, stormed the classroom at Robb Elementary, engaged in a brief firefight with the 18-year-old gunman and shot him dead. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. The family of an aspiring San Antonio rapper who was killed last week in a Houston drive-by shooting believes his death may have been in retaliation for a fatal shooting in San Antonio that had been ruled an act of self-defense and for which the rapper openly expressed feeling no remorse. Darrell Gentry, known professionally as BTB Savage, was fatally shot March 30 in the affluent River Oaks neighborhood in what Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said appears to have been a targeted attack. Police were called about 6:10 p.m. to the entrance of a parking garage for reports of a drive-by shooting, where they found Gentry with at least one gunshot wound. The San Antonio man, whose identity was later confirmed by the Harris County Medical Examiners Office, was pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses said two people fled at high speed in a black Subaru SUV. On Friday, Houston police said they were looking for Montrel Lenard Burley, 40, saying he has been charged with murder in Gentrys killing. Police also said at least one other unknown person is wanted in connection with the crime. Gentrys mother, Bernita Ward, said on social media that she had warned her son not to speak publicly about the fatal shooting of 34-year-old Omar Richardson, which occurred in February in Gentrys San Antonio apartment. Although the San Antonio Police Department determined that Gentry acted in self-defense during a struggle that stemmed from an attempted armed robbery, Ward asked her son to let the dead mans family mourn in peace. Despite Wards pleas for restraint, Gentry posted photos on social media of himself in his still blood-soaked apartment, with the bullet-ridden door in view, after Richardsons body was removed. The caption on the photo said: Make him meet his maker. And days before Gentry was killed, he appeared in a roughly 30-minute interview on VladTV, a YouTube channel, in which he described the February shooting in graphic and profanity-laced detail. With his arm still in a cast, having been inadvertently shot by his girlfriend in the struggle, Gentry told the interviewer how an invitation to collaborate with another local rapper led to multiple gunshots and death. Gentry said the other rapper had expressed a desire to work together on a music project and came to Gentrys apartment under that pretense. Gentry said the other rapper brought Richardson, his uncle, with him. Gentry also told the interviewer that he quickly became suspicious of the duo, who seemed overly interested Gentrys belongings. Gentry said that Richardson, after telling the other rapper to get equipment from their vehicle, pulled out a gun and threatened to shoot Gentrys girlfriend and son if he didnt hand over jewelry. Gentry described a desperate fight in which he repeatedly yelled at his girlfriend to shoot Richardson, who said, You all are going to die. Gentrys girlfriend shot Richardson twice in the back, while unintentionally shooting Gentry in the arm as the two men fought. During the struggle, a barrage of bullets were fired from outside the apartment through the door before the firing ceased and the shooter appeared to leave, Gentry said. Soon after, Gentry and his girlfriend grabbed their son and ran from the apartment so that Gentry could go to a hospital for his mangled elbow. Gentry told the interviewer that Richardson at that point was still alive but severely injured and crawling toward the hallway asking for help. You could tell the bullets in his back were getting to him. He was saying, Come on, brother, Ive got kids too. Let me make it home. Dont let me die. And I said, I dont give a (expletive) about you. I hope you die. You were going to kill my son, Gentry said in the interview. Im not taking you to some hospital. If they come save you, then they save you, but if not, its your last day. San Antonio police were called on Feb. 3 to Gentrys downtown apartment, which he shared with his girlfriend and infant child, after multiple callers reported that someone had been shot. Witnesses described people running through the hallway saying they tried to kill me, the police report said. Responding officers reported that there was a blood trail in the hallway leading to Gentrys apartment, where they found Richardson face down in a pool of blood, the report said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police determined that Richardson had tried to rob Gentry and his girlfriend in their home, leading to a struggle in which Gentrys girlfriend shot Richardson multiple times. Gentry told the YouTube interviewer that when a police officer at the hospital informed him that Richardson had died, he replied, Good, Im glad. My son was in there, so I aint tripping. I went to sleep good as hell the next day, Gentry said. I didnt care. The SAPD ruled the shooting a justified homicide, and the case has been closed, a department spokesperson said. Its not known how or whether Burley, the man identified by Houston police as a suspect in Gentrys killing, is associated with the people involved in the shooting at Gentrys apartment. Meanwhile, Ward, who said she thinks of Gentry as her son rather than as BTB Savage, laments that he got caught in the hype that followed the February shooting. My son allowed his friends and social media to hype him up, and these media blogs paying him money to do interviews talking about the matter, Ward posted on social media. My entire family pleaded with him to let the family mourn in peace. Im not the type of mother that cover up my childs wrong. My son made his own choices and, as so many of us, has not always made wise decisions. Kin Man Hui/Staff photographer The killer of a single mother of two, who was gunned down as she returned home from an overnight shift at the Toyota plant in 2021, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. Originally charged with murder, Morgan Michael Goode, 27, pleaded guilty Thursday to a lesser offense of manslaughter as part of a plea agreement reached before state District Judge Velia Meza. His sentence is the maximum for manslaughter, a second-degree felony. A woman convicted in December of hiring a carnival worker to kill her son and daughter-in-law in 2013 has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. A Bexar County jury found Ruth Ann Comer, 69, guilty of solicitation of capital murder with remuneration in the murder-for-hire attempt. Comer chose to be punished by state District Judge Jennifer Pena, who presided at the trial. Comer had faced up to life in prison for the first-degree felony charge. Although relatives and friends asked the judge to assess the minimum, five years, and prosecutors Lauren Scott and Laura Durbin sought 15 years, Pena assessed a 20-year term. Ten years ago, Comer, then 60, gave a .32-caliber, seven-shot revolver to a would-be hit man and told him: I want Kristina gone, and if you have to, kill Jacob, investigators said in an arrest warrant affidavit at the time. When they met up again to discuss the plan, Charles Grube already had gone to the police, who set up covert audio equipment in his home, the affidavit stated. In their discussions, Comer told Grube where her son, Jacob Thomas, lived with his wife, Kristina Moore, and what kind of car they drove, giving Grube directions to their home. San Antonio police arrested Comer on Aug. 29, 2013, on a charge of solicitation to commit murder. Police also suspected her in the 2012 death of her former boyfriend, Jerry Collins, 68. Authorities found Collins hunched over, face down between the bed and wall in his mobile home with his throat slit. He had named Comer as a beneficiary in his will, the document stated. Kin Man Hui/Staff photographer The affidavit for Comers arrest said Moore and Thomas had been potential suspects in Collins killing, based on a call to police in May 2013 by Moores roommate, Teri Suttles. She said Moore told her that her mother-in-law had given her $10,000 to pay someone to kill Jerry Collins, the affidavit stated. Collins owned Rittiman Hardware, a business behind his home on Eisenhauer Road. Grube, who is Suttles father, met Moore and Comer at the carnival where he worked and overheard them talking about Collins killing. When he confronted Comer about it, out of concern for his daughters safety, Comer told him it was Moore who wanted Collins dead, the affidavit stated. Comer went to Grubes home a week later and gave him the revolver and told him she wanted Moore killed, and would pay him when I get my money (from the will), anything you want, the document stated. In July 2013, Comer attended a birthday party at Grubes home. Before she left, she whispered in his ear, You can go ahead and do it anytime, the affidavit stated. Grube took the story to police days later, gave them the revolver and agreed to record his next meeting with Comer. The audio captured Comer telling Grube details about Moore and Thomas' SUV, and the lot number and location of the trailer where they lived. Police arrested her weeks later. Before the judge handed down the sentence Thursday, Comers attorneys, Monica E. Guerrero and Veronica I Legarreta, called relatives and a neighbor to the stand to make a case for leniency. Her daughter, Angela Sexton, testified that she stayed home during her mothers trial in December because Comer told her not to attend. I listen to my mom when she tells me she is OK, and doesnt need anyone there, she told the court. She told Pena that she did not believe her mother did what she was convicted of and said she needed a new trial. Please, my mom didnt do this, she told Pena through tears. When Guerrero pressed her to tell the judge what she felt her mother should receive, she replied, five years, the minimum. Bill Thomas, who used to be married to Comers sister and is now in a relationship with Comer, echoed Sexton with pleas for a new trial, and if that could not happen, then five years punishment, he said. Neighbor Anthony Cisneros, who described Comer as a nice woman who shared his enjoyment of watching videos of monkeys fighting, said he did not see her as a danger to society. He did not say what punishment she should receive. Comer, who will turn 70 in two months, will have to serve at least half of her sentence before she would become eligible for parole. How did a wild turkey the size of a rose bush fit through a 6-inch hole and get trapped in a storm drain on the South Side? We have no idea. A resident reported seeing the turkey pacing back and forth inside the drain in the 400 block of Cottonwood Avenue on the South Side. When Animal Care Services officer Jenny Huron drove over, she didnt see or hear him on the side of the street that she was on. But when she crossed the road, she saw the turkey in the water drain at the base of the sidewalk. He looked healthy, alert and uninjured, surrounded by fast-food cups and trash. RELATED: Meet Lucky, a dog in danger saved by a San Antonio Animal Care Services officer Huron reached her hand inside the inlet to see if she could reach the bird but was unsuccessful. She took a tire iron and tried to pry open the manhole cover, but it was bolted down. A public works team was called out to aid in the rescue. After the duo removed the cover, Huron dropped into the inlet area. It took multiple attempts to contain the turkey safely. Each time she tried to reach him, he would trot to another side tunnel under the street. But eventually, Huron cornered the turkey. She picked him up and put him in a transport kennel that she handed through the opening to the team. At ACS, she put the turkey in an individual run near the livestock area. They named him Turkey Lurkey after the fowl in the Chicken Little fairy tale. We Care Wildlife Sanctuary Rescue in Medina County took Turkey Lurkey into their care. READ MORE: ACS changes San Antonios dog bite policy after deadly mauling ACS spokeswoman Lisa Norwood said, luckily, the rescue took place before recent rain storms. She said no one came to claim Turkey Lurkey, and they didnt know where he came from. This was the shelters first turkey rescue this year. This was a turkey that walked his own path, Norwood said. Unfortunately, he walked right into a storm drain. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The North East Independent School District told the community volunteers hard at work reviewing its sex education program that it was dropping the popular curriculum it had used since 2017. The reason? Its publisher had stumbled a little too close to Planned Parenthood for a school district that has become finely attuned to possible controversy. That left other possible programs the panel was examining using guidelines created by an anti-LGBTQ organization labeled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit that monitors American extremism. Two of the new alternatives emphasize the primacy of marriage in sexual relations. One touts itself as a leader in convincing teens not to have sex. And the public can now give feedback. The sharp conservative turn drew praise, skepticism and opposition when the new options were presented at a public forum March 30 by the subcommittee of the districts School Health Advisory Committee. Some attendees pointed to the proposed curricula, and the methods used to select them, as proof that religious conservatives on the NEISD board had succeeded in making the SHAC a vehicle for their views. READ MORE: What stands between NEISD and restarting sex education? These 40 people. That was denied by members of the SHAC subcommittee dealing with sex education, which goes by the acronym CHaSE, for Classroom Health and Sex Education. It plans to narrow the choices to a single recommendation for the entire SHAC to vote to send to the school board in May. The publisher of Big Decisions, the San Antonio-based nonprofit Healthy Futures, has been a local leader in the fight to reduce teen pregnancy for decades. The curriculum is abstinence-plus, meaning it conforms to state law by emphasizing sexual abstinence but also includes a rundown of contraception methods. Students learn that not having sex is their most effective option in preventing unwanted pregnancies or disease but also the responsibilities people have if they have sex to reduce risks of both, according to a summary on the Big Decisions website. The three programs proposed to replace it also discuss contraception. At the forum, parents flipped through descriptions of the curricula, displayed in spiral binders on tables, and seemed either pleased or befuddled. Then some of them got angry. The new options include: ESTEEM, a curriculum that emphasizes the consequences of premarital sex and nonmarital pregnancy, centering discussions about sex around marriage. Its teacher materials state that students will learn the healthiest sexual activity is intentional, mutually agreeable and mutually pleasurable in the context of a respectful, lifelong, mutually monogamous relationship. Choosing the Best, which promotes sexual risk avoidance. Its website says students who learn under this curriculum are 1.5 times less likely to initiate sex, promising that they will learn the negative emotional effects of casual sex and that sexual delay provides freedom. Heritage Keepers, which promises to empower adolescents to abstain from sexual activity outside of marriage, along with helping students prepare for marriage and family life. Participation in the Big Decisions curriculum at NEISD in the 2021-22 school year was about 95 percent, officials said. Parents sign a form if they want their kids in sex ed. The state last year started requiring all public schools to do that, but it was NEISD's policy even when it could have enrolled kids in sex ed automatically and placed the initiative on parents to opt out. In August, the NEISD board suspended the classroom teaching of sex education on the recommendation of district executives who said they were worried about potential fallout from using materials that had not been updated to meet new Texas curriculum standards for sex ed. The board then overhauled the SHAC membership, spurred by three socially conservative trustees elected since 2020. By law, the SHAC must review the changes and make recommendations. The replacement of many of its members delayed the start of that work, and in late January, the districts health director, Jennifer Aguilar, changed their task: The Big Decisions curriculum was off the table. 'Controversial or divisive' The Legislature decided in 2021 that school boards must vote on their sex ed programs. But the NEISD board has defended Big Decisions against formal and informal challenges for years, and trustees have weighed its merits in election debates. Its publisher, Healthy Futures, merged with another nonprofit called The Texas Campaign to End Teen Pregnancy, which had worked with Planned Parenthood of Gulf Coast and Greater Texas on a program called the Texas Youth Friendly Initiative to improve adolescent health care. Healthy Futures told Aguilar by letter that the initiative would expire March 31, did not involve any of Planned Parenthoods clinical services and complied with a Texas law, chapter 2273 of the Texas Government Code. that forbids government entities from paying taxpayer dollars to abortion providers or their affiliates. But it was enough to spook NEISD officials. The district can make decisions about which curriculums are reviewed and which are not. Once we learned of the merger we knew that would have the potential to derail the (SHAC) review process, NEISD spokeswoman Aubrey Chancellor said Thursday, adding that the disruption could come from it being controversial or divisive. Therefore, Ms. Aguilar decided to go in a different direction. She informed the SHAC committee of her plan, and they agreed. The minutes of the CHaSE meeting of Jan. 18 note that Aguilar had emailed its members with concerns that implementing the Big Decisions program would potentially be a violation of Texas law. NEISD is pulling Big Decisions from consideration. Interviewed by email this week, Aguilar said she consulted with NEISD lawyers about it. We are not stating that Big Decisions violates state law. We are also not stating that the Big Decisions program itself is controversial, she said. But the merger that caused Healthy Futures to acquire a temporary working relationship with Planned Parenthood had the potential to be controversial and divisive, which could slow the process, Aguilar said. For their part, CHaSE members at the March 30 forum flatly asserted that the continued use of Big Decisions would break the law. That is the reason why Big Decisions was pulled, said Ben Elliott, the subcommittees chairman. Its not because we politically dont like Planned Parenthood; whatever your opinion is, we dont consider that. Its because the state law, Texas TGC 2273, says that affiliation is illegal. Theres nothing illegal about it, said Jen Biundo, the senior director of policy and research at Healthy Futures. Big Decisions is used in school districts across Texas, and we know its been well-liked by the community at NEISD, she said. Its medically accurate, and it helps kids stay safe and healthy. This type of misunderstanding about state law, fundamentally, is harming kids, Biundo said. Every school district is making decisions about curriculum, and thats absolutely their choice. But it would certainly be concerning if those decisions were made based on an inaccurate understanding of our organization or state law. In the end, controversy greeted the CHaSE proceedings from another direction. Some of the 30 or so parents and community members who attended the March 30 presentation reacted with approval and some with horror when Elliott explained that the panel weeded out possible curriculum options using a filter to identify the harmful elements of comprehensive sexuality education. That tool was designed by an Arizona-based group called Family Watch International, which states that it tries to identify anything in a curriculum that teaches children to consent to sex or that promotes sexual pleasure, homosexual or bisexual behavior, transgender ideology and sexual rights advocacy. Family Watchs website states that the unique contributions of a mother and a father cannot be replaced by two parents of the same sex. Its goal is to combat LGBTQ influence, and its founder, Sharon Slater, promotes pseudoscience that includes the falsehood that homosexuality is a mental disorder derived from childhood trauma and that so-called conversion therapy can effectively eliminate same-sex attraction, according to a Southern Poverty Law Center summary. When the committee members took questions, parent Liana Benavides pointed out that the panel was using criteria defined by a group that opposes homosexuality, abortion, birth control, comprehensive sex education and anything it regards as a threat to the divinely ordained natural family. It feels politically motivated, whats happening here, Benavides said. The district is making decisions that lean to the right, and schools should be nonpartisan. Some of the frustrated speakers appeared to direct their comments toward trustee Steve Hilliard, who did not respond. He led the push to change the SHAC last fall, and the board had earlier defeated his longstanding effort to get NEISD to ditch its sex ed program for sixth graders. Defending the process Committee members said they went through a three-hour debate before deciding to use the Family Watch tool. They said it helped identify the curricula most aligned with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills standards, which were updated for sex ed in 2020 to take effect in the current school year. The TEKS changes were why NEISD health officials asked the board to suspend sex education just as the school year began, so the SHAC could review the curriculum. Students in Texas must be taught that abstinence is the best choice for unmarried persons of school age, but state law also gives school districts flexibility in sex education, allowing them to include material that goes beyond the TEKS but requiring health committees of educators, parents and community members to advise school boards on local values. Elliott said his committee will not go an inch past what is required by the TEKS. He dismissed criticism of Family Watch International as a hate group, saying it came from a nonreputable organization. Elliott is new to the SHAC, appointed by trustee Marsha Landry, one of two social conservatives elected to the board last year. READ MORE: North East ISD trustee accused of abusing stepson, calling him her 'slave' Stephanie Adams, a retired Army nurse and veteran member of the SHAC, said the process the CHaSE used was nonpartisan. None of us have the same ideology, but the group was able to reach a common idea of what would be best for NEISD students, she said. Tony Kaman, the SHAC chairman, also defended the process. Some parents spoke in favor of the proposed curricula. Patrick Von Dohlen, a board member of the San Antonio Family Association, a conservative group that financially backs school board candidates, said he took his nine children out of NEISD schools in 2016, when the SHAC approved Big Decisions. He said he was ecstatic about the SHACs work so far this year and said Heritage Keepers was his favorite of the three proposals because of its effectiveness in reducing teen sex. Dan Robles said he supported the SHAC and understood how tough its work was, given that we are not all cut the same. The CHaSE meetings are closed to the public, considered necessary because previous meetings were frequently interrupted by concerned parents. The panels minutes are available on the NEISD website, and it has its own website with a feedback form and details on where the public can inspect the curriculum proposals until April 21. The Texas Education Agency requires that it hold two open forums where community members and parents can ask questions. The second forum is set for 7 p.m. Thursday at the Piper Bass Memorial Student Center. Elliott said he hopes to get as much feedback as possible before the CHaSE votes on which curriculum to recommend to the board. Using the feedback form, parents are sharing their views online. Christyn Baer, a parent at Oak Meadow Elementary School, wrote that she was concerned about the ramifications of a generation of children who do not receive instruction on different ways to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, adding, This education is critical to ensuring their safety. An anonymous parent wrote, Keep in mind that most parents want their kids to have access to sex ed information at school. The comment continued: A small vocal group shouldnt be able to tailor an entire curriculum to suit their preferences. OMAHA, Neb. (AP) Federal regulators said Friday that railroads need to re-examine how they assemble their trains after a string of derailments in recent years that were at least partly caused by the way empty and loaded cars were mixed together with locomotives. Heavy cars at the back of a train can push and pull against empty cars in the middle of a train as it goes over hills and around corners. Those forces have become more of a problem as the industry increasingly relies on longer trains with a wide variety of freight aboard. Another factor complicating the issue is the industry's practice of placing locomotives throughout trains. The locomotives can amplify the forces if they're not used correctly. The Federal Railroad Administration's advisory cites six derailments since 2021 where those forces were a factor. They include a Norfolk Southern derailment near Springfield, Ohio, last month and a 2021 Union Pacific derailment that forced the evacuation of Sibley, Iowa, for three days. Regulators say these kind of derailments are happening with increasing frequency. But regulators didn't mention the fiery February derailment near East Palestine, Ohio, that prompted much of the recent concern nationwide about railroad safety as an example of this problem. The National Transportation Safety Board has said that an overheated bearing that caused an axle to fail on one of the railcars likely caused that derailment. But it is still early in the East Palestine investigation so it's not clear if the makeup of the train was also a factor. Railroads must prioritize proper train makeup to maintain safety, prevent accidents, and optimize train performance," the railroad administration said in the advisory. "Further, all operating employees must be properly trained in these technologies and the handling of complex trains to ensure safe operation and minimize human error. All of the derailments the FRA mentioned involved trains with at least 125 cars. In every case an empty car was the first to come off the tracks. The order doesn't specifically single out long trains, but the kind of forces regulators are concerned about are amplified in longer trains, especially if large blocks of empty cars are placed in the middle or front of a train. In three of the six derailments, hazardous chemicals were released, highlighting the potential dangers of these accidents. The major freight railroads have all overhauled their operations in recent years to rely more on longer trains so they don't need as many crews or locomotives. Now trains routinely stretch longer than two or even three miles (three to five kilometers) long. As a train moves across uneven territory, its front half might be getting pulled up a hill while the back half is coming down and pushing forward against the rest of the cars. Those dynamics make it difficult for the engineer to manage. Think about going thru undulating territory sort of like a Slinky. Youre either trying to keep it stretched out or youre trying to keep it all bunched together to control the forces from going in and out because thats what causes derailments. And it causes train separations, said Mark Wallace, who is second-highest ranking officer with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union. The way to prevent this stuff from happening is to control the train lengths. A spokeswoman for the Association of American Railroads trade group said the major freight railroads already use sophisticated computer software to help them build trains and properly distribute the weight. Not only is it important to consider where to put the loaded cars, but railroads also have to factor in that some goods are heavier than others and that the weight of the liquid inside a tank car will shift as the train moves. AAR spokeswoman Jessica Kahanek said the railroads will consider regulators recommendations. The industry is committed to productive conversations about how we continue to advance our shared goal of ensuring the safety of the trains that serve customers and communities across the nation, Kahanek said. A spokeswoman for Union Pacific, which handled three of the trains highlighted in the advisory, said the railroad is using high-tech tools to monitor train forces and makes adjustments as needed. Kristen South said UP has seen derailments decline along its network last year and this year, even as maximum train length reached 9,329 feet (2.8 kilometers). We constantly evaluate our processes and continue to work with government agencies and industry partners to further improve safety, South said. Norfolk Southern officials declined to comment on the advisory. That railroad was responsible for two of the derailments in the advisory, as well as the one in East Palestine. Since the East Palestine derailment, regulators and members of Congress have urged the railroads to take additional steps to prevent derailments. Two different federal agencies have also announced investigations of Norfolk Southern's safety record, and that railroad's CEO has had to testify twice at congressional hearings. When oilfield services sector companies sold their businesses in Russia last year after the invasion of Ukraine, one Houston company stood pat. Schlumberger, now known as SLB, not only didn't head for the exits, it has been hiring en masse in Russia despite that nation's pariah status as Western countries look to impose sanctions in response to the attack on Ukraine. There is no indication that SLB will ever opt to leave Russia, said Lela Stanley, a senior investigator at the climate advocacy group Global Witness, which studied jobs sites in which SLB is seeking hundreds of employees in Russia. That leaves its shareholders top American asset managers among them implicated in the continued production of oil thats funding Russias attacks on Ukraine. SLB, the worlds largest oilfield services company, brought in around $1.7 billion last year from its Russia operations, 6 percent of its more than $28 billion in 2022 total revenue, and anti-war and climate groups have taken aim at the company for its continued business there. RELATED: Oil and gas operators made record profits in 2022. How much will trickle down to the services sector? SLB said in a statement that while it was not divesting its holdings in Russia, the company has committed to discontinue new investments and technology deployments in the country. Still, it said, it continues to provide certain products, spare and replacement parts, and other consumable goods as part of its oilfield services business there. It said its workforce in Russia has declined nearly 10 percent since the invasion. We anticipate a decline in activity and revenue from our Russian operations in 2023, SLB said. The company does not break out its Russian operations in its financial reporting. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 1 of 2 Godofredo A. Vasquez, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Godofredo A. Vasquez, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Show More Show Less Heading for exits The refusal of the company, which also maintains a headquarters in Paris, to leave Russia comes as Western companies began rolling back their operations there last year as the war marched on and sanctions mounted. Since those initial announcements last February and March, SLB has done less than its Houston-based rivals Baker Hughes and Halliburton, which each lost hundreds of millions of dollars as they pulled out of Russian projects. Baker Hughes, which signed its Russian business over to local management in August, took a $365 million charge for costs associated with its departure, on top of the lost revenue. Halliburton took a $344 million charge when it sold its Russian assets. Job postings by SLB uncovered by Global Witness and reviewed by the Chronicle show the company has recently sought to hire more than 200 workers. It is not clear whether those were for new positions, said Matt Hale, vice president of supply chain research for the research firm Rystad Energy, who cautioned that the openings may represent replacements for people who have quit or retired. Whether to leave Russia was a more difficult decision for SLB than it was for its rivals, analysts said. Hale said the company was more invested in Russia than Baker Hughes and Halliburton, and that its work there was less exposed to sanctions, which targeted larger, more complex equipment such as units needed for offshore drilling and liquefied natural gas production. Russia is more likely to rely on Western companies for that equipment, Hale said, which would have little effect on the conventional onshore drilling sites where SLB is operating. The bulk of Baker Hughes financial blow stemmed from sanctions that prohibited it from deploying LNG equipment, Hale said. Halliburton had worked primarily with oil majors who pulled out of their Russian projects, said James West, an oilfield services analyst for Evercore ISI. What's more, sanctions were never intended to completely shut down Russian oil production. Russia's oil is necessary to balance the global market, and losing it could trigger a spike in prices and an energy crisis, which is why sanctions only aim to limit the government's profits, not shut them down completely. Even if SLB were to withdraw its services in Russia, the skill level and equipment needs are simple enough that Russian employees on the ground could handle it with little impact on production, Hale said. Russia has a lot of capability internally, and I think this has been discounted in a lot of discussion on the topic, Hale said. It ends up being symbolic when they exit. RELATED: A Houston Methodist nurse helped bring her Ukrainian cousins to the US after Russia invaded SLB is not historically one for symbolic gestures, Evercore ISI's West said. They're known for not leaving markets when theres issues or coups, West said, noting this kind of unrest is common in oil-producing regions. Theyre always loyal to the customer base; theyre not playing the political angle. Calls for SLBs exit are about much more than politics for Nataliya Pashchenko, an immigrant from Ukraine now living in Houston whose sister died of a stroke in Kiev late last year. While her 56-year-old sister was in poor health, she believes she would have lived longer had her final months not been addled by the stress of war. Pashchenko, who protested outside SLB's Houston headquarters last year, said companies that continue to operate in Russia are contributing to the needless deaths of Ukrainian civilians. "Its helping Russia to generate profits," she said, "which are ultimately killing Ukrainian civilians." amanda.drane@houstonchronicle.com Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News A disturbance coming in from the west today will bring a tenth of an inch of rain to three quarters of an inch, according to the National Weather Service. "It all depends on where the system sets up," said Andrew Quigley, a meteorologist with NWS in New Braunfels. "There is more rainfall coming and some of the locations around the San Antonio metropolitan area can expect more rainfall than others. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Someday soon Starship will blast off from Starbase. A few years ago, such words would have sounded like science fiction, but now they are reality at Boca Chica Beach outside Brownsville as the most powerful rocket ever built stands against the Gulf breeze poised to launch. SpaceX has sent prototypes as high as 50,000 feet from its facility thats grown from the wetlands off Highway 4. Some performed as intended while others failed, sometimes with explosions that rained down stainless steel and Tesla parts across the flats. But no starships have pierced the skies over Boca Chica for almost two years since prototype SN15 successfully launched and landed. During that period, the company has completed more infrastructure, including the 43-story tower that now dominates the coastline. Its also developed and built the Super Heavy booster that will propel the Starship spacecraft on the first part of its journey. Now, the 400-foot-tall rocket appears to be within weeks of its maiden flight around the world, and whatever the outcome, Starship will land in imaginations and make history. On ExpressNews.com: Launch imminent? SpaceX's Starship reaches launch pad in Boca Chica, spurring speculation According to SpaceXs plan, the boosters 33 engines will lob the craft skyward over the Gulf of Mexico. About three minutes later the 230-foot-tall booster will separate, return to Earth and land in the ocean 20 miles from shore. Meanwhile the spacecraft will continue onward, flying 72 miles above Earth on a 90-minute journey until a powered, targeted landing into the sea 62 miles off the coast of Kauai. Elon Musk predicts a 50 percent chance of success. Starship might explode on the pad, perform as intended or malfunction somewhere in between. No matter the result, its another step toward a massive reusable spacecraft that could change how we think about space exploration and someday usher humanity into deep space. Reusability makes space travel cheaper, faster and more efficient. SpaceX has proven this concept by routinely reflying its Falcon 9 boosters. The result is a company that launches more stuff to space more often than any country. Starships will exponentially expand this capacity, which will help build outposts on the moon and Mars. Closer to home, Starship might someday help move up to 100 people and tons of equipment around the world in minutes. The military is already eyeing this concept to someday help respond to humanitarian and security crises. On ExpressNews.com: Elon Musks Starlink connects the planet. It also clutters the heavens. But before that can happen, Starship needs to make its first orbital flight. When it does, Earth will meet space in this southernmost part of Texas, where America and Mexico converge, the land meets the sea and history collides with the future. Consider the kids in Brownsville, Matamoros, Port Isabel, Los Fresnos and elsewhere who will see the streak of fire and smoke arching toward the heavens. Consider, too, the millions worldwide who will see footage. For some, Starship will launch a lifelong passion for exploration, solving hard problems and pushing the limits of human existence. Others might find hope or something to look forward to, a distraction from the worlds troubles. But this next step in discovery doesnt come without costs. SpaceXs development has forever changed Boca Chica Beach and South Texas both for good and bad. Musks rebranding of the area as Starbase has taken hold. The company has bought out many residents of the small community known as Boca Chica village, and those who remain must leave their homes for tests and launches. The Federal Aviation Administration required SpaceX to take 75 actions to mitigate environmental concerns. The company is addressing those concerns, but we wont understand the full impact on the areas ecosystem and endangered species for years. Besides the construction, traffic, more people and explosions, the site has also had fires and a liquid nitrogen leak. When the company ignited 31 Super Heavy engines on Feb. 9, the noise and force jolted hundreds, maybe thousands, of shorebirds into the sky. For a moment, the scene looked like something from the Hitchcock film, but a spokesperson for Texas Parks and Wildlife didnt think the test harmed the birds or other wildlife. Frequent closures of Highway 4 limit beach access for members of the Carrizo/Comecrudo tribe who consider the area sacred. The shut downs also impact local beachgoers and fishermen for whom Boca Chica Beach offers their nearest coastal access. At the same time, SpaceX has infused millions into the regions economy, created thousands of jobs, boosted the real estate market, amplified tourism and spurred business. The Elon Musk Foundation has donated millions to local schools. Worlds continue to collide at Boca Chica Beach. The costs are immense, but so are the risks of not trying. The work at Starbase may ultimately unlock a new chapter of existence, and perhaps survival, for humanity. When Starship makes its orbital flight, maybe we will escape our differences and divisions if only for a few minutes. Together we will look up and away from the troubles here on Earth and gaze toward the future. brandon.lingle@express-news.net In last Sundays column, I posited that thoughts and prayers wont stop school shootings. But on this Easter weekend, Im hoping thoughts and prayers can make a difference. Not the tone deaf condolences after mass shootings from folks like U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. Not weak and misleading statements about gun safety laws from Gov. Greg Abbott. But the solution-based thoughts and fervent prayer that can fuel action, social justice and change. The kind of thoughts and prayers powerfully proclaimed last week in a Palm Sunday homily by Father Kevin Fausz at Holy Redeemer Church on San Antonios East Side can make a difference. First, he preached about what it takes to be a disciple of Christ amid the suffering of people unjustly detained and imprisoned; the oppressed; and those who live in poverty or suffer from illness, brokenness, pain and suffering. Then, he spoke of children. As long as we have children who suffer because of inadequate schools, the Body of Christ still suffers As long as we have children who are being killed in our schools, the Body of Christ still suffers! Now, lets take that to today. Those children in schools, in Uvalde, didnt do anything. But weve got politicians who are complicit. Weve got politicians who have blood on their hands because they will not legislate because of pride and power and fear of what some people who give them money will say and do. Theyre complicit, Fausz said. As long as we allow the injustices that we see in our midst in our city, in our state, in our country, our world to continue and be perpetuated, we are complicit. He issued a challenge to not live like Pontius Pilate, whose arrogance, pride and power made him complicit, but to instead do the will of Jesus Christ. As long as the body of Christ still suffers, we as the followers of Christ, need to be doing something about itWe got work to do, he said. You know who is already doing the work? The students in Uvalde, where 19 fourth graders and two teachers were murdered in May. Students in Nashville, where three elementary students and three school staff were murdered in March. And students all over America who are fed up with not feeling safe at school in a country where guns are the leading killer of children. These students march to memorials of dead students and teachers, and to state capitols, and they put it all on social media so the world can see and hear their pleas. On ExpressNews.com: 'They dont care about us': Uvalde students leave school in walkout over gun safety State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, a Democrat who represents San Antonio and Uvalde, has proposed a slew of gun safety bills is doing the work. So are other Democratic lawmakers. This week on the senate floor, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick threatened Gutierrez with warnings when the senator questioned why the focus was on protecting kids from drag queens and not guns. Also doing the work are the the three Tennessee Democratic state Representatives who faced expulsion after joining students in protests for gun safety on the House floor in Nashville. Thursday, the two Black representatives were unjustly expelled; the one white representative kept her seat. Theyre doing the work. Its hard to imagine our elected leaders dont see the thousands of students protesting across the country. Jazmin Cazares, a senior at Uvalde High School, marched Wednesday with classmates. Shes been pushing for gun safety reform since May when her 9-year-old sister Jackie Cazares and 10-year-old cousin Annabell Rodriguez were murdered in the school shooting at Robb Elementary. Its difficult to believe that elected officials dont hear 10-year-old Caitlyne Gonzales, who suffers heartbreak and PTSD after hiding in a Uvalde classroom listening as her friends and teachers were slaughtered. Caitlyne led seven classmates in an impromptu protest on the school playground for hours in the hot sun on the last day of March. Yet, seeing and hearing them isnt enough. My Easter prayer is that the thoughts, prayers and actions of the lawmakers and leaders who arent complicit to gun violence, and the brave students protesting to end gun violence, fuel social justice. Nancy.Preyor-Johnson@express-news.net Harlandale ISD trustees have made the politically difficult, but best choice, for their district. In choosing to close four schools, they sustained the district, put students and teachers first and showed political courage. Shuttering schools, as the board did when it voted 4-3 on March 27 to close Columbia Heights, Morrill, Rayburn and Carroll Bell elementary schools this fall, isnt popular because it disrupts communities and displaces students. But in this case, it was the right choice for the districts future. Harlandale is facing a dire budget deficit. The district has been relying on federal pandemic relief funds to fill a $12 million budget shortfall. But those funds are coming to an end. Without cutting costs, the district would have to declare a financial exigency by January, requiring laying off 300 staff members. Harlandale ISD Board President Norma Cavazos rightfully urged board members to choose the viability of the district, saying it was better to close schools and ensure all students had certified teachers as opposed to long-term substitutes and half-full classrooms. Harlandale isnt alone. South San ISD, also facing significant budget pressure, made the correct choice, voting March 22 to close three schools: Kazen Middle School, Athens Elementary and Kindred Elementary. Her voice cracking, Cavazos asked to be judged for making the choice to keep Harlandale alive. She challenged the community to continue advocating and wanting more so that every student could be successful. We echo her challenge. Before his vote, Harlandale Trustee Louie Luna, focused on moving forward together and pleaded with others to show support with the end goal in mind: the legacy of Harlandale ISD. Were delighted that he ended his speech with a grito: Que viva Harlandale! Que viva Harlandale! Long live Harlandale. Thats what we all want: a living, thriving school district where students succeed. The trustees vote keeps Harlandale ISD alive, but the road ahead is filled with challenges that will require trustees and the community to unite for their students. Anything less will fail them. The fight against Proposition A is drawing even more opposition and dollars than a police reform charter amendment defeated two years ago. And theres still a month to go. Protect SA, a political action committee created by the San Antonio Police Officers Association, brought in nearly $900,000 from the start of the year through March 27, according to its campaign finance report. And its not just law enforcement spending thousands of dollars to defeat the measure in the May 6 municipal election. The wide-ranging charter amendment has drawn the ire of the business community, which formed the San Antonio Safe PAC last month to fundraise against it. Supporters have raised just a fraction of the oppositions haul, reporting $50,000 in monetary contributions and nearly $53,000 in in-kind donations. READ MORE: These are not victimless crimes: Why Mayor Nirenberg opposes Prop A Prop A would decriminalize abortion and marijuana, ban police chokeholds and no-knock warrants and create a city justice director. Of particular concern to the union and business groups is the provision that would require police to issue citations for certain low-level misdemeanor offenses, including theft and graffiti. Police fundraising to slow Protect SA PAC raised about $880,000 from Jan. 31 through March. Most of that money $866,225 came directly from the San Antonio Police Officers Association, while the unions main PAC kicked in the rest. Protect SA reported spending everything it raised in the first three months of 2023 on advertisements, including mailers, yard signs, cable commercials, and TV and newspaper ad buys. It also hired Noisy Trumpet to handle media requests and manage the PACs website and social media accounts. Im not out asking officers for more money, but we are getting contributions slowly, a little bit at a time $50 here, $25 there, so whatever we get well use toward this fight, SAPOA President Danny Diaz said. He declined to say how much the PAC expects to raise between now and May 6. In 2021, SAPOA spent $850,000 to defeat Proposition B. That measure, which failed by less than 3 percentage points, would have stripped the union of its right to collectively bargain for a contract with the city. Any money raised by San Antonio Safe wont be publicly known until closer to election day since the PAC didnt start taking contributions until after March 27, the end of the three-month period covered by the latest campaign finance reports due Thursday. The PAC held a Tuesday fundraiser, setting the minimum suggested donation at $1,000. The next campaign finance reports are due eight days before the election. Grassroots fundraising The two PACs formed in support of Prop A raised a combined $50,000, all of which came from the Texas Organizing Project. SA Justice Charter PAC and San Antonio Justice Charter PAC also received about $52,800 of in-kind donations. Much of that came from Act 4 SA and its action fund. The local police reform group is one of the main organizers behind Prop A. Another chunk of the in-kind contributions came from progressive organizing group Ground Game Texas, which helped with about $22,500 in staff support and management consulting. Act 4 SA Executive Director Ananda Tomas said Prop A supporters expect to raise more money in the coming weeks. But it wont be $900K, Tomas said via text message. We are grassroots after all and dont flood elections with money like the police union does to get their way. In 2021, Fix SAPD, the group behind Proposition B, spent $950,000 during that election cycle. *This story has been updated to include comment from Gov. Abbott's office. The Texas House delivered a major blow Thursday to Gov. Greg Abbotts push for school vouchers, voting during budget negotiations to restrict the use of public funds for private education. RELATED: Texas Democrats are prepared to battle over education spending today The House vote was a warning for voucher supporters, happening almost simultaneously as the state Senate moved to pass its own voucher plan, which ultimately passed several hours later. These are public funds for public schools, as outlined and stated specifically in the Texas Constitution, said Rep. Abel Herrero, a Robstown Democrat and the author of the amendment calling for the ban. Herrero has offered the same amendment in past sessions, where it has often won more than 100 votes. The amendment has almost no chance of becoming law since it would need support from the Senate and the governor, but it is a strong signal that their pressure has yet to sway enough House members to get onboard. The lobbying is making a dent, however the margin for the ban on Thursday was 86 to 52, compared with last session, when 115 members voted for it. After months of campaigning from Abbott including regular speeches at private schools and an appearance on the House floor earlier this week he had won over 29 votes. In a statement on Friday, Abbott spokeswoman Renae Eze called the shift encouraging. "This vote shows the legislature remains open to school choice, supporting the majority of Texans who want to expand school choice," Eze said. "Gov. Abbott looks forward to the legislature passing school choice legislation this year and signing it into law to ensure all Texas students have access to the best educational opportunities." Several hours after the Houses vote, Sen. Brandon Creighton, a Conroe Republican who authored the Senates voucher bill, said that he didnt view it as the end of the line. Theyre not going to negotiate against themselves, so of course theyre going to be a no until theyre a yes, he said on the Senate floor. I go through my nos until I hear my yeses. Creightons bill also prohibits teaching about gender identity or sexual orientation in Texas K-12 public schools. Earlier in the day, the chamber passed a companion bill also authored by Creighton that contained raises for teachers. BACKGROUND: Where does Texas stand on school choice? Heres what to know about school vouchers Although past efforts have fallen short in the House, voucher programs have received more support this year than ever before. Abbott named them as a priority in his State of the State address earlier this year, and he has toured the state calling for action. Abbott has argued that parents are deprived of options for their childrens education, and he claims that public schools have become tools for progressive indoctrination. A voucher bill hasnt received a vote on the House floor since 2005, when it failed narrowly. Back then, there were hours of debate on the merits of voucher programs. Things didnt stretch that long on Thursday, but several lawmakers extolled the virtues of public funds to private schools. There may be no greater issue that we grapple with as the body in this legislative session, said Rep. Brian Harrison, a Dallas-area Republican and member of the House Public Education Committee. The committee is scheduled to consider several school voucher proposals next week. Harrison said he opposed Herreros amendment both because he thought it was unfair to preempt the committee process and because he thought it was bad public policy. We have never seen any type of competition harm an industry our public schools are no different, remarked Rep. Nate Schatzline, R-Fort Worth. The Herrero amendment almost did not receive a vote on the floor at all. House Public Education Chair Brad Buckley, R-Killeen, attempted to prevent the chamber from voting on the measure, saying it was inappropriate considering that his committee plans to hold public hearings for several voucher policies next week. This process with this amendment turns things really in the wrong direction. It is the proverbial cart before the horse, he said. In past sessions, Buckley has voted for the same amendment. If Buckley had been successful, it would have allowed the House to avoid any provocation of the governor or of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who leads the Senate. Buckleys effort failed by a seven-vote margin, with about a dozen Republicans joining the Democrats to stop it. Sen. Jen Gross, D-Billings, speaks on the Senate floor on April 6, 2023. (Photo by Nicole Girten/Daily Montanan) Sen. Edie McClafferty, D-Butte, said everyones heard of the phrase Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me. That saying is a bunch of baloney, McClafferty said. Because words do hurt, you guys. McClafferty was speaking in opposition to a bill sponsored by Rep. Brandon Ler, R-Savage, to allow transgender children to be misgendered at school by other students. House Bill 361 was one of several debated in the Senate, including proposals to restrict abortion as well as another on election funding heard in the House. McClafferty said senators received a letter from an emergency room physician whose colleague told him about a transgender teen patient who had attempted suicide. The ER doctor relayed the exchange he learned about to legislators. He was talking to this patient and he asked the person why. Why did you try to do this? McClafferty said. And the person replied, Because my state does not want me anymore. That is one of the saddest things Ive ever heard. Sen. Keith Regier, R-Kalispell, who carried HB 361 in the Senate, said the bill provides clarity in a time when names and pronouns can be confusing. He said the bill didnt allow bullying, citing language that says the misgendering cannot rise to the definition of bullying in statute. McClafferty spoke to the nationwide push for similar legislation, but said Montana doesnt have to be like other states. We should all hold our heads up high and shout from the tallest mountains we have here in Montana and say, We dont need this bill or any other ones that discriminate against our citizens because we accept everybody for who they are, she said. The bill passed second reading 29-21. Five Republicans voted against it. Sen. Matt Regiers bill to restrict surgical abortion, or dilation and evacuation procedures, passed 31-19, with three Republicans voting with Democrats against it.. Sen. Jen Gross, D-Billings, cited the procedure as the most common abortion procedure, often used for miscarriage management for those who have experienced heartbreaking loss after the first trimester. She said preventing access to that care was cruel. Like Gross, Sen. Steve Hinebauch, R-Wibaux, sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee that heard this bill. Democrats left the hearing in protest citing anti-abortion rhetoric used by proponents and Republicans on the committee. Hinebauch spoke to the high emotion of the hearing and said he was moved by proponent testimony from people who said they survived abortion attempts. These survivors deserve to live in a state that prevents these procedures from harming anyone else, he said. Sen. Mary Ann Dunwell, D-Helena, spoke about her own experience getting an abortion during a discussion on a bill to require abortion providers file additional paperwork with the state if they provide abortion pills. She said she had to cross state lines by herself for the procedure. I dont want any woman, any person, to have to go through that. Medication abortion is safe. We dont need reporting on it, she said. Sen. Theresa Manzella, R-Hamilton, who carried the bill, said the pills were dangerous and that the aggregate data was needed so that the legislature could monitor potential adverse reactions to abortion medication to keep track of this emerging issue and make sure that its not getting too terribly out of control. House Bill 786 sponsored by Rep. Lola Sheldon-Galloway, R-Great Falls, passed 30-20. Over in the House, a bill that would limit counties from accepting private funding for running elections was debated on the floor. Rep. Ed Stafman, D-Bozeman, said this bill would make elections less secure and more costly. This bill has its genesis not in Montana, but in a conspiracy theory that arose after the last election, said Stafman, referring to the 2020 election. Election skeptics believe $350 million in funds donated from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerburg to a nonprofit that issued grants to support the mechanics of elections, from directing traffic to security and PPE, influenced the outcome of the 2020 election. Stafman said all the lawsuits around this issue were dismissed and this bill would deprive the state of philanthropic funds to support underfunded Elections Offices. Rep. Kerri Seekins-Crowe, R-Billings, who carried the bill sponsored by Sen. Shelley Vance, R-Belgrade, said she didnt mention a conspiracy theory, and said its up to the legislature to ensure there are safe elections. Stafman said billionaires will spend money on elections regardless, but now they will be restricted to spending it on attack ads. Thats where our efforts ought to be, not chasing down conspiracy theories and decreasing the nonpartisan funds available to elections officials so they may improve the quality and security of our elections, Stafman said. The bill passed 68-32. The post Floor debates: Abortion, pronouns and election funding appeared first on Daily Montanan. An aerial view of a site near the Yellowstone River in Laurel where NorthWestern Energy is building a methane power plant. (Courtesy of Northern Plains Resource Council) A large natural-gas fired power plant that appeared to be on a fast track for construction may end up being halted after a Yellowstone County judge said permits issued by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality did not adequately consider the environmental and lighting impacts of the large project. Judge Michael G. Moses ruled that the DEQ didnt perform an environmental impact analysis and had dismissed concerns about the air quality and millions of tons of carbon dioxide the plant would produce. He also ruled that the department failed to adequately analyze the lighting of the plant. Construction on the Laurel Generation Station has already begun, even though litigation over the plant began before the first shovel of dirt was turned. Earthjustice and the Montana Environmental Center had challenged the departments analysis of the environmental impacts, and said the department had followed the Montana Environmental Protection Act, which Moses partially agreed with. The groups challenging the plants permitting also argued that the plants construction violated the Montana Constitutions provision of a clean and healthful environment. Moses, in his 35-page ruling issued Thursday afternoon, said that the constitutional issues raised by the groups were not yet legally ripe for decision, and set them aside until after the analyses that are required. His ruling means that the Montana Department of Environmental Quality will have to go back and perform assessments of the carbon dioxide and the lighting before a permit may be issued. The challenge before Moses is just one of the legal hurdles that could possibly upend or delay the project. Groups of residents have also raised questions about the zoning of the land, whether Laurel or Yellowstone County have the jurisdiction for zoning. Questions and a request for comment sent to NorthWestern Energy were not immediately returned on Thursday. The company has said previously that the Laurel Generation Station would be online sometime in 2024. The plans for the plant call for 18 reciprocal internal combustion engines that would be able to produce as much as 175-megawatts energy that NorthWestern claims is much needed to serve the largest county in the state, including its three refineries. The plant is located adjacent to a water treatment plant for the City of Laurel, and nearby the CHS refinery. Moses ruled that the DEQ gave short shrift to concerns raised by residents and groups, and didnt follow the MEPA, which is the law that supports the constitutional provision for a clean environment. DEQ granted the air permit that dismissed some of the plants most troubling impacts with minimal analysis, improperly deferred others for future consideration and overlooked some harm entirely, the judge said in the decision. He said that the DEQ failed to fully address concerns relating to 769,706 tons of carbon dioxide that the plant will produce every year, the annual equivalent of 167,327 passenger vehicles. While the plaintiff groups in the case challenged a number of aspects of the plant, Moses did rule that the State Land Board had properly approved a pipeline permit and that although the Laurel Generation Station will produce some sulfur dioxide, a component of acid rain, that the DEQ had justified its decision properly, too. But, Moses said that the DEQ failed to look at the impacts of the greenhouse gases on Montana. In his ruling, he said the DEQ wrote off the consideration because state law said it cannot consider a projects impact beyond the state border. Here, the plain language (of Montana law) precludes agency MEPA review of environmental impacts that are beyond Montanas borders, but it does not absolve DEQ of its MEPA obligation to evaluate a projects environmental impacts within Montana. DEQ misinterprets the statute. They must take a hard look at the greenhouse gas effects of this project as it relates to the impacts within the Montana borders. They did not take any sort of look at the impacts because of their misinterpretation of the statute. Because the projects anticipated lifespan is more than 30 years, Moses calculated the carbon dioxide emissions to be more than 23.1 million tons directly impacting the largest city in Montana that is less than 15 miles down wind. Moses ruling also orders the DEQ to look at the lighting impacts which must also be considered as part of the permitting process. DEQ failed to take a hard look at the lighting emissions thus far their findings on this issue are arbitrary and capricious, he said. Citizens who have been fighting against the project for several years said they feel like theyve finally been heard. For too long its felt like a David versus Goliath battle. Im so tired of the government and NorthWestern ignoring us. We live here. We have raised concerns time and time again about the impacts of this plant, said Carah Ronan, farmer, small business owner and member of Thiel Road Coalition. When the government breaks the law and refuses to listen to the folks who live in the area, we have nowhere else to turn but the courts. We are thankful that the courts are willing to side with average Montanans who are just concerned about their health, property, businesses, and future generations. The post Judge rules DEQ failed to properly analyze potential harm from Laurel Generation Station appeared first on Daily Montanan. Updated April 7 at 4:35 p.m: The Senate voted Friday to reconsider the bill. The original story continues below. The Montana Senate voted Thursday to kill a bill that bipartisanship supporters said would have helped feed low-income families while also supporting farmers. House Bill 276, sponsored by Rep. Marty Malone, R-Pray, would have created a grant program where Montana food banks and pantries could get money to purchase food from local farmers. That way, farmers could have additional markets for their products, while also increasing the amount of fresh produce available in food pantries. The bill failed in the Senate on a 26 to 24 vote. The body then voted to indefinitely postpone the bill. The bill asked for $1 million over two years, but opponents feared it would cost too much money. The bill passed easily out of the House in February, and also cleared the Senate Agriculture Committee with bipartisan support last Friday. Throughout its committee hearings, no one testified against the bill, but nearly a dozen organizations from around the state came to Helena to support it. The Helena-based Montana Food Bank Network, which distributes food to some 340 partners across the state like food banks, senior centers, and shelters, was one of the bills most vocal supporters. In testimony, the groups chief policy officer Lorianne Burhop said soaring food prices and growing costs for farmers have left Montanas food banks with more demand and fewer resources. We are incredibly disappointed by the outcome of todays vote, Burhop said in an email to the Chronicle. It does not reflect the values of Montana or the best interests of our communities. We, along with many others, recognize the real impact this bill would have in our state and we will not stop working to make it a reality. The Gallatin Valley Food Bank also championed support for the bill in February. Sen. Wendy McKamey, R-Great Falls, carried the bill to the Senate floor. On Thursday she urged support for the legislation but also said the $1 million would be notable for the Montana Department of Agriculture budget, and that the appropriations committee could consider lowering the amount. Following that, Sens. Mike Lang and Carl Glimm spoke out against the bill because of the cost. The Legislature doesnt have an unlimited amount of money to spend, and theres still more bills requesting money that need to be pared down a manageable amount, Glimm said. Glimm and Lang also both said that farmers would give food to people in need if they just asked. Sen. McKamey pushed back on her colleagues remarks, saying the money was an important investment for Montanans. This is a good bill. I know we dont have unlimited funds, and I know that we dont have a lot of time, but we have time to do the work, McKamey said. This is an opportunity to help those people who really do need it. HARTFORD TOWNSHIP, Ohio The well sits at the edge of the woods, between the trees and Dave McCallions hay field. You can see the brine and oil tanks and the separator, painted bright blue, from Five Points Hartford Road, but the well blends in with its surroundings. The metal is rusty. Blue paint is flaking off of the fittings. Cloudy green water bubbles up around the casing. McCallion used to run his cattle in this field to graze after hed taken off a second cutting of hay. He hasnt let his cow-calf herd in there for several years now since the well started leaking. Hes worried a calf could get stuck in the water-filled trench around the well head. Or what if one of his cows takes a drink from that brackish water? Every time I cut hay, I go by that well, he said. I can smell the natural gas. I can see the stuff bubbling up through the water. Its been going like this for years. McCallion said hes tried for nearly six years to get something done about the leaking oil and gas well. Hes called the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the agency that regulates the states oil and gas industry, repeatedly. He gave up after a while, figuring it was just part of life living in eastern Ohio, where there are thousands of conventional wells like the one on his Trumbull County property, drilled into the Clinton sandstone. If the regulatory body tasked with enforcing the states rules on oil and gas couldnt help him, or wouldnt help him, who could? He couldnt afford to hire a lawyer to do battle with the well owner or the state to compel either of them to do the right thing. Then, in June 2022, Shawn Kacerski came to the Hartford Township zoning board meeting, where McCallion is a board member. During public comment, she stood up to speak and mentioned that a well was leaking on a property she and her husband recently bought. She wanted to know if it was zoning or the trustees (she should) talk to about gas wells leaking, he recalled. I told her she was barking up the wrong tree. But he wanted to know if he could help her, anyway. GRAY AREA Kacerskis story reignited McCallions drive to finally get something done about his well and now Kacerskis. Between the two of them, theyve reached out to the Ohio Attorney Generals office, the ODNR, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the Sierra Club, local lawmakers and attorneys. They hit wall after wall. Their wells, they found out, exist in a regulatory gray area. The wells are leaking, but apparently not enough to present an urgent health, safety or environmental hazard. If that was the case, according to ODNRs own policies, the department could have fixed the wells by now. The wells havent produced any oil or gas for several years but arent listed as inactive by the state, which, by law, would require them to be plugged. Theyre somewhere in the middle, neither dangerous enough nor productive enough to do anything about. The wells have an owner who is responsible for maintenance and repairs. If the wells were orphaned, meaning there is no responsible owner, the state could plug them or the landowners would be allowed to arrange for plugging. Big Sky Energy, the company that owns the wells, has a history of non-compliance with state regulations. ODNR cited the company numerous times over the years for violations with its wells and infrastructure. The state agency used all of its available enforcement power against the company, and still, these problematic wells remain. This is not a unique situation. There are wells like this all over the state, left over from decades of oil and gas exploration, much of which was unregulated or barely regulated. There are other operators like Big Sky Energy that break the law without facing real repercussions. Its the legacy of the land in Ohio, as much as farming is. Left in the lurch are landowners like McCallion and Kacerski. Im not asking for thousands of dollars, McCallion said. I just want my (mineral) rights back and the well plugged. And the only reason I want my rights back is so they cant drill any more wells. NOTHING WE CAN DO When Shawn Kacerski went to the Hartford Township zoning board meeting, she hadnt planned to talk about the leaking oil and gas well on her property. She had a burgeoning interest in her community since settling here in her husbands hometown several years ago. She grew up in New Jersey. She met her husband, Steve, while living and working in Maryland. They moved back to Trumbull County in 2011, so Steve Kacerski could focus on crop farming with his family. The Kacerskis bought a 90-acre property in Hartford Township, in December 2021, between Five Points Hartford Road and State Route 305. Steve Kacerski planted wheat the fall before and planned to tile it after the wheat came off in the summer. On the property was a well called Woofter No. 1, as well as other oil and gas infrastructure. Pipelines, storage tanks, a pump jack. By the time Shawn Kacerski was at the zoning board meeting in June, shed called 911 about the well and infrastructure on that property twice. In December 2021, shortly after they bought the property, a pipeline running through the land from another nearby well began leaking. She called 911. Someone from the company that owns the line came out to fix it, but they left the line above ground after it had been patched. Woofter well - March 15, 2023 - Photos by Matt Chasney 1 of 5 In April 2022, one of the neighbors and his children had been in the woods nearby and noticed the Woofter well head was leaking. Shawn Kacerski was alarmed and called 911 again, but getting first responders to the well was difficult. They had a hard time finding me, she said. Then, they couldnt get back there. They had to borrow a side-by-side from the neighbor. Once they got back there, they said, Theres nothing we could do. Shawn Kacerski remembers being confused by the reaction. Isnt it a big deal when a well head is hissing and blowing gas out of the ground? she thought. Here we are, thinking someone will fix this problem, she said. The ODNR sent the county inspector out to inspect the well. A report found there was a casing clamp at the base of the tubing and it was leaking gas. A notice of violation was issued April 26, 2022, because the well was insufficiently equipped to prevent escape of oil and gas and a fix was required within five days. A follow-up inspection, on April 29, 2022, resulted in another violation notice, this time for defective casing. As the couple bought and leased more land to farm, Shawn Kacerski wanted to become more involved in her new community. She joined the Hartford Optimists, a volunteer community service organization. She joined the Burghill Vernon Volunteer Fire Department. She also wanted to know how things worked. Where were her tax dollars going? Who was in charge? So, as she stood there during public comment in front of the zoning board, in June 2022, she couldnt help but ask about the well. Maybe these people knew how to help her, since dealing with ODNR was slow going. Its like everybody knows about these, but thats just how it is to live in the country, Kacerski said. I was told there are wells much worse than yours. THE CLINTON Clinton wells are Ohios bread and butter when it comes to oil and gas production. More than 270,000 oil and gas wells have been drilled in Ohio since 1860, when the first commercial oil well was drilled, in Washington County. Of those, more than 80,000 are drilled into the Clinton sandstone. About half of those wells are still considered to be active today. The first Clinton well was drilled in 1887, in Lancaster, Fairfield County. It was initially known as an excellent formation for gas production. Clinton fields were developed around central Ohio, where the formation was closer to the surface. The subsurface rock formations underneath Ohio tilt slightly, getting deeper the further east you travel. That was what they could access with the technology of the day, a cable rig, or spudder, which cut into the ground using percussion. The Clinton sandstone is known as a tight formation, meaning the rock is not permeable. It doesnt allow the oil and gas to flow freely to the surface. These early wells were often shot with nitroglycerin as a way to increase production. It was dangerous but effective. The first Clinton boom played itself out before the middle of the 20th century, but a second, much bigger boom was on its way, thanks to some advances in technology. The rotary drill came along and allowed operators to drill deeper and access more of the Clinton formation across eastern Ohio. Hydraulic fracturing, developed in the 1940s, began to be used with great success in the Clinton in the 1950s to boost production, according to the ODNRs Division of Geological Survey. Then, during the energy crisis of the 1970s, the federal Natural Gas Policy Act offered tax credits for high cost natural gas production from tight sandstones like the Clinton. In the decade after the policy change, interest in the Clinton peaked. More than 4,300 wells were drilled into the Clinton in 1981. That was the most wells drilled in one year in the states history. The well on Dave McCallions farm was drilled in 1982. His parents, Dave and Phyllis, signed a lease with Titan Energy Corp., of Cambridge, Ohio. The well was drilled at the edge of a field off of Five Points Hartford Road using an air rotary drill to a depth of 4,922 feet, according to ODNR records. It produced 10,895 Mcf of gas and 127 barrels of oil in 1984, the first year for which production records were reported with the state. The Woofter well, about 2 miles away, was drilled in 1984, at a depth of 5,036 feet. It was named after the property owners at the time, Robert and Florence Woofter. The Woofters too signed a lease with Titan Energy Corp. The Woofter well was never particularly productive. Some years it didnt produce anything. Exploration in the Clinton slowed in the mid-80s. The tax credit expired. Oil prices collapsed and natural gas prices stagnated. There was consolidation within the industry. It was part of the boom and bust cycle thats played out innumerable times since people began extracting the earths bountiful natural resources from the ground. The McCallion and Woofter wells changed hands, eventually being sold to Big Sky Energy, along with Titan Energys other wells in Trumbull County. Big Sky Energy owns more than 200 wells in seven counties. Production of gas at the McCallion well remained steady over the years until 2016. The well produced 539 Mcf of gas and no oil that year. There has been no annual production reported to the state since 2016. That was the last year Big Sky Energy was permitted to produce oil and gas in Ohio. FAILURE TO COMPLY Big Sky Energy is run by Robert Barr Sr. The company was started in 1997, according to state business records, and is based in New Concord, Ohio. Farm and Dairy reached out to Barr via phone numbers listed for the business, but the lines did not work. Farm and Dairy also reached out to Barr through his attorney, Gino Pulito, but he did not respond to a request for an interview. Most of what we know about Big Sky Energy and Barr come from public records and media reports, of which there are many. In the last decade, the company has made the top 10 list four times for operators with the most violations against them. It topped the list in 2016, with 131 violations. That was the year the company was ordered by a judge to cease operations, and the companys infrastructure was scrutinized more closely. One ODNR order from 2012 notes that Big Sky Energy has numerous violations for failure to comply with R.C. Chapter 1509 and Ohio Adm. Code 1501:9, the laws and administrative rules that empower the department to regulate the oil and gas industry. Big Sky Energy has been involved in many lawsuits and conflicts with landowners and residents who live near its oil and gas infrastructure. In March 2007, the company was accused of letting sediment runoff from a drilling site leak into lakes at a housing development, in Plymouth Township. An EPA investigator said the muddy runoff killed fish in the lakes. Barr told the Ashtabula Star Beacon at the time the EPA guy is a liar and full of B.S. The fish suffocated because the lake froze over and theres not enough water in the pond for all those fish. In a follow-up story, Barr softened his response to the complaint but still denied any responsibility for the fish kill. If the (ODNR) samples show we killed some fish and they tell us we will have to replace the fish, then well replace them, he said. But nobody has told us that. In July 2015, a Big Sky Energy oil tank near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border leaked hundreds of gallons of crude oil into a tributary of the Shenango River. The spill, from a tank on Orangeville Road, in Brookfield, Ohio, forced residents of three counties to conserve water after the nearby water treatment plant had to shut down. ODNR ordered the company to suspend operations in November 2015 after it failed to maintain liability insurance, as is required by the state of all oil and gas operators. The department revoked Big Skys bond in March 2016 and ordered it to cease operations after it failed to get insurance and comply with seven previous orders. An ODNR Division of Oil and Gas Resources attorney confirmed to Farm and Dairy the company still does not have current liability insurance or a surety bond. The Ohio Attorney Generals office has taken the company to court on at least three occasions on behalf of the ODNR. One of those court cases filed in Trumbull County in 2016 was the tipping point. Then-Attorney General Mike DeWine filed for a temporary restraining order against Big Sky Energy after one of the companys gathering lines leaked oil into a tributary of Yankee Run Creek, in Brookfield Township. A Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas Judge issued the temporary restraining order, in April 2016, requiring Big Sky Energy to suspend all oil and gas operations within the state until it obtained state-required liability insurance. The company tried but failed to get insurance. Barr said during a hearing in September 2016 that they didnt have money to properly remediate the site of the spill because of a downturn in the industry. The judge ruled in favor of the state in October 2017 and hit the company in December 2017 with a civil penalty of $141,700, or 1% of the statutory maximum of $14.2 million. The same day the fine hit, Barr filed for personal bankruptcy. The case was stayed due to the bankruptcy, but a judge later ruled Big Sky Energy and Barr were still liable. FAILURE BY DESIGN Big Sky Energy and its pattern of non-compliance are not unique in Ohio, according to various sources in and around the oil and gas industry that Farm and Dairy spoke to about the situation. This sort of blatant disregard for the rules was found to be common among conventional oil and gas well operators in neighboring Pennsylvania as well. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection released a report earlier this year that found more than half of conventional well operators in the state failed to report annual production data and mechanical integrity inspections for wells. Another common violation issued was failure to plug a well upon abandoning it. The DEP report said a significant change in the culture of non-compliance as an acceptable norm in the conventional oil and gas industry will need to occur before meaningful improvement can happen. Some of this culture is due to neglect, regulatory agencies spread too thin, and some of it is by design, according to Ted Boettner, a senior researcher with the Ohio River Valley Institute. Boettner has authored reports on the impacts of orphan wells and abandoned mine lands in Appalachia. Conventional wells dont get enough attention from regulators, Boettner said. For example, the ODNR is overburdened and understaffed, like most public agencies, he said. With their finite time and resources, they focus their efforts on wells that are being drilled, particularly high-volume deep unconventional wells like those going into shale formations. Theyre following those rigs around, he said. To make sure oil and gas companies are financially responsible for plugging wells, theyre required to submit a bond with the state, according to the ODNR. The bonding requirement is $5,000 for one well or a $15,000 blanket bond for two or more wells. The average cost to plug a well in Ohio ranges widely. Some estimate it to be around $20,000 per well, while others put it closer to $100,000. With such a disparity between regulation and reality, it would seem as if there was never the intention for all wells drilled to be plugged. Boettner said its part of the business model of the industry. There are few conventional oil and gas operators out there that could afford to plug all of their wells, he said. They know theyre not going to be held accountable for the wells that are unplugged, he said. If they did, theyd all go out of business, and the state doesnt want that. Plugging and abandoning oil and gas wells has historically been conducted as an afterthought, according to a 2011 document put out by a National Petroleum Council working group. The council is an industry advisory committee to the U.S. Secretary of Energy. The traditional view of [plugging and abandonment] is that it is a necessary evil and should be done as cheaply as possible, according to the paper, whose authors included representatives from Chesapeake, ConocoPhillips, Chevron, Halliburton and the U.S. Department of Energy. The document points out that regulation in the industry began as a way to protect future resource development, but more recently, realizes the environmental benefits of plugging. For its part, the Ohio oil and gas industry maintains that most operators follow the rules not only because its their obligation but its how they keep a productive business environment. The Ohio Oil and Gas Association, the states oil and gas trade association, told Farm and Dairy being a good partner with landowners and the community is an absolute must and essential for a healthy oil and gas industry. Big Sky Energy is not a member of the Ohio Oil and Gas Association. STILL LEAKING McCallion had a few issues with the well over the years. One of the pipelines leaked in 2006. It was fixed after a few days. McCallion called about a brine leak at the production tank, in November 2013. The leak was repaired several days after it was reported. A county inspector visited the well in April 2016, after the Trumbull County restraining order was issued. The well was operational, but needed a few things to be fixed. The hammer unions on the casing and tubing flow lines had oil staining, indicating they needed to be tightened. The production chart needed to be changed. It was overprinting previous production data. A follow-up inspection, in September 2016, found the well not in production. McCallion reported a leak at the gas well on his property in May 2017. He noticed it when he was preparing to take the first cutting of hay off that field. According to the official ODNR complaint, McCallion said he noticed gas leaking around the surface casing at the well located at this property. McCallion was advised that the issue would be referred to the county inspector for follow-up. When a county inspector visited the well, on May 22, 2017, he found it in much the same condition its in today. I found a hole dug around the well filled with water. The water was bubbling from gas leaking from the well, the inspector wrote in his report. Big Sky Energy is listed as the well owner, but the inspector said in the report that an identification sign posted at the well listed Vortex Energy LLC as the owner. The inspector spoke to a well tender, who said he knew about the leak and would move a rig there to fix it as soon as he was done working on another well. The inspector issued a violation notice that Big Sky Energy needed to repair the leak by June 2, 2017. The inspector visited the well again two days later after the first compliance notice was issued to find nothing changed. It would remain more or less the same for the next five years. The ODNR would not comment about anything specific regarding Big Sky Energy for this story, citing open litigation, but the course of action it took for McCallions well is laid out in the inspection reports and complaint log, which Farm and Dairy acquired through a public records request. Inspectors continued to check the well and report on its status, and it continued to leak. The well tender, when he could be reached, told ODNR repeatedly he would get a rig to the site as soon as he could to fix it. There were various delays, he said. An inspection report, from March 20, 2018: The hole is full of water and is bubbling from the gas leak. A report, on Aug. 31, 2020: The well was still leaking. Bubbling in the standing water around the wells 4 1/2 inch casing was observed. A report, on Feb. 9, 2021, notes that previous messages left with Big Sky Energy, Inc., have yielded no changes to the well site. An inspection, on Oct. 11, 2022, found that in addition to the leak at the wellhead, the brine tank had overtopped and leaked onto the ground. New violations were issued, this time for failure to keep the dike around the storage tanks free of water or oil and for having a defective casing and leaking well. A visit to the well on March 15 by Farm and Dairy found it still leaking. The water around the casing was partially frozen, but it was still bubbling. EXHAUSTED In a perfect world, heres what should have happened with the McCallion well, according to various industry experts Farm and Dairy talked to about the circumstances: Big Sky Energy should have fixed the leak. If the company decided it was too much trouble to fix the leak, it should have plugged and abandoned the well. If Big Sky did not comply with the order to fix the leak, the ODNR could have, and probably should have, done more to fix the problem. According to ODNR, if a violation isnt addressed, its division of oil and gas can escalate enforcement. A chiefs order may be issued. The operator may be fined or possibly even face jail time, depending on the violation. The division may negotiate a compliance agreement with the operator. The division can also refer violations to the Ohio Attorney Generals office. How quickly any of this happens is up to the oil and gas division. Things that factor in are the type and severity of the violation, frequency of the violation and the operators willingness to comply, ODNR said. Wells could be plugged if there is an imminent health and safety risk at a well site or if the owner does not initiate a corrective action within a reasonable period of time, ODNR said. These things are determined on a case-by-case basis by the divisions field enforcement team. The division has gone through these steps with Big Sky Energy before, with varying levels of success. If a landowner has exhausted all options through the state but wants to continue pursuing the issue, they can choose to hire an attorney to take legal action of their own, said Dale Arnold, Ohio Farm Bureaus director of energy, utility and local government policy. He said he deals with oil and gas issues just about every day in his work, explaining the nuts and bolts in plain language to members and referring them to other resources, like the farm bureaus attorney referral network. Hiring an attorney may be the answer to the problem of what should a landowner do when the system fails them, but its not an option that is affordable or accessible for everyone. Nor should it be the best answer for landowners dealing with contracts signed and wells drilled decades ago by other people. No one seems to have a good explanation as to why the McCallion well hasnt been fixed, other than its just not an important enough issue to anyone, other than Dave McCallion. Arnold said he often speaks with landowners who are in situations similar to the one McCallion is experiencing. From what hes seen, when there is a real emergency with a well, things get done very, very quickly. Otherwise, ODNR has to triage its issues, he said. Wells that are leaking but stable are on the list, but its a long list. In addition to non-compliant operators, ODNR is dealing with a massive number of orphan wells, or abandoned wells without a legal owner. There are an estimated 36,000 to 66,000 orphan wells in Ohio. The department beefed up its orphan well program in the last couple of years, but in large part by contracting out much of the work that used to be done in-house, Boettner said. The people that work at these agencies do the best job with what they have, he said. Arnold said the non-compliance issue may be an indication that the ODNR needs more, or sharper, enforcement teeth. That would have to come through legislative change. Boettner argues many of these problems could be fixed with money. Boettner authored a report called Stayin Alive: The Last Days of Stripper Wells in the Ohio River Valley, in which he explored the coming environmental and economic catastrophe from marginal, or stripper, wells that are producing little oil and gas, and will soon need to be plugged. Ohio has 35,377 such gas wells. In the report, Boettner suggested that a small fee on production between 3 and 7 cents per Mcf of gas produced deposited into an escrow account could go a long way toward paying to plug wells if operators walk away from them. States could also require bonding amounts that reflect the true cost to plug wells, Boettner told Farm and Dairy. This didnt have to happen, he said. We have to stop coddling these companies. They have to take responsibility for their own actions. They are passing the cost onto all of us. CURSED The Woofter well on the Kacerskis property was eventually patched, five months after the leak was reported to the ODNR, but not before it killed a deal for the couple to lease that ground for a solar farm. Last spring, a solar development company approached the Kacerskis about leasing some of their land. Steve Kacerski suggested the land theyd just bought, the 90 acres on Hartford Five Points Road. It was flat, clear and an electrical substation sits across the road. Its exactly the kind of property ideal for solar farm development. Steve Kacerski disclosed the old oil and gas infrastructure there. The developer seemed to think they could work around it. The developer made it out to the property, in May 2022, to get a lay of the land, something they typically do before finalizing lease paperwork. A few weeks later, the deal was dead. We believe it is going to be an environmental nightmare trying to get this built with the leaking well, the developer said, in an email to Steve Kacerski, dated June 2. The risks are too high, and therefore we will need to pass on developing this site. An ODNR inspection report, from Sept. 23, 2022, found the well was no longer leaking: No audible gas leak was observed. The well was not leaking at a Nov. 2 follow-up inspection. Shawn Kacerski checked the well in November while she was at the property and found an empty can of J-B Weld epoxy discarded on the ground near the casing. The litter was a reminder that one problem is fixed, but it was done so in a careless way. Still other problems remain. This property is cursed, she said. She used to think there was a system in place that would hold people and companies to account. Shes more cynical now, having seen the system in action. This isnt a Kacerski Farms problem. Its not a Bob Barr problem. Its an Ohio problem, she said. (Reporter Rachel Wagoner can be reached at rachel@farmanddairy.com or 724-201-1544.) Sixteen lambs have been killed in a suspected livestock worrying incident in Fife, following a call by the sheep sector for more action to tackle the crime. Police Scotland are appealing for more information following the incident, which also left four injured in a field in Kelty. Officers believe the lambs were attacked by at least one dog, with the estimated value of the damage around 7,000. Six lambs were found dead on the farm, and 10 were so severely injured they had to be put down. The suspected dog attack happened at Blairadam Farm between 10.30am and 1.30pm on Monday 3 April. Police Inspector Stephen Gray said such attacks were 'a considerable cost' to farmers. He said: Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the incident and we are appealing to anyone with information to come forward. Dog owners could face prosecution if their dog attacks livestock so we are urging them to keep dogs on a lead when walking near livestock as well as making sure they do not run or escape into fields on their own. I am asking all dog owners to be considerate. Please remember that it is your dog and your responsibility to keep them under control. The lambing season has started and worrying can cause stress to sheep that can result in them losing their lambs, as well as injuries that can lead to their death. But a lack of action by the government to tackle the crime is putting further risk to animal suffering, the sheep sector recently warned in a letter to Defra. It follows alarming findings from a survey by the National Sheep Association (NSA) that shows sheep farmers are experiencing an increasing occurrence of dog attacks. In the survey of more than 300 sheep farmers, 70% had experienced a sheep worrying attack in the past 12 months. On average, three sheep deaths were reported each year per farmer as a result of dog attacks. Anyone with any information about the Fife attack is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident number 1580 of Monday 3 April 2023. Each of the main non-Holstein breeds has a new leader in the April genetic evaluations, published today by the AHDB. The number one Jersey, JX River Valley Chief {6}, has edged the long-term breed leader into second place, with a Profitable Lifetime Index of 425. He steals a march on his stable mate, most notably for his Predicted Transmitting Ability for fat, at a breed record 36.9kg. Combined with 834kg milk and 26kg protein, Chief also achieves a favourable maintenance rating, at -14. The JX prefix to his name indicates he has at least one ancestor of another breed within six generations of his pedigree, in Chiefs case generation six. Dropping to second place is River Valley Cece Chrome (PLI 420), who maintains his transmission of exceptionally high production, now with 565 UK daughters contributing to his PTAs. Chrome also features reductions in somatic cell count, at SCC -11. Moving upwards and into third position is Primus Craze Starlord, whose high lifespan credentials (LS +128 days) help earn him a PLI of 405. The next two Danish Jerseys have higher milk components than the top three North Americans, beginning with VJ Hoeholt Jern James, ranked fourth (PLI 403). With +0.23% fat and +0.15% protein, and impressive reductions in cell count (-18 SCC), this bull also transmits good daughter fertility, with a Fertility Index of 5.9. Rounding off the top five is Danish VJ Aarre Lappe Lari (PLI 380), with a combination of good milk solids (0.14% fat and 0.12% protein), udder health (SCC -17), Fertility Index (7.3) and Maintenance. In the British Friesian rankings, Manorpark Google takes over the lead, with a PLI of 370. Google transmits high weights of milk solids (22.6kg fat and 19.1kg protein), and shorter gestations, at three days less than breed average. Inch Persistent drops down one place, with a PLI of 364, maintaining high fat% (+0.17), good daughter lifespans (+134 days) and the highest Type Merit in the rankings (+2.27). The third-ranking bull, Inch Hearty (PLI 285) boasts the highest daughter Fertility Index of the top five sires (5.9), while also transmitting good protein (+0.12%) and long lifespans, at 128 days longer than breed average. Fourth place is taken by yet another from the same herd Inch Benny Red. With a PLI of 268, this bull has a very favourable Maintenance index (-27), shorter gestations (-3) and strong calf survival (CS +5.3). Rating even higher for Calf Survival is Catlane Cromwell, ranked fifth. He combines a CS of +5.8 with good udder health (-6 SCC), contributing to a PLI of 257. Amongst the Ayrshire breed, a big jump in PLI sees VR Venom head the table for the first time, with a PLI of 485. Venom transmits outstanding daughter fertility (FI 16.1), as well as solid production (304kg milk) and a good (-10) index for SCC. Venoms good performance edges VR Vilano into second position, with an index featuring long lifespans (+95 days) and shorter gestations (-3). His PLI is 431. Another big climber is third placed VR Viking Viljar Vario (PLI 399), who transmits great udder health (-17 SCC, -2 Mastitis) and good fertility (+10.4). Early milking daughter information propels the UK-bred Troutbeck Progress into a close-run fourth place (PLI 398), his PTAs featuring extreme production (853kg milk, 35.3kg fat and 28.1kg protein) and high type (1.7 TM). VR Viljar Vilperi rounds off the breeds top five, his high milk components (+0.20% fat, +0.13% protein), great SCC (-19) and impressive daughter fertility (+15.7) contributing to his PLI of 378. Marco Winters, head of animal genetics for AHDB, said: Its important that breeders dont compare one breed with another on these breed-specific lists as they are all expressed against their own breed average, or genetic base. For those using a mixture of breeds, he says its likely to be better to use an across-breed index, such as the Spring or Autumn Calving Index. Donald Trump has hit back at "moron" Joe Biden after he was blamed for the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Donald Trump has attacked 'moron' Joe Biden The White House has issued a 12-page report which suggested that the Biden administration was "severely constrained" by Trump's decisions in office, including a 2020 deal with the Taliban to end the war. However, the former president was quick to respond to the report on his Truth Social platform as he launched a blistering attack on his successor. Trump, who is back in Florida after facing criminal indictment charges in Manhattan earlier this week, wrote: "These Morons in the White House, who are systematically destroying our Country, headed up by the biggest Moron of them all, Hopeless Joe Biden, have a new disinformation game they are playing - Blame TRUMP for their grossly incompetent SURRENDER in Afghanistan. "I watched this disaster unfold just like everyone else. I saw them take out the Military FIRST, GIVE $85 Billion of military equipment, allow killing of our soldiers, and leave Americans behind. Biden is responsible, no one else!" The deadly withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 ended America's longest war and resulted in the deaths of 13 US soldiers and almost 200 Afghans as troops desperately tried to evacuate 120,000 people in a matter of days. A review of decisions and actions leading up to the withdrawal, conducted by the State Department and the Pentagon, was sent to Congress on Thursday (06.04.23). The document is confidential but a summary of its conclusions, put together by the White House National Security with input from President Biden, has been made available to the public. Emmanuel Macron has appealed to Xi Jinping to "bring Russia back to its senses" over the Ukraine war. Emmanuel Macron has called for Xi Jinping to 'bring Russia to its senses' The French president is visiting Beijing with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and urged the Chinese leader to use his close relationship with Russian despot Vladimir Putin to help bring an end to the conflict. Macron told Xi: "The Russian aggression in Ukraine has dealt a blow to (international) stability. "I know I can count on you to bring Russia back to its senses and bring everyone back to the negotiating table." Von der Leyen said that the Chinese premier expressed a willingness to speak to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky as he continues to refuse to condemn Moscow for last year's invasion. She said: "It was interesting to hear that President Xi reiterated his willingness to speak (to Mr Zelensky)." However, the Chinese president did not mention a possible conversation with Zelensky in his comments after a meeting between the trio and gave no sign that Beijing had changed its stance since calling for peace talks in February. Xi said: "Peace talks should resume as soon as possible." He also called on other governments to avoid doing anything that "might make the crisis deteriorate or even get out of control". Xi has sought to position China as a possible mediator in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and has proposed a 12-point peace plan that calls on both sides to agree to a gradual de-escalation and eventual ceasefire. Cameron Diaz's comeback movie has been hit by a bomb scare. Filming on Cameron Diaz's new movie has been disrupted after the crew found an unexploded bomb on set The 50-year-old actress has been busy working on her first new movie in a decade - 'Back In Action' for streaming service Netflix - but the shoot in London was disrupted last month when the crew discovered an unexploded World War Two bomb close to where they had been planning to film a stunt scene on the River Thames. Filming on the explosive scene at Londons Royal Docks was cancelled and the police were called. A source told The Sun newspaper: "The stunt was booked to take place last month at the dock. A 24-metre barrier was being erected into the river, where the explosion would take place. "But it was during the building of the set that they believed they found what they thought to be an unexploded bomb in the water. "Safety was the main priority, so after speaking with the police and relevant authorities the whole thing was cancelled." The stunt was later filmed on green screen at a studio in Surrey along with another action which also had to be canned. The insider added: "The cancellation was a massive blow to the film, which has already experienced a few issues ... It cost a huge amount of money and was a massive headache for everyone involved." Cameron will appear in the film alongside Jamie Foxx - who she also worked with on her last big screen outing in 2014's 'Annie' remake. She previously put her movie career on hold to focus on her marriage to Benji Madden and raising their daughter Raddix, three. However, reports suggest Cameron might need another long break after she wraps filming on her new project. A source told DailyMail.com: "These back-to-back 10-hour workdays have been a lot on her and she hates being away from Raddix. "Cameron loves being a mom more than anything in the world ... She has already proven herself in the industry and has nothing left to prove to anyone." Coolio is said to have been killed by a fentanyl overdose. Coolio is said to have been killed by a fentanyl overdose The 59-year-old Gangstas Paradise rapper found unconscious on the bathroom floor of a friends house in Los Angeles on 28 September, and who died after 45 minutes of CPR from paramedics failed to resuscitate the star also apparently passed away due to his severe asthma linked to his long-term cigarette smoking. His familys spokesperson, Jarel Jarez Posey, told TMZ on Thursday (06.04.23) the performer had traces of heroin and methamphetamines in his system. The outlet reported: Coolios loved ones just got the news from the coroner fentanyl killed the rapper and he also had traces of heroin and methamphetamines in his system. Jarez tells us investigators determined Coolios severe asthma and decades-long use of cigarettes also played a factor in his death and his bodys inability to fight back. Jarel also told TMZ Coolios seven grown-up children Brandi, Jackie, Melan, Christopher, Artis III, Darius and Artisha will remember their dad for the great man he was by producing documentaries and film about him and continue the legacy that was his music. The family announced in January they had made necklaces containing a pendant holding the ashes of their dad after he was cremated. Each one of his children was able to personalize their pendant with an inscription. Coolio born Artis Leon Ivey Jr died without a will, leaving his kids to inherit his $300,000 estate, which included all his personal property and demand deposit accounts, financial accounts, insurance policies and royalties. The rapper had four of his children Artisha, Brandi, Jackie, and Artis with his ex-wife Josefa Salinas whom he divorced in 2000. He had a further six children named Grtis, Milan, Darius, Zhaneand and twins Kate and Shayne from different relationships. Mail Online reported the guest list for Coolios cremation was so stringently limited that it even froze out some friends who had known him for decades. DailyMail.com said the measure was taken to prevent a possible outbreak of tension between the mothers of his children. The late rappers long-term girlfriend Mimi, an exotic dancer and chef who had been with Coolio since 2012, revealed she knew he was seeing other women and they had come to an arrangement as a couple. She told DailyMail.com: We were best friends. We would talk about everything and joke and laugh about everything. There was never a dull moment being with him. Coolio, who overcame battles with poverty and drug addiction during his rise to fame, was discovered on a friends bathroom floor and pronounced dead of a suspected cardiac arrest. Jarez told TMZ at the time the rapper went to use the bathroom before his death and never came out. The musicians concerned friend eventually went to check on Coolio and found him collapsed on the floor before emergency workers were called. Courtney Love has posed a poignant tribute to her "twin flame" Kurt Cobain. Courtney Love paid tribute to her late husband Kurt Cobain 29 years after his death The 58-year-old Hole star marked 29 years since the death of her husband on April 5 1994 by sharing a black and white picture of his hands clasped together - taken by R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe - and revealed the image makes her miss the Nirvana frontman "deeply" almost three decades after he took his own life. In a post on Instagram, Courtney wrote: "I love beautiful hands, its the first thing I look at in another. I love that the only photograph of Kurt that @michaelstipe took, ... Micheal saw these hands. These left handed beautiful hands like a votive/ a mudra, a shot this singular, powerful photograph of my twin flame "It is one of the only images (or sounds/ tastes etc) that makes me miss him deeply." Courtney went on to reveal the picture reminds her of the Buddhist the couple used to take part in together and insisted she knows he's in an "enlightened place" since his death. She added: "He chanted with me and often, and truly was moved by our Buddhist practice. Thus, I know hes in an enlightened place, more so, than we here in mappo are. 'The arms of a 1000 Buddhas outstretched to greet you', the gosho says." The rocker concluded her post by signing off with a Japanese chant from both her and the couple's daughter Frances Bean Cobain, writing: "Nam myoho renge kyo dear Kurt D. C. ... I and we love and miss you ... " Pope Francis will miss the Good Friday procession due to "extremely cold weather in Rome". Pope Francis will miss the Good Friday service The 86-year-old pontiff - who was hospitalised with bronchitis last week - will not preside at the Way of the Cross service at the Colosseum on Friday (07.04.23) night, where temperatures are expected to be around 10C, for the first time since he was elected in 2013. But Vatican spokesperson Matteo Brun confirmed the pope will sill attend the Passion of the Lord celebration, which is held indoors in St Peter's Basilica. After being discharged from hospital last weekend, the Vatican had said the pope would carry out the complete Holy Week schedule, including the Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square. Traditionally, a blessing is also usually held from the basilica's balcony at midday on Sunday (09.04.23). On Thursday, Francis presided over mass and washed and dried the feet of 12 residents at the Casal del Marmo juvenile facility on the outskirts of Rome in a ritual designed to symbolise the foot washing carried out by Jesus on his disciples the night before his death. After the pope left Rome's Gemelli Hospital last Saturday (01.04.23), he joked he was "still alive". He told reporters outside the medical facility: "I wasn't frightened, I'm still alive." The pontiff - who had part of one lung removed as a younger man - had complained of breathing difficulties before he was admitted to hospital for tests on Wednesday (29.03.23). A statement about his health said: "The tests showed a respiratory infection (COVID-19 infection excluded) that will require some days of medical therapy. "Pope Francis is touched by the many messages received and expresses his gratitude for the closeness and prayers." The pope has had other health issues and had part of his colon removed in 2021 due to diverculitis. He said earlier this year that the condition had returned and blamed it for his weight gain, although he was not overly alarmed. Pope Francis has also been using a wheelchair for over a year due to strained knee ligaments and a small fracture but has been seen walking with a cane more frequently in recent times. The pope declined to have surgery on his knee because he didn't respond well to general anaesthetic when having his colon operation. Stormy Daniels cries over how she lost time with her young daughter in the wake of her allegation she had a 2006 fling with Donald Trump. Stormy Daniels cries over how she lost time with her young daughter in the wake of her allegation she had a 2006 fling with Donald Trump The 44-year-old former porn star, who is at the centre of ex-US president Trumps historic 34 felony charges, added her biggest regret about the fallout of making her sex claim was that it came at the cost of her relationship with her girl Caden Crain, 11, thought to now be living with her dad. Stormy, who is married to adult performer Barrett Blade, 50, told during a rescheduled sit-down on Piers Morgan Uncensored shown on Thursday (06.04.23) night: Thats the one thing that was taken from me that can never be given back. That was time lost with my daughter. I get really upset about it thats what affects me the most. Ill get emotional and cry. She didn't ask for this. There are things that I missed because for a long time the only way to keep her safe was to be advertised as being somewhere else. I stayed away a lot to protect her, and it worked. Stormys 90-minute chat with Piers, 58, was scheduled for last week, but cancelled at the last minute due to security reasons hours after an interview came out in which she told how she has been bombarded with fresh death threats amid Trumps criminal charges. Trump became the first former US president in history to be indicted on Tuesday (03.03.23) at a Manhattan courthouse over accusations of financial crimes relating to $130,000 hush money he allegedly paid Stormy in 2016 to keep quiet over claims they had an affair in 2006 which the former Apprentice judge denies. The dad-of-five faces 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all the allegations, and said the money allegedly given to Stormy was paid to his then-lawyer Michael Cohen to cover unrelated legal expenses. Stormy also told Piers she will testify if Trumps case goes to trial as she has nothing to hide. She added threats against her have included suicide bomber-style warnings. But Stormy, a registered Republican who did not vote for Trump in 2016 or 2020, told Piers that she does not believe he should face jail for his alleged crimes linked to her. She said: Specific to my case, I dont think that his crimes against me are worthy of incarceration. Stormy added Trump could end up being sent to prison over other alleged crimes. Trump is facing a series of separate legal woes including over the January 6 attack on Congress, his keeping of classified records, business dealings and a defamation suit arising from an allegation of rape by the writer E Jean Carroll, 79, which he has also denied. Next Story : Solve Scalp Issues With LOreal Professionnel Scalp Advanced Range Mike Desir is one of the most in-demand hairstylists, having worked on a plethora of runways, shows, and celebs. We caught up with him for an exclusive chat. Heres edited excerpts from the interview.Working on the set of Emily in Paris was amazing, so much talent and creativity, I started hairstyling in the fashion industry. I saw some amazing pieces, so every piece had a reference in my head from all the years in the fashion weeks of New York city, Milan to Paris. To tell you about season 3, Emily wore 18 different hairstyles, 42 different wardrobe looks. There is such a complicity in the team, a harmony, a lot of dialogue and moodboard between us, to create a look.Credit: InstagramEmily has changed this season, she became more Parisian, had difficult choices to make, between work and love, we all need change and often our hairstyle is not there, a colour, a cut, a fringe. The fringe is a reference of a French icon, Jane Birkin and Francois Hardy in the 60's. The wavy side of bangs is his signature look every day, at the office or when buying a croissant. For events, Emily likes to wear more sophisticated hairstyles, wearing accessories in her hair. I had this challenge of changing Emily's updo's by always including the visible bangs, on the side, open, very 90's, wavy. Each hairstyle is inspired by the clothes, the shape, if it's an outfit that has character, dominant, or rather simple, depending on the brand she's wearing, all the elements as well as the scene will give me the information to create the hairstyle. and as each hairstyle has a storyI was born in Paris, I have always loved art, I draw a lot, painting, and sculpture, I have been very meticulous since I was little. I studied art, culture and design. Then I decided to write on a sheet of paper a list of things I would like to do in my life, what I like in my life, art, being manual with my hands, travel, cinema, I love theatre. colours etc... and I did my research on the job that is close. So I became a makeup artist, I did my training and then I was told that if I did hairdressing I could grow even more, I always listened to the signs in my life, and the idea to learn hairdressing vibrated strongly in me, I did a training and I always loved it, the complicity and the regularity, the cuts and the geometric shapes in space. Then I started to do fashion week in Paris, and I signed my first agency with 10 months of experience in new talents, and it went very fast. I always wanted to be different from the others. because everything is possible with hair, you just need to have a good imaginationName a celebrity you would love to work with, but haven't as yet Some celebrities I would love to work with are Shraddha Kapoor, Tara Sutaria, Suhana Khan.I think the big myth for hair is that conditioner is very good for your hair, You need to apply for mid-length and ends but avoid putting it on the roots. Even if you have dry hair, the conditioner is too rich in nutrients for your roots.In general, we will have a lot of short hair, bangs, wave style 70's will make a comeback, shorter length and bob 90's, lighter hairstyle. In terms of colouring, warm colours in the tone copper brown, red, mahogany.Indian women are prone to lots of frizz and split ends, what could they do to prevent both these issuesCooling is due to the change in surface area between dry and wet weather.Hair is like a sponge, I recommend you to always moisturise your hair, to use a conditioner and a shampoo, but especially to vary the products, a moisturising shampoo, another repairing one, another one for the colour, even if your hair is not coloured, it will help to close the fibres. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Femina (@feminaindia) Next Story : Solve Scalp Issues With LOreal Professionnel Scalp Advanced Range Image: Instagram Sameera Reddy has always advocated self-love on social media. On her Instagram account, the actor and mother-of-two shares engaging content about beauty, motherhood, mental health, and many other aspects of life and living. The actor spoke to Femina exclusively at an event celebrating 20 years of Kama Ayurveda, discussing the beauty secrets and skincare routines that keep her stress free to manage her all-day routine - caring for two children, creating beautiful content for Instagram, and looking amazing every day.After having children, my daily routine changed, reveals the actor who feels her definition of beauty has also changed over the years. When it came to taking care of my skin, I kept things quite simple. Kumkumadi oil is what I apply on my skin. I use a lovely kumkumadi cleanser from Kama Ayurveda, which turns milky when you wash it off, making it simple to remove makeup. It has SPF protection for the daytime, but my skin needs a thicker cream at night to combat dryness.Image: Instagram For Sameera, being beautiful simply means being the best version of herself at her age. Embracing the greys that have appeared, for example, or my skins pigmentation, which I love. I think beauty needs to be redefined because we need to set the correct example for our children, says Sameera, who finds wavy hair and a brown complexion particularly attractive.With summer approaching, the actor is ready to welcome the changing weather. Sunscreen is one of my summertime beauty essentials, Sameera says, and I say this even in the winter. I find people in India simply refuse to wear sunscreen, which needs to change because it protects our skin from wrinkles as we age and also helps with pigmentation. Therefore, sunscreen, a nice body mist because we all sweat a lot, organic and chemical-free deodorant, and a small amount of perfume are summer essentials, she says.Sameera also swears by home remedies, which she uses even on her kids. Her go-to home remedy is gram flour and yoghurt to cleanse, moisturise and soften the skin. A social media maven, she has also tried some of the viral makeup hacks. I actually do try them out. I like putting a spoon on my eye to get very beautiful cat-like eyeliner that normally would have taken me 10 minutes to do. I really, really love hacks and I love following influencers who give me ideas to try all kinds of crazy things, smiles the sassy momma.Video: Instagram China and Singapore are making efforts to upgrade their bilateral free trade agreement. Closer trade ties are supporting the textile trade between the two countries. China's apparel exports to Singapore have more than tripled in the last four years, reaching $2.454 billion in 2022. Officials from both countries recently held discussions and signed several agreements. China's apparel exports to Singapore have registered a constant increase in the last three years. The upward trend in trade remained intact last year as well. Exports registered a growth of 76.41 per cent in 2022, rising from $1.391 billion in 2021 to $2.454 billion in 2022, according to Fibre2Fashion's market insight tool TexPro. The data shows that exports defied the COVID impact during 2020, jumping to $1.037 billion from $690.146 million in 2019. However, trade remained weak during 2018 and 2019, easing to $730.031 million in 2018 and $690.146 million in 2019 from the shipment of $996.208 million in 2017. China and Singapore are working to upgrade their bilateral free trade agreement. China's apparel exports to Singapore more than tripled in the last four years, reaching $2.454 billion in 2022. Exports continued grew by 76.41 per cent in 2022 compared to $1.391 billion in 2021. China was the largest apparel supplier for Singapore last year. Singapores share in Chinas total apparel exports of $166.146 billion in 2022 was just 1.48 per cent. However, China was the largest apparel supplier for Singapore, as per TexPro. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL) The UK government, in collaboration with the Scottish and Welsh governments, yesterday published its plan to strengthen its borders against biosecurity threats and illegal imports. The draft Border Target Operating Model sets out a plan to realise the ambition of the 2025 Border Strategy to create the most effective border in the world. The draft has been devised following extensive engagement with the border industry and businesses across the United Kingdom, an official release said. The UK government, in collaboration with the Scottish and Welsh governments, has published its draft Border Target Operating Model to strengthen its borders against biosecurity threats and illegal imports. The model will prevent delays at the border by reducing physical checks for several goods, and by ensuring that checks take place away from ports freely. A six week engagement period will now take place, with the final Target Operating Model to be published later this year. The border transformation is backed by over a 1 billion investment across this spending review period, to improve how government systems and technology support the movement of goods and people across the border. The proposed new model will prevent delays at the border through a reduction in the need for physical checks for many types of goods, and by ensuring that checks take place away from ports where this is needed to allow traffic to flow freely. The proposals apply to imports from all countries. These controls will ensure the environment is protected, deliver food that is safe to eat whilst maintaining security of supply for consumers, and disrupt criminal activity before it can harm British communities. Central to this proposed model is the new single trade window, delivered from 2023 to be fully operational by 2027. This technology will streamline processes for traders, who will only need to submit information once and in one place. The government will also test further simplified processes by piloting an ambitious programme of trusted trader assurance schemes. If it is done properly then smaller firms will see benefits when it comes to importing goods into Great Britain, William Bain, head of trade policy at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said. Providing certainty for business is crucial and the focus must now be on delivering to the timescales set out. This will need a concerted effort to get the physical and digital infrastructure in place, he added. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) Salman Khan Death Threats: The Bollywood superstar currently gearing up for his upcoming release, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, has beefed up his security amidst numerous death threats he received. Following the threats, police also stepped-up security outside his home in Mumbai. SALMAN KHAN IMPORTS THE MOST-EXPENSIVE NISSAN SUV Salman Khan, who is currently at the receiving end of death threats has added Nissan's high-end Patrol SUV to his fleet of luxury cars. Recently, the actor was spotted commuting in his new car, produced in India but has yet to enter the Indian market. The car is popular in Gulf countries and South-Asian nations. SALMAN KHAN'S NISSAN SUV FEATURES Talking about the model that Salman Khan got for his security is one of the most-expensive SUVs that Nissan has ever created. The Tiger actor likely got it imported from the international markets. The Nissan Patrol SUV the actor bought is said to be one of the most secure cars, best for bulletproofing. Recently, Salman Khan talked about the threats he received and said, "Poore India ke bhaijaan nahi hai, kisi ki jaan bhi hai. Bohot saaro ki jaan bhi hai. Bhaijaan unke liye hai jo ki bhai hai aur unke liye hai jise hum behen banana chahte hai." For the unversed, gangster Lawrence Bishnoi gave two separate interviews to ABP while he is still inside the jail and expressed his anger over the actor. He was quoted as saying in the interview, "There is anger in our society for Salman Khan. He humiliated my society. A case was filed against him but he did not apologize. If he does not tender an apology, be ready to face the consequences. I will not depend on anyone else." He further added, "There is anger in my mind for him since childhood. Will break his ego sooner or later. He should come to our deity's temple (Jambeshwarji temple) and apologise. If our society forgives, then I will not say anything." Desi Girl In India: Priyanka Chopra Jonas is currently in Mumbai with her darling daughter Malti Marie Chopra Jonas. A few days ago, she returned to the country with her husband Nick Jonas to attend the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre gala event and to promote her Prime Video series Citadel with Richard Madden. Before returning to the US, 'desi girl' Priyanka Chopra made sure to take her baby girl to Shri Siddhivinayak temple to seek blessings from Lord Ganesha during her first trip to India. Yesterday, the mother-daughter duo visited the temple in Mumbai. PRIYANKA CHOPRA'S SIDDHIVINAYAK VISIT WITH DAUGHTER MALTI The actress took to social media and posted a few photos, where they can be seen offering prayers while the priest performs the puja. Priyanka was dressed in a traditional blue ensemble, while Malti looked adorable in a white outfit with a matching headband. Priyanka captioned the post with "MM's first trip to India had to be completed with Shree Siddhivinayak's blessings," followed by folded hands and heart emoticons. Kharab Film Banaoge Toh...: Salman Khan Reacts On Hindi Films Not Faring Well At Filmfare Conference (VIDEO) Take a look at her post below: Her friends from the film industry, including Dia Mirza and Saba Ali Khan among others flooded the comments section with heart emoticons. Diya Aur Baati Hum Star Anas Rashid's Father Passes Away, Actor Says 'The Sudden Demise Is A...' Priyanka and her husband, Nick Jonas, welcomed their daughter in January 2022 via surrogacy. Earlier this year, the actress revealed her daughter's face to the world during the Hollywood Walk of Fame event while congratulating the Jonas Brothers. The couple recently attended the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre gala event where they posed together on the red carpet and impressed everyone with their style quotient. As Priyanka's Citadel is also premiering on Prime Video soon, the makers organized a premiere night for the celebs on Tuesday, which was attended by Varun Dhawan, Sanya Malhotra, Rekha, Neha Dhupia, and others. PRIYANKA CHOPRA'S UPCOMING PROJECTS Priyanka has recently announced her next film, Heads Of State, with John Cena and Idris Elba. She also has Farhan Akhtar's Jee Le Zaraa with Alia Bhatt and Katrina Kaif in the pipeline. She'll also be seen playing the lead role in Love Again, a Holywood film co-starring Sam Heughan. Aiswarya Suresh's Tragic Story Leaves Everyone In Tears: Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 5 is getting more exciting every day. It is predicted by many fans of Bigg Boss Malayalam that this time it will be more eventful compared to season 4. The 'My story' segment is an opportunity for the contestants of Bigg Boss Malayalam season 5 to share their life experiences with the audience. Through this segment, Bigg Boss intends to conquer the minds of the audience by contestants telling their stories in front of the other members of the house. Everyone's life stories are strange. People who have suffered a lot in life have reached Bigg Boss this time. Gopika Gopi, Sobha Vishwanath, Sreedevi Menon, and Junaiz VP all shared tearful stories. Now Aiswarya Suresh (Lachu) too is telling her life story. The promo video of today's episode where Lachu shares her life story is out. Nobody anticipated that Lachu, who is usually jovial, have experienced some sort of tragedy in her life. So it was shocking for everyone. Lachu tells about an incident in which two men broke into her house and assaulted her. "I went to South Africa and had my first bad experience there. I came back, and two men broke into the house and beat me up," in the promo video she says. Even as she speaks, Lachu has a smile on her face that shows her bravery. Although her eyes were full, she did not cry uncontrollably. But in the promo, we can see everyone else is broken and crying. To console Lachu Sobha promises her that she is going to take up this case for her. Also in the promo, Sreedevi Menon (Devu) can be seen collapsing and it is unknown whether she had any health issues or if is it due to the tension after hearing Lachu's story. Midhun picks up Devu who is struggling to breathe and takes her to the medical room. We can also see that everyone is following them to the medical room. Many of Devu's fans are now taking to social media to share their concerns. Pulsar Suni Granted Interim Bail To Carry Out His Father's Funeral Rites: A sessions court at Ernakulam on Thursday granted short-term bail to Sunil NS alias Pulsar Suni, the main Accused in the 2017 Kerala actress assault case, to perform his father's funeral rites. The report by Bar and Bench says that Sessions Judge Honey M. Varghese gave Suni permission to visit his home today (March 7, Friday,) in Perumbavoor between 8 am and 4 pm. As his father passed away in the morning on Thursday, Suni moved the application. He was told not to speak to any witnesses or conduct any media interviews, and to only communicate with immediate family. In the infamous 2017 actress assault case, a well-known female actor was kidnapped, driven around in a car, photographed, and subjected to sexual abuse, allegedly at the command of film actor Dileep. The Principal Sessions Court in Ernakulam is currently hearing the case's trial. Suni is the prime accused in the case. He allegedly told investigating officers that a well-known actor from the Malayalam film industry, Dileep, was not only complicit in the crime but also its organizer. The Kerala High Court first denied Suni's request for bail in March 2022. He then petitioned the Supreme Court, which turned down his request for bail in July 2022. Suni may, however, reapply for bail before the High Court if the trial is not finished in a fair amount of time, according to the Supreme Court. He then appealed to the High Court once more, and on March 6 it dismissed his bail request. Then, on March 29, he filed an appeal that is still pending with the Supreme Court. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 7, 2023) - Tradesia, established as a reliable and secure binary option trading platforms in Malaysia, has recently launched Forex and Bitcoin binary option trading on its platform. Experience the power and potential of binary option trading with Tradesia To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9329/161693_979a216004cb599c_001full.jpg Tradesia is an exclusive binary option trading platform that utilises advanced technology. The platform is easily accessible on both mobile and desktop, and also has an official app. Tradesia has been designed to provide a safe and secure site for binary option trading in Malaysia, and offers its clients exclusive promotions and VIP treatment. Furthermore, the platform is designed to provide traders with fast and reliable investment options, offering a wide range of financial assets to trade. It possesses the following features to function as a trading platform: Analytical tools within the platform Tutorials for beginners Secure, fast, and easy registration and login process 24-hour customer support availability Fast and reliable withdrawal processes Certification from Saint Vincent and The Grenadines "We believe in the virtue of trading, as with proper guidance and training, the financial market could provide a lot of benefits for society," says Mr. Daniel, Director of Tradesia. About Tradesia's Binary Option Trading Binary options trading is a type of financial trading where the trader predicts the direction of an asset's price movement within a specified time frame. The trader must determine whether the asset price will go up or down within a specified period, usually ranging from a few seconds to minutes. Binary options trading involves a fixed return on investment (ROI) or loss, depending on the outcome of the trade. If the trader's prediction is correct, they earn a predetermined payout, usually ranging from 70% to 90% of the investment. If the prediction is incorrect, the trader loses their investment, usually in its entirety. Prospective traders can visit the Tradesia official website to learn more about their available binary option trading at https://my.tradesia.com/. Contact Details Contact person: Chris Official Website: https://my.tradesia.com Email: support@tradesia.com Telegram: https://t.me/tradesiamy To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/161693 BEIJING, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- During French President Emmanuel Macron's official state visit to China this week, JD.com proudly announced its "France E-commerce Week" promotion beginning April 6. The week-long celebration will showcase and offer discounts on high-quality French products. JD.com has emerged as a crucial channel for French brands and merchants to succeed in China. With a rapidly increasing number of nationwide consumers relying on JD.com for their shopping needs, the platform has become a go-to destination for launching top brands. JD.com was the first e-commerce company to partner with LVMH to bring ten top fashion brands to its platform, including Louis Vuitton, DIOR, and more. In 2022, fashion giants including Maison Margiela, Roger Vivier, and Longchamp all launched their flagship stores on JD.com, cementing the platform's status as a trusted partner for French luxury brands. JD.com has been tremendously successful in promoting French products in China, solidifying its position as the largest online retail channel for French brands such as Hennessey and Remy Martin. The company's national pavilion of France, a country-themed online flagship store, recorded a year-on-year growth of 100% in sales in 2022, and sales of French brands on JD's cross-border platform, JD Worldwide, also experienced fast growth, such as Rene Furterer saw 200% year-on-year growth in the first quarter of 2023. In March, sales of French wine increased 230% year-on-year. JD.com sources wine from all 61 of the Bordeaux chateaux included in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification for red wine producers. JD.com's unparalleled e-commerce expertise, quick enrollment approach for overseas merchants, supply chain and logistics capabilities, and its nearly 600 million consumers provide the foundation necessary for more French brands to succeed in China. JD.com looks forward to continuing to work with French brands and merchants to bring high-quality products to Chinese consumers. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/jdcom-launches-france-e-commerce-week-with-the-country-pavilion-seeing-sales-doubled-in-2022-301792377.html NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 7, 2023 / Medtronic: World Health Day is celebrated each year on April 7 and marks the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948. This year's theme is Health for All. At Medtronic, we strive for better health access for our world and believe healthcare technology can connect, enhance, and extend lives. Donor-supported healthcare programs in low- and middle-income countries have historically been focused on specific diseases like malaria or maternal health, but in designing the global health system of the future, Medtronic LABS is thinking bigger than individual diseases. The independent Medtronic-funded nonprofit is expanding to address the full spectrum of community health needs - hypertension, diabetes, mental health, malaria, TB, HIV, maternal health, and more. "With over 5 billion people in these communities across the world lacking access to healthcare, we need health systems to look beyond addressing specific conditions and consider patients' broader health needs," said Anne Stake, chief strategy and product officer at Medtronic LABS. "It's time to move away from the historical 'verticalization' of health systems." LABS, which accelerates healthcare access for underserved communities around the world through technology, has been primarily focused on hypertension and diabetes since launching in 2013. While disease-specific programs, which Stake describes as verticals, have been successful in addressing individual diseases, they often overlook the connections between different health conditions and the overall needs of patients. "We realized that LABS' strength in data-driven population health adds value to a range of different conditions," she said. "It's a pivot away from just looking at a single condition to transforming community healthcare delivery." And what does that transformation look like? For LABS, it's more data driven and responsive to patient needs. Designed for growth LABS has found its success in a sustainable healthcare model that pairs hyper-local services with cutting-edge technology - and that won't change as it continues to grow. The organization forges strong partnerships in the public and private sectors, all while connecting patients to care through a network of community health workers, who play a critical role in bridging the gap between disease verticals. Health systems are equipped with LABS' technology platform, SPICE, designed to drive better health outcomes for patients. SPICE is ushering in a new era of data-driven community healthcare delivery. For instance, one feature alerts clinicians if a community health worker sees patients with worsening symptoms or alarming test results in the field. The dashboard tracks health outcomes and population health indicators in real time - which can support policy and planning for health system leaders. SPICE - and LABS overall - was built for this type of growth. "We built SPICE for integrated care, with the ability to turn on and off conditions," said Kelly Shelden, head of technology at LABS, "Our strategy from the beginning is to be the community health platform standard." Since its launch, LABS has reached more than 1 million patients with hypertension and diabetes, and trained over 6,500 health workers in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, Sierra Leone, the United States, and India. That impact is expected to grow, according Megha Kumar, head of global partnerships at LABS. "With new partnerships at every level of the global health system we believe that our move into broader community healthcare delivery will amplify our impact 10 times over the next couple of years," she said. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Medtronic on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Medtronic Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/medtronic Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Medtronic View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748111/Medtronic-LABS-Broader-Scope-Expands-Access NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 7, 2023 / Whirlpool Corporation today announced that it achieved Zero Waste to Landfill (ZWtL) Gold or Platinum status (self-certification) at its large manufacturing sites worldwide1, as part of the company's ambitious and long-standing commitment to sustainable operations. Whirlpool Corporation first set its goal to reach Zero Waste to Landfill in 2012 and has continued to invest in plant efficiency and waste reduction-working closely with recyclers and sustainability vendors to find new, innovative ways to eliminate waste and contribute to the circular economy. This goal is aligned with the UL ECVP 2799 Zero Waste to Landfill standard, which requires at least 95 percent diversion from landfills. "Sustainability is central to Whirlpool Corporation's culture. We are relentless in our efforts to improve the way we produce and manufacture our products to deliver on our social and environmental sustainability goals while not compromising product performance," said Marc Bitzer, CEO and chairman, Whirlpool Corporation. "Our Zero Waste to Landfill achievement is a significant milestone that underscores the commendable dedication and collective commitment from our team to drive meaningful change. We will continue to unite our sustainable practices with our corporate purpose to support our communities and grow our business." Zero Waste to Landfill is part of Whirlpool Corporation's ongoing commitment to World Class Manufacturing (WCM), which sets the highest standards for manufacturing excellence and is the foundation for the company's sustainable manufacturing journey. The company continues to score higher along the WCM Environmental criteria and has led several key initiatives besides ZWtL, including in biodiversity, green buildings, renewable energy, and energy retrofits. To achieve the Zero Waste to Landfill goal, Whirlpool Corporation has maintained an unwavering commitment to do the right thing for consumers and the planet while not compromising product performance. Recognizing its climate impact, in 2021 the company also announced a commitment to reach a net zero emissions target (scope 1 and 2) in its global plants and operations by 2030, spanning all direct (Scope 1) and power-related (Scope 2) emissions. Several actions have already been implemented towards this goal: The company has reduced its carbon footprint by accelerating energy-saving plant retrofits and entering two wind Virtual Power Purchase Agreements (VPPAs) that will generate wind energy equivalent to 100% of Whirlpool Corp.'s U.S. manufacturing plant energy consumption. The company also issued its inaugural $300 million sustainability bond in April of 2021 to finance social and environmental projects across the organization. In February of 2022, Whirlpool Corporation joined the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Better Climate Challenge which targets a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent within 10 years and collaborating with the DOE and other organizations to cut carbon and save energy. "For more than 50 years, Whirlpool Corporation has prioritized social and environmental sustainability to support its people, the communities where we live and operate, and the planet," said Sr. VP of Community Relations and Sustainability Pam Klyn. "This accomplishment is a testament to the meaningful work of our employees around the globe and we look forward to building on this momentum through our sustainability efforts in 2023 and beyond." Zero Waste to Landfill goal reached for all large global manufacturing facilities owned by Whirlpool at December 31, 2022 with the exception of a new manufacturing facility in Argentina that opened Oct. 28, 2022 and the InSinkErator business which was acquired on Oct. 31, 2022. 1 Zero Waste to Landfill goal reached for all large global manufacturing facilities owned by Whirlpool at December 31, 2022 with the exception of a new manufacturing facility in Argentina that opened Oct. 28, 2022 and the InSinkErator business which was acquired on Oct. 31, 2022. View original content here. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Whirlpool Corporation on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Whirlpool Corporation Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/whirlpool-corporation Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Whirlpool Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748112/Whirlpool-Corp-Achieves-Goal-of-Zero-Waste-to-Landfill-for-Manufacturing-Sites-Worldwide NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 7, 2023 / Three green hydrogen projects that Kimberly-Clark is developing with energy industry partners have won places on the UK Government's Hydrogen Business Model Strategy (HBMS) shortlist. The scheme will kickstart the UK's low carbon hydrogen economy by funding a first-round allocation of 250MW of electrolytic hydrogen projects across England, Scotland and Wales. Kimberly-Clark, the parent company of leading household brands including Andrex, Kleenex, Huggies, WypAll and Scott, expects to reduce its natural gas consumption in the UK by 61% when these three projects are operational at the end of 2025, subject to final government contract. The three hydrogen projects selected by The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) include a green hydrogen hub in Barrow-in-Furness. Being developed in partnership with Carlton Power, the Barrow Green Hydrogen hub will power Kimberly-Clark's Cumbria manufacturing facility. The other two projects are being developed in partnership with HYRO, a joint venture between Octopus Energy Generation and renewable energy company RES, and will see green hydrogen supplied to Kimberly-Clark's manufacturing facilities in Flint, North Wales, and Northfleet in Kent. In total, the three schemes are expected to provide a total of 50MW of green hydrogen. The shortlisting of all three green hydrogen projects submitted by Kimberly-Clark's partners coincides with the switch-on this week of a new purpose-built onshore wind farm expected to generate around 80% of Kimberly-Clark's UK electrical power needs. Located in Cumberhead in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, the 12-turbine wind farm has taken just 18 months to build. It's the result of a power purchase agreement (PPA) between Kimberly-Clark and Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust (ORIT), a company managed by Octopus Energy Generation. It is also the first wind farm to supply Kimberly-Clark outside of North America. Furthermore, RES was recently awarded the full-scope asset management contract for the wind farm which will see it provide technical, commercial and financial asset management for the site. Kimberly-Clark will take 160,000 megawatt hours from the wind farm every year, the equivalent of taking 37,000 vehicles off the road. The power will be used at Kimberly-Clark's manufacturing facilities at Barrow-in-Furness, Flint, and Northfleet, as well as its distribution centres in Chorley and Northfleet. These renewable energy initiatives combined will enable Kimberly-Clark to achieve a total reduction of its greenhouse gas emissions in the UK & Ireland by 86% by the end of 2025 (vs 2015 baseline). Dan Howell, Kimberly-Clark's UK and Ireland MD said: "These developments represent a significant stepping stone towards our big ambition to move solely to renewable energy to manufacture Andrex, Kleenex, Huggies, WypAll and Scott in the UK by 2030. We can only reach our decarbonization goals via innovative partnerships and cutting-edge technology. These green hydrogen schemes and our spectacular new wind farm in Cumberhead are perfect examples of what our consumers, retail partners, stakeholders and employees expect us to do. A lot of hard work has gone into developing the green hydrogen projects and it's fantastic to see the UK government selecting them for the funding shortlist." DESNZ expects projects on the HBMS shortlist to generate up to 250MW - with the three schemes submitted by Kimberly-Clark's partners accounting for just over 20% of that total. Contracts are expected to be awarded by the end of this year, with first projects aiming to be operational in 2025. The Cumberhead wind farm is operational from April 2023, with Kimberly-Clark and ORIT working on an official opening event later this year. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Kimberly-Clark Corporation on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Kimberly-Clark Corporation Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/kimberly-clark-corporation Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Kimberly-Clark Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748113/UK-Government-Hydrogen-Boost-To-Help-Power-Kimberly-Clark-Towards-100-Green-Energy-Target Cummins NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 7, 2023 / With so many different streams of production, when it comes to sustainability, the Columbus Engine Plant aims for continuous improvement. Dave Wehrkamp, the plant's former Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) leader, says the plant is always looking for ways to improve its sustainability efforts by asking questions like, "What items in the facility are top energy users?" or "How can we reduce the impact of machinery while maintaining efficiency?" Over the years, the Columbus Engine Plant (CEP) has become home to the manufacturing, research and development of multiple Cummins Inc products. From battery packs and electric driveline components to heavy-duty machining of heads and blocks for the X15 engine, the plant tackles it all. It's become home to the Light Duty Tech Center (LDTC) for research and development for light, medium and heavy-duty engines, Cummins Inc. Turbo Technologies, and the Historic Restoration Center (HRC). Leveraging community partnerships One way the plant has focused on its environmental impact is through its partnership with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). The program aims to protect human health and the environment while implementing federal and state regulations. Columbus Engine Plant is part of IDEM's Partners for Pollution Prevention and Environmental Stewardship programs. The Partners for Pollution Prevention Program is a forum where Indiana businesses, nonprofits and government agencies work together to establish pollution prevention policies. Through the program, the plant learns valuable sustainability and pollution reduction strategies, shares insights and stays informed on the latest pollution reduction technologies. As part of the Pollution Prevention Program, Columbus Engine Plant: Helps employees understand their role in executing pollution prevention goals. Incorporates pollution prevention planning when creating new products or services. Creates an outreach program for promoting and supporting pollution prevention efforts. Makes waste reduction and pollution prevention resources available to members of the community. Columbus Engine Plant is also one of 51 businesses in IDEM's Environmental Stewardship Program. This program recognized Indiana businesses that go above and beyond current environmental regulations. Businesses that qualify for the program are those that consistently look for ways to reduce waste, improve efficiency and shrink their environmental impact. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cummins Inc. on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Cummins Inc. Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cummins-inc Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Cummins Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748128/A-Closer-Look-at-Cummins-Columbus-Engine-Plants-Sustainability-Measures NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 7, 2023 / Entergy Corporation: Christy Kane, Entergy's pro bono counsel, and Marcus Brown, Entergy's executive vice president and general counsel, with customers at ENtergy's customer care center on EmPOWERing Pro Bono Day. Last November, EEI joined a group of member companies and the Pro Bono Institute in hosting EmPOWERing Pro Bono Day, a first-ever event for the electric power industry. Participants used the day of service to offer legal support to low-income, marginalized communities in electric companies' service territories. In-house legal teams from electric and natural gas companies across the country-including AVANGRID, Consolidated Edison, Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, El Paso Electric, Entergy, Exelon, and PPL Corporation-volunteered in the focused effort to provide support for underserved communities in their service territories. As part of the marked day of service, more than 150 in-house volunteer attorneys and legal staff teamed up with outside counsel and nonprofits to help customers find legal solutions to problems affecting the stability and well-being of vulnerable community members. The volunteers served more than 315 clients as part of EmPOWERing Pro Bono Day. "When we help our customers navigate complex legal issues, they become more resilient, which means they will be able to manage life's challenges, whether it's on a blue-sky day or following a disaster," said Christy Kane, attorney and pro bono counsel at Entergy. Entergy's team, led by Kane, connected pro bono attorneys and resources with nearly 200 community members throughout Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Twenty-nine volunteers from Entergy's legal department, including Executive Vice President and General Counsel Marcus Brown, worked on life-planning documents for seniors, veterans, and first responders; provided policy research on restoring a driver's license; staffed in-person and online referral clinics for self-represented litigants; addressed issues related to the racial justice gap in property ownership; and represented domestic violence survivors. This article was originally published in the March/April 2023 issue of EEI's Electric Perspectives magazine. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Entergy Corporation on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Entergy Corporation Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/entergy-corporation Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Entergy Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748132/First-Industry-Wide-Pro-Bono-Day-of-Service-Helps-Vulnerable-Customers-and-Communities We Are China China launches solid-propellant carrier rocket Ecns.cn) 16:30, April 07, 2023 A Hyperbola-1 (SQX-1), solid-propellant commercial carrier rocket, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, April 7, 2023. (Photo: China News Service/Wang Jiangbo) The main purpose is to verify the correctness of the overall plan of the rocket and obtained effective flight data. It was the 5th flight mission of the SQX-1 carrier rocket. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) AUSTIN, MN / ACCESSWIRE / April 7, 2023 / Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE:HRL), a Fortune 500 global branded food company, has been named one of America's Most Trustworthy Companies by Newsweek for a second straight year. "We are honored to be recognized as one of the most trusted companies in America. Building a culture of trust is not a one-time achievement, but a continuous effort," said Jim Snee, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Hormel Foods. "At Hormel Foods, we strive to earn and maintain the trust of our customers and stakeholders every day through our actions and our commitment to transparency, accountability and integrity. Our recognition as one of the most trusted companies in America is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our team members who are the foundation of our success." Hormel Foods has long been a leader in transparency, sustainability and corporate responsibility, including being named one of America's Most Responsible Companies for a fourth consecutive year by Newsweek, being recognized as one of the World's Top Female-Friendly Companies by Forbes and being recently named one of Barron's 100 Most Sustainable Companies. Additionally, Hormel Foods has an ambitious set of corporate responsibility goals that it will strive to achieve by 2030 (the 20 By 30 Challenge), an initiative that has already led to significant reductions in packaging, nonrenewable energy use, greenhouse-gas emissions, water use and solid waste sent to landfills. The goals of the 20 By 30 Challenge were based on a robust key-topics-assessment process that identified and prioritized the issues most relevant to the company and its stakeholders. Newsweek partnered with Statista to compile its annual ranking of America's Most Trustworthy Companies, which analyzed 3,100 publicly traded U.S. corporations with annual revenue over $500 million, across 23 different industries. An independent survey of more than 25,000 U.S. residents was conducted to determine the list of companies that Americans trust the most, ranked by industry. To view the full list of America's Most Trusted Companies 2023, visit www.newsweek.com/rankings/most-trustworthy-companies-america-2023. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Hormel Foods Corporation on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Hormel Foods Corporation Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/hormel-foods-corporation Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Hormel Foods Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748133/Hormel-Foods-Again-Named-One-of-Americas-Most-Trustworthy-Companies-by-Newsweek NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 7, 2023 / FedEx Corporation: More than a year after Russia's initial invasion, Ukrainian people remain at risk. Both those who stayed and were displaced have been forced to find new ways to meet their basic daily needs, like finding safe water. We are proud to continue our 20-year relationship with Water Mission who is working to provide clean, safe water to those in need. In conjunction with the FedEx Cares 50 by 50 program - where they set a goal in 2019 to positively impact 50 million people by their 50th birthday on April 17, 2023 - Water Mission, a Christian engineering nonprofit that builds safe water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions, has been providing emergency aid to those in Ukraine throughout the conflict. "We are grateful for groups like Water Mission that help us get drinking water and give us the ability to stay and work to keep our city functioning. We will not leave Mykolaiv and Water Mission makes that possible for us. Thank you," says Volodymyr, a Ukrainian native. Since February 2022, 50 emergency safe water systems are operational across several Ukrainian cities. These systems have produced more than 23 million liters of safe water. With the help of committed partners, more than 10,000 hygiene kits and three million water purification packets have been distributed. Together, we have served more than 100,000 Ukrainians. When Water Mission responds to disasters, support from FedEx allows aid to be sent within hours and provides the ability to respond to multiple disasters simultaneously. This ongoing commitment to supporting Water Mission's disaster response work worldwide ensures safe water systems are delivered fast and on time, prioritizing care for those in need. To learn more about how Water Mission is serving men, women, and children in Ukraine and around the world, please visit watermission.org. ***Photo credit Water Mission Photo credit Water Mission View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from FedEx Corporation on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: FedEx Corporation Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/fedex-corporation Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: FedEx Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748136/Water-Mission-and-FedEx-Provide-Safe-Water-to-Over-100000-Ukrainians COLUMBUS, Ohio / ACCESSWIRE / April 7, 2023 / Bath & Body Works "We strive to infuse our belief that diversity, equity and inclusion make us stronger into our inclusive culture, equitable business processes and support of diverse communities," Kelie Charles, Chief Diversity Officer. Bath & Body Works announces today that it was recognized by Columbus Business First with a Diversity in Business Award. The publication's awards recognize people and organizations doing outstanding work in the field of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). "We're proud to receive this honor," says Kelie Charles, Chief Diversity Officer for Bath & Body Works. "We strive to infuse our belief that diversity, equity and inclusion make us stronger into our inclusive culture, equitable business processes and support of diverse communities. This award honors our positive momentum in this space, and we look forward to what's ahead." This is the eighth year for Columbus Business First's program which highlights excellence in encouraging diversity in age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race and religion at local workplaces in Central Ohio. Bath & Body Works is one of 18 honorees on this year's distinguished list. For more information on Bath & Body Works' DEI strategy and commitments, visit bbwinc.com. ABOUT BATH & BODY WORKS Home of America's Favorite Fragrances, Bath & Body Works is a global leader in personal care and home fragrance, including the top-selling collections for fine fragrance mist, body lotion and body cream, 3-wick candles, home fragrance diffusers and liquid hand soap. Powered by agility and innovation, the company's predominantly U.S.-based supply chain enables the company to deliver quality, on-trend luxuries at affordable prices. Bath & Body Works serves and delights customers however and wherever they want to shop, from welcoming, in-store experiences at more than 1,800 company-operated Bath & Body Works locations in the U.S. and Canada and more than 425 international franchised locations to an online storefront at BathandBodyWorks.com. For more information, please contact: Bath & Body Works, Inc.: Media Relations Emmy Beach Communications@bbw.com View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Bath & Body Works on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Bath & Body Works Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/bath-body-works Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Bath & Body Works View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748137/Bath-Body-Works-Recognized-With-Diversity-in-Business-Award-by-Columbus-Business-First Regulatory News: GETLINK S.E. (Paris:GET): The combined general meeting (ordinary and extraordinary) is convened on April 27, 2023 at 10:00 a.m (CET) at Cite des Echanges, 40 rue Eugene Jacquet, 59700 Marcq-en-Barul, France. The notice of meeting and the convening notice (which include the agenda of the meeting and the draft resolutions) were published in the French BALO (Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires) dated respectively April 5, 2023 and March 1, 2023. In accordance with Articles R. 225-83 and R. 225-89 of the French Commercial Code, the documents that must be made available to shareholders in connection with General Meetings are available at Getlink's registered office. Shareholders are invited to regularly check the 2023 General Meeting page on the Company's website where the documents and information relating to the meeting referred to in article R. 225-73-1 of the French Commercial Code are available on the at the following address: https://www.getlinkgroup.com/en/shareholders-investors/2023-general-meeting/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230407005097/en/ Contacts: Getlink Contacts For UK media enquiriescontact John Keefe on 44 (0) 1303 284491 Email: press@getlinkgroup.com For other media enquiries contact Anne-Sophie de Faucigny on +33 (0)6 4601 5286 Romain Dufour on +33(0)6 2000 3138 For investor enquiries contact Virginie Rousseau on +33 (0)6 7741 0339 Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Regulatory News: The Vicat Group (Euronext Paris: FR0000031775 VCT) (Paris:VCT) announces today that the Group's Annual General Meeting was held today. All the resolutions presented to the Annual General Meeting were adopted, including the resolution to pay a dividend to 1.65 per share, in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors. The detailed report of the 2023 Annual General Meeting, with the voting results, will soon be posted on www.vicat.fr. Next event: First-quarter 2023 sales on 3 May 2023. About Vicat The Vicat Group has close to 9,500 employees working in three core divisions, Cement, Concrete Aggregates and Other Products Services, which generated consolidated sales of 3.642 billion in 2022. The Group operates in twelve countries: France, Switzerland, Italy, the United States, Turkey, Egypt, Senegal, Mali, Mauritania, Kazakhstan, India and Brazil. Vicat, a family-owned group, is the heir to an industrial tradition dating back to 1817, when Louis Vicat invented artificial cement. Founded in 1853, the Vicat Group now operates three core lines of business: Cement, Ready-Mixed Concrete and Aggregates, as well as related activities. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230407005060/en/ Contacts: Investor relations contact: Stephane Bisseuil: Tel 33 (0)1 58 86 86 05 stephane.bisseuil@vicat.fr Press contacts: Karine Boistelle-Adnet Tel +33 (0)4 74 27 58 04 karine.boistelleadnet@vicat.fr NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 7, 2023 / Lori Shaffer, Kimberly-Clark's vice president of global nonwovens, recently spoke at her alma mater, Purdue University. She was invited to keynote a monthly meeting for the school's Women in Engineering Mentees & Mentors Program, which she was heavily involved in during her time at Purdue. She shared more about her storied career at Kimberly-Clark along with the power of harnessing an agile mindset. "Be open-minded to taking on new opportunities. The opportunities that scare you the most are the ones that will stretch and grow you beyond what you could ever imagine," she said. During the conversation, Lori discussed the art of pivoting quickly to adapt and encouraged students to never be afraid to ask for what they want. About Kimberly-Clark Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) and its trusted brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Fueled by ingenuity, creativity, and an understanding of people's most essential needs, we're committed to our purpose of Better Care for a Better World. Our portfolio of brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull-Ups, GoodNites, Intimus, Neve, Plenitud, Sweety, Softex, Viva and WypAll, holds No. 1 or No. 2 share position in approximately 80 countries. We use sustainable practices that support a healthy planet, build strong communities, and ensure our business thrives for decades to come. To keep up with the latest news and to learn more about the company's 150-year history of innovation, visit kimberly-clark.com. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Kimberly-Clark Corporation on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Kimberly-Clark Corporation Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/kimberly-clark-corporation Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Kimberly-Clark Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748155/Kimberly-Clarks-Lori-Shaffer-Encourages-Purdue-University-Students-To-Embrace-the-Opportunities-That-Scare-You-the-Most London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - April 7, 2023) - The World Tourism Forum Institute (WTFI) is pleased to announce that its Global Tourism Forum Annual Meeting in 2023 will take place in Brussels, Belgium, on September 5th. As the capital of the European Union, Brussels is an ideal location for the summit, which will bring together leaders and experts from across the globe to discuss the latest developments and challenges facing the tourism industry. The Global Tourism Forum is a leading platform for discussing sustainable tourism practices, promoting cross-border collaboration, and identifying innovative solutions to industry challenges. The annual meeting attracts a diverse range of participants, including government officials, representatives from international organizations, academics, and industry leaders. Participants will examine the role of tourism in the world and discuss ways to promote tourism practices that benefit both visitors and local communities. "We are excited to host the Global Tourism Forum Annual Meeting in Brussels, the heart of the European Union," said the WTFI's President, Bulut Bagci. "As the capital of Europe, Brussels is an ideal location for our discussion of tourism practices, which are critical to the economic, social, and environmental well-being of the region and the world." The Global Tourism Forum has a distinguished history of attracting prominent speakers and participants to its summits. Previous speakers include world-renowned experts such as Tony Blair, former prime minister of UK, Francois Hollande, former president of France and David Sassoli, former President of European Parliament. "We are proud of the speakers who have contributed to the success of our past summits, and we look forward to welcoming an equally distinguished group of speakers and audience to Brussels," added Bagci. Bulut Bagci - President of World Tourism Forum Institute / Sebastian Bazen - CEO of ACCOR To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9075/161728_41482297c4b77984_001full.jpg The 2023 Annual Meeting is expected to be an important milestone in the global tourism industry, bringing together leaders and experts to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and collaborate on solutions to the challenges facing the industry today. For more information about the Global Tourism Forum Annual Meeting 2023, please visit www.globaltourismforum.org. World Tourism Forum Institute The World Tourism Forum Institute is a global organization dedicated to promoting emerging countries in the areas of tourism development, economic growth, tourism investment and workforce development within the tourism industry. Contact: Hanni Tran h.tran@worldtourismforum.net +44 20 3289 0252 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/161728 Hype (formerly known as Pico), a NYC-based all-in-one marketing and payments platform that helps creators and small businesses grow and monetize their online audience on and off social media, is announcing its relaunch along with $10M in Series A funding. The round, which brought total financing to nearly $22M to date, was led by King River Capital, with follow-on participation from existing investors Bullpen Capital, Precursor Ventures, Bloomberg Beta, Tapestry VC and Sterling Road. Megan Guy, Co-Founder and General Partner at King River Capital, joined the companys board in conjunction with the capital raise. The capital will be used to further expand Hypes product offerings and explore new opportunities for partnerships and acquisitions across the creator economy this year. Led by Nick Chen, CEO and Co-Founder, Hype provides a platform that bundles key marketing and revenue tools for creators, available through its new collection of Hype Kits. With 11 premade Kits available at launch, Hype aims to provide the most relevant tools to anyone looking to activate and monetize the online community theyve built, regardless of their platform or business model. New and existing users can choose the Kit that best fits their needs and expect a personalized product experience over time, as the company continues to develop its intelligence around success factors in the new small business economy. Each Hype Kit can be customized with various features, including: A pre-designed web page that creators can further customize and use as their link-in-bio across social media. A drag-and-drop mobile website builder that makes it easy to share rich media links, collect contact information from visitors, sell memberships or ask for tips. An enterprise-grade CRM that enables creators to identify their most engaged fans, send text message blasts to their entire audience and integrate newsletter tools like Mailchimp and ConvertKit. Built-in revenue tools to collect tips and sell recurring subscriptions and memberships. A website plugin to create premium, paywalled content experiences on personal websites. Intelligent analytics and insights that respond to an entrepreneurs growing business and shifting needs. To date, Hype creators and entrepreneurs have earned over $30M in revenue and collected more than four million email and phone contacts using the platforms suite of marketing and revenue tools. Hype operates on a freemium model, with more capabilities available as add-ons, depending on ones business needs. The startups goal is to become the creators virtual business manager, providing a personalized combination of tools and tips to manage their brand, engage with followers off-platform and earn money. FinSMEs 07/04/2023 mrge, a Canada and Germany-based provider of a platform for commerce advertising, acquired SourceKnowledge, a Montreal, Canada-based network for publishers and retailers. The amount of the deal was not disclosed. With the acquisition, mrge will expand its reach in North America with SourceKnowledges roster of direct advertisers and thousands of publishers and bring SourceKnowledges programmatic technology to mrges existing retailer and publisher clients. SourceKnowledge will operate as a member of mrge which includes: digidip, shopping24, and Yieldkit. Led by Patrick Hopf, President, SourceKnowledge is an ad network that allows retailers and DTC brands to spend based on their goals, and rewards publishers that drive conversions with a CPC model. For publishers, the company offers SmartBidder technology, which detects and rewards traffic that converts automatically and in real-time as well as a Fallback URL, where SourceKnowledge will send the inventory to another network if it cannot meet the bidfloor. In addition, the programmatic technology allows its publishers to sell their inventory through an auction in the marketplace. The company has direct integrations with key eCommerce plugins Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and BigCommerce. The ad network has gained significant traffic with brands like Wine.com, Chewy, Michael Kors, Macys, Womanizer and more as well as leading publishers attracted to its premium cost-per-click (CPC) model. Founded in 1999, mrge is a platform for Commerce Advertising, connecting more than 5,500 publishers, 55,000 advertisers, and 100+ networks in 160+ countries. In 2022, the company generated 3,5 billion tracked links for its publishers, resulting in upwards of 2+ billion in additional e-commerce sales for its advertisers. mrge is backed by Waterland Private Equity, and valued at 14 billion. mrge has offices in Germany (Hamburg, Berlin) and Canada (Montreal) and currently employs over 140 people. FinSMEs 07/04/2023 Looks like nobody wants Harry and Meghan. They are not liked in UK, they are losing their popularity in US and now Prince and Meghan Markle were snubbed in favour of Prince William and Kate Middleton, according to a statement made by Dianas former butler. This statement comes to light after the Prince and Princess of Wales announced on Tuesday that the former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern would join the Board of Trustees on their Earthshot Prize project. Jacinda Ardern had announced her surprise resignation in January, and now on Tuesday, the outgoing New Zealand prime minister was named the latest member of Prince Williams environmental initiative. This new appointment comes months after the former leader distanced herself from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle over their Netflix series, Live to Lead, which she appeared in. Her life-long commitment to supporting sustainable and environmental solutions, along with her experience as Prime Minister of New Zealand, will bring a rich infusion of new thinking to our mission. Four years ago, before The Earthshot Prize even had a name, Jacinda was one of the first people I spoke to, and her encouragement and advice was crucial to the Prizes early success. I am hugely grateful to her for joining us as she takes the next steps in her career, Prince William said on Jacindas addition to the team. Now speaking to GB News about Jacindas decision to partner up with William and Kate over Harry and Meghan, Princess Dianas former butler Paul Burrell said, Jacinda has seen that Harry and Meghans world is becoming toxic and they are only celebrities. They are not ambassadors for the world and William and Kate are. Look at the difference between the two couples, one who worked tirelessly for Britain, the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. And the other who just basically want to be as famous as possible and as rich as possible. So Jacindas looking at the long game. Shes looking at what she should do to help William and Kate, and thats the right decision. Prince Harry and Meghan tied the knot in May 2018. They welcomed son Archie in May 2019, and daughter Lilibet in June 2021. Since Meghan and Harry announced in January 2020 that they would step down as senior working royals, they have been open about their life in the royal family. They were seen in the Netflix docuseries, Harry and Meghan, which was released last year. Prince Harry also released his controversial memoir Spare earlier this year. (With added inputs from agencies) Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Priyanka Chopra is in town for the promotions of her upcoming series Citadel. The actress plays the role of a spy in this international drama, co-starring Richard Madden in the lead. Priyanka in a recently held press conference in Mumbai said very highly about Richard Madden of Citadel. Priyanka shared, Richard and I actually met at a social dinner we were seated next to each other and we really got along when we met for the first time. Then we met at award shows, after parties and stuff like that, but the first time we met for work I knew that he was an extremely disciplined actor someone who is like me, who likes to do preparation, who likes to come into work really prepared. Thats why we get along so well because we like to give respect to our work. The phenomenal lead pair of Prime Videos upcoming global spy series, Citadel, journeyed to Mumbai for the epic Asia Pacific premiere. Ahead of the grand evening, the lead cast of the action-packed series, Richard Madden, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas sat down for an entertaining chat and revealed what went into making this ground-breaking spy franchise. Priyanka Chopra Jonas who plays Nadia Sinh narrated as to why he wanted to be a part of Citadel and said, When Jennifer Salke, who is the head of Amazon Studios, presented Citadel to me, she wanted to create an international, global franchise an original IP that truly connects the world. Amazon strongly believes in diversity; and true diversity is represented internationally, not just by having different skin tones, but also by hearing the way people speak, actually delving into the culture. And this show has incredible ability to span across every country and continent. So, I didnt even know the story and I said yep, doing it. Citadel narrates the journey of two elite agents Mason Kane (Richard) and Nadia Sinh (Priyanka), who had their memories wiped as they narrowly escaped with their lives after independent global spy agency Citadels fall. The two protagonists build new lives under new identities, unaware of their pasts. Until one night, when Mason is tracked down by his former Citadel colleague, Bernard Orlick (Stanley Tucci), who desperately needs his help to prevent rival agency Manticore from establishing a new world order. Mason seeks out Nadia, his former partner, and the two spies embark on a mission that takes them around the world in an effort to stop Manticore, all while contending with a relationship built on secrets, lies, and a dangerous-yet-undying love. Created by Amazon Studios and Russo Brothers AGBO, with David Weil serving as showrunner and executive producer, Citadel will premiere exclusively on Prime Video, with two episodes dropping on April 28, and one episode rolling out weekly through May 26. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Caracas: Venezuela has launched an anti-corruption probe of state oil firm PDVSA and other related government bodies that has seen 51 people arrested, including top government officials. Were going with everything, those who fall will fall, said President Nicolas Maduro. In a country ranked 177th out of 180 by Transparency International in its corruption perception index, is this an anti-corruption crusade, or a political purge? Who is in the crosshairs? The first arrests, announced on 19 March, related to close allies of Tareck El Aissami, a powerful figure in the ruling regime who until that point was the oil minister. El Aissami has kept a low profile since resigning and Attorney General Tarek William Saab refuses to confirm whether or not he is under investigation. One of those detained was Antonio Perez, the PDVSA vice president. Another was Hugo Cabezas, who was a close ally of the late former president Hugo Chavez. Others are Pedro Maldonado, the president of the corporation responsible for exploiting minerals such as gold, diamonds, iron and bauxite, and Nestor Astudillo, head of the state Orinoco Steel company. All have appeared in court dressed in orange jumpsuits. Saab said on Wednesday, There could be more arrests. Political purge? Its a political purge, political scientist Ana Milagros Parra told AFP. You shouldnt view it as anything extraordinary. Milagros said it was happening because of the need to eliminate or remove from the circle of power people who represent in one way or another a threat (to the government) or are not in line. That is a claim passionately rejected by Saab. Since when is corruption, embezzlement a political act? Where is the ideology there? Is stealing an ideology? No! he said. For Alberto Aranguibel, an analyst with ties to the government, it is courageous to tackle corruption and in a newspaper article he criticised the idea that the state is one single organ equally devoured by the cancer of corruption. But other experts disagree. Within the government there are factions and these factions are clashing, said Benigno Alarcon, director of the Centre for Political and Government Studies at the Andres Bello Catholic University. When you see the opportunity to get rid of an opponent or a faction, then you get rid of them because power is a zero-sum game. Also Read: Fresh setback for Venezuela in Guyana case at ICJ despite further objections from Caracas According to Alarcon, El Aissami was up against a group headed by Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez and her brother Jorge, the parliamentary president. Why oil? The public prosecutors office says 34 of the 51 people arrested are linked to the oil industry, the economic vehicle on which Venezuela is totally dependent. Venezuela sits on the worlds largest proven oil reserves but while it once produced more than three million barrels a day, that has dropped to less than one million following years of mismanagement. One of those arrested, Joselit Ramirez, was in charge of the entity that manages oil industry funds through crypto assets, a key policy used by the South American country to circumvent US sanctions. That also provides an opportunity to divert funds. This is not the first scandal or investigation linked to Venezuelas multibillion-dollar oil industry. Saab said his office had investigated 31 corruption schemes since 2017, for which more than 250 former officials and financial operators have been tried. Those resulted in the arrest of dozens of PDVSA employees and two former oil ministers, Nelson Martinez, who died in detention, and Eulogio del Pino. Rafael Ramirez, another who was a close Chavez ally, is accused of corruption when he was oil minister (from 2002 to 2014) and PDVSA president (from 2004 to 2014). He fled to Italy and Venezuelan authorities have requested his extradition. Whoever is attacking me should think for a moment, just a moment, why did Chavez have me by his side for 12 years? Ramirez wrote. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Brussels: Belgian bunnies will be an Easter treat for kids around the world this weekend, but not all are moulded from the countrys renowned chocolate. A batch of rabbits seized this week by veteran customs officer Pol Meuleneire was crafted from a solid lump of MDMA, the raw material for pills of the rave drug ecstasy. Known as the gateway into Europe for Latin American cocaine, Belgium has now also become a turntable for mail-order synthetic drugs, made in Europe and sent worldwide. Meuleneire, who retires in a few months after 43 years in Belgiums customs service, told AFP that when he began his career, he was excited to find 10 grammes of cannabis in a letter. Now, his workspace in an office block in the freight zone at Brussels airport is overflowing with suspect packages and bags and jars of illegal pills and powders. So, in 2022 we got to nearly six tonnes of drugs, seized here at the airport, explained Florence Angelici, spokeswoman for the SPF federal finance service. It goes all over the world. Today, people can order online on the dark web in a few clicks and can decide what they want and have it delivered to their homes. The false chocolate bunnies had been parcelled up and posted in Belgium, addressed to a buyer in Hong Kong, only to be intercepted at the Brussels airport freight terminal. Meuleneire pressed his handheld scanner which uses Raman spectroscopy to identify substances by their chemical fingerprint against one supposed chocolate rabbit and took a reading. The screen flashed green and the analysis was clear: Caution: MDMA (ecstasy). So you see? Its pure MDMA, the 61-year-old said. So here we have, bumpety-bump, one or two kilogrammes of this. With one kilogramme you make six thousand ecstasy pills. And, as Meuleneire worked his box cutter during a visit by AFP journalists, several more illicit deliveries emerged from packages received in just the past week. A Peppa Pig branded lunchbox destined for New Zealand itself proved innocent, but the packaging it was carried in felt too heavy to be just cardboard and plastic. Packed into a corrugated plastic parcel divider: ketamine, an anaesthetic misused as a recreational drug and one of the fastest growing illegal exports through the airport postal depot. A childs toy chemistry set for studying the growth of crystals was found to contain a shrink-wrapped bag of crystal meth, an illegal and addictive synthetic stimulant. Dutch drug labs There is even cocaine, slid in plastic packets between double layers of cardboard packaging, making the parcel suspiciously heavy to an experienced customs officer. Belgiums Antwerp is the main port of entry into Europe for Latin American cocaine, but some is re-exported by post to countries like Australia, where it fetches a higher street price. Gangs in countries like Venezuela, which export plant-based narcotics like cocaine to Europe, in turn import synthetic drugs like crystal meth from European labs. But most of the mail-order exports are of synthetic drugs made in rogue labs and covert pharma plants in Belgium and especially, according to Belgian officials, the Netherlands. Ketamine, MDMA and methamphetamine are disguised in everyday objects or packaged in jars marked as legal vitamin supplements, then mailed from ordinary post offices in Belgium, France and Germany. Here, were talking mainly about using the Belgian postal service, which might attract less attention from customs officers in the arrival countries than the Dutch one, Angelici told AFP. The smugglers use mules to transport the parcels and to post them from all over Belgium, and other European countries, and send them all around the world. At the airport, a computerised platform selects packages based on known suspect features and customs officers go to work scanning them and, in some cases, cutting them open. Souvenirs in Meuleneires workspace include portraits of Jesus Christ that were held in frames stuffed with drugs, teddy bears full of pills and copper pipes packed with veterinary tranquilisers. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Its a no-brainer that America needs gun control. Its a cause youd expect lawmakers to put their weight behind. But in Tennesses Republican-controlled House of Representatives calling for gun control comes with a punishment an expulsion to be precise. In a shocking move, Tennessee Republicans on Thursday expelled two Democratic lawmakers from the state legislature. A third Democrat met an almost similar fate but was spared by a narrow one-vote margin. What was their crime? They participated in a demonstration demanding stricter gun laws in the aftermath of the deadly Nashville school shooting that claimed six lives including that of three students who were around nine years old. Tennessees House of Representatives ousted Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, who are both Black, while Gloria Johnson, who is White, survived the vote on her expulsion. What led to the expulsion? The trio joined protests against the Nashville shooting last week as hundreds of demonstrators packed the state Capitol to call for the passage of gun-control measures. As the demonstrators filled galleries, the Democrats approached the front of the House chamber with a bullhorn and participated in a chant. Republicans have accused Jones, Pearson and Johnson of disruption for a protest on the House floor. How the expulsion unfolded Ahead of the vote to expel the lawmakers, Republicans and Democrats hit out at each other as they debated the proposed legislation. The trio entered the chamber together holding hands, their fists raised. Protesters, several students and parents, flooded the halls of the statehouse, where they have been demonstrating for days, angered by the inaction on gun violence and calling for reforms. We protect the Tennessee Three! they shouted, referring to the Democrats, reports the BBC. Justin! Justin! Gloria! However, leaders of the Grand Old Party (GOP) were unmoved. They said action needed to make taken to avoid setting a precedent that lawmakers disruptions of House proceedings through protest would be tolerated. Republican Rep Gino Bulso said the three Democrats had effectively conducted a mutiny. As the House of Representatives debated the expulsion, Jones said, We called for you all to ban assault weapons and you respond with an assault on democracy. He vowed that if expelled, he would continue pressing for action on guns. Ill be out there with the people every week, demanding that you act, he added. Bulso accused Jones of acting with disrespect and showing no remorse, reports The Associated Press (AP). He does not even recognise that what he did was wrong, the Republican said. So not to expel him would simply invite him and his colleagues to engage in mutiny on the House floor. During the discussion, Republican Rep Sabi Kumar advised Jones to be more collegial. You have a lot to offer, but offer it in a vein where people are accepting of your ideas, Kumar said. Jones said he did not intend to assimilate to be accepted. Im not here to make friends. Im here to make a change for my community, he replied. Also read: Americas Darkest Side: How gun violence claims 114 lives on an average every day Why was Johnson spared? The session reportedly lasted seven hours after which Jones and Pearson were expelled. The crowd in the gallery erupted in boos and chants following both expulsions and loud cheers when the vote count turned up just short in the bid to oust Johnson, reports CNN. After sitting quietly for hours and hushing anyone who cried out during the proceedings, people broke into chants of Shame! and Fascists! The split vote drew accusations of racism after Johnson survived the vote. However, the Republican leadership has denied the race factor. House Speaker Cameron Sexton, a Republican who voted to expel all three, denied that race was at play and said Johnsons arguments might have swayed other members. Our members literally didnt look at the ethnicity of the members up for expulsion, Majority Leader William Lamberth added. He alleged Jones and Pearson were trying to incite a riot last week, while Johnson was more subdued. Fielding questions from lawmakers, Johnson reminded them that she did not raise her voice nor did she use the bullhorn as did the other two, both of whom are new lawmakers and among the youngest members in the chamber. But Johnson also suggested race was likely a factor in why Jones and Pearson were ousted but not her, telling reporters it might have to do with the colour of our skin. So what next? Expulsion from the House requires a two-thirds majority of the total membership. The two expelled lawmakers may not be gone for long. County commissions in their districts get to pick replacements to serve until a special election can be scheduled and they could opt to choose Jones and Pearson. The two also would be eligible to run in those races. Under the Tennessee constitution, lawmakers cannot be expelled for the same offence twice, the AP report says. Jones said that he was not sure what his next steps were after the expulsion. I will continue to show up to this Capitol with these young people whether Im in that chamber or outside, he told the media. Pearson said that he hopes to be re-appointed, adding that the anti-democratic behaviour of this White supremacist-led state legislature was upsetting. Also read: Nashville school massacre: Why women mass shooters are rare in the US How has the US reacted to the expulsions? US president Joe Biden was critical of the expulsions, calling them shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent. Rather than debating the merits of the issue (of gun control), these Republican lawmakers have chosen to punish, silence, and expel duly-elected representatives of the people of Tennessee, Biden said in a statement. Pearson, who is Black, told CNN, We are losing our democracy to White supremacy. We are losing our democracy to patriarchy. We are losing our democracy to people who want to keep a status quo that is damning to the rest of us and damning to our children and unborn people. Lawmakers expelled the two black men and kept the white woman, Lamar, a Black woman, said via Twitter. The racism that is on display today! Wow! How common are expulsions? They are rare. Banishment is a move the chamber has used only a handful of times since the Civil Wartwice since the 1860s. Most state legislatures have the power to expel members, but it is generally reserved as a punishment for lawmakers accused of serious misconduct, not used as a weapon against political opponents, reports AP. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Deadly storms in the past two weeks have unleashed dozens of tornadoes in the United States, mainly in the South and Midwest, killing at least 63 people and damaging or destroying hundreds of homes. This years early severe weather, especially in the Midwest, is part of a trend seen over the past few years, according to Bill Bunting, chief of forecast operations at the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Centre in Norman, Oklahoma. We are entering the time of the year where the potential for severe weather increases and much more of the US becomes at risk, Bunting said this week in an email. An average of 1,200 tornadoes hit the country yearly, and the United States will probably get more killer supercells spawning tornadoes and hail as the world warms, according to a recent study. Also Read: Everything is gone: Terrible tornado tears across Americas Mississippi That study also warns the lethal storms will edge eastward to strike more frequently in populous Southern states like Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. But tornadoes can happen any time of year and have been reported in all 50 states, according to NOAAs National Severe Storms Laboratory. What should you do if your home is destroyed or severely damaged, once you are safe? Focus on your safety The word people most commonly use to describe their mindset after a natural disaster is overwhelmed, according to United Policyholders, a nonprofit that advocates for insurance consumers. Our basic guidance is to first focus on you and your familys safety, said Amy Bach, United Policyholders executive director. Next, if possible, she recommends photographing and documenting damaged and destroyed property without entering severely damaged buildings and determining whether further damage can be prevented through the use of tarps, fans or other methods. Finding safe and comfortable temporary shelter and getting a copy of your current insurance policy are important next steps. When youre safe, have shelter, and have an idea of the extent of your homes damage, be sure to notify your insurance company. Hows your insurance? Tornado damage is generally covered under homeowners and renters insurance policies. But youll want to read your insurance policy to know your deductible costs and what is covered, Bach said. If damage is minor to moderate, it might not cost as much to repair as the deductible in your policy. We tell people not to rush and to instead take stock and get situated before making any decisions, she said. Know that youll get solicited (by contractors), and in the first 48 hours, the shock and the trauma generally mean youre not in your best decision-making mode. For temporary, immediate housing, people often turn to a shelter opened by a local government, the American Red Cross or other organisations. In addition to providing a place to sleep, water and meals, Red Cross services all of which are free can sometimes also include child care, information about disaster-related resources in the community, and access to case workers to help with disaster recovery. People also may need to access insurance to cover longer-term housing, to rebuild a home and/or replace belongings, including vehicles. Keep receipts for hotel bills, clothing and meals while displaced, and take notes on the calls you make to insurance companies, including the numbers you call, the people spoken to, dates and times, and what was said. Keep up payments If your residence is temporarily uninhabitable or destroyed, the Red Cross recommends notifying utility companies and other services so they can stop billing you immediately. Paying insurance premiums and rent or mortgage should be your highest priority, according to the Red Cross. Call any creditors and ask for more time to pay. Most creditors will be willing to work with you, especially if you notify them before a payment is due, the Red Cross said. Overall, most people have a very steep learning curve after a tornado or other natural disaster because people think theyll be OK if they have insurance. Also Read: Why tornadoes are so hard to forecast But for many people, thats just one piece of getting back as close to where you were, Bach said. Losing a home is very much like a death in the family. The Red Cross also has a section on its website dedicated to recovering emotionally after a disaster. Try to accept whatever reactions you may have, the organisation advises. Look for ways to take one step at a time and focus on taking care of your disaster-related needs and those of your family. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. King Charles IIIs coronation invitation has become the talk of the town and not just because it officially identifies his wife as Queen Camilla for the first time. A little green figure on the bottom of the card has intrigued netizens, with some calling it a Pagan symbol. This has created a row online, with many bestowing their own meanings on the leafy smiling face the Green Man. Lets look at paganism and the row around King Charles IIIs coronation invitation. What is Paganism? Paganism is a Christian term used to refer to spiritual beliefs and practices that do not follow Abrahamic religions such as Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Patheos.com says Paganism represents a wide variety of traditions that emphasise reverence for nature and a revival of ancient polytheistic and animistic religious practices. Polytheistic refers to belief in more than one god, while animistic is the belief that the universe is controlled and organised by a power. As per BBC, contemporary Paganism has expanded in the last Century and its growth has coincided with the shrinking of Christianity in Europe. The story of the Green Man According to an Unherd report, in medieval Europe, foliate figures were found on different objects across churches and monasteries. Since 1939, these figures have been called the Green Men in the English-speaking world owing to folklorist Lady Raglan. Lady Raglan believed that these foliate heads that adorned English churches originated from the myth of Robin Hood and the Jack-in-the-Green of May Day, the report added. Hiding in plain sight in churches, the Green Man embodied ongoing pagan sympathies, says The Spectator. However, there were no pagans in high medieval Britain and her theory was debunked by historians. But people had already come to believe that there was a pagan woodland deity called the Green Man, who was a fertility god. The Green Man rapidly established his place as a British icon: a symbol of the supposed survival of the old ways, an embodiment of joyous fertility who would come to root the new spiritualities of the 1960s in something native and ancient or seemingly so, Dr Francis Young, a historian and folklorist specialising in the history of religion and belief, wrote for The Spectator. According to Historic UK, the Green Man represents how images from the Old Religion were brought into Christian churches before the Reformation, and is one of the most ancient, pagan symbols to be found in the Christian church. The Green Man has also become a popular name for English inns and pubs. ALSO READ: King Charles IIIs coronation is less than a month away: Heres what we know Controversy around Charles invitation The design of Charles invitation, created by heraldic artist and manuscript illuminator Andrew Jamieson, is a nod to the kings love of nature and climate conservation, reported Daily Mail. Buckingham Palace, which revealed the design on 4 April, said the Green Man is an ancient figure from British folklore, symbolic of spring and rebirth, to celebrate the new reign. The shape of the Green Man, crowned in natural foliage, is formed of leaves of oak, ivy and hawthorn, and the emblematic flowers of the United Kingdom, Associated Press (AP) quoted the palace as saying. Soon after the card was shared, a debate started on social media about the invitations featuring the ancient motif of the Green Man. UK minister for overseas territories called the Green Man a beautiful symbol of Gods creation. Green Man is one of the most ancient symbols of all, and appears on countless churches across the land and beyond. It is a symbol, among other things, of our relationship with the natural world (or in Christian terms, Gods creation). This is beautiful https://t.co/fln8XwcdkL Zac Goldsmith (@ZacGoldsmith) April 6, 2023 But musician Winston Marshall disagreed. Why is the Jolly Green Giant more prominent on the coronation invite than any Christian symbols? Hes the head of the church. Has he forgotten the first commandment? Thou shalt have no other gods before me This is paganism. Shame, the former Mumford & Sons band member wrote in a tweet. Why is the Jolly Green Giant more prominent on the Coronation invite than any Christian symbols? Hes the head of the church. Has he forgotten the first commandment? Thou shalt have no other gods before me This is paganism. Shame https://t.co/FeKN1Y5TUB Winston Marshall (@MrWinMarshall) April 5, 2023 Alice Roberts, a professor of Public Engagement in Science, commented: The Green Man is not an ancient figure from British folklore, but a name invented for foliate heads in churches, in 1939. The Green Man in the invitation and its purported pagan connections or not, Charles Christian coronation ceremony on 6 May is definitely something the world will be watching. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Supporting your workforce, whether it be through flexible scheduling or paid holidays, is crucial for retaining employees and being a good employer. In the midst of the most competitive employment market in decades, UK companies are turning to a novel strategy: an early finish on Fridays. The weekend extension is a result of efforts to attract Gen Z workers who place a higher value on work-life balance in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which upended priorities and pushed firms to adopt flexible working. Lets understand what it means and whether it could help UK businesses to survive the labour crisis. Also read: Work From Hell: Which type of job makes people the unhappiest? Early finish Fridays The custom of workers punching out by 3.30 pm on Fridays in order to start their weekends on Saturdays, known as POETS Day, which means Piss off early, tomorrows Saturday, will be given new life by this trend. In the past month, more than 1,400 UK job advertisements highlighted an early-finish Friday as a perk for potential candidates, according to data gathered by the labour market statistics and insights company Adzuna. In contrast, in 2018, five years before COVID-19 required many white-collar employees to work from home, there were only 583 company ads that promised an effective weekend extension. According to Bloomberg, a number of mid-to-large-sized companies are among the employers who offer the benefit. On the list of privileges for a graduate post in merchandising is an early start to the weekend, according to fashion supplier DCK Group. The same benefit is advertised in a job posting for a contracts manager by the aerospace company Raytheon Technologies Corp. The Guardian reported that in one job posting for a management accountant position at the marketing company Immediate Media Co. in London, flexible/hybrid working + early finish Fridays is listed among the perks, along with frequent socials, a summer festival, and a day off for the employees birthday. The four bullet points above the companys competitive pension plan and life insurance offer also included the early finish Fridays. Notably, the benefit has been targeted more strongly towards junior roles. More than 75 per cent of the ads for the perk are aimed at employees with incomes between 20,000 (~Rs 20.35 lakh) and 40,000 (~Rs 40.71 lakh), indicating that firms are attempting to attract and compete with Gen Z as they enter the workforce. According to Bloomberg, Andrew Hunter, co-founder of Adzuna, believes that the shift underscores the reality that after the pandemic, workers are demanding more from their employers. For jobseekers, a company offering early-finish Fridays signals that they are flexible in their attitude to working hours and care about their employees wellbeing two factors of utmost importance in todays jobs market, the co-founder said in an emailed statement. Also read: Amid labour crunch, Germany taps skilled workforce laid off in Silicon Valley Employees most desired perk The most desired perk, according to a survey by employee engagement company Sodexo Engage, is finishing early on a Friday. The benefit that employees most want is getting home early at the end of the week, surpassing their desires for summer hours, nap rooms, and even fertility treatments. Emma Yearwood, director of HR at Sodexo Engage said, Theres often a lot of pressure for employees to progress and hit targets, which is why offering perks like flexible working and Friday hours supports a healthy work-life balance. It also shows that as a business, you value your employees whilst encouraging them to perform their best for a great return. A low-cost way to boost morale According to Yahoo News, companies may argue that enabling employees to work fewer hours is detrimental to their bottom line. The evidence, however, indicates that it isnt true. Heres why. A survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that allowing employees to leave early on Fridays or any other day of the week has little to no effect on the companys bottom line. It noted that offering flexibility is a low-cost strategy to enhance morale because workers are inclined to make up the missed time when they have to. Additionally, researchers from the Henley Business School at the University of Reading drew a similar conclusion after they surveyed many companies in 2019. They discovered that they were saving nearly 92 billion (~Rs 92 thousand crore) per year or around 2 per cent of their entire revenue. When working a four-day week, two-thirds of UK companies reported increased employee productivity and decreased sick leave. Also read: Four-day work week, lesser take-home salary: The changes under the new labour laws Labour shortage in the UK The UK is finding it difficult to fill open positions in one of the most competitive labour markets in recent memory. The number of persons in the labour force who are of working age has decreased by 216,000 since the pandemic, leaving Britain the only Group of Seven economies whose output has not yet reached its pre-Covid levels, reported Bloomberg. This is because of the pandemics mass exodus of young people from the workforce into education and the sharp rise in the number of over-55s taking early retirement, reported The Guardian. In an effort to get older people back into the workforce, Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt eliminated the lifetime allowance on UK pension funds in his Budget statement last month. This decision will benefit some of the wealthiest investors in the nation. While the number of openings has recently decreased from all-time highs to 1.1 million as a result of the labour crisis, the number is still likely to remain high as long as the shortfall lasts. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Israels military says it hit targets connected to the Palestinian militant group Hamas in southern Lebanon and Gaza early on Friday (7 April). This came after a barrage of rockets was fired from Lebanon into Israel on Thursday afternoon, which the Israeli military blamed on Hamas. These recent attacks come in the wake of increased tensions in the region following violence this week at Jerusalems Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. What targets were hit in Lebanon and Gaza? Are Israel and Lebanon at war? Could the recent strikes escalate the situation between the two nations? Lets take a closer look. Israel launches rare strikes in Lebanon The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said early in the morning that it struck terrorist infrastructure linked to Hamas in southern Lebanon. Quoting the Al-Manar news outlet, supported by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, CNN reported that three Israeli rockets hit an open area in southern Lebanons Tyre region. As per an AFP report, one missile fell on a farmers house close to a Palestinian refugee camp near Tyre. The IDF will not allow the Hamas terrorist organisation to operate from within Lebanon and holds the state of Lebanon responsible for every directed fire emanating from its territory, the IDF said in a statement on Twitter. The IDF struck targets including terrorist infrastructures belonging to Hamas in southern Lebanon. The IDF will not allow the Hamas terrorist organization to operate from within Lebanon & hold the state of Lebanon responsible for every directed fire emanating from its territory. pic.twitter.com/LIAlbOa3Rn Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 7, 2023 Responding to the attacks, Hamas said in a statement as per Reuters: We strongly condemn the blatant Zionist aggression against Lebanon in the vicinity of Tyre at dawn today. Notably, southern Lebanon houses many Palestinian refugee camps and armed factions, reported Al Jazeera. Israel strikes Gaza Strip Israel resumed air strikes on Gaza early Friday, with its military claiming to have targeted two weapons-manufacturing sites of Hamas. According to the IDF, its fighter jets struck two terror tunnels in Beit Hanoun and Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip as a response to the security violations of Hamas during the last few days, reported CNN. It also said targeted a shaft to an underground weapons production site. An IDF drone hit a heavy machine gun in northern Gaza that as per the force was used to target IDF jets and Israeli territory. Hamas, which controls the blockaded southern coastal strip, condemned the Israeli strikes. Meanwhile, Gaza retaliated to these strikes early Friday by firing rockets towards southern Israel. 34 rockets fired at Israel Israels attack came after 34 rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel, as per IDF. While most of them were intercepted by air defence systems, at least four landed in Israel. The strikes left two people injured and damaged some property. Although IDF blamed Hamas for what it described as the biggest rocket salvo since the 2006 war, the Palestinian group claimed it is not aware of who was behind the rocket strikes from Lebanon on Israel. After a meeting late Thursday with his Security Cabinet, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: Israels response, tonight and beyond, will extract a heavy price from our enemies, reported AP. Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, told reporters that the army believed Lebanese rocket fire is linked to the recent flareup in Jerusalem. Its a Palestinian-oriented event, he added. As per AP, Hecht said Hamas or Islamic Jihad militant groups, which are based in Gaza but also have a presence in Lebanon, could have a hand in the attack. Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was in Lebanon at the time of Thursdays strikes, said Palestinians would not sit with their arms crossed when facing aggression from Israel, reported BBC. Moreover, Hecht said the Israeli military believed that Hezbollah and the Lebanese government were aware of Thursdays attacks. Israeli security experts say Hezbollah, the Iran-backed armed group, must have green lit Thursdays attacks. Its not Hezbollah shooting, but its hard to believe that Hezbollah didnt know about it, Tamir Hayman, a former head of Israeli military intelligence, said on Twitter. ALSO READ: Why al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem is a regular site of conflict between Israel and Palestine How did it all begin? Tensions have been on the rise in the region after Israeli police attacked worshippers in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalems Old City during the holy month of Ramadan earlier this week. As Muslims observe month-long Ramadan, Jews are celebrating the Passover holiday. As per CNN, videos from inside the mosque the third-holiest site in Islam showed Israeli officers roughing up people with their batons and rifle butts. They also arrested hundreds of Palestinians who wanted to pray overnight inside the compound, which authorities only allow during the last 10 days of Ramadan. The Al-Aqsa Mosque stands on a hilltop that Jews call Temple Mount, which is the holiest site in Judaism. The Wednesday raids on the mosque compound elicited sharp condemnation from the Arab and Muslim world. It also triggered retaliatory rocket strikes from Gaza into Israel. In 2021, violence at Al-Aqsa during Ramadan had triggered an 11-day war between Israel and Gazas Hamas rulers. ALSO READ: Israel-Palestine tensions rise: Is third intifada in offing? Can this escalate tensions between Lebanon and Israel? As per AP, Israeli attacks in Lebanon may bring Hezbollah into the fighting, which could eventually lead to war. In a statement on Thursday, Hezbollah which dominates much of southern Lebanon, warned that hundreds of millions of Muslims were ready to shed blood for Al-Aqsa, reported CNN. In recent years, Hezbollah has avoided escalations related to the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Israel and Lebanon have technically been at war for decades. In 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon when the latter was witnessing a civil war and occupied Lebanese territory until 2000, as per Al Jazeera. While they are considered enemy states, the last major conflict between the nations was the 2006 Lebanon War. Hezbollah had fought Israel during the 34-day war in 2006 and both sides have since stayed away from an all-out offensive. Around 1,200 Lebanese people and 165 Israelis had died during the conflict. In 2021, Israeli air force had carried out its first air strikes in seven years on neighbouring Lebanon in retaliation to rockets fired from Lebanon into Israeli territory, AFP reported. After Fridays strikes, Lebanon and Israel have both said they both do not want the situation to escalate further. Lebanese prime minister Najib Mikati spoke against any military operations from the countrys territory that destabilise the situation, reported BBC. On Friday, the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said its head of mission and force commander was in touch with authorities from Israel and Lebanon and both have said that they do not want a war. Calling the situationextremely serious, UNIFIL urged restraint and to avoid further escalation. The Lebanese foreign ministry expressed willingness to cooperate with the UN and take measures to restore calm and stability in the south. It also called on the international community to put pressure on Israel to stop escalation, the state-owned National News Agency reported, as per CNN. Meanwhile, an Israeli military spokesman said their operation was over for the moment. Nobody wants an escalation right now, he was quoted as saying by Reuters. Quiet will be answered with quiet, at this stage I think, at least in the coming hours. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Japan does not have enough land to bury its dead chickens. Due to the ongoing outbreak of bird flu, millions of chickens have been culled in the Asian country. As per Japanese state broadcaster NHK report on Tuesday (4 April), 16 of the countrys 47 prefectures are facing land issues that have hampered efforts to dispose culled birds properly. Lets take a closer look at the situation in Japan and just how bad this current avian flu outbreak is. Japans worst-ever bird flu outbreak According to Japan Times, since last October, around 80 farms in 26 prefectures have reported bird flu cases. As per the NHK report, over 17 million chickens have been culled due to the outbreak this season. Local governments and poultry farms generally bury these birds to prevent the further spread of the virus. But now they do not have adequate land to discard the carcasses. Twelve prefectures, including Kagoshima and Hiroshima, reported many instances where the land was found unsuitable for burial. Seven other prefectures have run out of land. Sakoda Yoshihiro, a professor at Hokkaido University, suggested steps to deal with the issue, including burning these birds or reducing the number of such killings, reported NHK. Japans last big bird flu outbreak was in fiscal 2020 when it had to kill 9.87 million birds. But, what is bird flu? Avian flu is a disease in birds triggered by infection with avian influenza Type A viruses, says US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These highly contagious viruses are found in saliva, nasal secretions, and feces of the infected birds. This disease that affects poultry and wild birds usually blows up in autumn before subsiding around summer, noted BBC. Its deadly H5N1 strain is of particular concern, which according to the World Health Organization (WHO), has had a 53 per cent mortality in the rare cases witnessed in humans, reported Al Jazeera. H5N1 was first detected in domestic waterfowl in China in 1996. It then spread to migratory birds around 2005, noted Smithsonian Magazine. These migratory wild birds transmitted the virus through feathers, droppings and direct contact across the globe. ALSO READ: Bird flu is spreading: Is this a foreboding of the next pandemic? Bird flu crisis hikes egg prices Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, has sent egg prices soaring in several countries worldwide. As per Dutch financial company Rabobank, egg prices touched a 10-year high of 235 yen ($1.8) last month in Japan as it struggles with egg shortages, reported CNN. The shortage in Japan has forced companies including McDonalds and 7-Eleven to halt the sale of egg-related items or ramp up their prices, as per Bloomberg. The cost of eggs in the United States and European Union increased by 155 per cent and 62 per cent, respectively, between the first quarters of 2022 and 2023, Rabobanks report this month said. Nan-Dirk Mulder, Rabobanks senior analyst of animal protein, wrote that egg prices around the world are 2.5 times higher than the reference year of 2007, and have increased more than 100 per cent since this time last year. Prices in many other markets have reached historic highs as well, including in Thailand, the Philippines, Israel, New Zealand, Nigeria, Kenya, Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina, the report added. How bad is the current bird flu outbreak? Millions of birds around the world have died due to the worst-ever outbreak of bird flu. The current virus has affected 80 different bird species, Professor Munir Iqbal, the head of the Avian Influenza Virus (AIV) group at the Pirbright Institute, told BBC. The virus spread from Europe and Asia to North America and then to birds in South and Central America, as per Al Jazeera. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said last November that more than 50 million birds died due to the current avian flu outbreak. France, which was the worst affected EU country last year, said it culled more than 20 million birds. Not just birds, but the virus has also jumped to some wild mammals such as seals, otters, wild dogs and foxes. Countries such as Peru, the US and the United Kingdom, have reported bird flu cases in mammals. It is believed that most mammals directly caught the virus from infected birds. However, the bird flu outbreak that led to the culling of more than 50,000 mink on a farm in northwestern Spain last October is believed to be a rare case where the mammals spread the disease to each other. Scientists have not confirmed why this outbreak is so much worse, but BBC says it may be because the virus has mutated which has made it easier to transmit from bird to bird. ALSO READ: In UK, bird flu kills dolphins What about humans? According to the WHO, from 2003 to 25 February 2023, there have been a total of 873 human cases of H5N1 infection across 21 countries, out of which 458 were fatal. Cambodia reported two human cases of bird flu in late February, including an 11-year-old girl who died. Her father was the other infected person, which sparked the fear of human-to-human transmission. However, Cambodian health authorities confirmed in early March that they were infected from birds in their village and no transmission between father and daughter has been found, as per media reports. In March this year, China reported its third human case of the H3N8 strain of bird flu. Last year, the country had logged its first two human cases of this strain, which the China CDC said was an episodic avian-to-human interspecies transmission and that the virus does not yet have the ability to effectively infect humans, reported Sout China Morning Post (SCMP). The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) started preparing models for worst-case scenarios of human-to-human transmission of bird flu following the death of the girl in Cambodia. Its modelling says that one in 400 people would die if the infection-fatality rate of the bird flu virus is similar to COVID-19. The other more severe scenario likens the rate to the 1918 flu pandemic and predicts death of one in 40 infected people, reported Sky News. Dr Meera Chand, from the UKHSA, told BBC that the current evidence suggests that H5N1 cannot transmit easily to people. However, viruses constantly evolve, and we remain vigilant for any evidence of changing risk to the population, as well as working with partners to address gaps in the scientific evidence. What is the world doing? Most countries just cull all the poultry birds if an infection is detected. China is vaccinating its domestic poultry flocks. France has launched 80 million doses of bird flu vaccines to protect its poultry birds against the virus. Meanwhile, some vaccine manufacturers GSK Plc, Moderna Inc and CSL Seqirus told Reuters in March they have started developing jabs for humans. Sanofi said they stand ready to start production of bird flu vaccines for humans against the H5N1 strain if required. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Bullying is becoming a bigger and bigger problem in Japanese culture. So much so that a company is now offering an insurance policy for schoolchildren that are bullied either in person or online. Lets take a closer look: The policy According to Japan Times, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance will make available the insurance policy against bullying known in schools as ijime from October. The policy, which can be taken for up to 200,000 (Rs 1.24 lakh), will cover counselling fees for bullied students, expenses related to changing of schools, uniforms or learning material. Parents can also pay an extra 120 (Rs 74) per month to cover legal expenses. This will be offered first to schools and associations that already have policies with the company. Parents must file damage reports from police and consultations with schools to claim compensation, as per the newspaper. How big of a problem is it? Its a big problem. The 2021-2022 fiscal year saw 615,351 cases registered across Japan. A bulk of those cases, 500,562, came from elementary schools. Thats a 19 per cent rise from the previous fiscal year and eight times that number in 2021. In 2018, there were 414,378 such incidents a 91,000 increase from 2017, as per DW. A total of 474 cases were classified as serious, while 55 were determined to be life-threatening. The authorities rule that 10 of the 250 children that took their own lives were bullied in person a result of the victims leaving notes behind. In 2021, Japans education ministry recorded a record 21,900 cases of cyberbullying, as per The Mainichi.Hajime Arai, a professor at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka Prefecture, told the outlet, The age for starting to use smartphones is getting younger, at a faster pace than expected. Its necessary for children and their guardians to learn about the dangers of online society early. First, teachers and staff should understand cyberbullying and work with outside experts, such as the police and universities, to prevent it from happening, the cyberbullying expert added. But experts warn that those numbers are likely under-reported as most victims are too afraid to come forward, as per DW. Professor Mieko Nakabayashi told the outlet, Japan has always had a problem with bullying in schools, but it seems to me that there have been more children committing suicide that have been linked to bullying, and I think that has made this a bigger issue for schools, for education authorities and the government. They are under far more pressure than before to carry out thorough investigations now, the social studies professor at Waseda University added. These cases are becoming more documented and reported, which may account for the increase in cases, but it is clear that more efforts need to be made to tackle this issue. Bullying is common in many countries as not all children have been civilized at a young age, but I feel it is different here in Japan, she said. In schools here, a pupil who is different from the others will be a target. That is the same throughout Japanese society. Conformity is important, she added. So if you are talented in class, or if you are a girl who is too pretty, or if you play a musical instrument well or if you just act differently, you are a target. Hajime Arai, a professor at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka Prefecture, told The Mainichi, The age for starting to use smartphones is getting younger, at a faster pace than expected. Its necessary for children and their guardians to learn about the dangers of online society early. First, teachers and staff should understand cyberbullying and work with outside experts, such as the police and universities, to prevent it from happening, the cyberbullying expert added. Japans Parliament in 2022 made online insults punishable by imprisonment of up to a year. The law allows offenders convicted of online insults to be jailed for up to one year, or fined 300,000 yen. The development came after professional wrestler and reality show star Hana Kimura took her own life after becoming the target of massive bullying on social media. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The judge overseeing Donald Trumps hush money case in New York has found himself under scrutiny over $35. Thats the amount New York Judge Juan Merchan donated to Democrats in 2020 including $15 to Joe Bidens presidential campaign. The news comes in the backdrop of the former president claiming that Merchan, a former prosecutor who has been on the bench for 16 years, hates him. Lets take a closer look: What happened? As per CNN, Merchan made the donations in July 2020 through the fundraising website ActBlue. Merchan gave the Biden campaign $15, another $10 to the Progressive Turnout Project and another to the group Stop Republicans. The Progressive Turnout Project on its website says its goal is to rally Democrats to vote. The Stop Republicans website describes the group as dedicated to resisting the Republican Party and Donald Trumps radical right-wing legacy. Our voter contact programs target the worst of the worst elected Republicans, especially the most craven and most vulnerable Senators, the website further states. The New York Post quoted Federal Election Commission records as stating that Merchan put down his occupation as judge and the New York State Office of Court Administration as his employer. It is important to note that Merchan isnt alone. At least 30,000 people who listed their profession as judges donated to candidates in 2021 and 2022, as per NBC. The donations, made to candidates on both sides of the aisle, ranged from under $10 to over $10,000. But that isnt likely to deter Trump, who has already attacked Merchan and his family multiple times. The judge HATES ME, Trump railed on his social media platform prior to the hearing. I have a Trump-hating judge with a Trump-hating wife and family whose daughter worked for Kamala Harris and now receives money from the Biden-Harris campaign. And a lot of it, Trump, who is running for president in 2024, told his supporters as per Yahoo. Merchans daughter in 2020 was the president of Authentic Campaigns a group Kamala Harris employed when she was running for president. While Trump has claimed Merchan was handpicked by the prosecution, Merchan received Trumps case because of a rotation in which judges are assigned to oversee grand juries and any cases that arise from them. Merchan also often handles financial cases. According to NBC, Merchan and his family have received multiple threats since Trumps arrest. Trump claims he is completely innocent and has called the case a political persecution. He pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records on 4 April. Merchan ruled that TV cameras wont be allowed in his courtroom. What do experts say? Stephen Gillers, a legal ethics professor at New York University, told CNN that New York judges are barred from soliciting funds for, paying an assessment to, or making a contribution to a political organization or candidate. The contribution to Biden and possibly the one to Stop Republicans would be forbidden unless there is some other explanation that would allow them, Gillers said. Gillers added it shouldnt be a problem for Merchan given the small sums involved. The donations were unwise as a matter of appearance, Chuck Rosenberg, an NBC News legal analyst and a former federal prosecutor told the website. But appearances matter. So, does Trump have grounds to ask Merchan to recuse himself? Gillers says dont bet it on it. Absolutely not. This does not come anywhere near the kind of proof required for recusal. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Jerusalem: Its become something of a grim, springtime tradition in the Holy Land. Israeli police fire tear gas and rubber bullets at Palestinians stockpiling rocks and fireworks inside one of the most bitterly disputed holy sites on Earth. The violence ripples across Israel and the occupied West Bank, and militants from as far away as Gaza and Lebanon respond with rockets. Similar tensions in 2021 boiled over into an 11-day Gaza war. Violence at the holy site in 2000 ignited a five-year Palestinian uprising and a fierce Israeli military crackdown across the occupied territories. One of the first major outbreaks of Jewish-Arab violence occurred in Jerusalems Old City in the spring of 1920, in what became known as the Nebi Musa riots. What is it about Jerusalem? What is it about the hilltop compound in the heart of the Old City known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as the Temple Mount? Why is the Jerusalem holy site sacred to Muslims and Jews? The Noble Sanctuary, home to the al-Aqsa Mosque and the iconic golden Dome of the Rock, is the third holiest site in Islam. It is also the holiest site for Jews because it was the location of biblical temples. The Romans destroyed the Second Temple in 70 AD, with only the Western Wall remaining. The mosques were built centuries later. Neighbouring Jordan serves as the custodian of the site, which is operated by an Islamic endowment known as the Waqf. The site is open to tourists during certain times but only Muslims are allowed to pray there. Thats according to informal rules established after the 1967 Mideast war in which Israel captured east Jerusalem where the shrine is located, along with the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Israel, Jordan and Muslim religious authorities helped set the rules, known as the status quo. The Western Wall is the holiest site where Jews can pray. Whats behind the violence at the Jerusalem holy site? The Palestinians view the holy site as the last remnant of their homeland that is not under full Israeli control, and they fear that Israel plans to one day take over the site or partition it. Israeli officials say they have no intention of changing the status quo that has prevailed at the site since 1967. But the country is currently governed by the most right-wing government in its history, with religious ultranationalists in senior positions. In recent days, Palestinians have barricaded themselves inside the al-Aqsa Mosque with stones and firecrackers, demanding the right to pray there overnight, something Israel has in the past only allowed during the last 10 days of the Muslim holy month of Ramzan. The Palestinians also say they are seeking to prevent religious Jews from carrying out ritual animal slaughter at the site. Israel bars the ancient practice, but Jewish extremists have called for it to be revived, offering cash rewards to those who try to do so. In recent years, groups of religious and nationalist Jews escorted by police have been visiting the compound in greater numbers and holding prayers in defiance of the longstanding rules. The Palestinians view the frequent visits and attempted prayers by Jews as a provocation, and it often ignites scuffles or more serious violence. This year, Ramzan and the Jewish high holiday of Passover overlap, with large numbers of Jews flocking to the site for visits that police typically facilitate in the early morning after forcibly driving the Palestinians out. Some Israelis say the site should be open to all worshippers. The Palestinians refuse, fearing that it would pave the way for Israel to take full control of it. Why is Jerusalem important to Israelis and Palestinians? Israel views Jerusalem as its unified, eternal capital. East Jerusalem, captured by Israel in 1967, includes the Old City, with major sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims. The Palestinians want East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza for their future state, with East Jerusalem serving as their eventual capital. Israel annexed the eastern part of the city in a move not recognised internationally. The fate of East Jerusalem and its holy sites has been one of the thorniest issues in the peace process, which ground to a halt more than a decade ago. Jews born in East Jerusalem are Israeli citizens, while Palestinians from East Jerusalem are granted a form of permanent residency that can be revoked if they live outside the city for an extended period. They can apply for citizenship, but its a long and uncertain process and most choose not to because they dont recognise Israeli control. Israel has built Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem that are home to some 230,000 people. An estimated 360,000 Palestinians live in East Jerusalem. Israel has also severely limited the growth of Palestinian neighbourhoods, leading to overcrowding and the unauthorised construction of thousands of homes that are at risk of demolition. Also Read: How the Israeli police raid on the Jerusalems al-Aqsa Mosque has alarmed the world Jewish settlers have also sought to evict dozens of Palestinian families from their homes in sensitive neighbourhoods in and around the Old City. A decades-long legal campaign to evict Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood culminated in nightly protests in 2021, contributing to the tensions that ignited that years Gaza war. Those evictions were later put on hold. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the Israeli rights group BTselem have cited the discriminatory policies in East Jerusalem in reports arguing that Israel is guilty of the international crime of apartheid. Israel rejects those allegations, saying Jerusalem residents are treated equally. Why does violence in Jerusalem spread around the region? Many Muslims view the violence at al-Aqsa as an attack on the faith. It provides a powerful rallying cry for political factions and armed groups across the region, who blame not only Israel but the growing roster of Arab Muslim rulers who have made peace with it. The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which rules Gaza, has repeatedly called for a new intifada, or uprising, like the one triggered by an Israeli politicians visit to al-Aqsa in 2000. This week the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group in Gaza and Palestinian militants in Lebanon fired rockets into Israel in solidarity with worshippers. Protests have been held in the occupied West Bank and in Arab communities inside Israel. Jordan and other Arab nations that have friendly ties with Israel have condemned its actions at the holy site. So has the Palestinian Authority, which cooperates with Israel on security matters. The United States and the European Union have also condemned the violence and called for restraint while saying Israel has the right to defend itself. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Accused of being the power behind the 15 July (2016) coup attempt, the United States is invariably seen as a hostile nation by most people in Turkey. The two nations have a history of discord, hostility and animosity, more so in recent years. Although the US is defined as an ally by some parties in Turkey, when we look at recent history, it is clear that Turkey and the US cannot be friends. Over the years, terrorism and security issues have marred the relationship of two NATO allies. Lets look at some of the issues that have impacted the US-Turkey ties. Terrorist organisation The US supports the Kurdistan Workers Party(PKK) logistically and financially. Turkey regards PKK as a terrorist outfit. It also sees Washington supporting terrorist organisations in Syria, one of the countries affected by the Arab Spring. In Syria, which is among the neighboring countries of Turkey, the internal turmoil that started in 2011 gradually became inextricable. Issues threatening Turkeys security emerged in Syria. Terrorist outfits DAESH and YPG/PYD were deployed in Syria, which has literally turned it into a war zone, posing a great threat to Turkey. While Turkey was fighting against these terrorist organisations, the so-called ally of Ankara, the US, followed a pro-YPG/PYD policy. Turkey described the YPG/PYD as the Syrian branch of the terrorist organisation PKK and called on the United States to choose its side many times. But the United States has repeatedly stated that it sees the PYD as an ally. Thousands of trucks of weapons and financial support given by the US to PKK/YPG continued during the Trump administration as well as the Obama presidency. This situation created a serious discomfort in Turkey. The 2016 coup attempt The crisis with the US, which has been shedding blood in the Middle East for years with its bases in Turkey, has increased in recent years. In this context, the US reportedly supported the treacherous coup attempt on 15 July 2016. After the attempt, which the citizens prevented by going to the squares, the anger of the people of Turkey towards the US increased even more. The Minister of Labor and Social Security of the time, Suleyman Soylu, who made a statement on 17 July 2016, also said that Washington was behind the traitors of Fethullahist Terrorist Organisation (FETO). Extradition of FETO members including Gulen One of the main reasons for the crisis between Turkey and the US, after the coup attempt in 2016, was the issue of the extradition of FETO members and its leader, Fethullah Gulen. Turkey made many attempts to extradite Gulen, whom it saw behind the coup attempt. The United States, on the other hand, did not support Turkey on the issue. The negative course of relations between Turkey and the US was not limited to the extradition of Gulen. In this context, an event took place in 2017 that deeply affected the relations between the two countries. Following the arrest of Metin Topuz, who has been working at the US Consulate General in Istanbul since 1982, the US announced that it suspended non-immigrant visa applications from Turkey. After the decision made by the US, Turkey chose to stop the e-visa application applied to US citizens in response. Topuz, who is among the employees of the US Consulate General in Istanbul, was sentenced to 8 years and 9 months in prison in the case where she was tried. After the said decision, it was stated in the statement made by the US that the decision harmed Turkey-US relations.. Security officer crisis A critical incident occurred during President Recep Tayyip Erdogans visit to the United States in 2017. There was a fight between the crowd gathered to make terrorist organisation propaganda in front of the Turkish Embassy Residence in Washington and those who came to greet Erdogan. President Erdogans bodyguards intervened against the provocateurs in front of the embassy residence. The incident turned into a tension between Turkey and the United States. On the other hand, a lawsuit was filed against Erdogans bodyguards who were involved in the incident in the US, and a decision was made to arrest them on sight if they entered the US borders. Andrew Burnson issue One of the high points of the tensions between Turkey and the US in the recent past was the Priest Andrew Brunson crisis. Andrew Brunson, who was ordered to be deported in 2016, was arrested in December of the same year on the grounds that she was linked to FETO and PKK. While Pastor Brunson was accused of espionage, it came to the fore during the President Erdogan-US President Trump meeting held on 16 May 2017. Erdogan, who made a statement in September 2017 in response to Trumps request for Brunson to be released, said: They say, Give us the priest of so-and-so. You also have a pastor. You give it to us, we give it to you, lets do it to you in judgement. While relations between the two countries were strained again due to the effect of the Priest Andrew Brunson crisis, Trump frequently made statements in favor of Brunson. The sentence given to Pastor Brunson by the judiciary was commuted to house arrest in the process. In July 2018, the USA took a de facto step against Turkey and decided to impose sanctions. US sanctions to Turkish ministers Increasing pressure from the United States to release Pastor Andrew Brunson with him. Washingtons pressure continued with the enactment of sanctions against Turkey. In this process, another critical decision came from the US. On 1 August 2018, a sanction decision was also taken against Minister of Justice Abdulhamit Gul and Minister of Interior Suleyman Soylu. It was decided to blacklist the two names in question, to confiscate their assets in the US, to freeze their entry into the country and all their commercial and financial relations with the US. Turkish court frees Andrew Brunson after high-level tensions with US. Brunson was hosted at the White House by US President Donald Trump on his way back to his country after the verdict. The arrest of Iranian-born Turkish citizen Reza Zarrab was also included in the list of recent tensions between Turkey and the United States. Zarrab, who was detained by the US forces in Miami, USA, in March 2016, was arrested on charges of breaking the American embargo against Iran. On the other hand, Halkbank Deputy General Manager Mehmet Hakan Atilla, who was detained in New York in March 2017, was alleged to be Zarrabs accomplice and Atilla was also arrested. Atilla was imprisoned in the US for 28 months due to the aforementioned accusation and eventually came to Turkey after being released on 20 July 2019. The Turkish public thinks that the process is related to political decisions and that Turkey is the main target of the US. S-400 issue From past to present, one of the most fragile points of relations between Turkey and the US has been the recent S-400 crisis. The underlying issue that caused a major crisis between the two countries lies in the fact that the US sees Turkey as a colony. In this context, Turkey wanted to acquire an air defence system in response to a possible security threat in the region. While Turkey has been working in this direction for nearly thirty years, what has happened in the region in recent years has turned Turkeys need to acquire an air defense system into an emergency. While Turkey announced that it had signed a contract with Russia on the S-400 air defence systems in 2017, this situation drew great reaction from NATO countries, especially the US. Turkey excluded from F-35 program The US and NATO explain their reason for opposing Turkeys purchase of the S-400 under the heading of security. While Turkey was targeted by the United States for purchasing the S-400 air defence system from Russia, Turkey was also excluded from the F-35 program. In this context, Turkey also has problems with the US in the production project of F-35 fighter jets. While Turkey has spent 1.2 billion dollars within the scope of the F-35 project so far, it has not been able to purchase even one F-35. Despite the large sums spent for the project, it remains a matter of curiosity how this price will be paid to Turkey, which is out of the project partnership. The situations in Syria The picture that emerged as a result of the civil war that started in Syria in 2011 threatens Turkey in many ways. At the forefront of these issues is the terror corridor to be created in the south of Turkey. Turkey does not want DAESH and YPG/PKK near the Syrian border as they threaten its security. Action was taken in this direction and cross-border operations were started. Turkey carried out the Operations Peace Spring, Olive Branch and Euphrates Shield during the process. The United States, on the other hand, was concerned that YPG/PKK would be harmed during the said operations, and for this reason, it frequently made statements against Turkey. The writer is a correspondent and an author who works in Turkish media. He graduated from Istanbul University, Faculty of Communication. He is interested in foreign policy issues, especially in the Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean, Atlantic and Eurasia. Views expressed are personal. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, visited India for three days. During the visit he held interactions with the Indian leadership on multiple subjects. The king was accompanied by Tandi Dorji, Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, and senior officials of the royal government of Bhutan. The King was received by the Indian External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, on his arrival in Delhi, indicating the importance India attaches to its relations with Bhutan. This visit had been on the cards for some time. The King had last visited India in September 2022. The fact that the visit came close on the heels of the comments made by Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering in Europe, does not imply that the two could be necessarily linked. India remains Bhutans major trading partner and Thimphu has thus far resisted Chinese attempts to establish an embassy there. Lotay Tshering had stated in an interview to Belgian newspaper La Libre, responding to a question on Bhutan-China boundary talks: Doklam is a junction point between India, China and Bhutan. It is not up to Bhutan alone to solve the problem. There are three of us. There is no big or small country, there are three equal countries, each counting for a third. As soon as the other two parties are ready, we can discuss. On his return to Thimphu, Tshering clarified that he had stated nothing new and there was no change in Bhutans position on the subject. Bhutan simultaneously claims that his comments were misinterpreted. However, the statement did appear to send a message that Bhutan has accepted that it has little choice other than to engage with China on boundary issues. Tsherings Europe comments are in contrast to his statement in 2019 wherein he had mentioned no country should do anything near the existing trijunction unilaterally. India and China had a 73-day standoff in Doklam in 2017. India and China had agreed in 2012 that the tri-junction boundary points will be fixed in consultation with Bhutan, hence to some extent, Tshering stated the obvious. However, Beijing broke the agreement when it unilaterally began road construction in Doklam. China has been attempting to shift the tri-junction approximately 7 kilometres south of its current location, Batang La, to a peak termed as Mount Gipmochi. This would make the entire Doklam plateau legally a part of China. The occupation of Doklam could enhance the threat to the Siliguri Corridor, which is a narrow strip, connecting the rest of India to its eastern states. While India has a strong defence line along the region such a move could enhance its vulnerability, which India is unwilling to accept. China had earlier suggested to Bhutan that it would give up its claims in northern Bhutan in case it accepted Chinese claims on Doklam. Thimphu refused. India and Bhutan share a unique and time-tested bilateral relationship, characterised by trust, goodwill and mutual understanding. Apart from being its largest trading partner, India is also the destination for over 4,000 Bhutanese students, many of whom are on Indian government scholarships, and hosts Bhutanese Buddhist tourists. Militarily, an Indian Military Training Team has been located in Bhutan since 1961 to train the Royal Bhutanese Army and is also responsible for its security. Bhutanese officers are trained in Indian military academies. Security cooperation between the two nations has been a regular feature. The Doklam standoff enhanced security concerns. China has been exploiting Indo-Bhutanese proximity by continuously enhancing its claims on Bhutanese territory. It has built villages in Bhutanese territory in Northern Bhutan and as recently as 2020 added Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary in eastern Bhutan in its claims, a fact which was rubbished by the Bhutanese prime minister. Tshering stated that no Chinese villages have been built on Bhutanese soil. By regularly changing its claim lines, China is pressing Bhutan to accept its terms and conditions. China and Bhutan held their eleventh Expert Group Meeting on their boundary issues in Kunming, China, from 10 to 13 January 2023. Border talks had commenced in 1984 and thus far 17 rounds have been held by different groups seeking to resolve the dispute. China and Bhutan share a 477 km border with China claiming 750 sq km of Bhutanese territory. All Chinese attempts at sealing an agreement which suits them had come to naught as Bhutan refuses to ignore Indias concerns. Tsherings comments in Europe were exploited by political parties in India. They questioned the government on whether it had changed its stance on Doklam. The comments also hinted that China and Bhutan may soon resolve their boundary issue bypassing Doklam, which would necessitate Indian participation. In view of the ongoing standoff in Ladakh and freezing of Indo-China ties, talks on Doklam appear nowhere on the horizon. Thimphu is aware that India will never accept any unilateral Bhutanese-China agreement which involves Doklam. It may enhance tensions between India and China but as has been proved time and again, India will stand its ground. At the end of the day, Bhutan will be the loser as its dependence on India is high. It is possibly this belief which has led to India not commenting on Tsherings statement. It is evident that Bhutans perspective on border talks with China and specifically Tsherings comments would have been discussed in the Bhutanese Kings meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The foreign secretary was non-committal when he stated at the conclusion of the talks, on a question on China: Government of India closely follows all developments which have a bearing on our national interest and we would take all necessary measures to safeguard them. Considering Indo-Bhutanese relations it is unlikely that Bhutan would take any step which would be detrimental to Indias security. The author is a former Indian Army officer, strategic analyst and columnist. Views expressed are personal. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. French President Emmanuel Macron is on an official visit to China, alongside with European Union President Ursula von der Leyen. The overt reason is that they are both trying to convince Chinese President Xi Jinping not to side with Russia in the Ukrainian conflict. Yet we know very well that Xi will not bend, keeping in mind that Chinas natural ally is Russia and not the European Union. What is then the real purpose for Macrons high-profile visit to China? The French President brings with him a very high-level business delegation hoping to sell to the Chinese the Airbuses, nuclear plants, and all kinds of French technology. Yes, it is a purely an economical trip, couched in diplomatic sugar-coating! Yet, it is notice worthy: The French President was supposed to visit India in January, but his visit neither materialised, nor was any date announced. However, Macron may have invited Narendra Modi to attend the French National Day celebrations on 14 July. I have been defending India as a privileged economic investment destination, for France and the West for 30 years. I argued, again and again, that contrary to China, India is a Western-loving democracy, with a sound juridical system in place, where foreign investments are much safer than in China in the long run. Also, since a few months, in the wake of China zero-Covid policy, and the negative economic consequences of the Russia-Ukraine war in Europe, it has been put across again and again that India has been doing better economically than the rest of the world, including China, and that many Western companies are in the process of relocating away from China to India. However, it has to be noted that visa rules are increasingly tightened, banking in India for foreigners is more and more difficult, Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) guidelines are more and more stringent, and even Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs), which were supposed to be inviolable, are under scrutiny. Therefore, business becomes tough in India, and this may be one of the reasons why Macron preferred to go to China first. The Central government admitted in the Lok Sabha in December 2022 that as many as 2,783 foreign companies and their subsidiaries ceased operations in India between 2014 and November 2021. Some of these are well-known companies such as Harley Davidson and Ford, Cairn Energy, Holcim, Daiichi Sankyo, Carrefour, Henkel, etc. India should look into the issue and try to remove any niggling issues troubling foreign companies. Macrons visit, however, has come as a relief for largely isolated China and Xi Jinping. Beijing was feeling a pinch after its dubious role in Covid-19. To add to it is Chinas not-so good economic outlook and aggressive posturings along the borders with its neighbours. Xis China has also sharpened its stand on Taiwan, which has brought the nation face to face with Joe Bidens United States. This may explain why China has given the French President an unusually lavish welcome on a state visit. Its definitely a sign of Beijings growing offensive to woo key allies within the European Union to counter the Americans. Interestingly, Leyen, who called China repressive just before her trip to Beijing, has not received the same reception. She was received with a low-key greeting at the airport and was not being invited to some state functions with Xi and Macron. The author is a French journalist and author of A History of India as It Happened (Garudabooks.com). His upcoming book Aurangzebs Iconoclasm: Illustrations from Primary Source will be released by UP CM Yogi Adityanath in June. He is also building a museum of true Indian history in Pune. Views expressed are personal. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Dhaka: Eight people were killed and several more injured after violent clashes occurred between two ethnic minority groups in the mountainous regions of Bandarban district in Bangladesh. The clashes led to a large number of local people fleeing the area, police said on Friday. The incident took place on Thursday night in Rowangchhari upazila in Bangladeshs south-eastern Bandarban District, which is touted as a hotbed of insurgency. There was exchange of fire in a remote corner of Roangchhari upazila (sub-district) of Bandarban late on Thursday. We have recovered eight bodies from the scene, police officer Abdul Mannan said. Mannan said the bodies were brought to the upazila headquarters on Friday for autopsy and other legal formalities. Nearly 200 people escaped from their homes following the clashes, anticipating violence among feuding groups, and took refuge at an army camp at Roangchhari, according to the local people. The police have not been able to ascertain the reason for the clashes. But they suspect the incident involved members of the newly-formed outfit called Kuki Chin Front (KNF), which is the break-away faction of the United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF). The UPDF is a regional political party based in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. Chakmas form the majority ethnic group in the party. Formed in 1998, the group claims to seek fully autonomous Hill Tracts through peaceful and democratic means. Security officials said the KNF emerged as an armed group dominated mostly by the Bom ethnic community and reportedly formed an alliance with an Islamist militant group in the hills. The KNF claims to be representing six of the 16 ethnic minority groups of Chittagong Hill Tracts. They are demanding a separate state be formed with several sub-districts of two of the three hill districts. The KNFs terrorist activities forced residents there to leave their abode and come to our (army) camp for temporary refuge. We have sheltered them and arranged their food with the help of civil administration, Captain Fahim, an official of Bangladesh Armys Bandarban Zone told the media. Bangladeshs security agencies said a manhunt was underway to track down and arrest Nathan Bome, the KNF chief. Authorities will maintain heightened security in the affected areas. In the event of further violence, they may enact movement-restrictive measures, such as imposing a curfew in the region, officials added. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Taipei: Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, who is ostensibly on an unofficial visit to the US, will come home to live-fire from the Chinese military as the latter are scheduled to start from April 7 near the delta of the Pearl River in the Guangdong province. According to a report by Taiwan News, the drills come in the wake of Tsais meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California on Wednesday. According to the report, owing to the live-fire drills, ships were instructed to stay out of a marked area near the delta between Hong Kong and Macau on Friday from 11 am to 3 pm. Earlier, tensions in the Taiwan Strait reached a head when on April 5, China and the US deployed their aircraft carriers in the area in the wake of the Tsai-McCarthy meeting. After the meeting, the Chinese foreign ministry had issued an unveiled threat. In response to the seriously erroneous acts of collusion between the United States and Taiwan, China will take resolute and effective measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the foreign ministry said. Moreover, as a reaction to the meeting, Chinas Fujian maritime safety administration has begun a three-day special joint patrol and inspection operation in the centre and northern areas of the Taiwan Strait that involves attempts to board ships, according to Reuters. The operation included on-site inspections of direct cargo ships and construction vessels on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, according to the maritime safety authority in the province in southeast China, on Wednesday. According to reports, Chinas aircraft carrier Shandong was spotted 200 nautical miles East of Taiwan, while the American aircraft carrier USS Nimitz remained at nearly 400 nautical miles off. Meanwhile, McCarthy, who is second in line to the US presidency, said a shared belief in freedom and democracy underpinned a relationship that was a matter of profound importance to the free world. He vowed US arms sales to Taiwan which infuriated the Chinese leadership would continue, in what he said was a proven strategy to dissuade aggression. And what we know through history, the best way to do that is supply the weapons that allow people to deter war, he told reporters at the library, north of Los Angeles. It is a critical lesson that we learned through Ukraine, that the idea of just sanctions in the future is not going to stop somebody who wants to wage war. Despite having all the trappings of a fully functioning state, only a handful of countries acknowledge Taiwan as a sovereign nation. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Tokyo: Debris from a crashed Japanese army helicopter has been found after a UH60 troop transport, commonly known as the Black Hawk, with 10 people on board disappeared from radar and presumably crashed in the sea. An unused lifeboat, a door and other fragments were found among the debris. Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada, in an emotional statement, told reporters that none of the crew members have been found yet as the search continued till Friday. We will do our utmost for the rescue of the 10 people who are still missing while continuing to gather information related to the extent of damage, he said. The aircraft disappeared from radar on Thursday near Miyakojima, part of its southwest Okinawa island chain, according to an army spokesperson and media reports. The aircraft went missing around 4:30 pm (0730 GMT), with the Ground Self-Defense Forces scrambling to assess the situation and gather information, An official familiar with the matter said that the aircraft went missing around 4:30 pm (0730 GMT), with the Ground Self-Defense Forces scrambling to assess the situation and gather information. The UH60 troop transport disappeared from radar tracking after leaving a Ground Self Defense Force base on Miyakojima and did not respond to radio communications, according to public broadcaster NHK. The governments priority is to rescue those on board, Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said in comments aired by NHK. Japanese Coast Guard ships are searching for the missing helicopter, which according to NHK was carrying 10 people. Some local media reported that a senior Ground Self-Defence Force commander was among them. With inputs from agencies. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Moscow: The Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday claimed that instead of Russia being a threat for its neighbours in the region after its unilateral invasion of Ukraine, it was the other way round and NATO and its allies were gradually inching towards Russian borders with Finland joining the influential US-led grouping earlier this week. The ministry said NATO is trying to make the world a more dangerous place to live in and in the process it is resisting the emergence of alternative centres of power and increasingly asserting its global role. Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said, The time is finally ripe for the alliance to retire, adding that the NATOs ambition to spread its influence beyond the Euro-Atlantic area was turning out to be a dangerous thing. Zakharovas comments came soon after the meeting of the NATO foreign ministers held a day earlier to mark the alliances 74th anniversary. We hear the alliances Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg speculate ever more often about a global role of the alliance. Everything is being done to make the world even more dangerous, to prevent the existence of alternative centres of power capable of undermining the hegemony of the West, she said. In general, one can state with certainty that security and NATO are incompatible. There is only one conclusion that readily offers itself at 74 years of age it is time for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation to retire, Zakharova said in a statement that the Russian Foreign Ministry released on Thursday. She further added that Russia believes that NATO is trying to usurp the entire system of European security through Finlands recent accession. Giving up its neutrality, Finland on Wednesday became the influential blocs 31st member. Sweden too is waiting in the pipeline to join the bloc soon. Finland has become another victim of the North Atlantic Alliance. The Finnish government decided to give up its longstanding neutrality in exchange for turning the country into a frontline zone, a bridgehead for deterring Russia in the Northwest. As we can see, NATO does not intend to stop there, Zakharova said. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Jerusalem: Palestinian terrorists carried out two strikes on Friday, killing three people and injuring at least seven others as tensions rose at Jerusalems most sensitive holy site following days of warfare. Earlier in the day, Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes on Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, raising concerns of a wider clash. According to Israeli officials, at least one person was murdered and six others were injured when a vehicle slammed into four pedestrians in Tel Aviv, Israels commercial centre. In a separate incident, two Israeli women were killed by gunfire near a settlement in the occupied West Bank. After a car-ramming incident in Tel Aviv that killed one person and wounded five, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the mobilisation of police and army reserves on Friday. The Prime Minister has instructed the Israel Police to mobilise all reserve border police units and has directed the IDF to mobilise additional forces to confront the terror attacks, a statement from the premiers office said. Israel had unleashed rare airstrikes on Lebanon and bombarded the Gaza Strip on Friday morning, but later in the day, there were signs that both sides were trying to keep the hostilities in check. Fighting on Israels northern and southern borders subsided after dawn, and midday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem passed peacefully. The early morning Israeli strikes followed an unusually large rocket barrage fired at Israel from southern Lebanon some of the heaviest and most serious cross-border violence since Israels 2006 war with Lebanons Hezbollah militants. The violence erupted after Israeli police raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem earlier in the week, sparking unrest in the contested capital and outrage across the Arab world. In the Tel Aviv car attack Friday, the driver rammed into a group of people near a popular seaside park, police said. Israels rescue service said a 30-year-old Italian man was killed, while four other people were receiving medical treatment for mild to moderate injuries. Police said they shot the driver of the car. The drivers condition was uncertain, but social media videos show a body on the ground beside an overturned car while gunshots ring out. The West Bank shooting killed two sisters in their 20s and seriously wounded their 45-year-old mother near an Israeli settlement in the Jordan Valley, Israeli officials said. The women killed were British citizens, the Foreign Office said. The family lived in the Efrat settlement, near the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, said Oded Revivi, the settlements mayor. Medics said they dragged the unconscious women from their smashed car, which appeared to have been pushed off the road. No groups claimed responsibility for either attack. The Hamas militant group that rules Gaza praised the attack in Tel Aviv as a response to Israels crimes against Al-Aqsa Mosque and worshippers. And Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem called the West Bank attack retaliation for the crimes committed by Israel in the West Bank and the Al-Aqsa mosque. The Israeli airstrikes seemed designed to avoid drawing in Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shiite group that Israel considers its most immediate threat. Israels military said its warplanes struck infrastructure belonging to Hamas militants that it accused of firing the nearly three dozen rockets that slammed into open areas and towns in northern Israel on Thursday. There were no reports of serious casualties from the airstrikes, but several people in the southern Lebanese town of Qalili, including Syrian refugees, said they were lightly wounded. I immediately gathered my wife and children and got them out of the house, said Qalili resident Bilal Suleiman, who was jolted awake by the bombing. A flock of sheep was killed when the Israeli missiles struck a field near the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh, according to an Associated Press photographer. Other airstrikes hit a bridge and a power transformer in nearby Maaliya and damaged an irrigation system. In the Gaza Strip, Israels military pounded what it said were weapons production sites and underground tunnels belonging to Hamas, which rules the Palestinian enclave. A childrens hospital in Gaza City was among sites sustaining damage, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. After the retaliatory strikes, Israelis living along the southern border returned home from bomb shelters. Most missiles that managed to cross into Israeli territory hit open areas, but one landed in the town of Sderot, sending shrapnel slicing into a house. There were no reports of casualties on either side of the southern border. The Israeli military said everyone wanted to avoid a full-blown conflict. Quiet will be answered with quiet, said spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht. A Qatari official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the emirate was meditating. Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant toured the site late Friday and vowed to catch the attacker. Its just a matter of time, and not much time, until we settle the score, Netanyahu said. He said his Security Cabinet had passed a series of measures overnight. We acted in Lebanon, we acted in Gaza, we beefed up forces in the field, he said. Jerusalems holy site of Al-Aqsa sits on a hilltop sacred to both Muslims and Jews. In 2021, an escalation triggered by clashes there spilled over into an 11-day war between Israel and Gazas Hamas rulers. On Friday, over 130,000 worshippers poured into the compound for midday prayers, which ended without incident. Before dawn prayers, chaos had erupted at an entrance to the esplanade as Israeli police wielding batons descended on crowds of Palestinian worshippers who chanted slogans praising Hamas as they tried to squeeze into the site. An hour later, according to videos, people leaving the prayers staged a large protest on the limestone courtyard, raising their fists and shouting against Israel. Israeli police forced their way into the compound, inflaming tensions during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Police said security forces entered the holy compound after prayers in response to masked suspects who threw rocks toward officers at one of the gates. Israeli authorities control access to the area but the compound is administered by Islamic and Jordanian officials. The unrest comes at a delicate time for Jerusalems Old City, which was teeming with pilgrims from around the world. The Christian faithful retraced the route Jesus is said to have taken for Good Friday, Jews celebrated the weeklong Passover holiday, and Muslims prayed and fasted for Ramadan. The current round of violence began Wednesday after Israeli police twice raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque in one case fiercely beating Palestinians, who responded by hurling rocks and firecrackers. That led Thursday to rocket fire from Gaza and, in an unusual escalation, the barrage from southern Lebanon and the Israeli retaliation. Lebanons Foreign Ministry said it had instructed its mission to the United Nations to submit a complaint to the U.N. Security Council against the deliberate Israeli bombing and aggression, which it condemned as a flagrant violation of Lebanons sovereignty. Israel, meanwhile, appealed to the international community to condemn the rocket fire from Lebanon and Gaza and what it said was incitement to violence by Hamas. It urged U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to issue a Security Council condemnation of Lebanon and Hamas. The Israeli foreign minister, Eli Cohen, spoke by phone with his counterparts from Turkey and Bahrain both countries that only recently improved ties with Israel about how to calm tensions. Even as a fragile calm took hold along the Lebanese and Gaza borders, the West Bank remained volatile. Violence has surged to new heights there in recent months, with Palestinian health officials reporting the start of 2023 to be the most deadly for Palestinians in two decades. Nearly 90 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank since the start of the year, according to an Associated Press tally. During that time, 16 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks on Israelis all but one of them civilians. Israel says most of the Palestinian victims have been militants. But stone-throwing youths protesting police incursions and people not involved in the confrontations have also been killed. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Islamabad: In a significant development, the Pakistan Army claimed on Friday that it has arrested the founder of the Baloch National Army (BNA) in the restive Balochistan province following a successful intelligence operation. The arrested insurgent has been identified as Gulzar Imam alias Shambay. According to a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) the media wing of the Pakistan military the Baloch National Army (BNA) founder was nabbed in Balochistan after a carefully planned operation. Gulzar Imam alias Shambay was apprehended after an innovatively conceived, carefully planned and meticulously executed operation, spanned over months over various geographical locations, the ISPR statement said. The ISPR statement, however, did not mention the exact location where Gulzar Imam was arrested. The Pakistan Army claimed that Gulzar Imam was a hardcore militant based in Balochistan, as well as the founder and leader of the banned Baloch National Army (BNA), which was formed after the merger of the Baloch Republican Army (BRA) and the United Baloch Army (UBA). The arrest of Gulzar Imam is a serious blow to the BNA as well as other militant groups, which have been attempting to destabilise the hard-earned peace in Balochistan, the ISPR statement added. The ISPR described the detainee as a high-value target with suspected links to hostile intelligence agencies operating against Pakistan. The report of the arrest surfaced on a day when Pakistans National Security Committee (NSC) chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was taking place. Over the past few months, the law and order situation in the country has worsened, with terrorist groups executing attacks with near impunity across the country. Since the talks with the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) broke down in November, the dreaded militant group intensified its attacks, particularly targeting the police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and areas bordering Afghanistan. Insurgents in Balochistan have also stepped up their violent activities and formalised a nexus with the TTP. According to the ISPR statement, the BNA had perpetrated numerous violent terrorist attacks in the country, including targeting the installations of law enforcement agencies in Panjgur and Noshki. Imam also remained as deputy to Brahamdagh Bugti in the BRA till 2018. His visits to Afghanistan and India are also on the record, while his linkages with hostile intelligence agencies are being investigated, it claimed. Resource-rich Balochistan province, bordering Iran and Afghanistan, is home to a long-running violent insurgency. Baloch insurgent groups have previously carried out several daring attacks targeting the USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects. (With agency inputs) Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. New Delhi: In a major boost for the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative of the Indian government, Rolls-Royce has confirmed an export license from the UK government for combat engine technology transfer to India. A report by Indian Defence Research Wing (IDRW) quoted officials from Rolls-Royce as saying that the combat engine technology transfer to India will be for the purpose of combat engine development with a unique co-creation model. The Intellectual Property (IP) for this technology will be developed and owned in India for the AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) programme. General Electric wants export licence for India General Electric (GE), which is based in the US, has also requested the US government for an export licence that will fund the joint development of a combat engine for Indias AMCA programme. General Electric (GE) has also gained backing for these programmes from several members of the US Congress. But the request is currently awaiting approval. Rolls-Royce has claimed that even if India receives orders for the AMCA programme from other nations, General Electric (GE) will never permit India to retain Intellectual Property (IP) for the engine that it is offering to co-develop for India and will require GE and US administration clearance for export of this engine to other countries. General Electric (GE) proposes to establish an engine subsidiary in India with a supply chain composed of companies from the private sector. Technically, it is possible to produce everything totally domestically, but its local engine subsidiary will continue to have the ToT and other Intellectual Property (IP) rights. Implications for Indias security scenario The AMCA programme is intended to enable India to develop a fighter aircraft capable of taking on the PLA Air Force (PLAAF) of China. It is expected to counter the JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft of China, which is also used by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). The AMCA programme is expected to be a crucial step for India in the quest to develop a fifth generation fighter aircraft. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is suffering from a worrying shortfall in the number of fighter squadrons and an indegenously developed fighter aircraft is expected to fill this gap. Earlier this year, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) had announced the metal cutting for the first prototype of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Rio De Janeiro: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday criticized the United States and the European Union for their reluctance to do something concrete to restore peace solution to the Ukrainian crisis. We believe that developed nations, particularly the European Union and the United States, should not have rushed to join the conflict so quickly, without taking due time for negotiations. It is very hard to conduct peace negotiations, he said while talking to the media on Friday. Lula da Silva also stressed that his country supports the territorial integrity of all countries and does not support Russias special military operation in Ukraine. The Brazilian President also said that it takes courage to begin peace talks. Help from someone on the outside is needed. Im sure that both Ukraine and Russia are waiting for an invitation for negotiations from someone on the outside, the Brazilian president was quoted by TASS as saying. The President had last month said that Russia was a guarantor of lasting peace in the world. He also said he was ready to act as a mediator in direct talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Vladimir Zelensky. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Ottawa: Canadas Defence Minister Anita Anand has announced the deployment of a military aircraft to Japan in a bid to back the implementation of sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea. The Canadian government said that the CP-140 Aurora, for six weeks, will monitor suspected maritime sanctions evasion activities with special emphasis on transfers of fuel and other commodities banned by the UNSC. Since 2006, North Korea has been under UNSC sanctions over its ballistic missile and nuclear programmes. Last month, the country carried out a new nuclear-capable underwater attack drone while its leader Kim Jong Un condemned joint military drills by US and South Korea. Joining Kims rhetoric, Russia and China have long blamed US and South Korea for conducting joint military drills and provoking Pyongyang. On the other hand, Washington has accused Beijing and Moscow of emboldening North Korea by shielding it from more sanctions. For the past several years, the Security Council has been divided over how to deal with Pyongyang. Russia and China, veto powers along with the United States, Britain and France, have said more sanctions will not help and want such measures to be eased. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Taipei: Taiwans de facto ambassador to the US, Hsiao Bi-khim, has been hit with further sanctions by China which will prohibit her and family members from entering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau. The sanctions have been announced by Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office and will restrict investors and firms related Hsiao from cooperating with Chinese organisations and individuals. The sanctions have been announced following Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wens meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Wow, the PRC (Peoples Republic of China) just sanctioned me again, for the second time, Hsiao tweeted in response to the announcement. China also imposed similar sanctions on The Prospect Foundation, which is headed by a former Taiwanese foreign minister, and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats, a multinational alliance Taiwans ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) co-founded in 1993. The institutions were also blamed for promoting the idea of Taiwan independence internationally. Last August, after former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, China imposed sanctions including an entry ban on seven Taiwanese officials and lawmakers including Hsiao whom it accused of being independence diehards, drawing condemnation from the democratically governed island. China considers Taiwan a part of its own territory and not a separate country, a claim that has been disputed by Taiwan. Others on the August sanctions list also include Taiwan foreign minister Joseph Wu and Secretary-General of Taiwans National Security Council Wellington Koo, and DPP politicians. Chinese sanctions will have a little practical impact as senior Taiwanese officials do not visit China while Chinese courts do not have jurisdiction in Taiwan. DPP lawmaker Chao Tien-lin told reporters the sanctions on Hsiao were absurd. This will have no impact on her, he told reporters at parliament. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. China on Friday announced sanctions on leading American organisations like the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library over US House Speaker Kevin McCarthys meeting with Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen. Beijing claims sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan and opposed any diplomatic ties or visits involving the island. Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy held talks Wednesday with President Tsai Ing-wen at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California, in defiance of Chinese warnings. McCarthy joined a growing series of foreign legislators who met Tsai in a show of support for Taiwan in the face of Chinese intimidation. US-China relations worsen US-China relations have sunk to their lowest level in decades due to disputes over the status of Taiwan, which split with China in 1949 after a civil war, as well as security, technology, and Beijings treatment of Hong Kong and Muslim ethnic minorities. The mainlands ruling Communist Party says Taiwan is destined to reunite with China, by force if necessary, and has no right to conduct foreign relations. President Xi Jinpings government says contact with foreign officials will encourage Taiwanese who want formal independence, a step Beijing says would lead to war. Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the Reagan Library and the Hudson Institute, a Washington think tank, were sanctioned for providing a platform and convenience to Taiwan separatist activities. It said Chinese institutions were prohibited from having any cooperation or contact with them. An email seeking comment from the library wasnt immediately answered Thursday night. Hudson Institute President John P. Walters said in a statement that Chinas Communist Party has a long history of attempting to silence voices, domestically and abroad, that oppose its international aggression and its oppression of the Chinese people. It has not worked before and it will not work now. We stand firmly with Taiwan and against the CCP and its ruthless, genocidal policies. Tsai accepted a leadership award from the Hudson Institute as part of her U.S. trip and gave a speech about Taiwans challenges in regional security. The ministry also cited Walters; Sarah May Stern, chair of the Hudson Institute board of directors; John Heubusch, former executive director of the Reagan Foundation, and Joanne M. Drake, the foundations chief administrator. The ministry said they were barred from visiting China and any property or financial assets belonging to them in China would be frozen. We will take resolute measures to punish the Taiwan independence separatist forces and their actions, and resolutely safeguard our countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Chinese Cabinets Taiwan Affairs Office said in a statement Thursday. China has stepped up efforts to intimidate Taiwan by flying fighter jets and firing missiles into the sea nearby on a near-daily basis. The pressure campaign has left many concerned about the possibility of an invasion. Tsai remained firm in her stance of increasing Taiwans global engagement upon her return to Taiwan on Friday night. We have shown the international community that when we face pressure and threats, Taiwan will be more united, she said. We will never give in because we are suppressed, nor will we stop communicating with the world because we are hindered. On Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that in recent years, we have seen: For the Chinese leadership, the status quo that brought peace and stability to the Taiwan Strait for decades is no longer acceptable. This has led China to increase pressure and coercive means against Taiwan. The United States government has no official relations with Taiwan but maintains extensive informal and commercial ties. Washington is required by federal law to ensure the island has the means to defend itself if attacked by China. We are sticking to our One China policy. But we are equipping Taiwan with what it needs to defend itself against any form of aggression. We are taking that very seriously, Blinken told German newspaper group Funke Mediengruppe and French newspaper Ouest-France in remarks published Friday that have been retranslated back to English. McCarthys predecessor as speaker, Nancy Pelosi, flew to Taiwan in August and met Tsai. Legislators from European parliaments have also visited the island. Meanwhile, another congressional delegation landed Thursday in Taiwan and is to meet with Tsai on Saturday. Additionally, two groups in Asia the Prospect Foundation and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats were sanctioned for their involvement in promoting Taiwan independence under the guise of academic and research exchanges, said Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian. The Prospect Foundation is a government-funded Taiwanese think tank that works on dialogue and cooperation on issues related to Taiwans security, economy and social development. The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats is a regional organization established in Thailand that promotes exchanges among liberal and democratic political parties in Asia, including Taiwans Democratic Progressive Party, which is a member. Separately, the Taiwan Affairs Office also announced further sanctions on Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwans representative in the United States. The ban on Hsiao does not appear to be substantively different from the ban enacted on her when Pelosi visited Taiwan. China had announced sanctions on a list of individuals from the DPP and ruling administration, including Hsiao. Then it banned the individuals, their family members and related organsations from traveling or operating in China, including Hong Kong. Fridays announcement said any financial sponsors of Hsiao are also included. With inputs from AP Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. New Delhi: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that China is seeking to look like an advocate of peace and at the same time it extends support to Russia in Ukraine by various means. Regarding Chinas plan for Ukrainian reconciliation and Russian-Chinese relations, Blinken said I think China is also trying to have it both ways. It wants to be seen as trying to advance peace and at the same time it continues to support Russia in different ways rhetorically, making its case in international institutions and even considering providing Russia with lethal assistance. Peace ideas that Chinas put on the table, some of them are positive, Blinken said in the interviews transcript, published by the Department of State on Thursday. In an interview with Euronews, he said that China should focus on convincing Russia to actually respect Ukraines sovereignty and return to Ukraine the territories that voted to join Russia during referendums. Speaking about Chinas relations with Europe and the United States, he was quoted by a Russian news agency as saying This is not about decoupling but about de-risking. It is, for example, in the case of the economic relationship yes, sustaining that, because its important to all of us, but making sure that in critical sectors, where our security could be at risk, strategic industries, other places of concern, that people be and countries be very, very careful about that. We all have complicated and very consequential relations and relationships with China, he said. The Chinese Foreign Ministry in February this year published a 12-point document clarifying Beijings position on finding a political solution to the Ukrainian issue. It called for a ceasefire and stressed that dialogue and negotiations were the only viable solution to the Ukraine crisis and called on all sides to support Moscow and Kyiv in working in the same direction and in resuming direct dialogue as soon as possible. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Geneva: World Health Organizations Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Thursday urged China to share information about the origins of Covid-19, stressing that all conjectures would lead nowhere unless the Asian country was transparent. The global health watchdog asked China to reveal all the information that it had on the virus, more than three years after the infection first emerged at a seafood market in the Chinese province of Wuhan. Without full access to the information that China has, you cannot say this or that, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in response to a question about the origin of the virus. All hypotheses are on the table. Thats WHOs position and thats why we have been asking China to be cooperative on this. Covid-19 was first identified in the Chinas Wuhan in December 2019, with many suspecting it spread in a live animal market before spreading around the world and killing nearly 7 million people. Scientific data from the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic was briefly uploaded by Chinese scientists to an international database in March. Among other important aspects, it included genetic sequences found in more than 1,000 environmental and animal samples taken in January 2020 at the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan, the location of the first known Covid-19 outbreak. The data revealed that DNA from multiple animal species including raccoon dogs was present in environmental samples that tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, suggesting that they were the most likely conduits of the disease, according to a team of international researchers. However, in a non-peer reviewed study published by the Nature journal this week, scientists with Chinas Centre for Disease Control and Prevention have disputed the international teams findings. They said the samples provided no proof the animals were actually infected. They were also taken a month after human-to-human transmission first occurred at the market, so even if they were Covid-positive, the animals could have caught the virus from humans. The WHO has also asked the United States for original data that underpinned a recent study by the US Energy Department that suggested a laboratory leak in China had likely caused the Covid-19 pandemic, she added. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. New Delhi: French President Emmanuel Macron was given a full red-carpet welcome in China despite his tough stand against Beijing over its support to Russia in the Ukraine war. This unusually lavish hospitality is being seen as a sign of Beijings attempt to wean away allies from the United States. When the French presidents plane touched down, Chinas foreign minister personally welcomed him. He was greeted by military parades and firing cannons on Tiananmen Square. Interestingly, When European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived, she got the ecology minister who went to receive her The distinction illustrates the difficulties Europe is having in dealing with Beijing for a long time. All the 27 members of the European Union have differences of opinion over dealing with China. The pragmatic shift in the diplomatic scenario has also forced China to think differently while dealing with US allies. Considering the case of Macron and Ursula von der Leyen, Beijing sees an opportunity to make headway with the French leader, rendering the EU executive to a somewhat subordinate position. Macron and Xi visited southern China together on Friday, where the former was due to drinking Chinese tea with the latter in a former residence of his father in the city of Guangzhou, the capital of the economic and manufacturing powerhouse of Guangdong province. Noah Barkin, an analyst with the Rhodium Group, said Chinas chief objective was to prevent Europe from aligning more closely with the United States. In this sense, Macron is perhaps Beijings most important partner in Europe, he said. Macron is often considered by diplomats to be an important driver of key policies within the EU. Macron travelled to China with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, both pressuring China on Ukraine, but failing to wrest any public shifts in position from Xi. Still, Macron was given the full red-carpet treatment. Von der Leyen, who described China as repressive in a critical speech before her trip, cut a sometimes-forlorn figure in Beijing, with a low-key greeting at the airport and not being invited to some state functions with Xi and Macron. Chinas state-backed Global Times newspaper said in an editorial on Thursday: It is clear to everyone that being a strategic vassal of Washington is a dead end. Making the China-France relationship a bridge for China-Europe cooperation is beneficial to both sides and to the world. Jean-Pierre Raffarin, a former French prime minister who has travelled extensively to China, told Reuters on the sidelines of a deal-signing ceremony in the Great Hall of the People that some of Xis charm was having an effect. Isnt diplomacy, at one point or another, a bit of flattery? he said. Theres always a bit of that in human relations. Each side plays with that. In Washington, Chinas diplomatic engagement with France is being viewed with a degree of scepticism. Beyond Ukraine, China would relish a realignment that draws it closer to Europe economically as relations with the United States fray, but such a shift is unlikely at this point, said people familiar with the U.S. governments thinking. Washington is taking a wait-and-see approach to the European engagements with Beijing over Ukraine, according to the people, who declined to be named. On Thursday, Macron urged Beijing to talk sense to Russia over the war in Ukraine while von der Leyen said Xi expressed willingness to speak to Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Xi did not mention a possible conversation with Zelenskiy in Chinas official reports of his comments after the meetings. Barkin, the analyst, said Macron did not appear to be getting much out of the trip. Macron seemed to believe he could charm Xi into shifting his approach on the war, he said. He gave Xi a series of gifts denouncing decoupling as a trap, bringing a huge business delegation along, and reaffirming his support for strategic autonomy without getting much of anything in return. Chinas wooing of Macron is part of a flurry of diplomatic moves this year as it attempts to wriggle out of containment by the United States amid differences over Taiwan, the Ukraine war and U.S.-led restrictions on technology exports. China upped its diplomatic spending by 12.2 per cent this year, and leaders and senior officials from Singapore, Malaysia, Spain and Japan have visited over the past few weeks. China helped broker a surprise detente between Saudi Arabia and Iran in March, with Beijing casting itself as a Middle East peacemaker motivated by its desire to shape a multi-polar world. China-EU engagement will continue in the coming weeks with foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and Germanys foreign minister due in Beijing. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Ramesh Sunny Balwani, a former Theranos executive, will be sent to jail later this month after an appeals court denied his request to remain free while he appeals his conviction for carrying out a blood-testing scam with his former employer and lover, Elizabeth Holmes. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision late Thursday to deny Balwanis appeal to postpone the start of his almost 13-year jail term leaves the question of when he must surrender to authorities unanswered. In a request filed with US District Judge Edward Davila, who presided over Balwanis trial last year and issued his sentence in December, one of Balwanis lawyers, Jeffrey Coopersmith, recommended that Balwani, 57, go to jail on 20 April. Balwanis proposed 20 April reporting date is a week before Holmes, Theranos founder and CEO, is scheduled to begin a more than 11-year prison sentence after being convicted on four counts of fraud and conspiracy last year. Holmes, 39, appeared before Davila last month along with her lawyers in an effort to persuade the judge to allow her to remain free while she pursues her own appeal. Davila hasnt ruled on Holmes request yet. Davila last month rejected Balwanis request to remain free while he appeals his conviction on 12 counts of fraud and conspiracy and ordered him to report to prison on 16 March. Balwani then avoided having to report on that date by appealing Davilas ruling against him. But three judges on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals concluded Balwani hadnt provided enough compelling evidence to convince them that his conviction is likely to be overturned. The ruling means Balwani will soon be travelling to Southern California to serve his time in a facility near a harbour in San Pedro, California, located about 30 miles (50 kilometres) from downtown Los Angeles. The Terminal Island prison has incarcerated several other prominent figures, including gangster Al Capone in the 1930s, apocalyptic cult leader Charles Manson for auto theft in the 1950s, and LSD evangelist Timothy Leary in the 1970s. Although they had separate trials, Holmes and Balwani were accused of essentially the same crimes centred on a ruse touting Theranos blood-testing system as a revolutionary breakthrough in health care. The claims helped the company become a Silicon Valley sensation that raised nearly $1 billion from investors. But its technology never came close to working like Holmes and Balwani boasted, resulting in Theranos scandalous collapse and a criminal case that shined a bright light on Silicon Valley greed and hubris. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. San Salvador: On Thursday, a regional human rights group urged El Salvadors government to lift a year-long suspension of constitutional rights imposed as part of a massive anti-gang campaign undertaken last year and credited with substantially decreasing violent crime. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), a branch of the Washington-based Organization of American States, issued a statement urging President Nayib Bukele and his congressional supporters to restore rights suspended under the so-called state of exception. The emergency powers enable police to arrest and imprison suspected gang members quickly while suspending their right to counsel and judicial permission for preliminary detention. The policy, repeatedly extended by lawmakers allied to Bukele, also allows for warrantless access to suspects communications as well as extended pre-trial detention. IACHR calls on the government of El Salvador to restore the full validity of the rights and guarantees suspended during the last 12 months within the framework of the emergency regime, the body said in a statement. The presidents office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Since last year, Bukeles crime-fighting initiative has led to the jailing of more than 66,000 suspected gang members, part of an unprecedented assault on the violent Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18 gangs, among others, that for decades have terrorized the Central American nation of around 6 million. The state of exception followed the murders, blamed on gangs, of nearly 90 people over a single weekend in March 2022. The broadly popular security policy of Bukele, who has said he will run for reelection next year, has coincided with a dramatic reduction in murders and extortion rackets, according to official data. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The Israel Defence Forces on Friday that it shot down a drone that entered its airspace from Lebanon a day after a barrage of rockets was fired into Israel. Fridays incident came hours after Israel bombarded Lebanon following the rocket fire from the country that the IDF blamed on Palestinian militants. An army statement said, soldiers identified and downed a drone crossing from Lebanese territory into Israeli territory towards the town of Zarit. It added that the military would continue to prevent any attempt to violate Israeli sovereignty. Biggest escalation since 2006 The Israeli militarys pre-dawn strike into southern Lebanon was in response to more than 30 rockets fired from Lebanon on Thursday. It was the biggest escalation between the two countries technically still at war since Israel fought a 34-day conflict with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in 2006. Israels military also targeted the infrastructure of the ruling Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The violence came amid an upsurge in tensions during Jewish, Muslim and Christian religious holidays. It follows the storming early Wednesday by Israeli riot police of the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, Islams third holiest site. With inputs from AFP Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Washington: Despite over a year of military badgering by Russia, Ukraines NATO membership remains a distant dream. While the US is leading the Western nations in helping Ukraine fight back, it also seems to be scuttling Kyivs prospects to full member of the military alliance. According to a report by the Financial Times, US has ganged up with Germany and Hungary against countries such as Poland and the Baltic States that are pushing for chalking out a clear roadmap for Ukraines integration in NATO. The faultlines among western nations on the matter became public at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels this week, the FT report said, adding, that the development comes in the run up to the leaders summit due in Vilnius in July. The bickering over Ukraines post-war status comes amid Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyys threat that he would attend the Vilnius meet only if his countrys membership of NATO has been chalked out. Differences on Ukraines NATO membership In Brussels meeting, there was a strong debate among foreign ministers about what Ukraine should be offered. There were differences in demand among allies, in contrast with NATOs broad unity since Russias president Vladimir Putin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, 2022. Weve got several weeks of hard negotiations ahead to close those gaps and craft a political outcome, the report quoted a western official. The 31-member alliance reached into the consensus that membership is not a short-term option and could not be seriously discussed amid the ongoing war. The report further mentioned two people, who attended the meetings this week, saying that a growing number support offering Ukraine a political path to membership in Vilnius that would thicken the bonds between the Brussels-based alliance and Kyiv. The US, however, was pushing back against that proposal, they added. The road [to Vilnius] is still very rocky, a second western official said. Will Zelenskyy attend NATO summit this July? The negotiations come within days after Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that he wont attend the summit if no tangible steps towards NATO membership, such as postwar security guarantees, would be presented to Ukraine from its members or deeper collaboration with the alliance. In 2008 NATO agreed Ukraine would become a member but has provided no specific timeline. Since then, there has been no advancement in the procedure. Back then, it was the US who called for NATO to grant Ukraine a concrete accession timetable or Membership Action Plan, but it was Germany and France who pushed back expressing concerns that the move would provoke Russia. Ukraine formally applied for NATO membership last year, following Russias invasion. So did Finland and Sweden the former having joined the alliance earlier this week. Why US is opposing Ukraines NATO membership? The report said the US is worried that strengthening bond during the war could fuel Putins narrative of a battle between Russia and NATO itself and that Moscow may escalate the conflict, including by potentially deploying nuclear arms. In order for us to get to the question of when and how to get Ukraine into the alliance, we must, as the secretary-general has noted, ensure that Ukraine prevails as a sovereign, independent nation, the FT report quoted a senior US official as saying. Instead the US is asking allies to stay focused on short-term military, financial and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, to help it resist and eventually fight off Russias invasion. Possible option for Ukraine Keeping in mind the ongoing conflict, the members during the meeting considered one option could be to upgrade the existing NATO-Ukraine commission to a NATO-Ukraine council. Doing so would elevate Ukraines status as a partner of the alliance and make it more involved in NATO meetings and consultations. Notably, Russia has such a format with NATO but is has been put on hold since the invasion. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. London: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is mulling over a plan of transferring prisoners into boats to tackle an ongoing problem of overcrowding in British jails. According to government sources, the plan of housing prisoners in floating jails comes after the Home Office said that migrants would be sent to barges as a cheaper alternative to hotels. The plan has, however, sparked fears and raised concerns over the safety of prisoners. Some have even pointed out to the cost of building such boats and fitting prison security with inmates. As per a report by The Sun, talks are understood to be at an early stage and officials have been asked to gauge the plausibility of the plan. The most recent prison count, as of March 31, stands at 84,372 inmates. The number of people incarcerated in Britain quadrupled in size between 1900 and 2018. Concept of prison boats not new The idea of holding inmates in boats is not a new one. Between 1977 to 2005, a prison ship called HMP Weare in Portland Docks was used to hold 400 convicts. However, after many years of operation, the Home Office had to close it down after it was deemed unnecessary and too costly to maintain. Prisoners and officials also complained of the space being too cramped up. Don Wood, of the Prison Officers Association for the Weare, told The Guardian at the time, It did feel cramped a bit like the cabin decks of a cross-channel ferry. The cells with sea views were okay, but others had no natural light so conditions were pretty miserable. The ventilation system was very old and starting to wear and it was noisy. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. New Delhi: Amish Tripathi, Indias Minister (Culture & Education), High Commission of India & Director, on Friday met Karan Kataria an Indian-origin student pursuing Masters in law at London of School of Economics (LSE) on Friday and assured him of justice. Karan was disqualified from running for general secretary of the students union for alleged links with the RSS and Hindu nationalism. Talking to Firstpost, Karan said: Amish ji met me morning today (7 April). He assured me that justice will be done. The Indian High Commission said that they are observing all the developments and ascertaining facts. The High Commission of India in UK said it has noted Karans concerns and is keeping track of developments. Karan was disqualified from running for general secretary of the students union allegedly orchestrated by an academic -- Mukulika Banerjee -- close to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: The Rahul Gandhi link in LSE anti-India Hinduphobia case Firstpost earlier reported that Banerjee could have been powering this hate campaign against Karan, ostensibly for having links with the Hindu right, the RSS in particular. Sources told Firstpost that the interference by Banerjee in students affairs has already been brought to the notice of the LSE administration. Meanwhile, Karan, speaking to Firstpost, had said that he would do everything to guard the honour of the India. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Brussels, Belgium: Hungary on Friday condemned plans by 15 of the EUs 27 member states to support Brussels legal action against Hungary over a law that they feel discriminates against LGBT+ individuals. We will not give in to pressure, we will protect our children! Hungarian Justice Minister Judit Varga wrote on Facebook. It is sad that several member state governments have given in to the gender propaganda promoted from Brussels and overseas. On Thursday, France and Germany joined their names to the list of countries that support the European Commissions complaint before the European Unions Court of Justice. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden are among the other EU nations supporting legal action against Hungarys problematic legislation. The European Parliament has also filed a complaint. With the extensive line-up against Hungary, the lawsuit is the largest human rights case in EU legal history, Belgian rights group Forbidden Colours said on Friday. A French lawmaker in the European Parliament, Pierre Karleskind, who is on the legislatures LGBTI intergroup, also welcomed the move. The parliament and the 15 EU member states backing the action are clearly on the side of freedom, he said. New measures coming Budapest reacted angrily when Finland joined the growing list just after Hungarys parliament had approved Finland becoming NATOs newest member. Our Finnish friends still have a lot to learn about fairness, a junior foreign minister, Tamas Menczer, told Hungarys M1 Television on Thursday. Swedens bid to join NATO is still on hold, awaiting approval from Hungary and Turkey. Hungary introduced its controversial law in 2021, forbidding the representation or promotion to minors of homosexuality or gender change. The legislation was met with outrage by LGBT+ activists and many politicians in other EU countries, who saw it as an attack on LGBT+ rights and recognition. Varga argued that Hungary was fully consistent with EU provisions that state that raising children is the exclusive right of parents. In the fall we will submit new measures to the parliament, she wrote. Hungary will have the strictest child protection regulations in Europe. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke of the shame the law cast. Her executive opened formal proceedings against Budapest alleging a violation of core EU precepts of non-discrimination and fundamental rights, as well as undermining single market rules on services and audiovisual media. That led to the matter being taken to the Court of Justice of the EU in December last year. By associating themselves with the lawsuit against Hungary, the EU countries and parliament are able to present legal arguments in support of the commissions challenge. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Kano, Nigeria: Local government authorities claimed Friday that gunmen assaulted a remote community in northern central Nigeria, murdering scores of people in the latest in a series of violent attacks in the region. The incident occurred on Wednesday in Umogidi, Benue State, where tit-for-tat confrontations between nomadic herders and established farmers contending for land and resources are regular. The 46 casualties were from the bodies of victims found and retrieved. Many people are still missing, so the number of those killed may be higher, Paul Hemba, a security adviser to Benue State governor, told AFP. He blamed herdsmen who he said had been attacking local communities over the last month. Soldiers have been dispatched to the area, so the situation is a bit calm now. The motive for the attack was not clear but Benue has been one of the hardest hit by intercommunal clashes between farmers and ethnic Fulani herders accused of destroying farmland with their cattle grazing. Baba Usman Ngelzarma, chairman of the Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), a union of Fulani herders, warned against blaming herders without investigation. There is a deliberate campaign of demonisation of Fulani herders which started in Benue and spread to other parts of Nigeria, he said. We are not exonerating Fulani herders from involvement in some of the attacks but the way they are always blamed for every attack is unfair and prejudiced. He called for an investigation to find the real perpetrators. Bala Ejeh, Otukpo local government chairman, said the gunmen attacked on Wednesday afternoon when people were mourning three others killed a day earlier. He also said 46 bodies had been recovered so far, including that of his own son and two relatives. Communal violence is just one of the security challenges facing President-elect Bola Tinubu who won a February presidential ballot that was marked by heavy delays and accusations of vote rigging. Security forces are also battling a 14-year-long jihadist conflict and attacks by separatists. Intercommunal violence has spiralled into broader criminality in the northwest and centre of the country, where heavily armed bandit militias ransack villages and carry out mass abductions for ransom. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Ankara: The war in Ukraine has reached a point where Russia wants to use the conflict to undermine US hegemony. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during his visit to Turkey said that Moscow wants any peace talks on Ukraine to focus on creating a new world order. Lavrov is in Turkey to hold talks with his counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu. It is important to note that Turkey has remained a neutral party, supporting both Moscow and Kyiv. He said, Any negotiation needs to be based on taking into account Russian interests, Russian concerns. It should be about the principles on which the new world order will be based. He also emphasised that Russia strongly rejects a unipolar world order led by one hegemon'. Arguing that the Ukrainian offensive is a part of Russias long struggle against US dominance over the international stage, the Kremlin said that it has no choice but to continue the war as it sees no diplomatic solution. Lavrov also threatened of pulling out of landmark grain deal that allowed vital exports to leave blocked ports in the Black Sea. Lavrov said, If there is no further progress in removing barriers to the export of Russian fertilisers and grain, we will think about whether this deal is necessary. Russia has time and again threatened to abandon the agreement that has allowed the export of more than 25 million tons of grain. Moscow has been complaining that its side of the agreement, promising the right to export fertiliser free from Western sanctions, is not respected. Turkey is pushing for a 120-day extension in compliance with the original agreement, which was negotiated by Ankara and the United Nations last July. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Karachi: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been making all possible attempts to delay polls in the countrys politically crucial Punjab province. On Friday, Sharif has convened a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) where he is expected to seek the support of the military leadership to postpone the elections due to security concerns. The meeting comes within days after three-member bench of the countrys apex court led by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial fixed 14 May as the new date for elections to the Punjab Assembly. The judicial body quashed the Election Commission of Pakistans decision to extend the polls date from 10 April to 8 October. On Thursday, the Pakistans parliament passed a resolution rejecting the Supreme Courts decision about the Punjab polls delay case and demanded a full court to decide on the issue. Pak PM calls meeting to postpone Punjab polls The meeting will take place at PM Sharifs house, The Express Tribune said in a report. The top civil and military leadership are expected to participate in the NSC meeting. The heads of the countrys intelligence agencies will brief the participants on the national security situation during the meeting, the report said. Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza, heads of the air force and the navy, and federal ministers for defence, finance, and information will be attending the meeting today. Why Pakistan government wants to delay polls? A report by Dawn mentioned insiders saying that during the meeting, the Pakistan government would again ask the top brass for a briefing on potential threats from militants in case elections were held in Punjab on 14 May as per the courts order. The military authorities had given a detailed briefing to the Shehbaz Sharif-government that terrorist outfits have regrouped in tribal districts bordering Afghanistan due to which conditions were not favorable for smooth and free election. Pakistan may impose an emergency Another source quoted by Dawn said there could be discussion on the option of imposing an emergency in Pakistan under Article 232 in wake of the current situation. The Article 232 of Pakistans Constitution pertains to the proclamation of emergency for the maximum period of one year on account of war and internal disturbance. However, the parliament has to pass a resolution passed to declare the emergency. Pak government pitting military directly against judiciary Former Prime Minister of Pakistan and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief, Imran Khan criticised the Shehbaz Sharif-led government for summoning the NSC meeting and claimed that the incumbent government would try and use security as [a] pretext for postponement of elections. This will pit armed forces directly against not just judiciary but also the nation, he said. They brought in an unconstitutional bill on SC and an NA resolution against [the] judiciary, Khan said. Role of National Security Committee Chaired by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the NSC is a federal institutional and consultative body. It is a principal forum that is mandated for considering national security and foreign policy matters with the senior national security advisers and cabinet ministers. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Washington, United States: Two Saudi astronauts, including the first Saudi woman, will launch from Florida on a private mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on 8 May, according to Axiom Space and NASA authorities. Rayyanah Barnawi, a breast cancer researcher, will be the first Saudi woman to travel into space, and she will be joined on the journey by fighter pilot Ali Al-Qarni. Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut who will be making her fourth voyage to the ISS, and John Shoffner, a Tennessee businessman who will act as pilot, will both be on board. Liftoff of Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled for 10:43 pm Eastern Time on 8 May (0243 GMT on 9 May) from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Axiom Space and NASA officials said in a briefing to preview the flight. The four-member crew will travel to the ISS aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule and spend 10 days aboard the orbiting space station. The mission to the ISS will be the second by Axiom Space, a private space company. Axiom Space carried out its first private astronaut mission to the ISS in April 2022. Four astronauts spent 17 days in orbit as part of Ax-1. The space mission involving a Saudi woman is the latest move by the kingdom to revamp its ultra-conservative image. But it is not the oil-rich kingdoms first foray into space. In 1985, Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, an air force pilot, took part in a US-organized space voyage. The neighbouring United Arab Emirates has also taken part in space missions and an Emirati astronaut, Sultan al-Neyadi, arrived on the ISS a month ago for a six-month stay. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Russian president Vladimir Putin on Thursday met with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko in Moscow. The duo discussed expanding economic cooperation and bolstering defense ties between their nations, which include a plan to deploy Russias nuclear weapons to Belarus amid the war in neighboring Ukraine. Putin said there would be close work on boosting cooperation under a union agreement that envisions close political, economic and military ties between Belarus and Russia. According to reports, Russia has maintained a contingent of troops and weapons in Belarus. Russia plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus Last month, Putin said that Moscow planned to put some of its tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. Such weapons are intended to destroy enemy troops on the battlefield and have a relatively short range and a much lower yield compared with nuclear warheads fitted to long-range strategic missiles, which are capable of obliterating whole cities. The deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus will put them closer to potential targets in Ukraine and NATO members in Eastern and Central Europe. Belarus shares a 1,250-km border with the alliances members Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. Belarus Security Council Secretary Alexander Volfovich told reporters after Thursdays talks that theres no military requirement to deploy tactical nuclear weapons near the border with Belarus neighbors. He said that during Soviet times, there were 43 nuclear weapon facilities across the country and that all of them have been preserved. Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine had Soviet nuclear weapons stationed in their territory. Those weapons were returned to Russia after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. Volfovich said it was up to the two presidents to set a date for the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons to Belarus. Putin previously said that the construction of storage facilities for tactical nuclear weapons would be completed in Belarus by July 1. Russia also has helped modernize Belarusian warplanes to adapt them to carrying nuclear weapons and provided the country with Iskander short-range missiles that could be fitted with a nuclear warhead. Their crews started training in Russia this week. In opening remarks at Thursdays talks, Lukashenko warned that if necessary, we will use all we have to protect our countries and peoples. We arent blackmailing anyone. It will be so, he added. Last week, Lukashenko said that some of Russias strategic nuclear weapons might also be deployed to Belarus along with part of Moscows tactical nuclear arsenal. He made no reference to such a development during the Kremlin meeting, and Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it wasnt discussed on Thursday. It would make little sense for the Kremlin to deploy any of its nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles on Belarusian territory since they could reach any target globally from their current positions in Russia. Lukashenko mentioned the arrest of a man accused of launching a recent drone attack that damaged a Russian early warning and control aircraft based in Belarus. Belarusian security agencies are working to uncover caches containing weapons and explosives, he added. The Belarusian leader cited the importance of close defense cooperation and asserted that Belarusian factories have developed the expertise to replace Western companies as a source of electronic components for Russian weapons. We oriented ourselves toward the West in the past, but now we have come to realize that they arent our friends and we need to produce all that ourselves, Lukashenko said. Lukashenko has been in power for nearly 29 years, relentlessly cracking down on dissent and relying on Russian subsidies to run Belarus Soviet-style economy. Moscows support has helped him weather months of massive protests against his re-election in an August 2020 vote that was rejected by the opposition and the West as rigged. With inputs from AP Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Russia on Friday charged Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich with spying, according to local media reports. Russias state news agency Tass and the Interfax news agency said a law enforcement source informed them that the countrys Federal Security Service, known as the FSB, has officially charged the American journalist. In the Russian legal system, the filing of charges and a response from the accused represent the formal start of a criminal probe, initiating what could be a long and secretive Russian judicial process. Tass quoted its source as saying: The FSB investigation charged Gershkovich with espionage in the interests of his country. He categorically denied all accusations and stated that he was engaged in journalistic activities in Russia. First such case since Cold War Russian authorities arrested Gershkovich, 31, in Yekaterinburg, Russias fourth-largest city, on 29 March. He is the first US correspondent since the Cold War to be detained for alleged spying. The FSB specifically accused Gershkovich of trying to obtain classified information about a Russian arms factory. The Wall Street Journal has denied the accusations. US Senate demands journalists release The case has caused an international uproar. In a rare US bipartisan statement, the Senates top two leaders demanded Friday that Russia immediately release Gershkovich. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. declared that journalism is not a crime and praised Gershkovich as an internationally known and respected independent journalist. On Thursday, the US ambassador to Russia and a top Russian diplomat met to discuss the case. In the meeting with U.S. Ambassador Lynne T. Tracy, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stressed the serious nature of the charges against Gershkovich, according to a Russian Foreign Ministry statement. The statement repeated earlier Russian claims that the reporter was caught red-handed while trying to obtain secret information, using his journalistic status as a cover for illegal actions. Lawyers representing Gershkovich met with him Tuesday for the first time since his detention, according to Wall Street Journal Editor-in-Chief Emma Tucker. Tucker said the reporter is in good health and is grateful for the outpouring of support from around the world. We continue to call for his immediate release. Gershkovich was ordered held behind bars for two months in Russia pending an investigation. A Moscow court said Monday that it had received a defense appeal of his arrest; the appeal is scheduled to be heard on April 18, Russian news agencies reported. With inputs from AP Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. New Delhi: Russia and Ukraine are fighting each other for over a year but both the countries are using inflatable decoy armaments from a father and son duo who have been producing and supplying inflatable models of military tanks, planes among other equipment. Alexander Talanov, general director of Rusbal Balloon Company, has been supplying dummy equipment to Russian military for many year, while his son moved to Europe to sell the same dummies to the Ukrainian armed forces. Talanovs son, Viktor, who is now 49 years old, has since 2014 been working for a company that supplies dummy equipment to the United States and later began providing them to Ukraine. Viktor has been staying in the Czech Republic. Interestingly, he does not communicate with his father but has managed to work at Rusbal. Also Read: WATCH: How Czechs are giving inflatable HIMARS decoys to Ukraine forcing Russians to waste precious missiles In response to a question about how he could work for the Russian Defence Ministry and the Western military at the same time, Viktor told Nexta TV, Legally everything was clean. From the moral point of view Well, you work, you produce some product. So, yes, its military. On the other hand, its not lethal. Especially at Rusbal, I havent been practically involved in the military for the last few years. Rusbal has been supplying inflatable decoy war equipment to the Russian Defence Ministry to help deceive the enemy. In 2010, Viktor said: Theyre light, possible to move quickly, meaning more mobile. Theyre the full imitation in every sense: visually, heat and on radar. Dummy equipment is not a new battlefield trick. During the war in Kosovo, NATO forces bombed fake Serb tanks. Back then, George Patton was given the charge of a phantom army to fool the Germans into thinking allied forces would land at the Pas-de-Calais instead of Normandy on the D-Day. Our products are the most peaceful, We are not making weapons of destruction, we are making weapons of saving as our equipment and models save people and real military equipment, Viktor had said. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Kyiv: With the Russian and Ukrainian forces indulged in a fierce battle to gain control of the centre of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, British intelligence on Friday said that the Russian forces have very likely seized the centre of the fiercely contested city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine and are threatening a key supply route for Ukrainian forces to the west. Russian forces are putting all-out efforts to gain control of the region while Ukrainian forces trying everything to protect it with limited resources, according to various media reports. The fierce battle has stretched the conflict in Bakhmut for a long. The region has witnessed a month-long battle and proven one of the bloodiest of the war. A Ukrainian military command spokesman told Reuters the situation was difficult in Bakhmut and that Russian forces were concentrating all efforts to take the city but were not having strategic success. Fridays daily update from British intelligence contrasted with the usual emphasis on Ukrainian military successes. Russia has made further gains and has now highly likely advanced into the town centre, and has seized the west bank of the Bakhmutka River. Ukraines key 0506 supply route to the west of the town is likely severely threatened, it said. According to people aware of the matter, the report, if confirmed, indicates that Ukrainian forces are under severe pressure, two days after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said they would withdraw if at risk of encirclement. Eastern Military Command spokesperson Serhiy Cherevatyi told Reuters that Ukraine controlled the situation in Bakhmut and understood Russian intentions. The situation is difficult; the enemy is concentrating maximum efforts to capture Bakhmut. However, it is suffering serious losses and not reaching strategic success, Cherevatyi said. Western analysts say both sides are losing large numbers of troops in the battle for Bakhmut. They have played down the strategic significance of the city but Ukraine has framed its dogged defence as a way of wearing down Russian forces before a counter-offensive bolstered by advanced Western-supplied weapons. Donetsk is one of four provinces in eastern and southern Ukraine that Russia is seeking to fully occupy. It declared them annexed last year after failing to seize the capital Kyiv in an attempt to overrun Ukraine early in the war. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. According to domestic news outlets, Russian lawmakers on Friday recommended harsher punishments for anyone found guilty of terrorism, high treason, and sabotage. Per the authorities, this decision was motivated by the conflict in Ukraine. The maximum punishment for carrying out a terrorist act, defined as a crime that endangers life and is intended to destabilise Russia, would be increased from 15 years to 20 years. Individuals convicted of sabotage face 20 years in prison, up from 15, while those convicted of international terrorism face life in prison, up from 12 years. The proposed changes were outlined by Vasily Piskaryov, head of the committee on security and anti-corruption in the State Duma or lower chamber of parliament. We propose to establish life imprisonment for high treason, agencies quoted him as saying but gave no details. The current maximum sentence for treason is 20 years. Earlier this week, Tass news agency cited Piskaryov as saying that tougher measures were needed for protection against what he called the unprecedented threats Russia faced from Ukraine and its Western sponsors. President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials regularly accuse Ukraine and the West of wanting to undermine and dismember Russia. Authorities have cracked down on dissent since the war started in February 2022. Last month, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko signed a law allowing for use of the death penalty against officials and army servicemen convicted of high treason. Belarus, a neighbour and close ally of Russia is the only country in Europe that still applies the death penalty. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Washington: Secret documents detailing US and NATO plans to assist Ukraine in preparing for a spring offensive against Russia have been leaked onto social media platforms, according to a report. According to the New York Times report, the Pentagon has said that it is assessing the reported security breach. We are aware of the reports of social media posts, and the Department is reviewing the matter, the report quoted Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh as saying. The documents, which reportedly contain charts and details about weapons deliveries, battalion strengths and other sensitive information, were leaked on Twitter and Telegram, according to the report. Information in the documents is at least five weeks old, with the most recent dated 1 March, the report said. One of the documents summarised the training schedules of 12 Ukraine combat brigades, and said nine of them were being trained by US and NATO forces, and needed 250 tanks and more than 350 mechanized vehicles, the newspaper said. The documents at least one of which carried a top secret label were circulated on pro-Russian government channels, it said. Information in the documents also details expenditure rates for munitions under Ukraine military control, including for the HIMARS rocket systems, the US-made artillery rocket systems that have proven highly effective against Russian forces, it added. The report quoted military analysts who warned that some documents appear to have been altered in a disinformation campaign by Russia, in one document inflating Ukrainian troop deaths and minimising Russian battlefield losses. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Seoul: South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin will undertake a two-day visit to India from today with an aim to make substantive progress in the special strategic partnership between the two countries. Jin is scheduled to hold wide-ranging talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Delhi on Friday evening. The South Korean foreign minister is also scheduled to call on Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. On Saturday morning, he will leave for Chennai. According to Yonhap news agency, Seouls foreign ministry had on Tuesday said that South Koreas top diplomat plans to visit India later this week to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year. The report in Yonhap further read, according to the ministry, foreign Minister Park Jin plans to hold talks with his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, during the two-day trip from Friday. South Korean Ministry spokesperson, Lim Soo-suk told reporters, The two sides plan to discuss ways to develop the countries special strategic partnership and further bolster ties. During the trip, Park plans to travel to Chennai in southern India to meet with South Korean businesses operating there, Lim added, reported Yonhap news agency. Notably, India and South Korea have completed 50 years of diplomatic ties. Earlier this year in January, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a telephonic conversation with South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin. He discussed the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two nations. Recently, in March, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (East), Saurabh Kumar paid an official visit to South Korea and co-chaired the 5th Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue (FPSD) with his Korean counterpart Cho Hyundong. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (East) Saurabh Kumar on Thursday highlighted Indias use of technological and financial inclusion for the direct transfer of welfare benefits. The MEA secretary (East) also took part virtually in the Indo-Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Meeting chaired by South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin under the Summit for Democracy 2023. Taking to Twitter, the Embassy of India in South Korea said, Secretary East @AmbSaurabhKumar met Rep Kim Tae-ho, Chairperson, Foreign Affairs & Unification Committee of RoK National Assembly @news_NA, and exchanged views to strengthen -ties. They also discussed regional & global issues of mutual interest, including #IndoPacific & #G20. In the dialogue, both sides agreed to enhance the special strategic partnership by strengthening strategic communication through regular high-level engagements including the Foreign Minister-level Joint Commission Meeting, 2+2 dialogue involving the Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry at Vice Minister/Secretary level, other ministerial and senior official dialogues, as the two countries celebrate 50 years of establishment of diplomatic relations this year, according to the official statement released by Ministry of External Affairs. According to the statement, both sides had also agreed to deepen cooperation in areas including, trade and investment, security and defence, science and technology, as well as, cultural and people-to-people exchanges. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Belfast: The Northern Ireland police revealed that it has strong intelligence of attacks being planned against its personnel on Easter Monday, just days before US President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit Belfast to mark 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement. Chief Constable Simon Byrne of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said that officers would be moved to frontline duties to counter any potential threats, in a policing strategy he recalled hadnt been used for years. The exceptional circumstances, ahead of the Easter weekend, he said demanded the move. In Belfast, Irish deputy premier Micheal Martin condemned the threat of a terrorist attack as criminality in its worst form and said it was very evil people who are contemplating this. US President Biden is due to reach Belfast on Tuesday. Bidens trip will focus on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which falls on Easter Monday. As part of his official tour, he will also visit Dublin, Co Louth and Co Mayo. British intelligence agency the MI5 recently raised the terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland to severe, meaning a potential attack could happen at any time. Sporadic violence in Northern Ireland by small groups has kept the threat level mostly at severe since the system was introduced in 2010. This warning came soon after the shooting of senior detective John Caldwell in Co Tyrone, who has been left with life-changing injuries. The police have blamed the New IRA for the attack. Easter Monday is the day dissident republicans traditionally mark the anniversary of the Easter Rising rebellion against British rule in 1916, with a parade set to take place in Londonderry. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Islamabad: A top Pakistani official urged the resignation of Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Friday, after another Supreme Court judge submitted a dissenting opinion on the suo motu order to schedule elections in Punjab state, increasing the schism between the court and the government. In a statement to the media, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb asked that Chief Judge Umar Ata Bandial should resign after his position became contentious. In his dissenting comment on Friday, Judge Athar Minallah argued that the Supreme Courts suo motu notice was dismissed by a majority 4-3 judgement. Aurangzeb, who is part of the Pakistan Democratic Movement, in the ruling coalition alliance, said Justice Minallahs decision raised questions about the judicial process. Justice Minallah has made a major decision today. Following this decision, the majority of judges have reached a conclusion. The decision made by him today raises questions about the judicial process, the information minister said. A three-member bench of the apex court led by Chief Justice Bandial on Tuesday fixed 14 May as the new date for elections to the Punjab Assembly, as it quashed the Election Commission of Pakistans decision to extend the polls date from 10 April to 8 October. The dissenting note of the judge provided an opportunity for the government to put more pressure on the apex court to accept its demand to set up a full court to decide the election date in Punjab province. The verdict was criticised by the coalition government, which refused to accept it. When there was no petition, questions arise as to why the bench was formed and why a decision was made, she said. Aurangzeb maintained that political parties were not running away from elections but the issues were not limited to elections but had become a matter of bench fixing. The minister added that the illegal use of powers and arbitrary interpretation of the Constitution cannot be accepted. On Thursday, the National Assembly or the lower house passed a resolution to reject the decision of the apex court. The resolution came after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressing the cabinet meeting on Wednesday described the court decision as a mockery of the Constitution and law and added that it could not be implemented. His idea was supported by the National Assembly, showing the bitter divide over the date of election in Punjab where the assembly was dissolved on 13 January and the polls should be held within 90 days. The federal government asserts that it has the power to delay the polls and holds it with the general elections in the country after August. However, former prime minister Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party was pushing for early polls and demanding that instead of delaying the Punjab elections, the national assembly should be dissolved and general elections called in the country. Separately, an application was filed by lawyer Raja Sibtain Khan in the Supreme Judicial Council, the body having powers to remove a judge of the higher judiciary, for the removal of Chief Justice Bandial. The complainant claims that the Chief Justice devised groupings within the vagaries of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and was guilty of misconduct. The latest development widened the gulf between the government and the judiciary and increased the political and economic uncertainty in the cash-strapped country. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. New Delhi: Two women were killed and one was seriously injured in an alleged Palestinian shooting attack near an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank, Israeli army and medics said on Friday. The women were in a car that crashed after being shot at near the settlement of Hamra, in the Jordan Valley. The incident was initially reported as a collision between an Israeli vehicle and a Palestinian vehicle, but when troops arrived they found several bullet holes in the Israeli vehicle, the military said, adding it had blocked roads around the scene of the shooting and launched a manhunt for the assailants. The attack, coming after weeks of unusually heightened unrest in the West Bank, took place hours after Israel conducted rare airstrikes in Lebanon and continued bombarding the Gaza Strip on Friday, suggesting that the recent tensions in Jerusalem could be spilling over to the occupied territory. The Magen David Adom emergency service said it had confirmed the death of two women in their 20s and provided medical treatment to a 40-year-old woman in a serious condition. No militant group immediately claimed responsibility. But Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem hailed the attack in retaliation for the crimes committed by Israel in the Al-Aqsa mosque and the West Bank. Even as quiet returned to Israels northern and southern borders, the early morning Israeli strikes on Lebanon which analysts described as the most serious border violence since Israels 2006 war with Lebanons Hezbollah militants threatened to push the confrontation into a new phase. Israeli strikes came in retaliation for a major barrage of rockets from Lebanon the day before, after Israeli police raids at the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem spiraled into unrest and sparked outrage across the Arab world. Although the Israeli military was quick to emphasise that its warplanes struck sites belonging to only Palestinian militant groups, the barrage risks drawing in Israels bitter foe Hezbollah, which holds sway over much of southern Lebanon and has in the past portrayed itself as a defender of the Palestinians and the contested city of Jerusalem. After initial investigation, the Israeli military said that at least one Palestinian driving in the Jordan Valley allegedly opened fire on a car of three women, killing two of them. Medics said they dragged the unconscious women from their smashed car that appeared to have been pushed off the road. Earlier, Israeli missiles struck an open field in the southern Lebanese town of Qalili, near the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh, according to an Associated Press photographer and residents, killing several sheep and inflicting minor injuries on residents, including Syrian refugees. Other strikes hit a small bridge and power transformer in the nearby town of Maaliya and damaged an irrigation system providing water to orchards in the area. Qalili resident Bilal Suleiman said his family woke to violent bombing that shattered their windows. I immediately gathered my wife and children and got them out of the house in case there was another strike, he said. The Israeli military said it was boosting infantry and artillery forces in a defensive move to prepare for all possible scenarios. A Palestinian official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media, said that Egyptian security officials were working with Hamas and Israel to de-escalate the situation. The Israeli military said it was clear everyone wanted avoid a full-blown conflict. Quiet will be answered with quiet, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, a spokesman for the Israeli military told reporters. But violence again broke out at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Friday. The holy site, a tinderbox for Israeli-Palestinian tensions, sits on a hilltop sacred to both Muslims and Jews. In 2021, an escalation also triggered by clashes at the Al-Aqsa compound spilled over into an 11-day war between Israel and Gazas Hamas rulers. Chaos erupted at one of the entrances to the esplanade before dawn prayers as Israeli police wielding batons descended on crowds of Palestinian worshippers, who chanted slogans praising Hamas as they tried to squeeze into the site. An hour later, according to videos, people leaving the prayers staged a vast protest on the limestone courtyard, with Palestinians raising their fists and shouting in support of Hamas rocket fire, and Israeli police forced their way into the compound. Police did not comment on the earlier beatings, but said security forces entered the holy compound after prayers in response to masked suspects who threw rocks toward officers at one of the gates. The Israeli military said that Palestinian militants in Gaza had so far fired 44 rockets from Gaza, only 23 of which crossed into Israeli territory. The others either failed to launch, fell into the Mediterranean Sea, or were intercepted by Israels Iron Dome aerial defense system, the military said. Most missiles that managed to cross the border struck open areas in Israels south, but one landed in the town of Sderot, sending shrapnel slicing into a house. There were no reports of Israeli casualties. The Israeli military said it pounded Gaza with more airstrikes, hitting 10 targets that it described as underground tunnels, along with weapons production and development sites belonging largely to the Hamas militant group. There were no immediate reports of casualties in Gaza, but the Palestinian Health Ministry said that one of the strikes caused some damage to a childrens hospital in Gaza City. Hecht said that the military was looking into the reports of damage to the hospital. The current round of violence began Wednesday after Israeli police twice raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque. That led Thursday to rocket fire from Gaza and, in a significant escalation, the barrage from Lebanon. The Palestinian attack in the West Bank came just as tens of thousands of Palestinians were pouring into Al-Aqsa for midday prayers. Violence has surged to new heights in the West Bank in recent months, with Palestinian health officials reporting the start of 2023 to be the most deadly for Palestinians in two decades. Nearly 90 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank since the start of the year, according to an Associated Press tally. During that time, 16 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks on Israelis all but one of them civilians. Israel says most of those Palestinians killed have been militants. But stone-throwing youths protesting police incursions and people not involved in the confrontations have also been killed. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Kyiv: Ukraine on Thursday announced that it would start a joint production of 125-mm rounds for Soviet-era tanks with Poland. The collaboration will take place between Polish arms producer Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) and Ukraines state arms producer. According to Ukroboronprom, Poland would become the second NATO member state to help Ukraine produce ammunition as the country combats Russian troops that launched a full-scale invasion more than 13 months ago. In line with the agreement, new production lines to produce large numbers of ammunition for 125-mm tank guns are planned, the company said in a statement. The agreement was signed during President Volodymyr Zelenskkys recent visit to Poland on Wednesday. The war-torn country will provide the technology and send its specialists to Polish cities where production facilities will be located given high security risks, since Russia has carried out long-range air strikes on targets in Ukraine throughout the duration of the war. Ukroboronproms officials have said Russia has constantly attacked arms facilities, forcing it to move production to safer areas and hence Polish cities are being selected to house the production of the shells. In February, Ukraines state arms producer announced it had started producing ammunition with a NATO country in central Europe. Ukraine depended heavily on weapons and ammunition supplies from its Western allies during the war. Ukrainian military commanders constantly stress the need for more ammunition at the frontlines. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Kyiv: Ukraine has dismissed an alleged leak of classified documents detailing secret US and NATO plans for a counter-offensive as a photoshopped ploy by Russia to sow confusion about the Ukrainian war effort. Mykhailo Podolyak an advisor of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement on social media that the supposedly leaked data contained a very large amount of fictitious information, adding that it was a desperate effort by Russia to regain the initiative in the war. Since the USSR collapse intelligence has degraded to an extent that the only way to redeem themselves after Salisbury, 3-day plans etc. is photoshop & virtual fake leaks. Moscow is eager to disrupt counteroffensive but it will see the real plans on the ground. Soon, Mykhailo Podolyak said in a statement posted on his Twitter handle. Pentagon launches investigation According to a report by The New York Times on Thursday, the Pentagon was conducting an investigation to find out how documents detailing plans for a counteroffensive by the Ukrainian military against Russia had been leaked on to social media platforms. Russia is looking for any ways to seize back the initiative. To try to influence the scenarios for Ukraines counteroffensive plans. To introduce doubts, to compromise the ideas, and finally to intimidate (us) with how informed they are, Podolyak was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters. Over the past several months the Ukrainian military has battled an offensive by Russia in eastern Ukraine, mostly around the city of Bakhmut. According to the supposed leak, Ukraine is hoping to launch a counter-offensive to regain territory captured by Russia. Much higher estimate of Ukraines losses The documents also contained an estimate of losses suffered by the Ukrainian military in its war against Russia. The estimates were much higher than those announced by Western nations. Ukraine has so far refrained from disclosing the actual losses sustained by the Ukrainian military and has been extremely sensitive about the subject. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. New Delhi: Ukraine war has forced Ireland to launch a debate on neutrality as it seeks to review its security policy options and what any changes would mean for its stance, given the fundamental change in the security situation in Europe owing to the conflict. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Micheal Martin said that a National Forum will be held in June to start a broad discussion on the states foreign and security policy. Citing the minister, a report in RTE, Irelands National Television and Radio Broadcaster, said that the meetings will take place in Cork, Galway and Dublin across four days. The forum will help the government take a closer look at the threats facing the state, including at sea as well as dealing with things such as cyber-attacks. The discussions will hear from security experts, academics and the public and they will take place against the backdrop of increased investment in the Defence Forces. The forum will be based on the principles of a Citizens Assembly model. An independent chairperson will later compile a report on the outcome of the forum, which could form the basis of recommendations to government, added the report. Addressing a press conference after cabinet on Thursday Martin said, The forum is not just on the binary issue of neutrality, but instead will examine a broad spectrum of issues. He said among the issues to be discussed will be the evolution of threats to Ireland, cyber security, and triple lock issues. The triple lock reference relates to Irelands constitutional rule that any participation in an international action must be agreed by the Dail, the cabinet, and the President of the day before it is agreed. Addressing concerns the forum could result in changes to Irelands neutrality, Martin said he is fully aware people have different perspectives on the issue. He said the forum will have no pre-conceived ideas and will allow for submissions from members of the public and differing perspectives, and that it is important we have this debate. Finland joins NATO Finland became NATOs newest member on Tuesday, shedding its history of wartime neutrality and staying out of military alliances. The Nordic countrys membership doubles Russias border with the worlds biggest security alliance. Finland had adopted neutrality after its defeat by the Soviets in World War II, but its leaders signalled they wanted to join NATO after Moscows invasion of Ukraine sent a shiver of fear through its neighbours. Neighbouring Sweden, which has avoided military alliances for more than 200 years, has also applied. But objections from NATO members Turkey and Hungary have delayed the process. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Kyiv: Ukraines president and senior security officials met on Friday to discuss methods to avoid military information leaks, according to Kyiv, after classified documents detailing Western aid to Ukraine were apparently leaked online. The presidents office published a statement regarding the meeting that did not mention a leak. It also made no mention of a New York Times article claiming that papers detailing US and NATO intentions to strengthen Ukraines military had been leaked online. The participants of the meeting focused on measures to prevent the leakage of information regarding the plans of the defence forces of Ukraine, a presidency statement said, detailing other topics that participants also discussed. The Times reported on Thursday that the Pentagon was investigating how documents about plans to build up Ukrainian forces before their planned counter-offensive against invading Russian forces were posted on social media channels this week. Reuters was not immediately able to review the leaked documents. A spokesperson for Ukrainian military intelligence said it was possible the information in the posts was entirely fictitious, and that there had been no leak. A preliminary analysis of the posts indicated they were made up of false and distorted casualty figures, and that some of the information was drawn from open sources, the spokesperson, Andriy Yusov, said. Well wait of course for official commentary (from the Pentagon), but I think the Ukrainian public has no grounds to worry, he said. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak told Reuters earlier that the posts looked like a Russian disinformation operation to sow doubts about the counter-offensive. He said they contained a very large amount of fictitious information and that Russia appeared to be trying to seize back the initiative in its invasion, now in its 14th month. These are just standard elements of operational games by Russian intelligence. And nothing more, Podolyak said in a written statement. Ukrainian troops have for months faced a Russian onslaught in its east that has focused on the city of Bakhmut. Kyiv hopes its forces can launch a counter-offensive in the coming weeks or months to wrest back occupied territory. Russia is looking for any ways to seize back the initiative, Podolyak said. To try to influence the scenarios for Ukraines counteroffensive plans. To introduce doubts, to compromise the ideas, and finally to intimidate (us) with how informed they are. The Times report said the documents appeared to have been modified in certain parts. One part offered an estimate for Ukrainian military losses that were far higher than Western estimates made available so far. Ukraine does not disclose the scale of its losses and is very sensitive about the subject. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Near Bakhmut, Ukraine: Ukrainian and Russian soldiers clashed in Bakhmut, the destroyed eastern city that has become a symbol of Kyivs resistance, while seven people were reported dead in Russian-controlled regions by Ukrainian artillery strikes. Ukrainian soldiers stationed in trenches near Bakhmut claimed they were prepared for a long-awaited counter-offensive whenever the weather improved. Other Ukrainian recruits worked hard to prepare for future combat operations. In Beijing, French President Emmanuel Macron and European Union Chief Ursula von der Leyen encouraged Chinese President Xi Jinping to use his influence to push Russia to end the 14-month-long conflict and negotiate. China advocates for peace talks and seeks a political solution, responded Xi, who has sought to position China as a potential mediator but is seen by the West as favouring Russia. Xi said he was willing to speak to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, von der Leyen said A French diplomatic source later said China was ready to work with France to push hard for negotiations. However, an adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin rated the chances of peace talks starting this year at zero. Four civilians died in Russian-controlled Donetsk when shells hit a car park, and another six people were injured, Russias Tass agency said. RIA news agency said three people died in blasts at a bus stop in Lysychansk, to the northeast of Donetsk. Reuters was unable to independently verify the reports. The months-long battle for Bakhmut, one of the last urban centres in the eastern Donetsk province yet to fall to Moscow, has proven one of the bloodiest of Russias invasions. (Battles) are underway in the streets, enemy attempts to encircle the city are failing. Our command fully controls the situation, said Andriy Yermak, a senior adviser to Zelenskyy. The leader of Russias private Wagner militia, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said fighting was continuing in the west of the city. It must be said clearly that the enemy is not going anywhere, he said on his Telegram channel. Prigozhin has often complained of a lack of ammunition for his fighters in Bakhmut. But Ukrainian border guard Levko Stek, speaking in a video clip amid explosions, said Ukrainian forces did not sense any ammunition hunger on the Russian side. Dogged defence Western analysts have played down the strategic significance of Bakhmut but Ukraine has framed its dogged defence of what is now a completely destroyed city as a way of wearing down Russian forces. Both sides have suffered huge casualties there. Bakhmut is performing the key task of inflicting as many losses on Russia as possible and, most importantly, to prepare for a counter-attack to take place in late April-May, Pavlo Narozhniy, a Ukrainian military analyst, told NV Radio. We are ready, we have to do it, the sooner the better. The enemy must be chased away. At the moment we are waiting for the weather to change, the mud is an obstacle, Naza, a 21-year-old unit commander told Reuters outside Bakhmut. Speaking from close to the front line, the commander of Ukraines 5th separate assault brigade, who gave his name as Ivan, said, Those service members that are not on the front line are training. Ukrainian military expert Vladyslav Selezniov said Ukraine would be able to defend positions in the more heavily built-up west of Bakhmut as long as their route to the west, the road of life for getting supplies in and wounded out, remained open. Russia says its special military operation in Ukraine was necessary to protect its security against what it sees as a hostile and aggressive West. Kyiv and its Western allies say Moscow is waging an unprovoked war aimed at grabbing territory. China card Frances Macron pressed Chinas Xi to pressure Putin to end the war in Ukraine. Xi has called Putin a dear friend, their nations have declared a no-limits partnership, and Beijing has refrained from criticising Russias invasion. The Russian aggression in Ukraine has dealt a blow to (international) stability, Macron told Xi, standing alongside the Chinese president outside the Great Hall of the People ahead of their meeting. I know I can count on you to bring back Russia to reason and everyone back to the negotiating table. The French diplomatic source said Macron had also urged China not to deliver arms to Russia. Von der Leyen said the EU expected China to promote a just peace that respects Ukraines territorial sovereignty. There are currently no talks aimed at ending the war, and Dmitry Suslov, an adviser to Putin, was quoted as saying there was zero chance of peace talks happening in 2023. Suslov, speaking to Italys Corriere della Sera newspaper in an interview published on Thursday, said Ukraines counter-offensive was likely to focus on the Sea of Azov and cutting off the Crimea peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014 but played down the chances of it succeeding. An adviser to Zelenskyy suggested Kyiv may discuss the future of the Black Sea peninsula if its forces reached the boundary of Crimea. However, a top Ukrainian official later ruled out talks about territory until Moscow withdraws all troops. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. San Salvador: According to a statement released on Thursday, US agents detained a retired Salvadoran military colonel this week on suspicion of engaging in a terrible slaughter of people during El Salvadors long civil war in the 1980s. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents captured Roberto Garay in the state of New Jersey on Tuesday, according to the agency. From 1981 until 1985, Garay was the section commander of the Atlacatl Battalion, a unique military force. Retired Salvadoran general Juan Rafael Bustillo acknowledged in 2020 that Atlacatl was responsible for the notorious 1981 El Mozote massacre, in which more than 1,0000 villagers, mostly women and children, were slaughtered. The battalion carried out extrajudicial executions at El Mozote, as well as in three other massacres in which hundreds of noncombatant civilians were killed, ICE said. Garay then willfully misrepresented his involvement in the massacre from an immigration application he had submitted, according to the statement. Reuters was not immediately able to locate Garays lawyer. One of several bloody Central American conflicts linked to the Cold War, El Salvadors 1980-1992 civil war pitted the leftist Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) rebels against the army of the US-backed right-wing government. The war left some 75,000 dead and another 8,000 missing. Touting the agencys investigation team that aims to hold accused war criminals accountable, ICE stressed that individuals like Garay must be investigated, prosecuted and expelled from the United States. Individuals who have committed atrocities overseas will not find safe haven in the United States, Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security John K. Tien said in the statement. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Washington, United States: The Democratic and Republican leaders of the US Senate unanimously condemned Russias detention of American journalist Evan Gershkovich on espionage allegations on Friday and demanded his immediate release. Gershkovichs detention is considered a significant escalation of Moscows attack on the media, and it comes at a time when Moscows relations with Washington have become increasingly strained as a result of Russias invasion of Ukraine. We strongly condemn the wrongful detention of US citizen and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, and demand the immediate release of this internationally known and respected independent journalist, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said in a rare joint statement. Gershkovich, who worked for AFP in Russia before taking a job with the Journal, was formally charged with espionage in Moscow on Friday. He was accused of spying for the United States, Russian news agencies reported, charges he, his paper and the US government vehemently deny. President Joe Biden has also called for Gershkovichs release. Let there be no mistake: journalism is not a crime, the Senate leaders wrote. We demand the baseless, fabricated charges against Mr. Gershkovich be dropped and he be immediately released. Schumer and McConnell also reiterated their condemnation of the Russian governments continued attempts to intimidate, repress, and punish independent journalists and civil society voices. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Seoul: The United States, South Korea and Japan have raised deep concerns over North Koreas malicious cyber activities that allegedly support its military program, the three countries said in a joint statement. Experts in the US claim that cryptocurrency funds stolen by North Korean hackers have helped the country to finance the sanctions-stricken countrys weapons programmes. The three countries held talks in Seoul this week amid a growing threat posed by North Koreas nuclear and missile programmes. Also read: South Korea, US and Japan urge countries to return North Koreans illegally working abroad We reiterate with concern that overseas DPRK IT workers continue using forged identities and nationalities to evade UN sanctions and raise funds for missile programmes, according to the envoys joint statement. It added, We are also deeply concerned about how the DPRK supports these programmes by stealing and laundering funds as well as gathering information through malicious cyber activities. Following the joint military exercise by US and South Korea which has angered Pyongyang, Kim Jong Un has ordered ramping up its military activities in recent weeks. It unveiled new, smaller nuclear warheads, and fired an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking anywhere in the United States. As those exercises and tests continue, there has been an exchange of harsh rhetoric. On Thursday, North Korea accused Washington and Seoul of pushing tensions to the brink of nuclear war through their military drills. Kim Gunn, South Koreas chief nuclear negotiator, said, North Korea is misguiding its people to believe that nuclear weapons are a magic wand that can solve all of its problems. Japan on Friday announced a two-year extension of its trade ban on North Korea, with exemptions for humanitarian reasons. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Geneva: The World Health Organization on Thursday said that it was certain China had far more data that could shed light on the origins of Covid and demanded that Beijing share all relevant information immediately. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in Geneva that without full access to the information that China has all hypotheses are on the table. He said that the WHO has been asking Beijing to cooperate on the issue. If Beijing does provide the missing data we will know what happened or how it started, the WHO chief said. More than three years after Covid-19 first surfaced, heated debate still rages around the origins of the pandemic. The issue has proved divisive for the scientific community and even different US government agencies, which are split between a theory that the virus jumped naturally to humans from animals and one maintaining that the virus likely leaked from a Wuhan laboratory a claim China has angrily denied. Late last month, new evidence emerged that raccoon dogs, which are known to be capable of carrying and transmitting viruses similar to the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid, were present at a Wuhan market when the disease was first detected in humans. The researchers who unexpectedly stumbled over the genetic data say that it supports but cannot definitively prove the theory that the virus originated in animals, possibly first jumping over to humans at the market. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHOs technical lead on Covid-19, told journalists Thursday that the new information provided clues, but no clear answers, insisting that the data collected in January and February 2020, more than three years ago should have been shared long ago. Without information, without data to make a proper assessment, its very difficult for us to give a concrete answer. And in the present time, we dont have a concrete answer of how the pandemic began, she said. Not a game But she voiced certainty that Chinas incredible scientists had conducted far more studies and collected much more data that could be relevant in the search. We know there is more information thats out there, she said. We need scientists, public health professionals and governments to share this information. This is not a game. In an editorial in Science magazine published Thursday, Van Kerkhove said she believed China had data that it had not shared including on the wild and farmed animal trade at the Wuhan market, the testing of humans and animals in Wuhan and across China, and operations of labs in Wuhan working on coronaviruses. Lab audit data exist and have not been shared, for example, she wrote, demanding that China share all data on the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid immediately. Tedros stressed the vital importance of getting to the bottom of the mystery, pointing out that determining Covid origins could help avert future pandemics. And with nearly seven million deaths officially registered in the pandemic with the real toll believed to be several times higher he said there was a moral imperative. We need to know the answer, beyond reasonable doubt. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Washington: When US President Joe Biden travels to Hiroshima in Japan to attend the G7 Summit, he will not visit Nagasaki, the second Japanese city nuked and ravaged by America in 1945 towards the end of Second World War, much to the chagrin of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. According to a report by Japan Times, which cited diplomatic sources in the matter, the Biden administration has chosen to hide behind scheduling conflicts to avoid visiting Nagasaki. Attributing to sources, Japan Times reported that PM Kishida was looking forward to making a joint trip to Nagasaki with Biden to underline his longstanding conviction of a world free of nuclear weapons. The joint message would have resonated across the world as it would have come in the context of constant threats of the Ukraine war escalating into a nuclear conflict. While his fellow Republican Barack Obama became the first US president to visit Hiroshima in 2016 when he had attended the G7 Summit, Biden will forego the opportunity to become the first sitting American president to visit Nagasaki. Meanwhile, Japan Times, once again citing sources, reported that Tokyo had arranged a visit by the G7 leaders, including Biden, to the atomic bomb museum in Hiroshima. If realised, it would be the first time that the G7 heads have stopped by the museum together, the report added. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Kyiv: Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian troops are facing a very challenging situation in the eastern city of Bakhmut but he would only order a withdrawal if there was a risk of them being encircled by Russian forces. Speaking at a press conference in Poland, the Ukrainian president said currently he does not see the need to pull out his troops fighting Russian invaders in Bakhmut. For me, the most important issue is our military. And if there is a moment of even hotter events and the danger that we may lose personnel due to the encirclement, there will be corresponding correct decisions of the general on the ground, Zelenskyy said. Bakhmut has been all been destroyed in the longest and bloodiest year-long Russia-Ukraine war. Russia highly likely advanced to Bakhmut The UK Ministry of Defence Friday, in its daily update, said Russian forces have highly likely advanced into the [Bakhmut] town centre, and has seized the West Bank of the Bakhmutka River. It further warned that Ukraines key supply route to the west of the town is expected to be severely threatened. Meanwhile, Ukrainian soldiers in trenches just outside Bakhmut said they were geared up for a long-anticipated counter-offensive once the weather improves. A report by Al Jazeera said that Russian forces spearheaded by mercenaries of the Wagner Group seized the centre of Bakhmut during, yet Ukrainian defenders were still holding the Russian army at bay, and their commanders said the Russian offensive was now clearly waning. Geolocated footage showed Wagner mercenaries made advances into the centre of Bakhmut on March 31 and were within 400 metres (1,300 feet) of the town hall. Couple of days later, following an overnight battle Zelenskyy described as especially hot, geolocated footage showed Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin raising a Russian flag over the city hall. In an audio message, Prigozhin said: From a legal point of view, Bakhmut has been taken. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Collusion between U.S. and Taiwan leads to a dead end 15:16, April 07, 2023 By Chen Zi ( People's Daily Online Cartoon by Tan Xiguang In disregard of China's solemn representation and repeated warnings, the United States allowed Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen to make a "transit" trip through the U. S. and hold a high-profile meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the third highest-ranking official of the U.S. government. Other U.S. officials and lawmakers also had contacts with Tsai and provided the platform for her separatist rhetoric for Taiwan independence. The "transit" trip is essentially a provocative move taken by the Taiwan leader to seek independence by soliciting support from the U.S. It has drawn firm opposition and strong indignation from people in Taiwan. The Taiwan question is at the very core of China's core interests, the bedrock of the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations. Seeking "Taiwan independence" leads to a dead end. By supporting separatist forces advocating "Taiwan independence," the U.S. side has exposed its egregious nature. (Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming) A Benton County task force has released its full findings from months of research into Coffin Butte Landfill, recommending among many suggestions that the local government proactively monitor the dumps operator as a condition of any expansion. Work group members found county officials do not actively monitor whether some landowners are meeting the conditions tied to their operating permits, as outlined in local law. The landfill's operator is among them. Instead, the county relies on complaints to enforce those conditions, despite having no readily accessible means to lodge and track those complaints. Republic Services, operating Coffin Butte as a regional landfill that serves as many as 39 counties via a franchise agreement with Benton County, assumed the company complied with Benton County upon purchasing the dump in 2008, according to a draft report. County staff and (Republic Services) were working from alternate views, report authors wrote. The 14 voting members including delegates from county trash and planning advisory bodies, Republic Services and the public comprising the task force broadly agreed Benton County can do better ahead of drafting the plan that will guide the agency in how it oversees solid waste in the county, regardless of Republic expands the landfill or not. Republic withdrew its expansion plans a year ago after the county Planning Commission denied the landfill operator a new permit. Initially, the company was going to appeal. Shortly after, the county formed a task force to make recommendations about the landfill, which it calls Benton County Talks Trash. The work group has a draft circulating of its vision for solid waste management. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Corvallis Gazette-Times. The workload ballooned as the task force broke into subcommittees examining solid waste and Coffin Butte through lenses of county process, state law and history. County officials budgeted about $63,000 for the contractor hired to facilitate the task force before work ran about three months beyond the scheduled end date of December. Bentons elected leadership approved infusions, bringing the final Trash Talks budget to about $236,000. As recently as late March, participants said they werent comfortable with how fast they felt the group was moving through its task in guiding how Benton County should manage the flow of solid waste in the region. Marge Popp, who represented the appointed body advising county commissioners on solid waste and disposal, said in a Thursday, April 6 interview that she felt Benton County has signaled the government isnt taking seriously its commitments laid out in the 2040 Thriving Communities Initiative. I certainly wish that the county did take those values more seriously, Popp said. Benton County has not received another application from Republic for an expansion and had committed on holding off until hearing elected official and public input on the Talks Trash findings. The Board of Commissioners is scheduled to hear a report from the work group on Tuesday, April 11, which will open a period of public comment, expected to end May 26. Related stories: A local poet, Linda Chisholm, has dedicated a book of poetry, What Does One Say, to the Corvallis Sister Cities Association Refugee Fund prior to her passing. Copies are for sale at $25 each. Contact Carol Trueba, Caroltrueba@gmail.com or 541-760-8081, for details. Local artists Isabella and Allessandra Bakker have painted two sunflower pictures, Field of Hope and Rise. They were reproduced by Kathy Rackham King and are available as greeting cards or posters. Four notecards (two of each print) are $25, and 8x10 prints are $25 each. Contact Carol Trueba, Caroltrueba@gmail.com or 541-760-8081, to purchase. Nigerian Writer, Chimamanda Criticizes US, UK For Congratulating Tinubu, Calls Election Flawed amasan1 at 7-04-2023 08:13 AM (2 weeks ago) (m) Notable Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie criticized the US and the UK for congratulating Nigerias president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, despite the flawed elections. Notable Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie criticized the US and the UK for congratulating Nigerias president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, despite the flawed elections. In an article published in The Atlantic on Thursday, Adichie also mentioned that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed to fulfil its promise to upload election results from polling units in real-time via its result viewing portal. Chimamanda noted that the congratulatory statement from the US State Department itself acknowledged that Nigerians were frustrated with the flawed process. She urged Biden and Rishi not to endorse the results of an undemocratic process and to take action towards the current state of Nigeria. Chimamanda Adichies Open Letter to US Biden and UKs Rishi In an article published in The Atlantic on Thursday, Adichie also mentioned that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed to fulfil its promise to upload election results from polling units in real-time via its result viewing portal.Chimamanda noted that the congratulatory statement from the US State Department itself acknowledged that Nigerians were frustrated with the flawed process. She urged Biden and Rishi not to endorse the results of an undemocratic process and to take action towards the current state of Nigeria.Chimamanda Adichies Open Letter to US Biden and UKs Rishi Quote How surprising then to see the U.S. State Department congratulate Tinubu on March 1. We understand that many Nigerians and some of the parties have expressed frustration about the manner in which the process was conducted and the shortcomings of technical elements that were used for the first time in a presidential election cycle. And yet the process was described as a competitive election that represents a new period for Nigerian politics and democracy. American intelligence surely cannot be so inept. A little homework and they would know what is manifestly obvious to me and so many others: The process was imperilled not by technical shortcomings but by deliberate manipulation. I hope, President Biden, that you do not personally share this cordial condescension. You have spoken of the importance of a global community for democracy, and the need to stand up for justice and the rule of law. A global community for democracy cannot thrive in the face of apathy from its most powerful member. Why would the United States, which prioritizes the rule of law, endorse a president-elect who has emerged from an unlawful process? I hope it will not surprise you, President Biden, if I argue that the American response to the Nigerian election also bears the faint taint of that word, compromised, because it is so removed from the actual situation in Nigeria as to be disingenuous. Has the United States once again decided that what matters in Africa is not democracy but stability? (Perhaps you could tell British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who quickly congratulated Tinubu, that an illegitimate government in a country full of frustrated young people does not portend stability.) Or is it about that ever-effulgent nemesis China, as so much of U.S. foreign policy now invariably seems to be? The battle for influence in Africa will not be won by supporting the same undemocratic processes for which China is criticized. Post Reply I am an investigative reporter at Gistmania, I conduct fact-finding investigative journalism. Posted: at 7-04-2023 08:13 AM (2 weeks ago) | Hero Panaki at 7-04-2023 08:22 AM (2 weeks ago) (m) So. The description of a free and fair plus credible election in Nigeria is if Peter Obi had been allowed to win in the same circumstances? Stories such as this is causing big division amongst the major ethnic groups in Nigeria. Posted: at 7-04-2023 08:22 AM (2 weeks ago) | Upcoming So. The description of a free and fair plus credible election in Nigeria is if Peter Obi had been allowed to win in the same circumstances?Stories such as this is causing big division amongst the major ethnic groups in Nigeria. Reply Panaki at 7-04-2023 08:25 AM (2 weeks ago) (m) Regardless of anyones personal feelings and preference, the election has produced a winner who will be sworn in on the 29th of May in accordance with the laws of this country and the democratic norms we have kept since 1999 when we won back our freedom after years of bloody struggle. It is totally unbecoming for somebody to risk all of that just because his wet dream of seizing power was denied by the majority of Nigerians and for him to feel emboldened to go on television to spread inciting and seditious comments. This cannot just end at words; we must take action to ensure that there is never a repeat of such thoughtless action capable of throwing our country into chaos. Posted: at 7-04-2023 08:25 AM (2 weeks ago) | Upcoming Regardless of anyones personal feelings and preference, the election has produced a winner who will be sworn in on the 29th of May in accordance with the laws of this country and the democratic norms we have kept since 1999 when we won back our freedom after years of bloody struggle.It is totally unbecoming for somebody to risk all of that just because his wet dream of seizing power was denied by the majority of Nigerians and for him to feel emboldened to go on television to spread inciting and seditious comments.This cannot just end at words; we must take action to ensure that there is never a repeat of such thoughtless action capable of throwing our country into chaos. Reply olowoinlionsden at 7-04-2023 08:38 AM (2 weeks ago) (m) One of the overratd Idiots attempting to make a God of some demented Demagogue. Posted: at 7-04-2023 08:38 AM (2 weeks ago) | Gistmaniac One of the overratd Idiots attempting to make a God of some demented Demagogue. Reply fineboy77 at 7-04-2023 08:49 AM (2 weeks ago) (m) The wheels of justice is set. The stolen mandate must be reclaimed. What is the color beneath your skin? Posted: at 7-04-2023 08:49 AM (2 weeks ago) | Hero The wheels of justice is set. The stolen mandate must be reclaimed. Reply Olandetujaa at 7-04-2023 08:51 AM (2 weeks ago) (m) You will explain better in your poetry the meaning of ''unlawful process'' is it a process where an independent body conducted an election and declare the winner as stipulated by law or a process that gave opposition the victory in Lagos for over 20 years. So pathetic you are even insinuating Africa to be a modern slave under the influence of USA at the expense of China, We need freedom and prosperity for Nigeria and Africa as a whole under the leadership of Asiwaju Posted: at 7-04-2023 08:51 AM (2 weeks ago) | Gistmaniac You will explain better in your poetry the meaning of ''unlawful process'' is it a process where an independent body conducted an election and declare the winner as stipulated by law or a process that gave opposition the victory in Lagos for over 20 years.So pathetic you are even insinuating Africa to be a modern slave under the influence of USA at the expense of China, We need freedom and prosperity for Nigeria and Africa as a whole under the leadership of Asiwaju Reply coach01 at 7-04-2023 09:57 AM (2 weeks ago) (m) It is unfortunate that some commentators have deliberately decided to close their eyes or shun every sense of reason to the fact that INEC failure to upload results directly to his portal as earlier agreed was a violation of law and trust of Nigerian imposed on her. This should be a matter of concern to all interested in the democratic stability of Nigeria Posted: at 7-04-2023 09:57 AM (2 weeks ago) | Newbie It is unfortunate that some commentators have deliberately decided to close their eyes or shun every sense of reason to the fact that INEC failure to upload results directly to his portal as earlier agreed was a violation of law and trust of Nigerian imposed on her. This should be a matter of concern to all interested in the democratic stability of Nigeria Reply Panaki at 7-04-2023 11:54 AM (2 weeks ago) (m) I still don't understand why some people are baking their argument on the fact INEC dud not transmit the result on their portal for everyone to see. INEC are not under any legislative obligation to do so. They could decide to change their tactics at anytime. If INEC had gonecagead with this transmission. Some hackers have got their tools ready to hijack this transmission and send out fake results that'll favour them. Hence reason Dino Melaye was frothing in the mouth in front of INEC chairman. All he was persistently asking was "But you promised to transmit the result live, why did you changed your decision" He knew INEC has foiled their plan. If you as a combatant batallion leader was heading to a war. Suddenly you were informed the enemies are laying ambush somewhere fir your troops. Would you change your route and tactics or stupidly carry on and lead your team on the same dangerous route? Posted: at 7-04-2023 11:54 AM (2 weeks ago) | Upcoming I still don't understand why some people are baking their argument on the fact INEC dud not transmit the result on their portal for everyone to see.INEC are not under any legislative obligation to do so. They could decide to change their tactics at anytime.If INEC had gonecagead with this transmission. Some hackers have got their tools ready to hijack this transmission and send out fake results that'll favour them. Hence reason Dino Melaye was frothing in the mouth in front of INEC chairman. All he was persistently asking was "But you promised to transmit the result live, why did you changed your decision"He knew INEC has foiled their plan. If you as a combatant batallion leader was heading to a war. Suddenly you were informed the enemies are laying ambush somewhere fir your troops. Would you change your route and tactics or stupidly carry on and lead your team on the same dangerous route? Reply mirolam at 7-04-2023 12:42 PM (2 weeks ago) (f) Well written. About time someone wrote to these world leaders. The truth is EVERYONE know that the only reason INEC did not upload result in real time was because they had to rig the election for Tinubu to be SELECTED. Its not something new for INEC. Rigging has been the norm but this time they did not expect this type of scrutiny and people calling them out. They taught by now everyone must have forgotten about it and moved on but it seems like everyday their selected winner and INEC is kept uneasy and people calling out their broad day light robbery wont just go away. Tinubu did not win this election. Even his supporters know that like day and night or they chose to close their eyes to the truth. Which is their choice. INEC chairman and Tinubu know what happened. The rigging was too obvious. So many proof of rigging all over the place. Its not about OBI winning. Its about peoples vote reflecting but it did. If INEC chose not to upload result then what about written figure manipulations, ballot snatching, thuggery and voters intimidation. I know one day that this animals politicians put out their against their opponents will turn against them and destroy them entirely. Posted: at 7-04-2023 12:42 PM (2 weeks ago) | Upcoming Well written. About time someone wrote to these world leaders. The truth is EVERYONE know that the only reason INEC did not upload result in real time was because they had to rig the election for Tinubu to be SELECTED. Its not something new for INEC. Rigging has been the norm but this time they did not expect this type of scrutiny and people calling them out. They taught by now everyone must have forgotten about it and moved on but it seems like everyday their selected winner and INEC is kept uneasy and people calling out their broad day light robbery wont just go away.Tinubu did not win this election. Even his supporters know that like day and night or they chose to close their eyes to the truth. Which is their choice. INEC chairman and Tinubu know what happened. The rigging was too obvious. So many proof of rigging all over the place. Its not about OBI winning. Its about peoples vote reflecting but it did. If INEC chose not to upload result then what about written figure manipulations, ballot snatching, thuggery and voters intimidation. I know one day that this animals politicians put out their against their opponents will turn against them and destroy them entirely. Reply Kormeijama at 7-04-2023 12:51 PM (2 weeks ago) (m) You silly goat, no where in this prolific literature did this learned beautiful lady spoke abut Obi or LP or LP. But again you're what you're a reflection of the darkness Tinubu and others cultivate for the country Posted: at 7-04-2023 12:51 PM (2 weeks ago) | Gistmaniac You silly goat, no where in this prolific literature did this learned beautiful lady spoke abut Obi or LP or LP. But again you're what you're a reflection of the darkness Tinubu and others cultivate for the country Reply blowout at 7-04-2023 03:21 PM (2 weeks ago) (m) Nwa nnem God bless you. The truth is the truth. Tinubu did not win the presidential election. INEC rigged massively for Tinubu. Posted: at 7-04-2023 03:21 PM (2 weeks ago) | Gistmaniac Nwa nnem God bless you. The truth is the truth. Tinubu did not win the presidential election. INEC rigged massively for Tinubu. Reply Panaki at 7-04-2023 04:14 PM (2 weeks ago) (m) Association of frustrated electoral failures. Trust me, your candidate would never win election in in the next 20 years lol Posted: at 7-04-2023 04:14 PM (2 weeks ago) | Upcoming Association of frustrated electoral failures.Trust me, your candidate would never win election in in the next 20 years lol Reply mirolam at 7-04-2023 05:01 PM (2 weeks ago) (f) When robbery/stealing is in their bloodstreams then calling o seeing this election as a fraud is hurting to their ears. They have robbed their way through life and when truth is called out they say its electoral failure. Was this electoral failure or electoral robbery. How do you even begin to arrest, convict arm robbery, criminals and kidnappers when you even robbed others to get to where you are in life. Posted: at 7-04-2023 05:01 PM (2 weeks ago) | Upcoming When robbery/stealing is in their bloodstreams then calling o seeing this election as a fraud is hurting to their ears.They have robbed their way through life and when truth is called out they say its electoral failure. Was this electoral failure or electoral robbery. How do you even begin to arrest, convict arm robbery, criminals and kidnappers when you even robbed others to get to where you are in life. Reply DSS, Police Given 48 Hours To Arrest Fani-Kayode Over Inciting Comments Against Peter Obi amasan1 at 7-04-2023 09:30 AM (2 weeks ago) (m) The Department of State Services, DSS, and Nigeria Police Force have been given 48 hours to arrest a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Femi Fani-Kayode. The Department of State Services, DSS, and Nigeria Police Force have been given 48 hours to arrest a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Femi Fani-Kayode. The Nigerian Democratic Youth Front, NDYF, warned the if Fani-Kayode is not arrested for his inciting comments, Nigeria will soon be set ablaze. The group accused Fani-Kayode of inciting the people against Labour Party's Peter Obi, saying that his utterances are injudicious, uncultured and inflammatory, capable of sparking widespread civil disturbance and national insecurity. The group berated Fani-Kayode for saying Muslims would be an endangered specie if Labour Partys Peter Obi was declared winner of the presidential election. They noted that Fani-Kayodes remark was uncalled-for. He made the call while cautioning the Federal Government on the dangers of indulging Fani-Kayode and his insensitive and inciting comments. Addressing a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, NDYF president, Gideon Obong and Secretary General, Usman Ahmed Yahaya said: The Nigerian Democratic Youth Front, NDYF, warned the if Fani-Kayode is not arrested for his inciting comments, Nigeria will soon be set ablaze.The group accused Fani-Kayode of inciting the people against Labour Party's Peter Obi, saying that his utterances are injudicious, uncultured and inflammatory, capable of sparking widespread civil disturbance and national insecurity.The group berated Fani-Kayode for saying Muslims would be an endangered specie if Labour Partys Peter Obi was declared winner of the presidential election.They noted that Fani-Kayodes remark was uncalled-for.He made the call while cautioning the Federal Government on the dangers of indulging Fani-Kayode and his insensitive and inciting comments.Addressing a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, NDYF president, Gideon Obong and Secretary General, Usman Ahmed Yahaya said: Quote Fani-Kayode had in one of his recent senseless rants on Twitter attempted to defame Obi before our Muslim brothers and sisters by gloating that the purported leaked telephone conversation between him and Bishop Oyedepo makes him unfit to lead a multi-religious, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural state as a hater of non-Christians. But a man driven by avarice and prejudice like Fani-Kayode would even feign ignorance to get his already dirty self dirtier for scrubs. Nigeria Police and the Department of State Security to arrest Femi Fani-Kayode within 48 hours before he set the country in flames. Post Reply I am an investigative reporter at Gistmania, I conduct fact-finding investigative journalism. Posted: at 7-04-2023 09:30 AM (2 weeks ago) | Hero kp45 at 7-04-2023 10:29 AM (2 weeks ago) (m) In a country were grandpa's are now the leaders of tomorrow. Failed state Posted: at 7-04-2023 10:29 AM (2 weeks ago) | Hero In a country were grandpa's are now the leaders of tomorrow. Failed state Reply Panaki at 7-04-2023 12:04 PM (2 weeks ago) (m) Beautiful Nonsense and Nonsense Nonsense!!!! That's a very good suggestion! Hang on. Has Ahmed Datti been arrested by DSS? Going by the recent Yes Daddy leaked conversation between Peter Obi and David Oyedepo. The Obi should be arrested for saying the election is a Religious war. What a balderdash! Posted: at 7-04-2023 12:04 PM (2 weeks ago) | Upcoming Beautiful Nonsense and Nonsense Nonsense!!!!That's a very good suggestion! Hang on. Has Ahmed Datti been arrested by DSS? Going by the recent Yes Daddy leaked conversation between Peter Obi and David Oyedepo. The Obi should be arrested for saying the election is a Religious war.What a balderdash! Reply fineboy77 at 7-04-2023 12:43 PM (2 weeks ago) (m) The poorly doctored audio which is the only thing that they could muster yet against OBI died on arrival. You make yourself seem stupid by shouting about a fake audio up and down. Find concrete things against the man, you know, something like indictment documents or court convictions What is the color beneath your skin? Posted: at 7-04-2023 12:43 PM (2 weeks ago) | Hero The poorly doctored audio which is the only thing that they could muster yet against OBI died on arrival. You make yourself seem stupid by shouting about a fake audio up and down. Find concrete things against the man, you know, something like indictment documents or court convictions Reply Dopybadass at 7-04-2023 01:04 PM (2 weeks ago) (m) Arrest him and kill him Posted: at 7-04-2023 01:04 PM (2 weeks ago) | Gistmaniac Arrest him and kill him Reply Dopybadass at 7-04-2023 01:07 PM (2 weeks ago) (m) Quote from: fineboy77 on 7-04-2023 12:43 PM The poorly doctored audio which is the only thing that they could muster yet against OBI died on arrival. You make yourself seem stupid by shouting about a fake audio up and down. Find concrete things against the man, you know, something like indictment documents or court convictions Posted: at 7-04-2023 01:07 PM (2 weeks ago) | Gistmaniac Ah just taya oh,they are just looking for every possible ways to bring down Peter obi,but there evil plans will not work, fools Reply Olandetujaa at 7-04-2023 01:33 PM (2 weeks ago) (m) Every lie has an expiry date! The lies he sold to the church and to igbos to cause ethnic and religious divisions will come back to hunt him Posted: at 7-04-2023 01:33 PM (2 weeks ago) | Gistmaniac Every lie has an expiry date! The lies he sold to the church and to igbos to cause ethnic and religious divisions will come back to hunt him Reply angelzizi at 7-04-2023 02:14 PM (2 weeks ago) (f) Quote from: fineboy77 on 7-04-2023 12:43 PM The poorly doctored audio which is the only thing that they could muster yet against OBI died on arrival. You make yourself seem stupid by shouting about a fake audio up and down. Find concrete things against the man, you know, something like indictment documents or court convictions Posted: at 7-04-2023 02:14 PM (2 weeks ago) | Gistmaniac Ignore the ignorant, I'm beginning to realise the leaders are not the main problem but Nigerians themselves, majority of them are so mentally blind and emotionally damaged that's why they're being led by anyone cos they clearly cannot see well enough to choose a competent leader. Such a pity! Reply angelzizi at 7-04-2023 03:19 PM (2 weeks ago) (f) Quote from: Olandetujaa on 7-04-2023 01:33 PM Every lie has an expiry date! The lies he sold to the church and to igbos to cause ethnic and religious divisions will come back to hunt him What lies exactly? That he's 71 when his 1st child is 61? Oh, I forgot it was one of Tinubu's numerous lies, not my Obi. Posted: at 7-04-2023 03:19 PM (2 weeks ago) | Gistmaniac What lies exactly? That he's 71 when his 1st child is 61? Oh, I forgot it was one of Tinubu's numerous lies, not my Obi. Reply Panaki at 7-04-2023 04:11 PM (2 weeks ago) (m) Lol Association of frustrated electoral failures. Posted: at 7-04-2023 04:11 PM (2 weeks ago) | Upcoming LolAssociation of frustrated electoral failures. Reply Liebesmith at 7-04-2023 05:22 PM (2 weeks ago) (m) Quote from: Panaki on 7-04-2023 12:04 PM Beautiful Nonsense and Nonsense Nonsense!!!! That's a very good suggestion! Hang on. Has Ahmed Datti been arrested by DSS? Going by the recent Yes Daddy leaked conversation between Peter Obi and David Oyedepo. The Obi should be arrested for saying the election is a Religious war. What a balderdash! Panaki-now i know you have coconut brain,because you talk like a man without sense .dummkopf Posted: at 7-04-2023 05:22 PM (2 weeks ago) | Newbie Panaki-now i know you have coconut brain,because you talk like a man without sense .dummkopf Reply Panaki at 7-04-2023 06:01 PM (2 weeks ago) (m) Lol Let's get ready for 29th May inauguration Posted: at 7-04-2023 06:01 PM (2 weeks ago) | Upcoming LolLet's get ready for 29th May inauguration Reply fineboy77 at 7-04-2023 11:45 PM (2 weeks ago) (m) Quote from: angelzizi on 7-04-2023 03:19 PM What lies exactly? That he's 71 when his 1st child is 61? Oh, I forgot it was one of Tinubu's numerous lies, not my Obi. What is the color beneath your skin? Posted: at 7-04-2023 11:45 PM (2 weeks ago) | Hero Reply Microsoft Bing AI Chat Is Now Within SwiftKey Keyboard: Heres How Android Users Can Benefit Features oi -Alap Naik Desai The SwiftKey Keyboard app for Android now has Microsoft Bing AI search powered by ChatGPT. Microsoft claims the Bing AI Chatbot will add multiple features and benefits offered by the Generative AI platform. Android smartphone, tablet, and even Smart TV users can now use ChatGPT directly without heading to the platform's website. Users need to merely install and use the SwiftKey Keyboard app on their devices instead of the standard virtual keyboard app. Microsoft Swiftkey Beta Keyboard Integrates Bing AI Bot Pedram Rezaei, Microsoft's Chief Technology Officer for Mobile and Commerce Division, confirmed Microsoft had added ChatGPT-powered Bing AI Chatbot to the SwiftKey Keyboard app for Android. Did we just add major AI functionality to @SwiftKey? Slowly rolling out. Get yourself onto the Beta channel to taste the future. Pedram Rezaei (@pedram_re) April 6, 2023 It is important to note that the SwiftKey Keyboard app with the new Bing AI bot is currently available only for Android. Several people responded to Rezaei's tweet asking about an iOS version of the SwiftKey beta. However, there's been no response yet. Microsoft had considered removing the SwiftKey keyboard for Apple's iOS from the App Store last year. However, the company reconsidered and continued offering the app to iPhone users. So, Microsoft may offer the app with Bing AI bot to iPhone users soon. How To Use Microsoft Swiftkey Beta Keyboard With Bing AI Bot? Google's Android allows users to install and use third-party keyboard apps instead of the one that ships with the device. The SwiftKey Keyboard is one of the popular alternatives. Users have to install the beta version of the SwiftKey Keyboard app from the Google Play Store. However, users can retain the stable version if they have installed the same and switch back and forth whenever needed. By selecting the new SwiftKey beta as the keyboard on an Android device, users can search for information via Bing, ask the ChatGPT AI to rewrite a composed text, chat with the Generative AI platform to create or receive specific content and perform most of the other tasks that are performed in the standalone version of ChatGPT. Microsoft doesn't mandate creating or using a Microsoft account. Users can skip logging in and continue to use the ChatGPT-powered Bing AI directly from within the Swiftkey Keyboard app. Microsoft is rapidly integrating ChatGPT within its other products. The company recently offered updated Bing and Edge browser apps with the Generative AI platform and plans to do the same with MS Word, MS Outlook, and other products. Best Mobiles in India Fiji Investigates Allegations of Chinese Spying By Phil Mercer April 06, 2023 Fiji's prime minster has raised concerns about allegations of Chinese espionage. Sitiveni Rabuka is investigating claims that the Chinese government spied on a senior Pacific leader while he was visiting Fiji. Rabuka became Fiji's prime minister for the third time last December. He led two military coups in the South Pacific nation in 1987 and led the country in the 1990s. His government is investigating allegations from the outgoing president of the Federated States of Micronesia, David Panuelo, that Chinese agents followed him during a recent trip to Fiji. Panuelo has been a vocal critic of Beijing. Last month, he wrote to Micronesia's legislature accusing China of spying, bribing local politicians and attempting to subvert the nation's sovereignty. Speaking to the Australian Broadcasting Corp's The Pacific program, Rabuka stressed the allegations of espionage in Fiji were not yet proven, but they were being taken seriously. "For someone to feel threatened by another power while in the dominion of Fiji, is almost a slap in the face," Rabuka said. "So, we need to be sure that actually happened and if it did happen how do we address it?" There has been no response so far to the allegations from China. It has had bilateral security and policing agreements with Fiji for more than a decade. But Rabuka has continued his predecessor's gradual diplomatic shift away from Beijing. Earlier this year he canceled a key law enforcement accord with China because of differences between the two countries' legal systems. Rabuka told Australian media that Beijing should continue to be a "development partner" in Fiji. In 2022, China signed a security accord with Solomon Islands, a strategically located, mostly Melanesian chain of islands northeast of Australia. China failed to persuade other nations to join a broader region accord, but Australia and its allies are concerned about Beijing's military and diplomatic ambitions in the South Pacific. Australia has intensified its efforts in the region in the past year since the election of a center-left government in Canberra. Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong conceded that Pacific leaders had been "ignored" and "disrespected" by Australia in the past. Echoing the concerns of Pacific leaders, Wong said that climate change was an 'existential threat' to the island nations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address After Action Review on Afghanistan Press Statement Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State April 6, 2023 In December of 2021, I asked Ambassador Dan Smith to lead an After Action Review of the Department of State's execution of its duties related to ending the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan. The After Action Review covers the period from January 2020 to the end of August 2021 and the completion of the U.S. military withdrawal. I directed this review because I believe we have an obligation to our workforce, our institution, our partners in Congress, and the American people to learn from the lessons of this chapter in U.S. foreign policy. The After Action Review, which we are now making available to relevant Congressional committees, produced a series of findings on how the Department planned for and carried out its missions during this period. It also provided detailed recommendations that we are already taking steps to implement. These include strengthening the Department's overall contingency planning, crisis preparedness, and response capabilities. The State Department's greatest asset is its people, including an extraordinary group of dedicated and talented professionals who worked tirelessly on the ground in Kabul, in Washington, and at other sites domestically and abroad to evacuate and assist as many people as possible during that period. Their efforts, and the efforts of all from our Department who served in Afghanistan over two decades as well our Afghan partners who served alongside them, deserve our highest praise and gratitude, and we continue to honor them through our work going forward. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'The world cannot abandon the people': Top humanitarian official in Afghanistan 6 April 2023 - A Taliban decision banning women from working for the UN inside Afghanistan, will have devastating consequence for aid delivery, the UN's top humanitarian official in the country warned on Thursday. Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, said that amid severe underfunding, the move would "further undermine humanitarian partners' ability to support the population, especially the most vulnerable such as women and girls". "The world cannot abandon the people of Afghanistan at this precarious moment," Dr. Alakbarov insisted, before urging the international community "not to punish the Afghan people further by withholding critical funding". Multiple top UN officials, starting with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, have condemned the latest Taliban decision. On Wednesday, the deputy UN chief, Amina Mohammed, pledged continued engagement by UN leadership with Taliban representatives to resolve the situation. Grim precedent In a statement on Wednesday, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said Special Representative Roza Otunbayeva, was engaging authorities at the highest level possible, as well as other Member States, the donor community and humanitarian partners, to reverse the latest Taliban decree. "In the history of the United Nations, no other regime has ever tried to ban women from working for the Organization just because they are women. This decision represents an assault against women, the fundamental principles of the UN, and on international law," said Ms. Otunbayeva. Biggest aid operation With a record 28.3 million people in need of assistance in 2023 and a humanitarian appeal of $4.6 billion, Afghanistan is the world's largest aid operation. It is also the UN's lowest-funded operation globally, at less than five per cent. "While we continue to engage with the Taliban de-facto authorities to find a solution to these decrees, we urge the international community not to punish the Afghan people further by withholding critical funding", said the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Kabul. "Aid agencies remain on the ground delivering life-saving assistance to millions of people, and national and international NGOs have continued to implement programmes over the past three months, despite the very challenging circumstances. Keep the lifeline "The population has already endured so much, it would be unconscionable to impose further harm on them by depriving them of an essential humanitarian lifeline," said Dr. Alakbarov. Over the past twenty months, Taliban leaders have issued a series of increasingly restrictive measures targeting women and girls which have sought to limit their participation in all aspects of social, economic and political life. Rights experts demand Taliban reverse course A large group of UN-appointed independent human rights experts on Thursday demanded the immediate reversal of the Taliban's ban on Afghan women working for the UN. They described it as unlawful discrimination, and a direct attack on women, "and wholly against the core values and principles" of the UN Charter, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). All Afghan lives at risk The latest ban will further hamper the delivery of critical assistance to millions of Afghans in need of urgent support, with many of the worst impacted being women and girls, they warned. "In continuing to target, exclude and isolate women and girls in Afghan society and denying women from working in many professions in Afghanistan, the Taliban is putting at risk the lives of all Afghans and jeopardising the country's future", the Human Rights Council-appointed experts said. "The Taliban is once again demonstrating its brazen disregard for women's rights and their well-being, and the extent to which they will go to remove women from all areas of public life and strip them of their rights and dignity". Lift bans immediately "The targeting of women and girls in Afghanistan and denying their fundamental rights because they are women increases concern about gender persecution, a crime against humanity, and those responsible must be held accountable," they said. "We call on the de facto authorities to immediately lift the bans on women working with national and international NGOs and the United Nations", their joint statement concluded. Special Rapporteurs and other independent experts are mandated to monitor and report on specific thematic issues or country situations. They are not UN staff and do not receive any compensation for their work. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Tensions mount in Middle East as UN reiterates need for 'maximum restraint' 6 April 2023 - The UN on Thursday condemned the multiple rockets fired into Israel from across its northern border with Lebanon, urging "all actors to exercise maximum restraint", following several days of rising tension and violence, centred around Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque. According to news reports, as yet unidentified militants fired a barrage of rockets across the border, forcing Israeli civilians to seek shelter, and wounding at least two people. Avoid unilateral action "Concerning the situation between Lebanon and Israel, I can tell you that we condemn the multiple rockets being fired from Lebanon into northern Israel today", said UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, briefing reporters at UN Headquarters in New York. He said that the The UN Interim Force in Lebanon UNIFIL, "remains in contact with authorities on both sides" of the Blue Line - the frontier set by the UN in 2000 for the purposes of confirming Israeli withdrawal following its invasion of southern Lebanon. Mr. Dujarric urge the parties to liaise with UN peacekeepers "and avoid any unilateral action that could further escalate the situation." Wider escalation 'must be avoided' In a tweet, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, also condemned the launch of "indiscriminate rockets" from Lebanon, which he said was the largest incursion by rocket fire since 2006. "It is unacceptable and must stop. A wider escalation must be avoided", he added. The latest developments in the north, added to tension between Israelis and Palestinians over security and access to a site holy to both Jews and Muslims alike, the Al-Aqsa mosque complex - which is the third most revered site in Islam, and home to the central mosque also known to Palestinians as Al-Qibli. On Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that he had been "shocked and appalled" by images of violence between Israeli security forces and Palestinian worshippers, inside the mosque that day. Israeli forces stormed the Al-Qibli mosque overnight, arresting hundreds of people, amid chaotic scenes of beatings, and fireworks being let off. 'Blatantly excessive' use of force - independent expert On Thursday, the UN Human Rights Council-appointed independent expert on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, condemned what she termed the "violent incursions" by Israeli forces on the compound overall, and attacks on worshippers inside the mosque. "As Palestinian Muslims gathered for Ramadan prayers exercising their right to worship in Al-Aqsa Mosque, Israeli authorities used blatantly excessive and unjustified force against them," said Special Rapporteur, Francesca Albanese. She said at least 31 Palestinians had been reportedly injured during Wednesday's raid, adding that paramedics had allegedly been prevented from providing medical treatment to the wounded. In a press release, she said that Israeli forces had violently entered the mosque, according to initial accounts, used stun grenades and tear gas, fired sponge-tipped bullets, and indiscriminately beat Muslim worshippers with batons and rifle butts. She said that at least 450 Palestinian men were reportedly arrested, and some were kicked and slapped by escorting soldiers as they were led out. 'Reckless and unlawful' Ms. Albanese deplored the "reckless and unlawful" actions of Israeli forces, which reportedly allowed some 165 Jewish Israelis to enter the compound, in violation of the Status Quo Agreement, which she indicated that Israel was "bound to respect". "The well-known desire of Israeli settlers to either destroy the mosque or forcibly convert all or part of the compound into a synagogue, as happened to the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, is a source of deep anxiety among Palestinians," she said. She added that it was "imperative that all parties comply with international law, without exception...Failure to do so fuels and perpetuates the culture of injustice and impunity." Special Rapporteurs like Ms. Albanese, and other UN Human Rights Council-appointed independent experts, are mandated to monitor and report on specific thematic issues or country situations. They are not UN staff and do not receive any compensation for their work. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chaotic US Withdrawal from Afghanistan is Trump's Fault, Biden Review Says By Patsy Widakuswara April 06, 2023 The White House pinned most of the blame for the chaotic U.S. military exit from Afghanistan in 2021 on the previous administration in a publicly released summary of classified reports sent to Congress on Thursday by the departments of State and Defense. President Joe Biden was "severely constrained" by conditions created by his predecessor, President Donald Trump, said the document outlining after-action reports examining the widely criticized withdrawal. "While it was always the president's intent to end that war, it is also undeniable that decisions made and the lack of planning done by the previous administration significantly limited options available," said John Kirby, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, during a briefing to reporters Thursday. The 12-page summary blamed Trump for a series of American troop drawdowns from Afghanistan and for negotiating the 2020 Doha Agreement with the Taliban, under which the United States agreed to withdraw all U.S. forces by May 2021. "During the transition from the Trump Administration to the Biden Administration, the outgoing Administration provided no plans for how to conduct the final withdrawal or to evacuate Americans and Afghan allies," the document said. "As a result, when President Biden took office on January 20, 2021, the Taliban were in the strongest military position that they had been in since 2001, controlling or contesting nearly half of the country," the summary said. "At the same time, the United States had only 2,500 troops on the ground the lowest number of troops in Afghanistan since 2001 and President Biden was facing President Trump's near-term deadline to withdraw all U.S. forces from Afghanistan by May 2021, or the Taliban would resume its attacks on U.S. and allied troops." The White House summary noted the assessment of the U.S. intelligence community in May 2021 that "Kabul would probably not come under serious pressure until late 2021 after U.S. troops departed." No U.S. agency predicted that the group would take over so quickly, Kirby said, nor that the Afghans would "fail to fight for their country, especially after 20 years of American support." House Republicans are likely to use the classified reports to ramp up probes into the administration's handling of the military exit from Afghanistan. "John Kirby's comments during today's White House press briefing were disgraceful and insulting," House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, a Republican lawmaker, said in a statement Thursday. "President Biden made the decision to withdraw and even picked the exact date; he is responsible for the massive failures in planning and execution." Chaos from lack of clarity Much of the chaos during the withdrawal stems from what aid groups and evacuees have described as inconsistent policies regarding which Afghans were allowed to board evacuation flights out of the country. Some of these Afghans, including those who had worked as interpreters and in other supporting roles for the U.S. military, were vulnerable to retaliation by the Taliban. Footage of dozens of desperate Afghans running after a U.S. military plane taking off from Hamid Karzai International Airport, climbing onto the landing gear and some falling to their deaths have become the defining images of the withdrawal and triggered massive criticism of the administration. Kirby took issue with reporters who characterized the withdrawal as chaotic and sidestepped a question from VOA on how the Trump administration could be responsible for the determination of who was allowed to board these evacuation flights. "Those first few days were very, very tough. They were very hectic because we didn't have a force presence at Karzai International Airport," Kirby said, adding that a "remarkable," massive evacuation process was soon established. "At one point during the evacuation there was an aircraft taking off full of people, Americans and Afghans alike, every 48 minutes. And not one single mission was missed," he added. While more than 124,000 American citizens, permanent residents and Afghans were ultimately evacuated, some planes left empty while thousands of people were stranded in Kabul. Aid groups assisting with the evacuation said that problems plaguing the airlift were mainly the result of inconsistent U.S. policies and a lack of coordination between the State Department and the Pentagon. As a result, vulnerable Afghans were left behind while those who were not at risk were evacuated. "It appears that while some elements of the Department of State and Department of Defense did an incredible job, they did so despite a lack of interagency coordination and at times incoherent direction from the White House," said Mark Jacobson, who assisted in organizing evacuees out of Afghanistan, to VOA. Jacobson served in 2006 in Afghanistan as a naval intelligence officer and from 2009-2011 as the deputy NATO representative and deputy political adviser at the International Security Assistance Force. In its summary, the White House said one of the lessons learned from the withdrawal is to "prioritize earlier evacuations when faced with a degrading security situation." It said officials have used lessons from Afghanistan to improve evacuation procedures in Ethiopia and Ukraine. "If there's any silver lining it is that they at least acknowledged what a s___ show Afghanistan was and did work much harder to consider potential courses of action in Ukraine," Jacobson said. "What remains disturbing is that despite successful efforts? to get Ukrainian refugees into the U.S., too many brave Afghans are still languishing in camps in the UAE and other third countries with no hope of getting to the United States, not to mention families left behind in Afghanistan." No regrets Biden has repeatedly said he does not regret his decision to withdraw forces from Afghanistan, arguing the U.S. spent an estimated $2 billion and lost some 2,400 American lives over two decades fighting in the country. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has also said he has "no regrets" about the withdrawal, in which 13 American soldiers and 169 Afghans were killed in a suicide bombing at the Kabul airport claimed by the Islamic State-Khorasan Province. Kirby said Biden is "very proud of the manner" in which his administration conducted the withdrawal, and the reviews done voluntarily by the departments show "how seriously the president felt about learning lessons from this withdrawal." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Tells Afghan Staff to Stay Home Until Taliban Clarifies Ban on Female Aid Workers By Akmal Dawi April 06, 2023 Afghan women and men who work for the U.N. Mission in Afghanistan stayed home Thursday while the United Nations sought clarification on the Taliban's statement ordering all local female employees to be fired because of their sex. U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in New York that the Security Council was briefed on the issue Thursday and that the organization was continuing to engage with the Taliban. "Afghan women and men are essential to all aspects of the U.N.'s work in Afghanistan. Afghan women's meaningful participation is essential to reach safely and effectively populations in need with principled and quality assistance. Afghan women will not be replaced by men," Dujarric said. This week's order by the Taliban to fire all female employees was the first time the world body has received such an order since its inception in 1945. The order followed the Islamist group's previous edicts terminating women's right to work, education and many other basic liberties. "Banning Afghan women from working with the U.N. in Afghanistan is an intolerable violation of the most basic human rights," Secretary-General Antonio Guterres tweeted on Wednesday. Some Afghan activists said the Taliban's latest order marked the time for the international community to take drastic action. "United Nations! Stand with your female employees and suspend your activities in Afghanistan," said activists from a group calling itself Afghanistan's Women Protester Movements Coalition. In a statement, the group said the U.N. should suspend its operations in Afghanistan until Afghan women were allowed to return to work. 'Don't abandon Afghans' Afghanistan is the largest humanitarian operation in the world for the U.N., requiring a $4.6 billion appeal for funding this year. More than half of Afghanistan's estimated population of 38 million suffers from severe hunger and 6 million of them are facing famine, the U.N. said. "The world cannot abandon the people of Afghanistan at this precarious moment," Ramiz Alakbarov, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Afghanistan, said in a statement on Wednesday. Despite Alakbarov's plea, the U.N. reported this week that it still was far short of funding its Afghan operations. "Despite Afghanistan being the world's largest and most severe humanitarian crisis, the 2023 appeal has received less than 5% of its requirement, making it the lowest funded aid operation globally," the U.N. humanitarian coordination body said on Monday. The drop in aid was anticipated and linked to the Taliban's bans on Afghan women. Speaking at the U.N. Security Council last month, Roza Otunbayeva, the head of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), warned that "funding for Afghanistan is likely to drop if women [are] not allowed to work." "The U.N. cannot and must not leave Afghanistan but instead [should] have a harder look as to why their approach and strategy in Afghanistan is failing," Heela Najibullah, a conflict resolution researcher at the University of Zurich, told VOA. UNAMA still talking to Taliban Established in 2002 immediately after the Taliban were ousted from power by a U.S.-led coalition, UNAMA, primarily a political mission with humanitarian and human rights priorities, has an annual budget of about $180 million, 22% of which is funded by the United States. "Taliban rulers generally view UNAMA's role less as an impartial political mission and conduit with the world and more as a proxy mission under Washington's thumb," Javid Ahmad, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, told VOA. Not recognized by any government, the Taliban have also been denied Afghanistan's permanent representation at the U.N. in New York. That has left UNAMA as the main international organization still talking to the group. "UNAMA has been managing a nearly impossible task to be tough on the Taliban ... while at the same time engaging in dialogue with the Taliban and avoiding being kicked out of the country," Scott Worden, director of Afghanistan and Central Asia programs at the U.S. Institute of Peace, told VOA. Suspending all U.N. activities would seriously exacerbate the already dire humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, but some still debate the pros and cons of suspending UNAMA's political mission. "It may prove to be a forcing mechanism and focus energy toward a faster solution to the fundamental problems of Taliban governance," Worden said, adding that such a move could shock the conscience of some Taliban members who have quietly opposed the extreme decisions of their supreme leader. But Ahmad of the Atlantic Council said walking away could empower Taliban factions who seek international isolation. "There are powerful elements among Taliban rulers who desire to establish an ideological hermit kingdom like North Korea in order to insulate themselves from external pressure in the face of internal dissent. UNAMA's disengagement will only expedite that process, something that could later become dangerously unmanageable," he said. VOA U.N. correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli military strikes targets in Lebanon following al-Aqsa retaliation Iran Press TV Friday, 07 April 2023 3:00 AM The Israeli military has announced striking certain targets inside Lebanon, from which dozens of rockets were fired earlier at the occupied territories in retaliation for the occupying regime's crackdown on Palestinian worshipers at the al-Aqsa Mosque's compound. The regime's military made the announcement at 4:07 am (0107 GMT) on Friday, sufficing to say in a short statement that it "is currently striking in Lebanon," without providing further details. Some reports specified the target of the attacks as the Rashidieh Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, which is located south of the city of Tyre. A Lebanese TV station reported explosions in the southern port city. The announcement of the strikes came hours after around three dozen rockets were fired towards the occupied territories in retaliation for the Israeli regime's recurrent attacks on Palestinian worshipers at the holy compound -- Islam's third-holiest site, which is located in the Old City of the holy occupied city of al-Quds. The violence has seen the regime's forces raiding the site and trying to evacuate the worshipers by firing stun grenades and rubber bullets. Worshipers threw objects at the Israeli troops in response. The aggression began on Wednesday, when the forces attacked the compound, beating the Palestinian worshipers there before arresting and forcing out more than 350 of them. Dozens of Palestinians were wounded as a result of the troops' violence. Also on Friday, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) cited Israeli officials as saying "they do not want war" with Lebanon. Lebanon's resistance movement of Hezbollah fought off two Israeli wars against Lebanon in 2000 and 2006, forcing a humiliating retreat upon the Tel Aviv regime's military in both cases. The movement has vowed to resolutely defend Lebanon in case of any other Israeli-imposed warfare. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 06 April 2023 - Day 407 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The UK Ministry of Defence reported that as claimed on Russian social media, the Russian MoD has highly likely dismissed Colonel-General Rustam Muradov as commander of the Eastern Group of Forces (EGF) in Ukraine. The EGF under Muradov has suffered exceptionally heavy casualties in recent months as its poorly conceived assaults repeatedly failed to capture the Donetsk Oblast town of Vuhledar. The operations attracted intense public criticism from across the spectrum of Russian commentators - including Muradov's own troops. Muradov took over the EGF after its disastrous attempt to assault Kyiv from the north-west during the initial full-scale invasion. He is the most senior Russian military dismissal of 2023 so far, but more are likely as Russia continues to fail to achieve its objectives in the Donbas. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of April 6, Russian forces launched 4x missile, 7x air strikes, more than 10x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and civilian infrastructure in various settlements. The likelihood of missile and air strikes across Ukraine still remains high. Russia continues to focus its main efforts on the offensive operations on Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Mar'inka axes. During the day of April 6, more than 20x Russian invaders' attacks were repelled. The most intense fighting is for the settlements of Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Mar'inka. Volyn, Polissya, Sivershchyna, and Slobozhanshchyna axes: no significant changes in the operational situation, no signs of the formation of Russian offensive groups were found. Certain Russian units remain stationed in the Russian Kursk and Belgorod oblasts bordering Ukraine. During the day of April 6, Russian forces shelled the settlements of Leonivka (Chernihiv oblast), Veterynarne, Neskuchne, Ohirtseve, Tykhe, Bochkove, Chuhunivka, Zarubynka, Starytsya, and Kolodyazne (Kharkiv oblast). Kup'yans'k axis: Topoli, Fyholivka, Dvorichna, Zapadne, Lyman Pershyi, Krokhmal'ne, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast), and Novoselivs'ke (Luhansk oblast oblast) were shelled by Russian forces. Lyman axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives in the vicinity of Spirne. Nevs'ke, Dibrova, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Spirne, and Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast) were shelled with artillery. Bakhmut axis: Russia continues its offensive operations, attempting to take full control of the city of Bakhmut. Fierce fighting continues. During the day of April 6, Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives in the vicinities of settlements of Orikhovo-Vasylivka and Bohdanivka. The Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled about 10x Russian attacks in this area of the front line. More than 15x settlements in the combat zone suffered from Russian shelling, including: Vasyukivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Novomarkove, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Chasiv Yar, Dyliivka, and Shumy (Donetsk Oblast). Avdiivka and Mar'inka axes: Russian forces conducted offensive operations in the vicinities of Novokalynove, Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke, and Mar'inka. None of them were successful. The fiercest fighting in this area is for Mar'inka, where 13x Russian attacks were repelled. At the same time, Avdiivka, Pervomais'ke, Mar'inka, and Pobjeda (Donetsk oblast) were shelled. Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces did not conduct any offensive operations during the day of April 6. The Russian invaders shelled the settlements of Vuhledar, Prechystivka, and Velyka Novosilka, (Donetsk oblast). Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: with no active operations, Russia continues to improve fortifications at its defensive lines and positions. Russian forces shelled more than 15x settlements. Among them are Vremivka (Donetsk oblast), Hulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Huliaipilske, Mala Tokmachka, Novodanylivka, Novoandriivka, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), and Kherson. The Russian occupation forces continue to suffer huge casualties, and local medical facilities in the temporarily occupied territories have reached their full capacity. A tent city for the wounded Russian invaders was spotted in one of the settlements of Simferopol district of the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea. As of April 4, 2023, about 100x Russian soldiers are undergoing rehabilitation in the said field camp. During the day of April 6, the Ukrainian Air Force launched 6x air strikes on the concentrations of Russian personnel and military equipment. In the meantime, missile and artillery units hit 2x Russian concentration of manpower, 2x fuel and lubricant depots, and 1x electronic warfare station. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that during the day, the Wagner offensive continued in Bakhmut, as well as in the areas of Orekhovo-Vasilevka and Bogdanovka. Attacks were made on enemy positions in the areas of Vasyukovka, Novomarkovo, Krasny, Chasov Yar, Dyleevka. There is no talk of withdrawing units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from Bakhmut, despite reports in the media. This was stated by businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin. According to him, Ukrainian troops organized a defense inside the city - first by rail, then in the area of high-rise buildings in the west. The businessman added that, in the event of a withdrawal from Bakhmut, the enemy would take up defensive positions on the outskirts of the city and in the area of Chasov Yar. The situation in other directions DPR During the day, Ukrainian troops opened fire on Donetsk, as well as the settlements of Vladimirovka, Yasinovataya, Nikolskoye, Gorlovka. In Donetsk, a car park was hit, 9 people were killed, 7 more were injured. Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Acting Head of the DPR Denis Pushilin to discuss the situation in the republic and a number of economic issues, including the construction of a water conduit from the Don. According to Pushilin, its construction will be saving for the region. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that over 175 Ukrainian servicemen and military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a US-made counter-battery radar AN / TPQ-50 were destroyed during the day in the Donetsk, South-Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions. Also hit was a warehouse of rocket and artillery weapons of Ukrainian troops in Sergeevka, in the Avdiivka area - the command post of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In addition, an attempt by the enemy to counterattack in the direction of Vodyany and Nikolsky was thwarted. LC During the day, Ukrainian troops attacked Lisichansk using a 155 mm artillery gun. 3 civilians were killed, one was injured. Vladimir Putin met with Acting Head of the LPR Leonid Pasechnik. The latter told the president about the situation in the republic, noting that the Armed Forces of Ukraine began to shell the territory of the region less often. Nevertheless, the situation remains tense, Pasechnik added. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation during the briefing reported that during the day strikes were carried out on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of Chervonaya Dibrova and Chervonopopovka. Up to 80 Ukrainian servicemen and a large amount of equipment were destroyed. Retired Lieutenant Colonel of the People's Militia of the LPR Andrei Marochko said that Ukrainian troops are compensating for the shortage of personnel in the Kupyansk direction with long-range fire weapons on the second and third lines of defense. At the same time, regular shelling by the allied forces disrupts the rotational activities carried out by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Zaporozhye region Vladimir Putin met with Acting Head of the Zaporozhye Region Yevgeny Balitsky. One of the main topics of conversation was the transport infrastructure of the region. Kherson region Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Acting Governor of Kherson Region Vladimir Saldo. During the conversation, the head of state discussed with the official gas supply and the agricultural industry of the region - in particular, the topic of creating an agro-industrial cluster in the region was touched upon. During the day, about 20 Ukrainian servicemen were liquidated in the Kherson direction, the Russian Defense Ministry reported. 2 vehicles and a self-propelled howitzer "Acacia" were destroyed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address April 6, 2023 By David Vergun , DOD News Leaders Say TikTok Is Potential Cybersecurity Risk to U.S. TikTok is a "potential threat vector" to the United States, said John F. Plumb, assistant secretary of defense for space policy and principal cyber advisor to the secretary of defense. TikTok is a social media, video-hosting service owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. Members of the House Armed Services Committee's subcommittee on cyber, information technologies and innovation heard testimony from Plumb and Army Gen. Paul M. Nakasone, commander of U.S. Cyber Command, director of the National Security Agency and chief of the Central Security Service. The problem with TikTok is that a large number of Americans use it, and China may have the ability to direct misinformation through it, as well as collect data from it, said Plumb. The scale and scope of the platform is problematic. Policy makers need to be aware of these threats, be able to quantify them, and be able to take action against them, he said. Nakasone said, "If you consider one-third of the adult population receives their news from this app, one-sixth of our children are saying they're constantly on this app, if you consider that there's 150 million people every single day that are obviously touching this app, this provides a foreign nation a platform for information operations, a platform for surveillance, and a concern we have with regards to who controls that data." The department has already prohibited the use of TikTok on government phones, the general noted. "I think the broader discussion obviously rests with the policymakers now. Certainly, this is a piece that our nation has to consider," he said. There are going to be other applications like this, and there needs to be a policy in place that balances the ability to share information with protection from adversaries' ability to conduct surveillance and information operations against the United States, Nakasone said. The general said there's a difference between TikTok and American-based social media platforms. China has already said they're going to "touch the data at any time they want to touch this data. This concerns me," Nakasone said. Plumb said that for decades, China has used its cyber capabilities to steal sensitive information, intellectual property and research from U.S. public- and private-sector institutions, including the defense industrial base. "Chinese cyber intrusions are the most prolific in the world. In crisis, PRC [China's] leaders believe that achieving information dominance will enable them to seize and keep the strategic initiative, disrupt our ability to mobilize, to project and sustain the joint force, and to ensure the PRC's desired end state," Plumb said, referring to China. Plumb also testified that Russia engages in persistent, malicious cyber activities to support its global espionage campaigns, steal intellectual property, disrupt critical infrastructure and promote disinformation. Russia has also demonstrated that it uses cyber as a key component of its wartime strategy, particularly against Ukraine, he said. Other persistent cyber threats arise from North Korea, Iran and transnational criminal organizations, Plumb said. "Together, our adversaries use cyberspace to conduct operations against the Department of Defense Information Network and the U.S. homeland. They do this to weaken our allies and partners and to undermine U.S. interests," Plumb said. Plumb described actions the department has taken in both defensive and offensive cyberspace. He said the president's fiscal year 2024 budget request included $13.5 billion for cyberspace activities, prioritizing investments in cyberspace workforce, operations, research and capabilities. "Operating in cyberspace today is an essential part of the department's ability to deter aggression and ensure our nation's security," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address FBI Targets Users in Crackdown on Darknet Marketplaces By Masood Farivar April 06, 2023 Darknet users, beware: If you frequent criminal marketplaces in the internet's underbelly, think again. Chances are you're in the FBI's crosshairs. The FBI is cracking down on sites that peddle everything from guns to stolen personal data, and it is not only going after the sites' administrators but also their users. A recent surge in ransomware attacks and other malicious cyber activities has fueled the effort to shut down services that cater to online criminals. But the strategy hasn't been always effective. With each takedown, a new iteration pops up drawing users with it. Which is why the FBI is eyeing both the operators and users of these sites. "We're not only trying to attack the supply side, but we're also attacking the demand side with the users," a senior FBI official said during a Wednesday briefing on the agency's takedown of Genesis Market, a large online criminal marketplace. "There's consequences if you're going to be using these types of sites to engage in this type of activity." The darknet, the hidden part of the internet that can only be accessed by a special browser, has long been home to various criminal marketplaces and forums. One type of criminal marketplace there specializes in buying and selling illegal items, such as drugs, firearms and fraudulently obtained gift cards. Another type of market trades in sensitive data, such as stolen credit cards, bank account details and other information that can be used for criminal activity. These sites are known as "data stores." In recent years, a new breed of cyber criminals has emerged. Known as "initial access brokers," these criminals specialize in selling access to compromised computer networks. Among their customers: ransomware gangs. The takedown on Tuesday of Genesis Market, a 5-year-old criminal marketplace described by officials as an "initial access broker," offers a window into this type of cyber-criminal activity. It also shows how the FBI is increasingly going after users of criminal marketplaces and not just their administrators. U.S. officials said Genesis Market was not only a seller of stolen account access credentials but was also "one of the most prolific" initial access brokers operating on the darknet. Describing it as a "key enabler of ransomware," the Justice Department said Genesis Market sold "the type of access sought by ransomware actors to attack computer networks in the United States and around the world." The site went dark on Tuesday after the FBI, working with law enforcement agencies in nearly 20 countries, including the U.K. and Canada, took it offline and arrested nearly 120 people. In a statement, Attorney General Merrick Garland hailed the operation as "an unprecedented takedown of a major criminal marketplace that enabled cybercriminals to victimize individuals, businesses, and governments around the world." Genesis is one of two popular cyber-criminal marketplaces taken down by the FBI in the past month. In March, the FBI shut down Breach Forums, a criminal forum and marketplace that boasted more than 340,000 members. On the Breach Forums website, users discussed tools and techniques for hacking and exploiting hacked information, according to the Justice Department. "We're going after the users who leverage a service like Genesis Market, and we are doing that on a global scale," the FBI official said. To take down Genesis Market, the FBI and its international law enforcement partners seized its servers and domains. In doing so, the FBI was able to obtain information about 59,000 individual user accounts, a senior Justice Department official said during the briefing. The information included usernames, passwords, email accounts, secure messenger accounts and user histories, the official said. "And those records helped law enforcement uncover the true identities of many of the users," the official said. The users ran the gamut from online fraudsters to ransomware criminals. Some of the users were in the U.S., officials said, declining to provide any other details about them. They were among the 119 people arrested around the world in connection with Genesis Market takedown. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sunset For Baikonur? A Contract Dispute With Kazakhstan Flashes Warnings For Russia's Legendary Spaceport By Mike Eckel April 06, 2023 For nearly seven decades, Baikonur has been synonymous with the Soviet and Russian space programs. The sprawling complex on the barren steppe of southern Kazakhstan has hurled hundreds of rockets -- and ballistic missiles -- into space, playing a part in some of history's greatest spaceflight achievements: Sputnik, the world's first satellite; Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space. The complex survived the Soviet collapse, endured the economic chaos of post-Soviet Russia, and then helped position the Russian space agency now known as Roskosmos as a leader in continued space exploration. The sun, however, may be finally setting on Baikonur. For Russia, anyway. At issue is an arcane contract dispute between Roskosmos, which pays Kazakhstan around $115 million annually to lease the complex, and a Kazakh company that is partnering with Roskosmos to build a new, multibillion-dollar launch facility called Zenit-M. Kazakh authorities have seized the assets of Roskosmos's main operator at Baikonur, citing unpaid debts, and are demanding $26 million. Russian officials have made a $220 million counterclaim. Without the Zenit-M complex, Russia won't be able to launch the Soyuz-5, a next-generation rocket that Moscow hopes will replace the stalwart Proton-M. The Proton-M uses a highly toxic fuel that Kazakhstan has complained for years has polluted the landscape. Without the Soyuz-5 rocket, Russia won't be able to raise badly needed revenue from commercial satellite launches, a business in which Roskosmos had enjoyed some success until the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. "It's the latest symptom of Russia's continual decline as far as their status as a space power," said Bruce McClintock, a former defense attache at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and senior researcher on space policy at the RAND Corporation, a U.S. think tank. "I don't think Russia is going to lose access to the Baikonur launches in the near term -- maybe in the long term," he said. "I think the future of Baikonur looks very bleak," said Bart Hendrickx, a Belgium-based expert and longtime observer of the Soviet and Russian space programs. "Soyuz-5 looks like the only project that can keep Baikonur alive beyond 2030," he said. "So if these recent events would jeopardize the future of that project, then yes, that would be a big deal." "The situation is quite serious," said Nurlan Aselkan, editor in chief and publisher of the Kazakh magazine Space Research And Technology. "The situation at Baikonur is turning from a stable one -- if sluggish, let's say -- into a problematic one that needs to be resolved." Vexed At Vostochny The seeds for Russia losing Baikonur were planted with the 1991 Soviet breakup, and the question of what to do with the world's largest space complex, which -- for Russia -- was suddenly in a foreign country. For the Russian heirs to the Soviet space legacy, keeping Baikonur's infrastructure intact was paramount. In 1994, Moscow signed a 50-year lease with the Kazakh government that was later extended until 2050. Russian officials also realized they needed a viable alternative. A long-standing facility at Plesetsk in the Arkhangelsk region catered mainly to military satellite launches, due to its northern latitude. Plans were hatched in the 1990s to build a new spaceport in the Amur region in the Far East: Vostochny. With the growth in commercial-satellite launches, Russia capitalized on its reputation for reliable, low-cost rockets, garnering nearly $10 billion in revenue over the past 25 years, according to one estimate. In 2015, the Russian space program, a mishmash of engineering studios, research laboratories, manufacturing facilities, and related operations, was reorganized and put under a single government entity: Roskosmos. A bombastic former deputy prime minister and ambassador to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, was named director. The U.S. space agency NASA had partnered with Roskosmos since the 1990s, and the two agencies worked side-by-side to build and operate the International Space Station. The Russian program got a further boost in 2011, when the United States grounded its space-shuttle fleet, forcing it to rely solely on Russian vehicles to get people and cargo back and forth to the station. NASA paid up to $100 million per ride. Those launches all occurred at Baikonur. Construction at Vostochny began in 2011. The project slid into a swamp of cost overruns and endemic corruption, with the costs now estimated at $7.6 billion and climbing. The first launch, a satellite, was delayed by one year until 2016; completion, set for 2018, has been pushed back repeatedly. Of the 10 successful launches conducted to date, none have been manned. Putin and Lukashenko, getting a tour of the star-crossed/long-troubled Vostochny cosmodrome, along with Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin pic.twitter.com/jltCa4xh7u a Mike Eckel (@Mike_Eckel) April 12, 2022 Dozens of people, meanwhile, have been investigated for embezzlement and theft. Workers have gone on strike at least once for unpaid wages. In 2021, the top Russian auditor said that inspectors had turned up 30 billion rubles ($400 million) in financial irregularities at the agency in 2020. A Star-Crossed Space Agency After Russia seized Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014, Western countries, including the United States, began placing sanctions on Russian companies and top officials. Roskosmos's reputation was further dented by a series of mishaps and misadventures, including a still-unexplained man-made hole found on a Russian-built module at the station, an emergency landing of crew members returning to Earth, and a scandal involving the demotion of a respected cosmonaut. A 2021 Russian military test of an anti-satellite weapon, which spewed debris into a high-velocity orbit around Earth, potentially endangering the station, didn't help matters. Roskosmos lost its monopoly on space-station transport in 2020, when the private U.S. company SpaceX delivered astronauts to the station. Other private companies are also joining the market. The most recent mishap occurred in December, when a Soyuz capsule that was supposed to ferry two Russians and an American back to Earth sprang a leak. The incident forced NASA and Roskosmos officials to extend the trio's stay on the station and send up an emergency replacement capsule. The damaged capsule was sent back to Earth, landing in Kazakhstan on March 28. And then there's the rocket fuel. Fatal Fuel Russian, Kazakh, and Western scientists have studied the hazards of the toxic rocket fuel, which has showed up in soils in parts of northern Kazakhstan. In the early days of the Soviet space program, officials did not publicly report accidents or contamination. One such event that occurred in 1960, killing 126 people, mainly due to exposure to the toxic fuel, was kept secret until the Soviet collapse. In 2004, Russia had planned to replace its Proton rocket series with a more environmentally friendly model by 2014. The effort gained new urgency after 2013, when a Proton-M rocket carrying three satellites blew up minutes after launch from Baikonur, spewing toxic fuel, which is called heptyl. Kazakh officials were outraged and imposed a temporary ban. Russia agreed to phase out use of the Proton rocket at Baikonur by 2025. The Soyuz rockets used to ferry equipment and personnel to the space station use a different fuel mixture. The Baiterek effort involves building a launch pad -- Zenit-M -- that would ultimately be used for the Soyuz-5 rocket, and Kazakh companies signed up in a joint venture. Russia has reportedly spent around $900 million on the project, including the rocket itself. But the project has dragged on, in large part because of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the sweeping Western sanctions that targeted important Roskosmos suppliers. A 2021 target for the first launch was pushed back to 2024, and the contract dispute has now left that in doubt. Also complicating matters: a key supplier of Russian rocket components is based in Ukraine, which cut off all defense cooperation with Moscow after the invasion. The dispute over Baiterek is focused mainly on whether Roskosmos's main local subsidiary had violated its obligations by not completing a feasibility study on time. A Kazakh court ruled it had, fined it $29 million, and ordered its local assets seized. Kazakh officials also say they're reluctant to make a major investment in an already troubled project with a questionable outcome: why build a new launch pad for a new rocket when no one wants, or is able to, contract with Roskosmos? "The final term for completing the Baiterek project will be determined after the adjustment of the feasibility study," Kuat Mustafinov, the general director of the Kazakh partner in the joint venture, told the Kazakh news site InformBuro. Aselkan, the magazine publisher, downplayed any political dimension to the dispute; the court fight isn't an effort by Kazakhstan to push Russia out of Baikonur, he said. But he added that Baiterek "is currently a suitcase without a handle." He predicted Roskosmos would continue launching people and cargo from Baikonur to the space station for the next five years. 'Anything But A Reliable International Launch Source' For observers of the space program, many of the woes Roskosmos is dealing with are self-inflicted. Last year, just days before Roskosmos was set to launch the latest batch in scores of satellites for low-Earth Internet provider OneWeb, Rogozin made last-minute demands of OneWeb, including that the British government divest its stake. OneWeb refused and Roskosmos seized the satellites, which it still has not returned. OneWeb declined to provide an on-the-record statement to RFE/RL. Rogozin made some eyebrow-raising comments during his tenure as Roskosmos director, including suggesting that the man-made hole found in the Russian capsule was made deliberately by an American astronaut. Rogozin also allowed three cosmonauts on the station to pose with the flags of separatist forces in eastern Ukraine, which drew an unusual public rebuke from NASA. Days after that incident he was pushed out of his job, replaced with a more technocratic former deputy prime minister. A NASA spokesman, meanwhile, told RFE/RL that the dispute at Baiterek was not related to the space station, saying that "there are no impacts to space station operations." Roskosmos did not respond to an e-mailed statement seeking comment. "Before the invasion of Ukraine, there were signals of slipping quality controls, dealing with an aging workforce, and then there's the funding challenges," said Brian Weeden, a former U.S. Air Force officer who is now an expert at the Secure World Foundation, a U.S.-based think tank. "Because of Ukraine, they've lost their international market and they're having much harder access to get computer chips," he said. "I don't think everyone fully realized how much of an impact it had. Other countries scrambling to find other providers. It's destroyed the trust in the Russian space program." "Even if they did have reliable equipment and capabilities, [the Russian government] behaved in a way that just made them an unreliable provider," McClintock said. "And so they've closed the door on themselves as being anything but a reliable international launch source." With reporting by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service and RFE/RL's Russian Service Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-baikonur-kazakhstan- dispute/32352815.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Xi Jinping Holds China-France-EU Trilateral Meeting withaFrench President Emmanuel Macron andaEuropean Commission President Ursula von der Leyen Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China 2023-04-06 22:11 On the afternoon of 6 April, President Xi Jinping held a trilateral meeting of China, France and the European Union (EU) with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Great Hall of the People. President Xi pointed out that China and the EU share extensive common interests. Cooperation and common ground between the two sides outweigh competition and differences. In a complex and volatile world, China and the EU should respect each other, promote political trust, strengthen dialogue and cooperation, uphold world peace and stability, promote common development and prosperity, and address global challenges together. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. China is prepared to work with the EU to set the right direction and tone for China-EU ties, fully resume exchanges at all levels and revitalize mutually-beneficial cooperation in various fields, thus injecting fresh impetus into China-EU relations and global peace, stability and prosperity. President Xi stressed the importance of enhancing the stability of China-EU ties. The China-EU relationship does not target any third party, nor should it be dependent on or dictated by any third party. China has all along viewed the relationship from a strategic and long-term perspective and ensured stability and continuity in its EU policy. China hopes the EU will develop a more independent and objective perception of China and adopt a pragmatic and positive China policy. The two sides should respect each other's core interests and major concerns, work through dialogue and consultation to build consensus and overcome differences. It is important to respect each other's development paths. Chinese modernization and European integration are strategic choices China and the EU have made with the two sides' respective futures in mind. China and the EU should be each other's trustworthy and reliable cooperation partners on their paths to development. The Chinese people take pride in choosing the right development path for themselves in light of China's national reality. The two sides should seek common ground while shelving differences, and learn to accommodate, appreciate,draw upon and facilitate each other's development. Playing up the so-called "democracy vs authoritarianism" narrative and stoking a new Cold War will only bring division and confrontation to the world. It is important to maintain an open and trusting environment for cooperation. China and the EU should keep their markets open to each other, provide a fair and nondiscriminatory environment for businesses from the other side, and avoid turning economic and trade matters into political or national security issues. The two sides should build stable and trustworthy supply chains, and synergize the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Gateway strategy in support of sustained and stable economic growth in China and the EU. President Xi underlined that China champions true multilateralism and a global governance vision featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefit. China is prepared to work with the EU to enhance coordination and cooperation in multilateral affairs, and uphold the international system centered on the United Nations (UN), the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. China and the EU need to jointly uphold global stability and prosperity, and stand against hegemonism, unilateralism and attempts to decouple economies or sever supply chains. The two sides need to step up macroeconomic and financial policy communication and coordination, deepen their green partnership, and increase dialogue and cooperation on green financing, environment-friendly technologies and clean energy. China and the EU also need to help other developing countries, encourage multilateral institutions and private capital to contribute more to implementing the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative, and explore cooperation in Africa and other regions involving three or more parties. President von der Leyen noted that the EU respects China's history and culture. Frank and constructive dialogue with China and continuous development of EU-China relations are crucial for peace and stability in Europe. The EU and China are each other's important trading partners and the two economies are highly intertwined. Decoupling from China is neither in the EU's interests nor the EU's strategic choice. The EU sets its China policy independently. It would like to restart the High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue and advance steady and balanced growth of economic and trade ties with China for mutual benefit. The EU congratulates China for hosting a successful United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) and commends China's efforts to cut carbon emissions. The EU stands ready to enhance communication and coordination with China to jointly meet global challenges and contribute to peace, stability and development in the world. President Macron noted that in a world full of uncertainties, the EU and China need to enhance dialogue and exchange with mutual respect, openness and humility. The two sides should work with each other to stay away from the trap of economic decoupling and severing supply chains, carry out mutually-beneficial cooperation on an equal footing, tackle pressing global challenges such as climate change, and keep deepening the EU-China comprehensive strategic partnership. The three leaders exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. President von der Leyen and President Macron shared the European perspective. They agreed that China did not create the Ukraine crisis, and said that they appreciate China's efforts to promote a political settlement and look forward to China playing a more important role. They also said that they are prepared to work with China to find a way to facilitate talks for peace. President Xi stressed that China independently decides its position based on the merits of issues. China's position on Ukraine boils down to supporting talks for peace. China calls on the parties to be calm and rational and jointly create conditions for peace talks. The pressing priority is to bring about a ceasefire and oppose actions that further inflame or complicate the situation. The Ukraine crisis is not an issue between China and the EU. China will continue to play a positive role in facilitating peace talks. China supports EU efforts to propose approaches and plans for a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, and to build a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework, which serves the fundamental and long-term interests of the EU. Wang Yi and Qin Gang, among others, participated in the meeting. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Xi Jinping Holds Talks with French President Emmanuel Macron Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China 2023-04-06 20:56 On the afternoon of 6 April, President Xi Jinping held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron who is on a state visit to China at the Great Hall of the People.a President Xi welcomed President Macron's visit to China. He noted the profound historic transformation taking place in the world, and pointed out that China and France, as permanent members of the UN Security Council, major countries with a tradition of independence, and firm advocates for a multi-polar world and for greater democracy in international relations, have the ability and responsibility to rise above differences and obstacles, keep to the overall direction of a comprehensive strategic partnership that is stable, mutually beneficial, enterprising and dynamic, and practice true multilateralism for global peace, stability and prosperity. President Xi spoke favorably of the momentum of positive and steady growth in the China-France relationship. He stressed that stability, a defining feature and valued asset of this relationship, should be cherished by both sides. The two sides need to make good use of their all-round, high-level communication channels, maintain close communication between the two presidents, and hold a new round of meetings this year for the three high-level dialogue mechanisms, namely the strategic dialogue, the economic and financial dialogue, and the dialogue on people-to-people exchanges. The two sides should respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, respect each other's core interests, and properly handle and manage differences. They need to stay committed to mutual benefit and common development. China's pursuit of high-quality development and high-standard opening up will bring France even broader market opportunities. China will work with France to deepen cooperation in such fields as agrifood, space, aviation, and civil nuclear energy, foster new cooperation areas including trade in services, green development, and innovation in science and technology, and support the joint development of a carbon neutrality center and joint cultivation of talents. China welcomes France as the guest country of honor at the China International Fair for Trade in Services 2024 and the seventh China International Import Expo. China hopes that France will provide Chinese businesses with a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment. Taking the opportunities brought by the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, and the Paris Olympics next year, China will step up cooperation with France in relevant fields. aPresident Xi stressed China's readiness to continue to act in the spirit of openness and work with France to maintain close communication and coordination in multilateral mechanisms such as the UN, the G20 and the WTO, practice true multilateralism, and counter global challenges like climate change and energy issues. China supports France in hosting the UN Ocean Conference 2025, and welcomes France's participation in the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.a President Xi stressed that China and Europe are two major forces, big markets, and great civilizations in the world. China-Europe relations bear on the wellbeing of both sides and the stability and prosperity of the world at large. China will keep its Europe policy stable in the long run, continue to see Europe as an independent force in a multi-polar world, and stay committed to a China-Europe relationship that is not targeted at, subjugated to, or controlled by any third party. China will work with the EU and take this year's 20th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership as an opportunity to resume exchanges and dialogues on all fronts, reinforce friendship and cooperation as the keynote of China-EU relations, explore a supply chain partnership featuring stability and mutual trust, and deliver benefits to both sides. China hopes that France will play an active, leading role in this regard.a President Macron recalled his last visit to China more than three years ago and expressed his delight at visiting China again to explore with President Xi ways to further elevate the France-China comprehensive strategic partnership. He fully agreed with President Xi's positive assessment of France-China relations and important suggestions on growing the bilateral ties. Next year, France and China will celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties. Over the past six decades, France-China relations have maintained steady and sound growth. Despite their different development models, the two countries have respected each other, communicated with candor, and achieved mutual benefits in their wide-ranging cooperation. Meanwhile, the two sides have made important progress in jointly meeting global challenges facing the world. France respects and follows the one-China policy. President Macron pointed out that he's taking a large delegation to China to seek closer cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. France congratulates China on the success of the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Conference (COP15) and wants to continue close communication and cooperation with China on issues like climate change and food security. France is ready to work with China on the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation that China will host. France commends China for its abiding commitment to the purposes of the UN Charter and its positive role in addressing regional and international hotspot issues, and looks forward to closer communication and coordination with China for durable peace and stability in the world. President Macron noted that France is committed to an independent foreign policy and to the strategic autonomy of Europe, and opposed to stoking confrontation, division and bloc rivalry. France will not pick sides. Instead, France calls for unity and cooperation to keep relations stable between major countries. It will maintain candid and in-depth communication with China to increase mutual trust, seek common ground while reserving differences, and pursue open cooperation. France will actively contribute to the growth of EU-China relations.a The two presidents also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. President Xi emphasized that China's position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear. It is essentially about facilitating peace talks and political settlement. There is no panacea for defusing the crisis. It requires all parties to do their share and create conditions for ceasefire and peace talks through a buildup of trust. China supports Europe in playing its role in the political settlement of the crisis. China stands ready to issue a joint call with France for the international community to stay rational, exercise restraint, and avoid taking actions that might cause the crisis to further deteriorate or even spiral out of control; to strictly abide by international humanitarian law, avoid attacking civilians or civilian facilities, and protect women, children and other victims of the conflict; to earnestly honor the pledge that nuclear weapons must not be used and nuclear wars must not be fought, oppose the use of biological weapons under any circumstances, and oppose armed attacks against nuclear power plants or other civilian nuclear facilities; to resume peace talks as soon as possible, observe the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, accommodate the legitimate security concerns of all parties, seek political settlement, and foster a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture; and to jointly address the spillover effects of the Ukraine crisis in food, energy, finance, transportation and other fields, and reduce the negative impact of the Ukraine crisis on the world, especially on developing countries. China is ready to stay in touch with France and play a constructive role in the political settlement of the crisis.a President Macron shared France's view on the issue, and commended China's important role in the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. France calls for the resumption of political negotiations and a settlement of the crisis through diplomatic means to achieve lasting peace in Europe. France hopes to increase communication and make joint efforts with China toward peace.a At the end of their talks, the two presidents witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents covering agrifood, science and technology, aviation, civil nuclear energy, sustainable development, and culture.a The two presidents also jointly met the Chinese and foreign press. Prior to the talks, President Xi held a welcoming ceremony for President Macron at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People.a Upon President Macron's arrival, honor guards lined up in salutation. The two presidents stepped onto a reviewing stand, and the military band played the national anthems of the two countries. A 21-gun salute was fired from Tian'anmen Square. Accompanied by President Xi, President Macron then reviewed the guard of honor of the People's Liberation Army and watched the march-past.a Wang Yi and Qin Gang were present at the events. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Report: China Helped With Africa Pandemic Debt Relief By Kate Bartlett April 06, 2023 A new report by researchers from Johns Hopkins University is giving China better than expected marks for its performance in helping to restructure the crippling debt loads carried by some African countries. The report is based on a detailed evaluation of Beijing's participation in the Debt Service Suspension Initiative, or DSSI, an international vehicle for developed nations to support struggling countries like Angola and Zambia. The DSSI was introduced in 2020 at the start of the global pandemic by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, which suggested the world's 20 largest economies, known as the G-20, temporarily halt the collection of loans from the world's poorest nations. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and World Bank Chief David Malpass have recently accused China of being a barrier to debt relief, and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris was in default-stricken Zambia last week urging the country's bilateral creditors a of which China is the biggest a to do more on restructuring Zambia's debt. But, despite some caveats, the report released this week by Deborah Brautigam and Yufan Huang from the China Africa Research Initiative found that overall, China "fulfilled its role fairly well as a responsible G-20 stakeholder." The analysts added that China "did implement the minimum steps of the DSSI fairly well, communicating with other players, and following through on pledges." According to the available data, Chinese creditors accounted for 30 percent of all claims and contributed 63 percent of debt service suspensions in the countries that participated in the DSSI. "The metric by which you evaluate [China's] performance depends on what your expectations were for the initiative," Brautigam told VOA, noting that this was the first time the world's second-largest economy had joined a multilateral initiative - a move one G-20 source called "miraculous." Brautigam said it was obvious that a new architecture is needed to deal with debt relief because the current system is dominated by the Paris Club, a group of wealthy Western nations that started lending to developing countries in 1956. In recent years, there have been more major new creditors, like China and bondholders. "So what evolves out of this is really up in the air," she said, adding that all lenders "need to be in together because otherwise you get all these suspicions, you know, worries about free riding." Successes and failures The study concluded that China might have achieved more during the DSSI if not for fears that countries would simply take advantage of any debt relief to repay other creditors. In Zambia, for example, Chinese creditors wanted assurances their relief wouldn't be used to pay off the bondholders, while the bondholders were concerned that any relief from their side might go toward paying off China. China was "totally justified" in its suspicions on this front, Brautigam said, because "in most countries, all of those creditors continued to be paid." "We need something that is simultaneous - you know, they all need to be in the room together ... so that we don't have this first-mover problem," she added. In Zambia, the Chinese decided against suspending their debt payments while the country was still paying bondholders, but this didn't happen in Angola, China's largest African borrower with around $20 billion in debt to Chinese entities. In that case, Chinese creditors provided 97% of the debt relief over the two-year period without asking for assurances that Angola wouldn't continue making other repayments. The researcher's third African case study, Kenya, showed how China's DSSI treatment was different from the other two. Chinese banks agreed to provide relief at first but later stopped loan disbursements and suspended only some 40 percent of the expected amount in 2021. Moving forward The study also showed how China's banks and central government, despite the country's top-down political structure, do not always act in unison. The fragmented nature of the Chinese system and bureaucratic hurdles often remain a barrier to debt relief. Being part of the DSSI helped address that because it "pushed the Chinese government to align interests among fragmented banks and bureaucracies with conflicting goals. This process, still under way, is a necessary step toward full acceptance of the necessity for debt restructuring in the post-pandemic era," the researchers found. The DSSI ended in December 2021 and has been superseded by what's known as the Common Framework to continue helping indebted countries like Zambia with their restructuring. In January, World Bank chief Malpass said, "China is asking lots of questions in the creditors' committees, and that causes delays, that strings out the process." Last month, Yellen accused Beijing of leaving developing countries "trapped in debt." China has called on the IMF and World Bank to also offer debt relief, with President Xi Jinping saying at the G-20 summit last year: "International financial institutions and commercial creditors, which are the main creditors of developing countries, should take part in the debt reduction and suspension for developing countries." The Chinese Embassy in Zambia hit back at the U.S., calling Yellen's "debt trap" comments "irresponsible and unreasonable." Ultimately, the study found, "the DSSI was a success in what some saw as its primary goal: to bring China into a multilateral, G20-supervised forum where Beijing has an equal voice." It now remains to be seen how the challenges highlighted by the pandemic relief program spill over into the current debt negotiations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China-France-EU trilateral talks set right course for ties Global Times Beijing's call on Ukraine shows wisdom, capability in mediating peace By GT staff reporters Published: Apr 07, 2023 12:31 AM During talks with visiting French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed that cooperation and common ground between China and the EU outweigh competition and differences, and China is prepared to work with the EU to set the right direction and tone for China-EU ties, fully resume exchanges at all levels and revitalize mutually-beneficial cooperation in various fields, injecting fresh impetus into China-EU relations and global peace, stability and prosperity. Observers said that China's signal for enhancing cooperation during the two European leaders' visit is set to stabilize relations and dispel certain concerns from Europe, at a juncture when the relations need to be restarted and boosted after the differences of recent years and lack of direct communication. Moreover, Xi's proposed joint call with France on political settlement of the Ukraine crisis ushers in an important step for China and France to jointly push for a peaceful resolution of the ongoing crisis, and shows China's wisdom and capability in mediating peace talks. In meeting with Macron who is on a state visit to China on Thursday, Xi said China and France are permanent members of the UN Security Council and major countries with a tradition of independence. They are firm advocates for a multi-polar world and for greater democracy in international relations. They have the ability and responsibility to rise above differences and obstacles, keep to the overall direction of a comprehensive strategic partnership that is stable, mutually beneficial, enterprising and dynamic, and practice true multilateralism for global peace, stability and prosperity, the Chinese president said. Xi said Macron's visit to China is the first by a European head of state after the full resumption of China's exchanges with the world and the successful conclusion of China's "two sessions." The visit will inject new momentum and bring new vitality to China-Europe relations. China supports Europe in achieving strategic autonomy, upholds that the China-Europe relationship is not targeted at, subjugated to, or controlled by any third party, and believes that Europe will take an independent approach to developing its relations with China, Xi said. On Thursday afternoon, Xi also had a trilateral meeting with Macron and Ursula von der Leyen at the Great Hall of the People. Xi pointed out that the concurrent visit to China by President Macron and President von der Leyen demonstrates the positive desire of the European Union (EU) to grow relations with China and advances the common interests of China and the EU. In a complex and volatile world beset by the protracted Ukraine crisis, faltering global recovery, volatile financial markets and growing difficulties facing developing countries, China and the EU need to stay committed to dialogue and cooperation, uphold world peace and stability, foster common development and prosperity, promote human progress, and address global challenges together, Xi said. Amid turbulence in the international community, positive signals from the meeting between leaders from China, France and the EU helped to stabilize relations, and dispel concerns and doubts from Europe over the past three years due to the lack of face-to-face communication, Cui Hongjian, director of the Department of European Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times. Experts believed China's call for Europe to maintain strategic independence is also a sign to the continent that shaking off US influence and forming an objective view on China will be key to working together to bring ties back to the right track. Joint call to solve Ukraine crisis During talks with Macron, President Xi reaffirmed China's commitment to facilitating peace talks and political settlement to the Ukraine crisis, and said China stands ready to issue a joint call with France to the international community to stay rational, exercise restraint, and avoid taking actions that might cause the crisis to further deteriorate or even spiral out of control. He also called for restarting peaceful talks as soon as possible and seeking a political settlement of the crisis. At the trilateral meeting with Macron and von der Leyen, Xi also stressed that the Ukraine crisis is not an issue between China and the EU. China will continue to play a positive role in facilitating peace talks. China supports EU efforts to propose approaches and plans for a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, and to build a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework, which serves the fundamental and long-term interests of the EU, Xi said. The common appeal represents the common ground between China and France with regard to resolving Ukraine crisis, and forms the contents of a 12-point position document on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis released by China in February, said Cui. He believed the common appeal may mark a significant step for China to cooperate with Europe in pushing for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis. "Moreover, it shows that China's wisdom and capability in mediating negotiations continue to enhance," Cui noted. Von der Leyen and Macron also shared the European perspective on the crisis during their meeting with the Chinese president. They agreed that China did not create the Ukraine crisis, and said that they appreciate China's efforts to promote a political settlement and look forward to China playing a more important role. They also said that they are prepared to work with China to find a way to facilitate talks for peace. Zheng Ruolin, a senior Chinese media professional and European studies expert told the Global Times that France's key concern is for China not to provide military aid to Russia, which China has expressly denied. Both France and Europe are exhausted as the crisis drags on, and the US is exploiting gains while Europe suffers, said Zheng, adding that against such a background, China and France can jointly work to push for the crisis to be settled via diplomatic means. Despite the willingness of some European countries, such as France, to talk with China on the Ukraine crisis, some forces in the region are determined to twist China's role in the crisis. Before Macron's meeting with Xi, NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said in Brussels, Belgium, on Wednesday that China would make a "historic mistake" if it supplied lethal aid to Russia. In response, Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Thursday that China has always upheld an objective and impartial stance on the Ukraine crisis. "When talking about responsibility on the Ukraine crisis, I think the US and NATO should shoulder responsibility. NATO is not qualified to pressure China," said Mao. During the Ukraine crisis, European countries have been trying to understand China's intentions, and worry that China and Russia are uniting to "challenge the world order" as some US media have hyped, said Cui. He noted that after a year, this scenario has not happened, and instead, the world is witnessing China's constant efforts to push for peace talks. "China's efforts have boosted France's confidence, which is why the latter is doubling down on cooperation with China on security governance," Cui said. Cooperation, talks trump differences At the end of their talks, Xi and Macron witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents covering agrifood, science and technology, aviation, civil nuclear energy, sustainable development, and culture. Macron is travelling with a 50-strong business delegation including representatives of Airbus, luxury giant LVMH and nuclear energy producer EDF, and is also expected to announce deals with China, Reuters reported. "We must not disassociate ourselves, separate ourselves from China," Macron told Beijing's French community on arriving, saying that France would "commit proactively to continue to have a commercial relationship with China". Macron's visit will have the effect of showing that cooperation trumps decoupling, and this effect will definitely be accepted by other European countries, said experts. When asked about what the frequent visits from European leaders, including Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro SAnchez, who visited China late last month, will bring to China-Europe ties, Mao Ning said on Thursday that China is currently conducting political negotiations with European countries almost every week to pave the way for the next stage of high-level interactions between China and Europe. The recent frequent interactions show that despite the differences, the willingness to communicate is stronger for both sides, said Mao. As long as Europe doesn't tag along with the US, exercise decoupling or cut off supply chains and doesn't engage in a US-initiated new Cold War, China-Europe ties will return to the right track, Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times. The visits by the leaders of France and the EU are significant and seen as very successful, and signal that China-Europe relations are ready to shake off the shadow of COVID-19 and the Ukraine crisis, said Wang. He added that Europe learned about China's current high-quality development, broad opening-up, and the opportunities that could be brought to Europe, and also saw for themselves China's willingness to play an active role in solving the Ukraine crisis. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Xi holds talks with French president on cooperation, China-EU relations, Ukraine crisis People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 08:07, April 07, 2023 BEIJING, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Beijing on Thursday, calling on both sides to enhance cooperation, promote relations between China and the European Union, and work jointly for a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. ENHANCING BILATERAL COOPERATION Noting that the two sides need to make good use of their all-round, high-level communication channels, Xi called on the two sides to maintain close communication between the two presidents, and hold a new round of meetings this year for the three high-level dialogue mechanisms, namely the strategic dialogue, the economic and financial dialogue, and the dialogue on people-to-people exchanges. China will work with France to deepen cooperation in such fields as agrifood, space, aviation, and civil nuclear energy, foster new cooperation areas including trade in services, green development, and innovation in science and technology, and support the joint development of a carbon neutrality center and joint cultivation of talents, he said. China welcomes France as the guest country of honor at the China International Fair for Trade in Services 2024 and the seventh China International Import Expo, Xi said, voicing the hope that France will provide Chinese businesses with a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment. Macron said despite their different development models, the two countries have respected each other, communicated with candor, and achieved mutual benefits in their wide-ranging cooperation. He pointed out that he was taking a large delegation to China to seek closer cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, and France is ready to work with China on the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation that China will host. Addressing the closing ceremony of a meeting between Chinese and French entrepreneurs, Xi said China-France economic and trade cooperation has not only boosted the economic development of the two countries and improved people's well-being, but has also enhanced confidence and stabilized expectations for global economic recovery. Noting that China's economic and social vitality has now been fully unleashed, Xi said the two sides should seize the opportunity to strengthen cooperation, and called on them to remain open and inclusive and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, uphold independence and safeguard their common interests, while adhering to solidarity and coordination to promote the common development of the world. ISSUING JOINT CALL FOR POLITICAL SETTLEMENT OF UKRAINE CRISIS Xi stressed that China's position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear. It is essentially about facilitating peace talks and political settlement. He said China stands ready to issue a joint call with France for the international community to stay rational, exercise restraint, and avoid taking actions that might cause the crisis to further deteriorate or even spiral out of control; to strictly abide by international humanitarian law, avoid attacking civilians or civilian facilities, and protect women, children and other victims of the conflict; to earnestly honor the pledge that nuclear weapons must not be used and nuclear wars must not be fought, oppose the use of biological weapons under any circumstances, and oppose armed attacks against nuclear power plants or other civilian nuclear facilities; to resume peace talks as soon as possible, observe the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, accommodate the legitimate security concerns of all parties, seek political settlement, and foster a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture; and to jointly address the spillover effects of the Ukraine crisis in food, energy, finance, transportation and other fields, and reduce the negative impact of the Ukraine crisis on the world, especially on developing countries. Macron shared France's view on the issue, and commended China's important role in the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. France calls for the resumption of political negotiations and a settlement of the crisis through diplomatic means to achieve lasting peace in Europe. France hopes to increase communication and make joint efforts with China toward peace. PROMOTING STEADY DEVELOPMENT OF CHINA-EU TIES On the same day, Xi held a trilateral meeting with Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Beijing. Xi pointed out that China and the EU share extensive common interests. Cooperation and common ground between the two sides outweigh competition and differences. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. China is prepared to work with the EU to fully resume exchanges at all levels and revitalize mutually-beneficial cooperation in various fields, thus injecting fresh impetus into China-EU relations and global peace, stability and prosperity. Xi called on China and the EU to jointly uphold global stability and prosperity, and stand against hegemonism, unilateralism and attempts to decouple economies or sever supply chains. He said the two sides need to step up macroeconomic and financial policy communication and coordination, deepen their green partnership, and increase dialogue and cooperation on green financing, environment-friendly technologies and clean energy. Von der Leyen said the EU and China are each other's important trading partners and the two economies are highly intertwined. Decoupling from China is neither in the EU's interests nor the EU's strategic choice. The EU sets its China policy independently. It would like to restart the High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue and advance steady and balanced growth of economic and trade ties with China for mutual benefit. Macron said the EU and China should work with each other to stay away from the trap of economic decoupling and severing supply chains, carry out mutually-beneficial cooperation on an equal footing, tackle pressing global challenges such as climate change, and keep deepening the EU-China comprehensive strategic partnership. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Canada Deploys CP-140 Aurora Aircraft to Japan to Support Implementation of Sanctions Against North Korea National Defence News release April 6, 2023 - Ottawa, ON - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces Today, the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence, announced the deployment of a Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora Air Detachment under Operation (Op) NEON, to Japan. Op NEON is the Canadian Armed Forces contribution to the multinational effort to support the implementation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions imposed against North Korea. As part of Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy, this deployment demonstrates Canada's unwavering commitment to promote peace and strengthen stability in the region. For a period of approximately six weeks, the CP-140 Aurora will monitor for suspected maritime sanctions evasion activities, in particular ship-to-ship transfers of fuel and other commodities banned by the UNSC. This deployment underscores the value that Canada places on the security of its allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as the importance of upholding UNSC sanctions on North Korea. These contributions to regional peace, resilience, and security continue to demonstrate Canada's commitment to the rules-based international order. HMCS MontrAal, with its embarked CH-148 Cyclone helicopter, is also en route to the Indo-Pacific region, where it will support both Op NEON and Op PROJECTION - Canada's ongoing naval forward presence operation in the Indo-Pacific. Quotes "The Indo-Pacific Region is crucial to global security - and through Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy, we will continue to strengthen our partnerships with our friends in the region. Together, we are promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific, and protecting the international rules that keep us all safe. I thank Japan, one of Canada's most important defence partners in the Indo-Pacific region, for this strong relationship based on shared values, economic links, and people-to-people ties." The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence "Working closely with our partners in the Indo-Pacific has never been more important than it is today and the Canadian Armed Forces have a central role to play in delivering valuable, tangible, high-impact initiatives in the region. The deployment of this Royal Canadian Air Force Air Detachment to the Indo-Pacific will deliver robust capabilities in working with our partners to strengthen international cooperation and stability in the Indo-Pacific region." Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny, Commander RCAF Quick facts Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy, released in November 2022, puts forward an ambitious, comprehensive, and integrated policy framework for Canadian engagement across the Indo-Pacific region. The series of UN sanctions, adopted between 2006 and 2017, aim to pressure North Korea to abandon its weapons of mass destruction programs and respond to North Korean nuclear weapon tests and ballistic missile launches. In March 2023, the Government of Canada renewed Operation NEON to April 2026. The RCAF CP-140 Aurora Air Detachment consists of approximately 40 personnel, including aircrew, technicians, and other mission specialists. With a range of 7,400 km and equipped with advanced sensors the CP-140 Aurora is a pre-eminent Long Range Patrol aircraft well-suited to Operation NEON. RCAF aircrew are well prepared to operate in the Indo-Pacific airspace and have undergone key training as part of the CAF's commitment to safe and professional operations in international airspace. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Transcript of Weekly Media Briefing by the Official Spokesperson (April 06, 2023) India - Ministry of External Affairs April 07, 2023 Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Very good afternoon to all of you. Thank you for joining us for this weekly media briefing. I don't really have any announcements to begin with, so I will take a few questions, and we'll start with you. Yeah, go ahead. Rishabh: Hi sir, Rishabh from Times Now. Sir, in Canada we have seen the temple vandalism earlier this morning. So what can we expect? Has MEA raised this up with the authorities in Canada? And sir, second question about -- Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: This is at Windsor? Rishabh: Windsor, yes sir. The police is looking for two unidentified suspects in that, as per their statement. Sir, second question, in China, there are reports that -- Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: One question, okay anyway, go ahead. Rishabh: Indian national journalists, either they're not being given visa extension or are being questioned, if we can have a clarity on that. Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: This is about journalists? Rishabh: Journalists, yes sir. Raza: Raza from the Hindustan Times. Today, at the Chinese Foreign Ministry's briefing, they basically talked about how, you know that India has not responded to whatever they wanted for the Chinese journalists, and they're considering countermeasures for Indian journalists. I was wondering if you could say something on that. Sudhi Ranjan: Sir, Sudhi Ranjan from Bloomberg. I mean adding to Raza's question, we also want clarity on that, because China says that India, in fact, has asked a journalist from Xinhua to leave the country on March 31st, and as he said that these are countermeasures. Also sir, drawing your attention to a report published by Chatham House, which talks about a Chinese base in -- Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: That's not related to this. We'll take it later on. Let's have one question at a round first. Okay, let me take the question. You have related to this. Okay, hold on. Manas: Manas from PTI. So how many Chinese journalists are currently working in India, and then what about reports about MEA not extending visas to a number of journalists? Sidhant: Sir, Sidhant from WION. My question is, recently we saw comment by Chinese diplomat here in India, in Kolkata basically, saying the situation in the border is stable and emergency controls have been removed. Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: It's not related to this, should we -- Sidhant: Related to China basically. Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Okay, go ahead. Sidhant: The situation at the border is stable and emergency control has been removed. If you can comment on the remarks made by the Chinese diplomat on the border situation. Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Okay, nothing on this. Let me take this round of, unless there's something related to these questions, no, okay. China, go ahead, and maybe I'll take it together. Umashankar: Umashankar NDTV se. Pehle China ne gyarah jagho ke nam badalne ki bat ki, aur kal hi unki videsh mantralaya ki pravakta ki taraf se kaha gaya hai ke Arunachal Pradesh China ka hissa hai, ye unke haq me aata hai. Ispe aapki pratikriya. (Question in Hindi: Approximate translation) Umashankar from NDTV. Earlier, China mentioned about renaming eleven places, and yesterday, their Foreign Ministry representative said that Arunachal Pradesh is part of China, that it comes under their rights. What's your response to that? Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Haq mei ata hai....badalna...naam badalna? (Question in Hindi: Approximate translation) It's in their right to change name? Umashankar: Yes. Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Okay. Let me just take this round of questions. I think there are some of these questions on journalist issues. Look, let me begin by saying that it will not be appropriate for me to get into discussions on visa policy. In any case, as you are aware, other agencies are also involved in this process. But let me make the larger point. So there are Chinese journalists who have valid Indian visas for pursuing journalist activities in India. So from that perspective, we do not see any limitations or difficulties in reporting or doing media coverage. As regards Indian journalists working in China, we would hope that Chinese authorities would facilitate their continued presence and reporting from China. We are in touch with Chinese authorities in this regard. I don't want to get into individual cases or individual information, it would not be appropriate as I said on visa on others. Somebody asked me how many Chinese journalists, etc, look, better to ask the Chinese side on that, because I wouldn't know their exact position, whether they're here or they've gone back to China or somewhere else, but certainly there are a number of Chinese journalists who have valid Indian visas. So I think that broadly is my response to all the questions you had. Manas, I think you had a very similar question also on... as I said, look I am not going to get into numbers, exact specific numbers, because as I said, a number of Chinese journalists have valid Indian visas for reporting purposes. Sidhant, your question was slightly different. You referred to comments by I think, Chinese diplomat here or otherwise, I don't remember exactly. I think we made our position clear on this matter, shared on various occasions, I think including External Affairs Minister also spoke about it. But let me just reiterate, the restoration of normalcy in our relationship will require, restoration of peace and tranquility in the border areas, which has been disturbed since April 2020. As External Affairs Minister said, the presence of a large number of troops there in contravention of agreements, is an abnormality. We have been holding discussions on diplomatic and military tracks, but till such time, the situation in the border areas sees a return to peace and tranquility as I said, we cannot foresee normalcy in the overall relationship. So that would be our response to that. Umashankar Ji, aapka prashna tha, isme hamne actually ek statement issue kiya tha, jari kiya tha, ek do din pehle, mai phir dohra sakta hu. Ye pehli bar nahi hai ke China is tarah ke koi attempt kar raha hai, aur hamne isko khandan kiya tha aise attemps ka. Aapne zikar kiya hai Arunachal Pradesh ke bare me, dekhiye usme bhi humne kaha tha ke Arunachal Pradesh hamara abhinn ang hai bharat ka, aur ye jo apne nam lagana ya phir apne invented names hamne jo kaha tha, usse jo situation hai ground me vo nahi badal sakta, vo reality nahi badal sakti hai, to mai usi ko dohrana chahunga. (Answered in Hindi: Approximate translation) Umashankar, in regarding to your question, we had actually issued a statement couple of days ago. I can repeat it. This is not the first time that China is attempting to do something like this, and we have rebutted such attempts. You mentioned Arunachal Pradesh, see, Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India, and China's attempts of using such invented names cannot change the ground reality. I'll just repeat that. And Rishabh your first question on... look, I think our consulate would have issued something, I am not hundred percent sure. We were in touch with the consulate early morning. This is a very unfortunate incident and we condemn it. This issue has been taken up with the Canadian authorities and with the same request that we've made in other locations. Please catch the perpetrators, please try to prevent, and ensure that this does not happen again. And I hope that Canadian authorities are able to take action on those lines. But certainly, yes, let me reiterate. We condemn it and it has been taken up with the Canadian authorities. I think our consulate is putting out, it's very early morning, may put out some statement also. Okay, let me take the next round of questions. Kavita Joshi: Sir, mai Kavita Joshi hu, Hari Bhoomi Newspaper se. Mera saval sir, jo abhi Arunachal Pradesh ko lekar ke China ka jo statement aaya hai, usse related hai. Ek bar pehle bhi maine ye saval aapse pucha tha, mai phir se isko dohrana chah rahi hu. Actually ye jo Arunachal Pradesh ko leke China ka jo statement aaya aur phir aapki bhi pratikriya aai, mantralaya ki, us par America ka bhi bayan aaya hai. America ne ye kaha hai ke jo Bharat ka jo paksha hai uska vo samarthan karta hai. Isse pehle bhi America ki senate me do dalo ki taraf se ek proposal aa chuka hai jisme vo keh chuke hai ke Arunachal Pradesh Bharat ka abhinn ang hai, aur McMohan Line ko Line of Actual Control ki tarah se dekha jana chahiye, Bharat aur China ke bich me border ki tarah se. To America ke samarthan ko kaise dekhta hai Videsh Mantralaya, us par aapka kya reaction hai. Aur kya aap matlab ye jo border ka issue hai, Arunachal Pradesh ka issue hai, ise keval dono desho ka mante hai, Bharat aur China ka? Isme kisi tisre desh ko bolna chahiye ya nahi bolna chahiye, ispe kya aapka response hai? (Questioned in Hindi: Approximate translation) Sir, I am Kavita Joshi from Hari Bhoomi Newspaper. Sir, my question is related to China's recent statement relating to Arunachal Pradesh. I had asked you this questions in the past also, and I'd want to ask it again. Actually, in relation to Arunachal Pradesh, after this statement of China and your response on it, America has also issued an statement. America has said that they support India's point on this issue. Earlier also in American Senate, two parties have submitted a proposal, in which they stated that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India, and McMohan Line must be viewed as the Line of Actual Control, as the border between India and China. So how does MEA view America's support in this regard, and what's your response on it. And should this Arunachal Pradesh border issue be viewed as between two countries, India and China? Should any third-party be speaking about it or not? What's your response to that? Siddhant: Sir, I am Siddhant from CNN News 18. Sir, my questions is, in fact, I want to know the reaction of the government as far as former President Donald Trump's indictment is concerned. Also sir, the follow-up question... Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Can you be more specific, reaction to? Siddhant: Sir, I want to know the position of Indian Government, because historical indictment of former president of... Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Oh, his indictment, yeah, okay. Siddhant: And sir, my second question is that Mr. Trump has been repeatedly blaming George Soros for funding the legal team which is fighting this case against him. So, in fact, George Soros, in regard to India also, EAM, Minister Jaishankar, has also said that he has been investing in shaping narratives. So do you think that there is a requirement or Government thinks that there is a requirement for an investigation in the source of funding which is coming from Mr. Soros maybe to India, as far as... Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: No, I think your question goes to too many places. I'll try to answer it in the way I can. Go ahead. Manish Kumar Jha: This is Manish Kumar Jha from Financial Express. My question regarding the violence and vandalism happened in Indian High Commission in UK. Has any arrest been made? And what is a follow-up on that by the UK police and how MEA is following up? Any status on that please. Abhishek: Sir I am Abhishek from CNN News 18. My question is with this Canadian temple attack following that there has been a five or six such attacks in the past. And apparently there is Canadian authorities working to nab the culprits. So if you could give us some sense what has the action been on the ground? Rishikesh: Sir I am Rishikesh from PTI. India's main opposition party Congress has raised the issue of detention of ex-naval personnel by the Qatar authority. So Jairam Ramesh, in fact. Jairam Ramesh is asking question to the government that what are the reasons behind not putting pressure on the Qatar authorities on this issue? And is -- Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: What is your question? Rishikesh: Jairam Ramesh.... Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: No I know. I heard that. What is your question? Rishikesh: Would you like to respond on this? What is the current status? Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: That's it. Current status. Okay. Or are you asking, why bring Jairam Ramesh into it. You can ask me current status. I'm just curious as to the question. Okay. Let me do one thing. Let me take this round of question unless it's something that is related to these kinds of things. No, okay. You have been really keen on that okay, hold on. Sridhar: Actually I have got two clarifications. Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: You have to introduce yourself for the record. Sridhar: I am Sridhar from Asian Age sir. Sir, one is, can we have some clarity on the factual position on this issue of Indian journalists in China? You just said that the MEA is in touch with the Chinese authorities. I want to know what is the factual position as ascertained by the Government of India, whether our mission in Beijing or have Indian journalists being asked to leave or some of them have been asked to leave? What is the factual position? Because there's a you know, there's not much clarity on this. The second issue is on the Qatar incident -- Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: which he asked. Sridhar: which I believe the charges have been framed. What are the charges against our former Indian Navy personnel? Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: I understand. I understand. Okay, so let me take this round of questions and see if we can help clarify some of the doubts. Kavita ji apse suru karunga. Dekhiye maine abhi jawab diya tha unko, ki Arunachal Pradesh ke bare mai kuch jagaho ki naam badalne ya naya namankan karne ki jo inhone kosish ki hai China ne, ye Bharat aur China ke bich me solution nikalna padega. Agar koi hume samarthan karta to acchi baat hai. Par main ye nahi kahena chaunga ki unke samarthan ya asamarthan ke wajaha se humara koi position badlega. Arunchal pradesh abhinn ang hai Bharat ka, aur iske liye baki hum kisi ka support ke liye jaruri nahi hai humara position badle us se. Toh isme koi do rai nahi honi chahiye. Humara matlab humari position ispe tiki hui hai. Baki desh kya kahe na kahe wo alag baat hai. Support accha raheta hai par humara position uske upar based nahi hai. Aur maine jo abhi keh diya humara hum kis tarah se usko dekhte hai ye change of name ya naye naam dene ki effort ko. (Answered in Hindi: Approximate translation) Kavita ji, I will start with your question. Look I just answered it, that regarding Chinese efforts of changing names of some parts of Arunachal Pradesh, both India and China need to find solution. If anyone is supporting our position over it, then that's good thing but our position will not change whether they support us or not. Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and we are not going to change our position over it for the support of anyone, there is no doubt over it. Our position is based on it. What other countries say it's another thing. They are supporting our stand, it's a good thing but our stand is not dependent on their support, and I have just said how we see Chinese name changing efforts in Arunachal Pradesh. Let me just take actually Manish's question. This was on vandalism that we had talked about in generally in the....this was London you specifically asked no, no, this is I mean, to be honest, vandalism had happened in a couple of other places. I don't have really, you know, too much of an update. But I could say, or I could share with you that look, we have made it pretty clear to our, to the host governments or to our interlocutors, what action we expect from, you know, from the host government, in terms of, you know what they need to do to protect. And if you want, I'm willing to repeat that. We had conveyed our expectations to the host governments, about the security of our premises, safety of our personnel. External Affairs Minister, I think spoke about it at length the last couple of weeks, and we are in contact with the host governments about these recent incidents. But if there is any development, I think we'll ask those governments or the local authorities there, because for us, what is important is action taken as I had mentioned, rather than assurances, but at this point, I don't have anything particular to share regarding movement on that. So we are hopeful that the countries will take action, but I don't have any immediate update on that specific arrest or anything else. I would request you to contact those governments also. Manish: Was there any delay in the investigation? Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Look, as I said that we have requested it. Finally, security measures, legal measures are part of what the host government has to do. This is not within India. So, separately, of course, we have sent a report to the concerned authorities about, I was asked I think last time we met about FIR. And that's a separate process that is under Indian jurisdiction. Let me come to, again, related to this, but not directly Abhishek your question was on these five or six attacks, but this is I think you just focusing on Canada's, unfortunately it has happened in other places. Look, all I can say is we will continue to insist that action is taken against the perpetrators. They are identified, they are prosecuted, and also as importantly, measures to prevent the recurrence. Beyond that, as I said, just now to Manish, it is the host governments for them to take the....it's not as if the India security forces are there to take action. So we can only request and push these organizations, these authorities to take action. Manish: Are you satisfied with their action sir? Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Look, I don't think it's an issue of our satisfaction. It's an issue of not having recurrence of such incidents, having action taken, measurable action against perpetrators. And when this happens, we will let you know. Let me come to, I think Sidhant, you had asked about the issue of former President, U.S. President, that was the question, right. Look, regarding that issue. I mean, specifically, regarding development, we have noted the developments that happened earlier this week. This is a matter for the U.S. institutions and systems to address. But since you raised this issue, let me make here a larger comment. We see comments from time-to-time by foreign governments on developments in India. Germany is a recent example. I'm not sure what they seek to achieve by such comments. Certainly India is not waiting for their views or validation nor do such comments matter for the functioning of the Indian systems and institutions. So I thought I'd add that to a general comment. But on the specific issue, as I said, this is a matter for U.S. institutions and systems to address. That was second question, so I was not going to answer it. But since you raised again. Look, I think the issues are very different. As I said, these are issues for the U.S. systems to address. As regards External Affairs Minister's comments, I don't think anybody needs to interpret them. His comments stand on their own. I don't have anything to add to it. If there are violations of our laws and our regulations, there are agencies working on that. And I don't think this is a foreign policy issue as such. External Affair Minister has already made his position quite clear. Rishikesh, you had asked about the issues of the people of the former Indian Navy officers in Qatar, right. Look on that let me, I have some update here. We understand that the case has been referred to the court by the public prosecution. The first hearing was held on the 29th of March, which was also attended by the lawyer appointed for the case. I mean the defense lawyer, as well as our officials. And our embassy in Doha, continues to remain in touch with the families of the detained Indian nationals. It's also extending necessary consular as well as legal assistance. We've also requested for another round of consular access. And let me reiterate, as I have said before, Government attaches high priority to the matter and remains engaged with the Qatari authorities regarding the case. I am not sure, I think there was a question of charge sheet. Look, I don't think the charges have been yet opened. But let's see now that the legal process is underway we'll keep a close watch on that. As regards I think you brought in, Jairam Ramesh Ji's comments. Look, I usually don't comment on that. But I did not understand. We should put pressure on Qatar, you said? Look, I'm very, very worried to take that route. If I were to extrapolate that, it would be as if a country has good relations with India, their nationals would not be subject to our laws. I don't think that's the line that we want to take. I think Indian laws are applicable to nationals of countries with whom we have good relations also. So I don't think good relations should come in the way of a legal process in that. Sridhar your question was again, I have something, you said factual position. I got your question. I don't think what I said was not factually correct. That was the factual position on that. What you want to know, we may not be able to share with you. If you want, I'll repeat my position, which is what I said that I'm not going to be able to get into discussions on visa policy or individual cases. And as regards, you know, Indian journalists working in China, we would hope the Chinese authorities would facilitate their continued presence and reporting from China. We are in touch with Chinese authorities and on the Indian journalists who may have been affected, there is issue of privacy also here. Look, Chinese journalists here. For the Indian journalists, as I mentioned, we hope they are able to work there. For the Chinese journalists here as I said, there are a number of Chinese journalists who hold valid Indian Visas for reporting purposes. So I don't see the issue specifically about any difficulties on reporting. If there are individual cases or any issues I'm sure there are mechanisms to discuss. We are in touch with, as I said, the Chinese authorities. Let me take another round of questions. Okay, Akhilesh I will start with you. Akhilesh Suman: Sir I am Akhilesh Suman from Sansad TV. Actually one attack in this country and other attack in this country like Canada, UK, America, Australia and it is happening in a short span of time. So do you see there is any design behind all these attacks because it is coming against a particular, you know, community particular temples and also, what is your reading? What is MEA's understanding about such type of series of incidents? Gautam Lahiri: Well, I'm Gautam Lahiri. My question is regarding Teesta River Project. Two days back Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh has said in a press conference that they have sent a note verbale to India Government, asking clarification on the proposed project for breeding up canals for Teesta River water in West Bengal. So whether you will have replied to that note verbale and what is your understanding about this, so the project, what has been reported in the press? Ayushi Agrawal: Sir Ayushi Agarwal from ANI. Sir my question is regarding the Indian baby in German foster care. Is there any update on that as the parents have been seeking a repatriation to India? Chandra: Sir two questions on Pakistan. Chandra (Inaudible) News 18 sir. Apne dekha hoga ki ek comment Home Ministry ke taraf se aaya tha ki Kartarpur corridor ke tarah ek Sharda ko jodne ke liye bhi corridor banane ki baat ki gai. Unhone kaha is direction me kadam uthayenge. Isi beech humne dekha ki Pakistan POK ki jo assembly hai unke taraf se ek proposal pass hota hai corridor khulna chahiye aur baad me aaj Pakistan ne U-turn le liya ki, aisa kuch nahi huwa hai. Kya government is direction me kadam utha rahi hai? Kya suru ho chuka hai iss baare mei contact huwa hai? Dusara apne dekha hoga ki Pakistan jo air force hai unhone haal hi me patch create kiya hai un pilots ke liye jo Turkey me banaye huwe drones ko udayenge, operate karenge. Us patch me Jammu Kashmir ko Pakistan ka hissa dekhaya gaya hai ki, usme do countries involved hai Pakistan bhi involved hai aur Turkey bhi involved hai. Is pe apka comment chahata hu. (Questioned in Hindi: Approximate translation) Chandra from News 18 sir. You must have seen there was one comment from the Home Ministry, that like Kartarpur Corridor, there are talks going on for the development of Sharda corridor. The Ministry said that steps will be taken in this direction. Meanwhile we saw that in the POK assembly there was one proposal passed from their side to open the corridor, and then later on today, Pakistan took a U-turn saying no such thing happened. Is our government taking any steps in this direction? Is there any contact in this regard? Secondly, you must have seen that the Pakistani Air Force recently created a patch for the pilots who will fly drones made by Turkey, in this patch they have shown Jammu and Kashmir their part. Pakistan and Turkey both involved in it, I would like to get your comment over it. Madhurendra: Sir mere bhi kuch sawal hai. (Questioned in Hindi: Approximate translation) Sir, I have few questions. Madhurendra: Madhurendra, News Nation se. Ek to 22 February ko WMCC ki baithak huwi thi Bharat aur China ke beech. Aur us baithak ke baad jo yaha briefing huwi thi uske mutabik corps commander level ki baithak jald se jald hogi. Aur usmei phir disengagement ke process ko aage badhaya jayega. Jo ki ab tak nahi huwi. To main janna chahata hu ki corps commander level ki baithak kaha atki huwi hai. Ya phir koi tarik agar ap logo ne decide kiya hai to wo bata de. Aur dusara Indus Water Treaty ko le kar Bharat aur Pakistan ke beech kya baatchit chal rahi hai. (Questioned in Hindi: Approximate translation) Madhurendra, from News Nation. Firstly, the WMCC meeting was held between India and China, and later on as per briefing it was said that the Corps Commander level meeting will be held as soon as possible, and in that meeting disengagement process will be taken forward, which has not been done yet. So I would like to know an update about the Corps Commander meeting, when will it be scheduled? And Secondly, what talks are going on between India and Pakistan over the Indus Water treaty? Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Kya baatchit chal rahi hai? (Answered in Hindi: Approximate translation) What talks are going on? Madhurendra: Ji. Vishal Pandey: Sir main Vishal Pandey hu Zee News se. Islamic desho ke sangathan OIC ne jo Ram Nawami par hinsa huwi thi usko le kar jo bayan jaari kiya hai, us par Bharat ki pratikriya kya hai? Aur kya is bayan ko Bharat virodhi agenda ka hissa mana jaye? (Questioned in Hindi: Approximate translation) I am Vishal Pandey from Zee News. Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) released a comment over Ram Navmi violence, what is India's response over it? Should it be considered an Anti-India agenda? Sudhi Ranjan Sen: Thank you. Sir Sudhi Ranjan from Bloomberg. Flagging a report by Chatham House, which talks about spy base coming out in Coco Islands of Myanmar. Has India taken note of it? Has this been raised with Myanmar? And what is India's position sir? Huma Siddiqui: Sir I am Huma Siddiqui from the Financial Express. Sir today, the Saudi and the Iranian foreign ministers met in Beijing. So how does India look at that? Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Okay, let me try to quickly answer a large number of questions. Look Akhilesh to your question on....it doesn't matter if I see a pattern or not. Or what we want is, let me reiterate. We want these incidents not to happen and when do happen that we would like to see action against the perpetrators. That's what we are really looking for. I could speculate, but that's not helpful. We would request host governments to take action to ensure that Indian community there, Indian citizen community, places of worship, etc. are looked after, protected. On Gautam Lahiri, on your question, I don't have any immediate response. I don't have the details whether we have responded yet or not. I've seen the comment by the Foreign Secretary. This is not something that we have a statement yet on it. Ayushi on your question regarding Indian baby. You heard Foreign Secretary here talk about it. External Affairs Minister, I think also mentioned on some occasion. It's a sensitive issue. It has privacy implications. I don't have any real immediate update that we can share with you publicly. Shailendra ji apka prasan tha, toh ek koi POK assembly jo apne khud hi kaha ki reverse ho gaya hai. Isme humara koi tippani nahi hai. I'm not aware of the details ke aisa huwa hai, koi request hai. Agar humare pas kuch share karne ke liye hoga, to jarur apse share karenge. Apne dusara kaha tha ki Pakistan ke koi patch, jo matlab pehente hai, I presume us chij ki baat kar rahe hai. Dekhiye Pakistan ke saath unke map ko le ke humare humesha obviously differences hai. Unke jaha pe unhone ye sab map use kiya hai humne uska object kiya hai, jisme humare Indian territory unke yaha dekhate hai. Agar ye map maine kahi social media me dekha hai detail malum nahi, to obviously we object to that. But ye isme koi nayi baat nahi hai. Pakistan humesha se humare territory ko apne territory dikha rahi hai. Usme hum object karte rahete hai. Par apko jaise malum hai ye issue koi naya mudda nahi hai except apne kaha ki abhi wo koi military uniform me bhi use kar rahe hai. Madhurendra ji, WMCC aur uske jo corps commander ki meeting ki baat kar rahe the jaise koi date hoga hum apko batayenge. Yes dono taraf ki plan yehi hai ki jaldi se ho sake meeting. Abhi tak hoye nahi hai. Ya phir koi date aisi hai nhi jo main apke saath abhi share kar pa raha hu. Vishal Pandey....apne bhi Indus Water Treaty ke bareme pucha tha. Indus Water Treaty ke bareme humne kafi briefing di to thi. Par uska update ye hai ki humne jo ek notice diya tha modification ke liye, Indus Water Treaty ka Pakistan ko, uske ek article 12 ke tahet, January me, 25 January ko. Abhi 3 April ko Pakistan Foreign Ministry ne ek chithi hume forward ki hai, unke jo commissioner for Indus Water hai, humare commissioner for Indus Water ke liye. Pakistan Foreign Ministry abhi third of April ko, unke yaha se ek letter unhone bheja hai, jo unke Indus Commissioner ka letter hai. Usko forward karte huwe. Aur isko hum examine kar rahe hai. Unke jo abhi letter aaya hai. Aur isko hum saare in consultation, jo bhi humare yaha pe baki stakeholders hai unke saath hum, aur jo humara response ready rahega, apko sayad share karenge. Abhi ke liye confirm kar sakta hu ki chithi aai hai unke taraf se. Vishal ji apka prasna tha OIC. Isme humne detailed ek bayan jari kar chuke hai isme. Mere pas aur additional kuch kahene ke liye aisa hai nahi. Usme humne kafi clear kar diya tha humara jo position hai. kal ya parso ka tha ye. (Answered in Hindi: Approximate translation) Shailendra Ji, your question was regarding POK assembly, and you yourself said that they reversed it too. There is no comment over it from our side. I am not aware of any details that such a thing happened. We will share an update if we have information. Secondly, your question was regarding the Pakistani patch which they are wearing. Look, with Pakistan, regarding their map, obviously there are always differences between us. If such a map is there on any platform or social media, I don't know the details, but obviously we object to that. This is not the only instance; Pakistan regularly shows our territory as their territory in their maps, we object to it. But like you know, there is nothing new to it, except this time, like you said, that they are using it for their military uniform. Madhurendra ji, you were asking about the WMCC and Corps Commandant meeting, we will let you know whenever we will get an update. Both sides are trying to get it done as soon as possible. Vishal Pandey, you asked me about the Indus Water Treaty. There was a detailed briefing over the Indus Water Treaty, but there is one update over it that we had given one modification notice over Indus Water Treaty to Pakistan, under article 12, which was on 25thJanuary. Recently on 3rd April, Pakistan Foreign Ministry forwarded us one letter from their Commissioner for Indus Water treaty to our Commissioner for Indus Water treaty. We are in consultations with our other stakeholders on this, and whenever our response will be ready, we will update you. For now I can confirm that we have received a letter from their side. Vishal ji, your question was regarding OIC. We released a detailed statement for this. There is nothing additional I can say about it. We have clearly mentioned our position in it. Sudhi on the issue of reports you mentioned, this is about an island in Myanmar. Look, let me... these are issues relating to speculative elements. Let me just emphasize what we've seen. We've seen media reports, obviously, that you are referring to. Let me reiterate the government keeps a constant watch on all developments, having a bearing on India's security and takes all necessary measures to safeguard the same. Huma on the Saudi Arabia, Iran. Today is actually the, I think the establishment has announced, the establishment of diplomatic relations. But if you recall, in one of these briefings we had talked about when this announcement had been made, that they would do it. We had made our position clear, largely on the lines that we have always advocated dialogue and diplomacy. And I think that would be our comment. I don't have anything to add to that. Okay, I think we'll close with that. Thank you all very much. Sorry. There are more questions Sandeep Dikshit: Sir I am Sandeep Dikshit with the Tribune. The Malaysian PM has also spoken about dealing in currencies and the revival of his old proposal of a nation monetary union. So what does the government think about local currencies especially because RBI has clear trade with about 20 countries in local currencies. Sandhya: Sir Sandhya with ET. Quickly just want to check. There was a report saying that Indian Defense Agency bought a Pegasus like spyware. Anything you'd like to comment on that? Kalol: Kalol from The Hindu. I would like to know, what is India's position on the reported violence that has taken place at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Okay. Okay. Let me quickly finish with that. Look on the Malaysian on, Sandeep Dikshitji, on your query as you know, the RBI has notified this mechanism of using local currency, Indian currencies with large number of partners, pursuant to that some countries have taken steps also to notify it in their system and to you know, establish the mechanism. Doing so you saw with Sri Lanka. Recently, it's happened in Malaysia. Yes, we are encouraging that. And I think that would help in hopefully enhancing trade relations with these countries. On the Asian clearing unit. No, I don't have a response. I don't think it's a foreign policy issue. So I will let that be. Sandhya, I don't have a response to the query you had. It doesn't even concern MEA. So I don't know how it's a foreign policy issue. Kalol, on the issue of the developments that you refer to, let me give you a larger response. Our position on the Palestine question has been clear and consistent. We are committed to supporting all efforts to resuming, to resume direct negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians to achieve a two state solution. At this sensitive time, we would urge all sides to maintain calm. Okay, I think with that we have to close this. Thank you all for joining this briefing. Good afternoon. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address More than 4,000 people flee into Thailand after fighting in Kayin state intensifies Thai authorities directing people to camps on goat and cattle farms. By RFA Burmese 2023.04.06 -- Intense fighting in southeastern Myanmar's Kayin state has prompted more than 4,000 people to flee across the Thai border, where many have crowded together in makeshift camps on goat and cattle farms, aid workers said. Citizen video obtained by Radio Free Asia showed several dozen people wading chest-deep across the Thaung Yin River into Thailand. Some carried a bag or wore a backpack while others appeared to be crossing without any personal possessions. The refugees staying on goat and cattle farms around Mae Sot don't have enough access to toilets and are dealing with hot weather, aid worker Myo Myint Aung told RFA. April is the hottest time of year. "There is no toilet for them at the goat farm," he said. "We will have to relocate them to the cattle farm but since there are too many refugees there and transportation is difficult, they are still kept at the goat farm." A person helping the displaced war refugees said there are currently 3,000 war refugees in Thailand's Mae Sot district and over 1,000 in Mae Yama district. The refugees have fled intensifying fighting in Kayin state between forces for and against the military junta, which took over the government in a 2021 coup. On Wednesday, the anti-junta Karen National Liberation Army, or KNLA, raided two outposts of the military junta and the Karen Border Guard Force - an ethnic Karen force aligned with the Myanmar military - near Shwe Kokko in Myawaddy township. Shwe Kokko is the site of a Chinese-backed U.S $15 billion real estate and casino mega-project that has gained notoriety as a bastion of illegal activity, including drug trafficking. Fierce fighting also broke out at a casino residence and at the village's Kayin New Year celebration grounds. 'We left everything at home' People only had time to grab a few clothing items before leaving their homes, said Min Thant, a Myawaddy township resident who fled to one of the new camps in Thailand. "Shwe Kokko residents said earlier that they were going to flee as the sound of heavy artillery shelling was too close to our village," he said. "The artillery shelling got even closer to the village around 8 a.m. and everyone fled here... We couldn't bring much with us except some necessary clothes and ran. We left everything at home." Thai authorities are helping displaced people flee from Myanmar to Thailand, and are helping them find shelter in five locations, said Ye Min of the Aid Alliance Committee, a Thailand-based migrant worker rights organization. "Thai authorities have designated some places in Thai villages, schools and some locations on the opposite side of the border from where battles broke out," he said. "Thai residents from nearby villages cook food and send it to them. The Thai military is also providing them with water and health care." Worries of possible forced return A staff member at Friends without Borders, a Thai NGO that works on the Thai-Myanmar border, told BenarNews that she is still worried that the refugees may be deported prematurely even though they are currently being treated with leniency by Thai authorities. "I praise the authorities for not barring them," Pornsuk Kedsawang said. "But what worries me is that they may send them back too soon, so I beg the authorities to keep them until the situation is calm." A Mae Sot resident said residents are planning to provide food to refugees with physical and mental injuries. "When a war breaks out, people develop anxiety and fear," he said. "They are scared of bullets or injuries. They are worried that their homes and belongings would burn. They cry with such worries and anxieties." Saw Khin Maung Myint, the junta's Karen state spokesman, said to RFA that he has reported the refugee situation to government officials in Nay Pyi Taw. "Our government (state administration) can't reach out to the refugees who are in Mae Sot," he said. "If I may say, I think that the Union government is responsible for such cases. That's why we report the issues to the Union government." Saw Khin Maung Myint did not answer RFA's inquiry about the situation of the fighting. Junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun also did not respond to a request for comment from RFA. A Myawaddy resident said fighting had calmed down by Thursday morning. The Karen Border Guard Force has not yet released any information about the casualties on both sides as a result of the fighting. RFA contacted the KNLA joint forces by telephone, but was unable to contact them. Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster. BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated news organization. Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Security Concept of Russia and Belarus Union State Seeks to Thwart NATO Threat Sputnik News 20230406 Ekaterina Blinova The creation of a security concept of the Union State of Russia and Belarus is a logical response to NATO's military buildup, Vladimir Kireev, deputy director of the Center of Social and Integration Studies on the Union State and Eurasian Integration, told Sputnik. He added that the time is ripe to develop algorithms to overcome the challenge. On April 6, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belorussian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko participated in a meeting of the Union State's Supreme State Council. The summit's agenda included the Union State's strategic planning, security and conditions for sustainable socio-economic development of the supranational political body. Putin emphasized the necessity of working out a security concept of the Union State to withstand growing tensions on external borders of Russia and Belarus, the pressure of sanctions and ongoing information war unleashed by the West on Moscow and Minsk. "The initiative has been proposed in the face of high foreign policy risks: we see that a rather dangerous situation is emerging for Russia and Belarus in the international arena," said Kireev. "Against the background of the consolidation of NATO countries against Russia, a certain consensus has been reached in Ukraine that the NATO member states agree to participate in one way or another in an indirect or even direct conflict against the Union State by military and non-military means (...) This concept is, in fact, a regulated and formalized scheme of interaction between the two countries in response to external threats (...) [T]hese are retaliatory measures in response to [Western] aggression, we did not start it. For now, [it's hard] to say what will be exactly included in this concept, but this will definitely improve the coordination of the actions of the joint mechanism of cooperation between Belarus and Russia." Kireev suggested that the concept would include responses at political, economic, cyber-security and military levels, adding that a direct confrontation between the Union State and the transatlantic alliance cannot be ruled out. The expert noted that over recent years, a bipolar system has been forming with NATO steadily expanding towards the borders of Russia and Belarus, something that Moscow and Minsk cannot ignore. In addition, Western countries repeatedly issued threats towards the leaders of the Union State, the political scientist stressed. "We can see a vast variety of methods [employed by the West - Sputnik] to influence Russia and Belarus ranging from political and economic means to various military provocations, such as entering the airspace of our countries, deploying military contingents directly near our borders. At the same time, we are now talking about growing [military] contingents [of NATO], which did not really threaten our security 10-15 years ago being at the time purely symbolic. At the moment, a real offensive army is being formed in Poland and in the Baltic states. That is, given that there are 150,000 troops in Poland and they plan to increase this contingent to 300,000, then collectively all NATO troops, including new NATO members such as Sweden, Finland and slightly more experienced ones, such as Romania, Bulgaria, would comprise a really large grouping, which is already enough to wage a full-scale war against the Union State of Belarus and Russia." The West has subjected Moscow and Minsk to harsh criticism over Russia's decision to place tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. Moscow made it clear that the deployment is by no means violating Russia's non-proliferation obligations. Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that Belarus had received nuclear-capable Iskanders while the nation's warplanes had the capability of striking enemy targets with nuclear means of destruction. On April 6, French President Emmanuel Macron vehemently opposed the proliferation of nuclear weapons outside the countries possessing them during a news conference on Thursday following talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Commenting on Macron's remarks, Lukashenko cited the fact that a whopping five European states are currently hosting US nuclear bombs, adding that these weapons should be pulled out from the Old Continent. "European leaders are certainly concerned about the dangerous situation that is emerging in the European continent because of the conflict in Ukraine, which is largely fueled by the US and a certain part of the American political elites," said Kireev. "But at the same time, if this conflict translates into real hostilities, it risks dealing a serious blow not only to the economy of the European Union, but also to the life on the continent: if nuclear weapons are used as a result of hostilities, then it will be very difficult to exist [there] in the future (...) Reproaches against Russia, are in fact emotionally addressed at the United States, too. Of course, Russia's actions complicate the situation for the EU and NATO. However, in principle, there is no other way out for Russia, because in the current situation, the threat of a direct military conflict between NATO and the Russian Federation looks close and frightening like never before and cannot but arouse the desire of the Russian Federation to at least somehow mitigate risks posed by NATO through various methods, including the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus and the creation of this common security concept." A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudi Arabia, Iran resume official relations IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 6, 2023 Beijing, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has announced that Riyadh and Tehran resumed official diplomatic ties on Thursday.5 Kanaani, who is accompanying Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian in the visit to Beijing, told correspondents on Thursday that in line with negotiations between foreign minister of Saudi Arabia and Iran, the two sides underlined the importance of stability and security in the region as well as the maintenance of security by the regional players. According to the spokesman, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud have expressed readiness of their countries to implement basic agreements existing between the two sides, including a comprehensive accord on mutual cooperation and a security agreement; so, they agreed upon taking steps in this respect gradually. He went on to say that the Saudi and Iranian sides negotiated on expansion of economic exchanges in both public and private sectors, and that they underlined that the existing contracts between the two states pave the legal way for initiating and improving such activities. Private and public delegations from both countries are scheduled to hold talks on the expansion of trade, economic and investment cooperation, he said, adding that Riyadh and Tehran have reached a consensus to facilitate aerial transportation between Saudi Arabia and Iran following meetings between technical delegations of both sides. They also plan to facilitate issuing visas and other related services to the nationals of both states to carry out economic and trade exchanges as well as Umrah pilgrimage, Kanaani noted. The Saudi and Iranian foreign minister held talks in Chinese capital today; then, their joint statement was singed in the presence of their Chinese counterpart on Thursday morning. Riyadh and Tehran agreed to reopen embassies and consulates and expressed readiness to remove obstacles in the way of improving collaborations. Senior Saudi and Iranian officials held talks in Beijing in March. They signed an accord to restore diplomatic ties following a China-brokered negotiations. 4208**7129 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudi-Iranian reconciliation hailed People's Daily Online By MO JINGXI (Chinadaily.com.cn) 08:48, April 07, 2023 Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed on Thursday to resume their diplomatic relations and reopen embassies in each other's country within 60 days, as their top envoys met in Beijing following the two countries' diplomatic rapprochement under a China-brokered deal last month. China received Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud for a meeting in Beijing upon the proposal of the two countries, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular news briefing on Thursday. "Both sides noted that they will continue to advance the process to improve bilateral relations in accordance with the road map and timeline identified during talks in Beijing in March," Mao said. Thursday's meeting was the first official encounter between foreign ministers of the two countries in more than seven years after Saudi Arabia and Iran severed diplomatic ties in early 2016. The two sides emphasized in a joint statement the importance of following up on the implementation of the agreement reached in Beijing and its activation in a way that enhances mutual trust, expands fields of cooperation and helps create security, stability and prosperity in the region, according to media reports. They also agreed to proceed with the necessary measures to reopen diplomatic missions in Riyadh and Teheran, as well as in the Saudi city of Jeddah and the Iranian city of Mashhad, where their consulates general were previously located. They affirmed that both sides will discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation, including the resumption of flights and mutual visits by official delegations and those from the private sector. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang met with the ministers after witnessing the signing of the joint statement, and said that China highly praised the two countries' continuous steps to show goodwill and sincerity for rapprochement since March. Qin said that China firmly supports Middle East countries in adhering to strategic autonomy, strengthening solidarity and coordination and getting rid of external interference so that the destiny of the region remains in their own hands. "China will do its best to play a mediating role and provide necessary support for both countries, thus making contributions to promoting security and stability in the Middle East," he said. According to Qin, the improvement of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia will provide a more forceful guarantee for safeguarding regional peace and stability and set an important example for other countries to resolve conflicts through dialogue and consultation. "This one small step for Saudi Arabia and Iran is a giant leap across conflict for mankind to achieve reconciliation," he added. The Saudi Arabian and Iranian foreign ministers also expressed their thanks and appreciation to China for hosting the meeting. Choosing China "came as an extension of Beijing's positive role in reaching the agreement and facilitating communication between the two countries", the London-based Arabic-language newspaper Asharq al-Awasat quoted an unidentified source in Riyadh as saying on Wednesday. Lu Jin, an Iran expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said, "China's mediation efforts, which comply with the regional countries' development needs, have strong backing from people in the region," adding that such efforts also showed how China implemented the Global Security Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping. The announcement of the restoration of diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia came earlier than expected and it demonstrated the aspiration of countries in the region for peace and socioeconomic development, she added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. House committee chair arrives in Taiwan ROC Central News Agency 04/06/2023 05:52 PM Taipei, April 6 (CNA) Michael McCaul, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the United States House of Representatives, on Thursday said his visit to Taiwan is meant to send a signal to China that Taiwan has U.S. support. Arriving in Taiwan on a U.S. government aircraft, McCaul and his delegation touched down at Taipei Songshan Airport around 11:15 a.m. and was welcomed by Vice Foreign Minister Alexander Yui (). Immediately after landing in Taiwan, McCaul told reporters that his three-day visit is intended to send a signal to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). "Being here I think it sends a signal to the CCP that the United States supports Taiwan and we are going to harden Taiwan and we want them to think twice before invading Taiwan," he told reporters at the airport. Asked if he thinks his visit could make already tense U.S.-China relations worse, McCaul did not directly answer the question, saying only that he received threatening texts from China before his trip which he called "intimidation." He said during his stay in Taipei he will hold meetings with President Tsai Ing-wen () and other senior officials on how to send weapon systems to Taiwan faster to make sure the country is prepared and has enough deterrence to stop aggression coming from "Communist China." According to Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), other than the meeting with the president which is set for Saturday, McCaul and his delegation are also scheduled to meet with Vice President Lai Ching-te (), Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (), Foreign Minister Joseph Wu () and other senior officials to exchange views on a number of issues of mutual interests. Other members of the delegation include McCaul's colleagues, Republicans French Hill, Michael Lawler, Young Kim, Nathaniel Moran, Guy Reschenthaler, and Democrats Ami Bera and Madeleine Dean, MOFA said in a press release. According to a press release issued by McCaul's office, the delegation will also meet with Taiwanese business leaders, as well as senior Taiwanese officials from the executive and legislative branches "to discuss ways the U.S. can strengthen our economic and defense relationship with Taiwan in the face of growing threats in the region." The visit which will last until Saturday is part of a larger visit to the Indo-Pacific region, the American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto U.S. embassy in the country, said in a separate press release. In its press release, MOFA called McCaul a staunch supporter of Taiwan for years who has initiated and co-signed a number of Taiwan-friendly bills in the U.S. Congress. McCaul had said publicly in February that he planned to lead a bipartisan delegation to Taiwan in spring this year. "I think it's important to show China that we support Taiwan as a deterrence," he said at the time. (By Joseph Yeh) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting with President Tsai not meant to escalate tensions with China, McCarthy says ROC Central News Agency 04/06/2023 10:29 AM Los Angeles, April 5 (CNA) U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Wednesday that his meeting with Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen (ee) was not meant to escalate tensions between Beijing and Washington. "It's not our intention to escalate [tensions with China]," McCarthy told a press conference held after his meeting with Tsai at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, the first-ever meeting between a Taiwanese president and a U.S. House speaker on American soil. Instead, he said, the meeting "provided a greater peace and stability for the world" and reflected the desires from both sides to "continue to build and foster democracy and freedom." Tensions between Washington and Beijing have heightened in recent months after an alleged Chinese spy balloon drifted for days over American airspace and the U.S. rolled out measures to prevent China from acquiring certain high-tech components. The meeting also demonstrated the "unwavering and bipartisan support" for Taiwan in the U.S. Congress, according to McCarthy, who became the third sitting U.S. House speaker to have met with a Taiwanese president, since the Republic of China (Taiwan's official name) and the U.S. ended official diplomatic relations in 1979. "The one thing I hope all countries see is that we're united in the same approach, together on both sides," he said. "And we're going to speak with one voice when it comes to China or any others when we look at foreign policy." "There's no need for retaliation," McCarthy said, referring to China, which launched week-long large-scale military drills around Taiwan in the wake of a visit to Taiwan by McCarthy's predecessor Nancy Pelosi about eight months ago. Beijing, which sees Taiwan as part of Chinese territory and opposes any official interactions between Taipei and Washington, also suspended imports of dozens of Taiwanese agricultural and food products following Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, the first by a sitting U.S. Speaker since Newt Gingrich in 1997. Officials from China have repeatedly raised objections to the meeting between McCarthy and Tsai - who arrived in California on Tuesday evening after visiting New York, Guatemala and Belize as part of her 10-day overseas trip - and threatened to take "resolute measures" in response. However, McCarthy said "there is no place" for Beijing to dictate where he should go or whom he should meet. "I am the speaker of the House ... I'm not the general manager of the Houston Rockets," McCarthy said, in an apparent reference to Beijing's sanctioning of the Rockets after the team's general manager expressed support for protestors in Hong Kong. McCarthy noted, however, that he currently did not have plans to travel to Taiwan. McCarthy said that despite not currently planning to visit Taiwan, "that doesn't mean I will not go," adding that should that happen, he would lead a bipartisan delegation to Taiwan. Although McCarthy had previously pledged to visit Taiwan if elected House speaker, he said at a press conference in early February, about a month after winning the speakership following several rounds of voting, that he was not planning a trip to Taiwan. Media later reported that Tsai had proposed the two meet in Los Angeles on her return from a trip to Taiwan's allies in Central America as an alternative to a meeting in Taiwan, which Taipei feared could have triggered a more aggressive response by Beijing. According to the speaker, he and Tsai had "constructive" discussions during the meeting, which was attended by more than a dozen lawmakers from both McCarthy's Republican Party and the ruling Democratic Party. Those present talked about the need to speed up the delivery of arms items that Washington has sold to Taipei while strengthening bilateral trade and technology cooperation, McCarthy said. McCarthy, however, did not answer media questions about whether he would support the U.S. government sending troops to help defend Taiwan in the event of an invasion, saying it was "a hypothetical question." "Our goal is that hypothetical never comes to fruition," he said, adding that "the best way" to achieve that goal would be to supply the weapons that allow people to deter war and defend themselves. At the same time, he said, both sides reaffirmed during the meeting the need to continue promoting their shared values of freedom and democracy on the international stage. "America must stay true to our values and remain consistent in our support for the people of Taiwan, who share American people's desire to live in peace, freedom, and democracy," he said. Democratic Party lawmaker Pete Aguilar, echoed similar views. He told the press conference that the House Democratic Caucus, which he chairs, would continue seeking to grow bilateral economic ties with Taiwan. According to Aguilar, the partnership between Taiwan and the U.S. has been rooted in the pillars of security, shared economic interest, and democracy in the past four decades. "I told President Tsai that the House Democrats will never abandon this relationship... because we understand the unique role, and [the] vital role, that Taiwan plays in the region," Aguilar said. (By Teng Pei-ju) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China aircraft carrier 200 nautical miles off Taiwan on training mission: Defense chief ROC Central News Agency 04/06/2023 03:05 PM Taipei, April 6 (CNA) A Chinese aircraft carrier named the Shandong () is currently on what is expected to be a long-range training exercises about 200 nautical miles east of Taiwan, and Taiwanese naval frigates are keeping close tabs on its every move, Taiwan's Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng () said Thursday. Since the Shandong departed from its base at Sanya Naval Port in South China's Hainan Province a few days ago, Taiwan's armed forces have been closely monitoring its movements, Chiu said. Taiwanese forces tracked the Shandong early Wednesday as it passed through the narrow Bashi Channel south of Taiwan and sailed into the West Pacific, where it is expected to carry out its first long-range training mission in that area, he said. Currently, the aircraft carrier is located about 200 nautical miles east of Eluanbi on Taiwan's southern tip, Chiu told lawmakers' during a legislative session. While the Ministry of National Defense (MND) thinks the Chinese aircraft carrier is there on a training mission, Taiwan's military has not seen any aircraft taking off or landing on the Shandong, as is expected during such exercises, he said. The MND, therefore, will not rule out the possibility that the Shandong might conduct live-fire drills near Taiwan in response to the historic meeting between President Tsai Ing-wen () and U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California on Wednesday, Chiu said. As a precaution, Taiwan's Navy has dispatched several Cheng Kung-class and Lafayette-class frigates to closely monitor the Shandong, and they are currently about 5-6 nautical miles away from the aircraft carrier, Chui said, without disclosing the number of frigates. Meanwhile, an American nuclear-powered aircraft carrier the USS Nimitz, one of the world's largest warships, is also in the West Pacific, about 400 nautical miles east of Taiwan, according to Chiu. The U.S. naval vessel is not there specifically because of the Shandong, but its deployment is "somewhat related to that," Chiu said, without elaborating. According to a source that asked not to be named, the USS Nimitz is conducting joint anti-submarine drills with Japanese and South Korean forces in the West Pacific. The Shandong, one of China's two aircraft carriers, was the first to be built domestically. It was commissioned into the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in 2019. As of press time, China had not released any information about the deployment of the Shandong. On Wednesday, the Fujian Maritime Safety Administration (MSA)issued a statement, saying that a three-day "joint cruise and patrol special operation" was being carried out in the Taiwan Strait, led by the Haixun 06, the largest Chinese maritime patrol ship deployed to the strait. Starting Wednesday, inspectors on the patrol fleet will conduct on-site checks on vessels and construction sites in the area, to make sure the ships and construction projects are operating smoothly, the MSA said. The area mentioned by the MSA includes sea routes used by ferries operating between China's coastal cities and Taiwan's Matsu and Kinmen islands, by cargo ships plying between Fujian's Pingtan Islands and Taiwan, and seas traversed by many commercial and fishing vessels. It is also an area known for rampant illegal mining. Asked about the possibility of onboard inspections of Taiwanese commercial ships by the Chinese patrol, Chiu did not give a direct answer, saying only that China is attempting to eliminate the median line in the Taiwan Strait and create a false impression that the waters east of the line is part of its jurisdiction. During Thursday's legislative session, National Security Bureau deputy chief Henry Ko () told lawmakers, however, that Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) was carrying out its own patrols and had given clear directives to Taiwan ships. "We have asked Taiwanese vessels not to cooperate with any Chinese maritime police attempting to make on-board inspections and to report any such attempts to the CGA," Ko said. The median line in the Taiwan Strait is an unofficial border between Taiwan and China, which has been observed since 1950s until recently, based on a tacit understanding between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the People's Republic of China. The current Chinese military and maritime deployments followed an announcement Monday by McCarthy's office that he would meet with Tsai during her stopover in California on her return from Central America. It was the third time that a Taiwanese president had met with a U.S. House speaker since the ROC and the U.S. ended official diplomatic relations in 1979, and it was the first such meeting on U.S. soil. The first meeting occurred in 1997 when Newt Gingrich met with President Lee Teng-hui () in Taipei, and the second was in August 2022, when Nancy Pelosi met with Tsai, also in Taipei. Beijing, which sees Taiwan as part of its territory, has objected to the meeting between Tsai and McCarthy, warning that it would take "resolute measures" to protect Chinese sovereignty. (By Joseph Yeh) Enditem/pc NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan leader's visit lays bare US-China schism Tsai may count her US trip as a success, but it underscored fissures in decades of careful diplomacy over Taiwan. Alex Willemyns for RFA 2023.04.06 -- Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen departs the United States on Thursday after an eventful trip that appeared to shore up her island's relationship with Washington but prompted threats of a "confrontation" from Beijing. But she arrives home just in time to meet another U.S. congressional delegation - this time, led by House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Michael McCaul, who on Wednesday night landed in Taipei and compared Chinese President Xi Jinping to Adolf Hitler. "This struggle for global power, the balance of power that we find ourselves in today often reminds me of my father's generation, often referred to as the greatest in the United States," McCaul, a Republican from Texas, said at a meeting with Tsai's vice-president, Lai Ching-te. "Then we had Hitler and today we have Putin and Chairman Xi," he said, also referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Tsai is scheduled to meet with McCaul and his bipartisan delegation on Saturday - her third such meeting in little over a week, following talks with a cross-party group led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries last Thursday in New York and her high-profile meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin then arrives in Taiwan on April 24 for a six-day trade mission, which also includes a meeting with Tsai. The trips are set to further anger Beijing, which considers the self-governing island a province and has vowed to "reunite" it with the mainland, by force if necessary. In August, it cut off all cooperation with Washington after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit. Blockade soft-launch Tsai will likely consider her trip to the United States a success, said Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the Indo-Pacific Program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, even if it means the U.S.-China relationship is now "dangerously fraught." "U.S.-Taiwan relations are stronger than ever. Support for Taiwan in the U.S. Congress is at an all-time high," Glaser said. "For these reasons, President Tsai is likely to see the transit as a success." Yet the "mistrust is deep" between Beijing and Washington, she noted, and it was not helped by Tsai's "warm reception" in America. "Not only is a thaw unlikely but the risk of conflict is growing," she said. Efforts to repair U.S.-China ties have fizzled since Pelosi's trip. Hours before Secretary of State Antony Blinken was set to leave Washington for a visit to Beijing in February, he called off the trip after an alleged Chinese spying balloon was found in U.S. airspace. Then in the week before Tsai's March 29 arrival in New York, Rick Waters - deputy U.S. assistant secretary of state for China and Taiwan and the head of the State Department's "China House" - met Chinese officials in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Beijing to rekindle talks. But Tsai's trip seems to have again nixed a detente. As the Taiwanese leader met McCarthy, China's navy launched aircraft carriers into the Western Pacific just south of Taiwan, with Beijing accusing the United States of "crossing the line" with Tsai's trip. In an apparent trial of a blockade of the island - which some U.S. military planners consider Beijing's most likely first-move in a conflict - Chinese officials also announced they will for the next three weeks stop and board ships in the Taiwan Strait for "on-site inspections." Taiwan, in turn, instructed any ships to refuse to cooperate. European oversight There's one saving grace for cross-strait peace. While McCaul and other American lawmakers are in Taiwan, China has its own visitors: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanual Macron arrived in Beijing and on Thursday met with Xi as Tsai was preparing to fly home. Amid such a visit, "it would not be in Beijing's strategic interest to use egregiously escalatory military action," said Wen-Ti Sung, a lecturer at the Australian National University's Taiwan Studies program. "If Beijing seriously raises military tension at this juncture," Sung said, "it would make life very difficult for Von der Leyen and Macron, and take the wind out of the sails of European China dove voices." "Europe would rather not see the Taiwan Strait situation escalate, for they are already busy with Ukraine and post-COVID economic recovery," he added, explaining that McCarthy and Tsai seemed to have read the room by shifting their meeting away from Taiwan. "In other words, Taiwan and the U.S. are already choosing the relatively less provocative option," he said. "If in response, Beijing still chooses to retaliate ... then the U.S. and Taiwan will paint a picture of insatiable Beijing that no one can work with." There's also the recent mirror-image visit by Tsai's predecessor, Ma Ying-jeou, to mainland China while Tsai was in the United States. Ma's Kuomintang party, which campaigns its greater willingness to cooperate with Beijing in pursuit of peace than Tsai's party, hopes to win back the presidency in the January 2024 election, with Lai, the vice-president, expected to carry the baton for the ruling party. "If Beijing escalates militarily, it will waste away this rare opportunity to underscore cross-strait friendship, in exchange for chipping away the success of President Tsai's U.S. trip ever so slightly," Sung said. One country, two systems In the long-term, Tsai's trip has laid bare a gulf between Beijing, on the one hand, and the United States and Taiwan, on the other. Ja Ian Chong, a professor of international relations and expert in Chinese foreign policy at the National University of Singapore, said the Taiwanese appetite for a rapprochement with Beijing was fading. In Taiwan, he said, "efforts to cast Tsai's U.S. visits as unnecessarily risky by the opposition Kuomintang also do not seem to have gained much traction." That failure, Chong added, was largely "in keeping with a broad popular acceptance in Taiwan of the current direction of travel in relations between Taipei and Washington." Beijing, meanwhile, has not minced its own words. Xi himself pledged in October never to renounce the use of force on Taiwan, and U.S. military leaders have predicted an invasion by the decade's close. "We will not allow any foreign force to bully, suppress or enslave us," Hua Chunying, a foreign ministry spokesperson, said after Pelosi's trip last year. "Whoever wants to do so will be on a collision course with the Great Wall of steel forged by the 1.4 billion Chinese people." Along with the ever closer ties between the U.S. Congress and Taiwan's leaders, that's all a problem for America's "One China" policy, which holds that the island should govern itself while a peaceful reunification with mainland China is negotiated with Beijing. The idea is for the United States "to kick the can down the road" until one day "the people of Taiwan would actually endorse some sort of arrangement that would unify China," said Dennis Wilder, a former CIA deputy assistant director for East Asia and the Pacific. But that seems increasingly unviable. "One of the very clear messages you get when you go to Taiwan these days is that they do not accept 'One country, two systems,'" Wilder said. "They've seen the way Beijing behaved with Hong Kong - they think that Beijing betrayed the people of Hong Kong." "At this point, they want no part of any kind of arrangement where Beijing makes promises that they don't believe they would keep," he added. "The big concern I have is: Will Beijing lose its patience?" Edited by Malcolm Foster. Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China promises resolute response after Tsai-McCarthy meeting Chinese and US aircraft carriers are sailing near Taiwan as Beijing accuses Washington of 'crossing the line'. By RFA Staff 2023.04.06 -- China vowed Thursday to take "strong and resolute measures" after a meeting between Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California, as a Chinese aircraft carrier sailed near Taiwan, putting the island's military on guard. At the same time, the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Nimitz sailed in the waters east of Taiwan, 740 kilometers (400 nautical miles ) from the island, according to Taiwan's defense ministry. The Nimitz may be assisting Taiwan "in monitoring and preventing Chinese military actions in a worst case scenario," said a Taiwanese military analyst. Tsai's transit in the U.S. and her meeting with McCarthy, has provoked protests from multiple major institutions in China, including the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National People's Congress and the Communist Party's Central Office, Shen Ming-shih from Taiwan's main military think tank INDSR told Radio Free Asia. 'Violation of China's sovereignty' In a statement released Thursday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson condemned the "high-profile" meeting between the Taiwanese leader and the U.S. House Speaker, as well as Tsai's stopovers in the United States. "This is essentially the United States acting with Taiwan to connive at 'Taiwan independence' separatists' political activities in the United States," the release said, "It seriously infringes upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity." It accused the U.S. of "crossing the line and acting provocatively" against China. "This has put cross-Strait relations in serious difficulty." "The Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations," the ministry reiterated. "China will take strong and resolute measures to defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity," it warned. In the week before the Tsai-McCarthy meeting, there was no noticeable increase of Chinese military movements near Taiwan, leading to the prediction by Taiwan National Security chief Tsai Ming-yen that "the government expected a less severe reaction" from Beijing than when McCarthy's predecessor Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan last August. However on Wednesday, as Tsai met McCarthy outside Los Angeles, China's Shandong aircraft carrier group "passed through the Bashi Channel and entered Taiwan's southeastern waters," Taiwan's defense ministry reported. Intimidation Japan's Ministry of Defense confirmed in a statement issued Thursday that three Chinese naval vessels including the Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier Shandong, a Zhangkai II-class frigate and a Fuyu-class fast combat support ship, were spotted sailing in the western Pacific Ocean. It said this is the first time that the Shandong has sailed in the Pacific Ocean. Chinese media also said it is the Shandong's first exercise in the West Pacific as its regular operation area is the South China Sea. A picture of the Chinese aircraft carrier released with the statement shows a large number of warplanes on the deck, including J-15 multirole fighters, Z-18 transport helicopters and at least one Z-9 reconnaissance helicopter. Taiwan's Minister of Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng told lawmakers that as of Thursday morning the Chinese carrier was 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) east of Pingtung County in southern Taiwan. The carrier-based aircraft are supposed to conduct some flight training, Chiu said, but "no planes have taken off nor landed yet." He said he could not rule out that the carrier is preparing for a military exercise. "One of the main purposes of the Shandong's current mission is to issue a warning to Taiwan and the U.S.," said Shen Ming-shih, who is acting deputy chief executive officer at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research. "When President Tsai's plane flies from Los Angeles to Taiwan, the Chinese aircraft carrier may deliberately approach the route," Shen said, adding that in his opinion "it is only for intimidation and not an actual attack." The analyst told RFA the Taiwanese and the U.S. military have already made preparations for possible events. Minister Chiu said that the Taiwanese military is monitoring the situation closely and has tasked aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems with responding accordingly. A couple of Taiwanese Navy's frigates are currently located just 10 kilometers away from the Shandong. The minister also said that the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Nimitz is currently 400 nautical miles (740 kilometers) east of Taiwan. While he can't confirm that the Nimitz is here for the Shandong, given the situation "there's a connection." The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier has just taken part in a trilateral maritime exercise with the Japanese and South Korean navies in the East China Sea from April 3-4. The U.S. Navy said in a statement that currently "ships from the USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group are conducting operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet' region," which covers most of the Indo-Pacific. Edited by Mike Firn. Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address House Speaker McCarthy States 'Unwavering' US Support for Taiwan By VOA News April 06, 2023 U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy pledged "resolute, unwavering and bipartisan" support for Taiwan after he held talks Wednesday with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen in California. "I believe our bond is stronger now than at any time or point in my lifetime," he said at a joint news conference with Tsai. Wednesday's meeting included a bipartisan congressional delegation. "Their presence and unwavering support reassure the people of Taiwan that we are not isolated. And we are not alone," Tsai said. She also warned that military threats from China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, "cannot be understated." She said Taiwan seeks "a peaceful status quo" and "strives to be a reliable partner to the world." The talks prompted opposition from China. Beijing announced a joint cruise and patrol operation in the north-central part of the Taiwan Strait, while the People's Liberation Army said it had deployed two destroyers and a frigate to the East China Sea for live-fire drills. Both operations were believed to be a rebuke to Taiwan for Tsai's two stopovers in the United States in less than a week. "This is not our intention to escalate," McCarthy told reporters. "We want to continue to build and foster democracy and freedom. There should be no fear." Democratic Congressman Seth Moulton, a member of the House Select Committee on China, told VOA that Wednesday's meeting was about furthering U.S.-Taiwan cooperation. "Our shared goal is to prevent a war over Taiwan, which Xi Jinping has said that he wants. So that means deterrence on a broad range of issues: military deterrence, but also economic deterrence, trade policy, a lot of different ways that we can strengthen our allied relationships in Southeast Asia," Moulton said. Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson told VOA that the two sides discussed "peace through strength." "How can the United States continue to support our friend and ally in Taiwan, but how can we also help foster other relationships around the world that will strengthen economic prosperity for not only Taiwan, but for our country and others as well," Hinson said. U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic minority leader in the House of Representatives, said he also met with Tsai last week in New York. "We had a very productive conversation about the mutual security and economic interests between America and Taiwan," Jeffries said. "We also discussed our shared commitment to democracy and freedom." Jeffries said in a statement that his meeting with Tsai "is consistent with and represents no deviation from the longstanding unofficial relationship between the United States and Taiwan." The U.S. has a "One China" policy, which acknowledges that Beijing considers Taiwan to be part of China. But it nonetheless sends military aid to the self-governed island to help it defend itself. U.S. President Joe Biden has frequently said the U.S. would militarily defend Taiwan if China were to invade it, although the U.S. has quickly said its One China policy has not changed. But Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, the ranking member on the House Select Committee on China, said the Chinese Communist Party's promise to provide a one-China, two-systems policy if they reunify with Taiwan does not appear to be compatible after the world watched how the system was implemented in Hong Kong. "That's why our bond with the Taiwanese people is unshakable. We will always support them in defending their freedom," Krishnamoorthi said. McCarthy told reporters he would like to see the Biden administration speed up its transfer of weapons delivery systems to Taiwan. VOA's Mandarin Service contributed to this report. Some information came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address House Speaker McCarthy Praises Taiwan Leader as 'Great Friend to America' By Katherine Gypson April 06, 2023 U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy met Wednesday with Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen in California, calling her "a great friend to America." In a joint appearance, the two talked about the importance of U.S.-Taiwan ties, and the importance of defending democratic governance. "We once again find ourselves in a world where democracy is under threat and the urgency of keeping the beacon of freedom shining cannot be understated," Tsai said. McCarthy said that the friendship between the two countries, "is critical to maintain economic freedom, peace and regional stability." Tsai warned that military threats from China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, also "cannot be understated." She said Taiwan seeks "a peaceful status quo" and "strives to be a reliable partner to the world." The talks prompted opposition from China. Beijing announced a joint cruise and patrol operation in the north-central part of the Taiwan Strait, while the People's Liberation Army said it had deployed two destroyers and a frigate to the East China Sea for live fire drills. Both operations were believed to be a rebuke to Taiwan for Tsai's two stopovers in the United States in less than a week. Chinese authorities did not elaborate on the Taiwan Strait operation or whether the Chinese navy was joining it with surveillance vessels. "This is not our intention to escalate," McCarthy told reporters during a bipartisan press conference with the full delegation. "We want to continue to build and foster democracy and freedom. There should be no fear." But McCarthy did emphasize the Six Assurances, key principles laid down during the presidency of Ronald Reagan in the 1980s guiding U.S.-Taiwan relations. "Prior to this, very few American politicians have been underscoring the Six Assurances as much, even though it's becoming more widely stated since the later years of Donald Trump," Dean Chen, an associate professor of political science at the Ramapo College of New Jersey, told VOA. "I think McCarthy is trying to emphasize that to make it even more and more official going forward." Republican Representative Ashley Hinson, a member of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition with China, told VOA a strong U.S.-Taiwan relationship sends an important message to other countries. "We don't want you to be reliant upon China for your supply chain and for your manufacturing industries. I think we can help foster economic growth, which then in turn leads to freedom and opportunity everywhere," she said. The U.S. has a "One China" policy, which acknowledges that Beijing considers Taiwan to be part of China. The U.S. considers Taiwan's status unsettled and sends military aid to the self-governed island to help it defend itself. U.S. President Joe Biden has frequently said the U.S. would militarily defend Taiwan if China were to invade it, although Washington has maintained that its "One China" policy has not changed. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, the ranking member on the House Select Committee on China, said the Chinese Communist Party's promise to provide a one-China, two-systems policy if they reunify with Taiwan does not appear to be compatible after the world watched how the system was implemented in Hong Kong. "That's why our bond with the Taiwanese people is unshakable. We will always support them in defending their freedom," Krishnamoorthi said. McCarthy told reporters he would like to see the Biden administration speed up its transfer of weapons delivery systems to Taiwan. Tsai has not visited Washington and has said she is transiting through the U.S., with her two stops sandwiched around a visit to Central American allies Guatemala and Belize. Honduras recently announced it was cutting ties with Taiwan in favor of China. Last year, Tsai hosted then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan, and China reacted by holding its largest live fire military drills in decades around the self-governed island. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday, "The U.S. colluded with Taiwan, connived separatist Taiwan independence forces to engage in political activities in the U.S. under the guise of so-called transit, carried out official exchanges with Taiwan, and enhanced substantive relations between the U.S. and Taiwan. This move severely violates the one-China principle." But Robert Ross, a political science professor at Boston College, told VOA, "We will not see a renewed incident similar to post-Pelosi. The Chinese are going to be cautious here and they're going to focus on imposing pain on Taiwan rather than a cross-strait crisis." Beijing's one-China principle is different from the U.S. one-China policy. It holds that China has sovereignty over the mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Democratic Representative Seth Moulton, a member of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition with China, told VOA, "The American public is very united with Congress and not wanting to have a war with China. That's the bottom line. And everything that we're doing is part of preventing, deterring that conflict," he said. VOA's Mandarin Service contributed to this report. Some information came from The Associated Press and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ma Ying-jeou concludes mainland trip with farewell by senior Taiwan affairs official from mainland; constructive for peace, exchanges Global Times By Wang Qi Published: Apr 07, 2023 12:11 AM All issues at home can be properly resolved through consultation, and the Chinese mainland will facilitate exchanges and contacts between compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, a senior mainland Taiwan affairs official told former chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party Ma Ying-jeou on Thursday during a farewell dinner in Shanghai, the last stop of Ma's maiden visit to the mainland before his return to Taiwan island on Friday. Analysts said that Ma's ancestral trip, which was actually far beyond ancestor worship, fully demonstrated the Taiwan compatriots' identification with the history and culture of the Chinese nation and created a new scenario for peaceful cross-Straits exchanges in the post-epidemic era. This is in stark contrast to Tsai Ing-wen's collusion with US politicians against the mainland and the destruction of cross-Straits relations. Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, told Ma that his visit had positive significance for promoting exchanges between compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits and the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations. "We hope that people on both sides of the Straits will have more and frequent exchanges, and the mainland will create conditions and facilitate closer exchanges," Song said. Ma's visit started with Honduras abandoning the Taiwan authorities and establishing diplomatic ties with the mainland, and it concluded almost at the same time as secessionist Taiwan regional leader Tsai Ing-wen's provocative meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, which multiple Chinese authorities issued stern warnings against while vowing countermeasures. Song stressed that compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are all Chinese people and should adhere to the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus. All issues at home can be properly resolved through consultation, and no outsiders should interfere in them, said Song, noting that separatist acts must never be tolerated, and hooking up with external forces to pursue "Taiwan independence" is doomed to failure. Ma said the visit to the mainland made him deeply understanding that the two sides should cherish the 1992 Consensus as the common political foundation on which to resume exchanges and avoid war. People on both sides of the Straits are all Chinese people and share the same ancestors, said Ma, calling on the two sides of the Straits to work together to promote peace, strive for cooperation and revitalize China. Ma visited memorial sites and paid tribute to his ancestors who made sacrifices in the resistance war against Japanese invasion at most of his stops in the mainland, and Shanghai was not an exception. Before meeting with Song, Ma paid a visit to the Sihang Warehouse, a battle memorial hall located on the historic site of a four-day battle between 400 Chinese soldiers and Japanese invaders in 1937. "From Ma's trip, we can see his sentiment and identification with the history and culture of the Chinese nation, which fully demonstrates the unbreakable historical and cultural connections between the island and the mainland," Wang Jianmin, a senior expert in cross-Straits affairs at Minnan Normal University in Fujian Province, told the Global Times on Thursday. The COVID-19 epidemic, the DPP's secessionism manipulation, and the escalation of the strategic game between China and the US have interrupted cross-Straits exchanges. Ma's trip to the mainland was positive in promoting the development of cross-Straits relations, Wang said. Ma's visit will be conducive to further enhancing cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation and mutual understanding, Wang said. "This is in stark contrast to Tsai's confrontation against the mainland and being an enemy of the interests of the whole Chinese nation as a US pawn." In Nanjing, Wuhan, Changsha, Chongqing and Shanghai, Ma received warm welcomes from local residents waving to greet him along the streets. However, more than 30 political groups on the island of Taiwan staged a protest against the "betrayal visit" of Tsai to the US and collusion with US politicians. The American anti-war organization Center for Political Innovation also protested against Tsai's transit in New York. "We hope that Ma will continue to make greater contributions to cross-Straits relations and peace, and visit the mainland again at an appropriate time," Wang said. "We look forward to a higher level of exchanges between the leaders of the CPC and KMT, including meetings and exchanges between Ma and mainland leaders," Wang noted. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Update: China's top office on Taiwan affairs sanctions diehard separatist, two institutions advocating 'Taiwan independence' Global Times By Global Times Published: Apr 07, 2023 08:17 AM China's top office on the Taiwan affairs - the Taiwan Work Office of Communist Party of China Central Committee - announced on Friday to sanction diehard "Taiwan independence" separatist Hsiao Bi-khim, who colluded with the US and provoked confrontation between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits. Hsiao and her family members are prohibited from entering the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao. The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council announced on Friday sanctions of two institutions - the Prospect Foundation and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats - which, under the guidance of the DPP authorities, used the excuses of "democracy," "freedom" and "cooperation" to advocate for "Taiwan independence" and colluded with anti-China forces to create "one China, one Taiwan" or "two Chinas" that violate the one-China principle. People in charge of these two institutions are prohibited from entering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, and organizations and individuals in the mainland are forbidden from cooperating with them, said Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson of the office. The announcement came after the latest meeting between Taiwan regional leader Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday - an erroneous move that delivered a heavy blow to already strained US-China relations, damaged the political foundation of the two countries, and made the cross-Straits situation more intense. China said on Thursday that it will adopt firm and resolute measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Hsiao colluded with the US and intentionally provoked the confrontation between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits and damaged the peace and stability in the region, which fully exposed her ill-intentioned motives of seeking "Taiwan independence," a spokesperson from the Taiwan Work Office of CPC Central Committee said on Friday. The Chinese mainland announced sanctions prohibiting Hsiao and her family members from entering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, prohibiting her financial supporters and affiliated companies from cooperating with organizations and individuals in the mainland, and adopting other necessary punitive measures for pursuing lifelong accountability, the spokesperson said. Hsiao, a confidant of Tsai, was appointed as the island's representative to the US in 2020 when the Trump-led GOP administration aligned closer to DPP secessionists. With an American mother, Hsiao has lived and studied in the US, displaying her pro-Washington credentials. She has been most criticized for efforts to orchestrate visits to Taiwan by US politicians, including former secretary of state Mike Pompeo, who was paid $150,000 under an agreement signed by the Hsiao-chaired "Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office" in the US and US-based company Premiere Speakers Bureau, according to media reports. In August 2020, the DPP authorities lifted restrictions on imports of US ractopamine-enhanced pork, which drew a strong wave of opposition. But Hsiao defended the decision and called for the public to reject a referendum on "opposing problematic pork import from the US." Taiwan Affairs Office Spokesperson Ma Xiaoguang said Hsiao's move makes her look like "an advocate of US interests." Hsiao was added to the mainland's list of "diehard separatists" in August 2022, along with other political figures such as Koo Li-hsiung and Tsai Chi-chang. The Chinese mainland has slammed Hsiao for pushing US arms sales to Taiwan island and advancing Pelosi's 2022 visit. One month after being sanctioned by the Chinese mainland, Hsiao hosted about 60 international lawmakers to stand against China and lobbied them to push their governments to adopt "greater deterrence against the military or other forms of coercion" by the mainland, according to a Reuters report in September 2022. The spokesperson of the Taiwan Work Office of CPC Central Committee said history has proved and will continue to prove that "Taiwan independence" is a dead end and "Taiwan independence" diehards colluding with external forces will fail. No one or any force should underestimate our resolute determination, firm will, and strong ability to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the spokesperson said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sanctions against diehard "Taiwan independence" separatist Bi-khim Hsiao announced People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 09:27, April 07, 2023 BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- A spokesperson for the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Friday announced sanction measures against diehard "Taiwan independence" separatist Bi-khim Hsiao. The spokesperson said Hsiao solicited foreign support and looked for U.S. support for the independence agenda to intentionally provoke confrontations across the Taiwan Strait and undermine cross-Strait peace and stability, which further exposed her diehard nature of seeking "Taiwan independence." The mainland decided to impose further sanction measures on Hsiao, strictly banning Hsiao and her family members from entering the mainland and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao, banning her financial sponsors and related businesses from cooperating with mainland organizations and individuals. All other necessary punitive measures will be taken to ensure lifelong accountability according to law, said the spokesperson. History has proven and will continue to prove that, "Taiwan independence" will lead to a dead end, and the brazen provocations of diehard "Taiwan independence" separatists relying on external forces are sure to fail, said the spokesperson. "No individual or force should underestimate our strong resolve, will and ability to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the spokesperson added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkiye's First Main Battle Tank to Be Supplied to Armed Forces in 2-3 Weeks Sputnik News 20230406 ISTANBUL (Sputnik) - First Turkish-made main battle tank Altay is planned to be delivered to the country's armed forces in 2-3 weeks, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday. "We are now producing tanks ourselves. God willing, we will put our Altay tank into service and hand it over to the army within 2-3 weeks," Erdogan said in an interview with the TV360 broadcaster. Murat Yalcintas, the head of Turkish company BMC, has earlier said that Turkiye was ready to mass produce Altay tanks, adding that the first two tanks would be delivered to armed forces for trials on April 23. He added that Altay tanks are equipped with Korean-designed, while the Turkish ones will be produced by 2026. He did not rule out that Ankara could start exporting the Turkish tank to friendly countries. The Altay project is being implemented under an agreement signed in March 2007 between the Turkish Ministry of Defense and Turkish company Otokar. Since Turkiye had no experience in building its own tanks, Otokar signed a contract with South Korean company Hyundai Rotem for the joint development of a prototype of the new tank. Under the contract, Hyundai Rotem transferred to the Turkish side all the technologies used in South Korea's K2 Black Panther tank. The first prototype of the Altay tank was showcased at the International Defense Industry Fair in Istanbul in May 2011. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address TArkiye quake aftermath: Funding needed to stave off risks to millions of children 6 April 2023 - Two months after devastating earthquakes hit TArkiye and northern Syria, 2.5 million children in TArkiye remain in need of humanitarian support and are at risk of falling into poverty, child labour or under-age marriage, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned on Thursday. UNICEF Representative in TArkiye, Regina De Dominicis, said that while the humanitarian response to the disaster was swift, "immediate futures of millions of children remain uncertain". Urgent health and protection needs To cover the most pressing needs, UNICEF has reached more than 390,000 people with hygiene kits, winter clothes, electrical heaters and blankets. The UN agency has also delivered water to thousands while damaged supply networks are repaired. On the health front, UNICEF has been supporting TArkiye's authorities with the provision of vaccines including for polio, diphtheria and tetanus, as well as medical equipment and supplies. As part of the emergency response, the agency has also been working with partners to assist with family reunification and has reached more than 149,000 children and caregivers with psychosocial support. UNICEF stressed that "these efforts must continue and child protection services must be maintained without interruption". Education in jeopardy According to UNICEF, the earthquakes impacted nearly four million schoolchildren in TArkiye. While nearly 1.5 million have resumed their education in affected areas, and another 250,000 have been able to continue their education after relocating elsewhere in the country, many others risk being left behind. To ensure that learning can continue, UNICEF is financing the repair of more than 1,170 schools, which will benefit over 300,000 children, and supporting the Ministry of Education with temporary classrooms in prefabricated structures and tents. The agency is also providing catch-up classes and help with homework in 37 hubs dedicated to child, adolescent and family support across 10 provinces. Getting lives back on track UNICEF in TArkiye is appealing for an additional $138 million to continue assisting children affected by the earthquakes and calling on the international community to ensure their needs are prioritized. Over and above the emergency response, UNICEF reiterated that longer-term assistance to children and their families is urgently required, so that people can "recover and begin to rebuild their lives". "More support is vital to ensure children are protected and their needs are met as a central part of the recovery," Ms. De Dominicis said, so that the disaster does not continue impacting their lives for decades to come. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address War in Ukraine - Military support for Ukraine Germany - Federal Government Thursday, 6 April 2023 Germany provides support for Ukraine by supplying equipment and weapons, these come from supplies of the Federal Arms Forces and from deliveries from industry financed from the Federal Government's funds for security capacity building. An overview. The Federal Government supports the Ukrainian military in close coordination with its partners and allies. This list provides an overview of lethal and non-lethal German military support for Ukraine. It includes deliveries from the Federal Armed Forces, as well as supplies from German industry financed from the Federal Government's funds for so-called security capacity building. Funding for the security capacity building initiative amounts to a total of 2.2 billion Euros for the year 2023 (after 2 billion Euros for 2022). The funds are to be used primarily to support Ukraine. At the same time, they will be used to finance Germany's increased mandatory contributions to the European Peace Facility (EPF), which in turn goes towards reimbursing EU member states for costs incurred to them in providing support for Ukraine. Delivered military support to Ukraine: (Changes compared to the previous week in bold) 4 armoured engineer vehicles DACHS* (before: 3) 60 trucks Zetros* (before: 52) 42 mobile antenna mast systems* (before: 34) 34 reconnaissance drones* (before: 26) 83,520 rounds ammunition 40mm* (before: 60.000) 18 LEOPARD 2 A 6 main battle tanks with ammunition (joint project with further LEOPARD 2 operators) 40 infantry fighting vehicles MARDER with ammunition (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) 2 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 3 2 mine clearing tanks WISENT 1* 160,000 first aid kits* 103.000 tourniquets 100 MG3 for LEOPARD 2, MARDER and DACHS Spare parts for LEOPARD 2 and MARDER 90 drone detection systems* 500 pistols SFP9* 2 hangar tents* 23,500 projectiles 155mm 155mm precision guided ammunition* ammunition for multiple rocket launchers MARS II 8 lift trucks* 295 generators 34 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD including circa 6.000 rounds of ammunition* 122 border protection vehicles* 6 bridge-laying tanks BEAVER* 10 winter camouflage nets 26 load-handling trucks 15t* 32 frequency range extensions for anti-drone devices* 10 roll off containers Iris-T SLM missiles* 3 mobile, remote controlled and protected mine clearing systems* 40 laser target designators* (before: 20) 12 truck tractor trains and 4 semi-trailers* 145 Pick-ups* 8 mobile and protected mine clearing systems* 168 mobile heating systems* 20 rocket launchers 70mm on pick-up trucks with rockets* 15 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 2* 12 tank transporter tractor M1070 Oshkosh* 7 tracked and remote controlled infantry vehicles for support tasks* 35 load-handling trucks 8x8 36 ambulances* 36.400 wool blankets 12 heavy duty trailer trucks* 55 anti-drone sensors and jammers* 50 MRAP vehicles DINGO 10 unmanned surface vessels* 14,000 sleeping bags Mi-24 spare parts* spare parts for heavy machine gun M2 17 heavy and medium bridge systems* 5 multiple rocket launchers MARS II with ammunition 14 self-propelled howitzers Panzerhaubitze 2000 (joint project with the Netherlands) air defence system Iris-T SLM* 200 tents 116.000 winter jackets 80.000 winter trousers 240.000 winter hats 405,000 pre-packaged military Meals Ready 67 fridges for medical material* counter battery radar system COBRA* 4,000 rounds practice ammunitions for self-propelled anti-aircraft guns 54 M113 armoured personnel carriers (systems of Denmark, upgrades financed by Germany)* 53,000 rounds ammunitions for self-propelled anti-aircraft guns 3,000 anti-tank weapons Panzerfaust 3 with 900 firing devices 14,900 anti-tank mines (9,300* from industry stocks) 500 Man Portable Air Defense Systems STINGER 2,700 Man Portable Air Defense Systems STRELA 22 million rounds of ammunition for fire arms 50 bunker buster missiles 100 machine gun MG3 with 500 spare barrels and breechblocks 100,000 hand grenades 5,300 explosive charges 100,000 m detonating cord and 100.000 detonators 350,000 detonators 10 anti-drone guns* 100 auto-injector devices 28,000 combat helmets 15 palettes military clothing 280 vehicles (trucks, minibuses, all-terrain vehicles) 6 palettes material for explosive ordnance disposal 125 binoculars 1,200 hospital beds 18 palettes medical material, 60 surgical lights protective clothing, surgical masks 600 safety glasses 1 radio frequency system 3,000 field telephones with 5.000 cable reels and carrying straps 1 field hospital (joint project with Estonia)* 353 night vision goggles* 12 electronic anti-drone devices* 165 field glasses* medical material (inter alia back packs, compression bandages) 38 laser range finders* Diesel and gasoline (ongoing deliveries)* 10 tons AdBlue* 500 medical gauzes* MiG-29 spare parts* 30 protected vehicles* 7,944 man-portable anti-tank weapons RGW 90 Matador* 6 mobile decontamination vehicles HEP 70 including decontamination material 10 HMMWV (8x ground radar capability, 2x jamming/anti drone capability)* 7 radio jammers* 8 mobile ground surveillance radars and thermal imaging cameras* 1 high frequency unit with equipment* Military support to Ukraine in planning/in execution (due to security concerns, the Federal Government abstains from providing details on transportation modalities and dates until after handover) 6,350 projectiles 155mm* Iris-T SLM missiles* 20 bridge-laying tanks BEAVER* 300.000 rounds of GEPARD ammunition 2 air surveillance radars* 78 truck tractor trains and 86 semi-trailers* air defence system PATRIOT with missiles 8 mobile antenna mast systems* 40,000 first aid kits* 108 reconnaissance drones* 1 tank transporter tractor M1070 Oshkosh* 17 mobile heating systems* 18 wheeled self-propelled howitzers RCH 155* 7 load-handling trucks 8x6 with 18 roll of containers* 3 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD* 7 tracked and remote controlled infantry vehicles for support tasks* 6 mobile and protected mine clearing systems* 40 mine clearing tanks WISENT 1* 5 mobile reconnaissance systems (on vehicles) * 378 border protection vehicles* 132,480 rounds ammunition 40mm* 1 armoured engineer vehicles DACHS* 3 heavy and medium bridge systems* 16 self-propelled howitzer Zuzana 2* (joint project with Denmark and Norway) 78 heavy duty trailer trucks* 3 air defence system IRIS-T SLM* 12 communications electronic scanner/jammer systems* field hospital (role 2)* 8 frequency range extensions for anti-drone devices* 2 tractors and 4 trailers* 10 protected vehicles* vehicle decontamination system 5,032 man-portable anti-tank weapons* 140 trucks* The total value of individual licenses issued by the Federal Government for the export of military goods in the period from January 1, 2022 toApril 3, 2023 amounts to 2.742.851.393 Euro. The total license value includes the goods listed above insofar as their export is subject to licensing requirements under German foreign trade laws. This is not the case for all of the goods listed above. In order to speed up the processing of certain deliveries, the Federal Government has also eased certain licensing processes, e.g. with regard to military protective goods. These deliveries are also not included in the total license value. The values stated for used material from the German Armed Forces are also based on current values which can be significantly lower than the corresponding values for new or replacement goods. The total license value includes the goods regardless of how their procurement and delivery were financed. For security reasons, the Federal Government does not provide further details until the goods have been delivered. * Deliveries from industry stocks financed by German funds for security capacity building. Some of the deliveries require upgrades or productions is ongoing; also training measures take place. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting with Acting Governor of the Kherson Region Vladimir Saldo The President had a working meeting with Acting Governor of the Kherson Region Vladimir Saldo. April 6, 2023 14:15 The Kremlin, Moscow President of Russia Vladimir Putin: You wanted to start with gas supply? Acting Governor of the Kherson Region Vladimir Saldo: Yes, we can start with that. Vladimir Putin: And then talk about agricultural production, right? Vladimir Saldo: Yes. We are making progress on the situation linked with utilities in the Kherson Region. Since gas was coming via a pipeline from Ukraine before - there was a big gas main on the other side - now, of course for natural reasons... Vladimir Putin: But ultimately, this gas was Russian. Vladimir Saldo: This gas is only Russian. There is no other gas. Vladimir Putin: No, there is a bit, but for the most part, this is Russian gas. Vladimir Saldo: Now we need to preserve the balance of gas supply, considering that gas supply is available only for 27 percent of the Kherson Region. This is not much. Vladimir Putin: It's not much, but why? Vladimir Saldo: This is how it happened. The figure for the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics is 75 percent, but the figure for the Kherson Region, especially on the left bank, is a mere 27 percent. Vladimir Putin: It should be increased. Vladimir Saldo: Yes. This is why we need now to send gas from Crimea. Before we sent gas to Crimea, but now it is the other way around. There is a gas pipeline. It goes to Dzhankoi. We must build a pipeline to the Genichesk area and then distribute gas in the entire region. This is my request. We need a pipeline of about 105 km. Vladimir Putin: You have a letter on this. Vladimir Saldo: Yes. Vladimir Putin: Ok, let's do it. We will deal with this problem, of course. It is very important for the people there. We understand this. The situation in their households will change, and the economy will develop in a completely different way... Vladimir Saldo: We have horticulture. We have greenhouses that also need energy. Gas will reduce the costs and, hence, the prices. Vladimir Putin: Energy cost. This is absolutely clear. Everything will be more reliable and stable. I understand this. Vladimir Saldo: Thank you. And now I will gradually move to the second part. I have the letter with me. Our left bank is our agrarian sector for the most part - by 95 percent. Vladimir Putin: I know. Vladimir Saldo: High farming standards, big areas, over 600,000 hectares are improved and irrigated lands. In cooperation with our Armed Forces, we have fixed the main pumping station. There are two canals - the main Kakhovka Canal and the Severokrymsky (North Crimean) Canal that also provides Crimea with water. Land cultivation is organised but we are short of vegetable storehouse and cold stores that can hold these products until summer... Vladimir Putin: ...and, depending on the market changes, offer them for sale, for instance. Vladimir Saldo: In the winter, the borsch set becomes more expensive, but in the summer the price dives. We need year-round storage facilities. Famous Kherson produce - tomatoes, watermelons and grapes - could be distributed further to all of the Russian Federation. People know our products. We have discussed all of this and have a proposal - to create an agro-cluster, an agro-industrial cluster that will process, store and transport produce. Vladimir Putin: Are you thinking a public cluster or private-public? Vladimir Saldo: It could be private-public. That's also possible. Vladimir Putin: A partnership. Vladimir Saldo: It won't require a huge investment. It will pay off in two years. Vladimir Putin: How much approximately? How much in your estimate? Vladimir Saldo: We need about 25 billion to build a new vegetable storehouse with cold stores - this includes everything related to it. With this project, we can even out the prices in the Kherson Region and can supply the Russian market with produce. Vladimir Putin: Very good. This is useful for Russia in general and two or three times more useful for the Kherson Region because this is its main production. All right. We will certainly help you. Vladimir Saldo: Thank you very much. <...> NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting with Acting Governor of Zaporozhye Region Yevgeny Balitsky The President had a working meeting with Acting Governor of the Zaporozhye Region Yevgeny Balitsky. April 6, 2023 14:00 The Kremlin, Moscow President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Balitsky, good afternoon. Acting Governor of the Zaporozhye Region Yevgeny Balitsky: Good afternoon. Vladimir Putin: Mr Balitsky, I know that you wanted to begin our talk with transport infrastructure, didn't you? We discussed it at the meeting without cameras. After that, I asked our colleagues from Russian Railways and the Ministry of Transport to deal with these issues in detail. They have already presented some of their considerations. I do not know whether you know about them or not. Yevgeny Balitsky: I do. Vladimir Putin: Go ahead, please. Yevgeny Balitsky: Mr President, on behalf of all Zaporozhye residents, I would like to thank you for the initiative that you supported: of course, the process of issuing maternity capital has already begun. As you know, this is very important, because over the 30 years of so-called independence, people have never seen anything like this and they realise today that Russia is a social state. Thank you very much. Now to the infrastructure project that is being implemented at your initiative: we had a meeting with the Minister of Transport, formed a working group and calculated two options. The main option is to launch construction today in line with the emergency situation. Probably military builders will be involved. The process is underway, for which we are grateful to you as well. Project evaluation has been completed, and the project will be submitted for final estimates within the next few days. After we agree on it with the stakeholder ministries, we will report to you with a final decision on the beginning of construction. I would also like to update you on the status of your instructions to build a major children's medical centre for the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions given that, unfortunately, the regional centres have not yet been liberated. This process is underway as well, and a working group has been created which is led by [Healthcare Minister] Mikhail Murashko. Today, we selected a plot of land where this centre will be built and assessed the amount of funding we will need, about 7 billion rubles. We will, of course, report back to you on the final project. An outpatient clinic that will be able to handle 260 appointments at the same time and a 326-bed hospital are being built. Vladimir Putin: Rest assured that these medical facilities will be superior to those in the regional centres by an order of magnitude. These will be modern buildings and the services, it can be safely assumed, will be to the highest level. We will train specialists and supply state-of-the-art equipment. Yevgeny Balitsky: Thank you very much. Next, regarding the status of the implementation of the instructions concerning the creation of the Sudoplatov Battalion, which you issued on March 7 during our meeting. This process is underway as well. We have received the status by a directive from the General Staff, and on April 4 they were assigned a number, BARS-32. The contracting will be done this month and, accordingly, this month we will receive weapons, and this will already be an official status. Vladimir Putin: All social guarantees must also be formalised properly. Yevgeny Balitsky: Yes, of course. I addressed a request to you on March 7, and you issued instructions regarding the agriculture issue, which was put on hold to some extent - we needed 600 rail cars to transport one million tonnes of grain. Speaking of cars, I had a meeting with Mr Patrushev and received full support. We are receiving the cars, the process is underway, but the lending issue has not yet been resolved. I asked for a loan of 500 million for our state grain company. So far, Promsvyazbank has not issued the money, but the process is underway. <...> NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting with Acting Head of the Lugansk People's Republic Leonid Pasechnik Vladimir Putin had a working meeting with Acting Head of the Lugansk People's Republic Leonid Pasechnik in the Kremlin. April 6, 2023 13:45 The Kremlin, Moscow President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Pasechnik, we wanted to meet yesterday, but the meeting with President Lukashenko ended late, so let us have our conversation today. Go ahead, please. Acting Head of the Lugansk People's Republic Leonid Pasechnik: Mr President, first of all I would like to report that the situation in the republic is relatively stable at present, controlled I would say, but tense. The enemy is shelling the territory of the Lugansk People's Republic much less often. Vladimir Putin: They have other things to worry about at the moment. Leonid Pasechnik: For some reason, HIMARS are used less often, and if earlier they were used against facilities where military personnel and warehouses with artillery weapons were located, now these are chaotic strikes, which generally land more on the civilian population. One of the last strikes was against Perevalsk: it was a ground strike near a bus station. There is a gas station nearby, a car service and so on. That is, it is not clear what purpose was pursued. I think the goal is to destabilise the situation and keep pressure on the population. Vladimir Putin: So, there are no military facilities there at all? Leonid Pasechnik: Nothing, absolutely none. That is why the situation there is like this today. Last week, we had a rather serious emergency, if I can call it that. I am talking about the weather conditions. We had heavy snow, a lot of snow, wet and very sticky. Some places had 40 and even around 60 inches of snow. Snow build-up on power lines caused wires and power transmission lines to break. Many trees fell and lots of roofs and cars were destroyed. Vladimir Putin: It has been a long time since you had anything like that, right? Leonid Pasechnik: You know, I can't remember anything like this happening for a very long time. The Government has fully organised all work to clear the roads. A report was made late on Monday - roads have been fully cleared and it is possible to get practically to any town. Lights are on practically everywhere, including Severodonetsk - in 127 residential buildings we have restored. The only people who are still without lights are private owners with broken wires. During the emergency, about 210,000 customers were left without electricity, and about 15,000 still are without it as of this moment. We have 80 brigades and groups with 97 pieces of equipment working. The only problem is that water supply is sporadic because when a motor stops pumping, water leaves the pipe and it is impossible to pump it back into it instantly. So when electricity was restored, motors started pumping again. Now we need to fill water pipes to restore water supply. But we have more or less regular electricity, heating and gas supply. Vladimir Putin: Do you need any help in these recovery efforts? Leonid Pasechnik: Not at the moment, Mr President but thank you very much. Vladimir Putin: So you are coping. Leonid Pasechnik: We are in constant contact with [Deputy Minister of Construction] Valery Leonov and [Deputy Prime Minister] Marat Khusnullin. Everything is organised. I would like to emphasise that the military have helped us a lot. This is completely true. I am talking about our service members in the army and private military contractors - they are great, and the Russian Guard. They helped us with crawler equipment because it was simply impossible to drive through fields and restore anything. At first, there was too much snow. Now it has melted and it is impossible to drive because of too much mud. But the general situation is stable. We are implementing all tasks set in your instructions to create federal executive government bodies and form different structures, including law enforcement agencies. We are on schedule. We are preparing all documents, everything is according to plan. Vladimir Putin: We discussed all this yesterday. Relevant instructions will be drafted as we agreed yesterday. I hope they will be a good incentive to speed up work. Leonid Pasechnik: Thank you very much. <...> NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting with Acting Head of the Donetsk People's Republic Denis Pushilin Vladimir Putin had a working meeting with Acting Head of the Donetsk People's Republic Denis Pushilin. April 6, 2023 13:30 The Kremlin, Moscow President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Pushilin, good afternoon. Acting Head of the Donetsk People's Republic Denis Pushilin: Good afternoon, Mr President. Vladimir Putin: Mr Pushilin, yesterday we had a talk on almost all the main issues, but nevertheless, we agreed to meet separately to discuss things that directly concern the Donetsk People's Republic. Let us discuss them in greater detail. Go ahead, please. Denis Pushilin: Mr President, I would like to report on the problems and how they are being addressed. Of course, the main task on the agenda now is related to shelling, and we discussed this at our last meeting: I asked you to bolster air defence and counter-battery work. That was done. I can tell you that shelling has almost halved, according to the statistics that we have. To be sure, there are districts in Donetsk, such as Petrovsky and Kuibyshevsky, that are still a problem for us ... Vladimir Putin: The goal of all our military formations, including the Defence Ministry, volunteers and everyone else, is to ensure that there are no shelling attacks at all. Since their number has decreased, we are on track to get there. Denis Pushilin: Yes, the personnel is making the impossible possible, we see it, and everything is on a whole new level. The next issue that worries our people is water supply. We had a very difficult, most difficult heating season, and utility workers did the impossible and filled the boiler rooms during water shortages, etc. ... The sponsor regions helped us; Moscow helped with drilling wells and a whole range of other projects. We are optimistic about the water pipeline. Thank you very much for this decision. It was not an easy one, but nevertheless, it helps us from being left without water at all. The standby reservoirs are almost empty. And the water line from the Don River, which is currently at the stage of being replenished. We understand that the pre-commissioning work is ongoing. We see it all, and it is all being done before our eyes. Again, it is being done in record time by military builders. Projects that took years to complete even in Soviet times get finished literally in a matter of months. The next issue that worries us and is on our agenda is roads. Roads are always a difficult issue, we are well aware of that given that many of our roads have not seen repairs for a long time. Nevertheless, we repaired 279 kilometres of roads last year, which is twice as much as in previous periods. This year, we plan to repair even more, 350 kilometres of roads, plus 190 kilometres of municipal roads. Here, too, we are optimistic. There is one issue where I would like to ask you to support us, because otherwise we will not be able to cope with it. We have the main road that connects us with other regions of the Russian Federation that goes from Donetsk to Uspenka. It is a two-lane road. There are certain difficulties. First, queues. Checkpoints are being expanded, work is underway, the Ministry of Transport has done its part, but it also takes time. We may end up with a bottleneck, which is already happening there, in fact, because it is getting warmer and there is more traffic and freight. We would like to have this road widened to four lanes. We cannot do without this road. The number of accidents there is two or even three times higher than on other sections of the road, because drivers are trying to go faster and doing a lot of passing. This is a comprehensive project. Vladimir Putin: Of course. Denis Pushilin: Of course, this not only affects the delivery of essential supplies, the traffic, but also prices. This is the next question, because the logistics and everything else is a problem... Vladimir Putin: Yes, it is a problem, which is why things tend to become more expensive. Denis Pushilin: Hence, the request. Vladimir Putin: Yes, I discussed this with the Minister of Transport and with Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin. Our colleagues are working on it - both on increasing road capacity and improving the roads and even on building a railway (as we agreed, I will discuss this with our colleagues) in the Zaporozhye Region, and so on. Two or maybe three roads will need to be built to connect existing motorways and provide enough highway capacity for freight and passenger traffic. Denis Pushilin: You are absolutely right and are looking at the root of the problem. It needs to be addressed in a comprehensive manner: widen a road here, build a railway there. Then, there is the Port of Mariupol which should be put to full use for freight and passenger traffic. Vladimir Putin: The depths there are good, so it can be done. Our colleagues from the Ministry of Transport and our companies are working on this. They have been given assignments. Security is of paramount importance. Unfortunately, we are dealing with a regime that is extremely cruel with regard to our people and their own people as well. Yesterday they reported to me that 14 Ukrainian servicemen surrendered at some point on the contact line. It was late, and several of our people stayed with them. They didn't even guard them. The plan was to take them out of the combat zone the next morning. The enemy fired 300 shells in one spot killing all of its servicemen. Unfortunately, our guys were harmed as well. They don't even spare their own. They act in an extremely cynical and cruel manner. So, our goal is to move them away far enough in order to keep our people out of the harm's way. The questions that you raised are interrelated in one way or another. Even these transport routes - railways and roads - should be built in such a way as to increase the speed of traffic and to make sure they are at a sufficiently safe distance from the combat zone. We will be working on this. <...> NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia's Wagner: Ukraine forces not quitting Bakhmut, more support needed Iran Press TV Thursday, 06 April 2023 3:58 PM Russia's private security company Wagner says there is no sign Ukrainian forces are abandoning in the frontline city of Bakhmut, calling for more support. For the past several months, Bakhmut and its surrounding towns have been the focal point of attacks by Russia, which launched a full-scale war against neighboring Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Neither side has full control over the city and both have suffered heavy losses so far. The battle to seize heavily-fortified Bakhmut has been spearheaded by mercenaries of the Wagner group, which has made small but steady gains against the Ukrainian troops defending the town. Bakhmut has been the subject of one of the most protracted battles in the ongoing war between the two neighbors, and has become the bloodiest of the 13-month war. "It must be said clearly that the enemy is not going anywhere," said Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Wagner Group, on his Telegram channel on Thursday. Even if the Ukrainian troops quit the down, he said, there would still be need for more support from the regular military before trying to advance further. A day earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had raised the prospect of a pullout of the town, stressing Kiev would take the "corresponding" decisions if its forces risked being encircled by Russian troops. The chief and founder of the paramilitary group further said on Thursday that Ukrainian troops had organized staunch defenses inside Bakhmut, particularly along railway lines and in high-rise buildings in the western section of the town, and that, if they fell back, they would take up new positions in the outskirts and in Chasiv Yar to the west. "That's why, in my opinion, there's no talk for now of any [Russian] offensive," Prigozhin said, adding he was not yet satisfied with the support he was receiving from Russia's mainstream forces, including those launching attacks on adjacent areas of the front. Specifically, his three persisting complaints are flank protection, command structure, and ammunition supplies. "The first question is to make sure that our flanks are well protected (that's with a big exclamation mark)." "The second is to make sure that our command is properly organized, and third, it's ammunition (another exclamation mark)," Prigozhin said. He previously accused Moscow several times of poorly supplying his forces with ammunition. The salt mining town, partially occupied by Russia, is Moscow's prime objective and its capture would give Russia a fresh foothold in the region. Back in January, the US Treasury Department blacklisted the Wagner Group, accusing it of being engaged in "an ongoing pattern of serious criminal activity" in both Ukraine, where it is fighting with Russian troops and several African nations. Zelensky: Poland will help form coalition to give Ukraine warplanes During his trip to the Polish capital of Warsaw on Wednesday, the Ukrainian president announced that Poland, a close ally of Ukraine, would help form a coalition of Western powers to provide Kiev with warplanes, as Warsaw did with battle tanks earlier this year. "Just as your (Polish) leadership proved itself in the tank coalition, I believe that it will manifest itself in the planes coalition," said Zelensky in a speech on a square in Warsaw. "Poland with you, shoulder to shoulder, we will establish freedom in Europe forever, tyranny will lose in history when it loses in Ukraine," he said. Russia would not defeat Europe while Ukraine and Poland were working closely together, he added. Ukraine, which is in desperate need of modern warplanes in its war with Russia, hopes to secure advanced fighter jets such as the US F-16 from the West and use them, among others, in a counteroffensive it hopes to launch in the coming months. Ukraine may talk to Russia on Crimea: Zelensky adviser In an interview with the Financial Times, published on Wednesday, Andrii Sybiha, the deputy head of the president's office, said that Kiev is "ready" to hold talks with Moscow on the future of Crimea if Ukraine's counteroffensive, planned for coming months, succeeds and Ukrainian forces reach the border of the Russian-annexed peninsula. "If we will succeed in achieving our strategic goals on the battlefield and when we will be on the administrative border with Crimea, we are ready to open a diplomatic page to discuss this issue," the senior official said, stressing, "It doesn't mean that we exclude the way of liberation [of Crimea] by our army." Crimea declared independence from Ukraine on March 17, 2014, and formally applied to fall under Russian sovereignty following a referendum that had been declared illegal by Kiev. Moscow later annexed the region. Since then, relations between Ukraine and Russia have been at odds. The United States and the European Union backed Kiev and refused to recognize the referendum results, later imposing sanctions on Moscow. If Sybiha's remarks are taken seriously and regarded as Kiev's official stance, then there appeared to represent a U-turn on Zelensky's previous statements in which he ruled out peace talks until Russian forces left all of Ukraine, including the Russian-occupied Crimea. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Macron asks Xi to 'bring Russia to its senses,' help end Ukraine war Iran Press TV Thursday, 06 April 2023 10:19 AM French President Emmanuel Macron has asked Chinese leader Xi Jinping to urge Russia, a close ally, to end the war in Ukraine. Macron arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for a three-day state visit along with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen. During a meeting with Xi at the Great Hall of the People, Macron raised the issue of the conflict in Ukraine and that of French companies' access to Chinese markets, according to a summary issued by the Elysee palace. Chinese media outlets reported that the French leader told Xi that he was counting on him to "bring Russia to its senses and everyone to the negotiating table." "The Russian aggression in Ukraine has dealt a blow to (international) stability," Macron told Xi. Both Macron and von der Leyen have formerly said they want to persuade Beijing to use its influence over Moscow to bring peace to Ukraine. Macron is also expected to announce deals with China as he is traveling along with a 50-strong business delegation, including representatives from Airbus, LVMH, and nuclear energy producer EDF. Chinese official media outlet Global Times wrote in an editorial that the visit by Macron "is expected to produce concrete results in furthering economic and trade cooperation between China and France, as well as to increase political mutual trust." "It is worth noting that various forces in Europe and the US are paying close attention to Macron's visit and exerting influence in different directions," the Times wrote. "In other words, not everyone wants to see Macron's visit to China go smoothly and successfully." Macron's visit alongside the EU chief comes after years of souring relations with China over issues including a stalled investment pact, criticism of China's transparency on COVID-19, and China's reluctance to condemn Russia over the war in Ukraine. China has blamed the United States and NATO for "provoking" Moscow over the Ukraine war and has condemned Western sanctions against Russia. Upon arrival in Beijing, Macron told the press that Europe must resist reducing trade and diplomatic ties with China and reject what some have cast as an "inescapable spiral" of tensions between China and the West. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zelenskiy Touts Poland's Potential To Lead 'Planes Coalition,' Says Bakhmut Still Controlled By Ukrainian Forces By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service April 06, 2023 Ukraine's president has pushed for the formation of a coalition of Western powers to supply modern fighter aircraft to Kyiv and suggested that while his forces continue to control the battleground eastern city of Bakhmut, a withdrawal would be possible if it meant sparing Ukrainian soldiers' lives. Speaking during a visit to Warsaw on April 5, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy noted Poland's role in convincing Western countries to provide battle tanks to Ukraine and suggested that a similar "planes coalition" could be formed. Zelenskiy's comments came as his Polish counterpart, Andrzej Duda, pledged to give Ukraine more updated Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets and Warsaw agreed to supply more defense equipment and military support to help Ukraine fend off invading Russian forces. On top of the eight MiG-29s that have either been delivered to Ukraine or are on the way, Duda said that Poland is preparing to give six more, bringing the total to 14 aircraft. "We assume they could be transferred soon," the Polish president said. Duda's foreign policy adviser, Marcin Przydacz, said Poland would not decide soon on whether to send any of the U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets that Ukraine has consistently called on NATO to provide, however. There has been no agreement from Washington or other Western states who have provided military aid to Ukraine to send F-16s. Zelenskiy did sign agreements for the supply of Polish "Rosomak armored personnel carriers, Rak self-propelled mortars, air-defense systems, in particular the very effective Peruns, MiGs, and other weapons that we badly need," he said at a news conference following talks with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. Turning to the intense battle for the city of Bakhmut in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, Zelenskiy said that Ukrainian forces continue to hold the city, despite Russian claims to have captured it. "We are in Bakhmut and the enemy does not control it," he said. But he also indicated that a withdrawal of Ukrainian forces was a possibility. "For me, the most important is not to lose our soldiers and, of course, if there is a moment of even hotter events and the danger we could lose our personnel because of encirclement -- of course, the corresponding correct decisions will be taken by generals there," Zelenskiy said. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Kremlin-connected businessman who controls the Wagner mercenary group, says he has seen no signs of Ukrainian forces withdrawing from Bakhmut. "It must be said clearly that the enemy is not going anywhere," he said in a post on Telegram on April 6. In an analysis of Zelenskiy's comments, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said that while an expected Ukrainian spring offensive would reveal whether its defense of Bakhmut "is worth Ukrainian losses," the Ukrainian military continues to "clearly signal that Ukrainian forces are still not encircled and have the option to withdraw as necessary." In its morning battleground update, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on April 6 that Russian forces were still trying to take full control of Bakhmut and were continuing to storm it. Both sides have incurred heavy losses during the monthslong battle for the city, despite questions about its strategic importance to the war. According to the Ukrainian military command, Bakhmut as well as Avdiyivka, and Maryinka, two Ukrainian-held towns on the outskirts of Donetsk, remain at the epicenter of hostilities. The authorities of the Donetsk region have been calling on residents to evacuate to safer regions, and there have been reports of the evacuations of children. With reporting by Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-poland- fighter-jets-bakhmut-zelenskiy-duda/32351849.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukrainian Forces Hold Bakhmut As Russian Strikes In Kherson Injure Civilians By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service April 06, 2023 Ukrainian and Russian forces battled on April 6 in the eastern city of Bakhmut, while in the Kherson region Russian strikes injured seven people. According to Oleksandr Prokudin, the Kherson region's military governor, Russian troops are attacking the Kherson region with guided aerial bombs. "Currently, it is known [that] seven residents of the Kherson region...who were injured as a result of an enemy attack," Prokudin said on Telegram. Kherson was liberated by Ukrainian forces in November, but Kyiv says Russian forces continue to shell the city and the region from across the Dnieper River. Prokudin added that six people were injured as a result of strikes on Zmiivka and one person was wounded in the village of Kozatskiy. In the evening, three strikes by enemy aircraft were recorded in Berislav, two in Novoberislav, and one in Kozatskiy. Detailed information about the victims and the extent of damage caused is being clarified, he said. The monthslong battle for Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk region has turned into one of the bloodiest of Russia's invasion, while serving as a symbol of Kyiv's defiance. "[Battles] are under way in the streets, enemy attempts to encircle the city are failing. Our command fully control the situation," said Andriy Yermak, a senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The leader of Russia's private Wagner militia, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said fighting was continuing in the west of the city. "It must be said clearly that the enemy is not going anywhere," he said on his Telegram channel. Even if Ukrainian forces did start to abandon the city, he said he would need more support from the regular Russian military before trying to advance. TASS reported that four civilians died in Russian-controlled Donetsk when shells hit a fleet of vehicles. Six people were injured, the news agency added. Other Russian media reports said the attack was carried out with U.S.-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS). RIA news agency said three people died in blasts at a bus stop in Lysychansk, to the northeast of Donetsk. Denis Pushilin, administrator of Russian-controlled parts of Donetsk Province, said on Russian TV that Ukrainian forces were seeking to relocate to the city of Avdiyivka near Donetsk, adding that Russian forces were advancing through Avdiyivka "as we speak." None of the battlefield claims could be independently verified. With reporting by Reuters and dpa Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-war-donetsk- bakhmut-progozhin/32352893.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Death Toll In New Year's Eve Air Strike In Ukraine Much Higher Than Moscow Claims, Investigation Finds By RFE/RL's Idel.Realities April 06, 2023 "He never complained," a woman from Russia's mid-Volga region who asked not to be identified said about her partner, who was killed fighting in Ukraine on January 1, 2023. "He told us that everything was fine. Toward the end of December, they were moved to Makiyivka. And on January 1, tragedy struck." Just after midnight, a Ukrainian rocket attack struck a trade-school dormitory in the Donetsk region city where Russian troops, mainly from the Samara region, were quartered. Scores of soldiers were killed in what was one of the most lethal strikes Ukraine has inflicted on the invading Russian forces. Three months later, the Russian military remains tight-lipped about what happened and exactly how many soldiers were killed. Moscow only acknowledged the incident two days afterward, initially reporting that 63 soldiers had died. On January 4, that figure was raised to 89. At the same time, the Ukrainian military was claiming up to 400 soldiers had been killed and another 300 wounded. In the days immediately following the strike, RFE/RL's North.Realities managed to speak with the relatives of several soldiers who were in the building. "Please, don't use his name," one woman said of her husband, who survived the attack. "I'm afraid. He lived by a miracle, managed to run out of the building even after the initial explosion. He was surrounded by meat, meat and blood -- he just kept saying that over and over.... He doesn't know how he survived. Many boys from his unit were killed, but he still doesn't know what happened to a lot of them." Since January 10, however, relatives of the mobilized soldiers who were at Makiyivka, just outside the regional capital of Donetsk, have largely refused to speak with the media. Unknown "moderators" on various local social-media forums have warned people not to talk to journalists. Russian government and military officials have also offered no further information on the deadly attack. Officially, the Makiyivka death toll remains at 89. More than 56,000 people have signed an online petition urging the Defense Ministry to fully identify all those who were killed. 'Grateful For Any Information' However, RFE/RL's Idel.Realities conducted an open-source investigation, monitoring social media and local government information resources to track war casualties, including those from the Makiyivka attack. RFE/RL has identified by name 140 soldiers killed in the incident. In many cases, their ages, ranks, and hometowns have been determined. Of the 140 soldiers, 139 were from the Samara region, on the Volga River, and one was from Buryatia. Most of those killed were mobilized after President Vladimir Putin ordered a military call-up in late September. Their ages ranged from 21 to over 50. The Russian government has released little information about its war casualties. On September 21, 2022, the military reported 5,937 soldiers had been killed since the start of the full-scale invasion seven months earlier, and it has provided no updates over the last half-year. Western experts put the total number of Russian killed and wounded at over 200,000. RFE/RL's Idel.Realities has identified 4,125 killed Russian soldiers from the Volga Federal District alone. Of those, 401 were from the Samara region, meaning that more than one-third of the region's known casualties came on that single night in Makiyivka. Sixty-four of those killed were posthumously awarded the Order of Courage. RFE/RL attempted to speak to relatives and acquaintances of the slain soldiers, but most refused to speak to journalists. One woman said her friend had been killed and that his body was only returned in mid-February. "I never met a nicer person," she told RFE/RL. "He was very friendly and willingly served in the 'special military operation.'" She added that her brother was currently on the front line in Ukraine -- "in a place where he shouldn't be." In addition, RFE/RL has found 18 families who are still searching for information about their relatives, who they believe were stationed in Makiyivka at the time of the Ukrainian air strike. "Searching for Petrov, Dmitry Aleksandrovich, DOB November 6, 1979. Last seen at the vocational school in Makiyivka," reads a March 19 post on social media. "Soldiers carried him out on a metal door and loaded him into an ambulance. Since then, no information. I'd be grateful for any information." Adapted from the Russian by Robert Coalson based on reporting by RFE/RL's Idel.Realities Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-investigation- makiyivka-strike/32352670.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Macron Appeals To Chinese President To Help End War In Ukraine By RFE/RL April 06, 2023 French President Emmanuel Macron has urged Beijing to talk sense into Russia over the war in Ukraine, telling his Chinese counterpart that Russia's aggression had dealt a blow to international stability. Macron met on April 6 with President Xi Jinping in Beijing on a state visit, telling Xi he believes he can "count on you to bring back Russia to reason and everyone back to the negotiating table." Macron, accompanied by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, said the West must engage China to help end the crisis and prevent "spiraling" tensions that could split global powers into warring blocs. Xi responded by saying China "advocates for peace talks and seeks a political solution" and expressed hopes that Moscow and Kyiv could hold peace negotiations as soon as possible. Von der Leyen said Xi expressed willingness to speak to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, but Xi did not mention a possible conversation with Zelenskiy in his own comments. "It was interesting to hear that President Xi reiterated his willingness to speak" to Zelenskiy, Von der Leyen said. Xi said a conversation could happen when the "conditions and time are right," she added. China has sought to position itself as a potential mediator in the conflict but its actions, including Xi's visit to Moscow in March, have been seen by the West as favoring Russia. Putin and Xi professed friendship and pledged closer ties during their summit last month, and Putin tried to portray Russia and China as close allies united against U.S. hegemony and NATO expansion. The United States remains concerned that China might provide lethal weapons to Russia and is skeptical along with other Western countries about a Chinese proposal for a political settlement in Ukraine. The plan has been largely dismissed by the West due to China's refusal to condemn Russia for invading its sovereign neighbor and because it echoes Russian talking points, including blaming the West for the unprovoked invasion. After meeting with Macron for 90 minutes, France said the discussions between the leaders were "frank and constructive," while China described them as "friendly" and "in-depth." Macron also asked Xi to press Russia to comply with international rules on nonproliferation of nuclear weapons. The request comes after Putin said he would station tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine's neighbor Belarus. Xi said all countries should respect commitments on not using nuclear weapons and "nuclear war shouldn't be waged." He also called on the international community to "refrain from any action that would lead to further deterioration of the crisis or even to it getting out of control." Putin discussed expanding economic cooperation and bolstering defense ties with his Belarusian counterpart on April 6. The Kremlin talks involving senior officials from both countries and followed Putin's one-on-one meeting with President Alyaksandr Lukashenka on April 5. Putin said there would be "close work on boosting cooperation under a union agreement that envisions close political, economic, and military ties between Belarus and Russia. Russia used Belarusian territory as a staging ground for invading Ukraine and, in addition to his plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in the country, has maintained a contingent of troops and weapons there. With reporting by Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/china-macron- russia-peace/32352832.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's answer to a media question about UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay's visit to Ukraine 6 April 2023 14:39 646-06-04-2023 Question: Reportedly, the Director-General of UNESCO visited Kiev and Odessa the other day. What's your take on this move by Audrey Azoulay? Maria Zakharova: We took note of UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay's recent trip to Ukraine. Unfortunately, her remarks during her visit to Ukraine make us think of her visit as a political public relations stunt. One could only welcome the UNESCO Director-General's resolve to provide effective support to education, science and culture within her mandate and to uphold the right to self-expression and one's native language, including in Ukraine, if this support were to be provided on an equal and non-discriminatory basis without regard to race, gender, language, religion, political or other beliefs, ethnic or social origin, etc. However, Audrey Azoulay never uttered a word over the nine years of the tragedy in Donbass and against the background of many years of persecution of the Russian language, culture and education in the present-day Ukraine, the suppression of freedom of speech, the glorification of Nazi henchmen, persecution of dissidents, inciting interethnic and inter-religious animosity, and Neanderthal Russophobia. For the sake of imaginary political correctness, she chose not to see the bombed-out schools, hospitals and churches, dismembered bodies of children, teachers and journalists, not to mention such a trifle as the war on monuments. During her stay in Ukraine, Ms Azoulay took part in a grand ceremony for unveiling a plaque at a new World Heritage site - the historical centre of Odessa - standing shoulder to shoulder with the people who adopt and then implement decisions to destroy numerous cultural monuments evoking the glorious historical past of that city. And it doesn't seem to bother her at all. The Director-General does not seem to be concerned by the fact that a couple of months ago, when reviewing the city's application for inclusion on the UNESCO List, international experts were denied entry to Odessa on account of "security conditions," but exactly the same "conditions" did not prevent her from coming there now. As a reminder, the very decision on Odessa was brazenly pushed through by a minority of states in disregard of the existing rules of procedure. It is regrettable that UNESCO - a respected organisation with an established international reputation - with the connivance of a number of senior Secretariat officials, has become a victim of the Western countries' policies which assigned it the role of a mere mouthpiece for Ukrainian propaganda. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK Defense Ministry Says Trained Over 10,000 Ukrainian Soldiers During Operation Interflex Sputnik News 20230406 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Defense Ministry of the United Kingdom said on Thursday that it had already trained over 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers on the UK territory as part of operation Interflex and planned to train a total of 20,000 recruits this year. "Operation Interflex continues to train personnel from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and has so far trained over 10,000 recruits. The UK's support to Ukraine remains steadfast as we aim to train 20,000 recruits in 2023," the ministry tweeted. On Sunday, the UK ministry stated that it had completed the training of the second group of Ukrainian troops on the AS-90 self-propelled gun. Operation Interflex launched in July 2022 is a UK-led multinational operation aimed at training and supporting Ukrainian forces amid Russia's military operation that started in February last year. Countries including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Sweden also participate in the mission. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine, Poland Agree on Joint Tank Shells Production Sputnik News 20230406 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Kiev and Warsaw have agreed on the joint manufacturing of 125 mm tank shells, with the relevant agreement signed during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Poland, Ukrainian Minister for Strategic Industries Alexander Kamyshin said on Thursday. "We agreed with Poland on the joint production of 125 mm tank shells. The relevant memorandum was signed by the general director of the Ukrainian state holding and the leadership of the Polish manufacturer yesterday, during the Ukrainian president's official visit to Poland," Kamyshin said on Telegram. The main goal of the Ukrainian Ministry for Strategic Industries is to increase the ammunition production by efforts of Ukrainian companies and in partnership with foreign manufacturers, Kamyshin added. In March, the Ukrainian Defense Industry, an association of the country's major military equipment manufacturers, launched production of 122 mm tank shells and new air-dropped fragmentation ammunition, in cooperation with one of the NATO member states. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China Ready to Cooperate With France in Calling for Peace Talks in Ukraine Sputnik News 20230406 BEIJING (Sputnik) - China is ready together with France to call on the global community for rationality and restraint on the situation in Ukraine, and engage in peace talks as soon as possible, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday. "China is ready to cooperate with France, calling on the international community to resume peace talks as soon as possible, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, to take into account the legitimate security interests of all parties, to seek a political solution [to the crisis] and to build a balanced, effective and sustainable European security structure," Xi was quoted as saying by China Central Television (CCTV) after a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Beijing. Xi also said that China and France are prepared to urge the global community to prevent the use of nuclear weapons and attacks on civilian nuclear facilities. "[China is ready to cooperate with France in calling on the international community] to fulfill the promise not to use nuclear weapons and not to wage nuclear war, to refrain form the use of biological and chemical weapons under any circumstances, to prevent armed attacks on nuclear power plants and other civilian nuclear facilities," Xi was quoted as saying by China Central Television (CCTV) after a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Beijing. On Wednesday, Macron arrived in China for an official three-day visit at the invitation of the Chinese president. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The defense and protection of our people, the support of warriors is the number one issue at all negotiations - address by the President of Ukraine President of Ukraine 6 April 2023 - 22:13 Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians! Today, I'm already in Ukraine, in Kyiv, here, on Bankova the whole day. A day of internal meetings and preparations for events planned for the coming weeks. I held a meeting with Prime Minister Shmyhal. More on current issues. Coordination of state actions, decisions. A meeting on the security situation, the work of law enforcement agencies. Our international agenda - the preparation of meetings, negotiations, appeals. As always, I was in touch with the military: everything related to the hottest areas of the frontline. It is very important that the content of the visit to Poland, the work of our delegation in Warsaw and in constant communication with Polish partners should be tangible for our front. Defense and protection of our people, maintenance of our resilience, primarily the resilience of warriors, is the number one issue at all negotiations and meetings. Exactly defense - weapons for Ukraine, ammunition for Ukraine, new defense systems for Ukraine. And I thank Poland, I thank our partners for making this visit truly meaningful. I would like to separately mention the meeting that took place very late yesterday evening, almost at night. Meeting with mayors of Polish cities, rescuer cities for Ukraine and Ukrainians. RzeszAw, PrzemyAl, Lublin and CheAm. We met precisely in CheAm - together with Mr. Morawiecki, the Prime Minister of Poland. I thanked the entire community of rescuer cities, everyone who helped Ukrainians, who really proved in the very first days of a full-scale war that there are no barriers, borders, obstacles between Ukrainian and Polish hearts. Ukraine knows how to be grateful. Grateful for such solidarity - historical solidarity. Today, as always, there are some of our divisions worth celebrating. Paratroopers of the "Eightieth" and fighters of the 57th separate motorized infantry brigade... the 30th separate mechanized brigade... The firmness of your defense, guys, and resilience are inspiring. Powerfully inspiring. Inspiring the world not to lose momentum in supporting Ukraine. Thank you, warriors! The 35th and 36th separate marine infantry brigades, warriors of the "Zaporizka Sich" 55th separate artillery brigade... As always, well done. As always, they strive for greater results. Thank you! I'm grateful to the special purpose unit of the 1st main center of the Main Intelligence Directorate who are fighting in Bakhmut. Well done, guys! Bakhmut and Maryinka, Avdiivka and our entire Donbas, our east, Zaporizhzhia and our Azov region, our Kherson region - I thank everyone who fights for freedom of our country, freedom of our people. Thank you to everyone who will definitely drive the Russian army out of Ukraine! Glory to our warriors! Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine and Poland are able to fill the entire space between the Baltic and Black Seas with new security and technological content - Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Ukrainian-Polish business forum President of Ukraine 6 April 2023 - 00:50 In Warsaw, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda took part in the Ukrainian-Polish business forum. The event is aimed at strengthening economic ties between the two states. In the framework of the forum, Ukrainian and Polish experts and businessmen exchanged opinions on ways to develop and strengthen economic relations between Ukraine and Poland. Speaking to the participants of the event, Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that after the victory over the aggressor, Ukraine and Poland will have a great future in the development of the economy. "In the morning on the way to Warsaw, we saw a lot of different cargo vehicles going towards Ukraine. And it looks very optimistic when business works with the country, when business believes in Ukraine, when business expands its presence. This is the most obvious confirmation that the country has a future. I thank you very much, Poland, for believing in the future of Ukraine," said the Head of State. The President thanked all Polish businesses and every company and entrepreneur for working with and in Ukraine. "I am grateful for every production that works, for every job that creates welfare for Ukrainians and Poles, I am sure, for both! And despite any threats, any circumstances during the time of Russian aggression, various Polish companies continue to work in Ukraine. And I want to thank and applaud everyone who believes in our state, believes not only in our future, but also in our present," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. Separately, the Head of State noted the companies operating in the eastern regions of Ukraine, which are particularly often subjected to Russian terror. The President emphasized that economic stability ensures social stability and preserves normal life. He also thanked the Polish companies that, since the beginning of the war, have been providing materials and medicines to Ukrainian medical institutions, which helped provide for Ukrainian children in Poland and internally displaced persons inside Ukraine. The President noted the Polish business, which left the Russian market, showed humanity, not pragmatism, and thus made its contribution to bringing the victory over Russian aggression closer. "I am sure that we will maintain all the economic and humanitarian mobilization of our relations when the very important and ambitious project of Ukrainian reconstruction unfolds in full force. We are already working together for recovery, but it is clear that this is only the initial stage," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. He expressed his conviction that Ukraine and Poland are capable of filling the entire space between the Baltic and Black Seas with new security and technological content. "Our economic, energy, social, humanitarian, and cultural potential in the Baltic-Black Sea area will surely provide decades of growth for our peoples, for all of Europe and each of our partners," the Head of State said. Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that all complicated issues of the Ukrainian-Polish agenda will be resolved. "Because these are not difficulties - these are trifles compared to the strength and power of our friendship and partnership," he said. The President invited Polish business to join the reconstruction of Ukraine as a future member of the European Union. For his part, Andrzej Duda noted that despite Russia's war against Ukraine, the Ukrainian-Polish economic forum is being held, because "we are looking not only at what is happening in Ukraine at this moment, but also at what will happen in the future. Because we deeply believe in the victory of Ukraine," he emphasized. The President of Poland is convinced that after the end of the war, with joint efforts, Ukraine will be rebuilt, will become a more modern country ready for dynamic development and using its potential. Andrzej Duda stressed that even now, during the war, Poland is Ukraine's largest trade partner. "Today we can tell our entrepreneurs that we will try to create the best conditions for their development. We would like you to take part in the reconstruction of Ukraine, but we also want you to cooperate with Ukraine after the war. The potential of such cooperation is huge," he said. The presidential couples of Ukraine and Poland also talked with representatives of Polish volunteer, rescue and demining services, which participate in the provision of logistical and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked volunteers and rescuers for the significant support provided to the Ukrainian society. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chicago, April 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ride-Sharing Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 16.6% during the forecast period, from an estimated USD 85.8 billion in 2021 to USD 185.1 billion by 2026, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Browse and in-depth TOC on "Ride-Sharing Market" 194 Tables 51 Figures 221 Pages Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id= 198699113 Report Attributes Details Market size value in 2021: USD 85.8 billion Projected to reach 2026: USD 185.1 billion CAGR: 16.6% Base Year Considered: 2020 Forecast Period: 2021-2026 Largest Market: Asia Pacific Region Covered: Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and RoW Segments Covered: By Service Type, Car Sharing Market, By Type, Vehicle Type, Micro-Mobility Market, By Vehicle Type, Data Service, Distance, and Region Companies Covered: Didi Chuxing (China), Uber Technologies, Inc (US), Gett (Israel), Lyft, Inc (US), and Grab (Singapore) The Increase in urbanization, internet and smartphone penetration and increase in cost of vehicle ownership are the major factors driving the growth of the ride sharing market. Due to the increasing focus on the development of innovative battery technologies, high demand for vehicle electronic functions and features, and stringent emission standards, the demand for EV test equipment, software, and repair data is rising. Increase in cost of vehicle ownership The ownership of a vehicle is cumulative of multiple factors such as finance, fuel, maintenance, registration/taxes, and maintenance & repair, along with depreciation. With each year, the cost of vehicle ownership increases. Though, according to American Automobile Association (AAA), depreciation contributes to ~43% of the ownership cost, the other costs, such as maintenance cost and fuel cost, contribute ~25% together. Fuel prices and maintenance costs have increased multifold in the past few years, and the same trend is estimated to continue without any decline. As cities are getting increasingly cramped with people and cars, owning an automobile has become more of a liability than an asset. According to AAA, the average cost to own and operate a new car increased by USD 279 in 2020, as compared with 2019, to reach USD 9,561. As the millennial generation has little-to-no interest in owning a car, the rate of car ownership among people aged between 18 and 35 has declined over the years. Other reasons for the decline in car ownership are poor connectivity by public transportation in key cities and the increasing trend of online shopping, among others. Though the trend of car ownership has grown during the pandemic, it is expected to return to the pre-pandemic trend after 2021. Hence, ride sharing service providers can capitalize on these demographics as the new tech-savvy generation constitutes one of the largest user bases of these services. The e-hailing segment by type is expected to hold the largest market share in 2021 The growing demand for e-hailing services can be attributed to ease of booking, increasing traffic congestion, passenger comfort, and rising government initiatives to increase awareness among people regarding air pollution are propelling the demand for ride-sharing, predominantly e-hailing. Also, the increasing partnership between domestic and international service providers, such as Uber and Didi in China, will likely help the e-hailing market grow. Make an Inquiry: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id= 198699113 North America is estimated to be the second-largest regional Ride-Sharing Market North America is dominated by counties such as US and Canada. The North American Ride-Sharing Market is growing because of the increasing collaborations between OEMs and ride-sharing service providers across the region, surging internet penetration, increasing millennials preference for these services, and developing semi-autonomous and autonomous vehicles. Some other factors that would positively impact the market are rising concerns over air pollution levels and growing investments by several major players in the market. The major organizations in the region, such as the US Department of Transportation Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), are focusing on R&D in the field of smart public transportation. With the increasing population, the dependence on public transit is very high in North America, resulting in a huge requirement for an effective ride-sharing management system. North America has the presence of many major ride-sharing players, such as Uber, Lyft, Waze, Bird, Lime, and Avis. Key Market Players The Ride-Sharing Market is dominated by established players Didi Chuxing (China), Uber Technologies, Inc (US), Gett (Israel), Lyft, Inc (US), and Grab (Singapore). Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=198699113 Browse Adjacent Market: Automotive and Transportation Market Research Reports & Consulting Browse Related Reports: Robotaxi Market - Global Forecast to 2030 Stacker Crane Market - Forecast to 2027 Electric Commercial Vehicle Market - Global Forecast 2030 EV Test Equipment Market - Global Forecast to 2027 Dublin, April 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Medical Tent Market - Global Outlook and Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The medical tent market is expected to reach grow at a CAGR of approximately 3.40% from 2022 to 2028. One of the major driving factors for the market's growth is the growing natural hazards and medical emergencies. The use of inflatable medical tents is rising in the military, owing to troops stationed worldwide and increasing military investments. The global medical tent market is expected to rise considerably due to increased usage of tents in the military segment, medical emergencies, and rescue operations. Tripledemic: Another Expected Driving Factor For The Medical Tent Market Tripledemic describes a simultaneous increase in COVID-19, influenza (the flu), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases. While all three viruses are present in the U.S., they aren't each peaking simultaneously. Pediatric RSV and flu cases are now down; however, COVID-19 continues to increase in adults; and cases of adults with flu are declining in the elderly and somewhat stable among younger adults. Flu, COVID-19, and RSV are all respiratory viruses. Influenza and COVID-19 both have a history of increased infection rates during the winter months, and it's common for RSV cases to increase early in the year (in 2022, this occurred even earlier, starting before the New Year). The simultaneous increase has been attributed to various possible factors, including weakened immune systems and vaccine hesitancy due to isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the "Tripledemic" continues to grow, pediatric hospitals are overflowing, seeing an unusually high number of sick patients, many of whom are at or near capacity. Among the three viruses, RSV is surging the most among kids and is gradually filling hospital beds. Currently, COVID-19, flu, and RSV cases are high across the U.S., with RSV and flu seeing sharp increases in recent weeks. Due to the combined impact of COVID-19, flu, and RSV among children, several pediatric hospitals are struggling right now, which is adding tents outside to handle the "Tripledemic" surge" in the U.S. The wait times have increased more than ever, and hospitals are urging patients to take their children to primary care doctors or urgent care facilities before going to the hospital. In addition, most of the youngest U.S. kids have still not received a COVID-19 vaccine, according to federal health data, as hospitals struggle to handle a deluge of patients with respiratory viruses. Across the U.S., many hospitals are close to or at capacity, leading to limited hospital beds and hours-long wait times in emergency departments. For Instance, Boston Children's Hospital has postponed elective surgeries, and Johns Hopkins Children's Center has reopened COVID-19 triage tents to help manage overflow. On 9th November 2022, a tent was set up in the ambulance bay at Children's Hospital Colorado in Aurora due to a rise in RSV cases among kids around the state. IMPACT OF COVID-19 The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has escalated the demand for medical tents worldwide for screening, patient isolation, and vaccination camps. Triage tents became essential due to patient surges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospitals and clinics globally witnessed higher admission spikes than ever before. This has put immense pressure on healthcare systems to tend to those fighting the virus and provide proper patient screening shelters. Although COVID cases are currently low, they're rising in parts of the United States. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS Increasing Military Bases and Geopolitical Issues The U.S. is the leading country with the highest number of military bases in foreign countries and continues to increase its military bases. Japan has about 120 U.S. military bases, Germany has 119, South Korea has 73, and Italy has 44. Japan has about 54,000 U.S. military personnel, Germany has around 34,000, and South Korea has about 26,000. Further, the Chinese military basing efforts at the international level have become a topic of great international interest and scrutiny. China has likely considered 13 countries for military-basing access, including Angola, Kenya, Seychelles, Tanzania, Cambodia, and the UAE. In August 2021, India announced building a military base on Agalega island. Geopolitical risks play a major role in the growth of the medical tent market. The Russia-Ukraine war has contributed to the overall growth of the medical tent market. Russia has suffered about 180,000 killed or wounded in Ukraine so far, while the figure for the Ukrainians is 100,000 military casualties and 30,000 dead civilians as of 23rd January 2023. Several international and regional companies offer a wide range of medical tents for the military segment. Technological Advancements To remain competitive in the medical tent market, vendors have been focusing on meeting the challenges associated with traditional medical tents. As a result, to address the challenges, several vendors are focusing on developing innovative and technologically advanced medical tents. These innovations and advancements include multi-purpose tents equipped with portable features and easily deployable tents. Extreme Marquees (EM), an Australian premier supplier of leading custom printing tents, is the manufacturer of a line of 'Infectious Disease Fast Deployment Inflatable Isolation Modules,' which are easy to set up, lightweight, and portable. AKS Industries, one of the prominent vendors in the medical tent market, has developed the BLU-MED XP Medical Shelter System, which can be deployed and fully set up in less than 15 minutes. This system gives government agencies, NGOs, cities, municipalities, hospitals, emergency management services, and first responders the ability to respond quickly to disasters and humanitarian crises worldwide. It is engineered for high wind and snow loads, which is also easy to carry and store. Multi-Purpose Medical Tents Multi-purpose tents have recently gained high demand as it meets all-in-one application. JUMEI TENT TECHNOLOGY and NSR Relief are the leading companies in the medical tent market, offering multi-purpose tents. JUMEI TENT TECHNOLOGY's heavy-duty, rapidly deployable clear-span tents are ideal for multi-purpose hospital use, including emergency shelters, temporary quarantine, triage screening areas, medical screening, medical testing, medical isolation, mobile field hospitals, food distribution centers, drive-thru testing stations, medical supplies warehouses. Increasing Demand for Negative Pressure Isolation Tent Negative pressure isolation tents are a type of hospital tent used to keep patients with infectious illnesses or patients prone to infections from others away from other patients, visitors, and healthcare staff. It is a common infection control method to isolate patients with contagious, airborne diseases such as measles, tuberculosis, SARS, MERS, and COVID-19. They are called negative pressure tents because the air pressure inside the tent is lower than the air pressure outside the room. Hence, when the door is opened, potentially contaminated air or dangerous particles from inside the room does not flow outside into non-contaminated areas. AKS Industries, UTILIS, Stretch Event Tents USA, and Instent Industries are some of the leading companies in the medical tent market offering negative pressure isolation tents. VENDOR LANDSCAPE The global medical tent market is moderately competitive and is expected to offer significant growth opportunities for vendors during the forecast period. The leading companies are highly focused on organic growth and continuously developing innovative medical tents at competitive prices. Some key market participants operating in the global medical tent market include Liri Structure, Instent Industries, ZINGERLE GROUP, LANCO, and HDT Global. Moreover, there is a huge growth opportunity for new entrants in the market. Scenarios like the tripledemic, winter flu, and geopolitical issues are boosting the growth of the medical tent market. This is increasing the competition among the players in the market. Creating opportunities for the companies to launch innovative products in the market. In October 2022, an increase in children's respiratory illnesses significantly impacted the US market growth. Connecticut Children's Medical Centre is considering working with the National Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Association to install a field tent to deal with the influx of patients. Key Company Profiles Liri Structure Instent Industries HDT Global ZINGERLE GROUP LANCO Other Prominent Vendors AKS Industries ACI Design Allied Healthcare Products Celina Extreme Group Glow Inflatables JUMEI TENT TECHNOLOGY J.B. Roche NRS Relief RODER Group Stretch Event Tents USA Shenzhen Shoulder Tent Sabir Textile Industries SPANTECH TentCraft UTILIS YIJIN GROUP KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED How big is the global medical tent market? What is the growth rate of the medical tent market? Who are the key players in the global medical tent market? What are the growing trends in the medical tent market? Which region holds the most significant global medical tent market share? Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 263 Forecast Period 2022 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $1587 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $1939.43 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 3.4% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered: 1 Research Methodology 2 Research Objectives 3 Research Process 4 Scope & Coverage 4.1 Market Definition 4.1.1 Inclusions 4.1.2 Exclusions 4.1.3 Market Estimation Caveats 4.2 Base Year 4.3 Scope of the Study 4.3.1 Market Segmentation by Type 4.3.2 Market Segmentation by Application 4.3.3 Market Segmentation by End-User 4.3.4 Market Segmentation by Geography 5 Report Assumptions & Caveats 5.1 Key Caveats 5.2 Currency Conversion 5.3 Market Derivation 6 Premium Insights 6.1 Overview 6.1.1 Technological Advances 6.1.2 Vendors' Market Activities 6.1.3 Tripledemic: Another Expected Driving Factor for the Market 7 Market at a Glance 8 Introduction 8.1 Overview 8.1.1 Impact of Covid-19 on the Medical Tents Market 9 Market Opportunities & Trends 9.1 Technological Advances in Medical Tents 9.2 Negative Pressure Isolation Tents 9.3 Growing Popularity of Mobile Field Hospitals 10 Market Growth Enablers 10.1 Growing Military Activities 10.2 Increasing Rescue Operations 10.3 Surge in Demand for Triage Tents 11 Market Restraints 11.1 Environmental Factors Limiting Medical Tent Use 11.2 High Cost of Emergency Medical Tents 11.3 Slower Adoption of Advanced Medical Tents 12 Market Landscape 13 Tent Type 14 Application 15 End-User 16 Geography 17 North America 18 Europe 19 APAC 20 Latin America 21 Middle East & Africa 22 Competitive Landscape 23 Key Company Profiles 24 Other Prominent Vendors 25 Report Summary 26 Quantitative Summary 27 Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3aim30 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Dublin, April 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Bioreactors and Fermenters Market: Distribution by Type of Product, Fabrication Material, Type of Bioprocess, Type of Biologics, and Key Geographical Regions: Industry Trends and Global Forecasts, 2023-2035" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report features an extensive study of the current market landscape and the likely future potential of the global bioreactors and fermenters market, over the next 12 years. It highlights the efforts of various stakeholders engaged in this rapidly emerging segment of the bioprocess equipment industry. Since their introduction in 1982, biologics have gained popularity owing to their therapeutic efficacy, favorable safety profiles and ability to treat a wide variety of disease indications, which are otherwise hard to treat. In fact, in the past two decades, over 170 biopharmaceuticals have already been granted approval by the FDA and over 7,500 biological interventions are under evaluation in clinical trials. It is a well-known fact that the commercial and clinical-scale manufacturing of such complex biomolecules require highly specialized bioprocessing equipment to facilitate the maintenance of ideal conditions, such as optimal temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, fluid delivery, and other critical process parameters that are essential for steady cell growth. Bioreactors are capable of providing such optimal conditions and are critical to the upstream biomanufacturing process. These systems are designed to increase the concentration of viable cells, thereby enabling the production of large amounts of recombinant proteins, such as vaccines, fusion proteins, antibodies and enzymes. Apart from producing conventional therapeutic proteins, bioreactors can also be used to produce advanced medicinal products (ATMPs), namely cell-based and oligonucleotide-based therapies, retroviral vectors for gene therapy and cellular components of three-dimensional tissue / artificial organs. In contrast to bioreactors, fermenters are used for the anaerobic cultivation of microbial (fungal or bacterial) cell populations to produce biologics that do not require significant post translational modifications. It is worth highlighting that the use of fermenters for the manufacturing of bioproducts provides faster development, higher yields and quality, reduced variation between batches, better scalability, and lower production costs, in comparison to the biomanufacturing carried out in bioreactors. Growing Demand for Bioreactors and Fermenters Over the past 25 years, there has been a steady increase in the sales of biologics, growing at a rate of 12-14% annually. In order cater to this growing demand, over 1,500 commercial scale biomanufacturing and contract manufacturing organization (CMO) facilities, equipped with bioreactors and / or fermenters have been established, globally. Further, during the COVID-19 pandemic, several companies enhanced their vaccine production capabilities (through capacity expansion / technology upgradation), resulting in a surge in the sales of bioreactors. Moreover, the transition in the industry from high-volume biologics towards innovative specialized biologics, particularly those focused on treating rare conditions, has created a requirement for flexible manufacturing systems. Consequently, there is an increasing demand for a diverse range of bioreactor systems (in term of design and mechanism of action), which includes disposable (single-use), stirred-tank, mini / micro, air lift, rocker, perfusion, wave bed, bubble column, fixed-bed, fluidized bed, membrane, packed bed, fibrous bed and photobioreactors. All these developments represent an additional avenue for revenue generation in this growing market. Role of Bioprocess Equipment Manufacturers The design aspect of both bioreactors and fermenters, operational across different types of bioprocesses (batch, fed batch and continuous), is a complex engineering task, requiring extensive understanding of cell growth, metabolism, genetic manipulation, and product expression. As a result, industry and non-industry players producing biomolecules / cellular therapies, are relying on original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) that produce different components of bioreactors, and / or engineering, procurement, and construction (EPCs) companies that integrate all the equipment designed by OEM engineers into a complete performing system. Manufacturers that are able to offer their clients modern equipment and infrastructure upgrades, effective life cycle management for their products, responsive customer service, expert troubleshooting of equipment issues, and annual maintenance contract to ensure efficient functioning of installed bioreactors without disruption, are the preferred partners. Current Market Landscape of Bioreactors and Fermenters The global bioreactors and fermenters market landscape features more than 255 companies, which claim to possess the necessary technical expertise for manufacturing high-quality bioreactors and fermenters, in order to serve the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industry. The market is currently dominated by small companies (1-50 employees), which represent 56% of the total number of players. Based on the requirement, bioreactors are produced using different fabrication materials, such as stainless steel, glass, and plastic, and are available in varying dimensions and volumes, ranging from micro-mini (less than 1 mL and 1 to 10 mL) to large-scale (more than 10,000 L). It is interesting to highlight that companies manufacturing miniature and small-scale bioreactors represent nearly 30% of the total players in this market. These bioreactor models are essential for conducting high-throughput experimental studies related to media development, strain improvement or process optimization. Further, recent developments in this domain indicate that majority of the bioreactor manufacturers have switched to advanced bioprocessing technology by integrating the automatic mode of operation. Key Challenges in the Bioreactors and Fermenters Market Although disposable (single-use) bioreactors and fermenters have gained popularity due to their advantages, such as lower water and energy consumption (by approximately 45%), reduced initial investment costs (by 40%), and faster processing times for biologics (by 33%), they pose a risk of leachables and extractables (L&E). These bioreactors are constructed using plastic materials that can release organic or inorganic chemicals into liquid pharmaceutical products, potentially jeopardizing the safety of the drug and the well-being of the patient. The need for frequent purchases, variable costs per run, recurrent plastic disposal, and restricted capacity are some other potential bottlenecks restricting the widespread use of disposable (single-use) bioreactors. While bioreactor manufacturers are striving to tackle these challenges through innovation in design and manufacturing methods, the increasing costs of procuring raw materials and ensuring that they align with the customers' budget, still remain a pressing concern. Market Size of the Global Bioreactors and Fermenters Market Driven by the rising demand for novel biopharmaceuticals, high adoption rates of precision medicine and regenerative medicine, along with advancement in bioprocessing technologies, the bioreactors and fermenters market is anticipated to witness a noteworthy growth in the foreseen future. Specifically, in terms of types of biologics, the market is anticipated to be driven by the high demand for manufacturing different antibody formats, including monoclonal and bispecific antibodies. Currently, majority of the revenues are generated from the sales of bioreactors that operate in batch and fed-batch modes; however, in the near future, market for bioreactors that operate in continuous mode is anticipated to grow at a relatively higher rate. Key Emerging Trends in Bioreactors and Fermenters Market The bioreactors and fermenters market is witnessing the adoption of bioprocessing 4.0 solutions that leverage machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) for real-time process monitoring. For instance, a US based company, Culture Biosciences, has designed an integrated bioreactor platform to design, monitor and analyze experiments, remotely via the cloud. The industry is also embracing advanced modular bioreactors that can be configured sequentially or in parallel. Further, the integration of controllers and automated systems is another technological advancement, that not only ensures that the processes continue to run within precise limits but also make the necessary adjustments, while minimizing the risk of human errors. Frequently Asked Questions Question 1: What is the global market size of bioreactors and fermenters? Answer: The current global bioreactors and fermenters market size is anticipated to be over USD 25 billion. Question 2: Which are the top players in the global bioreactors and fermenters market? Answer: Presently, more than 255 companies are engaged in manufacturing bioreactors and fermenters, worldwide. The top players engaged in this domain (which have also been captured in this report) include Applikon Biotechnology, Bionet, Cytiva, Eppendorf, Merck, Ollital Technology, Parr Instrument Company, Sartorius, Shanghai Bailun Biological Technology, Solaris Biotech, Solida Biotech and Zhengzhou Laboao Instrument Equipment (LABAO). Question 3: What are the factors driving the global bioreactors and fermenters market? Answer: The factors driving the global bioreactors and fermenters market include advancement in bioprocessing technologies, and the surge in demand for novel biopharmaceuticals, such as precision and regenerative medicine. Question 4: Which region has the highest market share in global bioreactors and fermenters market? Answer: North America and Europe capture around 60% share in the current global bioreactors and fermenters market, followed by Asia-Pacific. It is worth mentioning that, within Asia-Pacific, majority of the market share is contributed by China and India. Question 5: What are the leading market segments in global bioreactors and fermenters market? Answer: Currently, in terms of fabrication material, stainless steel bioreactors / fermenters capture the largest share of this market. However, single-use bioreactors / fermenters are likely to witness higher annual growth rates in the upcoming years, owing to their smaller footprint, cost efficiency and increased productivity. Further, in terms of type of biologic, cell culture systems used for the production of antibodies are anticipated to capture a prominent share of the current and future market. Question 6: Which segment, in terms of bioreactor / fermenter capacity, accounts for the largest share in the global bioreactors and fermenters market? Answer: The capacity of the bioreactors varies, ranging from a few milliliters to several liters, contingent upon the specific design and operational mode employed across diverse bioprocesses. At present, the global bioreactors and fermenters market is dominated by laboratory-scale bioreactors / fermenters. This category considers bioreactors / fermenters in the volume range of 1 L to 299 L. This is followed by pilot-scale bioreactors (300 L to 10,000 L) and bench-scale bioreactors (101 mL to 999 mL). Question 7: What is the growth rate (CAGR) in the global bioreactors and fermenters market? Answer: The global bioreactors and fermenters market size is projected to grow at a CAGR of ~12% in the coming years. Question 8: What are the upcoming trends in the global bioreactors and fermenters market? Answer: The industry is presently witnessing the rising adoption of bioprocessing 4.0 solutions leveraging AI and ML for real-time process monitoring. Further, in order to ensure that the bioprocess runs within the precise limits, several players have integrated automated bioprocess controllers that offer various additional benefits, such as lowering of production and labor cost (by 20-30%), optimizing the energy consumption (by 5-30%) and increasing the overall productivity (by 10-20%). Key Topics Covered: 1. PREFACE 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3. INTRODUCTION 4. BIOREACTOR AND FERMENTER MANUFACTURERS: MARKET LANDSCAPE 5. COMPANY COMPETITIVENESS ANALYSIS 6. COMPANY PROFILES 6.1. Chapter Overview 6.2. Applikon Biotechnology (acquired by Getinge) 6.2.1. Company Overview 6.2.2. Product Portfolio 6.2.3. Recent Developments and Future Outlook 6.3. Bionet 6.4. Cytiva 6.5. Eppendorf 6.6. Merck 6.7. Ollital Technology 6.8. Parr Instrument Company 6.9. Sartorius 6.10. Shanghai Bailun Biological Technology 6.11. Solaris Biotech (acquired by Donaldson Company) 6.12. Solida Biotech 6.13. Zhengzhou Laboao Instrument Equipment (LABAO) 7. CAPACITY ANALYSIS 8. CASE STUDY: BIOPROCESS CONTROLLERS AND AUTOMATION SYSTEMS 9. MARKET FORECAST 10. EXECUTIVE INSIGHTS 11. CONCLUDING REMARKS 12. APPENDIX 1: TABULATED DATA 13. APPENDIX 2: LIST OF COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/udd6ab About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment YONGKANG, CHINA, April 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 27th China Hardware Fair came to an successful end on March 19. According to the statistics of the exhibition organizers, the number of exhibitors and exhibitors reached 54,000 in 3 days, and the transaction amount was 8.756 billion yuan. The charm of China Hardware Fair was once again manifested this spring. China Hardware Fair is regarded as the 'barometer' of China's hardware industry and the 'trend chart' of world hardware development. The opening of this hardware fair can be said to have been brewing for a long time and eagerly awaited. On the first day of the exhibition, nearly 1,000 enterprises from more than 20 provinces (cities) across the country collectively appeared, including 273 first-time exhibitors. The proportion of exhibitors outside Yongwu County exceeded 62%, and the re-exhibition rate of leading enterprises in the industry reached 90%. In addition to the lively atmosphere, various innovative hardware products were concentrated at the 3-day exhibition, including no shortage of 'black technologies'. Above the conveyor belt, a mechanical hand flexibly rotated and quickly grabbed insulated cups to the heating plate. Then, the feed camera and discharge camera respectively photographed the thermal images of the insulated cup liner heating before and after heating. After algorithmic judgment, the temperature measurement inspection can be completed... At the booth of Beijing Soft Robotics Technology Co., Ltd., a science and technology fashion show with 'wisdom' is being staged. This insulated cup temperature measuring instrument, which attracted countless eyes at the exhibition, is called Thermovisual Thermometer. "This is the first thermovisual visual temperature measurement analysis instrument in the industry. It can realize the automation, digitization and intelligence of the insulated cup temperature measurement process. At present, we have reached cooperation with Thermos, Jiayi and other leading brands in the insulated cup industry." According to Zhou Lixiang, the person in charge of the booth, the insulation performance of the insulated cup needs to be tested by three temperature measurement procedures for vacuum detection. The traditional temperature measuring instrument adopts manual cup touching, which not only depends on manual experience, but also has pain points such as difficult quality control and cost reduction. Thermovisual Thermometer integrates thermovisual machine vision and artificial intelligence technology to realize non-contact real-time perception of insulated cup temperature, accurate temperature measurement, energy saving and low carbon. The accuracy rate is over 99.7%, and only 2 degrees of electricity are consumed per hour. "Stewing tea is different from brewing tea and boiling tea. The tea leaves are stationary in the stewing pot, and the pot maintains a high temperature of 80 degrees Celsius to 100 degrees Celsius for a long time. However, since there is no boiling, most substances such as fragrances are retained. The aroma in the tea soup is more concentrated and the mouthfeel is richer and fuller. In the 'Hardware Pavilion' premium hardware life pavilion exhibition area, salesperson Huang Xiaochen was explaining the characteristics of the stewing tea thermos to several customers. "Compared with the traditional way of brewing tea, stewing tea with our stewing tea thermos is especially suitable for busy tea lovers who have no time to brew tea." The stewing tea thermos loved by young people caters to the new tea drinking habits of the present, and for busy office workers, it is an office tea artifact that can easily meet the daily needs of only 1 minute for tea and hot tea at any time. For young people who want to drink tea but don't know tea, the stewing tea thermos simplifies the cumbersome tea brewing process without having to study the brewing methods and utensils of different teas. It is also suitable for weekends and holidays outdoors, and is an outdoor tea artifact. Relying on more than 20 years of accumulation and accumulation rooted in the fertile soil of Yongkang hardware, China Hardware Fair closely follows the development trend of the industry, has taken a professional, branded and international path, and has become a strong driving force for Yongkang's transition from small hardware to large hardware and from traditional hardware to modern hardware, and an important breakthrough in building a 'double cycle' pattern. Yu Huarong, Secretary of the Party Committee and Executive Vice President and Secretary General of the China Invention Association, said that holding a good China Hardware Fair is a practical action to firmly support and promote the healthy development of private economy. He said that since the co-initiation of the Hardware Fair, the China Invention Association has always strongly supported the innovation and development of the hardware industry, continuously absorbed advanced technology and promoted the transformation of invention achievements, and realized the transformation and upgrading of industrialization and branding of the hardware industry. He hopes that more excellent enterprises and products can participate in domestic and foreign invention exhibitions and technology innovation competitions through the organization, so that more hardware companies, hardware products and hardware invention and innovation talents can show their style and go to the world on the stage of national and global invention and innovation exhibitions. In recent years, focusing on the high-quality development of the hardware industry, Yongkang has leveraged the driving forces such as inefficient rectification, digital transformation, innovation leadership, attracting large companies and brand empowerment, making the 'furnace fire' of the hardware industry burn more and more vigorously. At present, Yongkang has more than 150,000 operating entities, more than 16,000 industrial enterprises and more than 1,000 industrial enterprises above the quota. The modern hardware industrial cluster centered on Yongkang has been selected into the national advanced manufacturing industrial cluster. In the warm March, the hardware resonated enthusiastically. Although the 27th China Hardware Fair ended, the magnetic effect of the exhibition will continue to appear, and the wonderful story of "making Yongkang hardware go to the world and gathering world hardware in Yongkang" will continue to be written. Media contact Publicity Department of Yongkang Municipal Committee Email: heyn@8531.cn Tel: +86 15857143688 Website: http://www.8531.cn SOURCE: Publicity Department of Yongkang Municipal Committee English Lithuanian On 28 April 2023, at 12:00 p.m., an Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of AB "Rokiskio suris" (company code 173057512, registered at the following address: Pramones g.3, Rokiskis) shall be convened at the head office of AB "Rokiskio suris" (Pramones str.3, Rokiskis). The meeting shall be convened on the initiative of the Company's Board of Directors in accordance with the decision of the Company's Board of Directors of 7 April 2023. Registration starts at 11:00 a.m. and lasts until 11:45 a.m. Accounting day of the general meeting of shareholders April 21, 2023. Record day May 15, 2023. Draft Agenda of the General Meeting of Shareholders: Auditors findings regarding the consolidated financial reports and annual report. The Audit Committee report. The Companys consolidated annual report for the year 2022. Approval of the consolidated and companys financial accounting for the year 2022. Allocation of the profit of the Company of 2022. Approval of the Companys Remuneration Report. Regarding purchase of own shares. Election of the Companys auditor and establishment of payment conditions. The general meeting of shareholders may be attended and voted by the persons who were shareholders at the end of the meeting accounting date (April 21, 2023) or other persons authorized by actual shareholders, or the persons with whom the voting transference agreement was made. A person participating in the general meeting of shareholders and having the right to vote must present an identity document. The Company does not provide the opportunity to participate and vote at the meeting by electronic means. Each shareholder shall have a right, in the manner established by the Law, to authorise another (natural or legal) person on his/her behalf to attend and vote at the General Meeting of Shareholders. The authorised person must provide a power of attorney certified in the manner established by the Law. A power of attorney issued in a foreign state must be translated into Lithuanian and legalised in the manner established by the Law. At the General Meeting of Shareholders, an authorised person shall have the same rights as would be held by the shareholder represented by him/her. The Company does not establish special form of power of attorney. The right of shareholder to participate at the general meeting of shareholders also means the right to question. A shareholder or a person authorised by him/her shall have a right to vote in writing in advance by filling in the General Voting Ballot. The General Voting Ballot shall be placed on the companys website not later than 21 day before the General meeting http://www.rokiskio.com at the heading Investor Relations. Upon a shareholder's request, the Company, not later than 10 days before the General Meeting, shall send the General Voting Ballot by registered mail free of charge. The filled in General Voting Ballot and the document confirming the voting right (if any) must be submitted to the Company in writing not later than on the last business day before the General Meeting of Shareholders by sending it by registered mail to AB Rokiskio suris, Pramones street 3, Rokiskis LT-42150. The Company keeps the right to not account a shareholders General Voting Ballot if the General Voting Ballot does not comply with the requirement set by the Law on Joint Stock Companies Article 30 parts 3 and 4, or the ballot is filled misleadingly and it is impossible to read the shareholders will for one or another item. The Company shall make voting at the meeting possible by submitting to the Company a ballot paper signed with a qualified electronic signature no later than the close of shareholder registration for the General Meeting. A shareholder may, by means of electronic communications, authorise another natural or legal person to attend and vote on the shareholder's behalf. Such a proxy shall not be notarised. A proxy executed by electronic means shall be certified by the shareholder with a qualified electronic signature created with secure signature creation software and confirmed by a qualified certificate valid in the Republic of Lithuania. The shareholder must notify the Company of the electronically executed proxy by e-mail to rokiskio.suris@rokiskio.com not later than by the last business day before the meeting. The proxy and the notification must be in writing. Each shareholder holding shares that grant at least 1/20 of all votes shall have the right of proposing to supplement the agenda of the General Meeting of Shareholders. Draft decisions on the proposed issues shall be submitted together with the proposal or, if the decisions do not need to be approved, explanations on each proposed issue of the General Meeting of Shareholders shall be presented. Proposal to supplement the agenda must be presented in writing by sending it by registered mail to AB Rokiskio suris, Pramones street 3, Rokiskis LT-42150, Lithuania, or by e-mail rokiskio.suris@rokiskio.com The agenda will be supplemented if the proposal is received not later than 14 days before the General Meeting of Shareholders. The shareholders shall have the right to present questions related to the agenda issues of the General Meeting of Shareholders to the Company in advance in writing. The questions should be sent by e mail address rokiskio.suris@rokiskio.com not later than 3 business days before the General Meeting of Shareholders. The Company will not respond personally to the shareholder if the respective information is posted on the Company's website. The Company may refuse to respond to the questions of a shareholder if they are related with the commercial (manufacturing) secret, confidential information, then the shareholder will be informed unless the identity of questioner cannot be identified. Documents related to the agenda of the Company's General Meeting of Shareholders, draft resolutions on each item on the agenda, documents to be submitted to the General Meeting of Shareholders and other information related to the implementation of shareholder rights are available at the Company's on the website www.rokiskio.com in the section Investors, as well as by visiting AB Rokiskio suris at Pramones st. 3, LT-42150 Rokiskis. The total number of voting rights is 35,867,970 ordinary registered shares. Nominal value of the shares is EUR 0.29 (twenty nine hundredth) each. ISIN of the Companys shares is LT000100372. The Company has purchased 861,274 treasury shares. Dalius Trumpa Company Manager +370 458 55200 Attachments Novi, Michigan, April 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The connected vehicle industry has seen significant advances in recent years, with numerous companies developing various technologies that seek to improve how vehicles gather and analyze data, as well as the application of insights gained from the data. CerebrumX, an automotive data services and management platform based in Michigan, is looking to transform this industry with its end-to-end solution with a strong consent-management system. CerebrumX co-founded in 2020 by Sandip Ranjhan along with Sumit Chauhan, Amit Gupta and Kapil Arora all of whom have more than 25 years experience . Prior to starting the company, they worked on remote vehicle operation technology, when they realized the extent of valuable data being generated by vehicles daily. This led them to delve into the realm of connected vehicles. The idea for CerebrumX was born to unlock the value of real-time data with next-generation artificial intelligence/machine learning algorithms to improve driver safety and predictive maintenance. Ranjhan says that connected vehicle technology is not just about improving the driver safety and security of connected vehicles, but also includes creating monetization opportunities for automakers and automotive businesses, while providing them with data in an easily digestible format. He also believes that the future of connected vehicles should be cloud-based and without the need for external devices, as well as self-learning, to better capture driver behavior, thereby helping fleet companies and insurers rate drivers more accurately than ever before. The current state of the connected vehicle industry is quite fragmented because there is a lack of industry standard, according to Ranjhan. Connected vehicles have more than 300 data parameters generating around 25 GB of data per hour. Different organizations have individual data requirements. For example, insurance companies would need historical data of drivers while a fleet company would be more interested in vehicle health related data parameters. This huge variation in data must be processed and refined before being passed on to these enterprises. All data obtained from a vehicle must have end-to-end consent, including from the vehicle owner and the OEM. CerebrumX determines the specific data needed by the client, and it only handles the data for which consent has been given. In essence, CerebrumX acts like a custodian of data, ensuring that there's proper privacy with a consent mechanism in place. It goes beyond being a data exchange, instead acting as a platform that generates intelligent data insights for specific verticals. This is possible because of CerebrumXs deep integration with OEM partners as well as customers. CerebrumX works closely with the OEMs to transform consented data from over 15 million connected vehicles into actionable insights for insurers, fleets, and smart mobility use cases. We have partnered with three of the top four vehicle OEMs in North America, and we are working to expand our coverage that will cover 80% of the connected vehicles on the continent. Ranjhan stresses that consent to access data is important at every level, and CerebrumX takes that seriously. It provides an end-to-end consent mechanism that enables partners to obtain needed consent and work with OEMs. CerebrumX only processes data which is consented,- and is GDPR and CCPA compliant . It also secures all personally identifiable data, such as vehicle identification number and location data and anonymizes it to add another layer of protection. Aside from the consent management system, CerebrumX's advantages include lower processing costs due to its proprietary algorithms. Unlike other vehicle data companies, CerebrumX does not treat each vehicle data parameter identically. The company recognizes that each data element has a different role and value. This allows partners to pay CerebrumX for only the data they require, lowering their business costs. Based on the requirement, CerebrumX has a large portfolio of products that cater to customers in three verticals insurance companies, fleet owners, and smart mobility (ride hailing, ride sharing, extended warranty, etc.). It has developed custom-made products to address unique customer needs. According to Ranjhan, insurance companies often require historical data for lead generation and usage-based pricing of insurance plans. Fleet owners use vehicle health for telemetry, scheduling vehicle maintenance, monitoring driver behavior, and optimizing the total cost of ownership. Customized APIs and Data packages for mobility are also available for customers in the smart mobility vertical. To gather and process the huge amount of data from millions of vehicles from multiple OEMs, CerebrumX uses its proprietary Augmented Deep Learning Platform (ADLP). The platform securely ingests, cleanses, normalizes and consolidates scattered data from its partners and other third-party apps and devices and is capable of handling data with high velocity, veracity and variety. It uses artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms that convert this data to intelligent insights for its partners. However, Ranjhan says that the connected vehicle industry has also met a roadblock, which was caused by the global microchip shortage that began in 2020. As a result, the production of connected vehicles slowed down globally. Another challenge faced by the industry includes the lack of standardization of data among OEMs, resulting in widely disparate parameters, frequency, and authenticity of the data. CerebrumX is able to turn this challenge into an opportunity as they do extensive normalization before the data can be usable. Moving forward, CerebrumX is looking to expand its OEM partnerships to the top five companies in North America. The company is exploring deeper data use cases, such as driver risk profiling for the insurance segment, vehicle health for fleet strategy partnerships to reduce the cost of ownership, and smart mobility technologies, including location intelligence and road usage charges for electric vehicles. An average car has around 200 sensors. In the near future, the volume of data transmitted between these connected vehicles and the cloud through sensors and related software will be huge. The opportunities are enormous for various use cases, ranging from autonomous driving to smart energy consumption to data collection for city planning, Ranjhan says. Media Contact: Sonika Nayak Email: sonika.nayak@cerebrumx.ai New York (US), April 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Metal Pipes Market Overview According to a Comprehensive Report by Market Research Future (MRFR), Metal Pipes Market Information by Material, Diameter, End-use, and Region - Forecast till 2030", Throughout the projected period (from 2022 to 2030), the market for metal pipes can expand at a rate of around 3.1%, with a value of approximately USD 119.45 Billion. Market Synopsis A key factor in the market's growth is the rise in oil and gas production brought on by demand from the transportation sector. In the oil and gas business, steel pipes and tubes are most frequently utilized. Steel pipes are used in this business to move liquid and gas. In the building of pipes, low alloy or carbon steel is frequently employed. Inner diameter, ductility, yield strength, and pressure rating are a few of the most crucial factors to take into consideration when selecting pipes for certain applications. The oil and gas industry in the United States makes substantial use of steel pipes and tubes. Upstream, midstream and downstream stages of the processing of crude oil use the product. The market may slowly increase as a result of modifications to the oil and gas sector in the US. Get a Free Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/7740 Market Competitive Landscape: The affluent vendors in the cellular concrete industry are ArcelorMIttal S.A. (Luxembourg) Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA (France) Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (US) Northwest Pipe Company (US) Saudi Arabian Amiantit Company (Saudi Arabia) Muller Industries Inc. (US) Narsk Hydro ASA (US) Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metals (Japan) TMK Group (Russia) Tenaris SA (Luxembourg) Report Scope: Report Attribute Details Market Size in 2030 USD 119.45 Billion CAGR 3.1% (2022-2030) Base Year 2021 Forecast Period 20222030 Historical Data 2020 Forecast Units Value (USD million) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Material, Diameter, End-use, Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW) Key Market Drivers Increasing construction of new pipelines, replacement of old and obsolete pipeline across industries, such as oil & gas, water & wastewater, and infrastructure development Browse In-depth Market Research Report (100 Pages) on Metal Pipes: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/metal-pipes-market-7740 Market USP Covered: Market Drivers: Corrosion is not a recent problem. According to the American Galvanizers Association, pipeline corrosion costs North America $9 billion annually. Manufacturers, on the other hand, are developing fresh strategies to fight corrosion. Corrosive substances may penetrate even the smallest scratches on metallic surfaces to propagate and cause damage. Innovative technologies are being used by advanced manufacturers to stop these problems before they start. To lessen friction, wear, and corrosion, supports, for instance, may be coated with thermoplastic materials or lined with highly technical materials. Movement is inevitable since the pipes are filled with rushing gases and liquids. If pipes are not adequately controlled, they can rupture, degrade, or collide with things. Innovative pipe limitations are preventing this undesired movement. VibraTek Hold Down Clamps, for instance, allow pipes to slide naturally along an axis without bouncing about. Distributing stress not only lowers the chance of fractures but also stops point-loading. Even when there is no friction or worn areas, pipes still have to deal with harsh environmental conditions. Chemicals, moisture, salty air, and bacteria may all cause pipes to corrode. So, to prevent metals from corroding, manufacturers now employ chemical-resistant finishes, enhanced sealants, and waterproof coatings. All of these crucial factors will allow the worldwide market size to expand incredibly over the next couple of years. Market Restraints: The primary obstacle to the market's expansion is the presence of alternatives on the market, which is the principal limitation on the market expansion. The market is readily accessible with items like plastic and iron pipes, which hinders the expansion of the metal pipe sector. The growth of the metal pipes market is also being hampered by the high cost-effectiveness of the raw materials. Following the pandemic, there was a surge in the use of metal pipes, which resulted in a change in product prices that also slowed the market's expansion. Share Your Queries: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/7740 COVID 19 Analysis Global metal pipe market expansion was impeded by the COVID-19 epidemic. Most often, petrochemical, oil and gas, and construction-related businesses employ steel tubes and pipes. Between early 2021 and 2020, production ceased. Several areas, including South America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, were impacted in 2020, and it is anticipated that these impacts would continue throughout the projection period, according to GME's examination of secondary research. The growth of the infrastructure is aided greatly by the metal pipe industry, which is of utmost importance. The world's metal pipe industry did reach a standstill stage during the epidemic. After the epidemic, though, it accelerated as more locations and areas of petroleum production began to remove the lockdown. Market Segmentation By Material The top materials used for the development of pipes are Steel, Ductile Iron, Copper and more. Steel is the most sought-after material in the market. As cylindrical steel tubes, steel pipes are employed in a variety of industrial and construction settings. They are often utilized for product creation and equipment installation. Oil, gas, and water are just a few examples of the liquids and gases that are often transported underground using pipe. In industrial settings that need the conveyance of gases like steam or extremely high temperatures or both, carbon steel pipes are frequently used. By Diameter Diameter-wise, the key segments are Up to 15 inches as well as Above 15 inches. By End-use major industry end-users are Oil & gas, Water & wastewater, Power, HVAC & electrical and others. With more than half of worldwide revenue coming from the oil and gas industry, this segment rules the market. The segment is anticipated to keep its dominant position throughout the projected period due to the many uses of the items in the oil and gas industry, ranging from OCTG, transportation, and process pipes for refining crude oil into petroleum products. Over the predicted period, the water and wastewater industry will also perform admirably. The need for clean water is anticipated to rise as a result of the expanding population and the prosperous global economy. This will necessitate investments in water-related infrastructure and services, which will boost the market. Ask for Customization: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/ask_for_customize/7740 Regional Insights As compared to other regions, the Asia Pacific comes to around 44% share of the global market for metal pipes. The reason this area is becoming so dominant is due to nations like China, Japan, India, South Korea, etc. Due to the existence of manufacturing firms in the petroleum and petrol chemical sectors, the main manufacturing corporations are focused on meeting the demand of the Asia Pacific area. Indian pipe and tube makers have changed during the past ten years in response to increased demand and capital expenditure for modernization and capacity growth in end-user industries. As a result, manufacturers of steel tubes and pipes have grown up their businesses to meet the expansion of the global economy. It is anticipated that the North American market experience significant development throughout the forecasted period. Because of nations like the US, this region is able to maintain its growth. And one of the primary drivers of development is the strong activity of manufacturing firms that focus on the oil and gas sectors. Check Discount: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/7740 Discover more research Reports on Construction Industry , by Market Research Future: Composite doors and Windows Market Information Report by Material Type (Wood, Fibre Reinforced Plastics (FRP), Wood Plastic Composites (WPC)), by Application (Commercial, Industrial and Residential), and by Regions - Global Forecast To 2030 Dry Construction Market Research Report, Information: by Material (Plasterboard, Metal, Plastic, Wood and others), Type (Supporting Framework and Boarding), System (Ceiling System, Wall System, Flooring System and others), Application (Residential and Non-Residential), Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Rest of the World) - Forecast till 2030 Forklift Trucks Market Information by Technology (Electric Powered, and Internal Combustion Engine Powered), by Capacity (Below 5 tons and above 5 tons), By Application (Manufacturing, Logistic, Retail & Wholesale and others) and by Region - Forecast to 2030 About Market Research Future: Market Research Future (MRFR) is a global market research company that takes pride in its services, offering a complete and accurate analysis with regard to diverse markets and consumers worldwide. Market Research Future has the distinguished objective of providing the optimal quality research and granular research to clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help answer your most important questions. Washington D.C., April 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and voice in President Bidens Cabinet for Americas 33 million small businesses, announced Colorado service-disabled veteran-owned defense support services firm Delta Solutions & Strategies, LLC as National Prime Contractor of the Year, Connecticut woman-owned electrical contracting company Dicin Electric Company as National Subcontractor of the Year, and Puerto Rico HVAC engineering company Multi Air Services Engineering, Corp as 8(a) Graduate Firm of the Year. The three firms will receive awards honoring their work in federal contracting to include the Dwight D. Eisenhower Award and the announcement of the finalists for the National Small Business Person of the Year, as part of National Small Business Week on April 30 to May 6. The federal government depends on small businesses to innovate, drive competition, and deliver products and services to support critical agency functions such as national defense and disaster recovery, as well as to implement the Biden-Harris Administrations historic investments in infrastructure, clean energy and more, said Administrator Guzman. President Biden has prioritized equity in ensuring these opportunities lift up all communities and these awardees exemplify the giant impact small businesses from across the country have on our nations economy and global competitiveness. Here is a full list of this years top federal contractors: Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year: Mr. Mark Wayne Stafford, President/CEO, DELTA SOLUTIONS & STRATEGIES, LLC Colorado Springs, CO Delta Solutions & Strategies opened its doors in 2000 and currently has 315 employees. For 23 years, Delta has been a prime contractor providing the federal government with national defense space support services. Besides professional services, Delta is the primary developer of the Missile Warning Training Suite modeling and simulation tool that provides real-time simulations of the global missile warning and defense architecture for the nations defense stakeholders. Small Business Subcontractor of the Year Cynthia Elaine Hersom, President, DICIN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INC. Waterford, CT Cindy Elaine Hersom became the sole owner of Dicin Electric in 2015. Over the past seven years, the business has doubled its annual sales from $6 million to $12 million and increased its bonding capacity to a $15 million project limit. Dicin Electric is best known for marine and pier facility projects, including existing and new pier construction, submarine berthing facilities, and installation of new electrical distribution systems. Hersom served on the Women Business Development Council Southeast Regional Advisory Board from September 2018 to May 2021. 8(a) Graduate Firm of the Year: Israel Alvarez Chief Executive Officer Multi Air Services Engineers, Corp. Rio Grande, Puerto Rico In 2005, Israel Alvarez founded Multi-Air Services Engineers, Corp (MASE), with Israel Alvarez Sr. and brother Carlos. Headquartered in Rio Grande, PR, Multi Air Services Engineers, Corp, provides comprehensive services related to the installation of commercial and industrial HVAC equipment in public and private facilities. In Puerto Rico, no small business federal contractors were offering a comprehensive approach to maintaining and operating federal facilities. The government had been installing smart controls in federal buildings, but smaller maintenance contractors were not keeping pace with the emerging technology. MASE offered federal government programming for HVAC construction projects as well as building automation services. To help meet this need and expand his business, Israel turned to the SBA for guidance and support. He is a graduate of both, the SBA Emerging Leaders and the 8(a) Program. During the pandemic, he received an SBA loan to continue operations. After graduating from the 8(a) program in 2018, MASE generated $5.4M in revenues. At the end of 2022, revenue reached $10.5M. After years of hard work, MASE enjoys synergy with government management teams. SBAs 8(a) Business Development Program is a nine-year program that provides socially and economically disadvantaged firms access to government contracting opportunities and specialized business training and counseling to help them become viable competitors in the federal marketplace. Dwight D. Eisenhower Award for Excellence The Dwight D. Eisenhower Award for Excellence recognizes large prime contractors that have excelled in the utilization of small businesses as suppliers and subcontractors within the construction, research and development, services, and manufacturing industries. Winners were selected for the following Eisenhower Award category: Construction, Research & Development, and Services Construction: Ms. Holly Hutson Small Business Liaison Officer WSP USA Environment & Infrastructure Inc. Kennesaw GA WSP USA Environment & Infrastructure Inc. employs a network of engineers, construction managers, technicians/inspectors, and project managers, with 3,600 professionals across the United States. WSP is a global leader in building innovative and integrated solutions for its clients infrastructure needs. WSPs small business programs have shaped a corporate culture wherein 76.5 percent of federal subcontracts awarded in the last five years went to small business. WSP makes every effort to utilize small businesses to the maximum extent possible. Measures include dividing scopes of work to increase small business pools, setting aside procurements for small businesses, providing price evaluation preferences when other than small businesses must be included, providing targeted procurements when a socioeconomic category is not being met, hosting small business outreach events, and participating in the SBA Mentor Protege Program. Research & Development: Ms. Barbara Wade Vice President, Subcontracts & Procurement KBR WYLE SERVICES, LLC (KBR) Fulton, MD KBR Wyle Services, LLC provides science, technology, and engineering solutions to the federal government and companies worldwide. It employs approximately 28,000 people performing diverse, complex, and mission-critical roles in 34 countries. The Science and Space Business Unit of Government Solutions clients include federal civilian agencies such as NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense, and its commercial customers. KBR boasts a robust small business culture that supports small businesses certified in SBAs Historically Underutilized Business (HUB)Zone Program. Its efforts include promoting supplier diversity, developing small business plans, and working with business development, program managers, and contract management to include small businesses in their proposal strategy. KBR has ensured that maximum practical subcontracting opportunities are offered to small businesses. It prioritizes investing in the small business community and fostering opportunities for small businesses to further enhance their corporate growth and technical capabilities. Services: Ms. Diane G. Dempsey, Director of Small Business Programs Katelyn Russell, Small Business Liaison Officer Dawn Dunlop, Sr. Supplier Diversity Analyst BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services, Inc. Rockville, MD BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services, Inc. delivers a broad range of services including IT, cybersecurity, intelligence analysis, systems integration and operations and maintenance. These capabilities enable critical national security missions for the U.S. military, Intelligence Community, and other U.S. government agencies. The company works diligently to identify and partner with small businesses, small disadvantaged, woman-owned, HUBZone and veteran and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and Native American Tribes and Alaskan Native Corporations that bring value to their customers. Their extensive and broad outreach efforts include support of local, regional, and national conferences to ensure they identify well qualified small businesses offering innovation and talent required to support their customers. The foundation for this inclusive approach is membership in organizations that advocate for diverse businesses, hosting conferences and matchmaking events. --- Co-sponsorship Authorization# 23-1-C The SBAs participation in this cosponsored activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. ### About Federal Government Contracting Goals The federal government awarded over $154.2 billion in federal contract dollars to small businesses in FY21. The $154.2 billion in prime contracts and the $72 billion in subcontracts awarded to small businesses translate to the creation of more than one million jobs. This represents an incredible impact on the American economy that supports job creation, innovation, and growth. About National Small Business Week For 60 years, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation announcing National Small Business Week recognizing the critical contributions of Americas entrepreneurs and small business owners. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business and create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year. As part of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners and others from all 50 states and U.S. territories. Every day, theyre working to grow small businesses, create 21st century jobs, drive innovation, and increase Americas global competitiveness. And in recognizing the changing face of America, the SBAs National Small Business Week awards honor individuals and businesses that reflect our nations rich diversity. About the U.S. Small Business Administration The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. Atlanta, Georgia, April 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For Immediate Release April 7, 2023 Media Contact: Adrion Bell Cell: 404 314-6761 Email: Abell@thekingcenter.org Dr. Bernice A. King CEO of The King Center, Decries Expulsion of Tennessee Lawmakers Who Stand with Students Protesting for Gun Reform Atlanta, GA On April 4th, before a crowd of more than 200 well-wishers, staff, family, and thousands more virtually, Rev. Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of The King Center and daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mrs. Coretta Scott King, called for true peace which includes justice. She remembered and honored her father, admonishing the world to continue the movement in the spirit of Dr. King. She commended thousands of Nashville, Tennessee high school and college students who recently walked out of their classrooms to rally at their state capitol, demanding tougher gun control laws. On March 27th, a gunman armed with assault weapons and a handgun killed three children and three adults at The Covenant School before committing suicide. Police said the 28-year-old shooter fired 152 rounds during the attack. Dr. Bernice A. King said she thanks God for the young voices that are standing up for justice today. I want to applaud young people who have dared to walk out of school and demand common sense gun responsibility and the banning of assault weapons. They chose a tactic that dramatized the issue but did not seek to physically or verbally harm anyone, which is in the spirit of nonviolence, Dr. King said. Now is the time to fulfill that legislation, she added. The civil rights leaders daughter continued to praise the students efforts and encouraged them to continue to resist and protest until their demanded change occurs. Do as the people did in Montgomery, Alabama. Dont let it just be a one-day protest but continue nonviolent protests regardless of the consequences. In Montgomery, in the 1950s, many suffered consequences. If we are going to change the state of this nation and world, we must recognize that we are in a season that requires that kind of sacrifice once again. Earlier this week, three state legislators, who joined the student protestors, faced expulsion. As a result, they were removed from their committee assignments by Tennessees Speaker of the House. Also yesterday, Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, both Black, were expelled; however, a White representative and protestor, Gloria Johnson, maintained her seat by a narrow vote. The Tennessee House vote that removes Representatives Jones and Pearson strips nearly 150.000 citizens of representation in two of the states largest metro populations, that overwhelmingly elected both Black leaders. The King Center CEO opposed the actions that targeted these three lawmakers. Attempts to expel politicians, especially along party and color lines, is simply unjust and unfair. The injustice now spreads throughout the state because of the contentious, divisive actions of a few select leaders. These types of actions coupled with excessive criminal charges lofted at selected protestors, places the constitutional right to protest in jeopardy. On the night before my father was assassinated, he reminded us that the greatness of America is the right to protest for right. So, if we truly want America to be great, we must ensure that this essential constitutional right is upheld for all, including our legislators, Dr. Bernice A. King said. I challenged our young people to continue standing up for those things that are unjust in our society regardless of the sacrifices it may entail, because injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, she added. ### About The King Center The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center) is a 501(c) (3) organization established in 1968 by Mrs. Coretta Scott King. The King Center is the official living memorial and programmatic nonprofit organization committed to educating the world on the life, legacy, and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The King Center serves to inspire new generations to carry forward his unfinished work, strengthen causes and empower change-makers who are continuing his efforts today. The King Centers premiere educational initiative, Nonviolence365, is based on Dr. Kings nonviolent philosophy and methodology. His teachings engage participants from various sectors of society, including emerging and next-generation leaders, in modules and exercises that enhance communication, leadership, interpersonal, and conflict reconciliation skills, as well as empower individuals to address injustice. Cranbrook, April 6, 2023 - DLP Resources Inc. (TSXV: DLP) (OTCQB: DLPRF) ("DLP" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement"), whereby the Company has completed the issuance of 4,281,250 flow through shares (each, a "FT Share") at a price of $0.40 per FT Share for gross proceeds of $1,712,500. Each FT Share will constitute a "flow-through share" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "ITA") and the proceeds will be used to incur expenses that will be eligible for the Critical Mineral Exploration Tax Credit (the "CMETC"). In connection with the Private Placement, the Company issued 282,188 finder's warrants (the "Finder's Warrants") and paid commissions of $112,875. Each Finder's Warrant will entitle the holder, on exercise thereof, to acquire one additional common share in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.40 per share for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance. The Private Placement remains subject to final acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). The securities offered in the Private Placement are subject to a four month and a day transfer restriction from the date of issuance expiring on August 7, 2023, in addition to such other restrictions as may apply under applicable securities laws of jurisdictions outside Canada. The Company intends to use the proceeds of the Private Placement for drilling on its Copper Creek Project, follow-up sampling, prospecting and evaluation of the Hungry Creek and Redburn projects and drilling on the Moby Dick and NZOU projects. There may be circumstances, however, where, for sound business reasons, a reallocation of funds may be necessary. Proceeds from the sale of FT Shares will be used to incur "Canadian exploration expenses" as defined in subsection 66.1(6) of the ITA and "flow through mining expenditures" as defined in subsection 127(9) of the ITA and will be targeted for critical minerals for eligibility under the CMETC. Such proceeds will be renounced to the subscribers with an effective date not later than December 31, 2023, in the aggregate amount of not less than the total amount of gross proceeds raised from the issue of FT Shares. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available. Not for distribution to U.S. news wire services or dissemination in the United States. About DLP Resources Inc. DLP Resources Inc. is a mineral exploration company operating in Southeastern British Columbia and Peru, exploring for Base Metals and Cobalt. DLP is listed on the TSX-V, trading symbol DLP and on the OTCQB, trading symbol DLPRF. Please refer to our web site www.dlpresourcesinc.com for additional information. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: DLP Resources Inc. Ian Gendall, CEO & President Jim Stypula, Executive Chairman Robin Sudo, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary Maxwell Reinhart, Investor Relations Telephone: 250-426-7808 Email: iangendall@dlpresourcesinc.com Email: jimstypula@dlpresourcesinc.com Email: robinsudo@dlpresourcesinc.com Email: maxreinhart@dlpresourcesinc.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forwardlooking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things, the use of the proceeds raised under the Private Placement and the final acceptance of the Private Placement by the TSXV. These forwardlooking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, market uncertainty, that the Company will not use the proceeds of the Private Placement as currently anticipated and that the TSXV will not provide final approval in respect of the Private Placement. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that the Company will use the proceeds of the Private Placement as currently anticipated and that the TSXV will provide final approval in respect of the Private Placement. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/161575 Edmonton, April 6, 2023 - Altiplano Metals Inc. (TSXV: APN) (WKN: A2JNFG) ("Altiplano" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has arranged a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of up to 10,000,000 units (the "Units") at C$0.10 per Unit to raise up to C$1,000,000 in gross proceeds. Each Unit will consist of one (1) common share and one (1) non-transferable share purchase warrant (the "Warrants") of the Company. Each Warrant will be exercisable to acquire one (1) additional common share for two years from the closing date of the Offering at a price of C$0.12 per share. The Company may pay finder's fees raised in connection with the financing to arm's length finders in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange and as permitted by law. Completion of the Offering is subject to the delivery of definitive subscription agreements and TSX Venture Exchange's acceptance. All of the securities issued pursuant to this Offering will have a hold period expiring four months and a day after the closing date. The net proceeds of the Offering will be used primarily for the Company's Farallon Project and El Penon processing facility in Chile, and for general working capital purposes. About Altiplano Altiplano Metals is a growing gold, silver, and copper company focused on the Americas. The Company has a diversified portfolio of assets that include an operating copper/gold/iron mine and a state-of-the-art operating copper/gold and iron processing facility in the final stages of completion. Altiplano is focused on creating long-term stakeholder value through developing safe and sustainable production, reinvesting into exploration, and pursuing acquisition opportunities to complement its existing portfolio. Management has a substantial record of success in capitalizing on opportunity, overcoming challenges and building shareholder value. Altiplano trades on the Toronto Venture Exchange trading under the symbol APN and the Frankfurt Exchange under the symbol A2JNFG. Altiplano is part of the Metals Group of companies. Metals Group is an award-winning team of professionals who stand for technical excellence, painstaking project selection and uncompromising corporate governance, with a proven ability to capitalize on investment opportunities and deliver shareholder returns. www.metalsgroup.com ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD /s/ "John Williamson" Chairman For further information, please contact: Alastair McIntyre, CEO alastairm@apnmetals.com Tel: (416) 434 3799 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the (TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or developments that the Company expects are forward-looking statements. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify any historical estimates as current mineral resources or mineral reserves and the issuer is not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. The Farellon mine was previously in production dating back to the 1970's with a reported historical production (to a depth of 70 m) yielding approximately 300,000 tonnes at an average grade of 2.5% copper and 0.5g/t gold. This material was processed locally and sold to ENAMI. Altiplano is relying upon past production records, underground sampling and related activities and current diamond drilling to estimate grade and widths of the mineralization to reactivate production. The decision to commence production on the Farellon deposit is not based on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability and there is increased uncertainty and economic and technical risks of failure associated with any production decision. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continuity of mineralization, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and title and delays due to third party opposition, changes in government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on the Company, investors should review the Company's continuous disclosure filings that are available at www.sedar.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/161612 Poland ordered a thousand South Korea K2 tanks, most of which will be produced in Poland under license. The 55-ton K2 is similar to the American M1 but without annoying American export controls. K2 has a 120mm gun that can also fire guided missiles as well as extensive electronic systems and an autoloader. That means the crew size is three. Poland is rapidly replacing its older tanks, giving most of them to Ukraine. Before the Russian invasion Poland had 233 German Leopard 2s. These were acquired between 2002 and 2015. Poland also had 230 locally manufactured PT-91s. This is a major upgrade of the T-72 but are still not the equal of Western designs (M1, Leopard 2, Challenger 2 and Leclerc). Ukraine is slowly receiving small numbers of M1s, Leopard 2s and Challenger 2s. Because of that, the PT-91s are welcome. Ukrainian tank and maintenance crews dont require much additional training to use the PT-91. South Korean troops began receiving the K2 in 2014 and currently has 250 of them. Ten were sent to Poland in late 2021 for evaluation. The Poles were impressed and, after Russia invaded Ukraine in February, Poland increased its order from 180 to a thousand, with 180 still built in South Korea and the rest in Poland. By the end of the decade Poland will have the largest tank force of any European NATO member and superior in quality, if not quantity, than the Russians. The K-2 replaced older American M-48 tanks, and completed the transformation of the South Korean tank force. Three decades ago, South Korea developed, and built, its own K-1 tank using assistance and licensed tech from the United States. The 51 ton K1 is based on the American M1 design, but is somewhat smaller and equipped with the same 105mm gun used by the U.S. M60 tank. The K1 has a 1,200 horsepower diesel, instead of a 1,500 horsepower gas turbine engine in the M1. Production of the K1 ended in 1997, with about a thousand built. There have since been some upgrades to the fire control and communications systems, as well as the development of the K1A1, which has the same 120mm gun as the M1, along with other equipment used by the M1, but not the K1. The K1A1 is apparently part of the K2 development project, as only two K1A1 prototypes were built, and successfully tested. The new K2 does not use any American tech and that means South Korea can freely export the K2 to anyone. The K2 has an improved 120mm gun, capable of firing an anti-tank missile, as well as the usual gun munitions. The K2 weighs 55 tons and outclasses anything North Korea, Japan or China has. The K1 outclassed North Korean tanks but the K2 is better protected and more capable. The K2 has a number of new electronic defenses. It will have a laser detector that will instantly tell the crew the direction the enemy laser beam is coming from. Most tanks use a laser rangefinder before it fires its main gun. The K2 fire control system also enables the main gun (120mm) to be used to hit low flying aircraft (helicopters, mostly). There are also numerous improvements to the K1 mechanical and electronic systems, as well as more armor (both composite and ERA). This will make the K2 easier to use and maintain. An autoloader reduces the crew to three men. South Korea hoped to get a lot of export orders for the K2, but until 2022 only had a deal with Turkey to sell $400 million worth of K2 technology to be used in a new Turkish tank. Egypt is interested in a manufacturing license but has not signed a deal yet. The Polish acceptance of the K2 was encouraging but Egypt has financial problems as well as 1,200 American M1 tanks. Most of these M1s were built in Egypt under license. While the K2 has an impressive list of new tech, some of it not available on the M1, the M1 has lots of combat experience and has dominated any tank force it has encountered. Poland is also buying 1,400 locally designed and manufactured Borsuk (Badger) IFVs (infantry fighting vehicles). Poland has already retired its Russian designed BMP IFVs, retaining only a few used for special duties. Poland also has 690 of the 22-ton Rosomak 9x9 wheeled IFVs. These are built in Poland under license from Finlands Patria. Delivery to troops began in 2005. Some pre-production models were sent to Afghanistan in 2001 where Polish peacekeepers needed something like Rosomak. The wheeled armored vehicle performed well in Afghanistan, withstanding Taliban attacks using RPGs. Half the Rosomaks for the Polish army are used as support vehicles (ambulance, command vehicle, resupply). Borsuk is a heavier tracked vehicle with an unmanned turret armed with a variety of weapons controlled by one of the vehicle crew from inside the IFV. While the wheeled Rosomak also has a crew of three, it can carry eight passengers, compared to six in the Borsuk. Development of Borsuk began in 2014 and at the end of 2022 there were some prototypes available and mass production was to begin in 2023. Once the Russian invaded Ukraine in early 2023, production plans for Borsuk were speeded up. Prototypes were assigned to combat units to be used in training. Poland is in a hurry to obtain all these new armored vehicles as well as new self-propelled artillery and guided rockets and vehicles similar to the American HIMARS vehicles carrying and launching six GMLRS guided rockets. Poland is getting its new artillery and guided rocket systems from South Korea. Russia has openly named portions of Poland as one of its future targets for absorption into Greater Russia, otherwise known as the Russian empire. Belarus, the Baltic States and some former Soviet territories in Central Asia are also on the acquisition list. None of these targets for Russian aggression are willing to go peacefully. As the largest and wealthiest East European NATO member, Poland is leading the way by rearming to confront any future threat. After Russia invaded Ukraine, Poland decided to increase the size of the armed forces to 300,000 personnel and spend at least three percent of GDP on defense. NATO agreements suggest two percent of GDP but few European NATO members reached two percent. Now more NATO members are reaching or exceeding two percent and the increases are higher the closer the country is to Russia. By Luis Vasconcelos Ferrari has requested to the FIA the Right to Review regarding the five seconds penalty imposed on Carlos Sainz in the final moments of last weekends Australian Grand Prix. Team Principal Frederic Vasseur revealed this in a conference call held on Thursday afternoon, from Maranello, with a restricted group of media outlets that included Tokyo Chunichi Sports. Having 14 days after the publication of the Australian Grand Prix results to request the Right to Review, Ferrari spent the last four days analyzing the events from the last four laps of the race in Melbourne and believes it has found new and relevant elements that should lead to a new appreciation of its drivers penalty, according to Vasseur. Explaining that, I dont want to give away many details, because we have to respect the procedure and we first want to put our case to the FIA, get the Right to Review and then go to the Stewards of the Meeting to present our evidence and give ours and Carlos view on the incident before speaking to the media about it, Vasseur insisted that, the decision was taken without giving Carlos or us the possibility to present our case. The veteran Frenchman admitted that, as Ive been in motor racing for 33 years now, I know that for every incident between drivers there are always two different versions, before adding that, the least we want is to be able to give our view, show our evidence but, of course, we hope to get a different outcome from the one we got in Melbourne. When pushed for more information about Ferraris request and asked if he was surprised there were no more penalties applied in that first corner incident - particularly to Pierre Gasly and Logan Sargeant, who took Esteban Ocon and Nyck de Vries, respectively, out of the race, while Fernando Alonso, who was tipped into a spin by Sainz, continued on track - Vasseur admitted that, as you said, there were quite a few incidents in that final restart and, as you know, they were treated in a very different way by the Stewards. Theres the Gasly incident, yes, theres the Sargeant incident as well, but there was no action taken on both these cases, so we want to understand how could that be possible. Once again Vasseur reiterated that, we would also prefer that in the future, particularly in cases like this, when the podium ceremony doesnt have to be delayed, as Carlos was in fourth place, not in a podium finish position, the Stewards wait until the end of the race to allow the drivers and their teams to present their evidence before handing a penalty. I mean, there was no rush, Fernando was always going to the podium, so they could have easily waited for Carlos and the team to finish the race and then go to the Stewards. What is not certain now, as the Frenchman explained, is when the FIA will decide if the new evidence is enough for us to get the Right of Review and, if we do, as we hope, if well go back to speak to the Stewards that were on duty in Melbourne, in an online meeting, or if the matter passes to the hands of the Stewards of the Meeting from the next race, in Azerbaijan, for them to decide. In conclusion, Vasseur explained that, given theres still three weeks before the next race, were hoping to have a final decision before we get to Azerbaijan, as the sooner this is decided, the better it is for everybody. The U.S. Army ERCA (Extended Range Cannon Artillery) has overcome reliability problems with the new cannon artillery itself and recently successfully fired the new BAE SCALRP (Sub-Caliber Artillery Long-Range Projectile) guided 155mm shell at a target 110 kilometers away. The current Excalibur guided shell has a max range of 38 kilometers and unguided shells have a range of 25 kilometers. SCALRP uses a sabot design, which means that when the 155mm SCALRP shell is fired the actual shell separates from the 155mm case and the smaller caliber shell is able to reach a longer range than a regular 155mm shell. SCALRP also contains sensors as well as a GPS guidance system and is able to hit stationary or moving targets. SCALRP is still in development and more test firings and some tweaking to the shell are required before it is ready for service in the ERCA for as well as, at shorter ranges, in other 155mm guns and howitzers. The cost per shell is about the same as the Excalibur. SCALRP contains less explosives than an unguided 155mm shell, but that makes little difference because the guided shell depends on accuracy, not explosive effect, to destroy or damage a target. Back in 2021 the ERCA prototype achieved a decade old goal of using a longer barrel cannon firing an extended range Excalibur GPS guided shell to accurately hit a target 70 kilometers distant. Over a decade ago it was realized that this required three new technologies. The primary need was a version of a reliable GPS guided artillery shell, like Excalibur, that could handle the more difficult task of keeping the shell on course over such a long range. The first version of Excalibur only worked at ranges between 20 and 25 kilometers. Second, there had to be a longer barrel 155mm artillery system that could fire the longer-range Excalibur shell. Finally, there had to be a new propellant that could provide the power to push the ERCA Excalibur out to 70 kilometers. This is what the SCALRP sabot-type shell did and now there is artillery ammunition completive with the 227mm GMLRS guided rockets that have a max range of about 80 kilometers. A longer-range Excalibur shell began development in 2010 and by 2011 Version 1A-2 of Excalibur was approved for combat use. During tests Excalibur 1A-2 accurately hit targets 40 kilometers distant. During its first combat use in 2012, a U.S. Marine Corps M777 155mm lightweight towed gun hit a target 36 kilometers away using Excalibur 1A-2. During development of Excalibur 1A-2 it was noted that, with a longer barrel gun and more powerful propellant, Excalibur could hit targets at least 60 kilometers and theoretically 70 kilometers away. Even with the short range of the original Excalibur, the GPS guided shell was quickly accepted as an essential weapon. A more difficult problem was obtaining a new 155mm gun with a longer barrel. The relatively new and popular 4.2-ton M777 lightweight howitzer has a 155mm/32 barrel. That means the barrel length is 32 times 155mm or 5.1 meters (16.7 feet) long. The first long barrel experiments resulted in the longer XM907 barrel for the M777. This was a 155mm/52 barrel which was 8.1 meters (26.4 feet) long. XM907 worked, but was not practical for the towed M777 howitzer. Another long barrel, the M1299 was built. This was a 155mm/58 barrel which was 9 meters (29.3 feet) long, and designed to be used in the latest version of the Paladin 155mm self-propelled howitzer. Normally the Paladin carries a 155mm/39 barrel that is 6.05 meters (19.3 feet) long, but similar vehicles have had longer barrels and been successful. An M1299 barrel on a M109A7 Paladin was used for the initial 2020 tests and it worked well in late 2020 tests that sent a GPS shell 70 kilometers. A new XM1113 propellant system was first used with the long-barrel Paladin in early 2020 and was able to send a shell 65 kilometers. The XM1113 uses the decades old RAP (Rocket Assisted Projectile) technology that has been updated to provide unprecedented ranges of up to 70 kilometers. Such extreme ranges were not practical before GPS guided shells became available as the longer range the unguided shell goes, the more its accuracy gets worse. The late 2020 test showed that Excalibur could put shells on targets 70 kilometers away. Only one of the three XM1113/Excalibur shells fired hit the target. The other two missed because the Excalibur guidance system was not able to handle some weather conditions, like exceptionally heavy winds. Excalibur can be tweaked to deal with that and more tests were conducted in 2021 to verify that the 70 kilometer Excalibur is reliable and ready for production. The longer barrel M109A7 was to enter service with the new Excalibur shell by 2023. Then it was discovered that the longer barrel (including the shell loading mechanism) had reliability problems. This has delayed final testing and approval indefinitely until the reliability problem can be fixed. There are already vehicles similar to the M109 with longer barrels, although not quite that long. From past experience the longer barrel on a self-propelled howitzer chassis is no big thing. Making all the modifications to the recoil system, breech, and interior of the M109 did not require any new technology. Now it turns out that some new tech is required and if that cannot be obtained soon and at an affordable cost, the 70 kilometer ERCM is dead. A shorter barrel, providing less range, might be acceptable if it can be developed in time and without costing so much that the ERCM Paladin becomes another new weapon that was canceled because it was too expensive to procure in useful numbers. The longer barrel and 70-kilometer range of the Excalibur shell was a big deal for the Paladin, which was seen as a system eventually being replaced by cheaper, more effective artillery. During the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, the M109 was not used much. The lighter, towed, M777 has proved more useful, especially when using GPS guided shells. The army plans to keep updated Paladin versions of the M-109 around until 2050. The army planned to acquire as many as 500 M109A7 Paladins by 2027, reflecting the impact of the GPS guided shells, and the number of older M109s that are still fit for service. The primary competition for ERCA equipped Paladins is the HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) vehicles that carry six GMLRS (GPS/INS guided MLRS). Ukraine has had much success with the HIMARS vehicle and the capabilities of the GMLRS rockets. The latest version of the rocket can hit targets up to 85 kilometers away using INS/GPS (Inertial Navigation System/Global Positioning System) guidance. The INS component is important because it takes over if the GPS signal is lost due to jamming or when mountainous terrain blocks GPS as the rocket approaches the target. Over the last two decades INS has become more accurate. Russia has been a major source of GPS jammers since the 1990s. Two East Europe NATO members (Romania and Poland) use HIMARS. Several other NATO countries use HIMARS or the larger tracked MLRS vehicle (M270) that carries two pods. HIMARS is gradually replacing these because the tracked M270 requires significantly more maintenance. The HIMARS truck-mounted GMLRS system is ideal for Ukrainian artillery tactics, which currently use individual self-propelled artillery to fire unguided shells at targets up to 40 kilometers away. This avoids return fire from the Russians, who are more vulnerable to Ukrainian tactics because Russia still employs mass artillery fire from batteries (six guns) or battalions (three batteries). Each HIMARS system is carried in a 12 to 16-ton 6x6 truck with the heavier version having armored (against small arms fire and shell fragments) crew cab. The vehicle carries one MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) six rocket pod instead of two in the original larger, tracked, MLRS vehicle. Initially, a major attraction was that a HIMARS truck could fit into a C-130 transport (unlike the 22-ton tracked MLRS) and was much cheaper to operate. The HIMARS vehicle can move at up to 85 kilometers an hour on paved roads and travel 480 kilometers on internal fuel. In 2016 it was revealed that HIMARS vehicles in American service had reached a million operational hours with a 99 percent readiness rate. Two institutions partner to address unemployment in Zongo communities Emmanuel Bruce Business News Apr - 03 - 2023 , 10:45 The Zongo & Inner-Cities Development Secretariat (ZICDS) under the Office of the President has partnered with Maxwell Investments Group to help address the growing unemployment situation in Zongo and inner communities. The two institutions seek to do this by promoting entrepreneurship and economic development in the countrys inner communities. The Presidential Coordinator of ZICDS, Ben Abdallah Banda, who disclosed this in an interview at a forum in Accra, said this partnership was a testament to governments belief in the importance of private-sector partnerships and global strategic alliances to create meaningful change in the Zongo communities. He said under the terms of the partnership, Maxwell Investments Group would work closely with ZICDS to organize forums, training, workshops, and town hall meetings with local leaders and stakeholders. These initiatives aim to empower local entrepreneurs, business people, and micro, small and medium enterprise owners to develop and fund solutions that directly impact social issues in their communities, he stated. Significant challenge He said youth unemployment was a significant challenge and a security threat in these communities, hence the need for all stakeholders to work together in addressing it. He noted that ZICDS was also partnering with local businesses and organizations to provide training and job placement opportunities for young people in these communities. The aim is to empower young people to create for themselves economic opportunities and contribute to the development of their communities. "We need more support to develop the skills of the youth in order for them to find meaningful work. It's not easy to find jobs in these communities. Through partnerships with local stakeholders and global allies, we hope to create meaningful change and empower the people who live and work in these communities, he stated. Executive ambassador As the Executive Ambassador to the Zongo & Inner-Cities Development Secretariat under the Office of the President, the CEO of MIG, Dr Maxwell Ampong, said partnerships like this would ensure that worthy initiatives are not only successful but also sustainable. He said the next edition of the business forum would focus on scaling entrepreneurial success through collaboration and sustainability. The next edition will focus on building upon the success of the first edition and emphasizing the importance of collaboration and sustainability in entrepreneurship. The theme reflects the commitment of Maxwell Investments Group and the Zongo & Inner Cities Development Secretariat (ZICDS) to fostering a supportive ecosystem that empowers the current and the next generation of entrepreneurs to create lasting change and drive economic growth, he stated. By highlighting the need for cooperative efforts and sustainable practices, he said the MIG Business Forums aims to encourage entrepreneurs to work together, share resources, and embrace eco-friendly business models for the benefit of the entire community. Rapper Diddy says he pays Sting $5,000 per day for sampling 'Every Breath You Take' without permission Yahoo News Showbiz News Apr - 06 - 2023 , 14:39 American rapper Diddy has revealed that he pays legendary rocker Sting a whopping $5,000 per day for sampling The Police's song "Every Breath You Take," which Sting wrote, without permission. Diddy sampled the song on his 1997 tribute to The Notorious B.I.G. with Faith Evans, "I'll Be Missing You," which spent 11 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. In a 2018 interview with The Breakfast Club, Sting confirmed Diddy did not seek his permission to sample his song and as such has to pay him $2,000 per day for the "rest of his life." On Wednesday, Diddy shared resurfaced footage from the interview on Twitter and took the opportunity to correct Sting's figure. "Nope. 5K a day," he wrote. "Love to my brother @OfficialSting!" It's unclear how much Diddy has paid Sting over the years, but in a 2003 interview with Rolling Stone, The Police frontman said he'd taken enough money from the rapper to put some of his six children through college. "Those guys just take your shit, put it on a record and deal with the legality later," he said when asked how Diddy came about sampling "Every Breath You Take." "Elton John told me, 'You gotta hear ["I'll Be Missing You'"], you're gonna be a millionaire,'" he added. "I said, 'I am a millionaire!' He said, 'You're gonna be a millionaire twice over!' I put a couple of my kids through college with the proceeds, and me and P. Diddy are good pals still." Diddy isn't the only rapper Sting has profited from after they sampled one of his songs. The late Juice WRLD sampled Sting's "Shape of My Heart" on his 2018 hit "Lucid Dreams," which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and to date has sold over 10 million units in the United States alone. Sting is said to own 85% of Juice WRLD's song because of the sample, according to a tweet from the song's producer, Nick Mira, in 2018. "Fuck @OfficialSting and his WHOLE team," the producer wrote. "After taking 85% of Lucid Dreams (for interpolating Shape of My Heart, NOT EVEN sampling) he threatened to take us to court for trying to get any %." Sting told Billboard in 2018 that the money he's made from the "Lucid Dreams" will put his "grandkids through college." Read also Easter: Where to go I have a different part of me as a wife Sika Osei Jay Bahd taken off nominees list of VGMA New Artiste category Dumelo on why gov't should not tax betting, lottery wins of the youth Gifty Owusu-Amoah Showbiz News Apr - 06 - 2023 , 23:35 Actor and politician, John Dumelo is not happy that the government has introduced a tax on betting and lottery and has described the move as an iron "fist style" of leadership by the New Patriotic Party government. In a tweet on Thursday (April 6), Dumelo condemned the three tax laws that were passed by parliament last week and said it could incur the wrath of the youth. It includes a 10% withholding tax at the point of payout for betting, lottery and game of chance winnings. The actor said it was quite unfortunate the government wants to burden citizens with taxes other than creating jobs. Create jobs, you wont create. The youth have created their own jobs too ahhh, you want to tax their winnings..continue. That day will come when the youth will rise against you. It will be too late, he stated. Betting, lottery and game of chance winnings will become subject to a 10% withholding tax at the point of payout when President Akufo-Addo assents and gazette's the new tax bills passed by Parliament recently. Betting companies will also have a 20% tax on all revenue. The betting industry has experienced tremendous growth in Ghana over the past decade, with several companies setting up shops in the country. However, there have been mixed reactions with critics citing addictions as a disapproval for the scheme. Related articles John Dumelo criticizes government for introducing new tax on betting and lottery winnings NDC suspends vetting of John Dumelo and Fred Nuamah "Fred Nuamah stabbed me in the back but he will lose NDC primary to me" - John Dumelo (VIDEO) In other matters, the chances of John Dumelo who announced his parliamentary bid on the ticket of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in February is in limbo following the decision of the Greater Accra Regional Vetting Committee to put his and Fred Nuamahs vetting on hold until further notice. Lets renew our spirit of resilience, endurance as we celebrate Easter Rt Rev. Dr Agbeko From Alberto Mario Noretti, HO-KPODZI Life Apr - 06 - 2023 , 10:04 THE Moderator of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana (EPCG), Rt Rev. Lt Col. Bliss Divine Agbeko (retd) has entreated Ghanaians to hold steadfastly to their spirit of resilience and endurance even in the wake of economic and social challenges, and contribute their quota patriotically to national development. He said Easter is meant to celebrate the triumph of Christ over the predicaments of life, for which reason all those who adhered to the Christian faith must conform to the example of Christ by enduring difficult situations before sailing to victory. The battles of life get tougher where victory is near, just as bees sting hardest when you are approaching the honey, Rev. Dr Agbeko said in an interview with The Mirror at Ho-Kpodzi on Monday. The Moderator said there was hope ahead for the nation, adding that it would only materialise when the citizenry did not give up in times of trials and tribulations, just as Christ did not give up in hard times. He urged Ghanaians to be law abiding and show love to one another all the time. Just as Christ did the will of the Father, Ghanaians must do the will of the nation and benefit from the blessings of God. He acknowledged that Ghana was a multi-religious country, saying every Ghanaian must believe in unity in diversity without any form of discrimination against anyone. Let us always move ahead as one people and one nation of God, said Rev. Dr Agbeko. The Moderator touched on what he described as a trend of insatiable lust for money among young people and said that would not lead the country into a bright future. He said every Ghanaian; including young people, must be prepared to work hard for the fruits of their labour to flourish lawfully. Rev. Dr Agbeko said Ghana as a country needed a peaceful environment to address its economic and social challenges, and it was the duty of every citizen to contribute to the peace, rather than looking up to the government alone for instant solutions to those challenges. This should be our resolve as we celebrate Easter again, he stated. Of Ama, magical realism and the return Kouame Koulibaly Life Apr - 06 - 2023 , 08:15 Patrons of this years New York African Film Festival in May would have the chance to see Ama, a film first released in 1991 and shown there in 1994 but is back for another lease of life, by courtesy of the directors, Kwesi Owusu and Kwate Nee-Owoo. The message remains the same. However, after that sort of span after it was initially produced, like a human being, it gets old. So for the directors, it was about restoring the film, propping up the colours and then putting in other visual and audio elements that they believe will enhance it for a contemporary audience. Written by Kwesi Owusu, the film was widely described at the time of release as one of cinemas few works of magic realism. Set in London, it is a narrative that hinges on the ancient Akan belief of ancestral visitation, spiritual prophecy and reincarnation. It tells the story of an African (Ghanaian) family called Ababio (he who has returned), caught up in the cultural melting pot of cosmopolitan London with little hope of returning to Africa and trying to come to terms with the situation. Ama, the youngest in the family, discovers a floppy disc at an English countryside which she later inserts into a computer at her mothers work place. That sets her off as the bearer of an unsettling ancestral prophecy that has crucial consequences for the entire family. The films cast includes Anima Misa , Alexandra Duah, Evans Nii Omar Hunter , Georgina Ackerman, Thomas Baptiste, Eddie Tagoe, Roger Griffiths and the Adzido Pan African Dance Ensemble. The production crew included Albert Bediako, Nii Laryea Korley and Charles Acquah. When we shot the film, there were no drones. We did the high-angle shots using cranes and it took a long time getting over with just a few shots. With drones now, one can do a lot more so in the beginning of the film now, we have introduced some eye-catching drone shots, says Kwesi Owusu. Co-director Kwesi Owusu Also with Ama in the forest, we have introduced a few other shots which really enhances the drama in many ways. We also added some new shots to the London Carnival sequence. So as directors, we have gone through the film carefully to see where to add some visuals and music as well. We are happy with the result. Also happy that Ama is coming back to the big screen is the well-known Ghanaian writer and cultural critic, PaJohn Dadson. He lived in London at the time of the films release and remembered being among the early curious folks to see it. When Ama came out, it was quite an exciting time for African creativity. I was a young reporter with the fortnightly Ghana Weekly News and used to circulate at the Africa Centre, the School of Oriental and African Studies and the Sterns records shop on Tottenham Court Road. It was big news with posters all over those places. I eventually saw the film at the Electric Cinema on Portobello Road. I remember there was a lengthy applause at the end, PaJohn Dadson said. Something Kwesi Owusu says about the film is that there are issues in it that are still relevant. He referred to the whole issue about how Africans transmit their culture today. I remember when the film was shown in Accra in 1991, there was this big debate on if our ancestors want to speak to us, there was no way they would do that through a computer. What we are saying is that our ancestors are contemporary. They are not locked up and frozen in a museum. I, for instance, know everything about technology today so if I pass on and want to send a message to someone, I would use a technology the person is familiar with. It could be Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram or WhatsApp. It definitely would not be like through the old derogatory whip or horsetail or whatever. Another aspect of Ama still relevant now is the whole idea of the Ghanaian or African in the diaspora and their relationship with home. There are Ghanaians in the diaspora building massive houses in Ghana and a lot of them dont even live in them or might never even live in them because their lives are elsewhere. So the whole issue about returning home at a point is still important and that might pull audiences to the film. Apart from the New York African Film Festival, the films directors plan to show it in Ghana and London. They say there are already requests from other film festivals around the world to include it in their programming. It is an old film but a new release, the directors say. Wazumbians back on tour in US Kouame Koulibaly Life Apr - 06 - 2023 , 09:38 It was a delightful period of spreading their sparkling Africa-inspired rhythms across various locations in the United States between July and September last year and the Wazumbians are back there on another tour. They left Accra at the end of March and have already featured at the Treefort Music Festival in Idaho. The groups leader, Francis Chapman Abban-Hagan, better known as Wazumbi, told The Mirror in a telephone chat that they were well-received in Idaho, United States of America. I think it is great and exciting to be back in the U.S. Our first gig went well and we are looking forward to playing about 20 more before returning to Accra. Some of the places we played at in New York, Philadelphia, Virginia and North Carolina have asked us to come back this year and we have been introduced to more festivals. We are expecting some enjoyable moments in the next couple of months, Wazumbi said. The band won an award at the sixth Annual African World Peace Festival (AWPF) at Fayetteville, North Carolina last year and are hopeful more laurels will come their way this year. At the award presentation ceremony last year, the AWPF organisers, led by Dr Isabella Effon with support from the Mayor of North Carolina, Mitch Colvin, honoured the Wazumbians for the well-crafted African rhythms they dished out and the buzz they created in Fayetteville and North Carolina in general during the three-day AWPF festival. The group thanked the Afromondo Music Promotions company for the faith placed in them to arrange another tour for the band. They indicated that there are many good groups in Ghana and across Africa so they were overwhelmed that Afromondo decided to stick with them for another round of gigs in the US. The Wazumbians hope to release a new album on their return. They say all the tracks will be recorded live during the current tour. We are at our best live on stage. Thats why we want to capture some of the energy in our playing on the new album, the groups leader said. 30 writers win 2022 Samira Bawumia Literature Prize Delali Sika and Yaa Kuffour Senyah Apr - 07 - 2023 , 10:50 Thirty writers have been awarded at the 2022 Samira Bawumia Literature Prize Awards for their exceptional writing prowess. The competition was opened up for writers to showcase their skills in poetry, short fiction and creative non fiction writing. The winners were chosen from the over 1000 entries received for this years edition. Winners The winners; Gabriel Awuah Mainoo, Phinehas Osei and Henneh Kwaku Kyere who emerged ultimate winners for the Poetry, Short fiction and Non Fiction categories respectively each took home a certificate, GH 5000, a laptop and other souvenirs. The works of the writers would be published in an anthology as a way to train as many writers as possible, and raise interest and awareness within the Ghanaian literacy space. Opportunities The wife of the Vice President, Samira Bawumia who spoke at the event advised that writers should not loose sight of how valuable writing was in todays job market as it was also a means to provide opportunities for self-employment and job creation in the future. So I encourage you all to continue to read and write. A people who read and write engage their imaginations; and this opens up portals of endless possibilities as the most successful of any generation are those whose ideas solve problems within their communities or the world, she noted. ECG accuses Amansie South DCE of connecting power illegally Enoch Darfah Frimpong Apr - 07 - 2023 , 18:35 The Amansie South District Chief Executive, Clement Opoku has been accused of connecting electric power supply to his residence illegally at Manso Adubia in the Ashanti Region. According to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the DCE connected the power without using a meter. He is said to have without documentation, mounted poles, running the power cables through an adjoining plot to his house on the blind side of the ECG. ECG has consequently disconnected the power to the house and removed the cables, explaining the service to the house was unauthorised. The Ashanti Regional Director of the ECG, David Boadi Asamoah led officers from Kumasi to do the disconnection. He said when they arrived at the residence, they saw that that at least four street lights in the walled house were on. Mr Boadi Asamoah said that aroused their curiosity suspecting that anybody who was indeed paying for that power will ensure that the street lights are turned off during the day. When they checked they realised that the service had been connected from the main pole by running it through somebody elses plot. Mr Asamoah said ECG will ensure that the DCE pays for all the power he has used without going through meter. Dambai: Over GH700,000 retrieved from ECG disconnection exercise Jemima Achivors Apr - 07 - 2023 , 09:42 The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has intensified the disconnection exercise in the Dambai area of the Oti Region as part of efforts to retrieve debts owed the company. Over 200 customers in Dambai have been disconnected since the exercise started on March 20, 2023 and according to the company over GH700,000 has been collected during the exercise. The disconnection was part of the ECG's month-long nationwide revenue mobilisation exercise which began on March 20, 2023. The company is targeting to retrieve about GH5.7 billion from debtors, with about GH220 million owed by customers in the Volta Region. The Acting Volta Regional General Manager of ECG, Michael Buabin has said the 200 customers who were disconnected from the national grid owed the ECG over GH780,000. During the disconnection exercise, it was observed that some customers usually reconnected themselves after being disconnected from the meter. Therefore, such customers were disconnected from the pole and asked to visit the District Office to settle their indebtedness. Since the exercise began, the ECG office in Dambai has visited areas like Katanga, Tokoroano, Dormabin, Asukawkaw, and the Dambai Market. The Acting Dambai District Manager, Mr. Solomon Adjiku, added that the company had also apprehended one customer who engaged in illegal connection in the District and subsequently handed him over to the police. DVLA boss honoured Timothy Ngnenbe Apr - 07 - 2023 , 09:50 For spearheading an innovative and transformative agenda at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Mr Kwesi Agyeman Busia has been adjudged the outstanding CEO of the year 2022. The DVLA CEO received the honour at the 7th Global Business Quality Brands Awards held in Accra on Friday (March 24) by the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Ghana (EFG). In settling on Mr. Busia as the CEO of the year, the EFG considered his achievement at the DVLA for the past four years ranging from transforming the face of the authority, leveraging technology to ease business, digitisation of vehicle registration system and implementing of a new robust roadworthy certification regime. Among other things, he drafted and implemented a business plan leading to achieving financial independence for the DVLA and coordinated the installation of a modern customer service call center. At the same event, the CEO of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Dr Afua Asabea Asare, was named the female Public Sector CEO of the year for her role in turning round the fortunes of the authority. The CEO of JRA Cosmetics Limited, Jane Reason Ahadzie also emerged the female CEO of the year. The other award winners were the CEO of KAB-FAM Ghana Limited, Charles Antwi-Boahen, who emerged as business executive of the year; CEO of Alpha TND Limited, Pankaj Bhati, who won the Outstanding Managing Director category; and the Managing Director of Lambodra Enterprises Ghana Limited, Er Nikkesh Neel, who went home with the young CEO plaque. Motivation In an interview with the Daily Graphic at the event, Mr Busia said the recognition he had received was a testament that the DVLA was walking the right path. Again, he said the honour was a wake-up call for him to do more to ensure that the DVLA lived up to its mandate. "This award tells us that we need to innovate to stay relevant. The driver and Vehicle licensing landscape continues to evolve so we can only respond to it by adopting technology to address the challenges," he said. He added that going forward, the DVLA was focused on consolidating and entrenching the good initiatives it had put in place to improve on service delivery. "We do not want to wake up tomorrow and realise that DVLA has been reduced to nothing. We have a policy where we are making sure that for everything we do, the systems are entrenched; the enforcement is entrenched; and data is entrenched," he said. Mr Busia added that the DVLA had fully integrated its systems with the National Identification Authority (NIA) Top brands unveiled Apart from the individuals who won honours, the EFG also unveiled the 25 most popular global brands and the premium quality brands in Ghana. Some of the premium quality brands in the country were McDan Shipping Company Limited, Bel-Aqua Mineral Water, B5 Plus Group, Dzata Cement, Azar Paints, and Emirates. The top 25 most popular global brands included MTN, Nestle, Danote Group, Ethiopian Airlines, Nissan, Samsung and Samsung. Good leadership The Founder and President of EFG, Sam Ato Gaisie, urged leaders of both private and public organisations to strive for excellence in the discharge of their duties. He said it was when managers of such institutions provided quality leadership that the country would achieve sustainable development. Mr Gaisie also said in the wake of technological advancement, it was important for CEOs and business leaders to adopt innovative strategies to improve productivity. DVLA receives $1.5 million ICT equipment Timothy Ngnenbe Apr - 07 - 2023 , 11:02 The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has received information and communication technology (ICT) equipment worth US$1.5 million from the Public Sector Reform Secretariat (PSRS) to facilitate its digitalisation drive. The equipment included 215 desktops, 60 laptops, 106 printers, 75 cameras, 75 tripod stands, and other computer accessories. A brief ceremony was held in Accra on Thursday (April 6) where the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Public Sector Reform Secretariat, Thomas Kusi Boafo and the Technical Advisor at the Office of the Senior Presidential Advisor, Robert Poku Kyei, jointly handed over the equipment to the CEO of DVLA, Kwasi Agyeman Busia. The items were presented to the DVLA as part of the Public Sector Reform for Results Project (PSRRP), which was started in 2019 to help resource selected critical public sector institutions to improve their performance. The other 12 beneficiary institutions under the $35-million World Bank funded project are the Passport Office, Births and Deaths Registry, Office of the Head of Civil Service, Public Services Commission, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Monitoring and Evaluation Secretariat, Public Sector Reform secretariat and the National Information Technology Agency (NITA). The remaining beneficiaries are the ministries of Transport, Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (MFARI) Environment, Science Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Local Government, Decentralisation and Development (MLGDD). Beneficial project Mr Kusi Boafo explained that the PRSRRP was part of the six-year National Public Sector Reform Strategy (NPSRS) which was launched by the government in 2018 and meant to improve efficiency and accountability in the delivery of services in the selected state entities. He said most of the innovations that had been rolled out by the DVLA to revolutionarise service delivery was the results of the PRSRRP. "It is worth noting that since the implementation of the PSRRP, the DVLA has benefited immensely from major initiatives such as the procurement of six mini vans, ICT equipment including license printing machines and consumables, capacity building for staff of the authority, and these were all geared towards improving citizens experience in assessing public sector services," he said. The PSRS CEO added that the equipment that had been presented to the DVLA currently was targeted at helping the authority to modernise its operations at the various offices across the country. He said the equipment was also meant to support the tertiary drive and the express mobile service initiatives by the DVLA. Transformation agenda Mr Busia described the receipt of the ICT equipment as a major boost to the DVLA's transformation agenda. "In 2016, the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) ranked the DVLA as the most corrupt institution in Ghana; and this was a very negative tag on such a key state institutions. However, through innovations and introduction of transformative agenda that focuses on people, process and technology, the same GII awarded the DVLA as the best in administrative reforms in 2020. This means that we are doing something great and changing that negative narrative," he said. Mr Busia reiterated that his preoccupation was to transform the authority into robust institution capable of delivering efficient services to the public. He said the transformative agenda was crucial to ensure that the DVLA provided services that would respond to the country's changing vehicle landscape. For his part, Mr Poku urged the DVLA management to put the equipment to good use to ensure that the objective of transforming service delivery at the authority was achieved. He called for proper maintenance culture and prudent use of the equipment. Alan Kyerematen donates food items to Chief Imam Graphic Online Politics Apr - 07 - 2023 , 09:56 Alan Kyerematen has donated food items to the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu as part of Ramadan. The donation was made at the Chief Imam's new Fadama residence in Accra. Presenting the items on Wednesday (April 5), the former Trade and Industry Minister, hoping to be elected flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party indicated that the donation forms part of his commitment of giving back to the society. Even though Im not a stranger, Im also very glad to come and visit my father. Im even more pleased when I visit during this period. Its is period for spiritual renewal even as we have come to seek Chief Imams blessings for me specifically as I embark on this journey Mr. Kyerematen said. Chief Imam, Sheikh Sharubutu thanked Mr Kyerematen for the gesture. Allah is the only one who can reward you. But we will also add to your wish and desire by way of prayers so that God will bring into fulfillment of your heart desires chief Imam stated. Mr Kyerematen who is seeking to lead the NPP in the 2024 general election was accompanied by former Member of Parliament (MP) for Madina, Alhaji Saddique Abubakar Boniface, former Communications Director of NPP, Yaw Buaben Asamoa, MP for Anyaa Sowutuom Dr Kissi Adomako, National Deputy Coordinator, Zongo Caucus for Alan, Alhaji Kamel, Constituency chairman for Tema west, Nana Boakye and some Okaikwei Central constituency executives. Emulate Christs virtue Of humility Bawumia's Easter message Getrude Ankah Nyavi Politics Apr - 07 - 2023 , 08:53 Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has entreated Christians to learn from the sacrifices of Jesus Christ to humanity to ensure cordial existence on earth. In an Easter message on Good Friday, Dr. Bawumia in a Facebook post wished Christians a happy Easter. He also called for an incident-free festive season. Christians all over the world are celebrating Good Friday today, April 7, 2023. Good Friday is the Friday before Easter Sunday, on which the Crucifixion of Christ is commemorated in the Christian Church. It is traditionally a day of fasting and penance. Attached below is the Vice President's full message: May Easter rekindle in us power of forgiveness, compassion Mahamas Easter message graphic.com.gh Politics Apr - 07 - 2023 , 08:30 Former President John Dramani Mahama has called on Ghanaians to let love lead one another. He also prayed the Easter season will instill in citizens the power of forgiveness & compassion Wishing all Christians a happy Easter celebration, Mr. Mahama said May the ultimate sacrifice of Christ who gave His life for our sake guide our journey on earth & instill in us the power of forgiveness & compassion. In a Facebook post, he said today, Good Friday ( April 7, 2023), marks the day Jesus Christ sacrificed himself for the world, he added, May His redeeming blood fill us with hope, joy & peace, & inspire us to love one another as Christ loved us. Christians all over the world are celebrating Good Friday today, April 7, 2023. Good Friday is the Friday before Easter Sunday, on which the Crucifixion of Christ is commemorated in the Christian Church. It is traditionally a day of fasting and penance. Read the full post below: By Jake Stones, hydrogen editor at ICIS ICIS data shows that renewable hydrogen could be sold for below 1/kg if a producer obtains the maximum support provided by the European Hydrogen Bank, according to the heads of terms for the bank published by the European Commission on 31 March. The bank, which was announced in September 2022, aims to support hydrogen producers using an auction bidding system, which ranks bidders according to price per kilo of hydrogen. Utilizing the Innovation Fund, the commission will allocate 800 million for the first auction for support from the bank, with subsidies capped at 4/kg of hydrogen. The hydrogen has to be aligned with the delegated act for renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO), also known as renewable hydrogen, and projects must reach full capacity within three-and-a-half years of being awarded funding. Funding is granted once hydrogen production starts. Successful bidders will then be granted a fixed sum according to the volume bid, over the course of ten years. Bidders cannot win more than 33% of the available budget, and must have a project size of at least 5MW. 1/kg hydrogen. ICIS assessment data from 4 April shows that renewable hydrogen produced using a 10-year renewable power purchase agreement (PPA) starting in 2026 in the Netherlands would cost 4.58/kg on a project breakeven basis. For 10-year PPA renewable hydrogen, ICIS accounts for the recovery of the capital investment for the electrolyser over the duration of the PPA, meaning by the end of the subsidized period, costs would be recovered. Given a hydrogen producer could receive the full subsidy of 4/kg, this would mean just 0.58/kg of hydrogen would be needed to achieve capital cost recovery, meaning the producer would need to charge buyers less than 1/kg to ensure project breakeven. Comparatively, renewable hydrogen production in Germany commencing in 2026 and utilising offshore was assessed at 5.96/kg on 4 April, meaning post-subsidy hydrogen would be just under 2/kg. However, given the competitive nature of the bid, namely that ordering is a result of lowest-bid first, there is potential that the full subsidy will not be awarded. Further, the auction limit depends on volume and bid amount, meaning once the 800 million is allocated, there will be no further subsidy for this round. ICIS data shows that European hydrogen demand by 2030 is forecast to reach 10.3 million tonnes (mt) by 2030. If full subsidy was distributed to all bidders, it would cover just 200,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen, just under 2% of projected demand by the end of the decade. The commission is aiming to hold further auctions however, meaning that the 800 million is an initial starting point, not the limit, for the European Hydrogen Bank. Market development. Alongside the development of hydrogen support and therefore expansion of hydrogen supply, the bank mechanism indicated the benefit of the auction system for driving competition. By awarding hydrogen to the lowest bidder, and by maintaining an auction limit of 800 million, participants are encouraged to reduce costs of production where possible. The heads of terms document for the European Hydrogen Bank notes that a fixed premium, namely a single subsidy figure provided over the course of 10 years for every unit of hydrogen produced, was opted for due to the absence of price transparency in the current hydrogen market. By utilizing a fixed premium, there is no need for a market reference price, the document outlined. During the pilot for the European Hydrogen Bank, just renewable hydrogen is being targeted. However, low-carbon hydrogen could be included in future iterations. On the basis of price discovery, the heads of terms noted that the auction type was referring to as static, meaning bidders bid a single price that is not changed. The alternative was noted as dynamic whereby bidders could receive some information on the activity of other auction participants, providing a component of price discovery. The first auction will be held in autumn of 2023. ICIS (Independent Commodity Intelligence Services) is a global market intelligence company providing price information and insight across key commodities markets worldwide. Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation signed a multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with 17 industry-leading companies, including Hyundai Motor Group affiliates and software development companies, to form the Hyundai Motor Group Model-Based Development (MBD) Consortium. The consortium aims to boost Hyundai Motor and Kias competitiveness in vehicle control system development. The development of advanced Software Defined Vehicles (SDVs) requires integrated software that controls the various electronics in the vehicle based on domain centralized architecture. In the past, control software had to be implemented to the hardware to be verified and further improved. The MBD-based model has the advantage of maximizing efficiency by verifying the algorithm through virtual simulation, thus shortening development time while improving quality. We aim to accelerate the Software Defined Vehicle transition through standardization and an open development ecosystem with the close collaboration with industry-leading companies. Technology sharing and collaboration derived from the consortium will be the key factor in the enhancement of the software competitiveness. We look forward to providing a more advanced mobility experience to customers through SDV. Yong Wha Kim, Executive Vice President, and Head of R&D Planning & Coordination Center of Hyundai Motor and Kia The Hyundai Motor Group MBD Consortium aims to improve investment efficiency in creating software and virtual development solutions and to promote a software-based development system through standardization and sharing of such environments. This will contribute to a more organic integration of both companies control software, especially with the contributing factor of standardizing software and virtual development systems. The consortium includes a total of 19 Korean and international companies with leading software and virtual technologies, including vehicle controller system developers. The participating companies consist of the Groups affiliates, including Hyundai Motor, Kia, Hyundai MOBIS, Hyundai WIA, Hyundai KEFICO, Hyundai Transys, Hyundai NGV and Hyundai AutoEver as well as Robert Bosch, Vitesco, HL Mando, dSPACE, MathWorks, SureSoft Tech, Synopsys, IPG Automotive, ETAS, ControlWorks and Vector. The consortium is divided into a development group for controllers and software product development and a technology group that supports specialized technologies to form a comprehensive collaborative ecosystem. The participants will share technology to enhance their respective competitive edge and to help accelerate the SDV transition by establishing a standardized environment for software development and virtual validation. Hyundai Motor and Kia plan to build an open SDV development ecosystem supporting technology sharing and cooperation among participating companies and promoting the standardization of the finalized control software development and virtual validation systems from the consortium. In 2022, the Group announced a new global strategy to transform all vehicles to SDV by 2025 through the Unlock the Software Age initiative. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Photo courtesy of DIG Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Photo courtesy of DIG Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Connecticut's first DIG will open in Stamford April 24 as the vegetable-forward fast casual concept expands throughout the Northeast. The restaurant will open at 43 High Ridge Road in the former Bull's Head Diner space, which closed in 2021. DIG practices "mindful sourcing," according to its website, working with a network of farmers for its seasonal produce. Its menu centers around salads and grain bowls with choice of proteins and family-style dishes with proteins and sides. GREENWICH A Greenwich woman who was looking to redecorate her apartment in another state fell victim in November of 2021 to a "phishing scam." Now a second person has been charged with larceny in connection to the theft of her money. Earlier this week, investigators went to the Seminole County Jail in Florida to arrest Pedro Almonte-Rivas, 31, of Orlando, Fla. He was brought back to Greenwich and charged with first-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit larceny, computer crime, conspiracy to commit computer crime and illegal email phishing, all felonies. He was also cited for criminal impersonation, a misdemeanor. Almonte-Rivas also had a residence in Stamford on Virginian Drive, according to court papers. According to an arrest warrant application, the Greenwich woman's assistant responded to an email allegedly sent to her by the designer on the job, seeking payment of $64,461. A wire transfer was sent to a bank branch in Orlando and the Greenwich woman realized a short time later she had been scammed, the court filing stated. A Florida woman, Alondra Maracallo, 25, was charged in late December with multiple felonies in connection with the alleged financial crime. The two suspects allegedly spent the money on restaurants in Florida and Paterson, N.J., Uber eats, groceries and other expenditures, according to the filing. "Both Maracallo and Rivas actively set up fraudulent bank accounts which were then used in an attempt to obfuscate the source of the funds/launder the money, and were present together at numerous locations in furtherance of this crime," a police detective wrote in the summary for the arrest-warrant. After the woman reported the scam, police launched an extensive investigation involving bank records, cell-phone tracking data, video, photographs from Almonte-Rivas's drivers license from the Dominican Republic and interviews with bank personnel to connect the two with the email scam, the court papers state. A fraudulent bank account was also set up, allegedly by the two, to hide criminal activities and throw off investigators, according to police. Banks typically compensate victims of cybercrime, but pass the costs onto the public. Bail was set at $150,000 for Almonte-Rivas, and as of Thursday afternoon, he was still in state custody, unable to post a bond. Maracallo is still being held in state custody after failing to post a $150,000 bond set by a judge, according to the judicial website. She is due back in court to enter a plea on May 2. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) This Easter, Americans will devour more than 1 billion Peeps those radiant marshmallow chicks whose appearance on store shelves each year is as much a herald of spring as azaleas at the Masters. What makes the treats so vibrant is erythrosine, a chemical that shows up on ingredient labels as Red No. 3. It's one of several chemicals, along with titanium dioxide, used to color some of the most popular candy in the country including Skittles and Hot Tamales. Both chemicals have been linked to cancer. More than 30 years ago, U.S. regulators banned Red No. 3 from makeup. The U.S. still has not banned the chemical from food, to the dismay of some consumer safety groups. Now, a state lawmaker wants to ban erythrosine and titanium dioxide in California, plus three other chemicals used in everyday favorites like tortillas and some store brand sodas. The bill, scheduled for its first public hearing next week, has prompted headlines around the world declaring California wants to ban Skittles and other candy. Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, a Democrat who authored the bill, said he wants to ban the chemicals, not the candy. He said plenty of alternative ingredients are available, noting the chemicals are already banned in Europe and that companies still find a way to sell candy there. They still produce Skittles in other parts of the world. What they do is they take out these toxic ingredients, and they replace them with something else, Gabriel said. What we really want is for these companies to make the same minor modifications to their recipes that they made in Europe and elsewhere. The National Confectioners Association, the trade group that represents candy companies, says it's not that easy. Tastes vary across cultures, it said, meaning just because a candy is accepted by Europeans doesn't mean it will be received well in the United States. Plus, changing ingredients would be a hardship for regional candy makers who don't sell their products overseas, according to the trade group. There's a lot more here at play than a simple soundbite solution, said Christopher Gindlesperger, spokesperson for the association. We need a comprehensive look at this to make sure there aren't unintended consequences for chocolate and candy companies. In addition to erythrosine and titanium dioxide, the bill would ban potassium bromate and propylparaben, two chemicals used in baked goods, and brominated vegetable oil, which is used in some store brand sodas. The U.S. has allowed dyes like erythrosine in food since 1907. Decades later, researchers found rats exposed to lots of erythrosine over a long time developed thyroid cancer. In 1990, based in part off of that research, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned erythrosine from cosmetics. Consumer safety groups have tried for years to get the agency to ban the chemical in food to no avail. Researchers have since linked the chemical to other health problems besides cancer, including hyperactivity and other neurobiological behaviors in some children, according to a 2021 report from the California Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. The International Association of Color Manufacturers argued in a 2021 statement that California study was based on insufficient scientific evidence. Titanium dioxide is a white powder that, because it scatters light, can make colors appear brighter. It's been used for 100 years in products like paints, paper, rubber, toothpaste, soap and food coloring. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has listed titanium dioxide as a possible carcinogen in humans. The Titanium Dioxide Manufacturers Association maintains there is no evidence of it causing cancer in humans. The candy industry insists the chemicals California is considering banning have been thoroughly reviewed by the federal and state systems and many international scientific bodies and continue to be deemed safe, according to a letter signed by various industry trade groups. These scientifically based regulatory processes should be allowed to continue without second guessing their outcomes, the letter stated. Scott Faber, senior vice president for governmental affairs for the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, said the only reason the chemical is still deemed safe by federal regulators is because of a loophole that has been exploited by chemical companies. He says regulators have not reviewed their prior decisions in light of new science. The confectioners and the food industry know the review process at the FDA is broken. They have been hiding behind it for decades. We shouldn't let them hide behind it anymore," Faber said. If FDA wont fix this review system and keep us safe from dangerous chemicals in our food, its up to states like California to keep us safe. Just Born Inc., the Pennsylvania-based company that makes Peeps, said in a statement the company complies with FDA regulations and gets their ingredients and packaging exclusively from reputable suppliers who adhere to high quality and safety standards. The company noted its development team is looking for other options, including colors derived form natural sources that can deliver the same visual impact and stability as their certified counterparts. ___ Daley reported from San Francisco. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) A federal appeals court sided Friday with the Justice Department in a case that could have upended hundreds of charges brought in the Capitol riot investigation. The decision, however, leaves open the possibility of further challenges to the charge of obstruction of Congress, which has been brought against more than 300 defendants in the massive federal prosecutions following the Jan. 6, 2021, riot. In a 2-1 ruling, a three judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said a lower court judge was wrong in dismissing the charge in three cases in which the judge concluded it didn't cover the defendants' conduct. Those defendants may ask the full appeals court or the U.S. Supreme Court to review the decision. The charge of obstruction of an official proceeding, which carries up to 20 years behind bars, is among the most widely used felony charges in the Jan. 6 cases. It has been brought against extremists accused of plotting to stop the transfer of presidential power from Republican Donald Trump to Democrat Joe Biden as well as in dozens of less serious cases. Dozens of people have already pleaded guilty to the charge or been convicted at trial. The Justice Department has argued that the offense punishing anyone who corruptly obstructs or impedes an official proceeding clearly fits the conduct of the rioters who halted Congress' certification of Biden's 2020 election victory. But U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols found that prosecutors stretched the law beyond its scope to inappropriately apply it in the these cases. Nichols ruled that a defendant must have taken some action with respect to a document, record or other object in order to obstruct an official proceeding under the law. The Justice Department appealed, arguing that Nichols interpretation of the law was too limited. In her appeals court ruling, Judge Florence Pan noted that Nichols an appointee of Trump was the only lower court judge overseeing Jan. 6 cases to rule that way; every other judge who considered it said that it was correctly used. "Although the opinions of those district judges are not binding on us, the near unanimity of the rulings is striking, as well as the thorough and persuasive reasoning in the decision," wrote Pan, who was appointed by Biden. Circuit Appeals Judge Gregory Katsas, however, sided with Nichols, writing that prosecutors interpretation of the law was overly broad, especially for a crime that carries such a long potential sentence. The law has been on the books for two decades and used thousands of times, but until the Jan. 6 prosecutions it had been used only against people accused of damaging or impairing evidence, the Trump appointee wrote. If the charge covers anything that obstructs, influences, or impedes an official proceeding, it could also potentially criminalize other common ways that people try to convince lawmakers of their point of view, including advocacy, lobbying or protesting, he wrote. So while this approach would create an escape hatch for those who influence an official proceeding without committing any other crime, it also would supercharge a range of minor advocacy, lobbying, and protest offenses into 20-year felonies, Katsas wrote. The appeals courts ruling suggests more legal wrangling over the law is likely. While he sided with Pan in reversing Nichols decision, Judge Justin Walker said the court was wrong to not address what the law means by corruptly. Walker, another Trump appointee, said corruptly means defendants are guilty only if they act to "procure an unlawful benefit for themselves or someone else. He used the example of a rioter who joined the riot because he was angry at the nations elites and saw it as an "opportunity to display his bravado." Though likely guilty of other crimes, he did not act corruptly" under the law because he did not intend to procure a benefit by obstructing the Electoral College vote count," he wrote. "That rioter may not be representative of most rioters on January 6th. But in every case, the Government will need to prove at trial whether each defendant acted corruptly in a way that my hypothetical rioter did not," he wrote. Roughly 1,000 people have been charged with federal crimes in the attack in which rioters shattered windows, fought with police and poured into the Capitol, sending lawmakers into hiding and leaving dozens of police officers injured. More than 600 of them have pleaded guilty or been convicted after trials decided by a jury or judge. Roughly 450 have been sentenced, with over half getting terms of imprisonment ranging from seven days to 10 years. ____ Richer reported from Boston. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) Florida's Democrats don't have much to celebrate these days. The once dominant party hasn't elected a governor since 1994. It's more than a decade since a Democratic presidential candidate won the state. Republicans gained a supermajority in the Florida House and Senate in 2022, and the GOP made gains in the congressional delegation, too. In a state where elections are sometimes decided by a mere percentage point, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis won a commanding 20-point reelection last year. DeSantis, now moving toward an expected run for president, even carried the longtime Democratic stronghold of Miami-Dade County. Looking for a spark any spark of energy, the state's Democrats are hoping that the arrests of two top party leaders this week may prove to be a turning point signaling a new fighting spirit. I have heard this over the last four or five years where are the Democrats?" state party Chair Nikki Fried said after her arrest. "Where is the fight? So much of the oxygen is taken by Ron DeSantis and the Republican Party, and theyre looking for Democrats to stand up and fight back. Fried along with Lauren Book, the Democratic leader in the state Senate, were arrested at a protest in support of abortion rights. We have to show up differently when there are so few of us, Book said. We cant fight the way we used to fight. Thats not going to work. Republicans hold all of Florida's six statewide elected positions governor, three Cabinet posts and the two U.S. Senate seats. Republicans have passed Democrats in the number of registered voters for the first time. The state's Democrats are now the subject of mocking jokes, less relevant each election cycle. They aren't alone. Democrats in other states with strong GOP majorities are also facing challenges. Republicans in Tennessee's Legislature took the remarkable step this week of expelling two Democratic lawmakers for their roles in a protest that called for more gun control. But the arrest of top politicians in Florida is especially notable because DeSantis, now courting voters nationwide, portrays his state as the freest in the nation. While he wasnt involved in the decision to arrest the protesters, the governor signed a bill two years ago targeting Black Lives Matter protests that increases penalties for participating in protests that get out of hand. This governor for four years has really done anything possible to restrict protests both on the streets and inside the Capitol, said party Chair Fried. It makes everybody on edge when there are protests and making people feel that they have to either not participate in protests or at least be on extra guard. Thats one of the reasons the protest was held at City Hall and not the Capitol, she said. The arrests happened when local police said the group couldn't stay on City Hall property after sunset. There are more people in front of Clydes on a Wednesday than what happened yesterday, Book said, referring to a popular political watering hole three doors down from the arrests where crowds often spill outside with cocktails in hand. This was a group of 11 individuals sitting in a circle singing Lean On Me. This was a peaceful protest. Ironically, if Book wants to go to Clyde's now, she has to stick to non-alcoholic beverages. As part of their release from jail, she and Fried were ordered not to drink alcohol and are banned from City Hall property, even for personal business. DeSantis' office and Fried's counterpart at the Republican Party of Florida dismissed the arrests as a stunt and mocked Democrats for making an issue of it. The governor's office simply sent The Associated Press a link to Press Secretary Bryan Griffin's Twitter account showing a GIF of DeSantis in front of an American flag saying, This is a stunt. If you want to waste your time on a stunt, that's fine. But I'm not wasting my time on your stunts, Okay? It's the same response Griffin has provided on a number of issues. Republican Party of Florida Chairman Christian Ziegler taunted the Democrats and their efforts. No one is a greater asset to the Florida GOP's production than Nikki Fried, Ziegler said by text. Every moment she is behind bars is a moment she cannot turnoff voters with her radical agenda, so I'm leading the charge to #FreeNikki. Fried and Book said the plan wasn't to get arrested. For those who have said, This is a show, no. I can assure you I wouldnt have been arrested in five-inch heels. I wouldnt have done that! Thats not the way I would have gone down! Book said. Book, 38, has a years-long reputation as a fighter and someone who's earned the respect of the Republican governors that preceded DeSantis. A victim of childhood sexual abuse, she has spent her adult life working to create laws to punish sexual predators, help victims and raise awareness about the issue. Even before she could vote, Book stood alongside Republican Gov. Jeb Bush as he signed a bill she pushed to protect rape victims. Before being elected senator, she led walks across Florida bringing attention to sexual assault. She ended one of the 1,500-mile journeys at the Capitol, where Republican Rick Scott, then the governor, stood with her and praised her work. And Book isn't afraid of uncomfortable situations. She once sat face-to-face with a child rapist in Florida's high security facility for the state's most dangerous sexual offenders, intent on learning how to craft legislation to protect others from becoming prey. "Im not the person whos going to sit on the other side of the barricade and watch. Im not that person, never have, never will be, never was, she said. Fried became the new party chair in January. As agriculture commissioner the past four years, she was the only statewide elected Democrat and used her Cabinet position to be a thorn in DeSantis's side. She lost the Democratic Party primary to challenge him for governor last year. She's showing signs as a party chair of being more visible and combative. As a candidate, she used profanity on social media to describe DeSantis' personality. As party chair, she wore a black T-shirt that read, JUST F**KING VOTE." Photos of her in the shirt with her hands cuffed behind her back have been widely distributed. There is a new chair in town. Its very different. Its very clear theres a difference in her leadership, Book said. With the legislatures Judiciary Committee having debated, voted on and advanced numerous bills, lawmakers are one step closer to deciding what gets sent to Gov. Ned Lamonts desk for his signature. After being vetted for their constitutionality and consistency with current law, the bills will travel to the House or Senate whichever chamber they originated in for further action. Not every bill passed out of committee will see the light of day before the legislature concludes in June. But they indicate at least some of what lawmakers want to address. So far this year, that has included bail reform, prosecutorial accountability, resources for formerly incarcerated people and routine strip searches in prisons. Here are some of the key justice-related bills to watch for: Bail reform Widely considered a major development among criminal justice experts, House Joint Resolution 261 seeks to amend the state Constitution to allow courts to deny bail to people they consider a risk to safety. Under the current Constitution, courts can deny bail to someone convicted of a capital offense. But because the state repealed the death penalty in 2012, virtually anyone is entitled to bail. The proposal has received bipartisan support but has been opposed by prosecutors, public defenders and the bail industry, who feel there hasnt been enough discussion among stakeholders about any drastic change to the current system. Constitutional amendments must first pass through the House and Senate with three-fourths majority support or a simple majority in both chambers in two successive legislative terms. After passing through the legislature, constitutional amendments then have to garner majority support among voters. Cannabis cases House Bill 6787 would end the prosecution of any ongoing marijuana-related cases if the activity being prosecuted is now decriminalized. It would also require sentencing courts to order a hearing if a person was incarcerated prior to, on or after cannabis legalization in 2021. If good cause was shown during that hearing, the court would have to reduce the persons sentence or release the person, whether fully or under supervision. The Judiciary Committees passage of the bill comes after the chief states attorney, Patrick Griffin, told lawmakers in a public hearing last month that his office was still pursuing criminal action against people previously charged for possession of marijuana. Rep. Steven Stafstrom, co-chair of the Judiciary Committee, said he would strike the part of the bill regarding cannabis prosecutions as long as the pending cases are fully cleared in the coming weeks. Clean slate House Bill 6918 would make technical and clarifying changes to Connecticuts delayed clean slate initiative, which automatically erases the criminal records of people seven years after the date of a conviction for a misdemeanor or 10 years after the date of a conviction for certain class D, class E or unclassified felonies if they have not been convicted of other crimes. The proposed bill maximizes the number of formerly incarcerated people who would qualify for clean slate by adding certain motor vehicle violations to the list of eligible offenses. It would limit clean slate to people who have completed their incarceration, have completed their probation and are not facing pending criminal charges. It would also require the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to post on its website the list of offenses eligible for erasure. Gun control House Bill 6667, a proposal championed by Lamont, would ban the open carry of firearms and the bulk purchase of handguns, as well as raise the minimum age for purchasing long guns to 21. It also has elements of a proposal from the mayors of Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven and Waterbury, where 80% of fatal and non-fatal shootings in the state occur, including a provision allowing prosecutors to seek more stringent bail conditions for people who commit serious firearm offenses. Identification cards House Bill 6875 would build on a law passed in 2017 requiring the Department of Correction, which manages the states jails and prisons, to provide state ID cards or drivers licenses to people being released from incarceration. Under the 2017 law, the department was mandated to provide the IDs to people returning home from prison as long as the person requested the identification, qualified for it and would pay the associated fees. The new bill would eliminate the requirement for a person to make the request, mandate the agency to pay the fees and require department officials to submit an annual report with data on the total number of IDs or licenses issued by each correctional facility. Republican and Democratic lawmakers sharply criticized the DOC last month after hearing testimony from state residents who said they completed their incarceration without being issued proper identification. Juvenile justice Under House Bill 6888, the state would refer children who commit certain low-level offenses, such as simple trespass, to a juvenile review board that would require the child to undergo prevention, intervention and treatment services provided by a youth service bureau or community-based service providers. The bill would expand the Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee to include people with lived experience in the juvenile justice system. And it would require the Judicial Branch to develop plans for the full and final transition of all children in Department of Correction custody to custody of the Judicial Branch. The judiciary also advanced House Bill 6889, which would restore the family with service needs petition process and expand the definition of a family with service needs to include a truant, or habitual truant, who has been continuously and overtly defiant of school rules and regulations. The process would allow a family with service needs to seek the help of the court who could then place the child in a community-based program or other service provider. Some advocates oppose this bill because it would result in children having to interact with the judicial system. Parole eligibility Senate Bill 952 would broaden parole eligibility under certain circumstances to include people serving a sentence of more than 10 years for crimes they committed before turning 25 years old, an increase from 18 years old under current law. Police interrogation Senate Bill 1071 would deem a childs admission, confession or statement to police inadmissible if it was obtained through deceptive or coercive interrogation tactics, such as lying about evidence, making false promises or depriving the person being interrogated of physical or mental health needs. Prosecutorial accountability Senate Bill 1070, supported by the Division of Criminal Justice, would require each of the 13 states attorneys to appear annually in front of the Criminal Justice Commission to publicly testify about certain case level data, such as arrests, arraignments and demographics of people being prosecuted. Randy Cox The Judiciary Committee advanced two bills tied to the New Haven Police Department incident last summer in which Randy Cox, a Black man, was left paralyzed from the chest down: House Bill 6873 and Senate Bill 1062. H.B. 6873 would require the states Police Officer Standards and Training Council to develop a model policy requiring the use of seatbelts for people being transported and establish a disciplinary process for officers who violate the policy, which could include revocation of an officers license. Under S.B. 1062, any person who experiences an emergency medical condition or is medically unstable would have the right to receive emergency medical services. It would also require an officer to immediately request medical services for people who communicate theyre experiencing an emergency condition or medical instability, or in the event that an officer observes their medical distress. Sex offense registry Senate Bill 1194 would end sex offense registration requirements for people convicted of a sex crime prior to the expansion of the registry, in 1998, and who havent committed another offense. The people addressed in the legislation were retroactively added to the registry despite being released into the community prior to its expansion. Receiving bipartisan support, lawmakers in the public hearing last month viewed the matter as one of humanity and due process. Strip searches Senate Bill 1196 would mark the first step in the process toward possibly ending routine strip searches in prisons. The proposed bill would require the Department of Correction to submit a proposal to the state for obtaining body scanning machines that would be used to conduct full-body X-ray screenings on incarcerated people. It would also require DOC Commissioner Angel Quiros to submit to the legislature a report on the estimated costs of implementing the technology, the number of machines required, information concerning potential health risks with the technology and the capability of the technology to replace strip searches. The legislation that advanced from committee is a drastic change from the earliest version of the bill, which sought to raise the standard for conducting strip searches to probable cause belief that a person has contraband and require correctional officers to submit to their supervisor for approval a document outlining the necessity for a search. Protected speech struck down over a personal vendetta or the latest episode in a pattern of inappropriate behavior? Thats the question put to an appeals board at the University of Guam regarding a series of election related emails sent by professor Ron McNinch, chair of public administration and legal studies for UOG. Its the last chance the professor has to resolve his dispute from within the university. McNinch, during the 2022 election cycle, sent an email to the media stating that any gubernatorial team that did not participate in UOGs Great Debatewhich was ultimately canceled after the Leon Guerrero-Tenorio team pulled outwould lose the election. He also sent an internal email to faculty advising them to stay out of this election. Outgoing UOG President Thomas Krise disciplined McNinch over the matter, and the UOG Board of Regents in January held that McNinch was unrefined and failed to make it clear to the media that he was not representing the university. McNinch and his faculty union representative took the issue to an appeal board made up of faculty on Friday afternoon. They argued Krise was personally motivated, or else caving to political pressure when he wrongfully issued a warning letter to McNinch. Krise said the university professors inappropriate behavior is getting worse over the years. Personal vendetta Dramatic communication was a part of being an academic, Arun Swamy, faculty union representative for McNinch told panel members Friday. Swamy said there was no requirement in the universitys rules that McNinch be refined in his communications, a failure that the Board of Regents found him guilty of. That issue was better brought up during an annual job review, he said. McNinch, an outspoken political commentator, said his email to the media was like him talking to my friends, not issuing a press release. Swamy said the more pressing issue was UOG administrations abuse of the appeals process to punish McNinch. He questioned why Krise issued the warning letter, which threatened demotion or job loss if McNinch did not correct his behavior. There were four levels of administrators below the president who could have initiated this reaction ... but apparently none of them found it necessary, Swamy said. He said school administration did not provide evidence of any other disciplinary action personally launched by Krise, and Swamy suggested his actions were a personal vendetta or else motivated by political pressure. McNinch told the PDN Friday that Krise in 2020 gave him an oral warning because he did not like my tone in a demand letter, which McNinch said was a kind of formal document. He has also accused political actors of coming after him because of his research. Inappropriate behavior Krise said the evidence clearly showed that McNinch should have been reprimanded. The president told panel members McNinch had already admitted during an interview with NewsTalk K57 that he liked to sound more diplomatic and that his tone should have been different in the emails. If the warning was struck from McNinchs file, it would only restrict UOGs ability to respond to the professors future, inappropriate conduct. Please note that (McNinchs) inappropriate behavior is getting worse, Krise said. He told panel members that the 2020 oral warning was over communication with another UOG employee, where McNinch used similar rude and belligerent language. Krise said he issued the written warning as the next disciplinary step and that, clearly, that verbal warning did not deter him. RecessPanel chair professor Maika Vuki opted to convene the hearing so that panel members could discuss their decision. What we have seen in here, is basically two parties that have very strong views ... and if if we want to have a negotiated agreement, I dont see any way through here. So we will not continue this discussion. Haiti - 220th of the death of Toussaint Louverture : Message of reflection from Lesly Conde This Friday, April 7, 2023 reminds us of the 220th anniversary of the death of Toussaint Louverture, the precursor of our independence. On this day of commemoration Lesly Conde Ex-Consul General of Haiti in Chicago (August 2004 - May 2018), delivers us as every year a message of reflection that we invite you to read and share. Message from Lesly Conde : "Dear compatriots and friends everywhere, Dear compatriots and friends everywhere, Fre m, se m, zanmi m toupatou, This year we commemorate the 220th anniversary of the death of Toussaint Louverture after a period of captivity in a horrible dungeon at Fort de Joux in France https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-12415-haiti-politic-moving-tribute-of-president-martelly-to-toussaint-louverture.html . This extraordinary man from all points of view who opened so many doors and experienced so many victories, met, in the most total solitude, a horrible end whose sad details we can only imagine. There must have been repeated physical and psychological abuse in addition to the agony of isolation and the agony of defeat. The main obstacle to France's slave ambitions once captured by French troops, there was to be no limit to the humiliations he had to endure. Our hero was, after all, at the mercy of the French who had absolutely no reason to be indulgent towards him. We can therefore say without any hesitation that Toussaint Louverture is one of the first martyrs of the cause of human rights. However, the commemoration of the death of Toussaint Louverture gives us the opportunity to talk about the life of this great man. This life is a tribute to the resilience and tenacity that characterize heroes. It is a life during which our hero conquered the implausible, and offered many lessons in finesse and diplomacy to the very people who called themselves civilized. Thanks to his talents as a negotiator, he was able to take advantage of the rivalries that existed between the colonial powers of the time and improve the living conditions of his congeners. There is an important aspect of Toussaint Louverture's life which historians do not seem to dwell on, but which gives it even more merit. He had a childhood and adolescence as a house slave. There is a vast difference between the treatment a domestic slave received and the inhuman conditions in which the slaves of the fields languished. Despite this status, Toussaint Louverture remained faithful to the cause of his race. He trained the soldiers and generals who changed the course of human history by creating the first sovereign black state in the New World. The man who dedicated his entire life to the cause of human development, did not experience the birth of the Haitian Nation of which he is the main founder. For remaining faithful to the cause of his race, Toussaint Louverture met a horrible and humiliating end at Fort de Joux. He had to endure tortures and taunts that we will not hear about. Even if his heritage belongs to the whole world, it is first and foremost ours. We Haitians are the deep and many roots to which he alluded at the dark moment of his abduction. If nothing can prevent us from being proud of Toussaint and of our unique identity of which he is at the origin, we must also honor his precious memory by practicing, like him, self-love, solidarity and an unconditional attachment to our common dignity. At a time when our country is facing major challenges, we must, like Toussaint Louverture, allow ourselves to be guided by wisdom, patience and determination. The life of our hero was not a course without errors. The circumstances that led to Toussaint Louverture's ultimate defeat speak to us of the fallibility of the man and there are important lessons to be learned from them since the campaign he had initiated is still not over, and that today we have a country to save. Today, the real settlers have changed continents. They have also changed their language, but they remain just as hateful, just as inclined to deprive us of what is rightfully ours. Today more than ever, the example of Toussaint Louverture can guide us towards the better days that belong to us." Reflection messages from Lesly Conde in 2023: https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39222-haiti-holy-week-2023message-of-reflection-from-lesly-conde.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-39124-icihaiti-social-international-day-against-racism-message-from-lesly-conde.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-39116-icihaiti-international-francophonie-day-message-from-lesly-conde.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39016-haiti-social-message-of-reflection-by-lesly-conde.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38747-haiti-black-history-month-message-of-reflection-from-lesly-conde.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38592-haiti-earthquake-2010-message-of-reflection-from-lesly-conde.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38507-haiti-history-message-of-reflection-from-lesly-conde.html All Lesly Conde's reflection messages in 2022 : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38451-haiti-christmas-end-of-year-message-from-lesly-conde.html All Messages from Lesly Conde in 2021 : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35584-haiti-social-wishes-from-lesly-conde-on-the-occasion-of-the-new-year.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Call for communication : 3rd International Conference of Scientific Francophonie The Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) is launching a Call for papers as part of the 3rd International Conference of Scientific Francophonie, which will take place in Quebec from October 31 to November 2nd, 2023. This call, both academic and professional, will is intended for researchers, teachers of all disciplines, key actors and actresses in education, the economy and development. As for previous editions, this event will mobilize French-speaking experts from all over the world around a topical theme treated scientifically with an orientation towards concrete proposals and solutions for academic, socio-economic and political actors. This year, the theme of this 3rd Conference is the contribution of scientists to the economy in the French-speaking world and raises the question : "What links between scientific Francophonie and economic Francophonie for the benefit of development ?" Topics and questions asked: The Call for papers of these 3rd Assises revolves around 4 main themes: Topic 1: Research and innovation with impacts : How to develop research and innovation with socio-economic impact ? Topic 2 : Entrepreneurial incubation : How to develop business creation in academia ? Topic 3 : Vocational training: How to develop the delicate triple balance between training-employment-socio-economic challenges ? Topic 4: The mobilization of expertise: How to develop multidisciplinary expertise both for inclusive local development and for the benefit of complex and cross-border global challenges ? Download the detailed and complete Call for papers (French PDF) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/SMFS2023_Assises_AppelCom_VF.pdf Deadline for submitting contributions : April 23, 2023 11:59 p.m. (Paris time) HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... The FBI back in the house of Jovenel Moise On Thursday, April 6, 2023 agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) visited the private residence of the late President Jovenel Moise (Pelerin 5). A site visit which is part of the continuation of the investigation into the assassination of the President on the night of July 6 to 7, 2021. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34162-haiti-flash-president-jovenel-moise-assassinated-by-mercenaries-official-updated-7am-+-video.html "Kraze Barye" gang, burnt down police station On Wednesday April 5, armed individuals presumed members of the "Kraze Barye" gang led by Vitel'homme innocent, set fire to a police station in the neighborhood of Meyotte (Commune of Petion-ville) then sowed terror in this area for several hours forcing many families to flee their homes to save their lives... UNICEF needs $210 million for Haiti Violence, poverty, school closures, malnutrition and cholera are the multiple crises facing women and children in Haiti. UNICEF is urgently appealing for $210.3 million to meet the humanitarian needs of 1.6 million children and their families in 2023. Dr. Jacques Boncy, released but injured Dr. Jacques Boncy, Director of the National Public Health Laboratory kidnapped in Petionville on April 5 in the evening, injured during his kidnapping by the kidnappers, was dropped off the same day by his kidnappers near the "Medecins sans Borders" due to its condition. According to MSF, Dr. Boncy's life prognosis is not in jeopardy, but he will soon have to be transported abroad. Haiti FIFA Ranking Unchanged In the latest FIFA ranking published on Thursday April 6, our Grenadiers do not record any progress with 1,275.96 points despite the points won in the two recent Nations League victories and remain in 87th place (ranking unchanged since October 6, 2022) The Ministry of Tourism in Port-a-Piment A delegation from the Ministry of Tourism went to Port-a-Piment for the resumption of renovation work on the reception kiosk of the Grotte Marie-Jeanne site and the path leading to this natural heritage. It was also an opportunity to engage in discussion with the actors concerned for the establishment of a management committee, the training of guides, the organization of guided tours and the promotion of events to attract visitors. HL/ HaitiLibre I was speechless. I didnt know how to react initially, Matias Makynen, a deputy chairperson of the Social Democrats, stated on YLE A-studio on Wednesday. We wouldve wanted for her to continue for as long as possible, but we dont get to choose the circumstances we work in. SEVERAL Finnish lawmakers have offered their thoughts on the decision by Prime Minister Sanna Marin to hand over the reins of the Social Democrats. Marin on Wednesday cited the taxing nature of the past four years, which included the coronavirus pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as grounds for her decision not to seek re-election in the party conference of the Social Democrats in September. She will though, lead the party through the coalition formation process that is to start formally on Friday, 14 April. Her decision has prompted some to ask whether she let down her more than 35,000 supporters in the newly concluded parliamentary elections. The interpretation was rejected by Minister of European Affairs and Ownership Steering Tytti Tuppurainen (SDP). The SDP is a popular movement thats larger than any single person. Its clear that when you talk about a political party, youre talking about something thats made up of a large group of people, she commented on YLE A-studio. The announcement has also kindled speculation about the next leader of the Social Democrats. Makynen and Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen have stated that they will not enter the leadership race, according to a report by STT and Helsingin Sanomat. Tuppurainen, Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakka and Minister of International Trade and Development Co-operation Ville Skinnari have all indicated they have yet to consider the possibility. Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services Krista Kiuru on Wednesday tweeted that she will weigh up in the coming weeks whether her skills and experience align with the current needs of the party. Antti Lindtman, the chairperson of the Social Democratic Parliamentary Group, similarly said he will make a decision on his possible candidacy n a couple of weeks. The leadership nominations must be confirmed by 4 May. Marin stepping down opens door to coalition Members of the National Coalition estimated on Wednesday that Marin stepping down could facilitate coalition co-operation between the National Coalition and Social Democrats, according to YLE. Lindtman, for example, has been identified as a lawmaker who could take the party a step or two to the right in the realm of economic policy, the primary area of disagreement between the two parties. My prediction is that the [coalition formation] negotiations will be easier. Considering [Marins] rhetoric in recent months, at least well be in negotiating terms, viewed Samu Vahteristo, the district chief for the National Coalition in Satakunta. Aleksi Jantti, his counterpart in Pirkanmaa, said the announcement levels the playing field between the Finns Party and Social Democrats, one of which will be the primary coalition partner for the National Coalition. I do think that thats the case. It opens up new possibilities, he said, calling attention to the rhetoric and colourful campaign ran by Marin. Marin painted the SDP in a tight corner. The SDP may be eager to slightly pave the way to the government. Similar assessments were made also by two other district chiefs contacted by the public broadcasting company, but they insisted on anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the issue. Ville Tavio, the chairperson of the Finns Party Parliamentary Group, offered a less diplomatic assessment. Marins announcement came as a surprise. She ran up 40 billion in debt for Finland, and campaigned in the elections as the chairperson and now shes abandoning ship. My feelings on Marin are quite mixed, he commented to YLE. Also he lent credence to the view that her stepping down increases the likelihood of a coalition government built on co-operation between the National Coalition and the Social Democrats. Im worried if the National Coalition starts seriously building a red-blue coalition because it isnt what they promised to voters and it isnt what Finland deserves, he stated. Aleksi Teivainen HT Finlands accession to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was covered in an article by Foreign Policy on April 6. The article highlights how Finland is emerging as a strong defense force in the Nordic-Baltic region as it joins NATO. The article begins with the Finlands long binding neutrality and then subsequently joining NATO outlining the country's defense capabilities. Finland will field F-35 fighter jets by 2025, which will replace U.S.-designed F/A-18 Hornets currently deployed, for example. Finland is also one of only a few countries that fire the so-called joint air-to-surface standoff missile, known as JASSM in defense parlance, which allows Finnish fighter jets to launch armor-piercing standoff strikes at about a million dollars a pop, the article reads. The article also establishes existing presence of NATO in the Nordic region with Norway closer to the Russian port city of Murmansk than Finland and Narva, Estonia, nearer to St. Petersburg. However it emphasizes that Finnish officials see the entry of Finland as an opportunity to extend deterrence into the North and the Baltic seas. We have rather good military intelligence so that we actually know more about where their troops are than they do in Moscow, Harri Ohra-aho, a ministerial advisor for intelligence in Finlands defense ministry told Foreign Policy adding that the defense ministry have followed those troops for more than 100 years. Original story was published by Foreign Policy on 06.04.2023 and can be found here. Misogyny is a mighty force on the right just look at the fate of Finlands Sanna Marin Finlands Prime Minister Sanna Marins defeat in the recent parliamentary elections of 2023 by right wing parties was published in an article by The Guardian on April 4. The article looks into Marins tenure since 2019 highlighting how some of the elements during her time as Prime Minister went mainly unremarked which includes her COVID response, her May 2022 announcement that Finland would apply to join NATO and social and fiscal policies. It also mentions how the video footage of Marins partying in 2022 became a talking point in tabloids and social media and was amplified by traditional news outlets and new media. The article also provides details on the issues that political parties fought on during the parliamentary elections, focusing on the increasing public debt. ..this is what the NCP fought her on: a pretty straightforward, Cameroonian case that everyone needed to tighten their belts, and this meant slashing welfare spending. It is a manoeuvre we will all recognise from 2010, peddling as masochism what is actually sadism, soothing an anxious nation with the promise of austerity for other people, the article reads, calling it a quite conventional centre-right thinking and compares it to the rest of Europe, where rightwing parties have planted themselves on more populist, ethno-nationalist territory. Original story was published by The Guardian on 04.04.2023 and can be found here. Eyeing Moscow, Finland to purchase Israeli Davids Sling anti-missile system Finlands announcement to purchase Israeli Davids Sling anti-missile system was covered in an article by The Times of Israel on April 6. The article provides details on the anti-missile system highlighting that it marks the first foreign sale of the system. It gives a background on presence of the Davids Sling, also known as the Magic Wand in Israel since 2017. makes up the middle tier of Israels multi-layer missile defense capabilities, which also included the short-range Iron Dome and a top level of Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 systems, which are intended to engage long-range ballistic missiles, the article reads. The story mentions that Davids Sling has also been a key request to Israel from Ukraine amid Russias invasion, although Israel has balked at supplying the system so far. Original story was published by The Times of Israel on 06.04.2023 and can be found here. Ottawa condemns Russian embassy calling Finland 'nuclear target' after joining NATO The story about Canadas federal government condemning a tweet from Russia's embassy in Canada calling new NATO member Finland a "nuclear target was published in CBC News on April 6. The article talks about Canadas Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Jolys response to the Russian embassy in Canada calling the rhetoric of Russian regime as reckless and a dangerous propaganda. The Russian embassy called out Finland for joining NATO, accusing outgoing Prime Minister Sanna Marin of abandoning the country's long-standing policy of non-alignment. "[Marin] succeeded in converting neutral Finland that enjoyed good relationship (sic) with all countries including Russia into another potential nuclear target," the tweet reads. The Russian regime's nuclear rhetoric is reckless. We will never hesitate to call out their dangerous propaganda," the spokesperson said in an email to CBC. Original story was published by The CBC News on 06.04.2023 and can be found here. Kasinopartio: Finland Next To Regulate The Casino Market The article on Finlands stance on opening casino industry to the market was published on European Gaming on March 31. The article highlights the strict regulations in casino market globally while mentioning Finland and Norway as exceptions with state-owned casinos being the only ones entitled to offer gambling products. It looks into the Q3 2022 results of state-owned Veikkaus as an example which urged the government to open the casino market to offshore operators after it has been losing its market share rapidly owing to the growing competition from international online casino operators. The article mentions stance of different political parties on the issue. Right-wing conservatives are ready to open the casino industry to competition, and among the smaller right-wing parties, the Swedish Peoples Party is also on the side of allowing competition. Amongst left-wing parties, we find the Social Democratic Party, which won the 2019 elections, and has also unexpectedly changed its position after Veikkaus 2022 output, open to discuss a potential opening of the online casino industry, the article states. It also talks about how the Finnish online casino experts of Kasinopartio believe that Finland will use Sweden as an important source of inspiration where online gambling has been legal since 2002. Original story was published by The European Gaming on 31.03.2023. HT Class 1 rating could lower insurance premiums in city The Hendersonville Fire Department has earned an ISO Class 1 Fire Protection Rating from the North Carolina Department of Insurance, North Carolina Insurance Commissioner State Fire Marshal Mike Causey announced during a visit to the city Thursday. This designation places the fire department in the top 2 perecent of fire departments in North Carolina and in the top 1 percent nationwide and could mean lower insurance premiums for homeowners and businesses. Out of more than 1,200 fire departments across our 100 counties, the Hendersonville Fire Department is now one of only 28 fire departments in North Carolina that have achieved this, said NC Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Causey. I just cant say enough good things about the Hendersonville Fire Department. This accomplishment is a testament to the hard work and professional service provided by the men and women of the Hendersonville Fire Department as well as the vision and support provided by our City Council, Fire Chief D. James Miller said. A Class 1 rating not only means the potential for improved insurance premiums for Hendersonville residents and businesses, but it means they can count on superior fire protection from our department. The Insurance Services Office provides advisory services to insurance companies for underwriting risk and establishing insurance rates in communities. Through the Public Protection Classification program, the ISO rates municipal fire-protection efforts in communities throughout the United States. The ratings range from 1 (highest) to 10 (not recognized as a fire department by the state) based on the fire suppression force, the water delivery system and 911 communications. HFD was previously a Class 3 department. Some of the department's upgrades leading to the new rating include the hiring of 12 personnel through a SAFER grant; the design of a new 20,000-square-foot fire station headquarters; the purchase of the new Engine 9-3; the addition of a battalion chief, operational deputy chief and life safety position; receiving the OSHA Safety & Health Achievement Recognition Program; creating a new five-year strategic plan, adding a training division and captain; replacing existing engine and tower apparatus budgeted for 2023; adding an embedded mental health clinician, and participating in the OSFM smoke detector canvas each year. Our department would not be able to have reached this milestone without the continued support of our City Council, Miller said. Their commitment to constructing a new Fire Station 1 and funding additional personnel and equipment has made our department a leader in the industry. Chief Miller also highlighted the outstanding water system developed and maintained by Hendersonville Water & Sewer as a key piece of the Class 1 rating. He thanked HFDs automatic aid departments for their partnership and the 911 communications provided by the Henderson County 911 Center, which also contributes to the departments ability to provide exceptional fire suppression service. The new ratings will become effective for insurance policies on July 1. Tsering Yangzom Lamas exceptional debut novel We Measure The Earth With Our Bodies opens in a village at the border of western Tibet and Nepal. Soon after the Dalai Lama escaped to India, the members of the village decide to leave. Chinese soldiers were clamping down on not only protests but also their way of life. They will not be satisfied with our land alone. They want to possess our minds, they said. They recounted an ancient Tibetan prophecy: When the iron bird flies and horses run on wheels, the People of Snows will be scattered like ants across the face of the earth. The Dalai Lama fleeing over the Himalayas. He crossed into India on 30 March 1959. (www.dalailama.com) Lamas novel is about both these things: the scattering of the people and the dispossession of their knowledge. She follows the lives of a refugee family as they disperse to Nepal, Delhi and Toronto. And she interrogates the loss of the Tibetan ethos cultural identity taken over by China and the narrative monopolized by Western scholarship. 368pp, 599; Bloomsbury Theres magical realism in the sense that the magic in this novel is just as real in the real world. This is an act of decolonizing the Western lens. Complex ideas that would be understood in the West as mythical are central to the plot and asserted with such clarity, they become tangible you can experience them bodily. During the Tibetan uprising, a decade after China annexed Tibet, tens of thousands of Tibetans fled. Many were arrested or killed in the process. But the entire village in Lamas novel is led to safety by an oracle. (In 1959, the Dalai Lama was also guided by an oracle the Nechung Oracle, a medium of Tibets protector spirit through the mountains to India.) In a refugee camp in Pokhara, the village oracles elder daughter Lhamo raises her sister Tenkyi, the brilliant star of the camp, who moves to Delhi for college and ends up in Toronto. Lhamos childhood boyfriend Samphel deals in Tibetan antiques for customers around the world. Lhamos daughter Dolma, supported by these three adults and others to gain premier education, joins her aunt in Toronto as a graduate student where she firmly asserts her authority to reclaim the narrative of the Tibetan story. Their journeys are tied together by the Nameless Saint, a small mud statue of an emaciated figure in a loincloth, who appears for each of them in times of need. Tibetans call it a terma. In the eighth century, Padmasambhava, better known as Guru Rinpoche, carried Buddhism from India to Tibet. He hid many of his teachings for future generations to discover in termas. They dont have to be actual texts they can be mind termas found in rocks, tree trunks, in caves, at the bottom of the lake Any object or place could be a terma waiting to resurface when it is most needed. The Nechung oracle dances as she arrives at a prayer hall in Mcleodgunj on March 9, 2009. (Fayaz Kabli/REUTERS) All you have to do is hold out your hand. Thats what its like to receive a terma. To lay a hand on a rock and recognise verses of metaphysics. To grind an herb and discover a moment of wisdom that unleashes entire teachings. Or to look up at the sky and see a symbol right there that unlocks a transmission from a thousand years ago. Imagine how that feels. To come up against something so ancient, which was left there just for you Dolma explains to condescending academics at a party in Toronto. Lamas novel itself is a kind of terma it has profound insight on trauma for whoever comes looking for it. Trauma comes in different shapes. It can make some sacrifice so others can flourish. But half-remembered wounds lodge themselves in our bodies to destroy us from within because success is especially terrifying when shame is a familiar place that can hold infinite pain. Unrestrained ambition seems like armour and the only antidote to the unbearable agony of loss it is not, especially when it chips away at the moral core erasing the ability to fully feel, and prosperity is a fickle thing. READ MORE: Interview: Tsering Yangzom Lama, author, We Measure the Earth with Our Bodies - Tibetans are always translating Trauma can make us feel like we do not deserve to be loved. Or take up space. And it can make us learn a foreign tongue and mannerisms to hide behind until were ready to reclaim what is ours. And that is what the book is about: how loss manifests, festers and is ultimately passed on. Lama shows us that it is possible to understand and process it, but also that sometimes it is too late. All the while though, help is at hand. Lama was born in Nepal in the mid 1980s. Her family was from Western Tibet, and her parents and older siblings had lived in refugee camps but they moved to Canada when she was 12. We Measure The Earth With Our Bodies is a novel of memories personal, cultural and mythical memories integrated into history all extensively researched. It is also a project in postmemory. Author Tsering Yangzom Lama (Courtesy Bloomsbury) Writing about the Holocaust, Marianne Hirsch, a professor at Columbia University had introduced the concept of postmemory: the trauma and loss inherited by the children, grandchildren or subsequent generations of those who directly experienced a traumatic event. Later generations remember through stories, visuals, testimonies and behaviours among which they grow up and they preserve and build on these inherited memories through archives, museums, fiction and other forms of art. Tibetans in Dharamshala (Shyam Sharma) The title As We Measure The Earth With Our Bodies is a reference to Tibetan pilgrims who make their way by prostrating at every step, laying their face and their bodies on each part of their journey. To Dolma, The idea alone was staggering. To measure the earth with my body, to know our country with my own skin. It seemed like the only way to fathom such a land. Yet I did not know if I would ever glimpse a meter of Tibet with my eyes. Saudamini Jain is an independent journalist. She lives in New Delhi. France-based Airbus said on Friday that it had agreed to sell 50 of its H160 helicopters to the Chinese firm GDAT in a deal announced on the final day of President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to China. Photograph of an Airbus H160 helicopter on display at the Airbus Helicopters factory in Marignane, southern France.(AFP) "We are honoured GDAT has decided to bolster their all-Airbus fleet of 26 helicopters with the addition of 50 H160 helicopters," Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, said in a statement. Earlier this week, Airbus agreed to build a second Chinese assembly line in the country as domestic travel returned to pre-pandemic levels. Airbus Helicopters on Wednesday posted a 2% rise in deliveries last year to 344 units, cementing its position as the world's largest commercial helicopter maker as it booked a net total of 362 orders. Before cancellations, the Airbus subsidiary won 374 gross orders last year, it said in a statement. Airbus Helicopters, whose competitors include Textron subsidiary Bell and AgustaWestland, part of Italy's Leonardo, said that it had secured 52% of the global civil and parapublic - government-owned or operated services like police and air ambulances - market in 2022. Airbus Helicopters also confirmed that its helicopter fleet flight hours had returned to pre-COVID 2019 levels. Flight hours drive service revenues that make up almost half of Airbus Helicopters sales. Cushioned by public services, helicopter demand suffered less from COVID-19 than the grounded airline industry. Airbus Helicopters Chief Executive Bruno Even told Reuters in September that flight hours had reached pre-COVID levels and the number of available second-hand helicopters - a brake on new sales - had fallen. A 25-year-old Bengaluru woman was forced to shell out an additional 1.4 lakh at the last minute for a flight to Vancouver, Canada, after she was denied boarding to her original Qatar Airways flight - via a stop at Seattle - for not having a US transit visa. The incident occurred Wednesday at the city's Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). The student was forced to shell out at additional 1.4 lakh at the last minute to fly via London on a British Airways flight. (File photo/For representation) The woman, identified as Simran, is a resident of Koramangala, and was traveling to Vancouver to attend college, where she had secured a seat in a reputable university, The Times of India reported. READ | 'Human error': Confusion at Bengaluru airport after 30 international passengers dropped at domestic arrivals She had booked her Qatar Airways flight QR573 in early January for 77,000, which was scheduled to take off from Bengaluru on Wednesday. The flight would stop at Doha, where the woman would take a connecting flight to Seattle and then reach Vancouver. Having no choice when the airline's ground crew stopped her from boarding, the woman cancelled the ticket and flew to Vancouver via London and Toronto on a British Airways flight the next day by paying for a fresh ticket, costing her 1.4 lakh. This route did not require her to have a transit visa. READ | Elderly man's Bengaluru-London two-way ticket vanishes from airline's system: Report I was extremely disappointed as when I was booking my ticket on the portal it didn't provide me any information regarding the US visa, else I would have done the needful, the woman told the publication. The airline is processing a refund of her original ticket, the report added. In a new development, Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai's political secretary and BJP MLA MP Renukacharya on Friday was booked at Bengaluru's High Grounds police station for violating the Model code of conduct. The BJP legislator was also accused of allegedly obtaining a fake ST certificate for his daughter last year, when the MLA's family actually belonged to the Lingayat community. The first information report (FIR) was registered on the basis of a complaint filed by the election officer, news agency ANI reported. READ | BJP MLA Renukacharyas missing nephew found dead in car near Tunga canal Renukacharya, who is an MLA from Honnali, was reportedly booked as he held a political programme without prior permission. According to the Model code of conduct, no political party or leader can hold meetings or programmes of a political nature without a nod from the Election Commission or the police department. Renukacharya was booked under Sections 171 E and 717 I of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), a report from Times Now said. Further details are underway. ALSO READ | Karnataka CM's Political Secretary accused of obtaining fake SC certificate The BJP legislator was also accused of allegedly obtaining a fake Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate for his daughter last year, when the MLA's family actually belonged to the Lingayat community. Senior IPS officer P Ravindranath, who was investigating the probe against Renukacharya's family members later tendered his resignation, claiming (mental) harassment. The MLA was also in the news last year for openly expressing displeasure about the delay in the much awaited cabinet expansion in Karnataka. The incident comes in the backdrop of the soon approaching assembly elections in the state, due on May 10, for which counting will be held on the 13th. With each political party having a distinct area of influence in various regions of the state, it is key to understand the "micro picture" in every such part, as Karnataka heads for Assembly polls on May 10. Kittur Karnataka (earlier known as Mumbai/ Bombay Karnataka region) sends 50 MLAs to the Legislative Assembly. Comprising seven districts- Belagavi, Dharwad, Vijayapura, Haveri, Gadag, Bagalkote and Uttara Kannada- it's a direct fight between the ruling BJP and the Congress in this region, where the Janata Dal (Secular) is considerably weak. File photo of former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah meeting the Lingayat community Seers at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.(PTI Photo) The state government decided in 2021 to rechristen the region that was under the erstwhile Bombay presidency, before Independence, as 'Kittur Karnataka' from 'Mumbai-Karnataka.' The name Kittur is after a historical taluk in Belagavi district that was ruled by Rani Chennamma (17781829), who had fought the British before Jhansi Rani Laxmibai did. Predominantly a Lingayat dominated region (other than Uttara Kannada district), it is the home turf of several senior political leaders including Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. BJP had won 30 of the total 50 seats in the region in the 2018 Assembly polls, followed by Congress 17, JD(S) 2, and others (KPJP-Shankar) 1. Backed by the politically-influential Lingayat community, the BJP is a dominant force in the region, where the Congress had once held sway. The Congress lost the region to the saffron party in the elections in the 1990s, following the sacking of its then Chief Minister Veerendra Patil, a Lingayat, who was recouping from a stroke, by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, which turned the community against the party. READ | Karnataka: Veerashaiva- Lingayat community demands 60 Congress tickets Thereafter, as the dominant community started rallying behind another Lingayat stalwart BJP's B S Yediyurappa, the region slowly turned into a stronghold of the saffron party for more than a decade till 2013. However, Congress made a comeback in the region in 2013, by winning 31 of the 50 seats. Along with the anti-incumbency against the then BJP government, a split in the saffron party with Yediyurappa breaking away and floating the Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP) had helped the grand old party to bounce back. Later, with Yediyurappa returning to the party ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha polls under Narendra Modi's leadership, and KJP back into BJP's fold, the Congress failed to repeat the performance in the 2018 elections, thereby paving the way for the BJP to regain lost ground in the region. Lingayat religion movement not working in Congress' favour, was also one of the major factors for Congress witnessing a dip in its electoral fortunes in Kittur Karnataka in 2018, despite the then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah himself contesting from the region's Badami segment. Along with the Congress facing losses in the Lingayat-dominated belt, most of its leaders who were actively involved in the 'separate Lingayat religion' movement suffered defeat. With Yediyurappa retiring from electoral politics, the Congress is now trying to woo Lingayats back into the party fold, and aimed at countering this, the BJP is falling back on the octogenarian leader, as its poll mascot. Implications of the BJP government's decision to hike Lingayat reservation by two per cent, just ahead of the polls need to be watched out, as certain groups within the community were looking at a much higher quota. Along with SCs, STs, and OBCs, Muslims too are politically significant in some segments of Kittur Karnataka. READ | Owaisi-led AIMIM to field 25 candidates in Karnataka polls, eyes alliance with JD(S) Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have held massive public meetings and mega roadshows in parts of the region like Dharwad and Belagavi in view of the importance of this belt in garnering votes in favour of the BJP. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has held a "Yuva Kranti Samavesha", a youth convention, organised by the party's state unit, at Belagavi last month. After Bengaluru Urban with 27 Assembly segments (28 including Anekal), Kittur Karnataka region's Belagavi is the second biggest district in the State with 18 seats. Along with being a numerically large district, it is also politically significant. In 2018, BJP had won 10 seats and Congress eight in Belagavi. Home to influential political families in both parties, the majority of the elected representatives from the district are sugar barons with a background in sugar cooperatives like-Jarkiholis, Jolles, Kattis. Among the candidates to be watched out from Belagavi district are, Jarkiholi brothers, who are split between the two national parties- Ramesh Jarkiholi, who played a key role in installing BJP government by leading defection of 17 Congress-JD(S) MLAs, and Satish Jarkiholi, who is Congress' Working President. Also, Congress' Laxmi Hebbalkar, who is seen as a bitter opponent of Ramesh Jarkiholi. The Congress with a plan to make further gains in this crucial district had started its state-wide 'Praja Dwani Yatre' from Belagavi. On the other hand, the BJP has faced setbacks with the untimely deaths of Hukkeri MLA Umesh Katti and Saundatti MLA Anand Mamani, and will have to find new candidates in these constituencies. Also ticket fight within BJP in the district, especially for Athani between senior leader Laxman Savadi and Jarkiholi-led group has become a cause of concern for the party. Haveri district in the region with six Assembly segments, is also crucial for the BJP, as Chief Minister Bommai's constituency Shiggavi comes under it. Congress had caused an embarrassment to the BJP by wresting Hanagal, the neighbouring constituency of the CM, from it, in the 2021 bypolls. Congress in upcoming polls too, hopes to dent the ruling party's prospects and cause it a huge embarrassment in Bommai's backyard. Badami in Bagalkote district, which senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah currently represents, is also among the key constituencies in this election. The former Chief Minister has decided not to contest from Badami this time, citing its long distance from state capital Bengaluru and his inability to make himself available to the people there on a day-to-day basis as the reason. He has been fielded from his home turf of Varuna for the upcoming polls, and is also looking for Kolar as the second seat. BJP had won five out of seven seats in Bagalkote district in 2018 polls, Congress in two. Bijapur City, one among the eight Assembly segments in Vijayapura district is also significant as senior BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal is likely to contest from the seat once again. The firebrand Hindutva proponent, who was an open critique of state BJP strongman Yediyurappa, has several times in the past has expressed his Chief Ministerial ambitions. Increasing tally in Gadag is important for Congress as it has only one MLA, AICC member H K Patil from the district, which has four Assembly segments. Dharwad district, the social, cultural and commercial hub of Kittur Karnataka with seven seats, is significant as it is the Parliamentary constituency of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, who is considered to be close to both Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar represents Hubli-Dharwad-Central segment from the district. In Uttara Kannada district with six seats, veteran Congress leader 76-year old R V Deshpande is the only Congress MLA. He is contesting from Haliyal segment. Consisting of both coastal and Western ghats, the district has become the stronghold of BJP. The Sirsi segment here is represented by Legislative Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri. He is likely to get a ticket from BJP once again. While the BJP is doing all that it can to continue its hold and improve its tally on this belt, the Congress is making a concerted effort to regain political ground in the region. Reacting to Kichcha Sudeep extending support to Bharatiya Janata Party in the upcoming Karnataka Assembly polls, Congress state president DK Shivakumar on Thursday said that films and politics are two different things. Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar (PTI) Talking to mediapersons, Shivakumar said, "I don't think there will be any impact on elections. So many film stars come and go. Politics is different from films". Kichcha Sudeep on Wednesday announced he will neither be joining BJP, nor contesting the elections, but will support Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai in the elections. READ | Get ready to...: Actor Prakash Raj to Kichcha Sudeep ahead of Karnataka polls Sudeep also said that he shares a personal bond with Bommai. Addressing a press conference, "I had no necessity to come here, and I have not come here for any platform or money. I have come here only for a person. I have high regard for CM Mama (Bommai). That's why I am announcing that I am giving my full support to Bommai sir". "I am fully standing in support of Bommai sir. But, I will not contest elections, and I am not entering politics. I have films to complete, my fans would be happy," he added. READ | Shivamogga lawyer asks EC to ban Kichcha Sudeep movies till Karnataka elections Reacting to this, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that the campaign by the Kannada superstar will give a lot of strength to the saffron party. "Kichcha Sudeep is a famous superstar and will campaign for us, we will prepare a blueprint for his campaign soon. He is a very big star, his popularity is very high and I strongly believe that his campaigning will give a lot of strength to the BJP," CM Bommai told ANI. Karnataka will go to Assembly polls on May 10 and the votes will be counted on May 13. In the 2018 Assembly elections, BJP won 104 seats and emerged as the single largest party, while the Congress and JD(S) bagged 78 and 37 seats, respectively. Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), apex body of Indian auto component industry, concluded the 2nd Farm Equipment and Implements Localisation Expo at Hotel Radisson, Ludhiana, on Friday. The expo aimed to create a localised, resilient, and robust supply chain for the tractor and implements industry. The expo aimed to create a localised, resilient, and robust supply chain for the tractor and implements industry. AMCA president Sunjay Kapur said The expos primary objective was to bring the stakeholders in the tractor and farm implements sector together in order to facilitate a strong, localised, and robust supply chain. (HT File Photo) AMCA president Sunjay Kapur said The expos primary objective was to bring the stakeholders in the tractor and farm implements sector together in order to facilitate a strong, localised, and robust supply chain. There is a need to invest in new technologies in the components sector as India aims to become a global manufacturing hub. The sector should take advantage of ACMAs centres of excellence and cluster programs to stay competitive. Kapur is also the chairman of Sona Comstar, an automotive and components manufacturer. Talking about the potential for the components sector in engaging with tractor and agri machinery sector, AMCA director general Vinnie Mehta said India is a global leader in tractor manufacturing and there is an immense potential for growth in the farm-machinery sector. The tractor and the auto components industries need to work in close collaboration and take advantage of government schemes. She added that the mechanisation of farms needs to increase in order to cater to the needs of the growing population. A total of 48 component manufacturers displayed their products at the event. Veterans from original equipment manufacturers such as International Tractors Ltd. (Sonalika), Mahindra & Mahindra Swaraj Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd Farm Division, Preet Tractors Ltd and Punjab state agriculture implements manufacturers association also attended the event. Participants like Machino Polymers Limited showcased sustainable products used in exteriors and interiors of the car. Giving details of the green compound used for cabin building, Santanu Dutta said, These green compounds, made with rice husk and other bio-degradable materials, are environment friendly. They are cheaper and are a substitute for regular plastic compounds. Vinni Chemicals Private Limited presented diesel and petrol fuel additives used to augment engine efficiency. Vice-president Pawan Sharma said, This additive costs 2% of the total fuel and helps to clean carbon deposits on the engine, giving an advantage of around 11% in fuel efficiency. Sellowrap, another participant, showcased specialised foams used in electric vehicle batteries to prevent fire hazards. Hired a couple of weeks ago, a domestic help along with his three aides, including a woman, robbed the house of his employer and decamped with 5 lakh in cash, jewellery worth 25 lakh and other valuables on Thursday night. The accused sedated another servant before executing the robbery. A case has been lodged against Janak and his aides at Police station division number 8. (iStock) At the time of the incident, the employer had gone to Chandigarh along with his family members. On being informed the Division number 8 police reached the spot and initiated an investigation. The police lodged an FIR against the domestic help Janak and his three unidentified aides. The FIR has been lodged following the complaint of Ashish Aggarwal of Rani Jhansi road, who lives near the official residence of the inspector general of police (Ludhiana zone) Kaustubh Sharma. A chartered accountant by profession Aggarwal stated that he had hired Janak a couple of weeks ago, while another domestic help Ganesh was working for him for a long time. He added that on Thursday night when he returned home, he found Ganesh lying unconscious while the house was ransacked. When checked he found that 5 lakh in cash, jewellery worth 25 lakh and other valuables were stolen. When he scanned the CCTVs, he found that Janak had sedated Ganesh. Later, he called on his three aides and executed the robbery. He informed the police. Inspector Vijay Kumar, SHO at Police station division number 8, said that a case has been lodged against Janak and his aides. The police are trying to trace them. Eight teams of scientists from the Union ministry of food and public distribution on Friday visited mandis across Punjab to assess the quality of wheat grain arriving for purchase by the state government agencies. According to the officers of the state food and civil supplies department, the teams took samples from different mandis in districts of Mohali, Patiala, Sangrur, Ludhiana and Ferozepur, which would be sent to the ministrys laboratories for quality assessment. (HT Photo) According to the officers of the state food and civil supplies department, the teams took 55 samples from different mandis in districts of Mohali, Patiala, Sangrur, Ludhiana and Ferozepur, which would be sent to the ministrys laboratories for quality assessment. The ministry has sent the teams after the state government raised a red flag for allowing relaxation in grain quality at the time of procurement, an official, who didnt want to be named, said. Based on the report, relaxation would be allowed which will save farmers from the value cut, the official added. This season the Centre has offered a minimum support price of 2,125 per quintal on wheat and in case, the grain quality falls below the permissible limits, a value cut will be imposed. Due to two spells of unseasonal rains, high-velocity winds and hailstorms that started on March 25, the quality of grains has been impacted and some state governments, including Punjab and Haryana, have sought relaxation in procurement norms. Confirming that the quality of the grain coming to mandis has been impacted by the inclement weather, the official said that its field officials are reporting higher moisture content, shrivelled grain, more than the permissible limits, and higher quantity of broken grain. It is a repeat of the last rabi harvest when the wheat crop suffered due to rainfall in January and February and there was a sudden rise in the temperature in March. The total yield loss was estimated to be 15% last year, the official added. In the current season, against the initial estimates of total wheat output of 170 lakh tonnes in Punjab, the officials are expecting the yield to fall below 150 lakh tonnes after the inclement weather. This season wheat was sown over 34.9 lakh hectares, 25,000 hectares less than the previous season in Punjab. 2,514 tonnes of wheat arrive on Friday The wheat harvest and arrivals are picking up gradually. As of Friday, 2,514 tonnes of wheat arrived in the state mandis - in districts of Mohali, Patiala, Mansa, Sangrur, Barnala, Ludhiana and Ferozepur. The states agricultural marketing (mandi) board has set up 1,872 mandis and procurement centres in the state for the purchase of wheat by four procurement agencies and the Centres Food Corporation of India (FCI). On Thursday, 770 tonnes of wheat reached the mandis. BOX: Expecting record output: Govt New Delhi: The government on Friday said wheat production loss due to recent inclement weather is likely to be in the range of 1-2 million tonnes but overall production will reach a record 112.2 million tonnes in the current year on higher acreage and yield. The Centre also asked roller flour millers to directly procure from farmers to meet their requirements instead of seeking stock from state-owned FCI under Open Market Sale Scheme. The government also ruled out the industrys demand to lift the ban on the export of wheat products considering the bumper output. Releasing a private wheat crop estimate at an event organised by the Roller Flour Millers Federation of India, Subodh Kumar Singh, additional secretary in the Union food ministry, said reasons for projecting higher output this year are, firstly, there are 3-5% increase in wheat acreage, the second is production loss due to untimely rains, and hailstorms would be about 1-2 million tonnes, and third, there would be an additional 5-5.5 million tonne production over the last year. Stating that there is quality loss due to recent rains, the additional secretary said the government has taken a timely decision to relax norms for procurement for Madhya Pradesh, where grain with lustre loss is being purchased at MSP. The government is considering requests from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments, he said. PTI SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Haryana health minister Anil Vij on Friday said the state government intends to provide health supplements (multi vitamins, protein supplements, protein bars) to individuals who are to be inoculated with the coronavirus precaution dose. The minister said this would encourage people to proactively go for vaccination. The minister also directed officials that all health workers should be given the precaution dose as soon as possible. Haryana registered 434 fresh coronavirus cases on Friday, taking the tally of active viral infections to 1,324. (REUTERS) Haryana registered 434 fresh coronavirus cases on Friday, taking the tally of active viral infections to 1,324. Gurugram with 698 active cases has the highest number of infections followed by Faridabad (199) and Panchkula (152). The number of coronavirus infected patients admitted in hospitals was 15, with three on ventilator support and two in the intensive care unit, a health bulletin said. The fresh infections have been caused by XBB.1.16 sub-variant of Omicron variant, health officials said. Vij, who held a virtual meeting with Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya, said it has been made mandatory for health workers to get precaution dose within seven days after receiving the vaccine consignment. He said people with comorbidities and the elderly should be vaccinated on priority. Vij suggested to the Union minister that vaccine price be fixed as then the state government will be able to vaccinate people by purchasing vaccine from its own funds. The Union minister said that since XBB 1.16 sub-variant was active in India, the state health ministers should conduct review meetings, monitor health services, visit hospitals, conduct inspections to stop the sale of spurious medicines, and push for testing and genome sequencing. Himachal Pradesh on Fridsay saw a steep spike in Covid-19 cases recording 108 new infections and one death. The highest 29 cases of Covid were reported from Hamirpur followed by 25 from Kangra, 15 from Mandi, 10 each from Bilaspur and Chamba in Himachal Pradesh. (HT File Photo) With the new positive cases, the states total tally have climbed up to 3,16,195. The highest 29 cases were reported from Hamirpur followed by 25 from Kangra, 15 from Mandi, 10 each from Bilaspur and Chamba. The death count has reached 4,198 after a 19-year-old woman patient succumbed to the infection in Mandi. With 301 recoveries, the active case tally has come down to 1,739. Hamirpur has highest 367 active cases followed by 319 in Mandi and 300 in Kangra. Health minister Col (Retd.) Dhani Ram Shandil on Friday urged the central government for Covid-19 vaccine supply as state has no stock left to inoculate its population amid a surge in daily infections. Shandil was speaking during a video conference and virtual review meeting organised by Union health minister of India Dr Mansukh L. Mandaviya along with health minister of state Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar with health ministers of the states. The minister highlighted about daily Covid-19 testing in the state. He said there are sufficient beds availability, sufficient supply of oxygen along with adequate number of ventilators available at hospitals throughout the state, said Shandil. The state government is regularly monitoring present situation and there is no need to panic as the things are under control as well as the sufficient resources are available with the state government but still public need to remain vigilant and has been advised to follow Covid protocol, he added. Underlining the fact that no permissible limits for noise pollution in the areas recognised under mixed land use have been laid, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered the state government to declare the ambient noise standards for mixed land use areas. The order came after a Ludhiana resident filed a complaint with the NGT for the closure of an industrial unit in Partap Nagar for causing noise pollution. The committee submitted before the panel that no noise standards have been prescribed for the mixed land use area in the Noise Rules, 2000. (iStock/ Representational image) The NGT bench in its order on Thursday directed the Punjab government and the authorities concerned to inspect all mixed land use areas on various parameters of the environment to enquire a total number of residences, commercial establishments and industries and declare ambient noise standards for the mixed land use areas, including Partap Nagar, Ludhiana. It said that the areas should be categorised as industrial areas, commercial areas, residential areas, or silence zones and the action-taken report should be filed within four months to the NGT. Why the order? Jagjeevan Singh of Partap Nagar had submitted an application under the NGT Act for shutting down the industrial unit, The Mahindra Industrial Corporation, being run at Partap Nagar which uses heavy machinery which causes noise pollution beyond permissible limits as well as vibration. The tribunal had constituted a joint committee comprising the state pollution control board and the deputy commissioner, Ludhiana, to verify the grievances in June 2022. Upon monitoring the noise during the field visit, the committee noted that the noise level at the industrial unit in question was 70.8dB(decibels) when the unit was in operation and preventive measures were in place. The noise level was 68.7dB noise when the unit was not operating. The committee submitted before the panel that no noise standards have been prescribed for the mixed land use area in the Noise Rules, 2000. The committee said the permissible noise limit for an industrial area as per the rules is 75dB in industrial areas, 65dB in commercial areas, 55dB in residential areas and 50dB in silent zones. The committee said it would be appropriate to consider stringent noise standards for residential areas i.e. 55 dB in this case and it ordered the PPCB to initiate remedial actions after which the electrical connection of the industrial unit was snapped. Contesting the report, the defendant said that all preventive measures, including soundproofing, have been done to control the noise, adding that the noise level as per the report was 68.7dB even when it was not in operation. He stated that his industrial unit has the valid consent of the PPCB. He in his appeal also added that that area also hosts a number of industrial units which undertake work involving heavy machinery. He claimed that the committee has wrongly considered the permissible noise limit for residential units in his case where it is not applicable and had ordered the closure of the unit. The judgment In its judgment, the tribunal said as per the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control Rules), the state government may categorise the areas into industrial, commercial, or silent areas to implement noise standards for different areas. The judgment said, The right to live in an atmosphere free from noise pollution has been upheld as the one guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution. It added that there is a need for creating general awareness regarding the hazardous effects of noise pollution. It said that till the time the declaration for ambient noise standard applicable to the mixed land use area of Pratap Nagar is made by the competent authority, the PPCB is directed to allow the units to function. Civil society groups welcome the order Kapil Arora, a member of the civil society group, Council of Engineers, said the issue of noise pollution and its effect on the residents has not received due attention. The implementation of the order will bring clarity about the rules for noise pollution and bring relief to the residents. Amid row over changes in National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)s class 12 political science text books, Sikh bodies, including the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), said the Anandpur Sahib resolution adopted by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) as its goal in 1973 had been interpreted as a separatist resolution in one of the books. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami (centre) said said, The SGPC raises strong objection over the misinformation being spread about Sikhs. (HT File) In chapter 7 (Regional aspirations) of the book Swatantra Bharat Mein Rajniti, it is mentioned that a demand of regional autonomy was raised under the resolution. There was a also a demand for redefining the Centre-state ties. The resolution advocates for strengthening of federalism. However, it can also be read as a demand for separate Sikh nation, reads the Hindi text. Taking note of it, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said, The SGPC raises strong objection over the misinformation being spread about Sikhs. Historical references related to Sikhs have been distorted in NCERT books. Sikhs shouldnt be presented as separatists. The text must be removed immediately, he said. The NCERT has also removed several texts on Mahatma Gandhi, Hindu-Muslim unity and RSS from CBSE class 12 political science textbook for academic session 2023-24. Reacting on this, Dhami said, Removing of these portions is a communal act. It is sad that the Union government is making these changes as per its interests. Text about minorities is being removed. This is being done under a pre-planned conspiracy. Detailing about the Anandpur Sahib resolution, the SGPC chief said, This resolution is a historical document. Nothing is wrong in it. It talks about more powers to the states. Sadly, the same situation is prevailing now. Rights and interests of the states are being neglected. It seems that those who have been demanding Hindu Rashtra are being favouerd. On the other hand, a narrative is being created against the minorities by making such perceptions instead of resolving their issues, he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Member of parliament Shashi Tharoor shared his mantra of success, the three Ps Perseverance, Patience and Practice with the students of Sat Paul Mittal School, Ludhiana. The Thiruvananthapuram MP was the chief guest at the vicennial anniversary celebrations at the school. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor addressing the gathering at a function in Ludhiana on Thursday. (Gurpreet Singh/HT) Tharoor, during the interactive session, inspired the students to strive hard to develop intellectual capabilities and become nation-builders. He steered the students towards self-belief and said that it is faith that makes thinking possible. Tharoor also appreciated the curiosity and confidence of the students. The celebrations began with lamp-lighting and a dance performance by the students. It was followed a tour of the school. Tharoor congratulated the school on achieving the 20-year milestone and applauded the institutions effort towards academic excellence, child-centricity and curriculum, which enables the institution to facilitate the students holistic development. Students and staff members thoroughly enjoyed engaging with Tharoor and were greatly charmed by his wit, knowledge and unique way of weaving words together. The Thiruvananthapuram MP was felicitated by chairman Rakesh Bharti Mittal, and a vote of thanks was proposed by the principal Bhupinder Gogia. Small-scale industries in Ludhiana have announced to stage a protest against the state government over the delay in issuing a notification regarding the industrial units in mixed-land use areas. They said that the deadline to shift industrial units situated in mixed land use areas in Ludhiana is set to end in six months, with this, around 50,000 industrial units in 72 areas of the city will be affected. HT Image Members of the protesting union, Small Scale Manufacturers Association, added that the future of these industrial units hangs in balance and they are concerned about workers and family members who are connected with the businesses. They added that the union members will sit outside the district industrial centres from 11 am to 12 pm from Monday onwards. They added that the protest will go on for three days. President of the association, Jaswinder Singh Thukral said that as the government has not issued the extension in deadline to shift the industries they are unable to get the required consent from the Punjab State Pollution Control Board. He added that government representatives had assured the industry representatives that the deadline will be extended by five years. He said the notification should be issued at the earliest to clear their apprehensions. He added that small-scale units operating in different areas of the city supply products to large-scale industrial units and provide employment to thousands of people. He added that their grievances should be addressed. Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday said the government has identified around 1,000 locations where mazaars (tombs) and other structures have been illegally built to encroach public land. Union minister of state for defence Ajay Bhatt with Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and others being garlanded during the inauguration and foundation stone laying of projecs in Haldwani (PTI) We are not against anyone but we wont allow illegal encroachments. We wont allow land jihad here. The state government has identified around 1,000 places where mazaars and other structures have been illegally built. When the same were dug, no remains were found there. We believe in law and we wont allow this. We dont want to harm anyone. We will not allow appeasement of any kind here. We are going to stop appeasement, Dhami said at a function in Kaladhungi in the Nainital district on Friday. Dhami said there are imbalances in the demography of the state and the state will run a special campaign to check this. He did not elaborate. The chief minister added that the state has enacted a strict law to stop forced conversions in the state, apart from constituting a committee for the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in the state. HT reported in December that the state forest department has started a crackdown on illegal religious structures that have come up in the protected forest areas of the state. Forest officials demolished 15 religious structures in the Dehradun forest division at that time. Senior forest officials said around 293 religious structures had come up in the protected forests of the state according to the departmental survey Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh alleged Friday the Bharatiya Janata Party plans to use bulldozers to demolish a government school next to its new office on Delhi's Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg. Singh claimed the BJP's office encroaches into the school's property and, rather than surrender land it does not own, the saffron party intends to destroy the school and claim the land. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh addresses a press conference, in New Delhi, Friday.(PTI) "A government school right beside the BJP's new office is going to be demolished as the party wants to take possession of the land. First, they built a party office by occupying the school and now, they are planning to run bulldozers on it. AAP will never let that happen," Singh told reporters. Hitting out at the BJP, the Rajya Sabha MP said the move, if allowed, would jeopardise the future of the 350 children attending the school, and that the AAP would never allow this to happen. Also Read: Sisodia writes letter from jail questioning PM Modis educational qualifications "No school will be demolished under AAPs watch. BJP is planning to get that school demolished in the name of re-development. The party has its own private schools and, in order to do their business, they are closing down government schools," he alleged. Singh also echoed remarks by colleague Manish Sisodia, the national capital's former education minister now in jail over the liquor excise policy. Sisodia, who was also Delhi's deputy chief minister, wrote an open letter to prime minister Narendra Modi earlier today from Tihar Jail, in which he slammed the PM's 'lack of education' and said India could not be governed by one who 'does not understand the importance of education'. That letter was re-tweeted by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. It said: " it is very dangerous for the country if the prime minister is less educated (Narendra) Modi does not understand science Modiji does not understand the importance of education." Controversy over the prime minister's educational qualifications is the latest chapter in an increasingly shrill and fierce AAP-BJP rivalry in the run-up to Assembly elections this year and the 2024 Lok Sabha election. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Delhi lieutenant governor VK Saxena has alleged that the state government submitted false and misleading information to the Delhi high court in a case concerning the transfer of schools for children with disabilities from one ministry to another, even as he ordered the Capitals chief secretary to bring these submissions to the courts notice, in what is the latest in a series of flashpoints between the Centres nominated representative and the citys elected administration. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and lieutenant governor VK Saxena. (PTI) Also read: Pension sent, then debited: Delhi civic body pins blame on bank An officer in the LGs office aware of the matter said the Delhi government misled the high court on two occasions on November 18 last year and February 17 submitting at both times that the process of handing the schools over was pending with Saxena, a claim the LG says is false. As a matter of fact, the file was submitted to the LGs office for consideration only on March 28 this year, more than four months after false assertions were made before the high court, said the officer cited above. The Delhi government did not respond to requests for comment. The officer said Saxena has asked the chief secretary to bring to the notice of the high court the false statements through an affidavit. The matter was brought to the high courts notice in 2018, when an NGO, the National Federation of the Blind, claimed that children with disabilities studying in special schools run by the state social welfare department were not being supplied with assistive devices and reading material in Braille. The petition sought that these schools be run by the education department instead. Documents submitted by the state education department to the social welfare department days before each of the above-mentioned hearings appear to back up the LGs allegations. HT has seen the documents. According to the first document, dated November 7, 2022: The process of taking over seven special schools presently under the departmentis under consideration with the honble LGfor seeking approval of the various service matters The second statement, sent on February 15, said, Since the competent authority in this matter is the honble lieutenant governor, the taking over of seven special schools will be finalised as soon as the approval is accorded The flashpoint is the latest episode in the near-constant tussle that has roiled relations between Raj Niwas and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. Saxena has, since then, ordered or approved probes against several key government programmes, including the 2021-22 excise policy, purchases of electric buses, as well as referring to the President the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) request for a probe into the governments erstwhile Feedback Unit (FBU). The Supreme Court is also hearing a matter over the control of services in the Capital. According to a senior officer of the social welfare department, the seven special schools are in Mayur Vihar, Rohini, Delhi Gate, Nehru Vihar, Kalkaji and Kingsway Camp. The department of education sent an action-taken report to the directorate of social welfare in the third week of February this year, conveyed that the proposal from their end will soon be submitted to the LGs office. The next date of hearing in this matter is in October this year, the officer said. People in the LGs office said that the state government had, in a separate case concerning the reconstitution of the Animal Welfare Board, mischievously informed the court that the move was delayed since Saxenas approval was pending. Also read: '700 pages WhatsApp chats. Ready for': Conman Sukesh to Kejriwal The official cited above accused senior functionaries of the government and AAP of also making blatantly false, misleading, accusatory and defamatory statements concerning the governments flagship power subsidy programme another issue that has emerged as a tussle between the two. Experts said falsehoods before the court can attract serious charges. Additional solicitor general (supreme court) Sanjay Jain said, It is a criminal act. The court can ask for the file noting for enquiry and fix the accountability on the culprit. The court will definitely scrutinise the whole chain of bureaucrats to the minister concerned. They all may be under the scanner, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Delhi recorded 733 new cases of Covid on Friday, the highest in over seven months, with a positivity rate of 19.93 per cent, the Delhi governments health department said in its bulletin. With an uptick in cases, the city also registered two deaths of Covid positive people, however, "Covid finding was incidental", the bulletin added. With the latest data, the city infection tally has risen to 20,13,403.(HT_PRINT) The numbers are the highest since August last year when 620 cases in a day were reported in its last week. The latest counting is an increase of 127 cases compared to Thursday when 606 cases were reported, with one fatality. At present, Delhis Covid-19 death toll stands at 26,536, according to the bulletin. With the latest data, the city's infection tally has risen to 20,13,403. A total of 3,678 Covid tests were conducted on Thursday, as per data. Also Read: Experts urge precaution amid Covid surge, say its common cold like spread indicates endemicity Meanwhile, experts on Covid surge noted that the SARS-CoV-2 virus was moving into an endemic state in India, as its behaviour mirrored the spread of common cold. COVID-19 is effectively endemic in the country, and virtually all of us will have sustained an infection by now, whether we knew it or not. The virus is behaving like coronaviruses that cause common-cold-like symptoms and can keep reinfecting us, Gautam I. Menon, dean (research) and professor, Departments of Physics and Biology at Haryanas Ashoka University, was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. Also Read: State-wise Covid preparedness as India sees over 6,000 cases Overall in India, a total of 6,050 cases were reported Friday, the highest in 203 days but experts suggested that was no reason to worry as even as the virus mutates, there may be additional waves of infection but the impact will not be devastating as the Delta variant due to its endemicity. "Most of the infections are mild and are treated on an outpatient basis," Viswesvaran Balasubramanian, consultant, interventional pulmonology and sleep medicine, at Hyderabads Yashoda Hospitals said, adding that the need for hospital admissions in view of severe Covid infection is seen among the elderly and those with immunocompromised conditions. (With PTI inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A week after a 54-year-old businessman was found dead at a hotel room in Safdarjung Enclave in south Delhi, the crime branch of Delhi Police on Sunday said they have arrested a 29-year-old woman in connection with the case, senior officers aware of the case said. Delhi Police have arrested a 29-year-old woman a week after a 54-year-old businessman was found dead at a hotel room in Safdarjung Enclave in south Delhi. (Representative image) Also read: Police probing nexus helping criminals get passports, flee India The officers said the woman had checked in with the victim but left with his cash, jewellery and other belongings, after he fell unconscious in the room. Before leaving the hotel room, the woman had left a note on the bed in which she referred to him as a nice person and apologised him for doing such a thing to him, as she was compelled to do it, the officers added. The woman, identified by investigators as Usha alias Anjali alias Nikki allegedly spiked the businessmans drink and made him consume alcohol. The victim, Deepak Sethi, died of a cardiac arrest, the investigators said. They said that the conspiracy was hatched by another woman, Madhumita, who met Usha in a Haryana jail last year, and added that Usha was arrested on Friday. The businessmans stolen gold ring, mobile phone and a blue bag were recovered from the Usha, apart from her fake Aadhar Card and a cellphone that she had procured along with a SIM card on fake documents for the purpose of executing the murder-cum-robbery conspiracy, crime branch officers said. They said they were looking for Madhumita, who absconded after the alleged murder. Madhumita was arrested in a similar case that she executed along with her friend in Haryana, where they allegedly attacked and robbed a businessman after luring him to a hotel room. She was arrested in that case. Usha, on the other hand, was arrested in a case of extortion and threatening a person to implicate him in a false case. They met in a Haryana jail and started living together in Delhi after being released from prison, said a crime branch officer, who is not authorised to speak to media. Special commissioner of police (crime) Ravindra Singh Yadav said Sethis body was found in a hotel room in Safdarjung Enclave on March 31. During inquiry, it was learnt that Sethi, a resident of Indirapuram, had checked into the hotel with a woman around 8.30pm on March 30, but the woman left the hotel around 12.30am on March 31. It was also found that the woman had left in a Maruti Wagon R car. A crime branch team led by ACP Naresh Solanki visited the hotel and examined the CCTV footage. It also obtained the suspects Aadhaar Card that she had used while checking into the hotel, Yadav said. The card issued in the name of Anjali was found to be fake. Sethis mobile phone call records were obtained and the police zeroed in on some suspicious numbers, he added. We found that the womans phone number that was obtained on fake documents was active only on March 20. Further probe revealed that the phone number was recharged by a Nigerian man from a shop in Delhis Sant Garh, near Tilak Nagar, on March 23. The man was questioned and he told the police that it was Usha alias Nikki who was using the phone number. He also told the police that she lived with Madhumita. Further, technical surveillance helped us identify the suspect as Usha, a native of Haryanas Panipat, and arrest her with Sethis stolen belongings, added Yadav. During the interrogation, the special CP said, Usha told the police that Madhumita knew Sethi. On March 30, the two women came to Connaught Place Metro station, where they met Sethi. The businessman then went to the hotel with Usha. Also read: LG slams Delhi government for making false statements in high court Usha had planned that she would drug Sethi and when he would fell unconscious she would flee with his money and other belongings while Madhumita would be waiting in a cab, the special commissioner said When Sethi fell unconscious, Usha took the bag, mobile phone and some jewellery and fled the hotel along with Madhumita. It was a foolproof conspiracy, as all the IDs and mobile numbers were taken on forged documents, added Yadav. Usha was produced before a city court that sent him to jail. The Safdarjung Enclave police will now seek her custody for further probe, the officers said. West Bengal governor C V Ananda Bose has asked vice-chancellors of all 31 state-run universities to submit weekly activity reports and follow a set of dos and donts, state education department officials said. West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose (Twitter/@BengalGovernor) The governor, who also is the Chancellor of all state-run universities directed the VCs to take no action having major financial implications without consent from Raj Bhawan. Issued on April 4, the letter said the VCs were free to meet the governor and interact with two Raj Bhawan officials through phone and email over the matter. Also Read: TMC leader, wife, daughter killed in Bengals Cooch Behar district: Police The letter from Raj Bhawan also triggered a controversy with state education minister Bratya Basu saying that the letter has no legal validity. There is no legal provision for issuing such a letter. The higher education department has sought legal opinion. I will request the governor to withdraw the letter. It is not morally correct as well. The universities are autonomous bodies. The letter affects their image, Basu said. He added, Raj Bhawan and the state government are not competitors. They cooperate with each other in governance. We were completely unaware that such a letter was being issued. The governor can take an action after discussion (with the state). The letter has brought under focus the acrimonious relationship the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) had with former governor Jagdeep Dhankhar who is now the Vice President of India. The TMC had accused Dhankhar of interfering in the day-to-day affairs of state-run universities and overstepping his limit by summoning vice-chancellors to Raj Bhawan bypassing the government. According to officials, in December 2019, the higher education department officially instructed all vice-chancellors not to interact with the governor. The development comes in the backdrop of the state government reversing its earlier decision to make chief minister Mamata Banerjee the chancellor of state universities. On June 13 last year, the state assembly passed the West Bengal University Laws (Amendment) Bill 2022 which sought to make the CM the chancellor of all universities in place of the governor. The bill was sent to Raj Bhawan for Dhankhars assent without which it could not have become a law. However, it was sent back citing technical reasons. The TMC did not raise the issue after Dhankhars term came to an end in July 2022. Meanwhile, the new controversy surrounding Raj Bhawans role in the higher education department has prompted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the states principal opposition force, to back Bose. Samik Bhattacharya, Bengal BJPs chief spokesperson, said, As chancellor, the governor has all the right to monitor the universities and interact directly with vice-chancellors. Also Read: Row over Tamil Nadu governors remarks on Sterlite protests He alleged that the state education department is drawing flak because of the bribe-for-job scam that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) are probing under a high court order. Bose has taken the right step because TMC wants to run the universities autocratically, Bhattacharya added. TMC Lok Sabha member and retired professor Saugata Roy said, It is good to see the governor taking interest in the universities but we must bear in mind that he is not an elected representative of the people. The governors activities should not interfere with the powers of an elected government. Education is a subject in the Concurrent List of the Constitutions Seventh Schedule, which effectively means both the Union and the state have powers to bring legislation on the subject. In case of a conflict, the Centres law prevails. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Three members of a gang of burglars who acquired expertise in making tunnels and used it to commit theft in jewellery shops were arrested, police said on Friday. (Representative Photo) They were arrested from the Brahmpuri locality, police said, adding they also recovered 2 kg silver, DVR, equipment used in digging tunnels and a gas cylinder. Police have identified the arrested accused as Shabbir, Yameen and Amit, all residents of Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh. Also Read: Lucknow schoolboy arrested for threatening to assassinate PM Modi, UP CM Superintendent of police (city) Piyush Singh said that during interrogation, they admitted to having learnt about digging tunnels from YouTube. We are interrogating them further to gather information about their network and other incidents in which they were involved, he said. Police said that the accused used to select the shops after a recce in an area with minimum police patrolling and while digging tunnels, a few members of the gang kept watch on the movement of police. The accused involved in the murder of lawyer Umesh Pal and his two police guards here in February were given iPhones and SIM cards procured by gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmads son Asad, who is now on the run with a cash reward of 5 lakh on his head, claim police officials part of the probe into the incident. The mobile phones were purchased by Asad at the behest of his mother Shaista Parveen. (For Representation) The iPhones and SIM cards were purchased on forged documents. The iPhones were financed by son of a trader residing in Katra area of Prayagraj, they further claimed. During the ongoing investigation into sensational broad daylight murder, police officials have found evidence that at least 16 iPhones were bought which were given to assailants and others involved in the conspiracy. The mobile phones were purchased by Asad at the behest of his mother Shaista Parveen from a shop in Katra area through a youth who belongs to a well-off family of businessmen. The youth also provided SIM cards on forged documents provided by Asad, the police said. The police traced the youth following investigations and detained him. He confessed to having purchased 16 iPhones which were ordered by Asad. However, he claimed that identity documents for SIM cards were given by Asad. Police officials said forged documents had addresses of Prayagraj, Kaushambi and even of Delhi. The investigation has revealed that as per planning, the assailants were given two iPhones each. They were asked to use one iPhone before the murder and destroy it. The second mobile phone was to be used after the crime. The assailants were using the second iPhones but after their mobile numbers were traced by police, they switched off their phones, the police said. Instead of giving people general information about sultry, chilly or rainy conditions, the India meteorological department (IMD) will soon tell them what exactly weather would feel like by issuing heat index (also called real feel temperature) readings for weather stations across India, including Kanpur. The heat index is what the temperature feels like to human body when relative humidity is combined with air temperature. (For Representation) Dr SN Pandey, the chief scientist, weather department, CS Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, said the university will give the heat index readings of the city. The heat index will be released city wise every day. It will end the standard practice of analysing the heat on basis on mere temperature, he added. The heat index, or apparent temperature, is what the temperature feels like to human body when relative humidity is combined with air temperature. Working on the formula to calculate the heat index, the weather scientists were considering meteorological factors like relative humidity, minimum and maximum temperatures, wind speed, duration of heat wave spell. On the basis heat index readings, the university will also issue a colour-based warningred, yellow, and orangelisting the precautions one should take based on the temperatures. The IMD has asked the university to share the entire data for the region. The heat index readings become important as recent studies of IMD scientists found heat waves increased by 25% during the 2010 and 2019 as compared to 2000 and 2009. The mortality rate during this period also increased by 27%, Dr Pandey said. He also said the heat waves were likely to cause an increase in heat stress, a condition in which core temperature of body rises as it is unable to regulate the heat. It has come out in a recent study the difference between temperature and heat index was of seven degrees Celsius during the last week of May last year, he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Meerut: Police have arrested three members of a gang who acquired expertise in making tunnels after watching YouTube and used it to commit theft in jewellery shops. The the arrested criminals admitted to having learnt digging tunnels from YouTube (Pic for representation) The arrested criminals have been identified as Shabbir, Yameen and Amit of Bulandshahr who stayed here in a rented room in Brahmpuri locality and committed thefts in jewellery shops after doing recce. Police recovered 2 kg silver, DVR, equipment used in digging tunnels and gas cylinder on their disclosure. SP (city) Piyush Singh said that during interrogation, the arrested criminals admitted to having learnt digging tunnels from YouTube. We are interrogating them further to gather information about their network and other incidents in which they were involved, he said. The arrested criminals had stolen jewellery worth over 15 lakh from New Ambika jewellery shop on Garh Road last week. They dug a tunnel from an adjacent drain to enter the shop and escaped with jewellery and DVR. They also made futile attempts twice in a nearby shop Priya Jewellers after entering through a tunnel but failed to open the vault. They used to select the shops after a recce in an area with minimum police patrolling. A few members of the gang kept watch on the movement of police so that they could inform the tunnel diggers to stop making a noise inside the drain. The arrested thieves tried to sell the stolen jewellery in Bulandshahr but jewellers refused and thereafter they sold it in Jewar town of Greater Noida. These thefts had led to alarm among traders who threatened to launch a movement if the thieves were not arrested. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust will hold a meeting in Delhi on Saturday to take a final decision on the rock that will be used for the Ram Lalla idol to be placed in the sanctum sanctorum of the under-construction Ayodhya temple, said a Trust member. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has constituted a committee of sculptors to select the best rock to be used for the Ram Lalla idol. (Reuters) The Trust had constituted a committee of sculptors to select the best rock and they will hand over their reports at the meeting. The Trust has procured five rocks from Karnataka, four from Rajasthan, one from Odisha and two from Nepal. The most suitable rock will be selected for the idol. Nepals former deputy prime minister Bimalendra Nidhi, who had played a key role in completing all paperwork and legal formalities before sending the rocks to Ayodhya, will also attend the meeting. He had also played a crucial role in passing a proposal for handover of the rocks to the Trust in the cabinet meeting of the then government in Nepal. The Trusts search for the most suitable rocks began in 2020. After much deliberation, it decided to procure rocks from the Gandaki river in the Muktinath area of the Himalayan nation. The Trust then roped in renowned sculptors to prepare Ram Lallas idol. It also decided to install a statue replicating the childhood of the deity. Sudarshan Sahu and Vasudev Kamath of Odisha, KV Maniya of Karnataka and Shashtrayajya Deulkar of Pune have sent models of the Ram Lalla idol. The Trust will select one of them. According to Champat Rai, general secretary of the Trust, the idol will be around 8.5 feet high so that the Suns rays can fall on it. MUMBAI: Supporters of chief minister Eknath Shinde are converging at Ayodhya in batches for a show of strength for their leader. On Friday, Shinde flagged off a train carrying over 1,200 supporters and Ram devotees from Thane. Thane, India - April, 07, 2023: Thane Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will go to Ayodhya on April 9 while ShivSainik of (Shinde group) left for Ayodhya by train from Thane on Friday , ,in Thane, in Mumbai, India, on,Friday, April, 07, 2023. ( Praful Gangurde / HT Photo) Shinde will visit the Ram temple, accompanied by his ministers, MLAs, MPs and over 3,000 supporters on Sunday. He will leave for Lucknow on Saturday evening and on Sunday travel by helicopter to Ayodhya and visit the Ram temple for a maha aarti. He will also visit the construction site of the new Ram temple and seek blessings of religious leaders at Laxman killa and perform the aarti on the banks of Sarayu River. He will later meet the UP CM Yogi Adityanath at his official residence. Ayodhya visits are not new to Shinde, who had earlier handled the logistics of the trip when Aaditya Thackeray visited the city in June 2022. Two weeks after the trip, Shinde had staged a revolt, which led to the vertical split in the Shiv Sena. More than 3,000 Rambhakts and sainiks have already departed for Ayodhya (between Thursday and Friday) for the darshan on Sunday. They displayed much enthusiasm, hence I came to see them off. Ayodhya is a sentimental topic for us, Shinde told mediapersons in Thane, emphasising that the teakwood for the Ram temple was sent from Maharashtra. We were scheduled to visit Ayodhya earlier, but some of my associates were not available at the time. We then considered going after the Election Commission granted the bow and arrow symbol to us. We will perform the aarti at Saryu River, and also visit the site where Ram Lallas temple is being constructed, Shinde had said earlier. He said Ram was not a matter of politics. It was Balasaheb Thackerays dream to see a grand Ram temple, and PM Modi is now completing it, he had said earlier, while announcing his Ayodhya yatra. Shinde spoke of an emotional bond with the holy city especially when kar seva was being performed, my mentor late Anant Dighe had sent silver bricks to Ayodhya. Mumbai: A 21-km long tunnel will soon be dug between Bandra Kurla Complex and Shilphata station in Thane on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train route. It will run undersea for seven kilometers which will make it the longest undersea tunnel in India. FILE - In this Sept. 24, 2014 filephoto, passengers get on the Shinkansen high-speed train at Tokyo station in Tokyo. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hopes the visit this weekend by Shinzo Abe, starting Friday, Dec. 11, 2015, will be a major step in transforming India into an economic powerhouse with Japan's help in building bullet trains, "smart cities" and accessing nuclear technology. India and Japan are set to sign a $15 billion agreement for a high-speed train linking the Indian financial hub of Mumbai with Ahmadabad, the commercial capital of Modi's home state, Gujarat. The train would cut travel time on the 505 kilometer (315 mile) route from eight hours to two. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File) (AP) The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) on Friday awarded the 6,300 crore project to a contractor, who is expected to start the civil works soon. Japanese Shinkansen bullet trains are expected to zip through the tunnel at speeds of 300-350 kmph. It will be a single tube tunnel accommodating twin tracks for travel in both directions. The financial bids of two technically qualified bidders were opened today and M/s Afcons Infrastructure Limited have quoted lowest bid, said an official from NHSRCL on Tuesday. The technical bids of this tender were opened on February 9, 2023. As a part of the works, 39 equipment rooms at 37 locations will also be constructed adjoining the tunnel. Tunnel boring machines (TBM) with a cutter-head of 13.1m diameter will be used. Usually 5-6m diameter cutter-heads are used for urban metro tunnels, said an engineer from NHSRCL. Three TBMs will be used to dig about 16 kms of the tunnel and the remaining five kilometers will be through New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM). The channel will be 25 to 65 meters deep, with a single deepest construction point 114 meters below Parsik Hills in Thane. Three shafts at BKC, Vikhroli and Sawli, at approximate depths of 36, 56 and 39 meters respectively, will facilitate the construction. Recently, land belonging to Godrej in Vikhroli was handed over for this project. These shafts serve as entry points for the TBMs to start boring. Incidentally, earlier this week, the authorities had called for tenders to cut trees at Vikhroli for the tunneling purpose. More than 67% of total trees are invasive non-native (exotic) type generally used in livestock feed. We will undertake compensatory plantation of more than 5,300 trees. We will also transplant 141 trees, said an official from NHSRCL. According to NHSRCL, totally 1,828 trees are there on an area of 3.925 hectares. Of which 1,243 trees on an area of two hectares will be affected for construction of traction and distribution substations. At least 585 trees on 1.9 hectares land will be cut for construction of tunnel shaft and ventilation building. Meanwhile, the physical progress of 32.93% in Gujarat and 13.72% in Maharashtra has been achieved for this corridor. The delay has been attributed to land acquisition issues in Maharashtra. Out of total 352km of elevated viaduct, approximately 257km of piling, 180km of foundation, 155km of the pier and 37km of girder launching have been completed in Gujarat and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. An expenditure of 38,506 crore has so far been incurred on this project, which is worth 1.08 lakh crore. Mumbai: After announcing various decisions targetting different communities and sizeable professional groups, the Shinde-Fadnavis government is focussing on execution of schemes of direct benefit to woo small vote banks wth assembly elections due next year. Mumbai, Aug 30 (ANI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and State Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis indulge in a conversation at inauguration of the metro rail trial on the Colaba-Bandre-Seepz route of Mumbai Metro Line-3, in Mumbai on Tuesday. (ANI Photo) (Nitin Lawate) In the last 10 days, the government has taken four such decisions for different groups including 10,000 financial assistance to domestic workers and amendment to extend scholarship scheme for students from minority families in the low-income group. On the one hand, the state government led by chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is busy with politics of festivals and religious functions to woo the voters in the name of Hindutva while on the other, it is trying to woo several small groups through schemes of direct benefit. Central government under the leadership of prime minister Narendra Modi targets beneficiaries of government schemes during the election campaign with the help of party organisations. The state government in Maharashtra is following the same pattern. Labour department of the state government in the last week of March has issued an order for depositing 10,000 as lump sum financial assistance to the domestic workers. All the maids, who are registered with Maharashtra domestic workers welfare board and completed 55 years of age, will be eligible for the fund. This amount will be directly credited to the bank accounts of eligible beneficiaries as Sanman Dhan Scheme. As per estimates, about 45,000 domestic workers would benefit from this scheme. said Dnyanesh Patil, co-ordinator, National Domestic Workers Movement. Minority development department amended the government resolution on March 27 regarding the scholarship for higher education to the children from minority families in the low-income group. Government gives scholarships to the children from low-income group minority families such as Muslims, Christian, Jain, Sikhs, Parsee, Jew and Buddhists for higher education. Earlier, families with only two children were eligible for this scheme. Now, the state government has amended the eligibility criteria for scholarship and removed the criteria of number of children in the family. As per the amendment, any two children from low-income group minority families would be eligible to get scholarships for higher education. Revenue Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil on Thursday declared that 12,793 Kotwals in the state would get double remuneration effective from April 1. As of now Kotwals get 7,500 per month as remuneration. But now the finance department has given the green signal to double the amount to 15,000 from this month, said Vikhe-Patil. Kotwals are appointed at village level to help police in maintaining law and order. MUMBAI: A 64-year-old man stabbed his wife repeatedly in their residence in a 24-storey building in Mulund East and subsequently died by suicide on Thursday evening. The woman, who has sustained multiple injuries in the attack, is recuperating in hospital. The family lives on the 12th floor of the building in the suburbs Gavhanpada neighbourhood. On Thursday the couples daughter, who works as a clerk in a nationalised bank and is an LLB student, called her mother at 5 pm after taking an exam. When she did not respond to her calls, she called her father. When he remained unresponsive too, she rushed back home. Her knocks at the door went unheeded, whereupon she called her neighbours for help. Together they broke open the front door of the flat. (Image for representation) Police said the deceased who retired from Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) in 2019, was suffering from bipolar disorder since 1995. Due to his fragile health condition, he is known to have displayed aggressive behaviour in the past and has assaulted his family members, including his 53-year-old wife. On Thursday the couples daughter, who works as a clerk in a nationalised bank and is an LLB student, called her mother at 5 pm after taking an exam. When she did not respond to her calls, she called her father. When he remained unresponsive too, she rushed back home. Her knocks at the door went unheeded, whereupon she called her neighbours for help. Together they broke open the front door of the flat. On entering, she saw bloodstains across the living room and a blood-soaked bedsheet spread over the sofa. She found the bedroom door locked and went into the kitchen looking for her parents; not seeing them there, she went into the balcony attached to the living room and found her mother lying on the floor, her face covered in blood, with stab wounds on the face, neck and other parts. She called an ambulance and rushed her to Fortis Hospital. By now, neighbours and her uncle who lives in the same suburb in the West, had gathered in the flat and called the police. They broke open the bedroom door to find the 64-year-old had died by suicide. When police team from Navghar police station, Mulund East, reached the spot, they rushed him to Rajawadi Hospital, in Ghatkopar, where he was declared brought dead. In her statement to the police, the deceaseds daughter revealed that five to six months ago, he had suffered a violent fit and on doctors advice was admitted to a rehabilitation centre in Taloja for around a month. In her statement to the cops, she said, on returning from the centre, he looked perpetually scared and was anxious about being sent to the rehabilitation centre again. A cop from the police station said, before he was sent to rehab, he had once tied his wifes hands and kept her in that state for around four hours. He was being treated by a Mulund West-based psychiatrist. He had regular check-ups; the last one was on April 5, when he enquired if he would be sent to the rehabilitation centre again, the police officer said. It appears he had stabbed his wife multiple times and later died by suicide in his flat, said police inspector Jayendra Sakpal, of the Navghar police station. Based on the statement given by the daughter of the deceased, we have registered an FIR against him. Navi Mumbai: After more than 14 years of wait, Navi Mumbai finally has a district judge and additional sessions court along with a civil judge court. The Belapur court is now also the first purely digital court in the country. HT Image The Belapur court building was inaugurated in May 2017 and functioned as a civil and criminal court. The state government approved the two new courts in October last year. Residents and advocates will no longer have to go to Thane for their cases, spending time and money. The courts were inaugurated by Bombay high court Justice Gautam Patel in the presence of Bombay high court justice Gauri Godse and the principal district and sessions judge of Thane Abhay Mantri who was the chief guest. Also present were Thane collector Ashok Shingare and Navi Mumbai municipal commissioner Rajesh Narvekar. Heaping praise on Navi Mumbai Court Bar Association (NMCBA) president Sunil Mokal, Justice Patel said, Ever since we started the concept of compulsory e-filing in Maharashtra, several bar associations were opposing the concept of digital court. Justice Patel, who is the chairman of the e-filing committee added that Mokal went to him asking for a paperless Belapur court. Every Thursday at 5.15pm sharp, he would reach my office at Bombay high court only for this work. This is the only bar association that wanted it, he said. Mokal told me that he is tired of using papers. He said he did not want any money for scanners or computers. They have a library ready, they have computers and printers and other requirements in place, added Justice Patel. The justice concluded that this is the first purely digital court in India. We are very pleased that today additional district court and sessions court has started here. Earlier for murder and life sentence cases, we had to go to Thane court. We followed up with the government and HC succeeded in getting it on our premises, said Mokal. He added that from Saturday the sessions court will be completely paperless. It is for us advocates to now ensure maximum e-filing, utilise the facility and make it a success, said Mokal. It has been a 14-year struggle for us, with one generation of advocates passing away. Nobody was ready to listen to us. We decided we needed to follow up relentlessly and not rest till we succeed. Welcoming the establishment of the new court, senior advocate Ramesh Tripathi said, We thank the Bar Committee for pursuing the matter and making our dream come true. Justice at the doorstep will truly be possible now. We are confident the family court too will come soon. He added, Litigants and advocates will not have to go all the way to Thane now. Now with the first e-court in the country being established here, we will ensure maximum paperless work. Congress supports inclusive Hindutva of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the party's Maharashtra unit chief Nana Patole said on Saturday, with his statement coming at a time when there have been tensions between the Congress and its ally, Shiv Sena (UBT), over Rahul Gandhi's repeated outbursts against right-wing and Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Veer Savarkar. Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Nana Patole, at Tilak Bhavan, Prabhadevi, in Mumbai, India, on Friday, February 10, 2023. (Photo by Bhushan Koyande/HT Photo) Shivaji's Hindutva was inclusive, and not about bearing grudges against anyone. Our stance is very clearthe Congress is with the Hindutva of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and will remain with it, said Patole. Hindutva, he remarked, is a culture, adding that Shivaji took everyone along, instead of keeping grudges. Rahul Gandhi's outbursts against Savarkar Patole's comments come days after Rahul Gandhi, addressing a press conference in the wake of his disqualification from Lok Sabha after conviction in a criminal defamation case, said, My name is not Savarkar, will not apologise. Gandhi has repeatedly targeted Savarkar over letters written by the Hindutva ideologue, in which he apologised to the British to get himself out of the Cellular Jail. The former Congress chief made similar remarks in November last year as well, during the Maharashtra leg of his Bharat Jodo Yatra. The Sena, which ideologises Savarkar, has repeatedly asked the now-disqualified MP to refrain from mocking him; Gandhi continued to mock Savarkar even after the Sena snapped ties with its ideological ally, the BJP, and joined the grand old party and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). After the former Wayand MP's latest attack, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, considered the architect of MVA, was forced to step in to resolve the issue. (With PTI inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A seven-year-old boy drowned after falling into a 12 feet open drain in Greater Noidas Surajpur area on Thursday evening, officials said on Friday. The drain was under construction by the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA). The family was yet to file a complaint to the police in the matter. (AFP) According to the police, the boy was playing near the drain in Begumpur village when he fell into it at around 5pm, police said. The boy has been identified as Saddam, son of Jasroor, an auto-rickshaw driver. GNIDA has been carrying out construction of a drain in the area. The boy was playing next to the dug-up drain, which is at least 12 feet deep. Water of at least six to seven feet deep was filled in it. The boy accidentally fell into the drain after which he was rushed to a private hospital, where he was declared dead, said Awadhesh Pratap Singh, station house officer of Surajpur Police Station. Postmortem examination was carried out and its report was awaited, said the officer. Meanwhile, villagers alleged negligence on part of GNIDA and the contractor that was carrying out the work. The construction of a deep drain is going on in the area and there are no barricades for the safety of passersby. As a result, the child was killed by drowning into it, said Hasruddin Chaudhary, a resident of Begumpur village and neighbour of the deceaseds father. The family was yet to file a complaint to the police in the matter. Officials of GNIDA said that they were in the process of covering the drain and the water was drained out. Workers engaged in the drain work often asked kids not to play in the area. The drain has been under construction for the last two months. It is being constructed for flow of clean water from the 15MLD Sewage Treatment Plant in Ecotech-2. Now we are covering the drain and water has been drained out as well, said a senior official from GNIDA. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A woman tourist from Faridabad in Haryana died after being hit by the boot cover of an allegedly speeding bus near Shoghi in the outskirts of Shimla, police said Friday. The niece of Geeta Devi, the victim, in her complaint said that a speeding Himachal Road Transport Corporation bus coming from Shimla hit her aunt after which she fainted. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) According to police, the incident happened late Thursday night when the boot lid of the bus swung open, as the driver negotiated a sharp curve, and hit the woman who was standing by the road. The niece of Geeta Devi, the victim, in her complaint said that a speeding Himachal Road Transport Corporation bus coming from Shimla hit her aunt after which she fainted. Geeta Devi was rushed to a hospital in Solan where the doctors declared her brought dead, police said. A case under Sections 279 and 304 A (rash and negligent driving), and 336 (endangering life of people) of IPC has been registered and an investigation is underway, police said. Even as the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress, the mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) government in Bihar, are gearing up for next years parliamentary polls, the delay in the formation of state and district committees in the two parties has come as a dampener for leaders who are waiting to gain a spot in such bodies. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar (PTI Photo) RJDs state and district committees was scheduled to be formed soon after the re-election of state president Jagdanand Singh in September end after organisational polls. According to the people familiar with the matter, the delay in the formation of committees, considered important for organisational set-up, could be attributed to many factors, including party RJD chief Lalu Prasads ailment and later, the legal troubles of his and family members, including deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav. Also Read: Prashant Kishor mocks RJD, BJP after his nominee wins Council seat in Bihar bypoll The partys [RJD] top leaders should have set up the committees much earlier. Its been delayed for last six months. One reason is that RJD chiefs ailment and later legal troubles which has also kept deputy CM also busy for last few months, said a senior RJD leader. He said that the delay in the formation of such committees has surely dampened the spirits of a lot of party leaders and workers who are waiting to find a spot in the committee. In Congress too, the process is delayed despite the election of the state president in December 2022. According to the people, the state and the district Congress committees should have been formed in the last couple of months. Meanwhile, giving certainty that the committees will be formed soon, Kaukab Quadri, former state president, Congress said, The state president has already talked about it in a meeting. The process is on. Recently, in a state Congress meeting, state president Akhilesh Singh raised the issue of the formation of such committees as the earliest. Also Read: Ram Navami violence: BJP, AIMIM teams stopped from visiting hot spots RJDs state spokesperson Chittaranjan Gagan said that the formation of committees got delayed due to various reasons and assured that it will be done soon. There has been delay because of certain technical reasons, Gagan said, adding that the morale of the partys rank and file was high and they would be accommodated in new committees. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON PUNE: Authorities had received numerous complaints from locals and daily commuters as the spot had become a chronic junction of traffic congestion. (HT PHOTO) The city traffic police division and the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) have again permitted two and three-wheelers to travel on Elphinstone Road towards the old Pune-Mumbai highway. Due to the ongoing Metro construction work near the Khadki Railway station, vehicular movement towards the old highway had been discontinued by the concerned authorities. On Wednesday, April 5, MLA Siddharth Shirole, city traffic police, and officials from Khadki Cantonment and the PMC paid a visit to the site and decided to open this road to two and three-wheelers in the first phase. Authorities had received numerous complaints from locals and daily commuters as the spot had become a chronic junction of traffic congestion. Commenting about the development, the Pune Metro recently tweeted, The Maha Metro has completed the work near Khadki Metro Station. Now the Metro will clear the ground section soon and authorities will take a call on allowing the traffic on the stretch. The PMC has already begun work on widening the old Pune-Mumbai Road, and more lanes would be available for traffic movement soon. 2020s Fall Season was a golden period for anime-lovers, as Jujutsu Kaisen took all the attention on it. After Season 1s major success, Kaisen sorcerers expanded their universe by collaborating with popular esports titles like PUBG and Mobile Legends. The release of the Jujutsu Kaisen 0 movie propelled the anime craze further. And now eagle-eyes binge-consumer anime fans are eagerly waiting for the much-anticipated Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Image Credit: MAPPA In Anime Japan 2023, Jujutsu Kaisen voice actors held a panel discussion on the much-anticipated season2. During this panel Satoru Gojos voice actor, Yuichi Nakamura revealed that Season 2 would feature a plethora of exclusive anime-only content. A Twitter user, Myamura posted the English translation of the voice actors panel discussion. Yuichi confirmed that the whole voice actor team commenced their journey with Season 2 dubbing. He said that as a die-heart manga reader, he loves to compare manga and anime side by side, and this new Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 will include lots of anime-only scenes. He also mentioned that they not only enriched the battle scenes with flashy movement but also improvised in each episode. Nakamura as Young Satoru Gojo Yuichi Nakamura (Image Credit: Rotten Tomatoes) Nakamura discussed his time voicing Gojo. He said that he always kept that in mind that Young Gojo has to make a long way of becoming the Satoru Gojo, his character is still in development. But young Gojo is confident, so he tried to voice the character by keeping the touch more rooted. Why an abundance of Anime-only scenes?. The primary idea of adding more exclusive content is to increase the screen time for Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2. In the new season it will cover Hidden Inventory/Premature Death Arc and Shibuya Incident Arc ''. The Hidden Inventory/Premature Death Arc includes only 14 chapters, where the story travels 11 years back when Gojo and Geto Suguru were young students of Jujutsu High. So it was necessary to stretch the 14 chapter only arc for Season 2 as it will air in two parts. Thats why show runners introduce exclusive anime-only scenes. ALSO READ| | 5 strongest Jujutsu Kaisen sorcerers that can blow your mind with their presence Jujutsu Kaiser will return after almost 2 years since Season 1 last episode aired. Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Part 1 will air in the Summer Season 2023, but there is no official launch date, and time. Celina Jaitly, who is married to hotelier Peter Haag and has three sons with him, has reacted to a marriage proposal on Twitter. The actor responded in sarcasm as a Twitter user asked her to marry him and make him a ghar jamai. Celina currently lives with her family at a picturesque location in Austria. Also read: Celina Jaitly schools Twitter user who said transgenders are seen at traffic signals Celina Jaitly with her family. A Twitter user wrote a letter to Celina on Thursday, which read: @CelinaJaitly Best Wishes. My Health is not Good No one to take care of me Before My Health Become Worst Urgently Bring me with you get married me at Earliest I am Ready for Ghar Jamay Save My Life and Health. Reply and Respond. Regards. Vijay Maganlal Vora at Kolkata". She responded to him, I will ask my husband and three kids and revert! Celina Jaitly replied to a Twitter user. Her fans also loved her sarcastic response on Twitter. A fan wrote, Lol, priceless response. Another said in sarcasm, Yeah, right. And I am going to play the adopted son. One more tweeted, That will make his health more worst. Lolzzzz people are really annoying sometimes, means kuch bhi, read a comment. Celina and Peter are parents to 11-year-old twins Winston and Viraaj and five-year-old Arthur. Arthur was born with a twin brother Samsher but the baby died soon after birth. In a 2020 interview with Hindustan Times, Celina said about her kids, They understand that there are two types of growth. There is one very important growth with your family and you grow in life. Another is your own personal growth when you grow as a woman, as a mother, lover. I feel it is very important to pursue your dreams." On how they react to her fame, she had said, They do know that there is something because in Dubai, we used to get photographed and a lot of fans walked up to us whenever we were out. They knew that there is something but we have really kept them detached from this aspect of our lives. There is nothing to hide about the fact, Im very proud of all my achievements but they are being introduced to that side of my life as they grow. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON One murder, two suspects with the same face. It's a conundrum for the police to solve in Gumraah (2023), a thriller which ends up taking very predictable turns. The film begins in a chilling manner with a brutal murder of a man. The culprit is played by Aditya Roy Kapur in his first double role. Eventually, it leads up to the capture of two men for the same crime, and leaves the audience and the police trying to sort out who could be the killer. (Also read: Gumraah trailer: Aditya Roy Kapur stars as identical suspects in this intriguing murder mystery) Gumraah, starring Aditya Roy Kapur and Mrunal Thakur, is a remake of the Tamil film Thadam (2019). Gumraah, directed by Vardhan Ketkar, informs viewers from the beginning that it is 'inspired by true cases'. At the end, the film cites examples from countries like Malaysia, US, the UK, and Germany to name a few where this sort of situation has occurred. After the murder of a young techie, Mrunal Thakur's Shivani Mathur is assigned to the case. Her name seems to be a nod to Rani Mukerji's character from Mardaani (2014) perhaps. The extremely focused and no-nonsense Shivani has her early theories on the case but once her superior ACP Dhiren Yadav (Ronit Roy) gets up to date, he has the whole thing figured out. Dhiren seems to have a previous longstanding vendetta against Arjun Sehgal (Aditya) and has already decided he's guilty. Meanwhile, the police find Sooraj Rana aka Ronnie (also Aditya) and haul him in for the same crime. With two different agendas, Dhiren and Shivani have to figure out who is lying and who is telling the truth. As is the case with most Hindi films these days, this too is a retelling of a south hit. Gumraah is a remake of the Tamil film Thadam (2019) which features Arun Vijay in a double role. But instead of focusing on the murder mystery, within 20-odd minutes of the film, it shifts into a flashback in the lives of Arjun and Sooraj, trying to explain how they got to the night of the murder. It then delves into a romance with the introduction of Janhvi (Vedika) with Arjun, while also juggling Sooraj's side track of a robbery gone wrong with his friend and sidekick Chaddi (Deepak Kalra). The big reveal of how exactly Arjun and Sooraj are tied to one another is also underwhelming. But the film plays it for a big 'aha' moment, which doesn't work. The performances in the film are most perfunctory. There is no real standout here. Aditya separates both characters in a typical manner. One of the men is respectable, while the other is a rogue. Ronit and Mrunal's characters are also opposites in that they too have already assumed guilt of one man over the other. Their dogged beliefs in their convictions lead the second half of the film. The crime thriller has some well-done action sequences and few unintentional laugh-out-loud moments with its dialogues, but overall, it feels like an overlong episode of a television show. The romance detour in the first half feels like a whole another film. Gumraah won't bore you, but it won't keep you excited with what's about to occur next. It's a pattern seen lately in a lot of criminal versus law enforcement thrillers, that the police officers even with their technology and vast manpower, still remain one step behind the culprit, who has thought at least ten to twenty steps ahead. It doesn't convince audiences nearly as well if the whole plot has to be explained to the audience in a 'here's what happened' flashback. After spending time with her mother, actor Kajol last week at the launch of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC), Nysa Devgan is unwinding with some quality time with friends. Earlier this week, Nysa headed out of Mumbai to catch up with friends like Orhan Awatramani on a vacation in Rajasthan. Photos of the friends spending time at the Suryagarh, Jaisalmer were shared on Instagram by Orhan. In it, Nysa enjoyed a camel ride across the desert and a Rajasthani meal in the vacation photos. (Also read: Nysa Devgan joins Orhan Awatramani and friends in Suryagarh, enjoys Rajasthani folk music and food. Watch) Nysa Devgan is staying with friends at Suryagarh, Jaisalmer. Orhan, who is also known as Orry, posted the photos with the caption, "Careful who you make memories with. Those things can last a lifetime @suryagarh #suryagarhjaisalmer." In the series of pics, Orhan, Nysa and their friends are spending time in the sights around Jaisalmer. In the first picture, Nysa leans on Orry with closed eyes and a smile. The friends took a camel ride across the Rajasthani desert. Several other pics show Orry posing at the Surygarh hotel. In the last few pics, the friends enjoy a candlelight meal outdoors. Orry is wearing a blue printed kurta while Nysa was wearing a red printed dress. In the comments sections, fans and friends reacted to the pictures. One fan said, "Nysa is so gorgeous (heart eyes and fire emojis)." Another added, "Welcome to Rajasthan orry sa hukm (folded hands and heart emojis)." Orry's friend Vedant Mahajan commented, "(camel emoji) ka raja (King of the camels)." Orry was also present at last week's NMACC launch event. Kajol and Nysa posed for pics together on the red carpet; veteran actor Rekha had also joined them. Kajol put up their photos from a photoshoot afterwards. She wrote, Mini me and me! Started off all graceful and then we became human. The 19-year-old is the daughter of Kajol and actor Ajay Devgn, who married in 1999. The couple also has a son, Yug Devgan. Nysa finished her schooling at Singapore's Glion Institute of Higher Education and is now studying in Switzerland. Ajay had opened up about her future plans and said, "She is just a teenager. She hasnt told Kajol or me what her final career choice would be. As of now, she is studying overseas. If she decides to pursue a career in the film industry, it will be her choice. As parents, we will always support her." SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Priyanka Chopra has summed up her week-long Mumbai visit by sharing some of the best pictures on Instagram. On Thursday, the actor visited the Siddhivinayak Temple with daughter Malti for the first time after her birth. Before that, she had attended the star-studded premiere of her web series Citadel and attended the two-day launch of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre. Also read: Priyanka Chopra lost many films as she refused to do some scenes which she thought were not worth it: Madhu Chopra Priyanka Chopra has shared pictures from Siddhivinayak Temple and Citadel premiere. Sharing a few pictures from the Siddhivinayak Temple on Hanuman Jayanti, Priyanka wrote, MMs first trip to India had to be completed with Shree Siddhivinayaks blessings #HanumanJayanti #GanpatiBappaMorya. The first picture shows Priyanka holding Malti in her arms inside the temple premises. The second picture shows a priest applying tika on their foreheads. It is followed by a picture of Lord Ganesha at the temple. Preity Zinta, who also lives in Los Angeles just like Priyanka, reacted to the post, Awww Jai Ganapati Bappa. Dia Mirza, Saba Ali Khan, Natasha Poonawalla reacted to the pics with heart emoticons. A fan wrote, Our Indian beauty spreading love to the whole world. @priyankachopra beautiful moments. Spirituality leads to success and helps to be an good positive person. Another wrote, Love that you are teaching her Indian traditions so early! Thanks for sharing the importance of our culture to all your followers. Priyanka also shared an unseen picture of herself from the Citadel premiere and captioned it, Mumbai done right! See you soon. She is seen in a celebratory mood as she raises her drink up in the air. It received a comment from the Instagram handle of Amazon Prime Video: Be honest is this a press tour or is it a secret mission? Amazon Prime's UK handle called it a fashion moment! Priyanka Chopra shared a pic from Citadel premiere. She also took to her Instagram Stories to share a video from the Citadel premiere and captioned it: Mumbai: Mission Complete. Her Citadel co-star Richard Madden had also flown down to India for the premiere. He was on a three-day visit. Priyanka had flown down to India last week with husband Nick Jonas, their daughter Malti and mom Dr Madhu Chopra. Nick went back home after attending the NMACC launch. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Actor-comedian Sunil Grover, who shot to fame as Gutthi on Comedy Nights With Kapil Sharma, is back with a new sitcom United Kachhe. The actor is also gearing up for his big budget film with Shah Rukh Khan, Jawan, which is scheduled for a theatrical release in June this year. However, he has no plans to return to Kapil's show and made it clear that he is happy doing fiction right now. Also read: Kapil Sharma on co-stars' exit from show: 'Except Sunil Grover, can't put everyone else in same category' Sunil Grover in a still from United Kachhe trailer. In his latest show United Kache, Sunil plays Tango, a man from Punjab willing to go to any extent to seetle down in London but he soon finds out that the grass is greener on the other side. In an interview with Hindustan Times, Sunil talked about the light-hearted comedy and also shared his own experience of going abroad for the first time. He also spoke about Jawan, his next big project. Excerpts: Tell us more about United Kachhe on ZEE5. Did you also mistake it for 'kachche (undergarments) on hearing about it for the first time? You assumed right, such is the communication. I also thought it was kachche. Illegal immigrants are called kache (raw) in UK, US and other countries. It is a sitcom based in London and has mostly been shot in the city. Indoor portions are also shot in London for authenticity. The trailer shows you walking on a London street with a bedsheet wrapped around you and a broom in your hand. I play Tango who is unable to sleep properly due to jetlag. His mom says it must be an evil eye and asks him to ward it off. Tona karne jata hai (he goes to enact a spell). Share your experience of shooting for the series overseas. We did a lot of outdoor shot. Many South Asians used to gather around the set. People who gathered to see the shoot at Southhall were so high in number that even in India people don't gather in such large numbers. It turned out to be a little difficult. But they are so warm and welcoming, they called us to their shops and insisted us to eat. Since it was the Diwali season, they welcomed us in their sweet shops and served us sweets. So sweet of them, they didn't even charge us even when we insisted. How was your first experience of travelling abroad. Were you famous at that time? I was 18 when I went abroad for the first time, Canada. It was a connecting flight via London. When I was going to Vancouver, a child was born mid flight and the flight came back. I was like 'what a destiny, I was going abroad for the first time and now I am stuck.' My whole excitement faded away. I missed the connecting flight and was stuck in London for 1.5 days. It wasn't the plan but was a bonus. England was therefore my first overseas visit. After the success of Pathaan, how confident are you about Jawans success. How different is the film from Pathaan? I am very confident and pretty sure. Its a Shah Rukh Khan film and his so many fans are waiting for the film. I am looking forward to Jawan's release. I can't reveal much as the film is still under production. You suffered a heart attack a year ago. Many young celebrities, who are very fit, are getting health scares. What do you think is the reason behind this? The organs in our body are not aware who is popular and who's not. They can stop working in any body, they also don't know about morals. A lalaji had a health problem and said 'maine to aajtak kisi ka bura bhi nahi kiyo, mere saath ye ke haigyo (I never harmed anyone, why this happened to me)'.The body is not aware who did what. The thief who ran away with his gold chain turned out to be healthy. What I am saying is, that running is important. Take care of health, anyone can have a health issue. If someone suffers a health problem unfortunately, face it and come out of it victorious to lead a healthy life. Do follow a health routine and what doctors say about eating or not eating certain foods. Neem-hakim ke chakkar mein na padein (don't be fooled by cons and imposters). Your character in Comedy Nights continues to be the most popular character of yours. Kapil has said in his interviews over several years that you are welcome on his show. Are you open to working with him again? Abhi to aisa koi...ya to pujhwalo fir aap (there is nothing like that, or ask him then). I am also busy right now and enjoying what I am doing. He is also busy and doing good work. I am also doing good work. I have already enjoyed my phase of non-fiction and am currently liking the fiction setup, gaining new experiences as a performer. I am having fun. There are no such plans right now. Here are todays top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Indias former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan is seen.(Reuters) Ex-RBI governor Raghuram Rajan says banking system headed for more trouble Raghuram Rajan the former International Monetary Fund chief economist who predicted the global financial crisis more than a decade ago warned that the banking system is headed for more turmoil after the rescues of Silicon Valley Bank and Credit Suisse. Read more Top secret US documents on Ukraine leak: What they reveal on war plan Secret documents which detailed US and NATO's plans to help prepare Ukraine for an offensive against Russia in the spring were widely shared on social media platforms, the New York Times reported as the Pentagon said that it is assessing the security breach. Read more Gumraah movie review: Aditya Roy Kapur's double turn in this typical thriller is quite average One murder, two suspects with the same face. It's a conundrum for the police to solve in Gumraah (2023), a thriller which ends up taking very predictable turns. Read more Babar Azam gives 'Virat Kohli treatment to Kane Williamson, sends internet in overdrive with two-line tweet Babar Azam has fast-developed a new way of winning hearts. If his silken cover drives were not reason enough, the Pakistan captain has sort of made a habit of supporting his counterparts in their difficult times. Read more World Health Day 2023: 7 natural supplements to take every day for optimal health Your immune system is the best defence against seasonal illnesses and infections that can disrupt your mental peace and impact you daily routine. It is important to keep your immunity in good shape to fight diseases and maintain optimal health. Read more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh on Friday accused the Punjab government of trying to create panic ahead of Baisakhi, and criticised the heavy deployment of security personnel in and around Talwandi Sabo area of Bathinda district where Takht Damdama Sahib is located. He also reiterated his appeal to fugitive radical preacher Amritpal Singh to surrender. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh (HT) Takht Damdama Sahib is one of the five takhts or seats of temporal authority of Sikhism. Also read: Amritpal Singh went through surgery to look like Bhindranwale: Report Addressing a special gathering at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo, the head of Sikhs highest temporal seat urged members of the community to assemble in large numbers for Baisakhi to show that they were not scared of anything. He added that the heavy deployment has adversely impacted devotees visiting the site, which recorded only 10% of the usual Baisakhi rush ahead of the April 14 celebrations. Every year, we see a big gathering which starts from April 5 (for Baisakhi). But (at present), the number of sangat is just 10%. The reason is the panic created by the government, he said. Baisakhi, one of Punjabs biggest festivals in north India, marks the foundation day of the Khalsa Panth (Sikh order) by the tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh. It also marks the onset of harvest season. I want to tell the Punjab government through this platform that this strictness has created a panic, and it should be ended, he added. The gathering comes in the backdrop of a the Punjab polices major crackdown on Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh and his aides, wanted in several criminal cases involving allegations of spreading communal disharmony, attempt to murder and attacking policemen. Among these was the dramatic February 23 siege by thousands of supporters of Waris Punjab De of a police station in Amritsar district, which forced the state government to free Amritpal Singhs aide Lovepreet Tufan. Amritpal Singh has since been linked to a larger conspiracy involving the Khalistani secessionist movement, with intelligence agencies saying he is fast radicalising young men in the border state. Speaking to reporters, the Jathedar again asked radical preacher Amritpal Singh to surrender. I had earlier appealed to him. He should surrender, he said. Expressing concern over the fake narrative being spread against Sikhs in the mainstream media and social media platforms, the jathedar also announced a new platform to track and bust anti-Sikh content being circulated online. Communal riots during Ram Navami in West Bengal and Maharashtra were absent on the national media but Punjab, where no riot took place since police action began against Amritpal, was painted as a highly volatile state. Media should desist from the wrong portrayal of Sikhs as separatists and anti-national, he said. Also read: High alert for Baisakhi, Punjab cops' leaves cancelled amid Amritpal Singh hunt He added that the Sikh community is not interested in adopting a way of confrontation and is ready for dialogues with the governments. But in the last 75 years, numerous promises were made to the community but none of them was fulfilled, he said. He, however, was quick to add that Akal Takht would stand with media organisations facing oppression from the state. He also directed the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the apex religious body of the Sikhs, to file a complaint against terming of flags of erstwhile Sikh rule as Khalistan flags by police. The Jathedar lamented that the SGPC had earlier too been told to file a complaint, but it did not take any meaningful step in the matter. Indias democracy is not in danger but dynasty and family-based politics is, Union home minister Amit Shah said on Friday, as he hit out at the Opposition over disruptions that marred the recently concluded Budget session of Parliament, and said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is on course to cross 300 seats in the 2024 polls. Union minister Amit Shah in Kaushambi on Friday. (PTI)(HT_PRINT) Also read: You proved me wrong: Muslim artist to PM Modi; says thought BJP never gives' At two functions in Uttar Pradeshs Kaushambi and Azamgarh towns, Shah launched projects worth 5,180 crore, criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his comments in the UK last month, and said that abuses heaped on Prime Minister Narendra Modi only make the lotus the BJPs electoral symbol bloom. They (the Opposition) claim that democracy is in danger. I say that it is their family-ism which is in danger. They say the idea of India is in danger but it is the idea of the dynasty that is in danger. The politics of dynasty and family autocracy is in danger, Shah told an audience in Kaushambi. They kept democracy bound in casteism and nepotism for years but Modiji defeated these family, caste and appeasement-based political parties, he added. Shah began his speech in Kaushambi by asking the audience who they will elect in 2024, eliciting loud cries of Modi in response. The Modi Modi chants are not only the voice of Kaushambi but also the entire nation, Shah said. He attacked the Opposition, saying for first time in the countrys history, Parliaments budget session ended without any discussions. The session was nearly washed out because of protests by ruling party members, who demanded Rahul Gandhi apologise for his comments in the UK, and opposition parties, which wanted a joint parliamentary committee probe into allegations of fraud against the Adani Group. Shah said opposition parties did not allow the House to function because of Gandhis disqualification as an MP. He lost his seat after a Surat court convicted him in a criminal defamation case and sentenced him to two years imprisonment. That verdict is now under challenge. The Supreme Court made this law through its decision. Former PM Manmohan Singh wanted to reform this law at that time to save Lalu Prasad Yadav and it was Rahul Gandhi who had stopped him, he said, adding that 17 lawmakers had lost their seats under this law. But when Rahul Gandhi faced the same consequence strictly as per law, the Congress blocked Parliament, wearing black clothes in protest. I want to remind Rahul Gandhi that it is the duty of every citizen to follow the law. You were an MP. Challenge this decision, but you have chosen to sacrifice the invaluable time of Parliament over this. The people will not forgive you, he said. In contrast, he said, PM Modi secured India, enriched India, and earned respect for India across the globe. But the Congress chants slogans threatening to dig a grave for him. I want to tell the Congress that every time they hurled abuses at Modiji, the people of India made the lotus bloom, he added. Blaming Gandhi for defaming India abroad, Shah said that the BJP was ready to take on his fake narrative in India. What does he think? Are people not watching his activities? The people of India observe everything and decide accordingly. For the last ten years they have been watching the opposition, hence rest assured that this time around the people of India will elect Modiji again with more than 300 seats, Shah said. Gandhi, who spoke about democracy and Parliament in the UK, has repeatedly said that his comments did not insult the country. In Azamgarh, Shah said the district was notorious for terrorism during the regime of the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), but was witnessing development under PM Modi. He recounted that links of terrorists exploding a bomb in a Gujarat temple were found in Azamgarh in the past. He was speaking after laying the foundation stone of Hariharpur Music college and various other development projects in the district. Friends, I clearly remember that I was the home minister in Gujarat. There were bomb blasts in Ahmedabad. The Ahmedabad police were looking for the masterminds of bomb blasts all over the country. The main mastermind of the bomb blasts was arrested from Azamgarh, he said. He appeared to be referring to the 2008 Ahmedabad blasts, which killed 56 people. The work of laying the foundation of Harihar Sangeet Mahavidyalaya has been done in Azamgarh today to give respect to the heritage of Azamgarh where the Harihar Sangeet Gharana flourished, he added. Yogiji was rightly saying that Azamgarh was once known for Harihar Sangeet Gharana and its great vocalists. But its image was tarnished by the SP and BSP governments. He also praised the state government for ensuring round-the-clock power supply and ending riots. He asked people to take a pledge to make Modi the PM again in 2024. Also read: BJP to continue fight against corruption, nepotism: PM Modi Earlier in the day, Shah said the Congress, SP and BSP tried to stop the Ram temple from becoming a reality in Ayodhya, and highlighted the BJPs efforts in effectively abrogating Article 370, which bestowed special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmir is ours and we have done the work of ending terrorism in it. By abolishing Article 370, we have made Kashmir ours forever, he added. Addressing the gathering in Kaushambi, Yogi Adityanath said that for the past three years, India was providing free rations to 800 million citizens under the PMs leadership at a time when our neighbouring Pakistan is facing hunger. Today, the world is looking towards India to see how governments should function, he said. Responding to Shahs comments, Congresss national media panellist Surendra Rajput said, This is the first time that the ruling party has stalled proceedings of Parliament to cover up its failures. The ruling party is, however, in turn, accusing the opposition of stalling Parliament. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Before coming to India and taking the reins of Waris Punjab De, Amritpal Singh went to Georgia for cosmetic surgery to look like Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, The Indian Express reported citing intelligence sources. The information has been sourced from Amritpal Singh's close aides lodged in Dibrugarh Central Jail after being arrested in the crackdown on Waris Punjab De. Read | Amritpal Singh trained by ISI in Georgia, linked to SFJ: Intel Before coming to India, Amritpal Singh was in Georgia where he believed to have undergone cosmetic surgery apart from ISI training. The radical Sikh leader is on the run since March 18 and evaded arrest so far. From hiding, he sent messages to his followers and condemned that he is being called a fugitive. Before coming to India, Amritpal Singh was a truck driver in Dubai and his emergence in the Punjab scene was through social media as he used to take part in ClubHouse audio room discussions but was never a speaker. Reports said Deep Sidhu did not like Amritpal Singh and even blocked his number as Amritpal's leaning was more towards Khalistan. But after Deep Sidhu's death, Amritpal Singh was announced as the chief of Waris Punjab De on Facebook and soon after he came to India. When Amritpal Singh arrived in India, he was a baptised Sikh and started dressing like Bhindranwale. Like Bhindranwale, he started moving with a band of armed followers to soon gain the moniker Bhindranwale 2.0. During his Dubai stay, Amritpal Singh came in contact with the Pakistani spy agency ISI, officials earlier said. In Georgia, he was trained by ISI as well, intelligence officials claimed. "During his stay in Dubai, which is a hub for ISI agents, Amritpal Singh was offered money as part of a well-orchestrated plan to revive militancy in Punjab. He was sent to Georgia for training by ISI before his flight to India, an official told HT earlier. After Amritpal Singh escaped the police dragnet, several of his photos were issued in the public so that he can be identified easily. In those photos, it was clear that Amritpal Singh sported different looks at different times and it was only recently that he started styling like Bhindranwale. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Formalising the parting of ways with the Janata Party, delegates attending the convention called by L. K. Advani today constituted a new party which they christened Bharatiya Janata Party and elected with one voice , Atal Behari Vajpayee as its first President. Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani at the newly formed BJP rally at Ramlila Maidan on April 6, 1980. (Ajit Kumar/HT Archive) The new party will have a separate constitution, separate flag and separate election symbol and would not lay claim either on the haldhar symbol of the Janata Party or its 7, Jantar Mantar Road headquarters, Vajpayee told a Press conference soon after the convention. Sikandar Bakht, former Union Minister of Works and Housing, proposed Vajpayees name and Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, former Chief Minister of Rajasthan seconded the proposal. The delegates empowered Vajpayee to nominate the national executive and State committees. At his Press conference, Vajpayee announced that Vijaya Raje Scindia, MP and Ram Jethmalani MP would be among the three vice-presidents. The third name was to be announced later. L. K. Advani, MP, Sikandar Bakht and Murli Manohar Joshi will be the general secretaries of the party. A fourth general secretary will be named later. Two secretaries have also been appointed -- Suraj Bhan, MP and K. Krishnamoorthy. Sunder Singh Bhandari will I be the treasurer of the new party. Advani earlier announced that a three-member committee consisting of Shanti Bhushan. MP, Ram Jethmalani, MP and S. S. Bhandari, MP, would prepare a draft constitution, and hold talks with the Election Commission for finalising the election symbol of the new party. Vajpayee said at the Press conference and also earlier during his presidential speech at the convocation, that enrolment of primary members and elections for the various levels would be undertaken with urgency and completed after the assembly elections. He would hold the reins of president, ship till a duly-elected chief took over from him. The first national convention of the new party, he declared, would be held soon thereafter and in any case within less than a year of the formation of the new party. The Bharatiya Janata Party, he declared, re-affirmed, its faith in Indian nationalism, secularism based on respect for all religions (sarva-dharma-samabhava) and socialism based on the Gandhian principles of decentralisation of political and economic power. We want to transform the politics of power into politics of principles, politics of convenience into politics of commitment and politics of cunning into the politics of character, he said. This, he added, was the only way of re-establishing the credibility of the political system and of political leaders themselves. Addressing the more than 4,300 delegates, Vajpayee said that the danger of authoritarianism was looming larger than ever over the Indian political scene, the extra constitutional centres of power were again gaining ascendancy, and officialdom had been paralysed with sycophancy being at a premium. We know that the task before us is arduous, the path is long, and it will require a super-human task to win back the confidence of the people once gain. We are entering a tunnel the other end of which is yet not visible. But it is both a challenge and an opportunity. Let us accept the challenge and transform it into a golden opportunity, he said. At his Press conference, Vajpayee emphasised that all the op- position parties should put up single candidates against the Congress-I in the Assembly elections. The criterion for this would be which candidates would have the maximum chances of winning. While not specifying with which party the Bharatiya Janata Party would like to have electoral understanding. Vajpayee said that he wanted that the Congress-I candidates should be opposed only by combined Opposition candidates. Asked what would be the first task of the new party, Vajpayee said it would be to mobilise the Indian people to meet the growing challenge of dynastic dictatorship. His party would be rural development oriented, he told a questioner. It would seek to fulfil the aspirations of Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan. He was particularly harsh on the Union Governments decisions to declare almost the whole of Assam as disturbed area and said it was unfortunate that the politics of consensus was given up and the State handed over to the armed forces. He suggested that the cut-off point for detection of foreign nationals could be 1961 but counselled the Government to hold talks with the students and others in Assam in this connection It was wrong on the part of the Prime Minister, he said, to declare in Parliament that the Opposition leaders had agreed to 1971 as the cut-off year. Earlier, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, who was the president of the Delhi Pradesh Janata Party, placed the report of the seven-member committee which met last night to discuss the name, flag and constitution of the new party. He said that the maximum number of delegates had supported the name Bharatiya Janata Party. About the flag, it will be again the green and saffron in the ratio of 1:2, as in the Janata Party flag. but the two colour bands would be vertical in the new partys flag in place of horizontal as in the Janata Party flag. The green band would be near the mast. As for the symbol, four were being considered: burning torch within a circle, the Sun, a farmer milking the cow, and a kisan harvesting his crop. Soon after Vajpayees speech, voluntary donations started pouring in, with one individual pledging 11,001 and a Bombay committee promising to raise 100,000. Todays session began with speeches by women delegates mainly such as Jayashree Banerjee, a former Madhya Pradesh Minister. Sushila Athwala, head of the womens wing of the Janata Party in Pune and Begum Khurshid Kidwai, former Deputy Chairman of the Delhi Metropolitan Council. Cheetahs released into the wild are exploring their territory and there is nothing to worry about, a senior environment ministry official said after one of the Namibian cheetahs strayed out of the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh a few days back and was rescued from a forest area in neighbouring Shivpuri district on Thursday evening. Oban is among four cheetahs imported from Namibia in September 2022 (Screengrab of video footage)(HT_PRINT) Oban, one of the male Namibian cheetahs, escaped from the boundaries of Kuno National Park and was spotted in an agricultural field in a village near Shivpuri district on April 2. The officials had been tracking Oban's movement with the help of a tracker attached to his collar. (Also Read | Cheetah brought from Namibia to India gives birth to four healthy cubs) The feline reached the Bairad area in Shivpuri district on Wednesday via Vijaypur's Jhad Badora and Parvati Badoda areas and also hunted a blackbuck as he was hungry, reported PTI quoting officials. The cheetah monitoring team decided to rescue the animal and finally caught him around 5pm on Thursday. A female cheetah - Asha - has also reportedly been also wandering in the reserve area as the monitoring team keeps an eye on her movements. Additional Director General of Forests S P Yadav said such movement of cheetahs is a natural phenomenon and there is nothing to worry about, reported PTI. "Four cheetahs have been released completely. They are free ranging in the wild. Their movement is natural. We are happy that cheetahs are moving and exploring the areas and based on the exploration they identify their suitable habitat," Yadav, who is also the head of Project Tiger, said in an interview with PTI. "It is a very good sign that they are exploring other areas. It's a natural phenomenon and there is nothing to worry about. But I must tell you that every cheetah which has been released in Kuno is monitored round the clock," he said. On the issue of potential animal-human conflicts, the official said "Cheetah mitras" have been appointed to familiarise the local populations with the felines. "And if at all any conflict takes place with small animals like sheep, goats etc, our compensation plan is ready. They (owners) will be adequately compensated," Yadav said. (With PTI inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Constitutional statesmanship requires deliberation and dialogue between the judiciary and the executive instead of public grandstanding, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud said on Friday. (L-R) Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, governor Gulab Chand Kataria, President Droupadi Murmu, CJI Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud and Union law minister Kiren Rijiju in Guwahati. (Twitter) Speaking at the platinum jubilee celebrations of Gauhati high court, the CJI emphasised that for judges and citizens, the constitutional power is reflected in the values of the Preamble fraternity, dignity and equality. These parameters provide the beacon for the unity of our nation, CJI Chandrachud said, as he underscored that the confidence of the citizens on the judiciary lies in a fierce sense of the judiciarys own independence. Relations between the executive and judiciary on the administrative side must be marked by a sense of robust statesmanship. All three arms of the state judiciary, executive and legislative are engaged in the common task of nation building. But on the judicial side, the confidence and faith of citizens in the judiciary lies in a fierce sense in our own judicial independence, he said. The CJI said that the legitimacy of the judiciary as an institution depends on the faith which we command of our citizens. And that faith is determined by one factor and one factor alone, which is whether we become the first and last choice of access to citizens in times of distress and need. Constitutional statesmanship above all, whether it is on the administrative or judicial side, requires deliberation, dialogue and not public grandstanding, he said. The CJI added that the role of judiciary is to ensure that law and administration should uphold justice and not thwart it. Speaking on the role of the Gauhati high court during Emergency, he said: It is during tough times that the tough judges get going. We must recognise the challenges that plague our judicial system, particularly regarding access to justice. Technology by itself is not a panacea. It must be supported by an eco-system to actualise the benefits that are intended. He said that when the law is wisely applied and interpreted in the hands of judges who have a feel for social reality and compassion in the application of law, it takes a step forward towards realising justice. But when the law is wielded without principle, it can carry the burden of arbitrariness, he said. Union minister for law and justice Kiren Rijiju, who was also present at the event, said there are times when uninformed debates are held regarding the independence of the judiciary in India. He added that in times of digital, social and electronic media, we sometimes become victims of elements who dont allow India to progress. In the last few months, I have observed that attempts are being made to portray a situation where the government and judiciary have differences. I feel a difference of opinion is an integral part of our democracy. That difference cant be said to be a confrontation (between government and judiciary), he said. There can be mat-bhed (differences of opinion) between us, but there shouldnt be any mann-bhed (difference of mind). It should not be seen that we (the government and judiciary) are opposed to each other. At a time when India is emerging as a global power, there are elements who are not happy with our rise. We shouldnt fall prey to their designs. The judiciary, executive and legislature have to work in tandem, he added. Rijiju said that with the beginning of the third phase of the e-courts project, Indian judiciary will become completely digital and paperless. He informed that under the project, 540 courts under the jurisdiction of Gauhati high court have become digital and that the proceedings can be seen online. The northeast has a rich ethnic and linguistic diversity. In such regions, institutions need to have a lot of sensitivity and responsibility as divergent traditions and laws govern the lives of people of the region.. By respecting the sentiments of the indigenous people, Gauhati high court has helped enhance the ethos of peaceful coexistence in the region, President Droupadi Murmu, who was the chief guest at the event, said. In his remarks, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma spoke about the history of the high court and how it has always strived to uphold the rights of the people, including during the time of Emergency. He extended all support from his government for the digitisation work being undertaken in courts in the state. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has dialled three top Opposition leaders Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, his Tamil Nadu counterpart MK Stalin and former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray in an attempt to build on the strong sense of unity between 19 opposition parties during the recently concluded budget session of Parliament. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. (PTI) Also read: My kings is...: Kiran Kumar Reddy hits at out Congress after joining BJP A Congress leader close to Kharge said that the party chief spoke to Stalin, Kumar and Thackeray in the past two days on the current political situation and the urgent need to build up stronger unity among key Opposition constituents. The leaders also discussed the prospects of a meeting of Opposition parties. The Congress is an ally of Stalins Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu and Kumars Janata Dal (United) in Bihar. The party is also a part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance with Thackerays faction of the Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party. The leader cited above, who did not wish to be named, said the Congress will soon call a meeting of opposition party leaders in Delhi. On March 27, Kharge had hosted a dinner for Opposition floor leaders of 18 parties. Uddhav had skipped this dinner. The Opposition unity is a work in progress. Kharge had a discussion with the three leaders. He will also talk to other parties, the Congress leader cited above said. Kharges talks with Kumar, Stalin and Thackeray assume significance as the Bihar chief minister asked the Congress in February to take the lead and form a formal alliance. If you listen to me, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will not get 100 seats, Kumar had told the Congress at a meeting. Stalin, too, took the initiative and chaired a meeting last Monday on social justice, which saw the participation of 19 Opposition parties. The Congress presidents call to Thackeray signals the principal opposition partys willingness to continue its alliance with Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), days after the latter expressed its reservations about Congress leader Rahul Gandhis comments on VD Savarkar. Gandhi, while fending off questions about whether he will apologise for his remarks on the Modi surname and comments in the UK, had said on March 25, My name is not Savarkar, my name is Gandhi and Gandhi does not offer an apology to anyone. The comment kicked up a row with Thackeray skipping the March 27 dinner and saying it would open cracks in the opposition alliance. A second senior Congress leader said that at the meeting on March 27, at least three Opposition members asked Kharge to call a meeting of the party leaders to take the unity forward. Also read: Congress releases second list of 42 Karnataka candidates; suspense over Kolar continues Nineteen Opposition parties have already decided to take their fight against the government outside Parliament, through meetings and joint programmes. During the second half of the Budget Session, at least 16 parties disrupted proceedings, seeking a probe by a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) on allegations of fraud and stock manipulation against the Adani Group. The conglomerate has denied the charges. It has also been decided that the Opposition parties will call for a broadest possible secular democratic understanding, with an eye on the 2024 elections, the second senior leader said, seeking anonymity. Kharges calls can also be seen in this context. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Congress on Friday made it clear that its ally Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) may have its view, but 19 like-minded Opposition parties are convinced that the charges against the conglomerate are real and very serious. The Congress was reacting to NCP chief Sharad Pawar's statement that the Adani Group was seemingly targeted by the US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research. Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar. (Kunal Patil/HT file) In an interview to NDTV, Pawar backed the Adani Group and criticised the narrative around the Hindenburg Research's report on the conglomerate. The Congress said all 20 like-minded Opposition parties, including the NCP, are united and will be together in saving the Constitution and democracy from the BJP's assaults, news agency PTI reported. Also Read | 'Indian media rare species': Mahua Moitra's dig after Sharad Pawar backs Gautam Adani "Such statements were given by other individuals too earlier and there was a ruckus in Parliament for a few days but this time out of proportion importance was given to the issue. The issues that were kept, who kept them, we had never heard of these people who gave the statement, what is the background. When they raise issues that cause a ruckus across the country, the cost is borne by the country's economy, we cannot disregard these things. It seems this was targeted," Pawar said. "An individual industrial group of the country was targeted, that is what it seems. If they have done anything wrong, there should be an inquiry," the NCP leader added. Asked about Pawar's remarks, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the NCP may have its view but 19 like-minded Opposition parties are convinced that the "PM-linked Adani Group" issue is real and very serious. "But all 20 like-minded Opposition parties including NCP are united and will be together in saving the Constitution & our democracy from the BJP's assaults and in defeating the BJP's divisive and destructive political, social and economic agenda," Ramesh said. The Congress, NCP and the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray are in an alliance in Maharashtra called the Maha Vikas Aghadi. Proceedings of both houses of Parliament have witnessed repeated adjournments since the beginning of the Budget Session over Hindenburg Research's report on the Adani Group. While opposition parties have been demanding a Joint Parliamentary Probe into the Adani issue among other issues, the BJP has been demanding an apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his remarks in London. (With inputs from PTI) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 30-year-oldDalit woman was allegedly raped and set on fire by a man in Rajasthans Barmer district, police said on Friday. Police officials said the accused Shakur Khan belonged to the same village as the woman. (Representative Photo) The woman, who has two children, suffered 40-50% burn injuries in the assault and was in a critical condition, officials familiar with the matter said. She was first admitted to a government hospital in Balmora and was later referred to a higher medical institution in Jodhpur, the officials added. Police officials said the accused Shakur Khan belonged to the same village as the woman. On Thursday, when the woman was alone, the accused broke into the house and raped her, officials added. The accused set the woman on fire and fled from the spot after her neighbours gathered at the spot on hearing her scream, officials familiar with the development said, requesting anonymity. The incident took place on Thursday evening. The accused is currently absconding and police are searching for him, Nitesh Arya, Barmers additional superintendent of police said. Police have registered a case under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 376 (punishment for rape ), 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 450 (house-trespass in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment for life) and other sections of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, officials familiar with the matter said. Police said that the victims statement could not be recorded as she was not in a condition to talk. Former Congress leader Anil Antony on Friday welcomed ex-Andhra Pradesh chief minister and another former Congressman Kiran Kumar Reddy to the BJP with an emperor jibe against the grand old party. Anil Antony (left) joined BJP in presence of Union minister Piyush Goyal (right) (Twitter Photo) Also Read | 'My king is very intelligent': Ex-Andhra CM's jab as he swaps Cong for BJP Antony, the son of Congress veteran and former defence minister AK Antony, joined the BJP a day ago, after leaving the Congress in January, when he took a stand against BBC's documentary on prime minister Narendra Modi; though the documentary was blocked by the Union government, it received support from the opposition parties, including the Congress. Welcome Kiran Kumar Reddy to the @BJP4India! Glad you have also joined the organization that is working for India's core national interests and public interests without prejudice and bias. How many more should say that the emperor has no clothes before the grand royals tweeted Antony on Friday. It was not immediately clear who he referred to as emperor here, though grand royals was used clearly for the Gandhi family: former party chief Sonia Gandhi, her son and another former chief Rahul, and daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. My king is very intelligent Reddy, the last chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh before Telangana was carved out of it in June 2014, took a veiled jibe at the Congress leadership, blaming it for the party getting damaged in all states. They don't take the opinion of the leaders. It is not the story of one state. It is a story throughout the country. There is an old saying - my king is very intelligent, he doesn't think on his own, and he doesn't listen to anyone's advice, remarked the former CM, addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters shortly after his induction. Dharma to work for a family Antony, though, was more direct in Thursday's press conference. Today, several Congress workers and leaders believe it is their 'dharma' to work for a family. My dharma is to work for the country, he said. Also Read | 'Betrayed his father on Maundy Thursday': Congress attacks Anil Antony Though Mallikarjun Kharge is the incumbent president, the real power, allege BJP leaders and Congress critics, continues to be with the Gandhi family. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Shows Sanghs fear of history': Kerala CM reacts to NCERT's move on Mughals Joining the chorus against NCERT removing chapters on Mughal history from its textbooks, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday said the move shows constant fear of history' of the Sangh Parivarread more Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan (PTI) Thieves storm Washington Apple Store, steal iPhones worth 4 crore Thieves broke into an Apple Store at a mall in Washington and stole iPhones worth $500,000 ( 4 crore). To avoid the security system being set off due to intrusion, the thieves broke into a neighbouring business called Seattle Coffee Gear, local news website Kings5 reportedread more. RCB name Rajat Patidar and Reece Topley's replacements for remainder of IPL 2023 Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Friday named Wayne Parnell and Vyshak Vijay Kumar as replacements for the injured Reece Topley and Rajat Patidar respectively for the remainder of IPL 2023read more Constipation can cause these common skin issues; dermats on tips to treat Your skin can tell a lot about your overall health. Just as dry skin is an indicator of dehydration, acne and pimple may show up at times when you have constipation. The reason this may happen is because ofread more. Shah Rukh Khan plants kiss on specially-abled fan as he tells him 'I love you', fans say 'ek hi dil kitni baar jitoge' Shah Rukh Khan attended the Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Royal Challenger Bangalore's Indian Premier League (IPL) match in Kolkata on Thursday. While several visuals of the actor from the city's stadium haveread more. 5 Best Butt-Lifting Exercises Did you know exercise can help you build and tone your glutes by increasing muscle strength? Read more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In another setback to the Congress party, former Andhra chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy on Friday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Reddy was the last chief minister of united Andhra Pradesh before Telangana was carved out from it. Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy. Addressing a press conference at BJP headquarters in New Delhi, the four-time MLA said he had never imagined that he had to leave Congress, and blamed his move on wrong decisions by the party leadership. Hitting out at the Congress leadership for its inability to accept people's verdict and make course corrections, Reddy said they believe they are correct and all others, including the people of India, are wrong. What has happened is, state after state, due to bad decisions of Congress high command, the party is getting damaged in all states. They don't interact with people. They don't take the opinion of the leaders. It is not the story of one state. It is a story throughout the country, he said. Taking a veiled jibe at Congress leadership, Reddy said, There is an old saying - my king is very intelligent, he doesn't think on his own, and he doesn't listen to anyone's advice. Reddy contrasted the rise of the BJP with the decline of the Congress since 1984 and lauded the ruling party's leaders led by Modi for their hard work and commitment towards the nation. They have clarity of thought and consistency, and taking courageous decisions is the hallmark of the government, he said. Reddy's induction into the BJP comes a day after former defence minister AK Antony's son Anil Antony switched to the saffron party and slammed a section of the Congress leadership for "serving the interests of a single family" instead of working for the country. (With agency inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The last chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh Kiran Kumar Reddy joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday, just weeks after the four-time Congress MLA sent a one-line resignation letter to party president Mallikarjun Kharge. Kiran Kumar Reddy joined the BJP at the partys headquarters in Delhi on Friday. (Photo by Vipin Kumar / Hindustan Times) Soon after his induction to the BJP, Reddy hit out at the Congress high command, alleging that they did not consider the opinion of party leaders. He said the party was getting damaged in all states and noted that he had never imagined he would leave the Congress. There is an old saying my king is very intelligent, he doesnt think on his own, and he doesnt listen to anyones advice, Reddy said, taking a swipe at the Congress leadership. He further said that the bad decisions of the Congress leadership was the main reason why the party was losing its footprint in other states. However, this is not the first time Reddy has resigned from the Congress. He had quit the party in 2014 after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and formed his own party Jai Samaikyandhra. He later rejoined the Congress in 2018 but mostly remained politically inactive.However, he was mostly inactive in the 2019 general elections and remained absent during the Bharat Jodo Yatra when it was passing through Andhra Pradesh. It was being speculated that Reddy was soon going to jump ships to join the saffron partys Telangana unit. His joining ceremony was held at the BJP headquarters in Delhi where Union minister Prahlad Joshi, partys national general secretary Arun Singh and OBC Morcha national president K. Laxman were present. Many members of Kiran Kumar Reddys family were in the Congress. When I met him some time ago, he told me that he was influenced by PM Modi. Today he is taking a big leap and joining the BJP. He will strengthen our fight against corruption because his image as an MLA and minister has been very clean. It will be a big boost for the BJP in Andhra Pradesh, Joshi said during Reddys induction to the party. Congress veteran A K Antonys son Anil Antony, who left the Congress to join the BJP on Sunday, welcomed Reddy to the saffron party. Welcome Kiran Kumar Reddy ji to the @BJP4India! Glad you have also joined the organization that is working for Indias core national interests and for public interests without prejudice and bias. How many more should say that the emperor has no clothes before the grand royals realize ? he said in a tweet. Another NPA (Non-performing asset?!) goes to BJP, Congress MP Manickam Tagore tweeted soon after Reddys induction to the BJP. Former Congress leader and last chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh, Kiran Kumar Reddy, on Friday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of Union minister Pralhad Joshi in the national capital. Kiran Kumar Reddy joined the BJP on Friday. (Vipin Kumar/HT photo) He had quit the Congress on March 11. Soon after his induction into the BJP, Reddy hit out at the Congress high command apparent reference to the Gandhi family for its inability to accept peoples verdict and make a course correction. Reddy said this is the reason why he left the Congress. My king is very intelligent. He does not think on his own and he does not listen to anyones advice, he said, attacking his former party leaders. They believe they are correct and all others, including the people of India, are wrong, he added, accusing them of being unable to analyse repeated electoral failures of the party. He said the Congress was getting damaged in all states and that the partys bad decisions was the main reason why it was losing its footprint in the country. The four-time former MLA said the Congress wants authority to control but doesnt want to work hard or take any responsibility. Reddy lauded the BJP leaders, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for their hard work and commitment towards the nation and its development. Its (BJPs) leadership has clarity of thought and consistency, and taking courageous decisions is the hallmark of the government, he said. In a one line letter to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on March 11, Reddy said: Please accept this letter as my resignation from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress. It is not for the first time that Reddy quit the Congress. In 2014, following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, he had quit the party and formed his own party, Jai Samaikyandhra. In 2018, he returned to the Congress, after his party failed, but remained politically inactive. He also remained inactive during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the Bharat Jodo Yatra when it was passing Andhra Pradesh. Many members of Kiran Kumar Reddys family were in the Congress. When I met him some time ago, he told me that he was influenced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Today, he is taking a big leap and joining the BJP. He will strengthen our fight against corruption because his image as an MLA and minister has been very clean. It will be a big boost for the BJP in Andhra Pradesh, Joshi said. On Reddys move, Congress MP Manickam Tagore tweeted: Another NPA (non-performing asset?!) goes to BJP. (With PTI inputs) The tourism department, government of Goa, has issued show cause notices to the two hotels wherein foreign tourists were allegedly attacked by the hotel staff. Goa tourists attack: Hotels issued notices by state tourism department The department, while seeking action, maintained that these hotels failed to provide security to their guests. In the notice, the hotel/resort owners have been asked as to why action should not be taken against them. Both hotels/guest houses have been asked to submit their replies within seven days, the state tourism department said in a statement on Friday. Two incidents of foreign tourists being allegedly attacked by hotel staffers have come to light in the past one month. Also Read: CBI files closure report into 2015 Finnish nationals death On March 30, a 29-year-old Dutch woman was allegedly molested by a resort staffer in Goa during her stay. According to her complaint, she was attacked by the hotel bartender, who allegedly entered her tent with the intent to sexually assault her. After a local came to her rescue, they both were allegedly stabbed by the bartender. On March 24, a Russian tourist was allegedly assaulted in her hotel room in North Goa. Aigul Davletianova, in her complaint filed on March 24, alleged that two men entered her room to steal valuables the previous night. While one of them held her, the other capped her mouth causing her injuries. Earlier this month, a tourist family from Delhi was allegedly attacked by the staffers of a resort in Goas Anjuna over a scuffle. Also Read: Dutch tourist molested, stabbed at Goa resort; Staff arrested Meanwhile, Goa police have also written to the tourism department to cancel the licences of two resorts situated at Dandoswado, Mandrem and Mardiwada, Morjim, following an alleged brutal assault on foreign tourists. Earlier, the Goa police had called for action against the hotels for failing to maintain CCTV cameras and functioning without adequate security. All leaves of Punjab cops have been cancelled until April 14, a week from now, due to high alert in the state for Baishakhi -- the new year celebration. Fugitive radical Sikh leader Amritpal Singh has been urging Shri Akal Takht Sahib to hold a 'Sarbat Khalsa' to discuss the Sikh issues. Akal Takhth jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh on Thursday issued a statement and announced a three-day annual congregation at Takht Damdama Sahib to celebrate Baisakhi. Report | No Sarbat Khalsa, jathedar announces three-day congregation on Baisakhi High alert in Punjab ahead of Baisakhi amid speculations of Amritpal Singh's surrender. There is a marked difference in annual congregation and Sarbat Khalsa. This is a gathering to mark Baisakhi, an official tol HT indicating that the Akal Takht is not actually agreeing to Amritpal Singh's demand of Sarbat Khalsa. Read | Bathinda-based youtuber held for sharing video asking people to target Punjab CMs children Since March 18, Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh has been on the run though he released two videos and one audio clip from hiding. His surrender before Baisakhi at Golden Temple or any shrine was also highly speculated. Punjab Police did not confirm Amritpal Singh's surrender but earlier said that there is adequate security arrangement in public places. On Friday, as reports of Amritpal Singh's likely surrender again surfaced, Punjab Police said there is no truth in the speculation of the surrender. In his messages to the followers, Amritpal Singh did not hint at surrender and instead, he said that if the Punjab police came to his house to arrest him, he would have given in. But the Punjab police chased him and arrested many Sikh youth. The present location of Amritpal Singh is not known. From Punjab, Amritpal Singh possibly fled to Haryana and went to Delhi as well, according to CCTV footages. It was believed that Amritpal Singh was back in Punjab last week. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Bihar government has run into a fresh controversy after the enumeration of members of 'third gender' as a separate caste. This comes as part of the government's move to keep headcount of social groups in the state. People belonging to the 'third gender' category. (HT_PRINT) According to reports, castes in Bihar will now be identified in the form of numbers/codes. Each caste has been given a numerical code for use during the second phase of caste-based headcount which will commence from April 15 and will go on till May 15. The sub-categories of Brahmin castes including Maithil, Kanyakubj and others have been merged into a single social entity, i.e., the Brahmins, which will have caste code as 126. No separate enumeration of its sub-categories will be done. In a similar way, the caste code of the Rajput is 169, Bhumihar (142), Kayastha (21) and for members of 'third gender' is 22. A total 215 caste codes have been allotted so far and the 'third gender' has also been considered as caste with the allotment of a separate caste code. Calling the allotment of caste code to third gender as a criminal act, Reshma Prasad, founder secretary of Dostanasafar, a Bihar-based NGO said as per PTI, How can gender identity of a human being, become his/her caste? Can 'male' or 'female' be considered as castesimilarly, how can 'transgender' be considered as caste ? People belonging to transgender community can be of any caste. The activist further said that the move is against the 'Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules' that talk about the prevention of non-discrimination of transgender persons. The social welfare department of the state government must intervene into the matter so that gender identity of a person should not be considered as caste. I will definitely write to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in this regard and seek his immediate intervention into the matter" said Prasad. Speaking about the same, Grace Banu, a known trans person rights activist and a software engineer from Thoothukudi (Tamil Nadu) told, The move of the Bihar government is simply 'a social injustice' with people belonging to transgender community. How 'transgender', which is a gender identity, can be considered as caste ?there are so many castes in transgender community. If the state government (Bihar government) does not know how to count the transgender people, we are here to help them. In response, Bihar Social Welfare Minister, Madan Sahni said, "If they (transpeople) have any issues with the ongoing exercise of caste-based headcount, including codes allotted to different castes, they must approach the department concerned and discuss with senior officials. The Grand alliance government in Bihar has already taken several welfare measures for improving the socio-economic condition of the people belonging to transgender community". According to the 2011 Census, the total population of transgender persons in Bihar stands at 40,827. The enumeration exercise, which started from January 7, is expected to be completed by May, 2023. The state government is said to spend 500 crore for the exercise. (With inputs from PTI) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON On World Health Day, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya today said that 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' is India's heritage and the country has fulfilled its responsibility by providing medicines and vaccines to more than 180 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mandaviya arrived at Delhi's Vijay Chowk to take part in the walkathon on the occasion of the World Health Day. (Twitter) "On the occasion of World Health Day, I wish for the health of the whole world. The concept of Vasudev Kutumbakam is our heritage and in this series, the country is fulfilling its responsibility for the world in the health sector under the leadership of Modi ji. During the Corona period, we had seen that there was a shortage of medicines all over the world, then our country made medicines available to more than 180 countries, and along with it vaccines were also made available," the Health Minister told ANI. Mandaviya arrived at Delhi's Vijay Chowk to take part in the walkathon on the occasion of the World Health Day. The medical staff and paramedical staff walk from Vijay Chowk to Nirman Bhawan. India today recorded 6,050 new cases in 24 hours while the active case tally stood at 28,303. Mandaviya has called a review meeting with the health ministers of all the states on Friday amid the surge in COVID-19 cases across the country. He would meet with health ministers of all the states through video conferencing. The health minister will discuss the upward trend in Covid cases in all states. Also Read: World Health Day 2023: Mansukh Mandaviya leads 'Health for all' walkathon On Thursday, India reported 5,300 covid-19 cases with 13 deaths, which is the highest in 195 days, according to Union Health Ministry. The last time over 5,000 cases was recorded was in September last year. On September 23, 2022, a total of 5,383 cases were reported. On Thursday, India reported 5,300 covid-19 cases with 13 deaths, according to Union Health Ministry. Also Read: Union minister Mandaviya to chair Global Conference on Digital Health Several states have witnessed an uptick in Covid-19 cases. Maharashtra reported a spike of 41 per cent in new infections in just 24 hours on Thursday. While on Tuesday, active Covid-19 cases in Tamil Nadu crossed the four-digit mark with 1,086 patients, when 198 new Covid-19 cases were reported. Delhi on Thursday reported 606 new Covid-19 cases and 340 recoveries in past 24 hours. External affairs minister S Jaishankar and his south Korean counterpart Park Jin on Friday discussed ways to take forward the strategic partnership between the two countries and the situation in the Indo-Pacific region. South Korea's foreign minister Park Jin meets external affairs Mmnister S Jaishankar, in New Delhi on Friday. (Agencies) In his brief opening remarks at the meeting with Park, Jaishankar said their discussions will focus on strategic issues in the economic and political sphere and people-to-people ties. The visit will also be an opportunity to take forward the special strategic partnership between the two sides, he said. India and South Korea have also expanded their relationship to cover the economic development cooperation fund, under which both sides are implementing projects, Jaishankar said. Park, in his opening remarks, highlighted the commonalities between the two sides and their commitment to the Indo-Pacific. We are both exemplary democracies, vibrant economies and cultural powers and we are both committed to contributing to a free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, he said. In this way, South Korea and India are natural partners and I have a strong belief that the special strategic partnership between our two countries is the strongest partnership in the Indo-Pacific region, he added. Park also made a special mention of Indias soft power and spoke a few lines in Hindi. Mujhe India aa kar aur aap se milkar bahut khushi ho raha hai, he said. India, Park said, has been playing an increasingly pivotal role in the international arena and is set to further impact the world as the president of the G20. India has also demonstrated to the world its cultural prowess with the recent Oscar win, and I must say the Naatu Naatu song and dance has captivated the world, he added. Park also met vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday. On Saturday, he will travel to Chennai, where several key South Korean companies have extensive operations. While in the southern city, he will visit a plant of automobile major Hyundai. In an interview with ANI, Park described India as an essential partner in South Koreas strategy for the Indo-Pacific. India is a very important country in our Indo-Pacific strategy...Korea wants to play its role and responsibility to contribute to freedom, peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. In that sense, India is our essential partner, he said. Common challenges such as supply chain disruptions, global technological competition, the Covid-19 pandemic, climate crisis and the Ukraine war cannot be addressed by any country on its own and there is a need for cooperation among nations that share core values such as democracy and rule of law, he said. Key areas where India and South Korea can work together include supply chain stabilisation, manufacturing, artificial intelligence, big data and space, he added. India is set to use electronic monitoring to improve road safety with the commencement of an exercise to frame national guidelines to keep an electronic eye on errant and reckless drivers. The Supreme Court was apprised of the task undertaken jointly by the Union government and the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety for laying down uniform parameters. (REUTERS) On Thursday, the Supreme Court was apprised of the task undertaken jointly by the Union government and the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety for laying down uniform parameters for placing devices such as CCTV cameras at highways and at critical junctions in cities, besides standardising other measures that can help in effective monitoring and speedy identification of incidents on the highway stretches. Inserted in 2019, Section 136A of the Motor Vehicles Act empowers the Centre to issue appropriate directives for the state governments on electronic monitoring and enforcement of road safety at high risk and high density corridors on National Highways and State Highways, and at critical junctions in any urban city within a state which has a population up to such limits as may be prescribed by the central government. By a notification in August 2021, states were asked to ensure enforcement of Section 136A at least in major cities with a population in excess of one million people. Section 136 (2) mandates the Centre to make rules for the electronic monitoring and enforcement of road safety including speed cameras, closed-circuit television cameras, speed guns, body wearable cameras, and similar technological interventions. The top court, which has over the last 10 years issued a bundle of directions on road safety and protection of good Samaritans while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed in 2012, is currently monitoring due enforcement of Section 136A to reduce road accidents, injuries and fatalities. According to the Centre, there were 412,432 reported road accidents in 2021, claiming 153,972 lives and causing injuries to 384,448 people. The bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, was on Thursday shown the conclusions of a meeting of the SC Committee on Road Safety, led by a former apex court judge, justice AM Sapre, held on March 15 wherein the Centre and the Committee were on the same page that instead of drawing up state-specific guidelines, there should be uniformity across the nation with regard to the modalities for implementing Section 136A. The minutes indicate that the Secretary MORTH (ministry of road transport and highway) indicated that the ministry will take up the exercise of standardisation and bring out detailed guidelines to integrate software and hardware with E-Vahan/E-Challan. MORTH intends to standardise national guidelines for hardware and software so that there is uniformity across the nation, noted the court in its order. It further cited the interim report of the committee, which has decided to entrust the National Crime Research Bureau (NCRB) with the task of preparing a concept paper on the modalities of implementation of a nation-wide roll out of effective enforcement of road safety measures. The concept paper would be guided by the provisions of Section 136A and the rules issued thereunder and develop a time bound E-enforcement road map that demonstrably reduces fatalities and accidents. It could provide inputs regarding standardised hardware and software and the SOPs required for a seamless, two-way, real-time proliferation of data collection and processing between the enforcement officers in the field, the state/central control centres, the committees report stated. The report was submitted to the court by advocate Gaurav Agarwal, who has been assisting the court as an amicus curiae. Additional solicitor general Madhavi Divan represented the Centre in the court. To guide the preparation of the concept paper, the Committee asked NCRBs director general to constitute a panel of senior bureaucrats from ministries of home affairs, electronic and information technology, MORTH, NCRB, NHAI, state governments and other expert bodies. The concept paper that is likely to be finalised and reduced into an implementation plan within six months will be subsequently presented to the Supreme Court for issuance of appropriate directions. Taking note of the recent developments, the bench fixed the next hearing in August. In view of the above developments and since the NCRB is to prepare a concept paper on the modalities for implementing a nation-wide roll out of the E-enforcement of Section 136A, we presently stand over the proceedings to 7 August 2023. We would request Mr Gaurav Agarwal, the amicus curiae to place an updated status report on the next date of hearing, stated the order. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New Delhi, Apr 7 (UNI) Former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Kiran Kumar Reddy on Friday joined the Bhartiya Janta party (BJP). Reddy joined the Party in the presence of Union Minister Prahlad Joshi and other senior leaders at Party headquarters in New Delhi. Welcoming Mr Reddy into the party, Mr Prahlad Joshi said, the joining of Mr Reddy will strengthen the fight against corruption in the state of Andhra Pradesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. "Under the leadership of Mr Reddy there were some activities unfolding in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana" he said. Speaking to the media after joining the party, Mr Reddy thanked BJP President JP Nadda and said "he will be ready to work under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi". " My family's association with the Congress party was almost 60 years and he had never imagined that he would quit congress" he added. Mr Reddy added that he is very motivated by the anti-corruption drive by Prime Minister Modi. " The BJP government has a very clear vision for the country's development particularly for the youth of the country" he said. Taking a jibe at Congress leadership he said What has happened is, state after state, due to bad decisions of Congress high command, the party is getting damaged in all states. They don't interact with people. They don't take the opinion of the leaders. It is not the story of one state. It is a story throughout the country". He said there is an old saying - my king is very intelligent, he doesn't think on his own, and he doesn't listen to anyone's advice. Kiran Kumar had resigned from the Congress party in 2014 too, to protest against the then UPA government's decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh and carve out Telangana. He formed his own party 'Jai Samaikyandhra' and even fielded candidates in some constituencies in the 2014 elections. UNI JA GNK Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra hit out Friday at a national news broadcaster over an interview of Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar - in which he dismissed the opposition's campaign for a parliamentary inquiry into the report by short-seller Hindenburg Research and backed embattled billionaire Gautam Adani - and declared Indian media organisations to be a 'rare species'. Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra at the Parliament House complex in New Delhi during the Budget Session, on March 20, 2023. (PTI Photo/Kamal Singh) "Adani owned channel interviewing Adani's friends to tell us how he is being targeted Long live Indian Media - you truly are a rare species!" Mahua Moitra - whose acerbic jabs at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party frequently make headlines - tweeted with a screenshot of the report. The screenshot showed an 'exclusive' report by NDTV - which Adani bought out in December amid controversy over freedom of press - with the headline 'Seems targeted': Sharad Pawar to NDTV on US short-seller's Adani report'. The report quotes the veteran political leader - whose NCP is allied with the Congress and Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena in Maharashtra - as questioning the opposition's efforts to force the government to order an inquiry. "Such statements were given by other individuals too earlier and there was a ruckus in Parliament for a few days but this time, out of proportion, importance was given to the issue When they raise issues that cause a ruckus across the country, the cost is borne by the country's economy, we cannot disregard these things. It seems this was targeted," Sharad Pawar said in the interview. The Bengal Lok Sabha MP has been relentless in her criticism of the BJP and prime minister Narendra Modi over the Adani-Hindenburg controversy; earlier this week she questioned the appointment of former Israeli ambassador Ron Malka as executive chairman of the Haifa Port Company, which is owned by a consortium of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd and Gadot Group. READ | Mahua Moitra on ex-Israel envoy named Adani's Haifa Port chairman " This man screamed from rooftops about how clean Adani's Israeli dealings were condemned filmmaker Nadav Lapid for criticising Bollywood Hindutva propaganda " the Trinamool lawmaker tweeted. Malka was Israel's India ambassador from 2018 to 2021 and the Haifa port is his country's second largest in terms of shipping containers. The Adani Group took it over in January at a ceremony attended by Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials. Last week Mahua Moitra reacted to Adani Group share prices tumbling amid reports it hopes to renegotiate the terms of $4 billion in loans taken last year to buy cement firms ACC and Ambuja Cements. The Adani Group later refuted reports first released by business publication the Economic Times, calling the claims 'baseless speculation'. READ | On 'Adani shares tumble' report, Mahua Moitra's 'don't have cash' dig And two days before that she called out the union corporate affairs ministry over a statement (from July 2021) that said the government had identified over 2.38 lakh shell companies between 2018 and 2021. The jab was in reference to a tweet that flagged a finance ministry note shared in the Rajya Sabha that said data regarding offshore shell companies owned by Indians is 'unavailable'. READ | After 'three wise monkeys' tweet on Adani, Mahua Moitra's fresh jab Mahua Moitra has been at the forefront of opposition voices demanding a parliamentary inquiry into the Hindenburg report that alleges financial misconduct by the Adani Group, which has denied all such allegations. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON On the occasion of 50 years of Project Tiger, India is dealing with a unique challenge where tiger numbers are steadily increasing but several tiger reserves have also reached capacity and forest areas are being diverted for infrastructure projects. Making space for tigers and other predators along with their prey while India is on a high growth trajectory will need careful management . SP Yadav, Member Secretary, National Tiger Conservation Authority, Union Environment Ministry said in an interview that the focus is on efforts to strike a balance between conservation and development.Edited excerpts: SP Yadav, Member Secretary, National Tiger Conservation Authority, Union Environment Ministry (HT Photo) On the occasion of 50 years of Project Tiger, what is the governments vision for the species? How will India manage conservation of Tigers? The tiger population in India is showing an increasing trend unlike many other tiger range countries. Besides India, only Russia, Bhutan and Nepal have indicated positive trends in tiger numbers. In all other countries the tiger population is stable, decreasing or they have lost all their wild tigers . The goals of tiger conservation in India are to have a viable and sustainable population of tigers based on scientifically calculated carrying capacity and to bring all potential tiger habitats under the umbrella of Project Tiger and National Tiger Conservation Authority. India is a developing country and we also need economic growth, development and employment. All proposals of developmental activities in wildlife areas or corridors go through a rigorous process of scrutiny and approvals are given, only with mitigation measures, by the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife and as per the guidelines on mitigation measures for linear infrastructure besides consulting institutes like Wildlife Institute of India. Efforts are made to strike a balance between conservation and development. How has India managed to successfully increase tiger numbers? We are managing tiger reserves on scientific principles. There are several tiger reserves where tiger population has reached their carrying capacity like Corbett, Kanha, Pench, Bandhavgarh, Tadoba Andheri, Ranthambore, Panna . At the same time there are other tiger reserves which are low density and have potential to accommodate more tigers. We need to actively manage our tiger population. Every tiger reserve has a Tiger Conservation Plan and a long-term conservation strategy in place. This is a statutory requirement and prepared on scientific principles. This contains all aspects of management like habitat, protection, communication, evaluation and monitoring, managing conflicts . NTCA has also issued several guidelines to deal with critical situations. The government provides funding support to tiger range states under the ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Project Tiger based on a plan prepared according to the prescriptions of the Tiger Conservation Plan. Besides central funding, state governments also utilise their budget on this venture. Tiger reserves also have Tiger Conservation Foundations which recycle the revenue earned from tourism. In buffer areas, peoples involvement is ensured through eco-development committees. Tiger reserves provide direct and indirect employment to the local people through eco-tourism and ancillary activities which is important to garner their support for tiger conservation. The Indian model of tiger conservation with core-buffer-corridor strategy has become a role model for other tiger range countries. How will we manage tigers outside protected reserves? Will wildlife corridors be legally acquired? Roughly 30% tigers are found outside protected areas in our country. But these territorial forests also have a protection mechanism for wildlife. NTCA is providing funding support to such tiger rich areas outside tiger reserves. The goal is to bring such habitats under the coverage of Project Tiger. Corridors are defined in the Wildlife Protection Act and have been identified during successive tiger censuses. They do get surrogate legal protection by incorporating such areas under the statutory Tiger Conservation Plan. Are we willing to share/introduce tigers in neighbouring tiger range countries? We are considering which countries? We have signed an MoU with Cambodia for providing technical support in tiger reintroduction and biodiversity conservation. We intend to provide them all technical support once they are prepared to reintroduce tigers. We have several best practices in tiger and other wildlife conservation to share. India has bilateral protocol and mechanism of dialogue with neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar for tiger conservation. What is your vision/plan for big cats in India including the cheetah and the lion? The vision is to have a viable and sustainable population of all big cats in their natural habitat. We wish to ensure management and conservation of all big cats on scientific principles, reduce conflicts and ensure their protection. How will you address impacts of linear infrastructure in protected areas? There are clear guidelines on mitigation measures to be adopted with respect to linear infrastructure like roads, railway lines, canal, transmission lines, laying of OFC cable . Such linear infrastructure is allowed only with safe animal passage plans. There are some good examples already like the elevated road (NH) in Kanha-Pench corridor which is being used by tigers and other wild animals for passage frequently. While considering such proposals, realignment and possibility of avoidance of such areas are also examined in the interest of wildlife conservation. Union law minister Kiren Rijiju was asked in the Rajya Sabha whether a few former judges of the Supreme Court are part of an-anti India gang, as per the minister. The minister did not provide a direct response to it in the written reply but verbally he said, 'ji nahin'. The question answer was part of the Rajya Sabha on the last day of the Budget session. Kiren Rijiju said in the Rajya Sabha that complaints are received in the Department of Justice against judges from time to time. (Hindustan Times) "From time to time, complaints are received in the Department of Justice (in the law ministry) against sitting as well as retired judges of the Supreme Court and high courts. Department of Justice is concerned only with the appointment and service conditions of the sitting judges of the Supreme Court and high courts," Kiren Rijiju said. The ministry recently spoke at the India Today conclave where he said a few retired judges are part of an anti-India gang who are making the Indian judiciary play the role of an opposition party. "Recently, there was a seminar on the accountability of judges. But somehow the entire seminar focussed on how the executive is affecting the judiciary. There are a few judges who are activists and are part of an anti-India gang which is trying to turn the judiciary against the government like the opposition parties," Rijiju said asking how these people can openly say that the Indian judiciary should take the government head-on. The comment drew criticism from the Congress while lawyers too disapproved of the remark. In an open letter, over 300 lawyers of the Supreme Court and high courts urged the law minister to withdraw the statement. (With inputs from PTI) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Kerala Police on Friday invoked murder charges against Shahrukh Saifi, who was arrested earlier this week in connection with a fire incident on board a Kannur-bound train that left three people dead, a senior police officer said. National Investigation Agency officials inspect the Alappuzha-Kannur Executive Express train, in Kozhikode district. (PTI) The 27-year-old accused who, according to police, confessed to the crime, was also remanded in police custody for 11 days by a local court. Also read: Shows Sanghs fear of history': Kerala CM reacts to NCERT move on Mughals He (Saifi) has been booked under section 302 (murder) of Indian Penal Code in a case filed by railway police. After initial investigation, it was found that he was responsible for the death of three people, including a child, a senior police officer of a special investigation team (SIT), formed by Kerala Police to probe the case, said. The officer added that the accused may be booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) after the interrogation process is over. The National Investigation Agency is also investigating the case. Additional director general of police M R Ajithkumar, who is supervising the SIT, said: We have started questioning him. He has confessed to the crime and identified his bag recovered from the spot. We cannot divulge more at this juncture now. On Sunday, Saifi allegedly sprinkled petrol and set co-passengers of D-1 compartment on fire after the Alappuzha-Kannur Inter-City Express train left Kozhikode station at around 9.30pm. In the commotion, some passengers jumped from the running train; three people, including a child, died when they jumped out. Nine others sustained burn injuries. Police later recovered a bag with a bottle of petrol and two mobile phones from railway tracks. Saifi, who also suffered some burns, was caught on Wednesday in Maharashtras Ratnagiri district by the states anti-terror squad, following inputs from Kerala Police and central intelligence agencies. His motive behind the attack remains unclear. Earlier on Friday, Kozhikode judicial first class magistrate S V Manesh visited the accused in Kozhikode medical college hospital, where he is undergoing treatment, and remanded him in judicial custody till April 28. Later in the day, the accused was sent to police custody for 11 days. Doctors at the hospital said Saifi sustained 1% burn and the other injuries were due to his fall from the train while escaping. The officer quoted above, who did not wish to be named, said the SIT has found several discrepancies in Saifis statement. Initially, he said he became a tool in somebodys hand but later retracted his statement, saying everything was planned and executed by him only. It seemed as though he was trying to shield someone. He is yet to tell us about the motive behind the crime, the officer said. Police suspect the accused carried out the crime with the help of some local residents. Saifi reportedly turned extremely religious in the last one year after he quit smoking and may have been radicalised by some terror outfits and sent to Kerala on a terror mission, the officer said. The officer said it is suspected that the attack was a suicide mission but failed due to the timely intervention of the co-passengers. The location may have been picked to inflict maximum damage, the officer added. He later said he carried out the attack for good things to happen in the future, the officer said. Also read: Impulsive decision, will be thrown out like curry leaves by BJP, says Anil Antony's brother Meanwhile, a second SIT is camping in Delhi to take out more information about the accused. Saifis family, who stays in Shaheen Bagh, and his friends and relatives have already been questioned several times. According to Delhi Police, Saifis family lodged a missing person complaint on April 2 and were not aware he was in Kerala. Meanwhile, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan called on the families of the deceased in Mattannur in Kannur district. The government has already announced a relief of 5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON South Korea's foreign minister Park Jin, who arrived in Delhi on Friday for a 2-day India visit, said Oscar-winning song Naatu Naatu was very popular in his country, and described himself as a fan of Bollywood movies. **RDS: IMAGE VIA @MEAIndia** New Delhi: South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin being welcomed on his arrival, in New Delhi, Friday, April 7, 2023. (PTI) You know, Naatu Naatu dance is really popular in Korea. I saw the movie myselfRise, Roar and Revolt, which is a fantastic movie, and also the story. I think it was extraordinary story about the Indian people and history, said Jin, while speaking to ANI. Expressing his love for Bollywood films, he listed 3 Idiots, Chennai Express, and RRR as his favourite Indian movies. Of these, the first two are Hindi films, while RRR is primarily a Telugu film which was dubbed and released in other Indian languages too. On the Korean embassy staff's Naatu Naatu dance, the minister expressed his happiness that the embassy showed special attention to the song, as well as the film (RRR), and that the staff demonstrated their country's music, singing and dancing to the people of India. Aap logon se milkar achcha laga The minister also introduced himself in Hindi. Namaste, aap logon se milkar achcha laga. Mera naam Park Jin hai, main Korea ka foreign minister hoon (Namaste, it was wonderful to meet you all. I am Park Jin, and I am the foreign minister of [South] Korea, he said. The year 2023 mark fifty years of diplomatic ties between the two countries. India, according to Jin, is an essential partner of South Korea. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Around 120 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel are undergoing mountain rescue training at over 21,000 feet on Bhagirath Kharak glacier for posting in disaster-prone areas in the north and north east, officials aware of the matter said. The NDRF teams will be stationed at specific areas in Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Uttarakhand and north east India. (HT Archive) These rescue teams will be stationed at specific disaster-prone areas in Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Uttarakhand and parts of north east India throughout the year, for swift rescue operations during various disasters, such as avalanches. Currently, the NDRF teams are based in their respective battalion headquarters in different parts of the country, from where they are sent on various rescue missions. In the event of a natural disaster, such teams take time to reach the affected area in the mountains and often the rescuers are not acclimatised. The aim is to have expert mountain rescuers on the ground who can reach the spot as soon as possible. Instead of being posted at the battalion headquarters, usually located in big towns or cities, small groups of trained rescuers will be camping in the mountains. Unless the teams have experience of working in the mountains, they wont have the competence of conducting operations there, an NDRF official aware of the matter said. NDRF director general Atul Karwal said: Our boys are gaining the experience of working in the mountains in this expedition. Small teams of rescuers will be posted in different places. Having them posted in the mountains as rescuers is also better because no time will be lost in getting them acclimatised in the high mountains. The first NDRF team of 120 personnel is being trained to work in high altitude regions and conduct rescue operations during calamities such as flash floods, landslides and avalanches in these areas. NDRF is also training with the Tiranga Mountain Rescue, a non-profit organisation affiliated with the Indian Army since 2016 and which provides avalanche rescue and training to the army. The 120 personnel from the NDRFs 12 Battalion, who have been handpicked, are on an advanced expedition of Bhagirath Kharak glacier in Uttarakhand. They reached Dodi Tal in Uttarkashi at the time of filing this report. The 12 Battalions headquarters is in Arunachal Pradesh. The NDRF was set up by the ministry of home affairs in 2006 and has around 17,500 personnel, who join the force on deputation from paramilitary forces such as Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force and Indo-Tibetan Border Police. As part of Operation Dost in the aftermath of a series of earthquakes in Turkey and Syria in February, India had sent around 150 NDRF personnel for rescue operations. At the inaugural of the third session of the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR) in New Delhi on March 10, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that disaster management agencies should be proactive in their approach to minimise damages, instead of reacting after a disaster strikes. On Wednesday, while addressing the 5th edition of the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI), Modi said that studying past disasters and learning lessons from them is the way forward. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The draft document of the new National Curriculum Framework (NCF) released on Thursday has recommended teaching students about great Indian heroes, and Indias contribution to fields such as mathematics. The draft NCF has suggested stages of learning. (HT PHOTO) A panel led by former Indian Space Research Organisation chief Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan has prepared the draft in line with the National Education Policy 2020 that emphasises rootedness and pride in India in the school curriculum. The NCF will set benchmarks for NCERT textbooks primarily taught in the Central Board of Secondary Education affiliated schools, teaching, learning practices, and assessment methods. It will remain recommendatory for state education boards as education is a state subject. The draft has suggested stages of learning. It says the students should be taught the value of seva (service) through stories, music, arts, and games, from the local context at the foundational stage. Children are given the opportunity to read and learn from the original stories of the Panchatantra, Jataka, Hitopadesha, and other fun fables and inspiring tales from the Indian tradition. Stories from the lives of great Indian heroes of history are also seen as an excellent way to inspire and introduce core values in children, it says. The draft recommends children be taught Indias contribution to arts, mathematics, science, social sciences, language, and physical education during the remaining preparatory, middle, and secondary stages. It calls for making students appreciate the importance of being Indian by understanding Indias glorious past and its rich geographical and cultural diversity. Indian contributions to democratic ideas which flourished in ancient, medieval, and modern periods are also an important part of student learning, the draft document says. In the case of mathematics, the document says its curriculum should introduce students to the major contributions of Indians during the foundational stage. Students at the Middle Stage will be able to understand the development of important mathematical ideas over a period and locate the contribution of Indian mathematicians eg, recognizes how concepts evolved over a period in different civilizations and the contributions of specific Indian mathematicians - Baudhayana, Panini, Pingala, Aryabhata, Brahmagupta, Virahanka, Bhaskara, Madhava, and Ramanujan, it says. At the Secondary Stage, students will learn about the contribution of Indian mathematicians to advanced mathematical ideas like algebra and coordinate geometry. It recommends the focus should be to discuss Indian contributions to scientific knowledge in areas including astronomy, metallurgy, health and hygiene practices, space sciences, etc. The content will demonstrate the progress of Indian thought in a comparative chronology, the unique nature of Indian contributions, and their role in nation-building, the draft NCF says. It recommends introducing students to Indian scientific ideas through observation in the local community and contributions by Indians to major scientific discoveries and ideas at the middle and secondary stages. The draft NCF recommends making Indian games, including wrestling, archery, chariot racing, and bullock racing, etc integral to the curriculum across stages. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Union home minister Amit Shah undertook a day-long visit to Uttar Pradesh on Friday during which he inaugurated the Kaushambi Festival-2023. He will also launch and lay the foundation stone of various development projects worth 4,567 crore in Azamgarh, sounding the 2024 Lok Sabha poll bugle in Uttar Pradesh. Union home minister Amit Shah. (PTI file) Addressing a rally in Kaushambi, Shah took an opportunity to hit out at the Congress, claiming that the idea of dynasty and autocracy by one family is in danger. They (Congress) say democracy is in danger. But, I say the idea of dynasty and autocracy by one family is in danger, the Union home minister said. Speaking on the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as Lok Sabha MP and the Congress's protest against it by wearing black-coloured attire in Parliament during the recently concluded budget session, Shah said The country will not forgive opposition parties for disrupting Parliament proceedings over Gandhi's disqualification. Congress MPs wore black clothes to Parliament last month in protest against Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Lok Sabha. Besides the Congress MPs, there were some other opposition leaders who also chose to wear black. Shah first travelled to Kaushambi district where he will also launch or lay the foundation stone of various development projects at gram sabha Fasaiya. Later he is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the Hariharpur Sangeet Mahavidyalaya at Namdarpur in Azamgarh, news agency PTI reported. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON President Droupadi Murmu took a jeep safari inside the Kaziranga National Park's central range on Friday morning during the second day of her Assam visit, officials said. President Droupadi Murmu landed in Assams Bokakhat on Thursday to embark on her three-day visit to the state.(Twitter) She went inside the park from the Mihimukh Point and saw, among other animals, the one-horned rhinoceros, wild buffalos, deers and birds, they said. Also Read: Watch: President Murmu presents Padma awards, Jhunjhunwala, Birla honoured Murmu also fed elephants inside the park. The President is scheduled to inaugurate the two-day 'Gaj Utsav-2023' (elephant festival) on Friday at the Kaziranga National Park High Schools play ground field. Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will be among those present on the occasion, the officials said. Also Read: Guneet Monga, Kartiki Gonsalves meet President Droupadi Murmu after Oscar win for The Elephant Whisperers Murmu will leave for Guwahati on Friday afternoon where she will flag off the Mount Kanchenjunga Expedition-2023 and attend the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Gauhati High Court in the evening. On Saturday, she will take a sortie on the Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft at the Air Force station in Tezpur, before departing for Delhi. The President had on Thursday arrived in Assam on a three-day visit. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday expressed joy as his mother-in-law Sudha Murty was honoured with Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian award, at a ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday. Reacting to wife Akshata Murtys Instagram post, Sunak said, A proud day. UK PM Rishi Sunak and philanthropist Sudha Murty. Also Read| Watch: Sudha Murty, actor Raveena Tandon among Padma awardees Sudha Murty, 72, was recognised for her contribution to social work. A popular author and philanthropist from Karnataka, Sudha Murty serves as the chairperson of the Infosys Foundation. Her husband, NR Narayana Murthy - co-founder of Infosys - was also present at the ceremonial function. Murty's daughter Akshata was seen sitting in the front row next to external affairs minister S Jaishankar, along with other dignitaries at the majestic Durbar Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Yesterday I watched with unspeakable pride as my mother received the Padma Bhushan award from the President of India at the Padma Awards 2023 ceremony (India's highest civilian awards) in New Delhi, in recognition of her contributions in social work, read Akshatas post. She added, On IWD last month, I reflected on my mothers extraordinary journey, from STEM to storytelling, but her charitable and volunteering efforts have served as her greatest inspiration to me. Always asking if she can be doing more, she has given back to her community countless times: founding and running a series of philanthropic organisations for 25 years; funding numerous literacy initiatives; and jumping into action to aid those most in need - many in the most remote parts of India - after natural disasters have destroyed their lives. Stating that her mother does not live for recognition, Akshata said, The values my parents have instilled in my brother and me - hard work, humility, selflessness - mean she is always on to the next thing (sic). (With inputs from agencies) Long-time Mideast rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia have taken another significant step toward reconciliation, formally restoring diplomatic ties, affirming the need for regional stability and agreeing to pursue economic cooperation Chandigarh Punjabs economy is back on track, chief minister Bhagwant Mann said on Friday, asserting that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has cleared its entire electricity subsidy bill of 20,200 crore for the last financial year and has witnessed a jump in excise and GST revenue, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann (HT) Addressing the media, the CM said the AAP governments strenuous efforts have transformed Punjab from a fiscal deficit to a fiscal profit state, by registering a revenue of 8,841 crore for the financial year 2022-23, up by 41.41% from the revenue generated in FY 2021-22. The state finances are on the right track, and we have to speed up now, he said. Asserting that his government has cleared the entire power subsidy bill of 20,200 crore for the last financial year, the CM said he will ensure uninterrupted power supply to the people. In 2022-23, which is the first year when the Punjab government paid the entire subsidy bill of 20,200 crore to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited. Not even a single penny was pending towards the PSPCL, he said, pointing out that the 20,200 crore amount comprised 9,063 crore for free electricity to the farm sector, 8,225 crore for domestic consumers, and 2,910 crore for subsidised power to industry. The government has also agreed to pay the legacy amount of 9,020 crore to PSPCL in five instalments, and has already released the first instalment of 1,804 crore along with interest of 663 crore, he added. On revenue generation, Mann said that though his government launched the excise policy three months after he took charge of the state, Punjab has registered a revenue of 8,841 crore for the financial year 2022-23 with an increase of 41.41% over the revenue collection in the previous fiscal. The government has set an excise revenue target of 9,754 crore for the current financial year, he said, hitting out at the previous governments for allowing liquor mafia in the state. He further lauded the massive increase in the states GST collection. Punjab was earlier the worst performing state in GST collection but now with a jump of 16.6% it is one of the top performing states in the country, he said, putting the GST collection at 18,126 crore in 2022-23 as compared to 15,542 crore in previous year. Mann said the state has registered a rise of 78% in stamp duty and fee collection in March. The government had earlier announced an exemption of 2.25% on stamp duty and fees on registration of properties. Replying to a question on radical preacher Amritpal Singh, who has been on the run since March 18 when Punjab Police launched a crackdown against him and his aides, Mann said, When any development comes, we will let you know. To a query on crop damage because of rains, Mann said 60% girdawari (field inspection) to assess the loss is complete and also said the compensation will be given to affected farmers. The distribution of compensation will start from Baisakhi, he said. Minister of state for electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Friday once again dismissed concerns that the amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, would lead to censorship and lashed out at CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury for terming it a draconian and anti-democratic move. Minister of state for electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar and CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury Yechury earlier in the day launched an attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after the government announced proposed amendments to the IT rules. The government on Thursday announced that it will appoint a fact-checking unit to identify fake, false or misleading information, but several opposition leaders questioned the unit's governing mechanism, its sweeping powers in determining fake news and the right to appeal in such cases. Also Read | Centre notifies changes to IT rules, 2021 Modi govt's Executive amendments to the Rules of the IT Act is a direct attack on free speech.Requiring social media platforms to remove posts deemed 'fake news' by the PIB is a dangerous precedent. Censorship has no place in a democracy. Repeal these amendments, the veteran CPI(M) leader tweeted. Sweeping powers to the Press Information Bureau to censor content posted on social media platforms is draconian, anti-democratic and unacceptable. Censorship and Democracy cannot coexist. Immediately scrap these amendments to IT Rules, Yechury wrote in another tweet. Hitting back, Chandrasekhar said Yechury's tweet was either deliberate misinformation or ignorance masquerading as a tweet. Rejecting the allegations that it is a draconian move, Chandrasekhar tweeted, IT rules already hv provisions from Oct 2022, which mandate Social Media intermediaries to not carry certain times of content if they are to have legal immunity under Sec79 of IT act." The minister added that social media intermediaries will now have to help them, a new credible Fact checking unit for all Govt related content. Social Media intermediaries will hv option to follow or disregard fact checking finding. If they chose to disregard fact checking, only consequence is that concerned dept can pursue legal remedy against Social media intermediary, Chandrasekhar added. Chandrasekhar asked Yechury to direct his draconian tweets at the Pinarayi Vijayan government in Kerala which allegedly raided media channels. 'Editors Guild of India is deeply disturbed' The Editors Guild of India is deeply disturbed by the government's move to police news on social media through a self-appointed fact-checking unit, the industry body said, describing the new rules as draconian and akin to censorship. The amendments to the country's IT rules make it obligatory on platforms "not to publish, share or host fake, false or misleading information" about the government. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday said social service has a long history in India, one that goes back much before the arrival of missionaries because service to people is part of Hindu dharma. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. (ANI) We know that people came from far off to help us but we dont know that long before them we were doing seva (social service) and will keep doing it because karuna or compassion is one of the four pillars of our dharma, he said. Also read: RSS women's wing asks doctors to teach babies 'culture & values' in womb Bhagwat was speaking at the inaugural session of the three-day Rashtriya Sewa Sangam event in Jaipur in which 5,000 volunteers from across the country will showcase social work undertaken by them. Apart from Bhagwat, RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosable, businessman philanthropist Ajay Piramal, chairman of the Piramal Group, industrialist Narsiram Kulariya, Hindu saints from different sects and BJP leaders attended the event. Rashtriya Sewa Bharti is a not-for-profit organisation associated with the RSS, the ideological parent of the BJP. It works with 1200 NGOs and trusts across the country in the field of education, health, entrepreneurship and other social activities. Bhagwat said people have to do service with the feeling that they are all a part of the society and there is no discrimination between castes, creeds and communities. We have to move towards that (ending discrimination). We will have to embrace this. We will have to move towards it today or tomorrow. We are trying that it happens today itself because that will create a healthy, integrated society, he said. Bhagwat said when we talk of seva or service , intellectuals in the country always point to missionaries. Everyone knows missionaries run schools, hospitals and various organisations around the world. But what are saints of the Hindu society doing? he said. To find out about that, Bhagwat said saints from four southern states Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala were invited for a Hindu Service Seva Fair in Chennai. There it came to light that the service provided through educational institutions run by various Hindu saints and organisations is far greater than the service provided by the missionaries, he said. He said RSS volunteers have been doing social work on a large scale throughout the country because it is needed in the current situation. Each of us has to feel that we are part of one society and when we are together, we are complete. When we do service with the feeling that I have to share what is given to me because we are all the same, then we will have social integration in the country. If one part of the society is ignored or weak or underdeveloped, how can we say it is healthy? If a part of the society is underdeveloped, it makes all others underdeveloped as well, he said. Also read: One person, one ideology cannot make or break a country, but: Mohan Bhagwat If we want to make the country a vishwaguru, all its parts have to function optimally. For that we need to do social service. Service has to be done with the feeling that society is mine and I am a part of it, he said. Bhagwat added, Our vow should be that I will not let any part of my society or my country be weak or underdeveloped. We have to remove backwardness and think of everyone as equal and serve them and make them like us. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Sikh body, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, in a statement on Friday raised strong objection to the misinformation being spread in the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbooks, accusing the latter of distorting the historical references. The development comes in the backdrop of the row that erupted over the changes made in NCERTs Class 12 political science text books on April 5. Reacting to the development, Dhami said, Removing of these portions is a communal act. It is sad that the Union government is making these changes as per its interests. Text about minorities is being removed. This is being done under a pre-planned conspiracy. (AFP) The SGPC objected to the information published in the Class 12 book related to Anandpur Sahib resolution while calling for its removal. The Sikh body said the Anandpur Sahib resolution adopted by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) as its goal in 1973 had been interpreted as a separatist resolution in one of the books. In chapter 7 (Regional Aspirations) of the book Swatantra Bharat Mein Rajniti, it is mentioned that a demand of regional autonomy was raised under the resolution. There was also a demand for redefining the Centre-state ties. The resolution advocates for strengthening of federalism. However, it can also be read as a demand for separate Sikh nation, reads the text in Hindi. HT has seen the text. Taking note of it, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said, The SGPC raises strong objection over the misinformation being spread about Sikhs. Historical references related to Sikhs have been distorted in NCERT books. Sikhs shouldnt be presented as separatists. The text must be removed immediately, he said in the statement. Detailing about the Anandpur Sahib resolution, the SGPC chief said, This resolution is a historical document. Nothing is wrong in it. It talks about more powers to the states. Sadly, the same situation is prevailing now. Rights and interests of the states are being neglected. It seems that those who have been demanding Hindu Rashtra are being favoured. On the other hand, a narrative is being created against the minorities by making such perceptions instead of resolving their issues, he added. The NCERT had also removed several texts on Mahatma Gandhi, Hindu-Muslim unity and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh from the Class 12 political science textbook for academic session 2023-24. Reacting to the development, Dhami said, Removing of these portions is a communal act. It is sad that the Union government is making these changes as per its interests. Text about minorities is being removed. This is being done under a pre-planned conspiracy. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The speculations over Congress's chief ministerial candidate for Karnataka assembly elections have intensified despite the party high commands directive to not project anyone as the CM face ahead of the polls. While former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and Congress state unit chief DK Shivakumar are the frontrunners in the chief ministerial race, Union minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday said they can never become the chief minister as the party won't cross the majority mark. (Also Read | Karnataka polls: With BJP list still not out, Congress asks Does Nadda think) Senior Congress leader DK Shivakumar with party leaders Siddaramaiah and Randeep Surjewala addresses the media.(PTI) When asked about Congress's reluctance for announcing the CM candidate, Joshi said, For that, the Congress party needs to come to power. Who will be the chief minister (between Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah) is not even an issue for me and the people of Karnataka. I don't understand why are you asking me this question, because Congress won't secure the majority. How can either Siddaramaiah or DK Shivakumar become the chief minister? There is no question of them becoming the CM, Joshi asserted. The Congress party has already announced its candidates for 166 assembly seats in the 224-member Karnataka legislative assembly while the BJP has not declared its candidate for any seat. Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala on Thursday attacked the BJP saying, "BJP has no faces to fight the elections. They are searching for candidates for the tickets, and we have evidence of that". Congress has announced most of the seats, but the BJP could not declare a single seat. I want to ask JP Nadda, why are you scared? Do JP Nadda, PM Modi, Amit Shah and CM Bommai think that announcement of seats will lead to issues in the party? Surjewala said at a press briefing in New Delhi. Karnataka health minister and BJP leader K Sudhakar hit back at Surjewala asking whether the Congress party is not confident enough as it is concerned about the BJP's list. Speaking to ANI, Sudhakar said, "I would like to ask Surjewala, why he is so much bothered about our list. Are they not confident about their own members? Why are they waiting for our candidates list to be announced? It is a part of our strategy, and we know when to announce the candidates". "Candidates are not important for us because our party is built on a strong cadre base," he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Joining the chorus against NCERT removing chapters on Mughal history from its textbooks, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday said the move shows constant fear of history' of the Sangh Parivar. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan. Also Read | 'Utho Anarkali': Latest 'Mughal-e-Azam' meme after revised NCERT syllabus The Sangh Parivar lives in constant fear of history as it exposes their true colours. They resort to rewriting history and masking it with lies. So we must strongly protest the decision of the BJP government to delete certain sections from NCERT textbooks. Let the truth prevail! tweeted Vijayan. The Sangh Parivar is an umbrella term used for the right-wing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and outfits associated with it, including, among others, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), of which RSS is the ideological mentor. What did NCERT do? On April 2, Hindustan Times reported that the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has done away with chapters on Mughals from history books for both Class XI (Themes In World History) and Class XII (Themes of Indian History-Part II), and for both the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Uttar Pradesh Board. The educational body, however, claims chapters on Mughals were still there. Dinesh Prasad Saklani, NCERT chief, even described the controversy as unnecessary. Also Read | No chapter on Mughal courts for CBSE, UP Board Class 12 students now Opposition parties hit out Opposition leaders have strongly objected to the move. In a jibe at prime minister Narendra Modi, former Union minister Kapil Sibal remarked that modern Indian history should begin from 2014 (when Modi began his first term). SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Karnataka bidri craftsman Shah Rasheed Ahmed Quadri thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi after receiving Padma Shri on Wednesday and told him that PM Modi proved him wrong as he used to think that the BJP government will not reward a Muslim. As this conversation triggered a row ahead of the Karnataka assembly election on May 10, Quadri said he was not tutored and he only spoke his mind. The controversy sparked off after Congress MP Pramod Tiwari, in an interview with India Today, said Quadri's statement seems like tutored. Shah Rasheed Ahmed Quadri greeted PM Narendra Modi as he arrived to receive Padma Shri at Rashtrapati Bhawan on Wednesday. (PTI) "I told him whatever was in my heart. I told him that I tried for the award during Congress time. When the BJP government came, I was upset and gave up trying. But he proved me wrong-- this is what I told him. I never approached any individual politician. I used to work on my own and send my profile to the government. I never received any reply then but now they are replying and saying that I have been taught," Qaudri said to television channels on Thursday. "I am 68 years old. Am I a child that I can be tutored?" Quadri said adding that the award has no connection with the election as his name was announced as an awardee in January and the process must have started last year, he said. "I have always voted for the Congress. But now I have a favour to return to the BJP government," Quadri said to another news channel. He said he did not apply for the award and suddenly received the call on January 25. "I cried in happiness the whole day. I could not sleep...My father, who was a bidri craftsman, did not want me to pursue this art as an artist's life is full of struggle," Quadri said. Congress's Pramod Tiwari said getting a statement like this from the craftsman and publicising it proves that somewhere BJP has made a concerted effort to get some benefits in the election, which will not happen. I congratulate him and believe that many people aspire for the award as their work is so exemplary but don't get it. I would also say that had the UPA government been there in the 9 years, he might have got the award. But the statement seems tutored as many people must have given many statements but only this has been publicised by the BJP," Pramod Tiwari said. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said Pramod Tiwari's statement is an insult to Karnataka and to Padma awardees. "Today the Awards have become Peoples Padma but true to its character Congress parivar attacks these people , Karnatakas culture & art. Will they sack Pramod Tewari? Or else people will respond in Karnataka," the BJP leader said. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman too spoke on the issue in Bengaluru and said: "A rumour-based image has been imposed on the BJP for the past 20-25 years. PM Modi always says sabka saath, sabka vikas. We don't follow vote bank politics." SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON As Coronavirus cases surge in several parts of India, states are amplifying measures for better virus preparedness. Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya chaired a review meeting on Friday with health ministers of all states and union territories via video conferencing. At the meeting, Mandaviya reviewed the preparation of the states ahead of the nationwide Covid mock drills that are to be conducted on April 10 and April 11, respectively. States increase Covid testing measures to tackle the virus in the backdrop of rampant surge in cases. Measures taken by states for tackling Covid surge: Goa: The state has begun in-patient Covid-19 testing at government hospitals amid a spike in cases. Taking to Twitter, Goa health minister Vishwajit Rane tweeted, I have directed the team at @GoaGmc to activate the genome sequencing machine on the premises, and the secretary for health has been notified on the same. We have also begun in-patient testing at government hospitals using antigen testing to keep the situation under control. Rane added that RT-PCR tests are being conducted if found necessary and genome sequencing is performed in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). He said an emergency vaccination requirement is also provided to people in case anyone needs a booster dose. Sikkim: The government of Sikkim on Thursday issued an advisory asking people to wear a face mask in public places. People have also been advised to avoid crowded places to reduce the risk of contracting the virus. Haryana: Haryana health and family welfare minister Anil Vij on Monday announced wearing a mask will now be mandatory if the number of people assembled is over 100. Vij further said that Covid test will be mandatory for patients arriving at a hospital with symptoms such as cough and cold. The directions were also issued for genome sequencing of the patients testing Covid positive. Tamil Nadu: Director of public health Dr TS Selva Vinayagam said masks will be mandatory in the state. He also advised the elderly and the people with comorbidities to stay at home. Chhattisgarh: The Chhattisgarh health department has instructed hospitals to increase the number of beds. It has also asked people to wear masks and follow social distancing norms. Karnataka: Testing has been ramped up in Bengaluru. We do close to 3,500 tests every day, particularly focusing on ILI (Influenza-Like Illness) and SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Infections), said Thrilok Chandra, special commissioner of health, BBMP. Jammu and Kashmir: The directorate of health services Kashmir has intensified testing and alerted the hospitals. Director health Kashmir Mushtaq Ahmad Rather said proactive steps have been taken to enhance preparedness in the face of rising cases and intensified testing has been started in hospitals and other facilities.Directions have been issued to all relevant officials to ramp up testing and preparations for a mock drill on April 10 to assess their Covid-19 preparedness are in full swing, he said. Uttarakhand: The Uttarakhand government has given instructions to the states health officials to strictly implement Covid-19 guidelines and increase Covid testing during the upcoming Char Dham Yatra, which is scheduled to begin on April 22. The figures of Covid infection are increasing rapidly in many states of the country, and to address the issue, the state government has decided to strictly implement the Covid guidelines released by the Government of India and expedite Covid testing and vaccination drive in the state, health minister Dhan Singh Rawat said. India has recorded 6,050 new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours while the active case tally stands at 28,303. Meanwhile, 2,334 vaccine doses were administered in the last 24 hours. A total of 5,30,943 people have lost their lives due to Covid-19. The number of discharged people stands at 4,41,85,858. The Covid-19 cases in India have seen an upward trend in the past few days with the daily fresh infections ranging between 2,994 on April 1 to 3,641 on April 3 and 4,435 on April 5. The Tamil Nadu government on Friday ordered senior IAS officer P Amudha to conduct an investigation into the alleged custodial torture case in Tirunelveli district in which IPS officer Balveer Singh has been suspended. Earlier, over a dozen men had alleged that Singh, an assistant superintendent of police in Ambasamudram police station, had pulled out their teeth among other claims of torture. Two men had alleged that Singh hit them on genitals and a family had said that two minors, aged 17 and 16, were also taken into custody and beaten up. Two men had alleged that Singh hit them on genitals and a family had said that two minors, aged 17 and 16, were also taken into custody and beaten up. (Representative photo) Cheranmahadevi sub-collector and sub-divisional magistrate Mohamed Shabbir Alam who started recording the statements of complainants on March 26 has submitted a preliminary investigation report on April 3 before the district magistrate in Tirunelveli, the government said. Based on this report, and the fact that similar complaints have occurred in other police stations under Ambasamudrams limits, it has been recommended to the Government on April 4 to order an inquiry to be led by a high ranking officer, a statement from the Tamil Nadu government read. Based on this, the state government tasked senior bureaucrat P Amudha, who is presently the principal secretary of rural development department, to conduct a detailed investigation into the complaints. We have directed for the inquiry report to be submitted within a month, the government statement read. Meanwhile, the human rights activists have been demanding a first information report (FIR) to be filed against Singh. Besides suspending Singh, the police department has taken action against nine police personnel. On April 5, six officers were placed on vacancy reserve S Chandramohan (inspector, Ambasamudram police station), B Rajakumari (inspector, Kallidaikurichi Circle), A Perumal (inspector, V K Puram Circle), N Sakthi Natarajan (sub-inspector, Ambasamudram sub-division), M Santhanakumar (special branch staff, Ambasamudram police station) and V Manikandan (additional special branch staff, Ambasamudram). On April 3, Tirunelveli superintendent of police (SP) P Saravanan was put on compulsory wait. A day before that, two constables Bogan and Rajkumar were also transferred to the armed reserve after the victims alleged police were pressuring them to withdraw their statements.The allegations of custodial torture came to light on March 26 when a few men showed their missing teeth in videos and photos and accused Singh of pulling out their teeth and beating them in custody on March 10. Singh, a 2020 IPS batch officer, was first put on vacancy reserved and later suspended on March 29 the orders of chief minister M K Stalin. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Bandi Sanjay, the chief of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Telangana unit, held a grand roadshow Friday hours after his release from the Karimnagar district, where he had been incarcerated following his arrest in the SSC paper leak case. Sanjay was given bail by a magistrate's court this morning. Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay holds roadshow after release from Karimnagar district jail Friday morning on bail in the SSC paper leak case. (ANI) Visuals shared by news agency ANI showed the Member of Parliament in a triumphant pose - with his arms raised and a grin on his face - amid sea of BJP workers and supporters waving party flags and shouting slogans and dancing to loud music. The controversial BJP leader was offered garlands by his followers and also paid floral tributes to a statue of Dr BR Ambedkar in the district. READ | Telangana BJP chief leaves jail after bail in paper leak case: 'Court has' Bandi Sanjay was arrested Wednesday and sent to judicial custody till April 19 after a photograph of what appeared to be a question paper for a Class 10 Hindi exam emerged online and was sent to the politician on WhatsApp by one of the two accused - a journalist who has also been arrested. The BJP leader's arrest triggered massive unrest in the southern state - which is scheduled to hold an Assembly election later this year, and which is widely seen as a critical test of the popularity of prime minister Narendra Modi and his BJP in the south before the 2024 Lok Sabha election. The 2023 Telangana election is also seen as a test of chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao's prime ministerial ambitions and the ability of his Bharat Rashtra Samithi to challenge the BJP nationally. READ | T'gana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay arrested in paper leak case, row erupts Bandi Sanjay's lawyers have dismissed allegations against him as 'political vendetta'. This morning a court granted bail and imposed several conditions, including stipulating he cannot leave the country without permission. With input from ANI SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Telangana MP and BJP president Bandi Sanjay was released from the Karimnagar district jail on Friday after he was granted bail in the SSC paper leak case. Bandi Sanjay was granted bail in the case by a magistrate court in Hanamkonda, Shyam Sunder Reddy, lawyer of Bandi Sanjay informed. Telangana BJP President Bandi Sanjay Kumar (PTI) The court has accepted our request and bail was granted to Bandi Sanjay furnishing with and sureties and 20,000, Shyam Sunder Reddy said as per news agency ANI. "Court has made a condition that he can't leave India without permission," he added. Bandi Sanjay along with three others was sent to judicial custody on Wednesday. Following his arrest, Bandi Sanjay had demanded Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to reveal his post-graduate degree certificates, accusing the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) of political vendetta by arresting him for questioning the ruling party. What was the need for this action against a Member of Parliament at midnight? What are the crime and case? They are not telling us anything, Bandi Sanjay had said. Speaking about Bandi Sanjay's custody, Karuna Sagar, another lawyer of the BJP chief had said earlier, Bandi Sanjay and 3 others have been sent to judicial custody till April 19 and will be shifted to Karimnagar jail We will file contempt proceedings against the investigating officer for violating the SC guidelines" The photo of the purported SSC Hindi question paper was posted in a group of the app by one of the accused on April 4. It was subsequently shared in other groups by the second accused (a former journalist) who sent it to Sanjay Kumar, BJP MLA E Rajender and several others, police had said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Twenty days after the Indian national flag at Indian High Commission in London was pulled down by Sikh extremists, the UK government is still to share details of those arrested for trespass citing privacy laws and still to install bollards outside the embassy to prevent radicals driving any vehicle into the diplomatic premises. A 50-foot flag was hung outside the Indian High Commission in London after the March 19 violence by Sikh extremists. Unlike India where the British High Commission is a fortress protected by the Delhi Police, the High Commission is bang on Aldwych Road in the commercial part of London without any barricades or protection from any unruly mobs. Delhi Police Special Cell has registered a case against the Sikh extremists for the March 19, 2023 violence. It is understood that after India read the riot act to the British over the breach of Indian premises, the London Metropolitan Police have posted two personnel round the clock outside the High Commission with all demonstrations post March 19 incident being held across the road. The incident and the expected strong British response were raised by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval with his visiting UK counterpart Tim Barrows on March 30. It is understood that while the Rishi Sunak government has promised to deal with the Sikh radical issue firmly, the British establishment particularly intelligence suffers from rancor over rising India and uses extremists and state media as leverage over Modi government. Despite evidence of extremists raising funds in the name of human rights violations in Punjab in some gurudwaras in the UK given to British Intelligence chiefs time and again, the Sikh radicals have had a free run in the UK and have been able to acquire huge properties. The so-called human rights violation in Punjab is a standard excuse for Sikh radicals to seek political asylum in the UK. The March 19 pulling down of the Indian flag incident has been taken most seriously by the Modi government and the UK government has been warned that bilateral relations will take a toll if such an incident was repeated again. While the Delhi Police under directions of the Home Ministry removed barricades outside the British High Commission, the security of the British High Commissioner will be in jeopardy if there is any more attack on the Indian High Commission in London. Fact is that the officer in charge of security of Indian High Commission in London had personally briefed his MI-5 counterpart about the March 19 protest much in advance and in writing. Despite all relevant security protocols being followed, the security of the High Commission was compromised as there was no one from the British establishment to prevent the breach of Indian premises. All this happened after stones were pelted by Pakistan sponsored radicals and extremists on the Indian High Commission on August 16, 2019, after the withdrawal of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Amid surge in Covid-19 cases in the country, Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya chaired a review meet with the health ministers of all states and Union Territories today, news agency ANI reported. Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya chairs Covid review meeting.(ANI) The Centre has regularly issued guidelines to the States & UTs on Covid19. PM Modi has held a review with all States on this. Today, Health Minister Dr Mandaviya will hold a review meeting with health ministers of States & UTs," MoS Health Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar was quoted by the agency. India on Friday reported 6,050 new Covid-19 cases, 13 per cent higher than yesterday's tally of 5,335 infections, data shared by health ministry stated. The total active cases stand at 28,303 whereas 14 more fatalities were reported due to the virus during the same period. A total of 5,30,943 people have lost their lives due to Covid-19. The number of discharged people stands at 4,41,85,858. Meanwhile, 2,334 vaccine doses were administered in the last 24 hours. A total of 2,20,66,20,700 inoculations have been done since the nationwide vaccination drive commenced on January 16, 2021. The major contributors to Indias growing Covid graph are states like Kerala, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh which have seen a sharp surge in infections in the last few days. Delhi registered 606 fresh Covid-19 cases, highest since last August. The national capital had registered 620 cases related to the virus on August 26 last year. Meanwhile, Kerala's Covid tally increased to 1,912. Six new coronavirus cases were reported from Maharashtra, two from Karnataka, one each in Kerala and Punjab. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said his government will demolish all the 'mazars' (tombs) and other structures illegally built in the state. Addressing a function in Kaladhungi in the Nainital district, Dhami said the government has identified more than 1,000 places where such illegal structures have been built. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.(PTI) There are more than 1000 such places in this state where tombs have been made but no remains were being found under them, Dhami said. We have said that we are not against anyone, but we will not allow forcible occupation anywhere here. We will not allow land jihad to proceed anywhere, he added. The state government over the last two years has been acting tough on the encroachments over government land. He stressed that the BJP government will not harm anyone but will also not allow appeasement of any community. Because we are the ones who believe in the law, we are not going to do any work to harm anyone. But we will not allow anyone to be appeased either. We will work hard to curb appeasement, Dhami said. Dhami was in Nainital to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of 36 schemes worth 95 crores. Dhami said the state has enacted a stricter law to stop forced conversions in the state, apart from constituting a committee for the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). The Uttarakhand assembly recently passed an amendment bill to make the anti-conversion law in the state more stringent by enhancing punishment for forced conversions and for religious conversion of two or more people defined as mass conversion. In December last year, the forest officials started a crackdown on illegal religious structures and demolished 15 tombs in the Dehradun forest division at that time. According to senior forest officials, around 293 religious structures had come up in the protected forests of the state according to the departmental survey. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The first known census was conducted during the Babylonian Empire, in 3800 BCE. Along with human numbers, livestock and resources such as milk, wool and vegetables were tabulated and the data recorded on clay tiles. PREMIUM A wall mosaic at the ancient Chora Church in Istanbul depicts Joseph and Mary with a census official, just before the birth of Jesus. (Shutterstock) The earliest reasons for counting people, as tribal settlements grew into some of the earliest cities, involved food stocks. How many people were there, how much food was being produced, and how much was needed, were the questions that needed to be answered. Counting stores also helped estimate how much would be paid in taxes and levies, which were used to support the rulers and feed their armies. And counting men (through most of history, censuses have focused on men) created a record of how many were available, if needed, for campaigns of either attack or defence. Even today, these are core functions of population-level data. The data also now shapes international relations and domestic policymaking, market dynamics, resource and funds allocations, and serves as an ongoing historical record of countries, faiths and communities. The ancient civilisations of Persia, Egypt, India and Rome all conducted population surveys, with some of the methods they used and data they collected passing into history through travellers accounts, administrators accounts, inscriptions and religious texts. The Bible, for instance, mentions that Mary and Joseph of Nazareth were on their way to record their names in such an exercise, when Jesus was born in a manger. The Sanskrit treatise Arthashastra by Chanakya mentions censuses being conducted in the Mauryan Empire (321 BCE to 185 BCE), and proposes detailed methods of collecting records of age, occupation, income, expenditure patterns and land use. The word census itself has its roots in the Latin censere, meaning estimate. Its earliest recorded use dates to the Roman Empire, which conducted methodical surveys every five years, between 27 BCE and 286 CE, to keep track of citizens and land holdings, employment, social class and privileges, and to calculate existing and potential troop strength. Their records were preserved meticulously on papyri, but, sadly, dont offer a complete picture. Married women and children often werent registered at all. Single women and orphans sometimes made it to a separate list, represented by their guardians. But most of the surveys accounted only for the men. So serious was the Roman empire about tracking the men and their assets, however, that not attending a census gathering was viewed as a form of treason and was punishable by imprisonment, enslavement, or death. Han China, Inca knots and a Domesday Book Not all records were written. The 15th-century Inca empire recorded its population in a system of knots. (British Museum) The oldest preserved census records are from the 2nd century BCE Han Dynasty of China, when the population of this vast empire was almost 60 million, approximately one-fourth of the worlds tally at the time. That global tally would rise to about 300 million by 1 CE, according to the US-based non-profit research and data organisation Population Reference Bureau. Fast-forward about 1,000 years and we have a dramatic instance in which a census caused widespread panic. In 1086, King William I (or William the Conqueror) ordered commissioners to spread out across every county in his kingdom (modern-day England and parts of Wales), to collect information on the number of people, land ownership and estimated land values, with an eye on the dues owed to him. The records formed at this time sealed the fates of many estates, merchants, tradesmen and families, and came to be called the Domesday Book (Middle English for doomsday). The data was actually compiled as a book, one thats now preserved at the National Archives in London. Not all records were written. The 15th century Incas left behind colourful knots on string. These cord systems called quipu worked like abacuses, with different knots representing tax dues, military arrangements and population figures. The grand but short-lived Inca empire (which only endured for a few hundred years) had an estimated population of 10 to 12 million at its peak. Around this time, between the 15th and 17th centuries, the estimated global population crossed 500 million. Figures vary because, in the absence of comprehensive records, they are based on estimated growth rates for each period. Quebec, Iceland, India In the modern era, colonial powers such as England, France and Denmark used censuses to monitor and control their colonies. The idea of using such statistics as a means of gathering information to understand and develop society dates to only the 17th century. According to UNESCOs Memory of the World (MoW) Register, early efforts at a standardised count can be traced to a small but well-designed survey conducted in New France, now Quebec, in 1666. It went door to door, and counted 3,200 French citizens in the Canadian region. The 1703 census of Iceland is the oldest existing one to include every member of a country, along with details such as name, age and social status, says the MoW register. It reported that the countrys population stood at 50,366 individuals. In 1790, the US government officially authorised the act of census-taking every 10 years, sending marshals out on horseback to ask six questions: names of the white, male householder; names of all free white males above 16; free white males under 16; free white females; all other free persons and slaves. Slaves, notoriously, counted as three-fifths of a person; native Americans were not counted at all, until 1860. Englands first standardised census, meanwhile, had a lot to do with hunger. Years of poor harvests and wars with France meant that bread imports were affected in 1800. With just vague estimates available from church registries, of how many needed to be fed, the Census Act was passed. By 1801, parliamentary officer and statistician John Rickman had completed the first modern survey of the population of England and Wales, which included women and children but not members of the military, prisoners, or those at sea. Thus counted, the tally was found to be 8.9 million. Around this time, in 1804, according to the United Nations Population Division (UNPD), the global tally of humans crossed 1 billion. In British India, periodic population surveys were conducted sporadically, from 1872 on. The first such survey in independent India was undertaken in 1951. In 1958, the United Nations Statistical Commission issued a set of guidelines for population and housing surveys around the world. Two years later, UNPD reports, the global tally crossed 3 billion. On November 15, 2022, global population estimates crossed the 8 billion mark. Counting people remains a difficult task. Click here to read the Wknd story on people identifying as Jedi knights in censuses around the world. Enjoy unlimited digital access with HT Premium Subscribe Now to continue reading Start 14 Days Free Trial Already Subscribed? Sign In SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Counting people remains a difficult task. With domestic and foreign migration, political motives for staying off the radar, and simple human error and miscommunication, there is no way to ensure absolute accuracy. PREMIUM Lego Jedi knights, via Pixabay The jokesters dont help. In the 2001 UK census, 390,127 people described themselves as Jedi knights from Star Wars, when asked to state their religion. By 2011, that number had dropped to 176,632, but the global tally was rising, as similar responses popped up in Australia, Canada and the Czech Republic, among other countries. In the 2021 UK count, fewer than 1,600 identified as Jedi knights. The others likely felt the joke had run its course. But what will future generations make of it all? Perhaps by then there will be methods of tabulation so different, our entire census exercise will seem as quaint as the ancient Inca empire's system of recording its population, among other data, in the form of knots on cords. Are you literally trying too hard? Fresh research suggests that the human brain is so hard-wired to effort because it was only through immense effort, constant innovation and collaboration that a species as weak as ours was able to survive that millions of years on, were unable to turn it off. PREMIUM (Shutterstock) Its the drive to strive that led to the toaster and the telephone, put humans on the moon. Through the course of modern psychology, this imperative has been studied as a cost of survival, of innovation and of discovery. In recent years, the outlook has changed. Researchers are now studying effort in its role as a core component of a goal. They call it the effort paradox. We seek out hard work because we have evolved not just to value it, but to enjoy it, even when it is not mandatory. Its why we pay more for complex furniture that we must then assemble ourselves. Why we spend hours on puzzles made up of letters, numbers, or bits of cardboard. (What else but some ancient imperative can explain the passion for sudoku?) We sometimes select objects or activities precisely because they require effort, says Michael Inzlicht, professor of psychology at the University of Toronto and co-author of The Effort Paradox, the research paper that coined the term in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences, in 2018. Effort allows us to meet our true potential, Inzlicht adds. In their research, he, Amitai Shenhav of Brown University and Christopher Y Olivola of Carnegie Mellon University examined studies from a range of different fields, including neuroscience, economics and biology. One of these was titled The Ikea Effect: When Labor Leads to Love. Conducted by researchers at Harvard Business School, AB Freeman School of Business and Duke University in 2011. It concluded that people pay more for objects that they must assemble themselves because the pleasure and sense of achievement become packaged with the product. The researchers also found that people love their assembled furniture, with its imperfections, more than the exact same piece built perfectly by an expert, Inzlicht says. The Effort Paradox team also cites the principle of learned industriousness, coined by psychologist Robert Eisenberger to describe how individuals who are rewarded for working hard start to find effort rewarding in itself, even to the extent that they think it is the effort that begets the reward. We have an intuitive understanding of efforts potential positive value, the Effort Paradox paper states. And if effort is consistently rewarded (with positive reinforcement, the praise of ones peers, material returns, etc), that becomes a secondary reinforcer. What significance does this revised outlook have, for our lives today? In a time of performative living, hyper-capitalism, hustle culture and the prevalent fear of missing out, understanding the paradoxical nature of effort can help one seek balance. Understanding this neglected aspect of this paradox can provide clues about how to promote sustained mental effort across time, as the paper puts it. Over-valuing and over-prioritising effort can build a loop of goal-chasing and stress-embracing, even without adequate reward. When the cost-benefit equation is upturned in this fashion, the fallout can be hard to manage. An adventure sport can go from calculated risk to uncalculated one. Work can turn into an adventure sport that puts ones health and relationships at risk. In an ongoing research project leading from the last one, Inzlicht and his two colleagues are studying the meaning individuals derive from their efforts. Describing the preliminary results from their surveys of 1,468 students and professionals, Inzlicht says that those who attach meaning to effort have better jobs might get better grades and are, for the lack of a better word, happy workers. They have lower levels of burnout and are more productive. It boils down to periodically evaluating why one is exerting effort, says clinical psychologist Pragya Lodha, Mumbai programme director with the non-profit organisation Minds Foundation. This makes the difference between feeling confident and rewarded vs feeling burnout, stressed, exhausted, isolated, or any combination of those. Return, periodically, to the fundamental question, Lodha adds. Does this still bring me joy? How does internalised capitalism interact with the effort paradox? Its the dark side, says Inzlicht. You might push yourself to your breaking point. Click here to read Wknd the story on productivity dysmorphia. It all started when Neha Jain decided to rid her home of plastic, five years ago. PREMIUM The right formula had to be the perfect trifecta of pricing, biomass availability and our technology. When all these pieces fell into place, we knew we had not just a scientific solution but a scalable one for the world, Jain says. (HT Photo: Satish Bate) As she carried the refuse out to the recyclers, she realised she hadnt made a dent. Not just in her lifestyle, but in the larger landscape of the problem too. I have always wanted to work in the sustainability sector, says the serial entrepreneur and former solutions consultant at Google. But, like most, I did not have a clear path nor information. At this time, in 2018, it had been six years since Jain launched her first start-up, Fly by Knight. It was Indias first midnight delivery service, and was operational in Mumbai until 2015. It was a quick-commerce company operating when fast deliveries were unheard of and it was an exciting challenge, she says. After Fly by Knight, she served as a software solutions consultant, then set that aside to chase this new dream: could she work with scientists, think-tanks and researchers to counter plastic packaging at scale? A key collaborator began to help give the dream direction early on. CRK Reddy, a scientist focused on marine microalgae or seaweed, and former head of the non-profit organisation Indian Centre for Climate and Societal Impacts Research, has spent decades advocating for better communication about the climate crisis, the changes required and the actions individuals, companies and countries can take. Our company is the outcome of immense research and several trips to the coastlines of Maharashtra says Jain, 37. Zerocircle was set up in 2020, with a mission of turning seaweed into biodegradable plastic-substitute packaging. Last month, the company won a Tom Ford Plastic Innovation Prize for making bio-digestible packaging material from seaweed. The prize named for the American fashion designer and created by him, in association with the Lonely Whale Foundation awards efforts to source and scale marine-safe and biologically degradable alternatives to traditional thin-film plastic made from fossil fuels. Zerocircle has won $250,000 of the total purse of $1.2 million. Its packaging solutions break down in four to eight weeks, depending on the thickness, and in 30 seconds in boiling water, leaving behind no residue. Besides being biodegradable, they are transparent, heat-sealable and food-safe. Seaweed, a term that encompasses a range of marine algae species, is a vital part of ocean ecosystems. It provides food to numerous species, from tiny crabs and crayfish to the giant humpback whale. Forests of seaweed also act as shelters and nurseries for marine life. Packed with flavour as well as with vitamins, fibre and other nutrients, its been on the menu for humans for decades, in modern times. In recent years, innovators around the world have also been working to develop the high-tensile-strength material as an alternative to plastic. Different companies have met with success in different ways. Some have made bubble wrap and food containers that are part seaweed, part fossil fuel. Others even among this years prize-winners have made pouches that can be used for different purposes. Zerocircles packaging is made from three broad groups of seaweed: Rhodophyta (red), Phaeophyta (brown) and Chlorophyta (green). The company procures its seaweed from farms in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. We closely work with local communities to ensure that the farming practices are sustainable and arent interfering with the natural ecosystem, says Jain. Setting it all up in the pandemic posed unique challenges, Jain recalls. For a product that is so driven by the science, we didnt have a lab to work in. It was one of the biggest challenges, finding a lab that would allow us to work during the pandemic, she says. The first prototype of a clear, flexible film was built in about six months. But it wasnt nearly as durable as it needed to be. It took multiple iterations to perfect. There was no one turning point. We always knew that the material would work and it did. The right formula wasnt just about chemical composition and molecular structure. It had to be the perfect trifecta of pricing, biomass availability and our technology. When all these pieces fell into place, we had not just a scientific solution but a scalable solution for the world. As more countries move to ban single-use and other plastics, Zerocircle is hoping to step in and fill the gap in what will be the booming niche of biopolymers in the sustainable products landscape. The materials industry is continuously evolving, with new materials being introduced, but also rampant greenwashing. Brands and consumers are bombarded with terms such as compostable, biodegradable, and sustainable without a clear understanding of their meanings and implications for a products end-of-life, says Jain. Communicating effectively, especially to companies, is part of Zerocircles mission, she says. Considerable hurdles remain. Plastic is a habit. It is prevalent and easily accessible. Most of all, its cheap. Pricing is currently the biggest concern, Jain says. Procurement departments are trained to look at the immediate costs, but when you add the actual monetary cost that is borne by society at large, the price of plastic over a lifetime is 10 times higher. New materials, in comparison, are 1.5 or 2 times higher in the immediate, but cost society nothing upon disposal. Implementing legislative change would help. We need legislation to tax plastic and to incentivise new materials. At the moment, we do not have recognised certification for materials that are home compostable. These changes and adoptions will help companies make better decisions. Although Zerocircle is currently in the pre-production stage (a commercial launch is pending), the mission is ready: to utilise a massive resource in a bio-sustainable way. The huge Indian coastlines, Jain says, have way more to offer than just breathtaking views. The Christian festival of Easter is a day of feasting and celebration during which people attend prayer services, decorate and distribute Easter eggs and play traditional Easter games such as egg rolling, egg tapping and egg decorating. The eating of chocolate eggs, however, is a fairly recent tradition, which started in France and Germany in the 19th century. Easter 2023: Here's why Easter is associated with eggs and bunnies (Photo by George Dolgikh on Pexels ) Like Father Christmas, who brings gifts for children who behave, the Easter bunny too brings chocolates for boys and girls who have been good. There are several non-religious celebrations too including Easter eggs where eggs represent birth and fertility and it is believed they are used during Easter festivities to symbolise Jesus rebirth. The Easter egg like the Easter lily (that is used for decoration in Churches) represents new life and fertility. Nonreligious celebrations include the tradition of Easter eggs, which represent fertility and birth and Easter bunny which delivers chocolates and sweets to kids on Sunday morning. The now-famous Easter bunny originated in Germany and was first referred to in German literature of the 17th century. Apart from the solid chocolate eggs, there are a lot of foods traditionally associated with Easter that vary across the world such as the Hot Cross Buns where the cross on these yeast-dough buns filled with raisins symbolises the cross Christ died on. Simnel cake (fruit cake with marzipan) is another delicacy, popular mostly in the UK. In Italy, people eat salty pretzels and in Russia, tiny pancakes covered with soft cream and orange peels. Easter Sunday and related celebrations, such as Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Palm Sunday, are considered moveable feasts. Although Easter has a lot of religious significance in Christianity, several traditions date to pre-Christian, pagan times. This Christian celebration is also closely associated with the Jewish festival of Passover as well as the exodus of the Jews from Egypt, as described in the Old Testament. This year, Easter will be celebrated by the Christian community across the world on Sunday, April 9. The Easter Bunny in Ostereistedt, northern Germany, once again received tens of thousands of requests from children hoping to have their wishes realized. The meaning of Ostereistedt loosely translates to "Easter egg town" in English, and children have been sending their letters there for the past four decades. (Also read: Easter 2023: Here's why Easter is associated with eggs and bunnies) This year's letters included ones from Ukrainian children who had recently moved to Germany(Focke Strangmann/dpa/picture alliance) Where did the letters come from? According to Deutsche Post, some 70,000 letters were received at the post office in the village some 30 kilometers (19 miles) northeast of Bremen. A person dressed as an Easter Bunny was seen delivering the last of the children's requests. More than a thousand letters came from abroad, from a total of 40 different countries, including Australia and Brazil. Ukrainian children living in Germany because of the conflict back home also wrote to the Easter Bunny. The total is actually down 10,000 on last year's figure and well short of a peak of 100,000 in 2021, when the coronavirus pandemic was at its height. What did the letters say? The tradition aims to encourage children to write letters. In response, Deutsche Post's Easter Post Office sends back colorful Easter-themed letters written by a team of volunteers. Whether it was peace on earth, cinema tickets or more chocolate, the children were keen to let the bunny know what they wanted this year. Some of the Ukrainian children who wrote said they were grateful to live in Germany and had already made friends. Some also mentioned that they wanted to learn German. One letter writer, Lola from the southern state of Baden-Wurttemberg, asked what the Easter Bunny's favorite food was. Another, Fynn from the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate, wanted to go to the movies with him. "With every letter, I see the children's eyes light up when they find the answer in the letterbox," said Doris Kroger, head of the Easter Post Office. With a long weekend just around the corner, it's time to plan a quick getaway to beat the monotony of daily life. Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore are some of the most popular destinations, offering a diverse range of attractions and experiences. These are some of the most vibrant and exciting cities in India, each with its own unique character and charm. If you are planning a long weekend trip to one of these cities, you are in for a treat! From historic monuments and bustling markets to pristine beaches and lush greenery, these cities have something for everyone. So, pack your bags and get ready to explore these top places to visit in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore for a memorable long weekend trip. (Also read: Summer travel trends: Top places to visit in India in 2023 ) Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore are three of India's most vibrant and exciting cities, each with their unique cultural and historical attractions. (Unsplash) Praveer Kochhar, Co-Founder Mappls KOGO, shared with HT Lifestyle, some of the best places to visit in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. Delhi: Khimsar Village is a must-visit destination. This small village in the Nagaur district of Rajasthan is surrounded by magical sand dunes that stretch as far as the eye can see. Experience the thrill of camping in the middle of the desert and witness the incredible wildlife at the Khimsar Sand Dune National Park. If youre a wildlife enthusiast, make sure to visit the Sariska Tiger Reserve in the Alwar district of Rajasthan. The reserve is home to various species of animals, including the majestic Bengal tiger, offering a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with nature. Mumbai: Ganpatipule is a serene beach town located in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. Relax on the pristine beaches or visit ancient temples dating back centuries. Take a trek to the Jaigad Fort and witness the panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. And for those who love nature, Malshej Ghat in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra is a stunning destination, with mesmerizing waterfalls and an array of bird species. Bangalore: embark on a spiritual journey to Auroville, an experimental township near the city of Pondicherry in South India. Experience sustainable living and human unity at its finest in this unique and spiritual community. Visit the Matrimandir and participate in the various workshops and activities organized by the Auroville Village Action Group. For adventure seekers, head to Sakleshpura, a scenic town located in the Western Ghats of Karnataka. Take a guided tour of the coffee plantations, learn about the coffee-making process, or visit the Manjarabad Fort and witness the stunning views of the hills and valleys. Don't forget to check out the incredible waterfalls, including the Manjehalli Waterfall and the Abbe Waterfall. Pack your bags and get ready for an unforgettable weekend getaway. These travel suggestions are sure to provide you with an adventure that youll never forget! Thieves broke into an Apple Store at a mall in Washington and stole iPhones worth $500,000 ( 4 crore). To avoid the security system being set off due to intrusion, the thieves broke into a neighbouring business called Seattle Coffee Gear, local news website Kings5 reported. Two men broke into one of our retail locations. Why? To cut a hole in our bathroom wall to access the Apple Store next door and steal $500k worth of Iphones, Mike Atkinson, the coffee appliance shop's owner tweeted. FILE PHOTO: The Apple Inc logo is seen at the entrance to the Apple store in Brussels, Belgium November 28, 2022. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo(REUTERS) The regional retail manager of the shop Eric Marks told website that the shop sold coffee appliances to a very specific clientele. Later, it was known that the shop was used as a conduit to break into the Apple Store. Marks said that he could never suspect that the shop was adacent to the Apple Store and someone needed to think it out and have access to the mall's layout. He said that the thieves cut through the shop's hall and did not hit any pipe, indicating that the entire heist was planned by someone very meticulously. According to the local police, a total of 436 Apple iPhones were stolen causing an estimated loss of $500,000 ( 4.08 crore). The Seattle Coffee Gear has spent $1,500 to replace the locks and repair the hole in the shop's bathroom. Marks said he is thankful that no employees at the shop or Apple Store were present when the incident happened. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Residing in a metropolitan city is costly. There are several expenses that one needs to consider, including things like food and rent. It is no wonder that social media is filled with questions by people asking about how it is to live in metropolitan cities, especially in terms of finances. One of the platforms that is often used by netizens to ask such questions is Quora. Netizens often ask on the platform if they will be able to survive at a particular place with a fixed salary. Now, a postt taking a dig at such questions has gone viral on Twitter. The Gurugram-related Twitter post may leave you chuckling (representational image).(Unsplash/Sooraj Dev) In the tweet, a woman sarcastically asked people if a certain amount of salary is enough to survive in Gurugram. Is 80.2 LPA salary enough to survive in Gurugram? she tweeted as she asked for peoples opinions. And, tweeple didnt disappoint. They came up with interesting and hilarious answers. Take a look at the tweet: Since being shared, the post has accumulated over 5.3 lakh views and the numbers are only increasing. Additionally, the share has gathered close to 2,900 likes. Heres how Twitter users reacted: Yeh bahut kam hai... Sarojini se kape bhi nahi aaapaegay itne mai toh [This is too less, you wont be able to even afford clothes from Sarojini market with this salary], joked a Twitter user while mentioning an affordable shopping destination in Delhi. Keeping the tone of joke, the original poster replied, Hain na ab to Sarojini bhi kitna mehnga ho gaya hai [Isnt it! Sarojini has become costly too. Another individual added, Wont even cover rent. A third joked, Thoda adjust karke chal jayega [You can survive with a little bit of adjustment]. A fourth joined and wrote, Definitely not. Starvation is gonna eclipse you. A women-run radio station in northeastern Afghanistan has resumed its broadcasts, after officials shut it down for a week for playing music during the holy month of Ramadan, a Taliban official and the head of the station said Friday. A women-run radio in Afghanistan has resumed its broadcasts, after officials shut it down for playing music during Ramadan,(Representational) Sadai Banowan, which means womens voice in Dari, was launched 10 years ago in Badakhshan province and is Afghanistans only women-run radio station. Six of its eight staff members are women. Moezuddin Ahmadi, the director for Information and Culture in Badakhshan, said the station was allowed to resume activities on Thursday after it had obeyed the laws and regulations of the Islamic Emirate and agreed to stop broadcasting any kind of music. Also Read: Taliban close women-run radio station for playing music during Ramadan: Report Station head Najia Sorosh said after the station gave a commitment to officials at the information and culture department, they unlocked the door of the station, and they started broadcasting again. The Afghan Journalist Safety Committee, an Afghan watchdog organization that promotes the safety of journalists and press freedom and which was involved in mediation for the station's reopening, welcomed the resumption of broadcasts. Following AJSCs advocacy efforts, Sadia Banowan radio resumed its broadcasts, it said in a tweet. Representatives from the Ministry of Information and Culture and the Vice and Virtue Directorate had shut down the station a week earlier. Also Read: UN says prominent Afghan girls' education advocate arrested in Kabul Many journalists lost their jobs after the Taliban takeover in August 2021. Media outlets closed over a lack of funds or because staff left the country, according to the Afghan Independent Journalists Association. The Taliban have barred women from most forms of employment and education beyond the sixth grade, including university. There is no official ban on music. During their previous rule in the late 1990s, the Taliban barred most television, radio and newspapers in the country. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mobilised police and army reserves late Friday after separate attacks killed three people in the West Bank and Tel Aviv in the latest escalation of deadly violence. Israeli gather near the Hamra junction in the northern part of the Jordan valley in the occupied West Bank following a shooting attack on April 7, 2023. - Two women were killed and another seriously wounded in a shooting attack on a vehicle in the occupied West Bank, Israeli army and medics said on April 7.(AFP) Despite appeals for restraint, violence has surged since Israeli police clashed with Palestinians Wednesday inside Jerusalem's flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque, with Israel bombarding both Gaza and Lebanon following rocket fire by Palestinian militants. Also read: Terror attack in Israel's Tel Aviv: One dead, terrorist neutralised Israel's army said it had launched a manhunt for the perpetrators of Friday's shooting in the occupied West Bank which killed two sisters and seriously wounded their mother. It said the victims were fired on as their vehicle passed through Hamra junction in the northern part of the Jordan Valley. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. In central Tel Aviv, one man was killed and five people were wounded late Friday in a car-ramming attack, Israeli rescue services said. "All the victims were tourists," the Magen David Adom emergency service said, without providing details on their nationalities. Three people, including a 17-year-old, were moderately wounded, while two had light injuries, the rescue service added. A police spokesman told AFP "the terrorist was neutralised, it was a terror attack against civilians, a car ramming attack". Shortly afterwards, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "instructed the Israel Police to mobilise all reserve border police units and has directed the IDF to mobilise additional forces", his office said. Oded Revivi, mayor of the illegal settlement of Efrat, confirmed the dead in the West Bank shooting were Israeli sisters aged 16 and 20, and the wounded woman was their mother. A British diplomat later confirmed that the two also held UK passports, while calling for "all parties... to de-escalate tensions". - Cross-border strikes - Friday's attacks came after Israel launched air strikes and an artillery bombardment before dawn in response to rocket fire from the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. Israel "struck targets, including terror infrastructures, belonging to the Hamas terrorist organisation in southern Lebanon", the army said. AFP journalists heard explosions in Lebanon's Tyre region as well as in Gaza, where Israeli air raids began before midnight. The Lebanese army said it had found and dismantled a multiple rocket launcher in an olive grove in the Marjayoun area near the border, still loaded with six primed rockets. The Israeli army said it had hit two tunnels and "two weapon manufacturing sites" belonging to Hamas in Gaza "as a response to the security violations of Hamas". It said air defences intercepted 25 rockets on Thursday, while five hit Israeli territory. Israel "will not allow the Hamas terrorist organisation to operate from within Lebanon", it added. On Friday, Hezbollah deputy chief Naim Qassem said "the threats and intimidation of the Zionist leaders will lead nowhere". Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht had blamed Palestinian militants for the rocket fire from Lebanon. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which patrols the area along the border, urged restraint, adding: "Both sides have said they do not want a war." On Friday evening, the army said it had shot down a drone that entered Israel's airspace from Lebanon, without elaborating. The Palestinian health ministry had earlier reported "partial damage" to the Al-Dorra children's hospital in Gaza City. Hecht said Israel was investigating. Hamas condemned the "appalling Israeli aggression" and said it holds Israel "fully responsible for the consequences". - Mosque raid - A Qatari official on Friday said Doha was mediating between Israel and the Palestinians. Doha -- which has previously mediated between Israel and Hamas -- "is working to deescalate the situation on all sides, with the latest contact being noon today," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Israeli riot police had stormed the prayer hall of Al-Aqsa mosque in a pre-dawn Wednesday raid aiming to dislodge "law-breaking youths and masked agitators" they said had barricaded themselves inside. The violence sparked an exchange of rockets and air strikes with militants in Gaza. UN chief Antonio Guterres meanwhile has urged "all actors to exercise maximum restraint". Also read: Two British sisters killed in West Bank shooting attack The United States said it recognised "Israel's legitimate right to defend itself", while France vowed "unwavering" support for "Israel's security and Lebanon's stability and sovereignty". An Iran foreign ministry spokesperson "strongly condemned the attacks of the aggressor Zionist regime", and Russia called for "an end to the violence" and a "lasting ceasefire". Hamas and Islamic Jihad told Egypt, a longstanding mediator between Israel and the Palestinians, that rocket fire would continue "if Israel continues its aggressions and air strikes but, if these aggressions stop, they will cease fire," Palestinian sources said. China sent warships and aircraft near Taiwan for a second day on Friday, Taipei said, after President Tsai Ing-wen angered Beijing by meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. China has deployed warships and aircraft near Taiwan for a second day on Friday,(AP) Three Chinese warships sailed in waters surrounding the self-ruled island, while a fighter jet and an anti-submarine helicopter also crossed the island's air defence identification zone, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said. On Wednesday, China's Shandong aircraft carrier had sailed through Taiwan's southeastern waters on its way to the western Pacific, hours before Tsai met McCarthy in Los Angeles. Also Read: China imposes further sanctions on Taiwan's US representative Tsai told reporters her government was committed to ensuring "the free and democratic way of life of the people of Taiwan" before she left Los Angeles, where she was stopping over on her way back from Latin America. "We also hope to do our best to maintain peace and stability between the two sides," she added. Beijing had repeatedly warned against the meeting and issued another strong rebuke on Thursday. "China will take firm and forceful measures to firmly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said. Last August, China deployed warships, missiles and fighter jets into the waters and skies around Taiwan for its largest show of force in years following a trip to the island by McCarthy's predecessor Nancy Pelosi. Also Read: US-based Reagan library, others sanctioned by China over Taiwan meeting Its response to the Tsai-McCarthy meeting has so far been on a much lower level, but still left Taiwan on alert. Premier Chen Chien-jen said on Friday that Taiwan's defence and security agencies were keeping a close eye on developments, and asked "the public to rest assured". On Thursday, the defence ministry said three warships had been detected around the Taiwan Strait and one Chinese naval helicopter crossed the island's ADIZ. The display prompted calls from the United States asking China "to cease its military, diplomatic and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful diplomacy". Also Read: China's firm and forceful response after US-Taiwan meet, deploys warships "We remain committed to maintaining open channels of communication so as to prevent the risk of any kind of miscalculation," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters. McCarthy, who is second in line for the US presidency, had originally planned to go to Taiwan himself but opted instead to meet Tsai in California. The decision was viewed as a compromise that would underscore support for Taiwan but avoid inflaming tensions with China, a move analysts say has so far proven successful. China has imposed further sanctions on Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan's de facto ambassador to the United States, prohibiting her and family members from entering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, state media reported on Friday. China-Taiwan Conflict: A Chinook helicopter carrying a Taiwan flag flies over the city during the country's National Day celebration in Taipei, Taiwan.(Reuters) The sanctions, announced by China's Taiwan Affairs Office, also prohibit investors and firms related to Hsiao from cooperating with mainland organisations and individuals. They come after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during a stopover in the United States this week. Read more: South African pilot finds venomous cobra under his seat, makes emergency landing Last August, after former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, China imposed sanctions including an entry ban on seven Taiwanese officials and lawmakers including Hsiao whom it accused of being "independence diehards", drawing condemnation from the democratically governed island. China considers Taiwan its own territory and not a separate country. Taiwan's government disputes China's claim. Others on the August sanctions list also include Taiwan foreign minister Joseph Wu and Secretary-General of Taiwan's National Security Council Wellington Koo, and politicians from Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party. Chinese sanctions will have little practical impact as senior Taiwanese officials do not visit China while Chinese courts do not have jurisdiction in Taiwan. China on Friday slapped new sanctions against Taiwans de facto ambassador to Washington and announced restrictions against two US organisations, which hosted Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen during her US stopover, as Beijing continued to lambast her visit as a serious affront to its territorial sovereignty and interference in internal affairs. HT Image Further sanctions on Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwans de facto ambassador in Washington, were imposed following Tsai Ing-wens high-profile visit to the US. Hsiao Bi-khim and her family members will be barred from entering the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, while companies connected to Hsiao will not be allowed to work with mainland organisations and individuals, Chinas state media reported on Friday. Hsiao solicited foreign support and looked for US support for the independence agenda to intentionally provoke confrontations across the Taiwan Straits and undermine cross-Straits peace and stability, which further exposed her diehard nature of seeking Taiwan independence, official news agency Xinhua reported. Measures against the Taiwanese diplomat include strictly banning Hsiao and her family members from entering the mainland and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao, banning her financial sponsors and related businesses from cooperating with mainland organisations and individuals. Wow, the PRC (Peoples Republic of China) just sanctioned me again, for the second time, Hsiao tweeted in response to the announcement. She had been sanctioned last year after then US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island. Separately, China decided to take countermeasures against the Hudson Institute, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and the relevant people in charge of these organisations, the Chinese foreign ministry also announced on Friday. While the library was where Tsai met US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the Hudson Institute presented a Global Leadership Award to the Taiwanese leader in New York. China had earlier warned it would take resolute and strong measures in response to Tsais meeting with McCarthy. Beijing claims the self-governed island as its own territory and has not ruled out the use of force in merging it with the mainland. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The World Health Organization (WHO) said that the health agency was certain that China had far more data on the origin of Covid that would help in shedding more light on the virus that brought the world to a halt. The world health body demanded that Beijing must immediately share all relevant information. Covid Origin: World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is seen.(AFP) "Without full access to the information that China has... all hypotheses are on the table," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, adding, That's why we have been asking China to be cooperative on this. He insisted that if Beijing does provide the missing data we will know what happened or how it started, more than three years after Covid first emerged. Read more: Pakistan needs urgent foreign loans to avoid debt crisis, World Bank warns The WHO chief also said that it is China's moral imperative to share the data. We need to know the answer, beyond reasonable doubt," he said. From a theory that the virus jumped naturally to humans from animals and another saying that the virus likely leaked from a Wuhan laboratory, scientists have remained divided about the origins of the virus. A study claimed last month that raccoon dogs, known to be able to carry and transmit viruses that causes Covid, were at a market in Wuhan when the disease was first detected. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's technical lead on Covid, said that the new information provided "clues", but no clear answers, saying that the data "collected in January and February 2020, more than three years ago" should have been shared long ago. "Without information, without data to make a proper assessment, it's very difficult for us to give a concrete answer. And in the present time, we don't have a concrete answer of how the pandemic began," she said. We know there is more information that's out there. We need scientists, public health professionals and governments to share this information. This is not a game, she said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON North Korea on Friday confirmed Beijing's new ambassador to Pyongyang has taken up his post in the nation's capital, after a rigid blockade maintained since the start of the pandemic. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. (AP) China's Wang Yajun is the first senior diplomat that Pyongyang's state media confirmed has entered the country since early 2020, analysts said. Also Read| North Korea says US-South Korea drills push tension to brink of nuclear war On Thursday, a high-ranking North Korean official "received credentials from Wang Yajun, Chinese ambassador to the DPRK, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall" in Pyongyang, the official Korean Central News Agency reported. DPRK -- or the Democratic People's Republic of Korea -- is North Korea's official name. Beijing is North Korea's most important ally and economic benefactor, their relationship forged in the bloodshed of the Korean War in the 1950s. China accounts for more than 90 percent of North Korea's trade, according to data compiled by Seoul. The nuclear-armed country is reeling economically after its self-imposed coronavirus blockade -- while struggling to tackle food shortages -- and only restarted cross-border trade with China last year. Wang was initially appointed to his current post in 2021, but his arrival was delayed due to Pyongyang's pandemic border restrictions. "This can be seen as a sign that Pyongyang has effectively started re-opening its border," Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, told AFP. "Starting from Wang, one can expect that the North will gradually welcome envoys from Russia, then those from international organisations." Wang's posting comes as Pyongyang ramps up its nuclear threats, after leader Kim Jong Un called for an "exponential" increase in weapons production. In response, Washington, Tokyo and Seoul have intensified defence cooperation, staging joint military exercises with advanced stealth jets and high-profile US strategic assets. Officials in Seoul and Washington have warned since early 2022 that North Korea may be preparing to conduct its seventh nuclear test. "The arrival of Wang certainly shows Pyongyang prioritises its relationship with Beijing post-pandemic," An Chan-il, a defector-turned-researcher who runs the World Institute for North Korea Studies, told AFP. "Pyongyang certainly wants to do a nuclear test, but not to an extent where it would offend its biggest economic benefactor." Why eggs and bunnies? Von: Dinah Koschowski Teilen Theres a first Time for everything: Our columnist Dinah colored her first Easter eggs. She got help from Andrea Bock and Noah (7). Szkudlarek Our columnist Dinah wonders over German Easter traditions - especially the German fascination with bunnies and eggs. Easter in Germany is a very special time for me. Apart from it being a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, I have also learned different Easter traditions living here. In Kenya, most people go to different places of worship on Friday evening for all-night sermons that include hymn singing, dancing and praying. On Sunday, the streets are filled with people dressed in their best church outfits, waving palm branches to symbolise Jesus entry into Jerusalem. This is followed by a feast that includes lamb, chicken and fish. There is no mention of rabbits, eggs or chocolates. Sie wollen diesen Artikel auf Deutsch lesen? Klicken Sie hier! Residing in Hamm has introduced me to some new customs that I was unaware of. I remember seeing my first coloured eggs and wondering whether there is an exotic German bird that lays multi-coloured eggs. Also, during this time, you see eggs and bunnies everywhere, but I do not understand their connection to Easter. I had to investigate. The rabbit is the symbol of Eostre, the pagan Germanic goddess of fertility, (which makes sense while rabbits are prolific breeders). She was celebrated in Spring, the time of regrowth and renewal. Easter Traditions in Germany: Whats that thing with bunnies and eggs? Eggs have also been a symbol of fertility and revival. They have been decorated and given as gifts since the early 13th Century. In the late 16th Century, Martin Luther would organise egg hunts for his congregation, with the men hiding the eggs and the women and children looking for them, symbolising the connection with the resurrection women discovered Jesus empty tomb. A German traditional fable claimed that the Osterhase (Easter hare) would lay colourful eggs in the baskets of good children. This legend was spread by German immigrants to USA during the 1700s where it evolved into a fad that included chocolate eggs and toys. Coloring Easter eggs: Sometimes its ok to play with food This week, I had the opportunity to colour my first boiled eggs. It was fantastic! However, the whole time in my head I could hear my mothers voice saying Dinah, dont play with your food. We also baked cakes in the shapes of a rabbit and a lamb which was great, because before that, I did not know how to use the double-sided baking forms. I also have an Osterbaum (Easter egg tree) on the balcony and rabbit and egg ornaments all around the house. I learnt that I must be quiet on Karfreitag (Good Friday) and that it is illegal to dance in public on that day. I love learning all these traditions and participating in them. I am so grateful to have wonderful family and friends who include me in all these customs. I am interested in doing an Easter egg hunt and egg toss, even though I may be a little too old for it. I dont care. For those of you in Bockum Hovel, look out for me at the Osterfeuer on Sunday. Frohe Ostern! A mysterious hollow disk of red light appeared in the sky in Central Italy last week for milliseconds, leaving many to wonder if it was a UFO. Because of the short duration of the phenomenon, many people missed the rare sight but nature photographer Valter Binotto managed to capture a shot of the luminous halo called ELVE in the sky above the town of Possagno in northern Italy on March 27, reported Live Science. A view of the massive red light disk formed in Italy's sky on March 27. (Valter Binotto/ Instagram ) Also Read| Aliens on Earth? Are UFOs real? Did spaceships crash-land? Pentagon says... The report added that the massive circle was around 360 kilometres in diameter and blinked above central Italy and part of the Adriatic Sea. What is an ELVE? According to Spaceweather.com, the ring flash is known as an emission of light and very low-frequency perturbations due to electromagnetic pulse sources, or ELVE. These are a rare types of stratospheric/mesospheric perturbations resulting from intense thunderstorm electrification. The red rings are created when electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) given off by lightning hit Earth's ionosphere, the ionized part of the upper atmosphere that stretches between 50 and 400 miles (80 and 644 km) above the ground. When were ELVEs discovered? Due to their short-lived nature, ELVEs are normally visible only to satellites orbiting Earth and were discovered just in 1990, the report added. Binotto's new image is likely "the best ever picture of one from the ground," according to Spaceweather.com. Photographer Binotto believes that the ELVE was produced by an EMP generated from a large thunderstorm near Ancona, a city around 174 miles (280 km) southeast of Possagno. Is Paris' demands 'not to deploy nuclear weapons on foreign territory' addressed to Washington, the Russian Foreign Ministry asked France President Emmanuel Macron and taking a jibe at the US. Russian President Vladimir Putin. (AP) Taking to Twitter, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, "Russian MFA Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova: Am I correct in understanding that Paris's tough demand is addressed to Washington?" The Ministry also shared two images claiming that the US deployed Nuclear weapons across Europe. It also lists names of six countries where the US had deployed its nuclear weapon "US B61." This remark came after, the French President, while addressing a presser in China, said, "France believes that nuclear weapons should be completely excluded from the conflict in Ukraine. In no case can nuclear weapons be deployed outside the territory of nuclear power, especially in Europe," according to Sputnik News Agency. Read more: China imposes further sanctions on Taiwan's US representative During a state visit to China, Macron also argued that Russia's recent decision to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus is "out of line" with its obligations under international law. "China and France, [...] given their history of love and adherence to independence, should cooperate to bolster an international order that could meet the challenges of the times," Macron stressed, reported Sputnik News Agency. This statement came after Russian President Vladimir Putin made a statement about plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in the territory of Russia's neighbour and ally Belarus, reported ABC News. Putin has said that the construction of storage facilities for tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus will be complete by July 1 and added that Russia has helped modernize Belarusian warplanes to make them capable of carrying nuclear weapons. The two neighbours have an agreement envisioning close economic, political and military ties. Russia used Belarusian territory as a staging ground for invading Ukraine and has maintained a contingent of troops and weapons there, according to ABC News. Belarus shares a 1,250-kilometer border with NATO members Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. Tactical nuclear weapons, which are intended to destroy enemy troops and weapons on the battlefield, have a relatively short range and a much lower yield compared with nuclear warheads fitted to long-range strategic missiles that are capable of obliterating whole cities. King Charles III backed new research into the royal familys historical links to transatlantic slavery, it was reported marking the first time Buckingham Palace publicly stated its support for an investigation into the royal familys history with colonialism. King Charles III: Britain's King Charles attends the state funeral and burial of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, in London, Britain.(Reuters) Read more: Kate Middleton wants Prince William to stand up for her more because Buckingham Palace said that it is aiding an independent research project co-sponsored by Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) into the monarchys involvement in the slave trade, Guardian reported, under which researchers will get full access to the Royal Archives and the Royal Collection. This is an issue that His Majesty takes profoundly seriously. As His Majesty told the Commonwealth heads of government reception in Rwanda last year: I cannot describe the depths of my personal sorrow at the suffering of so many, as I continue to deepen my own understanding of slaverys enduring impact," a spokesperson for the Palace told The Guardian. Read more: Joe Biden to skip King Charles' coronation in May. Here's why The project will explore links between the British monarchy and the transatlantic slave trade during the late 17th and 18th centuries," the report claimed. The spokesperson said that King Charles continued his pledge to deepen his understanding of slaverys impact with vigour and determination, adding, Given the complexities of the issues it is important to explore them as thoroughly as possible." King Charles III has previously acknowledged the royal familys connection to slavery and colonialism. He said earlier that he was continuing to deepen my own understanding of slaverys enduring impact. In March 2022, Prince William also denounced slavery as abhorrent, saying it should never have happened. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Some 200 firefighters battled a huge blaze in Mexico Citys sprawling wholesale market Thursday night without any reported injuries. Firefighters battled a huge blaze in Mexico Citys sprawling wholesale market Thursday night without any reported injuries.(Representational) The Central de Abasto supplies the capitals other neighborhood markets, restaurants and other parts of the country. Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said the fire started in an area of the market where wooden pallets and crates are built and stored, meaning there was substantial fuel on a breezy evening. Also Read: At least 40 killed in Mexico immigration center fire incident Flames leaped high into the night sky fed by swirling winds, but firefighters reported having the fire mostly under control after several hours. The markets administration said in a statement late Thursday that the fire started around 7 p.m. and affected an area that included 359 stands that produced and sold cardboard boxes, wooden crates and pallets. Also Read: Delhis most wanted gangster Deepak Boxer caught in Mexico The rest of the market selling produce and flowers would operate as usual Friday, the administration added via Twitter. The market covers more than 800 acres (327 hectares) in the capitals most populated borough, Iztapalapa, and claims to be the worlds largest wholesale market. Thirty percent of Mexicos food production is sold through the market, according to its website. The Pakistan military will launch a fresh crackdown on militants across the country, the national security committee announced on Friday after a meeting. An all-out comprehensive operation will be launched, a national security committee said.(AFP file) "The meeting agreed to launch an all-out comprehensive operation with the entire nation and the government, which will rid the country of the menace of terrorism with renewed vigor and determination," it said in a statement. The meeting was held at the Prime Ministers House and initially lasted for two hours. It was later resumed and concluded in the evening, Dawn reported. The Prime Ministers Office said the meeting was held in continuation of a January 2 meeting, which was convened in wake of an attack on the Karachi Police Office on February 17. It added that the operation to eliminate the scourge of terrorism in all its forms from Pakistan would incorporate measures at the political, diplomatic security, economic and social levels. The press release also said a high-level panel had been formed that would give recommendations regarding the implementation and limitations of the operation within two weeks. Earlier on Friday, PTI leader Shireen Mazari said that the NSC meeting would be crucial, stating that it would be critical in shaping the future course of action regarding the countrys security. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A senior U.S. lawmaker said on Friday he was doing everything possible to speed up the delivery of weapons to Taiwan, suggesting other countries that have the arms could sell them onto the island with U.S. government permission. Michael McCaul, chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee.(Twitter) Taiwan has since last year complained of delays to U.S. weapons deliveries, such as Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, as manufacturers turn supplies to Ukraine to support its defence against Russia. Speaking to reporters on a trip to Taiwan, Michael McCaul, chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Taiwan needed to be able to access weapons given the threat it faces from China, which claims the democratically governed island as its own territory. Also Read: Don't use Taiwan president's US visit as 'pretext': White House to China "On the weapons issue, I sign off on those deliveries and we are doing everything in our power to expedite this," he said, speaking at Taiwan's parliament where he met its speaker, You Si-kun. There is a need to "harden" Taiwan and help its deterrence capability, he added. McCaul said ideas for getting the arms to Taiwan faster included reprioritising weapons sales given the island is in a high threat area and "third party sales" - getting the U.S. government to allow other countries that have these weapons to provide them to Taiwan. "We want to do everything possible to deter a very aggressive nation, Communist China, from ever thinking about landing on the shores of this beautiful island, because that would be a serious mistake for everybody." The United States is Taiwan's most important arms supplier, a constant source of Chinese anger with Washington. McCaul, a Republican, is being accompanied by seven other lawmakers on a bipartisan trip taking place the same week Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen met U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles, which Beijing condemned. Also Read: China's firm and forceful response after US-Taiwan meet, deploys warships While China staged war games around Taiwan in August after then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei its reaction this time has been more muted. Speaking at the same news conference, You said he had invited McCarthy last year to visit Taiwan before he became speaker, and You said he thought it was just a timing issue as to when McCarthy visited. China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, and has stepped up military and political pressure to try and force Taipei to accept Beijing's sovereignty. You said Russian President Vladimir Putin's inability to quickly capture Ukraine served as a lesson to China's leader Xi Jinping, likening Putin's view of Ukraine as a "delicious meal" that had turned into a fishbone stuck in his throat. "So I believe this is a warning for Xi Jinping as well," You said. McCaul's group will meet Tsai, who arrives back in Taiwan late Friday, on Saturday. North Korea carried out an underwater strategic weapon system test from April 4 to April 7, state media KCNA said on Saturday. A TV screen shows an image of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, March 28, 2023.(AP) The country tested another kind of a nuclear-capable unmanned underwater attack weapon called "Haeil-2", after it disclosed a new underwater drone system designed to make sneak attacks in enemy waters. Also read: North Korea says US-South Korea drills push tension to brink of nuclear war "The test perfectly proved the reliability of the underwater strategic weapon system and its fatal attack ability," the North's state news agency said. North Korea has ramped up its military activities in recent weeks in a show of force against the United States and South Korea that conduct joint military drills. It unveiled new, smaller nuclear warheads and fired an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking anywhere in the United States. Pakistan's minister of state for petroleum Musadik Malik said that the country's government cannot give 24x7 gas supply, The News International reported as load-shedding becomes a daily occurrence amid worsening economic crisis. "We cannot provide gas 24 hours as our reserves have dropped," he said adding that the gas load-shedding would end during sehri and iftar. Pakistan Economic Crisis: People ride a motorbike at sunrise in the city of Karachi.(AP) Musadik Malik also said that he would visit to Karachi to resolve the gas supply issue that people are facing . "The gas bill of the rich and poor has been separated; rich people will have to pay more now," the minister said. Read more: Is it for US? Russia on France's dont deploy nukes on foreign territory' Earlier, Pakistan prime minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed officials to ensure an uninterrupted supply of gas, saying that the process will be supervised and no negligence will be tolerated, the report said. This comes as the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) announced suspension of supplies to power plants and industries last week amid low supply of gas. Volume of gas in pipelines had decreased due to a reduction in supply, it said prompting a response from the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) which called for immediate government action over the shortage of gas supply in Karachi. Industries cannot function without gas and would be forced to halt production, KCCI said. "It's highly unfair to have such an attitude towards Karachi's business community which, despite facing so many odds and challenges, contributes around 54 per cent in terms of exports and more than 68 per cent in terms of revenue," KCCI president Muhammad Tariq Yousuf said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Pope Francis, who is recovering from bronchitis and last week spent three nights in hospital, will not attend the traditional "Way of the Cross" prayer service on Good Friday, the Vatican said. Pope Francis presides over the Passion of the Lord mass on Good Friday at St. Peter's basilica in The Vatican, on April 7 as part of celebrations of the Holy Week.(AFP) It will be the first time that Francis, 86, has missed the annual service, which falls two days before Easter -- Christianity's most important holiday -- in the 10 years of his papacy. Also Read| Pope Francis leaves hospital after 3-day stay, quips 'I am still alive' "Due to the intense cold of the past days, Pope Francis will follow this evening's Way of the Cross from Casa Santa Marta, joining the prayer of those who will gather with the Diocese of Rome at the Colosseum," the Vatican said in a short statement. Santa Marta is the Argentine pontiff's residence within the Vatican. An unusual cold streak in Rome has seen night-time temperatures fall to 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) this week. Christians commemorate Good Friday as the day Jesus Christ died on the cross. The Way of the Cross service commemorates the 14 stations of Jesus' suffering and death, from his condemnation to his burial. The open-air procession, which begins at 1900 GMT, takes place outside the Coliseum. Francis was discharged from a Rome hospital on April 1 after a three-night stay for a bronchial infection. The pontiff has suffered increasing health issues in recent years, and it was his second stay in hospital since 2021. Francis still plans to preside, however, over mass on Friday at St Peter's Basilica. He has participated in various events since his hospital release, including washing the feet of 12 young prisoners on Holy Thursday. On Sunday, he is expected to lead Easter mass at St Peter's Square. Ukraine said on Friday that Russia was concentrating all its efforts on capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut where it described the situation as "difficult" but said it was holding out despite Russia's numerical superiority. Russia-Ukraine War: A Ukrainian serviceman hides in a trench near the frontline town of Bakhmut amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, Donetsk region.(Reuters) Eastern Military Command spokesperson Serhiy Cherevatyi told Reuters that Ukraine controlled the situation in Bakhmut, understood Russian intentions and that Moscow had tactical success in some places, but was paying a high price for it. Also Read: India abstains at UNHRC vote on extension to panel probing war crimes in Ukraine "The situation is difficult, the enemy is concentrating maximum efforts to capture Bakhmut. However it is suffering serious losses and not reaching strategic success," Cherevatyi said. "All decisions are taken with the aim of not allowing the enemy to break through our defence, to inflict maximum damage to it and preserve personnel," he said. Also Read: Russian drones strike Ukraine's port of Odesa: Officials Russia's assault on Bakhmut, a small city in the Donetsk region, has been the focus of the biggest battle of Moscow's full-scale invasion launched in February 2022. "Having tactical success in some places, the enemy pays an exorbitant price for it and loses combat potential every day," Cherevatyi said. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit Russia or pro-Russian elements are likely behind the leak of several classified U.S. military documents posted on social media that offer a partial, month-old snapshot of the war in Ukraine, three U.S. officials told Reuters on Friday. an additional batch of classified documents appearing to detail U.S. national security secrets pertaining to areas including Ukraine. (Representational Image) The documents appear to have been altered to lower the number of casualties suffered by Russian forces, the U.S. officials said, adding their assessments were informal and separate from an investigation into the leak itself. Also read: Russia faces tough odds capturing Bakhmut despite: Ukraines assessment The U.S. officials spoke on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the matter and declined to discuss the documents in any detail. The Kremlin and Russia's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Later on Friday, an additional batch of classified documents appearing to detail U.S. national security secrets pertaining to areas including Ukraine, the Middle East and China surfaced on social media, the New York Times reported. The Pentagon has declined to comment on the authenticity of the documents. The initial batch circulated on sites including Twitter and Telegram, dated March 1 and bearing markings showing them classified as "Secret" and "Top Secret." Reuters was not able to verify the authenticity of the documents. A leak of such sensitive documents is highly unusual and would automatically trigger an investigation. "We are aware of the reports of social media posts and the Department (of Defense) is reviewing the matter," Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said. In a statement, a CIA spokesperson said that the agency is also aware of the posts and is looking into the claims. One document posted on social media said 16,000 to 17,500 Russian forces had been killed since Russia's Feb. 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine. The United States believes the actual figure is much higher, at around 200,000 Russians killed and wounded, officials have said. Ukrainian forces repelled Russia's initial advance on Kyiv early in 2022, and the conflict, which Moscow calls a "special military operation," has become one of grinding trench warfare in the east and south. Speculation has been mounting about what offensives Kyiv and Moscow might attempt in the war's second year. The leaked documents did not appear to offer any specific insight into Kyiv's war plans. A Ukrainian presidential official said on Friday that the leak contained a "very large amount of fictitious information" and looked like a Russian disinformation operation to sow doubts about Ukraine's planned counter-offensive. Also read: China's Xi Jinping calls for Ukraine peace talks "These are just standard elements of operational games by Russian intelligence. And nothing more," Mykhailo Podolyak said in a written statement. (Reporting by Phil Stewart; Additional reporting by Idrees Ali and Jonathan Landay; Editing by Don Durfee, Daniel Wallis and Rosalba O'Brien) Secret documents which detailed US and NATO's plans to help prepare Ukraine for an offensive against Russia in the spring were widely shared on social media platforms, the New York Times reported as the Pentagon said that it is assessing the security breach. Russia-Ukraine War: A Ukrainian serviceman hides in a trench near the frontline town of Bakhmut amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, Donetsk region.(Reuters) "We are aware of the reports of social media posts, and the Department is reviewing the matter," Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said as per the New York Times. The documents contained charts and details of weapons deliveries, army strength and other information, the report claimed. Although, the information is at least five weeks old, it added. Read more: China's moral imperative': WHO chief lashes at Beijing over Covid origin info The documents also included training schedules of 12 Ukraine combat brigades, revealing that nine of them were being trained by US and NATO forces, and needed 250 tanks and more than 350 mechanized vehicles, it was reported. They also include details of expenditure rates for munitions under Ukraine military control, including the HIMARS rocket systems. The documents were circulated on pro-Russian government channels, it said as military analysts with whom the NYT spoke claimed that the documents were likely modified from their original format with the aim to reduce the number of casualties on the Russian side and increase those on the Ukrainian side. The changes could be part of a Russian disinformation campaign to distort facts. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Tennessee Republicans have expelled two Democratic lawmakers from the state Legislature for their role in a protest calling for more gun control. Here's a look at what could happen next: Rep. Justin Pearson and Rep. Justin Jones raise their fists as a video of last week's gun control demonstration at the statehouse is screened and Republicans who control the Tennessee House of Representatives prepare to vote on whether to expel them for their role in it, in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., April 6, 2023.(REUTERS) Also read: Florida passes bill allowing people to carry concealed guns without permit WHAT HAPPENED? Republicans voted Thursday to expel two Black lawmakers who last week approached the front of the House chamber with a bullhorn and participated in a chant after joining protesters calling for passage of gun-control measures. The protests followed the March 27 shooting at the Covenant School, a private Christian school in Nashville. Six people were killed, including three 9-year-old children. GOP leaders argued that the move against Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson was necessary to draw a line against lawmakers using protest to disrupt House proceedings. Jones and Pearson have regularly criticized the white-majority House chamber. Jones was once temporarily banned from the Capitol several years ago for throwing a cup of liquid at then-House Speaker Glen Casada during a protest calling for the removal of a bust of Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, an early Ku Klux Klan leader. Pearson faced scrutiny when he wore a black dashiki on the first day of the session rather than a suit and tie. Pearson later said a white supremacist attacked his choice to wear the tunic-like garment that originated in west Africa. Rep. Gloria Johnson, who is white, also participated in the House floor protest. She survived a move to expel her by one vote. Republicans have a supermajority control in the House, which allows them to advance most of the political agenda despite objections from Democrats. WHAT'S NEXT? County commissions in each of the expelled lawmakers' districts will choose replacements to serve until a special election can be held. The commissions could choose to appoint Jones and Pearson to serve in the interim ahead of a special election, letting them return to the Capitol. Depending on how fast the commissions and statehouse move, there is a chance that Jones and Pearson could return even before lawmakers adjourn, which is expected to be in several weeks. The expelled lawmakers also would be eligible to run in the special elections to fill the seats. Local leaders in Davidson County, which encompasses Jones Nashville district, have already scheduled a special meeting for Monday to discuss appointing an interim representative. Many have already voiced support for choosing Jones. Over in Shelby County, which includes Pearson's district in Memphis, commissioners have not yet set a time to discuss temporarily filling the now-vacant legislative seat. Democratic Rep. Torrey Harris, a Memphis Democrat, told reporters that he planned to meet with commission members Friday evening and hoped that another meeting would be scheduled soon. Under the Tennessee Constitution, lawmakers cannot be expelled for the same offense twice. COULD A REPUBLICAN TAKE EITHER SEAT? Tennessee is a Republican-dominant state, but the two first-term lawmakers represented House districts that are extremely friendly to Democrats. No Republican even ran against the pair following successful Democratic primary wins. Also read: US Congressman's solution to gun violence: Change peoples hearts' Pearson cruised to an easy win over nine other candidates in the January special election for House District 86 following longtime Rep. Barbara Coopers death. The district runs from southwest Memphis north to the Millington area. Jones had a tougher fight in his 2022 primary, beating Nashville Metro Council member Delishia Porterfield by fewer than 250 votes. Porterfield has been among Jones supporters during the fight to expel him from the House. The district includes southeast Nashville and the Nashville International Airport. Taiwan still expects US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to visit, the head of the democracys legislature said, setting up the possibility of a repeat of tensions seen last year when Nancy Pelosi made the trip. I extended an invite to McCarthy to come visit before he became House speaker, You Si-kun, the speaker of Taiwans Legislative Yuan, said.(Twitter) I extended an invite to McCarthy to come visit before he became House speaker, You Si-kun, the speaker of Taiwans Legislative Yuan, said Friday in Taipei alongside visiting US lawmakers including Michael McCaul, the Republican head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. I understand that Speaker McCarthy is a person of promise. Its just a matter of timing. Also Read: Taiwan-US meet in California despite China's warnings McCarthy met Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen earlier this week in Los Angeles, stressing the importance of the relationship between the two sides to economic freedom, peace and stability in the region. The location was apparently chosen to avoid a repeat of the tensions seen in August, when Pelosi became the first sitting House speaker in 25 years to visit Taiwan. China practiced a blockade of Taiwan and sent missiles overhead in response to the Tsai-Pelosi talks. Speaking at the same briefing as You, McCaul said the US wants to move forward on free-trade and double-taxation agreements with Taiwan. Also Read: China's firm and forceful response after US-Taiwan meet, deploys warships Taiwan officials want a deal similar to the kind the US has with dozens of countries to get around whopping tax bills that could deter investors. An agreement would likely anger Beijing because it could be seen as a step toward recognition of Taiwan. China considers the democracy part of its territory. You avoided a question over whether hed prefer the US adopt a clearer policy regarding Taiwan, saying it was clear enough though it wasnt spelled out. The USs traditional policy is sometimes referred to as strategic ambiguity, which aims to deter China by being vague about Americas intentions. China is imposing sanctions against the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and other U.S.- and Asian-based organizations in retaliation for the closely watched meeting this week between the U.S. House Speaker and Taiwans president. China is imposing sanctions against the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and other U.S.- and Asian-based organizations amid US-Tiwan meet.(Twitter) The Reagan library in Simi Valley, California, was the site of the rare high-level, bipartisan meeting Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy hosted this week for talks with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. Also Read: China condemns Tsai-McCarthy meeting in US, deploys aircraft carrier near Taiwan The meeting came as U.S.-China relations have sunk to historic lows and as tensions between Taiwan and China have risen. China views any official exchanges between foreign governments and Taiwan as an attempt to raise Taipei's global status, and thus an infringement on Beijings claims of sovereignty over the island. China had vowed countermeasures against Taipei for its interactions with the U.S. We will take resolute measures to punish the Taiwan independence separatist forces and their actions, and resolutely safeguard our countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity, Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office said in a statement Thursday, referring to Tsai and her political party as separatists. In addition, the Prospect Foundation and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats, both in Asia, were being sanctioned for their involvement in promoting Taiwan independence under the guise of academic and research exchanges, Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson, Zhu Fenglian, said. Also Read: China condemns US-Taiwan meet, vows 'resolute' response China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the Hudson Institute think tank and the Reagan library were sanctioned for providing a platform and convenience to Taiwan separatist activities. Four individuals in leadership roles with the organizations also were named: Sarah May Stern, chair of the board of directors of Hudson Institute; John P. Walters, director of the Hudson Institute; John Heubusch, former executive director of the Reagan Foundation; Joanne M. Drake, chief administrative officer of the Reagan Foundation. China said any property or financial assets belonging to them in China would be frozen. Tsai had accepted a leadership award from the Hudson Institute as part of her trip to the U.S. and also given a speech about Taiwan's challenges in regional security. The sanctions effectively are a travel ban on the individuals in charge of the organizations. They're also banned from working with Chinese organizations. Also Read: China condemns Tsai-McCarthy meeting in US, deploys aircraft carrier near Taiwan The Prospect Foundation is a Taiwanese think tank that works on dialogue and cooperation on issues related to Taiwans security, economy, and social development. The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats is a regional organization established in Thailand that promotes exchanges among liberal and democratic political parties in Asia. Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party is a member. Separately, the Taiwan Affairs Office also announced further sanctions on Hsiao Bi-Khim, Taiwans representative in the U.S. The ban on Hsiao does not appear to be substantively different from the ban enacted on her last August, when then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan. China then announced sanctions on a list of individuals from the DPP and ruling administration, including Hsiao. Then it banned the individuals, their family members and related organizations from traveling or operating in China, including Hong Kong. Friday's announcement said any financial sponsors of Hsiao are also included. The White House defended US President Joe Bidens decision not to attend the King Charles III's coronation next month after it was announced that US First Lady Jill Biden would be attending on behalf of the United States. King Charles Coronation: US President Joe Biden.(AP) Read more: Kate Middleton wants Prince William to stand up for her more because When White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked about Joe Biden's absence from the ceremony and whether it would be understood as a snub, she reiterated that Joe Biden talked to the British monarch on call for 25 to 30 minutes during which the US president congratulated the King ahead of the coronation. They had a very friendly conversation. They have a good relationship, the press secretary said adding that Joe Biden also talked about how much he and the first lady enjoyed visiting Queen Elizabeth II in 2021. Read more: King Charles supports research into royal familys colonial history. Here's why The monarch invited Joe Biden to come for an official state visit, which the president accepted, she informed, however the timeline was not set. So they will see each other again very soon, so Ill leave it there. But again, they have a very good relationship, there are many, key things that they both care about, key values and shared issues that they want to continue to discuss, like climate change, and that conversation will continue, the press secretary said. And there will be a visit in the near future," she added. On whether British people might see it as a snub, she said, Not at all. Again, the president has a good relationship with the King, they had a friendly conversation, and I will leave it at that. It is not a snub. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Rayyanah Barnawi, a breast cancer researcher, is set to become the first Saudi Arabian woman to blast off on a mission to space this May. Part of a private mission, Barnawi will be joined by fellow Saudi Ali Al-Qarni, a fighter pilot; Peggy Whitson, a former National Aeronautics and Space Administration astronaut; and John Shoffner, a businessman from Tennessee who will serve as pilot on the trip, the NASA officials said Thursday. A file photo of Rayyanah Barnawi, the first Saudi woman set to go on a space trip in May.(NASA) The four-member crew will travel to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule, marking the launch of private space company Axiom Space's second mission. All you need to know about Rayyanah Barnawi: Barnawi will serve as a mission specialist for Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2). The international astronauts trip to space is being seen as Saudi Arabias latest bid to revamp its ultra-conservative image. Also Read: Nasa selects first woman, first Black astronauts for Artemis II lunar flyby She, along with the crew, will set off from Florida, United States, on May 8 in the private mission seen as an important step towards the first commercial space station in the world a possible replacement for ISS, NASA said on its website. Barnawi earned her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Otago, New Zealand. She has done masters in biomedical sciences from Saudi Arabia itself. A research laboratory technician with nine years of experience in breast cancer and stem-cell cancer research, she will be the first Muslim female astronaut to fly to space on a 10-day mission to ISS, NASA said. The mission comes a year after Axiom Spaces first bid in April 2022, when four astronauts spent 17 days in orbit as part of Ax-1. The takeoff will happen on May 8 from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida, Axiom Space and NASA officials said in a briefing to preview the flight. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Steve Rose in The Guardian: It is a warm, clear spring morning and Ai Weiwei is giving me a tour of the huge new studio he is building about an hours drive from Lisbon. There is not another house in sight, just the flat green landscape of the Alentejo, and a big blue sky dotted with darting swallows. The studio, explains the artist, is a replica of his old one in Shanghai, which was finished in 2011 only to be almost immediately demolished by the Chinese authorities: officially, because it contravened planning regulations; unofficially, because of Ais outspoken criticism of the government. Months later, the artist was imprisoned for three months then placed under house arrest. When his passport was returned in 2015, he left the country and has not returned since. We live in a constantly changing landscape, says Ai. His has certainly changed more than most peoples. After China, he set up in Berlin but left under a cloud, saying: Nazism perfectly exists in German daily life today. He moved on to the UK, where he has had run-ins with immigration authorities. On his first visit, he was initially granted a visa for just 20 days on account of his criminal conviction in China. More here. New York, New York Preferred Travel Group the family-owned company that operates hotel brands Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Beyond Green, Historic Hotels of America, and Historic Hotels Worldwide is re-introducing I Prefer Hotel Rewards, the worlds biggest loyalty program for independent hotels, with the launch of a content-rich, standalone website and upgraded mobile app in addition to other enhancements. This also includes extended redemption opportunities and enticing offers accessible to all members upon complimentary enrollment. 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The I Prefer program also offers a free mobile app, available on Apple and Android devices, which allows members to search and book hotel stays, and easily redeem Reward Certificates. With more than 4.5 million travelers currently enrolled in membership, I Prefer is complimentary to join. To learn more and to enroll in the program, please visit iprefer.com/enroll. About Preferred Travel Group Owned and operated by the Ueberroth Family, Preferred Travel Group is the parent company of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Beyond Green, Historic Hotels of America, Historic Hotels Worldwide, PTG Consulting, and Beyond Green Travel, representing more than 1,100 hotels, resorts, and residences across 80 countries, in addition to a global portfolio of destination marketing organizations and tourist boards. With more than 275 seasoned travel professionals situated across 20 countries, the company connects independent hotels, hospitality companies, and destinations to key markets worldwide through strategic branding, sales, integrated marketing, revenue management, distribution services, and other consultancy services. Fueled by its brand promise, Believe in Travel, the company and its hotel and travel brands champion an unwavering belief in the transformative power of travel and its ability to enrich lives, inspire a greater respect for the planet, and expand hearts and minds to other cultures and ways of living. For more information, visit PreferredTravelGroup.com. Jennifer Jackson Preferred Hotels Last month, BLLA partnered with the Travel Industry Executive Womens Network (TIEWN) to host the 2023 Women in Travel & Hospitality Conference in beautiful Westlake Village, California. The event provided a warm and inclusive space for female professionals to authentically delve into why they believe in the power of women and the importance of embracing your intuition and tapping into your feminine spirit. Get a glimpse of what some of our industry leaders have to say: No matter what we do in our professional lives we are creating a legacy of thinking! As women in the business world it all comes down to money and what you do with it that builds the bridges to a strong foundation. I believe the travel and tourism world makes dreams come true, its a happy place and I love that there are so many wonderful women that spend their time and talent helping those that want to spend their hard earned money to relax and refresh. What would life be without the wonderful world of travel, to fill the eyes with the wonder of the creators vision is a wonderful thing, thank you to all those that work in travel and hospitality, you are truly magical! Angela Setters Bessard, CEO, The Real Credit Queen Ive had a three-decade love affair with the travel industry. That romance led me to the hospitality sector and then to the front lines of one of the industrys most popular offshoots wellness and spas. And guess what? Women have made up the majority of employees in each of those sectors and yet, all these years lateronly 4% are in C-Suite positions! How could that be? Its time we talked about Mean Girls syndrome, Ageism and the shut the door behind you mentality that have often plagued female executives who actually made it to top tier positions. Its time to share tools and learn to build each other up, not tear each other down, applaud our fellow females and mentor one another. Kim Marshall, Co-Founder, SWell the Agency I have a strong belief in the value of women in the travel and hospitality industries. Women possess a natural capacity to nurture and care for people, making their contributions in the industry irreplaceable. A diverse perspective is essential for creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for guests, which women bring in abundance. Women of color have historically been overlooked and undervalued in this industry, making it all the more important to promote diversity and inclusion in every space. Jenesis Laforcarde, Founder, The Jenesis House I believe that women in the travel and hospitality industry are the refresh to an original. Any industry that is currently male-dominated demands the perspective of women in the top tiers. Period. This is especially necessary in a market where women are leading the charge from the decisions to the doing, and then putting their dollars where they see themselves represented. Founder/CEO, Urban Cowboy Hotels I was recently reflecting on the idea that the most important work we do isnt making our sales quotas, the number of meetings we attend, or analyzing spreadsheets of data. Its fostering connection in our work environments, creating and nurturing relationships that contribute to business results, and empowering those around us to help leave the department, the company, the industry, the broader community better than we found them. We are fortunate to live in a time where its possible to initiate and make change, especially as women. Finding My Circle of Influence means using my years of corporate experience as a woman in hospitality and tech to meaningfully connect with other colleagues, both male and female, to hopefully help make this place (and the people in it) a little bit better. Kim Twiggs, Associate Vice President of Market Development, DIRECTV A woman who possess self worth, confidence and freedom to choose in regard to their private and professional choices can live a life free of domination and fear. And only when a woman is educated, well informed and empowered she can contribute to the overall development of a balanced society. It is not only important to remind women of their power but it is absolutely necessary and we can achieve this first through education. Invisible it may seem, the power of the modern female has always lied in their creativity, resources and their femininity. Nile Tuzun, Founder & Chief Creative Storyteller, Studio Nilebrand I believe that the way we do one thing is the way we do everything. This means that every aspect of our lives, personal, professional and relationships are all connected like blueprints of the same patterns at deeper levels, so healing in one area can help you in all areas of your life. I love that the BLLA is creating an environment where people can break out of the paradigm of the way things have always been done and bring creativity and growth together in the professional world helping people to live better lives and therefore be more connected to their passion, their work and themselves for the highest purpose of everything. Shannon Kim, CEO/Founder, The Beauty Haus About the Boutique Lifestyle Leaders Association (BLLA) The official organization for the world's boutique lifestyle leaders promoting connection, education, and advocacy. As a pioneer in forecasting the boutique movement, the BLLA's network has grown beyond its hotel foundation to welcome more passionate entrepreneurs, businesses, and purveyors that amplify the boutique lifestyle. The BLLA Corporate Manifesto video. Experience the intention behind BLLA Events in this video. BLLA is a catalyst for trends and the future of the boutique lifestyle. BLLA.org Boutique Lifestyle Leaders Association (BLLA) BLLA View source The South Dakota Supreme Court ruled Thursday that affidavits from an investigation into child pornography allegations against billionaire philanthropist T. Denny Sanford must be unsealed. In 2019, South Dakota investigators searched his email account, as well as his cellular and internet service providers, for evidence of possession of child pornography, after his accounts were flagged by a technology firm. Sanford, the states richest man, was not charged after the South Dakota attorney generals office said its investigation into the allegations found no prosecutable offenses within the states jurisdiction. Sanford had sought to bar affidavits used to issue search warrants in the case. But the Sioux Falls Argus Leader and ProPublica argued in court that the documents should be made public. After the decision not to file charges, Judge James Power ordered in June 2022 that South Dakota law required the affidavits to be unsealed. They were kept sealed while Sanford's attorneys appealed, sending the case to the state Supreme Court. Sanford argued that releasing the documents could have an impact on his privacy and reputation. Initially, the court documents referred only to an implicated individual, leading the Argus Leader and ProPublica to go to court seeking access to the records. The search warrants were unsealed in 2021, identifying Sanford by name for the first time, but the affidavits remained sealed. In Thursday's unanimous decision, the state Supreme Court's found the lower court had thoroughly considered all legal and constitutional ground asserted by Sanford. The courts approach to redaction fell soundly within its discretion, and the court appropriately exercised its discretion to decide whether there (were) sufficient grounds to prohibit access to the affidavits. Sanford has donated billions to hospitals, universities and charities, and the Sanford Health system is named for him. He made his fortune as the founder of First Premier Bank in South Dakota, which is known for issuing high-interest credit cards to those with poor credit. His attorney, Stacey Hegge, argued that Sanford should be able to inspect and participate in redacting the affidavits before the circuit court unseals them, to avoid any disclosure of trade secrets. Hegge declined to comment Thursday on the ruling and would not say if an appeal was planned. Shelly Conlon, the Argus Leaders news director, applauded the courts decision. To take on a Goliath of an influence in our community and win today is a strong victory for the publics right to know, Conlon said. The law is clear, and the Courts decision only reaffirms the role journalism has in accountability and understanding government, public figure and law enforcement decisions. Jon Arneson, attorney for the Argus Leader, noted that the ruling came just two weeks after attorneys argued the case before the state Supreme Court. Obviously, I agree with the Supreme Courts unanimous decision, he said. The reasoning was sound and well articulated. The court's ruling also noted that attorneys for the state had argued that unsealing an affidavit after the investigation was over was consistent with society's interests in having law enforcement and the judiciary operate in public, even when no charges are filed. Tellurian, the Houston-based liquefied natural gas company, reached a $1 billion deal this week that may offer it the opportunity to make good on its plan to build the massive Driftwood LNG project in Lake Charles, La. The company said in a Thursday regulatory filing that an unnamed investor has agreed to buy around 800 acres of land that make up the Driftwood site for $1 billion. As part of the transaction, a Tellurian subsidiary entered into a 40-year lease for the property. The deal requires Tellurian to add equity investors to the project before July 14 or the agreement would be terminated, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. THE BACKSTORY: Tellurian chief Charif Souki is selling new style LNG business, but so far no one's buying it It will allow us to continue to put the pieces of the puzzle together, Tellurian Chairman Charif Souki said in an interview. Pieces of the $13.6 billion Driftwood LNG project began unraveling last year after its partnerships with oil major Shell and commodities trader Vitol collapsed, leaving the Houston LNG company with just one contracted buyer. It has since launched a failed attempt to raise $1 billion for the project through a public offering and struggled to attract institutional investors for Driftwood, built on a riskier business model that, if constructed, could also allow the company to reap greater profits. The sale-leaseback comes as Souki reported to regulators that he had sold more than 25 million shares of Tellurian stock since Feb. 8, reducing his position to less than 1.7 million shares, to repay a real estate loan that he said was unrelated to the company. During an interview last month with Bloomberg TV, Souki said the real estate investment that precipitated the selloff "was not exactly the wisest deal that I've made." The most recent sales were for about 187,000 shares at $1.26 each on April 4 and for just over 195,000 shares at $1.21 each the next day. It has been a fraught time for the company, which nearly a year ago made the unusual decision to begin building the Driftwood project before reaching a final investment decision. Tellurian's shares had tanked heading into 2023 and were trading around $1 recently. Two board members resigned in January and its chief financial officer resigned last month. Clark Williams-Derry, energy finance analyst with the Institute of Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, said he has watched these struggles with concern and believes the Driftwood deal could be seen as another risk for investment-grade equity partners. "Equity partners could potentially be on the hook for a 40-year real estate lease with escalating annual payments," he said. Taken together, these are all huge red flags for Tellurian. Ben Nolan, an energy analyst with Stifel, wrote in a research that the Driftwood deal was "a baby step in the right direction," but that it did not remove skepticism about the ailing project. He said Driftwood "has virtually no chance of moving forward." In the interview, Souki declined to name the Driftwood investor, saying the name would become public when the deal closed, and until then it was up to them to reveal themselves. In a filing with the SEC, Tellurian described the unnamed investor as a New York-based institutional investor with around $120 billion in assets under management. The market responded favorably to the announcement, sending Tellurian shares up 23 percent to close at $1.45 Thursday. amanda.drane@houstonchronicle.com Uncertainty over the direction of the economy prompted another slowdown in drilling activity. Oilfield services firm Baker Hughes, which has reported its rig county weekly since 1944, said Thursday a day early because of the holiday its US rig count fell four to 751, marking a second weekly decline. Still, the count is 62 rigs or 9% higher than the 689 Baker Hughes reported a year earlier. The number of rigs seeking crude fell two to 590, 44 more than 546 last year. The number of rigs drilling for natural gas also fell by two to 158 17 more than the 141 drilling for natural gas last April. Texas bucked the national trend, inching up one rig to 377 35 more than the 342 rigs active across the state last year. Texas was the only producing state to see an increase for the week. New Mexico fell one rig to 103. Colorado (1), Louisiana (1). North Dakota (1) and Oklahoma (1) joined New Mexico as producing states to experience declines. The Permian Basin also bucked the national trend, adding one rig for 353 drilling across the region 21 more than the 332 reported the previous April. The Permian was the only producing basin to see an increase. Eddy County, New Mexico, remains the most active county in the Permian with 55 rigs, up one for the week. Lea County, New Mexico, continued its decline, dropping two rigs to 47. Reeves County reported 42 rigs for a second week while Martin County was close behind with 41 rigs, up one. Loving County added a rig for 28 rigs at work within county lines. Midland County had 27 rigs, unchanged for the week. Howard County reported 20 rigs, up one. Upton County reported 19 rigs for the fourth consecutive week, followed by Reagan County with 10 rigs, up one. Crockett County saw renewed activity this week with the addition of one rig while Crane County saw no activity after losing its one rig. Enverus Foundations, part of the energy-focused Software as a Service firm Enverus, said its US rig count reached 833 during the week ended April 5, falling by four from the previous week. The count is down 2% in the last month and up 8% year over year. In major plays, Enverus Foundations said all but one reported declines. The Gulf Coast had the largest decline, losing nine to 98, followed by Anadarko dropping two to 74. The remaining regions lost one rig each. The Permian was the only major play to gain week-over-week, adding one rig for a total of 347. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Mattress Firm, one of the nations largest mattress retailers, is moving its headquarters to the Westchase area of Houston, becoming the latest area company to shrink its office footprint since hybrid work changed how companies approach their office real estate. The Houston-based bedding purveyor plans to move its headquarters to a 55,855-square-foot office to 3250 Briarpark, just east of Beltway 8, according to Transwestern Real Estate Services, which manages the building, called Reserve at Westchase. FUTURE OFFICE DESIGN: 6-story mass timber office planned near Memorial City Mattress Firm confirmed that it expects to relocate its so-called Bedquarters this fall, vacating a roughly 135,000-square-foot office at 10201 South Main Street south of NRG Stadium. The 23-acre site was put on the market this year, according to marketing materials by the real estate firm JLL. Attempts were unsuccessful to reach the brokers for comment on the site, owned by PR Investments, according to Harris County records. Mattress Firms lease at that south Houston site was expected to expire in September, prompting the retailer to search for a new location that would better align with the needs of our employees in todays environment, said Katie Clark, a Mattress Firm spokesperson. Transwestern Real Estate Services Mattress Firm has a few hundred employees in the Houston area, and many corporate employees spend time working at home. Some employees work entirely remotely, while others commute to the office regularly, a spokesperson said. We have embraced a hybrid working environment, giving our corporate associates the flexibility to work wherever they are most comfortable and productive. What weve seen over the last year is that many associates are continuing to work remotely, and thus the need for a space of our current size is no longer necessary, Clark said. EARLIER: Mattress Firm withdraws bid to go public The lease represents a roughly 60 percent reduction of the companys office space. Other Houston companies, including Invesco, Baker Hughes, Apache and Bechtel, have reduced their office space in recent years as theyve embraced hybrid work. The Mattress Firm lease was listed among the biggest publicly known office leases signed in the first quarter, including lease renewals, according to research from CBRE and JLL. This deal further cements West Houston/Westchase as an ideal location for companies looking to make long-term real estate commitments, Jack Scharnberg, a broker with Transwestern, said in a statement, noting Apache and Bechtels recent moves to the area. Due to the quality of the project and competitive economics, Mattress Firm was able to secure a long-term deal at a great value. Mattress Firm could also count on relatively more affordable rental rates in Westchase, where office rents were averaging almost $25.75 per square foot in the first quarter this year. The average asking rent in the Energy Corridor is just more than $30 a square foot; about $42 downtown, and almost $35 in the Galleria, according to CBRE. Office vacancies in the Westchase area also are hovering just under 30 percent, higher than the regions average of 23.6 percent, according to CBRE. CRE OUTLOOK: Why this Houston real estate chief isnt too concerned about a recession CBRE declined to comment on the Mattress Firm deal, although the brokerages Jon Lee and Brett Blanchard represented Mattress Firm in the transaction, according to Transwestern. The landlord was represented by Transwesterns Scharnberg, along with Kristen Baker and David Baker, who have both since left Transwestern for real estate brokerage Newmark. Mattress Firm has nearly 2,300 stores with more than 6,000 so-called sleep experts nationally. The company scrapped plans for an initial public offering amid rumors that it could be acquired by Tempur Sealy, industry trade publication Furniture Today reported. Clark, the Mattress Firm spokesperson, said the company doesnt comment on rumors or speculation. A federal investigation has found a Houston car wash chain guilty of denying workers more than $100,000 in overtime pay. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division investigated six Houston-area car washes, all operating as Dr. Car Wash Plus, for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act, a national law requiring employers to keep accurate records of workers' hours and to pay at least time and a half for any hours over 40 worked in a week. OVERTIME PAY: Spring Valley Village police chief accused of paying nearly $300K in overtime pay to himself The investigation found that the car wash chain paid commission and failed to include these commission payments in the regular rate of pay while it should be included to compute overtime premiums, the government said. Additionally, the employer paid for hours over 40 at the regular rate of pay and categorized these payments as commission. Dr. Car Wash Plus also kept incomplete and inaccurate records of hours worked by employees, investigators said. Overall, the Labor Department recovered $114,221 in back wages for 92 workers across the six locations. Dr. Car Wash Plus executives could not be reached for comment. The chain has four locations in Houston and one each in Spring and Richmond, according to the Labor Department. WORKPLACE CONDITIONS: Harris County will require contractors to provide OSHA safety training for workers When workers in low-wage industries are illegally denied overtime pay, it is difficult for them to make ends meet and care for their families, Robin Mallett, district director for the Wage and Hour Division in Houston, said in a statement. Dr. Car Wash Plus denied workers overtime pay by categorizing the pay as commission. We encourage employers to contact us with any questions regarding their obligations under the law. Several Houston-area companies have been found guilty of denying overtime pay in the past year. Last September, the Department of Labor determined that V&R Health Care Services in Friendswood and Omega Drywall Co. in Katy each failed to pay more than $55,000 in overtime wages. In July, an investigation also found M&M Welding, a Houston welding and fabrication company, misclassified workers as independent contractors to deprive them of nearly $180,000 in overtime pay. Personal computer users know well the frustration of trying to find something on their machines. Built-in search tools on Windows PCs and Macs can be hit or miss, and can feel like its mostly miss. But suppose your computer remembered everything? And I do mean everything. Imagine that all you wrote, saw, searched for, heard or watched on your system could be found, instantly, regardless of the source. Thats the idea behind Rewind.ai, an app available for Macs with Apple Silicon processors and in the works for Windows PCs. Rewind solves a problem thats all too human: I am looking for something, I know I saw it on my Mac, but was it a web page? A document? Or did I hear it in a Zoom meeting? In essence, thats the core of what we want from all computing devices to be a record of what we do, as well as what we can know, easily searchable. Rewinds marketing materials say its goal is to give users a perfect memory. But this convenience also conjures the things we fear most in the digital age: Our lives and privacy being laid bare, accessible to those who might misuse the data we generate. Ive been using Rewind since December, and having lived with it for more than three months, Ive gotten over my reservations about privacy and the software. It is a remarkably useful app, and I think its the kind of thing that should be built into all personal computer operating systems. Rewind is only available on Macs that use Apples M1 or M2 families of home-grown processors. It will not run on older Macs that use Intel chips. In an interview, Rewind.ai co-founder and CEO Dan Siroker said his developers have made the product work on Intel Macs, but at a hit to performance and battery life. Its presence is not as imperceptible as on Apple Silicon Macs, which are known for their muscle and energy efficiency. But Intels latest processors are catching up to Apples, and thus newer Windows PCs could run Rewind. Microsoft also has versions of Windows running on chips that, like Apple Silicon, use the same architecture licensed from processor designer Arm. Siroker said his company has a team in place that can build a Windows version pretty quickly. We are not oblivious, he said. We know that the world is big and while theres only about 30 million Apple Silicon laptops out there, theres about a billion other machines that we can go after if we offer (a Windows version). How Rewind works When you install it on a Mac, it begins recording all your actions everything you see in email, all your web activity, what you create in documents, what happens in apps, even the teleconferencing meetings you attend (it generates a transcript of them, too). If it happens on your computer, its grabbed and saved in a highly compressed manner on your Macs drive that takes up a minimum amount of space. You can exempt sensitive app activity from being captured, such as working in password managers. You can turn the microphone and audio output capture off, and even turn off screen recording. When you need to recall something, click the Rewind icon in the Macs Menu Bar and a search field and a timeline appear onscreen. You can enter keywords or phrases to find your data, or you can scroll through the timeline, which has miniature renditions of your app icons when they were active. For example, on a recent trip to Frisco, I did some web research on healthy breakfast options but couldnt remember a spot that had appealed to me. So I invoked Rewind, clicked on the browser icon on the timeline and quickly found the web page for The Aussie Grind (try the Canberra omelet yum!) And what happens on your Mac stays on your hard drive, with two exceptions Ill detail in a moment. None of the captured data is saved to the cloud, the company says. Rewind does, however, reach out to its servers to check for updates and to send information about how the product is used so developers can look for issues and find ways to improve it. But there is one instance in which some of your data is dispatched to a cloud service. Rewind.ai recently announced that it was integrating GPT-4, the artificial intelligence model that has caused much excitement and concern, in an upcoming feature called Ask Rewind that currently is in beta testing via a waitlist. Siroker said you can ask the product to do things such as draft an email, summarize your work week for a report or round up things youve researched. It uses the AIs predictive text capabilities to generate documents based on what youve done on your computer. Siroker said when you use Ask Rewind, only a small amount of text relevant to your question is sent to GPT-4 and its only text, no video or audio, and not linked to your identity. GPT-4 developer OpenAI deletes all incoming data after 30 days. Siroker said his company has asked OpenAI to not retain data at all from Rewind users, something it has agreed to do for other customers. The effect of Rewind on the battery life of my 2021 MacBook Pro has been negligible. I cant usually tell that its running, except that when I was interviewing Siroker over Zoom, there were occasional streaming hiccups, and the laptops case got warm. Rewind has three subscription tiers. A free version lets you do a rewind searching for something thats been captured 50 times. The Basic tier gives you 10 rewinds per month for $12 a month, or $120 yearly, along with some customer support. The Pro tier is $36 a month, or $360 yearly, with unlimited rewinds and priority support. Pro also provides Sirokers cellphone number. Apple has a history of adding features from innovative products to its operating systems. But Siroker says he doesnt think Apple will do that with Rewind, because his product is too weird and creepy for the tech giant to incorporate. What about the possibility that Apple could just buy Rewind? I hope not, Siroker said. But if we get far enough ahead, maybe well buy Apple. Now if youll excuse me, I need to invoke Rewind so I can look at our Zoom session to see if he was joking. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate On any given night, theres no shortage of Parmesan at Zanti, a splashy River Oaks restaurant. A chef or server will grate the aged Italian hard cheese made from cows milk in the provinces of Parma and Reggio Emilia over $48 plates of truffle pasta and Neapolitan-style pizzas pulled from a glowing brick oven clocking in well north of 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Now theres a new use for the cheese: the Parmesan espresso martini. Walk into any of the top bars in Houston and its almost certain that a patron or two is sipping a regular espresso martini. The retro caffeine-spiked cocktail made a comeback during the pandemic and is arguably one of the most popular orders at restaurants and bars today. More recently, however, a Parmesan-topped version has taken over social media with millions of TikTok view; it has landed in bars across the country and locally. Now Playing: At Betelgeuse Betelgeuse, which has no shortage of cheese for its pizzas, the Parmesan espresso martini is made with Japanese vodka, cold brew concentrate, simple syrup and coffee liqueur. It's infused with nitrogen and topped off with a Parmesan foam. Video: Houston Chronicle The cocktail is so new that its not even officially on the menu at Zanti. On a recent Friday evening, Trish Nguyen was with a friend seated at the Italian restaurants bar, where every seat was filled with customers knee-to-knee. The 26-year-old Houstonian said she had seen the Parmesan espresso martini on Instagram Reels and requested it from the bartender. It was different and wacky sounding, said Nguyen, who said she regularly orders traditional espresso martinis. While she said it was better than expected maybe its just for an Instagram post bartenders across town said the trendy cocktail shouldnt be written off. I was very surprised, said Malachi Boykin, Zantis bar manager. You dont think about drinking Parmesan cheese, but the saltiness with the coffee and some of the sweetness really blended together. CHEERS TO HOUSTON: The top 25 bars and places to grab a drink in the Houston area Brett Coomer/Staff photographer The espresso martini is the top-selling cocktail at Chris Cusacks Betelgeuse Betelgeuse, which opened in May 2022 on Washington Avenue. Its like the Red Bull and vodka for adults, said Cusack, explaining the popularity of the drink. The Parmesan espresso martini popped up on Cusacks TikTok feed, which he said he follows to stay on top of beverage trends. Jordan Hughes, a cocktail influencer and photographer, is largely credited for making the drink a social media hit with his social posts garnering over 250,000 likes and over a million views. At Betelgeuse Betelgeuse, which has no shortage of cheese for its pizzas, the Parmesan espresso martini is made with Japanese vodka, cold brew concentrate, simple syrup and coffee liqueur. It's infused with nitrogen and topped off with a Parmesan foam. I dont think this one will stick around forever, Cusack said. But its definitely fun to try. The reemergence of the espresso martini at brunch, lunch, dinner or as a nightcap is popular even at Houstons most old-school establishments, such as Brennans. The 90s hit is one of the top-selling cocktails at the Midtown restaurant, said bar manager Thomas Cordes. In a dining room dotted with white tablecloths, the fever-pitch adoration for espresso martinis is evident each night as customers order the drink before diving into Cajun-Creole dishes. Diners at Brennans havent requested the Parmesan version so far, Cordes said, and he doesnt expect hell be mixing one anytime soon. Ive heard rumblings of the Parmesan cocktail, Cordes said. I suppose we could make it, but were more traditional and fine-dining focused. Still, Cordes recently put a New Orleans twist on the espresso martini. He swapped in chicory liqueur for a nutty, slightly bitter taste many tourists may be familiar with if theyve ordered beignets and coffee at Cafe Du Monde in the French Quarter. MORE FROM BAO ONG: We tried H-E-B's Taste of Texas coffee flavors. These were the best. Harold Cua/PS-21 Pairing coffee and cheese isnt simply another TikTok-born recipe thats meant to be clickbait. (Remember last summers craze over butter boards?) Souvik Dasgupta, the bar director at the newly opened PS-21 in Upper Kirby, is familiar with how to marry the two ingredients. He turned to Frances global reach and history of colonization while developing the special cocktails for the modern French bistro, which was aiming to open last November long before the current Parmesan iteration came along. The $16 Veracruz, which nods to Frances presence in the Mexican port city, is PS-21s variation on the espresso martini. Dasgupta combines vodka, espresso, amaro, piloncillo (what he describes as Mexican brown sugar) and a heady mole spice blended from eight ingredients, including cacao nibs, cinnamon and chipotle. Its shaken until ice cold and poured into a delicate Nick and Nora glass. A pinch of cotija cheese, purchased from Central Market, is shaved on top as a garnish. Everyone loves a new trend, Dasgupta said. Every cocktail goes through an evolution. Its how new trends are started and followed. The seemingly head-scratching combination of cheese and espresso is not novel. Cafe con queso (coffee with cheese) is popular in some Latin American countries. In Houston, cafes in Asiatown sell Vietnamese egg coffee a popular recipe originating in northern Vietnam that combines egg yolks with sugar, condensed milk and coffee. Coffee with butter is also not uncommon. Give the Parmesan espresso martini a chance, said Mary Ellen Angel, the owner of Angel Share, a downtown bar known as much for its cocktails as its mission to donate proceeds to charities. I saw it on social media, and I was absolutely disgusted at the thought at first, Angel said. We tried it and were slightly terrified, but it turned out very well. Angel and her team are still tinkering with their Parmesan espresso martini recipe before putting the drink on the menu. They use a Microplane to finely grate an ounce of cheese, just like its done over a plate of pasta but atop an espresso martini. It made sense why it worked, Angel said. Think of tiramisu. This is similar. She describes the drink as a nuttier version of the coffee-flavored Italian dessert, which traditionally includes coffee-soaked ladyfingers with layers of eggs, sugar and mascarpone cheese. Angel is confident that customers will order the drink: As soon as we tell people or put it on the menu, Im sure people will say, What? Gross! Let me try it. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church brings the Easter story to life by building a town of Jerusalem on the lawn and inviting families to an interactive trip into the pages of the Bible. The Easter Village opens each year on the Saturday before the holiday at the congregation located at 11612 Memorial Drive. Each shop in the village is dedicated to a portion of the Holy Week story, recounting the last few days of Jesus life. Each booth offers an activity to correspond with the narrative. For example, at the Soap and Sandal Shop, children will learn about Jesus washing the disciples feet. And the kids will make a foot scrub to take home and remind them that we are to serve others the way Jesus served, director of childrens ministry Keri Mosk said. At the Bake Shop, children learn about the Last Supper and make a piece of bread to enjoy with grape juice. Then, at the Spice Shop, guests make a necklace and learn about the women who went to Jesus tomb. At the Leather Shop, the lesson is Judas betrayal. A coin toss game symbolizes the 30 pieces of silver Judas was paid. The booths really do appeal to all senses, Mosk said. Its an immersive experience, and it is personalized for each child. Youth hear the story, but they also employ touch, taste and smell to leave a lasting impression. By using experiential learning, Memorial Drive wants the story to come alive for the children and become more meaningful. It lends itself to all types of learners, Mosk said. Children are invited to wander the village at their own pace. At each shop they visit, they are also given a trading card, which has discussion questions on the back. For example, the card might read, How can I serve others? Or When was a time you felt excited about Jesus? The collectible cards really are meant for children, once they get home, to help process the day, Mosk said. The hope is that they might open up their Bibles with their families. We want to equip their parents as faith leaders at home. The Easter Village also features a petting zoo, egg hunt and a collaborative service project, bagging beans and rice for the churchs food pantry. The event was the brainchild of Rachel Poysky, Memorial Drive Presbyterians next generation pastor. Its a good thing that actually came out of COVID, she said. COVID forced the church in a good way to think about how we do ministry and what are new, innovative ways to bring the church to people. Before the pandemic, Memorial Drive Presbyterian offered members a Journey of the Cross event inside the building. Staying indoors was no longer an option in 2021. We had moved our Christmas fest outside during COVID, Poysky said. And we had such a great response. She wanted to do something similar for Easter, and the idea of a Jerusalem village was born. It was an immediate hit. We really drew from what we had been doing indoors for so many years and just revamped it and modernized it, Mosk added. Hosting the event outdoors also made it more appealing to neighbors who are not church members, Poysky said. It just made it more accessible to the community, she said. Its easier to step onto the parking lot than come inside the building. Miah Collins, a resident of Timbergrove, said his children brought their friends. Its just as fun and laid back as your neighborhood egg hunt, but theyre also learning the story behind Easter, Collins said. His family looks forward to the Easter Village each year. Its something we dont want to miss, he said. Poysky thinks it's a great way for parents to engage with their kids. We want to help families tell the Easter story," she said. "This is a tool we can give them. Were providing a place where they can walk through the Easter story, and its not a story that is just told once. Preparations for the Easter Village began right after Christmas. It takes about 75 volunteers to prepare and manage the event. We want to keep the story at the center, Poysky said. And we want to provide opportunities for families to learn about faith together. Thats the biggest win. Were helping make sacred memories, and that becomes an anchor to their faith. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Students in the Crosby Independent School District will move to a four-day school week this fall, after trustees this week adopted a new instructional schedule the superintendent said was designed to combat a declining teacher workforce. With the decision, a 4-3 vote, Crosby ISD becomes the largest school district in Texas, and first in Harris County, to adopt the shorter instructional week. Other districts in the area, like Tarkington ISD and Liberty ISD, have recently adopted a four-day schedule. Our 'why' is simple and straightforward. We want to find, recruit, and retain the best teachers in the state in the classrooms for our students," said Superintendent Paula Patterson. "This change immediately makes Crosby ISD a top destination for educators in Harris County. Trustees Karen Thomas, President J.R. Humphries, Lisa Kallies and Phillip Chapman supported the measure. Trustees Kea Lynn Lewis, Heather Barrett and Vice President Jennifer Roach opposed. Roach said she was concerned about the potential burden the new schedule could place on families. EARLIER COVERAGE: Crosby parents question need for shorter school week as superintendent offers more details on plan I was elected to serve 6,700 students, of which approximately 54 percent are classified as economically disadvantaged," Roach said. "That is a lot of families with economic hardships being asked to make tough decisions. This is a lot of students whose happiest and safest environment may be the four walls of our schools." Barrett said she was in favor of doing something to attract more teachers in the district officials reported about 40 openings at the start of the school year but said the proposal failed to support the districts most vulnerable students. Have we put a plan in place where I felt like we have checked all the boxes so that no child is left behind? I do not feel like we have, she told her colleagues. About 150 people attended the meeting Monday night at the Crosby ISD Operations Center and only one person addressed the board about the measure. Tiffany Muller expressed concern over a lack of precedent for a four-day week in a district as large as Crosby. Texas has more than 1,250 school districts and 43 of them have turned to the four-day school year. Of those, most of them are under 2,000 students and Crosby is almost 7,000," Muller said. "These plans have not been in effect long enough to know the true outcomes. At a community meeting held Feb. 15 about the proposal, many who attended said day care access and added costs would be a concern. Humphries said Monday that as the district grows, more day care options should be available. I believe as we see this crazy growth thats coming our way, we will see more day cares being built, Humphries said. Markets respond and there will be more options. The ones that cant afford it, they can seek government programs that step in for that kind of thing. He also said he was convinced the academic considerations and community impact were all meticulously examined and added that he was impressed by the flow of information coming from the administration. Sandy Bradley watched Monday nights board meeting by video. Bradley, who has twin daughters at Crosby Middle School, was disappointed and believes the proposal was masking the real problem discipline in the schools. The problem isnt a five-day school week, its discipline in the schools, she said Tuesday by phone. I have cousins with teaching degrees that are no longer teaching anymore because of the disciplinary actions in the schools. If these kids would be held accountable for their actions and not being allowed to treat teachers and staff the way they do, it might help them hire and retain more teachers. Parent Kilian Tolleson, who works in information technology at a nearby larger school district, said his schedule allows him to be able to take off and hes looking forward to more time with his second-grade daughter. I hope I can take her to the zoo on Fridays and teach her about the world without me feeling exhausted and burned out as well, he said. District officials said surveys about the four-day week were sent out to various groups over the past few months. A final survey of parents in February showed 56 percent in favor, compared to an earlier survey of parents, staff and community members in which 59 percent favored the proposal, officials said. Some board members were concerned that the results showed dwindling support with each survey. This is not a blowout (of support), said board member Lewis, who voted against the measure. The last survey is so close compared to what weve been given in the past, thats concerning to me. Crosby ISD will begin the 2023-24 academic year on Aug. 7. That month will operate under the regular, five-day schedule. Then, from September through mid-April, Fridays will be student holidays. The five-day schedule will resume from mid-April to the end of the school year in May. Under the four-day schedule, about 30 minutes added to the school day. According to the district, instructional staff will work one Friday a month for staff development from September to mid-April. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Turning 17 in Texas is about more than finally watching a raunchy R-rated movie in theaters. For The Woodlands High School students, it includes a confusing mix of new rights and restrictions. At 17, Texas residents can work full-time, join the military, or marry under certain circumstances, but still cant vote, drink or smoke. I feel like all of what I want is consistency between all these things, 17-year-old Oscar Jasso said. So youre responsible enough at this age but not this one. Why? A new bill banning child marriages could end that practice if it is passed by the Texas Legislature. Texas was a leading state in child marriages before a law banning them was introduced in 2017, cutting the annual youth marriage rate to nearly zero. The law does not affect 16 and 17-year-olds who are emancipated from their parents, however. State Rep. Jon Rosenthal, D-Houston, introduced a bill that would end all under-18 marriages. On Houston Chronicle.com: Teenagers can still wed in Texas. New bill would ban marriages for kids under 18 "In an age when we're concerned about family values and protecting children, we should protect them from being married off as children," Rosenthal said in a statement to the Houston Chronicle. Many TWHS students have no issue with the ban. "As a 17-year-old right now, there's so much of the world that I just don't understand...the thought of getting married at this age is something that hasn't even crossed my mind," Penelope Steffen said. "When people are getting married at this age, I can't help but think that a large part of it is because of pressure due to religion, parents or culture." Of the 41,000 child marriages reported by nonprofit Unchained from 2000-2018, 96 percent were girls wed to adult men. In those unions, many girls report physical, sexual, financial, or emotional abuse, according to one study. They are also more likely to drop out of school and live in poverty. "I feel like human traffic trafficking is still such a big problem, and child marriage has only made it easier for young people to be put in that kind of horrible position," 17-year old Riley Logan said. On YourConroeNews.com: Conroe ISD considers nearly $2 billion bond package to address aging infrastructure, capacity levels Turning 18 symbolizes adulthood for many Americans, a day where, seemingly out of thin air, you can buy lottery tickets with abandon, vote in presidential elections and enlist in the military without a parents permission. Sitting among his 16- and 17-year old peers, 18-year-old TWHS student James Bickett said he didn't feel a sudden switch into adulthood. "I don't feel any different than I did when I was 17, but I definitely have to carry the responsibilities of being me," Bickett said. "Now I feel like, if I do this, there's actual consequences." Under Texas law, however, 17-year-olds face the same consequences as adults in the criminal justice system. Texas is one of just three states that automatically tries all 17-year-olds with felony or misdemeanor crimes into the adult system, with few limitations in place. In the age of rampant school shootings, The Woodlands high schoolers are less sympathetic to certain minors who commit crimes. "There's so much of the world you don't know, but there are some things you do know. Killing other people is never OK," Logan said. "I don't ever want to see a school shooter out and about even if they're 50, because I think that those repercussions should be the same as a legal adult." For certain crimes, however, students said the law should focus on rehabilitation. Children are less culpable for their crimes and more amenable to rehabilitation than adult offenders, according to the Lone Star Justice Alliance, which looks to put 17-year-olds into the juvenile system. For the first time in their lives, 16 and 17-year-olds can also work full-time, with certain exceptions. But Maya Burch, 16, said shes been doing that since she first got a job at a fast food restaurant at 15. Other TWHS students said they've also been pressured to work extra hours as 15 and 16-year-olds. While 17-year-olds are both freed and burdened by their new rights, theyre still a few years away from other rites of passage. At 17, residents still cant vote, drink alcohol, or smoke tobacco. Students said some of these restrictions feel outdated. Almost every day, Logan said she brings up a law that bans minors from getting tattoos unless they're made to cover up an existing offensive tattoo. "I would have to illegally get a tattoo to legally get a tattoo," Logan said. Some students argued for bringing down the drinking age to 18. "You can vote at 18, you can buy a gun at 18, you can get a tattoo at 18. Are you kidding me?" Valeria Kolster said. "It just doesn't make sense to me." Still, some students said many rights should be pushed past 17 and 18 entirely. "Your brain isn't even fully developed until after 21," Tori Pfeiffer said. "That doesn't mean that those things are right at 18 (either)." DENVER (AP) Police in Colorado on Thursday continued to dig out a body encased in concrete that was found in a condo crawl space they believe is of a man killed by a friend and alleged partner in crime during a fight last year. The mounded concrete grave, with apparent human remains visible through its cracks, was discovered Tuesday underneath a condo unit after police got information from the mother of the missing man, 36-year-old Karl Beaman, as well as a neighbor in the condo complex in Aurora, a suburb of Denver, according to court documents. Detectives are working with outside contractors to carefully recover the body. The excavation process is estimated to last through the end of the week, Aurora police said in a statement. The woman who lived in the unit, Casie Bock, told police that her former boyfriend and father of her two children, Leroy Crawford, killed Beaman, possibly by suffocating him with a plastic bag. The slaying most likely happened in June 2022 though she was not sure of the exact timing, Brock told police. Bock said she knew it was sometime between May and September 2022, a period when Crawford was arrested in two different, unrelated cases. After being arrested Tuesday in Beaman's death, Bock told police that Crawford forced her to help him put Beaman's body in the crawl space under her condo and then returned the next day with construction tools and a bag of concrete to cover the body. After cracks emerged later, Crawford returned to add more concrete, according to her arrest affidavit. Bock told police that Crawford threatened to hurt her if she did not help him and said that she previously had a long, abusive relationship with him. Her lawyer, Elsa Archambault, declined to comment on the allegations. Crawford was arrested in connection with Beaman's death Thursday, police said. Online court records show Crawford was being represented by an unspecified lawyer from the public defender's office, which has a policy of not commenting to the media. Beaman's mother, Kyla Dubberstein of Phoenix, told police she had not heard from her son since around Mothers' Day in May 2022 and hired a private investigator and set up a Facebook page to help find him. She also had tried to report him missing last year in another Denver suburb but he was never entered into a national criminal database as a missing person, the affidavit said. On April 1, Dubberstein called police in Aurora to tell them that a person, later identified as a neighbor of Bock's, left a tip on the Facebook page that Bock, while high on drugs, told her that Beaman was buried in the crawl space of her condo. The neighbor later told police that Bock recently came to her freaking out about people being in her walls. According to the neighbor, Bock said Crawford and Beaman had been stealing catalytic converters and that, after they were caught or almost caught, Crawford became convinced that Beaman was a police informant, got into a fight with Beaman and killed him. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 1 of 2 Suzanne Kreiter/AP Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Charles Krupa/AP Show More Show Less REVERE, Mass. (AP) Police searched a marshy area in Massachusetts on Friday as part of their investigation into the 2019 disappearance of a 5-year-old New Hampshire girl who is presumed dead. The search was in Revere, Massachusetts, as part of the investigation in the Harmony Montgomery case, according to New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella and Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg. They declined to give any further information. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) A man was fatally shot Friday morning by deputies in southwest Missouri who responded to a convenience store theft near Springfield, the Greene County Sheriff's Office reported. The shooting happened shortly after Green County Sheriffs deputies were called around 8:15 a.m. to the store just southwest of Springfield for a report of a theft from the store, Deputy Paige Rippee said in a news release. Two months ago, a Houston resident walked into the citys public library and returned three long-overdue books from the 1990s. The trio of the returned books included "Tenth Dimension" by Jeremy Bernstein, on elementary particle physics, "The New Ambidextrous Universe" by Martin Gardner, about the asymmetric DNA helix, and "Archery: A Sport for Everyone" by the Athlete Institute. These books had been missing for so long, the library had removed them from its system. They didn't have a barcode, only a checkout card stamped with the due date: Nov. 13, 1992. BOOK PREVIEW: Is true love possible? Readers are turning to this 1990s novel for answers The customer had apparently forgotten about the books and only recently discovered them in her attic, according to Houston Public Library Communications Director Carmen Abrego. But instead of having to pay a late fee, she was welcomed back to the library and given a renewed membership for the first time in 30 years. In January, Houston followed other major Texas cities like San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, and Fort Worth, eliminating late fees for its library system to encourage more residents, particularly younger and low-income Houstonians, to use its 40-plus locations. Since then, residents have returned a total of 23,420 books and other items valued at $468,302, Abrego said. The library also hosted its first amnesty event since 2014, from Jan. 18 to Feb. 17, allowing residents to request the removal of all past fines. The physics and archery enthusiast was among the 3,098 customers who cleared their overdue accounts during the month-long period. Late fines don't necessarily motivate people to return books on time and can actually deter those owing fines from using the facility again, with communities of color and low-income residents disproportionately affected, a Syracuse University study showed. For instance, when Chicago eliminated fines in 2019, the library system saw a 240 percent surge in book returns. The policy has already had a clear impact on younger readers, with nearly half of the 23,420 newly returned books to Houston 10,392 to be exact being children's books. However, even though the staff has observed an increase in the return of overdue and "lost" items, Abrego said it's still too early to tell if going fine-free has had a significant impact on memberships or library utilization. "We are seeing increases in new cards and circulation of materials, but it may or may not be due to the novelty of being fine-free at this time," she said. "We can say that we continue to receive 'lost' items, meaning those not returned after 30 days, even though the amnesty period is over, and we can draw a correlation to not charging fines." Partaking in alcoholic beverages during Happy Hour, casually at home, or in establishments has been a mainstay for many in the United States, and in Houston, drinking in recent years has primarily included cold cans of Bud Light and bottles of liquor. In terms of beer market share for Silver Eagle Distributors Houston, over the past 12 months, Bud Light is the leader, Modelo is second and Michelob ULTRA is third, Camilo Rojas, the vice president of marketing for the beverage distributor, said. "Bud Light is still number one," he added. Silver Eagle Distributors Houston serves over 9,000 businesses in the metropolitan Houston area including in Fort Bend, Montgomery and Harris counties, Rojas said. Despite Bud Light being around since 1982, it wasn't always the most popular beer in Houston or the U.S., according to Rojas. The marketing efforts by Anheuser-Busch the owner of Bud Light, Michelob ULTRA, Stella Artois, Budweiser and Busch Light and distribution by wholesalers contributed to the beer's rise in popularity around the country, he said. "It has been the number one beer for a while," Rojas stated. "I love the attributes of Bud Light. Light, refreshing (and) drinkability." Bud Light being named the official beer of the Houston Texans and Houston Dynamo FC has also been beneficial to the beverage's staying power atop the distributor's beer market share, Rojas said. Houstonians spend more on liquor than beer Although Bud Light seems to be the beer of choice for Houston residents, liquor amassed the most sales in 2022, according to data compiled through the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. This is perhaps unsurprising considering the fact that a bottle of whiskey or vodka is often more expensive than a case of beer at a store and liquor-based drinks come with a higher price tag than pints when ordered at bars and restaurants. Houston alcohol sales are responsible for more than 15 percent of the total alcohol sales for the state in 2022, the data show. Who sells the most alcoholic beverages? When it comes to individual establishments in Houston, a handful of places rise to the top in alcohol sales. The Post Oak Hotel, which operates both Mastro's Steakhouse and Willie G's Seafood, sold over $4.6 million in alcohol in 2022. The Address a restaurant, bar and event space in Riverside neighborhood sold nearly $4 million in alcohol. Two other locations Kirby Ice House in Memorial and Escapade 2001 in Aldine sold over $3 million in liquor last year. Youth justice advocates, including some Houstonians, are fighting in support of a bill that would see the closure of the states five juvenile detention centers, which they say have been beset by dangerous and inhumane conditions. The Texas Legislatures Juvenile Justice & Family Issues Committee on Wednesday heard testimony regarding House Bill 4356. Authored by Rep. James Talarico, D-Round Rock, the bill proposes to dissolve the Texas Juvenile Justice Department and replace it with an Office of Youth Safety and Rehabilitation, which would prioritize trauma-informed responses and culturally informed services for children in the criminal justice system. Committee Chair Harold Dutton Jr., D-Houston, left the bill pending in the committee Wednesday night. TJJD failed me, said Jernard Brown, 23, of the Houston-based Collective Action for Youth, a member of the youth-led Finish the 5 campaign. We punish (children) and condemn them like theyre wrong, when they were taught those things. It starts at home and we got to do better in the community. The Texas Juvenile Justice Department has been caught in an endless cycle of crisis and instability since it was created in 2011, following the closure of its predecessor, the Texas Youth Commission, due to sexual abuse within juvenile detention centers, according to a Sunset Advisory Commission report from May 2022. In 2021, the United States Department of Justice launched an ongoing civil rights investigation into physical and sexual abuse allegations at the states youth prisons. The Texas Juvenile Justice Department declined to comment on HB 4356 and the Justice Department investigation, but issued a statement pointing out that only about 2 percent of the youth in the states criminal justice system are held in state-run detention centers. The other 98 percent are handled by county juvenile probation departments, which are overseen by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. Rehabilitation programs, as well as detention, occur at both the county and state level, but with the state facilities serving as a place for the highest-level, highest-need offenders as determined by juvenile probation court judges. We are confident that TJJD has the collective skill, expertise, and experience to serve these youth and operate these rehabilitative programs, the statement reads. Talaricos bill would phase out use of the states juvenile detention centers by 2030, and establish secure placement options for children in severe cases where a child is found to be a threat to themselves or others. The proposed Office of Youth Safety and Rehabilitation also would be tasked with establishing a plan for alternative services related to delinquency services and intervention by 2026, including evidence-based safe, local, supportive placements for children who cannot stay at home. The office would be managed by a board of directors, including people who have been locked up in juvenile detention centers, mental health experts and criminal justice advocates, and would be paid for with money saved from the facility closures. Talarico pointed to high recidivism rates the University of Texas at Austins Hogg Foundation for Mental Health found that up to 75 percent of youth who were imprisoned are re-arrested within three years of release and previous attempts at reform as evidence that the criminal justice system is fundamentally broken. There were enormous, widespread sexual abuse violations against kids and we passed major legislation to reform it, and were back here with the same human rights violations. And we will be back here a decade from now with the same violations if we dont do something big to solve this big problem, Talarico said during remarks to the committee. Other members of the Juvenile Justice & Family Issues Committee, however, appeared skeptical of Talaricos plan, and expressed support for county juvenile probation chiefs who spoke in opposition to the bill. County chiefs argued they needed more resources to hire more staff, which in turn would allow for more rehabilitation programs, and that detention centers were necessary in extreme cases. We cant fill in these gaps, were chronically understaffed, said Jill Mata, Chief Juvenile Probation Officer in Bexar County. This bill would undermine the work were doing right now. We can do excellent work rehabilitating children in our care, we do it every day, we do it all the time and see success, but theres a group of kids that, if we continue to take care of those kids, it undermines all the other work that we do. The Sunset Advisory Commission, in its 2022 report, said it found abolishing or transferring TJJD would not meaningfully address any of the issues it must tackle, and that staffing and funding shortages primarily were to blame for the issues plaguing the department. There was a 71 percent turnover rate among juvenile correction officers in fiscal 2021, the report found, often forcing facilities into lockdown and limiting childrens access to rehabilitative programs. Instead, investment in TJJDs state- and county-level duties is needed to stabilize the agency and help balance its focus between safe facility management and increased regional diversion, the commission stated. Camille Gibson, executive director of the Texas Juvenile Crime Prevention Center at Prairie View A&M University, said the staffing shortages had effectively turned juvenile detention centers into warehouses for children, and that HB 4356 was a move in the right direction. She said secure facilities still are necessary in extreme cases, but hopes Talaricos bill will avoid swapping one warehousing setting for another. I hope that this is a serious effort to prioritize efforts to treat children, because something definitely needs to happen, Gibson said. Courtesy of Metro Video Services Firefighters early Friday rescued three people near downtown Houston who were trapped when Buffalo Bayou began rising during a storm. Emergency responders received a call from three people after 4 a.m. who had taken refuge under a bridge near Smith and Preston streets when the water in Buffalo Bayou began to rise rapidly, Hunter Chappeaux, a district chief for the Houston Fire Department, told Metro Video Services. Firefighters arrived and lowered a ladder to the three men, who were able to climb out. Investigators were searching Friday for a man accused in the March fatal shooting of San Antonio-based rapper BTB Savage near River Oaks, according to the Houston Police Department. Montrel Lenard Burley, 40, has been charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of Darrell Gentry, 26, of San Antonio, officials said. Investigators said at least one other person is also connected to the shooting. A Cesar Chavez High School student will be held on $1 million bail, at least until prosecutors determine whether a 3D-printed gun he brought to school and displayed during an apparent mental health crisis qualified as a firearm. Questions over the functionality of the fabricated gun and if it could work like a deadly weapon surfaced Thursday as the 182nd District Court judge considered bail for the 18-year-old student. A prosecutor rattled off the definition of a firearm, while the 11th graders defense attorney argued that the weapon did not meet those requirements. The gun lacked bullets and had what lawyer Joshua Willoughby described as a dummy magazine. It would not be able to fire a bullet, Willoughby said. More from Nicole Hensley: Harris County inmate's leaked jail calls under investigation The defendant, Alexander Teran, nodded his head as Willoughby spoke. Judge Danilo Lacayo ultimately ordered prosecutors to return later in April and prove that the weapon functions as such. That determination would impact the future of the case, and whether the charge will proceed. Houston ISD police officers arrested the student Tuesday at the southeast school, prompting him to be charged with carrying a prohibited weapon. He has no known criminal history. The prosecutor said in court that the student, while talking to a teacher, threatened to take his own life and flashed the purported weapon in his waistband. The teacher noted to authorities that his conversation became increasingly strange and that he remarked that educators should carry firearms. Other students in the classroom were asked to leave, the prosecutor said. Willoughby warned Terans mental health was also at issue. His conversation with the teacher was indicative of an apparent mental health crisis and an outcry for help. Hes obviously having a mental breakdown, Willoughby said. On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston dad accused of assaulting child during police chase as girl's grandma watched on video call A magistrate, who also signed off on a mental illness evaluation for the student, earlier set Terans bail at $35,000 an amount that Lacayo did not find appropriate. While he acknowledged that mental health issues appear to be at play, he described the allegations as alarming and decided to raise Terans bail to $1 million an amount that prosecutors on Thursday requested. The defense attorney had hoped to have it lowered, noting that Terans family would be unable to afford anything higher. Youre setting a bad precedent for society, Willoughby told the judge. Youre doing nothing more than feeding into the fear about people with mental health issues asking for help. The judge was not deterred by the lawyers remarks. The average American doesnt bring a weapon to school, Lacayo said. A man shot by a Houston Police Department officer Wednesday has died, officials said Thursday. The man, who hasn't been named, was shot while police were responding to a robbery at Krazy Dollar Store on Veterans Memorial. Police said the man was a suspect in the robbery. Officers were in the store's parking lot investigating a series of robberies in the area when they witnessed the man go into the store and then leave quickly, police said Wednesday. MORE ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Harris County inmate's leaked jail calls under investigation On Thursday, authorities said the man had robbed store employees at gunpoint. No one was injured in the robbery. The man ran from the store as police descended on the area. The man was shot as he ran toward an officer who had stopped on Broad Haven Drive, just north of the store. Police said the officer told the man, who was still carrying a gun, to stop. The officer then fired his gun, hitting the man multiple times. Police said the man surrendered after he was shot. He was taken to a hospital where he later died. The officer who shot the man was placed on administrative duty, authorities said. The shooting is being investigated by HPD's Internal Affairs Division, the Harris County Sheriff's Office and the Harris County District Attorney's Office. On Scene Media Police were searching for a man and woman in a silver Lexus in connection to a fatal road rage shooting early Friday in southwest Houston that left a man dead. Officers just after midnight responding to the 13000 block of Hiram Clarke Road and found a man shot several times in the head, Lt. Ignacio Izaguirre, of the Houston Police Department, told On Scene reporters. Detectives found between four and five casings on the ground. Emergency responders pronounced the man dead on the scene. More than 370 people applied for nine spots on the board that will govern Houston ISD, wrapping up the first step in the Texas Education Agencys intervention of Texas' largest school system. Education Commissioner Mike Morath will oust elected trustees and appoint a new superintendent and a nine-person board of managers by June 1, according to the agency, a process that some critics say has been marred by distrust from the beginning. Everything that has happened so far has been done in the dark, said Dr. Audrey Nath, an HISD parent who did not apply for the position. They have been dodging questions or not showing up to our meetings. HISD PROTEST: Houston ISD students protest TEA takeover with walkouts across district Applicants for the board of managers include 232 current or former HISD parents, 136 former students and 238 teachers, according to the state agency, which released the numbers on Friday afternoon. The racial breakdown includes 40 percent Black, 33 percent white, 10 percent Hispanic and 5 percent Asian applicants. The agency said it will now screen applicants with background checks, community reference checks, training and interviews. Candidates must live within the school district boundaries, according to officials. I am looking for Houstonians with wisdom and integrity who can be laser-focused on what is best for students, Morath said in a written statement. It is exciting to see so many Houstonians express a willingness to help move the school system forward in service of students. After getting appointed, the board of managers should improve student outcomes by representing the vision and values of the community, according to a job description posted online by the state agency. Roles include monitoring and supporting the superintendent, engaging with community members and creating governance systems that will ensure a smooth transition back to local control, according to the state agency. According to the TEA, the ideal board of managers will reflect the ethnic, racial and economic diversity of the school district and include some HISD parents, community leaders and people with backgrounds in public education, social work, counseling, business, finance or law. The board members will ideally live throughout the nine existing trustee districts. In 2019, when the state agency first attempted to take over HISD, there were 243 applicants for the board of managers, including several elected trustees. Current board members did not respond to inquiries about whether they had submitted applications this time. RELATED: TEA now intervening in Austin ISD just two weeks after Houston ISD takeover Meanwhile, some community members said the lack of transparency and un-democratic nature of the process so far has made them wary about participating. Many of those who have been most outspoken against the takeover told the Chronicle they did not apply. The whole process is illegitimate, said Ruth Kravetz, a former teacher who co-founded Community Voices for Public Education. Kravetz believes Morath will appoint people who support the conservative ideology and school choice agenda pushed by Gov. Greg Abbott, who has recently toured the state to promote a so-called voucher program that would funnel public dollars into private schools. Its no coincidence that Abbott is selling vouchers with one hand and taking over HISD with the other, she said. And the goal is to stop schools from educating children who might grow up to vote against the existing power structure. Travis McGee, a Sunnyside activist and HISD parent, also did not submit an application because he does not trust the state agency. Plus, he said, the role would involve a lot of time and responsibility that conflicts with his role as a parent. I dont think it has anything to do with education. Its all about privatizing schools, said McGee, whose own children have endured multiple school closures. Its all about money. FEDERAL COMPLAINT: ACLU alleges HISD state takeover discriminates against Houston voters of color in DOJ complaint McGee compared the governance structure to a dictatorship, noting that Morath, who will appoint the board, has no connection to Houston communities and schools. They want a bunch of 'yes' people on the board, McGee said. Thats not going to do us any good. Nath, whose son attends Wharton Dual Language Academy, said she did not put her name in the applicant pool because she, too, lacks faith in the process. They already probably know who they are going to select, she said. Its going to probably be people who are in line with whatever they want to do. Nath said top TEA officials have been dodging questions or failing to show up at community meetings to earnestly answer questions from stakeholders in the district, giving her and other parents no reason to trust them. The devil is in the details and we just havent gotten any, she said. Im worried this board of managers will be used to rubber stamp any sort of goals that the TEA has, such as closing schools or de-funding programs. A Santa Fe woman will not face charges over removing a Confederate flag that allegedly extended over her parents property after officials with the Galveston County District Attorneys Office declined to prosecute her. Attorneys representing Rosie Yanas, 45, had previously held a tense news conference in front of her parents home to criticize police, saying they arrested her on trumped up charges. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) The Justice Department has opened a federal civil rights investigation after a U.S. Park Police officer fatally shot a 17-year-old who drove off with an officer in the back seat after the teenager was found asleep in a suspected stolen car. The FBI and the U.S. attorney's office in Washington launched the investigation this week after federal officials released body-worn camera footage showing the officer fatally shooting Dalaneo Martin last month. The police video is one of the first released by the National Park Service and follows a 2022 order by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland requiring the agency's 3,000 law enforcement officers to wear body cameras. It is also one of the first times body-worn camera footage has ever been released by a federal law enforcement agency. Martin's death comes amid an ongoing national reckoning over authorities' use of force and months as the beating death of Tyre Nichols by police in Memphis, Tennessee, renewed scrutiny on this issue after widespread protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020. The March 18 encounter began around 9 a.m. when two Park Police officers were called by a Metropolitan Police Department officer who was responding to a report of a suspicious vehicle in northeast Washington. Several officers surrounded the car, saw Martin asleep behind the steering wheel and told dispatchers that the ignition of the car was punched, a sign the car might be stolen, authorities said. As the officers moved toward the vehicle, footage showed them opening the back passenger's side door and a Park Police officer climbing into the back seat. But Martin woke up and started to drive away, briefly dragging another officer outside the car. While in the back seat, the officer shouted to Martin, Stop, man, just let me out. As Martin continued to drive, the officer drew his gun and called out, Stop. Stop or Ill shoot. About a second later, the officer fired repeatedly, striking Martin in the back multiple times. The car crashed into a house after Martin was shot. He was later pronounced dead at the scene. The officer was not seriously injured and no one in the home was hurt. A gun was found inside the car, police said. The loss of a life is always tragic but is especially heartbreaking when it involves a child, the U.S. attorneys office said in a statement announcing the investigation. Park Police officers regularly patrol in the Washington area, where the Park Service has a large footprint. Under the law, those federal officers have the same policing powers in the nation's capital as city police officers. The Park Police union said the officer inside the car was at immediate risk of death when he fired in his weapon, and that the officer outside the car hit his head on the pavement when he fell free of the fleeing car. The union's board said in a statement that both officers followed all policies and laws. The officer is on paid administrative leave, said a Park Police spokesperson who declined to release the officers name. Martin's family has said the officer who shot the 17-year-old should be arrested. I dont sleep. I dont eat. And justice needs to be served, his mother, Terra Martin, said Wednesday. MEXICO CITY (AP) Chinas government on Thursday denied the country's involvement in any illegal fentanyl trafficking with Mexico and said it had not been notified by Mexicos government of any seizures of the precursor chemicals used to make the powerful drug. Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning made the comments in response to a question about a plea from Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador this week that China help stop chemicals used by Mexican drug traffickers to produce fentanyl. Lopez Obrador cited U.S. pressure to stop the illegal trade. Similar to Lopez Obradors comments in recent weeks, Mao placed the blame for the tens of thousands of fentanyl overdose deaths in the United States on that country. The root cause of overdose lies in the U.S. itself, and the problem is completely made in the U.S. The U.S. should face up to its own problems, and take more substantive measures to strengthen domestic supervision and reduce demand, Mao said. The U.S. government has pressured both Mexico and China to do more to curb the trade in the synthetic opioid, blamed for about 70,000 overdose deaths per year in the United States. The U.S. government said in 2021 that after China started strictly controlling fentanyl, Chinese traffickers started shifting away from finished fentanyl to exporting precursor chemicals to Mexico where cartels increasingly manufactured the drug and trafficked it north across the border. Most illegal fentanyl is pressed by Mexican cartels into counterfeit pills made to look like other medications like Xanax, oxycodone or Percocet, or mixed into other drugs, including heroin and cocaine. Many people who die of overdoses in the United States do not know they are taking fentanyl. Lopez Obrador, in recent weeks, has denied that fentanyl is produced in Mexico. However, his own administration has acknowledged finding dozens of labs where it is produced, mainly in the northern state of Sinaloa. Lopez Obradors irritation with growing calls among some Republican lawmakers for the United States to take more aggressive action against Mexicos cartels led him to write a letter to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping this week asking for help. Mao, the foreign ministry spokesman, empathized with Mexicos position, but noted that China had already taken strong action against fentanyl, imposing strict controls on fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances that go beyond even what the U.S. has done. China firmly supports Mexicos efforts to safeguard its independence and oppose foreign interference, and calls on relevant countries to stop its bullying and hegemonic practice against Mexico, Mao said. At the same time, we hope that Mexico will take stronger measures in terms of counter-narcotics. Its been five and a half years since a gunman on a sunny Sunday morning walked into the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs and began firing an AR-15 at men, women and children (including babes in arms). Clad in battle armor and striding back and forth along the center aisle of the small country church, he massacred 26 worshippers on that November morning. He wounded more than 20 more. So many other mass shootings have captured our fleeting attention in the intervening years including the one last week that took the lives of three children and three adults at a Nashville elementary school we tend to forget the details, even when they involve our fellow Texans. A line comes to mind from Robert Frosts Out, Out, a poem about the accidental death of a boy working at a sawmill: And they, since they were not the one dead, turned to their affairs. As much as we hate to admit it, we are they. We turn to our affairs. A tentative settlement the Sutherland Springs survivors and family members reached with the federal government this week a settlement that comes after unconscionable delay on the part of the U.S. Justice Department is an unsettling reminder that thousands of our fellow Americans, survivors of mass shootings we cant or wont prevent, will never be able to easily turn to their affairs. They cannot forget. A 5-year-old boy on that morning in Sutherland Springs, blood-soaked and barely alive when a first responder found him lying beside his dead mother and step-sister, wont forget. Ryland Ward, now 11, has undergone more than 30 surgeries in the intervening years as doctors continue working to repair the massive damage done to his body by the ravaging effects of battlefield bullets. He can no longer run the way he used to, is still tormented by nightmares. What happened in Uvalde last year triggered bouts of PTSD. He faces many more surgeries. Morgan Workman, shot twice, hasnt forgotten. Constellations of purple freckles dot her legs, arms, chest and cheekbone; theyre tiny fragments of metal from bullets and shrapnel. Workman, now 25, told the Washington Post recently that the fragments are leaching toxic lead, causing her to suffer body pains, fatigue and depression. Doctors have told her she probably cant have a baby. David Colbath, shot nine times, also suffers from high levels of lead in his blood; a gouged-out portion of his right forearm is a visible reminder. Now in his early 60s, hes in pain when he stands or uses his hands. He hasnt forgotten. Kris Workman, the congregations young music director and Morgan Workmans brother-in-law, was shot twice. Paralyzed from the waist down, hes been told by doctors its highly unlikely hell ever walk again. Hes one among many who cant forget. In July 2021, federal Judge Xavier Rodriguez in San Antonio found in favor of 84 Sutherland Springs plaintiffs, ruling that the Air Force was primarily responsible for the worst mass shooting in Texas history when it failed to supply information about the criminal history of Devin Patrick Kelley, the shooter, to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Rodriguez approved a $230 million settlement, thus providing a measure of relief to survivors and family members of those killed, those who face a lifetime of steep medical costs, who cant work for the rest of their lives, who cant shake the mental and emotional trauma. The trial conclusively established that no other individual not even Kelleys own parents or partners knew as much as the United States about the violence that Devin Kelley had threatened to commit and was capable of committing, Rodriguez wrote. The Justice Department appealed. At trial, government attorneys labeled the Sutherland Springs massacre an inexpressible tragedy but contended that Kelley, who shot himself to death shortly after fleeing the church, would have obtained weapons even if the Air Force had reported his criminal record to the background check system. The appeal meant that the Sutherland Springs group, after waiting for nearly five years, might never find justice. Now, fortunately, the Justice Department has agreed to a tentative $144.5 million settlement and plans to end its appeal. The settlement amount is less than the initial court-ordered judgment but more than the $32 million that government attorneys had proposed. The settlement is roughly in line with similar agreements. In 2021, the Justice Department agreed to pay $88 million to the survivors and families of the nine people killed in the 2015 shooting at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., to settle claims that background check errors allowed the gunman to buy a weapon. The government also agreed to pay $127.5 million to the survivors and families of those killed in the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., over claims the FBI failed to act on information the agency had about the gunman. The Texas settlement is not done yet. Notice of the agreement must be approved by a federal judge and a top Justice Department official before being finalized. In a statement announcing the tentative deal, Jamal Alsaffar, the lead attorney representing the Sutherland Springs families, urged U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to quickly approve the settlement, as do we. Actually, the government should have settled even before the trial began. Instead, the Sutherland Springs families were forced to endure more than five years of litigation, countless hours of questioning and two different trials that required them to relive unspeakable tragedy in open court. Victories are few and fleeting in the struggle against the mass shooting pandemic this country tolerates, but the settlement is something of a victory. It underscores the fact that background checks, if used properly, can work, can stop dangerous individuals from acquiring guns, can prevent mass shootings. Nothing, of course, will bring back loved ones, but the people of Sutherland Springs can know they have helped in the ongoing effort to make this gun-addled nation slightly safer. Not only do they deserve their checks in the mail; they deserve our gratitude. Ricardo B. Brazziell/Associated Press Every state has versions of Texas Snapshot Day: the time early in the school year when districts submit pupil counts to their state education agency. How many students go to school in each district determines how much money districts receive each year, as well as a variety of other services and programs. Not every state is considering a school voucher program, however, and as the Texas Legislature debates that possibility (officially called an education savings account), details like pupil count are going to matter a lot more than either voucher supporters or opponents are considering right now. Heres how we know. Ive been studying school choice policy for two decades. That work includes official evaluations on behalf of state agencies, and more recent experience on the research advisory board for Washington D.C.s federally required evaluation. Ive also worked as a research partner to states and districts across the country. I know how little, seemingly inconsequential, technical details can have great impacts on how education programs function. And I know those impacts can be costly with taxpayers footing the bill. Consider evaluations of voucher programs like the one before the Legislature right now. Ive described elsewhere how these studies show catastrophic academic harm to students who switch to private school with a voucher. Thats because vouchers tend to pay tuition, not at elite providers that dont need the tax dollars, but at subprime schools needing the bailout including those popping up to cash in on the new government subsidy. Here's something else those programs tell us: Although supporters often describe school choice as a long-term opportunity, the reality is that, for many kids, school choice is just a revolving door in and out of a new academic setting. And thats especially true with vouchers. Ricardo B. Brazziell/Associated Press Studies show that more than 1 out of 5 students give up their voucher every year. In some places like Florida that number is as high as two-thirds of voucher students leaving the program within two academic years. Similarly, the numbers publicly available from Indiana, Louisiana, and Wisconsin range between 20 and 30 percent annual student attrition. As Houston grapples with aging infrastructure and dwindling pipe replacements, the city's Department of Public Works is urging residents to reduce water usage, emphasizing that a quarter of its water supply during the next 50 years must come from conservation efforts. The Texas State Water Plan projects that by 2070, Houston's metropolitan population will grow from 4.7 million to 6.2 million, leading to a potential water shortage of 220,772 acre-feet per year greater than the entire volume of Lake Houston. CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION: Houston fires Inframark, the company behind a sewage leak that fed into city's drinking water supply To address the potential shortfall, Houston Water has developed an education campaign called "Give Water a Break." The initiative aims to help secure 18 percent to 28 percent of additional water supplies through conservation efforts to meet the increasing demand in the following decades. The education materials feature eye-catching graphics inspired by Houston's space culture and are paired with slogans such as "Your ex ain't fixable; leaks are," "Your yard isn't a sauna" and "Size matters: full loads only." Houston Water has been testing the materials with city employees to gather feedback, with plans to incorporate them into a variety of formats, including education videos, online advertising, yard signs and T-shirts. The team has ads on radio, YouTube, Google and Hulu, targeting high water user ZIP codes to promote its message. We needed to create a Houston-centric campaign that would allow us to create customized materials to fit our needs and messaging, said Lacie Ulrich, Houston Water's event planning and outreach lead. The goal is to switch Houstonians mindsets from wasting because I can to conserving because I should.'" Water conservation is essential not just for Houston, but for the entire state. By 2070, conservation strategies will have to account for nearly 30 percent of Texas water supply needs, according to the state water plan. Houston faces distinct challenges when promoting conservation among its residents, as the city's fewer droughts and greater rainfall when compared with other Texas cities lower the perceived sense of urgency, Ulrich explained. This is where the "Give Water a Break" campaign comes in. Our access to reliable sources of surface water and groundwater and high average rainfall creates a perceived sense of water abundance, she said. But climate projections from Houston are showing that droughts are becoming more and more frequent in our future. Houston can expect increases in the number of hot days per year, lengthening of our summers, increases in the temperature of the hottest days experienced each year and longer multiday heat waves. Houston's conservation efforts are taking place against the backdrop of an aging water infrastructure and increasingly extreme climate conditions, which have led to more pipe breaks, leaks and a massive amount of water loss. In just the first eight months of 2022, Houston lost nearly 20 billion gallons of water because of leaky pipes, which represents about $75 million in potential revenue for the city's water utility system. At the height of last year's drought, the city lost 20 percent of its total monthly water supply. HUGE LOSSES: Houston doubles spending to fix pipes that have leaked 20 billion gallons of water so far this year At the same time, efforts to replace the city's 7,600 miles of water pipes have drastically declined over the past decade, falling from around 140 miles in 2014 to just 10 miles in 2022, according to data from Houston Water. Notably, 32 percent of the city's current water lines are made from outdated materials, including cast iron and asbestos concrete, which historically have been responsible for most of the breaks. Venus Price, Houston Water's drinking water operations director, attributed the reduced pace of replacement to substantial infrastructure investments made after the 2011 statewide drought. She noted that a series of recent water rate increases could allow the city to ramp up its replacement efforts again. "We've experienced a noticeable reduction in water main replacements leading up to last year's drought," Price said. "But thanks to the much-needed rate increase, we're now able to get projects scoped, funded and underway." The Texas House delivered a major blow Thursday to Gov. Greg Abbotts push for school vouchers, voting during budget negotiations to restrict the use of public funds for private education. RELATED: Texas Democrats are prepared to battle over education spending today The House vote was a warning for voucher supporters, happening almost simultaneously as the state Senate moved to pass its own voucher plan, which ultimately passed several hours later. These are public funds for public schools, as outlined and stated specifically in the Texas Constitution, said Rep. Abel Herrero, a Robstown Democrat and the author of the amendment calling for the ban. Herrero has offered the same amendment in past sessions, where it has often won more than 100 votes. The amendment has almost no chance of becoming law since it would need support from the Senate and the governor, but it is a strong signal that their pressure has yet to sway enough House members to get onboard. The lobbying is making a dent, however the margin for the ban on Thursday was 86 to 52, compared with last session, when 115 members voted for it. After months of campaigning from Abbott including regular speeches at private schools and an appearance on the House floor earlier this week he had won over 29 votes. In a statement on Friday, Abbott spokeswoman Renae Eze called the shift encouraging. "This vote shows the legislature remains open to school choice, supporting the majority of Texans who want to expand school choice," Eze said. "Gov. Abbott looks forward to the legislature passing school choice legislation this year and signing it into law to ensure all Texas students have access to the best educational opportunities." Several hours after the Houses vote, Sen. Brandon Creighton, a Conroe Republican who authored the Senates voucher bill, said that he didnt view it as the end of the line. Theyre not going to negotiate against themselves, so of course theyre going to be a no until theyre a yes, he said on the Senate floor. I go through my nos until I hear my yeses. Creightons bill also prohibits teaching about gender identity or sexual orientation in Texas K-12 public schools. Earlier in the day, the chamber passed a companion bill also authored by Creighton that contained raises for teachers. BACKGROUND: Where does Texas stand on school choice? Heres what to know about school vouchers Although past efforts have fallen short in the House, voucher programs have received more support this year than ever before. Abbott named them as a priority in his State of the State address earlier this year, and he has toured the state calling for action. Abbott has argued that parents are deprived of options for their childrens education, and he claims that public schools have become tools for progressive indoctrination. A voucher bill hasnt received a vote on the House floor since 2005, when it failed narrowly. Back then, there were hours of debate on the merits of voucher programs. Things didnt stretch that long on Thursday, but several lawmakers extolled the virtues of public funds to private schools. There may be no greater issue that we grapple with as the body in this legislative session, said Rep. Brian Harrison, a Dallas-area Republican and member of the House Public Education Committee. The committee is scheduled to consider several school voucher proposals next week. Harrison said he opposed Herreros amendment both because he thought it was unfair to preempt the committee process and because he thought it was bad public policy. We have never seen any type of competition harm an industry our public schools are no different, remarked Rep. Nate Schatzline, R-Fort Worth. The Herrero amendment almost did not receive a vote on the floor at all. House Public Education Chair Brad Buckley, R-Killeen, attempted to prevent the chamber from voting on the measure, saying it was inappropriate considering that his committee plans to hold public hearings for several voucher policies next week. This process with this amendment turns things really in the wrong direction. It is the proverbial cart before the horse, he said. In past sessions, Buckley has voted for the same amendment. If Buckley had been successful, it would have allowed the House to avoid any provocation of the governor or of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who leads the Senate. Buckleys effort failed by a seven-vote margin, with about a dozen Republicans joining the Democrats to stop it. edward.mckinley@houstonchronicle.com Chicago, IL (60637) Today Partly to mostly cloudy. High near 50F. W winds shifting to NE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low around 40F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Click here for a Print Subscription with Online Digital included. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. Below you will see test that reads Print Subscribe Access. Click this to then Get Started attaching your account number and zip code to you online user account. Click on the banner above if you would like to become a print subscriber with digital access. If you simply want online access without print click get started below. Subscribers to Register-Star or The Daily Mail are eligible to receive full access to HudsonValley360. If you have an existing print subscription, please make sure your email address on file matches your HudsonValley360 account email. Indie Spotlight: The Bloom Effect A2iM shines this latest Indie Spotlight on The Bloom Effect, an independent agency specializing in publicity, marketing, branding, artist development, and international consulting. from The Bloom Effect via A2IM The Bloom Effect is a full-service agency specializing in publicity, marketing, branding, artist development, and international consulting within the music industry. The agency takes great pride working in multi-genres including jazz, rock, reggae, Americana, electronic, pop, world, bluegrass, punk, hip-hop, and soul. Throughout the years, The Bloom Effect has produced, promoted and publicized over 2000 concerts, 800 album campaigns, hundreds of singles and a plethora of artists including The Zombies, Talisk, Tower of Power, The Trials of Cato, Wanderers, Wayna, LowDown Brass Band, Masta Ace, Simple Minds, Raul Midon, Lotus, Avery*Sunshine, AJ Smith, Gangstagrass, Abe Partridge, and many others across multiple territories world-wide. SXSW was a big success with 4 clients on the ground including The Zombies documentary Hung up on a Dream which premiered at SXSW Film Fest. Heres an Apple Playlist of some of the artist discoveries as well as artists The Bloom Effect represents. Next up The Bloom Effect is headed to Scotland to do some talent scouting in the Celtic arena, and then on to Music Biz Nashville and Montauk Music Festival. Also, presenting a Residency Tour along the East Coast with a New Orleans funk band Water Seed, with dates in Philly, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, D.C, Jersey and NYC. Mondo and Make Music NYs Make It for emerging musicians is on Monday, May 8th at Drom in NYC. The Bloom Effect is a partner in Mondo. Sitting in the intersection of art, culture, web3, lifestyle and all the cutting edge mediums, The Bloom Effect understands artistic sensibilities, aesthetic and a knack for discovering raw talent. Known for its huge rolodex and magic in connecting brands with talent, it recognizes a great match at the core by understanding the clients needs and recognizing what the audience wants. Creating the buzz, building growth, it is in Bloom after all! For more information, visit The Bloom Effect at thebloomeffect.com Share on: Stream farms and the West African music market: an insiders view Mdundos Regional Music Licensing Lead for West Africa speaks with the team at Byta about how music stream farms in Nigeria affect the entire music ecosystem. from Byta Umeadi Onyekwelu As Regional Music Licensing Lead (West Africa), Umeadi defines and implements the Regional Acquisitions Strategy for content providers and artists in Mdundos focus market in West Africa, Nigeria & Ghana. He also coordinates the Mdundo West Africa licensing activities with the head of music and leads M&A opportunities whilst being in charge of building, motivating and managing the team of licensing managers to ensure Mdundo delivers excellent service to content providers/artists in the region. Previously, as Head of Content Acquisition & Partnerships in Africa at uduX, he made a significant contribution to the growth and reputation of the uduX brand in Nigeria. In the last 10 years, Umeadi had a great deal of experience in media, marketing and music, scaling up large teams and building ambitious projects: he led the acquisition and marketing efforts for top aggregators such as Mcomm LTD and AESL. He has also worked with larger labels such as Ericmany and 2020media consulting on social media branding, operations and building commercial success for artists. Its important for people to understand that while stream farming might look like a fast and easy way to boost numbers and get attention (though illegal), it does nothing to actually build a career. Organic growth of artists content helps build longevity and places genuine high value on the body of work and the artist in the long run. Who are you? Where do you work? Im Umeadi Onyekwelu, Im the music licensing lead in West Africa here at Mdundo. Im based in Lagos, Nigeria. What are you currently listening to? Im currently listening to: Davido Competition feat. Asake Adekunle Gold Party Node Stop feat. Zinolesky Burna Boy Its Plenty Victony Soweto Give us a small insight into your daily routine I spend my day scouring social media for information pertaining to new music releases and also liaising with all major artists and labels within my focus market (Nigeria and Ghana) to keep Mdundo up to date with the latest releases and also ensure my team is on track with set deliverables. Stream Farming in Nigerias Music Ecosystem: The music industry in Nigeria is structured in such a way that artists/distributors are constantly seeking out what value is being offered from any DSP before deciding whether or not to onboard content. The company I work with, Mdundo, is fairly new within the Nigerian music scene hence the challenge is getting the creatives/distributors in West Africa to understand our unique value offering within the music ecosystem in Africa. It is a pan-African digital platform that fills the void of creators and their teams being unable to reach a wider audience due to music fans having low-end feature phones. Users of mdundo.com can freely and legally download an unlimited amount of tunes in mp3 format from their favourite artists. My role is to act as a bridge between Mdundo and the various creatives whose contents we intend to onboard in West Africa. Although this can be tasking, understanding the music structure in West Africa has helped me manage this challenge. We have greatly increased the number of artists/creatives and distributors on Mdundo all while improving our value proposition and revenues. Looking at the music industry in Nigeria, one of the biggest problems is stream farming which has become more widespread and prominent over the years. Stream farming is an illegal way of increasing the number of times a track is played or listened to. All this is done in an attempt to achieve better chart positions and virality. This is accomplished in a number of ways, through the aid of software bots or systematically putting a song on repeat using numerous phones in a confined area which can result in songs being streamed up to 1,000 times per minute, which means that in 10 minutes they may give a track a stream/download count of more than 10,000 fake streams/downloads of their song. Obviously, some view this as a means to further promote their content and develop their career, make money and top charts. I believe that over time it waters down the real efforts being made towards genuine promotion and the euphoria associated with attaining actual success. Its important for people to understand that while stream farming might look like a fast and easy way to boost numbers and get attention (though illegal) it does nothing to actually build a career. Organic growth of artists content helps build longevity and places genuine high value on the body of work and the artist in the long run. While the shortcut might seem like an easy way into the larger market initially, eventually it will catch up and potentially ruin a career. It is imperative for creatives and distributors to understand that integrity is key when it comes to the long-term value of the content they release. In an ever-dynamic market like Nigeria where 100+ tracks are released weekly, competition is intense to top the charts and get the desired recognition which fuels the artists ego and their careers. Some labels/artists opt for the quick fix and use stream farming. This has greatly influenced charts all over the country. The continued use of this approach sooner or later discredits the chart positions as fake, which in turn detrimentally affects the artist, their teams and the labels engaged in this practice. In the long term it just does not work. Where should readers go to find out more? Any further reading or digital gurus to recommend? More about stream farming on these articles: Digital Dialogue is an interview/guest-blog series presented by Byta, and written by friends of Byta. Exploring niche, behind-the-scenes topics within the digital realm of the music ecosystem, Digital Dialogue presents readers with insights into challenges, successes and passion topics in the day-to-day life of those working deep in digital. Share on: About This Property PLEASE TEXT FOR FURTHER INFO! DO NOT CALL! INVESTORS TAKE NOTICE! Large 2 unit that is ready for you to bring back to life! Home is fully gutted and down to the studs! Will need full renovation. Property close to downtown, transportation, major travel routes, restaurants, parks, hospitals, universities, and more! Schedule a showing today! Call Tommy For All Listing Questions - 860-776-2790. Do not call listing agent. Land Details Community Details Acres Apx: 0.15 Parking Type: Off Street Region: North Registry Elem School: Other High School: Drury Exterior Details Interior Details Color: White Style: Colonial Construction: Under Construction,Wood Frame Exterior: Vinyl Water: Public Sewer: Public Underground Oil Tank: No Garage: None Total Rooms: 11 Total Full Baths: 2 Fuel: Nat Gas Hot Water: Nat Gas Electric: 150 Amp Floor: Wood Lead Paint: Unk Heat/Cool: Forced Air Search More Properties With these Features Williamstown's DIRE Committee Critical of Mount Greylock FY24 Budget WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. Members of the town's diversity committee Monday criticized Mount Greylock Regional School District officials for pulling a district-wide director of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging out of the fiscal year 2024 budget. Last week's School Committee vote was raised toward the end of the town's Diversity, Inclusion and Racial Equity Committee meeting. And it was clear that none of the four members present were happy about the district's strategy for containing costs to the taxpayers of Lanesborough and Williamstown. Andrew Art brought it up to the rest of the group, saying that he was "heart-broken" to see the School Committee chose not to ask the towns for a little more money in order to fund a position that district administrators and the majority of the elected committee have identified as critical to furthering the district's efforts to support all of its students. "My hope was they would take a path of challenging the towns to rise to the level and take the risk they might say no, rather than scale back and cut the position before they asked the towns," Art said. Noah Smalls gave credit to the district administration for wanting to build a more inclusive school district, but he and other members of the committee noted that a dedicated professional to address long-standing inequity is common in other school districts and needed in the northwest corner of Massachusetts. "Why is there a question here?" Smalls said in a meeting telecast by the town's community access television station, Willinet. "We're in Western Massachusetts. The need for support around diversity here, versus most of the country, is dire. I think that is understood. I'm highly disappointed that we are still asking, Is this something that we need?' "Think the need for this is present everywhere, and many places are addressing the need. They're working to meet the need. With, what I would consider to be a more challenging case of need here being historically present, why the question mark?" Shana Dixon complained that while, as parents, people tell their children to try and not be afraid to fail, the School Committee and district administration did not even try to get the funding they need. The School Committee in two meetings last month spent a lot of time talking about the consequences of a failed school budget at one or both of the member towns' town meetings this spring. Specific to the DEIB position, the committee talked at its March 23 meeting about the ramifications of presenting a budget that was over the 3 percent increase sought by Lanesborough and Williamstown officials solely because of the diversity post. "It is a real conundrum," School Committee member Carolyn Greene told her colleagues at that meeting. "I totally agree. One option we have, though, is to get down to that 3 percent in whatever way we see fit and add back the DEIB position. The risk there is the budget vote [at the town meetings] is a vote on the DEIB position, and I don't know that we want to do that, either." Art on Monday noted that the decision to remove a roughly $100,000 expenditure for the DEIB position comes at the same time the School Committee is asking the member towns to authorize borrowing $800,000 over 10 years to pay for a track and field project at the middle-high school. "When you're asking [voters] at the same town meeting at the same time you're telling them [the DEIB director] is not a priority, why can't you do both?" Art said. "It's not to take anything away from the need for a track. It's just that we're prioritizing asking the towns for additional funding in some areas but not in others." "I don't agree, Drew," Dixon replied. "I am saying we don't need that track. Some things are more important than others." The majority of Monday's DIRE Committee meeting was devoted to a pair of ongoing projects of the committee: evaluating reports from other town committees as called for by Article 37 of the 2020 annual town meeting and developing a strategic plan to increase diversity, equity and inclusion in town as requested by the Select Board last year. On the latter front, the panel continued a conversation it has been having the last couple of months about engaging potential partners to develop smart goals. The committee has identified four areas where it wants to work with community partners on developing goals: enhancing a diverse dialogue, townwide events, supporting youth and increasing diversity on town boards and committees and in the town's workforce. To that end, the committee agreed at Monday's meeting to invite potential partners for a conversation about goal-setting at a meeting later this month. The DIRE Committee also agreed to invite to meeting later this month a representative of a town committee member from another municipality that enacted a strategic plan of its own. The committee members generally complimented the town boards and committees who have complied with Article 37 and submitted reports about their panels' work to create a more inclusive Williamstown. They singled out the trustees of the Milne Public Library for being an early adopter of the practice. Dixon wondered if the article's requirement of "quarterly reports" might be too burdensome or create too much redundancy in the reporting. On the other hand, the DIRE Committee members continued to note that most town boards have not attempted to do what has come to be called an "Article 37 report." "I would just encourage as much as anything, since it's such uncharted territory with these reports, the exercise itself of engaging in trying to write one, even as a draft, even as notes, even an outline, is kind of growth in and of itself and can be a key and pivotal part of any process for change," Smalls said. "Or just documentation. "I think it's really great advice to just try it out, sit down, have a meeting about how we're going to address this. There is no right or wrong way, and there is support available. I think just getting something out is huge, and having something to revise is the first step in any good document." The committee members agreed that the DIRE Committee should reach out to other town committees who have not submitted a report and offer to meet with the panels to talk about the intent of Article 37 and how it could be implemented in that committee's work. iciHaiti - Arts : Call for participation, launch of the CDA workshop From April 25, 2023, the Centre dArt (CDA) will launch a workshop which will bring together, under the artistic direction of Mario Benjamin, artists who practice traditional artistic techniques (painting, engraving, sculpture, etc...) and new disciplines linked to new technologies (photography, videography, digital art, etc...) Depending on the projects to be developed, the workshop will call on various technical skills, both national and international: model makers, architects, civil engineers, sound engineers, computer and multimedia engineers, electronics engineers, carpenters, welders, among others. These skills will assist the artists of the workshop in their creations, through cross-residencies short stays / long periods (4 months) Mario Benjamin will propose to develop in collaboration with these artists and technicians a creative workshop (new media). Eligibility and conditions of participation : Have an experience of at least 5 to 10 years in the visual arts sector; Have participated in at least one group exhibition; Have participated in a collective creation project File to submit : The completed application form Download the form: https://www.lecentredart.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Formulaire.docx A copy of a valid identity document; A portfolio or photos of at least 5 works; Proof of participation in exhibitions and collective creative projects; A short biography. Indicative timetable : Distribution of the call for participation: Tuesday, April 4, 2023 Final selection: April 20, 2023 Beginning of the workshop: April 25, 2023 Contacts for information requests and applications : Complete files must be sent in electronic version before April 19 to by email : direction@lecentredart.org and contact@lecentredart.org or be deposited in hard copy at the Centre dArt : 58 rue Roy (Port-au-Prince) Deadline for submission of complete applications : April 18, 2023 For more information applicants can send an email to communication@lecentredart.org or call +509 48 41 42 31 Learn more about Mario Benjamin : Mario Benjamin, a native of Port-au-Prince (May 12, 1964), began painting at the age of 14. From his first exhibition, at the Festival Arts gallery in Lalue, in 1984, he sold all his paintings. His style is then hyperrealist, favoring close-up portraits and insisting on the gaze. Shortly after, he operated a reversal, deconstructing the symmetry and harmony of his paintings, driven by the requirement to find his own language. Leader of contemporary art and pioneer of performance in Haiti, Mario Benjamin is known internationally. His artistic residencies, among others, take him to Europe, Asia and America. He regularly represents Haiti in many prestigious biennials In 2015, he participated in the inauguration of the Memorial Act in Guadeloupe. His work representing Toussaint, Dessalines, Christophe is part of the permanent collection of the museum in Point-a-Pitre. Mario Benjamin lives and works in Haiti. IH/ iciHaiti Sign up to Roisin OConnors free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Roisin OConnors email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Coolios 28 September 2022 death was caused by an accidental overdose of fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine, a coroner has ruled. No cause of death was given at the time when the Gangstas Paradise rapper was found dead at a friends house in Los Angeles, California. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner report, which was seen by People, also reportedly listed cardiomyopathy unspecified, asthma and recent phencyclidine use as other significant conditions that contributed to his death. Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart that makes it harder for the heart muscle to pump blood to the rest of the body. TMZ first reported the news of the coroners ruling, adding that according to family spokesperson Jarel (Jarez) Posey Coolios next of kin plan to honour him through documentaries and film. We are saddened by the loss of our dear friend and client, Coolio, who passed away this afternoon, the artists representatives told The Independent at the time of his death. He touched the world with the gift of his talent and will be missed profoundly. Thank you to everyone worldwide who has listened to his music and to everyone who has been reaching out regarding his passing. Please have Coolios loved ones in your thoughts and prayers. Coolio (AP) Last month, Coolios estate revealed it plans to release a studio album later this year that the hitmaker had been working on in the days before he died. Long Live Coolio will be the first posthumous album release from the star. Coolio, real name Artis Leon Ivey Jr, is best known for his 1995 Grammy Award-winning hit single Gangstas Paradise, which was released as the soundtrack for the Michelle Pfeiffer film, Dangerous Minds. The song spent three weeks at the top of Billboards Hot 100 list. Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up He was also known for providing the opening track Aw, Here It Goes! for the 1996 Nickelodeon show Kenan & Kel. The rapper also dabbled in acting, making his debut in the TV series The Parent Hood (1995). He played a voice role in Futurama as Kwanzaa-bot and made a cameo in Batman & Robin (1997). Tributes from the music world poured in for the late rapper last year. Coolios contemporary Ice Cube tweeted: This is sad news. I witness first hand this mans grind to the top of the industry. Rest In Peace. Hot Ones presenter Sean Evans, who interviewed the rapper on his show, wrote: First CD I ever bought in my life and the most legendary Wing 10 Last Dab these eyes have ever seen RIP Coolio. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} China has imposed a fresh tranche of sanctions against the US in retaliation against House speaker Kevin McCarthys meeting with the Taiwanese president. The measures announced on Friday apply to Taiwan's de facto ambassador to the US, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and the Hudson Institute, a Washington think tank which hosted Ms Tsai in New York and presented her with a leadership award. Defying repeated threats from Beijing, Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen held talks with Mr McCarthy at the Reagan Library outside Los Angeles on Wednesday during a stopover in the US. Mr McCarthy joined a growing list of foreign politicians and officials who have met Ms Tsai in a show of support for the self-governed island in the face of China's aggression. The Chinese foreign ministry on Friday announced that the two organisations were sanctioned for "providing a platform and convenience to Taiwan separatist activities." It said Chinese institutions were prohibited from having any cooperation or contact with them. The ministry also sanctioned Sarah May Stern, chair of the Hudson Institute board of directors; John P Walters, the institute's director; John Heubusch, former executive director of the Reagan Foundation, and Joanne M Drake, the foundation's chief administrator. China has banned these officials from entering the country, and frozen any of their properties in the country, it said. A separate round of sanctions targetted Taiwans de facto ambassador to the US. Beijing prohibited Hsiao Bi-khim and her family members from entering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau. "Wow, the PRC (People's Republic of China) just sanctioned me again, for the second time," Ms Hsiao tweeted. Taipei- based think-tank Prospect Foundation and Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats, a multinational alliance that Taiwans ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) co-founded in 1993, were also sanctioned by China for advocating Taiwan independence, Xinhua reported. Taiwan tore into China saying it had no right to "butt in" when it came to Ms Tsai's overseas trips and that Beijing was "deceiving itself" if it thought the sanctions would have any effect. "It not only deepens our people's antipathy but exposes the irrational and absurd nature of the communist regime," it said. China has beefed up its military activities around the island in recent years, arguing that Taipei is obliged to reunite with China, by force if necessary, and has no right to conduct foreign relations. Taiwan has been self-ruled since it split from the mainland in 1949 following a civil war. Following Ms Tsai's meeting, China sent warships in waters around Taiwan and warned of resolute actions. It was a more muted response compared to Beijings full-scale military drills last August after then-House speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei. China also imposed sanctions then, including an entry ban on seven Taiwanese officials and lawmakers including Ms Hsiao whom it accused of being independence diehards. The Joe Biden administration has maintained that there is nothing provocative about the visit by Ms Tsai. However, the visit comes at a time when the US-China relationship has fallen to historic lows. The Taiwanese president urged continued support for her country and warned that its democracy was under threat. It is no secret that today, the peace that we maintained and the democracy we have worked hard to build are facing unprecedented challenges, Ms Tsai said during her US visit. We once again find ourselves in a world where democracy is under threat, and the urgency of keeping the beacon of freedom shining cannot be understated. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Pieces of debris were recovered from the sea on Friday that are believed to be from a Japanese army helicopter that went missing with 10 crew members on board. The UH-60JA Black Hawk helicopter disappeared Thursday afternoon while on a reconnaissance mission in Japan's southern islands, the ground self defence force said. The helicopter had taken off from a base on Okinawa prefectures Miyako Island before disappearing from radar just 10 minutes later. It is believed to have crashed into the water between Miyako and nearby Irabu Island to the northwest. Defence minister Yasukazu Hamada said none of the missing crew members have been found as the extensive search operation continued on Friday. The area is about 1,800 miles southwest of Tokyo. The Japan Coast Guard retrieved at least 10 pieces of debris, including an unused lifeboat whose serial number matched that of the missing helicopter, a large window panel that had GSDF (Japan Ground Self-Defence Force) inscribed on it and a door believed to belong to the same aircraft near the presumed crash site. Prime minister Fumio Kishida had said that the defence ministry is investigating and we will do our utmost to save their lives. The helicopter departed from the island at 3.46pm local time to check the landscape nearby and was meant to return to the base at around 5pm. It reportedly underwent a checkup at the end of March, according to the defence forces. Lt Gen Yuichi Sakamoto, the commander of the GSDFs 8th Division based in Kumamoto Prefecture which is in charge of the defence of Kyushu was among those onboard the aircraft, the Japan Times reported. Japans Ground Self-Defence Force personnel look out from the northern top of Irabu Island (EPA) We have been searching near the site around the clock since the incident but we havent been able to find Lt Gen Sakamoto and nine others, the defence minister said. Two Maritime Self-Defence Force vessels, eight aircraft and four ships have been pressed into action. Later in the day, the ministry increased the search and rescue team to 200 people from an initial group of 20. An investigation committee has been set up to probe the cause of the incident and all other helicopters of the same type have been grounded. Authorities are taking the possibility of a malfunction or mistake in steering the craft into consideration given the weather was stable at the time of the incident. We are taking it seriously that this kind of accident has happened, chief cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said. The disappearance comes at a time when Japan is aggressively beefing up its defence in the region in response to China's increasingly assertive military activity in the regional seas, where tension is also rising around Taiwan. According to the defence ministry, Japan started deploying the Black Hawk, a twin-engine, four-bladed utility helicopter developed by US manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft and produced by the Mitsubishi Heavy Industry, in 1999 for rapid response, surveillance and disaster relief missions. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Afghanistans only women-run radio station has resumed broadcasts after it was shut down by the Taliban for allegedly playing music during the holy month of Ramadan. Sadai Banowan, translating to womens voice in the Dari language, was allowed to resume its activities in Badakhshan province on Thursday with the strict condition that it does not play any kind of music. Moezuddin Ahmadi, the Talibans regional director for information and culture in Badakhshan, said Sadai Banowan had promised to obey the laws and regulations of the Islamic Emirate going forwards. The station, led by Najia Sorosh, gave a commitment to officials at the information and culture department, [after which] they unlocked the door of the station. Banowan resumed broadcasting services shortly after. The move has been welcomed by the Afghan Journalist Safety Committee, the countrys watchdog organisation that promotes the safety of journalists and press freedom. It was also involved as a mediator in negotiations between the Taliban and Sadai Banowan. Following AJSCs advocacy efforts, Sadia Banowan radio resumed its broadcasts, it said in a tweet. At least four officials from the Taliban administrations Ministry of Information and Culture and the vice and virtue directorate had shut down the station a week earlier. Speaking to The Independent earlier this week, a key staff member of the radio station, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions, said her crew was tired of seeking the Talibans permission to speak about the basic rights of women in Afghanistan. She said she was ready to fight to save the radio stations existence, even if it meant being punished. The negotiations were likely held on Wednesday. Sign The Independents petition calling for UK to support Afghan war heroes who served alongside Britain The radio station operator had said that her team were pinning their last remaining hope on the conversation with the Taliban. I have now decided to speak with the Talibans cultural chief and apologise, if needed. If he does not agree, I will break up the equipment and all my materials and shut down operations for ever, the staff member had said. But right now, I am not scared, and I will fight for my radio stations existence. Even if the Taliban wants to jail or kill me in their prison custody. Sadai Banowan was opened 10 years ago when Afghanistan was run by a Western-backed government. The culture ministry at that time allowed the then 18-member team to play music, broadcast jokes, and invite male guests to speak on radio shows. However, after the Taliban retook power in August 2021, many journalists lost their jobs and faced abject poverty in the country. The Talibans rule forced several media outlets to close over a lack of funds or because staff left the country. In a stark reminder of their previous rule from the 1990s, the Taliban has barred women from most forms of employment and education beyond the sixth grade, including university. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Good Friday tradition will see at least 12 Filipinos getting nailed to crosses in the Philippines as they reenact Jesus Christs suffering for the first time in three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with the spectacle expected to draw hundreds of devotees and tourists. It is the 34th annual crucifixion taking place involving San Pedro Cutud and two other nearby farming villages, organisers have said. About 20,000 foreign and Filipino tourists and devotees will gather for the event, according to the organisers. On the sidelines, villagers peddle bottled water, hats, food and religious items and there will be a significant police presence to keep order. The 12 men who will participate in the real-life crucifixions in Pampanga province, north of Manila, include 62-year-old sign painter Ruben Enaje. I really want to retire from this because of my age, but lets see if my body can still bear the pain next year, the sexagenarian said a few days before the crucifixions as he hoped to use the extraordinary penance. Even though Mr Enaje has been portrayed as among the bravest men in the world for the annual feat, fears and doubts always creep in, he told the Associated Press. But to be honest, I always feel nervous because I could end up dead on the cross, the father of four said. When Im laid down on the cross, my body begins to feel cold. When my hands are tied, I just close my eyes and tell myself: I can do this. I can do this. Mr Enaje first decided to participate in the gory reenactment after he miraculously survived unscathed after falling from a three-story building in 1985. The 62-year-old, along with 11 other men, will wear a thorny crown of twigs and carry a heavy wooden cross on his back for more than a kilometre under the scorching heat. In the same reenactment, village actors will dress up as Roman centurions and hammer 10cm (4in) stainless steel nails through his palms and feet. He will be then set aloft on a cross under the sun for about 10 minutes. Elsewhere in the ritual, other penitents will walk barefoot through village streets while beating their bare backs using sharp bamboo sticks and pieces of wood. This spectacle is part of the Philippines unique brand of Catholicism, where church traditions are mixed with folk superstitions. The mostly impoverished penitents undergo the ritual to atone for sins, pray for the sick or for a better life, and to give thanks for miracles. Church leaders in the archipelago have criticised the annual display, reasoning that Filipinos can show their deep faith and religious devotion without hurting themselves and engaging in charity work instead, such as donating blood. Bloodied rites reflected the churchs failure to fully educate many Filipinos on Christian tenets, leaving them on their own to explore personal ways of seeking divine help for all sorts of maladies, said Robert Reyes, a prominent Catholic priest and human rights activist in the country. The question is where were we church people when they started doing this? he asks and adds that the clergy should immerse itself in communities more and converse regularly with villagers. If we judge them, well just alienate them. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Amy Schumers interview about why she turned down the role of Barbie, after being sent a pair of shoes, has resurfaced, following the release of the films new trailer. The comedian addressed why she opted not to star in Sonys live-action movie during a March 2022 interview with The Hollywood Reporter. Her comments also came five years after she announced that she was pulling out of the film due to scheduling conflicts. Speaking to THR, she pointed out some of the specific reasons why she dropped out of the gig. They definitely didnt want to do it the way I wanted to do it, the only way I was interested in doing it, Schumer said. Schumer told that publication that her initial plan for the film was for her Barbie character to be an inventor. She noted that the studio then asked her if Barbie could be the inventor of high-heels made out of Jello. From there, Schumer said that it was even clearer their ideas didnt match, as the studio sent her a pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes to celebrate the announcement of her casting. The idea that thats just what every woman must want, right there, I should have gone, Youve got the wrong gal, the Trainwreck star explained. As noted on the brands website, Manolo Blahnik sells a range of shoes, from heels to boots to pumps. However, they can all be a bit pricy, included a pair of heels that cost $1,195. Back in 2017, she first issued a statement about how she was no longer able to commit to Barbie due to her schedule. The film has so much promise, and Sony and Mattel have been great partners. Im bummed, but look forward to seeing Barbie on the big screen, she said. A spokesperson for Sony also issued a statement about Schumers choice, explaining: We respect and support Amys decision. We look forward to bringing Barbie to the world and sharing updates on casting and film-makers soon. Ryan Gosling as Ken and Margot Robbie as Barbie in Barbie, directed by Greta Gerwig (Copyright: 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.) In 2019, it was announced that Margot Robbie would be replacing Schumer, with the I, Tonya actor producing and starring in the live-action movie. Schumers interview with THR about Barbie also resurfaced one day after a new trailer for the Greta Gerwig film was released. The plot follows Barbie, who gets expelled from Barbie Land for being a less-than-perfect doll. She sets off for the human world to find true happiness. Viewers went on to praise the trailer, with many noting that some of the plot was still being kept largely under wraps, and predicting that a major twist in the story is on the cards. The film also announced the cast, which surprised some fans. More specifically, some of the cast updates that fans were not expecting included Dua Lipa, Nicola Coughlan, and Michael Cera. Sign up to IndyEat's free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our Now Hear This email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyEats email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} As Britons gather with loved ones this Easter, one crowd-pleasing dish that will almost certainly make an appearance on the dinner table is a golden pile of roast potatoes. You could, of course, cook potatoes any other way you like. But crispy-on-the-outside-fluffy-on-the-inside roasties are the perfect accompaniment to any main dish and are great for feeding any number of people. There are also a variety of ways you can roast potatoes, from the failsafe classics to flavour combinations that will spice up your meal. However, nothing is more disappointing than soggy spuds that lack flavour so whats the best way to prepare them? Here, chefs give their top tips for the ultimate roasties Prep in advance Easter Sunday can be hectic, as you desperately try to pull off the perfect meal for a large group of friends and family. Thats why Mary Berry recommends a bit of preparation, saying you can cook your spuds ahead slightly under then on the day you can re-roast them. Her roasties recipe is a classic one: I like them cut up reasonably small. I bring them to the boil in salted water on the stove, just for about eight or 10 minutes, then drain the water off and shake them in the pan so they fluff up on the sides. Then you can either toss them in a bit of semolina if youve got it or a little bit of flour. I use not a lot of oil it can be sunflower or something like that toss them in that, and then roast them. Cook And Share by Mary Berry (BBC Books, priced 27) Dame Mary Berry (PA Photo/BBC/Rumpus Media/Cody Burridge) Add baking powder for extra crunch Nadiya Hussain has a top tip for getting her potatoes really crispy and crunchy, she says. When you have parboiled for seven to 10 minutes until theyre cooked on the outside drain them and give them a smash around in the pan. At that point, season them really, really well and then get some baking powder. Sprinkle on some baking powder, and you will hear your potatoes sizzle. Swish it around, and that reaction when youve got that sizzling baking powder that hits the hot oil and you get that instant crunch. Hussain recommends around one-and-a-half to two teaspoons of baking powder per kilo-and-a-half of spuds. Nadiyas Everyday Baking by Nadiya Hussain (Michael Joseph, 25) Combine with other root veg Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is all about boosting the flavour of potatoes with other vegetables. I like roasting lots of veg at Christmas, not just the potatoes, he says. So I often do a tray of roots which might be parsnips, potatoes and carrots but I will also sometimes roast sprouts and shallots and even celeriac together. Because then you get different textures, different levels of sweetness. To really get those potatoes golden, Fearnley-Whittingstall recommends making sure the oil is really hot before the spuds go in. River Cottage Good Comfort by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (Bloomsbury, 27) Roast them up Italian style I do my roast potatoes very different from everybody else, admits Gino DAcampo. Everybody will parboil the potatoes, shake them up, then put the oil in the tray very hot. I dont do anything like that. I do a recipe Italian roast potatoes. I get new potatoes the small ones I leave the skin on, I put them on a tray, then I slice some red peppers, yellow peppers, green peppers, then I put cloves of garlic and lots of rosemary on top, olive oil, salt and pepper. Mix everything together, it goes into the oven at 180 degrees for one-hour-and-20-minutes, shake them every 20 minutes the job is done. Ginos Italy: Like Mamma Used to Make By Gino DAcampo (Bloomsbury, 25) Add a stock cube Joe Swash starts his potatoes the usual way parboiling them, shaking the spuds about and putting them in preheated oil but then he has a secret weapon for taking them to the next level. Sometimes Ill get a chicken stock cube and put it in the oil just before I put the potatoes in, he says. The potatoes suck up the stock it gives it extra flavour. Joes Kitchen: Homemade Meals For A Happy Family by Joe Swash (Pavilion Books, 22) Inject them with even more flavour Nisha Katonas first tip for the best roast potatoes in the world is to use olive oil, calling it the best thing ever. Then its about loading the dish with as much flavour as possible. Loads of olive oil, garlic puree, salt and brown sugar, and toss your potatoes, she advises. Toss them, then roast them and you are instantly getting all of that flavour in the salt, the sweet and the garlic all of that massive flavour onto these potatoes. Its my favourite thing ever. Meat Free Mowgli: Simple, Nutritious & Ultra-Tasty Plant-Based Indian Meals by Nisha Katona (Nourish Books, 25) Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Emily Ratajkowski has responded to people who were perplexed about her brief relationship with former Saturday Night Live comedian Pete Davidson. The model, 31, and Davidson, 29, dated for approximately two months at the end of 2022. The relationship began after Ratajkowski filed for divorce from ex-husband Sebastian Bear-McClard. Davidson had also recently broken up with Kim Kardashian when he began dating Ratajkowski. He and Kardashian were together for nine months before splitting in August 2022. Ratajkowki and Davidsons short romance was heavily scrutinised by the media and fans on social media, many of whom questioned why they were dating. Some suggested that the model was out of his league with others praising the King of Staten Island star for his dating history. He has previously been linked to Ariana Grande, Kate Beckinsale, Margaret Qualley, and Kaia Gerber. In a new interview with The Los Angeles Times, Ratajkowski said she was also questioned by her friends about the relationship. Even my friends were like, What was that like? she told the publication. I actually dont understand it. People are so perplexed by the idea that a man might just be respectful to women and treat them like people and thus be easy to go out on dates with. In February, Ratajkowski, who shares a son with Bear-McClard, was romantically linked to stand-up comedian Eric Andre. The pair appeared to confirm their relationship with a cheeky nude photograph shared on Valentines Day, but the model later hinted at the end of the situationship in a TikTok video. Eric Andre and Emily Ratajkowski were reportedly in a situationship (Getty) Andre told Rolling Stone last month that there was a perception that attraction is only based on physical appearance, after describing himself as ugly. How could this happen! No man. Im ugly. I looked like Steve Urkel for the first 20 years of my life, he joked. I think people think attraction is only based on physical appearance, but beauty is only skin-deep. Elsewhere in her interview, Ratajkowski alluded to a viral video of her purportedly kissing Harry Styles that was first published in The Daily Mail last week. She told the publication via a voice note: Theres a million insane, inaccurate things about my relationships [that are said]. Im definitely still not thinking about guys. Although, yeah. You know, sometimes things just happen. She also opened up about why she quit acting and fired her team, saying she felt like a piece of meat. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a teenage girl was killed in a suspected arson attack in east London. Police launched a murder investigation following the blaze in a modern block of flats in Tollgate Road, Newham, in which the 14-year-old died. Local people identified her as Tiffany. Five other people were injured in the fire but they were discharged from hospital. Fire crews at the flats on Thursday night (PA) Police were called at around 5.30pm on Thursday when the alarm was raised, and ambulance and fire crews also rushed to the scene. The Metropolitan Police say they are still investigating what happened. The area was being treated as a crime scene on Friday morning, with a section of Tollgate Road sealed off. Recommended Man arrested on suspicion of murder after fire at flats in east London Forensics officers and fire engines remain at the scene. Two girls were seen hugging and crying as they left a floral tribute on the pavement outside. Earlier, two women, a man and a girl placed six bunches of flowers next to police tape. Damage to the building was more easily seen in daylight (PA) Chief Superintendent Simon Crick, who leads the north east command unit, said in a message to local people: My thoughts at this time are with the victim and their family and friends. Incidents such as these send shockwaves through our communities, and I dont underestimate the impact this will have in the local area and beyond. Forensic investigators started work (PA) Your officers will be on patrol in the immediate vicinity over the Easter weekend. Please talk to them if you have any concerns. Officers are appealing to anyone with information to get in touch. Police cordoned off the area (PA) Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke, of the Mets specialist crime command, said: We are at the very early stages of our investigation and are still keen to hear from anyone who has information but has not yet spoken with police. I understand the effect an incident of this kind will have on the local community and I reiterate Chief Superintendent Cricks advice that anyone with concerns should speak with local officers. Forensic investigators at work (PA) I would like to thank residents in the immediate area for their co-operation while my team conduct their enquiries. Our thoughts are with the family of the victim. A Met Police spokeswoman was unable to confirm when the girls identity would be made public. London Fire Brigades Borough Commander for Newham, Richard Arnold, offered condolences to the family and friends of the teenager who died, and said crews who had attended were receiving support from the brigades counselling and trauma service. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The sons of David Trimble and John Hume have revealed the personal sacrifices their fathers made to help to bring about the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Hume and Mr Trimble were jointly awarded the Nobel peace prize for their efforts in the creation of the historic deal 25 years ago. Former Ulster Unionist leader Mr Trimble died in July 2022 and former SDLP leader Mr Hume in August 2020. Nicholas Trimble and John Hume Jr both said their fathers would search for solutions if they could see the political deadlock present in Northern Ireland 25 years after the Good Friday Agreement. I think he would try and think of a better way, Mr Trimble said. Mum came back from election counts with bruises on her shins where people kicked her and things. It was rough. It was wild Nicholas Trimble There is always a way through difficulties and the solution that dad would come up with would never be the obvious brute force tactic, he would try and think his way out of a problem first, and I think thats maybe a trick thats being missed here. Mr Hume said he thought his father would be frustrated to see the current political deadlock at Stormont. Hed be very frustrated, just like he was over the years with the deadlock that we had for decades in the north, and I think he would be doing his damnedest to bring the two sides together, to concentrate on everything that is in our common interest and using that common ground to build out to find a way forward, he said. Nicholas Trimble said that while he may have been too young to fully understand the nature of his fathers work between 1996 and 1998, Mr Trimble said the whole family felt the excitement of the negotiating period. Our house would have been used quite a lot for dad meeting so many people, so there was always an open door of the people who I hadnt a clue who they were coming in and sitting with dad in the living room, he said. I was just running around like a little terror in the house, wanting to be nosey, whats going on there? Whats all this talking about? There became a sort of an unwritten rule that in the house, the kids would answer the phone because we loved it actually, this was a great novel thing. So, we were the telephone answering service. As he grew older, Mr Trimble said he became more aware of the vitriol present in politics at the time. You did become aware that there was a nastiness in politics, and it got physical at times, he said. Mum came back from election counts with bruises on her shins where people kicked her and things. It was rough. It was wild. Mr Trimble added: Thankfully thats passed. I certainly hope its passed, I certainly hope we dont ever go back to those days, because politics shouldnt be at that gutter level, it shouldnt be attacking, you should be seeking to try and create something new and work with people. David Trimble died on July 25 2022 and his son said the funeral showed the impact his father had had. When anyone loses their father, its a raw, visceral moment, he said. But there was such a tremendous outpouring of sympathies of just well wishing from internationally. I mean, it was staggering. Just the letters that were coming to mums house, you know, they just kept flowing in. Mr Trimble said his fathers legacy is the lasting peace in Northern Ireland. He laid the foundation for this new Northern Ireland that were in, really, and you know that no one person can take the full credit of the agreement, but there are some people that if they werent there, it wouldnt have happened. And I think my dad was one of those people, he said. He knew it would happen at great cost, but he did it anyway. I will always, always love and respect the man for doing that. Mr Trimble added: It took real courage, what he did, and I think his legacy is the lasting peace that we have. I just hope that that legacy is enough to help our current politicians get over whatever stumbling blocks are facing them at the moment. Mr Trimble also said his father had a side not many got to see. I know he has this reputation as a sort of a man of logic and rationality, and not so much emotion. But he did have a fun side that not very many people got to see, he said. He was a good man and he was an honest man, and I think he did his best in the best way that he could. John Hume Jr was in his mid-20s and was working abroad at the time of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. I wasnt actually in the house while all this madness was going on and as we got closer to a deal, but I would have been on the phone every day and it would have been talking to mum and dad, there was lots of excitement as we got closer and the prospects for an agreement became much more real, he said. The signing of the agreement was the achievement of a lifetime for his father, Mr Hume said. When everything got done, I was talking to them both, but just the sheer joy and happiness, and, in some ways, relief that there was a new beginning and that there was a new dawn in many ways was very, very clear. Mr Hume added: He gave his life to this. He was unwavering. He chose his path and he stuck to it for his entire career. It was, I suppose, everything coming together, so it was a wonderful day. Mr Hume also stated the agreement was not without personal sacrifice for his father. The years preceding Good Friday were really difficult for dad, he had a lot of health issues, a lot of it brought on, I think, by the stresses of his work, he said. I remember one day picking up the paper and there were 10 pages dedicated to dad and the mistakes he was making, and quite sort of vitriolic comments. It was a really, really tough time John Hume Jr It was a difficult time, these were hugely sensitive negotiations, there was a lot going on, there was ups and downs, it was a rollercoaster for both him and mum. Mr Hume said his father was also willing to make political sacrifices to achieve peace. Dads career was a long and lonely one, he said. In the 90s, in particular, when dad started talking to Gerry Adams and Sinn Fein and the IRA, he came under a huge amount of pressure. He was pressured not only from the media, but also from other political parties, but also from within the SDLP. His view was always very much, well, if I can solve a problem that having thousands of soldiers on the street for many, many years hasnt been able to solve just by talking to somebody, then its my duty to do so, and thats what he did. He weathered quite a storm. As with Mr Trimbles family, the Hume family witnessed the strength of feeling some people at the time had towards their fathers careers. I remember one day picking up the paper and there were 10 pages dedicated to dad and the mistakes he was making, and quite sort of vitriolic comments. It was a really, really tough time, Mr Hume said. John Humes commitment is something more politicians today can learn from, his son said. He got involved because he felt he needed to, that real sort of dedication to public service, to helping his community, to helping Derry, to making it a better place, to making the north and the island of Ireland a better place, thats really whats needed in public service today, he said. Mr Hume said his fathers legacy only grew more apparent as he got older. I never really saw him as the public figure, its only now as I start to read back and sort of see the history of it all I actually just scratch my head in wonder as to how he worked, what he did and what he managed to achieve, he said. He added: Despite the fact that he was a very committed politician and married to the job in more ways than one, he still found time for us all. He was still a great family and we have some amazing holidays, great memories. I think he was a remarkable individual. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The political vacuum in Northern Ireland is not to blame for an increased threat from dissident republicans, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said. The PSNI has warned of the potential of dissidents launching attacks on their officers in Londonderry on Easter Monday. But Sir Jeffrey said the idea that the collapse of the powersharing institutions had fuelled violence doesnt stack up. While Stormont was sitting for many years these dissident republicans engaged in violence, they murdered police officers, he told BBC Radio Four. The idea that evil men and women who go out to commit murder react to political circumstances simply doesn't stack up Sir Jeffrey Donaldson The DUP leader added: I remember during one sitting of the Assembly they murdered two soldiers in Co Antrim as they were preparing for deployment to Afghanistan. Of course we want to see Stormont fully functioning, but the idea that when we get Stormont back up and running, that dissident republicans will put their guns away, I didnt hear the Chief Constable (Simon Byrne) suggest that. The idea that evil men and women who go out to commit murder react to political circumstances simply doesnt stack up. Some of the Chief Constables police officers have been murdered by these dissident republicans while Stormont has been sitting and indeed they have murdered other people and they have continued with their terrorist activity during all of the period that Stormont was sitting. All of the party leaders have stood together in solidarity with the Chief Constable when these attacks have taken place. MI5 recently raised the terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland to severe, meaning an attack is highly likely. This followed the gun attack on senior detective John Caldwell in Co Tyrone, who has been left with life-changing injuries. Police have blamed the New IRA for the attack. Mr Byrne said that more officers would be moved to frontline duties to counter any potential threats. The DUP has withdrawn its support for the powersharing institutions as part of its protest against post-Brexit trading arrangements. Earlier this year, the UK Government and EU unveiled the Windsor Framework to mitigate some of the trading difficulties which had been caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol. While the DUP says the framework has gone some way to address its concerns, it feels some significant problems remain and has made clear its boycott will continue until it secures further assurances. Sir Jeffrey said his party would be considering a report within the next few days from a consultative panel he established on the framework. He said: It was in Washington that I gave the response, I indicated that there were a number of major areas of concern that we had about the Windsor Framework, that we were engaged in a consultation process. We consult with our people, we talk to our people, we listen to their views. I now have the report from our consultation panel. They have consulted widely with business, with people in the community, we have got that report. We will consider that report in the next few days and then we will go to the Government with the outcome of our consultation and we will press the government on the need to bring forward the legislation they have promised to protect Northern Irelands ability to trade within the United Kingdom and to restore our place within the UK. That is the key to unlocking the door to Stormont. Former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has said the DUP should be given a limited amount of time to make a decision on the Windsor Framework, but if the party does not return to Stormont the British and Irish governments should step in. Speaking to RTE, Mr Adams said the Good Friday Agreement provided for a British and Irish intergovernmental conference. Its rarely been called, the Irish government have not been proactive on it. It deals with non-devolved matters, issues pertinent to our current situation. However, he claimed Sir Jeffrey knows that his party will return to power-sharing. Basically, hes refusing to go into an Assembly over an issue which the Assembly has no responsibility for, or authority over, and can do very little about. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Current political leaders in Northern Ireland need to act with the same courage and vision as those who secured the Good Friday Agreement, the man who chaired the 1998 negotiations has said. Senator George Mitchell said history would judge favourably those who had helped to bring about the historic peace deal. Several events are taking place in Northern Ireland as people reflect 25 years on from the Good Friday Agreement. While the 25th anniversary of the signing of the accord is April 10, the holy day of Good Friday will always be associated with the diplomatic feat that brought 30 years of bloodshed largely to an end. A number of key architects of the deal as well as current politicians gathered for a commemorative event at Stormont. Delivering a video address, Mr Mitchell said the greatest heroes from that time were the people of Northern Ireland and their political leaders. He said: The people supported, worked for and established a democratic, peaceful process as their preferred form of governance. They rejected violence as a way to resolve their differences. Mr Mitchell said many politicians had taken huge risks. He added: But they did what was right for the people they represented and history will judge them favourably. The former senator said the Good Friday Agreement did not resolve all outstanding issues but that it did end political violence. The anniversary of the historic deal comes as Northern Irelands powersharing institutions remain collapsed in a protest by the DUP over post-Brexit trading arrangements. Current leaders can and must do whatever is necessary to preserve peace George Mitchell Mr Mitchell added: It is now up to the current leaders of Northern Ireland, of the United Kingdom, of Ireland, to act with the same courage and vision as did their predecessors 25 years ago. Current leaders can and must do whatever is necessary to preserve peace, to restore self-government to Northern Ireland, to ensure for those they represent freedom, hope and opportunity for all. Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern told the Stormont ceremony it was not fair to the people of Northern Ireland that some institutions of the Good Friday Agreement are not currently working. He said: Personally, I dont think it is sustainable or desirable or fair to the people of Northern Ireland that the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, whether they be here in the Assembly, the north south bodies or the British Irish council, are not working. I just wish that those who have the power nowadays to make these things happen will do so very quickly when these few weeks are over. Otherwise, our efforts are partially in vain and I dont think any of us wish that. A number of Northern Ireland politicians who helped to negotiate the peace deal also addressed the event. Former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said countless lives had been saved by the Good Friday Agreement. He said: The last 25 years have been up and down, and there have been many twists and turns, but one thing is for certain, we are all in a better place. Despite current challenges, the future is bright. If you doubt that, think of the countless lives that have been saved or reflect on events in other parts of the world at this time. Referring to a number of young people who took part in the ceremony, former Ulster Unionist leader Lord Empey said: They are the second generation that has grown up in this country who have no working knowledge of what violence and our Troubles meant. If theres nothing else it has achieved, that in itself is a victory. Former SDLP leader Mark Durkan said those who negotiated the agreement provided a lesson for today. He said: We can bring back the spirit and the ethic that they put into achieving the agreement. That sense of collective purpose, that ability to cut through all the noise of difference and create shared institutions and shared arrangements. On Friday morning, some victims of the Troubles gathered on a Co Down beach to watch the sun rise as they looked back on the deal that changed the regions future and became a blueprint for resolving global conflicts. In Belfast, people from the Shankill and Falls areas formed a human chain and stood in silence for 25 seconds. In Dublin, the names of the nearly 3,600 people who died as a result of conflict in Northern Ireland between 1966 and 2019 are being read out loud as part of a ceremony on St Stephens Green. Next week, US President Joe Biden will visit Belfast in a trip to commemorate a quarter of a decade since the US-brokered peace accord. The following week, further events will be held which are to be attended by former US president Bill Clinton and his wife, former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Andrew Tate has suggested that he will be murdered and that a bullet will be the chosen utensil of pacification. The divisive internet personality has sent a number of cryptic messages from his Twitter account since his release from prison on Friday and subsequent house arrest in Bucharest, Romania. In a post in the early hours of Monday morning the former kickboxer said he anticipates being shot as all the other silencing attempts have failed. He said: I prepare my body to absorb the brutal kinetics of piercing lead. As all other silencing attempts fail, and stage 3 approaches - I anticipate a bullet will be the chosen utensil of pacification. I can only pray and prepare I will force myself to breathe the best I can I promise. Tate does not elaborate on who he believes will try and shoot him or what motive they have. Andrew Tate paces and smokes cigar hours after house arrest release from jail (Andrew Tate) The social media post comes just days after Tate was released from prison, along with his brother Tristan Tate, after they won an appeal to replace their detention with house arrest. The pair were initially detained in late December along with two Romanian women and are accused of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. The duo will remain under house arrest until April 29. None of the four has yet been formally indicted. Shortly after being released, Tate said he wanted to thank the judges who heard us today, because they were very attentive and they listened to us, and they let us free. Andrew Tate, left, and his brother Tristan stand outside a police detention facility in Bucharest, Romania (AP) I have no resentment in my heart for the country of Romania or for anybody else, he said. I just believe in the truth I truly believe that justice will be served in the end. There is zero percent chance of me being convicted for something Ive not done. Romanias anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT said in a statement after the December arrests that it had identified six victims in the human trafficking case who were allegedly subjected to acts of physical violence and mental coercion and sexually exploited by members of the alleged crime group. The agency said victims were lured with pretenses of love and later intimidated, placed under surveillance and subjected to other control tactics while being coerced into engaging in pornographic acts for the financial gain of the crime group. In January, Romanian authorities descended on a compound near Bucharest linked with the Tate brothers and towed away a fleet of luxury cars that included a Rolls-Royce, a Ferrari and a Porsche. They reported seizing assets worth an estimated $3.9 million. Tate unsuccessfully appealed the asset seizure. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Consumer finance expert Martin Lewis has urged motorists to check their driving licences to ensure they have not expired, leaving them at risk of a hefty fine. As part of an annual check-up recommended in Mr Lewiss latest Money Saving Expert newsletter, the pundit warned drivers with a photocard licence that they could be fined up to 1,000 by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if they are found to be driving with a permit that has passed its 10-year expiry date. Mr Lewis cautioned that up to two million people may have neglected to update their licences and advised drivers to check out the 4b date on the front of their photocard to determine whether or not it is time to renew. The cards and products stored in your purse or wallet (even if its digital via your phone and watch) are a vivid window on your finances, the money-saving guru wrote in his newsletter. So each year I like to do an annual check-up of what youre holstering to see if theres an easy cash boost. Photocard driving licences, first introduced in 1998, are only valid for a decade after they are issued. Paper licences issued prior to 1998, however, remain valid until the holder turns 70, although this format was abolished in June 2015 and they are no longer issued alongside the photocard. These therefore do not require renewal if your personal details have not changed, although all driving licences must be in the photocard format by 2033 you can find out more about upgrading to the new version here. Anyone seeking to renew their photocard can do so via the UK governments official website, by post or at the post office. You will need to hold a valid UK passport, be resident in Great Britain (Northern Ireland has its own system), not to have been disqualified from driving and be able to show your current licence, or explain why not if you do not have it, as well as your National Insurance number and last three addresses. You will also be asked to pay a 14 processing fee by debit or credit card online or 17 if submitting by post. Over-70s or those with a short-term medical driving licence are exempt from paying. Once your application has been received, you should get your new licence within a week, the DVLA advises. The renewal process is slightly different for drivers aged over 70, lorry and bus drivers and those with a short-term medical driving licence. You can find out more about what is required in those three scenarios at the links provided. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Cardiff man was hit with tax bills totalling 500,000 from 11,000 firms, mostly from China, after HMRC allowed them to register for VAT to his address. The extraordinary case looks to all intents and purposes like VAT fraud, according to one tax expert, who urged HMRC to completely tighten up the VAT registration process for foreign companies. Dylan Davies, the recipient of thousands of letters from HMRC and debt collectors demanding at least 500,000 in unpaid taxes, said the horrendous situation had left him squarely in the sights of bailiffs who could come charging the door down. The first sign of trouble came in November when he suddenly received 580 brown envelopes in a single days post a vast mountain of bills soon swamped in comparison by the amount that continued to flood in over the ensuing six months. Where does this end? Mr Davies asked BBC Waless X-Ray programme. Youve now got debt collection agencies on behalf of HMRC who are going after these debts. Where are they going to go after them this is the only address theyve got. Mr Davies is reported by The Times to have contacted the Welsh consumer affairs show in desperation after first trying to alert HMRC via his solicitor, with no response. His case has since been raised by MPs who sit on the Commons public accounts committee, whose Labour chair Meg Hillier wrote to HMRCs most senior civil servant on 17 March, demanding action. She described the case as prima facie large-scale VAT fraud which points to systemic weaknesses in the system. But in his response 12 days later, Jim Harra, head of HMRC, said its ongoing investigations so far have found no evidence of fraud or fraudulent intent relating to Mr Davies case. Dylan Davies contacted BBC Waless X-Ray show for help with the mountain of wrongly-addressed tax bills (screengrab) Mr Harra conceded that 11,000 firms had changed their registered address to that of Mr Davies in Cardiff over a six-month period, and said that 2,356 of the businesses owed a tax debt. HMRC has since contacted Mr Davies directly to apologise and to assure him that we had taken urgent action to prevent further disruption, Mr Harra said, adding that he will be offered compensation for the time it took us to resolve the matter. Asked how HMRC failed to notice 11,000 firms registering to one residential address in such a short period, Mr Harra said: It is not unusual for multiple businesses to operate from one address and, as the address used was not the subject of any transaction monitoring or watchlist, the risking rules did not identify the issue. New post-Brexit rules, in force since January 2021, mean that Amazon and other online marketplaces must collect VAT from overseas traders themselves and pay it to HMRC. But this is not required if firms have a registered UK address for VAT for which no proof of address is needed. It is currently easier to register a company for VAT than it is to go and get a bus pass, financial crime consultant Graham Barrow told X-Ray, urging HMRC to tighten up completely. It beggared belief that HMRC did not notice the number of companies being registered for VAT at Mr Daviess flat, said Mr Barrow, who suspects the companies are collecting VAT from their buyers and simply pocketing it. It looks to all intents and purposes like VAT fraud, he said. Theres no other reason why youd register for VAT at a complete strangers address, particularly for 11,000 companies to do that. HMRC data suggests that around 70 per cent of the businesses using Mr Davies address operated on online marketplaces, which provided data to the taxman. There is no evidence that the remaining 30 per cent have sold goods in the UK or have any outstanding VAT to pay, according to Mr Harras letter. An HMRC spokesperson said: We are reviewing our operational processes for managing high volume address changes, including understanding any vulnerabilities in our systems associated with this behaviour. Asylum seekers will have less living space than an average parking bay on a barge likened to a quasi-prison by a Conservative MP. The Home Office says it will house around 500 people on the Bibby Stockholm, with a phased programme of embarkation starting after it is towed to Portland port in Dorset. But an official brochure released by owner Bibby Marine shows there are only 222 single en-suite bedrooms on board, meaning that at least two people may have to be crammed into every cabin for the government to achieve its aim. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} It is 25 years since political leaders struck the Good Friday Agreement, the landmark peace accord that ended three decades of violence in Northern Ireland, a period known as the Troubles. That dark time in Northern Ireland, involving bombings and shootings that killed 3,600 people, began after the suppression of a civil rights march in Derry in October 1968. Tensions between nationalist Catholics and unionist Protestants deteriorated into a bloody and brutal battle over whether Northern Ireland should be part of Britain or the Irish Republic. August 1969: Riot police running from exploding petrol bombs (Getty Images) The clashes involved Irish republican militants, loyalist paramilitaries and UK troops. As public fury at the repeated violence and deaths mounted, the IRA (Irish Republican Army) called a ceasefire in 1994, allowing Sinn Fein to join other nationalist and unionist parties in peace talks co-sponsored by the British and Irish governments. The United States played a key role. Former senator George Mitchell oversaw the delicate multi-party negotiations. The talks came close to collapse several times, but after a negotiating session that stretched long past deadline, agreement was reached on 10 April 1998 Good Friday. The people of Northern Ireland got used to seeing British soldiers in the streets (Getty Images) The then prime minister Tony Blair said: Today I hope that the burden of history can at long last start to be lifted from our shoulders. The following month, the agreement was ratified by voters in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The agreement ended direct UK rule of Northern Ireland and set up a legislature and government with power shared between unionist and nationalist parties. Civil rights marchers (Getty Images) Four months after the agreement, IRA dissidents planted a car bomb that killed 29 people in the town of Omagh, the deadliest single attack in Northern Ireland. Despite more sporadic attacks since then by small splinter groups, the peace has held. But those who lived through The Troubles will never forget some of the scenes they saw. British soldiers take aim at civil-rights demonstrators in the Falls Road, Belfast (Getty Images) In the Falls Road curfew in July 1970, the British army sealed off the nationalist area for three days in the search for weapons. Four civilians were killed. Days later, a civil-rights protest was staged. A British paratrooper takes a youth from the crowd on Bloody Sunday (Getty Images) Bloody Sunday, on 30 January 1972, when British soldiers opened fire on 26 unarmed civilians in the Bogside area of Derry, was one of the darkest days of the Troubles. Soldiers killed 14 civilians (Getty Images) When paratroopers opened fire on a civil-rights march, 13 people were killed instantly, and one died later. At least 15 other people were wounded. The wrecked headquarters of the Parachute Regiment at Aldershot, bombed by the IRA (Getty Images) Seven people were killed when an IRA car bomb exploded outside the headquarters of the 16th Parachute Brigade in Aldershot, Hampshire, on 22 February 1972. Nineteen people were also injured in the attack that was retaliation for Bloody Sunday. Belfast residents queuing up at a checkpoint leading out of the city's shopping area (Getty) Checkpoints enabled British soldiers to search local shoppers and their bags for weapons or explosives. The car bombs went off in the rush hour (Getty Images) On 17 May 1974 three car bombs in Dublin exploded almost simultaneously, in Parnell Street, Talbot Street, and South Leinster Street, killing 23 men, women and children. Three others who had been wounded died over the next few days. The Brighton bomb wreckage (Getty Images) On 12 October 1984, an bomb planted by the IRA went off, killing five people in the hotel where Conservative politicians were staying for their party conference. Then prime minister Margaret Thatcher, who had been the target, survived, but trade secretary Norman Tebbit and his wife were injured. Masked men fire volleys of rifle shots in 1981 over the coffin of hunger-striker Bobby Sands (PA) In 1981, Bobby Sands, the IRAs leader in the Maze prison near Belfast, starved himself to death after 66 days of refusing food. At least 100,000 people lined the funeral route. Sands had been protesting against the removal of special category status in jail. Police at the scene of the IRA bomb in Docklands (AFP via Getty Images) On 11 February 1996 two people were killed when IRA terrorists detonated a large bomb in Londons regenerated Docklands area. Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern sign the Good Friday Agreement (PA) In April 1998 Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern hailed the spirit of Anglo-Irish teamwork that led to the historic Good Friday Agreement. Devastation caused by the Omagh bomb in 1998 (AP) Just four months after the agreement was sealed, on 15 August, 1998, a car bomb exploded in Omagh, co Tyrone, killing 29 people and injuring more than 200 others. The Omagh bombing, carried out by members of the Real IRA, was the deadliest attack of the three-decades-long conflict. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A British Muslim woman says she was detained by the police because her name is similar to Shamima Begum, the London woman who left the country as a teenager to join Isis in Syria. Shamina Begum, 37, was returning from holiday in Turkey with her partner at Manchester airport when she was told to seek assistance at the e-gate machines. Ms Begum says a border force staff said her name seemed to be the problem, in that it was similar to someone of interest. Ms Begum made her way through towards baggage reclaim, but says five officers then raced towards them and detained her under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000, advising that she shared the same name as someone wanted. They said your names been picked up on the data system. I said to them, I cant be Shamima Begum and Im not being funny but shes skinny, Im curvy, Ms Begum said. Her bag and phone were seized and the traveller claims she was subject to three hours of questioning about the origins of her name, why she is a Muslim, her family history, details of her mortgage payments, whether she thinks bombing is OK and more. Ms Begum, who was eventually released by the police with no further action, said she felt humiliated and has since had to access medication from her GP as a result of the ordeal. Prior to going on holiday, both her parents had died. Im traumatised, she told The Independent. At first I was confused; Ive travelled to many destinations previously and never had this problem. After I was let go, I cried all the way from the airport to my house and I couldnt face the outside world for about four weeks, In the immediate days after this happened, Id wake up every day and wish I had not. Im not a terrorist and didnt deserve to be treated that way. It was a dark and difficult time which still impacts me, unfortunately. The woman from the north of England, who was on her period at the time of the incident, said she was forced to relieve herself in an unlocked toilet in the presence of a male officer. It was so humiliating and I could not say anything, she said. Its easy for the police to hand people a leaflet about what a Schedule 7 stop is ... but what about aftercare? Its taken me six months to talk about it properly. She added: If it isnt down to my race and religion, why arent police stopping every white person who walks through the airport? Its always the brown and Black people who are targeted. It wasnt just the fact that I was stopped; it was the kind of questions I was asked. Just because I am a Muslim with a Muslim name and background, it doesnt make me a terrorist. The governments own data shows that terror suspects arrested in Britain are mostly white and British. Shamima Begum (BBC/Joshua Baker) Differences in skin colour aside, we should all be treated equally. The officers had no reason to stop me and couldnt give me a proper reason for the stop. I didnt even get an apology. I think Im just a statistic to the police who they can say was stopped and screened. They stripped me of my humanity and Im dreading going on holiday again despite my love of travelling. Ms Begum, who works at a government agency, had her DNA and fingerprints taken and added to the police database. In a complaint letter to Greater Manchester Police dated October 2022, Ms Begum wrote: I was told that my stop was based on the fact that my personal biodata was similar to that of a person of interest in relation to terrorism. I contend that this personal biodata was nothing more than my name, which is a very common Bengali name. I, therefore, believe that the stop was entirely arbitrary and as a result of religious and cultural ignorance and the overzealous attitudes of the officers. GMP declined to confirm the exact reason for the stop when approached by The Independent, saying it related to her biodata which can mean anything from a persons name to their address. Cage, an advocacy group that works with Muslim communities, supported Shamina Begum in the aftermath of her Schedule 7 stop and complaint to the police. This case is a textbook example of how this power [Schedule 7] is routinely abused, and how police often act on their prejudices to harass Muslim travellers, a spokesperson from the group said. Theres so little recourse to justice with this power, that we have demanded its repeal entirely. Begum is a common name in the Bangladeshi diaspora and the single most common surname in the Tower Hamlets and south Camden areas in London. Ms Begums complaint was not upheld by the police staff who claim that the stop was justified and handled properly, she has now lodged an appeal against the decision. Shamima Begum was 15 when she travelled from Bethnal Green, east London, through Turkey and into territory controlled by Isis in 2015, before her citizenship was revoked in February 2019. She remains in a camp controlled by armed guards in northern Syria and has been locked in a legal battle ever since and in January the 23-year-old lost her latest challenge against the decision to strip her of her British citizenship on national security grounds. A spokesperson for GMPs Professional Standards Branch said: Upon receipt of a complaint, our assessment team reviewed the circumstances and identified that the use of Schedule 7 was reasonable and proportionate. We are, however, aware of an appeal against the outcome of this review so we will not be commenting any further at this time. Schedule 7 remains a vital piece of legislation to protect the UK Borders and is subject to review by the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation to ensure it is used effectively and fairly. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The UK appealed for de-escalation as Israel launched strikes in southern Lebanon and bombed targets in the Gaza Strip in retaliation at rocket attacks. The cross-border fighting, while Jews are celebrating the Passover holiday and Muslims are marking Ramadan, erupted following violent scenes at Jerusalems Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon came after militants fired nearly three dozen rockets from there. Now is the time for all parties across the region to de-escalate tensions James Cleverly The Israeli military said it targeted installations of Palestinian militant group Hamas in Lebanon. The UKs Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said both sides in the Israel-Palestine dispute should recommit themselves to a negotiated settlement. He said: The UK condemns the indiscriminate rocket attacks from southern Lebanon and Gaza and recognises Israels right to self-defence. Now is the time for all parties across the region to de-escalate tensions. At the convergence of Passover, Ramadan and Easter, the UK calls for all parties to respect the historic status quo arrangements at Jerusalems holy sites and cease all provocative action. The UK is a strong supporter of freedom of religion or belief and calls for places of worship to be respected. We value Jordans important role as custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem and condemns the Israeli police violence at the Al Aqsa Mosque. When Israeli security forces conduct operations, they must ensure they are proportionate and in accordance with international law. In Jerusalem violence flared again at the Al Aqsa Mosque before dawn prayers, with Israeli police stationed at one of the gates forcibly dispersing vast crowds of worshippers who chanted praise for Hamas. Human rights campaign group Amnesty International UK criticised Mr Cleverlys response. The charitys Kristyan Benedict said: James Cleverlys belated response to shocking Israeli violence against Palestinians at Al Aqsa Mosque isnt just weak and tokenistic its also dangerously misguided because it effectively isolates individual incidents of violence from the overall context, which is decades of apartheid, occupation and systematic injustice against the Palestinian people. Despite the Foreign Secretarys usual platitudes about peace and de-escalation, the UK continues to oppose vital international measures such as the ongoing ICC (International Criminal Court) investigation, designed to bring justice and accountability for Israeli and Palestinian civilians. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Several events are taking place in Northern Ireland as people reflect 25 years on from the Good Friday Agreement. While the 25th anniversary of the signing of the accord is April 10, the holy day of Good Friday will always be associated with the diplomatic feat that brought 30 years of bloodshed largely to an end. Early on Friday morning, some victims of the Troubles gathered on a Co Down beach to watch the sunrise as they looked back on the deal that changed the regions future and became a blueprint for resolving global conflicts. Later in Belfast, people living on both sides of a community interface will come together to commemorate the peace agreement. Residents from the predominantly unionist Shankill Road and largely nationalist Falls Road will form a human peace wall. At the same time at Stormont political figures involved in the negotiations 25 years ago will gather for a commemorative event at Parliament Buildings. In the Republic of Ireland, Dublin Unitarian Church is to hold its annual service to commemorate all those who died in the conflict, and in the time that followed. More than 3,600 names of the people killed in Northern Ireland between 1966 and 2019 will be read out from noon until 3pm, and will include journalist Lyra McKee who was shot dead by dissident republicans in Londonderry four years ago. The sunrise event at Killough beach was organised by the Wave Trauma Centre, which supports victims of the conflict. Alan McBride, whose wife and father-in-law were both killed in the 1993 Shankill bomb in Belfast, voted yes in the referendum on the 1998 deal, despite the accord involving the early release of paramilitary killers, including the man responsible for the IRA bomb on the Shankill. Mr McBride, who gathered with fellow victims on the beach on Friday, said he viewed the Good Friday Agreement as a breakthrough. It was a watershed in Northern Irish society in terms of the Troubles and coming through it. I never thought they ever would, he told the PA news agency. I voted yes back then, my dad actually didnt vote yes, he just couldnt do it because of the prisoner releases and stuff. Twenty five years on, I would have thought that we would have been much further down the road to the sort of society that I believed we were voting for in 98. He added: I do think that our politicians have really let us down if I am being honest with you. The anniversary of the historic deal comes as Northern Irelands powersharing institutions remain collapsed, in a protest by the DUP over post-Brexit trading arrangements. Despite a fresh framework struck between the EU and the UK Government earlier this year that looked to tweak the operation of the contentious Northern Ireland Protocol, Stormont has not returned. Next week, US President Joe Biden will visit Belfast in a trip to commemorate a quarter of a decade since the US-brokered peace accord. The following week, further events will be held which are to be attended by former US president Bill Clinton and his wife, former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton. Harking back to the reaction to the GFA in 1998, Gerry Murphy, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions assistant general secretary, said that the agreement is still the way forward. He said: When Congress reacted to the agreement signed on April 10 1998, it stated that Congress believes that overall it represents an important step towards peace and reconciliation. In the unprecedented circumstances now prevailing, Congress is therefore uniquely recommending that trade union members vote Yes in the referenda on May 22. The support we pledged then is still in place. The agreement remains the road map to a decent future for all. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Belfast Agreement, more commonly known as the Good Friday Agreement, was signed in Northern Ireland on 10 April 1998. It effectively brought an end to the Troubles, which had raged for 30 years, and established a cross-community consensus around peace and the future direction of the region. A quarter of a century on, we look back at the history of this hugely significant deal. The Troubles From the late 1960s, Northern Ireland was plunged into a brutal conflict between republicans who wanted the province to become part of a united Ireland and unionists who wanted it to remain within the UK. Republicans and the wider nationalist community are mostly Catholic while unionists are mostly Protestant. Violence was largely perpetrated by paramilitary groups on both sides, such as the IRA and the UVF, while others were killed by the British security forces after the army was deployed in the summer of 1969. Of the 3,532 people who died, the majority were civilians, many of whom were killed in random tit-for-tat attacks across the sectarian divide. British Army members on the streets of Belfast in 1972 For the majority of this 30-year period, Northern Ireland was under direct rule from Westminster. Talks After years of failed negotiations and backchannel discussions, progress was slowly made across the 1990s. A dialogue between SDLP leader John Hume and Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams made moves towards consensus across the nationalist community, while ceasefires announced by the IRA and loyalists in 1994 were also welcomed. US president Bill Clinton took a keen interest in Northern Ireland and sent a special envoy in the form of Senate majority leader George Mitchell, who would eventually chair the talks between the parties and groups. The situation was accelerated after Labour came to power in Britain in 1997 and Tony Blair saw the necessity of including Sinn Fein in the process, although the DUP walked out in protest over the inclusion. Talks began in September 1997 and, in January 1998, Northern Ireland secretary Mo Mowlam made an unprecedented visit to the Maze prison to urge the support of loyalists who were imprisoned for paramilitary activity. John Hume with Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness during talks Similarly, as the political wing of the IRA, Sinn Fein were responsible for ensuring the support of republican prisoners. In the final days, both Mr Blair and the Irish taoiseach Bertie Ahern went to Belfast to join the talks and the agreement was eventually announced by Mr Mitchell on the afternoon of 10 April 1998. The agreement The deal was formally made between the British and Irish governments and eight political parties from Northern Ireland, including Sinn Fein, the Ulster Unionist Party, the SDLP and the Alliance Party. The DUP were the only major political group to oppose it. The agreement acknowledged the constitutional status of Northern Ireland as a part of the UK, reflecting the wish of the majority of citizens. But it also established a principle of consent: that a united Ireland could come about if and when a majority of people in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland wanted it. Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams with US president Bill Clinton in 1995 (Getty) In this instance, the British government would be bound to hold a referendum, and honour the result. Three strands of new institutions were established in the agreement: A democratically elected Northern Ireland Assembly A North/South Ministerial Council for cross border issues A British-Irish Council and the British-Irish Governmental Conference The Northern Ireland Assembly would be elected every five years and be led by an executive of ministers, which would require the participation of parties on both sides of the community divide. Crucially, the agreement committed the parties to democratic and peaceful methods of resolving political issues, to using their influence to bring about the decommissioning of paramilitary groups and for security arrangements in Northern Ireland to be normalised. The agreement marked a commitment to the mutual respect, the civil rights and the religious liberties of everyone in the community and Britain agreed to incorporate the European Convention on Human Rights into the law of Northern Ireland. Referendums The British and Irish governments agreed to hold joint referendums on 22 May 1998. The referendum in Northern Ireland was on accepting the Good Friday Agreement itself and 71 per cent of people voted yes. The referendum in the Republic of Ireland was to amend the countrys constitution to relinquish its claim on Northern Ireland, acknowledging the new principle of consent. An overwhelming 94 per cent of people voted to do so. The Independent's front page after a deal was struck in 1998 What happened next? The years following 1998 remained turbulent and uncertain, with the Northern Ireland Assembly established, but periodically suspended, largely over concerns about continued paramilitary activity. It took until 2005 for the IRA to decommission and, in 2007, Sinn Fein put their support behind the new Police Service of Northern Ireland. By this point, the DUP and Sinn Fein had overtaken the UUP and the SDLP as the main unionist and nationalist parties. The St Andrews Agreement of 2006 paved the way for the two major parties to enter power sharing together. First minister Ian Paisley (left) and deputy first minister Martin McGuinness after being sworn in (Getty) The relationship between Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness, as first and deputy first minister, was a sign that Northern Ireland had truly changed. The Presbyterian preacher and the ex-IRA commander were once sworn enemies but now suddenly working together in the same office and being nicknamed the Chuckle Brothers as a result of their cheery rapport. For the next decade, Northern Ireland experienced relative political stability due to the power sharing arrangement. The Hillsborough Castle Agreement of 2010 saw powers over police and justice devolved to Northern Ireland, while the Fresh Start Agreement of 2015 saw further settlements on identity issues, as well as welfare reform and finance. Former DUP leader Arlene Foster But in January 2017, McGuinness resigned his position in protest over a political scandal involving the new first minister Arlene Foster, thereby collapsing the executive. He also cited long-term issues in which the DUP were failing to honour the commitments to basic equality laid down in their agreements. McGuinness died months later and, although a new deal came close to being signed in February 2018, talks broke down. A year later, the UK Parliament passed the Northern Ireland Act, to keep services running the absence of a functioning government, before the executive was reformed in January 2020 with Ms Foster as first minister. Stormonts power-sharing executive has since collapsed again due to further disagreements with the DUP, which has also declared its opposition to Rishi Sunaks new Windsor Framework seeking to amend the Northern Ireland Protocol of the Brexit withdrawal agreement in the interest of improving trading conditions complicated by Britains departure from the European Union. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Sir Keir Starmer is facing increasing pressure to withdraw an appalling attack advert that claims Rishi Sunak does not think people who sexually abuse children should go to prison. Labour was accused of gutter politics over the social media post, which has been condemned by politicians from across the political spectrum as well as high-profile Labour supporters. The Independent also understands that members of Sir Keirs own shadow cabinet are uncomfortable with the tactic. One Labour frontbencher, shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell, refused to endorse the advert when asked, although she said she did not think it should be removed. But the party said it stood by the graphic and later doubled down, releasing a second advert suggesting that the prime minister doesnt think people convicted of firearm possession with intent to harm should be jailed. An outcry erupted on Friday morning after Labour posted a photograph of Mr Sunak alongside the words: Do you think adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should go to prison? Rishi Sunak doesnt. In the same post, Labour describes itself as the party of law and order. Crime is a key battleground in the run-up to Mays local elections. Denis MacShane, who served as a minister in Tony Blairs government, criticised the ad, saying Labour should not get into [the] gutter. Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell urged his party to remove it, saying: This is not the sort of politics a Labour Party, confident of its own values and preparing to govern, should be engaged in ... please withdraw it. Conservative MP and science minister George Freeman described the initial advert as a new low in British politics and denounced it as appalling. And the chair of the Commons defence select committee, Tory MP Tobias Ellwood, said: Ive called it out on my own side for stooping low and do so again now. He warned that if such attacks became commonplace they could put people off entering politics. Condemnation of the advert has come from all sides of the political divide (Getty/Labour Party) Former justice minister Rory Stewart denounced the advert as bile and nasty politics, while Tory party deputy chair Lee Anderson accused Labour of resorting to a vile and desperate campaign strategy. SNP MP John Nicolson said the advert cheapened and debased politics. Criticism also came from beyond the world of politics, with The Rotters Club author Jonathan Coe tweeting: Please dont go down this road, Labour. Actor Samuel West, recently seen in All Creatures Great and Small, described it as lower than low and said he was embarrassed to be a Labour member. Judges, rather than MPs, are responsible for sentences given to individual criminals. The figures quoted by Labour are also controversial because they cover the period since 2010, which was five years before Mr Sunak became an MP. The Twitter post, which referenced a Labour analysis of Ministry of Justice data, said: Under the Tories, 4,500 adults convicted of sexually assaulting children under 16 served no prison time. Labour will lock up dangerous child abusers. A second advert claims that Rishi Sunak doesnt think people convicted of possessing guns with intent to harm should go to prison (Labour Party) Former Tory cabinet minister Sayeeda Warsi criticised both the graphic and recent comments by the home secretary Suella Braverman, saying: Dog whistle met by dog whistle. Disgraceful comments by Braverman over the weekend has triggered an appalling fight into the gutter. A Labour source said: We stand by the graphic. However, in an appearance on BBC Breakfast, Ms Powell declined to say publicly that she stood by the advert. What I stand by is what that graphic is trying to show, which is that the prime minister of our country is responsible for the criminal justice system of our country, and currently that criminal justice system is not working, she said. Asked again whether she stood by the message, she said: I stand by what this tweet and this campaign is trying to highlight. Commenting on the fact that the ad featured a large picture of Mr Sunaks face and his signature, she added: The graphic itself, obviously, is a skit based on [Mr Sunaks] own graphics that he extensively uses. In response to Mr McDonnells criticism, she said: I can see that its not to everybodys taste, absolutely, and that some people wont like it ... But that is the cut-and-thrust nature of politics. I didnt design the graphic; its not my graphic. Ms Powell told Sky News: We do have serious criminals now, in this country, almost routinely getting more lenient custodial sentences than they would otherwise do, because the system is creaking at the knees. Shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell has admitted that the advert is not to everyones taste (PA Archive) She said this was not down to sentencing guidelines, but to a lack of capacity in the system to actually implement those guidelines, with a huge backlog in court cases and pressure on prison places. She later said she did not think the advert should be withdrawn. I dont think it should be deleted ... this graphic that came online last night is, as I say, its a skit; its a take on other graphics that the prime minister himself has produced in the past, she told Times Radio. And at the end of the day, he is the prime minister of this Conservative government, he is responsible for the criminal justice system of this country, and the fact that, at the moment, it is on its knees, and unable to process and deal with serious criminal offences. And he should be, along with his ministers, accountable for that. A Tory source pointed to Sir Keirs time as director of public prosecutions between 2008 and 2013, saying: Labour HQ have highlighted Sir Keirs appalling record at keeping children safe. If you are a child and you need help because something has happened to you, you can call the NSPCC free of charge on 0800 1111. You can also call the NSPCC if you are an adult and you are worried about a child, on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adults on 0808 801 0331 Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Police in Northern Ireland have warned of strong intelligence that dissidents are planning to launch terror attacks against officers on Easter Monday. Officers will adopt a policing strategy not seen in years to counter the threat, reflecting the exceptional circumstances ahead of the Easter weekend, said Chief Constable Simon Byrne of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). Easter Monday not only marks the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement with US president Joe Biden set to visit on Tuesday but is also the day on which dissident republicans traditionally mark the anniversary of the Easter Rising rebellion against British rule in 1916, with a parade set to take place in Derry. Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton expressed concern that dissidents could use public disorder as a platform to launch attacks, saying: We dont have to go too far back, sadly, to see precisely that kind of scenario playing out in Derry/Londonderry in the past. With Brexit tensions having resulted in the absence of an assembly at Stormont since February, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson was forced to deny that the lack of government had heightened the threat of violence after MI5 raised the threat level back to severe just days ago. While Stormont was sitting for many years, these dissident republicans engaged in violence, they murdered police officers, Sir Jeffrey told BBC Radio 4. I remember, during one sitting of the assembly, they murdered two soldiers in Co Antrim as they were preparing for deployment to Afghanistan. Of course we want to see Stormont fully functioning, but the idea that, when we get Stormont back up and running, that dissident republicans will put their guns away I didnt hear the chief constable suggest that. The idea that evil men and women who go out to commit murder react to political circumstances simply doesnt stack up. The DUP has withdrawn its support for Stormonts power-sharing institutions as part of its protest against post-Brexit trading arrangements, which prime minister Rishi Sunak and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen sought to address with the Windsor Framework. The framework was given a lukewarm reception by the DUP. Police attempt to stop nationalists and loyalists attacking each other two years ago on 7 April 2021 (AP) Sir Jeffrey said that, within the next few days, his party would consider a report prepared by a consultative panel he established to look at the implications of the framework. But former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams argued that the DUP should be given a limited amount of time to make a decision on the framework, and that the British and Irish governments should step in if the party does not return to power-sharing. Speaking to RTE, Mr Adams said the Good Friday Agreement provided for a British and Irish intergovernmental conference, adding: Its rarely been called the Irish government have not been proactive on it. It deals with non-devolved matters, issues pertinent to our current situation. The decision by MI5 to raise the threat level last month, meaning an attack is highly likely, came after a gun attack in Co Tyrone which police have blamed on the New IRA left senior detective John Caldwell with life-changing injuries. While insisting that police will be ready for whatever will happen in Derry/Londonderry on Monday, Assistant Chief Constable Singleton warned that the PSNI is in the mouth of a period of really unprecedented demand and an absolutely stark potential funding gap of 150m over the next year. He added that, in order to create the operational footprint to allow us to be able to deliver safe events over this next week to 10 days, the PSNI had activated Operation Inspire, putting a large number of frontline police officers onto 12-hour shifts, thereby boosting the forces public visibility. This is the first time in a number of years we have had to activate this plan, said Chief Constable Byrne. It is a reflection of the quite difficult and exceptional circumstances we find ourselves in. However, their colleague, Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd, said that there was no specific intelligence that the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement was acting as an additional motivation for dissident republicans to launch attacks, adding: We plan for the worst and we hope for the best. The PSNI has asked for 330 officers from different parts of the UK to assist with the massive security operation that will take place during the visit by Mr Biden, who is himself of Irish heritage and has previously made clear his determination that the Good Friday Agreement be protected during Brexit negotiations. Speaking in Belfast on Thursday, Irelands deputy prime minister Micheal Martin said the possibility of an attack on police represented criminality in its worst form, adding: I think its very evil people who are contemplating this. The partner of murdered journalist Lyra McKee, Sara Canning, was reported by the BBC as saying that her heart sinks but she is not surprised when she hears of potential violence linked to dissident republicans over the Easter period. These people need to realise that their time is gone, the support for them is not there any more, she said. The vast majority of people here are not interested in violence, we are not interested in going back to the past, we want to move forward and we want our kids to have a better life than we did. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Actor and model Sara Foster has blamed the liberal politicians leading San Francisco following the stabbing death of the co-founder of Cash App Bob Lee. The tech guru called 911 and said he was bleeding out as he lay dying from his wounds on a street in the city, new audio has revealed. Police found the 43-year-old unconscious on the pavement at around 2.40am on Tuesday, about six minutes after he called the emergency services to say that he had been attacked and was bleeding heavily, according to The San Francisco Standard. Mr Lee was taken to San Francisco General Hospital, where he passed away. Little information has been released about the stabbing and the authorities havent shared any details about a possible suspect. Mr Lee was the chief product officer at MobileCoin a crypto company, a former executive at Square a payment firm now called Block, and the founder of Cash App, also a payment app. Ms Foster, 42, is the daughter of musician and producer David Foster, who has worked with artists like Paul McCartney, Dolly Parton, Celine Dion, and Whitney Houston. Sara Foster attends Fashion Island's StyleWeekOC In Partnership With SIMPLY a Day Two at Fashion Island on September 17, 2022 in Newport Beach, California (Getty Images for Fashion Island) Ms Foster reacted to Mr Lees death in an Instagram story, writing: I have no words. SF is a complete s***hole. I am a registered Democrat and feel confident saying liberal politicians are ruining cities. Disgusting. My heart breaks for this family, she added. She previously said she supported Rick Caruso for mayor of Los Angeles, according to Fox News Digital. The billionaire developer lost the 2022 mayoral race to former Congresswoman Karen Bass. Mr Lee made the 911 call to report that he had been attacked at 2.34am on 4 April, yelling help several times and telling the dispatcher that he had been stabbed and that he was bleeding out, The Standard notes. Cash App creator Bob Lee has reportedly been stabbed to death in San Francisco (MobileCoin) The dispatcher can then be heard telling officers about what has happened. Theres a male screaming help, saying, someone stabbed me, the dispatcher says in 911 audio shared online. Advised he is bleeding out. The San Francisco police Commissioner Kevin Benedicto said at a meeting of the commission earlier this week that some social media users are exploiting this horrific incident for political gain. A small minority has tried to weaponize this tragedy to advance a narrative about a crime wave that just isnt borne out by the data in San Francisco, he added on Thursday, according to The New York Times. There are real problems about crime that need to be addressed in San Francisco, he told the paper. But youre seeing people from tech, from certain political circles, who are trying to draw explicit connections to certain policies and elected officials when we dont even yet know the facts of the case. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins told ABC7 that anytime we have somebody who has committed murder, we should all be concerned if they are out and about on our streets. That is why SFPD is working so hard to solve this case ... Unfortunately, this is one thats going to take time to solve. She was asked by the outlet if she would consider it unusual for a kitchen knife to be used in an alleged targeted attack? As a former prosecutor in our homicide unit, I have seen murders committed in all various types of ways. Oftentimes people who choose to commit murder choose to do it in ways they believe they can more successfully get away with it, Ms Jenkins said. I would ask that people not rush to judgment about the circumstances of this murder, we have nothing about how this happened, whether this was a repeat offender or a targeted attack, she added. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An ID linked to the Idaho murders was allegedly discovered by investigators during a search of suspect Bryan Kohbergers residence, says a report. Victims Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves were brutally stabbed to death inside an off-campus house near the University of Idaho last November. The suspect was arrested at his family home in Pennsylvania six weeks after the murders after driving cross country in a car spotted near the crime scene. Court documents also state that investigators have linked him to the murder scene via DNA evidence on a knife sheath left there. A search warrant unsealed earlier this year previously revealed that police seized IDs from Mr Kohbergers car, but it did not specify to whom they belonged. The ID claim was made on Chris Cuomos NewsNation show on Thursday night. Its a big deal. That is a smoking license, retired FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer said on CUOMO. Bryan Kohberger looks toward his attorney, public defender Anne Taylor, right, during a hearing in Latah County District Court on January 5, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho. (Getty Images) Just like the sheath was a smoking sheath found next to Maddie with his DNA on that clasp, its the same thing in this situation. Why would he have an ID related to one of those people from that house? The 28-year-old criminology PhD student could face the death penalty if convicted when he eventually goes on trial. Investigators also say that cell phone data puts Mr Kohberger, who faces four first-degree murder charges and one charge of felony burglary, near the crime scene after the killings on 13 November. Police, who have never recovered the murder weapon, would not confirm the claim to NewsMax citing a gag order in the case. Pennsylvania authorities are also probing Mr Kohbergers potential involvement in other killings, according to a vague new report. Investigators are sifting through unsolved crime files in search of any potential links to Mr Kohberger, NewsNation reported on Wednesday, citing unspecified law enforcement sources. Close Lori Vallow: 7 witnesses called to testify on 13th day of trial Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The trial of doomsday cult mom Lori Vallow has resumed in Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, following a days recess on Friday. The mother-of-three is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy, and grand theft over the deaths of her daughter Tylee Ryan, 16, son Joshua JJ Vallow, 7, and her new husband Chad Daybells first wife Tammy Daybell, 49. During the latest testimony in the bombshell case, the court heard how Mr Daybell texted his wife about burying a raccoon in the pet cemetery on their property in Rexburg, Idaho. The message was sent in September 2019, hours after Tylee was last seen alive. JJ vanished days later. In June 2020, the remains of the two children were found buried on the Daybell property. Tammy died one month after their disappearance in October 2019. Her death was initially ruled natural causes but has now been found to be asphyxiation. The case has captured attention due to its ties to bizarre cult beliefs and a string of mystery deaths and murders. Separate to this trial, Ms Vallow is charged in the murder of her fourth husband Charles Vallow in Arizona in July 2019. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A new study from the University of Miami is revealing the first two cases of Covid-19 infecting infants in the womb and causing brain damage. On Thursday, researchers at the University of Miami Health Systems and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine found two cases where Covid-19 breached a mothers placenta and affected a newborn. At the Neonatal Intensive Care United (NICU) at Holtz Childrens Hospital, two newborns tested negative for Covid-19 at birth but both had significantly elevated antibodies in their blood. Both infants were born to young mothers who tested positive for the virus at some point in their pregnancies in 2020. Neither mother was vaccinated as vaccines were not available at the time. At birth, both newborns experienced seizures and acquired microcephaly (small head size) and developmental delays. One infant died at 13 months of age and the other is currently in hospice care. One infant, born at 32 weeks, experienced seizures in the days after birth, according to the study. The infant was discharged at three months of age with a seizure disorder and microcephaly. Unlike viruses like Zika, which cause microcephaly at birth, the infant acquired it over time. Although the newborns seizures resolved in the following months, the child experienced respiratory infections and development delays. At 13 months of age, the child died suddenly. An autopsy showed a significant reduction in brain weight and cerebral white matter volume as well as evidence of virus throughout the brain. This study marks the first time researchers have seen Covid-19 in a placenta or an infants brain. The other infant, born at 39 weeks, also experienced seizures after birth and continued to have breakthrough seizures and respiratory infections after being discharged. At the babys one-year exam, it displayed significant neurodevelopmental delay and microcephaly. The authors of the study stress that both cases are rare occurrences. These were the only two instances of babies experiencing devastating brain injuries. Many women are affected by Covid-19 during pregnancy, but to see these kinds of problems in their infants at birth was clearly unusual, Dr Shahnaz Duara, medical director of the NICU at Holtz Childrens Hospital and senior author on the study said . Were trying to understand what made these two pregnancies different so we can direct research toward protecting vulnerable babies. The authors recommend mothers get vaccinated as their first line of defense against the virus. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A woman who spent a week adrift with her husbands corpse was forced to eat raw fish to survive. Maria das Gracas Mota Bernardo had to fight off vultures which landed on the vessel. The 68-year-old, who was on her first fishing trip with her husband, Jose Nilson de Souza Bernardo, also saw killer caimans in the water. The alligator-type creatures can grow up to 4ft long and have been known to kill humans. Jose fell ill and suffered a fatal heart attack at around midnight on 29 March, the first day of their excursion. Their daughter, Cristiane told reporters: After dinner, he went to lie down in the hammock, but the rope snapped and he was startled. He got up and hit his knee. He sat down again and started fanning himself, telling my mother that he was feeling hot. She said he then stood up, screamed, and fell over. She caught him, lifted his head, and he took his last breath. Cristianes mother then tied the canoe to the tree and went to seek help in the other boat, however, the engine suddenly stopped a short while later. She went to the bow and started paddling. She spent all those days paddling. She said: They planned this trip for months. He wanted her to take lots of pictures. It was going to be their moment. (Jam Press) Cristiane said her mother spent the first days eating raw fish and flour they had on the boat. She added: One day she only drank water. On another day, she only ate flour with water and drank pure lemon juice. On the third day, a man passed by in a rabeta, a canoe with a motor. She asked for help, but he didnt give it, he just kept going. While adrift on the river, Maria banged pots and pans and screamed for help. According to Marias daughter, she screamed and screamed and no one answered. She said Maria decided to move to the other side of the boat and covered her airways with a cloth when her husbands body started to decompose. Cristiane stated: She couldnt sleep anymore. All her strength went into bringing his body home, for the family to give him a dignified burial. (Jam Press) The elderly woman had to defend her husbands body from the harsh Amazonian elements, including blistering sunshine, tropical storms, and even predatory animals. Cristiane said: My mum said vultures started to perch on top of the vessel. She hit them and they screamed. She took the tarp off the top of the awning and put it over the body because bees and mosquitoes were already sitting on his corpse. Cristiane also stated that caiman, mini alligators, prowled the vessel. She said: My mum knew she could fall into the water at any moment and she doesnt even know how to swim. After being rescued and receiving medical treatment, Maria is still struggling to come to terms with her ordeal. She was released from the hospital on 5 April. Cristiane said: She is shaken and weak. She cant sleep. Maria and Jose, also 68, set off on 28 March. A search operation was launched when they failed to arrive home. The couple had taken two vessels with them on the trip down an Amazonian river called Rio Negro in Brazil. They had a fishing boat and a smaller canoe for exploring flooded forests. Worried family members alerted the authorities when they discovered the couples canoe tied to a tree. Rotting fish was found inside and a net was still stretched out in the water. On 4 April, the Brazilian Navy found the couples vessel adrift in Iranduba, about 100 miles (161 km) from their departure point, a week after they set off. A Navy helicopter rescued Maria from the scene and officials administered first aid and support for the bereaved woman. She was then flown to Manaus for medical checks. The Amazonas State health department said Maria is receiving clinical and psychological care at this time. Meanwhile, the Brazilian Navy confirmed that an investigation is underway. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Florida school removed a library book about Anne Frank after a group of parents linked to the Republican Party complained. The book, "Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation" was removed from school libraries in Indian River County, according to WPTV. Jennifer Pippin, the chair of the Indian River chapter of "Moms for Liberty," told WPTV that she and her group opposed the book because it contains a scene in which Anne Frank asks a friend to expose themselves to each other. She complained that another scene features Anne Frank walking near sexually explicit nude statues. We think true history absolutely needs to be taught, the Holocaust, the Anne Frank diary, she said, but objected to the visual depiction of sexuality in the graphic novels. Moms for Liberty is a conservative nonprofit that portrays itself as a grassroots parent organisation, but in reality has numerous ties to the Republican Party. The original "Diary of Anne Frank" is still carried in the schools' libraries, according to director of academic complaince Dr Kyra Schafte. After Moms for Liberty complained, the school's principal decided to remove the book, ruling that some of its text did not add to the themes of Holocaust education. When districts address Holocaust education, it does so without denying or minimizing the events of Holocaust education, Ms Schafte told the outlet. The cover of Anne Franks Diary - The Graphic Adaptation, which was removed from a Florida school districts libraries after a parent complained (screengrab / Amazon) Ms Pippin said her group has targeted approximately 250 books they want schools to censor. Indian River County Schools has recently created a "District Objection Board," made up of parents appointed by school board members and district employees, which will meet to face formal challenges about book removals. Republican-linked parent censorship groups have been empowered by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' education policies to effectively act as his county-level censor board. Compliant schools have removed books and changed curricula based on parents complaints. One school in Tallahassee even stopped teaching about Michelangelo's David, one of the most important works of art ever produced, because a parent called it "pornographic." Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump responded quickly on Thursday after the White House issued a report eviscerating his handling of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. The former president remains at home in Florida after returning from Manhattan where he faced criminal indictment on 34 counts of falsifying business records earlier this week. In a Truth Social post, he wrote: These Morons in the White House, who are systematically destroying our Country, headed up by the biggest Moron of them all, Hopeless Joe Biden, have a new disinformation game they are playing - Blame TRUMP for their grossly incompetent SURRENDER in Afghanistan. I watched this disaster unfold just like everyone else. I saw them take out the Military FIRST, GIVE $85 Billion of military equipment, allow killing of our soldiers, and leave Americans behind. Biden is responsible, no one else!, the post continued. It was typical of the former presidents style: heavy on combativeness, light on factuality. The actual amount of equipment left behind in Afghanistan following the US withdrawal is thought to be just above $7bn, most of it technically the property of the countrys now-defunct former government. Afghanistans security forces deserted the battlefield in 2021 as the Taliban advanced at a speed that shocked the Pentagon and caught US forces off guard. The Biden administration at the time oversaw a chaotic and at time panicked evacuation from Kabul as the Taliban seized the city and other population centres across the country. More than a dozen US troops were killed during the operation as a result of an Islamic State-aligned suicide bomber. In the report released on Thursday, the Biden White House faulted the Trump administrations agreement with the Taliban for a peaceful withdrawal of US forces that left the US with only a few thousand troops in the country when the pullouts final stages began and Taliban forces were running rampant across the countryside. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} With less than a year until the 2024 primary election season kicks off, a large majority of Americans say theyd prefer Democrats to put up someone other than President Joe Biden as the partys nominee next year. The random survey of 1,595 Americans, commissioned by CNN and carried out by SSRS, found that 42 per cent of respondents said they approve of Mr Bidens performance as president, though 57 per cent said they did not approve of how the 46th president has carried out his responsibilities. Thats a three-point drop from a similar survey in January, when 45 per cent said they approved of the presidents performance. But when asked about their preferences for next years presidential election, the result was far less positive for Mr Biden. Just 32 per cent of respondents representing roughly a third of Americans said Mr Biden deserves a second term in the White House, a result comparable to how many said former president Donald Trump deserved to be reelected at the same point in his term. Only a quarter of respondents under age 35, a significant demographic bloc for Democrats, said the president should spent four more years in the White House. The result is a full 10 points lower than a similar survey found for the same group in December of last year. The large number of Americans who say Mr Biden should not be reelected may reflect the countrys views of the presidents age and mental state. At age 80, he is the oldest person ever to serve as President of the United States. He would be 82 years old on Inauguration Day if he is reelected, which would mean hed finish his term at 86 years of age. The survey found that more than two thirds of respondents 67 per cent said he lacks the stamina and sharpness to serve as Americas chief executive, with 65 per cent saying that he does not inspire confidence. Americans views of the president are decidedly negative in other areas, with 54 per cent saying they dont view him as honest and trustworthy. The same number of respondents said they dont believe Mr Biden cares about people like them. Though Mr Biden has not announced a reelection bid, he has repeatedly said he intends to run for a second term. Yet the survey found that 54 per cent of Democrats say theyd prefer someone else to be the partys standard-bearer next year. Just 44 per cent say Mr Biden should appear on the general election ballot. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has released his first public statement since once again coming under fire from court watchdogs and US lawmakers following a ProPublica investigation finding that the conservative justice has accepted luxury trips from a prominent Republican donor for more than two decades. In his response on 7 April, Justice Thomas called Texas developer Harlan Crow an influential GOP donor who has supported right-wing candidates, causes and legal efforts one of his dearest friends. As friends do, we have joined [Mr Crow and his wife] on a number of family trips during the more than quarter century we have known them, according to his statement. Early in my tenure at the Court, I sought guidance from my colleagues and others in the judiciary, and was advised that this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable, he stated. Justice Thomas added that he has endeavored to follow that counsel during his life tenure as one of the nine justices on the nations highest court. Reporting from ProPublica found that the justice had accepted trips to Indonesia and New Zealand on board Mr Crows superyacht, regularly flies on his private jet, and joins annual summer trips to his Adirondacks resort trips that would otherwise cost tens of thousands of dollars but do not appear anywhere on his financial disclosures. Ethics law experts believe the absence of such trips from those disclosure forms likely violate federal law. Federal law mandates that justices file annual financial disclosures including outside income and income from their spouses; justices are prohibited from accepting gifts from anyone with business before the court, but until recently, the definition of personal hospitality was not clearly defined. Justice Thomas noted the recently revised rules adopted by a committee of the Judicial Conference to clarify some of that reporting. And, it is, of course, my intent to follow this guidance in the future, he said. A statement from Mr Crow did not deny that he extended hospitality to Justice Thomas and his wife Virginia Ginni Thomas over the years after becoming friends in 1996, but he said the time they spent together was no different from the hospitality we have extended to our many other dear friends. In the wake of the report, progressive members of Congress including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar renewed their demands for the impeachment of Justice Thomas, who has been the subject of scrutiny over other apparent donations and allegations of conflicts of interest with investigations into January 6 and Donald Trump. Following a report from The Los Angeles Times in 2004 revealing Justice Thomas had accepted expensive gifts and private plane trips from Mr Crow, he appeared to stop reporting them altogether. Since 2004, Justice Thomas has reported only two gifts: an award from Yale Law School and a bust of Frederick Douglass, which was given to him by Mr Crow. Recommended Supreme Court says West Virginia trans girl can continue playing sports during challenge to state ban Democratic lawmakers have also called for urgent ethics legislation and codes of conduct to which members of the Supreme Court must adhere. District and appeals court judges are bound by a judicial ethics code, but justices on the nations highest court are not. Civil rights groups, left-leaning court reform organisations and ethics watchdogs have also demanded congressional inquiries into the Supreme Court and its ties to powerful donors and special interests. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump Jr has admitted that he personally signed one of the hush money checks now at the centre of his fathers arrest on criminal charges. The former presidents son told right-wing network Newsmax that part of Mr Trumps indictment on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records refers to his own actions. That son is me. Like I said, clearly also not a campaign finance violation if its from his own trust, not to a campaign, not from the campaign, not from the funds raised from it, he said. So, none of it actually makes any sense. In the criminal indictment unsealed on Tuesday, prosecutors allege that a check made out to Mr Trumps former fixer Michael Cohen was falsely recorded as a retainer in the Trump Organizations business records. The check was signed by former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg who is now in Rikers Island on a fraud conviction and the Defendants son, as trustees. The son in question was not named in the charging documents but Don Jr later confirmed it was him as he joins his father in railing against the charges. Don Jr has not been accused of any wrongdoing in the criminal case and the payment itself is not illegal. Instead, prosecutors allege that a crime was committed when this payment and many others to Cohen were falsely recorded in the Trump Organizations business records. The crime then reaches the level of a felony when the falsified records were made while in commission of another crime. According to Manhattan prosecutors, Mr Trump and Cohen carried out a catch and kill scheme in the lead-up to the 2016 election. Donald Trump Jr (second left) listens to his fathers post-arraignment speech at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Cohen allegedly made hush money payments on Mr Trumps behalf to suppress negative information about the presidential candidate. The payments were allegedly made to silence individuals over alleged affairs he had with women. Mr Trump repeatedly and fraudulently falsified New York business records to conceal criminal conduct that hid damaging information from the voting public during the 2016 presidential election, the charging documents read. Three specific alleged affairs and hush money payments were mentioned in the charging documents a $130,000 payment to adult film star Daniels, a $150,000 to former playboy model Karen McDougal and a $30,000 payment to a doorman at Trump Tower who claimed he had information that Mr Trump had fathered a child with a woman while married to Melania Trump. Mr Trump then allegedly reimbursed Cohen but falsely recorded the payments as legal fees. Back in 2019, Cohen testified before a House committee that Don Jr signed some of the checks reimbursing him for the payment to Ms Daniels. Cohen has already served jail time for his part in the hush money case and has now become prosecutors star witness in the case against Mr Trump. During Weisselbergs trial last year, he testified that both of Mr Trumps adult sons Don Jr and Eric Trump signed checks that he used to defraud authorities but insisted that no member of the Trump family played a part in his tax evasion scheme. On Tuesday, Mr Trump was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in order to conceal illegal activity connected to his 2016 presidential campaign. Each of the 34 criminal charges relates to an individual entry in the Trump Organizations business records. Mr Trump surrendered to Manhattan authorities on Tuesday afternoon and was officially arrested on the charges. He then appeared in court for his arraignment before Judge Juan Merchan the same judge who sentenced the Trump Organization and its CFO last year. Cutting a glum figure, he defiantly pleaded not guilty to all the charges and has continued to lash out at the judge and Manhattan DA in the aftermath. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A retired senior prosecutor in Greece was named Friday as the new leader of a far-right party as it seeks to sidestep a ban on its participation in an upcoming general election. Participation of the Greeks Party could potentially change the outcome of the May 21 parliamentary election as poll margins tighten between the leading incumbent New Democracy party and a left-wing opposition party, Syriza. The Greeks Party is vying to field candidates despite the ban the Greek Parliament approved in February on the grounds that the party's founder, Ilias Kasidiaris, is serving a 13-year prison sentence for membership in a criminal organization. Kasidiaris founded the Greeks Party after receiving his sentence in 2020. He was convicted as a leading member of an extreme right party, Golden Dawn, which was blamed for multiple attacks against migrants and left-wing political activists. The party was founded as a neo-Nazi group in the 1980s but later claimed to represent a broader nationalist ideology. Former assistant Supreme Court prosecutor Anastasios Kanellopoulos, 75, replaced him Friday as the Greeks Party's leader and announced plans to revise the partys charter. In an online post, Kasidiaris welcomed the leadership change, adding that he planned to seek a parliamentary seat in next month's election. Greek law allows most prison inmates to retain their political rights. The Greeks Party is currently polling above the 3% threshold required to gain representation in parliament. Government officials said Friday that would submit legislative amendments next week to broaden the Greeks Party's election ban. Greece's Supreme Court has scheduled a May 5 hearing on whether the Greeks Party falls under the provisions of the election ban. There must be no room for knife-wielding, neo-Nazi, criminal organizations to deceive the Greek justice system, government spokesman Giannis Oikonomou told television channel Skai late Thursday. A sufficient framework exists to deny any criminal organization regardless of the cloak it chooses to wear the (opportunity) to seek the vote of the citizens ... but we remain on alert to make any (legal) changes needed, Oikonomou said. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Memphis-area Democratic state Rep Justin Pearson, one of two Black Democratic lawmakers expelled from the states House of Representatives by Tennessee Republicans, delivered a stirring rebuke of their unprecedented action in a speech defending the power of protest. Republicans targeted three Democratic state representatives for removal from office after they joined protests in the capitol mounted largely by students and young people against the states inaction in the wake of the mass shooting inside a Nashville school last week. On 7 April, lawmakers ultimately voted to remove Representatives Pearson and Justin Jones, another Black Democratic lawmaker representing Nashville. Lawmakers fell short by one vote to expel a third Democratic member, Gloria Johnson, who is white. The extraordinary action inside the Republican-dominated chamber marks only the third time since the Civil War era that the House has expelled a member from its ranks. Moments before a vote to expel him, Mr Pearson invoked Dr Martin Luther King Jr, stating that sometimes theres a consciousness above rule, above what you might say is law and that the true form of protest is nonviolent disobedience. Recommended Tennessee GOP expels two of three Democrats who joined gun protests in wake of Nashville school shooting For less than a few minutes [of protest], we and you are seeking to expel District 86s representation from this House in a country that was built on a protest, he continued. You who celebrate July 4, 1776, pop fireworks and eat hot dogs, you say to protest is wrong because you spoke out of turn, because you spoke up for people who are marginalised, you spoke up for children who wont ever be able to speak again, you spoke up for parents who dont want to live in fear, he said. You spoke up for Lary Thorn, who was murdered by gun violence, Mr Pearson added, referencing the fatal shooting of a Memphis-Shelby County schools employee earlier this year. You spoke up for people that we dont want to care about, he continued. In a country built on people who speak out of turn, who spoke out of turn, who fought out of turn to build a nation. City and county officials in Memphis and Nashville are likely to consider reappointing the two men back to their seats in the House within days following their expulsion. But the GOP-led expulsion has been widely condemned as an antidemocratic show of force against Black legislators and voices demanding action on gun reform, while underscoring defiant right-wing commitments to protecting access to guns despite a surge in gun violence in Tennessee and across the US. We need to fight for democracy in the state of Tennessee, Mr Pearson told reporters over the sound of protests and demonstrators on Thursday night. You cannot ignore the racial dynamic of what happened today two young Black lawmakers get expelled and the one white woman does not, he added. Theyre treating this like this is normal. We can never normalise the ending of democracy. We can never noramlise the tyranny of the way that these people in positions of power are operating due to white supremacy and ... the patriarchy. That is what were up against. But we are going to fight it because we think there is a future that we can live into that is better than the present we currently have. In a White House statement, President Joe Biden said the lawmakers expulsion is shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent. Rather than debating the merits of the issue, these Republican lawmakers have chosen to punish, silence, and expel duly-elected representatives of the people of Tennessee, he added. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Former president Barack Obama and former vice president Al Gore condemned the Republican majority in the Tennessee state legislature for expelling two Black lawmakers who joined public protests at the state capitol to advocate for gun safety after a mass shooting at a school in Nashville killed six people. The state legislature voted to expel state Reps Justin Jones and Justin Pearson after they stood on the floor of the state House of Representatives, gave speeches and joined chants with protesters last Thursday during demonstrations at the state capitol. Both men are Black. But a vote to expel Rep Gloria Johnson, who is white and joined Mr Jones and Mr Pearson in the demonstrations, failed. Mr Gore, who served as Senator from Tennessee as did his father Al Gore Sr, criticised the expulson. Today's GOP-led vote in the TN House disenfranchised nearly 150,000 voters whose representatives rightfully pushed to reform TNs insanely dangerous gun laws after the horrific mass murder at The Covenant School last week, he said. What a historically sad day for democracy in Tennessee. Mr Obama also criticised the expulsion in two tweets, saying that peaceful protest is a hallmark of democracy. No elected official should lose their job simply for raising their voice especially when theyre doing it on behalf of our children, he said. What happened in Tennessee is the latest example of a broader erosion of civility and democratic norms. Silencing those who disagree with us is a sign of weakness, not strength, and it wont lead to progress. A mass shooter opened fire and killed six people at the Covenant School, a private school in Nashville. That prompted a trove of students to descend on the state capitol to protest for action to curb gun violence, which the three state representatives joined. President Joe Biden condemned the expulsions as well. Three kids and three officials gunned down in yet another mass shooting. And what are GOP officials focused on? Punishing lawmakers who joined thousands of peaceful protesters calling for action, he tweeted on Thursday. Its shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent. -Josh Marcus contributed reporting Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Anti-vaccine activist Robert F Kennedy Jr, the son of assassinated presidential candidate Robert Kenedy and nephew of John F Kennedy, has filed to run for president in 2024 as a Democrat. Mr Kennedy, 69, filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission after announcing last month he was considering a run against Joe Biden, according to RawStory. His late father was a former New York senator, US attorney general and 1968 presidential candidate, who was shot and killed by Sirhan Sirhan in Los Angeles in June 1968. Robert F Kennedy Jr has had to apologise for comparing vaccine mandates to the Holocaust (AP) If it looks like I can raise the money and mobilize enough people to win, Ill jump in the race, Mr Kennedy Jr tweeted last month. If I run, my top priority will be to end the corrupt merger between state and corporate power that has ruined our economy, shattered the middle class, polluted our landscapes and waters, poisoned our children, and robbed us of our values and freedoms. Together we can restore Americas democracy. Mr Kennedy Jrs views on vaccines have been strongly criticised by Dr Anthony Fauci, who said in 2021 that the inflammatory rhetoric of the conspiracy theorist and others had accelerated violent threats and abuse directed at him and his family. Mr Kennedy Jr, who leveraged his ties to the political family dynasty to lend his anti-vaccine campaign credibility and to draw fundraisers, recently published The Real Anthony Fauci: Bill Gates, Big Pharma, and the Global War on Democracy and Public Health, in which he accuses the nations medical chief of launching a historic coup detat against Western democracy. And in 2022 he was forced to apologise for referring to Anne Frank during an anti-vax rant comparing vaccine mandates to the Holocaust. Mr Kennedy claimed imposing vaccine passports was similar to the extermination policies of Nazi Germany in a speech at an anti-vax protest march in Washington DC in January 2022. Even in Hitlers Germany, you could hide in the attic like Anne Frank did, he told the crowd. Those remarks provoked widespread condemnation. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Stormy Daniels says that Donald Trumps arrest in New York shows progress for women in the United States and its judicial system. The former president has pleaded not guilty to 34 charges of falsifying business records in relation to $130,000 in hush money paid to Ms Daniels over her claims of a sexual relationship. Ms Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, told Piers Morgan that she did not believe there was a double standard in the treatment of Mr Trump, a Republican, and previous Democratic politicians such as John F Kennedy, Bill Clinton and John Edwards. Stormy Daniels appears on TalkTV (Screenshot / TalkTV) And she rejected Republican claims that Mr Trump was specifically being targeted by prosecutors. Thats one way of looking at it. Another way of looking at it, if you want to look at the positive in this, is that we have made progress in our justice system and in our country and for women, she told Morgan. If those other presidents had done today what they had done, would it be treated the same? Or is it specifically just people screaming this is a vendetta against Trump? Lets for a moment pretend that it was another president, or Clinton today and this happened Morgan told her he also felt that attitudes to historic sex scandals featuring male Democratic figures would be judged differently in 2023 following the #MeToo reckoning. Thats what I hope and believe, added Ms Daniels. People just trashed Ms Lewinsky and all the way back through history, and I would like to believe if those things happened now it would be different. Of course, he (Trump) is going to spin it and the Republicans and the MAGA people are going to spin it and say it like it is just him, but is it really? I am hoping it is just us moving forward and you can apply that to how racial crimes are handled. Hopefully, it is a sign of progress as a whole. And she added: In this case, it is a sex scandal and a woman speaking out against someone in power and they want to say it is just because it is him (Trump). I would like to think it doesnt matter that it is him, he just happens to be the one now. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} In the wake of the Nashville mass shooting, critics say the decision on Thursday from Tennessee Republicans to expel two Democrats from the state House of Representatives for joining in a gun control protest on capitol grounds is a completely unprecedented abuse of power in the state and country at large. Carrie Russell, a lecturer in political science and expert on Southern politics at Nashvilles Vanderbilt University, told The Independent the votes were an exercise of power solely for powers sake with a ruthlessness akin to a pack of dogs refusing to stop biting. She noted that in the rare instances anyone is removed from office in Tennessee or any other state, its usually after a legislator has been convicted of a serious crime. No laws local, state or federal were broken here, she said of the protest last Thursday at the heart of the expulsion, where three Democratic lawmakers Reps Justin Jones, Gloria Johnson, and Justin Pearson spoke from the House floor and joined in chants with protesters who had entered the capitol building. They were well within their constitutional rights to speak out during the House recess, per the state and federal constitution. There have only been three people removed from the Tennessee House in the last 200 years, according to Democratic lawmakers, for severe crimes including taking bribes, serial sexual harassment, and refusing to give citizenship to formerly enslaved people in the late 1800s. Many viewers also recognize this for the politically manufactured excision of those who would challenge the status quo of completely unchecked gun legislation in the state of Tennessee, Ms Russell added. Others agreed. During the Thursday votes, in which Reps Jones and Pearson were ultimately removed from their seats, Joe Biden condemned the process and said Republicans in the state should be more focused on limiting gun violence. Three kids and three officials gunned down in yet another mass shooting. And what are GOP officials focused on? Punishing lawmakers who joined thousands of peaceful protesters calling for action, the president wrote on Twitter on Thursday. Its shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent. So far, the Republican majority in the Tennessee government has proposed only enhancements to school security and increased funding for police, but nothing that would limit access to guns. Some in the state GOP want to further loosen Tennessees gun laws, which already permit most people 21 and older to possess a concealed pistol without a permit. 'Tennessee Three' receive hero's welcome in state capitol from anti-gun protesters According to Ms Russell, the decision to strip the legislators of their seat is part of a larger, oftentimes racist and sexist dynamic in the Tennessee statehouse, where Republicans have been accused of using gerrymandering and procedural tactics like declining to let liberal legislators speak to dilute the power of Democrats at the state level. The way that the members have been treated, the way that the leadership speaks to these members and uses code words like ineffective, attention-seeking, disrespectful, aggressive its clear that the ability of these three members to repeatedly garner the support of thousands of young people and outspoken celebrity activists that support them has shaken the Republican leadership to the point of feeling their only option is to expel these member, she added. These three have refused to comply with the routine expectations of the Republican leadership, expectations that demand staying in their place, turning a blind eye and tolerating the dismissive treatment. Earlier this week, Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton said the gun violence protest on the floor might have been worse than the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol, in which five people died and scores of police officers were wounded as Trump supporters violently attempted to block the certification of the 2020 presidential election results. On Thursday, Rep Jones pushed back against this comparison in remarks. I was shocked to have the Speaker of House condemn mothers and grandmothers and children and concerned clergy, to lie on them, and say they were insurrectionists, Rep Jones said. At no point was there violence. At no point did we encourage violence. In fact what we were doing was calling for the end of gun violence that is terrorizing our children day after day after day, and all we offer are moments of silence. Rep Justin Jones gestures to supporters (AP) Prior to the expulsion vote, Rep Pearson argued he and his colleagues were being singled out for a racist, undemocratic attack. It is no coincidence that the two youngest Black lawmakers in the state of Tennessee, and one of two women, are on trial today, he told CNN ahead of the vote. That is not accidental. This is what happens when you lose democracy. He and Rep Jones, both of whom are Black, were ultimately removed from office, while Rep Gloria Johnson, who is white, managed to survive her expulsion vote. Republicans have said their effort is a way to maintain the honour and order of the Tennessee House of Representatives. During debate surrounding Mr Joness expulsion, Representative Gino Bulso, a Republican from Brentwood, defended the removal process, calling it an appropriate response to the mutiny that was the floor protest. What were doing today is upholding our constitution, he said. We are protecting the integrity of this body. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Former president Donald Trump reportedly provided information about his height and weight while stating his profession as "business person" during his arraignment at a Manhattan courthouse earlier this week. Providing personal information including height, weight and occupation to the police is a routine process for those booked on criminal charges, with this information then recorded in an online booking system. The 45th president was formally charged with 34 felonies relating to falsifying business records around hush money payments during the 2016 presidential campaign. Mr Trump pleaded not guilty to all the charges during an appearance in the Manhattan Criminal Court on Tuesday. He surrendered to the office of Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg upon arrival at the court at 1.24pm. Mr Trump was arrested and fingerprinted in a room on the 7th floor of the courthouse building The 76-year-old told officers that he stands 6 feet and 2 inches tall and weighs 240 pounds, Mediaite reported citing sources. The former president reportedly stated his height to be one inch shorter than what his doctors previously recorded in 2020 during his time in the White House. Sean P Conley, who was the president's physician, listed Mr Trump as being 6 feet and 3 inches in height and weighing 244 pounds. Based on my history, examination and consultations, the data indicates that the President remains healthy, Dr Conley had said. With a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30.8, Mr Trump falls in the clinically obese category, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention metrics. Mr Trump also identified his profession as a "business person", instead of being a politician, the 45th president or a candidate for the upcoming presidential election. Meanwhile, Mr Trump lashed out at the Joe Biden administration's review of Afghanistan, which blamed the Republican leader for the chaos that unfolded as the US left the country in August 2021. The classified review was sent to Congress, where the Republican majority in the House of Representatives is investigating what it says is president Biden's failures during withdrawal. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Thursday conceded mistakes had been made in the exit, which gave space to the Taliban militants seize control of Kabul within weeks. "Ending a war, any war, is not an easy endeavor, certainly not after 20 years," Mr Kirby told reporters. "It doesn't mean it wasn't worth doing -- ending that war in Afghanistan." Mr Trump responded to the report by saying: "These Morons in the White House, who are systematically destroying our Country, headed up by the biggest Moron of them all, Hopeless Joe Biden, have a new disinformation game they are playing - Blame TRUMP for their grossly incompetent SURRENDER in Afghanistan." Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Marjorie Taylor Greene warned Donald Trump against hiring anti-Muslim activist Laura Loomer, branding her as mentally unstable and a documented liar during a public clash. Ms Green, a far-right lawmaker from Georgia, claimed on Twitter that Ms Loomer had attacked her for not supporting her own congressional ambitions and supporting Speaker Kevin McCarthy. And it appeared her warning swiftly worked as The New York Times reported that the job offer was quickly pulled by Mr Trumps team following Ms Greenes outburst. Her scathing remarks about Ms Loomer had come after the newspaper reported hours earlier that the former president has asked aides to find a position for her on his 2024 campaign or a supportive Super PAC. Laura Loomer waits backstage during a "Demand Free Speech" rally on Freedom Plaza on July 6, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images) Laura Loomer is mentally unstable and a documented liar. She can not be trusted, tweeted Ms Greene on Friday. She spent months lying about me and attacking me just because I supported Kevin McCarthy for Speaker and after I had refused to endorse her last election cycle. She loves the alleged FBI informant and weirdo Nick Fuentes. She tried to get hired on the Ye campaign after the infamous Maralago dinner, but Kanye West refused to hire her so now shes running to Trump, she continued. Never hire or do business with a liar. Liars are toxic and poisonous to everything they touch. Ill make sure he knows. Ms Greene is a vocal supporter of Mr Trump and went to New York to back him on the day of his historic arrest and arraignment. Laura Loomer is mentally unstable and a documented liar. She can not be trusted. She spent months lying about me and attacking me just because I supported Kevin McCarthy for Speaker and after I had refused to endorse her last election cycle. She loves the alleged FBI pic.twitter.com/1D78hU59Z0 Marjorie Taylor Greene (@mtgreenee) April 7, 2023 Ms Loomer, who ran and lost a 2020 campaign in Florida, has referred to Islam as a cancer and was banned from Twitter over comments she made about Representative Ilhan Omar. US Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) walks through the crowd gathered outside New York courthouse for Donald Trump arraignment (Getty Images) Not very Christian of you to lie like this.. especially on Good Friday, Ms Loomer responded on Twitter. And she added: Gee, what happened? Why dont you tell everyone how you asked me for help raising money, you rented my email lists, you asked me to give you my opposition research on Ilhan Omar. Stop being jealous and sabotaging one of Trumps biggest loyalists. She later tweeted, I dont think Ive ever seen MTG attack DeSantis publicly. Really makes you wonder The bickering pair were then invited to squash their quarrels over dinner in Washington DC by Nigel Farages former chief adviser Raheem Kassam, which Ms Lassen accepted. Look, we all need to support President Trump. I accept this open invitation from (Raheem Kassam) I will sit down (Marjorie Taylor Greene) and iron out these differences in the interest of our country, which is on life support. And in the interest of coming together to support President Trump. Do you accept, (Marjorie Taylor Greene)? she tweeted. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An American journalist detained in Russia while working for the Wall Street Journal has formally denied espionage charges levied against him by the Russian government. Evan Gershkovich, 31, was arrested and detained in Russia on spying charges last week, and has now been formally charged. An espionage conviction carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Russia's Federal Security Service, the successor to the old KGB, claims it caught Mr Gershkovich collecting intelligence on the national's military infrastructure. He categorically denied all accusations and stated that he was engaged in journalistic activities in Russia, Russian state-run news service TASS reported. The Wall Street Journal, the White House, and bipartisan leaders in Congress have called on Russia to release the reporter. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Russia's actions "unacceptable" and said he had discussed the situation with his counterpart in Moscow, Sergey Lavrov. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Mr Gershkovich would be considered "wrongfully detained," which allows the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs to take the reigns on his case. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell both called for Gershkovich's immediate release. During a joint address on Friday, the senators condemned Russia's "long and disturbing history" of detaining American citizens under spurious allegations. The Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich is shown in this undated photo. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken repeated his call for Russia to immediately release Gershkovich on Wednesday at NATO headquarters following two days of talks among the alliance's foreign ministers. Russia accuses Gershkovich of espionage, a claim Americans deny. (The Wall Street Journal via AP, File) Let there be no mistake: journalism is not a crime," the senators said in a joint statement. "We demand the baseless, fabricated charges against Mr Gershkovich be dropped and he be immediately released and reiterate our condemnation of the Russian governments continued attempts to intimidate, repress, and punish independent journalists and civil society voices. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told US ambassador Lynne Tracy that pressure to release the journalist is pointless, claiming they caught him red handed. Hype around this case, which is being fanned in the United States, with the aim of pressuring Russian authorities and the court is pointless and meaningless, he said, per The New York Times. He was caught red-handed while trying to obtain secret information, using his journalistic status as a cover for illegal actions, qualifying as espionage. Mr Gershkovich is the son of Jewish immigrants who left the Soviet Union. He grew up speaking Russian an his home in Princeton, New Jersey. He has previously worked for The New York Times, The Moscow Times, and the Agence France-Presse. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} There are signs Russia is taking key equipment from occupied Crimea and redeploying it in Ukraines southern sector while also fortifying the contested peninsula ahead of an expected Ukrainian spring counteroffensive. This comes as Ukraine has said talks with Russia on Crimea will take place if the planned counteroffensive succeeds. Russian forces may have withdrawn equipment from occupied Crimea for redeployment elsewhere in southern Ukraine out of fear of a Ukrainian counteroffensive, the US-based Institute for the Study of War has said. It added that satellite imagery shows withdrawal of a significant amount of armoured fighting vehicles, tanks, and towed artillery systems from a depot in Medvedivka (20km northeast of Dzhankoy along the M18 highway) between 17 March and 5 April, but did not specify the destination of the exported munitions. Satellite images shared by Maxar show Russia has been fortifying Crimea by digging trenches for weeks now around the small town of Medvedivka and bolstering it with an elaborate system spanning several kilometres. Russian forces have cut up passages in the area to help soldiers get better angles in their bid to have a broader range of fire, reported The Washington Post. Fortifications and Dragons Teeth installed in Medvedivka in Crimea on 11 February (Satellite image 2023 Maxar Technologies) It added that other fortifications in the area include earth dug up for deep ditches to capture tanks and heavy vehicles. Close up view of Dragons Teeth being placed in Medvedivka in Crimea in February. The fortification is likely being done by Russian forces anticipating military salvo from Ukrainian forces in the coming weeks (Satellite image 2023 Maxar Technologies) The aerial images show dozens of similar defences built by Russia in the area. Black Sea coastline dotted with dragons teeth and trenches along a beach west of Yevpatoria in Crimea on 12 March (Satellite image 2023 Maxar Technologies) Close up view shows tanks and artillery at a Russian military base in Medvedivka in Crimea as seen on 11 February (Satellite image 2023 Maxar Technologies) Trenches and military vehicles seen deployed north of Armiansk in Crimea on 16 February (Satellite image 2023 Maxar Technologies) Heavy fortifications and dragons teeth seen in place in Maslove, Crimea in the first week of January (Satellite image 2023 Maxar Technologies) Additional trenches and revetments seen near Medvedivka in Crimea on 11 February (Satellite image 2023 Maxar Technologies) Military analyst Ian Matveev said Russia apparently understands that they will have to protect Crimea in the near future. This comes as a top adviser to president Volodymyr Zelensky has signalled that Ukraine may no longer require the complete return of Crimea as a precondition to peace talks. The deputy head of Mr Zelenskys office Andriy Sybiha has said that Ukraine will discuss the future of Crimea with Mr Putin if Ukrainian soldiers touch the peninsulas borders successfully. The top official warned that this does not mean that Ukraine will exclude the way of liberation [of Crimea] by our army. This is the first time Mr Zelenskys officials have spoken about peace talks on Crimea after the former stand-up comedian took office in 2019. Officials in Kyiv are raising the temperature on discussions around plans to recapture territory occupied by Russia, including Crimea. Mr Zelenskys envoy to Crimea, Tamila Tasheva, has said that Ukraine will choose the way to bring Crimea back, using political and military means, reported Politico. The officials said that in order to minimise Ukrainian military losses, minimise threats to civilians who live in occupied territories, as well as the destruction of civilian infrastructure, the Ukrainian forces plan to give Russia a choice on their options to leave Crimea and even use military action as a last resort. If they dont agree to leave voluntarily, Ukraine will continue to liberate its land by military means, the envoy said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Russian forces are likely to have reached the centre of Bakhmut in their push to take over the city, according to UK intelligence. Moscows troops have also seized the west bank of the river in the devastated area endangering a key supply route to Ukraine. Kyiv said Russia was concentrating all its efforts on capturing the eastern city, describing the situation as difficult, but said Ukrainian forces were holding out despite Russias numerical advantage during heavy fighting. A Ukrainian serviceman speaks over a the radio to fellow troops near Bakhmut (EPA) Russia has made further gains and has now highly likely advanced into the town centre ... Ukraines key 0506 supply route to the west of the town is likely severely threatened, the defence ministry tweeted. Bakhmut, in the Russian-controlled Donetsk region, has been the focus of the bloodiest battles since Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine in February last year. If confirmed, the MoD report suggests Ukrainian forces are under severe pressure, two days after president Volodymyr Zelensky said they would withdraw from the area if at risk of encirclement. Russian regular forces, likely including airborne troops, have probably reinforced the area, and Russia is again using artillery more effectively in the sector, the MoD said. Late last month the advance of Moscows troops had largely stalled. Russia is now paying a high price for its advance, according to a top Ukrainian military official, eastern military command spokesperson Serhiy Cherevatyi. The leader of Russias private Wagner militia, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said fighting was continuing in the west of the city. It must be said clearly that the enemy is not going anywhere, he said on Telegram. Ukrainian servicemen prepare to fire a mortar (Reuters) MoD officials said Wagner and Russian military commanders may have suspended their feud and improved cooperation. Signs of a revival of ammunition supply to the mercenary group have been reported. Meanwhile, top officials in Washington said the Biden administration was investigating the leak of classified war documents about secret US and Nato plans to bolster the Ukrainian military ahead of an anticipated spring salvo against Russian forces. The five-week-old documents reportedly reveal details of Ukraines requirements for a planned counteroffensive to reclaim territory taken by Russia, as well as how the US and Nato might face them. Ukrainian special forces prepare their weapons (Reuters) According to military analysts who have seen the documents, certain parts appear to be modified and exaggerate the American tally of Ukrainians killed in the war while downplaying the estimates of Russian troops killed. Seven civilians were reported on Thursday to have been killed by Ukrainian artillery strikes in Russian-controlled areas. And four civilians were killed in Donetsk when shells hit a car park, Russias Tass news agency said. It came as French president Emmanuel Macron urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to persuade Russia to negotiate an end to Europes most dangerous conflict since the Second World War. Following talks in Beijing on Thursday with Mr Macron and European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen, Mr Xi said China was willing to jointly appeal with France to the international community to remain rational and calm. Close Related: Putin visits Russian troops in Ukraines Kherson and Luhansk regions For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Ukraine has accused Russian forces of deploying the kind of war tactics used in Syria to level Bakhmut, as heavy fighting for control of the salt mining city continues. The aggressor has concentrated his main efforts in the direction of Bakhmut and is trying to dislodge our units from [their] positions, Ukraines deputy defence minister Hanna Maylar said in an update on Telegram last night. Using the so-called Syrian tactics of total destruction of buildings and structures, the enemy in some places has [made] progress at the expense of destroyed objects. It comes as Russian forces are accused of forcibly evacuating civilians and trying to steal as much as they can in the Kherson region. After a lull following Russias withdrawal from Kherson city, renewed fierce fighting is expected in the region now that Ukrainian troops have advanced to secure positions on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River. Away from the wars frontlines, Moscow has warned that risks of a direct military confrontation between the two nuclear superpowers, Russia and the United States, are steadily growing. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Biden administration is investigating the leak of classified war documents about secret American and Nato plans for bolstering the Ukrainian military ahead of an anticipated spring salvo against Russian forces, senior officials said. We are aware of the reports of social media posts and the department is reviewing the matter, said Sabrina Singh, the deputy press secretary at the Pentagon, reported The New York Times. The five-weeks-old documents reportedly reveal details of Ukraines requirements ahead of a planned counteroffensive to reclaim territory taken by Russia since the full-scale invasion last year, as well as how the US and Nato might meet them. They appeared on both Twitter and Telegram, a messaging platform that is widely used in Ukraine and Russia. The documents did not show specific battle plans about how, when and where the Ukrainian forces are looking to launch their offensive, however. US officials have hinted that this counteroffensive is coming in the next month or so, while Ukrainian forces on the ground have said they are ready to attack when Kyiv gives the word. According to military analysts who have looked at the documents, certain parts appear to be modified from their original format and exaggerate the American tally of Ukrainians killed in the war while downplaying the estimates of Russian troops killed. One of the slides states that Russia has lost 16,000 to 17,500 soldiers since the invasion, while Ukraine had suffered as many as 71,500 troop deaths. This is a gross underestimate from what the Pentagon and other analysts have estimated for Russian casualties with nearly 200,000 killed and injured. Ukraine has had more than 100,000 casualties in the war, according to the Pentagon. The documents appear to represent a significant breach of American intelligence, detailing information that has not been publicly stated by the Pentagon. Among other details it refers to the expenditure rate of high mobility artillery rocket systems or HIMARS, which have been a huge boost to Ukraines military capabilities by allowing long-distance attacks on ammunition dumps, batteries of troops and critical Russian infrastructure in occupied areas. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Israel launched air strikes on Lebanon and Gaza on Friday targeting militant group Hamas in retaliation against a barrage of cross-border rockets fired from Lebanon. Tensions soared between Israel and the Palestinians after Israeli police raided Jerusalem's most sensitive holy site, the Al-Aqsa mosque, earlier this week. The mosque is considered the third holiest site in Islam. Palestinian militants fired a barrage of rockets early Thursday as violence continued for the second day in a row during the overlapping holidays of Jewish Passover and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had vowed Hamas would pay the price for any act of aggression. Loud blasts rocked several areas of the Gaza strip overnight into Friday morning, as Israel said its jets hit targets including two tunnels and two weapons manufacturing sites belonging to Hamas, which controls the blockaded southern coastal strip. The Israeli military said it had also struck terrorist infrastructures belonging to the Hamas targets in southern Lebanon, where residents around the area of the Rashidiyeh refugee camp near the southern city of Tyre reportedly heard three loud blasts. Israel said it responded with strikes to the security violations of Hamas during the last few days. The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) will not allow the Hamas terrorist organisation to operate from within Lebanon and hold the state of Lebanon responsible for every directed fire emanating from its territory, the military tweeted. Hamas in a statement said it strongly condemned the blatant Zionist aggression against Lebanon in the vicinity of Tyre at dawn today. A man holds shrapnel in a crater left by a rocket following Israeli air strikes in Al Qulaylah (AFP via Getty Images) The Islamist group had earlier said that Israel was responsible for this aggression and its consequences and called for all Palestinian groups to unite against the occupation. Lebanese security sources told Reuters that the strike hit a small structure on farmland near the area from which the rockets had been launched earlier. The strike appeared to have left a large crater in farmland in the south, a witness said. On Thursday, the Israeli military said 34 rockets were fired from Lebanese territory in the largest escalation along the frontier in 17 years. The military said 25 rockets were intercepted by air defence systems. It was the biggest such attack since 2006, when Israel fought a war with the heavily armed Hezbollah movement. In retaliation, Israel stepped up air strikes in Gaza, with around 20 missiles striking four new sites in 10 minutes. Hamas head Ismail Haniyeh was visiting Lebanon when the strikes took place, although the group reportedly claimed it had no information about who fired the missiles from Lebanon. Lebanon's prime minister Najib Mikati in a statement condemned any military operations from its territory that threatened stability. Earlier on Thursday, before the rockets were fired, senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine said any infringement on Al-Aqsa "will inflame the entire region". The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon said it had been in contact with the parties and said both sides had said they did not seek war but it said the situation risked escalation. "We urge all parties to cease all actions across the Blue Line now," the Unifil said, referring to the frontier demarcation between the two countries. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Two sisters killed in a gun attack in the West Bank were British-Israeli citizens, the British Foreign Office has said. The women, aged 16 and 20, died when their car crashed after it was shot at on Friday near an Israeli settlement in the Jordan Valley, Israeli authorities said. Their mother, reported locally as being in her forties, was seriously wounded. The shooting happened as Israels foreign ministry confirmed that one person had been killed and several injured, believed to be tourists, in a terror attack in Tel Aviv on Friday night. Police said a car had rammed into a group of people near a seaside park and flipped over before officers shot the driver dead. A 30-year-old Italian man was killed, but reports suggested Britons were among six people injured. The attack came against the backdrop of heightened tensions after Israel unleashed airstrikes on Lebanon and bombarded the Gaza Strip on Friday, targeting militant group Hamas in retaliation for a barrage of cross-border rockets fired from Lebanon the previous day. The pair were killed and their mother was seriously injured when their car crashed after it was shot at (REUTERS) The escalation sparked fears of a broader conflict after days of violence over Jerusalems most sensitive holy site, but later in the day there were signs that both sides were trying to keep the hostilities in check. The mother and daughters killed in the West Bank gun attack lived in the Israeli settlement of Efrat, near the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, local mayor Oded Revivi said. He added that the girls father, who was driving another car behind them, had witnessed the attack. Doctors said the smashed car appeared to have been pushed off the road. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, visiting the scene, said: Vile and heartless terrorists murdered two young sisters. Our forces are operating in the field in hot pursuit of the terrorists. It is only a matter of time, and not much time, that we will hold them accountable. Palestinians inspect damage caused overnight by Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City (AP) The sisters were UK nationals whose family had moved to Israel in around 2005, Sky News reported. A Foreign Office spokesperson said: We are saddened to hear about the deaths of two British-Israeli citizens and the serious injuries sustained by a third individual. The UK calls for all parties across the region to de-escalate tensions. Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said he was shocked by what he called an appalling and cowardly attack. My thoughts are with their family and loved ones. More civilian victims of this cycle of violence show the urgent need for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate, he added. The shooting comes as the region is on high alert after three days of violence. The latest incidents began on Wednesday after Israeli police twice raided the al-Aqsa mosque, which sits on a hill in Jerusalem that is sacred to both Muslims and Jews. The raids sparked unrest in the contested capital and outrage across the Arab world. In one incident, police fiercely beat Palestinians, who responded by hurling rocks and firecrackers. Palestinians protest at the al-Aqsa mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan (AP) The Israeli military said 34 rockets were fired from Lebanese territory on Thursday, in the largest escalation along the frontier in 17 years. In retaliation, Israel stepped up its airstrikes on Gaza, with around 20 missiles striking four new sites in 10 minutes. That led to rocket fire from Gaza and the barrage from southern Lebanon, and the Israeli retaliation. Loud blasts rocked several areas of the Gaza Strip overnight into Friday morning, as Israel said its jets had hit targets including two tunnels and two weapons-manufacturing sites belonging to Hamas, which controls the blockaded southern coastal strip. Palestinians demonstrate at the al-Aqsa mosque on Friday (Reuters) A childrens hospital in Gaza City was among the sites damaged, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Earlier on Friday, British foreign secretary James Cleverly called for calm after the latest violence, saying that both sides in the Israel-Palestine dispute should recommit themselves to a negotiated settlement. He said: The UK condemns the indiscriminate rocket attacks from southern Lebanon and Gaza, and recognises Israels right to self-defence. Now is the time for all parties across the region to de-escalate tensions. At the convergence of Passover, Ramadan and Easter, the UK calls for all parties to respect the historic status-quo arrangements at Jerusalems holy sites and cease all provocative action. On Friday, more than 130,000 worshippers poured into the al-Aqsa mosque compound for midday prayers, which took place without incident. A man has been arrested after a fire at a block of flats in east London killed a woman on Thursday, 6 April. The Metropolitan Police said officers were called to the blaze on Tollgate Road in Beckton, Newham, at around 5.28pm. Along with police, the London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade were also called to the scene. Footage shows the street outside the Beckton flat as police cordoned off the area, with inquiries into the cause of the fire ongoing. Click here to sign up for our newsletters. Yvonne O'Toole, Principal, and Peter Kearns, Managing Director, pictured at the Institute of Education on Lower Leeson Street Photograph - Naoise Culhane One of the country's best-know private schools, The Institute of Education, has been bought by UK international schools group Dukes Education. Originally a grinds school, the Institute now operates full-time fourth, fifth and sixth-year courses as well as top-up tuition for students. The sale is understood to include both the school operations and the substantial school properties, a string of large classic Georgian properties along Dublin's Leeson Street. The sale by the Kearns family follows the death last year of the school's late founder, Ray Kearns, who established the school in 1969 and passed away last April aged 91, leaving an estate valued at 52,037,616 in his will. He had originally left school at 16. In later life, he sat the Leaving Cert, studying at night, before pursuing a PhD in mathematics. Mr Kearns then spent time working as a maths teacher whose mantra in the classroom was hardwork + motivation = success. He went on to establish the countrys first grinds school 54 years ago, leasing rooms in an old convent on Leeson Street. Since then, the Institute has expanded to offer tuition and exam preparation courses across a total of 28 Leaving Cert subjects, with over 7,000 full and part-time students. The Institute also employs 200 staff. In a video created to celebrate 50 years of the Institute, Mr Kearns said that he enjoyed every minute of his time in charge. "Happiness is doing something you like all my life I was able to do something I genuinely loved, he said at the time. The schools name, operating model and existing teaching arrangements are set to remain unchanged under the terms of the acquisition by Dukes Education. Principal Yvonne OToole will continue in her role, while current managing director Peter Kearns will step down from his position. Following the sale, he will move to a strategic advisory role at the school. Fellow director Una Kearns will also step down from her position following the sale. She is now set to leave the Institute after 22 years. For 25 years, I have had the honour to manage The Institute alongside Una, and to continue the great work started by [our] late father Ray who founded the school back in 1969, Peter Kearns said. The ethos of excellence that has been the hallmark of The Institute of Education will continue to prevail under Dukes Education, and our combined expertise and experience will help build on our great successes to date, he added. Principal Yvonne OToole said she was very happy for the Institute to become part of the Dukes family of schools. I very much look forward to continuing the great work we are doing here and to collaborating with our new colleagues, she said. The purchase of the Institute marks Dukes Educations entry into the Irish market. Founded in 2015, the group currently owns a number of schools, colleges and nurseries across the UK and Europe. Dukes Education also runs a number of summer schools, camps, university and medical school consultancies, as well as immersive career experiences. This is a strategically important step for Dukes and a fitting legacy for the Kearns family who created and built the Institute up over five decades to become one of Irelands best known educational facilities, chairman and founder Aatif Hassan said. The Institute was advised on the deal by Clearwater International, KPMG, Arthur Cox and MHC Solicitors. Irish company Moby Bikes has raised 4m in funding as it plots further international expansion. The business, which first launched in Dublin in early 2020, now has operational bases in the UK, the Netherlands and the USA. It currently has a fleet of over 4,000 e-bikes, e-cargo bikes and electric assisted vehicles. Moby provides bike sharing schemes in Dublin, Athlone, Mullingar and Tullamore, as well as e-bikes for food delivery drivers, an initiative introduced over the pandemic. It has also developed an electric city bike monthly subscription scheme. Moby also works with businesses, running a bike sharing scheme at Eastpoint Business Park in Dublin. And it operates ESB e-bikes in a number of locations around the city. The new funding will be used to accelerate the companys growth across central Europe, particularly in the areas of last-mile delivery, corporate markets and hotels. The company reported that it has recently increased the headcount of its local management and sales teams in this region. Moby said new investment will see it expand its bike sharing schemes in Ireland, in locations where it is profitable to do so. New technology, which will focus on app-less rental and new charging opportunities for customers, is a further focus for the group this year. This funding is indicative of the investor confidence in our success to date and the large market opportunity we have as city transportation habits continue to shift towards electric bikes, founder and chief executive Thomas OConnell said. Today we are one of the few micro-mobility companies in the world that are actually profitable, he added. The funding round was led by Selenean Capital, with participation from Irish investors including Brian Caulfield. As the world continues to prioritise sustainable transportation, Moby is well-positioned to lead the charge with their innovative technology and dedication to providing reliable, eco-friendly solutions to businesses, Selenean Capital chief executive Davin Browne said. This investment follows a previous 1.2m seed round which took place in late 2020. At the time, Moby raised 800,000 via Spark Crowding, as well as a combination of debt and asset finance alongside some individual investors. Increased trade at global clothing and lifestyle brand Ralph Laurens store in Kildare Village last year contributed to revenues more than doubling to 8.3m at its Irish retail operation. Accounts filed by Ralph Lauren Ireland Ltd show despite the surge in revenues, pre-tax profits declined by 29pc to 346,314 in the 12 months to the end of April 2, 2022. The profits at the business declined as rent abatements reduced to 173,643 last year from 1m in the previous year and Covid-19 wage subsidy scheme payments of 269,551 in fiscal 2021 did not reoccur last year. The companys revenues increased by 117pc from 3.85m to 8.38m as the business recovered from Covid-19 Government restrictions. The directors state that the revenue of the company is driven by the sales realised in the RL (Ralph Lauren) store in Ireland. The directors are satisfied with the level of profitability achieved by the company during FY22. The company commenced trading in August 2007 as a factory outlet store at Kildare Village selling clothing and accessories. Numbers employed last year increased from 63 to 71 as staff costs rose by 65pc from 690,502 to 1.13m. The companys costs increased by 55pc or 4.39m from 3.63m to 8.03m. The accounts disclose that on November 7 last, Ralph Lauren Corporation issued a letter of comfort in respect of the provision of financial support to assist Ralph Lauren Ireland Limited in meeting its liabilities as and when they fall due. The accounts also reveal that in response to Brexit, management has set up new post-Brexit transportation flows including to bypass UK territory with direct routes from our central European Warehouse in Italy to our stores in the Republic of Ireland. On the businesss future developments, the directors state that the group will continue its strategy of refocusing on its core brands and evolving its product, marketing, and shopping experience to increase desirability and relevance. The business also intends to evolve its operating model to enable sustainable, profitable sales growth by significantly reducing supply chain lead times, improving its sourcing, and executing a disciplined multi-channel distribution and expansion strategy. The firm had accumulated profits of 1.87m while its cash funds increased from 93,545 to 305,723. Globally, Ralph Lauren in the 12 months to the end of April 2 recorded revenues of $6.22bn (5.7bn), exceeding pre-pandemic revenues in fiscal year 2020. A total of 21 LNG cargoes are already confirmed for April. Photo: Getty Images European natural gas prices declined for a third session amid lacklustre demand, even as uncertainty remains about the full restart of LNG terminals in France. Dutch front-month futures fell as much as 3.9pc after slumping 13pc during the previous two sessions. The UK equivalent also edged lower, widening its discount to the continental Europe hub. European gas stockpiles are well-above seasonal levels following a mild winter, despite much of the continent experiencing a relatively cool spring. Still, the region is recovering from a historic energy crisis, with many consumers limiting their use over recent months. "Demand has not recovered despite the partial price normalisation," analysts at Morgan Stanley said in a note on Wednesday. It may take a while to rebound due to structural demand destruction and the lag between wholesale power prices and retail tariffs for end-consumers. In the UK, storage is at 59pc of capacity at the end of the winter, much fuller than usual, according to data from Gas Infrastructure Europe. An influx of liquefied natural gas arrivals shows no sign of easing as cargoes divert away from French import terminals amid strikes there. A total of 21 LNG cargoes are already confirmed for April, which is "greatly increasing UK supply prospects and is offering downside to near-curve UK gas contracts," Inspired Energy said in a note. Still, "a level of uncertainty" remains, especially for the upcoming winter, the consultant added. "This is likely down to the fact that UK storage, even when full, can only provide gas for roughly 12 days, which is relatively weak compared to some EU counterparts." The nation is exporting gas to mainland Europe with volumes surging this month as shippers resumed exports though the BBL pipeline to the Netherlands in addition to the larger link, Interconnector to Belgium. Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounds French LNG import facilities affected by strikes for most of March and it is not clear when they'll resume full operations. The Montoir terminal made its first send-outs on Wednesday, according to data from operator Elengy. However, a tanker that was due to unload there on Wednesday hasn't docked yet and appears to be diverting to the UK, ship-tracking data on Bloomberg shows. Dunkerque LNG has limited capacity due to a strike. Dutch front-month gas futures fell 0.7pc to 44.25 per megawatt-hour by 12:10pm in Amsterdam. The UK equivalent declined 1.3pc to 105.27 pence a therm, equivalent to 41.21 per megawatt-hour. The approaching US corporate earnings season is expected to be the gloomiest since the pandemic, according to Goldman Sachs strategists. Analyst consensus expectations are for S&P 500 earnings-per-share to fall 7pc in the first quarter from a year earlier, marking the sharpest decline since the third quarter of 2020 and a low point in the profit cycle, strategists including Lily Calcagnini and David Kostin wrote in a note. If analyst projections are realised, this quarter will represent the trough in S&P 500 earnings growth. A deep contraction in margins will mostly outweigh modest growth in first-quarter sales. Just three sectors energy, industrials and consumer discretionary are forecast to report improved margins. The majority of other industries will likely see theirs shrink by more than 200 basis points, they said. In February, Mr Kostin Goldmans chief US equity strategist said European and Asian stocks are better for investors to buy than US equities this year due to an expected decline in corporate profits in 2023. So far, Europe is slightly outperforming the US while Asia is lagging behind. This earnings season will have added significance as traders parse statements for signs of an economic slowdown while assessing how companies have navigated the headwinds of higher rates, banking system stress and slowing demand. It officially kicks off on April 14 when large US lenders including JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup report results. Investors will have four key topics in mind during the reporting season, according to the Goldman strategists: the outlook for margins, references to artificial intelligence, evidence of slowing cash use and signals of a China reopening boost. Moreover, the earnings of smaller companies are more likely to be affected by the financial sector turmoil than larger firms, given theyre more economically sensitive and have greater exposure to regional lenders. While bank earnings are expected to rise 11pc, uncertainty is elevated". Audiences expect something a little steamy Why TV adaptations add S&M and sex scenes to the classics The BBCs adaptation of Charles Dickenss prim classic has left some viewers outraged by S&M scenes and others believing the author himself wouldve been delighted by the rumpus Steven Knight's Great Expectations has raised many an eyebrow. Picture by FX Networks/Miya Mizuno Andrea Smith Fri 7 Apr 2023 at 12:21 A teaser trailer showing Rosario Dawson in the title role for Ahsoka was also unveiled at Londons Star Wars Celebration event. Daisy Ridley attending the Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Premiere at Cineworld, Leicester Square, London. Daisy Ridley will reprise her role as the Jedi Knight Rey in a new live-action Star Wars film, it has been announced. The film, directed by Ms Marvels Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, will be set after the events of 2019s Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker, and see Rey build a new Jedi Order after the apparent defeat of the dark forces in her last movie. This is one of three upcoming films from the franchise, confirmed by Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy on stage at the Star Wars Celebration event in London on Friday. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content James Mangold, who is known for directing superhero movie Logan and is also behind the highly anticipated Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny, will direct a film that will focus on the dawn of the Jedi. Bringing in the interconnected stories from three of the live-action Disney+ series, The Mandalorian, The Book Of Boba Fett and Ahsoka, is director Dave Filoni. He will focus on the development of the New Republic, which rises after the destruction of the Galactic Empire and Darth Vader in Star Wars: Episode VI Return Of The Jedi. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan with Kathleen Kennedy and two Stormtroopers as they attend the Star Wars Celebration at New City Hall, London (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Ridley, who appeared on stage wearing a red dress, also played Rey in 2015s Star Wars: The Force Awakens and 2017s Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The films also saw appearances of the characters from the original films including the late Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia, Harrison Ford as Han Solo and Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker. They focused on how Leia and Hans son, Kylo Ren, had been corrupted by the dark side of the force and The First Order supreme leader Snoke as Rey saw her power grow and develop as a Jedi and continued her friendship with John Boyegas former stormtrooper Finn. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Elsewhere, a trailer showing Rosario Dawson in the title role of Ahsoka, written by Filoni, has also been unveiled by Disney+ and Lucasfilm. The clip teases the August release of the series which will overlap with the events of The Mandalorian that also sees the appearance of the Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano and is set after the fall of the Empire in the original trilogy of films. Ahsoka says in the teaser: Somethings coming, something dark, I can sense it as lightsabre battles and starship fights are also seen. A synopsis said Ahsoka is set to investigate an emerging threat to a vulnerable galaxy. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The series will also reportedly star Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren, Eman Esfandi as Ezra Bridger, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla and David Tennant as Huyang. The characters had appeared in other animated series such as Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars Forces Of Destiny and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Ahsoka is also set to see the return of Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, otherwise known as Darth Vader, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Another new Star Wars series, The Acolyte, created by Russian Dolls Leslye Headland, will also be released on Disney+ in 2024. The lead roles will be portrayed by Amandla Stenberg, who starred in The Hunger Games, and Squid Game actor Lee Jung-Jae. The story sees a former padawan reunite with her Jedi master. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content At the event, Russian Doll star Charlie Barnett said on stage that the show would be set during the High Republic Era, which saw a golden age for the Jedi Order before the events of 1999s Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace. The 35-year-old actor added: So it kind of like, makes it a little bit more free (as) were coming into a place that isnt established. Manny Jacinto, Jodie Turner-Smith, Rebecca Henderson, Dafne Keen, Dean-Charles Chapman and Joonas Suotamo who first took over from the late Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca in Star Wars: The Force Awakens also appeared on stage as they were also confirmed among the cast. Russian Doll actress Henderson also said she was wearing the robes of the Jedi while in the peacekeeping organisations temple, as she teased what the story would be about. The US actor said it was such a treat having Saunders appear in the comedy spy show, having previously worked with her on the sitcom Friends. David Schwimmer has hailed the absolutely fabulous Jennifer Saunders ahead of her guest appearance in comedy spy show Intelligence. The US actor said it was such a treat having Saunders appear in the show, having previously worked with her on hit TV sitcom Friends. Intelligence follows the capers of brash NSA agent Jerry Bernstein, played by Schwimmer, who is assigned to tackle cyber crimes in the UKs Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). Theyve countered the Russians, theyve foiled a plot to disrupt the NHS and theyve prevented a nuclear disaster But in this one-off special, the latest threat to our gang at the Government Communications Headquarters is personal. With the future of CySec at stake, the team have to go rogue to save their reputations and their jobs. The series was written by comedian Nick Mohammed, who also stars as computer analyst Joseph Harries. A one-off special, airing on Easter Saturday on Sky Comedy and Now, will see the pair reunited to take on a more personal threat to GCHQ. The programme also stars Jane Stanness, Sylvestra Le Touzel, and Gana Bayarsaikhan, as well as Saunders, who joins the cast as Joanna Telfer-Fotheringham. Schwimmer described Saunders as an icon and said there was a lot to look forward to from her part in the episode. The entire gang is back and we have a really wonderful guest star, Jennifer Saunders. Shes an icon, I absolutely love her. She is absolutely fabulous, he said. Theyve countered the Russians, theyve foiled a plot to disrupt the NHS and theyve prevented a nuclear disaster But in this one-off special, the latest threat to our gang at the Government Communications Headquarters is personal. With the future of CySec at stake, the team have to go rogue to save their reputations and their jobs. But the really delicious subplot or story surprise here is that Chris, our fearless leader, has a little sister (Saunders) who is our baddie in the episode. Its really good fun, with some wonderful new backstory to our characters. So, its a lot to look forward to in this episode. The pair previously worked together on Friends, in which Schwimmer played the hapless Ross Geller, when Saunders made a cameo appearance as Andrea Waltham, the stepmother of Emily Waltham Ross then-girlfriend. Schwimmer said Saunders had been wonderful in her guest appearance on Friends. Shes so good and so fun and it was such a treat having her join us for this special, he said. Mohammed said he had also been desperate to work with Saunders again, having starred in her Absolutely Fabulous movie in 2016, and said she had always always been his first choice for the role. I have been such a huge fan of French and Saunders ever since I was growing up they were always my absolute favourite, and to be honest, still are they just make me laugh so much, he said. Intelligence Special First Look Jennifer had seen me perform live quite a few times a while ago and had always been really kind, and she put me in the Absolutely Fabulous movie. I was desperate to work with her again, so when I knew there would be a guest lead in the show we offered it to her and when she came back and said yes I was simply over the moon. Schwimmer also praised Mohammed and their chemistry on the show, which had started three years ago, prior to the coronavirus pandemic. I love working with Nick he is not only one of the most talented people Ive ever had the pleasure to work with, hes also probably the nicest, he said. He is such a sweet, generous and just lovely, lovely man. I hope everyone gets a chance to work with Nick Mohammed, hes truly the best. Schwimmer said that he and Mohammed would continue to work on the show, and hoped to land further series or specials that could cover topical issues such as the rise of artificial intelligence. Well just keep going because we really enjoy it, he said. So as long as Sky and the fans want to hear from us, were up for it. Intelligence: A Special Agent Special airs on Sky Comedy and Now on Saturday April 8. Pilgrimage: The Road Through Portugal BBC2, 9pm Seven celebrities including Shane Lynch, Su Pollard, Rita Simons and Vicky Pattinson begin a pilgrimage through northern Portugal, and discuss their contrasting attitudes to faith. Beyond Paradise BBC1, 8.30pm A house has been burgled, and all the forensic evidence points to one suspect, the only trouble being that that person was locked in a police cell at the time of the crime. Kris Marshall, Sally Bretton star. The Cleaner The Cleaner BBC1, 9.30pm When Wicky is called to the scene of a shooting at a tech store, he finds himself sharing a long nights vigil with a conspiracy theorist whos anxiously awaiting the end of the world. Downton Abbey: A New Era Downton Abbey: A New Era Sky Cinema Drama, 9pm The Crawley entourage decamps to the Cotes dAzur when they discover that the Dowager Countess has been left a luxurious villa by an old admirer. With Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy Channel 4, 11.05pm Odious 1970s news anchor Ron Burgundy faces an existential threat to his career when hes paired with an ambitious female newsreader. Slapstick comedy with Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Steve Carell. Gangs of Lagos Prime Video, streaming now Lagos island, and its underbelly, as youve never perceived it before. Beef Beef Netflix, streaming now Have you ever had one of those days, where you find yourself clawing your way through the hours by your front teeth? Each passing minute only serves to compound the disappointment in your life choices. Then, someone almost rear-ends you in a car park, resulting in all manner of hell being unleashed. Pure, unhinged, and deliciously unbridled rage bubbles forth, culminating in a flurry of expletives and complex hand gestures, before you speed off. Will you escape or will they give chase?! BEEF follows two such strangers after a road rage incident. Danny Cho (Steven Yeun) is a failing contractor with a chip on his shoulder. He goes head-to-head with Amy Lau (Ali Wong), a self-made entrepreneur with a (seemingly) picturesque suburban life. The increasing stakes of their unhinged feud unravel their lives and relationships in a darkly comedic yet rather moving offering. The Good Mothers The Good Mothers Disney+, streaming now This multi-layered narrative follows the true story of three women born into the deadliest of the Mafia clans, and how they worked with a female prosecutor to bring it down from the inside. The Pope Answers Disney+, streaming now Filmed in Rome, this meeting between the current head of the Catholic Church and 10 people in their early twenties focuses on the role of women in the Church, reproductive rights, loss of faith, LGBTQ+ rights, abuse within the Church, racism, mental health, and migration. Swarm Swarm Prime Video, streaming now Andrea Dre Greene, like most girls her age, is obsessed with a pop star (one can only assume is based on Beyonce). Unlike most girls her age, Dre lets this obsession consume her to the point of committing multiple murders. With a cracking soundtrack (including a unique take on a Pixies classic) plus cameos from the likes of Billie Eilish, youd forgive the (at times) ropey writing in lieu of the sensory feast. Kill Boksoon Kill Boksoon Netflix, streaming now Most parents feel like theyre leading a double life. And then theres Boksoon both a mother of a teenage daughter and a legendary professional killer at the top-tier killing agency MK Ent. Caught in between the dual missions of killing someone and raising someone, she refuses to take a case becoming the target of the whole hitman industry. Law of the Jungle Law of the Jungle Netflix, streaming now In the jungle, the mighty jungle, there are no lions sleeping tonight mostly because there are 12 humans trying to take each other down for a chance at some cash. Expect much whinging. The Class of '07 The Class of 07 Prime Video, streaming now Your impending post-apocalyptic viewing this week comes courtesy of the Prime Video platform. Unlike the (understandably) puritan message from Extrapolations (AppleTV+), this cheeky Aussie offering instead touts the theme that bad things happen when youre giving it socks to The Ting Tings. War Sailor War Sailor Netflix, streaming now Alfred Garnes and his friend are working on a merchant ship in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean when World War II breaks out. The sailors have one goal: to survive and to return home. Meanwhile, Alfreds wife Cecilia endures the war in Bergen, struggling to raise three children on her own. Both believe that the other has been bombed... do they have the will to keep trying to find each other? The Fleabag creator, 37, was speaking on stage at a Star Wars Celebration event where she discussed the film. Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Helena in the trailer for the upcoming film Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Lucasfilm/PA) Phoebe Waller-Bridge has said her scenes in the upcoming blockbuster Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny feel as if they really happened to her, as the filming is so life-like. The Fleabag creator was speaking to fans as a new trailer for the adventure film was released, showing actor Harrison Ford reprising the title role as the whip-wielding archaeologist. The clip shows Waller-Bridge as Helena Shaw, the goddaughter of Dr Henry Walton Indiana Jones Jr, drinking in a bar as she tries to drag the adventurer out of retirement to search for something discovered on a previous escapade by her father. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen, who stars as villain Jurgen Voller, talks about trying to correct Adolf Hitlers mistakes in the clip. The Nazis were the primary antagonists of 1981s Raiders Of The Lost Ark and 1989s Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade. A previous trailer saw 80-year-old Ford riding a horse through New York City and onto the subway tracks and a younger, de-aged version of the actor, as well as high-speed car chases and shoot-outs. The new film is a sequel to 2008s Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull, which saw Shia LaBeouf play the eponymous characters son. James Mangold offers direction to the cast ahead of a scene filmed in Glasgow city centre in 2021 (Andrew Milligan/PA) The teaser was shown at the Star Wars Celebration event in London on Friday where Waller-Bridge also appeared on stage during a fan event. The 37-year-old actress said: Its such an extraordinary thing, working on movies that have this scale, and its such a gift to be able to experience that. Waller-Bridge added: There is something so beautiful about being able to feel like (you are) really in that world when youre on that set, because sometimes theyre 360 sets and youre actually in a tomb and you just couldnt believe it. I feel like all that stuff really actually happened to me. Mads Mikkelsen who plays Jurgen Voller in Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny (Ian West/PA) The actress and writer did not give many hints about the plot of the movie but said they had filmed in Glasgow, Morocco, and Sicily. When asked about the speculation over whose daughter her character is from the previous films, she said: Absolutely cant answer, youve got to wait and see. But its a wonderful revelation. Also appearing on stage was Mikkelsen, who said he plays a German scientist. The 57-year-old Hannibal actor also said: I think both Indy and Jurgen Voller are kind of lost in the past. Just look at the way they dress but they also have dreams that have nothing to do with the present. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content (1969) is just a phase, you have to get over it, something better is out there. Thats how my character sees it. Director James Mangold, who was also confirmed as the director of an as-yet untitled Star Wars movie at the fan event, said he has done his best at the start of Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny to channel Oscar-winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg, who directed the four previous films in the franchise. Mangold, who has also directed superhero films The Wolverine and Logan and psychological drama Girl, Interrupted, also said: (Stevens) been a huge influence on my work even before I stepped into a movie like this, so I tried to just stay inside my own voice. The poster for the film Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Lucasfilm/PA) The cast also includes The Mask Of Zorro actor Antonio Banderas, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdoms Toby Jones, Logans Boyd Holbrook and Mortels Ethann Isidore. It also sees the return of John Rhys-Davies as Egyptian excavator and dedicated family man Sallah, who has starred in two of the previous films. The film, which has been announced as Fords final Indiana Jones adventure, premieres at the Cannes Film Festival on May 18 and opens in cinemas on June 30. Courts Former League of Ireland footballer and two others jailed after moving almost 200,000 in criminal cash Detectives have recovered a smartphone from a dangerous Kinahan prisoner after he was arrested over the murder of The Monk's brother. The 43-year-old criminal was detained for questioning on Wednesday as part of an intensifying investigation into the fatal shooting of Eddie 'Neddie' Hutch (59). Eddie, the older brother of Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, was shot dead outside his north inner-city home in February 2016. Following his arrest this week, the murder suspect's jail cell in Mountjoy Prison was searched by prison officials. During the operation a mobile smartphone, understood to be an iPhone, was discovered hidden inside a sock. Jail authorities subsequently handed the phone over to detectives based in Mountjoy who will now carry out an examination of the device. One source told Independent.ie: "He won't care about being disciplined by prison authorities over it. It's the fact that gardai now have the phone that will worry him. "He's been quiet enough but he's also the man in charge of inmates on the D-Wing of the prison. "Gardai now have possession of it and will examine it to find any evidence of criminality." The Kinahan associate has since been given a P-19 disciplinary form, which are issued for internal breaches of prison rules by inmates. He is currently serving a lengthy jail term for firearms offences. A spokesman for the Irish Prison Service said they do not comment on individual prisoner cases. The Finglas man became a prime suspect in the Eddie Hutch murder early on in the inquiry and garda intelligence has also linked him to other murders carried out on behalf of the cartel. He was arrested in 2016 over the Hutch murder but later fled the country after being released without charge. However, he returned to Ireland in 2019 and was arrested during a significant armed garda operation. Detectives were acting on intelligence that he had travelled to Dublin to carry out a murder. The dangerous gunman is also suspected of shooting John Gilligan in Clondalkin in 2014. He has been transferred a number of times within the prison system to prevent him exerting control over other inmates. In September 2021, he was moved from the high-security Portlaoise Prison to Mountjoy after officials at the Laois facility raised serious concerns about his behaviour. He was re-arrested over the Eddie Hutch murder after investigating gardai uncovered further information about his alleged involvement in the shooting. The inquiry has intensified in recent months with further arrests expected, including that of a north-inner city criminal who was previously quizzed. Detectives are also focusing their investigation on a number of senior members of the Kinahan organised crime group in relation to the murder. The fatal shooting of Hutch on Poplar Row, Ballybough, was carried out in retaliation for the Regency Hotel murder three days earlier on February 5. His younger brother Gerard Hutch is currently before the Special Criminal Court charged with the murder of David Byrne at the hotel on the Whitehall Road in Drumcondra. Three judges are due to deliver judgement in his case on April 17. Jailed Kinahan gang member is suspect in 2016 killing in Dublin Gardai investigating the murder of Gerry The Monk Hutchs brother, Eddie Hutch, expect to make a number of arrests in the coming weeks, including rearrests of murder suspects. It comes as a Kinahan cartel hitman, who was being questioned over the February 2016 murder, was released from garda custody last night and returned to Mountjoy Prison. The investigation is now understood to be at a critical stage, with the analysis of CCTV footage and mobile phones data playing a crucial role. Eddie Hutch (59) was murdered as part of the Hutch-Kinahan feud in his north inner city home on February 8, 2016, in a revenge attack for the Regency Hotel shooting three days earlier. The 42-year-old convicted Kinahan gangster, from Finglas, was arrested in Mountjoy on Wednesday afternoon on suspicion of murder. He is suspected of being one of two gunmen in the attack. A file will now be prepared for the DPP in relation to his role in the murder. A source said: This has been a complex investigation that has gone on for over seven years. The analysis of CCTV and mobile phones has played a huge part as well as the movements of a large number of vehicles. The expectation is that it is now at its concluding stages, and it is fair to say there will be more arrests and rearrests coming soon. The murder suspect is considered a highly dangerous criminal. He has been a suspect for a number of shootings, including attacks on criminal John Gilligan in 2013 and 2014. However, he has rarely faced disciplinary action during his lengthy sentences for firearms and other serious offences. Prison bosses have been forced to move him to other jails on occasion to disrupt his activities and his influence on other prisoners. His latest stretch behind bars began in November 2019. He has been issued with a number of P-19 disciplinary forms for minor breaches, such as a row he had with another prisoner and possession of a USB stick. On one occasion in September 2021 he was moved from high-security Portlaoise Prison to Mountjoy after his activities in the Co Laois facility were causing serious concern. Six months earlier, he was moved to Portlaoise from Mountjoy after being linked to a plot to smuggle drugs into the Dublin jail. A spokesman for the Irish Prison Service (IPS) said it would not comment on individual prisoners. By 2016, the suspected killer was a key member of the Kinahan cartel and one of the first of nine people to be arrested in relation to the murder of Eddie Hutch after quickly being identified as a suspect. He spent a number of days in custody when he was first arrested and questioned about the murder in 2016. He is the first to be rearrested as gardai move into the closing stages of their case against him. A four-man hit-team, including the two gunmen, were involved in the Eddie Hutch murder, while several other people are believed to have provided logistical support to the murder gang. Mr Hutch, a father of five and taxi driver from Poplar Row, Ballybough, was approached by two gunmen as he pulled up in his taxi outside his home. A silver-coloured BMW 3 series vehicle, believed to have been used as the getaway car, was found abandoned a short distance away on St Patricks Parade in Drumcondra. Eddie Hutch was the first of six people associated with the Hutch gang to be murdered by the Kinahan gang in 2016 in the aftermath of the Regency Hotel shooting in a gangland feud that has claimed a total of 18 lives to date since the killing of Gary Hutch in 2015. Eddie Hutchs younger brother, The Monk, faces judgment at the Special Criminal Court in 10 days time on the charge of the murder of Kinahan cartel gangster David Byrne in the Regency attack. A pensioner has died in a Cork hospital four weeks after he was found with serious injuries. The 69-year-old man had been in a serious condition since he was found with multiple injuries on March 11 in The Glen on Cork's northside. He was rushed to hospital after being found with injuries which gardai said was consistent with having been assaulted in the Glentrasna area of The Glen. However, his condition deteriorated over recent days. Despite efforts by doctors to stabilise him, the man's condition became critical and he died on Thursday. Gardai are now investigating all the circumstances in which the pensioner sustained the injuries. A 29-year-old man has already appeared before Cork District Court charged with having assaulted the man. The Office of the State Pathologist has been notified. A full post mortem examination will be conducted at Cork University Hospital (CUH) today by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster. Garda sources said the nature of their ongoing investigation will be determined by the findings of the post mortem examination. It is believed the man sustained the injuries in a property in the area of The Glen where he lived. However, when Gardai and paramedics attended the scene he was found injured on the street. Gardai conducted extensive door-to-door inquiries in the area at the time to determine if anyone heard or saw anything suspicious. CCTV security camera footage has also been examined. Victim Geila Ibram had only been in Ireland for about three weeks prior to fatal assault Gardai investigating the murder of Geila Ibram (26) in Limerick have said that the PSNI in the North has charged a man. Officers are continuing to liaise with their colleagues in the PSNI at this time, a statement said. The man is due to appear before Belfast Magistrates Court this morning, gardai confirmed. "Really significant cross border cooperation on this murder investigation. A man is due to appear before Belfast Magistrates Court this morning charged with murder of Geila Ibram in Limerick on 4th April 2023, a garda spokesperson said. Ms Ibram is believed to have only arrived in Ireland in early March and was originally from Tulcea, in Dubruja, in Romania. A 26-year-old Afghan national was arrested by officers from the PSNIs Serious Crime Branch on Thursday evening and taken to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite in Belfast for questioning. Gardai are liaising closely with their colleagues in Northern Ireland over the arrest. The man was detained by PSNI officers acting on specific information supplied by Limerick gardai. The man is understood to have been living in the mid-west and was detained in Northern Ireland amid concerns he could be planning to travel to Europe from Belfast. He had travelled from Limerick by bus. Detectives are also sifting through forensic data obtained from two different scenes which were sealed off and examined in the wake of the womans killing. Hundreds of hours of security camera footage are now being examined alongside dash-cam and mobile phone images. One garda source said several potentially significant CCTV clips had already been identified and were being studied. Gardai were also conducting an intensive search of a number of locations on the Dock Road and the banks of the River Shannon in Limerick city centre in an effort to locate the murder weapon. It is believed to have been a thin-bladed knife. A major line of inquiry is whether the woman was targeted because she had worked in the sex industry. Theories being examined include that the woman was attacked following a row or that she may have been the target of a botched robbery. The womans body was discovered inside an apartment block on Dock Road, just off OCurry Street,at about 1.30pm on Tuesday. Gardai believe the victim was subjected to a fatal assault just minutes earlier. Her body was discovered after two people in pyjamas ran from the apartment complex and asked a local businessman for help as they suspected there had been a stabbing in an apartment. He immediately alerted gardai and paramedics but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. A full murder investigation was launched following the results of a post-mortem examination carried out by state pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) on Wednesday. While the results have not been released by gardai for operational reasons, it confirmed that the woman died after being stabbed multiple times. Gardai have again appealed to anyone with camera footage from the Dock Road and OCurry Street areas of Limerick city, from 1pm-2pm on Tuesday, April 4, to contact Henry Street garda station on (061) 212 400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station. An incident room has been established at Henry Street garda station and a liaison officer has been appointed. Gardai are liaising closely with the Romanian Embassy and the Romanian police to locate and notify all members of the womans family. It is understood that her remains will be repatriated to Romania once they are formally released to her family. Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) said it had predicted an increase in attacks against vulnerable women and had warned that such fatal incidents would occur. The laws surrounding sex work have made criminals of consenting adults and have done nothing to stem the rising tide of violence against women in Ireland, a spokesperson said. Those at the forefront of the fight against violence against women vocally support our misguided laws. They refuse to listen to sex workers when they say they want sex work to be decriminalised Crime Woman threw pint glass at Irish singer and destroyed guitar he bought with tip given to him by Taylor Swift Brian Pennie has launched mentorship programme aimed at students from similar social background to his A former heroin addict who is now a doctor of neuroscience is leading a programme aimed at helping students cope with life and realise their potential in school. Dr Brian Pennie did not have a typical path to academic and professional success as he had battled addiction for 15 years. He knows the way to achievement is not straightforward. Dr Pennie is working on a mentorship programme alongside another scheme, Misneach, at Killinarden Community School in Tallaght, Co Dublin, which aims to keep Leaving Cert cycle students in school until graduation and prepares them for adulthood. Along with Hannah Carley, the creator of Misneach, and special needs assistant Sharon Mitchell, Dr Pennie is working to give children at risk of quitting education the tools and guidance to find their place in the world. Were trying to help these kids navigate the challenges of a modern life. I had many struggles in my own life when I was that age in the form of anxiety and panic attacks and slipped into a cycle of addiction, heroin addiction, for more than 15 years, he said. When I found recovery in 2013, I developed a programme for my new life and Im now bringing that programme to this school here in Tallaght. Im helping these kids with their self-belief, their confidence, to regulate their emotions and helping them with their mindset of negative thinking and limiting beliefs. Ms Carley had created Misneach as a programme to retain as many students as possible through their Leaving Cert cycle as Killinarden has a relatively high dropout rate between the Junior Cert and Leaving Cert cycles. Misneach secured 25,000 from the Tallaght Fund, which is donated by the Siol Foundation, and this funding is used to help students while they are in school, as well as funding their progression into third-level courses or apprenticeships. We use this for supplies, for food, for educational trips or for sorting some students out with post-Leaving Cert courses or apprenticeships, Ms Carley said. Its giving them a start in the world that they may not otherwise have had and the Tallaght Fund has made that possible. So they can have a chance at a life that is more attractive than one where they may get into trouble. It takes a bit of work to get them to trust you, to get them to realise you are an adult to be trusted. I had a student say to me just before the Easter break they didnt know how they would manage with two weeks off. This was a boy who until recently was going to leave school completely. So that was a nice moment of job satisfaction. Dr Pennie said his mentorship programme was targeted at students at a high risk for trauma and who were from areas of low socio-ecomonic status similar to the area which I grew up in. Theres great people and a great sense of community in these areas, but people can be torn down by the troubles and some of the problems in their area, he said. Were trying to show them theres another path, but it must come from inside. If you can navigate your internal world better, your outer world becomes easier to navigate. The meeting held by the Northern Ireland Womens Rights Network in the Errigle Inn An English beer brand has cut ties with a Belfast bar after it was identified as the venue where a secret screening of a documentary exploring the clash between womens rights and trans ideology took place. The Northern Ireland Womens Rights Network (NIWRN) shared a picture of the International Womens Day event which was attended by dozens of people at the beginning of last month on social media. The group kept the location of the sold out screening of Adult Human Female a secret to protect the venue and those in the audience. However, local activist Lynsey Bee identified the host pub as the Errigle Inn on the Ormeau Road and quickly raised a complaint. "The brewery in question will no longer be providing beer to the Errigle Inn, she claimed on Twitter. "The brewery hosts lots of inclusive events for all women and non-binary people so I am glad to hear of this decision, especially as I have still not heard directly from the bar. The supplier, Cloudwater Brew Co which has a Queer Brewing guest range of canned products, were contacted for comment on its commercial decision. But it is understood the impact on the pub will be minimal. A spokesperson for the Errigle Inn said it did not know the 92-minute film at the centre of the row was being screened at the venue. Our attention has been drawn to the content of a film screened by a group who booked our private function room at the beginning of March under an individuals own name, they said. "We understand that the screening of this film has caused offence. We take bookings for private functions and groups on a regular basis, from corporate organisations, charities and community groups. We are very proud of our long-standing reputation as an inclusive local venue where everyone is welcome. The documentary directed by Deirdre O'Neill and Mike Wayne claims to be the first in the UK to look at the clash between women's rights and trans ideology and warns that the transgender movement has captured big institutions in record time. The police, the political parties, the media, the universities and major corporations have taken up the cause in the name of inclusiveness, the website states. But is it really harmless when men identify into the female sex? Is it progressive for doctors to modify the bodies of young people in the name of changing their gender? The film highlights dissenters who have been cast as haters and cancelled and claims that the issue goes beyond defending womens rights. "At risk is safeguarding for children and young people, biological reality, reason and even democracy, the website continues. Reality denial comes at a price. The fallout has divided social media users with many threatening to boycott the pub where the film was screened on March 4. But others have expressed alarm at activists targeting a business because it didnt interrogate customers about their personal and political beliefs before hiring out its venue. Engineering works taking place this weekend have led to a number of service alterations A number of train routes are disrupted this weekend due to engineering works between Portlaoise and Thurles, Portadown and Belfast and Dun Laoghaire and Bray/Greystones. Those planning to travel during the Bank Holiday Weekend have been advised to keep an eye on revised timetables. Major line works are taking place across the weekend, resulting in various disruptions to services. Portlaoise and Thurles Works begin between Portlaoise and Thurles at 2.30pm on Friday and continue until 10.30am on Monday. Bus transfers are in place on Heuston routes to Cork, Kerry and Limerick during these times. Passengers coming from Dublin will alight at Portlaoise, travel by bus to Thurles and continue their journey by train. Revised timetables this #Easter weekend, including Good Friday Major Line works: - Portlaoise to Thurles (Fri PM to Monday AM) - Dun Laoghaire to Bray/Greystones (Sat to Mon) - Portadown to Belfast (Sat & Sun) Please check all times on https://t.co/r50m2431AZ pic.twitter.com/ruvKSCvHbu Iarnrod Eireann (@IrishRail) April 7, 2023 Advance booking on these services is essential due to limited bus transfer capacity, Irish Rail has warned. The full revised timetable for Cork, Limerick and Tralee services, Limerick and Galway services and Limerick Junction and Waterford Services is available at irishrail.ie. A number of services are operating on advanced or deferred times, calling at additional stops, using bus transfers between affected lines or cancelled. Portadown and Belfast Bus substitution services are also in place on the Portadown line for NI Railways and Enterprise Journeys. Connolly to Belfast services and Belfast to Connolly services on Saturday and Sunday will operate to Portadown only. Bus transfers are in place between Newry and Belfast. #TRAIN #ENT Engineering Works 8th/9th & 22nd/23rd April 2023 Bus Substitution services in operation on Portadown Line for NI Railways & Enterprise journeys Plan your journey before travel - https://t.co/hA2dixbjhF For more information visit - https://t.co/M3OPYMiy1l pic.twitter.com/jbW6dQs1XQ Translink (@Translink_NI) April 5, 2023 These engineering works are taking place on Saturday and Sunday. Dun Laoghaire and Bray/Greystones From Saturday until Monday, engineering works between Dun Laoghaire and Bray/Greystones have caused a number of changes to usual timetables. DART services will operate between Howth to Malahide to Dun Laoghaire only, with Dublin Bus and Go Ahead accepting valid tickets for customers to complete their journeys. Services from Connolly to Rosslare Europort will also be impacted due to these works, with a number of bus transfers in place on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Ballybrophy Engineering works between Portlaoise and Thurles from Friday to Sunday has also led to a revised timetable through Ballybrophy. A number of services are operating on advanced or deferred schedules. Limerick and Ennis Although engineering works do not begin between Limerick and Ennis until after the Bank Holiday weekend, some service alterations and amendments will take place from Tuesday 11th to Thursday 13th of April. The full revised timetables for all services are available at irishrail.ie. Some of Bidens fifth cousins in Co Louth and the Cooley Peninsula are getting ready to welcome the leader Some of US President Joe Biden's fifth cousins pictured in Co Louth as they prepare for his visit next week. Photo: Ciara Wilkinson Aoibhinn Brennan from Lordship in Co Louth, who met President Biden when he visited in 2016, pictured with her dad Shane and holding a reminder of the day when Mr Biden told her not to date boys until she was 30. Photo: Ciara Wilkinson By all accounts there is not a stone left unturned in Co Louth as the US Secret Service is said to be checking any location President Joe Biden might visit next week. Several locals claim to have seen people they think are part of the advance security team checking out possible places of interest. The grass in the Kilwirra cemetery, where a lichen-covered headstone for the Finnegan family marks the final resting place of some of the presidents ancestors, has been mowed and one local said the Secret Service have been down. The hedges are being cleaned on the approach roads to it and to Whitestown, where the ruins of his ancestral home can be found, and the American flag is fluttering in the wind outside houses and on cars. Carlingford village and the local GAA club have also had a large number of cars carrying people with American accents, wearing glasses and happy to drink the local coffee. Everyone is happy to see them, and there is great optimism among the members of his distant family who gathered yesterday, all hoping that they will get a chance to meet Cousin Joe some for the second time. The get-together was organised by his fifth cousin Andrea McKevitt, who doesnt yet know if she will get to meet him next week, but I hope so. Ms McKevitt, who is also elected to Louth County Council, said: It is really heartening that the visit has been confirmed for Louth and especially as we are a border county and he is coming to celebrate the Good Friday Agreement in the North, and what better place to stop off than his ancestral home? She hopes he visits Carlingford so he can stand in the south looking up to the North, at the Lough [from] where his great-great-grandfather sailed from and saw his last sight of Ireland as he headed to the States and to chase the American dream. Americans will associate Co Louth with the home of President Biden and hopefully bring tourism to the area. It is a beautiful part of the country. We were lucky 25 years ago to have President [Bill] Clinton come to Louth. It is just magical that we are having another US president visit the county. Joan Martin, chief executive of Louth County Council, said we will give President Biden a cead mile failte. He is a freeman of Co Louth after his last visit as vice-president. Wherever he goes, he is sure of a big welcome. Lisa McKevitt, her brother Colin Keenan and their cousin Barry Mulligan are also distant cousins of the US president and hope to meet him. Mr Mulligan met him in Lily Finnegans pub on his visit in 2016. He and his daughter Jade were in a band playing as he arrived and Barry said: H e was shaking hands with people. He oozed charisma. He said hi and I said Im your cousin, there is your youngest cousin. He handed the then vice-president his young daughter and had a picture taken of them. It was just lovely, he said. Just how many cousins Cousin Joe has from Cooley is not known, but Lisa McKevitt said: I would say there are hundreds, all the Finnegans had big families. Health Features Ask the doctor: My mum is in pain and needs a hip replacement but the GP says to wait. Why? 03:30 A fifth of people in England, Scotland and Wales do not think Northern Ireland will still be part of the UK in 10 years (Michael McHugh/PA) A third of people in Great Britain would not mind Northern Ireland leaving the UK, while a fifth believe it will no longer be part of the union in 10 years from now, new research suggests. Some 39pc of those surveyed in England, Scotland and Wales said they think Northern Ireland breaking away from the UK and uniting with the Republic would not make much difference to the remaining three nations. The polling for the PA news agency comes as the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement approaches and as the debate around Northern Irelands future continues. The online survey by Ipsos of 2,166 adults aged 18 to 75 living in Great Britain between March 30 and April 2 sought to gain the views of English, Scottish and Welsh residents. Respondents were asked if they would prefer Northern Ireland to choose to remain in the UK or to leave and join with the Republic of Ireland were there to be a referendum. While 40pc said they would prefer it to stay part of the UK, 33pc said they did not mind either way and 17pc said they would prefer Northern Ireland to break away. In February 2019, 36pc of people polled said they would prefer Northern Ireland to stay in the UK, 36pc said they did not mind either way, and 18pc said they would prefer it left the UK. Some 41pc of respondents said they think Northern Ireland will still be part of the UK in five years, while 14pc think it will not. A third of Britons said they would not mind Northern Ireland leaving the UK and joining the Republic of Ireland (Neil Munns/PA) Certainty around Northern Irelands place in the union decreased as the timeline lengthened with 31pc saying they think Northern Ireland will still be in the UK in 10 years, and 21pc in 20 years. A fifth (20pc) said they did not think it would be in the UK in 10 years, rising to almost a quarter (24pc) when asked about 20 years from now. Respondents were also asked to imagine Northern Ireland leaving the UK and becoming united with the Republic. Almost two-fifths (39pc) said they believed this would not make much difference to the remaining nations in the UK, and 30pc said it would not make much difference to Northern Ireland. A fifth (20pc) said they believed the remaining nations would be worse off, while 13pc said England, Scotland and Wales would be better off. Some 21pc said Northern Ireland would be worse off in this instance, while 19% said they thought it would be better off. Most Britons asked whether the Windsor Framework is a good or bad deal for Northern Ireland and the UK did not have an opinion, the polling suggested. The framework was unveiled in February as a means of adapting the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol to deal with trade disruption between the region and the rest of the UK. The deal has been formally signed off by the UK Government and the EU. Around a quarter of people said they thought it was a very or fairly good deal for Northern Ireland (25pc) and the UK (24pc) while 9pc said they thought it was a very or fairly bad deal. The remainder thought it was neither a good or bad deal, said they did not know or that they had not heard anything or enough about the deal. Bertie Ahern has said its too early to rule out a Fianna Fail-Sinn Fein coalition and that the Irish public will in the end decide. The former taoiseach would not be drawn on if he would stand in the presidential election on RTE Ones Late Late Show tonight. However, Mr Ahern, who recently rejoined Fianna Fail, didnt outright state any plan to bring the two opposition parties together was impossible. Its too early to say what will happen, Mr Ahern told Ryan Tubridy. Were two years out from the election. I dont think its wise for political parties to say what will happen. The people will ultimately decide. Mr Ahern appeared on the Late Late to mark his place in the creation of the Good Friday Agreement on its 25th anniversary. Rather than answer a question on whether hes standing in the presidential election, Mr Ahern responded to Tubridy: I heard you're running, but anyway. Tubridy continued: Youd have Mahon, how you left the taoiseachs office (as questions to answer). Mr Ahern responded: To be honest, I havent thought about it. I said Im going to stay involved in the North for this year. There's so many outstanding issues. Im enjoying trying to bring what we started 30 years ago to an end. US President Joe Bidens visit to Ireland and Northern Ireland next week, was an enormous opportunity, for the North, he said. Rishi Sunak has done a good job, Northern Ireland is part of Ireland, the British and EU economy, he said. It's the best three card trick. All we need are the politicians to get their act in line. If that happens, then Northern Ireland can really thrive Bidens interest in Northern Ireland, as president and long before, has been outstanding. Mr Ahern paid tribute to all those whod been involved in the construction of the GFA, including former US senator George Mitchell, whom he said was currently suffering health issues. All sides had paid their part, he added. He also remembered the loss of his mother, who passed away when the talks were finally coming to an end in 1998. The sadness, he said. You lose your mam I went to mams removal, I came out of the church, it was a Tuesday night. I thought the funeral is tomorrow and Ill go back to the North. However, he took an urgent phone call from the North and was urged to return. He was told if he didnt return to the North this thing is gone. Mr Ahern recalled how he spoke to Mr Mitchell and realised he had to travel to Northern Ireland. I trusted George Mitchell. Hes having health problems at the minute. I spoke to him the length of Griffith Avenue (in Dublin). I went up (to Northern Ireland) at 6am in the morning, I met David Trimble, the SDLP, Sinn Fein. Then I was back up to mams funeral in Marino and then back up (to the North.) The Irish Government and the EU are clamping down on short-term rentals. Stock photo: Getty Images Short-term rentals in Ireland pose a big problem for the housing market. Councils across the country are failing to clamp down on short-term leasing as the number of Airbnb-style rentals outstrip long-term rental properties. A woman has been threatened by three masked men armed with a gun. The intruders forced their way inside the property in the Hillman Street area of north Belfast. at around 8.15pm on Tuesday. However, it was only reported to police on Thursday evening. A dog inside the property was struck with a flick baton during the incident. The female, aged in her 50s, escaped physical injury. PSNI Detective Sergeant Ash said: The male armed with the suspected firearm is described as being aged between 40-45 years old, 57 in height and of short, stocky build. "He is described as wearing a navy coat with the hood pulled over his head and a dark coloured snood around his face. "The second man is described as being around 60 in height, aged between 40-45 years old and of heavy build. "He is described as wearing a green, waist-length army style coat, blue jeans black snood and black hoodie under the coat. "He is described as being armed with a flick baton. "The third man is described as of slim build, in his mid 20s and about 58 in height. He is described as wearing a black tracksuit, black snood and a hood pulled tightly over his face. Enquiries are continuing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and we would appeal to anyone with any information to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 1807 06/04/23. The Hera screen (170cm high) is a folding room divider from the Dutch brand Woood. Made in wood and MDF with an Art Deco inspired open-work design that allows the flow of light and air, it would work well in an open-plan space. It costs 89 from meubles.ie. Mighty B Outdoor Lounge Bag, 159, Meadows and Byrne Grounded The Mighty-B Outdoor Lounge Bag is super light to move around but no lightweight when it comes to the weather. Its made of waterproof and UV-resistant fabric with double stitching for extra toughness. It also comes in grey and costs 159 from meadowsandbyrne.com. Wooden workbench, 136, blossomwood.ie Go Dutch What could be more non-gendered than a kids workbench in a vapourwave pastel palette. Play-wise, theres a lot going on but, unlike many furniture-toys, this ones easy on the eye. Its made in wood by Little Dutch, is 86cm high, and costs 136 from blossomwood.ie. Norfolk Eco Flow wall-mounted basin mixer, 230, sonasbathrooms.com On tap The glamorous Norfolk Eco Flow wall-mounted basin mixer in brushed gold promises to enhance the look of your bathroom while reducing water consumption. It costs 230 (see sonasbathrooms.com). Easter wreath, 24.99, from TK Maxx Hop it Embrace Easter kitsch with a seasonal wreath. With pastel pretty eggs, faux flowers, and bunny ears, this is as secular as it gets. It costs 24.99 from TK Maxx (for store details see tkmaxx.ie). Travelling with furry friends is growing post-pandemic, with more cabins now available on ferries A total of 75,000 pets sailed with their owners on Brittany Ferries routes in 2022, the company has revealed. The figure represents an increase of almost 40,000 (114pc) on the number of pets who travelled overseas on its routes in 2021, it says. Pets taken overseas require an EU-issued pet passport, as well as micro-chipping and various vaccinations. The market for pet-friendly travel has been growing since the pandemic, however, with over half of Irish households now owning a pet, according to CSO figures. Over the past year, we have seen more and more tourists opting to bring their pets along with them on holiday, said Hugh Bruton, General Manager of Brittany Ferries in Ireland. Particularly since Covid, people are spending so much more time at home and are finding it harder to leave their pets for longer periods. Pets can travel in onboard kennels or a total of 106 pet-friendly cabins across Brittany Ferries fleet. Salamanca, which sails the 30-hour crossing between Rosslare and Bilbao, has 22 pet-friendly cabins, for example. Prices for a car with two passengers and a pet staying in kennels start from 379 each-way on the route, or from 427 each-way with a pet-friendly cabin. Reuben the dog in a Brittany Ferries cabin. Photo: Patrick Browne Last year, the company added 28 pet-friendly cabins to the Pont-Aven, which operates between Cork and Roscoff. Prices start from 261 each-way for a car with two passengers and a pet staying in kennels, or from 316 each-way with a pet-friendly cabin. Stena Line also offers a limited number of pet-friendly cabins on its Stena Vision and Stena Horizon services between Rosslare and Cherbourg, its Stena Europe service to Fishguard, and Stena Adventurer and Stena Estrid routes between Dublin and Holyhead. Pets not staying in dedicated cabins with Brittany Ferries travel in onboard kennels or in vehicles, depending on the ship. They can be visited by owners. Dogs must be muzzled and kept on a lead outside of cabins, kennels and vehicles, and are not permitted in bars, restaurants and shops (with the exception of assistance dogs). Pets are a huge part of many of our customers lives and we understand how important it is for them to be able to take their furry family members with them on their travels, Mr Bruton said. "Pet travel is very popular and space is limited and subject to availability, Brittany Ferries website adds. Early booking is recommended to avoid disappointment. Irish Ferries' Oscar Wilde In other ferry news, Irish Ferries has announced the addition of a new cruise ferry to its fleet. The Oscar Wilde, built in 2007 and originally called the Star, will enter service on the Rosslare to Pembroke route in early June. It replaces the chartered Blue Star 1 for summer, with 134 cabins and a capacity of over 2,080 passengers. Fares start from 246 for a return journey with a car plus one adult, the company says. On Irish Ferries services from Ireland, pets stay in vehicles or onboard kennels, depending on the ships and routes involved. Strikes are possible in France, Germany, Portugal and the UK this weekend, and Eurocontrol says delays are inevitable European aviation is gearing up for Easter travel disruptions marked by strikes and cancellations, in a major test of the industry's ability to prevent a repeat of last year's summer holiday season chaos. Strikes have rolled through France, Portugal, Britain and Germany in recent weeks and could cause air travel disruption in parts of Europe through the Easter holidays, officials at airlines, airports and air traffic authorities told Reuters. "There will be delays. There's no doubt about it," said Steven Moore, who is in charge of air traffic management operations at Eurocontrol. France's strikes alone have caused thousands of hours of delays so far - sometimes triggering 70,000 minutes of delays in one day, based on data shared by Eurocontrol. Since March 13, France's civil aviation authority DGAC has almost daily required airlines to cut their flights by 20pc to 30pc at several airports, including Paris's second biggest hub, Orly. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has complained that those strikes disrupt the ability of airlines to cross through French airspace, where overflights represent about 15pc of European traffic, according to Eurocontrol. He called last week on the European Commission to do more to stop such strikes hitting overflights, by introducing minimum service rules, though industry experts say strikes are a national issue. The airline has been forced to cancel 3,080 flights mainly overflying France so far in 2023, it says. "Due to repeated French ATC strikes, we regrettably expect more flight cancellations and delays over France from April 1-8, Ryanair says on its website. All affected passengers will be notified as soon as possible. Details of possible Easter strike delays remain unclear, but the warnings illustrate how vulnerable aviation remains to external pressures, despite efforts to avoid a repeat of last year's queues and cancellations. Airlines are frustrated at the escalation in industrial action after they have worked for months to tackle the pressing problem of labour shortages via better coordination and by staffing up for a potential return to pre-pandemic traffic levels. "I think it's something that we have to plan for and we're doing our best to try to mitigate that. But it's, of course, very difficult because ... you sometimes get only 24-hours notice," easyJet CEO Johan Lundgren said. That is unlikely to quell a debate over the European Union's strict passenger compensation rules. Airlines say they have to pay compensation without themselves getting compensated for air traffic delays. Consumer groups say air traffic control strikes are not new and airlines should be quicker to react and pay compensation. European consumer lobby BEUC said consumer pre-payments for air tickets should be phased out, especially in times of disruption, as airlines often spend that money quickly leaving consumers struggling for months to get their money back. The disruptions are coinciding with a recovery in travel demand. In Ireland, passenger traffic at Cork, Dublin and Shannon airports has begun to surpass pre-Covid peaks, and departures from Britain during the Easter weekend are set to go up 11pc compared with last year, although they will remain about 13pc lower than before the pandemic, based on Cirium data. And there's little sign of reconciliation in France, where the spectre of new delays came as the country was gripped by the latest in a series of national protests over pension reform on Thursday. Fabrice Criquet, secretary general of the Force Ouvriere union at Paris airports operator ADP, said the only way for the situation to return to normal was for President Emmanuel Macron's government to withdraw the pension reform. "Strikes aim to disrupt operations by definition, that's what they do, we have been protesting for months over this pension reform and will continue to do so," he told Reuters. Strikes by labour unions from various industries have caused travel disruptions across Germany in recent weeks, with some industry executives calling for a new approach to the disputes to minimise the ongoing tumult. At Frankfurt Airport alone, more than 300,000 passengers were unable to fly due to the strikes. "For us, this has meant a significant million euro amount in terms of lost revenue," head of Frankfurt Airport Stefan Schulte told Reuters. "We have to ask ourselves whether it would not be better to have a coordinated truce for critical infrastructure. To not have different strikes at different times, which always affect the overall system so strongly," he added. In Portugal, border control officers are set to strike this week as well as train workers. Algarve's Hotels and Tourism Enterprises Association have called for preventive action, warning that border control strikes could have dire impacts on the region's reputation with tourists - a key driver of Algarve's economy. Airlines and airports, criticised in the media and parliaments for their handling of last year's air travel surge, say they are hamstrung by the fact that they have almost no influence on Europe's spiralling industrial unrest. Other sectors have also been severely hit, however. "[Our members,] they're worried, but let's say they are reasonably worried. They have done a lot of work to make sure that this goes reasonably well," said Olivier Jankovec, the head of airports industry group ACI Europe. "How do you prevent strikes? This is not something you can really prevent, because you can't receive a 20pc salary increase like this overnight." The narrow alleyway in Hanoi is popular as a selfie spot Travel agencies in Vietnam are being told not to organise tours of the capitals renowned Train Street due to safety fears. Ngo 224 Le Duan is a narrow alleyway in the Old Quarter of Hanoi, popular as a selfie spot where trains travel past just inches from businesses such as makeshift coffee shops and homes. The decision to target visitors comes after groups of tourists have been frequently congregating where a train passes on the level crossing in Tran Phu Street, causing heavy congestion, posing high risk of traffic accidents and putting pressure on railway guards, according to Vietnam News Agency. The Hanoi Department of Tourism asked relevant agencies to seriously observe regulations on rail traffic safety and urban order and told its investigation force to step up inspections. This isnt the first time officials have been forced to step in over Train Street concerns. In September last year, a stretch was shut down and barriers were erected after a South Korean tourist was hit by a train. Fortunately, they werent seriously injured. There had previously been an attempt to crack down on businesses operating along the railway line in 2019. These plans were halted as the pandemic began. Vietnams capital city has welcomed almost one million foreign tourists in the first three months of this year, a figure almost six times higher than the same period last year, according to Hanoi Department of Tourism. In 2018, a travel influencer was criticised for having her picture taken on the tracks at Maeklong Railway Market in Thailand. Like Hanois Train Street, its become a popular attraction, but this Spanish blogger and designer took things a step further. Faced with backlash after sharing the picture on her Instagram, she deleted the snap and apologised in a further post. Gardai are investigating after the body of a young man was discovered by the quayside in Waterford. The deceased, who was aged in his mid 20s, was discovered shortly after lunchtime on Thursday by Merchant's Quay, just off Waterford city centre. A passerby became concerned about the young man who was lying prone and motionless on the ground and contacted the emergency services. He was pronounced dead at the scene and the Office of the State Pathologist was notified. His body was discovered just a few metres from one of Waterford's busiest roads and a short distance from bars, hotels and shops. The man's body was taken to University Hospital Waterford (UHW) where a full post mortem examination is scheduled to be carried out. Gardai stressed that they are keeping an open mind about the young man's death. The nature of their investigation will be determined by the precise findings of the post mortem examination. However, the death is not believed to be suspicious and there was no obvious sign of foul play at the scene. Toxicology tests are expected to prove central to the Garda inquiry. Fianna Fail MEP Barry Andrews should realise the point of having an EU parliament is that different interests can be represented in our political system. Photo: Justin Farrelly We were surprised to learn of our status as rag-week radicals in the Irish Independent, from the pen of Barry Andrews. We can only imagine he must be running for election. Apparently keen to represent us as a waste of space in Brussels, Andrews omits much that is relevant, sadly leaving him guilty of disinformation. It is in need of correction. For three years I denied my body the nutrition it needed. My teeth broke, my hair thinned, my periods stopped. But, in that too-small body I was praised... She looks just like herself, is a phrase that has become a conversational cornerstone at Irish funerals. I keep hearing this about my granny, who died last weekend at the age of 96. But the thing is, she looks nothing like herself. Shes the quietest Ive ever heard her, for a start. Her face is unlined, her cheekbones prominent. The light in her eyes, the mischief, the divilment had gone somewhere, everywhere or maybe nowhere; who knows. Her hands, which havent been idle for nine decades, are still and threaded with rosary beads as she lies in her coffin. I place my hands on hers, hoping that I might somehow absorb some of her creativity, positivity and humour. It seems a long time ago, but the internet was once a place of great freedom. It held the ideas and ideals of the generation who invented it and those who embraced it. Secondary school student Johnny Walsh receiving his Rotary Youth Leadership Development award from Capt. Sean Fitzgerald, District Governor of Rotary Ireland and Patrick ORiordan, Head of Public Affairs with the European Parliament in Ireland, at an event at Europe House in Dublin recently. [Photo: Collette Creative Photography] The 24 students from all around Ireland who were presented with Rotary Youth Leadership Certificates at the European Parliament Offices in Dublin recently. Hannah Walsh and Johnny Walsh pictured receiving their Rotary Youth Leadership Development awards from Capt. Sean Fitzgerald, District Governor of Rotary Ireland and Patrick ORiordan, Head of Public Affairs with the European Parliament in Ireland, at an event at Europe House in Dublin recently. [Photo: Collette Creative Photography] Secondary school student Hannah Walsh receiving her Rotary Youth Leadership Development award from Capt. Sean Fitzgerald, District Governor of Rotary Ireland and Patrick ORiordan, Head of Public Affairs with the European Parliament in Ireland, at an event at Europe House in Dublin recently. [Photo: Collette Creative Photography A winner at successive BT Young Scientist competitions and a debating enthusiast were the two Cork winners among 24 secondary school students recognised for the their leadership abilities and taken to parliaments in Dublin, Belfast and Strasbourg as part of their prize. Hannah Walsh of Colaiste Treasa in Kanturk and CBC student Jonathan Walsh were the two Cork students who were presented with Rotary Youth Leadership Certificates at the European Parliament Offices in Dublin recently. After being disrupted by Covid for the last two years, this year saw a welcome return to the regular itinerary which involves visits to Belfast, Dublin, and Strasbourg. During the six day all expenses paid trip the competition winners visited Belfast City Hall and Stormont where they met and chatted with politicians from various parties. Then it was onto Europe House in Dublin where they were presented with their certificates before a trip to Dail Eireann where they met the Minister for Education Norma Foley and several TDs. The group then flew to Frankfurt for a two-day visit to Strasbourg. After being formally welcomed by the President of the European Parliament, Robert Metsola the students took part in an interactive workshop which allowed them to discuss and vote on amendments to an EU proposal on climate action targets. The students also enjoyed a walking tour of Strasbourg, met students from a host of other countries be fore enjoying some retail therapy. Hannah, who is a previous winner in the BT Young Scientist Competition, is involved in Colaiste Treasas student council, the Irish Girl Guides and is a member of the Cork ETB School of Music Youth Orchestra. She said she would highly recommend the competition to young people. The highlight of the week was walking into the hemicycle of the European Parliament but I learnt so much more than I had envisioned. "I took part in so many interesting discussions, learnt invaluable skills I can use for the rest of my life and made so many friends. "There are very few competitions that offer such a unique and rewarding prize and I know I will look back fondly on this week for the rest of my life. Jonathan, who is European Youth Parliament member and International Irish Representative is also CBC Cork Debating Society Recording Secretary and School Meitheal Team Recording Secretary. The highlight was seeing and speaking in the EU Parliament and getting to experience being an MEP. I gained a better understanding of the structure of government and politics, especially in Northern Ireland. "I also learned about accessibility into politics and the down to earth nature of politicians, said Jonathan, who recommended the competition unreservedly. Captain Sean Fitzgerald, District Governor of Rotary Ireland said the knowledge and enthusiasm of the students was hugely impressive. I have to compliment Jonathan and Hannah and all of this years winners for their willingness to engage and the extremely high standard of their contributions throughout the week. It was wonderful to have a full complement of students back on the trip this year and it was clear to us that while they arrived as strangers, they left as friends having enjoyed a wonderful journey. I would urge as many young people as possible from every part of the island to take part in next years competition Mr Fitzgerald said. Patrick ORiordan from the European Parliament described the winners as an exceptional group of young men and women and one of the most engaging and well-informed that we've ever had the pleasure of welcoming to Europe House and I look forward to seeing them contributing to public life in Ireland and Europe in the years to come and returning as MEPs or Ministers!" The Rotary Youth Leadership Development Competition is open to 16 and 17-year-olds who are living on the island of Ireland. Aldi Ireland has officially opened its 25th store in Dublin this week, creating 30 permanent jobs. The new 2.9m store at The Crossings in Adamstown is part of Aldis plan to expand its store network in Dublin. It will include a 73m overall investment with 11 new stores in the county over the next five years. The new stores will see the creation of 350 full-time permanent jobs and 550 construction jobs over the period. With 25 stores now in Dublin, Aldi has made a capital investment of 184m in Dublin since opening its first Irish store in Parnell Street in 1999. The retailer currently employs 673 people in Dublin with a 20.3m total salary spend across its 25 stores in the county. The new 1,366sqm store, which opened on Thursday, is powered by 100pc green electricity and features solar panels on the roof, powering items such as energy saving lights and chiller fridges. Dmitri Sakovits, ALDI Adamstown Store Manager, said: This new store, and the 30 new jobs created, will support our ambition to deliver value to the people of Dublin at the locations most convenient to them. As a leading retailer in Ireland, we are very conscious of the current challenges facing consumers and businesses. The cost-of-living crisis is impacting every household and we know what it means for our customers. The Capuchin Centre is asking the public to donate Easter eggs for children who may miss out due to the cost-of-living crisis. Alan Bailey, Volunteer Coordinator at the centre, said this small donation could make a huge difference to the day of a child living in poverty. You might say its not a lot, but it is a lot for children who dont get Easter eggs, he said. Its one of those little expenses that might be a little too big for families in the current situation. Its for children to be a part of Easter and have the Easter spirit. We dont want some children saying they got Easter eggs and some children saying they didnt. Its a small thing, but means so much to a child. Most people dont think about it, they just go into the supermarket and get their Easter eggs. But there are families who cant afford that. We have about 400 families on our books, theyll all get Easter eggs. At the moment, every Wednesday morning, were distributing 1,400 food hampers, a bag of groceries. Four weeks ago, it was 1,100. If you turn up and ask for a bag, you dont even have to ask, just put your hand out and well give it to you. Krispy Kreme approached us, and they wanted to donate Easter eggs. They said their clients will get donuts in exchange for bringing in Easter eggs that will be given to us. Were certainly delighted. Anyone who donates an egg through Krispy Kreme will benefit as they will receive four free donuts in exchange for their kindness. Declan Foley, Country Manager for Krispy Kreme Ireland, said: This Easter, we are proud to be partnering with The Capuchin Centre to call on generous Irish people to help spread joy to those unable to afford Easter eggs, rewarding them with shareable boxes of our Choose Your Own four-pack of donuts in exchange for their generosity. You can visit a participating Krispy Kreme shop to take part in the Eggschange from April 7 until April 10. Young people are playing Russian Roulette by taking laughing gas, according to a Dublin TD who wants to introduce stricter laws on the substance. Mark Ward, Sinn Fein TD for Dublin Mid-West, is concerned about the wellbeing of young people who are consuming nitrous oxide, more commonly known as laughing gas. A recent report published by the HSE on their Adolescent Addiction Service has shown that 22pc of young people attending their service admitted to taking nitrous oxide on occasion in 2021. This increased by 175pc in 2022. Young people are going to the Emergency Department in the Mater Hospital with numbness in their hands and feet, he said. Theyve issues with balance, problems with their heart rate and theyve mental health issues. It could lead to more damaging neurological problems as well. They dont know the effect its going to take on them until after they take it. Laughing gas cuts off oxygen to the brain for a short time. That causes young people to experience a euphoria and a high - thats where theyre getting the giddiness and laughing gas effect. Its a waste of money and quite damaging to young people. Theres a 175pc increase on the amount of young people attending the adolescence addiction services with an issue about nitrous oxide. We saw the increase of this during the pandemic when young people were at a loss, they didnt have the structures of school, sports, organisations available to them. Now the issue hasnt gone away, thats the problem, its still there. I think young people are playing Russian Roulette when theyre taking laughing gas, he added. Mr Ward is calling for legislation on the sale of nitrous oxide to be for commercial purposes only. Its one of the biggest issues, you only have to walk around any housing estate anywhere across Dublin and youll see the canisters. Something needs to happen, he said. The widespread use of nitrous oxide is resulting in anti-social behaviour, litter, and it is damaging to peoples health. Sinn Fein TD Mark Ward wants stricter controls around the sale of nitrous oxide It can be bought on the streets or over the internet. The small silver canisters known as silver bullets. The big canisters, super-sized, are going for as much as 40 each on the streets. Youve people doing deals where you can get three for 100 too. Unscrupulous dealers are making vast profits from the sale of nitrous oxide. Ive a piece of legislation looking to regulate the sale of it. So, you can only have a license to sell it and you can only sell it to certain industries like the medical industry and the catering industry. They use it for proper reasons. Were looking to make it so that a licensed supplier can only sell it to someone with a legitimate reason, he added. Also, were looking for ways to give the gardai the power to confiscate it from young people, but not prosecute them. The last thing you want to see is young people getting into trouble for something that could be a minor first-time attempt. Mr Ward has submitted legislation to the Bills office in the Oireachtas that will regulate the sale of Nitrous Oxide to commercial use only. This is similar to legislation introduced in Holland where authorities are regulating the use of nitrous oxide outside the medical and catering industries. Author John Cotter and the fantastic cover design artwork by Noel Nash of the Castleisland District Heritage Group. John's book will be launched in Bob's Bar and Restaurant in Ballydesmond at 8pm on thie Good Friday night. King William Brown is a magical adventure tale in a land of demons and dragons but the story behind its journey into print is stranger still. Author John Cotter, who works in The Country Market Restaurant in Castleisland, suffered a serious head injury in a motor bike accident in 1985 which left him in a coma for six weeks. He slowly clawed his way back to health but found his mind full of strange tales from which he could not escape. To ease the torment, John started to write them down in a notebook but his injuries made writing difficult. One day, John, who lives in Cordal, walked the hill of Knockdown near the summit of which is the ancient grave of Dermot Duin, a chieftain buried there with his sword and shield in AD 101. John sat by the ancient stones, and the myriad of ideas invading his mind suddenly knitted together. It was a pivotal moment. John went home, opened a laptop, and spent the next four years typing with two fingers the first part of his story. This painstaking task culminated in the publication of King William Brown in 2014 which the author funded and distributed himself. But John, whose home looks out on Dermot Duins grave, did not stop there. The stories continued to come, as if a spirit of the past was reaching out to him, and almost ten years on, the magic continues in King William Brown - Part 2. At the end of the first part of Johns story, Prince Adam and Princess Tara have returned for the second time to Dermot Duins grave and with the help of Zorro the Wolf, entered King Williams World with their teacher and school friends. But they find themselves trapped there without the magic ring. The concluding part of this adventure was revealed in Bobs Bar and Restaurant, Ballydesmond, on Good Friday. The international team of Ukrainian, Irish and Lithuanian students from Colaiste na Sceilge in Cahersiveen who took second place in the Irish National Lego Robotics League led by Olga Burdo, a refugee from Kiev. When Olga Burdo, a refugee from Kyiv, fled to Ireland and Cahersiveen, she tried her best to continue with what she knew in her former life. Back home, she had a huge interest in robotics and was a technology teacher in Kyiv, where she lived for 20 years. She has also mentored teams for robotics competitions in Ukraine over the last seven years, and when she had to move to Ireland to flee the war, she decided to continue this. She now works in Kerry with Ukrainian students, helping to teach them English in Colaiste na Sceilge, and she also took on the role of mentoring a team of students from the school in the National Robotics League leading them to glory. The team itself is made up of Ukrainian, Irish and Lithuanian children aged from 12 to 16. Olgas son, Krstyatin, was one of the team members. The first round of the competition took place in Galway, where they won first place in the Innovation project section. Then the final of the Lego League Irish Robotics competition took place in Dublin at the end of March, with 23 teams taking part. And for the first time the Kerry team competed and went on to earn second place. These robotics competitions are an international programme whose goal is to attract as many young people and children as possible to science, help them develop social skills and show that they can influence the future, that they are our future. This year was different, so we decided to participate in Ireland, says Olga. The semi-finals took place in two stages: Robot Game and Innovative Project . The judges also evaluated core values among the team, including relationships between players, their public position and desire to change the world. Inclusiveness is one of the most important aspects of this competition. These competitions take place in many countries, including Ukraine, where they are held as part of the Robototechnika festival, she said. I visited it for the first time in Ukraine with my son in 2012. All the children on the team here are friends of my son, it was because of him that everything started. He wanted to try his hand at robotics in Ireland, and I wanted to continue my favourite hobby, Olga added. Olga says that they were surprised to win second place because there was not much time for preparation, but it was very emotional and is encouraging a desire in the children to grow and develop in this field. David Syme will perform in Watervile this week - the very place where he suffered a stroke in 2017. Kerry holds a special place in the heart of David Syme, and next week he will return to the stage in the Kingdom. The countys beach race meetings have been plunged into uncertainty with the Irish Horse and Pony Racing Associations (IHPRA) announcement that such meetings have been suspended indefinitely. Ardee Educate Together National School had expected builders to start construction after St Patricks Day but were told just days beforehand that the project had been paused The Minister for Education has been forced into making a dramatic u-turn on her recent decision to pause 58 school building projects around the country, including a new building for Ardee Educate Together National School, a Louth Labour TD has said. Deputy Ged Nash TD explained: Builders were poised to be on site at Ardee Educate Together National School the week after St Patricks Day but with just days to go, the school was told that the project had been paused. The move shocked the school authorities and the wider school community and I took up their case in the Dail and in the media, urging the Minister for Education to reverse the decision. That ultimately led to a Labour motion in the Dail last week where party leader, Ivana Bacik called on the government to progress the 58 paused projects, this year. Now, just a few days after that motion and less than a month since the decision was taken to pause these vital projects, the government has been forced into an embarrassing climbdown. The Minister for Education, Norma Foley has announced that the pause imposed on 58 school building projects, including at Ardee ETNS, can now be lifted following discussions with Minister for Public Expenditure, Paschal Donohoe. Reacting to the news, Deputy Nash said: Im hugely relieved the Minister, her department and this government have come to their collective senses and pushed the play button on these vital projects, which should never have been paused in the first place. Valuable time has been lost but the priority for the Department of Education must now be to undo the damage that has been done and get these projects restarted as soon as possible. The Louth Labour TD added: The hard-working staff and children at Ardee Educate Together National School now need to be given certainty over the projects future. We need firm timelines for the delivery of this project and an absolute commitment from the Minister to see this project through to completion. Deputy Nash said: This school community has been treated appallingly by this government. It has been left in limbo for the last month, not knowing what kind of future it faces and continuing to manage the education of over 200 children on two sides of a busy road in a mish-mash of buildings that are barely fit for purpose. I hope now they can plan for the future with some degree of hope and optimism and I will do all I can to ensure this new commitment is followed through on, this time. Deputy Nash concluded: An element of trust between the school community and the Department of Education has been broken here and only action on the ground will see that repaired. I want to see this project breaking ground at the earliest possible opportunity and I will continue to push for the delivery and completion of this vitally important new school building for Ardee. Senator Erin McGreehan has welcomed confirmation that funding for rollout and continuation of the School Building Programme has been secured. This will facilitate the continued rollout of urgently required school building projects in both mainstream and special education settings, including those that were temporarily paused due to capital funding pressures. The Department of Education will update each of the 58 schools in relation to the formal arrangements and next steps in respect of the delivery of their individual projects. Included in this scheme is Ardee Educate Together which will see its construction continue. Senator McGreehan said, Im delighted to receive confirmation from my colleague, Minister for Education Norma Foley thats he has ensured that funding has been secured to maintain the rollout of the ambitious school building programme which includes development at Ardee Educate Together. This is an important project for Ardee and I look forward to it reaching completion for the pupils of the school. We dont need a report, we need those houses, Cllr Marianne Butler commented on the recent Land Development Agency (LDA) report which identified four sites in public ownership in Dundalk with the potential to deliver over 1,000 houses in five to ten years, What is the role for us as a council, as a local authority? she asked. "Its brilliant that four sites have been identified in Dundalk and one in Drogheda, as not every town in Ireland had sites identified. Director of Service Paddy Donnelly said that officials did engage with their colleagues in the planning section. The LDA identified a number of different sites including the four selected. The council would have had an input as to whether the sites were suitable but there was no further role for them other than when than when the housing is built, they will be be for their tenants. New Drogheda business is popular with both two- and four-legged customers! Cafe owner Matthias Ecker with one of his regular canine customers Dolly the pup. Its 9am on a Saturday morning, and while most businesses in Drogheda are turning the sign to open, Buns Bakery at Beechgrove roundabout has already been serving hot coffee and delicious scones to customers for three hours. A call for a special meeting on housing was made by Cllr Thomas Sharkey at the monthly meeting of the Dundalk Municipal District as it emerged that over 2million owing in unpaid rents. The Sinn Fein councillor recalled that he had written to the Housing Strategic Policy Committee two highlighting the number of homes needed in the Dundalk Municipal District. "Its time to hold a special meeting that looks at the housing needs in this district, he said. The public at large need to know that we are taking the issue seriously. He noted that there more than 2million in unpaid rents due to the Council. While 900 odd households were on household payment plans, more than 1,000 households were in arrears. "The public see a disconnect from ourselves and the delivery of homes. Director of Service Paddy Donnelly said that Louth County Council has in excess of 3,000 tenants on the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) which is an active source of housing in the count. So far this year, they had access to 120 additional properties so there was still quite a bit of movement in that areas, despite what the news reports might suggest. Some of these properties came about because elected members had identified them, Arrears are always a challenge, he continued, saying that with 4,200 on their books, there were more rents to be collected. The local authority had a specific official to deal with rent collection and they were getting people to enter payment plans. However, there were some challenging cases which might end up in court with the tenancy terminated. Cllr Maeve Yore stated that tenants should have to go on direct debit payments, such as she had done when she took out a mortgage. "Louth people are fed up picking up the tab and the same goes for unpaid fines, she said. Cllr John Reilly asked if they could consider looking at modular housing. However, Cllr Emma Coffey said that we can talk about modular housing but the reality is that it doesnt fit with the current planning system. She hoped that new planning acts will come into effect before the summer session, saying a national approach was needed as well as a complete redesign of the planning system in Ireland. Mr Donnelly agreed that direct debit and family budgeting were the way forward, particularly for people on social welfare. He confirmed that the local authority was looking at new types of housing construction, including the developments they are expecting to progress in 2023 and 2024. He said that the Council wasnt facing any challenges in getting contractors or developers at the moment and are looking at exceeding their housing target by 15% over five years. Paddy Goodwin and the Holy Ghosts to headline May 6th benefit concert The Marxmen are also on the bill for Rock Against Racism in McHugh's. Saturday May 6th promises to be an incredible night of Blues, Rock and Psychobilly music in the Barrel Venue McHughs bar, as local musicians join together in solidarity with migrants, people seeking asylum and racialised people for a Rock Against Racism night. Fresh from the release of their debut album, which featured a host of legendary Irish musicians including Paul Brady, Anthony Thistlethwaite (The Waterboys and the Sawdoctors) and Jim Lockhart (Horslips), Paddy Goodwin and the Holy Ghosts will headline this free gig. Their album The Church Of The Here And Now came out recently to huge critical acclaim and is currently featuring on Radio Stations in the US, Canada and Australia and has been made album of the week on four Irish Radio Stations. Also standing up against racism on the night are the well known and loved Psychobilly act, The Marxmen whose heady sound ranges from Do-Wop to Screaming Jay Hawkins with nods to great acts like Joy Division and Nick cave. The first act of the night, local boys Dionysus who are made up of some of the stalwarts of the Drogheda music scene will offer up gutsy Blues-Rock with brash guitars and driving boogie rhythms to get everyone in the mood. The band have only been together for a short while but are one of the best outfits Drogheda has to offer. DJ Andrew K will also be featuring on the night, playing his eclectic mix which has made his name well known. Organisers say they were overwhelmed with the support from the local community, musicians and business owners when the idea was first put forward and that the support shows that the overwhelming majority of Irish people have no time for far right wing politics and racism. All are welcome to this free event to Rock Against Racism in McHughs Venue on Saturday 6th of May. Doors open at 8pm. Mary Lou McDonald TD attends Louth meeting Mary Lou McDonald (right), President of Sinn Fein with former President Gerry Adams and the Rev. Karen Sethuraman at the Armagh, Down and Louth Peiople's Assembly held in the Carrickdale Hotel. Photo: Ken Finegan/www.newspics.ie Panel members Conor Patterson, Mairead McAlinden, Gerry Murphy, Rev. Karen Sethuraman and Aidan Browne at the Armagh, Down and Louth Peiople's Assembly held in the Carrickdale Hotel. Photo: Ken Finegan/www.newspics.ie Part of the large attendance at the Armagh, Down and Louth Peiople's Assembly held in the Carrickdale Hotel. Photo: Ken Finegan/www.newspics.ie President of Sinn Fein, Mary Lou McDonald with Louth TDs Ruairi O Murchu and Imelda Munster at the Armagh, Down and Louth Peiople's Assembly held in the Carrickdale Hotel. Photo: Ken Finegan/www.newspics.ie Sinn Fein TD Ruairi O Murchu has said that the huge attendance at the recent Armagh, Down and Louth Peoples Assembly demonstrates the level of interest in planning for a new and united Ireland. Deputy O Murchu said: Over 300 people packed into the Carrickdale Hotels Bernish Suite on Thursday past to attend the Armagh Down Louth Peoples Assembly. This Peoples Assembly was an opportunity for citizens from the border region to have their say on the future of Ireland. The ill-effects of living under British rule are keenly felt in this area and the implications of Brexit cast a long shadow. The Carrickdale event was the fourth organised by Sinn Feins Commission on the Future of Ireland. It was chaired by Dr Conor Patterson of Newry and Mourne Enterprise Agency. The panel included; Reverend Karen Sethuraman; ICTU Assistant General Secretary Gerry Murphy; Mairead McAlinden former CEO of the Southern Health & Social Care Trust and Aidan Browne of Dundalks DkITs Regional Development Centre. Deputy O Murchu continued, In addition to an excellent and varied panel, the contributions from the audience were thoughtful, spirited, informed and very interesting. It was standing room only and the packed gathering heard Uachtaran Shinn Fein Mary Lou McDonald open the event. In a wide ranging address Ms McDonald spelt out the difficulties caused by partition and the opportunities which will be created by ending division. The Sinn Fein President extended the hand of friendship to Protestants and unionists when she said: To those from the unionist culture I extend a sincere welcome the new Ireland must be a warm house for all and your traditions and beliefs must be respected and cherished. I invite you especially to be part of the conversation and for us all to plan for the future together. She urged the Irish government to facilitate and support our changing country by establishing a Citizens Assembly on Irish unity. She said: This is an exciting time for us all; filled with opportunity and hope for a better future. Thats why we need to get it right. Our new constitutional national democracy will emerge from a phased transition and that is why planning and preparation should begin now. Grassroots communities should be involved at the beginning of that process, not at the end. Speaking directly about the challenges facing the border region Mary Lou said: Our shared challenge is to create a future which is warm and welcoming for everyone and where the potential prosperity of areas like this border region can be fully unlocked. A thrilling new adaptation of James Joyce's, Penelope Chapter, Yes! Reflections of Molly Bloom, is en route to Drogheda, starring the daughter of legendary musician Paddy Maloney. Described as expertly performed by The New York Times, this one woman performance promises a daring theatrical journey into the mind and heart of the beloved Ulysses character. The show is starring New York based, Irish actor, Aedin Moloney, who adapted the piece in collaboration with Irish author Colum McCann. Traditional Irish music fans are in for a treat as the accompanying music to the show was especially recorded by Moloneys father, Paddy Moloney, legendary founder and leader of The Chieftains, who passed away in 2021. The show was awarded Winner of the Outer Critics Circle Award for best solo performance during its premiere run in New York. Now the piece will tour multiple venues in Ireland including a show at An Droichead Drogheda June 1-2 and a closing run at The New Theatre, Dublin (June 13 - June 17) for what promises to be a theatrical highlight of this years Bloomsday Festival. Speaking ahead of the tour, Moloney remarked that the show is in honour of her late father: Bringing our adaptation of Molly Bloom back home to Ireland is a truly remarkable experience for us all. It's an emotional journey honouring my dad and his immense contribution to Irish music with the incredible score he arranged and recorded especially for this show, she noted. Now it will be heard by audiences across the homeland, making this return extra special. The show is a unique take on James Joyce's masterpiece set in Dublin in the early 20th Century: With an empty nest, an unfulfilling affair, and a marriage long past its prime, Molly Bloom contemplates the love that she and her philandering husband, Poldy, once shared. Her unsentimental stream of consciousness is a song of songs that reaches backward and forward across the centuries. She seeks to reanimate that love, and ends up discovering herself - as a woman seeking purpose and a desire to be relevant, even after that love is over and her children are gone. Through reflections, Dublin becomes Gibraltar, age becomes youth, and a small room in Ireland becomes the world. remarked Moloney. Moloney describes how the project has been 30 years in the making: I've been fascinated by Ulysses since my youth, and after 30 years of exploring the character's depths, it was author Colum McCann who inspired me to turn those musings into reality - and in 2003, I began work on the adaptation. I recorded the full monologue with music by my father in 2017. Colum partnered with me to complete the adaptation in 2019, and his involvement in this project has enabled us to bring together a show that will captivate fans of James Joyce as well as introducing new generations to one of literature's greatest works. Molly Bloom is a fictional character in the 1922 novel Ulysses by James Joyce. The character was modelled on Joyces wife Nora Barnacle and the day upon which the novel is set in 16 June 1904 is now called Bloomsday. Yes! Reflections of Molly Bloom will visit the Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda on June 1-2. Audience members should be age 16+ and tickets are on sale now. Comment Eamonn Thornton showing photographs to Joe Biden, the 47th Vice President of The United States, of his 2016 visit to the Cooley Peninsula. There are towns in America, many of them, indeed some bigger than Dundalk that have never received a visit from a serving American President, yet this area is about to experience a second visit from a President in the space of 23 years. The first visit was by President Bill Clinton on a memorable December night in 2000 when he addressed the biggest crowd ever gathered at the Market Square, and now the incumbent occupier of the White House, Joe Biden intends to visit this part of the world this month. The motivation for President Clintons visit was to bolster the fledgling Good Friday Agreement, but while President Biden is also anxious to reinforce that Agreement he is also keen to re-visit the ancestral home of his relatives on the Cooley peninsula. According to leading Irish American genealogist Megan Smolenyak Joe Biden is roughly five-eighths Irish, with ancestral links to both Louth and Mayo. Mr Bidens great-great-grandfather Owen Finnegan was born in Templetown on the Cooley Peninsula in 1814, and he arrived in New York on May 31st, 1849, to be followed by his wife Jane and their children on board a ship called The Marchioness of Bute in 1850. According to Ms Smolenyak, the Finnegans, including Mr Bidens great-grandfather James, settled in Covert, New York before they moved to nearby Ovid. James stayed the closest to home but, after marrying Catherine Roche in 1866 and living in Rochester, New York, for several years, he moved to the outskirts of Scranton, Pennsylvania. Their son, Ambrose Finnegan, became Mr Bidens grandfather. He had a tough start in life when his mother died before he was aged two, and his father died when he was just 10. He was raised by his uncle Peter Roche, who had a sign-making business. It was on June 1st, 1909, that the Finnegan and Blewitt families finally linked destinies, when Ambrose Joseph Finnegan married Geraldine Catherine Blewitt and their daughter Jean later married Joseph Biden, and the President was their first child, born on November 20th, 1942. No doubt President Biden will refer to the fact that his relatives emigrated from this area in their quest to find work in America, and that many of the Irish immigrants experienced discrimination and racism in America. The irony is of course that today immigrants from many parts of the world are arriving on our shores in search of a living just as Mr. Bidens relatives did a century and a half ago. They too have experienced racism and discrimination in this country, which should be a reminder to us all that an immigrant landing in Dublin airport this year, or in the future could one day lead this great country just as Joe Biden is the leader of the most powerful country in the world at a very difficult time. A thrilling new adaptation of James Joyces, Penelope Chapter, Yes! Reflections of Molly Bloom, is en route to Sligo. Described as expertly performed by The New York Times, this one woman performance promises a daring theatrical journey into the mind and heart of the beloved Ulysses character. The show is starring New York based, Irish actor, Aedin Moloney, who adapted the piece in collaboration with Irish author Colum McCann. Traditional Irish music fans are in for a treat as the accompanying music to the show was especially recorded by Moloneys father, Paddy Moloney, legendary founder and leader of The Chieftains, who passed away in 2021. The show was awarded Winner of the Outer Critics Circle Award for best solo performance during its premiere run in New York. Now the piece will tour multiple venues in Ireland including a show at Hawks Well Theatre, Sligo June 7th and a closing run at The New Theatre, Dublin (June 13 - June 17) for what promises to be a theatrical highlight of this years Bloomsday Festival. Speaking ahead of the tour, Moloney remarked that the show is in honour of her late father: Bringing our adaptation of Molly Bloom back home to Ireland is a truly remarkable experience for us all. Its an emotional journey honouring my dad and his immense contribution to Irish music with the incredible score he arranged and recorded especially for this show. Now it will be heard by audiences across the homeland, making this return extra special. The show is a unique take on James Joyces masterpiece set in Dublin in the early 20th Century: With an empty nest, an unfulfilling affair, and a marriage long past its prime, Molly Bloom contemplates the love that she and her philandering husband, Poldy, once shared. Her unsentimental stream of consciousness is a song of songs that reaches backward and forward across the centuries. She seeks to reanimate that love, and ends up discovering herself - as a woman seeking purpose and a desire to be relevant, even after that love is over and her children are gone. Through reflections, Dublin becomes Gibraltar, age becomes youth, and a small room in Ireland becomes the world, remarked Moloney. Moloney describes how the project has been 30 years in the making: Ive been fascinated by Ulysses since my youth, and after 30 years of exploring the characters depths, it was author Colum McCann who inspired me to turn those musings into reality - and in 2003, I began work on the adaptation. I recorded the full monologue with music by my father in 2017. Colum partnered with me to complete the adaptation in 2019, and his involvement in this project has enabled us to bring together a show that will captivate fans of James Joyce as well as introducing new generations to one of literatures greatest works. Molly Bloom is a fictional character in the 1922 novel Ulysses by James Joyce. The character was modelled on Joyces wife Nora Barnacle and the day upon which the novel is set in 16 June 1904 is now called Bloomsday. Yes! Reflections of Molly Bloom will tour Wexford Arts Centre May 4-5; The Wicklow Heather, May 11th; May 11th; The Watergate Kilkenny May 20th; The Town Hall Theatre Galway May 30th; An Droichead Drogheda June 1st-2nd; The Hawkswell Theatre, Sligo June 7th; St. Johns Listowel Co. Kerry, June 9th; Narrative 4 Limerick, June 10th; and The New Theatre, Dublin, as part of the Bloomsday Festival, June 13-17. Audiences should be age 16+. Tickets available from https://www.yesreflectionsofmollybloom.com/ireland2023 Sligo Cemetery Gate Lodge will get funding of 37,500 for the repair and renewal of the building envelope including windows and doors and the installation of suspended floors at ground and first floor level. Pollexfen House, Wine Street, Sligo: gets funding of 37,500 for the renewal of the roof covering, renewal of defective leadwork, removal of vegetation, installation of structural ties, consolidation of masonry, chimneys & reinstatement of clayware pots. Five heritage buildings across the county will benefit from a total of 4.5m under this years Historic Structures Fund (HSF). The HSF is one of two built heritage funding schemes which work in partnership with owners and the 31 local authorities to protect our built heritage a key aim of Heritage Ireland 2030, the new national heritage plan launched by the Minister last year. The announcement follows the awarding earlier this month of 4.5m in funding under the Departments other built heritage grant scheme the Built Heritage Investment Scheme. By providing grants of between 15,000 and 200,000, the HSF assists owners of heritage structures including those on the local authorities Record of Protected Structures and those in Architectural Conservation Areas to meet their obligations to care for their properties. The scheme provides assistance to a wide range of heritage structures, including castles, churches, mills, bridges, shopfronts, and thatch structures, as well as to private houses. This years Historic Structures Fund includes awards to five Sligo properties: Annaghmore House, Collooney, Co Sligo: funding of 31,500 for roof repair, reinstatement of the lead parapet and gutter detail and fit of new cast iron downpipes. Ballysumaghan Church of Ireland, Ballintogher, Co. Sligo: Funding of 16,000 for the re-construction of the displaced octagonal chimney on west transept and reslating of the west transept roof. Pollexfen House, Sligo: funding of 37,500 for the renewal of the roof covering, renewal of defective leadwork, removal of vegetation, installation of structural ties, consolidation of masonry, chimneys & reinstatement of clayware pots. Sligo Cemetery Gate Lodge: funding of 37,500 for the repair and renewal of the building envelope including windows and doors and the installation of suspended floors at ground and first floor level. Thatch Cottage, Carrownagleragh, Coolaney, Co. Sligo: funding of 10,000 for the complete renewal of the traditional thatch. Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan said: I am delighted to announce another 4.5m investment in our built heritage. This years Historic Structures Fund will assist 95 owners and custodians of historic and protected structures across the country as they carry out conservation projects to repair and safeguard our built heritage. I am particularly pleased to announce the increased number of awards made to vernacular structures. Through this investment, this Government continues to celebrate the value and diversity of our built heritage, while also supporting traditional building skills. These actions also continue to help us deliver on our commitments to built heritage under Heritage Ireland 2030, the national heritage plan which I launched last year. Welcoming the announcement, Cllr. Michael Clarke, Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council said: I am delighted to see Sligo benefitting under the Historic Structures Fund. It is great to see the range of projects which will be supported by this investment of 4.5m nationally. Along with the Built Heritage Investment Scheme, the funding announced will safeguard our rich built heritage, keeping many buildings in use and helping to bring many others back into use. The grant awards also have a welcome knock-on economic benefit by generating employment for heritage contractors and other skilled crafts and tradespeople across the country. Cllr. Donal Gilroy, Chairperson of Sligo Heritage Forum added: The Historic Structures Fund is a critical support for owners of heritage buildings. It is a result of the close working relationship between the Department and the Local Authorities, particularly Heritage Officers and planning and administrative staff that schemes such as the Historic Structures Fund continue to be successful in the repair and renewal of our shared built heritage. Its through this kind of investment that we can truly celebrate the value and diversity of Irelands built heritage today, while protecting it for future generations." In addition to supporting owners and custodians of historic and protected structures to safeguard and maintain their properties, this funding will also provide a welcome boost to local construction and heritage trades by facilitating works with a total value of over 8m and generating more employment (an estimated 11,250 days labour), including for specialist heritage roles such as thatching and stonework. Pictured taking part in the Assembly in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin are students from St Attractas Community school in Tubbercurry, Cillian Mc Carrick and Caio Domigo. Students from St Attractas Community College in Tubbercurry were among five secondary schools who took part in Young People Assemblies at the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin last week, identifying and discussing some of the major societal issues facing their generation now and into the future. The Assemblies are part of an all-island performative socially engaged artwork led by artist Anthony Haughey, the Museums Artist in Residence, supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media as part of the Decade of Centenaries Programme 2012 2023. The students will contribute to the development of a Manifesto for a Future Ireland. The deliberative democracy process took place in the Ceramic Room in the National Museum of Ireland Archaeology on Kildare Street, which is where Seanad Eireann sat during the Leinster House refurbishments between 2017 and 2019. Footage from the Assemblies were captured and this, together with the resulting Manifesto and material gathered during engagements with the students at their respective schools over the last number of months, will form part of a video artwork by Haughey which will go on exhibition at the National Museum of Ireland later this year, as part of its Decade of Centenaries programme. Some of the participating students will present the outcomes at a schools conference at the National Museum of Ireland later this year and it is also envisaged that the forum methodology and Manifesto will be made available as a learning resource in toolkit format for schools around the country to facilitate discussion with students, particularly those studying CPSE, History, Politics, Society and the Key Stages 3-4 in the CCEA Environment and Society and Arts curricula. Ceann Comhairles were elected by each of the five participating school groups including St Attractas Community College. The other schools were Scoil Mhuire Ennistymon, Co Clare, Oldbawn Community School, Tallaght, Dublin, Colaiste Feirste, Belfast, and Castletroy College, Limerick. The Ceann Comhairles chaired discussions on issues such as climate change, housing and homelessness, healthcare, mental health and suicide awareness, direct provision, the rise of the far right, social media, and the Irish language. Craig Buckley was elected Ceann Comhairle for the St Attractas Community College Assembly. He said: Some of the main topics we raised at our Young Peoples Assembly ranged from homelessness to climate change, and from nuclear energy to mental health and suicide awareness and lots of stuff in between. Its a fantastic opportunity and everyone really enjoyed it. Anthony did a fantastic job and were really privileged to take part so thank you to everyone involved. Each group also heard from keynote speakers and author and journalist, Flor McCarthy addressed the students from Attractas Community College as part of their Assembly. Director of the National Museum of Ireland Lynn Scarff, said: As we approach the end of the Decade of Centenaries and what has been an important period of reflection, we are now turning to the future in this project and considering how those events, and the emerging issues of today, will shape the Ireland of tomorrow. As the National Museum of Ireland develops its new strategy with a focus on community, socially engaged practice that involves a number of communities in Ireland - as led by our artist-in-residence, Anthony Haughey - is especially important to us. Artist-in-Residence Anthony Haughey said: How younger generations will respond to the issues of their time is the focus of this performative socially engaged artwork. Through the collections in the National Museum of Ireland we have been reflecting on how past events continue to shape our future aspirations. As historian Kevin Whelan reminds us, It is always possible to tell it another way; that possibility opens a space for the other, a space for dialogue, a negotiation of narratives. Through the Young People Assemblies, and our ongoing engagement with diverse communities, we are working to explore emerging issues of today and how they can be addressed now and in the future. The first edition of The Sligo Champion was published on June 4th, 1836 on Stephen Street where the newspaper has its offices today. It is the fifth oldest provincial newspaper in the country. Edward Howard Verdon was the founder and editor of the newspaper and Mayor of Sligo four times. His principles of supporting the cause of common people and being a voice of the downtrodden remain with the newspaper to this day. Another owner was P.A.McHugh, an ardent nationalist. Under his control the paper became a leading nationalist organ.Mr McHugh was Mayor of Sligo on five successive occasions, was elected to Parliament in 1892 and was the first ever Chairman of Sligo County Council when it was established in 1899. The people of Sligo thought so highly of PA McHugh that they erected a statue to him in 1916 in the most prominent position of the town on October 29th 1916 at the top of Sligos main street, OConnell Street. It was subsequently moved to an equally promnient position, outside City Hall where it stands to this day. Independent News & Media plc acquired the Sligo Champion from the Townsend family in February 2008. It is now part of Mediahuis Ireland, publishers of the Irish Independent, Sunday Independent, independent.ie and 12 leading regional papers across the country. Our people: Paul Deering, Editor A native of Sligo, Paul graduated from NUIG with a degree in History, Sociology and Politics. He has a postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from Dublin City University. He began his journalistic career with The Galway Adverister and later The Tuam Herald before joining the staff of his hometown newspaper, The Sligo Champion in 1990. He became Assistant Editor of the paper in 2008 and in 2019 was appointed Editor. Paul is a former National League of Ireland referee and holds the honour of the being the only referee from Sligo to become a FIFA Assistant Referee. E: p.deering@sligochampion.ie Tel. 071 91 52234 Lorraine McDonnell, General Manager Lorraine McDonnell joined The Sligo Champion in 2012 as its Business Development Manager and in March 2019 became the papers first female General Manager of one of Irelands oldest and leading regional newspapers. Lorraine is a native of Sligo and is active in various voluntary groups and charities. E: lorrainemcdonnell@sligochampion.ie T: @LorraineMcDonn8 Our policies: This title supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and the office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice for journalists in Ireland which can be viewed here. Complaints We take great pride in the quality of our journalism and always want to hear the views of our readers. Complaints are treated seriously and we aim to resolve them in an efficient and prompt manner. If you wish to make a complaint or request a correction or clarification, please contact editor@sligochampion.ie. 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Advertising Contact advertising@sligochampion.ie Tel. 071 91 69222 Zombie pirates, depressed blobfish and performing eels all come to life within the pages of Wexford native Nick Sheridans new childrens book, The Case of the Phantom Treasure, illustrated by David OConnell and published by Simon & Schuster. The second in the popular series of mystery adventure books set in the charming coastal hamlet of Snoops Bay, The Case of the Phantom Treasure once again pits a gang of plucky young investigators against a sinister force menacing their town. When Riz, Olly, Drew and Anton decide to visit the towns most unremarkable tourist spot, Bony Beach, theyre shocked to discover a long-lost shipwreck that sank to the bottom of the sea with treasure aboard. But their exploration of the ruin is quickly thwarted when they come face to face with the phantom figure of the ships captain, Horatio Huxley, and accidentally unleash a curse on Snoops Bay. Its completely bonkers, says Nick, who attended St. Peters College Wexford before studying Journalism at Dublin City University. Its been such an amazing experience to meet so many young readers in the last year who have taken the gang into their hearts. Thats lovely to see, but it also raises the bar for this book. Theres more laughs, more mysteries, more crazy adventures, and I hope the readers love it as much as I do. An award-winning journalist and presenter with the BBC, Nicks first book Breaking News: How to Tell Whats Real From Whats Rubbish, taught kids how news is made, how to tell fact from fiction and also what to do if the news makes them anxious or upset. His first fiction book, The Case of the Runaway Brain was published last August, with a standing-room-only launch in Wexfords Book Centre. Since then, Nick has embarked on several book tours around the UK, as well as appearing at the Edinburgh Book Festival, Cheltenham Book Festival and the Dublin International Literature Festival. Finding the time to write the next book, he says, has been challenging. Meeting hundreds of young readers is an amazing part of the job, especially here in Wexford, he says, but finding the time to write can sometimes be difficult. I have another book coming in August, which is top-secret at the moment, and Im also currently writing the third in this series. So sometimes I have to just fly home to Castlebridge, pull the curtains and get the words down. The Case of the Phantom Treasure will be officially launched on Saturday April 8 in Glasgows flagship Waterstones Bookstore and will be available in Wexford bookstores and online thereafter. As well as writing the next two books, visiting schools and presenting with BBC News, Nick will return to the Edinburgh Book Festival this summer and, in October, will be embarking on another tour of Wexfords public libraries. At the opening of Mary O'Connor's exhibition "Stacks" by Karen Dubsky in The Pig Yard Gallery were Helen Gaynor and Mary O'Connor. At the opening of Mary O'Connor's exhibition "Stacks" by Karen Dubsky in The Pig Yard Gallery were Helen Gaynor, Mary O'Connor, Olivia O'Dwyer and Ciaran Bowen. At the opening of Mary O'Connor's exhibition "Stacks" by Karen Dubsky in The Pig Yard Gallery were Trish Robinson, Mary O'Connor and Karen Dubsky. An exhibition called Stacks by the Wexford artist and printmaker Mary O Connor which has opened at the Pigyard Gallery in Selskar, was inspired by an accidental discovery while she found herself working in a confined space during a series of Covid lockdowns. Mary began to paint small works on panels and one day when all the paintings were stacked on their sides, she made a series of photographs, resulting in sculptural stacks, where the edges of her paintings became sculptures. These stacks are exhibited as part of an installation against pink and dark blue wall murals representing the rising temperatures and sea levels while a video performance piece describes the connection between the stacks and 56 small painting panels hung as one installation as you enter the gallery space. The exhibition which was officially opened by Karen Dubsky of Coastwatch Europe and continues until April 22, also includes a painting on Fabriano paper of the stacks along with a number of silk screen prints and small framed paintings. Ms Dubsky drew a link between Marys work with her concerns for the planet. Reflecting on the fact that stacks in nature are by-products of erosion and geographical transformation, Mary said: We are currently experiencing a rapid shift in our environment from melting ice caps due to rising temperatures. There is an urgent environmental task at hand and there are seismic shifts in thinking required to get us there. "Our planet is constantly moving; we sit on continents, these continents themselves are on plates, plates that are constantly moving. These small shifts over millions of years can move mountains, can separate the land from itself. The stacked layers of multiple panels mimic geographical layers of soil and rock when slicing through a landscape. "Within each layer there are numerous colours. Like in nature, the formation and layout of each colour is accidental and not controlled. It it, in fact, a by-product of painting on the panels. A native of Wexford, Mary studied at Technological University Dublin and the Chelsea College of Art in London and also in New Zealand. She lived in Belize in Central America and Kazakhstan in Central Asia before returning to Ireland in 2014. Her work is concerned with the land and with the climate crisis. She references islands and land boundaries and her works are made using bold abstract geometric designs and a strong colour palette. Throughout my life I have experienced flux and flow, moving from the UK, New Zealand to Central America and Kazakhstan and finally back to Ireland. There are a lot of floating and moving shapes in my work. To me, this movement represents the immediate impact we as humans continue to have on our environment, she said. Mary has exhibited widely, including at the Royal Academy London Summer Exhibition, the Royal Hibernian Academy annual exhibition in Dublin, the Royal Ulster Academy exhibition in Belfast and the Model, Sligo. She was a recipient of the Galway City Council Purchase Prize at Impressions in 2019 and completed four commissioned wall murals in Capitol Dock, Dublin. She is working on a solo exhibition at So Fine Art Editions gallery in 2024. In 2022, she was shortlisted for the Beep Painting Biennial Prize and more recently, she designed a Ceadogan rug as part of their Island exhibition in Hang Tough Gallery, supporting the Peter McVerry Trust for the homeless. She is a member of the Blackchurch Print Studio and is represented by So Fine Art Exhibitions Mary thanked everyone at Spectrum for their knowledge and expertise and their support for the local and international art community over the years. A chance conversation with a neighbour led to a Wexford man receiving an invitation from the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to honour his grandfather, an Irish War of Independence veteran and Volunteer in the 1916 Rising, at Easter Sunday ceremonies at the GPO in Dublin for the first time. Paddy Stafford of Barntown was doing some work in the home of neighbour Lorraine Smyth, a member of the national 1916 relatives association, whose own grandfather Michael, a Dubliner, was involved in the Easter Rising and the War of Independence and Civil War, when he noticed that she had four military medals awarded to Michael, proudly displayed in a frame. The pair got talking about Paddys grandfather Tom (Shotto) Stafford and Lorraine offered to do some research into the Wexford man in the national military archives, as she had done for her own grandfather. "I found an amazing story from when Tom was 13 or 14 years old of him standing up to a British soldier who was going to shoot him, she said. The soldier demanded information on where the IRA had buried their arms and when told he would be shot if he didnt talk, Tom replied Shoot away. Thereafter he became known as Shotto. Lorraine, who grew up in Dublin and has been resident in Wexford for 25 years, attends commemorative ceremonies in the GPO every year with other relatives of 1916 veterans and thought it would be good for Paddy to attend. She contacted the Taoiseachs office and submitted the details of Tom Staffords service, arranging an invitation for Paddy who will accompany her to the GPO on Sunday to watch the parade from the relatives viewing stand and attend a reception in the GPO, at which President Michael D Higgins and other government dignitaries will be present. Its nice to think that two people from Barntown are going to Dublin on Sunday to commemorate the 1916 Rising in memory of their grandfathers, said Lorraine whose grandfather Michael joined the Volunteers in 1913 and fought with E Company in Jacobs Factory in 1916, after which he was interned in Knutsfort, Wandsworth and Frongach prisons. Michael Smyth with Eamonn De Valera. During the War of Independence, he held the rank of Captain in E Company. He made a bolt cutters that that cut the lock on the gate at Kilmainham Jail for the escape of Ernie O Malley, Frank Teeling and Simon Donnelly, the only ever escape from Kilmainham. He took the anti-Treaty side in the Civil War and fought in the Four Courts and Barrys Hotel in 1922. During the Emergency, he was an officer in the 26th Battalion between 1939 and 1945. He remained friends with Eamonn De Valera all his life and was visited by the President many times in his home. He died in 1967 at the age of 76 while still employed in government buildings and President De Valera attended his funeral. Tom Stafford of Cools, Barntown was a War of Independence and Civil War veteran who played a role in the establishment of the Irish republic and was honoured with a 1916 medal and a Black and Tan medal. Tom Stafford (left) with his neighbour Ned Woods. Tom joined the Irish Republican Army, South Wexford Brigade in 1915 and was a member of the Barntown Company comprising 30 men led by Captain Patrick Kehoe. He quickly moved up the ranks and later became Captain of the Barntown Company. In the run-up to Easter week, the Barntown Company were mobilised and getting ready to parade on Easter Sunday but at short notice, the parade was cancelled and on Easter Monday night, new orders were were received to mobilise the troops. As captain of Barntown Company, Tom was required to attend a meeting at Skeeter Park where orders were given to obtain as many guns and ammunition as possible and prepare for the troops to move. The Company waited for two days until Thursday, April 27 when word came from Wexford that the North Wexford Brigade was in action in Enniscorthy. They were asked to proceed to Forth Mountain and await further orders to move towards Enniscorthy but no instructions came. As they waited, they received word that two lorry-loads of RIC had gone to Duncannon and they lay in wait for hours to ambush them on their return but they didnt arrive. Wexford Volunteers played a vital role by blowing up the railway line at Rosslare to prevent British troops arriving from England. The Rising in Enniscorthy ended on Monday, April 31 after a surrender order was issued, resulting in the standing down of Volunteers in Wexford. The end of the rising resulted in the arrests across the country. On May 6, Tom Stafford, his father William and Tom Fielding of Seaview were arrested. They were detained in Wexford Barracks before being moved to Richmond Barracks, Dublin. On May 8, 1916, he and Fielding were among 200 Volunteers brought to Stafford Detention Barracks in England where Tom went on hunger strike for 14 days. After two months of internment he and other volunteers were released and returned to Ireland. Shortly after arriving back in Wexford, Tom Stafford proceeded to reorganise local Volunteers and began raiding for firearms at houses that were previously hostile towards them. Their activities didnt go unnoticed and within a short period of time, he and Tom Fielding were arrested and brought to Wexford Barracks where they spent eight days. They were court-martialled by Colonel French and charged with attempting to reorganise the IRA. The Taoiseach's invitation to Paddy Stafford. Tom Stafford was released on caution and warned that if he made another attempt to reorganise, he would be arrested again but he continued to train volunteers and assembled and captained a company of men from Glynn and Barntown. The company dug trenches, felled trees for road blocks and transferred arms from Murrintown to Glynn. They also set fire to the RIC barracks in Killurin which the RIC had left. Later the Glynn/Barntown company merged with Taghmon under the command of Captain Bill O Brien. Lorraine discovered from the national military archives that Toms other military activities included hanging flags over telegraph wires crossing the River Slaney. The only way the Tans could remove them was to cut the wires down. He was a quarry worker who had access to explosives and set a charge on Newtown Bridge, blowing it up and also took part in the Killurin Ambush. He was involved in an attack on the Free State outpost at Ferrycarrig in August 1922 in which one soldier was killed and several wounded. They captured a Lewis gun, 15 rifles and several rounds of ammunition. He took part in two ambushes at Whitefort, Killurin where he was attached to Bob Lamberts Flying Column. He was arrested in October 1923 and was sent to Newbridge Internment Camp, County Kildare where he was interned for 15 months. During this time he went on hunger strike for two weeks. The four medals awarded to Michael Smyth. After the Civil War, Tom continued to work as a Council employee until his retirement and played an active role in the local community. He died in 1975 in Ballyhine, Barntown aged 78. The story of how Tom got his nickname Shotto is outlined in the historic archives, according to Lorraine. During a police raid in search of IRA arms, a teenage Tom was taken outside his mothers house and ordered to divulge the whereabouts of the guns. He said he knew nothing about them. The sergeant said if he didnt tell he would be shot. Alright, shoot away, said Tom. Very good, said the sergeant youre leaving me nothing else to do. He ordered the constable to level his rifle at Tom. Now, he said, if you dont tell me before I count to 10, it will be too late. Tom looked towards the window where he could see his mother who was kept in the house by another policeman. He heard her voice, faintly, saying: Tell them nothing Tom. The sergeant began to count very slowly. He halted at nine and said to Tom Well, now is your last chance. Tom replied: Why dont you shoot. The sergeant motioned to the constable to lower his rifle. Its no use, he said. When the police left Toms mother took him in her arms. She was crying. Were you afraid they would kill me mother, her son asked. I was, she replied, but I was more afraid you might tell. Much chance of that, said Tom. Coolio, the rapper who was among hip-hops biggest names of the 1990s with hits including Gangstas Paradise and Fantastic Voyage, died last year because of fentanyl, his manager has said. Coolios former longtime manager Jarez Posey said Coolios cause of death was fentanyl and that he also had traces of heroin and methamphetamine in his system. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiners Office listed his death as accidental and cited cardiomyopathy as a significant condition. Posey also confirmed that investigators determined Coolios severe asthma and cigarette smoking played a role in his death. Rapper Coolio arrives at the premiere of The Hulk at the Empire cinema in Londons Leicester Square in 2003 (Yui Mok/PA) Coolio born Artis Leon Ivey Jr on August 1, 1963 died at the Los Angeles home of a friend on September 28, 2022. He was 59. Coolio won a Grammy for best solo rap performance for Gangstas Paradise, the 1995 hit from the soundtrack of the Michelle Pfeiffer film Dangerous Minds that sampled Stevie Wonders 1976 song Pastime Paradise. Coolio was born in Monessen, Pennsylvania, and later moved to Compton, California. He started rapping at 15 and knew by 18 it was what he wanted to do with his life, he said in interviews. Coolio attended community college before devoting himself full-time to the hip-hop scene. His career album sales totalled 4.8 million, with 978 million on-demand streams of his songs, according to Luminate. He would be nominated for a total of six Grammys. He became a cultural staple, acting occasionally, providing a voice for an animated show and providing the theme music for a Nickelodeon sitcom. Coolios estate plans to release a studio album later this year that he had been working on in the days before he died. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy meets Taiwanese leader in California, sparking warnings from Beijing Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen and the US Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy China has vowed reprisals against Taiwan after a meeting between the US House of Representatives speaker and the islands president, saying Washington was on a wrong and dangerous road. Speaker Kevin McCarthy hosted President Tsai Ing-wen in California in a show of US support for the self-ruled island, which Beijing claims as its own. The Biden administration maintains there is nothing provocative about the visit by Ms Tsai, which is the latest of half a dozen to the US. It comes as the US-China relationship has fallen to new lows, with American support for Taiwan becoming one of the main points of difference. The formal trappings of the meeting, and the senior rank of some of the elected officials in the delegation from US Congress, could lead China to view it as an escalation. No speaker is known to have met a Taiwanese president on US soil since Washington broke off formal diplomatic relations in 1979. In response to the meeting, Beijing said it would take resolute and forceful measures to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. It urged the US not to walk further down a wrong and dangerous road. At their meeting on Wednesday, Ms Tsai and Mr McCarthy spoke carefully to avoid escalating tensions with Beijing. Standing side by side at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, the two acknowledged Chinas threats against the island government. Americas support for the people of Taiwan will remain resolute, unwavering and bipartisan, Mr McCarthy said at a news conference later. He also said US-Taiwan ties are stronger than at any other point in his life. Taiwan leader Ms Tsai said the unwavering support reassures the people of Taiwan that we are not isolated. More than a dozen Democratic and Republican legislators, including the Houses third-ranking Democrat, had joined the meeting. Ms Tsai and Mr McCarthy spoke about the importance of Taiwans self-defence, of fostering robust trade and economic ties and supporting the island governments ability to participate in the international community. But she warned: It is no secret that today the peace that we have maintained and the democracy which we have worked hard to build are facing unprecedented challenges. We once again find ourselves in a world where democracy is under threat and the urgency of keeping the beacon of freedom shining cannot be overstated. Chinas military pressure campaign on Taiwan has intensified in recent years, and the Communist Party has sent planes or ships towards the island on a near-daily basis. We will take resolute measures to punish the Taiwan independence separatist forces and their actions, and resolutely safeguard our countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity, said Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office yesterday, referring to Ms Tsai and her party as separatists. Taiwans Ministry of National Defence said it had tracked Chinas Shandong aircraft carrier passing south east of Taiwan. Yesterday morning, it tracked three Chinese navy vessels and one warplane. US Congressional visits to Taiwan have become more frequent in the past year, and the American Institute in Taipei, the de facto embassy, announced the arrival of another delegation yesterday. Michael McCaul, who heads the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, is leading a delegation of eight other legislators for a three-day visit. Chinas Xi Jinping expressed willingness to speak to Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky, the head of the EU said yesterday, after French president Emmanuel Macron urged Beijing to talk sense to Russia over the war in Ukraine. In closely watched talks, European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen and Mr Macron met with Mr Xi in Beijing. Mr Macron said the west must engage China to help end the crisis and prevent spiralling tensions that could split global powers into warring blocs. Mr Xi, who has sought to position China as a potential mediator in the conflict but has been seen by the west as favouring Russia, responded by saying he hoped Moscow and Kyiv could hold peace talks as soon as possible. It was interesting to hear that President Xi reiterated his willingness to speak to Zelensky, Ms Von der Leyen said. Mr Xi said a conversation could happen when the conditions and time are right, the EU chief added. The Chinese leader did not mention a possible conversation with Mr Zelensky in his own comments. Mr Zelensky has repeatedly asked Mr Xi to meet him, including after the Chinese leader visited Russian president Vladimir Putin in Moscow last month. A French diplomatic source said that Mr Xi was ready to call Mr Zelensky. The Russian aggression in Ukraine has dealt a blow to [international] stability, Mr Macron told Mr Xi, standing alongside the Chinese president outside the Great Hall of the People at the start of their bilateral meeting. I know I can count on you to bring Russia back to its senses and everyone back to the negotiating table. Beijings reputation as a diplomatic player was reinforced in March when it brokered a deal for Iran and Saudi Arabia to resume ties after years of hostility that had fuelled insecurity in the Gulf. In a sign of the breadth of foreign policy for the worlds second largest economy, top Iranian and Saudi envoys met in Beijing yesterday, in parallel to the Europe-China summit. China has proposed a 12-point peace plan for the Ukraine crisis that calls on both sides to agree to a gradual de-escalation leading to a comprehensive ceasefire. The plan has been largely dismissed by the west due to Chinas refusal to condemn Russia for invading its sovereign neighbour. The US and Nato have said China was considering sending arms to Russia, which Beijing has denied. The French diplomatic source said Mr Macron had urged Mr Xi not to provide weapons to Russia, and that Mr Xi had replied that it was not his war. China was ready to work together with France on obtaining a negotiated end to the fighting, the source said. France said the discussions between the leaders were frank and constructive, while China described them as friendly and in-depth. Mr Macron also asked Mr Xi to press Russia to comply with international rules on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. Mr Xi said all countries should respect commitments on not using nuclear weapons and nuclear war shouldnt be waged, without mentioning Russia. He called on the international community to refrain from any action that would lead to further deterioration of the crisis or even to it getting out of control. The EU leaders visit to China comes after years of souring relations with Beijing over issues including accusations of rights abuse in Xinjiang, a stalled investment pact and Chinas reluctance to condemn Russia over its Ukraine invasion. Rights groups accuse Beijing of abuses against Uyghurs, a mainly Muslim ethnic minority that numbers around 10 million in Xinjiang, including the mass use of forced labour in internment camps. Ms Von der Leyen called the situation in Xinjiang particularly concerning. She also said stability in the Taiwan Strait was of paramount importance. Mr Xi responded by saying that expecting China to compromise on Taiwan was wishful thinking. Critics pointed out that the evil Galactic Empire in Star Wars was partly inspired by Nazi history Stormtroopers from 'Star Wars' (left) during the launch of Germanys new space-defence programme The German militarys decision to invite Darth Vader to the launch of its new space-defence programme backfired after critics pointed out awkward parallels to the Nazi past. At the opening ceremony for the new headquarters of Germanys space command, Major General Michael Traut gave his speech flanked by stormtroopers and imperial officers from Star Wars. German officials have come in for sharp criticism, with critics reminding the military that the evil Galactic Empire in Star Wars was partly based on the countrys Nazi history. Germanys military apparently has no problem with the fact that the Galactic Empire committed genocide in the fictional universe, nor that some of the characters who took part in the ceremony wore trousers suspiciously reminiscent of those worn by the Wehrmacht, commented the tech website Golem. The unusual decision to include film characters in the normally serious affairs of state drew bemused responses from other sections of German media. The Star Wars allusion would certainly have worked with well-known figures from the Rebellion. In the case of the Bundeswehr, the decision was made to use their fascist counterparts, Berliner Kurier stated. On social media, one user asked: Who is going to tell them that the Empire wasnt on the good side? The military have responded by pointing out that the Star Wars characters were invited to promote a good cause. They also collected donations for a charity that helps military families who have disabled children. Around 40m was spent on the new headquarters outside Dusseldorf, which the army says has state-of-the-art equipment for defending German strategic interests in space. Pontiff said clergy must strive to be warm instead of rude and coldly judgemental Francis kisses the foot of an inmate at the Casal del Marmo juvenile prison in Rome yesterday Pope Francis, appearing fully recovered from a bout of bronchitis, began yesterday an intense four days leading to Easter by urging priests to avoid fomenting division in the church and washing the feet of inmates in a juvenile prison. On Holy Thursday, Francis (86) and dozens of cardinals and bishops gathered in St Peters Basilica with about 1,800 priests to renew the vows they took at ordination. Later he travelled to the jail of Casal del Marmo on Romes outskirts, where he washed and kissed the feet of 12 young inmates in a gesture commemorating Jesus humility towards his apostles on the night before his death. It was the place where, shortly after his election in 2013, Francis began holding the traditional event at jails, homes for the elderly and with the homeless instead of for priests in Romes cathedrals as his predecessors had done. He is also the first pope to include women and non-Catholics at the foot-washing service. One inmate at yesterdays service was a Muslim from Senegal. Two were women. Francis spent four days in hospital last week with bronchitis after complaining of breathing difficulties. He recovered quickly after antibiotics. Many times we priests are rude, Francis said in the homily at morning mass in St Peters Basilica. He said people seeking spiritual peace and tranquillity in their lives would continue to keep their distance from the church and view it with suspicion if they see it bogged down in internal disunity, finger-pointing and being coldly judgemental. He said priests must seek harmony if they wanted to win back lapsed faithful. Apart from an occasional cough during the nearly two-hour-long mass, Francis read his homily in a clear, strong voice for 20 minutes. He frequently went off script as he called on priests to stick to their calling as peacemakers and ministers of mercy. He urged them not to live double lives or turn into church bureaucrats seeking promotions with perks and privileges, and not yearn for a past when the church was more self-centred. Lets think of the gentleness of priests. If people see even us as people who are dissatisfied and discontented old bachelors who criticise and point fingers, where else will they find harmony? Francis asked. How many people fail to approach us, or keep at a distance, because in the Church they feel unwelcomed and unloved, regarded with suspicion and judged? The Pope is due to preside at two Good Friday services including a Way of the Cross service at Romes Colosseum. He presides at an Easter vigil mass tomorrow and on Easter Sunday delivers his Urbi et Orbi blessing and message. Demonstrators have taken to streets nationwide after President Emmanuel Macron said the pension age would rise to 64 Police fired clouds of tear gas against unruly protesters in Paris and other French cities yesterday as hundreds of thousands of people returned to streets across the country to vent anger against President Emmanuel Macrons contested pension reforms. Mr Macrons drive to raise the national retirement age from 62 to 64 has ignited a months-long firestorm of opposition. Talks between trade union leaders and French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne quickly collapsed on Wednesday without a breakthrough, setting the stage for the fresh demonstrations that were largely peaceful but also punctured by violence. Trade unions vowed to keep up their resistance and called for another round of protests in a week. But labour strikes that have caused significant disruptions since January lost some of their bite, with fewer workers taking part. The Paris Metro ran almost normally yesterday, in contrast with previous days of action. Less than 8pc of teachers were on strike, according to the Education Ministry. However, strikers again closed the Eiffel Tower, and the unions still managed to mobilise large crowds for protests across the country. The Interior Ministry said 570,000 people took part; unions said it was closer to two million. There were chaotic scenes at the Paris demonstration that wound through the capitals streets. Demonstrators also targeted banks, ripping down a protective wooden screen erected around one branch and smashing the windows. Police fired repeated volleys of tear gas and charged after protesters who set fires. The CGT union estimated that 400,000 people joined the Paris protest, down from 450,000 the week before. The police estimate was far lower: 57,000. Officers detained at least 31 people in the capital. The Paris police force also reported dozens of injuries in its ranks, including 13 officers who were treated in hospitals. In Paris, rat catchers hurled rodent corpses at City Hall on Wednesday. Natacha Pommet, of the public services division of the CGT union, said the rat catchers wanted to show the hard reality of their mission. But experts say protest violence, with scores of demonstrators and police hurt in 11 rounds of nationwide demonstrations since January, has turned off less activist parts of the population. The months-long protest movement, though, has failed to get President Macron to change course. Ukraine soldiers in trenches just outside Bakhmut ready for a long-expected counter-offensive Ukrainian service members from 28th mechanised brigade remain in their trenches after incoming fire at the front line. Photo: Kai Pfaffenbach Ukrainian and Russian forces battled in Bakhmut, the devastated eastern city which has become a symbol of Kyivs defiance, while seven civilians were reported killed by Ukrainian artillery strikes in Russian-controlled areas. Ukrainian soldiers in trenches just outside Bakhmut said they were ready for a long-expected counter-offensive once the weather improves. Elsewhere, other Ukrainian recruits trained hard for new combat missions. Four civilians died in Russian-controlled Donetsk when shells hit a car park, and another six were injured, Russias Tass agency said. RIA news agency said three people died in blasts at a bus stop in Lysychansk, to the north-east of Donetsk. The months-long battle for Bakhmut, one of the last urban centres in the eastern Donetsk province yet to fall to Moscow, has proven one of the bloodiest of Russias invasion. [Battles] are under way in the streets, enemy attempts to encircle the city are failing. Our command fully control the situation, Andriy Yermak, a senior adviser to Ukrainian president Volodymr Zelensky, said. The leader of Russias private Wagner militia, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said fighting was continuing in the west of the city. It must be said clearly that the enemy is not going anywhere, he said on his Telegram channel. Mr Prigozhin has often complained of a lack of ammunition for his fighters in Bakhmut. But Ukrainian border guard Levko Stek, speaking in a video clip amid explosions, said Ukrainian forces did not sense any ammunition hunger on the Russian side. Western analysts have played down the strategic significance of Bakhmut but Ukraine has framed its dogged defence of what is now a completely destroyed city as a way of wearing down Russian forces. Both sides have suffered huge casualties there. Bakhmut is performing the key task of inflicting as many losses on Russia as possible and, most importantly, to prepare for a counter-attack to take place in late April-May, Pavlo Narozhniy, a Ukrainian military analyst, told NV Radio. We are ready, we have to do it, the sooner the better. The enemy must be chased away. At the moment we are waiting for the weather to change, the mud is an obstacle, Naza, a 21-year-old unit commander, told Reuters outside Bakhmut. Speaking from close to the front line, the commander of Ukraines 5th separate assault brigade, who gave his name as Ivan, said: Those service members that are not on the front line are training. Ukrainian military expert Vladyslav Selezniov said Ukraine would be able to defend positions in the more heavily built-up west of Bakhmut as long as their route to the west, the road of life for getting supplies in and wounded out, remained open. Russia says its special military operation in Ukraine was necessary to protect its security against what it sees as a hostile and aggressive West. Kyiv and its allies say Moscow is waging an unprovoked war aimed at grabbing territory. The escalation follows violence in the holy city of Jerusalem. Lebanese check power transformer poles that were destroyed by an Israeli airstrike (Mohammad Zaatari/AP) Israel launched rare strikes in southern Lebanon early Friday and pressed on with bombing targets in the Gaza Strip, marking a widening escalation in the region following violence this week at Jerusalems most sensitive holy site. The cross-border fighting erupted during a time of heightened religious fervour when Jews are celebrating the Passover holiday and Muslims are marking the Ramadan holy month. In 2021, an escalation also triggered by clashes at Jerusalems Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, spilled over into an 11-day war between Israel and Gazas Hamas rulers. Fridays strikes in southern Lebanon came a day after militants fired nearly three dozen rockets from there at Israel, wounding two people and causing some property damage. The Israeli military said it targeted installations of Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, in southern Lebanon. Correspondents in the area said several missiles fired by Israeli warplanes struck an open field in the town of Qalili near the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh, close to the coastal southern city of Tyre, while others struck a bridge and power transformer in the nearby town of Maaliya and a farm on the outskirts of Rashidiyeh, killing several sheep. No human deaths were reported. Israeli strikes in Lebanon risk drawing Lebanons Hezbollah militia into the fighting, which could lead to war. The Iran-backed group, armed with thousands of rockets and missiles, holds sway over much of southern Lebanon and is viewed by Israel as a bitter foe. The Israeli military was careful to note in its announcement about Fridays attack that it was targeting only sites linked to Palestinian militants. In recent years, Hezbollah has stayed out of other flareups related to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which stands on a hilltop revered by Muslims and Jews. In Jerusalem before dawn prayers on Friday, violence erupted again at the hilltop compound as Israeli police stationed at one of the gates forcibly dispersed vast crowds of worshippers who chanted praise for Hamas while pushing their way into the limestone courtyard. Videos from the scene showed police beating large groups of Palestinian men with sticks until they stumbled backward, falling and knocking down vendors tables. The head of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, Major General Aroldo Lazaro, said he was in contact with Israeli and Lebanese authorities early Friday. The force, known as Unifil, said that both sides have said they do not want war. Meanwhile, Israeli air strikes on Gaza resumed early on Friday, after militants fired more rockets from the blockaded territory, setting off air raid sirens in the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon. The military said targets included the entry shaft to an underground network used for weapons manufacturing. The current round of violence began Wednesday after Israeli police twice raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalems Old City. That led Thursday to rocket fire from Gaza and, in a significant escalation, the rocket barrage from Lebanon. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his Security Cabinet for a three-hour meeting late Thursday. Israels response, tonight and beyond, will extract a heavy price from our enemies, he said in a statement after the meeting. Almost immediately, Palestinian militants in Gaza began firing rockets into southern Israel, setting off air raid sirens across the region. Loud explosions could be heard in Gaza from the Israeli strikes, as outgoing rockets whooshed into the skies toward Israel. For now, Palestinian militants have fired only short-range rockets from Gaza, rather than the long-range projectiles that can reach as far as Tel Aviv and typically invite harsher Israeli retaliation. The Israeli military said the rocket fire on its northern and southern fronts was carried out by Palestinian militants in connection to this weeks violence at Al-Aqsa where Israeli police stormed into the building with tear gas and stun grenades to confront Palestinians barricaded inside on two straight days. The violent scenes from the mosque ratcheted up tensions across the region. In a briefing with reporters, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, said the army drew a clear connection between the Lebanese rocket fire and the recent unrest in Jerusalem. Its a Palestinian-oriented event, he said, adding that either the Hamas or Islamic Jihad militant groups, which are based in Gaza but also operate in Lebanon, could be involved. But he said the army believed that Hezbollah and the Lebanese government were aware of what happened and also held responsibility. The mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam, stands on a hilltop revered by Jews as the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism. The competing claims to the site have repeatedly spilled over into violence over the years. No faction in Lebanon claimed responsibility for the salvo of rockets. A Lebanese security official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the countrys security forces believed the rockets were launched by a Lebanon-based Palestinian militant group, not by Hezbollah. Lebanons caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, condemned the firing of rockets from Lebanon, adding that Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers were investigating and trying to find the perpetrators. Mr Mikati said his government categorically rejects any military escalation and the use of Lebanese territories to stage acts that threaten stability. Hezbollah has condemned the Israeli police raids in Jerusalem. Both Israel and Hezbollah have avoided an all-out conflict since a 34-day war in 2006 ended in a draw. The current escalation comes against the backdrop of Mr Netanyahus domestic problems. For the past three months, hundreds of thousands of Israelis have been demonstrating against his plans to overhaul the countrys judicial system, claiming it will lead the country toward authoritarianism. The foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia met in Beijing yesterday for the first formal gathering of their top diplomats in more than seven years after China brokered a deal to restore relations between the regional powers. After years of hostility that fuelled conflicts across the Middle East, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to end their diplomatic rift and reopen diplomatic missions in a significant deal that was facilitated by China. In brief footage broadcast on Iranian state TV, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amirabdollahian, greeted each other before sitting down side- by-side. Saudi Arabia and Iran, the Gulfs dominant Sunni Muslim and Shiite Muslim powers respectively, said in a joint statement they would launch arrangements to reopen embassies and consulates within the two-month period stipulated in the deal. The technical teams will continue coordination to examine ways of expanding cooperation including the resumption of flights and bilateral visits of official and private sector delegations and facilitating the granting of visas for the citizens of the two countries, they said. In a tweet, Irans Amirabdollahian said the meeting with his Saudi counterpart was positive, adding that the emphasis on stability and sustainable security were among the issues agreed upon and on the common agenda. In March, Chinese President Xi Jinping helped broker the surprise deal in a display of Beijings growing influence in the Middle East. Chinas role shook up dynamics in a conflict-ridden region where the US has for decades been the main mediator. In a meeting with the Iranian and Saudi envoys, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said Beijing supports countries in the Middle East in upholding their strategic independence, getting rid of external interference and keeping the regions future in their own hands. The detente between the Sunni kingdom and the revolutionary Shiite theocracy could help stabilise the Middle East, where the two sides have supported sectarian proxy forces that are either at daggers drawn or openly at war. Beijings role in brokering the rapproachment was seen by some experts as signalling a loss of influence by the US with Saudi Arabia, amid tensions between the long-time allies over a range of issues, including human rights and Saudi oil production cuts. CIA Director Bill Burns travelled to the kingdom to reaffirm decades-old intelligence cooperation, including on counter-terrorism, a US official said yesterday. They did not disclose when the visit took place. Israel's military hit sites in Lebanon and Gaza early on Friday, in retaliation for rocket attacks it blamed on the Islamist group Hamas, as tensions following police raids this week on the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem threatened to spiral out of control. Loud blasts rocked different areas of Gaza, as Israel said its jets hit 10 targets including tunnels and weapons manufacturing and development sites of Hamas, which controls the blockaded southern coastal strip. At around 4.00am, the military said it had also struck three Hamas infrastructure targets in southern Lebanon, where residents around the area of the Rashidiyeh refugee camp near the southern city of Tyre reported three loud blasts. "We strongly condemn the blatant Zionist aggression against Lebanon in the vicinity of Tyre at dawn today," Hamas said. Two Lebanese security sources said the strike hit a small structure on farmland near the area from which the rockets had been launched earlier. The strike appeared to have left a large crater in farmland in the south, according to Reuters witnesses. A member of Lebanon's Civil Defence at the scene on Friday morning said there were no casualties. The strikes came in response to rocket attacks from Lebanon towards northern Israeli areas, which Israeli officials blamed on Hamas. The military said 34 rockets were launched from Lebanon, of which 25 were intercepted by air defence systems. It was the biggest such attack since 2006, when Israel fought a war with the heavily armed Hezbollah movement. "Israel's response, tonight and later, will exact a significant price from our enemies," prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said following a security cabinet meeting. As the Israeli jets struck in Gaza, salvoes of rockets were fired in response and sirens sounded in Israeli towns and cities in bordering areas. However there were no reports of serious casualties and only one rocket hit a target, damaging a house in the southern town of Sderot. The cross-border strikes came amid an escalating confrontation over Israeli police raids at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which this year coincides with the Jewish Passover holiday. "We hold the Zionist occupation fully responsible for the grave escalation and the flagrant aggression against the Gaza Strip and for the consequences that will bring onto the region," Hamas said in a statement. Although Israel blamed Hamas for Thursday's attack, which took place as Hamas head Ismail Haniyeh was visiting Lebanon, security experts said Hezbollah, the powerful Shi'ite group which helps Israel's main enemy Iran project its power across the region, must have given its permission. "It's not Hezbollah shooting, but it's hard to believe that Hezbollah didn't know about it," Tamir Hayman, a former head of Israeli military intelligence, said on Twitter. Lebanon's prime minister Najib Mikati issued a statement condemning any military operations from its territory that threatened stability but there was no immediate comment from Hezbollah. Earlier on Thursday, before the rockets were fired, senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine said any infringement on Al-Aqsa "will inflame the entire region". UNIFIL, the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, said it had been in contact with the parties and said both sides had said they did not seek war but it said the situation risked escalation and urged all parties to halt their actions. An Israeli military spokesman said the Israeli operation was over for the moment. "Nobody wants an escalation right now," he told reporters. "Quiet will be answered with quiet, at this stage I think, at least in the coming hours." Justin Jones, Gloria Johnson and Justin Pearson hug in the rotunda at the State Capitol in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Reuters Justin Pearson and Justin Jones raise their hands after being expelled from their seats in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Reuters Republicans in control of the Tennessee House of Representatives expelled two Democratic representatives on Thursday for breaking decorum during a gun control demonstration at the statehouse last week in the wake of the latest school shooting. In an extraordinary measure, when lesser forms of discipline including censure were available, the Republican supermajority voted to remove Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, two young Black legislators. The resolution to oust a third Democratic member who stood with them during the protest on the House floor, Gloria Johnson, a white woman, came up one vote short. Justin Jones, Gloria Johnson and Justin Pearson hug in the rotunda at the State Capitol in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Reuters That protest came four days after a Nashville school shooting killed three 9-year-old children and three school staff members. Republican Representatives Andrew Farmer, Gino Bulso, and Bud Hulsey had filed the three resolutions on Monday to expel their Democratic colleagues, saying they broke decorum by leading the demonstration in the well of the House floor. The House voted 72-25 along party lines to remove Jones and 69-26 to remove Pearson. But Johnson was spared when the vote to expel her came up 65-30. The Republicans control the chamber 75-23 and needed 66 votes for expulsion. Johnson may have been spared because unlike Jones and Pearson she did not use a megaphone to lead chants during last Thursday's protest, when hundreds of demonstrators flooded into the statehouse. But race came up several times during the often tense debate. "You cannot ignore the racial dynamic of what happened today. Two young Black lawmakers get expelled and the one white woman does not. That's a statement in and of itself," Pearson told reporters after the vote. President Joe Biden decried the proceedings, tweeting that they were "shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent." Only two Tennessee state representatives have been expelled by their colleagues since the Civil War era: one in 1980 for soliciting a bribe in exchange for blocking legislation and another in 2016 after being accused of sexual misconduct by numerous women. Both expulsions were made with overwhelming, bipartisan votes. The Democratic Party in Tennessee said it was raising funds to support special elections for any of those expelled. The three Democratic lawmakers led protesters on the House floor to demand stricter gun laws. Republicans in the resolutions calling for their expulsion accused the three of engaging in "disorderly behavior" and said they "did knowingly and intentionally bring disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives through their individual and collective actions." Hundreds of protesters gathered again outside the state house in the rain on Thursday and packed the gallery above the House floor, holding signs in favour of stricter gun control. They broke out into cheers when Johnson was spared expulsion, then chanted "shame on you" and "no justice, no peace" after Pearson was kicked out. Johnson, Jones and Pearson have said that taking part in the protest was within their First Amendment rights - the constitutional right to freedom of speech. They, along with other Democratic members, also said Thursday that Republican leaders have used their super majority to squelch speech in the chamber, and Johnson said that was one of the reasons they acted as they did last week. Before being ousted, Jones had decried the proceedings. "What we see here today is a lynch mob assembled not to lynch me but our democratic process," Jones said. "At no point was there violence," Jones added, referring to the demonstration he and his colleagues led on the chamber floor last week. "At no point did we encourage violence. In fact what we were doing was calling for the end of gun violence that is terrorizing our children day after day after day." But Bulso, a Republican who authored one of the expulsion resolutions, said it was clear to him that Jones "wants to be expelled." "He and two other representatives effectively conducted a mutiny," Bulso said. "Not to expel him would simply invite him and his colleagues to continue to engage in mutiny on the House floor." British citizens were said to be among the injured. Israeli police and emergency services work around a car involved in an attack in Tel Aviv (Ariel Schalit/AP) At least one person has been killed and six others including British citizens were wounded when a car was driven into a number of people in Tel Aviv, Israeli authorities said. The driver rammed into a group of people near a popular seaside park in the city, which is Israels commercial hub, police said. Israels rescue service said a 30-year-old Italian tourist was killed and five other Italian and British citizens including a 74-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl received mild to moderate injuries. Police said they shot and killed the driver of the car, later identifying him as a 45-year-old Palestinian citizen of Israel from the village of Kafr Qassem. Italian Premier Giorgia Melonis office expressed sympathy for the family of the victim and solidarity with Israel for the vile attack. She identified the man killed as Alessandro Parini, from Rome. The attack came against the backdrop of heightened tensions after Israeli air strikes on Palestinian militant targets in both Lebanon and Gaza, as well as a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank that killed two people. That followed days of violence and unrest in Jerusalems most sensitive holy site, the compound of the Al-Aqsa mosque in the Old City. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was calling up all reserve forces in Israels border police to confront the terror attacks. The Hamas militant group that rules Gaza praised the attack in Tel Aviv as a response to Israels crimes against Al-Aqsa Mosque and worshippers. Earlier, an alleged Palestinian shooting attack near an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank killed two British-Israeli sisters and seriously wounded their mother, Israeli officials said. The attack, coming after weeks of heightened unrest in the West Bank, suggested the recent tensions in Jerusalem could be spilling over to the occupied territory. Even as quiet returned to Israels northern and southern borders, the early morning Israeli strikes on Lebanon which analysts described as the most serious border violence since Israels 2006 war with Lebanons Hezbollah militants threatened to push the confrontation into a new phase. Israeli strikes came in retaliation for a major barrage of rockets from Lebanon the day before, after Israeli police raids at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem spiralled into unrest and sparked outrage across the Arab world. Although the Israeli military was quick to emphasise that its warplanes struck sites belonging to only Palestinian militant groups, the barrage risks drawing in Israels bitter foe Hezbollah, which holds sway over much of southern Lebanon and has in the past portrayed itself as a defender of the Palestinians and the contested city of Jerusalem. The shooting in the West Bank, near an Israeli settlement in the Jordan Valley, killed the sisters in their 20s and seriously wounded their 45-year-old mother, Israeli officials said. The women were British citizens, the Foreign Office said, expressing remorse for their deaths and calling for both sides to de-escalate. The three were residents of the Israeli settlement of Efrat, near the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, said Oded Revivi, the settlements mayor. The girls father was driving in a car behind his wife and daughters and witnessed the attack, the mayor added. Medics said they dragged the unconscious women from the smashed car, which appeared to have been pushed off the road. Mr Netanyahu and defence minister Yoav Gallant toured the site of the shooting late on Friday and vowed to catch the attacker. Its just a matter of time, and not much time, until we settle the score, Mr Netanyahu said. Israeli missiles had earlier struck an open field in the southern Lebanese town of Qalili, near the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh, according to an Associated Press photographer and residents, killing several sheep and inflicting minor injuries on residents, including Syrian refugees. Other strikes hit a small bridge and power transformer in the nearby town of Maaliya and damaged an irrigation system providing water to orchards in the area. The Israeli military said it was boosting infantry and artillery forces in a defensive move to prepare for all possible scenarios. A Palestinian official said Egyptian security officials were working with Hamas and Israel to de-escalate the situation. Later on Friday, there were signs that both sides were trying to keep the hostilities in check. Fighting on Israels northern and southern borders subsided after dawn, and midday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque passed peacefully after an early flashpoint. In 2021, an escalation also triggered by clashes at the compound spilled over into an 11-day war between Israel and Gazas Hamas rulers. Chaos erupted at one of the entrances to the esplanade before dawn prayers as Israeli police wielding batons descended on crowds of Palestinian worshippers, who chanted slogans praising Hamas as they tried to squeeze into the site. An hour later, according to videos, people leaving the prayers staged a vast protest on the limestone courtyard, with Palestinians raising their fists and shouting in support of Hamas rocket fire, and Israeli police forced their way into the compound. Police did not comment on the earlier beatings, but said security forces entered the compound after prayers in response to masked suspects who threw rocks towards officers at one of the gates. The Israeli military said Palestinian militants in Gaza had so far fired 44 rockets from Gaza, only 23 of which crossed into Israeli territory. The others either failed to launch, fell into the Mediterranean Sea or were intercepted by Israels Iron Dome aerial defence system, the military said. Most missiles that crossed the border struck open areas in Israels south, but one landed in the town of Sderot, sending shrapnel slicing into a house. The Israeli military said it pounded Gaza with more air strikes, hitting 10 targets described as underground tunnels, along with weapons production and development sites belonging largely to the Hamas militant group. There were no immediate reports of casualties in Gaza, but the Palestinian Health Ministry said one of the strikes caused some damage to a childrens hospital in Gaza City. Menorca, where the hair was found in a cave. Photo: Getty Images/Westend61 Researchers have found evidence of drug use during Bronze Age ceremonies. Analysis of strands of human hair from a burial site on the Spanish island of Menorca indicates ancient human civilisations used hallucinogenic drugs derived from plants. The findings are the first direct evidence of ancient drug use in Europe, which may have been used as part of ritualistic ceremonies, researchers say. Researchers detected scopolamine, ephedrine and atropine in three replicated hair samples. Atropine and scopolamine are naturally found in the nightshade plant family and can induce delirium, hallucinations and altered sensory perception. Ephedrine is a stimulant derived from certain species of shrubs and pines which can increase excitement, alertness and physical activity. Elisa Guerra-Doce, from the Universidad de Valladolid in Spain, and colleagues examined hair from the Es Carritx cave, which was first occupied around 3,600 years ago. Writing in the Scientific Reports journal, the authors said: Interestingly, the psychoactive substances detected in this study are not suitable for alleviating the pain involved in severe palaeopathological conditions attested in the population buried in the cave of Es Carritx, such as periapical abscesses, severe caries and arthropathies. Considering the potential toxicity of the alkaloids found in the hair, their handling, use and applications represented highly specialised knowledge. This knowledge was typically possessed by shamans, who were capable of controlling the side-effects of the plant drugs through an ecstasy that made diagnosis or divination possible. The scientists suggest the consumption of the plants may have been for ritual ceremonies performed by a shaman. Concentric circles found on wooden containers they were found in may have depicted eyes and could have been a metaphor for inner vision related to a drug-induced altered state of consciousness, the researchers suggest. The Ukrainian military said Russian forces launched 18 air strikes, five missile strikes and 53 attacks from multiple rocket launchers. Russian forces have used ground and air-fired missiles, rocket launchers and drones to bombard the provinces of Ukraine it has illegally annexed but does not fully control, causing casualties, building damage and power outages. The Ukrainian military said Russian forces launched 18 air strikes, five missile strikes and 53 attacks from multiple rocket launchers between Thursday and Friday mornings. According to the General Staff statement, Russia was concentrating the bulk of its offensive operations in Ukraines industrial east, focusing on the cities and towns of Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka in Donetsk province. Most of Fridays battlefield reports concerned the four Ukrainian provinces Russia annexed in September: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his military to gain complete control of the provinces, while Kyiv has indicated it will soon launch a counter-offensive to take back more territory. Russia also annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014, a move that most of the world also regarded as illegal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to regain all Russian-occupied areas. In the latest fighting, the Ukrainian military said it downed a Russian Su-25 ground attack jet near Marinka. A video showed a big explosion as the plane slammed into the ground, with its pilot descending on a parachute. The Russian military did not confirm the downing. British military officials said in their latest daily analysis that Russian forces are likely to have advanced into the centre of Bakhmut and captured the western bank of the Bakhmutka River. Russias eight-month campaign to take Bakhmut and Ukraines determination to defend the city have produced the longest and potentially bloodiest battle of the war that Mr Putin started on February 24 last year. The UK Ministry of Defence said Russias progress, which had largely stalled since the end of March, had regained momentum. According to British intelligence, Ukraines key supply route to the west of Bakhmut was under threat, with Russia using artillery more effectively and benefitting from reinforcements by regular forces that are likely to include airborne troops. British military officials also noted that regular military commanders and those from the Wagner Group, a private Russian military company, had probably improved co-operation and put on hold their feud. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The Wagner Group, which has appeared to take the lead in the Bakhmut fighting, has frequently complained about the regular Russian militarys strategy as well as its failure to provide sufficient ammunition and other support. The Wagner Groups owner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said Ukrainians continued to put up fierce resistance in Bakhmut. The enemy is not going anywhere, he wrote on Thursday. They organised defence inside the city, first by rail, then in the area of high-rise buildings in the western quarter of the city. Also in Donetsk province, Russia launched a missile attack on the city of Sloviansk, destroying residential buildings, while one civilian was wounded during fighting in Bakhmut. Donetsk regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said on Friday morning that 15 cities and villages on the front line had been shelled in the region. The Moscow-installed mayor of Donetsk city, Aleksei Kulemzin, said Ukrainian shelling had killed one person and wounded six. In partially occupied southern Kherson province, seven people were wounded over the previous 24 hours, regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on Friday. He wrote that Russia had carried out 46 attacks on the province, including seven on the regional capital, also called Kherson, with heavy artillery and aircraft fire. A 10-year-old girl, a three-year-old boy and 30-year-old woman were wounded in Russian shelling of the village of Stanislav in the Kherson region, said the head of Ukraines presidential office Andriy Yermak. Earlier, debris from Russian ammunition killed a 36-year-old resident of the city of Beryslav in Kherson province. Residential areas of the city of Kherson were shelled seven times, damaging energy facilities and residential buildings, and a drone attack on the village of Zmiyivka wounded six people. Shells hit Nikopol and Marhanets across the Dnieper River from the occupied and shut-down Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraines eastern Dnipropetrovsk province, damaging power lines. Further north, shelling in the Novhorod-Siverskyi district of the Chernihiv region left four towns and villages without electricity, authorities reported. Mortar fire damaged residential buildings in the town of Vovchansk in Kharkiv province, near the border with Russia. A 39-year-old man was killed in Russian shelling in the border village of Borysivka, Kharkiv governor Oleh Syniehubov said. Evan Gershkovich was arrested last week. FILE The Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich is shown in this undated photo. The U.S. Senates top two leaders, in a rare bipartisan statement, demanded on Friday that Russia immediately release Evan Gershkovich, condemning the detention of the Wall Street Journal reporter and declaring that journalism is not a crime. (The Wall Street Journal via AP, File) Jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has been charged with espionage in Russia and has entered a formal denial, two Russian news agencies reported. The state news agency Tass and the Interfax news agency said a law enforcement source had told them that the Federal Security Service (FSB) had officially charged the American journalist. The news outlets did not say in what form he was formally charged or when it happened, but suspects are generally presented with a paper outlining the accusations. In the Russian legal system, the filing of charges and a response from the accused represents the formal start of a criminal investigation, initiating what could be a long and secretive judicial process. Tass quoted its source as saying: The FSB investigation charged Gershkovich with espionage in the interests of his country. He categorically denied all accusations and stated that he was engaged in journalistic activities in Russia. Russian authorities arrested Mr Gershkovich, 31, in Yekaterinburg, Russias fourth-largest city, on March 29. He is the first US correspondent since the Cold War to be detained for alleged spying. The FSB specifically accused him of trying to obtain classified information about a Russian arms factory. The Wall Street Journal has denied the accusations. The case has caused an international uproar. On Thursday, the USambassador to Russia and a top Russian diplomat met to discuss it. In the meeting with US ambassador Lynne T Tracy, Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov stressed the serious nature of the charges against Mr Gershkovich, according to a Russian Foreign Ministry statement. The statement repeated earlier Russian claims that the reporter was caught red-handed while trying to obtain secret information, using his journalistic status as a cover for illegal actions. Lawyers representing Mr Gershkovich met him on Tuesday for the first time since his detention, according to Wall Street Journal editor-in-chief Emma Tucker. She said the reporter was in good health and was grateful for the outpouring of support from around the world. We continue to call for his immediate release. Mr Gershkovich was ordered held behind bars for two months in Russia pending an investigation. A Moscow court said on Monday that it had received a defence appeal against his arrest which is scheduled to be heard on April 18. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The charges emerged after the US Senates top two leaders demanded that Moscow immediately release Mr Gershkovich in a rare bipartisan statement that condemned his detention and declared that journalism is not a crime. The statement from Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer and minority leader Mitch McConnell came as the US works to end what it calls the unlawful detention of Mr Gershkovich, the first journalist to be held on alleged espionage since the Cold War. We strongly condemn the wrongful detention of US citizen and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, and demand the immediate release of this internationally known and respected independent journalist, the two men said. They said Mr Gershkovich had been accredited by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work as a journalist in Russia and Russian authorities have failed to present any credible evidence to justify their fabricated charges. Mr Schumer and Mr McConnell wrote: Let there be no mistake: journalism is not a crime. Mr Gershkovich, 31, is being held in a Moscow prison. The son of immigrants from the Soviet Union, he grew up speaking Russian at home in Princeton, New Jersey. Russias top security agency said he was trying to obtain classified information about a Russian arms factory. President Joe Biden told reporters last Friday that his message to Russia was: Let him go. The pair were killed and their mother seriously injured after their car was shot at and crashed Two sisters who were killed in a shooting in the West Bank were British nationals, according to reports. The women, one thought to be aged 15 and the other in her twenties, were killed when their car crashed after it was shot at on Friday near an Israeli settlement in the Jordan Valley, Israeli authorities said. Their mother, reported locally as aged in her forties, was also seriously wounded. The shooting happened as Israel unleashed air strikes on Lebanon and bombarded the Gaza Strip on Friday, targeting militant group Hamas in retaliation for a barrage of cross-border rockets fired from Lebanon. The escalation sparked fears of a broader conflict after days of violence over Jerusalems most sensitive holy site, but later in the day, there were signs that both sides were trying to keep the hostilities in check. The sisters were UK nationals whose family moved to Israel around 2005, Sky News reported. The Independent has contacted the Foreign Office for confirmation. The three women lived in the Israeli settlement of Efrat, near the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, said Oded Revivi, the mayor of the settlement. The girls father, who was driving another car behind them, witnessed the attack, he said. Doctors said the smashed car appeared to have been pushed off the road. The shooting comes as the region is on high alert after three days of violence. The latest violence began on Wednesday after Israeli police twice raided Jerusalems most sensitive holy site, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which sits on a hill in Jerusalem sacred to both Muslims and Jews. It sparked unrest in the contested capital and outrage across the Arab world. In one case, police fiercely beat Palestinians, who responded by hurling rocks and firecrackers. The Israeli military said 34 rockets were fired from Lebanese territory on Thursday, in the largest escalation along the frontier in 17 years. In retaliation, Israel stepped up air strikes in Gaza, with around 20 missiles striking four new sites in 10 minutes. That led to rocket fire from Gaza and the barrage from southern Lebanon and the Israeli retaliation. Loud blasts rocked several areas of the Gaza strip overnight into Friday morning, as Israel said its jets hit targets including two tunnels and two weapons-manufacturing sites belonging to Hamas, which controls the blockaded southern coastal strip. A childrens hospital in Gaza City was among the sites damaged, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. But the Israeli strikes seemed designed to avoid drawing in Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shiite group that Israel considers its most immediate threat. Soldiers had arrived at the scene of the reported collision between Israeli and Palestinian vehicles near the Jewish settlement of Hamra and saw the three people in the Israeli car had been shot, Israels military said. Soldiers are blocking routes adjacent to the scene of the shooting attack. A pursuit after the terrorists has begun, the military said. Palestinian Islamist group Hamas praised the attack but stopped short of admitting it had carried it out. On Friday, more than 130,000 worshippers poured into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for midday prayers, which ended without incident. Image Credit: Schmucki via Pixabay Russia supplied 1.64 million barrel per day (bpd) of crude oil to India, surpassing traditional suppliers such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq, Moneycontrol reported. With this Russia emerged as the top supplier to meet Indias crude oil requirements in the month of March, according to energy tracker Vortexa. However, the March supply, 33.9 percent of the total crude oil shipments, was a bit lower than Februarys 35 percent, it said. India bought 986,288 bpd of crude oil from Saudi Arabia while Iraq exported 821,952 bpd in March 2023 to the country. Russia has emerged as a significant supplier of crude oil to India, after the US and the EU imposed sanctions following its war with Ukraine since February 2022. Russia has been diverting its oil to Asian countries, especially India and China, by offering discounted rates. In March 2023, India received 1.64 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil from Russia, a significant increase compared to 68,600 bpd in the same period the previous year. Image Credit: PIB New Delhi/UNI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the government will continue working to augment health infrastructure and ensure quality healthcare to the people. Modi made these remarks on the 'World Health Day', which is being observed around the world on Friday. "On World Health Day, we express gratitude to all those who work to make our planet healthier. Our government will continue working to augment health infrastructure and ensure quality healthcare to the people," he tweeted. On World Health Day, we express gratitude to all those who work to make our planet healthier. Our Government will continue working to augment health infrastructure and ensure quality healthcare to the people. https://t.co/F0OcqOlcCr Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 7, 2023 April 7th is marked as World Health Day, to commemorate the foundation of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948. The theme for World Health Day 2023 is Health for All. It also marks the birthday of the World Health Organisation (WHO) which was founded in 1948. This year the world health body is observing its 75th anniversary. Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya also wished people and reiterated the government's commitment towards building a healthier India. Image Credit: Twitter/Sarbananda Sonowal Dibrugarh/IBNS: The Yoga Mahotsav, which was celebrated to commemorate 75 days to the International Day of Yoga, was participated by thousands at the gala event as they practised Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) at the Dibrugarh University ground in Assam's Dibrugarh on Friday. The event was graced by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal; Chief Minister of Tripura, Prof (Dr) Manik Saha; Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Chowna Main; Union Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas & MP of Dibrugarh; Rameshwar Teli; Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh; Health & Family Welfare Minister of Assam, Keshab Mahanta; former minister & Chairman, HOUSEFED, Bhabesh Kalita; Health & Family Welfare Minister of Manipur, Sapam Ranjan Singh; Minister of Power of Meghalaya, A T Mondal; Vice Chancellor of Dibrugarh University, Prof Jiten Hazarika; and Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha. Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal said, It is a matter of immense pleasure & pride that Dibrugarh is hosting this wonderful Yoga Mahotsav in this pristine environment. As thousands of you joined us, we are emboldening the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to make Yoga a global movement towards healthier and better tomorrow. "I must thank our distinguished guests who have joined us here today to make this event a success. Our endeavour to promote Yoga as a way of life will not only enrich our health but also contribute positively towards building a healthy & Swastha Bharat - a vision of our dynamic Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Ministry of Ayush organised the Yoga Mahotsav today to commemorate the 75 days to International Day of Yoga at the Dibrugarh University campus. International students from Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Togo, Nepal, Nigeria, Lesotho, Botswana, Egypt, Namibia & Korea apart from thousands of students, yoga enthusiasts participated at the Yoga Mahotsav here today making it a grand success. At the event, the audience was guided to perform CYP by Dr Ishwar V. Basavaraddi, Director, MDNIY. Adding further, the Ayush Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal said, On this holy occasion of Yoga Mahotsav, which is being celebrated on this auspicious World Health Day, I have the pleasure to announce that the Ministry of Ayush is going to set up a 100 bedded Yoga & Naturopathy hospital at Dibrugarh. "This is going to further bolster Dibrugarh as the centre of healthcare in the region. With the constant support from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are going to build this hospital which will give a big boost to the traditional healthcare system in the region. I am thankful to the Chief Minister of Assam, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, for extending full support to this only of its kind centre in the North-East." "This centre will cater to needs of the region by providing Yoga and naturopathy out-patient and inpatient treatments to the people of Assam. An MoU was also signed between the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) and Dibrugarh University to develop an ecosystem of Yoga practitioners which will further reinforce our commitment to make Yoga a part of everyones healthy lifestyle. The Chief Minister of Tripura, Prof (Dr) Manik Saha, addressed the gathering and said, It is a great moment when all of us have joined today in this beautiful morning to perform Yoga - one of the greatest boons of Indian heritage. Due to the umpteen initiative by Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Yoga has regained its past glory as it is now being celebrated across the world as a prescription of good health. :Being a doctor, I understand the scores of benefits that Yoga has to offer. As we practise Yoga today, it not only boosts the Yoga practice among people, but also promises a better, healthier tomorrow. I thank our Ayush Minister Sarbananda Sonowal for inviting me to this wonderful event and making me part of a movement towards realising the vision of Prime Minister Modi towards a Swastha Bharat. Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Chowna Mein said, Yoga is a wonderful gift of Indias rich heritage that has benefited the world to become a healthier place. Led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, yoga has become a global movement. Today, as we perform yoga, I hope & believe that with the ever rising popularity Yoga is an occasion to celebrate. I am happy that I can participate in this event today as we work towards a healthier tomorrow. Minister of Industry & Commerce, Assam, Bimal Borah; the Health & family Welfare Minister, Arunachal Pradesh, Alo Libang; the Health & family Welfare Minister, Meghalaya, Dr Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh; Minister of Urban Development, Sikkim, L B Das; the Minister of Labour Welfare Department, Assam, Sanjay Kishan; the MLA of Dibrugarh & Chairman, AIDC, Prashanta Phukan; MP Horen Singh Bey; MLA Teros Gowala, Binod Hazarika, Chakra Gogoi among many other prominent personalities attended the Yoga Mahotsav. Amit Shah Facebook page Kaushambi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday slammed the opposition parties, especially Congress, for disrupting the budget session of the Parliament and claimed that the Narendra Modi government will be formed again after 2024 Lok Sabha elections with more than 300 seats. Addressing a rally after inaugurating Kaushambi Mahotsava and launching projects of more than Rs 600 crore, Shah said, "The Parliament session ended on Thursday and it was for the first time in the history of independence that the budget session ended without a single sitting or debate. The opposition leaders did not allow the Parliament to function just because Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha." He said the law to disqualify an elected representative was made after the judgement of the Supreme Court. "To save Lalu Prasad Yadav Manmohan Singh wanted to amend the law, but Rahul Gandhi prevented him for doing so," he said. Shah said that Rahul was disqualified after a court in Surat in Ahmedabad. "It is the law that whoever he or she is convicted loses his or her membership. So far 17 MPs and MLAs have lost their membership. So Rahul too was convicted and after this Congress people came wearing black clothes and the Parliament was shut down," he said. He said, "I want to tell Rahul one thing that it is the duty of every citizen of the country to obey the law and you were the MP. You should have challenged the conviction and should have fought in the court. But they wasted the time of the Parliament which the people of the country will never forgive." The Home Minister also slammed Rahul for his remarks during his Cambridge visit. "tell me if a leader of the country should criticise India on a foreign land. What type of politics you want to bring in the country. You think that the people don't see. The people of the country not only see, but understand as well," he said. Continuing his attack on Rahul, he said, "In the last 10 years you have lost the post of Leader of Opposition and I want to tell you that the Modi government will again come back to power with more than 300 seats." Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi secured the country, formulated a number of schemes for the welfare of the poor, he made the country prosperous and increased respect for India in the world. "These Congressmen say that one day Modi's grave will also be dug. I want to tell Congress people that whether it's Sonia Gandhi or Rahul or whoever else has abused Modi, the lotus (BJP's symbol) has been strengthened more by the people," he said. He said, "The opposition parties claim that democracy is under threat. I want to tell them that your family is in danger and not democracy. Idea of dynastic politics and not the idea of India is under threat. Not democracy but the autocracy of your family is in danger." The Home Minister said that for decades democracy was beset by cankers of casteism, nepotism and appeasement by the opposition. "Modiji removed casteism and today Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) are nowhere to be seen. He defeated dynastic politics and ended appeasement and that is why you feel scared," he said. He said that today Uttar Pradesh is on the path of development under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. "I have been told that a web of express ways has been developed in UP. As Modiji is also an MP from Varanasi he brought all the schemes of poor welfare on the ground in huge quantities in UP. Today poverty alleviation is taking place in every house," he said. Shah said 46 lakh people were provided houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in UP. "2.16 crore toilets were constructed, cooking gas cylinders were provided to 1.76 crore mothers and sisters, benefit of SVANidhi scheme was extended to more than 10 lakh street vendors and Modi did the job of giving Rs 52,000 crore to more than 2.50 crore farmers. Free ration is being given to the poor from the last two years," he said. He said everybody wished that a temple of Lord Ram should be constructed in Ayodhya, the place where he was born. "The issue was being hanged by Congress, SP was stalling it and BSP was obstructing it. Modiji laid the foundation stone of the temple and very soon Lord Ram will be consecrated in his temple in Ayodhya," he said. Raising the issue of abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, the Home Minister said, "Congress, SP and BSP were lingering the issue, but on August 5, 2019 Modi abrogated Article 370 and made Kashmir an integral part of India. I have come to appeal to the people of Poorvanchal and Bundelkhand to ensure victory of lotus on all the seats in 2024 Lok Sabha polls and make Modi PM once again," he said. He appealed to the people to take a resolve to make Modi PM again in 2024. "In 2014 people placed their faith in Modi and made him the PM by voting en-bloc in favour of BJP and Congress, SP and BSP were wiped out," he said. "In 2017 assembly polls people gave 325 seats and Modi made Yogi the CM. In 2019 the people defeated everyone and made Modi PM again and in 2022 they made Yogi CM again. What UP will do in 2024. I have faith that with the slogans of Modi not only Kaushambi but the entire UP will give a message to the country," he said. (With UNI inputs) Image Credit: Twitter/ S Jaishankar New Delhi/IBNS: South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin, who arrived in New Delhi on a two-day visit Friday held talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on taking forward the bilateral special strategic partnership. The South Korean Foreign Minister, who is on his first official visit to India, also called on Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, during which the two sides highlighted the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, being marked this year. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in a tweet, said: Glad to welcome @FMParkJin of Republic of Korea on his first official visit to India. Our discussions today will take forward our Special Strategic Partnership." Both sides agreed to cooperate closely on global and multilateral issues. "Warm and wide-ranging conversation with @FMParkJin of the Republic of Korea. Noted steady progress in our ties. Discussed political contacts, trade & investments, defence, S&T, energy, space, semiconductors, emerging technologies and cultural exchanges," Jaishankar wrote on Twitter. "Also shared perspectives of our neighbourhoods, our visions and policies in the Indo-Pacific and the Ukraine conflict. Agreed to cooperate closely on global and multilateral issues. Discovered that the language skills of Koreans are as good as their dancing!!" he said. Warm and wide ranging conversation with @FMParkJin of Republic of Korea. Noted steady progress in our ties. Discussed political contacts, trade & investments, defense, S&T, energy, space, semiconductors, emerging technologies and cultural exchanges. pic.twitter.com/bOshgjr9Bm Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 7, 2023 The South Korean Foreign Minister leaves for Chennai on Saturday morning on a day-long visit. On Jan 30, Jaishankar held a telephone conversation with Park Jin, during which they discussed bilateral ties and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. The South Korean Foreign Minister was also in Delhi in March for the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting. Earlier, the South Korean Foreign Ministry in a statement said that the meeting between the two foreign ministers is the first one between them as they mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries this year. [With UNI inputs] Wikipedia Commons Paris: Police in Paris used batons, teargas and stun grenades to break up a huge crowd of protesters angered by the controversial pension reform, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported. Hundreds of thousands marched through the French capital in what is the 11th day of demonstrations against the governments plan to raise retirement age from 62 to 64, according to CGT trade union. Police put the attendance at 57,000. As evening set in, large numbers of protesters converged on the Place d'Italie square in central Paris. Police in riot gear moved in after some of them set gas canisters alight. The demonstration was forced to an end at about 7 p.m. (17:00 GMT) A new one was called for April 13. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said police arrested 111 demonstrators and 154 officers were injured in clashes during nationwide strikes. In Paris, 45 people were detained and 77 officers injured, according to police data cited by BFMTV. (With UNI inputs) Image: UNOCHA New York: Judges investigating the deadly August 2020 explosion at the port in Lebanons capital, Beirut, must be free to do their job in peace, a UN independent human rights expert said on Wednesday. Special Rapporteur Margaret Satterthwaite expressed grave concern over interference in the investigation, including threats against Judge Tarek Bitar, who has been leading the process since February 2021. Judges should never be threatened or subjected to criminal or disciplinary action simply for doing their job, she said. Justice delayed More than 200 people died as a result of the blast, which ripped through Beiruts port, causing extensive damage to the city, and unleashing dangerous chemicals into the atmosphere. Another 7,000 were injured, while some 300,000 people were displaced. Ms. Satterthwaite, whose mandate upholds the independence of judges and lawyers, condemned undue delays that have prevented justice for those affected by the disaster. I am deeply disturbed by reports that former State officials and others who have been implicated in the case have disingenuously resorted to recusal proceedings and other challenging actions directed at the investigating judges appointed to examine the case, she said. This has led to the replacement of an investigating judge in February 2021, as well as several suspensions of the investigation in recent months, she added. Obstacles and threats The rights expert pointed to reports that since the explosion was referred to the Lebanese Judicial Council for investigation, authorities have rejected requests to lift parliamentary immunity and allow security officials to be questioned. She said the Lebanese Government has also failed to execute arrest warrants against former ministers. Meanwhile, Judge Bitar has faced increasing obstacles and threats, and no one has been tried to date. On 23 January, the judge announced that investigations would resume following a 13-month pause, according to media reports. Two days later, he was charged with several offences, including 'usurpation of power, and subjected to a travel ban. Efforts to discredit A number of motions have been filed with the intention of removing Judge Bitar from the case, and there is an ongoing campaign on television and social media to discredit him, said Ms. Satterthwaite, noting that the judge has reportedly received credible death threats and is currently under military protection. "Judge Bitar must have the security he needs to carry out his work, she said. I urge Lebanese authorities to ensure that these threats are investigated, and that the judge, his colleagues and his family are adequately protected. Ms. Satterthwaite said victims and their families have been seeking justice for well over two years. Uphold judicial independence She urged the authorities to take immediate action to protect the independence and integrity of the investigation and ensure that those responsible for the explosion can be held accountable. Those affected by the blast have a fundamental right to the protection of the law and to effective remedies, the UN expert said. That can only happen if the independence of the judiciary is upheld. About UN Special Rapporteurs Special Rapporteurs and other independent experts are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva to monitor and report on specific country situations or thematic issues. They are not UN staff and do not receive payment for their work. Image: UNESCO New York: Nearly $7 billion will be required over the next decade to rebuild the cultural sector in war-ravaged Ukraine, the head of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said during a visit to the country this week. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay was in Ukraine to reaffirm support to the population amid the continuing full-scale Russian invasion, which began on 24 February last year. She visited the capital, Kyiv, and the cities of Odessa and Chernihiv, during the two-day mission, which concluded on Wednesday. Pillar of peace Since the very first days of the war, UNESCO has stood by the Ukrainian people to help protect culture, heritage, education and the safety of journalists. These are the pillars of our humanity, of our identities; the pillars of the countrys recovery and of peace, she said, speaking at a press briefing outside Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Throughout the conflict, where Russia has frequently targeted civilian areas, UNESCO has reiterated that the targeting of cultural sites and schools violates international law. Protection and support The agency has also deployed a $30 million emergency plan in Ukraine which ranges from protective equipment for monuments and works of art, to the distribution of more than 50,000 computers so that teachers can continue remote education, to the provision of dozens of helmets and bullet-proof vests to journalists working in combat zones. This support will continue and increase in 2023, Ms. Azoulay announced during a meeting with teachers in a school in Chernihiv. She said that in the coming weeks, UNESCO is mobilizing more than $10 million in additional funding to respond to the education emergency, noting that strengthening of psychosocial support for students is a priority. Culture recovery plan Ms. Azoulay also presented figures on the impact of the war on all areas of culture over the past year, including some $2.6 billion in physical damage. In order to rebuild but also to redress the situation, it will be necessary to invest $6.9 billion in the cultural sector in Ukraine over the next 10 years, she said on the sidelines of a working meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. At the meeting, the President welcomed measures already implemented by the UN agency. Sometimes there are only words. With UNESCO, there are concrete results, he said. Mr. Zelenskyy requested UNESCO to support the Governments development of a recovery plan for the cultural sector, while continuing to coordinate and mobilize international partners. Preserving Odesas heritage Ms. Azoulay concluded her visit in the port city of Odesa, whose historic centre was inscribed by UNESCO on the List of World Heritage in Danger in late January. The UN agency will further strengthen actions on the ground, with priority given to preserving and digitizing artistic and documentary heritage while maintaining the protection of historic buildings endangered by artillery fire. UNESCO will also launch a project to improve the conservation of the citys archaeological museum collections through financial support from the foundation of its Goodwill Ambassador Marc Ladreit de Lacharriere, Founder and President of French holding company FIMALAC. Energy sector damage exceeds $10 billion Relatedly, damage to Ukraines power, gas and heating infrastructure exceeds $10 billion, according to an assessment published on Wednesday by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank. Attacks have left over 12 million people with limited or no electricity, while also disrupting water supply and heating systems. Its estimated that necessary emergency repairs will come with a $1.2 billion price tag. Right now, the priority is to keep the lights on and the heat flowing, said Jaco Cilliers, UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine. He added that a key focus will be to secure power supply for critical infrastructure in big cities and in war-affected areas damaged beyond recovery. Image: UN video New York: The UN chief has called for people of faith worldwide to join their voices in a common prayer for peace, as the holy festivals of Ramadan, Easter and Passover coincide this week. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued his plea for peace acknowledging that it is dramatically lacking in many parts of the world, during an interview with UN Newss Arabic service, ahead of what has now become an annual visit for him, to a Muslim country beset by challenges, during the holy month of Ramadan. I think this is the moment for us to be all united for peace. Peace is the most precious thing that we can have in the world, Mr. Guterres said. Precious peace So, this is the moment to come together and for those that believe in God (in) different ways, with different expressions, to join their voices in a common prayer for peace. The UN chief began his tradition of paying a solidarity visit during Ramadan, while he was High Commissioner for Refugees, running the refugee agency UNHCR a job he held for ten years, before taking up the UNs top job in 2017. The majority of the refugees were Muslim, and the majority of the communities hosting refugees with enormous generosity and solidarity, were Muslim, he told UN Newss Reem Abaza, noting that the 1951 Refugee Convention on protection of refugees, is fully in line with the spiritual values of the Holy Quran. Fasting in solidarity He said his annual visit to refugee camps or settlements as UNHCR chief, where he fasted in solidarity, also provided an opportunity to highlight the generosity being shown by host communities. When I became Secretary-General, I thought that this tradition should be maintained - now, not focused on refugee communities, but focused on the Muslim communities that are suffering, he said. Islams true face Asked what insight joining Muslims fasting during Ramadan has given him down the years, the UN chief said it showed to him, the true face of Islam. The sense of peace, the sense of solidarity, the sense of generosity that I witnessed in the communities hosting refugees, and also the resilience, the courage of the refugees themselves was extremely inspiring. And it remains a very important inspiration of everything I do today, as Secretary-General of the United Nations. Prayer for Peace Next week, to mark what is a special time on the spiritual calendar for the Abrahamic faiths - Islam, Christianity and Judaism - representatives from the world's major religions, as well as the non-religious, will gather on Friday at UN Headquarters in New York, to pray for peace. The idea behind the 15 minute moment of contemplation, is to deliver a critical message about peace at a time of so much conflict and suffering worldwide. Members of the UN family, including staff, delegates and the press corps, are welcome to attend. The moment of prayer for individuals of diverse faiths and beliefs, is due to begin at the Knotted Gun sculpture, at 1230pm local time. Image: UNOCHA/Ahmad Abdulnafi New York: Two months after devastating earthquakes hit Turkiye and northern Syria, 2.5 million children in Turkiye remain in need of humanitarian support and are at risk of falling into poverty, child labour or under-age marriage, the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) warned on Thursday. UNICEF Representative in Turkiye, Regina De Dominicis, said that while the humanitarian response to the disaster was swift, immediate futures of millions of children remain uncertain. Urgent health and protection needs To cover the most pressing needs, UNICEF has reached more than 390,000 people with hygiene kits, winter clothes, electrical heaters and blankets. The UN agency has also delivered water to thousands while damaged supply networks are repaired. On the health front, UNICEF has been supporting Turkiyes authorities with the provision of vaccines including for polio, diphtheria and tetanus, as well as medical equipment and supplies. As part of the emergency response, the agency has also been working with partners to assist with family reunification and has reached more than 149,000 children and caregivers with psychosocial support. UNICEF stressed that these efforts must continue and child protection services must be maintained without interruption. Education in jeopardy According to UNICEF, the earthquakes impacted nearly four million schoolchildren in Turkiye. While nearly 1.5 million have resumed their education in affected areas, and another 250,000 have been able to continue their education after relocating elsewhere in the country, many others risk being left behind. To ensure that learning can continue, UNICEF is financing the repair of more than 1,170 schools, which will benefit over 300,000 children, and supporting the Ministry of Education with temporary classrooms in prefabricated structures and tents. The agency is also providing catch-up classes and help with homework in 37 hubs dedicated to child, adolescent and family support across 10 provinces. Getting lives back on track UNICEF in Turkiye is appealing for an additional $138 million to continue assisting children affected by the earthquakes and calling on the international community to ensure their needs are prioritized. Over and above the emergency response, UNICEF reiterated that longer-term assistance to children and their families is urgently required, so that people can recover and begin to rebuild their lives. More support is vital to ensure children are protected and their needs are met as a central part of the recovery, Ms. De Dominicis said, so that the disaster does not continue impacting their lives for decades to come. Image: Unsplash/Nikola Rakic New York: Legal reforms in Serbia must be accompanied by the effective implementation of laws to counter dangerous rhetoric against minorities, journalists and activists, UN independent human rights expert Irene Khan said on Thursday, concluding an official visit to the country. The Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of expression said she was encouraged by the Governments plans to reform media laws in line with international standards. However, she was also alarmed by the toxic public discourse, from politicians or public officials and amplified by tabloids, scapegoating the media, human rights defenders, ethnic minorities, LGBTI and those critical of the government. Undermining public trust Ms. Khan warned that public trust in the media is undermined when journalists are labelled foreign agents, traitors, or enemies of the State, which increases the likelihood of attacks against the press while also impacting media freedom and democratic debate. Freedom of expression is not a license to harass, intimidate or threaten critical voices, she stressed. She urged the government to ensure that all State bodies implement the constitutional and legal framework upholding freedom of expression while combating hate speech and disinformation. Action against tabloids Given the role that tabloids play in spreading hate speech, I am concerned that the electronic media regulatory body (REM) is failing to take appropriate action against the violators, failing to promote pluralism in media content, and allowing smear campaigns and harassment to continue, the rights expert said. REM must be independent, effective and accountable, she advised. She also urged the Government to ensure the safety of journalists by taking measures to speed up investigations and legal proceedings related to threats and attacks. Political will required Ms. Khan called on the authorities to investigate and prosecute longstanding cases of journalists killed in Serbia. Killing journalists is the most egregious form of censorship. Impunity must not prevail, she said. Finally, she stressed that the adoption of laws alone was not sufficient to protect freedom of expression. What is needed is strong, unequivocal political leadership from the commitment to international standards. The legal commitments of the Government must be translated into action. Visit to Kosovo Ms. Khan also travelled to neighbouring Kosovo during her visit. While welcoming the pluralistic media landscape there, she encouraged the authorities to continue to strengthen media freedom. I urge the authorities to fully implement the law on languages and call on the international community to ensure adequate support to independent Serbian language media, she said. They should also complete investigations into past killings and enforced disappearances of journalists, and ensure justice, she added. Image: Unsplash London: The government of the United Kingdom will start blocking access to banking services for those staying in the country illegally, in an attempt to tackle illegal migration, the Home Office said on Friday. "Making it more difficult for unlawful migrants to access financial services is an important tool to help deter illegal migration by preventing people from working illegally and profiting from services they are not entitled to," the statement said. The Home Office will send the necessary criteria to banks via an anti-fraud organization for them to check their personal current account holders against, the statement said, adding that the new measure will not affect people with outstanding immigration applications or appeals, neither it will be applicable to those granted leave in the UK, including refugees. However, the Home Office reserves the right to change the criteria for disqualification and sharing data, the statement read. In case a mistake occurs and an account is closed for no reason, the holder will be notified how to contact the Home Office and what steps to take, according to the statement. Illegal migration has been a pressing issue for the UK for years and only intensified after the country left the European Union in 2020. In March, Secretary of State for the Home Department Suella Braverman presented plans to introduce an annual limit on the admission of refugees. In mid-April, the UK and Rwanda signed a migration agreement, stipulating that people recognized by the UK government as illegal migrants or asylum seekers will be deported to Rwanda for the processing of their documents, obtaining asylum, and relocation. Despite the governmental measures aimed at deterring illegal migration, the influx of those arriving in the UK illegally continues. Earlier in the week, over 400 people crossed the English Channel in small boats, which is the record high number for a single day since the beginning of the year. (With UNI inputs) Image: Marcelo Camargo/Agencia Brasil The Vaticans rejection of the 500-year-old Catholic decree used to justify the seizure of indigenous lands by colonial powers, known as the Doctrine of Discovery, has been welcomed by an independent UN human rights expert as an important step towards reconciliation and healing. Jose Francisco Cali Tzay, UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, expressed hope that governments will follow the Holy Sees lead, noting that its impact is still being felt today. Open wound The doctrine of discovery is still an open wound for many Indigenous Peoples around the world, he said. It must be addressed as part of a reconciliation process between Indigenous Peoples and colonial States. The papal doctrine was used to claim indigenous territories in the Americas, Africa and elsewhere in the world. Mr. Cali Tzay commended the Vaticans recognition of the harmful effects of colonisation, including the pain suffered by Indigenous Peoples. He welcomed Pope Franciss call to abandon the colonising mentality and promote mutual respect and dialogue. Important step The Holy See has taken an important step towards reconciliation and healing with Indigenous Peoples by rejecting all concepts that fail to recognise their inherent human rights, he said. The doctrine was recognised as vesting a unilateral right of European colonial powers to claim superior sovereignty and rights over Indigenous Peoples lands and resources, based on their supposed lack of civilisation and religion. He added that it continues to have a negative impact on indigenous rights in some countries. Tool of deprivation He said the Doctrine of Discovery provides a legal basis to unilaterally deprive Indigenous Peoples of their rights to title and ownership of their traditional lands and territories by States that continue to use this legal theory as part of their national law, legislation, and jurisprudence, particularly in relation to land disputes. The UN expert noted that this was among the root causes of intergenerational trauma suffered by Indigenous Peoples, as currently manifested in high rates of suicide among youth, over-representation in the criminal justice system, disproportionate violence against women and girls, and racial discrimination. Review and repudiate He urged all States that still uphold the Doctrine of Discovery to follow the Vaticans lead in formally repudiating the decree and reviewing all jurisprudence and legislation that relies on it. Special Rapporteurs like Mr. Cali Tzay, and other UN Human Rights Council-appointed independent experts, are mandated to monitor and report on specific thematic issues or country situations, as part of the Councils Special Procedures. They are not UN staff and do not receive any compensation for their work. Abuja/UNI: As many as 46 people have died in Nigeria following an attack of suspected armed herders on the Umogidi community in the southeastern state of Benue, local authorities said. "I can confirm to you that there was an attack in Umogidi and as of this morning, the causality figure, from those who were seen physically from what I was told, was 46. But the figure may be higher because some people are still reported missing," Paul Hemba, the special adviser to the state governor on security, told journalists, the Punch newspaper reported. The attack took place on Wednesday afternoon, with a police officer being among the killed, according to the newspaper. Earlier in the week, the suspected herders invaded the same community, killing three people, Punch reported. Image: UNOCHA/Charlotte Cans New York: A Taliban edict banning Afghan women from working for the UN mission and agencies inside the country, has been strongly condemned by both the UN chief and his deputy. In statements on Wednesday, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was joined by deputy chief Amina Mohammed, in describing the latest escalation of the de facto authorities suppression of women, as a violation of their inalienable fundamental human rights. "It also violates Afghanistans obligations under international human rights law, and infringes on the principle of non-discrimination, which is a core tenet underpinning the United Nations Charter, said Mr. Guterres, in statement issued by his Spokesperson. Rights violations mount Since overthrowing the democratically elected Government of Afghanistan in August 2021, Taliban leaders have steadily eroded the rights of women and girls in public life, introducing a ban on secondary schooling, higher education, working for non-governmental organisations, and their rights to freedom of movement. Bans are already in force preventing them in effect from working, studying, and travelling without male chaperones. 'Essential to life-saving operations The UN chief said that female staff members were essential for all UN operations, which are directed by the Assistance Mission in the country, UNAMA, and which include the delivery of life-saving assistance. The enforcement of this decision will harm the Afghan people, millions of whom are in need of this assistance, the statement said. The Secretary-General calls on the Taliban to immediately revoke the decision and reverse all measures that restrict womens and girls rights to work, education and freedom of movement. Speaking to journalists at UN Headquarters in New York on Wednesday ahead of a sustainable development report briefing, the Deputy Secretary-General reminded that she had met many of the women now facing a ban and the loss of their livelihoods, in a visit to Afghanistan at the beginning of the year. 'Taking all measures' to support women staff We reiterate that both Afghan women and men are essential to all aspects of our work, she said, adding that the UN was taking all possible measures right now to support our national female staff at this difficult time. She said UN national female staff will continue to receive their salaries, but until further clarification is received, all national staff both men and women are being told not to report to the office. She said she had been involved in a meeting with the Foreign Affairs minister of the de facto authorities earlier Wednesday morning, and pledged that UN leadership would continue to engage with Taliban representatives, as well as neighbouring countries to resolve the latest human rights infringements. Most vulnerable worst hit The President of the General Assembly, Csaba Korosi, also strongly condemned the move, calling it a blatant violation of women and girls human rights. The consequences of this decision would harm the Afghan people, in particular the most vulnerable segments of the population, he said, noting that Afghanistan needs to get on the path towards sustainable development, and for that, it should mobilize the countrys full potential. 'Utterly despicable' The UN human rights chief Volker Turk, described the latest erosion of rights for women in Afghanistan as an "utterly despicable" move. "This is a systematic, relentless assault on the people of Afghanistan as a whole by the Taliban", he said, who he said seemed to be "working to incapacitate, intimidate and harass half of the population." He called on the leadership to rethink all of the restrictive policies introduced to curb women's rights, "for the sake of the future of the country." UN Women vows to stay and deliver The head of UN Women, Sima Bahous, said her agency "was determined to continue in every way possible to deliver vital services and support, so no woman or girl will be left out or left behind." Almost a quarter of households in Afghanistan are female-headed, she pointed out in a statement responding to the Taliban decree, adding that what the people need, is "more aid, not less." "I saw and heard this firsthand from Afghan women on my recent visit there", she continued. "At this dark hour, we must not forget them. The removal of skilled women aid workers, decreases women and girls access to critical life-saving services, and it increases their risks when they have to seek assistance from men instead." Image: UNICEF/Sayed Bidel New York: A Taliban decision banning women from working for the UN inside Afghanistan, will have devastating consequence for aid delivery, the UNs top humanitarian official in the country warned on Thursday. Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, said that amid severe underfunding, the move would further undermine humanitarian partners ability to support the population, especially the most vulnerable such as women and girls. The world cannot abandon the people of Afghanistan at this precarious moment, Dr. Alakbarov insisted, before urging the international community not to punish the Afghan people further by withholding critical funding. Multiple top UN officials, starting with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, have condemned the latest Taliban decision. On Wednesday, the deputy UN chief, Amina Mohammed, pledged continued engagement by UN leadership with Taliban representatives to resolve the situation. Grim precedent In a statement on Wednesday, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said Special Representative Roza Otunbayeva, was engaging authorities at the highest level possible, as well as other Member States, the donor community and humanitarian partners, to reverse the latest Taliban decree. In the history of the United Nations, no other regime has ever tried to ban women from working for the Organization just because they are women. This decision represents an assault against women, the fundamental principles of the UN, and on international law, said Ms. Otunbayeva. Biggest aid operation With a record 28.3 million people in need of assistance in 2023 and a humanitarian appeal of $4.6 billion, Afghanistan is the worlds largest aid operation. It is also the UNs lowest-funded operation globally, at less than five per cent. While we continue to engage with the Taliban de-facto authorities to find a solution to these decrees, we urge the international community not to punish the Afghan people further by withholding critical funding, said the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Kabul. UN News Ramiz Alakbarov, UN Resident Coordinator in Afghanistan, briefs journalists at a press conference on the situation in Afghanistan. Aid agencies remain on the ground delivering life-saving assistance to millions of people, and national and international NGOs have continued to implement programmes over the past three months, despite the very challenging circumstances. Keep the lifeline The population has already endured so much, it would be unconscionable to impose further harm on them by depriving them of an essential humanitarian lifeline, said Dr. Alakbarov. Over the past twenty months, Taliban leaders have issued a series of increasingly restrictive measures targeting women and girls which have sought to limit their participation in all aspects of social, economic and political life. Rights experts demand Taliban reverse course A large group of UN-appointed independent human rights experts on Thursday demanded the immediate reversal of the Talibans ban on Afghan women working for the UN. They described it as unlawful discrimination, and a direct attack on women, and wholly against the core values and principles of the UN Charter, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). All Afghan lives at risk The latest ban will further hamper the delivery of critical assistance to millions of Afghans in need of urgent support, with many of the worst impacted being women and girls, they warned. In continuing to target, exclude and isolate women and girls in Afghan society and denying women from working in many professions in Afghanistan, the Taliban is putting at risk the lives of all Afghans and jeopardising the countrys future, the Human Rights Council-appointed experts said. The Taliban is once again demonstrating its brazen disregard for womens rights and their well-being, and the extent to which they will go to remove women from all areas of public life and strip them of their rights and dignity. Lift bans immediately The targeting of women and girls in Afghanistan and denying their fundamental rights because they are women increases concern about gender persecution, a crime against humanity, and those responsible must be held accountable, they said. We call on the de facto authorities to immediately lift the bans on women working with national and international NGOs and the United Nations, their joint statement concluded. Special Rapporteurs and other independent experts are mandated to monitor and report on specific thematic issues or country situations. They are not UN staff and do not receive any compensation for their work. Image credit: UNI Dhaka/UNI: Eight people have been killed in a shooting between two rival groups in Rowangchhari upazila of Bandarban in Bangladesh . Rowangchhari Police Station officer-in-charge Abdul Mannan confirmed the incident to UNI. He said police, being informed by locals, recovered the bodies of eight people from the Khamtang Para area on Friday afternoon. Details of the groups involved in the firing could not be known yet, he added. However, Kuki-Chin National Front revealed the names of seven deceased in the incident on its Facebook page. The have been identified as Bhan Du Bom, Sang Khum, San Fir Thang Bom, Boy Rem Bom, Zahim Bom, Lal Lian Nak Bom and Lal Tha Zar Bom, residents of Khamtang Para. undefined What was the idea behind OLL? I started OLL When I was 15, at that time I took the biggest risk of my life. I left my home and on the way started donating all my belongings - wallet slipper watch, mostly all essentials. And finally when I gave my cycle to a boy who was under privileged he took the cycle and said these exact words, ' Bhaiya Mera sapna poora ho gaya.' I started OLL as I realised that kids have a lot of potential but not enough opportunities and exposure. I had first-hand experience with the limitations of the current educational system and wanted to create a platform that could help students develop practical skills that they could use in the real world. Help us understand the companys business model. OLL is a platform for Learners to explore Certified Courses for New Age Skills at affordable prices. Their current target audience is Standard 1st - 10th grade kids in Tier 2 and 3 Cities. Where awareness of education outside schooling is low and teachers are not available! They Filter and Partner with Top teachers to List their Live Classes in Skills like Coding, Robotics, Public Speaking, Financial awareness and OLL connects them to eager Learners through Schools. OLL is trying to bridge the gap by introducing technical skills for students across the country. Using technology as an integrator, OLL has reached out to 32000 students across India and counting. More than 2000 teachers have joined the OLL bandwagon to help students with skills related to technology, finances, robotics, Fintech, coding, public speaking, courses in multiple languages. What are your plans to disrupt the ed-tech market in the Tier 2/3 cities and beyond? I wanted to reach to 1 Billion Children, I want to create awareness and distribution to reach each and every town and city and village, through the schools and physical centers. We are investing in Tech and Product, our main focus is to create a great renewal and word of mouth What are your growth and expansion plans after fund raising from shark tank? We have planned to offer free skill development training to 1 Lakh underprivileged students and contribute to their bright futures. We have always known the importance of urgent need for the 100 basic courses which will be offered to 1 lakh students that register on our platform. OLL is offering 4 courses Public Speaking, Personality Development, Vedic Math, Resume Building, Python Coding to underprivileged for a duration of 2 months. The classes will be conducted online through our portal. OLL offers engaging live courses that are Stem and UNESCO accredited for new age trending skills. OLL will offer engaging live courses that are Stem and UNESCO accredited for new age trending skills. Are you looking to raise funds again in the next 18-24 months? We've already raised Rs.1.5 crore in seed funding so far, This year, we're planning to raise another round of funding of Rs 1.5 crore. By J. Keeler Johnson ("Keelerman") Twitter: @J_Keelerman The Road to the Kentucky Derby reaches its climax on Saturday with the running of the $1 million Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland, the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita, and the $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct. After analyzing the entries, I'm keen to support one favorite, one second choice, and one longshot. Here's how I see the races unfolding: Blue Grass (G1) #1 Tapit Trice (5-2) is a logical favorite to win the Blue Grass (G1). The Todd Pletcher trainee unleashed a giant homestretch rally in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) last month, going from 4 1/4 lengths behind at the eighth pole to two lengths in front at the finish line. But Tapit Trice was slow to get going in the Tampa Bay Derby and seemed to be struggling around the far turn. I wound if he'll be vulnerable to a wide and/or traffic-filled trip while breaking from the rail against a large field in the Blue Grass. I'm going to try to beat Tapit Trice with #3 Verifying (3-1), a beautifully bred colt I've liked since his winning debut at Saratoga last summer. Subsequently runner-up in the Champagne (G1) and sixth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), Verifying kicked off 2023 on a high note, smashing next-out winners Gun Pilot and Two Eagles River by 5 1/4 lengths in a one-mile allowance optional claimer at Oaklawn. Unfortunately, Verifying failed to build on his momentum in the Rebel (G2), finishing fourth over a sloppy track. But Verifying ran into meaningful traffic around the far turn and down the homestretch, so I'm willing to forgive his less-than-stellar showing. There isn't much speed in the Blue Grass field, so Verifyingwho has set or tracked the pace in four of his five startsfigures to receive a picture-perfect trip close to the lead. He enters off quick workouts for high-percentage trainer Brad Cox and looks ready to outrun expectations. Santa Anita Derby (G1) #5 Practical Move (8-5) has improved by leaps and bounds since the end of last year, to the point where he ranks among the favorites for the Kentucky Derby. In December, he skimmed the rail to win the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) by 3 1/4 lengths. Then he returned from a 2 1/2-month break to win the San Felipe (G2) with identical tactics by 2 1/2 lengths. Practical Move's San Felipe triumph yielded a flashy 100 Beyer speed figure, stamping the son of Practical Joke as the horse to beat in the Santa Anita Derby. He enters off fast workouts and has two or three speed horses drawn to his inside, so if jockey Ramon Vazquez wants to seek another ground-saving trip, that option should be open. Practical Move has already defeated #3 Geaux Rocket Ride (3-1) and #7 Skinner (4-1) in the San Felipe. And while Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) third-place finisher #6 National Treasure (3-1) is a talented foe, he missed the San Felipe with a hoof issue and hasn't run in three months. Unless Japanese raider #8 Mandarin Hero (8-1) fires a big shot in his U.S. debut, Practical Move should have the Santa Anita Derby field measured, and I expect him to prevail on Saturday. Wood Memorial (G2) There are many viable win contenders in the Wood Memorial. #13 Hit Show (5-2) was tons the best in the Withers (G3) over this track and distance two months ago, drawing off down the homestretch to win by 5 1/2 lengths. #5 Slip Mahoney (6-1) finished a good second in the one-mile Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct last month and has the pedigree to thrive in his two-turn debut. And the Todd Pletcher trainee #1 Dreamlike (7-2) figures to draw support after finishing second in a fast maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park. But I prefer the chances of Dreamlike's stablemate #11 Classic Catch (10-1). The son of champion juvenile Classic Empire is 2-for-2 racing 1 1/8 miles, breaking his maiden at Aqueduct last fall by 2 1/2 lengths over #9 Crupi (12-1) before adding a $75,000 allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream Park to his tally. Classic Catch's Gulfstream victory came by two lengths over Mr. Ripple, who exceeded expectations when fourth in the Florida Derby (G1) last week. Pletcher has won seven of the last 12 editions of the Wood Memorial, and Florida shippers have won 10 of the last 12 renewals, so there are a lot of positives in Classic Catch's favor. The one major knock against Classic Catch is his modest Beyer and Brisnet speed figures. But it's worth noting all three of his route races have featured slow paces unconducive to recording fast final times. If the Wood Memorial unfolds at a quicker tempo, I believe Classic Catch can more forward and snatch victory at double-digit odds. Now it's your turn! Who do you like in the Kentucky Derby prep races? ***** Want to test your handicapping skills against fellow Unlocking Winners readers? Check out the Unlocking Winners contest pagethere's a new challenge every week! (Please note: older contest entries can be found here.) ***** The Unlocking Winners Road to the Kentucky Derby Handicapping Challenge is back! Check out the special contest page to play along. J. Keeler Johnson (also known as "Keelerman") is a writer, videographer, voice actor, handicapper, and all-around horse racing enthusiast. A great fan of racing history, he considers Dr. Fager to be the greatest racehorse ever produced in America, but counts Zenyatta as his all-time favorite. The topic of OTT censorship is hotly contested. While many people believe it is acceptable to exercise creative freedom, others argue that it is crucial to release only clean content. Salman Khan recently gave his thoughts on the subject as well. Salman Khans statement : He said, I really think there should be censorship on the medium. All these.. vulgarity, nudity, gaali galauch (swearing) should stop. salman According to Indianexpress, he added, Ab 15-16 saal ka bacche dekh sakte hai. Apko acha lagega apki choti se beti ye sab dekhe padhne ke bahane . I just think the content should be checked on OTT. Jitna clean hoga content, utna behtar hoga, viewership uski zyada hogi . Talking about the actors, he said, Apne sab kuch kar lia love making, kissing, expose kar lia aur aap apne building mein ghus rahe hai aur apka watchman aapka content dekh raha hai. So, I just dont think thats right for security reasons. Also, we dont need to do that. Hindustan mein rehte hai, thoda boht theek hai lekin itna zyada beech mein ho gya tha. Ab jake thoda control mein aya hai. salman One wrote, #SalmanKhan bats for #censorship on OTT. The same guy who flaunts half-nudity in all his films, has dialogues like, 'Itne ched karunga, ki confuse ho jaoge ki saans kahe se le aur pade kaha se.' I guess he thinks #Womenviolence, #murder should also be illegal only on OTT. A second added, I hope that OTT platforms and content creators will take note of Salman's statement and strive to create more family-friendly programming. Let's make sure our children have access to media that educates and inspires them, rather than distracts and corrupts them. salman A third wrote, Totally support censorship on OTT content. Its become a cringe worthy free for all. Kids today have much more and easier access to OTT than visiting a cinema hall. If films are r following this why not OTT? Well said. Look who is giving lecture on abuse, morality and what should not be done. The biggest criminal among actors has a vision for the functioning of the youths and society. The monster who should have been behind the bars long back has wisdom to share! #SalmanKhan #OTT #India https://t.co/6WzRoOfGhQ DEEPAK (@DEEPAKSHAHI3) April 7, 2023 The Laughable thing is that #RanbirKapoor & #shahidkapoor are still youngsters while they are over 40 now they won't gonna be next superstar. One is doing OTT , one has flop #tjmm #VarunDhawan is flop , #KartikAaryan will fade away. #SalmanKhan #TigerVsPathaan #war2 Moin (@MoinPattni) April 6, 2023 110% #SalmanKhan is absolutely right. There is too much sex in OTT shows. This isn't our culture. Bring back family shows and family values. Censorship should be implemented. https://t.co/tf4jRavHdX Shabana (@shabanais) April 7, 2023 I totally agree with salman khan, Now every kids are in access with mobile phone and they know more Badwords than us how? There is no age limit in sing in the ott platform. Hakim Shaik (@shaikhakim553) April 7, 2023 Totally support censorship on OTT content. Its become a cringe worthy free for all. Kids today have much more and easier access to OTT than visiting a cinema hall. If films are r following this why not OTT? Well said @BeingSalmanKhan#censorship #OTT #SalmanKhan #sparethekids Shrikant Krishna (@shrikantkrshna9) April 7, 2023 We all knows many Salman haters hate Salman Khan in this statement coz they lov OTT and sex and expose Do wat ever you want haters bt u can't down Salman Khan in ur fucking life ... And that's fact.. Sunny chatterjee (@Sunnychatterj10) April 7, 2023 Yes, I am agree with Salman Khan as it is a big issue. Government is ignoring #OTT. These days each and every teenager have their own mobile phone. Ott contents are freely accessible on some websites. These violent contents are harmful to the next generation. Parth Gurav (@Its_Parth_Gurav) April 7, 2023 Its not those people who watch movies on OTT who are buying tickets and making Salman khan a superstar, Salman khan movie are watched by crores of his fan irrespective of all the idiotic storyline, they are those who dont subscribe to OTT coz they dont have money. General Admiral Gabbar (@DevilsLawyer13) April 7, 2023 Its good of #Salmankhan to speak for censorship in OTT content Unless we can make sure that the content is not viewed below legal age ( practically not possible ) it should be censored Unnecessary vulgarity, violence is on display @BeingSalmanKhan #filmfare the unfinancial times (@gulabdshah) April 6, 2023 #SalmanKhan is right about regulating kissing, bold scenes on OTT. https://t.co/bgQTAWx77o Badrul Duja (@badrul8_) April 6, 2023 5/5: I hope that OTT platforms and content creators will take note of Salman's statement and strive to create more family-friendly programming. Let's make sure our children have access to media that educates and inspires them, rather than distracts and corrupts them. #SalmanKhan Manish Kansal (@itsmanish1999) April 6, 2023 Yes OTT definitelly need censor,'Indian Government' should take action against it because of this youths are diverting to bad thing.India is rich in culture if govt ignores it destroy all.#GovernmentofIndia#CensorboardofIndia#OTT #Salmankhan #India #YOUTH #Mudhol Girish S Chandaragi (@csgirish2022) April 6, 2023 #SalmanKhan bats for #censorship on OTT. The same guy who flaunts half-nudity in all his films, has dialogues like, 'Itne ched karunga, ki confuse ho jaoge ki saans kahe se le aur pade kaha se.' I guess he thinks #Womenviolence, #murder should also be illegal only on OTT#OTT. Rahul Ruminates (@RahulRuminates) April 6, 2023 i have been here since 1989 & i have never done this kind of stuff (vulgarity, nudity, swearing casually) so i think there should be censors on ott. it doesn't look good when 15 y/o kids watch this kind of stuff. television is still better than ott - #SalmanKhan pic.twitter.com/xip8CN61Ra simp (@jhonkahawaka) April 6, 2023 Speaking to IndiaToday, Nassar Abdulla, who has been in movies like Company, expressed his thoughts on the matter and requested OTT censorship. He claimed that he is prepared to "conquer" alongside Salman Khan in this issue. According to the actor, users of the digital domain cannot post anything they deem inappropriate. For the unversed, recently after Rana Naidu was released, usage of 'gaalis' in OTT content became a topic of discussion. Despite the fact that most people praised it, many felt that the abuse wasn't necessary. It's also vital to remember that the cast had stated that watching it together as a family is not advised. How do you feel? Is censorship needed? (To read more such stories related to movies and shows released on OTTs, keep reading Indiatimes BINGE) What do people usually do when they spot a beggar? They mostly hand them some money and wish it makes a difference, however small. But that doesn't solve the looming issue of poverty. The only way to resolve this is to uplift this marginalised section through a fundamental change. Twitter A social worker from Odisha, Chandra Mishra, has devised a unique solution to this issue - Beggars Corporation - that has already raised the living condition of 14 impoverished families. 'Don't Donate, Invest' With a catchy slogan of "Don't Donate, Invest", this new-age welfare worker has motivated people not to give alms to beggars but to invest in them. Mishra's concept has worked wonders as he returned the initial investors' money within six months and added 16.5 per cent profit. The Beggars Corporation was established in August 2021, during the COVID-19 lockdown, when many deprived people sought support from Mishra. He acquainted them with skills like making bags and gave them jobs. More beggars joined the corporation slowly but steadily, and reputed people appreciated Mishra's initiative. "We then returned the money to the people from whom we took the money in six months with 16.5 per cent ROI (Return on Investment)," said Chandra Mishra, reported India Today. "We did not think that we would be able to do this, but we wanted investment, not a donation, which we got. And when the time came, we returned it, and the investors made a profit," he added. Twitter Subsequently, with his partners, Badrinath Mishra and Devendra Thapa, Mishra incorporated Beggars Corporation as a "For Profit Company" in August 2022. 14 beggar families turn entrepreneurs Currently, 14 beggar families under his guidance have been operating as entrepreneurs. Twelve families collaborate with them to make bags, while two other families have set up shops near temples where they sell flowers and religious items. Under Mishra's scheme, a sum of Rs 1.5 lakh is spent per beggar. Twitter Of these, Rs 50,000 is utilised for a three-month skill training program, while the remaining amount is spent to create the infrastructure required for the individual's enterprise. Apart from this noble initiative, Mishra has also instituted the School of Life, which is committed to aiding children who beg at the ghats of Varanasi. The Beggars Corporation has earned Chandra Mishra a place in 100 Innovative Startups, and later, he was included in the Top 16 Mindful Startups. Initially, 57 people funded his campaign, and with their money, Mishra provided skill training to the beneficiaries and set up their employment. For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. To fill open positions in the face of a persistent labour shortage, several UK firms are implementing "early finish Fridays" to attract and retain Generation Z employees. Adzuna, an online job portal, has seen a rise in the number of opportunities that provide workers with a Friday off or reduced hours in recent months. In March of this year, 1,426 job postings on the site included "early finish Friday," compared to only 583 in March of 2010, when the COVID-19 outbreak radically altered the working world. According to information from Adzuna given to Bloomberg, the benefit is for people starting their careers and making between 20,000 and 40,000 ($50,000). Adzuna's current listings include 348 early finish Friday engineering jobs as of April 3; this trend is particularly prevalent in specific fields. There were 207 such benefits advertised for sales positions, 156 for IT positions, and 90 for entry-level employment. According to Adzuna's co-founder and CEO, Andrew Hunter, the move shows that workers are "demanding more" from their employers in the wake of the pandemic. "For jobseekers, a company offering early-finish Fridays signals that they are flexible in their attitude toward working hours and care about their employees' wellbeing - two factors of utmost importance in today's jobs market," Hunter said in an emailed statement. Several large and medium-sized companies provide this perk to their staff. Graduates in merchandising at the fashion supply company DCK Group enjoy early weekend starts as a reward for working there. Unsplash In the job posting for a contract manager, aerospace firm Raytheon Technologies Corp. emphasized this perk. Several businesses have started trying out a four-day workweek to attract and retain employees to fill an increasing number of unfilled jobs. Even though the terms and conditions have changed, the lack of workers in the UK has not been fixed. Britain is the only economy in the Group of Seven that hasn't returned to where it was before the COVID outbreak. There are 216,000 fewer people of working age working now than there were before the outbreak. To get older people back to work, the UK government said in its budget last month that the lifetime limit on pension savings will be removed. The wealthiest savers in the nation stand to gain from this shift. Unsplash The effectiveness of giving benefits in luring a younger workforce is still being discussed. You'll be doing stuff you don't enjoy at some time, as Lewis Kemp of Manchester's Lightbulb Media said on LinkedIn. "At some point, you'll be doing things you don't like." "Much more valuable than pizzas, holidays, and 'early finish Fridays' are a culture of trust, respect, and fair compensation." (With agency inputs) For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. The All Progressives Congress (APC) has claimed that those demanding an interim government are outrightly calling for a coup detat. According to the ruling party, those plotting for an interim government should be arrested and punished because the move is illegal and unknown to the laws of the country. Recall that the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Thursday described the calls for an interim government as illegal and unconstitutional. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Musa Danmadami, said those unhappy with the outcome of the presidential election are behind the clamour for an interim government, stating that they are mischievous. However, supporting the stance of the military, the APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, said the DHQ is just reiterating the supremacy of the Constitution of the country. According to him, the Constitution recognises an elected regime and it is the same Constitution that says anything contrary to the recognition of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with regard to elections is illegal. READ ALSO: Confusion As Court Stops Suspension Of LP National Chairman, Others The spokesman noted that the military cannot support the overthrow of a legitimately elected government, saying that calling for a coup detat is treason which attracts the death penalty. He said, What the Defence Headquarters is saying is reiterating the supremacy of the Federal Constitution. And it is the Constitution that recognises an elected regime. It also recognises INEC as an electoral umpire. It is the same Constitution that says anything contrary to the recognition of INEC with regard to elections is akin to disagreeing with the Constitution. So, anyone who comes with something that is alien in the name of an interim government or whatever name not recognised by the Constitution is asking for the overthrow of this Constitution. Now, the military cannot under any guise support the overthrow of a legitimately elected government. To do that is to call for a coup detat and calling for a coup is a treason which attracts the death penalty. Therefore, in agreeing with INECs position, the DHQ is directly agreeing with the Constitution and saying that they remain subservient and submissive to the will of the people as provided for in the Constitution. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, internationally acclaimed writer, has cautioned the United State (US) President, Joe Biden not to congratulate Nigerias president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, owing to the flawed electoral process. In an open letter published on Thursday to Biden, Adichie also referenced reports of widespread violence, ballot box snatching, voters intimidation, and other malpractices which marred the February 25 poll, all in a bid to favour the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Congratulating its (election) outcome, President Biden tarnishes Americas self-proclaimed commitment to democracy. Please do not give the sheen of legitimacy to an illegitimate process. The United States should be what it says it is, Adichie enjoined the American leader. Voters compared their cellphone photos with the uploaded photos and saw alterations: numbers crossed out and rewritten; some originally written in black ink had been rewritten in blue, some blunderingly whited-out with Tipp-Ex, the writer pointed out. The election had been not only rigged, but done in such a shoddy, shabby manner that it insulted the intelligence of Nigerians. It is ironic that many images of altered result sheets showed votes overwhelmingly being transferred from the Labour Party to the APC, Adichie wrote. The writers letter, on The Atlantic, titled, Nigerias Hollow Democracy also stated that the Independent National Electoral Commission failed to deliver on its promise to upload election results from polling units in real-time via its result viewing portal. Some electoral workers in polling units claimed that they could not upload results because they didnt have a password, an excuse that voters understood to be subterfuge. By the end of the day, it had become obvious that something was terribly amiss, the writer recounted the unfortunate experience. Quoting Ned Price, the spokesperson for the US State Department, Chimamanda noted that the congratulatory statement itself mentioned that Nigerians were frustrated at the manner in which the process was conducted and the shortcomings of technical elements that were used for the first time in a presidential election cycle. READ ALSO: Korra Obidi Reacts To People Mocking Her Over Newly Acquired $1.6m House However, she further called on Biden to not remain apathetic toward the current state of Nigeria by endorsing the results of the undemocratic process. You have spoken of the importance of a global community for democracy, and the need to stand up for justice and the rule of law. A global community for democracy cannot thrive in the face of apathy from its most powerful member Why would the United States, which prioritises the rule of law, endorse a president-elect who has emerged from an unlawful process?, she wrote. The Nigerian author also argued that many Nigerians are upset not because their preferred candidate lost in the election but because the election they had dared to trust was, in the end, so unacceptably and unforgivably flawed. Information Nigeria understands the article is Adichies second open address to President Biden since the conclusion of the presidential elections. In March the US-based author published an op-ed via the New York Times, where she called on Biden to stand behind the Nigerian people now and make a firm commitment to support election transparency. You dont want a wave of Nigerian asylum seekers fleeing the unbearable discontent of living under an illegitimate government, she warned in the op-ed. Notably, while many world leaders including the United Kingdoms Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, have extended their congratulation to Nigerias president-elect. President Biden is yet to send his congratulatory message, though Ned Price, did shortly after his victory Diran Odeyemi, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has cautioned the Department of State Services (DSS) not to turn itself into a political party. He said he views as suspicious the claim that some people want to foist an interim government on the country. The PDP chieftain disclosed this while speaking to newsmen in Osogbo, Osun State on Thursday. Recall that the Service had claimed that politicians who lost out in the presidential election are plotting to foist an Interim National Government on the country and stop the swearing-in of president-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu. READ ALSO: Interim Government Plot Unpatriotic, Condemable PDP Backs DHQ Reacting, Odeyemi said, If almost after a week after which they made that statement, we have not heard of any arrest, or any concrete investigation thereafter, I will advise them not to turn themselves to political party. Nigerians should watch out for the presidency. They might be the ones flying the kite. As it appears, politicians believe in democracy and do not believe in outside constitutional means of changing government which is why all the presidential candidates approach the court and their supporters are dancing round the street in form of a protest. The issue of interim government coming from the DSS is like the Federal Government planning a coup against itself and they should not bring politicians into it. Irrespective of any political party politicians belong to, we still believe in democracy and not any interim arrangement. If the DSS has any contrary view to this, they should bring out the arrest they have made. Their claim appears suspicious. Unknown gunmen have reportedly abducted a former Deputy Governor of Nassarawa state, Prof. Onje Gye-Wado. Gye-Wado who was deputy governor of Nassarawa between 1999 and 2003 in the administration of Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu was abducted from his residence in Wamba local government area in the early hours of Friday, April 7. READ ALSO: Interim Government Plot Unpatriotic, Condemable PDP Backs DHQ Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Ramhan Nansel, said, Information received by the police command indicated that on Friday, April 7 at about 12:30 a.m., gunmen invaded Gwagi Village in Wamba LGA, broke into the residence of the former Deputy Governor and abducted him to an unknown destination. Upon receipt of the information, police operatives attached to Wamba Division swiftly moved to the scene, but the hoodlums had fled with the victim before their arrival, the police spokesperson stated. Nansel added that the state Commissioner of Police had further mobilized reinforcement comprising police tactical teams, the military, vigilance groups and local hunters to complement the ongoing search to rescue the hostage hale and hearty. He assured the public that the police would do everything possible to arrest the perpetrators of the act and make them to face the law. He called on those with useful information that would aid the rescue of the erstwhile deputy governor to call the following telephone numbers : 09115629178, 09067877096, 08112692680 and 08104441179. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has supported the stance of the Nigerian military on the plot for an interim government. Information Nigeria had reported that the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Thursday described the calls for an interim government as illegal and unconstitutional. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Musa Danmadami, said those unhappy with the outcome of the presidential election are behind the clamour for an interim government, stating that they are mischievous. READ ALSO: Bill To Delay Nigerian Medical Doctors, Dentists From Relocating Abroad To Practise Scales Second Reading Ibrahim Abdullahi, the PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, revelaed that the Party agrees with the militarys position on the calls for an interim government while speaking with The Punch on Thursday. While stating that interim government plot is illegal and unconstitutional, Ibrahim said the PDP as a law-abiding Party will always be on the side of the law. He said: Yes, we agree with the military. Interim National Government is unconstitutional and the PDP as a law-abiding party will always be on the side of the law. Those pushing for an interim government do not wish this country well. The call is unpatriotic and condemnable. A retired officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Mr. Jacob Agada has been found dead few hours after he was kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Nasarawa State. According to The Sun, the deceased was kidnapped around 9pm on Thursday night April 6, while returning to his residence located in Ombi II, Lafia Local Government Area of the state. His corpse was found few hours later along the road, beside Golden Embassy Hotel, Ombi II-Lafia. He was aged 64. A family friend of the deceased who confirmed the incident to The Sun, expressed sadness and regret over the loss of their loved one. READ ALSO: Demanding Overthrow Of Elected Government Is Treasonable, Attracts Death Penalty APC The friend revealed that Mr. Agada was kidnapped by the hoodlums who were hiding not far from his gate. The retired officer lived just beside Agaya hotels. The friend also called for prayers for the departed and an end to the insecurity challenges in the Ombi II, Danka, and Kwandare axis in recent times. Meanwhile, residents of the area have lamented the rising spate of insecurity and called on the relevant authorities to urgently intervene in order to safeguard lives and property. A community leader simply identified as Danladi stressed that the area is gradually becoming kidnappers den. The Nasarawa State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ramhan Nansel, also confirmed the incident during a phone conversation with The Sun. Media aide to Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Tai Emeka Obasi, has urged the Nigerian military not to dabble in politics. Information Nigeria had reported that the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Thursday described the calls for an interim government as illegal and unconstitutional. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Musa Danmadami, said those unhappy with the outcome of the presidential election are behind the clamour for an interim government, stating that they are mischievous. Obasi in a chat with The Punch on Thursday, advised the military to stick to its defence role instead of striving to interpret the Constitution for Nigerians. According to him, the LP would not succumb to subtle intimidation and bullying, stressing that the Party and Obi would not relent until they reclaim their stolen mandate. READ ALSO: NASS Leadership Aspirants Bribing NWC With Bags Of Rice, Sugar APC North-West He said, Everybody seems to be politically inclined now. It is a system to do whatever is necessary to assist whoever they want to assist in swearing-in as president for the next four years. It is not in the position of the military to define our constitution or whatever it says. Their (Military) duty is defence. They are meant to intervene whenever they are called upon. It is not for them to start telling us what they think is in the Constitution. The Constitution shall be defended by the court when there is a logjam. Not by any other person or institution. The LP has dutifully and obediently gone to court. It is left for INEC, Senator Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima to respond and the court processes to start. The military should therefore not jump the gun. It will be very unfortunate and unfair for the DHQ to start releasing intimidating statements. If the target is to intimidate and bully people whose only lawful route to recover their stolen mandate, it wont work. President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the 2023 elections has shown the growing strength of democracy in the country of which there is no more easy route to power. Buhari, who indirectly mocked some governors serving out their final terms for failing to secure a position in the Senate, stated that he was shocked that Nigerian voters are now more sophisticated because they now realize they have a say when it comes to the choice of their leaders. The President, disclosed this on Thursday while playing host to the newly-installed Emir of Dutse, Jigawa State Capital, Muhammad Hamim Nuhu Sunusi at the State House in Abuja. His words, It is a testament to the maturity of our democracy and to the amazing sophistication of the voter. What shocked me was that the ordinary citizen who is usually underrated has made the point of his political understanding of things. READ ALSO: Bill To Delay Nigerian Medical Doctors, Dentists From Relocating Abroad To Practise Scales Second Reading Assumption is always that you are governor for eight years and you go to the Senate to crown the career. No one should underrate the Nigerian voter anymore. Politics will be more difficult, henceforth. Information Nigeria reports that following the election, only 25 percent of the 469 members of the 9th assembly won to return to the 10th assembly. Seven governors, including Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Ben Ayade (Cross River) and Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) lost their bids to get elected into the national assembly. Cody Reed and Marquis Johnson lured a third man to a secluded part of the Schuylkill River Trail to kill him, police said. Read more Two men who police say lured an acquaintance to a secluded section of the Schuylkill River Trail in West Norriton and killed him have been arrested after a month on the run, prosecutors in Montgomery County said Friday. Cody Reed, 23, of Norristown, and Marquise Johnson, 23, of East Mount Airy, were taken into custody late Thursday by U.S. Marshals at an Airbnb they had been renting in Atlantic City. The two men have been charged with first- and second-degree murder, conspiracy, robbery, and related offenses in the March 3 killing of Daquan Tucker, 25. Tuckers body was found at the bottom of an embankment near the trail by a passing bicyclist, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed in Reeds and Johnsons arrests. He had been shot multiple times, including twice in his neck, with a .40 caliber handgun. Detectives later interviewed Tuckers girlfriend, who told them that Reed had sent an Uber for Tucker to meet him late the night before, and that he hadnt come home when she expected him. Using a Find my iPhone app, she discovered that Tucker was in a secluded, wooded area near the trail, and called to ask why he was there. He told her he was hanging out with Reed, and assured her everything was fine, the affidavit said. Advertisement After speaking with other sources, detectives learned that Tuckers girlfriend had not been entirely truthful with them. Those unnamed sources revealed that Tucker, Reed, and Johnson were members of a group that had unsuccessfully attempted to find and kill someone in Philadelphia weeks earlier. The detectives also learned that a mutual acquaintance of Reed and Tucker, identified in court records only as JD, had recently robbed Reed in the city under the pretense of selling him an illegal gun. JD told detectives he believed Reed killed Tucker in retaliation for that robbery, as JD and Tucker were like brothers, the affidavit said. Reed and Johnson eluded detectives for more than a month before a tip led U.S. Marshals to track the men to the Atlantic City apartment where they were staying. They took Reed into custody immediately, without incident. Johnson, who wasnt at the Airbnb when the marshals arrived, barricaded himself inside the apartment for a few hours after he returned and found his accomplice gone, investigators said. The officers later found him hiding inside a washing machine and took him into custody. The questionable "Coolest Thing Made in PA" bracket by the highly-suspect PA Chamber of Business and Industry. Read more When I got the first news release about the Coolest Thing Made in PA bracket and saw Sheetz was a contender but Wawa wasnt, and that Eatn Park cookies made the cut but not Tastykakes, I hit delete last month and sent that email to the trash, right where it belonged. But the PA Chamber of Business and Industry, which created the bracket and picked the items within it, continued to choose violence by sending me weekly news releases on how the bracket was narrowing, based on online votes on Twitter. These indignities culminated with a news release on April 4, announcing 32,000 votes had been cast and Pittsburghs Primanti Brothers sandwich was crowned the winner. How, you may ask, did a sandwich with french fries on it beat out the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and Goldenbergs Peanut Chews, all of which were made in Philly and generally considered to be very awesome? Because this bracket was baloney (and not Seltzers Lebanon Bologna, which was a first-round contender). Out of the 32 Pennsylvania-made things in the tournament, only one was from Philly. Guess what it was. You wont have to try hard, just pick the easiest cliche you can think of. Thats right, it was a cheesesteak, a Dalessandros cheesesteak, specifically. Advertisement As if relying on cliches wasnt bad enough, in the first round of voting the PA Chamber had the gall to put Dalessandros up against Pampers diapers, a product that literally catches human waste and is made by a company headquartered in Ohio. I had many questions and even more grievances all of which I took to Luke Bernstein, president and chief executive officer of the PA Chamber. According to Bernstein, the chamber created the bracket this year to show Pennsylvanias strong history of manufacturing (yeah, manufacturing sham brackets) and bring awareness to products made right here in Pennsylvania. People didnt know Zippo lighters are made here, or Martin Guitars, he said. It was remarkable to me how many people said I didnt know that was made in Pennsylvania. When choosing items for the first round, Bernstein said his staff picked a variety of products from across the state, trying not to duplicate anything. Since Sheetz and Wawa are both convenience stores with made-to-order food, only one could make the cut, he said. It was very hotly contested, even internally we struggled, but we stuck with one, he said. Bernstein stressed membership in the chamber did not factor into whether a company was chosen for the bracket (Totally unrelated to anything at all, did you know Sheetz is a member of the PA Chamber but Wawa isnt?). Next, I wanted to know how items like Pampers diapers and Harley-Davidson motorcycles, whose parent companies are headquartered in Ohio and Wisconsin, made the cut, when absolute legends like the Phanatic and Gritty, both of whom were birthed into existence in Philly, did not. While most of the companies chosen are headquartered in Pennsylvania, Bernstein said a few did have headquarters elsewhere, but manufacture products here. Theres a Procter & Gamble plant in Mehoopany that makes Pampers and a Harley-Davidson factory in York, he said. Bernstein said the chamber spread the love when picking the 32 items (Were based in Harrisburg so were a neutral bracket), but a detailed analysis by The Inquirer, which involved Googling all 32 products, revealed something quite different. While most cities and towns like Philly were represented only once in the bracket, there were three products from York Rutters iced tea, York Barbell, and Harley-Davidson and a whopping seven from Pittsburgh: Primanti Bros., the Astrobotic lunar lander, Duolingo, Metaverse (from Facebooks parent company, Meta), Wabtec locomotives, PPG Paints, and Aurora self-driving cars. Were gonna take a wild guess and say theres a lot of Penguins and Steelers fans over at the PA Chamber. Listen, the fact that lunar landers are being made anywhere in our state is pretty cool, but were going to hazard a guess and say a lot of those Pittsburgh tech companies wouldnt be where they are today without the ENIAC, the worlds first programmable general-purpose electronic computer, which was invented in 1946, right here in Philly, at the University of Pennsylvania. Bernstein, who took my grievances with grace, said the chamber plans to expand the bracket next year to 64 items, to accommodate more products. He said the chamber heard from others who were upset that Middleswarth Potato Chips and Bradley Cooper, both of which made in the Keystone State, did not make the cut. We didnt even have an ice cream place on there, and that was a miss, he said. I think we have a lot of great opportunity to build and grow. Following our conversation, the PA Chamber put out a call on Twitter, asking what products they missed in this years bracket that should be included next year. So go forth, Philly-area folks, and flood them with suggestions. From the Slinky to bubble gum, the lightning rod to the entire foundation of our country as we know it, a lot of cool things were made in our area, and wed put them up against a sandwich with french fries on it anytime. Jeffrey S. Yass, a founder and the boss at Susquehanna International Group, addresses a class of interns at the Bala Cynwyd-based investment trading company in 2022. SIG employs over 2,500 worldwide. Read more Philadelphia-area billionaire Jeff Yass is officially one of the worlds 50 richest people. Thats according to the latest Forbes Worlds Billionaires List, which ranked the Susquehanna Investment Group founders reported $28.5 billion fortune at number 48. Hes the 23rd richest person in the U.S., according to the list. Yass grew his wealth from investing and trading his own money, founding Susquehanna in 1987 with a group of partners. The firm moved its headquarters from Philadelphia to Bala Cynwyd before expanding beyond the region. It now has outposts worldwide, including in New York; Sydney, Australia; Dublin, Ireland; and Shanghai, China. Last year, ProPublica reported that Yass pays a lower income tax rate than most Americans, despite his growing wealth. Between 2013 and 2018, Yass earned an average of $1.3 billion a year in annual income, the sixth-highest income of all Americans, according to tax records collected by ProPublica. He reportedly paid 18.7% of his earnings in federal income taxes. Advertisement Other Philly-area notables on Forbes latest billionaires ranking include Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin, Phillies owner John Middleton, and Urban Outfitters founder Richard Hayne. Bernard Arnault, who owns the French retail and cosmetics behemoth LVMH, earned the top spot on the Forbes list, with a net worth of $211 billion. He shares the ranking with his family; his daughter Delphine and sons Antoine and Alexandre all hold executive positions within the company. LVMHs portfolio includes fashion brands Louis Vuitton, Dior, Loewe, and Birkenstock; jewelry brands Tiffany & Co. and Tag Heuer; wine and spirits companies Moet & Chandon, Hennessy, Belvedere, and Veuve Clicquot; and cosmetics companies including Fenty Beauty by Rihanna, Benefit Cosmetics, and Sephora. Telsa, SpaceX, and Twitter CEO Elon Musk ($180 billion), Amazon founder Jeff Bezos ($114 billion), Oracle founder Larry Ellison ($107 billion), and Berkshire Hathaway founder and CEO Warren Buffet ($106 billion) rounded out the Top 5. Names that fell off the list this year include Kanye West, whose net worth Forbes estimates fell from $2 billion to about $400 million, and disgraced crypto exec Sam Bankman-Fried. Bankman-Fried built a $24 billion fortune from FTX, a crypto trading platform he founded and which filed for bankruptcy last year. Forbes estimates his net worth is down to roughly $10 million. Bankman-Fried and other FTX executives are facing federal fraud charges, among others, as the government investigates. Gary Wang, one of Bankman-Frieds close friends and business partners who grew up in Cherry Hill, N.J., also fell off the Forbes billionaires list. Rural school districts in north-central Pennsylvania have been forced to close elementary schools because of aging infrastructure, budget shortfalls, and declining student populations. Read more This story was produced by the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service journalism for Pennsylvania. Sign up for our regional newsletter, Talk of the Town. STATE COLLEGE At least 38 elementary schools in north-central Pennsylvania have closed over the past decade, forcing students and staff to adapt to more crowded schools, longer commutes, and larger class sizes. Some of the districts hardest hit by these closures, many in shrinking rural areas of the state, cited student population decline as a reason for shutting down schools. Enrollment at the 55 districts Spotlight PA focused on declined by 11% over the past decade outpacing a statewide decline of 8%. But district officials and experts said there are also more universal reasons for these rural closures, from the flight of students from traditional public schools to charters to a lack of state funding. All but five of the 55 school districts face per-student funding shortfalls, some of which exceed $2,000, according to an analysis by Matthew Kelly, an education professor at Penn State who studies funding policy. Advertisement Kelly prepared the analysis as part of a landmark lawsuit that claimed the state is violating its constitution by underfunding poor school districts. Commonwealth Court recently ruled in favor of the challenge, though it did not prescribe a remedy for the issue or direct the governor and legislature to act in a specific way. When it comes to shutting down schools, officials often dont have much of a choice, Kelly said. Unforeseen circumstances can leave a district with few alternatives to closures. In 2012, the Clearfield Area School District Board of Directors voted to close Girard-Goshen Elementary School after it had been temporarily shut down in 2010 because of abnormalities in the roof structure, which put students safety at risk, then-district Superintendent Thomas B. Otto said in a letter to the state Department of Education. Although the school was not particularly old at the time it was reportedly built in 2002 it would have cost $1.5 million to repair the roof for the 66 students enrolled there. The superintendent wrote a shortfall in district revenue played a role in the decision to shut down the school. I think thats the position that a lot of rural schools are in, said Kai Schafft, the director of Penn States Center on Rural Education and Communities. They just dont have a whole lot of financial wiggle room. The pie is too small There are a variety of reasons why these rural districts have shut down schools. Theyve done so to navigate aging infrastructure, comply with special education requirements, and outfit classrooms with technology, said Matt Kengersky, president of the Punxsutawney Area School Districts board. But the two major reasons are budget shortfalls and shrinking student populations. In the 2019-20 school year, public schools in Pennsylvania received about 6.7% of their funding from the federal government, and 38.4% of their funding from the state government. To come up with the rest, school districts rely on property taxes and other local revenue streams. School districts in poorer communities struggle to raise funds because property tax revenue is lower when property values are lower. The percentage of funding public schools in Pennsylvania receive from the state is among the lowest in the country, according to 2019-20 school data from the National Center for Education Statistics. The states that provide the highest percentages of education funding are Hawaii (90.4%), Vermont (90%), and Washington (70.6%). Among the states that provide the lowest percentages of education funding are Missouri (30.7%), New Hampshire (31.2%), and South Dakota (33.7%). The pie is too small, said Kelly. Its not enough money, and then the way that the money that is there is being distributed is still not connected enough to what the actual costs districts are encountering are. Education funding has been a problem for many Pennsylvania districts for decades, largely because the state didnt factor in changes in enrollment or the types of students who attended certain schools when doling out money until fairly recently. In 2007, a study commissioned by the legislature revealed a $21.63 billion funding shortfall to adequately educate all students. The next year, the General Assembly approved a funding formula that set a standard amount of per-student funding with extra funds provided based on the number of students in poverty, those who didnt speak English as a first language, and more. It wasnt used for long, as then-Republican Gov. Tom Corbett weakened it in 2011 while making major budget cuts. An updated formula followed in 2016 that takes into account the same factors the 2008 formula did, but it is only applied to new state funding or about 10% of what the state spends on schools. Poorer school districts are most likely to be affected by a lack of state funding. Kellys calculations using 2020-21 data found 277 school districts need at least an additional $2,000-plus per student to meet the states benchmark to support student needs. Five of those districts with significant shortfalls are located in the north-central region and have implemented several recent school closures. When districts dont have a way to generate the funds they need, they will have to make difficult choices like closing schools, Kelly said. But after making those choices, its not going to fix the larger structural problem there. Population loss and the resulting drop in student enrollment are also leading to school closures in north-central Pennsylvania. Census data highlighted by The Inquirer in 2020 shows many of the rural communities that have lost schools have also been losing population. The increased popularity of charter schools also might have played a role in the uptick in elementary school closures, suggested Schafft. Charter schools are independently run public schools that receive a portion of funding from school districts for every student that attends, whether brick and mortar or online. The impact of school closures While closing schools can seem like a smart economic decision, communities face hidden costs like increased transit expenses, stunted economic activity, and reduced housing values, said Schafft of Penn States Center on Rural Education and Communities. Elementary school consolidations and closures can mean really young students have to adapt to environments meant for older kids. They might lose resources and hobbies as officials need to allocate more rooms for classes, and they face longer commutes from their rural communities to the more centralized, larger schools in bigger communities. In 2011, Mifflin County School District closed Highland Park Elementary School and intended to move the students into Indian Valley Middle School. More than 20 people spoke at a public hearing and expressed concerns about potential safety issues for younger students being moved into a school not designed for them such as lockers and a second floor. In 2018, Punxsutawney Area School District consolidated all six of its elementary schools and its middle school to create one of the largest elementary schools more than 1,000 students in the 2021-22 school year, according to state enrollment data in north-central Pennsylvania. Dozens of parents spoke at a public hearing and brought up various concerns, like losing access to the arts, particularly band. One parent was concerned consolidation would eliminate band rooms and reduce band staff. A parent in Mifflin County raised concerns about longer commutes in the 2011 meeting. In a separate interview, a parent of students in the Punxsutawney Area School District said the consolidation has increased her childrens commute times. Longer bus rides can negatively affect learning outcomes for students that must wake up earlier and get less sleep. They may also drive down attendance rates, according to an article from the Brookings Institution. But the challenges that local schools face when they close schools extend beyond students experiences. These closures can have more widespread and less obvious costs too, Schafft said. Some teachers and maintenance staff might lose their jobs, and communities without local schools are considered less desirable places to live, which can affect housing values, he said. Closing school buildings can also lead to blight. School districts sometimes are able to sell the properties. Mature Resources Area Agency on Aging bought the Girard-Goshen Elementary School, about 20 minutes from Clearfield, in hopes of transforming it into an older adult living community called the Village of Hope. However, the building was in poor condition and had to be torn down, the nonprofits Director of Communications Steve Harmic said. Further complicating matters, the land is surrounded by solar panels, lacking the tranquil setting the nonprofit envisioned, Harmic said. The land sits vacant today. In north-central Pennsylvania, schools have had to make changes to accommodate more students in fewer buildings. Clearfield Area School District Superintendent Terry Struble said the district has been able to accommodate more students without changing class sizes too drastically, despite consolidation. But the district states in its district-level plans for 2018-21 that the physical space needs of the elementary school need to be resolved. Clearfield Area Elementary School is one of the biggest in Spotlight PAs 14-county north-central Pennsylvania coverage region, with more than 1,000 students enrolled in the 2021-22 school year, according to Pennsylvania Department of Education data. But having these students in one place has had positives as well, Struble said, such as more equitable access to resources. Its easier for the district to provide for the needs of all the special education students in a single building. Plus, students are able to learn from different teachers through what Struble calls a round robin. Danielle Brody, now a teacher in Saint Marys Area School District, previously worked in the DuBois Area School District and said the DuBois middle school effectively accommodated the fifth-graders who came up from the four closed elementary schools. The teachers did a very good job of making sure students understood their expectations, she said. The school got creative with using classrooms for multiple purposes. But teachers had the challenge of teaching additional subjects. Audrey Dobson, a mother of four children in the Punxsutawney Area School District, said her kids did not get the same hands-on learning experience she did when she attended school there. Two of her children attend Punxsutawney Area Elementary School. Traveling from home to the consolidated elementary school by car takes 10 minutes by car. But that trip becomes an hour when taken by bus. Its a lot of, Heres your laptop. Heres your notebook. Heres your paper. Its not hands-on, she said. It lacks the personal [feeling] that they need to get through the day. Ashad Hajela is a Report for America corps member and writes about rural affairs for Spotlight PAs State College regional bureau. SUPPORT THIS JOURNALISM and help us reinvigorate local news in north-central Pennsylvania at spotlightpa.org/statecollege. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability and public-service journalism that gets results. Frankford High School, on Oxford Avenue, is closing temporarily because of asbestos. Read more Asbestos is closing two more Philadelphia schools one for the rest of the school year. Plaster at Frankford High and Mitchell Elementary that had previously been cleared as non-asbestos containing actually does contain the toxin and is now damaged, according to letters sent to the two school communities Friday and obtained by The Inquirer. Frankford will be closed Monday and will shift to virtual instruction for at least the remainder of the week. Mitchell, in Southwest Philadelphia, has more damage, and will not reopen this school year. Students will be off Monday, and virtual instruction will start Tuesday; the school will reopen for in-person instruction in an alternate, to-be-determined location later this month. READ MORE: What to know about the ongoing asbestos issues in Philly schools Advertisement Intact asbestos is not dangerous, but when its damaged, the material releases tiny, potentially toxic fibers into the air that can be ingested. Frankford, on Oxford Avenue, enrolls over 900 students in a school built in 1914; the damaged asbestos was discovered on the third floor. Mitchell, at 55th and Kingsessing, has 339 students, and was built in 1915; damage was found throughout the school. Mitchell and Frankford have become the second and third Philadelphia School District schools where incomplete or inaccurate recordkeeping meant that asbestos-containing plaster was labeled for decades as safe. Building 21, a high school in West Oak Lane, was closed March 1 and its students are still learning virtually. District officials are exploring alternate sites, signaling that Building 21s closure will be long-term. Another school, Mastery Charter Simon Gratz High School, was closed for a week this year but has since reopened. That building, in North Philadelphia, is a neighborhood school whose building is owned by the district. The Building 21 situation prompted an urgent and comprehensive review of district sampling records in other buildings to determine if and where further plaster sampling is needed, Frankford principal Michael Calderone wrote. At Frankford High School, new sampling shows that certain plaster walls and ceilings do, in fact, contain asbestos. District officials recognize the asbestos revelation may understandably raise questions and concerns. It is not clear why the historic records contradict recent sampling results, Calderone wrote. Since the walls and ceilings had been documented as not containing asbestos, they had not been included in past [federal asbestos] inspections. However, they will be going forward. When the Building 21 errors were revealed, Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. warned that more asbestos was likely to be identified at other schools. Calderone reiterated that point to Frankford parents, stating that this is not an indication of the program failing, but rather the program is working to protect health and safety through the identification and management of environmental concerns. This improved process while revealing environmental hazards is working as it should throughout the district. READ MORE: What to know about the ongoing asbestos issues in Philly schools Its not yet clear how long Frankford will need to be closed. Calderone pledged to keep families updated. Mitchell principal Stephanie Andrewlevich led the school through COVID-19 closures, and in her letter to families, said she understood what another shutdown will mean for the school community. I am deeply sorry for forthcoming challenges, Andrewlevich wrote. We are determined to make the remainder of the school year the best it can be for our students and families, who are most affected by this closing. Officials will work to find a new site for Mitchells relocation, with the aim of students starting there on April 17 or 24. Optional busing will be provided daily from Mitchell to the new site. Work is expected to continue at Mitchell through the summer in preparation for a September reopening. Hillary Linardopoulos, spokesperson for the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, said the PFT appreciated the districts communication on the emergencies at Mitchell and Frankford, and said that the closures underscored the need for both transparency and more investments in facilities systemwide. But, Linardopoulous said, it was deeply concerning and upsetting that staff and students had been exposed to asbestos for an unknown period of time. It is outrageous that staff and students continue to be exposed to toxins in school buildings, and we cannot and will not stop fighting until every staff member and student has a healthy school in which to work and learn, she said. Watlington has said an investigation into errors in the Building 21 situation was underway by the school systems Inspector General. City Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, a Frankford alumnus, said in a statement he was disappointed and outraged but unfortunately not surprised by the Mitchell and Frankford closures, which he called unacceptable. Thomas led a group of Council members who indicated they would consider withholding the districts funding without a clear facilities and environmental plan. The School District of Philadelphia continues to agree with the need for a facilities plan but we have yet to see the plan or the sense of urgency, Thomas said. Tennessee state Rep. Justin Pearson, state Rep. Justin Jones and state Rep. Gloria Johnson hold their hands up as they exit the House chamber doors on Monday. Read more Republican Tennessee lawmakers voted to expel two Black freshmen Democrats for participating in a gun-safety protest. A third member, who is white, kept her seat. The move is sparking national discussion about power, overreach, and race in politics. Last week, Reps. Justin Jones (D., Nashville), Justin Pearson (D., Memphis), and Gloria Johnson (D., Knoxville) joined protesters in Nashville at the statehouse to advocate for gun control reform and call out Republican leaders for not taking action following mass shootings. They said they were supporting and amplifying the voices of their constituents. The large-scale protest came after the Covenant School shooting that killed six. During the protest, the members used a bullhorn and led chants. House Speaker Cameron Sexton said the three members behavior was equivalent to, or maybe worse than doing an insurrection in the State Capitol. Advertisement The members who have been informally dubbed the Tennessee Three faced identical expulsion resolutions Thursday, accusing them of behavior that reflects poorly on the Houses reputation. The votes fell largely along party lines, but while Jones and Pearson were voted out, Johnson escaped removal by one vote, NPR reported. It might have to do with the color of our skin, Johnson told reporters after the vote. Heres what you need to know about the unprecedented removal and the aftermath. Who are Reps. Justin Jones, Justin Pearson, and Gloria Johnson? Justin Jones, 27, is one of the states youngest legislators. Hes of Black and Filipino descent and is attending Vanderbilt University for grad school, studying theology. Hes also a well-known community organizer. Pearson, 29, is also a freshman representative. He notably wore a dashiki during his swearing-in ceremony. Hes an environmental advocate and community organizer. Johnson, 60, is a former teacher who has served in the Tennessee House since 2019 and, before that, from 2013 to 2015. All three representatives were stripped of their committee assignments after last weeks protest. They represented Tennessees largest cities and over 200,000 constituents. What are the Tennessee Three saying about their removal? All three lawmakers have spoken out against the process and Jones and Pearsons removal. We are losing our democracy in Tennessee, Pearson told WPLN. This is another example of the erosion of democracy because we spoke up for gun reform. On the House floor after the votes, Pearson said the process represented an erosion of democracy. Jones called the gesture morally insane and said on CNN that it was a Republican tactic to silence opposition. Its very concerning and it represents a clear and present danger to democracy all across this nation, he said. He also told reporters that the proceedings did not seem like America, and that to expel voices of opposition and dissent is a signal of authoritarianism and it is very dangerous. On the House floor, Jones called the removal hypocritical. For years, one of your colleagues, an admitted child molester, sat in this chamber no expulsion, he said, referring to allegations against former Rep. David Byrd, who stayed in office amid the controversy but eventually resigned, citing his health. Johnson also called the expulsions hypocritical and said bigger issues have never amounted to expulsion. Johnson and Jones hugged after the vote. She called him a rock star and apologized for the racism he faced from Republican House members. Its got to stop, she said. Has something like this ever happened before? Experts are calling the ousting extraordinary for its partisanship and speed. As noted by Politico, the lawmaker-removal process is typically a bipartisan effort, entailing internal investigations and prompted by criminal charges or ethical lapses. Removal as a disciplinary measure has only occurred twice nationwide since the 1800s. After the vote, people in the Houses public viewing gallery began yelling things such as fascists and shame on you, the Tennessean reported. The expelled members photos and biographies were quickly scrubbed from the Houses website. What are people saying about Jones and Pearsons removal? The removals have sparked national concern among lawmakers. U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost (D., Fla.), the first Generation Z representative, sharply criticized the Tennessee Republicans efforts. For people in this country who say that racism doesnt exist, look at what happened to these young black men who stood up, said we dont want kids being shot in this country and dying in a pool of their own blood, he said Thursday in an interview with MSNBC. President Joe Biden condemned the members removal on Twitter Thursday evening. Three kids and three officials gunned down in yet another mass shooting, he said. And what are GOP officials focused on? Punishing lawmakers who joined thousands of peaceful protesters calling for action. Its shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent. Neha Patel with the State Innovation Exchange a nonprofit that supports progressive lawmakers called the expulsion an antidemocratic effort to silence the American people for speaking out against the devastating consequences of gun violence. Former President Barack Obama also spoke out. This nation was built on peaceful protest. No elected official should lose their job simply for raising their voice especially when theyre doing it on behalf of our children, he tweeted. What happened in Tennessee is the latest example of a broader erosion of civility and democratic norms. Silencing those who disagree with us is a sign of weakness, not strength, and it wont lead to progress. Nashville Mayor John Cooper, a Democrat, expressed support for Jones and Pearson. He said the local council was preparing to help fill the vacancies by sending Jones right back to continue serving his constituents. Could something like this happen in Pennsylvania? Its unlikely. State law typically prevents the expulsion of Pennsylvania lawmakers. Pennsylvania House operating rules say if a member is indicted with a crime if the crime is not directly related to their conduct as a lawmaker they are stripped of their committee status or leadership positions, but remain a member of the House. If they are found guilty or admit to the crime, only then would a resolution to expel the member be prepared. In 2018, then-Rep. Nick Miccarelli was accused of physically or sexually abusing two women and was investigated criminally, but finished his term. The move sparked criticism that House GOP members were protecting the representative, who was asked to relocate his floor desk away from one of his accusers. Now, the Pennsylvania House is controlled by Democrats and the Senate by Republicans, making a repeat of Tennessees episode even more unlikely since the ousting was charged by a Republican majority. Legislative records show only one member of the Pennsylvania Senate has been expelled: Sen. Frank Mazzei in 1975 after being convicted on federal extortion charges. What are Pennsylvanians saying? Philadelphia lawmakers have joined politicians across the country in speaking out against the expulsions. State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, a Democrat, said the Tennessee Houses decisions will disenfranchise young voters. Tonight the Republican Party lost an entire generation of voters, he said. Weve witnessed, in all its naked ugliest, the sins of racism and authoritarianism on full display. Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton called the expulsion undemocratic. State Sen. Vincent Hughes, a Democrat, called it an attack on democracy everywhere. As of press time, no GOP members of the Pennsylvania House or Senate had publicly commented on the expulsions. What happens next? Jones and Pearson say they will continue to fight back. Ill be back out there with the people every week demanding that you act, Jones said just before his removal. If you expel me, I will continue to show up because this issue is too important. Pearson said he and his supporters will not stop, tweeting an election poster and soliciting support. It appears both members plan to run to regain their vacant seats. Ms. Bello, a native of Havana, Cuba, learned English by using it every day after she began classes at Louisiana State University in 1958. Read more Ada Bello, 89, of Philadelphia, a pioneering LGBTQ activist and longtime laboratory chemist for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the University of Pennsylvania, died Friday, March 31, of pneumonia and COVID-19 at Chestnut Hill Hospital. Born in Havana, Cuba, Ms. Bello fled an oppressive government when she was 25. She arrived in the United States in 1958, earned a degree in chemistry at Louisiana State University, and worked as a laboratory researcher for Penn and the FDA from 1962 through her retirement about two decades ago. She was also a fiery and eccentric advocate for LGBTQ rights and other progressive causes. She cofounded the Philadelphia chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis, the Homophile Action League, and the LGBT Elder Initiative. She was a board member of the Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force, instrumental in the formation of the William Way Community Center, and a perpetual presence at countless rallies, protests, and marches. She edited and distributed local newsletters, wrote articles and letters to the editor about gay rights issues, and helped organize the first Philadelphia Gay Pride Parade. One of her most effective policy-changing strategies was to link constitutional rights with gay rights, and she demonstrated on the Fourth of July at Independence Hall in 1969. Advertisement She was determined and had a sense of mission, said longtime friend and colleague John Cunningham. When she saw an injustice, she thought it was important to stand up to it. Ms. Bello organized conferences and fundraisers, served on panels and advisory councils, and prompted government officials to enact important changes regarding gay rights, the response to AIDS, and senior health care. She won a 2022 Spirit award from the Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of Elders and the 2015 David Acosta Revolutionary Leader award from Galaei. We were a bunch of women, mostly professionals, who knew we werent breaking the law and shouldnt have to scurry around back alleys, she told the Philadelphia Gay News in 2015. It was rough, and it built anger at the injustice we saw. Ada Bello was born Nov. 6, 1933, and grew up as an only child in provinces near Havana. She left Cuba when the government closed the University of Havana and painstakingly learned English in the United States by using it every day. She graduated from LSU with a bachelors degree in 1961 and moved to Picayune, Miss., for a year before settling in Philadelphia with a friend. She said in a 2018 online interview with Outwords that she met successful lesbian women while in college and saw them as role models when she became a leader in Philadelphias LGBTQ community. In 2018, the staff at Outwords said it was profoundly grateful for the energy and spirit she brought to Americas gay rights revolution. Ms. Bello became a U.S. citizen in 1968 and lived in Germantown, West Philadelphia, East Falls, and Roxborough. Her mother joined her from Cuba in 1972, and Ms. Bello told Marc Stein in a 1993 online interview for outhistory.org that they never discussed her sexuality. Im sure she knew, but she was a totally different generation, Ms. Bello said. There was such a difference between the way she experienced her life and I experienced my life. Ms. Bello was outspoken about the economic policies of city officials, the need for improved services for the elderly, and the U.S. governments relations with Cuba and Latin America. She moved to Cathedral Village retirement community in 2005 and told Outwords in 2018: In the future, I would like to get to a point in which your sexual orientation is irrelevant and is not taken more seriously than the color of your eyes. Ada Bello was a brilliant, courageous woman, a friend said in a Facebook post. She will be deeply missed. Ms. Bello is survived by several relatives. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, April 14, at Cathedral Village retirement community, 600 E. Cathedral Rd., Philadelphia, Pa. 19128. Donations in her name may be made to William Way LGBT Center, 1315 Spruce St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19107, and Morris Animal Refuge, 1242 Lombard St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19147. Terri Veracruz stands at her West Philadelphia home wearing a shirt with an image of her and her son on Thursday, April 6, 2023. Veracruz's son, Terrell White, was killed on March 4, 2023. The morning after she buried her son, she saw an Allen Domb campaign television ad with the car her son had been driving. Read more The day after Terri Veracruz buried her son, she was at her home in West Philly watching the morning news when she spotted the vehicle he had been driving on the night he was fatally wounded. She couldnt believe her eyes. But there it was her silver 2019 Hyundai Sonata, with its bullet-shattered windshield, on her TV screen. It was featured in a campaign ad for former Councilmember Allan Domb, who is running for mayor. The ad included news footage about a recent bloody weekend during which five people were killed within eight hours, including a 14-year-old boy and Veracruzs son, Terrell Aaron White. The ad, which lasts 31 seconds, includes promises by Domb to help Philly rid itself of the scourge of gun violence. The average viewer wouldnt have thought much of it, but for Veracruz, it was a sucker punch. Advertisement Like, why would [Domb] do that, the day I laid him to rest? Veracruz, 56, asked me recently through tears. Wheres the sensitivity at? White, a 34-year-old long-haul truck driver, was a victim of a violent crime, but he was also someones son. He was a brother. A friend. A colleague. People loved him. He was more than what happened to him. For Veracruz, the pain of losing her son was compounded by being surprised by the reminder of his final moments just one day after burying him. (The campaign hadnt asked her for permission or warned her it would appear.) This issue came up earlier this year, when local families of gun violence victims objected to the use of their loved ones memory without permission. At Januarys day of service to honor Martin Luther King Jr., families got calls from friends who saw their loved ones name printed on a T-shirt given to volunteers that listed recent homicide victims again, without permission. READ MORE: Our loved ones were victims of gun violence. Dont put their names on a T-shirt without our knowledge. | Helen Ubinas I reached out to Dombs campaign office and was told that the ad was no longer airing on TV. On the afternoon of March 4, White drove her car to go buy cigarettes but never made it home. Veracruz was unaware that anything had happened until a neighbor called to alert her that White had been shot just a few blocks away, at 60th and Sansom Streets, where he and some neighborhood friends typically gathered. Reportedly, he and 24-year-old Marquan Fox from the 100 block of South 61st Street had been sitting in Veracruzs car when gunfire broke out. Neither man survived. They put eight bullets in my baby, Veracruz told me. According to witnesses, his final words were, Call my mom. Call my mom. Around the same time that White and Fox were shot, Anthony Pinkney, a 14-year-old boy who had been walking with friends, was shot and killed in the citys Overbrook section, according to Philadelphia police. About an hour later, Samir Burton, a 19-year-old man, was shot and killed in the 3700 block of North Carlisle Street. The Domb campaign ad takes note of this, opening with a narrator speaking over various news clips one that shows a photo of Veracruzs car saying: Another weekend of violence. Seven shootings five dead, including a 14-year-old. Yet, as The Philadelphia Inquirer notes, Among the gaggle of Democratic mayoral candidates vying to replace Kenney, only Allan Domb even noted the murders. ... READ MORE: Local anti-gun violence activist very nearly became a statistic himself | Jenice Armstrong I asked Domb about the ad when he appeared before The Inquirer Editorial Board on March 27 via Zoom seeking the papers endorsement for mayor. He said he had only recently been made aware of Veracruzs feelings about the ad, and that he felt terrible about it. Domb asked me for Veracruzs number and said he wanted to reach out to her, which is something he pledged to do with all of the families of homicide victims if hes elected. When I was full-time in real estate, I would make 100 phone calls a day. Im a worker, I will reach out to every person who has lost a loved one to gun violence, Domb said. Im a father and a grandfather. Nothing is worse than losing a child or a grandchild. Politicians say a lot of things when they run for office. But as he spoke about losing a child, it appeared as if he got a little choked up. In that moment, I sensed his humanity and that he really did care. To me, that was a much more effective selling point for Dombs candidacy than any slick TV commercial could ever be. His pledge to reach out to the families of homicide victims is an honorable one. Every mayoral candidate should agree to do the same, which is something Mayor Jim Kenney certainly didnt prioritize. It wont bring their loved ones back, but this simple gesture would go a long way toward demonstrating to the families of homicide victims that their loss matters. Two women hug at a memorial at the entrance to The Covenant School in Nashville, Tenn., last month. Six people, including three children, were killed in a shooting at the school on March 27. Read more After the Nashville, Tenn., school shooting last month, there were the obligatory messages from Republican senators and congressmen on how tragic it was, and how the families of the people killed were in their thoughts and prayers. Upon hearing this, I wanted to pass a law that no one could ever use those words again about a mass shooting. It is the height of hypocrisy for any politician to give their thoughts and prayers to the victims families when they know they will support no changes at all to stop the violence and carnage that is caused by guns. As I watched news coverage of the shooting that morning, a picture of one of the six people killed 9-year-old Hallie Scruggs splashed on the screen. She looked so sweet, with twinkling eyes and curls galore. It was so heartbreaking to look at her that I had to avert my eyes. She reminded me of my own granddaughter, Rosalind, who recently celebrated her 9th birthday. We must make what happened in Nashville an inflection point for our country. In 2020, guns were the leading cause of death for children 19 years old and younger. Firearm deaths accounted for 20% of child and teen deaths in the United States, compared with about 2% in 11 other large, wealthy nations. This has to end. This has to change. This has to be over. Dont tell me it cant be changed when New Zealand had a mass shooting in 2019 and that nations legislature passed very strict gun control laws in less than six months. It has not had another mass shooting since. Advertisement We can do this. We must do this. It will take courage on behalf of our congressmen and senators, but, truth be told, it wont take a whole lot of courage because poll after poll shows Americans are strongly in favor of commonsense gun safety laws. If it were up to me, we would pass gun safety laws as comprehensively as New Zealand did, and weapons of war like AR-15s and high-capacity magazines would be barred forever in America. In 1994, when Congress passed a law banning so-called assault weapons, 38 Republicans voted yes and 77 Democrats voted no. But that ban expired in 2004 when the Republican-controlled Congress refused to renew it. So to those members of Congress today who are nervous about potentially losing their seats by voting on such a bill again, I suggest this: Take a look at Hallie Scruggs photo. Look at her face for 10 minutes, without moving, and you will find the courage to vote for what you know is right. Instead of trying to enact one sweeping gun safety bill, I would break down the change we need into smaller increments and pass them one after another. But Im going to make it easy for Congress. Instead of trying to enact one sweeping gun safety bill, I would break down the change we need into smaller increments and pass them one after another. Lets start with what should be the easiest, and pledge that by Memorial Day we will pass legislation making high-capacity magazines (many of which contain 30, 50, and 100 bullets) illegal in this country. We did it back in 1994 when we made it illegal to possess a magazine with more than 10 bullets. Unfortunately, it expired in 2004 along with the assault weapons ban, and was not reenacted. I would start by having an up-or-down vote in Congress on this one change. The advantage to that is that no Congress member could vote no and hide behind the fact that there were other things in the legislation they did not like. They would have to explain to people why they thought preserving the right to have a magazine that holds 30 bullets or more should be lawful. No one needs a magazine with more than 10 bullets in a clip except someone who wants to kill as many people in as short a period of time as possible. I believe that it would be impossible for many Republicans to vote against limiting the capacity of magazines. A month later, I would put universal background checks before Congress as a stand-alone bill. Nearly 90% of Americans, including the vast majority of NRA members, favor universal background checks. Again, it would be almost impossible for Congress to vote it down. Finally, in another two months, I would put the banning of most assault weapons before Congress for a stand-alone vote. This might be difficult to pass because a lot of lawful people like possessing semiautomatic rifles, although they seem to me to only be used to kill as rapidly as possible. Then again, we must consider the possibility that more and more deer may be wearing Kevlar vests these days. You might ask, how could we get these individual bills before Congress for a stand-alone vote? Pulling this plan off will take a lot of work and likely anger Republicans for putting them on the spot but Hallie Scruggs and so many others might well be alive if Congress had done this in 2022. And who knows how many lives might still be lost if we dont act now? Ed Rendell served as the 96th mayor of Philadelphia (1992-2000) and the 45th governor of Pennsylvania (2003-2011). The Phillie Phanatic parachutes past the Philadelphia skyline and onto the field before the start of a home-opening baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Friday, April 8, 2022, in Philadelphia. Read more Its already time for a new MLB season even if it feels like the World Series was just a few weeks ago. The Phillies 2023 season officially starts on March 30 with a series of away games against the Texas Rangers followed by more away games with the New York Yankees. For the Phillies first home game at Citizens Bank Park, theyll be taking on the Cincinnati Reds at 3:05 p.m. on April 6. Unfortunately, if you wanted to watch the home opener in person, tickets are already sold out. On the bright side, there are tickets available for some of the other early-season home games. Heres a quick refresher on how to get tickets to Phillies home games. When is the next Phillies home game? While tickets to the Phillies home opener are sold out, there are still a bunch of games to go to in April including $1 hotdogs with Hatfield Phillies Franks Dollar Dog Night. Where to buy tickets The Phillies offer a few ways to buy tickets without using a third-party reseller. Online: Go to phillies.com/tickets Phone: Call 215-463-1000 Mobile app: Download MBL Ballpark mobile app for iPhone or Android. In-person: Visit the ticketing office at Citizens Bank Park located at the First Base Gate Entrance on Pattison Avenue. How to buy Phillies season tickets Are you a diehard fan ready to catch every game at Citizens Bank Park? Season tickets are available to buy with different ticket plans depending on your needs and wallet size (the most expensive season ticket plan is more than $12,000). A Phillies season ticket plan guarantees you admission to home games during the regular season, plus the opportunity to buy postseason game tickets in your regular season seats. Full season ticket plan: $1,630 to $12,555 based on seat location. All regular season home games. Partial season ticket plan: $318 to $1,156 based on seat location. Depending on the plan, admission to 16 or 17 home games. Sunday games ticket plan: $262 to $845 based on seat location. Admission to all Sunday home games (13). Buy season tickets online at phillies.com/seasontickets. For more information, contact the Phillies Sales Office at 215-463-5000 or email seasonmvp@phillies.com. Season ticket holders will have access to their tickets in February. Here's what to know when navigating Philadelphia International Airport this summer. Read more Summer air travel in 2022 was defined by nationwide flight cancellations, delays, long TSA lines, and understaffed airports. As people plan their vacations, they may be wondering if summer 2023 will bring the same issues. According to Charlie Leocha, co-founder of the consumer advocacy group Travelers United, you can count on delayed flights being a regular occurence, but it should not be as bad as it was last summer. Although the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) doesnt expect the number of travelers to be back to pre-pandemic levels until 2025, an increase in passengers is expected compared to 2022. To prevent understaffing issues, they are looking to fill over 70 positions, including bus drivers, mechanics, and servers, said PHL spokesperson Heather Redfern. But delays are unavoidable. Weather and medical emergencies can easily put a hold on your summer vacation. So, if you are looking to fly this summer, you may need to pack some patience and arrive early. Here are some tips on how to make traveling through PHL as smooth as possible: Advertisement When is it best to fly from PHL? Monday-Thursday, as early as possible. Leocha recommends flying as early as possible, before 9 a.m. That gives you a higher chance of your plane being already at the airport, and because not a lot of people fly that early, the lines for check-in and TSA tend to move faster. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are the busiest days to fly from PHL, and Terminals D and E tend to be the busiest on those days. So if youre flying Air Canada, Alaska, Delta, Frontier, Jet Blue, Southwest, Spirit, United, or Sun Country, you probably want to give yourself even more time than you think youll need, especially if you have to check-in at the airport or check a bag. How early should I arrive at PHL? At least three to four hours before an international flight, and at least 2.5 to 3 hours earlier if youre flying domestic. To avoid getting stuck in line and missing your flight, PHL recommends you get to the airport between two and a half to three hours before domestic flights, and at least three to four hours before international flights. Thats the average time you might need to check your luggage, pass security filters and get through checkpoints. Although PHL has 1,850 parking spots in the economy lot, and a free parking lot for people picking up arriving passengers, you should expect traffic. Dont try hopping in the car or taking an Uber two hours before your flight, says TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein. Checking a bag at PHL Travel with a carry-on only, if possible Leocha recommends avoiding checking a bag if you can. Traveling with a carry-on to avoid check-in lines can save you about 40 to 45 minutes. At PHL, traveling with a carry-on only may save you even more time. Because the airport is fully connected, you can go through security in one terminal and walk to another, which allows you to choose the shortest line. (The exception: You cant go through security at Terminal C unless you have TSA PreCheck.) If you check a bag, you have to do it at the terminal youre flying from. TSA PreCheck at PHL If you dont have TSA PreCheck, it may be worth getting. TSA PreCheck can speed up your airport process considerably, and can be useful if you travel often. Only U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and lawful permanent residents can apply. Enrolling costs $78, and processing times can take between three to 90 days, but it lasts for five years. At PHL, Terminals D and E offer TSA PreCheck, in addition to the regular security screening; Terminal C is PreCheck only. PHL COVID-19 restrictions You dont need to wear a mask. The federal mask mandate for airports and planes was lifted last spring, but masks were still recommended at PHL. In 2023, the airport is leaving the decision to the passengers. You can still ask for a free mask at any PHL entry point. For international travelers, COVID-19 restrictions and policies can vary depending on your destination. Remember to check the mask, rapid test, and vaccine requirements of the place you are visiting before traveling especially because the airport no longer offers on-site testing. While the Biden administration announced the public health emergency declaration for Covid-19 will end in May, PHL stopped offering the screening service to travelers in December 2022 due to a decrease in testing demand. Be patient and check for updates Although the airport is seeking to fill staff, they dont control airline operations or determine when a flight is delayed. Its a good idea to check the status of your flight at phl.org or on your airlines app before you head to the airport. What to do if your flight is delayed or canceled Leocha suggests figuring out what options your airliner offers for delayed flights. If you dont ask, you may not get any help, Leocha said. He recommends checking the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Airline Customer Service Dashboard. This resource puts all U.S airlines in one place for both fee-free family seating, cancellations, and delays policies. It gives you a guide approved by every airline for the first time, Leocha added. The dashboard can help you figure out if your flight carrier offers any accommodations when delays within the airlines control happen, including rebooking, meals, hotels, and refunds. Airlines such as American, Alaska, Delta, JetBlue, and United offer rebooking at no additional cost, meals if your flight is delayed longer than three hours, and hotel and ground transportation for overnight delays. Expert sources: Leah Douglas , director of guest experience, Philadelphia International Airport , director of guest experience, Philadelphia International Airport Charlie Leocha , co-founder, Travelers United , co-founder, Travelers United Lisa Farbstein, spokesperson, Transportation Security Administration i-circle_black Flanked by attorneys, former President Donald Trump appears in the Manhattan courtroom Tuesday. Read more Donald Trump, you may have heard, is making his third bid for the White House while under indictment for paying hush money to suppress talk of extramarital affairs during his first campaign. Thats unprecedented in most places. Not so in Philly. Our fair citys long list of politicians who have been convicted for corrupt schemes includes at least eight who sought reelection with a verdict either looming or already decided. Four won and four lost. This tradition dates back more than four decades to the Abscam scandal, an expansive federal investigation that ensnared dozes of politicians, including two U.S. House members from the city. Advertisement Former U.S. Rep. Michael Ozzie Myers was still the Democratic nominee in his district in 1980 as he sought a third term just three months after being convicted on bribery charges. House members voted to expel Myers a month before the general election but he stayed on the ballot and lost. Myers went back to federal prison last year on a bribery and ballot-stuffing beef. His projected release date is in October 2024, just before the presidential election. Former U.S. Rep. Raymond Lederer was the only member of Congress indicted for Abscam to win reelection in 1980. He was sworn in for a third term on the day his trial started in Brooklyn in 1981. He resigned later that year after his conviction and returned home from prison to become a Democratic ward leader in Fishtown. Former State House Speaker John Perzel, a Northeast Philly Republican who rose to power during three decades in office, lost his bid for reelection in 2010 while under indictment on corruption charges. He pleaded guilty in 2011, served a prison term and is now a lobbyist. State Sen. LeAnna Washington lost the Democratic primary in 2014, two months after being arrested on corruption charges. She took a plea deal later that year. Two former state representatives, Democrats Leslie Acosta and Vanessa Lowery Brown, won reelection after their criminal convictions but resigned Acosta in December 2016, Brown in December 2018 under pressure from their House colleagues. Former U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah lost his 2016 Democratic primary, just 20 days ahead of his trial on federal corruption charges that resulted in a conviction and a prison term. And former City Councilmember Bobby Henon coasted to reelection in 2019 after being indicted in January of that year with John Johnny Doc Dougherty and other officials from Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Henon, convicted with Dougherty on bribery charges in 2021, is due to start serving a 3-year federal prison sentence in 10 days. A boost for Parker from across the Delaware Philadelphia mayoral candidate Cherelle Parker has started consolidating support from some top Democrats in the city and now, apparently, from across the Delaware River. Clout hears a handful of top South Jersey Democrats hosted a fundraiser for Parker Monday at the Capital Grille in Philly. The guest list included Camden Mayor Vic Carstarphen, former Camden Mayor Dana Redd, and notably, ex-state Senate President Steve Sweeney, long one of the most powerful political figures in Jersey. Sweeney, who in 2021 lost his Senate seat to a Republican truck driver in stunning fashion, is an ironworker by trade and held top posts with the regional and national unions. Parker is backed by the building trades, including the ironworkers, so he naturally fits in her corner. One of the organizers of the fundraiser was Camden County Commissioner Jeffrey L. Nash, vice chair of the board of the Delaware River Port Authority, which Parker chairs. He said South Jerseys interests align closely with Philadelphias. It wouldnt be the first time that Jersey power dipped into a Philly mayoral election. In 2015, the New Jersey carpenters union poured $700,000 into a super PAC that backed Jim Kenney, who went on to win the primary. They did so in defiance of the Philadelphia carpenters union, which backed Kenneys primary opponent, State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams. In 2018, the New Jersey and Philadelphia carpenters unions consolidated, and Parker is backed by the regional entity. There was some chatter in 2015 that George Norcross, the insurance executive and South Jersey Democratic Party boss, was involved in the pro-Kenney effort. Norcross camp has said theres no evidence he meddled in that race. And theres no sign hes involved in any effort to elevate Parker. But with the race wide open with six weeks to go and two candidates capable of self-funding their campaigns, any help even if from across the river is surely welcome in Parkers camp. Quotable vs. Quotable We need to come in and clean this office out. The sole purpose this office should be transparency, accountability, and efficiency. And we have to do away with the waste, the fraud and the abuse of dollars going on in this office. Michael Untermeyer, challenging Sheriff Rochelle Bilal while speaking to Philly For Change Tuesday. He ran for sheriff in 2007 as a Democrat. Then he ran for City Council as a Republican. Then he ran again for another position as a Democrat. Then he ran for the DAs Office and put millions of dollars into his campaign but has not invested one dime in this city. Bilal, responding to Untermeyer at the same event. Clout provides often irreverent news and analysis about people, power, and politics. Big money is flooding Philadelphias mayoral race. And its coming from a small number of people with deep pockets. More than $22.2 million had already poured into the race as of last week, new city campaign finance filings show. So far, about $17.5 million has been spent by the campaigns and outside spending groups backing them. Both of those figures are certain to rise as the May 16 Democratic primary election nears, with a crowded field of candidates and no clear front-runner. An Inquirer analysis of the new data reveals that the overwhelming majority of the funds raised in the mayoral primary has come from three sources: Self-funding by candidates has redefined the race, with candidates already spending $8.1 million of their own money. Super PACs have raised and spent substantial amounts on behalf of a handful of candidates, accounting for nearly $5 million of the total raised. Large campaign donations have kept all the major campaigns afloat, with contributions of more than $1,000 comprising nearly $6.3 million of the money raised so far. Advertisement Less than $3 million of the $22.2 million came from individual donors giving campaigns $1,000 or less. And no campaign raised more than 10% of its money from donors giving $100 or less. Those big checks translate into the ability to pay staff, run TV ads, hire canvassers to knock on doors, and pay ward leaders in the hopes of winning their endorsements. Effective fundraising can also be a self-perpetuating cycle, as donors want to ensure that theyre giving to viable candidates. For better or worse, fundraising remains the lifeblood of campaigns but it isnt everything. The richest candidates often fail to win, and poorly funded candidates sometimes prevail. In 2007, businessman Tom Knox spent $11 million of his own money in the mayoral primary, only to be defeated handily by Michael Nutter. And in 2015, a super PAC spent nearly $7 million on behalf of Anthony Hardy Williams, who likewise went down to defeat against Jim Kenney. Still, the big checks flooding into this years election are making it difficult for even some of the serious contenders to keep up. For instance, former City Councilmember Maria Quinones Sanchez announced Sunday that she was suspending her mayoral campaign, citing the obnoxious, obscene amount of money that is shaping the race. ... There was no way we were going to be able to compete with that money. She had raised nearly $800,000 with less than six weeks to go before the primary, a sum that City Hall lobbyist Mustafa Rashed said would have made her a competitive candidate in past election cycles. But Quinones Sanchez, who represented a Kensington-based Council district, has struggled to gain traction this year. Thats an extraordinary accomplishment for someone who sits in one of the poorer districts in the commonwealth, Rashed said. But in comparison to what the field is doing right now, its not enough. The Inquirers analysis of the Democratic candidates relies on new campaign finance reports filed on Sunday by campaigns and super PACs. The data cover the period from the beginning of the year through March 31, which, combined with last years filings, provide a complete picture of money in the campaign to date. Our analysis includes funds raised by candidates in 2022 before they officially announced their runs, since that money was available to them and was reported in their filings. The analysis excludes Amen Brown, who didnt file this cycle, and Quinones Sanchez, whose 2022 data contained inconsistencies. Heres what our analysis found. Self-funding especially by Allan Domb has redefined the money race Several candidates have lent or contributed money to their own campaigns. Amen Brown gave his campaign $25; Quinones Sanchez gave herself $10,000; Helen Gym gave herself $25,000; and Jeff Brown gave himself more than $1 million. But one candidate stands out: As of last month, Allan Domb has poured $7 million into his own campaign. Dombs self-funding also jump-started the arms race for other campaigns by triggering whats known as the millionaires amendment in Philadelphias campaign finance laws. That rule doubles the maximum size of donations that candidates can collect from donors, allowing this years contenders to take in checks of as much as $6,200 from individuals and $25,200 from political action committees. When Allan Domb triggered the millionaires exception, that became the floor and not the ceiling of what was going to happen for this race, Rashed said. I dont think any of us were prepared to see $13 million [spent] in this race and still six weeks to go. Even with the increased fundraising abilities Domb afforded his opponents, his level of self-funding has allowed him to dramatically outspend the rest of the field on advertising. In late 2022, Dombs campaign was burning through cash, spending at a far faster clip than any other campaign, and without the fundraising to pay for it. But on Dec. 31, Domb lent his campaign $5 million, giving him wide latitude to keep spending. Then, in March, he wrote himself an additional $2 million check, replenishing his coffers. That obliterated any cash advantage other candidates had from fundraising. Together, those campaigns raised $8 million, excluding their own self-funding. Allan Domb has independently invested his own resources into this campaign, Domb spokesperson Jared Leopold said in a statement. While others make promises to secret donors behind closed doors, Allans only commitment is to the people of Philadelphia. Still, it remains to be seen what the impact of all that money will be. Domb lags other candidates in endorsements, and past self-funders have sometimes been more successful in gaining attention than support. Knox holds the Philadelphia record for the most amount of money invested by a candidate in a losing race, effectively spending $150 per vote for a second-place finish. Super PACs are becoming essential for some candidates No matter how effective campaigns are at soliciting big donors, theyre constrained in one important way: By law, donors are allowed to give only a certain amount to a campaign. But they can give as much as they want to super PACs. For that reason, super PACs which are independent from campaigns and prohibited from coordinating with them have become essential in all kinds of elections by spending huge amounts to support or oppose specific candidates. Super PACs outspent the campaigns themselves in the citys Democratic primaries for mayor in 2015 and 2019. Super PACs sometimes do candidates dirty work by attacking opponents while the campaign itself boosts the candidate. They can also help spread resources across the electoral calendar. Gyms campaign this year has spent about $128,000 airing ads. But a super PAC backing her has already spent nearly five times that amount. The PACs spending got pro-Gym ads on TV while the campaign was able to stockpile money for the home stretch of the race. It was always our intention to ramp things up at the right time when regular voters start paying attention, and leave it to insiders and the self-funding millionaires in the race to light their money on fire as early as my Christmas vacation, Gym campaign manager Brendan McPhillips said in a statement. Super PAC spending is sure to swell in the remaining six weeks before the primary. Jeff Brown, Cherelle L. Parker, and Rebecca Rhynhart also have super PACs backing them. The super PAC backing Rhynhart just got started with $100,000 in seed money from Philadelphia millionaire Richard Vague two weeks ago. Parker has consolidated support among the citys building trades unions, including the Laborers, electricians and carpenters. Those unions were crucial to a super PAC effort that elected Kenney in 2015 despite being outspent by Williams supporters super PAC. They returned in 2019 to make sure Kenney won a second term, in the face of opposition from the soda industry angry about Kenneys tax on sweetened beverages. The soda industry sank nearly $1.5 million into commercials and other efforts critical of the incumbent before the Democratic primary. Kenney won while barely campaigning. Whatever their standing, all candidates rely on big donors for their viability Despite the outsized influence of self-funders and super PACs, the core of a campaigns funding comes from individual donors. And every major mayoral candidate has needed large-dollar donors to be competitive. Thats true even for campaigns that tout widespread grassroots support. For instance, more than 700 of Gyms donors have given less than $50, and more than 300 of Rhynharts have given similarly small donations. Gym said she is proud to be running a campaign with the strongest grassroots support. While other candidates are beholden to special interest groups, dark money, and Wall Street, the lifeblood of my campaign is the 2,153 individual grassroots donors and my partners in the labor movement, she said in a statement. Even so, two-thirds of the money Gym has raised comes from contributions exceeding $1,000, and about 60% of Rhynharts does. That figure is even larger for Parker and Jeff Brown, whose fundraising overwhelmingly comes from donations over $1,000. And no candidate receives more than 10% from contributions under $100. This story was updated after an earlier version of this story misstated Richard Vagues financial status. State Rep. Amen Brown attends a forum at Gloria Casarez Elementary School in Kensington on March 14. The forum questioners were the school's "Change Makers," activist students who want better for the school and city. Read more Philadelphia mayoral candidates Amen Brown and James DeLeon did not file fundraising reports this week that disclose their donors as required by city campaign-finance rules. Browns failure to file by the Tuesday deadline is another sign that the West Philadelphia state representative running with a tough-on-crime message has struggled to pull together a robust campaign ahead of the May 16 Democratic primary. He is one of 11 Democrats in a crowded field. Three other mayoral candidates who will appear on the ballot DeLeon, a retired judge, Warren Bloom Sr., and Delscia Gray have not filed any campaign-finance disclosures with the city, despite appearing and speaking at events and forums alongside other contenders. READ MORE: What recent fundraising tells us about the state of the Philly mayors race, in five charts Advertisement A spokesperson for the citys Board of Ethics said Bloom and Gray have both indicated that they are running without campaign committees, meaning their financial activities will be captured in candidate reports that do not need to be filed until next month. Browns and DeLeons campaigns did not respond to a request for comment. Campaigns can be fined $250 per day for failing to file a financial disclosure. The total penalties cant exceed $2,000 within the first 30 days the report is not filed. In January, Brown filed an annual campaign-finance report that showed he had raised just $3,500 since launching his campaign for mayor in November. He was expected to be supported by an independent expenditure group, also known as a super PAC, funded by a New York City developer, but that has yet to materialize. READ MORE: Anonymous dark money donors are spending millions in the Philly mayors race to support Jeff Brown Its clear Brown has raised and spent some cash since the January filing deadline. This week, he released an advertisement. It shows a mother concerned about crime in the city and Brown sitting in her living room, saying, no mother should ever have to worry if her child will make it home safely. As your mayor, I will fight to bring back safety to our streets, to our schools, and to our communities. His campaign spent about $13,000 to run the ad on broadcast television this week, according to media-tracking firm Ad Impact. Thats a very modest amount of money thats unlikely to get his message seen by a wide audience the rest of the mayoral field is spending more than $1.2 million combined on television commercials this week. The failure to file campaign-finance paperwork is another stumble for Brown, who last month fought to stay on the ballot. He was rebuked by a city judge for failing to properly disclose debts and financial interests, as is required by law. He was scolded by a judge for a similar error less than a year ago when he ran for state representative. Philadelphia mayoral candidate Helen Gym on Thursday unveiled an education proposal that includes guaranteed jobs for teenagers, free SEPTA passes for all city students, and a $10 billion plan to modernize school buildings. Gym, who stood with supporters outside Edward T. Steel Elementary School in Nicetown to make the announcement, called her public-education focused capital plan a Green New Deal for Schools and vowed to implement a 10-year facilities improvement plan. She also said she would add more librarians and counselors to schools, overhaul the high school selection process, and base school budgets on need, not enrollment levels. Her announcement was another sign that the former City Council member and longtime public-schools activist is running in part on her education background by proposing a laundry list of schools improvements that teachers and advocates have been urging for years. And it comes as the heated race for the Democratic nomination for mayor is entering its final weeks ahead of the May 16 primary election. The race for which $17.5 million has already been spent has not yet yielded clear front-runners, and top contenders are taking every opportunity to pitch themselves to voters. Advertisement The proposal didnt include an overall price tag, but $10 billion in capital costs alone would represent an enormous expense. Under the current administration, the proposed capital investment for the entire city for the next six years is $13.2 billion. Gym said Thursday the city could borrow money to finance some capital costs and that she favors directing a higher share of property taxes to the School District, which currently receives 55% of local property tax revenue. Doing so would, in turn, decrease cash flow to the citys coffers. The point is that were not going to get there if all we say is what we dont have, she said. I know the city has to get down to business to do it, but it needs a plan, it needs a vision, and we need somebody whos been relentless about fighting for this from day one. READ MORE: The 2023 Democratic primary voter guide The citys teachers union, one of Gyms biggest backers, quickly endorsed the plan Thursday, with Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Jerry Jordan saying in a statement that Gyms plan also prioritizes safety including through guaranteed after-school programs and has thoughtful and proactive measures to address a real crisis in our city. Also on Thursday afternoon, businessman Jeff Brown hosted an event in South Philly to tout a new endorsement from Local 8 of the International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees. And Cherelle Parker, a former City Council member, held a news conference in West Philadelphia to announce shes being backed by Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. and State Rep. Morgan Cephas. The winner of the Democratic mayoral primary is well positioned to win in the general election, given the citys heavily Democratic makeup. Several other candidates have put forth education-related proposals. Parker is advocating for year-round school, and former City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart says she will seek to improve school library programs, increase teacher pay, and bolster technical education. Gym said Thursday that her education plan is more robust than her opponents, who she said dont have a plan on how to balance a diverse, complicated district that includes an array of school types and settings. Some of her proposals like overhauling the high-school selection process are not in the direct purview of the mayor, but the mayor does appoint the nine members of the Board of Education. (Those appointees must be confirmed by City Council.) Asked if any charter-school proponents would sit on a Board of Education if she were to be elected mayor, Gym who has advocated against charter-school expansion didnt dismiss the idea. She said she would want a diverse range of people, saying we do need a representative group on our school board. Inquirer staff writer Kristen Graham contributed to this article. Answers Function and overview of titanium carbide TiC powder Koalas were declared endangered in eastern Australia on Friday, with more and more koalas dying from disease, habitat loss, and other threats. 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The IFA has said that at 1.5 lambs per ewe, sheep farmers have lost a further 21 per ewe, pushing the sector into a critical loss-making situation that is not sustainable. 'Not sustainable and not acceptable' IFA sheep chair Kevin Comiskey said that sheep farmers need to see what Government is prepared to do to support the sector in this crisis - "and we need to see it now". "Additional losses on sheep farms are now approaching 1m a week based on the price differential with last year. This is not sustainable and it is not acceptable that Government has turned [its] back on the sector," Mr Comiskey said. "Targeted supports for sheep farmers must be built to 30 per ewe and store lamb finishers must be directly supported for the key role they play in the sector." Sheep farmers, up until now, have "put forward the facts of the crisis in the sector in a very constructive and reasonable manner", according to the sheep chair "while allowing the minister, his Government colleagues, and Department of Agriculture officials put in place a support package". "The minister and his colleagues must now come forward with their proposals," he added. "There will be no hiding place for Government TDs from sheep farmers in their constituencies if this crisis is not immediately addressed." I had lunch with a friend last week. She looked great, brighter and happier than I had ever seen her, in fact. I wondered had something changed in her life. Nothing really, she said, apart from the fact that she had released herself from a self-imposed pressure to achieve an old goal that she wasnt even sure she still wanted to achieve. It had been bothering her, weighing on her like an unticked task on a to-do list, eating away at her serenity. Until she realised she could just delete it from the list. Now, she found she was happy in her work, in her home life and was enjoying her hobbies again. Instead of torturing herself with an old goal, she had simply let it go, realising that her life, as it was, was enough. In short, she was happy. THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH There are some weeks when it feels like the universe is trying to tell me something. Everywhere I looked last week I saw messages about how to be happy, from the poet Salena Godden talking about her new collection Pessimism is for Lightweights to the UN World Happiness Report 2023 voting Finland the happiest country on earth for the sixth year in a row to the writer Raymond Carvers meditation on happiness popping up on my Twitter feed. It seemed like the theme of how to be happy was everywhere I looked. Okay, so maybe it wasnt the universe. It was probably just the algorithm trawling and regurgitating my own data in its little echo chamber, but still, it got me wondering about that very big concept that seems to be the central question of modern lives: How to be happy. The Finns themselves objected gently to the title of happiest country on earth, with a selection of people interviewed by the New York Times preferring to describe themselves as quite gloomy or a little moody. When asked what they thought explained their top ranking, two things came up again and again their excellent social security system, which provides a safety net that allows people to pursue artistic lives if they want to and gives everyone a sense of security and of being included in society, but also their sense of what having enough was. For them, enough was simple. It wasnt about having huge, luxurious houses or a constantly changing wardrobe of designer clothes or lots of cars. Enough was just having their basic needs met and that is what their much-admired social welfare system delivers. That concept of enough struck me as central to the Finns regularly topping the happiness index. If we have enough, surely, we can all be happy? Enough food to eat, enough shelter? If the basic, simple needs we have as humans are looked after, surely happiness will follow even through the smallest of pleasures a game of boules in a park, a robin trusting us enough to come close, a cup of coffee with a friend. 'WITHOUT THINKING' Ireland is ranked 14th on the happiness list, coming in just after Canada and just ahead of the United States. In many ways we have a lot in this country, more than most, and yet, with our long-running housing crisis, we still dont even have enough. We still dont have the bare basics required. Much as we are complex beings, our requirements for happiness are simple. In Raymond Carvers poem Happiness, he describes an early-morning scene of two boys, friends, on their newspaper delivery round, in the changing light of the dawn. Carver is overtaken with emotion at the perfection of the scene. Such beauty that for a minute/death and ambition, even love,/doesnt enter into this./Happiness. It comes on/unexpectedly. And goes beyond, really,/any early morning talk about it. Carver knew that happiness didnt require the big things, like love or ambition, and could even provide momentary relief from that other big thing, death. Like the Finns, he knew that happiness came from the simplest of things, but crucially, he was observing this happy scene from the security of a home with his morning coffee in his hand. His basic needs were met enough so that he was free to stand and enjoy the simple scene of happiness through his window. When our basic needs are met, we are free to be happy. I was reminded of the writer Joan Didions very basic packing list that she kept pinned to the inside of her wardrobe for when she needed to pack a bag quickly for a short-notice reporting job. In her most famous collection of essays, The White Album, Didion says the purpose of the list was to allow her to pack without thinking, much the same way as Diane Von Furstenberg designed her revolutionary wrap dress so that women could get dressed without thinking. I think that is as good a metaphor as any for how we might find happiness. If we can live without thinking, by which I mean live without having to constantly worry about our basic needs, then we will be free to get on with the really good stuff, the joy of living, in short, happiness. Opening in 1939, and set in a crumbling old country house in Sussex, Lola (15A) is an off-beat but intriguing sci-fi that revolves around two sisters, the wine-swilling bohemians Martha (Stefanie Martini) and Thom (Emma Appleton), who have invented a machine (LOLA) that allows them to intercept radio and TV broadcasts from the future. Early glimpses of Bob Dylan, The Kinks, and David Bowie are an unexpected bonus, but when the Battle of Britain begins in 1940, LOLA really starts to prove its worth, providing information about future Luftwaffe bombings that allow Thom and Martha to save lives by broadcasting advance warnings. Soon, however, British Intelligence in the shape of Major Sebastian (Rory Fleck Byrne) is searching for LOLA, which is when the story and history itself takes a very dark turn Emma Appleton in LOLA. Written by Andrew Legge and Angeli Macfarlane, with Legge directing, Lola is a terrifically inventive low-budget sci-fi. The conceit is that the film is composed of black-and-white found footage of the home movies shot by the technically brilliant Thom and Martha, much of which was filmed on period cameras to create an authentically aged, grainy effect, with the narrative interwoven with mocked-up Pathe-like newsreels. Not content with that, Legge and Macfarlane push the story into the realms of alternative history, although the political ramifications are less important than the personal we understand, as Martha solemnly narrates her found footage film, that Thom is guilty of a betrayal that only the reversal of time itself can redeem. Stefanie Martini & Emma Appleton in LOLA Sharply observed, imaginative and cleverly executed, Lola is the kind of low-key sci-fi film that knocks its flashy, big-budget peers into a cocked hat. (cinema release) I got the call just after 5pm. Mo Mowlam, the former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, had fallen in her hotel room, would I go to the hotel immediately? It was February 9, 2005. I was the director/CEO of the Everyman Theatre Cork and that evening we had an event entitled An Audience with Mowlam. It had sold out weeks in advance. Cork was the European Capital of Culture that year. I was looking forward to a bumper programme of events for the city and for our theatre. When I had become aware that Mo Mowlam had put this solo presentation together, I instantly contacted her agent in London and secured it for Cork. I was not to know that this would prove to be Mo Mowlams last public appearance on the island of Ireland. I knocked on the hotel room door. Who is it?, the unmistakeable voice asked from inside. I introduced myself through the closed door. She opened it. And there she was. Arguably one of the most controversial but also most effective secretaries of state for Northern Ireland ever and a close friend of then Prime Minister Tony Blair, whose campaign for the leadership of the Labour Party she managed in 1994. And she was of course diminutive in stature. Despite me, at 6ft 5, towering over her, she grabbed my hand, pulled me into the room, and assured me she was fine. She had lost her balance and tumbled over but all was OK. The show could go on. Emergency over. In 1997, the year Tony Blair became prime minister after his landslide general election victory, Mo Mowlam had been diagnosed with a brain tumour. She had managed to keep it quiet initially, but it became very public when, because of her treatment, she lost her hair and began to wear a wig. She would defuse many a tense meeting by dramatically removing her wig and dismissing it as being such a bother. After retiring from politics in 2001, her condition deteriorated and she developed serious problems with her balance, hence her unfortunate falls. As we left the hotel, she continued to hang on to me as I brought her to the theatre across the street. She did her soundcheck and she was now totally focused on the evening ahead. A no-frills approach In introducing Mo to the capacity audience I made the point that Cork was well versed when it came to popular politicians. The legendary Cork-born Jack Lynch was the most popular politician in the Republic for many years during his heyday in the 1970s as Taoiseach. But without question the most popular non-Irish politician in Ireland in the period immediately before and after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement was Mo Mowlam. Her irreverence and directness, her common touch, and her refusal to indulge in the usual politician-like evasions and dodges, endeared her enormously to ordinary people - and this sell-out evening was testimony to that popularity. Having introduced Mo, I then walked over to the wing where she sat. She stood up, I took her arm and we walked out on stage together to deafening applause and cheering. We had placed a large throne-like armchair on the stage for her to sit on. She had asked that I allow her walk the last few feet to the chair on her own: I dont want the audience thinking I am a complete cripple, she had said to me. Once she was comfortable in her chair and began speaking to the audience, she hit her stride quite rapidly. She delivered a typically no-nonsense, no-frills account of events leading up to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. She stressed that once people were in the room, no matter who they were, or how they had got there, she treated them equally. This was reminiscent of her hugely controversial visit to the Maze Prison in January 1998 to speak to both loyalist and republican prisoners in what was a first for a secretary of state for Northern Ireland. In a very self-effacing way she recalled how, in a meeting she and Tony Blair had with then-American President Bill Clinton, Blair had basically ignored her in making a point to Clinton. Mo cut across the prime minister and remarked to Clinton: Didnt you know Im the tea lady here? Mo had requested a few bars of DairyMilk chocolate to eat at the interval in order to replenish her energy. While she consumed these, she recounted to me a discussion she once had with Tony Blair about terrorism. I told Tony he would have to negotiate with Al Qaeda. She smiled at me and quipped: That didnt make me very popular with Tony that day either. In the second half of the evening the audience could ask Mo questions. That week then President Mary McAleese had made a comment that was deemed to be critical of Ian Paisley. A gentleman in the audience asked Mo if she thought the President was a little out of line in what she said. Oh shut up you silly man! bellowed Mo from the stage to rapturous laughter from the rest of the audience. Mary McAleese is a wonderful President and I will not entertain any criticism of her. This prompted enthusiastic applause and underlined that Mos feel for an audience was as sharp as it ever had been. An applause and a goodbye If you run a busy theatre for 10 years, you will experience many standing ovations for many different types of actors and performers, etc. But no standing ovation I had experienced to that point compared to that which the audience in Cork that night delivered for Mo Mowlam. And to make it more extraordinary from my point of view, was that I was standing beside Mo on stage while it happened. She had told me when exactly she would finish the evening. So I knew when to walk out onto the stage, take her arm and accompany her off. When the audience saw me walk on they knew that was it: The show, so to speak, was over. The audience was on its feet instantly. They were not simply applauding a stage appearance, but they were saying goodbye. It was more than likely they would not be seeing Mo Mowlam in person again. The emotion was very real and tangible. Mo had risen from her chair and taken my arm and I very deliberately took as much time as I could walking off the stage so that Mo could soak in the respect and affection washing over the stage. It was truly an extraordinary few moments. In the foyer afterwards that outpouring of emotion continued, for it seemed as if over half the audience had stayed on in an attempt to get an autograph and a photo with Mo. And that was absolutely fine with Mo. Just give me some whisky, she told me, and it will keep me going. And keep going she did until well after 1am when the last of the audience departed. Mo Mowlams bluntness caused her a lot of problems. Unionists like David Trimble for instance had enormous difficulties with how she completely ignored the conventional ways of doing things. But for the general public, in both the UK and Ireland, the Good Friday Agreement was virtually synonymous with her. It was a defining event in her life. As we walked back to the hotel, arm in arm at nearly 2am, back to the room where I had first encountered her almost nine hours earlier, Mos concern was that I was happy with the evening and that the audience would remember it fondly. When Mo died a few months later, on August 19, 2005, at the age of 55, I would remember that evening in Cork with extraordinary fondness indeed. WORKERS in Ireland gained new rights when the Work-Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill passed in the Oireachtas on March 30. All employees can now request remote working, and parents and carers can request flexible working. There were two main drivers for introducing this new legislation, says Dr Laura Bambrick, head of social policy and employment affairs at the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU). The first is the need to comply with new EU law which gives working parents and carers the right to request flexible working. The EU wants member states to do more to help workers balance their work and family lives, to encourage men to be more involved in providing care, and to support more women to remain in employment, she says. This bill is Irelands response to that. The second driver, says Bambrick, was the ICTU campaign to give workers the right to request remote working. We wanted to bring Irish workers rights into line with what is a long-established right in most EU member states, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. While the new legislation represents a step forward for Irish employment law, some progressive companies are already several steps ahead, offering radical flexibility, or individualised working arrangements that suit them and their employees. Laura Bambrick Karen OReilly is the founder of flexible work specialists and recruiters EmployFlex and EmployMum. As an advocate for increased flexibility in the workplace, she is eager to explain what it means. I dont want the word radical to frighten people as this way of working isnt subversive or extreme in any way, she says. It can mean working split shifts, compressed hours, four-day weeks, or myriad alternatives. When done right, it can have huge benefits for employers and employees. It seems to be what employees want in this post-pandemic work environment. According to the Trends in Post-PUP Employment paper published in April 2022, 45% of Irish workers returning to employment changed jobs. Thats a vast number of people on the move. Search for flexibility Research shows the search for flexibility was one of the motivators. In a study of 820 people across Ireland carried out by EmployFlex in 2019, 93% reported that, all things being equal, they would switch jobs if more flexibility were offered in another role. Every single study we have undertaken in the past six years shows that employees want more flexibility in the workplace, says OReilly. Its a similar story internationally. The EY Future Consumer Index 2022 asked 17,000 employees to list their top considerations for a new role and 32% chose flexibility in where and when they worked. Jacob Eisenberger, an associate professor at the UCD Smurfit Graduate School of Business who specialises in organisational behaviour, believes many of us struggle to balance the competing roles we have to fulfil. Our work role often comes at the expense of our non-work roles and this can lead to chronic stress, feelings of guilt and incompetence, and a compromised personal life, he says. Having the flexibility to shape our work schedule around the rest of our lives can make a huge difference, especially for parents and carers. It reduces stress, allows for more quality time with family and friends, and benefits society in terms of happier employees, parents and families, says Eisenberg. In the case of parents and carers, flexible working arrangements allow them to pursue jobs and career progression without compromising their desire to be active in their parenting or caring. Because women still shoulder most of the caring responsibilities in a family, such flexibility could be most beneficial for them. The gender pay gap and the gender gap is partially a result of women leaving the workplace when they have children because they arent allowed the flexibility to work around their familys needs, says OReilly. Flexibility in the form of reduced hours and hybrid and remote working could help keep women and carers in the workplace. It could help to counteract discrimination against older people, people with disabilities and neurodiverse employees too. It may not be a silver bullet, but offering an authentically flexible work environment can go a long way to levelling the playing field. Eisenberg has personal experience of how an employers flexibility can enhance an employees life. When my sons mother moved to the US, I had to raise him from 12 to 19, mostly on my own, he says. One of the main factors that allowed me to cope with this was that I was able to build most of my work schedule as a lecturer around his schedule. Both of us benefited and I felt higher job satisfaction and commitment to my organisation as a result. I am now in my 20th year at UCD. His story shows how being flexible can also be an advantage for employers. Research in a 2019 flexible-work study [exa.mn/flexible-work] found that, like Eisenberg, employees who believed they had a choice over how they worked reported higher job satisfaction and commitment to their organisation. We can therefore predict they will experience less turnover, says Eisenberg. Other studies show a link between flexible working practices and lower absenteeism, which is another benefit for companies. Jacob Eisenberg Talent pool Theres also the fact that employers offering flexible working arrangements can attract talent from a bigger talent pool. Thats a massive advantage in this tight labour market, says OReilly. Ictus Bambrick hopes the new legislation will be expanded upon in the future. Flexible working is good for workers and their families, good for businesses which get to retain valuable highly trained staff, good for society and good for the economy, she says. It will help us close the gender care, pay and pensions gaps. Its a win-win. The current legislation will be reviewed in two years to consider whether the right to request flexible working should be extended to all employees regardless of their caring responsibilities. We in the trade union movement will continue to campaign for that. Flexible working is the future of work. Jimmy Sheehan For companies like Contracting Plus, which has offices in Cork, Dublin, and India, flexible working already exists. Our business supports independent workers like freelancers and contractors in running their business by helping them with administrative tasks like bookkeeping, payroll, and pensions, says managing director Jimmy Sheehan. Because were a company that focuses on individuals, we have extended that to our employees. We try to measure and match what they need with our business needs while also ensuring we remain efficient and commercially viable. This means they have some employees who work half-days, part-time, or compressed hours, and others who work staggered hours, starting and finishing at different times than their colleagues. There is any number of variations, says Sheehan. This approach appears to be successful. A business is run and managed by people and we have seen that if those people are trusted and allowed to have autonomy in how they work, they feel better and deliver better, says Sheehan. Its a self-fulfilling circle of positivity. It impacts retention levels too. A huge percentage of our staff have been with us for a long time, says Sheehan. However, for it to benefit everyone, it has to be carefully managed. We cant allow it to become a free-for-all, says Sheehan. But by improving our communications, introducing things like anchor days every month when everyone is expected to be on-site, and asking teams to agree on core days when everyone has to be in the office, we are showing that its possible for flexible working to meet everyones needs. For a city with a long and storied history, Beirut doesnt make it easy to remember it. If you are interested in this article then no doubt you will enjoy exploring the various history collections and content in our history hub. Check it out HERE and happy reading Ronnie Chatah has been on an almost two-decade-long, one-man mission to remedy this historical amnesia by telling stories of Lebanons complicated and frequently dark past. Soft-spoken and pony-tailed, the Lebanese podcaster and columnist speaks to the Irish Examiner from the rooftop of Kalei, a popular cafe in Mar Mikael in East Beirut. This is not his first encounter with Irish media. He remembers being interviewed by RTE several years ago for a radio feature on tourism in Lebanon. Starting in 2005, Ronnie ran a popular walking tour where he used the neighbourhoods and landmarks of Beirut to explain the citys past and how the modern, dysfunctional state of Lebanon came into existence. On the tours, Ronnie would describe the countrys eighteen sects and how the mishmash of crumbling Ottoman villas, French-era buildings, and glass skyscrapers, were constructed and frequently damaged to create the modern Beirut skyline. Atrocities Locals and tourists alike attended. Lebanon has never had a public reckoning with its past and the history of the civil war is mostly avoided in schools. An amnesty granted to militias in 1990 after the conflict ended meant that almost no one was prosecuted for the countless atrocities committed during the bloody period. Ronnie stopped delivering the walking tour for several years after his own father, Mohamad Chatah, a Lebanese politician and former ambassador to the United States, was killed. He died along with seven other people in a car bomb in downtown Beirut in 2013. No one has ever been held responsible for the attack. Expectations for a functioning, systematic investigation that yields tangible results is off the table completely, whether that's in my own case or any other political crime of that nature over the last 17 years, says Ronnie. This country does not function the way most countries function with a judicial authority that is independent or autonomous enough to do its job There is a sub-state group in this country that determines most security concerns and that includes things like political assassinations, says Ronnie referring to Hezbollah, an expansive Shia Muslim organisation backed by Iran which operates paramilitary and parliamentary wings in Lebanon. When that group deems it problematic, those investigations don't happen. Ronnie Chatah in Kalei in East Beirut. Ronnies father was viewed as a moderate figure who could cross sectarian lines and get opponents to talk in a country where political stalemates strangle progress. He was a close adviser to Saad Hariri, the son of the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri who was also killed by a car bomb eight years earlier. The elder Hariri and Chatah are buried in the same mausoleum in Beirut. Both men had opposed the Syrian regimes three-decade-long occupation of Lebanon and the paramilitary strength of Hezbollah, a Syrian ally. Lebanese politicians who have opposed either have frequently paid with their lives. There were threats in the way many people face threats, but nothing that was hinting at that kind of attack, says Ronnie of the car bomb that killed his father. Hezbollah has certain redlines but over time they might re-adjust them, he says and what is not always a redline could be a redline when they deem it so. Ronnie recounts how Hezbollah began as a Shia militia backed by Iran in the 1980s during the civil war. The group focused on kidnappings and truck bombings, with an emphasis on violence rather than political strategy. Ronnie Chatah delivering his tour in Beirut. Hezbollah kept its arms after the civil war on the basis that Israeli forces still occupied South Lebanon but was constrained by the presence of the Syrian army in Lebanon. Hezbollah was not allowed to do everything it wanted to do because Syrian and Iranian interests in Lebanon did not always align, says Ronnie. Israeli forces withdrew beyond the Blue Line which separates Lebanese and Israeli territory in 2000. Hezbollah should have disarmed then, says Ronnie, but it didnt. In 2006, after the withdrawal of the Syrian forces, the group waged a 5-week war with Israel that displaced 1 million people. Today, Hezbollah is one of Lebanons main political parties, which is not that important, says Ronnie, as Hezbollahs leverage has less to do with politics and more to do with security. The group operates fairly invisibly. Tourists who visit Lebanon might see a flag or two in certain areas but youre not going to run into security problems. Hezbollah doesnt go looking for you its only if youre actively trying to challenge it Ronnie resumed his walking tours of Beirut in 2018; the first tour had over 90 sign-ups. But anti-government protests in October 2019 and covid-19 led him to pause the tours once again. While the tours have been on hold, Ronnie has channelled his energy into a new venture, The Beirut Banyan, which is now one of the most popular English language podcasts in Lebanon. Along with conversations about Lebanese politics and history, the podcast gives a platform to many of those who, like Ronnie, lost loved ones to political assassination. From Beirut, Ronnie watched the funeral in December of Pte Sean Rooney, who died in an attack on Irish peacekeepers in an area controlled by Hezbollah in South Lebanon. To maintain relations and avoid a sudden withdrawal of UN peacekeepers, Ronnie believes Hezbollah may surrender one or two people at most who were involved in the lethal attack. In late December, Hezbollah handed over one suspect but the whereabouts of six others who have been charged with offences related to the attack are not known. What is lacking is a functioning state that doesn't care what Hezbollah wants or doesn't want, says Ronnie. It would arrest those individuals regardless. The political vacuum in Northern Ireland is not to blame for an increased threat from dissident republicans, Jeffrey Donaldson has said. The PSNI has warned of the potential of dissidents launching attacks on their officers in Derry on Easter Monday. But Mr Donaldson said the idea that the collapse of the powersharing institutions had fuelled violence doesnt stack up. While Stormont was sitting for many years these dissident republicans engaged in violence, they murdered police officers, he told BBC Radio Four. The idea that evil men and women who go out to commit murder react to political circumstances simply doesn't stack up The DUP leader added: I remember during one sitting of the Assembly they murdered two soldiers in Co Antrim as they were preparing for deployment to Afghanistan. Of course we want to see Stormont fully functioning, but the idea that when we get Stormont back up and running, that dissident republicans will put their guns away, I didnt hear the Chief Constable (Simon Byrne) suggest that. The idea that evil men and women who go out to commit murder react to political circumstances simply doesnt stack up. Some of the Chief Constables police officers have been murdered by these dissident republicans while Stormont has been sitting and indeed they have murdered other people and they have continued with their terrorist activity during all of the period that Stormont was sitting. All of the party leaders have stood together in solidarity with the Chief Constable when these attacks have taken place. MI5 recently raised the terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland to severe, meaning an attack is highly likely. This followed the gun attack on senior detective John Caldwell in Co Tyrone, who has been left with life-changing injuries. Police have blamed the New IRA for the attack. Mr Byrne said that more officers would be moved to frontline duties to counter any potential threats. Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Simon Byrne has warned about a threat to his officers from dissident republicans (Liam McBurney/PA) The DUP has withdrawn its support for the powersharing institutions as part of its protest against post-Brexit trading arrangements. Earlier this year, the UK Government and EU unveiled the Windsor Framework to mitigate some of the trading difficulties which had been caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol. While the DUP says the framework has gone some way to address its concerns, it feels some significant problems remain and has made clear its boycott will continue until it secures further assurances. Mr Donaldson said his party would be considering a report within the next few days from a consultative panel he established on the framework. He said: It was in Washington that I gave the response, I indicated that there were a number of major areas of concern that we had about the Windsor Framework, that we were engaged in a consultation process. We consult with our people, we talk to our people, we listen to their views. I now have the report from our consultation panel. They have consulted widely with business, with people in the community, we have got that report. We will consider that report in the next few days and then we will go to the Government with the outcome of our consultation and we will press the government on the need to bring forward the legislation they have promised to protect Northern Irelands ability to trade within the United Kingdom and to restore our place within the UK. That is the key to unlocking the door to Stormont. Gerry Adams has hit back at comments made by Tanaiste Micheal Martin who said Sinn Fein have over-glorified paramilitary violence during The Troubles. Mr Martin made the comments last month in Boston during a Q&A session at JFK Library and said Sinn Fein have not responded sufficiently to the victims of violence. He claimed the party is attempting to rewrite the past, to justify terrible atrocities and acts of violence. Former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams rejected Mr Martins comments and said we all need to be careful with how we deal with the past. In an interview with RTEs Morning Ireland, comments made by the sister of murdered Lyra McKee, in which she said a lot of young people in Northern Ireland are being pulled down a road of glorifying what happened during The Troubles, were put to Mr Adams. He said he would take that from Lyra McKees sister but I wont take it from Micheal Martin. Micheal Martin glorifies, rightly if you like, the men and women of the IRA of Cork in his time. I dont glorify. I deal with the reality. The people made a stand here. Mr Adams also accused the Irish Government of being asleep at the wheel in terms of its responsibilities to the North and said Mr Martin should do what victims are asking for, for the Irish Government to take an interstate case against the British government. Gardai in Cork have launched an investigation into the death of a man who was the victim of an assault in the city last month. The man, 69, was assaulted and seriously injured at a premises in Glentrasna Court, The Glen, on March 11. The long-awaited restoration of the historic Boole House in Cork city the home for a time of the father of modern coding and computing has moved a step closer with a more faithful reinstatement of the protected structure in the pipeline. University College Cork (UCC) has lodged a planning application with Cork City Council seeking permission to relocate a proposed internal lift shaft at 5 Grenville Place, the home of George Boole from 1849 to 1855, the first professor of mathematics at Queens College, now UCC. A UCC spokesman said it hopes to tender later this year for the restoration of the property it has owned since 2017. UCC has applied to relocate a proposed lift within the building, with the remaining original plans unchanged. UCC hopes to tender works for this restoration project later this year, he said. The house, a very important structure in the architectural heritage of the city, was in vacant and poor condition when it suffered a partial internal collapse in 2010. It was placed on the citys derelict sites register and in 2012, the city council commissioned a report to guide potential approaches to its conservation and restoration. In 2015, the council legally secured ownership of the property and embarked on a Part 8 planning process with UCC, to be advanced in two stages, completing stabilisation and consolidation works in 2017, following which UCC assumed sole ownership of the property. The second phase included further conservation and renovation measures along with the internal fit-out of the building over four floors. A portrait of George Boole (1815- 1864), a largely self-taught mathematician who while at Queen's College, Cork, in 1847 developed a new form of algebra, the Boolean algebra, in an attempt to link the disciplines of mathematics and formal logic. His work was essential to the development of digital computers and also applied to other fields such as statistics and probability. UCC has previously said it intends the building to become an international landmark building highlighting Ireland's historic contribution to scientific advancement but six years on, the restoration has yet to take place. But this week, UCC lodged a planning application seeking a modification to the already granted Part 8 planning to relocate an internal passenger lift to a rear extension. The move is designed to restore the integrity of the ground and first-floor layouts to reinstate a semblance of the historic plan, reports in the planning file say. A report by architects from JCA says removing the lift core from the centre of the plan, and thereby freeing up the main body of the existing building, will have a major positive impact on the legibility of the original building. They said moving it may have a slight negative impact on a rear yard but that would be balanced by its removal from the more sensitive interior of the existing building. As the ramp-up to the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement reaches a fever pitch, focus appears fixed on the politics, with former architects, presidents past and present, and politicians across these islands in the spotlight. But the agreement needed more than politics to reach fruition; It required people, and key to the resounding yes in 1998, and the sustained peace thereafter, has been civic society. Nobel Peace Prize winner Betty Williams, (left) during her last public appearance with Hollywood actress Sharon Stone signing a book of condolence for Northern Ireland politician Seamus Mallon. File picture: Alan Lewis, Photopress Belfast There is no question of the significance of political negotiation as Senator George Mitchell said: We had 700 days of failure and one day of success. For many, agreement seemed impossible, but through determination for a peaceful solution, success was found. The subsequent referenda resulted in landslide victories, with 72% in support in Northern Ireland and 94% in the Republic. These results were down to several factors: desperation for an end to violence, fatigue of negotiation, and for so many, an unadulterated desire for peace. However, the journey toward agreement within communities was not concluded overnight; It entailed decades of work in and across communities on behalf of civic society leaders and activists in order to prepare people for peace. A poster commemorating the 40th anniversary of the deaths of three children in west Belfast killed when a fatally wounded IRA terrorists car ploughed into a family on a footpath in west Belfast, an event that led to the birth of 'The Peace People' led by a relative of the children, Mairead Corrigan, on left of picture, and her friend Betty Williams, on right of picture. The poster welcomes visitors to the Peace House, home of the 'Peace People', in south Belfast. File picture: Alan Lewis, Photopress Belfast Civic society played a key role throughout the conflict, with several groups and initiatives emerging to strengthen cross-community links and build a case for a peaceful resolution. In 1976, Peace People, founded by Mairead Maguire and Betty Williams, organised huge rallies for an end to violence. Both women went on to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. In the 1980s it was civic society that created the first integrated education programmes and integrated schools. In 1992, a group of civic activists actioned the Opsahl Commission, a citizens inquiry which engaged with groups to find pathways forward. The Opsahl report contained several recommendations which carried through to the Agreement, including a Bill of Rights and parity of esteem. Nobel Peace Prize winner Betty Williams who founded Peace People along with Mairead Maguire in 1976. File picture: Alan Lewis, Photopress Belfast So too did the Womens Coalition have its roots in civic society; The cross-community party was borne from community activists and citizens and the party regularly engaged with civic society and community-based groups to inform policy positions. The Coalition was responsible for several key recommendations which built social cohesion and inter-community reconciliation, including specific language around victims rights, integrated education, womens rights to full and equal political participation, and the Civic Forum. The Yes campaign in the referendum was run and organised by civil society with the aid of strategist Quintin Oliver, who resigned from his position as Director of NICVA in 1998 in order to lead the campaign. Beyond these few short examples lay so many unseen and under-recognised works, many of which were responsible for tilling the ground in order to provide vital fertile soil for peace. A framed picture of one of the Peace People rallies, in which thousands of Belfast women from 'across the divide', called for an end to violence, welcomes visitors to the Peace House, home of the 'Peace People', in south Belfast. The deaths of three children in west Belfast killed when a fatally wounded IRA terrorists car ploughed into a family on a footpath in west Belfast, was the event that led to the birth of 'The Peace People' formed by relatives of the children. File picture: Alan Lewis, Photopress Belfast Today, civic societys vital role is reduced to little more than a footnote in a worrying number of celebratory events marking the GFA anniversary. This isn't an altogether surprising phenomenon given that even in the years immediately following the referendum, the community and voluntary sector was systemically underfunded and unappreciated. The promise of a Civic Forum, which was to act as a consultative mechanism between civic society and elected representatives, was discarded after only two years in operation. A lack of investment means we have an ageing society of peace builders who have dedicated much if not most of their lives to supporting and sustaining peace. Many of these peace builders were put on notice recently following a failure of the British government to replace the European Social Fund a further casualty of Brexit. Nobel Peace Prize winner Betty Williams, (left) during her last public appearance with Hollywood actress Sharon Stone signing a book of condolence for Northern Ireland politician Seamus Mallon. File picture: Alan Lewis, Photopress Belfast Emergency temporary packages are being rolled out at the eleventh hour quite literally the day the funding ends by the British government, but without sustainable funding, this generation and those that follow will not have the resources necessary to take forward the work of the peace process. The challenge we face in the North is the utter dysfunction of our political landscape. Rather than viewing the role of civic society as an essential component in a functioning democracy, it is perceived by some political classes to be a threat. The combative nature of our politics also stifles civic voice, with community workers and civic leaders regularly subjected to sectarian harassment and threats to their safety for espousing views on the socioeconomic challenges in Northern Ireland even 25 years on from the Good Friday Agreement. There is a clear and pressing need to depoliticise the role of civic society, and for political leaders to recognise the immense value and importance of civic voice in representative democracy. It is our Agreement Recognising the growing disillusionment stemming from Northern Irelands political vacuum, civic society is once again stepping up. The peace process is stagnant and theres a strong need for fresh thinking and new ideas change always comes from the ground up. A lack of new ideas has never been the issue within communities, but rather the framework and structure necessary to harness and realise those ideas, which is why a wide range of civic society organisations have come together to form the Civic Initiative, a large-scale participatory structure designed to create space for wider civic engagement. A poster commemorating the 40th anniversary of the deaths of three children in west Belfast killed when a fatally wounded IRA terrorist's car ploughed into a family on a footpath in west Belfast, an event that led to the birth of 'The Peace People' led by relatives of the children. The poster welcomes visitors to the Peace House, home of the 'Peace People' in south Belfast. File picture: Alan Lewis, Photopress Belfast On May 20, we are holding a Say Yes Again rally in Belfast to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday referendum vote. People across this island took an enormous leap of faith in 1998 when they said Yes, and it is people and communities who sustain and advance peace on the ground. This display of hope in the face of uncertainty deserves to be honoured and celebrated. With so much focus on the politics of the Agreement, it can be easy to lose sight of the role citizens play in the peace process, but above all else, it is our Agreement. Political drift and complacency means that many of the rights-based commitments in the Good Friday Agreement have not been delivered; The rally offers us the space to demand more. In the words of Margaret Mead: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. WE NEED to talk about the banning and burning of books. You might have read reports in recent weeks that individuals and groups around the country have entered libraries and demanded the removal of LGBTQ+ books perceived to be inappropriate for supposedly sexualising, indoctrinating and grooming young people. These protests are happening more widely and more regularly than you think, and as a society we need to be careful where it goes from here. This particular issue has rapidly become enough of a threat that public library staff have been given instructions on how to secure buildings, alert gardai, and handle public comments about the situation. Groups with official-sounding names have alleged these books violate child protection legislation and have issued clear instructions to supporters to enter libraries and document evidence of the books they believe to contravene legislation. The tactics and rhetoric used by this small cluster of activists have given them significant exposure online. But this is not a wholly organic movement. Protests targeting LGBT+ books and events have become increasingly prevalent in the US and UK and have now made it to these shores. That is to say, this panic was manufactured abroad and imported, adopted, and adapted by local figures here. Its worth exploring just how this happened. Contentious protests Through February and March in Cork, one group of protesters entered the City Library five weeks in a row demanding staff take the LGBT+ title This Book is Gay off the shelves, describing it as filth and inappropriate for 12 to 17-year-olds (the book has been challenged due to sections that provide detailed advice on anal and oral sex and sexting). Threats to burn the book outside the building were followed by protesters ripping up the book inside the building in March. Invasive questions and direct accusations have routinely been thrown at library staff. In the same library, protesters repeatedly asked staff if they had children themselves, and told them they should be ashamed of themselves for stocking these books. During a similar incident in Ashbourne Library in Meath recently, a protester asked a staff member who was the librarian to be held accountable for bringing these books into the library, before issuing vague legal threats and invoking pieces of legislation aimed at intimidating staff. The confrontational style is deliberate and designed to be recorded and shared online to spread their claims about these books, and make targets of the institution and its staff. The HSE this week said it would remove reading lists from its Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) resource, including their Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) unit for schools, as it is being updated to reflect the new curriculum. The course is aimed at Junior Cert students as part of a roll-out of sex education for 12-15 year olds in Ireland. Juno Dawsons This Book is Gay had been on the list, but the HSE said the reading lists had been taken down to reflect a revised SPHE curriculum. The book has also been removed from the Childrens Books Ireland Pride Reading Guide, with the group saying: Much of the books content remains valuable for LGBT+ teenagers, however some aspects do not reflect the more inclusive current language used by the LGBT+ community. Although it was initially recommended for readers aged fifteen and older, we have also found that the language and tone is better suited to older teenagers and young people outside of Childrens Books Irelands 0-18 age remit. For protesters, libraries and bookshops are seen as ground zero in this culture war, and are depicted as places where children are being dangerously exposed to harmful material. They ignore the fact that these books are not mandatory reading for anyone, and they are a vital resource for young gay people in the same way that books about heterosexual relationships teach straight people about sex and relationships. At the forefront of the Irish campaign to ban LGBT+ books from libraries throughout the country are groups with official sounding names that give the impression theyre reputable organisations, complete with local chapters, perhaps a national board, and staffed by a vast network of professionals. In reality, theyre a handful of people, each with a Facebook page and other accounts on different platforms, working together with their followers to scaremonger, misinform, and mislead through concerted online and offline action. In effect, these groups practise a form of astroturfing, which is the attempt to create the appearance of far-reaching grassroots support for a viewpoint when little widespread support exists. Such groups also have a history of promoting conspiracy theories about covid-19 vaccines, promoting false claims about refugees, and describing climate change as a scam. Yet a small cluster of activists has already achieved significant attention and impact. The contentious 'This book is Gay' by Juno Dawson. Mondays Liveline featured two callers speaking out about the so-called threat of these books. The callers were in fact founders of two of the astroturfing groups listed above. Similarly, it was recently reported that Fine Gael TDs said they are getting more emails on transgender issues than on the eviction ban. However, it is worth noting that one of these astroturfing groups above was responsible for orchestrating the recent call-to-action campaign to phone and email TDs to stop transgender ideology coming into schools. This gets to the heart of this movement and brings us to the term groomer. In videos from Cork library, protesters could be heard telling staff to educate themselves on groomers, saying the filthy book is indoctrinating children, and one self-described concerned parent claimed that sexualising children is part of a paedophile agenda where they want to turn the world into a paedophile paradise where they can molest children and no-one will bat an eyelid. 'Groomer'-gate These claims are not new, and indeed they echo the sort of claims made by far-right conspiracies such as QAnon. Since the outset of the gay rights movements in the US, the LGBT+ community has faced accusations that they are a danger to children or somehow pursuing an agenda to foster societal tolerance for paedophilia. These allegations usually came from Christian groups and, at various turns, anti-LGBT+ fears have also been weaponised by political parties on the right to restrict the rights of this community. The groups here are small, albeit vociferous and active, but such campaigns have become more much organised and widespread in countries such as the US. And far-right campaigns have taken root here on other issues, such as the idea that Ireland is facing an invasion of migrants. More recently, the advent of legislation in countries around the world to give LGBT+ communities greater fundamental human rights has resulted in a reactionary backlash. Online, extremists stepped up smear campaigns to falsely link queer people to paedophilia, and the promotion of deranged conspiracy theories such as Pizzagate and QAnon, which include allegations of crimes against children at the centre of their belief systems, has grown. These same extremist communities helped to popularise the term groomer. This coincided with a wider trend of anti-LGBT+ legislation passed in Florida and numerous other US states, aimed primarily at targeting transgender youths access to gender-affirming healthcare, and curtailing teaching about LGBT+ lives in schools. The term was even adopted by political figures to describe those who opposed such anti-LGBT+ legislation as groomers. The slur is used to justify suspicion, hatred and even violence against the LGBT+ community. It is used in equal measure by political and media figures in the US, as it is by religious extremists, white nationalists and neo-Nazis online, as documented in our analysis at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, an NGO that researches online extremism, disinformation and hate. Since 2017 in the US, far-right groups have targeted libraries and bookstores where drag queens host reading events for children. Queer people who interact with children are now being targeted and harassed and there is potential for real-world harm. Lest we forget, Ireland passed the Gender Recognition Act in 2015 and in the same year we voted for Marriage Equality. The nation has voiced its overwhelming support for the LGBT+ community, so where has this sudden supposed anxiety about our gay and transgender friends come from? This is a manufactured panic. First seen in the US, it has already spread to the UK, and is gaining attention in France, Canada, and now Ireland. It presents a clear-cut example of how hostile anti-LGBT+ tactics have been imported from the US and are now being deployed by local figures here and elsewhere. Our political leaders must not let this meaningless culture war topic distract them from more pressing societal problems such as housing and healthcare. And for the rest of us in the public, this creeping homophobia and transphobia must be rejected. Ciaran OConnor works on research and investigations for the Institute of Strategic Dialogue, specialising in technology and extremism. President Joe Bidens administration has blamed his predecessor, Donald Trump, for the deadly and chaotic withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan in 2021. The White House publicly released a 12-page summary of the results of the so-called hotwash of US policies around the ending of the nations longest war, asserting that Mr Biden was severely constrained by Mr Trumps decisions. It does acknowledge that the evacuation of Americans and allies from Afghanistan should have started sooner but blames the delays on the Afghan government and military and on US military and intelligence community assessments. We now prioritise earlier evacuations when faced with a degrading security situation The brief document was drafted by the National Security Council, rather than by an independent entity, with input from Mr Biden himself. The administration said detailed reviews conducted by the State Department and the Pentagon, which the White House said would be transmitted privately to Congress on Thursday, were highly classified and would not be released publicly. President Bidens choices for how to execute a withdrawal from Afghanistan were severely constrained by conditions created by his predecessor, the White House summary states, noting that when Mr Biden entered office, the Taliban were in the strongest military position that they had been in since 2001, controlling or contesting nearly half of the country. Mr Trump responded by accusing the Biden administration of playing a new disinformation game to distract from their grossly incompetent SURRENDER in Afghanistan. On his social media site, he said Biden is responsible, no one else! The report does fault overly optimistic intelligence community assessments about the Afghan armys willingness to fight, and says Mr Biden followed military commanders recommendations on the pace of the drawdown of US forces. Clearly we didnt get it right, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday, but sidestepped questions about whether Mr Biden has any regrets for his decisions and actions leading up to the withdrawal. Afghan passengers board a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III during the Afghanistan evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan (MSgt. Donald R Allen/US Air Force via AP) Mr Kirby said of the report that the purpose of it is not accountability but rather understanding what happened to inform future decisions. The White House asserts the mistakes of Afghanistan informed its handling of Ukraine, where the Biden administration has been credited for supporting Kyivs defence against Russias invasion. The White House says it simulated worst-case scenarios prior to the February 2022 invasion and moved to release intelligence about Moscows intentions months beforehand. We now prioritise earlier evacuations when faced with a degrading security situation, the White House said. In an apparent attempt to defend its national security decision-making, the Biden administration also notes that it released pre-war warnings over strong objections from senior officials in the Ukrainian government. Republicans in Congress have sharply criticised the Afghanistan withdrawal, focusing on the deaths of 13 service members in a suicide bombing at Kabuls airport, which also killed more than 100 Afghans. Shawn Vandiver, a Navy veteran and founder of #AfghanEvac, an effort to resettle Afghans fleeing the country, called the report an important next step. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby speaks during a press briefing at the White House (Patrick Semansky/AP) We are glad to see acknowledgment of lessons learned and are laser focused on continuing relocation and resettlement operations, Mr Vandiver said in a statement. The administrations report appears to shift any blame in the August 26 2021 suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport, saying it was the US military that made one possibly key decision. To manage the potential threat of a terrorist attack, the President repeatedly asked whether the military required additional support to carry out their mission at HKIA, the report said, adding, Senior military officials confirmed that they had sufficient resources and authorities to mitigate threats. Mr Kirby credited US forces for their actions in running the largest airborne evacuation of non-combatants in history during the chaos of Kabuls fall. They ended our nations longest war, he told reporters. That was never going to be an easy thing to do. And as the president himself has said, it was never going to be low grade or low risk or low cost. Since the US withdrawal, Mr Biden has blamed the February 2020 agreement Mr Trump reached with the Taliban in Doha, Qatar, saying it boxed the US into leaving the country. The agreement has been blamed by analysts for undercutting the US-backed government, which collapsed the following year. The Afghan government released roughly 5,000 Taliban prisoners after the Doha agreement as a condition of having peace talks with the Taliban. Mr Kirby noted that release and other examples of what he said was a general sense of degradation and neglect inherited by Mr Biden. The Israeli military has struck targets in the Gaza Strip, pushing the region towards a wider conflagration after a day of rocket fire along the countrys northern and southern borders following two days of unrest at Jerusalems most sensitive holy site. Gaza militants quickly fired off a new barrage of rockets, setting off air raid sirens across southern Israel. The Israeli air strikes set off at least four loud explosions in Gaza. The Israeli military said it struck a pair of tunnels and two weapons manufacturing sites. Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike in central Gaza Strip on Friday (AP) The sound of outgoing rocket fire could be heard in Gaza. It was the latest sign of rising tensions during a sensitive holiday period. Similar fighting in 2021 led to an 11-day war between Israel and Hamas. The air strikes came after militants in Lebanon fired a heavy barrage of rockets at Israel earlier in the day, forcing people across Israels northern frontier into bomb shelters, wounding at least two people. In Gaza, militants also fired rockets towards Israel. Israeli military officials said the rocket fire on both fronts was carried out by Palestinian militants in connection with this weeks violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the heart of Jerusalems Old City, where Israeli police stormed into the building with tear gas and stun grenades on two straight days. The violent scenes from the mosque have ratcheted up tensions across the region. The air strikes came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was meeting with his Security Cabinet to discuss the rocket fire. Palestinians burn tires and wave the national flag during a protest against an Israeli police raid of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound last month (Adel Hana/AP) He vowed an aggressive response. We will strike our enemies and they will pay a price for every act of aggression, he said, adding that Israelis remain united in the face of external threats despite their political differences. There was no immediate Israeli response in Lebanon, where militants fired some 34 rockets across the border. The military said 25 were shot down by its Iron Dome aerial defence system. Five rockets struck Israeli territory and the rest of the strikes were being investigated. Israel said two people were wounded. The unusually large salvo of rockets raised fears of a wider conflagration, as Israels bitter enemy, the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, holds sway over much of southern Lebanon. Over the past two days, tensions have skyrocketed at the sacred compound home to the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and along Israels tense border with Gaza. Israeli police detain a Palestinian in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound (Mahmoud Illean/AP) In a briefing with reporters, Lt Col Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, said the army drew a clear connection between the Lebanese rocket fire and the recent unrest in Jerusalem. Its a Palestinian-oriented event, he said, adding that either the Hamas or Islamic Jihad militant groups, which are based in Gaza but also operate in Lebanon, could be involved. But he said the army believed that Hezbollah and the Lebanese government were aware of what happened and also held responsibility. He declined to say how Israel might respond, saying there were all sorts of scenarios. Earlier on Thursday and late on Wednesday night, Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired several rockets towards Israel in protest over the Israeli police storming into the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the heart of Jerusalems Old City with tear gas and stun grenades. On Thursday, Hezbollah condemned Israels storming of Al-Aqsa. The shrine the third-holiest site in Islam stands on a hilltop revered by Jews as the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism. No faction in Lebanon claimed responsibility for the salvo of rockets, which set off air raid sirens across the countrys north. Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli air strike in the central Gaza Strip (Fatima Shbair/AP) A Lebanese security official said the countrys security forces believed the rockets were launched by a Lebanon-based Palestinian militant group, not by Hezbollah militants. The official said there were no casualties on the Lebanese side. A spokesperson for Hezbollah did not respond to a request for comment. Both Israel and Hezbollah have avoided an all-out conflict since a 34-day war in 2006 ended with a draw. Tensions have simmered along the Lebanese border as Israel appears to have ratcheted up its shadow war against Iranian-linked targets in Syria, another close ally of Iran, Israels archenemy in the region. Suspected Israeli air strikes in Syria in recent weeks have killed two Iranian military advisers and temporarily put the countrys two largest airports out of service. Lt Col Hecht said Thursdays rocket fire was not believed to be connected to events in Syria. In Washington, Principal Deputy State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said: Israel has legitimate security concerns and has every right to defend themselves. But he also urged calm in Jerusalem. An Israeli police officer stands beside a crater where remains of an intercepted rocket fired from Lebanon fell in Shlomi, northern Israel (Ariel Schalit/AP) We emphasise the importance of upholding the historic status quo at the holy sites in Jerusalem and any unilateral action that jeopardises the status quo to us is unacceptable, he said. In Israel, Thursdays rocket fire from Lebanon sent shrapnel flying that wounded at least two people, according to the Galilee Medical Centre. Israeli police said a bomb squad removed a number of fragments from areas in the north. Videos on social media showed huge plumes of dark smoke billowing from Israels northern hills and streaks through the sky left by the Iron Dome defence system. Widely circulated photos showed shrapnel that punched a hole in a street in the northern Israeli town of Shlomi and at least one building with its windows blown out. The Lebanese army said it found missile launchers and a number of rockets intended for launch in the vicinity of the towns of Zibqin and Qalila in south Lebanon and was working to dismantle them. The Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad hailed the rockets as a heroic operation against the Israeli crimes in the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which rules Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, is visiting Lebanon, where he met with exiled leaders of Palestinian militant groups late on Thursday. Our Palestinian people will not remain passive towards the ongoing aggression, he said. Smoke rises from a fire after rockets fired from Lebanon struck Bezet, northern Israel (Fadi Amun/AP) In Jerusalem, tensions ran high after two nights of unrest. Conflicting claims over the sacred compound home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque have spiralled into violence in the past, including a bloody 11-day war in 2021 between Israel and Hamas. For the past two nights a volatile time during which the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish holiday of Passover overlap Palestinians have barricaded themselves in the mosque with stones and firecrackers. Worshippers have been demanding the right to pray overnight inside the mosque which authorities typically only permit during the last 10 days of the month-long holiday. They have also stayed in the mosque in protest over threats by religious Jews to carry out a ritual animal slaughter at the sacred site for Passover. Israel bars ritual slaughter on the site, but calls by Jewish extremists to revive the practice, including offers of cash rewards to anyone who even attempts to bring an animal into the compound, have amplified fears among Muslims that Israel is plotting to take over the site. Early on Wednesday, Israeli police raided the mosque, firing stun grenades and rubber bullets to evict worshippers who had locked the doors of the building. Palestinians hurled stones and fireworks at officers. After a few hours of scuffles that left a trail of damage, police managed to drag everyone out of the compound. Police fiercely beat Palestinians and arrested more than 400 people. Israeli authorities control access to the area but the compound is administered by Islamic and Jordanian officials. The violence at the site has resonated across the region, with condemnations pouring in from Muslim leaders. Tennessee Republicans expelled two Democratic politicians from the state Legislature for their role in a protest calling for more gun control in the aftermath of a deadly school shooting in Nashville. A third Democrat was narrowly spared by a one-vote margin. The split votes drew accusations of racism, with politicians ousting representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, who are both black, while representative Gloria Johnson, who is white, survived the vote on her expulsion. Republican leadership denied that race was a factor, however. The visitors gallery exploded in screams and boos following the final vote. After sitting quietly for hours and hushing anyone who cried out during the proceedings, people broke into chants of Shame! and Fascists! Justin Pearson raises his fists as he leaves the House chamber after he was expelled from the legislature on Thursday (George Walker IV/AP) Banishment is a move the chamber has used only a handful times since the Civil War. Most state legislatures have the power to expel members, but it is generally reserved as a punishment for politicians accused of serious misconduct, not used as a weapon against political opponents. GOP leaders said Thursdays actions were necessary to avoid setting a precedent that politicians disruptions of House proceedings through protest would be tolerated. Republican Gino Bulso said the three Democrats had effectively conducted a mutiny. At an evening rally, Mr Jones and Mr Pearson pledged to be back at the Capitol next week advocating for change. Rather than pass laws that will address red flags and banning assault weapons and universal background checks, they passed resolutions to expel their colleagues, Mr Jones said. Justin Jones on the floor of the House chamber as he walks to his desk to collect his belongings after being expelled from the legislature (George Walker IV/AP) And they think that the issue is over. Well see you on Monday. Mr Jones, Mr Pearson and Ms Johnson joined in protesting last week as hundreds of demonstrators packed the Capitol to call for passage of gun-control measures. As the protesters filled galleries, the three approached the front of the House chamber with a bullhorn and participated in a chant. The scene unfolded days after the shooting at the Covenant School, a private Christian school in Nashville where six people were killed, including three children. Mr Pearson told reporters on Thursday that in carrying out the protest, the three had broken a House rule because were fighting for kids who are dying from gun violence and people in our communities who want to see an end to the proliferation of weaponry in our communities. Students yell, asking for gun reform legislation in support of the Tennessee Three outside the House chamber on Thursday in Nashville (George Walker IV/AP) Ms Johnson, a retired teacher, said her concern about school shootings was personal, recalling a day in 2008 when students came running toward her out of a cafeteria because a student had just been shot and killed. The trauma on those faces, you will never, ever forget, she said. Thousands of people flocked to the Capitol to support Mr Jones, Mr Pearson and Ms Johnson on Thursday, cheering and chanting outside the House chamber loudly enough to drown out the proceedings. The trio held hands as they walked onto the floor and Mr Pearson raised a fist during the Pledge of Allegiance. Offered a chance to defend himself before the vote, Mr Jones said the GOP responded to the shooting with a different kind of attack. We called for you all to ban assault weapons, and you respond with an assault on democracy, he said. Mr Jones vowed that even if expelled, he would continue pressing for action on guns. Ill be out there with the people every week, demanding that you act, he said. Israel launched rare strikes in southern Lebanon early Friday and pressed on with bombing targets in the Gaza Strip, marking a widening escalation in the region following violence this week at Jerusalems most sensitive holy site. The cross-border fighting erupted during a time of heightened religious fervour when Jews are celebrating the Passover holiday and Muslims are marking the Ramadan holy month. In 2021, an escalation also triggered by clashes at Jerusalems Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, spilled over into an 11-day war between Israel and Gazas Hamas rulers. Fridays strikes in southern Lebanon came a day after militants fired nearly three dozen rockets from there at Israel, wounding two people and causing some property damage. The Israeli military said it targeted installations of Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, in southern Lebanon. Lebanese check a small bridge that was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike (Mohammad Zaatari/AP) Correspondents in the area said several missiles fired by Israeli warplanes struck an open field in the town of Qalili near the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh, close to the coastal southern city of Tyre, while others struck a bridge and power transformer in the nearby town of Maaliya and a farm on the outskirts of Rashidiyeh, killing several sheep. No human deaths were reported. Israeli strikes in Lebanon risk drawing Lebanons Hezbollah militia into the fighting, which could lead to war. The Iran-backed group, armed with thousands of rockets and missiles, holds sway over much of southern Lebanon and is viewed by Israel as a bitter foe. The Israeli military was careful to note in its announcement about Fridays attack that it was targeting only sites linked to Palestinian militants. In recent years, Hezbollah has stayed out of other flareups related to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which stands on a hilltop revered by Muslims and Jews. In Jerusalem before dawn prayers on Friday, violence erupted again at the hilltop compound as Israeli police stationed at one of the gates forcibly dispersed vast crowds of worshippers who chanted praise for Hamas while pushing their way into the limestone courtyard. Videos from the scene showed police beating large groups of Palestinian men with sticks until they stumbled backward, falling and knocking down vendors tables. The head of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, Major General Aroldo Lazaro, said he was in contact with Israeli and Lebanese authorities early Friday. The force, known as Unifil, said that both sides have said they do not want war. Meanwhile, Israeli air strikes on Gaza resumed early on Friday, after militants fired more rockets from the blockaded territory, setting off air raid sirens in the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon. The military said targets included the entry shaft to an underground network used for weapons manufacturing. Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike in central Gaza Strip on Friday (AP) The current round of violence began Wednesday after Israeli police twice raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalems Old City. That led Thursday to rocket fire from Gaza and, in a significant escalation, the rocket barrage from Lebanon. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his Security Cabinet for a three-hour meeting late Thursday. Israels response, tonight and beyond, will extract a heavy price from our enemies, he said in a statement after the meeting. Almost immediately, Palestinian militants in Gaza began firing rockets into southern Israel, setting off air raid sirens across the region. Loud explosions could be heard in Gaza from the Israeli strikes, as outgoing rockets whooshed into the skies toward Israel. For now, Palestinian militants have fired only short-range rockets from Gaza, rather than the long-range projectiles that can reach as far as Tel Aviv and typically invite harsher Israeli retaliation. The Israeli military said the rocket fire on its northern and southern fronts was carried out by Palestinian militants in connection to this weeks violence at Al-Aqsa where Israeli police stormed into the building with tear gas and stun grenades to confront Palestinians barricaded inside on two straight days. The violent scenes from the mosque ratcheted up tensions across the region. An Israeli soldier guides a tank on the border with Lebanon (Ariel Schalit/AP) In a briefing with reporters, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, said the army drew a clear connection between the Lebanese rocket fire and the recent unrest in Jerusalem. Its a Palestinian-oriented event, he said, adding that either the Hamas or Islamic Jihad militant groups, which are based in Gaza but also operate in Lebanon, could be involved. But he said the army believed that Hezbollah and the Lebanese government were aware of what happened and also held responsibility. The mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam, stands on a hilltop revered by Jews as the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism. The competing claims to the site have repeatedly spilled over into violence over the years. No faction in Lebanon claimed responsibility for the salvo of rockets. A Lebanese security official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the countrys security forces believed the rockets were launched by a Lebanon-based Palestinian militant group, not by Hezbollah. Lebanons caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, condemned the firing of rockets from Lebanon, adding that Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers were investigating and trying to find the perpetrators. Mr Mikati said his government categorically rejects any military escalation and the use of Lebanese territories to stage acts that threaten stability. Hezbollah has condemned the Israeli police raids in Jerusalem. Both Israel and Hezbollah have avoided an all-out conflict since a 34-day war in 2006 ended in a draw. The current escalation comes against the backdrop of Mr Netanyahus domestic problems. For the past three months, hundreds of thousands of Israelis have been demonstrating against his plans to overhaul the countrys judicial system, claiming it will lead the country toward authoritarianism. An alleged Palestinian shooting attack in the northern occupied West Bank killed two women and seriously wounded another, Israeli medics said. The latest violence came after Israeli warplanes struck southern Lebanon in a significant escalation. General Motors Cruise autonomous vehicle unit has recalled 300 self-driving taxis to update software after one of them ran into the back of a bus in San Francisco. Cruise said in government documents posted on Friday that the robotaxi inaccurately predicted how the bus would move as it pulled out of a stop on March 23. US road safety regulators have sent a team to investigate a crash involving a Tesla that may have been operating on a partially automated driving system when it struck a student who had just got off a school bus. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it will investigate the March 15 crash in Halifax County, North Carolina, which injured a 17-year-old student. Two British-Israeli sisters were killed and their mother badly injured in a gun attack on their car in the West Bank. The attack took place near an Israeli settlement in the Jordan Valley and the girls father witnessed the incident from a separate car following behind, local officials said. In London, the Foreign Office confirmed the deaths and appealed for all sides in the Israel-Palestine dispute to de-escalate a situation which has seen violence flare up in recent days. Israeli security forces examine the scene of a shooting near the Israeli settlement of Hamra in the West Bank (Nasser Nasser/AP) The family were residents of the Efrat settlement, near the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, according to Oded Revivi, the settlements mayor. He said: With great sorrow we received an update on a shocking terrorist attack in which terrorists shot a car including a mother and her two daughters, residents of Efrat. The two girls were murdered and the mother is in (a) critical condition and we all pray for her quick recovery. The father of the family who drove in another car from the front turned around and witnessed the efforts to take care of his wife and daughters. A Foreign Office spokesman said: We are saddened to hear about the deaths of two British-Israeli citizens and the serious injuries sustained by a third individual. Two Israeli border police officers are deployed to keep the order while Palestinians cross from the West Bank into Jerusalem (AP) The UK calls for all parties across the region to de-escalate tensions. Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said: I am shocked by reports of the killing of two British sisters in an appalling and cowardly attack in the West Bank. My thoughts are with their family and loved ones. More civilian victims of this cycle of violence show the urgent need for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly had earlier called for calm after Israel launched strikes in southern Lebanon and bombed targets in the Gaza Strip in retaliation over rocket attacks. The cross-border fighting, while Jews are celebrating the Passover holiday and Muslims are marking Ramadan, erupted following violent scenes at Jerusalems Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon came after militants fired nearly three dozen rockets from there. The Israeli military said it targeted installations of the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Lebanon. Mr Cleverly said both sides in the Israel-Palestine dispute should recommit themselves to a negotiated settlement. Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike in central Gaza Strip on Friday (AP) He said: The UK condemns the indiscriminate rocket attacks from southern Lebanon and Gaza and recognises Israels right to self-defence. Now is the time for all parties across the region to de-escalate tensions. At the convergence of Passover, Ramadan and Easter, the UK calls for all parties to respect the historic status quo arrangements at Jerusalems holy sites and cease all provocative action. The UK is a strong supporter of freedom of religion or belief and calls for places of worship to be respected. We value Jordans important role as custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem and condemns the Israeli police violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. When Israeli security forces conduct operations, they must ensure they are proportionate and in accordance with international law. In Jerusalem, violence flared again at the Al-Aqsa Mosque before dawn prayers, with Israeli police stationed at one of the gates forcibly dispersing vast crowds of worshippers who chanted praise for Hamas. Human rights campaign group Amnesty International UK criticised Mr Cleverlys response. The charitys Kristyan Benedict said: James Cleverlys belated response to shocking Israeli violence against Palestinians at Al-Aqsa Mosque isnt just weak and tokenistic its also dangerously misguided because it effectively isolates individual incidents of violence from the overall context, which is decades of apartheid, occupation and systematic injustice against the Palestinian people. Despite the Foreign Secretarys usual platitudes about peace and de-escalation, the UK continues to oppose vital international measures such as the ongoing ICC (International Criminal Court) investigation, designed to bring justice and accountability for Israeli and Palestinian civilians. War Against the Junta Over 100 Myanmar Junta Troops Killed in Four Days of Resistance Attacks A recent mine ambush on a regime column in Myaing Township / Myaing PDF At least 114 Myanmar junta forces were killed in the last four days as Peoples Defense Forces (PDFs) and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) stepped up their attacks on regime targets nationwide. In one case, PDFs and ethnic Karen resistance groups jointly raided several bases of junta-allied Border Guard Forces (BGFs) in Myawaddy Township, Karen State. Incidents were reported in Karen and Chin states and Sagaing, Mandalay, Magwe and Tanintharyi regions. The Irrawaddy has collected the following reports of significant attacks from PDFs and EAOs. Some military casualty figures could not be independently verified. More than 85 junta troops killed in resistance raids in Karen More than 85 regime soldiers were killed in Myawaddy Township, Karen State on Wednesday and Thursday when several ethnic Karen resistance forces including PDF groups jointly raided at least five military bases of the junta-allied BGF in the Shwe Kokko area, claimed Lion Battalion Command, which coordinated the attacks. Shwe Kokko is a crime hub comprising several Chinese gambling business and is under the control of the BGF. During two days of resistance raids, five BGF bases were seized and burned down and more than 75 weapons were seized, said Lion Battalion Commando. The groups videos show the bodies of several border guards, as well as BGF bases being burned down. Military truck ambushed in Tanintharyi At least 10 junta troops were injured in Tanintharyi Township, Tanintharyi Region on Tuesday when three PDF groups used land mines to ambush a 10-wheeled truck carrying regime soldiers near a village, said Myeik PDF, which joined the attack. Military column ambushed by resistance snipers in Tanintharyi PDF snipers ambush a military column in Thayet Chaung Township on Tuesday. / Thayet Chaung PDF A junta soldier was killed and another one injured in Thayet Chaung Township, Tanintharyi Region on Tuesday when snipers of Thayet Chaung PDF ambushed a military detachment traveling to nearby Thein Kone Village, according to the resistance group. Nine junta troops killed by ethnic Chin resistance ambush in Falam The Chin National Defense Force, the armed wing of the Chin National Organization, said it and the Chin National Army (CNA), the armed wing of the Chin National Front, jointly ambushed regime forces on the Falam-Hakha Highway in Chin State on Wednesday, killing at least nine soldiers and injuring some others. PDF groups bomb military column in Magwe Two regime forces were killed and six others injured in Myaing Township, Magwe Region on Wednesday morning when three PDF groups used land mines to ambush 70 regime forces including policemen and Pyu Saw Htee militia members, said Myaing PDF, which coordinated the ambush. The military detachment was ambushed while returning from a junta base at the No. 2 oil drilling site in the township. Junta conducts air raid on a PDF base in Magwe Myaing Peoples Defense Force said it lost one of its bases during a junta air raid in Myaing Township, Magwe Region on Thursday. Regime forces dropped by two transport helicopters raided the groups base while it was being attacked by a Russian-made Mi-35 gunship. Junta troops looted 10 million kyats (around US$3,500) and burned two PDF vehicles. A resistance fighter went missing in the junta raid. The air raid came four hours after Myaing PDF conducted mine ambushes and drone strikes on a military column of 60 forces between two villages in the township, injuring at least eight junta troops. Regime forces ambushed with land mines in Sagaing Resistance fighters of Shwebo-based PDF group Dog Killer plant improvised land mines during an operation. / Dog Killer PDF At least four pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militia members were killed and two others seriously injured in Shwebo Township, Sagaing Region on Wednesday when eight local resistance groups used land mines to ambush regime soldiers and militia members between Tal Thee Taw and Zee Phyu Kone villages, said resistance group Dog Killer Shwebo, which joined the attack. The regime forces were ambushed while searching for land mines planted by the PDF groups. Regime forces clash with PDFs in Sagaing At least three regime troops were killed in Kani Township, Sagaing Region on Tuesday when combined PDF groups attacked regime forces and Pyu Saw Htee militia members from Alal Kyun Village, said the Anti-Dictatorship Revolution Peoples Army, which coordinated the attack. In the clash, a PDF fighter was injured when his improvised firearm misfired. Military convoy attacked in Mandalay Many regime forces are believed to have been killed and injured in Thabeikkyin Township, Mandalay Region on Wednesday when Tagaung PDF used both firearms and heavy explosives to ambush three trucks carrying regime soldiers on the Tigyaing-Mandalay highway, claimed the resistance group. In the ambush, the regime forces on the trucks could not respond. Following the ambush, a 60-year-old female resident was killed when regime ambush patrols randomly fired at houses on the highway in another location. The junta troops also burned down three civilian houses, the PDF group said. Burma Myanmar Junta Airstrikes Continue in Kachin State Si Thaung village burns after junta airstrikes. / Shwegu Peoples Defense Force. Regime airstrikes have continued on Shwegu Township in Kachin State as junta troops have been fighting the Kachin Independence Army and its resistance allies since late March. Tone Kauk and Si Thaung villages in Shwegu were hit by fighter jets and shelling on Thursday, according to the Shwegu Peoples Defense Force (PDF). The group posted pictures on Facebook of Si Thaung burning after airstrikes. At least 30 houses in the village burned down during three airstrikes on Thursday, the group said. A Si Thar village clinic was damaged in the airstrikes on Wednesday. No civilian casualties were reported as residents had already fled their homes. The regime is destroying civilian villages with shelling and aerial attacks. Without these attacks, ground troops wouldnt be able to raid the villages. Junta troops cannot defeat us on the ground, a Shwegu PDF representative said. On March 30, regime troops raided and torched Man Wein village after three airstrikes. At least 100 Man Wein houses were burned down by regime troops, according to resistance forces. Previous airstrikes killed five cows and destroyed three houses in Si Thaung on March 25. Clashes in the township broke out when regime troops raided Hnget Ta Dar village on March 23. At least 3,000 people from seven villages in Shwegu have now fled their homes, according to the PDF. Burma Myanmar Regime Court Jails Kachin Baptist Leader for Six Years Reverend Hkalam Samson A regime court in Kachin State has sentenced the prominent Kachin Christian leader Reverend Hkalam Samson to six years in prison for unlawful association, incitement, and counterterrorism charges, his lawyer said. The verdict was given on Friday at a special court inside the states Myitkyina Prison, where the religious leader has been detained since his arrest last year. He was sentenced to two years for unlawful association, one for incitement, and three on the counterterrorism charge, his lawyer told The Irrawaddy. The Kachin State Baptist leader was arrested in December by the regime for defaming the military in his sermons. He was initially detained and charged with unlawful association in January, before being indicted for incitement. On February 14, the junta filed a further charge under the counterterrorism law, accusing Dr. Samson of meeting with a member of the opposition National Unity Government (NUG). His lawyer said on Friday that Dr. Samson was in good health. We will submit an appeal later this month, she said. Dr. Hkalam Samson is also president of the Kachin National Consultative Assembly, a group of Kachin State religious and political leaders who help foster communication between the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) and the local community. The KIOs armed wing, the Kachin Independence Army, has been fighting the regime since the 2021 coup while also training and arming resistance Peoples Defense Forces. In February this year, the United States condemned the Myanmar military regimes arrest and detention of Dr. Samson on politically motivated charges under counterterrorism and other laws. Following his arrest in December, civil society organizations in Kachin State issued a joint statement on December 27 calling for the immediate release of the reverend on humanitarian grounds and for the sake of peace. In 2019, the Myanmar militarys Northern Command attempted to take legal action against Dr. Samson for telling then United States president Donald Trump about the militarys oppression of ethnic minorities in Myanmar. The case was dropped on the orders of military chief and current junta boss Min Aung Hlaing. Burma Resistance Raids Myanmar Junta Outposts Near Chinese Gambling Hub Lion Battalion members. / Lion Battalion Commando Special Forces Resistance forces attacked the Myanmar junta-affiliated Border Guard Force (BGF) near the Chinese-backed Shwe Kokko online gambling, scamming and trafficking hub in Karen State on Wednesday and Thursday. The Lion Battalion and other resistance groups raided junta and BGF forces in Hteewapalaw and Hteekawhtaw villages in Myawaddy Township near the Thai border and occupied five outposts, according to the groups. At least 85 junta and BGF troops were killed, the groups claimed and released a video as evidence. Details of the fighting will be reported later, the groups said. Residents crossed the Moei River into Thailand to avoid junta airstrikes, according to the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU). A KNLA battalion commander said: The BGF fought alongside junta troops about 10km north of Shwe Kokko. The Thai authorities said on Thursday that nearly 4,000 people have crossed the border. Resistance forces led by the KNLA have been attacking the junta since a March 25 attack on a police station in Kyone Doe at the border trade zone and the Thingan Nyi Naung village police station in Myawaddy. The following day they attacked a BGF outpost in Kawkareik town. On April 3 the KNLA and its allies attacked a junta hilltop outpost in Thingan Nyi Naung and junta-run offices in the north of Kawkareik. A representative from the Cobra Column, one of the groups involved in the fighting, told The Irrawaddy that reports about the fighting were not yet available. Resistance groups warned residents not to use the Kawkareik-Myawaddy road until April 21. Other groups involved in the operations are the Karen National Defense Organization, the other armed wing of the KNU, and renegades from the KNU/KNLA-Peace Council, a signatory to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement. The group has dismissed a colonel and lieutenant colonel who have joined resistance forces. Burma Thousands Flee Across Thai Border to Escape Fighting in Myanmars Karen People wait to cross the Moei River after fighting on the Myanmar side. / CJ BANGKOKThousands of people have fled into Thailand following fierce fighting between Myanmar rebels and the military, Thai officials said Thursday. Myanmar has been in turmoil since Daw Aung San Suu Kyis civilian government was toppled in an army coup two years ago. Thai officials said skirmishes had broken out between Myanmars military and armed ethnic rebels near the Karen state outpost town of Myawaddy, bordering Thailands Tak province. Around 3,998 people have fled into Thailands temporary shelter across 10 areas, a statement from Tak provincial officials said. Government agencies and NGOs were providing people with food and water. The Tak officials said local armed forces, police, and the civil administration were closely monitoring the situation. Long-established ethnic rebel groups, as well as dozens of Peoples Defense Force militias, have emerged in opposition to the coup and clash frequently with the military. Civilians are regularly forced to flee across the nearby Thai border as fighting threatens their homes. Recent fighting between rebel groups, loosely affiliated militias, and the military has seen tensions in southeastern Karen State soar. A leader of the anti-junta Karen National Army confirmed clashes in the area. Padoh Saw Thamain Tun said some 2,000 people were displaced, crossed the border, come to Thai side. Intense fighting in Karen State in January, around Kyonedoe and the border town of Payathonzu, also saw scores of civilians flee to Thailand. More than 2,700 civilians have been killed in Myanmar since the military grabbed power in February 2021, according to a local monitoring group. The junta blames anti-coup fighters for a civilian death toll it has put at almost 3,900. Politics Myanmar Juntas Planned Election to be Contested by 63 Parties Leaders of some of the political parties set to contest the poll: (Top, from left to right) U Khin Yi (USDP), U Ko Ko Gyi (PP), Michael Kyaw Myint (PCSP), Daw Thet Thet Khine (PPP), Sai Ai Pao (SEDP), Daw Than Than Nu (FDP) (Bottom from left to right) U Thein Nyunt (NNDP), Nshang San Awng (KSPP), U Soe Maung (DNP), U Khin Maung Shwe (NDF). U Kyaw Zeya (UPUP), Khun San Lwin (PNO). Myanmars military regime has dissolved 40 political parties including the National League for Democracy (NLD) and the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) for refusing to re-register under its tough new Political Parties Registration Law. However, 63 other parties will follow the road map of the junta despite its atrocities against its own people. The juntas Union Election Commission (UEC) hasnt announced which parties will contest nationally or regionally. However, The Irrawaddy has learned that as of Friday 12 out of 63 are believed to be preparing to contest nationwide, while the rest will contest their respective regions and states. The following is a breakdown of the 63 parties based on The Irrawaddys findings. Parties contesting nationally Under the junta-drafted Political Parties Registration Law, national parties are required to recruit at least 100,000 members within 90 days of registration, open offices in at least half of the countrys 330 townships within six months and contest at least half of all constituencies in Myanmar. Observers say that only parties with ties to the military regime can operate under such restrictions. Based on The Irrawaddys findings, the Myanmar militarys proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), the National Unity Party (NUP), Union Democracy Party (UDP), Public Contribute Students Party (PCSP), Peoples Party (PP), Shan and Ethnic Democratic Party (SEDP), Democratic Party of National Politics (DNP), Peoples Pioneer Party (PPP), Myanmar Farmers Development Party (MFDP), Union Peace and Unity Party (UPUP), National Interests Development Party and National Democratic Force (NDF) are likely to contest national elections. The USDP, NUP and DNP are led by ex-generals. While many parties are struggling to survive, USDP chairman former brigadier general U Khin Yi, one of coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaings right hand men, and other senior USDP leaders have been traveling to meet party members and attract young voters. The PPP is led by Daw Thet Thet Khine, a former NLD lawmaker expelled from the party in 2018, who is currently the juntas social welfare minister. The NDF is led by U Khin Maung Swe, who was formerly a member of the juntas State Administration Council (SAC) and was promoted in February to its Central Advisory Body. The PLP, MFDP, PCSP are among the 34 parties that met military chief and current regime boss Min Aung Hlaing ahead of the 2020 general election. Under the aegis of the USDP, party leaders from those 34 parties sought the commander-in-chiefs assurance that he would intervene if voting was deemed unfair. They also called for then Union Election Commission chairman (UEC) U Hla Thein to be replaced, saying they did not trust the NLD appointee. One of the Public Contribute Students Party (PCSP) leaders, Michael Kyaw Myint, is a nationalist known for racial and religious hate speeches and a staunch military supporter. He is also an organizer of pro-military rallies. The Union Peace and Unity Party (UPUP) is led by U Kyaw Zeya, an ex-lieutenant colonel and former NLD lawmaker who was expelled from the party in 2018. He was also vice-chair of the PPP, led by junta social welfare minister Daw Thet Thet Khine. His son Moe Yan Zun is an actor who has made frequent appearances in the Myanmar militarys propaganda movies and art campaigns. The Shan and Ethnic Democratic Party (SEDP) is the only ethnic party contesting nationally. Its chairman Sai Ai Pao received the Thiri Pyanchi title from Min Aung Hlaing. Previously known as Shan Nationalities Democratic Party, the party split from the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) in 2010 to contest the general election organized by the then junta, after the SNLD boycotted the vote. Rejecting the poll proposed by the regime, the SNLD also didnt re-register with the juntas electoral body this time. The UDP, previously known as the United Democratic Party, is also known as the Rose Party because of its logo. The party was dissolved ahead of the 2020 election after its chair was accused of money laundering, flouting business laws and fleeing a prison sentence handed down under a previous military regime. Peoples Party (PP) leader and 88-Generation student leader U Ko Ko Gyi has come under fire for his criticism of the resistance movement and is now viewed as a pro-military politician. He has called for dialogue with the Myanmar military, despite it committing crimes against humanity. Apart from the USDP, none of the other 11 parties who will contest nationally won a single seat at the national level in the 2020 general election. Ethnic parties At least thirty of the 63 parties that have registered with the junta-controlled UEC are ethnic parties. Apart from the Shan and Ethnic Democratic Party (SEDP), 29 parties will contest in their own states. Among those, the Pa-O National Organization (PNO), Lisu National Development Party, Wa National Party (WNP), Rakhine State National United Party (RSNUP), Kokang Democracy and Unity Party and the Karen National Democratic Party all met Min Aung Hlaing before the 2020 poll. PNO vice chair Khun San Lwin and WNP vice chair U Yan Kyaw are SAC members. Another party, the Mro National Development Party always joins the USDP when the latter issues statements in support of Myanmar military. Four Kachin parties including the Kachin State Peoples Party (KSPP) have also re-registered to run in the juntas slated poll. As well as ethnic parties, the New National Democracy Party of U Thein Nyunt, and Federal Democratic Party of Daw Than Than Nu have also registered to run in their respective regions. The juntas UEC said that it is processing applications from 63 parties and that parties can still register with it. Min Aung Hlaing has not yet declared the date for the election. The parallel National Unity Government said that it would take action against political parties that register with the regimes UEC. Pro-democracy forces including the NLD and major ethnic armed organizations have rejected the poll. The United States has also urged the international community not to recognize the poll which will neither be free nor fair. Malaysia has urged fellow members of the Association for Southeast Asian Nations to reject any election organized by the Myanmar military. National Parties Ethnic Parties Contesting in States War Against the Junta Myanmars Main Airport Rocked by Explosions Yangon International Airport. / AFP A series of explosions rocked Yangons International Airport on Thursday night after the Myanmar military outpost at the airport was targeted with improvised artillery rounds, according to resistance groups and locals. Residents of Mingaladon Township in the north of Yangon, where the airport is located, reported hearing several explosions. One passenger wrote on his Facebook that he was lucky as there were five blasts at the airport just after he left. Airport staff said that the airport was shut down for an hour after the attack, but has resumed operations since Friday morning. Resistance group Liberty Thunder claimed responsibility for the attack via local media outlets. The group claimed it and another resistance group, Anonymous Mission Team Alpha, fired seven rounds at the junta airbase from improvised rocket launchers in response to the military regime conducting daily airstrikes on civilian targets. It is still unknown what damage the attack caused. Pro-junta media outlets reported that a 107mm artillery round exploded near the runway of the airport, whil another hit a drain at the airport near the militarys nursing university. The explosions started fires, added pro-regime media. In the summer, we used to erect big fire barriers using tractors as we were afraid that the dry grass in the airport compound would catch fire. If the rockets hit the grass, they would definitely go up in flames, a former air force officer who defected from the military told The Irrawaddy. He added that no matter whether significant damage was caused or not, the resistance attacks on Myanmars principal airport are a danger for the junta. On Friday morning, the regime had tightened security in the area by deploying more troops around the airport and elsewhere in Mingaladon Township. Resistance groups urged civilians to avoid the airbase and junta camp due to the possibility of further attacks. From Alaska to Peru, a Journey of Success and Compassion Alyeska Semschs life story is a testament to the power of family, ambition, and unwavering de termination. Born in Alaska, USA, and raised in Lima, Peru, Alyeska grew up in a nurturing and entrepreneurial environment, which shaped her into the multifaceted businesswoman she is today. As the eldest of four successful siblings, Alyeska has always been a leader within her tight knit family. Her loving parents, both entrepreneurs themselves, instilled in her the importance of hard work and dedication. It wasnt long before their family returned to the United States, where Alyeskas entrepreneurial journey began. From a young age, Alyeska displayed exceptional business acumen. During her teenage years in Key Biscayne, she successfully started with her siblings and managed an ice cream store called Alaska Yogurt. This early venture was just the beginning; Alyeska later ventured into real estate investment and development, and finally founded Semsch Realty, a boutique real estate brokerage based in Key Biscayne, Florida. With over 25 years of experience in the real estate industry, Alyeska has become a highly respected broker. But her accomplishments are not limited to her professional life. Alyeskas innate qualities, such as her open heart, excellent listening skills, intelligence, and courage, make her an extraordinary human being. Alyeska consistently seeks to have a positive impact on her community. By generously sharing her knowledge and time, she helps others learn and grow, fostering a supportive environment for those around her. Semsch Realty reflects Alyeskas values, with a team of agents who share the same ideals and goals. The boutique firm specializes in listing properties for sale, and each client is treated with personalized attention and exceptional customer service. Semsch Realtys success lies not only in its sales but in the long-term relationships and friendships it nurtures with its clients. Alyeska Semschs remarkable journey from Alaska to Peru and back to the United States demonstrates the power of family, ambition, and compassion. Her entrepreneurial spirit, coupled with her genuine care for others, makes her an inspiring figure in the world of real estate and beyond. This article was published as part of Islander News' The Women's Issue and included in Islander News' second annual Women in Business section. For the complete The Women's Issue edition, click here. Calling it "potentially, a tremendous problem for us as we reach summer," Key Biscayne Mayor Joe Rasco last week delivered his message on what is being done to thwart, or contain, a "blob" of sargassum that could have major impacts on Florida's beaches. Version en espanol In addition, the Village also adopted a resolution to urge the United States Congress and Florida Legislature to appropriate funds for the seaweed removal, to study the cause and possible solutions to minimize the impact, and explore disposal in a beneficial way. That echoed a similar resolution by Miami-Dade's Board of County Commissioners earlier in the day, regarding all county beaches. Mayor Rasco said while he and Village Manager Steve Williamson were in Tallahassee earlier this year, "We started putting this on everybody's radar. Supposedly, there is a plan ... people up there are working on it." Williamson said he's even spoken to the County's Director of Emergency Management, who also is pulling together a plan with other county emergency teams in case an excessive amount of the stinky seaweed washes ashore at a single location. Everyone agrees it would have a huge economic impact on Miami-Dade County, or wherever it decides to wash ashore. Dr. Brian Lapointe, a veteran researcher specializing in seaweed at Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce, told Islander News this week that the "blob" as it has been referred to by some measures some 5,000 miles long and 300 miles wide, accounting for some 13 million tons floating in waters between the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. He traveled from Key West on April 2 and already noticed large patches of the sargassum on the windward side of the Lower Keys up to the Middle Keys as he crossed the Seven-Mile Bridge. "You could see it along the shoreline," he said. "Key West was pretty stinky. Friday evening, we could see it at Bahia Honda State Park. It was starting to decompose, giving off the hydrogen sulfide ... You've probably seen the brown water (in past occurrences)." Dr. Lapointe said by viewing satellite imagery, "We had never seen that much in March, and January also was a record. We don't know (how much) going forward ... Usually the peak is in July." Residents and tourists on Key Biscayne already have seen large swaths of sargassum on the beaches, some in piles behind Oceana, for example. But, there was no confirmation this was part of the larger blob being hyped. Its hard to say, said Village Chief of Resiliency and Sustainability, Dr. Roland Samimy. Its a little bit on the early side, but it might be a heavy year based on the satellite imagery from the University of South Florida SAWS program that monitors sargassum. Is that different than what Andrew is sending? Dealing with stinky seaweed, and having to pay big money for trucks to haul the sargassum from the beach about $65,000 a month currently on Key Biscayne are just part of the problems. Mayor Rasco said if there were a way to wring the water out of the seaweed before its loaded, less tonnage would save trips and money. Sargassum, which is beneficial for more than 100 species of fishes and invertebrates while out in the ocean, actually can carry red tide bacteria and heavy metals, such as arsenic, Dr. Lapointe said. "Then it's used for fertilizer (in some cases) for plants, and there (might be) human consumption. We do know that septic systems help that stuff grow through e-coli (bacteria)." Those with respiratory issues and pregnant women are more susceptible to the hydrogen sulfide gasses released by the sargassum. So, when smelling a "rotten, stinky odor," it's best to leave the area, he said. What can Key Biscayne residents expect to see as the temperature heats up? "It's hard to predict where it's going to hit," Dr. Lapointe said. "There is a lot of variability. In the Gulfstream, if winds blow east and southeast, it will come ashore. ... It's already in the Caribbean and in Mexico, places like the Riviera Maya. "In Palm Beach last year, we saw that the jetty there was catching the sargassum, which was decomposing, and the water turned dark brown. Not pleasant to swim in, and releasing the hydrogen sulfide gas is a risk to human health." As far as Florida's tourist industry, he believes it "already has" been affected. "In the Florida Keys, it's become a pretty big issue with the hotel industry in the last couple of years," he said. "We're starting to see the level of influx (of seaweed increase) ... if we see this trend continue on Florida's east coast ... "People go to Key West, check in, and then smell the air and they're like, 'What is that?' and walk out and see this stuff all over the beach. All of a sudden they're doing research, 'Where can I go where the water is clean?' But this has been going on awhile in Mexico, in the Caribbean, Barbados, Martinique." Seaweed was visible along the usually pristine sand of Miami Beach on Monday and, farther north, tons of seaweed suddenly appeared Saturday on Cocoa Beach, just south of the Space Center. Surfers still hopped over the brown, stringy weeds to find some nice waves before winds picked up. On Easter Sunday, an annual dog surfing event went on as planned despite the mess. As far as trends, Dr. Lapointe said, "We don't know, but we all think this is the new normal." He said the issue of sargassum in the Gulf of Mexico cropped up in the 1980's, and the Crystal River power plant's cooling intake was once plugged by an 80-mile swath of the seaweed in 1991. "(Researchers) thought it was likely connected to nutrient pollution out of the Mississippi River, and everybody laughed ... We had those early warning signs back then." The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt, as defined in 2011, stretches from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico, where most of the seaweed apparently originates and thrives in crystal blue waters. Until 2011, sargassum was contained to the Sargasso Sea, off the coast of Bermuda. But, wind currents pushed it south into warmer waters and then across the tropical Atlantic Ocean. With nowhere to escape in the Gulf of Mexico, wind currents steer the sargassum back around. "We've seen a good deal of sargassum -- surprisingly, in 2013 none -- but there is an upward trend, with the peak year, of course, being in 2018," Dr. Lapointe said. "Now, we're trying to identify the drivers, research the sources of the multiple nutrient sources." One of the regions is Guinea and the Congo River on Africas west coast, where Saharan dust kicks up, and where it's "happy" feeding off those nutrients. Also being monitored is South America, in the Orinoco and Amazon rivers. The question at last Tuesdays Council meeting was, "How can it be stopped from coming ashore Key Biscayne?" Williamson pointed out that the sargassum cannot be touched in federal waters. "We're not allowed to capture it until it hits the beach ... that's the federal law ... our environmental regulations don't allow boats to go out and capture it." However, Dr. Lapointe said that off the coasts of the Dominican Republic and Antigua, officials are physically capturing the sargassum with a big net that brings it up to a work boat, and with a pump the seaweed is compressed 1,000 meters or more down to create negative buoyancy. "Not only can it reduce the amount of sargassum coming into the beach, but it ... can chip away at the carbon dioxide buildup in the atmosphere, called carbon sequestration, and that is one of the more exciting things happening," he told WKMG-TV in Orlando. Keeping some of it buried on Key Bisvayne's beaches is an option, said Dr. Samimy, although it would be just a fraction of what might be headed toward shore. Councilman Fernando Vazquez thought it would be great to turn it into biofuel, as is being done at Lake Jessup. But, finding a staging area to do that is a big challenge, for many reasons. Worm farms also have been considered, in which worm excrement would be turned into fertilizer. But, with the size of this "blob" of seaweed, "you'd need a pretty big worm farm," Dr. Lapointe said. President Joe Biden on Thursday vetoed a measure that would repeal a rule expanding which types of wetlands can be regulated under the Clean Water Act. Biden promised to veto the legislation that saw Democrats crossing party lines in both chambers to join Republicans in rolling back a rule that is unpopular with the agriculture industry. Farmers see the regulation as an obstacle to operations on private property with wetlands that might fall under the administrations new scope of Waters of the United States, or WOTUS. Biden said Thursday his 2023 revised definition provides clear rules of the road for which wetlands qualify, and that rollback would negatively affect tens of millions of United States households that depend on healthy wetlands and streams. Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, Jon Tester of Montana and Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada, as well as independent Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, joined their GOP counterparts in a 53-43 vote on March 29. The legislation was not subject to the Senates usual 60-vote filibuster, because Republicans forced a vote under the Congressional Review Act that allows for Congress to challenge recent executive branch decisions. The EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers proposed the updated WOTUS definition in late 2021 and the final rule went into effect March 20. Nine House Democrats crossed party lines on March 10 to repeal the new rule. They included two Georgia lawmakers, Reps. David Scott and Sanford Bishop, who respectively hold ranking member spots on the House Agriculture Committee and House Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee. Defining which wetlands qualify under WOTUS has been a yearslong issue. The EPA under former President Barack Obama established a new definition, which was then narrowed under the Trump administration. The contentious issue has reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which is expected to decide on the Obama-era rule this session after an Idaho couple challenged it. This report first appeared on the website of the Florida Phoenix, a nonprofit news organization dedicated to coverage of state government and politics from Tallahassee. Tuesday, Dec 20th, 2022 (2:47 pm) - Score 4,104 The UK Governments Secretary of State for Business, Grant Shapps, has ordered investment company LetterOne (L1T FM Holdings UK) to sell its entire stake in alternative broadband network provider Upp (formerly Fibre Me) in order to prevent, remedy, or mitigate the risk to national security. Upp is currently investing 1bn (300m in equity and the rest as debt) to build a new Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network to cover 1 million premises in the East of England by 2025 (here). The build has already begun in several towns across Norfolk and Lincolnshire (e.g. Diss, Downham Market and Thetford) and they previously aimed to reach 50 towns (c.300,000 homes) in the two counties by the end of 2022. However, the involvement of LetterOne did initially raise the odd concern last year, particularly during the build-up and subsequent invasion of Ukraine. Last year the Conservative MP, Bob Seely, warned of security concerns (here) after it was noted that LetterOne was co-founded by Russian billionaires (oligarchs) Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven. Several other MPs have also voiced concerns. In response, LetterOne reportedly froze out Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven earlier this year (here and here), not least by removing their access to the building, wiping their profiles from the website and forbidding them from talking to employees. In addition, German Khan, Alexei Kuzmichev, and Andrei Kosogov all stepped down from their positions as it was deemed the right thing to do. Many of these individuals have been sanctioned by the EU or UK. We should point out that Mikhail Fridman, who previously called the sanctions against him both groundless and unfair, has been cautiously critical of the war. The UK-based oligarch also made the point that it can be dangerous to be too outspoken against Putin: Hundreds of thousands of people are working for us in Russia. And you know, I dont want to make any comments which potentially could increase their risk (here). Despite all this, Grants Shapps has today ordered LetterOne to sell Upp over national security concerns. Governments Security Notice (Upp and L1) On 21 January 2021 the Acquirer (L1T FM Holdings UK Ltd.) purchased a 100% stake in Upp, previously named Fibre Me Limited. This acquisition constitutes a trigger event under section 8(2)(c) of the Act. The Secretary of State considers that a risk to national security relates to: i. the ownership of Upp Corporation Ltd. by the ultimate beneficial owners of LetterOne Core Investments S.a r.l (parent company of L1T FM Holdings UK Ltd.) and Upps expanding full fibre broadband network. The order has the effect of requiring: i. LetterOne to sell 100% of Upp within a specified period and by following a specified process; and ii. Upp to complete a security audit of the Upp network prior to sale. The Secretary of State considers that the final order and its provisions are necessary and proportionate to prevent, remedy, or mitigate the risk to national security. In a brief statement, L1 said they believe that L1 ownership of Upp is not a threat to national security in any way and pointed out that L1 is not sanctioned and has taken fast, decisive action to put in place strong measures to distance L1 from its sanctioned shareholders. They have no role in L1, no access to premises, infrastructure, people and funds or benefits of any description. The decision risks causing disruption to Upps future investment and build plans, particularly since it comes just as the operator was starting to ramp-up their rollout. Furthermore, we dont yet know how close theyve got to their original and highly optimistic target of reaching 300,000 premises by the end of 2022, which makes it difficult to estimate what sort of value they (assets) might attract in a sale. Weve long spoken about our expectation for a wave of consolidation to hit the UKs full fibre market over the coming years, but this is clearly something different. Upp may attract a significantly lower value if it comes without the backing of a major investor like LetterOne. Friday, Apr 7th, 2023 (5:25 pm) - Score 4,680 The investor behind Upps 1bn project to deploy a new Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband ISP network across 1 million premises in the East of England by 2025 (here), LetterOne, has launched a legal challenge against the UK Governments order for L1 to sell its entire stake in Upp in order to prevent, remedy, or mitigate the risk to national security (here). Just to recap. Upps initial aim was to cover 50 towns (c.300,000 homes) in counties like Norfolk and Lincolnshire by the end of 2022. But so far weve only seen them go live in around 11 towns, such as parts of Diss, Downham Market, Horncastle, Kings Lynn, Market Deeping, Oakham, Spalding, Stamford, Thetford, Wisbech and Woodhall Spa. However, all of this was thrown into doubt in December 2022, after the Government ordered LetterOne an investment firm that previously received significant backing from several prominent and now sanctioned Russians to sell its entire stake in Upp in order to prevent, remedy, or mitigate the risk to national security (here). At the time LetterOne said they believe that L1 ownership of Upp is not a threat to national security in any way and pointed out that L1 is not sanctioned and has taken fast, decisive action to put in place strong measures to distance L1 from its sanctioned shareholders. They have no role in L1, no access to premises, infrastructure, people and funds or benefits of any description. The last update that we had in February 2023, which came from Upps CEO Drew Ritchie (here), said: Discussions regarding the sale of the business are progressing well. In the meantime, it is very much business as usual, and our build is continuing at pace. But according to the FT (paywall), LetterOne is now formally seeking a Judicial Review of the Governments decision. The investor argues that its ownership of Upp does not pose a national security risk. Cases like this tend to take a long time to reach any kind of conclusion and, with respect to Upp itself, it probably doesnt help that investor appetite to throw cash at alternative full fibre networks has somewhat cooled over the past year. This Week in Review A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. Today A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. Scattered frost possible. High 63F. Winds light and variable. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. Low around 40F. Winds light and variable. Tomorrow Partly cloudy skies during the morning hours will become overcast in the afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 66F. Winds light and variable. Kyiv held a meeting on Friday to discuss ways to prevent leaks of military information. This came after secret documents detailing Western help for Ukraine reportedly ended up online. The presidents office did not confirm whether a leak had occurred, nor did it refer to a New York Times report that detailed leaked documents about U.S. and NATO plans to build up the Ukrainian military. The statement about the meeting instead focused on various topics discussed, including measures to prevent information leakage about defence forces plans. On Thursday, the Pentagon started investigating how documents about plans to build up Ukrainian forces before their planned counter-offensive against invading Russian forces were posted on social media channels. The leaked documents could not be immediately verified by Reuters, and the Kremlin did not respond to the request for comment. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak told Reuters that the document leak resembled a Russian disinformation operation that aimed to sow doubts about the counter-offensive. He added that the leaked data contained a very large amount of fictitious information, and that Russia appeared to be trying to regain the initiative in its invasion, which is now in its 14th month. Ukrainian troops have been battling against a Russian onslaught in its east for a few months. They hope to launch a counter-offensive in the upcoming weeks or months to wrest back occupied territory. The Times report said that some parts of the documents appeared to have been modified. One part offered an estimate for Ukrainian military losses that was higher than Western estimates. Ukraine does not disclose the scale of its losses and is very sensitive about the subject. The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has been raging on for months, with Ukrainian troops trying to hold back a Russian offensive in the east. However, recent reports suggest that Ukraine is planning a counter-offensive in the coming weeks or months to reclaim occupied territory. In the midst of this conflict, new information has come to light that suggests some of the documents being circulated about the conflict may have been tampered with. According to a report by The Times, certain parts of the documents appeared to have been modified, including an estimate for Ukrainian military losses that was higher than Western estimates. This is concerning for a number of reasons. Firstly, it raises questions about the accuracy of the information being circulated about the conflict. If documents are being tampered with, it becomes difficult to know what to believe. Secondly, Ukraine is very sensitive about the subject of military losses. The fact that the estimate in question was higher than Western estimates suggests that the situation may be more dire than Ukraine is willing to admit. This could have serious implications for the conflict, as it could indicate that Ukraine is not as prepared as it needs to be to effectively fight back against the Russian offensive. Despite these concerns, it seems that Ukraine is determined to push forward with its plans for a counter-offensive. This is a risky move, given the strength of the Russian military and the fact that Ukraine has already suffered significant losses in the conflict. However, Ukraine may feel that it has no choice but to take action. The longer the conflict drags on, the more damage it will do to the countrys economy and infrastructure. Additionally, the longer the conflict continues, the more likely it is that Russia will be able to cement its hold on the occupied territory. It remains to be seen what the outcome of Ukraines counter-offensive will be. However, one thing is clear: the conflict between Ukraine and Russia is far from over, and the situation on the ground is more complicated than many people realize. As the conflict continues to unfold, it is important that we remain vigilant and continue to seek out accurate information about what is happening. Jowhar Clashes between herders and farmers result in dozens killed in Nigeria Gunmen have carried out an attack on a rural village in northern central Nigeria resulting in the deaths of numerous people, according to local government officials on Friday. The attack was carried out on Wednesday in the Umogidi community in Benue State, where clashes between nomadic herders and settled farmers competing for land and resources are a common occurrence. The 46 casualties were from the bodies of victims found and retrieved. Many people are still missing, so the number of those killed may be higher, said Paul Hemba, the security advisor to the Benue State governor, to AFP. Hemba blamed herdsmen who have been attacking local communities over the last month for the attack. Soldiers have been dispatched to the area, and the situation is relatively calm at present. The motive behind the attack is not clear, but Benue has witnessed some of the worst clashes between farmers and herders who they accuse of destroying farmland with their cattle grazing. A spokesperson for the national herders association was not immediately available for comment. Bala Ejeh, Otukpo local government chairman, mentioned that the gunmen conducted their attack on Wednesday afternoon while people were mourning three others killed a day prior. He also said that 46 bodies have been recovered so far, including that of his son and two relatives. Communal violence is only one of the security challenges that President-elect Bola Tinubu faces, having won a presidential ballot last month that was marked by significant delays and accusations of vote rigging. Security forces are also fighting against a 14-year-long jihadist conflict in the countrys northwest and attacks from separatists in the southeast. Intercommunal violence has resulted in more extensive criminality in the northwest and center of the country, where heavily armed bandit militias loot villages and carry out mass abductions for ransom. Jowhar According to Israeli authorities, a car ramming attack in Tel Aviv on Friday resulted in the death of one tourist and injuries to five others. A police officer who was in the vicinity arrived at the scene where an overturned car was found near a Tel Aviv promenade and several people were wounded. Police reported that the officer neutralized the driver when the latter tried to pull out a gun. The car ramming attack was the second fatal incident that took place on the same day, following the shooting of two Israeli sisters in the occupied West Bank. The nationality of the killed tourist in Tel Aviv has not yet been revealed. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement instructing the police to mobilize all reserve border police units and has directed the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) to mobilize additional forces to confront the terror attacks. All the Tel Aviv attack victims, according to Israels Magen David Adom ambulance service, were tourists. French protesters vow to continue the bitter pension battle, being the only check on Macron. Protests and strikes against President Emmanuel Macrons contested pension reform continued throughout France on Thursday, marking the eleventh day of opposition to the unpopular legislation. Demonstrations took place in several cities, including Paris, where protesters set fire to the awning of a famous brasserie. Macron, who is currently visiting China, is facing the toughest challenge of his second term over the controversial pension overhaul the government drafted the reform into law without a vote, further enraging critics. All sides are now anticipating an April 14 ruling by Frances Constitutional Council, which could strike down some or all of the legislation. The unions have already called for another day of strikes and protests for April 11, the eve of the ruling. Were here to put pressure on the Constitution Council, said 29-year-old protester Nastasia. While council members, known as the sages, are expected to make a decision based on legal grounds rather than political, unions are determined to demonstrate that the protest movement is ongoing. Macrons government argues that raising the retirement age and toughening the requirements for pensions are necessary to balance the system in response to longer life expectancies. However, a united front of French unions claims that the proposed measures are unfair, particularly to low-skilled workers, many of them women. The notion of penibilite (hardship) has become a recurrent theme, with demonstrators lamenting the governments refusal to recognize the challenges of low-income workers. Macron has rejected the term penibilite, claiming it implies work is inherently painful. Macrons suggestion that the countrys deeply divisive politics could be bridged has failed. While opinion polls consistently show that over two-thirds of the country opposes the pension overhaul, many feel that there is no democracy when political power is shored up by executive privilege. The protests have hardly weakened, despite a drop in turnout. Thousands of people turned out for the eleventh day of protests, with estimates ranging from 570,000 people by the interior ministry to over 400,000 according to the CGT union. The rallies were largely peaceful, but hardline protestors threw paint at heavily-protected policemen outside La Rotonde and a few protestors threw rocks at police in Nantes. The continuing protests contradict the governments claim that these protests are being led by ultra-left rioters. Israeli military targeted the Gaza Strip amidst threats by the countrys Prime Minister to exact a heavy price from their enemies. The situation escalated following unrest over two days at Jerusalems most sensitive holy site and a rare rocket attack from neighboring Lebanon. The Passover holiday for Jews and Ramadan month for Muslims further exacerbate the tense atmosphere, reminiscent of the 11-day war between Israel and Gazas Hamas rulers in 2021. The violence began when Israeli police twice raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalems Old City. This led to rocket fire from Gaza and an unusual barrage of nearly three dozen rockets from Lebanon into northern Israel. Late on Thursday after his Security Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said Israels response, tonight and beyond, will extract a heavy price from our enemies without elaboration. Rocket fire into southern Israel immediately followed, as outgoing rockets whooshed into the skies toward Israel. The Israeli military said the rocket fire on its northern and southern fronts was in connection to the weeks violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the relative calm in Lebanon since a 34-day war in 2006 ended in a draw could be jeopardized. Russia calls the protests in Georgia an tried coup and accuses the West of fomenting unrest Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Turkey on Thursday for talks on the future of a grain deal that allows grain exports from Ukrainian ports through a safe corridor in the Black Sea. NATO member Turkey is also pushing Russia and Ukraine to resume peace talks. Follow our live blog for the latest updates on the war in Ukraine. All times are Paris time (GMT+2). 5:16am: Seven civilians killed by Ukrainian air strikesSeven civilians were reported killed by Ukrainian artillery strikes in Russian-controlled areas as the battle for Bakhmut, the devastated eastern city that has become a symbol of Kyivs defiance of Russia, raged with no end in sight. Four of them were killed on Thursday in the Russia-controlled Donetsk region when shells hit a car park, Russias Tass news agency said. Three people died in blasts at a bus stop in Lysychansk, northeast of Donetsk, RIA news agency reported. 7:27pm: Russias Lavrov arrives in Turkey for talks on Ukraine grain dealRussian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Turkey on Thursday, a Turkish official told AFP, for talks that include the future of a key deal that allows grain exports from Ukrainian ports through a safe corridor in the Black Sea. The Russian foreign ministry said in a statement ahead of the visit that the deal was extended as a gesture of goodwill for another 60 days. Turkey has pushed for a 120-day extension in compliance with the original agreement. NATO member Turkey, which has good ties with its two Black Sea neighbours, is pushing Russia and Ukraine to resume peace talks, hoping to build on past diplomatic endeavours last year. Key developments from Thursday, April 6: French and EU leaders on Thursday sought to make Europes case for bringing an end to the conflict in Ukraine in a Beijing meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a close ally of Vladimir Putin. French President Emmanuel Macron told Xi that he was counting on him to bring Russia to its senses and everyone to the negotiating table. Xi said he stood ready to issue a joint call with France for the resumption of peace talks as soon as possible, according to Chinese state media Xinhua. The 20-Year War in Afghanistan: Death, Displacement, and the Fall of Kabul. The Biden administration has released a report stating that the messy exit from Kabul was the result of the previous White Houses lack of planning, following the withdrawal plan agreed upon by Trump and the Taliban. On Thursday, President Joe Bidens administration published a summary of classified reports, mainly blaming his predecessor, Donald Trump, for the USs chaotic departure from Afghanistan for failing to plan for the withdrawal that he had agreed to with the Taliban. The summary, based on top-secret State Department and Pentagon after-action reviews submitted to Congress, sparked outrage from Republican lawmakers who demanded access to the documents to evaluate the August 2021 exit. James Comer, a Republican and Chair of the House Oversight Committee, referred to the summary as an excuse for the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal. The choices made by President Biden on how to execute the withdrawal from Afghanistan were severely limited due to the conditions created by his predecessor, the summary stated. The outgoing administration did not provide any plans to carry out the final withdrawal or evacuate US citizens or Afghan allies. As a result of Americas longest war ending, tens of thousands of Afghans, desperate to escape the Talibans return to hardline rule, besieged Kabuls international airport. Some courageous people handed babies over to US troops, while others forcefully entered aircraft as they left the country. The Trump administration also gutted refugee support services and brought the processing of Special Immigration Visas for thousands of Afghans who worked for the US government to a virtual halt, resulting in an enormous backlog, according to the summary. Transitions matter. Thats the first lesson learned here. And the incoming administration wasnt afforded much of one, remarked National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby during a White House briefing. The 12-page summary put some responsibility for the pullout chaos and evacuation operation on flawed US intelligence and military assessments, which failed to foresee the Talibans speed in seizing power and anticipated that Afghan security forces would hold onto Kabul. As late as May 2021, the assessment was still that Kabul would probably not come under serious pressure until late 2021 after US troops departed, the summary stated. Asked if Biden could be held accountable for the chaos that engulfed Kabul airport, Kirby responded that by force of being the commander in chief, he assumed responsibility for his orders. The 20-year war in Afghanistan, which saw the longest engagement of US troops, was begun under President George W. Bush and continued under President Barack Obama. The war resulted in over 100,000 deaths and the displacement of approximately three million people, according to data from Brown Universitys non-partisan Costs of War project. Biden campaigned to end the United States forever wars and withdraw from Afghanistan, although he postponed the pullout agreed to by Trump by three months until the end of August 2021. The US-backed Kabul government fell on August 15 when the Taliban entered the city. The USs disarray and confusion as they departed raised concerns about the new presidents leadership, the quality of US intelligence, and Americas commitment to human rights and the thousands of Afghan citizens they relied upon throughout the war. An Islamic State suicide bomber killed 13 US service members and 170 Afghans on August 26, 2021, as they massed outside an airport gate. Despite the biggest US airlift ever, thousands of American citizens, green card holders, and Afghans who had applied for Special Immigration Visas were unable to leave. In total, around 100,000 Americans, green card holders, and Afghans, many of whom were not vetted, were flown out before the US withdrawal ended just before the 20th anniversary of the US-led invasion. The Trump administration agreed in a February 2020 accord with the Taliban to withdraw all US-led international forces by May 2021. The Islamist militants agreed to stop attacking American troops and hold peace talks with the Western-backed Kabul government. The summary laid out the chronology of the withdrawal, reporting that successive troop reductions ordered by Trump resulted in 2,500 US troops remaining in the country when Biden took office in January 2021. The summary said, As a result the Taliban were in the strongest military position that they had been in since 2001, controlling or contesting half the country. Biden had to make a choice between delaying the pullout or increasing the number of US forces and facing renewed Taliban attacks. He chose the former and ordered the withdrawal and evacuation planning, according to the summary. The document acknowledged that the administration had learned from the withdrawal but now tends to be more aggressively communicative about the risks in an unstable security environment. The report also cited deliberate degradation by the Trump administration. Kirby clarified that this referred to Trumps successive US troop reductions, the release of thousands of Taliban prisoners, and the exclusion of the Kabul government from the US-Taliban talks. 04/06/2023 by Abigail Harrison JSU chemistry major Nicholas Covalsen will pack his suitcase and fly to Germany this summer to participate in the Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) program. The 20-year-old was one of 474 students selected among 1,697 applicants from North America, Britain and Ireland. The competitive program matches undergraduate students with research internships at top German universities and institutions. For six weeks, Covalsen will work at the Institute of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry at Ulm University, where he will develop spectroscopic methods of studying trace metals in photocatalytic materials. What I'm hoping to get out of this is to really understand how other parts of the world do science, to get more exposure to bigger labs, and to be around people who have done research, Covalsen said. When hes not busy conducting research, Covalsen said he is looking forward to exploring the German culture. Ulm, the birthplace of Albert Einstein, is filled with historical statues and buildings he is excited to visit. This is my first time ever traveling, said the Breman, Ga., native. I think I've been to three states, all neighboring Alabama, so my first time out of the American Southeast is going to be in Germany. It's going to be quite a culture shock. The program includes financial aid for flight, healthcare and housing, but some expenses are not covered. According to Covalsen, he has been offered financial support from JSU chemistry alumnus Dr. Madison Wright, as well as Dr. Tim Lindblom, dean of the College of Science and Mathematics. In addition to his chemistry major, Covalsen is also double minoring in math and physics. He serves as vice president of JSUs student chapter of the American Chemical Society. After graduating from JSU, he plans to pursue a Ph.D. and a career in research. My big thing has always been that I want to do research, he said. I want to actively be discovering new things because that's why I think science is cool in the first place. I think getting to understand the world and how it works is just so fun. So, whatever I'm doing, I want to be finding out something new. ( Human Rights Watch) Speakers at a recent climate and health summit in Abu Dhabi were advised by the conference organizers not to criticize Islam, the government, corporations or individuals or protest while in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to a recent investigation by the Financial Times. A chilling message given the UAE is set to host COP28, the global United Nations climate conference, at the end of this year. The warning to speakers is a stark reminder of the UAE governments zero tolerance policy towards criticism. Since 2011, UAE authorities have carried out a sustained assault on freedom of expression and association, arresting and prosecuting scores of independent lawyers, judges, teachers, students, and activists, including Ahmed Mansoor, a leading Emirati human rights defender. The government has shut down key civil society associations and the law effectively prohibits protests. In late 2021, wide-ranging legal changes were introduced that have deepened the repression. Photo of Abu Dhabi by Kamil Rogalinski on Unsplash When asked whether criticism of the governments policies or businesses, including through protest, would be permitted during COP28, a UAE spokesperson said organizers would ensure there are safe spaces where all voices may be heard. Its hard to imagine any participant feeling reassured by this statement given the pervasive use of digital surveillance and the UAEs zero tolerance for criticism even extends to jailing foreign residents and foreign nationals visiting the country. But beyond the specific dangers for participants attending COP28, there could be wider repercussions for those hoping to advocate for urgent and ambitious climate action. Reporting about the health and climate harms of fossil fuels in the UAE, which is one of the worlds largest oil producers and expanding its operations, could be dangerous for those who wanting to undertake research or who dare to speak up. It also creates an ominous atmosphere for civil society organizations who play a critical role in calling out governments and corporations looking to undermine efforts to address the climate crisis by watering down the COP28 conclusions. In response to these concerns, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat, who is helping to organize COP28 under the auspices of the UN, emphasized the importance of public participation for the success of climate conferences. Unless the UN and governments make this a priority and demand the UAE to ease its grip on civic space and uphold rights, theres a very real risk that many participants at COP28 will stay silent on crucial issues. This could have a disastrous impact on the success of the summit, and its stated aim of delivering solutions for an increasingly urgent climate crisis. Via Human Rights Watch Reddit Email 46 Shares ( RFE/RL ) When Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi visited Moscow in early 2022, he had high hopes of leaving with defense deals that would circumvent international sanctions and take advantage of the expiration of a United Nations embargo on arms trading with Tehran. Russian fighter jets, advanced antimissile defense systems, and other high-tech military equipment were high on Raisis wish list. But questions arose: What could sanction-hit Iran, short on cash and technology, offer energy-rich Russia in return? And would Russia be willing to send advanced military technology to Iran at risk of angering rival states and important customers in the Middle East? Russias invasion of Ukraine just a month after Raisis visit provided the answer. As it became apparent that the war would drag on much longer than the Kremlin anticipated, depleting Russias arsenal, Moscow turned to Iran for military drones that have proved to be a deadly addition to Russias war effort. Iranian short-range missiles, as well as shells and ammunition, have reportedly helped shore up dwindling supplies. And there are suggestions that Iranian ballistic missiles could be delivered in the future. Article continues after bonus IC video The Telegraph: Vladimir Putin meets Irans Ebrahim Raisi to deepen ties amid Ukrainian war In exchange, Iran is anticipating the delivery of advanced Russian Su-35 combat jets, S-400 antimissile systems, a military satellite, and other long-sought military equipment. CNN has reported that Russia is sending captured weapons that the United States supplied to Ukraine on to Iran, where they could potentially be reverse-engineered to produce Iranian-made equivalents. And according to The Wall Street Journal this week, Russia is also aiding Tehrans efforts to clamp down on persistent antiestablishment protests at home by providing advanced surveillance software. Su-35 Deal Goes Down Immediately after the UN arms embargo against Iran expired in 2020, Tehran lauded the opportunity to strengthen its security. The lifting of the arms ban was part of the terms of the moribund nuclear deal signed between Iran and world powers in 2015, which curbed Tehrans sensitive nuclear activities in exchange for relief from international sanctions. The 13-year embargo had denied Iran the right to import or export conventional weapons, making Tehran largely dependent on its own military technology to keep pace with regional foes Saudi Arabia and Israel. Remaining U.S. sanctions continued to limit Irans ability to import technology, particularly any that could aid Irans suspected efforts to develop nuclear weapons, and the European Union maintained its own arms embargo on conventional arms and missile technology in an attempt to get Iran to adhere to the nuclear deal after Washington unilaterally withdrew from the accord in 2018. But the lifting of the UN embargo opened a window for conventional arms trading with Iran, with Russia and China seen as the most likely suppliers. Raisi described his two-day visit to Moscow in January 2022 as a turning point in Tehrans relationship with Russia as Iranian officials expressed interest in purchasing fifth-generation Russian fighter jets, air-defense systems, helicopters, and tanks. Acknowledging Irans strapped budget, however, defense experts suggested Iran was unlikely to invest in prohibitively expensive combat aircraft. Air-Combat Veterans For decades, Iran has struggled to maintain an air force that depends largely on U.S. aircraft purchased before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, with some dating back to the 1960s. Longstanding U.S. sanctions denying Iran access to spare parts for its aging F-5s, F-14s, and F-4 Phantoms have left Iran with a patchwork fleet of U.S. aircraft, Iranian aircraft modeled on U.S. aircraft, and some Chinese and Russian warplanes purchased in the 1990s. While Irans wish for Russian four-plus-generation Su-30 multirole fighters had been denied for years, the Su-35 a fourth generation fighter-bomber and Russias only serially produced fighter aircraft for export surprisingly emerged as Irans best hope to update its air force. Photo by Fasyah Halim on Unsplash In January 2022, as U.S. sanctions pressure intensified amid concerns of an impending Russian invasion of Ukraine, Egypt canceled an estimated $2 billion contract for the delivery of Su-35s. Cairos move followed similar terminations of discussions to sell Su-35s to Indonesia and Algeria. The Su-35 is the best multirole fighter the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) could hope to acquire in a short timeframe, Jeremy Binnie, Middle East defense specialist at the global intelligence company Janes, told RFE/RL in written comments. The aircraft have been sitting in the open at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant since they started coming off the production line in 2020. While it was expected that Iran would try to get the Su-35s once bound for Egypt, the sticking point was whether Tehran would be willing to allocate funds for the air force at the expense of weapons-development programs or the budget of the powerful Islamic Republican Guards Corps (IRGC). In January, Irans semiofficial Tasnim news agency quoted Shahriar Heidari, head of the Iranian parliaments National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, as saying Iran would receive 24 Su-35s as early as this month. Heidari also said Iran had ordered helicopters, air-defense systems, and missile systems from Russia. While the specifics of the Su-35 deal have not been confirmed, Binnie said, We could speculate that Russias urgent need for one-way-attack [drones] helped tip the equation in favor of Irans air force. This he added, would reflect an interesting Russian calculus that these cheap but long-range weapons are actually more useful than advanced multirole fighters in the Ukraine war. The Su-35 has had a spotty record in the Ukraine war, with Ukrainian forces claiming to have shot down many of them. But the deployment of more modern fighters to the Ukrainian battlefield has led Kyiv to express worries that they will significantly strengthen Russias ability to dominate the skies. Binnie said he believes the Su-35s will be used primarily in the air-to-air role, based deep inside Iran to increase their survivability so they can be scrambled to intercept aircraft coming in to attack the nuclear and other strategic sites. This, he added, will essentially take over the role of the U.S.-made F-14s based in Irans central province of Isfahan while providing a massive improvement on those 1970s-vintage aircraft. Challenges Of Cooperation During a recent trip to the Middle East, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed concerns over Russias deepening military cooperation with Iran over the past year, saying it poses serious challenges for the region. Austin highlighted the lethal consequences of Irans provision of drones to Russia and the potential for Moscow to send technology to Iran in exchange for its assistance. Austin also reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to never allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon. To this point, there is no indication that nuclear-power Russias defense cooperation with Iran might expand beyond conventional weaponry. The addition of Su-35s to Iran, while helpful, are not seen as a panacea for its air forces capabilities in the face of better-equipped regional foes. And while Russias S-400 antimissile system, of which at least one has been ordered according to Iranian media, would boost Irans ability to fend off potential air strikes, its provision would not violate previous UN or existing EU arms embargoes because it is a defensive weapon. Just A Fling? Regarding the prospect of future arms deals, Binnie said he expects both Moscow and Tehran to take a cautious approach that will not risk weakening their own defenses or transfer top technology. For example, due to import restrictions, Russias military industries will probably struggle to replace any S-400 that is taken out of the line and transferred to Iran, Binnie said. And supplying ballistic or cruise missiles to Russia would reduce Irans deterrent against attack. Advanced Russian tanks, which are at a premium on the Ukrainian front, would also likely not be on offer to Iran. Speaking about the state of current U.S. sanctions against Iran and Russia, Peter Piatetsky, a former U.S. Treasury Department official who is now the CEO of the consultancy firm Castellum.AI, said they are not designed to stop cash or barter deals between the two states. It doesnt mean that sanctions are not effective; they simply are not designed to seize physical items like cash or weapons, he said. Sanctions can be imposed on the persons involved, but with both Iran and Russia being international pariahs, they dont seem to care. As for whether Russia and Irans defense dealings can last beyond the current state of mutual need in the face of domestic economic issues, sanctions, and international pressure, Piatetsky said it will play out much like any relationship. What starts out as a relationship of convenience can become a true partnership. True partnerships can crumble and become transactional, true partnerships can endure stress and grow stronger, and parties can also enter into a relationship of convenience and stay in it despite resentments and a lack of mission alignment because they cannot identify better options, he said. Russia and Iran are in the latter bucket. Gochager Lake land package increased more than 3-fold to 18,569 hectares. Fathom's dispositions now encapsulate approximately 60% of the historic 2008 VTEM coverage. Acquired 100% of Watts Lake mineral claims on favourable acquisition terms; no minimum work requirements. Ground between prospective Gochager Lake nickel deposit and analogous Mal Lake nickel occurrence now controlled by Fathom. Blue-sky potential of VMS-style Pb-Zn deposit an added bonus. Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - March 22, 2023) - Fathom Nickel Inc. (CSE: FNI) (FSE: 6Q5) (OTCQB: FNICF) (the "Company" or "Fathom") is pleased to announce the strategic acquisition of the Watts Lake Mineral Claims ("Watts Lake") pursuant to an agreement with SKRR Exploration Inc. ("SKRR"), dated March 21, 2023 (the "Acquisition Agreement"). Watts Lake consists of twenty-four (24) mineral claims totalling 13,708 hectares that are entirely contiguous with Fathom's Gochager Lake Property. The addition of Watts Lake brings Fathom's total land package at the Gochager Lake nickel project to 18,569 hectares. (See Map in Figure 1). Ian Fraser, CEO and VP Exploration stated, "Fathom is delighted to welcome Watts Lake into the Company's exploration portfolio. In doing so we have created a solid, contiguous land package that connects the historic Gochager Lake nickel deposit with the Mal Lake nickel occurrence. Based on the results thus far at Gochager, we feel Mal Lake is an analogous nickel occurrence. The new land package encompasses a much greater area of the 2008 VTEM survey. The Company's geophysical consultants have now recognized a "plethora" of Gochager Lake-like geophysical signatures within both the Gochager claim area and the newly acquired Watts Lake claims. While Fathom's focus is nickel, Watts Lake also includes Borys Lake, a VMS-style Pb-Zn deposit. VMS mineralization within this overall contiguous mineral package speaks to the potential of a significant metal endowment in the land package and the tremendous exploration potential of this combined land package." Acquisition Thesis Fathom's geophysical team has identified numerous strong mag/conductive features from a historic 2008 VTEM survey that covered an area of 325 km2 encompassing the historic Gochager Lake nickel deposit. There has been no follow-up exploration on any of these recognized targets. Numerous targets extend beyond the border of our existing Gochager Lake claims and lie within the Watts Lake dispositions. Fathom now controls approximately 60% of the area covered by the 2008 VTEM survey. Importantly, this new land package encompasses all of the most prospective areas identified by our consulting geophysicists. (See Figure 1) The Mal Lake nickel occurrence, which is 10km southeast of Gochager Lake (Fathom recently acquired additional ground in this area, announced on March 14, 2023) exhibits many features and similarities comparable to what we are recognizing at Gochager Lake. With Watts Lake, Fathom now controls all the ground between these two high priority areas. Watts Lake was originally staked by legendary Saskatchewan explorer, Ross McElroy based on the historic Borys Lake zinc deposit and its prospectivity for additional Zn-Pb-Au discoveries. Mr. McElroy is the Chairman of SKRR. Sherman Dahl, President & CEO of SKRR, added, "SKRR is an asset-rich project generator, having acquired numerous high potential precious metal, and strategic base and battery metal projects, primarily focused in the province of Saskatchewan. Working with strong groups like Fathom Nickel Inc. allows SKRR to unlock hidden value within our company. Multiple occurrences of near-surface mineralization, including the historic Borys Lake lead-zinc deposit, along an extensive >14km conductive trend, make Watts Lake a very exciting property. There is not only potential for further deposit growth but, as VMS deposits often occur in clusters, and numerous mineralized showings associated with structural conductive features on the property, there is good blue-sky potential for further significant discoveries. Located in one of the World's top mining jurisdictions, the shallow depth, favorable geology and proximity to major infrastructure, means there is the potential to fast-track exploration and development activity." Terms of the Acquisiiton Under the terms of the Acquisition Agreement, Fathom will acquire a 100% interest in Watts Lake by making an initial cash payment of CAD$75,000 and issuing 2,000,000 common shares of Fathom to SKRR upon Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") approval of the Acquisition Agreement. The Acquisition Agreement provides for a 2% net smelter return ("NSR") royalty in favour of Edge Geological Consulting Inc., a company controlled by Ross McElroy. The NSR is subject to a buy down to 1% for CAD$1,000,000. Fathom will also make an additional cash payment of $75,000 to SKRR within 60 days of the execution of the Acquisition Agreement. The Acquisition Agreement is subject to acceptance by the CSE. All securities issued pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement are subject to a four month hold period from the closing date in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the CSE. Qualified Person and Data Verification Ian Fraser, P.Geo., CEO, VP Exploration and a Director of the Company and the "qualified person" as such term is defined by National Instrument 43-101, has verified the data disclosed in this news release, and has otherwise reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release on behalf of the Company. About Fathom Nickel Inc. Fathom is an exploration company that is targeting magmatic nickel sulphide discoveries to support the rapidly growing global electric vehicle market. The Company now has a portfolio of two high-quality exploration projects located in the prolific Trans Hudson Corridor in Saskatchewan: 1) the Albert Lake Project, a 90,000+ hectare project that was host to the historic and past producing Rottenstone deposit (produced high-grade Ni-Cu+PGE, 1965-1969), and 2) the Gochager Lake Project, a 18,569-hectare project that is host to a historic open-pitable resource consisting of 4.3M tons at 0.295% Ni and 0.081% Cu1. 1 - The Saskatchewan Mineral Deposit Index (SMID#0880) reports drill indicated reserves of 4,262,400 tons grading 0.295% Ni and 0.081% Cu mineable by open pit. Fathom cannot confirm the resource estimate nor the parameters and methods used to prepare the reserve estimate. The estimate is not considered NI43-101 compliant and further work is required to verify this historical drill indicated reserve. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Ian Fraser P.Geo." CEO, VP Exploration, Director For Further Information Please Contact: Ian Fraser, Chief Executive Officer and Vice-President, Exploration 1-403-650-9760 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Or Doug Porter, President & CFO +1-403-870-4349 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Forward Looking Statements: This news release contains "forward-looking statements" that are based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "seek", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and include, without limitation, statements regarding payment of terms under the Option Agreement, permitting for the Property, receipt of an exploration permit, timing of the exploration program on the Property and the Company achieving the earn-in thresholds under the Option Agreement. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward- looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAWS A Russian girl taken away from her father after she drew a picture in support of Ukraine at school has been handed by authorities to her estranged mother, an official said. The case involving 13-year-old Maria Moskalyova has garnered international attention, as Moscow cracks down on criticism of the offensive in Ukraine. The girl had drawn a woman and a child near a Ukrainian flag and missiles flying at them, with a Russian flag next to them. Her headmistress contacted the police. In early March, Russian authorities separated her from her father, and late Wednesday a Russian official wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) said Maria was in her mother's custody. The girl had not lived with her mother, Olga Sitchikhina, in years, said Lvova-Belova in her statement. "Masha (Maria) at the start did not want to go to her mother," Russian children's rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova wrote on Telegram. "Her position has changed, she told me about it on the phone," added Lvova-Belova, who is wanted for her alleged role in "deporting" Ukrainian children. AFP was not able to verify Lvova-Belova's account, and activists and lawyers have complained they have had no access to Maria. After being taken from her father Alexei Moskalyov who was being tried for "discrediting" the Russian army, Maria was placed in a centre in her small town of Yefremov, south of Moscow. He fled house arrest just before the verdict in the case and was convicted in absentia of "discrediting" the Russian army, receiving a two-year prison sentence. Officials in the Belarusian capital Minsk subsequently detained him. Moskalyov was due to appear in a Russian court Thursday where he may lose custody of his daughter, but the court said it still did not know where he was. - 'Nobody knows' where he is - Moskalyov's lawyer Vladimir Biliyenko told AFP that the court would have to ask Russia's vast prison service where he is. "That is the only way we will find out where Alexei is," he told AFP by phone. "At the moment nobody knows." Russia's prison network sometimes takes days or weeks to bring people across the huge country. Biliyenko said that the court had refused him permission to pass on a letter written by Alexei Moskalyov to his daughter before he fled. Local media quoted the director of the rehabilitation centre where Maria was placed as saying that "social teachers and psychologists" had worked with the girl. The Kremlin has defended the case against Moskalyov, describing his parenting as "deplorable." Last week, after Moskalyov fled house arrest, activists published a letter from Maria to her father, which lawyers confirmed was authentic. "I love you very much and know that you are not guilty of anything," the letter read, calling him "my hero". He wrote a letter to her, published by his lawyer on monitoring site OVD-Info. "Mashenka, your dad is writing. Please hang in there, people are thinking about how to help you," the letter read. He told her she should agree if relatives came to ask for her custody. "It's better than being in an orphanage," he added. "If they bring you to court, ask for your daddy, ask the judge really hard." Pro-democracy activists in Sudan marched against the army and paramilitaries Thursday as the civilian opposition marked a key anniversary in the decades-old struggle against military rule with new protests. April 6 is a symbolic date for Sudan's civilian opposition -- the anniversary of uprisings in 1985 and 2019 that ended up ousting two leaders who had seized power in coups. The latest demonstrations come with cracks reported in the military hierarchy over proposed security reforms, leading to another postponement of an agreement set to relaunch the transition to democracy. In anticipation of demonstrations, the authorities had declared Thursday a non-working day. Witnesses reported a large military presence on the streets of the capital Khartoum since Wednesday. Troops had blocked off the Nile bridges linking the city to its suburbs, Omdurman and North Khartoum, while armoured vehicles also prevented access to the presidential palace. On Thursday, marchers chanted "Soldiers back to barracks!" and "The people want civilian rule!", as well as chants calling for dissolution of the Janjaweed militia. Accused of committing war crimes in Darfur in 2003, the Janjaweed were run by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, the second in command behind Sudan's military ruler Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Security forces fired tear gas at hundreds of demonstrators in Omdurman and at Port Sudan on the eastern coast, witnesses told AFP. Marches were also reported in Wad Madani 200 kilometres (125 miles) south of Khartoum and in Darfur itself, where protesters carried placards asking "Where is the peace?" - Cracks in the military - Sudan is still ruled by Burhan, the military leader who seized power in an October 2021 coup, aborting the transition to civilian rule agreed after the 2019 overthrow of Islamist general Omar al-Bashir, who himself seized power in a 1989 putsch. A new delay to the signing of a deal to restore the transition, which had been rescheduled for Thursday, prompted the civilian opposition to call for nationwide protests instead. The Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) urged Sudanese people to demonstrate for "freedom, peace and justice" and against the return of "the old regime", after several high-ranking officials from the Bashir era found roles in the current administration. Cracks have emerged within the military over security reforms proposed as part of the deal with the FFC. The signing ceremony had been pushed back "due to a resumption of talks between soldiers", the FFC said. Analysts say the sticking point has been the integration into the regular army of the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Burhan's deputy Daglo. US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee said she called Daglo on Thursday "to underscore US support for the aspirations of the Sudanese people to move now to transfer power to a civilian-led government". Burhan and Daglo have been at loggerheads over the timetable for the RSF's integration and analysts have pointed to a deepening rift between them. Created in 2013, the RSF emerged from the Janjaweed that Bashir unleashed a decade earlier against non-Arab ethnic groups in the western region of Darfur. The militia has since been accused of war crimes. - Roadmap for new government - "The parties are now working tirelessly to finalise discussions on the remaining points," Burhan said in a speech commemorating the anniversary of the 1985 overthrow of Jaafar Nimeiry, which ushered in a brief period of civilian rule. "The postponement of the signing ceremony was only done with the aim of establishing a solid framework." The deal sets out a roadmap for the formation of a civilian-led government and the withdrawal of the military from politics. It is supposed to build on a preliminary agreement reached in December after near-weekly protests since the 2021 coup that have seen 125 protesters killed by security forces, according to pro-democracy doctors. "We won't lose hope, we will continue our revolution until we get a civilian and democratic state," 23-year-old protester Mohanad Ahmed told AFP in central Khartoum on Thursday. "We will not give up on our dreams because our brothers died fighting for them", added Nada Abderrahim, 20, among marchers holding portraits of many of the demonstrators killed in previous protests. The worsening state of Sudan's economy has also put pressure on all sides to reach a deal, which is a precondition for the resumption of international aid to the impoverished country. In 2022, the 26 royal treasures that France handed back to Benin were the attraction in Cotonou, the country's economic capital, for exactly 66 days. Officially, 221,507 people visited the presidential palace, specially fitted out to host the temporary exhibition of these works looted 120 years earlier by French colonists. After that, the royal pieces were to be the stars of the rehabilitated former Portuguese fort in Ouidah, about 30 kilometres from Cotonou. But they have been stored for three months in a storeroom at the Marina Palace, the official residence of President Patrice Talon, and it is not clear for how long. From January 5 to 13, 2023, the three statues, three thrones and four royal doors were meticulously dismantled from showcases and placed in boxes. The same goes for the four assens (portable altars), three recades (royal sceptres), the royal stool, the gibeciere bag, the loom and spindle, as well as the calabash with lid and the amazon uniform. On November 10, 2021, in his speech at the reception ceremony for the returned works, the Culture Minister presented the plans: "The works will go to Ouidah for a three-year temporary exhibition at the Portuguese fort, in the governor's house, pending the completion of the Museum of the Kings and Amazons of Dahomey, the MuRAD, in Abomey." One year and five months later, Ouidah is not yet ready. It was expected to be ready at the end of 2022. We were unable to access the site, which appears from afar still to be under construction. The metal sheets surrounding it are covered with tarpaulins in some places. The dirt road surrounding it is in a similar state, with signs indicating that it is closed. Inside the old Portuguese fort, some imperfections would have required a rework, says a knowledgeable source. According to this source, the fort will not be ready until November 2023, for an opening in January 2024. According to several sources, Ouidah may not host the 26 royal treasures at all before they leave for Abomey. The issue is expected to be decided by October-November. Ouidah residents not happy Such an eventuality obviously does not please Ouidahs inhabitants. Codjo Zomankpe sits in the shade of a tree near the construction site. "It would be a disappointment if these works did not come here. Ouidah is a crossroads! It is the cradle of vodoun [or vodou, a religion that originated in the ancient kingdom of Dahomey] and yet is often neglected," says this native of the city. On the other side of the paved road, two ladies are sitting near their stalls. "If we don't welcome our works, we won't be happy at all. We have been waiting for this for a long time. We hope that when our works come here, it will allow us to have many more customers, because it will be crowded," says one of them. The second, more reluctant to speak on the subject, thinks that the arrival of the royal treasures is above all a matter of honour for the city. The motorcycle cab drivers, recognizable by their green shirts, also fear this possible bad fate. "Tell them that we implore them to bring these works to Ouidah. It is about the development of the city," says one of them. "We don't agree with this plan," says another driver in the parking lot near the Zobe market, who thinks that the decision has already been made. While reactions in the street are strong, the court of the local dignitary is more measured. Head of the dignitaries of Vodoun, Daagbo Hounon Tomandjrehounkpon 2 Houwamenou, says it doesn't matter where the works are going next, as long as they are in Benin. "If the government sees fit to bring the works directly to Abomey, that's fine, he said. Let's give credit where credit is due. Abomey is still Benin. We will not be disappointed if this is the case. Ouidah still attracts people as the cradle of Vodoun." The ongoing construction in the old fort of the International Museum of Remembrance and Slavery is in itself a reason for this guardian of religious traditions to be satisfied. According to several sources, Ouidah might not host the 26 royal treasures at all before their departure for Abomey. But for King Daagbo Hounon Tomandjrehounkpon 2 Houwamenou (photo), spiritual leader of the Vodoum, this would not be a problem. DR What is the status of the MuRAD in Abomey? In Abomey, construction is scheduled for completion in early 2025. But archaeological excavations have been underway since January. When Justice Info went there on February 18, a dozen archaeologists were hard at work in the courtyard. Trenches, rectangular-shaped pits, small and very large cavities covered the site. Equipped with picks, chisels and shovels for some, brushes and theodolites for others, they combed through the potential remains buried in the ground. The team discovered shards of pottery, pipes, millstones, a place of worship, asens (portable altars) and bones, says Gerard Kouagou, assistant at the Laboratory of Art, Archaeology, Heritage and Tourism Expertise at the University of Abomey-Calavi, which was entrusted with the work. Archaeological excavations in progress on the site of the future museum in Abomey (Southern Benin), the historic capital of the kingdom of Dahomey, during our visit on 18 February. Rachida Houssou The director, archaeologist Didier N'Dah, explains that this is preventive archaeology, taking place "before major works destroy a site. The aim is to understand and describe the various structures on the ground. The excavations should last until the end of April. It will be up to the National Agency for Heritage Promotion and Tourism Development (ANPT) to decide what to do next. But in the meantime, the long-awaited treasures whose return was celebrated as the symbol of an exemplary restitution of cultural goods looted during colonization, have returned to their boxes, far from the eyes of the Beninese. "The Glory" craze still continues as the main cast and real-life couple Lim Ji Yeon and Lee Do Hyun lead the TV Drama Actors Brand Value Rankings for April 2023. As mentioned by a media outlet, the Korean Business Research Institute released the monthly list of celebrities who made it to the top 30 rankings. The list is based on drama actors/actresses who appeared in a TV series that gained significant contributions in consumer participation, media activity, communication, community activity, and more. Lim Ji Yeon, Lee Do Hyun Dominate TV Drama Actors' Brand Value Rankings for April 2023 Another month means another set of the top 30 stars who made an impact on TV Drama Actors' Brand Value Rankings. Based on the analysis, Lim Ji Yeon's brand reputation index scored 3,030,012 points. That is due to the popularity of the revenge drama "The Glory" where she played the role of villain, Park Yeon Jin. Interestingly, coming in second is Lee Do Hyn who garnered a brand reputation index of 2,742,908. Besides the growing popularity of "The Glory," Lim Ji Yeon and Lee Do Hyun recently made headlines after Dispatch revealed a series of paparazzi shots of the duo on multiple occasions. Following the release of photos featuring "The Glory" stars, their respective agencies confirmed that Lee Do Hyun and Lim Ji Yeon are dating. At the time, the actress' agency, Artist Company, shared that the two stars "have gone from being close colleagues to the stage of cautiously getting to know one another better with positive feelings." Moreover, rumor sparked that Lee Do Hyun and Lim Ji Yeon's relationship are "open secret" among the cast and crew of "The Glory" as they "secretly create that atmosphere by sharing some couple items." Sources also mentioned that the couple "got to know each other through the dinners" together with "The Glory" cast. Hence, their closeness "developed into a relationship." On the other hand, Lee Je Hoon entered third place as the crime action drama "Taxi Driver 2" deliver a soaring viewership rating since it premiered on February 17. The actor scored a brand reputation index of 2,511,782 points in total. Top 30 TV Drama Actors For April 2023 Here are the celebrities who made it to the Top 30 of TV Drama Actors' Brand Value Rankings. Lim Ji Yeon Lee Do Hyun Lee Jae Hoon Jo Seung Woo Song Hye Kyo Cha Joo Young Shin Ye Eun Seol In Ah Shin Jae Ha Jang Dong Yoon, Baek Jin Hee Park Sung Hoon Yeom Hye Ran Han Sun Hwa Lee Ji Ah Jeon So Ni Pyo Ye Jin Woo Do Hwan Park Hyung Sik Kim Ji Yeon (Cosmic Girls's Bona) Lee Chae Young Choo Young Woo Kim Min Sik Ryeo Woon Han Suk Kyu Lee Jang Woo Baek Sung Hyun Kim Sung Kyun Oh Chang Suk KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills Before "Squid Game" and "All of Us Are Dead" the K-zombie movie "Train to Busan" took the world by storm. Global viewers were stunned to witness a unique storyline along with an amazing cast lineup. Fans saw Gong Yoo in a different light when he portrayed the role of the dotting father Seok Woo who is willing to sacrifice himself for his daughter, Seo Soo Ahn amid the zombie outbreak. Helmed by "Peninsula" and "Jung_E" director Yeon Sang Ho, to post apocalyptic film set the bar high for upcoming zombie movies. Seven years after the movie premiered, let's take a look at the "Train to Busan" cast along with their current and upcoming projects this 2023. Gong Yoo Viewers cried buckets in the last scene of "Train to Busan" after Gong Yoo's character made a tough decision just to save his daughter. Seven years later, the South Korean heartthrob is still very much active in showbiz. In fact, the 43-year-old actor might be returning to the small screen with an interesting team-up. After "The Silent Sea" which premiered in 2021, Gong Yoo is courted to headline a new romance drama titled "Trunk." The Netflix original series also selected Seo Hyun Jin as the lead star. According to an outlet, the two are "positively reviewing their offers." In addition, Gong Yoo might also reprise his role in "Squid Game 2" as teased by director Hwang Dong Hyuk in his previous interview. Kim Su An The child actress is all grown up now and continues to make waves in K-drama. She first gained the attention of the public after playing Gong Yoo's daughter in "Train to Busan." However, she also appeared in two seasons of "Poong, The Joseon Psychiatrist" together with Kim Min Jae and Kim Hyang Gi. She took the role of Ip Bun, Kim Sang Kyung's daughter. In addition, viewers might also recognize Kim Su An in "Reflection of You" as she played Ahn Ri Sa, Go Hyun Jung, and Choi Won Young's daughter. Ma Dong Seok The Korean-American actor lead 2022 with an outstanding performance after his action movie "The Roundup" reached over 9 million moviegoers. In addition, the sequel is said to be the first movie to hit the milestone since 2019, beating the Oscar-winning movie "Parasite." With this, the mission of Detective Ma Suk Do continue as the third and fourth installment of "The Outlaws" gets green-lit. In an update back in November 2022, "The Outlaws 3" successfully wrapped up its filming and would feature new villains. Following the third sequel, "The Outlaws 4" have started its script reading along with a star-studded lineup. It includes Kim Moo Yeol and Lee Dong Hwi who will play the new antagonist. READ MORE:Song Hye Kyo, Park Eun Bin Top '10 Trending Korean Actors' in Argentina KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills Lee Sung Kyung and Kim Young Kwang's blossoming relationship is threatened by the impending truth that is about to be revealed. Here's what went down in "Call It Love" episode 13. Keep on reading to know more. Han Dong Jin's Family Background Causes Misunderstanding "Call It Love" begins with Shim Woo Joo (Lee Sung Kyung) who's overwhelmed with mixed feelings as she spends time with her family inside a karaoke bar. Han Dong Jin (Kim Young Kwang), who has grown closer with her, also sits happily inside the booth with her. When they part ways, Han Dong Jin lets Shim Woo Joo know about how sincere he is with her, surprising Shim Woo Joo. Shin Hye Sung (Kim Ye Won) learns the truth behind Han Dong Jin's background-that she's the son of their late father's mistress. Fuming with anger, Shin Hye Sung slaps her sister who couldn't say a thing due to disbelief and pain. Shim Woo Joo Resigns From Her Job To make up for her lies and deceit, Shim Woo Joo promises to break up with Han Dong Jin who's on a business trip. She also decides to resign from Best Fairs to settle everything down. In the same episode, it is revealed that Shim Woo Joo's father didn't leave the house to Han Dong Jin's mother, and that it actually belongs to his three children. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'Call It Love' Episode 12: Kim Young Kwang Kisses Lee Sung Kyung At work, everyone is taken about after Shim Woo Joo sends in her resignation letter. Han Dong Jin is also appalled and confused due to Choi Sun Woo's (Jeon Seok Ho) icy behavior towards Shim Woo Joo. Choi Sun Woo refuses to reveal what's happening between them despite Han Dong Jin's persistent prying. Shim Woo Joo Confesses About Her Dirty Plans Shim Woo Joo comes clean to Han Dong Jin, confessing that she and Choi Sun Woo planned to destroy the company. Scared of what would happen, Shim Woo Joo tells Han Dong Jin that she'll understand if they will go back to being strangers like before. To her surprise, Han Dong Jin assures her that he doesn't care about it nor is he angry. This makes Shim Woo Joo frustrated but the former only coddles her, saying that she didn't do any harm at all. Han Dong Jin then wreathes her into an embrace, making Shim Woo Joo cry in relief and remorse. YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN THIS: Kim Young Kwang Relationship 2023: Is He Dating 'Call It Love' Co-Star Lee Sung Kyung? KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. From romance and comedy to action, Jeon Do Yeon proved her skills with her flawless performances in the Netflix projects "Crash Course in Romance" and "Kill Bok Soon." The actress also dons an undeniable allure even at the big age of 50. Here are five things you should know about Jeon Do Yeon. 1. Jeon Do Yeon is dubbed as 'Queen of Tears.' Before venturing into the action genre, Jeon Do Yeon cemented her name in the industry with the number of melodramas she has starred in. Since 1990, she has appeared in more than 30 heart-wrenching works which earned her the title "Queen of Tears." Jeon Do Yeon revealed that she felt great about the title because it meant that her performances are received with positive feelings by the viewers. 2. She's a theater actress. Jeon Do Yeon doesn't thrive on the silver screen and terrestrial television! Besides K-Drama series and films, the actress also dominated the theater stage. She has starred in two plays entitled "Educating Rita" and "The Queen of Opera Tears." There's no news about a new play for the actress but Jeon Do Yeon is open to work on the live stage once again. 3. Jeon Do Yeon is the first South Korean judge at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2007, Jeon Do Yeon wowed the critics at the Cannes Film Festival for her performance in "Secret Sunshine." She received the prestigious nod as the Best Actress, creating an unbeatable legacy. Seven years later, Jeon Do Yeon returned to the grand show as a member of the judges, making history once more. 4. She received honors from the French government. In 2009, the French government awarded the "Kill Bok Soon" star with the Chevalier des Arts et Lettres medal for her great contributions to the arts and letters not only in France but also the world. J.K. Rowling, Leonardo DiCaprio and fellow South Korean star Lee Byung Hun are among the notable honorees of the most coveted award. 5. Jeon Do Yeon declined love calls from Hollywood. After being named as Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival, Jeon Do Yeon received various offers from Hollywood. She was casted to star "Terminator" film series but she politely declined. Jeon Do Yeon didn't want to overwhelm herself with such a great leap, especially with the cultural and language differences. Although it's a regret not to see the actress in the Western scene, Jeon Do Yeon promised to diversify her acting filmography through world class K-Dramas that will penetrate the general market and international scenes. KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Lee Sang Bo shares the aftermath of the incident that led to the downfall of his career. The actor went on hiatus after his name was dragged into a controversy over drug use. Months after the news broke, the "Miss Monte-Cristo" posted a heartbreaking statement on social media. Lee Sang Bo Details Current Situation Following False Accusation Against Him In a lengthy statement, the actor spoke about his current situation and revealed the aftermath of the controversy. He said that he wanted to give an update since fans are curious about his current situation. Lee Sang Bo called it a day that he "doesn't want to remember," referring to when news outlets named him as the person behind the drug scandal. The actor first thanked fans who showed their support, saying that he feels "empowered" by the "care, support and encouragement" of people. However, he got honest and shared that he is not doing well both "mentally and physically." "Still hanging in there to overcome. Squeezing out the strength I have," he wrote. Moreover, he tried to look at the brighter side of life and said "With those who had similar experiences as mine. For the powerless and fearless I dare. A little bit of hope exists." Despite thinking of the positive, he felt a bit of desperation since he got dragged into the issue. He mentioned how the preparation and progress got canceled and is now "taking a big hit financially." Lee Sang Bo concluded his message by assuring fans that he will move on and bounce back from the slump. "I never wrote this to be depressed. I will definitely overcome it even for the sake of those who support me," he said. Lee Sang Bo Strongly Denies Illegal Drug Use Accusations Back in September 2022, rumor sparked that an actor, who is in his 40s and made his debut in 2006, was arrested for the illegal use of substances. With this, the public speculates that the actor in question was either Lee Sang Bo, since all clues point to his identity - for one, he is 41-year-old and had his first K-drama "The Invisible Man" in 2006. Other names who got dragged to the incident are Lee Moo Saeng and Park Hae Jin, but both actors strongly denied the allegations. As for Lee Sang Bo, local media outlet News1 confirmed to authorities the identity of the celebrity and reportedly found out that he is the Korean actor involved in the drug arrest. In a report obtained by a different news portal, his Instagram account was switched to private following the news. Unfortunately, he has no agency representing him and has made no official statements about the incident. Following the issue, Lee Sang Bo had an interview with the Korean media outlet YTN and personally denied the accusations. "I've never used drugs, I've never seen drugs, and I've never been associated with a person who used drugs. I've never done drugs. What I'm taking right now is a tranquilizer," he said, as obtained by a media outlet, explaining that it's for his depression and anxiety. The actor revealed that he started his treatment in 2009 after his father died. It was then followed by an accident that caused the death of his mother and sisters. Seoul Gangnam Police Station then confirmed on September 30 that there were no traces of morphine in Lee Sang Bo's body after he underwent a urine test and hair follicle test. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Is Lee Sang Bo the Actor Behind Drug Abuse Controversy? Here's What We Know So Far KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills After intriguing teasers, still cuts, and official posters, SBS finally dropped the first trailer of "Dr. Romantic 3," featuring the returning cast starting with Han Seok Kyu. The legendary surgeon Teacher Kim is officially back, along with the beloved staff of Doldam Hospital. On April 7, the broadcast network showed a glimpse of what to expect in the highly awaited season. 'Dr. Romantic 3' Trailer Hints at More Drama for Teacher Kim, Doldam Hospital Staff Ahead of the medical K-drama's release date, SBS released "Dr. Romantic 3" trailer, showcasing the characters of Han Seok Kyu, Lee Sung Kyung, and Ahn Hyo Seop. The teaser began with the iconic surgeon, Teacher Kim, standing near a hospital bed along with a voiceover that says, "I'm someone who sets my mind on just one thing. Because of that, I may seem reckless to some people, and I may seem dangerous to others, but..." Gunshots were also heard along with a snowboarder, gliding the white snowy mountain. The next scene featured a busy emergency room with Cha Eun Jae, played by Lee Sung Kyung, doing CPR. Wearing his scrub suit, Seo Woo Jin, portrayed by Ahn Hyo Seop, finishes Teacher Kim's sentence and said, "I put only one thought in my head before I begin: 'I'm going to save [this patient]!'" Over the comment section, fans can't wait to see lead and supporting stars reprising their roles. Moreover, viewers are thrilled to see the chemistry as well as the drama at Doldam Hospital. On the other hand, some are wondering if the third installment will showcase the love line of Seo Woo Jin and Cha Eun Jae, as well as Nurse Park and Yoon Ah Reum, played by Kim Min Jae and So Ju Yeon. 'Dr. Romantic 3' Cast and Release Date As mentioned, the upcoming season will showcase a mix of returning and new faces, completing the "Dr. Romantic 3" cast. For the third season, Han Seok Kyu reprises his role as Teacher Kim, a once-famed surgeon who decides to go under the radar and work at a shabby countryside hospital called Doldam. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'Dr Romantic 3' Cast Hints At What to Expect in Upcoming Season + tvN Shares Script Reading Photos At his new workplace, he meets old workmates and rookie doctors. Chief nurse Oh Myung Shim, played by Jin Kyung, and anesthesiologist Nam Do Il, portrayed by Byun Woo Min, is his longtime friends who joined Kim Sa Bu at his new place. At Doldam Hospital, he meets the chief of administration Jang Ki Tae, played by Im Won Hee, who are all present since the first season. The same goes for Kim Min Jae, Yoo Na Moo, and Lee Kyu Ho who will all join the upcoming season. From season 2, Ahn Hyo Seop, Lee Sung Kyung, So Ju Yeon, Jung Ji Ahn, Shin Dong Wook, Yoon Bora, and more will be reprising their roles in "Dr. Romantic 3." The third installment of the medical K-drama is set to premiere on April 28, following the finale of Lee Je Hoon's "Taxi Driver 2." KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills This Steinway & Sons upright piano, above, is free to anyone who will pay the moving charges, says an internet scammer. Oh by the way, you also have to pay the insurance costs for moving it. It was standing room only in the Brass Community School library as students, parents and staff gathered to listen to presentations from guest speakers for the schools Afro-Diaspora Celebration Friday afternoon. Each year, the school celebrates cultures from across the world. This year, in the spirit of learning about Black history past the month of February, the school hosted an Afro-Diaspora Celebration, which focused on West and East Africa along with the Caribbean and the Black African-American excellence as a whole. The Afro Diaspora are African and African descendants who were involuntarily and voluntarily moved to different parts of the world. I always do a Black History Month event every year, but this was just like a special event considering that I was taking this trip to the continent, said fifth grade teacher Andrea Bell-Myers. Every time I travel abroad, anywhere, I made sure that anything that I learned abroad, I bring back to the students into the school and make them part of the experience. Festivities included art displays, photo opportunities and a Jamaican dish sampler, which featured jerk chicken and red beans and rice, among other offerings. During the celebration, Alvin Owens, owner of Regimen Barber Collective, gave a presentation on the history of Black hair, Bell-Myers gave a presentation on her recent trip to Nigeria and recently-crowned Miss Kenosha 2023 Willow Newell gave a presentation on her study abroad trip to Tanzania through Carthage College. We visited some of the more rural parts and the metropolitan areas of Tanzania, studying religion and culture, Newell said. Being able to bring a piece of the continent they hear so much about to them (and) showing them pictures feels great, because hopefully, one day, theyll be able to go and remember, Willow came and talked to me about it. The event was also tied to literacy, legacy and healing, according to Bell-Myers. Students read the novel Children of the Quicksand, written by a Nigerian author, and wrote summaries for each chapter, wrote letters to students at the Eko Primary School in Ukwu-Nzu, Delta State, Nigeria, and utilize video chat to connect with the Eko Primary School students, along with other activities. To be a culturally responsive educator (there) is the responsibility of not just educating children of the diaspora of Back America, it is about educating all children, Bell-Myers said. Everyone should learn about everyone elses culture, because when you have a greater understanding of people, then you have a greater opportunity to make connections, to build relationships, to create bonds (and) to strengthen your village, your cities and your towns. Bell-Myers also acknowledged the event was a team effort, and recognized all the teachers, staff and parent volunteers who contributed to the event. Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! In this episode, were joined by Heidi Chumley, dean at the Ross University School of Medicine, to discuss the barriers facing aspiring physicians in their journey to residency. Heidi will delve into the challenges of the residency matching process, including the cost of applications and travel expenses, as well as bias based on USMLE scores and discrimination in residency programs. She will also discuss the steps her medical school is taking to increase diversity and support its students in their journey to become successful resident physicians. With a 96 percent first-time residency attainment rate, Heidi provides valuable insight into the challenges and solutions in this important aspect of the health care industry. Heidi Chumley is dean, Ross University School of Medicine. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, Proposing solutions to end bias in the medical residency selection process. The Podcast by KevinMD is brought to you by the Nuance Dragon Ambient eXperience. With so many demands on their time, physicians today report record levels of burnout. Burnout is caused by many factors, one of which is clinical documentation. Studies indicate physicians spend two hours documenting care for every hour spent with patients. At Nuance, we are committed to helping physicians do what you love care for patients and spend less time on clinical documentation. The Nuance Dragon Ambient eXperience, or DAX for short, is an AI-powered, ambient clinical intelligence solution that automatically captures patient encounters securely and accurately at the point of care. Physicians who use DAX have reported a 50 percent decrease in documentation time and a 70 percent reduction in feelings of burnout, and 83 percent of patients say their physician is more personable and conversational. Rediscover the joy of medicine with clinical documentation that writes itself, all within the EHR. VISIT SPONSOR https://nuance.com/daxinaction SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended GET CME FOR THIS EPISODE https://earnc.me/opt1K1 Powered by CMEfy. * Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Beijing on Thursday, calling on both sides to enhance cooperation, promote relations between China and the European Union, and work jointly for a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. * Macron said despite their different development models, the two countries have respected each other, communicated with candor, and achieved mutual benefits in their wide-ranging cooperation. * Xi called on China and the EU to jointly uphold global stability and prosperity, and stand against hegemonism, unilateralism and attempts to decouple economies or sever supply chains. BEIJING, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Beijing on Thursday, calling on both sides to enhance cooperation, promote relations between China and the European Union, and work jointly for a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. ENHANCING BILATERAL COOPERATION Noting that the two sides need to make good use of their all-round, high-level communication channels, Xi called on the two sides to maintain close communication between the two presidents, and hold a new round of meetings this year for the three high-level dialogue mechanisms, namely the strategic dialogue, the economic and financial dialogue, and the dialogue on people-to-people exchanges. China will work with France to deepen cooperation in such fields as agrifood, space, aviation, and civil nuclear energy, foster new cooperation areas including trade in services, green development, and innovation in science and technology, and support the joint development of a carbon neutrality center and joint cultivation of talents, he said. China welcomes France as the guest country of honor at the China International Fair for Trade in Services 2024 and the seventh China International Import Expo, Xi said, voicing the hope that France will provide Chinese businesses with a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment. Macron said despite their different development models, the two countries have respected each other, communicated with candor, and achieved mutual benefits in their wide-ranging cooperation. He pointed out that he was taking a large delegation to China to seek closer cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, and France is ready to work with China on the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation that China will host. Addressing the closing ceremony of a meeting between Chinese and French entrepreneurs, Xi said China-France economic and trade cooperation has not only boosted the economic development of the two countries and improved people's well-being, but has also enhanced confidence and stabilized expectations for global economic recovery. Noting that China's economic and social vitality has now been fully unleashed, Xi said the two sides should seize the opportunity to strengthen cooperation, and called on them to remain open and inclusive and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, uphold independence and safeguard their common interests, while adhering to solidarity and coordination to promote the common development of the world. ISSUING JOINT CALL FOR POLITICAL SETTLEMENT OF UKRAINE CRISIS Xi stressed that China's position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear. It is essentially about facilitating peace talks and political settlement. He said China stands ready to issue a joint call with France for the international community to stay rational, exercise restraint, and avoid taking actions that might cause the crisis to further deteriorate or even spiral out of control; to strictly abide by international humanitarian law, avoid attacking civilians or civilian facilities, and protect women, children and other victims of the conflict; to earnestly honor the pledge that nuclear weapons must not be used and nuclear wars must not be fought, oppose the use of biological weapons under any circumstances, and oppose armed attacks against nuclear power plants or other civilian nuclear facilities; to resume peace talks as soon as possible, observe the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, accommodate the legitimate security concerns of all parties, seek political settlement, and foster a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture; and to jointly address the spillover effects of the Ukraine crisis in food, energy, finance, transportation and other fields, and reduce the negative impact of the Ukraine crisis on the world, especially on developing countries. Macron shared France's view on the issue, and commended China's important role in the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. France calls for the resumption of political negotiations and a settlement of the crisis through diplomatic means to achieve lasting peace in Europe. France hopes to increase communication and make joint efforts with China toward peace. PROMOTING STEADY DEVELOPMENT OF CHINA-EU TIES On the same day, Xi held a trilateral meeting with Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Beijing. Xi pointed out that China and the EU share extensive common interests. Cooperation and common ground between the two sides outweigh competition and differences. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. China is prepared to work with the EU to fully resume exchanges at all levels and revitalize mutually-beneficial cooperation in various fields, thus injecting fresh impetus into China-EU relations and global peace, stability and prosperity. Xi called on China and the EU to jointly uphold global stability and prosperity, and stand against hegemonism, unilateralism and attempts to decouple economies or sever supply chains. He said the two sides need to step up macroeconomic and financial policy communication and coordination, deepen their green partnership, and increase dialogue and cooperation on green financing, environment-friendly technologies and clean energy. Von der Leyen said the EU and China are each other's important trading partners and the two economies are highly intertwined. Decoupling from China is neither in the EU's interests nor the EU's strategic choice. The EU sets its China policy independently. It would like to restart the High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue and advance steady and balanced growth of economic and trade ties with China for mutual benefit. Macron said the EU and China should work with each other to stay away from the trap of economic decoupling and severing supply chains, carry out mutually-beneficial cooperation on an equal footing, tackle pressing global challenges such as climate change, and keep deepening the EU-China comprehensive strategic partnership. Christians across the globe today celebrate Good Friday in remembrance of the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. On the same day, believers also participate in the way of the cross, a traditional devotion in honor of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The 4th Kampala Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere, while setting off for the way of the cross at Rubaga cathedral urged Christians to re-commit their lives to the Lord. Meanwhile, Church of Uganda believers led by Archbishop Kazimba Mugalu and the Catholic team headed to Old Kampala SS Grounds on Friday where they are expected to hold a joint service. Several dignitaries including politicians have joined the way of the cross procession. The Parish Priest of Kampala Archdiocese, Gerald Kalumba has implored Christians to celebrate the day with a contrite spirit, looking beyond the symbolic way of the cross. Church of Uganda is remaining with only Shs16 billion to clear Janan Luwum Church House debt. This was revealed by former prime minister of Uganda, John Patrick Amama Mbabazi who is currently serving as the chairperson of the Love Gift Committee that is soliciting funds to clear the buildings debt Speaking to the media at Archbishop Kaziimba Mugalus residence in Namirembe on Thursday, Mbabazi said the project has seen tremendous success, now remaining with only Shs16 billion debt out of the Shs60 billion. He is optimistic that by September-October 2023, the debt will be cleared. I just want to assure the people that we have no doubt that we will overcome, we are only remaining with 16 billion shillings in debt and we have a commitment from a reliable source, dependable, that has always supported us, the president of Uganda, Mr. Mbabazi said. He further urged Ugandans to use this Easter season to embrace peace and love one another, noting that these are strong pillars of a developing nation. The Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II has asked believers to pray for Uganda. In his Easter message to his subjects, the Kabaka also urged believers who have been praying for Buganda not to give up and also forgive those who wrong them. He has meanwhile urged his subjects to encourage each other to engage in income-generating activities for better livelihoods and also wished them a joyful Easter. Easter is a celebration that marks the day Jesus Christ rose from the dead and it concludes lent, the fasting, praying, and repentance period for Christians. As Christians continue to celebrate Good Friday today, former ethics minister Miria Matembe has rallied Ugandans to use this day to reform and rid the country of vices like corruption. She made the remarks during the Way of the Cross procession to Old Kampala SS ground where joint prayers are to be held in celebration of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made. The Way of the Cross is a traditional devotion in honor of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The country has been covered by sins; sin of corruption, sin of idolatry, immorality, killing people, all these sins are in Ugandans. Today as we remember the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, we need to redeem ourselves and be set free from all these sins, Matembe said. At least Shs295 million has been earmarked to re-construct a dormitory that was burnt to ashes by fire at Salama School for the Blind at Luga village in Mukono district. In October last year, a fire gutted a girls dormitory at Salama School for the Blind, leaving 12 of the children dead. The fire gutted the dormitory as the children were sleeping. On Holy Thursday, MTN Uganda committed Shs295 million as a sole funder to have the dormitory reconstructed. The Chief Executive Officer of MTN Uganda, Sylvia Mulinge says the dormitory will accommodate 72 children and the reconstruction works will be completed within 3 months. She also asked the government to ensure that inclusive policies are put in place to guarantee that persons with disabilities are not left behind in the digital transformation process. The Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC) has appealed to the government to ensure that a good quality education service is offered in its Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) programmes. Presenting his Good Friday message during a prayer service held at Old Kampala Senior Secondary School playground i Kampala., Rev. Joseph Anthony Ziwa the UJCC chair noted that much as the free education offer is commendable, they are concerned about the quality offered. He says most schools have lost teachers over remuneration concerns Ziwa has also decried the rate at which learners are dropping out of school. Last month, government commemorated 25 years since the introduction of the Universal Primary Education (UPE), with experts highlighting several bottlenecks that should be addressed if the programme is to achieve its objectives. Christians world over participated in the Way of the Cross on Good Friday, a traditional in honor of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Police in Northern Ireland have arrested a man on suspicion of the murder of a young woman in Limerick. The body of the woman, aged in her 20s, was found at a home on Dock Road in the city on Tuesday afternoon. Gardai said on Thursday evening that they are aware that detectives from the PSNIs Serious Crime branch had arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of murder. Detectives based at the Garda incident room at Henry Street Garda Station remain in close contact with our colleagues in the Police Service of Northern Ireland at this time, Gardai said in a statement. The PSNI said that the man had been taken to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite for questioning. The Garda Technical Bureau is carrying out an examination of two scenes in Limerick. An appeal for information that can assist with the investigation continues and those with information can contact Henry Street Garda Station on 061 212 400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. Tullaroan native Paddy Cleere has been playing music all his life. The youngest of nine, Paddy recalls many sing-songs and sessions of traditional music and song at home. At the age of 10, he started on guitar, banjo and mandolin, and by his 20s was an expert on the bouzouki. Siobhan Donohoe with Paddy Cleere at the launch of Kilkenny Tradfest When Paddy is not playing traditional music, he is a luthier, making musical instruments to the highest quality. He specialises in bouzouki and mandolins with customers all over the world. His workshop is in Tullaroan and he is regarded as one of Irelands leading stringed instrument makers. He has even been described as the cardiologist of the guitar world! Paddy is a member of Reel to Reel, which was formed in Kilkenny over 30 years ago. Reel to Reel will be performing at this years Kilkenny Tradfest on March 17 on the Festival Stage, for an outdoor free concert at 4pm. Paddy will also be playing extensively on Kilkenny Tradfest's Music Trail and all year round, Paddy plays every Saturday night in Kytelers Inn with Rosin Dubh. Paddy married Ellen in 1995. They have three children - Aidan who plays guitar, Leanne who also plays guitar and Amy who plays thee whistle concertina and mandola. Here is a glimpse into Paddys world of trad You grew up in a very musical family. What is your first memory of learning tunes? It was after one of our house sessions or singsongs, when I said to our neighbour Paddy Fitzpatrick that I wanted to learn the guitar. I was 10 years of age at the time. The following week Paddy called with a guitar. He showed me three chords and taught me my first song. My brother Billy took over teaching me chords when Paddy Fitz wasnt around and that was my start in music. I went on to play Bodhran on a breadboard with a butter knife, I nearly drove my mother insane with the racket! My brother Jerry who plays the button accordion showed how to play my first chords and tunes on the banjo. We played a bit around Kilkenny in the late 1980s along with his son Damian in bodhran and Mary Moore. Jerry and myself still meet up and have a few tunes every now and then in Tullaroan and Kilmanagh. Its hard to believe that bouzouki and even mandolins are such recent additions to traditional Irish music. What do you think makes them so popular now? Johnny Moynihan brought the Greek bouzouki to Ireland in the mid-60s. At that time, he played in a group with Andy Irvine called Sweeney's Men and he introduced the bouzouki to Andy Irvine. Andy introduced this to Donal Lunny who changed the octave strings to unison strings. Donal and Andy then commissioned Peter Abnett who was a luthier to build a bouzouki. The Greek Bouzoukis have a round or bowled back. Peter Abnett made the first flat back bouzouki which has become known as the Irish bouzouki of today. Mandolin, bouzouki, and banjos became really popular in the 70s and 80s when they were played by the likes of Planxty with Andy Irvine and Donal Lunny, De Dannan with Alec Finn and Stocktons Wing with Kieran Hanrahan. Every group wants a bouzouki, mandolin or banjo now of some sorts. How did you get into instrument making? When I was in the vocational school in Kilkenny, I enquired about apprenticeships to make instruments but could not find any in Ireland. Back then and even now most people dont know what a luthier is. So, I left school at 16 and served my time as a bricklayer with my brother Billy. It was not until 2012 when I had a knee operation and couldnt do heavy work that I got the opportunity to learn about instrument making. In 2012, I completed a course in musical instrument making and repair in Cork. I was married with three young children, so I completed the one-year course while driving up and back every day. In 2013 I started my own business. I started making just bouzoukis and then moved to mandolins, mandolas and guitars. I also do repairs, set-ups, re-fretting etc on all string instruments. Which is better, a gig for which you have rehearsed or a good session? This is an easy one, its definitely a session. Dont get me wrong, if you are rehearsing for a gig at a festival like the Fleadh Cheoil or the Kilkenny Tradfest you have the best of both worlds because you know you can meet up and have a few tunes with friends when the gig is done. Every trad musician looks forward to the likes of the Fleadh Cheoil or the Kilkenny Tradfest to meet with other musicians, to play a few tunes and enjoy the crack without any pressure. People often say that sessions in full flow have a magical or mysterious effect on the player. What session has taken you to another level? It was the Fleadh Cheoil in Sligo 1989. I was 18 and arrived in my red Renault 5 with a small tent for 3 of us - Eddie Hennessy, Marty Ramsbottom and myself. We met my brothers in a pub called Holly Mc Loughlins on the Friday night. Within an hour the whole of Kilkenny and probably half of Ireland were there! It got so full, and the crack and music were so good, that the barman took the door off the hinges and anyone who came in had to dance on it! That went on until Monday and it's where I met most of the Kilkenny musicians I still play with today. Youve been involved with Kilkenny Tradfest since it started ten years ago. Whats so special about it for Kilkenny? Kilkenny is probably known for hurling more than anywhere in Ireland, which is great as Im from Tullaroan - the home of hurling and proud to be. But Kilkenny is also home to some of the best musicians in Ireland. Also, the best musicians in Ireland move to Kilkenny to live. Since Tradfest started in Kilkenny, more musicians are arriving to it every year and more musicians are moving to Kilkenny as well. Its always great to see different musicians, especially young musicians and kids hearing and wanting to learn music from this. If I hadn't had the privilege of hearing and listening to music when I was growing up, I probably wouldnt be playing music today. What would be your desert island disc - the one album you would take if you were stranded on a desert island? This is a hard one, Ive been inspired by so many albums since Ive started playing music. I learned to play bodhran on a breadboard and knife to the Wolfe tones around 1980. Been inspired by Barney McKenna from the Dubliners playing the banjo and later Kieran Hanrahan from Stocktons Wing early mid 80s and then Planxty and De Dannon in the late 80s on Bouzouki. But in 2012 when I was driving every day up and down to college in Cork, I got hold of a CD that was originally released in December 1976. The CD was Andy Irvine, Paul Brady, joined by Donal Lunny and Kevin Burke. I listened to this CD every day driving up and back and I still could listen to it every day. Little did I know then that I would meet Andy Irvine and Donal Lunny in 2015 and become good friends. So, if I was stranded on a desert island, I would take that album because I already know I can listen to it forever. Did you enjoy the process of making the Snug Cheoil and Geantrai programmes for TG4? Is it a much different process from your normal musical life? Of course, I enjoy the process of making recordings for TG4. If it wasnt for them Irish traditional music would not be as popular as it is now. They give the normal musician like me the chance to promote the music of Ireland, be it professional or non-professional, be it original or non-original it doesnt matter. Its not like my music life as a session player because it must be rehearsed, but as a performer it must be right. Music for me is always learning, it never stops, you learn something new every time you play, be it a new tune, a new song or a new musician putting a new twist, chord, note or variation in a different place that changes everything for the better or worse. For information on Cleere Instruments visit http://www.cleereinstruments. ie/ Up the steep stairs of Rothe House on the top floor in the Phelan room are two striking portraits by Sir John Lavery that symbolise the connection between John and Hazel Lavery and Kilkenny. The two portraits are of the famous painter and his glamorous socialite wife who combined their roles as the toast of London society with activism to support both Irish independence and the nascent Free State. A third painting sits alongside the adult portraits and it is the key to the Laverys connection to Kilkenny - it is of Hazel Laverys daughter Alice Gwynn as a young girl. It was Alice who donated all three paintings to Rothe House after Laverys death. The famous painter died in Rossenarra House at Kilmoganny in Kilkenny on January 10, 1941 where he had been staying with Alice who had married local man, Jack McEnery. Lavery had left a Blitz torn London to seek refuge with his step- daughter as a superannuated evacuee earlier in 1940. He painted his last paintings at Rossenarra House notably Gypsy Encampment. On the morning of his death he had been planning to paint the local hunt in Kilmoganny before he passed away. His funeral held in Kilmoganny was attended by Liam Cosgrave the son of WT Cosgrave. The Rothe House self portrait of Sir John Lavery was originally painted in 1909 for the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Its stark simplicity is striking but Lavery had second thoughts about it when friends commented unfavourably on it, after seeing it in situ in the gallery, and he subsequently requested its return so he could replace it with a more distinguished version. The Uffizis loss has been Kilkennys gain. The portrait of Hazel Lavery painted in 1926 displays Laverys tenderness and affection for his young and beautiful wife: he painted Hazel over 400 times during their relationship. The portrait highlights Hazels luminous complexion and long graceful neck while also hinting at her passionate nature in the vivid colour of her lips and her intelligence in the book she holds. Sir John Lavery was an accomplished and successful portrait painter in London and Dublin in the early 20th century. His portraits include those of Michael Collins, Edward Carson, and prime ministers of Great Britain. He was made a Freeman of both Belfast and Dublin during his lifetime, the only one to hold such a dual honour. He was born in Belfast in 1856, and after both his parents died prematurely was separated from his two siblings and sent to live with relatives first in Co Down and later in Glasgow. Unhappy in his new Glasgow home he ran away, aged 15 and was homeless. When he was found he was returned to Co Down where he first learned to draw by copying from engravings. He later returned to Glasgow where he worked as an apprentice to a newspaper photographer and attended the Halidane Academy of Art. By the second year of art school he was already expressing his ambition to become a portrait painter. In 1888 Lavery was commissioned to paint the state visit of Queen Victoria to the Glasgow International Exhibition, an event which launched his career as a society painter and he moved to London shortly after. Lavery always worked extremely hard at his artistic career and had a prolific output during his lifetime. His first wife, Kathleen MacDermott, whom he married in 1889, died of tuberculosis in 1891, shortly after the birth of their daughter, Eileen. Johns second wife was Hazel Martyn, an Irish American known for her beauty and style whom he married when she was 29 and he was 53. Her first husband had died only months into their marriage and Hazel was left with a young daughter Alice to rear. She was described by her biographer Sinead McCoole as: An astonishing beauty with an immense presence despite her five-foot two-inch stature. Her small, rather pointed face was dominated by lustrous almond-shaped hazel eyes. Despite their age gap the couple had an intense and immediate attraction with Hazel moving from her native Chicago to London to a new home at 5 Cromwell Place, opposite the Victoria and Albert Museum. Here, she established not only a marital home but also a very successful social salon where the great and good of London came to meet. During WWI John Lavery was a war artist and after the war he was knighted to become Sir John Lavery. In 1921 he was also elected to the Royal Academy, another professional and social elevation. By the 1920s Lavery was an extremely successful society artist aided by Hazel who used her charm and beauty to successfully promote his artistic career. Together they became a power couple and stars of London Society. Their friends and guests included politicians, writers, artists and the city's theatre set with Winston Churchill a close neighbour. Hazel taught Churchill to paint, a release he used to combat his depression throughout his life. During this time Hazel had many admirers including the Prime Minister Asquith, Lord Londonderry and Sir Shane Leslie. She and John Lavery were reported to have a tempestuous relationship with both indulging in extra marital affairs, yet still remaining loyal to their marriage. As an Irish American, Hazel had always had an interest in Ireland and she suggested to John that he paint Irish subjects including Edward Carson and Sir John Redmond. The couple made their first visit to Ireland in 1913 and as a mixed marriage (John was Catholic and Hazel was Protestant, though she later converted to Catholicism) they were always keen to promote reconciliation between the two traditions. The 1916 Rising shocked them but after the executions, Lavery pledged support to the interned. He also painted the trial of Sir Roger Casement, which Hazel attended and was deeply affected by. After Casement was condemned to death she became passionate about Ireland's welfare. Seeing the devastation wreaked on Ireland by the Black and Tans during a visit Hazel became more active in her campaign. She pleaded Irelands cause with Lloyd George and wrote to Churchill who was then the Minister for War for the Dublin Castle administration to leave Ireland. When a truce was declared in July 1921, the Laverys offered their London home as neutral ground where both sides could meet and interact on a more human level. When De Valera and Arthur Griffith travelled to London for negotiations, John Lavery not only hosted them in Cromwell Place, he also painted their portraits. These initial talks failed and when a second Irish delegation went to London in September 1921 it featured Griffith and Michael Collins. Throughout October the negotiations continued by day with social sessions at the Laverys home by night. Sir John painted Michael Collins on November 16, 1921 while Hazel interceded with Lloyd George to promote Irelands cause. Hazel and Michael Collins met at 8am Mass daily at nearby Brompton Oratory, with their intense friendship leading to rumours of a romance. The pair did have an intense bond and it seems that Collins used Hazel as a de facto agent, writing frequently to give her instructions but always phrased in almost romantic language, a tactic he adopted with all his most successful agents, who were largely female. In the end Lloyd George manipulated Griffith into signing up for the boundary commission claiming that it would solve the North South issue. Hazel too urged Griffith to compromise and defer their long term goal of total independence to later. When George declared an ultimatum to the Irish delegation on December 5, 1921, they conceded and signed the Treaty at 2am on December 6. Collins returned to the Laverys home in a state of agitation at the situation. The Dail voted on the Treaty on January 2, 1922 by a majority of 64 to 57 upholding the agreement and De Valera and his followers walked out. By June 1922, the country was in a state of Civil War. The Laverys arrived in Ireland the day after Arthur Griffiths death that August and spent time with Collins, now the Commander in Chief of the Free State Army. They were also with him when attempts were made on his life, once when his car was fired on and another, when a sniper was apprehended in the grounds of the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire. Despite escaping these attempts within a week Collins was dead, shot at Beal na Blath. On his body was a book of poems by Rossetti within which was a letter from Hazel. John Lavery painted two images in tribute to Collins. One Love of Ireland depicts Collins in death with the emblems of the crucifix and tricolour emphasising that he died for his country. The other Pro Cathedral Dublin 1922 was sketched from the gallery of the Pro-Cathedral while the funeral Mass was taking place. Laverys high profile continued throughout the 20s and 30s while he continued to support Irish causes. As reward he received the task of designing the new currency for which he used Hazels image as Mother Ireland, Kathleen Ni Houlihan. These notes remained in use for nearly fifty years from 1928 to the 70s. Lavery also continued to paint people from both traditions while Hazel continued to lobby on Irish issues. When Hazel Lavery died in 1935, John Lavery was utterly devastated and at a loss. Her funeral was held at the Brompton Oratory and she was buried in Putney Vale. When he died six years later in Kilmoganny, his body was brought back to London to be reunited with his beloved Hazel, where they now share a very simple and unadorned headstone. Today, the Laverys remain united too in Rothe House, their serene portraits revealing little of the eventful and exceptional lives they led. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Intervals of clouds and sunshine in the morning with more clouds for later in the day. High near 65F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Considerable cloudiness. Low 41F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Ampio Pharmaceuticals (NYSEAMERICAN:AMPE Get Rating) in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday morning. The firm issued a sell rating on the specialty pharmaceutical companys stock. Ampio Pharmaceuticals Stock Performance Shares of Ampio Pharmaceuticals stock opened at $0.22 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $3.32 million, a PE ratio of -0.12 and a beta of 1.48. Ampio Pharmaceuticals has a 1 year low of $0.20 and a 1 year high of $6.82. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $0.28 and its 200-day simple moving average is $0.22. Get Ampio Pharmaceuticals alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ampio Pharmaceuticals Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in Ampio Pharmaceuticals by 0.4% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 13,996,074 shares of the specialty pharmaceutical companys stock worth $6,578,000 after acquiring an additional 61,269 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Ampio Pharmaceuticals by 0.8% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 9,307,338 shares of the specialty pharmaceutical companys stock valued at $4,375,000 after purchasing an additional 77,822 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its stake in shares of Ampio Pharmaceuticals by 2.0% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 3,430,770 shares of the specialty pharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,612,000 after purchasing an additional 66,375 shares during the period. Millennium Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Ampio Pharmaceuticals by 998.6% in the second quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 2,035,413 shares of the specialty pharmaceutical companys stock valued at $342,000 after purchasing an additional 1,850,138 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can acquired a new stake in shares of Ampio Pharmaceuticals in the first quarter valued at approximately $168,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 19.82% of the companys stock. Ampio Pharmaceuticals Company Profile Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc operates as a biopharmaceutical company. The firm engages in the development of therapies to treat prevalent inflammatory conditions. Its product pipeline includes new uses for approved drugs and new molecular entities for important therapeutic areas, including metabolic disease, eye disease, kidney disease, inflammation and sexual dysfunction and CNS disease. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Ampio Pharmaceuticals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ampio Pharmaceuticals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CC Japan Income & Growth Trust plc (LON:CCJI Get Rating) shares fell 1.2% on Thursday . The stock traded as low as GBX 146 ($1.81) and last traded at GBX 147.50 ($1.83). 173,308 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 18% from the average session volume of 210,162 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 149.25 ($1.85). CC Japan Income & Growth Trust Stock Down 1.2 % The company has a market cap of 198.73 million and a P/E ratio of -1,475.00. The companys 50-day moving average is GBX 155.25 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 148.81. Get CC Japan Income & Growth Trust alerts: CC Japan Income & Growth Trust Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, February 2nd were given a dividend of GBX 3.50 ($0.04) per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 2nd. This represents a yield of 2.32%. This is a positive change from CC Japan Income & Growth Trusts previous dividend of $1.40. CC Japan Income & Growth Trusts dividend payout ratio is presently -5,000.00%. Insider Activity at CC Japan Income & Growth Trust CC Japan Income & Growth Trust Company Profile In other CC Japan Income & Growth Trust news, insider June Aitken bought 879 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 7th. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 160 ($1.99) per share, for a total transaction of 1,406.40 ($1,746.65). 1.13% of the stock is owned by company insiders. (Get Rating) CC Japan Income & Growth Trust plc is an equity mutual fund launched and managed by Coupland Cardiff Asset Management LLP. It invests in the equity markets of Japan. The fund invests in stocks of companies operating across the diversified sectors. CC Japan Income & Growth Trust plc was formed in 2013 and is domiciled in the United Kingdom. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for CC Japan Income & Growth Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CC Japan Income & Growth Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund (NYSE:VFL Get Rating) announced a monthly dividend on Thursday, April 6th, Wall Street Journal reports. Investors of record on Friday, April 21st will be given a dividend of 0.045 per share on Friday, April 28th. This represents a $0.54 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.05%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 20th. Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund Trading Up 0.3 % Shares of NYSE:VFL opened at $10.70 on Friday. Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund has a twelve month low of $10.21 and a twelve month high of $12.70. The companys 50 day moving average is $10.61 and its 200 day moving average is $10.83. Get Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund alerts: Institutional Trading of Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. US Bancorp DE purchased a new stake in Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund in the first quarter valued at $54,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $114,000. Private Advisor Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $145,000. Citadel Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund during the second quarter worth $178,000. Finally, Advisor Group Holdings Inc. grew its position in Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund by 76.6% during the first quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 17,027 shares of the companys stock valued at $215,000 after buying an additional 7,388 shares during the period. Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund Company Profile Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Delaware Management Holdings, Inc The fund is managed by Delaware Management Business Trust. It invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. The fund primarily invests in investment grade municipal obligations, the income from which is exempt from federal income taxes. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Delaware Investments National Municipal Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Equinox Gold Corp (CVE:EQX Get Rating) Senior Officer Doug Reddy sold 6,351 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$7.03, for a total value of C$44,647.53. Equinox Gold Stock Down 0.9 % Shares of EQX opened at C$7.88 on Friday. Equinox Gold Corp has a one year low of C$4.25 and a one year high of C$8.90. The company has a market cap of C$892.46 million and a P/E ratio of -43.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 64.28, a current ratio of 1.94 and a quick ratio of 1.11. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of C$7.88 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$7.88. Get Equinox Gold alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages have weighed in on EQX. CIBC boosted their price target on Equinox Gold from C$4.70 to C$5.40 in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. TD Securities reduced their price objective on Equinox Gold from C$8.00 to C$7.50 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. National Bankshares boosted their price objective on Equinox Gold from C$6.00 to C$7.25 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Thursday, March 30th. National Bank Financial boosted their price objective on Equinox Gold from C$6.00 to C$7.25 in a report on Thursday, March 30th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on Equinox Gold from C$6.50 to C$7.50 in a research note on Thursday, January 26th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Equinox Gold has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of C$7.33. About Equinox Gold Equinox Gold Corp. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral deposits. The company's principal properties include the Aurizona project covering a total land package of approximately 223,160 hectares located in Maranhao State, Brazil; and the Castle Mountain property situated in California, the United States. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Equinox Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Equinox Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. National Bank Holdings Co. (NYSE:NBHC Get Rating) Equities research analysts at DA Davidson reduced their FY2023 earnings per share estimates for shares of National Bank in a research report issued on Wednesday, April 5th. DA Davidson analyst J. Rulis now anticipates that the financial services provider will earn $3.75 per share for the year, down from their previous estimate of $4.00. The consensus estimate for National Banks current full-year earnings is $3.79 per share. Get National Bank alerts: National Bank (NYSE:NBHC Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 25th. The financial services provider reported $0.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.80 by $0.11. National Bank had a net margin of 20.25% and a return on equity of 10.92%. The company had revenue of $110.66 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $108.16 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.75 earnings per share. National Banks revenue for the quarter was up 49.5% on a year-over-year basis. National Bank Trading Up 2.6 % Separately, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of National Bank in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a sell rating on the stock. NYSE:NBHC opened at $32.79 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40. National Bank has a 52-week low of $31.30 and a 52-week high of $50.00. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $38.38 and its 200 day moving average price is $41.15. The company has a market capitalization of $1.23 billion, a PE ratio of 14.84 and a beta of 0.93. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in NBHC. Quadrant Capital Group LLC increased its position in National Bank by 358.0% during the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 600 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 469 shares during the period. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its position in shares of National Bank by 145.4% during the 1st quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 1,698 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $68,000 after purchasing an additional 1,006 shares in the last quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd grew its stake in shares of National Bank by 2,677.4% during the 1st quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd now owns 1,722 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $69,000 after purchasing an additional 1,660 shares during the period. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of National Bank by 104.3% in the 2nd quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC now owns 2,354 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $90,000 after purchasing an additional 1,202 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Silvant Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of National Bank by 27.9% in the third quarter. Silvant Capital Management LLC now owns 2,458 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $91,000 after purchasing an additional 536 shares during the period. 78.50% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, CEO G. Timothy Laney sold 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $43.38, for a total value of $433,800.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 215,023 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,327,697.74. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 4.80% of the stock is owned by insiders. National Bank Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 24th were paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.05%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 23rd. National Banks dividend payout ratio is presently 45.25%. National Bank Company Profile (Get Rating) National Bank Holdings Corp. is a bank holding company. The firm engages in the provision of banking products to both commercial and consumer clients. It operates under the following brand names: Bank Midwest in Kansas and Missouri, Community Banks of Colorado in Colorado, and Hillcrest Bank in Texas, Utah and New Mexico. Read More Receive News & Ratings for National Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for National Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Helmerich & Payne (NYSE:HP Get Rating) had its target price trimmed by Susquehanna from $72.00 to $55.00 in a research report released on Monday morning, The Fly reports. Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Helmerich & Payne in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Benchmark assumed coverage on shares of Helmerich & Payne in a research report on Thursday, January 19th. They set a hold rating on the stock. TheStreet upgraded shares of Helmerich & Payne from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research note on Monday, January 30th. Bank of America upgraded shares of Helmerich & Payne from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, January 9th. Finally, Citigroup decreased their price target on shares of Helmerich & Payne from $50.00 to $46.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $59.36. Get Helmerich & Payne alerts: Helmerich & Payne Trading Down 1.7 % HP opened at $37.18 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a current ratio of 2.30 and a quick ratio of 2.10. Helmerich & Payne has a fifty-two week low of $32.69 and a fifty-two week high of $54.59. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.88 billion, a PE ratio of 25.82 and a beta of 1.65. The companys 50-day moving average is $41.05 and its 200 day moving average is $44.83. Helmerich & Payne Dividend Announcement Helmerich & Payne ( NYSE:HP Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 31st. The oil and gas company reported $1.11 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.81 by $0.30. Helmerich & Payne had a net margin of 6.56% and a return on equity of 6.43%. The company had revenue of $719.60 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $699.92 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted ($0.45) EPS. The firms revenue was up 75.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Helmerich & Payne will post 4.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 1st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 18th will be issued a dividend of $0.485 per share. This represents a $1.94 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.22%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 17th. Helmerich & Paynes dividend payout ratio is currently 69.44%. Institutional Trading of Helmerich & Payne Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its stake in Helmerich & Payne by 2.2% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 328,890 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $14,071,000 after purchasing an additional 7,160 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates lifted its stake in Helmerich & Payne by 3.9% in the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 18,667 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $799,000 after purchasing an additional 709 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Helmerich & Payne in the first quarter worth $353,000. HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Helmerich & Payne by 4.2% in the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 18,629 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $799,000 after purchasing an additional 743 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Private Advisor Group LLC bought a new stake in Helmerich & Payne in the first quarter worth $272,000. 92.42% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Helmerich & Payne Company Profile (Get Rating) Founded in 1920, Helmerich & Payne, Inc (H&P) (NYSE: HP) is committed to delivering industry leading levels of drilling productivity and reliability. H&P operates with the highest level of integrity, safety and innovation to deliver superior results for its customers and returns for shareholders. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Helmerich & Payne Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Helmerich & Payne and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pearson plc (LON:PSON Get Rating) insider Graeme Pitkethly purchased 257 shares of Pearson stock in a transaction on Friday, March 31st. The stock was bought at an average price of GBX 832 ($10.33) per share, for a total transaction of 2,138.24 ($2,655.54). Pearson Price Performance Shares of LON PSON opened at GBX 842.60 ($10.46) on Friday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 878.91 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 911.74. Pearson plc has a 1-year low of GBX 722.60 ($8.97) and a 1-year high of GBX 1,006.29 ($12.50). The firm has a market cap of 6.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2,553.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 0.27. The company has a current ratio of 1.90, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 29.33. Get Pearson alerts: Pearson Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 5th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 23rd will be issued a GBX 14.90 ($0.19) dividend. This is a positive change from Pearsons previous dividend of $6.60. This represents a dividend yield of 1.62%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 23rd. Pearsons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 6,363.64%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Pearson Company Profile A number of research firms recently weighed in on PSON. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a GBX 1,230 ($15.28) price target on shares of Pearson in a research note on Thursday, March 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a GBX 1,140 ($14.16) target price on shares of Pearson in a report on Thursday, March 23rd. Finally, Citigroup reissued a buy rating on shares of Pearson in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of GBX 1,015 ($12.61). (Get Rating) Pearson plc provides educational courseware, assessments, and services in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, the Asia Pacific, other European countries, and internationally. It operates through five segments: Assessment & Qualifications, Virtual Learning, English Language Learning, Higher Education, and Workforce Skills. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Pearson Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pearson and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares MSCI Italy ETF (NYSEARCA:EWI Get Rating) shares crossed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $30.03 and traded as high as $30.62. iShares MSCI Italy ETF shares last traded at $30.49, with a volume of 317,707 shares. iShares MSCI Italy ETF Stock Performance The companys 50 day moving average price is $30.05 and its 200 day moving average price is $27.33. The company has a market cap of $231.60 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.24 and a beta of 1.03. Get iShares MSCI Italy ETF alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Accuvest Global Advisors acquired a new position in iShares MSCI Italy ETF in the 4th quarter valued at $1,016,000. Millburn Ridgefield Corp boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI Italy ETF by 24.3% in the 3rd quarter. Millburn Ridgefield Corp now owns 172,923 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $3,718,000 after purchasing an additional 33,844 shares during the period. Hightower 6M Holding LLC boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI Italy ETF by 5.5% in the 3rd quarter. Hightower 6M Holding LLC now owns 47,274 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,016,000 after purchasing an additional 2,478 shares during the period. Polaris Wealth Advisory Group LLC bought a new stake in iShares MSCI Italy ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at $583,000. Finally, Simplex Trading LLC bought a new stake in iShares MSCI Italy ETF in the 4th quarter valued at $105,000. About iShares MSCI Italy ETF iShares MSCI Italy Capped ETF, formerly iShares MSCI Italy Capped Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI Italy 25/50 Index (Index). The Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Milan Stock Exchange. See Also Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Italy ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Italy ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kim Gunn, center, South Korea's special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, join hands with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts Sung Kim, right, and Takehiro Funakoshi ahead of their talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul, Friday. Yonhap By Kang Seung-woo South Korea, Japan and the United States urged member states of the United Nations, Friday, to repatriate all North Korean overseas workers that they believe are key sources of foreign currency and revenue for the development of Pyongyang's nuclear program. The call came from a joint statement after the top nuclear envoys of the three countries Kim Gunn, South Korea's special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, Sung Kim, the U.S. special representative for North Korea, and Takehiro Funakoshi, Japan's director general for Asian and Oceanian affairs held a meeting in Seoul the first time since December last year. "We underscore that in accordance with UNSC resolution 2397, U.N. Member States are required to repatriate all DPRK laborers earning income in their jurisdictions unless repatriation is prohibited by applicable national or international law," the joint statement said. The DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name. Resolution 2397, adopted in 2017, stipulated that member states had to repatriate all North Korean workers abroad by December 2019. However, they have illicitly and skillfully bypassed surveillance by discarding their work visas to obtain different documents when they enter a foreign country. In this way some North Korean IT specialists have been able to earn foreign currency. The statement emphasized, "U.N. member states should be vigilant and ensure that no work authorizations are renewed or granted to overseas DPRK laborers consistent with UNSC resolution 2375 and address the DPRK's attempts to evade sanctions." Resolution 2375, also adopted in 2017, includes restrictions on oil supplies to North Korea. The joint statement was also adopted as Seoul and Washington have both warned of North Korean information technology workers operating under false identities as the reclusive state has increasingly dispatched highly-skilled people around the world to generate revenue to fund its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs. "We reiterate with concern that overseas DPRK IT workers continue using forged identities and nationalities to evade UNSC sanctions and earn income abroad that funds the DPRK's unlawful WMD and ballistic missile programs," it said. "We are also deeply concerned about how the DPRK supports these programs by stealing and laundering funds as well as gathering information through malicious cyber activities." According to the U.N. Panel of Experts, North Korea attempted to steal as much as $2 billion (2.6 trillion won) between 2015 and 2019 through cyber means. According to private industry estimates, the North stole up to $1.7 billion in cryptocurrency in 2022 alone. "We highlight the importance of our joint efforts to block such illicit revenue streams," it added. Recently, Pyongyang has ratcheted up tensions on the peninsula. In March alone, the Kim Jong-un regime conducted various shows of force including the firing of two submarine-launched cruise missiles, an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and the launch of a new underwater attack drone. The authoritarian state is expected to increase provocations this month, in connection with major political events in Pyongyang, as well as in protest of the summit between President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden slated for April 26. A Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) delegation leaves Korea amid a send-off by a children's choir at Gimhae International Airport, Busan, Friday, ending their four-day inspection of Busan, which is bidding to host World Expo 2030. Joint Press Corps Public's warm welcome, bipartisan support among highlights of BIE delegation's trip By Jung Min-ho BUSAN A surge of positivity is apparently running through the minds of campaign officials for Busan's World Expo 2030 bid after a successful inspection by representatives of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the organizing body of the global exhibition. Speaking to reporters after the BIE delegation's press conference on Thursday, high-ranking government officials participating in the campaign said they were now more optimistic about the Korean city's chances of being selected. "It's quite obvious that they were deeply impressed by enthusiasm demonstrated by the citizens of Busan, which they mentioned repeatedly during the media conference," an official said. "Given that a World Expo is a lengthy event that lasts for six months, such a warm reception matters, both for visitors from member states and the BIE itself." BIE's Administration and Budget Committee President Patrick Specht and Secretary-General Dimitri Kerkentzes would not comment on Busan's merits in comparison with Saudi Arabia's Riyadh, its rival bidder, but they said the level of the Busan public's enthusiasm was exceptional. A delegate from the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) gives a high five to a citizen at the U.N. Memorial Cemetery in Busan, Thursday. Yonhap "I was told, even before the media conference, they were surprised by the sheer number of journalists packing the room, which the delegates probably couldn't see in other countries," another official said. "Our presentations went smoothly. They saw what they needed to see. There were no big mistakes during the whole process. We are satisfied with what we did." One of the highlights of the delegation's trip came on April 4, when the National Assembly passed a bipartisan resolution to support Busan's Expo project. Officials say, by doing so, the country removed any political risks for the proposed hosting of the event. This is important because, in the eyes of the BIE, Saudi Arabia's autocracy could be perceived as an advantage when it comes to speedy administrative decisions by the Expo host, compared to Korea's boisterous political environment. President Yoon Suk Yeol shakes hands with the Bureau International des Expositions' (BIE) Administration and Budget Committee President Patrick Specht at a dinner event held for the BIE delegation in Busan, Thursday. Courtesy of presidential office At their last dinner in Busan, President Yoon Suk Yeol surprised the delegates by showing up without prior notice, and assured them that Busan's Expo efforts will be backed by full government support. It was their second meeting after the first one on April 3. Busan may have left a good impression on the delegation. Yet the bidding process is still far from over. Openly supported by a handful of countries, including China, Belarus and Cuba, the capital of Saudi Arabia is regarded as a more competitive bidder than Ukraine's Odesa, Italy's Rome and Busan. The next thing Busan's campaign officials are focusing on is their fourth official presentation in Paris in June. They believe it will be the last opportunity to win over undecided member states. "Given that most, if not all, member states are expected to make up their minds by the final presentation, which is scheduled to be held just before voting at the BIE General Assembly in November, the June presentation will be our last chance to make our case in front of 171 member states' representatives there," an official said. The officials will also step up their efforts to build relations with developing nations in Africa and Central and South America through initiatives by the city, through which Korea and Busan plan to offer long-term support for those seeking to emulate Korea and Busan's economic success. The program has attracted extensive interest, with specific plans for some projects already under discussion. The BIE will send its delegation to Rome later this month after completing inspections in the other three candidate cities. The results of their inspections will be compiled in official reports, which BIE member states will review when deciding which city to support. The status of respective bilateral relations also stand to affect member states' decisions. If there are more than two candidates, then a country must receive a two-thirds majority to be elected in the first round. If no proposal receives a two-thirds majority in the first round, the proposal that receives the least votes is eliminated. This procedure carries on until only two candidates are left. The host country will then be decided by a simple majority. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Cloudy with rain and snow early changing to all rain and becoming intermittent late. High 44F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Widespread frost likely. Low 29F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. F. Mayo Sanders has a bite of cake after serving his final meeting as a member of the Steuben County Council in December 2014. The meeting marked Sanders retirement from some 60 years in government and education. Sanders died in an Angola nursing home on Thursday night at age 87. (The Center Square) The National Institute of Standards and Technology's speech directives for scientists have come under fire for embracing critical race theory and gender ideology ideas. The Center Square recently reported on the NIST's "Inclusive Language Guidance," which tells scientists which words or phrases they can or cannot use in reports. The guidance, for example, tells federal employees to avoid using the terms "blacklist" or "whitelist" because of the racial connotations and also cautions against "using terms that assign a gender to inanimate objects, such as male/female connectors." The guidance also tells report writers to "avoid terms such as master/slave that perpetuate negative stereotypes or unequal power relationships." "This new language code by the National Institute of Standards and Technology is one more sign that the Biden Administration in only going deeper and deeper into the racialization and sexualization of everything," Mike Gonzalez, an expert at the Heritage Foundation, told The Center Square. "It puts the ruinous critical race theory and gender theory on steroids." The NIST is a federal agency created to help the U.S. innovate and compete scientifically and technologically with its rivals like China. Congress appropriated about $1.65 billion for the group for 2023. Many scientists and researchers have begun raising the alarm about the rising politicization of scientific research and related agencies. "Where most people might regard the sciences as somehow immune from politics, in fact it has taken over the sciences thoroughly, and in so doing, has corrupted the sciences thoroughly," Scott Turner, who works with the National Association of Scholars, told The Center Square. "As a result, science is no longer the trustworthy source of objective knowledge and advice that the public has long believed." The NIST is not the only entity putting its attention and taxpayer funds into these efforts as it struggles to keep pace with its key mission. The trend has become common across federal agencies. "This is not just a waste of time; prioritizing these nonsense issues comes with a cost," Gonzalez said. "The NIST is supposed to help us stay technologically ahead of our enemies, particularly China. Taking our eyes off the ball to carry out a witch-hunt for terminology that fits the new orthodoxy is not just an Orwellian foray into language, but it puts us at a disadvantage." Jennifer Huergo, a spokesperson for NIST, defended the guidance, telling The Center Square that it "was created primarily for the benefit of NIST staff experts..." "Use of inclusive language helps to avoid potential gaps in understanding that could arise from the use of colloquial or idiomatic expressions that are rooted in particular historical events or regional dialects," she said. Turner, Professor Emeritus at the State University of New York System, said the focus risks the U.S' "scientific edge." "Of all institutions, the National Institute of Standards and Technology... should be immune from politics and ideology," he said. "The definition of the meter, the determination of the second, the mass of the kilogram, the scale of temperature, has no political dimension whatsoever. The directives to control the meaning of words and phrases is simply the nose in the camel's tent that will ultimately destroy the United States' diminishing technical and scientific edge. "Our scientists need to keep their eyes on the ball, focused on their research," he added. "The issuance of this new guidance will only make them constantly look over their shoulder, worrying about how to state this fact or that one, rather than engaging in truth discovery without fearing Stalinist diktats." Lawmakers recently hammered the Pentagon for investing heavily in critical race theory and gender ideology. The National Institutes of Health has done so as well, along with other agencies. "President Biden and his Administration continue to push aside real priorities across the government and drive us farther into debt by spending taxpayer dollars on woke, weaponized, and wasteful initiatives," Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., told The Center Square. "The Department of Defense is undermining our national security by focusing on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs. Now that Republicans control the House, we cannot hand a blank check to political officials at the Pentagon." NewJeans, ADOR's girl group, turned heads with a surprising change in their airport fashion. The idols recently showcased a more casual, age-appropriate look, earning praise from netizens and their fandom Bunnies who were captivated by the 'fits. NewJeans' Shift to Casual Looks Since their debut, NewJeans has been known for their stylish outfits, often seen wearing designer brands during their schedules. However, on April 6, the group arrived at the airport on their way to Japan, sporting a more casual look that grabbed everyone's attention. The members, each wearing unique yet the same denim outfits, displayed a perfect blend of Y2K aesthetics, style, and comfort. In contrast to the usual idol catwalk, NewJeans opted for a more relatable approach in their recent airport OOTDs. Their fans couldn't help but gush over the outfits, noting how young and authentic the members appeared in their casual attire. Comparisons to Past Outfits NewJeans' shift in style garnered even more appreciation after comparing the new outfits to previous airport appearances. Despite being rookies, the members of NewJeans are ambassadors for major brands and have collaborated with numerous companies. As a result, they were often seen wearing designer clothes when leaving the country, showcasing a more mature and luxurious side. This time around, though there were a few designer pieces, the group's outfits are more laid back and definitely matched their ages. NewJeans' Event Appearances Upon arriving in Japan, the members attended a Musinsa event, wherein the members were still seen wearing casual clothing. This kind of style perfectly embodies the Y2K vibes the group is known for. The casual looks from April 6th presented a stark contrast to the outfits and styles they've been spotted wearing at recent events. For example, NewJeans had caught the public eye at a recent Apple event for their more mature styling, particularly members Hyein and Haerin. Despite always looking amazing, it's no surprise that netizens have shown a preference for the group's casual and age-appropriate looks. What's Next for NewJeans? Since NewJeans has sparked people's curiosity with their new fashion styles, everyone can't help but wonder. Will the group continue dressing casually leaning towards Y2K fashion, or will they go back to their mature-designer-roots? Only time will tell. Meanwhile, these girls have just reminded everyone that sometimes, it's not about who you wear, but how you wear it. Even wearing casual laid-back outfits can be as captivating as struting high-end designer outfits. As NewJeans continues to make waves in the music and fashion industries, fans and netizens eagerly anticipate their next move. Keep an eye out for more updates on this talented group and their evolving style! Follow and subscribe to KpopStarz for more K-pop news and lists. Cassidy Jones wrote this. KpopStarz owns this article. BEIJING, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping held a trilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Beijing on Thursday. Xi pointed out that China and the European Union (EU) share extensive common interests. Cooperation and common ground between the two sides outweigh competition and differences. In a complex and volatile world, China and the EU should respect each other, promote political trust, strengthen dialogue and cooperation, uphold world peace and stability, promote common development and prosperity, and address global challenges together, Xi said. Noting that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, Xi said China is prepared to work with the EU to set the right direction and tone for China-EU ties, fully resume exchanges at all levels and revitalize mutually-beneficial cooperation in various fields, thus injecting fresh impetus into China-EU relations and global peace, stability and prosperity. Stressing the importance of enhancing the stability of China-EU ties, Xi said the China-EU relationship does not target any third party, nor should it be dependent on or dictated by any third party. China has all along viewed the relationship from a strategic and long-term perspective and ensured stability and continuity in its EU policy, he said, adding that China hopes the EU will develop a more independent and objective perception of China and adopt a pragmatic and positive China policy. Xi said the two sides should respect each other's core interests and major concerns, work through dialogue and consultation to build consensus and overcome differences. It is important to respect each other's development paths. He said Chinese modernization and European integration are strategic choices China and the EU have made with the two sides' respective futures in mind. China and the EU should be each other's trustworthy and reliable cooperation partners on their paths to development. The Chinese people take pride in choosing the right development path for themselves in light of China's national reality, Xi said, calling on the two sides to seek common ground while shelving differences, and learn to accommodate, appreciate, draw upon and facilitate each other's development. Playing up the so-called "democracy vs authoritarianism" narrative and stoking a new Cold War will only bring division and confrontation to the world, Xi said, stressing the importance to maintain an open and trusting environment for cooperation. China and the EU should keep their markets open to each other, provide a fair and nondiscriminatory environment for businesses from the other side, and avoid turning economic and trade matters into political or national security issues. The two sides should build stable and trustworthy supply chains, and synergize the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Gateway strategy in support of sustained and stable economic growth in China and the EU, Xi said. President Xi underlined that China champions true multilateralism and a global governance vision featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefit. He said China is prepared to work with the EU to enhance coordination and cooperation in multilateral affairs, and uphold the international system centered on the United Nations (UN), the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Xi said China and the EU need to jointly uphold global stability and prosperity, and stand against hegemonism, unilateralism and attempts to decouple economies or sever supply chains. The two sides need to step up macroeconomic and financial policy communication and coordination, deepen their green partnership, and increase dialogue and cooperation on green financing, environment-friendly technologies and clean energy. China and the EU also need to help other developing countries, encourage multilateral institutions and private capital to contribute more to implementing the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative, and explore cooperation in Africa and other regions involving three or more parties, Xi added. For her part, von der Leyen noted that the EU respects China's history and culture. Frank and constructive dialogue with China and continuous development of EU-China relations are crucial for peace and stability in Europe. The EU and China are each other's important trading partners and the two economies are highly intertwined, von der Leyen said, adding that decoupling from China is neither in the EU's interests nor the EU's strategic choice. She said the EU sets its China policy independently. It would like to restart the High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue and advance steady and balanced growth of economic and trade ties with China for mutual benefit. The EU congratulates China for hosting a successful United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) and commends China's efforts to cut carbon emissions. The EU stands ready to enhance communication and coordination with China to jointly meet global challenges and contribute to peace, stability and development in the world, von der Leyen said. Macron noted that in a world full of uncertainties, the EU and China need to enhance dialogue and exchange with mutual respect, openness and humility. The two sides should work with each other to stay away from the trap of economic decoupling and severing supply chains, carry out mutually-beneficial cooperation on an equal footing, tackle pressing global challenges such as climate change, and keep deepening the EU-China comprehensive strategic partnership. The three leaders exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Von der Leyen and Macron shared the European perspective. They agreed that China did not create the Ukraine crisis, and said that they appreciate China's efforts to promote a political settlement and look forward to China playing a more important role. They also said that they are prepared to work with China to find a way to facilitate talks for peace. Xi stressed that China independently decides its position based on the merits of issues. China's position on Ukraine boils down to supporting talks for peace. China calls on the parties to be calm and rational and jointly create conditions for peace talks. Xi said the pressing priority is to bring about a ceasefire and oppose actions that further inflame or complicate the situation. The Ukraine crisis is not an issue between China and the EU. China will continue to play a positive role in facilitating peace talks. China supports EU efforts to propose approaches and plans for a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, and to build a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework, which serves the fundamental and long-term interests of the EU, Xi said. Wang Yi and Qin Gang, among others, participated in the meeting. In a separate meeting with von der Leyen after the trilateral meeting, Xi said China has always regarded the EU as a strategic force in the international landscape, and the development of China-EU relations has always been a priority in China's diplomacy. Xi said China is willing to continue the good tradition with the European side, maintain close communication, enhance strategic mutual trust, focus on mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation, jointly overcome interference and challenges, and achieve a high-level operation of China-EU relations. He said the sound development of China-EU relations cannot be separated from independence, mutual respect and mutually beneficial cooperation. China firmly adheres to the independent foreign policy of peace and respects the rights of people of all countries to choose their own development path. China and the EU should face up to differences, control differences and respect each other, Xi said, adding that it is hoped that the European Commission will focus on the fundamental and long-term interests of the EU, proceed from the overall situation of China-EU relations, and play an active role in the healthy and stable development of China-EU ties. On the Taiwan question, Xi emphasized that it is the core of China's core interests. The Chinese government and the people will never allow anyone to make a fuss about the one-China principle. Anyone who expects China to compromise on the Taiwan question could only be wishful thinking and self-defeating, Xi added. Von der Leyen reiterated that the EU has no intention to change its long-standing one-China policy, recognizes the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government representing the whole of China and hopes that the Taiwan Strait will maintain peace and stability. New Delhi [India], April 7 (ANI): A total of 269 districts across 27 states have started distributing fortified rice under the public distribution system, Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary Department of Food and Public Distribution told reporters. In the press conference held on Thursday, he said by distributing in those many districts, a 100 per cent target set for Phase II by March 2023 in Rice Fortification Programme was achieved. Also Read | The Popes Exorcist Full Movie in HD Leaked on TamilRockers & Telegram Channels for Free Download and Watch Online; Russell Crowes Horror Film Is the Latest Victim of Piracy?. Fortification is the process of adding micronutrients (Iron, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12) to normal rice. This process is done in the rice mills at the time of milling of rice. Fortification of rice helps improve nutritional security and helps in fighting anaemia and malnutrition. This strategy is implemented in some other geographies the world over. Also Read | Bear Attack in Italy: Man Mauled to Death by Brown Bears While Jogging, Mutilated Body Found. He added that about 105 lakh tonne of fortified rice was lifted by targeted 27 States/UTs in Phase II. In addition, about 29 LMT was lifted by the States/UTs under ICDS and PM POSHAN, making a total of about 134 LMT fortified rice lifted in the just concluded the financial year 2022-23. "Now under Phase III, the department is geared to complete the coverage of all remaining districts excluding wheat-consuming ones before the targeted date of March 2024," an official release by the ministry said. Supplying fortified rice throughout the country by 2024 in a phased manner was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 75th Independence Day address (August 15, 2021). Meanwhile, the number of rice mills having rice blending infrastructure has increased from 2,690 to 18,227 from August 2021 to March 2023. The cumulative annual fortified rice manufacturing capacity has increased more than 18 folds from 0.9 lakh tonne in August 2021 to 17 lakh tonne. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], April 7 (ANI): The Network Planning Group (NPG) under PM GatiShakti has recommended the railway's four infrastructure projects during its 46th session. These projects will be developed in tandem with the PM GatiShakti principles using the integrated and holistic approach, according to a statement from the ministry of commerce and industry. These projects will also provide multimodal connectivity, seamless movement of goods and passengers as well as increase logistics efficiency across the country. Also Read | Ravanasura Movie Review: Ravi Tejas Breaking Bad Turn Serves Up a Lukewarm, Highly Problematic Masala Potboiler (LatestLY Exclusive). The meeting, held on Sunday, was chaired by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Logistics Division Special Secretary Sumita Dawra. Senior officials from the department of telecommunication; ministry of environment, forest and climate change; ministry of railways; ministry of ports, shipping and waterways; ministry of civil aviation; ministry of Power, NITI Aayog, ministry of road transport and highways, ministry of petroleum and natural Gas and ministry of new and renewable energy, were present in the meeting. Also Read | Amplitude Layoffs: US-Based Software Firm Sacks 13% of Workforce Globally Amid Tough Macroeconomic Conditions. A project by the ministry of railways for the construction of a broad-gauge double line between Sawai Madhopur and Jaipur in Rajasthan state was examined by the NPG. The project spans about 131 km from Sawai Madhopur to Jaipur and is deemed to be a significant infrastructure initiative. Upon completion, the project is expected to improve the line capacity to 71 per cent without maintenance block and 80 per cent with maintenance block by the year 2026-27, according to a statement from the ministry of commerce and industry. The Jaipur-Sawai Madhopur route serves as a feeder to the Delhi-Mumbai route, and it represents the primary conduit connecting Jaipur, its environs, and Mumbai, southern and eastern parts of India. The proposed project would help alleviate congestion in the existing single-line network, resulting in uninterrupted traffic flow. Further, NPG has evaluated a project proposed by the ministry of railways for the construction of a new broad-gauge line between Anand Nagar Ghughuli and Maharajganj on Northeastern Railway in Uttar Pradesh. The proposed project spans 53 km from Anand Nagar. The project is expected to enhance the economic development of the region by providing a direct broad-gauge line to the project area. The new line would serve as an alternate and shorter route for trains travelling from Valmikinagar to Gonda via Maharajganj without having to stop at Gorakhpur Junction, according to the statement from the ministry of commerce and industry. Passengers would benefit from this as the only transportation currently available in this section is by road. Additionally, the railway line is expected to facilitate the movement of cement, fertiliser, coal, and foodgrains. Moreover, the railway line would enable freight movement to Nepal. Another project by the railways for the construction of new broad-gauge line between Junagarh and Nabarangpur station in Odisha state was examined by the NPG. The proposed project spans about 116 km from Junagarh to Nabarangpur. The construction of this new line is expected to reduce the distance from Bailadela iron ore mines to various steel plants in the Raipur region by 131 km. Additionally, it is anticipated that the project would facilitate the logistics of steel plant, and goods sheds at Junagarh Road, Jeypore, Koraput, and other goods sheds on the RV line, which are the points of multi-modal logistics, according to the ministry. The ministry of commerce and industry said this new line would provide an alternative route for the movement of coal from Visakhapatnam, Gangavaram, and Kakinada ports to various steel plants in the Raipur region. The provision of road-rail intermodal logistics is expected to enhance traffic to goods sheds at Jeypore, Junagarh Road, and Nabarangpur. Last project by the ministry of railways was for the provision of automatic block signalling on freight dense high utilisation network on Western Railway. The project aims to cover 895 route kilometre (RKM) and four major sections of Western Railway in Maharashtra and Gujarat. According to the statement, the benefit of the project includes enhanced line capacity and section speed to 130 kmph from 110 kmph that is likely to lead to cost reduction for the Railways and increase the overall logistics efficiency. This will result in a reduction of train detention and travel time, especially in the Udhna-Jalgaon, Ahmedabad-Palanpur, Ahmedabad-Viramgam-Samakhiyali, and Viramgam-Rajkot sections. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], April 7 (ANI): Hours after joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy on Friday met the party's national president JP Nadda in the national capital here. Earlier in the day, Reddy, who served as the last Chief Minister for undivided Andhra Pradesh, joined BJP at a function organized at the party headquarter. Also Read | Karnataka High Court Rejects Plea Seeking Indian Citizenship for Two Minors Born to Pakistani Father. Reddy on March 13, 2023, sent a letter to the Congress' national president Mallikarjun Kharge. "Please accept this letter as my resignation from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress," he wrote in a letter. Reddy became Andhra Pradesh's chief minister on November 11, 2010, but resigned on March 10, 2014, to protest against the Congress party's decision to bifurcate the state. Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge Phone Calls Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Bats for Opposition Unity. Notably, he even made the assembly pass a resolution opposing the central government's draft bill on the bifurcation of the state. The former CM had resigned from the Congress party in 2014 too, to protest against the then United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government's decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh and carve out Telangana. He formed his own party 'Jai Samaikyandhra' and even fielded candidates in some constituencies in the 2014 elections. In 2018, he again rejoined Congress after meeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He also served as assembly speaker from 2009 to 2010 and chief whip between 2004-09 under YS Rajasekhara Reddy. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], April 7 (ANI): The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Thursday approved the revised domestic natural gas pricing guidelines for gas produced from nomination fields of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Oil India Limited(OIL), New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) blocks and pre-NELP blocks, where production sharing contract provides for government's approval of prices. Briefing the media after a meeting of union cabinet, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said the price of such natural gas shall be 10 per cent of the monthly average of Indian Crude Basket and shall be notified on a monthly basis. Also Read | 'Pathaan' on OTT: Delhi High Court Asks Centre To Work on Making Movie Accessible for Disabled Persons. For the gas produced by ONGC and OIL from their nomination blocks, the Administered Price Mechanism (APM) price shall be subject to a floor and a ceiling. Gas produced from new wells or well interventions in the nomination fields of ONGC and OIL, would be allowed a premium of 20 per cent over the APM price. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Fire: Three-Year-Old Girl Dies After Fire in Gonda Village. The new guidelines are intended to ensure a stable pricing regime for domestic gas consumers while at the same time providing adequate protection to producers from adverse market fluctuation with incentives for enhancing production, the Minister said. An official release said the government has targeted increasing the share of natural gas in the primary energy mix in India from the current 6.5 per cent to 15 per cent by 2030. "The reforms shall help expand the consumption of natural gas and will contribute to the achievement of the target of emission reduction and net zero," the release said. "These reforms are a continuation of the various initiatives taken by the government to protect the interests of consumers by reducing the impact of the increase in international gas prices on gas prices in India by significantly increasing the domestic gas allocation to the city gas distribution sector," it added. The release said the reforms will lead to a significant decrease in prices of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) for households and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for transport, adding that the reduced prices shall also lower the fertilizer subsidy burden and help the domestic power sector. With the provision of a floor in gas prices as well as provision for 20 per cent premium for new wells, this reform will incentivize ONGC and OIL to make additional long-term investments in the upstream sector leading to greater production of natural gas and consequent reduction in import dependence of fossil fuels, the release said. "The revised pricing guidelines will also promote a lower carbon footprint through the growth of a gas-based economy." At present, the domestic gas prices are determined as per the new Domestic Gas Pricing Guidelines, 2014 which were approved by the government in 2014. The 2014 pricing guidelines provided for declaration for domestic gas prices for a 6-month period based on the volume-weighted prices prevailing at four gas trading hubs - Henry Hub, Albena, National Balancing Point (UK) and Russia for a period of 12 months and a time lag of a quarter. As the earlier guidelines based on four gas hubs had a significant time lag and very high volatility, the need for this rationalization and reform was felt. The revised guidelines make prices linked to crude, which is a practice now followed in most industry contracts, more relevant to our consumption basket and has deeper liquidity in global trading markets, on a real-time basis, the release said. With the changes now approved, data of Indian Crude basket price from the previous month would form the basis for APM gas price determination, it added. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], April 7 (ANI): The Central government will provide financial support to states in order to extend relief to those poor prisoners who are unable to avail bail or get released from prison due to non-payment of fines on account of financial constraints, a statement from Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Friday. The step being taken by the MHA will enable poor prisoners, the majority of whom belong to socially disadvantaged or marginalised groups with lower education and income level, to get out of prison. Also Read | Mumbai Shocker: Man Caught Red-Handed Recording Videos of Women Passengers Onboard Sinhagad Express for Three Days, Handed Over to Kalyan GRP. "The broad contours of the scheme have been finalised in consultation with concerned stakeholders under which the Government of India will provide financial support to States in order to extend relief to those poor prisoners who are unable to avail bail or get released from prisons due to non-payment of fine, on account of financial constraints," the statement said. The move is aimed at addressing the issues of undertrials in prisons under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Also Read | Chhattisgarh: Five Eunuchs Marry Their 'Guru' in Janjgir-Champa District (Watch Video). The MHA has been taking various steps to address the issues of undertrials prisoners from time to time. These include the insertion of Section 436A in the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the insertion of a new chapter XXIA 'Plea Bargaining' in the CrPC. Free legal aid is also being provided to poor prisoners through Legal Services Authority at various levels. "Further to ensure that the benefits of the Budget are extended across all intended sections of society, one of the priorities of the Budget, namely the Guiding 'Saptarishis' is Reaching the Last Mile," read the statement. Under this, one of the announcements is 'Support for Poor Prisoners', pointed the statement, adding, "It envisages provision of required financial support to poor persons who are in prisons and unable to afford the penalty or the bail amount." To further strengthen the process, the statement said, "Technology-driven solutions will be put in place to ensure that benefits reach the poor prisoners; reinforcing the E-prisons platform; strengthening of District Legal Services Authority and sensitization and capacity building of stakeholders to ensure that quality legal aid is made available to needy poor prisoners." Prisons are an important part of the Criminal Justice System and play a significant role in upholding the rule of law. The MHA has been sharing important guidelines with State Governments through various advisories issued from time to time. The Ministry has also been providing financial support to the state governments for enhancing and modernizing the security infrastructure in prisons. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Roorkee (Uttarakhand) [India], April 7 (ANI): Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee on Thursday held its 22nd annual convocation with great pageantry. The convocation ceremony commenced with the students singing the 'National Anthem' and 'Kulgeet' (Institute song). The convocation was held under a dress code of Indian attire: Kurta for males and Saree for females. Also Read | Amid Layoffs and Salary Cuts, Soaring Rent in Bengaluru Emerging As Major Challenge for Techies. A total of 2022 degrees were awarded this year, comprising 1,005 Undergraduates, 638 Masters and 379 PhDs, the IIT Roorkee said in a statement. The awardees, their families, and the campus community enthusiastically attended the annual degree-awarding event. The graceful ceremony was presided over by the Chairman, Board of Governors, IIT Roorkee BVR Mohan Reddy. Also Read | Ostereistedt: Easter Bunny Gets 70,000 Letters from Children. Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan adorned the occasion as the Chief Guest. While heartily congratulating all the 2,022 graduating students, Pradhan said, "IIT Roorkee has witnessed India's freedom struggle and has been a leading institution in independent India's growth story. And in this Amrit Kaal, IIT Roorkee and all the graduating students must ensure a developed nation by 2047. It is a century of knowledge and under India's presidency, the G-20 theme being - 'One Earth, One Family, One Future' based on millennium-old understanding and values of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam; IIT Roorkee and its students, faculty and alumni must create a plan on how they want to utilize the great opportunity of G-20." He also mentioned, "IIT Roorkee must take the lead in the education transformation of the country where service to humanity is at the centre of education." Director of IIT Roorkee Prof KK Pant welcomed the degree recipients and others and presented his annual report highlighting the achievements of the institute. Deputy Director of the Institute Prof UP Singh was also present at the ceremony. Dean of Academic Affairs Prof Apurbba Kumar Sharma, presented the doctoral degree recipients and the awardees of various medals and merit certificates who excelled in their specializations, while the respective heads presented the candidates to the Chairman, Senate for distribution of the degrees, medals and prizes. And the event began with a welcome address by the Director, Prof KK Pant who congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to strengthen their networking and communication abilities, develop relevant skills periodically, think like entrepreneurs and develop leadership qualities. This was followed by the institute's annual report presented by Prof KK Pant, who gave an overview of the institute's achievements and the vision of the 175-year-old institute aiming to be a hub for world-class education. Some remarkable achievements of the institute include introducing the UG curriculum aligning with the objectives of the NEP 2020, providing equal opportunity for all, particularly those in Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine and Mathematics (STEMM) areas at all levels, the statement said. The IIT Roorkee has also implemented and supported the Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI), an innovative pilot project launched by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), which ushers a novel intervention programme for promoting gender equity in science and technology, SAKUNTALA (Scheme for Aspirants of Knowledge Under Talent Advancement) Fellowship, a special scheme for female candidates for admission in the PhD programme at IIT Roorkee and the 'Golden Girl' scheme for the gold medalists and first rank holders of top 50 universities or institutes of the country for admission into the post-graduate programs. On the occasion, Chairman Prof KK Pant congratulated the graduates and urged them to use their education for the betterment of society and the nation. Reflecting upon the role of an institution in shaping future leaders and the evolving higher education sector in India, he said "IIT Roorkee's goal is to encourage graduates to continue learning and to be ready for the constant changes and disruptions happening in the world by contributing to the national growth story." BVR Mohan Reddy said, "IIT Roorkee is one of the most prestigious institutes in the country known for imparting quality education in engineering and technology for many years. The quality of our graduates is the testimony to this, and, in the process, the role of parents, family, and teachers in the success of graduates cannot be undermined. We encourage our graduates to take advantage of opportunities and contribute to society." The event concluded with the conferral of degrees and diplomas to all graduates and the "Oath" taken by the recipients of the degrees and diplomas, bringing the ceremony to a memorable finish. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kochi, Apr 7 (PTI/AP) Burrowed between mangroves and a bustling skyline, 70-year old Rajan, who only uses one name, reminisces about his old home. Also Read | Ostereistedt: Easter Bunny Gets 70,000 Letters from Children. For nearly sixty years, Rajan has lived comfortably among the trees in Mangalavanam forest in Kerala. In the last two decades, the surrounding city of Kochi has boomed as the state's financial capital and swallowed up once-protected green areas, including Rajan's former home. He was forced to sell his land to a local private realtor when the area was bought up for construction about 15 years ago. He moved into a makeshift dwelling on the edge of a protected bird sanctuary. Also Read | 'Pathaan' on OTT: Delhi High Court Asks Centre To Work on Making Movie Accessible for Disabled Persons. "Now there are buildings all around and no wind," said Rajan, adding that the towering concrete has made the city and forest stifling hot. Government buildings, private offices and homes have sprung up at pace, cutting deep into the forest known as the "green lung of Kochi." The trees are now squeezed on all sides by buildings, construction and smog. Environmentalists are concerned over the loss and declining health of mangrove cover, which is particularly effective at sucking planet-warming carbon dioxide out of the air, can fend off scorching heat for nearby residents and sustains populations of local wildlife. Mangroves also shield local habitations against ocean hazards such as tropical cyclones, storm surges and tsunamis. Officials and developers alike defend the need to house the state's dense population and harness economic growth in the world's soon-to-be most populous nation, but experts say this cannot come at the cost of green spaces. Kerala has lost nearly 98 per cent of its mangrove forests, shrinking from 700 square kilometres in 1975 to just 17 square kilometres now, according to figures from the Kerala Forest Research Institute. Mangrove cover across the country creeped up slightly between 2017 to 2019 at a rate of 0.5 per cent per year thanks to concerted efforts by the government with restoration and maintenance projects springing up in Kerala and beyond. "I had literally fought with the government to come out with plans to protect the mangrove forests," said Kathireshan Kandasamy, who studies India's mangrove forests and is a former member of the National Mangrove Committee, a body set up by the government to advise on conservation. PROTECTION PLANS ARE A MISNOMER: In 2022 the Indian government, following Kandasamy and the committee's advice, identified 44 critical mangrove ecosystems in the country, including two in Kerala. It launched a management action plan to protect and maintain the areas. State governments also started sanctioning funds for conservation projects. The shrunken Mangalavanam is now listed as a protected area, but there are concerns about the impact of nearby development. "I found out that some city drainage is passing through this mangrove ecosystem, said Rani Varghese, a research scholar at the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies. Varghese said the runoff is changing its whole ecosystem." While the trees themselves are still sucking planet-warming carbon dioxide out of the air, Varghese explained, effluents and pollutants in the soil hamper how good of a sink for carbon the soil can be. With record amounts of carbon dioxide being pumped into the air by human activity, maintaining ecosystems like mangrove forests can counteract some of the harms of warming. The potential of the forest to store carbon "is actually in the state of deterioration," said Varghese. A Anil Kumar, Mayor of Kochi Corporation, said while they cannot do anything about waste water runoff immediately the area will continue to be studied. In the meantime, property companies use what is left of the squeezed forests as a selling point for extravagant homes and office buildings in the area. Signs outside new developments boast about their luxury apartments' untouched green views from properties' multiple balconies. Long, plastic advertising boards line nearby roads with images of thick forests. The apartments give residents spectacular sights of backwaters merging with the Arabian Sea and, for a premium, Mangalavanam's last green stronghold in the form of the bird sanctuary, which is surrounded by construction and scaffolding. K Krishnankutty, a nearby resident, comes for a morning walk every day on the surrounding road, where mangrove branches hang overhead, lining wide pavements. He said he loves the shade and chirping birds but laments how much the lush space has slimmed in recent years. "All around this Mangalavanam used to be open with no tall buildings," Krishnankutty said. "So many migratory birds used to come here. Now we cannot see any as the buildings cover up this area." Experts fear the loss of Kerala's mangrove cover could deplete further in the coming years. Some 75 per cent of the remaining mangroves across Kerala are in the hands of private individuals and could be cleared for more lucrative intensive shrimp farming, said M Ramit, a programme officer for the Wildlife Trust of India, who is working on a project to restore mangroves in Kannur. "The Kerala government had earlier devised a plan to acquire the mangrove land from private individuals in order to conserve them," Ramit said, but "somehow, the plan was later dropped." But Kerala's state department of environment and climate change contested the claims and said there is no threat to the existing mangrove forests, regardless of ownership, as the forests are protected by state laws. Varghese, the Kerala University researcher, said there's still hope that the trend of mangrove loss can be reversed and the forest ecosystem can function normally in the near future. "If we stop the adverse human interventions in the sanctuary and divert the drainage from Mangalavanam, in another 10 years we could regain all the potential benefits of the mangrove ecosystem," Varghese said. With the right measures, she said, communities can "turn it around as a good carbon sink." (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], April 7 (ANI): Indian Medical Association (IMA) celebrated World Health day day across the country on Friday. The celebrations were held across 1,750 branches of the IMA. A mega Walkathon event was organized in Delhi, an IMA official said. Also Read | Calcutta High Court Denies Permission To Terminate 12-Year-Old Minor Rape Victim's 28-Week Pregnancy. "More than 1000 doctors from all sections - senior members, junior doctors, students, nurses and other paramedics participated in the event. They walked from Maulana Azad Medical College to IMA HQ", the official said. The event was held in collaboration with DMA and was flagged by National president, IMA, Dr Sharad Agarwal and HSG Dr Anil Nayak. The flagging off was conducted in the august presence of IPP Dr SNP Singh and chairman Action committee Dr Vinay Agarwal. Also Read | Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Says Around 27,000 Cases Withdrawn To Lower Burden on Judiciary. Placards and slogans on various health issues were displayed by the team during the event. Every year April 7 is celebrated as World Health day. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of WHO which was established in April 7, 1948. It was established with a motive to attain the highest level of health and well-being to everyone, everywhere. According to an official WHO release, 75th anniversary year is an opportunity to look back over 7 decades of collective public health achievements, thanks to science-driven learning and collaboration across countries and cultures, and to motivate action to tackle future health challenges for improved well-being and longer, healthier lives for everyone. The theme for World Health Day 2023 is Health for All. (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, Apr 7 (PTI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday held wide-ranging talks with his South Korean counterpart Park Jin with an aim to take forward the special strategic partnership between the two countries. The two foreign ministers also deliberated on the overall situation in the Indo-Pacific, a region that has witnessed growing Chinese military assertiveness. Also Read | Pope Francis to Skip Good Friday Procession. Park is on a two-day visit to India. "I'm really very glad to have the opportunity to take forward our special strategic partnership. This is also the 50th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations," Jaishankar said in his opening remarks at the meeting. Also Read | DCW Chief Swati Maliwal Conducts Surprise Inspection of Public Toilet in Delhi, Leads to Seizure of 50 Litre of Acid (Watch Video). "And you come at a very good time, because our trade is very good, our political relations are very cooperative," he said. In his remarks, Park referred to the commonalities between the two sides and their commitment to the Indo-Pacific. "We are both exemplary democracies, vibrant economies and cultural powers and we are both committed to contributing to a free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region," he said. "In this way, South Korea and India are natural partners and I have a strong belief that the special strategic partnership between our two countries is the strongest partnership in the Indo-Pacific region," the South Korean foreign minister said. Park also spoke about India's "increasingly pivotal role" in the international stage and that the country is is set to further impact the world as the president of the G20. "India has also demonstrated to the world its cultural prowess with the recent Oscar win, and I must say the 'Naatu Naatu' song and dance has captivated the world," he added. Before meeting Jaishankar, Park called on Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. On Saturday morning, Park will leave for Chennai. "I know tomorrow you're visiting the Hyundai plant in Chennai. So that itself, Hyundai in many ways is a symbol of the relationship that we have," Jaishankar said in his opening remarks. "We have also expanded our relationship today to cover the economic development cooperation fund; we are doing projects under that," he said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kozhikode (Kerala) [India], April 7 (ANI): Kerala train arson accused Shahrukh Saifi was on Friday remanded to 14-day judicial custody. The order was issued by Kozhikode Judicial First Class Magistrate, who reached the Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital, where the accused, Saifi, was undergoing treatment on Friday morning, to complete the process of remand. Also Read | Karnataka High Court Rejects Plea Seeking Indian Citizenship for Two Minors Born to Pakistani Father. "City Police Commissioner Rajpal Meena and Munsiff Magistrate arrived at the hospital and the accused has been awarded 14 days of judicial custody," officials said. Saifi was brought to Kozhikode Medical College for medical examination on Thursday morning and was admitted there. Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge Phone Calls Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Bats for Opposition Unity. According to officials, taking into account the health problems of the accused, the magistrate court transferred the proceedings to the hospital. Judicial First Class Magistrate Manish physically came to the Medical College for proceedings. After speaking to the accused at the Medical College, Magistrate proceeded to remand him. They said that the accused will continue to remain in medical treatment at Kozhikode Govt Medical College Hospital. "A decision on whether to send the accused to police custody will be taken after the fitness of the accused is re-examined. If the court refuses to send the accused in custody, the detailed questioning of the accused will be delayed," they said. Sharukh Saifi was detained in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri on Tuesday night by the Anti-Terrorism Squad of Maharashtra police with the help of the National Investigation Agency(NIA). On Tuesday, he was handed over to Kerala police. The arrest was made based on a sketch released by the kerala police on information provided by an eyewitness. The Maharashtra police had said he confessed to the crime. Saifi is a resident of the Shaheen Bagh in Delhi's Jamia Nagar. A team from Kerala police visited Saifi's residence. Kerala police formed a special investigation team to probe the incident. The attack happened on a moving Alappuzha Kannur executive express on Sunday night. Three people were killed in the attack including an infant and a woman and around 10 were injured. The investigations so far indicated that Saifi was radicalised online. Handwritten notes were also found in which he allegedly said, "Let's do it". (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhopal, April 7: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday took a dig at the Congress party and said that they did not want the state to remain a island of peace. CM Chouhan wrote on his Twitter handle, "Madhya Pradesh is 'Amrit Kumbh', but Congress has become 'Vishkumbh' (pot of poison)." Talking to the reporters after planting a sapling at smart city park in the state capital, CM Chouhan said, "Madhya Pradesh is an island of peace. The people of Madhya Pradesh live with love, affection and harmony. Be it Ram Navami or Hanuman Jayanti, it was celebrated not only peacefully but also with harmony in the entire state. But the Congress is not liking this." Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan Attends Safalta Ke Mantra Program To Honor UPSC Aspirants From State. "Congress wants that Madhya Pradesh should not remain the peace island, there should be riots in the state. I am surprised that the veteran Congress leader, former Chief Minister Kamal Nath, when he was not the Chief Minister before the 2018 elections, even then he was saying loudly that why 90% votes were not cast at the polling booths of Muslims. Get the votes casted otherwise there would be loss," Chouhan said. Video: MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Wife Sadhna Singh Celebrate Diwali With Children Who Lost Their Parents During COVID-19 Pandemic in Bhopal. Everyone has seen the video of that time that he (Nath) works considering vote banks only. Will people be instigated for votes, on the basis of religions and castes? In a recent incident on Wednesday (April 5), Nath is again saying while attending a Roza Iftar party, that riots are breaking out in the country and in the state, Chouhan said. He further asked, "Where are the riots breaking out in Madhya Pradesh? Where is the unrest in the state? But you (Nath) have become so mad in the hunger of votes that you want to throw Madhya Pradesh into the abyss of unrest and disharmony? Do you wish that riots would break out?" Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nath used to get happy seeing the dead bodies, he was happy to see the bodies. This levellessness of politics will not do any good to Madhya Pradesh, the CM said. "We saw that our Muslim brothers showered flowers on Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti at many places. You (Congress) did not like this harmony, but whatever you do, we will not allow Madhya Pradesh to be engulfed in riots. Peace and tranquillity will prevail here," Chouhan said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], April 7 (ANI): Amid the arrival of new Electronic Voting Machines in Odisha, The state chief electoral officer (CEO) Nikunja Bihari Dhal on Friday asked the media to refrain from speculation about early Election in the State. "Electronic Voting Machines have a life span, factory made EVMs are being supplied to different States including Odisha for use in future elections. This has got no connection with the timing of future general elections." said a statement from the office of the chief electoral officer. Also Read | Bihar Shocker: Pregnant Women Suffer Uneasiness Due to Wrong Diagnosis in Jahanabad. "There is some speculation in the Media regarding early election has come to our notice, It is requested to refrain from such speculations." the statement added. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Burhanpur, Apr 7 (PTI) A mob of more than 60 people launched an attack on a police station in Madhya Pradesh's Burhanpur district on Friday and free three accused persons, including a dacoit, lodged in the lock-up, an official said. Also Read | New Gas Pricing Formula: CNG, Piped Gas Prices To Be Cut but No Clarity on Deregulation. The incident took place around 3 am, when the mob entered Nepanagar police station, attacked and injured on-duty policemen and damaged several police vehicles, the official said. Also Read | G20 Summit 2023: Delhi Government To Plant 20 Lakh Flowering Saplings in National Capital as Part of Preparations for Event. Four policemen were injured in the incident and are undergoing treatment at a private hospital, he said. The mob freed dacoit Hema Meghwal, who was carrying a reward of Rs 32,000, and their two other associates lodged in the lock-up. Meghwal was arrested a few days ago, Burhanpur SP, Rahul Kumar Lodha said. On being alerted about the attack, senior officials including Collector Bhavya Mittal and the superintendent of police reached the spot. At the time of the incident, four policemen were on duty, while the attackers were more than 60, Lodha said. The police were using CCTV footage to identify the attackers, he said. Apart from Meghwal, the mob also freed Magan Patel and another youth from the lock-up, 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) New Delhi [India], April 7 (ANI): Ahead of the upcoming Karnataka Assembly polls, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will hold a rally in Karnataka's Kolar on April 10. He is also scheduled to visit his former Parliamentary constituency Wayanad in Kerala, a day later on April 11. Also Read | New Gas Pricing Formula: CNG, Piped Gas Prices To Be Cut but No Clarity on Deregulation. Karnataka is slated to go to Assembly polls on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13. Earlier on Monday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi along with several senior party leaders went to the Gujarat court to file an appeal against his March 23 conviction in a criminal defamation case over his "Modi surname" remark. Also Read | G20 Summit 2023: Delhi Government To Plant 20 Lakh Flowering Saplings in National Capital as Part of Preparations for Event. He was accompanied by his sister and party leader Priyanka Gandhi. Along with her, the Chief Ministers of Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh too came to the court. The court in Gujarat's Surat granted bail till the disposal of the appeal to Rahul Gandhi in the defamation case. The former MP from Wayanad was convicted and sentenced to two years in hail by the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate H H Varma on March 23 in a defamation case over his 'Modi surname' remark in 2019 in Karnataka. The matter pertains to Rahul's remarks at a rally in Karnataka's Kolar in April 2019, Rahul, in a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said, "How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?". Following his conviction, Rahul was disqualified as an MP on March 24, as per a Supreme Court ruling in 2013. Under the ruling, any MP or MLA stands to be disqualified automatically if convicted and sentenced to 2 years or more. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], April 7 (ANI): The Supreme Court has granted three weeks to the Ministry of Finance to file its response to a plea seeking directions to create a centralised database providing information about bank accounts, insurance, post office funds etc. held by deceased account holders. A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice JB Pardiwala posted the matter for hearing on April 28. Also Read | New Gas Pricing Formula: CNG, Piped Gas Prices To Be Cut but No Clarity on Deregulation. "While the Ministry of Corporate Affairs has filed its counter affidavit, counsel for the Union of India submits that the Ministry of Finance may be granted some time to file its counter affidavit. Counter affidavit be filed within three weeks. List the petition on April 28, 2023," the bench stated in its order on Thursday. Last year the apex court had issued a notice to the Ministry of Finance, Reserve Bank of India, Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and others on the petition. Also Read | G20 Summit 2023: Delhi Government To Plant 20 Lakh Flowering Saplings in National Capital as Part of Preparations for Event. The plea filed by journalist Sucheta Dalal asked the court to pass a direction for the establishment of a procedure for dealing with claims of legal heirs qua bank deposits, insurance, post office funds etc., that eliminates unnecessary litigation. The plea stated that unclaimed funds of the public that get transferred to government-owned funds like the Depositor's Education and Awareness Fund (DEAF), Investor's Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) and Senior Citizen's Welfare Fund (SCWF) on the ground that the legal heirs or nominees did not claim the same, should be made available to the legal heirs or nominees by providing information of holders of inoperative or dormant accounts on a centralised online database. There is an urgent need to develop a centralised online database under the control of RBI that will provide information about the deceased account holder including such details as the name, address and last date of transaction by the deceased account holder, stated the plea. "It is submitted that the Depositors' Education and Awareness Fund (DEAF) had Rs. 39,264.25 crore at the end of March 2021, up from Rs 33,114 crore on 31 March 2020 and a sharp rise from Rs 18,381 crore at the end of March 2019. Further, the amount lying with the Investor Education Protection Fund started at Rs 400 crore in 1999, and was 10 times higher at Rs 4,100 crore at the end of March 2020," the plea submitted. The plea stated that it should be mandatory for banks to inform RBI about the inoperative or dormant bank accounts and this exercise should be repeated after an interval of 9-12 months. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Karimnagar (Telangana) [India], April 7 (ANI): Hours after coming out of jail in the SSC paper leak case, Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Bandi Sanjay on Friday paid floral tributes to BR Ambedkar in Karimnagar. Prior to this, Bandi Sanjay also held a rally in Karimnagar with several party leaders and workers. Also Read | Karnataka High Court Rejects Plea Seeking Indian Citizenship for Two Minors Born to Pakistani Father. Sanjay slammed K Chandrashekhar Rao government and said that BJP would unfurl the saffron flag in the state after assembly elections this year. Reacting to Bharat Rashtra Samithi's allegations that the Centre wants to privatise Singareni Collieries, Bandi Sanjay said that BJP would oppose the privatization. Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge Phone Calls Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Bats for Opposition Unity. "51 per cent share in Singareni belongs to the state, how can the centre with 49 per cent share privatize? BJP will oppose the privatization of Singareni. Singareni has become like an ATM for the KCR family. Knowing that PM Modi is coming, KCR is conspiring to provoke. All Singareni workers know everything," Sanjay said. Sanjay was arrested by police late on Tuesday night from his Karimnagar residence. Later on Thursday, he was granted bail by a magistrate court in the paper leak case. The court allowed bail on the condition of Rs 20,000 surety from a magistrate's court in Warangal. The court also set the condition that Bandi Sanjay Kumar should not leave the country, cooperate with the investigation and should't threaten the witnesses. On Wednesday, Bandi Sanjay and three others were sent to judicial custody until April 19 in the SSC paper leak case. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], April 7 (ANI): Amid a nationwide upward trend in the COVID cases, Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday chaired a review meeting with health ministers of all states and Union Territories through video conferencing. Earlier in the day, before attending the meeting Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar said the Centre has been regularly issuing guidelines to the states and Union Territories amid a nationwide upward spiral in the Covid-19 cases. Also Read | Mumbai Shocker: Man Caught Red-Handed Recording Videos of Women Passengers Onboard Sinhagad Express for Three Days, Handed Over to Kalyan GRP. Speaking to ANI, Pawar said, "The Centre has been issuing guidelines to states and UTs regularly in view of the spike in Covid cases. PM Modi also held a review meeting with all states and UTs to assess their Covid preparedness." India today recorded 6,050 new cases in 24 hours while the active case tally stood at 28,303 on Friday. Also Read | Chhattisgarh: Five Eunuchs Marry Their 'Guru' in Janjgir-Champa District (Watch Video). The COVID-19 cases in India have seen an upward trend in the past few days with the daily fresh infections ranging between 2,994 on April 1 to 3,824 on April 2 and 3,641 on April 3 and 3038 on April 4 and 4,435 on April 5. On Wednesday, the Covid Empowerment Working Group also conducted a review meeting featuring Dr Rajiv Bahl, DG, ICMR and other senior health officials. The objective of the review meeting was to take stock of the prevailing Covid situation in the country and assess the preparedness of healthcare facilities to deal with the spike in cases. The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) also attended the meeting. "We need to remain alert but there is no need to worry. Currently, the sub-variant of Omicron, which is circulating in the country, hasn't led to an increase in the rate of hospitalisation," Mandaviya said earlier on the Covid-19 situation in the country. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 7 (ANI): The Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government will be providing easy free travel facilities to all the Teachers awarded at the national and state level through smart cards, informed a press release. Under this, the free travel facility in UPSRTC Buses will be admissible to all such teachers who fulfil the criteria. Also Read | Pope Francis to Skip Good Friday Procession. The Director of Basic and Secondary Education has instructed all the basic education officers and DIOSs of all the districts in this regard, to provide the details of all such awardee teachers within a week. After providing the list to the Transport Department on behalf of the Education Department, the beneficiary teacher will have to apply for the smart card. Also Read | DCW Chief Swati Maliwal Conducts Surprise Inspection of Public Toilet in Delhi, Leads to Seizure of 50 Litre of Acid (Watch Video). As per the release, the free travel facility is being made available in the buses of the Transport Corporation to the national/state awardee teachers. For this, coupon-based travel has been prescribed to the extent of 4000 kms per year. "The arrangements have been made to issue tickets through a smart card being implemented by the Transport Corporation under its new bus ticketing scheme. Special smart cards will be provided by the corporation to the national/state awardee teachers. On tapping these smart cards on the ticketing machine, a ticket of zero value will be issued, in which the details of the bus number and the journey from where to where will be mentioned. The cost of the smart card will have to be borne by the beneficiary himself. The eligibility of the card is five years," the release stated. In case of loss or deposit, the new card will have to be obtained by the beneficiary by paying the amount. The government stated in the release, "Awarded Teacher Beneficiary for the smart card should have attested photograph of the teacher along with his Aadhaar card and identity card received by Director Basic /Secondary Education, in which it is mentioned that the holder of the identity card is a national / state awardee teacher. By going to the station of any district of the Transport Corporation, the application form will have to mention its details in the prescribed format. The cost of the card will be Rs 100 and 18 per cent GST will be payable separately, which will have to be paid by the teacher. The card will have a smart chip, in which all the details of the teacher will be fed". The beneficiary will also have the option of getting a personalized smart card with a name and photo similar to debit and credit cards. The card will be issued in seven working days from the date of submission of the application at the counter. Beneficiaries will also have the option to apply for the smart card online. For this, they will have to log in to the Transport Corporation's website www.upsrtc.com, where they will have to submit their details and fees by visiting the available link, the release added. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India], April 7 (ANI): Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta on Friday said that a mock drill for Covid-19 preparedness will be conducted in the State on April 10-11. The State Health Minister's statement came after participating in a meeting on Covid-19, chaired by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. Also Read | Bihar Shocker: Pregnant Women Suffer Uneasiness Due to Wrong Diagnosis in Jahanabad. "Today Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya held a meeting with the health ministers of all the states through Video conference. We requested him to issue SoP at the national level. The State government will also issue SoP soon," Gupta told ANI. "On April 10-11, we will conduct a mock drill and on April 9 we will conduct a video conferencing meeting with all the District Collectorates (DCs), and all the senior health officials of the State to assess the covid preparedness," he added. Also Read | Online Fraud in Mumbai: 'Dubai-Based Maulana' Dupes Man of Rs 1.99 Lakh On Pretext of Helping Him Marry His Lover. Mansukh Mandaviya, who chaired a review meeting with states today, urged them to conduct mock drills of all hospital infrastructure on April 10 and 11 and review the health preparedness with district administrations and health officials on April 8 and 9. Mandaviya, during the meeting, also urged states to identify emerging hotspots by monitoring trends of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) cases and sending sufficient samples for testing of COVID-19 and Influenza; and ramping up whole genome sequencing of positive samples. It was observed that 23 states and UTs had average tests per million below the national average. "Irrespective of the new COVID variants, the five-fold strategy of 'Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate and Adherence to COVID Appropriate Behaviour' continue to remain the tested strategy for COVID management. This would facilitate the undertaking of appropriate public health measures, he said," Mandaviya said. According to the union health ministry, states and UTs were also requested to expeditiously increase the rate of testing from the current rate of 100 tests per million, as of the week ending 7th April and further advised to increase the share of RT-PCR in tests. "States and UTs were briefed that India has been witnessing a steady increase in COVID-19 cases with average daily cases rising to 4,188 in the week ending April 7 from 571 in the week ending March 17, and weekly positivity up to 3.02 per cent in the week ending April 7," the ministry official press release said. "States and UTs were further informed that currently WHO is closely tracking one variant of interest (VOI), XBB.1.5 and six other variants are under monitoring (BQ.1, BA.2.75, CH.1.1, XBB, XBF and XBB.1.16). It was highlighted that while Omicron and its sub-lineages continue to be the predominant variant, most of the assigned variants have little or no significant transmissibility, disease severity or immune escape. The prevalence of XBB.1.16 increased from 21.6 per cent in Feb to 35.8 per cent in March. However, no evidence of an increase in hospitalization or mortality has been reported," it added. It was also informed that while India has achieved over 90 per cent coverage of primary vaccination, the coverage of precaution dose is very low. According to the ministry, eight states are reporting a high number of Covid cases in India with 10 or more districts reporting more than 10 per cent positivity in Kerala, Maharashtra and Delhi and over 5 districts reporting more than 5 per cent positivity in the states of Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Haryana. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) North 24 Parganas (West Bengal) [India], April 7 (ANI): A massive fire broke out at a shop behind New Town City Centre in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas on Friday, fire department officials said. According to the fire department officials, two fire tenders and police were pressed into the service. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, officials said. Also Read | Karnataka High Court Rejects Plea Seeking Indian Citizenship for Two Minors Born to Pakistani Father. Further details on the incident are awaited. Earlier on Thursday, a huge fire broke out in a chemical factory in West Bengal's Siliguri district. Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge Phone Calls Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Bats for Opposition Unity. After receiving the information, six fire tenders were immediately pressed into service at Siliguri's Bholanath para, fire department officials said. No casualties were reported in the fire incident, as informed by the officials. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Tadepalle (Andhra Pradesh) [India], April 7 (ANI): YSR Congress party on Friday launched a two-week political outreach campaign titled "Jagananne Maa Bhavishyathu" where 7 lakh party workers of YSR Congress will aim to conduct a door-to-door survey of the entire population in the state of Andhra Pradesh. "YSRCP today launched an extensive two-week campaign titled 'Jagananne Maa Bhavishyathu' today across the state. Education Minister Botsa Satyanarayana, Rajya Sabha MP Alla Ayodhya Rami Reddy, MLC Marri Rajasekhar and Lok Sabha MP Sanjeev Kumar were present during the campaign's launch at the YSRCP Central Office in Tadepalli," the press release said. Also Read | Online Fraud in Mumbai: 'Dubai-Based Maulana' Dupes Man of Rs 1.99 Lakh On Pretext of Helping Him Marry His Lover. The campaign will be conducted from April 7 to April 20. "The 'Jagananne Maa Bhavishyathu' is a mega survey where close to 7 lakh grassroots workers will be reaching out to all 1.65 crore households in the State over 2 weeks (April 7-April 20) covering the entire 5 crore population. These 7 lakh grassroots workers consist of a wide network of newly appointed Gruha Sarathis and ward sachivalayam convenors who will be tasked with conducting the door-to-door mega people's survey," it said. Also Read | West Bengal Shocker: Trinamool Congress Leader Amod Ali Biswas Shot Dead in Broad Daylight in Hanskhali. Addressing the media at Tadepalli party office, MLC Marri Rajasekhar revealed crucial details of the massive survey. "Never in this country has any political party dared to go in public and seek a review of their performance. We are confident of our work and the people's support and so we will present you the result of this mega people's survey when the campaign culminates on April 20," he shared. "The groundwork for the campaign kickstarted a few months ago post which YSRCP has now managed to bring all the important stakeholders on a single platform. All the grassroots soldiers were directly in contact with the party's central office, regional coordinators as well as MLAs for the last 3-4 months. They underwent mandal-wise training in mission mode where they were taught how to conduct public connect programmes effectively," it said. Rajya Sabha MP Alla Ayodhya Rami Reddy praised the cadre for all the hard work they put in the past few months. "I congratulate all the 7 lakh YSRCP grassroots cadre for participating in this extensive campaign. We are transparent and confident of exemplary support from people in this mega survey that we are undertaking," he said. Education Minister Botsa Satyanarayana stated that the campaign will revolve around four elements, Past Vs. Present Pamphlet comparing YSRCP & TDP regime,Praja Maddathu Pusthakam: Survey questionnaire for feedback, Door and Mobile Stickers, Missed call on 8296082960. Meanwhile, Lok Sabha MP Sanjeev Kumar shared how the party came up with the slogan. He said, "'Maa Nammakam Nuvve Jagan' is a slogan that has come from the public itself during our Gadapa Gadapaku programme. This was a resounding message that we got across the state and it only proves that CM Jagan is in the hearts of people." "Apart from a state-level press conference, YSRCP conducted media briefings across 175 Assembly Constituencies with MLAs, ACCs, and MLCs actively participating in this one of its kind campaign," it said. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Baghdad, Apr 7 (AP) An explosion struck next to the Suleimaniyah International Airport in northern Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region Friday, local officials said. The blast came days after Turkiye closed its airspace to flights to and from the airport, citing an alleged increase in Kurdish militant activity threatening flight safety. Also Read | Pakistan: Tribals Attack Police Station Over Relative's Death Inside Jail in Sindh Province. Turkiye has spent years fighting Kurdish militants in its east. Large Kurdish communities also live in neighbouring Iraq and Syria. Also Read | What Is Hikikomori? All You Need To Know About Phenomenon That Prompted 1.5 Million People To Live As Recluses in Japan. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based opposition war monitor, and some local media reported that the explosion was a Turkish drone attack on Mazloum Abdi, the leader of the Syrian Democratic Forces, the main U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led force in Syria. Officials with the SDF and the Kurdish regional government in northeast Syria denied that Abdi was in Suleimaniyah at the time or had been the target of an attack. Fethullah al-Husseini, a representative of the Kurdish self-rule administration in northeast Syria, said Abdi was carrying on his work and is in northeast Syria. The airport's security directorate said in a statement that an explosion took place near the fence surrounding the airport at 4:18 p.m. local time, causing a fire but no injuries. It said the cause of the blast was under investigation and the airport was operating normally. Lawk Ghafuri, head of foreign media affairs for the Kurdish regional government in Iraq, said investigations were still underway and that he was unable to confirm whether the explosion had been a drone attack. However, a statement from the Iraqi Kurdish regional government appeared to blame local authorities in Suleimaniyah, which it accused of provoking an attack on the airport and using government institutions for "illegal activities. The regional government, with its seat in Irbil, is primarily controlled by the Kurdish Democratic Party, while Suleimaniyah is a stronghold of the rival Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. Two Kurdish officials in Irbil, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the incident with reporters, said that the explosion was caused by a drone attack. One of them said the attack had targeted Abdi. A representative of the Turkish defence ministry said he had no information about the incident. Turkey's foreign ministry announced Wednesday that Turkish airspace was closed to flights taking off from and landing at the Suleimaniyah airport. Turkish officials said the closure was a response to an alleged increase in the activities of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, in the city of Suleimaniyah, including its infiltration of the airport. The decision came weeks after two helicopters crashed in northern Iraq, killing Kurdish militants who were on board. The incident fuelled claims that the PKK was in possession of helicopters, infuriating Turkish authorities. The SDF later said it lost nine fighters, including a commander, in the crash, which occurred during bad weather on a flight to Suleimaniyah. The nine included elite fighters who were in Iraq as part of an exchange of expertise in the fight against the Islamic State group, the SDF said. Officials from the Kurdish Democratic Party, which has maintained largely good relations with Turkiye, alleged after the crash that the helicopters had been originally purchased by the rival Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and that they had been flying without permission from the regional government. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Beijing [China], April 7 (ANI): The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday announced sanctions against Hudson Institute and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and their directors in response to the meeting held between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and the US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in the United States, Global Times reported. Under the countermeasures, universities, institutions, organisations and people in China have been prohibited from carrying out exchanges and cooperation with the two US institutions that have been sanctioned. In addition, four senior representatives from these two organisations have been banned from entering China. Also Read | World Health Day 2023: WHO Celebrates Its 75th Birthday Today, Calls for Health Equity in Face of Unprecedented Threats. The four representatives of these institutions who have been sanctioned include Sarah May Stern, chair of Hudson Institute, John Walters, president of the institute, John Heubusch, executive director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute, and Joanne Drake, chief administrative officer of the institute, as per the Global Times report. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the movable and immovable assets and other types of property of these four individuals will be frozen within China. The sanctioned individuals from the two institutes have been banned from entering China and barred from being issued a visa. Also Read | Who Is Miles Routledge Aka Lord Miles, Captured by Taliban in Afghanistan? Know All About the YouTuber Who Visits Most Dangerous Places on Earth. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that Hudson Institute and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library provided a platform and convenience for Tsai Ing-wen to engage in "Taiwan independence" separatist activities in the US, as per the Global Times report. The Chinese Foreign Ministry stressed that these actions violated the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communique and seriously damaged China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as per the news report. The Biden administration allowed Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen to "transit" through the US despite China's firm opposition. On April 6, the Chinese Foreign Ministry condemned the meeting between Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California and vowed that Beijing will take "strong and resolute measures" to defend China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to the official statement. Chinese Foreign Ministry in the statement said, "Through the past few days, in disregard of China's serious representations and repeated warnings, the United States deliberately greenlighted the transit of Tsai Ing-wen, leader of the Taiwan region, through the United States. US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the number three in the US government, had a high-profile meeting with Tsai." It further said, "Other US officials and lawmakers also had contact with Tsai and provided the platform for her separatist rhetoric for 'Taiwan independence'. This is essentially the United States acting with Taiwan to connive at 'Taiwan independence' separatists' political activities in the United States, conduct official contact with Taiwan and upgrade the substantive relations with Taiwan, and frame it as a "transit". This is a serious violation of the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communique." Chinese Foreign Ministry's statement came after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen met the United States House of Representatives speaker Kevin McCarthy, on Wednesday (local time). Taking to her official Twitter handle, Tsai Ing-Wen wrote, "Thank you @SpeakerMcCarthyfor the warm welcome. It's a pleasure to be back at the @Reagan_Library & enjoying the #California sunshine as we work to strengthen the bond between #Taiwan & the #US." Kevin McCarthy called it an honour to welcome Tsai Ing-Wen. He tweeted, "The friendship between America and the people of Taiwan has never been stronger. It is my honor to welcome President @iingwen to the @Reagan_Library." In another tweet, McCarthy said, "Taiwan is a successful democracy, thriving economy, and global leader in health and science. Our cooperation continues to expand through dialogue and exchange." (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New York [US], April 7 (ANI): India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ruchira Kamboj on Friday handed over the contribution of USD 2 million to the United Nations Trust Fund in support of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), reiterating New Delhi's commitment to peace and stability in Somalia and the Horn of Africa. Earlier, India had contributed USD 4 million to African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). India's Permanent Mission to the UN noted in a press release, "India recognizes the important role being played by the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) in providing an enabling security environment in Somalia, and in containing the terrorism perpetrated by Al-Shabaab." Also Read | Japan Helicopter Crash: Japanese Militarys Black Hawk UH-60JA Chopper Crashes in Sea With 10 on Board, Rescue Operation Underway. Permanent Mission of India to the UN in a tweet stated, "Today, on behalf of the Government of #India, Ambassador @ruchirakamboj handed over a cheque of US$ 2 million in favour of the @_AfricanUnion Mission in Somalia. India stands committed to building peace and stability in Africa." According to the release, India as an elected member of the UN Security Council has engaged constructively to ensure the smooth transition from African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to ATMIS in line with the security requirements of Somalia. Also Read | World Health Day 2023: WHO Celebrates Its 75th Birthday Today, Calls for Health Equity in Face of Unprecedented Threats. India stressed that the timely and phased handover of security responsibilities from ATMIS to the Somali Security forces will be important and will need to be calibrated to avert security gaps. India also lauded the ATMIS troops and police contributing countries for their sustained commitment and the sacrifices they have made over the years. India's Permanent Mission to the UN stated further that New Delhi was a "steadfast supporter" of AMISOM and involved in peacekeeping in Somalia for more than 30 years. Furthermore, it said, India continues to support African Union and the UN in responding to terrorism and building peace and stability in Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa. Also, in the release, India's Permanent Mission to the UN said, "ATMIS was established on 1 April 2022 pursuant to the Security Council resolution 2628 (2022) and African Union Peace and Security Council Communique 1068th of 8 March 2022 to support the implementation of the Somali Transitional Plan towards a full handover of security responsibility to the Somali security forces and institutions by the end 2024." It further said that the primary role of ATMIS is to reduce the threat posed by the terrorist group Al-Shabaad. (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, Apr 7 (PTI) An Indian national in the US has been sentenced to 33 months in prison and ordered to pay USD 2.4 million for defrauding elderly people in America. Ashish Bajaj, 29, pleaded guilty on August 4 last year before District Judge Kevin McNulty in Newark federal court to information charging him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Also Read | King Charles III Backs Review Into British Royal Family's Historic Slavery Link. He was sentenced to 33 months in prison, two years of supervised release and ordered to pay USD 2.4 million in restitution for his role in an international conspiracy that preyed on elderly victims in New Jersey and throughout the US, the Department of Justice said on Thursday. According to documents, from April 2020 to August 2021, Bajaj and his conspirators preyed on elderly victims across the US by impersonating fraud prevention specialists from various banks, online retailers and online payment companies. Also Read | Ontario Temple Attack: India Condemns Vandalisation of Hindu Temple in Ontario, Asks Canada To Catch Perpetrators'. They contacted victims and falsely claimed that they were fraud prevention specialists employed by reputable companies and that the victims' accounts with banks, online retailers, or online payments companies were being targeted for fraud. Bajaj and his conspirators then falsely told the victims that their fraud prevention efforts required the victims' assistance in a sting operation to catch the perpetrators, prosecutors said. They asked the elderly victims to send money from their bank accounts to accounts controlled by them and falsely promised to return their money within a few days of the purported sting operation. The victims were also falsely promised that once they sent the money, the sting operation would result in the arrest of the purported perpetrators. They sent international wire transfers to various banks located in India, China, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates, according to court documents. The victims also sent money through an online application to bank accounts held by Bajaj in the United States. They further sent cash and cashier checks to Bajaj at an address in California. The scheme resulted in losses of over USD 250,000, according to the documents. (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], April 7 (ANI): Israel struck two targets in the Gaza Strip on Thursday night after a day of series of rockets fired from the Palestinian territory and Lebanon, according to The Times of Israel. According to Israel Defence Force, it has struck two tunnels, first, one is located in the northern Gaza city of Beit Hanoun and the second one is near the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. Also Read | King Charles III Backs Review Into British Royal Family's Historic Slavery Link. The strikes were carried out in the response to "Hamas' security violations" in recent days, IDF said referring to the rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip and a major rocket barrage from Lebanon on Thursday. "The two tunnels did not cross into Israeli territory and did not pose a threat to Israeli civilians," the military says. Also Read | Ontario Temple Attack: India Condemns Vandalisation of Hindu Temple in Ontario, Asks Canada To Catch Perpetrators'. Additionally, two sites allegedly used by Hamas to manufacture weapons were targeted in the strikes. "The IDF holds the Hamas terrorist organization responsible for all terror activities emanating from the Gaza Strip and it will face the consequences of the security violations against Israel," the IDF added. This attack came after 34 rockets were launched from southern Lebanon at the Western and Upper Galilee, according to The Times of Israel citing the IDF. According to the IDF, the Iron Dome air defence system intercepted 25 of the projectiles. At least five rockets impacted in Israeli territory, while the locations of the remaining four are still unknown, the IDF adds. The rocket impacts caused two minor injuries and some damage. There are no special instructions for civilians following the unprecedented attack, the IDF's Home Front Command says. After the attack, the high-level security cabinet was carried out in Israel where a series of decisions were based on recommendations made by the military and defence officials, the Prime Minister's Office says in a statement, reported by The Times of Israel. In the statement, Netanyahu said, "Israel's response, tonight and later, will exact a significant price from our enemies." Earlier tonight, the IDF struck four Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip over "Hamas' security violations" in recent days, the military said. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Tel Aviv, April 7: Amid a fresh upward spiral of violence after Israeli forces struck Gaza and Lebanon on Thursday night, the tensions in the region continue to escalate. In the latest incident, Israel's military broke up a group of Palestinian worshippers near Al Aqsa Mosque today, Al Jazeera reported. The worshippers apparently wanted to visit the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, to perform morning prayers on the third Friday of Ramadan. Israel-Palestine Conflict: Israeli Military Hits Gaza With Airstrikes As PM Benjamin Netanyahu Vows To Extract Heavy Price From Enemies. However, the military intervention led to panic among people, who left the area as the incident occurred right after Israel's military launched air attacks on southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip following a spate of reported rocket attacks on the country, reported Al Jazeera. Israeli forces stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem on separate days this week, using stun grenades and attacking Palestinians as they gathered for Ramadan prayers. This sparked an uptick in tensions. Israel struck two targets in the Gaza Strip on Thursday night after a day of series of rockets fired from the Palestinian territory and Lebanon, according to The Times of Israel. According to Israel Defence Force, it struck two tunnels -- one located in the northern Gaza city of Beit Hanoun and the second near the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. Jerusalem: Israel Police, Worshippers Clash at Al-Aqsa Mosque, Violence Hits Holy Site for Second Night. The strikes were carried out in the response to "Hamas' security violations" in recent days, IDF said referring to the rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip and a major rocket barrage from Lebanon on Thursday. "The two tunnels did not cross into Israeli territory and did not pose a threat to Israeli civilians," the military said. Additionally, two sites allegedly used by Hamas to manufacture weapons were targeted in the strikes. Following a day of rocket fire from the Palestinian territories and Lebanon in retaliation for Israel's back-to-back military incursions into the Al Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam, the Israeli military has attacked besieged Gaza and southern Lebanon. The tiny coastal region of Gaza is governed by Hamas, which claimed early on Friday that the blockaded territory had been subject to three airstrikes. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kabul [Afghanistan], April 7 (ANI): More than one million Afghan refugees in Pakistan have been trapped between Taliban and Islamabad who is determined to push them into the jaws of harrowing life, Hamid Pakteen wrote in the Afghan Diaspora Network report. Afghans had been fleeing their home for decades, every time the war-torn nation went into conflicts, including at the height of the Cold War and the return of the Taliban. Over the years, Pakistan has played a game of snakes and ladders with Afghans, the report said. The Afghan refugees first became an effective tool for Pakistan to have influence in Afghanistan and advance its strategic interest of keeping Kabul as its "strategic backyard," Afghan Diaspora Network reported. Also Read | Vladimir Putin 'Pathologically Afraid For His Life', Uses Secret Train Network and Decoy Planes: Russian Defector Gleb Karakulov Makes Startling Revelations About Russian President. Since the return of Taliban regime in Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, more than 6,00,000 Afghans have fled to Pakistan, adding close to four million existing Afghan refugees, of which only 1.32 million people were registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Pakistan, which is facing an economic crisis is hell-bent to stop the Afghans from entering the country, pushing back hundreds of them each day, Hamid Pakteen wrote in the Afghan Diaspora Network. Earlier, the situation was different. Also Read | India and China To Account for Half of Global Growth in 2023, Says IMF Chief Kristalina Georgieva. Refugees provided a counterbalance to Pakistan's Afghanistan policy, making Afghans an important tool in Islamabad's strategic planning, as per the news report. The refugees also helped Pakistan to counter adversarial moves from Afghanistan, including on the Durand Line. Pakistan welcomed the Afghan refugees during the Soviet invasion which in turn helped Islamabad to get familiar with the Western military bloc. Afghanistan used Pashtun groups opposed to Pakistan to have its influence over Islamabad while the Pakistan Army played a game of providing weapons in 1975 to Panjshir province to overthrow the Afghanistan regime. Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) used the Cold War scenario to make terrorist sanctuaries from the refugee camps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, as per the Afghan Diaspora Network report. After the Soviets left Afghanistan, the majority of Afghans had little interest in fighting with the Western armies and wanted to live a peaceful life. Big cities in Pakistan, including Karachi and Peshawar, provided a home away from home and Afghans became part of the urban scape in Pakistan, the author wrote in the news report. Islamabad even provided a convenient exit gate to Europe and the US for Afghans. However, the situation changed after 2001 and Afghans were no longer welcome in Pakistan. Pakistan started stricter monitoring of refugees and announced stricter detention and deportation policies and Afghans are being pushed back into the hell from where they had fled. Earlier in March, more than 2,000 Afghan refugees had returned back to their nation from Iran and Pakistan, Taliban appointed Refugees and Repatriation Department announced, according to Khaama Press. Taking to Twitter, the Refugees, and Repatriation department, on Saturday, said that 1851 Afghan refugees from Iran and 331 others from Pakistan came back home through Spin Boldak and Islamqala crossing points, as per the Khaama Press news report. According to the department, out of 331 refugees, 70 were the ones released from Pakistani prisons. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Moscow [Russia], April 7 (ANI): Is Paris' demands 'not to deploy nuclear weapons on foreign territory' addressed to Washington, the Russian Foreign Ministry asked France President Emmanuel Macron and taking a jibe at the US. Taking to Twitter, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, "Russian MFA Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova: Am I correct in understanding that Paris's tough demand is addressed to Washington?" Also Read | King Charles III Backs Review Into British Royal Family's Historic Slavery Link. The Ministry also shared two images claiming that the US deployed Nuclear weapons across Europe. It also lists names of six countries where the US had deployed its nuclear weapon "US B61." This remark came after, the French President, while addressing a presser in China, said, "France believes that nuclear weapons should be completely excluded from the conflict in Ukraine. In no case can nuclear weapons be deployed outside the territory of nuclear power, especially in Europe," according to Sputnik News Agency. Also Read | Ontario Temple Attack: India Condemns Vandalisation of Hindu Temple in Ontario, Asks Canada To Catch Perpetrators'. During a state visit to China, Macron also argued that Russia's recent decision to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus is "out of line" with its obligations under international law. "China and France, [...] given their history of love and adherence to independence, should cooperate to bolster an international order that could meet the challenges of the times," Macron stressed, reported Sputnik News Agency. This statement came after Russian President Vladimir Putin made a statement about plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in the territory of Russia's neighbour and ally Belarus, reported ABC News. Putin has said that the construction of storage facilities for tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus will be complete by July 1 and added that Russia has helped modernize Belarusian warplanes to make them capable of carrying nuclear weapons. The two neighbours have an agreement envisioning close economic, political and military ties. Russia used Belarusian territory as a staging ground for invading Ukraine and has maintained a contingent of troops and weapons there, according to ABC News. Belarus shares a 1,250-kilometer border with NATO members Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. Tactical nuclear weapons, which are intended to destroy enemy troops and weapons on the battlefield, have a relatively short range and a much lower yield compared with nuclear warheads fitted to long-range strategic missiles that are capable of obliterating whole cities.(ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) London, Apr 7 (PTI) British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murty, have spoken of their pride in author and philanthropist Sudha Murty being conferred the Padma Bhushan at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. Akshata, the First Lady at 10 Downing Street, was present at the ceremony and later took to social media to express her emotions towards her parents Sudha Murty and Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy. Her husband, Britain's first Indian-origin Prime Minister, replied to his wife's post with the words a proud day. Also Read | What Is Hikikomori? All You Need To Know About Phenomenon That Prompted 1.5 Million People To Live As Recluses in Japan. Yesterday I watched with unspeakable pride as my mother received the Padma Bhushan from the President of India, Akshata Murty posted on Twitter on Thursday after her 72-year-old mother got the award. On #IWD [International Women's Day] last month, I reflected on my mother's extraordinary journey, from STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) to storytelling, but her charitable and volunteering efforts have served as her greatest inspiration to me," Akshata writes. Also Read | Top Secret Documents on Ukraines War Plan Against Russia Leaked on Twitter and Telegram in US, Heres What They Reveal. "Always asking if she can be doing more, she has given back to her community countless times: founding and running a series of philanthropic organisations for 25 years; funding numerous literacy initiatives; and jumping into action to aid those most in need many in the most remote parts of India after natural disasters have destroyed their lives, she writes. The First Lady said her mother's example has helped put volunteering, learning and listening at the heart of how she hopes to live at 10 Downing Street. My mother doesn't live for recognition. The values my parents have instilled in my brother and me hard work, humility, selflessness mean she is always on to the next thing. But it was such a moving experience to see her have a moment of recognition yesterday, she added. Her brother, Rohan Murty, similarly praised his mother as a positive force in their lives in his social media post. In her acceptance speech at the ceremony attended by her family, Sudha Murty thanked the people of India for their unconditional support. I owe this award to the people of India. I hope my recognition today inspires the younger generation to take up social welfare as a vocation. It is needed for the continuous development of our great nation. I always feel that the generosity of a few gives hope for a million, she said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) United Nations, Apr 7 (AP) The United Nations said the 3,330 Afghan men and women it employs stayed home for a second day Thursday to protest the Taliban's ban on UN female staff working in the country as it continued to press for the decision to be reversed. The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on the Taliban's action and pushed its calls for the ban to be overturned. Also Read | King Charles III Backs Review Into British Royal Family's Historic Slavery Link. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric reiterated the U.N.'s insistence that all U.N. staff are needed to deliver life-saving aid to millions and stressed again that Afghan women will not be replaced by men. He also said the United Nations doesn't want to get into a situation where it replaces Afghan women with international women, who are not banned from working in the country. He explained that culturally it is always better to have nationals from a country delivering aid to their local population. The U.N. has a staff of about 3,900 in Afghanistan, including approximately 3,300 Afghans and 600 international personnel. The total also includes 600 Afghan women and 200 women from other countries. Also Read | Ontario Temple Attack: India Condemns Vandalisation of Hindu Temple in Ontario, Asks Canada To Catch Perpetrators'. At the closed U.N. Security Council meeting on the Taliban ban, members were briefed by the secretary-general's special representative for Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, who led talks Wednesday with the Taliban's foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, to call for a reversal of its decision. Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, the current council president, told reporters afterward that everybody was appalled by the decision the Taliban made. The question is how to approach it, and we agreed to work on a product by the council that would be useful and balanced, he said. U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood said the Biden administration sees the ban basically as another effort by the Taliban to erase Afghan women and girls from society. The United Nations on Wednesday called the ban an unparalleled violation of women's rights, unlawful under international law, and unacceptable to the 193-member international organization. The Taliban decision drew condemnation from the world's most recognized organizations and on Thursday more than a dozen U.N. experts also demanded the immediate reversal of the countrywide ban on Afghan women working with the United Nations, including the U.N. special investigator on human rights in Afghanistan. Despite initial promises of a more moderate rule than during its previous stint in power in the 1990s, the Taliban have imposed harsh measures since taking over the country in 2021 as U.S. and NATO forces were pulling out of Afghanistan after two decades of war. Girls are banned from education beyond sixth grade. Women are barred from working, studying, traveling without a male companion, and even going to parks or gyms. And women must also cover themselves from head to toe. In December, the Taliban banned female workers for humanitarian organizations. Ramiz Alakbarov, the U.N. deputy special representative and humanitarian coordinator for Afghanistan, said in a statement Thursday that Afghanistan is the world's largest aid operation, with a record 28.3 million people in need of assistance this year including 20 million facing severe hunger and six million of them one step away from famine. The United Nations appealed for USD 4.6 billion to provide humanitarian aid for Afghanistan in 2023 but the appeal is less than 5 per cent funded, receiving only USD 213 million which makes it the lowest funded U.N. aid operation globally, he said. The world cannot abandon the people of Afghanistan at this precarious moment, Alakbarov said. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) San Francisco, April 7 : The US National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a probe into Tesla after receiving complaints from owners that they received their electric cars with defective seat belt parts. Hyundai IONIQ 6 Bags Top Three Awards at the New York International Auto Show; Heres All About the Hat-Trick Success of the Premium EV. The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received two recent complaints reporting a failure of the front seat belt to remain connected to the seat belt anchor pretensioner while driving with seat belts worn properly in 2022 and 2023 Model Year Tesla Model X vehicles. Maruti Suzuki FRONX To Offer Best-in-Class Fuel Efficiency; Check Out Full Specification Details of the Upcoming SUV. "Both vehicles were delivered to the owners with insufficiently connected anchor linkages," said the NHTSA. Nearly 50,000 Model X cars may be affected, NHTSA said. The defect involves the point at which the seat belt pretensioner and an anchor are linked. According to the agency, "the linkage and the pretensioner suddenly separated" when force was exerted on them. No injuries were reported in connection with the two claims of defects, and the detachment of the seat belt parts occurred "at low vehicle mileage", according to NHTSA. Tesla was yet to respond to the probe. The electric car company is also facing a preliminary probe by the NHTSA into 120,000 Model Y cars (2023 models) as reports surfaced about steering wheels dangerously falling off while driving. Tesla has also issued a voluntary recall for its electric semi truck over a rollaway risk related to a potential emergency brake failure just months after it was released. Last year, Tesla recalled more than 3,21,000 vehicles for a software glitch. The recall covered certain 2023 Model 3 vehicles and 2020 to 2023 Model Y vehicles (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 07, 2023 11:16 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). On the heels of her Oscar victory with 'Everything Everywhere All At Once', Michelle Yeoh will be celebrated by Kering at this year's Cannes Film Festival. The actress will receive the 2023 Women In Motion Award, reports Variety. The ceremony will be held in Cannes during the glamorous Women In Motion dinner which is dedicated to honouring women in cinema. Yeoh was chosen as this year's honoree by Francois-Henri Pinault, chairman and CEO of Kering, and Iris Knobloch, the new president of the Cannes Film Festival, as well Thierry Fremaux, Cannes Festival's director. Michelle Yeoh to Receive Kerings Women in Motion Award at Cannes Film Festival! As per Variety, the dinner is part of the pioneering Women in Motion programme, launched in 2015 during the Festival to highlight the creativity and contribution made by women in the world of culture and the arts. Yeoh, who was born in Malaysia, has become a revered actor and producer known for portraying complex and fearless women on screen. She has also helped to challenge gender and age-related stereotypes in the film industry. She just won an Academy Award for her multi-faceted performance in 'Everything Everywhere All at Once', becoming the first Asian actor to win an Oscar in this category. She also scooped a Golden Globe and a SAG award. Oscars 2023 Best-Dressed Celebs: Deepika Padukone, Michelle Yeoh, Lady Gaga & Others Who Rocked the Red Carpet! In her acceptance speech, which proved to be a highlight of the Oscar ceremony, Yeoh touched on issues such as diversity, racism and ageism, as she said: "I believe that times are changing. There is much more inclusivity. There is more diversity. Look at me. I've been in this business for 40 years and I finally get to be number one on the call sheet." (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 07, 2023 02:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Mumbai, April 7: The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) on Thursday declared the results for the Class 5 examination. The Punjab Board announced PSEB Class 5th examination results on April 6 at 3 pm. However, the link to check the PSEB Class 5th results was activated today at 10 am. Students can their PSEB Class 5th results here. Students who appeared for PSEB Class 5th examination can check their results by visiting the official website of PSEB at pseb.ac.in. Alternatively, students can also check their PSEB Class 5th Examination Result 2023 at indiaresults.com. Kerala Samastha Result 2023: Kerala Madarasa Public Examination Results Declared at samastha.in; Know Steps to Check Scores and Direct Link. Steps To Check PSEB Class 5th Result 2023: Visit the official site of the Punjab Board at pseb.ac.in On the homepage, click on the "Punjab PSEB Class 5 Result 2023" link A new tab will open Next, enter using your log in credentials Click on submit Your result PSEB Class 5th Result will be displayed on the screen Take a printout for future reference Dr Virinder Bhatia, vice chairman of the Punjab School Education Board announced the PSEB Class 5th exam results yesterday virtually. While announcing the PSEB Class 5th exam results, the board said that girls performed better than boys this year. The girls recorded an overall pass percentage of 99.74 percent while the boys scored a pass percentage of 99.65 percent. The overall pass percentage of the PSEB Class 5th Examination is 99.69 percent. Jaspreet Kaur, Navdeep Kaur, and Gurnoor Singh Dhaliwal took first place this year in the PSEB Class 5th Examination while the Barnala district topped among all other districts of the state with 99.86 percent. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 07, 2023 10:15 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Mumbai, April 7: The Punjab police has canceled the leaves of all police officials in the state till April 14. The development comes as the state government has issued a high alert in view of the Baisakhi festival which is on April 14. Meanwhile, reports also suggest that the police have issued an alert in view of radical preacher Amritpal Singh's possible meeting with Sikhs which could take place later this month. The 'Waris Punjab De' chief has been absconding and the police are making all possible efforts to arrest him. Reports also suggest that radical preacher Amritpal Singh could surrender, however, no official announcement has been made so far. Meanwhile, the manhunt launched to nab 'Waris Punjab De' chief is still underway in Punjab and other states across the country. Amritpal Singh Dares To Demand Khalistan Due to Hindu Rashtra Talk by BJP and RSS, Says Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot. Punjab Police Debunks Fake News About Amritpal Singh's Surrender This is a fake news and factually incorrect Please fact-check news before sharing. Don't spread rumours and fake news. pic.twitter.com/QsXfrwoIAq Punjab Police India (@PunjabPoliceInd) April 7, 2023 According to a report in NDTV, Amritpal Singh has asked the chiefs of Akal Takht, the top Sikh body to convene the "Sarbat Khalsa" in Punjab's Bathinda. The gathering is likely to take place on the occasion of Baisakhi on April 14. Gaurav Yadav, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) said "until then, the leaves of all gazetted and non-gazetted officers have been canceled". All leaves which were sanctioned previously have also been canceled in view of the high alert and a possible arrest of the fugitive radical Sikh leader. Reports also suggest that Amritpal Singh has asked the chiefs of Akal Takht to take out a religious procession in the state. Following this, Giani Harpreet Singh, jathedar of Akal Takhth on Thursday announced a three-day annual congregation at Takht Damdama Sahib to celebrate Baisakhi. Amritpal Singh Crackdown: Radical Preachers Close Aide Papalpreet Seen in CCTV Footage of Dera in Punjabs Hoshiarpur. The religious procession is likely to be taken out from Akal Takht in Amritsar to Damdama Sahib in Bathinda. "There is a marked difference in annual congregation and 'Sarbat Khalsa'. This is a gathering to mark Baisakhi," an official told Hindustan Times. It must be noted that the 'Sarbat Khalsa' congregations have been called only on two occasions in the past. First time in 1986 and then later in 2015. 'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh has been absconding since March 18 and various CCTV footage of him fleeing Punjab have also gone viral on social media. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 07, 2023 11:43 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, April 7: Three men were arrested for allegedly duping more than 100 people with the promise of high paying jobs in leading overseas firms in Turkey and Ethiopia, police said on Friday. Police first arrested a 33-year-old Sohail Nijam and at his instance arrested his other associates Afroj Alam, 32, and Parvej Alam, 42, they said. According to police, the three men wanted to lead a lavish lifestyle and chose the way of crime by setting up a fake company in the name of 'AR Enterprises'. They advertised the firm on social media and created a fake website where they placed recruitment ads for foreign jobs that never existed, police said. Fake Job Racket: Delhi Police Busts Cyber Criminal Syndicate Operating From China and Dubai, Cheated 11,000 People. During interrogation, the accused told police they posted fake details on their website about high paying jobs in leading overseas firms in Turkey and Ethiopia and sent fake job offer letters through WhatsApp to their victims in lieu of payment, said Rajesh Deo, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast). The accused also kept passports of the victims with them, he said. Fake Job Racket: Delhi Police Busts Cyber Criminal Syndicate Operating From China and Dubai, Cheated 11,000 People. Police seized six mobile phones, two laptops, 68 Indian passports, of their victims, fake job offer letters of a Chinese company, and several copies of fake air tickets of Turkey and Ethiopia from their possession, the DCP said. The matter came to light when one Dilawar Singh approached Sarita Vihar Police Station with a complaint saying he was cheated of Rs 1 lakh by people from A R Enterprises, which offered jobs in Turkey and Ethiopia. Singh said after he paid them the money, the accused sent him a fake e-visa, a job offer letter, and an air ticket. Immediately after, they stopped taking his calls, police said. Based on his complaint, a case was registered under sections 420, 468, 467, and 471 related to forgery and cheating of the Indian Penal Code and section 24 of Emigration Act, the officer said. "On the basis of technical surveillance and bank account details, a police team apprehended Sohail Nijam and during the course of investigation, he confessed to his crime. At his instance, his associates Afroj Alam and Parvej Alam were apprehended from their residences respectively," Deo said. Police also froze the bank account belonging to the alleged frauds with approximately RS 50-60 lakh in it, he said. Police are trying to nab their other associates, he added. Mumbai, April 07: After the Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar sent a letter to the institution requesting its assistance, the London School of Economics (LSE) announced that it is looking into the charges of prejudice made by an Indian student. A smear campaign focused against his Indian and Hindu identities, according to Karan Kataria, a 22-year-old postgraduate law student from Haryana, led to his disqualification from running in the student union elections. Hinduphobia in UK: Indian Student Faces Personal, Vicious and Targeted Attacks on London School of Economics Campus. LSE President and Vice Chancellor-Elect (Interim) Eric Neumayer promptly responded to Khattar's letter on April 5 expressing his worry regarding the claims. I have been informed that this disqualification was not substantiated with reasons and was instead due to discrimination on account of race and beliefs. I could sense that his mother was in severe mental distress when his mother and sister came to meet me, Khattar wrote in his letter to the University. I am a proud Bharatiya, and your support means a lot to me and my family, Kataria wrote in a thank-you note to Khattar on Twitter. Kataria Writes 'Thank You' Note to CM Khattar Thank you for this intervention, @mlkhattar ji. I am a proud Bharatiya, and your support means a lot to me and my family!@HCI_London https://t.co/TNfJ4Ykr7K Karan Kataria (@karanatLSE) April 6, 2023 The LSE president responded to Khattar's letter by saying that bullying, discrimination, and harassment were totally unacceptable. The reports you bring up in your letter are known to us, and we are looking into them, he added. The letter continued, "We have been informed by the SU (student union) that a candidate was disqualified from the leadership election for violating election rules, and we understand an external review of the election proceedings will take place in due course." Kataria had asserted that the accusations levelled against him were unfounded and that he had been disqualified from the running for general secretary of the Student Union without having the opportunity to present his defence. Attacks on Temples Carried out by Indian Intelligence Agencies to Malign Sikhs: Ontario Gurudwara Committee. Meanwhile, in a recent a statement, the LSE Student Union said that it had a strict policy of zero tolerance for any kind of harassment or bullying. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 07, 2023 02:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg has become one of the biggest names today, as he made history when he indicted former President Donald Trump. But who is he, and how rich is he? Alvin Leonard Bragg Jr. is quite the history-making prosecutor as he is not only the first to indict a former president but also the first person of color to be elected as the New York County District Attorney in 2021. Last year, Bragg won against Trump's camp. After leading an investigation into the Trump Organization, the company's Chief Financial Officer, Allen Weisselberg, was found guilty of 15 felony counts linked to a long-running tax evasion scheme. For prosecuting Trump, Bragg is mostly seen as a villain on the right, especially with the pro-Trump MAGA crowd. However, many centrists and those on the left see him as a hero who could put Trump away and hold him accountable for some of his crimes. READ NEXT: Donald Trump Pleads Not Guilty to All Felony Charges, Speaks Out After Arraignment Alvin Bragg's Motivation in Pursuing Justice According to GH Base, Alvin Bragg's passion for justice was fueled by his personal experiences with the criminal justice system. In the past interviews, the Manhattan district attorney was not shy about why he became a lawyer and his experience of being deeply affected by the New York Police Department's (NYPD) gunpoint stops. Bragg had experienced the NYPD's gunpoint stops three times in his life, and these experiences are what made him decide to pursue a career as a lawyer. He wanted to fight for fairness and equality in the criminal justice system, so he pursued his education at Trinity School and Harvard College. Soon enough, he became an editor of the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review. Bragg noted that he also got his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School before serving as a clerk for federal district judge Robert P. Patterson Jr. Before this, he joined the law firm Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason & Anello. As an associate of the private law firm, he focused on white-collar fraud and civil rights cases. In 2003, Bragg started working for the office of the Attorney General of New York, serving as the Chief of Litigation and Investigations for the New York City Council before becoming the Chief Deputy Attorney General of New York. In that position, he oversaw several high-profile cases, including that of Harvey Weinstein and, of course, Trump. There were some controversies in his tenure as Manhattan district attorney. Two lead prosecutors investigating Trump, Carey R. Dunne and Mark F. Pomerantz, resigned and expressed doubts about moving forward with a case against the former president. However, Bragg is confident in his case and is now pursuing Trump about his hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels just days before the 2016 election. Alvin Bragg Net Worth According to CA Knowledge, Alvin Bragg has a net worth of $41 million. He has a monthly income worth $372,000. Around $210,000 of this comes from his salary. Most of his wealth comes from his decades of work as an attorney and prosecutor. READ MORE: Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg Investigating Donald Trump Gets Death Threat This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: DA Alvin Bragg: 'These Are Felony Crimes in New York State, No Matter Who You Are' - From ABC News Marjorie Taylor Greene married Perry Greene, her husband of 27 years, in 1995. They were both studying at the University of Georgia at the time. However, Bloomberg reported that Perry filed for divorce in the Georgia Superior Court of Floyd County last September, stating his marriage with the Republican representative was "irretrievably broken." In a statement released after the divorce filing, Perry still described Marjorie as an "amazing" mother and friend, adding that their family is the "most important thing" they have ever done. The divorce was finalized before the year ended, with Judge Bryan Thomas Johnson issuing a final judgment and decree of divorce. Business Insider reported that this was the second time that Marjorie and her ex-husband filed for divorce. In July 2012, Marjorie filed for divorce after the alleged affairs she had with two men working at the Crossfit gym where she trained. But the couple managed to reconcile later. Toronto Sun reported that Perry decided to end the marriage after reports revealed that the Republican lawmaker cheated with other men, including polyamorous sex guru Craig Ivey and the manager of the local gym where she frequented. Marjorie shares three children, namely Lauren, Taylor, and Derek, with her ex-husband Perry. READ NEXT: January 6 Panel Considers Rewriting the 1807 Insurrection Act Amid Fears of a Donald Trump Repeat Marjorie Taylor Greene: New Relationship After Past Marriage Marjorie Taylor Greene recently admitted to dating right-wing producer Brian Glenn five months after they were reported to be an item and her husband filed for divorce. Marjorie confessed to the romance and said Glenn had been a "great resource" for dealing with the media, saying that he is from the industry. The Republican lawmaker noted that Glenn explained a lot to her regarding how the media works. Daily Mail reported that Glenn is also going through a divorce and left his wife just three days after Marjorie filed to end her marriage to Perry in September. Glenn denied the relationship with the lawmaker ended his marriage, but there were photos showing the two growing close together since October last year. The veteran radio host was reportedly captured traveling with Marjorie in her blacked-out SUV and entering a house in Rome, Georgia, where she had been living since her divorce from Perry. The two were first seen together in June of the same year outside the U.S. Supreme Court building, where he interviewed her about the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Since then, the new couple repeatedly liked and retweeted each others' social media posts while Glenn repeatedly featured Marjorie on his show at the Right Side Broadcasting Network. Marjorie Taylor Greene Before the Divorce Marjorie Taylor Greene studied business administration at the University of Georgia and earned her bachelor's degree in 1996. Perry Greene took leadership of their family business, while Marjorie was listed as its chief financial officer from 2007 to 2011. After becoming a fitness enthusiast, the Republican lawmaker started a commercial gym in 2013 with a partner and later on sold her stake in 2016. According to Britannica, Marjorie was largely inactive when it came to politics, choosing not to vote in the 2012 and 2014 elections. However, she supported former President Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential race. In 2021, she appeared in her first year in Congress but found herself shut out from many congressional gatherings. She instead made an appearance at rallies and conferences. Marjorie Taylor Greene also managed to raise millions of dollars in political donations from individual donors. READ MORE: Donald Trump Admits He Didn't Win Presidential Election 2020 During Interview With Presidential Historians This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Marjorie Taylor Greene Mobbed as Donald Trump Arrested in New York - From The Independent Holy Week, known as Semana Santa in most Latin American nations, begins on Palm Sunday and ends with the Easter celebration on the following Sunday. The events of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are commemorated over a week. Latin America is home to over 25% of the world's Catholics. Early Spanish explorers and missionaries introduced Christianity to the region, where it quickly gained adherents. Let us look at the Easter sights that await you in one of these South American nations if you happen to be there that week. READ MORE: Semana Santa in Mexico Brazil Brazil has the largest number of Catholics per capita of any country, with an estimated 125 million practicing the faith there. Holy Week, also known as Semana Santa, is widely observed in the country. Ouro Puerto hosts one of the world's unique festivals. The streets are covered with colorful carpets made of sand, sawdust, and flowers that depict sacred themes. Starting Saturday before Easter, carpets are laid out along miles of roadways. The village's Easter processions use carpeted pathways to make their way between the various churches. Pets are sometimes painted pink and blue, Easter eggs are displayed in grocery stores, and crosses are woven from palm fronds. The typical fare at family events often has a Portuguese twist. At Easter, salty codfish is a staple in many households. Christ Church Rio is one of the few parishes in Rio de Janeiro to host an Easter mass in English, so if you find yourself there, consider going. Peru The city of Cusco hosts one of Peru's most spectacular Easter displays. The parade on Lunes Santo, the day after Palm Sunday, typically lasts around six hours. Blood-red nucchu blossoms dangle from a cross honoring El Seor, the patron saint of the area. This statue, known as El Seor or "The Lord of the Earthquakes," celebrates the 17th century when a major earthquake hit Peru, but luckily avoided the Cusco Cathedral. According to urban legend, a crucifix hanging in the cathedral kept it standing during the quake. People walk from Cusco Cathedral to Plaza de Armas every year in a parade. Mexico While most Latin American passion plays date back to the colonial era, the passion plays in the Iztapalapa neighborhood of Mexico City date back to the 19th-century cholera pandemic. Five percent of Mexico City's inhabitants perished because of the epidemic. To end their suffering, locals vowed to conduct an annual procession in honor of Jesus Christ at the Santuario de Seor de la Cuevita. After that, the epidemic claimed the lives of only eight more people, which is why the procession is still performed annually. Thousands of worshippers attend its annual celebration, making it one of the most revered in the nation. Experience something unique Easter celebration by participating in the customs of the Tarahumara people of Copper Canyon. In the 1600s, Jesuit priests had a profound impact on the region, causing Christian beliefs to merge with indigenous practices. This region of Mexico celebrates "Holy Week" with processions; churches decked out in pine branches, traditional costumes, and dances set to violin and guitar music, all of which center on the struggle between Good and Evil. READ MORE: What Is Ash Wednesday? This is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Semana Santa EASTER WEEK in IZTAPALAPA Mexico City - From Alice and Greg U.S. President Joe Biden used his second veto to vote against a Congressional Review Act resolution calling to define his administration's Clean Water Act's reach. E&E News reported that the second veto was issued to defend the administration's energy and environment policies, with Republicans eyeing to go against the administration's agenda and place moderate Democrats in a difficult spot. The White House defended the veto, saying that the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers provide "clear rules of the road that will help advance infrastructure projects," including economic investments and agricultural activities. All will be applicable while protecting water quality and public health, the White House added. In March, the Senate passed the bill that would revoke a second Biden administration policy, with Republicans arguing it places a burden on the agriculture community by being "too restrictive in defining what is a navigable waterway." The Clean Water Act allows EPA to regulate the "waters of the United States." However, it was not exactly defined which waters the Act was pertaining to. READ NEXT: Joe Biden Under Scrutiny as Another Batch of Classified Documents Found at New Location Second Joe Biden Veto President Joe Biden vetoed a House Joint Resolution stating that Congress disapproves the "rule submitted by the Department of Army, Corps of Engineers, Department of Agency," and EPA when it comes to revising the definition of Waters of the United States. The bill was sponsored by Republican Rep. Sam Graves. The president announced the veto in a tweet, saying that he vetoed a bill "that attempted to block our Administration from protecting our nation's waterway." I just vetoed a bill that attempted to block our Administration from protecting our nation's waterways a resource millions of Americans depend on from destruction and pollution. Let me be clear: Every American has a right to clean water. This veto protects that right. pic.twitter.com/ozfOVu5HEq President Biden (@POTUS) April 6, 2023 He added that every American has a right to clean water, noting that his second veto "protects that right," according to CNN. Proponents of the resolution argued that Biden's water rule exacts an "overreach by the executive branch," and creates a red tape that would lead to confusion in various industries, such as agriculture. West Virginia Republican Sen. Shelley Moore said there is a reason that those who work in the sectors of agriculture, building, mining, and small businesses block the Biden waters rule. Moore said that they are disappointed Biden "chose to stand by his blatant executive overreach." In a statement released before the veto, the Biden administration said that the increased uncertainty would threaten economic growth for agriculture, local economies, and downstream communities. First Joe Biden Veto Biden issued his first veto in March, killing a Republican-authored measure that would ban the government from considering environmental impacts or possible lawsuits when making investment decisions for people's retirement plans, as reported by Associated Press News. White House released a video saying that Biden vetoed the measure as it puts a risk at the "retirement savings of individuals across the country." White House spokesperson Robyn Patterson said that the president vetoed the bill as it "jeopardizes the hard-earned life savings" of police officers, firefighters, teachers, and other workers. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy slammed the decision, saying that Biden just "sided with woke Wall Street over workers." McCarthy said it tells them exactly where Biden's priorities lie. READ MORE: Why Joe Biden, USA Waited to Take Down China Spy Balloon This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: President Joe Biden issues first veto on retirement investments bill | USA TODAY - from USA Today The case of the missing Texas boy, 6-year-old Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez, has now become an investigation into his possible death, according to police. The boy had been missing since March 20. The toddler was from Everman in North Texas. Everman Police Chief Craig Spencer held a news conference and announced that police no longer considered Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez an endangered missing person and that investigators have determined that he is likely already dead. "I'm incredibly saddened to share with you today that the search for Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez is now officially a death investigation," Spencer said in the news conference. "Based on the totality of the circumstances, along with the evidence available to us at this time, it has led to a very unfortunate, unimaginable, and devastating conclusion that Noel is likely deceased." According to ABC-8, Noel's mother, Cindy Rodriguez-Singh, was abusive to the boy, and police have received information that she called him "evil, possessed, or having a demon in him." Authorities confirmed that Noel does have severe health problems and sometimes requires oxygen to breathe normally. Mother May Have Sold Missing Texas Boy A search warrant affidavit was issued at the home of Noel's mother after new details about the case emerged that included several possible reasons for the boy's disappearance. According to the warrant, the police were first contacted anonymously by a family member last month. CBS Texas reported that there were rumors that the missing Texas boy may have been sold by his abusive mother, while other rumors alleged that she had killed him already. READ NEXT: Arizona Teen Arrested After Shooting, Killing His Parents Investigators spoke with the brother of Cindy Rodriguez-Singh and Noel's uncle, who told police that Rodriguez-Singh admitted to their mother that she had already sold Noel to an unknown woman at Fiesta Market. Noel's mother then claimed she could not contact the woman due to her fear of being reported to Child Protective Services (CPS). She reportedly did not give any details about when that possible sale happened or where in the Fiesta Market. The missing child's uncle then noted that the child's mother told him not to give the boy any water because she did not want to change his diaper. The uncle also said that after he gave the boy some water, his mother was seen hitting the boy with keys on a lanyard. The boy's mother is also missing, and federal agencies are now looking for her. It was noted that her husband's family lives in India. Missing Texas Boy's Mother Previously Told CPS That Noel Was With His Biological Father in Mexico Rodriguez-Singh had been on the radar of CPS for quite some time now, and on March 20, the day that the boy went missing, police went to her home for a welfare check. However, according to ABC-8, she told them that Noel went to Mexico to spend time with his biological father. CPS investigated this claim and told police that they tracked down the father, who was deported to Mexico prior to Noel's birth. The father claimed that he had never met the boy, and CPS investigators say that they believe him. READ NEXT: Idaho Mother Accused of Killing Own Kids for Social Benefits This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Warrant: Mother of missing Texas boy told family member she sold him - WFAA The bodies of two Indiana couples were recovered after a Florida plane crash in the Gulf of Mexico Thursday, according to police, per WLKY. Minutes after taking off from Venice Airport, the plane went down in the Gulf of Mexico just west of the city's fishing pier at around 9:30 pm. Venice police held a press conference on Wednesday. Captain Andy Leisenring of the Venice Police Department claimed several witnesses to the jet crash had dialed 911. The National Transportation Safety Board, which is conducting an inquiry, will receive video footage from the pier and the airport, he added. Police could only dispatch a dive crew at daybreak, according to Leisenring. The Piper PA-32R was in roughly 23 feet of water at around midday, he added. READ NEXT: Video Shows Aircraft in Smokes After Texas Plane Crash Indiana Couples Who Died From Florida Plane Crash Identified William Jeffrey Lumpkin, 64, the pilot; Patricia Lumpkin, 68; Ricky Joe Beaver, 60; and 57-year-old Elizabeth Anne Beaver, were identified as the victims. Patricia Lumpkin was a realtor. Bethe Beaver co-owned Indiana Elite Cheer & Tumbling, and Rick Beaver served as president of Beaver Construction Management, FOX 59 noted. The Lumpkins originated in Fishers, whereas the Beavers settled in Noblesville. Police say there were only four of them on the plane. The two couples took from St. Petersburg for Venice at around 5 pm on Wednesday, according to Leisenring. They left the jet at the airport and went to a restaurant on the pier for dinner with their friends. After 9 pm, they returned to the airport and crashed just after 9:30 pm. Several agencies were still combing the area Thursday morning, including the U.S. Coast Guard, the Sarasota Sheriff's Office, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 4 Dead After Two Small Planes Collide Over Florida Lake Four people also died following a Florida plane crash in early March. When they collided mid-air, two small planes crashed over Lake Hartridge in Winter Haven, Florida. Search and rescue teams were dispatched to Lake Hartridge shortly after the crash was reported, as confirmed by the Winter Haven Police Department. Two planes crashed over a lake east of Winter Haven Regional Airport around 2 pm Tuesday. Chief Steve Lester of Polk County said both planes made a beeline for the water. Photos of the rescue efforts in the lake have also been made public. In a statement, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said, "My heart goes out to the families and friends of those who were killed in today's crash." He then asked everyone to keep the victims' families in their thoughts during this challenging time. The National Transportation Safety Board, along with the Federal Aviation Administration, investigated the event. Victims include 24-year-old pilot Faith Irene Baker from Winter Haven, 19-year-old Zachary Jean Mace from Polk State College, 67-year-old Randall Elbert Crawford from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and 78-year-old Winter Haven resident Louis C. DeFazio from Fredricksburg, Texas. One of the aircraft involved in the Florida plane crash was a Piper J-3 Cub seaplane from Jack Brown's Seaplane Base in Winter Haven, Crawford and DeFazio were on that plane. The other plane was a fixed-wing Cherokee Piper 161 chartered by Polk State College and operated by Sunrise Aviation (Ormond Beach). It was believed that Baker, a flight instructor, and Mace, a student at Polk State College, were on board. READ MORE: Donald Trump Case: Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Slams Felony Charges This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: 2 Indiana couples killed in Venice, Florida plane crash - From WTHR The U.S. judicial system has been rocked after the most conservative justice on the Supreme Court, Clarence Thomas, was reported to have accepted undisclosed luxury gifts from a top Republican donor for more than two decades. Thomas is now facing calls for impeachment amid corruption allegations. ProPublica was the first to break the news of Thomas' connection with conservative property billionaire Harlan Crow. According to the ProPublica report published Thursday, Thomas failed to disclose travel on yachts and jets and other gifts funded by Crow. That means that the Supreme Court justice may have violated financial disclosure rules. ProPublica released an expose on the gifts and luxury trips that Thomas has accepted. It was revealed that Thomas flies on Crow's Bombardier Global 5000 jet and holidays on the Republican megadonor's 162 feet super-yacht. The justice had holidays at Crow's ranch in Texas and joined him at an all-male retreat in California. Thomas also reportedly spends about a week each summer at Crow's private resort in the Adirondack Mountains in New York. He and his wife also went on a trip to Indonesia with Crow. ProPublica reported that the cost of the trip in the billionaire's yacht could have exceeded $500,000, but Thomas' salary as a public servant was only around $285,000. Thomas has reportedly accepted luxury trips from the Dallas billionaire every year without disclosing them. Citing people who know both men, ProPublica reported that Thomas met Crow after he became a justice, and they have become genuine friends. READ NEXT: January 6 Hearing: Donald Trump Pressured Justice Department to Call 2020 Election 'Corrupt' Democrats Criticize Justice Clarence Thomas for Accepting Luxury Gifts From Republican Megadonor The revelations about Clarence Thomas' luxurious lifestyle have drawn much criticism from Democrats as the justice's decisions on crucial issues may have been influenced by the Republican megadonor. Senator Dick Durbin, the Illinois Democrat who chairs the Senate judiciary committee, released a statement about the embattled justice and said, "This behavior is simply inconsistent with the ethical standards the American people expect of any public servant, let alone a justice on the Supreme Court." House Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York warned that this was already beyond party or partisanship as judges, let alone Supreme Court justices must always be neutral. The New York congresswoman wrote on social media, "This is beyond party or partisanship. This degree of corruption is shocking - almost cartoonish. Thomas must be impeached. Barring some dramatic change, this is what the [chief justice John] Roberts court will be known for rank corruption, erosion of democracy, and the stripping of human rights." However, according to The Guardian, while Thomas is facing calls for impeachment, this would be unlikely as Republicans control the House. Supreme Court Code of Ethics Calls Renewed After Clarence Thomas Corruption Scandal Breaks Out According to NPR, the ProPublica investigation raises a series of potential conflicts of interest between Clarence Thomas and Harlan Crow. It has renewed calls for implementing a code of ethics in the Supreme Court. Several Democrats have already sounded off on the calls for a code of ethics, including Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats Cory Booker and Alex Padilla, as well as Senators Jeff Merkley, Elizabeth Warren, Chris Murphy, and Ed Markey. On the other hand, Thomas' wife, Ginni Thomas, may have been involved in the January 6 Capitol insurrection as she exchanged text messages with then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. She reportedly asked him to take steps to overturn the 2020 election in favor of former President Donald Trump. Thomas was asked to recuse himself should the Supreme Court step in. Ginni, a conservative activist, was also with her husband when he went on some of those vacations funded by the billionaire GOP megadonor. READ MORE: January 6 Hearings: Mike Pence Chose Constitution Over Trump This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Clarence Thomas's Secret Luxury Gifts & Jill Biden's NCAA Invite Drama - From The Daily Show Police said a Minnesota mother has been missing for nearly a week under "suspicious" circumstances. Authorities noted that they are investigating whether foul play is involved, ABC News reported. Police said 26-year-old Madeline Kingsbury was last seen on Friday morning when she and her children's father dropped the kids off at a day care just after 8 a.m. before they returned to their home in Winona. According to Winona Police Chief Tom Williams, the children's father said he left the house using Kingsbury's van at around 10 a.m., but when he returned later that day, the Minnesota mother of two was not there. Police said Kingsbury was absent from his work that day. She also did not pick up her kids at the day care that afternoon and did not answer the "numerous" calls and texts from friends and relatives, which is out of character for her. "We believe Maddi's disappearance is involuntary and suspicious, and we are all concerned for her safety," said Williams. Her cell phone, wallet, and ID were inside the residence, so Williams noted there was no reason to believe that Kingsbury had just left on foot or in another car. Surveillance footage obtained by investigators shows a van matching Kingsbury's departing and returning to her home's area between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Williams said. Currently, authorities cannot comment on who was behind the wheel. READ NEXT: Missing Florida Mom Cassie Carli's Body Found in a Shallow Grave in Alabama Intensive Search Launched for Missing Minnesota Mother Investigators are actively looking for the missing Minnesota mother. In a Facebook post, authorities urged residents and landowners to scour their properties, lands, vehicles, and trails for "anything suspicious" that may help find Madeline Kingsbury. Police also asked anyone who has security footage from March 31, 8 a.m. to April 1, 4 p.m., to look for any possible sightings of a dark blue minivan in the area, PEOPLE reported. Tom Williams said they are doing everything they can to bring Kingsbury home. "We have spoken with many of her family members and friends and are actively following any developing information," he noted. "No stone is being left unturned. And we are using every tool at our disposal to find her." The Winona County Sheriff's Office, the Fillmore County Sheriff's Office, the Houston County Sheriff's Office, the Southeast Minnesota Violent Crimes Enforcement Team, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are now helping the Winona Police Department in their investigation. Reward Is Offered for Information to Find the Missing Minnesota Mother According to La Crosse Tribune, any information leading to the location of the missing Minnesota mother will be rewarded with $50,000. The reward offered by her family was disclosed in Wednesday's news conference, where additional information regarding the case was also presented. According to Bonney Bowman, a public information officer for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, police have not yet named a suspect or person of interest in the case. Tom Williams assured that the children of the missing Minnesota mother are safe. Kingsbury is described as 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs 135 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Winona Police Department at 507-457-6302. READ MORE: Kendall Jenner, Bad Bunny Blossoming Romance This is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Police: Winona Mother's Disappearance Appears to be 'Involuntary' and 'Suspicious' - From FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul The government of China said Thursday that the country is not involved in any illegal fentanyl trafficking with Mexico. It added that Mexico's government had not notified China of any seizures of the precursor chemicals used to make the powerful drug. The statement came after Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to help in halting chemicals from China used by Mexican drug cartels to produce fentanyl illegally, the Associated Press reported. Lopez Obrador made the plea on Tuesday after being pushed by the United States to stop the illegal trade, which drives skyrocketing records of overdose deaths in the U.S. Similar to the Mexican president's statement, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said the root cause of overdose lies in the United States itself, adding that "the problem is completely made in the U.S." Mao noted that the U.S. should "face up to its own problems and take more substantiative measures" when it comes to strengthening supervision and decreasing the demand. U.S. officials have pressured Mexico and China to do more to stop the trade in the synthetic opioid following reports of 70,000 overdose deaths per year in the country. The United States said in 2021 that Chinese traffickers started to export precursor chemicals to Mexico after China began strictly controlling fentanyl. Mexican drug cartels then manufactured the drug and trafficked the illegal fentanyl pills north across the border. However, the Mexican president has denied that fentanyl is being produced in his country. READ NEXT: Mexico: 2 Bodies Found Hanging From Bridge, 3 Police Officers Killed as Mexican Drug Cartels Battle for Territory Mexico Asks China to Curb Fentanyl Trafficking In his letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador criticized the "rude" efforts of the United States to reduce drug trafficking, the AP reported. According to the Mexican president, fentanyl is America's problem that stems from "a lack of hugs" in American families. Lopez Obrador also complained about the "rude threats" made by American lawmakers regarding the drug trade. The Mexican president was unhappy with the demands in the U.S. to label Mexican drug cartels as terrorist groups. Many conservatives in the Republican Party have voiced support for sending U.S. troops to put down the drug gangs in Mexico. "Unjustly, they are blaming us for problems that largely have to do with their loss of values, their welfare crisis," Lopez Obrador wrote to Xi in the letter. He added that "these positions are in themselves a lack of respect and a threat to our sovereignty, and moreover they are based on an absurd, manipulative, propagandistic and demagogic attitude." After venting, Lopez Obrador finally brought up China's exports of fentanyl precursors. He asked the Chinese president to help cease shipments of chemicals that Mexican drug cartels buy from China. U.S. Fentanyl Overdose Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid considered to be 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the powerful drug has become a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the U.S. Most recent cases of fentanyl-related overdose are linked to illegally manufactured fentanyl, which is in different forms, including liquid and powder. Many people may not be aware that their drugs are laced with fentanyl. More than 150 people reportedly die daily due to overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl. READ MORE: El Chapo's Sinaloa Cartel Continues to Thrive Despite the Drug Lord's Absence: Report This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Mexico's President Seeks Help From China to Stop Fentanyl Imports -From Al Jazeera English Two Black women had sued Kanye West and his Donda Academy, claiming they were wrongfully terminated from their teaching positions because of their race and sounding the alarm on alleged violations on its education, health, and safety codes. The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court Thursday by Cecilia Hailey and her daughter Chekarey Byers who were fired last month with no explanation. The two former Donda Academy teachers, the only Black teachers in the school when they were hired full-time a couple of months ago, said their color led to stereotyping and coded language from the school administrators, Billboard reported. Hailey said in a statement that she's "just tired of the rhetoric being that Black women who are competent are seen as aggressive." In the complaint, the two teachers said they noticed several health and safety violations, unlawful educational practices, and highly unusual rules at Kanye's school, according to TMZ. Hailey told ABC7 she started teaching at Donda Academy in November, while her daughter joined the staff last January. The teachers claimed that sushi is the only lunch choice and that kids are not allowed to bring outside food or drink besides water. According to the complaint, Kanye spends at least $10,000 weekly on sushi. There were no tables and chairs where the kids could eat lunch, so they ate on the floor. The former Donda Academy teachers also alleged that Kanye prohibited using forks or utensils and banned crossword puzzles and coloring sheets. Since the rapper is "afraid of stairs," he also does not allow classes on the second floor. The lawsuit claimed Kanye also forbade his employees from wearing jewelry or hanging artwork on the walls because he "did not like jewelry." The teachers also said that Kanye prohibited the use of seats. Therefore, the students sat on foam cushions or stand, while the educators had to stand or use a stool. Donda Academy also requires everyone to wear only black from head to toe, and everyone is forbidden to wear Adidas and Nike brands. The lawsuit claimed that the two teachers also "had wages withheld or were repeatedly improperly paid." READ NEXT: Kanye West Named Suspect in Battery Investigation Donda Academy Is Not a Safe Place Based on Former Teachers' Statement The Donda Academy's doors are reportedly physically locked from the outside during the school day, and the kids were not allowed to go outside until they were dismissed to go home, according to the two teachers who also claimed that all the children, from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade, were taking lunch and recess together at the same time inside the school. The lawsuit noted that Donda Academy lacked basic facilities, including garbage cans outside classrooms and in the kitchen, a cleaner, and a school nurse. It also said students' medication was kept in an unsecured closet with expired medicines. The teachers also noted the lack of lesson plans, and proper disciplinary procedures, which allows children to go unpunished for repeated bullying and physical aggression. The teachers claimed they were warned not to contact Kanye West when they tried to bring the reported problems to his attention. Since their salaries were consistently shortened throughout their employment, the women sued Kanye and Donda Academy for money. The lawsuit seeks over $1 million in damages for lost wages and emotional distress. Kanye West Reportedly Shuts Down Donda Academy Abruptly On October 27 last year, the Donda Academy abruptly shut down amid backlash and criticism over Kanye West's antisemitic remarks. An email from academy principal Jason Angell said the Grammy-winning rapper had decided to shut down the unaccredited Christian private school in Simi Valley, California. "Our leadership team will be working diligently to assist all families during this transition, ensuring that every scholar has what they need to succeed in their next community in a prompt and gracious manner," Angell wrote. He added that they "intend to begin afresh in September of 2023." However, this plan did not happen, as the school reportedly reopened hours later. READ MORE: Second Florida Plane Crash Within a Month Leaves 2 Indiana Couples Dead This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Kanye West's Donda Academy Only Served Students Sushi Every Day, Lawsuit Claims - From ABC7 This Easter, Americans will devour more than 1 billion Peeps those Lehigh Valley-made radiant marshmallow chicks whose appearance on store shelves each year is as much a herald of spring as azaleas at the Masters. What makes the treats so vibrant is erythrosine, a chemical that shows up on ingredient labels as Red No. 3. Its one of several chemicals, along with titanium dioxide, used to color some of the most popular candy in the country including Skittles and Hot Tamales. Both chemicals have been linked to cancer. More than 30 years ago, U.S. regulators banned Red No. 3 from makeup. The U.S. still has not banned the chemical from food, to the dismay of some consumer safety groups. Now, a state lawmaker wants to ban erythrosine and titanium dioxide in California, plus three other chemicals used in everyday favorites like tortillas and some store brand sodas. The bill, scheduled for its first public hearing next week, has prompted headlines around the world declaring California wants to ban Skittles and other candy. Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, a Democrat who authored the bill, said he wants to ban the chemicals, not the candy. He said plenty of alternative ingredients are available, noting the chemicals are already banned in Europe and that companies still find a way to sell candy there. They still produce Skittles in other parts of the world. What they do is they take out these toxic ingredients, and they replace them with something else, Gabriel said. What we really want is for these companies to make the same minor modifications to their recipes that they made in Europe and elsewhere. The National Confectioners Association, the trade group that represents candy companies, says its not that easy. Tastes vary across cultures, it said, meaning just because a candy is accepted by Europeans doesnt mean it will be received well in the United States. Plus, changing ingredients would be a hardship for regional candy makers who dont sell their products overseas, according to the trade group. Theres a lot more here at play than a simple soundbite solution, said Christopher Gindlesperger, spokesperson for the association. We need a comprehensive look at this to make sure there arent unintended consequences for chocolate and candy companies. Pez candy is on display at a store in Lafayette, Calif., on March 24, 2023. A California lawmaker wants to ban certain types of chemical additives in food dyes used in popular candies like Pez, Skittles and Peeps. They are already banned in the European Union based on public health concerns.AP Photo/Haven Daley In addition to erythrosine and titanium dioxide, the bill would ban potassium bromate and propylparaben, two chemicals used in baked goods, and brominated vegetable oil, which is used in some store brand sodas. The U.S. has allowed dyes like erythrosine in food since 1907. Decades later, researchers found rats exposed to lots of erythrosine over a long time developed thyroid cancer. In 1990, based in part off of that research, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned erythrosine from cosmetics. Consumer safety groups have tried for years to get the agency to ban the chemical in food to no avail. Researchers have since linked the chemical to other health problems besides cancer, including hyperactivity and other neurobiological behaviors in some children, according to a 2021 report from the California Environmental Protection Agencys Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. The International Association of Color Manufacturers argued in a 2021 statement that California study was based on insufficient scientific evidence. Titanium dioxide is a white powder that, because it scatters light, can make colors appear brighter. Its been used for 100 years in products like paints, paper, rubber, toothpaste, soap and food coloring. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has listed titanium dioxide as a possible carcinogen in humans. The Titanium Dioxide Manufacturers Association maintains there is no evidence of it causing cancer in humans. The candy industry insists the chemicals California is considering banning have been thoroughly reviewed by the federal and state systems and many international scientific bodies and continue to be deemed safe, according to a letter signed by various industry trade groups. These scientifically based regulatory processes should be allowed to continue without second guessing their outcomes, the letter stated. Scott Faber, senior vice president for governmental affairs for the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, said the only reason the chemical is still deemed safe by federal regulators is because of a loophole that has been exploited by chemical companies. He says regulators have not reviewed their prior decisions in light of new science. The confectioners and the food industry know the review process at the FDA is broken. They have been hiding behind it for decades. We shouldnt let them hide behind it anymore, Faber said. If FDA wont fix this review system and keep us safe from dangerous chemicals in our food, its up to states like California to keep us safe. Just Born Inc., the Bethlehem-based company that makes Peeps, said in a statement the company complies with FDA regulations and gets their ingredients and packaging exclusively from reputable suppliers who adhere to high quality and safety standards. The company noted its development team is looking for other options, including colors derived form natural sources that can deliver the same visual impact and stability as their certified counterparts. By HAVEN DALEY and ADAM BEAM Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. UPDATE: A couple died in a motorcycle crash. Now the community is helping their 2 young sons. A second rider has died in Tuesdays motorcycle crash in Northampton County, authorities said. Jason Izon, 44, of Lehigh Township, was pronounced dead at 2:44 a.m. Friday at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg in Bethlehem, Lehigh County Coroner Daniel Buglio said in a news release Friday. Izon was the operator of a motorcycle that collided with a flatbed trailer about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Airport Road in East Allen Township, according to Buglio. Izons passenger, 31-year-old Lehigh Township resident Samantha Loch, was pronounced dead at the scene by Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek. A GoFundMe online fundraiser says Izon and Loch were married and leave behind two young boys, ages 10 and 6. The fundraiser intends to raise money for the family to help with medical and funeral expenses and to help the children. Both riders died of blunt force injuries and their deaths were ruled accidental, according to the coroners. Their 2002 Honda VTX motorcycle had come into contact with a 2020 Dodge Ram 5500 hauling the flatbed trailer, the police said. The driver and a passenger in the pickup truck were uninjured. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Need to get caught up quickly with whats happening at Reckon? Subscribe to the Reckon Report for a weekly rundown. For 60 years, the mostly Black residents living along an 85-mile stretch of the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans have endured the worst kinds of pollution. The deadly kind. They watched as over 150 multibillion-dollar petrochemical plants and refineries were permitted and built yards from their homes. Complaints to local, state and federal officials were mostly ignored all while the long-suffering residents developed serious medical problems and died from various types of cancer. Even the United Nations has called for changes in the area. Today, the region, known as Cancer Alley, sits directly at the center of a nation tussling with its environmental morality. The current administration, alongside states and other regions, has already taken the first tentative steps toward a greener and environmentally moral future, where it hopes the ills of the past are righted and the voices of those hushed by the vast wealth of fossil fuel companies are heard. But that future hasnt arrived everywhere and may not for years to come. Residents in Cancer Alley have decided the only way to enact change in a place whose leaders continue to embrace the past was to file their own federal lawsuit. A coalition of environmental groups led by Black women, many of whom trace their roots back to slavery in that 85-mile stretch along the Mississippi River, filed their lawsuit at the end of last month, accusing local leaders of civil rights and religious liberty abuses. The lawsuit accuses local government officials of continually approving the construction of petrochemical plants in two majority-Black districts and calls for a moratorium on the construction of new plants and the extension of existing facilities in St. James Parish. The environmental justice group Inclusive Louisiana is also part of the lawsuit. Its three co-founders, Gail LeBoeuf, Barbara Washington and Myrtle Felton sat down with Reckon to discuss the case. Reckon: After all these decades of pollution and environmental injustice, why did you wait until now to file this lawsuit? Gail LeBoeuf: Its been something thats been building for over 60 years. What has happened is that St. James Parish ended up being a perfect parish in which you can actually show environmental racism occurring. Its happening in one predominantly Black area of the parish. And even though that area runs for 20 miles downriver towards New Orleans on both sides, its still an example of racial discrimination. In places where predominantly white people live, they dont have the same problems as us. Did you do this all alone and whats the basis of the lawsuit? We filed the lawsuit with help from the Center for Constitutional Rights out of New York. We believe whats happening violates the 13th and 14th Amendment. We became so disheartened because why would our elected officials keep putting these plants in this area when they know people live there? Planners and industry folks have maps showing that nobody lives in the areas where plants are and where they want to build new ones. These councilmen allowed the plans and voted to let them build. The plants cover about 258 square miles; you cant escape them. And we have a high cancer rate throughout our parish. Just look at the tumor registry. Its very high here. Barbara and Myrtle can tell you more about how they live between these plants. Whats it like to live in the shadow of these huge industrial chemical plants? Barbara Washington: Well, its not a good feeling. I mean, every day, youre faced with something thats happening to your health. Weve seen so many of our loved ones and our friends die from cancer. We experience chronic chills, respiratory problems, itching and burning eyes. That all comes from the chemicals we know are being admitted into the environment. Down our street and the next street over, so many people have died from cancer. And we have many people who are still living with cancer. In October, we found that many people in the area have breast cancer. We didnt know that before. And then we also learned from the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic that the chemicals emitted are hydrogen sulfide, sulfuric acid, benzene and others. They are all dangerous carcinogens. Then they tell us these plants are good for the economy, but who will be working if we all die out? To the east of me, I have a steel plant, a fertilizer plant and a petrochemical plant. And then theres a galvanizing plant. To the west of me, theres a petrochemical plant, a coal plant and another fertilizer plant. Gail LeBoeuf: Barbara and Myrtle live in what we call the sandwich. Thats neighborhoods squeezed on both sides by chemical plants. You mentioned how youd lost friends and family in recent years. How can you look councilmembers, past and present, in the eyes knowing they are the ones who allowed these plants to be built, knowing they were potentially the cause of cancer and environmental pollution? Gail LeBoeuf: We are only 20,000 people, so we see these people all the time, just in the streets. And what do you say to them? Myrtle Felton: Nothing. We save it for the council meetings. Barbara Washington: We attend the council meetings twice a month and let them know how we feel about whats happening. We have a lawsuit because they have not listened to us. When we talk to them about pollution, it becomes a blame game. They say we have to go to EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Everybody kicks the can down the road, and nothing ever happens except new plants and more pollution. Currently, we have a civil lawsuit in federal court. That covers environmental justice and religious liberties. Whats in it for these council members if they live here too? Do you think they are being paid off? Who else is involved? Barbara Washington: It creates revenue for the Parish, but only some see that money. The Sheriffs department gets revenue from us; the school board gets revenue from us. Theyve also lost so much revenue because of the big tax breaks. Myrtle Felton: The plants give to the community but dont give to this part of the community as they should. We, Black folks, are the ones really experiencing all of the pollution. Our health, personal property and every part of our lives are dominated by pollution. Gail LeBoeuf: You have to understand that its not just our local elected officials; theyre following the protocol of our state elected officials, all the way up to our congressional leaders in Washington D.C. This isnt all just happenstance. Its by design and everyone but us is benefiting in some way. How can you take an 85-mile stretch of chemical plants from New Orleans to Baton Rouge, to Lake Charles and almost to our border with Texas without this being by design? The plants all have what you call a sweetheart deal. The property tax is 99.99 percent exempt. Theres so much money being made by the top 1 percent. Governor John Bel Edwards did an executive order, making it 80 percent exempt. But theyre still giving away the 99.99 percent deal because Shell just shut down a little over two years ago, then opened back up a few months ago and got the better rate. These games get played with tax dollars, yet the parish always says it needs revenue. We generate billions of dollars in revenue that I dont see in my Parish and Barbara and Myrtle dont see in theirs. Period. In the white area of St. James Parish, plans for a solar plant are on hold because it needs to be studied for one year. One hundred fifty chemical plants and all these cancer deaths, and now they gotta study a solar plant? Barbara Washington: The parish president admitted that in the last ten years, it lost $4 million by giving a tax break to steel company Nucor. Somebodys getting their fair share and were left without anything. People often talk about the benefits of capitalism. How it can bring wealth, how it can bring education, how it can bring jobs and other significant benefits. But other Western countries also have capitalism but dont have this level of environmental injustice. What is it about the United States that it so often seems to punish people who are still living through the traumas of the past, like slavery? Barbara Washington: Its in the bones. Theres no empathy and theres so much greed. Thats why the lawsuit mentions the colonial days. Thats when this all started and why were still here. Its a new form of slavery. The chemical plants are on the old plantations where our ancestors fought hard to create something for themselves. We didnt get our 40 acres and a mule. We got pollution. Gail LeBoeuf: We are a country of laws. But the laws do not address the needs of the people. Thats what has happened here. And its that same old playbook, divide and conquer. Look what happened to the Native Indians. They were forcibly moved to reservations, left to die and fight for their culture and ancient burial sites that industrialists didnt care about. The laws that got made tell people they cant have things. Its the same here in St. James Parish. They tell us we cant have a decent life. They tell us yall gotta sacrifice your life for the people over here to have a decent life. But I also dont see why capitalism cant work for everybody. Even that is broken now because too many people want more and more. And because of that, we dont have equal justice. Its divisive. What has always struck me is how folks in Cancer Alley have dealt with these issues peacefully. In other parts of the country and the world, some people have given up being peaceful and have resorted to more aggressive means. Youve asked for clean air, clean water and less pollution. How have you restrained yourselves, given everything thats happened to you? Gail LeBoeuf: We have to try to change those laws because our politicians wont do it. Theyre the ones who have been making up these self-serving laws the same thing in our parish. Self-serving people think there is a need for all these plants to go up in one area versus another area. And our job is to make it known that this is different from how the law is supposed to work. Democracy is not supposed to work with the rich feeding off the poor. Do you know what I love? When I saw the other countries marching for the murder of George Floyd in broad daylight. They are unafraid. Its because every part of the world has its own sense of ills. Some clearly have a better sense than others because there is almost no sense of ills here. Barbara Washington: We remain peaceful through our faith in God. Were out here protesting peacefully because we know we are supposed to be our sisters and brothers keeper. I often quote Rick Warren in times like these. He said that God intended for us to love people and use money. But instead, they use people and love money. Because the people who allow and build these plants love money, they will do anything to keep it. We love people, so we stay peaceful. There are over 150 chemical plants and refineries with billions of dollars invested in the area. What are your realistic expectations knowing theres very little chance these companies can be moved? Gail LeBoeuf: How about just safe levels of pollution? Were also going into an age where you cant afford to live off fossil fuel anymore. These companies will have to change eventually. In the meantime, we ask that they poison us a little less. Thats not a lot to ask for. Barbara Washington: Right. We are not asking for much. How are we supposed to live without clean air and water? All we are asking is to have the same advantages and opportunities that the other areas in our parish have. We have no store here, no gas station. You cant buy [a] pair of shoes in St. James Parish. Theres a beautification program going on, but its not for this part of St. James Parish. We are also asking them for a moratorium on these plants. The lawsuit also mentions religious liberty violations. Can you explain that? Barbara Washington: Its about the legacy of the black churches we have. The Black churches have no buffer zones from the chemical plants. As a matter of fact, Nucor Steel sits right across the street from the church thats close to me. People cannot go to some gravesites to visit their relatives because the plant owns the land where the cemetery is. And we cant just go into the plant area. Our ancestors worked their fingers to the bones to help make this country what it is, yet theyre still desecrated. Its not right. What victories have the people had against these companies? Gail LeBoeuf: We delayed the Bayou pipeline. The Formosa plant was another one that was delayed after they found a historically Black cemetery in the area. All of these wins came through the legal process. Barbara Washington: There are a lot of different groups in this. But one win for one is a win for all of us. So collectively, the fight that goes on in Mossville, the fight that goes on in Lake Charles, the fight goes on in New Orleans and against Jenko down in Reserve. All that gives us hope because we feel stronger when we are together. What happens if you win? Gail Le Boeuf: St. James Parish is the poster child of environmental pollution and injustice. If we win this case, it could help people everywhere see whats possible. A WOMAN who struck a Limerick man with a gin glass during a night out has escaped a conviction after admitted her role in the incident. At Killaloe District Court sitting in Ennis, Judge Alec Gabbett said it was an unusual case for a lady to hit someone with a glass and the sense of violence seems extreme before viewing CCTV of the incident In the case, Amy Delaney, aged 26, of Johnsboro, Mountrath, County Laois pleaded guilty to the assault causing harm of Kenneth Nealon (33) at around midnight on June 13, 2021. The offence happened at Flanagans Restaurant, Ballina, County Tipperary. Solicitor for Ms Delaney, John Casey told the court that the impact of those minutes of madness will impact on Ms Delaney forever. Ms Delaney escaped a conviction after she paid 1,000 compensation to Mr Nealon who required three surgical clips to be put in place as he suffered a 2cm laceration above his left ear. Judge Gabbett said: I accept the 1,000 compensation and I strike out the matter.... There is no party without fault here. After viewing CCTV of the incident, Judge Gabbett commented: Another aspect notable from CCTV, irrespective of being struck with a glass, is that the injured party took off after Ms Delaney with fists flying - it says a lot. Mr Casey said that there was a level of provocation before the assault took place. Mr Casey said: I am not dumping down on the injured party. Ms Delaney shouldnt have done what she did and she regrets and she apologises for it, but the vitriol and abuse that she suffered from the injured party that night was horrific. Mr Casey said that Ms Delaney and her sister were on a night out and were approached by the injured party and it started off jovial enough. He added: For whatever reason, he got extremely aggressive - he just started screaming obscenities in relation to their weight, how they were dressed and that they were ugly. Mr Casey said: They were trying to get away. The sister of Amy Delaney was pushed and she intervened and tried to get her sister up. The solicitor asked the court to note that his client didnt pick up the glass but had it in her hand all the time before she struck Mr Nealon with it. Mr Casey said that it was a big ask not to impose a conviction on Ms Delaney but a conviction could impact on Ms Delaneys job prospects here. He said Ms Delaney - who currently lives in England - has no previous convictions and has never had any dealings with the gardai or the courts. Sergeant Aiden Lonergan stated that Mr Nealon of Hampsted Park, Shannon Banks, Corbally, Limerick is facing an assault charge from the incident. He is contesting the charge and the case is due to be heard at a later date. Sgt Lonergan said that in relation to Ms Delaneys case, Mr Nealon didnt wish to provide a victim impact statement and just wants the matter finalised. Mr Nealon wasn't in court but employed a solicitor to be present to keep a watching brief in the case. Sgt Lonergan stated that according to Ms Delaney, there had been interaction between Ms Delaney and Mr Nealon in an outdoor area of the pub on the night. A drink had been spilt, there has been a conservation as to whether there would be an apology or not and an altercation took place between the man and female, he said. The controversial revelation that the Department of Housing failed to spend over 1 billion of its capital budget for housing between 2020 and 2022 has been criticised. North Kildare TD Reada Cronin (Sinn Fein) and Newbridge-based councillor Chris Pender (Social Democrats) have both voiced their disappointment and frustration over the news. Ms Cronin said that she is 'even more concerned about the housing crisis in North Kildare' since the revelation. Ms Cronin said: "New figures provided to Sinn Fein Housing spokesperson Eoin O Broin TD by the Department of Housing show that from 2020 to 2022 Darragh OBriens Department underspent its capital budget by 1,517,999. "Its absolutely galling and shocking how 1,004,926 of the underspend is from the capital budget for social and affordable housing delivery when people are desperate for a place to live." She continued: "The unspent capital funding could have delivered at least an additional 4,000 social and affordable homes; this could have made a huge difference here in North Kildare, where people are at the end of their tether as they bunk in with family and friends and try to avoid emergency accommodation. "The level of red tape and delay imposed on Local Authorities and Approved Housing bodies by the Department of Housing and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is the key problem." Reada Cronin TD Ms Cronin further claimed that although local authorities, approved housing bodies and opposition politicians have been highlighting this problem for years, 'the Minister for Housing has refused to act.' She elaborated: "The governments incompetence has resulted in a billion euros of much needed housing funding unspent, at least 4,000 public homes not built and thousands of people homeless as a result. "It is clear that the government is totally failing to get to grips with the housing crisis. People across North Kildare are trapped in cramped housing, paying sky high rents and losing hope of ever owning their own home. "The governments cruel decision to end the eviction ban with no plan in place to support the people affected will only worsen these issues in the coming weeks." She also took aim at two Kildare-based TDs: "Deputy James Lawless and Deputy Bernard Durkan have been unable to say where these people are meant to go with all their possessions of their lifetime, not to mention their pets. "Every day that this government continues in office, they cause more and more damage to the lives of people affected by the housing crisis. "People in North Kildare deserve better: they need a government with the will to end the housing crisis by delivering homes that more ordinary people can afford." Cllr Chris Pender Also commenting on the issue was Cllr Chris Pender, who said: "The underspend amounts to the cost of building 4,000 social homes, which would have gone a long way towards alleviating the suffering of those affected by the housing crisis in Ireland. Similar to Ms Cronin, Cllr Pender also accused the Minister for Housing of refusing to act on the issue. He also said that while he acknowledged the impact of Covid-19 on construction site restrictions, he added that 'this is not the main reason why so much money for social and affordable housing has gone unspent.' Cllr Pender explained: "The level of red tape and delay imposed on local authorities and approved housing bodies by the Department of Housing and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is the principal problem. "It is clear that bureaucratic obstacles or red tape are preventing the allocated funds from being spent. "The government must act urgently to address this issue and ensure that every possible resource is directed towards addressing the housing crisis in Ireland. "The excuses offered by the Minister for Housing do not stand up to scrutiny." He further said that the housing crisis in Ireland has 'reached a critical level, with thousands of families living in emergency accommodation and many more unable to find affordable housing.' Cllr Pender concluded his statement by saying: "Simply put, The most vulnerable in society cannot wait any longer for a solution." RTE's FOOD MATTERS programme travels to Kildare to talk to the Irish Wildlife Trust. The brand new series which uncovers Ireland's food sustainability, and explores how the food system is a major contributor to the climate change emergency. In Programme three: Stop Food Pollution, Michael Kelly heads to Kildare to visit Paul Fogarty from the Irish Wildlife Trust to discover some of the effects of food pollution getting into our waterways and farmlands. The series sees GIY (Grow it Yourself) founder Michael travelling throughout the country, meeting farmers, food producers, food experts, climate experts and chefs. He also talks to economists, ecologists and activists as he digs deep to uncover the complexity of the Irish food system and how it works, delivers and impacts the environment. "The food system is a major contributor to the climate emergency, and the choices we make each day around food can be some of the most compelling pieces of climate action we can take in our lives", says Michael. "There are inspiring solutions to the problems in our food system happening right under our noses. In FOOD MATTERS I travel around Ireland exploring these issues and meeting the people and projects that can help change the food system, one meal at a time". FOOD MATTERS is filmed at GROW HQ in Waterford, the home of GIY, as well as on location in counties Cork, Kildare, Dublin, Westmeath, Kerry, Meath, Wicklow, Tipperary, Limerick, Kilkenny and Wexford. In Waterford he meets lecturer in regenerative farming Mike Walsh who has completely removed pollutants from a farm. He also visits young dairy farmer James Foley to talk about his story of converting to fully organic farming. Heading to Dublin, Michael and journalist John Gibbons discuss the impact of plastic on our planet, before Michael meets environmental lawyer and activist Mindy OBrien to talk about the use of plastic in our food system. Michael then visits Jess Dollinger at the Good Neighbour shop in Dundrum, where they chat about the shop's solution to food pollution food thats grown organically, locally, and sold in the zero-waste shop with no plastic in sight. FOOD MATTERS is produced by David Hare of InProductionTV and Sceal Creative for RTE, and supported by the EPA Stop Food Waste and ReThink Ireland campaign. Government of Canada provides update on recommendations to combat foreign interference OTTAWA, ON, April 6, 2023 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada takes any attempt at foreign interference, including in Canada's democratic institutions and processes, very seriously. That's why the government continues to improve, strengthen, and protect our democracy from these threats. Yesterday, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities, and Janice Charette, Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, delivered a report to the Prime Minister entitled Countering an Evolving Threat: Update on Recommendations to Counter Foreign Interference in Canada's Democratic Institutions. The report highlights work completed to date, including through Canada's 2019 Plan to Protect Democracy. The report includes further actions to respond to recommendations from the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) and assessments of the Critical Election Incident Public Protocol (the Protocol) to: enhance communications with Canadians about foreign interference and protecting democracy; strengthen institutions and supporting legislation to combat foreign interference; respond to newly emerging risks, vulnerabilities, and security issues; and deepen engagement with partners to enhance awareness and improve resiliency to foreign interference. This builds on measures announced within the past month, including the establishment of a new National Counter-Foreign Interference Coordinator to enhance our proactive and coordinated approach on foreign interference and the launch of public consultations on a Foreign Influence Transparency Registry. Specifically, the report outlines that, along with ministers and national security agencies, the new National Counter-Foreign Interference Coordinator will work to bolster public communications on foreign interference. New briefings will be offered to Members of Parliament, Senators and their staff, and the Coordinator will work on expanding briefing mechanisms outside the federal government. The plan also includes reviews of existing legislation, such as the CSIS Act, the Criminal Code, the Security of Information Act, and the Canada Elections Act. Improvements will be made to briefings for political parties during the next General Election and the government will be exploring further changes to the Critical Election Incident Public Protocol, as well as enhancements to the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) Task Force. Threats to Canada's democracy require a whole-of-society approach. That's why the government will continue to work with its partners ? academia, civil society, and provinces and territories ? to ensure ongoing collaboration as we address these ever-changing challenges. The government remains committed to defending Canada's democracy against interference and upholding Canadians' confidence in our institutions. Quotes "Our government continues to identify, address and respond to the evolving nature of threats against Canada's democracy. Significant progress has been made to implement the recommendations from the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians and the Protocol evaluation reports. We will continue to ensure Canadians can have confidence in the strength and the resilience of our democracy." ? The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities "Canada's plan to protect and strengthen confidence in our democratic institutions from the threat of foreign interference is strong. Through these continued efforts, the public service stands ready to implement the government's agenda and provide advice on how Canada can continue to adapt to this evolving threat." ? Janice Charette, Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet Quick Facts On March 6, 2023 , the Government of Canada announced a series of measures to take further action on foreign interference and strengthen Canadians' confidence in our democracy. Other measures included: asking the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) to complete a review of the state of foreign interference in federal electoral processes; asking the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA) to complete a review of how Canada's national security agencies handled the threat of foreign interference during the 43rd and 44th federal general elections; national security agencies handled the threat of foreign interference during the 43rd and 44th federal general elections; launching public consultations to guide the creation of a Foreign Influence Transparency Registry in Canada to ensure transparency and accountability from people who advocate on behalf of a foreign government and ensure communities who are targeted by attempts at foreign interference are protected; to ensure transparency and accountability from people who advocate on behalf of a foreign government and ensure communities who are targeted by attempts at foreign interference are protected; establishing a new National Counter Foreign Interference Coordinator in Public Safety Canada to coordinate efforts to combat foreign interference; and investing $5.5 million to strengthen the capacity of civil society partners to counter disinformation. Part of the Government's Plan to Protect Canada's Democracy during the election period was the implementation of the Critical Election Incident Public Protocol, which is administered by a Panel of senior public servants responsible for informing the public in the event of an incident threatening the election's integrity. Most recently, Budget 2023 proposes to provide $48.9 million over three years starting in 2023-24 to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to protect Canadians from harassment and intimidation, increase its investigative capacity, and more proactively engage with communities at greater risk of being targeted, as well as $13.5 million over five years, starting in 2023-24, and $3.1 million ongoing to Public Safety Canada to establish a National Counter-Foreign Interference Office. Associated Links Stay Connected Democratic Institutions - Canada.ca BACKGROUNDER Countering an Evolving Threat: Update on Recommendations to Counter Foreign Interference in Canada's Democratic Institutions On March 6, 2023, the Government of Canada announced several measures to combat foreign interference and uphold confidence in our democratic institutions. Those measures included a request to develop a plan, within 30 days, to address outstanding recommendations from the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) and assessments of the Critical Election Incident Public Protocol (the Protocol). Specifically, the reports include: Between 2018 and 2023, a total of 26 recommendations were made, including 16 delivered in February 2023 as part of the Rosenberg Report. The recommendations have been grouped by the following themes: Communicating with Canadians about Foreign Interference and Protecting Canada's Democracy Effective Governance and Strong Legal Frameworks Risks, Vulnerabilities, and Security Measures Engagement with Partners to Enhance Awareness and Improve Resilience to Foreign Interference There has been significant work done to implement many of the recommendations from the reports, and the government is continuing to work toward implementing others. The five recommendations from the two NSICOP reports (2018 and 2019) have been partially addressed. Some action has been taken with respect to every recommendation, and additional options for consideration have been identified. Four of the five recommendations of the Judd Report have been implemented in whole or in part. One of the recommendations proposes that the Protocol be expanded to apply even when there is no election being held. This had not been implemented because Ministers already have the responsibility and the necessary powers to address any concerns about foreign interference that could arise between elections. Ministerial responsibility is a fundamental tenet of Canada's parliamentary democracy. The Rosenberg report, received in February 2023 , outlined 16 recommendations which are in the process of being considered for early implementation. NSICOP and Protocol Assessment Reports In 2017, the Government of Canada introduced legislation to create the NSICOP, made up of Members of Parliament from each party and Senators with top-secret security clearance to review national security and intelligence activities across the government. It was modelled on similar approaches taken by international partners and has since reviewed and provided recommendations on issues concerning national security. In 2019, the NSICOP completed a review of foreign interference in Canada and published their unclassified findings and recommendations in their 2019 annual report. NSICOP also published recommendations relating to foreign interference in their Special Report in February 2018. As part of the Plan to Protect Canada's Democracy, starting with the 2019 election, the Government of Canada established the Critical Election Incident Public Protocol, which is administered by a panel of the most senior federal public servants (the Panel) who, working with national security agencies, are responsible for communicating with Canadians in the event of an incident or series of incidents that threaten Canada's ability to have a free and fair election. James Judd, a former director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, undertook an assessment of the Protocol covering the 2019 federal election. Morris Rosenberg, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Attorney General of Canada, conducted his assessment of the Protocol covering the 2021 federal election. During the 2019 and 2021 general election, the Panel did not detect foreign interference that threatened the integrity of either election. SOURCE Minister for Democratic Institutions 6 april 2023 at 16:34 News published onand distributed by: Penetron Protects The Apartment Towers Of Vietnam's Sun Marina Town From Saltwater-Induced Corrosion The Sun Marina Town luxury apartment towers in H? Long City, Vietnam, are now complete and residents are expected to move in by December 2023. The Penetron System of crystalline concrete waterproofing products was used to waterproof and protect the below-grade concrete structures of the complex. EAST SETAUKET, N.Y., April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Sun Marina Town luxury apartment towers in H? Long City, Vietnam, are now complete and residents are expected to move in by December 2023. The Penetron System of crystalline concrete waterproofing products was used to waterproof and protect the below-grade concrete structures of the complex. The Sun Marina Town towers are located in H? Long City, in Qu?ng Ninh province, on the coast near Vietnam's northern border with China. A city of around 300,000 inhabitants, H? Long was once a coal-mining center but has been transformed into a popular tourist destination, thanks to the unique H? Long Islets that dot the coastline. The Penetron System is a proven concrete protection system that has been used in a variety of projects around the world, including in Vietnam. The system is made up of a series of crystalline products that are applied to concrete surfaces to create a barrier against water and chloride ions. This barrier helps to protect the concrete from corrosion and deterioration, which can extend the lifespan of the structure. The Penetron System was used to waterproof the below-grade concrete structures of the Sun Marina Town towers and shopping area. The system was applied as a topical crystalline slurry to the walls of the three basement levels, and PENETRON ADMIX-treated concrete, supplied by BT Quang Ninh, was used for the foundation slabs. PENETRON ADMIX-treated concrete was also used to waterproof the basement structures of the Sun Marina Plaza. The Penetron System is a reliable and effective concrete protection solution that can help to extend the lifespan of concrete structures. The system has been used in a variety of projects around the world, including in Vietnam, and has proven to be a durable and effective solution for concrete waterproofing. The Penetron System is expected to provide the Sun Marina Town towers with a lifespan of at least 60 years. The Penetron system will help to protect the concrete from corrosion and deterioration, which will allow the towers to withstand the harsh coastal environment. The Penetron Group is a leading manufacturer of specialty construction products for concrete waterproofing, concrete repairs, and floor preparation systems. The Group operates through a global network, offering support to the design and construction community through its regional offices, representatives, and distribution channels. For more information on Penetron waterproofing solutions, please visit penetron(dot)com or Facebook(dot)com/ThePenetronGroup, email CRDept(at)penetron(dot)com, or contact the Corporate Relations Department at 631-941-9700. Media Contact Corporate Relations, The Penetron Group, 631-941-9700, [email protected] SOURCE The Penetron Group 7 april 2023 at 04:00 News published onand distributed by: 2 Day Level II ITAR/EAR Officer Seminar (Montreal, Canada - June 6-7, 2023) DUBLIN, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Level II ITAR/EAR Officer" training has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Building on critical compliance issues, this two-day, hands-on knowledge-sharing event teaches attendees how to build a bulletproof compliance program, conduct audits and draft a policy and procedure manual in order to become an effective compliance official. Students will utilize scenarios and exercises to learn how to oversee an audit, develop an internal training program, utilize EAR exceptions effectively and examine the roles of the Empowered Official/Compliance Official, making this a MUST-ATTEND seminar! Two-day seminar fee includes breakfast, lunch, seminar manual and a current copy of the ITAR. Space is limited. Registration will close once capacity is reached. Key Topics Covered: DAY 1: Tuesday, June 6th COMPLIANCE BUILDING BLOCKS Keynote Presentation "How to Build a Bulletproof Compliance Program" Debi Davis , Vice President, Global Compliance, TransDigm Group. , Vice President, Global Compliance, TransDigm Group. Presentation: "A-Z: How to Conduct a Comprehensive Audit" From the Audit Plan, documents to review, interviews to drafting the audit report. Exercise 1: "Drafting an Audit Plan" Presentation: "Significance of The Military End User (MEU) List" TESTING YOUR COMPLIANCE PROGRAM Presentation: "Transactional Testing & Due Diligence" Presentation: "Key Elements of a Policy & Procedure Manual" Presentation: "Unlocking the Keys to an Effective Training Program" DAY 2: Wednesday, June 7th COMPLIANCE OFFICIALS AND THE EAR Presentation: "The 10 Effective Habits of an ITAR/EAR Compliance Official" Presentation: "Navigating the Complexities of the EAR" Presentation: "Using the STA Exception Effectively" Exercise 2: "Testing Your EAR Prowess" REMEDIAL MEASURES Presentation: "Top Ten Violations Under Commerce/BIS Charging Letters" Tips to avoid making these mistakes in your company. Presentation: "Due Diligence: The Importance of Checking Intermediaries and End Users" Exercise 3: "End User Exercise" Presentation: "Sentinel, Blue Lantern Programs & State/DTCC Company Visits" An examination of Commerce/BIS and State/DTCC internal compliance efforts. Speakers Suzanne Palmer President Export Compliance Solutions Suzanne Palmer, President of Export Compliance Solutions, has 15 years of experience within the State Department and as a Licensing Officer, and over 10 years direct experience with the U. S. defense industry. After leaving the State Department she joined Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems in Baltimore and then went on to work at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab. Combining U.S. Government and defense industry experience, Ms. Palmer specializes in training, interpreting the ITAR and the EAR Export Control Reform initiative and applying U.S. export control regulations. She has served on the Defense Trade Advisory Group (DTAG) and as a Special Compliance Official (SCO) for a company operating under a Consent Agreement. Lisa Bencivenga Various Lisa Bencivenga has has over twenty years of varied experience in export/import licensing and compliance issues with major defense contractors. She has had the leading role in developing and implementing internal compliance programs, providing regulatory guidance, instituting license databases, training personnel at all corporate levels, conducting audits requested by clients and/or directed by the U.S. Department of State, coordinating investigations and working closely with legal departments while administering the full spectrum of corporate international export/import activities. She has several years of experience in space-related export issues which includes obtaining and implementing complex licensing arrangements related to spacecraft and launch activities as a result of her employment with Orbital Sciences Corporation and The Boeing Company. For more information about this training visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/rqpquy About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets 7 april 2023 at 05:02 News published onand distributed by: Accutemp Heating & Air Conditioning is Giving a Free AC to Someone in Need To celebrate its first year of tremendous success, Accutemp Heating & Air Conditioning is giving away a free air conditioning unit to a household in need nominated by the community. OKLAHOMA CITY, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Accutemp Heating & Air Conditioning is celebrating its first year of success by giving away a brand new air conditioner to an Oklahoma City metro household in need."We've been in business just over a year, and we have been blessed with success," said Austin Ballard, owner, and operator of Accutemp. "The OKC area has blessed us with their trust, and we'd like to bless someone in need within our community. Accutemp wants you to nominate your friends, family, neighbors, loved ones, or even perfect strangers who need a new air conditioning unit but can't afford one. By visiting Accutemp's social media from April 3 to 21, 2023, you can recommend the household you think should receive the free unit. Accutemp will randomly choose the winner during the last week of April and announce it in early May."Oklahoma summer is coming, and we believe everyone should be cool and comfortable in their own home," Ballard said. "Accutemp is ready to do our part to make that a reality for someone who might not otherwise be able to afford it." Accutemp Heating and Air is local to Oklahoma City and is a family-owned HVAC service provider for both residential and commercial. They specialize in temperature control, indoor air quality, and home energy cost management but also repair routine maintenance, sales, installation, insulation, and weather-related insurance claims. The company can be reached Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at (405) 725-2472. Media Contact Ausitn Ballard, Accutemp Heating & Air Conditioning, 1 (405) 439-1595, [email protected] SOURCE Accutemp Heating & Air Conditioning 7 april 2023 at 17:00 News published onand distributed by: French President Emmanuel Macron, center, arrives at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China Friday, April 7, 2023. GONZALO FUENTES / AP French President Emmanuel Macron was greeted by a huge crowd at a university in southern China on Friday, April 7, on the last day of a visit in which he repeatedly pushed his counterpart Xi Jinping to help end the Ukraine conflict. Macron, who landed in the capital Beijing on Wednesday, said he was seeking to dissuade China from supporting Russia's invasion of its neighbor. On Friday, he flew to the southern city of Guangzhou, where he was mobbed by hundreds of screaming students and fans desperate for a selfie or a high-five with the French leader, in stark contrast with China's own staid political system. Macron, whose name was chanted by some in the crowd, then spoke to students in the campus gym and answered their questions before an early dinner with Xi ahead of meetings with Chinese investors and a flight home. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Macron defends French pension bill from China Ajouter a vos selections Ajouter a vos selections Pour ajouter larticle a vos selections identifiez-vous Sinscrire gratuitement Se connecter Vous possedez deja un compte ? Russia's conflict with Ukraine has dominated Macron's visit to China, his first since 2019. And he told students in Guangzhou that the war was "a manifest violation of our international law". Russia, he told them, was "a country that has decided to colonize its neighbor and not to respect the rules". French President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he speaks to students at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou on April 7, 2023. LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP "The international order is now weakened and we have a responsibility, China and France, to preserve it and at the same time to reinvent it in the light of the realities of the 21st century," Macron said. He also urged them to embrace a "critical spirit" that would allow them to become "free, rational individuals" another stark contrast with the rigid, state-controlled education to which Chinese students are subject. 'Bring Russia to its senses' In a joint statement late Friday, both sides pledged to "support all efforts to restore peace in Ukraine". The statement, which did not name Russia or condemn its offensive, called on all parties to respect international law. In talks with Xi on Thursday, Macron had said: "I can count on you to bring Russia to its senses and everyone to the negotiating table". According to a French diplomat, Xi expressed a willingness to speak with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, but only when the time is right. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, who is accompanying Macron on his visit, welcomed Xi's openness to speaking with Zelensky. In contrast with the amiable Macron, von der Leyen has struck a more firm tone in her talks with Chinese officials this week. On Thursday, she said she had shared her "deep concerns about the deterioration of the human rights situation in China" with officials, and warned Beijing that arms shipments to Russia would "significantly harm" relations. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Macron fails to convince Xi Jinping to move on Ukraine Ajouter a vos selections Ajouter a vos selections Pour ajouter larticle a vos selections identifiez-vous Sinscrire gratuitement Se connecter Vous possedez deja un compte ? Moscow has poured cold water on prospects of Beijing's mediation, insisting on Thursday it had "no choice" but to press on with its Ukraine offensive. "Undoubtedly, China has a very effective and commanding potential for mediation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "But the situation with Ukraine is complex, so far there are no prospects for a political settlement." Beyond the war in Ukraine, Macron's visit has also focused on firming up a crucial trade partnership. The French leader is accompanied by more than 50 French business leaders, including the top bosses of Airbus, EDF and Veolia. Airbus announced Thursday it would open a second final assembly line in China that will double its production capacity in the country, with the framework for the deal signed by CEO Guillaume Faury in Beijing. The firm said Friday that it had agreed to sell 50 helicopters to the Chinese leasing firm GDAT. Le Monde with AFP The sarcophagus of the pharaoh Ramses II, on display at the Grande Halle de la Villette, Paris, April 6, 2023. ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP There is a subtle aspect of the exhibition's title "Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs," which opens Friday, April 7, at the Grande Halle de la Villette in Paris. Why just "Ramses" and not "Ramses II," the royal star of the event? "Eternity has a name, it's Ramses," replied Benedicte Lhoyer, scientific adviser of the exhibition. In the New Kingdom, she continued "Ramses II set the absolute standard for subsequent rulers," many of whom took his name, since there are eleven Ramses in the long list of pharaohs of ancient Egypt. Born around 1305 BC and died around 1213 BC, Ramses II is THE pharaoh, the one with the most records: the longest reign (67 years), a hundred children, a string of monuments. Also the pharaoh of fantasy. The Greeks made him a legend by superimposing his figure on those of Sesostris I and III, two great rulers of the Middle Kingdom. Hollywood, in the Ten Commandments, made him the pharaoh of the Exodus. And in 1976, France received his mummy with the honors due to an alive head of state. It's clear that the name of Ramses has over time acquired quasi-mythical connotation, that the character has become an archetype, and that the number is unnecessary. Ramses, in short, says it all. Minimalist narrative The narrative to the exhibition is also deliberately minimalist. The experience checks off all the boxes the public expects to see at an event of this kind. First, the warrior king, with the re-enactment of the battle of Qadesh (circa 1274 BC) against the Hittites, which ended in a sort of draw but which Ramses II, as a gifted propagandist, transformed into a total success by the tale he told. The king as an intercessor between gods and men, responsible for the balance of the world. The king as a builder is evoked through large photographic panels with, for example, the temple of Abu Simbel. Finally, the king's tomb, symbolizing his passage to the next world. The emphasis is not on scholarly explanations, as if these were not necessary. The works, all from Egypt some never seen in France speak for themselves. They don't need to be majestic to carry the message that they convey to us over the millennia about ancient Egyptian civilization. You need only look at the brightly colored tiles showing captured enemies that decorated Ramses' palaces to see stereotypical representations of foreign peoples. Levantines wearing a long, pointed beard and a hat with a band, Nubians' dark skin and short hair and Libyans wearing headdresses that slopes backward. Another evocative and surprising piece is a statue in anthracite schist, which shows a humble Ramses II on all fours, almost prostrate, sliding an offering to a god. You have 61.26% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. Coal is no longer the future, but it is still alive and well, especially in China. As coal-fired power generation capacity continues to slow down around the world, China's plans cast a shadow over these results. "Chinas steady new coal plant additions (26.8 GW) offset coal plant retirements in the rest of the world (23.9 GW) in 2022 and resulted in an uptick in overall global capacity," according to a study released by California-based NGO Global Energy Monitor on Thursday, April 6. It is true that at the global level, production capacity has collapsed since 2014. By 2021, it had even bottomed out at 479 GW, before rising again in 2022 to 537 GW (+12%), precisely because of China. "China's share of coal under development increased from 55% in 2021 to 68% in 2022, [and] now accounts for 72% of global pre-construction capacity," the study points out, noting a growing gap between China and the rest of the world since last year. While China's capacity increased by 38% to 365 GW, the rest of the world's capacity fell by 20% to nearly 172 GW. "The energy context and more expensive liquefied natural gas prices have caused China to pivot towards a return to coal," said Neil Makaroff, a former member of the Climate Action Network and an expert on climate and energy policy. According to Makaroff, last year, in addition to the economic recovery, heat waves and air conditioning use caused electricity consumption to soar, while hydroelectricity was at a low point. Inner Mongolia Against this backdrop, Beijing has accelerated new projects, issuing, as it had not done since 2015, numerous construction permits for power plants. It has approved 106 GW of capacity, the equivalent of two large coal-fired power plants per week. "The annual capacity additions for many individual Chinese provinces topped the capacity additions of entire countries," the study reveals. Inner Mongolia, for example, has added more capacity than India and Japan combined, although they rank second and third in the country rankings after China. "This boom, as significant as it is, must be put into perspective, however," said Makaroff. "Last year, China also installed 145 GW of renewable energy, which is equivalent to what the rest of the world did. If Beijing wants to peak its CO 2 emissions by 2030, however, it will also have to give up coal." Outside of China, the number of coal-fired power plants has continued to decline, although this decline slowed compared to 2021. In this regard, the European Union reduced its capacity by 2.2 GW in 2022, after reaching a record high of 14.6 GW in 2021. You have 16.08% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. Police officers from the BRAV-M motorbike brigade in Paris, April 6, 2023. AGNES DHERBEYS / MYOP FOR "LE MONDE" French policemen said they were "mentally exhausted" when they were recorded threatening arrested protesters an internal report showed. Members of the BRAV-M, a Paris unit of policemen on motorbikes, are being investigated over abusive comments recorded late on March 20 as they detained young people during protests against the government's pension reform, as revealed by Le Monde. In a report to their supervisors, seen by Agence France-Presse, members of the unit defended themselves, saying fatigue was to blame. One of them, Yann C., said that he and his team had been on patrol since 10 am when the recording was made after 11 pm. Another, Benoit A., described "shifts of 14 hours, even 16 hours" during the demonstrations against President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform, which raises the retirement age from 62 to 64. "Eating and drinking were complicated," he wrote, claiming some officers took "medication" because they did not have time to go to the bathroom. "We were physically and mentally exhausted," he said. In the recording, members of the police unit can be heard picking on a 23-year-old Chadian student, who has accused them of slapping him. The policemen make sexually explicit, sexist and racist comments, while one member of the force tells a protester that they better watch out or next time they will have to take "a thing called an ambulance to go to the hospital". Lawyer Arie Alimi, who is representing the Chadian student and another female protester, said he was not convinced by the policemen's arguments. "Fatigue cannot exonerate someone of criminal liability," he said. But, he added, "it could invoke the criminal responsibility of the police chief himself in view of the intensity of the operations he ordered." Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes The weapons French police use during protests Ajouter a vos selections Ajouter a vos selections Pour ajouter larticle a vos selections identifiez-vous Sinscrire gratuitement Se connecter Vous possedez deja un compte ? Paris police chief Laurent Nunez said he was "extremely shocked by the comments" in the audio file. The policemen caught on tape have been taken off duty, but they have not been suspended, Paris police have said. The inquiries are ongoing. At least two other BRAV-M policemen are being investigated for alleged brutality, a source close to the case has said, asking not to be named. Human rights groups have accused French police of disproportionate use of force in the pension demonstrations since January, which have turned more violent since the government last month forced the retirement bill through parliament without a vote. But the Interior Ministry insists it has been responding to "far-left" radicals intent on damaging public property. Activists and left-wing lawmakers have called for the BRAV-M to be dissolved, but Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin this week rejected that request. Le Monde with AFP GOVERNMENT has said it aims to have a new facility to tackle waiting lists in place in Limerick by the end of the year. Limerick is to be home to a new surgical hub facility designed to slash the number of people in the queue for non-urgent treatments. It will operate in a similar manner to the Reeves Day Surgery Centre in Tallaght, south Dublin. It will have a shorter-term impact on waiting times. This intervention will also support efforts to consider the necessary reforms and enablers needed to separate unscheduled and scheduled care pathways that will be required by the longer-term provision of the elective care programme, a spokesperson for the Department of Health previously said. Its anticipated the private facility could be delivered on the grounds of University Hospital Limerick (UHL) in Dooradoyle. In an update on its plans to tackle high waiting lists in Ireland, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly outlined the measure, putting a projected time of the end of 2023 on it. To address shorter-term needs, the HSE will fast-track plans for new elective surgical hubs in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford to address shorter term capacity demands, he wrote. He described the surgical hub plan as an interim measure in advance of elective hospitals becoming operational. However, Limerick is still not in line for such a private hospital, despite the fact Irelands other major cities are. Its something which has sparked concern among hospital campaigners and local politicians. Elsewhere, Mr Donnelly pledged 1.8m to the expansion of the ophthalmology service which diagnoses and treats problems of the eye. And a further 1.1m has been put in place to expand the gynaecology service, which is the area of medicine concerned with a woman's reproductive system, organs and health. Local Fianna Fail TD Willie ODea has previously welcomed the roll-out of the surgical hubs in Limerick but cast doubt on the timelines, given the planning permission needed before any work can start on the project. Speaking in Dail Eireann last month he suggested St Johns Hospital in the city centre should house a new private hospital to address what he described as chronic overcrowding in UHL. "Careful consideration must be given to the suitability of the site at St. John's Hospital, Limerick, which has the space, expertise and track record to make this an outstanding success, he said. LIMERICK is to receive 180,000 in funding as part of this years Community Monuments Fund it has been announced. This years funding is an increase of 33% compared to last year and is being awarded to four projects in Limerick. The core objective of the Community Monuments Fund is to support the conservation, maintenance, protection, and promotion of local monuments and historic sites, in alignment with the aims of the Governments new heritage plan, Heritage Ireland 2030, and the Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan. The scheme contains a range of measures that seek to enable conservation to be carried out on archaeological monuments in need of urgent support, encourage access to these monuments and improve their presentation, and build resilience to enable these monuments to withstand the effects of climate change. This years CMF awards include: 100,000 in funding for Ballynoe Towerhouse, 30,000 in funding for Galbally Church, 30,000 in funding for Croom Castle, 28,939 in funding for Ballingarry Castle. Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, Kieran ODonnell TD, said: "I am delighted to announce funding for four archaeological heritage projects in Limerick under the Community Monuments Fund to a total of 188,939. "This fund has supported over 330 projects nationally since its establishment in 2020, making a hugely positive impact to the medieval forts and churches and the historic graveyards and castles throughout Limerick and Ireland. The phenomenal impact and success of the Community Monuments Fund is a result of the close working relationship between our Departments National Monuments Service and Local Authorities the Archaeologists, Conservation Officers, Heritage Officers and planning and administrative staff working in partnership with local communities highlighting their important role when it comes to cherishing and caring for Irelands outstanding heritage. We are very grateful to all of the Local Authorities, custodians, and community groups who work tirelessly with us under this fund to care of our heritage and strengthen an important sense of place in cities, villages and towns all around the country. A MOTHER and daughter who were refused permission to collect 4 order from Brown Thomas in Limerick as they were not wearing face masks have lost a discrimination case. Elizabeth Torneria-Fuentes and her daughter, Victoria Torneria-Fuentes - who both have disabilities - entered the store in the city centre on October 5 2021 to pick up their click and collect item. However, the two were prevented from collecting the item as they were not wearing Covid-19 masks and did not provide security staff details of their disabilities in order to demonstrate that they were exempt from mask-wearing. The two subsequently lodged discrimination claims on the grounds of disability under the Equal Status Act against store owner, Brown Thomas Arnotts Ltd. Following a day of evidence at a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) hearing in Ennis, Adjudicator, Moya de Paor found the pairs discrimination claims were "not well founded". Ms de Paor stated that she was satisfied that Brown Thomas Arnotts Ltd was not made aware of the nature of the mothers and daughters disabilities on the date in question. She stated that, therefore, she found that there is no evidence to support a finding that the two were treated less favourably by the retailer on the grounds of their disabilities. Ms de Paor also found that there is no evidence that the Brown Thomas store failed to provide the two with reasonable accommodation for such disabilities. The Adjudicator said she was satisfied that the two failed to establish a prima facie case of discrimination on the grounds of their disabilities. Ms de Paor stated that she was satisfied, based on the evidence, of the two complainants that Brown Thomas staff were not made aware of the nature of their disabilities, nor did they offer to provide proof of their medical conditions to substantiate the basis of her request for reasonable accommodation. Ms de Paor stated that this finding is supported by the evidence of Brown Thomas security man Gary OSullivan who stated that on the date, the two did not advise him of why they could not wear a face mask. He added that they did not provide him with any proof to explain the basis of their exemption. Furthermore, she stated that Brown Thomas Arnotts Ltd - represented in the case by David ORegan BL, instructed by Corrigan & Corrigan Solicitors - must be aware of what a persons disability is in order to fully assess the most appropriate measures to provide reasonable accommodation. The Adjudicator said she accepted the evidence of Brown Thomas Health and Safety Manager, Lorraine Bedford that BT had put in place various measures to accommodate customers who were unable to wear a face mask while shopping and outlined various options. In evidence, former Security Officer with BT, Gary OSullivan told the hearing that it was very hard to speak to either woman on October 5, 2021 as both were speaking over him and were telling him about their human rights and constitutional rights to be in the store without a face mask. Victoria Torneria Fuentes denied that she spoke over Mr OSullivan as alleged while Elizabeth Torneria Fuentes told the hearing that she told Mr OSullivan that BT Face Coverings policy didnt trump the law of the land and that people with disabilities were exempt from wearing masks. Mr OSullivan said that he was shown a lanyard by the two which referred to hidden disabilities and which stated face mask exempt. Elizabeth Torneria-Fuentes told the hearing that she has numerous disabilities including chronic bronchitis and is on medication for it and uses two inhalers. She stated that she cant wear a mask and finds it difficult to breathe, which triggers her to cough. Victoria Torneria Fuentes told the hearing that she also has numerous disabilities including chronic pain from a back injury. She stated that as a result of the pain she suffers from her breathing can get shallow and she finds it difficult to wear a mask. During the hearing, Mr ORegan stated that the 4 item Elizabeth Torneria Fuentes had purchased could have been delivered to her house. Elizabeth Torneria Fuentes also confirmed that she didnt contact BT in advice to warn them that she was coming into the store, nor did she warn any other store in advance when she went shopping. In reply to a question from Ms de Paor, Elizabeth Torneria Fuentes confirmed that the lanyard can be purchased from the Hidden Disabilities website at the cost of 7 or 8 and that medical evidence is not required to buy one. Victoria Torneria-Fuentes confirmed that they were contacted by BTs customer service officer who advised them as they hadnt collected their online order that it would be sent in the post which they received in November 2021. Victoria Torneria-Fuentes stated in evidence that she didnt tell Mr OSullivan what disabilities she had as she didnt feel that a Security Officer was in a position to interpret medical data. ATHLACCA'S Elaine Houlihan will become the 39th president of Macra and the second female Macra member to serve in the role. She follows in the footsteps of Catherine Buckley who was the first female Macra president (2007-2009). The results of the Macra presidential and vice-presidential elections were announced in the Irish Farm Centre, Dublin and live on the Macra Facebook this week. Elaine is looking forward to getting stuck in as she has since she was a child growing up on the family farm in South Limerick. "Thanks to all the members for their support over the past number of weeks, it is a huge honour to represent the organisation at this level. Thanks to my family and friends who have supported me always and especially throughout my campaign. "I could not have done this without the support of my fellow Macra members in Kilmallock and Limerick Macra. I am eagerly looking forward to leading Irelands most vibrant rural organisation and to see what direction our members take us over the next two years. I am looking forward to working with members, volunteers, staff, incoming vice-presidents and partners throughout my term," said Elaine Houlihan. Current national president John Keane congratulated Elaine on her appointment and wished her well during her term of office. "I know that all the candidates elected today will be able to meet the challenges and lead Macra to greater heights. Well done to all candidates who put themselves forward for the election. Election ballots were also counted for the vice-presidential position in Munster and the Northwest. Aishling OKeeffe from Banteer Macra Club, Co Cork was elected for the Munster position and Robert Lally from Claremorris Macra Club, Co. Mayo was elected for the Northwest position. Aishling and Robert will serve alongside Patrick Jordan, Tullow Macra, the incoming Leinster Vice-President who was declared elected, unopposed for his position. The three new vice presidents will take up their positions alongside president-elect, Elaine at Macras National AGM on May 13. FOLLOWING the murder of a woman in Limerick city earlier this week, the Socialist Feminist Movement, ROSA has organised a protest in support of all femicide victims. It says the protest, which will take place on Bedford Row in the city centre next Thursday (April 13), will see supporters "stand in solidarity with this young woman and her loved ones," adding, "we stand with all victims of mens violence against women and LGBTQIA people." Investigations into the woman's death - at an apartment on Dock Road on Tuesday afternoon - are continuing and a 26-year-old man, who was arrested in Northern Ireland on Thursday remains in custody in Belfast. A post mortem was carried out on the woman's body at University Hospital Limerick this Wednesday and technical examinations of the two separate scenes are ongoing. Commenting ahead of next week's protest, a spokesperson for ROSA said: "We need to bring this issue out of the shadows by coming onto the streets in solidarity with every victim of abuse, every victim of femicide and to exclaim that Not One More life can be taken." Thursday's protest will begin at 5.30pm. Anyone with information about what happened on Tuesday is asked to contact Henry Street garda station at (061) 212400. SAN FRANCISCO : Tesla Inc said it plans to expand the use of cheaper, iron-based batteries to a version of its Semi heavy electric trucks and an affordable electric vehicle. Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk has championed on the lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology dominated by Chinese suppliers, saying in March, "the vast majority of the heavy lifting for electrification will be iron-based cells." But having Chinese suppliers build battery factories in the Unites States is a challenge because of the U.S.-China political tensions. The world's biggest electric carmaker said in its paper on "Master Plan Part 3" released on Wednesday that it will use LFP batteries for "short-range" heavy electric trucks, which it calls "Semi Light," without providing details such as a launching date. Tesla last December started to deliver its Semi electric trucks with a longer, 500-mile driving range per charge and which use nickel-based batteries. Tesla has previously said it will also launch a 300-mile range version. The automaker said its proposed small electric vehicles will use LFP batteries with capacity of 53 kilowatt-hours (kWh), versus 75 kWh for Model Y and Model 3. Tesla said last month that it will cut assembly costs by half in future generations of cars, which will be built at its factories in Mexico and elsewhere. Tesla said it will also use LFP batteries in its mid-sized vehicles, Model 3 and Model Y, without giving a timeline. Currently, Tesla uses nickel-based batteries for most of its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles sold in the United States. Musk and other LFP advocates cited the abundance and cheaper prices of iron as a key factor outweighing the drawbacks that have held back the adoption of LFP cells globally. They are bigger and heavier, and generally hold less energy than nickel-based cells, giving them a shorter range. LFP cells also tend to pose less of a fire risk than nickel-based cells. Tesla currently sources LFP batteries from China's Contemporary Amperex Technology Co, which does not have a factory in the United States. Tesla's South Korean supplier, LG Energy Solution, said it plans to build LFP batteries at its proposed Arizona factory. MUMBAI : Asset-pooling firm Leap India, which is preparing for a public listing, plans to invest 300-500 crore over the next three years in line with its inorganic growth plans, founder and managing director Sunu Mathew said. Just like we acquired Skan Marine, we are planning a slew of acquisitions worth 300 crore to 500 crore in the next three years," Mathew said in an interview. Leap India provides end-to end supply chain assistance to companies. It has 25 warehouses and 22 manufacturing units, as per its website. In February, it acquired Skan Marine, a Mumbai-based forklift rental business for an undisclosed amount. Skan Marine offers rental services for forklift, reach trucks, tow trucks and battery-operated pallet trucks. The acquisition has helped mark the companys presence in the forklift renting segment which will, in turn, help improve the turnover," Mathew said. Meanwhile, Leap India is gearing up for an initial public offering (IPO). The company plans to file its draft prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) by May and expects to launch the IPO in the September quarter, Mathew said. Mint reported on 7 November 2022 that Leap India aims to raise nearly 1,000 crore through the IPO. The IPO will comprise a fresh issue of equity shares and an offer for sale, the report said, citing people aware of the development. Mathew said given the strong consumption story and expectations of growth in overall spends in India, the company expects to grow at 20-30% on year-to-year basis. He also expects most of the growth to come from the companys pallet pooling or renting business. Some of the major factors driving growth, he said, are steady supply of pallets, cost-effectiveness and tech-enabled management. Citing a Frost and Sullivan report, Mathew stated that the pallet-pooling system rental market across the globe is expected to grow nearly 4.5-5%. Currently, the company counts Amul, Amazon Pepsi, Exide, Mahindra and Mahindra and Ashok Leyland among its clients. Further, Mathew pointed out that the automotive components business is expected to see double-digit growth in the coming years. In automotive, we are really betting a very big way because we believe that the first change is going to come from that space. So, this year (FY23), we will be doing about 30 to 33 crore of turnover. And next year, we are targeting 50-55 crore in revenue from the automobile segment", Mathew said. According to the companys latest financials, in FY22, Leap Indias Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) was 13.5 crore, with net sales of 211.34 crore. The company posted a net profit of 26.88 crore. Weeks after an acquisition deal with PhonePe fell through, Bengaluru-based buy now pay later platform ZestMoney has announced layoff plans. According to reports, the fintech company will trim its workforce by around 20% as part of its business continuity and survival plan. According to reports, this will affect around 100 of the company's employees. PhonePe had put the deal to acquire ZestMoney on hold at the end of March this year amid due dilligence concerns. The deal amount had been pegged at $200 million to $300 million. ZestMoney had been founded in 2015 by Lizzie Chapman, Priya Sharma and Ashish Anantharaman. The Goldman Sachs-backed company has been battling a funding crunch in recent months and has previously been in acquisition talks with Pine Labs and BharatPe. ALSO READ: PhonePe-ZestMoney deal pegged at $200mn-$300mn called off due to diligence concerns The company had raised approximately $140 million from prominent investors such as PayU, Zip, Ribbit Capital, Quona Capital, Xiaomi, Omidyar Network, Goldman Sachs since its inception in 2015. ZestMoney raised its last funding round at $450 million valuation. A Moneycontrol report anonymously quoting an employee said that the company had promised to pay a month's salary as severance as well as providing insurance, mental health assistance and other benefits during this time. The company had about 450 employees and the layoffs will reportedly affect all departments. NEW DELHI : The governments quality control orders for products of mass consumption, such as machinery safety equipment, pressure cookers, toys and air conditioners, are compliant with World Trade Organization (WTO) norms, and India is well within its right to retaliate against dumping of poor quality goods, a government official said. In January, several WTO members objected to India issuing quality control orders to curb a Chinese import surge and boost exports. Canada, Japan, the UK and the EU had also expressed concerns over the quality control orders at the WTO. New Delhi has been pushing for quality control measures in the wake of an overhaul of global supply chains since the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war. The official said India lagged in terms of international standards but must ramp up its focus on quality to make the best of free-trade agreements and take advantage of the China-plus-one strategy adopted by the West. QCOs are first applied in the domestic market and only then are they imposed on imports. So we are well within our rights (to bring QCOs). They (western countries) impose quality norms on our products, so we are duty-bound to retaliate by imposing QCOs on their products as well," he added, requesting anonymity. According to WTO rules, members should use similar standards for domestic as well as imported products. Anil Jauhri, former chief executive of the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies, had said that QCOs cannot be challenged at WTO if they are imposed on grounds of health, safety, environment and deceptive trade practice, or national security. Notably, while announcing QCO on toys, the Centre argued that cheap quality products from other countries pose a health risk for children in India. QCOs are increasingly being used by the government to curb the dumping of cheap products from China amid the widening trade deficit, accounting for nearly 40% of the total deficit. Besides, imports of merchandise goods by India touched a record high in the last financial year. Indias merchandise imports for FY23 are estimated at $710 billion, up 15.8% from $613 billion in 2021-22, according to The Global Trade Research Initiative. India has the highest deficit with China of more than $87.5 billion. Around 65% of Chinese exports to India are in three categories--electronics ($31 billion), machinery ($21.7 billion), and organic chemicals ($13.6 billion). Other key categories include plastics, fertilizers, medical and scientific instruments, and iron and steel products. The Union textile ministry is also considering imposing quality control orders for 107 technical textile products such as surgical gloves, PPE kits, bulletproof clothing, and fire-resistant clothing to ensure better standards for products manufactured in India and minimize imports of poor quality goods. Dogecoin fell as much as 9% as some Twitter users began to see their home buttons on the social media platform revert back to its iconic blue-bird logo after a few days of being replaced by the dog meme associated with the cryptocurrency. Since Monday, Twitter users have seen a cartoon of the Shiba-Inu thats the visual representation of the Doge meme on the upper left corner of the social media services home page. Twitter owner Elon Musk has long been a supporter of Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency created as a joke in 2013, with the currency accepted as payment for merchandise at Tesla Inc., another company he heads. Twitter didnt respond to a Bloomberg question about the restoration of its bird logo. Dogecoin fell to as low as 8.4 cents, compared to the high of 10.5 cents it reached on Monday after Twitter made the logo change. Earlier, Dogecoin's Shiba Inu dog replaced Twitter's blue bird as the social media company's logo on Monday, helping the meme coin add as much as $4 billion to its market value. The token, born as a satire of a cryptocurrency frenzy in 2013 and has no fundamental use, on Tuesday surged to 10 cents around 1500 EST from 7 cents as Elon Musk indicated in a tweet he had delivered on his promise of changing the social media app's logo to dogecoin's dog. With a market capitalization of $13.7 billion, dogecoin is now the seventh biggest cryptocurrency, according to data site CoinMarketCap.com. Its market value stood at around $10 billion before the news. Musk, who is ranked the second-richest person in the world by Forbes, is a vocal proponent of cryptocurrencies and has heavily influenced prices for dogecoin and bitcoin in the past. The Tesla boss on Friday asked a U.S. judge to throw out a $258 billion racketeering lawsuit accusing him of running a pyramid scheme to support dogecoin. Dogecoin more than doubled in October after Musk, dubbed "the dogefather" by retail traders, sealed a $44 billion deal to take over Twitter. Know your inner investor Do you have the nerves of steel or do you get insomniac over your investments? Lets define your investment approach. Take the test The Biden administration released a summary of classified reports that analyzed the U.S. military's withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. The report primarily highlighted the chaos surrounding the withdrawal to former President Donald Trump's failure to plan for the withdrawal that he had agreed on with the Taliban. As per media reports, the report attributed that the withdrawal's logistical challenges were exacerbated by the previous administration's decision to reduce the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan significantly. However, the report has drawn angry reactions from Republican lawmakers. The summary was based on top-secret State Department and Pentagon reviews that were sent to Congress. The Republicans, who have been demanding access to the documents for their own investigation of the pullout, have criticized the administration for not releasing the full reports and accused them of withholding information, Reuters reported. In response to the report, Michael McCaul, the Republican chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Relations Committee, strongly criticized the administration in an official statement, stating, "Biden ordered the pullout and was "responsible for the massive failures in planning and execution." Michael McCaul, the Republican chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Relations Committee, has been overseeing the Republican investigation into the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. This administration's brazen whitewashing of their failure in Afghanistan is disgraceful, unjust, and flat-out insulting. (1/2) https://t.co/KvwkMdIgfi Michael McCaul (@RepMcCaul) April 6, 2023 McCaul has claimed that his repeated threats to subpoena the State Department and Pentagon reviews, which were completed in 2021, finally forced the Biden administration to release them to Congress. McCaul in a tweet said, "This administration's brazen whitewashing of their failure in Afghanistan is disgraceful, unjust, and flat-out insulting." A study has analysed that people who were exposed to higher levels of air pollution before the pandemic had lower antibody responses to COVID-19 vaccines. The researchers in the study said that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and black carbon was associated with about a 10 percent decrease in IgM and IgG antibody responses in people without prior infection. The findings of the study was published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. It provided further evidence on the adverse effects of air pollution on the immune system. The team analysed data from 927 participants aged 40 to 65 years, who answered questionnaires and gave blood samples in the summer of 2020 and in the spring of 2021. All had received one or two doses of the main COVID-19 vaccines administered in Spain made by AstraZeneca, Pfizer or Moderna. Also Read: Amid Covid surge, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to hold review meet today Air pollution has been linked to adverse health outcomes, including lung cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory disease, and diabetes," Manolis Kogevinas from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) said. "Air pollutants have been shown to affect immune responses, so in this study we wished to determine whether air pollution also affects antibody responses to COVID-19 vaccines," said Kogevinas. The research team measured IgM, IgG and IgA antibodies to five viral antigens (three of them on the spike protein contained in the vaccine). Exposure to PM2.5, black carbon, NO2 and ozone (O3) was estimated for each participant based on their address before the pandemic. Also Read: Covid still deadlier for patients than flu "The collaboration of all volunteers in the cohort, with more than ten years of data, has allowed us to reliably estimate the level of environmental exposure of all participants," said Rafael de Cid, co-author of the study. The results show that in uninfected individuals, pre-pandemic exposure to PM2.5, NO2 and black carbon was associated with a 5 to 10 percent reduction in vaccine-induced spike antibodies. The decrease in antibodies was shown both for early IgM responses and late responses measured by IgG, the researchers said. The IgG response after the first dose peaked later in participants exposed to higher air pollution levels, and lower IgG levels persisted for several months after vaccination. Results were similar for the three vaccines. "Air pollution can induce chronic inflammation, which has been associated with a negative effect on vaccine efficacy," said Carlota Dobano, co-senior author of the study, together with Cathryn Tonne. "Our findings are consistent with evidence that persistent organic pollutants reduce vaccine responses in children," Dobano added. The fact that previous infections lead to higher vaccine responses could explain why the effect of pollutants was only observed in people without a prior infection, the researchers said. However, the role of long-term exposure to air pollution on hybrid immunity (infection plus vaccination) deserves further investigation, the researchers added. (With inputs from ANI) Anil Antony's defection to the BJP has sparked outrage in the Congress ranks, with his family lambasting the impulsive choice. His younger brother Ajith asserted on Friday that the saffron party would throw him out like "curry leaves" after using him in the short term. His father - senior Congress leader AK Antony - had earlier said that he was deeply pained by the move. Pappa (A K Antony) was seen sitting with utmost pain in a corner of the house. I have never ever seen him so weak like this in my life. He did not shed tears, that's all. I thought he would stay away from the (Congress) party out of anger, but I never ever thought that he would go to the BJP. The decision was a totally unexpected one," Ajith said. While the newly inducted BJP leader had recently clashed with other members of his family on several political issues, Ajith Antony said the decision had come as a shock to the rest of the family. ALSO READ: Anil Antony, son of veteran Congress leader AK Antony, joins BJP I am deeply pained by Anil's decision to join the BJP. It was a wrong decision. I am 82 now. I am at the last stages of my life. I don't know how long I will live and I don't have any interest in having a long life. I will remain a worker of the Indian National Congress as long as I live," AK Antony told reporters at the KPCC headquarters on Thursday. Meanwhile, the BJP leader insisted that today's iteration of the Congress was not the Congress I knew when I was growing up. It is not even the party that existed five years back. Now Congress has lost all interest...Party now has started prioritising the interest of two-three individuals," he opined. This has been a very decisive decision in my life. A few months back, I quit Congress because there was a difference of opinion regarding a documentary (BBC), which I believe was an attack on our sovereignty and integrity..." added Antony. ALSO READ: 'Wrong decision, it has hurt me': AK Antony on son Anil joining BJP (With inputs from agencies) India is witnessing a sudden rise in new COVID cases triggered by a new variant XBB.1.16, which is also known as Arcturus. Apart from a rapid rise in cases, experts have pointed out that they are also noticing new symptoms emerging, which were not seen during the earlier waves. And what is more concerning is the fact that it is once again attacking children. What are the latest symptoms of COVID? Hospitals once again started getting pediatric Covid cases after a gap of 6 months. Some of the top symptoms include high fever, cold and cough, and non-purulent, cited Vipin M Vashishtha, former convenor of Indian Academy of Pediatrics and consultant paediatrician at the Mangla Hospital and Research Centre, Bijnor. Vashishtha also mentioned that many are reporting itchy conjunctivitis and sticky eyes, a symptom that was not seen in earlier waves. XBB.1.16 #Arcturus For the last 2 days, have started getting pediatric Covid cases once again after a gap of 6 mo! An infantile phenotype seems emergingtreated infants w/ high fever, cold & cough, & non-purulent, itchy conjunctivitis w/ sticky eyes, not seen in earlier waves pic.twitter.com/UTVgrCCLWU Vipin M. Vashishtha (@vipintukur) April 6, 2023 The expert had earlier warned about XBB.1.16 saying that the variant has a 140% growth advantage over XBB.1.5, making it more aggressive. Can the variant cause severe infection? Last week, WHO official Maria Van Kerkhove pointed out, the subvariant has been circulating for a few months, and it doesnt appear to cause more severe disease. However, One of the things we are very concerned about is the potential for the virus to change to become not only more transmissible but more severe," Van Kerkhove said. So we have to remain vigilant." Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday chaired a review meeting with health ministers of all states and Union Territories through video conferencing. As many 6,050 fresh Covid-19 infections were recorded in the country in the last 24 hours, marking a significant jump from Thursday's tally of 5,335 cases, the Union health ministry said. India's active Covid caseload currently stands at 28,303 with a daily positivity rate of 3.39 per cent. "We need to remain alert but there is no need to worry. Currently, the sub-variant of Omicron, which is circulating in the country, hasn't led to an increase in the rate of hospitalisation," Mandaviya said earlier on the Covid-19 situation in the country. Covid cases in the country have seen an upward trend in the past few days, with the daily fresh infections at 2,994 on April 1, 3,824 on April 2, 3,641 on April 3 and 3,038 on April 4 and 4,435 on April 5. The Punjab Police on 7 April responded to a media report and urged people to not believe in rumours of the surrender of radical preacher and pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh. While responding to a media report, the Punjab Police in a tweet wrote, "This is a fake news and factually incorrect. Please fact-check news before sharing. Don't spread rumours and fake news." Waris Punjab De chief, Amritpal, has been on the run since 18 March, the day Punjab Police launched a massive manhunt for him. This is a fake news and factually incorrect Please fact-check news before sharing. Don't spread rumours and fake news. pic.twitter.com/QsXfrwoIAq Punjab Police India (@PunjabPoliceInd) April 7, 2023 Amid speculations that the radical preacher is likely to surrender at Amritsar's Golden Temple, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, Parminder Singh Bhandal had last Saturday said that if the fugitive Khalistani leader wants to surrender, they will facilitate the same in accordance with the law. "We are continuously working to ensure the safety and security of people in Amritsar. Right now, we are more focused on managing traffic as Baisakhi is around the corner. If Amritpal wants to surrender, we are ready to help him do that in accordance with the law," he said. His statement came after Singh surfaced a new video and said that he was not a fugitive and will soon appear in front of the world. He sought to address some comments about the video that surfaced on Wednesday. In the video, the veracity of which couldn't be ascertained, Amritpal also sought to address some comments about an earlier video. "I uploaded a video addressing the people. Many are under the impression that the video was shot in police custody I am seen switching glances while facing the camera and speaking. Anyone who has seen my earlier videos would know that I don't talk much looking at the camera," he said. With Baisakhi on 14 April, all leaves of Punjab cops have been cancelled, due to high alert in the state. In response, the head of Akal Takhth, Giani Harpreet Singh, announced a three-day annual congregation at Takht Damdama Sahib to celebrate Baisakhi. There is a marked difference in annual congregation and Sarbat Khalsa. This is a gathering to mark Baisakhi," an official told HT indicating that the Akal Takht is not actually agreeing to Amritpal Singh's demand of Sarbat Khalsa Coming back to Amritpal, in a video released, he had said that those who though he ran away or left his friends should "get that thing out of your minds". The pro-KhaIistan leader, who has been declared a fugitive by Punjab Police, said no one should have an apprehension that he had not run away from his people. He urged people to spread this message to the big congregation on Baisakhi to discuss issues before the community Amritpal is on the run since March 18, the day Punjab Police launched a massive manhunt for him. The crackdown came almost over three weeks after Amritpal's supporters stormed Ajnala police station in Amritsar on February 23 demanding the release of one of his close aides, Lovepreet Toofan. (With inputs from ANI) Good Friday is a day on which Christians around the world observe the commemoration of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The day is observed on the Friday before Easter Sunday and is a significant event in the Christian faith. For Christians, the death of Jesus Christ on the cross represents the ultimate sacrifice made for the forgiveness of sins. It is believed that through his death, Christ atoned for the sins of humanity and provided a way for believers to have eternal life. The day is considered "good" because of the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus, which opened the way for salvation and reconciliation between God and humanity. According to Bible, the Jewish religious leaders who condemned Jesus to death for claiming to be the son of God and king of the Jews brought him to Romans for sentencing on this day. Before the execution, Jesus went through extreme torture and was forced to carry a heavy wooden cross through a mocking crowd. Finally, Jesus was nailed to the cross by his wrists and feet, where he died later. Observance of Good Friday: Christians observe Good Friday solemnly to honor the way Jesus Christ underwent tremendous suffering and died for the expiation of their sins. This may involve attending a service where the account of Jesus's agonizing crucifixion is recounted. Some believers may even choose to fast as a way of expressing their grief. After the solemn commemoration of Good Friday, Christians shift their focus to a more joyous occasion: Easter Sunday. On this day, they celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ with lively church services, joyful hymns, and gatherings with family and friends. They may also exchange Easter greetings, inspirational quotes, and biblical verses with their loved ones as a way of expressing their happiness and faith. Things we can do on Good Friday: Wake up early and prepare for the day of sacrifice 2. Wear black to symbolize the mourning 3. Try and keep television, phones, and social media away for the day 4. Observe the obligatory day of fasting and abstinence as required by the Church 5. Observe silence from noon to 3:00 PM- the hours when Jesus suffered on the cross 6. Venerate the holy cross in your home or the Church (With inputs from ANI) A day after revising the domestic gas pricing guidelines, the Union Cabinet on Thursday imposed a cap or ceiling price which can help to reduce prices of CNG and piped cooking gas prices (PNG) by up to 10%. The move can bring some relief for consumers as the rates of both CNG and PNG jumped 80% in the previous few months after a sudden spike in international markets. Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur addressed a press conference after the cabinet meeting and said monthly notifications will be implemented to ensure stable pricing in the regime and offer adequate protection to producers against adverse market fluctuations. What has changed in the pricing method? Earlier, the prices of natural gas produced from legacy or old fields, also known as APM gas was priced based on the benchmark rates of gas in surplus nations like the US, Canada, and Russia. Now, the Cabinet has decided to index the APM prices to the price of imported crude oil. APM will be priced at 10% of the price of a basket of crude oil that India imports. The rate is, however, capped at $6.5 per million British thermal units, with a floor price of $4 per mmBtu Currently, the Indian basket of crude oil is priced at $85 per barrel, so the ceiling is helping to cut the prices from $8.5 (10% of crude oil) to $6.5 and this will lead to an overall reduction in prices of domestic PNG and CNG. The minister further informed that these caps and floor prices will remain the same for two years and will increase by $0.25 per mmBtu per year thereafter. Expected reductions in CNG and PNG prices: The new pricing method will be enforced from Saturday (8 April) and following the decision the prices of CNG in Delhi are expected to reduce from 79.56 per kg to 73.59, while in Mumbai the CNG is expected to cost 79 per kg instead of 87. The prices of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) are also expected to reduce with the new indexation method and in Delhi, a cut from 53.59 per thousand cubic meters to 47.59 is expected while in Mumbai the consumers will have to pay 49 per scm instead of 54, after the enforcement of new pricing regime. Why these changes? Last year, the government set up a committee headed by Kirit Parikh to examine gas prices and determine a pricing formula that takes into account the interests of both local consumers and producers. The government's aim is to transition to a gas-based economy. The committee recommended a price range for current production from legacy or old fields, which account for about two-thirds of the country's total gas production and are currently regulated under the administered price mechanism (APM). However, the pricing formula for difficult fields was not modified. These legacy or old fields will remain under the APM until the complete deregulation of prices is implemented in 2027. Read More: Cabinet to consider price caps on gas to stave off rates rising to USD 10.7 per mmBtu (With inputs from PTI) BEIJING, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday in Beijing. Li said that China-France relations have enjoyed sustained and sound development, and injected precious stability and certainty into a volatile and intertwined world. "China is ready to work with France to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, push China-France comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level, and adhere to the original aspirations of the establishment of diplomatic relations -- independence, mutual understanding, foresight, mutual benefit and win-win outcomes," he said. Li stressed that China is willing to share the opportunities brought by China's development with France, and welcome more quality French products, technologies and services to the Chinese market. He said China hopes that France will keep its market open and provide a fair and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises. For his part, Macron said that France supports China's development and is ready to restore the pre-pandemic momentum of exchanges with China. He also expressed willingness to strengthen cooperation with China on the economy and trade, agriculture, aviation, finance, nuclear energy, innovation, tourism and culture in an open manner. India has reported another jump as the country logged 6,050 Covid cases in the past 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. This jump comes a day after the country reported 5,300 cases yesterday. With this, the country's active Covid-19 caseload has gone up to active cases at 28,303, a jump of nearly 2716 cases. With the surge in cases, Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya will chair a review meet with the health ministers of all states and Union Territories today, news agency ANI reported. The Centre has regularly issued guidelines to the States & UTs on Covid19. PM Modi has held a review with all States on this. Today, Health Minister Dr Mandaviya will hold a review meeting with health ministers of States & UTs," MoS Health Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar was quoted by the agency. With an uptick in the trend of Covid cases, scientists said that XBB.1.16 is the Covid-19 variant responsible for the present surge. However, scientists say that people in India have developed hybrid immunity (due to vaccination and natural infection). Therefore, the present Covid-19 variants will not cause a lot of hospitalization. However, the government has suggested people wear masks in crowded places and complete their vaccination doses if not done yet. According to the latest INSACOG bulletin, the newly emerged recombinant coronavirus variant XBB.1.16 has been observed in different parts of the country, accounting for 38.2 per cent of the infection till date. The Mayor of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Shelly Oberoi, gave assurance to the public on Wednesday that MCD is ready to handle any Covid-related situation in Delhi. She stated that all MCD hospitals have complete Covid-19 facilities, including reserved beds and oxygen cylinders. In addition, the hospitals are equipped to provide RT-PCR and antigen tests. In Sikkim, the state government issued an advisory asking people to wear face mask in public places in view of surge in COVID-19 cases in the state and in the country. New Delhi has launched a slew of measures to promote India as an attractive destination for Bhutanese students, following a steady decline over the past decade, and Australia emerging as a key alternative, said people in the know. According to All India Surveys of Higher Education (AISHE), the number of Bhutanese students receiving tertiary education in India declined from 2,468 in 2012-13 to 1,827 in 2020-21, accounting for just 3.8% of all international students from 7% a decade ago, according to data from the Union ministry of education. The development has major strategic implications, considering that education and people-to-people ties have long buttressed Indias relationship with Bhutan. Most senior members of Bhutans governing elite have studied in Indian educational institutions. Economic opportunities, negligible visa restrictions, regular training programmes, education opportunities, and Buddhist tourism and education have bolstered people-to-people relations between India and Bhutan for generations," said Aditya Gowdara Shivamurthy, a scholar at the Observer Research Foundation, in a recent article on Bhutans migration trends and policies. The government is taking steps to make it attractive for the youth from Bhutan to study in India, including increasing opportunities for STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) subjects, and making it easier for them to work in Indias startup sector, said a person, seeking anonymity. Vocational training will also be a key focus for the Bhutanese youth, he added. Foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said the countries were discussing the possibilities to increase access to Indian institutes. There is no change in terms of access and availability of the Indian education system to our partner countries in our neighbourhood and to their people, not just in terms of their presence here, but also in terms of the continuing national treatment that they get here. Which destination they choose, of course, is always an evolving feature in terms of what happens within that society," he said at a press briefing in New Delhi on Friday. According to the Australian education ministry, the number of Bhutanese students has shot up to 3,863 in 2023, up 142% from a year ago, growing at a faster clip than any international student community. Push factors in Bhutan, combined with better standards of life, economic opportunities, relaxed work hours, and education opportunities in Australia has attracted several Bhutanese in recent years. In 2021, the Australian census indicated that over 12,000 Bhutanese stayed in Australia. The migration trend has largely increased in recent years, coinciding with Bhutans attempt to open to the international labour market," Shivamurthy said in the article. Indian pharma industry has seen an extraordinary growth and has reached from Zero to 13 percent of the global market, a report by Asian Lite has stated. As per the report, this impressive growth is an outcome of a series of sound legislation and economic environment, timely actions, and to a greater extent, the motive of welfare of the masses. The Indian pharmaceutical industry has seen a massive expansion over the last few years and is expected to reach about 13 percent of the size of the global pharma market while enhancing its quality, affordability, and innovation. Performing as per its tag as the 'pharmacy of the world', India has been a global generic medicine supplier for over 200 countries from both developed and emerging markets. As per the report, the country has attained recent traction for being the largest producer of vaccines in the world, contributing 60 per cent to the world's supply of vaccines. As per the report by McKinsey, a large presence of local players producing branded generics, along with lower price levels, has provided the Indian pharmaceutical industry with a unique opportunity. The kind of growth the pharma industry has seen in India, from a non-existent to a global pharmacy, is undoubtedly extraordinary. This impressive growth is an outcome of a series of sound legislation and economic environment, timely actions, and to a greater extent, the motive of welfare to the masses, Asian Lite reported. It all began with the introduction of the Patents Act of 1970, leading to process patents instead of product patents. This implied that patenting was focused on manufacturing and not product patents. It enabled Indian pharma companies in three main ways. First, manufacturers engaged in manufacturing drugs without paying patent holders exorbitant royalties. Second, it allowed India to reduce dependence on drug imports and development of self-reliant Indian pharmaceutical industry. Third, the pharma industry boomed in India by developing affordable versions of patented drugs and gradually moved to the global market as a generic drug supplier, Asian Lite reported. However, after the WTO's establishment, India signed the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement and changed its patent norms. India then made a few amendments to its patent laws as the agreement required patents for pharmaceutical products and processes inventions. Despite the paradigm shift, India by that time experienced stellar progress in its pharma supply. When Covid hit the world in 2020, Indian pharma found an unprecedented window of opportunity. Combining expansion in the R-D ecosystem with favourable policies, India became a major vaccine supplier to the world, ensuring self-reliance in vaccine provisioning. India administered free vaccine doses to its citizens, reaching one billion marks. Besides acquiring its role as an important international player, India provided COVID-19-related medical assistance to over 150 countries, Asian Lite reported. Sticking to its motto of Vasudhaiva Kutumbhakam, India started a Vaccine Maitri Programme in January 2021, supplying 72.3 million doses of COVID vaccine to more than 94 countries by the end of 2021. Many countries also preferred the Indian vaccine due to its low-cost vaccine development and ability to make large-scale export consignments, besides the effectiveness of vaccines. This was of special significance for low-income countries that could not compete with richer nations for vaccine procurement1 during the crisis. According to an expert, Indian pharma has learned to respond to the crisis by producing large-scale drugs quickly at short notice compared to any other country. It is important to note that the boom for Indian pharma is not sporadic. It continues to experience sustained and robust growth in the post-pandemic period as well. By the end of 2022, Indian pharma has turned from volume to value creator. As per an expert, with a heightened sense of collaboration between the industry and the government, the industry's focus has shifted to other diseases, the advancement of cell therapies, and policies for IP and government procurements. Cumulative FDI in the pharma sector was over USD 20 billion in September 2022. India is the largest vaccine supplier, with the Serum Institute of India producing 1.5 billion vaccines a year for polio, diphtheria, measles, mumps, and rubella to be used by the immunisation programmes across 170 countries, Asian Lite reported. Recently, the government of India extended support to pharma companies using the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to ensure self-reliance through enhanced domestic manufacturing capacity for high-value products. The PLI schemes are for bulk drugs and pharmaceutical manufacturing, together accounting for an outlay of around USD 2.7 billion. Another important aspect of the pharma landscape in India is the stress on the welfare of the masses using its legislative provisions. Recently, the Indian Patent Office rejected the request for an extension of a patent by Johnson and Johnson for a TB drug on multiple grounds. This rejection is important in two respects. First, Indian manufacturers can produce a generic version of this anti-TB drug since the patent period has expired. Second, it allows the availability of a cheaper version of the drug, thus, strengthening India's muscle power in combat against TB. India's public interest-oriented stance on drug patents has been at crossroads with the big pharmaceutical companies of the West, especially the US. These companies seek to do away with various aspects of the Indian Patent Act, of the 1970s which they find a hurdle in establishing their monopoly and rent-seeking behaviour. While the US pharma companies are against the Form 27 of IPA, 1970 which requires details on patent working in India, experts9 believe that information on the working of a patent is essential to enquire if the act is successful in promoting innovation as public health. In its practice, India has refused to grant secondary and ever-greening patents on slight modifications of the extant drugs, or new uses of existing medicines, and combinations of existing substances, much to the annoyance of big pharmas10. Big pharma has often projected their monopoly interests as the acceptable international IP norms and continues to pressurise the US government to act against India11. As per Brook Baker12, Professor at the North-eastern University, Indian patent laws focus on balancing producer as well as consumer interests. He has often called out the big pharmaceutical companies of the US for lobbying against India with their "disinformation campaigns" blaming India for discriminating against the US companies. Contrary to the propaganda, according to Prof. Baker, India's patent policies are in tandem with both domestic legislation and international norms laid by TRIPS, Asian Lite reported. Interestingly, the pharma industry in India is operating in a self-sustained model setup, ensuring that demand for drugs meets its supply. To put into perspective, India is keen on the promotion of the production of generic drugs. Now to ensure this supply meets the demand for generic drugs, the Indian government started PM Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), in which Janaudhadi kendras (shops) sell generic drugs at affordable prices to the masses. By the end of 2022, more than 8,500 kendras were functional nationwide. Apart from reducing the out-of-pocket expenditure of the people, these kendras or medicine stores help create awareness about generic medicines, thus expanding the market for generic drug manufacturers and providing employment to entrepreneurs engaging in the establishment of kendras, Asian Lite reported. With the current valuation of USD 50 billion, the congenial government policies and the robust R-D expansion in the pharma sector are expected to lead to the path of resilient growth not just in volume but in value as well. The commitment of both the government and the pharma sector to ensure the abundant availability of quality medicines at reasonable prices provides India with an opportunity to play a leading role in the global market with a special concern for the welfare of the masses. (With inputs from ANI) A long weekend presents a much-needed opportunity for a mini-cation to escape the pressures of work and rising temperatures. However, if you are still in the mood for a short trip but there is no booking yet and still scraping for ideas, here are a few suggestions. Which destinations are most in demand? Customers are preferring to travel to cooler climes such as Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Leh-Ladakh, and the North East. Goa and Andaman remain popular beach destinations, informed Daniel DSouza, President & Country Head - Holidays, SOTC Travel Meanwhile, there is a spike in international travel too, especially, in the countries that require short hours of travel from India Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head, Holidays, MICE, Visa - Thomas Cook (India) Limited, destinations like South East Asia's Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Maldives, Mauritius, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Ras Al-Khaimah are the top picks. Emerging destinations such as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, and Cambodia are also gaining customer interest. As per a Thomas Cook report, Indian travellers are taking advantage of the extended long weekend this week and demand for travel is brisk, with a surge of over 3x compared to previous long weekends in 2023. Top travel trends for the long weekend: Active holidays What is noteworthy is that there is a growing demand for active holidays among India's Gen Z and millennials. They prefer activities such as yachting, kite-sailing, scuba diving, camping, trekking, biking trips to scenic terrains, safari drives, and jungle experiences. Drivecations Additionally, customers are opting for drivecations to nearby hill stations such as Nainital, Dehradun, Mussoorie, Panchgani, Mahabaleshwar, Coorg, Ooty, Munnar, Wayanad, and similar places. Hidden gems Additionally, hidden gems such as Netrani islands, Damro, and Vantawng falls are gaining customer interest. Unique accommodations Unique accommodations such as private villas, havelis, tea estates/coffee plantations, tree tops, heritage stays, palaces, forts, or in the heart of a desert or bamboo grove, as well as wellness retreats/getaways, are in high demand. New Delhi: The Network Planning Group (NPG) under the PM Gati Shakti initiative has approved four infrastructure projects related to railways, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry said. NPG under PM Gati Shakti at its 46th session examined and recommended four infrastructure projects," the ministry said, adding that these projects will be developed in tandem with PM Gati Shakti principles using the integrated and holistic approach. These projects will also provide multimodal connectivity, seamless movement of goods and passengers, it said. A project for construction of a broad-gauge double line between Sawai Madhopur and Jaipur in Rajasthan state was examined by the NPG. The project spans approximately 131 kilometers from Sawai Madhopur to Jaipur and is deemed to be a significant infrastructure initiative. Upon completion, the project is expected to improve the line capacity to 71% (without maintenance block) and 80% (with maintenance block) by the year 2026-27. The Jaipur-Sawai Madhopur route serves as a feeder to the Delhi-Mumbai route, and it represents the primary conduit connecting Jaipur, its environs, and Mumbai, southern and eastern parts of India. The NPG has evaluated a project proposed by the Ministry of Railways for the construction of a new Broad-gauge line between Anand Nagar Ghughuli via Maharajganj on Northeastern Railway in Uttar Pradesh state. The proposed project spans approximately 53 kilometers from Anand Nagar and would be constructed as a Broad Gauge (BG) Line. Another project for construction of a new Broad-Gauge line between Junagarh to Nabarangpur station in Odisha state was examined by the NPG. The proposed project spans approximately 116 kilometers from Junagarh to Nabarangpur. The construction of this new line is expected to reduce the distance from Bailadela iron ore mines to various steel plants in the Raipur region by 131 kilometers. Last project was for provision of automatic block signaling on freight dense high utilization networks on Western Railway. The project aims to cover 895 RKM and four major sections of Western Railway in Maharashtra & Gujarat State. The project will bring the balanced freight dense High Utilization Network (HUN) Routes under the ambit of ABS, as ABS on High Density Network (HDN) routes of WR has already been sanctioned or exists. The benefit of the project includes enhanced line capacity and section speed to 130 kmph from 110 kmph that is likely to lead to cost reduction for the Railways and increase the overall logistics efficiency. Sugar extended gains to a fresh six-year high in New York as prospects for limited Indian exports added to worries about tight global supplies. Raw sugar has rallied 5% this week on concerns about slower production in India and lackluster supplies from other countries including Pakistan and Thailand. Prices also have been supported by the potential for oils recent rally to spur Brazilian and Indian mills to divert more cane to making ethanol. Sugar has been taking off," said Jack Scoville, a vice president at Price Futures Group. The sugar production deficit is pretty big." India may not approve additional sugar exports in the year ending September with output likely below target, the nations food secretary said Thursday. Still, traders are looking to Brazils cane crushing and sugar output for the potential to ease market tightness. Raw sugar rose as much as 2.2% to 23.46 cents a pound in New York, touching the highest since October 2016. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Telangana BJP President Bandi Sanjay Kumar, who was arrested in a case related to class X exam paper leak, hinted that the state's chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's son is involved in the scam and should be suspended for it. In Telangana, the lives of around 30 lakh students have been ruined after the TSPSC paper leak and the main reason is CM's son. CM's son should be suspended for ruining the lives of 30 lakh students. One lakh rupees should be given to the youth. We also demand an investigation by a sitting judge, he said, as quoted by news agency ANI. In Telangana, the lives of around 30 lakh students have been ruined after the TSPSC paper leak and the main reason is CM's son. CM's son should be suspended for ruining the lives of 30 lakh students. One lakh rupees should be given to the youth. We also demand an investigation by pic.twitter.com/qakpeNqqPx ANI (@ANI) April 7, 2023 Bandi Sanjay Kumar was arrested on April 5 in connection with the alleged leak of a Class 10 (SSC) Hindi examination question paper on an instant messaging app. He was released from jail on Thursday night after a court in Hanumakonda granted him bail. Kumar had been charged with criminal conspiracy and malpractices, among others. Meanwhile, BJP plans to intensify the agitation against the TSPSC paper leak issue. Kumar and three others arrested in the case were remanded in judicial custody until April 19, while a minor boy was apprehended for allegedly taking photos of the paper from the exam centre. The court granted Kumar bail after hearing arguments and counter-arguments, and on furnishing a personal bond of Rs. 20,000 with two sureties. (With inputs from agencies) State Bank of India, India's biggest lender by assets, recorded the largest decline in market capitalization among the top 20 banks in the Asia Pacific region in the first quarter of 2023 (January-March), according to data compiled by S&P Global Market Intelligence. The analysis produced by global financial market information and analytics services provider showed SBI ranked at 14th, down three notches from the prior quarter, after its market cap fell about 14.7 per cent to USD 56.92 billion. In the year-to-date of 2023, the shares of SBI fell about 14 per cent, data showed. Notably, according to the analysis, more than two-thirds of the largest 20 banks in the Asia Pacific region logged a decline in their market capitalization during the said quarter. Besides SBI, Japan's Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group was the only major bank in the region that also logged a double-digit decline in market capitalization during the quarter. Still, it managed to retain its eighth slot on the list with a market cap of USD 75.58 billion as of March 31. Among other major banks in the region which saw a decline in market cap are China Merchants Bank Co Ltd, Postal Savings Bank of China Co Ltd, National Australia Bank Ltd, and Westpac Banking Corp. They lost value in the range of 6-8 per cent during the quarter. According to the data compilation by S&P Global Market Intelligence, Chinese banks continued to sit atop the list of largest banks in the Asia-Pacific region. * The British monarchy is cooperating with an independent study exploring its connection to the slave trade during the 17th and 18th centuries, according to a statement from Buckingham Palace. The study is being conducted by the University of Manchester in collaboration with Historic Royal Palaces. King Charles is said to be taking the issue "profoundly seriously", and researchers have been granted full access to the Royal Archives and the Royal Collection. The project, a PhD research by historian Camilla de Koning, is expected to be completed in 2026. The move comes after previously unseen documents were published by The Guardian, revealing that the Royal African Company's shares, a company involved in the slave trade, were transferred from slave trader and deputy governor, Edward Colston, to King William III in 1689. The King has also expressed his personal sorrow for the suffering caused by the slave trade, stating during a visit to Rwanda last year that he could not describe "the depths of his personal sorrow" at the harm caused. Also Read: King Charles takes away Queen Elizabeth's gift to Harry-Meghan, their UK home Prince William, during a visit to Jamaica last spring, also condemned slavery as abhorrent and stated that it should never have happened, adding that it "forever stains our history". In addition, King Charles has pledged to deepen his understanding of the impact of slavery with "vigour and determination" since his accession, the BBC reported. The British monarchy oversees 14 Commonwealth Realms, where the King serves as the head of state. He has called for each country to decide for itself whether it wishes to be a constitutional monarchy or a republic. Acknowledging the wrongs of the past is a "conversation whose time has come", according to the King. Dr Halima Begum, CEO of the Runnymede Trust, a race equality think tank, praised the King's efforts, stating that it was wonderful to see him building on his mother's legacy. She called for a Royal commission to unearth the complex histories of colonialism, stating that it would inspire millions of British citizens and Commonwealth citizens. Also Read: Camilla goes against Queen Elizabeth, refuses Queen Consort title PhD student Camilla de Koning hopes to change the perspective of the Royals as mere decree-stampers, highlighting their significant involvement as diplomatic players. She aims to investigate the links between the monarchy and colonialism, filling an important gap in discussions on the transatlantic slave trade. The PhD study, co-sponsored by Historic Royal Palaces, began in October 2022, a month after King Charles ascended to the throne. The research will delve into the extent of any investments made by other slave trading companies. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sounak Mukhopadhyay Sounak Mukhopadhyay, who also goes by the name Sounak Mukherjee, has been producing digital news since 2012. He's worked for the International Business Times, The Inquisitr, and Moneycontrol in the past. He's also contributed to Free Press Journal and TheRichest with feature articles. He covers news for a wide range of subjects including business, finance, economy, politics and social media. Before working with digital news publications, he worked as a freelance content writer. Read more from this author China sent warships and aircraft near Taiwan for a second day on Friday, Taipei said, after President Tsai Ing-wen angered Beijing by meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Three Chinese warships sailed in waters surrounding the self-ruled island, while a fighter jet and an anti-submarine helicopter also crossed the island's air defence identification zone, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said. On Wednesday, China's Shandong aircraft carrier, one of two in its naval fleet, sailed through Taiwan's southeastern waters on its way to the western Pacific, hours before Tsai met McCarthy in Los Angeles. Beijing, which views Taiwan as part of its territory, had repeatedly warned against the meeting, and reiterated on Thursday that it would take "forceful measures to firmly safeguard national sovereignty". Tsai told reporters her government was committed to ensuring "the free and democratic way of life of the people of Taiwan" before she left Los Angeles, where she was stopping on her way back from Latin America. "We also hope to do our best to maintain peace and stability between the two sides," she added. Last August, China deployed warships, missiles and fighter jets around Taiwan for its largest show of force in years following a trip to the island by McCarthy's predecessor Nancy Pelosi. Its response to the Tsai-McCarthy meeting has so far been on a much lower level, but still left Taiwan on alert. Premier Chen Chien-jen said on Friday that Taiwan's defence and security agencies were keeping a close eye on developments, and asked "the public to rest assured". On Thursday, the defence ministry said three warships had been detected around the Taiwan Strait and one Chinese naval helicopter crossed the island's ADIZ. The display prompted calls from the United States asking China "to cease its military, diplomatic and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful diplomacy". "We remain committed to maintaining open channels of communication so as to prevent the risk of any kind of miscalculation," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters. - 'Quite common' - McCarthy, who is second in line for the US presidency, had originally planned to go to Taiwan himself but opted instead to meet Tsai in California. The decision was viewed as a compromise that would underscore support for Taiwan but avoid inflaming tensions with China, a move analysts say has so far proven successful. Tsai said on Thursday that it was "quite common for us to meet our US friends during transits," she said. "I also hope the Chinese side can exercise self-restraint and don't overreact." McCarthy had vowed that US arms sales to Taiwan -- which infuriate Chinese leadership -- would continue, in what he said was a proven strategy to dissuade aggression. "And what we know through history, the best way to do that is supply the weapons that allow people to deter war," he said. "It is a critical lesson that we learned through Ukraine, that the idea of just sanctions in the future is not going to stop somebody" who wants to wage war. Tsai acknowledged the weapons deal on Thursday but did not provide further details. "We have purchased arms from the US and we hope the arms will be delivered on time," she said. - Sanctions - On Friday, China slapped sanctions on Taipei's de facto ambassador to the United States, Hsiao Bi-khim, banning her from entering China and accusing her of "deliberately inciting cross-strait confrontation". Beijing's foreign ministry also announced sanctions against the Hudson Institute, a Washington-based conservative think-tank, as well as the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, for "providing a platform and facilitating Tsai Ing-wen's engagement in 'Taiwan separatism' activities in the United States". The two organisations are now barred from engaging in transactions and cooperation with Chinese entities, while four individuals linked to them are blocked from entering or conducting business in China. In United States, a Dallas-based company, Arthur Grand Technologies, has found itself in the bitter end of criticism after a job advertisement for the company noted that they are looking for job applicants who are only born US Citizens and white. The advertisement posted by Arthur Grand Technologies says Only born US Citizens (White) who are local within 60 miles from Dallas, TX." The contract based job advertisement offered $75 for an hour. The racial specification was not meant to be shared to the public however as a paranthetic note next to the requirement read: Dont share with candidates." Twitter user TK Finch noted this advertisement posted on LinkedIn. He wrote, Hi @WarrenBuffett ! Looks like one of Berkshire Hathaway's vendors... Arthur Grand Technologies Inc... has some problematic hiring processes. Discrimination on race and national origin reduce a company's competitiveness, besides being a bad look." Hi @WarrenBuffett ! Looks like one of Berkshire Hathaway's vendors... Arthur Grand Technologies Inc... has some problematic hiring processes Discrimination on race and national origin reduce a company's competitiveness, besides being a bad look pic.twitter.com/l9lB1xouK5 T.K. Finch (@TK_Finch) April 5, 2023 Finch's tweet went viral and has been noted by the company itself. Arthur Grand Technologies apologised and replied, At Arthur Grand, we do not condone or engage in any type of discrimination based of race, colour or religion." They're already doing damage control on LinkedIn lmao https://t.co/eZmtRv3VDi pic.twitter.com/cW5hj9snfs Dr Buck, Hedge Fund Whisperer (@eriz35) April 5, 2023 It said an investigation was conducted which found a new junior recruiter" was responsible for the offensive description. The company added that the recruiters employment had been terminated. Twitter users were quick to call the apology mere damage control". One user, LE Murphy, said: Bravo to the junior staff member being blamed for this. They obviously blew the whistle on this company by posting the job req as-written." The company later posted an update emphasising that the job posting was neither authorised nor posted by Arthur Grand or its employees". A former employee took an existing posting and added discriminatory language, then reposted it through his own account." The update also said that necessary legal action" had been intitiated against the job poster". Hailed for her leadership, and her ability to take a country through a tumultous period, former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, on Thursday in a tearful final address bid adieu to her political career urging urged women not to let motherhood stand in the way of leadership role. Jacinda Ardern navigated a pandemic and a mass-shooting during her tumultuous five-year tenure as prime minister. Through her tearful address, Ardern added humorous anecdotes like how a European leader so admired the striking hair of Ardern's chief-of-staff that he fluffed it like a hairdresser which she joked had helped secure a free-trade deal and how her mother once sent her a uplifting, if somewhat grandiose, message: Remember, even Jesus had people who didn't like him." Ardern will be remembered as a crisis manager who led her country through some of its darkest days during her five-year premiership. They included the Christchurch terrorist attack on two mosques in 2019 that left 51 worshippers dead, a volcano eruption later that year that killed 22 people, and the Covid-19 pandemic. I leave knowing I was the best mother I could be," Ardern, 42, said in her valedictory speech to parliament Wednesday in Wellington. You can be that person, and be here." On a more serious note, she urged lawmakers to take the politics out of climate change. There will always be policy differences," Ardern said during her valedictory address, wearing a traditional Maori cloak called a korowai. "But beneath that, we have what we need to make the progress we must." Young, female and charismatic, Ardern quickly gained prominence as a torch-bearer for liberal values after exploding onto the world stage in 2017. In 2018 she became just the second world leader to give birth in office, after former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, blazing a trail for working women. Ardern opened up about her fertility journey in her speech, saying she was told at age 37 that there were a range of factors preventing her becoming pregnant, including stress. I had not long experienced a failed IVF round when I became leader of the Labour Party," she said. I thought I had found myself on a path that meant I wouldnt be a mother. Imagine my surprise when a couple of months later, I discovered I was pregnant." When Ardern finished speaking after about 35 minutes, she she was greeted with a standing ovation by lawmakers from across the political spectrum and rousing renditions of several Indigenous Maori songs. NEW DELHI : India and Mexico have launched studies to explore the potential for a free-trade agreement (FTA), Mexicos Ambassador to India, Federico Salas Lotfe, said in an interview. However, given Indias preoccupation with ongoing FTA negotiations with the UK, Australia and other partners, Lotfe stated that the agreement is unlikely to be signed within the next two years. To bolster economic linkages, Lotfe proposed connecting entrepreneurs from both countries while also highlighting opportunities in research on the uses of lithium. Last year, Mexico encouraged Indias Sun Mobility, which builds energy infrastructure for electric vehicles, to expand into Mexico. Ambassador Lotfe stated that joint ventures between Indian and Mexican firms on lithium research should be realized over the medium term. Edited excerpts : India and Mexico have a growing economic relationship. Are there any plans for an FTA? We got an expression of interest from the Indian side before the pandemic to explore the possibility of a free trade agreement. Now, what has happened is that India has been very busy negotiating other free trade agreements with Australia, the UK and the European Union. So, I would think that the negotiating team of India is quite busy right now. So this has not moved as fast as one would think. But we are at the stage right now of exploring whether having a FTA is something that were both interested in. This is in the pipeline. Having said that, I think what is important is that even without a free trade agreement, the trade relationship is a very healthy and growing one. Its so I would think that if we were to eventually have a free trade agreement, things would move much, much faster. However, I think this isnt something that is going to happen this year or next. You mentioned that Mexico is interested in Indias digital and startups sector. Will India and Mexico set up a formal platform to connect entrepreneurs from both countries? Well, that has not been a proposal so far, but it certainly is not ruled out. So far, we have linked the Mexican startups with some of the Indian startups. We have also been in close touch with Nasscom. Moving towards a forum is certainly a possibility. Within Mexico, we created a forum which includes some of the Indian startup companies that are already working in Mexico. But we may move in that direction (of a formal platform). We are just starting in some ways. Both countries have agreed to look into technology tie-ups on lithium technology. Are we going to be looking at specific investments by Indian firms in Mexico or vice-versa? That may be the case in the future. We have just taken the first step in that direction. The question of investments is open-ended. If companies want to invest in Mexico, theyre more than welcome to. But were looking more into the aspect of research into the possible uses of lithium. From there, we would look not so much into the mining and exploitation of the lithium itself but what happens once it is being used in, for example, electrical batteries for automobiles. That is an area where there might be opportunities for investments. Right now, in Mexico, were starting to look into the whole question of electric vehicles, which includes work on batteries. But this is a work in progress. The possibilities are there, and we are looking forward to greater collaboration on this. Apart from research on this new technology, would joint ventures between Indian and Mexican companies also be considered in the long term? I would say in the medium term. As I said, Mexico is moving very much into this field. There have been announcements recently of some very significant investments in Mexico. Tesla is going to build a major plant in Mexico for electric vehicles, and some electrical battery companies are also going to start building in Mexico. We have encouraged some makers here in India to also look into the Mexican market. For example, when our Foreign Minister was here (in 2022), we met with Sun Mobility, a company that makes electric batteries and charging infrastructure. Were encouraging this company to come to Mexico. With India looking to diversify its energy suppliers and secure its energy security, should we expect to see any energy tie-ups between the two countries or investments by Indian oil majors in Mexico? Well, I can tell you that there are some Indian companies that do have investments in the oil sector of Mexico. At the same time, they are part of multinational consortiums. So that is taking place already, and whether there will be opportunities in the future will depend on the actual operational situation on the ground and whether what Indian companies, together with others, can offer will be of interest to Mexico. On energy security, we are providing India with a large amount of oil. A big chunk of our $10 billion bilateral trade includes this oil trade. The Indian Ambassador to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, recently connected with over 40 states as part of India's efforts to reach out to the United States, as reported by ANI. During his address to the New Hampshire state assembly, Indian Ambassador to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, discussed the collaboration between India and the US in various fields. A privilege to address the historic #NewHampshire House of Representatives & Senate Members this morning. Highlighted s transformative journey & its ever strengthening partnership with Thank you Mr Speaker @NHSpeaker and the House for the opportunity! pic.twitter.com/iElsYPLn8r Taranjit Singh Sandhu (@SandhuTaranjitS) April 6, 2023 "We are guided by the same values and vision, "we, the people"...... I am convinced of the strength of our shared beliefs, and deep-rooted friendship, and partnership," he said. "India-US ties, either in the field of defence, renewable energy, education, health, technology, innovation or start-ups, are gathering steam and strength because of the entrepreneurs of the United States," he added. "The Indian pharma industry accounts for the supply of 40 per cent of all generic medicines in the US. Solar energy projects, waste-to-wealth innovations, and circular economy models are bringing new actors into the India-New Hampshire space," Sandhu said while addressing the assembly. India runs the world's largest zero-subsidy domestic lighting programme, Affordable LED for All, UJALA. We both believe in bringing light to the world, that too efficiently. "NASA is collaborating with our Space Research Organization, ISRO on a Syn-thetic Aperture Radar that can help monitor climate change. NASA will soon train our next astronaut," he added while speaking on ISRO. "President Biden and Prime Minister Modi characterize India-US ties as 'Partnership for Global Good', the most defining relationship of the 21st century," he added. Our partnership within the QUAD, IPEF and I2U2 frameworks, is creating progress and prosperity for the world at large. As trusted global partners, we are working to address pressing challenges of our times. De-risking the global supply chain, navigating the world of critical and emerging technologies, responding to climate change, terrorism and threats from the cyber domain, health security and future pandemics. The solutions to these complex questions would involve combining, American technology and Indian talent he said. "India and US launched a historic initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies, semiconductors, Artificial Intelligence, Telecom, and Quantum. We have active vaccine and medicine collaborations such as the Corbevax that are more affordable and accessible," he added further. Sandhu said that India-US ties are for the global good. The Indian diaspora has played a significant role in strengthening the relationship between India and the United States, serving as a bridge between the two nations. Furthermore, the appointment of an Indian-American as the head of the World Bank is a testament to the contributions and successes of the Indian-American community. India's rapid transformation in areas such as politics, society, and the economy has created new opportunities for deeper cooperation and partnership with the United States. India stands today, as a beacon of stability, amidst geopolitical uncertainties; an usher of global economic growth; a solution provider to some of the complex challenges of our times; and a consensus builder in times of conflict and rising tensions. India remains interesting, important and incredible. Be it the world's largest biometric programme, Aadhar or the world's largest financial inclusion programme, Jan Dhan Yojana, or the world's largest Health Protection Mission, Ayush-man Bharat, India has actively used technology as a tool for good governance. Today 40 per cent of the world's digital payments, come from India. India has more than 80,000 start-ups, out of which 115 are unicorns. Our rural internet users (340 million), outnumber urban users (290 million). IMF has forecast 15 per cent of global growth this year would come from India. During the pandemic, India supplied vaccines to over 100 countries. When disaster struck Turkiye, India was the first country to send a humanitarian mission. India's leadership role in the G-20 this year is a reflection of its growing stature on the world stage. The motto of "One Earth, One Family, One Future" underscores India's commitment to promoting global goodwill and cooperation. He ended his speech quoting PM Modi, "Much of India that we dream of lies ahead of us". It is only a journey we have started, we look towards our friends, like the United States, to join us, in our journey ahead. The White House on Thursday released the much-awaited review of America's hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan, which paved the way for the Taliban to seize power in the Asian country. The review touched upon the key points of the strategy of the United States and also commented on the role of intelligence and the previous administration of Donald Trump. The withdrawal, which concluded on August 30th of the year 2021, was a source of great surprise for the citizens of America and the allies of the United States, as the Taliban was able to overpower the Afghan forces that had been trained by Western nations in just a matter of weeks. Key highlights from the US review report on Afghanistan withdrawal: While presenting a declassified summary, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby accepted that mistakes were made during the exit from Afghanistan which allowed the Taliban to capture power within a week of withdrawal. The administration blamed the previous Donald Trump administration and said his decisions made the already difficult situation more complex. The agreement between Trump and the Taliban in 2020 severely constrained the options for the Biden government which inherited the situation where the Taliban seems to be at their strongest military position since 2001. The report also said that the outgoing Trump administration shared little intelligence or information with the Biden administration on the issue, making things more difficult for the newly elected government. There were no signs that more time, more funds, or more Americans at risk in Afghanistan would have yielded a fundamentally different trajectory, the summary of the report said. In the summary, the administration also touched on evacuations during withdrawal, and said We now prioritize earlier evacuations when faced with a degrading security situation." John Kirby defended the role of Biden's government in the withdrawal and said "despite having his options curtailed, President Biden led a deliberate, rigorous, and inclusive decision-making process that was responsive to facts on the ground. He focused keenly on the need for proper planning." The White House on Thursday released a long-awaited review of the US exit from Afghanistan, laying blame on Donald Trump and a huge intelligence failure, but defending overall US conduct of the traumatic operation. The classified review was sent to Congress, where the Republican majority in the House of Representatives is investigating what it says is President Joe Biden's failures during the August 2021 withdrawal. Presenting a declassified summary, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby conceded mistakes had been made in the exit, which saw the Taliban seize control of Afghanistan within weeks, forcing the last American troops and their allies into a desperate evacuation. "Ending a war, any war, is not an easy endeavor, certainly not after 20 years," Kirby told reporters. "It doesn't mean it wasn't worth doing -- ending that war in Afghanistan." The White House largely blamed Biden's predecessor Donald Trump for creating the conditions leading to the rout. But it also acknowledged that US intelligence services had failed to understand the Taliban's strength and the weakness of Afghan government forces that Western countries had spent years propping up. "Clearly we didn't get things right" on intelligence, Kirby said. In the end, nothing "would have changed the trajectory" of the exit and "ultimately, President Biden refused to send another generation of Americans to fight a war that should have ended for the United States long ago," the report summary said. The pullout, ending on August 30, 2021, shocked Americans and US allies, as the Taliban swept aside Western-trained Afghan forces within weeks. A suicide bomb attack killed 13 US troops and 170 Afghans on August 26 at the crowded perimeter of Kabul's international airport, where an unprecedented military airlift operation managed to get more than 120,000 people out of the country in a matter of days. Before US troops were able to secure the whole airport, the world witnessed tragic scenes of panicked Afghan civilians mobbing airliners and even falling to their deaths as they attempted to cling onto departing planes. - Intelligence is 'hard business' - In the summary, the White House placed heavy blame on a February 2020 deal struck between Trump's administration and the Taliban, saying it put the incoming Biden government in an impossible position. "The departing Trump administration had left the Biden administration with a date for withdrawal, but no plan for executing it. And after four years of neglect -- and in some cases deliberate degradation -- crucial systems, offices, and agency functions that would be necessary for a safe and orderly departure were in disrepair," the document said. It also stressed that Trump in his final 11 months in office had steadily reduced the US troop presence in Afghanistan, reaching just 2,500 personnel by the time Biden took over in January 2021. "As a result... the Taliban were in the strongest military position that they had been in since 2001," when the United States invaded Afghanistan for a mission initially meant to focus on the planners of the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington. Trump, in a post Thursday on his Truth Social app, called the current White House "morons" and said they were responsible for a "grossly incompetent SURRENDER in Afghanistan." "Biden is responsible, no one else!" he wrote. Kirby acknowledged a litany of intelligence failures, saying the US government did not manage to predict "how fast the Taliban were moving across the country" or "the degree to which they were constructing these deals in the hinterlands that kind of fell like dominos." "We didn't anticipate how fast the Afghan national security forces were going to fold," he said. "I don't think we fully appreciated the degree of corruption that was in the officer ranks in the military." "Intelligence is a hard business and they get it right a lot too," Kirby said. Ultimately, the White House report suggested, the long-term failure of the war, including the Taliban's surprising resilience and the weakness of government forces, meant the ending was never going to go well. "After more than 20 years, more than $2 trillion dollars, and standing up an Afghan army of 300,000 soldiers, the speed and ease with which the Taliban took control of Afghanistan suggests that there was no scenario -- except a permanent and significantly expanded US military presence -- that would have changed the trajectory," it said. Liu He is a grey-haired 71-year-old on the verge of retirement from Chinas highest level of economic policymaking. He must have many regrets, not least the battering of his countrys economy by a now-abandoned struggle to crush covid-19, and by the diseases recent rapid spread. But Mr Liu grinned with obvious pride as he recalled how members of the global elite at the World Economic Forum in Davos had responded to his delegations upbeat remarks there a few days ago. All kinds of people said, Hey, China is back again!" he told a television reporter. Mr Liu, who is one of Chinas four deputy prime-ministers and a trusted adviser of Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, was being modest. It was he, not others in his entourage, who had stolen the show. Among the assembled business titans his speech on January 17th struck a welcome note given the fragile state of the world economy. If we work hard enough," he said, the Chinese economy will see a significant improvement in 2023." He pledged more focus" on supporting private businesswhich has been deeply disturbed by Mr Xis campaign of the past two years to tighten controls over technology firms and his stepped-up use of Marxist-sounding language. To those worried about Chinas many barriers to foreign firms, Mr Liu had soothing words: Chinas national reality dictates that opening up to the world is a must, not an expediency. We must open up wider and make it work better." There was nothing strikingly new in Mr Lius remarks at Davos. But their emollient tone fuelled speculation among foreign observers that, as well as ditching the zero-covid" policy, Mr Xi has decided to tone down some of the rhetoric that has caused jitters among businesspeople at home and abroad, ease pressure on private entrepreneurs and prevent further deterioration of his countrys badly strained ties with the West. Chinas state-controlled media have encouraged this line of thinking. After attending the forum, Mr Liu met Americas treasury secretary, Janet Yellen, in Zurich for their first face-to-face encounter since she took up her post two years ago. One Chinese news outlet called it another sign of ice-breaking between the worlds two largest economies". It may well be that China sees a need to adjust its tactics on a range of matters, both economic and diplomatic. At 3%, annual GDP growth last year was the second-slowest since the death of Mao Zedong in 1976. Americas efforts to curb the flow of cutting-edge technology to China is frustrating Mr Xis ambitions for supremacy in the tech sector. As geopolitical tensions have grown, and covid has exposed the vulnerability of China-linked supply chains, Western firms have become much more nervous about relying on the country as the source of every widget. Chinas cosy ties with Russia, and refusal to censure its invasion of Ukraine, have poisoned Chinas relationship with Europe, a region it had long been trying to win over in an attempt to weaken Americas alliances. China likes to use Davos as a place for buttering up foreigners. In 2017, nearly five years after he took power and began spreading ripples of unease across the West, Mr Xi himself turned up. He was the first supreme leader of China to attend the forum. The audience heard a portrayal of China as a champion of globalisation and leader of efforts to combat climate change. Americas president-elect, Donald Trump, appeared determined to steer in the opposite direction. That made it all the easier for Mr Xi to score points. But recently there have been notable shifts. One was Mr Xis decision to meet his American counterpart, Joe Biden, on the margins of a G20 summit in Bali in November. Since August, China had been barely on talking terms with America because of a visit to Taiwan by Nancy Pelosi, then the speaker of Americas House of Representatives (China claims the island and abhors official contacts with it by foreigners). Antony Blinken, Americas secretary of state, is expected to visit Beijing in February, the State Department says. It would be the first such trip by Americas most senior diplomat since 2018. Also next month films by Marvel Studios, a Hollywood company, will be shown in Chinese cinemas, ending Chinas unexplained four-year ban. China is putting out feelers to other Western countries, too. While in Bali, Mr Xi also met Australias prime minister, Anthony Albanese. It was the first one-on-one encounter between the two countries at that level since 2016Australia having offended China on numerous fronts, including by calling for an independent inquiry into covids origins. Since early this year, China appears to have eased a two-year ban on imports of Australian coal. And Mr Xi has stepped up the tempo of diplomacy with Europe. In November he hosted a visit by Germanys chancellor, Olaf Scholz. President Emmanuel Macron of France is expected to follow early this year. Soothing the private sector On the economy, the tone is also changing. The official account of the Communist Partys annual closed-door gathering in December to discuss economic policy, the Central Economic Work Conference, contained far less of Mr Xis ideological language and no railing against disorderly expansion of capital", which fintech firms had previously been accused of perpetrating. It said China should vigorously develop" the digital economy. The Asia Society Policy Institute, a think-tank in New York, said the wording was arguably Mr Xis most affirmative and authoritative statement on the political and ideological legitimacy of the private sector" since he came to power. In recent weeks, the government has also retreated from its two-year-long attempt to curb property-market mayhem by imposing tight limits on borrowing by developers. The sector still badly needs an overhaul, but businesspeople are relieved by the return to a more cautious approach. The campaign had been hammering sales. But it would be wrong to conclude that Mr Xi himself has changed, or that he is politically weaker. Chinas chaotic exit from zero-covida policy with which he was closely linkedmay have dented his credibility among some members of the public and Chinas elite. But the countrys political machinery continues to function as it did in the build-up to a party congress in October, at which Mr Xi secured an unprecedented third five-year term as general secretary and a reshuffle of the Politburo that surrounded him with loyalists. Around the country, officials still pepper speeches with fawning references to Mr Xi and his leadership. China is still flexing its muscle around Taiwan. Even as they try to mend fences with Western countries, Chinas envoys continue to use the scathing language about the West that has become a hallmark of diplomacy under Mr Xi. In Davos, Mr Liu may have said what his audience wanted to hear about Chinas economy. But his call for an end to cold-war" thinking was a veiled snipe at America. In Chinas view, America is the chief purveyor of it. He twice mentioned Mr Xis idea of a community with a shared future for mankind". This means, in effect, a new world order in which criticism of China is taboo. Mr Xi will try to use two big political events this year to boost public and business confidence in the economy and in his support for non-state firms. The first is the annual session of the countrys parliament, which is due to be held in March. The outgoing prime minister, Li Keqiang, will deliver the main report. It is likely to echo the language of Decembers work conference. In the autumn the partys 376-member Central Committee will meet. By tradition, at this stage of Chinas political cycle, it should focus on the economy. Expect reform to be the buzzword. But cynicism will abound, too. A year after he took power Mr Xi presided over a similar meeting of the Central Committee. Its vaguely worded communique gushed with talk of reform that soon began to sound empty as he focused on boosting party control over business, and beefing up state-owned firms in particular. Four years later, Mr Xi had his turn as Davos man. But subsequent years of his rule saw ever more draconian clampdowns at homenot least in Xinjiang and Hong Konga downward spiral in relations with the West and growing despondency among private entrepreneurs and foreign investors alike. Theres just a certain amount of wishful thinking on some of this," says Andrew Small of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, a research centre. And I think, on the Chinese side, theyre aware that wishful thinking is something they can take advantage of." 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com Two burglars reportedly stole 436 units of iPhones by breaking into a Apple Store at the Alderwood Mall, Seattle, Washington. According to a report by MacRumours (via King 5 news), thieves cut a hole in the bathroom wall of a coffee shop next door to get to the backroom of Apple Store, bypassing Apple security system. As per the report, the stolen iPhones are worth $500k which roughly translates to 4,09,28,000. The report says that no Apple employee was present in the Apple Store at the time of theft as the mall had already closed for the night. Eric Marks, Manager of Seattle Coffee Gear told the King 5 News that the coffee shop is not noticeably adjacent to the Apple Store because of the way that the store is laid out. "I would have never suspected we were adjacent to the Apple Store, how it wraps around I mean," he said before adding that the burglars must have access to the mall layout to carry out the theft. He also stated how the burglars managed to cut through their bathroom hall and not hit any pipes, suggesting that someone really had to think it out. Mike Atkinson, CEO of Seattle Coffee Gear also shared the incident via his Twitter account. Good morning Twitter fans! Yesterday was a weird day... 1. Two men broke into one of our retail locations. Why? To cut a hole in our bathroom wall to access the Apple Store next door and steal $500k worth of Iphones 2. Later that night on the way to the grocery store my wife pic.twitter.com/DcUld6ULEd Mike Atkinson (@coffeemikeatkin) April 4, 2023 A spokesperson for Alderwood said they are angry and working with Lynnwood Police to help solve the incident. The Lynnwood Police were able to obtain the surveillance footage of the theft, but have not released it yet as the footage is an important part of the investigation. Nothing was stolen from the coffee shop, but will have to incur a repair cost of $1,500 to replace the bathroom wall. Apple has not commented on the incident. ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) Three Alaska Native tribes have sued to block what they say would be one of the largest gold mines in the world, arguing that federal agencies failed to properly analyze health and environmental concerns for the project in southwest Alaska. Tribes from the communities of Kwethluk, Tuluksak and Bethel filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday challenging the adequacy of a 2018 environmental review by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and issuances of a key permit and lease by federal agencies for the Donlin Gold project. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the tribes by environmental nonprofit Earthjustice, claims the agencies failed to fully analyze potential harms and health impacts from a catastrophic spill and did not provide adequate protection for rainbow smelt, a subsistence food, from increased barge traffic related to the project, the Anchorage Daily News reported. The lawsuit states the project has received the approvals needed for construction to begin but that construction has not yet started. The project is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of the Kuskokwim River community of Crooked Creek. Donlin Gold LLC, owned by subsidiaries of Canada-based NovaGold Resources and Barrick Gold Corp., manages the project. Dolin Gold said in a statement that the federal permitting process was rigorous. Donlin Golds stakeholders fully believe that this lawsuit is meritless and are confident the actual record will once again fully support the agencies decisions," the statement said. In the meantime, the Donlin Gold team and the owners continue to advance remaining state permitting, as well as drilling and technical work, subject to Donlin Gold LLC Board approval. The lawsuit names as defendants the corps, U.S. Interior Department, U.S. Bureau of Land Management and agency officials. An Interior Department spokesperson declined to comment. A spokesperson with the corps in Alaska referred an email request for comment to the U.S. Department of Justice. The Justice Department is aware of the complaint but declined further comment, a spokesperson said in an email. The deposit contains 39 million ounces (1.1 billion grams) of gold worth close to $80 billion at todays prices. A 315-mile (507-kilometer) natural gas pipeline from the west side of Cook Inlet would supply a power plant at the mine. The project life is anticipated around three decades. The project is on land owned by The Kuskokwim Corp., the area Alaska Native village corporation, and the mineral rights to the deposit are controlled by Calista Corp., the regional Alaska Native corporation. The mine is expected to employ 3,000 people during construction and about 1,400 people during operations. Opposition has grown in recent years from tribes and other Indigenous groups that worry the project will harm fisheries, a primary subsistence resource for residents. The quiet perceptions, everyday troubles and intermittent moments of transcendence that make up Kelly Reichardts films have always had a rhythm apart from most American movies. Reichardts latest, Showing Up, which opens in theaters Friday, is no exception. But its also more directly about the compulsions and pains of making modest, hand-crafted art. Michelle Williams plays a Portland, Oregon, ceramics artist of little renown but quiet devotion, trying to prepare a gallery show while things like a distracted landlady (Hong Chau) and an injured bird intrude on her life. We were trying to make a film about someone whos caught up in balancing the day-to-day, someone for whom working is like eating, but life has all these other demands of you, Reichardt, who penned the film with her regular screenwriter, Jonathan Raymond, said in an interview last year ahead of the film's premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. How the 59-year-old Reichardt, long a leading American indie filmmaker, has balanced her own career in filmmaking with lifes demands has sometimes been a topic of debate. While steadily making movies, Reichardt also teaches film at Bard College. After Williams in an interview suggested Reichardt has to teach to have health care, Gawker published a piece headlined Kelly Reichardt Shouldnt Have to Put Up With Bard Students. I cringe at that, Reichardt said. The thing is, I love to teach. The idea of that really bums me out. I never look at anything but someone sent me that link. I never had the idea that filmmaking was going to sustain me." I just always think: I get to go make a film? Thats cool. About someone stealing milk? said Reichardt, whose sublime 2020 film First Cow revolved around a pair of baking friends in 1820s Oregon. I mean, I get it. Filmmaking is expensive. Then also, in America, we dont do art for arts sake. But I feel fortunate. Ive gotten to make a lot of films in the last years. People who are going to make these films are either up for it or theyre not going to get involved. If an A24's up for making a film about two ceramicists, thats pretty good. Showing Up, which A24 is distributing, came up in the press conference held by Cannes' artistic director, Thierry Fremaux, who was defending the festival's record with female filmmakers. One journalist, as an example, discussed whether Reichardts film was major or minor Reichardt. And Thierry said, Theyre all minor? guessed Reichardt, laughing. It was an ironic exchange given that Reichardt films, where economic inequities often slyly dictate characters lives, have never catered to traditional dichotomies of status. The stakes in Showing Up may be low, but they are, more importantly, whatever they mean to the characters. A lot of people are creative, Williams character says. If were talking in the context of, like, the hit is on side A, Im fine with being a side B-er, says Reichardt. But if its in the context of your own work, thats maybe more discouraging. If youre already a minor and then youre a minor of your own minor, I dont know. One really doesnt need to spend too much time thinking about these things because the rest of the world will just decide for you. You can just do your own thing and let everyone else figure it out. Williams, who has been a regular collaborator with Reichardt since 2008's Wendy and Lucy," says it's much the same for her, even though her films, like last year's The Fabelmans," dwarf her Showing Up character's less glamorous, handmade creations. You never know if what youre doing is going to be of any interest to anybody but yourself," Williams said in a recent interview. Williams, who has now made four films with Reichardt, says that as close as their bond is, Reichardt's process is still always illuminating. Whenever I make a movie with Kelly, Im always curious about what shes seeing that I cant see yet. Shes got her eye around the bend, Williams said. So I love, through the process of making the movie, understanding whats on her mind. Sometimes when she first sends me the script, its still not clear to me. But her storytelling, her shot composition is taking the story to a place thats not discernable on the page. For Reichardt, much of the joy of Showing Up was in relying on Portland-based artists to make the pieces seen throughout the film. She shot much of the film in a defunct art school, filling its classroom spaces with artists and art-making. Its community based. These are singular artists making their work but theyre not in a vacuum, Reichardt said while the thumping music of a nearby DJ preparing for the nights party nearly drowned her out. You could talk about it in terms of filmmaking, too. Im working with my mates. The kids were making stuff that I would go home at night and work into the script. We were all passing things off and learning. It became a school, basically. ___ Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A raid in the City of Rio Bravo yielded one arrest and a small amount of fentanyl, according to the Webb County Sheriffs Office. On April 6, the Sheriffs Office Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant at a residence in the 1100 block of Paseo de Tiber. The narcotics unit and SWAT Team arrived at the house in response to multiple narcotics and fentanyl overdoses occurring in the Rio Bravo and El Cenizo area, authorities said. Recently, there have been 13 overdoses in the area, resulting in one death. In several of these overdoses, deputies have used Narcan nasal spray to resuscitate the individuals, the Sheriffs Office said. Juan Francisco Sias, 39, was arrested in relation to the raid. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance. From inside the residence, investigators seized 0.6 grams of a white powdery substance that tested positive for fentanyl, authorities said. These street-level vendors are the ones who are poisoning our children. Fentanyl is a very dangerous and lethal drug. It only takes 2 milligrams of fentanyl, the small amount that fits on the tip of a pencil, to kill someone, said Sheriff Martin Cuellar. I remind the community that if you witness illegal activities in your neighborhoods, please call our hotline at 956-415-BUST (2878). Courtesy / GG Lupita Perez Earlier this week, dozens gathered in Laredo for a flag-waving event to support former U.S. President Donald J. Trump on the day he was indicted in New York. Locals shared their opinions on why they were coming together for the former president as some felt the proceedings would only make him a stronger candidate in the next election. The James Webb Space Telescope keeps doing its best, collecting images of the solar system and beyond to give humans a glimpse of the many unknowns. The telescope has uncovered many images since its launch in December 2021 and, with all accounts, is mind-blowing. With every discovery, scientists continue to credit the telescope and how its images have changed the evolutionary landscape of science. NASA The latest images are of the solar system's ice giant, the planet Uranus. The new image features the planet's dramatic rings as well as bright features in the planets atmosphere, according to NASA. Uranus has 13 known rings, and 11 of them are visible in this Webb image. Some of these rings are so bright with Webb that they appear to merge into a larger ring when they are close together. "The new images demonstrate the observatory's unprecedented sensitivity for the faintest dusty rings, which have only ever been imaged by two other facilities, which included the Voyager 2 spacecraft as it flew past the planet in 1986, and the Keck Observatory with advanced adaptive optics," a portion of the press release said. Webb also captured many of Uranus' 27 known moons. When Voyager 2 looked at Uranus, its camera showed an almost featureless blue-green ball in visible wavelengths, NASA said. With Webb's infrared wavelengths and extra sensitivity, scientists now see Uranus in more detail, showing how dynamic the atmosphere really is. NASA teases the discovery with "Uranus. Go ahead, get it out of your system. We tried " in a Facebook post. Here are a few fun facts about the planet Uranus which is characterized as an ice giant due to its chemical makeup. NASA describes the planet's interior as a huge mass that is thought to be a hot, dense fluid of "icy" materials of water, methane, and ammonia above a small rocky core. Uranus is the seventh planet in (our) solar system from the sun. Uranus takes 84 years to orbit the sun. It rotates on its side at roughly a 90-degree angle from the plane of its orbit, which causes extreme seasons. The long seasons occur since the planets poles experience many years of constant sunlight followed by an equal number of years of complete darkness. The Texas Senate just gave an initial thumbs up to a bill that would kneecap much of local district attorneys' ability to decide which crimes they prosecute and which crimes they don't. The proposed bill, authored by Houston-area Senator Joan Huffman, essentially bars any "district attorney orcounty attorney with criminal jurisdiction" from refusing to prosecute certain criminal offenses as a matter of policy. For example, Dallas County DA John Creuzot decided in 2019 that his office would not pursue prosecutions in theft cases under $750. (After winning reelection in 2022, Creuzot eventually rescinded said policy). Under Huffman's new bill, a district attorney exercising legal discretion in such a manner could be subject to removal from office. These actions set a dangerous precedent and severely undermine the authority of the Legislature, Huffman said regarding policies like Creuzot's, according to the Dallas Morning News' Philip Jankowski. If Huffman's bill is signed into law, policies like Creuzot's would be labeled "official misconduct" and serve as grounds for removal from elected office. San Antonio Democratic Sen. Roland Gutierrez pushed back against the bill on the Senate floor, arguing that the bill would not subject the Texas Attorney General to the same rules of prosecutorial discretion as district attorneys would be held, per Jankowski. It applies to district attorneys who dont want to prosecute a certain class of crimes, but it doesnt apply to the attorney general, who doesnt want to follow our laws, Gutierrez said, according to Jankowski. The bill needs another vote before the Senatelikely to occur this weekbefore moving to the House for additional debate and voting. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LANSING, Mich. (AP) Ahead of a highly anticipated presidential announcement, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis visited Michigan for his first appearance this year in the battleground state transformed by Democratic majorities under high-profile Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The visit put the contrasting leadership styles of the Republican and Democrat on display after they scored landslide 2022 reelection victories that vaulted them to be their parties' brightest emerging stars. In Florida, DeSantis and the GOP-dominated Legislature have moved the state further right, waging a culture war on what the governor has called woke agendas. In Michigan, Whitmer has led the way on codifying abortion rights and advancing sweeping gun reform with Democrats in full control for the first time in decades. Whitmer has been a top ally to President Joe Biden and a kind of proxy for his leadership in their party and whats possible under Democrats. DeSantis is one of the top potential candidates looking to unseat Biden next year. Thursday's visit was also one of DeSantis's first out-of-state appearances since former President Donald Trump was indicted. With all eyes on Trump, others vying for the GOP nomination have found it difficult to gain much notice. Trump frequently targets DeSantis a similarity the governor shares with Whitmer, who Trump labeled that woman from Michigan during his presidency. Recently, Trump has ramped up his DeSantis criticism, saying during a rally in Waco on March 25 that the Florida politician was disloyal and dropping like a rock. DeSantis began Thursday's tour by speaking at a GOP event in center of the state. He avoided mentioning Trump but criticized Biden, who he called weak and controlled by the most left party elements of his own party. DeSantis told the crowd he brought a message of optimism based on what weve done in the free state of Florida, while outlining his bold agenda. He drew distinct policy comparisons to Michigan in the areas of education and COVID-19 lockdowns. I do remember during COVID people fleeing those lockdowns in Michigan, DeSantis said. People were treated very, very poorly and parents were upset with the schools and everything else, and they would tell me this. State Rep. Bill G. Schuette, a Midland-area Republican, described Michigan as the anti-Florida as he introduced DeSantis. Since Florida's legislative session began in early March, DeSantis has worked to expand the state's so-called Dont Say Gay law, ban diversity and equity programs at public universities and eliminate concealed carry restrictions. The state has also begun passing a six-week abortion ban backed by DeSantis. DeSantis is scheduled to speak Thursday night at Hillsdale College, a small, Christian classical liberal arts college in southern Michigan. He called the school a model for his transformation of Florida's New College, a small liberal arts school he said is indoctrinating students with leftist ideology and should be revamped into a more conservative institution. The Midland event drew over 100 demonstrators outside. Michigan Board of Education President Pamela Pugh, a graduate of Florida A&M, attended the protest and said demonstrators were sending DeSantis a message thatthe hatemongering ends in Michigan. One protester's sign also dubbed Michigan the anti-Florida. Potentially the fifth state to hold its Republican primary, Michigan could prove pivotal for the GOP presidential nomination winner. Michigan House Republican Floor Leader Bryan Posthumus flew to Florida in December to deliver a letter signed by 18 other state House Republicans encouraging DeSantis to run for president. When he becomes an actual candidate, I will be doing another letter saying we endorse you for President of the United States of America, Posthumus told The Associated Press. Michigan voters have overwhelmingly rejected Republicans in the seven years since Trump won the state. Democrats control the statewide offices of governor, attorney general and secretary of state in addition to holding majorities in the Legislature. With full control of the Statehouse for the first time in 40 years, Michigan Democrats have prioritized further protecting reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights that are being rolled back in Republican-led states across the nation. On Wednesday, Whitmer signed legislation repealing a 1931 abortion ban after voters in November enshrined rights to the procedure in their constitution. She called out Florida and other Republican-led states for taking steps to pass un-American, anti-free and, frankly, sickening abortion laws. Often saying that bigotry is bad for business, the Michigan governor said the states liberal measures will help attract socially-conscious businesses and new talent. Last month, Michigan became the first state in nearly 60 years to repeal a union-restricting law known as right-to-work." Some business advocates disagree, saying Florida proves otherwise. It was one of the first states to implement a right-to-work law that allows employees to opt out of paying union dues and fees, and began advancing legislation last week that would ban automatic paycheck deductions for members. In terms of job growth, Michigan increased by 2.1% over the past year, coming in 35th in the nation. Florida was tied for second at 4.6%. Florida saw the largest population increase of any state from 2021 to 2022 at 1.9% while Michigans population slightly decreased over the same period. Still, most of these movements reflect long-term trends that are tied to climate and economics more than politics, said Brad Hershbein, a senior economist at the nonpartisan W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research. Florida has been growing over decades, no matter which party controlled the governors office, mostly because of its climate and zero income tax, Hershbein said. Gun legislation, an increasingly polarizing issue following multiple school shootings to start the year, has also differed greatly in Michigan and Florida. DeSantis and Republicans have begun rolling back restrictions that were implemented after the 2018 school shooting in Parkland. DeSantis signed a bill Monday that will allow carrying concealed guns without a permit. He has said he wants to allow people to openly carry guns. In Michigan, Democrats are close to passing an 11-bill gun safety package that Whitmer has said she will sign, including red flag laws and safe storage requirements, following a shooting at Michigan State University in February. ___ This story has been corrected to show that Bryan Posthemus is the Michigan House Republican floor leader, not Republican House speaker. ___ Associated Press writer Anthony Izaguirre in Tallahassee, Florida, contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A proposal designed to thwart investing that considers environmental, social and governance factors has cleared the Kansas Legislature, but divisions within its GOP majorities kept the measure from being as strong as some conservatives wanted. Lawmakers on Thursday approved a bill that would prevent the state, its pension fund for teachers and government workers and its cities, counties and local school districts from using ESG principles in investing their funds or in awarding contracts. Such investment strategies have become the target of GOP lawmakers across the country who argue they are focused more on pushing political agendas rather than earning the best returns. At least seven states, including Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia, have enacted anti-ESG laws in the past two years. GOP Govs. Ron DeSantis of Florida and Greg Gianforte of Montana also have moved to ensure their states funds arent invested using ESG principles. Some conservatives lawmakers in Kansas wanted to require managers of private funds to either disclose to clients that ESG principles guide their investing or to get clients' written consent to use ESG. Republican state senators backed a plan to force the state pension fund to divest from nations identified by the U.S. government as foreign adversaries, including China. But proposals to impose new rules for private money managers spurred a strong backlash from influential business and banking groups. House members said the provision requiring the pension fund to divest from other nations was written so broadly that it would prevent investing in companies founded by immigrants fleeing oppression. We right here wanted to focus on what we control state pensions, state investments, government contracts, stuff like that, said Republican state Rep. Nick Hoheisel, of Wichita, chair of the House committee handling the legislation. The votes to approve the bill were 76-47 in the House and 27-12 in the Senate and sent the measure to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. While almost all of the state's Democratic lawmakers voted no, Kelly has not said what she will do. Supporters had the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto in the Senate, but not in the House. Its still a panicked response to a fake issue thats been created by right-wing media, said state Rep. Rui Xu, a Kansas City-area Democrat. About one-eighth of U.S. assets being professionally managed, or $8.4 trillion, are being managed in line with ESG principles, according a report in December from US SIF, which promotes sustainable investing. Supporters of ESG principles in investing argue that it's financially more prudent to consider issues such as whether a shift to green energy makes investing in fossil fuel companies riskier. Last month, hundreds of investors, companies and institutions signed on to a Freedom to Invest statement arguing that ignoring the robust economic benefits" of clean energy represented a failure to build a stronger economy. Climate change poses a threat to the safety of our communities and the long-term value creation of the economy, and addressing its risks upholds investors fiduciary duty, the statement said. Xu said that even the mildest version of the bill still would hinder cities and counties when awarding contracts. Hoheisel said he's not worried about it being a problem. Across the U.S., the criticism of ESG from Republicans has sometimes been heated. Last month, 19 GOP governors, including DeSantis and Kristi Noem of South Dakota, issued a joint statement calling ESG a direct threat to the American economy, individual economic freedom, and our way of life. And Utahs Republican state treasurer told a GOP gathering that ESG opens the door to authoritarianism and is Satans plan. Kansas state Sen. Mike Thompson, a conservative Kansas City-area Republican and chair of the Senate committee handling the legislation, backed the provisions on private managers and investments outside the U.S. While he wouldn't go as far as the governors or Utah treasurer, Thompson argued that pushing investors away from lumber, mining, agriculture or fossil fuel companies harms industries critical to the economy and hurts national security. Still, most of the Kansas debate centered on whether investment earnings drop when managers use ESG principles. Kansas State Treasurer Steven Johnson, who supports the bill, said: "Were interested in the highest and best return for Kansas. ___ Follow John Hanna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/apjdhanna SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Korea, the U.S. and Japan called for stronger international support of efforts to ban North Korea from sending workers abroad and curb the Norths cybercrimes as a way to block the countrys means to fund its nuclear program. The top South Korean, U.S. and Japanese nuclear envoys met in Seoul on Friday in their first gathering in four months to discuss how to cope with North Koreas growing nuclear arsenal. The Norths recent weapons tests show it is intent on acquiring more advanced missiles designed to attack the U.S. and its allies, rather than returning to talks. Despite 11 rounds of U.N. sanctions and pandemic-related hardships that have worsened its economic and food problems, North Korea still devotes much of its scarce resources to its nuclear and missile programs. Contributing to financing its weapons program is also likely the Norths crypto hacking and other illicit cyber activities and the wages sent by North Korean workers remaining in China, Russia and elsewhere despite an earlier U.N. order to repatriate them by the end of 2019, experts say. In a joint statement, the South Korean, U.S. and Japanese envoys urged the international community to thoroughly abide by U.N. resolutions on the banning of North Korean workers overseas, according to Seouls Foreign Ministry. The ministry said a large number of North Korean workers remains engaged in economic activities around the world and transmits money that is used in the Norths weapons programs. It said the three envoys tried to call attention to the North Korean workers because the North may further reopen its international borders as the global COVID-19 situation improves. It is not known exactly how many North Korean workers remain abroad. But before the 2019 U.N. deadline passed, the U.S. State Department had estimated there were about 100,000 North Koreans working in factories, construction sites, logging industries and other places worldwide. Civilian experts had said that those workers brought North Korea an estimated $200 million to $500 million in revenue each year. We need to make sure that its provocations never go unpunished. We will effectively counter North Koreas future provocations and cut their revenue streams that fund these illegal activities, Kim Gunn, the South Korean envoy, said in televised comments at the start of the meeting. Sung Kim, the U.S. envoy, said that with its nuclear and missile programs and "malicious cyber program that targets countries and individuals around the globe, North Korea threatens the security and prosperity of the entire international community. South Koreas spy agency said in December that North Korean hackers had stolen an estimated 1.5 trillion won ($1.2 billion) in cryptocurrency and other virtual assets in the past five years, more than half of it last year alone. The National Intelligence Service said North Koreas capacity to steal digital assets was considered among the best in the world because it has focused on cybercrimes since U.N. economic sanctions were toughened in 2017 in response to its earlier nuclear and missile tests. Fridays trilateral meeting will likely infuriate North Korea, which has previously warned that the three countries moves to boost their security cooperation prompted urgent calls to reinforce its own military capability. North Korea has long argued the U.N. sanctions and U.S.-led military exercises in the region are proof of Washingtons hostility against Pyongyang. The North has said it was compelled to develop nuclear weapons to deal with U.S. military threats, though U.S. and South Korean officials have steadfastly said they have no intention of invading the North. Earlier this week, the United States conducted anti-submarine naval drills with South Korean and Japanese forces in their first such training in six months. The U.S. also flew nuclear-capable bombers for separate, bilateral aerial training with South Korean warplanes. North Korea hasnt performed weapons tests in reaction to those U.S.-involved drills. But last month, it carried out a barrage of missile tests to protest the earlier South Korean-U.S. military training that it sees as an invasion rehearsal. Takehiro Funakoshi, the Japanese envoy, said North Korea's recent weapons tests and fiery rhetoric pose a grave threat to the region and beyond. Under such circumstances, our three countries have significantly deepened our coordination, he said. Sung Kim reiterated that Washington seeks diplomacy with Pyongyang without preconditions. North Korea has previously rejected such overtures, saying it won't restart talks unless Washington first drops its hostile policies, in an apparent reference to the sanctions and U.S.-South Korean military drills. Many experts say North Korea would still eventually use its enlarged weapons arsenal to seek U.S. concessions such as the lifting of the sanctions in future negotiations. There are concerns that North Korea could conduct its first nuclear test in more than five years, since it unveiled a new type of nuclear warhead last week. Foreign experts debate whether North Korea has developed warheads small and light enough to fit on missiles. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate JERUSALEM (AP) Palestinian assailants carried out a pair of attacks on Friday, killing three people and wounding at least six as tensions soared after days of fighting at Jerusalems most sensitive holy site, officials said. Earlier in the day, retaliatory Israeli airstrikes had hit Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, sparking fears of a broader conflict. Israeli authorities said an Italian tourist was killed and five other Italian and British citizens were wounded when a car rammed into a group of tourists in Tel Aviv, Israel's commercial hub. In a separate incident, two British-Israeli women were shot to death near a settlement in the occupied West Bank. The spasm of violence in Israel and the West Bank heightened fears of an even more intense surge, with the rare convergence of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, the Jewish Passover holiday and Easter currently underway. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was calling up all reserve forces in Israels border police, a paramilitary force usually deployed to suppress Palestinian unrest, to confront the terror attacks." The additional border police would be activated Sunday and join other units that have recently been deployed in Jerusalem and Lod, a town in central Israel with a mixed Jewish and Palestinian population. Israel had unleashed rare airstrikes on Lebanon and bombarded the Gaza Strip on Friday morning, but later in the day there were signs that both sides were trying to keep the border hostilities in check. The fighting subsided after dawn, and midday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem a flashpoint for violence in recent days passed peacefully. The round of violence erupted after Israeli police raided the mosque earlier in the week, sparking unrest in the contested capital and outrage across the Arab world. Militants fired an unusually large rocket barrage at Israel from southern Lebanon on Thursday some of the heaviest and most serious cross-border violence since Israels 2006 war with Lebanons Hezbollah militants as well as from Gaza. In the Tel Aviv car-ramming late Friday, the alleged attacker rammed his vehicle into a group of civilians near a popular seaside park, police said. Israels rescue service said a 30-year-old Italian man was killed, while five other British and Italian tourists including a 74-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl were receiving medical treatment for mild to moderate injuries. Police said they shot and killed the driver of the car and identified him as a 45-year-old Palestinian citizen of Israel from the village of Kafr Qassem. A video circulating on social media showed the car hurtling along a sidewalk for several hundred yards (meters) before crashing out of control. Italian Premier Giorgia Melonis office expressed closeness to the family of the victim" and "solidarity with the Israel for the vile attack." She identified the man killed as Alessandro Parini from Rome. The shooting in the West Bank meanwhile killed the two sisters, who were in their 20s, and seriously wounded their 45-year-old mother near an Israeli settlement in the Jordan Valley, Israeli and British officials said. The family lived in the Efrat settlement, near the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, said Oded Revivi, the settlements mayor. Medics said they dragged the unconscious women from their smashed car, which appeared to have been pushed off the road. No groups claimed responsibility for either attack. But the Hamas militant group that rules Gaza praised both incidents as retaliation for Israeli raids earlier this week on the Al-Aqsa mosque the third-holiest site in Islam. On Tuesday, police arrested and beat hundreds of Palestinians there, who responded by hurling rocks and firecrackers at officers. Friday's airstrikes on neighboring Lebanon targeted Hamas militant sites, the Israeli military said, accusing the group of firing the nearly three dozen rockets that slammed into open areas and towns in northern Israel on Thursday. The bombardment seemed designed to avoid drawing in Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shiite group that Israel considers its most immediate threat. There were no reports of serious casualties from the airstrikes, but several people in the southern Lebanese town of Qalili, including Syrian refugees, said they were lightly wounded. I immediately gathered my wife and children and got them out of the house, said Qalili resident Bilal Suleiman, who was jolted awake by the bombing. A flock of sheep was killed when the Israeli missiles struck a field near the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh, according to an Associated Press photographer. Other airstrikes hit a bridge and a power transformer in nearby Maaliya, and damaged an irrigation system. In the Gaza Strip, Israel's military pounded what it said were Hamas weapons production sites and underground tunnels. A childrens hospital in Gaza City was among sites sustaining damage, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. After the retaliatory strikes, Israelis living along the southern border returned home from bomb shelters. Most missiles that managed to cross into Israeli territory hit open areas, but one landed in the town of Sderot, sending shrapnel slicing into a house. There were no reports of casualties on either side of the southern border. The Israeli military said everyone wanted to avoid a full-blown conflict. Quiet will be answered with quiet, said spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht. A Qatari official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the emirate was mediating. Even as a fragile calm took hold along the Lebanese and Gaza borders, the West Bank remained volatile. Violence has surged to new heights there in recent months, with Palestinian health officials reporting the start of 2023 to be the most deadly for Palestinians in two decades. Nearly 90 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank since the start of the year, at least half of them affiliated with militant groups, according to an Associated Press tally. During that time, 17 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks on Israelis all but one of them civilians. It's just a matter of time, and not much time, until we settle the score, Netanyahu said as he toured the site of the deadly shooting in the West Bank with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. We acted in Lebanon, we acted in Gaza, we beefed up forces in the field." Al-Aqsa has long been a nexus of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the skirmishes between Palestinian worshippers and Israeli police at the holy compound this week spiraled into a regional confrontation. The mosque sits on a hilltop sacred to both Muslims and Jews. In 2021, an escalation triggered by clashes there spilled over into an 11-day war between Israel and Gazas Hamas rulers. Before dawn prayers Friday, chaos erupted at an entrance to the esplanade as Israeli police wielding batons descended on crowds of Palestinian worshippers who chanted slogans praising Hamas as they tried to squeeze into the site. Later, people leaving prayers staged a large protest on the limestone courtyard, raising their fists, shouting against Israel and waving Hamas flags. Israeli police said they forced their way into the compound in response to masked suspects who threw rocks toward officers at a gate. Israeli authorities control access to the area but the compound is administered by Islamic and Jordanian officials. The unrest comes at a delicate time for Jerusalem's Old City, which was suffused with religious fervor and teeming with pilgrims from around the world. The Christian faithful retraced the route Jesus is said to have taken for Good Friday and Jews celebrated the weeklong Passover holiday, while Muslims prayed and fasted for Ramadan. ___ Associated Press writer Abby Sewell in Beirut, Jill Lawless in London, Frances D'Emilio in Rome and Joseph Krauss in Ottawa, Canada, contributed to this report. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is going to the central Michigan community of Midland for a county GOP event before heading to speak at Hillsdale College You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Democratic Reps. Justin Pearson of Memphis, Justin Jones of Nashville and Gloria Johnson of Knoxville leave the House chamber at the Tennessee Capitol in Nashville on Monday. Who is Shakir Khan? The former Lodi City Councilman has been the focus of controversy since his arrest four weeks ago on voter fraud charges. He agreed to an interview with the News-Sentinel recently to talk about his life, family, and career in politics. A man has been charged with breaking into a Longford restaurant twice within the space of 24 hours. Mark Kelly (36) 4 Camlin Mews, Longford appeared at a sitting of Longford District Court on Tuesday charged with entering the same restaurant twice within the space of 24 hours last week to commit theft. The Longford man, who has a string of previous theft convictions to his name and battled drug addiction in the past, came before Judge Bernadette Owens charged with entering the Taipan Restaurant, 57 Dublin Street, Longford as a trespasser on March 25. On that occasion, Mr Kelly allegedly stole 20 in coins before entering the same property a day later where he allegedly made off with two cans of coke and 2. The court was told both charges could be dealt with by way of summary disposal, meaning the case was deemed suitable to be heard at District Court level. Inspector Declan McGlynn said it would be the States case that the accused was positively identified on CCTV entering the Chinese and Thai restaurant. Judge Owens was also informed the Prosecution would be seeking a brief adjournment into the case . Defence solicitor John Quinn made an application for legal aid, stating his client was currently out of work and on social welfare. The case was adjourned to a sitting of Longford District Court on Tuesday. A judge has told a mother of one with an appalling record for driving without insurance that it was beyond belief claims she was unaware her decision to continue to drive while disqualified would come at a price. Judge Bernadette Owens made the remarks while sentencing Rasa Gervickaite (36) 29 Gleann Riada, Longford at a sitting of Longford District Court last week to three months in prison after the Lithuanian national pleaded guilty to two counts of driving without insurance within barely a month of each other. The court heard Ms Gervickaite had previously been banned from driving seven months previously and handed a four year driving disqualification for no insurance when she was stopped by Garda Paul Stuart on October 4, 2021. On November 9, 2o21, Ms Gervickaite was stopped for a second time on the Connaught Road just before 10:30am. When spoken to by gardai Ms Gervickaite told officers she was aware she was a disqualified driver but had admitted to bringing her daughter to school. The court was informed Ms Gervickaite had eight previous convictions to her name, four of which were for no insurance. The most recent of those, Judge Owens was told, was recorded at Longford District Court the previous March for an offence in January 2020. That resulted in a four year ban and a 250 fine. Defending solicitor Frank Gearty accepted his client, who was in custody, prior to last Tuesday's court sitting was cognisant that this day of reckoning was coming for a long time. Mr Gearty said Ms Gervickaite had previously fallen into bad company and had simply confused her need to work with misunderstanding the sanctions which had been imposed by various courts. She (Ms Gervickaite) had this 'I've got to get to work' belief and she just didn't believe there was consequences. Mr Gearty said it was his client's first taste of prison life and one she had been left horrified by. He added Ms Gervickaite was a valuable contributor to society up to that juncture and could count successful spells as both a waitress and care worker as being among her former work roles. Mr Gearty said Ms Gervickaite had also moved away from Longford and relocated to Tipperary where she had recently secured a job in a restaurant. He said it was there that her past had finally caught up with her. Everything was going fine until she was discovered driving while disqualified and got a four month sentence in Clonmel last week, he said, adding it was there Ms Gervickaite's whole house of cards came down. He also appealed for the court not to extend Ms Gervickaite's time in custody prior to sentence being handed down. Judge Owens said she was willing to give Ms Gervickaite the benefit of an early plea but said there was little option open to her but to impose a custodial sentence. The defendant has an appalling record of driving without insurance and while Mr Gearty has sought to put the best foot forward, it is beyond belief this lady didn't understand the consequences of driving given that she had four convictions for no insurance, she said. Judge Owens consequently sentenced Ms Gervickaite to a total of three months in prison. A five month sentence was also handed down, suspended for a period of 18 months while a Section 38 charge of having no driving licence was taken into consideration. Almost 3,000 homes in Longford town can now order or pre-order high-speed internet as the Government's much publicised National Broadband Plan (NBP) finally clicks into gear. National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company charged with bringing fibre to the home broadband nationwide, revealed up to 9,000 premises in County Longford are included in the States Intervention Area. According to the company, speeds of 500 megabits per second will be delivered to homes, businesses, farms and schools. National Broadband Ireland is delighted to announce that almost 3,000 premises in the Longford deployment area are ready to either order or preorder high-speed broadband on our network, said Peter Hendrick, Chief Executive Officer of National Broadband Ireland. Mr Hendrick called on residents in the Longford deployment area to visit nbi.ie to check their Eircode to see if they can get connected and register for updates. It is our goal to give homes and businesses throughout Ireland the opportunity to experience the life-changing benefits that high-speed broadband provides, he said. We understand the role that high-speed broadband now plays in everyday lives and want to give the people of Ireland every opportunity to avail of it. 'He was my whole life', says heartbroken fiancee of tragic Longford man knocked down and killed by bus The distraught fiancee of a young Longford man who was knocked down and killed after being struck by a Bus Eireann bus last night has told of how the pair had planned to get married just three weeks before tragedy struck. Gerry Ward, one of the first customers in the greater Longford town area to be connected to the NBI network, said the rollout was one he had long awaited. Broadband has become a huge part of my everyday family life, he said. We have children living and working abroad, reliable broadband is essential in helping us stay connected with our family wherever they are in the world. They were sentiments Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Turlough McGovern likewise endorsed. Longford County Council welcomes NBIs delivery of fibre infrastructure in the intervention areas of County Longford, he said. We are delighted that homes, farms and businesses in the Longford Deployment Area can now benefit from a connection to high-speed broadband via the National Broadband Plan. We look forward to the opportunities that these connections will provide in our local areas and throughout the county. Under the National Broadband Plan, County Longford will see an investment of 34m in the new high speed fibre network. David Murphy, Director ebroadband the Retail Service Provider selling services on the new fibre network in the area commented: The new connection to high-speed fibre broadband under the National Broadband Plan is bringing incredible benefits to ebroadband customers, like the Ward family. "Its always great to see how a reliable and fast broadband connection gives a customer flexibility and opportunity in their homes that didnt exist before. "We are delighted to partner with NBI on this project to provide the Ward family with a top quality service and combine our expertise to create the best service possible. "As the National Broadband Plan will be bringing more connections to the county, we are proud to collaborate with them again on further projects to help connect the people of Longford to the world of high-speed broadband." Several events are taking place in Northern Ireland as people reflect 25 years on from the Good Friday Agreement. While the 25th anniversary of the signing of the accord is April 10, the holy day of Good Friday will always be associated with the diplomatic feat that brought 30 years of bloodshed largely to an end. Early on Friday morning, some victims of the Troubles gathered on a Co Down beach to watch the sunrise as they looked back on the deal that changed the regions future and became a blueprint for resolving global conflicts. Later in Belfast, people living on both sides of a community interface will come together to commemorate the peace agreement. Residents from the predominantly unionist Shankill Road and largely nationalist Falls Road will form a human peace wall. At the same time at Stormont political figures involved in the negotiations 25 years ago will gather for a commemorative event at Parliament Buildings. In the Republic of Ireland, Dublin Unitarian Church is to hold its annual service to commemorate all those who died in the conflict, and in the time that followed. More than 3,600 names of the people killed in Northern Ireland between 1966 and 2019 will be read out from noon until 3pm, and will include journalist Lyra McKee who was shot dead by dissident republicans in Derry four years ago. The sunrise event at Killough beach was organised by the Wave Trauma Centre, which supports victims of the conflict. Alan McBride, whose wife and father-in-law were both killed in the 1993 Shankill bomb in Belfast, voted yes in the referendum on the 1998 deal, despite the accord involving the early release of paramilitary killers, including the man responsible for the IRA bomb on the Shankill. Mr McBride, who gathered with fellow victims on the beach on Friday, said he viewed the Good Friday Agreement as a breakthrough. It was a watershed in Northern Irish society in terms of the Troubles and coming through it. I never thought they ever would, he told the PA news agency. I voted yes back then, my dad actually didnt vote yes, he just couldnt do it because of the prisoner releases and stuff. Twenty five years on, I would have thought that we would have been much further down the road to the sort of society that I believed we were voting for in 98. He added: I do think that our politicians have really let us down if I am being honest with you. The anniversary of the historic deal comes as Northern Irelands powersharing institutions remain collapsed, in a protest by the DUP over post-Brexit trading arrangements. Despite a fresh framework struck between the EU and the UK Government earlier this year that looked to tweak the operation of the contentious Northern Ireland Protocol, Stormont has not returned. Next week, US President Joe Biden will visit Belfast in a trip to commemorate a quarter of a decade since the US-brokered peace accord. The following week, further events will be held which are to be attended by former US president Bill Clinton and his wife, former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton. Harking back to the reaction to the GFA in 1998, Gerry Murphy, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions assistant general secretary, said that the agreement is still the way forward. He said: When Congress reacted to the agreement signed on April 10 1998, it stated that Congress believes that overall it represents an important step towards peace and reconciliation. In the unprecedented circumstances now prevailing, Congress is therefore uniquely recommending that trade union members vote Yes in the referenda on May 22. The support we pledged then is still in place. The agreement remains the road map to a decent future for all. 'The Good Friday Agreement brought our island a foundation of peace and reconciliation' - Chris Mac Manus MEP When the Good Friday Agreement was signed 25 years ago, it changed the course of our island. It celebrated the ideal of peaceful difference, it aspired to protect the pursuit of ones aims through democratic means and it inspired a coexistence once thought impossible. It brought a lasting peace without eroding identity. It challenged all, on every side, to seek new paths to achieve their goals. It challenged us to reconcile, revisit and reconsider. To ask big questions- often of ourselves. It challenged us to have new, difficult conversations. And we did. And we do. And we must do so again. 25 years on, we must take the next steps. Together we must envisage a new Ireland that welcomes and protects all identities. We must reach out and include those of a unionist or loyalist tradition. We must challenge ourselves to have the big conversations about the future of our shared island. About constitutional change. About how we revolutionise our healthcare system, how we address the housing crisis and how we guarantee equality for everyone on our island. We must embark on a far reaching conversation about what a new society might look like, through an all-island Citizens Assembly. Our island has come a long way in the quarter of a century since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. A shared vision for the next quarter of a century is now necessary. The European Union has played an important role throughout these 25 years. Their commitment to cross-border and cross-community projects has transformed countless lives in the North and across the border region. The EUs commitment to the upholding and implementation of the Good Friday Agreement in all of its parts has been vital to the long-term success of our Peace Project. Like all of us, the EU must now too step up to new challenges 25 years on. The European Union has guaranteed automatic re-entry for the North of Ireland upon reunification. However those same institutions now need to prepare and engage properly in the conversation regarding an Irish Unity referendum. It cannot be a bystander and risk Brexit style fallout. The European Union must be an active voice in an orderly and informed debate. Every voice will matter in ensuring a balanced discourse. The 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement must be the impetus of a new Ireland. I believe this is a pivotal era in our islands history and we must build on the momentum weve gathered in recent times. In November I hosted the launch of the academic research paper, Making the Case for Irish Unity in the EU, co-authored by Professor Colin Harvey and Mr. Mark Bassett, Barrister-at-Law, at the European Parliament in Brussels. This important publication sets out the legal mechanisms of the Good Friday Agreement and international law, and seeks to provide a platform for the European institutions to engage fully in the Irish Unity debate. The Irelands Future events that took place across our island were further important stepping stones in creating a public forum for the Irish Unity debate. The cross cultural participation and the sheer numbers in attendance at the events, prove that a new chapter is truly upon us. In Brussels recently, we fully embraced the spirit of the cross-party cooperation of the Good Friday Agreement by marking its 25th anniversary in the European Parliament with colleagues from across the political spectrum. The events recognised the key partners for peace from all backgrounds and celebrated their achievements. The interest and engagement from across EU member states for this event was heartening. Working with Irish MEPs from many different political groups to create this event again shows what we can achieve when we come together. We must continue working together. We must ask the difficult questions and we must start planning for the future of Ireland. The Good Friday agreement brought our island a foundation of peace and reconciliation. The next 25 years must be about building on those foundations. Chris MacManus MEP MEP for Irelands Midlands Northwest and a Member of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly. *SPONSORED CONTENT Community, Charity & Cause By Jacob Alvear Published: April 07 2023 Donors will receive two free New York Mets tickets for rolling up their sleeves (PLAINVIEW, N.Y.) - Nassau County Legislator Arnold W. Drucker (D Plainview) invites residents to donate blood at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Library, 999 Old Country Road, Plainview, N.Y. 11803 from 12:30 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 15. Each donor will receive a voucher for two free New York Mets tickets as a thank-you for rolling up their sleeves and helping to save lives. Blood donors are among our societys unsung everyday heroes, and they are instrumental in ensuring that anybody who faces a medical emergency can receive the care that they need to survive and thrive, Legislator Drucker said. Whether you are a routine donor, one who hasnt given in a while or even a first-time donor, we welcome you to join us at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Library on April 15 to roll up your sleeves and give the gift of life to your community! Eligible donors must have an ID with a signature or a photo, weigh at least 110 pounds, have had no tattoos in the last 12 months and be ages 16-75 years of age (16-year-old donors must have parental consent. Donors over age 76 must bring a doctors note.) O-negative and B-negative donors are especially needed in addition to all other blood types. Visit https://donate.nybc.org/donor/ schedules/drive_schedule/ 295638 to schedule a time to donate or call 1-800-933-BLOOD (25663). Appointments are preferred but not required; walk-ins will be taken as capacity permits. For more information, contact Legislator Druckers office at 516-571-6216 or adrucker@nassaucountyny.gov Community, Charity & Cause By Chris Boyle Published: April 07 2023 I sincerely appreciate the progress that these incredibly knowledgeable and dedicated researchers have accomplished, said Legislator Anker. Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker recently presented proclamations to Elizabeth Hornstein and Kathleen Michelle Fallon, Ph.D, two New York Sea Grant (NYSG) environmental sustainability experts. I sincerely appreciate the progress that these incredibly knowledgeable and dedicated researchers have accomplished. Elizabeth and Kathleens tireless work and innovative approaches have helped to address erosion and degradation in our ecosystem. Their passion and dedication is clearly shown through the results they produce, said Legislator Anker. I applaud New York Sea Grant for their continued mission to address coastal erosion, ocean pollution, and other environmental issues brought about by climate change. Kathleen Michelle Fallon, Ph. D, is working with NYSG as a Marine District Coastal Processes and Hazards Specialist. She has 5 peer-reviewed publications, 20 extension publications, and has presented at 14 professional events throughout the United States, with the intention to bring national awareness to coastal erosion. Kathleen was instrumental in creating an interdisciplinary curriculum available in New York State public and privet schools to explore their role in plastic pollution, called Plastic Pollution and You. Kathleen has taught several courses at Stony Brook University, and has been awarded 10 grants to further her research. Elizabeth Hornstein is a Sustainable and Resilient Communities Extension Professional with NYSG, based at Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, NY. Elizabeth works to support Suffolk County communities in the Long Island Sound watershed by helping advance sustainability and resilience planning, and implementation of projects. Elizabeth has a masters degree in Marine Science from Stony Brook University and over 10 years of experience working on a wide range of marine and coastal issues. She has collaborated with all levels of government, academic institutions, environmental groups, businesses, fishermen, and community members to protect and restore coastal ecosystems. The goal of Kathleen and Elizabeths work is to help communities anticipate and overcome disturbances caused by a changing climate, including sea level rise and extreme events. They continue to partner with Legislator Anker to provide education and resources for communities dealing with coastal erosion along Long Islands north shore. NYSG is a statewide network of integrated research, education, and extension services promoting coastal community economic vitality, environmental sustainability and citizen awareness about the States marine and Great Lakes resources. NYSG is a federal/state matching funds program. The program uses input from stakeholders and the research community to advance state-of -the-art research and coastal management, for the benefit of New Yorks varied coastal environments and communities. Manhunt On for Suspect Involved in Shooting of Long Island NYPD Cop Crime By Chris Boyle Published: April 06 2023 Officer Brett Boller of Hauppauge, 22, was shot while responding to reports of a disturbance on a MTA bus in Jamaica, Queens on Wednesday, April 5. Police are currently conducting a manhunt for the man suspected of shooting a New York City Police Department officer from Long Island. Officer Brett Boller of Hauppauge, 22, was shot while responding to reports of a disturbance on a MTA bus in Jamaica, Queens on Wednesday, April 5. Boller engaged in a foot chase of a suspect, who eventually turned and fired a single shot from a handgun, striking Boller in his right hip area. Boller is currently recovering from his wound following surgery. Crime By Chris Boyle Published: April 07 2023 Cynthia Ciaccio allegedly failed to pay income taxes from 2017 through 2020; had a total tax liability of $49,792 over three-year period and income of more than $400,000 in each tax year. Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a West Hempstead woman was arraigned on charges she failed to pay income taxes from 2017 through 2020 and owed more than $49,000 in back taxes over a three-year period. Cynthia Ciaccio, 62, was arraigned Tuesday before Judge Jaclene Agazarian on charges of violating New York State Tax Laws including Criminal Tax Fraud in the Third Degree (a D felony); Personal Income and Earnings Taxes: Repeated Failure to File (an E felony); and Criminal Tax Fraud in the Fifth Degree (an A misdemeanor). The defendant pleaded not guilty and was released on her own recognizance. She is due back in court on April 19, 2023. If convicted of the top count, the defendant faces up to 2-1/3 to 7 years in prison. This defendant allegedly evaded her tax obligations for four years while collecting more than $400,000 in annual income and failed to submit income tax returns that honest taxpayers diligently and reliably file every year, said DA Donnelly. No one is above this obligation, and individuals who deliberately evade paying their fair share of taxes will be prosecuted. DA Donnelly said, according to the charges, the defendant worked for a company in Maspeth as the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. In late 2019, the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (NYSDTF) began a criminal investigation of the defendant as a potential Personal Income Tax evader. After an extensive investigation, it was determined that the defendant allegedly failed to file New York State Personal Income Tax Returns in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. The defendant had an Adjusted Gross Income of $428,964 in 2017, $452,386 in 2018, $462,357 in 2019 and $556,406 in 2020. Because of her alleged failure to file, the defendant incurred an annual unpaid tax liability, and a total unpaid liability of approximately $49,792 for the three-year period encompassing tax years 2017, 2018 and 2019. During the audit period, the defendant resided in Nassau County. The NCDA thanks the NYSDTF for their partnership and cooperation in this prosecution. The case is being prosecuted by Senior Investigative Attorney and Attorney-in-Charge of Tax Crime Prosecutions Kathleen Casey of the Revenue, Auto, Insurance and Labor Crime Bureau. The defendant is represented by Brian Griffin, Esq. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: April 07 2023 One of my top priorities in Congress is ensuring that our Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders have the support and resources they need to keep all of us safe, said LaLota. Recently, Rep. Nick LaLota (NY-01) signed on as a cosponsor of several pieces of legislation to provide support to and protect Law Enforcement Officers and other First Responders around the country. One of my top priorities in Congress is ensuring that our Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders have the support and resources they need to keep all of us safe, said LaLota. Each of these bills is an important step to supporting our heroes who put their lives on the line every day. Suffolk County is home to an active community of current and retired First Responders and, as the son and grandson of Police Officers, I am proud to represent them in Congress. Background: H.Res. 69 would recognize the dedication and devotion of Law Enforcement personnel and states that calls to defund, disband, dismantle, or abolish the police should be condemned. H.R. 130, the Thin Blue Line Act, would toughen penalties against anyone who murders police officers and other first responders. The bill, which passed the U.S. House in the 115th Congress, would make the murder or attempted murder of a first responder an aggravating factor in death penalty determinations. H.R. 355, the Back the Blue Act, would increase the penalties for criminals who intentionally target law enforcement officers and provide new tools for officers to protect themselves. H.R. 743, the Protect and Serve Act, would establish a new criminal offense for knowingly assaulting a law enforcement officer and causing serious bodily injury in circumstances that affect interstate commerce. H.R. 795, the Protecting First Responders from Secondary Exposure Act, would establish the first federal program to provide local governments with resources to purchase containment devices and aims to help state and local governments purchase containment devices, which are used to safely store narcotics and preserve them for evidentiary use, and provide subsequent training to reduce first responders risk of secondary exposure to lethal substances. Music, Movies & Entertainment By Chris Boyle Published: April 07 2023 Friday, May 12, 2023, 7:30pm, Flushing Town Hall. Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company announces its participation in the 10th CrossCurrent Dance Festival, in collaboration with Flushing Town Hall, on Friday, May 12, 2023 at 7:30pm.. Tickets are $20 and are available online at Flushing Town Hall website: https://flushingtownhall.org/2023-crosscurrent. 2023 is the 10th Anniversary of the CrossCurrent Dance Festival. It will be a year for the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company and Flushing Town Hall to reflect on the years past and pay tribute to the founder of the festival, Nai-Ni Chen. Since its inception, the festival has featured many emerging choreographic talents in the Asian American community. This year, the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company will celebrate its own history of cross-cultural collaboration by featuring the preview of a new work, Between, in progress by Polish master Jacek Luminski, a pioneer of Polish Contemporary Dance, and PeiJu Chien-Pott , the Companys Director of New and Contemporary Dance. The two began developing the new work in November, 2022. This new dance, currently untitled, will be premiered in Polands Lublin Dance Festival in July, 2023, to be presented alongside several of Nai-Ni Chens iconic works. In this CrossCurrent Dance Festival, the Company will also show the following works, as well as another dance by Jacek Luminski. Ashes of a Dead Frog (2008) - Inspired by a Japanese writers recollections of the first encounter of White Europeans and the Japanese, describing the skin of the visitors as the skin of a dead frog. Choreographer Jacek Luminski explores the power dynamics of different types of relationships in our contemporary society in this work. The creation of Ashes of a Dead Frog was supported by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. Lullaby for My Favorite Insomniac - A signature duet from Nai-Ni Chens collaborative work with the world renowned Ahn Trio, Temptation of the Muses. Lullaby for My Favorite Insomniac is a sweet, delicate work that showcases the Nai-Ni Chen mastery in the western contemporary dance form and the depth of the collaborators working relationship. Introspection - Beginning in 2016, Nai-Ni Chen worked with Aljira Contemporary Arts in Newark, NJ on a project where the audience would enter the gallery at night in darkness given a flashlight. Dancers would be doing improvised or choreographed movement in front of the paintings, sculptures or art works, mostly by Black artists. The result of three years of Aljira at Night is Introspection, a work about the many facets of identity, how we view and treat each other, and how we construct our own identity based on other peoples view about us. Neptunes Dialog (1993) - One of Nai-Ni Chens personal favorite dances, Neptunes Dialogwas created in memory of her childhood. She grew up in Keelung, Taiwan. The beautiful rain harbor is close to one of the islands most scenic beaches, YehLiu (Wild Willow) Beach/Park in Taiwan. The white sand beach is dotted with a unique geological feature, the world's only remaining mushroom (xun) stone landform. It is a magical place to which she hopes to bring the audience in this work. About Jacek Luminski Jacek Luminski is the founding artistic and executive director of the Silesian Dance Theatre in Bytom (Silesia), the premiere contemporary dance company of Poland and an institution dedicated to the development and promotion of dance nationally and internationally. He designed educational and community outreach programs to promote dance and audience development. Supported by the EU, the Silesian Dance Theater cooperated with six European dance schools under Luminskis guidance, developing the countrys first accredited university dance curriculum. Luminski has received numerous awards for his outstanding achievements in developing a unique style, technique and form of dance theater. He serves as Professor and the Head of the Dance Division at the Academy of Music in Katowice and he holds professorship at the Beijing Dance Academy in China as well. For more than a decade now Luminski has been a main figure behind the institutionalized creative support for young and independent choreographers in Poland an idea seen in the Art Spaces-Katowice Program recently established with support from the Institute of Music and Dance (as well as Ministry of Culture and National Heritage). Currently he is working on international dance projects Roots of Dance established by the National Institute of Music and Dance. He is pursuing his new academic career with the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice. His main areas of research interest include, persistent systems of identity formation, embodied culture, contemporary transformations of citizenship, etc. Jacek is a graduate of pedagogy department of dance at the Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw, About the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company Bringing the dynamic freedom of American modern dance together with the elegant splendor of Asian art, the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company is one of the most visible Asian American dance companies in America. Ms. Chen's unique choreography transports audiences beyond cultural boundaries to the common ground between tradition and innovation, discipline and freedom, and form and spirit. Since its inception in 1988, the company has earned a broad base of public support and has toured extensively to major performing arts centers throughout more than thirty states. Presented by some of the most prestigious concert halls in the United States, from the Joyce Theater in New York to the Ordway Center in Minnesota and the Cerritos Center in California, the Company has mounted more than twenty national tours and nine tours abroad. Ms. Chens work has been presented by such acclaimed international festivals as the Silesian International Contemporary Dance Festival and the Konfrontations International Dance Festival, both in Poland, the Chang Mu International Arts Festival in Korea and the Meet in Beijing International Arts Festival. The Company was also honored by a distinctive grant award from both the President's Committee on Arts and Humanities and the Department of State to represent the United States in a seven-city tour arranged by the Tamaulipas International Arts Festival in Mexico. Also, the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company has the unique honor of having received more than fifteen awards from the National Endowment for the Arts and numerous Citations of Excellence and grants from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. In addition to its extensive season of touring and performing, the company has developed Arts in Education residency programs in school districts to bring culture and arts into educational settings. Its colorful and engaging in-school assembly program The Art of Chinese Dance has been presented in hundreds of schools in NJ, NY, CT and PA, reaching hundreds of thousands of youth. The Company is currently in-residence at New Jersey City University and assisting NJCU in the development of a new BFA in Dance. Suffolk Police: Four People Arrested for Selling Vape Products to Minors Crime By Chris Boyle Published: April 07 2023 In response to numerous community complaints, 16 businesses were checked by police for compliance with the law. Suffolk County Police today arrested four people for selling vape products to persons under-21 during compliance checks at businesses in the Second Precinct. In response to numerous community complaints, Second Precinct Crime Section officers conducted an investigation into the sale of vape products, during which 16 businesses were checked for compliance with the law. During the investigation, four businesses were found to be selling e-nicotine products and/or cannabis to minors. The following people were arrested and issued Field Appearance Tickets. Isaiah Ortiz, 21, of Deer Park, an employee of Cloud Empire, located at 108 Broadway, Greenlawn, charged with Selling Tobacco to a Minor. Anhya Jenkins, 22, of Central Islip, an employee of Venom Smoke Shop II, located at 6160 Jericho Turnpike, Commack, charged with Selling Tobacco to a Minor. Gaurang Upadhyay, 55, of Rocky Point, an employee of Garys Smoke Shop, located at 6318 Jericho Turnpike Commack, charged with Selling Tobacco to a Minor, and Unlawful Sale of Cannabis. Nader Ilyas 27, of Dix Hills, an employee of Nirvana Vape Shop, located at 1153A East Jericho Turnpike, Huntington, charged with Selling Tobacco to a Minor, and Unlawful Sale of Cannabis. They are scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in First District Court on April 26. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. We will be celebrating Earth Day later this month. This is a day when we all can come together to celebrate the work being done to protect our environment and those groups, individuals, organizations and businesses that are working to create a more sustainable future for us all here on planet earth. We have a great opportunity to join in a community celebration as we are proud to be hosting the 2023 Great Lakes Environmental Festival on April 21 and 22 right here in Manistee. We have a lot to celebrate as we are most fortunate to be surrounded by natures bounty of fresh water, clean air and extensive carbon-sequestering forests all right outside our door and easily accessible to all of us who call this home. We must be forever vigilant to protect these resources so they are available for the greater good of everyone in our society. This means we need to be continuously educating ourselves and others so each of us can implement the science-based best practices that will protect and heal the damage done to our global environment. The 2023 Great Lakes Environmental Festival will provide attendees with just that kind of information. The event organizers have recruited a group of subject matter experts who will be delivering engaging informative lectures hourly from noon to 5 p.m. on April 21 and 22 at the West Shore Community College Manistee Downtown Education Center in Manistee. Interspersed with the lectures will be short videos that have been produced by local high school students and student artwork that will demonstrate to adults that our children understand the challenges caused by climate change and their effect on the future of this planet. On April 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. there will be an Environmental Expo at the Wagoner Community Center in Manistee that will feature information tables and booths from local and regional environmental activist organizations and businesses. There will also be a display of electric vehicles in the parking lot. Shuttle bus service will be provided between the Expo and the WSCC building to enable folks to park their cars at the Senior Center and do their part to reduce their carbon footprint while enjoying the 2023 GLEF. We will be honoring organizations that have proven to be consistent guardians of the Great Lakes and our regional environment during this years festival. The U.S. Coast Guard will be conducting a water rescue demonstration in the Manistee River between the Maple Street and U.S. 31 bridges. The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians will be presenting a lecture on their research work on reviving wild rice habitat in our waterways. Both organizations will be honored by the 2023 Great Lakes Environmental Festival for their work as environmental guardians of the Great Lakes. Young children will also be able to engage in the 2023 Great Lakes Environmental Festival activities as they will have the opportunity to collect beads from the expo exhibitors, downtown merchants and the lecture speakers. The beads will then be able to be assembled into bracelets or bookmarks as reminders of the fun they had and what they learned at the event. Now, many of you may be wondering what all this environmental festival stuff has to do with what it means to be a Democrat in Manistee County. I hope you can agree with the scientists who study climate change and a large majority of people who believe in science that it is being hastened by human activity. Protecting the environment is a key issue for the Democratic Party both nationally and here in Manistee County. Supporting the 2023 Great Lakes Environmental Festival is one way that Democrats in Manistee County can help get the word out to more of our neighbors that they too can take action to slow the damage being done by climate change. I have no doubt that some who read this will be among the minority who do not believe we are currently experiencing climate change or its adverse effects. To those doubters, I say that it is not normal for our winters here in northwest Michigan to be mild as they have been over the past few years. The lack of significant snow cover hurts our local winter tourist-based economy. There was no significant ice formation on any of the Great Lakes this past winter meaning a large amount of water was lost to evaporation. That evaporated water will eventually fall on areas that may already be saturated with heavy rains and damaging floods. Our summer storms coming off the warmer waters of Lake Michigan are more intense and damaging. Toxic algae blooms caused by runoff from big corporate farms and inhumane confined animal feeding operations entering the warmer waters of all the Great Lakes have threatened the safe drinking water of many large population centers. Climate change doubters must also be aware that as the temperatures rise, and fresh water supplies dwindle that we are living in the region that has the potential to become the primary global climate change refuge. Millions of climate change refugees displaced by rising sea levels, lack of fresh water, high temperatures and toxic air will be clamoring to live right here in Manistee County. We must demand that our elected officials take the action necessary to enable them to stay in their current homes and not have to leave just to find dry land, clean water, clean air and a safe environment. We look forward to providing a fun and educational Earth Day experience for you, your family, and your friends at the 2023 Great Lakes Environmental Festival on April 21 and 22 in Manistee on beautiful Lake Michigan. Hello Manistee County, what a week! It has been so beautiful this week, I dont think we could ask for warmer weather. I know it is going to get cooler, but I think it has been pretty nice for the first week of April. I cant believe all of the things going on at the senior center this month. I am ready for a little fun and I know the group Navigating with Netters cant wait for the first trip of the year. I think everyone will have a great time and I know if Netters is there, everyone will be smiling. I have been asked a lot about the yearly Tigers trip. Last year was a tough one. We went on the hottest day on record in many years and it ended up being hot, but not as bad as I thought it would be. We had great seats like usual and everyone that did go had fun. So, I am asking to fill the bus this year. I scheduled the trip for July 27. It will be the Detroit Tigers versus the Los Angeles Angels which I hear should be a good game. I need to have 50 people on the bus and be ready to go root the Tigers on. Not only does your trip have first class accommodations on a beautiful chartered bus, but you also get a hot dog, chips and pop at the park. If you would like more information about this fun trip, just give us a call or stop by. Go Tigers! We have so many new and fun exercise opportunities for everyone. We are starting a ZUMBA Gold class with Lisa. This is perfect for active older adults looking for a modified Zumba class with the moves you love, at a lower-intensity. The first class starts at 3 p.m. on May 3. I hope you come and check this class out. We also have a fun Pound Fit class with Monica on Thursday at 4 p.m. This is a class with weighted drumsticks that gets you moving and helps build a little muscle. We also have a Chair Yoga class with Bree. This is great for stretching and helps in so many ways. Tuesday and Thursdays at 10 a.m. we have Sit & Get Fit with Nancy. This is a great way to keep flexible and keeps you moving. I hope you can find a way to keep fit and moving at the senior center. We have our big Purse & Jewelry Sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 15. The volunteers have been doing a great job going through all of the bags, purses and jewelry, and pricing them for a great day. We want to thank everyone who brought in so many beautiful things, it has been so much fun checking it all out. If you love vintage and retro things make sure you stop by for this great event. This week we have Cards & Coffee with Maureen on Tuesday at 10 a.m. Everyone gets together and makes beautiful greeting cards, and visits. It is a great way to meet new people and spend some time having fun. We also have Toe Tapping on Tuesday, with the 3Ds, come in and enjoy some talented musicians. Wednesday, we have Fun Bingo which is a way to get different kinds of food into our seniors homes. We always have a celebrity bingo caller and have a great time. Thursday, we have a couple of interesting programs. We have a Michigan Kinship Care Talk at 10:30 a.m. Did you know currently, in Michigan about 10,000 children are in foster care but 54,000 children are in kinship care. Please come to this speaking engagement. If you dont need the help personally, your next-door neighbor or another family member just might. At 1 p.m. we have Questions & Answers with Smith & Eddy, stop by and ask all of your insurance questions with professionals. Friday, at 11 a.m. we have Kim Markham in for a great discussion for the Family Fare Pharmacy Facts. Come in and learn something new. I hope you have a very happy Easter, and remember to try something new! BOSTON Jaylen Brown walked into the Celtics locker room pregame Friday with his right hand wrapped and bandaged up. He was a late addition to the injury report with a right hand laceration as the Cs star shed light on what happened to his injured hand. I was watering my plant and ended up knocking over a glass vase that was next to it, Brown said pregame Friday. Picked it up, set it on the ground, realized you probably shouldnt set glass on the ground. Reached down and picked it back up, and it got me. DraftKings Massachusetts $200 Bonus Bets! CLAIM OFFER 21+. Physically present in MA. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid 1 per new customer. First-time depositors only who have not already redeemed $200 in bonus bets via OH or MA prelaunch offer. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 bet. $200 issued as bonus bets that expire 7 days (168 hours) after being awarded. See terms at http://draftkings.com/ma. Brown said the cut happened between two of his fingers. Luckily, he said the injury shouldnt keep him out too long: A week tops. But he did need to get about five stitches. Brown was slated to play Friday in what was likely going to be a final tune-up ahead of the postseason, but that wont be the case. The timing isnt ideal as the Celtics are getting ready for the playoffs. Boston still does have some time, though, as it wont open the playoffs until next weekend. So that gives Brown some time to heal up that right hand. The Cs are slated to be the No. 2 seed in the East playoffs, so theyll know their opponent next week after the first game of the play-in tournament. I can still workout and do everything that I normally do, Brown said. Just I guess try to do as least as possible to let it heal. And thats pretty much it. After attending a weeklong violence reduction workshop, Bostons city and community leaders are prepared to pour resources into neighborhoods that have been impacted by violence. Earlier this week the city of Boston was selected to be part of a new program to reduce gun violence. The program, which is hosted by The University of Marylands Violence Reduction Center, brings together experts and practitioners from across the country to participate in workshops with city leaders on how to reduce gun violence. We will not tolerate any neighborhood feeling like residents have to live in fear of violence or experience loss that ripples down generation after generation, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said at a press conference Friday. We have the resources, we have the expertise. We need just to put it all together and its going to be following the lead and making sure that we keep the momentum coming out of this conversation going into the planning for this summer but for a sustainable, durable funded effort that the city will be eager to be a part of. The meetings were guided by raw data on violence in the city, which disproportionately affects Black men, according to Isaac Yablo, the mayors senior advisor for community safety. Read More: Boston leaders look toward using impact players to counter surge in gun violence Black men are the most impacted by this community gun violence, Yablo said. Over 80% of those killed by gun violence last year are Black men. So its important to reinvest in into the communities most impacted. Although the city has several short-term solutions to curb gun violence such as employment, educational and mentorship opportunities, Yablo stressed the need to address the root cause of the violence. In a few weeks, the city will be launching a healing tour, a community-led project aimed at bringing resources to communities impacted by gun violence. The idea was first developed by Brother Donnell Singleton, CEO of DS Consultants, who worked with several city and community leaders to bring the idea forward. We started trying to figure out how in fact can we bring forth some form of collaboration to then go to all of the hotspots in our area, speak to the community, offer clinicians, psychiatrists and things of that nature, partner with the city so that we could actually make sure that all the resources that are present would be there for the community, and then try to take all of us collectively in the people that we represent and see how we can come up with a sustainable program that could help in the long run, Singleton said. Although overall violence in Boston has decreased over the years, the violence reduction workshop comes amid a spike in homicides in Boston. As of April 2, there have been 11 murders in the city so far in 2023, compared to five during the same period in 2022, according to the Boston police department. Im looking forward to really great work being done and continuing this work to bring peace to our community and to decrease the amount of homicides and the violence that have taken place in the city, said Randy Muhammad, the leader of Muhammad Mosque No. 11. Weve been doing a good job, but the biggest room in any house is the room for improvement and thats what we came together to improve and do better what were doing. A dead body was found in a vehicle engulfed in flames in Rowley early Friday morning, according to police. Friday at 12:56 a.m., Rowley police responded to a car that crashed into a driveway at 935 Haverhill St., the department wrote in a statement. First responders found the vehicle engulfed in flames and a single dead passenger inside. Police said the crash victims name is being withheld as they await for confirm their identity and notify their family. Rowley Police Chief Scott Dumas said around an hour before the crash, a Rowley Police officer found the same vehicle parked across town on Stackyard Road. The officer spoke with the driver, considered them capable of driving and gave them directions back to the road leading to their home, the police chief stated. The officer followed the driver onto Route 133 into Ipswich and informed Ipswich Police that the vehicle was passing through their town. Rowley Police had no other contact with the vehicle until they received the crash report, according to Dumas. The Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and the Rowley Police Department are investigating the crash. Two former Oklahoma jail guards were sentenced earlier this week for forcing inmates in to listen to Baby Shark on a loop as a form of punishment. The Oklahoman reported on Tuesday that Gregory Cornell Butler Jr. and Christian Charles Miles were each fined $200 and placed on probation for two years after an investigation found that they mistreated a group of inmates by making them listen to childrens music, including the song Baby Shark, on a loop in 2019. Read more: How federal agents managed to interrogate the wrong person in a Boston hotel room They were also ordered to complete 40 hours of community service and pay $300 in compensation for the victims. One victim said, per the report, he had to listen to Baby Shark for two hours straight, according to an investigative report. Another said the weird little song was blaring and played over and over and over again. Both guards resigned when the investigation began. It was unfortunate that I could not find a felony statute to fit this fact scenario, Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater told The Associated Press. I would have preferred filing a felony on this behavior. The discipline had at one point involved childrens music featuring Elmo, the popular Sesame Street character. Another guard admitted he suggested to Miles playing Baby Shark. Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth community was alerted Thursday about the on-campus death of a first-year bioengineering student. Frank Petillo Jr. was struck by a vehicle on campus, according to UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Mark Fuller in a statement to students. Please keep Franks family, friends, and classmates in your thoughts and prayers, Fuller said in his statement. He will be sorely missed. Fuller did not release any further information about the collision. This has been a very difficult week for the Corsair community, his statement read. We feel a collective pain even if we do not personally know those who have passed. We sit in class together. We work together. We pass each other in the halls. We are often more connected than we realize. If you need support, please reach out to someone. The Massachusetts State Police unit with the Bristol County District Attorneys office is actively investigating with UMass Dartmouth police, 1420 WBSM reported. The school will provide extra hours at its counseling center on Friday until 7 p.m., Fuller said. Additional information for counseling can be found by going to www.umassd.edu/counseling. Campus ministers from different faiths can also be reached at 508-999-8872. Authorities have identified the person found dead in a car that crashed and burst into flames in Rowley early Friday morning. Susan Frey, 79, of Gloucester, was tentatively identified as the victim in the Rowley crash, according to the Essex County District Attorneys Office, because the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has not yet confirmed the victims identity. A Rowley police officer spoke to the woman an hour before her car was found in flames, according to officials. Evidence found at the scene and inside Freys apartment led authorities to identify her as the victim of the crash. Foul play is not suspected, officials added. Friday at 12:56 a.m., Rowley police responded to a car that crashed into a driveway at 935 Haverhill St., the department wrote in a statement. First responders found the vehicle engulfed in flames and a single dead passenger later identified as Frey by the Essex County District Attorneys Office. Rowley Police Chief Scott Dumas said around an hour before the crash, a Rowley police officer found the same vehicle parked across town on Stackyard Road. The officer spoke with Frey, considered her capable of driving and gave her directions back to the road leading to her home, the police chief stated. The officer followed Frey onto Route 133 into Ipswich and informed Ipswich Police that the vehicle was passing through their town. Rowley Police had no other contact with the vehicle until they received the crash report, according to Dumas. The Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and the Rowley Police Department are investigating the crash. A Maine man pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to provide support to the Islamic State terrorist organization and plan a mass shooting in Chicago. Xavier Pelkey, 19, of Waterville, Maine, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists in U.S. District Court Friday, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office District of Maine. The charge comes in connection with a November 2021 conspiracy Pelkey developed with two minors, one located in Chicago and one in Canada, to conduct a mass shooting at a Shia mosque in the Chicago area, according to federal prosecutors. Officials said Pelkey and his co-conspirators subscribed to a radical form of Sunni Islam and were supporters of ISIS. Pelkey planned to provide the firearms, ammunition and explosives for the potential attack, federal prosecutors said. In February 2022, the FBI searched Pelkeys Waterville residence and found three handmade explosive devices. Investigators also discovered a hand-painted version of the ISIS flag on the wall of Pelkeys bedroom. Written statements intended to be released before the planned attack claiming the attack in the name of ISIS were also found during the federal search. Read more: Javier Pena pleads not guilty in Worcester midday shooting that left 1 injured Pelkey faces up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine followed by up to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a pre-sentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A Massachusetts driving school owner pleaded guilty to a charge accusing him of paying a road test examiner thousands of dollars for passing driving tests. Brockton driving school owner Estevao Semedo, 61, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud in connection with the road test scheme, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office District of Massachusetts. Brockton RMV road test examiner, Mia Cox-Johnson, 43, was also charged with two counts of extortion under color of official right and one count of conspiring to commit extortion in connection with the conspiracy. Between December 2018 and October 2019, federal prosecutors accused Semedo of paying Cox-Johnson up to $17,000 to hand out passing road test scores to potential drivers who didnt pass the test. Some of the applicants didnt even show up to take the test, officials added. As a result of the fraud, the RMV mailed drivers licenses to unqualified applicants. In one instance, on Dec. 28, 2018, authorities said Cox-Johnson accepted $1,000 to give a passing score to a person who failed the vehicle learners permit test six times. Semedo faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The charging document also seeks a $17,000 forfeiture money judgment against the man. A judge scheduled Semedos sentencing for Aug. 1. Cox-Johnson is scheduled to appear in court at a later date. Massachusetts State Police and Manchester, New Hampshire Police are searching the wetlands along Route 107 in Revere, or Lynn Marsh Road, as part of the investigation into the disappearance and presumed death of Harmony Montgomery from 2019, officials said Friday. Shortly after 9 a.m., state police sent 18 troopers assigned to the Massachusetts State Police Special Emergency Response Team to the wetlands, as theyre trained in search operations in difficult terrain and environments, police said. The department also send four K-9 unit teams, a drone unit, and members of the state police detective unit in Suffolk County. The Attorney General John M. Formella had stated on Friday morning the Manchester and Massachusetts State Police departments were searching at a location in Revere. This search is being conducted as part of the investigation into the murder of then-five-year-old Harmony Montgomery in December 2019, Formellas statement read. No additional information was available, the officials said, and they stated they cautioned against any speculation related to the potential results of this search. Adam Montgomery, the childs father, was indicted at the end of January 2023 in connection with the childs murder. The New Hampshire man was arrested and charged in connection with the murder of his daughter in Oct. 2022 along with charges of falsifying evidence, abuse of corpse, and tampering with witnesses or informants, officials said. Harmony had not been seen since just after Thanksgiving 2019, but it was not until late 2021 that officials became aware she was missing. She had lived in Massachusetts with her mother and in foster care before being placed in the custody of her father, Adam Montgomery, in New Hampshire in 2019. In August, officials announced that they had concluded Harmony had been murdered at 5 years old in early December of 2019 based on multiple sources of investigative information along with biological evidence, New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella stated. Officials said they believe Adam killed Harmony by repeatedly striking her on the head with a closed fist on Dec. 7, 2019. WMUR had spoken with legal expert Patricia LaFrance, who stated the indictment was just the next step in the prosecutions process even without police finding Harmony Montgomerys body. It is possible to go forward with the prosecution without having a body, LaFrance had told the outlet. The departments also stated law enforcement is still requesting the publics assistance in locating Harmonys body. The departments asked any who had information regarding her death or the location of her remains, to call or text the 24-hour tip line dedicated to Harmony Montgomerys rescue at 603-203-6060. Five hundred gallons of sap fill Redemption Rock Brewing each year as they begin making their seasonal beer known as The Trees. Its definitely a challenge but we get creative with it and figure out how we can pump that volume of liquid into the brewery, Redemption Rock brewer Greg Carlson said. The partnership between the Worcester brewery and Pure BS Maple Shack in Auburn, where they get the sap, began in 2019. Bruce Hopper, owner of Pure BS, was connected with Redemption Rock after he told Stephanie Ramey, who was the executive director of Discover Central Mass at the time, that his dream was to partner with a brewer. She made that connection happen, Hopper said. But they then faced the challenge of making it happen logistically. Its not uncommon for sap to be used in beers, especially in home brewers. But theres not an official way to do it on a large scale. There no real set standard operating procedure for doing that kind of thing, Carlson said. So we have to Jerry-rigg pumps and hoses together and it takes time. Carlson and Hopper take that time to sip beer together and catch up. Instead of using water, the beer is made using the sap the same thing used to make maple syrup. But the sugars dont make the beer sweet. You think that because were adding a sweet process it might lead to a sweet beer, but it actually makes the beer really crisp and dry, he said. Instead, the sugars are highly fermentable. This means the beer would likely be about a 4% abv if made with water but because of the sugar, its 6.2%. The Trees is a maple sap dunkel lager. Its described as featuring an aroma of toasted bread, notes of caramel, honey, and spice, and a dry, crisp finish. Carlson describes it as great for spring because its good to drink outside. The Trees is a maple sap dunkel lager from Redemption Rock Brewing. Its described as featuring an aroma of toasted bread, notes of caramel, honey, and spice, and a dry, crisp finish. And its not the only Redemption Rock beer made with local ingredients. They also use local honey in their beer called The Bees. And they sometimes use local hops, Carlson said. For both businesses, its important to support local. Were all collaborating because were trying to support each other, Hopper said. He started his business in 2014, and has since collaborated with business across Central Massachusetts and Worcester. That has included BirchTree Bread Company, Cultivate Holdings and Nutty Bird Granola. Customers also like the collaborations. Using the local products, Hopper said, helps give people healthier and more holistic choices even when it involves sugar. Granted, were talking about a sugar from me, but it is a natural sugar thats packed full of nutrients, he said. Its just a healthier alternative. Hopper first made syrup as a child at an Ohio campground. He then got the idea to make it a business as an adult, collecting sap from 200 trees at properties in Auburn and Millbury. But, he said, it was never in my wildest dreams that its in restaurants and in beer. It has even expanded across the U.S., making it to a bakery on the West Coast. It just keeps growing. Its gone all over the world, Hopper said. Bruce Hopper and his mother hold an old photo of their family at a campground in Ohio. But he continues to remember his roots. He has the old dinner bell theyd ring in Ohio and he has two chairs, one made out of a tree, another from a tractor, made by his father in Ohio. The support Hopper and his family have received from other business and those in the community especially during the pandemic gets him emotional. Its very touching, he said. Its like a great big group hug. We have so much joy and passion in what were doing and people are reciprocating back. He also just likes to have fun evident in the name. But its also clear in his motto: We guarantee we wont regret your business. The Trees beer, along with other Redemption Rock Brewing beer, can be found starting Friday at certain Whole Foods, BirchTree Bread Company and more. For the full list, click here. Massachusetts State Police and Manchester, New Hampshire police have concluded their search in Revere wetlands on Friday, April 7, in connection with missing 5-year-old Harmony Montgomery, who official believe was killed by her father in 2019, state police said. Shortly after 9 a.m., state police sent 18 troopers assigned to the Massachusetts State Police Special Emergency Response Team to the wetlands, as theyre trained in search operations in difficult terrain and environments, police said. Officers from the Manchester Police Department also assisted in the search. The Mass. department also sent four K-9 unit teams, a drone unit, and members of the state police detective unit in Suffolk County. As of 4 p.m. Friday, state police said the search had ended, and there was no information on any findings from the investigation. The department told MassLive there is no further search of the area scheduled as of Friday, and that it would be in contact with New Hampshire law enforcement officials to coordinate any resumption of the search in the Revere area. Attorney General John M. Formella had said Friday morning the Manchester and Massachusetts State Police departments were searching at a location in Revere. This search is being conducted as part of the investigation into the murder of then-five-year-old Harmony Montgomery in December 2019, Formellas statement read. No additional information was available, the officials said, and they stated they cautioned against any speculation related to the potential results of this search. Adam Montgomery, the childs father, was indicted at the end of January 2023 in connection with the childs murder. The New Hampshire man was arrested and charged in connection with the murder of his daughter in October 2022 along with charges of falsifying evidence, abuse of corpse, and tampering with witnesses or informants, officials said. Harmony had not been seen since just after Thanksgiving 2019, but it was not until late 2021 that officials became aware she was missing. She had lived in Massachusetts with her mother and in foster care before being placed in the custody of her father, Adam Montgomery, in New Hampshire in 2019. Officials are searching in Revere on Friday morning as part of the investigation into Harmony Montgomerys disappearance in 2019, according to Attorney General John M. Formella and Manchester Police. The attorney general stated the Manchester and Massachusetts State Police departments were searching at a location in Revere. This search is being conducted as part of the investigation into the murder of then-five-year-old Harmony Montgomery in December 2019, Formellas statement read. No additional information was available, the officials said, and they stated they cautioned against any speculation related to the potential results of this search. Adam Montgomery, the childs father, was indicted at the end of January 2023 in connection with the childs murder. The New Hampshire man was arrested and charged in connection with the murder of his daughter in Oct. 2022 along with charges of falsifying evidence, abuse of corpse, and tampering with witnesses or informants, officials said. Harmony had not been seen since just after Thanksgiving 2019, but it was not until late 2021 that officials became aware she was missing. She had lived in Massachusetts with her mother and in foster care before being placed in the custody of her father, Adam Montgomery, in New Hampshire in 2019. In August, officials announced that they had concluded Harmony had been murdered at 5 years old in early December of 2019 based on multiple sources of investigative information along with biological evidence, New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella stated. Officials said they believe Adam killed Harmony by repeatedly striking her on the head with a closed fist on Dec. 7, 2019. WMUR had spoken with legal expert Patricia LaFrance, who stated the indictment was just the next step in the prosecutions process even without police finding Harmony Montgomerys body. It is possible to go forward with the prosecution without having a body, LaFrance had told the outlet. The departments also stated law enforcement is still requesting the publics assistance in locating Harmonys body. The departments asked any who had information regarding her death or the location of her remains, to call or text the 24-hour tip line dedicated to Harmony Montgomerys rescue at 603-203-6060. Bradley International Airport had its highest volume of travelers on April 6 since the start of the pandemic, and is attributing the numbers to spring break travel, according to New England TSA spokesman Dan Velez. TSA officials at Bradley Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut screened 11,568 people on Thursday, April 6, Velez said. This is the most people who have traveled through the airport since the pandemic began, the spokesman explained. On the same day in 2022, Velez said, TSA officials screened 10,229 people. This years high number of passengers in the airport is definitely attributed to spring breakers and spring break travel, he said. Despite having the most travelers in the airport in years, Velez said, TSA didnt see Bradley pop up in the organizations hotspot tracker, which notifies TSA officials if wait times in any airport screening line are too long. The maximum standard wait time in line was 31 minutes, the TSA official said, and the TSA PreCheck max time was at 9 minutes. 87.5% of passengers waited less than 15 minutes in line, while 3% had to wait between 15 and 29 minutes. There were approximately 1,100 passengers in the airport who had to wait more than a half hour in line, Velez said, and he added that the airport and officials were able to handle the volume of passengers well. One of the top three TSA passenger screening days in Bradleys history was in another April; there were 12,528 passengers screened in the airport on April 15, 2019. The most TSA passenger screens at Bradley ever recorded was 12,776 on Nov. 25, 2018, and the second-highest was 12,603 on Dec. 1, 2019. Here is a list of the airports top 10 highest travel days so far in 2023: Over the past three years, COVID-19 has taken the lives of so many, yet another disease has taken many lives as well without garnering many headlines. In our work as physicians at Baystate Medical Center, we have taken care of patients in the emergency room, medical wards, and intensive care units. On one night a young man was helicoptered into the ICU, his organs failing, after he was found by his fiance after an opioid overdose at home. The numerous drips, ventilator, extensive monitoring, and the emergent dialysis in the end could not save him. In the early hours of the morning, as we had done many times during the pandemic, we stepped out of a room to let a mother grieve her child. His case was neither the first nor the last. While COVID-19 hits particularly hard with the elderly and those with weakened immune systems, 50 percent of those who died from opioid overdose in Massachusetts in 2020-21 were between 25 and 44 years old. Unlike COVID however, weve had an antidote for years for opioid overdose. In 2021 in Massachusetts alone, 2,281 deaths were avoidable had naloxone been available, and had someone been present to administer it. Since 2016, Massachusetts has allowed for Syringe Service Programs (SSPs). These are needle and syringe exchange programs, overseen by a local board of health, established in towns that choose to participate. People who inject drugs can access sterile needles and syringes, safely dispose of used needles, syringes, and access other services including testing for HIV and hepatitis C, obtain naloxone and receive overdose education. An Act Relative to Preventing Overdose Deaths and Increasing Access to Treatment (S.1242) would create a 10-year pilot program to establish at least two Overdose Prevention Centers in Massachusetts. The proposed centers will offer sterile supplies for injection and safe disposal, and, as many syringe exchange programs currently do, offer education, screening, and treatment for HIV and hepatitis C. In addition, these centers would offer medically supervised consumption of pre-obtained substances, as well as referral and medical treatment of opioid dependence. Overdose prevention centers have been shown to save lives and reduce the negative impact of drug use. A facility in Vancouver opened in 2003; in 2019, 1,314 overdoses were reversed. Two sites opened in New York City in the fall of 2021, and in the first three weeks of operation had intervened in 59 overdoses; by September 2022, that number was over 500. Each reversed overdose saves a life and prevents the anguish of a family losing a loved one, as we have witnessed in our work. Each reversed overdose is another chance for a person who uses drugs to access live-saving treatment. In the first eight weeks of operation, 52.5% of individuals accessed additional services at the New York sites. While overdose is an important consideration in people who use drugs, intravenous drug use also carries a high risk for skin and blood infection. These infections can rapidly progress when not addressed early. Treatment is expensive and labor intensive. There is a risk of infections reaching the heart and attacking the valves, called endocarditis, which is fatal if not treated. Researchers in Massachusetts have shown that needle exchange programs are important and effective places for people who inject drugs to get treatment for infectious diseases as well as opioid use disorder. Opponents of Overdose Prevention Centers have raised concerns about increased rates of crime in the areas around them. However, experience at Vancouver and early data from New York City has shown that rates of drug trafficking, assaults or robberies are unchanged. They have seen decreased public drug use, and decreased presence of discarded syringes. Another study showed that people are unlikely to travel beyond walking distance to access Syringe Service Programs, showing that the fear that such centers bring drug use to a neighborhood are unfounded. The epidemic of death from opioid overdose and infectious diseases from unclean injection supplies will not go away if we ignore it. Overdose Prevention Centers are a critical place for people who use drugs to go in order to prevent overdoses, critical infections, and the spread of HIV and hepatitis C. And when people are ready, these centers would allow them to access detox and long-term treatment. It is time for Massachusetts to join countries around the world who are helping their citizens to live safer, healthier lives. Dr. Gregory Campbell is an assistant professor in medicine at University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, and practices in pediatrics and internal medicine at Baystate-Brightwood Health Center. Dr. Bahia Wahba is a resident physician in internal medicine at Baystate Medical Center. Massachusetts State Police found two missing 14-year-old girls on Thursday with the help of their Air Wing helicopter Air 4s infrared camera. Troopers responded to Dedham police officers and state police K9 teams looking for the two girls after they walked away from a nearby care facility, state police said Friday. The search carried on into Thursday evening. At about 7:30 p.m., a state police flight crew took to the skies using helicopter Air 4s infrared camera to detect the girls heat signatures. Once the two were spotted, the flight crew directed K9 teams and Dedham police to their location in the woods. Dedham firefighters checked the girls condition and took them to a nearby hospital. Read more: Mitchel Iviquel has been missing for 3 years but police have no leads State police posted footage of the girls rescue on Facebook, which can be seen here or below. MSP AIR 4 LOCATES MISSING TEENS STATE POLICE AIR WING LOCATES TWO MISSING JUVENILES IN DEDHAM WOODS Yesterday afternoon, Massachusetts State Police Air Wing helicopter Air 4, crewed by Troopers John Pina and Justin Grigg, responded to Dedham to assist local police and MSP K9 teams in the search for two 14-year-old girls who had walked away from a care facility. The search continued into the evening. At approximately 7:30 PM the MSP flight crew, utilizing Air 4's Forward Looking Infrared Camera, observed two heat signatures in some nearby woods. The flight crew directed K9 teams and Dedham Officers to the girls' location. The Dedham Fire Department responded to evaluate the girls' conditions and made the decision to transport them to a local hospital. The State Police Air Wing is a valuable asset to public safety agencies across Massachusetts in missing persons searches and numerous other types of missions. #policeaviation #MissingChild Posted by Massachusetts State Police on Friday, April 7, 2023 No further information about the girls condition or when they were discovered missing was immediately available. First grader Kai Rivera called a family meeting immediately when he learned his school, La Familia Dual Language School in Worcester, will close and merge with another school in the city, according to his mother, Andrea. The Riveras dont have family meetings often, so Andrea said it was a little funny for him to call one, but hes concerned about his friends being at the new school and if hes going to get the second grade teacher he wanted. On Wednesday, Worcester Public School sent an email to La Familia families informing them the Diocese of Worcester is terminating the districts lease for the building at 355 Grafton St. that houses the school at the end of the year and all current students at La Familia will be enrolled at Chandler Magnet School. Read More: Worcester Diocese ends La Familia lease early; school to merge with Chandler Magnet We know staff, parents and students at Chandler Magnet will welcome the students and teachers of La Familia with open arms and help them through this transition, WPS Superintendent Rachel Monarrez said. Anticipating questions and concerns, the district is holding meetings with families of both schools on Tuesday, April 11 with more details and to answer their questions with language translation services and childcare available at both meetings. The meeting for La Familia families will be held at North High School on Harrington Way and the meeting for Chandler Magnet families will be held at Chandler Magnet on Chandler Street. Both meetings will take place from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Andrea said Thursday she was surprised by the news and is concerned the dual language program is moving again, since it had already moved from Roosevelt two years ago when La Familia opened on Grafton Street. She questioned how long the program will stay at Chandler Magnet and if its going to move again, but shes hoping to hear good things at the meeting Tuesday. Iris Castaneda lives nearby La Familia and drops off and picks up her nephew, whos in pre-K there. Castaneda said he needs to be picked up because he has a developmental delay, and theyre unsure what to do know because Chandler Magnet is too far for her to continuing doing so. Castaneda said they looked up how long the commute will take to Chandler Magnet and it would be about 25 minutes with no traffic; with traffic, she suspects it could be as much as 30 minutes or more. The schools themselves are 3.6 miles away from each other. He was supposed to be here for seven years, Castaneda said. Now we have to figure it out. Castaneda said she wasnt aware the school district was leasing the building and wished the district had made it more clear to families that it didnt own the property. She said she talked to several parents this morning and they were all upset to hear the news. Debbie, who declined to give her last name, has a third grader at La Familia and said she is excited about the news because her daughter attended Chandler Magnet before moving over to La Familia when it opened. Read more: Worcester Election Commission busy on first day nomination papers are available for municipal election Shell be fine, Debbie said of her daughter dealing with the merger. Debbie is a big supporter of the dual language program, which she called wonderful. She also has a daughter in the 10th grade who is in the dual language program the district offers and she is now fluent in Spanish. When it comes to the diocese terminating the districts lease early, Debbie said, Thats life right? Things come and go. We just handle it as they come. A grandparent to two La Familia students said the district is dealing with a very political bishop. I lost all faith in that bishop when he was upset over a flag, said the grandfather, who asked not to be named. Worcester Diocese Bishop Robert McManus decreed Nativity School of Worcester could not identify as Catholic after it refused his request to remove Pride and Black Lives Matter flags that were flying on school grounds. A spokesperson for the diocese confirmed Wednesday that it was exercising its option to terminate its lease with the district, but did not give a reason why. While Superintendent Rachel Monarrez told MassLive the diocese did not give the district a reason why its ending the lease early, she said it did mention it could terminate the districts lease during a meeting earlier this year about the districts sexual health education curriculum: Advocates for Youths Rights, Respect, Responsibility. The lease agreement gave the diocese the ability to terminate the lease at any point as long as it gave 90 days notice, according to Monarrez. The district has leased the property since August 2021, when it opened the districts first fully dual language program there, and had a five-year-lease for the property. The grandfather said its too bad the district is losing the building because the atmosphere there is really good and his grandchildren are devastated about the news. He noted the schools principal greets students outside the building as they get to school in the morning and is there to say goodbye in the afternoon. Theyre happy to go to school (here), he said of his grandchildren. The districts intention is the same number of staff will be needed at the merged school as was needed at the two separate schools. So as long as the La Familia employees can remain credentialed, they will move, according to Monarrez. If the staff will be going, the grandfather said it just means losing the building. Chandler Magnet Elementary School on Chandler Street currently has 402 students enrolled, but can hold 800 students, according to the districts press release. La Familia has 172 students enrolled. * As China and Africa strive to build a community with a shared future in the new era, including building a global community of health for all, the Chinese doctors serving on aid missions in Africa have become shining exemplars with their great contribution to the lofty cause. * Since the first Chinese medical team arrived in Algeria in 1963, China has dispatched around 30,000 medical personnel to 76 countries and regions across five continents, with a primary focus on Africa, providing 290 million diagnoses and treatments for local people. * "The Chinese people love peace and cherish lives, which is vividly illustrated by their efforts in international medical assistance," Chinese President Xi Jinping said in February in a reply letter to the 19th Chinese medical team dispatched to the Central African Republic. ALGIERS, April 6 (Xinhua) -- On April 6, 1963, China's first medical team was dispatched from Beijing to Algeria. Since then, batch after batch of Chinese doctors have been working in Africa, offering much-needed medical aid and services to local people. Despite facing numerous difficulties and challenges, Chinese doctors have persevered in their efforts to save lives, treat illnesses, forge new friendships, and promote goodwill throughout Africa. Their unwavering commitment, sense of duty, and exemplary expertise have earned them a reputation as the most welcome guests on the African continent, endearing them to countless Africans. As China and Africa strive to build a community with a shared future in the new era, including building a global community of health for all, the Chinese doctors serving on aid missions in Africa have become shining exemplars with their great contribution to the lofty cause. This combined photo shows a copy photo of Xue Jin at a hospital in Algeria on Aug. 26, 1967 (L) and Xue Jin posing for a photo at Hubei Cancer Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, on March 14, 2023 (R). In 1965, Xue Jin, a 29-year-old surgeon at the Hubei Medical College Second Hospital, became the youngest member of a Chinese medical team that was sent to assist a hospital in Saida, a city in northwestern Algeria. (Xinhua/Rao Rao) CHINA'S UNSHAKABLE COMMITMENT Since the first Chinese medical team arrived in Algeria in 1963, China has dispatched around 30,000 medical personnel to 76 countries and regions across five continents, with a primary focus on Africa, providing 290 million diagnoses and treatments for local people, according to the National Health Commission of China. This significant effort underscores China's unwavering commitment as a major country to deliver public goods to the international community. Wu Yilun, an ultrasound doctor at Xi'an Honghui Hospital in Shaanxi Province, China, has completed three separate two-year stints in Sudan. Notably, three other members of Wu's family, including his uncle, sister, and brother-in-law, have also provided medical aid in Sudan over the past 21 years. "For me, joining the medical team to Africa is not only a family legacy but also our mission and obligation as a Chinese doctor," he told Xinhua. Shen Ali, an anesthesiologist at Ying Cheng Chinese Medicine Hospital in central China's Hubei Province, followed the footsteps of his grandfather and uncle to join the Chinese medical teams dispatched to Algeria. Through a relay between father and son, husband and wife, and even sisters working hand in hand, Chinese doctors have never left the African continent in the past 60 years, passing on the baton of the aid mission from one generation to the next. It is never easy for the Chinese doctors to settle down far away from home, not to mention that the hospitals where they work in Africa are usually in remote areas with harsh conditions. Patient Alili Kheira (L), 63, goes to the hospital to thank Li Hongling, a member of the Chinese medical team to Algeria, at a hospital in Ain Defla, Algeria, on Feb. 27, 2023. (Xinhua) FILLING MEDICAL GAPS Chinese doctors have made significant contributions to health care in local communities over the past 60 years, with their efforts spanning not only diagnoses and treatments but also pioneering surgeries to help bridge the medical gaps in the host countries. In Sudan, the Chinese medical team successfully conducted the first open-heart surgery in 1977 at the China-Sudan Abu Osher Friendship Hospital, said Mohamadain Hussein, former head of the hospital. The Sudanese girl who received the surgery is now a mother of five children. In Algeria, the first femoral head replacement operation in the Khenchela Province was successfully performed in 2011 by Tu Dachun, an orthopedic physician from central China's Hubei Province. Tu, now on his last mission in Algeria, has worked in the North African country for 12 years. Du Bingbing, head of the current Chinese medical team to Tanzania, successfully conducted a laparoscopic radical operation of congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis for a one-week-old baby. That was the first minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery done in Tanzania. Chinese doctors have also successfully conducted the first cardiac pacemaker implantation in The Gambia, the first craniectomy in Benin, and the first replantation of a severed right upper arm in Mozambique, to name a few. Falciparum malaria is a high-incident disease in Africa. Bai Chunmei, a Chinese malariologist, had worked for more than four years in Sudan, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, helping establish malaria control centers and cure those who suffer from the disease. Chinese doctors have also introduced traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to Africa, including acupuncture, which is gaining popularity in many African countries. Hu Changrong, a member of the Chinese medical team to Tunisia, inspects eyes of an old man during a free clinical activity in Tunisia's northwestern province of El Kef, on Feb. 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Supei) ANGELS IN WHITE "The Chinese people love peace and cherish lives, which is vividly illustrated by their efforts in international medical assistance," Chinese President Xi Jinping said in February in a reply letter to the 19th Chinese medical team dispatched to the Central African Republic. Alongside providing medical assistance to various African countries, Chinese doctors have also established friendships with local people, who often regard them as close friends and even family members. The Chinese doctors shoulder two missions in Africa, one being the "angles in white" to save lives and another being "messengers" to pass on friendship to local people, said Yang Yong, head of the 27th Chinese medical team dispatched to Algeria. "China provided medical help timely when there was a severe lack of medical personnel in African countries after the colonial period more than half a century ago," said Nasser Bouchiba, president of the Africa-China Cooperation Association for Development in Morocco. Chinese doctors usually work in remote areas with harsh conditions, playing "a significant humanitarian role" in helping improve local health care, Bouchiba told Xinhua. China's continued dispatching of medical teams to Africa over the past six decades is "the best illustration of China's internationalism and responsibilities as a major country," he added. Liu Wei, an obstetrician and gynecologist of the Chinese medical team to Sudan, examines a newborn at Abu Osher Hospital in central Sudan's Gezira State on Feb. 22, 2023. (Chinese medical team to Sudan/Handout via Xinhua) Noureddine Djoudi, 89, a former Algerian diplomat, hailed the 60-year Chinese medical aid mission in Algeria as "a model of South-South cooperation." The Chinese doctors "are the most welcome guests in the African continent," he told Xinhua. Chinese doctors cured one of his hands which suddenly lost feeling. He called it the "amazing effect" of TCM. In Namibia, TCM has been introduced into the health insurance system through unremitting efforts by Wang Peng, a member of the Chinese medical team in Namibia during 2014-2016. "It's a step warmly welcomed by many local patients who benefit from TCM for its curative effects," said Ben Nangombe, executive director of Namibia's Ministry of Health and Social Services. Pierre Somse, minister of public health and population in the Central African Republic, said the Chinese medical teams not only treat patients and save lives but also have touched the local people with their medical ethics and great love. "The Chinese medical team has been deeply integrated into the daily life of the people of Zanzibar," said Nassor Ahmed Mazrui, Tanzania's Zanzibari minister for health, praising the Chinese doctors as "true angels in white." Publication locale pour la selection dun bureau detude Etude de reference, mise a jour du cadre logique et conception du plan de suivi-evaluation du projet POUR ELLES Expertise France lance une consultation pour la selection dun bureau detudepour la realisation dune mission detudes de reference, mis a jour du cadre logique et conception du plan de suivi-evaluation du projet Pour ELLES , financee par lAgence Francaise de Developpement (AFD). Le dossier de consultation est telechargeable sur le profil d'acheteur. Le dossier de consultation est telechargeable sur la Plateforme des Marches de LEtat, via ce lien : https://www.marches-publics.gouv.fr/?page=Entreprise.EntrepriseAdvancedSearch&AllCons&id=2272606&orgAcronyme=s2d Reference PLACE : 23-MAPA-S041 La date limite de remise des offres est fixee a 15 heures (heure de Kinshasa) le vendredi 21 avril 2023. by Fern Siegel , April 7, 2023 The Lemon agency is behind Toxic Contract a new campaign for WIN, the Peruvian home internet brand. Mixing fiction, terror, surrealism and humor, the campaign creates empathy for WIN, which positions itself as an important option in the internet marketplace. It promises not to include clauses that tie you down. The communication strategy echoes the collective fatigue and the annoyance people in Peru have with this type of service, due to technical failures, poor service, and most of the time, contractual complications when they want to migrate to another operator, said Renato Arauco, partner-general strategy director of Lemon. Here, WIN becomes the voice of the consumer to generate connection and recover lost trust. It uses a disruptive TV spot to distance itself from business rivals, while spotlighting the company's differences. advertisement advertisement Production was done by Fertil, which specializes in the development of audiovisual content and creation of crafted pieces for brands and ad agencies. Luciano Leone, Lemon partner-creative director, noted the conceptual twist: The creative translation of this is to use a communication based on a completely different language used by other brands in the same category. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, April 6, 2023 Arkansas on Thursday joined Utah in passing legislation that would ban minors under 18 from most large social media platforms, without parental consent. The bill also would explicitly require social media platforms to verify all users ages. The restrictions would apply to most social media platforms that are controlled by companies with more than $100 million in annual revenue, but a last-minute amendment appears to exempt Google, according to Ari Cohn, a First Amendment lawyer with the think tank TechFreedom. That amendment exempts companies that offer educational enterprise collaboration tools for kindergarten through grade 12, and that derive less than 25% of total company revenue from operating a social platform. advertisement advertisement Cohn says the lawmakers' intent might have been to make sure that educational services aren't impacted, but that the provision's wording appears to also exclude YouTube from the definition of social media companies. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a vocal critic of Meta Platforms and TikTok, is expected to sign the measure. If so, it will take effect September 1, unless blocked by the courts. Critics say the Arkansas bill, like the one in Utah, violates the First Amendment. TechFreedom and law professors previously noted in a letter to Utah Governor Spencer Cox that the Supreme Court ruled as recently as 2011 that minors have First Amendment rights to access non-obscene material. In that matter, the court struck down a California law that banned the sale of violent video games to minors, without parental consent. Laws requiring age verification to access media also run afoul of the First Amendment, given that age verification procedures effectively abolish online anonymity, critics say. Earlier this week, the industry-funded think tank Chamber of Progress urged Arkansas lawmakers to reject the bill. "While we support the authors intention to protect children from potential harm online, the bill would sacrifice all users privacy and effectively ban a tool used by many teens to learn about their world, strengthen their social connections, and forge deeper ties to their communities," that group wrote in a letter to members of the Arkansas House. Both the Utah bill and Arkansas bill are expected to be challenged in court. by Ray Schultz , April 6, 2023 Conde Nast has tweaked its sustainability plan and aims to reach carbon neutrality by 2030. This will be done by reducing our emissions and offsetting when reduction is not possible, the publisher says on its website. We will also work closely with our suppliers to ensure a reduction of emissions across our supply chain while simultaneously reducing our corporate emissions by 20%. This is part of an ongoing leadership program for Conde Nast. Its key actions include (we quote): Conduct ongoing GHG data monitoring and preliminary reduction target-setting Conduct a GHG assessment every two years Transition to energy efficiency programs and green electricity purchase Optimize the use of virtual meeting infrastructure Next, Conde Nast will revise its procurement approach and encourage suppliers to align with the companys sustainability objectives, champion industry-led initiatives to foster supply chain transformation, and encourage its licensees to adopt environmental best practices. advertisement advertisement Third, the company plans to use more sustainable materials and improve the sustainability credentials of materials we use in our production process, ensuring we consider and adopt high-performing alternative materials while encourage licensee to adopt similar standards. Specifically, Conde Nast will take the following actions (again, we quote): Conduct annual comprehensive material audits Ensure 100% of paper used is internationally certified Progress our commitment to eliminate all non-recyclable, fossil-based packaging materials. Launch a global employee council for sustainability to champion Publish Conde Nasts GHG emissions results and Five-Year Sustainability Strategy Roll out sustainability policies and employee trainings Continue to support institutional partnerships for multi-stakeholder collaborations, such as the UN, World Economic Forum and the Ellen MacArthur Foundations. Finally, the company will continue to monitor, adapt and improve the way we operate as a business to meet our environmental ambitions and inspire our audiences, peers and employees to take positive climate action. by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, April 7, 2023 Behind the scenes, chief advertising executives at several leading brands are ambivalent and apprehensive about Elon Musks upcoming appearance at the Mobile Marketing Associations annual Possible conference. The Tesla and SpaceX founder, who has become even more high-profile and controversial since acquiring Twitter in April 2022, will be interviewed by Linda Yaccarino, chairman of global advertising and partnerships at NBCUniversal, in the events keynote on April 18. Musks ostensible mission is to woo back advertisers for Twitter, which lost more than half of its biggest advertisers last fall due to fears about brand safety as Musk flip-flopped on policies, restored ex-President Trump and other users previously banned for offensive or dangerous posts, and fired content moderation staff, among other moves. As of January, Pathmatics data showed about 625 of Twitters previous top 1,000 advertisers still not spending on the platform, and ad revenue down about 60% since October 2022. advertisement advertisement Musks racist rhetoric and willingness to allow Twitter users to engage in the same are key focal points of concern around the MMA appearance, according to remarks in a private email string obtained by Semafor, which describes some executives as spooked. The email discussion reveals a mix of excitement and worry reflecting the unpredictable, loose-cannon reputation that Musk has cultivated. One example: Last month, Musk defended Dilbert comic strip creator Scott Adams after Adams described Black Americans as a hate group. Diana Haussling, Colgate-Palmolives vice president, general manager of consumer growth, wrote that while she is a huge supporter of free speech and enterprise and excited for the success of the conference, she is also mindful of [Musks] harmful and often racist rhetoric. The industry can not ignore the impact of such hate speech, she said. I especially cant ignore it as a black woman. For many communities, his willingness to leverage success and personal financial resources to further an agenda under the guise of freedom of speech is perpetuating racism resulting [in] direct threats to their communities and a potential for brand safety compromise we should all be concerned about, wrote Tariq Hassan, McDonalds chief marketing and customer experience officer. By giving Elon Musk a stage, we have signed up to broker an important discussion that must be managed with the utmost of care and respect for those most harmed by his actions and inactions, observed Kristi Argyilan, senior VP of retail media for Albertsons. Yaccarino, who in public comments at a conference last November urged the advertising industry to give Musk a minute to demonstrate responsible management of Twitter, has reportedly been asking MMA members for input about questions to ask Musk. MMA CEO Greg Stuart told Semafor that members response to Musks planned appearance has been overwhelmingly positive because advertisers need to hear what [Musk is] doing. MMA members are not "shrinking violets," and routinely debate issues and topics, he said. by Todd Wasserman , April 7, 2023 Subway is celebrating Easter in the U.K. with an unusual sandwich featuring a Cadbury Creme Egg filling. The chain launched the sandwich on Good Friday, but only 500 are being made. They will be handed out for free at the restaurants on April 7. Our Italian White Bread and Cadbury Creme Eggs make the most flavoursome combination -- a perfect seasonal treat, said Rusty Warren, senior new product development and product innovation manager at Subway, in a press release. Charlotte Docker, brand executive for Cadbury Creme Egg, noted the surprisingly delicious merging of sweet and savoury. Some Twitter users agreed. That looks amazing, wrote one. Id be all over that. Not everyone was so welcoming. One Twitter user said, This is the grossest thing Subways ever done and thats saying a lot. Yeah, its really gross, said another. by Ray Schultz , April 7, 2023 Heres some advice if you want to build an email business (and/or your career): Forget New York, Chicago and Seattle -- the best towns for growing a digital marketing enterprise are these, according to an analysis by Clarify Capital: Miami, Florida Fremont, California Chesapeake, Virginia Lubbock, Texas Reno, Nevada We can understand the ranking of Miami and Fremont (a Bay area city). But Lubbock, a West Texas town that is known mostly as the birthplace of Buddy Holly? It probably has to do with the local cost of doing business -- and the lifestyle. Not that many people are looking to start a digital business -- anywhere. advertisement advertisement The results are a little different if youre building a technology company. The top five cities are: Richmond, Virginia Atlanta, Georgia Minneapolis, Minnesota Fremont, California Chesapeake, Virginia Again, we can understand Atlanta and Minneapolis: Atlanta is the birthplace of email marketing company MessageGears. But this is not based on geographical analysis, or an evaluation of the local talent pool. Clarify Capital determined this by tracking the search volume per 1 million residents. So this is really about people searching terms related to local industries. If youre a digital marketing vendor, you might try looking for small business clients in Lubbock. In general, the report states that the most business-growth searches per 1 million residents from 2020 to 2022, happened in Delaware, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Montana. Are you looking to grow a YouTube channel? Try these hot spots: Arlington, Texas Richmond, Arizona Scottsdale, Texas Fremont, California St. Louis, Missouri The most-searched phrase for any industry was how to grow a YouTube channel" it accounted for 73% of searches from 2020 to 2022. Ad revenue and sponsorships mean YouTube channels can be small businesses on their own. But other types of small businesses can also use YouTube to grow their brands, expand their customer bases, and even diversify their revenue streams." The study also notes: The most YouTube growth searches per capita came from Wyoming, Vermont, Alaska, North Dakota, and Delaware all of which are within the seven bottom U.S. states in terms of population. Meanwhile, residents in Arlington, Texas made more of these searches than any other city. Here are the most popular industries of 2022, based on searches: by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, April 7, 2023 Macy's plans to argue that an Illinois biometric privacy law is unconstitutional on the theory that the law subjects violators to grossly excessive damages, the company revealed in court papers. The Illinois law imposes an unconstitutional penalty, Macy's writes in a proposed revised answer to a class-action privacy complaint over the alleged purchase of a facial-recognition database from Clearview AI. On Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman in the Northern District of Illinois allowed Macy's to include that argument in its revised answer to the lawsuit. The department store's argument comes in a complaint initially filed in 2020 against Clearview and amended in 2021 to include Clearview's alleged clients, including Macy's. The retailer drew on the faceprint database as part of an initiative to combat shoplifting, according to the complaint. Clearview came to public attention in January of 2020, when The New York Times reported that the company scraped billions of photos from Twitter, Facebook and other companies, used technology to create a faceprint database, then sold access to that database to police departments across the country. advertisement advertisement Among other claims, the complaint alleges that Macy's violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act, which requires companies to obtain state residents' consent before collecting and storing scans of their facial geometry. That law provides for damages of up to $5,000. In February, the Illinois Supreme Court said companies that run afoul of that law can be sued for up to $5,000 for each separate violation. Before that decision came down, companies argued they were only liable for the first time they scanned someone's biometric data. Macy's says in its amended answer that the potentially high financial penalties make the Illinois privacy statute unconstitutional. The law imposes grossly excessive damages wholly unrelated to any actual harm, while at the same time making damages discretionary without any basis for how courts and juries should weigh this discretion, Macy's writes. This leads to an arbitrary assessment of damages. by Wayne Friedman , April 7, 2023 A Republican-backed TV commercial campaign is targeting Florida Governor and potential Presidential candidate Ron DeSantis, backed by Donald Trumps Make America Great Again Super PAC. An estimated $390,659 of national TV advertising, according to iSpot.tv, has been spent so far by the political action committee since March 31 -- with 119 commercial airings through April 6, amounting to 103.9 million impressions. The campaign has been largely on Fox News Channel (an estimated $328,610) with $47,573 worth of TV spots on CNN and $14,476 on Newsmax TV. On Fox News Channel, the bulk of the effort was placed on Fox and Friends and The Five. The spot -- called Think You Know Ron DeSantis -- talks about how he has backed deep cuts to social security and medicare and says that when he was in Congress, DeSantis voted to raise the retirement age to 70. The bottom-line message, according to a voiceover, is that DeSantis doesnt share our values and that he is just not ready to be President. advertisement advertisement The Trump MAGA Inc. Super PAC started up in September 2022, and analysts say could it be the main campaign marketing vehicle for Trumps run for President in 2024. In late March, a Monmouth University survey shows Trump being favored at 41%, with DeSantis at 27% for Republican nominee for President in the 2024 Presidential race. Greece unequivocally condemns the launch of numerous rockets against Israel. We call on all sides to exercise restraint in order to avoid further escalation of violence, which unfortunately has caused the loss of human lives for which we express our deep sadness. Particularly during the current period of religious holidays, we emphasize once again Greece's position on the need to respect and preserve the status quo of the Holy Sites of Jerusalem. MANISTEE A discussion of short-term rentals is scheduled to take place at Manistee City Council's upcoming study session. According to the study session agenda, the discussion will be led by council member Seth Pratt. The study session is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers of city hall, located at 70 Maple St. in Manistee. Also on the agenda is a discussion of Neighborhood Enterprise Zones led by Tracy Davis, Manistee County Housing Ready coordinator. According to a document from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation in the meeting's agenda packet, the Neighborhood Enterprise Zone Program was established by Public Act 147 of 1992. The program provides a tax incentive for the development and rehabilitation of residential housing. "A qualified local unit of government may designate one or more areas as a NEZ within that local unit of government," reads the document, in part. "The program was established to spur the development and rehabilitation of residential housing in communities where it may not otherwise occur. The program also encourages owner-occupied housing and new investment in communities." Other items on the agenda are a discussion of the Safebuilt Rental Inspection Program, led by Glenn Lindsay, Safebuilt's Midwest director of operations, and a discussion of the Fiscal Year 2023-24 budget, led by Bill Gambill, city manager, and Ed Bradford, finance director. Was this something you intentionally aimed for or where you ended up naturally in the course of your studies? Reagan Boyce, valedictorian: I'm a triplet, we've always been very academically competitive with one another, so we've always kind of competed with each other for grades. So it kind of worked out that that competitiveness kind of pushed me to get really good grades and in the end maintain my spot as well. Brianna Yoder, valedictorian: Well, I would say that for the first two years of high school it was very natural and by the time I kind of reached junior year it was decided that this was something I was going to actively pursue. ... As I kind of progressed through high school, I started seeing that a lot of my other classmates that used to be like really high academically started like kind of falling off, so to speak. And the fact that I was still at that top level, it really inspired me to be to know that I'm not just like one of the crowd. I had something special, so to say, that meant I could really achieve that goal. Mikel Good, valedictorian: It was a little bit of both. I mean, starting out in high school I didn't really have my eye set on it, but then as I went along and I realized I was like in the running for it I said, "Well, if I can do it up to this point I can certainly try and go for it from here on out." So I guess that's where it started, like midway through, and then just came to be a goal from there. Kendell Boyce, salutatorian: So I feel like I've just always strived to be one of the top students, but over the years I think it just fell that way. What motivated you the most in your studies? Boyce: I think just thinking about my future and preparing myself and then my family, as well. I think, my parents really prided academics growing up, so we kind of always had that motivation to do really well in classes and I think that kind of continued through high school and kind of pushed even more to get those good grades. And then again the competitiveness of the nature of the relationship with my sisters. Yoder: Yeah, I'd say that it was a really big part of realizing that there's nothing wrong with putting in the extra effort in trying hard to stand out. Because you could go along with the crowd and put in like the minimal baseline effort, but putting in a little more really does pay off if you continue to put in the work. Good: I think just like the interest I had in the classes I was taking, specifically like the math and science ones. I was just intrigued by the topics we were learning about and so it made it more easy to study about and seeing its application in real life. (What about the ones you weren't so interested in?) I just realized that, I mean, they're equally important even if it's not for me, but for some field, so I guess it's something I should be informed about and also it's important to learn new things, so that's probably how I tackled that challenge. Boyce: Honestly, I've always liked learning and I've always enjoyed it, but other than that like I'm a triplet, we're very competitive. It's kind of a... I don't know, we just push each other to be better people and better learners, so I guess it's been that. Is there anybody you want to thank for helping you get here? Boyce: Oh yeah, for sure. Ms. Hailey was wonderful because she not only academically, but my leadership skills. She let me grow as a leader through the FFA and I really owe her a lot for that. And then Mr. Lovesack because he worked so well with the science courses here at Lakers. He really pushed me to try different branches of science. And through classes such as lab science I was kind of able to get more hands-on techniques that would help me through the dual enrollment courses I've been taking for the past two years, as well. Yoder: I'd probably say both of my parents. They're always willing to help me stay after and read through my essays if they need to. Good: Yeah. First off, I'd like to thank God for just everything. And also my family for being all super supportive of everything and just providing me the opportunity to do my best and succeed and everything. Boyce: Honestly, my parents, teachers, sisters, they've all helped me a lot throughout my entire high school career and they've helped me get where I am. What do you plan to do next? What are you pursuing? Boyce: So I'll be attending the University of Michigan in the fall to study molecular, cellular, and developmental biology on a pre-med path. So, hopefully medicine. Yoder: Currently, my plan is to attend MSU next semester and to study biology. Good: My next plans are to attend Michigan State and I'm going to be studying mechanical engineering, and so that's my next goal. Boyce: I am going to be attending the University of Michigan to study earth and environmental sciences to one day become either a geophysicist, volcanologist or just like a field geologist. Is that something you've always been interested in? Boyce: So my mom's a dentist and my dad's a dermatologist so I always kind of saw myself as going into medicine. And then growing up a lot of my community personally was a lot of people who were in the medical field so I just kind of looked up to them. And that's really my driving matter for entering the medical field. ... Being interested in stem and science really helped push me toward discovering what I love about biology and what I wanted to study, like going forward, and kind of pushed me even more towards the medical field since I found that love through science as well. Yoder: Yeah, I really do like the field of science as a whole and ultimately a career goal I want with this degree is to be able to go into patent law one day, and getting that bachelor's in hard science is really the first step. Good: Yeah, since I was young I loved playing with Legos. And then here at Laker we have three main programs that I've really enjoyed that have sort of continued this interest. It was mechatronics first and obviously the great machines in the Innovation Center and then I got involved with Science Olympiad and one of my favorite events was bridge building, so I got to use the laser engraver to cut out wood and assemble my bridges. And then recently the robotics, so all those three activities have really continued and furthered my interest in engineering. Boyce: Um, no. It's kind of a more recent. We visited Iceland at like the end of 2021 and I just fell in love with landscape and then learning about the rocks and the landscapes and anything like that. Courtesy of Wheatland Music Organization REMUS Budding musicians can spend the day with Wheatscout alum Gray Reynolds and enjoy music played on at least seven different instruments. Additionally, patrons will get the chance to practice some fundamental abilities on several instruments and will be taught a clog step to dance to the music. The Marlins have sent right-hander Jeff Lindgren outright to Triple-A Jacksonville, according to his transactions log at MLB.com. The rookie hurler went unclaimed on waivers after being designated for assignment on Tuesday. Lindgren, a 24th-round draftee in 2019, was just called up for his MLB debut on Monday. The Illinois State product was called upon almost immediately, as he was pressed into long relief after Johnny Cueto left his start due to injury. Lindgren tossed five innings of four-run ball, allowing four hits and walking three without recording a strikeout. He tallied 80 pitches. Miami subsequently DFA Lindgren to get a fresh arm, Daniel Castano, in the bullpen. It was an unfortunate but not entirely unexpected turn of events for the 26-year-old, as its fairly common for pitchers towards the back of the depth chart to lose their roster spot as teams cycle through fresh arms. Now that hes gone unclaimed on waivers, hell head back to Jacksonville and remain in the organization without occupying a 40-man spot. Lindgren has never previously been outrighted and doesnt have the requisite service time to elect free agency. Lindgren worked as rotation depth in the minors last season. He started 27 games between Double-A Pensacola and Jacksonville, working to a 4.21 ERA in 136 2/3 cumulative innings. Hed yet to make a minor league appearance this season before being promoted. 10:35am: Hall actually tore a ligament in his thumb, reports Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer, and will require surgery. 9:20am: The Phillies announced that they have recalled infielder Kody Clemens from Triple-A. Hell take the roster spot of infielder Darick Hall, who has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a right thumb sprain, retroactive to April 6. The recall of Clemens had been previously reported by Jon Heyman of The New York Post. The Phillies have been hit hard by the injury bug in the early parts of this season as theyve limped out to a 1-5 start in the first week. Up until about two weeks ago, Hall was lined up to be in a supporting role on the Phillies bench behind regular first baseman Rhys Hoskins. Unfortunately, Hoskins suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during a spring contest, an injury that could keep him out of action for the entire season. That bumped Hall to the top of the depth chart at first base, which was a decent fallback for the Phils to have on hand. He hit 28 home runs in Triple-A last year and then added nine more in his 42-game major league debut. He struck out in 31% of his major league plate appearances but still hit .250/.282/.522 for a wRC+ of 120. Hes appeared in all six contests so far this year, getting the starting gig at first base in five of them, but will now head to the injured list for a spell. Its unclear how much time Hall is expected to miss, but the Phils will have to improvise at first now that they are doubly shorthanded there, at least until Hall can return. Its possible that Alec Bohm moves from over from third base, opening up the hot corner for players like Clemens, Edmundo Sosa or Josh Harrison. Clemens spent time at first, second, third and left field with the Tigers last year but hit just .145/.197/.308 in 127 plate appearances. His Triple-A batting line was a much nicer .274/.327/.535. If the Phils look outside the organization, there are some notable free agents still available, including first base-capable players like Miguel Sano and Darin Ruf. DETROIT -- A massive fire at a five-story apartment building in Detroit sent 11 people to the hospital Friday morning. According to WDIV-Detroit, the fire was reported around 3:30 a.m. at the building located at LaSalle Boulevard and Davison. Although information is limited, investigators say the fire was located on one of the upper floors of the building and was pushed down when the upper floors collapsed. Firefighters used ladders to break out windows on higher floors in order to rescue people trapped by the fire. Officials say the building is considered a total loss. Along with those hospitalized, 20 people were also displaced in the fire, however firefighters brought in a warming bus for those who lost their apartments in the fire. It is unknown if everyone who resided at the building escaped safely. The fire was under control as of 7 a.m. and an investigation is ongoing. READ MORE: Pit bulls maul man to death after he stopped to help them Man dies after Michigan State Police use stun gun Michigan sheriff charged with operating SUV, carrying weapon while intoxicated MARQUETTE, MI The city of Marquette is rerouting vehicles every night for most of April to allow blue-spotted salamanders to safely cross the road to a swamp where they lay eggs, officials announced. A portion of Peter White Drive in Presque Isle Park will be closed nightly from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. peak time for the salamanders migration from April 9-30, or until the completion of the migration, the city said in a news release. Road barricades will be placed and removed daily to prevent vehicle traffic in migration area. Foot traffic is permitted during regular park hours. The annual spring road closure began in 2020, after a 2019 study found that 400 salamanders were killed by cars each year on that road. In 2020, just three salamanders died during the migration. RELATED: Why Michigans short-lived vernal pools are the coral reefs of our forests The city works with the Superior Watershed Partnership and Northern Michigan University in this annual effort. Migration can span a few weeks. The salamanders move from the woods to the wetlands, where they lay eggs, within the park every spring on rainy evenings when the temperature is 35-45 degrees, according to The Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Trust. READ MORE: U.P.s Stormy Kromer partners with Wisconsin camping company on high-end portable sauna Traverse City featured in national Pure Michigan campaign Fishing Report: Good sizes and average numbers of steelhead running in Lower Peninsula 17 essential Pure Michigan experiences for 2023 Mackinac Island business owners bringing frozen margaritas, paddleboards to Lake Michigan beach EMPIRE, MICH. -- Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore welcomed more than 1.5 million visitors in 2022, the lowest visitation number for the northwest lower Michigan park since 2014. According to the National Park Services visitor use statistics, Sleeping Bear Dunes recorded 1,501,117 visitors in 2022, ranking the northern Michigan park 56th most visited out of 387 National Park Service sites nationwide. The parks 2022 total visitor count was down from the previous two years visitor stats, marking a return to pre-pandemic numbers. Following a nationwide trend as more people embraced outdoor recreation during the height of the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 were record years for Sleeping Bears attendance, each seeing more than 1.7 million visitors. But last year also marked the lowest annual total visitor count since 2014s 1.3 million visitors, according to the parks stats report, which dates back to 1976. RELATED: Michigans Isle Royale named among least-visited national parks in the U.S. In a Facebook post this week, Sleeping Bear Dunes officials shared the 2022 visitation stats while also noting that Sleeping Bear came in second place for social media engagement out of the National Park Services entire Midwest Region. Our team would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to you, dear visitor, the post said. Thank you for coming to this special place! Also, thank you for liking, commenting, sharing, subscribing, and (most importantly) enjoying our social media platforms. We appreciate you! So you might wonder, how do Sleeping Bear Dunes staff determine their official visitor count when there are so many different entry points into this national park that stretches along Lake Michigan? It turns out, its more of an estimate. Staff described it this way on social media: The visitation number at Sleeping Bear Dunes is an estimate based in part on car counts and the average occupancy of vehicles entering the Lakeshore. ... Some parks which have limited entry points (such as Arches or Yellowstone, say) have an easier time getting visitation numbers. Learn more about Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore at nps.gov/slbe/index.htm. RELATED: Top 10 tips for visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore 15 Michigan summer vacation ideas we bet youve never tried Sleeping Bear Dunes vacation: 50 unforgettable things to see and do Let it grow. Thats the message Ann Arbor is sending city residents about their lawns this spring. No-Mow May, an initiative aimed at promoting the health of bees and other pollinators, is back. City Council this week unanimously approved a resolution encouraging property owners to reduce mowing and maintain lawn heights between 6 and 12 inches, especially during spring months. Council Member Dharma Akmon, D-4th Ward, who introduced the resolution, explained the plight of pollinators at the meeting on Monday, according to Ryan Stantons story. Pollinator populations are in decline around the world due to habitat loss, alteration, fragmentation, as well as pesticides, she said. The state of Michigan alone has seen a 61% drop in its bee population over the span of 15 years, so this is really important that we all act in ways that we can to protect pollinators. Meanwhile, over on campus, the Graduate Employees Organization remains on strike. A judge on Tuesday denied the University of Michigans request for an emergency injunction that would immediately force graduate student instructors and staff assistants back to work. The judge will hear more about the case on Monday and decide whether the grad employees have to return to work or if the strike can continue. Thats what caught our eye in Ann Arbor this week. Take a look at those headlines, and others, below. No Mow May 2.0. Ann Arbor encourages residents to let lawns grow up to a foot tall Judge denies demand that striking University of Michigan workers return to jobs Students angered by trees bulldozed for $14M University of Michigan rec field project Civil War-era barn converted to luxury barndominium listed at $1.1M near Chelsea Car windows smashed during break-ins outside Ann Arbor fitness centers New Ypsilanti cafe aims to showcase work of underrepresented artists About Hello, Ann Arbor: Each week, we deliver the big headlines straight to your inbox. Sign up here for the newsletter. John Counts is an editor for MLive/The Ann Arbor News where he started as a police and court reporter in 2012. He lives in Whitmore Lake with his wife, two daughters and two dogs. He can be reached at johncounts@mlive.com. MORE HELLO, ANN ARBOR: Hello, Ann Arbor: A mystery under Main Street; here comes Hash Bash Hello, Ann Arbor: A very pink Barbie Dream House; the return of Mark Schlissel Hello, Ann Arbor: Truck destroys I-94 overpass; teacher found dead Hello, Ann Arbor: Hash Bash afterparty gets green light; Ypsi family appears on Family Feud OTTER LAKE, MI - Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joined the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to announce six communities are receiving funding to build 60 new homes, including in Otter Lake. It will include additional space for businesses that will drive economic growth, and the projects are expected to generate a total capital investment of nearly $18 million in Otter Lake, Milan, Sturgis, Calumet, Ypsilanti, and Ionia. These projects will support construction jobs, build more affordable housing to lower costs, and drive commercial growth in downtowns across the state, supporting small businesses and regional economies, Whitmer said in a Thursday, April 6 news release. In the first 100 days of 2023, we have hit the ground running. I signed two bipartisan bills making record investments in affordable housing and community development projects that will make our cities and towns more attractive places to live, work, and invest. Todays six projects across Michigan reimagine underutilized, often historic places into productive housing or storefronts. Together, we are going to make Michigan the best place to raise a family or start a business. Lets keep getting it done. Otter Lake Developments LLC plans to rehabilitate two vacant buildings on Detroit Street in the center of downtown Otter Lake. When completed, the project will include three new commercial spaces and four market-rate apartments, and will include facade improvements as well as full interior and exterior renovation. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $568,250 and create six full-time equivalent jobs, supported by a $263,600 Michigan Community Revitalization Program performance-based grant. The project is the first in Otter Lake to receive support from the Michigan Strategic Fund. In addition to restoring two blighted, historic, long-vacant buildings, the project will add much-needed housing, walkability and new economic activity to downtown Otter Lake. The village of Otter Lake is supporting the project with dedicated parking near the properties and has provided taxes and sewer assessment abatements for five years. The village is engaged with MEDCs Redevelopment Ready Communities program. Thanks to the assistance of Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Village of Otter Lake, we are pleased to announce the renovation of two of the original buildings in the Village of Otter Lake beginning in Summer 2023, Wayne Morey said, Otter Lake Developments Manager. This renovation will begin the downtown rejuvenation by adding three business fronts on Detroit Street and four residential units. Read more at The Flint Journal: Young entrepreneurs to bring bright ideas to Atlas Valley Golf Club Owosso student gets golden ticket on American Idol Michigans Best Local Eats: Trackside Cafe in Flushing offers tasty homemade pies New Scooters Coffee opening in Burton this week Michigans Best Local Eats: Guidos Premium Pizza celebrating 30 years in business FLINT, MI -- Huntington National Bank is looking to sell a big piece of Flint history -- its downtown headquarters on South Saginaw Street and the iconic, 5,000-pound weather ball thats been on top of the 10-story office tower for more than 66 years. An official for Hunington told MLive-The Flint Journal that it has listed 328 S. Saginaw St. for sale, asking $3.5 million for the building after much consideration and analysis. Huntington said in an email to The Journal that the bank, which acquired the property in 2016 as a part of its acquisition of FirstMerit Corp., plans to maintain its branch office inside the tower and will ensure the continued operation of the weather ball through the terms of any sale. While our colleagues will be moving to another building nearby, our desire to keep such a cherished tradition alive in the heart of Flint is unwavering, the banks statement says. In addition to the Huntington Bank branch remaining in the 97,226-square-foot office tower, Huntington employees will occupy six floors of an office building immediately west of the weather ball tower, the company said in its statement. The Flint weather ball has been a distinctive landmark in the city since the metal-wrapped plexiglass orb was erected 70 feet above the former Citizens Bank buildings roof on Aug. 30, 1956. The building was constructed in 1949. FirstMerit acquired Citizens Bank and its downtown Flint office properties in 2013 before selling the assets to Huntington three years later. As ownership of the building has changed, so have the letters attached to the weather ball tower, starting with CB for Citizens Bank, FM for FirstMerit, and HB for Huntington Bank. The ball gives a basic weather forecast for the city -- provided you know the code for the colors it emits. When the weather ball is red, warmer temperatures ahead. When the weather ball is blue, colder temperatures are due. When yellow light is the color of the weather ball, there will be no change at all. When it blinks in agitation, there will be precipitation, according to a poem originally used in Citizen Bank advertising. Huntingtons plan to sell the building is the most recent development in whats been a shifting downtown real estate market. Late in 2021, Genesee County officials agreed to purchase the north tower of the old Citizens Bank complex from the University of Michigan for $8.5 million. UM had acquired that property from FirstMerit in 2015 but had never put the property to use, saying it was no longer needed due to changing priorities. The purchase set off plans for the county to renovate the 160,000-square-foot structure and move the bulk of its offices to the building. In making that move, the county is expected to leave other downtown properties it owns, including the county administration building on Saginaw Street near I-69, the McCree Health and Human Services Building, and a Community Action Resource Department office building, both on Saginaw Street, and the Donald R. Haley Building on Beach Street. Read more at The Flint Journal: Weather ball update bringing change to Flint skyline Iconic weather ball will continue to define the skyline of Flint, says CEO of FirstMerit Michigan Weather ball green? Future of Flint landmark unknown after bank merger Genesee County agrees to purchase downtown Flint tower from UM for $8.5M GRAND RAPIDS, MI Calvin University has selected Akinwumi A. Adesina, president of the African Development Bank Group, to deliver the spring commencement address in April. Calvins Spring 2023 Commencement ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, April 29, at Van Noord Arena, located at 3195 Knight Way, just off the East Beltline. Adesina has served as president of the African Development Bank Group since 2015, leading the regional finance institution in its work promoting the economic development and social progress of more than 80 African countries in its membership. He also previously served as Nigerias minister of agriculture and in 2017 was awarded the World Food Prize, also known as the Nobel Prize for Agriculture, according to a Calvin University news release. Calvin President Wiebe Boer said Adesina was chosen to deliver the spring commencement address because of his visionary leadership and passion for Africas transformation, which Boer hopes will inspire Calvin graduates to make a change in their global community, Calvin announced in the release. Dr. Adesina has been used as an instrument of change in multiple countries and contexts throughout his life, Boer said in a statement. While Adesinas impact is monumental, it is also representative of the work our graduates have been equipped for during their time here to be Christs agents of renewal in the world. I hope his address will further inspire our graduates to see how their lives can create real change in the world, wherever they are called, in whatever context they find themselves. He has been a mentor to me, and I cannot think of anyone in global leadership who better exemplifies our 2022-2023 theme verse of Proverbs 3:27. Adesina will deliver the commencement address to 700 Calvin students representing 28 countries, according to the Calvin news release. Adesina said the private university has a compelling mission that attracts students from all over the world. The formative education students receive here equips them to go out into the world and to live out the call of Proverbs 3:27, to not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act, Adesina said. I hope that students will see that call as both a responsibility and a great joy as they go about their lifes work. Under Adesinas leadership, the African Development Bank Group achieved the highest capital increase since its establishment in 1964, with shareholders from 80 member countries raising the general capital from $93 billion to a historic $208 billion in 2019, the release said. Prior to his current role, Adesina served as Nigerias minister of agriculture, where he was credited with turning the agriculture and agro-processing sector of the country around within four years, the release said. Adesina earned his bachelors degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and his masters and PhD in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University, according to his biography on the African Development Bank Group website. He has also received honorary doctorates from the Federal University of Technology in Nigeria, Duke University, and Addis Ababa University, among many others. In 2017, Adesina was bestowed with the prestigious Order of the Griffin, one of Purdue Universitys most esteemed honors, reserved for a select few alumni in the last century, among them American astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the Moon, the Calvin release said. More on MLive: 5 fun things to do in Grand Rapids this weekend (April 7-9) Mexican restaurant ordered to repay $62K in back wages, damages for 20 workers Metal detectors now at Grand Rapids school where student was found with loaded gun Grand Valley State University students protest for higher, livable campus wages GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Two men have been ordered to stand trial for the August shooting death of a man who owed a $200 debt. Tiesean Hatchett, 29, and Leonard Young, 33, will stand trial on charges of felony murder, assault with intent to rob while armed and weapons charges for the Aug. 27 shooting death of 22-year-old DaCarri Brown. GRAND RAPIDS, MI In celebration of its 60th anniversary, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport is selling limited edition apparel and accessories in the spirit of the 1960s. The 60th anniversary campaign features a number of items for sale, including blankets, pins, shirts, hoodies, mugs and stickers, all emblazoned with a reworked peace sign that features an airplane. People can browse the anniversary collection at flyford.myshopify.com/. More apparel and products will be released throughout the year. The anniversary campaign features a slogan of Peace of Mind Since 1963. It is with great excitement that we announce the Ford International Airports online storefront to feature our 60th anniversary collection, said Tory Richardson, president and CEO of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority. The community has played a key role in the airports success, and this is one of the many ways we plan to commemorate the anniversary year with them. Ford Airport is Michigans second largest and was established in its current location at 5500 44th St. SE in Cascade Township in 1963. The airport welcomed more than 3.4 million travelers in 2022, which is the second-highest number of passengers seen through Ford Airport in a year. Read more: West Michigan library eyes giving parents, board more power over what minors read Sturgeon guardians needed to protect prehistoric-looking fish during spawning season Gun-toting Kid Rock boycotts Bud Light over transgender model, Jason Isbell claps back OTTAWA COUNTY, MI Two West Michigan teens have created an out-of-this-world meal that could be sent off to feed astronauts in space. Katie Bird and Devon Vanderwall, both seniors at Allendale High School, were recently selected as finalists in the NASA HUNCH Astronaut Culinary Challenge, a national competition that challenges high school students to develop food for astronauts aboard the International Space Station. Bird and Wanderwall were chosen as one of 10 teams across the country that will present their food to a panel of 20 judges at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas later this month, according to an April 4 news release from the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District. NASA HUNCH which stands for NASA High school students United with NASA to Create Hardware has several different programs where students design products for NASA. In addition to the culinary program, there are also programs for design and prototype, software, hardware, biomedical science, and more. Each year, the NASA culinary competition challenges students to create a meal under a specific theme, and this years theme was a hearty ethnic soup or stew, according to the programs website. Bird and Wanderwall decided to create an Austrian Style Steak Soup for their project. The teens spent seven months developing their recipe, which must meet NASA-specified nutritional requirements, according to the release. They were also required to conduct research on how foods affect astronauts in low gravity, as part of the HUNCH program, the release said. Bird and Vanderwall were students in the Careerline Tech Center Pastry Arts and Baking program last year, so they were able to bring their own culinary knowledge to the competition, according to the release. The students also had the opportunity to work with leaders from Grand Rapids Community Colleges Secchia Institute of Culinary Education to perfect their soup after school. Austin Gresham, a pastry arts and baking instructor at the Careerline Tech Center, said the programs professional relationship with GRCCs culinary instructors allowed Bird and Vanderwall to work under the instruction of Secchia Institute Director Werner Absenger and Secchia instructor Chef Jennifer Struik. Thanks to this relationship, we were able to give students the chance to participate in this amazing opportunity when GRCC reached out looking for high school students, Gresham said in a prepared statement. Two other GRCC students were also selected as finalists in the NASA HUNCH program this year, as part of the Health and Biomedical Science category. Abby Tichelaar and Cole Herring, from GRCCs Launch U Middle College Engineering and Mechanical Design Program, were chosen to pitch a plan to NASA researchers, engineers, and flight doctors on edible packaging for astronauts, GRCC announced in a March 17 news release. Tichelaar and Herrings project is part of the NASA HUNCH program in the Health and Biomedical Science category, focusing on the needs for NASAs future exploration missions and is part of NASAs Human Research Program, according to the GRCC release. The pair created an edible cargo transfer box that will hold nutrition bars, and at the end of its life cycle, the container can be upcycled into an edible solution, such as gummy bears, recycled, or downcycled into plastic components, the release said. The interdisciplinary projects goal is eliminating waste on space missions, where space on aircraft is at a premium. The four West Michigan students will head down to NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston April 19-21 to compete against students across the country in the NASA HUNCH competition. More on MLive: Calvin University selects African Development Bank Group president as commencement speaker Free STEM event to feature hands-on activities for kids ages 5-12 in Grand Rapids Muskegon County voters asked to renew school tax to fund security, technology at districts, charters JACKSON, MI Chipotle Mexican Grill is seeking to open a Jackson location, but it will likely not be at Jackson Crossing. Several new stores have been announced for Jackson Crossing, many of which are coming to the former Sears building that closed in 2018. That announcement included a Chipotle location, but it is not actually joining the roster, Rhino Investments CEO Sanjiv Chopra said. Related: Five Guys, McAlisters Deli, Burlington and more slated for Jackson Crossing Rhino Investments started the Jackson Crossing project in 2020. Plans were to bring roughly six stores to the former Sears building and three additional buildings to the parking lot. Chipotle was originally slated to move into one of the outbuildings, which was going to be constructed on a 1-acre property near Planet Fitness. However, the company decided to not lease that spot, Chopra said, adding it did not specify a reason. But a Chipotle spokesperson wrote in an email that, while the restaurant does not have a planned location in Jackson yet, it is exploring opportunities to bring its food to the Jackson community. The Chipotle locations currently closest to Jackson are in Adrian at 1421 S. Main St., Ann Arbor at 2295 W. Stadium Blvd. and in East Lansing at 539 E. Grand River Ave. More from the Jackson Citizen Patriot: Mountie Grounds Coffee Cafe helps Jackson-area special needs students learn job skills Summit on gang violence returns to Jackson for second year Program to help homeless get rides in Jackson being funded by credit union Michigan Center hosting interviews for 2 vacant school board seats Visit 10 museums for free during Museum Day in Jackson County KALAMAZOO, MI The arraignment for a sheriff accused of driving while intoxicated and carrying a weapon has been delayed by 17 days. St. Joseph County Sheriff Mark Lillywhite, 47, was scheduled to be arraigned at 8:30 a.m. Friday, April 7, in Kalamazoo County District Court. His arraignment was delayed to April 24. Criminal charges were authorized April 6 against Lillywhite. Lillywhites attorney, Michael Hills, was in the courthouse Friday morning. The arraignment was originally scheduled to happen before Judge Becket Jones. However, Jones used to work for Hills, which created a conflict of interest, Hills told MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette. The court decided to delay the arraignment and schedule it before a different judge, Hills said. Lillywhite is expected to be arraigned on one misdemeanor count each of operating while intoxicated and carrying a concealed weapon while under the influence of alcohol, according to court records. Related: Michigan sheriff charged with operating SUV, carrying weapon while intoxicated Lillywhite, elected sheriff in February 2020, was involved in a crash around 2:20 a.m. Feb. 26. After the crash, he had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and staggered while he walked, according to the Michigan State Police report obtained by MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette through a Freedom of Information Act request. He was driving his county-issued SUV between 96 and 99 mph when he rear-ended a vehicle going the 55 mph speed limit on southbound U.S. 131 near YZ Avenue, the report said. Related: Sheriff accused of drunk driving was going 96 mph before crash, police report says Mark Lillywhite Lillywhites St. Joseph County Sheriffs badge was in the center console, along with a loaded pistol, the report said. Two more guns a rifle and a pistol, both with magazines were found in his trunk. Lillywhite lives in Flowerfield Township, according to public records. A trooper took Lillywhite to Bronson Methodist Hospital where he had a blood draw to test for alcohol before he was taken to the Kalamazoo County Jail that morning. He was released that day. Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter. More from MLive: New cameras are coming to bus stop arms in Kalamazoo Public Schools Kalamazoo Public Library forges ahead with executive director search Man dies after Michigan State Police use stun gun SAGINAW, MI Here are some of the Easter egg hunts and related events happening in and around Saginaw, Bay City and Midland this Easter 2023 weekend: Easter Bunny visits at Bronners Theres still time to visit with the Easter Bunny at Bronners Christmas Wonderland, 25 Christmas Lane in Frankenmuth. On Friday afternoon, April 7, Good Friday, the Easter Bunny will greet children from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The famous bunny will also be available from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. except for brief carrot breaks Saturday, April 8. Bronners is closed from noon to 3 p.m. on Good Friday and all day Easter Sunday. Children will receive a small gift from the Easter Bunny while supplies last. Bring your camera and join the Easter Bunny for a picture. For more information, call 989-652-9931. Old Town Easter Egg Hunt The big bunnies are back, and the city of Saginaws 15th annual Old Town Easter Egg Hunt is this Saturday. Volunteers are needed to help place the eggs on the courthouse lawn, 111 S. Michigan Ave., and at neighboring Borchard Park beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday. The egg hunt will begin at noon at Borchard Park for toddlers, followed by children ages 4 to 6 at 12:20 p.m. on the North side of the courthouse lawn, and children ages 7 to 10 at 12:30 p.m. on the South side of the courthouse lawn. For more information or to become a sponsor, contact Paul Barrera at 989-737-9782 or paul@jakesforsteaks.com. Easter Egg Hunt at Wenonah Park Redeeming Love Christian Embassy is hosting an Easter egg hunt for children ages 2 to 12 at Bay Citys Wenonah Park, 111 Center Ave., beginning at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. This free event will include more than 10,000 eggs and prizes. Click here for more information. Pet Easter Egg Hunt Soldans Pet Supplies, the Humane Society of Midland County and partners are hosting an Easter egg hunt especially for pets. The Pet Easter Egg Hunt will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Midlands Plymouth Park, near the intersection of East Wheeler Street and Swede Avenue. For more information or to buy tickets, click here. Easter Egg Helicopter Drop Life Church Saginaw, 5200 Tittabawassee Road in Kochville Township, is hosting its annual Easter Egg Helicopter Drop at 2 p.m. Saturday. For more information, click here or visit lifechurchmichigan.com. Easter Basket Giveaway This event hosted by Bop Unlimited Clothing Co. and its partners will offer free Easter baskets for kids ages 12 and under on Easter Sunday. The event is taking place at noon Sunday, April 9, under the pavilion at the SVRC Marketplace, 203 S. Washington Ave. in downtown Saginaw. Read more from MLive: Beloved Easter bunnies being repaired at Old Town Saginaws Dynamic Corvettes Hemlock Semiconductor joins program to save working parents thousands of dollars Friday Night Live celebrates 25 years of music and memories in downtown Saginaw Cozy new bookstore with magical Narnia and thousands of titles invites you to fall in love with books New Bay City fitness center focuses on both the body and soul Former Michigan House Speaker Rick Johnson, two lobbyists and the owner of a medical marijuana company will be pleading guilty to a bribery scheme 2017, U.S. Attorney for the Western District Mark Totten announced in a press conference Thursday. Read more: Ex-Michigan House speaker, 3 others plead guilty in marijuana bribery probe Johnson had been chair of the Medical Marijuana Licensing Board, which approved licenses for those businesses to operate under the states medical marijuana regulations, and he was one of just a few votes that approved or rejected businesses applications. He was charged Thursday morning with accepting bribes equaling at least $110,200 or the course of nearly two years from a number of sources. The four individuals allegedly implicated in the corruption include John Dalaly, 70, the owner of a marijuana company who allegedly paid more than $68,000 in the form of cash and benefits, and two lobbyists, Brian Pierce and Vincent Brown, who investigators said ferried payments to Johnson through shell companies. Prosecutors described how the money was paid to Johnson in exchange for information about the nascent medical marijuana business licensing system before it was made public, which could have offered the individuals and companies that received it an upper hand against competition in the lucrative market once applications opened in late 2017. Attorneys from the Department of Justice laid out the charges in whats known as an information below. Not long after the charges were announced, guilty pleas from the four defendants were also filed. Johnson agreed to pay the full amount in documented bribes to the federal government, and agreed the full $110,200 would be due immediately. The guilty plea signed by Johnson described how he received the payments with an understanding the payers were seeking information and assistance from him to help them successfully apply for state medical marijuana operating licenses and ultimately for his support for their license applications. Whats less clear is how long the defendants could potentially serve in prison. The plea agreements indicate the defendants could receive a two to three-point reduction in their offense level, the scoring system used to determine the recommended lengths of sentences. Dalalys plea agreement states he gave Johnson at least $68,200 in cash payments and other benefits to Johnson including two private chartered flights from Michigan to Canada on a Learjet 35 and King Air 200 aircraft by way of two companies he operated. One of the companies was a dispensary, while the other was established to be a digital currency platform for marijuana transactions in Michigan. Dalaly was charged with paying a bribe. The two lobbyists charged in the investigation, Brian Pierce and Tyler Brown, allegedly used businesses they controlled to shift money from clients to companies controlled by Johnson. Three companies that prosecutors argued benefited from the bribes were not named in the documents. The plea agreements from the two lobbyists are embedded below. Brown and Pierce both intend to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery. More detailed descriptions of the crimes the four intend to plead guilty to are expected to be filed in the coming days. Read more on MLive: Ron DeSantis, eyeing presidency, tests campaign message in Michigan Trumps arrest spurs Michigan GOP support but could hurt his 2024 campaign Some Michigan unions may wait years to realize right-to-work repeal changes Cocktails to-go prove popular at Michigan bars, restaurants, but COVID-era allowance expiring Un-ban a ban on bans? Michigan may reverse course on plastic bag restrictions. Whether prosecutors should be allowed to plea felonies down to lesser charges is up for debate under a Republican-backed House bill, which seemingly stems from events that lead up to a mass shooting at Michigan State University. House Bill 4339 would ban prosecutors from allowing a person to plead down from a felony charge to a misdemeanor. Sponsored by House Minority Leader Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, the bill comes following a shooting at MSU on February 13 which left three students dead and another five wounded. At the time Republicans blasted former Ingham County Prosecutor Carol Siemon for allowing the gunman, Anthony McRae, to plead guilty to a misdemeanor rather than a felony after McRae was found carrying a concealed handgun in 2019. A defense attorney later questioned the constitutionality of McRaes arrest, leading to the eventual plea down charge of a misdemeanor, according to reporting from the Detroit Free Press. Given that a felony would preempt McRae from legally owning a firearm for at least three to five years, had he been tried and found guilty on that count, some argue that the shooting at MSU could have been avoided entirely were he tried as initially charged. Hall did not return a request for comment in time for publication. But a co-sponsor of the bill, Rep. David Martin, R-Davison, told MLive the bill derives from all the other laws that have ever been passed that are not followed and continue to cause these problems. He said if a person is charged with a crime that causes them to lose the ability to legally own a firearm, then a plea bargain should also reflect that reality. We understand prosecutorial discretion, but when the charge is a felony ... that would require them to lose their right to own a firearm, any plea bargain should not be lower than them having that screen, Martin said. So, they should go in front of a judge, a jury, and find out if they are still able to carry that firearm rather than a prosecutor one person saying that theyre going to waive that. McRae was originally charged with carrying a concealed weapon, which is a felony. He was allowed, however, to plead guilty to possession of a firearm in or upon a vehicle given he was riding his bike that night and was sentenced to 12 months of probation in 2019. His probation ended in May 2021 after an additional six months were added to his sentence to complete the terms of his probation order, according to court records. Prosecutors, however, were quick to point out in the wake of the shooting that for someone without a criminal record (like McRae, whod only ever had speeding tickets at that point) pleading down a felony is not that unusual. Though it is uncommon to start with a felony charge and end up with a person pleading down to a misdemeanor, plea deals play a role in more than 90 percent of criminal convictions, per estimates from the Vera Institute of Justice. And mostly, thats because of resources said Kalamazoo County Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Getting, who said that negotiated resolutions within criminal cases are often necessary as we dont have the recources to fully prosecute every case. Nor does the judiciary have the resources to have trials on every case, he added. Legislation like this would serve to increase the need for additional resources. Getting cautioned the legislature when it came to altering the concept of prosecutorial discretion, saying every case and defendant prosecutors deal with were different. Interfering with that discretion interferes with ensuring that justice is the outcome of each case. He added there is a huge difference between a middle aged person with no prior criminal history or risk factors for reoffending and an individual who had routinely broken the law. I understand the reasons behind HB 4339 and what Rep. Halls intentions are, but I would suggest that the legislature use extreme caution in this type of legislation, Getting said. We have a separation of powers in this country for a reason. Its up to the legislature to draft laws, prosecutors to and the executive branch to enforce laws and its up to the judiciary to determine consequences. And when we overstep those bounds, oftentimes we are making a mistake in terms of trying to accomplish an ideal of justice. That idea requires that there be flexibility within the system that laws like HB 4339 takes the flexibility out of the system. Halls bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee, where it awaits a hearing. The committees chair, Rep. Kelly Breen, D-Novi, said she hadnt seen the bill so wasnt able to comment on the nature of the legislation but noted the panel was focused on real world solutions to mitigate gun violence. More from MLive Some Michigan unions may wait years to realize right-to-work repeal changes Tensions with China overshadow rural Michigan battery plant Trumps arrest spurs Michigan GOP support but could hurt his 2024 campaign Un-ban a ban on bans? Michigan may reverse course on plastic bag restrictions. Cocktails to-go prove popular at Michigan bars, restaurants, but COVID-era allowance expiring Henry Ford West Bloomfield had one of the highest cesarean section birth rates among Michigans hospitals in March 2020 through April 2021. The hospitals C-section rate for low-risk, first-time mothers was 31%, which surpassed both the state average of 28% and the national average of 25%, according to hospital-specific data published by The Joint Commission, a non-profit organization that accredits health systems. LANSING, MI Owners of former Michigan farmland where pesticides were once used face increased responsibility for reducing peoples exposure to soil contaminated by toxic pollutants under a new attorney general opinion. In an April 4 opinion requested by state regulators, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said state environmental law places a due care obligation on property owners whose land is polluted by historical pesticide use even though the contamination occurred before they bought it. The opinion was requested by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) following a dispute over liability for past contamination at a high-end bayfront housing development near Traverse City. Former EGLE director Liesl Clark made the request in October and acting director Dan Echinger renewed it in January. Nessels opinion upholds an interpretation that EGLE has been using since 2019 to assign pollution liability on former farmland, but it overturns a longtime policy predating Gov. Gretchen Whitmers administration that exempted subsequent owners from such responsibility under Part 201 of the states Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. Due care obligations are triggered not by the threat or occurrence of a release (of contaminants), but by the knowledge that the property is a facility, wrote Nessel, adding that state law defines a facility as a property where hazardous substances were released, deposited, disposed of, or otherwise comes to be located. Under state law, owners of polluted property designated as a facility must take steps to reduce peoples exposure to toxic substances and may have to conduct a cleanup. Hugh McDiarmid, EGLE spokesman, said due care steps owners could face under Nessels opinion include laying a clay, soil or asphalt cover over contaminated soils to shield people from contacting them, fencing off or restricting access to contaminated areas, or the placement of engineering controls to prevent the volatilization of hazardous substances into the indoor air for existing buildings at a property. According to an EGLE briefing report, state policy evolved under Whitmer away from exempting current property owners from responsibility to address high concentrations of lead and arsenic residuals which are common in former fruit orchards. The request for Nessels review was triggered by pushback on EGLE from Traverse City attorney Joseph Quandt, who, in April 2022, essentially told state regulators to go away when they requested soil contamination data from developers at Peninsula Shores, a high-end housing development on the East Grand Traverse Bay side of Old Mission Peninsula. Quandt cited previous communication from state regulators in 2004 and 2005 indicating the former Morgan Farms property was exempt from such obligations under a longtime liability carve-out in Part 201 called the agricultural release exemption. Under the loophole, former farm property owners could evade liability if legacy pesticides were applied according to label directions and/or generally accepted practices at the time. Quandt argued that site redevelopment had likely reduced any legacy contaminants below harmful levels and suggested that EGLE had unwittingly become a tool in local efforts to oppose development modifications at Peninsula Shores. Peninsula Shores developers Otwell Mawby PC received a violation notice from EGLE, which, according to a follow-up letter from Quandt following a meeting with regulators, changed its policy direction in 2019 following concerns about arsenic in soil at the Traverse City Housing Commissions Orchardview Townhomes in Leelanau County. The housing commission manages the subsidized housing complex, where some children began testing for elevated blood arsenic levels in 2018. According to Quandt, the housing commission took voluntary steps to reduce exposure at the Orchardview to address funding requirements by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and not because there was a recognition of an obligation under Part 201. Thus, it is hard to understand why a voluntarily initiated process, driven almost entirely by economic priorities of a federal agency, would be a reason for EGLE to change its policy position, Quandt wrote on Sept. 22, 2022. When we asked if there was anything in writing demonstrating this apparent change in policy, you indicated that there was not any official position placed in writing or communicated to the regulated community with respect to this apparent policy change. Clark requested Nessels review two weeks later. Arsenic in former farmland soil is an under-the-radar exposure concern that arises periodically in Michigan. In February, state health officials began advising residents at the Mystic View Apartments in Allegan Countys Lee Township to limit contact with complex soils. The apartments were built on the former Pullman apple orchard and the state learned about elevated arsenic levels when owners began renovating the site using federal HUD funding, officials said. Charlotte Jameson, chief policy officer at the Michigan Environmental Council (MEC), said Nessels opinion opens up a lot of questions about how EGLE will enforce the liability obligations on farms and other property owners going forward, and how the ripple effects of the decision could affect exposure for farm workers and other farmland contaminants. In addition to arsenic concerns, current and former Michigan farmland has been found to be contaminated by toxic PFAS chemicals in recent years after contaminated sewage and industrial wastes were spread as fertilizers. I dont know that this changes all that much, Jameson said. The idea of being able to enforce any of this with farms seems beyond the scope of what EGLE could do. Jameson suggested that the Democrats in control of the state legislature could take steps to help farms and properties where contamination designates the land as a facility. I think theres some responses the legislature could take when it comes to pollution on agricultural land to support farmers who thought they were doing the right thing. A message seeking comment from the Michigan Farm Bureau on Thursday was not returned. Related stories: PFAS a problem at farm where tannery spread sludge Farmer sues auto supplier after PFAS taints cattle Muskegon CAFO fined $120k for mismanaging waste Michigans Black state lawmakers are standing in solidarity with two Black representatives who were expelled from the Tennessee General Assembly on Thursday for their role in a protest calling for more gun control. The Michigan Legislative Black Caucus issued a statement Friday saying the decision to remove the Democrat representatives Justin Jones of Nashville and Justin Pearson of Memphis by the Republican supermajority was an unconstitutional move to silence members of the minority party. Yesterday, the Tennessee Republican-led General Assembly showed that its members will use unjust methods, flimsy evidence, and inconsistent rules to go to any lengths to attempt silencing Black members fighting for justice, said MLBC Chairperson, Sen. Erika Geiss, DTaylor. Adding insult to injury the MLBC statement reads, were the racist undertones of the decision. Along with Jones and Pearson, Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, a white woman, was also at risk of possible expulsion. While the majority of lawmakers voted to remove Jones and Pearson, Johnson was narrowly saved. The General Assembly narrowly voting to preserve the seat of the only white woman of the Tennessee Three was a blatantly racist action, rooted in Jim Crow tactics, said MLBC Executive Vice Chair, Rep. Amos ONeal, DSaginaw. Dubbed the Tennessee Three, the trio joined protests last week at the Tennessee Capitol to call for more gun control in the aftermath of a deadly school shooting in Nashville. The Associated Press reports the three approached the front of the House chamber with a bullhorn, and participated in a chant as protestors filled the galleries. Tennessee Republicans moved resolutions Thursday to expel the lawmakers in retaliation. The statement from the MLBC called the unfounded authoritarian actions by the Tennessee General Assembly a travesty. What occurred yesterday, was nothing short of a political lynching of two strong, young, Black, male legislators, guilty of nothing except doing the jobs their communities sent them to the legislature to do, said MLBC Treasurer, Rep. Stephanie Young, DDetroit. Read more from MLive: Michigan AG says landowners are liable for legacy farm pollution Should Michigans prosecutors be allowed to plea down felonies? Republicans say no. Read filings describing bribery scheme involving ex-Michigan House speaker Ron DeSantis, eyeing presidency, tests campaign message in Michigan Michigans COVID-19 Community Levels are nearly fully low this week, with the exception of one county. Monroe, the states southeastern-most county, came in medium according to the latest CDC map, updated Friday, April 7. It was an improvement from the week prior, when there were 14 such counties above that threshold. Federal health officials assess each countys COVID Community Level based on reported coronavirus infections and hospitalizations. Experts recommend residents living in high-risk areas to consider masking indoors, regardless of vaccination status, to limit transmission. Community Levels put counties in one of three buckets: low (green), medium (yellow) or high (orange). The goal is to prevent severe disease and limit strain on hospitals. No county has reached a high COVID level over the last two weeks. Heres the latest map showing the Community Level for each Michigan county. Tap/hover over a county to see details. (Cant see the map? Click here.) For hospitalizations, the CDC looks at three pieces: the percentage of staffed hospital beds occupied by COVID patients, COVID hospital admissions per capita and COVID cases per capita. A county is at a high level when there are 200-plus new cases per 100,000 for the week and either (A) 10-plus new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 or (B) at least 10% of the staffed inpatient beds are occupied by COVID patients. If hospitalizations are particularly high, even a county with low cases can be at a high level, per the CDC formula. (Not every county has a hospital, so each is assigned a health services area, a larger region that contains at least one hospital. Counties are attributed the metrics for the entire area, weighted based on each countys population. For example: Monroe Countys health services area also includes the Toledo, Ohio area.) Heres more on the latest COVID-19 trends in Michigan. Michigan is reporting 516 new, confirmed cases per day in the past week COVID cases decreased from last week when the state averaged 638 new confirmed cases per day. Its the lowest seven-day average since summer 2021. Three counties reported no new cases last week. They were Luce, Lake and Mackinac counties. The top 10 counties by new cases per 100,000 people were Alcona (177), Mason (76), Schoolcraft (62), Oceana (60), Clare (58), Dickinson (58), Washtenaw (58), Ogemaw (53), Eaton (52), and Marquette (52). The top 10 counties by total new cases without accounting for population were Wayne (780), Oakland (501), Macomb (386), Washtenaw (208), Kent (172), Ingham (122), Genesee (122), Saginaw (75), Kalamazoo (63), and Jackson (58). Cases peaked in January 2022 at the start of the omicron wave with Michigan averaging 17,595 cases per day at one point. Cases are confirmed when theres a positive result from an NAAT/RT-PCR test. Cases are probable when theres a reported antigen (rapid) test or if somebody has symptoms and was exposed to a person with COVID-19. All graphics in this story are based only on confirmed numbers, which differs from the states use of confirmed plus probable data in its reporting. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reports COVID cases once per week. There were 5,263 confirmed and probable cases this week, down from 6,562 last week. Michigan has reported more than 2.64 million confirmed COVID cases and more than 446,195 probable cases since the pandemic began. The chart below shows the seven-day average for new, confirmed COVID cases throughout the pandemic. (Cant see the chart? Click here.) Michigan ranks 7th in the U.S. in new cases per capita Michigan had the 7th-most COVID cases per capita of the 50 U.S. states for the week of March 23-29, per the New York Times. States with the most cases per capita this week were Oklahoma, Hawaii, Wisconsin and Alaska. States with the fewest reported cases per capita were Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, and Utah. COVID case totals dont tell the whole story. At-home tests are not reported, so those arent included in the data. Thats why its also key to look at percent positivity of reported tests and data on hospitalizations and deaths. For COVID hospitalizations, Michigan was tied for 33rd-most per capita during that time. For COVID deaths per capita, Michigan was tied for 10th. Average test positivity is 10.6% About 10.6% of COVID tests submitted to the state this week were positive. The percent positivity rate has hovered between 10% and 13% since late January, and was around 11% in recent weeks. Michigans rate peaked at 35% in January 2022. It dipped as low as 2% in early March 2022 before climbing again. However, the rise in at-home, self-testing led to rates typically remaining higher due to fewer people reporting negative test results to their local health departments. The graph below shows the percentage of COVID-19 tests reported that came back positive throughout the pandemic. (Cant see the chart? Click here.) Mackinac County had the highest percent positivity rate this week of all Michigan counties with 28.57% of tests coming back positive. Benzie was the only other county that topped 19%. To see the COVID test positivity rate for your county, see the searchable table below. Hospitals treating 732 confirmed or suspected adult COVID-19 patients COVID hospitalizations stayed stagnant this week. There were 732 adults in Michigan hospitals with confirmed or suspected COVID as of Wednesday, March 29, compared to 736 a week ago. In January 2022, COVID hospitalizations topped 4,000 most weeks. Among the adults with COVID hospitalized on Wednesday, 77 were in intensive care and 35 were on a ventilator. Michigan also had 20 children hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID as of Wednesday. Michigan is reporting seven new COVID deaths per day in the past week Michigan had seven COVID deaths per day this week. Thats down from nine per day last week, and 10 per day two weeks ago. Michigan has had 38,302 confirmed COVID-19 deaths and 4,221 probable COVID deaths since the pandemic began. During omicrons peak last January, Michigan was averaging more than 100 COVID deaths per day. The chart below shows the seven-day average for COVID deaths throughout the pandemic. (Cant see the chart? Click here.) Vaccinations: 16.5% of residents have received omicron-specific booster About 64.1% of Michigan residents have gotten at least one COVID shot, 59.5% have received the full original regimen and 38.8% have been boosted. The omicron-specific COVID-19 booster is available in Michigan from both Pfizer and Moderna. About 16.5% of residents have received this bivalent booster so far, or about 1.65 million residents. Below is a breakdown by age group of Michiganders whove gotten at least one shot (initiated), those who have two shots (completed) and those who are considered up to date on COVID vaccines, as of Wednesday, March 29. The state didnt update its vaccination data this week due to a technical issue. 75 and older: 87.4% initiated; 82.7% completed, 36.3% up to date 65 to 74: 90.6% initiated; 86.7% completed, 41% up to date 50 to 64: 77.1% initiated; 73% completed, 22% up to date 40 to 49: 67.9% initiated; 63.3% completed, 12.9% up to date 30 to 39: 66.4% initiated; 60.7% completed, 10.6% up to date 20 to 29: 56.4% initiated; 50.5% completed, 6.4% up to date 16 to 19: 57.3% initiated; 52.5% completed, 6.3% up to date 12 to 15: 50.3% initiated; 46.8% completed, 7.7% up to date 5 to 11: 31.3% initiated; 28.4% completed, 5.2% up to date Younger than 5: 9.9% initiated, 5.9% completed, 3.9% up to date For more statewide data, visit MLives coronavirus data page. To find a testing site near you, check out the states online test find send an email to COVID19@michigan.gov, or call 888-535-6136 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. Read more on MLive: Read filings describing bribery scheme involving ex-Michigan House speaker Should Michigans prosecutors be allowed to plea down felonies? Republicans say no. GM jumps Ford in EV sales, both trail behind Tesla See the red on the weather maps, sign of a strong spring pattern Kody Clemens didnt have to spend much time in the minors this season. The Philadelphia Phillies announced that they recalled the former Detroit Tigers infielder after placing first baseman Darick Hall in the 10-day injured list with a right thumb sprain. Clemens was part of an off-season trade that sent reliever Gregory Soto to the Phillies for outfielder Matt Vierling, infielder Nick Maton and catcher Donny Sands. In three games for Triple A Lehigh Valley this season, Clemens hit .154 with a .214 on-base percentage. Clemens, the son of star pitcher Roger Clemens, played first, second, third and left field for the Tigers in 2022 and could move into the first base slot with the injuries to Hall and Rhys Hoskins. Clemens also started at designated hitter and even threw seven innings off the mound for the Tigers in 2022 with a 3.86 ERA. Philadelphia could also use a combination of Alec Bohm, Edmundo Sosa or Josh Harrison to cover third and first base. With the Tigers in 2022, Clemens hit .145 with a .197 on-base percentage and .308 slugging. In Triple A last season, the 26-year-old left-handed batter hit .274 with a .327 on-base and .535 slugging. Detroit drafted Clemens out of the University of Texas in the third round of the 2018 draft. MORE Tigers option infielder to Toledo after smashing rehab assignment Born on Opening Day, Detroit Tigers traditions run deep in Michigan Detroit sports greats from the Big Four team up to throw out first pitch at Detroit Tigers home opener Miguel Cabrera expects no tears as farewell season begins: Im happy, not sad Ghanaian actress and social critic, Lydia Forson has opined on why paying numerous taxes is a burden for Ghanaians lately. Ideally, Miss Forson said, citizens would not have complained about paying taxes if their monies are being utilized for the right purpose by the government. The thespian claims there is nothing to show for the proceeds of the already collected taxes, yet the government keeps introducing new ones. "I can assure you, Ghanaians would not be this infuriated about paying taxes if there was even a little to show for it. But unless Im ignorant and blind, I cant see it," read a portion of her tweet on Thursday, April 6. The filmmaker cited the lack of maintenance of the motorway, which she claims is now a death trap yet taxes have been collected for maintenance. "Even our motorway is a death trap, and weve been paying tolls for years! I dont understand," her tweet emphasised. She stressed in a separate tweet that, Ive never had a problem with taxes, I completely understand the important role it plays in our economy. However, her problem, is with a government thats squeezes the hell of its citizens through taxes and gives them very little in return. "Thats what this government is doing, she stated. A week ago, on Friday, March 31, parliament approved three new taxes presented by the government. The Excise Duty Amendment Bill 2022, the Growth and Sustainability Levy Bill 2022, the Ghana Revenue Authority Bill 2022, and the Income Tax Amendment Bill 2022 seek to raise about 4 billion Ghana Cedis in domestic revenue. Government has justified the passage of the bills saying that it will speed up the IMF boards approval for a 3 billion dollar bailout. But many are complaining about the already unbearable taxes in the country, especially the recently introduced 10% withholding tax on bet winnings and a 20% tax on the revenue of betting companies operating in Ghana. 07.04.2023 LISTEN The Assemblyman for Tano Kwaem Electoral Area in the Offinso North District of Ashanti Region, Hon Ibrahim Abdulai has passionately appealed to the Member of Parliament for the Offinso North Constituency Hon Collins Augustine Ntim to help solve the water challenges in the area. Speaking to this reporter in an interview, Hon Abdulai disclosed that his electoral area lacks development though he has made several efforts to ensure that the District Assembly address the issue but to no avail. He mentioned toilet, health, roads and educational facilities as some of the major issues in the area. Commenting on power supply he praised and thanked Hon Collins Augustine Ntim for connecting the area to the national grid. Hon Abdulai noted that the area has one CHPS Compound without water supply. He stressed that the water challenges is making the work of the nurses difficult as pregnant women on labor and patients are asked to come with their own water. "My people have been worrying me about this issue, but my efforts are met with opposition, hence my humble appeal to the MP for support since I believe that he is in position to solve the issue," he stated. "Our District Chief Executive has passed on recently making the Assembly's meetings standstill. It is also another issue which has prompted me to call on the MP for help," the Assemblyman told the Correspondent. He also appealed to NGOs, philanthropists and institutions to come to his aid to enable him solve the challenges confronting the area. It has become apparent that the upcoming National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary primaries in the Buem Constituency will be tough one as Kofi Adams faces a opponent who seem to have the support of the grassroots. The contest will be between the former Students Representative Council (S.R.C) of Accra polytechnic Mr. Ibrahim Adams Mumuni also known as Hon. Babs who has been described by the grassroots as development oriented aspirant and Hon. Kofi Adams who is the incumbent. Majority of the delegates have revealed that this year's primaries will be based on achievements and credibility between the two aspirants. According to a grassroot member who doubles as a delegate Hon. Babs has what it takes to be elected as the candidate for the 2024 Parliamentary election on the ticket of the NDC. He revealed that Hon. Babs has lobbied some NGO's who have provided numerous developmental projects and some initiatives that has made a major impact on the people of Buem. He said Hon. Babs achievements puts him ahead of Hon. Kofi Adams in the upcoming Parliamentary primaries. Projects such as boreholes, youth empowerment among others he said are some achievements of Hon. Babs which he was able to do through his contact with some NGOs. He said the lobbying spirit of Hon. Babs will benefit the constituency should the delegates elect Hon. Babs to lead the party in the 2024 general elections. He added that with Hon. Babs taking over the leadership of the Constituency, under development will be a thing of the past as the people of Buem will have their share of the national cake. In his message to the delegates, Hon. Ibrahim Mumuni Adams reiterated that the delegates will vote for an achievement and development oriented aspirant and expressed the believe that his good work will speak for him come May 13. He added that his vision and mission is to take Buem Constituency to a higher height and ensure that every community has at least good roads, schools and portable drinking water. He revealed that when given the nod he will ensure that data of all delegates and the people of Buem will be taken to empower them in their fields of work in order to reduce unemployment in the Constituency. He added that there are a lot of opportunities from various NGOs and donors and he believes that with the portfolio of a Parliamentary candidate and eventually an MP there will be miracle in Buem in terms of development, youth and women empowerment. According to him, his interest is to provide the people of Buem a better leadership that will reflect and make great impact on the people adding that he is in to serve the constituents and not the constituents serving him. He said per his data there are markets, schools and Islamic schools in the constituency that need to be rehabilitated and he has taken notice of them. In a related development, some delegates have expressed their displeasure over the disqualification of one of the aspirants alleging that the incumbent may have influenced the disqualification. According to them there were rumours that the incumbent was working around the clock to have all his contenders disqualified. This they said has compelled them to believe that the incumbent may have played a role in the disqualification of the other aspirant. Hon. Babs responding to the said allegation consoled the disqualified aspirant and called on his followers to desist from making comments that will be used by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the general elections against the party. He appealed to them to use the appropriate means to seek redress at the national level of the party. Sophia Akuffo, immediate past Chief Justice of Ghana 07.04.2023 LISTEN The appointment of three new members to Ghana's Electoral Commission by President Akufo-Addo has attracted a barage of criticisms over alleged conflict of interest. Dr. Peter Appiahene, one of the newly appointed members, has been accused of being a patron of the youth wing of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the University of Energy and Natural Resources. This has fueled opposition anger at Akufo-Addo for allegedly politicizing the Electoral Commission in favor of the NPP. Reacting to the reports, the immediate past Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana, Sophia Akuffo, has hinted at the importance of avoiding potential conflicts of interest in public service. There are standards for the public service... and conflict of interest is something that always can be dealt with, whether it is written in black and white or not... and conflict of interest does not necessarily have to be actual; it can be potential," Akuffo said in an interview on Accra-based TV3 on Wednesday, April 5. She also emphasized the importance of public perception in matters related to national elections, saying, "in doing the right thing in public service, a lot of it depends on public perception... Everything in this world that you can arrange in such a way that the dealings are at arm's length is better than somebody's arm is twisted and another person's arm is in their pocket." The appointment of the new Electoral Commission members has raised concerns about the impartiality and fairness of the commission in overseeing 2024 elections. Some Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) are calling for the appointments to be revoked to restore confidence in the electoral management body. France was gripped by an 11th day of strikes and protests against pension reform on Thursday, with air traffic disrupted at Paris's main airport and walkouts hitting the public transport, education, health and energy sectors. Demonstrators again marched by the thousands in cities across the country as unions demand the complete withdrawal of a law to raise the retirement age to 64. The hardline CGT union estimates that 400,000 people joined the Paris demonstration. The Interior Ministry will also issue its own estimate, which often varies widely from that of the unions. Police fired clouds of teargas at the protests in Paris, where at least eight people were arrested during the start of the march. Security forces said they had carried out checks on more than 1,330 people to prevent violence-prone groups, such as the anarchist movement Black Bloc, from infiltrating the march. Sting-ball grenades were reportedly fired near La Rotonde restaurant, where Macron celebrated after qualifying for the second round of the 2017 presidential election. Earlier Thursday striking railway workers stormed the former Paris headquarters of the Credit Lyonnais bank, which is now home to companies including the BlackRock investment firm, setting off smoke flares. A protester told Reuters the building was targeted because of its private pension fund activity. Meanwhile rat catchers threw the bodies of dead rodents at the Paris City Hall. Increasingly violent Protests have increased in violence after the government last month used constitutional powers to bypass a parliamentary vote and force the reform bill through the National Assembly. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin on Wednesday hit back at claims that police were too tough on protesters, telling a parliamentary committee that ultra-left groups were to blame for clashes. Darmanin, who is France's chief of police, denied accusations from leftwing opposition MPs that police and gendarmes were guilty of a disproportionate use of force. Protests and policing are not the problem. The problem is the urban guerrillas, the urban violence, he said, adding that anti-pension reform protests on 16 and 23 March in particular had seen a strong surge of ultra-left groups seeking to infiltrate the movement. If I were provocative, I would say they wanted to take the movement hostage, Darmanin said. Thursday's strikes also come amid a deadlock in discussions between unions and the government, after bosses met with Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne for discussions that unions branded "a failure". Franklin Cudjoe, the founding president of the IMANI Africa Policy think tank, has expressed doubt over the International Monetary Funds bailout as the key to Ghanas economic recovery. According to Mr Cudjoe, the government's claim that the loan will help Ghana recover economically is hard to believe. He doubts if just 3 billion can do the work the country's already impressive Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of almost $72 billion couldn't do. To him, if the country could still suffer despite its 72 billion dollar gross domestic product, then what could 3 billion be used for. In a tweet on Thursday, April 6, Cudjoe wrote, "Well, the government now says the IMF deal will help Ghana rediscover her route to economic recovery." "A GDP of almost $72bn now waiting for $3bn to recover? Will the IMF come through or not? Samuel Becket's play, "Waiting for Godot," is on my mind. After months of speculation, Ghana announced on July 1, 2022, that it was going to the IMF to seek support. Subsequently, in December 2022, the government reached a staff-level agreement with the fund as part of the processes leading to a bailout. It promised the deal would be sealed at the end of March 2023, but it appears there are still a lot of things the Fund demands from the country before the deal can be granted. Ellen Ama Daaku, NPP Communications team member 07.04.2023 LISTEN Ellen Ama Daaku, a member of the Communications team of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has defended President Akufo-Addo's decision to appoint family and friends to his administration. He said their qualifications and ability to perform should be the focus, not their relationship to the President. Speaking on Accra-based TV3, Daaku chastised those who have been critical of the so-called "family and friends" government, stating that competence should be the only determining factor in their appointment. He cited Joyce Bawa Mogtari, an aide to former President Mahama, who served as the Deputy Minister of Transport under the former President was able to perform her duties well based on her competences. I dont see the need to attack President Akufo-Addo just because he is working with his family and friends," Daaku said."So you cant say family members who are qualified cant do the work unless they are not. They are Ghanaians. Were you expecting him to use his enemies?" When asked if the Finance Minister, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta who is the Presidents cousin qualifies to be at post, she replied, yes, since he has been there for the past six years. 07.04.2023 LISTEN Mr. Samuel Pyne, known affectionately as Sam Pyne, Mayor of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), has reiterated his decision to lead the Suame constituency in the 2024 Parliamentary polls. His dream may be shuttered following the directive by the party to ban all MMDCEs from contesting constituencies that has sitting NPP MPs. General Secretary of the party Justin Frimpomg Koduah in a statement announced the timeline for its internal elections. The statement indicated that the National Council further barred National-Regional, Constituency Party Executives, and MMDCEs from contesting in constituencies where the party has sitting members of parliament. However, it is reported that Mr. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, the lawmaker will not be contesting the Suame seat anymore. If that happens, Sam Pyne noted in an interview with Kumasi-based Angel FM that it will be an opportunity for him to pursue his parliamentary ambition. "The new law states that if you are an MMDCE, you can't contest, and people are not clear with that. It is applicable to places where there is a sitting MP. For instance, though I have the intention to contest for the Suame seat, if Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu says he will contest again, I will have to resign. "But if he says he is not going to contest, then I will go," Sam Pyne told Kwame Tanko, the host of 'Angel in the Morning.' A heavy rainstorm has destroyed resident halls of the Gbewa College of Education. The situation has displaced students who also had the items destroyed. The rainstorm which started at 5pm and lasted about 30minutes on Wednesday 5th April, 2023 destroyed the College's auditorium, library, lady's dormitory, lecturer bawglows, summer-hats, fence wall and half of the administration block. Also, container shops, primary schools, health centres and houses were not spared. Gbewaa College of Education is among the Colleges in Ghana with limited and dilapidated structures. The school campus already lacks a lot of infrastructure including poor road networks. The windstorm has worsened the situation. The principal of the College, Dr Halidu Musah, said if there is no done immediately and there is another rainstorm nothing will be left to salvage on campus. He said almost all the buildings on the campus are affected. Dr Halidu Musah appealed to spirited individuals, NGOs, foundations and government to immediately intervene and assist in putting back the destroyed properties. The National Disaster Management Organisation NADMO in Pusiga District has since started assessing the extent of damage and data collection. In an interview with the Pusiga District Director of NADMO Emmanuel Awinimi, he described the situation as serious. He said the Gbewa College of Education is hard hit by the storm in the area. According to him, every building in the school is affected by the storm. Mr. Emmanuel Awinimi said he has directed his Zonal Directors across the district to report to his outfit the extent of damage in the entire District. 07.04.2023 LISTEN What will you do if you come home after a long tiring day at work just to find out that you have lost all your hard-earned property due to someones interest? How you feel is exactly how Mother Ghana feels when we abuse her resources. A lot has been happening that affects our nation. As citizens, we need to stand against it to make our motherland great and strong. In as much as there are patriotic citizens like Kofi Annan, Kwame Nkrumah, and even in our current times, Christian Atsu who helped to make our motherland happy and content, there are also others who are helping to paint our nation black, either due to ignorance or their intention. This, as a matter of fact; is why we need to do more education. I will be penning down some of our activities that affect the nation and how to improve them. As citizens, we must obey and abide by our laws. How will it feel if a foreigner comes to our country, violates the laws and when you try insisting on the right change being done, you are defeated because you dont obey the laws yourself? Since some of us do not obey the laws, theres no way we can condemn others who break the law. Now, how do we obey and protect our laws? We must first be a good example before we educate others. We also must report lawbreakers. Never cover up someones crime because that person is your friend. Always report people for them to be corrected and for peace to prevail in society. When we go to our Senior High Schools, for instance, students cover each other for crimes committed with the notion that when they reveal the truth to authorities, they are betraying their colleagues and they use the term Sell- out to classify this action. Furthermore, we must respect the rights and freedom of other of others. Yes, we all have our rights and freedoms as citizens but would be happy if your rights are trampled upon by your neighbor because he has the freedom to do so? Let us respect the rights of others because the Bible says Do unto others as you want others to do unto you. Just like the way you do not want your peace to be disturbed, others do not want their peace to be interrupted too. Theres one neighbor of mine who always played music at a loud volume. To him, he had the right and freedom to do so however, this affected the people around him and he cares less. A bold citizen confronted him and instead of this neighbor of mine listening to the advice given to him, he insulted the citizen that he can do anything he wants since he is also a citizen of our country. My neighbor was arrested and fined when the citizen reported him. Do you see? Even though he had the right and freedom, that does not mean he could trample on the rights of others and this caused his punishment. Last but not least, keeping the environment clean must be our number one priority as citizens of Mother Ghana. Do you know that you and I are the government? Shocking, right? We always say that the government should do this, the government should do that, and the government should keep our environment clean and a whole lot. We must however do all these things by ourselves as we are our government. Keeping Ghana is our main responsibility which we have failed and we blame our appointed officials. We must not litter the environment and we must clean our already filthy environment. This is not something we must be told to do but we must do it out of our hearts and if the country develops, it is for our good. I once visited the Parliament House with a few schoolmates and three teachers. A colleague gave a statement that surprised me when we were walking on the compound and the place was so neat that not even a single piece of plastic was found around. My colleagues statement was Parliamentarians are bad people because they have made their environment clean and tidy whereas ours is dirty and unkempt. I mean, how can we think like that? I replied that their environment is clean because they dont litter about, they maintain neatness and it is therefore up to us to do the same. Lovely citizens, as a government, we need to make our country the way we want it to be. In a nutshell, there are more negatives than positives and this is very heartbreaking. I, therefore, entice all to help make our nation a lively place to be and not wait for officials. Remember, we report wrongdoers because we love them and want them to be corrected and not to betray them. I pray you, take this missive to heart and practice everything I said as it will benefit us all. Wont you be happy to live in a peaceful environment that resonates with fairytale features? That future starts from us and now. Thank you. DOROTHY KORAMAH ADU, PRESBYTERIAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, MAMPONG, AKUAPEM. 07.04.2023 LISTEN In recent times, there have been a lot of hues and cry on the alarming phenomenon of examination malpractices by candidates. Whilst some people look at some of these issues from the point of causes and solutions, others rightly point to factors such as poor or inadequate student preparation and the proliferation of technological gadgets like the cell phone and the internet. I will look at some of the many reasons that make cheating a menace. The Oxford Students Dictionary defines cheating as the act of doing things in a dishonest way to gain an advantage. This way of doing things stands against our moral and ethical principles as Ghanaians or adults who want to be counted among the beloved of God, should shun away from cheating to avoid disobeying the commandments. Additionally, candidates should avoid cheating because of the many disastrous impacts it leaves on them. When a candidate is caught cheating in exams, the laws of the land spell out a variety of sanctions to be meted out to the person. For instance, one could be dragged to the law court and charged with fraud. Whilst in some cases, an entire school could have its examination result canceled, a clear case of one bad nut spoils the soup. Another equally important reason why candidates need to avoid cheating is the fact that it defeats and makes nonsense of the idea that an examination is a sure way of evaluating a students performance. Cheating makes it difficult for teachers and examiners to know the actual performance of students and can sometimes result in the selection of bad students in place of good ones and thereby reducing the quality of human resources in our country. Whilst lowering the level of competition in the area of learning, cheating also gives an undue advantage to a few privileged students over the many disadvantaged students who may not have the opportunity to cheat. Cheating increases the stress level of students. An examination is stressful as one has to learn within a short time. When a student tries to cheat, apart from making mistakes in the examination, they have to focus on not getting caught. This is a complete waste of energy. The time one has to use to cheat in an examination could be used to study the topics they are supposed to learn. Cheating increases stress levels without leaving any positive impact on the students performance. Penultimate, cheating in the examination can lead the student to lose respect and dignity from students and teachers. Normally in most schools, if one is seen to be very intelligent and smart, he or she would be given the maximum respect and dignity and even be respected to teach his colleagues who find difficulty in some subjects. When one becomes a cheat, however, the person loses respect and dignity. Ultimately, cheating leads to addiction. Some students developed the habit of cheating at a very tender age and have learned a lot of techniques in mastering the practice. This makes them think that they cannot achieve anything without cheating and this has led to low self-esteem among students. This is the reason why cheating in the examination must be avoided at all costs. The fact that cheating in an examination violates moral and religious principles has very miserable effects on its perpetrators, has the power to reduce the quality of human resources in a country, increases the stress levels of students, leads to loss of respect and dignity, leading to addiction and level of competition in schools, makes some of us believe that the time has come for a serious war to be waged against cheating, and it is now. TETTEH HUNO VERA NHYIRA 3 GENERAL ARTS 2 MAMPONG PRESBYTERIAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL (HEAD GIRLS DINNING HALL PREFECT) A Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Gyampo, has taken a swipe at the National Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Stephen Ayensu Ntim, for defending the government's excessive borrowing. In a Facebook post, Prof. Gyampo slammed NPP's National Chairman for defending the indefensible. According to him, the facts regarding government's excessive borrowing were already established by the government's own statistics shared with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). "Whether this regime has borrowed more or not, is settled by the governments own statistics shared with the IMF. So why would a party chair who doesnt manage our finances say something contrary? Must everything be defended?" Prof. Gyampo wrote. It comes after Stephen Ayensu Ntim addressed the media, commending President Nana Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Bawumia for managing Ghana's economy despite the crisis. Ntim maintained that the NPP government increased the country's debt stock by about 304 percent which include the cost of the banking sector cleanup, energy sector debt payment and COVID-19 debt. "The 304 percent of the total accumulated debt under this government includes the cost of the banking sector cleanup, energy sector debt payment, and COVID-19 debt," Ntim noted. Ntim also compared the public debt stock of the Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration, stating that it had increased the debt stock from GH9.7 billion in 2009 to GH122 billion in 2016, citing an 819 percent increase. The NDC inherited a debt stock of GH9.7 billion in 2009; by 2016, they increased it to GH122 billion. That represents 819 percent growth in the debt stock, he stated at the presser on Tuesday, April 4. French President Macron's three-day visit to China has so far seen a strengthening of economic and cultural ties, but no firm commitments on Chinese mediation in the Ukraine war one of the trip's main objectives. European planemaker Airbus said Thursday that it will double its production capacity in China, as it seeks to bolster its footprint in a crucial market and sidestep potential geopolitical risks. Asia, and China in particular, are key targets for both Airbus and its American rival Boeing, which are looking to capitalise on surging demand for air travel by a rapidly expanding middle class. "It makes a lot of sense for us, as the Chinese market keeps growing, to be serving local for the Chinese airlines, and probably some other customers in the region," said Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury, who is accompanying President Macron. Faury later signed a framework agreement to build a second final assembly line (FAL) at its factory in Tianjin, northeast China, for Airbus's hugely popular A320 family of medium-haul jets, at a ceremony attended by Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The new assembly line will begin operations in late 2025. Historic ties Coinciding with the French leader's visit to China, the Palace of Versailles signed a deal with the Forbidden City in Beijing for a 2024 exhibition about historic ties between France and China. The exhibition, due to run 1 April to 30 June next year, will focus on how ties were forged in the 17th and 18th centuries, especially under king Louis XIV and emperor Kangxi with the arrival of French Jesuit priests at the Chinese court in 1685. It was originally planned for 2020 but was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Coming 60 years after France re-established diplomatic ties with China, the show "is a sign of confidence for the future and the dialogue between our two cultures," Catherine Pegard, the head of Versailles, told French press agency AFP. She said it would bring together objects from both collections to show how exchanges between the two countries fostered French interest in Chinese philosophy, science and art. And Ukraine? On Friday, the last day of Macron's three day visit, the president will travel to the southern city of Guangzhou to meet local students. He is accompanied by a cultural delegation including electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre, who was the first western musician to stage a pop concert in the People's Republic of China in 1981. It is unclear if the visit of Macron and Von der Leyen will result in China's president Xi Jinping actively engaging in attempts to bring peace between Russia and Ukraine, one of the major objectives of the trip. China has published a 12-point peace proposal, but this was criticised by the US and received a lukewarm reception from Ukraine. Moscow has poured cold water on prospects of Beijing's mediation in the Ukraine crisis, insisting on Thursday it had "no choice" but to press on with its offensive. "Undoubtedly, China has a very effective and commanding potential for mediation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "But the situation with Ukraine is complex, so far there are no prospects for a political settlement." According to a French diplomat, Xi expressed a willingness to speak with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, but only when the time is right. As a follow-up on the Macron-von der Leyen visit, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, is due to visit China next week from 13 to 15 April. (with AFP) It was a murder that shaped modern South Africa. On April 10, 1993, Chris Hani, a hugely popular anti-apartheid activist, was gunned down by a white supremacist -- a killing that almost plunged the country into a race war and resounds to this day. As anger within South Africa's black majority reached boiling point, Nelson Mandela appealed for calm on national television. But the crisis also accelerated negotiations to end white rule, forcing the government to make concessions. A year later, South Africa held its first free, democratic, multi-racial elections. "When (Hani) died, he sparked something in South Africa," political commentator Justice Malala, who has penned a book on the murder, told AFP. Three decades on, a mix of nostalgia, grief and rancour permeate preparations to commemorate the slain hero, as the nation contends with stark inequalities and corruption scandals. "Chris Hani is almost the antidote of what South Africa has become," Malala said. "He represents in the South African mind the idea of freedom and freedom fighters being, perhaps naively, people of high principle of integrity, of service." Sophocles, Communism and religion Chris Hani was shot dead in the driveway of his home in eastern Johannesburg in 1993. By WALTER DHLADHLA (AFP) The leader of the South African Communist Party (SACP) at the time of his death, Hani was born in 1942 to a poor family in the southern Eastern Cape province. He attended a Catholic school and toyed with the idea of becoming a priest, according to Malala. He went on to study Latin and classical literature at university, and quickly got involved in the liberation movement. Hani was of one the first to join Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC) and he soon gained a reputation for challenging the ANC leadership. "He always raised the issues of the ordinary soldiers," Solly Mapaila, the current head of the SACP told AFP. After organising and taking part in guerrilla operations abroad, he became MK's chief of staff and officially returned to South Africa after the ANC and the SACP were unbanned in 1990. A charming man who could talk Sophocles with political opponents and religion with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Hani "very quickly established himself as someone who could articulate the frustrations of young and poor people," said Malala. "He was the most popular leader in the country after Mandela". Janusz Walus, pictured at a hearing in 1997 where he appealed unsuccessfully to be amnestied for the murder. By WALTER DHLADHLA (AFP) Aged 50, he was shot dead in the driveway of his home in eastern Johannesburg, by far-right Polish immigrant Janusz Walus. Walus was released on parole in December last year in a decision described as "diabolical" by Hani's widow, Limpho. Unanswered questions Walus's and his accomplice, Clive Derby-Lewis, had hoped to spark a racial conflict but were quickly arrested. Questions about Chris Hani's killing remain and conspiracy theories abound. By Phill Magakoe (AFP) Yet questions about the killing remain, and conspiracy theories, involving anyone from the secret services to the ANC, abound. This week, the SACP called for a fresh inquest into the murder. "There were many... factors that were not properly investigated," Mapaila said. "We need to know the truth." Mapaila is among some who believe Hani embodied a vision of radical transformation, including a redistribution of land and resources, that has faded from view. Decades after the end of white rule, South Africa remains "a dual economy with one of the highest and most persistent inequality rates in the world," according to the World Bank. The government's "addiction" to "liberal economic reforms" was "dishonouring" Hani's memory, said Mapaila, who has threatened to break up the SACP's decades-long alliance with the ANC if the latter does not agree to a more leftist economic agenda ahead of elections next year. Meanwhile, South Africans have grown ever more despondent at the state of a country battered by a stagnant economy, mounting crime, dizzying unemployment rates and blackouts. Many blame, at least in part, graft and corruption, yearning for a time when leaders like Hani seemed selfless and uninterested in clout and privilege. Hani himself was "very suspicious of his own comrades and what they might do when they got to power," said Malala. He was not afforded the opportunity to put his teachings to the test. A commemorative event is to take place on Monday morning near Boksburg, where Hani's tomb and memorial site are located. ANKARA, TURKIYE || Communities in Turkiye continue to deal with the aftermath of February's devastating earthquakes. Despite the Government of Turkiye declaring six additional provinces as disaster areas in the past week, some key sectors of the emergency and recovery response remain dangerously underfunded, including health two months later. With health facilities and workers greatly affected by the earthquakes, as well as more than 100,000 people injured, the international community must prioritize support for Turkiyes health care system as the country perseveres on the long road to recovery, said Martin Legasse, the International Organization for Migrations (IOM) Senior Emergency Coordinator in Turkiye. An estimated 500 health care workers were among those who tragically lost their lives during the earthquakes; hundreds have been injured and thousands left without a place to call home. IOM is providing temporary accommodation solutions for health care workers to facilitate the Ministry of Healths continuity of care for earthquake survivors. With support from the Government of the USA, IOM has ensured the delivery of shelters to accommodate 800 health care workers. The Organization will expand this support by providing 56 containers to Hatay, one of the provinces hit hardest by this disaster. Health care workers have been an essential part of the earthquake response in Turkiye, working day and night as first responders and as drivers of long-term recovery and wellbeing, said Dr Sadk Cayan, a doctor and a key national staff member of the IOMs health team in the earthquake zone. Many health care workers were themselves affected by the disaster and have put saving the lives of vulnerable people in their communities above everything else. This World Health Day, we need to celebrate them and their dedication. In addition to primary health care, IOM is also providing community-based mental health and psychosocial support services to affected communities and co-leading coordination with WHO within the humanitarian community at the central level, as well as in field hub locations. Recovery should not just be viewed as reconstruction alone but also providing those affected by this disaster with the psychological, social and economic support to rebuild their lives, said Legasse, IOM's Senior Emergency Coordinator. In February, IOM appealed for USD 110 million to help communities affected by the earthquakes in southeast Turkiye. While the shelter and non-food item sector has received generous support from the international community as a result of the urgent need to accommodate millions of people, IOMs appeal for the health sector, totalling USD 5.5 million, is underfunded. As urgent funds are needed, IOM calls on the international community to back its multisector operations. 07.04.2023 LISTEN Perhaps, Digital Security Act-2018 (DSA) is the most discussed law in the past few years. The narrative regarding it is also perhaps the most dichotomous. While the dissidents and anti-establishment activists coin it as a draconian law, the ruling party activists try to defend it. It seems the outlook regarding the law is now between the devil and the deep blue sea. The latest Prothom Alo incident and fragmented response from the journalist society at the national level have further ignited the debate. But between two fires, amending is the best way. From ICT Act to DSA As Information and Communication Technologies spread rapidly, the government introduced ICT Act 2006. But the law had several weaknesses. Only 426 cases were filed between 2006-2013. In 2013, the law was amended and the result was visible. In 2017, 568 cases were filed under the ICT act; and in 2018, the number increased to 676. However, the law still had limitations, as hardly any cases were solved. To address the limitations of the ICT Act and address emerging security threats, the government introduced DSA in 2018. Such laws to ensure security in cyberspace is common around the world. Take, for instance, Indias ICT Act 2000. During the formulation process, the government engaged stakeholders such as civil societies and prominent journalists in developing the draft bill. However, upon enactment, the law became a tool for many misuses that one cant deny. Arbitrary arrest, vague FIR, dilly-dally investigation, non-bail and same-old delay in prosecution produced many controversial events at the national level. Soon, the law became known as draconian law. But the image of misuse is also inflated. The Center for Governance Studies (CGS) published a report on DSA cases that presented a grim picture of the use of the law. But the data also shows something interesting. According to CGS, 3000 people faced lawsuits since 2018 under DSA. Among them, 280 are journalists (9.25%) and 287 are politicians. The rest 2400 are of various backgrounds. Another CGS report also shows that 115 cases were filed on religious sentiment while 44 cases were filed for financial fraudulence and 74 cases were filed on harassment. It seems the number of journalists suggests that the wholesale narrative of repressive use may not be as strong as depicted. Moreover, the law is important to safeguard issues related to religious sentiment, tackle financial fraudulence and strictly curb cyber harassment, especially for women. Do the Law Aim at Journalists? Not necessarily, the law was formed to curb the free speech of contrarians or target journalists. The stakeholders- including civil society and journalists involvement suggest that there was a necessity of the law. However, the initial ambiguities in details, the lack of proper technical knowledge among enforcers regarding the law, and the old culture of dilly-dally investigation created scope for misuse. Moreover, in the era of post-truth politics, due to a wide range of fabrication done intentionally or unintentionally, rampant propaganda, and misinformation campaign, journalistic work has become more complicated. Copyright laws and press laws also require journalists to maintain rigorous methods and procedures. A slight lack of standard methods often turns a good story into false news. Unfortunately, in Bangladesh, journalists at both local and national levels quite often fail to maintain such standards. Take, for instance, the Prothom Alo incident. Even if we consider the DSA case against the newspaper as a draconian act, Prothom Alo surely violated the copyright and press law related to captioning. It failed to clearly state what their picture is stating, leaving room for ambiguity. Many Bangladeshi media often infringe copyright laws by failing to source properly. There is an indifference to maintaining best practices. As a result, Journalists often face lawsuits for defaming or falsehood. Like journalists, politicians also walk on thin ice. Their aggressive rhetoric often ends up hurting sentiments or harassing individuals or groups. But there is no denying that loopholes in laws are often used worldwide to suppress dissident voices. Yet, controlling freedom of expression is not the primary target here; instead, the loopholes and inefficient enforcement are the reasons behind the harassment of journalists and political leaders. An amendment, not Repeal should be The Activism DSA is important for safeguarding emerging security threats in cyberspace. It is primarily aimed at preventing the spread of extremism, terrorist propaganda, hatred against religious or ethnic minorities, financial fraudulence, and harassment through social media, print media, or any other electronic media. Almost all houses with digital footprints face fraudulence, or harassment in some part of their life in cyberspace. So, repealing DSA means there is no law for them to resort to. It will only deprive the victims of legal support. Mainly, the loopholes and poor enforcement, and a few irrational features such as non-bail are the reason behind the misuse that needs amendment. The global view on the current state of DSA also calls for amendment rather than abolishment. UN Rights Chief Volker Turk also called Bangladesh to amend the law during the 52nd Human Rights Council Session. The Rights Chief has also sent a technical note to the law ministry regarding the law. The government should also consider the amendment to safeguard dissident voices. Therefore, an amendment should be the middle ground among the activists and the government, considering the necessity of the law. Shafiqul Elahi is a retired Government Official of Bangladesh For the people of Bangladesh and Myanmar, there is positive news. It appears that the tense relations between Myanmar and Bangladesh are beginning to heal. According to pro Myanmar government newspaper, Global New Light Of Myanmar, a dinner party marking the successful export of high-quality rice to Bangladesh was held in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday (April 05, 2023) The event was attended by Union Ministers Dr Kan Zaw, U Maung Maung Ohn, U Hla Moe and U Aung Naing Oo, Deputy Ministers U Kyaw Myo Htut, Daw Than Than Lin, Dr Aung Gyi and U Nyunt Aung, permanent secretaries, chairpersons of the Myanmar Rice Federation, Myanmar Rice Miller Association, Myanmar Rice and Paddy Traders Association, vice-chairpersons, executive members, entrepreneurs and invitees. During the ceremony, Union Minister for Commerce U Aung Naing Oo said Myanmar and Bangladesh signed an MoU on rice trade under the G-to-G pact. Then, Permanent Secretary Md Ismiel Hossail of the Ministry of Food of Bangladesh made a speech via the video clip and Myanmar Rice Federation Chairman U Ye Min Aung also remarked. Afterwards, all attendees had dinner together. Takes no account of current plight of rice farmers in Rakhine State The Minister of Commerce, U Aung Naing Oo, announced that the exportation of rice grown in Rakhine State to Bangladesh will be allowed to be increased. According to Military Council-controlled newspapers on April 4th, the Minister confirmed that a shipment of 200,000 tons of rice in total, including 2,500 tons grown in Rakhine State, has already been exported to Bangladesh. Additionally, the Minister expressed plans for more rice exports from Rakhine State to Bangladesh in the future. On April 3rd, during a meeting of the Working Committee on Social Economic Development in the Rakhine Region, the Minister delivered that statement at the meeting hall of the Ministry of Commerce in Naypyidaw. However, the Minister did not elaborate on how many more tons of rice will be allowed to be exported. U Khin Maung Gyi, Vice President of Rakhine Economic Initiative Public Co., Ltd (REIC), commented that granting the permission to export rice produced in Rakhine State via Sittwe will prove to be beneficial for the local farmers and millers. Currently the majority of rice produced in Rakhine State is stuck within the domestic market, with most of it being exported to Yangon and regions bordering China. After subtracting general and travel expenses, the profit for Rakhine rice traders is often lower than expected. However, if the rice grown in Rakhine is permitted to be exported to Bangladesh or India, which are closer, stronger business opportunities will emerge, ultimately benefiting Rakhine State. Thats my opinion, he told Narinjara. U Khin Maung Gyi cautioned, On the other hand due to the low inventory of rice held by farmers, these opportunities may result in greater benefits for rice entrepreneurs than for the farmers themselves. According to the Arakan Farmers Union, the last rice planting season in Rakhine State saw a decrease in rice yield of approximately 40 percent, as only 800,000 acres of land were able to be planted, due to the increased cost of importing fuel and other raw materials. A Pauktaw farmer provided a good insight into the real situation on the ground commenting, The rice that we are able to grow and produce was barely sufficient for our own consumption, leaving us with no surplus to sell. After factoring in the expenses of labor hire, fuel, and fertilizer, there is almost no profit remaining. The remaining rice is solely meant for subsistence. Bangladesh and Myanmar governments were able to sign a memorandum of understanding to facilitate rice trading between the neighboring countries, on September 7th, 2017.Following the signing of the memorandum of understanding, Myanmar exported a total of 200,000 tons of rice, which included 2500 tons produced by Rakhine State, to Bangladesh. Bangladesh's relations with Myanmar are deteriorating over the Rohingya issue. The largest influx of Rohingya refugees from the country to escape persecution by Myanmar's military began in August 2017. However, in the midst of this tension, the two countries have continued bilateral trade relations to meet the needs of their domestic market. It is heard the term Myanmar-Bangladesh rice diplomacy recently through media platforms. The use of rice as a diplomatic tool has received global media coverage. despite Myanmar-Bangladesh tensions. There is nothing new to say about the influence of food on politics. It is really appreciable that Myanmar and Bangladesh have already started rice diplomacy to mend the ties. Now, time will say how fruitful Myanmar-Bangladesh rice diplomacy would be. Myanmar and Bangladesh have started practicing their rice diplomacy. Myanmar supplies to Bangladesh will deepen their ties. This can be a great effort by both sides to build good relations with the Bangladeshi and Myanmar governments. It will also build good bilateral relations between the people of Bangladesh and Myanmar. In the short term, the new generation on both sides wants better relations in terms of economy, tourism, etc. There may be some problems between Bangladesh and Myanmar. However, these issues (Rohingya refugees and border issues) should be properly addressed by both sides. Bangladesh is going to become the economic miracle of South Asia. Bangladesh is praised by the international community in every international forum. Ping-pong diplomacy led by China and the United States was set up to strengthen their relationship. We can also expect another application of ping-pong diplomacy similar to rice diplomacy. Paddys diplomacy is a small initiative but its significance is huge. This small initiative will turn into a great achievement for both parties. A high-level official visit could be a step to strengthen ties. The two prime ministers may exchange visits to normalize relations. This is good news for Myanmar and Bangladesh. We can see the rice trade between the two countries as an accessory to bilateral diplomacy. Their expectation is that this commercial relationship can play a major role in solving the ongoing crisis between Bangladesh and Myanmar regarding the Rohingya. Harunur Rasid is a London-based Bangladeshi expatriate. A Bangladesh, Myanmar affairs observer, analyst, and researcher. Liberia has accepted a United States Governments invitation to join the Atlantic Cooperation Initiative, a Forum of African, Caribbean, European, and American states that share coastlines with the Atlantic ocean. The announcement was made by the Commissioner of the Liberia Maritime Authority, Lenn Eugene Nagbe, during a meeting at the U.S. State Department on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, with Ambassador Jessica Lapenn - the U.S. coordinator of the body. The Commissioner emphasized Liberia's commitment to formalize its membership in the soonest possible time - as the country with the 2nd largest shipping registry in the world - while stressing the need to further strengthen the organization. The LiMA boss also lamented insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea due to piracy and other transnational crimes, which, he said pose a threat not just to maritime transport but coastal communities of the Atlantic states. He highlighted the need for all member states to work towards ensuring safety for the global maritime trade. He said this is essential not only to ensure unhindered movement of vessels but also the protection of the environment. "The Atlantic Cooperation Initiative is an effective platform that can address the nexus of maritime crimes, environmental degradation, and terrorism which continue to plague the Atlantic," Commissioner Nagbe said. During the meeting, the U.S. official thanked Liberia for accepting to join the cause to protect the oceans from nefarious elements. She said the United States looks forward to working with Liberia as a preeminent member of the Atlantic Cooperation Initiative. Speaking earlier, Foreign Minister Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah reiterated Liberia's commitment to performing its role as a respectable member of the international community through its stance on global issues. He described US-Liberia relations as strategic and mutually beneficial. Dr J Scott Younger, International Chancellor of the President University, Honorary Senior Research Fellow of the Glasgow University and member of IFIMES Advisory Board 07.04.2023 LISTEN Thirteen months into the war in Ukraine and it is effectively stalemate, although there remains bitter confrontation around the town of Bakhmut as well as an almost daily arrival of missiles or armed drones, although most of these are shot down before they cause harm. Four people were killed in the last foray in the Kyiv surrounds. Putin cannot win the war in this way, which he knows. He has just had a visit from President Xi Jinping of China to show that he still enjoys Xis support, except in the form of direct military assistance, which he needs. China is ostensibly trying to broker a peace deal. They are embarrassed by this war; it is affecting Chinas trade, not just with Ukraine, but other countries as well, particularly if these nations have sympathy for Ukraine. However, a peace deal usually would require a measure of compromise on behalf of the warring parties. And Ukraine has, with some justification, says that Russia has to withdraw entirely from any Ukrainian lands they have taken. Russia would therefore have no land-take as a result for all the trouble and damage, never mind acts of genocide that some of their troops have perpetrated. Just in the last few days, President Vladimir Putin has been put on alert that he is wanted by the High Courts Commission in The Hague, Netherlands, for war crimes, including genocide, carried out under his war instructions to the army in Ukraine. In fact, he and his henchmen are to be put on trial for the Crime of Aggression, the ultimate crime as defined at the Nuremberg tribunal after WWII. He is also guilty of deporting thousands of children, away from their families in Mariupol, to east Russia. He hopes to brainwash these youngsters into thinking that Mother Russia is saving them from purgatory. This is arguably the worst crime, the sheer hell that the parents must face daily. The chances of being caught and deported to face the charges are very slim before he dies, assuming that the Kremlin does not waken up to reality and depose him, which does not seem likely in the present circumstances. There are not many countries where he would be welcomed, however. The case of Slobodan Milosevic, the Serbian leader, was one of the last high-profile persons to be successfully tried and convicted for war crimes, including genocide, in the Balkans war, especially Kosovo. Milosevic committed suicide. Nearly 3 decades have passed but the memory remains, just as Putins frightful crimes will never be forgotten, despite the fact that he cares about his legacy and hopes that he would be remembered as the great! Putin started this war and the preceding fight in Georgia. He looked back in history, and was steeped in Stalins days of the Soviet Union. He should have looked forward, seen what lay ahead in the world, a world which was rapidly changing. The population of Russia was already declining even before the Ukraine war. At least up to 600,000 of his people have fled since for safer lands, to the Stans in particular. The Kremlin cannot get them and force them into the military machine. However, Russia will continue to lose population, even without the war, and furthermore the population is aging. The numbers by mid-century of the population will be approximately down to 90 million and its power and influence, just as that of the other prominent countries of the past 3 centuries, will have declined. President Xi and his eye on Taiwan President Xi of China has declared his ambition to take over, or back as he sees it, Taiwan. The date for his move is looming, but China has a few problems to deal with, post covid pandemic. Is the pandemic really over in China? The economic growth of the country has slowed significantly, albeit so much of the worlds has also, causing some anxiety. The trade in goods overseas, on which the Chinese economy relies, can be upset. There is still the Uyghur problem, as he sees it. Against all human rights, the government is trying to brainwash the Uyghur people to give up their religion, Islam, and to follow the way of the government, authoritarian, a pseudo form of communism. The methods used are crude, where necessary, as those carrying out the re-education have a free hand to exert force as they please. Then there is the fear of fragmentation. There is considerable disparity of wealth between the cities along the Pacific coastline, such as Shanghai, and the significantly poorer interior. In short, governing China domestically is a complex job on its own. There is the little reported civil unrest in Myanmar, which could well generate into civil war. The tensions between the military, who usurped the popular civilian government headed by Aung San Su Chi over three years ago, are behaving disgracefully, rape, pillage and burning down villages. The largely Burman military has caused the people of the north, the Chins and Kachins, to rally and fight back. The same military which dealt with the Rohingya people the same ruthless way. The China government are quietly backing the military, making money on profitable mining operations, controlled by the military, near their joint border. This serious trouble in Myanmar, worries the rest of the countries in ASEAN, and is a problem the Chinese could well do without. ASEAN and China are another story. This discourse has wandered a long way from Vladimir Putin and his failing attempt to subjugate Ukraine. It has tried to show that China, the main ally of Russia in their special military operation, is keen, for their own reasons, to see an end to hostilities, or at least no expansion of them. They realise, however, that peace will not come easily, the Ukrainians and Russians are far apart in what they want. Right, of course, is on the side of the Ukrainians, the injured party. It would, of course, possibly be easier if Putin were no longer the President of Russia. Possible now he has a price on his head? President of the Spiritual Faith ECKANKAR Ghana, Mr. Aspect Caiquo has announced that the much anticipated ECKANKAR Spiritual ECK Seminar in August 2023 will teach participants and attendees how to pray and get your own answers from God. According to him, the event will be used to organise a public workshop targeting first timers or those coming to ECKANKAR for the first time. He noted that it will focus on "Getting your own answers from God." He mentioned that during religious public conferences like these, it is important to let people know the techniques on how to get their own answers from God. Mr. Aspect Caiquo made this known when he led a delegation made up of the leadership of ECKANKAR Ghana to pay a courtesy call on the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Stephen Asamoah Boateng at his Ministry in Accra on Thursday 6th April 2023. The Ministers team that welcomed and hosted the ECKANKAR Leadership included the Acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Madam Fati Lily Soale, the Hon. Ministers Special Assistant, Mr. Joojo Blankson and the Public Relations Officer for the Ministry Madam Mamle Ramani. The courtesy call, was meant among others, to formally invite Hon. Stephen Asamoah Boateng to participate in both the official launch of the spiritual seminar on May 9, 2023 and the main event from 25th to 27th of August 2023. Mr. Aspect Caiquo used the opportunity to enter into the spiritual aspects of some doctrines and teachings of the ECKANKAR spiritual faith. He mentioned that the organisation is one of the leading faith-based organisations in Ghana. Mr. Aspect Caiquo noted that the Spiritual Leader of ECKANKAR is Harold Klemp, the Mahanta, the Living ECK Master based in Minnesotta. Mr. Aspect Caiquo indicated that ECKANKAR Ghana was registered in Ghana in February 1976 and it is a chartered affiliate of ECKANKAR International in Minneapolis. "The Hosting of the ECK AFRICAN SOUL ADVENTURE SEMINAR usually rotates among countries but Ghana is hosting it for the second time after holding it in 2012. So come 25th to 27th of August 2023 Ghana is hosting this Spiritual African Seminar in Accra. "As customs demand and as we represent a Religious organisation, we believe that it is important we come to the Ministry that is responsible for Religious Affairs to inform the Minister officially," he said. He added that on the 9th of May 2023 ECKANKAR will inaugurate this huge seminar coming up in August. On the seminar itself, Mr. Aspect Caiquo stated that ECKANKAR Ghana is expecting to host about 5,000 to 7,000 attendees. "If we say God is a spirit and then we were created in the image and likeness of God, we have what it takes to also operate in that way except that you are looking at God representing your wishes. "So when we have events like these, we help people especially first timers to solve their own problems that's what it means by getting your own answers from God," he stated. He urged Ghanaians to get involved and participate in order to grow and fully explore spiritual development and upliftment. On his part, Asabee lamented that Ghanaians are losing their true spiritual identity and must make efforts to realign and reconnect their true selves and God on a different level. He commended the ECKANKAR Ghana President and his team for their immense religious and spiritual contributions to the nation. The Police, in collaboration with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), have arrested Philip Oteng Owusu Ansah, 40, for producing counterfeit drivers licenses and roadworthy certificates. A statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Friday said after conducting a thorough search on the suspect's residence, one Eminence Card printing machine, a hard drive, two pen drives, a card reader, and an Apple MacBook laptop were found. An HP monitor, 155 blank cards, four sets of ribbons, three driver licences, and specimens of holograms for both roadworthy certificates and drivers licences stored on his pen drive were also retrieved. The suspect was arrested when personnel from the underground squad of the National Operations Unit of the Ghana Police Service and the DVLA embarked on the swoop. Mr Ansah is currently assisting the police in investigations the statement said. It cautioned the public to be wary of individuals who claim to offer assistance in processing vehicle documents and drivers licences. They should ensure that they only deal with certified DVLA officials at designated DVLA offices for such services, it said. Persons who engage in such illicit activities should cease immediately, as the Authority is embarking on a nationwide swoop to arrest and prosecute such perpetrators. GNA 07.04.2023 LISTEN Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has wished all Christians around the World a Happy Easter. In a short statement on the occasion of Good Friday today, April 7, the Vice President admonished Christians to learn from the sacrifice illustrated by Christ to humanity and emulate it. I wish all Christians in Ghana and around the world a Happy Easter. As Christians commemorate the passion of Jesus Christ, I entreat all to learn from the sacrifice illustrated by Christ to humanity and emulate it to ensure cordial co-existence on earth, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia said. Aware of how extreme the festivities associated with the Easter Celebration can be, the Vice President has also charged every Ghanaian to be cautious to ensure there is an accident-free festive period. Lets have accident-free festive season, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia added in his statement on Facebook. Christians all over the world are celebrating Good Friday today, April. It is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. The Ghana Expo powered by the CN1 channel has held its maiden exhibition in Accra to bring together individuals, companies, and groups within the country to network and promote made-in-Ghana products. The two days (6th-7th, April 2023) exhibition dubbed Sound out Premium Art Exhibition for public viewing at La Plam Royal Beach Hotel saw over 30 exhibitors from the aviation sector, art and cultural sector, travel and tour sector, media, export and import sector, etc. The event was in line with celebrating and promoting emerging artists and well-known artists in the art space. According to the Chief Executive Officer of CN1 Channel and the brain behind Ghana Expo Mr. Kwabena Kumi Ofori Addo, the exhibition aimed to showcase made-in-Ghana goods to the rest of the world and to attract potential buyers and like-minded persons saw art enthusiasts, diplomats, and art collectors in the industry patronise the event. He urged the public to embrace art and reject the idea that it was only meant for the lower class. We must not see art as a programme for those who are less intelligent. In our current age, art is something that is gaining worldwide attraction, therefore it is appropriate that we position ourselves and encourage those who want to pursue it, he explained He also highlighted that works of art constituted about a billion dollars which Ghana can generate a lot of revenue if resources are channeled to the sector. He said, Platforms such as Sound Out would improve Ghanaian patronage, increase awareness of Ghanaian artworks, and aid in the sharing of market information for the benefit of local artists. Mr. Kwabena Kumi Ofori Addo stated that similar exhibition will be held on 17th-18th June in the USA, Bronx to showcase made-in-Ghana goods to the rest of the world. A file photo of a dark street in Accra 07.04.2023 LISTEN Light is very important factor in our every day lives as humans. Without light, theres nothing useful we can do as humans. I stand to be corrected. Light allows us to see the surrounding world by distinguishing details, individual colours, movement, brightness. In Ghana, we cant say or boast that our lighting system is completely solved and as Im writing this article on Wednesday, 6, 2023, we are currently under load management schedule (load shedding) for the maintenance of Ghana Gas Processing Plant Works. Now let me break it down, with regards to our streetlights which is been raised on the edge of a road or path, especially on highways. These streetlights provides a lot of benefits and I would like to state two and go straight to what I want to talk about. First and foremost, it can be used to promote security in urban areas and to increase the quality of life by extending the hours in which it is light, so that activity can take place. Also, street lighting also improves safety for drivers, riders, and pedestrians. This is because driving outside of daylight is more dangerous. In the principal street of Accra, the nations capital and the seat of government, most of the streetlights raised on the path of our road especially on our highways is totally not functioning yet taxpayers money are wasted on things which doesnt yield important results for them and the general public as well. On my way home from school, I noticed that the streetlights from the CID headquarters to Kwame Nkrumah circle (Ringway)are defective. Moreover, around Kaneshie first light, heading towards Dansoman junction, all the streetlights raised along the road has never been functioning. So Im asking; it is whos responsibility to ensure that our streetlights are functioning well? Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) or the Local Government? This is because, the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180) mandates the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA), or any other institution responsible for road infrastructure to provide and maintain street lights, the Local Government (Departments of District Assemblies) Instrument, 2009 (L.I 1961) mandates the assemblies to maintain the street lights. Meanwhile, all these institutions are cushioned with states fund and the workers, working in these institutions are being paid by the state yet they are sleeping on their job. Wake up! Enough of wasting the taxpayers money. Properly functioning street lights can drastically reduce the increasing number of armed robbery cases and thats a fact. Ghana continues to be a poor country when we do not put proper checks on the various institutions we have and keep them on their toes. As a student journalist, I pray my voice will heard and necessary action will be taken. A military tribunal in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday sentenced six men to life in prison for murdering Italy's ambassador in 2021, despite details about the killing remaining murky. Public prosecutors had originally sought the death penalty for the six accused calling them members of a "criminal gang". But the tribunal decided to sentence the Congolese men -- one of whom is on the run -- to life in prison. Lawyers for the accused told AFP they would appeal the verdict. Luca Attanasio was among three people shot dead on February 22, 2021, when a United Nations convoy was ambushed in the DRC's troubled east. The other fatalities were Congolese driver Mustapha Milambo, who worked for the United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP), and Italian police officer Vittorio Iacovacci. The three had been in a convoy of two WFP vehicles when they were ambushed about 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the eastern city of Goma, near the wildlife haven Virunga National Park. According to the account of the attack delivered before the tribunal, assailants blocked the car containing Attanasio and shot the driver, before leading the other occupants into the bush. Kidnap gone wrong Park rangers alerted to the attack then followed the group and exchanged fire with them. Vittorio Iacovacci, the ambassador's bodyguard, was killed on the spot. Attanasio was also shot and later died of his wounds in a hospital in Goma. The evening of the attack, the DRC's government blamed the FDLR -- a militia descended from Rwandan Hutu extremist groups that carried out the 1994 Tutsi genocide in Rwanda. Other officials cast the attack as an attempted kidnap-for-ransom gone wrong. The latter version of events won out when Congolese police arrested six suspects in January 2022, and they initially confessed to an attempted abduction. But the defendants denied their confessions at trial, arguing that they had been extracted under torture. Their lawyers also argued that there was a lack of hard evidence that the accused were involved in the killings, and pushed for acquittal. Million dollar ransom During the trial, the prosecution cast the defendants as criminals who had intended to kidnap the ambassador and demand a $1 million ransom. The prosecutors called no experts or witnesses to the stand in support of their case, however. After handing down the life sentences on Friday, the military tribunal also awarded damages to Italy, equivalent to $2 million dollars in Congolese francs. Much of eastern DRC is prey to armed groups, many of which are a legacy of regional wars that flared during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Militia attacks against civilians in the volatile region are common. The DRC has observed a de-facto moratorium on capital punishment since 2003, according to the UN, but courts continue to hand down death sentences. The French Foreign Ministry has given its "unwavering" support for both Israel's security and Lebanon's stability and sovereignty" after Israel responded with strikes to rockets launched from positions inside Lebanon. The Israeli military said its war planes hit 10 targets on Friday including tunnels and weapons-making sites belonging to the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The attacks were a response, it said, to a series of rockets fired from Lebanon into northern Israel on Thursday, which it blamed on Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip. Israeli-Palestinian tensions are running high following two nights of raids by Israeli police at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third holiest site, earlier this week. Police beat Palestinian worshippers, arresting and removing hundreds of people from the compound in what they said was an effort to remove agitators holed up in the mosque. The action drew condemnation across the Arab world. On Friday, Paris called on "all parties to show maximum restraint and avoid any action liable to lead to an escalation," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Francois Delmas. He reiterated France's "strong condemnation of the indiscriminate rocket fire that targeted Israeli territory from Gaza and southern Lebanon". 'Nobody wants an escalation' Despite militants firing rockets from Lebanon and Gaza and the Israeli air strikes, no other serious injuries were reported along the borders. Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque passed without major incidents. "Nobody wants an escalation right now," an Israeli army spokesman said. "Quiet will be answered with quiet, at this stage I think, at least in the coming hours." One official with a Palestinian militant group told Reuters news agency they were ready to keep the calm should Israel do the same, with the group having "made its point". The West Bank has seen a surge of confrontations in recent months, with near-daily military raids and escalating settler violence amid a spate of attacks by Palestinians. With the international-led peace process in tatters, Palestinians' hopes of creating an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza, with East Jerusalem as its capital, have faded. Israel's new hard-right government is set on expanding Israeli settlements in the West Bank and includes members who rule out a Palestinian state. Hamas for its part spurns coexistence with Israel. Over the past year, Israeli forces have made thousands of arrests in the West Bank and killed more than 250 Palestinians, including fighters and civilians. More than 40 Israelis and three Ukrainians have died in Palestinian attacks in the same period. (with wires) The Ashanti Regional Office of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), in collaboration with the Police, has arrested six persons in the Kumasi metropolis for dealing in fake herbal products. The swoop, which targeted dealers in unregistered herbal products, formed part of routine market surveillance conducted by the Authority to clamp down on perpetrators. The culprits, who have all been granted bail pending further investigations, include two community information centre operators and four herbal product dealers. Mr. John Laryea Odai-Tettey, the Regional Head of FDA, speaking to the media after the exercise, said the Public Health Act, 2012 mandated the FDA to ensure food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemical substances, blood, blood products, and tobacco were wholesome for public consumption. He said the Authority had the responsibility to ensure the safety and quality and standards of such products as prescribed by the Act. It is our responsibility to ensure that products under our regulation and being sold for public consumption and use are registered, and that is why we embark on market surveillance to check the safety of the products, he noted. He said beyond the registration of the regulated products, his outfit had the duty to keep an eye on the market to fish out persons producing sub-standard versions of registered products. Unfortunately, a lot of people do not go to accredited health facilities to seek healthcare, but rather patronise some of these products without verifying their safety, he pointed out. Mr Odai-Tettey said the activities of the perpetrators were inimical to public safety and called on the public to support the FDA to flush out such miscreants for the good of the general population. He said doors of the FDA were opened to manufacturers of herbal and other regulated products to submit their products for scrutiny to ensure they were safe for public consumption. He said failure by manufacturers to submit their products for verification amounted to the violation of the Act and cautioned that the FDA would go after such recalcitrant manufacturers in the interest of public health. He advised the public to patronise products from registered and recognised dealers such as pharmacies and licensed over-the-counter chemical sellers for their own safety. Wholesalers and retailers of herbal products must also ensure they purchase from licensed manufacturers in order not to be victims of the operations of the FDA, he stated. GNA French prosecutors have called for the trial of 14 people over the beheading of schoolteacher Samuel Paty by an Islamic extremist in 2020. Two adults face the charge of complicity in a terrorist murder. Six other adults and six minors under the age of 18 face lesser charges. The two facing the most serious charge have been named by police as Azim Epsirkhanov and Naim Boudaoud. Both were friends of the murderer, 18-year-old Abdullakh Anzorov, who was shot dead by police at the scene of Paty's killing. It is alleged that the pair accompanied Anzorov to buy the murder weapon, and that Boudaoud travelled with him to the school where Paty taught history and geography. A third friend of the murderer, Yusuf Cinar, faces the charge of membership of a terrorist gang. Prosecutors have also recommended charges of associating with terrorists for the father of a student at Paty's school, for a radical Islamic preacher, as well as for a Muslim convert who was in contact with Anzorov via Twitter. One of the accused, Abdelhakim Sefrioui, is known to the police as a radical islamist and is on the list of individuals suspected of posing a terrorist threat. He allegedly circulated a video on social media five days before Paty's murder, calling on parents of students at the school to call for the teacher's sacking. Caricatures of the prophet A 15-year-old girl, who allegedly told her parents that Paty had shown caricatures of the prophet in class, will be tried before a children's court. She will be charged with false accusation. Investigators have established that she never attended the course in which the caricatures were used. Five other minors, aged between 13 and 15 at the time of the attack, will be charged with membership of a gang planning violence, which is an offence, not a crime, under French law. They are suspected of having pointed out the victim to the murderer. Two of them are believed to have been paid for the information. Paty was targeted after messages circulated on social media saying he had shown cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed from the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo to his class. The 47-year-old used the magazine as part of an ethics class to discuss free speech laws in France, where blasphemy is not a criminal offence. The national anti-terrorist judicial authorities will now examine the evidence and decide whether or not to proceed with some or all of the charges. 07.04.2023 LISTEN Relationship Between Natural Resources and Conflicts Both Peace and Sustainable Natural Resource Management are integral parts of the United Nations interlinked Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Agenda 2030. According to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), natural resources are stocks of materials that exist in the natural environment that are both scarce and economically useful in production or consumption, either in their raw state or after a minimal amount of processing. They include renewable (water, land, forest, fish etc.) and depletable resources (minerals, metals, oil, diamonds, etc.). Access to natural resources is increasingly seen as a security threat in the twenty-first century. The High-Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change which was convened by the former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in 2004, iterated that commodity shortages can trigger social unrest and civil wars. In 2009, the United Nations Environmental Programmes (UNEP) Expert Advisory Group on Environment, Conflict and Peacebuilding found that there is significant potential for conflicts over natural resources to intensify in the coming decades Conflict arises when two or more groups believe their interests are incompatible. According to the United Nations Interagency Framework Team for Preventive Action, Conflict is not in itself a negative phenomenon. Non-violent conflict can be an essential component of social change and development, and is a necessary component of human interaction. Non-violent resolution of conflict is possible when individuals and groups have trust in their governing structures, society and institutions to manage incompatible interests. Conflicts however become problematic when societal mechanisms and institutions for managing and resolving conflict break down, giving way to violence. Societies with weak institutions, fragile political systems and divisive social relations can be drawn into cycles of conflict and violence. The Extractive Industries (EIs) present specific challenges for both fragile states and developing nations; the exploitation of non-renewable natural resources, including oil, gas, minerals and timber has often been cited as a key factor in triggering, escalating or sustaining violent conflicts around the globe. Violent conflict is most likely to occur: where local communities have been systematically excluded from decision-making processes; when the economic benefits are concentrated in the hands of a few; and, when the burdens associated with EIs clash with the local socio-cultural, religious and environmental norms, or choose to align with pre-existing tensions. Scarcity versus Abundance Natural resource conflicts arise when parties disagree about the management, distribution and or protection of natural resources and related ecosystems. Over the past 60 years, 40% of civil wars can be associated with natural resources; since 1990 there have been at least 18 violent conflicts fuelled by the exploitation of natural resources. (UNEP 2009) Resource conflicts typically occur together with other conflict items, such as: territory, regional predominance, system/ideology, autonomy and secession. The data also show that resources are the predominant conflict item in sub-Saharan Africa (32 out of 85, representing 38 percent) far more than in all other regions of the world. Rather than a blessing, much of the literature suggest that resource abundance increases the likelihood of resource-rich state to experience negative economic, political and social outcomes such as poor economic performance, low levels of democracy and bad governance resulting in conflicts and civil wars. In 1997, Jeffrey Sachs and Andrew Warner shockingly revealed in their article, Natural Resource Abundance and Economic Growth, that resource-poor economies often vastly outperform resource-rich economies in economic growth. the resource curse thesis is underpinned by three main hypotheses: resource abundance (particularly oil and gas) results in poor economic governance/performance; resource abundance results in low or weak democracy, leads to rent-seeking behaviour by the political elites and weak institutions (political governance); and lastly, resource abundance is associated with conflicts and civil wars. This article mainly focuses on the last one, observes natural resource exploitation in Ghana from a National Security perspective; identifies causes, driving factors and how effectively the menace can be controlled. Ghana: A potpourri of flora and fauna Like some other countries in different parts of the world, Ghana is endowed with a lot of natural resources. These resources can be processed to meet several needs of her citizens. The country boasts of rich wildlife, cash crops and bountiful flora and fauna. Most of these resources are available and harvested in commercial quantities. The latest to join the plethora of Ghanas blessings is crude oil, first discovered in commercial quantities in 2007. The prospects of Ghana producing petroleum resurrected the very important issue of Resource Curse, the notion of violence associated with resources and the human security problems often associated with the Extractive Industries. Resource conflict is one thing that has plagued some resource-rich communities in Ghana for centuries, though some may be severer than others. As a resource-endowed country, there should be (early warning) systems to guide and guard against resource related conflicts blowing into a full-blown violent conflict. The two major scenarios that can let resource lead to conflicts as pointed earlier is either the scarcity or abundance of it. In Ghanas situation, the latter is the case. The Nature of Natural Resource Conflicts in Ghana The most common natural resource conflict in Ghana is about land. Land-related conflicts in Ghana can be looked at in two broad ways, the usual bone of contention are acquisition and usage. The traditional use of land sparks conflicts on the grounds of who uses the land (acquisition) and for what purpose (usage). Example is the periodic farmer-herder (farmer- nomadic herdsmen) conflicts. Land acquisition related conflicts on the other hand, are prevalent in the peri-urban areas of the country. This often leads to long and winding legal clashes between multiple owners. This feeds into the issue of landguardism-a clear security threat. Multiple ownership of land is dotted across the length and breadth of the country and it is a testament of the somewhat cumbersome land tenure system existing in Ghana and a challenge to land administration officials. The extraction of both intrusive and extrusive minerals produce conflicts. Places like Rocky areas for quarrying, lands rich in mineral deposits like precious stones and wetlands for aquaculture, salt mining, the fetching of clay and sand wining are all potential flashpoints. Disagreements happen in these communities when resource extracting companies and the indigenous people or residents are engaged in accusations and counter accusations. This mostly happens due to lack of broad base consultation, participation (local content), disrespect towards custom and practice, culture, cherished values and low sensitisation or ignorance on both sides. Lumbering and Poaching also happens on a vast swathe of land in Ghana where vegetation abounds. The menace of illegal chainsaw operators and unscrupulous foresters often clash with the local folks (custodians of the land) and law enforcement agencies. Poachers of endangered species are also contributing agents to this flashpoint of violence. Drilling of crude oil offshore the country is the latest to be added to the resource management challenge or test case of Ghana. If exploited well the petrochemical industry can lift the country to a full fletched middle income economic status and beyond. However, it doesnt come without hiccups. Just a few years ago, the country legally battled her way out of a landmark court case initiated by her immediate western neighbour, La Cote dIvoire challenging the demarcation of the international boundary (Economic Exclusive Zone) thus claiming ownership of the oil fields been exploited by Ghana. Domestically the oil fields have not been immuned from causing disaffections. Accusations from fisher folks about the dwindling fish stock affecting their catch as a result of the drilling activities offshore keeps rising. So far, the possibility of oil spillage in the basin and the reality of dead marine mammals awashed ashore have occupied public discussion in the region. The issues of inadequate property and land compensation, pollution and general dissatisfaction about the expansion of the petrol-chemical industry onshore in the western region continue to soil relationship between the local people and the EIs. Some causes and contributing factors The causes of most of these conflicts are mainly human factors which includes but not limited to corruption, dishonesty, poor governance structure, weak institutional and legal framework. Others are improper or the lack of consultation/negotiation and participation. Ignorance (i.e. lack of education and sensitisation), cronyism/nepotism, weak local content regime and lack of institutionalism are also other factors. The effects of these conflicts on the communities are profound. In the worse scenarios the conflicts turn violent: citizens are maimed, livelihoods and properties are destroyed and regrettably human lives are lost. In the event where the police are called in during such clashes to instil calm, more often than not they are seen protecting the EIs while in some cases they shoot at the demonstrating or at times rioting citizens in a desperate move to disperse the mob. These among other unhealthy development further soils the relationship between the governed and the governor on the one hand and between the citizens/residents and the resource extracting companies on the other hand. This creates a tension-filled atmosphere in the mining communities. Mining communities are surprisingly impoverished across the country. What is being done? Government over the period have strived to strengthen the governance structure of the various institutions which have mandate or oversight responsibility over mining and resource exploitation in the country some of which are Environmental Protection Agency, the commissions of Land, Water Resource, Forestry and Minerals among others. Ghana as a country has a conducive legislative and adequate legal framework to harness her resources optimally. However the implementation of the rules to the letter has been a major challenge this dovetails into the issue of corruption. On the issues of local content and local participation, the country has thus by far performed poorly, evidently for example, for more than 100 years of continuous mining of gold and other precious stones in the country, all the large-scale mining companies are expatriate-owned. Ironically, Ghana is the biggest gold exporter in Africa. Education is the surest bet to defeating ignorance-no argument about that! In the light of sensitisation, Ghanaians are becoming more and more aware, conscious and knowledgeable about their environment so far as resource extraction is concern. However, this feat is defeated by the fact that many a times, poor or lack of; consultation, negotiation and the involvement of the host communities before the extraction of natural resources results in conflicts and at times violent clashes. Conclusion The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources with all the other Ministries and Government Agencies within the Natural Resource Management Framework must look at these issues from a national security perspective thereby considering Ghanas natural resources as a strategic national asset. Since people will revolt only when they feel cheated, the enforcement of the local content laws must be looked at with all seriousness. Good neighbourliness with the aim of preventing conflicts in the resource-tapping communities can only be achieved through tolerance, consultation, negotiation and credible corporate social activities from both sides. More importantly, there should be a deliberate and concerted public/government effort to harmonise and foster peaceful co-existence between the resource extracting companies and the host communities by a strong peer-peer engagement and effective early warning mechanism in place. In all, an unbiased and trustworthy judicial system will help instil the culture of Rule of Law in the citizenry. With this, whenever disagreements arise, people will not be quick to take arms but rather resort to the courts. It should not be lost on us that peace is a product of justice. By Joshua Kudzo-Norsaha [email protected] +233249303337 [An earlier version of this article was first published in the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College Magazine, The Flame in August 2022] Development cannot be sustainable if it is not pursued consistently with zeal and commitment towards the wellbeing of society and its people. The rate at which development in the Lawra Municipality paced under the charismatic leadership of the Hon Anthony Abayifaa Karbo was phenomenal. The good people of the Lawra Municipality will attest to this fact. Below are some massive improvements in the areas of health, education, Sanitation, security, Agriculture, social empowerment and the never-witnessed-before road infrastructure by Hon Anthony Abayifaa Karbo. In just four years as a legislator he *Lobbied for the upgrading of Lawra district into a municipality and the renovation of the Lawra Assembly block since it's construction by the Acheampong government. *Drilled over 160 boreholes in the Lawra Municipality with 40 averagely drilled in a year, with the drilling of 6 extra solar Mechanized boreholes at Zambo Tangpuori, Lissah, Birifoh Naayiri, Bagri and Kalsagri Nafiirnyuori. * Construction of an Astro turf in the Lawra stadium, the first of its kind. *The building of an ultra modern Assembly Hall at Lawsec and a six unit classroom block by GNPC at Lawra SHS. *Building of the Zambo Girls(ongoing), Building of a KG block at Zambo Tangpuori, Babile and Lawra Kuoli and Infrastructure upgrading at Birifoh SHS. * The taring of all Lawra town inner roads ; Yikpee, Kulbognour, Lawra NTC fire service road, Lowcost inner road, Hospital Road, Lowcost Sobaal Goil road, Bagri road and with many still under construction. *The building of a Neunatal centre in the Lawra Municipal hospital and fencing of the Lawra Municipal hospital. *Secured scholarship for about 80 students from the constituency some of whom are currently studying medicine in cuba. *Lobbied for a contract to connect about 38 communities to the national grid with some completed while others still ongoing. *Lobbied for the recruitment of over 60 people into the GES as non teaching staff. *Lobbied and got about 300 people recruited under the "youth in afforestation" project in the forestry commission. *Supported hundreds of students with cash to pay their school fees including one in Cuba studying Medicine. Lobbied for a TVET project to build a Technical school at Lawra Tolibri(Project has commenced). *Supported farmers annually with cash for tractor services, cutlasses, Wallington boots and fertilizer for farming. *Supported artisans like weavers, tailors and Seamstresses, welders, barbers, hairdressers, business and trading class with their working tools with some receiving cash loans to an amount of Ghc5,000 maximum to support their businesses. *Lobbied for the building of two clinics in the Municipality; Birifoh Baapari and Biro. *Registered and renewed the NHIS cards of about 3,000 downtrodden individuals annually. *Purchased ultra modern delivery and patients beds for the Lawra Municipal hospital and some clinics in the Municipality. *Lobbied for about 2,300 furniture for KG schools in the Municipality with some dual desks. *Organized a fully paid extra classes for students in 4 centres in the Lawra Municipality. *Procured and distributed free branded exercise books to students from the Lawra Municipality in the various SHSs in and outside the Municipality. *Donated Motorbikes to the Lawra police service for patrol purposes to enhance security in the municipality. *Lobbied for some graduates to secure permanent employment into the various security and public services. *Donated over 100 hospital beds to all the health facilities across the municipality with others such as Eremon, Zambo clinics, etc getting delivery beds in addition. *Lobbied for the construction of Lawra-Dowine Boo road(project commenced. *Lobbied for the construction of a solar farm in Lawra which influenced the direct and indirect employment of over 30 people. All forward-looking and development-minded people wished he stayed a little longer to continue those groundbreaking development initiatives but as fate had it, it did not happen. And alas, the episodes of development in the area in recent times, following his discontinuation as MP, has significantly reduced if not curtailed. Anthony Karbos development track record as MP is still million miles away from being closed by what is witnessed today under the current MP. Development in Lawra, today, under the current MP, is on a downward curve compared to the records of the charismatic Anthony Karbo. For Lawra to return to its truly deserved glory, it has to be Anthony Karbo. No doubt about this! Anthony Karbos kind of resilient and dedicated leadership is what Lawra needs to take it's rightful place in the development discourse. The return of Anthony Karbo is certainly a new dawn for Lawra, and every forward-looking person must join the course. SULEMAN BAAKO [email protected] 0244493866 Africa Oil Corp. (OTCMKTS:AOIFF Get Rating) crossed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $2.12 and traded as high as $2.38. Africa Oil shares last traded at $2.28, with a volume of 57,595 shares changing hands. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, Scotiabank raised shares of Africa Oil from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, March 22nd. Get Africa Oil alerts: Africa Oil Stock Down 0.4 % The stock has a 50-day moving average of $2.12 and a 200 day moving average of $2.09. Africa Oil Announces Dividend Africa Oil Company Profile The firm also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 13th were issued a dividend of $0.025 per share. This represents a yield of 2.26%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 10th. Africa Oils dividend payout ratio is presently -33.33%. (Get Rating) Africa Oil Corp. is an oil and gas company, which engages in the exploration of oil and gas properties. It focuses on producing and development assets in deep-water offshore Nigeria, and development assets in Kenya. The firms portfolio of exploration assets are located in Guyana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, and in the Senegal Guinea Bissau Joint Development Zone. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Africa Oil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Africa Oil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BRT Apartments Corp. (NYSE:BRT Get Rating) SVP Matthew J. Gould purchased 8,142 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 5th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $18.74 per share, for a total transaction of $152,581.08. Following the completion of the acquisition, the senior vice president now directly owns 3,369,189 shares of the companys stock, valued at $63,138,601.86. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. BRT Apartments Trading Up 0.4 % BRT stock traded up $0.07 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $18.80. The stock had a trading volume of 27,318 shares, compared to its average volume of 59,146. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $20.42 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $20.43. The company has a quick ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. The firm has a market cap of $359.91 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.94, a PEG ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 1.08. BRT Apartments Corp. has a twelve month low of $18.07 and a twelve month high of $25.67. Get BRT Apartments alerts: BRT Apartments Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 4th. Investors of record on Monday, March 27th were given a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 24th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.32%. BRT Apartmentss dividend payout ratio is presently 36.90%. Analyst Ratings Changes Hedge Funds Weigh In On BRT Apartments A number of brokerages recently issued reports on BRT. TheStreet lowered shares of BRT Apartments from a b rating to a c rating in a research report on Friday, March 17th. StockNews.com raised shares of BRT Apartments from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, March 23rd. EF Hutton Acquisition Co. I dropped their price objective on BRT Apartments from $27.00 to $25.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, March 15th. Finally, JMP Securities reiterated a market outperform rating and set a $28.00 price target on shares of BRT Apartments in a report on Wednesday, March 29th. Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. FNY Investment Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in shares of BRT Apartments in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY increased its position in BRT Apartments by 83.9% during the 1st quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY now owns 1,392 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 635 shares during the period. Barclays PLC increased its position in BRT Apartments by 166.9% during the 4th quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 3,230 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $64,000 after buying an additional 2,020 shares during the period. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA increased its position in shares of BRT Apartments by 34.3% in the second quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA now owns 4,816 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $103,000 after purchasing an additional 1,231 shares during the period. Finally, UBS Group AG boosted its stake in BRT Apartments by 16.7% in the third quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 6,178 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $126,000 after buying an additional 882 shares in the last quarter. 29.64% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About BRT Apartments (Get Rating) BRT Apartments Corp. is a real estate investment trust. It engages in the ownership, operation, and holding interests in joint ventures that own and operate multi-family properties. The company was founded in June 1972 and is headquartered in Great Neck, NY. See Also Receive News & Ratings for BRT Apartments Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BRT Apartments and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TransAlta Renewables Inc. (TSE:RNW Get Rating)s share price crossed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of C$11.95 and traded as high as C$12.39. TransAlta Renewables shares last traded at C$12.38, with a volume of 393,640 shares traded. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research analysts recently issued reports on RNW shares. Raymond James lowered their target price on shares of TransAlta Renewables from C$16.50 to C$15.50 in a research note on Friday, February 10th. National Bankshares lowered their target price on shares of TransAlta Renewables from C$14.25 to C$12.75 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 7th. CIBC cut their price target on TransAlta Renewables from C$13.50 to C$13.00 in a report on Friday, February 24th. TD Securities lowered their price target on shares of TransAlta Renewables from C$12.50 to C$12.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 24th. Finally, CSFB lowered shares of TransAlta Renewables from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and cut their target price for the stock from C$17.00 to C$14.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of C$15.03. Get TransAlta Renewables alerts: TransAlta Renewables Stock Performance The company has a market cap of C$3.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 44.46, a P/E/G ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 43.77, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.78. The company has a fifty day moving average of C$11.95 and a two-hundred day moving average of C$12.91. TransAlta Renewables Announces Dividend TransAlta Renewables Company Profile The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 28th will be given a dividend of $0.0783 per share. This represents a $0.94 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.54%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 13th. TransAlta Renewabless dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 335.71%. (Get Rating) TransAlta Renewables Inc develops, owns, and operates renewable power generation facilities. The company operates through Canadian Wind, Canadian Hydro, Canadian Gas, US Wind and Solar, US Gas, and Australian Gas segments. As of February 24, 2022, it owned and operated 26 wind facilities, 13 hydroelectric facilities, 8 natural gas generation facilities, 2 solar facilities, 1 natural gas pipeline, and 1 battery storage project comprising 2,968 megawatts of net generating capacity located in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, the States of Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Wyoming, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Washington, North Carolina, and the State of Western Australia. Read More Receive News & Ratings for TransAlta Renewables Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TransAlta Renewables and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Forge Global (NYSE:FRGE Get Rating) is one of 23 public companies in the Security & commodity brokers, dealers, exchanges & services industry, but how does it compare to its rivals? We will compare Forge Global to similar businesses based on the strength of its analyst recommendations, earnings, valuation, institutional ownership, profitability, risk and dividends. Insider and Institutional Ownership 13.7% of Forge Global shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 63.7% of shares of all Security & commodity brokers, dealers, exchanges & services companies are owned by institutional investors. 20.0% of Forge Global shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 13.1% of shares of all Security & commodity brokers, dealers, exchanges & services companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Get Forge Global alerts: Profitability This table compares Forge Global and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Forge Global -161.22% -26.59% -22.44% Forge Global Competitors 4.06% 20.57% 5.50% Analyst Recommendations Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Forge Global 0 4 2 0 2.33 Forge Global Competitors 146 899 1198 31 2.49 This is a summary of current ratings for Forge Global and its rivals, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Forge Global presently has a consensus price target of $3.48, indicating a potential upside of 118.55%. As a group, Security & commodity brokers, dealers, exchanges & services companies have a potential upside of 29.70%. Given Forge Globals higher possible upside, research analysts clearly believe Forge Global is more favorable than its rivals. Risk & Volatility Forge Global has a beta of 2.29, suggesting that its stock price is 129% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Forge Globals rivals have a beta of 1.37, suggesting that their average stock price is 37% more volatile than the S&P 500. Earnings & Valuation This table compares Forge Global and its rivals gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Forge Global $68.90 million -$111.86 million -1.10 Forge Global Competitors $7.07 billion $656.15 million 30.96 Forge Globals rivals have higher revenue and earnings than Forge Global. Forge Global is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. Summary Forge Global rivals beat Forge Global on 10 of the 13 factors compared. About Forge Global (Get Rating) Forge Global Holdings, Inc. provides marketplace infrastructure, data services, and technology solutions for private market participants. It enables private company shareholders to trade private company shares with accredited investors. The company was founded in 2014 and is based in San Francisco, California. Receive News & Ratings for Forge Global Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Forge Global and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank of Montreal Can raised its position in Targa Resources Corp. (NYSE:TRGP Get Rating) by 64.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 262,291 shares of the pipeline companys stock after acquiring an additional 102,322 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can owned about 0.12% of Targa Resources worth $19,362,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. EdgeRock Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Targa Resources during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Chilton Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Targa Resources during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. MinichMacGregor Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Targa Resources during the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Fred Alger Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Targa Resources during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $56,000. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI increased its holdings in shares of Targa Resources by 46.6% during the 3rd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 1,180 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $72,000 after acquiring an additional 375 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 88.29% of the companys stock. Get Targa Resources alerts: Targa Resources Price Performance Shares of NYSE:TRGP traded down $0.35 during trading on Friday, reaching $74.93. 1,027,576 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,882,359. The companys 50 day moving average is $73.72 and its two-hundred day moving average is $71.30. The firm has a market capitalization of $16.96 billion, a PE ratio of 19.26 and a beta of 2.28. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.15. Targa Resources Corp. has a 52 week low of $55.56 and a 52 week high of $81.50. Targa Resources Announces Dividend Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, January 31st were given a dividend of $0.35 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, January 30th. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.87%. Targa Resourcess payout ratio is 35.99%. A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Seaport Res Ptn reissued a buy rating on shares of Targa Resources in a report on Thursday, February 16th. Mizuho boosted their target price on Targa Resources from $92.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Citigroup assumed coverage on Targa Resources in a report on Thursday, December 8th. They issued a buy rating and a $95.00 price objective on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Targa Resources in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Scotiabank assumed coverage on Targa Resources in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. They issued an outperform rating and a $115.00 price objective on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $97.91. Targa Resources Company Profile (Get Rating) Targa Resources Corp. provides midstream natural gas and natural gas liquids services. It also provides gathering, storing, and terminaling crude oil, and storing, terminaling, and selling refined petroleum products. It operates through the following business segments: Gathering and Processing, and Logistics and Transportation. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TRGP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Targa Resources Corp. (NYSE:TRGP Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Targa Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Targa Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Barclays set a 165.70 ($180.11) target price on Hannover Ruck (FRA:HNR1 Get Rating) in a research report sent to investors on Monday, Borsen Zeitung reports. A number of other equities analysts have also weighed in on HNR1. Jefferies Financial Group set a 185.00 ($201.09) price target on Hannover Ruck in a research report on Thursday, March 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a 205.00 ($222.83) price objective on Hannover Ruck in a research report on Tuesday, March 21st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a 210.00 ($228.26) target price on Hannover Ruck in a report on Friday, March 10th. UBS Group set a 177.00 ($192.39) price target on shares of Hannover Ruck in a report on Friday, March 10th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada set a 220.00 ($239.13) target price on shares of Hannover Ruck in a research note on Thursday, March 9th. Get Hannover Ruck alerts: Hannover Ruck Stock Up 1.8 % FRA HNR1 opened at 182.80 ($198.70) on Monday. Hannover Ruck has a 1 year low of 94.75 ($102.99) and a 1 year high of 116.37 ($126.49). The businesss fifty day moving average is 178.27 and its two-hundred day moving average is 174.92. Hannover Ruck Company Profile Hannover Ruck SE, together with its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance products and services worldwide. It operates through Property & Casualty Reinsurance, and Life & Health Reinsurance segments. The company offers property, casualty, facultative, catastrophe XL, structured reinsurance, and insurance-linked securities. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Hannover Ruck Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hannover Ruck and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Roth Capital cut shares of Battalion Oil (NYSE:BATL Get Rating) from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note published on Tuesday, PriceTargets.com reports. A number of other equities analysts also recently commented on the company. TheStreet upgraded Battalion Oil from a d rating to a c+ rating in a report on Monday, January 30th. Roth Mkm lowered shares of Battalion Oil from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $28.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Tuesday. Get Battalion Oil alerts: Battalion Oil Stock Performance Shares of BATL stock opened at $8.60 on Tuesday. Battalion Oil has a fifty-two week low of $6.11 and a fifty-two week high of $19.96. The stocks 50-day moving average is $8.60 and its two-hundred day moving average is $10.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.16, a current ratio of 0.53 and a quick ratio of 0.53. The firm has a market cap of $141.47 million, a P/E ratio of 8.19 and a beta of 0.96. Institutional Inflows and Outflows About Battalion Oil A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Citigroup Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Battalion Oil in the first quarter worth $84,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP acquired a new position in Battalion Oil during the 1st quarter worth $358,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its holdings in Battalion Oil by 23.4% during the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 20,600 shares of the companys stock valued at $383,000 after acquiring an additional 3,900 shares during the period. UBS Group AG increased its stake in shares of Battalion Oil by 102.2% in the first quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 1,399 shares of the companys stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 707 shares during the period. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Battalion Oil by 48.2% in the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 910,559 shares of the companys stock worth $16,918,000 after purchasing an additional 296,132 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.97% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) Battalion Oil Corporation, an independent energy company, engages in the acquisition, production, exploration, and development of onshore oil and natural gas assets in the United States. As of December 31, 2021, the company held interests in 40,400 net acres in the Delaware Basin located in the counties of Pecos, Reeves, Ward, and Winkler, Texas. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Battalion Oil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Battalion Oil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bridgewater Advisors Inc. reduced its position in Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CCK Get Rating) by 16.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 11,063 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 2,224 shares during the period. Bridgewater Advisors Inc.s holdings in Crown were worth $909,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of CCK. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new stake in Crown during the first quarter worth approximately $143,000. US Bancorp DE lifted its position in Crown by 9.6% during the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 3,506 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $439,000 after acquiring an additional 308 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC lifted its position in Crown by 30.3% during the first quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 2,866 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $359,000 after acquiring an additional 666 shares during the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Crown in the first quarter valued at approximately $392,000. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can raised its position in shares of Crown by 43.6% in the first quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 62,763 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $8,318,000 after buying an additional 19,046 shares in the last quarter. Get Crown alerts: Crown Price Performance CCK stock opened at $78.63 on Friday. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $83.87 and its 200 day simple moving average is $82.32. Crown Holdings, Inc. has a 12-month low of $66.00 and a 12-month high of $124.10. The firm has a market cap of $9.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.17, a PEG ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.97. Crown Increases Dividend Crown ( NYSE:CCK Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 8th. The industrial products company reported $1.17 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.07 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $3.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.12 billion. Crown had a net margin of 5.62% and a return on equity of 36.97%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 1.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.66 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect that Crown Holdings, Inc. will post 6.27 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 23rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 9th were given a $0.24 dividend. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.22%. This is an increase from Crowns previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 8th. Crowns dividend payout ratio is presently 16.08%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. TheStreet upgraded shares of Crown from a c rating to a b- rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of Crown from $110.00 to $105.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 10th. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Crown from $90.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, February 13th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Crown from $97.00 to $104.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 10th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on shares of Crown from $96.00 to $97.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, February 10th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $97.27. About Crown (Get Rating) Crown Holdings, Inc engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of packaging products and equipment for consumer goods. The firm offers aerosol cans, beverage, promotional, and transit packaging, closures and capping, and food cans. It operates through the following segments: Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Transit Packaging. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Crown Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Crown and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bridgewater Advisors Inc. trimmed its holdings in FMC Co. (NYSE:FMC Get Rating) by 20.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 14,693 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 3,743 shares during the quarter. Bridgewater Advisors Inc.s holdings in FMC were worth $1,834,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. General Partner Inc. bought a new position in shares of FMC during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. West Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of FMC during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Private Trust Co. NA bought a new position in shares of FMC during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. TCI Wealth Advisors Inc. boosted its position in shares of FMC by 269.0% during the 3rd quarter. TCI Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 310 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 226 shares during the last quarter. Finally, American National Bank bought a new position in shares of FMC during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $40,000. 88.28% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get FMC alerts: Insider Activity In other news, insider Nicholas Pfeiffer sold 4,421 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.70, for a total transaction of $573,403.70. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 12,064 shares in the company, valued at $1,564,700.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In related news, EVP Ronaldo Pereira sold 1,955 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.29, for a total transaction of $252,761.95. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 19,478 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,518,310.62. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Nicholas Pfeiffer sold 4,421 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $129.70, for a total value of $573,403.70. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 12,064 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,564,700.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 11,376 shares of company stock worth $1,465,016. Company insiders own 0.85% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes FMC Stock Performance FMC has been the subject of a number of research reports. Redburn Partners upgraded FMC from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $155.00 target price for the company in a research report on Friday, March 17th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on FMC from $139.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, February 10th. Credit Suisse Group increased their price target on FMC from $112.00 to $120.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on FMC from $155.00 to $159.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, February 14th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on FMC from $140.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, February 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $144.08. FMC stock opened at $116.92 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $124.87 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $122.98. FMC Co. has a twelve month low of $98.24 and a twelve month high of $140.99. The firm has a market cap of $14.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.09, a PEG ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 0.82. FMC (NYSE:FMC Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 8th. The basic materials company reported $2.37 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.32 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $1.62 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.53 billion. FMC had a return on equity of 29.29% and a net margin of 12.69%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 14.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.16 earnings per share. Analysts predict that FMC Co. will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current year. FMC Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.58 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 30th. This represents a $2.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.98%. FMCs dividend payout ratio is currently 39.86%. FMC Profile (Get Rating) FMC Corp. is an agricultural sciences company, which engages in the provision of solutions to growers and development of pipeline in crop protection, plant health, precision agriculture, and professional pest, and turf management. It offers insect control products under the Rynaxypyr and Cyazypyr brands, herbicides under the Authority, Boral, Centium, Command, and Gamit brands, insecticides under the Talstar and Hero brands, flutriafol-based fungicides, and bionematicides under the Quartzo and Presence brands. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FMC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for FMC Co. (NYSE:FMC Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for FMC Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for FMC and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Lloyds Banking Group plc (LON:LLOY Get Rating) have been given a consensus rating of Buy by the eleven research firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is GBX 63.67 ($0.79). LLOY has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Credit Suisse Group restated a top pick rating on shares of Lloyds Banking Group in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. Berenberg Bank upped their price target on Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 55 ($0.68) to GBX 58 ($0.72) and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. Barclays upgraded Lloyds Banking Group to an overweight rating and upped their price target for the stock from GBX 55 ($0.68) to GBX 75 ($0.93) in a research note on Monday, February 6th. Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of Lloyds Banking Group in a research note on Friday, March 10th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group restated a buy rating on shares of Lloyds Banking Group in a research note on Thursday, February 2nd. Get Lloyds Banking Group alerts: Lloyds Banking Group Stock Up 1.2 % Shares of LON:LLOY opened at GBX 49.02 ($0.61) on Friday. The company has a market cap of 32.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 700.29, a P/E/G ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 1.24. Lloyds Banking Group has a 52 week low of GBX 38.51 ($0.48) and a 52 week high of GBX 54.33 ($0.67). The business has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 50.40 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 47. Lloyds Banking Group Increases Dividend Insider Activity at Lloyds Banking Group The firm also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 23rd. Investors of record on Thursday, April 13th will be issued a GBX 1.60 ($0.02) dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 13th. This represents a yield of 3.14%. This is an increase from Lloyds Banking Groups previous dividend of $0.80. Lloyds Banking Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 2,857.14%. In other news, insider Charlie Nunn acquired 285,316 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 22nd. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 48 ($0.60) per share, for a total transaction of 136,951.68 ($170,084.05). 0.37% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Lloyds Banking Group Company Profile (Get Rating) Lloyds Banking Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of banking and financial services in the United Kingdom. It operates through three segments: Retail; Commercial Banking; and Insurance and Wealth. The Retail segment offers a range of financial service products, including current accounts, savings, mortgages, motor finance, unsecured loans, leasing solutions, and credit cards to personal and small business customers. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Lloyds Banking Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lloyds Banking Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com cut shares of Credit Suisse Group (NYSE:CS Get Rating) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report published on Tuesday morning. Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Barclays cut their price objective on shares of Credit Suisse Group from CHF 4 to CHF 2.90 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 13th. Citigroup cut shares of Credit Suisse Group from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, February 16th. Bank Of America (Bofa) raised shares of Credit Suisse Group from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a CHF 3.60 price objective on the stock in a research report on Friday, December 9th. Kepler Capital Markets cut shares of Credit Suisse Group from a hold rating to a reduce rating in a research report on Monday, February 13th. Finally, Morgan Stanley started coverage on shares of Credit Suisse Group in a research note on Friday, January 27th. They issued an equal weight rating on the stock. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Credit Suisse Group currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $5.14. Get Credit Suisse Group alerts: Credit Suisse Group Price Performance Shares of NYSE CS opened at $0.88 on Tuesday. The companys fifty day moving average is $2.43 and its 200-day moving average is $3.35. Credit Suisse Group has a twelve month low of $0.82 and a twelve month high of $7.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.47, a current ratio of 1.53 and a quick ratio of 1.53. Credit Suisse Group Increases Dividend Credit Suisse Group ( NYSE:CS Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 9th. The financial services provider reported ($0.28) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.22) by ($0.06). The company had revenue of $3.18 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.30 billion. Credit Suisse Group had a negative net margin of 33.10% and a negative return on equity of 3.99%. On average, equities analysts predict that Credit Suisse Group will post -0.67 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 24th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, April 11th will be paid a $0.0547 dividend. This is a positive change from Credit Suisse Groups previous dividend of $0.05. This represents a yield of 4.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 10th. Credit Suisse Groups payout ratio is presently -1.43%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of CS. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its stake in shares of Credit Suisse Group by 155.4% during the 4th quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 12,232,988 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $37,188,000 after purchasing an additional 7,442,369 shares during the last quarter. Shah Capital Management acquired a new position in shares of Credit Suisse Group during the 4th quarter worth about $20,064,000. Two Sigma Investments LP increased its stake in shares of Credit Suisse Group by 113.6% during the 4th quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 9,602,987 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $29,193,000 after purchasing an additional 5,106,960 shares during the last quarter. Kopernik Global Investors LLC increased its stake in shares of Credit Suisse Group by 43,788.6% during the 3rd quarter. Kopernik Global Investors LLC now owns 5,092,833 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $19,964,000 after purchasing an additional 5,081,229 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP acquired a new position in shares of Credit Suisse Group during the 4th quarter worth about $4,705,000. 11.20% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Credit Suisse Group Company Profile (Get Rating) Credit Suisse Group AG is a holding company, which engages in the provision of financial services. It operates through the following four divisions: Wealth Management, Investment Bank, Swiss Bank and Asset Management and four geographic regions: Switzerland, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Asia Pacific, and Americas. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Credit Suisse Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Credit Suisse Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Comerica Bank decreased its position in shares of CVS Health Co. (NYSE:CVS Get Rating) by 1.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 236,277 shares of the pharmacy operators stock after selling 4,380 shares during the period. Comerica Banks holdings in CVS Health were worth $21,116,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Capital Research Global Investors purchased a new stake in shares of CVS Health in the first quarter valued at approximately $262,167,000. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of CVS Health by 1.5% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 115,934,841 shares of the pharmacy operators stock worth $11,056,706,000 after buying an additional 1,726,512 shares during the period. Cottage Street Advisors LLC grew its stake in CVS Health by 6,966.4% during the 4th quarter. Cottage Street Advisors LLC now owns 1,489,379 shares of the pharmacy operators stock valued at $473,000 after purchasing an additional 1,468,302 shares in the last quarter. Boston Partners grew its position in shares of CVS Health by 15.5% in the 3rd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 8,034,788 shares of the pharmacy operators stock worth $766,750,000 after acquiring an additional 1,077,638 shares in the last quarter. Finally, California Public Employees Retirement System lifted its holdings in shares of CVS Health by 30.7% in the 3rd quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 3,344,589 shares of the pharmacy operators stock worth $318,973,000 after purchasing an additional 785,866 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.29% of the companys stock. Get CVS Health alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets CVS has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on CVS Health from $119.00 to $120.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, January 13th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on CVS Health from $130.00 to $143.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 9th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $115.00 price target on shares of CVS Health in a report on Thursday, February 9th. Barclays lowered their price target on CVS Health from $110.00 to $100.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 30th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on CVS Health from $106.00 to $101.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 3rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, CVS Health currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $118.24. CVS Health Price Performance Shares of NYSE:CVS opened at $77.54 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $81.57 and a 200 day moving average price of $90.54. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. CVS Health Co. has a twelve month low of $72.11 and a twelve month high of $107.73. The company has a market cap of $99.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.85, a PEG ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 0.61. CVS Health (NYSE:CVS Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 8th. The pharmacy operator reported $1.99 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.92 by $0.07. CVS Health had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 1.29%. The company had revenue of $83.85 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $76.37 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.98 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 9.5% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that CVS Health Co. will post 8.83 earnings per share for the current year. CVS Health Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Investors of record on Friday, April 21st will be issued a dividend of $0.605 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 20th. This represents a $2.42 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.12%. CVS Healths dividend payout ratio is 77.56%. About CVS Health (Get Rating) CVS Health Corp. is a health solutions company, which engages in the provision of healthcare services. It operates through the following segments: Pharmacy Services, Retail or Long-Term Care, Health Care Benefits, and Corporate and Other. The Pharmacy Services segment focuses on the pharmacy benefit management solutions. See Also Receive News & Ratings for CVS Health Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CVS Health and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Footasylum PLC (LON:FOOT Get Rating) were down 26.6% on Wednesday . The company traded as low as GBX 81.50 ($1.01) and last traded at GBX 81.50 ($1.01). Approximately 100 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 100% from the average daily volume of 609,787 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 111 ($1.38). Footasylum Stock Down 26.6 % The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 1.60 and a quick ratio of 0.46. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 81.50 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 81.50. The company has a market cap of 88.60 million and a P/E ratio of -21.45. About Footasylum (Get Rating) Footasylum plc engages in the retail and wholesale of footwear, apparel, and accessories in the United Kingdom and internationally. The company sells fashion streetwear and sportswear for men, women, and kids under approximately 300 brands, such as Nike, Adidas, Pre London, Society Sport, and Gym King; and owns brands comprising Kings Will Dream, Condemned Nation, Alessandro Zavetti, and Zavetti Sport, as well as retail brands, including Footasylum, Drome, and SEVEN. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Footasylum Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Footasylum and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Manning & Napier Group LLC decreased its stake in Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. (NYSE:ASR Get Rating) by 15.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 39,326 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 7,070 shares during the period. Manning & Napier Group LLCs holdings in Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. were worth $9,163,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in ASR. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. by 17.6% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 39,482 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $8,749,000 after purchasing an additional 5,900 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. raised its stake in Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. by 13.5% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 2,090 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $463,000 after acquiring an additional 248 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE raised its stake in Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. by 7.1% during the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 766 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $170,000 after acquiring an additional 51 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can raised its stake in Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. by 3.4% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 7,059 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $1,538,000 after acquiring an additional 230 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. by 10.0% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 360,238 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $79,830,000 after acquiring an additional 32,860 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 15.66% of the companys stock. Get Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste S. A. B. de C. V. alerts: Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. Stock Up 0.3 % Shares of ASR stock opened at $302.12 on Friday. Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. has a 1 year low of $179.01 and a 1 year high of $313.77. The stock has a market cap of $9.06 billion, a PE ratio of 18.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.14 and a beta of 1.08. The businesss fifty day moving average is $287.41 and its 200-day moving average is $254.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 3.70 and a current ratio of 3.25. Analysts Set New Price Targets Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. ( NYSE:ASR Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 23rd. The transportation company reported $4.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.69 by ($0.35). Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. had a net margin of 40.06% and a return on equity of 21.49%. The firm had revenue of $369.64 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $364.55 million. Equities analysts expect that Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. will post 16.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Several brokerages have weighed in on ASR. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, March 30th. StockNews.com began coverage on Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. from $215.00 to $255.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, March 3rd. Finally, UBS Group downgraded Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a research note on Thursday, December 15th. About Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. (Get Rating) Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SA de CV is a holding company, which engages in the operation, maintenance, and development of airports It operates through the following segments: Cancun, Aerostar, Airplan, Villahermosa, Merida, Holding and Services, and Other. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ASR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S. A. B. de C. V. (NYSE:ASR Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste S. A. B. de C. V. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste S. A. B. de C. V. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Hargreaves Lansdown plc (OTCMKTS:HRGLF Get Rating) fell 2.2% on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $9.40 and last traded at $9.40. 3,285 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 709% from the average session volume of 406 shares. The stock had previously closed at $9.61. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, Citigroup cut Hargreaves Lansdown from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a research report on Monday, February 27th. Get Hargreaves Lansdown alerts: Hargreaves Lansdown Price Performance The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $10.10 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $9.83. Hargreaves Lansdown Company Profile Hargreaves Lansdown Plc engages in the provision of investment products and services, financial planning and advice. The company was founded by Peter Kendal Hargreaves and Stephen Philip Lansdown in July 1981 and is headquartered in Bristol, the United Kingdom. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Hargreaves Lansdown Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hargreaves Lansdown and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Northeast Investment Management lifted its position in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEARCA:EFA Get Rating) by 10.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 14,501 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 1,411 shares during the quarter. Northeast Investment Managements holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF were worth $952,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Jane Street Group LLC lifted its position in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 102.6% in the 2nd quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 7,805,067 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $487,739,000 after buying an additional 3,952,102 shares in the last quarter. Board of Trustees of The Leland Stanford Junior University raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 55.4% during the third quarter. Board of Trustees of The Leland Stanford Junior University now owns 8,785,451 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $492,073,000 after acquiring an additional 3,132,027 shares in the last quarter. CFS Investment Advisory Services LLC boosted its position in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 6,542.8% during the third quarter. CFS Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 2,804,140 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $735,000 after purchasing an additional 2,761,927 shares during the last quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank boosted its position in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 2,717.6% during the third quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 2,358,345 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $132,064,000 after purchasing an additional 2,274,645 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nisa Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 361.6% in the third quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,214,925 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $124,058,000 after purchasing an additional 1,735,125 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.78% of the companys stock. Get iShares MSCI EAFE ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Stock Performance EFA stock traded up $0.34 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $71.94. The stock had a trading volume of 13,659,913 shares, compared to its average volume of 24,282,968. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF has a 1-year low of $54.61 and a 1-year high of $73.22. The company has a fifty day moving average of $70.24 and a 200 day moving average of $65.87. About iShares MSCI EAFE ETF iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Funds investment objective is to seek investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of its underlying index, MSCI EAFE Index (the Index). The Index has been developed by MSCI Inc as an equity benchmark for its international stock performance. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EFA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEARCA:EFA Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Teck Resources Limited (NYSE:TECK Get Rating) (TSE:TECK) Research analysts at Jefferies Financial Group lowered their FY2023 earnings estimates for shares of Teck Resources in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday, April 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group analyst C. Lafemina now expects that the basic materials company will earn $5.12 per share for the year, down from their previous forecast of $5.17. The consensus estimate for Teck Resources current full-year earnings is $4.98 per share. Jefferies Financial Group also issued estimates for Teck Resources FY2025 earnings at $5.88 EPS. Get Teck Resources alerts: Several other equities analysts also recently commented on TECK. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on shares of Teck Resources from C$61.00 to C$64.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 12th. Scotiabank boosted their price target on shares of Teck Resources from C$70.00 to C$75.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 14th. National Bank Financial upped their price target on Teck Resources from C$65.00 to C$70.00 in a research report on Monday, February 13th. Citigroup increased their price target on shares of Teck Resources from C$45.00 to C$55.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 11th. Finally, Benchmark raised their price target on Teck Resources from $40.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, January 13th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $56.53. Teck Resources Stock Performance Shares of TECK stock opened at $43.97 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.96, a current ratio of 1.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $39.82 and its 200-day simple moving average is $36.93. Teck Resources has a 12 month low of $24.72 and a 12 month high of $46.90. The firm has a market cap of $22.27 billion, a PE ratio of 9.20, a P/E/G ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 1.06. Teck Resources (NYSE:TECK Get Rating) (TSE:TECK) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 21st. The basic materials company reported $0.79 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.96 by ($0.17). The business had revenue of $2.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.58 billion. Teck Resources had a return on equity of 18.76% and a net margin of 18.05%. Teck Resources Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 15th were paid a $0.094 dividend. This is an increase from Teck Resourcess previous quarterly dividend of $0.09. This represents a $0.38 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.86%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, March 14th. Teck Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 7.74%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Teck Resources Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Teck Resources during the 4th quarter valued at $291,283,000. Anomaly Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in Teck Resources during the 4th quarter valued at $108,290,000. National Bank of Canada FI grew its holdings in Teck Resources by 144.0% during the 4th quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 4,084,274 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $154,192,000 after buying an additional 2,410,404 shares during the last quarter. AMF Tjanstepension AB acquired a new stake in Teck Resources during the 4th quarter valued at $77,731,000. Finally, Cowa LLC grew its holdings in Teck Resources by 9,975.4% during the 1st quarter. Cowa LLC now owns 2,008,935 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $811,000 after buying an additional 1,988,996 shares during the last quarter. 56.15% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Teck Resources Company Profile (Get Rating) Teck Resources Limited is a resource company, which engages in the exploration, acquisition, development, production, and sale of natural resources, Its products include steelmaking coal, copper, zinc, industrial products and fertilizers, and other metals. Its project operations are located in Canada, Peru, Chile, and US. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Teck Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Teck Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL Get Rating) Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, April 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.45, for a total value of $32,225.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 19,269 shares in the company, valued at $1,241,887.05. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Aflac Stock Performance NYSE AFL opened at $64.56 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.49 billion, a PE ratio of 9.83, a P/E/G ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 0.93. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $66.92 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $67.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.06 and a quick ratio of 0.06. Aflac Incorporated has a 1-year low of $52.07 and a 1-year high of $74.01. Get Aflac alerts: Aflac (NYSE:AFL Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The financial services provider reported $1.29 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.21 by $0.08. Aflac had a return on equity of 13.69% and a net margin of 21.54%. The firm had revenue of $4.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.49 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.28 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 26.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that Aflac Incorporated will post 5.59 EPS for the current fiscal year. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Institutional Investors Weigh In On Aflac AFL has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on Aflac from $78.00 to $77.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Aflac from $62.00 to $66.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, January 6th. Truist Financial increased their price objective on Aflac from $65.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Monday, February 6th. StockNews.com began coverage on Aflac in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Raymond James increased their target price on Aflac from $74.00 to $77.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, January 30th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $71.75. A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Aflac by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 55,153,545 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,099,629,000 after acquiring an additional 352,873 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley lifted its stake in shares of Aflac by 22.9% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 8,812,956 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $634,004,000 after acquiring an additional 1,640,984 shares during the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc lifted its stake in shares of Aflac by 3.5% during the 2nd quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 5,755,915 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $318,476,000 after acquiring an additional 192,480 shares during the last quarter. Maj Invest Holding A S raised its position in Aflac by 16.5% during the 3rd quarter. Maj Invest Holding A S now owns 5,061,371 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $325,902,000 after purchasing an additional 715,304 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. raised its position in Aflac by 62.4% during the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 4,936,608 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $317,865,000 after purchasing an additional 1,897,212 shares in the last quarter. 66.22% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. About Aflac (Get Rating) Aflac, Inc is a holding company. engages in the provision of financial protection services. It operates through the followings segments: Aflac Japan and Aflac United States (U.S.). The Aflac Japan segment offers life insurance, death benefits, and cash surrender values. The Aflac U.S. segment sells voluntary supplemental insurance products for people who already have major medical or primary insurance coverage. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Aflac Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Aflac and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vantage Investment Partners LLC cut its stake in Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS Get Rating) by 57.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 8,173 shares of the casino operators stock after selling 10,969 shares during the period. Vantage Investment Partners LLCs holdings in Las Vegas Sands were worth $393,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Trustcore Financial Services LLC lifted its stake in Las Vegas Sands by 242.7% during the third quarter. Trustcore Financial Services LLC now owns 706 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. Mizuho Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in Las Vegas Sands during the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Las Vegas Sands by 42.1% during the third quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,076 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 319 shares during the last quarter. Cowa LLC acquired a new stake in Las Vegas Sands during the third quarter valued at approximately $49,000. Finally, Industrial Alliance Investment Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Las Vegas Sands during the third quarter valued at approximately $50,000. 39.75% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Las Vegas Sands alerts: Las Vegas Sands Stock Up 0.8 % LVS stock traded up $0.46 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $57.01. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,818,900 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,244,140. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $56.86 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $48.64. Las Vegas Sands Corp. has a 12 month low of $28.88 and a 12 month high of $60.99. The company has a market capitalization of $43.57 billion, a PE ratio of 23.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 17.36 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a quick ratio of 1.72, a current ratio of 1.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.81. Analyst Ratings Changes Las Vegas Sands ( NYSE:LVS Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 25th. The casino operator reported ($0.19) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.09) by ($0.10). Las Vegas Sands had a negative return on equity of 22.49% and a net margin of 44.57%. The business had revenue of $1.12 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.18 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted ($0.22) earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 10.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that Las Vegas Sands Corp. will post 1.4 earnings per share for the current year. A number of analysts have commented on LVS shares. Argus raised shares of Las Vegas Sands from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $68.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Friday, January 27th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $60.00 to $66.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 26th. CBRE Group upgraded Las Vegas Sands from a hold rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the company from $47.00 to $68.00 in a report on Thursday, January 26th. Credit Suisse Group lifted their price target on Las Vegas Sands from $59.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, January 26th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Las Vegas Sands from $53.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, January 26th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Las Vegas Sands presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $64.00. Las Vegas Sands Company Profile (Get Rating) Las Vegas Sands Corp. engages in the development of destination properties. The firm operates through the Macao and Singapore geographical segments. The Macao segment handles the operations of The Venetian Macao, The Londoner Macao, The Parisian Macao, The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Macao, and Sands Macao. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LVS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Las Vegas Sands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Las Vegas Sands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Lavras Gold Corp. (CVE:LGC Get Rating) crossed below its two hundred day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of C$0.37 and traded as low as C$0.34. Lavras Gold shares last traded at C$0.34, with a volume of 10,500 shares trading hands. Lavras Gold Trading Down 1.5 % The company has a quick ratio of 11.12, a current ratio of 7.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.07. The firms 50 day simple moving average is C$0.41 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$0.37. The stock has a market cap of C$13.77 million and a P/E ratio of -5.58. Lavras Gold Company Profile (Get Rating) Lavras Gold Corp. operates as a junior exploration company in Canada. It engages in the exploration and development of the Lavras do Sul gold copper project covering an area of approximately 22,000 hectares located in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The company was incorporated in 2021 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Lavras Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lavras Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Manning & Napier Group LLC lowered its stake in shares of EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG Get Rating) by 3.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 125,628 shares of the energy exploration companys stock after selling 4,419 shares during the quarter. Manning & Napier Group LLCs holdings in EOG Resources were worth $16,271,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Symphony Financial Ltd. Co. purchased a new stake in shares of EOG Resources during the 4th quarter valued at $1,180,000. Strategic Blueprint LLC purchased a new stake in shares of EOG Resources during the 4th quarter valued at $226,000. Yacktman Asset Management LP raised its position in shares of EOG Resources by 4.1% during the 4th quarter. Yacktman Asset Management LP now owns 1,493,689 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $193,463,000 after buying an additional 58,659 shares in the last quarter. Catalyst Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of EOG Resources during the 4th quarter valued at $361,000. Finally, Inspire Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of EOG Resources by 12.5% during the 4th quarter. Inspire Advisors LLC now owns 6,111 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $792,000 after buying an additional 679 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.40% of the companys stock. Get EOG Resources alerts: Insider Activity at EOG Resources In other EOG Resources news, Director Michael T. Kerr purchased 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 12th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $130.49 per share, with a total value of $2,609,800.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 170,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,183,300. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.40% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades EOG Resources Trading Down 0.8 % A number of equities analysts recently commented on EOG shares. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on shares of EOG Resources from $140.00 to $132.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, March 27th. Roth Capital reiterated a buy rating on shares of EOG Resources in a research report on Friday, February 24th. Citigroup decreased their target price on shares of EOG Resources from $160.00 to $122.00 in a research report on Friday, March 17th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of EOG Resources from $167.00 to $158.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 8th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of EOG Resources in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, sixteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $150.68. Shares of EOG opened at $119.37 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average price is $118.30 and its 200-day moving average price is $126.11. The firm has a market capitalization of $70.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.04, a PEG ratio of 0.35 and a beta of 1.53. The company has a current ratio of 1.90, a quick ratio of 1.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. EOG Resources, Inc. has a 1-year low of $92.16 and a 1-year high of $150.88. EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Friday, February 24th. The energy exploration company reported $3.30 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.31 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $6.72 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.09 billion. EOG Resources had a net margin of 30.19% and a return on equity of 34.95%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 11.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $3.09 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 12.07 EPS for the current year. EOG Resources Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 28th. Investors of record on Friday, April 14th will be given a dividend of $0.825 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th. This represents a $3.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.76%. EOG Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 24.98%. EOG Resources Profile (Get Rating) EOG Resources, Inc engages in the exploration, development, production and marketing of crude oil and natural gas. It operates through the United States, Trinidad & Tobago, and Other International segments. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Houston, TX. Read More Receive News & Ratings for EOG Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EOG Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Marks and Spencer Group (OTCMKTS:MAKSY Get Rating) had its price target increased by Barclays from GBX 165 ($2.05) to GBX 200 ($2.48) in a report published on Monday, The Fly reports. MAKSY has been the topic of several other research reports. Credit Suisse Group raised their price objective on shares of Marks and Spencer Group from GBX 150 ($1.86) to GBX 200 ($2.48) in a research report on Tuesday, March 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Marks and Spencer Group from a sell rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 21st. Citigroup raised shares of Marks and Spencer Group from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 22nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Marks and Spencer Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Marks and Spencer Group from GBX 115 ($1.43) to GBX 130 ($1.61) in a report on Monday, March 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $170.50. Get Marks and Spencer Group alerts: Marks and Spencer Group Stock Down 0.8 % MAKSY opened at $4.15 on Monday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $3.88 and a 200 day moving average of $3.21. Marks and Spencer Group has a 12 month low of $2.03 and a 12 month high of $4.26. The company has a quick ratio of 0.49, a current ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. Marks and Spencer Group Company Profile Marks & Spencer Group Plc engages in the retail of clothes, food, and home products. It operates through the following segments: UK Clothing and Home, UK Food, International, Ocado, and All Other. The UK Clothing and Home segment retails womenswear, menswear, lingerie, kidswear and home products. The UK Food segment includes the results of the UK retail food business and UK Food franchise operations. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Marks and Spencer Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Marks and Spencer Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP Get Rating) had its price target reduced by UBS Group from $55.00 to $54.00 in a research note published on Thursday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a neutral rating on the stock. Several other research firms also recently weighed in on TAP. Citigroup initiated coverage on shares of Molson Coors Beverage in a research note on Thursday, February 16th. They issued a neutral rating and a $55.00 price target for the company. Cowen upgraded shares of Molson Coors Beverage from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and boosted their price target for the company from $55.00 to $60.00 in a research report on Friday, January 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price objective on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $48.00 to $47.00 in a research note on Monday, March 20th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Molson Coors Beverage in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Cowen raised shares of Molson Coors Beverage from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $55.00 to $60.00 in a research note on Friday, January 6th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $53.45. Get Molson Coors Beverage alerts: Molson Coors Beverage Price Performance Shares of NYSE TAP traded down $0.35 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $52.15. 1,068,764 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,756,589. Molson Coors Beverage has a 52 week low of $46.69 and a 52 week high of $60.12. The company has a quick ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.28 billion, a PE ratio of -63.60, a PEG ratio of 3.27 and a beta of 0.83. The companys 50 day moving average price is $52.19 and its 200 day moving average price is $51.38. Molson Coors Beverage Increases Dividend Molson Coors Beverage ( NYSE:TAP Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 21st. The company reported $1.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.06 by $0.24. Molson Coors Beverage had a negative net margin of 1.37% and a positive return on equity of 6.65%. The company had revenue of $2.63 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.65 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.81 EPS. The firms revenue was up .4% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that Molson Coors Beverage will post 4.09 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 3rd were issued a dividend of $0.41 per share. This is a boost from Molson Coors Beverages previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. This represents a $1.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.14%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 2nd. Molson Coors Beverages dividend payout ratio is currently -200.00%. Institutional Trading of Molson Coors Beverage Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Dark Forest Capital Management LP purchased a new position in Molson Coors Beverage during the second quarter valued at $31,000. Trustcore Financial Services LLC purchased a new position in shares of Molson Coors Beverage during the 3rd quarter worth about $29,000. Beacon Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 1,781.3% during the 4th quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC now owns 602 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 570 shares during the period. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC boosted its stake in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 85.7% during the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 650 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares during the period. Finally, Red Tortoise LLC purchased a new stake in Molson Coors Beverage in the 4th quarter valued at about $38,000. 76.24% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Molson Coors Beverage (Get Rating) Molson Coors Beverage Co is a holding company, which engages in the production and sale of beer. It operates through the following segments: Americas, and EMEA and APAC. The Americas segment operates in the U.S., Canada and various countries in the Caribbean, Latin, and South America. The EMEA and APAC segment operates in Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Montenegro, the Republic of Ireland, Romania, Serbia, the UK, various other European countries, and certain countries within the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Molson Coors Beverage Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Molson Coors Beverage and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NatWest Group plc trimmed its holdings in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM Get Rating) by 67.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 3,233 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 6,705 shares during the period. NatWest Group plcs holdings in Waste Management were worth $507,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Community Bank & Trust Waco Texas grew its position in Waste Management by 2.9% in the third quarter. Community Bank & Trust Waco Texas now owns 2,262 shares of the business services providers stock worth $362,000 after acquiring an additional 63 shares during the period. Marcum Wealth LLC lifted its stake in Waste Management by 3.5% during the third quarter. Marcum Wealth LLC now owns 1,934 shares of the business services providers stock worth $310,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares in the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP lifted its stake in Waste Management by 0.7% during the third quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 9,952 shares of the business services providers stock worth $1,594,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares in the last quarter. LWM Advisory Services LLC lifted its stake in Waste Management by 3.5% during the third quarter. LWM Advisory Services LLC now owns 1,966 shares of the business services providers stock worth $315,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Revolve Wealth Partners LLC lifted its stake in Waste Management by 5.0% during the third quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,398 shares of the business services providers stock worth $224,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. 78.48% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Waste Management alerts: Waste Management Stock Up 0.5 % NYSE:WM traded up $0.84 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $163.66. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,290,538 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,116,808. The stock has a market capitalization of $66.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.73. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $153.64 and a 200-day moving average of $157.87. The company has a current ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.12. Waste Management, Inc. has a 52-week low of $138.89 and a 52-week high of $175.98. Waste Management ( NYSE:WM Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 1st. The business services provider reported $1.30 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.39 by ($0.09). The business had revenue of $4.94 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.97 billion. Waste Management had a net margin of 11.36% and a return on equity of 32.91%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.26 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Waste Management, Inc. will post 6.03 earnings per share for the current year. Waste Management declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase program on Thursday, December 8th that permits the company to buyback $1.50 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the business services provider to reacquire up to 2.2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are typically an indication that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued. Waste Management Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 24th. Investors of record on Friday, March 10th were issued a $0.70 dividend. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.71%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 9th. This is a positive change from Waste Managements previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. Waste Managements dividend payout ratio is 51.95%. Insider Activity at Waste Management In related news, EVP John J. Morris sold 15,204 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $155.03, for a total value of $2,357,076.12. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 95,461 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,799,318.83. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other Waste Management news, EVP John J. Morris sold 15,204 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $155.03, for a total transaction of $2,357,076.12. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 95,461 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,799,318.83. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CAO Leslie K. Nagy sold 800 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $151.11, for a total value of $120,888.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 5,210 shares in the company, valued at approximately $787,283.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 31,027 shares of company stock valued at $4,806,619 over the last quarter. 0.27% of the stock is owned by insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes WM has been the topic of a number of research reports. Citigroup decreased their price target on Waste Management from $183.00 to $180.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 2nd. Raymond James decreased their price target on Waste Management from $167.00 to $166.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 6th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on Waste Management from $158.00 to $167.00 in a research note on Thursday. Stifel Nicolaus cut Waste Management from a buy rating to a hold rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $185.00 to $171.00 in a research note on Monday, December 19th. Finally, TD Cowen initiated coverage on Waste Management in a research note on Thursday, March 30th. They issued an outperform rating and a $200.00 price objective on the stock. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $173.27. Waste Management Company Profile (Get Rating) Waste Management, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of waste management environmental services. It operates through the following segments: East Tier, West Tier, and Other. The East Tier segment consists of Eastern U.S., the Great Lakes Region, and Canada. The West Tier segment includes the upper Midwest region and British Columbia, Canada. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Waste Management Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Waste Management and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. New Jersey Resources Co. (NYSE:NJR Get Rating) declared a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, April 5th, Wall Street Journal reports. Investors of record on Wednesday, June 14th will be given a dividend of 0.39 per share by the utilities provider on Monday, July 3rd. This represents a $1.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.85%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, June 13th. New Jersey Resources has raised its dividend by an average of 7.5% annually over the last three years and has raised its dividend annually for the last 27 consecutive years. New Jersey Resources has a dividend payout ratio of 56.9% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities research analysts expect New Jersey Resources to earn $2.69 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.56 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 58.0%. Get New Jersey Resources alerts: New Jersey Resources Stock Up 0.1 % Shares of NJR opened at $54.79 on Friday. New Jersey Resources has a 52-week low of $38.07 and a 52-week high of $55.23. The company has a market capitalization of $5.31 billion, a PE ratio of 18.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.28 and a beta of 0.65. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $51.54 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $48.10. The company has a quick ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40. Analysts Set New Price Targets New Jersey Resources ( NYSE:NJR Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The utilities provider reported $1.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.79 by $0.35. New Jersey Resources had a return on equity of 15.62% and a net margin of 9.46%. The business had revenue of $723.60 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $696.78 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.69 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 7.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that New Jersey Resources will post 2.7 EPS for the current year. A number of analysts have issued reports on the company. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on New Jersey Resources from $51.00 to $50.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 10th. Mizuho raised their price objective on New Jersey Resources from $46.00 to $51.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on New Jersey Resources from $40.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Monday, January 9th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on New Jersey Resources in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and three have assigned a hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $46.75. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, COO Patrick J. Migliaccio sold 2,040 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.00, for a total transaction of $104,040.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 38,129 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,944,579. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.72% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On New Jersey Resources A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of NJR. Norges Bank purchased a new position in New Jersey Resources during the 4th quarter valued at about $39,226,000. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its holdings in New Jersey Resources by 22.6% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 3,203,151 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $146,897,000 after acquiring an additional 589,747 shares during the period. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in New Jersey Resources by 4.5% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 10,661,984 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $416,694,000 after acquiring an additional 456,306 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. boosted its holdings in New Jersey Resources by 151.1% during the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 602,011 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $27,609,000 after acquiring an additional 362,282 shares during the period. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted its holdings in New Jersey Resources by 37.4% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 782,209 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $38,813,000 after acquiring an additional 213,036 shares during the period. 74.09% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About New Jersey Resources (Get Rating) New Jersey Resources Corp. is a holding company. The firm provides safe and reliable natural gas and clean energy services, including transportation, distribution, asset management and home services. It operates through the following segments: Natural Gas Distribution, Clean Energy Ventures, Energy Services, Storage and Transportation, and Home Services and Other. Read More Receive News & Ratings for New Jersey Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for New Jersey Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Newmont (NYSE:NEM Get Rating) had its target price trimmed by Citigroup from $70.00 to $60.00 in a research note published on Tuesday morning, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the basic materials companys stock. A number of other equities analysts have also commented on the company. BNP Paribas raised Newmont from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $60.00 price target for the company in a research note on Monday, February 13th. TD Securities raised Newmont from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $55.00 price target for the company in a research note on Friday, February 24th. Barclays increased their price target on Newmont from $54.00 to $57.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, January 30th. UBS Group lowered Newmont from a buy rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price target for the company from $59.00 to $53.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 14th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group raised Newmont from a hold rating to a buy rating and increased their price target for the company from $53.00 to $55.00 in a research note on Monday, March 13th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $62.06. Get Newmont alerts: Newmont Stock Performance NYSE NEM opened at $52.05 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.89, a current ratio of 2.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $47.18 and a 200-day moving average price of $46.42. Newmont has a twelve month low of $37.45 and a twelve month high of $86.37. Newmont Cuts Dividend Newmont ( NYSE:NEM Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 23rd. The basic materials company reported $0.44 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.47 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $3.20 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.10 billion. Newmont had a positive return on equity of 6.98% and a negative net margin of 3.60%. The businesss revenue was down 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.78 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Newmont will post 2.24 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 23rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 9th were issued a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, March 8th. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.07%. Newmonts payout ratio is -296.29%. Insider Transactions at Newmont In other news, COO Robert D. Atkinson sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.25, for a total value of $132,750.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 87,751 shares in the company, valued at $3,882,981.75. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other Newmont news, CEO Thomas Ronald Palmer sold 11,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, April 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $48.92, for a total transaction of $538,120.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 311,039 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,216,027.88. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, COO Robert D. Atkinson sold 3,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.25, for a total value of $132,750.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 87,751 shares in the company, valued at $3,882,981.75. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 28,000 shares of company stock worth $1,304,380. 0.07% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Compass Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Newmont during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Delta Asset Management LLC TN purchased a new position in shares of Newmont in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Cowa LLC purchased a new position in shares of Newmont in the 3rd quarter valued at $32,000. Avion Wealth increased its holdings in shares of Newmont by 4,664.7% in the 3rd quarter. Avion Wealth now owns 810 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 793 shares during the period. Finally, Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Newmont in the 3rd quarter valued at $34,000. 77.60% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Newmont (Get Rating) Newmont Corp. is a gold producer, engages in the exploration and acquisition of gold properties, contains copper, silver, lead, zinc or other metals. It operates through the following geographical segments: North America, South America, Nevada, Australia, and Africa. The North America segment consists primarily of carlin, phoenix, twin creeks and long canyon in the state of Nevada and Cripple Creek and Victor in the state of Colorado, in the United States. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Newmont Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Newmont and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PDS Planning Inc boosted its holdings in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Get Rating) by 18.2% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 8,519 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 1,311 shares during the quarter. PDS Planning Incs holdings in Altria Group were worth $389,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of MO. Kentucky Retirement Systems raised its holdings in Altria Group by 4.9% in the 3rd quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems now owns 140,965 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,692,000 after buying an additional 6,588 shares during the period. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Altria Group by 35.1% during the third quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC now owns 72,673 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,946,000 after acquiring an additional 18,891 shares during the last quarter. Bartlett & Co. LLC raised its stake in shares of Altria Group by 5.3% in the 4th quarter. Bartlett & Co. LLC now owns 14,223 shares of the companys stock valued at $664,000 after acquiring an additional 715 shares during the period. Procyon Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 3.9% in the 3rd quarter. Procyon Advisors LLC now owns 12,870 shares of the companys stock worth $520,000 after acquiring an additional 487 shares during the last quarter. Finally, IFP Advisors Inc boosted its position in shares of Altria Group by 36.2% during the 3rd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 128,178 shares of the companys stock worth $9,151,000 after purchasing an additional 34,055 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 58.68% of the companys stock. Get Altria Group alerts: Altria Group Stock Performance Shares of Altria Group stock opened at $44.43 on Friday. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $46.15 and a 200-day simple moving average of $45.36. The company has a market cap of $79.33 billion, a PE ratio of 13.93, a P/E/G ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 0.59. Altria Group, Inc. has a one year low of $40.35 and a one year high of $57.05. Altria Group Dividend Announcement Altria Group ( NYSE:MO Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 1st. The company reported $1.18 EPS for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $1.18. Altria Group had a net margin of 22.97% and a negative return on equity of 284.29%. The company had revenue of $5.08 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.15 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.09 EPS. The firms revenue was down 18.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.05 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 24th will be issued a dividend of $0.94 per share. This represents a $3.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.46%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 23rd. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 117.87%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts have issued reports on MO shares. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Altria Group from $43.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, January 23rd. Citigroup increased their target price on Altria Group from $46.50 to $49.50 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Altria Group in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $45.55. Altria Group Profile (Get Rating) Altria Group, Inc operates as a holding company, which engages in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes in the United States. It operates through the following segments: Smokeable Products, Oral tobacco products, and Wine. The Smokeable Products segment consists of cigarettes manufactured and sold by PM USA and machine-made large cigars and pipe tobacco manufactured and sold by Middleton. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Altria Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altria Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE:PPG Get Rating) Analysts at Jefferies Financial Group issued their Q2 2023 EPS estimates for shares of PPG Industries in a research note issued on Monday, April 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group analyst L. Alexander expects that the specialty chemicals company will post earnings per share of $2.09 for the quarter. The consensus estimate for PPG Industries current full-year earnings is $6.49 per share. Jefferies Financial Group also issued estimates for PPG Industries Q3 2023 earnings at $1.76 EPS, Q4 2023 earnings at $1.64 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $7.85 EPS. Get PPG Industries alerts: PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Friday, January 20th. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.14 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $4.19 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.12 billion. PPG Industries had a net margin of 5.81% and a return on equity of 22.55%. PPG Industriess revenue for the quarter was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.26 earnings per share. PPG Industries Stock Down 0.6 % PPG has been the topic of a number of other reports. Credit Suisse Group upped their price target on PPG Industries from $118.00 to $128.00 in a research note on Monday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on PPG Industries from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday. BNP Paribas cut shares of PPG Industries from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $130.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Monday, January 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on shares of PPG Industries from $133.00 to $143.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Mizuho reiterated a buy rating and issued a $142.00 price objective on shares of PPG Industries in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, PPG Industries has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $139.95. Shares of PPG Industries stock opened at $138.07 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $32.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.89, a PEG ratio of 3.05 and a beta of 1.17. PPG Industries has a one year low of $107.06 and a one year high of $140.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.52 and a quick ratio of 1.04. The stocks 50-day moving average is $129.81 and its 200 day moving average is $125.35. PPG Industries Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 17th were given a dividend of $0.62 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 16th. This represents a $2.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.80%. PPG Industriess payout ratio is 57.27%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, Chairman Michael H. Mcgarry sold 61,867 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.96, for a total transaction of $8,040,235.32. Following the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 183,645 shares in the company, valued at approximately $23,866,504.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, VP Anne M. Foulkes sold 21,757 shares of PPG Industries stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $128.33, for a total transaction of $2,792,075.81. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 10,577 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,357,346.41. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Chairman Michael H. Mcgarry sold 61,867 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.96, for a total transaction of $8,040,235.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 183,645 shares of the companys stock, valued at $23,866,504.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.55% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Trading of PPG Industries Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd boosted its stake in PPG Industries by 12.6% during the third quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 17,967 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $1,989,000 after acquiring an additional 2,015 shares in the last quarter. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of PPG Industries by 57.5% in the 4th quarter. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 6,864 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $863,000 after buying an additional 2,507 shares during the last quarter. Insight Folios Inc grew its stake in shares of PPG Industries by 8.1% in the 3rd quarter. Insight Folios Inc now owns 2,448 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $271,000 after buying an additional 183 shares during the last quarter. Romano Brothers AND Company purchased a new stake in shares of PPG Industries in the 4th quarter worth approximately $141,000. Finally, Echo Street Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of PPG Industries during the second quarter valued at $410,000. 80.04% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. PPG Industries Company Profile (Get Rating) PPG Industries, Inc engages in the manufacture and distribution of paints, coatings, and specialty materials. It operates through the Performance Coatings and Industrial Coatings segments. The Performance Coatings segment supplies a variety of protective and decorative coatings, sealants, and finishes along with pavement marking products, paint strippers, stains, and related chemicals, as well as transparencies and transparent armor. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for PPG Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PPG Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PPL Co. (NYSE:PPL Get Rating) insider John R. Crockett III sold 5,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.00, for a total transaction of $154,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 9,161 shares in the company, valued at $256,508. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. PPL Price Performance PPL opened at $28.55 on Friday. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $27.78 and its 200 day simple moving average is $27.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 0.75. PPL Co. has a 1 year low of $23.47 and a 1 year high of $31.74. The stock has a market capitalization of $21.03 billion, a PE ratio of 27.72 and a beta of 0.77. Get PPL alerts: PPL (NYSE:PPL Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 17th. The utilities provider reported $0.28 EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.28. PPL had a net margin of 9.57% and a return on equity of 7.50%. The firm had revenue of $2.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.62 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.22 earnings per share. PPLs revenue for the quarter was up 54.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that PPL Co. will post 1.59 EPS for the current year. PPL Increases Dividend Institutional Inflows and Outflows The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, March 10th were issued a $0.24 dividend. This is a positive change from PPLs previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 9th. This represents a $0.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.36%. PPLs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 93.20%. Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its position in shares of PPL by 50.5% during the third quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 112,738 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $2,858,000 after purchasing an additional 37,830 shares in the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board lifted its position in shares of PPL by 5.6% during the third quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 1,631,858 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $41,368,000 after purchasing an additional 86,200 shares in the last quarter. Old North State Trust LLC acquired a new position in shares of PPL during the third quarter worth $51,000. Kestra Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in shares of PPL by 20.5% during the third quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC now owns 102,848 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $2,607,000 after purchasing an additional 17,527 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can acquired a new position in shares of PPL during the third quarter worth $8,024,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.02% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades PPL has been the topic of a number of research reports. Mizuho lowered their price objective on shares of PPL from $32.00 to $28.00 in a research note on Monday, March 20th. Barclays began coverage on shares of PPL in a research note on Wednesday, January 18th. They issued an equal weight rating on the stock. TheStreet cut shares of PPL from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 21st. UBS Group raised their price target on shares of PPL to $33.00 in a research note on Wednesday, December 14th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of PPL to $34.00 in a research note on Wednesday, December 14th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $30.63. PPL Company Profile (Get Rating) PPL Corp. engages in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. It operates through the two reportable segments: Kentucky Regulated & Pennsylvania Regulated. The Kentucky Regulated segment consists of LKEs regulated electricity generation, transmission and distribution operations of Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company as well as regulated distribution and sale of natural gas of Louisville Gas and Electric Company. See Also Receive News & Ratings for PPL Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PPL and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Desjardins downgraded shares of Rogers Communications (TSE:RCI Get Rating) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report sent to investors on Monday morning, PriceTargets.com reports. Desjardins also issued estimates for Rogers Communications FY2023 earnings at $4.67 EPS and FY2024 earnings at $5.52 EPS. Other equities research analysts have also issued reports about the company. National Bank Financial dropped their target price on Rogers Communications from C$78.00 to C$76.00 in a research report on Monday. TD Securities raised their price target on Rogers Communications from C$78.00 to C$80.00 in a report on Tuesday. Get Rogers Communications alerts: Rogers Communications Stock Performance Rogers Communications (TSE:RCI Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The company reported C$1.09 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$1.01 by C$0.08. The company had revenue of C$4.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$4.16 billion. Rogers Communications Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, March 10th were issued a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of . The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 9th. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Rogers Communications Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rogers Communications and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ryanair Holdings plc (LON:RYA Get Rating) shares passed below its 50-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of GBX 14.41 ($0.18) and traded as low as GBX 13.80 ($0.17). Ryanair shares last traded at GBX 14.42 ($0.18), with a volume of 1,030,829 shares traded. Ryanair Stock Performance The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 116.44. The stock has a market cap of 163.33 million and a P/E ratio of -24.94. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 14.41 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 14.41. About Ryanair (Get Rating) Ryanair Holdings plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides scheduled-passenger airline services in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Germany, and Other European countries. It is also involved in the provision of various ancillary services, such as non-flight scheduled services and internet-related services; in-flight sale of beverages, food, and merchandise; and marketing accommodation and hotel services, car hire, and travel insurance through its Website and mobile app. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Ryanair Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ryanair and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CAE (TSE:CAE Get Rating) (NYSE:CAE) had its price target hoisted by Scotiabank from C$37.00 to C$38.00 in a report released on Tuesday morning, The Fly reports. Scotiabank also issued estimates for CAEs FY2026 earnings at $1.73 EPS. CAE has been the subject of a number of other research reports. National Bankshares increased their target price on CAE from C$34.00 to C$37.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. TD Securities increased their target price on CAE from C$34.00 to C$37.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. Canaccord Genuity Group increased their target price on CAE from C$30.00 to C$35.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on CAE from C$33.00 to C$37.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on CAE from C$33.00 to C$35.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, CAE has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$36.75. Get CAE alerts: CAE Stock Performance CAE stock opened at C$31.44 on Tuesday. The stocks 50-day moving average is C$30.19 and its 200-day moving average is C$27.49. The company has a market cap of C$9.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 55.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 2.01. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 73.28, a current ratio of 0.97 and a quick ratio of 0.71. CAE has a 12 month low of C$20.90 and a 12 month high of C$35.18. About CAE CAE ( TSE:CAE Get Rating ) (NYSE:CAE) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 14th. The company reported C$0.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of C$0.25 by C$0.03. CAE had a return on equity of 4.42% and a net margin of 4.60%. The business had revenue of C$1.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$1.04 billion. Equities analysts anticipate that CAE will post 1.2864121 earnings per share for the current year. (Get Rating) CAE Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides simulation training and critical operations support solutions worldwide. It operates through three segments: Civil Aviation, Defense and Security, and Healthcare. The Civil Aviation segment provides training solutions for flight, cabin, maintenance, and ground personnel in commercial, business, and helicopter aviation; flight simulation training devices; and ab initio pilot training and crew sourcing services, as well as end to end digitally enabled crew management, training operations solutions, and optimization software. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for CAE Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CAE and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Robert W. Baird upgraded shares of ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW Get Rating) from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research report released on Tuesday, Marketbeat.com reports. They currently have $548.00 price target on the information technology services providers stock, up from their previous price target of $475.00. A number of other equities analysts also recently issued reports on NOW. Wolfe Research upped their price target on ServiceNow from $500.00 to $510.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on ServiceNow from $475.00 to $500.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Truist Financial downgraded ServiceNow from a buy rating to a hold rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $525.00 to $420.00 in a research report on Monday, January 9th. Cowen upped their target price on ServiceNow from $520.00 to $530.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Finally, Barclays cut their target price on ServiceNow from $496.00 to $495.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-seven have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, ServiceNow has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $521.97. Get ServiceNow alerts: ServiceNow Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:NOW opened at $473.13 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $96.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 295.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 6.35 and a beta of 1.04. ServiceNow has a 52 week low of $337.00 and a 52 week high of $541.90. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $446.46 and a 200 day moving average of $412.75. Insider Activity at ServiceNow ServiceNow ( NYSE:NOW Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 25th. The information technology services provider reported $0.88 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.60 by $0.28. The company had revenue of $1.94 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.93 billion. ServiceNow had a net margin of 4.49% and a return on equity of 9.37%. On average, sell-side analysts predict that ServiceNow will post 2.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. In related news, insider Jacqueline P. Canney sold 1,083 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $461.03, for a total value of $499,295.49. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 267 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $123,095.01. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, insider Paul John Smith sold 2,301 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $447.22, for a total value of $1,029,053.22. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, insider Jacqueline P. Canney sold 1,083 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $461.03, for a total transaction of $499,295.49. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 267 shares in the company, valued at $123,095.01. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 65,629 shares of company stock valued at $29,974,024. 0.28% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Trading of ServiceNow Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Hollencrest Capital Management acquired a new stake in ServiceNow in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. CoreCap Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in ServiceNow in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. acquired a new stake in ServiceNow in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. High Net Worth Advisory Group LLC acquired a new stake in ServiceNow in the 1st quarter valued at about $29,000. Finally, Romano Brothers AND Company acquired a new stake in ServiceNow in the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.31% of the companys stock. ServiceNow Company Profile (Get Rating) ServiceNow, Inc engages in the provision of enterprise cloud computing solutions. The firm delivers digital workflows on a single enterprise cloud platform called the Now Platform. Its product portfolio is focused on providing Information Technology, Employee and Customer workflows. The company was founded by Frederic B. See Also Receive News & Ratings for ServiceNow Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ServiceNow and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. State of Michigan Retirement System boosted its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) by 0.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,132,749 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 8,400 shares during the quarter. State of Michigan Retirement Systems holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $46,771,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of WFC. Defender Capital LLC. purchased a new position in Wells Fargo & Company during the 1st quarter worth $246,000. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company in the 1st quarter valued at $124,000. Dakota Wealth Management purchased a new position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company in the 1st quarter valued at $222,000. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. increased its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 273,936 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $13,274,000 after acquiring an additional 770 shares during the period. Finally, Zions Bancorporation N.A. increased its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 24.5% in the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 9,630 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $467,000 after acquiring an additional 1,895 shares during the period. 72.24% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: Insider Activity at Wells Fargo & Company In related news, EVP Kleber Santos sold 34,698 shares of Wells Fargo & Company stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $46.27, for a total value of $1,605,476.46. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 19,590 shares in the company, valued at approximately $906,429.30. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.07% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Wells Fargo & Company Stock Performance Shares of WFC stock traded up $1.01 on Friday, hitting $37.90. The company had a trading volume of 23,484,942 shares, compared to its average volume of 34,409,332. The firm has a market cap of $143.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $43.20 and a 200-day moving average price of $43.58. The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08. Wells Fargo & Company has a twelve month low of $35.25 and a twelve month high of $50.19. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 13th. The financial services provider reported $0.67 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.63 by $0.04. Wells Fargo & Company had a return on equity of 9.28% and a net margin of 15.91%. The business had revenue of $19.66 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.04 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.38 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Wells Fargo & Company Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 1st. Investors of record on Friday, February 3rd were paid a $0.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 2nd. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.17%. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio is presently 38.22%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Odeon Capital Group cut Wells Fargo & Company from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, March 13th. Piper Sandler cut Wells Fargo & Company from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $49.00 to $47.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 17th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on Wells Fargo & Company from $45.00 to $42.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 24th. Citigroup lifted their price target on Wells Fargo & Company from $48.00 to $52.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 17th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price target on Wells Fargo & Company from $58.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 3rd. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $50.88. Wells Fargo & Company Company Profile (Get Rating) Wells Fargo & Co is a diversified, community-based financial services company. It is engaged in the provision of banking, insurance, investments, mortgage products and services, and consumer and commercial finance. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WFC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Wells Fargo & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wells Fargo & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Shaw Communications (NYSE:SJR Get Rating) (TSE:SJR.B) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report published on Monday morning. Several other equities research analysts also recently commented on the company. Desjardins downgraded Shaw Communications from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, January 13th. Royal Bank of Canada downgraded Shaw Communications from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating in a report on Tuesday, January 3rd. Scotiabank downgraded Shaw Communications from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating in a research note on Friday, January 13th. Finally, National Bank Financial downgraded Shaw Communications from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $40.50. Get Shaw Communications alerts: Shaw Communications Price Performance Shares of NYSE:SJR opened at $30.18 on Monday. Shaw Communications has a 1-year low of $23.64 and a 1-year high of $31.60. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $29.12 and a 200-day moving average price of $27.49. The company has a market capitalization of $14.42 billion, a PE ratio of 26.47 and a beta of 0.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.68 and a quick ratio of 0.63. Shaw Communications Increases Dividend Shaw Communications ( NYSE:SJR Get Rating ) (TSE:SJR.B) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 12th. The company reported $0.25 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.27 by ($0.02). Shaw Communications had a return on equity of 11.70% and a net margin of 13.57%. The business had revenue of $1.02 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.01 billion. As a group, equities analysts expect that Shaw Communications will post 1.08 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 30th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 15th were given a dividend of $0.074 per share. This is a boost from Shaw Communicationss previous monthly dividend of $0.07. This represents a $0.89 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.94%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 14th. Shaw Communicationss payout ratio is presently 76.32%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. CWM LLC lifted its position in shares of Shaw Communications by 68.4% during the 4th quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,027 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 417 shares in the last quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC purchased a new position in Shaw Communications in the 4th quarter worth approximately $39,000. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Shaw Communications in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $44,000. Power Corp of Canada purchased a new position in Shaw Communications in the 1st quarter worth approximately $54,000. Finally, Advisor Group Holdings Inc. lifted its holdings in Shaw Communications by 69.7% in the 4th quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 2,427 shares of the companys stock worth $69,000 after purchasing an additional 997 shares in the last quarter. 55.44% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Shaw Communications (Get Rating) Shaw Communications, Inc engages in the provision of cable telecommunications and satellite video services. The company was founded by James Robert Shaw on December 9, 1966 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Shaw Communications Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Shaw Communications and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Telstra Co. Limited (OTCMKTS:TLSYY Get Rating)s share price crossed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of $12.48 and traded as low as $12.15. Telstra shares last traded at $12.48, with a volume of 63,400 shares traded. Telstra Stock Up 0.7 % The stocks fifty day moving average price is $12.48 and its 200-day moving average price is $12.45. The company has a quick ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49. Get Telstra alerts: Telstra Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 7th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 2nd will be issued a $0.5949 dividend. This is a positive change from Telstras previous dividend of $0.04. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 1st. This represents a yield of 6.13%. Telstra Company Profile Telstra Corporation Limited provides telecommunications and information services to businesses, governments, and individuals in Australia and internationally. It operates in four segments: Telstra Consumer and Small Business, Telstra Enterprise, Networks and IT, and Telstra InfraCo The company offers telecommunication, media and technology products and services in Australia using mobile and fixed network technologies, as well as operates call centers, retail stores, a dealership network, digital channels, distribution systems and Telstra Plus customer loyalty program. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Telstra Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Telstra and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The European Smaller Companies Trust PLC (LON:ESCT Get Rating)s share price fell 1.9% on Wednesday . The company traded as low as GBX 154 ($1.91) and last traded at GBX 155 ($1.92). 354,635 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 16% from the average session volume of 421,103 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 158 ($1.96). The European Smaller Companies Trust Trading Up 1.0 % The company has a current ratio of 0.04, a quick ratio of 0.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 10.22. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is GBX 163.13 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is GBX 149.53. The stock has a market capitalization of 627.36 million, a P/E ratio of -601.92 and a beta of 1.38. Get The European Smaller Companies Trust alerts: The European Smaller Companies Trust Cuts Dividend The business also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 28th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 30th will be issued a GBX 1.45 ($0.02) dividend. This represents a yield of 0.86%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 30th. The European Smaller Companies Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -1,923.08%. Insider Buying and Selling at The European Smaller Companies Trust About The European Smaller Companies Trust In related news, insider Daniel Burgess purchased 16,000 shares of The European Smaller Companies Trust stock in a transaction on Friday, March 10th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 160 ($1.99) per share, with a total value of 25,600 ($31,793.34). Insiders own 2.74% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) TR European Growth Trust PLC is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Henderson Investment Funds Limited. It is co-managed by Henderson Global Investors Limited. The fund invests in the public equity markets of Europe. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. Read More Receive News & Ratings for The European Smaller Companies Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The European Smaller Companies Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The North West Company Inc. (TSE:NWC Get Rating) announced a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, April 5th, TickerTech reports. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 17th will be given a dividend of 0.38 per share on Thursday, April 27th. This represents a $1.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.85%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 14th. North West Stock Performance NWC traded up C$2.01 during trading on Friday, reaching C$39.48. 447,334 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 98,681. North West has a fifty-two week low of C$30.55 and a fifty-two week high of C$40.08. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 2.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 65.42. The business has a 50 day moving average price of C$36.21 and a 200 day moving average price of C$35.73. The company has a market capitalization of C$1.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.60, a PEG ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 0.61. Get North West alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms have weighed in on NWC. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of North West from C$40.00 to C$41.00 in a research note on Thursday. TD Securities lifted their price target on shares of North West from C$39.00 to C$41.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Thursday. Finally, CIBC lifted their price target on shares of North West from C$37.00 to C$39.00 in a research note on Thursday. About North West The North West Company Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the retail of food and everyday products and services to rural communities and urban neighborhood markets in northern Canada, rural Alaska, the South Pacific, and the Caribbean. The company's Canadian operations comprise 118 Northern stores, which offers food, financial services, and general merchandise; 5 NorthMart stores that provides fresh foods, apparel, and health products and services; 26 Quickstop convenience stores that provides ready-to-eat foods, and fuel and related services; 5 Giant Tiger junior discount stores, which offers family fashion, household products, and food; 2 Valu Lots discount center and direct-to-customer food distribution outlet; 1 solo market, a store in remote market; 3 Pharmacy and Convenience stores; and 1 North West Company motorsports dealership offering sales, service, parts and accessories for Ski-doo, Honda, Can-am and other premier brands. Read More Receive News & Ratings for North West Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for North West and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund raised its holdings in shares of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV Get Rating) by 145.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 44,417 shares of the insurance providers stock after acquiring an additional 26,297 shares during the period. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Funds holdings in Travelers Companies were worth $8,328,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its stake in shares of Travelers Companies by 5.3% in the 2nd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 7,376,802 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,247,639,000 after purchasing an additional 370,993 shares during the period. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can acquired a new position in shares of Travelers Companies in the 3rd quarter valued at $42,750,000. Barclays PLC lifted its stake in shares of Travelers Companies by 74.7% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 625,735 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $95,863,000 after purchasing an additional 267,460 shares during the period. Truist Financial Corp lifted its stake in shares of Travelers Companies by 129.0% in the 3rd quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 443,382 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $67,927,000 after purchasing an additional 249,765 shares during the period. Finally, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC acquired a new position in shares of Travelers Companies in the 3rd quarter valued at $26,472,000. 81.59% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Travelers Companies alerts: Insider Transactions at Travelers Companies In other news, EVP Gregory C. Toczydlowski sold 5,420 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $184.19, for a total transaction of $998,309.80. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 18,416 shares in the company, valued at $3,392,043.04. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Travelers Companies news, Vice Chairman William H. Heyman sold 9,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.42, for a total value of $1,722,780.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 251,605 shares of the companys stock, valued at $48,162,229.10. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Gregory C. Toczydlowski sold 5,420 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $184.19, for a total value of $998,309.80. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 18,416 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,392,043.04. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 188,163 shares of company stock worth $35,402,200. Insiders own 1.07% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets Travelers Companies Trading Up 0.6 % A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Raymond James upped their price objective on shares of Travelers Companies from $200.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 25th. BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on shares of Travelers Companies in a research report on Thursday, January 19th. They set an outperform rating and a $212.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Travelers Companies in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Travelers Companies from $180.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, March 31st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on shares of Travelers Companies from $190.00 to $195.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $190.40. Shares of TRV stock opened at $171.27 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a current ratio of 0.33 and a quick ratio of 0.33. The firm has a market cap of $39.75 billion, a PE ratio of 14.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 0.60. The company has a 50-day moving average of $178.57 and a two-hundred day moving average of $179.11. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a 1-year low of $149.65 and a 1-year high of $194.51. Travelers Companies (NYSE:TRV Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 24th. The insurance provider reported $3.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $3.40. The business had revenue of $8.83 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.78 billion. Travelers Companies had a net margin of 7.71% and a return on equity of 13.34%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 10.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $5.20 earnings per share. On average, analysts predict that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 14.11 EPS for the current year. Travelers Companies Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 10th were paid a $0.93 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 9th. This represents a $3.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.17%. Travelers Companiess dividend payout ratio is currently 31.66%. Travelers Companies Profile (Get Rating) The Travelers Cos., Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of commercial and personal property and casualty insurance products and services. It operates through the following business segments: Business Insurance, Bond and Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance. The Business Insurance segment provides an array of property and casualty insurance, and insurance related services to its customers primarily in the U.S., as well as in Canada, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and throughout other parts of the world as a corporate member of Lloyds. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TRV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Travelers Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Travelers Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Third Point Investors Limited (LON:TPOU Get Rating) shares were up 1.9% on Wednesday . The company traded as high as GBX 19.08 ($0.24) and last traded at GBX 19.08 ($0.24). Approximately 19,558 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 16% from the average daily volume of 23,192 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 18.73 ($0.23). Third Point Investors Stock Up 2.2 % The stock has a market capitalization of 5.25 million, a PE ratio of -4.11 and a beta of 0.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.73, a current ratio of 20.13 and a quick ratio of 20.13. The businesss fifty day moving average price is GBX 19.79 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 20.16. About Third Point Investors (Get Rating) Third Point Offshore Investors Limited is a close ended feeder fund launched and managed by Third Point LLC. The fund invests its entire corpus in Third Point Offshore Fund Ltd. It seeks to benchmark the performance of its portfolio against the S&P 500 TR USD. The fund was formed on July 20, 2007 and is domiciled in Guernsey, Channel Islands. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Third Point Investors Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Third Point Investors and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Northstar Asset Management LLC cut its holdings in shares of Vanguard Information Technology ETF (NYSEARCA:VGT Get Rating) by 1.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 113,299 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 1,474 shares during the period. Vanguard Information Technology ETF makes up approximately 11.4% of Northstar Asset Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its largest holding. Northstar Asset Management LLC owned 0.09% of Vanguard Information Technology ETF worth $36,189,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in VGT. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in shares of Vanguard Information Technology ETF in the first quarter valued at about $84,000. AMI Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in Vanguard Information Technology ETF by 5.9% during the first quarter. AMI Investment Management Inc. now owns 47,612 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $19,829,000 after acquiring an additional 2,662 shares in the last quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management raised its holdings in Vanguard Information Technology ETF by 40.4% during the first quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 650 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $271,000 after acquiring an additional 187 shares in the last quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. raised its holdings in Vanguard Information Technology ETF by 24.8% during the first quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 180,462 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $75,159,000 after acquiring an additional 35,906 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in Vanguard Information Technology ETF by 5.9% during the first quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 5,085 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,118,000 after acquiring an additional 283 shares in the last quarter. Get Vanguard Information Technology ETF alerts: Vanguard Information Technology ETF Stock Performance VGT traded up $1.96 on Friday, hitting $379.88. 278,658 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 670,767. Vanguard Information Technology ETF has a 12 month low of $291.61 and a 12 month high of $406.01. The company has a market cap of $46.88 billion, a PE ratio of 24.70 and a beta of 1.14. The stocks fifty day moving average is $363.40 and its 200-day moving average is $339.66. Vanguard Information Technology ETF Profile Vanguard Information Technology ETF seeks to track the investment performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Information Technology 25/50 Index, a benchmark of large-, mid-, and small-cap United States stocks in the information technology sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VGT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vanguard Information Technology ETF (NYSEARCA:VGT Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Vanguard Information Technology ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vanguard Information Technology ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. HC Wainwright reissued their buy rating on shares of Vista Gold (NYSEAMERICAN:VGZ Get Rating) (TSE:VGZ) in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $2.25 price target on the basic materials companys stock. Vista Gold Stock Performance Shares of NYSEAMERICAN:VGZ opened at $0.65 on Tuesday. Vista Gold has a 52 week low of $0.46 and a 52 week high of $1.08. The firm has a market capitalization of $76.43 million, a PE ratio of -5.86 and a beta of 1.32. Get Vista Gold alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its position in Vista Gold by 64.6% during the 4th quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 272,415 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $135,000 after buying an additional 106,874 shares in the last quarter. Kopernik Global Investors LLC lifted its position in Vista Gold by 54.5% during the 3rd quarter. Kopernik Global Investors LLC now owns 2,258,884 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,189,000 after buying an additional 797,166 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its position in Vista Gold by 4.1% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 1,659,341 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,742,000 after buying an additional 65,000 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 29.49% of the companys stock. Vista Gold Company Profile Vista Gold Corp. engages in the evaluation, acquisition, exploration, and advancement of gold exploration and potential development projects. It focuses on Mt. Todd in Northern Territory, Australia project. The company was founded on November 28, 1983 and is headquartered in Littleton, CO. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Vista Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vista Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Walmart (NYSE:WMT Get Rating)s stock had its outperform rating reiterated by equities researchers at Telsey Advisory Group in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, Benzinga reports. They presently have a $160.00 price target on the retailers stock. Telsey Advisory Groups price objective would suggest a potential upside of 6.10% from the stocks previous close. Other equities analysts have also issued reports about the company. StockNews.com started coverage on Walmart in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. KeyCorp lifted their price objective on Walmart from $165.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday. Barclays initiated coverage on Walmart in a report on Tuesday, February 7th. They set an overweight rating and a $159.00 target price on the stock. Oppenheimer raised their target price on Walmart from $160.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on Walmart from $161.00 to $160.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-five have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $164.34. Get Walmart alerts: Walmart Stock Performance Shares of Walmart stock traded up $1.13 on Thursday, reaching $150.80. 5,963,871 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 8,042,899. The company has a current ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The firm has a market capitalization of $406.51 billion, a PE ratio of 35.23, a PEG ratio of 4.40 and a beta of 0.48. Walmart has a 1-year low of $117.27 and a 1-year high of $160.77. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $142.65 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $142.03. Insiders Place Their Bets Walmart ( NYSE:WMT Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 21st. The retailer reported $1.71 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.51 by $0.20. The business had revenue of $164.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $158.67 billion. Walmart had a return on equity of 20.45% and a net margin of 1.91%. The companys revenue was up 7.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.53 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Walmart will post 6.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. In other Walmart news, EVP John R. Furner sold 4,375 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $143.03, for a total transaction of $625,756.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 243,548 shares in the company, valued at approximately $34,834,670.44. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, Director S Robson Walton sold 1,504,039 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $145.51, for a total transaction of $218,852,714.89. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 245,711,516 shares of the companys stock, valued at $35,753,482,693.16. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP John R. Furner sold 4,375 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $143.03, for a total value of $625,756.25. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 243,548 shares in the company, valued at $34,834,670.44. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 21,053,710 shares of company stock worth $2,982,527,217. 47.06% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Diversified Trust Co raised its position in Walmart by 0.4% during the first quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 35,600 shares of the retailers stock valued at $5,249,000 after buying an additional 154 shares during the period. Trust Co. of Vermont grew its stake in Walmart by 6.0% in the first quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 29,936 shares of the retailers stock valued at $4,414,000 after purchasing an additional 1,705 shares in the last quarter. BTC Capital Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Walmart by 2.4% during the 1st quarter. BTC Capital Management Inc. now owns 94,724 shares of the retailers stock valued at $13,882,000 after acquiring an additional 2,209 shares during the last quarter. Fulton Bank N.A. grew its holdings in Walmart by 11.4% in the 1st quarter. Fulton Bank N.A. now owns 43,656 shares of the retailers stock valued at $6,437,000 after buying an additional 4,484 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capstone Triton Financial Group LLC grew its holdings in Walmart by 2.2% in the 1st quarter. Capstone Triton Financial Group LLC now owns 22,582 shares of the retailers stock valued at $3,330,000 after buying an additional 484 shares during the last quarter. 31.27% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Walmart Company Profile (Get Rating) Walmart, Inc engages in retail and wholesale business. The company offers an assortment of merchandise and services at everyday low prices. It operates through the following business segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sams Club. The Walmart U.S. segment operates as a merchandiser of consumer products, operating under the Walmart, Wal-Mart, and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands, as well as walmart.com and other eCommerce brands. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Walmart Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Walmart and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Webster Financial (NYSE:WBS Get Rating) had its price objective dropped by investment analysts at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods from $75.00 to $63.00 in a research report issued on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an outperform rating on the financial services providers stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods price objective would suggest a potential upside of 69.72% from the companys previous close. A number of other equities research analysts have also recently commented on WBS. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of Webster Financial from $54.00 to $40.00 in a research report on Thursday. UBS Group initiated coverage on shares of Webster Financial in a research report on Wednesday, March 15th. They set a buy rating and a $56.00 price objective for the company. Raymond James cut their price objective on shares of Webster Financial from $60.00 to $56.00 in a research report on Thursday. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Webster Financial from $60.00 to $55.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of Webster Financial from $70.00 to $50.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $56.20. Get Webster Financial alerts: Webster Financial Stock Performance NYSE WBS traded up $0.26 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $37.12. 1,033,980 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,402,464. The businesss 50 day moving average is $47.53 and its 200-day moving average is $48.54. Webster Financial has a 1 year low of $36.03 and a 1 year high of $56.46. The company has a market capitalization of $6.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.46 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 0.91. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Webster Financial Webster Financial ( NYSE:WBS Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 26th. The financial services provider reported $1.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.66 by ($0.06). The company had revenue of $704.60 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $708.52 million. Webster Financial had a net margin of 23.64% and a return on equity of 12.42%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 122.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.31 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Webster Financial will post 6.72 EPS for the current fiscal year. Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. US Bancorp DE boosted its position in shares of Webster Financial by 217.7% in the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 6,646 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $372,000 after buying an additional 4,554 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in Webster Financial during the first quarter worth approximately $480,000. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC acquired a new stake in Webster Financial during the first quarter worth approximately $410,000. Private Advisor Group LLC boosted its position in Webster Financial by 78.6% during the first quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 11,359 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $637,000 after acquiring an additional 4,999 shares during the last quarter. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its position in Webster Financial by 78.5% during the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 18,398 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,032,000 after acquiring an additional 8,091 shares during the last quarter. 85.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Webster Financial Company Profile (Get Rating) Webster Financial Corp. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of financial services to individuals, families, and businesses. It operates through the following business segments: Commercial Banking, HSA Bank, and Retail Banking. The Commercial Banking segment includes commercial banking and private banking. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Webster Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Webster Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. As the Karnataka assembly elections approach, the BJP and Congress are engaged in a war of words with the latter accusing the ruling party of selling off or merging Karnataka-based companies. In the latest such development, Siddaramaiah the former Karnataka chief minister and Leader of Opposition in the legislative assembly has cautioned the people of the state to beware of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and their double engine government. Urging the people of Karnataka to save the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) the states dairy cooperative that sells milk products under the brand name Nandini the Congress leader wrote on Twitter: They will sell all the assets belonging to Kannadigas. After destroying our banks, they are now determined to destroy Nandini KMF - a brand built by our farmers. By banks, Siddaramaiah was referring to the merger between Karnataka-based Vijaya Bank with the Bank of Baroda in 2019. He said that the states milk production has been affected since the day the Union cooperative minister spoke about the possibility of a merger between KMF and Gujarats dairy-based cooperative society Amul. The Congress leader claimed that Amul is trying to gain a back-door entry into the state as Kannadigas vocally opposed the idea of the merger. He said: Nandinis milk and curd supply to retail was less in the last few days & now Amul is slyly entering the market. It is clear that Amit Shah has a big role in destroying Nandini to help Amul. Gujarat-based Amul had previously tried to enter Karnataka's market to sell milk and curd. We had not allowed it to happen then, but now the state government is welcoming them with open arms," he added. KMF has witnessed a fall in the procurement of milk under BJP rule in Karnataka. Instead of the usual collection of about 99 lakh litres, the collection has dropped to 71 lakh litres. Is this part of the conspiracy against KMF? Notably, KMF is the second-largest dairy in the country after Amul. Not only does it operate in other states, but it supplies products to the armed forces too and exports milk to several countries as well. The Karnataka Opposition has been alleging that the saffron party, with its double-engine government, is trying to foster an environment that is prosperous for Gujarat-based firms, by merging or selling off Karnataka-government-owned businesses. As Karnataka heads for Assembly polls on May 10, it becomes important to understand the "micro picture" in every part of the state. A lowdown: Kittur Karnataka (known as Mumbai/ Bombay Karnataka region) sends 50 MLAs to the Legislative Assembly. This has 7 districts- Belagavi, Dharwad, Vijayapura, Haveri, Gadag, Bagalkote and Uttara Kannada- it's a direct fight between the ruling BJP and the Congress in this region, where the Janata Dal (Secular) is considerably weak. The state decided in 2021 to rechristen the region that was under the erstwhile Bombay presidency, before Independence, as 'Kittur Karnataka' from 'Mumbai-Karnataka.' The name Kittur is after a historical taluk in Belagavi district that was ruled by Rani Chennamma (1778-1829), who had fought the British before Jhansi Rani Laxmibai did. Predominantly a Lingayat dominated region (other than Uttara Kannada district), it is the home turf of several senior political leaders including Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. BJP had won 30 of the total 50 seats in the region in the 2018 Assembly polls, followed by Congress 17, JD(S) 2, and others (KPJP-Shankar) 1. Backed by the politically-influential Lingayat community, the BJP is a dominant force in the region, where the Congress had once held sway. The Congress lost the region to the saffron party in the elections in the 1990s, following the sacking of its then Chief Minister Veerendra Patil, a Lingayat, who was recouping from a stroke, by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, which turned the community against the party. Thereafter, as the dominant community started rallying behind another Lingayat stalwart BJP's B S Yediyurappa, the region slowly turned into a stronghold of the saffron party for more than a decade till 2013. However, Congress made a comeback in the region in 2013, by winning 31 of the 50 seats. Along with the anti-incumbency against the then BJP government, a split in the saffron party with Yediyurappa breaking away and floating the Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP) had helped the grand old party to bounce back. Later, with Yediyurappa returning to the party ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha polls under Narendra Modi's leadership, and KJP back into BJP's fold, the Congress failed to repeat the performance in the 2018 elections, thereby paving the way for the BJP to regain lost ground in the region. Lingayat religion movement not working in Congress' favour, was also one of the major factors for Congress witnessing a dip in its electoral fortunes in Kittur Karnataka in 2018, despite the then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah himself contesting from the region's Badami segment. Along with the Congress facing losses in the Lingayat-dominated belt, most of its leaders who were actively involved in the 'separate Lingayat religion' movement suffered defeat. With Yediyurappa retiring from electoral politics, the Congress is now trying to woo Lingayats back into the party fold, and aimed at countering this, the BJP is falling back on the octogenarian leader, as its poll mascot. Implications of the BJP government's decision to hike Lingayat reservation by two per cent, just ahead of the polls need to be watched out, as certain groups within the community were looking at a much higher quota. Along with SCs, STs, and OBCs, Muslims too are politically significant in some segments of Kittur Karnataka. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have held massive public meetings and mega roadshows in parts of the region like Dharwad and Belagavi in view of the importance of this belt in garnering votes in favour of the BJP. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has held a "Yuva Kranti Samavesha", a youth convention, organised by the party's state unit, at Belagavi last month. After Bengaluru Urban with 27 Assembly segments (28 including Anekal), Kittur Karnataka region's Belagavi is the second biggest district in the State with 18 seats. Along with being a numerically large district, it is also politically significant. In 2018, BJP had won 10 seats and Congress eight in Belagavi. Home to influential political families in both parties, the majority of the elected representatives from the district are sugar barons with a background in sugar cooperatives like-Jarkiholis, Jolles, Kattis. Among the candidates to be watched out from Belagavi district are, Jarkiholi brothers, who are split between the two national parties- Ramesh Jarkiholi, who played a key role in installing BJP government by leading defection of 17 Congress-JD(S) MLAs, and Satish Jarkiholi, who is Congress' Working President. Also, Congress' Laxmi Hebbalkar, who is seen as a bitter opponent of Ramesh Jarkiholi. The Congress with a plan to make further gains in this crucial district had started its state-wide 'Praja Dwani Yatre' from Belagavi. On the other hand, the BJP has faced setbacks with the untimely deaths of Hukkeri MLA Umesh Katti and Saundatti MLA Anand Mamani, and will have to find new candidates in these constituencies. Also ticket fight within BJP in the district, especially for Athani between senior leader Laxman Savadi and Jarkiholi-led group has become a cause of concern for the party. Haveri district in the region with six Assembly segments, is also crucial for the BJP, as Chief Minister Bommai's constituency Shiggavi comes under it. Congress had caused an embarrassment to the BJP by wresting Hanagal, the neighbouring constituency of the CM, from it, in the 2021 bypolls. Congress in upcoming polls too, hopes to dent the ruling party's prospects and cause it a huge embarrassment in Bommai's backyard. Badami in Bagalkote district, which senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah currently represents, is also among the key constituencies in this election. The former Chief Minister has decided not to contest from Badami this time, citing its long distance from state capital Bengaluru and his inability to make himself available to the people there on a day-to-day basis as the reason. He has been fielded from his home turf of Varuna for the upcoming polls, and is also looking for Kolar as the second seat. BJP had won five out of seven seats in Bagalkote district in 2018 polls, Congress in two. Bijapur City, one among the eight Assembly segments in Vijayapura district is also significant as senior BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal is likely to contest from the seat once again. The firebrand Hindutva proponent, who was an open critique of state BJP strongman Yediyurappa, has several times in the past has expressed his Chief Ministerial ambitions. Increasing tally in Gadag is important for Congress as it has only one MLA, AICC member H K Patil from the district, which has four Assembly segments. Dharwad district, the social, cultural and commercial hub of Kittur Karnataka with seven seats, is significant as it is the Parliamentary constituency of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, who is considered to be close to both Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar represents Hubli-Dharwad-Central segment from the district. In Uttara Kannada district with six seats, veteran Congress leader 76-year old R V Deshpande is the only Congress MLA. He is contesting from Haliyal segment. Consisting of both coastal and Western ghats, the district has become the stronghold of BJP. The Sirsi segment here is represented by Legislative Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri. He is likely to get a ticket from BJP once again. While the BJP is doing all that it can to continue its hold and improve its tally on this belt, the Congress is making a concerted effort to regain political ground in the region. JD(S). (With inputs from PTI) Goldman Sachs-backed ZestMoney will lay off close to 20 percent of its workforce or 100 employees as part of its business continuity and survival plan, weeks after its talks with PhonePe for a sale fell through. The founders and top leadership team of ZestMoney held a Townhall on April 6 to inform the layoffs to employees. The company had about 450 employees and is planning to lay off across departments. "As part of its business continuity plan, the company is laying off 100 people. The company has promised to pay a month's salary as severance and other benefits like insurance and mental health assistance," said an employee on the condition of anonymity. Moneycontrol was the first to report on March 31 ZestMoney is staring at multiple layoffs post-PhonePe deal collapse. In fact, Priya Sharma, co-founder of the BNPL platform, sent out a message to a few startups seeking help for outplacing ZestMoney employees. ZestMoney did not comment on the development. Sources also said that PhonePe is looking to absorb as many as 200 employees from ZestMoney. "There are talks happening regarding hiring some talent from ZestMoney by PhonePe but nothing has been decided yet," said a source close to the development. PhonePes decision to pull out from the ZestMoney acquisition deal highlighted the stress in the BNPL sector that was hit by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)s crackdown on digital lending last year. The RBI issued a notification forbidding operating non-bank institutions or fintech companies, including many of the 'buy now, pay later' services, from loading credit lines onto Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPI) such as wallets and prepaid cards. However, PhonePe's co-founder and CEO Sameer Nigam said that there were a few due diligence lapses in the deal. "The due diligence that PhonePe carried for nearly six months while evaluating the much-anticipated acquisition of ZestMoney did not meet its bar", said Sameer Nigam, co-founder, and CEO of the fintech decacorn, commenting on the deal for the first time on record. When asked if PhonePe was looking to hire any of ZestMoneys employees, Nigam said, There are discussions happening in the background, declining to comment on it in more detail. In November 2022, PhonePe was in talks to acquire lending platform ZestMoney, a move that would have marked the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) leader's foray into digital lending. As per reports, the deal size was pegged at around $200-$300 million. CNG and piped cooking gas prices will be cut by 9-11 per cent after the government revised the formula for pricing of natural gas, but there is no clarity on deregulation of the fuel, analysts said. While the Union Cabinet accepted an expert committee report to price bulk of domestically produced natural gas at 10 per cent of month average import price of crude oil with a floor of USD 4 per million British thermal unit and a cap of USD 6.5, tinkering with the panel's suggestions will help the government avoid prices going up right in the middle of general elections next year. "City gas distributors could reduce prices of compressed natural gas (CNG), used by vehicles, and piped natural gas (PNG), used by homes, by 9-11 per cent, with the government accepting the key recommendations of the Kirit Parikh Committee," Crisil Ratings said. "Had the previous pricing regime continued, prices would have likely risen." But the government has not acted on the panel's recommendation to fully deregulate prices in 2027. Asked about the deregulation of gas prices, Oil Secretary Pankaj Jain, briefing reporters late on Thursday evening, had stated that the decisions taken by the Cabinet have been comminuted. "We don't know if the deregulation has been postponed or stalled for now," an industry official said. Also, the government tinkered with the recommendation of a USD 0.50 per mmBtu annual increase till full deregulation in 2027. The Cabinet decided that rates will not change for two years and will be increased by USD 0.25 annually thereafter. This, analysts said, has helped the government avoid an increase in CNG and piped cooking gas (PNG) prices in April 2024 -- when the country would have been in the midst of general elections. Fuel price hike would have become an election issue, an analyst said. The Parikh committee had also recommended that gas should be brought under the Goods and Services Tax, or GST, regime. Having a common taxation such as GST for gas in lieu of state level VATs, which vary from 3 per cent to as high as 24 per cent, will help develop the market. But it is not known if the Cabinet accepted this recommendation. Crisil said the revised gas pricing norms would lend greater stability to gas prices for city gas distributors and sustained competitiveness with alternative fuels, thus driving demand and supporting massive capex plans. CNG and PNG prices had witnessed an 80 per cent jump since August 2021, on the back of a surge in international energy prices. Till now, the price of gas produced from fields covered under the Administered Price Mechanism (APM) regime -- which accounts for 70 per cent of domestic gas production -- was determined semi-annually based on a formula that benchmarked it to average international prices at four gas trading hubs. APM gas is provided to city gas distributors for supply to CNG and residential PNG segments, which together account for 60 per cent of their sales volume. APM gas prices have seen wide fluctuations over the years, from a low of USD 1.79 per mmBtu in 2021, to a high of USD 8.57 for the 6-month period ending March 2023. "Global gas prices have been even more volatile, exacerbated by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict," Crisil said. As per the key recommendation of the committee accepted by the government, the APM formula is now revised and determined as a 10 per cent slope to crude oil prices, but with a floor and ceiling price of USD 4 per mmBtu and USD 6.5 respectively. "This would balance the interests of domestic gas producers, while incentivizing the city gas consumers," Crisil said, adding how the pricing regime evolves over the long-term and how policy support continues to the city gas sector will bear watching. Based on last month's average crude price at USD 78 per barrel, the ceiling price of USD 6.5 per mmBtu will kick in, providing relief to city gas distributors. Says Naveen Vaidyanathan, Director, CRISIL Ratings, as per the earlier APM regime, gas prices could have risen further to USD 10-11 per mmBtu for the first half of fiscal 2024, from USD 8.57 per mmBtu for the six months ended March 2023, necessitating a price increase, in turn, for city gas distributors to maintain profitability. Structurally, the revised regime will lead to greater stability in input gas prices for city gas distributors. While the floor price of USD 4 per mmBtu will mean they will not be able to benefit from very low international gas prices, as witnessed during 2016-21, they will be insulated from the very high gas prices -- as was seen in 2015 and since 2022. "With APM prices now benchmarked to crude oil, it would ensure sustained competitiveness of CNG and residential PNG with alternative fuels such as petrol, diesel, and liquefied natural gas (LNG). "The CNG discount over petrol and diesel, and residential PNG over LNG will increase to 25-40 per cent under the new regime from 20-35 per cent currently. This can accelerate and sustain adoption of city gas and support distributors that have planned capex of Rs 90,000 crore over the next 4-5 fiscals," said Joanne Gonsalves, Associate Director, CRISIL Ratings. Following the decision, the CNG price in Delhi is likely to be cut from Rs 79.56 per kg to Rs 73.59 and that of PNG from Rs 53.59 per thousand cubic meters to Rs 47.59. In Mumbai, CNG may cost Rs 79 per kg instead of Rs 87 and PNG may cost Rs 49 per scm instead of Rs 54. Two different formulas govern rates paid for gas produced from legacy or old fields of national oil companies like Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Oil India Ltd (OIL), and that for newer fields lying in difficult to tap areas such as deepsea. The global spurt in energy prices post Russia's invasion of Ukraine has led to rates of locally produced gas climbing to record levels - USD 8.57 per mmBtu for gas from legacy or old fields and USD 12.46 per mmBtu for gas from difficult fields in six month period ending March 31. At the April 1 revision, the APM gas price was kept on hold pending Cabinet approval for the change in the pricing formula. Had the old formula continued, prices of gas from legacy fields would have climbed to USD 10.7 per mmBtu. The price of gas from difficult fields was cut to USD 12.12 per mmBtu. The government had last year constituted a committee under Kirit Parikh to look at a revision in gas prices that balances both local consumer and producer interest, while at the same time advancing the country's cause of becoming a gas-based economy. India aspires to become a gas-based economy with the share of natural gas in its primary energy mix targeted to rise to 15 per cent by 2030 from the existing level of around 6.3 per cent. APM gas fields were allotted to ONGC and OIL before 1999. Production from these fields do not attract profit-sharing with the government, and their pricing formula is benchmarked to gas prices at international gas hubs in surplus nations every six months based on the weighted average price. Prices were last revised on October 1 and are now due for revision on April 1. To incentivize additional production from a new well or well intervention in the nomination blocks, the Kirit Parikh committee recommended a premium of 20 per cent over and above the APM prices for ONGC and OIL till complete freedom. This has been approved by the Cabinet. As much as 34 per cent of APM gas is allotted to the power sector in 2021-22, 17 per cent to the fertilizer industry, which impacts food prices, and 22 per cent to the city gas sector. Sheares Healthcare India, which is backed by Singapore's Temasek, has sealed a deal to acquire a majority stake in billionaire Ranjan Pai-led Manipal Hospitals, multiple industry sources with knowledge of the matter told Moneycontrol. This is India's largest-ever private equity deal in the healthcare sector, they added. On December 27, 2022, Moneycontrol had reported that Sheares, an existing investor, was eyeing a controlling stake in the hospital chain by buying stake from the promoter family and other investors TPG and NIIF. "The deal has been signed and an official announcement is expected next week. The enterprise value of Manipal Hospitals is expected to be around Rs 40,000 crore to Rs 42,000 crore as part of the transaction," said one of the persons above. A second person said that post the deal, Temasek-owned Sheares, which would buy 41 percent from the other parties for around Rs 16,000 crore, would own a combined stake of 59 percent. A third person confirmed the above and added that an official announcement on the transaction is expected next week. All three persons above spoke to Moneycontrol on the condition of anonymity. Temasek and Manipal Hospitals declined to comment. Sheares, which manages a portfolio of healthcare delivery assets for investment major Temasek, is an existing shareholder in Manipal Hospitals and holds around 18 percent stake. Other than Temasek-led Sheares, the other external shareholders in Manipal Health Enterprises include US private equity firm TPG, which holds around 21 percent stake, and Indias sovereign wealth fund NIIF (National Infrastructure Investment Fund), which has an 8 percent stake. Other than Manipal Hospitals, Sheares India is also an investor (majority stake) in the Kolkata-based hospital chain Medica Synergie. Separately, Temasek also holds around 16 percent stake in Global Health, the operator of Medanta Hospitals, which is listed on the domestic bourses. R Venkatesh is the India CEO of Sheares. Earlier, he was the Managing Director, India at Temasek Holdings for over 12 years Manipal, Temasek-led Sheares & TPG: The M&A Action In December 2021, Temasek platform Sheares Healthcare acquired a majority stake in Medica Synergie, a multi-speciality hospital. Since then, it has been gradually exploring other domestic inorganic options. On September 3, 2022, Moneycontrol reported that peers Manipal Health Enterprises and Max Healthcare were likely to express interest if a controlling stake was up for grabs in private equity firm True north backed KIMSHEALTH. On February 7, 2023, Moneycontrol also reported that the Ranjan Pai-led hospital chain had offered a fresh, revised bid for Emami Group-owned AMRI Hospitals and entered into settlement talks with the Kolkata- based diversified conglomerate. In late 2022, Manipal Health Enterprises moved the Delhi High Court, seeking to bar the Emami Group from selling or transferring its majority stake in AMRI Hospitals to a third party or altering the management. The move came on the back of protracted negotiations between both parties over a year which failed to fructify into a deal after differences over terms and conditions, including valuations. The Manipal Group, which has nearly 8,000 beds across 28 hospitals, has been on a consolidation drive. In November 2020, it acquired the Indian assets of Columbia Asia Hospitals for around Rs 2,100 crore, and later in June 2021, it purchased Bengaluru-based Vikram Hospitals from Multiple Private Equity for around Rs 350 crore. TPG Capital picked up a significant minority stake in the Ranjan Pai-led hospital chain for Rs 900 crore in February 2015 and has been looking to clock returns on its seven-year-old bet. As part of its India portfolio, TPG also backs Care Hospitals, Motherhood hospitals, and infertility chain Nova IVF. Back in January 2022, Moneycontrol was the first to report that nearly three years after taking over the management of hospitals and clinics previously managed by a fund of failed private equity firm Abraaj, TPG-backed Evercare was looking to exit Hyderabad-based Care Hospitals. ALSO READ: Q&A: Ranjan Pai, the billionaire entrepreneur who broke the jinx of buying a healthcare chain. What next - an IPO? Staffing experts expect the next six months the first two quarters of FY24 to be grim for IT hiring, which comes ahead of companies reporting their results for the final quarter of FY23 and the full year from next week. Hiring trends will be keenly watched, as net headcount additions are considered to be an indicator of demand amid a larger challenging macroeconomic climate. There was a marked decrease in net addition in each quarter of FY23, a trend expected to continue as companies report fourth-quarter earnings. However, while this has been considered a correction from the overheated market of the preceding year, experts say it is now only a factor of demand. Hiring trend for this quarter (Q4FY23) obviously is very flattish, or I should say it has gone down The previous quarter was itself very low. There absolutely have been no requirements flowing in from the companies as most of them are in a wait-and-watch mode, said Sunil Chemmankotil, CEO of TeamLease Digital. The slowdown in Q4 is also clear from the job trend data. According to Xphenos Jobs Report for March 2023, the IT sector's active job openings closed 56 percent lower than in the same period last year. Banking shakeup The global banking shakeups and resultant knee-jerks in the market became wet blankets for the quarter and full year closure Key talent consuming sectors like Indian IT services with high exposure to the BFSI sector have been caught unawares by the shakeups. While the moderation will reverse itself, the impact will be visible in the early months of the new fiscal, said Anil Ethanur, cofounder of Xpheno. According to Chemmankotil, while there was some positivity and intention to hire in the past two quarters, companies are not moving to close positions they interviewed candidates for either. They're doing a wait-and-watch game. I suspect that this quarter will be very bad for the hiring scenario, he said. He expects a 40 percent drop in net additions in the first six months. Anshuman Das, the CEO of Careernet, said Q4 was muted due to the banking crisis, which scuttled plans that companies may have had. IT companies, initially in the earlier quarter, had planned to warm up that they will start hiring. Because of the banking meltdown, and banking being a reasonably large portion for IT services, it is muted, he says. He too said that the first six months do not look like its going to be up. It is going to continue to remain muted because I think people will wait and watch before really committing to it as things are not yet very clear. The second half, hopefully, will be better than the first half, Das said. Chemmankotil said the banking crisis only added fuel to the fire as hiring was already down. For Indias top IT companies Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro, HCL Technologies and Tech Mahindra net addition numbers stood at 59,704 in Q1 and 34,713 in Q2, while for Q3, the figure dropped by 4,904. He added that there was already a cautious approach to hiring, and yet somehow they closed the year flattish. We see this year they are not at all opening up the demand. Typically, what happens by now since it's a new financial year for Indian companies as well as the second quarter for the global companies we would have seen some early signs on what they are going to hire for this year. There would be meetings and discussions about whether it is permanent recruitment, contracting, etc. There is always a number given to us, they start chasing. Nothing of such sort is happening now. They are sitting tight. I don't see any interest, at least for this quarter as well as the next quarter, he added. Normalisation Saran Balasundaram, CEO of Han Digital, said that as opposed to the reconciled 4,80,000 net additions in IT and BPO services in FY22, FY23 stands at roughly 2,80,000. From here, FY24 is expected to be in the ballpark of 2,50,000 net additions. The increase in FY22 came because hiring was very low in FY21 and it was also when pandemic-fuelled demand was at its highest. FY22 has to be looked upon very differently because of that reason. Otherwise, 2-3 lakh net addition used to be the norm. We may still be there, probably slightly lesser, but it is too early to talk about it, he said. The return to net addition numbers of 200,000 to 300,000 could also be a normalisation. The next financial year, net addition also is partly because of the previous years (FY23) commitment. Some companies will default in their commitments, some will honour their commitments. It is coming to a normalcy, he said. Balasundaram said that some companies are expecting a revival to start in Q2, while others put it in Q3. However, its normally the first two quarters when hiring is strong, and Q3 is seasonally weak due to holidays and furloughs. The generic tendency of the third quarter being slow may or may not be the case. These are not very normal years. In a normal year, Q3 is typically slow. What can happen is if the first two quarters are slow, then maybe some of the companies may actually see some bounce back in Q3 and Q4, said Das. The outlook for the second half of FY24 is still up in the air, and experts take a contrarian view as well. The first six months, from where I stand now, looks like there will be a slowdown and there won't be much action happening in the hiring space. We don't know about the subsequent six months because nobody knows as of now what its going to be, but typically, the thumb rule is that if the first half goes bad, the second half normally cannot cover up for the loss in the first half, Chemmankotil said. Net additions include backfilling attrition, something that Balasundaram said may slow down. He said its possible that companies may look at keeping a contractual workforce, as opposed to full-time workers. According to him, companies may focus on backfilling critical skills but may reduce their bench strength. He attributed this to the lateral hiring numbers of the top 10 IT companies, which have fallen to about 500-600 from 2,000-3,000. Chemmankotil said that since the market has corrected, it is now a matter of conserving cost and not going ballistic on investments. Previously, there was a lot of buoyant market information that it's going to be a tailwind. But now, there is definitely news about headwinds As far as the outlook is concerned, they would always go low and rather improve the utilisation factor of their bench, he added. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday held wide-ranging talks with his South Korean counterpart Park Jin with an aim to take forward the special strategic partnership between the two countries. The two foreign ministers also deliberated on the overall situation in the Indo-Pacific, a region that has witnessed growing Chinese military assertiveness. Park is on a two-day visit to India. "I'm really very glad to have the opportunity to take forward our special strategic partnership. This is also the 50th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations," Jaishankar said in his opening remarks at the meeting. "And you come at a very good time, because our trade is very good, our political relations are very cooperative," he said. In his remarks, Park referred to the commonalities between the two sides and their commitment to the Indo-Pacific. "We are both exemplary democracies, vibrant economies and cultural powers and we are both committed to contributing to a free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region," he said. "In this way, South Korea and India are natural partners and I have a strong belief that the special strategic partnership between our two countries is the strongest partnership in the Indo-Pacific region," the South Korean foreign minister said. Park also spoke about India's "increasingly pivotal role" in the international stage and that the country is is set to further impact the world as the president of the G20. "India has also demonstrated to the world its cultural prowess with the recent Oscar win, and I must say the 'Naatu Naatu' song and dance has captivated the world," he added. Before meeting Jaishankar, Park called on Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. On Saturday morning, Park will leave for Chennai. "I know tomorrow you're visiting the Hyundai plant in Chennai. So that itself, Hyundai in many ways is a symbol of the relationship that we have," Jaishankar said in his opening remarks. "We have also expanded our relationship today to cover the economic development cooperation fund; we are doing projects under that," he said. A couple of months ago, Anglushulekha Bora shifted to a one-bedroom house in Bengalurus HSR Layout, paying a rent of Rs 12,000 a month. However, the landlord suddenly increased the rent to Rs 18,000. Bora says she has no choice but to look for a new place to stay. Rentals in Bengaluru have become largely unaffordable and Bora told Moneycontrol she will probably shift to a two-bedroom apartment with a flatmate to share the cost. Apartment rentals in the nations IT capital have shot through the roof, climbing as much as 40 percent in some areas. As the citys economy and private sector stir back to life, landlords are raising rents to recoup the revenue lost during the pandemic, when tenants returned to their hometowns. Techies are being asked to vacate within a month. In startup hubs such as HSR Layout, where Bora stays, Sunil Singh, a realtor at Realty Corps, rented a two-bedroom apartment for Rs 60,000, an almost 40 percent increase from last year. Mayuree Pals landlord increased the rent by 15 percent from Rs 15,400 in Banaswadi, a growing suburb in the citys northeast. As per our rental agreement, the rentals can be hiked by only 5 percent. When I pointed this out to my landlord, we finally came to terms with it, said Pal. Read More: Rental frenzy in Bengaluru: Tenants resort to bidding for apartments as rents shoot up by 40% Tough house hunting While Pal was lucky, others were not as fortunate. Some landlords ask tenants to vacate if they cannot pay the higher rent. Sneha Majdi, who lives in a one-bedroom apartment in Marathahalli, said the landlord is mulling a 15 percent increase in rent. After scouting for several months, she has given up on house hunting. Today, it is impossible to find a one-bedroom apartment for Rs 10,000, like my current one. Also, for apartments available now, none of them has deposits lower than Rs 60,000 to Rs 80,000, she said. Bora, who has been house hunting for four months, said solving Calculus equations for her engineering degree exams was easier than finding an apartment in Bengaluru. Brokers say there are none available in most of central or eastern Bengaluru. Whats available are two-bedroom flats at Rs 30,000 or more, she said. However, vacating an apartment because the landlord increased the rent is not always a viable option, as one tenant found out. The landlord increased the rent by 50 percent. After I vacated the house, I found a new apartment but ended up paying 80 percent more than the previous one, said Sudeep, who goes by one name. Jayshree Chatterjee, who paid a deposit of Rs 1.8 lakh and Rs 28,000 monthly for a three-bedroom home at Kadubeesanahalli, close to Marathahalli, was asked to vacate even though she agreed to a 10 percent hike. The landlord then rented the apartment for Rs 35,000 (about a 30 percent hike) to another tenant, she said. Today, Chatterjee lives in a two-bedroom flat for which the deposit was Rs 1 lakh and rent is Rs 20,000 monthly, in Halasuru, close to MG Road. After months of house hunting, I managed to find an affordable apartment, she added. Read More: Want to rent an apartment in Bengaluru? Update your LinkedIn profile Back to office With many companies calling their employees back to office in the past few months, theres been a major influx of people coming back to Bengaluru. According to Prasadh MS, a workforce research and communication specialist at Xpheno, a staffing firm, Bengaluru absorbed 140,000 professionals from other cities and towns over the past year. However, during this period, the city also lost 95,000 professionals to other locations. Experts said most of the housing inventory in Bengaluru launched after the pandemic has been absorbed, leading to a supply crunch. With many employees back to working in the office even in hybrid mode there has been a spurt in rental demand over the past several months. In the more traditional areas, there has been no additional supply of homes. For example, in Bellandur, lots of startups and companies are present. However, gated societies in this area are barely two or three, and new supply has not rolled out, said Amit Agarwal, cofounder of NoBroker. In Bellandur, a two-bedroom apartment that was available to rent for Rs 30,000-Rs 35,000 now commands about Rs 45,000. Agarwal explained that given the limited supply in these areas, tenants are ready to pay a premium. He also noted that searchers and queries on their platform have increased by 30 percent this year. One more reason can be that people are relocating faster than they used to. From two years ago, today people are relocating in one year or 1.5 years, given that the average tenure of jobs has come down, he added. At least four tenants told Moneycontrol they are switching jobs and relocating. Sohini Ghosh (name changed) is changing her job, moving from the eastern IT corridor towards Marathahalli in the southeast. However, rentals aside, apartments are not easily available, she said. Brokers said there will be high demand in Whitefield, Mahadevpura, Brookfield, and Varthur over the next few months. According to NoBroker data, rentals in Varthur have increased 57 percent over the past few years. An apartment that commanded Rs 23,000 in 2022 is listed at Rs 30,000 in 2023. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) hasnt received any innovative proposals from the applications for the New Umbrella Entity (NUE), deputy governor T Rabi Sankar has said, of the plan for a rival to NPCI to introduce competition in the digital payments space. Now, of the proposals that we have received, we did not quite see any innovative or infrastructural solution that had come up. So, you know, that's where it lies at this point, Sankar said during the post-policy press conference on April 6. The RBIs objective was to introduce new umbrella entity mechanism to bring in some innovative infrastructural value-add facility into this system. We just wanted to bring in new ideas. We did not want something which is either incremental or a substitute of existing ideas or technologies, Sankar added. In February 2022, RBI governor Shaktikanta Das said the central bank NUE was delayed but the plan was still on. He also said applications had poured in from consortiums of top conglomerates, payments players and banks. The RBI, however, didn't share updates on the evaluation of the applicants. The RBI in February 2020 came out with a Draft Framework for authorisation for a pan-India New Umbrella Entity for Retail Payment Systems. The January-March quarter was a period of intense action in Indias IT companies several top-level exits and appointments, the banking crisis in the US and Europe, a worsening macroeconomic climate and uncertainty about budgets for the new fiscal all plagued companies. Now, as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) kicks off the earnings season next week, heres a primer on what will be watched for in the IT sector. The Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) sector will be a key talking point this quarter following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, and Signature Bank of the US, followed by Switzerlands Credit Suisse. Though the Indian IT sector has limited exposure to these banks, the overall global sentiments and pressures on the sector will have an impact on the demand outlook. Here are a few key factors to watch out for during the upcoming Q4 earning season: Leadership changes TCS, Infosys, HCLTech, Tech Mahindra and Wipro, all reported top-level appointments and exits this quarter. The biggest shocker was the sudden resignation of TCS CEO and MD Rajesh Gopinathan. K Krithivasan, who was the global head for BFSI, contributing around 38 percent of TCS revenue, was appointed the new CEO. Amidst the banking crisis, Infosys lost former president Mohit Joshi to Tech Mahindra, where he will be joining as the CEO and MD from December. Joshi was responsible for financial services and insurance segments, among other areas, and led many large deals for the company. This was the second major exit for Infosys in H2FY23, following the exit of president Ravi Kumar S who became the CEO of Cognizant. We await to see what happens to the positions vacated by Ravi Kumar (who has become Cognizant CEO) and Mohit Joshi (CEO designate of Tech Mahindra). Would wait to see if the responsibilities are filled internally, Girish Pai, Head of Research, Nirmal Bang, said in his note. Similarly, HCL Techs Corporate Vice President Sukamal Banerjee who led the $1-billion revenue vertical Engineering and R&D Services (ERS), besides global strategy and investments around emerging technology transformations, too resigned. Rajan Kohli, President of Wipro's Integrated Digital, Engineering and Applications Services Business lines quit as well. How the commentary around these exits and appointments would shape up and any changes in the business strategies related to these appointments would be important to note. Impact of banking crisis IT companies have mentioned increased cautiousness among clients around decision-making due to heightened uncertainty arising from the recent banking crisis. Deal pipelines have not shrunk, but conversion to new deal wins is taking longer time, analysts at ICICI Securities said in a note. Analysts expect near-term demand visibility to be weak, given the macro uncertainties and banking crisis. Among Tier-I IT companies, TCS has the highest exposure to the sector and will be closely watched for its commentary. Analysts at Kotak Institutional Equities said, The banking crisis in US regional banks and European banks can induce greater caution and impact overall tech spends by banking clients. The collateral damages to the economies due to the banking crisis and the impact on customer health are yet to be seen, Nirmal Bang said in a note. Hiring trends Hiring across companies is expected to be muted, as all of the top five companies have continued to slow down on hiring significantly in each quarter of the year. While Q4 hiring is usually in anticipation of the demand in the new financial year, there were no green shoots this quarter. In fact, pressure on an already subdued quarter was only exacerbated by the banking crisis, with experts now stating that companies will focus on increasing their utilisation and only backfilling attrition in critical roles. Companies have maintained that the slowdown in hiring is not a factor of demand, but the increased hiring they did in the preceding year. However, another metric to watch out for will be the number of freshers that companies aim to hire in FY24. Analysts at Emkay Global expect moderation in hiring, with a focus on improving utilisation, deploying freshers post-training and demand moderation. Better talent availability with significant fresher intake over the past few quarters and lower backfilling costs with reduced churn rate should aid in margin recovery, the note read. Onboarding of freshers hired in the previous year has still not been completed in some companies, and companies did go to top colleges they recruit from in the first round of placements. However, the second rung of colleges saw subdued demand from IT companies, which are some of the largest hirers of fresh talent. The full impact of the extraordinary hiring of fiscal 2022 was felt in fiscal 2023, because of which employee cost is estimated to rise by over 20 percent. Companies are now focussing on utilisation than advance hiring, supported by lower attrition. This should lead to marginal improvement in operating profitability in fiscal 2024, said Aditya Jhaver, Director at CRISIL Ratings. Revenue and PAT estimates According to Crisil Ratings Anuj Sethi, headwinds in the BFSI segment of key markets, such as the US and Europe, will affect revenue growth this quarter. While BFSI segment revenue growth is expected to halve to mid-single digit, it would be marginally offset by 12-14 percent growth in the manufacturing segment and 9-11 percent growth in other segments. Net-net, there would be moderation in overall revenue growth, he said. Nirmal Bang too, expects revenue growth to be modest, attributing it to decent Total Contract Value (TCV) that companies clocked in the previous quarters. Motilal Oswal expects most tier-1 companies revenues to grow, barring Tech Mahindra at negative 0.7 percent. It expects LTIMindtree to clock revenue growth of 1.6 percent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) in constant currency terms, followed by TCS at 0.9 percent, Infosys and HCLTech at 0.6 percent, and Wipro at 0.5 percent. Kotak has forecast a modest revenue growth guidance for FY24, which it says may not be considered conservative due to elevated risks to growth and likely back-ended growth trajectory. On profitability for the quarter, Motilal Oswal expects profit after tax (PAT) to grow at 2.9 percent sequentially and 11.1 percent year-on-year (YoY) for tier-1 players. For tier-2, the note estimates a sequential PAT growth of 5.3 percent and 13 percent from the same period last year. For fiscal 2023, Crisil expects operating profitability to moderate 150-175 basis points (bps) to a decadal low of 22-22.5 percent, due to higher employee costs. Crisil Ratings expects these costs to moderate next fiscal, with companies taking a cautious approach to fresh hiring as they attempt to normalise headcount after the hiring peaks of fiscal 2022, which saw the employee count for Tier-I firms surge 22 percent, it said. For FY24, Crisil expects the sector to see a decline of 700-900 bps in revenue growth. Demand outlook and tech trends Impacted customer sectors will look to optimise existing cloud consumption spends. Vendor consolidation deals will also continue to increase. Apart from the BFSI sector, analysts at Kotak Institutional Equities said, the demand outlook of segments such as mortgages, hi-tech, and certain segments of retail and telecom is weak, as enterprises in impacted segments will prioritise cost efficiencies. Nirmal Bangs Pai expects delays in decision-making, focus on cost optmisation and vendor consolidation to be the common themes across company commentaries for 4QFY23. Seasonally, we think the October-March timeframe tends to be the peak in terms of order inflow for most companies and we expect that to repeat, he said. The management (of IT firms) indicated that the secular demand is still intact in certain verticals and service lines, but suggested near-term caution among clients and some delays in decision-making, which might lead to project deferrals and pause in execution, said a note from Motilal Oswal. Moreover, for the customer sectors still open to discretionary tech spending, finding use cases around new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and 5G, will take centre-stage. (Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.) The Uttar Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (UPRERA) has appointed Cushman & Wakefield to help resolve issues of dues owed by developers and revival of stalled projects in Noida and Greater Noida, officials privy to the development told Moneycontrol. Builders in the state owe an estimated Rs 40,000 crore to the Noida and Greater Noida authorities and the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority in the form of premium, interest, and penal interest against plots allotted for real estate projects. Thousands of homebuyers in Noida and Greater Noida have been unable to register their homes because the builders have not paid their dues. UPRERA chairman Rajive Kumar told Moneycontrol in an interview earlier that a consultant had been hired to carry out an in-depth analysis of the projects in Noida and Greater Noida and come up with possible solutions so that homebuyers can get their houses expeditiously. He said the consultant will submit its report this month, after which UPRERA, in consultation with the state government, would take a decision on the matter. Another official at the regulator said that apart from surveying disputed or stalled projects, Cushman & Wakefield will find out the reasons for non-payment of dues and suggest a possible roadmap to recover them. Non-payment of dues by builders is one of the driving forces behind disputed projects in Noida and Greater Noida. So both the issues are interlinked and ultimately homebuyers are suffering. This is UPRERAs initiative to end this logjam, the official said. A Noida Authority official confirmed that Cushman & Wakefield has been roped in by UPRERA. Also Read: Only 16,800 homebuyers could get flats registered in Gautam Budh Nagar until February 2023: Data An email sent to Cushman & Wakefield seeking its comment on the matter did not yield an immediate response. The copy will be updated if there comes any response. Rescheduled payment policy The Noida and Greater Noida authorities have also introduced a revised payment schedule for builders. According to officials from both the authorities, about 30 defaulters 10 in Noida and 20 in Greater Noida have shown interest in the policy and have come forward to reschedule their payments. Also Read: Noida Authority to issue recovery certificates against defaulter builders, upload information on website They paid 10 percent of the initial amount and the remaining dues will be paid in instalments over two years. This will open the process of registrations in the 30 projects, officials said, without identifying the builders. Officials said Ritu Maheshwari, the CEO of the Noida Authority and the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority, has ordered a crackdown on builders with pending dues who have not opted for the rescheduled payment policy. The authorities have been instructed to seal buildings under construction, cancel the land allotment to defaulter builders and take over their projects. Consultation with stakeholders An UPRERA official said the consultant has sought representation from the Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Association of India (CREDAI) and the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) over the issue of clearing pending dues. He said UPRERA officials are likely to meet representatives of developer bodies and officials of the Noida and Greater Noida authorities to discuss the matter on April 6. Earlier this week, the Uttar Pradesh chapter of NAREDCO asked the state government for relief on the issue of payment of pending land dues. It wrote to UP Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner Manoj Kumar Singh, requesting him to direct the department to adopt a developer-friendly policy for settling land dues. The developers suggested that the UP government adopt a one-time settlement scheme along the lines of the one in Haryana, or the Vivad Se Viswas scheme announced in the Union Budget 2023 to help builders clear their liabilities and keep projects viable. Also Read: UPRERA imposes Rs 1.39 crore penalty on 13 developers over non-compliance of orders After getting a lukewarm response in the first two rounds of bidding, the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) will float a fresh global tender this month for the Uttar Pradesh governments ambitious Film City project, officials privy to the development said. A pre-bid meeting is likely to be held next week where a final decision on relaxing the terms of the tender will be taken. The development comes after a high-level meeting of top officials in Lucknow on April 5 where the status of the proposed new Film City as well as the future course of action on the project was discussed. In the meeting, a presentation on the current status was made and officials were informed that no online bids were received for developing the project in the second global tender, the deadline for which ended on March 31. We will again float a global tender to select a suitable entity to develop the 1,000-acre Film City. The tender will be floated before the end of this month where we are likely to relax bidding terms, YEIDA CEO Arun Vir Singh told Moneycontrol on April 6. He said that terms that are likely to be relaxed include doing away with the condition of 60 years-plus-30 years lease period instead the authority may decide on giving a lease of 90 years directly. He said that some bidders who had shown interest in the project had reservations on this condition as they wanted a direct lease period of 90 years. Watch: NOIDA International Airport Exclusive: YEIDA Chairman on building Jewar -- India's transit hub These are the probable relaxations. However, any final decision on it will be taken in the PPP (public-private partnership) Evaluation Committee meeting next week, Singh said. He said that though the second global tender could not get any bidders online, four filmmakers have shown interest through the offline mode in developing the Film City. Filmmaker and actor Anil Kapoor, Rajpal Yadav, filmmaker KC Bokadia and Kailash Masum have shown interest and also inquired about the project. We are also considering this but any bidder will have to come through the proper channel and bid for the project, he said. Also Read: Filmmakers and music companies evince interest in upcoming International Film City In the third global tender, YEIDA may decide on developing the project in a phased manner. Officials said that it might be difficult for a single entity to develop the project in one go so the authority may decide on developing it in two or three phases. For instance, out of the 1,000-acre land parcel, the authority may decide on developing 500 or 400 acres in the first phase and the rest in other phases, officials said. The new Film City is planned to be built in Sector 21 of YIEDA. It will be situated 6 km from the upcoming international airport in Jewar and 12 km from the Eastern Peripheral Expressway. The first global tender for the project was floated on November 22, 2021. It was revised on August 27, 2022. On October 13, 2022, the Uttar Pradesh government approved the revised tender and the second request for proposal was published on October 17, 2022. The last date for the second global tender was March 31. ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) has won $190 million arbitration awards against Sudan in a long-running dispute over payments for oil and a pipeline, a media report said. OVL, the overseas arm of the state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), has sent a demand notice to the Sudanese government seeking payments, the report said, adding the company hasn't gone to a court and is hoping to recover funds through diplomatic channels instead, The Economic Times cited sources as saying. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report. OVL started arbitration proceedings against the Sudanese government five years ago to recover its oil and pipeline construction dues, the report said. The Indian firm owned a 25 percent stake in the joint venture that operated blocks 2A and 4 in Sudan. CNPC of China, Petronas of Malaysia and Sudapet of Sudan were the other stakeholders. The Sudanese government took more than its share of the oil and didnt pay for it. Payments had been accumulating since 2011, the report said. A few years ago, OVL exited the blocks and is engaged in arbitration, ET said. OVL initiated two arbitration proceedings to recover its oil dues. Its claim for $90 million was upheld by a UK-based tribunal, sources told ET. In the second case, in which OVL is seeing $300 million in claims, the award has not yet been finalised. The case will be heard in July, the report said. In a third case, OVL is also seeking payment for a pipeline it built with Oil India in the northeastern African country over 15 years ago. A Dubai-based tribunal upheld the Indian firms claim of $98 million, the report said. If the interest applicable to the principal amount is upheld, further hearings would be required, the report added. Sudan has been in dire financial straits for years and OVL would find it difficult to enforce the award. It can go to court and seek to seize the Sudanese government's assets in different countries to collect the dues, as Cairn Energy did against India in the 2021 retrospective tax case, the report said. OVL, however, seems to be relying on diplomatic channels for this, as of now. OVL had in 2003 picked up a stake in the Greater Nile Oil Project consisting of blocks 1, 2 and 4 located about 800 km away from the Sudanese capital Khartoum. After South Sudan became an independent country in 2011, the blocks were split between South Sudan and Sudan, the report said. Launched in April 2022, the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) project, aimed at democratising the digital ecosystem in an attempt to become a single point of access for all digital services, has registered significant growth. Moneycontrol takes a look at the journey of the platform, a not-for-profit promoted by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. Platform growth: from 30 transactions to 600 a day Envisioned to make e-commerce more inclusive and accessible for consumers, the platform has, as per official claims, achieved major milestones in the past few months. Addressing a press conference in Delhi on April 6, joint secretary, DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Sanjiv, and ONDC CEO T Koshy said that the platform has been able to find 37 network participants ranging from market leaders to emerging Indian startups with the likes of PhonePe, Hindustan Unilever and ITC joining the platform as sellers. The platform is currently working with over 26,000 merchants, offering more than 27 lakh products on its network. The platform takes no money from the government but is funded by banks including State Bank of India, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Punjab National Bank, among others. This is an effort in industry players coming together for their own good and for the greater good of the public. There is no joining charge if anyone wants to on-board us, Koshy said. The network, as per Sanjiv, had started with only two domains, food and groceries. It has however expanded to include beauty products and fashion as well in the last couple of weeks, he said. The platform, which had about 30-40 transactions a day back in September last year, now boasts of over 600 transactions a day, said Sanjiv. The platform has also grown in the total number of merchants, going from around 800 in December to more than 26,000 currently. This number grew only in the past couple of weeks. Earlier we were approaching others to join our platform but people have started to come to us now. We are hoping to double this number within a month, said Koshy. The platform also recently went live with its electronics sector and hopes to see positive response there as well. Special attention to non-digitised sellers ONDC is giving special attention to sellers, merchants and businesses with little or no access to the internet, with eight Kanchipuram weavers and four social sector enterprises live on ONDC with the support of the Small Industries Development Bank of India. Despite most of India now having access to digital technology, the penetration of digital commerce has remained low at about 5 percent in India. Our aim here has been to find something truly transformational. We are thus reaching out to organisations like NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development), SIDBI, other district-level organisations to bring such persons on board, said Sanjiv. The organisations are keen on getting partners of their ecosystem on board while also helping them become digitally literate to gain from the network, he added. No algorithms which exploit sellers The platform, by its founding concept, will try to create an ideal economic market both for sellers as well as buyers, said Sanjiv. Expanding on this, he added, Sellers are generally exploited at big platforms. Even if someone is selling a product for a lower price, they are not shown anywhere in the, say, list of top 10 because of biased algorithms. Our platform will do away with all this. The customer would be able to see the same quality products being offered at cheapest prices which will help them make an informed decision. This will help reduce the control of online retail giants, and is expected to enable a level playing field for all businesses to operate in an open, transparent and uniform environment. The step will also help local vendors market their products and find space in e-commerce. Logistics sector gains momentum Shiprocket was the first intercity logistics provider to plug into the ONDC network, on October 22 last year, enabling sellers from all segments to ship products to cities and towns across India. Since then, the logistics sector has seen significant growth on the platform with names such as Dunzo, Delhivery, Loadshare, Grab and Ekart signing up. The platform is also under integration with India Post to strengthen its logistics services and take online deliveries to all parts of the country. ONDC logistics partners can deliver products to 90 percent-plus PIN codes across India. The aim is to have coverage in every PIN code in India, which will be achieved very soon, said Koshy. Mobility a challenge Mobility has been enabled in only two cities with 5 lakh users registered for the service since the inception of the platform a year ago. While the platform works with mobility partners in Kochi and Bengaluru, it is yet to be approached by partners in other cities, even in its base city of Delhi. We on-boarded Namma Yatri (an app that links drivers to customers) onto our platform as part of our open mobility initiative in Bengaluru two weeks back. Before that, we have found success in working with a taxi service in Kochi which we launched last year in November. However, no mobility merchants have approached ONDC in Delhi yet, Sanjiv said. The government continues to be in talks with several mobility partners in various towns of the country. ONDCs future We are only at the beginning of a new journey, says Sanjiv. Officials hope to increase e-commerce penetration in the country to 25 percent in the next two years, reaching 900 million buyers and 1.2 million sellers through the network and reaching a gross merchandise value of $48 billion. We want to take this platform to the level of penetration our UPI (Unified Payments Interface) has, Sanjiv added. This documentary marks the end of the epic tale of Inspector Morse, the iconic Oxford detective celebrated the world over. From the original Inspector Morse (1987-2000), through to the spin off Lewis in (2006-2015) and after ten years, the series Endeavour, which explores the detectives b This documentary marks the end of the epic tale of Inspector Morse, the iconic Oxford detective celebrated the world over. From the original Inspector Morse (1987-2000), through to the spin off Lewis in (2006-2015) and after ten years, the series Endeavour, which explores the detectives back story in 1960s Britain, the story of Inspector Morse is finally coming to an end.... India's public healthcare system is in dire need of innovation. Despite being the world's fifth-largest economy that has made significant progress over the past few decades, India still ranks 145th out of 195 countries in the healthcare access and quality index, behind countries like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Millions of Indians continue to face significant barriers when it comes to accessing quality and affordable healthcare, particularly those from underserved and marginalized communities. With the doctor-to-population ratio being fairly inadequate, there is space for technology to address the healthcare needs of India. In many cases, the lack of accessible healthcare services in these communities results in patients not seeking medical attention until their conditions have become serious and require more expensive and complicated treatments. The result is an increased burden on the healthcare system and significant financial strain on their families. This accessibility to affordability gap is a major challenge that must be addressed in order to improve the overall health of the population and reduce the burden of disease on the country. One way to address this challenge is by strengthening the mechanics of preventive healthcare. According to a 2016 study by the World Health Organization, the economic burden of tuberculosis in India was estimated at US$23.7 billion. This includes both direct medical costs as well as indirect costs such as lost productivity due to illness and death. Similarly, cancer is a major health challenge in India, with an estimated 1.5 million new cases diagnosed every year. The economic burden of cancer is also significant, with estimates suggesting that it will cost the country US$6.7 billion in lost productivity by 2025. Early detection and treatment of the disease can significantly reduce these costs and improve patient outcomes. There are emerging tech-led innovations that focus on early detection and diagnosis of such diseases. Salcit, for example, is piloting an artificial intelligence (AI) led platform that uses an app to decode unique cough sound signatures and detect the possible presence of pulmonary tuberculosis within seconds. Similarly, Niramai's low-cost and non-invasive med-tech device uses thermal imaging to detect early signs of breast cancer in women, making it easier to treat and less expensive to manage. Health-tech innovations can also play a huge role in addressing critical gaps in the care pathway while working with multiple stakeholders like doctors and frontline workers. For example, Intelehealths AI-powered telemedicine platform connects patients in rural areas with doctors and 10BedICUs teleICU solution enables rural hospitals to remotely connect with critical care specialists across India, thus helping patients get timely support. While such innovative solutions hold a lot of potential to address need gaps in public healthcare, they require support from multiple stakeholders. Partnerships with the government that enable the integration of such innovations into public health programs, can influence scale as well as impact. Additionally, collaboration with grassroots organizations can help create the proof points for such solutions within primary health care environments. For instance, through the ACT Implementers Network, Medprime Technologies is currently helping Mahan Trust - an NGO serving the healthcare needs of tribal communities in Melghat - leverage their digital microscopy solution to address patient accessibility to diagnostics while building evidence for the use of tele-pathology in low-resourced areas. In conclusion, private innovations can play a significant role in bridging the accessibility to affordability gap and strengthening the public healthcare ecosystem in India. And by providing patient capital as well as advisory support in the form of mentorship and access to networks, venture philanthropy organizations can accelerate the development and scaling of innovative solutions that have the potential to transform the healthcare landscape in India. (Full disclosure: Niramai, Intelehealth and 10BedICU are all a part of the ACT For Health portfolio - the grants were given in 2022. Salcit is co-funded by ACT For Health and India Health Fund (a Tata Trusts initiative) - the grant was announced in March 2023.) Waris Punjab Des fugitive leader Amritpal Singh before returning to India in August 2022 went to Georgia where he reportedly underwent a cosmetic surgery to look like Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the Indian Express has said. Singhs aides who are now lodged in Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam made this revelation during questioning, the report said. Singh, who the Punjab Police have failed to track for a month now, spent about two months in Georgia. The arrested persons told intelligence officials that he went to Georgia for a surgery to look like Bhindranwale, the report quoted an officer as saying. Moneycontrol couldnt independently verify the report. Also Read: Will soon appear before world, says Amritpal Singh in new video The radical preacher has been on the run since March 18 but eight of his close aides, including uncle Harjit Singh and Daljit Singh Kalsi, have been arrested and sent to Dibrugarh. A team of intelligence officials recently visited Dibrugarh to question them. Intelligence agencies are trying to find out how Singh suddenly appeared in August and took over as leader of Waris Punjab De following the death of Punjabi actor and activist Deep Sidhu. Singh had put up several posts on social media during the farmers protest in Delhi and was in contact with some people, his aides reportedly said during questioning. Sidhu was arrested in February 2021 in connection with the violence at the Red Fort on Republic Day at the peak of farmers agitation against three farm laws that were withdrawn. Sidhu, who was released on bail after two months, died in a road accident a year later. When Singh was in Dubai, he was in touch with Jaswant Singh Rode, brother of Khalistani militant Lakhbir Singh Rode who is suspected to be in Pakistan, and militant Paramjit Singh Pamma. The organisation was found to have received funds from Pakistan, which was even used to pay personal debts, the report said. Singh, who reportedly worked for his uncles transport business in Dubia, has styled himself after Bhindranwale, copying his attire and mannerism as well as talking about a separate Sikh state. Indias forest cover has increased by 21.7 percent to 7, 13,789 square kilometers, data published by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun, in the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) has revealed. According to data released by the FSI after conducting a biennial survey of the countrys forest cover, the forest cover has increased by 1,540 square kilometers between the assessments of ISFR 2019 and ISFR 2021. As per the ISFR 2021, Madhya Pradesh has the maximum forest cover amounting up to 77,493 square kilometers out of a geographical region of 3,08,252 square kilometers. Haryana, on the other hand, has the minimum forest cover at 1,603 square kilometers, out of a geographical region of 44,212 square kilometers. As for union territories, Jammu and Kashmir has the largest forest cover amounting up to 21,387 square kilometers out of a geographical region of 2,22,236 square kilometers, while Chandigarh has the least at about 22.88 square kilometers of forest cover out of a geographical region of 114 square kilometers. Explaining the increase in Indias forest cover, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said there has been an attempt to restore ecosystems and increase the forest cover of the country, for which afforestation and other tree plantation activities were undertaken by the states and union territories. These efforts put in by multiple departments have yielded positive results in not only conserving but creating more forest cover across India. Over the past five years, Rs 570.7 crores has been provided to sixteen states and one union territory to aid afforestation activities, it added. The ministry is also implementing the Nagar Van Yojana since 2020 with the aim to create 600 Nagar Vans and 400 Nagar Vatika in India by 2024-25 with the use of funds provided by the Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAMPA). So far, Rs 238.64 crores has been sanctioned by the union ministry to fund 270 projects under the Nagar Vann Yojana. This would help increase the green cover in the urban as well as peri-urban areas, provide ecological benefits, and improve the quality of life of residents of cities, the ministry said. Listening to Walmart Inc executives talk through the companys future is a reminder of how difficult the recent past has been. Like a lot of retailers, Walmart was forced to put its e-commerce business into overdrive to meet a pandemic-induced surge in online shopping. It first struggled to fill shelves as shoppers cleared out merchandise and then rushed to shed merchandise when supply chain knots loosened. Now it says it has big plans to restore operating margins and drive profitability. Over two days this week, Walmart executives outlined their strategy to expand sales by 4 percent and grow operating income 4 percent or more over the next three to five years. The company aims to better leverage its online-offline model; diversify income streams; and scale high-return investments. But its most far-reaching tack was automation. Walmart, the biggest employer in the US, envisions dramatically changing the nature of retail work as it deploys robots to take on more, and more complex, tasks. As a bellwether for the industry, what Walmart does has ramifications for everyone else. On the one hand, its automation investments offer a blueprint for competitors to follow that could reduce costs. But on the other, it could lead the way on how to responsibly manage this new era of job insecurity. In Walmarts future vision of the company, people are important but costly assets when compared to newer, and increasingly cheaper, automation technologies. By the end of 2026, roughly 65 percent of stores will be serviced by automation and about 55 percent of the fulfillment center volume will move through automated facilities. The company estimates that this would shave about 20 percent from the average cost of moving a product along its factory lines. Walmart showcased its supply chain innovation to financial analysts on Tuesday at its Brooksville, Florida, regional distribution center. There, automated forklifts unload trucks and large robots sort cases and ferry them through the 1.4 million square foot distribution center. Such automation helps the company react more quickly to consumer demand and improve its delivery service with consistency and predictability. It also reduces the amount of physical labor involved while increasing pay, said John Furner, chief executive officer of Walmart US. And it helps lower costs, meaning a better return, he added. Chief Executive Office Doug McMillon has covered this ground before. In December, he told investors that automated warehouses eliminate a lot of time workers spend in the back room of stores sorting merchandise. Along with investments in advertising and fulfillment services, thats when you have a more attractive income statement, he said. So, less monotonous work and more pay, but lower overall costs the unspoken tradeoff is often fewer workers. Already the company is cutting jobs from its warehouses as it ramps up automation. It plans to cut 2,000 e-commerce fulfillment jobs in the US and continues to close underperforming stores, leading to additional employee layoffs. Its difficult to escape the reality that with more automation will come a further streamlined workforce a process that will be on rinse and repeat with ever increasing technological sophistication. Technology can improve work productivity and relieve people of some backbreaking tasks like hauling heavy boxes around a fulfillment center. It also creates opportunities for workers to improve their skills and become technicians rather than manual laborers. With each innovation though, new tasks will be added to the robot roster. This has serious implications for those people without a college education who have traditionally depended on retail or warehouse work to break into the workforce. Automation leaves less need for less educated workers, who may not have the advanced technical skills to operate robots. That could further increase the gap between rich and poor as workers without a college education find fewer job prospects. Of course, Walmart isnt alone in its sprint toward automation. Amazon.com Inc has long used robots in its warehouses, which it credits for its supply chain success. However, more traditional brick-and-mortar stores are embracing automation. Nordstrom Inc uses automation across its supply chain, which helped it increase its distribution center productivity and speed by 20 percent. Panera Bread Co and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Inc are both testing automated ordering in some drive-throughs where robots replace the employees who used to take customer orders. Walmarts big plans for automation simply reflect a broader transition across industry where workers work alongside robots. But workers who arent prepared for that future will lose out. What is Walmarts responsibility here? The company is already ramping up its investment in preparing workers for a more technological future. In an ideal world, Walmart and its peers would do more. They could support programs outside of universities and colleges (or partner with them) to train workers in the kind of technologies that are becoming staples in the industry. For instance, Google created a fund to invest in non-profit programs that train workers without a college education in information technology support, data analytics and project management so they can move on to high-paying jobs. If Walmart is going to be a leader in transforming the retail workplace, it also carries some responsibility for ensuring that, at the other end, workers can still thrive. Not just robots. Leticia Miranda is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering consumer goods and the retail industry. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. Credit: Bloomberg Last week former Starbucks Corp CEO Howard Schultz made the trek to Washington DC to appear before Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders committee on labor. The week prior, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew got thoroughly grilled by the House on data privacy and national security. Expect that it will soon be finance industry bigwigs who get their turn on the Hill answering for the banking crisis. Hauling executives before Congress has long been a grand Washington tradition, going back to the early 1900s think Andrew Carnegie testifying on anti-trust issues or John D Rockefeller Jr on labor conditions. For executives, if done right, its a delicate dance of lobbying, diplomacy and public relations. But in the current political climate, playing the role of patsy for both the left and the right is now an even bigger part of the mix. Heightened partisanship and big businesss shifting relationship with Republicans has fostered an environment that is both hostile to industry as well as more likely to get CEOs caught in the crossfire of political aggrandizing. With politicians getting bigger payoff for creating TikTok and Twitter moments rather than actual laws, were missing out on a rare chance to extract anything useful or revealing from some of the worlds most influential businesspeople. Its an equation that rightly has corporate America on edge. Companies are hiring lawyers and consultants to not only prep their executives for testimony, but also to guide them on how best to respond to an influx of informal inquiries from legislators so that their CEOs dont end up in hearing rooms to begin with. Hearings always take on more significance in a divided Congress. With little chance of much legislation getting passed, there are just not that many alternative forums where politicians can push forward their agendas and messaging. For the right, that agenda is increasingly centered on its war on wokeness and corporations perceived as left-leaning. CEOs can no longer assume they have a pro-business ally in the hearing room who will lob softball questions their way. But it also means that they may very well have an enemy: Republicans, previously hesitant to do oversight of the private sector, are now making corporations their targets. Especially vulnerable to attacks from the right are companies vocal about their environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts. Meanwhile, Big Tech is getting it from both sides from Democrats with accusations of misinformation and from Republicans with cries of censorship of conservative speech. Companies doing business with China are also in the spotlight, with the newly formed House committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party that launched under Republican leadership. Much of the shift in tone has to do with the mechanics of Congress. Research from Jonathan Lewallen at the University of Tampa has shown that over the last 40 years, the proportion of hearings focused on legislation has dropped dramatically. Congressional committees overall are spending less time on legislation because they have little power to control it; its instead steered by party leadership. Rather than act as a fact-finding tool for creating legislation, hearings are now more often what Lewallen calls positional meaning all of the witnesses hold the same position or point of view. And fewer witnesses are being called overall so less information is getting shared. His research also shows that hearings are no longer oriented toward problem solving: 71 percent of hearings in the early 1970s focused on solutions; 35 years later, that had dropped to around 30 percent. What politicians, especially those who lack legislative power, seem to be doing instead of fact finding is grandstanding. And theyre rewarded for it. Professor Ju Yeon Park at the University of Essex used a dataset of 12,820 House committee hearing transcripts from the 105th to 114th Congress to find that when politicians increase their grandstanding, they also increase their votes. (Not surprisingly but depressingly involvement in passing actual legislation doesnt seem to have an impact on reelection.) Park also discovered that the more voters are exposed to the grandstanding, the stronger the effect. That incentivises members of Congress to say or do something that will garner mainstream or social media attention, no matter how unmoored it might be from reality or the facts. Another way to grab eyeballs, of course, is to call in that high-profile CEO, who has been advised to take the opposite approach: make bad TV by providing testimony thats as short or as boring as possible, or, better yet, both. Thats hard to achieve for even the most practiced executive when politicians now have the ability to slice and dice hours of testimony to focus on the fragments that play best to their audiences. Chasing that viral moment means less substantiative information on or, for that matter, oversight of some of Americas most powerful corporations. Beth Kowitt is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering corporate America. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. Credit: Bloomberg When I visited Ahmedabad from Mumbai in August last year, I considered flying as the only travel option, like most other travellers. Four months later, when I visit Ahmedabad again, I had another option of taking a train, which I had never considered earlier. This paradigm shift was a consequence of the introduction of the Vande Bharat train on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route a few weeks earlier. Even though as a person who had spent a considerable part of my life working for an airline, I may have been less tempted to choose the train as an option than most others but I did after considering the advantages. How many will begin to think likewise is a question that has crossed my mind multiple times since then. Will airlines face a threat from an unexpected quarter that they had never visualised? Will the aggressive launch of Vande Bharat trains by the Indian Railways to connect different cities - generally a non-metro city with a metro city - pose a threat to airlines on short sectors? In the pre-Vande Bharat train era those who could afford air travel, never considered train journeys as an option because of the several negatives attached to it - untidy stations, delayed departures and the uncertainty that surrounded the arrival of trains at their destination besides safety. Convenient option Ever since the Indian Railways began focussing on the negatives and launched Vande Bharat trains, it has certainly become an option for those travelling to destinations 3-5 hours away. The smugness of I dont travel by train is being gradually replaced with why opt to fly when you have a convenient Vande Bharat train between two cities? Bio-vacuum toilets have ensured that the toilets are cleaner than before. The two cardinal factors for determining the mode of travel have generally been the fare and the all-inclusive travel time - not just the flying time. On both counts, Vande Bharat trains are beginning to steal a march over air travel not just because the fare is indubitably much lower but the total end-to-end journey time is also narrowing. Flying has its own requirements, much of it forced on it due to terminal congestion and the security environment. This includes reporting at the airport a minimum of one hour prior to departure, going through the process of check-in and security drill which involves taking off belt and jacket, emptying pockets, taking out a laptop from the bag, and then awaiting the departure. By no stretch of the imagination can this security requirement at the airport be described as a hassle-free experience. On arrival, one has to undergo an almost similar drill that involves awaiting the step ladder if the aerobridge is either not available or the aircraft is parked in a remote location, a short bus trip to the terminal building, collecting baggage and then making the onward journey to the destination. Considering that cities have generally grown around main railway stations, travel time is not only shorter and less expensive and theres no requirement to reach an hour earlier. One can reach even 10 minutes prior to departure of the train without the risk of being denied boarding, and there is no elaborate screening and checking-in of baggage. On arriving at the destination station, one simply alights from the train with bags and walks out for onward travel. Comfortable journey While airlines make passengers switch off their laptops/phones as they interfere with air navigation signals, on a train, they can use the wifi to go online and work. An air traveller invariably forks out more if the ticket is bought closer to the travel date but there is no surge pricing for fares on Vande Bharat trains, which is another advantage if travel is undertaken at short notice. For those flying low-cost airlines, the seats are comparable on the train. There is also a facility to opt for food served on trains. Since the Indian Railways are on a spree of launching Vande Bharat trains with alarming regularity - 11 have already been launched and three more are due for launch shortly connecting Kolkata with Puri, Patna and Ranchi - the airlines may find it difficult to ignore the loss of passengers to the Railways on short sectors. Each train can ferry over 1,100 passengers, which is equivalent to almost eight short-haul flights at full capacity. It just isnt the originating and destination points that pose a problem. Vande Bharat trains have a few intermittent halts at the main cities en route. While an air traveller may not choose to opt for train travel from Delhi to Bhopal because of the seven and a half hours travel time, there is no stopping a passenger from opting to travel on this train from Delhi to Gwalior (3.20 hours) or between Gwalior and Bhopal (4 hours). Likewise, on other trains; Mumbai-Baroda on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad train; Mumbai-Pune (less than 3 hours) on the Mumbai-Solapur Vande Bharat train. For the more discerning, Vande Bharat trains have the executive class. The fares in most cases are lower than the economy fare on a low-cost airline. While the Vande Bharat trains may not have created waves to rapidly change the perception of train travel, the airlines do need to take note of the expanding network of Vande Bharat trains. I may be sounding the alarm a trifle too soon but the threat of losing passengers to trains looks imminent for airlines in the not-so-distant future on short-sector flights. Jitender Bhargava, former executive director, Air India & author of The Descent of Air India. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. India has emerged as a considerably consequential defence exporter in the last 5-6 years with the total exports standing at Rs 15,920 crore or US$1.5 billion for the Financial Year (FY) 2022-23. This figure is in sharp contrast to Indian defence exports in FY 2016-17, which stood at Rs 1,521 crore or a little over $150 million and over 10 times lower than in FY 2022-23. The Modi governments aim is to increase it to $5 billion by 2025 an export target that is more than three times as much as it is today. Indias defence export performance is attributable to at least three critical factors: Making Defence Exporting Easier The first is the Ministry of Defence (MoD) simplifying export procedures by making them conducive and friendlier for Indian industry, which has enabled the MoD to execute military sales abroad. End-to-end procedures have been rendered simpler by the MoD with online authorisation. Consequently, businesses involved in the defence export sector have seen a drastic reduction in delays in clearances and bureaucratic red tape. Secondly, the MoD has issued an Open General Export License, which has significantly eased the flow of exports in three specific areas such as components and parts, Transfer of Technology and export of key weapons and platforms to select export destinations such as the US, the UK, South Africa, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Poland, Japan, Mexico, Italy and France. The Open General Export License is a one-time clearance and valid for two years from the date of issue. Consequently, a whole slew of exports has been made according to the MoD such as, Dornier 228 aircraft, 155mm Advanced Towed Artillery Guns (ATAGs), BrahMos cruise missiles, Akash Surface to Air Missile (SAMs) systems, Pinaka rockets and launchers, thermal imagers, body armours,Line Replaceable Units (LRU) and parts and components and avionics and small arms. There is a growing global demand of LCA-Tejas, Light Combat Helicopters, aircraft carrier, MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) activities etc. The outcome of these internal reforms has made it easier to conduct business through its approach of catalysing higher exports and making products highly attractive in the global arms market. The BrahMos Breakthrough The third key factor, which is little known, yet vitally notable, is the competitiveness of specific Indian weapons systems, which has rendered them more export worthy. Take the BrahMos cruise missile, which travels at supersonic speeds, that is a joint venture between Russia and India. The JV called BrahMos Aerospace was set up in 1998 resulting in a cruise missile co-developed by New Delhi and Moscow. Following extensive and rigorous testing, the Indian armed services have inducted variants of the missile. The supersonic cruise missile was sold to the Philippines as part of a contract signed in January 2022 to meet its coastal defence needs for a price of $375 million. Indeed, this sale alone accounts for roughly one quarter of Indias total defence exports. What explains the missiles overseas sales? Indian technology firms such as Data Patterns Limited (DPL) have developed low-cost parts also known as Check Out-Equipment (COE) that have served as replacements for more expensive foreign origin parts in the BrahMos missile system. An estimated 75 percent of savings in direct costs accrued as a result of native manufacture of COE by DPL. Consequently, the BrahMos missile has seen its cost decline making the cruise missile highly competitive in the international defence export market. In addition, prior to the cruise missiles sale to Manila, the Indian armed services had already tested, integrated and deployed the missile, significantly enhancing the exportability of the missile to foreign buyers. Vietnam could be the next buyer of the BrahMos. A Note Of Caution Cumulatively, all the factors listed above have boosted exports from a low base in 2016-17 to a high growth plane in 2022-23. Nevertheless, a word of caution is necessary. The recent decision by Ecuador to scrap a contract following four crashes of the Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) developed and manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL) for poor mechanical performance and product support is a serious setback, despite the extensive use of the ALH by the Indian armed services. This episode may have weighed, albeit circumstantially or incidentally, on Malaysias decision not to pick the HAL developed Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and instead select South Koreas Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) built FA-50. The latter aircraft as opposed to the Tejas had the advantage of being able to integrate both Western and Russian origin weapons and importantly product support and training, which in all probability influenced Kuala Lumpurs decision to choose the FA-50. Further, despite the noteworthy export performance in 2022-23, New Delhi still imported $24 billion worth of equipment during the last five years making it the largest importer of military equipment in the world. This should not serve as a dampener, but spur Indian industry and the government to strive for the better performance of exports in the coming months and years. Kartik Bommakanti is a Senior Fellow with the Strategic Studies Programme at the Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. The visit of Amir Ohana, Speaker of Israels Knesset (Parliament), to New Delhi and Mumbai from March 31 filled a curious gap, which existed in India-Israel relations since full diplomatic relations were established between the two countries 31 years ago in one of Indias historic foreign policy shifts since independence. The visits curiosity was enhanced because it did not take place for over three decades: and when it did take place last week, India was the foreign destination of choice for Ohana after his election as Speaker. He emphasised before his embarkation from Jerusalem that no sitting Knesset Speaker has ever visited India. I chose India as the destination for my first official visit as Speaker of the Knesset because I see the impressive development of this superpower in every respect. Had Ohana not resorted to such hyperbole before arriving in New Delhi, his visit would have had a more credible start. India is not a superpower, not yet. It is an aspiring superpower and is very likely to become one at some point in the current millennium. India is also a nation, whose people are easily prone to be pleased by sycophancy and fawning exaggerations by foreigners. Ohanas hyperbole will very likely please the uninformed and the less informed in India. But it is wasted on those who are genuinely interested in expanding the contours of the bilateral relationship with Israel, which has exhibited remarkable dynamism since Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao upgraded it with his typical mix of subterfuge, vision and nuancing. Resetting Relationships Because Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also prone to hyperbole, it is important that leaders of Israel must make up their minds on how they want to deal with India at this pivotal stage of building their bilateral relations. Israel, whose existence is contemporaneous with Indias own independence, has entered one of the most critical phases in its destiny. The Abraham Accords, which brought about a rapprochement between Israel and several Arab countries is slowing down. A potential accommodation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, midwifed by China, has thrown up the biggest diplomatic challenge for Israel in recent decades. Indias plurilateral engagement of Israel through fora such as I2U2 (India-Israel-United States of America-United Arab Emirates) will come under the shadows of such developments because, by the very nature of the Jewish state, it is impossible to insulate Israel from its global partners, especially the US and Israels neighbours in the Arab world. Israel, therefore, has two choices in its dealings with India. One is to deepen its appeal to the Indian masses: only the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 80s has had a people-to-people relationship with Indians that is as extensive as Israels. For Tel Aviv, this is easier than expanding its relationship with the Indian state and its offshoots. It has rich experience in building an unbreakable accord with the American people. This supplements Israels ties with the organs of the US state, which are now under strain like seldom before. Israel can easily replicate its US experience in forging bridges with the Indian masses. A more difficult choice will be to weather the challenges cast on the bilateral engagement of India in all its multiple avatars by the increasingly unfavourable domestic and international situations facing leaders like Netanyahu and Ohana. The latter is Israels first openly gay Knesset speaker. As Ohana went through the rituals of taking office last December, there were scenes in the Knesset, which sparked fears of homophobia against him. Israels new ruling coalition is the most far-right in its history. Opposition among some of its partners to LGBTQ+ rights was one of the many reasons, which brought normal life in Israel to a halt last fortnight in mass protests. Ohana has vowed to protect many aspects of Israels liberal way of life and the future of its diverse society depends on whether its people continue to receive such protection under the new coalitions rule. Healing Touch In Mumbai, the Speaker had his mission cut out for him. Much more than in New Delhi. Ohana did all the right things, which endeared him immensely to those whose paths he crossed. He went to Nariman House, which has become a lasting symbol of how Mumbaikars and Israeli Jews have come to be bound by the horror of a Pakistan-inspired terrorist assault commonly known as 26/11 because it occurred on the 26th day of November on the city 15 years ago. Ohanas presence along with two other Knesset members at the site, which took heavy fatalities at that time, was timely: it happened as the events of 26/11 were beginning to slowly fade from public memory, which is notoriously short in a country as eventful as India. Ohana played his politicians part by furiously demanding that the perpetrators of 26/11 and their facilitators should be brought to justice. However, for a leading public figure from a theocratic state, the Speaker along with his parliamentary delegation brought a healing touch to an increasingly polarised India on religious lines. On the sidelines of an event at Mumbais Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue, there was much talk that Jews and Muslims are both people of the Book, the common threads in their beliefs. Most surprising of all was how Tipu Sultan who is under attack from the religious right in poll-bound Karnataka was praised for pardoning a Jew who built a synagogue in his kingdom. Many Indian supporters of Israel do so assuming that it is all about Islamophobia. Israels problems are with Arabs, not with Muslims. It is important that their Speakers visit contributed to a better understanding within India of Jewish society and the Jewish diaspora. KP Nayar has extensively covered West Asia and reported from Washington as a foreign correspondent for 15 years. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday claimed that people would not forgive the opposition parties for disrupting Parliament proceedings over Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Lok Sabha based on a legislation brought by the Congress-led UPA government. Addressing a public meeting after inaugurating the Kaushambi Mahotsav, he exhorted people to elect Narendra Modi as prime minister once again in 2024 for the all-around welfare of all sections of society. "The country will not forgive opposition parties for disrupting Parliament proceedings over Rahul Gandhi's disqualification... Democracy is not in danger, it is casteism and dynastic politics ('parivarwad') which are in danger," Shah said. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, his deputies Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, and state BJP president Bhupendra Chaudhry also attended the event. In a big blow to the Congress, its leader Rahul Gandhi was on March 24 disqualified from Lok Sabha, nearly 24 hours after a Surat court convicted him in a defamation case, an action the opposition party slammed as BJP's "vindictive politics" and vowed to fight legally and politically. The court in Surat sentenced Gandhi to two years in jail in a defamation case, filed on a complaint by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi for his remark, "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?" The disqualification will bar 52-year-old Gandhi, a four-time MP, from contesting polls for eight years unless a higher court stays his conviction and sentence. (With PTI inputs) USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age. *I agree to the processing of my personal information for personalized recommendations, personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites. I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS. (Optional). Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and lay foundation stone of projects worth over Rs 11,300 crore in Telangana besides flagging off the Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express here on Saturday. In a brisk visit to the city, Modi will also participate in a public meeting at Parade Ground here, official sources said. He will lay the foundation stone of AIIMS Bibinagar, near here and five National Highway projects. He will also lay the foundation stone of redevelopment of Secunderabad Railway Station and dedicate to the nation other development projects related to the Railways. The Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express, connecting Hyderabad with the abode of Lord Venkateswara, Tirupati, is the second Vande Bharat train to be started from Telangana within a short span of three months. The train will reduce the travel time between the two cities by almost three and half hours and will be particularly beneficial for pilgrim passengers. The redevelopment of Secunderabad Railway Station, to be done at a cost of Rs. 720 crore, is being planned such that it will undergo a massive makeover with world-class amenities and aesthetically designed iconic station building. The redeveloped station would be having double-level spacious roof plaza with all passenger amenities at one place along with multi-modal connectivity for providing seamless transfer of passengers from rail to other modes among others. During the visit, Modi will flag-off 13 new Multi-Modal Transport Service (MMTS) services in the suburban section of Hyderabad-Secunderabad twin city region, providing commuters with a fast, convenient and comfortable travel option, a press release from railways said on Thursday. He will also dedicate to the nation the doubling and electrification of Secunderabad-Mahabubnagar project. The project stretching for a distance of over 85 km has been completed at a cost of nearly Rs. 1,410 crore. The project will provide seamless connectivity and assist in enhancing the average speed of trains. At the public programme at Parade Ground the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of AIIMS Bibinagar, Hyderabad. This is a testimony of the PM's vision of strengthening health infrastructure across the country, an official release had said earlier. AIIMS Bibinagar is being developed at the cost of more than Rs. 1,350 crore. The establishment of AIIMS Bibinagar is an important milestone in providing comprehensive, quality and holistic tertiary care health services to the people of Telangana at their doorstep. Modi will also lay the foundation stone of National Highway projects worth more than Rs. 7,850 crore. These road projects will strengthen the road connectivity of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and will aid in the socio-economic development of the region. Modi is scheduled to leave for Tamil Nadu after the Hyderabad visit same day. (With PTI inputs) Samsung pulls up employees for leaking company data on ChatGPT Samsung has reportedly logged three separate instances of employees leaking data, in the 20 days that ChatGPT has been authorised for use at their semiconductor facilities. In one instance, an employee reportedly shared a recording of a company meeting to convert into notes. Samsung is also reportedly considering building its own version of the AI chatbot, to prevent mishaps like these in the future. OpenAI has already stated that it uses the data collected by the chatbot to train its AI models. It also warns people not to share any sensitive data with the chatbot. Microsoft integrates Bing AI into SwiftKey keyboard for Android The integration allows users to access and chat with Bing AI to get answers or it can be used in what Microsoft calls tone mode, where it can rewrite and clean up texts. The bot is currently limited to the beta version of SwiftKey, which can be downloaded on Google's Play Store. As spotted by The Verge, Microsofts CTO of mobile and commerce, Pedram Rezaei, confirmed that the feature was slowly rolling out and invited everyone to check out the beta on the Play Store. So far, Microsoft has not confirmed when the integration will show up on iOS. The Redmond-based technology giant had dropped support for the iOS version of SwiftKey last year, but after fan demand, brought it back. Google CEO Sundar Pichai says AI will 'absolutely' become part of Search Pichai dismisses concerns that rivals pose a threat to Google's core business of search. The opportunity space, if anything, is bigger than before, Google CEO has said. In an interview to The Wall Street Journal, Pichai said the search and technology giant would add conversational AI to Google Search. Googles online search business faces its biggest test in decades. Microsoft has stolen the march by partnering with OpenAI to exclusively use its GPT language models, which power the hugely popular ChatGPT chatbot. When asked why Google didn't release an AI chatbot earlier, Pichai said the company was "iterating to ship something, and maybe timelines changed, given the moment in the industry". Microsoft to integrate AI Copilot with OneNote Copilot can format, summarize and rewrite existing notes. It can also help you create plans. Built on the same foundation as OpenAI's ChatGPT, Copilot for OneNote can create plans based on context, summarise notes into bullet points, generate a list of topics based on the text prompt, create plans and give suggestions. The Redmond-based technology giant originally announced Copilot AI integration into its suite of Office 365 apps Teams, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Now the company is demoing its plans to integrate Copilot into OneNote as well. Amazon launches new startup accelerator for generative AI Amazon's 10-week programme will give the most promising generative AI startups access to mentors, and other experts in the field while providing them credits for Amazon Web Services (AWS). To enrol in the programme, your startup needs to have a basic product as a proof of concept, that has seen some interest from customers. The process for sign-ups will start on April 17, worldwide. Amazon says that the startups, "already building on AWS will receive the most benefit from the accelerators dedicated AWS Solutions Architect team, who will support every step of their product development." Tech giant Google may not have set a date for integrating AI into Search but CEO Sundar Pichai has promised it will happen, as the company faces the biggest threat to its dominance from Microsoft, which has had a head start with Bing. In an interview to The Wall Street Journal, Pichai said the search and technology giant would add conversational AI to Google Search. Will people be able to ask questions to Google and engage with LLMs in the context of search? Absolutely, said Pichai, referring to large language models which form the foundation of machine learning and are at the heart of the AI battle. Googles online search business faces its biggest test in decades. Microsoft has stolen the march by partnering with OpenAI to exclusively use its GPT language models, which power the hugely popular ChatGPT chatbot. Also Read | Google will make it compulsory for Android apps to allow account deletion Microsoft has already integrated the technology into its Bing search engine, even including an AI-based Image Generator. Pichai, however, dismissed concerns that rivals posed a threat to Google's core business. Rivals had given the company bigger opportunities, he said. The opportunity space, if anything, is bigger than before, Pichai said. Talking about Google's chatbot Bard, which is yet to gain traction, Pichai told WSJ it "has seen incredible" user excitement around "adoption of these technologies, and some of that is a pleasant surprise as well". Also Read | Google ruling to have direct impact on Make in India, says the Additional Solicitor General N Venkataraman Bard has got a lukewarm reception, so far, with many criticising it for not being as efficient or accurate as ChatGPT or Bing's AI avatar. When asked why Google didn't release an AI chatbot earlier, Pichai said the company was "iterating to ship something, and maybe timelines changed, given the moment in the industry". Its not unusual for gig workers to work for different companies. Autorickshaw drivers, for example, often take up rides through both Ola and Uber. What is unusual, however, is an autorickshaw with three registration numbers a different one for each company. One Bengaluru man recently spotted such an auto plying in the city and took a photograph he later shared on Twitter. The picture shared by Twitter user Suprit shows an autorickshaw displaying three registration numbers. While its registered number is displayed at the bottom right corner, temporary number plates also show the numbers he is using for Ola and Rapido. Another #PeakBangalore moment in E-city. How many registrations is too many registrations? @peakbengaluru pic.twitter.com/SaW9hMKBQV suprit j (@jadhav_suprit96) April 5, 2023 Another #PeakBangalore moment in E-city. How many registrations is too many registrations? the Twitter user wrote while sharing the picture. His tweet has gone viral with hundreds of likes and comments many of which cracked jokes about the auto driver moonlighting for different companies. Dudes moonlighting, wrote one person. Is this even legal? several others questioned. Some also shared other examples of autorickshaws plying with multiple registration numbers. Another #peakbangalore moment captured today in E-city. Multi Registration autos @peakbengaluru @BangaloreBuzz pic.twitter.com/nZSWyfKMFx Bharat Reddy Sangapu (@sangapubharat) April 6, 2023 Bengaluru's auto unions called a one-day strike last month demanding a ban on bike taxis in the city. Manjunath S, an auto driver, who came for the protest, said: College students are also running bike taxis as a part-time job but this is our livelihood. White-board two-wheelers are meant only for private usage not for commercial purposes like bike taxis. There is also no safety of passengers since they cant even claim insurance in case of an accident. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and his ex-wife Melinda French Gates have become proud grandparents to their first grandchild. Jennifer Gates, the eldest child of the tech billionaire and philanthropist, and her husband Nayel Nassar welcomed their baby last month. The new parents took to social media to announce the happy news and shared their joy with the world. The grandparents were ecstatic and took to Instagram to share pictures with their first grandchild. Bill Gates posted a picture of himself wearing a navy blue sweatshirt and pants, playfully touching his granddaughter's tiny fingers. The newborn was dressed in a cute pink onesie, and the proud grandfather captioned the post, "I can't wait to watch you discover the world." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bill Gates (@thisisbillgates) Melinda French also shared a heartwarming snap of herself holding her granddaughter close to her chest. In the picture, she is seen smiling at the camera, sporting an orange top and black trousers. The philanthropist wrote in the caption, "There is nothing quite like holding your first grandchild. It seems like just yesterday I was holding Jenn at this age. Now she has a baby of her own, and I am bursting with pride watching her and Nayel step into their new role as parents." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Melinda French Gates (@melindafrenchgates) The news of the arrival of their first grandchild was met with congratulatory messages from several high-profile figures, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, Union Minister Smriti Irani, and YouTuber Nas Daily. Read: Bill Gates reveals the best advice Warren Buffett ever shared with him Jennifer Gates tied the knot with Nayel Nassar, an Egyptian equestrian, in 2021 at her home in Westchester, New York. Last year, Bill Gates wrote in a blog post that the news of his daughter's pregnancy had given him a new perspective on his work. "When I think about the world my grandchild will be born into, I'm more inspired than ever to help everyone's children and grandchildren have a chance to survive and thrive," he said. A Delhi woman lost almost Rs 9 lakh after falling for a fake job scam. According to a Times of India report, the victims husband approached the police in December last year to file a complaint saying that his wife was duped of the money after clicking on an Instagram job advert. When she clicked on the Instagram ad, the woman was taken to another ID called airlinejoballindia. She filled out her details hoping to land a job at a private airline. After this, she received a call from the conman behind the scam, who introduced himself as Rahul and asked her to pay Rs 750 as registration fee. Soon afterwards, the woman was asked to pay more money. All in all, she was cheated out of Rs 8.6 lakh in the name of gate pass fee, security money and insurance. The Delhi woman grew suspicious when Rahul continued to ask for money while no job was in sight. She and her husband then approached the police for help. According to the report, Delhi Police launched an investigation and found that the money was withdrawn in Hisar, Haryana. Using the mobile phone number and location of the accused, police was able to trace the man posing as Rahul. He was arrested in a raid by cyber police. The accused said he began scamming people because he had been jobless since the pandemic and wanted money. This is not the only fake airline job scam that has come to light in recent years. In 2021, IndiGo had even launched a social media campaign to raise awareness on fake job offers. The airline said that certain people claiming to represent the airline are misusing the brand name and the names of IndiGo employees, and demanding money in exchange for conducting interviews, providing jobs, or imparting training. Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju spoke at the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Gauhati High Court, acknowledging the important role played by the court in delivering landmark judgments on public issues, particularly those related to the rights of tribal people in the North East. Rijiju also praised the launch of the 'Bhoroxa' mobile application aimed at ensuring women's safety at the event and emphasized that justice and women's safety are critical components of creating a fair and just society. Rijiju highlighted the need for all three branches of government to work together in harmony and emphasized the government's commitment to creating a favorable environment for the judiciary by improving the physical infrastructure of district and lower courts in the country. He also assured that the government would provide necessary assistance to create better judicial infrastructure in the North Eastern region. Rijiju also noted the good work done by the Gauhati High Court and highlighted the successful operationalization of 21 out of 31 Fast Track Special Courts in Assam and Nagaland, resulting in the disposal of 2836 cases. The event was attended by President Draupadi Murmu, Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma, Governor of Assam Gulab Chand Kataria, and other dignitaries. Speaking of judicial infrastructure, Rijiju remarked that a lot of ground has been covered over years due to collaborations between the government and the judiciary at the center and at the state level. Additionally, Rijiju highlighted the legal aid work being done by the National Legal Services Authority in the North Eastern region and mentioned the documentation of customary practices of the tribal population in the region that was recently released by the Department of Justice. This documentation aims to provide an understanding of the traditional practices followed by tribal communities in the region and assist in providing legal aid to them. Senior lawyers have praised the Supreme Courts recent ruling against the use of documents submitted in sealed covers, calling the verdict historic and a blow in favour of the principle of natural justice. Sealed cover jurisprudence, as it is called, refers to litigants submitting documents that are confidential in their opinion to the court in a closed envelope without giving copies to the opposing side, as mandated in the law. The apex court has often discouraged the practice because it does not give the opposing party an opportunity to counter the claims that are made therein. ALSO READ: Supreme Courts chequered history with sealed cover documents Lawyers also criticise it for being opaque and against the principle of natural justice, wherein each party gets to present its case and counter the arguments made in documents. In most cases, the government produces documents to the court in a sealed cover What did the Supreme Court hold? The issue of sealed covers came before the Supreme Court in a plea by a Malayalam TV channel, MediaOne, which challenged the Centres decision not to renew its license on grounds of national security. The channel had initially approached the Kerala High Court, which dismissed its plea by relying on documents submitted by the Centre in a sealed cover. The channel did not have knowledge of the contents , which made allegations against it. The TV channel then approached the SC. The top court, setting aside the Centres decision not to renew the TV channels license, came down heavily on both the Kerala HC and the government for using information contained in a sealed cover. ALSO READ: Adani-Hindenburg row: Supreme Court refuses sealed cover suggestions from government The SC noted that sealed cover proceedings infringe the principles of natural and open justice and laid down certain guidelines for the use of sealed cover documents by the courts. The judgment noted that Public Interest Immunity proceedings could be used instead of information in sealed covers. A Public Interest Immunity proceedings entail cases in which a court allows one litigant to not disclose certain evidence to other litigants if such a disclosure is damaging to public interest. Furthermore, evidence that the litigant wishes to keep confidential is kept out of the process of adjudication so that neither the litigant nor the court can rely on the evidence. The court has also held that an amicus curia (friend of the court) can be appointed to assess whether the documents should be disclosed or not. According to the judgment, the amicus curiae will balance concerns of confidentiality with the need to preserve public confidence in the objectivity of the justice delivery process. The judgment noted that the courts could redact the confidential portions of the document and provide a summary of the contents of the document instead of opting for the sealed cover practice. According to the judgment, the courts must pass a reasoned order for allowing or dismissing the claim in open court. Historic says Kapil Sibal: Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal called the judgment historic because it advances the cause of natural justice. He said: The court has said that the opposing side has the right know what is alleged against them in the documents in a sealed cover in order to defend their case. If the documents contain portions that pertain to national security, it can be redacted and a summary of the contents could be given. Thus it is an important judgment on natural justice. Brings back balance: Amit Desai Senior advocate Amit Desai noted that natural justice was the substratum of the judicial process. "Matters of privilege are to be claimed in a time tested manner. Sealed envelopes was a process to deal with matters of privilege and in exceptional cases , for speedy justice, Desai said. However, it was being used with increasing frequency and for matters outside the scope of permissible privilege claims. One hopes this judgement brings back a balance between natural justice and justifiable privilege claims and prevents its misuse to cover up inefficiencies, arbitrariness and illegalities of governmental actions. Agree with SCs judgment: Vikas Singh Vikas Singh, senior advocate and president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, agrees that there should never be any sealed cover procedure in any judicial proceeding. In fact, many a times you will see even at the trial court, the prosecution relies upon the evidence taken by them in police custody, to oppose grant of bail. Now, any statement given in police custody is not ever admissible at the stage. So how is that given in sealed cover? So, it's actually a gross miscarriage of justice in the judicial process, to rely upon deciding anything on the basis of sealed cover. Long overdue: Gopal Sankaranarayanan Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan said the SCs judgment was long overdue. This will be a strong message to the other courts and Union and State governments to avoid trying to fall back on this questionable mechanism, he said. The Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on April 7 expressed his concern about how some individuals who do not wish to see India progress are using digital, social, and electronic media to mislead lawmakers. He noted that uninformed discussions and debates in society can sometimes make lawmakers the victim of such elements. He further stated that attempts have been made in the last few months to create a false narrative of differences between the government and judiciary. However, Rijiju emphasized that differences of opinion are an integral part of democracy and should not be mistaken for confrontation. According to Rijiju, India's rapid growth and progress as a powerful nation are causing concern among certain forces. As India is the fifth largest economy in the world, it is crucial that all three branches of the government work in harmony. Rijiju made these comments during the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Gauhati High Court, which were attended by several dignitaries, including President Draupadi Murmu, Chief Justice of India Chandrachud, Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Governor of Assam Gulab Chand Kataria. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age. *I agree to the processing of my personal information for personalized recommendations, personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites. I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS. (Optional). Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept A 68-year-old Spanish TV star who sparked controversy by having a surrogate child in the United States said the baby was actually her granddaughter, in an interview published on Wednesday. Ana Obregon told celebrity magazine Hola! that the child born last month in Miami, Ana Sandra Lequio Obregon, was the daughter of her son Aless, who died of cancer in 2020. The actor and TV presenter said bringing a child into the world was the "last wish" of her son, who had his sperm frozen and kept in New York before undergoing treatment for cancer. Hola! initially said last week that Ana Obregon was the baby's mother, publishing a photo of her leaving a Miami hospital in a wheelchair and cradling a baby. The report sparked a backlash in some political quarters, with Education Minister Pilar Alegria calling the photo "Dantesque" and Equality Minister Irene Montero describing surrogacy as "a form of violence against women". While surrogacy is illegal in Spain, someone who undergoes the practice abroad can register as the parents of the child via adoption when they return. Hola! said the small girl was now the "legally the adoptive daughter" of Obregon, who has starred in numerous top-rated sitcoms. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age. *I agree to the processing of my personal information for personalized recommendations, personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites. I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS. (Optional). Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept The World Health Organization chief pressed China on Thursday to share its information about the origins of COVID-19, saying that until that happened all hypotheses remained on the table, more than three years after the virus first emerged. "Without full access to the information that China has, you cannot say this or that," said Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in response to a question about the origin of the virus. "All hypotheses are on the table. That's WHO's position and that's why we have been asking China to be cooperative on this." "If they would do that then we will know what happened or how it started," he said. The virus was first identified in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, with many suspecting it spread in a live animal market before fanning out around the world and killing nearly 7 million people. Data from the early days of the COVID pandemic was briefly uploaded by Chinese scientists to an international database last month. It included genetic sequences found in more than 1,000 environmental and animal samples taken in January 2020 at the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan, the location of the first known COVID outbreak. The data showed that DNA from multiple animal species - including raccoon dogs - was present in environmental samples that tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID, suggesting that they were "the most likely conduits" of the disease, according to a team of international researchers. However, in a non-peer reviewed study published by the Nature journal this week, scientists with China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention have disputed the international team's findings. They said the samples provided no proof the animals were actually infected. They were also taken a month after human-to-human transmission first occurred at the market, so even if they were COVID-positive, the animals could have caught the virus from humans. The WHO's Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead for COVID-19, said the latest Chinese information offered some "clues" on origins but no answers. She said the WHO was working with scientists to find out more about the earliest cases from 2019 such as the whereabouts of those infected. She added WHO still did not know whether some of the research required had been undertaken in China. The WHO has also asked the United States for original data that underpinned a recent study by the U.S. Energy Department that suggested a laboratory leak in China had likely caused the COVID-19 pandemic, she added. China said Australia's "discriminatory" ban on TikTok from all federal government-owned devices harmed the interests of Australian businesses and the public, urging Canberra to treat all firms fairly, a commerce ministry statement said on Friday. "Australia treated TikTok differently from other social media platforms and adopted discriminatory restrictive measures, which are not conducive to maintaining Australia's national security," the statement said. China also urged Australia to create a favourable environment for bilateral economic and trade cooperation. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age. *I agree to the processing of my personal information for personalized recommendations, personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites. I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS. (Optional). Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Israel's military hit sites in Lebanon and Gaza early on Friday, in retaliation for rocket attacks it blamed on the Islamist group Hamas, as tensions following police raids this week on the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem threatened to spiral out of control. Loud blasts rocked different areas of Gaza, as Israel said its jets hit targets including tunnels and weapons manufacturing sites of Hamas, which controls the blockaded southern coastal strip, as well as a heavy machine gun used for anti-aircraft fire. As daybreak neared, the military said it had also struck Hamas targets in southern Lebanon, where residents around the area of the Rashidiyeh refugee camp reported three loud blasts. Two Lebanese security sources said the strike hit a small structure on farmland near the area from which the rockets had been launched earlier. They had no reports of casualties. The strikes came in response to rocket attacks from Lebanon towards northern Israeli areas, which Israeli officials blamed on Hamas. The military said 34 rockets were launched from Lebanon, of which 25 were intercepted by air defence systems. It was the biggest such attack since 2006, when Israel fought a war with the heavily armed Hezbollah movement. "Israel's response, tonight and later, will exact a significant price from our enemies," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said following a security cabinet meeting. As the Israeli jets struck in Gaza, salvoes of rockets were fired in response and sirens sounded in Israeli towns and cities in bordering areas, however there were no reports of serious casualties. The crossborder strikes came amid an escalating confrontation over Israeli police raids at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which this year coincides with the Jewish Passover holiday. "We hold the Zionist occupation fully responsible for the grave escalation and the flagrant aggression against the Gaza Strip and for the consequences that will bring onto the region," Hamas said in a statement. Although Israel blamed Hamas for Thursday's attack, which took place as Hamas head Ismail Haniyeh was visiting Lebanon, security experts said Hezbollah, the powerful Shi'ite group which helps Israel's main enemy Iran project its power across the region, must have given its permission. "It's not Hezbollah shooting, but it's hard to believe that Hezbollah didn't know about it," Tamir Hayman, a former head of Israeli military intelligence, said on Twitter. Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati issued a statement condemning any military operations from its territory that threatened stability but there was no immediate comment from Hezbollah. Earlier on Thursday, before the rockets were fired, senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine said any infringement on Al-Aqsa "will inflame the entire region". UNIFIL, the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, said it had been in contact with the parties and said both sides had said they did not seek war but it said the situation risked escalation. "We urge all parties to cease all actions across the Blue Line now," it said, referring to the frontier demarcation between the two countries. U.S. CONDEMNS ROCKET ATTACKS Palestinian factions in Lebanon, which have a presence in the refugee camps, have fired sporadically on Israel in the past. But the border area has been largely quiet since the 2006 war with Hezbollah. The U.S. State Department condemned the launch of rockets from Lebanon and earlier strikes from Gaza and said Israel had the right to defend itself. But it also expressed concern at the scenes in the Al-Aqsa mosque, where Israeli police were filmed beating worshippers during raids that officials said were to dislodge groups of young men who had barricaded themselves inside the mosque. The Al-Aqsa compound in Jerusalem's Old City is Islam's third holiest site, where hundreds of thousands pray during Ramadan. Known to Jews as Temple Mount, the location of the two biblical Jewish temples, it is also Judaism's most sacred site, although non-Muslims are not allowed to pray there. It has long been a flashpoint for tensions. Clashes there in 2021 helped to trigger a 10-day war between Israel and Gaza. There has been widespread anger among Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza over the police actions as well as condemnation from across the Arab world. Late on Thursday, police said there were also disturbances in a number of Arab cities in Israel itself, including Umm el-Fahem, Sakhnin and Nazareth. PLUMES OF SMOKE The worsening security situation adds a further complication for Netanyahu's religious-nationalist government, which has faced mass protests over its now-suspended plans to curb the powers of the Supreme Court. However, opposition leader Yair Lapid said the government could count on cross-party support following the rocket attack and Netanyahu said Israelis stood behind the security forces. "The internal debate in Israel will not prevent us from taking action against them wherever and whenever necessary. All of us, without exception, are united on this," Netanyahu said. In the aftermath of Thursday's rocket attack, TV footage showed large plumes of smoke rising above the northern Israeli border town of Shlomi, with wrecked cars in the streets. Israel Airports Authority said it had closed the northern airports in Haifa and Rosh Pina. "I'm shaking, I'm in shock," Liat Berkovitch Kravitz told Israel's Channel 12 news, speaking from a fortified room in her house in Shlomi. "I heard a boom, it was as if it exploded inside the room." The Israeli military said mortar shells were also fired across the border. Amid fears that the confrontation could spiral further following a year of rising Israeli-Palestinian violence, the U.N. Security Council held a closed door meeting to discuss the crisis. "It's going to be important for everyone to do what they can to calm tensions," U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations, Robert Wood, told reporters on his way into the meeting. Thursday's attack followed a number of rocket launches towards Israel from Gaza, most of which were intercepted. Israel responded to the launches with airstrikes on sites linked to Hamas, which it holds responsible for any attacks from the blockaded coastal strip. Speaking from Gaza, Mohammad Al-Braim, spokesman for the Palestinian Popular Resistance Committees, praised the rocket strikes from Lebanon, which he linked to the Al-Aqsa incidents, but did not claim responsibility. He said "no Arab and no Muslim would keep silent while (Al-Aqsa) is being raided in such a savage and barbaric way without the enemy paying the price for its aggression." USAs National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in collaboration with Elon Musk's SpaceX on April 7 launched an air-quality monitor called TEMPO or Tropospheric Emissions Monitoring of Pollution instrument. "The NASA-Smithsonian instrument TEMPO is the first space-based tool to monitor major air pollutants hourly in high spatial resolution down to four square miles in a region stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the Canadian oil sands to below Mexico City, encompassing the entire continental United States," said NASA in a media advisory. Taking to Twitter, NASA said TEMPO is merely the size of a dishwasher and yet powerful enough to observe air pollutants across North America down to a resolution of 10 square km. Further, it also confirmed a successful spacecraft separation. Spacecraft separation confirmed! The Intelsat satellite hosting our @NASAEarth & @CenterForAstro #TEMPO mission is flying free from its @SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and on its way to geostationary orbit. pic.twitter.com/gKYczeHqV5 NASA (@NASA) April 7, 2023 Liftoff took place from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The instrument is a payload on the satellite Intelsat 40E. It was built by Ball Aerospace and integrated onto Intelsat 40E by Maxar. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age. *I agree to the processing of my personal information for personalized recommendations, personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites. I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS. (Optional). Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Robinhood Financial LLC will pay up to $10.2 million in penalties to several states related to platform outages the company experienced in March 2020 and deficiencies in the brokerage's review and approval process prior to 2021. The settlement comes after an investigation by state securities regulators in Alabama, Colorado, California, Delaware, New Jersey, South Dakota and Texas into outages on Robinhood's app that shut customers out of trading on pandemic-related volatility, several states said in a release. Robinhood also agreed in principle last year to settle a proposed class action lawsuit filed by customers over the pandemic outages. "Robinhood repeatedly failed to serve its clients, but this settlement makes clear that Robinhood must take its customer care obligations seriously and correct these deficiencies," said Andrew Hartnett, the president of the North American Securities Administrators Association, which coordinated the investigation, in a statement. Robinhood neither admitted nor denied the states' findings. Lucas Moskowitz, deputy general counsel and head of government affairs at Robinhood Markets, said in a statement the company was "pleased" to resolve the matter. "The settlement relates to past issues that Robinhood has since invested heavily in improving, including the launch of 24/7 chat and phone support, expanding our library of educational materials, and strengthening the way we supervise our technology. We remain focused on continuing to break down barriers to the markets for those who were previously kept out," he said. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age. *I agree to the processing of my personal information for personalized recommendations, personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites. I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS. (Optional). Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept A United Arab Emirates court has dismissed South Africa's request to extradite Atul and Rajesh Gupta, brothers who face charges of political corruption, Justice Minister Ronald Lamola said on Friday. The brothers are accused of using their connections with Jacob Zuma, president of South Africa from 2009 to 2018, to win contracts, influence cabinet appointments and siphon off state funds. Zuma and the Guptas have denied all wrongdoing. South Africa received diplomatic communication from the UAE on April 6 that a UAE court had made the decision on Feb. 13, Lamola said. "In the evening of the 6th of April 2023, we were provided with a note verbale from the UAE in which we learnt with shock and dismay that an extradition hearing had been concluded in the UAE courts on the 13th of February 2023 and our extradition request was unsuccessful," Lamola told reporters. The court had ruled that the UAE had jurisdiction to prosecute the Guptas for money laundering offences alleged to have been committed in the UAE and South Africa, Lamola said. He added that South Africa would "promptly appeal" the decision. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age. *I agree to the processing of my personal information for personalized recommendations, personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites. I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS. (Optional). Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept about us Storyboard18 is Network18 Groups flagship platform focussed on the advertising and marketing community and a leading source of news and analyses. For over two decades as a TV show on CNBC-TV18, Storyboard18 has championed and chronicled the business of brands, the rise of Indian advertising and a flourishing brand marketing ecosystem. Now were building on that legacy and taking Storyboard18 to the next level as a destination for modern marketers building legendary brands. April 07, 2023 Ukraine Open Thread 2023-84 Only for news & views directly related to the Ukraine conflict. The current open thread for other issues is here. Please stick to the topic. Contribute facts. Do not attack other commentators. Posted by b on April 7, 2023 at 17:18 UTC | Permalink Comments next page Midlands Habitat for Humanity is planning a new subdivision courtesy of Endeavor Energy Resources. Endeavor recently donated 21 acres of land at the intersection of Fairgrounds Road and Cynthia Drive in a ribbon cutting ceremony held March 31. The acreage has the capacity for more than 100 affordable houses for hundreds of qualified Midlanders. We are so grateful to the team at Endeavor for their incredible gift, Midland Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Joey Hopkins told the Reporter-Telegram by email. Weve seen firsthand their support for Midland as theyve sponsored and volunteered on-site with us for the last few years. To be able to run a program like Habitat in the Permian Basin, it takes a community to build a community. Donations like this are critical to keep our development costs down and provide truly affordable homes. Endeavor supports Midland Habitat each year financially and through employee volunteer service opportunities. More than 300 employees spend hundreds of hours helping build homes, at Habitats ReStore or in Habitats office each year. The donation of the 21 acres is Endeavors largest land donation to date and its first land donation to Midland Habitat. Working with Midland Habitat is one of EERs most anticipated service opportunities of the year, said Wesley Robertson, Land Manager for Endeavor and Midland Habitat for Humanity board member in a press release announcing the donation. With financial and volunteer support, we are able to help a local family each year achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance that comes with home ownership. Our employees truly value being part of this experience. Donating land to Midland Habitat for Humanity was a natural fit for our company, honoring the interest of our employees and Endeavors commitment to support the Midland Basin. Midland Habitat is one of the Permians premier institutions responsible for constructing affordable housing in the region. The organizations partnership model offers deserving, hard-working families a hand-up. MHFH uses a rigorous qualifying process that includes progress from the application through homeownership. Each participant contributes a minimum of 350 hours of sweat equity on the worksite and completes a homeownership education program. Successful candidates are then awarded a 0% interest mortgage, making homeownership a reality for some of the neediest families in the Permian Basin. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) China retaliated for the United States House speaker's meeting with the Taiwanese president by announcing sanctions Friday against the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and other organizations, adding to strains over the self-governed island democracy Beijing claims as part of its territory. Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy held talks Wednesday with President Tsai Ing-wen at the Reagan library in Simi Valley, California, in defiance of Chinese warnings. McCarthy joined a growing series of foreign legislators who have met Tsai in a show of support for Taiwan in the face of Chinese intimidation. U.S.-Chinese relations have sunk to their lowest level in decades due to disputes over the status of Taiwan, which split with China in 1949 after a civil war, as well as security, technology and Beijing's treatment of Hong Kong and Muslim ethnic minorities. The mainland's ruling Communist Party says Taiwan is destined to reunite with China, by force if necessary, and has no right to conduct foreign relations. President Xi Jinping's government says contact with foreign officials will encourage Taiwanese who want formal independence, a step Beijing says would lead to war. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the Reagan library and the Hudson Institute, a Washington think tank, were sanctioned for providing a platform and convenience to Taiwan separatist activities. It said Chinese institutions were prohibited from having any cooperation or contact with them. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute is proud of its decision to host a bipartisan meeting between Members of the United States House of Representatives, led by Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and Tsai Ing-wen, the President of Taiwan, and her delegation, said a statement Friday by David Trulio, president and CEO of the foundation, which sustains the library. We will not shy away from living up to President Reagans expectation that the library bearing his name be a dynamic intellectual forum, he said. Hudson Institute President John P. Walters said in a statement that China's Communist Party "has a long history of attempting to silence voices, domestically and abroad, that oppose its international aggression and its oppression of the Chinese people. It has not worked before and it will not work now. We stand firmly with Taiwan and against the CCP and its ruthless, genocidal policies. Tsai accepted a leadership award from the Hudson Institute as part of her U.S. trip and gave a speech about Taiwans challenges in regional security. The ministry also cited Walters; Sarah May Stern, chair of the Hudson Institute board of directors; John Heubusch, former executive director of the Reagan Foundation, and Joanne M. Drake, the foundation's chief administrator. The ministry said they were barred from visiting China and any property or financial assets belonging to them in China would be frozen. We will take resolute measures to punish the Taiwan independence separatist forces and their actions, and resolutely safeguard our countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Chinese Cabinet's Taiwan Affairs Office said in a statement Thursday. China has stepped up efforts to intimidate Taiwan by flying fighter jets and firing missiles into the sea nearby on a near-daily basis. The pressure campaign has left many concerned about the possibility of an invasion. Tsai remained firm in her stance of increasing Taiwans global engagement upon her return to Taiwan on Friday night. We have shown the international community that when we face pressure and threats, Taiwan will be more united, she said. We will never give in because we are suppressed, nor will we stop communicating with the world because we are hindered. On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that in recent years, we have seen: For the Chinese leadership, the status quo that brought peace and stability to the Taiwan Strait for decades is no longer acceptable. This has led China to increase pressure and coercive means against Taiwan. The United States government has no official relations with Taiwan but maintains extensive informal and commercial ties. Washington is required by federal law to ensure the island has the means to defend itself if attacked by China. We are sticking to our One China policy. But we are equipping Taiwan with what it needs to defend itself against any form of aggression. We are taking that very seriously, Blinken told German newspaper group Funke Mediengruppe and French newspaper Ouest-France in remarks published Friday that have been retranslated back to English. McCarthy's predecessor as speaker, Nancy Pelosi, flew to Taiwan in August and met Tsai. Legislators from European parliaments have also visited the island. Meanwhile, another congressional delegation landed Thursday in Taiwan and is to meet with Tsai on Saturday. Additionally, two groups in Asia the Prospect Foundation and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats were sanctioned for their involvement in promoting Taiwan independence under the guise of academic and research exchanges, said Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian. The Prospect Foundation is a government-funded Taiwanese think tank that works on dialogue and cooperation on issues related to Taiwans security, economy and social development. The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats is a regional organization established in Thailand that promotes exchanges among liberal and democratic political parties in Asia, including Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party, which is a member. Separately, the Taiwan Affairs Office also announced further sanctions on Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwans representative in the United States. The ban on Hsiao does not appear to be substantively different from the ban enacted on her when Pelosi visited Taiwan. China had announced sanctions on a list of individuals from the DPP and ruling administration, including Hsiao. Then it banned the individuals, their family members and related organizations from traveling or operating in China, including Hong Kong. Friday's announcement said any financial sponsors of Hsiao are also included. ___ Associated Press writers Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin, Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington, D.C., and Robert Jablon in Los Angeles contributed to this report. YEREVAN, APRIL 7, ARMENPRESS. On April 6, the United States Department of Defense reported on its website that Armenia will participate in the upcoming U.S.-led Defender 2023 multinational military exercises. However, shortly afterwards the report was edited and Armenia was removed from the list of participating nations. ARMENPRESS asked Defense Ministry spokesperson Aram Torosyan to comment. ARMENPRESS: The United States Department of Defense reported on its website that Armenia will participate in the upcoming U.S.-led Defender 2023 multinational military exercises. However, shortly afterwards the report was edited and Armenia was removed from the list of participating nations. After all, is the Armenian military going to participate in these exercises? Torosyan: This year, the Armenian Ministry of Defense is planning to participate in two other military exercises organized by the US army command in Europe KFOR (Kosovo Force) and Saber Junction military exercises. A help center for victims of domestic violence is hoping to work with the community to educate it about available resources. Crisis Center Foundation held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new outreach center on Monday, though it has been open at 1101 W. Morton Ave. since the start of the year. Three members of the foundation work out of the center: outreach director Anna Sprague, community educator Gracie Duesterhaus and law enforcement liaison Alexis Coil. "Our whole goal for this outreach center, in general, is to provide prevention and education to the community so we can help whoever or prevent (domestic violence) from even happening," Sprague said. The outreach center would be open to the public for people to come in and ask questions about the foundation's services, Sprague said. The center also intends to serve as a meeting place for various groups, including support groups for adult and child survivors of domestic violence. the foundation also has hired a therapist to work out of the new center, program director Danielle Del Faro said. Sprague and Duesterhaus will head into the Jacksonville community to educate the public on domestic violence, including visiting schools and churches in the area, Sprague said. Coil, meanwhile, will interact with local law enforcement to help them better understand domestic violence from a legal perspective, Sprague said. The idea for the outreach center came after the foundation began brainstorming ideas for what to do with extra money given to it by the Illinois Department of Human Services, Del Faro said. The foundation wanted to expand to include a law enforcement liaison and another outreach worker. Crisis Center also had "run out of room" at its main office at 325 Ninth Ave., so the outreach office allowed it to expand in the ways it wanted, Del Faro said. "We just really want people to know that the Crisis Center is here," she said. "We're hoping through our outreach that we'll be able to raise numbers so we can just help more people in our community with domestic violence." The foundation hope to have more educational events for the community at the outreach center and to start a "healthy relationships and life skills" group, Sprague said. The healthy relationships group is expected to have an informational meeting in the next few weeks. "We know that domestic violence is happening," she said. "It's just ... the community might need just a little more knowledge on how to help us combat that, as well." The outreach center is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Ian Logan/Getty Images GRIGGSVILLE Farmers National Bank of Griggsville locations are offering people a chance to get rid of unwanted documents for free from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. Sensitive papers such as old checks, account statements and credit card bills can be taken to the bank's Pittsfield branch at 201 W. Washington St. or its Griggsville site at 108 W. Quincy St. for disposal. As the academic year winds down over the next couple of months, millions of high schoolers nationwide will be faced with the question of what to do after they graduate. For an increasing number of them, the answer lies outside of college. An Associated Press article found in March that more and more high schoolers are forgoing an immediate college education for hourly jobs or careers that do not require degrees. Between 2019 and 2022, undergraduate enrollment fell by 8%, the steepest decline on record, according to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics. Students, researchers and educators alike told the Associated Press that many high schoolers were unenthused by the idea of two to four more years of education. Some felt they weren't learning anything in school. Others, because of the pandemic, felt they were unprepared for college and elected not to attend. Still others could not get the help they needed to navigate the complicated world of financial aid. The number of graduates who go straight to a four-year college has gone down, Jacksonville High School counselor Sherri McLaughlin said, noting that many students instead attend schools such as Lincoln Land Community College before transferring to a four-year college, if needed. "I think students are looking more into, 'what job do I really want to do,'" she said, "and 'what education and skills do I need in order to do that job?'" Other options JHS graduates have chosen over a four-year college include military enlistment, trade vocational schools and union apprenticeships, McLaughlin said. Community college appealed, in particular, to students who were undecided about what they wanted to do for a career, she said. "You used to have a lot of students that were undecided go ahead and apply and attend a four-year university and try and figure it out within that four years," McLaughlin said."Now, a lot of them are just like, 'Okay, before I spend that kind of money and make those big decisions, I think I'll just start with my local community college.'" Though there still are some students who leave JHS without a clear plan of what they want to do next, McLaughlin doesn't think think there are that many of them, she said. Current students are giving a lot of thought to careers as opposed to just jobs, she said. "That part, to me is exciting," she said, "because it's important to try to figure out your career path so you don't waste a lot of time and money on things you're not going to use." Michigan-based company Revolution Farms voluntarily recalls some of its salad products due to possible listeria contamination. The United States Food and Drug Administration posted the company's recall announcement Wednesday, warning several of its lettuce and salad kits may be contaminated with "Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems." The recalled salad products were packed between March 3 and March 11, according to the announcement. A list of affected products is available on the FDA's website. There have been no confirmed reports of illnesses due to eating the products. The recall was initiated when the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development received a positive result for Listeria monocytogenes in a random sample test of a single package of Revolution Farms' packaged lettuce. Subject to the recall is 15 types of packaged lettuce and salad kits. The products bear "best by" dates as recent as April 5 and were sold in Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. Affected retailers were instructed to remove all recalled products from store shelves. The products were sold to the following businesses: SpartanNash stores, Meijer stores, Bridge St. Market, Kingma's Market, Fresh Thyme Market Grand Rapids, Fresh Thyme Market Kalamazoo, Horrocks Market Grand Rapids, Doorganics, Cherry Capital Foods, Gordon Food Service, Van Eerden Foodservice, Vine Line Produce, Luna restaurant, Russ' Commissary and Pearson Foods Corporation. "Consumers who have purchased the recalled products should discard them or return them to their place of purchase for a full refund," the announcement read. Questions were directed to Revolution Farms President Trent Hartwig at (616) 893-1748 or email info@revolutionfarms.com with the subject line: Recall. Sheriff ARRESTS, CITATIONS Daniel L. Brown, 37, of 1054 S. East St. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 2:37 p.m. Tuesday on a probation violation. Zachary L. Wartenbe, 25, of 3233 Buckner St., Springfield, was booked into the Morgan County jail at 8:58 p.m. Sunday on a domestic battery charge. Jacksonville Police ARRESTS, CITATIONS Kyle M. Hunnicutt, 37, of 1024 S. Clay Ave. was arrested at 12:01 a.m. Thursday in the 200 block of Westminster Street on a charge of possession of methamphetamine. Carisa L. Campbell, 43, of 819 W. College Ave. was arrested at 12:01 a.m. Thursday in the 200 block of Westminster Street on a charge of possession of methamphetamine. Eric D. Givens, 23, of 1110 S. Grand West St., Springfield, was arrested at 12:25 a.m. Thursday in the 800 block of Hardin Avenue on a charge of resisting a peace officer related to a June 5 incident in the 100 block of East Chambers Street in which someone ran from police investigating an altercation. Aleigha S. Merritt, 20, of Jacksonville was cited on a charge of driving while license is suspended after being stopped at 12:25 a.m. Thursday in the 800 block of Hardin Avenue. Bryan T. Edwards, 36, homeless, was arrested at 7:41 p.m. Wednesday on a Morgan County warrant accusing him of failing to appear in court on a criminal trespassing charge. He was arrested after police were called to Knights Inn, 1111 E. Morton Ave., about someone refusing to leave the property, according to reports. Richard S. Burton, 41, of 203 W. Simmons St., Roodhouse, was arrested at 8:40 p.m. Tuesday in the 1700 block of West Morton Avenue on a Pike County warrant accusing him of failing to appear in court on charges of bringing contraband into a penal institution, delivery of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine and possession of a controlled substance. ACCIDENTS Charles R. Hyatt, 70, of Jacksonville was cited on a charge of improper lane use after his vehicle and one being driven by Emily R. Foster, 18, of Timewell collided at 1:51 p.m. Wednesday on Massey Lane and West Morton Avenue. THEFTS, BURGLARIES A firearm was stolen between 6 p.m. March 31 and 2 p.m. Wednesday from a residence in the 200 block of Sandusky Street. Belongings including a phone charger and wallet were taken between 5 p.m. Tuesday and 5 a.m. Wednesday from a vehicle in the 100 block of Diamond Court. OTHER REPORTS Several juveniles caused a disturbance at a residence in the 1000 block of East Morton Avenue by trying to start a fight, according to a report filed at 5:24 p.m. Wednesday. The group left before police arrived, according to the report. South Jacksonville Police ARRESTS, CITATIONS Shayne J. Savage, 41, of 800 Illinois Ave. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 9:19 a.m. Wednesday on a charge of driving while license is revoked or suspended. Sheila M. Taylor, 43, of 517 Labor Drive was booked into the Morgan County jail at 3:21 p.m. Sunday on a domestic battery charge. Christopher L. Sawyer, 37, of 800 Hoagland Blvd. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 7:14 p.m. March 31 on a domestic battery charge. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) Peter Olphert was 14 when Irish Republican Army gunmen killed his father. Forty years later, he says its time to set aside the past. Mark Thompson lost his brother to British Army bullets, another victim of the Troubles that wracked Northern Ireland for three decades. He thinks society can't move forward until it confronts unfinished business and holds some of those responsible to account. This month marks 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement largely ended bloodshed that left 3,600 people dead, some 50,000 wounded and thousands bereaved. Northern Ireland is observing the anniversary with a reunion of key peace process players and a visit from U.S. President Joe Biden. The peace accord may have stopped the fighting, but deep divisions remain over the conflicts legacy making it hard for some of Northern Irelands 1.9 million people to move past it. And Britain's exit from the European Union has only complicated matters, creating political tensions that have rattled the foundations of the peace agreement. It is time, in my opinion, to draw a line in the sand and move forward, said Olphert, who recently retired after 30 years as a police officer the same job held by his father John Olphert, who was shot dead by masked gunmen in 1983 in the familys shop. In some ways, Olphert made the decision to move on years ago. He said it would have been very easy for him, as a grieving teenager, to join one of the pro-British loyalist militias waging war against Irish republican militants in a neighbor-on-neighbor conflict that also drew in the British military. There was that invitation there, lets just say, that I should follow that certain path and get revenge. But that was never for me, he said. The more you perpetuate what happened in the past, the more generations are going to have that bitterness. But Thompson argued that for many bereaved families, moving on is not so simple and moving on without fully grappling with the past could inadvertently set the stage for more conflict. After his brother Peter was shot dead by undercover British soldiers in Belfast in 1990, he co-founded Relatives for Justice, a group that campaigns to uncover the truth about killings involving U.K. security forces, for which there have been few prosecutions. To say that we draw a line under that means that we dont learn the lessons of it, Thompson said. The lesson of any society emerging from conflict is you cant sweep it under the carpet because ... it really reinvigorates some of the grievances that lead to further conflict. Ending the Troubles meant balancing competing identities in Northern Ireland, which remained in the United Kingdom when the rest of Ireland won independence a century ago. Irish nationalists in the north most of them Catholic seek union with the Republic of Ireland, while largely Protestant unionists want to stay part of the U.K. The Good Friday Agreement, struck on April 10, 1998, after almost two years of U.S.-backed talks, committed armed groups to stop fighting, ended direct British rule and set up a Northern Ireland legislature and government with power shared between unionist and nationalist parties. Today we have just a sense of the prize that is before us, then-British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on the day the deal was agreed. The work to win that prize goes on. We cannot, we must not let it slip. The peace accord succeeded far better than many expected, despite occasional attacks by dissident armed groups that last month prompted U.K. authorities to raise Northern Irelands terrorism threat level to severe, meaning an attack is highly likely. During the Troubles, downtown Belfast was a ghost town at night, surrounded by a security ring of steel. Now busy pubs, hip cafes and microbreweries dot the Victorian streets. A gleaming new campus for Ulster University is helping revive the scarred city center. Steve Malone, a guide who leads walking tours focused on Belfasts bloody past, said people know really only two things when you say Belfast they think of the Troubles and they think of Titanic, the doomed ocean liner built in the citys shipyard. Its a hugely different place now, he said. Even in the physical infrastructure. We now have a transport system that connects the western, Catholic-dominated side of the city with the eastern, Protestant-dominated side. That did not happen during the conflict. But the threat of violence has never completely disappeared, and Katy Hayward, professor of political sociology at Queens University Belfast, said one goal of the peace agreement has been neglected: reconciliation. She said the deal placed emphasis on releasing prisoners jailed for taking part in the conflict and reintegrating them into society. As a result, former militants "remain powerful and influential in their communities, often to the exclusion of peacebuilders. We never properly dealt with the causes of the situation in which violence is still glorified in some communities, Hayward said. A plan by the U.K. government to end prosecutions of both militants and British soldiers for alleged crimes committed during the Troubles would only further bury hopes of holding perpetrators to account. It has been met with widespread opposition. The possibility of violence is the reason fortified 25-foot- (8-meter-) high peace walls still separate some nationalist and unionist neighborhoods in Belfast. Rival murals of masked IRA fighters and gun-toting loyalist militants adorn streets on either side. Britains departure from the European Union, which left Northern Ireland poised uneasily between the rest of Britain and EU member Ireland, has also upset a delicate political balance, including the power-sharing system set up by the peace accord. The Northern Ireland Assembly has not sat for more than a year, after the main unionist party pulled out of the government to protest new trade rules for Northern Ireland brought in after Brexit. Some argue that the power-sharing structure no longer works in a changing Northern Ireland, where more than 40% of people reject the old sectarian labels and identify as neither nationalist nor unionist. Catholics now outnumber Protestants for the first time, and the question of whether in the long run Northern Ireland will remain part of the U.K. or join the south the issue that fueled the Troubles remains unresolved. The Good Friday Agreement authorizes a referendum on Irish unification if polls ever indicate it would likely pass. Its an imperfect peace in many regards, Thompson said. (But) there are thousands of people that are probably spared injury and bereavement and imprisonment today because of the agreement. Olphert said his children, now in their 20s, grew up in a society transformed from the divided and dangerous place he once knew. They have no sense of what it was like, and I dont ever want them to have a sense of what it was like, because its in the past, he said. The Troubles is now history to the generation of children growing up now. And thats good." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate JERUSALEM (AP) Israel launched rare strikes in southern Lebanon early Friday and pressed on with bombing targets in the Gaza Strip, marking a widening escalation in the region following violence this week at Jerusalems most sensitive holy site. The cross-border fighting erupted during a time of heightened religious fervor when Jews are celebrating the Passover holiday and Muslims are marking the Ramadan holy month. In 2021, an escalation also triggered by clashes at Jerusalems Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, spilled over into an 11-day war between Israel and Gazas Hamas rulers. Friday's strikes in southern Lebanon came a day after militants fired nearly three dozen rockets from there at Israel, wounding two people and causing some property damage. The Israeli military said it targeted installations of Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, in southern Lebanon. Associated Press correspondents in the area said several missiles fired by Israeli warplanes struck an open field in the town of Qalili near the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh, close to the coastal southern city of Tyre, while others struck a bridge and power transformer in the nearby town of Maaliya and a farm on the outskirts of Rashidiyeh, killing several sheep. No human deaths were reported. Israeli strikes in Lebanon risk drawing Lebanon's Hezbollah militia into the fighting, which could lead to war. The Iran-backed group, armed with thousands of rockets and missiles, holds sway over much of southern Lebanon and is viewed by Israel as a bitter foe. The Israeli military was careful to note in its announcement about Fridays attack that it was targeting only sites linked to Palestinian militants. In recent years, Hezbollah has stayed out of other flareups related to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which stands on a hilltop revered by Muslims and Jews. In Jerusalem before dawn prayers on Friday, violence erupted again at the hilltop compound as Israeli police stationed at one of the gates forcibly dispersed vast crowds of worshippers who chanted praise for Hamas while pushing their way into the limestone courtyard. Videos from the scene showed police beating large groups of Palestinian men with sticks until they stumbled backward, falling and knocking down vendors tables. The head of the U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon, Maj. Gen. Aroldo Lazaro, said he was in contact with Israeli and Lebanese authorities early Friday. The force, known as UNIFIL, said that both sides have said they do not want war. Meanwhile, Israeli air strikes on Gaza resumed early Friday, after militants fired more rockets from the blockaded territory, setting off air raid sirens in the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon. The military said targets included the entry shaft to an underground network used for weapons manufacturing. The current round of violence began Wednesday after Israeli police twice raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalems Old City. That led Thursday to rocket fire from Gaza and, in a significant escalation, the rocket barrage from Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his Security Cabinet for a three-hour meeting late Thursday. Israels response, tonight and beyond, will extract a heavy price from our enemies, he said in a statement after the meeting. Almost immediately, Palestinian militants in Gaza began firing rockets into southern Israel, setting off air raid sirens across the region. Loud explosions could be heard in Gaza from the Israeli strikes, as outgoing rockets whooshed into the skies toward Israel. For now, Palestinian militants have fired only short-range rockets from Gaza, rather than the long-range projectiles that can reach as far as Tel Aviv and typically invite harsher Israeli retaliation. The Israeli military said the rocket fire on its northern and southern fronts was carried out by Palestinian militants in connection to this weeks violence at Al-Aqsa where Israeli police stormed into the building with tear gas and stun grenades to confront Palestinians barricaded inside on two straight days. The violent scenes from the mosque ratcheted up tensions across the region. In a briefing with reporters, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, said the army drew a clear connection between the Lebanese rocket fire and the recent unrest in Jerusalem. Its a Palestinian-oriented event, he said, adding that either the Hamas or Islamic Jihad militant groups, which are based in Gaza but also operate in Lebanon, could be involved. But he said the army believed that Hezbollah and the Lebanese government were aware of what happened and also held responsibility. The mosque the third-holiest site in Islam stands on a hilltop revered by Jews as the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism. The competing claims to the site have repeatedly spilled over into violence over the years. No faction in Lebanon claimed responsibility for the salvo of rockets. A Lebanese security official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to media, said the countrys security forces believed the rockets were launched by a Lebanon-based Palestinian militant group, not by Hezbollah. Lebanons caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, condemned the firing of rockets from Lebanon, adding that Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers were investigating and trying to find the perpetrators. Mikati said his government categorically rejects any military escalation and the use of Lebanese territories to stage acts that threaten stability. Hezbollah has condemned the Israeli police raids in Jerusalem. Both Israel and Hezbollah have avoided an all-out conflict since a 34-day war in 2006 ended in a draw. The current escalation comes against the backdrop of Netanyahu's domestic problems. For the past three months, hundreds of thousands of Israelis have been demonstrating against his plans to overhaul the countrys judicial system, claiming it will lead the country toward authoritarianism. Key military units, including fighter pilots, have threatened to stop reporting for duty if the overhaul is passed, drawing a warning from Defense Minister Yoav Gallant that Israels national security could be harmed by the divisive plan. Netanyahu said he was firing Gallant, but then backtracked as he put the overhaul on hold for several weeks. Critics could also accuse him of trying to use the crisis to divert attention from his domestic woes. Netanyahu said that the domestic divisions had no impact on national security and that the country would remain united in the face of external threats. Tensions have simmered along the Lebanese border as Israel appears to have ratcheted up its shadow war against Iranian-linked targets in Syria, another close ally of Iran, Israels archenemy in the region. Suspected Israeli airstrikes in Syria in recent weeks have killed two Iranian military advisers and temporarily put the countrys two largest airports out of service. Hecht, the military spokesman, said Thursdays rocket fire was not believed to be connected to events in Syria. In Washington, the principal deputy State Department spokesman, Vedant Patel, said, Israel has legitimate security concerns and has every right to defend themselves. But he also urged calm in Jerusalem, saying that any unilateral action that jeopardizes the status quo to us is unacceptable, he said. In Jerusalem, the situation remained tense at Al-Aqsa. For the previous two nights, Palestinians barricaded themselves in the mosque with stones and firecrackers. Worshippers have been demanding the right to pray overnight inside the mosque which authorities typically only permit during the last 10 days of the monthlong Ramadan holiday. They also have stayed in the mosque in protest over threats by religious Jews to carry out a ritual animal slaughter at the sacred site for Passover. Israel did not try to prevent people from spending the night in the mosque early Friday apparently because it was the weekend, when Jews do not visit the compound. But tensions could re-ignite Sunday when Jewish visits resume. Israel bars ritual slaughter on the site, but calls by Jewish extremists to revive the practice, including offers of cash rewards to anyone who even attempts to bring an animal into the compound, have amplified fears among Muslims that Israel is plotting to take over the site In this weeks violence, Israeli police fired stun grenades and rubber bullets to evict worshippers who had locked the doors of the building. Palestinians hurled stones and fireworks at officers. After a few hours of scuffles that left a trail of damage, police managed to drag everyone out of the compound. Police fiercely beat Palestinians and arrested over 400 people. Israeli authorities control access to the area but the compound is administered by Islamic and Jordanian officials. The violence at the site has resonated across the region, with condemnations pouring in from Muslim leaders. ___ Akram reported from Gaza City, Gaza Strip. Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue in Beirut also contributed. A bipartisan group of senators is looking to free up more assistance for Ukraine by pushing the Pentagon to reassess its requirements for a potential war with Russias now-degraded military. Four Senate Armed Services Committee members sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin urging his department to undertake an urgent and comprehensive update to its warfighting requirements for confronting Russia in Europe. As the senators noted, Russias military has lost enormous quantities of men and materiel during its war in Ukraine. While Moscow could theoretically still mount a relatively small-scale attack against NATO in Eastern Europe, the Russian military will likely need years to restore its pre-war strength. Yet, the Department of Defense has not reassessed its European theater warfighting requirements since Russias invasion of Ukraine and does not anticipate significantly changing them until FY2026, the senators asserted. For months, Pentagon officials have pointed to Russia-related munitions requirements to justify the Biden administrations decision not to provide certain munitions to Kyiv, causing frustration on Capitol Hill. In December, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Defense Department would review its requirements. But the senators letter suggests that the assessment hasnt taken place. U.S. officials have falsely claimed the American military cannot spare any Army Tactical Missile Systems. This system would allow Ukrainian forces to strike high-value Russian military targets far beyond the range of their current rocket artillery, degrading Russias ability to resist Ukraines coming counteroffensive. The administrations contention seems intended to cover for the White Houses true reason not to send them to Kyiv: fear of Russian escalation. Pentagon officials have reportedly also said that war-fighting requirements restrict donations of other munitions, including 155mm artillery shells, on which Ukraine is running desperately low. This concern seems more understandable. Having already pledged more than 1.5 million 155mm shells to Kyiv, Washingtons stockpiles are dwindling. But given the degraded state of Russias military, which has also depleted its own artillery ammunition stocks, the United States may have more room to spare especially since Ukraine would use the shells to further attrit Russian forces. The Pentagon intends to increase shell production more than fivefold by 2025, allowing the United States to replenish its stockpile. Numerous Russian military bloggers and war correspondents are reporting that Moscow has fired Col.-General Rustam Muradov, commander of Russias Vostok (or East) Group of Forces, which is fighting in parts of Ukraines Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. Russias Ministry of Defense hasnt confirmed whether Muradov was dismissed. If he was, he would join a long list of Russian generals fired during the war. Vostok is one of Moscows four groupings of forces fighting in Ukraine, each roughly corresponding to Russias eastern, western, central and southern military districts. Muradov assumed command of the Vostok grouping last July after beginning the war as deputy commander of Russias Southern Military District (SMD). Russian sources say Lt. Gen. Andrey Kuzmenko, who reportedly took Muradovs place as SMD deputy commander, is now interim commander of the Vostok grouping. Russian military bloggers, and troops under Muradovs command, have criticized him for stubbornly throwing forces into costly battles for little to no gain. Rather than firing Muradov, Moscow initially did the opposite. He received a promotion in February, gaining a third star on his shoulder. Some Russian military bloggers have held him up as a poster child for systemic problems in the Russian militarys command culture. Now, it seems Moscows patience may have finally run out. Only time will tell whether Muradovs successor proves more successful on the battlefield or more responsive to his troops. But neither the Kremlin nor Vostoks rank and file should hold their breath. YEREVAN, APRIL 7, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan and the U.S. Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary for Global Markets Arun Venkataraman co-chaired the meeting of the Working Group of Economy and Energy as part of the Armenia-U.S. Strategic Dialogue in Yerevan, the foreign ministry said in a press release. Government officials from the Armenian foreign ministry, territorial administration and infrastructures ministry, high-tech industry ministry, as well as American government officials from the Department of Trade and the State Department participated in the meeting. In his remarks, Deputy FM Hovhannisyan praised the Armenia-U.S. partnership anchored on common democratic values, human rights and the rule of law. Furthering the Armenian-American partnership aimed at promoting common welfare and ensuring stability and peace in the region was highlighted. The opportunities for deepening cooperation in trade, investments, energy and high technologies, improvement of the business environment and implementation of joint programs were discussed. The sides outlined the priorities of upcoming work and planned actions. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Murder most foul, cries the ghost of Hamlets father to explain his own killing in Shakespeares play. We shudder in the United States when yet more children are slain by deranged shooters. Yet, we are determined to keep a ready supply of AR-15-type assault rifles on hand to facilitate the crazy when the insanity seizes them. The murder in Nashville of three 9-year-olds and three adults should have us at the barricades, yelling bloody murder. Enough! Never again! But we have mustered a national shrug, concluding that nothing can be done. Clearly, something can be done; something like reviving the assault rifle ban, which expired after 10 years of statistically proven success. We are culpable. We think our invented entitlement to own these weapons, designed for war, is a divine right, outdistancing reason, compassion and any possible form of control. The blame rests primarily on something in American exceptionalism that loves guns. I mostly understand that; I like them, as I write from time to time. I also like fast cars, small airplanes, strong drinks, and other hair-raising things. But society has said these need controls from speed limits to flying instruction and has severe penalties for mixing the first two with the last. Those controls make sense. We abide by them. Regarding that other great national indulgence guns society has said safety doesnt count. So far this year, more than 10,000 people have been killed in gun violence. If that were the number of fatalities from disease, we would again be in lockdown. We have concocted this sacred right to keep and use guns. To ensure this, the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution has been manhandled by lawyers into being a justification for putting something deadly out of the reach of social control or even rudimentary discipline. The latest school shooting has raised our hackles, but not our capacity to act. This national shrug at something that can be fixed is a stain on the body politic. Most of the conservative wing of the establishment, represented by the Republican Party, has dismissed it as one might a natural disaster. But the routine murder of innocents in school shootings is a man-made disaster. Worse, it is sanctified by a particular interpretation of the Second Amendment. It is an interpretation that has demanded, and continues to demand, legal contortionism. This is used to justify the citizenry owning and using weapons of war. This latest school shooting, which happened in this young year, was shocking, but the political reaction was more shocking. President Biden wrung his hands and said nothing could be done without the support of Congress thus endorsing a national fatalism. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina suggested more police officers in schools, and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, said teachers needed to be armed. His children are home-schooled. In personal life and in national life, perceived impossibility is hugely debilitating. Imagine if the Founding Fathers had said the British Empire was too strong to challenge, if FDR had said America couldnt rise against the forces of the economic chaos of the 1930s, or if Margaret Thatcher had said British trade unions were too strong to be opposed? These are incidents where perceived reality was, with struggle, trounced for the general good. Guns, along with drugs, are the largest killer of young people. They arent unrelated. Unregulated guns find their way to the drug gangs of Central America, facilitating the flow of drugs. On the Senate floor, the chambers longtime chaplain, retired Rear Adm. Barry C. Black, took on the pusillanimous members of his flock after the Nashville murders, quoting the 18th century Anglo-Irish statesman Edmund Burkes admonition, The only thing needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. Indubitably. The Environmental Protection Agency in mid-March announced its first set of federal limits on the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) in drinking water. Recent headlines show why the EPA is taking a clean drinking water approach to how PFAs is regulated in the United States. That said, the EPAs proposed limits, which are essentially near zero, no more than 4 parts per trillion for both perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, are a radical departure from the limits established by other health agencies and are at odds with the Food and Drug Administrations assessment on PFAs exposure. Take, for example, how the EPAs new limits compare to New York state, the World Health Organization or the Canadian government, none known for being reckless regarding health guidelines and precautions. New Yorks guidelines for PFAs exposure and drinking water, at 10 parts per trillion, is 2.5 times higher than the EPAs new limit. The World Health Organizations proposed limit is 25 times higher than the EPA at 100 parts per trillion. At the same time, Canadas guidelines are 50 times higher for perfluorooctanoic acid and 150 times higher for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid. The huge variations in exposure guidelines suggest there is much work to be done when it comes to what the appropriate thresholds are to ensure that drinking water is safe. And unfortunately, that confusion only worsens when you factor in how the FDA perceives PFAs exposure and its associated risks. The FDA, the regulatory body responsible for ensuring that pharmaceuticals and medical devices work and that their health benefits outweigh their known risks, has continuously approved both drugs and devices containing PFAs. Most dont know that the medical community relies heavily on PFAs products. Take, for example, medical implants like vascular grafts, stent grafts, surgical meshes, catheter tubes/wire and heart patches. It is estimated that 8% to 10% of Americans have implantable medical devices, many of which rely on PFAs and are approved by the FDA. In fact, the implantable medical devices market, valued at $72.2 billion, is expected to grow significantly as the American population ages. Drugs containing PFAs, again approved by the FDA, include but are not limited to tachyarrhythmias (flecainide), antidepressants (fluoextine), non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (celecoxib), antibiotics (levofloxacin), rheumatoid arthritis therapeutics (leflunomide), cholesterol-lowering agents (atorvastin) and COVID-19 antivirals such as Paxlovid. For all those drugs and devices, the notoriously over-cautious FDA has clearly stated that whatever PFAs exposure exists with these products, they are safe to the point where the benefits far outweigh the risks. Simply put, the presence of PFAs for these drugs and devices passes a safety check and a cost-benefit analysis. This leads to some serious questions regarding how the EPA arrived at its near-zero threshold and why its assessment is at odds with other government agencies, global health bodies and their colleagues at the FDA. And that doesnt even address the externalities of hard-line policies on PFAs. The EPAs guidelines, alongside legislative efforts like the PFAs Action Act, could seriously jeopardize American capacity to produce lifesaving drugs and devices and seriously undercut the United States ability to domestically produce semiconductors. These chemicals are vital for the production of semiconductors, predominantly the use of coolant, and if the EPA and Congress continue down this path, consumers will be in a world of trouble. We know this is a predictable outcome because this is precisely what happened in Europe, where officials in Belgium paused production at a chemical plant in response to the tightening of environmental regulations. Reporting by Business Korea highlighted that semiconductor producers had only 30 to 90 days of coolant inventory left before they would encounter serious production problems. Rather than doing what appears to be guesswork on safe levels of PFAs exposure, the EPA should instead consult its colleagues domestically and abroad, come to a clear consensus on where and when risks may arise, and regulate from there, taking into account the costs and benefits of their policy suggestions. STEPANAKERT, APRIL 7, ARMENPRESS. The Artsakh Mothers Club organized a peaceful demonstration on April 7 in Stepanakert, where hundreds of women marched towards the blockaded section of the road leading to Shushi. The demonstration called for respecting the right to self-determination and fundamental rights of the Armenians of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh), opening of the only road linking Artsakh with Armenia which has been closed for already 117 days and preventing Azerbaijans genocidal policy. Participants of the demonstration first visited the Stepanakert Military Pantheon-Memorial, where they honored the fallen troops. Mariam Abrahamyan, a woman from Nagorno Karabakh and a mother of three children, told ARMENPRESS that women in Nagorno Karabakh "wake up every day with the fear of war, becoming a widow or losing a child". The absence of gas supply, the power outages and food shortages that our children are facing for a long time now arent as concerning as this uncertainty and the policy of Azerbaijan which is getting worse day by day, she said. We, women of Artsakh, will not be silent, we will struggle. We owe our sons, we wont allow the depopulation of Armenians in Armenian land. Unfortunately this is the only way to raise our voice to the world. We will not surrender, our will is unbreakable. The people of Artsakh made their decision in 1988, by severing ties with aggressor Azerbaijan, and there is no turning back. As long as we stand here, as long as we speak Armenian and have our own national religion and symbols, Artsakh will not be part of Azerbaijan, she said, adding that while women in other countries around the world are concerned about career and personal welfare, in a parallel reality women in Artsakh are concerned of their very existence. Kristine Balayan, another participant of the demonstration, said the world must hear the voice of Artsakh. We have the right to life and the world must hear us. Our children have the right to freedom of movement, but aggressor Aliyev has closed the road of life and tries to decide who can pass. The world must stand by our side, the international community must extend a helping hand to one another because life is a boomerang, if this happens to someone else then no one will stand by them again, Balayan added. China sanctions Reagan library, others over Tsais US trip View Photo TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) China retaliated for the United States House speakers meeting with the Taiwanese president by announcing sanctions Friday against the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and other organizations, adding to strains over the self-governed island democracy Beijing claims as part of its territory. Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy held talks Wednesday with President Tsai Ing-wen at the Reagan library in Simi Valley, California, in defiance of Chinese warnings. McCarthy joined a growing series of foreign legislators who have met Tsai in a show of support for Taiwan in the face of Chinese intimidation. U.S.-Chinese relations have sunk to their lowest level in decades due to disputes over the status of Taiwan, which split with China in 1949 after a civil war, as well as security, technology and Beijings treatment of Hong Kong and Muslim ethnic minorities. The mainlands ruling Communist Party says Taiwan is destined to reunite with China, by force if necessary, and has no right to conduct foreign relations. President Xi Jinpings government says contact with foreign officials will encourage Taiwanese who want formal independence, a step Beijing says would lead to war. Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the Reagan library and the Hudson Institute, a Washington think tank, were sanctioned for providing a platform and convenience to Taiwan separatist activities. It said Chinese institutions were prohibited from having any cooperation or contact with them. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute is proud of its decision to host a bipartisan meeting between Members of the United States House of Representatives, led by Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and Tsai Ing-wen, the President of Taiwan, and her delegation, said a statement Friday by David Trulio, president and CEO of the foundation, which sustains the library. We will not shy away from living up to President Reagans expectation that the library bearing his name be a dynamic intellectual forum, he said. Hudson Institute President John P. Walters said in a statement that Chinas Communist Party has a long history of attempting to silence voices, domestically and abroad, that oppose its international aggression and its oppression of the Chinese people. It has not worked before and it will not work now. We stand firmly with Taiwan and against the CCP and its ruthless, genocidal policies. Tsai accepted a leadership award from the Hudson Institute as part of her U.S. trip and gave a speech about Taiwans challenges in regional security. The ministry also cited Walters; Sarah May Stern, chair of the Hudson Institute board of directors; John Heubusch, former executive director of the Reagan Foundation, and Joanne M. Drake, the foundations chief administrator. The ministry said they were barred from visiting China and any property or financial assets belonging to them in China would be frozen. We will take resolute measures to punish the Taiwan independence separatist forces and their actions, and resolutely safeguard our countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Chinese Cabinets Taiwan Affairs Office said in a statement Thursday. China has stepped up efforts to intimidate Taiwan by flying fighter jets and firing missiles into the sea nearby on a near-daily basis. The pressure campaign has left many concerned about the possibility of an invasion. Tsai remained firm in her stance of increasing Taiwans global engagement upon her return to Taiwan on Friday night. We have shown the international community that when we face pressure and threats, Taiwan will be more united, she said. We will never give in because we are suppressed, nor will we stop communicating with the world because we are hindered. On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that in recent years, we have seen: For the Chinese leadership, the status quo that brought peace and stability to the Taiwan Strait for decades is no longer acceptable. This has led China to increase pressure and coercive means against Taiwan. The United States government has no official relations with Taiwan but maintains extensive informal and commercial ties. Washington is required by federal law to ensure the island has the means to defend itself if attacked by China. We are sticking to our One China policy. But we are equipping Taiwan with what it needs to defend itself against any form of aggression. We are taking that very seriously, Blinken told German newspaper group Funke Mediengruppe and French newspaper Ouest-France in remarks published Friday that have been retranslated back to English. McCarthys predecessor as speaker, Nancy Pelosi, flew to Taiwan in August and met Tsai. Legislators from European parliaments have also visited the island. Meanwhile, another congressional delegation landed Thursday in Taiwan and is to meet with Tsai on Saturday. Additionally, two groups in Asia the Prospect Foundation and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats were sanctioned for their involvement in promoting Taiwan independence under the guise of academic and research exchanges, said Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian. The Prospect Foundation is a government-funded Taiwanese think tank that works on dialogue and cooperation on issues related to Taiwans security, economy and social development. The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats is a regional organization established in Thailand that promotes exchanges among liberal and democratic political parties in Asia, including Taiwans Democratic Progressive Party, which is a member. Separately, the Taiwan Affairs Office also announced further sanctions on Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwans representative in the United States. The ban on Hsiao does not appear to be substantively different from the ban enacted on her when Pelosi visited Taiwan. China had announced sanctions on a list of individuals from the DPP and ruling administration, including Hsiao. Then it banned the individuals, their family members and related organizations from traveling or operating in China, including Hong Kong. Fridays announcement said any financial sponsors of Hsiao are also included. ___ Associated Press writers Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin, Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington, D.C., and Robert Jablon in Los Angeles contributed to this report. By HUIZHONG WU Associated Press SKorea, US, Japan call for support of ban on NKorea workers View Photo SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Korea, the U.S. and Japan called for stronger international support of efforts to ban North Korea from sending workers abroad and curb the Norths cybercrimes as a way to block the countrys means to fund its nuclear program. The top South Korean, U.S. and Japanese nuclear envoys met in Seoul on Friday in their first gathering in four months to discuss how to cope with North Koreas growing nuclear arsenal. The Norths recent weapons tests show it is intent on acquiring more advanced missiles designed to attack the U.S. and its allies, rather than returning to talks. Despite 11 rounds of U.N. sanctions and pandemic-related hardships that have worsened its economic and food problems, North Korea still devotes much of its scarce resources to its nuclear and missile programs. Contributing to financing its weapons program is also likely the Norths crypto hacking and other illicit cyber activities and the wages sent by North Korean workers remaining in China, Russia and elsewhere despite an earlier U.N. order to repatriate them by the end of 2019, experts say. In a joint statement, the South Korean, U.S. and Japanese envoys urged the international community to thoroughly abide by U.N. resolutions on the banning of North Korean workers overseas, according to Seouls Foreign Ministry. The ministry said a large number of North Korean workers remains engaged in economic activities around the world and transmits money that is used in the Norths weapons programs. It said the three envoys tried to call attention to the North Korean workers because the North may further reopen its international borders as the global COVID-19 situation improves. It is not known exactly how many North Korean workers remain abroad. But before the 2019 U.N. deadline passed, the U.S. State Department had estimated there were about 100,000 North Koreans working in factories, construction sites, logging industries and other places worldwide. Civilian experts had said that those workers brought North Korea an estimated $200 million to $500 million in revenue each year. We need to make sure that its provocations never go unpunished. We will effectively counter North Koreas future provocations and cut their revenue streams that fund these illegal activities, Kim Gunn, the South Korean envoy, said in televised comments at the start of the meeting. Sung Kim, the U.S. envoy, said that with its nuclear and missile programs and malicious cyber program that targets countries and individuals around the globe, North Korea threatens the security and prosperity of the entire international community. South Koreas spy agency said in December that North Korean hackers had stolen an estimated 1.5 trillion won ($1.2 billion) in cryptocurrency and other virtual assets in the past five years, more than half of it last year alone. The National Intelligence Service said North Koreas capacity to steal digital assets was considered among the best in the world because it has focused on cybercrimes since U.N. economic sanctions were toughened in 2017 in response to its earlier nuclear and missile tests. Fridays trilateral meeting will likely infuriate North Korea, which has previously warned that the three countries moves to boost their security cooperation prompted urgent calls to reinforce its own military capability. North Korea has long argued the U.N. sanctions and U.S.-led military exercises in the region are proof of Washingtons hostility against Pyongyang. The North has said it was compelled to develop nuclear weapons to deal with U.S. military threats, though U.S. and South Korean officials have steadfastly said they have no intention of invading the North. Earlier this week, the United States conducted anti-submarine naval drills with South Korean and Japanese forces in their first such training in six months. The U.S. also flew nuclear-capable bombers for separate, bilateral aerial training with South Korean warplanes. North Korea hasnt performed weapons tests in reaction to those U.S.-involved drills. But last month, it carried out a barrage of missile tests to protest the earlier South Korean-U.S. military training that it sees as an invasion rehearsal. Takehiro Funakoshi, the Japanese envoy, said North Koreas recent weapons tests and fiery rhetoric pose a grave threat to the region and beyond. Under such circumstances, our three countries have significantly deepened our coordination, he said. Sung Kim reiterated that Washington seeks diplomacy with Pyongyang without preconditions. North Korea has previously rejected such overtures, saying it wont restart talks unless Washington first drops its hostile policies, in an apparent reference to the sanctions and U.S.-South Korean military drills. Many experts say North Korea would still eventually use its enlarged weapons arsenal to seek U.S. concessions such as the lifting of the sanctions in future negotiations. There are concerns that North Korea could conduct its first nuclear test in more than five years, since it unveiled a new type of nuclear warhead last week. Foreign experts debate whether North Korea has developed warheads small and light enough to fit on missiles. By HYUNG-JIN KIM Associated Press Afghan women-run radio resumes broadcasts after shutdown View Photo ISLAMABAD (AP) A women-run radio station in northeastern Afghanistan has resumed its broadcasts, after officials shut it down for a week for playing music during the holy month of Ramadan, a Taliban official and the head of the station said Friday. Sadai Banowan, which means womens voice in Dari, was launched 10 years ago in Badakhshan province and is Afghanistans only women-run radio station. Six of its eight staff members are women. Moezuddin Ahmadi, the director for Information and Culture in Badakhshan, said the station was allowed to resume activities on Thursday after it had obeyed the laws and regulations of the Islamic Emirate and agreed to stop broadcasting any kind of music. Station head Najia Sorosh said after the station gave a commitment to officials at the information and culture department, they unlocked the door of the station, and they started broadcasting again. The Afghan Journalist Safety Committee, an Afghan watchdog organization that promotes the safety of journalists and press freedom and which was involved in mediation for the stations reopening, welcomed the resumption of broadcasts. Following AJSCs advocacy efforts, Sadia Banowan radio resumed its broadcasts, it said in a tweet. Representatives from the Ministry of Information and Culture and the Vice and Virtue Directorate had shut down the station a week earlier. Many journalists lost their jobs after the Taliban takeover in August 2021. Media outlets closed over a lack of funds or because staff left the country, according to the Afghan Independent Journalists Association. The Taliban have barred women from most forms of employment and education beyond the sixth grade, including university. There is no official ban on music. During their previous rule in the late 1990s, the Taliban barred most television, radio and newspapers in the country. Tribe warns US government against moving ahead with mine View Photo PHOENIX (AP) Native American tribal members fighting plans for an enormous copper mine on land they consider sacred say they are increasingly worried U.S. officials will publish an environmental review paving the way for the project even as they await a federal appeals court ruling in the case. A U.S. government attorney said during last months hearing of a full panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that the final environmental impact study for construction of the mine at Oak Flat, Arizona, could be published this spring. San Carlos Apache Tribe Chairman Terry Rambler said during a visit last week that U.S. Forest Service officials confirmed plans to push forward on publication of the environmental analysis. That step would kick off a 60-day period culminating in a land swap allowing the project to go forward. Obliterating Oak Flat for a copper mine will be a grave human rights violation against Indigenous people and an environmental catastrophe, Rambler said in a written statement this week. The Biden Administrations commitment to Indian Country will be seriously eroded if it approves this mine. Apache Stronghold, a group composed of San Carlos Apache members and others, wants to halt the land swap while the case plays out in court. The panel of 11 judges on the appeals court is expected to issue a decision in the next few months. Apache Stronghold sued the U.S. government under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to protect the land known as Chichil Bildagoteel, an area of ancient oaks and traditional plants the San Carlos Apaches consider important for their ceremonies at Oak Flat in the Tonto National Forest about 70 miles (110 kilometers) east of Phoenix. The Forest Service is now revising the environmental analysis, which is expected to be completed in the coming months, national press officer Wade Muehlhof said Friday in a written response to emailed queries about the agencys plans. He wrote that the Forest Service has committed to providing at least 60 days notice before any future environmental analysis and Draft Record Of Decision (DROD) for the Land Exchange and Project is issued. Muehlhof also said consultation with tribal members is ongoing, including a planned April 25 meeting. Representatives of the Resolution Copper mining company said they were unaware of the meeting or any plans by the agency. U.S. Rep. Raul M. Grijalva, a Democrat who represents southern Arizona, has introduced legislation aimed at halting the project. He urged Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack this week to continue withholding publication of the environmental review. If allowed to proceed, Resolution Copper would desecrate Oak Flats tribal cultural and religious heritage sites, deplete already scarce water resources in Arizona, adversely impact imperiled species, and create a crater up to 1,115 feet deep and roughly 1.8 miles across, Grijalva wrote. The destruction this mine would cause far outweighs its benefits. The swap was a provision included in a must-pass defense bill to give Resolution Copper 3.75 square miles (9.71 square kilometers) of national forest land for eight other parcels the company owns elsewhere in Arizona. Publication of the environmental analysis will start the clock on the 60-day period for the Forest Service to transfer Oak Flat to Resolution Copper. An earlier environmental survey was pulled back while the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the Forest Service, consulted for months with Native American tribes and others about their concerns. The mining company says it has been addressing concerns about the project. It notes there is broad local support for the mine, which could create thousands of jobs, add up to $1 billion annually to Arizonas economy and potentially supply enough copper to meet up to one-quarter of U.S. demand. Resolution Copper is a joint venture of global mining firms Rio Tinto, which has headquarters in Australia and the U.K., and BHP, which is based in Australia. A smaller 9th Circuit panel previously ruled 2-1 that the federal government could give the Oak Flat land to Resolution Copper for the project. The court later agreed to let the larger panel hear the case. By ANITA SNOW Associated Press FRIDAY: No activity reported. SATURDAY: A customer flew in from Amarillo for fuel, check ride with Rosemary Stidham, and later back to Amarillo in his Cessna 182 Skylane. A customer flew in from Oakdale, Louisiana for fuel, then flew to Page, Arizona in his Piper Saratoga. Ronnie Robbins flew locally in his Piper Supercruiser. A customer flew in from Hereford for fuel, check ride with Rosemary Stidham, and later back to Hereford in his Piper Saratoga. A customer flew in from Graham for fuel, then back to Graham in his Cessna 172 Skyhawk. A customer flew in from Walnut Ridge, Arkansas for fuel, then flew to Roswell, New Mexico in his Beech Bonanza. Mark Parish flew to Abilene and back in his Bellanca Viking. A customer flew in from Hereford for some touch and goes, then back to Hereford in his Piper Cherokee 180. David McDonald flew locally in his Bellanca Viking. A customer flew in from Lubbock for fuel, then back in his Piper Cherokee Dakota. A customer flew in from Steamboat Springs and Denver, Colorado for fuel, drop off passengers, then flew to Waco in his Beech 200 King Air prop jet. SUNDAY: A customer flew in from Amarillo for fuel, then back to Amarillo in his Cessna 170. A customer flew locally in his Bellanca Viking. A customer flew in from Nacogdoches for fuel, then headed for Durango, Colorado in his Cessna 210 Centurion. Glen Pendergrass flew locally in his Bellanca Cruisemaster. A customer flew in from Waco to pick up passengers, then flew to Denver, Colorado in his Beech 200 King Air prop jet. Med-Trans flew to Dimmitt, picked up a patient, then flew to Lubbock and back in their Bell 407 jet helicopter. MONDAY: Gaylon Reed departed for Breckenridge in his Beech G-36TC Bonanza. USAF from Cannon Air Force Base flew in from Clovis, New Mexico and Lubbock for touch and goes, then back to Cannon in their V-22 Osprey Tiltrotor jet helicopter. A customer flew in from Abilene for fuel, then back to Abilene in his Cessna 207. Med-Trans flew to Dimmitt, picked up a patient, then flew to Lubbock and back in their Bell 407 jet helicopter. TUESDAY: No activity reported due to the high winds and blowing dust. WEDNESDAY: Med-Trans flew over to Covenant Hospital, picked up a patient, then flew to Odessa and back in their Bell 407 jet helicopter. Cody Williams and a customer flew in from Lubbock for some touch and goes, then back to Lubbock in a Beech Bonanza. Monty McFadden flew to Deming, New Mexico in his Beech B-36TC Bonanza. A customer flew in from Hereford for a touch and go, then back to Hereford in his Piper Cherokee 180. Mark Parish returned from Amarillo in his Cessna 182 Skylane after maintenance. A customer flew in from Provo, Utah for a quick turn on fuel, pick up a passenger, then back to Provo in his Epic prop jet. A customer flew up from Lubbock for fuel, then back to Lubbock in his Piper Cherokee Arrow 4. Med-Trans flew to Friona to pick up a patient, then flew to Amarillo and back in their Bell 407 jet helicopter. THURSDAY: A customer flew in from Guymon, Oklahoma to pick up a patient, then flew to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in his Beech C-90A King Air prop jet. Med-Trans flew to Dimmitt to pick up a patient, then flew to Amarillo, and later flew to Silverton to pick up a patient, then flew to Lubbock and back to Covenant Hospital, picked up a patient, then flew to Amarillo and back in their Bell 407 jet helicopter. A customer flew in from Davis/Woodlands/Winters airport, California for a quick turn on fuel, then headed for Naples, Florida in his Cessna 525 Citation CJ2+ jet. A customer flew in from Amarillo and Lubbock for the instrument VOR approach, then flew to Amarillo in his Cessna 172 Skyhawk. A customer flew in from Raton, New Mexico for fuel, then flew locally with Cody Williams for his Bi-Ennial Flight Review, and later back to Raton in his Experimental RV-6A. Rusty Henson flew locally with Cody Williams in his Beech F-33A Bonanza for his Bi-Ennial Flight Review. Chesapeake Bay Helicopters flew in from Hobbs, New Mexico for fuel, then flew out to patrol powerlines for Xcel Energy, coming back later for more fuel, then flew to Dumas in their Robinson R-44 Raven II helicopter. Cody Williams flew locally in his Cessna 172 Skyhawk giving dual instruction to a student. Med-Trans flew to Lockney, picked up a patient, then flew to Amarillo and back in their Bell 407 jet helicopter. (Editors note: This project is a collaboration between the Plainview Herald and Saint Francis Ministries to showcase kids who are cleared for adoption.) Jas'Lene is an easygoing, kind, and quiet teenager. She gets along well with almost everyone she meets. The 15-year-old loves to shop, get her nails and hair done, and do all of the things that teenaged girls do. Jas is like an onion. She has many layers and it takes someone who is dedicated and patient to peel those layers back to get to who she truly is as a person. It takes her some time to warm up to new people and build relationships, but once she finds that person trustworthy, she engages with them and shows them her bright and funny personality! She needs someone who will take the time to build that relationship with her and allow her to experience all of the emotions that come along with not only being a teenage girl, but one that is also in the foster care system. --- JasLene is among the children listed on the Texas Adoption Resource Exchange (TARE) website. Visit https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Application/TARE/Home.aspx/Default for more details. Saint Francis Ministries is a nonprofit organization and a community-based care provider for the Texas Department of Family Protective Services Region 1. This region includes 41 counties across the Panhandle and South Plains. To learn more about fostering or adopting, those interested are encouraged to attend one of the monthly virtual meetings hosted by Saint Francis Ministries and other child placing agencies. The meetings provide information about how to get started, the basic qualifications and more, in addition to providing opportunity for attendees to ask questions. Those interested can visit Saint Francis Texas on Facebook @SFMtexas to register for the online meetings, which can also be found below: The meetings are scheduled for the second Thursday of the month (Lubbock area https://lubbock-area-foster-care-adoption.eventbrite.com) and the third Thursday of the month (Amarillo area https://amarillo-area-foster-care-adoption.eventbrite.com). For more information, please contact Erin Baxter at (806) 317-5631 or email texasinfo@st-francis.org. Visit Saint Francis Ministries online at https://saintfrancisministries.org. YEREVAN, APRIL 7, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Defence of Azerbaijan continues to spread disinformation claiming that units of the Armenian Armed Forces opened fire towards the Azerbaijani combat positions located in the southeastern part of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border zone on April 7, at around 1:20p.m-1:45p.m, the defense ministry of Armenia said. HONOLULU (AP) A former Hawaii lawmaker was sentenced Thursday to two years in prison in a federal corruption case that's drawn attention to a perennial problem in the islands: the tens of thousands of cesspools that release 50 million gallons of raw sewage into the state's pristine waters every day. Cesspools in-ground pits that collect sewage from houses and buildings not connected to city services for gradual release into the environment are at the center of the criminal case against former Democratic state Rep. Ty Cullen. He has admitted to taking bribes of cash and gambling chips in exchange for influencing legislation to reduce Hawaiis widespread use of cesspools. U.S. District Court Judge Susan Oki Mollway said she gave Cullen a sentence at the shortest end of the term recommended by prosecutors because he had cooperated extensively with investigators. Yet she didnt go as low as the 15 months requested by his defense attorney because of the serious nature of his crimes. This was a grievous breach of public trust on your part. It appears to have been motivated by greed, and it stretched out over a number of years, Mollway told Cullen. I am very concerned that this was not a momentary lapse of judgement. Cullen told the judge he took full responsibility for and was ashamed of his actions. I want to say Im sorry to my family who stayed by me, to my friends, to my constituents, my community and the people of Hawaii, Cullen said, choking up. I will continue to work to make my wrongs right. And ensure that this never happens again. Mollway also fined Cullen $25,000. The toxic pits proliferated in Hawaii in the '50s, 60s and 70s. when investment in sewer lines didn't keep up with rapid development. Today Hawaii has 83,000 of them more than any other state and only banned new cesspools in 2016. Now Hawaii is eager to get rid of them because of the environmental damage they do and the risk of groundwater contamination. Public spending on such efforts and the lack of knowledge about the specialized field can create conditions ripe for corruption, said Colin Moore, a political science professor at the University of Hawaii. That just creates a lot of opportunities because comparisons are so difficult to make, especially in a really small market like Hawaii where there may only be two, or in some cases even one, contractor who can do the work, Moore said. Whos to say that the bid is inflated? Criminal cases related to Cullen's have led to guilty pleas from the Honolulu businessman who bribed the lawmaker and a former Senate majority leader. An estimated 16% of Hawaii housing units have cesspools, but the share is much higher on more rural islands like the Big Island, where more than half of the homes have them. They're found everywhere from the mountains to the seashore and even in urban neighborhoods just miles from downtown Honolulu. In these homes, effluence from toilets and showers flows through drains into a pit in a yard instead of into a sewer line and to a central wastewater treatment plant. Raw sewage including all its bacteria and pathogens then seeps from the pit into the ground, groundwater, aquifers and ocean. The sewage can contaminate drinking water, and in the ocean it can fuel the growth of reef-smothering algae. As sea levels rise due to climate change, scientists expect the ocean to increasingly inundate cesspools on coastal properties, pushing sewage into waters where people swim. Such concerns have prompted the Legislature to draft bills to phase out cesspools. In 2017 the state enacted a law requiring homeowners to close their cesspools and hook up to sewer systems or install cleaner on-site waste treatment systems by 2050. The most common on-site alternative is a septic tank and leach field combination, in which bacteria break down solids inside a tank and a disposal field removes wastewater and pathogens while safely returning water to the environment. This year lawmakers are considering additional legislation, including one bill that would accelerate conversion deadlines for cesspools in more environmentally sensitive areas to 2035 and 2040. Another would establish a pilot program to expand county sewage systems. In a plea agreement, Cullen admitted receiving envelopes of cash to help pass a bill related to cesspool conversions. He was vice chair of the powerful House Finance Committee for part of the time he received bribes. Cullen accepted a total of $30,000 from Honolulu businessman Milton Choy, who is due to be sentenced next month. He's also admitted accepting $22,000 in gambling chips from Choy during a trip to a New Orleans wastewater conference. Court documents say Choys company regularly entered into contracts with government agencies to provide wastewater management services and was well-placed to benefit from publicly financed cesspool conversion projects. J. Kalani English, a Democrat and the former Senate majority leader, has already been sentenced to three years and four months in prison for taking bribes from Choy, also in exchange for influencing cesspool legislation. Prosecutors did not recommend a sentence more lenient than federal guidelines because English did not cooperate the way Cullen did, said Ken Sorenson, the assistant U.S. attorney on that case. Separately, a former Maui County wastewater manager admitted taking $2 million from Choy in exchange for steering at least 56 sole-source contracts to his business. He was sentenced to 10 years in February. The case has invited jests likening the unsanitary disposal pits to underhanded political behavior. We were joking that, Oh, now these politicians have given cesspools a bad name, said Stuart Coleman, a longtime advocate for shutting down Hawaiis cesspools and the executive director of the nonprofit Wastewater Alternatives and Innovations. Its not too far a jump when you talk about this kind of corruption and (then) you talk about the cesspool that is politics." ___ This story has been updated to correct to $30,000 the amount Cullen accepted from Choy. Phillip Faraone/Getty Images The annual Super Hero Comic Con & Car Show is scheduled to roll back into San Antonio this summer and the celebrity lineup is shaping up to be legendary for the three-day pop culture celebration and car show. Organizers announced on Thursday, April 6, that Kit Harrington (Game of Thrones, Eternals), Brie Larson (Captain Marvel), and Hailee Steinfeld (Hawkeye) are joining the comic con, set to takeover the Freeman Expo Hall in San Antonio from July 7 to 9. Larson and Harrington will be available for photos and autographs on July 7 and 8. It will reportedly be Steinfeld's first U.S. comic con appearance, and she will be at the show on July 8 and 9. John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images Tommy Bahama is diving deeper into island living in San Antonio. The company primarily known for its resort style clothing is bringing Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar to The Shops at La Cantara, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Construction on the bar known for its beach resort-style menu with items such as their Mojo Shrimp Bowl, Ahi Tuna Mini Tacos, and Blackened Shrimp Chopped Salad, is slated to begin at the end of May with an expected completion date of October 31, according to the filing. The $1 million construction project will utilize preexisting tenant spaces to build the restaurant, bar, and patio spaces. Google Maps Luby's is a restaurant brand that is synonymous with cafeteria-style comfort food in San Antonio and throughout all of Texas. It's also been the subject of some tumultuous times, with closure rumors flying left and right in recent years. While a change in ownership saved the 32 Texas locations, one beloved Luby's in San Antonio has locked its doors, at least for now. A paper sign has been posted at the Las Palmas Luby's with a simple message: Unfortunately, this location is temporarily closed. The printed paper flyer was signed by company president Cal Gin and dated on April 5, 2023. The Southside is changing, that much is evident, with the influx of chains and businesses popping up within Brooks City Base and further down Military Drive. One new business off Mission Road isnt actually all that new, but is a welcome addition getting high praise from the community nonetheless. Mission Bodega opened at 2101 Mission Road without much fanfare in 2022. With the exception of a Facebook page, there isnt much of a digital trace for the bodega, not even an address on Google Maps. But for residents, Mission Bodega very may well be the heart of the community. Sarah Martinez for MySA Located at the corner of Mission Road and E. Young, the bodega brings life back to the gated stone structure that formerly housed A & A Produce, a longtime tiendita in the Harlandale area that still holds a special place in the hearts of native Southsiders. On Facebook, folks have voiced their appreciation for Mission Bodega filling the role of a community store and a hub for the neighborhoods culture. That much is evident when walking into Mission Bodega. Sarah Martinez for MySA Sarah Martinez for MySA Sarah Martinez for MySA Though small, the store packs a variety of items needed and appreciated by nearby residents. With only a La Fiesta store half a mile away on the other side of E. Young and small convenience stores scattered in the area, Mission Bodega is convenient in more ways than one. Here, youll be able to score quick finds when youre on the go, as well as get a range of items for a grocery haul, of course with limitations. Still, youre likely to find what you need with a corner of the store displaying items from jumper cables and dog food to diapers and basic toiletries. Of course, theres also Latino household essentials like Zote, Fabuloso, and Moco de Gorila hair gel. Sarah Martinez for MySA While Mission Bodega covers the basic necessities of tending to your hygiene, house, and car, it truly shines in its snack and grocery offerings. Coolers keep refreshing drinks, many of them imported from Mexico and Asia, ready for your enjoyment, while shelves stock a healthy mix of ramen noodles, chips, and staples like fideo and frijoles. Though ingredients for the perfect dinner are in stock, customers will likely most appreciate the range of snacks up for grabs here. Sarah Martinez for MySA Sarah Martinez for MySA Sarah Martinez for MySA Sarah Martinez for MySA And oh, are there snacks at Mission Bodega. Whether you have a sweet tooth, sour lips, or a spicy tongue, theres plenty of munchies stuffed into the tiny bodega. All the Lucas you could ever want, spicy sandia and elote lollipops, chamoy pickles, Chinese candies, and so much more await you at Mission Bodega, so bring your coin purse and maybe a bit of willpower if theres no stopping you around the puro delicacies that keep dentists in San Antonio rich. Sarah Martinez for MySA Sure, the Southsides culture is apparent in the unbeatable snack game, but Mission Bodega hits the nail on the head with its mix of goodies that will save you a trip to Market Square. A dedicated bookcase-type shelf stores items like handmade crafts imported from Mexico, baskets, shot glasses, serape-print potholders and bibs, pinatas, mesh bags, and a number of religious artifacts like candles and incense that are no doubt popular among local viejitas. Sarah Martinez for MySA Whether youre already in the neighborhood or not, the mix of San Antonio necessities and the vibrant culture present in the air make Mission Bodega a must visit and likely a natural favorite for puro residents. Madalyn Mendoza, MySA.com Smoke Texas, otherwise known as Smoke, has been expanding its reach across San Antonio with locations in Dignowity Hill, La Villita, and even an outpost near Stone Oak. The newest addition to the Smoke Texas brand is taking up the space formerly known as Miami Bar on the city's Northside. Smoke Texas Park North launched on March 31 with a grand opening at its Alamo Drafthouse-adjacent location, marking the first fully indoors establishment of the brand. The opening was announced on social media along with all the details customers should be aware of before attending the nighclub-ish barbecue spot. Courtesy, Erik Gustafson You may not have earned the nickname of Fiesta Sucia, but San Antonio ladies have the chance to prove that theyre the sucia who reigns over all. A local bar is getting into the Fiesta spirit by hosting a pageant with a puro twist. Thirstys SA, located on the citys Southside at 8902 S. Presa St., San Antonio, TX 78223, has announced plans for La Sucia Pageant on April 21. With a desire for San Antonio to let loose, which shouldnt be difficult given that the event happens to be the second day of Fiesta, the pageant welcomes all to show off their inner sucia. YEREVAN, APRIL 7, ARMENPRESS. The Armenia-Georgia business forum has started in Georgia. Armenian Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan made an opening speech, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure. Minister Sanosyan welcomed all participants of the business forum and thanked for organizing the important workshop aimed at revitalizing Armenian and Georgian business contacts. "I am sure that the forum in this format will give the businessmen of Armenia and Georgia the opportunity to get to know more thoroughly the economic environment, investment opportunities of the two countries and, of course, will contribute to the establishment of business relations with representatives of various fields. There is no doubt that the centuries-old friendship between the two countries, based on common values and historical heritage, creates a solid foundation and fertile ground for our future cooperation. Further development and deepening of relations with Georgia are among the important priorities of our country's foreign policy," Minister Sanosyan emphasized. The minister also noted that the economic component occupies a significant place in Armenian-Georgian interstate relations, and in this context it is extremely important to hold a joint Armenian-Georgian business forum, which provides a good opportunity to establish ties for long-term cooperation and strengthen trade and economic ties between the two countries. The minister also noted that the current investment legislation of Armenia provides equality for all businessmen, which practically means that the legal regime for doing entrepreneurship cannot be less favorable for foreigners than the legal regime provided to the citizens of the Republic of Armenia. "Today we have a fast growing economy, a stable macroeconomic environment and free investment legislation. The available experienced, creative and competitive human capital, easy access to large markets, as well as the Government's commitment to continuously improve the business environment, create all the preconditions for foreign investors to conduct profitable business activities in Armenia," Minister Sanosyan concluded his speech. During the conference, a slide show on Armenia's investment opportunities was presented. Across the country, Easter is a time for egg hunts, themed desserts, and dressing up nice for church and brunch (or an extra fancy dinner). In San Antonio, however, Easter is a little different. Alamo City residents make the holiday completely our own, so much that its part of the citys culture. Easter, also regarded as Resurrection Sunday, is of course a Christian holiday that commemorates Jesus resurrection from the dead. While a good number of local residents will no doubt attend a church service this weekend, many more, even those who arent religious by any means, will celebrate Easter how San Antonians do. The holiday is embedded in San Antonio culture as Easter is a time for families to come together to enjoy each others company and break bread. San Antonio families make a tradition out of camping out at local parks like Brackenridge and Woodlawn, some probably for decades now, in honor of the holiday, bringing coolers filled with barbecue meats and beers, containers packed with all the sides (the real question is: who is making the frijoles?), dozens of cascarones, and likely a pinata or two with them for the special cookout. If the party isnt at a local park, then its definitely at the home of an abuela or whoever the grill master is in the family. Easter is on the same level as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years given that its one of those holidays when all of the family comes around. Not just your tios, tias, and primos, but extended family too, the ones that you probably forget how youre related but youre happy to see and drink with nonetheless. The house will likely be packed, but its safe to bet that there will be extra folding tables and chairs in the backyard to make sure theres a place for everyone. Edward A. Ornelas /San Antonio Express-News No matter where the celebrations happen, there are a couple of things that are essential for a San Antonio Easter. Someone probably hired their cousins friend or sisters brother-in-law or whoever to dress up as the Easter bunny for the kids to pose for pictures with (and probably be scared by). There are Easter baskets to remind the little ones that theyre loved and, because were always babies in our mothers eyes, the grown up kids get Easter baskets too (and theyre being sold until the last minute on Facebook and in the parking lots of busy shopping centers). Edward A. Ornelas /San Antonio Express-News Even if you dont get an Easter basket, everyones inner child (or bully) comes out when cascarones are around. Take pride in cracking the most or finally getting your one tia who takes pride in her Aqua Net do, Easter marks the beginning of cascaron season with Fiesta just around the corner. For some families, making cascarones at home is another tradition, but what matters most is that the whole family gets to play and have fun together. Thats simply what the holiday is about for us locals: spending time with our family. Considering how much San Antonians love their family, that makes Easter one of the best days out of the year, a day for memories that will last a lifetime. Jonathan Aviles It's not everyday you catch a possum inside a bar on a night out. It's also not everyday you witness someone grab a possum by the tail with their bare hands. Those two rare occurrences took place at the Banita Creek Dance Hall in Nacogdoches over the weekend. At closing time at midnight, the East Texas country dance hall typically turns the lights on and lets customers have one last dance. That's when Jessica White, a patron, noticed a lost possum wandering in through one of the doors near the parking lot. "She approached it and noticed that it was very calm but wanted to make sure she didn't put it in harms way or around a ton of people," said Jonathan Aviles, who is social media manager at Banita Creek Hall. "She grabbed it and went and found the owner of the bar to ask what a good place would be to relocate it." Update: Friday, April 7, 2023, at 12 p.m.: After a nearly 12-hour police standoff, law enforcement entered the home of the suspect accused of shooting and killing a woman at a Southside taco truck on Thursday night, April 6, only to find the home was empty, officials with the San Antonio Police Department said. The investigation is ongoing. Update: Friday, April 7, 2023, at 11:15 a.m.: The law enforcement standoff and police negotiations are continuing outside the home of a man accused of shooting and killing a woman he once had a relationship with, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said in a press conference a little before 11 a.m. Friday, April 7. Law enforcement has surrounded the man's home and has been working to get him to safely come out over the last few hours. They have been calling out to the man over the loud speaker asking him to come out with nothing in his hands. McManus said officers were firing ferret rounds into the home before resorting to gas canisters. Ferret rounds typically use a powdered or liquid irritant that causes pain, discomfort, and possible incapacitation, according to Defense Technology, a manufacturer of such ammunition. Original Story: SWAT and negotiators were called to a Southside home after an argument at a taco truck escalated into a shooting that left one woman dead, the San Antonio Police said. The shooting occurred shortly after 9 p.m. on Thursday April 6, at Southwest Military Drive and Commercial. Police said the suspect shot into the window of a Jeep owned by the man he was engaged in the argument with, hitting a woman in the chest. The driver of the Jeep drove to a nearby gas station to call for help and police said the suspect fled the scene of the shooting in a separate vehicle. The woman, believed to be in her mid 20s, was later pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical services. Officials said it is not immediately clear how the suspect and Jeep driver know each other. Police arrived at the home of the alleged shooting suspect and attempted to get him to leave the home located on Humboldt Street at 9:45 p.m., which resulted in an ongoing standoff with law enforcement. Police deployed a drone due to the wet weather conditions, which grounded the Eagle helicopter. SWAT was later called in and police set up a mobile command center, SAPD said. According to KSAT, officers negotiated with the supposed shooting suspect over the loudspeaker for several hours. This story is developing and will be updated as more details become available. In this day and age, having a high-quality laptop is an absolute must. Whether youre a student heading to school, a professional heading out into the business world, or a creator looking to build your digital empire, you cant go wrong with a MacBook Pro. And if you fall into one of those categories, we have good news: Today at Amazon, you can get a 2022 Apple MacBook Pro Laptop for just $1,099 (reg. $1,299). Apple 2022 MacBook Pro Laptop with M2 Chip - $1,099 ($200 off; originally $1,299) The MacBook Pro has long been one of the most popular options on the market for anyone looking for a compact laptop with the power to handle just about anything you want to throw at it. The 13.3 design makes it super easy to carry around with you and fire up no matter where you are, and Apples M2 chip gives it the power you need to get your work done. This laptop comes with an impressive 8-core CPU with 8GB of RAM, a 10-core GPU, and 24GB of unified memory. Thats a lot of technical speak, but in short, its made to get stuff done, and get it done fast. The innovative cooling system enables you to do intensive work for hours at a time, and the improved battery life lasts for up to 20 hours on a single charge, making it the ultimate portable companion. Get the 2022 MacBook Pro Laptop at Amazon for $1,099.00 (Save $200) This cat, nearly 32 years old, has a shot at being the oldest feline in the world FOX Flamingos form cliques with like-minded pals (press release) University of Exeter Snake Discovered That Actually Does Cartwheels, And We Have Pics to Prove It Science Alert (Chuck L). Elephants may be domesticating themselves Nature The Active Management Delusion: Respect the Wisdom of the Crowd Enterprising Investor. But not, it seems, for capital investment. Honestly, could sortition be worse? Could Direct Indexing Lower Your Taxes? Morningstar Climate Water #COVID19 Real-world effectiveness of primary series and booster doses of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine against Omicron BA.2 variant infection in China: a retrospective cohort study The Journal of Infectious Diseases. From the Abstract: Inactivated COVID-19 vaccines provided modest protection from infection, very good protection against pneumonia, and excellent protection against severe/critical COVID-19. I kinda work on the theory that Covid spikes are bad, and for a minority, spike factories can be really bad. So I would very much like to see a study comparing and contrasting mRNA vs. inactivated virus technology for Covid (which I assume would have to be a natural experiment (or a challenge). If there is such a study, I didnt get the memo. Readers? Toward a Universal Definition of PostCOVID-19 ConditionHow Do We Proceed? JAMA: [T]here must be one agreed universal definition of this condition; with one title that can be adopted by all studies in the future. We would suggest such a definition to be signs and symptoms following initial SARS-CoV-2 infection, that persist for more than one month (in mild cases), and more than three months (in cases severe enough to warrant oxygen support), which have a disproportionately severe effect on a patients quality of life, far beyond what is expected from their initial infection. The difference between this definition and existing ones from NICE, the CDC, and WHO is that it takes into account disease severity from initial COVID infection, therefore acknowledging that PCC is different than recovery from a straightforward pneumonia, which if severe enough, can also take a prolonged period for patients to fully recover. Our suggested definition also acknolwedges that PCC can be present even in those whose persistent symptoms can be explained, since the explanation may involve a long-term consequence of acute infection. While some organizations, including the WHO and JAMA Network journals, prefer the term postCOVID-19 condition, we prefer the term long COVID, since this was the term originally developed by patients, not clinicians , to raise concerns about the impact of their symptoms on their well-being. As You Grieve, Your Brain Redraws Its Neural Map Psychology Today China? How a fight between 2 Indonesian youths sparked scrutiny into the wealth of civil servants Channel News Asia India European Disunion Dear Old Blighty New Not-So-Cold War Biden Administration The Supremes B-a-a-a-d Banks The Bezzle Tesla Employees Reportedly Passed Around Images Of Crashes, Road Rage And Owners Kids Taken By Car Cameras Forbes. Best headline, though TechMemes rubric is even better: Tesla staff privately shared videos from customers car cameras from 2019 to 2022 in one-on-one chats, including of a car hitting a child riding a bike. This is the culture the pushing AI on us. Tech Supply Chain Samsung to cut memory chip output to tackle global glut as profits tumble FT Zeitgeist Watch Theres Gold in Them Thar Fungi: Cordyceps as Cash Crop JSTOR Daily. What could go wrong? Antidote du jour (via): See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. Yves here. We members of the great unwashed public must take our breaks when we find them. The fact that facial recognition software often misidentifies people of color is one of the few reasons that might be deemed sufficient to demand an end to its use in surveillance tools. Of course, the spying state will keep working on other methods like gait recognition (which can be defeated with a shoe lift) but the longer we preserve what remains of our privacy, the better. By Matthew Guariglia is a policy analyst at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) working on issues of surveillance and privacy at the local, state, and federal level. Originally published at Common Dreams Cities and counties across the country have banned government use of face surveillance technology, and many more are weighing proposals to do so. From Boston to San Francisco, Jackson, Mississippi toMinneapolis, elected officials and activists know that face surveillance gives police the power to track us wherever we go. It alsodisproportionately impacts people of color, turns us all into perpetual suspects, increases the likelihood of being falsely arrested, and chills peoples willingness to participate in first amendment protected activities. Even Amazon, known for operating one of the largest video surveillance networks in the history of the world, extended its moratorium on selling face recognition to police. Now, Congress must do its part. Weve created a campaign that will easily allow you to contact your elected federal officials and tell them to support the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act. Police and other government use of this technology cannot be effectively regulated. Face surveillance in the hands of the government is a fundamentally harmful technology, even under strict regulations and if the technology was 100% accurate.Face surveillance disproportionately hurts vulnerable communities. The New York Times published a long piece on the case of Robert Julian-Borchak Williams, who was arrested by Detroit police after face recognition technology erroneously identified him as a suspect in a theft case. The ACLU filed a lawsuit on his behalf against the Detroit police. The problem isnt just that studies have found face recognition disparately inaccurate when it comes to matching the faces of people of color. The larger concern is that law enforcement will use this invasive and dangerous technology, as it unfortunately uses all such tools, to disparately surveil people of color. Williams and multiple other Black men (Michael Oliver, Nijeer Parks, Randal Reid, and Alanzo Sawyer) have garnered the attention of national media after face recognition technology led to them being falsely arrested by police. How many more have already endured the same injustices without the medias spotlight? These incidents show another reason why police cannot be trusted with this technology: a piece of software intended only to identify investigative leads is often used in the field to determine who should be arrested without independent officer vetting. This federal ban on face surveillance would apply to increasingly powerful agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Customs and Border Patrol. The bill would ensure that these and other federal agencies cannot use this invasive technology to track, identify, and misidentify millions of people. Tell your Senators and Representatives they must co-sponsor and pass the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act. It was recently introduced by Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Cori Bush (MO-01), Greg Casar (TX-35), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), and Jan Schakowsky (IL-09). This important bill would be a critical step to ensuring that mass surveillance systems dont use your face to track, identify, or harm you. The bill would ban the use of face surveillance by the federal government, as well as withhold certain federal funds from local and state governments that use the technology. Thats why were asking you to insist your elected officials co-sponsor the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act, S.681 in the Senate and HR.1404 in the House. Police and other government use of this technology cannot be effectively regulated. Face surveillance in the hands of the government is a fundamentally harmful technology, even under strict regulations and if the technology was 100% accurate. In a bit of synchronicity, after pointing out that the Collective West was more free with information with respect to Ukraine than was ideal during a war, today we have the US government het up about an apparent leak. The New York Times reported that some US and NATO plans for building up the third Ukraine arm, in preparation for that much ballyhooed Ukraine counteroffensive, appeared on Telegram and Twitter. Administration and press responses effectively confirmed the authenticity of the documents, by saying the Pentagon was investigating and depicting the Administration as (amusingly? presumptuously?) trying to get Telegram to take them down. Team Biden didnt seem to be doing any better with Twitter: Yeah, you can totally delete things from the Internet that works perfectly and doesnt draw attention to whatever you were trying to hide at all Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 7, 2023 The Grey Lady early on tried to discredit the notion that as many as 71,500 Ukraine forces had been killed versus 16,000 to 17,500 for Russia as Russian propaganda via document altering. Note that a few weeks ago, Colonel Douglas Macgregors Pentagon contacts put Ukraine deaths plus missing in action (as in in presumed dead) as over twice as high. By contrast, the supposedly not credible/too low Russia death count is consistent with the BBCs estimates. On the reported deaths: Is Pentagon falsifying kill-ratio to gild Easter lilies in Kyiv? Recent leak https://t.co/ar6TWo8fF8 of an apparently official NATO document shows 71,500 Ukrainians KIA and only 16,000 to 17,500 Russians, a far cry from earlier Pentagon 'estimates'. All sounds so Vietnam-deja vu! Ray McGovern (@raymcgovern) April 7, 2023 As The Grayzone added: That [Ukraine KIA] figure is close to the 100,000 KIAs cited by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a November 2022 speech, before her comments were retracted. It also tracks closely with statements by one of Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelenskys top advisers, Mykhailo Podolyak, who told the BBC in June of last year that Ukraine was losing between 100 and 200 soldiers per day (200 deaths per day over the course of 370 days between the launch of Russias military operation and the date of the documents would total 74,000.) Other American and EU state officials have offered dramatically different figures placing Russian KIAs over the six figure mark. For instance, Norways defense chief has charted 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers dead to Russias 180,000, while Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Miley asserted that Russian losses are significantly well over 100,000. The media and Twitterverse are focusing on the fact of the leak and the value of its information. The spin in the Times, so far being well amplified, is that the publication of this document is a first coup by supposedly backwards Russian intelligence. Huh? First, if Russias spy services had gotten their hands on these documents and then were so sloppy as allow it to get loose in social media, that would be a sign of a real internal lapse. You dont burn good channels, with publicity would do. And Russia would be much better served not having the West know it had gotten some potentially juicy information. Second, former CIA analyst Larry Johnson parsed the distribution list. These reports were very widely circulated. From his post: Images of what appears to be the Daily written brief for the Russia/Ukraine Joint Staff J3/J4/J5 popped up on the Donbass Devushka yesterday and has not created much of a stir. Donbass Devushka has four of the documents on line. They appear authentic. One is classified as SECRET/REL TO FIN, UKR, FVEY, NATO and is date 28 FEB 23. (You can see the documents for your self at this link.) The phrase, REL TO FIN, UKR, FVEY, NATO means that this document is available to Finland, Ukraine, the Five Eyes Nations (i.e., Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and the members of NATO. One wonders, for instance, how many at each of the Five Eyes saw these reports. Anyone who got them is a potential leakers. The list of suspects is large.1 I would put Ukrainians at the top of the list of potential tell-alls. Ukraine officials, starting with Zelensky and including military top brass, have made clear they need much more in the way of weapons to launch a counteroffensive. Yet the US and NATO are pushing Ukraine to make its attack sooner rather than later precisely because Ukraines ammo situation is not good and set to get worse. So its not hard to imagine that some Ukraine insiders have worked out that the Collective West scheme is to fight Russia to the last Ukrainian, and they arent on board with that.2 Remember that both sides in this war have strong ISR capabilities. Thats why, for instance, the US could discern the size and disposition of Russian troops right before the launch of the Special Military Operation, and Russia could similarly see that Ukraine forces were then massing for a big attack on the Donbass. So most of the information in these documents would not be big revelations, but would still be extremely helpful in calibrating the accuracy of Russian intelligence. Below I am embedding a must-read tweetstorm from Dr. Snekotron, who is one of the first to mine the documents for information. Keep in mind hes not keen about Russia; he makes dismissive comments about its performance, as in territorial acquisition, not seeming to understand that Russia is fighting an attritional war and taking ground isnt a priority. Given that, his conclusions are even more deadly. For instance, Ukraine units are getting tank training on an accelerated basis, which means inadequately training. Many units as of the start of March still being formed. Many of the tank delivery dates TBD. Needless to say, this is not a fighting force ready to go to battle any time soon. But the plan apparently is to throw it into the Russian meat grinder soon. So it isnt hard to think that someone who could see that these presentations were depicting a disaster in the making, not just for Ukraine but also for NATO, might want to throw sand in the gears. _____ 1 It is possible that Russian operatives did get copies of these presentations but an entirely different leaker passed it on to the Telegram posters. 2 Mind you, that does not necessarily mean they favor negotiation, but instead want a Plan C with a more viable counterattack plan. I suspect Ukraine officials dont buy Western claims that they are running out of weapons. (Natural News) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned that the next plandemic in the form of the Marburg virus will soon arrive. Its warning followed an outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in two African nations Equatorial Guinea in West Africa and Tanzania in East Africa. The CDC responded by sending its National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases in both countries. It also urged travelers in the two countries to avoid contact with sick people and healthcare facilities in affected areas, and to watch for symptoms for three weeks after leaving. According to the public health agency, MVD can spread through the blood or body fluids of a person infected with or who has died from the disease. Aside from these, the virus can also spread by means of contaminated objects or by contact with animals such as bats. Clinical diagnosis of MVD can be difficult, especially if only one case is involved. This is because many of the symptoms of MVD are similar to those found in other diseases such as malaria, typhoid fever, Lassa fever or Ebola. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed an MVD outbreak in Tanzania, with eight official cases and five fatalities. It also confirmed a similar situation in Equatorial Guinea with nine official cases of MVD and an additional 20 probable cases, all of whom have died. According to the global health body, three of the affected provinces in Equatorial Guinea Kie-Ntem, Litoral and Centre Sur have international borders with Cameroon and Gabon. The WHO continued: Cross-border population movements are frequent, and the borders are very porous. Although no MVD cases have been reported outside Equatorial Guinea the risk of international spread cannot be ruled out. Another vaccine in the works for the plandemic Although no vaccines or antiviral treatments are approved to treat the virus, supportive care [through] re-hydration with oral or intravenous fluids and treatments of specific symptoms improve survival, the WHO remarked. A range of potential treatments are being evaluated including blood products, immune therapies and drug therapies. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reported in January that human trials for an MVD vaccine appear promising. However, one cannot help but be skeptical given that the NIH also played a part in the development of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine associated with a myriad of harms. A press release from the NIH expounded on the MVD vaccine, which used a modified chimpanzee adenovirus and a glycoprotein found on the surface of the Marburg virus to induce an immune response. The injection was developed at the Vaccine Research Center of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), under the NIH. Prior to his retirement in December 2022, infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci served as NIAID director. (Related: Fauci Virus: Shocking new evidence proves covid-19 began with Dr. Anthony Fauci and NIAID.) The NIH press release claimed that there were no serious adverse events during the vaccine trial and the experimental vaccine was well-tolerated. It also claimed that the MVD vaccine appeared to induce strong, long-lasting immunity with 95 percent of trial participants exhibiting a robust antibody response after vaccination and 70 percent maintaining that robust response beyond 48 weeks. The vaccine developed by researchers at the NIAID could someday be an important tool to respond to Marburg virus outbreaks, the press release stated. However, a report from En-Volve begged to differ: If this becomes a widespread problem, its going to be hard to imagine its not another scamdemic. Visit Outbreak.news for more stories about the Marburg virus and MVD. Watch attorney Todd Callender warns Maria Zeee that Marburg is the next plandemic below. This video is from the ?????? ?????????? channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Marburg virus kills 5 in Tanzania; over 100 feared to be infected. CDC issues warning about traveling to Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea due to outbreaks of Marburg virus. Black Death and incurable Marburg Virus now spreading across Africas cities worlds medical system helpless to stop it. The Prather Point: Disaster looms as Marburg virus may have been released through COVID-19 vaccine payloads Brighteon.TV. CLAIM: Covid vaccines installed Marburg payloads in human victims; 5G broadcast signal will activate the bioweapon, unleashing the next raging pandemic. Sources include: En-Volve.com FoxNews.com WHO.int NIH.gov Brighteon.com Clashes erupted in Paris on Thursday (April 6) during a day of nationwide protests against a pension reform bill that would see the age of retirement rise. April 7, 2023, 10:16 Pension reform unrest continues, Paris protesters clash with police STEPANAKERT, APRIL 7 , ARTSAKHPRESS: Police holding riot shields were pelted with objects, including stones, bottles and paint. The awning of a restaurant popular with President Macron was briefly set alight. Protests have gathered huge crowds since January against the flagship reform of Macron's second term, which lifts the retirement age by two years to 64. Polls show a wide majority of French oppose the pension legislation and the government's decision to push it through parliament without a vote. The latest wave of demonstrations represents the most serious challenge to the authority of Macron since the "Yellow Vest" revolt four years ago. A key date will be April 14, when the Constitutional Council delivers its verdict on the pension bill. Constitutional experts say it is unlikely to strike the legislation down, which the government likely hopes will help weaken protests. (Natural News) The Tourism and Civil Aviation Committee of the Parliament of Egypt approved draft legislation to give the Egyptian Meteorological Authority (EMA) the authority to fine people for posting misinformation about the weather. (Article by Cindy Harper republished from ReclaimTheNet.org) Misinformation about the weather would result in a fine of up to and LE 5 million ($161.8,000) The aim of the law is to reduce the posting of information that may cause harm to the economy. A member of the committee, Emad al-Dargali said that the legislation was approved to improve the quality of meteorological services, encourage research, and attract foreign investments. According to the Egypt Independent, Dargali said there are pages on social media and news websites that post false information about the weather and spread misinformation on economic issues. He added that the legislation will be put to a vote before the end of the current plenary session. Former EMA head Ahmed Abdel-Aal said that many non-specialists have been posting meteorological news under various names, and that these non-specialists post false information and rumors that could cause confusion. Over the past decade, Egypt has undergone significant political turmoil and transformation, which has had a direct impact on the state of internet freedom and censorship in the country. In recent years, the government has taken steps to regulate and control the flow of information online, which has drawn criticism from human rights organizations and free speech advocates. The Arab Spring in early 2011 brought the issue of internet censorship to the forefront in Egypt. As citizens took to the streets to demand political change, the government, under then-President Hosni Mubarak, responded by shutting down the internet and mobile services. This unprecedented internet blackout lasted for five days and marked a turning point in Egypts relationship with online censorship. In 2014, Egypts government introduced the Anti-Cyber and Information Technology Crimes Law, which significantly expanded the states power to monitor and censor online content. The legislation criminalizes a broad range of activities, including spreading false news, inciting violence, and promoting extremist ideologies. Critics argue that the laws vague language allows for arbitrary enforcement and poses a threat to freedom of expression. Egypt witnessed a massive website-blocking campaign in 2017, with the government blocking access to hundreds of websites, including news outlets, human rights organizations, and VPN services. The campaign was initiated under the pretext of combating terrorism and protecting national security. However, the broad scope of the blocked websites raised concerns about the governments intentions and the impact on freedom of information. In 2018, Egypts parliament passed the Media Regulation Law, which grants the government the authority to regulate and monitor all forms of media, including social media platforms. The law requires users with more than 5,000 followers to register as media outlets, making them subject to the same regulations and censorship as traditional media. Human rights organizations have criticized the law for further stifling free speech and increasing government control over online content. Read more at: ReclaimTheNet.org (Natural News) Philadelphias low-income Kensington neighborhood continues to be overrun with sleepwalking zombies as overdoses caused by the street drug known as tranq continue to rise. Also known as tranq dope or zombie heroin, tranq is made up of xylazine, an animal tranquilizer, that is mixed in with other drugs, notably fentanyl. Tranq is known to depress breathing, lengthen overdoses and cause skin ulcers and sores that can last for months. This last symptom is what makes people addicted to tranq get referred to as zombies. (Related: Skin-rotting animal tranquilizer drug known as tranq spreads all over US.) Joseph DOrazio, an emergency medicine physician and an associate professor at the nearby Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, noted that the rotting wounds on tranq users are a lot deeper, a lot more severe than the citys physicians have previously seen with other drug users. There were big necrotic areas, he said. They were deep down into tendons. Sometimes, you can see the bones, and we were starting to see more patients that were requiring amputations. Ive never seen human beings remain in these kinds of conditions, said Sarah Laurel, who runs the outreach organization Savage Sisters. They have open, gaping wounds. They cant walk, and they tell me, If I go to the hospital, Im going to get sick. Theyre so terrified of the detox. Kensington has become ground zero not just for Philadelphias drug abuse epidemic, but also for the spread of tranq use throughout the nation. Addicts can be seen shooting up tranq and other illegal substances in broad daylight, leaving them mindlessly wandering the streets, hunched over in a stupor and passed out in needle-covered surroundings. One man who drove through Kensington and was interviewed by the Daily Mail on his experience noted that some streets, like Allegheny and Kensington Avenues, are relatively safe. But on other streets, like Shelbourne, drivers can see the sidewalks filled with trash and addicts covered in blankets, sitting on sidewalks and seeming to be in a drug-induced haze. Tranq continues to spread across the US Fentanyl laced with xylazine is said to have surfaced in Philadelphia and in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in the last decade. In Pennsylvania alone, overdose deaths involving xylazine increased from two percent to 26 percent from 2015 to 2020. In Florida, Attorney General Ashley Moody recently held a press conference warning Floridians about the dangers of xylazines spread across the state. She warned that the drug has become increasingly prevalent in Sarasota, Manatee and Desoto counties. Its cheap, it is easily accessible and drug users often mix it with fentanyl, leaving users in the dark about what they are actually taking, said Moody. She added that Sarasota County has the third-highest growth rate in xylazine-related deaths in Florida from 2021 to 2022. More than 230 Floridians died after using tranq, and over 30 of them were in Sarasota, she said. These drugs have no warning labels; instead, it is buyer beware, and if you are wrong about whatever is on the drugs, the price you could pay will be your life. In the Bay Area in California, health officials have confirmed the regions first death from tranq. And the states health officials have called the spread of tranq as an emerging issue. Nationwide, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) believes tranq has already surfaced in all the Lower 48 states and Washington, D.C. The agency also reported that about 23 percent of fentanyl powder and seven percent of fentanyl pills seized by DEA agents last year contained xylazine. Xylazine is making the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, fentanyl, even deadlier, the DEA said in an alert. Learn more about the spread of dangerous and highly addictive drugs across the United States at Addiction.news. Watch this clip from a Boston 25 News report warning how tranq is causing everybody to drop like flies. This video is from the channel Suzie Etc Search for Truth on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Zombie drug made from fentanyl and xylazine now hitting American cities, warns DEA. ZOMBIE DRUG Tranq secretly mixed with fentanyl ROTS human tissue, leading to amputation and more overdose deaths in 48 US states. Data shows fentanyl addiction is the leading cause of death among Americans aged 18 to 49. Philadelphias Kensington neighborhood in CRISIS due to widespread abuse of animal tranquilizer xylazine. Horse sedative street drug killing thousands in Philadelphia and other US cities. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk USAToday.com Bradenton.com ABC7.com KCRA.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has named four additional bases that the U.S. will now have access to under an existing defense agreement to expand military cooperation. On Monday, April 3, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a statement that the four sites will be in Isabela and Cagayan, on the island of Luzon, facing north toward Taiwan, and in Palawan, near the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. These new locations are on top of five bases the U.S. currently has access to, bringing the total number of bases the American forces can rotate through in the Philippines to nine. The expansion in the Philippines is a significant step in the U.S. effort to build up its military assets in the region to prepare for a future war with China. The U.S. expansion is being done under a deal Washington and Manila signed in 2014 to give the American forces greater access to the Philippines and allow them to build military facilities. It is called the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Arrangement (EDCA), which is built on the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). The VFA provides the legal basis for the U.S. military presence in the Philippines. The bases had been assessed by the Philippine military and deemed suitable and mutually beneficial, the PCO statement said, noting that the camps would also be used for humanitarian and relief operations during disasters. Think tank: US will use the Philippines to fight a proxy war against China Manila-based think tank Integrated Development Studies Institute (IDSI) earlier warned of the possibility that the Philippines would get involved in a future war between China and the United States. The U.S. will fight a proxy war against China up to the last Filipino just like what it did to us in World War II and what the U.S. did in Ukraine from 2014 up to now, IDSI noted. Over 100,000 Ukrainians have already been killed; with the security and peace, economy and democracy of Ukraine all destroyed. IDSI issued the warning as Under Secretary for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland met with senior Philippine officials to discuss key aspects of the U.S.-Philippines alliance. The think tank further warned that Nuland has substantial experience setting up a third nation to act as Americas main proxy in foreign conflicts. In 2013, Nuland was instrumental in providing Ukraine with $5 billion to bring about a secure and prosperous and democratic Ukraine. But this money ended up being used in genocidal attacks on Russians in eastern Ukraine, killing over 14,000 of them. We can predict that this is now again the mission of top CIA [Central Intelligence Agency] or Deep State agent Victoria Nuland in coming to the Philippines: To create a new war, from Ukraine to Asia, between the Philippines and China, with the poor, hapless and helpless Filipinos as the new cannon fodders of the U.S. right after the equally poor, hapless and helpless Ukrainians, wrote IDSI. U.S. officials have denied these allegations. Speaking at a military base in Manila, visiting Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall claimed that the expansion of the defense agreement with the Philippines is not focused on any particular issue. We are at an inflection point in history and our cooperation will help ensure we stay on the path to peace and stability, said Kendall. The Chinese embassy in Manila responded by claiming that the U.S. is taking steps to drive a wedge between Beijing and its neighbors. (Related: Australia to buy up to 5 nuclear-powered submarines from the US and China isnt happy about it.) Such cooperation will seriously endanger regional peace and stability and drag the Philippines into the abyss of geopolitical strife and damage its economic development at the end of the day, said the embassy in a statement. Read more news about global conflicts at WWIII.news. Watch this video that talks about Victoria Nuland setting up the Philippines in another proxy war, this time against China. This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com. More related stories: America could turn the Philippines into the next Ukraine in proxy war with China. China flies fighter jets into Taiwanese airspace, escalating tension following Pelosi visit. Congress to authorize perpetual war with no enemies and no end. Sources include: Asia-PacificResearch.com Aljazeera.com ManilaTimes.net Brighteon.com (Natural News) Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia has rejected the upcoming Federal Reserve-backed central bank digital currency (CBDC) payment system and has called for the United States to return to the gold standard. Greene was responding to news that the Fed was launching its own digital payment system. On Twitter, she shared an article from CNBC announcing that the payment system, FedNow would be launched in July. We should go back to the gold standard, not digital currency payment systems, wrote Green on her Twitter account. Hard pass. (Related: Ron DeSantis to introduce legislation in Florida prohibiting the use of CBDCs in the state.) Greenes negative opinion of the Feds attempts to create a digital payment system, which they believe will pave the way for the eventual adoption of a CBDC, has been gaining traction among other members of Congress as well as their constituents. Her statement also comes as many major economies around the world shift away from their reliance on the U.S. dollar and invest more in gold. The U.S. only got off the gold standard in 1971, when former President Richard Nixon brought an end to the World War II-era Bretton Woods financial-economic system and transformed the international monetary system into a fiat-based one. FedNow could give federal government control over how people spend their money According to Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Tom Barkin, FedNow will create a leading-edge payments system that is resilient, adaptive and accessible. Barkin also serves as the programs main executive sponsor. The FedNow program will allow bill payments and money transfers such as paychecks and disbursements from the government. The FedNow program will also allow a whole host of other consumer activities that the Fed claims can be conducted more rapidly and at lower cost to the consumer. The Fed further claimed that the FedNow system will be more convenient because participating institutions will have seven-day, 24-hour access to the system, as opposed to regular banking and payment systems that close on weekends. The first participants of the FedNow program will complete a training and certification process by early April in preparation for the July launch. With the launch drawing near, we urge financial institutions and their industry partners to move full steam ahead with preparations to join the FedNow Service, said Ken Montgomery, first vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and another program executive of FedNow. Other program advocates claim the FedNow system will be able to get money out to people much more quickly, including government handouts like the payments issued to most of the population in the early days of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. But critics of the program warn that FedNow could effectively give the federal government control over how people spend their money. A CBDC tied to digital ID and social credit score will allow the government to freeze your assets or limit your spending to approved vendors if you fail to comply with arbitrary diktats, i.e. vaccine mandates, warned Robert F. Kennedy Jr. CBDCs grease the slippery slope to financial slavery and political tyranny. While cash transactions are anonymous, a CBDC will allow the government to surveil all our private financial affairs, added Kennedy. The central bank will have the power to enforce dollar limits on our transactions, restricting where you can send money, where you can spend it and when money expires. Watch this clip of Glenn Beck speaking with author Justin Haskins about how the Federal Reserves FedNow program will ultimately end with the introduction of a CBDC. This video is from the channel High Hopes on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Tennessee passes bill authorizing state treasurer to buy, sell and stockpile gold and silver. Inflation remains a problem for middle- and lower-income Americans as Bidens Federal Reserve keeps raising interest rates. State legislatures are sneakily introducing amendments to laws that would pave the way for CBDC domination. Demand for gold surges to highest rate in over a decade as worlds central banks continue buying spree. HYPOCRISY: Federal Reserve warns banks against using crypto while planning to develop its own digital currency. Sources include: InfoWars.com Watcher.guru Cryptopolitan.com CNBC.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Russian energy oligarch Igor Shkurko was found dead on Tuesday, April 4, in a Siberian prison cell where he was detained after being accused of taking a bribe. Shkurkos body was found in his cell in a detention center in the city of Yakutsk in the Sakha Republic in Siberia. Shkurko, 49, had two sons and was the deputy general director of the energy corporation Yakutskenergo. He was also a member of Russian President Vladimir Putins United Russia Party. The Russian oligarch was accused of taking a bribe worth approximately $6,200. The day before his body was discovered, Shkurko had just submitted an appeal against what he claimed was an unjust allegation of bribery. Russian authorities claim there are no signs that Shkurkos death was criminal in nature. On April 4, the accused was found in a cell of the pre-trial detention center with no signs of life, said the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service in a statement. Arriving medical workers ascertained his death. An investigative team was called to the scene. According to the preliminary data, no signs of a criminal death were found. Yakutskenergo, Shkurkos company, said in a statement it will remember Shkurko as an open, hospitable person with a big heart and a good sense of humor, the caring head of a close-knit family. Shkurko just the latest high-profile Russian found dead since 2022 Shkurko is the 40th high-profile Russian individual ranging from business oligarchs to scientists and even generals of the Russian Armed Forces to suddenly pass away with little explanation since the beginning of Russias special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. (Related: Putin to deploy tactical nuclear missiles in neighboring Belarus following increased Western provocations.) One of the first individuals who passed away under mysterious circumstances was Alexander Tyulakov, 61, who was at the time the deputy general director of a Gazprom subsidiary. He supposedly died by suicide just one day after the beginning of the conflict with Ukraine. Two months later, Vladislav Avayev, 51, the then-vice president of Gazprombank, was found dead in his home in Moscow alongside the bodies of his wife and 13-year-old daughter. Authorities immediately concluded that Avayev killed his wife and daughter before taking his own life. A former top Gazprombank official disputed the official story, claiming that Avayev had access to the private accounts of very elite clients, potentially including members of Putins inner circle and possibly the president himself. These top managers worked in structures that we suspect were linked to financial fraud in multi-billion dollar contracts with Gazprom, said investigative journalism outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe, in cooperation with Transparency International Russia. Their report suggests that the recent deaths were linked to a complex money-laundering scheme. While a potential conspiracy involving financial matters may explain some of the unexplained deaths, this alone is insufficient to explain the passing of several high-profile members of the Russian Armed Forces. These deaths include former Commander in Chief of the Russian Ground Forces Alexei Maslov, who died unexpectedly while in a military hospital last December, and Marina Yankina, a high-ranking member of the Russian Ministry of Defense, who was found dead after falling from a window of a high-rise building. Watch this clip discussing the video showing the suspected car bomber that killed Darya Dugina, daughter of a known Vladimir Putin ally. This video is from the Andrew Zebrun III channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: The Wests anti-Russian oil embargo is CRUMBLING as nations begin buying fuel directly from Russia above the price cap. Analysis: Trans movement being fomented by Russia, China as a guerilla movement to disrupt US. International legal body (thats not recognized by the USA) issues arrest warrant for Russias Vladimir Putin over alleged war crimes involving children. Bidens destructive Russia sanctions are destroying decades-long dominance of dollar as worlds reserve currency; collapse will follow. Russian scientist who helped invent Sputnik V COVID vaccine found strangled to death in home. Sources include: The-Sun.com TheDailyBeast.com Mirror.co.uk Brighteon.com (Natural News) Donald Trump has been indicted, essentially for the crime of being Donald Trump and opposing the Lefts total hegemony over everything. But as Trump himself has often warned, theyre not really after him, theyre after us, and he is just in the way. A 33-year-old Trump supporter named Douglass Mackey discovered the truth of that adage in the worst possible way on Friday, the first day of America as a Leftist banana republic in which foes of the regime are targeted solely for their opposition to that regime. Mackey was convicted of election interference and faces up to ten years in prison, all because of a meme he tweeted during the 2016 election. Yes, you read that right: a meme. (Article by Robert Spencer republished from PJMedia.com) Back during the wild and woolly days of that campaign, according to a Friday press release from the Justice Department, Mackey, under the name Ricky Vaughn, established an audience on Twitter with approximately 58,000 followers. A February 2016 analysis by the MIT Media Lab ranked Mackey as the 107th most important influencer of the then-upcoming Presidential Election. The Justice for Democrats Department didnt bother to explain exactly what it means to have held a position so illustrious as that of the 107th most important influencer of the 2016 presidential election. How did the DOJ go about determining this? Did it somehow discover that Mackey/Vaughn had induced a certain number of people to change their votes, but that 106 other people had gotten people to change more votes? These are actually important questions because on Friday, Mackey was convicted by a federal jury in Brooklyn of the charge of Conspiracy Against Rights stemming from his scheme to deprive individuals of their constitutional right to vote. Thats what he faces ten years in prison for doing. Mackeys conspiracy was really quite simple. While the language the Department Formerly Associated with Justice used sounds quite weighty and conjures up images of Mackey meeting in dark rooms with other sinister figures to plot ways to sabotage voting machines or prevent people from being able to enter polling places, what theyre really talking about is a meme. Douglass Mackey was just found guilty of a federal crime he was charged with by the DOJ for tweeting the meme on the left during the 2016 election. The lady on the right has never been arrested for her tweet that also came during the 2016 election. pic.twitter.com/pkCz6h669U Greg Price (@greg_price11) March 31, 2023 One of the ten-years-in-the-slammer memes can be seen here. Vaughn tweeted a photo of what looked like a Hillary ad, but was actually a parody of a Hillary ad. The caption read: Avoid the line. Vote from home. Text Hillary to 59925. Vote for Hillary and be a part of history. The Justice Unless You Support Trump Department explained that this was a heinous crime because Mackey conspired with other influential Twitter users and with members of private online groups to use social media platforms, including Twitter, to disseminate fraudulent messages that encouraged supporters of presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to vote via text message or social media which, in reality, was legally invalid. Yeah, wow, doggonit, that sounds terrible. Thousands, maybe even millions, of people, must have been bamboozled by the 107th most important influencer of the then-upcoming Presidential Election to send in a text and think they had voted, right? Wrong. The Justice Department, according to the Post Millennial, was unable to provide evidence that anyone was deceived by the meme. Not even a single person. Whats more, at least one memester on the other side did exactly the same thing, and was never arrested or tried and faces no prison time. On Nov. 8, 2016, which was election day, Kristina Wong tweeted a video of a Trump supporter with the caption: Hey Trump Supporters! Skip poll lines at #Election2016 and TEXT in your vote! Text votes are legit. Or vote tomorrow on Super Wednesday! Not only was Kristina Wong never prosecuted, but her tweet is still live. Yet she did exactly the same thing Douglass Mackey did. She just had the good sense to do it against Trump, rather than against Hillary. The rotten, corrupt, politicized remains of the Justice Department, however, were full to the brim of their own righteousness on Friday. U.S. Attorney Breon Peace proclaimed, Mackey has been found guilty by a jury of his peers of attempting to deprive individuals from exercising their sacred right to vote for the candidate of their choice in the 2016 Presidential Election. The contemporary American Left, one of the most impious and God-hating political movements in the history of the world, loves to affect piety at times like this, but Peaces statement was a particularly nauseating example of this phenomenon. The right to vote is sacred? No, Peace. Im all for voting in free, fair, unrigged elections, but be serious: the right to vote is not held as sacred in any religious tradition on the face of the earth. What youre actually saying is that your corrupt and self-serving system is part of your secular religion, and that Mackey is a heretic from that religion; he has been duly found guilty and will be burned at the stake. And this is just day one. Imagine what America will be like once the banana republic has been fully in power for a few years. Read more at: PJMedia.com (Natural News) At its annual investor meeting in Tampa, retail giant Walmart announced that over the next three years, it plans to convert 65 percent of its stores to a model of automation. In addition to laying off about 2,000 factory workers in the shorter term, the $388 billion multi-national corporation is eager to trim many more human employees in the coming years as it switches to a robot service format. Currently, Walmart employs about 1.7 million people in the United States, along with another 60,000 people elsewhere. The goal is to eliminate as many of these positions as possible in order to replace them with automation, which the company says will increase its profits. As the changes are implemented across the business, one of the outcomes is roles that require less physical labor but have a higher rate of pay, the Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer indicated in a filing. Over time, the company anticipates increased throughput per person due to the automation while maintaining or even increasing its number of associates as new roles are created. (Related: Walmart is a major contributor to Americas worsening opioid crisis.) By January 2026, more than half of all packages processed through Walmart fulfillment centers will be handled by robots To compete with Amazon, Walmart is slashing jobs left and right remember when it used to brag about slashing prices? and working towards automating pretty much everything except for the highest-paid corporate positions. By early 2026, the company wants to have 55 percent of the packages it processes at fulfillment centers handled by automated robots rather than real humans. This is expected to improve unit cost averages by about 20 percent. This increased efficiency will not only support better inventory management, but it will also support Walmarts rapidly growing e-commerce business, wrote Stephens Inc. analyst Ben Bienvenu in a note about these developments. One thing that Walmart refuses to answer are questions about whether these changes will result in any further layoffs beyond those that have already been announced. Many Walmart employees are worried about their low-paying jobs going kaput as company executives, eager to please shareholders while lining their own pockets, search for new ways to keep the charade going amid a collapsing economy. The company has already invested billions of dollars in new technology for its online order facilities, including the recent purchase of grocery robotics company Alert Innovation. Walmart is also partnering with companies like Knapp to reduce the number of steps it takes for employees to process e-commerce orders from 12 down to just five. CEO Doug McMillon said in a post-earnings call back in February that he is most excited about the automation opportunity we have that includes more than $15 billion in capital spending on automation technology. I do not like this trend at all, one commenter wrote about these developments. It stinks for the customers and the staff. The only ones to benefit are the owners. Another highlights McMillons lavish annual salary, which increased in 2021 to nearly $26 million. Gee, maybe with AI and robots, they can do away with his outrageously overpaid position, this person said. Its all about the money, said another in disgust. Who gives a hoot about the poor working man, right? Numerous others blasted Walmart for being a piss-poor retailer to begin with, complete with dingy, unkempt stores, generally unhappy employees, and a track record of anti-American, pro-China policies. Time to learn robot repair! DeVry Institute, joked another commenter about how the only jobs left when the fat cats are done raping the country will be for repairing all these automation devices unless they can figure out how to automate that, too. The latest news about the breakdown of American corporations as the world moves towards a major depression is available at Collapse.news. Sources for this article include: DailyMail.co.uk NaturalNews.com (Natural News) There is no more destructive force in the Western world today than left-wing ideology, which is rapidly destroying our civil societies throughout Europe and North America, and that is also true of Canada. Canadas leaders and media consistently act as an attorney to defend jihadis and the Islamic ideology that motivates these attacks, The Rair Foundation began in a post this week. On April 1, 2023, a passenger on a bus in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada was attacked by Abdul Aziz Kawam, who is Muslim. Kawam used a knife to slash the victims throat, despite the victims attempts to fight back and throw Kawam out of the back doors of the bus. The victim sustained life-threatening injuries. On Monday, prosecutors added four counts of terrorism to the initial charge of attempted murder against Kawam, 28. He is accused of acting for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a terrorist group, to wit: the Islamic State [ISIS]. The inclusion of the terrorism charges increases the potential sentence he could receive to life in prison, the report said. According to court documents, Kawam is also facing assault charges in a separate case for allegedly using a knife to attack another individual at a bus stop on the same day. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has stated that the attack was motivated by extremism and inspired by ISIS, the report continued. In a statement released by the RCMP, Assistant Commissioner Dwayne McDonald said: The attack was inspired by the violent ideology of a terrorist organization, and it represents a serious threat to public safety and our way of life. Open borders Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has condemned the attack, calling it a senseless act of violence and reaffirming the countrys commitment to fighting extremism and terrorism. The Rair Foundation noted further: As you can see by the police and Trudeaus statements, leaders and law enforcement officers across the West continue to go to great lengths to label the Muslim terrorist as an extremist who perverted the Islamic religion. Compounding the problem is leftists like Canadas Prime Minister, who are living in Western countries and do not allow any healthy discussion or reasonable concerns about Islam or Sharia. Instead, they act as attorneys to defend jihadis and the Islamic ideology that motivates attacks, as we just witnessed in Vancouver. Canadian news outlets and authorities were quick to suggest that Abdul Aziz Kawam may be suffering from mental illness. This approach is often used to protect Muslims who harm or pose a threat to non-Muslims. Critics argue that the left often defends the attacker and suggests that they might be experiencing psychological issues. In previous reports by the RAIR Foundation USA, it was noted that in almost all cases of attacks by jihadists or migrants in Europe, the media and politicians conceal the identity of the attackers. However, in rare instances where the identity and citizenship status of the attacker are revealed, they are often presented as possibly suffering from mental health issues. Sadly, this same tactic appears to have made its way to Canada, the report noted further. Despite attempts by Canadian leaders and media to defend Islam, Muslim terrorists worldwide share one common factor: they attribute their motivation and success to religion. The driving force behind Abdul Aziz Kawams actions and terrorist groups like ISIS is religious in nature, and not the work of an extremist. Their behavior and actions are a part of their belief system, which has enabled them to commit mass slaughter of non-believers, the report continued. Its impossible to meet and defeat your enemy if you refuse to identify him out of political correctness. Sources include: RairFoundation.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Chinas top lithium firms agreed to set a floor price for the metal amid dwindling demand, six individuals confirmed. Ten companies including Tianqi Lithium and Ganfeng Lithium that met on the sidelines of a conference in the city of Nanchang in Jiangxi province agreed on the lowest minimum price of 250,000 Chinese yuan ($36,350) per metric ton (MT) of lithium carbonate. One person who attended the March 28 meeting and five others informed of the discussions confirmed the move on condition of anonymity. Setting a floor price should strengthen the market sentiment and hold the prices from falling further, said the anonymous source who attended the March 28 closed-door talks. Participants at the meeting also mentioned the planned launch later this year of lithium carbonate futures on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange. The move confirmed by two sources could also help stabilize the prices of lithium a crucial component of batteries for electronic devices and electric vehicles (EVs). Ganfeng denied any negotiations on the floor price in an emailed reply to Reuters. A representative for the company stated that Ganfeng always insists that product prices should be determined by the market, and will never take the initiative to control prices to influence the market. Tianqi refused to comment, while Zhicun Lithium could not be reached. Zhicun, one of the leading lithium carbonate producers in China, was represented by four people during the March 28 meeting. The move to set a floor price comes as lithium prices drop on a critical slowdown in demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in China, the worlds biggest EV market. Spot prices have dropped by more than 60 percent since their peak in late November, with the decline picking up pace during the past few weeks. (Related: Lithium production setback will hinder EV growth; locals revolt over lithium mining impacts on water supplies.) Companies not likely to adhere to the floor price Based on a weekly price assessment by Fastmarkets, lithium spot prices fell to 220,000 yuan ($31,988) per MT on March 31 compared to 260,000 yuan ($37,804) a week prior. But it is still not clear how long the 10 companies, which account for more than half of Chinas lithium carbonate output, will keep the floor price. A buyer for a battery manufacturer, who did not attend the meeting of lithium producers, said offers as low as 150,000 yuan ($21,810) have also emerged as traders wanted to offload mounting stocks. Nevertheless, some buyers were doubtful that the producers would adhere to the floor price given the low demand. If we dont buy, someone will eventually drop the price, said a lithium carbonate buyer informed about the decision. Lithium prices had skyrocketed more than 10 times from early 2021 to a record 597,500 yuan ($86,876) per MT in November 2022, driven mainly by strong demand for EVs and limited supply of the metal. However, lithium prices are now down due to decreasing demand for electric cars and rising supplies of the metal. EVs that use lithium for their batteries are also facing intense competition from conventional vehicles. Several carmakers, including SAIC Volkswagen Automotive Co. and Geely Automobile, slashed prices on more than 40 models before stricter emissions rules in China take effect on July 1. Dealers and manufacturers of traditional, gas-powered vehicles are also reducing prices to clear their inventories of vehicles that do not meet the latest standard. Metals.news has more stories about lithium. Watch this G News report about how energy rationing in Sichuan, Chinas lithium mining hub, pushed up prices of the material to near-record highs. This video is from the Chinese taking down EVIL CCP channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Lithium supply not large enough to not meet ambitious global EV deadlines, mining CEO warns. Automakers slashing EV prices after government subsidies fail to prop up the industry. Lithium shortage spells disaster for Biden admins ill-fated crusade against gasoline-powered vehicles. Sources include: Mining.com OilPrice.com IBTimes.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Search engine giant Google has begun implementing cost-cutting measures, as confirmed by the companys chief financial officer. Google CFO Ruth Porat broke the news in a March 31 email sent to all employees of the Mountain View, California-based technology firm. Her email said the cost-cutting measures aimed to deliver durable savings through improved velocity and efficiency. The measures Porat cited in her email included the removal of some snack bars or microkitchens and the closure of cafeterias on days with modest traffic. Internal documents viewed by CNBC expounded on the measures Porat referenced in her email. Google employees not in engineering roles who need a new laptop will receive a Chromebook by default. According to a document, the shift provides the best opportunity across all of [Googles] managed devices to prevent external compromise. Another document mentioned reductions to existing employee perks that were originally designed for when staff members reported to the office five days a week. It stated that cafeterias may be shuttered on Mondays and Fridays, and under-utilized facilities may be permanently shut down. Now that most of us are in three days a week, weve noticed our supply/demand ratios are a bit out of sync, said the document. Weve baked too many muffins on a Monday, seen [company buses] run with just one passenger and offered yoga classes on a Friday afternoon when folks are more likely to be working from home. Even office supplies were not spared, according to a third directive seen by CNBC. The document from a Google office in San Francisco said staplers and tape dispensers are no longer being provided to print stations as part of a cost-effectiveness initiative. We have been asked to pull all tape/dispensers throughout the building. If you need a stapler or take, the receptionist desk has them to borrow. However, a Google spokesperson quickly debunked the directive about staplers and sticky tape: Staplers and tape continue to be provided to print stations. Any internal messages that claim otherwise are misinformed. Layoffs also part of Googles cost-cutting We set a high bar for industry-leading perks, benefits and office amenities and we will continue that into the future, Porat wrote in her email. However, some programs need to evolve for how Google works today. In January, Google announced that it would lay 0ff 12,000 jobs, about six percent of its workforce. The job cuts were part of moves to address slow sales growth after a rise in headcount. Porat described the January layoffs as among the hardest decisions weve had to make as a company in her email. But aside from layoffs, cost-cutting measures have also shown up in other forms. A previous CNBC report said Google declined to pay the remainder of laid-off employees maternity and sick leaves. The problem is not limited to Google, however. Earlier in March, Meta Platforms the parent company of Facebook and Instagram announced about 10,000 job cuts in the coming months as part of its year of efficiency. The company helmed by Mark Zuckerberg had earlier laid off about 11,000 employees last fall. (Related: Mark Zuckerberg announces plan to cut 10,000 Meta employees in the next 2 months.) Weve been here before. Back in 2008, our expenses were growing faster than our revenue. We improved machine utilization; narrowed our real estate investments; tightened our belt on [travel and expense] budgets, cafes, micro kitchens and mobile phone usage and removed the hybrid vehicle subsidiary, Porat wrote. Just as we did in 2008, well be looking at data to identify other areas of spending that arent as effective as they should be or that dont scale at our size. TechGiants.news has more stories about cost-cutting measures in various Big Tech companies. Watch this edition of the Rudyk Report that discusses more layoffs in the tech industry. This video is from the Rudyk Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Tech sector collapse continues in Bidenflation economy as Google latest to announce thousands of layoffs. Amazon to fire 20,000 employees the largest staff reduction in companys history. Get woke, go broke: Twitch streaming service to sack 36% of employees. IBM announces 3,900 layoffs as Big Tech financial struggles continue. Microsoft to cut 10,000 jobs in latest Big Tech layoffs. Sources include: CNBC.com WSJ.com Brighteon.com US Embassy in Yerevan welcomes to Armenia US Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary for Global Markets Arun Venkataraman, news.am informs, citing the embassy. April 7, 2023, 11:57 US Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary for Global Markets arrives in Armenia STEPANAKERT, APRIL 7 , ARTSAKHPRESS: During his April 6-8 visit, Assistant Secretary Venkataraman will meet with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and give opening remarks at the U.S.-Armenia Strategic Dialogue, during which he will underscore the United States interest in deepening commercial ties and promoting commercial partnerships between both countries, particularly in the energy sector, the US Embassy in Yerevan added. (Natural News) A federal judge has allowed a lawsuit holding the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) accountable over its defamatory hate group designation to proceed. On March 31, Senior U.S. District Judge William Keith Watkins ruled in favor of D.A. King, the president and founder of the Dustin Inman Society (DIS). The SPLC filed a lawsuit to dismiss Kings June 2022 complaint, which accused the civil rights group of smearing DIS as an anti-immigrant hate group despite lack of evidence. The Alabama-based SPLC was also accused of twisting the words of King and a DIS board member out of context. Watkins decision has allowed the lawsuit to proceed to the discovery phase, in which both parties can demand documents from each other to bolster their respective arguments. Prior to Kings complaint, many of the lawsuits seeking to hold the SPLC accountable for its hate group designation which the civil rights group has weaponized against mainstream conservative and Christian organizations have failed. Established in 2005, the DIS takes its name from 16-year-old Dustin Inman, who was killed in a car crash caused by Mexican illegal alien Gonzalo Harrell-Gonzalez back in 2000. It calls for more stringent border security, full implementation of immigration laws and an end to illegal immigration, the latter having seen an uptick during the Biden administration. (Related: ITS OFFICIAL! Joe Biden and Democrats Welcome 2 MILLION ILLEGAL ALIENS into US in fiscal year 2022! THE PLANNED DESTRUCTION IS REAL.) King expounded on his lawsuit in an emailed statement: After telling the Associated Press (AP) in 2011 that we were not a hate group, the SPLC changed their mind and made us an anti-immigrant hate group within days of their registering as active lobbyists against pro-enforcement, immigration-related legislation here in the Georgia Capitol. He cited remarks by the SPLCs Heidi Beirich, former director of its Intelligence Project, who initially described King as nativist. She told AP that time: His tactics have generally not been to get up in the face of actual immigrants and threaten them. Because he is fighting through the political process, that is not something we can quibble with, whether we like the law or not. Legal immigration now defined as hate by the SPLC King lamented that the SPLCs goal to paint the DIS as extremists and to marginalize [the society] in the eyes of state lawmakers and the media was largely successful. He is seeking a trial alongside compensatory and punitive damages from the SPLC. Moreover, King is also seeking a permanent injunction ordering the civil rights group to remove its accusations, issue a public retraction and publicly apologize to the DIS. According to the Daily Signal, while the SPLC brands [the DIS as] an anti-immigrant hate group, it does not point to any specific evidence that King or the society maligned an entire class of people.' It added that the DIS board of advisors actually consists of individuals with a variety of racial and immigrant backgrounds. Three Black women communications director Inger Eberhart, Everette Robinson and Catherine Davis are on the DIS advisory board. Three board members are also legal immigrants from Europe: Mary Grabar from Slovenia, Maria Litland from Austria and Sabine Durden-Coulter from Germany. Incidentally, Durden-Coulters son died in a car crash caused by a separate illegal alien in 2012. Moreover, Kings lawsuit accused the SPLC of twisting his remarks during a 2007 meeting of the Georgia Republican Club out of context. The civil rights group quoted the DIS founders warning that certain illegal immigrants are in the U.S. not to mow peoples lawns, but to blow up buildings and kill children. King sent a link to the original report, which revealed that the remarks pertained to illegal aliens from countries with known ties to terrorism. King sent the SPLC a demand letter in February 2020, ordering it to retract the hate group accusation against the DIS. However, the June 2022 lawsuit said the SPLC did not comply with this demand and instead continued to repeat the verifiably false fabrication and accusation. We want to not only defend our own reputation, but maybe make the SPLC think twice before they smear other honest pro-enforcement Americans, said King. The SPLC did not respond to the Daily Signals request for comment. Watch Alex Newman explain how the SPLC serves as a Deep State tool against Christians and conservatives below. This video is from The New American channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: EXPOSED: The SPLC is a hate group pretending to be an anti-hate group. SPLC works hand-in-hand with Antifa to target and terrorize conservatives in America. Discredited SPLC now claims group of singing nuns is a hate group while bigoted, violent Leftists are characterized as tolerant. Sources include: DailySignal.com TheDustinInmanSociety.org Brighteon.com (Natural News) How many times does the Democrat-dominant New York State legislature have to learn that the 2nd Amendment is larger than them? Apparently, at least once more. Judge Craig Stephen Brown declared New Yorks Red Flag law unconstitutional since a court cannot determine mental health issues. (Article by Dan Wos republished from AmmoLand.com) Judge Brown was asked to consider the legalities of New Yorks Red Flag law by attorneys for defendant Corey J Monroe. Monroe was subjected to a Red Flag firearms seizure order after he was alleged to have brandished and pointed a loaded shotgun at his neighbor during a verbal dispute. Monroe denied the allegations and called on the judge to throw out the Red Flag order against him. Brown vacated the Red Flag order against Monroe and ruled the law unconstitutional. Judge Brown made it clear that civil rights are being violated under New Yorks current Red Flag Law in the way the law currently allows for the ex parte confiscation of guns without due process. It would appear Albany Democrats were denied their gun-grab dreams yet again. New York State has just undergone a rash of school swatting calls showing how willing anti-gunners and troublemakers are to use any excuse they can to get gun owners arrested or send police on a wild goose chase. The recent school closings across the state due to false alarm shooting calls are proof. We know people cant be trusted if they can simply accuse a gun owner of being a risk to society, but that may be exactly what gun-grabbing politicians want. Under Mental Hygiene Law 9.39, a persons liberty rights cannot be curtailed unless a physician opines that a person is suffering from a condition likely to result in serious harm. Thats a roadblock that anti-gun legislatures dont believe they should have to deal with. Fortunately, Judge Brown saw through the charade and pointed out the fact that New Yorks Red Flag Law has no provision whatsoever requiring even a single medical or mental health expert opinion prior to the confiscation of lawful citizens firearms. Yet, the court is required to determine whether the respondent is likely to engage in behavior that would result in serious harm to himself, herself, or others. At least in the movie Minority Report, the mind of the person who is about to commit a crime could be read. New York Democrats have it set up so they can confiscate your guns based simply on what they think you might do. Judge Brown used a quote from McDonald v. Chicago when he said, Second Amendment rights are no less fundamental thanFourth Amendment rights (the right to liberty), and must be afforded the same level of due process and equal protection. Accordingly, this Court joins the Monroe County Supreme Court in holding that, under CPLR 63-a, in order to pass constitutional muster, the legislature must provide that a citizen be afforded procedural guarantees such as a physicians determination that a respondent presents a condition likely to result in serious harm, before a petitioner files for a [temporary extreme risk protection order] or [extreme risk protection order]. Since this standard is required to prevent a respondent from being deprived of fundamental rights under the Mental Hygiene Law, then anything less (as contained in 63-a) deprives a citizen of a fundamental right without due process of law. This Court declares [New Yorks Extreme Risk Protection Law] to be unconstitutional. The New York Supreme Court is the second highest court in the State under the Court of Appeals. Get ready, though, because you can bet Letitia James is getting her paperwork ready for an appeal. New York Democrats dont take no for an answer. Read more at: AmmoLand.com (Natural News) Donald Trump has been targeted by our corrupt FBI and Justice Department since the moment he came down the escalator in 2015 at Trump Tower in New York City to announce his run for the GOP presidential nomination, and hes finally had enough. The former president called on Republicans in Congress to temporarily defund the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Wednesday morning, a day after his arraignment in New York City, according to Breitbart News. REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS SHOULD DEFUND THE DOJ AND FBI UNTIL THEY COME TO THEIR SENSES, Trump noted in an all-caps post on his Truth Social platform, going on to note, correctly, that the Democrat-aligned deep state has hopelessly weaponized law enforcement and is now attempting to interfere in the 2024 election. He continued: THE DEMOCRATS HAVE TOTALLY WEAPONIZED LAW ENFORCEMENT IN OUR COUNTRY AND ARE VICIOUSLY USING THIS ABUSE OF POWER TO INTERFERE WITH OUR ALREADY UNDER SIEGE ELECTIONS! Trump made the statement on the morning after he spoke to a crowd at his Mar-a-Lago residence following his arraignment, which took place earlier that day. The courthouse saw a chaotic scene as anti-Trump protesters clashed with Trump supporters prior to the event, Breitbart News noted. An agreement appears to exist among Republicans that federal agencies are being utilized as a weapon against conservatives. According to a recent Insider Advantage survey, 79% of Republicans believe that the government has been weaponized against Republicans and conservatives, said the outlet, citing the survey results. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is among Republicans who have said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose campaign was financed, in part, by leftist billionaire George Soros, has weaponized our sacred justice system against the 45th president. Alvin Bragg has irreparably damaged our country in an attempt to interfere in our Presidential election. As he routinely frees violent criminals to terrorize the public, he weaponized our sacred system of justice against President Donald Trump. The American people will not tolerate this injustice, and the House of Representatives will hold Alvin Bragg and his unprecedented abuse of power to account, he tweeted in recent days. Alvin Bragg has irreparably damaged our country in an attempt to interfere in our Presidential election. As he routinely frees violent criminals to terrorize the public, he weaponized our sacred system of justice against President Donald Trump. The American people will not Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) March 30, 2023 The California Republican said on Tuesday that Bragg is attempting to interfere in our democratic process by invoking federal law to bring politicized charges against President Trump, admittedly using federal funds, while at the same time arguing that the peoples representatives in Congress lack jurisdiction to investigate this farce. McCarthy also warned that that the weaponization of the federal justice process will be held accountable by Congress, but its just not clear what that will entail. Alvin Bragg is attempting to interfere in our democratic process by invoking federal law to bring politicized charges against President Trump, admittedly using federal funds, while at the same time arguing that the peoples representatives in Congress lack jurisdiction to Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) April 4, 2023 As the aftermath of Braggs indictment of former President Donald Trump on bookkeeping charges this week unfolds, analysts are raising concerns that his political agenda against the likely GOP candidate for president in 2024 may have violated the U.S. Constitution. According to a report from Fox News, this involves the 6th Amendment, which requires that any criminal defendant be informed of the accusation against them. Fox News legal analyst Gregg Jarrett told Hannity that Bragg likely violated Trumps right to know specifically what hes accused of doing. He does [have to name it, via] the Sixth Amendment, Jarrett said. [The indictment] is therefore facially defective. It is deficient on its face and it would be susceptible to a motion-to-dismiss. Fox added, Jarrett questioned whether Bragg slept through constitutional law in his studies at Harvard, envisioning the prosecutor working late one evening in New York City, mumbling that Ive got to get Trump What crime? What crime? and that an office worker simply remarked, dont say anything. Sources include: USAJournal.com FoxNews.com Breitbart.com (Natural News) Brits might want to avoid ticks, says the government, because of a new tick-borne virus that supposedly eats away at the human brain. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued a warning after the disease was allegedly identified in four separate areas of the United Kingdom. The agency says the risk of infection is very low, but that people need to be aware about the possibility of catching it. Just like with the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19), the British government wants more testing and research to identify the risks. It also wants hospital staff to be on the lookout for its appearance. Since 2019, four cases of possible or confirmed tick-borne encephalitis, or TBE, have been identified in Great Britain. Two of these possible or confirmed cases occurred just last year. Prior to 2019, the disease, which is said to be endemic in rural and forested areas of central, eastern, and northern Europe, as well as in some Eurasian areas, had never before been seen in the UK. (Related: Lyme disease, which is also said to be spread by ticks, could be a government-made bioweapon.) TBE cases are being identified using fraudulent PCR tests, just like with covid In the four areas of England where TBE has possibly or for sure been identified, there are said to be two different circulating strains. Virus-carrying ticks were spotted in Thetford Forest in the east of England, as well as in the Hampshire and Dorset border, the New Forest in southern England, and the North Yorkshire Moors. The first known possible case of TBE in the UK was identified in 2019 when a European visitor became ill after getting a tick bite in the New Forest, Hampshire. That patient was later diagnosed as a highly probable case of TBE. The second known possible case occurred in 2020 in a patient from Hampshire. The third and fourth known possible cases occurred in September and October 2022 when two patients tested positive for the TBE virus using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, the same fraudulent test used for covid. One of these cases may have occurred in Scotland a few months prior while the other was likely to have occurred in the North Yorkshire Moors, according to the UKHSA. Hilariously, the UKHSA is blaming not just ticks but also unpasteurized milk for the possible spread of TBE to these four unidentified individuals. The average incubation period for tick-borne TBE is said to be about seven days, but just four days, roughly, for food-borne transmission. Someone infected with TBE may show mild flu-like symptoms, or perhaps no symptoms at all, just like with asymptomatic covid. In severe cases, a person with TBE may suffer an infection of the central nervous system. The UKHSA says it is possible that TBE was first brought into Great Britain by migratory birds or possibly other animals such as peoples pets. Next thing you know they will be blaming bat soup at the UKs nonexistent wet markets. Is a warning to avoid ticks really necessary? one commenter asked about the UKHSAs ludicrous public statements about how to avoid catching TBE. Who actively seeks them out? Another noted how suspicious it is that ticks are once again the breeding ground for this disease, especially since their carrying of Lyme disease seems tied to government bioweapons programs. Lyme disease was first noted in Lyme, Conn., which is very close to Plum Island, this person wrote. Plum Island was built after WWII to store and study diseases from around the globe. It was actually the beginning of the biosafety labs we have today. Lax security allowed several things to escape into our population including Lyme and West Nile Virus. Read Lab 257 by Michael Carroll for more info. The latest news about the new scary thing can be found at Plague.info. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) In anticipation of a possible nationwide ban on the abortion drug mifepristone, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee ordered the states Department of Corrections to buy up a three-year supply of the baby-killing pharmaceutical using state tax dollars, we have learned. Inslee first issued the directive to place the order last month, according to a government statement. Washington states Department of Corrections holds a pharmacy license and is thus legally permitted to dispense the abortion drug on demand. The entire shipment of the drug arrived on March 31 following a consideration by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, based out of Amarillo, Tex., to potentially order the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reconsider its 22-year-old approval for the pill, which is the most commonly used abortion drug in the United States. Health care should be decided by a patient and their [sic] doctor, not a judge in Texas, Inslee tweeted in celebration of the drug order, which he added will allow continued access to abortion on demand for all Washington residents. Today, I announced that Washington state has taken unprecedented action to purchase a three-year-supply of mifepristone, an abortion medication used safely for more than two decades, Inslee added. (Related: Abortion lovers everywhere were demanding this and now they have it, thanks to Inslee.) Inslee is violating the rule of law by storing and distributing pharmaceuticals illegally without a license Ever since the abolition of Roe v. Wade, the abortion debate has flared up and spread like wildfire across America. Leftists everywhere have been screeching like wild hyenas about their right to murder the unborn, and states have become divided on the issue. Washington, which leans far to the left, has taken the pro-murder position because, according to Inslee, abortion is an important part of womens health care. A ruling from Texas any day could jeopardize access to mifepristone nationwide, but this action ensures continued access for all patients in Washington, Inslee added in a statement. Thanks to legislators such as Sen. Karen Keiser and Rep. Jessica Bateman for supporting this effort. Jerrod Sessler, who is running for Congress in Washington state in the upcoming 2024 election, responded to Inslees tweets with one of his own condemning the decision. This heinous move aligns with your ineffective, always-damaging leadership, Sessler wrote to Inslee. You now murderously violate the rule of law by storing & distributing pharmaceuticals without the proper licensing. I pray this illegal & deadly stockpile becomes infested with maggots. Another blasted Inslee for his hypocritical statements about patients in Washington supposedly having the right to accept or reject a medicine under the care of their doctor without government interference. Healthcare should be decided by a patient and his doctor except when I, Kingslee, say you need to inject your body with a poison then healthcare is decided by me, this person mocked, referring to Inslees Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine mandate. Health care should be decided by a patient and their doctor, not a [politician demanding you get a Covid vaccine], wrote another towards the same end. Many on Twitter excoriated Inslee for spending taxpayer money without permission, while others questioned how the ruling is not exactly safe for unborn babies in Washington state. Safely? How many babies survived? one of them said, standing up for all the unborn children who will die because of Inslee. But you fired me from my job for making my own health care decision that was decided on by my doctor and myself? said another, referring to Inslees covid jab and masking requirements during the scamdemic. The West has become a death cult shrine to the murdered unborn. Learn more at Genocide.news. Sources for this article include: Reuters.com NaturalNews.com Scientists have learned that a conjuror needs a similar anatomy to their audience to fool them by executing a well-known magic trick on three species of monkeys with different hand morphologies. Using Sleight-of-Hand Tricks A psychological sleight-of-hand technique known as the French drop is used when a spectator believes an object is being taken from one hand by the hidden thumb of the other hand, according to American Museum of National History. The Comparative Cognition Lab at the University of Cambridge conducted the study, which revealed that monkeys without opposable thumbs did not fall for the fallacy and were aware of the whereabouts of sweet delicacies a magician attempted to make disappear. According to the research, it may be necessary to share a biomechanical skill to effectively predict how those paired limbs would move in other people. This holds even if an illusionist causes those ostensibly correct forecasts to fail miserably. The findings were released in the journal Current Biology today. Dr. Elias Garcia-Pelegrin, who has been practicing magic for ten years and did the experimental work while pursuing his Ph.D. at Cambridge, explained that magicians utilize complex strategies to trick the observer into believing the impossible, as reported by Science Daily. Also Read: Gorillas Invented Smart Way to "Talk" to their Human Handlers Evolutionary Concepts We can learn more about the evolutionary underpinnings of cognitive flaws that leave us vulnerable to the cleverness of magicians by examining how different primates experience the magic. According to Garcia-Pelegrin, who was recently hired as an assistant professor at the National University of Singapore, "In this case, whether having the manual capability to produce an action, such as holding an item between finger and thumb, is necessary for predicting the effects of that action in others." The French drop is a trick novice magicians use to predict the effects of an action.s. When the coin is no longer visible, the audience assumes it has been taken because they know the thumb is lurking and ready to grab. The magician had quietly put the penny into the palm of the first hand, drawing their attention to the second, only to discover it empty at "the reveal." Monkeys with opposable thumbs were rewarded with food treats instead of cash after correctly guessing which hand was showing. They practiced the French drop and were entertained with peanuts, dried mealworms, and marshmallows. Because of their renowned skill, capuchins use stone tools to break nuts in the wild. Each finger can be moved independently, and their opposable thumbs enable a "precision grip" between the thumb and forefingers. The French drop frequently (81% of the time) tricked the capuchins. They primarily selected the empty second-hand, which led to a shortage of peanuts. Squirrel monkeys can oppose their thumbs but are less nimble than capuchins and have limited thumb rotation. They cannot use a "precision grip" in the same manner as humans and capuchins, but mealworms that appeared to disappear frequently fooled squirrel monkeys (fooled 93% of the time). This suggests that a monkey doesn't need to be an expert in a movement to forecast it, merely able to accomplish it. Marmosets have opposable thumbs and fingers that line up to form five equally spaced digits for climbing large tree trunks and are only occasionally captured by magic. The Cambridge team discovered that species without any hands, such as Eurasian jays, make decisions resembling those of marmosets when faced with the French drop. They attempted to defeat the ruse by hand-to-hand transfers, but capuchins and squirrel monkeys were left out. They also created a variation of the French drop, called the "Power drop," which all monkey species can execute. Growing Evidence The study's principal author, Prof. Nicola Clayton FRS, is a professor at Cambridge University's Department of Psychology. "There is growing evidence that the same parts of the nervous system used when we act are also activated when we watch that action being performed by others," she said. This mirroring in our cerebral motor system may help explain why marmosets could not do the French drop as capuchin and squirrel monkeys could. Clayton continued, "It's about the manifestation of knowledge; how one's fingers and thumbs move influences how one thinks and what one assumes about the world, as well as what other people might observe, recall, and expect based on their expectations. Our research presents the intriguing idea that a person's physical makeup significantly impacts their perception, the memory of what they believe they saw, and the capacity to anticipate the manual movements of individuals around them. Related Article: Just Like Humans, Monkeys Observed Showing Signs of Choking Under Pressure For more animal news, don't forget to follow Nature World News! According to a tweet published by Ismail Demir on April 7, 2023, contracts have been signed for three new frigates under the Istanbul Class Frigates, which is a continuation of the MILGEM Project. The frigates will be built simultaneously in three separate private shipyards and delivered to the Turkish Navy within 36 months. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link Signature ceremony for three new Istanbul class frigates. (Picture source: SSB) STM, the designer and main contractor of the first ship of Turkey's national frigate project, the Istanbul class, TCG ISTANBUL, has signed a partnership agreement with TAIS OG for the construction of three new ships that will be the sisterships of ISTANBUL. At the contract ceremony held in Ankara, signatures were signed for the construction of three new frigates under the Istanbul class frigates. Within the scope of the MILGEM Project, which is carried out by the Presidency of Defense Industries, contracts were signed for the construction of three new MILGEM Istanbul (I) Class Frigates. The frigates, which will be built simultaneously in three private shipyards within 36 months, will be delivered to the Turkish Navy. The 6th, 7th, and 8th ships, which are the continuation of the MILGEM Project, will be equipped with national systems. MILGEM The MILGEM project is a national warship program managed by the Turkish Navy that aims to develop multipurpose corvettes, frigates, and destroyers for a range of missions. One of the products of this project is the Istanbul-class frigates, which are an enlarged version of the Ada-class anti-submarine corvette. The Istanbul-class frigates have enhanced endurance and multi-role capabilities, including the MDAS Vertical Launching System (VLS) for firing HISAR and other missiles. The Istanbul-class frigates will retain the guns, self-protection, and anti-submarine warfare systems of the Ada class, but with twice the number of anti-ship missiles and other systems for improved multi-role combat capabilities. These frigates are expected to play an important role in determining the design characteristics and development process of the TF-2000-class frigates, which will be significantly larger and more capable warships. The Istanbul class has a displacement of 3,000 tonnes, a length of 113.2 m (371 ft 5 in), a beam of 14.40 m (47 ft 3 in), and a draft of 4.05 m (13 ft 3 in). Its armament includes a variety of guns, missiles, and torpedoes, as well as a hangar and platform for an S-70B Seahawk ASW helicopter and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). A Perth father battling stage 4 cancer is facing the real possibility of living out of his car, as Perth's ongoing rental crisis continues to take a stranglehold on the city. Harry Slabbers was diagnosed with liver and bowel cancer 18 months ago, and despite reportedly having a major surgery scheduled for April 18, he has been forced to frantically search for a home for his partner and two children after their landlord decided to sell their Mandurah rental property. Harry Slabbers says he is putting on a brave face for his children and partner, despite the rental crisis creating more challenges during his cancer journey. Source: 9 News Despite his best efforts to secure another rental, the family are now only weeks away from being homeless. "Every viewing I go to, or Amy [his partner] goes to, there's 20 other families there every time," Harry told 9 News on Thursday. "My option is to sleep in a four-wheel-drive," he continued. Perth rental vacancy rates below expected for 'balanced market' According to real estate website reiwa.com, only 0.7 per cent of all available rental properties in the city were vacant in February, compared to 1.1 per cent at the same time last year. With such a limited number of properties available for prospective tenants, many viewings have seen hoards of people attend in the hope of scooping up one the limited homes available. The February vacancy rate was a three-year low, with the real estate website suggesting 2.5 to 3.5 per cent rental vacancy rate represents a balanced market, something that has not existed in Perth for a few years. A report from a Federal Government entity also revealed Western Australia was facing the largest housing shortfall in the country over the next five years. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. Pretty Kitty arrived at the Finger Lakes SPCA of CNY on Feb. 26. We believe she is about 3 years old. True to her name, Pretty Kitty is a beautiful domestic shorthair, dilute-tortoiseshell cat. Pretty Kitty enjoys both dry and/or wet food, but most of all, she likes to snack on tasty treats! Pretty Kitty just loves to nap inside her covered cat bed! She will peek her pretty face out to see what you are up to. She sometimes meows to make sure you are seeing just how adorable she is! While Pretty Kitty previously lived with children and cats, she is wary of new people and surroundings. In the beginning, Pretty Kitty would like to take some time to get used to her new home so she can get to know her new family member(s). S Lalitha By Express News Service BENGALURU: A drunk 30-year-old flyer on board an Indigo flight from Delhi to Bengaluru on Friday has been booked by the airport police under three stringent sections for attempting to open the flap on one of the emergency doors. The act did not compromise the safety of the flight, the airline though clarified. The view was seconded by a top aviation expert. The incident occurred on board Flight 6E 308, which departed from Indira Gandhi International Airport at 7.56 am. The opening of emergency exits in flights became a topic debated nationally after Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya "accidentally" opened the door of an Indigo flight (6E 7339) to Tiruchirappalli at the Chennai airport before take-off on December 10, 2022. It delayed the departure of the flight by hours. According to airport sources, R Prateek, who was in seat no. 18F was drunk and attempted to open the emergency flap, which is located above the handle. "He behaved in an unruly and aggressive manner too," said a top source. After the flight reached Bengaluru (10.43 am), he was handed over to the Central Industrial Security Force personnel. "He was taken to Aster Hospital test inside the airport premises for a Breath Analyser Test. The result came positive," another source said. Prateek, who has been detained at the airport police station, is a native of Kanpur and works as a marketing executive at a leading e-commerce firm. Confirming the incident, Indigo in a statement said, "A passenger travelling on Flight 6E 308 from Delhi to Bengaluru tried opening the flap of the emergency in an inebriated state. On noticing this violation, the crew alerted the captain and the passenger was appropriately cautioned. It did not compromise the safe operation of the said flight and the unruly passenger was handed over to CISF upon arrival in Bengaluru." Aviation Safety Consultant Captain Mohan Ranganathan said that opening the flap of the emergency door will not pose any safety issues. "When the flight is in air, it is in a pressurised state and all the exit doors are pressure-locked. There is no question of any of the doors opening mid-air at all," he explained. Unless the flight lands, the emergency doors cannot be opened. Deputy Commissioner of Police, North East, Anoop Shetty told The New Indian Express, "The flyer has been booked under IPC section 336 (Act endangering life or personal safety of others), Section 290 (Public Nuisance) and Section 11A (wilful non-compliance with directions) of the Aircraft Act 1934." He is being detained in the airport police station. He will be issued a notice under 41A Crpc and procedures followed, he added. BENGALURU: A drunk 30-year-old flyer on board an Indigo flight from Delhi to Bengaluru on Friday has been booked by the airport police under three stringent sections for attempting to open the flap on one of the emergency doors. The act did not compromise the safety of the flight, the airline though clarified. The view was seconded by a top aviation expert. The incident occurred on board Flight 6E 308, which departed from Indira Gandhi International Airport at 7.56 am. The opening of emergency exits in flights became a topic debated nationally after Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya "accidentally" opened the door of an Indigo flight (6E 7339) to Tiruchirappalli at the Chennai airport before take-off on December 10, 2022. It delayed the departure of the flight by hours.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); According to airport sources, R Prateek, who was in seat no. 18F was drunk and attempted to open the emergency flap, which is located above the handle. "He behaved in an unruly and aggressive manner too," said a top source. After the flight reached Bengaluru (10.43 am), he was handed over to the Central Industrial Security Force personnel. "He was taken to Aster Hospital test inside the airport premises for a Breath Analyser Test. The result came positive," another source said. Prateek, who has been detained at the airport police station, is a native of Kanpur and works as a marketing executive at a leading e-commerce firm. Confirming the incident, Indigo in a statement said, "A passenger travelling on Flight 6E 308 from Delhi to Bengaluru tried opening the flap of the emergency in an inebriated state. On noticing this violation, the crew alerted the captain and the passenger was appropriately cautioned. It did not compromise the safe operation of the said flight and the unruly passenger was handed over to CISF upon arrival in Bengaluru." Aviation Safety Consultant Captain Mohan Ranganathan said that opening the flap of the emergency door will not pose any safety issues. "When the flight is in air, it is in a pressurised state and all the exit doors are pressure-locked. There is no question of any of the doors opening mid-air at all," he explained. Unless the flight lands, the emergency doors cannot be opened. Deputy Commissioner of Police, North East, Anoop Shetty told The New Indian Express, "The flyer has been booked under IPC section 336 (Act endangering life or personal safety of others), Section 290 (Public Nuisance) and Section 11A (wilful non-compliance with directions) of the Aircraft Act 1934." He is being detained in the airport police station. He will be issued a notice under 41A Crpc and procedures followed, he added. By Express News Service KOCHI: Until two years ago, Ranju K was leading a healthy life as an employee with the Bahrain ministry. But his life turned upside down once he decided to help a friends father by donating his liver. He suffered a spinal stroke due to medical negligence on the part of a well-known hospital in Kochi, which left him completely paralysed. The 42-year-old and his sister Resmi are now pleading with everyone for financial assistance in order to lead a normal life. When my brother came here for a vacation, a friend approached him about donating a liver for his father. After the tests, the doctor determined that my brother is healthy for the transplant. However, things changed after the surgery, said Resmi, who is Ranjus sole surviving family member. Ranju underwent surgery in 2020. He had no hesitation in assisting his friend because he is well-educated. But the surgery changed his life. To cover the cost of treatment, we were forced to sell our property in Attingal. We need Rs 1.5 lakh every month to cover his medical expenses, says Resmi, who has already spent Rs 45 lakh in the last two years. Shockingly, his beneficiaries have also abandoned him. We saw his friend and father for the last time on the fifth day after the surgery. We attempted to contact them, but they ignored us. We would have been grateful had they come to visit us, says Resmi, who quit her high-paying job to care for her brother. Ranju, who is now receiving treatment at Aster Medcity, has been showing signs of improvement. We are now renting a house and have sold everything to pay for his treatment. After a few news organisations published articles about him, a few people stepped forward to assist him. However, he needs more assistance, she said. The family has also submitted an application for justice from the hospital. KOCHI: Until two years ago, Ranju K was leading a healthy life as an employee with the Bahrain ministry. But his life turned upside down once he decided to help a friends father by donating his liver. He suffered a spinal stroke due to medical negligence on the part of a well-known hospital in Kochi, which left him completely paralysed. The 42-year-old and his sister Resmi are now pleading with everyone for financial assistance in order to lead a normal life. When my brother came here for a vacation, a friend approached him about donating a liver for his father. After the tests, the doctor determined that my brother is healthy for the transplant. However, things changed after the surgery, said Resmi, who is Ranjus sole surviving family member. Ranju underwent surgery in 2020. He had no hesitation in assisting his friend because he is well-educated. But the surgery changed his life. To cover the cost of treatment, we were forced to sell our property in Attingal. We need Rs 1.5 lakh every month to cover his medical expenses, says Resmi, who has already spent Rs 45 lakh in the last two years.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Shockingly, his beneficiaries have also abandoned him. We saw his friend and father for the last time on the fifth day after the surgery. We attempted to contact them, but they ignored us. We would have been grateful had they come to visit us, says Resmi, who quit her high-paying job to care for her brother. Ranju, who is now receiving treatment at Aster Medcity, has been showing signs of improvement. We are now renting a house and have sold everything to pay for his treatment. After a few news organisations published articles about him, a few people stepped forward to assist him. However, he needs more assistance, she said. The family has also submitted an application for justice from the hospital. Vignesh Madhu By Express News Service The primary challenge for any filmmaker who sets out to make socially relevant films is to come up with an engaging narrative without being overtly preachy. If the narrative and craft arent captivating enough, its hard to interest the viewer with the characters and their conflicts. To put it bluntly, good intentions alone dont make good cinema. Thanks to some earnest storytelling, Shruthi Sharanyams debut feature ends up not just a well-intentional film but a well-made one too. The director picks five women and a transman from different walks of society to discuss the insecurities women have about their bodies. Despite inconsistencies, it is a commendable effort to explore a subject that has rarely been attempted in Malayalam cinema before. While watching B 32 Muthal 44 Vare, I could not help but think about Zachariayude Garbhinikal (2013). In Aneesh Anwars film, the narrative revolved around a gynaecologist and his five patients, whose stories were connected by unconventional pregnancies. Similarly, in B 32 Muthal 44 Vare, there are six protagonists whose stories are connected by one common themetheir relationships with their breasts. Among the protagonists in both these films is a teenage pregnant girl. However, the similarities end right there as the themes discussed in the two films are entirely different. The title B 32 Muthal 44 Vare, which refers to the bust sizes of womens innerwear, is apt for this film as it deals with how a womans breasts have a telling impact on the course of her life. Though not exactly an anthology, the screenplay is structured and divided like chapters, with each chapter named after the protagonist and their bust size. Malini (Ramya Nambessan) is a breast cancer survivor, who experiences compatibility issues with her husband post her Mastectomy. Ziya (Anarkali Marikar) is a transman with chest dysphoria. Nidhi (Raina) is an 11th-grade student, whose family tries to distance her from her newborn. Imaan (Zarin Shihab) is a young woman facing workplace discrimination because her features dont suit the companys beauty standards. Jaya (Ashwathy B) is a domestic help who is forced to take up lingerie modelling because of her familys financial burdens. Rachel (Krisha Kurup) is a budding actor who is assaulted by a director, who poses himself as a feminist filmmaker. A major problem when it comes to anthologies/films with multiple protagonists is that we dont get enough time to form a strong emotional connection. Most of the lead characters get only limited space and it becomes a daunting task for the makers to tell their stories convincingly within that time frame. Shruthis film also encounters this problem. Among the six stories, not all of them have the same depth and, as a result, emotional resonance. For example, the story of an aspiring actor and her casting couch experience has seen many iterations, and this film doesnt offer any fresh insight. Similarly, Ziyas character, which has a chilling introduction, is grossly underdeveloped in the larger scheme of things. Inspired by a real-life incident, it is a scene where a school boy casually asks if he can grope her. It is a disturbing moment that instantly helps the viewer understand how insecure the world out there is for a woman. However, we dont get to see enough of Ziya after that. It is also strange that a straight actor was chosen to play a trans person in a film that talks about such progressive politics. Shruthi displays glimpses of her true potential while handling the stories of Malini, Nidhi, Imaan, and Jaya. It is interesting how the relationship between Malini and her husband Vivek (Harish Uthaman) is showcased without getting into the familiar patriarchal and toxic traits angle. Vivek comes across as a caring and supportive husband but is also someone who is yet to come to terms with his wifes physical and mental changes post-surgery. The changing dynamics between them are carefully constructed and both actors efficiently handle it. Malinis arc from someone who chooses not to have kids to becoming a foster parent is also neatly developed. Apart from Malini, the other two characters who get well-defined arcs are Imaan and Jaya. With Imaan, the film offers an insight into how aesthetic labour works in the hospitality industry. Through her coming-of-age, the film attempts to challenge such beauty standards as an undesirable social construct. Similarly through Jayas transformation from a humble maid to someone who finds her true calling as a model, the film addresses the taboos surrounding modelling as a career option. Though the film begins with a depressing tone with all the characters wading through tough times, the narrative ends on a rather optimistic note by celebrating sisterhood. By the end of it all, we see a young boy standing clueless during a discussion about gender roles. Its nothing but a reflection of a harsh reality, and if films like B 32 Muthal 44 Vare can help spread some awareness, why not encourage? Film: B 32 Muthal 44 Vare Cast: Remya Nambessan, Anarkali Marikar, Zarin Shihab, Ashwathy, Raina Radhakrishnan, Krisha Kurup Director: Shruthi Sharanyam Rating: 3/5 The primary challenge for any filmmaker who sets out to make socially relevant films is to come up with an engaging narrative without being overtly preachy. If the narrative and craft arent captivating enough, its hard to interest the viewer with the characters and their conflicts. To put it bluntly, good intentions alone dont make good cinema. Thanks to some earnest storytelling, Shruthi Sharanyams debut feature ends up not just a well-intentional film but a well-made one too. The director picks five women and a transman from different walks of society to discuss the insecurities women have about their bodies. Despite inconsistencies, it is a commendable effort to explore a subject that has rarely been attempted in Malayalam cinema before. While watching B 32 Muthal 44 Vare, I could not help but think about Zachariayude Garbhinikal (2013). In Aneesh Anwars film, the narrative revolved around a gynaecologist and his five patients, whose stories were connected by unconventional pregnancies. Similarly, in B 32 Muthal 44 Vare, there are six protagonists whose stories are connected by one common themetheir relationships with their breasts. Among the protagonists in both these films is a teenage pregnant girl. However, the similarities end right there as the themes discussed in the two films are entirely different. The title B 32 Muthal 44 Vare, which refers to the bust sizes of womens innerwear, is apt for this film as it deals with how a womans breasts have a telling impact on the course of her life. Though not exactly an anthology, the screenplay is structured and divided like chapters, with each chapter named after the protagonist and their bust size. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Malini (Ramya Nambessan) is a breast cancer survivor, who experiences compatibility issues with her husband post her Mastectomy. Ziya (Anarkali Marikar) is a transman with chest dysphoria. Nidhi (Raina) is an 11th-grade student, whose family tries to distance her from her newborn. Imaan (Zarin Shihab) is a young woman facing workplace discrimination because her features dont suit the companys beauty standards. Jaya (Ashwathy B) is a domestic help who is forced to take up lingerie modelling because of her familys financial burdens. Rachel (Krisha Kurup) is a budding actor who is assaulted by a director, who poses himself as a feminist filmmaker. A major problem when it comes to anthologies/films with multiple protagonists is that we dont get enough time to form a strong emotional connection. Most of the lead characters get only limited space and it becomes a daunting task for the makers to tell their stories convincingly within that time frame. Shruthis film also encounters this problem. Among the six stories, not all of them have the same depth and, as a result, emotional resonance. For example, the story of an aspiring actor and her casting couch experience has seen many iterations, and this film doesnt offer any fresh insight. Similarly, Ziyas character, which has a chilling introduction, is grossly underdeveloped in the larger scheme of things. Inspired by a real-life incident, it is a scene where a school boy casually asks if he can grope her. It is a disturbing moment that instantly helps the viewer understand how insecure the world out there is for a woman. However, we dont get to see enough of Ziya after that. It is also strange that a straight actor was chosen to play a trans person in a film that talks about such progressive politics. Shruthi displays glimpses of her true potential while handling the stories of Malini, Nidhi, Imaan, and Jaya. It is interesting how the relationship between Malini and her husband Vivek (Harish Uthaman) is showcased without getting into the familiar patriarchal and toxic traits angle. Vivek comes across as a caring and supportive husband but is also someone who is yet to come to terms with his wifes physical and mental changes post-surgery. The changing dynamics between them are carefully constructed and both actors efficiently handle it. Malinis arc from someone who chooses not to have kids to becoming a foster parent is also neatly developed. Apart from Malini, the other two characters who get well-defined arcs are Imaan and Jaya. With Imaan, the film offers an insight into how aesthetic labour works in the hospitality industry. Through her coming-of-age, the film attempts to challenge such beauty standards as an undesirable social construct. Similarly through Jayas transformation from a humble maid to someone who finds her true calling as a model, the film addresses the taboos surrounding modelling as a career option. Though the film begins with a depressing tone with all the characters wading through tough times, the narrative ends on a rather optimistic note by celebrating sisterhood. By the end of it all, we see a young boy standing clueless during a discussion about gender roles. Its nothing but a reflection of a harsh reality, and if films like B 32 Muthal 44 Vare can help spread some awareness, why not encourage? Film: B 32 Muthal 44 Vare Cast: Remya Nambessan, Anarkali Marikar, Zarin Shihab, Ashwathy, Raina Radhakrishnan, Krisha Kurup Director: Shruthi Sharanyam Rating: 3/5 Yeshi Seli By Express News Service NEW DELHI: In the third week of March when individual charges were framed against the eight former Indian naval veterans in Doha, they were made to sign some documents by the Qatari authorities. Details of these are not known. A judicial trial based on the Qatar law has begun and the first hearing has already been conducted. There was uncertainty when the bail applications were being rejected continuously for months. Yet there was some hope of repatriation. After the Qatari court announced individual charges against the veterans, the optimism faded away. The officers have no clue what charges have been levelled against them, said a source. The first hearing took place on March 29 under the charges levelled against these veterans. The officials are in touch with their families but are tight-lipped about the charges. The next hearing will come up this month. Meanwhile, Congress MP, Jairam Ramesh, voiced concern about why despite India having good diplomatic relations with Qatar was not successful in repatriating the naval veterans. Friendly relations between two countries does not imply that people are above law. If there is a judicial process that needs to be followed it will take its course, said Ministry of External Affairs Arindam Bagchi in response to Jairam Ramesh. ALSO READ | As eight Navy veterans languish in solitary confinement in Doha, new Ambassador to Qatar faces uphill task No way home Around midnight of August 30, there was a knock on the door of each of the naval veterans. Qatar Interior Ministry officials told them that they had to accompany them for training. The officials never returned home and were kept in solitary confinement. Families began to lose patience after a month got over and the first hearing for a bail plea was held a month later. The first consular access was given on October 3. Eight bail pleas have been rejected. They were working for Dhara Consultancies for over five years. The CEO of the company an Omani Emir also came down to Doha to get his officials out but he was kept in solitary confinement too for two months after which he was released on bail. Families of the officials are permitted weekly meetings and home-cooked food was available until now NEW DELHI: In the third week of March when individual charges were framed against the eight former Indian naval veterans in Doha, they were made to sign some documents by the Qatari authorities. Details of these are not known. A judicial trial based on the Qatar law has begun and the first hearing has already been conducted. There was uncertainty when the bail applications were being rejected continuously for months. Yet there was some hope of repatriation. After the Qatari court announced individual charges against the veterans, the optimism faded away. The officers have no clue what charges have been levelled against them, said a source. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The first hearing took place on March 29 under the charges levelled against these veterans. The officials are in touch with their families but are tight-lipped about the charges. The next hearing will come up this month. Meanwhile, Congress MP, Jairam Ramesh, voiced concern about why despite India having good diplomatic relations with Qatar was not successful in repatriating the naval veterans. Friendly relations between two countries does not imply that people are above law. If there is a judicial process that needs to be followed it will take its course, said Ministry of External Affairs Arindam Bagchi in response to Jairam Ramesh. ALSO READ | As eight Navy veterans languish in solitary confinement in Doha, new Ambassador to Qatar faces uphill task No way home Around midnight of August 30, there was a knock on the door of each of the naval veterans. Qatar Interior Ministry officials told them that they had to accompany them for training. The officials never returned home and were kept in solitary confinement. Families began to lose patience after a month got over and the first hearing for a bail plea was held a month later. The first consular access was given on October 3. Eight bail pleas have been rejected. They were working for Dhara Consultancies for over five years. The CEO of the company an Omani Emir also came down to Doha to get his officials out but he was kept in solitary confinement too for two months after which he was released on bail. Families of the officials are permitted weekly meetings and home-cooked food was available until now Narendra Sethi By Express News Service DEHRADUN: Following the footsteps of Uttar Pradesh, the Uttarakhand government has decided to remove chapters on Mughals from their textbooks. How Islam emerged and what was the contribution of the Mughal rulers in the history of India? the school children of Uttarakhand will no longer get to read such chapters in history books. After this decision of the state government, the history of Mughal rulers has become 'history' for school children. In neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, the students of Class 10th to 12th, all the streams of UP Secondary Education Board (UPSEB) would not be reading history related to Mughal courts, the industrial revolution and the Partition of the country, as per NCERT prescription. However, the teachers of UP Board felt that the changes in the syllabus in the science subjects would have an adverse impact on students preparing for NEET. Meanwhile, commenting on the changes, UPSEB secretary Dibyakant Shukla said that the students of UP Board would read the books of NCERT with the changes from the academic session 2023-24 as the UP Board students go by the NCERT syllabus. ALSO READ | 'Ammi'& 'Abbu': Uttarakhand man irked by what son has learnt in Class II, wants English book banned In Uttarakhand, according to the information received in the state capital, Children of the state will no longer read the history of Mughals. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) pattern is applicable in government schools here, under which changes in NCERT will be implemented from this year. The NCERT has decided to remove the history of the Mughals from the history books for the upcoming academic session 2023-24. Chapters on Rise of Islam, Clash of Cultures, Industrial Revolution and Beginning of Time will be removed from the syllabus of the Class 11 textbook. NCERT academicians and experts have taken such a decision and will definitely prove effective in terms of changing the perspective, state Director General of Education Banshidhar Tiwari told this daily. The NCERT syllabus needs to be studied now, definitely new subjects must have been added to it, said Tiwari. When contacted by this newspaper, BJP state spokesperson Virendra Bisht said, CM Dhami is also focusing on teaching what is inspirational for children. Children behave according to what will be taught and what will be given in their studies. Mughals can neither be an inspiration nor a source of inspiration. Therefore, the removal of the Mughal period chapter is a welcome step, said Bisht. Meanwhile, Congress state spokesperson Garima Dasuoni took a dig at the government's decision, "Debating on whose history has disappeared and whose has been kept is meaningless. The only thing that matters is that after 2014, India has become 'independent'. History is being written in a new way. In such a situation, who will be glorified in this history and who will be made secondary, it will be decided by the one who is in power, which is exactly what the BJP is doing." DEHRADUN: Following the footsteps of Uttar Pradesh, the Uttarakhand government has decided to remove chapters on Mughals from their textbooks. How Islam emerged and what was the contribution of the Mughal rulers in the history of India? the school children of Uttarakhand will no longer get to read such chapters in history books. After this decision of the state government, the history of Mughal rulers has become 'history' for school children. In neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, the students of Class 10th to 12th, all the streams of UP Secondary Education Board (UPSEB) would not be reading history related to Mughal courts, the industrial revolution and the Partition of the country, as per NCERT prescription.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); However, the teachers of UP Board felt that the changes in the syllabus in the science subjects would have an adverse impact on students preparing for NEET. Meanwhile, commenting on the changes, UPSEB secretary Dibyakant Shukla said that the students of UP Board would read the books of NCERT with the changes from the academic session 2023-24 as the UP Board students go by the NCERT syllabus. ALSO READ | 'Ammi'& 'Abbu': Uttarakhand man irked by what son has learnt in Class II, wants English book banned In Uttarakhand, according to the information received in the state capital, Children of the state will no longer read the history of Mughals. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) pattern is applicable in government schools here, under which changes in NCERT will be implemented from this year. The NCERT has decided to remove the history of the Mughals from the history books for the upcoming academic session 2023-24. Chapters on Rise of Islam, Clash of Cultures, Industrial Revolution and Beginning of Time will be removed from the syllabus of the Class 11 textbook. NCERT academicians and experts have taken such a decision and will definitely prove effective in terms of changing the perspective, state Director General of Education Banshidhar Tiwari told this daily. The NCERT syllabus needs to be studied now, definitely new subjects must have been added to it, said Tiwari. When contacted by this newspaper, BJP state spokesperson Virendra Bisht said, CM Dhami is also focusing on teaching what is inspirational for children. Children behave according to what will be taught and what will be given in their studies. Mughals can neither be an inspiration nor a source of inspiration. Therefore, the removal of the Mughal period chapter is a welcome step, said Bisht. Meanwhile, Congress state spokesperson Garima Dasuoni took a dig at the government's decision, "Debating on whose history has disappeared and whose has been kept is meaningless. The only thing that matters is that after 2014, India has become 'independent'. History is being written in a new way. In such a situation, who will be glorified in this history and who will be made secondary, it will be decided by the one who is in power, which is exactly what the BJP is doing." Harpreet Bajwa By Express News Service CHANDIGARH: Akal Takht (the highest temporal seat of Sikhs) Jathedar (high priest) Giani Harpreet Singh has scheduled the Gurmat Samagam on Baisakhi from April 12 to 15 at Takht Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo near Bathinda, almost ruling out the chances of calling Sarbat Khalsa (religious congregation) as demanded by radical preacher and fugitive Amritpal Singh. A statement issued by the Jathedar has appealed to the people to attend the religious meeting in huge numbers. He said he was already organizing a programme on the current situation in Punjab and the role and status of Punjabi media on April 7 at Talwandi Sabo in which journalists have been invited. Ahead of gatherings, a heavy police force has been deployed at Talwandi Sabo to maintain law and order and face any untoward situation. The police anticipate that Amritpal Singh might surrender before the Jathedar during the event. The state and Central intelligence agencies are on alert. Sikh organization Dal Khalsa has opposed the convening of Sarbat Khalsa on Baisakhi (April 13) at Takht Damdama Sahib. Dal Khalsa leader Kanwar Pal Singh said the timing and the ground situation are neither conducive nor appropriate to convene it. He said that after the gathering under the nomenclature of Sarbat Khalsa was held at Chabba in November 2015, there was a vertical split in the community. Today, Sikhs are a divided house and divisions are at all levels political, social or religious. In such a fluid situation, calling of a Sarbat Khalsa may further create controversy and divisions, he added. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has said that convening of Sarbat Khalsa is the sole prerogative of the Akal Takht. Amritpal Singh earlier sought meet to discuss issues concerning the Sikh community. Agencies on alert The state and Central intelligence agencies are on alert. Sikh organization Dal Khalsa has opposed the convening of Sarbat Khalsa on Baisakhi (April 13) at Takht Damdama Sahib. CHANDIGARH: Akal Takht (the highest temporal seat of Sikhs) Jathedar (high priest) Giani Harpreet Singh has scheduled the Gurmat Samagam on Baisakhi from April 12 to 15 at Takht Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo near Bathinda, almost ruling out the chances of calling Sarbat Khalsa (religious congregation) as demanded by radical preacher and fugitive Amritpal Singh. A statement issued by the Jathedar has appealed to the people to attend the religious meeting in huge numbers. He said he was already organizing a programme on the current situation in Punjab and the role and status of Punjabi media on April 7 at Talwandi Sabo in which journalists have been invited. Ahead of gatherings, a heavy police force has been deployed at Talwandi Sabo to maintain law and order and face any untoward situation. The police anticipate that Amritpal Singh might surrender before the Jathedar during the event. The state and Central intelligence agencies are on alert. Sikh organization Dal Khalsa has opposed the convening of Sarbat Khalsa on Baisakhi (April 13) at Takht Damdama Sahib. Dal Khalsa leader Kanwar Pal Singh said the timing and the ground situation are neither conducive nor appropriate to convene it. He said that after the gathering under the nomenclature of Sarbat Khalsa was held at Chabba in November 2015, there was a vertical split in the community.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Today, Sikhs are a divided house and divisions are at all levels political, social or religious. In such a fluid situation, calling of a Sarbat Khalsa may further create controversy and divisions, he added. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has said that convening of Sarbat Khalsa is the sole prerogative of the Akal Takht. Amritpal Singh earlier sought meet to discuss issues concerning the Sikh community. Agencies on alert The state and Central intelligence agencies are on alert. Sikh organization Dal Khalsa has opposed the convening of Sarbat Khalsa on Baisakhi (April 13) at Takht Damdama Sahib. The Skaneateles Library Board of Trustees has unanimously approved the hiring of Oudens Ello Architecture, of Boston, to design the library's future new home at 75 Fennell St. The library's building committee recommended the award-winning firm after a six-month process. It reached out to 21 library-focused firms, reviewed 11 responses to a request for proposals, and invited four firms for in-person meetings in Skaneateles. Committee members made trips to Ohio, Vermont and Massachusetts to visit three finalists and view at least two of each's libraries. "We were very pleased with the caliber and experience of the candidate firms," library board President Susanne Guske said in a news release, adding that Oudens Ello "seemed to be in a league of their own" and "universally highly recognized." The committee did a great job pulling together a comprehensive plan to find the right architects for this important community project," Guske continued. Oudens Ello has completed 15 public library projects since 2010. Committee chair David Hempson said, "It was almost uncanny how Oudens Ellos design and interpretation of space aligned exactly with our vision," and praised the firm for its "beautiful libraries with elements of surprise and delight" that take advantage of natural light and provide spaces of civic scale with intimate appeal. The firm has experience with net-zero and sustainable libraries, which was important to the committee, Hempson added. Library Director Nickie Marquis said the new library, located along Skaneateles Creek, has the opportunity to be a beautiful, sustainable building that preserves and celebrates green space. Preliminary library designs from Oudens Ello are expected by the end of June, and final drawings by March 2024. The library is meanwhile conducting a capital campaign to raise funds for the building. For more information, visit skanlibrary.org or call (315) 685-5135. Skaneateles Library closes on purchase of land for new site The future home of the Skaneateles Library is official, as the library association and the town of Skaneateles closed on the sale of 75 Fennel By Express News Service NEW DELHI: As Covid-19 cases touched 6,050, the highest in 202 days, Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday held a review meeting with state health ministers and directed them to identify emergency hotspots, ramp up testing and ensure hospital infrastructure readiness. He also asked state health ministers to review preparedness for Covid-19 management with district administrations and public health officials on April 8 and 9 and to visit the health facilities and review the mock drills to be conducted on April 10 and 11. After the meeting, the minister tweeted, Chaired a meeting to review COVID-19 situation with the Health Ministers of the States & Union Territories. Stressed on increasing covid testing & genome sequencing along with following COVID-appropriate behaviour. We have to be alert & avoid spreading any unnecessary fear. ALSO READ | 400% rise in Covid-19 cases in India in two weeks, but testing yet to pick up Requested all the health ministers to review health facilities and infrastructure in their respective states & also visit the hospital on April 10 & 11 when a COVID mock drill will be conducted across the country, he tweeted. On Friday, 13 deaths were reported in the country. India has been witnessing a steady increase in Covid-19 cases, with average daily cases rising to 4,188 in the week ending April 7 from 571 in the week ending April 17, and weekly positivity up to 3.02% in the week ending April 7. 88,503 average daily cases have been reported globally simultaneously, with the top five countries contributing 62.6% of global issues in the last week. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is closely tracking one variant of interest, XBB.1.5 and six other variants are also being monitored -BQ.1, BA.2.75, CH.1.1, XBB, XBF and XBB.1.16. The minister said that while Omicron and its sub-lineages remain the predominant variant, most assigned variants have little or no significant transmissibility, disease severity or immune escape. ALSO READ | India's rising Covid cases: Experts say common cold-like spread suggests endemicity, urge precaution The prevalence of XBB.1.16 increased from 21.6% in February to 35.8% in March. However, no evidence of an increase in hospitalisation or mortality has been reported, he said. Present at the meeting were Chief Minister of Puducherry N Rangaswamy, who also holds the health portfolio, Kerala Health Minister Veena George, Tamil Nadu Health Minister Thiru Ma Subramanian, Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Vidadala Rajini, Telangana Health Minister Thanneeru Harish Rao, Odisha Health Minister Niranjan Pujari, Maharashtra Health Minister Tanaji Sawant, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj among others. Officials said 25 health ministers were present at the meeting called to review the public health preparedness for containment and management of Covid-19 and the progress of the national Covid-19 vaccination campaign, given the recent upsurge in cases in some states. Though, health ministers of West Bengal and Bihar did not attend the meet, their officials participated in the virtual meet. NEW DELHI: As Covid-19 cases touched 6,050, the highest in 202 days, Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday held a review meeting with state health ministers and directed them to identify emergency hotspots, ramp up testing and ensure hospital infrastructure readiness. He also asked state health ministers to review preparedness for Covid-19 management with district administrations and public health officials on April 8 and 9 and to visit the health facilities and review the mock drills to be conducted on April 10 and 11. After the meeting, the minister tweeted, Chaired a meeting to review COVID-19 situation with the Health Ministers of the States & Union Territories. Stressed on increasing covid testing & genome sequencing along with following COVID-appropriate behaviour. We have to be alert & avoid spreading any unnecessary fear.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); ALSO READ | 400% rise in Covid-19 cases in India in two weeks, but testing yet to pick up Requested all the health ministers to review health facilities and infrastructure in their respective states & also visit the hospital on April 10 & 11 when a COVID mock drill will be conducted across the country, he tweeted. On Friday, 13 deaths were reported in the country. India has been witnessing a steady increase in Covid-19 cases, with average daily cases rising to 4,188 in the week ending April 7 from 571 in the week ending April 17, and weekly positivity up to 3.02% in the week ending April 7. 88,503 average daily cases have been reported globally simultaneously, with the top five countries contributing 62.6% of global issues in the last week. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is closely tracking one variant of interest, XBB.1.5 and six other variants are also being monitored -BQ.1, BA.2.75, CH.1.1, XBB, XBF and XBB.1.16. The minister said that while Omicron and its sub-lineages remain the predominant variant, most assigned variants have little or no significant transmissibility, disease severity or immune escape. ALSO READ | India's rising Covid cases: Experts say common cold-like spread suggests endemicity, urge precaution The prevalence of XBB.1.16 increased from 21.6% in February to 35.8% in March. However, no evidence of an increase in hospitalisation or mortality has been reported, he said. Present at the meeting were Chief Minister of Puducherry N Rangaswamy, who also holds the health portfolio, Kerala Health Minister Veena George, Tamil Nadu Health Minister Thiru Ma Subramanian, Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Vidadala Rajini, Telangana Health Minister Thanneeru Harish Rao, Odisha Health Minister Niranjan Pujari, Maharashtra Health Minister Tanaji Sawant, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj among others. Officials said 25 health ministers were present at the meeting called to review the public health preparedness for containment and management of Covid-19 and the progress of the national Covid-19 vaccination campaign, given the recent upsurge in cases in some states. Though, health ministers of West Bengal and Bihar did not attend the meet, their officials participated in the virtual meet. By PTI NEW DELHI: Cheetahs released into the wild are exploring their habitat and it's a very good sign, a senior environment ministry official has said after a spotted feline strayed out of Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park recently. State forest officials on Friday said that Oban, one of the eight cheetahs brought from Namibia in September last year, had strayed out of the Kuno National Park on April 2. It was rescued from a forest area in a neighbouring Shivpuri district on Thursday evening and released into the national park again, they said. Additional Director General of Forests S P Yadav told PTI that such movement of cheetahs is a natural phenomenon and there is nothing to worry about. "Four cheetahs have been released completely. They are free ranging in the wild. Their movement is natural. We are happy that cheetahs are moving and exploring the areas and based on the exploration they identify their suitable habitat," Yadav, who is also the head of Project Tiger, said in an interview with PTI. "It is a very good sign that they are exploring other areas. It's a natural phenomenon and there is nothing to worry about. But I must tell you that every cheetah which has been released in Kuno is monitored round the clock," he said. The senior official said the government has appointed "Cheetah mitras" to familiarise the local populations with the felines and minimise potential conflicts. Forest officials in Madhya Pradesh have trained around 400 "cheetah mitras" from 51 villages. Those trained include school teachers, village headmen and patwaris. "And if at all any conflict takes place with small animals like sheep, goats etc, our compensation plan is ready. They (owners) will be adequately compensated," Yadav said. Under the ambitious Cheetah reintroduction programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the first batch of eight spotted felines -- five females and three males -- from Namibia into a quarantine enclosure at Kuno in Madhya Pradesh on his 72nd birthday on September 17 last year. One of the Namibian cheetahs, Sasha, died due to a kidney-related ailment on Monday, forest and wildlife officials in Madhya Pradesh said. Another cheetah, Siyaya, gave birth to four cubs and they were first spotted on March 29. In a second such translocation, 12 cheetahs were flown in from South Africa and released into Kuno on February 18. Cheetah is the only large carnivore that got completely wiped out from India due to overhunting and habitat loss. The last cheetah died in the Koriya district of present-day Chhattisgarh in 1947 and the species was declared extinct in 1952. NEW DELHI: Cheetahs released into the wild are exploring their habitat and it's a very good sign, a senior environment ministry official has said after a spotted feline strayed out of Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park recently. State forest officials on Friday said that Oban, one of the eight cheetahs brought from Namibia in September last year, had strayed out of the Kuno National Park on April 2. It was rescued from a forest area in a neighbouring Shivpuri district on Thursday evening and released into the national park again, they said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Additional Director General of Forests S P Yadav told PTI that such movement of cheetahs is a natural phenomenon and there is nothing to worry about. "Four cheetahs have been released completely. They are free ranging in the wild. Their movement is natural. We are happy that cheetahs are moving and exploring the areas and based on the exploration they identify their suitable habitat," Yadav, who is also the head of Project Tiger, said in an interview with PTI. "It is a very good sign that they are exploring other areas. It's a natural phenomenon and there is nothing to worry about. But I must tell you that every cheetah which has been released in Kuno is monitored round the clock," he said. The senior official said the government has appointed "Cheetah mitras" to familiarise the local populations with the felines and minimise potential conflicts. Forest officials in Madhya Pradesh have trained around 400 "cheetah mitras" from 51 villages. Those trained include school teachers, village headmen and patwaris. "And if at all any conflict takes place with small animals like sheep, goats etc, our compensation plan is ready. They (owners) will be adequately compensated," Yadav said. Under the ambitious Cheetah reintroduction programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the first batch of eight spotted felines -- five females and three males -- from Namibia into a quarantine enclosure at Kuno in Madhya Pradesh on his 72nd birthday on September 17 last year. One of the Namibian cheetahs, Sasha, died due to a kidney-related ailment on Monday, forest and wildlife officials in Madhya Pradesh said. Another cheetah, Siyaya, gave birth to four cubs and they were first spotted on March 29. In a second such translocation, 12 cheetahs were flown in from South Africa and released into Kuno on February 18. Cheetah is the only large carnivore that got completely wiped out from India due to overhunting and habitat loss. The last cheetah died in the Koriya district of present-day Chhattisgarh in 1947 and the species was declared extinct in 1952. Anuraag Singh By Express News Service BHOPAL: The weakest assembly seats for the Congress may well see the most surprising faces as candidates of the grand old party in the year-end polls in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh. According to sources, the party is exploring the possibility of fielding newcomers, including young faces from the film and television world (who may be new to politics, but their families have been sworn Congress ideology backers from generations) on the weakest seats. The new candidates may also include social media icons/influencers and celebrity orators, who have a big fan following. These saffron strongholds on which BJP has been invincible for decades are particularly spread in Malwa-Nimar, Bundelkhand, Vindhya and Central MP regions. There are around 66 weak seats, which the Congress has failed to win since the last two to six or eight polls. Such seats, include Govindpura seat of Bhopal which has been BJPs citadel since 1980, Rehli in Sagar district of Bundelkhand, where the party has been losing to BJP since 1985, Indore-II, Khandwa (BJP winning since 1990), Indore-II and Sagar seats (saffron forts since 1993), Naryawali, Indore-V, Neemuch and Jawad (BJP winning since 2003) and Mandsaur and Narela-Bhopal (won by sitting BJP MLAs since 2008). State Congress president Kamal Nath has made it clear multiple times that candidates in the weakest seats would be decided first (six months before polls). Former CM and Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh has been tasked with preparing the party for these seats. He is regularly touring these constituencies and holding open dialogues with party workers there. State Congress sources also claimed that the party may not only finalize candidates first on the 60-odd weak seats but also on 30-40 seats, which are its strongest bets. BHOPAL: The weakest assembly seats for the Congress may well see the most surprising faces as candidates of the grand old party in the year-end polls in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh. According to sources, the party is exploring the possibility of fielding newcomers, including young faces from the film and television world (who may be new to politics, but their families have been sworn Congress ideology backers from generations) on the weakest seats. The new candidates may also include social media icons/influencers and celebrity orators, who have a big fan following. These saffron strongholds on which BJP has been invincible for decades are particularly spread in Malwa-Nimar, Bundelkhand, Vindhya and Central MP regions.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); There are around 66 weak seats, which the Congress has failed to win since the last two to six or eight polls. Such seats, include Govindpura seat of Bhopal which has been BJPs citadel since 1980, Rehli in Sagar district of Bundelkhand, where the party has been losing to BJP since 1985, Indore-II, Khandwa (BJP winning since 1990), Indore-II and Sagar seats (saffron forts since 1993), Naryawali, Indore-V, Neemuch and Jawad (BJP winning since 2003) and Mandsaur and Narela-Bhopal (won by sitting BJP MLAs since 2008). State Congress president Kamal Nath has made it clear multiple times that candidates in the weakest seats would be decided first (six months before polls). Former CM and Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh has been tasked with preparing the party for these seats. He is regularly touring these constituencies and holding open dialogues with party workers there. State Congress sources also claimed that the party may not only finalize candidates first on the 60-odd weak seats but also on 30-40 seats, which are its strongest bets. By PTI KAUSHAMBI: Attacking Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his recent remarks in the UK, Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that it's not democracy that is in danger, but "your family" and the idea of dynasty politics that is under threat. Addressing a public meeting after inaugurating the Kaushambi Mahotsav, Shah accused the Congress of surrounding Indian democracy with three "naasuron" (ulcerous wounds) - casteism, dynasty politics and appeasement. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi defeated all three and hence "you are afraid," he added. "They say democracy is in danger, brother, democracy is not in danger, your family is in danger. It is not the idea of India, which is in danger, it is the idea of dynasty, your politics of 'parivarvad' (dynasty), which is in danger. It is not the democracy of India, but the autocracy of your family, which is in danger," the senior BJP leader said. During a visit to the UK last month, Gandhi alleged the structures of Indian democracy were under "brutal attack" and a full-scale assault on the country's institutions was underway. His remarks triggered a war of words between the BJP and Congress. The BJP accused Gandhi of "insulting" the country on foreign soil and demanded an apology, but the Congress leader said his position that India's democracy was under attack "was known" to all. Shah also hit out at the Congress party for allegedly not allowing Parliament to function. "Yesterday, the Parliament was adjourned. In the history of independent India, it has never happened that the Budget Session ended without a sitting and discussion.What was the reason? Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as Lok Sabha MP," the Union minister said. On March 18, a Surat court sentenced Gandhi for two years in jail in a criminal defamation case filed over his remark against people with the surname "Modi", but allowed him 30 days to appeal in a higher court. A day later, the Lok Sabha Secretariat issued a notification suspending his Lok Sabha membership. The Congress accused the BJP of indulging in "vindictive politics" but the ruling party said it was the law. On Friday, addressing the gathering in Kaushambi, Shah asked, "Who brought the law?" He also said Gandhi was not the only leader whose membership has "gone" after sentencing by a court. "So far, the membership of 17 MLAs-MPs has gone, including that of Rahul Gandhi." The Union minister asked Gandhi to "follow the law "and secure acquittal from a higher court. "Friends, I wish to tell Rahul Gandhi he should follow the law, which is the 'dharma' of every citizen. You were an MP. You could have challenged the punishment and fought in court. You have sacrificed the time of Parliament. The people of this country will never forgive you," Shah said. Exhorting the people to vote for BJP again in 2024 general election, Shah also slammed the Congress, SP and the BSP for allegedly delaying the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. "All of us wanted Ram Temple in Ayodhya to be built at the birthplace of Lord Ram. The Congress kept it (the issue) hanging, the SP diverted it, and the BSP lingered it. Modi ji laid the foundation stone of the temple, and soon you will see Lord Ram seated in his temple," Shah said. He also said that Uttar Pradesh was moving ahead on the path of development under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. In 2014, the people of UP reposed their faith in PM Modi. "In 2017, when I was the BJP chief, the BJP won a record number of 325 seats (in UP) and Modi ji made Yogi ji chief minister. In 2019, the SP, BSP and Congress got united, but all of them were defeated, and Modi ji once again became the prime minister. After this, in 2022 (UP assembly elections) you made Yogi ji the chief minister again," Shah said. "Modi ji has made the country prosperous and enhanced the pride of the country. And the Congress people say 'Modi teri kabra khudegi' (Modi your grave will be dug). I want to tell these Congress people that whether it is Sonia ji, Rahul ji or anybody else, whenever abuses are hurled at Modi ji, the public has made the lotus bloom in the mud of these abuses in a strong manner," Shah asserted. "Rahul Baba, this time again Modi ji's government is going to be formed with '300-paar' (over 300 Lok Sabha seats)," he claimed. Meanwhile, Apna Dal (Kamerwadi) MLA from Sirathu constituency (in Kaushambi district), Pallavi Patel claimed she was put under house arrest at her party office and not allowed to welcome the home minister. However, Additional Superintendent of Police Samar Bahadur dismissed Pate KAUSHAMBI: Attacking Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his recent remarks in the UK, Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that it's not democracy that is in danger, but "your family" and the idea of dynasty politics that is under threat. Addressing a public meeting after inaugurating the Kaushambi Mahotsav, Shah accused the Congress of surrounding Indian democracy with three "naasuron" (ulcerous wounds) - casteism, dynasty politics and appeasement. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi defeated all three and hence "you are afraid," he added.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "They say democracy is in danger, brother, democracy is not in danger, your family is in danger. It is not the idea of India, which is in danger, it is the idea of dynasty, your politics of 'parivarvad' (dynasty), which is in danger. It is not the democracy of India, but the autocracy of your family, which is in danger," the senior BJP leader said. During a visit to the UK last month, Gandhi alleged the structures of Indian democracy were under "brutal attack" and a full-scale assault on the country's institutions was underway. His remarks triggered a war of words between the BJP and Congress. The BJP accused Gandhi of "insulting" the country on foreign soil and demanded an apology, but the Congress leader said his position that India's democracy was under attack "was known" to all. Shah also hit out at the Congress party for allegedly not allowing Parliament to function. "Yesterday, the Parliament was adjourned. In the history of independent India, it has never happened that the Budget Session ended without a sitting and discussion.What was the reason? Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as Lok Sabha MP," the Union minister said. On March 18, a Surat court sentenced Gandhi for two years in jail in a criminal defamation case filed over his remark against people with the surname "Modi", but allowed him 30 days to appeal in a higher court. A day later, the Lok Sabha Secretariat issued a notification suspending his Lok Sabha membership. The Congress accused the BJP of indulging in "vindictive politics" but the ruling party said it was the law. On Friday, addressing the gathering in Kaushambi, Shah asked, "Who brought the law?" He also said Gandhi was not the only leader whose membership has "gone" after sentencing by a court. "So far, the membership of 17 MLAs-MPs has gone, including that of Rahul Gandhi." The Union minister asked Gandhi to "follow the law "and secure acquittal from a higher court. "Friends, I wish to tell Rahul Gandhi he should follow the law, which is the 'dharma' of every citizen. You were an MP. You could have challenged the punishment and fought in court. You have sacrificed the time of Parliament. The people of this country will never forgive you," Shah said. Exhorting the people to vote for BJP again in 2024 general election, Shah also slammed the Congress, SP and the BSP for allegedly delaying the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. "All of us wanted Ram Temple in Ayodhya to be built at the birthplace of Lord Ram. The Congress kept it (the issue) hanging, the SP diverted it, and the BSP lingered it. Modi ji laid the foundation stone of the temple, and soon you will see Lord Ram seated in his temple," Shah said. He also said that Uttar Pradesh was moving ahead on the path of development under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. In 2014, the people of UP reposed their faith in PM Modi. "In 2017, when I was the BJP chief, the BJP won a record number of 325 seats (in UP) and Modi ji made Yogi ji chief minister. In 2019, the SP, BSP and Congress got united, but all of them were defeated, and Modi ji once again became the prime minister. After this, in 2022 (UP assembly elections) you made Yogi ji the chief minister again," Shah said. "Modi ji has made the country prosperous and enhanced the pride of the country. And the Congress people say 'Modi teri kabra khudegi' (Modi your grave will be dug). I want to tell these Congress people that whether it is Sonia ji, Rahul ji or anybody else, whenever abuses are hurled at Modi ji, the public has made the lotus bloom in the mud of these abuses in a strong manner," Shah asserted. "Rahul Baba, this time again Modi ji's government is going to be formed with '300-paar' (over 300 Lok Sabha seats)," he claimed. Meanwhile, Apna Dal (Kamerwadi) MLA from Sirathu constituency (in Kaushambi district), Pallavi Patel claimed she was put under house arrest at her party office and not allowed to welcome the home minister. However, Additional Superintendent of Police Samar Bahadur dismissed Pate Mayank Singh By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Indian Army has allocated the first batch of women officers to join its combat stream in May. It was in January that the Indian Army decided to induct women into the Regiment of Artillery. Of the close to 40 women officers about to pass out of the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai, close to 10 officers have been allotted the Artillery, said a source. The passing out parade at the OTA will be held this month-end when the trainee officers will be commissioned into the various arms of the Indian Army. After spending some time at home on leave, the officers will report to their assigned units. The Indian Army decided in January to begin the induction of women into combat arms in the near future beginning with the Regiment of Artillery. As per the Ministry of Defence, the combat employment philosophy of women in the armed forces is an evolving process being regularly reviewed by them. The Regiment of Artillery is said to be the second largest arm of the Indian Army with close to 300 units, after the infantry. Artillery with its missiles, guns, mortars, rocket launchers and unmanned aerial vehicles is also described as an Arm of Decision. As of now, the women officers have not been granted permanent commissions into Infantry, Armoured, Artillery and Mechanised Infantry. There are 1,705 women officers in the Indian Army into 10 arms and services viz. Corps of Engineers, Corps of Signals, Army Air Defence, Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps, Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Army Aviation Corps, Intelligence Corps, Judge Advocate General Branch and Army Education Corps in addition to the Armed Forces Medical Services. The Indian Air Force pioneered in inducting women into combat roles beginning with three women officers commissioned as fighter pilots in June 2016. IAF has commissioned 15 women fighter pilots to date. Women officers are now being inducted in all combat roles into the force. The Indian Navy, from December 2022, has decided to open every branch of the service, including the Submarine and Aviation, for its women officers and the Personnel Below Officers Rank (PBOR) from 2023 pursuant to its gender-neutral approach. The Indian Navy has already deputed 28 women officers onboard ships. Women officers are also deployed in combat roles onboard naval aircraft/ship-borne helicopters. Yet to be granted permanent commission As of now, the women officers have not been granted permanent commissions into Infantry, Armoured, Artillery and Mechanised Infantry. The Indian Navy has already deputed 28 women officers onboard ships. Women officers are also deployed in combat roles onboard naval aircraft/ship-borne helicopters Poised to join Arm of Decision Around 40 women officers are about to pass out. Close to 10 of them will join Artillery The Regiment of Artillery is said to be the second largest arm with close to 300 units, after the infantry. Artillery is also described as an Arm of Decision There are 1,705 women officers into 10 arms and service NEW DELHI: The Indian Army has allocated the first batch of women officers to join its combat stream in May. It was in January that the Indian Army decided to induct women into the Regiment of Artillery. Of the close to 40 women officers about to pass out of the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai, close to 10 officers have been allotted the Artillery, said a source. The passing out parade at the OTA will be held this month-end when the trainee officers will be commissioned into the various arms of the Indian Army. After spending some time at home on leave, the officers will report to their assigned units. The Indian Army decided in January to begin the induction of women into combat arms in the near future beginning with the Regiment of Artillery. As per the Ministry of Defence, the combat employment philosophy of women in the armed forces is an evolving process being regularly reviewed by them.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Regiment of Artillery is said to be the second largest arm of the Indian Army with close to 300 units, after the infantry. Artillery with its missiles, guns, mortars, rocket launchers and unmanned aerial vehicles is also described as an Arm of Decision. As of now, the women officers have not been granted permanent commissions into Infantry, Armoured, Artillery and Mechanised Infantry. There are 1,705 women officers in the Indian Army into 10 arms and services viz. Corps of Engineers, Corps of Signals, Army Air Defence, Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps, Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Army Aviation Corps, Intelligence Corps, Judge Advocate General Branch and Army Education Corps in addition to the Armed Forces Medical Services. The Indian Air Force pioneered in inducting women into combat roles beginning with three women officers commissioned as fighter pilots in June 2016. IAF has commissioned 15 women fighter pilots to date. Women officers are now being inducted in all combat roles into the force. The Indian Navy, from December 2022, has decided to open every branch of the service, including the Submarine and Aviation, for its women officers and the Personnel Below Officers Rank (PBOR) from 2023 pursuant to its gender-neutral approach. The Indian Navy has already deputed 28 women officers onboard ships. Women officers are also deployed in combat roles onboard naval aircraft/ship-borne helicopters. Yet to be granted permanent commission As of now, the women officers have not been granted permanent commissions into Infantry, Armoured, Artillery and Mechanised Infantry. The Indian Navy has already deputed 28 women officers onboard ships. Women officers are also deployed in combat roles onboard naval aircraft/ship-borne helicopters Poised to join Arm of Decision Around 40 women officers are about to pass out. Close to 10 of them will join Artillery The Regiment of Artillery is said to be the second largest arm with close to 300 units, after the infantry. Artillery is also described as an Arm of Decision There are 1,705 women officers into 10 arms and service Narendra Sethi By Express News Service DEHRADUN: Four children were killed in a massive fire that broke out in a multi-storey house last evening near Tuni Bridge, 155 km from the capital, due to the explosion of a cylinder. #WATCH | Four people died during a massive fire that broke out in a house last evening near Tuni bridge in Dehradun district. Several fire tenders reached the spot and doused the fire: District administration pic.twitter.com/UUlmIDIFYo ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) April 7, 2023 The fire was so fierce that the entire house was gutted which leads to the explosion of other cylinders, kept in the house, one after another. According to police sources, the fire broke out in Surat Ram Joshi's four-storey building in Tuni at 4 pm. Along with the landlord, five families live on rent in the building. The tenants had five children, two men and a woman inside the house at the time of the fire. In the evening, one of the renters, Vicky's wife Kusum was changing the LPG cylinder in the kitchen, when suddenly the cylinder caught fire. Kusum tried to extinguish the fire, but the fire started engulfing the house. According to SDRF personnel engaged in fire fighting and rescue work, "When members of other families raised an alarm after seeing smoke coming out of the house, nearby villagers rushed to the spot. On receiving information from the police and fire brigade, local teams rushed to the spot to douse the fire. It is said that due to the low water in the vehicle, it was finished in just ten minutes. By the time the fire brigade team came back with water, the fire had engulfed the entire house". The Uttarkashi DM sent a fire brigade vehicle from Mori, but by then it was too late. Four children inside the house died in the fire. The deceased have been identified as Gunjan (10), daughter of Trilok, Of Jakta, Tuni; Riddhi (10) daughter of Jaylal of Biktad, Himachal Pradesh; Adira alias Mishti (6) daughter of Vicky Chauhan of Patala, Tuni and Sejal (3) daughter of Vicky Chauhan of Patala, Tuni. Others -- Vicky Chauhan, Bhagat, Kusum and Swati (15) suffered burn injuries. They somehow got out. Kusum's condition is critical and she has been referred to a higher centre. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Congress regional MLAs Pritam Singh, Munna Singh Chauhan and Zila Panchayat president Madhu Chauhan expressed deep grief over the accident. DEHRADUN: Four children were killed in a massive fire that broke out in a multi-storey house last evening near Tuni Bridge, 155 km from the capital, due to the explosion of a cylinder. #WATCH | Four people died during a massive fire that broke out in a house last evening near Tuni bridge in Dehradun district. Several fire tenders reached the spot and doused the fire: District administration pic.twitter.com/UUlmIDIFYo ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) April 7, 2023 The fire was so fierce that the entire house was gutted which leads to the explosion of other cylinders, kept in the house, one after another.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); According to police sources, the fire broke out in Surat Ram Joshi's four-storey building in Tuni at 4 pm. Along with the landlord, five families live on rent in the building. The tenants had five children, two men and a woman inside the house at the time of the fire. In the evening, one of the renters, Vicky's wife Kusum was changing the LPG cylinder in the kitchen, when suddenly the cylinder caught fire. Kusum tried to extinguish the fire, but the fire started engulfing the house. According to SDRF personnel engaged in fire fighting and rescue work, "When members of other families raised an alarm after seeing smoke coming out of the house, nearby villagers rushed to the spot. On receiving information from the police and fire brigade, local teams rushed to the spot to douse the fire. It is said that due to the low water in the vehicle, it was finished in just ten minutes. By the time the fire brigade team came back with water, the fire had engulfed the entire house". The Uttarkashi DM sent a fire brigade vehicle from Mori, but by then it was too late. Four children inside the house died in the fire. The deceased have been identified as Gunjan (10), daughter of Trilok, Of Jakta, Tuni; Riddhi (10) daughter of Jaylal of Biktad, Himachal Pradesh; Adira alias Mishti (6) daughter of Vicky Chauhan of Patala, Tuni and Sejal (3) daughter of Vicky Chauhan of Patala, Tuni. Others -- Vicky Chauhan, Bhagat, Kusum and Swati (15) suffered burn injuries. They somehow got out. Kusum's condition is critical and she has been referred to a higher centre. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Congress regional MLAs Pritam Singh, Munna Singh Chauhan and Zila Panchayat president Madhu Chauhan expressed deep grief over the accident. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: With government employees renewing their agitation for the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme and the same becoming a political issue ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Centre has formed a four-member panel to address their grievances about the New Pension System (NPS). The committee will look into the need for changes in the existing framework of the NPS, and suggest changes keeping in mind the fiscal implications and budgetary constraints. It may also consult with state governments before arriving at any recommendations. According to the Centre, NPS is fiscally more prudent. The four-member panel will be headed by finance secretary T V Somanathan. Chairman of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority; secretary, Ministry of Personnel; and special secretary (personnel), Dept of Expenditure will be the other members. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had recently told Parliament that a committee under the Union finance secretary would be formed. The move comes at a time when government employees, including in states governed by the BJP, have launched an agitation in favour of the restoration of the Old Pension System. Why old is gold Under the old pension scheme, also called the defined benefit pension, the bulk of the contribution towards pension accounts comes from the government. In the New Pension Scheme, the pension amount is decided based on the contribution of the employees NEW DELHI: With government employees renewing their agitation for the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme and the same becoming a political issue ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Centre has formed a four-member panel to address their grievances about the New Pension System (NPS). The committee will look into the need for changes in the existing framework of the NPS, and suggest changes keeping in mind the fiscal implications and budgetary constraints. It may also consult with state governments before arriving at any recommendations. According to the Centre, NPS is fiscally more prudent. The four-member panel will be headed by finance secretary T V Somanathan. Chairman of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority; secretary, Ministry of Personnel; and special secretary (personnel), Dept of Expenditure will be the other members. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had recently told Parliament that a committee under the Union finance secretary would be formed. The move comes at a time when government employees, including in states governed by the BJP, have launched an agitation in favour of the restoration of the Old Pension System. Why old is gold Under the old pension scheme, also called the defined benefit pension, the bulk of the contribution towards pension accounts comes from the government. In the New Pension Scheme, the pension amount is decided based on the contribution of the employees Amit Mukherjee By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Union home ministry on Thursday recommended a CBI probe into the Indian arm of the international non-profit organisation Oxfam over charges of non-compliance and violations under the Foreign Currency (Regulation) Act. Though the transfer of foreign funds to other entities in India like NGOs was prohibited since September 29, 2020, Oxfam India continued to do so, the home ministry alleged. In a statement, Oxfam India said it is fully compliant with Indian laws and has filed all its statutory compliances, including FCRA returns, in a timely manner since its inception. However, emails found during an income tax survey by the Central Board of Direct Taxes revealed that Oxfam India was also planning to circumvent FCRA provisions by routing funds to other FCRA-registered associations or through the for-profit consultancy route. The survey is also said to have outed it as a "probable instrument of foreign policy of international organisations and entities" that funded Oxfam India liberally over the years. Sources said Oxfam India routed funds to the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) through its associates/employees in the form of a commission. Oxfam Indias TDS data shows a payment of Rs 12,71,188 to the CPR in 2019-20 under section 194J. Oxfam India is the second NGO against whom the home ministry has recommended a CBI probe. On March 20, the ministry recommended the probe against Aman Biradari, an NGO established by human rights activist Harsh Mander. READ MORE | MHA recommends CBI probe on Harsh Mander's NGO for FCRA 'violation' Officials said between 2018 and 2022, the FCRA registration of 1,827 NGOs were cancelled due to violation of its provisions and rules. As on March 10, 2023, there were 16,383 FCRA-registered organisations. A total amount of Rs 55,449 crore in foreign funding has been received by Indian NGOs in the last three years. An amount of Rs 16,306.04 crore was received by NGOs across the country in 2019-20, Rs 17,058.64 crore in 2020-21, and Rs 22,085.10 crore in 2021-22, the Rajya Sabha was informed last month. READ MORE: FCRA licence of think tank Centre for Policy Research suspended Surveillance & Clampdown: 'NGOs to be linked to central data hub with unique ID' NEW DELHI: The Union home ministry on Thursday recommended a CBI probe into the Indian arm of the international non-profit organisation Oxfam over charges of non-compliance and violations under the Foreign Currency (Regulation) Act. Though the transfer of foreign funds to other entities in India like NGOs was prohibited since September 29, 2020, Oxfam India continued to do so, the home ministry alleged. In a statement, Oxfam India said it is fully compliant with Indian laws and has filed all its statutory compliances, including FCRA returns, in a timely manner since its inception. However, emails found during an income tax survey by the Central Board of Direct Taxes revealed that Oxfam India was also planning to circumvent FCRA provisions by routing funds to other FCRA-registered associations or through the for-profit consultancy route. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The survey is also said to have outed it as a "probable instrument of foreign policy of international organisations and entities" that funded Oxfam India liberally over the years. Sources said Oxfam India routed funds to the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) through its associates/employees in the form of a commission. Oxfam Indias TDS data shows a payment of Rs 12,71,188 to the CPR in 2019-20 under section 194J. Oxfam India is the second NGO against whom the home ministry has recommended a CBI probe. On March 20, the ministry recommended the probe against Aman Biradari, an NGO established by human rights activist Harsh Mander. READ MORE | MHA recommends CBI probe on Harsh Mander's NGO for FCRA 'violation' Officials said between 2018 and 2022, the FCRA registration of 1,827 NGOs were cancelled due to violation of its provisions and rules. As on March 10, 2023, there were 16,383 FCRA-registered organisations. A total amount of Rs 55,449 crore in foreign funding has been received by Indian NGOs in the last three years. An amount of Rs 16,306.04 crore was received by NGOs across the country in 2019-20, Rs 17,058.64 crore in 2020-21, and Rs 22,085.10 crore in 2021-22, the Rajya Sabha was informed last month. READ MORE: FCRA licence of think tank Centre for Policy Research suspended Surveillance & Clampdown: 'NGOs to be linked to central data hub with unique ID' Ramashankar By Express News Service PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday once again warned of stern action against those involved in recent incidents of communal disturbances during Ram Navami processions in Biharsharif and Sasaran. Talking to media persons, Nitish said, Nobody found to be involved in vitiating communal harmony and peace will be spared. The investigation is underway and people involved in instigating mobs will be dealt with sternly. Nitish's comments came barely a few hours after JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh reminded people of stern action initiated against a union minister's son, who was charged with instigating mobs for violence during a religious procession in Bhagalpur about five years ago. The minister's son had surrendered before the police in a dramatic way in Patna's Hanuman temple premises from where he was taken into custody and subsequently produced in a local court. The minister's son is currently on bail in the case. Meanwhile, union minister and Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party supremo Pashupati Kumar Paras demanded a CBI probe into recent communal violence in Biharsharif and Sasaran in the state. He said the incident reminded people of the 1990 era when Lalu's RJD was in power in the state. Paras said that he was not satisfied with the investigation being conducted by the state police and also apprehended that the investigation may be influenced by chief minister Nitish Kumar for political reasons. I appeal from union home minister Amit Shah to seek a report from Governor on communal violence in the state, he asserted. PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday once again warned of stern action against those involved in recent incidents of communal disturbances during Ram Navami processions in Biharsharif and Sasaran. Talking to media persons, Nitish said, Nobody found to be involved in vitiating communal harmony and peace will be spared. The investigation is underway and people involved in instigating mobs will be dealt with sternly. Nitish's comments came barely a few hours after JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh reminded people of stern action initiated against a union minister's son, who was charged with instigating mobs for violence during a religious procession in Bhagalpur about five years ago.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The minister's son had surrendered before the police in a dramatic way in Patna's Hanuman temple premises from where he was taken into custody and subsequently produced in a local court. The minister's son is currently on bail in the case. Meanwhile, union minister and Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party supremo Pashupati Kumar Paras demanded a CBI probe into recent communal violence in Biharsharif and Sasaran in the state. He said the incident reminded people of the 1990 era when Lalu's RJD was in power in the state. Paras said that he was not satisfied with the investigation being conducted by the state police and also apprehended that the investigation may be influenced by chief minister Nitish Kumar for political reasons. I appeal from union home minister Amit Shah to seek a report from Governor on communal violence in the state, he asserted. By Express News Service GUWAHATI: President Droupadi Murmu, who inaugurated the Gaj Utsav-2023 at the Kaziranga National Park in Assam on Friday, took a jeep safari and fed elephants. She saw animals including one-horned rhinos, wild buffaloes, deer and birds, officials said. Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Gaj Utsav, the President highlighted the sacred relationship between nature and humanity. The culture of respecting nature has been the identity of our country. In India, nature and culture have been linked to each other and have been receiving nourishment from each other, Murmu said. Elephants have been the most respected in our tradition. They have been considered a symbol of prosperity. The elephant is the national heritage animal of India. Therefore, protecting elephants is an important part of our national responsibility to preserve our national heritage, the President said. She said actions, which are in the interest of nature, animals and birds, are also in the interest of humanity and Mother Earth. The forests and green areas of elephant reserves are very effective carbon sinks, she said. All of us will be benefited from the conservation of elephants and it will also help in facing the challenges of climate change. Participation of society along with the government is necessary for such efforts, Murmu said. The President said the human-elephant conflict has been an issue for centuries. It is found that a barrier created in the natural habitat or movement of elephants is the root cause of the conflict, she said. She noted that protecting elephants, conserving their natural habitats and keeping elephant corridors free from obstruction are the main objectives of Project Elephant. She said solving the problems related to the conflict is also the aim of this project. The President said Assams Kaziranga and Manas National Parks are invaluable heritage not only of India but of the whole world. Noting that Assam has the second largest population of wild elephants in the country, she said it was apt that the Gaj Utsav was organised at Kaziranga. The event marked 30 years of Project Elephant. Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Bhupendra Yadav were among the dignitaries who attended the event. GUWAHATI: President Droupadi Murmu, who inaugurated the Gaj Utsav-2023 at the Kaziranga National Park in Assam on Friday, took a jeep safari and fed elephants. She saw animals including one-horned rhinos, wild buffaloes, deer and birds, officials said. Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Gaj Utsav, the President highlighted the sacred relationship between nature and humanity. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The culture of respecting nature has been the identity of our country. In India, nature and culture have been linked to each other and have been receiving nourishment from each other, Murmu said. Elephants have been the most respected in our tradition. They have been considered a symbol of prosperity. The elephant is the national heritage animal of India. Therefore, protecting elephants is an important part of our national responsibility to preserve our national heritage, the President said. She said actions, which are in the interest of nature, animals and birds, are also in the interest of humanity and Mother Earth. The forests and green areas of elephant reserves are very effective carbon sinks, she said. All of us will be benefited from the conservation of elephants and it will also help in facing the challenges of climate change. Participation of society along with the government is necessary for such efforts, Murmu said. The President said the human-elephant conflict has been an issue for centuries. It is found that a barrier created in the natural habitat or movement of elephants is the root cause of the conflict, she said. She noted that protecting elephants, conserving their natural habitats and keeping elephant corridors free from obstruction are the main objectives of Project Elephant. She said solving the problems related to the conflict is also the aim of this project. The President said Assams Kaziranga and Manas National Parks are invaluable heritage not only of India but of the whole world. Noting that Assam has the second largest population of wild elephants in the country, she said it was apt that the Gaj Utsav was organised at Kaziranga. The event marked 30 years of Project Elephant. Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Bhupendra Yadav were among the dignitaries who attended the event. PHELPS Immigration and labor were hot topics at the third farm bill listening session U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney held this week in the 24th Congressional District, which includes all of Cayuga County. Tenney, R-Canandaigua, heard from farmers and stakeholders at Phelps Community Center in Ontario County on Thursday. While there were other issues raised during the nearly two-hour forum, several speakers discussed the need for immigration reform and to ensure farms had reliable labor. Kim Skellie, a partner at El-Vi Farms in Wayne County and a member of the New York Farm Bureau's state board, highlighted the importance of immigration reform and a "quantified labor source of foreign-born workers." "Americans have largely opted of wanting to do farm work," Skellie said. However, immigration reform has been elusive in Congress. For years, Democrats and Republicans have failed to reach an agreement on comprehensive immigration reform legislation. There have been some near-misses, including a proposal late last year that had bipartisan support. But the last Congress ended without a vote on the plan. One concern Skellie raised is that some Republicans, notably U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, want an e-verify system in place before any immigration reform legislation is considered. If that happens, Skellie warned that e-verify would lead to several foreign-born workers being sent home. He called for immigration reform legislation that would provide farmworkers with some form of legalized status or an agriculture-specific immigration measure. Tenney, who is a proponent of stronger border security, acknowledges that action is needed to ensure farms have access to workers. She supported the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, a bill that received bipartisan support and passed the House in 2021. She voted for the legislation. However, it did not advance in the Senate. Immigration and labor problems are not limited to traditional farms like Skellie's. Bruce Murray, who owns Boundary Breaks Vineyard in Seneca County, said he started to participated in the federal H-2A program for temporary agricultural laborers four years ago due to the "realization that the issue of legal and non-legal workers had reached a breaking point." "Those workers are essential to the success of our business," he added, while noting that there were problems with the timing of when the workers arrived. He blamed the "bureaucratic process" for the delay. Another farmer at the meeting, Dale Hemminger of Hemdale Farms in Ontario County, also complained about the wait for H-2A labor. Under President Barack Obama's administration, he said the workers were seven weeks late and he almost had to quit the cabbage business because he lacked the labor. "We have to have a system that works," he said. Whether those issues are addressed in the farm bill will be determined over the next several months. The farm bill is an agricultural policy bill that is reauthorized every five years. It was last passed in 2018 and the current version is due to expire later this year. Tenney warned that passage of a new farm bill could take time. She expects that the initial version of the bill will be released in late spring or early summer and members of Congress will have time to offer amendments. While the goal is to have a new farm bill by Oct. 1, there are narrow majorities in both houses of Congress that could complicate its passage. "It could be a while before we actually come up with a farm bill we agree on," Tenney said. "We want to make sure we have a bill that's sensible." The farm bill is important for Tenney's district. At the start of the meeting, she noted that the 24th is the largest agricultural district among congressional districts in the Northeast. Brahma Chellaney By In his national security strategy released in October, US President Joe Biden promised to focus on restoring a damaged democracy at home. But the first-ever indictment of a former president in American history is likely to deepen the divide in an already bitterly polarised United States. Far from promoting national reconciliation and healing as president, Biden has proved as divisive as his predecessor, Donald Trump. After the unsealing of the indictment, the criminal case against Trump looks even weaker than expected. Indeed, some of former Trumps fiercest critics, like Mitt Romney, have slammed the Manhattan district attorneys case against the former president (who is running again for the same office) as flimsy and designed to fit a political agenda. Legal experts say it sets a dangerous precedent to go after political opponents. The district attorney belongs to the same party as Biden, against whom Trump is running. According to a Quinnipiac University poll, more than two-thirds of Americans think US democracy is broken. Americas image as a flawed democracy is likely to be reinforced by the weaponisation of the justice system, which is what Trumps indictment represents. The essence of democracy is that those in office will not misuse their power to go after political opponents. Yet high-profile political prosecutions through the misuse of the judicial apparatus are increasing in democracies. For example, Brazils current president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, was in 2017 convicted for alleged corruption and jailed until the countrys Supreme Court ruled that the judge who presided over the trial was biased against da Silva. Indeed, that judge became justice minister under President Jair Bolsonaro, who possibly would not have been elected in 2018 had da Silva not been in prison. Stretching the law to target Bidens leading opponent will make it more difficult for the US to heal the deep split in society and transcend hardened polarisation. Trumps indictment followed the FBIs unusual raid last August on his Mar-a-Lago residence in search of classified documents. Ironically, classified documents from Bidens time as vice president were subsequently discovered at his Delaware home and elsewhere. As president, Trumps remarks often bore the hallmarks of bombastic assertions. But he also, at times, displayed refreshing candour and honesty on US national security and foreign policy, which made him a key target of the Deep State, thus spurring false Russia collusion claims and two failed impeachments. To be sure, democratic ethics and values have come under growing pressure across the free world. The fever of polarising politics has risen largely because the quality of political leadership has declined in almost all democratic countries. Instead of seeking national reconciliation, leaders have fanned the embers of divisive politics. Media outlets have helped amplify such hyper-partisanship. They not only reflect but also drive the polarization in many democracies. Instead of adhering to a guiding ethic to report the news objectively and in a balanced way, many newspapers and TV channels market, not report, news. According to one Gallup poll, Americans trust in the media has sunk to just 36%. Many democracies are intensely polarised from South Africa and India to South Korea and Brazil. Public trust in politicians across the democratic world has reached an all-time low. But the US is so polarised that it has been referred to as One America, Two Nations. It has morphed into the Polarised States of America, with both sides of the political divide resorting to inflammatory rhetoric and fuelling the deep divide. Thanks to the widening schism between the two sides which are segregated in their own ideological silos tolerance for opposing views is increasingly in short supply. Such is Americas political divide in that people holding rival beliefs are unwilling to even communicate with each other. The partisan divide extends even to foreign policy. While US public opinion surveys show that China has left Russia far behind to become Americas greatest enemy, far more Democrats than Republicans remain fixated on Russia. This has a bearing on actual policy, with Biden more focused on a declining Russia than on a globally expansionist China. Meanwhile, the US continues to move further away from the healing and unity Biden called for in his inauguration speech. Far from helping to end what he described as the uncivil war between liberals and conservatives, Biden has added fuel to the divisive politics. As Biden acknowledges in his national security strategy, We live at a moment of passionate political intensities and ferment that sometimes tears at the fabric of the nation. US hyper-partisan politics is plumbing new depths, cementing political divisions and poisoning national discourse. It is also undermining Americas international standing. This has emboldened the worlds largest and longest-surviving autocracy, China, to cheekily lecture the US on human rights and democracy. For example, Yang Jiechi, the leader of the Chinese delegation at the March 2021 talks in Anchorage, Alaska, delivered a 16-minute jeremiad against US hypocrisy and double standards. Instead of fixing its broken democracy, the US seeks regime change in the countries it targets from Russia to Myanmar and Iran. It also lectures other countries, including India, on human rights, even as the human rights situation remains appalling within the US, where police kill more than 1,000 civilians each year. For example, the State Department annually releases country reports on human rights practices that target Americas friends and foes alike. Meanwhile, the killing and maiming of unarmed Black people by police in the US continues to increase. The blunt truth is that hyper-partisan politics and debilitating polarization are not just weighing American democracy down but also threatening to erode Americas global pre-eminence. After all, the bitterly divisive politics impedes the pursuit of long-term objectives. Given the relative decline of its power, the US needs a dynamic, forward-looking president who can unify an increasingly divided country. Last year, a poll found that almost two-thirds of Americans believe the US is on the wrong track under Biden. Against this background, the last thing America needed is a criminal case against a former president that represents a further erosion of legal and democratic norms. More than China or Russia, Americas biggest enemy is within: It needs to find ways to move past its politics of polarisation and vituperation to heal the wide divide in society. BRAHMA CHELLANEY Geostrategist and author of nine books,including Water: Asias New Battleground (bc@live.in) In his national security strategy released in October, US President Joe Biden promised to focus on restoring a damaged democracy at home. But the first-ever indictment of a former president in American history is likely to deepen the divide in an already bitterly polarised United States. Far from promoting national reconciliation and healing as president, Biden has proved as divisive as his predecessor, Donald Trump. After the unsealing of the indictment, the criminal case against Trump looks even weaker than expected. Indeed, some of former Trumps fiercest critics, like Mitt Romney, have slammed the Manhattan district attorneys case against the former president (who is running again for the same office) as flimsy and designed to fit a political agenda. Legal experts say it sets a dangerous precedent to go after political opponents. The district attorney belongs to the same party as Biden, against whom Trump is running.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); According to a Quinnipiac University poll, more than two-thirds of Americans think US democracy is broken. Americas image as a flawed democracy is likely to be reinforced by the weaponisation of the justice system, which is what Trumps indictment represents. The essence of democracy is that those in office will not misuse their power to go after political opponents. Yet high-profile political prosecutions through the misuse of the judicial apparatus are increasing in democracies. For example, Brazils current president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, was in 2017 convicted for alleged corruption and jailed until the countrys Supreme Court ruled that the judge who presided over the trial was biased against da Silva. Indeed, that judge became justice minister under President Jair Bolsonaro, who possibly would not have been elected in 2018 had da Silva not been in prison. Stretching the law to target Bidens leading opponent will make it more difficult for the US to heal the deep split in society and transcend hardened polarisation. Trumps indictment followed the FBIs unusual raid last August on his Mar-a-Lago residence in search of classified documents. Ironically, classified documents from Bidens time as vice president were subsequently discovered at his Delaware home and elsewhere. As president, Trumps remarks often bore the hallmarks of bombastic assertions. But he also, at times, displayed refreshing candour and honesty on US national security and foreign policy, which made him a key target of the Deep State, thus spurring false Russia collusion claims and two failed impeachments. To be sure, democratic ethics and values have come under growing pressure across the free world. The fever of polarising politics has risen largely because the quality of political leadership has declined in almost all democratic countries. Instead of seeking national reconciliation, leaders have fanned the embers of divisive politics. Media outlets have helped amplify such hyper-partisanship. They not only reflect but also drive the polarization in many democracies. Instead of adhering to a guiding ethic to report the news objectively and in a balanced way, many newspapers and TV channels market, not report, news. According to one Gallup poll, Americans trust in the media has sunk to just 36%. Many democracies are intensely polarised from South Africa and India to South Korea and Brazil. Public trust in politicians across the democratic world has reached an all-time low. But the US is so polarised that it has been referred to as One America, Two Nations. It has morphed into the Polarised States of America, with both sides of the political divide resorting to inflammatory rhetoric and fuelling the deep divide. Thanks to the widening schism between the two sides which are segregated in their own ideological silos tolerance for opposing views is increasingly in short supply. Such is Americas political divide in that people holding rival beliefs are unwilling to even communicate with each other. The partisan divide extends even to foreign policy. While US public opinion surveys show that China has left Russia far behind to become Americas greatest enemy, far more Democrats than Republicans remain fixated on Russia. This has a bearing on actual policy, with Biden more focused on a declining Russia than on a globally expansionist China. Meanwhile, the US continues to move further away from the healing and unity Biden called for in his inauguration speech. Far from helping to end what he described as the uncivil war between liberals and conservatives, Biden has added fuel to the divisive politics. As Biden acknowledges in his national security strategy, We live at a moment of passionate political intensities and ferment that sometimes tears at the fabric of the nation. US hyper-partisan politics is plumbing new depths, cementing political divisions and poisoning national discourse. It is also undermining Americas international standing. This has emboldened the worlds largest and longest-surviving autocracy, China, to cheekily lecture the US on human rights and democracy. For example, Yang Jiechi, the leader of the Chinese delegation at the March 2021 talks in Anchorage, Alaska, delivered a 16-minute jeremiad against US hypocrisy and double standards. Instead of fixing its broken democracy, the US seeks regime change in the countries it targets from Russia to Myanmar and Iran. It also lectures other countries, including India, on human rights, even as the human rights situation remains appalling within the US, where police kill more than 1,000 civilians each year. For example, the State Department annually releases country reports on human rights practices that target Americas friends and foes alike. Meanwhile, the killing and maiming of unarmed Black people by police in the US continues to increase. The blunt truth is that hyper-partisan politics and debilitating polarization are not just weighing American democracy down but also threatening to erode Americas global pre-eminence. After all, the bitterly divisive politics impedes the pursuit of long-term objectives. Given the relative decline of its power, the US needs a dynamic, forward-looking president who can unify an increasingly divided country. Last year, a poll found that almost two-thirds of Americans believe the US is on the wrong track under Biden. Against this background, the last thing America needed is a criminal case against a former president that represents a further erosion of legal and democratic norms. More than China or Russia, Americas biggest enemy is within: It needs to find ways to move past its politics of polarisation and vituperation to heal the wide divide in society. BRAHMA CHELLANEY Geostrategist and author of nine books,including Water: Asias New Battleground (bc@live.in) Arun Sinha By The disqualification of Rahul Gandhi has given cause and momentum to the opposition alliance. But will it hold? No, not unless Congress and the regional parties arrive at a relationship of equal partnership. An unequal relationship is what has been holding back opposition unity. The regional parties outside the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) argued that a shrunken Congress had forfeited its claim to the opposition leadership. The Samajwadi Party leader, Akhilesh Yadav, said the regional parties were giants and the Congress must support them. They wanted Congress to play an auxiliary role, not the principal role. They would be Ram, the Congress Lakshman! You could not deny the regional parties a little bit of attitude. They were expanding, the Congress was contracting. In West Bengal, the Congress today has no MLA (0%) in a house of 294 and in UP, merely 2 (0.5%) in a house of 403. In 2019, Congress lost 9 out of 10 seats in the Hindi-speaking states to the BJP. It lost most of the recent state elections in a direct contest to the BJP. In contrast, the regional parties vanquished the BJP not only in the Assembly elections but also in the Lok Sabha elections. In West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) won 34 of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in 2014 and 211 of the 294 Assembly seats in 2016. That showed that most voters in West Bengal were unipolar: they voted for the same party in Assembly and parliamentary elections. That was not the case when Congress was in a direct contest with the BJP. In those states, a majority of voters were bipolar voters. They voted for one party in the state elections and another in the parliamentary elections. In Rajasthan, they gave the Congress a near-majority in the Assembly in 2018, but in 2019 gave 24 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats to the BJP. The trend, however, is that even unipolar voters in states dominated by the regional parties are turning bipolar. In the West Bengal Assembly elections of 2021, the TMC numbers rose from 211 to 215, but in the Lok Sabha elections of 2022, they dropped from 34 to 22. The BJP, which had won only 2 Lok Sabha seats in 2014, grabbed 18 seats in 2019 in the state. It is the transformation of unipolar voters into bipolar voters that is bugging the regional parties. That is why they are asking for Congress support to make up for the loss of unipolar votes to the BJP. That is why Akhilesh Yadav wants Congress to play Lakshman to them. However, the truth is the regional parties have limitations. They cannot provide a national alternative to the BJP. Their popularity is within the state. They have built their political estate on the foundations of regional identity and subaltern victimhood. Their leaders are not looked at as national figures. Then there is a history of quick mortality of third fronts. Here is where the Congress assumes importance for an opposition alliance. Despite its dwarfing, it remains a party with a national organisation, national leadership and a national appeal. It alone has a national narrative into which the regional parties can weave their regional narratives to beat the BJP, which stands for decimating regionalism. The regional parties and the Congress will have to put aside their sense of superiority. An alliance cannot work without both sides accepting each other as equal partners: no Lakshman, all Rams. Once that happens, it will be easier for them to choose a leader. The latest Congress position is that to them, opposition unity is paramount. We are not adamant on leading the front, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has said. A resolution at the Congress 85th plenary at Raipur said, It is the only party that can provide effective and decisive leadership to the country, but it is ready to make sacrifices to defeat the BJP-led NDA. That has opened doors for regional parties to pitch their leaders for the alliance leadership. It can be Mamata, Nitish, Stalin or Kejriwal if it is not Rahul. The Congress ceding claim to leadership is one of the key reasons all the opposition parties have come together on a platform. The obvious triggers are the relentless hounding of opposition leaders by the central investigative agencies and the conspiracy to disqualify Rahul Gandhi. Still, the alliance leadership being open has given momentum to building an opposition alliance. However, an alliance harping on Opposition victimhood will not do. The architecture of Narendra Modis success rests on the five pillars of Hindu victimhood, jingoism, corruption-free governance, fast growth and poverty alleviation. The alliance has to win over people with an alternative architecture. Until now, only party workers have been participating in opposition protests. People are not coming forward to join them. Why? Because the opposition has not offered an attractively different architecture to pull them out of Modis ocean of spells. For instance, the opposition parties have been confused about how to counter the Modi narrative of Hindu victimhood. Sometimes they swim with the current of Hinduphilia, sometimes against it. The alliance must also offer an alternative political organisation to run the country. The UPA earned damning disrepute for scams and wretched alliance management. The Modi narrative draws much of its vitamins from this cesspool of disrepute. What safeguards would the opposition alliance ensure so governance does not fall into the same pit? Lastly, the opposition alliance has to offer an alternative leader. The leader has to have a strong profile that inspires confidence that they could give the country better politics and economy. ARUN SINHA Independent journalist and author (arunsinha3000@gmail.com) The disqualification of Rahul Gandhi has given cause and momentum to the opposition alliance. But will it hold? No, not unless Congress and the regional parties arrive at a relationship of equal partnership. An unequal relationship is what has been holding back opposition unity. The regional parties outside the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) argued that a shrunken Congress had forfeited its claim to the opposition leadership. The Samajwadi Party leader, Akhilesh Yadav, said the regional parties were giants and the Congress must support them. They wanted Congress to play an auxiliary role, not the principal role. They would be Ram, the Congress Lakshman! You could not deny the regional parties a little bit of attitude. They were expanding, the Congress was contracting. In West Bengal, the Congress today has no MLA (0%) in a house of 294 and in UP, merely 2 (0.5%) in a house of 403. In 2019, Congress lost 9 out of 10 seats in the Hindi-speaking states to the BJP. It lost most of the recent state elections in a direct contest to the BJP.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); In contrast, the regional parties vanquished the BJP not only in the Assembly elections but also in the Lok Sabha elections. In West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) won 34 of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in 2014 and 211 of the 294 Assembly seats in 2016. That showed that most voters in West Bengal were unipolar: they voted for the same party in Assembly and parliamentary elections. That was not the case when Congress was in a direct contest with the BJP. In those states, a majority of voters were bipolar voters. They voted for one party in the state elections and another in the parliamentary elections. In Rajasthan, they gave the Congress a near-majority in the Assembly in 2018, but in 2019 gave 24 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats to the BJP. The trend, however, is that even unipolar voters in states dominated by the regional parties are turning bipolar. In the West Bengal Assembly elections of 2021, the TMC numbers rose from 211 to 215, but in the Lok Sabha elections of 2022, they dropped from 34 to 22. The BJP, which had won only 2 Lok Sabha seats in 2014, grabbed 18 seats in 2019 in the state. It is the transformation of unipolar voters into bipolar voters that is bugging the regional parties. That is why they are asking for Congress support to make up for the loss of unipolar votes to the BJP. That is why Akhilesh Yadav wants Congress to play Lakshman to them. However, the truth is the regional parties have limitations. They cannot provide a national alternative to the BJP. Their popularity is within the state. They have built their political estate on the foundations of regional identity and subaltern victimhood. Their leaders are not looked at as national figures. Then there is a history of quick mortality of third fronts. Here is where the Congress assumes importance for an opposition alliance. Despite its dwarfing, it remains a party with a national organisation, national leadership and a national appeal. It alone has a national narrative into which the regional parties can weave their regional narratives to beat the BJP, which stands for decimating regionalism. The regional parties and the Congress will have to put aside their sense of superiority. An alliance cannot work without both sides accepting each other as equal partners: no Lakshman, all Rams. Once that happens, it will be easier for them to choose a leader. The latest Congress position is that to them, opposition unity is paramount. We are not adamant on leading the front, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has said. A resolution at the Congress 85th plenary at Raipur said, It is the only party that can provide effective and decisive leadership to the country, but it is ready to make sacrifices to defeat the BJP-led NDA. That has opened doors for regional parties to pitch their leaders for the alliance leadership. It can be Mamata, Nitish, Stalin or Kejriwal if it is not Rahul. The Congress ceding claim to leadership is one of the key reasons all the opposition parties have come together on a platform. The obvious triggers are the relentless hounding of opposition leaders by the central investigative agencies and the conspiracy to disqualify Rahul Gandhi. Still, the alliance leadership being open has given momentum to building an opposition alliance. However, an alliance harping on Opposition victimhood will not do. The architecture of Narendra Modis success rests on the five pillars of Hindu victimhood, jingoism, corruption-free governance, fast growth and poverty alleviation. The alliance has to win over people with an alternative architecture. Until now, only party workers have been participating in opposition protests. People are not coming forward to join them. Why? Because the opposition has not offered an attractively different architecture to pull them out of Modis ocean of spells. For instance, the opposition parties have been confused about how to counter the Modi narrative of Hindu victimhood. Sometimes they swim with the current of Hinduphilia, sometimes against it. The alliance must also offer an alternative political organisation to run the country. The UPA earned damning disrepute for scams and wretched alliance management. The Modi narrative draws much of its vitamins from this cesspool of disrepute. What safeguards would the opposition alliance ensure so governance does not fall into the same pit? Lastly, the opposition alliance has to offer an alternative leader. The leader has to have a strong profile that inspires confidence that they could give the country better politics and economy. ARUN SINHA Independent journalist and author (arunsinha3000@gmail.com) The Budget session of Parliament ended on Thursday--- among the shortest and least productive sessions since the first Indian election after Independence. The annual Budget, the most important business in Parliament that concerns every segment of the economy and every Indian citizen, was passed without discussion. Normally, the governments Budget proposals are debated, discussed and altered if a consensus is reached. But there was nothing normal about this Budget session. The hostility witnessed between the ruling and the opposition parties was unprecedented. There were always differences between the two sides, even bitterness on occasion. There were boycotts and disruptions. But accommodations were always made. Not this time, though. The opposition was unrelenting in its demand for a discussion on the issues of Adani-Hindenburg and the alleged misuse of central agencies to target opposition leaders. The opposition also insisted on setting up a joint parliamentary committee on the Adani issue. The government firmly refused to give in to the oppositions demands. It was in no mood for a JPC, either. It went on the offensive, demanding an apology from Rahul Gandhi for allegedly seeking foreign help to check the erosion of democracy in India. Rahul denied making any such statement and sought an opportunity to clarify his position in the House. But that did not stop a BJP Member of Parliament from writing to the Speaker seeking Rahuls expulsion from the Lok Sabha. Both sides dug in their feet after Rahuls disqualification from the Lok Sabha following a court order. House business suffered as the opposition went into overdrive. The session witnessed unusual scenes of the treasury side also stalling the proceedings over the demand for Rahuls apology. The two sides need to soften their stands in the peoples interest. They are equally responsible for the smooth functioning of Parliament. The government should take the initiative and call the opposition for a dialogue. The opposition, too, may like to find ways in which Parliament can function smoothly and debate important issues of public interest. The loopholes in the Indian financial system pointed out by the Hindenburg report are critical. Still, there are other equally important issues that Parliament needs to discuss. Both must return to the table in the interest of the nation. The Budget session of Parliament ended on Thursday--- among the shortest and least productive sessions since the first Indian election after Independence. The annual Budget, the most important business in Parliament that concerns every segment of the economy and every Indian citizen, was passed without discussion. Normally, the governments Budget proposals are debated, discussed and altered if a consensus is reached. But there was nothing normal about this Budget session. The hostility witnessed between the ruling and the opposition parties was unprecedented. There were always differences between the two sides, even bitterness on occasion. There were boycotts and disruptions. But accommodations were always made. Not this time, though. The opposition was unrelenting in its demand for a discussion on the issues of Adani-Hindenburg and the alleged misuse of central agencies to target opposition leaders.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The opposition also insisted on setting up a joint parliamentary committee on the Adani issue. The government firmly refused to give in to the oppositions demands. It was in no mood for a JPC, either. It went on the offensive, demanding an apology from Rahul Gandhi for allegedly seeking foreign help to check the erosion of democracy in India. Rahul denied making any such statement and sought an opportunity to clarify his position in the House. But that did not stop a BJP Member of Parliament from writing to the Speaker seeking Rahuls expulsion from the Lok Sabha. Both sides dug in their feet after Rahuls disqualification from the Lok Sabha following a court order. House business suffered as the opposition went into overdrive. The session witnessed unusual scenes of the treasury side also stalling the proceedings over the demand for Rahuls apology. The two sides need to soften their stands in the peoples interest. They are equally responsible for the smooth functioning of Parliament. The government should take the initiative and call the opposition for a dialogue. The opposition, too, may like to find ways in which Parliament can function smoothly and debate important issues of public interest. The loopholes in the Indian financial system pointed out by the Hindenburg report are critical. Still, there are other equally important issues that Parliament needs to discuss. Both must return to the table in the interest of the nation. The efforts to capture a wild elephant and the debate around that have captivated Kerala. Arikomban, the rice-eating tusker (thats why the name) aged around 40, is an inhabitant of the Anayirangal-Chinnakanal area of Munnar forests in Idukki district that has made raiding human settlements a habit. The locals hold the animal responsible for ten human deaths -- a figure which forest officials dispute. While the forest department made elaborate arrangements to capture the elusive elephant, animal rights activists raised a furore. The Kerala high court halted the operation and set up an expert committee on the best interests of the elephant and the locals. Now, as per the panels recommendations, the court has ordered the jumbos translocation to another forest, while the original plan was to capture and train it in captivity. The court order is a green signal to resume efforts to capture Arikomban. Still, it cannot end the debate on how to deal with human-animal conflicts, in general, and elephants that raid human habitats, in particular. Rising human-wild animal conflict is a serious concern in Kerala. As many as 637 people died in attacks by wild animals between 2016 and 2022, and 30 were killed by elephants last year. Two elephants were captured in January this year after entering human habitats. According to local politicians, 48 people died in elephant attacks in the last three decades in the Chinnakanal area. What cannot be ignored while people and their political leaders fuss over wild animals is how human settlements and activities in forest areas are at the heart of the problem. For example, Chinnakanal is an elephant habitat and a part of the elephant corridor extending from Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary to Periyar Tiger Reserve. It was in 2002 that the then A K Antony government settled 301 tribal families in the area against expert advice. Many families soon abandoned their lands due to animal attacks. Besides, there are many non-tribal settlements. While the tribal inhabitants of Keralas forests know how to live in harmony with wildlife, the non-tribal settlers of relatively recent times see animals as menace to be hunted or captured. Capturing and relocating Arikomban can be a temporary solution, for other elephants are equally capable of wreaking havoc. The authorities should, ideally, look at relocating non-tribal settlers from core elephant habitats and restricting human activities in such areas as a long-term measure. The efforts to capture a wild elephant and the debate around that have captivated Kerala. Arikomban, the rice-eating tusker (thats why the name) aged around 40, is an inhabitant of the Anayirangal-Chinnakanal area of Munnar forests in Idukki district that has made raiding human settlements a habit. The locals hold the animal responsible for ten human deaths -- a figure which forest officials dispute. While the forest department made elaborate arrangements to capture the elusive elephant, animal rights activists raised a furore. The Kerala high court halted the operation and set up an expert committee on the best interests of the elephant and the locals. Now, as per the panels recommendations, the court has ordered the jumbos translocation to another forest, while the original plan was to capture and train it in captivity. The court order is a green signal to resume efforts to capture Arikomban. Still, it cannot end the debate on how to deal with human-animal conflicts, in general, and elephants that raid human habitats, in particular. Rising human-wild animal conflict is a serious concern in Kerala.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); As many as 637 people died in attacks by wild animals between 2016 and 2022, and 30 were killed by elephants last year. Two elephants were captured in January this year after entering human habitats. According to local politicians, 48 people died in elephant attacks in the last three decades in the Chinnakanal area. What cannot be ignored while people and their political leaders fuss over wild animals is how human settlements and activities in forest areas are at the heart of the problem. For example, Chinnakanal is an elephant habitat and a part of the elephant corridor extending from Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary to Periyar Tiger Reserve. It was in 2002 that the then A K Antony government settled 301 tribal families in the area against expert advice. Many families soon abandoned their lands due to animal attacks. Besides, there are many non-tribal settlements. While the tribal inhabitants of Keralas forests know how to live in harmony with wildlife, the non-tribal settlers of relatively recent times see animals as menace to be hunted or captured. Capturing and relocating Arikomban can be a temporary solution, for other elephants are equally capable of wreaking havoc. The authorities should, ideally, look at relocating non-tribal settlers from core elephant habitats and restricting human activities in such areas as a long-term measure. By Express News Service VIJAYAWADA: Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy, the last Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh formerly joined BJP in presence of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, BJP national leaders Arun Singh and K Lakshman in New Delhi on Friday. He had resigned from Congress last month and said he was disillusioned with the grand old party's inability to read the pulse of the people. "Congress high command wants power but is not willing to work. It is not willing to listen to the party leaders in the state, analyze the situation, and course-correct. It has become a patient that does not want to heed the advice of the doctor (people). So I quit the party and joined BJP, which is committed to the welfare of the people and the country," he said on the occasion. Former Andhra Pradesh CM #KiranKumarReddy joins BJP in the presence of Union Minister #PralhadJoshi and #ArunSingh at BJP HQ in New Delhi. Express photos | @Shekharyadav02. pic.twitter.com/mq7WlZR3I6 The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) April 7, 2023 The 63-year-old senior politician, hails from Nagaripalle, near Kalikiri, in the erstwhile Chittoor district. His father N Amarnath Reddy was a former minister. Kiran Kumar Reddy who did his schooling at Hyderabad Public School graduated in Commerce from Nizam College and did his law from Osmania University. After his father's demise in 1989, he contested elections from Vayalpadu and won the elections. After suffering defeat in 1994, he won again as MLA from the same constituency in 1999 and 2004 and in 2009 he become MLA from Pileru. In 2004, he was made Chief Whip of the Congress government and later in 2009 became Speaker. In 2011, he become the 16th Chief Minister of the undivided Andhra Pradesh. Protesting the state bifurcation, he resigned to the post of Chief Minister and Congress party. Later, he floated his own Jai Samaikyandhra Party and contested the elections in 2014, but suffered defeat. In 2018, he dissolved his party and rejoined Congress. Elaborating on why he quit Congress, Kiran Kumar Reddy said BJP, which won only two seats in 1980 with single digit vote share has formed the government in the centre with a huge majority in 2014 and the mandate has only increased in 2019. On the other hand, Congress, which had 400 plus seats in 1980 today has less than 19 per cent vote share and refused to introspect on the reasons for its decline, he said. "I will discharge my responsibilities, whatever they may be, entrusted to me by BJP central leadership," he said. VIJAYAWADA: Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy, the last Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh formerly joined BJP in presence of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, BJP national leaders Arun Singh and K Lakshman in New Delhi on Friday. He had resigned from Congress last month and said he was disillusioned with the grand old party's inability to read the pulse of the people. "Congress high command wants power but is not willing to work. It is not willing to listen to the party leaders in the state, analyze the situation, and course-correct. It has become a patient that does not want to heed the advice of the doctor (people). So I quit the party and joined BJP, which is committed to the welfare of the people and the country," he said on the occasion. Former Andhra Pradesh CM #KiranKumarReddy joins BJP in the presence of Union Minister #PralhadJoshi and #ArunSingh at BJP HQ in New Delhi. Express photos | @Shekharyadav02. pic.twitter.com/mq7WlZR3I6 The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) April 7, 2023 googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The 63-year-old senior politician, hails from Nagaripalle, near Kalikiri, in the erstwhile Chittoor district. His father N Amarnath Reddy was a former minister. Kiran Kumar Reddy who did his schooling at Hyderabad Public School graduated in Commerce from Nizam College and did his law from Osmania University. After his father's demise in 1989, he contested elections from Vayalpadu and won the elections. After suffering defeat in 1994, he won again as MLA from the same constituency in 1999 and 2004 and in 2009 he become MLA from Pileru. In 2004, he was made Chief Whip of the Congress government and later in 2009 became Speaker. In 2011, he become the 16th Chief Minister of the undivided Andhra Pradesh. Protesting the state bifurcation, he resigned to the post of Chief Minister and Congress party. Later, he floated his own Jai Samaikyandhra Party and contested the elections in 2014, but suffered defeat. In 2018, he dissolved his party and rejoined Congress. Elaborating on why he quit Congress, Kiran Kumar Reddy said BJP, which won only two seats in 1980 with single digit vote share has formed the government in the centre with a huge majority in 2014 and the mandate has only increased in 2019. On the other hand, Congress, which had 400 plus seats in 1980 today has less than 19 per cent vote share and refused to introspect on the reasons for its decline, he said. "I will discharge my responsibilities, whatever they may be, entrusted to me by BJP central leadership," he said. By Express News Service BENGALURU: The Congress on Thursday released its second list of 42 candidates, which includes expected names like HY Meti, Baburao Chinchansur, Santosh Lad, Kimmane Rathnakar and others. Having finalised names for 166 seats, the party has kept 58 constituencies on hold, leading to talk that it lacks sure-shot winners here. The Congress Election Committee (CEC) meeting, chaired by All-India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge, held deliberations in the national capital on Tuesday and Wednesday to choose the candidates. The 58 constituencies include those where the party has failed to open its account in the past three or four elections, and are dominated by the BJP and Janata Dal (Secular), like Shikaripura, Uttarahalli, Ramanagara and others along the coast. The Congress stands a very slim chance in these seats, and has neither strong candidates nor a good party network at the booth level. READ | DKS, Siddaramaiah figure in Congress's first list of candidates for Karnataka polls When Siddaramaiah was vying for Kolar, party leader Rahul Gandhi had suggested that he stick to Varuna Congress leaders, though, deny this, and claim that it has more than one candidate, so the party is likely to take more time to finalise its third list. KPCC working president Saleem Ahmed said, This is not the case. We have more than one candidate here and competition is tough, therefore, we are taking more time. Dr Gourav Vallabh from AICC said, We have candidates in all 224 constituencies. We got 1,350 applications which makes it an average of six candidates per constituency. The Congress has released 166 names, which the BJP is not able to do. Congress is probably the only party that has represented every constituency and has members in every village, Opposition leader in the Legislative Council BK Hariprasad said. No second seat for Siddu? The issue of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah contesting from a second seat Kolar did not come up for discussion at the election committee meeting, according to sources. It means the party is unlikely to give him a second seat as the policy is One leader, One ticket, as KPCC president D K Shivakumar had clarified in the recent past. In fact, when Siddaramaiah was vying for Kolar, party leader Rahul Gandhi had suggested that he stick to Varuna, and his name is on the first list of 124 candidates. Congress leader Kothur G Manjunath, who is facing a case with regard to an alleged fake SC caste certificate in the high court, is expected to be the Mulbagal (SC) candidate if the verdict goes in his favour. If it goes against him, he may move to Kolar, which is why candidates have not yet been declared for Kolar and Mulbagal. ALSO READ | Karnataka polls: Why Varuna is a safe constituency for Siddaramaiah BENGALURU: The Congress on Thursday released its second list of 42 candidates, which includes expected names like HY Meti, Baburao Chinchansur, Santosh Lad, Kimmane Rathnakar and others. Having finalised names for 166 seats, the party has kept 58 constituencies on hold, leading to talk that it lacks sure-shot winners here. The Congress Election Committee (CEC) meeting, chaired by All-India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge, held deliberations in the national capital on Tuesday and Wednesday to choose the candidates. The 58 constituencies include those where the party has failed to open its account in the past three or four elections, and are dominated by the BJP and Janata Dal (Secular), like Shikaripura, Uttarahalli, Ramanagara and others along the coast. The Congress stands a very slim chance in these seats, and has neither strong candidates nor a good party network at the booth level.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); READ | DKS, Siddaramaiah figure in Congress's first list of candidates for Karnataka polls When Siddaramaiah was vying for Kolar, party leader Rahul Gandhi had suggested that he stick to Varuna Congress leaders, though, deny this, and claim that it has more than one candidate, so the party is likely to take more time to finalise its third list. KPCC working president Saleem Ahmed said, This is not the case. We have more than one candidate here and competition is tough, therefore, we are taking more time. Dr Gourav Vallabh from AICC said, We have candidates in all 224 constituencies. We got 1,350 applications which makes it an average of six candidates per constituency. The Congress has released 166 names, which the BJP is not able to do. Congress is probably the only party that has represented every constituency and has members in every village, Opposition leader in the Legislative Council BK Hariprasad said. No second seat for Siddu? The issue of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah contesting from a second seat Kolar did not come up for discussion at the election committee meeting, according to sources. It means the party is unlikely to give him a second seat as the policy is One leader, One ticket, as KPCC president D K Shivakumar had clarified in the recent past. In fact, when Siddaramaiah was vying for Kolar, party leader Rahul Gandhi had suggested that he stick to Varuna, and his name is on the first list of 124 candidates. Congress leader Kothur G Manjunath, who is facing a case with regard to an alleged fake SC caste certificate in the high court, is expected to be the Mulbagal (SC) candidate if the verdict goes in his favour. If it goes against him, he may move to Kolar, which is why candidates have not yet been declared for Kolar and Mulbagal. ALSO READ | Karnataka polls: Why Varuna is a safe constituency for Siddaramaiah By PTI BENGALURU: With each political party having a distinct area of influence in various regions of the state, it is key to understand the "micro picture" in every such part, as Karnataka heads for Assembly polls on May 10. Kittur Karnataka (earlier known as Mumbai/ Bombay Karnataka region) sends 50 MLAs to the Legislative Assembly. Comprising seven districts- Belagavi, Dharwad, Vijayapura, Haveri, Gadag, Bagalkote and Uttara Kannada- it's a direct fight between the ruling BJP and the Congress in this region, where the Janata Dal (Secular) is considerably weak. The state government decided in 2021 to rechristen the region that was under the erstwhile Bombay presidency, before Independence, as 'Kittur Karnataka' from 'Mumbai-Karnataka'. The name Kittur is after a historical taluk in the Belagavi district that was ruled by Rani Chennamma (17781829), who had fought the British before Jhansi Rani Laxmibai did. Predominantly a Lingayat-dominated region (other than Uttara Kannada district), it is the home turf of several senior political leaders including Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. BJP had won 30 of the total 50 seats in the region in the 2018 Assembly polls, followed by Congress 17, JD(S) 2, and others (KPJP-Shankar) 1. Backed by the politically-influential Lingayat community, the BJP is a dominant force in the region, where the Congress had once held sway. The Congress lost the region to the saffron party in the elections in the 1990s, following the sacking of its then Chief Minister Veerendra Patil, a Lingayat, who was recouping from a stroke, by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, which turned the community against the party. ALSO READ | Lingayats hold key to electoral outcome in poll-bound Karnataka Thereafter, as the dominant community started rallying behind another Lingayat stalwart BJP's B S Yediyurappa, the region slowly turned into a stronghold of the saffron party for more than a decade till 2013. However, Congress made a comeback in the region in 2013, by winning 31 of the 50 seats. Along with the anti-incumbency against the then BJP government, a split in the saffron party with Yediyurappa breaking away and floating the Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP) had helped the grand old party to bounce back. Later, with Yediyurappa returning to the party ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls under Narendra Modi's leadership, and KJP back into BJP's fold, the Congress failed to repeat the performance in the 2018 elections, thereby paving the way for the BJP to regain lost ground in the region. WEB SCRAWL | Karnataka polls: BJP's game plan has caste equations as its pivot Lingayat religion movement not working in Congress' favour, was also one of the major factors for Congress witnessing a dip in its electoral fortunes in Kittur Karnataka in 2018, despite the then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah himself contesting from the region's Badami segment. Along with the Congress facing losses in the Lingayat-dominated belt, most of its leaders who were actively involved in the 'separate Lingayat religion' movement suffered defeat. With Yediyurappa retiring from electoral politics, the Congress is now trying to woo Lingayats back into the party fold, and aimed at countering this, the BJP is falling back on the octogenarian leader, as its poll mascot. Implications of the BJP government's decision to hike Lingayat reservation by two per cent, just ahead of the polls need to be watched out for, as certain groups within the community were looking at a much higher quota. Along with SCs, STs, and OBCs, Muslims too are politically significant in some segments of Kittur Karnataka. ALSO READ | Quota move may make Karnataka poll ride tough for BJP Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have held massive public meetings and mega roadshows in parts of the region like Dharwad and Belagavi in view of the importance of this belt in garnering votes in favour of the BJP. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has held a "Yuva Kranti Samavesha", a youth convention, organised by the party's state unit, at Belagavi last month. After Bengaluru Urban with 27 Assembly segments (28 including Anekal), Kittur Karnataka region's Belagavi is the second biggest district in the State with 18 seats. Along with being a numerically large district, it is also politically significant. In 2018, BJP had won 10 seats and Congress eight in Belagavi. Home to influential political families in both parties, the majority of the elected representatives from the district are sugar barons with a background in sugar cooperatives like-Jarkiholis, Jolles, and Kattis. Among the candidates to be watched out from Belagavi district are, the Jarkiholi brothers, who are split between the two national parties- Ramesh Jarkiholi, who played a key role in installing BJP government by the leading defection of 17 Congress-JD(S) MLAs, and Satish Jarkiholi, who is Congress' Working President. Also, Congress' Laxmi Hebbalkar, who is seen as a bitter opponent of Ramesh Jarkiholi. The Congress with a plan to make further gains in this crucial district had started its state-wide 'Praja Dwani Yatre' from Belagavi. On the other hand, the BJP has faced setbacks with the untimely deaths of Hukkeri MLA Umesh Katti and Saundatti MLA Anand Mamani and will have to find new candidates in these constituencies. Also, ticket fight within BJP in the district, especially for Athani between senior leader Laxman Savadi and the Jarkiholi-led group has become a cause of concern for the party. Haveri district in the region with six Assembly segments, is also crucial for the BJP, as Chief Minister Bommai's constituency Shiggavi comes under it. Congress had caused an embarrassment to the BJP by wresting Hanagal, the neighbouring constituency of the CM, from it, in the 2021 by-polls. Congress in upcoming polls too hopes to dent the ruling party's prospects and cause it a huge embarrassment in Bommai's backyard. Badami in Bagalkote district, which senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah currently represents, is also among the key constituencies in this election. The former Chief Minister has decided not to contest from Badami this time, citing its long distance from the state capital Bengaluru and his inability to make himself available to the people there on a day-to-day basis as the reason. He has been fielded from his home turf of Varuna for the upcoming polls and is also looking for Kolar as the second seat. ALSO READ | Karnataka polls: Why Varuna is a safe constituency for Siddaramaiah BJP had won five out of seven seats in Bagalkote district in the 2018 polls, and Congress in two. Bijapur City, one among the eight Assembly segments in Vijayapura district is also significant as senior BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal is likely to contest from the seat once again. The firebrand Hindutva proponent, who was an open critique of state BJP strongman Yediyurappa, has several times in the past has expressed his Chief Ministerial ambitions. Increasing the tally in Gadag is important for Congress as it has only one MLA, AICC member H K Patil from the district, which has four Assembly segments. Dharwad district, the social, cultural and commercial hub of Kittur Karnataka with seven seats, is significant as it is the Parliamentary constituency of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, who is considered to be close to both Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar represents the Hubli-Dharwad-Central segment from the district. In Uttara Kannada district with six seats, veteran Congress leader 76-year-old R V Deshpande is the only Congress MLA. He is contesting from the Haliyal segment. Consisting of both coastal and Western ghats, the district has become the stronghold of the BJP. The Sirsi segment here is represented by Legislative Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri. He is likely to get a ticket from BJP once again. While the BJP is doing all that it can to continue its hold and improve its tally on this belt, the Congress is making a concerted effort to regain political ground in the region. BENGALURU: With each political party having a distinct area of influence in various regions of the state, it is key to understand the "micro picture" in every such part, as Karnataka heads for Assembly polls on May 10. Kittur Karnataka (earlier known as Mumbai/ Bombay Karnataka region) sends 50 MLAs to the Legislative Assembly. Comprising seven districts- Belagavi, Dharwad, Vijayapura, Haveri, Gadag, Bagalkote and Uttara Kannada- it's a direct fight between the ruling BJP and the Congress in this region, where the Janata Dal (Secular) is considerably weak. The state government decided in 2021 to rechristen the region that was under the erstwhile Bombay presidency, before Independence, as 'Kittur Karnataka' from 'Mumbai-Karnataka'.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The name Kittur is after a historical taluk in the Belagavi district that was ruled by Rani Chennamma (17781829), who had fought the British before Jhansi Rani Laxmibai did. Predominantly a Lingayat-dominated region (other than Uttara Kannada district), it is the home turf of several senior political leaders including Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. BJP had won 30 of the total 50 seats in the region in the 2018 Assembly polls, followed by Congress 17, JD(S) 2, and others (KPJP-Shankar) 1. Backed by the politically-influential Lingayat community, the BJP is a dominant force in the region, where the Congress had once held sway. The Congress lost the region to the saffron party in the elections in the 1990s, following the sacking of its then Chief Minister Veerendra Patil, a Lingayat, who was recouping from a stroke, by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, which turned the community against the party. ALSO READ | Lingayats hold key to electoral outcome in poll-bound Karnataka Thereafter, as the dominant community started rallying behind another Lingayat stalwart BJP's B S Yediyurappa, the region slowly turned into a stronghold of the saffron party for more than a decade till 2013. However, Congress made a comeback in the region in 2013, by winning 31 of the 50 seats. Along with the anti-incumbency against the then BJP government, a split in the saffron party with Yediyurappa breaking away and floating the Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP) had helped the grand old party to bounce back. Later, with Yediyurappa returning to the party ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls under Narendra Modi's leadership, and KJP back into BJP's fold, the Congress failed to repeat the performance in the 2018 elections, thereby paving the way for the BJP to regain lost ground in the region. WEB SCRAWL | Karnataka polls: BJP's game plan has caste equations as its pivot Lingayat religion movement not working in Congress' favour, was also one of the major factors for Congress witnessing a dip in its electoral fortunes in Kittur Karnataka in 2018, despite the then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah himself contesting from the region's Badami segment. Along with the Congress facing losses in the Lingayat-dominated belt, most of its leaders who were actively involved in the 'separate Lingayat religion' movement suffered defeat. With Yediyurappa retiring from electoral politics, the Congress is now trying to woo Lingayats back into the party fold, and aimed at countering this, the BJP is falling back on the octogenarian leader, as its poll mascot. Implications of the BJP government's decision to hike Lingayat reservation by two per cent, just ahead of the polls need to be watched out for, as certain groups within the community were looking at a much higher quota. Along with SCs, STs, and OBCs, Muslims too are politically significant in some segments of Kittur Karnataka. ALSO READ | Quota move may make Karnataka poll ride tough for BJP Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have held massive public meetings and mega roadshows in parts of the region like Dharwad and Belagavi in view of the importance of this belt in garnering votes in favour of the BJP. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has held a "Yuva Kranti Samavesha", a youth convention, organised by the party's state unit, at Belagavi last month. After Bengaluru Urban with 27 Assembly segments (28 including Anekal), Kittur Karnataka region's Belagavi is the second biggest district in the State with 18 seats. Along with being a numerically large district, it is also politically significant. In 2018, BJP had won 10 seats and Congress eight in Belagavi. Home to influential political families in both parties, the majority of the elected representatives from the district are sugar barons with a background in sugar cooperatives like-Jarkiholis, Jolles, and Kattis. Among the candidates to be watched out from Belagavi district are, the Jarkiholi brothers, who are split between the two national parties- Ramesh Jarkiholi, who played a key role in installing BJP government by the leading defection of 17 Congress-JD(S) MLAs, and Satish Jarkiholi, who is Congress' Working President. Also, Congress' Laxmi Hebbalkar, who is seen as a bitter opponent of Ramesh Jarkiholi. The Congress with a plan to make further gains in this crucial district had started its state-wide 'Praja Dwani Yatre' from Belagavi. On the other hand, the BJP has faced setbacks with the untimely deaths of Hukkeri MLA Umesh Katti and Saundatti MLA Anand Mamani and will have to find new candidates in these constituencies. Also, ticket fight within BJP in the district, especially for Athani between senior leader Laxman Savadi and the Jarkiholi-led group has become a cause of concern for the party. Haveri district in the region with six Assembly segments, is also crucial for the BJP, as Chief Minister Bommai's constituency Shiggavi comes under it. Congress had caused an embarrassment to the BJP by wresting Hanagal, the neighbouring constituency of the CM, from it, in the 2021 by-polls. Congress in upcoming polls too hopes to dent the ruling party's prospects and cause it a huge embarrassment in Bommai's backyard. Badami in Bagalkote district, which senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah currently represents, is also among the key constituencies in this election. The former Chief Minister has decided not to contest from Badami this time, citing its long distance from the state capital Bengaluru and his inability to make himself available to the people there on a day-to-day basis as the reason. He has been fielded from his home turf of Varuna for the upcoming polls and is also looking for Kolar as the second seat. ALSO READ | Karnataka polls: Why Varuna is a safe constituency for Siddaramaiah BJP had won five out of seven seats in Bagalkote district in the 2018 polls, and Congress in two. Bijapur City, one among the eight Assembly segments in Vijayapura district is also significant as senior BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal is likely to contest from the seat once again. The firebrand Hindutva proponent, who was an open critique of state BJP strongman Yediyurappa, has several times in the past has expressed his Chief Ministerial ambitions. Increasing the tally in Gadag is important for Congress as it has only one MLA, AICC member H K Patil from the district, which has four Assembly segments. Dharwad district, the social, cultural and commercial hub of Kittur Karnataka with seven seats, is significant as it is the Parliamentary constituency of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, who is considered to be close to both Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar represents the Hubli-Dharwad-Central segment from the district. In Uttara Kannada district with six seats, veteran Congress leader 76-year-old R V Deshpande is the only Congress MLA. He is contesting from the Haliyal segment. Consisting of both coastal and Western ghats, the district has become the stronghold of the BJP. The Sirsi segment here is represented by Legislative Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri. He is likely to get a ticket from BJP once again. While the BJP is doing all that it can to continue its hold and improve its tally on this belt, the Congress is making a concerted effort to regain political ground in the region. By PTI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday strongly condemned the dropping of certain chapters and portions from NCERT class 12 textbooks and alleged that "complete saffronisation" of academic books was the objective behind the move. Historical facts cannot be denied by just cutting out portions that are inconvenient (to some one) from textbooks, he said in a Facebook post. Excluding certain portions and chapters from the textbooks with a political motive was not only a negation of history but also a condemnable move. It is evident that the objective behind such actions is the "complete saffronisation of textbooks", the CM added. In the hard-hitting post, CM said it was clear whose interest was being served by the omission of portions about the assassination of the 'Father of the Nation' Mahatma Gandhi and the subsequent banning of the RSS, from the political science textbook of class 12. ALSO READ | Historians, political leaders call out NCERT's move to remove references to Gandhi, RSS, Godse Portions about the Mughal Empire were also cut down from the history textbook of the same class, he pointed out. "The medieval history of India, excluding the Mughal Empire, is incomplete," he said, alleging that medieval Indian history had always been an area that the Sangh Parivar had twisted and distorted. The Kerala CM accused the NCERT of "whitewashing the fake history" created by the Sangh Parivar by excluding these portions. The Sangh Parivar, through the textbooks, was trying to inculcate the politics of hatred and division into the minds of children, the Marxist veteran further charged. Accusing the NCERT of supporting the distorted methodology of the RSS in writing history, Vijayan said strong protest needs to be registered against such moves which would otherwise undermine the secular education envisaged by the Constitution. ALSO READ | Uttarakhand to follow updated NCERT pattern, removes chapters on Mughal history The NCERT recently dropped from its class 12 history textbook certain portions on Mahatma Gandhi and how his pursuit of Hindu-Muslim unity "provoked Hindu extremists". It also left out the portion where the government had placed a ban on the RSS after Gandhi's assassination. The revision of textbooks by obfuscating facts has triggered a row. "Gandhiji's death had a magical effect on communal situation in the country", "Gandhi's pursuit of Hindu-Muslim unity provoked Hindu extremists" and "Organisations like RSS were banned for some time" are among the portions deleted from the textbook. Portions referring to the Gujarat riots have also been dropped from the class 11 sociology textbook, months after NCERT removed the reference to the 2002 communal violence in two class 12 textbooks. The Congress has accused the Centre of "whitewashing" and "distorting" history. NCERT Chief Dinesh Saklani said the syllabus was "rationalised" in June last year itself, and there has been no trimming of the curriculum this year. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday strongly condemned the dropping of certain chapters and portions from NCERT class 12 textbooks and alleged that "complete saffronisation" of academic books was the objective behind the move. Historical facts cannot be denied by just cutting out portions that are inconvenient (to some one) from textbooks, he said in a Facebook post. Excluding certain portions and chapters from the textbooks with a political motive was not only a negation of history but also a condemnable move.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); It is evident that the objective behind such actions is the "complete saffronisation of textbooks", the CM added. In the hard-hitting post, CM said it was clear whose interest was being served by the omission of portions about the assassination of the 'Father of the Nation' Mahatma Gandhi and the subsequent banning of the RSS, from the political science textbook of class 12. ALSO READ | Historians, political leaders call out NCERT's move to remove references to Gandhi, RSS, Godse Portions about the Mughal Empire were also cut down from the history textbook of the same class, he pointed out. "The medieval history of India, excluding the Mughal Empire, is incomplete," he said, alleging that medieval Indian history had always been an area that the Sangh Parivar had twisted and distorted. The Kerala CM accused the NCERT of "whitewashing the fake history" created by the Sangh Parivar by excluding these portions. The Sangh Parivar, through the textbooks, was trying to inculcate the politics of hatred and division into the minds of children, the Marxist veteran further charged. Accusing the NCERT of supporting the distorted methodology of the RSS in writing history, Vijayan said strong protest needs to be registered against such moves which would otherwise undermine the secular education envisaged by the Constitution. ALSO READ | Uttarakhand to follow updated NCERT pattern, removes chapters on Mughal history The NCERT recently dropped from its class 12 history textbook certain portions on Mahatma Gandhi and how his pursuit of Hindu-Muslim unity "provoked Hindu extremists". It also left out the portion where the government had placed a ban on the RSS after Gandhi's assassination. The revision of textbooks by obfuscating facts has triggered a row. "Gandhiji's death had a magical effect on communal situation in the country", "Gandhi's pursuit of Hindu-Muslim unity provoked Hindu extremists" and "Organisations like RSS were banned for some time" are among the portions deleted from the textbook. Portions referring to the Gujarat riots have also been dropped from the class 11 sociology textbook, months after NCERT removed the reference to the 2002 communal violence in two class 12 textbooks. The Congress has accused the Centre of "whitewashing" and "distorting" history. NCERT Chief Dinesh Saklani said the syllabus was "rationalised" in June last year itself, and there has been no trimming of the curriculum this year. By Express News Service ROURKELA: RN Pali police busted an IPL betting racket from a rented house at the Civil Township area and arrested six youths on Wednesday. The accused were identified as Rabi Singh, Sekhar Vadhavani, Anurag Dehariya, Dinesh Pritwani, Sanskar Gangwani and Dhiraj Adwarni, all aged between 21 and 29 years and belonging to Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. The six arrested persons | Express Acting on a tip-off, police raided the area and arrested the six accused who had reportedly taken the house on rent to carry out the illegal activity. They betted with the help of a website. The investigation is underway to trace the accuseds local contacts, police said. Around 20 mobile phones, three laptops and four ATM cards were also seized by police from their possession. Besides, eight bank accounts with around Rs 2.5 lakh deposits in the names of the accused were also frozen. In a similar incident, nine youths of Chhattisgarh were arrested from Jamunanaki area within Birmitrapur police limits in April last year for their alleged involvement in carrying out IPL betting from a rented house. ROURKELA: RN Pali police busted an IPL betting racket from a rented house at the Civil Township area and arrested six youths on Wednesday. The accused were identified as Rabi Singh, Sekhar Vadhavani, Anurag Dehariya, Dinesh Pritwani, Sanskar Gangwani and Dhiraj Adwarni, all aged between 21 and 29 years and belonging to Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. The six arrested persons | ExpressActing on a tip-off, police raided the area and arrested the six accused who had reportedly taken the house on rent to carry out the illegal activity. They betted with the help of a website. The investigation is underway to trace the accuseds local contacts, police said. Around 20 mobile phones, three laptops and four ATM cards were also seized by police from their possession. Besides, eight bank accounts with around Rs 2.5 lakh deposits in the names of the accused were also frozen.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); In a similar incident, nine youths of Chhattisgarh were arrested from Jamunanaki area within Birmitrapur police limits in April last year for their alleged involvement in carrying out IPL betting from a rented house. Sneha Belcin By Online Desk It was an unimaginable cruelty. But humankind time and again proves that it is capable of such misdeeds. The Vengaivayal iniquity would remain another ineffaceable stain in the history of the land of Periyar and Dravidian politics. Vengaivayal is a village in the Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu, about 380 km away from the state capital Chennai. It was here, on December 2022, that the overhead water tank which supplies drinking water to the Dalit population was found contaminated with human excreta. As soon as the news broke out, Dalit activists, outfits, and political parties were quick to express shock and denounce the perpetrators. As things unfolded, more practices of caste discrimination in the village including the use of two tumblers (separate tumbler for Dalits) in tea shops came to light. Further, the village has separate burial grounds for caste Hindus and Dalits. The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Thol Thirumavalavan, an ally of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led government, visited the village and listened to the grievances of the Dalits. Chief Minister M K Stalin assured "stern action" against the perpetrators. However, he didn't visit the village. The police registered a case under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against unnamed suspects. The police constituted a special investigation team. But amid widespread skepticism over the likely outcome of the probe, and under pressure from the opposition parties, the government was forced to transfer the case to the CBCID. However, no key accused has been identified yet by the police. Meanwhile, the government also constituted a one-man commission to probe into the matter and submit a report. As for meeting the drinking water requirements of the Dalits, the government announced the construction of a new water tank. The old water tank is not being used since it is part of the evidence for the case. The construction of the water tank commenced a couple of weeks after the news about the caste atrocity broke out and is still underway. An alternative arrangement was made under the Jal Shakthi scheme to supply drinking water for the Dalit families. District Collector's Visit When the Pudukottai district collector Kavitha Ramu visited the village soon after the horrific incident, she was confronted by the grieving Dalit people who informed her about a slew of prevalent casteist practices in the village. When the collector interacted with locals over the contamination, allegations of caste discrimination in the form of a two-tumbler system, entry ban for Dalits in the local temple, and the likes came to the fore, The New Indian Express had reported earlier in January. Vengaivayal is merely the tip of the iceberg, say, activists. They slam the government for the slow progress of the investigation. For instance, Dalit liberation movement secretary, S Karupiah says that the government, instead of cracking the whip on casteist elements, has cut a sorry figure with its attempts to whitewash the whole episode. If a complaint is lodged and registered under the SC/ST Act, a case must be filed within 24 hours and the chargesheet should be filed in a court within 60 days. It has been more than 100 days and no chargesheet has been filed. But, Dalit families have been given monetary relief, and compensation. On what basis this relief was given if the government has not even identified the key suspects in the case?" asks Karupiah. Political parties such as the CPI (M), VCK, and the IUML had meanwhile alleged that the police offered Rs 2 lakh and a government job as a reward for those who came forward to confess to the crime," according to TNIE. No Samathuvam, No Pongal A Samathuva (equality) Pongal hosted by the government in Vengaivayal under the leadership of Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Minister Kayalvizhi Selvaraj in January turned out to be a huge letdown as the Caste Hindus boycotted the event. They also expressed their displeasure over the alleged "one-sided investigation", into the atrocity. "Over 50 women from BC and MBC communities threatened to besiege the minister's convoy in protest against the one-sided approach adopted by the government. A section of villagers of a nearby hamlet protested on March 15 demanding the arrest of perpetrators irrespective of their caste background and imposing Section 144 to put an end to further protests in the region. ALSO READ | Samathuva Pongal leaves bitter aftertaste at Vengaivayal village Karupiah pointed out to The New Indian Express Online, The government is siding with caste Hindus. A one-man commission has been set up to investigate the incident. Similar commissions set up to probe other caste atrocities in the past have not done justice to the Dalits. None of the commissions had favoured the victims, including the panels set up for the Keezh Venmani, Kodiyankulam, and Thaamirabarani caste atrocities." It is a matter of land and the power that comes with it. Dalit families in Vengavayal own land. Some have bought land from their hard-earned money, some have unassessed land (poramboke land). This bothers the dominant caste people. They cannot accept the reality of Dalits owning the land. They want to drive Dalits away from the village, Karupiah said. We have reasons to doubt that BJP cadres could be behind this atrocity Karupiah claimed. Vengaivayal and Ambasamudram Author and activist Meena Kandasamy told the New Indian Express Online, Vengaivayal is happening at the same time as Ambasamudram custodial torture case wherein assistant superintendent of police Balveer Singh reportedly pulled out the teeth of several suspects and tortured them." Juxtaposing the two cases, Meena Kandasamy noted that, "in Vengaivayal we see police inaction, while in Ambasamudram we're dealing with a case of police excesses. We see the two extreme faces of the police and human rights violations." The system, Kandasamy noted, customarily prefers to protect the dominant caste people and ignore the complaints of the Dalits. The system protects the perpetrators' of casteist crimes. "The state machinery which can be cruel and grotesque on one hand can also be a soft, polite creature when it comes to caste Hindus. They really seem to serve the ruling caste and oppressor caste. Political parties often do not take the side of minorities because they assume it would turn the majority of voters against them. And, there is so much malicious propaganda that says the victims are the perpetrators. The police have the duty to at least dispel that and protect the victims. (With inputs from Nacchinarkkiniyan M in Pudukkottai.) It was an unimaginable cruelty. But humankind time and again proves that it is capable of such misdeeds. The Vengaivayal iniquity would remain another ineffaceable stain in the history of the land of Periyar and Dravidian politics. Vengaivayal is a village in the Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu, about 380 km away from the state capital Chennai. It was here, on December 2022, that the overhead water tank which supplies drinking water to the Dalit population was found contaminated with human excreta.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); As soon as the news broke out, Dalit activists, outfits, and political parties were quick to express shock and denounce the perpetrators. As things unfolded, more practices of caste discrimination in the village including the use of two tumblers (separate tumbler for Dalits) in tea shops came to light. Further, the village has separate burial grounds for caste Hindus and Dalits. The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Thol Thirumavalavan, an ally of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led government, visited the village and listened to the grievances of the Dalits. Chief Minister M K Stalin assured "stern action" against the perpetrators. However, he didn't visit the village. The police registered a case under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against unnamed suspects. The police constituted a special investigation team. But amid widespread skepticism over the likely outcome of the probe, and under pressure from the opposition parties, the government was forced to transfer the case to the CBCID. However, no key accused has been identified yet by the police. Meanwhile, the government also constituted a one-man commission to probe into the matter and submit a report. As for meeting the drinking water requirements of the Dalits, the government announced the construction of a new water tank. The old water tank is not being used since it is part of the evidence for the case. The construction of the water tank commenced a couple of weeks after the news about the caste atrocity broke out and is still underway. An alternative arrangement was made under the Jal Shakthi scheme to supply drinking water for the Dalit families. District Collector's Visit When the Pudukottai district collector Kavitha Ramu visited the village soon after the horrific incident, she was confronted by the grieving Dalit people who informed her about a slew of prevalent casteist practices in the village. When the collector interacted with locals over the contamination, allegations of caste discrimination in the form of a two-tumbler system, entry ban for Dalits in the local temple, and the likes came to the fore, The New Indian Express had reported earlier in January. Vengaivayal is merely the tip of the iceberg, say, activists. They slam the government for the slow progress of the investigation. For instance, Dalit liberation movement secretary, S Karupiah says that the government, instead of cracking the whip on casteist elements, has cut a sorry figure with its attempts to whitewash the whole episode. If a complaint is lodged and registered under the SC/ST Act, a case must be filed within 24 hours and the chargesheet should be filed in a court within 60 days. It has been more than 100 days and no chargesheet has been filed. But, Dalit families have been given monetary relief, and compensation. On what basis this relief was given if the government has not even identified the key suspects in the case?" asks Karupiah. Political parties such as the CPI (M), VCK, and the IUML had meanwhile alleged that the police offered Rs 2 lakh and a government job as a reward for those who came forward to confess to the crime," according to TNIE. No Samathuvam, No Pongal A Samathuva (equality) Pongal hosted by the government in Vengaivayal under the leadership of Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Minister Kayalvizhi Selvaraj in January turned out to be a huge letdown as the Caste Hindus boycotted the event. They also expressed their displeasure over the alleged "one-sided investigation", into the atrocity. "Over 50 women from BC and MBC communities threatened to besiege the minister's convoy in protest against the one-sided approach adopted by the government. A section of villagers of a nearby hamlet protested on March 15 demanding the arrest of perpetrators irrespective of their caste background and imposing Section 144 to put an end to further protests in the region. ALSO READ | Samathuva Pongal leaves bitter aftertaste at Vengaivayal village Karupiah pointed out to The New Indian Express Online, The government is siding with caste Hindus. A one-man commission has been set up to investigate the incident. Similar commissions set up to probe other caste atrocities in the past have not done justice to the Dalits. None of the commissions had favoured the victims, including the panels set up for the Keezh Venmani, Kodiyankulam, and Thaamirabarani caste atrocities." It is a matter of land and the power that comes with it. Dalit families in Vengavayal own land. Some have bought land from their hard-earned money, some have unassessed land (poramboke land). This bothers the dominant caste people. They cannot accept the reality of Dalits owning the land. They want to drive Dalits away from the village, Karupiah said. We have reasons to doubt that BJP cadres could be behind this atrocity Karupiah claimed. Vengaivayal and Ambasamudram Author and activist Meena Kandasamy told the New Indian Express Online, Vengaivayal is happening at the same time as Ambasamudram custodial torture case wherein assistant superintendent of police Balveer Singh reportedly pulled out the teeth of several suspects and tortured them." Juxtaposing the two cases, Meena Kandasamy noted that, "in Vengaivayal we see police inaction, while in Ambasamudram we're dealing with a case of police excesses. We see the two extreme faces of the police and human rights violations." The system, Kandasamy noted, customarily prefers to protect the dominant caste people and ignore the complaints of the Dalits. The system protects the perpetrators' of casteist crimes. "The state machinery which can be cruel and grotesque on one hand can also be a soft, polite creature when it comes to caste Hindus. They really seem to serve the ruling caste and oppressor caste. Political parties often do not take the side of minorities because they assume it would turn the majority of voters against them. And, there is so much malicious propaganda that says the victims are the perpetrators. The police have the duty to at least dispel that and protect the victims. (With inputs from Nacchinarkkiniyan M in Pudukkottai.) Actor Salman Khan has brought home a bulletproof Nissan Patrol luxury SUV, as per the latest reports. The Hindi film actor was spotted in his newest ride at the grand opening of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in Mumbai earlier this month, where he arrived in the bulletproof Patrol SUV accompanied by his personal security and a Police escort. Khan upgraded to bulletproof cars last year after receiving death threats. The new Nissan Patrol replaces the bulletproof Toyota Land Cruiser LC200 that was previously used by the actor. Considering Nissan does not officially retail the Patrol in India, this seems to be a private import. The Nissan Patrol is quite popular in the Middle East and South East Asia and is especially known as one of the best choices when it comes to bulletproofing. Also Read : Shah Rukh Khan splurges on Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge worth crores While details are scarce, the armoured Nissan Patrol is expected to come with B6 or B7 levels of protection, which most private security companies provide when retrofitting bulletproof glass on the Patrol. With B6-level, occupants are safe against a high-powered rifle with a 41 mm thick glass for ballistic protection. The B7-level offers protection against armour-piercing rounds with a 78 mm glass in place. The Nissan Patrol draws power from the 5.6-litre V8 petrol engine tuned for 400 bhp and 560 Nm of peak torque Also check these Cars Find more Cars UPCOMING Nissan Juke 10 - 15 Lakhs* *Expected Price View Details UPCOMING Nissan X-trail 26 - 32 Lakhs* *Expected Price View Details Nissan Kicks 9.5 - 14.65 Lakhs* *Ex-showroom price Add to compare Check latest offers UPCOMING Nissan Qashqai 25 - 30 Lakhs* *Expected Price View Details Nissan Magnite 4.99 - 10.05 Lakhs* *Ex-showroom price Add to compare Check latest offers UPCOMING Nissan Sunny 2023 Prices are currently unavailable View Details While the interiors are simple yet luxurious on the Nissan Patrol, power comes from the mammoth-sized 5.6-litre V8 petrol engine tuned for 400 bhp and 560 Nm of peak torque, paired with a 7-speed automatic transmission. Power goes to all four wheels via the Four-Wheel Drive system with a rear-locking differential. The Patrol is an extremely capable off-roader and competes with the Toyota Land Cruiser LC300 and the Land Rover Defender in the segment. In its sixth generation currently, the Nissan Patrol was last refreshed in 2019. Khan would have had to shell out quite a premium for the bulletproof Nissan Patrol. A non-bulletproof privately imported example alone would set you back by about 2 crore. Salman Khan was previously using the previous generation Land Rover Range Rover LWB as his daily driver but switched to the bulletproof Land Cruiser LC200 last year. The actor received death threats from gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his aids in connection with the Blackbuck poaching case during the shoot of his 1998 film Hum Saath Saath Hai. Bishnoi reportedly belongs to the community that considers blackbucks as sacred, which is said to have trigged the gangster. Also Read : First all-new Renault Koleos owner is Salman Khan Apart from Salman Khan, his friend and contemporary Aamir Khan also owns the Mercedes-Benz S600 S-Guard, which is an armoured example. Aamir has the W221 generation of the S-Guard and reportedly had to shell out about 8-10 crore about a decade ago for the same. Meanwhile, actor Shah Rukh Khan recently acquired two new cars in the past year. The actor got the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge following the success of his new blockbuster Pathaan, while he also took delivery of the Mercedes-Maybach S580 a few months ago. First Published Date: Jeyalakshmi Ramanujam By Express News Service MADURAI: Accusing an associate professor of continuous sexual harassment, as many as 13 women studying UG Economics at the government-aided college in Nagamalai Pudukottai have lodged a complaint with their principal. In the complaint copy accessed by TNIE, the students accused Associate Prof. C Rajkumar of making sexual gestures, coming inappropriately close to students, watching porn videos during class hours and also showing those videos to students. "The Internal Complaint Committee (ICC) of the college will conduct an inquiry into the matter on Monday," Principal M Rajendran told TNIE. One of the complainants, on the request of anonymity, said, "The associate professor has been harassing the students for years. Our seniors too faced the same issue. His behaviour towards women in the class is completely unbecoming of a teacher. He has even sent offensive visuals to some students. Once, one student called him out and reprimanded him for the behaviour." Another student TNIE spoke to said Associate Prof. Rajkumar used sexual innuendos while speaking to students. "He sings while girl students visit the department room. We are disgusted by all this. He is taking Industrial Economics subject for second-year students and Entrepreneurship Development for us third-year students. Our seniors had made an oral complaint against him, but the management blamed the students for everything. Even recently, the second-year students wanted to lodge a complaint but decided against it after the management threatened them. Previously, the college had to sack teaching faculty Ashokan after students accused him of sexual harassment and staged protests. Very recently, they had to dismiss another faculty named Pandiyaraja after it was found that he shared porn images with students through social media," she added. Refuting all the allegations, Associate Prof. Rajkumar said he was not aware of the complaint. Meanwhile, the All India Students Association (AISA) urged District Collector Dr. S Aneesh Sekhar and Regional Joint Director of Collegiate Education (RJDCE) R Pon Muthuramalingam to intervene in the issue. In a letter to the officials, AISA Madurai District Committee in-charge R Devaraj said, "A fair inquiry must be held into the students' complaints. Further, the government-aided college management has also not yet returned the excess fee they earlier collected from the students even after the RJDCE instructed them to do so." MADURAI: Accusing an associate professor of continuous sexual harassment, as many as 13 women studying UG Economics at the government-aided college in Nagamalai Pudukottai have lodged a complaint with their principal. In the complaint copy accessed by TNIE, the students accused Associate Prof. C Rajkumar of making sexual gestures, coming inappropriately close to students, watching porn videos during class hours and also showing those videos to students. "The Internal Complaint Committee (ICC) of the college will conduct an inquiry into the matter on Monday," Principal M Rajendran told TNIE. One of the complainants, on the request of anonymity, said, "The associate professor has been harassing the students for years. Our seniors too faced the same issue. His behaviour towards women in the class is completely unbecoming of a teacher. He has even sent offensive visuals to some students. Once, one student called him out and reprimanded him for the behaviour." Another student TNIE spoke to said Associate Prof. Rajkumar used sexual innuendos while speaking to students. "He sings while girl students visit the department room. We are disgusted by all this. He is taking Industrial Economics subject for second-year students and Entrepreneurship Development for us third-year students. Our seniors had made an oral complaint against him, but the management blamed the students for everything. Even recently, the second-year students wanted to lodge a complaint but decided against it after the management threatened them. Previously, the college had to sack teaching faculty Ashokan after students accused him of sexual harassment and staged protests. Very recently, they had to dismiss another faculty named Pandiyaraja after it was found that he shared porn images with students through social media," she added. Refuting all the allegations, Associate Prof. Rajkumar said he was not aware of the complaint. Meanwhile, the All India Students Association (AISA) urged District Collector Dr. S Aneesh Sekhar and Regional Joint Director of Collegiate Education (RJDCE) R Pon Muthuramalingam to intervene in the issue. In a letter to the officials, AISA Madurai District Committee in-charge R Devaraj said, "A fair inquiry must be held into the students' complaints. Further, the government-aided college management has also not yet returned the excess fee they earlier collected from the students even after the RJDCE instructed them to do so." T Muruganandham By Express News Service CHENNAI: Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday said the governor should not consider himself as the great dictator after RN Ravi said that withholding a bill would mean that the bill is dead and it is a decent language used by the constitution to mean rejection. The Supreme Court in its verdict in the Shamsher Singh Vs State of Punjab (1975) case had said the governor is but a shorthand expression for the state government and President is an abbreviation for the central government. So, the governor should not treat himself as the great dictator, the CM said in a hard-hitting statement asking Ravi to withdraw his words and not act against his oath. Earlier in the day, interacting with civil services aspirants at Raj Bhavan, the governor said there are three options before him while dealing with a bill sent for assent. On the option to withhold the bill, the governor said, The SC has defined the word withholding. It does not mean that the governor is holding the bill. It means the bill is dead. The governor, however, also admitted that when the bill is re-adopted by the assembly he must give his assent to it. Ravi also said a governor cannot give assent to a bill if its a matter under the concurrent list and if Parliament has passed a law on the subject. (In such cases) it has to go to the President, the governor said. Its pertinent to note that the governor is yet to give his assent to the bill re-adopted by the TN assembly to ban online gambling, and has also said the matter falls under the legislative ambit of the union government. ALSO READ | P Chidambaram calls out RN Ravi for his 'Bill is dead' remarks Reacting sharply, the CM said, The governor who has been creating confusion among people by his political and social views, has now expressed views contrary to facts about assembly proceedings and in a way disturbing administrative discipline. Governor has no power to return money bill: CM Charging that the governor has frozen 14 files sent by the state government, Stalin said the governor has been failing in his administrative duties by not giving his assent to ordinances, bills and amendments to laws. If continuous pressure is exerted, he poses a nominal query to the government and thinks that his duty is over. For example, the bill to ban online gambling is still pending before the governor. Even after a huge loss of lives, the governors silence is shocking. The CM also pointed out that the governor has no power to return a money bill. However, he returned the bill to ban online gambling which has been certified as a money bill on March 6 to the speaker. Even after re-adopting the bill by giving explanations, the governor cannot be denying his assent, the CM said. The CM also said the state assembly is reflecting the voice of the people of Tamil Nadu and it is not good for the governor to speak in a way that would reduce the dignity of the House. The governor also waded into a controversy by saying that protests against the Sterlite plant, which led to a police firing in which several people died, as foreign-funded ones. During his interaction meet, Ravi said, They wanted the Sterlite plant to be closed because it met 40 per cent of our copper needs. All those people who were behind it were getting foreign contributions. The governor also said the protests against the Vizhinjam port project too were foreign-funded. DMK deputy general secretary and Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi condemned Ravi for defaming the peoples struggle against Sterlite and asked him to provide evidence. Anti-Sterlite Peoples Movement coordinator Fatima Babu said the remarks disrespect the 15 civilians who lost their lives. The state government closed the copper plant based on a policy decision and the decision was upheld by the Madras HC, she said. Meanwhile, Thoothukudi CPM district secretary KP Arumugam had announced a protest to condemn the governors remark at the Chidambaranagar bus stop along Tamil Salai on April 7. ALSO READ | CM Stalin questions RN Ravi over bills being held hostage by Raj Bhavan When a civil service aspirant asked whether he ever felt that the governors are opposed more for political reasons than for rational ones, Ravi gave a lengthy reply explaining what are the responsibilities of a governor according to the Constitution and about the State List, Union List and the Concurrent List. He also explained what is the governor's position in a State legislature. "The constitution says a legislature of a State constitutes of firstly, a governor. Secondly, the legislative assembly. Wherever there is a legislative council, there comes the legislative council. So the governor is a part of the legislature. So a bill passed by the assembly does not mean it is passed by the legislature. Because the Assembly is a part of the legislature. So when the bill is passed and sent to the governor. The governor exercises his/her constitutional responsibility of being a constituent of the legislature by taking into account whether this bill is going beyond the competence of the legislature," Ravi added. Speaking on the need for strictly implementing the FCR Act, the governor said the thousands of NGOs in the country are receiving thousands of crores of rupees from foreign countries. "Some of them were receiving contributions and the donors were sitting in foreign countries sending money for activities which were pre-judicial, Anti-national in nature. For example, let us say, here in Tamil Nadu, we have a nuclear plant in the south. While establishing this unit, there were protests against it for some or other reasons and we realised that this money trail goes to those entities in the foreign country Europe, the US, different countries from where the money is being sent for these activities, sometimes in the name of human rights, climate or green environment - different names," the governor said. The governor also charged that in the North East, shell entities sitting in Europe and the US are sending more than Rs.250 crores every year for conversion purposes. "Now, Should we allow that, Should we have the check? There is no harm in receiving foreign money but it should not be used for a purpose which is harmful to our national interest," he added. CHENNAI: Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday said the governor should not consider himself as the great dictator after RN Ravi said that withholding a bill would mean that the bill is dead and it is a decent language used by the constitution to mean rejection. The Supreme Court in its verdict in the Shamsher Singh Vs State of Punjab (1975) case had said the governor is but a shorthand expression for the state government and President is an abbreviation for the central government. So, the governor should not treat himself as the great dictator, the CM said in a hard-hitting statement asking Ravi to withdraw his words and not act against his oath. Earlier in the day, interacting with civil services aspirants at Raj Bhavan, the governor said there are three options before him while dealing with a bill sent for assent. On the option to withhold the bill, the governor said, The SC has defined the word withholding. It does not mean that the governor is holding the bill. It means the bill is dead. The governor, however, also admitted that when the bill is re-adopted by the assembly he must give his assent to it. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Ravi also said a governor cannot give assent to a bill if its a matter under the concurrent list and if Parliament has passed a law on the subject. (In such cases) it has to go to the President, the governor said. Its pertinent to note that the governor is yet to give his assent to the bill re-adopted by the TN assembly to ban online gambling, and has also said the matter falls under the legislative ambit of the union government. ALSO READ | P Chidambaram calls out RN Ravi for his 'Bill is dead' remarks Reacting sharply, the CM said, The governor who has been creating confusion among people by his political and social views, has now expressed views contrary to facts about assembly proceedings and in a way disturbing administrative discipline. Governor has no power to return money bill: CM Charging that the governor has frozen 14 files sent by the state government, Stalin said the governor has been failing in his administrative duties by not giving his assent to ordinances, bills and amendments to laws. If continuous pressure is exerted, he poses a nominal query to the government and thinks that his duty is over. For example, the bill to ban online gambling is still pending before the governor. Even after a huge loss of lives, the governors silence is shocking. The CM also pointed out that the governor has no power to return a money bill. However, he returned the bill to ban online gambling which has been certified as a money bill on March 6 to the speaker. Even after re-adopting the bill by giving explanations, the governor cannot be denying his assent, the CM said. The CM also said the state assembly is reflecting the voice of the people of Tamil Nadu and it is not good for the governor to speak in a way that would reduce the dignity of the House. The governor also waded into a controversy by saying that protests against the Sterlite plant, which led to a police firing in which several people died, as foreign-funded ones. During his interaction meet, Ravi said, They wanted the Sterlite plant to be closed because it met 40 per cent of our copper needs. All those people who were behind it were getting foreign contributions. The governor also said the protests against the Vizhinjam port project too were foreign-funded. DMK deputy general secretary and Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi condemned Ravi for defaming the peoples struggle against Sterlite and asked him to provide evidence. Anti-Sterlite Peoples Movement coordinator Fatima Babu said the remarks disrespect the 15 civilians who lost their lives. The state government closed the copper plant based on a policy decision and the decision was upheld by the Madras HC, she said. Meanwhile, Thoothukudi CPM district secretary KP Arumugam had announced a protest to condemn the governors remark at the Chidambaranagar bus stop along Tamil Salai on April 7. ALSO READ | CM Stalin questions RN Ravi over bills being held hostage by Raj Bhavan When a civil service aspirant asked whether he ever felt that the governors are opposed more for political reasons than for rational ones, Ravi gave a lengthy reply explaining what are the responsibilities of a governor according to the Constitution and about the State List, Union List and the Concurrent List. He also explained what is the governor's position in a State legislature. "The constitution says a legislature of a State constitutes of firstly, a governor. Secondly, the legislative assembly. Wherever there is a legislative council, there comes the legislative council. So the governor is a part of the legislature. So a bill passed by the assembly does not mean it is passed by the legislature. Because the Assembly is a part of the legislature. So when the bill is passed and sent to the governor. The governor exercises his/her constitutional responsibility of being a constituent of the legislature by taking into account whether this bill is going beyond the competence of the legislature," Ravi added. Speaking on the need for strictly implementing the FCR Act, the governor said the thousands of NGOs in the country are receiving thousands of crores of rupees from foreign countries. "Some of them were receiving contributions and the donors were sitting in foreign countries sending money for activities which were pre-judicial, Anti-national in nature. For example, let us say, here in Tamil Nadu, we have a nuclear plant in the south. While establishing this unit, there were protests against it for some or other reasons and we realised that this money trail goes to those entities in the foreign country Europe, the US, different countries from where the money is being sent for these activities, sometimes in the name of human rights, climate or green environment - different names," the governor said. The governor also charged that in the North East, shell entities sitting in Europe and the US are sending more than Rs.250 crores every year for conversion purposes. "Now, Should we allow that, Should we have the check? There is no harm in receiving foreign money but it should not be used for a purpose which is harmful to our national interest," he added. By PTI HYDERABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of projects worth over Rs 11,300 crore in Telangana besides flagging off the Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express here on Saturday. In a brisk visit to the city, Modi will also participate in a public meeting at Parade Ground here, official sources said. He will lay the foundation stone of AIIMS Bibinagar, near here and five National Highway projects. He will also lay the foundation stone for the redevelopment of Secunderabad Railway Station and dedicate to the nation other development projects related to the Railways. The Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express, connecting Hyderabad with the abode of Lord Venkateswara, Tirupati, is the second Vande Bharat train to be started from Telangana within a short span of three months. The train will reduce the travel time between the two cities by almost three and half hours and will be particularly beneficial for pilgrim passengers. The redevelopment of Secunderabad Railway Station, to be done at a cost of Rs.720 crore, is being planned such that it will undergo a massive makeover with world-class amenities and aesthetically designed iconic station building. The redeveloped station would be having double-level spacious roof plaza with all passenger amenities at one place along with multi-modal connectivity for providing seamless transfer of passengers from rail to other modes among others. During the visit, Modi will flag off 13 new Multi-Modal Transport Service (MMTS) services in the suburban section of the Hyderabad-Secunderabad twin city region, providing commuters with a fast, convenient and comfortable travel option, a press release from railways said on Thursday. He will also dedicate to the nation the doubling and electrification of the Secunderabad-Mahabubnagar project. The project stretching for a distance of over 85 km has been completed at a cost of nearly Rs.1,410 crore. The project will provide seamless connectivity and assist in enhancing the average speed of trains. At the public programme at Parade Ground, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of AIIMS Bibinagar, Hyderabad. This is a testimony of the PM's vision of strengthening health infrastructure across the country, an official release had said earlier. AIIMS Bibinagar is being developed at the cost of more than Rs.1,350 crore. The establishment of AIIMS Bibinagar is an important milestone in providing comprehensive, quality and holistic tertiary care health services to the people of Telangana at their doorstep. Modi will also lay the foundation stone of National Highway projects worth more than Rs.7,850 crore. These road projects will strengthen the road connectivity of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and will aid in the socio-economic development of the region. Modi is scheduled to leave for Tamil Nadu after the Hyderabad visit the same day. HYDERABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of projects worth over Rs 11,300 crore in Telangana besides flagging off the Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express here on Saturday. In a brisk visit to the city, Modi will also participate in a public meeting at Parade Ground here, official sources said. He will lay the foundation stone of AIIMS Bibinagar, near here and five National Highway projects.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He will also lay the foundation stone for the redevelopment of Secunderabad Railway Station and dedicate to the nation other development projects related to the Railways. The Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express, connecting Hyderabad with the abode of Lord Venkateswara, Tirupati, is the second Vande Bharat train to be started from Telangana within a short span of three months. The train will reduce the travel time between the two cities by almost three and half hours and will be particularly beneficial for pilgrim passengers. The redevelopment of Secunderabad Railway Station, to be done at a cost of Rs.720 crore, is being planned such that it will undergo a massive makeover with world-class amenities and aesthetically designed iconic station building. The redeveloped station would be having double-level spacious roof plaza with all passenger amenities at one place along with multi-modal connectivity for providing seamless transfer of passengers from rail to other modes among others. During the visit, Modi will flag off 13 new Multi-Modal Transport Service (MMTS) services in the suburban section of the Hyderabad-Secunderabad twin city region, providing commuters with a fast, convenient and comfortable travel option, a press release from railways said on Thursday. He will also dedicate to the nation the doubling and electrification of the Secunderabad-Mahabubnagar project. The project stretching for a distance of over 85 km has been completed at a cost of nearly Rs.1,410 crore. The project will provide seamless connectivity and assist in enhancing the average speed of trains. At the public programme at Parade Ground, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of AIIMS Bibinagar, Hyderabad. This is a testimony of the PM's vision of strengthening health infrastructure across the country, an official release had said earlier. AIIMS Bibinagar is being developed at the cost of more than Rs.1,350 crore. The establishment of AIIMS Bibinagar is an important milestone in providing comprehensive, quality and holistic tertiary care health services to the people of Telangana at their doorstep. Modi will also lay the foundation stone of National Highway projects worth more than Rs.7,850 crore. These road projects will strengthen the road connectivity of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and will aid in the socio-economic development of the region. Modi is scheduled to leave for Tamil Nadu after the Hyderabad visit the same day. By AFP TAIPEI: China sent warships and aircraft near Taiwan for a second day on Friday, Taipei said, after President Tsai Ing-wen angered Beijing by meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Three Chinese warships sailed in waters surrounding the self-ruled island, while a fighter jet and an anti-submarine helicopter also crossed the island's air defence identification zone, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said. On Wednesday, China's Shandong aircraft carrier, one of two in its naval fleet, sailed through Taiwan's southeastern waters on its way to the western Pacific, hours before Tsai met McCarthy in Los Angeles. Beijing, which views Taiwan as part of its territory, had repeatedly warned against the meeting, and reiterated on Thursday that it would take "forceful measures to firmly safeguard national sovereignty". Tsai told reporters her government was committed to ensuring "the free and democratic way of life of the people of Taiwan" before she left Los Angeles, where she was stopping on her way back from Latin America. "We also hope to do our best to maintain peace and stability between the two sides," she added. Last August, China deployed warships, missiles and fighter jets around Taiwan for its largest show of force in years following a trip to the island by McCarthy's predecessor Nancy Pelosi. Its response to the Tsai-McCarthy meeting has so far been on a much lower level, but still left Taiwan on alert. Premier Chen Chien-jen said on Friday that Taiwan's defence and security agencies were keeping a close eye on developments, and asked "the public to rest assured". On Thursday, the defence ministry said three warships had been detected around the Taiwan Strait and one Chinese naval helicopter crossed the island's ADIZ. The display prompted calls from the United States asking China "to cease its military, diplomatic and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful diplomacy". "We remain committed to maintaining open channels of communication so as to prevent the risk of any kind of miscalculation," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters. 'Quite common' McCarthy, who is second in line for the US presidency, had originally planned to go to Taiwan himself but opted instead to meet Tsai in California. The decision was viewed as a compromise that would underscore support for Taiwan but avoid inflaming tensions with China, a move analysts say has so far proven successful. Tsai said on Thursday that it was "quite common for us to meet our US friends during transits," she said. "I also hope the Chinese side can exercise self-restraint and don't overreact." McCarthy had vowed that US arms sales to Taiwan -- which infuriate Chinese leadership -- would continue, in what he said was a proven strategy to dissuade aggression. "And what we know through history, the best way to do that is supply the weapons that allow people to deter war," he said. "It is a critical lesson that we learned through Ukraine, that the idea of just sanctions in the future is not going to stop somebody" who wants to wage war. Tsai acknowledged the weapons deal on Thursday but did not provide further details. "We have purchased arms from the US and we hope the arms will be delivered on time," she said. Sanctions On Friday, China slapped sanctions on Taipei's de facto ambassador to the United States, Hsiao Bi-khim, banning her from entering China and accusing her of "deliberately inciting cross-strait confrontation". Beijing's foreign ministry also announced sanctions against the Hudson Institute, a Washington-based conservative think-tank, as well as the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, for "providing a platform and facilitating Tsai Ing-wen's engagement in 'Taiwan separatism' activities in the United States". The two organisations are now barred from engaging in transactions and cooperation with Chinese entities, while four individuals linked to them are blocked from entering or conducting business in China. TAIPEI: China sent warships and aircraft near Taiwan for a second day on Friday, Taipei said, after President Tsai Ing-wen angered Beijing by meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Three Chinese warships sailed in waters surrounding the self-ruled island, while a fighter jet and an anti-submarine helicopter also crossed the island's air defence identification zone, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said. On Wednesday, China's Shandong aircraft carrier, one of two in its naval fleet, sailed through Taiwan's southeastern waters on its way to the western Pacific, hours before Tsai met McCarthy in Los Angeles.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Beijing, which views Taiwan as part of its territory, had repeatedly warned against the meeting, and reiterated on Thursday that it would take "forceful measures to firmly safeguard national sovereignty". Tsai told reporters her government was committed to ensuring "the free and democratic way of life of the people of Taiwan" before she left Los Angeles, where she was stopping on her way back from Latin America. "We also hope to do our best to maintain peace and stability between the two sides," she added. Last August, China deployed warships, missiles and fighter jets around Taiwan for its largest show of force in years following a trip to the island by McCarthy's predecessor Nancy Pelosi. Its response to the Tsai-McCarthy meeting has so far been on a much lower level, but still left Taiwan on alert. Premier Chen Chien-jen said on Friday that Taiwan's defence and security agencies were keeping a close eye on developments, and asked "the public to rest assured". On Thursday, the defence ministry said three warships had been detected around the Taiwan Strait and one Chinese naval helicopter crossed the island's ADIZ. The display prompted calls from the United States asking China "to cease its military, diplomatic and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful diplomacy". "We remain committed to maintaining open channels of communication so as to prevent the risk of any kind of miscalculation," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters. 'Quite common' McCarthy, who is second in line for the US presidency, had originally planned to go to Taiwan himself but opted instead to meet Tsai in California. The decision was viewed as a compromise that would underscore support for Taiwan but avoid inflaming tensions with China, a move analysts say has so far proven successful. Tsai said on Thursday that it was "quite common for us to meet our US friends during transits," she said. "I also hope the Chinese side can exercise self-restraint and don't overreact." McCarthy had vowed that US arms sales to Taiwan -- which infuriate Chinese leadership -- would continue, in what he said was a proven strategy to dissuade aggression. "And what we know through history, the best way to do that is supply the weapons that allow people to deter war," he said. "It is a critical lesson that we learned through Ukraine, that the idea of just sanctions in the future is not going to stop somebody" who wants to wage war. Tsai acknowledged the weapons deal on Thursday but did not provide further details. "We have purchased arms from the US and we hope the arms will be delivered on time," she said. Sanctions On Friday, China slapped sanctions on Taipei's de facto ambassador to the United States, Hsiao Bi-khim, banning her from entering China and accusing her of "deliberately inciting cross-strait confrontation". Beijing's foreign ministry also announced sanctions against the Hudson Institute, a Washington-based conservative think-tank, as well as the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, for "providing a platform and facilitating Tsai Ing-wen's engagement in 'Taiwan separatism' activities in the United States". The two organisations are now barred from engaging in transactions and cooperation with Chinese entities, while four individuals linked to them are blocked from entering or conducting business in China. By AFP DHAKA: At least eight people were killed during a gunfight between two tribal insurgent groups at a remote town in Bangladesh's restive Chittagong hills, police said Friday. The skirmish took place near Ronwagnchhari, a town shut to tourists since October when security forces launched a crackdown against the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), a newly emerged rebel group. The operation has displaced hundreds of tribal people, with some walking for days to cross the border and take refuge in a remote corner of northeastern India. Local police chief Tariqul Islam told AFP two rival armed groups clashed Thursday night and officers recovered the dead bodies of eight tribal people Friday morning. "They were killed in a gun battle," Islam told AFP, adding that around 60 people had fled their homes in Khamtangpara village where the attack took place. Another district police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity told AFP that the victims were Bawm, a small Christian tribal community. They were suspected members of the KNF that had been shot dead by a splinter faction of the United People's Democratic Front, he added. Last month, the Bangladesh Army accused the KNF of killing one of its troops and injuring another. The elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) police unit also accuses the KNF of harbouring and training Islamist extremists. Running through Bangladesh's southeast, the Chittagong hills were the site of a two-decade-long insurgency that killed thousands of civilians. The conflict officially came to an end with a 1997 peace deal, but at least six armed groups continue to operate in the area, according to police. DHAKA: At least eight people were killed during a gunfight between two tribal insurgent groups at a remote town in Bangladesh's restive Chittagong hills, police said Friday. The skirmish took place near Ronwagnchhari, a town shut to tourists since October when security forces launched a crackdown against the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), a newly emerged rebel group. The operation has displaced hundreds of tribal people, with some walking for days to cross the border and take refuge in a remote corner of northeastern India.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Local police chief Tariqul Islam told AFP two rival armed groups clashed Thursday night and officers recovered the dead bodies of eight tribal people Friday morning. "They were killed in a gun battle," Islam told AFP, adding that around 60 people had fled their homes in Khamtangpara village where the attack took place. Another district police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity told AFP that the victims were Bawm, a small Christian tribal community. They were suspected members of the KNF that had been shot dead by a splinter faction of the United People's Democratic Front, he added. Last month, the Bangladesh Army accused the KNF of killing one of its troops and injuring another. The elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) police unit also accuses the KNF of harbouring and training Islamist extremists. Running through Bangladesh's southeast, the Chittagong hills were the site of a two-decade-long insurgency that killed thousands of civilians. The conflict officially came to an end with a 1997 peace deal, but at least six armed groups continue to operate in the area, according to police. By Online Desk Theres more than a whiff of racism hanging over the Tennessee state house this morning, where Republican lawmakers on Thursday expelled two of three Democrats who took part in a rowdy gun control protest on the chamber floor, The Guardian reports. Those ousted are Black, while the third, who survived the expulsion vote, is white. Their perceived crime was breaking decorum for joining constituents demanding tighter gun laws in the wake of last weeks Covenant school shooting in Nashville that killed six, including three nine-year-olds, according to the report. Reaction to the expulsions has been swift as observers mull elements of racism, gun rights and an attack on democracy. Joe Biden called it undemocratic, while Martin Luther King III said on CNN Friday: Racism is still very real we have got to eradicate this evil, The Guardian report added. A statement issued by The White House recalled that last week, three more students and three school officials were gunned down in yet another tragic mass shooting in Nashville. The statement further added, "On Monday, 7,000 Tennesseans, many of them students, marched to their state capitol to call on their lawmakers to take action and keep them safe. Instead, state Republican lawmakers called votes today to expel Democratic legislators who stood in solidarity with students and families and helped lift their voices." Todays expulsion of lawmakers who engaged in peaceful protest is "shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent," the statement said and added, "rather than debating the merits of the issue, these Republican lawmakers have chosen to punish, silence, and expel duly-elected representatives of the people of Tennessee." "A strong majority of Americans want lawmakers to act on commonsense gun safety reforms that we know will save lives. But instead, weve continued to see Republican officials across America double down on dangerous bills that make our schools, places of worship, and communities less safe. Our kids continue to pay the price," the statement said. Congress must ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, require safe storage of firearms, eliminate gun manufacturers immunity from liability, and require background checks for all gun sales, and state officials must do the same, it added. Theres more than a whiff of racism hanging over the Tennessee state house this morning, where Republican lawmakers on Thursday expelled two of three Democrats who took part in a rowdy gun control protest on the chamber floor, The Guardian reports. Those ousted are Black, while the third, who survived the expulsion vote, is white. Their perceived crime was breaking decorum for joining constituents demanding tighter gun laws in the wake of last weeks Covenant school shooting in Nashville that killed six, including three nine-year-olds, according to the report. Reaction to the expulsions has been swift as observers mull elements of racism, gun rights and an attack on democracy. Joe Biden called it undemocratic, while Martin Luther King III said on CNN Friday: Racism is still very real we have got to eradicate this evil, The Guardian report added.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); A statement issued by The White House recalled that last week, three more students and three school officials were gunned down in yet another tragic mass shooting in Nashville. The statement further added, "On Monday, 7,000 Tennesseans, many of them students, marched to their state capitol to call on their lawmakers to take action and keep them safe. Instead, state Republican lawmakers called votes today to expel Democratic legislators who stood in solidarity with students and families and helped lift their voices." Todays expulsion of lawmakers who engaged in peaceful protest is "shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent," the statement said and added, "rather than debating the merits of the issue, these Republican lawmakers have chosen to punish, silence, and expel duly-elected representatives of the people of Tennessee." "A strong majority of Americans want lawmakers to act on commonsense gun safety reforms that we know will save lives. But instead, weve continued to see Republican officials across America double down on dangerous bills that make our schools, places of worship, and communities less safe. Our kids continue to pay the price," the statement said. Congress must ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, require safe storage of firearms, eliminate gun manufacturers immunity from liability, and require background checks for all gun sales, and state officials must do the same, it added. By Associated Press JERUSALEM: Israel conducted rare airstrikes in Lebanon on Friday, a sharp escalation that sparked fears of a broader conflict after militants fired dozens of rockets from Lebanon into Israeli territory. Israel also continued bombarding the Gaza Strip. The Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon what analysts described as the most serious border violence since Israel's 2006 war with Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group threatened to push the confrontation into a dangerous new phase following violence at one of Jerusalem's holiest sites. Although the Israeli military was quick to emphasize that its warplanes struck sites belonging to only Palestinian militant groups, the barrage risks drawing in Israel's bitter foe Hezbollah, which controls much of southern Lebanon and has in the past portrayed itself as a defender of the Palestinians and the contested city of Jerusalem. The Israeli military said that it held Lebanon accountable for the attacks originating from its territory. Israeli missiles struck an open field near the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh, close to the coastal southern city of Tyre, according to an Associated Press photographer. Other strikes hit a small bridge and power transformer in the nearby town of Maaliya and a flock of sheep in the town of Qalili, on the outskirts of the Palestinian camp. Several sheep were killed and residents of the town, including Syrian refugees, reported minor injuries. I was sleeping and suddenly I couldnt feel anything except the impact, said Qalili resident Majid Abdelsattar. The strikes, he said, damaged his parents house and the familys citrus orchard. The Lebanese military said it found another rocket launcher Friday after dismantling several the day before. The Israeli military said its strikes hit mostly what it described as Hamas militant infrastructure in Lebanon and Gaza. The Israeli airstrikes came in response to an unusually large barrage of rockets from Lebanon after Israeli police raids at the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem spiraled into unrest and sparked outrage in the Arab world. The holy site, a tinderbox for Israeli-Palestinian tensions, sits on a hilltop sacred to both Muslims and Jews. In 2021, an escalation also triggered by clashes at the Al-Aqsa compound spilled over into an 11-day war between Israel and Gazas Hamas rulers. On Friday, violence again broke out at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Chaos erupted at one of the entrances to the esplanade before dawn prayers on Friday as Israeli police wielding batons descended on crowds of Palestinian worshippers, who chanted slogans praising Hamas as they tried to squeeze into the site. An hour later, according to videos, people leaving the prayers staged a vast protest on the limestone courtyard, with Palestinians raising their fists and shouting in support of Hamas rocket fire, and Israeli police forced their way into the compound. Police did not comment on the earlier beatings, but said security forces entered the holy compound after prayers in response to masked suspects who threw rocks toward officers at one of the gates. The scenes of Israeli police beating and dispersing Palestinians and an hour later, entering the plaza itself in force could further inflame tensions during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, a time of heightened religious fervor. The Israeli military said it was clear that both sides wanted to avoid a full-blown conflict. Quiet will be answered with quiet, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, a spokesman for the Israeli military told reporters early Friday. But, he added, All our eyes are now on Jerusalem. The Israeli military said on Friday that Palestinian militants in Gaza had so far fired 44 rockets from Gaza, only 23 of which crossed into Israeli territory. The others either failed to launch, fell into the Mediterranean Sea, or were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome aerial defense system, the military said. Most missiles struck open areas in Israel's south, but one landed in the town of Sderot, damaging a house. There were no Israeli casualties. The Israeli military said it pounded Gaza with more airstrikes on Friday, hitting 10 targets that it described as tunnel infrastructure, along with weapons production and development sites belonging largely to the Hamas militant group. There were no immediate reports of casualties in Gaza, but the Palestinian Health Ministry said that one of the strikes caused some damage to a children's hospital in Gaza City. "This is not the first time that health facilities have been targeted, and it is unacceptable," the ministry said of the damage to Al Dorra Pediatric Hospital. Hecht added that the military was looking into the reports of damage to the hospital. The current round of violence began Wednesday after Israeli police twice raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque. That led Thursday to rocket fire from Gaza and, in a significant escalation, the barrage from Lebanon. Israels response, tonight and beyond, will extract a heavy price from our enemies, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after his Security Cabinet meeting late Thursday. Tensions have simmered along the Lebanese border in recent weeks as Israel appears to have ratcheted up its shadow war against Iranian-linked targets in Syria, another close ally of Iran, Israels archenemy in the region. Suspected Israeli airstrikes in Syria in recent weeks have killed two Iranian military advisers and temporarily put the countrys two largest airports out of service. Hecht, the military spokesman, said Thursdays rocket fire was not believed to be connected to events in Syria. It's Hamas-dominant, Hecht said, referring to the targets of the Israeli airstrikes both in Lebanon and Gaza. In Jerusalem, even as calm returned to at Al-Aqsa a few hours after the burst of violence, the situation remained tense ahead of midday Friday prayers. For the previous two nights, Palestinians have barricaded themselves in the mosque with stones and firecrackers. Israeli police have fired stun grenades and rubber bullets to evict the worshippers. On Tuesday, Israeli police fiercely beat Palestinians and arrested over 400 people, stoking rage across Arab towns in Israel, the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Israeli authorities control access to the site, but the compound is administered by Islamic and Jordanian officials. JERUSALEM: Israel conducted rare airstrikes in Lebanon on Friday, a sharp escalation that sparked fears of a broader conflict after militants fired dozens of rockets from Lebanon into Israeli territory. Israel also continued bombarding the Gaza Strip. The Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon what analysts described as the most serious border violence since Israel's 2006 war with Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group threatened to push the confrontation into a dangerous new phase following violence at one of Jerusalem's holiest sites. Although the Israeli military was quick to emphasize that its warplanes struck sites belonging to only Palestinian militant groups, the barrage risks drawing in Israel's bitter foe Hezbollah, which controls much of southern Lebanon and has in the past portrayed itself as a defender of the Palestinians and the contested city of Jerusalem. The Israeli military said that it held Lebanon accountable for the attacks originating from its territory.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Israeli missiles struck an open field near the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh, close to the coastal southern city of Tyre, according to an Associated Press photographer. Other strikes hit a small bridge and power transformer in the nearby town of Maaliya and a flock of sheep in the town of Qalili, on the outskirts of the Palestinian camp. Several sheep were killed and residents of the town, including Syrian refugees, reported minor injuries. I was sleeping and suddenly I couldnt feel anything except the impact, said Qalili resident Majid Abdelsattar. The strikes, he said, damaged his parents house and the familys citrus orchard. The Lebanese military said it found another rocket launcher Friday after dismantling several the day before. The Israeli military said its strikes hit mostly what it described as Hamas militant infrastructure in Lebanon and Gaza. The Israeli airstrikes came in response to an unusually large barrage of rockets from Lebanon after Israeli police raids at the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem spiraled into unrest and sparked outrage in the Arab world. The holy site, a tinderbox for Israeli-Palestinian tensions, sits on a hilltop sacred to both Muslims and Jews. In 2021, an escalation also triggered by clashes at the Al-Aqsa compound spilled over into an 11-day war between Israel and Gazas Hamas rulers. On Friday, violence again broke out at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Chaos erupted at one of the entrances to the esplanade before dawn prayers on Friday as Israeli police wielding batons descended on crowds of Palestinian worshippers, who chanted slogans praising Hamas as they tried to squeeze into the site. An hour later, according to videos, people leaving the prayers staged a vast protest on the limestone courtyard, with Palestinians raising their fists and shouting in support of Hamas rocket fire, and Israeli police forced their way into the compound. Police did not comment on the earlier beatings, but said security forces entered the holy compound after prayers in response to masked suspects who threw rocks toward officers at one of the gates. The scenes of Israeli police beating and dispersing Palestinians and an hour later, entering the plaza itself in force could further inflame tensions during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, a time of heightened religious fervor. The Israeli military said it was clear that both sides wanted to avoid a full-blown conflict. Quiet will be answered with quiet, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, a spokesman for the Israeli military told reporters early Friday. But, he added, All our eyes are now on Jerusalem. The Israeli military said on Friday that Palestinian militants in Gaza had so far fired 44 rockets from Gaza, only 23 of which crossed into Israeli territory. The others either failed to launch, fell into the Mediterranean Sea, or were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome aerial defense system, the military said. Most missiles struck open areas in Israel's south, but one landed in the town of Sderot, damaging a house. There were no Israeli casualties. The Israeli military said it pounded Gaza with more airstrikes on Friday, hitting 10 targets that it described as tunnel infrastructure, along with weapons production and development sites belonging largely to the Hamas militant group. There were no immediate reports of casualties in Gaza, but the Palestinian Health Ministry said that one of the strikes caused some damage to a children's hospital in Gaza City. "This is not the first time that health facilities have been targeted, and it is unacceptable," the ministry said of the damage to Al Dorra Pediatric Hospital. Hecht added that the military was looking into the reports of damage to the hospital. The current round of violence began Wednesday after Israeli police twice raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque. That led Thursday to rocket fire from Gaza and, in a significant escalation, the barrage from Lebanon. Israels response, tonight and beyond, will extract a heavy price from our enemies, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after his Security Cabinet meeting late Thursday. Tensions have simmered along the Lebanese border in recent weeks as Israel appears to have ratcheted up its shadow war against Iranian-linked targets in Syria, another close ally of Iran, Israels archenemy in the region. Suspected Israeli airstrikes in Syria in recent weeks have killed two Iranian military advisers and temporarily put the countrys two largest airports out of service. Hecht, the military spokesman, said Thursdays rocket fire was not believed to be connected to events in Syria. It's Hamas-dominant, Hecht said, referring to the targets of the Israeli airstrikes both in Lebanon and Gaza. In Jerusalem, even as calm returned to at Al-Aqsa a few hours after the burst of violence, the situation remained tense ahead of midday Friday prayers. For the previous two nights, Palestinians have barricaded themselves in the mosque with stones and firecrackers. Israeli police have fired stun grenades and rubber bullets to evict the worshippers. On Tuesday, Israeli police fiercely beat Palestinians and arrested over 400 people, stoking rage across Arab towns in Israel, the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Israeli authorities control access to the site, but the compound is administered by Islamic and Jordanian officials. By PTI ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has cancelled his visit to the US to attend the spring meetings of the World Bank and the IMF and hold talks with officials to unlock a much-needed USD 1.1 billion IMF bailout, amid deepening domestic political uncertainty and developing judicial crisis, according to a media report on Friday. During the visit, Dar was to meet the International Monetary Fund management for the removal of bottlenecks in the staff-level agreement on the revival of the stalled bailout package. Sources said that Dar would not attend the spring meetings of the World Bank and the IMF that will take place from April 10 to 16 in Washington, The Express Tribune newspaper reported. "I am not going due to the domestic state of affairs," the newspaper quoted Dar as saying. The deepening political uncertainty and developing judicial crisis were said to be the reasons behind the cancellation of the trip to Washington, the paper said. Dar had the plan to address the financial and political worlds' concerns regarding the continuity of the Pakistan government, future economic plans and bridging the once again trust deficit with the multilateral lenders. The sources said that Minister for Economic Affairs Sardar Ayaz Sadiq would also not go to the United States due to the prevailing uncertain political conditions. The economic affairs minister always represented Pakistan at the World Bank. Ayaz is considered very close to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and also handled the political affairs of the allied parties. The development came amid the widening chasm between the judiciary and the federal government over holding polls in the country's politically crucial Punjab province. The federal government asserts that it has the power to delay the polls and hold them with the general elections in the country after August this year. However, former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party has been pushing for early polls and demanding that instead of delaying the elections in the Punjab province, the national assembly should be dissolved and general elections called in the country. Finance Secretary Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh and Economic Affairs Secretary Kazim Niaz would now represent the government at the WB-IMF spring meetings. During the visit, Dar scheduled meetings with the presidents of WB, Asian Development Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank the three multilateral creditors that were very crucial for Pakistan's plans to raise USD 6 billion in additional loans to meet the last IMF condition. Cash-strapped Pakistan is awaiting a much-needed USD 1.1 billion tranche of funding from the Washington-based IMF, which was originally due to be disbursed in November last year. The funds are part of a USD 6.5 billion bailout package the IMF approved in 2019, which analysts say is critical if Pakistan is to avoid defaulting on external debt obligations. The IMF programme, signed in 2019, is going to expire on June 30, 2023, and under the set guidelines, the programme cannot be extended beyond the deadline. The pending 9th review was scheduled to be completed in December 2022 and the 10th review should have been kick-started from February 2023. The 11th review was scheduled to commence on May 3. Pakistan and the IMF have been negotiating the resumption of the stalled programme for months but have yet to reach an agreement. There is no easy solution available to fix the ailing economy of Pakistan and the government is of the view that they have taken all the tough decisions for reviving the stalled IMF programme. Pakistan, currently in the throes of a major economic crisis, is grappling with high external debt, a weak local currency and dwindling foreign exchange reserves, enough to shore up for barely one month's imports. The current volatile political situation in Pakistan has become a factor in delaying a much-needed deal with the IMF. ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has cancelled his visit to the US to attend the spring meetings of the World Bank and the IMF and hold talks with officials to unlock a much-needed USD 1.1 billion IMF bailout, amid deepening domestic political uncertainty and developing judicial crisis, according to a media report on Friday. During the visit, Dar was to meet the International Monetary Fund management for the removal of bottlenecks in the staff-level agreement on the revival of the stalled bailout package. Sources said that Dar would not attend the spring meetings of the World Bank and the IMF that will take place from April 10 to 16 in Washington, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "I am not going due to the domestic state of affairs," the newspaper quoted Dar as saying. The deepening political uncertainty and developing judicial crisis were said to be the reasons behind the cancellation of the trip to Washington, the paper said. Dar had the plan to address the financial and political worlds' concerns regarding the continuity of the Pakistan government, future economic plans and bridging the once again trust deficit with the multilateral lenders. The sources said that Minister for Economic Affairs Sardar Ayaz Sadiq would also not go to the United States due to the prevailing uncertain political conditions. The economic affairs minister always represented Pakistan at the World Bank. Ayaz is considered very close to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and also handled the political affairs of the allied parties. The development came amid the widening chasm between the judiciary and the federal government over holding polls in the country's politically crucial Punjab province. The federal government asserts that it has the power to delay the polls and hold them with the general elections in the country after August this year. However, former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party has been pushing for early polls and demanding that instead of delaying the elections in the Punjab province, the national assembly should be dissolved and general elections called in the country. Finance Secretary Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh and Economic Affairs Secretary Kazim Niaz would now represent the government at the WB-IMF spring meetings. During the visit, Dar scheduled meetings with the presidents of WB, Asian Development Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank the three multilateral creditors that were very crucial for Pakistan's plans to raise USD 6 billion in additional loans to meet the last IMF condition. Cash-strapped Pakistan is awaiting a much-needed USD 1.1 billion tranche of funding from the Washington-based IMF, which was originally due to be disbursed in November last year. The funds are part of a USD 6.5 billion bailout package the IMF approved in 2019, which analysts say is critical if Pakistan is to avoid defaulting on external debt obligations. The IMF programme, signed in 2019, is going to expire on June 30, 2023, and under the set guidelines, the programme cannot be extended beyond the deadline. The pending 9th review was scheduled to be completed in December 2022 and the 10th review should have been kick-started from February 2023. The 11th review was scheduled to commence on May 3. Pakistan and the IMF have been negotiating the resumption of the stalled programme for months but have yet to reach an agreement. There is no easy solution available to fix the ailing economy of Pakistan and the government is of the view that they have taken all the tough decisions for reviving the stalled IMF programme. Pakistan, currently in the throes of a major economic crisis, is grappling with high external debt, a weak local currency and dwindling foreign exchange reserves, enough to shore up for barely one month's imports. The current volatile political situation in Pakistan has become a factor in delaying a much-needed deal with the IMF. By AFP JERUSALEM: Two Israeli sisters were killed and their mother seriously wounded in a shooting in the occupied West Bank Friday, hours after Israel bombarded Gaza and Lebanon following rocket fire by Palestinian militants. The broadening of the conflict since Israeli police clashed with Palestinians inside Jerusalem's flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque drew appeals for restraint from the international community but the Israeli army vowed it would not allow Palestinian factions to open a new front in Lebanon. A barrage of over 30 rockets fired from Lebanon Thursday marked the biggest escalation since Israel fought a 34-day war with Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in 2006. The Israeli army said it had launched a manhunt for the perpetrators of Friday's shooting. It said the women were fired on in a car as they passed through Hamra junction, in the northern part of the Jordan Valley. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Oded Revivi, mayor of the illegal West Bank settlement Efrat, confirmed the two dead were sisters, adding that the third woman who was seriously wounded was their mother. The attack came after the army carried out air strikes and an artillery bombardment before dawn in response to rocket fire from the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. In response to Thursday's rocket fire, Israel "struck targets, including terror infrastructures, belonging to the Hamas terrorist organisation in southern Lebanon", the army said -- the first time Israel has confirmed an attack on Lebanese territory since April 2022. Explosions were heard by AFP journalists in Lebanon's Tyre region as well as the Gaza Strip, where Israeli air raids had begun before midnight. AFP journalists in the Tyre area said they heard at least three blasts, while Abu Ahmad, a resident of a nearby Palestinian refugee camp, also said he "heard explosions". "At least two shells fell near the camp," he told AFP. Rocket launcher dismantled The Lebanese army said it had found and dismantled a multiple rocket launcher in an olive grove in the Marjayoun area near the border, still loaded with six rockets primed to fire at Israel. In Gaza, the Israeli army said it had hit two tunnels and "two weapon manufacturing sites" belonging to Hamas "as a response to the security violations of Hamas during the last few days". The army said air defences intercepted 25 rockets on Thursday, while five hit Israeli territory. Israel "will not allow the Hamas terrorist organisation to operate from within Lebanon and holds the state of Lebanon responsible for every directed fire emanating from its territory", it added. On Friday, Hezbollah deputy chief Naim Qassem said "the threats and intimidation of the Zionist leaders will lead nowhere", adding "the entire axis of resistance" was on alert. Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht had blamed Palestinian militants for the rocket fire from Lebanon. "We know for sure it's Palestinian fire," he told reporters. "It could be Hamas, it could be Islamic Jihad." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "Israel's response, tonight and in the future, will exact a heavy price." Hamas condemned the "appalling Israeli aggression" and said it holds Israel "fully responsible for the consequences". The Palestinian health ministry reported "partial damage" to the Al-Dorra children's hospital in Gaza City, condemning the "unacceptable" act, while Hecht said the Israeli army was looking into the allegation. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which patrols the area along the Israeli border, urged restraint, adding: "Both sides have said they do not want a war." Israeli emergency services on Thursday reported one man lightly wounded by shrapnel and a woman injured while running to a shelter. Mosque raid Israeli riot police had stormed the prayer hall of Al-Aqsa mosque in a pre-dawn Wednesday raid aiming to dislodge "law-breaking youths and masked agitators" they said had barricaded themselves inside. The violence sparked an exchange of rockets and air strikes with militants in Gaza. The United States recognised "Israel's legitimate right to defend itself", while France vowed "unwavering" support for "Israel's security and Lebanon's stability and sovereignty". UN chief Antonio Guterres meanwhile called on "all actors to exercise maximum restraint". A spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry "strongly condemned the attacks of the aggressor Zionist regime," and Russia called for "an end to the violence" and a "lasting ceasefire". Hamas and Islamic Jihad informed Egypt, a longstanding mediator between Israel and the Palestinians, that rocket fire would continue "if Israel continues its aggressions and air strikes but, if these aggressions stop, they will cease fire," Palestinian sources said. The rocket fire came a day after Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh arrived in Lebanon. He vowed on Thursday that Palestinians would not "sit with their arms crossed". JERUSALEM: Two Israeli sisters were killed and their mother seriously wounded in a shooting in the occupied West Bank Friday, hours after Israel bombarded Gaza and Lebanon following rocket fire by Palestinian militants. The broadening of the conflict since Israeli police clashed with Palestinians inside Jerusalem's flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque drew appeals for restraint from the international community but the Israeli army vowed it would not allow Palestinian factions to open a new front in Lebanon. A barrage of over 30 rockets fired from Lebanon Thursday marked the biggest escalation since Israel fought a 34-day war with Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in 2006.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Israeli army said it had launched a manhunt for the perpetrators of Friday's shooting. It said the women were fired on in a car as they passed through Hamra junction, in the northern part of the Jordan Valley. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Oded Revivi, mayor of the illegal West Bank settlement Efrat, confirmed the two dead were sisters, adding that the third woman who was seriously wounded was their mother. The attack came after the army carried out air strikes and an artillery bombardment before dawn in response to rocket fire from the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. In response to Thursday's rocket fire, Israel "struck targets, including terror infrastructures, belonging to the Hamas terrorist organisation in southern Lebanon", the army said -- the first time Israel has confirmed an attack on Lebanese territory since April 2022. Explosions were heard by AFP journalists in Lebanon's Tyre region as well as the Gaza Strip, where Israeli air raids had begun before midnight. AFP journalists in the Tyre area said they heard at least three blasts, while Abu Ahmad, a resident of a nearby Palestinian refugee camp, also said he "heard explosions". "At least two shells fell near the camp," he told AFP. Rocket launcher dismantled The Lebanese army said it had found and dismantled a multiple rocket launcher in an olive grove in the Marjayoun area near the border, still loaded with six rockets primed to fire at Israel. In Gaza, the Israeli army said it had hit two tunnels and "two weapon manufacturing sites" belonging to Hamas "as a response to the security violations of Hamas during the last few days". The army said air defences intercepted 25 rockets on Thursday, while five hit Israeli territory. Israel "will not allow the Hamas terrorist organisation to operate from within Lebanon and holds the state of Lebanon responsible for every directed fire emanating from its territory", it added. On Friday, Hezbollah deputy chief Naim Qassem said "the threats and intimidation of the Zionist leaders will lead nowhere", adding "the entire axis of resistance" was on alert. Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht had blamed Palestinian militants for the rocket fire from Lebanon. "We know for sure it's Palestinian fire," he told reporters. "It could be Hamas, it could be Islamic Jihad." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "Israel's response, tonight and in the future, will exact a heavy price." Hamas condemned the "appalling Israeli aggression" and said it holds Israel "fully responsible for the consequences". The Palestinian health ministry reported "partial damage" to the Al-Dorra children's hospital in Gaza City, condemning the "unacceptable" act, while Hecht said the Israeli army was looking into the allegation. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which patrols the area along the Israeli border, urged restraint, adding: "Both sides have said they do not want a war." Israeli emergency services on Thursday reported one man lightly wounded by shrapnel and a woman injured while running to a shelter. Mosque raid Israeli riot police had stormed the prayer hall of Al-Aqsa mosque in a pre-dawn Wednesday raid aiming to dislodge "law-breaking youths and masked agitators" they said had barricaded themselves inside. The violence sparked an exchange of rockets and air strikes with militants in Gaza. The United States recognised "Israel's legitimate right to defend itself", while France vowed "unwavering" support for "Israel's security and Lebanon's stability and sovereignty". UN chief Antonio Guterres meanwhile called on "all actors to exercise maximum restraint". A spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry "strongly condemned the attacks of the aggressor Zionist regime," and Russia called for "an end to the violence" and a "lasting ceasefire". Hamas and Islamic Jihad informed Egypt, a longstanding mediator between Israel and the Palestinians, that rocket fire would continue "if Israel continues its aggressions and air strikes but, if these aggressions stop, they will cease fire," Palestinian sources said. The rocket fire came a day after Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh arrived in Lebanon. He vowed on Thursday that Palestinians would not "sit with their arms crossed". Beijing (Gasgoo)- Geely Automobile Holdings Limited (Geely Automobile) sold 110,300 vehicles in total in the third month of 2023, up 9% year on year, according to the companys sales report issued on April 6. Photo credit: Geely In the first three months of the year, Geely Automobiles cumulative sales volume amounted to 322,453 vehicles, notching down 1% from a year ago. Among the vehicles sold in March, 28,093 units were new energy vehicles (NEVs), including 25,943 battery-electric vehicles (+118% YoY) and 2,150 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (-5% YoY). In addition, Geely Automobile shipped 20,125 vehicles overseas in the past month, indicating an outstanding soar of 158% from the year-ago period. As to performance of individual brands, the Geely brand sold 88,239 vehicles in March this year, which went up 5% from a year ago. With 18,290 vehicles sold, its electric vehicle-dedicated Geometry brand witnessed a year-on-year surge of 126% in last months sales. Lynk & Co saw its March sales edge up 3% year over year to 14,004 vehicles. Besides, the auto brand offered 2,541 vehicles to European users via subscription in the past month. Geelys premium new energy vehicle brand, ZEEKR, delivered 6,663 vehicles last month, which shot up 271% compared to the year-ago period. The groups joint venture brand with Lifan Technology, Livan Auto, was the only sub-brand within the group to post a year-on-year decline in March sales, which stood at 1,394 units (-31% YoY). . Sorry, that page not found! Please visit our Home Page for latest updates Conjoined twins born in Bihars Purnia Patna, April 6: A woman has given birth to conjoined twin boys in Bihar's Purnia district. Conjoined twins born in Bihar's Purnia The newborns, though have separate body parts, are joined at the stomach. They were born in Lalganj Milki village under Maranga police station in the district on Wednesday.According to Dr Prem Prakash, in charge of Purnia medical college and hospital, the babies weighed 4.5 kg at the time of the birth and are healthy but their stomachs are connected. "In the absence of surgical facilities in the hospital, we have referred the babies to higher centers like Patna AIIMS or Delhi AIIMS," he said."It is a rare case in medical science. In some cases, the babies are connected with heads, shoulders and stomach," he said.Marukh Hussain, maternal grandfather of babies said "We have requested the hospital administration for a few days so that we would make arrangements to take them to higher centres. The hospital has given us two days' time on humanitarian ground. Since their mother is a daily wage labourer and the father an auto driver, it is extremely hard to afford the treatment. The doctors have said that the operation in such cases is very expensive.""I appeal to the state government to provide treatment to the child on humanitarian grounds and save their lives," Hussain said.IANS06 April 2023 Shared Recently! Legal process for former Indian Navy sailors in Qatar started: MEA New Delhi, April 6: India said on Thursday that the legal process for eight former Indian Navy personnel, who have been held in solitary confinement in Qatar on unspecified charges since last August, has started. Legal process for former Indian Navy sailors in Qatar started: MEA The eight men were working at Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services, a private company owned by an ex-Oman Air Force officer."We understand that the case has been referred to the court by the public prosecution. The first hearing was held on March 29, which was also attended by the lawyer appointed for the case," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at his weekly media briefing.India has maintained that it attaches "high priority" to secure early release of its men, and is making continuous efforts to ensure their early return and repatriation."Our embassy in Doha continues to remain in touch with the families of the detained Indian nationals... extending consular as well as legal assistance," Bagchi said.India has been given consular access to the eight men on a couple of occasions, and some of their relatives were allowed to meet them."We've also requested another round of consular access. And let me reiterate, as I said before, the government attaches high priority to the matter and remains engaged with the Qatari authorities regarding the case," the spokesperson said.The Qatari authorities have not yet publicly made any charges against the Indians."I don't think the charges have been yet opened... let's see now that the legal process is underway, we'll keep a close watch on that," Bagchi told media persons.Among the eight Indians in custody is Commander Purnendu Tiwari (retd), the Managing Director of the Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services.The other detained officers are Commanders Navtej Singh Gill, Director, Naval Training, Birendra Kumar Verma, Director of the Naval Academy, Sugunakar Pakala, director, FCN, Sanjeev Gupta, and Amit Nagpal, Captain Saurab Vasisht, and Ragesh Gopakumar.More than 8,000 Indians are currently imprisoned in foreign jails and out of these, 4,389 are lodged in the Gulf nations, according to Minister of State for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan.Qatar is among the 31 countries with which India has signed the Agreements on Transfer of Sentenced Persons.IANS07 April 2023 Shared Recently! With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information. DJI Automotive said to supply ADAS solution to BYD DJI Automotive has been nominated as a supplier for ADAS solution by BYD, said a local media outlet citing person close to the matter. The cooperation between the two companies include urban NOA function that does not rely on HD maps, and the first collaborative vehicle model will be BYDs upcoming Sealion electric SUV, according to the sources. Photo credit: DJI BYD to showcase Yangwang U9 at 2023 Auto China BYDs high-end brand, Yangwang will put on display its U9 model at the upcoming 2023 Auto China in Shanghai. The pure-electric supercar is powered by the e4 Platform. GAC Trumpchi releases images of E9 MPV GAC Trumpchi officially released photos of its all-new MPV model, the E9, which will be showcased at the 2023 Auto China with presale kicking off simultaneously. As a plug-in hybrid model, the E9 is equipped with a 2.0T engine and electric motor, allowing for a WLTC range of over 100km on battery power alone. Neolix permitted to operate unmanned low-speed vehicles in Hainan Province Neolix, the Chinese developer of self-driving functional vehicles, has completed tests, evaluations, and audits to become the first licensed low-speed autonomous vehicle enterprise in Hainan Province. Geely Automobile's monthly auto sales up 9% YoY in Mar. 2023 Geely Automobile Holdings Limited (Geely Automobile) sold 110,300 vehicles in total in the third month of 2023, up 9% year on year, according to the companys sales report issued on April 6. AVATR achieves milestone with over 6,000 units of AVATR 11 delivered cumulatively AVATR Technology announced on April 6 that the cumulative deliveries of its first intelligent electric SUV, the AVATR 11, has exceeded 6,000 units. GAC Group posts YoY, MoM increase in Mar. 2023 sales GAC Group announced on Thursday it sold 231,735 vehicles in the third month of 2023, representing an 1.87% year-over-year growth. Mumbai: BMC to make 20 black spots safer with design changes Mumbai, April 6: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will transform the city's 20 highest crash-prone intersections, also known as 'black spots' to make Mumbai traffic junctions safer for the public, said officials on Thursday. Mumbai: BMC to make 20 'black spots' safer with design changes According to a BMC official statement, the corporation will work in collaboration with partners from the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS)."As per the instructions from Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Iqbal Singh Chahal and under the guidance of Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) P Velrasu, to make the junctions safer for all road users, especially pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, who are most vulnerable to road crashes, BMC will receive technical assistance from BIGRS partners including the Global Designing Cities Initiative (GDCI) and the World Resources Institute (WRI), India to redesign the 20 deadliest traffic intersections in the city," the statement said.A regional meeting regarding this subject was concluded on Thursday.Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Deputy Commissioner Ulhas Mahale and Chief Engineer (Roads and Traffic) Manish Kumar Patel were present on this occasion.Experts and foreign dignitaries visited and inspected the five black spots in Mumbai after the meeting.Meanwhile, they reviewed the various measures undertaken by BMC at black spot locations."These locations are a priority since they record a high number of deaths and injuries compared to other locations in the city. We will introduce design changes at these locations to reduce the number of crashes and save lives. BMC engineers are working along with the BIGRS partners to transform these junctions," said Ulhas Mahale, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Infrastructure).WRI India and GDCI surveyed the black spots in 2021-22 and are now preparing designs to upgrade the infrastructure of these junctions and roads to make them safer for vulnerable road users - pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists alike.To reduce the number of crashes, fatalities, and serious injuries, and make the junctions safe to navigate, BMC, WRI, and GDCI will utilize varied infrastructure interventions like widening pedestrian crossings and sidewalks, the addition of new refuge areas to reduce crossing distances, and traffic calming measures including speed breakers, and rumble strips.Dhawal Ashar, Program Head, Integrated Transport, WRI India, a partner under the BIGRS, said, "Providing adequate pedestrian infrastructure allows people to walk, stop and cross safely, thereby reducing the number of times they come in direct conflict with vehicles. This means designing for pedestrians will make the street 1. Safer for all road users, 2. Reduce conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles and 3. Also, smoothen and streamline traffic flow."WRI, India is working with the BMC on 12 junctions, including Amar Mahal.Abhimanyu Prakash, Regional Lead, Asia and Africa, GDCI, a partner under BIGRS, said that in collaboration with BMC, GDCI is rethinking the possibilities at these high-risk locations based on principles from the Global Street Design Guide, a set of design guidelines officially endorsed by and for the city of Mumbai."The toolkit of strategies being applied include widening pedestrian crossings and sidewalks, adding new refuge areas, and implementing traffic calming measures such as speed humps, and rumble strips," he further said.Additionally, lane alignment and a narrowing will be applied at select locations to not only make the streets safer but also smoothen traffic flows."In line with our long-term goal of reducing road crashes in the city, we are complementing these interventions with training for BMC engineers and with the Mumbai traffic police department to equip staff with the knowledge of fundamentals of safe and sustainable street designs," he added.According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), blackspot is a stretch of 500m on the national highway, state highway and urban roads where for the past consecutive three years in total 5 serious road crashes or crashes led to the deaths or cumulatively 10 or more deaths.The BMC has listed 20 high-risk roads which include Amar Mahal Junction, Tilak Nagar, Ghatkopar, Intersection of EEH and JVLR, Kanjurmarg (East), Intersection of WEH and Sion Bandra Link Road (Kalanagar Junction), Bandra (East), Intersection of WEH and Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Santacruz (East), Intersection Of Ghatkopar Andheri Link Road and Eastern Express Highway, Ghatkopar (East), Priyadarshini Junction, Sion-Chembur, Intersection of WEH and JVLR, Jogeshwari (East), Intersection of Eastern Freeway and Ghatkopar - Mankhurd Link Road, Govandi (West), Sion Circle Junction, Sion (West), Intersection of WEH and Akurli Road, Kandivali (East), Intersection of WEH and Goregaon Mulund Link Road, Goregaon (East), King Circle Junction, Matunga (East), Intersection of WEH and N.S.Phadke Marg, Andheri (East).ANI07 April 2023 Shared Recently! CM Patnaik visits Kimitsu Steel Works in Japan, discusses similar green tech coming up in Odisha New Delhi, April 6: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday visited the Kimitsu Steel Works of Nippon Steel Corporation (NSC) in Japan. CM Patnaik visits Kimitsu Steel Works in Japan, discusses similar green tech coming up in Odisha The NSC plant was established on land reclaimed from the sea and the unit uses environmentally sustainable green technologies.Patnaik discussed the use of similar green technologies for the plants coming up in Odisha's Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts, according to the statement of the Chief Minister's Office released on Thursday."Patnaik appreciates the plant and discussed the use of similar green technologies for the plants coming up in Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts (of Odisha)," the CMO release said.The proposed plants will also focus on specialised steel products which will enable downstream industries in Odisha, it said, adding, "The state delegation's visit to the Kimitsu Steel Works provided an opportunity for officials to learn about the latest technologies and processes used by the company in the production of the metal."In a week-long visit to Tokyo, Odisha's Chief Minister also attended a business meet on Wednesday. He invited Japanese investors to the state during the meeting.The state government received investment intent of over Rs 25,000 crore across green hydrogen and green ammonia, green energy equipment manufacturing, IT/IT-enabled services, logistics, metal ancillary, steel, and metal downstream sectors, the release said.Odisha government in association with the Indian Embassy in Japan, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), and the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) hosted the Odisha Business Meet Tokyo 2023.Chief Minister Patnaik, JETRO executive vice-president Kazuya Nakajo and senior officials of the Odisha government, IPICOL and FICCI were present in the meeting, which was attended by over 200 delegates, representing various industries from across Japan.Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena welcomed the gathering and shed light on how Odisha has been one of the major breakout states in the country in terms of development, registering impressive GSDP growth rates year-after-year and industrializing at break-neck speed under the leadership of the Chief Minister.Speaking on the occasion, Nakajo highlighted the emerging business opportunities between Japan and India.ANI07 April 2023 Shared Recently! Panel under Finance Secretary set up to review National Pension Scheme New Delhi, April 6: The government on Thursday announced setting up of a four-member committee under Finance Secretary T.V. Somanathan to review the National Pension Scheme (NPS) and suggest any changes in it, keeping in mind the interest of government employees. Panel under Finance Secretary set up to review National Pension Scheme The committee will also consist of Secretary, Personnel, Special Secretary, Personnel, and Chairman of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), according to a notification by the Finance Ministry.No time limit however has been set for the committee to submit its report to the government.The formation of the panel comes just days after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, had last month announced that the Centre would set up a committee to review the NPS under the chairmanship of the Finance Secretary.The committee will come up with a solution to issues related with pensions.The move comes amid representations received by the government, seeking a review of thr NPS and scope of improvement in it.Employees from several states have been demanding a change in the current pension system.Some states, including Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand, have already switched back to the old pension scheme.According to the terms of the panel, it would evolve an approach to address the needs of government employees while maintaining fiscal prudence.The committee would also seek views from states and suggest measures to modify or improve pension benefits for beneficiaries of NPS.IANS07 April 2023 Shared Recently! Telangana CM to skip receiving PM again Hyderabad, April 6: Reprising his old stand, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will again skip receiving Prime Minister Narendra Modi when the latter arrives here on April 8 to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for various projects. Telangana CM to skip receiving PM again The state government on Thursday named Animal Husbandry Minister T. Srinivas Yadav as minister-in-waiting for the Prime Minister's visit, and he will receive Modi on his arrival at the Begumpet Airport.This is the fifth time in the last 14 months that the Chief Minister will not be receiving the Prime Minister on the latter's visit to the state.Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to flag off the Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express at Secunderabad railway station and later attend a public meeting at Parade Ground to inaugurate or lay foundation stones for various projects worth over Rs 11,300 crore.The latest visit by Modi comes at a time when Telangana police have arrested state BJP President and MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar in Class 10 question paper leak case.After Sanjay's dramatic arrest late on Tuesday night, he was sent to judicial custody for 14 days.BJP leaders have alleged that Sanjay was arrested deliberately on the eve of the PM's visit.KCR, as the Chief Minister is popularly known, had not received Modi when he had arrived on November 12, 2022 to dedicate Ramagundam fertiliser plant to the nation.The ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) had taken exception to the PMO not extending a proper invitation to the Chief Minister.Earlier, KCR had skipped welcoming Modi on July 2 when the latter had arrived for BJP's National Executive meet.In May, KCR had avoided welcoming Modi when the latter was in Hyderabad to attend 20th annual celebrations of the Indian School of Business (ISB).Just before the Prime Minister's arrival, the Chief Minister flew to Bengaluru to call on former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda.In February last year, KCR had stayed away from receiving Modi on his visit to the city to unveil the statue of equality.This had evoked strong reaction from BJP leaders, who alleged that the Chief Minister is insulting the office of the Prime Minister.IANS07 April 2023 Shared Recently! New Telangana Secretariat to be inaugurated on April 30 Hyderabad, April 6: The new Telangana Secretariat, named after Dr BR Ambedkar, will be inaugurated on April 30, an official statement said. New Telangana Secretariat to be inaugurated on April 30 The decision was taken during a review meeting chaired by chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Wednesday evening, it said.The Secretariat building will be inaugurated as per the auspicious time decided by the Vedic scholars. The time will be announced soon, the statement said.Soon after the inauguration, CM KCR will first sit in his chambers. The ministers, secretaries, CMO staff and other secretariat staff will later occupy their chambers.The ministers, MPs, MLCs, MLAs, state-level corporation chairmen, HODs of all departments, collectors of all districts, SPs, zila parishad chairmen, DCCB, DCMMs chairmen, zila library chairmen, zila rythubandhu samiti presidents, municipal mayors and others will participate in the inauguration, it added.The statement said that various security measures have been taken up in the new secretariat in which around 2500 people are expected to attend the event.Secretariat has main gates in four directions. The North and West gate will be opened only when required. The secretariat staff, secretaries and officials will enter from the northeast gate.The southeast gate is for visitors only. The visiting time of the secretariat is from 3 pm to 5 pm, the statement added.The east gate (Main Gate) is used only for the chief minister, CS, DGP, ministers, MLAs, MLCs, MPs, the Chairman, important invitees, and foreign guests.Electrical vehicles for the disabled and elderly will be provided. Private vehicles are not allowed in the Secretariat, it informed.The DGP will formulate procedures and take security measures regarding the security of the Secretariat, it added.ANI07 April 2023 Shared Recently! Amit Shah unveils 54-feet-tall statue of Lord Hanuman at temple in Gujarat Botad, April 6: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti today unveiled a 54-feet-tall statue of Lord Hanuman at Sarangpur temple in Botad district, Gujarat. Amit Shah unveils 54-feet-tall statue of Lord Hanuman at temple in Gujarat Shah is in Gujarat today to attend many events celebrating the 44th foundation day of the BJP. He emphasised the importance of the Sarangpur temple saying that thousands of people visit the temple.Reminding people that this year's Hanuman Jayanti and BJP's foundation day are coinciding, he chronicled the journey of the BJP from an electorally small force in the country to getting the majority on its own in Parliament."Today it's a coincidence that it is Hanuman Jayanti as well as BJP Sthapana day. On 6 April 1980, people were making fun of the party but today BJP is the ruling government in various states and the party has more than 400 MPs," he said.The Union home minister claimed that the people of India fully supported the abrogation of Article 370 done by the Modi government. 'When BJP got the majority on its own in Parliament, people asked what about article 370? Citizens of this country are of the view that the same rules should be followed in every part of the nation. On 5 August, PM Modi removed article 370 and people across the country were relieved " Shah said.He criticised Congress on the Ram mandir issue saying that Congress moved from court to court making the issue lingering." Ram Mandir issue had been long pending, and Congress moved from court to court and the matter remained lingering. But after the verdict of the Supreme Court Ram mandir is being constructed."The Union home minister also recalled many important decisions taken by the Modi government, claiming that it takes tough decisions for the betterment of the Country. "Country's PM took tough decisions for the betterment of the country. PM Modi started the celebration of International Yoga Day. Cleaning of the river Ganga has also been done by the government in 9 years. Work of making the Indian languages stronger has also been done by this government." he said. .ANI07 April 2023 Shared Recently! Made-in-India iPhones increase as Apple shifts production from China New Delhi, April 6: iPhones made in India increased in volume and value last year as Apple moved to shift some of its production away from China to diversify its supply chain, South China Morning Post reported. Made-in-India iPhones increase as Apple shifts production from China In 2022, the shipment volumes of iPhones manufactured in India increased by 65 per cent year on year. In addition, the value of iPhones rose by 162 per cent, South China Morning Post reported citing a report published by market research firm Counterpoint last week.Last year, Apple accounted for 25 per cent of the value of India's total smartphone shipments, which shows a rise from 12 per cent in 2021, the SCMP reported citing the Counterpoint.China manufactures up to 85 per cent of iPhones around the world, Xinmei Shen said in the South China Morning Post report. However, Beijing faces the risk of losing its dominance as Apple is taking measures to shift its manufacturing supply chain outside China.Apple is among the global tech brands that are seeking to reduce their reliance on China for production amid rising tensions between Beijing and Washington and production disruptions in China due to the Chinese government's stringent COVID-19 measures, according to the South China Morning Post report.In 2020, India launched a USD 6.65 billion plan that offered incentives to global smartphone makers for shifting their production to the country. Apple contract manufacturer Foxconn Technology is reportedly intending to invest around USD 700 million in a new plant in India to enhance local production, according to the news report.The decision has raised concerns among social media users in China that the country was at risk of losing its primary role in Apple's manufacturing supply chain, Xinmei Shen said in the news report. India is expected to assemble up to 50 per cent of Apple's iPhones by 2027, which shows an increase from fewer than 5 per cent at present, The South China Morning Post reported citing Taiwan's Digitimes Research forecast in January.The production will make India on par with the scale of production in mainland China, as per the South China Morning Post report. Foxconn, formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry, scrambled to restore full production capacity at its manufacturing complex in Zhengzhou after severe disruptions that included worker protests and an exodus of thousands of employees amid a COVID-19 outbreak.On March 5, Foxconn announced a major investment in Karnataka that will generate over one lakh jobs, according to an official statement. As much as 300 acres of land has been identified for this purpose near the Bengaluru International Airport in Doddaballapura and Devanahalli taluks.During his visit to India, Young Liu met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They discussed topics related to enhancing India's tech and innovation ecosystem.Hon Hai Technology (Foxconn) tweeted, "Chairman Young Liu is visiting India. Today we had a warm meeting with Honourable Prime Minister @narendramodi and updated him on our good progress in the country. Foxconn will continue to build an ecosystem in India allowing all our stakeholders to share, collaborate and thrive."In response to a tweet by Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn), PM Modi tweeted; "Had a good meeting with Young Liu. Our discussions covered various topics aimed at enhancing India's tech and innovation eco-system."ANI07 April 2023 Shared Recently! Indias journey highlights lessons for other countries embarking on own digital transformation: IMF Washington, April 6: India's journey in developing a world-class digital public infrastructure highlights the lesson for other countries that are embarking on their own digital transformation, International Monetary Fund has said in a working paper. India's journey highlights lessons for other countries embarking on own digital transformation: IMF The working paper 'Stacking up the Benefits Lessons from India's Digital Journey" said that India's stack's development is guided by a foundational building blocks approach, and a focus on supporting innovation across the ecosystem.The building block approach involves unbundling the components of the solution to a set of problems and identifying a minimal common core.According to the paper, for a diverse country like India, a building block approach provides those closer to the problem with the basic tools to create tailored solutions. A focus on supporting a vibrant ecosystem implies the need for interoperability between the different digital public infrastructure (DPIs) and a competition-focused design. In India, interoperability was supported through open standards, allowing anyone to utilize the functionality provided by India Stack."These principles are applied to other DPIs in education and health, including the Covid-19 vaccine and distribution platform, CoWIN," the paper read."Using a digital backbone allowed India to scale its vaccine delivery quickly and overcome challenges such as large-scale internal migration. The technology underlying CoWIN has been deployed in Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Jamaica to help facilitate their vaccination programs," the paper added.India has also recognized the importance of Information Technology (IT) in the development of the identity layer. Before the Aadhar card came in the existence, India already had various identity cards and databases (e.g., PAN tax ID, ration cards), however none had universal coverage, promise of uniqueness and the ability to handle a billion-plus citizens.It was common knowledge that technology would be crucial to designing such an identity system that would provide scale, uniqueness, and robustness at an affordable cost. To tackle the design of building a massive biometric identity database, the government appointed a successful IT entrepreneur as its founding chairman; signaling its commitment to using technology to solve the policy problem and enabled UIDAI to hire better and more relevant talent for the task.The experience and challenges in rolling out the tax ID provided important lessons for Aadhaar's rollout (e.g., utilizing a novel PPP to speed up enrollments).The digital building block approach involves unbundling the elements of the solution to a set of problems and identifying a common core.For example, in the India Stack, Aadhaar removes identification from entitlement and UPI removes payment address from payment (Mukherjee and Maruwada, 2021)."This modular approach fosters innovation, allowing each building block to address multiple problems, including for use cases not envisaged by the initial developer. Focusing on the problem's core also allows each building block to be used at population scale," the statement read."For a large and diverse country such as India, a building block approach provides those closer to the problem with the basic tools to create tailored solutions. In the case of Aadhaar, the unbundling as well as the minimal information collected (name, age, gender, address, biometrics) enabled its rollout at speed and scale. In contrast, other countries have hit stumbling blocks with their digital ID rollout when these IDs convey an entitlement, such as citizenship," the statement added.A focus on supporting a vibrant ecosystem implies the need for interoperability and a competition focused design. For India, interoperability was supported through open standards, allowing anyone to utilize the functionality provided by India Stack. Not only does this increase interoperability, but it can lower costs, foster competition, provide an opportunity to tailor solutions to the local context and enhance flexibility to adapt to changing needs.Within the design of India Stack, particular care is given to encouraging competition and removing silos. For example, UPI sidestepped existing bottlenecks and incumbent interests. The development of the ecosystem was also supported by strong stakeholder engagement, enabling the delivery of user-centric solutions that are fit for purpose.Luis E Breuer, IMF Senior Resident Representative to India, said in a tweet that India's digital public infrastructure is transforming people's lives."India has built a world-class digital public infrastructure that has lessons for many countries. The latest research by @IMFnews shows how it is transforming the economy and peoples' lives," he said.ANI07 April 2023 Shared Recently! Kikkoman organizes the first ever Culinary Experts Meet-up 2023 in India Mumbai, April 6: organized the first ever Culinary Experts Meet-up 2023, on 30 March 2023 which was attended by over 80 of India's leading chefs, restaurateurs, distributors, government and educational institute representatives, and journalists. Kikkoman organizes the first ever Culinary Experts Meet-up 2023 in India The Culinary Experts Meet-up was held at The Soho House, Mumbai, where key note speeches and a series of panel discussions involving top industry leaders from India took place around the theme of 'Towards a Tastier Tomorrow'. The topics were the latest food service industry trends in India, the globalisation of food, and the importance of pure and natural ingredients in food for a long and healthy life.Kikkoman India started operations in February 2021 and launched the Kikkoman Honjozo Authentic Soy Sauce Experience programme in October 2021. The Culinary Experts Meet-up is part of the Kikkoman Honjozo Authentic Soy Sauce Experience programme, and this was the first Culinary Experts Meet-up to be held after Kikkoman India's first two years of business.The event had two parts. The first had members of the Indian culinary industry, the media, restaurateurs, food manufacturers, educational and government institutes, and industry bodies. A lively discussion took place on the globalisation of Indian food, the most recent food service trends, and the secret of longevity through life-enhancing ingredients. The winners of the first Kikkoman Cooking contest in India were also announced.In the second part, a networking event was held where a special menu of dishes created using Kikkoman Soy Sauce was served to guests. Kikkoman Soy Sauce is an all-purpose seasoning that can be used not only for Japanese food but in everything from authentic Chinese and Asian to western dishes and from appetisers and main courses to desserts.Chef Manjit Gill commented, "I am sure Kikkoman will establish a strong place within the diverse Indian food market and become a household favourite. When I first tried Kikkoman Soy Sauce, I found it very interesting - light, aromatic and tasty. Since then, I have been using Kikkoman Soy Sauce in the marination of kebabs to enhance their flavour and create new interesting tastes. It is truly a fantastic product."Chef Parvinder Bali commented, "In my opinion, the future of Indian cuisine is likely to be shaped by a combination of traditional influences and modern trends, resulting in a diverse and innovative culinary tradition that will continue to captivate and inspire people around the world. We are already seeing dishes like Miso marinated chicken tikka, soya flavoured apple jalebi on the menus of restaurants. I am sure Kikkoman Soy Sauce will contribute to creating many such delicious experiences for all culinary professionals in India."Ms. Karen Anand, popular author and restaurant consultant, commented, "I have been using Kikkoman products for over 30 years - carrying them back from Singapore and London all these years! I was therefore both privileged and honoured to be part of the first Culinary Experts Meet-up organized by Kikkoman India in Mumbai. It was great meeting and interacting with many old friends in the Culinary world after a long time. We had some good discussions about relevant topics like Pure and Natural - Long life and Daily Food Habits and Impact of Global Cuisines on Indian Food and Indian Food Going Global and I wish Kikkoman the best in their India journey."Osamu Mogi, Director, Senior Executive Corporate Officer, International Operations Division for Kikkoman Corporation, attended the Culinary Experts Meet-up and commented "I am so delighted to be here in India today to organise the Culinary Experts Meet-up for the first time ever. Two years ago, when we had our launch event, due to covid restrictions, I had to attend the event remotely. The fact that I am here today with leading culinary experts in India is something that I am very happy about. India is the world's largest multi-ethnic country that has so much diversity and is a huge market. It is one of Kikkoman's most important markets in the world. Since launching Kikkoman India in 2021, the potential acceptance of Kikkoman Soy Sauce as a key ingredient in every home and kitchen is accelerating day by day, and we have seen many new innovative dishes using Kikkoman Soy Sauce created by enterprising Indian chefs to date. In the coming fiscal year 2023, we at Kikkoman India shall continue to grow our business as the Indian economy sees accelerated growth, and we are committed to the big potential of the growth of food culture in India. We look forward to further co-creating new delicious experiences using Kikkoman Soy Sauce with the people of India."The goal of the Culinary Experts Meet-up is to foster interesting discussions around the theme of 'Towards a Tastier Tomorrow', inspiring new ideas and sparking new interactions among culinary professionals. The hope is that this initiative will contribute to 'creating new delicious experiences' which is Kikkoman's global ambition. Kikkoman with a history spanning over 350 years and its commitment to India, intends to conduct the Culinary Experts Meet-up every year, for the next 100 years and beyond.About the Kikkoman Honjozo Authentic Soy Sauce Experience in IndiaKikkoman is on a mission to put a bottle of Kikkoman Soy Sauce on the shelf of every Indian kitchen. Having started to expand its operations in India, Kikkoman India is pleased to announce the Honjozo Authentic Soy Sauce Experience. The goal is to make its popular, naturally brewed Kikkoman Soy Sauce an everyday ingredient for all restaurants and households. Launching this movement across India is the first of many activities to introduce Japan's No. 1 soy sauce brand to India.The Honjozo Experience movement comprises three elements Developing talent and fostering exchanges among chefs; educating everyone on the use of soy sauce through cooking sessions and contests; and learning the contribution Kikkoman Soy Sauce can make by experimenting through R and D in food culture.Chefs are going to cook up a storm using Kikkoman Soy Sauce. From professional chefs to student chefs, all are going to experiment and learn what can be done with it. Through cooking contests, videos, talks, and workshops, the Honjozo Experience movement will bring together chefs, students, restaurants, hoteliers, the media, and industry leaders as well as government representatives to explore how Kikkoman Soy Sauce can enrich any and all dishes served in India.With a history spanning over 350 years and based in Japan, the current Kikkoman corporate entity was established through the merger of eight families in 1917. The company's internationalization strategy began some 60 years ago, with its entry into the United States market. Kikkoman has become a global business, expanding to over 100 countries, with 11 soy sauce production sites worldwide that distribute its products all over the world to millions of consumers.Kikkoman India is solely responsible for importing all Kikkoman products, and shall manage all production, marketing, sales, and distribution in India.Link to Media KitThis story has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.ANI07 April 2023 Shared Recently! Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Great Wall Motor (GWM) sold 90,240 vehicles in Mar. 2023, reflecting a month-on-month jump of 32.3%, the Chinese automaker announced on Friday. However, compared with the year-ago period, GWMs Mar. auto sales still dropped 10.59%. Among brands, the SUV-dedicated HAVAL still sold the most vehicles last month, but faced a 13.05% year-on-year decline. The WEY brand was confronted with a 73.19% plunge over a year earlier with only 1,275 vehicles sold. In addition, the new energy vehicle (NEV)-focused ORA saw its Mar. sales decline 32.59% to 9,615 units. TANK 300; photo credit: GWM Notably, both Great Wall Pick-up and TANK gained an upward year-over-year movement by selling 19,981 and 11,950 vehicles, respectively. For the first quarter of this year, GWMs cumulative sales fell 22.41% from the previous year to 219,968 units. Aside from Great Wall Pick-up, the other brands all posted a year-on-year decrease in their year-to-date sales. Of the vehicles the company sold last month, 13,155 units were NEVs, resulting in a Jan.-Mar. NEV sales volume of 27,808 units. GWM also said its export volume and the sales of automobiles sold in overseas markets totaled 51,975 units for the first three months, 22,293 units (+111.61% YoY) of which were made in Mar. ADA acquires dhiOmics to launch a Global Data and AI delivery hub New Delhi, April 6 the largest digital growth partner in South and Southeast Asia, acquires dhiOmics to launch its Global Data and AI delivery hub. The acquisition enhances ADA's digital transformation capabilities and expands its ability to deliver to global clients at scale and speed. ADA acquires dhiOmics to launch a Global Data and AI delivery hub The hub will leverage customer data platforms, marketing cloud, and customer engagement platforms with teams specialising in data engineering, artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), and cloud infrastructure.dhiOmics was founded in 2017 with a skilled talent pool of 200 people, equipped with deep skillsets covering marketing analytics, tech developers and data engineering. dhiOmics serves brands across industries including retail/eCommerce, healthcare, technology, modern industrial.With the acquisition of dhiOmics, ADA has not only enhanced its digital transformation capabilities, but also gained a strong presence in the Indian market, which is one of the fastest-growing markets in the world. This move marks a significant milestone for ADA's global expansion strategy, as it enables the establishment to tap into India's vast talent pool and leverage the country's robust technology infrastructure to deliver innovative solutions to clients worldwide., Founder of dhiOmics said, "We are excited to join forces with ADA to establish India as a premier delivery hub for global clients. It is a fantastic opportunity to be able to introduce ADA's comprehensive integrated offerings to our clients and provide more avenues for our people to grow.", Founder of dhiOmics, said "We have seen incredibly strong demand for data-led transformation within the Indian market. We look forward to working with ADA to expand our offerings available to our clients within India market.", Chief Executive Officer of ADA, said, "We welcome both Prabhat, Nilesh and their colleagues to ADA. Their highly specialised teams and close-knit relationships make dhiOmics the perfect partner for clients to deliver agile and cost-efficient technology consulting, data management and enterprise system integration"provides services that enable enterprises and brands to drive topline growth through digital marketing and sales transformation across Asia. It operates three data-driven service segments* Marketing Solutions provides performance marketing, which enables clients to reach consumers efficiently on social media, native ads, display ads and search marketing; creative solutions to drive user engagement and conversation rates; and marketing technology transformation involves consultation on the implementation of managed services that enable brands to achieve superior customer experiences with technology platforms.* Ecommerce Solutions provide brands with end-to-end store management to fulfil enablement on marketplaces, social channels, third party messaging channels and owned websites.* Customer Engagement Solutions used by enterprises to enhance customer support and communicate with consumers in real-time through SMS, WhatsApp and other messaging applications.ADA, which operates 11 offices across Asia with approximately 1,200 employees, was formed in 2018 and is headquartered in Singapore and Malaysia.dhiOmics is a technology start-up operating with the aim to solve real world business problems using Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. dhiOmics enables business leaders across Fortune 500 companies in multiple verticals take data driven decisions. dhiOmics leverages the power of structured and unstructured data (text, video and audio) through computational algorithms, neural networks, NLP, computer vision techniques and other supervised, unsupervised ML techniques to make effective decisions.Founded in 2017, dhiOmics is led by executives and engineers with extensive experience in the space of pure play analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning for many Fortune 500 clients.For media enquiries, please contactAsha DeviRegional Marketing Senior Manager, PR and Communications+6 012 343 1656,This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN)ANI07 April 2023 Shared Recently! UAE FM Abdullah bin Zayed meets with Serbias Prime Minister in Belgrade Belgrade [Serbia], April 6 (ANI/WAM): H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, has met with Ana Brnabic, Prime Minister of Serbia, during his ongoing work visit to Belgrade. UAE FM Abdullah bin Zayed meets with Serbia's Prime Minister in Belgrade During the meeting, the UAE top diplomat and Brnabic discussed UAE-Serbia cooperation, within the framework of their comprehensive strategic partnership, and prospects to boost their collaboration across various sectors, including trade, investment, renewable energy, culture, education and others.Sheikh Abdullah underscored the deep-rooted relations between the UAE and Serbia, as well as their strategic partnership, stressing that official visits between their countries are a key driver of their partnership, which aims to push forward sustainable development and prosperity in both countries.He further highlighted the UAE's keenness on establishing fruitful ties with Serbia and other Balkan countries.For her part, the Serbian Prime Minister welcomed the visit of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah and his accompanying delegation, affirming her country's keenness to strengthen its cooperation with the UAE across all sectors, building on their strategic partnership.Attending the meeting were Omar Saif Ghobash, Assistant Minister for Culture and Public Diplomacy; Saeed Mubarak Al Hajeri, Assistant Minister for Economic and Trade Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; and Mubarak Saeed Al Dhaheri, UAE Ambassador to Serbia. (ANI/WAM)ANI07 April 2023 Shared Recently! Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry opens office in Delhi to enhance trade New Delhi, April 6: The Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on Wednesday, opened its office in New Delhi with an intention to enhance trade and economic cooperation, according to the official statement. Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry opens office in Delhi to enhance trade On Wednesday, as a part of the business mission to India, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation Sergey Katyrin opened the office.Before the forum started, Katyrin met with the Secretary General of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Shalesh Patak and also invited him to pay a return.In his opening speech at the forum, Katyrin first thanked the leadership of the FICCI and said, "Without exaggeration, I can say that in terms of its scale, level of representation and the number of participants (more than 100 people), this visit is the largest business mission on the agenda of our joint events over the past 14 years, when a Cooperation Agreement was signed between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation and FISCI."He also noted that the trade between India and Russia is breaking records as at the end of 2022, the mutual trade reached a record high of USD 35.3 billion, which was 2.5 times more than the 2021 record.According to Sergei Katyrin, such a rapid development of economic relations is largely facilitated by changes in the global foreign economic environment. On the other hand, India has traditionally been one of Russia's key strategic trading partners. Business contacts are also developing in multilateral formats such as BRICS and SCO, the statement read.The Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry has made a significant contribution to this work.In his speech, he listed the improvement of the quality of information exchange about the opportunities and conditions of work in the markets and promising areas of cooperation as one of the priority tasks. Assistance in checking the reliability of companies, creating practical formats for interaction and contacts between entrepreneurs.In the Russian Chamber of Commerce, the development of business cooperation with India is one of the priority areas of international activity, said the head of the Russian Chamber.The head of the Russian chamber recalled that since 2006, the federation has been actively working with the Business Council for Cooperation with India, which has established itself as an effective mechanism for promoting the interests of not only Russian, but also Indian entrepreneurs in the markets of our countries, as per the statement.He stated, "an important feature of our cooperation at a new stage is the high interest in developing business ties with India on the part of Russian small and medium-sized businesses. It is on this segment that the stability of bilateral trade and economic cooperation and the prospects for its diversification largely depend.""Therefore, it is no coincidence that the business mission mainly includes companies of this profile - more than 60 companies from 27 regions of Russia operating in various sectors of the economy light industry, chemical, pharmaceuticals, IT industry, mechanical engineering, automotive, innovative technologies," Katyrin added.The development of interregional cooperation is another important area of our work. At the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, we always place special emphasis on this vector. Russia is not only Moscow and St. Petersburg.Russia is Krasnoyarsk, Ural, Kuzbass, Tula, Lipetsk, Novgorod, Tyumen and many other industrial centers that are now interested in establishing contacts in India."By the way, all the heads of the chambers of commerce and industry from the regions listed above are present in the hall today and will be happy to continue communicating with you on the sidelines of our forum," the president of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry drew attention, according to the official statement.Good opportunities for the development of trade and economic cooperation are provided by major international exhibitions and congresses. "Given the importance of this area for the development of business ties and the promotion of mutual trade, the leadership of our "leaders" in this area (the largest in Russia) - the exhibition complex - Expocentre, and the congress center - the World Trade Center, is also with us today," said Sergey Katyrin.The President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation expressed his hope that the results of the forum would make a practical contribution to the realization of the existing prospects. "I count on the effectiveness of the negotiations of entrepreneurs in the B2B format, which will be held in the second part of our forum," said Sergey Katyrin.The Indian business community was represented at the forum by a large number of over 300 entrepreneurs.ANI07 April 2023 Shared Recently! Symbiosis Law School, Pune celebrates Mystical Renaissance at Symbhav 2023 Closing Ceremony New Delhi, April 6: Under the astute leadership of Prof. Dr Shashikala Gurpur, a Fulbright Scholar and Director of Symbiosis Law School, Pune, as well as the Dean of the Faculty of Law at Symbiosis International (Deemed University) and a Jean Monnet Chair Professor (EUC-LAMP co-funded by EU), Symbiosis Law School, Pune, a constituent of Symbiosis International (Deemed University), hosted the Closing Ceremony of Symbhav 2023 on March 26th, 2023 at 5:30 PM. Symbiosis Law School, Pune celebrates Mystical Renaissance at Symbhav 2023 Closing Ceremony The event marked the conclusion of another triumphant edition of Pune's largest college festival, Symbhav, which was celebrated with great zeal and fervour. The theme for this year's edition, "Mystical Renaissance," captured the imagination of attendees and left them mesmerized. The Closing Ceremony served as a fitting tribute to the hard work and dedication of the organizers, participants, and sponsors.Aakarsh Banyal, the Convenor of Symbhav 2023, delivered a welcoming address at the opening of the ceremony. He extended a warm greeting to all attendees and reflected on the genesis of Symbhav 23, highlighting its objective to create a lasting impact. Aakarsh expounded on the idea that Symbhav is not merely a festival, but an endeavour to redefine and revamp the significance of such gatherings. He emphasised that this year's edition of Symbhav has set new benchmarks, with an unprecedented number of participants and the highest-ever turnout for Pronite, the concert series organised within the university.In her welcome address, Prof. (Dr) Shashikala Gurpur, a Fulbright Scholar and the Director of Symbiosis Law School, Pune, Dean of the Faculty of Law at Symbiosis International (Deemed University), and a Jean Monnet Chair Professor (EUC-LAMP Co-funded by EU), extended a warm welcome to all attendees, including the esteemed guests, Mr and Mrs Trotman, and the participants. She commended the committee members for flawlessly executing the fest and applauded the efforts of all the volunteers for their selfless support and invaluable contributions. Dr Gurpur was thrilled to witness the high levels of enthusiasm and fresh ideas brought forth by the students, which contributed to making the event a grand success. She highlighted the introduction of new events and initiatives that added to the overall vibrancy of the festival. Dr Gurpur also emphasised the networking opportunities such inter-college fests offer to students, emphasizing that it is a chance to build connections and learn from peers and professors, which can prove to be beneficial in the professional world.Following the welcome address, an award ceremony was held, presided over by Prof. (Dr.) Shashikala Gurpur, Fulbright Scholar, Director of Symbiosis Law School, Pune, and other dignitaries including Dr Aparajita Mohanty, Deputy Director-Academics, Prof. Kshitij Naikade, Deputy Director-Administration, and Prof. Sangramjit Chavan, Officer-Academics and Administration. The ceremony honoured the winners of various events organized during Symbhav 2023. KLS Gogte Institute of Technology emerged as the champions of Ablaze 2023, while Aditya Pandey from Symbiosis Law School, Nagpur, and Sudeshna Deshpande from Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies, Pune were crowned Mr. and Ms. Symbhav, respectively. Symbiosis Institute of Technology, Pune, won the Group Dance competition, and Anathy Patel from Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai, was declared the winner of the Nithin Patil Memorial Mono-Advocacy Competition 2023. KLS Gogte Institute of Technology also won the award for the best contingent.The curtains were officially brought down on a memorable and successful edition of Symbhav 2023 with a vote of thanks marking the end of the event.To know more visitThis story has been provided by SRV. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/SRV)ANI07 April 2023 Shared Recently! BAYCs ApeCoin DAO rejects multi-link APE NFTs, Investors turn to Big Eyes Coins Live NFTs! New Delhi, April 6: The recent ApeCoin whitelist ballot resulted in the rejection of two new NFT collections, which were intended to pioneer multi-metaverse linked wearable NFTs. Meanwhile, the NFTs have been gaining attention and are already available on . BAYC's ApeCoin DAO rejects multi-link APE NFTs, Investors turn to Big Eyes Coin's Live NFTs! With the continuous evolution of the NFT space, it would be a missed opportunity to not stay updated and explore the latest developments in the Web3 realm.ApeCoin DAO Rejects Two New NFT CollectionsThe proposals included the ApeCoin Armory Club and the ApeCoin Pet Club collections, which would have featured a total of 20,000 NFTs.Jatin Pathi led the Armory Club proposal, intending to offer microgrants to developers of the Indian Web3 ecosystem to support the ApeCoin onboarding process. Meanwhile, the Pet Club proposed by Ape Beverages aimed to create sustainable water beverages for the Web 3.0 community.Unfortunately, the ApeCoin DAO rejected both proposals, with a resounding 83.95 per cent against and a mere 10.01 per cent in favour. The cost of the free NFTs was estimated to be an astonishing USD 168,000.The impact of excellent NFT projects is well-known to crypto enthusiasts. Even prominent personalities engage with them because of their significant impact. However, following ApeCoin DAO's refusal of what could have been a groundbreaking achievement, should this prompt the development of new NFT projects that are more inclusive?The Potential of BAYC and APE's More Inclusive NFTsBored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) and ApeCoin are two of the most diverse and promising platforms in the Web3 ecosystem, with even celebrities like Madonna, Kevin Hart, and Justin Bieber "aping" into the Bored Ape Yacht Club.However, the NFT market is becoming an exclusive club that only a few can afford to join. Inclusivity is necessary to prevent it from becoming a snooze fest, especially after the APE DAO's airdropping fiasco last year.To keep things interesting, more projects in the vast NFT marketplace must provide affordable virtual experiences like backstage access to concerts or virtual meet-and-greets with celebrities. One great option is to create more affordable collectibles that cater to a broader range of interests, such as a collection of NFTs featuring famous memes. The creation of projects that are accessible to people with various budgets could make the market more diverse and inclusive.Big Eyes CoinIn a bid to make a mark in the metaverse, the high-end fashion brand Gucci has recently collaborated with ApeCoin, joining forces with the likes of Big Eyes Coin (BIG). The latter is gearing up to be the top cryptocurrency in the market and has recently hit its 12th stage with a floor price of 2028.99 BIG, earning almost USD 33 million from its presale fund.Big Eyes Coin is currently offering a 'BULLRUN250', providing users with 250 per cent BIG bonuses, while its newest offering is the Big Eyes Loot NFT trading cards. These hot NFT cards can be minted and traded via the Big Eyes Loot Boxes, which the BIG DAO is confident will put the token on the map.DAOs and Community GovernanceAlthough ApeCoin had hoped to release two NFT collections, which could have made waves in the metaverse, the whitelisted community overwhelmingly voted against the proposals. This outcome emphasizes the power of DAO decision-making and underscores the importance of community-driven governance in the cryptocurrency industry. Even the Kitty Cuddlers of Big Eyes Coin are proud of their democratic community.Find out more about Big Eyes Coin (BIG)PresaleWebsiteTelegramThis story has been provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/ATK)ANI07 April 2023 Shared Recently! ColorJet awarded by Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Lucknow, April 6: ColorJet Group Manufacturer of Digital Textile Printers has been honoured with the prestigious State Export Award for outstanding performance in international trade at the ceremony held at Lok Bhawan in Lucknow organised by Export Promotion Bureau of Uttar Pradesh. ColorJet awarded by Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh handed over the Award To M.S Dadu, Chairman of ColorJet Group. Nand Gopal Gupta, Cabinet Minister of Industry Development along with other dignitaries from UP Government were also present at the occasion.The Export Award is the highest recognition granted by the state government to a company that has demonstrated exceptional performance in international trade.The Award is presented to companies that have successfully expanded their business footprint overseas and have significantly contributed to the country's export earnings.ColorJet has been recognized for its outstanding performance in expanding its operation globally, thereby contributing to the growth of the country's economy.ColorJet Group has consistently demonstrated a commitment to quality and innovation in its product and services, which has helped ColorJet, establish a strong reputation in the international market.While addressing an Award ceremony, the chief minister said, "Uttar Pradesh will emerge as the torchbearer of the fourth industrial revolution (industrial revolution 4.0)," adding that this was evident from investment proposals worth Rs35 lakh crores received at the Global Investors Summit held in Lucknow in February."MSME itself is going to become the foundation of industrial development of U.P. The Global Investors Summit has decided that U.P. will lead the fourth industrial revolution," he said.While receiving the Award, M.S Dadu, Chairman, ColorJet Group, said "The Award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire team at ColorJet. The company has invested heavily in developing indigenous technology for the world market to ensure that it meets international standards and regulations. This has enabled it to expand ColorJet business in over 30+ countries now."All ColorJet printers are designed and robustly built across all components to print excellent results and offer great enduring value to the print solution provider across the globe. All ColorJet Printers are not just a sum total of their parts. They are ergonomically designed and engineered through 3D simulation processes at ColorJet's Innovation Laboratories and built optimally, to deliver phenomenal business value to its customers. Group Innovation Laboratories is having an R and D facility recognised by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India which innovates and Integrates Digital Print technology that wins world markets.ColorJet Group, from India, was founded in 1995 and has since been known for its industry-leading performance. It is one of the top global exporters of wide-format printers and provides world-class and complete fabric printing solutions. ColorJet's digital textile machines are revolutionizing the world of textile printing with their robust performance, lower downtime, high-value addition, and quick ROI.ColorJet markets its products in around 30 countries worldwide till date, ColorJet has installed over 5,000 of its printing solutions and products across 450 cities around the world backed by a strong 350-member team.ColorJet constantly innovates its product with its R and D facility recognised by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. Of India.This story has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.ANI07 April 2023 Shared Recently! Zero Two digital assets infrastructure company launches operations in Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi, April 6 (ANI/WAM): Zero Two, a digital assets infrastructure company based in Abu Dhabi has launched its operations to serve the growing interest in Web3 technology and its ecosystem. Zero Two digital assets infrastructure company launches operations in Abu Dhabi The company offers a comprehensive range of end-to-enddigital assets infrastructure solutions, including power infrastructure development, sourcing and testing of latest-generation technologies, data centre building and operation, and digital assets management services.Zero Two aims to become a trusted partner for companies seeking to benefit from the innovative scope and transformative potential of digital assets.As the digital economy continues to evolve, digital assets have the potential to improve visibility, transparency, coordination, and information sharing across company boundaries, thus addressing structural challenges and enhancing operational efficiency. Zero Two was established to operate and invest in best-in-class technologies that accelerate and support the digital asset and Web3 ecosystem in the region, which includes concepts such as decentralization and token-based economics.Zero Two will also play a crucial role in supporting the stability of Abu Dhabi's power grid while contributing to the UAE's Net Zero commitments and transition to a sustainable and decarbonized economy. The company will utilize excess power during low-demand seasons to operate its state-of-the-art data centers located in Abu Dhabi, further supporting the resiliency of the local power grid.Ahmed Al Hameli, CEO of Zero Two, said, "Zero Two offers a comprehensive business model that caters to rapidly emerging demand and a demonstrated commitment to meeting the highest standards of security and compliance. We are confident that our offering will not only meet the needs of our clients but also exceed their expectations with the various benefits that can be derived from deploying distributed ledger technologies."ANI07 April 2023 Shared Recently! Uttarakhand: CM Dhami inaugurates Health ATM, to facilitate health tests at home Dehradun, April 6: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday, inaugurated the 'Health ATM' installed by JK Tire Limited Company and Yes Bank under CSR at the Secretariat on Thursday. Uttarakhand: CM Dhami inaugurates 'Health ATM', to facilitate health tests at home The Uttarakhand government informed in a statement that Yes Bank has installed one health ATM each in Sachivalaya Dispensary, Vidhan Sabha Dispensary and Tanakpur Hospital.As per the statement, JK Tire Company has installed one health ATM each at Police Line, JLN District Hospital, District Hospital Nainital, Joint Hospital Tankarpur, Community Health Center, Jaspur, Sub District Hospital, Ranikhet, Almora.Through these nine Health ATMs, various health tests can be done by the general public on their own, including Hemoglobin, TLC and DLC, Blood Sugar, Blood Pressure, Uric Acid, Cholesterol, HBAC, Blood Group, Lipid Profile, Trigylside, Lycoprotein, Pregnancy, the statement added."A total of 72 tests can be done including test and kidney test etc. This test facility will be free at these health ATMs. In this regard, an appeal has been made by the Health Department to the general public not to take medicines on their own on the basis of the test results of these health ATMs. If the result is not normal, consult a doctor," the statement read.On this occasion, CM Dhami also inaugurated 40 True Net machines being made available in all the blocks of the state under CSR courtesy of Indian Oil Corporation Limited.With the help of these True Net machines, there will be help in the investigation of TB, Kovid and other diseases. These machines will be functional in 40 remote places of the state, the statement added.The statement also stated that an MoU was also signed for cooperation in the health sector between Director General Health; and IOCL, Yes Bank and JK Tire, in the presence of CM Dhami.In the meeting, the Chief Minister said, "The Health Department and Yes Bank, IOCL and JK Tire in Health ATM and Tour Net machines deserve congratulations for this initiative. With the availability of 40 tour net machines for all the blocks of the state by IOCL, the target of 100 per cent in this direction has been accomplished in our state. These facilities will not only save time for the common man but will also save money. Health awareness will increase among people".He said that through these health ATMs, people would be able to take better care of their health by checking themselves from time to time."Along with lakhs of tourists coming every year, the local people will also benefit from these facilities. Appealing to private organizations and companies across the country to help in the field of health, education and cleanliness under Corporate Social Responsibility," he said.CM Dhami also appealed to IOCL to contribute especially in the field of employment generation in the state."Being born in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand is a privilege, but serving in Devbhoomi is greater than that. It is a matter of good luck and pride. Those who are getting the opportunity to serve here are fortunate. There is an appeal to private companies that because Uttarakhand is a small state, companies can establish a model in Uttarakhand by giving their help in the field of education, health and cleanliness," he added.ANI07 April 2023 Shared Recently! Once sentenced to silence in Kashmir, Badshah Lear roars again New Delhi, April 7: While in his teens, he once accompanied his father, theatre director M.K. Raina to Kashmir, encountering the Bhands -- Kashmir's traditional folk theatre artists who were 'banned' by militants from performing in the Valley. Years later, when the theatre director made an adaptation of Shakespeare's 'King Lear' with the folk artists in the Valley, and Anant Raina accompanied a Stanford University (in the US) professor wanting to write about it as part of her thesis, he was shocked. Once sentenced to silence in Kashmir, 'Badshah Lear' roars again "It was such a powerful performance that I immediately decided that I wanted to make a film on it. I barely knew any filmmaking at the time, but the story had to be told -- so I just did it. There was an effort to get funding, etc. but nothing panned out. That was also the time when DSLRs were just becoming popular for filming, so I bought one and started shooting," remembers the filmmaker, who finished the film 'Badshah Lear' in 2018-19 but owing to the pandemic, could not screen it.Now showing the movie, reflecting the tragedy of land against the madness of its 'rulers' at different venues, Anant, who grew up in Delhi says his introduction to Kashmiri culture came when along with his father, he made a film on Kashmiri Sufi music for which they would go to the Valley every season.The young director admits it took him several years to finish the film as he kept second-guessing whether his effort was "worthy"."Also, having been rejected for funding multiple times from various documentary forums, working practically by myself on it, there were times I did feel as if it was just me who was interested in this story. I am not going to lie, it was quite a struggle internally."In many ways, the film is not just about the Bhands but also operates on different layers -- the Pandit exodus, the idea of 'Kashmiriyat', and censorship among others. In one of the scenes, M.K. Raina says, "After several years, when I visited my ancestral house in Kashmir, it was locked. I knocked a few times and then returned. I cannot describe how I felt. Houses remain, we perish."Anant had abandoned the initial plan for the film because it just was not turning out to be "interesting". He then let the footage lead him to a story. Adding that censorship emerged as a theme without him planning for it as it is inherent in the story of the Bhands, he says, "I have an intense dislike for hierarchy and authority because it only serves to narrow down the human experience. Art is diametrically opposed to that because it is about freedom, expanding our experiences, and seeing the world in newer ways. For me, this story in particular is a tale about the resilience of art tinged with melancholy as you realise that the battle of ideas is never really over. We need to constantly push back."The director, who comes from a culturally mixed home (mother being part Maharashtrian and Bengali, while MK Raina is Kashmiri), Anant, when asked if M.K. interfered with his creative process during the shoot of the film that unfolds through the latter's eyes, laughs."One particular day, during the shoot, he kept giving instructions to one of the Bhands. At first, I told him that I was recording sound so he should not say anything. But he did not stop. I finally had to tell him angrily that this was my film, not his. Things were a bit tense for some time but it was smooth sailing later."M.K. Raina tells IANS that for him the most striking aspect of the film is that it deals with a subject that, while being political, is not part of any discourse in the country."The natural way of unfolding of Kashmiri syncretic life without any underlying or deliberate attempts to propagate the 'Kashmiriyat' theme, and how it has vanished is established honestly. The celebration of culture as a resistance despite being marginalised in a wider violent political turmoil is the high point for me. I like his prologue and epilogue, his deliberately avoiding the often repeated Kashmiri pretty pictures landscapes cliche, which would have dwarfed the depth of the film. it is a very important document of the culture of the people for the people who work in conflict zones. One does not witness a black-and-white approach," says Raina, who assures that he followed the son's instruction as he would do for any director.(Sukant Deepak can be reached at sukant.d@ians.in)IANS07 April 2023 Shared Recently! Beijing (Gasgoo)- AVATR Technology announced on April 6 that the cumulative deliveries of its first intelligent electric SUV, the AVATR 11, has exceeded 6,000 units. Photo credit: AVATR Earlier in March, the company had reported over 4,000 deliveries of the dual-motor version of the AVATR 11, meaning that the deliveries of the vehicle were around 2,000 units in March alone. Riding on the CHN electric vehicle platform, which was jointly developed by Changan Automobile, Huawei, and CATL, the AVATR 11 began deliveries at the end of 2022. According to AVATR, as of March 31, 2023, the cumulative travel distance of the AVATR 11 on NCA (Navigation Cruise Assist) function by users reached 586,128 kilometers, with a single ride on NCA reaching 261 kilometers. Meanwhile, the APA intelligent parking assist function has been activated 170,376 times. The high-speed NCA system of the AVATR 11 works in nearly 300,000 kilometers of highways and city roads in 259 cities nationwide, and is available for users upon delivery. The urban NCA system is currently available in Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, with Chongqing opening soon. In response to the welcoming market of the AVATR 11, the company released a single motor version of the AVATR 11 and launched it simultaneously on March 24. Coming with two trim levels, the long-range version is priced at 319,900 yuan, and the ultra-long-range version is priced at 349,900 yuan. Both versions are equipped with the full-stack solution by Huawei. Madhya Pradesh: Escaped Namibian cheetah Oban brought back to Kuno National Park Sheopur, April 7: 'Oban' - one of the male Namibian cheetahs, that escaped from the boundaries of Kuno National Park, and was spotted in a village near Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district five days back, has been brought back to the Kuno National Park, officials said on Friday. Madhya Pradesh: Escaped Namibian cheetah 'Oban' brought back to Kuno National Park The Namibian cheetah was rescued from the forest of Shivpuri district on Thursday evening."Oban was caught around 4-5 pm from the forest area near Bairad village bordering Shivpuri district and has been released to Kuno National Park's Palpur forest," Kuno Wildlife Division District Forest Officer (DFO) Prakash Kumar Verma said.'Oban' is one of the Cheetahs which were brought from Namibia that were released into the wild of Kuno National Park in the Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh.Officials said that it strayed out of Kuno National Park and reached Jhar Baroda village on April 2, about 20 km from the national park on Wednesday.They said that it was under surveillance. Even after four days when Oban showed no signs of returning to the national park, forest department authorities launched an operation to rescue it.Forest department officials said that on Thursday, Oban's location was traced outside Kuno National Park's boundary.They said that Oban was wandering in the forest bordering the Shivpuri district. Based on its location, the cheetah monitoring team was moved around him."How Oban was caught cannot be explained, as it comes under our protocol," Verma said.Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the eight cheetahs brought from Namibia at Kuno National Park on September 17, last year.The cheetah was declared extinct from India in 1952 but 8 cheetahs (5 females and 3 males) were brought from Africa's Namibia as part of 'Project Cheetah' and the government's efforts to revitalise and diversify the country's wildlife and habitat.ANI07 April 2023 Shared Recently! UN-chartered vessel sets sail to unload oil from Yemens decaying supertanker Sanaa, April 7: A crude tanker chartered by the UN has departed from the Chinese port city Zhoushan to assist in unloading crude oil from a floating supertanker off the coast of Yemen, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said in a statement. UN-chartered vessel sets sail to unload oil from Yemen's decaying supertanker The vessel "Nautica," which is expected to arrive in Yemen in early May, was purchased by the UNDP from Belgian shipping company Euronav in March to remove more than a million barrels of oil from the deteriorating Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) "Safer" vessel.An employee of Euronav confirmed to Xinhua on Thursday that Nautica left the drydock in Zhoushan on Wednesday after receiving maintenance and necessary modifications over the past weeks.The FSO Safer, anchored off the coast of Yemen's Red Sea port of Hodeidah, has not been maintained since 2015 due to the conflict in Yemen, Xinhua news agency reported.The decaying and dilapidated supertanker has been referred to as a "floating time-bomb" that poses a risk of explosion or oil spill, potentially four times as disastrous as the 1989 Exxon Valdez incident in the Red Sea, according to the UN's repeated warnings.The UNDP statement warned that a major spill would devastate fishing communities along Yemen's Red Sea coast, resulting in the loss of 2,00,000 livelihoods overnight, with fish stocks taking 25 years to recover.It would also lead to the closure of the essential ports of Hodeidah and Saleef, which are crucial for bringing food, fuel, and life-saving supplies into Yemen where 17 million people are in need of food assistance, as stated by the UNDP."The departure of the Nautica, and its onward journey to the Red Sea, is a significant next step in the complex operation to take on the oil from the Safer," quoted UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner in the statement.The UN said it had received firm commitments for $95 million for the FSO Safer rescue plan, adding it still needs another $34 million to continue the project.IANS07 April 2023 Shared Recently! Aizawl FC overcome TRAU FC to make Super Cup Group Stage Manjeri, April 7: The battle of the North East between Aizawl FC and TRAU for a spot in the Group Stages of the Super Cup turned out to be an interesting encounter, with the former having the last laugh at the Payyanad Stadium, here. Aizawl FC overcome TRAU FC to make Super Cup Group Stage It was more of a seesaw fight, but a goal in the 64th minute by Belarusian striker Ivan Veras made all the difference leaving Aizawl FC the 1-0 winners.Aizawl FC, the People's Club, appeared to be the better of the two teams in the early stages, making several inroads into the rival area. They had more than one attempt on target in the first half, but somehow couldn't find the back of the net. While they were definitely unlucky on a few occasions, their strikers, too, didn't do their team any favours by failing to take advantage of some of the opportunities that came their way.On the other hand, TRAU FC too made a couple of breakthroughs, but couldn't capitalise on either. Aizawl's early chance came in the 12th minute when Nigerian defender Emmanuel Olugbena's shot went off-target from inside the box.After finishing 0-0 in the first 45 minutes, the two sides made strategic changes to come back strong in the second session. Once they returned to the pitch, both teams altered their tactics with quick substitutions.In the 64th minute, Chhantea Sailo found space on the right flank and delivered a measured cross inside the box. His shot was saved by the opposition keeper Lunkhominlenmang Jedidi, but Ivan Veras was quick to react on the rebound and found the back of the net to give his side a lead that turned out to be the decisive goal in the end.Having fallen behind, TRAU FC were expected to hit back with all their might, but, strangely enough, they continued to struggle for the most part of the second half, failing to break down Aizawl's resolute defence.Aizawl FC should definitely be happy with the victory - it not only took them to the Group Stages of the Super Cup, but also gave them their first win over TRAU this season. In the I-League, the first clash between the two teams ended in a 1-1 draw, while TRAU were clear 3-1 winners when they hosted the match.IANS07 April 2023 Shared Recently! Jitna clean hoga content, utna behtar hoga, Salman Khan supports OTT censorship Mumbai, April 6: Salman Khan has recently voiced his opinion about OTT content and he supported censorship over the streaming platforms. Jitna clean hoga content, utna behtar hoga, Salman Khan supports OTT censorship At a recent press conference in Mumbai, Salman said, "I really think there should be censorship over the medium...All these... vulgarity, nudity, gaali galauch (swearing) should stop. Kids as young as 15 or 16 years old can watch them all. Would you like it if your young daughter watches it? I just think the content on OTT should be checked. Jitna clean hoga content, utna behtar hoga, viewership uski zyada hogi (the cleaner the content, the better it will be. It will increase the viewership also).Talking about the artists who perform without inhibitions, Salman said, "You have done it all - lovemaking, kissing, and exposing in scenes. And when you enter your building, your watchman has also watched your work. I just don't think that is right for security reasons. We don't need to do that... Hindustan mein rehte hain, thoda bohat theek hai lekin itna zyada beech mein ho gaya tha. Ab jake thoda control mein aaya hain..( We live in India. It was way too much before, finally, it has been curbed). Now, people have started working on a lot of good and decent content."Some big names like Shahid Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Saif Ali Khan, and Manoj Bajpayee have already stepped into the world of digital. Salman-starrer 'Radhe' was released on the OTT platform following the pay-per-view model as his first release after the covid-19 Pandemic.ANI07 April 2023 Shared Recently! Assam: Security forces intensify operations against ULFA (I), apprehend over 100 cadres in one year Guwahati, April 6: Security Forces have intensified their efforts towards restoring normalcy in Upper Assam wherein in certain pockets United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) (I) is still conducting its nefarious activities, officials said on Thursday. Assam: Security forces intensify operations against ULFA (I), apprehend over 100 cadres in one year United Liberation Front of Asom - Independent (ULFA) (I) is a banned outfit in the state.A senior Indian army official said that, in past one year, Security Forces have apprehended 107 cadres/ Over Ground Workers of ULFA (I), recovered 60 weapons and with a good soft approach ensured suthe rrender of 22 cadres and prevented the recruitment of another 64.Defence source on conditions of anonymity said that a 'whole of government approach' towards restoring complete normalcy in the last few remaining pockets of Upper Assam is in place and being executed.Incidentally, the ideological construct of ULFA (I) has long been marginalised by exponential development in the state backed by the stable government which even led to large number of cadres being apprehended, weapons recovered, cadres surrendering and recruitment being prevented.ANI07 April 2023 Shared Recently! Not ticket instead dedication to nation is needed, Anil Antony on joining BJP New Delhi, April 7: After joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Anil Antony on Thursday said that it is not the ticket instead dedication to the nation is needed. Not ticket instead dedication to nation is needed, Anil Antony on joining BJP In another setback to Congress, former Defence minister AK Antony's son Anil Antony joined BJP in Delhi on Thursday.Talking about the relationship with his father, Anil Antony said, "We all are different and our thinking is also different. Joining BJP is my personal decision and my father has been associated with Congress for many decades. He has a different attachment to Congress.""I had a discussion on this topic at my home but I already knew what to do and I did what I thought was right. I want to dedicate myself to India and I will do that. Relations with the father will remain the same as before," he added.Talking to ANI, after taking the membership of BJP, Anil Antony said "It is a matter of honour for me that I joined the party on the occasion of BJP's foundation day. I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and National President JP Nadda.""It is a matter of honour for me that I am associating with a national party like BJP. My father has been serving in Congress for six decades and has held many key positions. Before taking membership in the BJP, I have not discussed ticket distribution and the main responsibility in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. My aim is only national dedication," he added.During the conversation, Anil Antony further said, "I had resigned from the Congress a few months ago because of the way the Congress worked. Party now has started prioritising the interest of two-three individuals, after which I joined the BJP. Congress party now is not the Congress I knew when I was growing up".Talking about why did he choose BJP, Antony said, "There are many local parties in India but BJP is a national party and is working on national interest and that is why I have joined BJP. BJP's vision is clear, they have to transform India in the coming 25 years and develop India. India is developing under the leadership of PM Modi and in 25 years India is bound to do politics of development".Anil Antony joined the BJP in the presence of Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and V Muraleedharan. Kerala BJP chief K Surendran and senior party leaders Tarun Chugh and Anil Baluni were also present at the occasion.ANI07 April 2023 Shared Recently! Shaani Raani from Radhika Aptes Mrs Undercover captures essence of spy-comedy Mumbai, April 6: The new song Shaani Raani from Radhika Apte's upcoming spy-comedy 'Mrs Undercover' is out. Shaani Raani from Radhika Apte's 'Mrs Undercover' captures essence of spy-comedy Directed and written by Anushree Mehta, 'Mrs Undercover' also stars Sumeet Vyas, Rajesh Sharma and Saheb Chatterjee in pivotal roles. The film is touted as a spy comedy.The song "Shaani Raani" is sung by Nakash Aziz and composed by Amit Sawant. The video shows a roller-coaster ride of Radhika switching her roles between a housewife and an undercover agent.Sharing her experience working in the film, Radhika said, "For me Mrs Undercover is special for many reasons. Not only spy comedy is an unexplored genre in India, but in my very first narration of this film I fell for my character of Durga. Durga is funny, kind, sincere, she is also clumsy and unsure of herself, and this film is her journey of discovering her own strength. Every household has a Durga- a woman who quietly goes about her work and doesn't get her due because she is considered 'just' a housewife. However, this film fights that mentality which prevails in our patriarchal society, and it's done beautifully under the guise of humour."Sumeet said, "The way the storyline of Mrs Undercover is crafted and shaped is unprecedented in Indian cinema - a unique spy comedy which is written and directed by a female and fronted by Radhika Apte. The film showcases the strength, courage, and resilience of a housewife who is always undermined. Mrs Undercover is a complete package that packs a punch with all the elements that make for a great story. Amidst the clutter of genres and stories, I am glad that the team thought of this empowering narrative and offered me this grey character which was fun and exciting to play. Lastly, I am happy to associate with ZEE5 once again."'Mrs Undercover' is all set to premiere exclusively on ZEE5 on April 14.ANI07 April 2023 Shared Recently! Kenya likely to introduce Bill to stop fish imports from China Nairobi [Kenya], April 6: Member of Parliament of Kenya's Alego Usonga, Samuel Atandi is likely to introduce a Bill to amend Excise Duty Act 2015 to halt fish imports from China, Kenya based The Star newspaper reported. Kenya likely to introduce Bill to stop fish imports from China The legislator argued fish imports from China are cheaper and flooding the Kenyan market thereby driving local fish traders out of business.Atandi in a letter to National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula said the amendment will introduce excise duty on imported fish at the rate of 20 per cent of the custom duty."Currently, fish imports from China are cheaper than locally produced fish. This importation of cheap fish is adversely affecting the local industry and may lead to loss of employment in the fish industry," the letter read in part, according to The Star.Atandi estimated that the fish industry employs some 1.2 million people directly and indirectly through fishing, fish farming and sale.Excise taxes are levied on specific goods and services, and the list of goods and services subject to excise tax in Kenya are listed in the First Schedule of the Excise Duty Act, 2015.Part I of the schedule covers the goods, whereas Part II covers the services. Excise duty in the past was viewed as a 'sin tax' levied on goods that were detrimental to health and the environment.These products included alcohol, tobacco, petroleum products, and sugared and sweetened beverages, in order to increase the prices of these commodities and therefore reduce their consumption and limit their access to children and the youth, as per The Star.According to data from the State Department of Fisheries, Kenya shipped in 14.8 million kilograms of fish from China in 2021, valued at Kenyan Shilling (Sh)2 billion, up from Sh 1.5 billion in 2020.Reports have shown the value of fish imports has been rising steadily in the recent years, save for 2020 because of the effects of Covid-19 pandemic.Reports said the imports were to bridge the growing deficit due to dwindling stocks from major local sources such as Lake Victoria, according to The Star.Other sources of fish are Norway, Tanzania, India and Uganda.ANI07 April 2023 Shared Recently! POMPANO BEACH, Fla.This year, Desire by Swiss Navy, and the women behind its creation, are recognizing World Health Day. M.D. Science Lab, maker of the Swiss Navy brand, released its award-winning Desire by Swiss Navy collection in 2021 and since its release, the female-focused product line has been one of Swiss Navys bestselling collections, setting new sales records with its products and formulas, all uniquely created to support female intimate wellness and sexual health. On April 7, 2023 (today), World Health Day will focus attention on global wellness. The day was created by the World Health Organization (WHO) to celebrate its founding date in 1948. Last year, to commemorate this important date, Swiss Navy launched its Desire Wellness Center. This year, it has added additional features to help retailers with training and support. One addition focuses on mental wellness tips, while another offers advice on how sales staff can interact better with consumers. While being a part of designing a collection of products that support female intimate health has been incredibly rewarding, it means more to me and our Swiss Navy team that weve been able to provide our retail partners with items that are much needed within this space. The success of our Desire collection sales makes all our efforts worthwhile, said Briana Watkins, ACS, M.D. Science Labs VP of sales and marketing. For the past year, our online Desire Wellness Center has provided thousands of retail staff with information, training, and sales tips. Of course, we wanted to do more. So, in celebration of World Health Day 2023, we added new knowledge to support our retail partners throughout the year. Every day, people are more aware of their health and well-being. For that reason, wellness centers have become the preferred place for people who want to learn and improve via advice, research, and knowledge. The Desire Wellness Centers continuous goal is to provide retailers and their staff with intimate well-being information to allow them to better serve their customers. Swiss Navys goal is to cater to retailers overall needs in order to help them be as successful as they can be, and the feedback from the past year shows that the Desire Wellness Center has indeed become a valuable resource for retailers everywhere. To visit Swiss Navys Desire Wellness Center, visit B2BSwissNavy.com/Desire. For more information on all the newest products from Swiss Navy, contact a sales representative. To see the latest Swiss Navy product range, visit swissnavy.com. Retailers and their staff are encouraged to sign up for free online certification training to become a Certified Swiss Navy Expert at swissnavycertifiedexpert.com. For more information, contact [email protected] or visit swissnavy.com. Cannes Film Festival and Kering to honour Michelle Yeoh with Women in Motion Award Washington, April 6: Michelle Yeoh will be felicitated with another prestigious award. Cannes Film Festival and Kering to honour Michelle Yeoh with Women in Motion Award Kering and the Cannes Film Festival announced on Thursday that Yeoh will be presented with a Women in Motion Award during next month's festival.The trophy will be presented at Cannes during the official Women In Motion dinner that shines a light on women and their contributions to cinema, an event that launched in 2015. Since then, honorees have included Jane Fonda, Geena Davis, Susan Sarandon, Isabelle Huppert, Patty Jenkins, Gong Li, Salma Hayek and Viola Davis.Yeoh said she's "very moved" by the honour. "I'm convinced that times are changing," she said. "Public awareness has certainly grown in recent years. It's vital that women -- in front of the camera and behind it -- keep playing roles and telling stories that reflect the diversity and complexity of the world."Kering chairman and CEO Francois-Henri Pinault praised the actress for shattering "every stereotype" through her work on screen. "Together with the Festival de Cannes, we wanted to recognize her significant contribution to cinema, and her ability to inspire future generations of talent. Presenting her with the Women In Motion Award was the obvious choice," he added.In addition to an Oscar for best actress, Yeoh won a Golden Globe, SAG Award and Spirit Award during the recent awards season, among many other critical accolades. She next stars in the Disney+ series 'American Born Chinese', Netflix's 'The Brothers Sun', James Cameron's 'Avatar' sequels, Jon M. Chu's 'Wicked' and Kenneth Branagh's 'A Haunting in Venice'.ANI07 April 2023 Shared Recently! Naatu Naatu dance is really popular in Korea: South Korea Foreign Minister Park New Delhi, April 7: South Korean Foreign Minister, Park Jin, who is currently on a two-day official visit to India, on Friday, talked about the Oscar-winning song 'Naatu Naatu'. Naatu Naatu dance is really popular in Korea: South Korea Foreign Minister Park Talking to ANI, Park said, "You know, natu natu dance is really popular in Korea. I saw the movie myself, Rise Roar and Revolt which is a fantastic movie. And also the story. I think it was an extraordinary story about the Indian people and history and I'm very glad that our Korean embassy has taken special attention to the Naatu Naatu and this movie and demonstrated our music, singing and dancing to the Indian public which I think is a great way to communicate with each other."Recently, a video of the South Korean embassy in India's staff grooving to the RRR's hit track has gone viral on social media. Not just that, the viral video also piqued the interest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The video was shared by the official Twitter handle of the embassy. The caption read, "We are happy to share with you the Korean Embassy's Naatu Naatu dance cover. See the Korean Ambassador Chang Jae-bok along with the embassy staff Naatu Naatu!!"In the video, the staff at the embassy could be seen dancing together to the beats of 'Naatu Naatu'. Reacting to the video, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote, "Lively and adorable team effort," followed by a thumbs-up emoji.Park also expressed his love for Indian films and said, "I love Bollywood movies. I saw '3 Idiots' and also Shah Rukh Khan's movie 'Chennai Express' which is one of my favourite movies. And also Rise, Roar and Revolt (RRR). So, I think that we need wider cultural exchanges between the two countries especially among young generations to understand each other and to appreciate India's culture and vice versa so that we can intensify our bilateral friendship and cooperation."Park Jin is currently on a two-day official visit to India starting Friday. His visit to India comes as the two countries mark the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.ANI07 April 2023 Shared Recently! A 23-year-old New Mexico man charged with assault and carjacking in connection with the disappearance of a 62-year-old Navajo woman appeared in U.S. District Court in Flagstaff on Friday and entered a plea of not guilty. Prosecutors say Preston Henry Tolth assaulted Ella Mae Begay and stole her gray pickup truck in the summer of 2021. The charges against him were not read formally in court Friday. After Tolths plea was entered, prosecutors argued that he should be detained until the start of his trial. The prosecutor detailed the events of the night Begay disappeared, starting in the very early morning hours of June 15. An individual had broken into Begays daughters home in Sweetwater, Arizona. The victims daughter called police around 2:30 a.m. and said someone was rummaging through her things, stealing things to drink a soda and a Gatorade. According to the prosecutors account, the individual left her house and appeared to go to Begays home. Footprints leading from Begays house to her daughters were matched to the defendants by federal investigators. The prosecutor said Tolth had stolen Begays gray Ford F-150, which had a broken tailgate, and admitted to driving the vehicle to New Mexico. According to the defendants brother, prosecutors said, the truck was sold for an eight-ball of methamphetamine and a few hundred dollars. Tolth was interviewed three times by the FBI, and according to the prosecutor, the defendant told investigators he snapped, hitting Begay in the face at least four times. He allegedly left her on the side of the road, and according to prosecutors, admitted she was probably dead. Begays body has not yet been found. On Friday, Tolth entered the U.S. District Courtroom in handcuffs, flanked by U.S. Marshals. He was greeted by a courtroom filled with people wearing bright red shirts with Begays face printed on the front. A dozen hoodies and T-shirts were printed with phrases such as No more stolen sisters and Ella Mae, gone but not forgotten. All eyes were on the young man, whose expression was hard to read under straight black hair that hung over his face. This is the first time Ive seen him in person, said Begays son, who appeared before the federal magistrate to speak against Tolths temporary release. I wanted to see him today. To see his reaction, what his body language is. Theres nothing coming out of this except pain. Seraphine Warren is Begays niece. Following her aunts disappearance, she walked from Begays home in Sweetwater to Washington, D.C., spending more than 10 months raising awareness about missing and murdered Indigenous women. Warren stood shoulder to shoulder with her uncle Friday, addressing Judge Camille Bibles and the defendant in a tearful plea for answers and for the judge to keep Tolth in custody until his trial date. Warren tearfully described her aunt, a professional weaver, as cautious and soft-spoken. Warren said that drove her to be loud and get justice for her. At a podium at the front of the Flagstaff courtroom, Warren turned from the judge to face the defendant. Her voice rose as she pleaded with Tolth, saying, We know what you did. Please tell us where my aunt is ... this is a nightmare. Overcome with emotion, Warren began to cry, and in a powerful but broken voice returned to speaking to the judge. She said she did not believe Tolth should be released because he might harm someone else. Preventing tragedy, she said, is part of what drove her to walk across the nation. All I ask for is to find my aunt, so we can find her and get closure. ... Listen to my cries. We cant go any longer without bringing her home, Warren said. Bibles said she believed the charges involve senseless acts of extreme violence that occurred in the middle of the night when people should reasonably expect to be safe in their homes. She determined Tolth is a flight risk, citing at least five failure to appear charges on his record. The victims have a right to have the case move forward, without concerns about the defendant failing to appear, Bibles said. My very deep condolences for the loss that is compounded by the pain of not knowing. Tolth left the courtroom in the custody of U.S. Marshals and will remain behind bars until his trial begins. The trial is set to start on May 2 at 9 a.m. in Phoenix. Tolth was already in custody pending the outcome of a 2022 case in which he was accused of stealing a mans wallet while armed with some kind of sharp weapon, court records show. The investigation into Begays disappearance is part of the U.S. Department of Justices efforts to address cases involving missing and slain Native Americans. Begay's family members also have met with U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who recently joined Justice Department officials in hosting the first in-person session of the Not Invisible Act Commission in Washington. The commission is developing recommendations for preventing and responding to violence affecting tribal communities. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Rain showers early with overcast skies later in the day. High around 60F. SW winds shifting to NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight A few clouds from time to time. Scattered frost possible. Low 31F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Researchers at UHealth-;the University of Miami Health System and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine have shown that, in two cases, COVID-19 infection breached the placenta and caused brain damage in the newborn. While admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Holtz Children's Hospital at University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center, a teaching hospital affiliated with UHealth and the Miller School, both infants had tested negative for the virus at birth, but had significantly elevated SARS-CoV-2 antibodies detectable in blood, indicating that either antibodies crossed the placenta, or passage of the virus occurred and the immune response was the baby's. Both infants experienced seizures, small head sizes and developmental delays, and one infant died at 13 months of age. The study titled, "Maternal SARS-CoV-2, Placental Changes and Brain Injury in Two Neonates" was published April 6, in the journal Pediatrics. This is the first study to confirm cross-placental SARS-Cov-2 transmission leading to brain injury in the newborn. Many women are affected by COVID-19 during pregnancy, but to see these kinds of problems in their infants at birth was clearly unusual. We're trying to understand what made these two pregnancies different, so we can direct research towards protecting vulnerable babies." Shahnaz Duara, M.D., professor of pediatrics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, the medical director of the NICU at Holtz Children's Hospital, and senior author on the study Early during the COVID-19 pandemic, this group of neonatologists had observed transient lung disease and sometimes blood pressure issues among newborns who had similarly tested negative at birth but were born to Covid-19 positive mothers. This was hinted at infection but left unclear whether the problems were caused by inflammatory placental cytokines or whether the SARS-CV-2 virus crossed the placenta and injured the baby. "If we saw a baby who presented this way, we would call it hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (brain damage caused by decreased blood flow)," said Michael Paidas, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Jackson's chief of service for obstetrics and gynecology. "But it wasn't lack of blood flow to the placenta that caused this. As best we can tell, it was the viral infection." Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy in newborns, by definition, requires a sentinel event in the mother during labor prior to detecting neurological injury in the newborn at birth. Ali G. Saad, M.D., a Miller School professor, neuropathologist, and director of the pediatric and perinatal pathology service at Holtz Children's, examined both placentas and found signature placental pathological changes caused by SARS-CoV-2 in both placentas, and also examined major changes in the brain that came to autopsy: "I was struck by the unexplained severity of the loss of the white matter and the presence of features of hypoxia/ischemia in the cerebral cortex. We became suspicious that the virus, somehow, managed to breach the placental barrier to damage the central nervous system, but this had not been documented before". Jayakumar Aramugam, Ph.D., a neuroscientist and molecular biologist in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, who along with Dr. Paidas showed the presence of virus in both patients' placentas and also in the brain of the infant who died. Analysis of both placentas clearly demonstrated severe inflammatory changes in each placenta. Also striking, was the absence of a critical placental hormone, human chorionic gonadotrophin, which while essential for all fetal development is particularly important for brain development. The authors stress that these were rare occurrences. UM clinicians have seen hundreds of pregnant women and delivering mothers with COVID-19 positivity; however, these were the only two women whose babies experienced the devastating brain injuries described in the paper. In both cases, the mothers contracted the infection in their second trimesters, and subsequently cleared it, but one had a repeat infection in their third trimesters, suggesting an unusual maternal and/or fetal immune response to the virus may have played a role. "We need to continue our research to figure out why these two babies experienced such devastating results," said Merline Benny, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics, a neonatologist and first author on the paper. "Once we fully understand the causes, we can develop the most appropriate interventions." The interdisciplinary team of researchers also included pediatric neurologist Roberto Lopez, M.D. and pediatric radiologist and neuroimaging expert Gaurav Saigal, M.D., chief of the Section of Neuroradiology at the Miller School. The team of UM physicians and scientists hopes that their cases will alert obstetricians, pediatricians and create awareness of the potential dangers of maternal COVID-19 to newborns; hitherto, the data have suggested a relatively benign course in infants who test negative after birth. The next step that interests the group is potentially identifying biomarkers to select babies most at risk. For concerned parents, the authors recommend maternal pre- or pregnancy maternal COVID-19 vaccination as the first line of defense, breastfeeding, as well as masking if actively infected and other precautionary actions. The study adds to continuing research from the Miller School's Mother-Baby COVID-19 Project that examines the virus' impact on pregnant mothers and infants, led by Dr. Paidas and associates. Intramuscular administration of tranexamic acid (TXA), a drug used to target severe bleeding after childbirth, is safe and quickly reaches therapeutic concentrations in pregnant women, according to a study involving researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). The findings, from the Woman-PharmacoTXA Phase 2 trial, highlight that intramuscular injection may be a potential alternative to current intravenous approaches, which are often unsuitable in home births or rural care settings. Oral TXA was also well-tolerated, however, on average, took around one hour to reach therapeutic blood concentrations, meaning it could be unsuitable for emergency treatment. The results are published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Severe bleeding after childbirth, or postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), is one of the leading causes of maternal death worldwide, with most of the 70,000 yearly deaths occurring in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). Results from the earlier WOMAN trial, led by researchers from LSHTM with collaboration from 21 countries, provided crucial evidence for the life-saving potential of repurposing TXA for treating PPH. Originally used in surgery and later in trauma, TXA works by inhibiting the breakdown of blood clots. Although intravenous administration of TXA is the first port-of-call for treatment, many births in LMICs take place at home, with access to healthcare settings often limited. Subsequently, focus has shifted towards finding alternative administration routes. In this trial, an international research team, including from LSHTM, recruited over 120 women aged 18 or older who were due to give birth by caesarean section at two hospitals in Pakistan and one in Zambia between December 2020 and June 2021. All women had one or more risk factors for postpartum haemorrhage. The study is the first trial testing several different routes of administration in women giving birth and notably the first to test the intramuscular route, specifically in pregnant women. Overall, intramuscular and oral TXA were well tolerated, with no serious side effects for mothers or newborns. Target concentrations of TXA in maternal blood were achieved for both routes, although for oral TXA this took an hour a characteristic that could prevent its use in emergency treatment. Intramuscular TXA, however, reached therapeutic concentrations within ten minutes of injection, which was maintained for over four hours. The authors conclude that these findings provide enough evidence to conduct comparative Phase 3 clinical trials (I'M WOMAN) beginning in August this year. These will aim to determine if intramuscular administration is as effective as intravenous routes in reducing postpartum bleeding. In many LMICs, women do not give births in healthcare facilities, so if TXA can be given just as successfully intramuscularly as via intravenous injection, this could be of huge significance to the thousands of women who die every year from PPH." Professor Haleema Shakur-Still, Co-Author and Professor of Global Health Clinical Trials at LSHTM Professor Rizwana Chaudhri, co-author based at Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan said: "The intramuscular route will be very helpful in Pakistan. With some patients who are experiencing a PPH, it is difficult to get an intravenous line established, so anything that can reduce PPH will be useful. In some cases, it will be the first and last choice." Dr Mwansa Ketty Lubeya, co-author based at The University of Zambia-School of Medicine, Women and Newborn Hospital-UTH said: "In Zambia, we are still struggling with access to TXA. Even when it is available, there should be options in terms of administration. There is no point in having TXA when canulation is not an option. We are excited to have the intramuscular option and be able to use it far and wide." Dr Ian Roberts, co-author and Professor of Epidemiology at LSHTM said: "We have good reason to believe the intramuscular route will be as effective as the intravenous route to reduce postpartum bleeding. In August, we are starting a large global trial to prove this in the hope that this will change WHO guidelines. We want to make this lifesaving treatment available to all women wherever they give birth." Scientists have developed new technology to help couples undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) due to male fertility problems to increase their chances of success in having a baby. Approximately one in six people worldwide is affected by infertility, according to the World Health Organization, and one in every 22 children in Australia is born via assisted reproduction. With a 78% failure rate, each IVF cycle can be an emotional rollercoaster that often ends in heartbreak. Male infertility plays a role in around 30% of cases, due to problems such as low sperm count, reduced motility or movement or poor sperm quality." Professor Majid Warkiani, School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney (UTS) "While much work has been done around selecting eggs and embryos to boost the success rates of IVF, sperm selection, an essential component in assisted reproduction, is by far the most neglected step in regard to technological innovation," he says. To tackle this problem, researchers from UTS and NeoGenix Biosciences, a UTS-born start-up, have created and tested a new microfluidic sperm selection device that provides a more reliable process for selecting high-quality sperm. Traditional sperm selection methods, such as density gradient centrifugation and swim-up, can cause DNA fragmentation and cell death, leading to unsuccessful IVF cycles. "This new technology is a 3D printed, biologically inspired microfluidic sperm selection device, which replicates the female reproductive tract and the natural sperm selection process, where only a small percentage of total sperm reach the egg," Professor Warkiani said. "We conducted extensive testing against conventional IVF selection methods, with the new method showing an 85% improvement in DNA integrity and an average 90% reduction in sperm cell death. The sperm selected by our method also demonstrated better recovery after freezing than traditional methods," he said. The study results were recently published in Nature: Microsystems & Nanoengineering. The researchers have partnered with Monash University and Australian IVF clinics to implement the technology into clinical practice. They hope the device will provide help for those struggling with infertility and reduce the number of unsuccessful IVF cycles. About 39% of nurses in the state of Michigan say they intend to leave their jobs in the next year, according to a University of Michigan study. For years, nurses have detailed chronically poor working conditions and health care executives have warned of impending nursing staffing shortagesbut few recent studies have asked nurses directly about their employment plans. To that end, U-M researchers asked 9,150 state-licensed nurses in Michigan about their plans to leave their current nursing jobs, reduce hours or pursue travel nursing in the Michigan Nurses Survey. They also surveyed 1,224 nurses who left their nursing positions within the past two years. The researchers hoped the study would paint a clearer picture for Michigan and inform solutions, said study lead author Christopher Friese, the Elizabeth Tone Hosmer Professor of Nursing. The findings appear in the journal Medical Care. The survey shows that many nurses plan to quit or reduce hours. The following numbers pertain to nurses without advanced degreesthe workforce most in need: While 39% of nurses, overall, intend to leave their jobs in the next year, more than half of young nurses plan to do so: 59% for nurses under 25; 53% for nurses 25-35; and 45% for nurses 65 or older. 28% plan to reduce their clinical hours. 18% intend to pursue travel nursing. 84% say they are emotionally exhausted. 60% reported inadequate staffing and resources to deliver patient care. 43% report emotional abuse, 22%, reported physical abuse, 10% reported sexual abuse and 26% reported workplace bullying. Top workplace concerns included inadequate staffing, patient safety and staff safety; promotions and compensation were the least frequently mentioned concerns; mandatory overtime was associated with a higher likelihood of departure in the past two years. What do these numbers mean? Friese said the most troublesome finding is how many younger nurses want to leave. This should set off alarm bells for everyone who cares about Michigans health care workforce. The fact that our youngest nurses are showing the highest likelihood of leaving tells us we cant just add more nurses to the problem. This rate of departures and vacancies is not sustainable and executives need to undertake urgent actions to improve working conditions. Christopher Friese, the Elizabeth Tone Hosmer Professor of Nursing The finding that nearly 4 in 10 nurses plan to leave in the next year is also very troubling, Friese said. Ive surveyed nurses multiple times in my 25-year career in nursing and this is the highest number Ive seen, he said. Also, 84% reported emotional exhaustion. These numbers really stand out to me. What does this mean for Michigan? This is bad news for a state with an aging population, large swaths of rural, hard-to-reach areas and existing staffing vacancies, Friese says, but new policies could help. For instance, Michigan is one of roughly half of states that dont grant nurse practitioners full practice authority, meaning they cannot practice without physician oversight. Michigan could also join a compact of 39 other states to allow nurses with licenses in other states to practice more easily in Michigan. These restrictions were relaxed during the height of COVID-19, but were subsequently reinstated. Minimum staffing proposals and anti-violence legislation would also help, Friese says. COVID isnt the causeit highlighted the problem COVID was not a primary cause for planned or actual departure, Friese said. Many health care leaders think that the COVID pandemic will ease and the workforce burden will ease also, he said. But nurses are telling us that theyre leaving because of the unsafe working conditions and chronic understaffing that predated the pandemic. It made an already bad and unsafe situation even worse. The primary suspect in two armed robberies led troopers from the Department of Public Safety on a high-speed chase south of Flagstaff Wednesday afternoon, reaching speeds of up to 120 miles per hour. According to Coconino County Sheriffs Deputy Chief Bret Axlund, both the Coconino County Sheriff's Office and the Flagstaff Police Department were originally dispatched to the Swift Travel Center near the Flagstaff airport at about 1:45 p.m. The gas station on Shamrell Boulevard had been robbed by a suspect with a handgun. The suspect was described to investigators as a white male in a dark-colored Dodge Durango pickup truck. Shortly after the Swift Travel Center robbery, the Chevron gas station in Munds Park was robbed as well. The suspect also had a handgun, and authorities said they believe the crimes are connected. DPS officers located the Dodge pickup and driver south of Flagstaff and attempted a traffic stop. A helicopter was called in from Phoenix to help with the pursuit, but it was a patrol deputy who pursued the suspect and arrested him, according to Axlund. The suspect was apprehended and taken into custody after leading DPS officers on a high-speed chase. The truck was ultimately stopped near the Camp Verde area, according to Axlund. As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, Flagstaff police were still on the scene at the Swift Travel Center conducting an active investigation. The name of the suspect has not yet been released. No injuries have been reported in connection with the robberies or ensuing chase. A research team co-led by chemists from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) recently discovered novel, highly effective anticancer agents with tridimensional structures, which have high anticancer activity, low toxicity and the ability to overcome drug resistance in cancer cells. The findings help provide a new direction for anticancer drug development. Cancer has long been a devastating disease, which affects millions of people worldwide. Despite advances in treatment, current anticancer drugs often have limited effectiveness, lack of cancer selectivity, serious side effects and drug resistance in cancer cells. The structure of drugs greatly affects their anticancer performance. Most anticancer drugs have planar structures; developing new compounds with tridimensional structures may provide an opportunity to address the limitations of current anticancer drugs." Dr Zhu Guangyu, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry at CityU In collaboration with researchers from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), the team tested a new class of tridimensional and chiral compounds, which exhibit promising anticancer activity and present action mechanisms that are distinct from conventional anticancer drugs to overcome drug resistance. The team first developed a new, highly efficient catalytic synthetic strategy to obtain a novel class of tridimensional and chiral tetraarylmethane compounds that presented better anticancer activity and lower toxicity than the clinical anticancer drug doxorubicin. In their experiments, the research team tested the compounds with cancer cells in vitro, using doxorubicin as a control. They found that the tetraarylmethane compounds were more cytotoxic to cancer cells, including lung cancer stem cells (LCSCs), which are notorious for their drug resistance to clinical chemotherapeutic drugs, causing treatment failure. The compound also exhibited better cancer cell selectivity as it caused less harm to normal living cells, suggesting lower toxicity. The team further analyzed the structure-activity relationship of synthesized compounds. They found that the presence of certain substituents, including halogen and hydroxyl groups, at certain positions of the tetraarylmethane compounds significantly improved their cytotoxicity to cancer cells. Upon treatment with the synthesized compound, some cancer cells started to die, as organelle swelling, cell membrane permeabilization, nuclear shrinkage and fragmentation were observed. This suggests that necrotic cell death might have been triggered by the tetraarylmethane compounds. In the fight against cancer, the majority of anticancer drugs currently available rely on the activation of apoptotic pathways to eliminate cancer cells. However, a promising new avenue of research for reducing drug resistance lies in the development of novel anticancer agents that target alternative cell death pathways. In their experiments, the team found that these innovative compounds induced a different cell death pathway. This suggests that the compounds can bypass the resistance mechanisms generated by conventional drugs, making them highly desirable for further exploration in the field of cancer treatment. "The satisfactory anticancer performance and unique mechanism make these compounds potential candidates for anticancer agents for further development," said Dr Zhu. The team plans to synthesize more compounds and conduct further experiments to evaluate their anticancer performance. Their findings were published in the scientific journal Nature Synthesis under the title "Enantioselective synthesis of tetraarylmethanes through meta-hydroxyl-directed benzylic substitution". The corresponding authors are Dr Zhu and Professor Sun Jianwei from HKUST. The co-first authors are Dr Tan Xuefeng from HKUST and Dr Deng Zhiqin, former postdoc in Dr Zhu's research group at CityU. The research received financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Science, Technology and Innovation Committee of Shenzhen Municipality, the Hong Kong Research Grants Council, and the Innovation and Technology Commission. A team led by Masaya Hagiwara of RIKEN national science institute in Japan has developed an ingenious device, using layers of hydrogels in a cube-like structure, that allows researchers to construct complex 3D organoids without using elaborate techniques. The group also recently demonstrated the ability to use the device to build organoids that faithfully reproduce the asymmetric genetic expression that characterizes the actual development of organisms. The device has the potential to revolutionize the way we test drugs, and could also provide insights into how tissues develop and lead to better techniques for growing artificial organs. Scientists have long struggled to create organoidsorgan-like tissues grown in the laboratoryto replicate actual biological development. Creating organoids that function similarly to real tissues is important for developing medicines, since it is necessary to understand how drugs move through various tissues. Organoids also help us gain insights into the process of development itself, and are a stepping stone on the way to growing whole organs that can help patients. However, creating life-like organoids has proven difficult. In nature, tissues develop through an elaborate dance that involves chemical gradients and physical scaffolds that guide cells into certain 3D patterns. In contrast, lab-grown organoids typically develop either by letting the cells grow in homogeneous conditionscreating simple balls of similar cellsor by using 3D printing or microfluidic technologies, which both require sophisticated equipment and technical skills. But now, in an initial paper published in Advanced Materials Technologies, the group from the RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research announced the development of a new, innovative technique that allows them to spatially control the environment around groups of cells based on cubes, using nothing more elaborate than a pipette. The method involves confining layers of hydrogels--substances made up mostly of water--with different physical and chemical properties inside a cube-shaped culture vessel. In the study, different hydrogels were inserted into the scaffold using a pipette, and were held in place based on surface tension. Cells could be inserted into the cubes either within the individual hydrogels or as pellets that could move into the different layers, thus making it possible to create a range of tissue types. In a second paper, published in Communications Biology, the group also demonstrated the ability to recreate what is known as body-axis patterning. Essentially, when vertebrates develop there is a head/rear and back/stomach patterning of cell differentiation. Though important for the creation of organoids that faithfully recreate what happens in actual organisms, this has been very difficult to achieve in the laboratory. In this work, using the cube-based system, the group was able to recreate this patterning, using a mold cap to precisely seed a group of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) within a cube, and then allowing the cells to be exposed to a gradient of two different growth factors. They even went as far as to "recruit" a lab assistant and a junior high school student to successfully perform the work, showing that the seeding of the cells would not require a high level of expertise. The team also demonstrated that the resulting tissues could be sectioned for imaging and still maintain the information about the gradient orientation. We are very excited by these achievements, as the new system will make it possible for researchers to quickly, and without difficult technical hurdles, recreate organoids that more closely resemble the way that organs develop in actual organisms. We hope that a range of researchers will use our method to create various new organoids and contribute to research on different organ systems. Eventually, we hope that it will also contribute to understanding how we can build actual artificial organs that can help patients." Masaya Hagiwara, RIKEN Hagiwara joined RIKEN in 2019 as a RIKEN Hakubi Fellow, a program that encourages talented young researchers to establish their own laboratories. His specific focus is on the development of lungs, but he emphasizes that the technology could be used for the creation of other types of organoids as well. In between sets of tumbling warmups, Adrienne Prashar crossed the gym to where she had stashed her diabetes supplies and tested her blood sugar. Prashar, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes the day before her 13th birthday, said tumbling usually drops her blood sugar levels. Prashar, now 14, did a finger stick, saw her blood sugar was 127, and went back to the mat. For most people with diabetes, the target range is about 80-130, and up to 180 two hours after meals. Prashar doesn't have to check her blood sugar often. She wears a continuous glucose monitor, or CGM, that gives her blood glucose readings on her phone every five minutes. When she's feeling differently than her CGM is showing, as on that March day at the gym, she checks her level by doing a finger stick. But most of the time, she simply glances at her phone to see whether her numbers are trending low or high, which beats repeatedly pricking her finger, she said. "I would hate it so much," Prashar said. "It's such a pain and it's harder to see trends." Montana lawmakers are considering a bill that would require insurance companies to cover CGMs for people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Multiple studies and experts back up the effectiveness of the devices, showing better blood test results, fewer long-term complications, and a reduction in health care costs. Studies show CGMs can greatly benefit people with Type 1 diabetes. There are also promising results for people with Type 2 diabetes, the more prevalent of the two types, but the research is limited compared with that on Type 1. House Bill 758 has broad support from lawmakers, but it faces opposition from insurance companies and some providers. That opposition focuses on the cost, whether a CGM is medically necessary at all stages of diabetes, and the possibility that CGM manufacturers will raise their prices if there is an insurance mandate. CGMs can be worn on the legs, stomach, or arms, and they stay in place with an adhesive patch. A thin tube goes under the skin and measures blood glucose levels from tissue fluid. The data is transmitted via Bluetooth to a phone or similar device. Instead of a finger prick, which provides a reading for a single point in time, a CGM gives the wearer a continuous stream of data. According to GoodRx Health, CGMs can cost between $1,000 and $3,000 each year out-of-pocket. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana, the state's largest insurer, estimates the bill, if passed, would cost the organization nearly $5 million a year, spokesperson John Doran said. CGMs aren't medically necessary in all circumstances, Doran said, and medical necessity should be determined through a partnership between provider and payer. But Doran said that he understands there are instances in which a CGM may be necessary and that Blue Cross already covers CGMs in those cases. "These things are a convenience," Doran said. "They provide you real-time information and there is some benefit to a person's lifestyle to these monitors." Lawmakers in several states are considering bills to regulate coverage of CGMs, and Illinois' governor signed one such bill into law last year. A study published in the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology in 2022 says about 30 million Americans have diabetes, a condition in which a person's body can't make enough insulin (as in Type 1) or use it effectively (as in Type 2). By 2030, the study estimated, 55 million people in the U.S. will have diabetes, with total medical and societal costs of more than $622 billion a 53% increase from 2015. According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 78,000 Montanans have been diagnosed with diabetes. Various studies, diabetes educators, and health care providers say that CGMs can help people with diabetes reduce their A1C levels, a common measure of blood sugar levels used in diabetes management. Proper management can reduce complications from diabetes like retinopathy, heart attack, and nerve damage that lead to higher costs in the health care system through emergency room visits and hospitalizations. Dr. Brian Robinson, an endocrinologist at St. Peter's Health in Helena, said supplies for people with Type 1 diabetes are generally covered by insurance. When he considers recommending a glucose monitor for a patient, he said, the decision is driven by insurance rules that are informed by the American Diabetes Association's standards of care. "My patients are better because of CGMs, there's no doubt about that," Robinson said. But he noted the science doesn't yet support his opinion that CGMs should be given to everyone with diabetes, no matter what. Not all physicians, especially in endocrinology, agree that a person with Type 2 diabetes needs a continuous glucose monitor, Robinson said. But if a person needs a shot each day to manage diabetes, he said, that patient should have access to a CGM. Lisa Ranes, manager of the diabetes, endocrinology, and metabolism center at Billings Clinic, said the benefits of a CGM are the same for people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Many studies have shown that CGMs are just as effective for patients on lower quantities of insulin, like some people with Type 2 diabetes, as for people with Type 1 diabetes, who rely on insulin throughout the day. "It gives patients that complete picture to help them make the decisions on what they need to do to keep their blood sugar safe," Ranes said, giving examples like upping the frequency or dose of insulin, having some food, or exercising. For people with Type 2 diabetes, Ranes said, CGMs could be helpful in early diagnosis. Type 2 diabetes is progressive, Ranes said, so the sooner it is under control, the better. When Cass Mitchell, 76, was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes over 30 years ago, her doctor told her that people with Type 2 diabetes don't live long because they have a hard time managing their care. Mitchell, who lives in Helena, warmed to finger pricks. But test strips were expensive, about $1 each at the time, she said. About 10 years ago, she got a CGM. Mitchell went from testing maybe twice a day to looking at her blood sugar on an app 20 to 25 times each day. She said she's more in tune with her diabetes and uses her device's time-in-range reports showing how often blood glucose stays within a set range to make lifestyle changes. Mitchell has lowered her A1C from around 11% to 7%. According to the ADA, the target for most adults with diabetes is less than 7%. Mitchell's device is covered under Medicare and supplemental insurance and would remain so with the passage of HB 758. She said if she had to pay out-of-pocket she wouldn't be able to afford her CGM and that she was excited about the potential of the bill to give more people access to CGMs. Dr. Hayley Miller, medical director of Mountain States Diabetes in Missoula, initially thought HB 758 sounded good, but now she isn't so sure. She thinks the biggest risk of the bill passing is that prices for CGMs go up. "It seems like I'm against it, but it really is, when insurance gets involved everything gets tricky," Miller said. Emma Peterson, a former diabetes educator for St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings and Providence Endocrinology in Missoula, said most people working in diabetes care think everyone diagnosed should just have a continuous glucose monitor. "At the end of the day, both forms of diabetes and all the other many forms of diabetes have the same complications and still face the same struggles of trying to keep blood sugars in range," Peterson said. Keely Larson is the KHN fellow for the UM Legislative News Service, a partnership of the University of Montana School of Journalism, the Montana Newspaper Association, and Kaiser Health News. Larson is a graduate student in environmental and natural resources journalism at the University of Montana. Recently, in a study posted in the Neurons Journal, scientists at the Salk Institute identified a brain pathway that is associated with the mechanical sensation of itching. It is distinctly different from neural pathways linked to chemical sensation. Study: Identification of an essential spinoparabrachial pathway for mechanical itch. Image Credit: Photo-Vista.de/Shutterstock.com Background Itch is a protective function used by animals to defend themselves from parasitic attacks. For instance, when a mosquito lands on the arm, its presence is sensed on the skin, which is scratched immediately to remove it. The itch can be mechanical (e.g., crawling of insects) or chemical (e.g., exposure to an irritant, such as mosquito saliva). Both forms of itch induce a similar response, i.e., scratching. However, the difference in the two cellular mechanisms that drive this response is unknown. Introduction As stated above, the itch is a protective function that manifests due to light, harsh or pruritogenic chemicals. Recent studies have shown that mechanical and chemical stimuli trigger molecular pathways in the periphery and spinal cord. Mechanical itch is associated with spinal neurons and is characterized by the expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptor Y1 and Ucn3::Cre. Further, the chemical itch is based on spinal neurons expressing the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (Grpr). Scratching can be induced by a spinal reflex pathway, which is mediated by supraspinal pathways. Chemical itch stimuli activate brain regions connected with affective responses to aversive stimuli, threat evaluation, and induction of protective motor behaviors. Pruritogens have been associated with the activation of anxiety-like behaviors in mice through the induction of itch-responsive neurons in the amygdala. The ascending spinal pathways that transfer itch stimuli from the spinal cord to supraspinal centers remain unclear. Furthermore, no studies elucidate whether mechanical and chemical itch is transmitted through spinofugal neurons or a specific neuron population that shares the same cellular targets supraspinally. It is also important to investigate whether parabrachial nucleus (PBN) and spinoparabrachial (SPB) pathways are associated with transmitting mechanical itch signals. About the Study The mechanical and chemical itch was found to be transmitted as distinct modalities along the neuraxis to the PBN, where unique subsets of FoxP2+ neurons employ a common motor program in response to the mechanical and chemical itch pathways. This results in chronic pathological itch. The current study identified an important SPB neuron population for mechanical itch transmission from the spinal cord to the PBN in mice. The mechanical itch-scratch motor program was found to be regulated at PBN levels, which implies that the mechanical itch SPB-PBN pathway delegates a noxious valence to an otherwise-innocuous tactile stimulus. According to Martyn Goulding, professor and holder of the Frederick W. and Joanna J. Mitchell Chair at the Salk Institute This study provides fundamental insights into how these two forms of itch are encoded by the brain and opens up new avenues for therapeutic interventions for patients that suffer from a range of chronic itch conditions, including ectopic dermatitis and psoriasis. This study builds on previous research conducted in Gouldings lab, where neurons in the spinal cord, which regulate mechanical but not chemical itch, were identified. Scientists from Gouldings lab collaborated with Sung Hun, assistant professor, and holder of the Pioneer Fund Developmental Chair, for this study. Dr. Hun has previously discovered a small region in the brain that acts as an alarm center, i.e., this region is associated with instant response to external and internal threat signals. The researchers combined a genetic approach with wearable miniaturized microscopes to enable visualization of itch-induced activity in single neurons of mice. It was observed that mechanical itch could be activated by removing an inhibitory pathway linked to itching. All changes in the brainstem were studied, and how different cells responded to either mechanical or chemical itch was analyzed. Consequently, a chemical itch pathway and a mechanical itch pathway were determined. In addition, molecules that play a crucial role in these pathways were identified. Based on the experimental findings, it was inferred that the mechanical itch is transferred from the spinal cord to the PBN along a Calcrl+ /Lbx1+ SPB pathway. The SPB pathway contains a subset of the Gpr83+ neurons, which do not express Tacr1. In contrast, the Tacr1+ SPB neurons are recruited during chemical itch stimuli, which are involved in the selective transmission of chemicals and chronic itch information. The current discovery of the SPB neurons linked to the transmission of the chemical itch is Tacr1+ /Gpr83+, which does not imply that the Tacr1+ population does not play any role in particular chemical stimuli. Also, the FoxP2PBN neurons could connect the spinal reflex circuitry and the supraspinal circuitry for the itch. The transmission of external sensory information could be transformed internally and generate protective scratching behavior. Conclusion The current study identified that two pathways function together to drive chronic itch. Future research should investigate the region in the brain where the identified pathways converged and identify the region that receives signals and determines to scratch an itch. Additionally, the underlying mechanism of the spinal cord and brainstem that differentiates between itch and pain must be elucidated. Indian Railways is always looking for ways to improve its services. The idea to transition from a semi-high-speed rail to a bullet train is being worked on quickly. Important cities in many states are being connected by the semi-high-speed Vande Bharat trains. Many more routes are still to be covered by these premium trains. The train schedule is occasionally modified to take into account the needs of the passengers. This time, the departure timing of the Mahakoshal Superfast train from Hazrat Nizamuddin to Jabalpur has been changed. For the benefit of the passengers, North Central Railway has recently released a revised timetable. With a Facebook post, North Central Railway informed users of the change in the Mahakaushal Superfast trains departure time. Railways announced that in a statement it decided to change the schedule for train number 12190 (Mahakoshal Superfast). The train will depart ahead of its normal schedule. From Hazrat Nizamuddin, the train travels to Jabalpur Junction. The train leaves Hazrat Nizamuddin at 2:33 pm. According to the updated schedule, this train will now depart for Jabalpur at 12:53 pm. Earlier, the train would reach Jabalpur at 7:55 am the following morning. The updated timetable states that this train will now arrive at Jabalpur Junction at 5:55 am. https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02ufWyCmDcoqAmZZtTQxukqjUgEMUf5LrcRuyQVLX7beijHcS2A86adrozGkTYreMCl&id=100064442869617 From Delhi, the Mahakoshal Superfast Train travels through Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan before arriving in Jabalpur. This train travels via Ballabhgarh, Mathura, Agra, Dhaulpur, Morena, Jhansi, Gwalior, Satna and Katni. This train will now leave Hazrat Nizamuddin approximately two and a half hours early and arrive in Jabalpur at 5:55 the next morning. After the success of Humsafar and Tejas Superfast, the Railways is currently increasing the services offered by the Vande Bharat Semi-High-Speed Train to enable its operation on virtually all important routes. Read all the Latest Auto News here Salman Khan has recently added the gigantic Nissan Patrol SUV in a bulletproof avatar to his garage. Khan has been receiving several threats from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang of late and hence, he has decided to enhance his safety cover by purchasing the bulletproof Nissan Patrol. The ace Bollywood superstar was recently spotted traveling in the mammoth bulletproof SUV on the the streets of Mumbai as it is considered one of the safest chauffeur-driven vehicles in the world. Also Read: Shilpa Shetty Becomes Proud Owner Of Mercedes-Maybach GLS600 Worth Rs 3.5 Crore Why Salman Khan Chose Bulletproof Nissan Patrol SUV? Nissan Patrol is the brands flagship and most expensive SUV which is sold in several international markets. However, it is not on sale in India yet. The Patrol SUV is mostly used by the rich and influential people in Gulf countries in order to stay protected from external threats while on the move. It is believed that Salman has imported this SUV from abroad after the continuous threats he has been receiving from the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The bulletproof Nissan Patrol SUV might boast of B6 or B7 protection level as it replaces Toyota Land Ccruiser LC200 as Salmans official car. For the unversed, the B6 level comes with protection from rifle shots with a thick glass of 41mm while the B7 level provides protection from armour-piercing rounds due to the 78mm glass. Nissan Patrol SUV Engine Specs Salman Khans Nissan Patrol SUV is powered by a massive 5.6L V8 petrol motor which dishes out top power of 405 bhp and peak torque of 560 Nm. The engine is linked to a 7-speed automatic transmission while power being distributed to the wheels via a 44 drive system. The SUV also get a rear-locking differential as standard feature. Nissan Patrol SUV History Nissan Patrol came into existence around 70 years back in 1951. Presently, it is sold in its sixth-generation which underwent a subtle makeover in late 2019. The SUV measures more than 5.1 meters in length while it comes with 3-rows of seating. Leave alone the bulletproof version with B6/B7 level protection, the standard version of the Nissan Patrol SUV costs in excess of Rs 2 Crore. So, it can be believed that the actors SUV with higher protection levels could have cost him somewhere around Rs 4-5 Crore. Read all the Latest Auto News here FCI Chairman & Managing Director Ashok Kumar Meena on Friday said the Food Corporation of India has already procured 7 lakh tonnes of wheat as on date and is well-poised to procure 342 lakh tonnes of wheat this year. He said it is in view of better-than-expected wheat production, estimates, and the governments assurance to support farmers in view of the recent unseasonal rains. It is important for all of us, the government and the private sector, to work together to ensure that prices of wheat and atta remain stable despite global headwinds. We have support of higher production estimates too with us," Meena said. Subodh Kumar Singh, additional secretary of the Department of Food and Public Distribution, also said the estimates of both the ministry and private agencies are signalling a higher wheat production this year, despite the impact of unseasonal rains and hailstorms in March-April 2023. They were addressing the Roller Flour Millers Federation of Indias first extraordinary general meeting and the board of directors meeting. During the event, a survey report on Wheat Crop & Production Estimates for the Crop Year 2022-23 was also unveiled. The report, prepared by the Agri Watch on behalf of the Federation, expects wheat production at 102.89 lakh tonnes, which is lower than 104.24 lakh tonnes, due to unseasonal rains and hail storms faced by wheat-producing states towards the end of March 2023. The estimates are based on a survey conducted in two phases across 80 districts in nine states Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Pramod Kumar S, president of the Roller Flour Millers Federation of India, urged the government to lift the ban on wheat products export on account of higher estimates and sufficient buffer stock. He said, Though the unexpected rains and hailstorm have played spoilsport in the record production, higher acreage and yield are expected to create a comfortable situation for the country. Hence, we request the government to consider lifting the ban on wheat export, so that we could support the large Indian diaspora that always prefer Indian wheat atta." Navneet Chitlangia, senior vice-president of the Federation, said that in order to avoid the past situations wherein the absence of data led to the fluctuation of wheat prices, we have come up with this survey. It will help both the industry and the government to plan the future course of action as well as measures to control the prices." Assuring the support of the Federation in the governments campaign on millet products, Rohit Khetan, honorary secretary of the Roller Flour Millers Federation of India, said, The Federation is working towards producing the millets atta and is committed to supporting the governments efforts to promote millets consumption in the country and elsewhere." Dharmendra Jain, vice-president of the Roller Flour Millers Federation of India, said, The government is open-minded to hear our issues and provided solutions too. We are committed to supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modis call for interest of the country before anything else and we have exhibited the same by working with the government in taming the atta prices." Established in 1940, the 2,500-plus-members strong pan-India association expects excellent wheat crop and bumper procurement this year. Read all the Latest Business News here Goldman Sachs-backed ZestMoney will lay off 100 employees, or about 20 per cent of its workforce, weeks after its talks with PhonePe for a sale fell through, according to a Moneycontrol report. It is part of the companys business continuity and survival plan. The founders and top leadership team of ZestMoney held a Townhall on April 6 to inform the layoffs to employees. The company had about 450 employees and is planning to lay off across departments. As part of its business continuity plan, the company is laying off 100 people. The company has promised to pay a months salary as severance and other benefits like insurance and mental health assistance," said an employee on the condition of anonymity, according to the Moneycontrol report. The report also said that Priya Sharma, co-founder of the BNPL platform, earlier also sent out a message to a few startups seeking help for outplacing ZestMoney employees. Sources also said that PhonePe is looking to absorb as many as 200 employees from ZestMoney. There are talks happening regarding hiring some talent from ZestMoney by PhonePe but nothing has been decided yet," said a source close to the development. Last week, fintech company PhonePe cancelled its plan to acquire ZestMoney. Fintech company PhonePe has cancelled its plan to acquire ZestMoney. This is a huge setback for the buy-now-pay-later company. In November last year, it was said that PhonePe will acquire ZestMoney in a deal pegged at $200 million-$300 million. ZestMoney is a consumer lending fintech company in India founded by Lizzie Chapman, Priya Sharma and Ashish Anantharaman in 2015. Read all the Latest Business News here A certain poem in a Class 2 ICSC English textbook has led a father to file a complaint to the District Magistrate in Uttarakhands Dehradun. Identified to be Manish Mittal, the man was reportedly shocked when his child address him as Abbu. The parents quickly found that their child had learned the terms Ammi and Abbu from a poem in an English textbook. The father has urged Dehradun DM to remove the alleged controversial texts with their English equivalents mother and father, as per The New Indian Express. Mittal reportedly deems the context as a misguided practice in the schools curriculum. This is a serious matter and a severe attack on our faith and religious beliefs, he was quoted as saying. The complaint has been reportedly escalated to the Chief Education Officer. Pradeep Kumar, who is the Chief Education Officer, in a statement, confirmed that he has read the texts in the book. The matter is scheduled to be discussed with the ICSC board, We will also call the principals of some schools and hold a meeting, added Kumar. the child studying in 2nd Class called his parents Ammi-AbbuManish Mittal the father of the child took it serious & has filed a complaint with DM Actually child learnt it from his English Book Poem 'too Big too Small' But the religious sentiments of Manish got hurt pic.twitter.com/rAfopZOt5Z (@Delhiite_) April 5, 2023 The incident has left people on Twitter with varied reactions. While some users couldnt understand how the texts could hurt religious sentiments, a section discussed how the parents wouldnt mind the child using the English equivalents Mom and Dad for their Hindi counterparts Mata and Pita. A user wrote, The 1st paragraph of the (complaint) letter is still valid. Its an English notebook and there is no point in using Ammi Abbu instead of Mother Father in an English notebook. I found the application valid, but it lost its way when he said his religious sentiment got hurt. The 1st paragraph of the letter is still valid. It's an English notebook and there is no point of using 'Ammi Abbu' instead of Mother Father in an English notebook.I found the application valid but it lost its way when he said his religious sentiment got hurt. Adil (@adilrizvi30) April 6, 2023 Another agreed, What the hell, how on earth is it hurting religious sentiments, why are people running away from the fact there could be many other ways to call your parents. What the hell, how on earth it hurting religious sentiments, why are people running away from the fact there could be many other ways to call your parents Akash Jha (@jha_akashkj) April 6, 2023 One more joined the discussion saying, My children call my mother Ammi - they call her Amma and sometimes shorten it to something simpler, sweeter and loving - Ammi. My children call my mother Ammi - they would call her Ammammma and shortened it to something simpler, sweeter and loving - Ammi Rashmi R Naik (@RashmiRNaik) April 6, 2023 The complainant has urged the authorities to take prompt action in the matter. Read all the Latest Buzz News here Delhi University Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh on Thursday said strong relations with Africa are vital for Indias development and a lot can be done with the continent in sectors like education, banking and finance. Speaking at the inauguration of a two-day international conference on Mahatma Gandhi and Gandhism: Energizing Indias Relations with Africa by the university, Singh said by 2050 Indias economy should be $30 trillion and for this India-Africa relations are very important. Africa is moving fast in terms of youth population. Currently one in three people in the world are being born in Africa. Three out of 10 fastest-growing economies of the world are in Africa, he said. He said Africa has 30 per cent of the worlds mineral resources. If we have to do something meaningful for India, it can be done successfully with strong India-Africa ties, which will be beneficial for both, he said. He said Indias trade relations with Africa is very good. Currently, more than 21 per cent of Indias exports are with Africa. Africa has 25 per cent of the worlds land resources which can provide food to the whole world. Therefore, Indias developed technology and knowledge in the agriculture sector can be used for the development of agriculture in African countries. Along with this, a lot can be done with Africa in education, banking and financial sectors, Singh added. One of the keynote speakers at the event was Reema B Robbie, the high commissioner of Mauritius, an Indian Ocean island nation off the coast off the eastern coast of Africa. She praised India for providing 37.59 million doses of vaccine to African countries during the pandemic. Describing Mahatma Gandhis Satyagraha as the basic mantra of freedom, she said Gandhi believed Indias freedom was incomplete without the freedom of Africa. Many international leaders like Nelson Mandela have drawn inspiration from him. She also expressed her gratitude for Indias contribution to African countries, especially Mauritius, and Indias support in education and scholarships to their students. Richa Sharma, Deputy Director, ICSSR, New Delhi, was the other keynote speaker. She said people have to understand and know Gandhi in many ways. Read all the Latest Education News here Liz Archuleta is finishing up her first week as the president and CEO of United Way of Northern Arizona, and shes jumped right into the role. Archuleta was the first Latina elected to the Coconino County Board of Supervisors, and served District 2 for almost 25 years. Moving into the nonprofit space might be a more natural transition than it seems on its face. For one, Archuleta has been working with United Way of Northern Arizona as a volunteer for 30 years. During that span, shes chaired most all of the nonprofits major committees. Shes served on the board of directors and the community investment committee. Shes been campaign chair, Summit Society chair and Major Donor chair. The building itself is a testament to Archuletas former work with the organization. The funds for United Ways location on Cedar Avenue were leveraged during a capital fundraising campaign that she led. Ive been involved with United Way for decades because what United Way does is a passion of mine -- which is improving lives and changing community conditions, said Archuleta while in her new east Flagstaff office. The office has a blue statement wall and a pen holder featuring a sock-monkey motif. Its not uncommon for new leaders to settle into their roles during the first week, but in Archuletas own words, shes jumped right in. Shed made a presentation to the Coconino County Board of Supervisors, met with major donors and started reviewing strategic plans all by mid-morning Thursday. I am so excited about this position; its just it feels like home to me, Archuleta said. Its just a perfect culmination of all my experiences put together; its just incredible. Since its inception, United Way of Northern Arizona has been a regional force, working with community partners, business leaders, government officials and nonprofits to identify problems facing neighborhoods in the region, then raising and leveraging funds to solve those problems. For me, being the president and CEO, this is an intersection of my career experiences. Ive been on the government side as an elected official and as a servant leader. Ive been a volunteer for United Way and engaged in United Way, and my family has lived here for four generations. It only made sense to me that my career path would go in this direction, Archuleta said. One of United Ways primary goals is to uplift and support young people in northern Arizona. For Archuleta, thats demonstrated best in one of her passion projects: Kinder Camp. I raised thousands of dollars to support that specific initiative in the past, she said with a broad smile. We can all relate to when we first attended that first day at kindergarten, what that was like. Having a boot camp for little ones to be able to provide them a bridge from home to their first day at kindergarten is something that Im really committed to. To be able to have a child go to school in the summer and get oriented to the processes and to what they might be learning, to really begin to start that excitement for school is an opportunity that I want for every single child. Now, on her way into the office, Archuleta passes a kind of make-shift mobile made of a tree branch and tiny translucent fish charms that reads, Killip Kindercamp." Its a little visual reminder of the program that brings Arizona children an academic head start. Archuleta said shes always believed in the value of education and the power of bringing academic opportunity to young people. Youth, she said, might need more support and opportunities now, more than ever. Were at a very important moment in time. We are just getting through the pandemic. Were coming out of that. People are beginning to look at what impact has COVID had on our community. Those are important conversations. We have people who were isolated during that time, we have some mental health issues that we need to convene some conversations around as a result of that. We need to look at our youth and what opportunities exist for them now, coming out of the pandemic, she said. Thats one of the reasons why shes excited to take on her new role. Shes hoping to offer more in-person opportunities for people to connect with United Way and one another. We may see, as a result of the pandemic, people are feeling more isolated. How can we reach out and include more people? Archuleta asked. When were talking about improving lives and creating lasting impact to community conditions, we want to make sure thats for all of northern Arizona. Bringing people together has been a theme in Archuletas career, and she hopes to continue to bring stakeholders into conversations about the regions future taking an inclusive approach to funding good in Coconino County and beyond. My goal is to just jump right in and begin to not only raise money for the community but to ensure United Way is a household name. I want people when they think about community they think about United Way, she said. The story of Sarla Thukral, who got her pilot licence at the age of 21 is truly an inspiration for many. She was also one of the first Indian women to fly solo. Sarla Thukral was born in 1914 in New Delhi and married PD Sharma, also a pilot, at the age of 16 and moved to Lahore. She received immense support from her husband and his family to pursue a career as a pilot. After her father-in-law enrolled her in Lahore Flying Club, there was no turning back for her. In 1936, at the age of 21, Sarla obtained her aviation pilots licence and flew a Gypso Moth, solo. Such was her dedication that only after eight hours and ten minutes of training, her instructor found her ready to fly solo. She completed her 1,000 hours of flying and became the first Indian woman to obtain an A licence. Post this, her aim was to get the B license, which would allow her to fly a commercial aircraft. However, during this time, World War II broke out and civil training was suspended. Tragically, in 1939, her husband died in an aeroplane crash. At the age of 24, Sarla Thukral was a mother of two and a widow, and she gave up her desire to become a commercial pilot. But, life had something else planned for her. She returned to Lahore and pursued a Diploma in Fine Arts after joining the Mayo School of the Arts. After the partition, she came to Delhi with her two daughters. She met RP Thukral in Delhi, to whom she got married in 1948. After her marriage to Thukral, she established herself as a successful designer, making costumes and jewellery and designing sarees and painting for the National School of Drama. Reportedly, one of her clients was the 8th President of the United Nations General Assembly, Vijayalaxmi Pandit. Sarla Thukral died in 2008 but yet serves as an inspiration to many women. She was a pilot, a designer, a painter, a mother and even a successful entrepreneur. Read all the Latest Education News here Janata Dal (S) on Friday wrote to the Election Commission seeking a ban on movies, shows and commercials of Kannada actor Kichcha Sudeep ahead of Karnataka elections, claiming it may influence voters. This came after Sudeep announced that he would campaign for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the poll-bound state. JD(S) leader Tanveer Ahmed any person who has a political affiliation, cannot be seen on a public platform as per the law. ALSO READ: Who is Kichcha Sudeep? BJPs Bahubali Campaigner in Ktaka & Mama Bommais Obedient Nephew Mr Sudeep does a press conference along with Karnataka CM and an invitation to all media sent on letterhead of BJP. He really says that he is going to do whatever honourable CM says, he adheres to a political party, so he is a politician," Ahmed told ANI. According to rule of law of the land, any person who has a political affiliation, cannot be seen on a public platform. Thats the reason, we have requested EC to look into the matter of Sudeeps movies, OTT platforms, advertisements." Assembly polls are scheduled to be held in a single phase on May 10 and counting will take place on May 13. Clearing the air over speculations of his entry into politics, Kannada actor Kichcha Sudeep on Wednesday said he will not be joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but will campaign for the party in the Karnataka Assembly elections. The actor extended his support to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai who he referred to as his mama" (uncle). I call the CM Mama (uncle as I have seen him since my childhood. I have very few people who stood by me since childhood, so it wont be wrong to call him Mama (uncle). I didnt have a godfather when I entered the film industry. I want to extend my support to him (CM)," he said at a press conference with Bommai. Read all the Latest News here Lavani Marathi dancer Gautami Patil has carved a massive fan base across Maharashtra with her energetic performances that always attract a huge footfall. Due to her soaring popularity, she is also often invited as a chief guest for various programmes. But Gautami has also been embroiled in controversies due to her dance performances that are criticised by a large section of people. Let us take a look at the five times Gautami created controversies with her performances. At Khandoba Yatra An enormous crowd gathered in Tuljapur Taluka, Osmanabad, to watch Gautami on the occasion of Khandoba Yatra. The audience was eager to catch a glimpse of hers and in this process, ended up disrupting the whole event. Gautami had to be escorted out of the venue amid police security. At Biroba Yatra Gautamis dance performance was also organised on the occasion of Biroba Yatra in Sangamner Taluka, Ahmednagar district. At the event, some of the people in the crowd tried to get near the stage by getting past the barricades. Police had to resort to the lathi charge to control the unruly crowd. More than 100 bouncers, a dozen female bouncers and a force of thirty to forty policemen had to be deployed for the security of this event. Performance at Rahata, Ahmednagar During her performance at Rahata Taluka in Ahmednagar, a commotion ensued when money was demanded from some people in the crowd. Gautami stopped the performance after she came to know about this matter. At Jaideep Salke and Sourav Lokhandes birthday Gautami was invited to perform on the birthday of wrestlers Jaideep Salke and Sourav Lokhande in Parner taluka, Ahmednagar. During the performance, some people from the crowd tried to climb a gantry (a tall metal frame used to support cameras). In this process, they ended up injuring themselves when the gantry broke due to heavy pressure. At Dr Subhash Pokles birthday Gautamis dance performance was again marred with chaos from the crowd on the occasion of Panchayat Samitis member Dr Subhash Pokles birthday in Shirur, Pune. Read all the Latest Showsha News here South actress Nabha Natesh keeps captivating her fans with her stunning looks and acting prowess. She frequently experiments with her wardrobe to show off her sartorial choices. This time, Nabha has shared a bunch of pictures where she looks drop-dead gorgeous in her bodycon little black dress. She looks like a queen in her black plunged neckline full-sleeved mini dress. The outfit is a perfect example of Less Is More as there is nothing glamorous but still looks full of glamour. She kept her hair open and just added a bold lip colour with a neutral base, thats it. While posting the pictures she wrote, Love. Peace. Glam. The actress previously uploaded a few pictures of herself in a bodycon dress. We cannot dispute the actress stunning appearance despite her decision to wear minimal makeup and leave her hair open. The caption read, Always making music in my head, dancing to my tunes, living in my kingdom! As soon as she posted the pictures, the fans went gaga over her. One of the users wrote, One of the cutest faces youll ever see on the screen." Another commented, Greek Goddess." One more said, Looking beautiful." One social media user also called her a stunning beauty. The actress previously posted photos of herself wearing traditional attire as well. Her sense of style frequently rises to a whole new level, thanks to her stunning appearance and contagious personality. On the professional front, Nabha Natesh is best known for movies like Nannu Dochukunduvate, Solo Brathuke So Better, Disco Raja and Vajrakaya. At the age of 19, she made her acting debut in the 2015 movie Vajrakaya. The actress was featured opposite Shiva Rajkumar in the movie. She later made an appearance in the 2018 Telugu movie Nannu Dochukunduvate. Read all the Latest Showsha News here Sachin Pilgaonkar and Supriya Pilgaonkar are among the most popular couples in showbiz. Recently, this Marathi duo attended a play titled Kaaliraani, written by Ratnakar Matkari and directed by Vijay Kenkare. The drama starred play-actor Girish Oak, actress Manava Naik and Harish Dudhade in pivotal roles. The play has been garnering a good response from the audience and reportedly, Sachin Pilgaonkar has claimed that Harish is his favourite actor". As per reports, Sachin, after watching the play, appreciated Ratnakar Matkaris quality writing and friend Vijay Kenkars experienced direction. He also lauded Girish Oak for playing a wonderful role. He praised the beautiful costumes by Mangal Kenkare and even the lighting in the play. He felt that Manava Naiks command on stage was impressive. He further added, I was not at all surprised to see my favourite actor Harish Dudhade amazing performance. It is not easy to compete with a great actor like Girish. Reacting to this, Dudhade dropped a photo of himself with the couple and described the day as unforgettable". He shared the snap on Instagram and wrote, Yesterday was an unforgettable day because Sachin Pilgaonkar ji and Supriya Pilgaokar ji were present for the experiment of our play Kaaliraani. We got an opportunity to present our art in front of two great artists who have inspired Marathi and Hindi cinema with their art. The reaction given by Sachin Ji is a big appreciation. This day will be remembered. Thank you so much! Check out the post here- A user wrote, You deserve this Harish Dadayou are a very talented and sincere actor. All your serials and films you were in are hit and that too because of your performance." Another fan wrote, Oh my them both! Three of my favourite artists in one frame! Unbelievable!," wrote another fan. Harish Dudhade was last seen in the TV series Tumchi Mulgi Kay Karte (2021) as Police Inspector Vijay Bhosle. He has previously worked in the movie Shivpratap Garudjhep as Ramsing. Read all the Latest Showsha News here RRR director SS Rajamouli posted a photo with music composer MM Keeravani on social media, congratulating him on the Padma Shri Award, the fourth-highest civilian honour in the country. He wrote in the photos caption, So proud of my Peddanna." Since they are cousins, SS Rajamouli refers to MM Keeravani as his older brother. A photo of Keeravani posing while wearing his Padma batch on his shirt was posted by the RRR director. Keeravani was presented with the Padma Shri on Wednesday in New Delhi by President Droupadi Murmu. The award recipients also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who also attended the presentation ceremony. So proud of my Peddanna!!! pic.twitter.com/H3k07KsnmZ rajamouli ss (@ssrajamouli) April 6, 2023 Following the announcement that MM Keeravani had received the Padma Award, SS Rajamouli took to social media to express his intense excitement. He wrote, Like many of your fans feel, this recognition indeed was long overdue. But, as you say, the universe has a strange way of rewarding ones efforts. If I can talk back to the universe, I would say Konchem gap ivvamma. okati poorthigaa enjoy chesaaka inkoti ivvu (Please give us a gap. Let us enjoy one award and then go for the next). Like many of your fans feel, this recognition indeed was long over due. But, as you say the universe has a strange way of rewarding one's efforts. If I can talk back to universe, I would sayKonchem gap ivvamma. okati poorthigaa enjoy chesaaka inkoti ivvu. pic.twitter.com/JSNnivpRNq rajamouli ss (@ssrajamouli) January 26, 2023 Ram Gopal Varmas hugely successful 1991 film Kshana Kshanam introduced MM Keeravani, making him a well-known music director. Over 220 of his films, in various Indian languages, are his compositions. He has written music for Hindi movies like Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin, Sur The Melody of Life, Zakhm, Saaya, Jism, Criminal, Special 26, Rog, and Paheli in addition to Telugu songs. In addition, he has received a Tamil Nadu State Film Award, eleven Andhra Pradesh state Nandi Awards, and the National Award. After RRR, SS Rajamouli revealed his next project with Mahesh Babu. The film is still in the early stages of script development, production, etc. But according to the director, his movie will be an action adventure that travels the world. Read all the Latest Showsha News here Television actress Neha Marda has confirmed that she has been blessed with a baby girl. The Balika Vadhu fame confirmed the same hours after it was reported that she was rushed to the hospital on Thursday night due to complications in her pregnancy. However, both, the mother and the newborn are doing fine now. My BP became a concern soon after I got pregnant, and it went erratic in the fifth month. Our doctor had prepared us for it in advance. Complications were expected but fortunately, everything went about fine. I am glad the phase is over, and I have been blessed with a beautiful daughter. Both of us are doing fine, Neha told E-Times. Neha also shared that she and the newborn are still in the hospital but are hoping to get discharged soon. I am hoping to be discharged by the end of this week and my daughter in a fortnight. I am yet to hold my child and gaze at her lovingly. She was with me briefly before she had to be moved to NICU being a premature baby. She has to put on some weight, she added. When asked if she has decided on a name, Neha revealed that they are contemplating a couple of names. She further mentioned that as per their family customs, the newborns bua i.e Nehas sister-in-law will name the child. I am sure she will do a great job at it. We are looking at a name that starts with A. Just like the first letter in the alphabet, I hope my daughter always stands out in life (smiles). For now, its celebration time for us, she shared. Neha got married to Patna-based businessman Ayushman Agarwal in February 2012. On the work front, Neha entered the showbiz world in 2004 with the dance reality show Boogie Woogie. However, she became a household name after she played the role of Gehna in Balika Vadhu from 2008 to 2011. Besides this, Neha also featured in several other shows including Doli Armaano Ki. Read all the Latest Showsha News here Amrish Puri has been one of the leading villains in the Hindi film industry. The actors deep voice had a remarkable effect on people. His notable characters like Mogambo in Mr India received huge admiration and became classic characters in Bollywood. But both of his brothers, Madan Puri and Chaman Puri, have also played villains in Bollywood films. Amrish Puris elder brother, Madan Puri, was a successful Bollywood actor and acted in more than 430 films with a career spanning almost four decades. His debut film was 1946s Ahimsa. Madan Puris son Colonel Kamlesh Puri has now come up with a book titled My Father the Villain, describing stories about his fathers life. One such story involved a famous but arrogant actor getting into a tussle with Madan Puri. Madan asked the hero to apologise and end the matter. However, the hero refused and repeated his words. This made Puri angry and he went on to slap the actor publicly. The hero even tried to threaten Madan with police action but everyone around pointed out his mistake. The actorlater apologised and the matter was put to rest. Madan Puri acted as a villain in the films but his personality and demeanour were no less than those of a lead star. He used to be firm in his principles; another incident from the book stated that after Madan Puris father passed away, he urged his brothers to return to their films, and he did the same as well. He said to his brother, We have lost; what is the need to trouble the producers?" Madan Puri had played popular roles in many Bollywood films like Deewar and had worked in Punjabi films as well. The actor passed away in 1985 due to a heart attack at the age of 69. But even after his death, his films continued to be released for the next four years. Read all the Latest Showsha News here Yesteryear actor Danny Denzongpa has discussed the reasons why he refrained from working with Amitabh Bachchan. The veteran actor, in a 2018 interview, admitted that he once believed being in the same frame" as Amitabh Bachchan would make him invisible. Additionally, he claimed that he turned down four offers of movies from director Manmohan Desai, including Mard and Coolie. Agneepath marked the first time Danny and Amitabh appeared on screen together. They have since worked on numerous movies, including Hum (1991), Khuda Gawah (1992), Kohram (1999), Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo (2004), and Uunchai. (2022). According to sources, in an interview with Filmfare, Danny said, I continued to stop myself from collaborating with Amitji. I believed that this imposing actor was getting the best parts. If I was in the same frame as him, nobody would notice me. All the credit would go to him if the movie was a success. However, the new" guy would be held accountable if it failed. Even when the late director Manmohan Desai offered me four films with Amitji, including Mard and Coolie, I kept declining. He also added, I was once at the Film City, where Manji was filming as well. He requested me to make a movie for him while he was on his knees in front of everyone. I responded, Sochenge (Ill consider it),, Id tell Manji, you are again taking me 20 years back from the industry (making a reference to Desais fantastical films). Ten other guys follow you after one superhit from you. The best gaalis (abuses) would be given to me by Manji. (abuses). But Im a straightforward person; no matter how unpleasant the truth is, I speak it anyway. In 1972, Danny made his music debut with Zaroorat. He has appeared in numerous films over the past few decades, including Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, 36 Ghante, Dhund, Bandish, Dharmatma, Jeeo Aur Jeene Do, Dharm Aur Qanoon, Fakira, Chor Machaye Shor, Devata, Kalicharan, Bulundi, Adhikar, and many more. On the professional front, Amitabh Bachchan was last seen in the film Uunchai, which was released on November 11 last year. Sooraj Barjatya tells a tale about friendship, and hope, and imparts a profound and heartfelt lesson on why we should live life to the fullest and follow our hearts. Along with Big B, Anupam Kher, and Boman Irani also play the lead role. Neena Gupta, Sarika, Parineeti Chopra, Nafisa Ali Sodhi, and Danny Denzongpa play significant roles in Uunchai. The movie was extensively filmed in Nepal, Kanpur, Delhi, Mumbai, Agra, and Lucknow. Read all the Latest Showsha News here Punjab police will not get Baisakhi holiday this year as leaves of all officers have been cancelled till April 14, in the wake of radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singhs escape. Sources told News18 that there are apprehensions that law and order problem could be created using festival as an excuse". Sarbat Khalsa, a gathering of Sikhs that Amritpal had demanded, has not been cancelled yet. But police suspect that the fugitive could give Baisakhi-related gathering of Sikhs, in various gurudwaras across the state, a secessionist colour. The radical Sikh preacher had asked the chiefs of the top Sikh body, Akal Takht, to convene the Sarbat Khalsa in Punjabs Bathinda on the occasion of Baisakhi on April 14. Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said in a message to the officers that all leaves of all gazetted and non-gazetted officers have been cancelled until Baisakhi, including previously sanctioned leaves. The heads too have been asked not to sanction any fresh leave till April 14. Amritpal has been evading arrest for over three weeks now. Fresh details have now emerged of Amritpals visits to Georgia and his alleged conspiracy with ISI that unfolded there just before he arrived in India last year. READ FULL STORY | ISI Took Amritpal Singh to Georgia Just Before India Arrival, Gave Him Bhindranwale Makeover: Intel Officials Akal Takht jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, however, has said that no Sarbat Khalsa will be convened. However, another three-day annual congregation will be held at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo to celebrate the festival. There is a marked difference in annual congregation and Sarbat Khalsa. This is a gathering to mark Baisakhi, a report in Hindustan Times quoted an official, who did not wish to be named. Three-day congregation will be organised from April 12 to 14. The community should mark their presence on the occasion in maximum number, the last line of the statement issued for the scribes gathering, released on Thursday, said. Kanwar Pal Singh, leader of Sikh organisation Dal Khalsa, also said that the timing and ground situation was neither conducive nor appropriate to convene the Sarbat Khalsa in Bathindas Talwandi Sabo. The Dal Khalsa leader further said Sarbat Khalsa could not be called on the demand of a single person or a group as it was not a small event. Its a historic event with long-term impact on the future of the Sikh community. A decision to this effect, if any, has to be taken by the Akal Takht in consultation with other Sikh bodies, including the SGPC, he was quoted as saying by Times of India. He further stated that if it was decided that a Sarbat Khalsa had to be called, there was a process of asking the Sikhs across the world to select their representative for the congregation and it would take months to organise such a big event due to a logistical exercise. Read all the Latest India News here ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. A federal grand jury has indicted a New Mexico man on assault and carjacking charges in connection with the 2021 disappearance of a Native American woman whose case has helped to raise awareness about missing people and unsolved slayings in Indian Country. The indictment naming Preston Henry Tolth, 23, was unsealed Tuesday. He is scheduled to appear before a federal magistrate Friday in northern Arizona for a detention hearing and formal arraignment. Federal prosecutors alleged that Tolth assaulted Ella Mae Begay, a Navajo woman who was 62 at the time, took her pickup truck and drove it across state lines. Begay has not been found. This indictment is an important first step in determining the truth about what happened to an elderly victim on the Navajo Nation, U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino of Arizona said in a statement, stressing that the investigation was ongoing. Begay's truck was seen the morning of June 15, 2021, leaving her home in the remote community of Sweetwater on the Navajo Nation, not far from where Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado meet. A year after Begay disappeared, her niece began walking from the Navajo Nation to Washington D.C. to bring attention to a decades-long epidemic of violence that has disproportionately affected Indigenous people. Attorney Darlene Gomez, who is representing Begay's family, said in a social media post that the indictment marked a bittersweet development for family members. Gomez said the family appreciates the prayers and support from those who have followed Begay's case and shared her story in hopes of bringing her home. The investigation into Begay's disappearance is part of the U.S. Department of Justices efforts to address cases involving missing and slain Native Americans. Navajo Nation authorities had previously identified Tolth as a person of interest in the case. Luke Mulligan, a federal public defender for Tolth, declined to comment on the case Tuesday. New Mexico court records show Tolth has a criminal history that includes charges of aggravated battery, resisting arrest, residential burglary and drug possession that date back to 2019. He already was in custody pending the outcome of a 2022 case in which he was accused of stealing a man's wallet while armed with some kind of sharp weapon, court records show. Begay's family members have met with U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who recently joined Justice Department officials in hosting the first in-person session of the Not Invisible Act Commission in Washington. The commission will be holding field hearings across the U.S. this year as it develops recommendations for preventing and responding to violence affecting tribal communities. The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday denied permission to a 12-year-old rape survivor to terminate her pregnancy on grounds that complications may lead to her death. The minor has been carrying twins for 25 weeks now, and her mother had filed a writ petition seeking permission for termination. A single judge bench of Justice Aniruddha Roy said this age of gestation carried risk of massive complications that could also lead to maternal death. This court is stuck in this situation because the minor girls life is paramount at this point. If, in the end, the minor girl is forced to give up her life in order to terminate her unwilling pregnancy at this advanced stage, then the most important question here is that whose personal life, liberty and dignity shall be protected as guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution, the court observed. The mothers plea sought termination of pregnancy under the Medical Termination Act, 2021, in the North Bengal Medical College & Hospital or any other hospital. On the basis of a complaint filed on March 9 by the mother, an FIR was registered at Bagdogra police station under relevant sections of the POCSO Act. The minor was admitted to the Siliguris North Bengal Medical College & Hospital. According to a report of the hospitals zonal medical board, it is clear that the girl has been carrying twins. As on March 20, the age of the foetuses was 25 weeks and one day. On April 5, the board filed a report before the present bench, which states, As twin babies achieve period of viability and not associated with any congenital malformation and any pregnancy-related complication except the young age that is 12 years, so termination of this pregnancy cannot be done under prevailing MTP Act, 2021. The termination can be carried out on the basis of your honourable court order. However, termination of this pregnancy at this age of gestation carries risk of massive haemorrhage, infection, sepsis, surgery and anaesthetic risks, even maternal death. Delivery of live babies is possible, which may require resuscitation. So the honourable court may order whether to resuscitate babies or not and send material for forensic testing. After reviewing the report, the bench observed that the continuation of an unwilling or forceful pregnancy will cause severe mental pressure and trauma to the mother. The sufferings of the minor girl, including the sufferings of her twin children whose compromised existence will be inextricably linked to the minor. The bench said, The valuable right of the mother to lead a normal healthy life post-delivery and not a compromised existence is not possible without the state coming forward to address these critical issues and unburdening or at least alleviating her sufferings. At this point, the state should take the role for the well-being of the minor and her twins. No foetus can grow naturally if the mothers life is not supported and smooth sailing. The bench further said there was a risk of maternal death and, thus, dismissed the writ petition. Lastly, the bench also directed to approach the district magistrate or appropriate authority under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, in case the minor or her family members are incapable of maintaining the twins or, in case, there is nothing related with their adoption. Read all the Latest India News here Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday chaired a high-level meeting to discuss the surge in Covid-19 cases in the country and advised states to remain vigilant and prepare for effective management of the virus. He instructed officials to conduct mock drills of all hospital infrastructure on April 10 and April 11. The meeting came as the number of fresh coronavirus cases in India reached 6,050 on Friday, which is the highest in 203 days (since September last year). During a virtual meeting with state health ministers, principal, and additional chief secretaries, Mandaviya emphasised the need to identify emergency hotspots through the monitoring of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases. He also highlighted the importance of increasing testing and vaccination rates while ensuring that hospital infrastructure is prepared for potential surges in cases. He urged the State Health Ministers to conduct mock drills of all hospital infrastructure on April 10 and 11 and review the health preparedness with district administrations and health officials on April 8 and 9, an official statement read. In addition to increasing the capacity for genome sequencing and whole genome sequencing of positive Covid-19 samples, Mandaviya emphasized the need to create awareness about the importance of following Covid-appropriate behavior. Centre and States need to continue working in collaborative spirit as was done during the previous surges for COVID-19 prevention and management, he said. Five-Fold strategy of Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate During the meeting, it was noted that 23 states and union territories had an average number of Covid-19 tests per million people that were below the national average. Despite the emergence of new Covid-19 variants, Mandaviya reiterated that the five-fold strategy of Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate and Adherence to Covid Appropriate Behaviour" remained the proven strategy for effective Covid-19 management. States and union territories were informed that India has been experiencing a consistent increase in Covid-19 cases, with an average of 4,188 daily cases reported in the week ending on April 7, compared to 571 cases in the week ending on March 17. Additionally, the weekly positivity rate had risen to 3.02% in the week ending on April 7. However, globally, there has been an average of 88,503 daily cases reported during the same period, with the top five countries contributing 62.6% of the total global cases in the last week. WHO Monitoring Variants The World Health Organization (WHO) is currently closely monitoring one variant of interest (VOI) known as XBB.1.5, while six other variants (BQ.1, BA.2.75, CH.1.1, XBB, XBF, and XBB.1.16) are being monitored, the government said. The briefing highlighted that while the Omicron variant and its sub-lineages remain the predominant strain, most of the monitored variants have minimal or no significant transmissibility, disease severity, or immune escape. The prevalence of the XBB.1.16 variant increased from 21.6 per cent in February to 35.8 per cent in March 2023, but there is no evidence of an increase in hospitalisations or mortality associated with this variant. According to the latest INSACOG bulletin, the newly emerged recombinant coronavirus variant XBB.1.16 is accounting for 38.2 per cent of the infections to date. The bulletin highlighted that Omicron and its sublineages remain the predominant variants in India, with an increase in infection rates observed, particularly in the western, southern, and northern regions of the country. The Health Minister was informed that while India has achieved over 90 per cent coverage of primary vaccination, the coverage of precautionary doses remains low. Mandaviya advised states and union territories to scale up vaccination efforts for all eligible populations, particularly the elderly and vulnerable population groups. Eight States Reporting High Covid-19 Cases Furthermore, the briefing highlighted that eight states in India are currently reporting a high number of Covid-19 cases. Ten or more districts in Kerala, Maharashtra, and Delhi are reporting more than 10 per cent positivity, while more than five districts in Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Haryana are reporting more than 5% positivity. Mandaviya requested all the State Health Ministers to personally monitor and review the preparedness of all logistics and infrastructure including the availability of sufficient designated hospital beds and ensure that there is adequate stock of essential medicines. States were also asked to regularly update their Covid data on the Covid India Portal, the statement read. Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, Union Minister of State for Health emphasised on the criticality of timely preparedness and management of Covid-19. She urged states to prioritize the implementation of their share of the Emergency COVID Response Package-II (ECRP-II) to enhance health infrastructure. Additionally, she requested states to strengthen their monitoring mechanisms and remain vigilant in light of the increase in tourism. Number of active cases in India rose to 28,303 on Friday and the death toll increased to 5,30,943 with 14 deaths, three reported from Maharashtra, two each from Karnataka and Rajasthan, one each from Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, and one was reconciled by Kerala. The daily positivity rate has been recorded at 3.39 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 3.02 per cent. Read all the Latest India News here The 21st century started Chinas journey towards becoming an economic superpower with a concentration of global manufacturing in the country. By 2010, it replaced the US from the leadership position. China had arrived, it was part of the global economy. The world believed that 21st-century China, which was now a global manufacturing hub, will be more responsive and open to the international system. Chinas soft power initiatives like Confucius Institutes and sporting extravaganzas like the 2008 Beijing Olympics were accepted, with a belief in the countrys potential. But 22 years after its dream journey, China is back to the days of Chairman Mao under its current president Xi Jinping. And those very soft power initiatives are believed to have been turned into another layer of its global espionage operation as alleged by a number of many security agencies. The hub United Front Work Department (UFWD) With close to a century of existence as the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) enforcer of ideology, the United Front Work Department (UFWD) is counted as a part of Chinas intelligence network with its soft espionage potential. According to the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USESRC) of the US government, the UFWD works to co-opt and neutralise sources of potential opposition to policies and authority of the ruling CCP. Its mandate is to manage and spread the CCP narrative about China, internally and externally, in one way or another. Having external outreach to almost all the countries in the world, coupled with its connection with the Chinese diaspora, the organisation is believed to have established itself as a hub of Chinas non-traditional espionage. A working organ of CCP central committee, the UFWD is believed to be luring, co-opting and recruiting ethnic Chinese people settled abroad for non-traditional intelligence operations. One of Mao Zedongs magic weapons, the entity is an umbrella of organisations with separate wings devoted to influencing external states and politicians. Under Jinpings tenure, these external influence operations have gone on to the next level. Apart from being accused of stealing technology from other countries, the UFWD is also allegedly responsible for Chinas covert operations abroad with many external security agencies defining it as the countrys second spy front or its non-traditional espionage network abroad. Well-embedded in Chinese embassies, the UFWD operatives are considered middlemen for Chinas hardcore spy operations. Its targets among people in other countries include Chinese diaspora, particularly Chinese students and scholars, associates and students of Confucius Institutes, journalists, academic figures, influential people, and industry leaders. Its scale of operations can be understood by the fact that the UFWD is the main agency responsible for the CCP propaganda, ideological subversion and religious oppression in Xinjiang and Tibet. The same umbrella agency is also responsible for Chinese subversive and influence activities in Taiwan and Hong Kong. In January 2022, Britains MI5 had warned about a Chinese agent, identified as Christine Lee, infiltrating the British parliament. Lee, founder of a law firm in the UK, was allegedly involved in UFWD covert operations. She tried establishing the CCPs link with many current and aspiring British parliamentarians by way of donations. Funding for donation in most cases was from foreign nationals based in China and Hong Kong. According to an analysis published by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), the CCP uses UFWD to infiltrate foreign state actors and political parties, industries, Chinese diaspora communities and higher educational institutions. The report also adds that the organisation in question has recruited around 40,000 new staff under Jinping to further its global operations. In February 2022, a Canadian court held that a UFWD organisation in Canada Overseas Chinese Affairs Office (OCAO) was involved in espionage operations against the country. In September 2020, India ordered tougher scrutiny for visa requests from the Chinese Association for International Understanding (CAIFU), which is a part of the UFWD. Confucius Institutes The CCP government started Confucius Institutes in 2004 as an outreach programme to inform the outside world about Chinas culture, tradition and history. One of the main aims of the programme was teaching Mandarin abroad. Its growth in numbers was astounding. According to the Confucius Institute headquarters, from one in 2004, Confucius Institutes grew to 443 in 2014 with 648 classes in 115 countries. There were 149 Confucius Institutes in European countries; 144 in the US, Canada and Latin America; 95 in Asian countries; 38 in African countries and 17 in Oceania countries. The world went with Chinas words, allowing the country to share institutes and classrooms in universities and educational institutions abroad. The number of institutes further increased to 550 in 2019 with 1,172 classes in 162 countries, as per its official website. But its glory did not last long as questions were raised on its functioning and its real aim, with China pushing in around $10 billion annually into the initiative, as per a report by the magazine Politico. The official website defines Confucius Institutes as non-profit education institutions jointly hosted by Chinese and foreign partners, with the aim of communicating Chinese, deepening international understanding of Chinese language and culture, and promoting people-to-people exchanges between China and the rest of the world. But critics find it is just another CCP propaganda organ. It is also alleged that being one of the UFWD playgrounds, these institutions are part of Chinas non-traditional espionage network abroad. A US Congress analysis says Confucius Institutes are controversial in nature with no academic freedom and transparency. Another Congressional Research Service report highlights how they are a breeding ground to recruit influence agents and tamper public opinion abroad. Reports also allege that they are engaged in cyber espionage and intellectual property theft. US Congressman August Pfluger wrote in May 2023: Confucius Institutes are used by the CCP to exploit the open, collaborative nature of American academia and conduct widespread industrial and military espionage inside the United States. Students and employees of these institutes infiltrate university campuses to steal intellectual property, intimidate Chinese dissidents, promote communist propaganda, and funnel information back to the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). Senator Chuck Grassley warned all 74 colleges, universities and school districts with Confucius Institutes in 2020 about their role in Chinas non-traditional espionage. The US once had 118 Confucius Institutes but by June 2021, the number reduced to 14. The US State Department designated Confucius Institutes as foreign missions in August 2020 saying: The opacity of this organisation and its state-directed nature are the driving reasons behind this designation. With growing hostility towards their work culture, not just in the US but in other countries as well, the sudden growth of Confucius Institutes has witnessed a slowdown in the last few years. Finland closed its Confucius Institutes over allegations of censorship and espionage. Security was a major concern in Sweden as well behind the closer move. It was followed by Norway and then Denmark closed all its Confucius Institutes except one. British prime minister Rishi Sunak calls China the largest threat to the world and wants to ban all 30 Confucius Institutes in the UK. He has accused China of infiltrating educational institutions and stealing technology. India, in 2020, reviewed operations of Confucius Institutes after an alert from security agencies. The agencies were worried about growing Chinese influence in Indias higher educational institutes. In April 2022, Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act or FCRA clearance was made mandatory for Confucius Institutes tie-ups. The chain Eyes and ears In a globally connected world, China is the largest lender, manufacturer and exporter. The country has embassies worldwide. Its Confucius Institutes are dotted across continents and countries. Its diaspora is the third largest in the world, as per a UNESCO report. This means the UFWD has potential non-traditional spies across the world. The core focus is to target grapevines, be it bureaucratic, educational, or industrial. Operators in Chinas non-traditional espionage network are believed to develop ecosystems to start channels of communication with their targets. Once they get some significant and sensitive grapevine, they pass it on to the next level of intelligence machinery. They act as the eyes and ears of Chinas hardcore spying operations, adding significant value to an existing system. Chinese students abroad main target Chinese students abroad have been implicated in espionage operations. In 2005, a Chinese student network was identified as a front for economic espionage in Belgium. Another USESRC analysis on the UFWD states that spies posted in Chinese embassies are directly in touch with Chinese students working as UFWD operatives. Most of the 200 Uighur students detained in Egypts Cairo in 2017 were deported to China. It happened again with the help of a Chinese student who headed the Chinese students association in the city. It is also alleged that most of these Chinese student bodies are directly funded by their government or embassies. The Foreign Policy in 2018 reported that the Chinese student association of Georgetown University received almost half its funding from the CCP government in China. A point may be raised that this funding might be generic in nature but its use in non-traditional spy operations cannot be ruled out. In September 2020, the US revoked 1,000 Chinese student visas after it was found that they had ties with the Chinese military and some were even involved in espionage operations. These non-traditional Chinese spies also target people in the media network abroad. In one of their several working methods, it surfaced that they pose as professionals associated with high-profile consulting or policy groups based in the US or some other western country. They invite applications as the first step to know the knowledge level of the possible recruit. Their first invitation is about a full-time position. The second invitation mail is about converting that full-time position to a part-time job. The logic is that the agency will see their work initially for some time before making them a full-time consultant. The tapped potential recruits are bright mediapersons with connections. Part-time work means third-party payment. Here, they use co-opted Chinese diaspora to fund money to these part-time recruits in exchange for a grapevine of importance. Their focus is mainly political, defence and economic sectors. The security fineprint needs to be further firmed up to check and prevent information leaks through these non-traditional spy channels. The situation becomes more difficult when a person supposed to be part of Chinas non-traditional espionage operations is sitting abroad and connected to the target digitally. Read all the Latest India News here As Covid-19 cases in India on Friday recorded its highest-ever daily tally since September last year with over 6000 fresh infections amid the emergence of recombinant variant XBB.1.16, experts have said while cases may peak in the next 20 days, a fourth wave is unlikely. Based on past trends, the peak is expected to occur within 15 to 20 days, followed by a decline Covid expert Dr Raghuwinder Parashar told India Today. Understanding differences in virus patterns from past waves is essential because they can help us understand more and create measures to prevent virus infections. According to previous trends, the peak should be within 15 to 20 days, and then a downfall is expected," he said. Dr Jugal Kishore, Professor and Head of the Department of Community Medicine Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital also appeared to agree with Parashars statement and told the publication while the Covid cases are on the rise, the pace is slow in comparison to the previous waves and it does not seem to be highly contagious. Otherwise, the number of cases in the last two weeks would have been considerably higher, he said. Eminent biologist Shekhar Mande told News18 on Monday that the surge in Covid cases was due to a slightly new variant. Our immunity might be waning, or it might be a vaccine breakthrough mutant. But nonetheless, we will not see as many hospitalisations or deaths as in previous waves. He added that this surge is not expected to be similar to the first wave or the devastating second wave caused by the Delta variant. XBB.1.16 Variant Concerns Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya held a high-level meeting on Friday to discuss the Covid-19 situation in view of the surge in cases being attributed to a new coronavirus subvariant, XBB.1.16, which has been circulating through India for the last few months. States and Union Territories were informed that currently, the World Health Organization (WHO) is closely tracking one variant of interest (VOI), XBB.1.5 and six other variants are under monitoring (BQ.1, BA.2.75, CH.1.1, XBB, XBF and XBB.1.16). The WHO in a recent statement said, At the present time, there are only about 800 sequences of XBB.1.16 from 22 countries. Most of the sequences are from India and in India XBB.1.16 has replaced the other variants that are in circulation. So, this is one to watch. It has been in circulation for a few months." According to the WHO, XBB.1.16 is very similar in profile to the earlier XBB.1.5 variant. It has one additional mutation in the spike protein which in lab studies shows increased infectivity, as well as potential increased pathogenicity. The virus uses the spike protein to infect and enter human cells. Gautam I. Menon, dean (research) and professor, Departments of Physics and Biology at Haryanas Ashoka University told PTI that the numbers will continue to rise in the coming weeks, particularly in Kerala and Maharashtra where surveillance systems are stronger but is unlikely to cause the deadly Delta-led wave in the country. From current indications, the fraction of severe cases also appears to be far smaller than for Delta," he said Satyajit Rath, professor emeritus at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, said the surge in Covid-19 cases would be the outcome of emerging virus variants, loss of vaccine- or infection-acquired protective immunity in people, and environmental factors." Menon, citing research said a substantial part of the immunity built up both from prior infections and vaccinations will prevent severe Covid-19 disease, although it will not prevent infection with new variants. Common Cold-like Spread Suggests Endemicity The scientist provided reassurance by explaining that while the virus may mutate, the likelihood of future waves having the same devastating impact as the Delta variant is low due to the virus becoming endemic. COVID-19 is effectively endemic in the country, and virtually all of us will have sustained an infection by now, whether we knew it or not. The virus is behaving like coronaviruses that cause common-cold-like symptoms and can keep reinfecting us," he said. Speaking on hospitalisations in the country amid the fresh surge, Viswesvaran Balasubramanian, consultant, of interventional pulmonology and sleep medicine, at Hyderabads Yashoda Hospitals said that numbers are minimal. Currently, COVID-19 infections are mild, with predominantly upper respiratory tract symptoms like sore throat, running nose, fever, and body aches. In patients requiring admission, cough, breathlessness, and fall in oxygen saturation are seen in most," he explained. Scientists have maintained that severe Covid infection is seen among the elderly and those with immunocompromised conditions and fewer people are dying since many have at least some immunity with either vaccination or prior infection. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has advised states to stay alert and ramp up Covid-19 management. States were asked to conduct mock drills of all hospital infrastructure on April 10 and 11 and review the health preparedness with district administrations and health officials on April 8 and 9. The states and Union territories were briefed that the country has been witnessing a steady increase in Covid-19 cases with average daily cases rising to 4,188 in the week ending April 7 from 571 in the week ending March 17; and weekly positivity up to 3.02 per cent in the week ending April 7. However, 88,503 daily average cases have been reported globally in the same time, with the top five countries contributing 62.6 per cent of global cases in the last one week, the statement said. (With inputs from PTI) Read all the Latest India News here A Dalit woman was allegedly raped and set ablaze in Rajasthans Barmer district, police said on Friday. The victim, who suffered 40 per cent burn injuries, is undergoing treatment at a government hospital in Jodhpur, they said. Pachpadra police station SHO Rajendra Singh said the alleged incident occurred on Thursday. The accused, identified as Shakoor, allegedly raped the woman and then poured some chemical on her before setting her on fire. The accused, who lives near the victims house, has been arrested, Singh said. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the police added. Read all the Latest India News here Christians all across India are observing Good Friday during the Holy week (April 7), a day of great religious importance. It is observed to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Good Friday is not celebrated but is a day of mourning for the Christian community, and it is recommended to not extend wishes to people like a Happy Good Friday. In Telanganas Hyderabad, churches have geared up anticipating huge crowds. They have made elaborate arrangements for Good Friday prayers. Christians from the twin cities will witness Passion Play, the enactment of Jesus Christs suffering till his crucifixion, a Times of India report said. Churches in the city will perform their service in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and English. In Kerala, devotees were seen carrying a wooden cross depicting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ during a procession on the occasion of Good Friday in Thiruvananthapuram. The Way of the Cross procession was held in West Bengals Kolkata and Tamil Nadus Coimbatore as well. #WATCH | Devotee carries wooden cross depicting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ during a procession on the occasion of Good Friday in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala pic.twitter.com/ctkEB7A06P ANI (@ANI) April 7, 2023 Kolkata, West Bengal | Devotees offer prayers at St. Teresas Church on the occasion of Good Friday. pic.twitter.com/Cg1n3sOquZ ANI (@ANI) April 7, 2023 In churches, the Good Friday mass timings depend on their denominations, starting from 8.30 a.m and ending in some churches as late as 3 p.m. Meanwhile, sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik created a sand sculpture on Good Friday at Odishas Puri beach. Odisha | Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik created a sand sculptu re on Good Friday at puri beach. (06.04) pic.twitter.com/9pfXqyTJjq ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2023 Some Christians also make it a point to have a day-long fast until they attend the Good Friday Mass in the evening. Elizabeth DSouza, a Vile Parle resident also does so, she told Free Press Journal (FPJ). A day after Good Friday is the day of celebration or Easter day. This day commemorates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, which as per New Testament was on the third day of his burial. Read all the Latest India News here Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Telangana on Saturday to flag off several projects including the Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express, the Hyderabad traffic police has issued advisories regarding restrictions in vehicular movements. Commuters are requested to note the traffic restrictions/diversions in view of visit of Honble Prime Minister of India to Hyderabad tomorrow i.e., on 08-04-2023," it said in a tweet. Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad, CV Anand cited powers under section 21(1)(b) of the Hyderabad City Police Act 1348 F and informed travellers the traffic regulations in place during the visit of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister will be flagging off the Vandhe Bharat Express at Secunderabad Railway Station and addressing a public meeting at Parade Grounds on Saturday. To ensure proper traffic management during this event, the following traffic restrictions and parking arrangements will be enforced from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm, according to an official statement. Roads to Avoid The police has advised the following road stretch to be avoided: Monappa Junction CTO Junction - St. John Rotary Sangeeth X Road- Chilkalguda Junction. M G Road RP Road- SP Road. Due to the heavy movement of vehicles carrying party activists/citizens attending the public meeting, traffic congestion is expected at below-mentioned road junctions: Monappa (Rajiv Gandhi Statue) Greenlands Prakashnagar Rasoolpura CTO - Plaza - SBH YMCA St. John Rotary Sangeeth X Road Alugadda Bavi Mettuguda Chilkalguda Brook Bond Tivoli Balamrai- Sweekar Upkar Secunderabad Club Trimulgherry Tadbund Central Point. Citizens are requested to avoid travelling in the vicinity of above junctions. Roads Closed for Public Tivoli X Roads to Plaza X Road and vice versa SBH X Roads to Sweekar Upkar junction and vice versa Railway Passengers Passengers who plan to travel by train from Secunderabad Railway Station are advised to start their journey early in order to arrive at the station on time, officials said. Secunderabad Railway Station Entry Restricted from Chilkalguda Junction Side Access to Secunderabad Railway Station is restricted for general passengers and vehicles from the entry point at Chilkalguda junction. Passengers who intend to use platforms 1 to 8 are requested to enter the station through the main entrance leading to Platform No. 1. As vehicle movements are limited between St. Johns Rotary-Sangeeth Junction-Rethifile T Junction and Chilkalguda Junction, passengers are advised to use the Clock Tower-Passport Office-Rezimental Bazar Main Road to reach the main entrance of Secunderabad Railway Station. Diversion of Traffic Secunderabad Railway Station Passengers From Punjagutta to Secunderabad Railway Station take route from Panjagutta Khairtabad Junction IMAX Rotary Telugu thalli flyover Lower Tank bund RTC X Road Musheerabad X Road Gandhi Hospital Chilakalguda X Road Platform No.10 entry to Secunderabad Railway Station and vice-versa. Secunderabad Railway Station Old Gandhi X Roads Monda Market -Ghasmandi Bible House Karbala Maidan Tankbund and vice-versa. Secunderabad Railway Station Clock Tower Patny Bible House Karbala Maidan Tankbund and vice-versa. Uppal Tarnaka Alugaddabavi Chilkalguda X Road Secunderabad Railway Station and vice-versa. Do not use roads from Secunderabad Railway Station to Patny Paradise Junction Begumpet Punjagutta as they will be congested. Karimnagar Highway Passengers travelling from Karimnagar Highway (Rajiv Rahadari) are advised to take the Outer Ring Road (ORR) to enter at ORR Shamirpet or Gate (7) and exit at Secunderabad Railway Station. Medchal ORR Gate (6) Kompally Suchitra Balanagar Moosapet Erragadda SR Nagar Ameerpet, if you wish to travel towards City Centre (Ameerpet). Keesara ORR Gate (8) Kushaiguda ECIL Moulali Nacharam Uppal, if you wish to travel towards Uppal. Public coming from Karimnagar can take route from Tirumalagiri X Road Left turn AS Rao Nagar ECIL Moulai Tarnaka to enter city. If travelling to or from Karimnagar, it is recommended to avoid the Tirumulgiri X Road-JBS route and instead use the Outer Ring Road (ORR) from locations such as Gachibowli, Patancheruvu, Medchal, Keesara, Ghatkesar, etc., to reach your destination. Uppal towards Punjagutta Use road from Uppal Ramanthapur Amberpet Himayathnagar Khairtabad Junction Punjagutta. Dont use road between Uppal Tarnaka Rail Nilayam, as it will be heavily congested. Traffic from Tarnaka/Mettuguda towards Panjagutta/Ameerpet will be diverted at Sangeet X Roads towards Chilkalguda-Musheerabad-Kavadiguda-Lower Tank Bund-Iqbal Minar-Lakdikapul. Traffic from Panjagutta/Ameerpet towards Tarnaka/Uppal, will be diverted at Panjagutta towards Khairtabad-Nirankari-Old PS Saifabad-Iqbal Minar-Telugu talli flyover-Lower Tank Bund-Kavadiguda-Musheerabad-Chilkalguda rotary-Mettuguda. Traffic from Medchal/Balanagar towards Secunderabad, will be diverted at Bowenpally X Roads towards Dairy farm road-Holy Family Church-Trimulgherry-RK Puram-Neredmet-Malkajgiri-Mettuguda. Traffic from Karkhana/Trimulgherry towards SBH-Patny, will be diverted at Trimulgherry X Roads towards RK Puram-Neredmet-Malkajgiri-Mettuguda, For Those Who Plan on Attending Public Meet The Hyderabad police in its statement said, attendees for the public meeting are advised to consult the Annexure and map for designated parking areas and only park their vehicles in the marked areas to avoid towing. To avoid inconvenience, commuters are advised to plan their trip in advance and avoid the stretches/routes mentioned. In the event of an emergency, call 9010236626 (Traffic Helpline) for assistance with travel, the statement read. PM Modi to Inaugurate Projects Worth Rs 11,300 Crore During the visit, Prime Minister Modi will flag-off 13 new Multi-Modal Transport Service (MMTS) services in the suburban section of Hyderabad-Secunderabad twin city region, providing commuters with a fast, convenient and comfortable travel option. He will also dedicate to the nation the doubling and electrification of Secunderabad-Mahabubnagar project, completed at a cost of nearly Rs. 1,410 crore. At the public programme at Parade Ground, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of AIIMS Bibinagar, Hyderabad. Modi will also lay the foundation stone of National Highway projects worth more than Rs. 7,850 crore. These road projects will strengthen the road connectivity of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The Prime Minister is scheduled to leave for Tamil Nadu after the Hyderabad visit same day. (With inputs from PTI) Read all the Latest India News here As Khalistan sympathiser and self-styled preacher Amritpal Singh continues to give the police the slip for more than three weeks now, fresh details have emerged about his visits to Georgia and alleged conspiracy with Pakistans ISI that unfolded there just before he arrived in India last year. As per intelligence agencies, Amritpal Singh visited Georgia for training before arriving in India in September 2022. He was in Georgia from June 20, 2022 to August 18, 2022, claim officials. He told his associates that he was in Georgia for eye surgery, but we believe he was given arms training by the ISI during the two months that he spent there," an officer part of the investigation told News18. The radical preacher has been on the run since the Punjab Police launched a crackdown on his Waris Punjab De outfit on March 18. Several of his associates have, however, been arrested by the police. The action followed the storming of the Ajnala police station by Amritpal and his supporters to secure the release of an arrested associate. As per an Intelligence Bureau dossier accessed by News18, Amritpal had offered his services to the ISI for financial motive. He was living in Dubai, which is the hub of ISI agents. Amritpal got in touch with them, got motivated due to the money offered, to challenge the Indian establishment," the dossier said. The timeline put together by the Punjab Police and central agencies suggests that Amritpal approached the ISI in Dubai after the death of Deep Sidhu, the then leader of Waris Punjab De, in February 2022. A plan was reportedly hatched to bring Amritpal Singh to India as a religious preacher modelled on Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and make Siddhus Waris Punjab De his launch platform. Officials said Amritpal, who had shorn hair and wore tight T-shirts, underwent an image makeover in Dubai. He was subsequently sent to Georgia, located at the strategic intersection of Europe and Asia, under the garb of getting an eye surgery. In Georgia, the ISI allegedly debriefed him on Bhindranwales mannerism, oratory skills and sartorial style, among other things. A well-orchestrated plan to revive terrorism in Punjab was worked out. Funding, shelter to terrorists, supply of weapons by drones were discussed, a source told News18. Officials also pointed to subsequent events that show how the plan to give Amritpal Singh an image makeover translated on the ground. Amritpals coronation as head of Waris Punjab De took place in Village Rode, Moga, the ancestral village of Bhindranwale. He was named Bhindranwale 2.0," an official said. Officials added that Amritpal was asked to raise money through religious events like Khalsa Waheer and Amritpan, ceremonies that baptise Sikh youth and connect them with the religion. Raising a band of terrorists who are ready to offer their lives (Khadkoos), inciting Sikh youth to choose the path of slain militant Dilawar Singh (assassin of Beant Singh, former CM of Punjab), was ISIs brief to Amritpal," the officer said. Both the Centre and state believe Deep Siddhus Waris Punjab De was just a platform the ISI wanted to use to launch Amritpal Singh. Pointing out that Sidhus brother, wife and other associates were sidelined as part of the plan, the IB dossier said: No efforts were made to meet the family members of the late Deep Sidhu whose legacy he is carrying forward despite living nearby for six months. Such ignorance to family members of the late Deep Sidhu by Amritpal is clear evidence that he has ulterior motive in using the platform provided by Deep Sidhu. Read all the Latest India News here Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya is expected to chair a high-level meeting on Friday to discuss the Covid situation amid rising cases. The virtual meeting will be held with state health ministers and NTGAI (National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation) officials. The meeting comes on a day when India logged 6,050 fresh coronavirus cases, recording the highest jump in infections in over 200 days. The Union health ministry data stated that the active cases have increased to 28,303. The major contributors to Indias surging Covid graph are Kerala, Delhi and northern states like Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. These states have seen a sharp surge in the last few days. Keralas single day tally zoomed to 1,912 cases on Thursday, while six new coronavirus reported from Maharashtra, two from Karnataka, one each in Kerala and Punjab. Comparing nearly a weeks data, a Times of India report stated that the seven-day average of daily cases continues to double in seven days. In the past week (March 30-April 5), India reported 26,361 fresh cases, double the number reported in the previous seven days (13,274). Deaths in the last seven day totalled 48, up from 38 in the preceding period, the report stated. There isnt any significant increase in the hospitalisation rate yet. However, we have issued an advisory to the states to keep the hospitals ready to deal with any emergency," TOI quoted a Union health ministry official as saying. The officials in the central team said that they were constantly monitoring the situation. States With High Cases The report stated that cases have been tripling" in the last seven days in places like Kerala which reported the highest number during this period. The southern state even displaced Maharashtra that logged 3,878 cases during the period (up 54% from the previous week). Delhi is third on the Covid chart with 2,703 cases, which is a 2.3-fold rise from the the preceding seven-day total of 1,190. Next on the list is Gujarat with a count of 2,298 cases, nearly the same as the previous period that saw 2,226 infections. In this western state, a distinct slowing down of the spread of infections was seen. However, an area of concern is the northern region, where Himachal Pradesh reported 1,768 cases in the last seven days, a 2.25-fold increase from the earlier seven-day total of 786. With summers hitting north India and people heading to the hill state to beat the heat, the numbers may continue to see a rise in the coming months, if not controlled. The India Meteorological Department has already predicted that the temperature will rise above normal levels during May and June. Hence, it becomes even more necessary to mask up while venturing in public places. Meanwhile, Haryana too is among the top surge states with 1,176 cases, which is a 2.5-fold rise, while Uttar Pradesh registered 800 cases, which is 2.2-fold rise in seven days. Covid Variant You Need to Beware Of According to the latest INSACOG bulletin, the newly emerged recombinant coronavirus variant XBB.1.16 accounts for 38.2 per cent of the infections in India till date. The bulletin of March 27, which was released on Thursday, said among the samples collected till the third week of March 2023, XBB continued to be the most commonly circulating Omicron sublineages. Noting that Omicron and its sublineages continue to be the dominant variants in India, the bulletin said an increase in infection rate has been observed, especially in western, southern and northern parts of India. The bulletin further said a few BA.2.10 and BA.2.75 sublineage was detected in some part of the country whereas XBB was the most prevalent sublineage of the Omicron variant. The INSACOG said globally, nearly 3.7 million new cases and 26,000 deaths have been reported in the last 28 days. During the week nine of the year 2023, there has been a continued increasing trend in the proportions of recombinant lineages globally, it said. Read all the Latest India News here Shahrukh Saifi, the man suspected of starting a fire onboard a train in Kerala killing who was caught from Ratnagiri in Maharashtra on Wednesday, has suffered injuries and his health is not in stable condition, according to top intelligence sources. ALSO READ | Kerala Train Fire A Lone Wolf Terror Attack? Top Intelligence Source Shares Exclusive Details Saifi was at Ratnagiri civil hospital for treatment of head injuries that he received after falling off the train he had targeted in Kerala. The suspect, however, fled from the hospital without completing the treatment. He has suffered injuries and has been admitted to a hospital. The only thing we know is that he has acted on someones directions. The rest is a mystery, said intelligence sources, adding, There is a terror angle and we are exploring all possibilities. On the night of April 2, an unidentified man poured petrol on co-passengers and started a fire, when the train reached Korapuzha bridge near Elathur. Nine people suffered burns and are undergoing treatment at various hospitals. The bodies of a woman, an infant, and a man, who went missing from the train after the fire, were recovered from the tracks near Elathur railway station. Police believe they fell off the train or attempted to get down after seeing the fire. According to police, the incident was probably pre-planned as he was carrying petrol in a bottle in his bag. Kerala Police chief Kant said the suspect was apprehended due to the combined efforts of the Kerala SIT, central agencies, Maharashtra police and anti-terrorism squad (ATS). Kant also said that the motive behind the attack could be ascertained only after the suspect was interrogated. MY SON CANT DO SUCH A THING Fakarrudin, Saifis father, refused to believe that his son can do such a thing". Saifis neighbours in Delhis Shaheen Bagh described him as a simple boy" who never got into fights or arguments with anyone. Fakarrudin, a carpenter, said his son had left home on March 31, saying he had some work in Nitharis sector 31, but did not return. He lodged a missing persons complaint at the Shaheen Bagh police station on April 2. Some officials from Kerala Police came here around 10 am on Wednesday and left after over an hour. They showed us Shahrukhs photograph and asked some questions about his academic qualifications. They also checked his room and took away some handwritten notes," Fakarrudin said. Police told us that he is accused of starting a fire inside a train. We cant believe that he can do such a thing," he added. Saifi is the eldest of three brothers and his siblings are studying. He used to go to work in the morning and return in the evening. This was the first time that he had gone missing as he never goes too far from home, Fakaruddin said. ALSO READ | Noida Native Set Co-Passenger on Fire in Kerala Train, Say Sources; NIA Team Visits Spot Tarruf Malik, one of Saifis neighbours said, Shahrukh was a simple boy and used to work with his father. We heard that he was caught somewhere in Maharashtra." The whole locality is in shock how can this happen and how has his name cropped up in this incident," Arif asked. Shahrukhs uncle called and informed us that his nephew was missing for the past four days. He said Shahrukhs phone was also switched off," he added. With PTI Inputs Read all the Latest India News here South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin on Friday said the Oscar-winning Naatu Naatu song is very popular in Korea" and lauded the fantastic" movie, calling its story extraordinary." External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in a meeting with his South Korean counterpart, said the praise was a really high-standard compliment." The Foreign Minister, who is on a two-day visit to India said the Naatu Naatu" dance is really popular in Korea." Spelling out the hit period action blockbuster RRR, he said, I saw the movie myself. Rise, Roar, Revolt (RRR) is a fantastic movie and also the storyI think (the story) was an extraordinary story about Indian people and (their) history." #WATCH | "Naatu Naatu" dance is really popular in Korea. I saw the movie myself, it is a fantastic movie I love Bollywood movies. I saw 3 Idiots and Shah Rukh Khan's Chennai Express is also one of my favourite movies: South Korea's Foreign Minister Park Jin pic.twitter.com/27dQ7PWZ7A ANI (@ANI) April 7, 2023 He further said he was glad that the Korean embassy has taken special attention to Naatu Naatu dance and demonstrated our music, singing and dancing (skills) to the Indian public, which I think is a great way to communicate with each other." The foreign minister said he loves watching Bollywood movies and Shah Rukh Khan starrer Chennai Express is his favourite. I saw 3 Idiots and Shah Rukh Khans Chennai Express is also one of my favourite movies, including RRR," he said. We need wider cultural exchanges between the two countries, especially among the young generation to understand and appreciate each others cultures so that we can intensify our bilateral relations," he added. Jin held wide-ranging talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Delhi. The meeting is the first one between the two ministers as they mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and India this year. In his opening remarks, Jin spoke in Hindi and said, Mujhe India aa kar aur aapse mil kar bhut khushi ho rahi hai." (I am very happy to come to India and meet you). #WATCH | "Mujhe India aa kar aur aapse mil kar bhut khushi ho rahi hai," says South Korea's Foreign Minister Park Jin in Hindi as he thanks EAM Dr S Jaishankar for the warm welcome pic.twitter.com/VkBskMnywH ANI (@ANI) April 7, 2023 These are indeed very exciting times to be in India nowadays, the Indian economy is now the worlds fifth largest with a young population that is the largest in the world. India has been playing an increasingly pivotal role in the international arena and is set to further impact the world as the president of the G20 this year," he said. High-Standard Compliment: Jaishankar on Naatu Naatu Remarks India has also demonstrated to the world its cultural prowess with the recent oscar win and I must say the Naatu Naatu song and dance has captivated the world," he said. Jaishankar responded to the statement in the meeting and said, Your excellency, if Koreans give you that compliment, its a really high-standard compliment," evoking laughter among the diplomats. Korea and India share so much in common. We are bost exemplary democracies, vibrant economies and cultural prowess and are both committed to contributing to a free open peaceful and prosperous Indo-pacific region," the South Korean foreign minister said. Is tarah, India and Korea swabhavik partners hai" (In this way India and Korea are natural partners), he said in Hindi. This is how India and Korea are self-sufficient partners and I have a firm belief that our two countries have strategic partnerships, he said, Aur woh Indo-pacific region ka sabse khas aur mazbut partnership hai," he added. This year is the 50th year of diplomatic relations between Korea and India. In this historic year, I look forward to working with you to further strengthen the relationship between India and Korea. Once again thank you for inviting me as your guest," he continued, ending his speech in Hindi. Jaishankar in a tweet said he held warm and wide-ranging conversation" with his South Korean counterpart. Noted steady progress in our ties. Discussed political contacts, trade & investments, defense, S&T, energy, space, semiconductors, emerging technologies and cultural exchanges," he said. Warm and wide ranging conversation with @FMParkJin of Republic of Korea.Noted steady progress in our ties. Discussed political contacts, trade & investments, defense, S&T, energy, space, semiconductors, emerging technologies and cultural exchanges. pic.twitter.com/bOshgjr9Bm Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 7, 2023 Also shared perspectives of our neighborhoods, our visions and policies in the Indo-Pacific and the Ukraine conflict. Agreed to cooperate closely on global and multilateral issues," Referring to foreign minister Jins speech in Hindi during their meeting and South Koreans dancing skills, Jaishankar said, Discovered that the language skills of Koreans are as good as their dancing!!" Read all the Latest India News here Tourists and pilgrims are crucial factors that impact the local economy around major religious cities by increasing the livelihood opportunities and income of people and strengthening the local economy. Better and comfortable connectivity adds to these factors and working towards this, the Union government is focusing on adding new Vande Bharat trains to temple towns across the country. According to a government official, the new proposed Vande Bharat between Secunderabad and Tirupati is also offering a smooth journey to the pilgrims going to the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate two more Vande Bharat trains on Saturday, one between Secunderabad-Tirupati and another between Chennai and Coimbatore. So far, 11 Vande Bharats are running across India and at least three of these connect a metro city with a major pilgrimage site. Two of these are from Delhi one for Varanasi and another for Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra. Another Vande Bharat, flagged off in February, is between Mumbai and Shirdi. Further, even the Mumbai-Solapur Vande Bharat is facilitating travel to important pilgrimage centers in and around Solapur, including Siddheshwar, Akkalkot, Tuljapur, and Pandharpur. It has also eased the journey towards Alandi near Pune. Not just railway connectivity but road connectivity is also being improved. The official added that the prime minister will also lay the foundation stone for the construction of road projects of National Highway-744. The project will ensure smooth journey for pilgrims visiting some of the most sacred sites in the South, such as Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, Andal Temple in Srivilliputhur and Sabarimala in Kerala," they added. The improved connectivity benefits pilgrims and helps local economies by boosting trade, creating jobs, and promoting the growth of ancillary industries like hospitality, handicrafts, and food services. Currently, of the 11 Vande Bharat, four are from Delhi and three from Mumbai. Four trains are running from Delhi to Varanasi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Bhopal and Amb Andaura. Three are running from Mumbai to Gandhinagar, Shirdi and Solapur. Vande Bharat trains are also operational between Chennai-Mysore, Bilaspur-Nagpur, Howrah-New Jalpaiguri, and Secunderabad-Vishakhapatnam. The prime minister had promised that in the 75 weeks of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, 75 Vande Bharat trains would connect every corner of the country. The first Vande Bharat train was inaugurated in 2019. Modernised Railway Stations Add Beauty, Comfort Along with ensuring that the journey is comfortable and beautiful, the government is also making efforts to make sure that the beginning and ending points of the journey the railway stations are also offering comfort. On Saturday, apart from the two Vande Bharats, the prime minister will also lay the foundation stone for the redevelopment of the Secunderabad Railway Station. The fact that this isnt an isolated project but part of the larger vision of the prime minister becomes clear when one observes that in recent times, the PM has dedicated and laid the foundation stone for redevelopment of various key railway stations across the country, the official added. Heres a list of railway stations that the prime minister has inaugurated in the recent past: July 2021: PM Modi inaugurated the redeveloped Gandhinagar Capital Railway Station November 2021: PM dedicated to the nation the redeveloped Rani Kamalapati Railway Station in Bhopal May 2022: PM Modi laid the foundation stone for redevelopment of Chennai Egmore, Rameswaram, Katpadi, Kanniyakumari and Madurai railway stations in Tamil Nadu June 2022: PM laid the foundation stones for redevelopment of Udhna, Surat, Somnath and Sabarmati railway stations in Gujarat. In the same month, he also laid the foundation stone for redevelopment of Bengaluru Cantt and Yesvantpur stations in Karnataka. Alongside, he also dedicated to the nation Indias first air-conditioned railway station Sir M Visvesvaraya Railway Station at Baiyappanahalli which is developed on the lines of a modern airport July 2022: PM Modi laid the foundation stone for redevelopment of Ranchi railway station in Jharkhand September 2022: PM laid the foundation stone for redevelopment of Ernakulam, Ernakulam Town and Kollam railway stations in Kerala. In the same month, the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi approved redevelopment of New Delhi and Ahmedabad railway stations. November 2022: PM Modi laid the foundation stone for redevelopment of Vishakhapatanam railway station in Andhra Pradesh December 2022: PM laid the foundation stones for redevelopment of Nagpur and Ajni (Nagpur) railway stations in Maharashtra and of New Jalpaiguri station in West Bengal January 2023: PM laid the foundation stone for redevelopment of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Maharashtra February 2023: PM dedicated the redeveloped Belagavi Railway Station building to the nation in Karnataka March 2023: PM dedicated the longest railway platform in the world at Shree Siddharoodha Swamiji Hubballi Station Read all the Latest India News here Commemorating the completion of the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the latest tiger census data and release the governments vision for tiger conservation during Amrit Kaal at a mega event in Karnatakas Mysuru on April 9. A three-day event is slated to take place in Mysore from April 9, organized by the Central Government. The upcoming festivities will include the unveiling of the latest tiger census figures by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as the release of a document evaluating the efficient management of tiger reserves and a vision statement outlining future efforts towards tiger conservation. Furthermore, the Prime Minister will also launch a commemorative Rs 50 coin in honor of the project. What is Project Tiger? India launched Project Tiger on April 1, 1973, to promote conservation and revive the dwindling tiger population. Initially, the project incorporated 9 tiger reserves spanning 18,278 sq km. Over the past 50 years, significant progress has been made towards this objective, and the number of tiger reserves has now increased to 53, encompassing an area of 75,500 sq km. India has around 3,000 tigers, more than 70 per cent of the global wild tiger population, and the number is increasing at a rate of 6 per cent per year, according to latest official figures. How are Tigers Counted? According to the Wildlife Institute of India, the Capture-Mark-Recapture framework is a well-established method for estimating the abundance/density of elusive carnivores, such as tigers and leopards, through the use of camera trap surveys. The present technology is a huge improvement from the earlier method of studying tigers through tracing their unique and individual footprints or pugmarks on papers. The camera trapping methodology involves taking photographs of individuals based on their distinctive pelage patterns, which can uniquely identify them. However, according to the experts, there is an increasing interest in broad-scale camera trap surveys for unmarked species as well. The development of Spatial Capture-Recapture (SCR) methods has improved density estimation by incorporating the spatial or location" information of animal photo-captures and camera deployment. The data can also be analysed using conventional mark-recapture techniques, even outside a spatial framework, according to the official Phase III Camera Trapping Protocol manual. According to an India Today report, for the tiger survey, India is divided into five zones, namely the Gangetic Plains, Central India and Eastern Ghats, Western Ghats, North Eastern Hills and Brahmaputra Flood Plains, and Sundarbans. In 2018, a comprehensive survey was conducted over an area of 381,400 square kilometers, covering 141 sites with a total of 26,838 camera trap locations. According to wildlife conservationist Latika Nath, the reported numbers of tigers are likely an underestimate as camera traps are primarily placed in protected areas. As the population of tigers increases, they may venture beyond national park boundaries where camera traps are not present, she told the publication. Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav: Project Tiger To commemorate the 75th anniversary of Indian independence on August 15, 2022, the Government planned to celebrate Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav which included activities by The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), according to the 2021-22 annual report by the National Tiger Conservation Authority. India for Tigers, a Rally on Wheels, had a significant impact as it traveled through 51 tiger reserves and 18 tiger range states, covering a distance of over 7500 km in just 7 days. It mobilized over 75,000 people across various tiger landscapes in India. The rally culminated in mega events held at Palamau, Sundarban, Similipal, Corbett, Manas, Bandipur, Melghat, Kanha, and Ranthambore, representing the countrys initial nine Tiger Reserves designated during the inception of The Project Tiger in 1973. These nine tiger reserves were the focal points of the grand celebration, according to the official report. Synchronized Pan India Protection Patrol in Tiger Reserves was a nationwide synchronized protection patrol drive covering 75,000 km across 51 tiger reserves was planned to unite field formations and achieve the goal of wildlife conservation. Foot patrolling in 18 tiger range states throughout the country, with a total distance of approximately 218,123 km covered to date and the participation of 34,551 forest frontline forces was conducted. NTCA initiated a program to promote tiger conservation by linking 750 schools, colleges, and universities with tiger reserves, encouraging them to participate in awareness and outreach activities over a 75-week period. Across 51 tiger reserves, various activities such as street plays, debates, painting/drawing competitions, quizzes, documentary/film shows, plantation drives, and webinars have been organized for school and college students. Additionally, rallies and visits to tiger reserves have been conducted to sensitize young generations about environmental issues, forests, and climate change, as well as the importance of tiger conservation. So far, 9,895 students have been sensitized across 18 tiger range states. Progress Additional Director General of Forests S P Yadav and the head of Project Tiger said there has been significant progress in the conservation of tigers in the country. There has been very significant progress There is hardly any parallel in the world of a scheme of this scale and magnitude that has been so successful, Yadav told PTI. When asked about Project Tigers objective for the next 50 years, the official stated that the goal would be to establish a viable and sustainable tiger population in tiger habitats based on scientifically calculated carrying capacity. However, he did not specify a numerical target, stating that increasing the tiger population too quickly could result in conflicts with human beings. According to Yadav, the government is committed to bringing potential tiger habitats under its conservation program and managing tiger reserves based on their carrying capacity. Areas of Concern The Project Tiger head pointed out that the tiger populations in some reserves, such as Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal, Satkosia and Similipal in Odisha, and Satpura in Madhya Pradesh, are very low. We need active management where tiger numbers are below or above the carrying capacity," Speaking about the future strategy for tiger conservation in the country he said, We need to translocate these tigers to areas that have a good prey base and better chances of survival." Addressing issues regarding man-animal conflict, he said the government, with the help of the Wildlife Institute of India, has come up with guidelines for linear infrastructure and mitigation measures. So, all proposals of projects in tiger corridors or tiger habitats, or buffer areas are put up before the standing committee of the NBWL (National Board for Wildlife) and implemented only after the recommendation of the panel which looks into all factors, including appropriate mitigation measures," he said. NTCA data shows that India lost 857 tigers between 2012 and 2020, while 193 of them died due to poaching. Such incidents came down substantially from 34 in 2018 to just seven in 2020. Calling poaching the number one treat to the tiget population in India, Yadav said, poaching takes place in India not because there is a demand in our country, it is driven by the demand in consumer countries. Thanks to technology, better surveillance, patrolling and protection mechanisms, poaching has substantially reduced in India. But it still is the number one threat." Improved monitoring and early warning systems are crucial to reduce tiger-human conflicts, according to the official. Tigers need to establish their own territory after reaching maturity, which can lead to fights with existing tigers. If they lose, they move out in search of new territory, which is known as dispersal. During dispersal, they may pass through tiger corridors that can be disturbed or diverted by roads, canals or other linear infrastructure, causing them to move into human habitats. However, it is not their natural behavior to identify humans as prey, Yadav said. Read all the Latest India News here Aiming to cater to 2.6 crore newborns and 2.9 crore pregnant women every year, the Modi governments U-WIN could be the answer to Indias problem of keeping track of the next vaccination dose, Dr Mangesh Gadhari, health officer at UNICEF India, told News18. The ministry of health and family welfare has launched U-WIN to digitise Indias universal vaccination programme based on the success of the CoWIN platform replicating the same concept. The pilot has been launched across India and manual entry of data from the registers to software has already begun. During a media field visit at PHC Pilliem Dharbandora, Goa, Gadhari, in a response on U-WIN routine immunisation portal launched in February by the government of Goa as pilot, said it was an excellent way of leveraging technology to track missed children". For decades, healthcare authorities and service providers have been facing the challenge of keeping track of the next dose of routine immunisation to children and also facing challenges with caregivers not bringing the maternal child protection (MCP) card during immunisation, Gadhari said in an exclusive interaction. U-WIN platform will address all these challenges similar to what CoWIN did for us. From booking slots, sending reminders before and on the due date to maintaining records and certificates, it made the entire process easy, trackable and smooth. Another challenge for the immunisation programme, he said, was with the intrastate or interstate or intradistrict or interdistrict migration of families. With the rollout of U-WIN for pregnant women and children, vaccine acknowledgement and immunisation cards linked to ABHA ID (Ayushman Bharat Heath Account) will be generated and all states and districts can access a common database to track and vaccinate programme participants (in this case pregnant women and children). ALSO READ | Exclusive | Many Can Learn from Indias Health Systems; Put Women in Positions of Power: Melinda Gates to News18 Gadhari doesnt foresee any major hiccups in the rollout of the project as he believes there are a lot of learnings from the Covid-19 vaccination program in using Co-WIN. All these learnings will help in sharpening the U-WIN platform and its smooth rollout. INDIAS CONCERN OVER MISSED CHILDREN Missed children are Indias big target for improving immunisation coverage since the launch of Mission Indradhanush in 2014-15, he said. Missed children, also known as zero dose children, are those who fail to get even a single dose of vaccine. In India, there are approximately three lakh zero dose children. He explained that until now about six phases of Mission Indradhanush (MI) and Intensified Mission Indradhanush are completed in pockets or districts with low immunisation coverage. The first two phases resulted in an increase in full immunisation coverage by 6.5% and after six phases, there has been an improvement of more than 18% in full immunisation coverage as per National Family Health Survey 5 (NFHS 5) over NFHS4. Other possible ways to reduce the gap of zero dose or missed children is by strengthening the micro-plans for routine immunisation at the village level, taking primary health care as close as possible to communities and enhancing community participation. ALSO READ | Routine Immunisation Suffered Due to COVID-19, it Has to Be Put Back on Track: Mandaviya Better use of non-health community platforms such as self-help groups and continuous strengthening of health wellness centres will also help, apart from building the capacities of frontline health workers and health functionaries for interpersonal communication. He emphasised that the UNICEF will continue to support the government of Indias immunisation programmes, in reaching missed/drop-out children toward achieving universal health coverage and accelerating sustainable development goals focused on health. INDIAS NEXT BIG AIM: DIGITAL HEALTH India is focussing big time on digital health, particularly after the pandemic has set in. I believe this is a very welcome change. Gadhari recalled that in order to achieve the targets of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and health-related Sustainable Development Goal by 2030 quality healthcare services should be made available to all by removing all kinds of barriers. ALSO READ | At 3.5 Mn, India Has Highest Number of Children Who Have Received No Vaccines: UNICEF In the next few years, Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission (ABDM) will definitely help improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and transparency of overall health service delivery. With the choice of an individual to accept both public and private services in compliance with guidelines and protocols, policymakers and program managers will have better access to data and analytics enabling real-time monitoring and decision-making. It will help create a comprehensive feedback loop. HOW TO PREPARE FOR NEXT PANDEMIC? According to Gadhari, the Covid-19 pandemic has unleashed economic and social vulnerabilities with distressing impacts on women and children across the world, particularly from the marginalised and urban poor sections of society. ALSO READ | Vaccination & Vigilance Critical for Keeping India Polio-Free On the occasion of the G20 Health Presidency of India, Goa is ready to showcase the use of digital health innovations in achieving comprehensive Primary Health Care. The state of art primary health centers (such as the PHC Dhanbodara, PHC Corlim) are the result of the highest political commitment I think this is what every state needs to focus on making health infrastructure more disaster, emergency resilient environment-friendly and sustainable to deliver comprehensive primary health care in continuity. Read all the Latest India News here The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday demolished the movie studio allegedly belonging to former minister and Congress leader Aslam Shaikh in the Madh area of Mumbai. Aslam Shaikh came under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Environment Ministry in July 2022 for illegally operating film studios on Madh Island. The action was long pending but came a day after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) gave an order yesterday. According to the order, the NGT held that further extension after October 12, 2022, is not permissible since the MCGM internal circular (granting extensions without MCZMA approval etc.) is stayed by MCGM itself. In para 33 of the order, the NGT has noted that the structure should have been removed and the site restored to its original condition after initial six months before renewing permissions. In August 2022, the Ministry of Environment of Maharashtra issued a notice regarding the alleged studio scam in Madh and ordered Mumbai Collector and Municipal Corporation to take strict action in this matter. As per reports, Aslam Shaikh had flouted Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules and gave permission for the unauthorised construction of more than two dozen film studios on Madh Island. The Enforcement Directorate took up the matter after complaints were received by Environment and Forest Ministries. BJP Claims Aaditya Thackeray Involved in Alleged Scam BJP leader and former MP Kirit Somaiya attacked the former MVA government for giving illegal permits for the construction of the studios and said, Aaditya Thackeray himself visited here and with his blessings, this studio was built." BMC Commissioner Iqbal Chahal knew of this illegal scam but didnt take action. We approached the court which questioned BMC on how illegal constructions were allowed. Requested the Chief Minister and Deputy CM to order a probe into this," Somaiya added. Somaiya had alleged that a part of the earnings from the studio went to local MLA Aslam Shaikh and a cut to Bandra (Matoshree), apparently referring to Uddhav Thackeray. Earlier, Somaiya had claimed former guardian ministers of Mumbai Aaditya Thackeray of the Shiv Sena and Aslam Sheikh of the Congress were involved in a Rs 1,000 crore studio scam". He had alleged that 49 studios constructed in Madh were built illegally and constitute a Rs 1,000 crore business that generates Rs 2 crore monthly rent. Many big-budget moves, including Ram Setu and Adipurush, have been shot in these studios. In a letter to the BMC chief on July 21, 2022, Somaiya had claimed that some companies had constructed huge studios in the no-development zone at Madh by obtaining illegal permits from the collectors office, District Coastal Zone Management Committee, Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) and fire brigade. In response, BMC officials had accepted that there were four illegal studios, one of which had already been demolished by its owner. Todays action was taken on one of the remaining three. August 2022 MCZMAs Response to Kirit Somaiya on Madh Island Studios The area where the alleged studio has come up falls in the Assembly constituency of Aslam Sheikh, who has earlier denied these allegations. (With inputs from Yesha Kotak) Read all the Latest India News here In the world of social media, many of them often complain of brain fatigue, brain fog, or limited attention span. It has become of prime importance to give the brain the nourishment it needs. The right food is the greatest way to achieve the best mental health. There are many ways to improve memory and concentration and one of them is eating the right kind of food. Nutritionist Anjali Mukerjee, in her recent post, gives tips on how to improve brain health. She also suggested some nutritious food options that will help address commonly observed issues like irritation, low self-esteem, mood swings and anxiety. In the caption, she wrote, Food nourishes the body and the brain. If you have been eating incorrectly, the effects of nutritional deficiencies are often reflected in mental symptoms. In fact, deficiencies of any vitamin and mineral can show up first as impaired memory, and lack of concentration, followed by moodiness, the feeling of lack of self-worth, and an undernourished mind. She shared some vitamins and herbs that have been proven by researchers to be useful in treating mental health worries. Vitamins like B1, B12, B6, C, and Folic acid are a good remedy for issues like mood swings, palpitations, weakness, and confusion, she says, In Minerals, she suggests magnesium, calcium, zinc, sodium, and potassium are essential to beat brain fatigue and to advance brain functions. She also wrote about St Johns Wort herb which works as an anti-depressant and is often used in curing depression. Kava-Kava is an antidote to depression caused by menopause, she assured, she also informed that this herb helps manage anxiety. Further, she wrote about the mood-boosting Gingko Biloba leaves. Anjali opines they have feel-good neurotransmitters or what they call serotonin. Anjali Mukerjees Post on Good Brain Health: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anjali Mukerjee (@anjalimukerjee) Anjali Mukerjee also threw a word of caution on the right way of using these herbs. She also advised her followers to not blindly consume any of these herbs. She wrote, Most herbs taken under proper guidance have minimal or no side effects. However, we are all different, so each one of us can be affected in different ways. Herbs work best when taken in the combination with other herbs, vitamins, minerals, correct food intake and proper counseling sessions involving psychotherapy. Read all the Latest Lifestyle News here PANDIT RAVI SHANKAR BIRTH ANNIVERSARY: April 7 marks the birth anniversary of the legendary musician, Ravi Shankar, who is credited for introducing Indian classical music to the West. He introduced Sitar to the English rock band The Beatles. Pandit Ravi Shankar became a musical icon of the 60s after he collaborated with The Beatles. He grew close bonds with one of the Beatles members George Harrison, who labelled the late musician as the godfather of the world of music. George Harrison flew all the way to India just to learn the rustic instrument straight from the maestro. It must be noted that after working as a music director of All India Radio in the national capital from 1949 to 1956, Ravi Shankar went on to popularise Indian classical music in the Western land in the 1960s through several performances, teachings and most importantly his association with American born British violinist Yehudi Menuhin and the Beatles Harrison. The lead guitarist of the Beatles produced and participated in two record albums namely Shankar Family and Friends and Festival of India. Both these albums were composed by Ravi Shankar. His collaboration with Yehudi Menuhin made the two very close friends. And later Menuhin and Ravi Shankar went on to record the acclaimed music album called West Meets East. His association with and influence on Western musicians doesnt end here. After this, he started writing compositions for orchestras, blending clarinets into traditional Indian music along with other foreign instruments. Therefore, the legendary musician turned into an in-practice tutor for those foreigners, who were fascinated by Indias musical traditions. According to the Associated Press, Ravi Shankar even gave lessons to American jazz saxophonist John Coltrane, who in honour of the sitar maestro named his son Ravi Shankar. Well, this is not all. The legendary musician is also celebrated for his collaborations with French flautist Jean Pierre Rampal, American composer and pianist Philip Glass, German-American pianist Andre Previn and Indian conductor of Western classical music Zubin Mehta. Read all the Latest Lifestyle News here The Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) was inaugurated with much fanfare, with celebrities like Zendaya, Tom Holland, and Gigi Hadid in attendance. Interestingly, the stars managed to explore the city without being noticed by the general public or paparazzi, thanks to No Footprints, a boutique travel experience company that helped them tour Mumbai in a unique way. Previously, the travel company had organised tours for high-profile personalities such as food writer and cook Nigella Lawson, Diors Maria Grazia Chiuri, Chanakyas Karishma Swali, Katy Graham, and Emma Chamberlain. During a recent interview with Conde Nast Traveller, No Footprints founder Harshvardhan Tanwar shared insights on how they provided a unique travel experience of Mumbai to Hollywood stars Zendaya, Tom Holland, and fashion icon Gigi Hadid . According to Tanwar, it takes about five weeks for the travel company to curate a plan for a celebrity. The NFP founder said, There were conversations going on for about a month and a half before Gigi, Tom and Zendaya landed in Mumbai. We had no idea who the guests were, all we had was some basic information about the profiles even about 48 hours before the tour. We want them to be safe, while still being able to enjoy India in its full capacity. Conde Nast also interviewed team leaders of No Footprints, who shared their experience of helping Tom Holland and Zendaya explore Mumbai. NFPs Aditya Pai said, We took them on our Strange Stories of the Sea tour. The tour explored Mumbai with the sea as its hero, from the indigenous Kohli community to the magnificent craft of shipbuilding, we spoke about it all. View this post on Instagram A post shared by No Footprints Mumbai (@nofootprintsmumbai) During the tour, the co-stars of MCUs Spider-Man: No Way Home expressed their desire to have some private time, so No Footprints provided them with a unique experience of Mumbai. Harshvardhan Tanwar gave Gigi Hadid a classic tour of the city, starting from the iconic Gateway of India. They then walked around Kala Ghoda, and finally reached Victoria Terminus (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus) where they stopped for some refreshing coconut water. At CST, we did a very fun mannequin challenge for Gigi, where she stood as the crowd passed her by and we made it into a gorgeous time lapse for her to keep, Harshvardhan Tanwar added. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid) Gigi, who has a strong fondness for Bollywood films and fashion in movies, expressed her love for cinema during the tour. She also drew parallels between Mumbai and New York and commented on how similar the two cities are. Read all the Latest Lifestyle News here While Lokesh Mittal played a very small role in Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh starrer Do Dooni Chaar, the actor has since come a long way by providing his versatility as an actor in Sui Dhaaga, The Pickup Artist, The White Tiger, Runway 34 and his most recent portrayal of Lakdawala in Raj & DKs Farzi. Lokesh Mittal who previously worked with Ajay Devgn in Runway 34 reunited with the actor and director for Bholaa. During an exclusive and freewheeling conversation with News18 Showsha, Lokesh went on to share his adulation for Ajay Devgn, working with Tabu, behind-the-scenes moments from the sets of Bholaa, his role in Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani and much more. Lokesh Mittal Reveals What Makes Ajay Devgn A Brilliant Director He is an actor first so whats unique about him is the fact that he understands an actor. When I had worked with him in the first collaboration, I was working in front of Amitabh Bachchan. So it could be a possibility that I had done a certain scene with confidence in front of a legendary actor like Amitabh Bachchan and Ajay Devgn must have felt that I might be good in my craft since I am acting without any hesitation in front of Big B. So when I got a call for Bholaa, I was shocked as to how was this possible. But they told me that Ajay Devgn had recommended me for that role. As a director, he gives full space and freedom to the actors so that they can deliver their scenes with utmost honesty and perfection. And he never imposes himself on anyone. As long as he is okay with an actors point of view, he gives them the leeway to approach things as they feel right to approach. Untill and unless he is very specific about something that he wants from the actors. His discusses scenes with his actors, what kind of scene is thats what should be the expressions etc. So thats his USP. And that what makes him so big. Lokesh Mittal Shares How His Characters In Farzi, Runway 34 And Bholaa Showed Him His Potential As An Actor When I did Farzi, I was working with Raj & DK. He told me that the kind of character I was playing, it should tower Shahid Kapoors character. It shouldnt look like Shahid Kapoor is overpowering you. So the way I was approaching my character, it didnt quite work but when I approached it in a different way, that was what had gone into the final cut and even I felt like that was good. And the result was definitely in my favour because people liked it, they recognised it and appreciated my work. That was a negative character. In Runway 34, I played a small officer in a company and he makes a mistake and because of that he gets sacked. That was with Amitabh Bachchan. Now my character of a police officer in Bholaa is greedy. He is working for money. The kind of greedy character he is, he can do anything for money. But he doesnt want to kill anyone. But the pressure bullds up on him and he turns a killer. So when you do different kinds of characters, you definitely get an opportunity to explore. And it makes you curious about what other characters you can play that have different shades to them. It definitely helps you gauge about your strength and be sure about what you can do. Lokesh Mittal Recalls Some Memorable Moments From The Sets Of Bholaa Ajay Devgn would ask me that this scene is like this, what would you do in this? And I would say, should I do like this? So he would be the one laughing first. And he would laugh because he would say film ke according thoda over jaa raha. Lets do something else. Whatever comic element we could bring to my character, we brought it and that is evident on the silver screen. We tried to naturally create him. At one point of the film, I had to shove a knife near Ajay Devgns throat. Believe me but I had to do that take four or five times because I was not able to do it. I was scared about unintentionally hurting Ajay Devgn in the process. Even if its a fake knife, it still can injure people. So I was very conscious about that scene. Then there was another scene which was a full-blown comedy. It happened all of a sudden. Its a scene where some people are dragging me so another actor who was trying to get me up slipped and fell. And that initiated a laughter riot on the sets. And then Ajay Devgn would also crack jokes every once in a while. I believe Ajay Devgn prefers to keep things light on the set so as to prevent any sort of tension or pressure or haste to do things. He believes that setting aside the film, its imperative to maintain a healthy atmosphere on the sets. Lokesh Mittals Experience Working With Ajay Devgn And Tabu Weve been seeing Ajay Devgn for so many years so definitely the way he plays a character and the way he grasps the nerve of a character is absolutely brilliant. He is like a self-institution. You can learn a lot of things from him. When you seeing him in person, when you are seeing me on screen. So there are nuances that you would observe and youll feel like it something that you should inculcate in yourself and that this is something that I lack. He is so natural and flawless that you wont even feel like that he is acting. So these are the things that inspires you and teaches you so many things. As for Tabu, she is wonderful. When she is on sets, she transforms into a different person and when she is not working, she likes to project her humorous side. She is a great actress and she doesnt need to prove that to anyone. Because everyone knows she is fine. And its a big honour for sharing screen space with actors like these. Lokesh Mittal On His Role In Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani My experience has been really good on the sets of Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani. I play a cameo and when we were in lockdown, that was when the film was offered to me. So with Karan Johar, he tells the actor what he wants from them, he is very specific about the kind of emotions and expressions that he wants to evoke from you as actors. He doesnt tell you how youll deliver the dialogues because that rests solely to the discretion of the actor but he is very specific about what he wants. On the other hand, Ajay Devgn asks his actor what and how he is going to approach a scene. Because he has been an actor himself. So an actor himself brainstorms with himself my character is like this, my approach will be like this, like that. Karan Johar is experienced. I enjoyed a lot and I can guarantee you its going to be one of the funniest scenes of Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani. Everyone is going to enjoy it. Lokesh Mittal On The Negative Perception Of Karan Johar And His Experience Working With Him There are so many people in this world and there are so many speculations that people pass. Itll be very difficult for me to say but that didnt happen to me. But I can definitely tell you when I was on the sets with all the other people, I never felt for once that Karan Johar was doing favourism or treating someone differently and looking down upon us. We wrapped up that scene in one day so he took out time for it. I felt really good. After so many years he is helming a film and he is perfect in his craft. He knows what he wants in terms of angles, scenes, shots and he gets it out of them. When you are on Sets, you can easily understand his vision and what he actually wants. He is good. Its a rom com as evident from the name itself. It will be a family entertainer in the sense that it follows the trajectory of all the previous Karan Johars films. Itll be brimming with emotions that will make you cry and laugh. Lokesh Mittal On Playing Lakdawala In Farzi And Sharing Screen Space With Shahid Kapoor When Raj & DK told me about what they wanted from me, I had told them that although I cant describe how I am going to approach this character but I can definitely show you. Shahid Kapoor was not there so I did a script rehearsal with one of the ADs and then I told them my perspective as to how it should go on screen. That happened and it worked wonders. Even Shahid Kapoor is very cooperative since he has been working in the industry for so long so he knows what should be the feel of the character. He thoroughly gave me inputs and feedback and compliments for what I was doing. When you get a support, you feel good. I dont know what happened, I have worked with Amitabh Bachchan and then I recently got another opportunity to work with Big B for an ad. Sharing screen with him is a big deal. It a dream come true. I come from a place where there is no connection to acting. My starting point was from zero. Lokesh Mittal Recalls Getting A Selfie With Abhishek Bachchan If you are there with Abhishek Bachchan on the sets, you wont feel like he is a star. He doesnt make you feel like that. He is very focused on his work from what I could observe about him, from the way he would sit and interact. Although, i didnt talk to him much during Dasvi because some of my scenes were also chopped off. He did oblige me with a selfie. He is a sweet man. Lokesh Mittal Reveals The Kind Of Roles He Wants To Do In Future Whenever someone comes in this field, he comes with a mindset that they want to become a good and known actor. And thats exactly what I am trying for. And I am going in that zone. So whatever work I am taking and whats being offered to me, I am very careful to work with good characters because I certainly want to be sidelined.Prior to this, beggars cant be choosers. So I want to show more of myself and showcase my mettle and talent that I stand somewhere and that If I get an opportunity, I can show it. So whatever fame came to me from YouTube or films or series, I started getting the results of it gradually. There is a famous saying, the more your are visible, the more youll get bought. So that has been my mantra. In the starting, Ive worked for 2000 but I didnt stop there. I wanted to create my space. And in future I see myself getting good characters, me proving it and people appreciating him. Lokesh Mittal On OTT V/s Bollywood I think the current landscape is good. I feel like people should go in the theatres to watch the film instead of waiting for it to come on OTT. People tend to avoid going to theatres because of it which I feel is bad. As for OTT, it has given opportunities to so many actors, directors, writers, cinematographers. It has certainly made and increased opportunities for people. So many people came who havent worked in film but OTT changed their perception. So the work load has increased, opportunities have increased. And it should continue. Lokesh Mittals Upcoming Projects Ill be featuring in YRFs Railway Man. There is a biopic on Tarla Dalal that will be headlined by Huma Qureshi. There are couple of films like Control, Project Love and PMT. I had previously done Sui Dhaga with YRF and that film was a turning point for me since I was able to play my character with ease. People started noticing me after that and started offering me roles. Read all the Latest Movies News, Entertainment News Xem them ... Tin bai cuoi cung Khong con du lieu e load A compilation of over 42 lakh essays on the valorous Ahom general Lachit Borphukan has been recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest online photo album of handwritten notes and a letter recognising the same has been handed over to the Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on March 10, 2023. This initiative as a part of the 400th birthday celebration of Lachit Borphukan is praiseworthy as it allowed an open public discourse. Such discourses create a multiplicity of narratives and often accommodate diverse ideations which can speak a lot about community identities and their redefinition. The perceived core of the nation had a potential tendency of otherisation of the periphery and there seems to have been a basic dissonance in the way in which the Indian governing structures went on to deal with popular aspirations, symbolisms at the level of the region till recent times. Markers/Symbols Embodying Regional Identity Institutional recognition of regional markers that embody regional identity, values and pride is crucial in the centre-periphery relations in the functioning of a federation. It embraces the plurality of the sources of identity, thus diverging from the popular perception of dominant mainstream political communities. PM Narendra Modi said, We are privileged to celebrate the 400th birth anniversary of Veer Lachit at a time when the country is celebrating the Amrit Mahotsav of its independence. This historic occasion is a glorious chapter in the history of Assam. I salute this great tradition on this festival of Indias immortal culture, valour and existence, at the conclusion of the celebration. The following steps have been taken to promote unsung hero Lachit Borphukan by the Union and the Assam governments. Since 1999, the Lachit Borphukan gold medal at the National Defence Academy (NDA) is given to the best cadet so that Indias brave soldiers can take inspiration from this warrior. The then President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, laid the foundation for a war memorial and a 150-foot bronze statue of the commander in Assam on February 25, 2022. Along with the statue, the memorial will also feature a 100-ft-long Hengdang (Ahom sword). The Assam government announced the setting up of a museum to make the bravery saga of Veer Lachit Borphukan accessible to a greater number of people. The Assam government has also launched a theme song to connect people with this vision. The Prime Minister has suggested creating a grand theatre play on Lachit Borphukan on the lines of the one on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and taking that to every corner of the country, which would give a great boost to the resolution of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat. Ahom Resistance against the Mughals Assam is the only state in the Indian subcontinent to defeat the Mughal forces and not become a part of the Mughal political map. Assam defeated the Mughals 17 times which hardly finds any mention in any mainstream historical text. Lachit Borphukan was the man, who through his intrepid bravery, determination, war tactics and strategy repulsed the Mughals. The entire narrative is interesting regarding the revelations concerning the ramifications and the repercussions of the Mughal aggression in an uncharted territory. The entire episode of Ahom-Mughal relations involved a series of conflicts during the period of 1615-1682, beginning with the reign of Jahangir till the reign of Aurangzeb. The principal hostility can be grouped under two invasions by the Mughals, one under Mir Jumla and the other, under Raja Ram Singh. These two episodes have been preserved in a detailed and systematic record through contemporary eyewitness accounts of Fateha-i- Ibriyah and the Buranji (Ahom Court Chronicles) of Ram Singher Yuddhar Katha, respectively. Another very important source relating to the Ahom-Mughal conflict is Baharistan-i-Ghaybi, written by Alauddin Isfahani alias Mirza Nathan, which describes the plight of the Mughal soldiers on their invasion of the Eastern part of Hindustan. Mirza Nathan, also known as Shitab Khan, was the Faujdar of Kamrupa from 1612 to 1625. To understand the conflict, an understanding of the political geography of Assam is essential. In the 17th century, the Ahom Kingdom extended from the river Manaha on the West to Sadiya on the East. Manaha was the recognised Eastern extremity of the Mughal empire. The Brahmaputra flowing from the East to the West divides Assam into the North bank and the South bank. The two main divisions from the West to the East were from Manaha to Kaliabor and the second one from Kaliabor to Sadiya. Exploits of Mir Jumla and the Treaty of Ghilajharighat One of the major military conflicts was in January 1662, during the reign of Jayadhwaj Singha, which is recorded in Fateha-i- Ibriyah by Shihabuddin Talish. This Persian account discusses in detail Mir Jumlas invasion of Assam. Mir Jumla capitulated Garhgaon, though could retain it briefly and was able to conclude a humiliating treaty for the Ahoms on January 9, 1663, the Treaty of Ghilajharighat. The main reason of Jayadhwaj Singhas defeat was due to defection in the Ahom camp, though this reason remains less discussed. Under the provisions of the treaty, the entire Western Assam (from Kaliabor to Guwahati) fell under the Mughals. Background of the Battle of Saraighat: Revision of the humiliating treaty of Ghilajharighat The background of the battle of Saraighat was the humiliating Treaty of Ghilajarighat in 1663, which, while returning Garhgaon back to the Ahoms, came at a heavy cost. After the death of Jayadhwaj Singha, his successor Chakradhwaj Singha could no longer bear the brunt of this humiliation. And a rigorous military training program and politico-military overhauling ensued. Preparations for war against the Mughals started and Lachit Borphukan was chosen as Assams man of destiny to lead the Ahom army against the invaders. He was the son of Momai Tamuli Barbarua, the first Barbarua under the Ahom King Pratap Singha. During the earliest phase of the wars with the Mughals, Momai Tamuli was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the Ahom forces. He was instrumental in signing the treaty of Asurar Ali with Allah Yar Khan in 1639, which fixed the Barnadi river as the boundary and formed the basis of Ahom-Mughal relations for decades to come. War preparations were fully completed by the summer of 1667 and a fresh set of hostilities was about to begin. Ahom forces led by Lachit Borphukan stormed the Mughal bastions which resulted in a series of victories. The alliances were renewed with the Jaintia and Kachari kingdoms and in August 1667, Lachit, accompanied by Atan Burhagohain, undertook a downstream expedition on Brahmaputra, to retake Guwahati, which was under the Mughals. Making Kaliabor his base camp, Lachit ensured Bahbari followed by Kajali, and Shah Buruj (Mani Karneswar) followed by Guwahati were recaptured by September 1667 while the entire region between Guwahati and Kapili river (Rangamahal, Itakhuli along with Umananda and Barhat) too was reconquered. Firuz Khan, the faujdar of Guwahati, was taken captive. Mughal reinforcement under Raja Ram Singh of Amber Alarmed at the losses, Aurangzeb sent a huge army under the command of Raja Ram Singh, son of the Amber Raja, Mirza Raja Jai Singh to retake Guwahati. By February 1669, Ram Singh reached Rangamati, accompanied by Rashid Khan and the Sikhs under Guru Tegh Bahadur. It was a massive army of 4,000 troopers, 30,000 infantrymen, 21 Rajput chiefs with their contingents, 18,000 cavalries, 2,000 archers and 40 ships. The Ahoms faced the Mughal army under Ram Singh at Alaboi, around August, 5, 1669 and the former faced some reverses. The next move of Ram Singh was opening negotiations for peace. But Atan Borgohain had warned Lachit Borphukon about the treacherous character of the Mughals and no treaty was signed. The Assamese also were tired of war and hostilities, and were suspended for a time. Soon after the battle of Alaboi, Chakradhwaj Singha died in 1669. He was succeeded by his brother Udayaditya Singha. During this period, Ram Singh proceeded further and laid a siege over Guwahati that led up to the final Battle of Saraighat in 1671, which the Ahoms won. Ahom victory at Saraighat, 1671: A strategic battle theatre The advances of the Mughal army were a grim signal of a critical situation. Here, Lachit Borphukan showed his tactical brilliance and superior warfare strategies. Knowing very well that the Ahoms had no chance in an open-field battle, he chose Guwahati with its hilly terrain. The only way up to Guwahati from the East was the Brahmaputra river. It was at Saraighat, where the Brahmaputra was at its narrowest point - just a width of 1 km - ideal for naval defence. While the Mughal army was the strongest on land, especially in open plains, their weakest point was their navy. Lachit Borphukan set up a series of mud embankments in Guwahati and ensured that the Mughals would be forced to take the river route to the city. He set up his headquarters at Andharubali, between Kamakhya and Sukreswsr hills to monitor the war operations. The small Ahom boats manoeuvred easily against the Mughal ships and the Mughals were finally pushed back to the West of the Manaha river. The battle of Saraighat fought in 1671 was the last determined attempt of Raja Ram Singh who met ignominious defeat at the hands of the Ahom army led by Lachit Borphukan. Rajput Raja Ram Singh would be praising his victorious adversary in the most gracious manner, Glory to the CommanderOne single individual leads all the forces. Even I, Ram Singh, could not find any loophole and an opportunity in his game plan to outdo him. The author is a senior faculty in the department of History, ARSD College, DU. She has done her MPhil, PhD program from Center for Historical Studies, JNU. Views expressed are personal. Read all the Latest Opinions here When the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) announced its decision to remove a chapter on the Mughal Empire from Class XII history textbooks, it predictably created a political storm. The Mughals are, after all, the sacred cow of Marxist-Nehruvian historiography. There have been concerted attempts since the 1960s, when Indian history was hijacked by communist historians with the consent and connivance of their political masters, to rewrite textbooks to forward government agenda and Marxist dogma. The worst hit was Indias medieval history that had to be sanitised of all its inconvenient truths, but it was too tough a task to accomplish. This was primarily because the Muslim chroniclers of the medieval era pompously and matter-of-factly wrote in detail about each and every iconoclastic exploits of their rulers. They saw these acts of violence and vandalism as a holy work that had the sanction of God. This is where the presence of the Mughals, thanks primarily to Akbars liberal outlook, comes in handy for eminent historians in the benevolent projection of Muslim rule in India. The Mughals have become the face of Muslim rule in India. Once this cover is dropped, what comes out is the violent and vandalistic face of the medieval Muslim rulers. This explains the secular anxiety over NCERTs decision to remove a Mughal chapter. Actually, the Mughals have been the pet Marxist project in independent India. It had Akbar, who perfectly fitted the secular bill of Nehruvian India. He was the Muslim counterpart of Hindu Ashoka, though the latter was not a Hindu in a purely religious sense. He was a Buddhist who broke with the Sanatana tradition to put in place a state religion. Not an ideal ruler from the Indic civilisational perspective, he was lost in the annals of history until being accidentally discovered by James Prinsep in 1815. Ashokas greatness again a byproduct of the Nehruvian project, if historian Upinder Singh is to be believed is as much the result of Marxist deception as the notion of Mughal liberalism is. Ashokas choice is a masterstroke for another reason too. A couple of years ago, senior journalist Karan Thapar came out strongly against Yogi Adityanaths statement that the Mughals were not his heroes. Defending the Mughals, Thapar invoked Ashoka and Akbar. I know many consider the Mauryan emperor Ashoka, who ruled 18 centuries earlier, Akbars equal or, possibly, heroically superior but I disagree. Akbar was not responsible for 100,000 deaths at Kalinga, the eminent journalist said. This line of argument is not accidental. This has always been the plan: To make Ashoka the Great, and then, in another context, bring out Kalinga to compare him with Akbar: Look, Ashoka was good, dont forget the Kalinga blemish! The result: There was no great ruler in India before Akbar! What is generally forgotten in the enthusiastic support for Akbar is that for every Kalinga for Ashoka, there is a Ranthambore for Akbar where at least 30,000 non-combatant civilians were massacred after the Mughal victory. Even the much bandied about matrimonial alliances, largely with Rajput rulers, were one-way traffic and to look for religious syncretism in the Mughal harem would be an elusive affair. Coming back to the NCERT controversy, it needs to be reiterated that the Mughals have not been dropped altogether from the textbooks; there were two chapters on them, of which one has been removed as part of NCERTs syllabus rationalisation exercise. Now, thats not a crime in a country where most mainstream history books gloss over the history of Ahoms and their 600-year rule that included the great Lachit Borphukan decisively defeating the Mughals at the Battle of Saraighat in 1671 during Aurangzebs time. Why should it bother dropping a chapter on Mughals when all the great empires of south India, especially the Cholas, are clubbed in one chapter? The Cholas and the Pallavas played a big role not just in the history of India but also in Southeast Asia. Why should it bother when Baji Rao-I has been reduced to a lover boy in connection with the Mastani saga, while the reality is he was one of the finest generals India had seen, fighting over 40 battles without losing any? It was primarily due to his military exploits that the British took over India from the Marathas, and not the Mughals. When the Vijayanagara Empire is mentioned in passing in history books, why should the ongoing Mughal controversy bother us? While the biggest historical fraud has been committed by the Marxists in ancient India, in the name of the Aryan invasion theory, equally dubious has been their role in medieval history, which seems episodic in nature, randomly jumping from Mohammed bin Qasims Sindh attack in 712 AD to Mahmud of Ghaznis raids in the early 11th century, climaxing in the plunder of the Somnath temple in 1025 AD and, then, the invasion of Mohammed Ghori in 1191 and again 1192. Indias history becomes all about invasions and invaders. Even colonial historian Vincent Smith could see through the fallacy of this kind of historiography when he writes in The Oxford History of India: But no voice has come from the grave, and the history of the Muhammadan conquest as seen from the Hindu point of view was never written, except to some extent in Rajputana. The truth is that it took almost 500 years for a Muslim Sultanate to get a foothold in Delhi. And, as Sandeep Balakrishna writes in his book Invaders and Infidels, For almost a full century after it was established, the Sultanate made no new additions to its territory in mainland India. Balakrishna continues, From 1206 to 1526, it comprised a total of five dynasties, with only one powerful sultan emerging from each dynasty Each such dynasty inevitably became extinct within a few years of the death of its most powerful sultan. The same phenomenon was perceptible during the Mughal era too when the empire looked shaky till Akbar pursued liberal policies vis-a-vis Hindus and made matrimonial alliances with the Rajputs. Looked at closely, the two moves would appear strategic in nature, but the moment the later Mughals, especially Aurangzeb, went back to the old Islamic ways, the empire collapsed like a pack of cards. Aurangzeb died in 1707 AD and within 50 years the Mughal empire found itself confined to the area from Delhi to Palam! The NCERT controversy has brought the focus back to the manner in which Indian history is skewed against the civilisational idea of India. Largely Delhi-centric, Indian history should include narratives from other parts of the country. Those bemoaning the dropping of a chapter on the Mughals should reflect upon this hypocrisy, and call for Indian history to be told from Indias own perspective. The author is Opinion Editor, Firstpost and News18. He tweets from @Utpal_Kumar1. Views expressed are personal. Read all the Latest Opinions here Earlier this month, I watched the trailer of a film called Mrs. Chatterjee versus Norway, based on the true story of Sagarika Bhattacharya and Anurup Bhattacharya. The trailer itself left me with a palpitating heart. I had been closely following the story of Ariha Shah, the infant who was separated from her parents by the German government when she was merely one and a half years old, over suspected sexual assault. To see a much older but equally traumatic case about which I had no inkling, was confusing. Was this very common in some European nations? I subsequently ordered the book THE JOURNEY OF A MOTHER, penned by Sagarika Bhattacharya in which she has detailed her account. It was a moving, factual account of her ordeal. Finally, I stepped into the theatres to watch the film inspired by Sagarikas story but I couldnt bear to finish it. I am a highly empathetic person by nature and the ordeal of a five-month-old baby and a toddler separated from their parents was more than I could tolerate to see. I walked out even before the interval. I left the theatre fuming at the injustice of it all. Lets get one thing straight. Any person who chooses to live in a different country does so in quest of better work and life opportunities. The country allows this in order to gain a workforce so as to contribute towards nation-building. What on Earth in this entire transaction gives the host country the right to dictate how the family will exist within the confines of their house? The famous English common law case The Semaynes Case states as such, The house of everyone is to him as his castle and fortress, as well for his defence against injury and violence, as for his repose. In the cases where countries blatantly interfere and judge how people belonging to other cultures raise their children, violate something more intimate than just entering their house. They come in as uninvited guests, judge their parenting and if they deem fit, take away their child, without so much as cautioning the parents. How can one even attempt to define what ones progeny means to her? Reproduction is a very fundamental human impulse. Having children is what has ensured the survival of the human species. Many psychological studies have indicated that initially when we are attracted to the opposite gender, we subconsciously explore their suitability to produce children with us. I daresay that most people who choose to have children have painstakingly planned the next 20-25 years of their life with their child/children as an important stakeholder, as the focal point of their lives. What gives any national agency the moral authority to completely change the course of someones life? In Sagarikas case, a child belonging to a completely different culture was taken away from her parents because according to the Norwegian child welfare agencys limited understanding of parenting, the childs own parents were incapable as parents. This was done following a ten-week observation on more than a dozen counts after complaints that her elder son was reticent. Along with a two-year-old son, an almost one-year-old daughter was also taken away from them. The infant daughter was still breastfeeding. This was done without any warning. The parents never even imagined that if they did not raise their children in an exact Norwegian fashion, they risked losing them! My parenting experience is limited to only two years, but even I am well aware of the importance of breastfeeding and the reality of postpartum depression. World Health Organisation (WHO, headquartered in Europe itself) recommends six months of exclusive breastfeeding followed by one and a half years more, if possible. I am quoting from the WHO website which says, Breastmilk is the ideal food for infants. It is safe, clean and contains antibodies which help protect against many common childhood illnesses. Breastmilk provides all the energy and nutrients that the infant needs for the first months of life, and it continues to provide up to half or more of a childs nutritional needs during the second half of the first year, and up to one-third during the second year of life. Breastfed children perform better on intelligence tests, are less likely to be overweight or obese and less prone to diabetes later in life. Women who breastfeed also have a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancers. Now imagine a scenario. A mother, who is not even one year postpartum, who is a breastfeeding mom and has been taking care of her toddler and home, practically alone, is suddenly detached from both of her children, without a warning, without a chance to improve (if she needed improvement according to the system she was in), without any system in place for her to supply pumped milk for her infant. For the parents, there is no say in the matter of how the child will be raised. The probability of postpartum depression is completely ignored and no rehabilitation for the same is provided. It is so bizarre. Why is this system, which shows an utter lack of application of mind, still in place? And there are several children separated from their parents like this? Proximity to parents in early childhood is believed to be a very important factor that helps foster the cognitive and non-cognitive growth of babies. Many studies have shown that the absence of parents in early childhood negatively affects childrens development in physical fitness, behaviours, and academic performance. It is not even fathomable what must have gone through the mind of a two-year-old to be plucked out of one system and inserted in another without warning, preparation, or acclimatization. If I have to take a week-long vacation with my two-year-old, I start mentally preparing her days in advance. And here, a toddler is separated from his parents within minutes. Its as tragic as losing your parents in a car crash. One wonders how this government-sanctioned abduction can happen in a so-called first-world country. But one doesnt have to look too deep into the past to find that feelings of racial and cultural superiority run deep in the mindset of the people in these places. How else would you explain the plans for the recreation of a 1914 human zoo, part of the celebrations of 200 years of the Norwegian Constitution and funded by the Government of Norway, to the tune of almost one million Norwegian Kroner? This zoo was originally maintained in 1914 and called Kongolandsbyen where 80 Congolese citizens lived for five months and faced the voyeuristic eyes of the citizens of Norway. Norway is one of the counties that has, at one time, reaped enormous benefits from the triangular transatlantic slave trade. I was taken back to the thoughts of this zoo when I saw Rani Mukherjee struggle with home and baby chores while members of child welfare sat there and made notes about her. This is what the superiority complex does. It makes one believe they are better compared to others without any reliable meters of comparison. In a scary irony, there is no indication that the foster care system is, at all, better at raising children than the anathematised parents at home. In fact, there are many claims that children in such systems are isolated and sometimes even abused. In a shocking revelation in the BBC series Our World, season 12 episode called Norways Silent Scandal, it came to light that in April 2018, a respected Norwegian child psychiatrist was convicted of downloading thousands of images of child pornography. He had served as an expert on Norways controversial child protection system and had taken decisions on the issue of whether children should stay with their parents or be removed from them. In all, there were more than two lakh images of children, more than 4000 hours of video. The episode shows that during his trial, the psychologist trivializes the issue of downloading the videos. Another psychologist defending him states that not all those downloading such content are actually abusing children. The defending psychologist states that decisions on child custody should be taken based on evidence and not on moral panic. The cultural differences are clear as day in the views of these psychologists. Morality plays a very big role in Asian culture, and cultures that function solely based on flawed analytics have put systems in place to dictate good and bad parenting to families who have relocated to these nations. One is stunned by watching this episode. By all means, we must make the world a better place for children. However, it is idiotic that some first-world countries think that the best way to do this is by suddenly separating parents from children, completely isolating them from any exposure to the parents as if they are radioactive elements or mass shooters harbouring deadly weapons. If any agencies find that a familys dynamic is not as per the ideal Norwegian dynamic, the family may be warned and deported if they fail to comply. You just cannot break apart a family in order to ensure your culture is followed. This is the worst form of cultural imposition. In the words of Dr. Gabor Mate, the celebrated psychologist, In a nutshell, if kids get what they need in early childhood, they are going to be okay, (set, in a good way). If they dont get what they need in early childhood, for whatever reason, they are going to have great challenges. I would strongly state that parental proximity and growing up in a familiar culture is a very important need during early childhood. Isnt it commonsensical? As a country, we need to fiercely protect baby Ariha Shah and other such Indian babies who have been wrongfully separated from their parents. Shraddha Pandey is Additional Superintendent of Police, East Medinipur, West Bengal. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the stand of this publication. Read all the Latest Opinions here The Press In India 2021-22, the annual statement released by the Registrar of Newspaper for India (Ministry of I&B), provides an interesting insight into the print media scenario in Punjab. There are 28 Hindi dailies published in the state of Punjab that command a combined daily average circulation of 14,45,939, thus dwarfing the combined daily average circulation of 43 Punjabi newspapers (in Gurumukhi script) at 10,53,605. The situation alters slightly over a longer period, as the combined average circulation of all Hindi news periodicals (85) whether daily, weekly, fortnightly, monthly or quarterly in Punjab i.e. 16,45,878 is placed slightly below than that of Punjabi periodicals (130) at 16,64,670. This, however, leaves the main narrative of this article completely unaffected. A random search on some newspaper portals throws up interesting evidence. Punjab Kesari, Punjabs leading Hindi daily, brings out 17 editions from the frontier state, besides having penetration in several other neighbouring states. Dainik Bhaskar, the Madhya Pradesh-based popular Hindi daily runs no less than 15 editions in Punjab. Dainik Jagran, Northern Indias most popular Hindi daily, brings out 18 editions from Punjab. The crux of the matter is that print media circulation figures indicate a strong presence of Hindi in Punjab. This might come as a complete surprise when one peruses the Census, 2011 figures pertaining to languages spoken in Punjab. Therein, only 25.94 lakh persons returned Hindi as their mother tongue as against 2.49 crore people who returned Punjabi. All notifications of the Punjab government, in addition to English, are in Gurumukhi, with the total exclusion of Hindi. Readers across India generally tend to subscribe to newspapers/magazines in their mother tongue and/or in English. English does not appear to be a factor in Punjab as the average circulation of news dailies and periodicals in that language is way below their Punjabi and Hindi counterparts. The question, therefore, is who reads Hindi newspapers/periodicals in Punjab? Admittedly, the readership of Hindi newspapers in Punjab is sustained by its substantial Hindu population (38.49 percent), overwhelmingly concentrated in the cities and therefore, has better literacy. Seen in this perspective, the exclusion of Hindi from the state apparatus of Punjab is not merely a language issue but also a communal one. Derecognising Hindi in Punjab after the reorganisation of the state in 1966 was a ploy to marginalise the Hindus. This was particularly atrocious as Hindus have been at the forefront of making the modern Punjab in the 19th century. In colonial Punjab, a Muslim-majority province, Urdu was the predominant language used by Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs alike. For instance, the famous novelist Rajinder Singh Bedi (1915-1984), though a Sikh, originally wrote in Urdu. The same is true with noted lyricist Gulzar (Sampoorn Singh Kalra), who was born in a Sikh family. In Punjab (Pakistan), Urdu still remains the medium of instruction as in the rest of the Islamic Republic. Though Punjabis constitute half the population of Pakistan, Punjabi (written in Shahmukhi script) remains a neglected language. As a famous Urdu poet once said, When a Punjabi speaks Urdu, it appears as if he is telling a lie. Still, a number of illustrious Urdu poets like Faiz Ahmed Khan, Ibn-e-Insha, Munir Niazi and Amjad Islam Amjad etc, not to speak of 18th century Waris Shah, have been Punjabis. Similarly, in India, Abdul Hayee (1921-1980), better known as Sahir Ludhianvi, was an Urdu poet and lyricist though being a Punjabi. The Sikhs were original custodians of the Punjabi language, who wanted to free themselves from the trappings of Urdu and Hindi. However, initial attempts to have Gurumukhi medium schools in colonial Punjab were damp squib. The Report on Public Instruction in Punjab and its Dependencies for the Year 1891-92 (vide Para No.100) says that the introduction of Punjabi language schools has found no success at all, even in places abounding in Sikh population, and ironically found few takers in Ferozepur district from where this idea germinated in 1889. In 1923, revolutionary Bhagat Singh received a prize of Rs 50/- in an essay competition organised by Punjab Hindi Sahitya Sammelan for his entry viz. Problem of Punjabs Language and Script. Therein, he observes that Punjabi could not become a literary language of central Punjab (where Sikhs had substantial population). It was neither widely prevalent, nor had any literary or scientific significance. Bhagat Singh was particularly disturbed by Gurumukhis inability to write compound letters, even the word poorna (complete) could not be written. Bhagat Singh asked how much would one benefit by adopting Gurumukhi, when it was known that it was a distorted form of Hindi script, and all rules are the same from beginning to end. The Partition of India entailed the division of colonial Punjab, as a result of which, 16 out of its 29 districts were lost to Pakistan, and the rest (13) fell on the Indian side. The Sikh proposal for a sovereign state Khalistan (a term coined in the 1940s), was found unrealistic as the Sikhs formed a majority in none of the districts of colonial Punjab. The whole of Jullunder and Ambala divisions and the Amritsar district of Lahore division as well as three tehsils of Gurdaspur district viz. Pathankot, Gurdaspur and Batala were awarded to East Punjab as a result of the Radcliffe Award. Emotionally and materially, the Sikhs were affected by the partition more than the Hindus. They lost the cradle of Sikhism viz. Nankana Sahib, as well as the canal colonies of Lyallpur, Montgomery and Sargodha districts which they had developed by labour of one generation. However, on the plus side, with Muslims out of the picture, the clout of the Sikhs increased on the whole in the Eastern Punjab. Due to the resettlement pattern, Sikhs (mostly farmers), and Hindus (mostly urbane) were resettled into different parts of East Punjab. Following the merger of PEPSU, i.e. Phulkian states into East Punjab in 1955, the Sikh demographic appreciated in the resultant Punjab. As per the 1961 Census, it stood at 34 percent, whereas in colonial Punjab, it had merely been 13 percent. Religion was not the only marker in Punjab but also language. In the Southern districts (which now constitute Haryana), and Northeastern districts (Himachal Pradesh), Hindi was the reigning language. The Akali Dal (established 1920) wanted a Sikh majority state in Punjab, a demand which it clothed in a linguistic garb called Punjabi Suba. In 1951-1952, Akalis (who had merged into the Congress in 1948 following the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi) resuscitated itself as a party and fought the first general elections on the plank of Punjabi Suba on the slogan that religion and politics are one. However, winning 14 seats out of 154 in the Punjab Legislative Assembly came as a setback. In 1954, it again launched a campaign for Punjabi Suba but withdrew it after the Centre devised a regional formula dividing Punjab into two zones- Punjabi-speaking areas and Hindi-speaking areas. While the Sikh leadership alleges anti-Sikh bias of the Centre for not granting the Punjabi Suba, the Report of the States Reorganization Committee (1955), chaired by Justice S. Fazl Ali (Retd.), advanced a nuanced recommendation against conceding the same. While the report antedated the regional formula, its recommendations were based on the areas claimed by Akali Dal in a memorandum for Punjabi Suba. The SRC Report cited that a sizable number of people residing in those territories were not in favour of any reorganisation of the province. The report displays great insight. The Hindus as a whole, it is argued, have never accepted Punjabi as their medium of expression, to the exclusion of Hindi, because while at home they speak the Punjabi language, in their religious ceremonies and festivals, in their schools and colleges, they use Hindi. In any case, they have never accepted the Gurmukhi script (P.142) This is a truism that continues to be valid close to six decades after reorganisation of Punjab in 1966. The linguistic debate in rump Punjab was closed in favour of Punjabi in Gurumukhi script after Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, the two Hindu-dominated and Hindi-speaking states were carved out from Punjab. The high circulation of Hindi newspapers/periodicals is proof that Hindus have not given up Hindi. While Sikh political opinion would like to brand it as seditious, their allegation is actually an attempt to negate the contribution of Hindu Punjabis in the making of modern Punjab. I took recourse to the book Punjabs Eminent Hindus (1943) edited by N.B. Sen and published by New Book Society, Lahore, which sketched the lives of 20 Hindu ministers, judges, politicians, educationists and legislators. In them, I came across the activities of Goswami Ganesh Dutt, Swami Shraddhanand (Munsi Ram Vij), and Barrister Mukand Lal Puri who were Punjabi Hindus and also worked to advance Hindi in Punjab. It was mostly the Hindus of colonial Punjab who were at the forefront, making it a modern province. Hindi comes naturally to Punjabi Hindus. Their strong presence in Bollywood from the days of Prithviraj Kapoor to Arjun Kapoor bears it out. The real test of a language is in original writing. From Mohan Rakesh (Madan Mohan Guglani) to Narendra Kohli, many Punjabi Hindus have excelled in Hindi literature. A number of lyricists in Bollywood like D.N. Madhok, Kidar Sharma, Rajendra Krishan, Anand Bakshi, and Gulshan Kumar Mehta (nickname Bawra) were from Punjab. Hindi is as much a natural language for the Punjabi Hindus as is Punjabi. Devendra Kumar Bahl, from Patiala, at the age of 70 years started a new Hindi literary magazine in New Delhi viz. Abhinav Imroz to identify and promote new literary talents. The magazine has become popular amongst lovers of Hindi literature in India. The Hind newspapers in Punjab are tailor-made to appeal to the Hindus, not the Sikhs. For instance, on April 3, 2023 Dainik Bhaskar (Amritsar Edition) carried out an exclusive report by Rohit Sharma from Washington about how Hinduism is advancing across the USA, and within two decades the number of Hindu temples has increased from 435 to 1000. Uttam Hindu (Punjab-Chandigarh) on April 4, 2023 gave front-page publicity to Punjab CM Bhagwant Manns statement that a Yoga centre would be a boon to all Punjabis. There was a fiery debate in the 1950s and 60s regarding the mother tongue of Punjabi Hindus. Professor Om Prakash Kahol, himself an Arya Samajist, and member of Hindu Mahasabha, based in Hariana (Hoshiarpur dist) in 1955 argued that the language of Hindus of Punjab was Punjabi in Gurumukhi script. His book The Hindus of Punjabi State (1955), published by Hindu Prachar Sabha, Ambala Cantonment, had a deeply religious hue wherein he tried to emphasise the history of indissoluble Hindu-Sikh bonds and the common fight against Islam. Such apparently nationalist arguments have often been overlooked. The reality is that Hindus have no interest in Sikh politics and their tastes are at par with other Hindus of India. Hindus of Punjab are not against Punjabi, but they would not like to abandon Hindi either. It is clear in hindsight that Hindus of Punjab have retained Hindi, despite the purblind language policy of the Punjab government. No sense of guilt should attach to it. The either/or trap between Punjabi and Hindi, into which the Sikh opinion tried to nudge Punjab, will not work for the Hindus. While Punjabi Hindus might speak Punjabi with felicity, they are comfortable in reading and writing Hindi in Devanagari script. The writer is author and independent researcher based in New Delhi. The views expressed herein are his personal. Read all the Latest Opinions here Union Home Minister Amit Shah targeted opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh on Friday, recalling the terror tag attached to Azamgarh and claiming that rural UP got 24-hour electricity only during Ramzan when they were in power. Speaking after laying the foundation stone of the Harihar music college, Shah said Azamgarh was known for terrorism during SP, BSP and Congress rule, but it is witnessing development under the BJP government. I want to congratulate Yogi ji (CM Yogi Adityanath). In Azamgarh, which was considered the centre of terror across the country, he got the foundation of a music college laid to give respect to its heritage," he said, adding, Azamgarh was known for Harihar gharana of music, that image was spoiled by SP and BSP." Shah said Azamgarh used to face law and order problems in the past but the double-engine government of BJP has made it a centre of development. I was the home minister of Gujarat when there were bomb blasts in Ahmedabad. The police had caught the main sutradhaar (culprit) of it from Azamgarh," he said. Recalling his earlier visits to Uttar Pradesh, before the BJP government came to power in the state, he said there was hardly a night when power was available in rural areas. Twenty-four-hour power supply was available only during Ramzan," he said. Now the BJP government has ensured power to entire Uttar Pradesh and heralded a new period of development," Shah said. He also said it was difficult to imagine UP being riot-free" but the Adityanath government has made it possible. Slamming SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, who contested and won from Azamgarh Lok Sabha seat in the previous election, Shah asked the people whether he was he seen" during the coronavirus pandemic. Had he come here to give vaccination doses? The prime minister got the entire country vaccinated, provided foodgrains to the poor," the Union minister said. People have given their blessings in the form of votes in all elections and the prime minister has also opened the purse for development of Uttar Pradesh," Shah said, adding all development schemes now pass through the state. When Yadav vacated the Azamgarh Lok Sabha seat after becoming MLA in last years assembly poll, Bhojpuri star Dinesh Lal Yadav Nirahua" won the bypoll on a BJP ticket. Shah cautioned the people that opposition parties will again try and mislead" them but they should have faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ensure his victory in the next general election. Uttar Pradesh has marched on the path of development under the BJP government. Can SP, BSP or Congress work for the development of the state. In 2024 they will come again with pariwarvaad (dynasty) and jatiwad (casteism) to mislead people," Shah warned. Read all the Latest Politics News here Goa Congress leader Girish Chodankar has admitted that his party was facing a trust deficit" among voters in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled coastal state due to defections in its legislative unit in the last couple of years. In an interview to PTI, Chodankar, who headed the state unit of the Congress till its dismal performance in the Assembly polls last year, said defections were a bigger disease" and the victim was not just the grand old party in Goa as such things were happening in other parts of the country as well. In the February 2022 Assembly elections in Goa, the BJP won 20 seats, an improvement from its 2017 performance when it had clinched 13 seats in the 40-member House. The Congress could bag 11 seats last year, down from 17 it had won in the previous election. In September last year months after the results eight out of the 11 Congress MLAs defected to the ruling BJP. In 2019, as many as 10 Congress legislators had merged their rebel group with the saffron party. Before the last years Assembly polls, Congress had made all its 37 candidates take a pledge of party loyalty by taking them to various places of religious worship. The party, however, failed to stop the defections. Chodankar, who has moved the court for disqualification of these eight MLAs, who include former Goa chief minister Digambar Kamat, spoke about what ails the Congress in the tiny state. Congress is facing a trust deficit among voters in Goa. The party faces a huge challenge of regaining the trust of voters and rebuilding the party," he said. Defections is a bigger disease and the victim is not just the Congress. This is happening not just in Goa but in many parts of the country. BJP is desperate for power and doesnt want the opposition to get any space in the entire country. They are using money and muscle power, authority to crush the opposition," he alleged. Chodankar, who had resigned as the state Congress chief taking moral responsibility of the partys poor performance in the last election, claimed that the BJP posed the biggest threat to the Congress. Congress has a pan-India presence. The target is to destroy the Congress which is equal to destroying the opposition. Defectors are offered money and positions. Once they switch sides, they have no respect in the society and they repent. Most of the MLAs who defected in 2019 or earlier lost," he claimed. Chodankar said he was surprised and shocked that the eight newly-elected MLAs fell prey to money. In the name of development they have cheated even god and hurt the confidence and trust of people," he charged. The newly-elected MLAs last year took an oath, signed affidavits saying they will not defect and visited religious places (to take oath of loyalty). But they dont have the fear of god. They have cheated god and played with the sentiments of people. God is ultimate for the faithful, he added. There is a trust deficit and the victim is the Congress party. We are victims and also the accused. We are targeted by voters that our MLAs defect after winning. Why should people trust us. The question isWill we allow BJP to fulfil its agenda which is to create frustration among voters who are not with them. Their supporters are happy because their ideology is getting strengthened," he said. Chodankar lamented that ideology for defectors in money and power. On being asked why the Congress could not cash in on the anti-incumbency of the state government and give a fresh leadership, he said the party fielded new and young faces. Its tragic that they, too, ditched," he said. He admitted that his party could not counter the anti-incumbency because the BJP brought various parties to Goa to split Congress votes. BJP has taken over the entire leadership of the state Congress. They pressured our senior leader Pratapsinh Rane not to contest. But despite the troubles, our vote share was intact at 25 per cent as compared to 28 per cent last time," he said. According to him, the Congress lost its traditional 1.5 lakh votes to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Revolutionary Goans. The Revolutionary Goans took away 60,000 to 70,000 votes of the grand old party, he claimed. We failed to convince voters not to stay away from those who split votes. We lost 10 seats by a margin of less than 2,000 votes. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant won by 300 votes," he said. To a query on what is the road ahead for the Congress, Chodankar said the party can come back only by retaining the partymen and voters. Retain old strength. Make people, who are not active in the party, get involved in its activities. There is a lot of anger against us, including against me as I was leading the state unit, from the voters and also from the party, due to defections. We have to build fresh leadership with ideological connect," he said. The party needs to give confidence to people by aggressively exposing the BJP government, become the voice of the people and give such representatives to people who can be trusted. Despite pressure, three Congress MLAs have not defected. Their image in the eyes of the public is high," he said. Read all the Latest Politics News here Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is scheduled to visit Ayodhya on Sunday with the leaders of his party. On his first visit to Ayodhya as a Chief Minister, nearly 3,000 Shiv Sainiks, including ministers of the Maharastra government, party MPs and MLAs, will accompany Shinde. To accommodate all Shiv Sainiks travelling with Shinde, almost all hotels, guest houses and dharamshalas in the city, where a grand temple of Lord Ram is being built, have been booked, according to a report by Times of India. While announcing his Ayodhya visit, Shinde had said that his party ministers and leaders, who could not visit Ayodhya last time (during the erstwhile Uddhav Thackeray-led government) will accompany him to the Uttar Pradesh city. Thousands of Shiv Sainiks Likely In Ayodhya During Shindes Visit Thousands of Shiv Sainiks are likely to reach Ayodhya a day in advance to welcome Shinde, who is set to perform aarti at the Saryu river there. Apart from the Chief Ministers entourage and Shiv Sainiks from Maharashtra, around 10,000 party activists from different parts of Uttar Pradesh are also expected to gather in Ayodhya to welcome Shinde. Maharashtras Contribution to Ram Mandir As a token of Maharashtras contribution to the Ram temple construction, logs of sag (teak) wood would be donated during the Chief Ministers visit. ALSO READ: Teakwood from Maharashtra To be Used in Ram Temple in Ayodhya | Read All About World Famous Chandrapur Sagwan "As part of the kar seva (during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement), my mentor late Anand Dighe had donated a silver brick for the Ayodhya temple. We have an old bond with Ayodhya and Lord Ram," Shinde had said while announcing his visit. ALSO READ: Eknath, Youve Done A Great Job: When CM Uddhav Thackeray Showered Praise at Trailer Launch of Dharmaveer, Anand Dighes Biopic Maharashtra CM To Get A Grand Welcome In Ayodhya As per reports, the Maharastra Chief Minister is expected to reach Ayodhya by road after landing at Lucknow airport. Temporary gates, banners and posters, welcoming the Maharashtra CM and his entourage, have been set up all along the 150 km long stretch of the highway from Lucknow airport to Ayodhya. The developments can after a Mahant of Ayodhya extended a personal invitation to Shinde to visit Lord Ram Temple, following the Maharashtra governments move to send the first consignment of prized teakwood from Chandrapur district for the temple construction. According to Naresh Mhake, the former Thane mayor who was in Ayodhya to finalise the programmes of Shindes visit, the Chief Minister will travel with a motorcade of more than a hundred vehicles from Lucknow airport to Ayodhya. He will be welcomed by UP Shiv Sainiks in a large number, Mhake told TOI. Shinde will be arriving in Lucknow on Saturday and will visit Ayodhya on Sunday where he will offer prayers at Hanumangarhi temple and Ram Mandir. He will also see the construction of the Ram temple and perform evening aarti on the banks of the Saryu. He will return to Mumbai on Sunday evening," said Viraj Mulay, CM Shindes spokesperson. Shindes Temple Visits The Maharastra Chief Minister is a known believer and often visits temples to pay his obeisance. In the first week of February this year, Shinde visited Malang Gad fort near Kalyan in Thane and performed maha aarti at the Machhindranath temple atop it. In November last year, five months after he signalled his rebellion from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and led a group of MLAs to Guwahati, Shinde visited Assam capital and call on the renowned Kamakhya Devi temple to thank the goddess for her blessings. He was joined by 40 of his MLAs and MPs on the visit. Prior to his Assam tour, the Chief Minister raised some eyebrows in political corridors when he abruptly cancelled all his meetings and left for Shirdi to visit Saibaba temple with his wife and two other ministers. Read all the Latest Politics News here It was six weeks ago on February 23 when Congress leaders raised the rather objectionable slogan Modi Teri Kabr Khudegi" while on a protest at the Delhi airport tarmac over the arrest of party spokesperson Pawan Khera. The slogan has since then come to haunt the Congress as the top leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party has made it a rallying issue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself, home minister Amit Shah, and BJP president JP Nadda the partys top leaders have cited this comment over half a dozen times in the past six weeks to suggest the Congress is now wishing death for the PM. The latest was the Prime Minister raising it in his address to BJP leaders on the partys foundation day on Thursday. He first said on February 24 in Shillong that in response to the Congress slogan, people were saying Modi Tera Kamal Khilega". The BJP plans to make this a big issue during the Karnataka election campaign too. The Congress has so far not condemned the slogan made by its leaders on February 23. More than the statement, it is the mindset of the Congress which is being called out by the BJP leadership. Unfortunately for them, the holes or graves they dig, they usually end up falling into, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla told News18. He said the Modi Teri Kabr Khudegi mindset of the Congress" was part of the constant 21-year attempt from 2002 to 2023 by this cottage industry of Modi-phobia that has now become a multinational company of hatred against Modi. This is the mindset of the parivar that is so desperate to come to power that it has crossed all limits of political civility, he said. Turning the tables PM Modi was quick to raise the issue in an election rally in Shillong on the very next day after Congress leaders had chanted the slogan. Those who have been rejected by the people are saying Modi Teri Kabr Khudegi, but people across the country are saying Modi Tera Kamal Khilega, he said. On March 12, while inaugurating projects in Karnataka, the Prime Minister said the Congress was busy dreaming of digging his grave but he was busy dreaming of developing Karnataka. Congressmen who are dreaming of digging Modis grave do not know that Modis biggest security shield is the blessings of crores of mothers and sisters," the PM said. Home minister Amit Shah had attacked the Congress on the issue while speaking at a public rally in Karnataka on March 3. What has happened to the Congress under Rahul Gandhi that they are making such slogans? Shah said. He said the prayers of the Congress would not be heard as all 130 crore people of the country were praying for Modis long life. Speaking in Kerala on March 12, Shah again asked if people were in agreement with the Congress slogan of Modi Teri Kabr Khudegi" and said he would like to tell Rahul Gandhi that the Congress may try to humiliate Modi but he will return to power stronger. BJP president JP Nadda while speaking twice last month said such language by the Congress showed its national character". Congress ambivalent in response The Congress has been ambivalent in its response so far with party leader Udit Raj defending the comment on February 25, saying it was political language and meant to say that the political grave of Modi should be dug. However, the party has not condemned the statement. In the past, such personal attacks by the Congress on Modi have boomeranged, like most famously the Maut Ka Saudagar" comment by Sonia Gandhi in 2007 before the Gujarat elections, or the 100 faces like Ravan" remark by Mallikarjun Kharge on the PM before polls in the state last year. Read all the Latest Politics News here No salesperson to judge your pockets. No cash counters. It doesnt matter whether you buy something or not. Its perfectly fine if you havent used any Apple device ever. Or, maybe you just want to learn photography skills. Everyone is welcome at an Apple store. Apple BKC- Indias first Apple store- is about to open to the public in April at Jio World Drive Mall, Mumbai. The Cupertino-based tech giant is clear about one thing: consistent customer experience around the world. This means you can expect the same experience irrespective of whether you visit the Apple store in New York, San Francisco, Dubai, Singapore or even Mumbai. At Apple, the customer is always our North Star. And wherever we are, our commitment is the same: to deliver exceptional service to our customers, exceed their expectations, and enrich their lives. Apple Stores are places where everybody is welcome, where you always get one-of-a-kind customer service and endless inspiration from our talented retail team members, said Deirdre OBrien, Apples senior vice president of Retail to News18. You can expect the same Apple retail experience irrespective of whether you visit the Apple store in New York, San Francisco, Dubai, Singapore or even Mumbai. An Apple store is a place where the latest technology from the company meets the local art. While the product buying experience, layout, look-and-feel is similar across all stores around the world, Apple pays extra attention to the community they are serving by integrating local art, heritage and experiences. [Apple Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. (Image: Apple)] Singapore, which has less than half the population of Indias bustling city of Mumbai, has three Apple stores- Orchard Road, Marina Bay Sands and Jewel Changi. If you happen to visit all the three stores in Singapore in a day, you will notice that the experience is nearly identical yet each of them are completely different in terms of design, narrating a unique story. In Mumbai, the Apple BKC is inspired by the iconic Kaali Peeli taxi art. We like to say our stores are where the best of Apple comes together. Our stores serve as centres for the community where people can come together, and get hands-on with all of Apples latest products and services. And in every one of our stores, were thoughtful about creating experiences that delight our customers, added Deirdre. [Apple BKC at Jio World Drive Mall, Mumbai (Image: Apple)] How are premium resellers different from Apple Stores? For Indian consumers, the experience is limited to Apple resellers only and are yet to know about Apple retail- the joy of buying something directly from Apple. And lets be clear about one thing- you need not worry about snobbish sales representatives judging your pocket before showing a new Apple device. Also, it doesnt matter whether you can speak in English or not. At an Apple store, everyone is welcome and no one is going to force you to buy or make you feel bad about enquiring about new features or devices. In fact, Apple doesnt even place large CCTV cameras around the store to make visitors feel uncomfortable. You need not worry about snobbish sales representatives judging your pocket before showing a new Apple device. Also, it doesnt matter whether you can speak in English or not. In every one of our stores, were thoughtful about creating experiences that enrich our customers lives. And we design our stores just like we design our products by putting the customer at the centre of everything we do. We also work with a great range of partners who offer our products and help us reach even more customers wherever they are, explained Deirdre. The entire purpose of an Apple store is to attract people and make them experience products. The retail philosophy is more towards educating people than making them buy. And the attention to details is something only Apple can do. The height of desks, the angles at which devices are placed, the lighting and the entire setting is such that visitors can comfortably focus on the device they want to try out. Theres free WiFi, so visitors can thoroughly check out the device and spend as much time as they want to. And if they like something, theres no need to queue at any cash counter, because there arent any cash counters inside any Apple store. You simply have to ask an Apple team member for the bill and make the payment. Theres no need to queue at any cash counter, because there arent any cash counters inside any Apple store. Buyers can also opt to order a product online and get it picked at the Apple store. With Apple Pickup we make it easier for customers to shop online and receive their orders in stores or Apple Trade In where customers can upgrade their device at home or in-store, added Deirdre. After buying a device, there are technicians who help in setting up the device and also as part of after-sales support, there are experts to fix particular issues that users may face. [Dedicated space for Today at Apple sessions at Apple Jewel Changi. (Image: Apple)] Free training sessions with Today at Apple One of the key components of an Apple store is the Today at Apple initiative. Apple users can book free appointments as and when available using the Apple Store app to learn about using features and knowing more about Apple products. Our Today at Apple program is a great example of how our teams offer dedicated skills sessions on specific products, features and apps that will educate and entertain our customers. For the artist, the creator, the builder or the first time Apple customer there is a Today at Apple session for everyone, said Deirdre. Apple users can book free appointments as and when available using the Apple Store app to learn about using features and knowing more about Apple products. Apple stores, over the years, have become a unique experience for people across the world and finally its here in India now. Just to give an example of the craze around Apple stores, a couple in Singapore included the Apple Orchard Road in their wedding photography itinerary! Read all the Latest Tech News here If youre familiar with the Netflix Original Money Heist, then youre aware of the ingenuity displayed by the thieves in the TV series. Its worth noting that in Washington, USA, a group of thieves utilized similar tactics to breach the wall of a coffee shop named Seattle Coffee Gear and gain entry into an Apple Storedisappearing with iPhones valued at roughly Rs 4.9 crore. According to Seattles King 5 News via MacRumors, the thieves entered the backroom of the Apple store in the Alderwood Mall by tunneling through the washroom of the coffee shop adjacent to it. The thieves were able to bypass the Apple Stores security system and reportedly stole a total of 436 iPhones that were worth around $5,00,000. Seattle Coffee Gear manager, Eric Marks claimed that the coffee shop isnt particularlr adjacent to the Apple Store, based off its construction and said, I would have never suspected we were adjacent to the Apple Store, how it wraps around I mean. He added, So, someone really had to think it out and have access to the mall layout. Good morning Twitter fans! Yesterday was a weird day1. Two men broke into one of our retail locations. Why? To cut a hole in our bathroom wall to access the Apple Store next door and steal $500k worth of Iphones 2. Later that night on the way to the grocery store my wife pic.twitter.com/DcUld6ULEd Mike Atkinson (@coffeemikeatkin) April 4, 2023 MacRumors reported that the Washington Police has obtained surveillance footage of the burglary, but as the matter is currently under investigation, no details or footage have been made public yet. Additionally, the thieves showed little interest in the coffee shop and did not steal anything from it. With that said, the crimes description appears to be plot straight out of a Hollywood film, and its interesting to note the amount of planning and surveillance that must have went into executing a robbery of this scaleright in the middle of a mall. Read all the Latest Tech News here The Youth Leadership Beatrice program is in its second year and is seeking applications for next years membership. The group is sponsored by a partnership between the Beatrice Area Chamber of Commerce and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension. Beatrice Public Schools also assists with the oversight of the group. Assistant Superintendent Jackie Nielsen said the participants are chosen only from Beatrice High School with around 15 students participating each year. Its an opportunity to engage in civic and community leadership as students, she said. Students will work with their peers and adults in a setting that provides real-life experiences and gives them the support and structure necessary to deal effectively with those experiences. Extension Educator Jacie Milius the program aims to get youth active in their community in hopes they will feel connected. We want the youth to return after their post-secondary experiences, she said. Chamber of Commerce Membership and Marketing Coordinator Kristen Jensen said they wanted youth to be empowered in the process. We hope that they will recognize they have a voice and can make a change in the community if they see there is an issue, she said. We hope they will make connections with resources and contacts with people during the program to make those changes. Next years design is a little different than what we have done in the past. The class begins meeting in June and is completed during Homestead Days of the following June. They usually meet one time a month. Jensen said students will have a day of learning about social meeting and etiquette. Students will go to City Council and other community leadership. We want to make next years class more experiential learning, she said. There will be more tours of businesses throughout the year. Group members are also involved in service projects like planning and implementing Arts in the Park. Jensen said her favorite part of working with the Youth Leadership group is seeing the changes that occur throughout the year. When they realize they have a voice when there is a concern or problem in the community, she said. They are youth and sometimes they dont have the confidence at the beginning, but they do by the end of the year. The current Youth Leadership group went to Landmark Snacks for a tour on Wednesday afternoon. Youth member Cecily Wiedel said she enjoys being active. The best part of the program is getting to do tours and projects, she said. Youth member Sara Dodge said she likes being a part of the group. We get together and learn about things we dont usually get to learn about, she said. I like talking about the community and learning about how we can help, said Claire McGrury. Youth member Peyton Raber said its something cool to do on a Wednesday. I like learning about the community, said Saige Kobes. Students currently in grades 8-10 are encouraged to make application for the group beginning in June. Anyone interested can find an application in the guidance counselors office at the Beatrice Middle School, Beatrice High School or at the Beatrice Area Chamber of Commerce. Contact the Chamber at 402-223-2338 or info@beatricechamber.com . Applications are due by April 14, 2023. Over the years, Facebook and Instagram have faced mammoth fines for violating users privacy around the world. However, there was nothing but pin-drop silence when News18 asked the parent company Meta about data collection practices in India. The company is not bound under any existing law in India to reveal what type of data these platforms collect from users, where they store these digital details, whether they store it in India or outside the country and who has access to such information. However, the companys hesitation in sharing such information definitely makes alarm bells ring. To dig deeper into the issue, News18 reached out to those who have an understanding of how these companies function. They not only revealed what type of data Facebook and Instagram collect but also shared their insights about data storage and monitoring practices. Monitoring User Behaviour News18 asked Meta whether Facebook and Instagram know how long a user has watched a particular video or post and when they skipped it as well as whether they keep track of such user behaviour. Even though Meta did not respond to the query, Major Vineet, Founder and Global President of CyberPeace Foundation, said companies do keep track of users data consumption in the form of what videos we watch, share and like. He noted that this form of data tracking enables the platforms to show users content that might be amusing on the pretext of previously viewed content. Vineet said: It can also be seen in some cases when one searches for a particular product on e-commerce websites and then sees the ads of the same product on their social media platforms as well. This is all part of big data management and processing by analysing the data consumption of an individual since the software can predict the behaviour of the person. The chief technology officer at ESDS Software Solutions Ltd, Rushikesh Jadhav, highlighted that social media platforms can also have hidden agendas in which they target specific users or individuals with particular impressions or ideas. For instance, if a social media company is incentivised to sell a particular smartphone to a user, they might promote relevant tech and positive reviews of that product to that user, thereby manipulating their opinion about the product. So not only do these platforms track user behaviour, but they also manipulate it by promoting certain content or changing opinions about specific products, he added. Third-Party Data Sharing Neha Suyal, co-founder of Woovly, a company which advertises on these platforms, and Upendran Nandakumar, founder of digital marketing company Ayatiworks, strongly believe in the policies of these platforms to protect user data. While Suyal said the processes put in today are comparatively stringent than before, Nandakumar believes that it is also important for users to be aware of such practices and opt out of data sharing with third parties if they wish. However, Jadhav said such platforms share various details such as user age, gender, language, and region with third-party companies and this data is used to target advertisements for specific individuals. Social media companies also share user data with third parties for background checks, platform safety, and other reasons. They profile users and categorise them as neutral, dangerous, or positive influencers for their platform, Jadhav added. Data Storage and Access Along with the above questions, News18 also tried to confirm with Meta where they store Indias data and whether foreign employees have access to it. However, the firm denied a comment. CPFs Vineet said apart from the data centres in the US and Ireland, Meta is establishing a Mumbai data centre, which will allow the Indian user to utilise the grievance redressal mechanisms more easily. But according to Jadhav, the terms of service for these social media platforms typically state that user data may be used for analytical or performance optimization purposes by the company. This strongly suggests that the company has access to user data both within and outside the country. Type of Data As per the analysis and experts who know about the business practices, Facebook and Instagram collect personal details (name, email address, phone number, date of birth, and home address), location data and usage data, device data (such as the OS and device settings), IP address, browser type and other related information. Facebook and Instagram also collect online activity data, which includes information on when and how often users log in, their preferred log in time, and the order in which they engage with platform features, such as checking notifications or scrolling through the news feed. Additionally, they track the type of content users engage with, such as what they like, dislike, comment, or repost, as well as the type of content they repeatedly watch. Facebook and Instagram look at users contact details to see who is on their contact list, how often they communicate with these individuals, the nature of the calls, and the call duration. Overall, these apps collect an extensive amount of user data from users devices, Jadhav said. Read all the Latest Tech News here Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial should step down, the countrys government demanded on Friday, questioning his impartiality. The demand was put forward by information and broadcasting minister Marriyum Aurangzeb in a press conference following a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) in Islamabad. The Chief Justice has now become controversial and should resign, said the minister. The crisis persists as the demand comes a day after the National Assembly passed a resolution rejecting a three-member Supreme Court benchs minority" verdict on the Punjab province elections and made it binding on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his cabinet to not implement the ruling. Justice Athar Minallah of the Supreme Court (SC) on Friday released his detailed note on the suo motu notice proceedings on the delay in holding polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces, saying that the case was dismissed 4-3. Justice Minallah was among the judges who rejected the suo motu notice taken by the CJP regarding the delay in polls on the advice of an SC bench hearing the Ghulam Mehmood Dogar case. CJP Bandial had formed a nine-member bench to hear the suo motu case. However, two of the nine judges recused themselves, while four Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Yahya Afridi, and Justice Minallah had dismissed the case. In the note, Justice Minallah reiterated that the manner and mode in which these proceedings were initiated had unnecessarily exposed the court to political controversies. Read all the Latest News here China on Friday slapped sanctions on two American organisations that hosted Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen during her visit to the US and her meeting with the House Speaker, a day after President Xi Jinping said it is wishful thinking to expect Beijing to compromise on its stand on the self-ruled island. Tsais meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy the third most senior official in the US on Thursday took place against the backdrop of repeated warnings from Beijing to Washington that the meeting should not happen. It was the first time a Taiwan president had met a US Speaker on American soil. China views any official exchanges between foreign governments and Taiwan as an infringement on Beijings claims of sovereignty over the island. Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the Washington-based think tank Hudson Institute and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California would be banned from any cooperation, exchange or transaction with institutions and individuals in China. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley was the site where Tsai met McCarthy and a bipartisan group of congressional leaders. It was the second high-profile meeting between an American official and Taiwans president. China also sanctioned the Hudson Institute, which hosted an event and presented Tsai with its global leadership award on March 30. The sanctioned groups included Asia-based groups The Prospect Foundation and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats for their involvement in promoting Taiwans independence. [The] Taiwan issue is the core of Chinas core interests. The Chinese government and Chinese people will never agree to anyone making a fuss about the one-China issue, President Xi told European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a meeting in Beijing on Thursday. It was his first comment after the US House Speaker McCarthy met Tsai, which Beijing sharply criticised. Anyone who expects China to compromise on the Taiwan question could only be wishful thinking and self-defeating, Xi was quoted as saying by the state-run Xinhua news agency. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, von der Leyen said the Taiwan issue had been discussed and she had told Xi that the threat to use force to change the status quo is unacceptable. It is important that some of the tensions that might occur should be resolved through dialogue, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. On Fridays sanctions, the foreign ministry in Beijing said that both American institutions were banned from having exchanges, cooperation, and other activities with any individuals, universities or institutions in China. We want to stress China will take resolute measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a media briefing. She also sought to dismiss a question on how Beijing can integrate Taiwan, which follows a multiple-party democratic system with that of Chinas one-party rule headed by the ruling Communist Party. The Taiwan question is not about democracy but about Chinas territorial integrity and reunification and Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinas territory, Mao said. The sovereignty and territory of China have never been divided and will never be divided, she asserted. Some countries support Taiwan in the name of democracy and use the Taiwan question to contain China. This move is dangerous and gets nowhere. Taiwans future lies in the development of cross-strait relations and reunification with the mainland, she added. The difference in systems is not a barrier to reunification or an excuse for division, Mao said and advocated the one country-two systems formula which Beijing sought to apply to Hong Kong. Peaceful reunification and the one country two systems take Taiwans realities into full account and help to achieve peace and stability after re-unification, she said. It is the basic principle to resolving the Taiwan question and the best way for realising reunification, she said. The sanctions came a day after China vowed reprisals against Taiwan. China and the US also flexed their naval might by deploying aircraft carriers in a rare showdown in the Taiwan Strait. Under its longstanding One China policy, the US acknowledges Chinas position that Taiwan is part of China, but has never officially recognised Beijings claim to the island of 23 million. Under the Taiwan Relations Act, it is also bound by law to provide the democratic island with the means to defend itself. Meanwhile, Taiwans foreign ministry on Friday said the head of state of the Republic of China (Taiwan) exercises a basic right of a sovereign nation when travelling to other countries to engage in diplomatic activities. China has no right to intervene. China is overreacting when it uses this as a pretext to further suppress Taiwans international space and impose so-called sanctions on related individuals and organisations. Such irrational behaviour not only increases the Taiwanese peoples antipathy to China but also exposes the erratic and absurd nature of the communist regime, Taiwans foreign ministry said in a statement. Read all the Latest News here China sent warships and aircraft near Taiwan for a second day on Friday and insisted the island remains an inseparable part of China", after President Tsai Ing-wen angered Beijing by meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Three Chinese warships sailed in waters surrounding the self-ruled island, while a fighter jet and an anti-submarine helicopter also crossed the islands air defence identification zone (ADIZ), Taiwans defence ministry said. Hours before Tsai met McCarthy in Los Angeles on her way back from Latin America, Chinas Shandong aircraft carrier sailed through Taiwans southeastern waters on its way to the western Pacific. Tsai told reporters her government was committed to ensuring the free and democratic way of life of the people of Taiwan", before she left Los Angeles where she was stopping on her way back from Latin America. We also hope to do our best to maintain peace and stability between the two sides," she added. Beijing said on Friday that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China", after repeatedly warning against the meeting. Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity will never be divided," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing. The future of Taiwan lies in reunification with the motherland." AFP journalists on Pingtan island, Chinas nearest outpost to Taiwan, saw a military ship and at least three army helicopters transiting through the strait on Friday afternoon. The silver-grey Dongtuo-859 tugboat cruised southwards, about one kilometre from the shore, while the two aircraft flew northwards over the waters at fairly low altitude. It was not immediately clear if the movements represented an enhancement of normal patrols that Beijing conducts in the region. Muted response Last August, China deployed warships, missiles and fighter jets around Taiwan for its largest show of force in years, following a trip to the island by McCarthys predecessor Nancy Pelosi. Beijings response to the Tsai-McCarthy meeting has so far been more muted and Chinas ADIZ incursions in the past two days have not risen beyond the activities of an average week. But Taiwan is still on alert, with Premier Chen Chien-jen warning on Friday that Taipeis defence and security agencies were keeping a close eye on developments. On Thursday, Taiwans defence ministry said three warships had been detected around the Taiwan Strait and one Chinese naval helicopter crossed the islands ADIZ. The display prompted calls from the United States asking China to cease its military, diplomatic and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful diplomacy". The ADIZ is not the same as Taiwans territorial airspace, including a far greater area that overlaps with part of Chinas own ADIZ and even some of the mainland. Successful meeting McCarthy, who is second in line to the US presidency, had originally planned to go to Taiwan himself but opted instead to meet Tsai in California. The decision was viewed as a compromise that would underscore support for Taiwan but avoid inflaming tensions with China, a move analysts say has so far proven successful. Tsai said on Thursday that it was quite common for us to meet our US friends during transits". I also hope the Chinese side can exercise self-restraint and dont overreact," she added. McCarthy had vowed that US arms sales to Taiwan which have infuriated the Chinese leadership would continue, in what he said was a proven strategy to dissuade aggression. It is a critical lesson that we learned through Ukraine, that the idea of just sanctions in the future is not going to stop somebody" who wants to wage war, he said. Sanctions On Friday, China slapped sanctions on Taipeis de facto ambassador to the United States, Hsiao Bi-khim, banning her from entering China and accusing her of deliberately inciting cross-strait confrontation". Taiwan condemned the sanctions, saying Beijing was attempting to further suppress our countrys international space". Coercion and suppression will not change the objective facts, but will only strengthen our governments belief in upholding freedom and democracy," Taiwans foreign office said in a statement. Beijing also announced sanctions against the Hudson Institute, a Washington-based conservative think tank, as well as the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, which hosted the meeting. The two organisations are now barred from engaging in transactions and cooperation with Chinese entities. On Thursday, Taiwan said Chinese coast guard vessels were obstructing" trade by carrying out on-site inspections on cargo and passenger ships. Tsai said Taipeis national security team was closely monitoring the situation" to ensure the safety of its ships and to prevent Chinas interference in our territorial waters". Read all the Latest News here At least eight people were dead and scores injured after violent clashes broke out between two ethnic outfits in the rugged terrains of Bandarban district in Bangladesh, sparking panic and forcing locals to flee their homes, police said on Friday. The incident took place on Thursday night in Rowangchhari upazila in Bangladeshs south-eastern Bandarban District, which is a hotbed of insurgency. We have recovered eight bodies from the scene, police officer Abdul Mannan said. Mannan said the bodies were brought to the upazila headquarters on Friday for autopsy and other legal formalities. Police said nearly 200 people fled their homes following the clashes, fearing violence among feuding groups, and took refuge at an army camp at Rowangchhari upazila. The reason for the clashes is not known. But police suspect the incident involved members of the newly-formed outfit called Kuki Chin Front (KNF), which is the break-away faction of the United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF). The UPDF is a regional political party based in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. Chakmas form the majority ethnic group in the party. Formed in 1998, the group claims to seek a fully autonomous Hill Tracts through peaceful and democratic means. Security officials said the KNF emerged as an armed group dominated mostly by the Bom ethnic community and reportedly formed an alliance with an Islamist militant group in the hills. The KNF claims to be representing six of the 16 ethnic minority groups of Chittagong Hill Tracts. They are demanding a separate state be formed with several sub-districts of two of the three hill districts. The KNFs terrorist activities forced residents there to leave their abode and come to our (army) camp for temporary refuge. We have sheltered them and arranged their food with the help of civil administration, Captain Fahim, an official of Bangladesh Armys Bandarban Zone told journalists. Bangladeshs security agencies said a manhunt was underway to track down and arrest Nathan Bome, the KNF chief. Meanwhile, authorities will maintain heightened security in the affected areas. In the event of further violence, they may enact movement-restrictive measures, such as imposing a curfew in the region, officials added. Read all the Latest News here Gunmen have attacked a rural village in northern central Nigeria killing dozens of people in the latest in a string of deadly assaults in the region, local government officials said Friday. The attack happened on Wednesday in Umogidi community, Benue State, where tit-for-tat clashes are common between nomadic herders and settled farmers competing for land and resources. The 46 casualties were from the bodies of victims found and retrieved. Many people are still missing, so the number of those killed may be higher," Paul Hemba, security adviser to Benue State governor, told AFP. He blamed herdsmen who he said had been attacking local communities over the last month. Soldiers have been dispatched to the area, so the situation is a bit calm now." The motive for the attack was not clear but Benue has been one of the hardest hit by intercommunal clashes between farmers and ethnic Fulani herders accused of destroying farmland with their cattle grazing. Baba Usman Ngelzarma, chairman of the Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), a union of Fulani herders, warned against blaming herders without investigation. There is a deliberate campaign of demonisation of Fulani herders which started in Benue and spread to other parts of Nigeria," he said. We are not exonerating Fulani herders from involvement in some of the attacks but the way they are always blamed for every attack is unfair and prejudiced." He called for an investigation to find the real perpetrators. Bala Ejeh, Otukpo local government chairman, said the gunmen attacked on Wednesday afternoon when people were mourning three others killed a day earlier. He also said 46 bodies had been recovered so far, including that of his own son and two relatives. Communal violence is just one of the security challenges facing President-elect Bola Tinubu who won a February presidential ballot that was marked by heavy delays and accusations of vote rigging. Security forces are also battling a 14-year-long jihadist conflict and attacks by separatists. Intercommunal violence has spiralled into broader criminality in the northwest and centre of the country, where heavily armed bandit militias ransack villages and carry out mass abductions for ransom. Read all the Latest News here An Indian man critically injured in a 2019 bus crash in Dubai which killed 17 people, including 12 Indians, has been awarded Dh 5 million (over Rs 11 crore) in compensation, a media report has said. Muhammad Baig Mirza was a 20-year-old engineering student when the bus he was travelling in from Oman to the UAE met with an accident in Dubai, killing 17 of the 31 passengers, 12 of whom were Indians, the Khaleej Times newspaper reported on Wednesday. The accident occurred when the bus driver hit an overhead height barrier at the entry point of a metro station parking here, leaving the upper-left portion of the bus destroyed, the report said. The driver, a native of Oman, was sentenced to 7 years in prison and ordered to pay the blood money of Dh 3.4 million to the victims families. According to Mirzas lawyers, the UAE Insurance Authority, a primary compromise court, initially awarded him Dh 1 million as compensation. The petitioners then approached the Dubai Court of First Instance and obtained a judgment that revised the compensation figure to Dh 5 million, the report said. Mirza was on his way from Muscat after spending the holidays with his relatives when the accident occurred, critically injuring him. According to the report, Mirza was admitted to a hospital in Dubai for over two months and remained unconscious for 14 days, spending even more months after that in treatment in a rehabilitation centre. According to the report, he was preparing for his final semester examination as part of his Diploma in Mechanical Engineering and could not complete his studies. Mirza suffered severe brain damage in the accident, because of which doctors said his chances of returning to normal life were slim. Additionally, the injuries to his skull, ears, mouth, lungs, arms and legs were also assessed by forensic medical experts. Based on the report, which said that Mirza had suffered 50 per cent permanent damage to his brain, the UAE Supreme Court directed the insurance company to pay the compensation, the report said. We are very happy with the judgement, Senior Consultant Easa Anees was quoted as saying. Read all the Latest India News here A one-time chief of staff for former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan died Monday after being shot when FBI agents confronted him in a manhunt launched when he failed to show up for trial on corruption charges, his lawyer said. Attorney Joseph Murtha said the FBI confirmed Roy McGraths death to him. He added that it was not immediately clear if McGraths wound was self-inflicted or came during an exchange of gunfire with agents. William Brennan, an attorney for McGraths wife, Laura Bruner, also confirmed the death and said she was absolutely distraught. According to an earlier email from FBI Supervisory Special Agent Shayne Buchwald in Maryland, McGrath was wounded during an agent-involved shooting about 6:30 p.m. in a commercial area on the southwestern outskirts of Knoxville, Tennessee. Buchwald said McGrath was taken to a hospital but did not elaborate. Further details, including how McGrath was wounded and what led up to it, were not immediately released. The shooting was under investigation. The FBI takes all shooting incidents involving our agents or task force members seriously, said Buchwald, who declined to confirm that McGrath had died. McGrath, 53, was declared a wanted fugitive after his disappearance, and the FBI said he was considered an international flight risk. In a statement, Hogan said he and his wife, Yumi, are deeply saddened by this tragic situation. We are praying for Mr. McGraths family and loved ones. Murtha called the death a tragic ending to the past three weeks of uncertainty and said his client always maintained his innocence. After McGrath failed to appear at Baltimores federal courthouse on March 13, Murtha said he believed McGrath, who had moved to Naples, Florida, was planning to fly to Maryland the night before. Instead of beginning jury selection, a judge issued an arrest warrant and dismissed prospective jurors. McGrath was indicted in 2021 on accusations that he fraudulently secured a $233,648 severance payment, equal to one year of salary as the head of Maryland Environmental Service, by falsely telling the agencys board the governor had approved it. He was also accused of fraud and embezzlement connected to roughly $170,000 in expenses. McGrath pleaded not guilty. McGrath resigned just 11 weeks into the job as Hogans chief of staff in 2020 after the payments became public. If convicted of the federal charges, he would have faced a maximum sentence of 20 years for each of four counts of wire fraud, plus a maximum of 10 years for each of two counts of embezzling funds from an organization receiving more than $10,000 in federal benefits. Read all the Latest News here Close to 10,000 Burmese people fled to Thailand as the Myanmar junta and units of an ethnic armed group engaged in fierce fighting which began this Wednesday, the BBC said in a report. The BBC report citing Thai officials said the Burmese who fled to Thailand are from Shwe Kokko town, controlled by a pro-military militia and is also home to Chinese ownedcasinos. The BBC said it is one of the largest instances of people moving across the border following the beginning of the military coup two years ago. The Myanmar military failed to impose its authority on vast swathes of the country and ethnic armed groups have been fighting the military for decades. They have formed Peoples Defence Forces (PDFs) across the country and continue to offer stiff opposition to the junta. Thousands have died and more than 1 million have been displaced since the coup. The UN says one-third of Myanmar is in need of aid. The recent fight erupted after the ethnic group Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and its allies carried out attacks on military outposts and a gate camp near Shwe Kokko on Wednesday. The KNLA members told BBC Thai that more than 80 people died on both sides. Thailands Mae Sot and Mae Ramat areas said humanitarian assistance is needed urgently and refugees were housed in schools, monasteries and rubber farms. The ethnic group closed the Myawaddy-Kawkareik Asia highway for the next 14 days. In Shwe Kokko, the Border Guard Forces are asking people to remain indoors and continue to guard the casinos. The BBC in its report said the junta continues to crush civilian resistance and arrested 15 teachers for teaching schools backed by the exiled National Unity Government (NUG). These teachers were arrested from their homes in Mandalay, Saigang and Magway, the BBC said. Earlier in July, 30 teachers were arrested for similar reasons. The BBC report also pointed out how the junta views the establishment of independent schools and clinics as a threat to its existence and how children have suffered the most due to the civil war as the number of students taking the 10th grade matriculation exam in state-run schools has dropped drastically. Read all the Latest News here Gunmen have attacked a rural village in northern central Nigeria, killing dozens of people, local government officials said on Friday. The attack happened on Wednesday in Umogidi community in Benue State, where tit-for-tat clashes are common between nomadic herders and settled farmers competing for land and resources. The 46 casualties were from the bodies of victims found and retrieved. Many people are still missing, so number of those killed may be higher," Paul Hemba, security advisor to Benue State governor, told AFP. He blamed herdsmen who he said had been attacking local communities over the last month. Soldiers have been dispatched to the area, so the situation is a bit calm now." The motive for the attack was not clear but Benue has been one of the hardest hit by clashes between farmers and herders who they accuse of destroying farmland with their cattle grazing. A representative of the national herders association was not immediately available for comment. Bala Ejeh, Otukpo local government chairman, said the gunmen attacked on Wednesday afternoon when people were mourning three others killed a day earlier. He also said 46 bodies had been recovered so far, including that of his own son and two relatives. Communal violence is just one of the security challenges facing President-elect Bola Tinubu who won a presidential ballot last month that was marked by heavy delays and accusations of vote rigging. Security forces are also battling a 14-year-long jihadist conflict in the countrys northwest and attacks by separatists in the southeast. Intercommunal violence has spiralled into broader criminality in the northwest and centre of the country, where heavily armed bandit militias ransack villages and carry out mass abductions for ransom. Read all the Latest News here 59 turtles smuggled in Nghe An Police in the central province of Nghe An have seized 59 big-headed turtles which had been illegally kept and transported in the area. The turtles seized in Nghe An The Save Vietnam's Wildlife said on April 5 that they had co-operated with Nghe An Prolice to send 59 big-headed turtles to the Pu Mat National Park. The animals were detained from a wild animal smuggling case in Dien Chau District. According to a report from the police, they found 34 big-headed turtles being transported by two men, Nguyen Trong Duc and Nguyen Van Dung. Searching Dung's residence, police discovered 38 more rare animals, including 35 big-headed turtles and three pangolins. From the collection, 25 turtles and pangolins were dead. A vet from Save Vietnam's Wildlife check the animal's health. The two men have been detained for illegally transporting endangered, precious and rare animals in large quantities. The case is under further investigation. MEP Rasa Jukneviciene, in an interview with Formula Channel called the US State Department's decision to sanction four Georgian judges an 'important' step forward and said that it is also important to sanction Bidzina Ivanishvili who, according to her, is behind everything including justice, judges, political systems."It is a very important step forward and a message from the State Department. The European Parliament has more than once requested the imposition of sanctions, but we are talking about the imposition of sanctions against the most important person who is behind everything, including judges, justice and political systems, naturally, I mean Bidzina Ivanishvili.I believe that the case of the judges and this decision is the beginning of the process. As for sharing the decision of the US State Department with the European Union, let's see, I can't say anything in advance yet. Here, the unanimity of all EU member states is important," said Jukneviciene.One of the leaders of the ruling party, Archil Talakvadze, criticized the US decision to sanction Georgian judges and said the judicial system has improved under the rule of the Georgian Dream."Today's court is much freer and our government has improved the independence of the court," Talakvadze said."It is unfortunate that our friendship has reached the point where we speak to each other in the language of sanctions. I mean Georgia and the USA. Second, you know that the court, like other democratic institutions, is evaluated by objective criteria.4 judges were approved today. One of these four, Tsertsvadze, has been working in the court for a long time. The other three are in different hierarchical positions. Under the conditions of our government, balance has returned to the court, which means that when citizens dispute with the court, they win equally," said Talakvadze.According to him, this is a very serious decision and the ruling party will take this issue seriously."We will inform and explain to the public what the next steps will be. It is not fair to use such a tool and moreover, it is categorically unacceptable. When there is such a strategic partnership between our countries, it is not fair to use such a tool," said Talakvadze.According to Talakvadze, sanctions make sense when they are fair."Sanctions make sense when they are fair. If you are unfairly sanctioned, it will not weaken you morally in any case," said stated Talakvadze. This ain't your grandma's Biblical play. Unless your grandma is very into icons of 19th century Irish literature. "Salome," the opera adapted from a play by Oscar Wilde, is being performed in Billings this weekend and next. It's presented by Rimrock Opera Company at the NOVA Center for the Performing Arts. Its been out well over 100 years, but Salome is still one of the odder works to ever become enshrined in the western canon. Its pure Wilde, filled with rampant sexuality and violence portrayed very bizarrely. Wilde, an Irishman who primarily wrote in English, wrote Salome in French and released it in 1891. The operatic version of Salome being performed at NOVA was translated into German by Hedwig Lachmann, and put to music by Richard Strauss, who premiered his version in 1905, five years after Wilde died nearly penniless after being sentenced to hard labor for the crime of loving another man in Victorian England. A lot of people came together to make Salome. And a lot of people are coming together to produce it in Billings. The Rimrock Opera production of Salome is directed by Doug Nagel. Hes been a star on the Billings opera circuit for years, and worked for the Rimrock Opera Company for years, and taught at MSUB until his retirement in 2020. Nagel now lives in Palm Springs, California, but was coaxed out of retirement for one last show. This is my swan song to the stage, Nagel said. Hell still do concerts, and hell never stop singing, but this is it for operas. Its exhausting, he explained. Its for the young kids. For this last role, hes not just directing, hes also starring. Salome is about the final days of John the Baptist, called Jokanaan in Wildes telling. John is being held captive by Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee. The titular Salome is Herods step-daughter, the most beautiful and most lonely woman in all of Judea. Salome is played by Sarah Waggoner, a soprano who is making her title role debut. Herod is portrayed by Scott Wichael, and his wife Herodias, who hates Jokanaan, is played by Kimberly Gratland James. Christian Quevedo, Ana Rangel Ortiz and Jordan Shawver round out the main cast. The opera is presented in its original German, with English translations presented as supertitles, projected above the stage. Nagel is the only person in the opera who actually speaks fluent German. To memorize lines in a language you dont speak, performers have to rely on whats called the International Phonetic Alphabet, which turns words into consonants and vowels that can be memorized. Nagel leapt at this opportunity not just because he speaks German. Hes played Jokaanan all over the world. The first time was, fittingly, in East Germany. For anyone not up on their Biblical history, things dont end well for poor John the Baptist. Hes beheaded mid-way through the opera. I used to travel with my own head, Nagel laughed. Once, for the Virginia Opera, he had one molded in a day-long process that involved casting his head with modeling clay, leaving him to breathe out of straws in his nose. For this production, he went the easy route and found a head that looks like his on Amazon. The Bibles depiction of Johns death is quite short. Salome only shows up twice in the New Testament, once in a few sentences in the Gospel of Mark, and again in an even shorter passage in the Book of Matthew. Wilde didnt have a lot of source material to work with. In his telling, Salome is a sort of caricature of Eastern sensuality, with a raging sexuality that bleeds into horror. Salome opens with Jokanaan off stage, yelling about the Messiah from his cell in Herods palace. The titular princess soon becomes entranced with him and demands that he be brought out. She preens over the horrified prophet. Jokanaan, in turn, acts like the original pick-up artist, viciously insulting Salome until shes madly in love with him. I am in love with your body, she sings to him, ogling his terrible eyes and ivory flesh. Some of these lines, which could only have come from Oscar Wilde, might be easier to sing in a language you dont understand. Terrible things may happen, sings Page, played by Ortiz, a Palm Springs based soprano Nagel recruited. Spoiler alert for both Salome and the Bible, but shes right. After Jokanaan rejects her, Salome performs the Dance of the Seven Veils, which is a sort of balletic strip tease. Herod is so lecherously pleased, he offers her anything she wants. She demands the head of John the Baptist, a murder the king is now duty bound to follow. "Salome" was, unsurprisingly, widely controversial when Wilde first introduced it. Waggoner is first and foremost a vocalist, so this production of Salome utilizes four professional dancers from Billings School of Classical Ballet to fully convey the effect of a dance so mesmerizing theyll let you kill a guy if you can pull it off. Shes an excellent vocalist, her soprano range easily flits between highs and lows. Her powerhouse performance is all the more impressive when you learn that she wasnt even supposed to be in this. Rimrock Opera had planned Salome to star another soprano. But those plans fell through, and Waggoner, who works at Billings Clinic when shes not performing, stepped up in November, a very short turn around for such a big role. For two and a half months, all she did was eat, sleep and study Salome, Nagel said. He worked with her via Zoom. Waggoner is the daughter of Laurel mayor Dave Waggoner, and Nagel calls her the First Daughter of Laurel. He sees a humorous similarity between her role as a princess in the play and her proximity to local power in real life. But Herod is nothing like anyone youd find around here, except for the fact that hes traded in his Biblical era sandals for a sensible pair of Birkenstocks. When the king learns that the commander of his guard has killed himself, hes horrified, but only because he didnt give the order for the man to die. When he hears that Jesus has been bringing people back to life, he forbids it from afar. Another standout is Jordan Shawver, who plays a soldier in Herods guard. Hes a Skyview grad studying voice at MSUB. Voice is fitting, because hes got a huge one, a big booming baritone. He opens his mouth and you just go holy crap, this is a major talent, Nagel said. Whether you know opera or not, when he sings, you know. Nagel, for his part, is a masterful performer. Hes big and tall, clad in a long curly wig he likens to Ozzy Osbornes hair, with a black goatee dyed into his white stubble. His expressive voice fills NOVA, even if you step out for a restroom break. But you wont need many breaks. Salome is lean and mean. Take it from director and star Nagel. Its one act, he explained. Its got no intermission. Its 90 minutes. People die. Its great. Israel witnessed the largest barrage of rockets being fired towards it from Lebanon on Thursday marking the first time in 17 years that such an attack has been carried out on the West Asian nation. The last time Israel witnessed similar attacks was in 2006 during the Second Lebanon War, in 2006. The rockets were fired a day after Israeli forces clashed with protesters and worshippers who came to Al Aqsa mosque to offer their prayers amid the holy month of Ramadan. The Al-Aqsa mosque compound is a holy site for followers of Islam but it is also now an important national symbol for Palestinians. In the same area stands Temple Mount, one of the holiest sites for followers of Judaism. This is not the first time that Israeli security officials have not clamped down on worshippers inside the Al-Aqsa mosque. West Asia-based news outlets have said that the Al-Aqsa mosque has become an annual flashpoint during Ramadan. Hundreds of Palestinians were arrested and several dozens were injured in 2022 as Israeli protesters clamped down on what they alleged some protesters and miscreants from Hamas terrorist group. This week it was no different. 400 Palestinians were arrested and 12 Palestinians were injured, with three admitted to hospital with serious injuries. Here is a timeline of the events that has put this region on high alert: April 4, 2023: On Wednesday night, there was a clash between Israeli police, riot-control units, and Palestinian worshippers inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The police reportedly arrested around 400 people while seven individuals were injured, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent, according to a report by Israel-based Haaretz. April 4, 2023: Palestinians worshipping inside the mosque face attacks from Israels security personnel. Witnesses tell AFP and Reuters that the police were armed with batons, tear gas grenades and smoke bombs burst into the mosque by force" and beat the women and men" worshipping there early Wednesday. They also said that police indiscriminately beat up women and men, including senior citizens and a video surfaced on social media showing police clubbing people on the floor inside the mosque. April 5, 2023: Israel police say that they were forced to take action because some juveniles in masks entered along with the worshippers. They say that these miscreants backed by Hamas have entered the mosque and have barricaded themselves with sticks, stones and fireworks, leading them to take punitive measures. Al Jazeera, Haaretz, AFP and Reuters mentioned that Hamas asked worshippers to exert control over the mosque after reports of sacrificing a goat for Passover, which coincides with Ramadan. April 6, 2023: Hezbollah says it will support measures all Palestinian groups will take to avenge actions taken by the Israeli police officials on Wednesday. Hamas runs the administration of the Gaza Strip and has close ties with Iran-backed Hezbollah. Meanwhile, US, UN, Turkey and other global institutions urge for peace in the restive region. April 6, 2023: 34 rockets launched towards Israel from southern Lebanon - an area Hezbollah and Hamas control and also houses thousands of Palestinian refugees. The Iron Dome and anti-aircraft units intercept 25 and five fall within Israeli territory. Four rockets location unknown. April 6 - April 7, 2023: Early Friday morning, Israel conducted airstrikes in Gaza and Lebanon claiming that it was retaliating against the Palestinian group Hamas for launching multiple rockets towards Israel from these regions. AFP journalists in Lebanons Tyre and in Gaza refugee camps. Read all the Latest News here Pakistan minister for information and broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said media reports which suggest coalition government partners are withdrawing from the elections in Punjab province are false rumours. Aurangzebs comments come shortly after rumours surfaced in Islamabads political circles that the government and its partners in coalition are framing a new strategy after the top court ordered the Pakistan election commission to hold elections in Punjab. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced the schedule for Punjab polls which will be held on May 14. The reports by sections of Pakistan media claimed that three major parties Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have decided not to contest elections in Punjab. Aurangzeb said these reports are false and government alliance parties are not withdrawing nominations. The party leadership has not taken any decision to withdraw the nomination papers. These reports are fabricated and mere speculations, Aurangzeb was quoted as saying by news agency GeoTV. Aurangzeb stressed that the coalition government and its partners are determined to give a tough fight to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan. She said the former prime minister is a foreign agent, troublemaker, violator of Constitution and watch thief. She also said that all the parties in the coalition government want elections across Pakistan on the same day. Pakistan is witnessing a fight between the government and judiciary after a three-member bench of the Pakistan Supreme Court led by chief justice Umar Ata Bandial ruled unanimously that the election commissions decision to delay Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa polls was unconstitutional". The Supreme Court ordered the electoral body to hold elections in Punjab on May 14. The ECP cited resurgence of terror attacks, a shortage of security personnel and an unprecedented economic crisis as reasons for postponement of elections in Punjab and scheduling it on October 8. The elections were supposed to be held on April 30. The action taken by the Supreme Court was lauded by Imrans PTI - who originally filed the plea against the delay. The cabinet, however, rejected the verdict and the Pakistan law minister Tarar said the legal team was outlining the future course of action. Read all the Latest News here Russian Federal Security Service investigators have formally charged Evan Gershkovich with espionage but the Wall Street Journal reporter denied the charges and said he was working as a journalist, Russian news agencies reported on Friday. Russias Federal Security Service, the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB, said on March 30 that it had detained Gershkovich in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg and had opened an espionage case against the 31-year-old for collecting what it said were state secrets about the military-industrial complex. Gershkovich has been charged, Interfax quoted a source as saying. TASS reported that FSB investigators had formally charged Gershkovich with carrying out espionage in the interests of the United States, but that Gershkovich had denied the charge. He categorically denied all the accusations and stated that he was engaged in journalistic activities in Russia, TASS cited an unidentified source as saying. The TASS source declined further comment citing the classified nature of the case. Gershkovich is the first American journalist detained in Russia on espionage charges since the end of the Cold War. The Journal has denied that Gershkovich was spying and demanded the immediate release of its trusted and dedicated reporter. The Journal said his arrest was a vicious affront to a free press, and should spur outrage in all free people and governments throughout the world. The Kremlin said that Gershkovich had been carrying out espionage under the cover of journalism. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has told the United States that Gershkovich was caught red handed while trying to obtain secrets. The United States has urged Russia to release Gershkovich and cast the Russian claims of espionage as ridiculous. U.S. President Joe Biden has called for Gershkovichs release. Russian President Vladimir Putin has yet to comment publicly on the case. A fluent Russian speaker born to Soviet emigres and raised in New Jersey, Gershkovich moved to Moscow in late 2017 to join the English-language Moscow Times, and subsequently worked for the French national news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP). Russia announced the start of its special military operation in February 2022, just as Gershkovich was in London, about to return to Russia to join the Journals Moscow bureau. It was decided that he would live in London but travel to Russia frequently for reporting trips, as a correspondent accredited with the Foreign Ministry. Read all the Latest News here The World Health Organization said Thursday it was sure China had far more data that could shed light on the origins of Covid, demanding Beijing immediately share all relevant information. Without full access to the information that China has all hypotheses are on the table," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in Geneva. Thats why we have been asking China to be cooperative on this," he said, insisting that if Beijing does provide the missing data we will know what happened or how it started". More than three years after Covid-19 first surfaced, heated debate still rages around the origins of the pandemic. The issue has proved divisive for the scientific community and even different US government agencies, which are split between a theory that the virus jumped naturally to humans from animals and one maintaining that the virus likely leaked from a Wuhan laboratory a claim China has angrily denied. Late last month, new evidence emerged that raccoon dogs, known to be able to carry and transmit viruses similar to the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid, were at a market in Wuhan when the disease was first detected in humans. The researchers who unexpectedly stumbled over the genetic data say that it supports but cannot definitively prove the theory that the virus originated in animals, possibly first jumping over to humans at the market. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHOs technical lead on Covid-19, told journalists Thursday that the new information provided clues", but no clear answers, insisting that the data collected in January and February 2020, more than three years ago" should have been shared long ago. Without information, without data to make a proper assessment, its very difficult for us to give a concrete answer. And in the present time, we dont have a concrete answer of how the pandemic began," she said. - Not a game - But she voiced certainty that Chinas incredible scientists" had conducted far more studies and collected much more data that could be relevant in the search. We know there is more information thats out there," she said. We need scientists, public health professionals and governments to share this information. This is not a game." In an editorial in Science magazine published Thursday, Van Kerkhove said she believed China had data that it had not shared including on the wild and farmed animal trade at the Wuhan market, the testing of humans and animals in Wuhan and across China, and operations of labs in Wuhan working on coronaviruses. Lab audit data exist and have not been shared, for example," she wrote, demanding that China share all data on the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid immediately". Tedros stressed the vital importance of getting to the bottom of the mystery, pointing out that determining Covid origins could help avert future pandemics. And with nearly seven million deaths officially registered in the pandemic with the real toll believed to be several times higher he said there was a moral imperative". We need to know the answer, beyond reasonable doubt." Read all the Latest News here Two British-Israeli sisters were shot dead and their mother was seriously injured in the West Bank on Friday when a militant attacked them near a Jewish settlement, The Telegraph reported. The sisters, who were holders of British passports, were traveling through the Jordan Valley to Tiberius for a holiday when the attack happened, the report said. The two sisters, one reportedly 15 and the other in her 20s, were shot as they drove through the Jordan Valley, hours after Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and Lebanon on Thursday night. Two Israeli sisters were murdered in a shooting attack by a Palestinian terrorist.Their mother was critically injured . There are no words to describe this kind of evil. May their memory be a blessing. Israel (@Israel) April 7, 2023 Tensions have escalated in the region after Israel was attacked with multiple waves of rockets this week, following clashes inside al-Aqsa mosque. No group immediately took responsibility for the attack so far. Efrat mayor Oded Revivi confirmed the deceased were Israeli sisters and the wounded woman was their mother. A British diplomat later confirmed that the two also held UK passports, while calling for all parties to de-escalate tensions", according to AFP. In a Facebook post, Revivi said, With great sorrow we received an update on a shocking terrorist attack in which terrorists shot a car including a mother and her two daughters, residents of Efrat. The two girls were murdered and the mother is in critical condition and we all pray for her quick recovery." The father of the family who drove in another car from the front turned around and witnessed the efforts to take care of his wife and daughters," he added. Meanwhile, Israels army has launched a manhunt for the perpetrators of Fridays shooting in the West Bank which killed two sisters and seriously wounded their mother. The army said the victims were fired on as their vehicle passed through Hamra junction in the northern part of the Jordan Valley. Fridays attacks came after Israel launched air strikes and an artillery bombardment before dawn in response to rocket fire from the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. Israel struck targets, including terror infrastructures, belonging to the Hamas terrorist organisation in southern Lebanon", according to the army. Prior to that, Israeli riot police had stormed the prayer hall of Al-Aqsa mosque in a pre-dawn Wednesday raid aiming to dislodge law-breaking youths and masked agitators" they said had barricaded themselves inside. The violence sparked an exchange of rockets and air strikes with militants in Gaza. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres meanwhile has urged all actors to exercise maximum restraint". (With agency inputs) Read all the Latest News here The White House on Thursday released a long-awaited review of the traumatic US exit from Afghanistan, admitting there had been a massive intelligence failure in not predicting rapid Taliban victory, but defending overall US conduct. Clearly we didnt get things right" on intelligence, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters after the still classified report was sent to Congress. But ending a war, any war, is not an easy endeavor, certainly not after 20 years," he said. It doesnt mean it wasnt worth doing ending that war in Afghanistan." In a declassified summary of the review, the White House blamed conditions created by President Joe Bidens predecessor Donald Trump for the way the planned 2021 withdrawal turned into a rout, culminating in a desperate evacuation from Kabul airport. But it also acknowledged that the US intelligence services had failed to understand the strength of the Taliban and the weakness of the Afghan governments forces that Western countries had spent years propping up. In the end, nothing would have changed the trajectory" of the exit and ultimately, President Biden refused to send another generation of Americans to fight a war that should have ended for the United States long ago," the report said. The pullout, ending on August 30, 2021, shocked Americans and US allies as the Taliban swept aside Western-trained Afghan forces within weeks. Thirteen US troops and 170 Afghans were killed in an August 26 suicide bomb attack at the crowded perimeter to the airport, where an unprecedented military airlift operation managed to get more than 120,000 people out of the country in a matter of days. - Afghan territories fell like dominos - In the summary, the White House blamed a deal struck previously between Trumps administration and the Taliban for putting the incoming Biden government in an impossible position. The departing Trump administration had left the Biden administration with a date for withdrawal, but no plan for executing it. And after four years of neglect and in some cases deliberate degradation crucial systems, offices, and agency functions that would be necessary for a safe and orderly departure were in disrepair," the document said. After more than 20 years, more than $2 trillion dollars, and standing up an Afghan army of 300,000 soldiers, the speed and ease with which the Taliban took control of Afghanistan suggests that there was no scenario except a permanent and significantly expanded US military presence that would have changed the trajectory," it added. Kirby acknowledged that the US government did not manage to predict how fast the Taliban were moving across the country" or the degree to which they were constructing these deals in the hinterlands that kind of fell like dominos." We didnt anticipate how fast the Afghan national security forces were going to fold," he said. I dont think we fully appreciated the degree of corruption that was in the officer ranks in the military." Intelligence is a hard business and they get it right a lot too," Kirby said. Read all the Latest News here Raids during Ramadan at the holy Al Aqsa mosque compound are becoming a common feature in Israel. The issue continues to harm the peace process and creates disbelief and anger among Palestinians and Israelis who remain locked in one of the worlds longest-running conflicts. The recent clashes have caused concern across the globe and calls for peace and restraint have been raised but it should be noted that a similar incident happened in 2022, in 2021 and years before that. Why do clashes happen around this time, when Palestinian Muslims celebrate Ramadan and Jewish Israelis celebrate the Jewish festival of Passover. There is no accurate explanation to this question but the recent clashes have happened due to ultranationalist, right-wing Jews demanding that they be allowed to sacrifice a goat inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Hamas spreading fear amongst Palestinians that a plan to take over the compound is in place. Reports by several media outlets said that fringe Jewish groups offered cash prizes to anyone who goes into Al-Aqsa Mosque and sacrifices a goat. Many believe that such an action would lead to further provocation and the Israeli police on Monday detained an ultranationalist Israeli campaigner who had planned to carry out a Jewish sacrifice at Al-Aqsa compound which houses Al-Aqsa mosque, Dome of the Rock and the Wailing Wall. Since the war in 1967, a status quo arrangement between Israel, the Palestinians and Jordan has been in place which prevents non-Muslim worship there and allows visits from non-Muslims at specific times. Jordan is the custodian of Christian and Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem. Even Jews do not traditionally worship on the site as Israels chief Rabbinate forbade Jews from entering the site for religious reasons. Despite that over the past few years, far-right and ultranationalist groups have sought to enter the grounds. There also has been criticism that Hamas-backed miscreants have asked Palestinians to reach Al-Aqsa compound en masse. There were messages on social media which asked Palestinians to defend the compound and reach en masse to the compound. Earlier this week, these clashes led to over 400 arrests and more than 12 injuries, creating concerns that if these actions continue it could lead to widespread violence and could also further fuel the fire leading to a possible uprising as Palestinians may assume it is an attack on their national identity. Read all the Latest Explainers here Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has convened an all-important meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) on Friday where the top brass will review the security, economic, constitutional and political issues plaguing the country. According to sources, the top civil and military leadership of the country will participate in the meeting while the Intelligence chiefs will brief on the national security situation. It is expected that a decision will be taken on whether the army will provide security for elections in Pakistans Punjab. The top military and civilian leadership, including the defence minister, interior minister, information minister, finance minister and other important cabinet members will participate in the meeting scheduled to take place at 11am at the Prime Ministers House. The huddle of the powerful body comes against the backdrop of a deepening constitutional crisis in the country as the federal government has refused to accept the Supreme Courts decision on Punjab elections after a three-member bench led by chief justice Umar Ata Bandial ruled unanimously that the election commissions decision to delay Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa polls was unconstitutional". The Supreme Court ordered the electoral body to hold elections in Punjab on May 14. The ECP cited resurgence of terror attacks, a shortage of security personnel and an unprecedented economic crisis as reasons for postponement of elections in Punjab and scheduling it on October 8. The elections were supposed to be held on April 30. On Thursday, the National Assembly (NA) passed a resolution against the top courts declaration that the Election Commission of Pakistans (ECP) decision to postpone elections in Punjab was illegal. The House speaker, in a live broadcast, said a majority of lawmakers had voted to reject the decision by the courts three-judge bench headed by the chief justice and to demand a full court panel consisting of all judges hear the case. The House expressed concern over interference in political matters", saying the judgements of the minority" were creating anarchy in the country and paving the way for division in the federating units. The resolution also voiced concerns over the wrong interpretation" of the constitution. Read all the Latest News here A Billings man who admitted having sexual conversations through social media with an undercover agent posing as a minor girl was sentenced Thursday to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Kyle Jason Swindler, 42, pleaded guilty in October 2022 to attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. He was arrested when he showed up to meet who he thought was a 13-year-old girl. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court also ordered $2,000 restitution. The government alleged that in October 2021, law enforcement conducted an undercover operation in Billings to identify and arrest individuals who were attempting to have sex with children. Swindler responded to a social media post by an undercover agent who was posing as a 13-year-old girl. When the undercover agent identified herself as 13 years old, Swindler responded, Ouch youre a young one. The conversation became sexual in nature. Swindler and the undercover agent arranged to meet in a public park for a sexual encounter. Swindler drove to the park, where he was arrested. Law enforcement searched Swindlers vehicle and found sex-related items. Officers also searched Swindlers cell phone and recovered the original social media conversation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin D. Hargrove prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Billings Police Department, Yellowstone County Attorneys Office and Yellowstone County Sheriffs Office. This case was initiated under the Department of Justices Project Safe Childhood initiative, which was launched in 2006 to combat the proliferation of technology-facilitated crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children. Through a network of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and advocacy organizations, Project Safe Childhood attempts to protect children by investigating and prosecuting offenders involved in child sexual exploitation. It is implemented through partnerships including the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The ICAC Task Force Program was created to assist state and local law enforcement agencies by enhancing their investigative response to technology facilitated crimes against children. On a state visit to Beijing, French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday pressured Chinese President Xi Jinping to help persuade Russia to end its invasion of Ukraine. "I know I can count on you to bring Russia to its senses, and bring everyone back to the negotiating table," Macron said, the BBC reports. In his remarks at the Great Hall of the People, Xi was noncommittal, repeating that all nations involved have "reasonable security concerns," per Politico. "China is willing to jointly appeal with France to the international community to remain rational and calm," Xi said. Russia was unmoved, answering that it sees "no prospects for a peaceful settlement" to the fighting. Macron also expressed concern about the possibility of China sending Russia weapons that could be used against Ukraine, a French diplomat said, but didn't seem to make much headway. But there was another angle to Macron's visit: trade. He asked European Commission leader Ursula von der Leyen and a delegation that included business, art, and museum representatives to join his talks with Chinese officials. In addition to the political talk, Macron and Xi held a ceremony in which government and business leaders signed deals including the purchase of 160 Airbus aircraft by China. Afterward, per Politico, Macron made the diplomatic error of talking twice as long as his host, who sighed heavily and appeared impatient. (Read more Emmanuel Macron stories.) In an extraordinary act of political retaliation, Tennessee Republicans on Thursday expelled two Democratic lawmakers from the state Legislature for their role in a protest that called for more gun control in the aftermath of a deadly school shooting in Nashville. The House, where Republicans have a supermajority, voted to expel Reps. Justin Pearson and Justin Jones. A vote to remove Rep. Gloria Johnson failed by a single vote, the AP reports. The chamber has used the punishment only a handful times since the Civil War. Most state legislatures possess the power to expel members, but it is generally reserved for lawmakers accused of serious misconduct, not used as a weapon against political opponents. In a tweet, President Biden called the expulsions "shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent." Republicans said the punishment was in response to the Democrats' behavior last week as hundreds of protesters packed the Capitol to call for passage of gun-control measures. While demonstrators filled galleries, the three Democrats approached the front of the House chamber with a bullhorn and participated in a chant. The protest unfolded days after the shooting at the Covenant School, a private Christian school where six people were killed, including three 9-year-old children. "We are losing our democracy. This is not normal. This is not OK," Pearson told reporters before the vote. He said the three "broke a House rule because we're fighting for kids who are dying from gun violence and people in our communities who want to see an end to the proliferation of weaponry in our communities." Johnson, a retired teacher, said her concern about school shootings was personal, recalling a day in 2008 when students came running toward her out of a cafeteria because a student had just been shot and killed there. "The trauma on those faces, you will never, ever forget. I don't want to forget it," she said. Thousands of people went to the Capitol on Thursday to support the Democrats, cheering and chanting outside the House chamber so loudly that the noise drowned out the proceedings. The trio held hands as they walked onto the House floor, and Pearson raised his fist to the crowd during the Pledge of Allegiance. Offered a chance to defend himself before the vote, Jones said the GOP responded to the shooting with a different kind of attack. "We called for you all to ban assault weapons, and you respond with an assault on democracy," he said. (Read more Tennessee stories.) Human rights groups and journalists are speaking out about Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter detained last month in Russia on alleged spy charges. Now, members of the Jewish community are offering their own nod to the 31-year-old journalist, leaving an empty seat at their Seder, the traditional meal celebrated during Passover. "For all my Jews out there, please join us in demanding the release of @WSJ journalist @evangershkovich as we celebrate freedom this Passover," tweeted Journal colleague Jared Malsin on Monday, noting that Gershkovich is the son of Jewish immigrants from the Soviet Union and asking people to set a place for him at their own Seder tables. Per the BBC, Malsin's reference to freedom for Gershkovich syncs with Passover's theme of the Jews' liberation from ancient Egypt. The phrase "Let Evan Go!"a play on Moses' "Let my people go"is also incorporated into the graphic that's now circulating for Gershkovich, as are the hashtags #FreeEvan and #IStandWithEvan. The UK broadcaster also notes that the Passover Seder has long been used in the US as a show of support for Jews in danger elsewhere in the world, including during the mid-'80s, when Soviet Jews were fleeing their homes for the US, Israel, and other nations to escape religious persecution. The Jerusalem Post notes that the message to save a Seder seat and free Gershkovich has been shared far and wide, including by tech journalist Kara Swisher and even President Biden. "It feels like an attack on all of us," Shayndi Raice, the Journal's deputy bureau chief for the Middle East and North Africa, tells NPR, calling Gershkovich's situation "horrific" and "terrifying." "We're all kind of in this state of 'how can we help him, what can we do.'" The Journal, White House, and US government officials all deny the espionage charges against the reporter, who's being held in a prison in the Russian capital. Max Seddon, Moscow bureau chief for the Financial Times, noted earlier this week that Gershkovich was visited by Russian prison monitors on Monday and was in a "cheerful" mood, with a TV in his cell that has 20 Russian channels and a novel that he's reading: Life and Fate by Vasily Grossman, written in 1959 but censored by the Soviet Union until 1988. (Read more Evan Gershkovich stories.) Convicted of ordering the murder of his boss in 1997, Richard Glossip has eaten his "last meal" as a death-row inmate three times. And each time, he's "narrowly avoided death ... with reprieves or stays of execution," CNN reports. Now, after decades on death row, Glossip may be about to leave it. His defense lawyers say newly revealed evidence proves their client, with another execution date looming, is innocent. And in a motion filed with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on Thursday, the state's attorney general asks that Glossip's conviction be vacated and a new trial granted. Handyman Justin Sneed admitted to fatally beating motel owner Barry Van Treese in 1997, but claimed he did so at the direction of Glossip, the motel manager, who agreed to pay him $10,000. Sneed received a life sentence in exchange for his testimony against Glossip. However, Glossip's lawyers have recently called attention to letters in which Sneed suggested he wanted to walk back his testimony. The defense team has also learnedfrom a box of prosecutors' notes on the casethat Sneed "lied to the jury about his psychiatric treatment and reasons for taking the mood-stabilizing drug lithium," the AP reports. An independent counsel's review of Glossip's case, released Thursday, also "raised numerous concerns about his conviction," per the AP. "While the State has previously opposed relief for Glossip, it has changed its position based on a careful review of the new information," writes AG Gentner Drummond. He says he can no longer stand behind Glossip's conviction and death sentence, which "is not to say I believe he is innocent." But "I do not believe that justice is served by executing a man based on the testimony of a compromised witness." The Oklahoma Court of Appeals will now rule on Drummond's request. As of now, Glossip, who maintains his innocence, is scheduled to die May 18. (Read more Richard Glossip stories.) Sting likely doesn't care whether the name on Sean Combs' bank account is "Puff Daddy," "Diddy," "P. Diddy," or plain old "Sean Combs"he just wants his regular check in the mail from that account. That's because for years, the now-53-year-old rapper and record producer has been shelling out thousands per day to the 71-year-old former Police frontman, thanks to his sample of that group's '80s hit "Every Breath You Take" in his "I'll Be Missing You," released in 1997. Combs had sampled the Grammy-winning Police tune in his tribute song to the Notorious BIG, who'd died earlier that year, without acquiring the proper permissions, and Sting ended up suing him for copyright infringement, with the rights to all royalties from Combs' song, which also won a Grammy, per the Los Angeles Times. In 2018, Sting appeared on The Breakfast Club radio show and answered in the affirmative when one of the hosts asked if it was true that Combs hands over $2,000 daily to him. "I put a couple of my kids through college with the proceeds," Sting joked at the time, per Hello! However, that video recently started making the rounds again online, prompting a gentle correction from Combs. "Nope. 5K a day," he wrote Wednesday on Twitter. Using that new figure, Hello! calculates that Diddy would have forked over nearly $48 million since "I'll Be Missing You," which he recorded with Biggie's widow, Faith Evans, was released on May 7, 1997. Despite the rather large influx of cash passing between the two men, there appear to be no sour grapes over the arrangement. In the 2018 interview, Sting called Combs' song "a beautiful version" and said they were "very good friends now," per Consequence. Combs, for his part, added in his tweet from this week: "Love to my brother @OfficialSting!" (Read more Sting stories.) Israel launched rare strikes in southern Lebanon early Friday and pressed on with bombing targets in the Gaza Strip, marking a widening escalation in the region following violence this week at Jerusalems most sensitive holy site, Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. The cross-border fighting erupted during a time of heightened religious fervorwhen Jews are celebrating the Passover holiday and Muslims are marking the Ramadan holy month, the AP reports. In 2021, an escalation also triggered by clashes at the mosque spilled over into an 11-day war between Israel and Gazas Hamas rulers. Friday's strikes in southern Lebanon came a day after militants fired nearly three dozen rockets from there at Israel, wounding two people and causing some property damage. The Israeli military said it targeted installations of Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, in southern Lebanon. AP correspondents in the area said several missiles fired by Israeli warplanes struck an open field in the town of Qalili near the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh, close to the coastal southern city of Tyre, while others struck a bridge and power transformer in the nearby town of Maaliya and a farm on the outskirts of Rashidiyeh, killing several sheep. No human deaths were reported. Israeli strikes in Lebanon risk drawing Lebanon's Hezbollah militia into the fighting, which could lead to war. The Iran-backed group, armed with thousands of rockets and missiles, holds sway over much of southern Lebanon and is viewed by Israel as a bitter foe. The Israeli military was careful to note in its announcement about Fridays attack that it was targeting only sites linked to Palestinian militants. In recent years, Hezbollah has stayed out of other flareups related to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which stands on a hilltop revered by Muslims and Jews. The current round of violence began Wednesday after Israeli police twice raided the mosque. That led Thursday to rocket fire from Gaza and, in a significant escalation, the rocket barrage from Lebanon. (Read more Israel stories.) Tennessee Rep. Gloria Johnson may have survived expulsion from the state House for joining an unauthorized protest for gun reform on the House floor, but she's not celebrating. "We need to make sure that we stomp out this march to fascism," the Knoxville Democrat said after the vote, per WTVF. "Absolute power corrupts absolutely. America should absolutely be worried about what we've seen here today." Sixty-six votes were needed to expel. Nashville Democrat Justin Jones was ousted in a 72-25 vote before the 65-30 vote on Johnson. Seven Republicans voted against expulsion, per the Tennessean. But the deciding vote was that of Memphis Democrat Justin Pearson, who was ousted moments later. If the vote on Johnson had come third, rather than second, "Pearson might have already been expelled, which would have left Johnson just one vote short," observed WTVF's Chris Davis. Johnson cited a different reason for her survival. "I'm a 60-year-old white woman. And they are two young Black men," she told CNN of Jones and Pearson, who was expelled in a 69-26 vote. She claimed her colleagues faced "demeaning," racist questioning on the floor. In her defense, however, Johnson observed that she'd taken a lesser role in the protest than the two men. While her colleagues used a megaphone and held signs, "I didn't speak" and "I absolutely never yelled," Johnson said, per WTVF. Spectators shouted "fascists!" and shame on you" as the vote concluded, per the Tennessean. Pearson, sworn in following a special election, had only been in office 10 days. "The erosion of democracy in the state legislature is what got us here," he said. "It wasnt walking up to the well, it wasnt being disruptive to the status quo, it was the silencing of democracy and it's wrong." Former state Rep. Mike Stewart, a lawyer who spoke on Johnson's behalf, said the expulsions were unprecedented in the US. Only two other lawmakers have been ousted from the state House since the Civil War era. One was convicted of soliciting bribes, the other was accused of sexual misconduct. NPR notes that Pearson and Jones could well be back in their jobs soon: Their county commissions could choose to reappoint them on an interim level before the special election, and they're free to run in the special election. (Read more Tennessee stories.) NorthWestern Energy will appeal a state District Court ruling order halting construction on the utilitys gas-fired power plant because regulators failed to address greenhouse gas emissions. In a press release Friday, NorthWestern called the order by Judge Michael Moses extreme. In his order Thursday, Moses said the impacts of the gas-fired power plants greenhouse gas emissions received no consideration by Montanas Department of Environmental Quality. Light from the power plant was the second issue, of which DEQ did little analysis. Both issues would have to receive due diligence before construction could proceed, the judge ordered. The lawsuit was brought by the Montana Environmental Information Center and the Sierra Club on behalf of the Thiel Road Coalition, a neighborhood group which has argued for two years that the power plant was poorly located and posed threats to the public health and quality of life. However, Moses ruled that DEQs work on other permitting issues was adequate. The judge ruled in DEQs favor on the adequacy of work on water quality, noise, aesthetics and the cumulative impacts of sulfur dioxide in an area that the EPA has identified as problematic because of emissions from nearby CHS oil refinery. NorthWestern didnt respond to questions from Montana Lee Newspapers concerning the several regulatory issues that have arisen concerning the power plant. Thursday's work stoppage order isn't the first. In January, 2022, the court ordered Yellowstone County to revoke the permit allowing NorthWestern to bore a pipeline beneath the Yellowstone River. The permit had been issued without public notice or opportunity to comment. Once Yellowstone County followed the law, the pipeline permit was approved. The power plant is being built on land zoned for agricultural use. A third lawsuit challenges NorthWestern's decision to build without getting the land use changed to heavy industrial. That lawsuit hasn't yet gone to hearing. DEQ spokeswoman Moira Davin said the permitting agency was still reviewing the Moses order. In court DEQ and NorthWestern argued that assessing the effect of the power plant's greenhouse gases were beyond the state's legal authority. Moses said that DEQ "must take a hard look at the greenhouse gas effects of this project as it relates to impacts within the Montana borders." Eight Filipinos were nailed to crosses to reenact Jesus Christ's suffering in a gory Good Friday tradition that draws thousands of devotees and tourists to the Philippines, despite the practice being rejected by the Catholic Church. The real-life crucifixions in the farming village of San Pedro Cutud in Pampanga province, north of Manila, resumed after a three-year pause due to the coronavirus pandemic. About a dozen villagers registered, but only eight men participated, including 62-year-old sign painter Ruben Enaje, who was nailed to a wooden cross for the 34th time in San Pedro Cutud, per the AP. In a news conference shortly after his brief crucifixion, Enaje said he prayed for the eradication of the COVID-19 virus and the end of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The father of four, who appeared to be well and showed his two bandaged hands to journalists, said he wanted to end his extraordinary penitence because of his age, but he noted he would decide with finality before Lent next year. While the pain from the nailing was not as intense as anticipated, he said he always felt edgy before each crucifixion. "To be honest, I always feel nervous because I could end up dead on the cross," he said before Friday's nailing. "When I'm laid down on the cross, my body begins to feel cold. When my hands are tied, I just close my eyes and tell myself, 'I can do this. I can do this.'" Surviving nearly unscathed when he fell from a three-story building in 1985 prompted Enaje to undergo the ordeal as thanksgiving for what he considered a miracle. He extended the ritual after loved ones recovered from serious illnesses, one after another, turning him into a village celebrity as the "Christ" in the Lenten reenactment of the Way of the Cross. Ahead of their crucifixion on a dusty hill, Enaje and the other devotees, wearing thorny crowns of twigs, carried heavy wooden crosses on their backs for more than a half-mile in the scorching heat. Village actors dressed as Roman centurions later hammered 4-inch stainless steel nails through his palms and feet, then set him aloft on a cross under the sun for about 10 minutes. Other penitents walked barefoot through village streets, their bare backs beaten with sharp bamboo sticks and pieces of wood. Some participants in the past opened cuts in the penitents' backs using broken glass to ensure the ritual was sufficiently bloody. The gruesome spectacle reflects the Philippines' unique brand of Catholicism, which merges church traditions with folk superstitions. Many of the mostly impoverished penitents undergo the ritual to atone for sins, pray for the sick, and give thanks for miracles. Church leaders in the Philippines have frowned on the crucifixions and self-flagellations, saying Filipinos can show their deep faith and religious devotion without hurting themselves and by doing charity work instead, such as donating blood. The decades-long crucifixion tradition has put impoverished San Pedro Cutud on the map. Organizers say more than 15,000 foreign and Filipino tourists and devotees gathered for the cross nailings in Cutud and two other nearby villages. "They like this because there is really nothing like this on Earth," says a UK tour organizer who brought 15 tourists from eight countries to witness the crucifixions. (Read more crucifixion stories.) NPR journalists looking into the site's new "state-affiliated media" label on Twitter have managed to get more than a poop emoji auto-reply out of the company. In emails to NPR, Twitter CEO Elon Musk acknowledged that giving the media organization the same label seen on outlets like China's state-controlled Xinhua might have been an error, though it was still in place on NPR's main account as of this writing. NPR, which operates independently of the government, has protested the move and has not posted to the account since the change was made on Tuesday. Spokeswoman Isabel Lara says NPR has decided to stop tweeting until the "false disclaimer" is removed. NPR reporter Bobby Allyn says that when he told Musk that government support only makes up around 1% of NPR's finances, Musk told him, "Well, then we should fix it" and asked for a breakdown of its finances. In a later email, Musk said, "The operating principle at new Twitter is simply fair and equal treatment, so if we label non-US accounts as govt, then we should do the same for US, but it sounds like that might not be accurate here." Before the label was added, NPR was listed alongside the BBC as an example of an outlet with editorial independence that was exempt from the "state-affiliated media" label. After the label was added, journalists at other organizations pushed back, Vanity Fair reports, with Derek Thompson from the Atlantic asking whether Tesla should be considered a "state-affiliated enterprise" after accepting government loans and subsidies. Musk appeared to still be pondering the NPR issue Thursday night. "Not a bad suggestion. Will consider," he tweeted in response to a user who suggested Twitter follow YouTube's approach to labeling public broadcast services from around the world. (Read more Twitter stories.) The chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan should have happened sooner, the White House concedes, though it also places much of the blame for the mess on the Trump administration. After a two-year review, the National Security Council concluded "President Biden's choices for how to execute a withdrawal from Afghanistan were severely constrained by conditions created by his predecessor," including through his Doha Agreement with the Taliban, which left just 2,500 US troops in Afghanistan in August 2021. The Trump administration also left "no plans for how to conduct the final withdrawal or to evacuate Americans and Afghan allies," reads the document, which some Republicans are calling "disgraceful," per the Washington Post. The Biden administration chose to delay the withdrawal until September, but "clearly, we didn't get things right," NSC spokesperson John Kirby said Thursday, referencing miscalculations in "how fast the Taliban were moving across the country" in early August and "how fast [Afghan security force commanders] were going to fold," per the Post. But he claimed the Doha Agreement had "a very corrosive effect" on the Afghan defense forces' "willingness to fight." He also said the Trump administration had left the Special Immigrant Visa program, which considered which helpful Afghans should be granted refuge in the US, "starved for resources." "It was a general sense of degradation and neglect there that the president inherited," Kirby said, per the New York Times. While the report notes the administration has learned to "prioritize earlier evacuations when faced with a degrading security situation" and "err on the side of aggressive communication about risks," per ABC News, it fails to mention that Biden ignored recommendations to keep 2,500 forces in Afghanistan to prevent a Taliban takeover and struck a deal with the Taliban to allow for the evacuation of some 120,000 Americans and Afghans even as fighters were reportedly carrying out executions, per the Post. Rather than address "the substantial flaws in its decision-making process, the Biden administration has provided the public a full-throated and deeply partisan explanation of its indefensible Afghanistan policy," Republican Sen. Roger Wicker said, per the outlet. Donald Trump himself agrees. These Morons in the White House, who are systematically destroying our Country, headed up by the biggest Moron of them all, Hopeless Joe Biden, have a new disinformation game they are playingBlame TRUMP for their grossly incompetent SURRENDER in Afghanistan, the former president wrote on Truth Social, per the New York Post. "Biden is responsible, no one else!" (Read more Afghanistan stories.) A Colorado teen has been arrested and accused of plotting to "shoot up" schools and churches in the Colorado Springs area. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by the Gazette, the sister of the 19-year-old suspect called authorities on March 31, noting that her sibling was exhibiting violent behavior, talking about school shootings, and even threatening to carry out a school shooting. When deputies from the Elbert County Sheriff's Office arrived at the home, they say they found the suspectidentified in the affidavit as William Whitworth but said to identify as "Lily" or "Lilly"in bed, in a room filled with trash. "There were numerous containers filled with half-eaten food with mold growing inside and numerous alcoholic beverage containers [lying] around the house," the arrest record notes, per KKTV. One of the responding officers also says that Whitworth admitted to being "[a] little drunk." When asked by deputies why they wanted to shoot up a school, Whitworth said, "No specific reason," and also said they were "about a third of the way from doing it [committing a mass shooting]," per the affidavit. Among Whitworth's alleged targets, per the affidavit: a local elementary school and middle school, both of which Whitworth had previously attended, as well as a Colorado Springs high school and multiple churches. Investigators say they found a floor plan to the middle school on a whiteboard in the bedroom, as well as a notebook with instructions on how to create DIY explosives and make firearms with a 3D printer, per the affidavit. That document also notes that Whitworth admitted to watching a video online on how to make a detonator. No weapons were found inside the home, investigators say, though they note they found a "manifesto" with the names of mass shooters and a list of individuals "to be killed," per the affidavit. Although the affidavit lists Whitworth as a male, investigators say the suspect's sister referred to Whitworth as "Lily" and her "sister." A spokesperson for the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office tells the Gazette that Whitworth is in the process of transitioning to female. Whitworth has been charged with criminal attempt to commit murder, criminal mischief, menacing, and interference with staff, faculty, or students of educational institutions. Whitworth is being held on $75,000 bond, with their next court date scheduled for May 5. (Read more Colorado Springs stories.) Senate leaders of both parties appealed Friday for the release of a Wall Street Journal reporter whom Russia said it has charged with spying. Evan Gershkovich pleaded not guilty Friday, saying he was operating only as a journalist, the state news agency TASS reported. The Federal Security Service was quoted as saying it had "charged Gershkovich with espionage in the interests of his country," per the Wall Street Journal. The reporter "categorically denied all accusations," the news agency reported, per Reuters. Russia has accused the American of gathering state secrets about the military-industrial complex. In Washington, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell issued a statement saying they "strongly condemn the wrongful detention." They demanded the "immediate release of this internationally known and respected independent journalist." Calling the charges fabricated, Schumer and McConnell said Russia has yet to produce evidence of his guilt. "Russia has a long and disturbing history of unjustly detaining US citizens in a judicial system that provides neither transparency nor justice," the senators said. (Read more Evan Gershkovich stories.) Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to Nashville on Friday in response to the removal of two Democratic lawmakers from the Tennessee legislature. She plans to meet with Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, who were expelled on a vote Thursday in the state House, where Republicans hold a supermajority, the Tennessean reports. She was scheduled to speak at a service at Fisk University for the legislators. Pearson arrived at the event to applause and cheers. "They thought they could expel democracy," he told the crowd, per USA Today. "But we're still here!" Republicans said Thursday they acted because of the Democrats' role in a demonstration calling for gun-control legislation after six people were shot to death at a Nashville school. Harris called the House action "undemocratic and dangerous" in a tweet Friday morning. She plans to meet privately with Pearson, Jones, and Rep. Gloria Johnson, who kept her seat by a one-vote margin, a spokesperson said. And she intends to meet with young people demonstrating for gun restrictions. Harris "wants to make sure that these young people's voices are heard," a White House official said. Pearson and Jones are Black, while Johnson is white. House Republicans said race did not affect their decisions. Jones disagreed. "I basically had a member call me an uppity Negro," he said, per the Hill. (Read more Tennessee stories.) Sorry! This content is not available in your region Two Billings men facing homicide charges are now accused of trying to carve out of their cell while in custody at Yellowstone County Detention Center. Terrell Lee Spottedwolf Sr. and Christopher Adrian Brown pleaded not guilty Thursday in Yellowstone County District Court to felony counts of attempted escape. The most recent charges against Spottedwolf and Brown came less than a year after two other men successfully escaped from the jail, only to be arrested within a day. Along with makeshift escape tools, court documents said YCDF detention officers allegedly found a hand-written checklist in Brown and Spottewolfs cell. Among the items in the checklist was a point to make plans after getting out. The two were sharing a cell at YCDF earlier this month. The jail is a 434-bed facility that consistently operates at over-capacity, the Gazette previously reported. As of Thursday, more than 550 people were in custody at the jail. Brown, 19, was booked into YCDF in September 2022 as a suspect in a North Park homicide. County prosecutors alleged Brown and Vanessa Marie Delaney chased and attacked a man. Brown controlled the man, court documents said, while Delaney stabbed him to death. He has since been charged with deliberate homicide by accountability, robbery, tampering with evidence and violating a protection order. Spottedwolf entered YCDF last month, accused of killing a woman in her Midtown Billings home and hiding her body in a suitcase. On April 3, charging documents said, YCDF detention officers searched the cell of Brown and Spottedwolf after seeing the two behave strangely. Officers allegedly patted down the two, finding a sharpened screw wrapped in linen inside Spottedwolfs shirt pocket. Spottedwolf, according to court documents, said it was a crayon. When they checked the cell, officers allegedly found pieces of the wall missing around the window, along with bits of concrete and caulk on the floor. They also recovered a piece of metal from the shower area, several screws and a makeshift screw driver, court documents said. One officer allegedly concluded the screws were used to chip away at the concrete surrounding the cells window. A hand-written checklist inside the cell, according to charging documents, included a drawing of the window and notes on how to remove it from the wall. Bend and sharpen screwdriver as much as possible tomorrow, and Afterward, make plans for after getting out, were also allegedly written on the checklist. Spottedwolf agreed to speak with officers, court documents said, denying any part in the escape plan or the damage to the cell. He was moved into the cell with Brown five days prior. Brown, according to charging documents, refused to speak with officers. In September last year, two men in custody at YCDF managed to bend the window of their cell loose and escape from the grounds of the jail. Billings police arrested Cody Joseph Vernon Flesch and Quincy Dean Pfister, along with three others accused of helping the two skirt law enforcement, less than a day later. Flesch, who had previously been sentenced for trying to escape custody, pleaded guilty in February to felony escape and criminal mischief. He is currently incarcerated at Montana State Prison and faces at least an additional 10 years in prison following his guilty plea. On Thursday, Pfister pleaded guilty to similar charges. Yellowstone County District Judge Collette B. Davies maintained the bail amounts for Brown and Spottedwolf at $250,000 and $1 million, respectively. In Montana, a conviction for attempted escape comes with the possibility of up to 10 years in prison. The homicide case against Brown is scheduled to go to trial April 17. Spottedwolfs homicide trial is set for August. DEER LODGE Three key players guiding the Superfund cleanup of the Clark Fork River for the next 15 years met Wednesday in Deer Lodge with members of a citizens group and others to review a recently released draft Strategic Plan for the river. One oft-repeated word was collaboration. Another was transparency. Representatives from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, the states Natural Resource Damage Program and the EPA met Wednesday with members of the Clark Fork River Technical Assistance Committee, or CFRTAC. Others attending included a representative from Montana Trout Unlimited, a state fisheries biologist and Powell Countys planning director. The focus was river cleanup plans, both in the near and distant futures, and community involvement. Katie Garcin-Forba, a DEQ bureau chief, said transparency is important as the remediation and restoration process moves forward. DEQ committed to holding two public meetings per year to discuss the ongoing cleanup and also agreed to include CFRTAC in the design review process as work approaches on upcoming phases. And that was heartening news to Alex Leone, a restoration policy manager for the Clark Fork Coalition and a member of CFRTAC. Overall, I was encouraged by the states willingness to be more transparent with the design review moving forward, Leone said Thursday. If we can reinitiate a design review process on the Clark Fork after years of inactivity, or even continue the dialogue that was started yesterday, it would be a huge deal. The Strategic Plan, released in March, described a new approach to cleanup, driven in large part by funding constraints. In short, the money that emerged from a 2008 settlement with the Atlantic Richfield Co. is running low and lots of work remains to address historic mining and smelting contamination along the river down to Garrison. A catastrophic flood in 1908 washed tailings down from mining operations in Butte and copper smelting in Anaconda and deposited them along the Clark Fork Rivers floodplain. Contaminants include arsenic, copper, cadmium, lead and zinc. Metals in the tailings have been toxic to both terrestrial and aquatic life. Under Superfund law, Atlantic Richfield, which purchased the original polluter in 1977, is on the hook for cleanup costs. The new approach outlined in the Strategic Plan would more closely coordinate remediation by DEQ with restoration by NRDP and leave more contamination in place in the floodplain beyond a narrower channel migration zone an area in which the meandering river might move over time and conceivably pick up tailings left in place. A major expense to date has been excavating tailings and hauling them to a repository in the Opportunity Ponds. Leone asked when the state might seek input on Phase 7, the next phase set for remediation. Doug Martin, restoration program chief for NRDP, said hed have more information soon. He said there has been discussion of doing more to incorporate input from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Caleb Uerling, a fisheries biologist for FWP, attended Wednesdays meeting. Brown trout populations in the upper Clark Fork have declined dramatically as remediation has proceeded, though there is no direct causal link established at this point. But Martin, along with Brian Bartkowiak, an environmental science specialist with NRDP, cautioned that expectations about design review input must recognize the reality of funding constraints. Funding is a limitation on the project, you know, so there are certain things that will be able to be done and wont be able to be done and well have to explain to you whyand ask for you guys to accept those constraints, Martin said. He acknowledged that the Consent Decree agreement of 2008 with Atlantic Richfield includes provisions for a round robin that could yield additional funding for the Clark Fork River Operable Unit. In this scenario, the EPA would pay up to the first $5 million, the state the second $5 million and Atlantic Richfield the next $5 million. Its our intention, and has always been our direction, that we should get this project done without going into that round robin, Martin said. The state has reported having a fund balance of $105 million and says it is possible to complete remediation and restoration between Galen and Garrison with that money. As things stand, DEQ and NRDP face completing 15 more phases along the river between those points. They have set a goal of finishing the work by 2038. Leone said he feels the Strategic Plan is a good faith effort to improve outcomes. But he noted that the new approach leaves more tailings in the floodplain as a result of limited budgets. He said he hopes another cleanup wont be needed in 50 years. He also cited community concerns about tailings contamination at Arrowstone Park, a popular park just east of Deer Lodge. DEQ has said remedial design and planning with Powell County related to Arrowstone will begin this year, with construction slated to happen in 2025-2026. On April 25, DEQ and NRDP will host a public meeting about the new Strategic Plan at the Powell County Community Center in Deer Lodge. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. DEQ and NRDP seek public comment about the plan until the comment period ends May 21. For more information about the Strategic Plan or opportunities to comment, go to https://dojmt.gov/lands/nrdp-public-notices/notices-of-public-comment TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Nominations are now open for the seventh Prime Ministers Award for Journalism, announced Information Minister Dr Ramzan bin Abdullah Al Nuaimi. Dr Al Nuaimi said the ministry will accept applications until the 25th of this month. dma@info.gov.bh Applications should be sent to dma@info.gov.bh and must include the original article or material, an electronic link indicating the name, date, and page of the entry, as well as the award category. Entries are open to all press institutions and journalists working for local newspapers, weeklies, periodicals, or magazines in Bahrain in Arabic or English whose work appeared during 2022. The award has four categories: Best Opinion Column, Best Journalistic Investigation, Best Journalistic Interview, and Best Journalistic Image. Upto five entries allowed Each journalist or press institution can submit up to five entries in the same category. Entries must not have been rejected in local competitions or have won any GCC or Arab press award. The award, the minister said, aims at encouraging journalists and media professionals to exert more effort in further developing the sector. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The National Space Science Agency (NSSA) of Bahrain has received the praise of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for its successful organisation of the Space Apps Challenge 2022. NSSA was applauded for being the first in the world to promptly meet NASA's requirements, compared to over 300 other regulatory local leads and space agencies participating in the challenge. The NASA International Space Apps Challenge (Space Apps) is an international hackathon for coders, scientists, designers, storytellers, makers, builders, technologists, and others in cities around the world, where teams engage the National Aeronautics and Space Administrations (NASAs) free and open data to address real-world problems on Earth and in space. The challenge witnessed an impressive global participation rate of 273.2%, which is the highest in the history of the hackathon since its inception in 2012. According to Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al Aseeri, the CEO of NSSA, the Spac Apps Challenge provided an excellent opportunity for participants to utilize fundamental, technical, and engineering sciences while refining their 21st-century skills. Japan has said it will offer friendly foreign nations financial assistance to help them bolster their defences. The April 5, 2023, announcement marked Tokyos first unambiguous departure from constitutional rules that forbid the country from providing international aid that will be used for military purposes. The move comes as Japan tries to further strengthen ties with other countries to counter neighbouring Chinas growing military capabilities. A new vending machine in the rural Japanese mountain town of Semboku sells bear meat caught by local hunters. Food shortages in the mountains in recent years have pushed bears into populated areas, resulting in 75 bear attacks across Japan in 2022. The machines owner, Daishi Sato, says hunting bears is a necessary form of animal control. He hopes the machine will attract new visitors to the town. A bill creating a permanent water court in Montana with expanded jurisdiction continues to see a strong divide including between agricultural interests. Senate Bill 72 from Senate Majority Leader Steve Fitzpatrick of Great Falls would impact the adjudication of water rights and disputes after 2028. The bill has the backing of Gov. Greg Gianforte and a number of groups representing agriculture and municipal water, but has also drawn significant opposition from other agricultural water users. After several amendments in the Senate, the bill passed on a vote of 31-19. Fitzpatrick brought the bill to the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday morning, where it continued to stir debate during a lengthy hearing. I think this is a good policy move, Fitzpatrick told the committee, saying SB 72 would offer faster resolutions to water disputes and judges with expertise in the notoriously complex realm of water law. Montanas water rights are issued under the western water principle of prior appropriation. Water rights are assigned by priority date, meaning older water rights are senior to newer junior rights and get priority for use in agriculture, mining, municipal water or other uses such as instream flows. Determining who is first in time has been the duty of the Montana Water Court since 1979. Following ratification of the state Constitution in 1972 that recognized existing water rights, the Legislature passed the Montana Water Use Act of 1973. That tasked district courts with issuing final decrees on nearly 220,000 pre-1973 water rights to determine the entirety of priorities in each of Montanas basins. By 1979 lawmakers realized the enormity of the workload on district courts and created the Water Court. The Water Court has slowly adjudicated rights in an effort to reach final basin decrees for the state by 2028, at which time the court is currently scheduled to expire and dissolve. Currently Montanas district courts continue to play a prominent role in water law, settling disputes, adjudicating ditch easements and appointing water commissioners at the request of water users. Commissioners handle the day-to-day allocation and distribution of water under existing rights, although many waters do not have commissioners. Under SB 72, an expanded water court would hear all water-related disputes, including those that currently go to district court, and administer the commissioners. That would remove the often lower priority water rights cases in district courts, supporters say, allowing for more efficient and accurate adjudication and enforcement. Litigants would also save money by eliminating the need for lawsuits in both the water and district courts. Finally, SB 72 would ensure that state courts, rather than federal courts, continue to decide water law within Montanas borders. Montana will be the envy of senior water rights users across the West, said Ross Keogh, a water rights attorney from Missoula. Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras said the bill was the product of collaboration during the interim between legislative sessions. All the groups gave up certain parts and made concessions so collectively they could come together and support a bill in best interests of Montana, she told the committee. The bill also allows for a petition to move the case from the water court to the district court. An amendment in the Senate moved that provision from a may to a shall after some opposition raised concerns about losing local access to district courts. Multiple irrigators said the bill offers a clear process. Having a one-stop-shop allows us to find real solutions in a timely manner, said Cliff Cox, a water user from Winston. And several organizations and attorneys told the committee having a permanent water court would ensure the states primacy in administering and deciding water law cases ones all decrees become final, thus avoiding the proposition of water rights litigation ending up in federal courts. Supporters included the Montana Farm Bureau Federation, Montana Trout Unlimited, the Montana League of Cities and Towns and the Montana Water Resources Association. Opponents brought a variety of points, from the constitutionality of portions of the bill to concerns about local control, the appointment process and whether this bill has seen adequate vetting given the stakes. Pointing to amendments in the Senate, attorney Jon Metropoulos with the Alliance for Local Water Management, said the bill is unnecessary and continues to need work. The prospect of the state losing primacy is unlikely, he said, and the working group that advanced the legislation was also did not adequately represent all stakeholders on the issue. This is bad policy and the process itself wasnt good, he told the committee. Attorney Colleen Coyle said the bill raises serious constitutional questions. Under the bill, the governor would appoint water court judges and they would face Senate confirmation. Once a term is up, the judge would face a retention election where voters would decide whether or not the judge shall continue to serve. SB 72 would grant full district court authority to a permanent water court, and if the judges are then considered district court judges, the appointment and retention elections would run counter to the Constitution, which requires direct elections of district court judges. Water is too important to take this risk, Coyle told the committee. Several irrigators also testified in opposition to the bill, questioning impacts to the current processes and water decrees, accountability under the appointment and retention elections, and trying to centralize water administration when local courts and commissioner best understand the issues and parties involved. In response to a question, Krista Lee Evans with the Association of Gallatin Agricultural Irrigators, a supporter of the bill and part of the collaborative that brought it forward, said the appointment and retention election provision was part of a consensus to provide some level certainty that the judge has expertise in water law. The committee did not take immediate action on the bill. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) California's Medicaid program will continue to pay Walgreens about $1.5 billion each year despite Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom declaring last month the state was done doing business with the pharmacy giant after it indicated it would not sell abortion pills by mail in some states. California wont be doing business with @Walgreens -- or any company that cowers to the extremists and puts womens lives at risk. Were done, Newsom tweeted March 6. He then ordered his administration not to renew a $54 million contract with the company to provide prescription medication to the state's prison system. But cutting ties with Walgreens wasn't as clear cut as the governor first indicated. Walgreens has a much more lucrative connection to California's Medicaid program the joint federal and state health insurance program for people who are disabled or have low incomes. Federal law says Medicaid patients have the right to fill prescriptions from any willing and qualified provider. That includes Walgreens. Last year, California's Medicaid program paid the company more than $1.5 billion. The California Department of Health Care Services said California will continue to comply with that law, Kaiser Health News reported. California has no intention of taking any action that would violate federal Medicaid requirements, or that could undermine access for low-income individuals, said Tony Cava, spokesman for the California Department of Health Care Services. Anthony York, spokesman for the governor, also told Kaiser Health News that the Newsom administration had invited Walgreens to apply again for the $54 million contract the state chose not to renew last month. Tweeting is not policy, York told the news outlet. York said Friday the Walgreens contract was not renewed but that the company "may seek future procurement opportunities. This is not the first time Newsom has made a splashy announcement without first working out all of the details behind it. At the beginning of the pandemic, the Newsom administration quickly signed a contract to purchase masks and other personal protective equipment, frustrating some lawmakers who did not know the details. This is something that politicians bump up against all the time," said Jessica Levinson, a law professor at Loyola Marymount University who focuses on politics and elections. They want to say something strong and big and bold and splashy, and the devil is in the legal details. Newsom's spat with Walgreens began after the company indicated it would not distribute abortion pills by mail in some conservative states. That pill, mifepristone, when combined with another pill, will end a pregnancy. It's been approved since 2000 in the U.S. for use up to the 10th week of pregnancy. Today, more than half of all abortions in the U.S. are done this way, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights. Several states have taken steps to restrict mifepristone, after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down federal abortion protections last year. Earlier this year, attorneys general in 20 states, mostly with Republican governors, warned Walgreens it could face legal consequences if it distributed mifepristone in their states. Walgreens responded by saying it would not distribute mifepristone in states where it is not legal to do so. On Friday, Walgreens spokesperson Fraser Engerman referred questions to Newsom's office. But Engerman reiterated the company's position about abortion pills. Walgreens plans to dispense mifepristone in any jurisdiction where it is legally permissible to do so, Engerman said. Once we are certified by the FDA, we will dispense this medication consistent with federal and state laws. Providing legally approved medications to patients is what pharmacies do, and is rooted in our commitment to the communities in which we operate. Newsom's former chief of staff, Ann O'Leary, represented Walgreens in discussions with the Newsom administration over the issue last month, Politico reported. DANBURY A convicted drug dealer was caught on Thursday with 15 bags containing narcotics, police said. Robert Sterling Cherry, 53, of West Wooster Street in Danbury, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts each of possession of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, said Detective Sgt. John Krupinsky, of the Danbury Police Departments Special Investigations Division. Following his arrest, Cherry was released on a written promise to appear. Cherrys arrest followed a month-long investigation by detectives with the Special Investigations Division, according to Krupinsky. Cherry, who police said has prior drug convictions with an arrest record dating back to 1995, sold fentanyl on Danburys West Side, Krupinsky said. Krupinsky said Danbury police with the help of Brookfield detectives apprehended Cherry Thursday afternoon on Spruce Street. Upon seeing police, Cherry threw a bag on the ground, according to Krupinsky. The discarded bag was recovered and found to contain crack cocaine, Krupinsky said. More narcotics 14 bags containing fentanyl were located in Cherrys pocket, Krupinsky said. Six additional bags of fentanyl, along with an electronic scale and packaging material, were discovered by detectives at Cherrys West Wooster Street home, Krupinsky said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo Manrique has been granted two more weeks to fight his extradition from the United States on corruption charges, halting extradition proceedings that had been set to start Friday. Late Thursday, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ordered a 14-day stay on Toledos extradition to Peru. The stay allows the 77-year-old former leader time to ask a three-judge panel to reconsider its decision denying him a stay or petition the full court to review his appeal. Toledo is accused of taking $20 million in bribes from Odebrecht, a giant Brazilian construction company that has admitted to U.S. authorities that it bribed officials to win contracts throughout Latin America for decades. Toledo is one of four of Perus ex-presidents implicated in the corruption scandal. He denies the charges. The judge in the extradition case, Thomas Hixson, ordered Toledo to turn himself over to U.S. marshals Friday after a three-judge appeals court panel this week denied his appeal to stop his extradition. But Hixson reversed his order after Toledos last-ditch effort was granted. Toledo showed up at the federal court accompanied by his wife, Eliane Karp, and an unidentified American friend. Video images captured outside the federal building by a reporter with Peruvian television station RPP showed Toledo walking down a ramp onto a sidewalk and carrying a plastic bag. His wife walked by his side as their friend tried to block the cellphone camera from recording the couple. Why Toledo was at the court remained unclear, but Hixson reversed his order for Toledo to be taken into custody 30 minutes before the 9 a.m. deadline. Toledo lives in Menlo Park, California, about an hour drive from San Francisco. Mara Goldman, a federal public defender representing Toledo, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Toledo, who was Perus president from 2001 to 2006, was arrested in July 2019 at his home. He was initially held in solitary confinement at the Santa Rita Jail about 40 miles (60 kilometers) east of San Francisco but was released in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He has been under house arrest since then. The Odebrecht corruption scandal has shaken Perus politics, with nearly every living former president now on trial or under investigation. Former leader Alan Garcia, in office from 2006 to 2011, fatally shot himself in the head in 2019 as police arrived at his home to arrest him. Former President Ollanta Humala is standing trial on charges that he and his wife received over $3 million from Odebrecht for his presidential campaigns in 2006 and 2011. Both have denied any wrongdoing. Ex-leader Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, who left office in 2018, is under house arrest for similar charges. BAGHDAD (AP) An explosion struck next to the Suleimaniyah International Airport in northern Iraqs semi-autonomous Kurdish region Friday, local officials said. The blast came days after Turkey closed its airspace to flights to and from the airport, citing an alleged increase in Kurdish militant activity threatening flight safety. Turkey has spent years fighting Kurdish militants in its east. Large Kurdish communities also live in neighboring Iraq and Syria where they have a degree of self-rule. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based opposition war monitor, and some local media reported that the explosion was a Turkish drone attack on Mazloum Abdi, the leader of the Syrian Democratic Forces, the main U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led force in Syria. Officials with the SDF and the Kurdish regional government in northeast Syria denied that Abdi was in Suleimaniyah at the time or had been the target of an attack. Fethullah al-Husseini, a representative of the Kurdish self-rule administration in northeast Syria, said Abdi was carrying on his work and is in northeast Syria. The airports security directorate said in a statement that an explosion took place near the fence surrounding the airport at 4:18 p.m. local time, causing a fire but no injuries. It said the cause of the blast was under investigation and the airport was operating normally. Lawk Ghafuri, head of foreign media affairs for the Kurdish regional government in Iraq, said investigations were still underway and that he was unable to confirm whether the explosion had been a drone attack. However, a statement from the Iraqi Kurdish regional government appeared to blame local authorities in Suleimaniyah, which it accused of provoking an attack on the airport and using government institutions for "illegal activities. The regional government, with its seat in Irbil, is primarily controlled by the Kurdish Democratic Party, while Suleimaniyah is a stronghold of the rival Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. Qubad Talabani, deputy prime minister of the regional government and a member of the PUK, rejected the regional government statement that appeared to cast blame on his party. He said the statement represents only one party ... and cannot speak for the entire government. Two Kurdish officials in Irbil, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the incident with reporters, said that the explosion was caused by a drone attack. One of them said the attack had targeted Abdi. A representative of the Turkish defense ministry said he had no information about the incident. Turkey's foreign ministry announced Wednesday that Turkish airspace was closed to flights taking off from and landing at the Suleimaniyah airport. Turkish officials said the closure was a response to an alleged increase in the activities of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, in the city of Suleimaniyah, including its infiltration of the airport. The decision came weeks after two helicopters crashed in northern Iraq, killing Kurdish militants who were on board. The incident fueled claims that the PKK was in possession of helicopters, infuriating Turkish authorities. The SDF later said it lost nine fighters, including a commander, in the crash, which occurred during bad weather on a flight to Suleimaniyah. The nine included elite fighters who were in Iraq as part of an exchange of expertise in the fight against the Islamic State group, the SDF said. Officials from the Kurdish Democratic Party, which has maintained largely good relations with Turkey, alleged after the crash that the helicopters had been originally purchased by the rival Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and that they had been flying without permission from the regional government. The Kurdish regional government was forced last month to stop exporting nearly half a million barrels of oil through via a pipeline to Turkey. That followed a decision by the International Chamber of Commerce siding with the central Iraqi government in Baghdad in a long-standing dispute over the independent export of oil by the Kurdish region. Last week Baghdad and Irbil reached a deal to resume the oil exports. ___ Associated Press writers Hogir Abdo in Qamishli, Syria, Suzan Fraser in Istanbul and Abby Sewell in Beirut contributed to this report. Abdul-Zahra reported from Boston. A bipartisan proposal to establish regulations on facial recognition technology use by state and local governments began working its way through the state House this week. Senate Bill 397 is the product of years-long legislative study and concern for Montanans' right to privacy. Several lawmakers began that path intending an outright ban on facial recognition technology, but landed on a bill that still offers concessions to law enforcement agencies and the technology industry's concerns. The bill has already cleared the Senate despite continued opposition from law enforcement and tech companies. The opposition comes even as a law enforcement body ultimately will grant authority to law enforcement when it requests the ability to use facial recognition in the examples provided by the bill. Sen. Ken Bogner, R-Miles City, carries the bill and said during its first hearing before a House committee that the state needs a starting point. "We don't have any facial recognition technology laws on the books currently, so it's important to establish those," Bogner told the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. The bill prohibits continuous use of surveillance via facial recognition technology by state or local governments, law enforcement agencies, public employees or public officials. A camera equipped with the technology, for example, could not be fixed to a public building or on a public road. State law enforcement not local authorities would be allowed to use the technology when investigating a "serious crime," in the search for a missing or endangered person, or identifying someone who is dead or believed to be dead, but the agency would have to obtain a search warrant to do so in most cases. Representatives of law enforcement, prosecutors and security companies each testified against the bill. "We are living in times where human trafficking, fentanyl are taking over our law enforcement and we're going to tie their hands in trying to use an emerging technology," EJ Redding testified in opposition to the bill on behalf of the Security Industry Association. The bill includes 26 laws legislators have deemed as "serious crimes," including: deliberate homicide, negligent homicide, vehicular homicide, aggravated assault, criminal endangerment, assault on a peace officer, assault on a minor, stalking, kidnapping, aggravated kidnapping, robbery, sexual intercourse without consent, indecent exposure to a minor, promoting prostitution, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal child endangerment, human trafficking, sexual servitude and patronizing sexual servitude, among others. The warrant requirement would be suspended, however, if "an emergency exists," according to the bill. The agency would be required to obtain a warrant within 24 hours of using the technology. "If someone has a violent crime committed against their person, would we want to deprive that person of being able to seek justice?" asked Rep. Katie Sullivan, a Missoula Democrat and part of the cache of legislators who have been studying the technology. "But we also wanted to say if Montana's going to use the technology, let's make sure there's sideboards. What we've come up with I think is very unique, very thoughtful." The bill states the Montana Department of Justice is the only agency authorized to use facial recognition technology. In order to use facial recognition technology under any circumstance, the law enforcement agency under DOJ would be required to submit a request from the Criminal Intelligence Information Advisory Counsel. That counsel is housed at the Montana Department of Justice and its members serve at the pleasure of the attorney general. The results of the technology's use could not be used as the sole basis to establish probable cause in an investigation, and the use of the technology would have to be disclosed to the defendant through the typical discovery process. "We wanted a bill that protects peoples' privacy but continues to enable the really beneficial uses of this technology," said Kendall Cotton, president and CEO of the Frontier Institute, a conservative think tank in Helena. He testified in support of the bill on Wednesday. Examples of Montana agencies using facial recognition technology emerged as lawmakers studied the issue last year. The Montana Department of Labor and Industry, for example, used ID.me, an identity verification company, to assist with verifying unemployment claims. That use would still be allowed under SB 397. State and local governments that use facial recognition or verification technology must also provide written policies outlining the agency's use to the public and cannot use the technology without the consent of someone who is seeking government services that require facial verification. The agency or office must also provide another option to access those services without the use of facial verification technology. "That gives Montana citizens an option there if they don't feel comfortable using FRT," Bogner told the committee. The bill would also establish requirements for third-party vendors, including providing notice to individuals that facial biometric data is being collected, informing individuals of the purpose and getting written consent from the individual. Vendors would also be required to destroy the biometric data within a year of gathering it. The bill comes with penalties between $1,000 and $10,000 for violations of the regulations in SB 397. "This bill would certainly be transformational in terms of trying to strike a better balance in terms of the public safety duties of law enforcement and the civil liberties of Montanans," said Liam McCollum, with Americans for Prosperity's Montana chapter. The bill cleared the Senate last month on a 44-6 vote. Bogner said amendments are still in the works from both supporters and opponents of the bill. The House Judiciary Committee did not take immediate action on the bill Wednesday. Four new acquisitions in Canada New acquisition in the U.S. following the end of the quarter Highlights of Q1 ended February 28, 2023 Sales of $403.0M , up 4.8%, including internal growth of 1.8% and 3.0% from acquisitions. of , up 4.8%, including internal growth of 1.8% and 3.0% from acquisitions. 0.7% increase in Canadian sales to $230.9M . to . Sales in the U.S. up 4.7% to US$127.7M , which represent 42.7 % of total sales. up 4.7% to , which represent % of total sales. EBITDA of $49.1M - EBITDA margin of 12.2%. of - EBITDA margin of 12.2%. Net earnings attributable to shareholders of $22.4M or $0.40 per diluted share of or per diluted share Sound financial position as of February 28, 2023 - average return on shareholders' equity of 21.0% . as of - average return on shareholders' equity of . Expansion : 4 acquisitions in Canada and 1 in the U.S. after the quarter. : 4 acquisitions in and 1 in the U.S. after the quarter. Quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share payable on May 4, 2023 to shareholders of record on April 20, 2023 . MONTREAL, April 6, 2023 /CNW/ - "Richelieu (TSX: RCH) "We are satisfied with our first quarter results and our five new acquisitions completed during and after this period as well as our new developments in the United States. We achieved sales of $403.0M, up 4.8%. For purposes of fair comparison with the first quarter of 2022, it should be noted that the market environment resulting from the pandemic contributed to generate exceptional growth in our results, particularly in the first quarter of 2022 when EBITDA increased by 40.8% and net earnings by 43.4%. In the first quarter of 2023, EBITDA was $49.1M, down 8.6%, and EBITDA margin at 12.2% from 14.0% in 2022. Net income attributable to shareholders was $22.4M or $0.40 per diluted share. We ended the quarter with a very healthy and solid financial position. In the coming periods, while integrating our recent acquisitions, we are confident that we will actively pursue our growth strategy focused on innovations, acquisitions and value-added multi-access service," said Richard Lord, President and Chief Executive Officer. EXPANSION: FOUR ACQUISITIONS IN CANADA, ONE NEW ACQUISITION IN THE U.S. AND NEW CENTERS OPENINGS IN THE U.S. Richelieu completed four new acquisitions in Canada in January 2023: Rabel Hardware, a specialty hardware distributor in Terrebonne, Quebec; Trans-World Distributing, a distributor of industrial fasteners in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia; and Unigrav and Usimm, two companies offering custom products including a 3D scanning center for the architectural and industrial market, located in Drummondville and Montreal. Subsequent to the end of the quarter, the Corporation acquired Maverick Hardware, a specialty hardware distributor based in Eugene, Oregon, reinforcing our presence in a market where Richelieu was already present with a distribution center in Portland. These five recent transactions add up to approximately $22M in sales on an annual basis. The expansion and modernization projects undertaken by Richelieu at several of its U.S. centers are progressing on schedule, namely in Atlanta, Nashville, Pompano, Seattle and the brand-new Chicago center serving the retailers market. The Fort Myers center, where the Corporation moved its operations to a new location, is now operational as well as its two new centers in Carlstadt, NJ and Minneapolis, MN. In the Calgary area, the Corporation will consolidate two of its centers at the end of the year and set up a premier showroom while increasing its service capacity in Western Canada. ANALYSIS OF OPERATING RESULTS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 2023 Consolidated sales were $403.0M, compared to $384.5M for the first quarter of 2022, an increase of $18.5M, or 4.8%. Internal growth was 1.8%. Acquisitions completed in the last 12 months contributed 3.0% to sales growth. In comparable currency to the first quarter of 2022, consolidated sales growth would have been 2.2% for the quarter ended February 28, 2023. The following table provides a sales overview for the quarters ended February 28, 2023 and 2022 : (in millions of dollars) Quarters ended February 28 % 2023 2022 Total Internal Acquisitions Consolidated 403.0 384.5 4.8 1.8 3.0 Manufacturers 344.0 326.3 5.4 2.0 3.4 Retailers 59.0 58.2 1.4 1.2 0.2 Canada 230.9 229.4 0.7 (0.7) 1.4 Manufacturers 185.5 185.5 (1.8) 1.8 Retailers 45.4 43.9 3.4 3.4 United States 172.1 155.1 11.0 In $US 127.7 122.0 4.7 (0.2) 4.9 Manufacturers 117.6 110.7 6.2 0.7 5.5 Retailers 10.1 11.3 (10.6) (11.0) 0.4 Earnings before taxes, interest and amortization (EBITDA) reached $49.1M, down $4.6M or 8.6%, compared to the corresponding quarter of 2022, mainly due to the return of operating expenses closer to pre pandemic levels as well as costs related to external storage, due to temporary inventory increase. Gross margin remained stable. Consequently, the EBITDA margin stood at 12.2%, compared to 14.0% for the corresponding quarter of 2022. Net earnings reached $22.6M, down 25.4% compared to the previous fiscal year mainly due to the increase in the amortization of rights-of-use assets related to business acquisitions and expansion projects, mainly in the United States, as well as interest on the line of credit. Including non-controlling interests, net income attributable to shareholders of the Corporation was $22.4M, down 25.6% from the first quarter of 2022. Net earnings per share was $0.40 basic and diluted, compared to $0.54 basic and $0.53 diluted for the Q1 of 2022, down 25.9% and 24.5% respectively. Cash flow from operating activities, before net change in non-cash working capital balances, was $38.3M or $0.68 per diluted share compared to $42.6M or $0.75 per diluted share for the first quarter of 2022. This 9.3% decrease primarily reflects the decrease in net earnings. The net change in non-cash working capital items used cash flows of $21.8M, mainly reflecting the decrease in accounts payable, taxes payable and other items, while accounts receivable represented a cash inflow of $8.4M. As a result, operating activities represented a cash inflow of $16.5M, compared to a cash outflow of $37.5M in Q1 2022. Financial position Total assets were $1.35B as at February 28, 2023, compared to $1.28B as at November 30, 2022, an increase of 4.9%. Current assets increased by 1.8% or $16.4M from November 30, 2022. Non-current assets increased by 12.6% mainly due to the addition of right-of-use assets related to business acquisitions and expansion projects. Share capital As at February 28, 2023, the Corporation's share capital consisted of 55,813,115 common shares [55,784,790 shares as at November 30, 2022]. For the three-month period ended February 28, 2023, the weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding was 56,147,410 [56,574,430 in 2022]. DIVIDENDS On April 6, 2023, the Board of Directors approved the payment of a quarterly dividend of 0.15$ per share to shareholders of record as at April 20, 2023, payable on May 4, 2023. The declared dividend is designated as an eligible dividend within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada). PROFILE AS AT FEBRUARY 28, 2023 Richelieu is a leading North American importer, manufacturer and distributor of specialty hardware and complementary products. Its products are targeted to an extensive customer base of kitchen and bathroom cabinet, storage and closet, home furnishing and office furniture manufacturers, residential and commercial woodworkers, door and window, and hardware retailers including renovation superstores. Richelieu offers customers a broad mix of high-end products sourced from manufacturers worldwide. Its product selection consists of over 130,000 different items targeted to a base of more than 110,000 customers who are served by 112 centers in North America 50 distribution centers in Canada, 59 in the United States and three manufacturing plants in Canada, specifically, Les Industries Cedan Inc., Menuiserie des Pins Ltee and USIMM/UNIGRAV, which manufacture a variety of veneer sheets and edge banding products, a broad selection of decorative mouldings and components for the window and door industry as well as custom products, including a 3D scanning center. Notes to readers Richelieu uses earnings before interest, income taxes and amortization ("EBITDA") because this measure enables management to assess the Corporation's operational performance. This measure is a financial indicator of a corporation's ability to service its debt. However, EBITDA should not be considered by an investor as an alternative to operating income, net earnings, cash flows or as a measure of liquidity. Because EBITDA is not a standardized measurement as prescribed by IFRS, it may not be comparable to the EBITDA of other companies. Richelieu also uses adjusted cash flows from operating activities, which are based on net earnings plus the amortization of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and right-of-use asset, deferred tax expense (or recovery), share-based compensation expense and financial costs. These additional measures do not account for net change in non-cash working capital items to exclude seasonality effects and are used by management in its assessments of cash flows from long-term operations. Therefore, adjusted cash flows from operating activities may not be comparable to those of other companies. Certain statements set forth in this report (generally identified by terms such as "may", "could", "might", "intend", "expect", "believe", "estimate" or comparable variants) constitute forward-looking statements which, by their very nature, remain subject to other risks and uncertainties as set forth in the Corporation's annual and quarterly reports. Although management considers these assumptions and expectations reasonable based on the information available at the time they are provided, such assumptions and expectations could prove inaccurate and actual results could differ materially. Richelieu is under no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein to account for future events or circumstances, except as required by applicable legislation. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements, accompanying notes and interim MD&A for the first quarter of 2023 will be available shortly on the website of the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval ("SEDAR") at www.sedar.com and on the Corporation's website at www.richelieu.com. APRIL 6, 2023, CONFERENCE CALL AT 3:00 P.M. (EASTERN TIME) Financial analysts and investors interested in participating in the conference call on Richelieu's results to be held at 3:00 p.m. on April 6, 2023, may dial 1-888-390-0620 a few minutes before the start of the call. For those unable to participate, a taped rebroadcast will be available as of 5:45 p.m. on April 6, 2023, until midnight on April 13, 2023, by dialing 1-888-259-6562, access code: 125444 #. Members of the media are invited to listen in. Photos are available under "About Richelieu" "Media" section at www.richelieu.com SOURCE Richelieu Hardware Ltd. For further information: Richard Lord, President and Chief Executive Officer; Antoine Auclair, Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer; Tel: (514) 336-4144 / www.richelieu.com Spread love and generosity for a chance to win $5,000 in travel! TORONTO, April 6, 2023 /CNW/ - Spring is here, flowers are blooming, and redtag.ca is celebrating in a big way with the sweetest giveaway ever: #redtagsomebunny! Starting April 6, 2023, Canadians will be able to nominate someone who deserves a much-needed vacation for a chance to win a $2,500 redtag.ca travel voucher each. Many Canadians have missed out on the opportunity to travel and create new memories with their loved ones. #redtagsomebunny is a chance to change that and give someone special the gift of travel. Nominate someone who has gone above and beyond for their community, a friend who has been there through thick and thin, or simply a family member who deserves a break. This is an opportunity to show them that their hard work and dedication has not gone unnoticed and to give them a chance to relax. To enter redtag.ca's #redtagsomebunny, participants must follow redtag.ca on Instagram and nominate someone in the comments. Participants who submit a video saying why their nominee deserves a vacation will receive five bonus entries. #redtagsomebunny is on until April 13, 2023. The winners will be randomly chosen and announced on April 17, 2023. Even if you don't end up winning, redtag.ca has their Easter sale running until April 9, 2023. Plus, stay tuned for other fun promotions and giveaways coming up. For more information or to enter the giveaway, please visit redtag.ca's Instagram account @redtag.ca. About redtag.ca redtag.ca is one of Canada's leading full-service travel companies designed to connect travellers to their dream getaways through the power of innovation and technology. They specialize in customized trips worldwide while finding the best deals on vacation packages, flights, cruises, hotels, car rentals, and more. redtag.ca is fully owned and operated by H.I.S.-Red Label Vacations Inc. For more information, please visit www.redtag.ca. SOURCE redtag.ca For further information: Sandra Weber, Director of Communications, Content Strategy & Social Media, Tel: (416) 277-7236, Email: [email protected] As Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin mull whether to seek a reversal in federal court of a massive Army contract to rival Bell, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said Friday in Hartford that Congress could apply pressure as well by limiting funding for the procurement of the Bell aircraft if it deems it to be the wrong choice from a fiscal perspective. Sikorsky took a major hit Thursday after the Government Accountability Office declined to overturn a U.S. Army decision last December to award Bell a contract estimated at an initial $7.1 billion to produce the V-280 Valor. The Bell tilt-rotor would take on missions performed today by the Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter, which has been in the Army fleet for more than a half-century. With Sikorsky having produced more than 5,000 Black Hawk helicopters and variants, it is a major loss for Lockheed Martin and Connecticut where Sikorsky is among the five largest employers with roughly 8,000 workers at last report. Late last year, an Army official estimated at $70 billion or more the value of the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft program, and possible derivative aircraft for other military branches. For the time being, Sikorsky's Stratford plant has steady work in the next decade and beyond making Army Black Hawks and variant helicopters for the U.S. Air Force and Navy, and the new CH-53K King Stallion helicopter for the Marine Corps. But Lockheed Martin had counted on the Sikorsky-Boeing Defiant-X to pick up the slack from there, with a possible added boost if Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin land an Army contract for a new armed scout helicopter. Speaking Friday on the steps of the Connecticut State Capitol in Hartford, Blumenthal said there was precedent for Congress using its purse strings to influence the Department of Defense during prior administrations to reconsider major decisions on strategic or tactical weapons programs. While Blumenthal said there is a need for "robust" defense spending in the current age, he suggested that spending needs to go to systems that provide the best bang for the buck. "We have an oversight responsibility," said Blumenthal. "We go through the defense budget literally line by line. The National Defense Authorization Act is approved by Congress only after a really exacting process. And make no mistake defense budgets are going to have to be subject to even higher level of scrutiny." While acknowledging the possibility of Sikorsky winning the armed scout helicopter contract, Blumenthal said that if Sikorsky disputes the methodology for the V-280 Valor procurement, it should pursue a claim in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. The armed scout helicopter program has been pushed back a year to 2024 as GE Aviation develops the engine that will be installed on either the Sikorsky or Bell model the Army picks. Bell has proposed a traditional helicopter design for that program, with Sikorsky sticking with a coaxial rotor model similar to the Defiant-X it proposed as the Black Hawk replacement in partnership with Boeing. Blumenthal told CT Insider keeping the Stratford workforce intact is a significant strategic consideration as well for the U.S. military and its allies. While Bell has a solid commercial helicopter business it built more than 150 last year Sikorsky is dependent on government sales. "The trained workforce that is at Sikorsky right now, frankly, are the best helicopter makers in the world, and it's potentially endangering that defense industrial base by going with Bell," Blumenthal said. "This decision on the future of vertical-lift aircraft has ramifications across the globe not just to our NATO allies, but to partners who depend on American helicopter manufacturing, whether it's in the Middle East or the Far East." In a written statement Friday, Gov. Ned Lamont referenced "additional competitions coming down the road" for Sikorsky. While the Army deliberated on the V-280 Valor versus the Defiant-X, NATO has a similar competition under way for a new helicopter or tilt-rotor fleet, which would be smaller than the Army's Future Long Range Assault Aircraft program won by Bell, but still significant. Sikorsky and Bell have signaled interest with their respective aircraft for the NATO program, as have European manufacturers Leonardo and Airbus. Defiant-X features dual sets of rigid rotor blades that spin in opposite directions, providing vastly improved maneuverability compared to traditional helicopters like the Black Hawk. Sikorsky and Boeing have played up those capabilities for both the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft program won by Bell, and the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft program for the Army scout helicopter, with Sikorsky calling that prototype Raider-X. Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky have yet to indicate whether they will pursue a challenge of the Army FLRAA decision in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the last avenue to get a second chance at the program. Sikorsky has an existing case in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, alleging the U.S. government underpaid it for research and development expenses by applying a cost-accounting standard improperly. In their GAO protest, Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky claimed the Army did not properly factor factor the higher cost of the Bell V-280 Valor in the selection. GAO asserted that Sikorsky fell short on "architectural detail" the Army required, without providing immediate specifics. Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky have yet to indicate whether they will pursue a last remaining option a lawsuit challenging the Bell award in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Sikorsky has an existing case in the court against the U.S. government, claiming it was underpaid for research and development costs it incurred over 10 years through 2017, with Sikorsky having prevailed in a U.S. Court of Federal Claims lawsuit filed in 2012 after the government levied an extra $64 million charge on a dispute over accounting assumptions. Cost-accounting rules are at the center of the more recent dispute as well, with court documents redacting the specific amounts Sikorsky claims it should have received. Programs covered in the lawsuit include the Black Hawk, the CH-53K and the new Jolly Green II rescue helicopter Sikorsky is now building in Stratford for the U.S. Marine Corps, as well as the "Future Vertical Lift" effort that produced the Defiant-X prototype. Sikorsky landed the Jolly Green II contract after a successful GAO protest from 15 years ago that allowed to wrest away the program from Boeing, which had proposed a modernized version of its tandem-rotor Chinook helicopter that is still used by the Army today. When she was 4 years old, Amy Turner experienced something no child should ever have to go through. The date was Nov. 14, 1957, and her father, Harold Turner, was on a business trip in New Haven, when he unexpectedly climbed onto the ledge outside his window at the Taft Hotel and threatened to jump. Rev. James Keating, a priest from St. Marys Church, was passing by the hotel when he saw the man and volunteered to talk with him. Twenty minutes later, Turners dad, who suffered from deep depression, was coaxed back inside. At the time, the story appeared in newspapers across the country with details of his suicide attempt appearing in The New York Daily News, The New Haven Register, The Detroit Free Press, The Los Angeles Times and other newspapers. He would go on to spend months in a mental health facility before returning home. But for the young Turner, she was left in the dark about most of it at the time. I didnt know about it at the time. All I knew was that my father was there one day and all of a sudden, he wasnt for about 10 months, she said. Then he came back. All I knew was something was wrong. My mom warned us not to get him upset, but I had no idea why. I knew from the tone of her voice that it was something with life or death consequences. I grew up very concerned about making a mistake that might upset him. When she was 16, Turner was sent to a psychologist over her constant worrying, who called her mom to ask why she might have these feelings. Turners mom told him the story and granted him permission to tell her daughter the whole story. Thats when I first heard what happened, and it was a shock, but at the same time, everything made sense, she said. I felt like I had been living in a parallel universe because I didnt have this information, and yet, there was a familiarity to it. Needless to say, with the family I was in there weren't any discussions or sharing of emotions. Turner's father went on to live well into his 90s and she said that her father "managed to live a happy life, but he always struggled with depression." Fast forward to 2010, when Turner was hit by a pickup truck when crossing a street in East Hampton, NY, and sustained a concussion and injuries to her shoulder and back. The incident made her recount her fathers troubles and how it shaped her life moving forward. It had never even occurred to me to research what had happened with my father, she said. After my accident, I wanted to see if it was on the front page of the Daily News, so I went to the New York Public Library and looked through the microfiche, and sure enough, there was his picture on the cover and it was so shocking to me even though I knew. Courtesy of Amy Turner She saw the photo credit was from the New Haven Register, so she reached out to the New Haven Free Public Library, which helped her learn more about the event and details about Rev. Keating. In response, Turner penned a memoir, On the Ledge, which recounts her recovery from the accident and her healing the deeply buried childhood trauma of her fathers suicide attempt in New Haven. I refer to myself as an accidental memoirist because I didnt set out to write this, even though Ive always wanted to write my whole life, Turner said. It wasnt until I was hit by a truck though I dont recommend that as a way for anyone to jumpstart their writing career and my brother died shortly after, I found myself writing a thank you note the next year to an English teacher who figured prominently in my brothers life, and that opened up a channel that I never before had access to memories and insights flowed out of me. Turner will hold a reading and author discussion of On the Ledge at the New Haven Free Public Library on April 18 at 6:30 p.m. Turner said writing her memoir has been a cathartic experience, both for her healing process of being hit by the truck and her emotional scars from her younger days. When the memoir was published, really all I wanted was for someone to acknowledge it was well written, and I have gotten very nice words from a number of places, Turner said. I have heard from so many people that some aspect of my familys life resonates with them and has been helpful to them. That has really been gratifying and wonderful. Anyone who has thoughts of harming themselves, or seeks access to free and confidential mental health support, can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 800-273-8255 (en Espanol: 888-628-9454; Deaf and Hard of Hearing dial 711 and then 988) or visit 988Lifeline.org. People in need can also text the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. Valerie Hellermann is back in Helena after making her third trip overseas to help the people of Ukraine as they ward off a Russian invasion. She said her latest trip has been a little different than the others because she went into Kyiv and into Zhytomyr. We actually met the war, Hellermann said, adding she and the others from Hands on Global saw destroyed buildings and endured many air raids. Hellermann is executive director of Hands on Global, a nonprofit organization that provides basic health care, mostly in remote underserved areas and refugee camps. This was Hellermanns third trip to the region since the Russians invaded Ukraine in February 2022, spending several weeks there in March 2022 and again in December. This time she was there 26 days. She returned Sunday. Hellermann said she took 18 50-pound bags of medical supplies, which included trauma equipment and limb-saving orthopedic hardware. She said she was with two others during her most recent trip and during their last night in Zhytomyr they went through five hours of air raid sirens and two missile attacks. She said the attacks were miles away, but they could see the damage. We heard the explosions and we kinda figured that is what they were, the 71-year-old Hellermann said. We saw smoke and fire in the distance as we high-tailed out of Zhytomyr and headed to Kyiv. Hellermann said air raid sirens now go on all the time and usually dont last long, and people go about doing their normal business. But the one she experienced went on for five hours with a siren that went on over and over and over. She said the electricity suddenly went out at the hotel she was staying at and we really didnt know what to do. She said they heard the explosions and were scared. There is such randomness, Hellermann said. These missiles were randomly launched and could land anywhere in Ukraine. She said the two other people she was with met in the hotel the next morning to have breakfast and they all showed up with their suitcases. It was time to leave, she said. Hellermann said during this trip she and the others saw all the supplies that they brought being put to use. We were really glad we were able to bring those supplies, she said. They are totally needed. Hellermann said the number of people with injuries is staggering. I am sure it is not different than any war, but it is staggering to me, she said. Hellermann, an ex-nurse, said this time around she also helped out with providing wound care and tried to spend time consoling patients. She said many of the injured were separated from their families and had no one to visit them. Many of the injured were civilian soldiers. These are not professional soldiers, Hellermann said, adding she saw injured civilians who had stepped on a mine or fell victim to a missile attack. She is now back home. Its always hard to come back and realize how grateful I am that I do not worry my house will be hit by a missile or someone I know will die, she said. She said every Ukrainian person she had met had been impacted by the war, either with a family member of someone they know dying." She said on this most recent trip she began to think more about mental injuries. Hellermann met an artist on a train who had done a documentary on concussion, contusions and brain injuries to soldiers. I could barely watch it, it was so painful, she said. Hellermann said people suffer to varying degrees. Some had speech impediments, some blinded and some could not even speak due to actual physical brain injuries. She said her team is exploring about how to help with that. Hellermann said she remains committed to helping the Ukraine people. I want to go on record of being anti-war, she said. I never think war is the answer. However, Russia invaded them and I do support supporting Ukraine. We have no choice, a sovereign nation has been invaded. Hellermann said the Ukrainian people remain committed to being free. She said they know their country is not perfect, but they will fight for it. Hellermann said she is not sleeping well since her return. She said she has awakened at night thinking she hears air raid sirens. She said she was walking her dog at the fairgrounds when a train rambled by and the squeaks made by the train reminded her of the sirens. She believes that explained the noise she was hearing at night. Hellermann added that people are already asking her when she will return. She said one of her contacts over there has sent a list of the supplies he needs. He asked for 100 tourniquets on his last list. He told her he needs 500 more. Hellermann said she becomes emotional when she thinks of the Ukrainian people she met. There was a 20-year-old civilian soldier whose arms were fractured and burned. She peeled him an orange and fed it to him. Tears were streaming out of his eyes, she said. For more on Hands on Global, go to: handsonglobal.org. NEW BRITAIN A former local elementary school teacher has been accused of repeatedly kissing and having sexual contact with a female student in his classroom, according to a warrant for his arrest. Erving Rivera, 50, who was a special education teacher at Lincoln Elementary School until he resigned last month, was charged Wednesday with fourth-degree sexual assault and illegal sexual contact with a victim under 16, court records show. The school's principal told police she previously called the state Department of Children and Families about Rivera for pulling a child's earlobe as a form of discipline and she spoke to him about boundaries with students, including that he shouldn't be alone with children or have the door closed to his classroom when he is with students, according to the arrest warrant. He had been working at Lincoln Elementary School since last spring after being transferred from New Britain High School, the principal said. She had also arranged to have her male assistant principal speak with Rivera about "how to be appropriate around female co-workers," according to the warrant. After the allegations about the victim surfaced in February, four other female students told police Rivera had been inappropriate with them as well, sometimes kissing them, feeling their bra straps, hugging them or calling them "baby" or "baby girl," the warrant said. Rivera posted $100,000 bail after his arrest and was arraigned Thursday in state Superior Court in New Britain. The judge issued a protective order, prohibiting Rivera from having contact with the victim, who turned 11 last month. Rivera is also prohibited from having any unsupervised contact with minors. Rivera's case will be screened for transfer to the Part A court in New Britain, which handles more serious cases. His next court date is April 20. Rivera declined to comment as he left the courthouse. Rivera's activities were discovered on Feb. 8 after a fifth-grade teacher saw him whisper in the victim's ear, the warrant said. The teacher asked the child, who she knew was not one of Rivera's special education students, what he had said, according to the warrant. The child responded that Rivera had said, "what happens in my room, stays in my room," the warrant said. While the teacher was waiting for the school's behavioral assistant to talk to the victim about the incident, Rivera entered her classroom and put his hand on the victim's shoulder in what the educator believed was his attempt to get the girl not to speak about his actions, the warrant said. The victim was brought to the school social worker's office where she told the behavioral assistant that Rivera would kiss her on the lips, put his hand under her shirt and touch her "bottom outside of her pants," the warrant said. He would have the girl sit on his lap while he touched her and often the door to his classroom was closed when they were together, the child told the behavioral assistant, according to the warrant. The girl would sometimes be in Rivera's classroom twice a day even though he wasn't her teacher, the warrant stated. The girl was also concerned that he was doing the same things to a female classmate because she had seen the other child on his lap and he had also hugged the other girl, the warrant stated. The victim at first denied anything inappropriate had happened with Rivera when speaking with the school's social worker later that day, the warrant said. But the girl then admitted Rivera had kissed her, put his hand up the front and back of her shirt and had bought her chocolate, according to the warrant. The girl couldn't remember when the incidents with Rivera first started, but she said he had done it "today," the warrant said. He had never threatened her, the girl said, but he asked her not to tell anyone "about what he does," the warrant said. By that point, the state Department of Children and Families and the police had been notified, according to the warrant. Rivera told police that when he whispered in the girl's ear, he was simply cautioning her not to tell others he had given her pizza because they would want it too, the warrant said. The girl often came to his room to talk and she would give him a hug before she left, Rivera told police, according to the warrant. "There is no reason for me to run, I didn't do anything wrong," Rivera told the investigating officer, according to the warrant. During a second interview with police on Feb. 23, Rivera admitted he hugged students, but denied he had inappropriately touched any of the girls, the warrant said. "I don't have anything to hide," he told investigators, according to the warrant. "Have I hugged them and they've taken it a certain way? Again, I can't tell you a student's minds. I can only tell you what I've done." He went to say that after working hard to become a teacher, "he would be a moron to throw it all away," the warrant said. Tony Gasper, superintendent of New Britain schools, informed parents and staff about Rivera's arrest late Wednesday afternoon in a letter that did not provide any information about the allegations. He wrote that school officials learned of Rivera's potential inappropriate behavior on Feb. 8, and acted immediately to notify the New Britain Police Department and the Connecticut State Department of Children and Families. Rivera was removed from the classroom the same day and placed on administrative leave, he said. Rivera, who was hired in February 2020, resigned March 22, Gasper said. Since this all transpired, our district has been working with individual students and their families to offer support services that they may need and will continue to do so moving forward, Gasper wrote in his letter. The behavior of which Mr. Rivera is accused is morally reprehensible and a stain on the noble profession of public education." Gasper added that while New Britain schools comply with requirements concerning mandated background checks, "we will work to find ways to exceed what is required by law to ensure that the district hires staff that represents our strongly-held morals and beliefs." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate AUSTIN, Texas (AP) A U.S. Army sergeant was convicted of murder for fatally shooting an armed protester in 2020 during nationwide protests against police violence and racial injustice, a Texas jury ruled Friday. Sgt. Daniel Perry was working for a ride-sharing company in July 2020 when he turned onto a street and into a large crowd of demonstrators in downtown Austin. In video that was streamed live on Facebook, a car can be heard honking before several shots ring out and protesters begin screaming and scattering. The 28-year-old protester, Garrett Foster, was taken to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Perry, who faces life in prison, now awaits sentencing. Were happy with the verdict. Were very sorry for his family as well. Theres no winners in this, Stephen Foster, the victims father, told reporters Friday. The jury deliberated for two days. During closing arguments, Perry's attorneys said he had no choice but to shoot Foster as he approached Perrys car with an AK-47 rifle, the Austin American-Statesman reported. Prosecutors said Perry could have driven away before firing his revolver. Witnesses testified that Foster never raised his rifle at Perry, according to the newspaper. Perry, who did not testify, told police that Foster did. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, then-Police Chief Brian Manley said officers heard two separate volleys of gunfire. Officers made their way to the crowd, where they found Foster with multiple gunshot wounds. Manley said the driver, who was not named at the time, called 911 and reported the shooting, and that the second round of shots was fired by protesters who witnessed the shooting. Perry was stationed at Fort Hood, about 70 miles (112 kilometers) north of Austin. The trial comes after attempts from Perrys team to throw out the case over the past year. When Foster was killed, demonstrators in Austin and beyond had been marching in the streets for weeks following the police killing of George Floyd. Floyd died May 25, 2020, after a Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee against the Black mans neck for more than nine minutes. Floyd, who was handcuffed, repeatedly said he couldnt breathe. Floyds killing was recorded on video by a bystander and sparked worldwide protests as part of a broader reckoning over racial injustice. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Vice President Kamala Harris made a last-minute trip Friday to Tennessee where she called for tougher firearm laws and criticized the Republican-controlled state House, which a day earlier expelled two Black Democratic lawmakers for their role in a protest calling for more gun control following a school shooting in Nashville. Harris received wild applause and several standing ovations as she told a crowd at Nashvilles historically Black Fisk University that the so-called Tennessee Three ousted Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson and a third Democrat, Gloria Johnson, who avoided expulsion by a single vote were being, in her words, silenced and stifled for standing up for the lives of schoolchildren. Lets understand the underlying issue is about fighting for the safety of our children, Harris said. Its been years now where they are taught to read and write and hide in a closet and be quiet if theres a mass shooter at their school, where our children, who have Gods capacity to learn and lead, who go to school in fear. She called for background checks, red flag laws and restrictions on assault rifles. Lets not fall for the false choice either youre in favor of the Second Amendment or you want reasonable gun safety laws, Harris said. We can and should do both. Harris met privately with Jones, Pearson and Johnson, as well as with other elected officials and young people advocating for tougher gun control laws. Ahead of the event, students and others were lined up down the block, hoping to enter the schools Memorial Chapel. Inside several young Black women wore sweaters with the initials for Alpha Kappa Alpha, a Black sorority that Harris belonged to. Its exciting to see someone from my organization doing great and amazing things, said one of them, Jasmyn Thrash. Nashville Metro Councilperson Zulfat Suara addressed the crowd before Harris arrived, saying the expulsions tell us exactly what we need to know about how the state views young Black men standing up for what they believe. Evoking the citys civil rights history, she said, Just like John Lewis and Diane Nash did many years ago, we too will resist. Pearson, Johnson and Jones entered the packed chapel to a standing ovation. President Joe Biden has called their expulsions shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent. Rather than debating the merits of the issue (of gun control), these Republican lawmakers have chosen to punish, silence, and expel duly-elected representatives of the people of Tennessee, Biden said in a Thursday statement. The White House also said Friday afternoon that Biden spoke with Jones, Pearson and Johnson via conference call, thanking them for their leadership in seeking to ban assault weapons and standing up for our democratic values. The oustings of Jones and Pearson drew accusations of racism. Johnson, who is white, was allowed to continue to serve in the chamber. Republican leadership denied that race was a factor. GOP leaders said Thursdays actions used only a handful times since the Civil War were necessary to avoid setting a precedent that lawmakers disruptions of House proceedings through protest would be tolerated. Republican state Rep. Gino Bulso said the three Democrats had effectively conducted a mutiny. Most state legislatures retain the power to expel members, but it is generally a rarely used punishment for lawmakers accused of serious misconduct. ___ Miller reported from Washington. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Petros Giannakouris/AP Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Thanassis Stavrakis/AP Show More Show Less 3 of 3 ATHENS, Greece (AP) A retired senior prosecutor in Greece was named Friday as the new leader of a far-right party as it seeks to sidestep a ban on its participation in an upcoming general election. Participation of the Greeks Party could potentially change the outcome of the May 21 parliamentary election as poll margins tighten between the leading incumbent New Democracy party and a left-wing opposition party, Syriza. The Greeks Party is vying to field candidates despite the ban the Greek Parliament approved in February on the grounds that the party's founder, Ilias Kasidiaris, is serving a 13-year prison sentence for membership in a criminal organization. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate JERUSALEM (AP) It's become something of a grim, springtime tradition in the Holy Land. Israeli police fire tear gas and rubber bullets at Palestinians stockpiling rocks and fireworks inside one of the most bitterly disputed holy sites on Earth. The violence ripples across Israel and the occupied West Bank, and militants from as far away as Gaza and Lebanon respond with rockets. Similar tensions in 2021 boiled over into an 11-day Gaza war. Violence at the holy site in 2000 ignited a five-year Palestinian uprising and a fierce Israeli military crackdown across the occupied territories. One of the first major outbreaks of Jewish-Arab violence occurred in Jerusalem's Old City in the spring of 1920, in what became known as the Nebi Musa riots. What is it about Jerusalem? What is it about the hilltop compound in the heart of the Old City known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as the Temple Mount? WHY IS THE JERUSALEM HOLY SITE SACRED TO MUSLIMS AND JEWS? The Noble Sanctuary, home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the iconic golden Dome of the Rock, is the third holiest site in Islam. It is also the holiest site for Jews because it was the location of biblical temples. The Romans destroyed the Second Temple in 70 A.D., with only the Western Wall remaining. The mosques were built centuries later. Neighboring Jordan serves as the custodian of the site, which is operated by an Islamic endowment known as the Waqf. The site is open to tourists during certain times but only Muslims are allowed to pray there. That's according to informal rules established after the 1967 Mideast war in which Israel captured east Jerusalem where the shrine is located, along with the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Israel, Jordan and Muslim religious authorities helped set the rules, known as the status quo. The Western Wall is the holiest site where Jews can pray. WHAT'S BEHIND THE VIOLENCE AT THE JERUSALEM HOLY SITE? The Palestinians view the holy site as the last remnant of their homeland that is not under full Israeli control, and they fear that Israel plans to one day take over the site or partition it. Israeli officials say they have no intention of changing the status quo that has prevailed at the site since 1967. But the country is currently governed by the most right-wing government in its history, with religious ultranationalists in senior positions. In recent days, Palestinians have barricaded themselves inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque with stones and firecrackers, demanding the right to pray there overnight, something Israel has in the past only allowed during the last 10 days of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The Palestinians also say they are seeking to prevent religious Jews from carrying out ritual animal slaughter at the site. Israel bars the ancient practice, but Jewish extremists have called for it to be revived, offering cash rewards to those who try to do so. In recent years, groups of religious and nationalist Jews escorted by police have been visiting the compound in greater numbers and holding prayers in defiance of the longstanding rules. The Palestinians view the frequent visits and attempted prayers by Jews as a provocation, and it often ignites scuffles or more serious violence. This year, Ramadan and the Jewish high holiday of Passover overlap, with large numbers of Jews flocking to the site for visits that police typically facilitate in the early morning after forcibly driving the Palestinians out. Some Israelis say the site should be open to all worshippers. The Palestinians refuse, fearing that it would pave the way for Israel to take full control of it. WHY IS JERUSALEM IMPORTANT TO ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS? Israel views Jerusalem as its unified, eternal capital. East Jerusalem, captured by Israel in 1967, includes the Old City, with major sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims. The Palestinians want east Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza for their future state, with east Jerusalem serving as their eventual capital. Israel annexed the eastern part of the city in a move not recognized internationally. The fate of east Jerusalem and its holy sites has been one of the thorniest issues in the peace process, which ground to a halt more than a decade ago. Jews born in east Jerusalem are Israeli citizens, while Palestinians from east Jerusalem are granted a form of permanent residency that can be revoked if they live outside the city for an extended period. They can apply for citizenship, but its a long and uncertain process and most choose not to because they dont recognize Israeli control. Israel has built Jewish settlements in east Jerusalem that are home to some 230,000 people. An estimated 360,000 Palestinians live in east Jerusalem. Israel has also severely limited the growth of Palestinian neighborhoods, leading to overcrowding and the unauthorized construction of thousands of homes that are at risk of demolition. Jewish settlers have also sought to evict dozens of Palestinian families from their homes in sensitive neighborhoods in and around the Old City. A decades-long legal campaign to evict Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood culminated in nightly protests in 2021, contributing to the tensions that ignited that year's Gaza war. Those evictions were later put on hold. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the Israeli rights group BTselem have cited the discriminatory policies in east Jerusalem in reports arguing that Israel is guilty of the international crime of apartheid. Israel rejects those allegations, saying Jerusalem residents are treated equally. WHY DOES VIOLENCE IN JERUSALEM SPREAD AROUND THE REGION? Many Muslims view the violence at Al-Aqsa as an attack on the faith. It provides a powerful rallying cry for political factions and armed groups across the region, who blame not only Israel but the growing roster of Arab Muslim rulers who have made peace with it. The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which rules Gaza, has repeatedly called for a new intifada, or uprising, like the one triggered by an Israeli politicians visit to Al-Aqsa in 2000. This week the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group in Gaza and Palestinian militants in Lebanon fired rockets into Israel in solidarity with worshippers. Protests have been held in the occupied West Bank and in Arab communities inside Israel. Jordan and other Arab nations that have friendly ties with Israel have condemned its actions at the holy site. So has the Palestinian Authority, which cooperates with Israel on security matters. The U.S. and the EU have also condemned the violence and called for restraint while saying Israel has the right to defend itself. In Montana, we pride ourselves on working together, fair dealing, finding common ground, and protecting our Montana values. Our fellow Montanans might not expect a former Republican governor, the current chair of the Libertarian Party, and the 2022 Independent candidate for the Eastern Congressional District of Montana to agree on a variety of issues. But, like our friends and neighbors, we too have a deep and abiding love for our state along with some fear that were losing the Montana we raised our families in, from Helena to Kalispell to Billings. Right now, some Republican members of the Montana Legislature are attempting, at the last minute, to manipulate our election laws as they apply to one political race and one election in 2024, namely the election of a United States Senator. The bill, Senate Bill 566, sponsored by Senator Greg Hertz, provides for a Top Two primary election in 2024, but only in one race. It is designed to lock out any candidate who does not finish in the Top Two in the primary election for the United States Senate from being a candidate in the general election. Shrouded within 58 pages of legislative language is a provision directing that the bill is effective on the day its passed by the Legislature and approved by the governor. Adding insult to injury, even though theres an election for the office of governor in 2024, both congressional seats, and dozens of state legislative posts, SB 566 ignores all of them and only seeks to change the rules pertaining to the 2024 United States Senate race. So, apparently the point is to disenfranchise the Libertarian Party candidate with the hope that it benefits the Republican Party candidate, and thereby simultaneously increases the odds of defeating the Democrat candidate. Such a scheme doesnt come even remotely close to meeting the expectations of good faith and fair play embodied in the election law of Montana. This whole surreptitious endeavor is just one more example of the unrelenting compulsion of the Republican Party leadership to accumulate political power and control over every form and branch of government. Their first objective was to disassemble and encroach upon the judicial branch of government. And now, out of fear they will not achieve the electoral results they desire, they have devised a plan to change the rules in order to expand their political dominance by precipitating an unearned victory in an election for the United State Senate. Its of little surprise that the bill received overwhelmingly negative public testimony, and initially failed when it was brought up for a vote. It seemed that the voices of Montanans had been heard and that the crisis had been averted. But, sadly, that was not the case. Not to be denied, the pressure was increased in the Republican caucus and then, without any meaningful public input, SB 566 was resurrected. Shortly thereafter, in spite of the efforts of several thoughtful and fair-minded Republican senators, SB 566 was quickly and narrowly passed by the Republican Senate. The fate of SB 566 now depends on the good sense and honest purpose of the members of the House of Representatives. The votes of the members will inescapably answer the question of whether changing the law to apply to one race and one election in order to win at any cost is in keeping with the civic values we share in Montana. Halton Regional Police are issuing a stern warning to residents about a home repair fraud operating in the region. The "fraud" involves contractors travelling door-to-door selling services that are unsolicited by a consumer, police said. The services include chimney or driveway repair and interlock stonework. The suspect will provide quotes with prices lower than market value and, once a deal is reached, will request a large cash payment, police said. Based on previous complaints, initial work may start. But the work will be sub-par and/or incomplete. "After this initial work, the consumer may be approached to provide more money for supplies or to complete payment for the project," police said. "Once this additional or final payment is received, the contractor disappears and phone calls and text messages will go unanswered, leaving the consumer with a damaged or partially completed project." There have been "multiple complaints" with this type of plan and similar suspects in Halton, police said. Police believe there may be additional victims in Halton, as well as victims outside of the region. The suspects are described as middle-aged white males with Irish or possibly Scottish accents wearing high-visibility construction vests. Anyone with information can call police at 905-825-4747 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Read more about: SHARE: Bell Media is asking the Canadian Human Rights Commission to dismiss the claim of Toronto television personality Patricia Jaggernauth, who alleged she suffered gender and racial discrimination while working for the network. But Jaggernauths lawyer said her allegations reflect wider issues in the media industry and that she will fight on in a case the lawyer said is already prompting others to speak out. Jaggernauths complaint to the commission last October renewed scrutiny of the broadcasting company after a firestorm of public criticism over the dismissal of CTV national news anchor Lisa LaFlamme. It also came after the Star reported that the company had launched an investigation last year concerning the workplace environment at CP24. In its first response to Jaggernauths complaint, the company said it vigorously denies any and all discrimination allegations, according to documents sent to the commission dated March 24 which Jaggernauths lawyer shared with media Thursday. Jaggernauth alleged that Bell denied her a living wage while with the network, during which she mainly worked only two days a week. Her complaint also claims Bell restricted her from freelancing to earn money outside of the company. The stipulation came despite her technically being a freelancer, the complaint reads. Jaggernauth, of Guyanese and Jamaican ancestry, alleged there were severe racial and gender pay gaps in the company and at CP24s weather department, white men were making six-figure salaries while Jaggernauth received a raise of approximately $14 in 11 years. I had been treated like a token and a commodity by CP24 and Bell passed over for promotions more times than I can count, the 2007 Emmy Award winner said in a separate social media video. The allegations have not been tested at tribunal. Bell said in a letter to the commission that it has always acted in accordance with the Canadian Human Rights Act, and said that since union grievance processes remain available to Jaggernauth, the commission should decline jurisdiction in dealing with the complaint. Jaggernauths lawyer, Kathryn Marshall of the Levitt Sheikh firm, said her client was shocked by the response. Were outraged. The audacity of asking the commission to not even hear the complaint and shirking it aside is shocking. Marshall is also representing former Bell Media radio host Jamil Jivani, who filed a suit against Bell Media last year for wrongful dismissal and other reasons, alleging racism. Cases like these encourage other people to come forward, Marshall told the Star. Marshall said she hopes the cases will result in some change. It gets people talking about what are sort of concealed industry practices. The problems are rampant and widespread. Its unfortunate because the media does an important job in this country and everyone deserves job security. Other media organizations have faced their own criticism. In 2020, more than 1,200 employees representing approximately 25 per cent of the workforce and which disproportionately included people of colour were non-permanent employees at CBC/Radio-Canada, according to the Canadian Media Guild. CBC has yet to respond to a request from the Star for recent information. The issue of freelance staff who worked for Bell Media without job protections also arose during an independent third-party review of the CTV National newsroom conducted last year by leading employment lawyer Sarah Crossley. In a memo, Bell Media pledged to take actions including reviewing the status of freelance staff, holding more team meetings and assigning a dedicated human resources team to work with journalists. Bell Media spokespersons did not respond to requests for comment from the Star. Joanna Chiu is a B.C.-based staff reporter for the Star. She covers global and national affairs. Follow her on Twitter: @joannachiu Read more about: SHARE: EDMONTON - A woman convicted in the death of a 19-month-old boy found outside an Edmonton church has had her day parole revoked. Tasha-Lee Mack and her then-boyfriend Joey Crier were each charged with second-degree murder in the death of Criers son, Anthony Joseph Raine. The toddlers lifeless body was found outside the Good Shepherd Anglican Church in 2017. Both Mack and Crier were found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter in two separate trials and were sentenced to time in prison. Mack was granted day parole in September 2021 and it was continued three times, but special conditions were added in October 2022 including not to consume, purchase or possess drugs. The Parole Board of Canada says in a decision on April 5 that Macks urinalysis test from December 2022 returned positive for cocaine and she was arrested later that month. You have provided conflicting information regarding how it could be possible that you tested positive for cocaine, the decision reads. Your explanations were not found to be credible. Given your use of cocaine and not immediately reporting relationships/friendships with males even after being counselled, the board is satisfied that you were back in your offence cycle. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 6, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: In their latest restriction, Taliban officials have told the United Nations that no Afghan women will be allowed to work in the organizations offices in Afghanistan, the UN said this week. In response, the organization has told all its employees, men and women, not to come to their workplace until further notice. Several UN national female personnel have already experienced restrictions on their movements, including harassment, intimidation and detention, the organization said in a statement. Two-thirds of the Afghan population some 28.3 million people require life-saving assistance to survive, including 20 million people who are food insecure, six million of whom are one step away from famine. The order will also further negatively affect humanitarian partners ability to reach those most vulnerable, especially women and girls. Roza Otunbayeva, the UN special envoy for Afghanistan, slammed the decision as another cruel and devastating blow against the women of Afghanistan. In the history of the United Nations, no other regime has ever tried to ban women from working for the organization just because they are women. This decision represents an assault against women, the fundamental principles of the UN, and on international law, she said. The Taliban have not commented publicly on the matter so far. Jamila has been working in one of the United Nations offices in Afghanistan for four years. She told the Star this latest measure is more of the same from the Taliban, which, over nearly two years in power has banned girls from school, university and, gradually, from work. Jamila is a pseudonym, the Star has agreed not to reveal her identity out of fear of reprisals. We see with our own eyes that we are returning to the first period of the Taliban in the 90s, she said, referring to the Talibans previous reign. Expressing her concern for her future and that of other Afghan women, Jamila said that the Talibans rule and its interpretation of Islam is not only anti-women, but also anti-Afghanistan. The world, especially the Islamic countries, must understand that the people of Afghanistan are suffering from the current situation and do not deserve this. Richard Bennett, UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, said that the Taliban decision to ban female UN staff from working is another gross violation of their fundamental rights, is against the United Nations charter and will seriously affect essential services for Afghans. The Taliban is once again demonstrating its brazen disregard for womens rights and their well-being, and the extent to which they will go to remove women from all areas of public life and strip them of their rights and dignity. Women staff are essential. I urge the Taliban to reverse the decision immediately, Bennett told the Star. Antonio Guterres, the Secretary General of the United Nations, called preventing women from working in UN offices an intolerable violation of basic human rights. I call on the Taliban to immediately revoke this decision and reverse all measures restricting womens and girls rights to work, education and freedom of movement, Guterres tweeted. The European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Norway and New Zealand have also condemned the decision. The condemnation comes even as more than $2 billion (U.S.) has reached Afghanistan under the name of humanitarian aid through the UN since August 2021. Observers say it is not clear how the money is being spent. Critics say the money has helped bolster the Taliban regime. The UN office in Kabul (UNAMA) and the Taliban reject the criticism, but do not offer details about how the funds are being used. Naseer Ahmad Faiq, Charge daffaires of Afghanistan Permanent Mission to the United Nations, said that the Taliban are politicizing the humanitarian assistance and aid delivery that is critical to the people of Afghanistan. The Taliban are deliberately using this tactic to pressure the UN and international partners to achieve their political objectives. They are also trying to use this to narrow down the focus of the international community from much bigger challenges, including lack of an accountable and inclusive government based on the will of the people and justice, continuation of human rights violations, arbitrary arrests and detention of women protesters, journalists, human rights activists and former security forces, targeted killings and forced evictions, Faiq said to Star. There is a need for the international community to act in unity and pressure the Taliban to comply with their commitments through principled engagements, targeted sanctions and supporting democratic and progressive forces against the Taliban. Faiq said the Taliban decision will ultimately have adverse consequences for the people of Afghanistan who are suffering from a dire humanitarian and economic situation. It will further isolate Afghanistan and add to the miseries of the people. Read more about: SHARE: BEDFORD, NOVA SCOTIA - The College of Physicians & Surgeons of Nova Scotia has suspended a doctor it says was responsible for thousands of prescriptions of the diabetes and weight-loss drug Ozempic that were mailed to Americans by two British Columbia pharmacies. Dr. Gus Grant, registrar and CEO of the college, said Thursday the regulator first heard about the Nova Scotia-licensed practitioner from media coverage of B.C.s recent move to restrict access to the drug for non-residents. Grants statement identifies the doctor, whose registration information with the college says he practises family medicine in Odessa, Texas, and graduated from Dalhousie University in 1977. The Canadian Press is not naming the doctor, who did not respond to requests for comment. B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix announced the restriction last month after revealing that just one doctor was behind thousands of prescriptions for Ozempic that were sent across the border. Dix said he appreciates the action being taken by the Nova Scotia college and is working with that provinces health ministry to ensure prescribing Ozempic is happening within clinical practice requirements. We also appreciate the actions of the B.C. College of Pharmacists, which acted swiftly, informing its Nova Scotian colleagues about the very serious concerns surrounding the high number of Ozempic prescriptions emanating from that province, Dix said in a statement. Grant said the Nova Scotia college heard serious concerns from B.C.s College of Pharmacists about the doctor, who lives in the U.S. but is licensed in Nova Scotia as a non-resident, though he hasnt practised medicine there for many years. He said B.C.s College of Pharmacists wrote in a letter that the two pharmacies had filled more than 17,000 prescriptions for semaglutide, the non-brand name for Ozempic, from December 2022 to February 2023. Grant said the college has suspended the doctors licence on an interim basis and launched a full investigation, calling it a serious matter. Based on volume alone, the prescribing is not in keeping with the standards of the profession, Grant said in a statement. I cannot see how the volume of medications prescribed could possibly be supported by proper medical assessment and judgment. On its face, the prescribing appears incompetent. Grant said its incumbent on doctors licensed in Nova Scotia to uphold proper prescription practices whether the care is delivered in-person or by way of virtual medicine. Last week, Dix announced that B.C. was moving to restrict access to Ozempic, saying a massive ad campaign coupled with social media hype had boosted demand for the drug. Ozempic, which is used to treat diabetes, is increasingly sought out by those wanting to lose weight, one of the drugs so-called off-label uses. Dix said that typically only a small percentage of prescriptions in B.C. get filled for non-residents, but fears of shortages in the province ramped up when it was found upwards of 15 per cent of Ozempic prescriptions were going across the border. He said he wanted a federal government review under the Food and Drugs Act due to the unacceptable situation around Ozempic prescriptions being issued by one out-of-province doctor and filled by two unnamed Metro Vancouver pharmacies. Americans have long sought cheaper access to Canadian prescription drugs, and Ozempic as a weight-loss treatment from Canadian suppliers remains cheaper than in the U.S. We would never have sufficient supply of Ozempic in British Columbia to satisfy the needs of the American market, Dix said in late March. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 6, 2023. SHARE: Funding meant to help Ontario communities recover from extreme wind damage wont be enough to make property and business owners whole or eliminate risks to vital infrastructure, some municipalities say. Natural Resources and Forestry Minister Graydon Smith announced last month that the province would provide $5.5 million to 22 small municipalities affected by storms last summer, including tornadoes and a derecho - a line of intense, fast-moving windstorms - after the municipality of Tweed requested funding. Smith said the funding would ensure communities are able to recover from these weather events. Not so, say the municipalities that received the largest share of the funding. Were grateful because we had nothing, and now we have $1.2 million, said Don DeGenova, the mayor of Tweed, in eastern Ontario. But it certainly is not enough. The derecho that swept across Ontario and Quebec caused $1 billion in damages, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada. Residents insurance companies covered property damage, but wouldnt remove surrounding debris such as fallen or half-snapped trees at risk of falling on people or homes, DeGenova said. Nine months later, debris still litters ditches and rivers surrounding Tweed. Im not talking thousands of fallen trees, Im talking tens of thousands of fallen trees, DeGenova said. When you look at a picture it does not do it justice. Youre gobsmacked when you see it (in person). Tweed and the United Counties of Prescott and Russell were given the largest portions of the provincial funding, with about $1.2 million each. Tweeds money will go toward clearing debris from residents properties and from river banks that could otherwise leave two area highways, including part of the Trans-Canada Highway, prone to flooding, DeGenova said. The municipality has estimated that it will cost $2.7 million to completely clear Tweeds river banks and ditches. Across the United Counties, the clear path of the storm demolished private woodlots, houses, barns and county forests, said Louis Prevost, the director of planning for the counties. Their $1.2 million will go toward debris clean up, forest regeneration and infrastructure. The ministry was well aware the extent of the damage to two particularly affected United Counties municipalities, Prevost said. Its certainly a welcome amount, but its not going to cover everything, Prevost said. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry said the municipalities didnt qualify for funding under the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians program because the derecho didnt cause widespread damage to essential private property there. A spokesperson for Smith said thats why the province is offering this one-time funding, to support municipalities where they were not otherwise eligible under other relief programs. This funding will support those municipalities hardest hit by the severe weather in 2022 and will work toward alleviating some of the concerns those municipalities have with the storm clean-up efforts, Melissa Candelaria said in a statement. The funding was provided on a one-time basis for municipalities that sought financial support to assist with clean up and forest regeneration efforts. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 5, 2023. This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship. SHARE: Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, says Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-political organisation, is still pained by the defeat suffered by Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party (LP). Mohammed had recently warned Obi against inciting violence. In a recent interview, Datti Baba-Ahmed, vice-presidential candidate of the LP, said Bola Tinubu did not meet the constitutional requirements to become Nigerias president. Baba-Ahmed asked Olukayode Ariwoola, the chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), not to swear in Tinubu as president. In response to the admonition, Ayo Adebanjo, a leader of Afenifere, dismissed Mohammeds comments, saying We have had enough of these irresponsible statements coming from this government and that is why the government has lost the confidence of the people. In an interview with reporters on Thursday in Washington DC, US, Mohammed said Afenifere has refused to get over the defeat suffered by Obi at the polls. It is clear from what they said that Afenifere invested heavily in Peter Obis presidency, and they failed woefully, that is the reason why they are lamenting, the minister said. They have refused to get over the loss of what they invested in Obis presidential campaign. But the earlier they do, the better for them. There were days when Afenifere sneezes and the whole country will catch a cold. It is not the same thing right now. When Afenifere talks and you begin to ask yourself, which Afenifere? You know what that means. I said Peter Obi and the Labour Party should stop inciting people to violence since they have submitted themselves to the election tribunal. They should stop asking people to go out on the streets, they should stop the reckless statement that if the president-elect is sworn in, it will be the end of democracy. Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Friday said he would go back to the farm after losing his senatorial bid. Ortom, who disclosed this on Arise TV, insisted that market was not good during his outing to claim a seat at the Red Chambers of the National Assembly. Recall that the Benue governors senatorial aspiration was dashed after his defeat on Feb. 25 when he lost to his former aide, Titus Zam. When asked how was the market after he lost the senatorial election, Ortom responded, The market [senatorial bid] for me is not good. This time around, the market isnt good, but I will be here [as Benue governor] till May 29, when I will hand over by the grace of God. I will find something else to do. I may go back to my farm as far as Im concerned. Not natural but development policy-induced disasters in the Himalaya! Solidarity with the ongoing struggle for justice and accountability in Joshimath! A call for a campaign to defend nature and people from destructive development! Towards an ecosystem-based human rights approach to development! We as representatives of diverse social and environmental groups from across the country express grief and concern for the people of Joshimath, facing forced displacement from their homes in the midst of winter. It is indeed the gravest tragedy, not a mere disaster to witness the collapse of ones home and land. It is a tragedy that will go down in contemporary Himalayan history, its trauma reverberating not just with the people of the entire region but across generations. A long history of invitation to disaster The tragedy unfolding in Joshimath has once again forced us to accept and believe that the spate of disasters we are witnessing in the Himalaya are certainly not natural but constructed in the era of modern capitalist development. It is time that we stop fooling ourselves with legends of natures wrath and blame the fury of the gods and start facing the demons that exist in the form of our economic and political systems of governance that have brought upon us these losses. How can we turn away from the following facts that have emerged from the Joshimath situation? 1. That close to 50 years ago the commissioner of Garhwal, M.C Mishra, in an official report had warned of the geological conditions of Joshimath and recommended regulation of construction activity as well as protective measures in the region. 2. Ignoring such warnings, in the last few years, a series of development projects including rampant tourism-related multi-storied buildings, highway widening and other construction for the Char Dham Project, and a 520 MW mega hydropower dam were undertaken in and around the town. The Tapovan Vishnugad project of NTPC involves the construction of a several kilometres-long underground tunnel in the wake of which severe damage to local geology, hydrology and landscape has been put on record. 3. The Himalayan belt has seen drastic climatic changes. But more importantly the changes in land use, deforestation, the construction of dams and roads leading to slope instability, dumping of muck, deforestation and related erosion has multiplied the human and environmental impacts of these climatic events. 4. The scientists and environmental experts who studied the region presented research to establish that the unbridled construction, development footprint and the cascade of dams multiplied the impact of the flooding. 5. The most significant report that made these linkages post the floods was the Ravi Chopra Committee report tabled in front of the Supreme Court and amongst all the other recommendations it recommended a review of the proposed hydropower dams in both the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi River valleys. However, the Ministry of Environment and Forests refused to accept these recommendations. 6. The ambitious Char Dham highway expansion project for which a bypass was being built through Joshimath also received unfavorable views from local residents, activists and environmentalists not just for the extent of erosion being caused but also because of the series of brazen violations of environmental norms especially related to muck dumping. 7. It is shocking to note that these projects were given repeated clean chits. From the Geological Survey of India to the Ministry of Environment to the disaster management authorities and the regional pollution control boards and forest departments it seems that every authority had failed to execute their duties when dealing with these developments. 8. In 2021, in the Chamoli disaster in the Rishiganga valley upstream of Joshimath the under-construction Tapovan Vishnugad dam acted as a hurdle for the roaring flood which also swept away many workers at the site of the project. These floods also probably contributed to cutting at the toe of the mountain on which Joshimath is perched. 9. Financial institutions like the Asian Development Bank that have funded the NTPC project also failed to take account of the possible risk from these constructions not just prior to implementation but even after the 2021 tragedy. 10. For the residents of Joshimath, an added shocker was the dismissal of a Public Interest Litigation that was filed in the Nainital High Court bringing to light the threats posed by the NTPC project. Not only did the court dismiss the petition in the very first hearing but also imposed costs on the five petitioners questioning their motivations and credibility. These past developments indicate how Joshimath was set up for the current crisis. The facade of natural disaster and All is well After all this, when the issue of widening cracks in the homes of Joshimath residents was brought to the notice of the administration a couple of months ago, the authorities turned a blind eye. In the last month or so 850 homes have been marked with the red cross and close to 3000 people have been evacuated. Alternative arrangements have been made for shelters in hotels with temporary relief for those who have nowhere to go. As per reports, close to 30% of the town stands affected and virtually displaced and there seems to be a growing trend of cracks in the affected area. Within days of the disasters unfolding, there was a gag order by the NDMA banning scientists associated with government institutions from releasing information around the disaster. Further, when people under the banner of Joshimath Bachao Sangharsh Samiti raised slogans of NTPC GO BACK, the government came out to support the company and deny NTPCs role in contributing to the disaster. The Uttarakhand Chief Minister has also given a statement that development cannot be stopped. In this hour of grave crisis, we stand in solidarity with the Joshimath Bachao Sangharsh Samiti and support the demand for rehabilitation and compensation of all the affected people. We support the Samitis demand for immediate temporary shelter structures while permanent arrangements are still pending. What is happening in Joshimath is an indicator for what is in store for the entire Himalayan region, as development policies are promoting hydropower, highways and mass tourism, bringing in their wake deforestation, floods, landslides, unplanned urbanisation, water shortage and waste disposal problems. The impact of climate change is being compounded by maldevelopment and misgovernance. In the light of the unfolding Joshimath tragedy, there is a need to take a broader look at development-induced disasters all over the country. There has been an all-out attack on nature which accelerated from the second term of the UPA government and further since 2014. It is characterized by resource-grab by the state and corporates to build infrastructure- from the Golden Quadrilateral to Char Dham roads in the Himalayas, forest diversion for roads, rail lines, power lines, mining and industry, Industrial Corridor through farmlands, hydroelectric projects in the Himalayas, Sagarmala project all along the coast, tourism infrastructure in the islands and the Inland Waterways project in rivers. The idea seems to be to develop infrastructure in order to attract private capital investment and build capitalism further. Even if the latter does not materialize, infrastructure building is seen as an end in itself. The result is severe erosion of biodiversity, loss of valuable climate buffers and loss of livelihoods for nature-dependent communities. The economic activities of the communities which are largely for subsistence and small income are getting increasingly unviable due to the economic policies that support corporates and big business. The Joshimath tragedy illustrates what happens when people are deprived of voice in choosing their own path of development and managing their local natural resources by themselves, but it is not the only tragedy. Nature-dependent communities everywhere are resisting the attack on their livelihoods, but alone, as place-based and issue-based struggles. The adversary however is common- a system that greedily pursues profit while laying waste both nature and people. The struggles against the system need to be united. There are many initiatives to demonstrate alternative ways of communities using natural resources sustainably. The overarching principle that may serve as the common guideline for the protection of nature and address issues of both inter- and intra-sector justice and equity is an Ecosystem-based Human Rights Approach. Ecosystem-Based Human Rights Approach stands for access, distribution and consumption of natural resources abiding by the principles of human rights without violating or transgressing the norms for sustainability of the ecosystem. This over-arching approach, in its turn, is constituted of the following principles sustainable livelihood practice, workers welfare, participatory governance by the community, subsidiarity in area and scale, inter-sectoral equity, climate justice, inter-generational equity and precautionary principle. While it is necessary to demonstrate that alternatives to the present destructive model of development are possible, in order to bring about a systemic change to an economic model that protects nature and nature-based livelihoods, a political initiative is required. The Campaign to Defend Nature and People has been initiated with this broad objective. The communities themselves, activists who work with communities, and scholars need to work together to create a strong campaign. Farmers, fishers and fish workers, forest workers, pastoralists and other nature-dependent communities together are more than 60 crore people in our population of 140 crore. An economic and political alternative can be built only on the basis of the communities struggling against the capitalist onslaught. In order to prevent more Joshimaths, we call upon nature-dependent communities, activists and scholars from all over the country to join the Campaign. 1 Jagmohan Singh Campaign To Defend Nature And People Punjab 2 Ravi Chopra Uttarakhand 3 Dipak Dholakia ICAN (Indian Community Activists Network) Delhi 4 Satish Kumar Suman, Kashi Nav Nirman Manch, Bihar 5 Nootan ICAN (Indian Community Activists Network) Maharashtra Maharashtra 6 Manisha Banerjee West Bengal 7 Prerna Rashtriya Yuva Sangathan, Maharashtra 8 Rupal Prabhakar Madya Pradesh 9 Harini Shetty Urban Research Centre Karnataka 10 Varsha Mehta Gujarat 11 Mujahid Nafees Gujarat 12 Dr Sricharan Behera Campaign for Survival and Dignity, Odisha Odisha 13 Kallol Mandal Madhya Pradesh 14 K. J. Joy Maharashtra 15 Dr. Prasanta Chattopadhyay Kalodhvani West Bengal 16 Himanshu Thakkar South Asia Network for Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) Delhi 17 Mahesh Bindal Rajasthan 18 Anjali Sinha Stree Mukti Sangathan Delhi 19 Varun Uttar Pradesh 20 Alpna Bharati Telangana 21 Mahesh Singh Justice and Development Foundation Utterpradesh 22 Sougata Chowdhury West Bengal 23 Sanjib Chakraborty West Bengal 24 Pratima Kumari Gaurav Gramin Mahila Vikas Manch (GGMVM) Bihar 25 Vivek Pawar Jan Sangharsh Morcha Madhya Pradesh 26 Chandan Saroj All India Students Federation (AISF) Maharashtra 27 Avinish Chaurasia All India Students Federation (AISF) Uttar Pradesh ?????? 28 Sanjay Kumar Delhi 29 Raj Kumar Sinha Bargi Bandh Visthapit Evam Prabhavit Sangh Madhya Pradesh 30 Prithvi R Sharma India Friends Association California United States 31 Viren Lobo Akhil Bharatiya Mazdoor Kisan Sangharsh Samiti (ABMKSS) Rajasthan 32 Kaushik Delhi 33 Sharachchandra Lele Karnataka 34 Masihuddin Rihai Manch Uttar Pradesh 35 Aditi Saha Karnataka 36 Shamsul Islam NCR 37 Ashok Kumar Delhi 38 Kavita Maharashtra 39 Dipika Delhi 40 Arvind Murti ICAN (Indian Community Activists Network) UP Uttar Pradesh 41 Wasim Rahman Assam 42 Surendra Kumar Jawahar Jyoti Bal Vikas Kendra Bihar 43 S R Hiremath Citizens For Democracy (CFD) Karnataka 44 Mahendra Yadav Koshi Nav Nirman Manch Bihar 45 Dunu Roy Delhi 46 Shiney Varghese United States 47 Depinder Kapur Delhi 48 Bhavani R V Tamil Nadu 49 Sujit Choudhury West Bengal 50 Ashim Jain California United States 51 Gufran Awadh Peoples Forum Uttar Pradesh 52 Monisha Rao India Friends Association California United States 53 Prashant Rao India Friends Association California United States 54 Sai Chandavarkar California United States 55 Jasveen Jairath Telangana 56 Indra Narayan Singh ???? ?? ??????? ??? Bihar 57 Pradeep Kumar Sahoo Campaign for Survival & Dignity, Odisha Odisha 58 Omprakash Tiwari ICAN (Indian Community Activists Network) Madhya Pradesh 59 Sasanka Sekhar Dev West Bengal 60 Jagdish Patel Gujarat 61 James Herenj ICAN (Indian Community Activists Network) Jharkhand 62 Swati Desai Gujarat 63 Jatin Sheth Nagrik Sashaktikaran Manch Gujarat 64 Rohit Prajapati Environment Activist Gujarat 65 Dr Shaikh Ghulam Rasool J&K Forest Rights Coalition Jammu & Kashmir 66 Indranee Dutta Assam 67 Francis Parmar Gujarat 68 ??? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ????? ??????? ????? ????? ?????? 69 Ramesh Shrivastav Gujarat 70 Prabhat Sinha Rajasthan Mazdoor Kisan Union Rajasthan 71 Soumen Ray National Platform for Small Scale Fish Workers West Bengal 72 Sunita Patel Gujarat United States 73 Siddharth Dasgupta West Bengal United States 74 Rahul Mehrotra California United States 75 anita M bajaj India Friends Association California United States 76 Manshi Asher Himdhara Collective Himachal 77 Dhirubhai patel Kamdar Seva Kendra Gujarat 78 Vandana Master India Friends Association California United States 79 Prabhu Mohapatra University of Delhi Delhi 80 Pooja Vishwakarma Red Brigade Lucknow Uttar Pradesh 81 Sunil Patil Maharashtra Gandhi Smarak Nidhi Maharastra 82 Satish Samrutwar Sahara Maharashtra 83 Ajay Dofe Maharashtra Oman 84 Kishore Fiske Maharastra 85 Pandurang Gulabrao Patil Maharashtra 86 Narendra Govindrao Atkar Maharashtra 87 Jyoti Sahai India Friends Association California United States 88 Ajay Anthony Maharashtra 89 Ram Sharan Ganga Mukti Andolan Bihar 90 Vinay Bharadwaj Mahila Dakshta Samiti NCT Of Delhi 91 CP Rajendran National Institute of Advanced Studies Karnataka 92 Vijay N Kolhe Maharashtra 93 Jarruti Rahi Vision Uttar Pradesh 94 Chandni Sheth California United States 95 Chittaroopa Palit Narmada Bachao Andolan Madhya Pradesh 96 Dr. Rama Shanker Singh Uttar Pradesh 97 Sudhir Pant Uttarakhand 98 Chaitanya Phade California United States 99 Rajesh Ramakrishnan ICAN (Indian Community Activists Network) Tamil Nadu 100 Pradeep Uttarakhand 101 P R Vaidya Maharashtra 102 Dev Avinash Varma Royal College of Art, London, United Kingdom 103 Dinesh Upadhyay Uttarakhand 104 Agnes Kharshiing Civil Society Women Organization Meghalaya 105 Deepak Pant Uttarakhand United States 106 Rakesh Agrawal Uttarakhand 107 Randhir Sanjeevni ????? ?????? 108 Rajiv Butalia Uttarakhand 109 Narayan Shetkar Maharashtra 110 Ayush Joshi Inclusive Development for Environment And Learning foundation Uttarakhand 111 Richa Singh Sangtin Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan (SKMS) Uttar Pradesh 112 Nandubhai Rathwa Fenai Rewakhand Federation Gujarat 113 Leena Panchi Fenai Rewakhand Federation Gujarat We hope that Northwestern Energy, our legislators and the Montana Public Service Commission, and all our readers, will read the latest Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2023, (report.ipcc.ch/ar6syr/pdf/IPCC_AR6_SYR_SPM.pdf). You will find a concise narrative of the Headline Statements, which are the overarching conclusions of the approved Summary for Policymakers. Here is an even more abbreviated account of the most up-to-date science on our present and future climate from the report, all made with "high" or "very high confidence." Observed warming and its causes: Human activities, principally through emissions of greenhouse gases, have unequivocally caused global warming. Observed changes and impacts: Widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere have occurred. Human-caused climate change is already[leading] to widespread adverse impacts and related losses and damages to nature and people. Future climate change: Continued greenhouse gas emissions will lead to increasing global warmingEvery increment of global warming will intensifyhazards. Likelihood and risks of unavoidable, irreversible or abrupt changes: Some future changes are unavoidable and/or irreversible but can be limited by deep, rapid and sustained global greenhouse gas emissions reduction. The likelihood of abrupt and/or irreversible changes increases with higher global warming levels. The benefits of near-term action: Deep, rapid and sustained mitigation and accelerated implementation of adaptation actions in this decade would reduce projected losses and damages for humans and ecosystems, and deliver many co-benefits, especially for air quality and health... Feasible, effective, and low-cost options for mitigation and adaptation are already available. As it builds a methane-powered generating plant in Laurel, Northwestern Energy continues a long history of fossil-fuel industry deception and irresponsibility concerning climate change. The Montana Legislature eagerly joins the company by introducing legislation to cripple the renewable energy industry, and to attack local control over what infrastructure may be built, from 750 MW power plants to walking/biking trails. Northwestern Energy is arrogantly and illegally building the Laurel methane plant on agricultural land, presuming that the Public Service Commission will obediently reward its lawbreaking and reckless business decisions. The company claims it needs fossil fuels to supply "reliable" and "affordable" energy during peak demand. The IPCC Report describes increasing unreliabilty in precipitation, temperatures, stream flows and irreplaceable ecosystem services. "Ecosystem services" means clean water, oxygen, pollination, pest control, food and all wild and agricultural productivity. Can we really "afford" fossil-fueled energy on these terms? The company claims that the plant will burn methane only to meet peak demand. How will a mostly idle plant pay for itself? Idle or not, ratepayers will pay for this dangerous plant whose real purpose is to sell us the methane gas Northwestern Energy already owns. Remember the floods of June 2022, when extreme precipitation events dumped snow, then heavy rain, sending flood waters from Yellowstone Park past Billings, destroying roads, businesses, homes, habitat for fish and wildlife, and threatening water systems. Extreme precipitation alternating with drought is one of many effects of climate change which our towns and buildings, infrastructure and agriculture cannot withstand. The Report makes clear that it is still possible and cost-effective to avoid the worst effects of flood and fire, drought and heat, with "deep, rapid and sustained global greenhouse gas emissions reduction." The Legislature, the Public Service Commission and NWE should be required to respond to this IPCC Report as they commit us to decades more of fossil-fuel burning, as they impede deployment of renewable energy and efficiency measures, as they impose ever-increasing rate hikes for fuel costs and foolish new construction. The damages can only be avoided if we, voters and ratepayers, stand up to the industry and our so-called elected "leaders" who are dragging us down the primrose path to a climate incompatible with civilization. If legislators, the PSC and NWE read the report, they will see there is no time to lose. A former deputy governor of Nasarawa State, Prof Onje Gye-wado has been kidnapped by daredevil gunmen. It was gathered that Onje Gye-wado, a one-time deputy Governor of the State who served during Abdullahi Adamu administration, was abducted in the early hours of Friday when the assailants invaded Gwagi village in Wamba Local Government Area of the state. The Nasarawa State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ramhan Nansel confirmed the development to newsmen. He said the Commissioner of Police in the state CP Maiyaki Baba has mobilised and deployed reinforcement comprising Police tactical teams, military, vigilante, and local hunters to rescue the victim alive. According to the PPRO, the armed men invaded the residence of the victim at about 12:30 am and shot sporadically before whisking him to an unknown destination. President Muhammadu Buhari, went philosophical on Thursday, while reflecting on the outcome of the just-concluded general elections. The President who indirectly mocked a number of governors serving out their final terms, preparatory to upgrade to the Senate in the next dispensation, said the 2023 elections proved that there was no more easy route to power. He described the Nigerian polity and democracy as growing and getting more sophisticated because Nigerian voters now realize that they have a say when it comes to the choice of their leaders. Buhari bared his mind while playing host to the newly-installed Emir of Dutse, Jigawa State Capital, Alhaji Muhammad Hamim Nuhu Sunusi at the State House in Abuja. According to the Nigerian President, the stunning outcome of 10 Governors failing to make it to the Senate was a reflection that there is no longer a guaranteed route to power. Just as he noted that the voting population is truly the king when it comes to elections. Buhari is billed to bow out of the presidency on May 29th, 2023. His words, It is a testament to the maturity of our democracy and to the amazing sophistication of the voter. What shocked me was that the ordinary citizen who is usually underrated has made the point of his political understanding of things. Assumption is always that you are governor for eight years and you go to the Senate to crown the career. No one should underrate the Nigerian voter anymore. Politics will be more difficult, henceforth. Recall that Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, his counterpart in Abia state Okezie Ikpeazu were two prominent governors that failed to get elected to the 10th senate. One of the chief spokespersons for the Tinubu, Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga, has urged Joe Biden, the president of the United States of America, to disregard the recent letter by Nigerian born international writer, Chimamanda Adichie. Onanugas reaction, which is contained in a post via his Twitter handle on Friday, is coming on the heels of a letter by Adichie to Biden urging him not to congratulate Nigerias president-elect, Bola Tinubu. Adichie alleged in her letter that the election was marred by irregularities and the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to follow its stipulated guidelines for the presidential election. She went on to warn that it would tarnish Americas self-proclaimed commitment to democracy and give the sheen of legitimacy to an illegitimate process, if Biden recognizes Tinubus presidency. However, Onanuga said Adichies letter, which he described as fiction, was inspired by the monumental loss of her tribesman Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP. He wrote, Dear President Joe Biden, please just trash the open letter by Chimamanda on Nigerias election once it gets to your desk. She wrote fiction, inspired by the monumental loss of her tribesman Peter Obi. Festus Keyamo, spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council, says the letter written to US President Joe Biden by Chimamanda Adichie is not worthy of attention. Addressing allegations of manipulation in the 2023 presidential election, Adichie, a Nigerian novelist, wrote a long read to Biden on Thursday. In the letter, she alleged that the presidential election was marred with discrepancies and irregularities which she claims were shunned by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Adichie asked Biden to uphold his stance on the need for a true democracy, adding that congratulating Bola Tinubu who was hastily announced as president-elect tarnishes Americas self-proclaimed commitment to democratic processes. Responding in a statement on Friday, Keyamo described the letter as worthless, adding that it reflects a pathetic colonial mentality. He said in global diplomacy and international relations, presidents make decisions and take actions about other countries affairs based on reports from official and diplomatic sources likely to have been conveyed through well-established channels of communications. Long epistles written in flowery or purple prose by bitter supporters of sore losers, posing as concerned citizens (but in reality actuated by ethnic politics) do not fall within these official or diplomatic sources, Keyamo said. It is befuddling that someone often celebrated for using a God-given talent to promote our African values, will so tragically degrade that same ethos by penning a letter that is so petty, so grovelling in its tone in urging a single foreign power to withhold a mere congratulatory message to our president-elect as if that is what actually validates our own democratic identity. It reflects a pathetic colonial mentality. It is even more ironic to realise that the same foreign power to which the obsequious appeal is directed is still grappling with the credibility of its own internal democratic process that produced its present leadership. More tragic is that some rabid supporters here are falling over themselves in deluded ecstasy for such a worthless letter that may not even be considered worthy enough, in a diplomatic sense, for the attention of even a stenographer to an Under Secretary in the US. Such only paints the picture of a band of drowning supporters clutching at any straw to stay afloat. As for the empirical fallacies contained in the letter, I will not bother myself here with a lengthy response as enough has been said in the last few weeks in respect of those specific issues and all the issues are before our justices awaiting adjudication. But I have bad news for them: the stenographer will probably toss the letter into a trash bin with the conclusion that it is no more than the tantrums of a Trump reincarnate in Nigeria those who refuse to accept obvious defeat! Yes, the US has the likes of that writer in their midst too! The Deputy President of the Senate and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, has filed a petition challenging the declaration the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori as the winner of the March 18, 2023, governorship election in the State. The petition was filed and submitted on Thursday. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was joined in the suit/petition. Delta State APC Publicity Secretary, E.Valentine Onojeghuo Esq, and the DG on Media & Communication to the APC Governorship Campaign Council, Ima Niboro, confirmed the report in a chat with our correspondent in Warri. The duo are yet to provide details of the prayers of Omo-Agege in the petition to the governorship election tribunal. We can also report that Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, also filed a seventy-nine-page petition challenging the victory of RT. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori at the governorship election tribunal. Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has asked the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi to leave Nigeria and never come back. Fani-Kayode, the Director of New Media of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, said this in reaction to Obis outcry that he was under pressure to leave the country. Obi, on Wednesday, accused the ruling APC and some government agencies of trying to divert the countrys attention from the infractions that marred the just concluded polls. Speaking about the leaked audio that had his conversation with the Founder and Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church, David Oyedepo, the former Anambra state governor said, These have come and continued to manifest in different ways, such as the malicious accusation of the Minister of Information, Mr Lai Mohammed, the circulation of a fake doctored audio call, and a pressure on me to leave the country. Reacting via Twitter on Thursday, Fani-Kayode said, Please do us all a big favour and go! Sooner the better and never come back! The Department of State Services, DSS, and Nigeria Police Force have been urged to arrest a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Femi Fani-Kayode, within 48 hours, before he sets Nigeria ablaze. The Nigerian Democratic Youth Front, NDYF, warned the police and DSS to stop dilly-dallying and arrest Fani-Kayode before his injudicious, uncultured and inflammatory speeches spark widespread civil disturbance and national insecurity. The group berated Fani-Kayode for saying Muslims would be an endangered specie if Labour Partys Peter Obi was declared winner of the presidential election. They noted that Fani-Kayodes remark was uncalled-for. He made the call while cautioning the Federal Government on the dangers of indulging Fani-Kayode and his insensitive and inciting comments. Addressing a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, NDYF president, Gideon Obong and Secretary General, Usman Ahmed Yahaya said: Fani-Kayode had in one of his recent senseless rants on Twitter attempted to defame Obi before our Muslim brothers and sisters by gloating that the purported leaked telephone conversation between him and Bishop Oyedepo makes him unfit to lead a multi-religious, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural state as a hater of non-Christians. But a man driven by avarice and prejudice like Fani-Kayode would even feign ignorance to get his already dirty self dirtier for scrubs. Nigeria Police and the Department of State Security to arrest Femi Fani-Kayode within 48 hours before he set the country in flames. The All Progressives Congress, APC in Imo State has advised the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to keep his eyes off Douglas House and concentrate on the task before him to recover and rebuild the party. The ruling APC said all serious-minded Imo citizens, including those who left a dishonoured ticket for Anyanwu, are aware that there is no vacancy in Imo Government House until 2027. APC stated this in a press release made available to newsmen by its State Publicity Secretary, Cajetan Duke in Owerri, Imo State capital. Recall that the National Secretary of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu, had earlier urged all Imo citizens to join hands to sack the vicious, corrupt APC government in Imo. Reacting swiftly APC said, Imo people are not in a hurry to hire or recruit another person in place of a top-scoring utility player, like Governor Uzodimma, who is currently on top of his game in all ramifications. Uzodimma has through diligent prosecution of the 3R agenda of his shared prosperity administration, endeared himself to the people of Imo across the board. Ordinarily we would have ignored such a shallow, loose, and miserable comment but coming from a man like Senator Anyanwu, whose unpalatable political antecedent is well-known to every Imolite, provokes an advisory response. It is indeed regrettable that such a deliberate and deleterious falsehood could be credited to Senator Anyanwu, who through his political actions and inactions before events of the past few days, had always shared the conviction that Uzodimmas recovery of his stolen mandate from Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha was the best thing to have happened to the Imo people. It will be a costly and self-inflicted injury for our brother Senator Anyanwu to resign his current position in pursuit of an unrealistic, unavailable, and unrealizable position of Imo State. It doesnt require a soothsayer to know that PDP as presently constituted in Imo State does not have the capacity and capability to mobilize the Imo electorate as required to successfully defeat the APC. In addition, Senator Anyanwu we know does not have the character, integrity, and of course the public appeal to galvanize any meaningful solidarity to match the popularity, credibility, and acceptability of Governor Hope Uzodimma. We, therefore, urged Senator Anyanwu to refrain forthwith, from making further utterances that are not only unguarded and mischievous but also utterly un-statesmanly The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 18 governorship election in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, has stormed the election petition tribunal sitting in Abeokuta to file his petition. Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Governor Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the governorship election in Ogun. Abiodun scored a total of 276,298 votes to defeat Adebutu, who polled 262,383 votes. But, Adebutu said the election did not reflect the wish of the masses, saying he did not lose the election. To seek redress, the PDP candidate led a member of his legal team, Chief Gordy Uche (SAN) and party chieftains to the tribunal secretariat within Isabo court premises, Abeokuta, to formally file copies of the petition. While Adebutu and the PDP are the first and second petitioners, respectively, the INEC, Abiodun and the APC were joined as the first, second and third respondents in the suit. Speaking to newsmen after filing the petition, Adebutu said, We are here today in continuation of the pursuit of our democratic rights because we have had elections that we truly believe we have represented the people fairly, and the people have responded by voting fairly for us in an election we believe we won. We will continue to seek our mandate within the ambit of the law. Giving details of the petitions, the counsel, Uche, said it was filed on up to four solid grounds, hoping that the Tribunal will do the best. He said: We have about three Senior Advocates on our team and a host of many other lawyers, who are not just in it because they are being paid, but because of the fact that they believe the mandate was stolen and they also believe this mandate can be retrieved. We have up to four grounds, very solid ones, but it will be sweeter when our opponent tells you the grounds. Our prayers are just that the right thing be done and the man who won is given the mantle of office. A support group of Bola Tinubu, president-elect, known as Disciples of Justice, has asked the youths not to allow themselves to be used by anti-democratic forces to cause trouble ahead of May 29. Tinubu is expected to be sworn in as president of the country on May 29. Recently, the Department of State Services (DSS) said there is a plan to install an interim government and prevent Tinubu from being sworn in. Addressing a press conference in Abuja, on Wednesday, Abdulhakeem Alawuje, the groups chairman, said anyone calling for an interim government is anti-democratic. We can not be celebrating illegality. Anyone calling for the interim government is anti-democratic. Nigerians have given their mandate to Asiwaju and on May 29, he will be sworn in. Nothing will stop his inauguration, Alawuje said. We urge Nigerian youths not to allow themselves to be used by anti-democratic forces to cause trouble. Tinubu is capable and fit to turn things around. On his part, Ibrahim Bello, a former house of representatives member and member of the group, said citizens should not allow religious and ethnic sentiments to destroy what will be difficult to undo. Let us all calm down and return to our real senses. In every contest, there must always be a winner and a loser; but with maturity and understanding, everyone will become victorious, Bello said. The losers should take courage to congratulate the winner and be ready to work with the winner to move the country forward. Nigeria is bigger than the interest of anyone. The youths who want to be leaders of the same country tomorrow should also remember that if they allow the desperado politicians to use them to destroy their today and tomorrow, they will have no tomorrow afterwards. The former lawmaker said Tinubu should be ready to become a father to every citizen. Tomanek is a member of the Bismarck Historical Society Board of Directors. He'll share images from his collection of nearly 400 postcards from Bismarcks past, discuss the historical evolution of postcards, how they became popular and what a deltiologist does with his spare time. Wole Soyinka, the Nobel laureate, has addressed the criticisms he received from supporters of the Labour Party (LP). On Wednesday, Soyinka faulted the remarks by Datti Baba-Ahmed, vice-presidential candidate of the LP, saying they contained fascistic language. Baba-Ahmed had said the country has no president-elect despite the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announcing Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election. The LP vice-presidential candidate said Tinubu would be leading an unconstitutional government if sworn into office because the APC candidate has not met requirements of the law. Soyinka was one of many stakeholders who knocked Baba-Ahmed over his comments. In a subsequent statement, the Nobel laureate said he warned Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the LP, that his supporters dubbed Obidients may cost him the election. Soyinkas comments elicited anger from the Obidients, especially on social media platforms. Wole Soyinka, an elder statesman is more angry about Dattis Response to the fraudulent elections than the fraudulent elections itself. Some Elders are overrated, reads one of the tweets. Dont forget Wole Soyinka was one of those people that foisted Buhari on us. He criticized GEJ so much and even likened him to King Nebuchadnezzar. He also allegedly called his wife Hippotamus in 2013. When they try to gag you with respect our elders, show them this tweet, reads another tweet. Wole Soyinka, an elder statesman is more angry about Datti's Response to the fraudulent elections than the fraudulent elections itself. Some Elders are over rated. Thomas NOT Sankara (@Isidore0001) April 5, 2023 Don't forget Wole Soyinka was one of those people that foisted Buhari on us. He criticized GEJ so much and even likened him to King Nebuchadnezzar. He also allegedly called his wife Hippotamus in 2013. When they try to gag you with respect our elders, show them this tweet. Aji Bussu Onye Mpiawa azu (@AfamDeluxo) April 6, 2023 OBIDIENTS HAVE COMMITTED TO REJECT CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM In a statement on Friday, Soyinka said Obidients have worn their refusal to accept constructive criticism as a badge of honour. He maintained that the LP was sowing seeds of fascism and generating a climate of fear. Soyinka asked the LP supporters to refrain from attacking and embrace fair hearing in situations of conflict. It would appear that a record discharge of toxic sludge from our notorious smut factory is currently clogging the streets and sewers of the Republic of Liars. It goes to prove the point that provoked the avalanche EXACTLY! The seeds of incipient fascism in the political arena have evidently matured. A climate of fear is being generated, Soyinka said. The refusal to entertain corrective criticism, even differing perspectives of the same position has become a badge of honour and certificate of commitment. What is at stake, ultimately is Truth, and at a most elementary level of social regulation: when you are party to a conflict, you do not attempt to intimidate the arbiter, attempt to dictate the outcome, or impugn, without credible cause, his or her neutrality even before hearing has commenced. That is a ground rule of just proceeding. Short of this, Truth remains permanently elusive. The ensuing cacophony has been truly bewildering. It strikes me as a possible ploy to smother recent provocations by other, far more trenchant issues, such as revelations of declarations of a religious war. If so, let it be known that I have long declared war against religious fundamentalism, the nature of which justifies the butchery, kidnapping and enslavement of students in the name of religion. Senator Smart Adeyemi has described the 2023 elections as one of the best in the country, calling on those upset about the outcome of the exercise to try next time. The All Progressives Congress (APC)s Bola Tinubu was declared the winner of the 2023 presidential election but the opposition including Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have challenged the outcome of the exercise. However, Senator Smart maintained that the exercise was one of the freest in the nations history even though it was not perfect. I speak my mind at any point in time. And let me tell you the truth, I hold the view that this election was free to a large extent and better than the previous election. Those who feel bitter can just wait for the next election, he said on Thursday while fielding questions on Channels Televisions He argued that Tinubu and his running mate Kashim Shettima are the most trusted to lead the country. Senator Adeyemi said the former Lagos State governor has invested in people and also built strong ties across Nigeria thus his victory at the polls was not surprising. The fact of the matter is that Asiwaju and Shettima are the popular contestants and they won, the Kogi West lawmaker said. According to him, the grievances from the opposition is expected but he insisted that the poll was free. There is no doubt that once there is an election, there would be divisions, the APC lawmaker said. Kingsley Moghalu, a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has apologised for his choice of words, uncultured and unlettered, against the people who attacked Wole Soyinka, the Nobel laureate. The celebrated playwright was criticised for saying that recent remarks made by Datti Baba-Ahmed, vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party, contained fascistic language. Baba-Ahmed, in an interview with Channels TV, on March 22, said the country has no president-elect despite the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announcing Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election. He said that Tinubu would be leading an unconstitutional government if sworn into office because the APC candidate has not met requirements of the law. Reacting in a chat with Arise TV days after the remarks, Soyinka said the statements were a kind of do-or-die attitude and provocation that went contrary to democratic disposition. Soyinkas statement also generated reactions on social media, with the supporters of Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party dubbed Obidients calling out the Nobel laureate. MOGHALU TO THE RESCUE In response to the criticisms of Soyinka by the Obidients, on Thursday, Moghalu said the respected playwright is a phenomenon that unlettered and uncultured people may not fully understand in an age of lazy social media. The former presidential candidate said Soyinka is a principled fighter for justice, noting that he would survive the undue reprimands from the Obidients movement. However, Moghalus defence of Soyinka attracted a deluge of criticisms with many casting aspersion on him because of his choice of words. But on Friday, Moghalu said he has to apologise for his choice of words which may have been misconstrued as a harsh judgment on citizens who are hurting from the outcome of the elections. In my tweet yesterday on Prof. Wole Soyinkas comment on Datti Baba-Ahmeds own comments about the 2023 presidential election, I said WS is a principled fighter for justice and a phenomenon that unlettered and uncultured people may not fully understand in an age of lazy social media in which many dont read or think deeply, he wrote on Twitter. I want to apologize for the phrase in quotation marks which, on second thought, can be misconstrued as a harsh judgment on citizens who are hurting from the outcome of the elections. That was not my intention. While we all bear responsibility for the words we choose to use (and I have the utmost respect for Prof Soyinka and Dr. Datti-Ahmed), I caution again, however, that there will always be different voices with different beliefs in a democracy. These voices are not illegitimate simply because we disagree with them or they do not agree either with our political preferences or with whatever manner in which we choose to express our views. This applies across the board to the supporters of all the leading candidates. This is a difficult time for our country, but I hope we can still be civil and measured even as we may disagree. Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue, says he accepted defeat at the February 25 national assembly poll because he does not want to stress the people of the state. Ortom was defeated by Titus Zam of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Benue north-west senatorial election. The governor had initially vowed to challenge the outcome at the election tribunal, claiming that he was clinically and electronically rigged out. A few days later, Ortom withdrew his petition against the election result. Addressing the development in a chat with Arise TV on Friday, the Benue governor claimed that he had glaring evidence of malfeasance but decided against challenging the result. Ortom added that Benue people had gone through enough trauma and he did not want to add to their ordeal. My losing the senatorial bid does not really matter to me, the governor said. Initially, I filed the suit. But I had to withdraw it because of peace. Especially for Benue state. The kind of trauma that my people have gone through, with two million people in IDP camps and people running here and there. Poverty is all over the place. Why should I get myself involved in stressing our people up? I decided to withdraw the case, irrespective of the evidence that I have. Two men were arrested at a rental property in Atlantic City on Thursday and charged in the March 3 shooting death of a man on a Pennsylvania hiking trail, authorities said. Cody Reed, 23, of Norristown, Pennsylvania, and Marquise Johnson, 23, of Philadelphia, were charged in the death of Daquan Tucker, whose body was found by a bicyclist about 100 feet off the Schuylkill River Trail in southeastern Pennsylvania. Members of the U.S. Marshals Service, Atlantic City police officer, along with members of the citys SWAT team, arrested Reed without incident about 5:15 p.m. at an Airbnb rental property on North Rhode Island Avenue, according to the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office in Pennsylvania. Johnson returned to the Airbnb about 7:30 p.m. and barricaded himself inside the rental unit, investigators said. Johnson was arrested after a four-hour standoff when SWAT team members entered the home and found him hiding inside a washing machine, the district attorneys office said. The district attorneys office said the alleged killers and victim knew each other and walked onto the trail, where Tucker was shot multiple times. Reed and Johnson are charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, third-degree murder, robbery, two counts of conspiracy and a weapons offense. They were held without bail pending an arraignment. Attorney information for the men was not immediately available on Friday. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. A beloved Jersey Shore bakery is shuttering after the upcoming summer season. Kohlers Bakery took to social media Tuesday to announce plans to close after 74 years of business. The bakery has been located at 2709 Dune Drive in Avalon since 1949. Kohlers is expected to close after its last go-round this summer although an exact date has yet to be announced. This past year has brought some challenging decisions with my business space and its future, owner Colleen Quinn-Maxwell wrote on the bakerys Facebook page. Unfortunately, a lease agreement was unable to be met to continue to keep Kohlers Bakery at 27th and Dune Drive after this September. The 74-year-old bakery offers a variety of doughnuts, cakes, breads, cookies and pastries. Kohlers landed on NJ.coms 32 sweetest spots for doughnuts around the state in 2021. Quinn-Maxwell took the business over in 2006 after being a longtime employee. We look forward to seeing you this summer for one more summer season and having you enjoy all of your Kohlers Bakery favorites, Quinn-Maxwell wrote. RELATED STORIES ABOUT RETAIL AND SHOPPING: Dave & Busters to open another N.J. location this year, report says N.J. taco spot known for birria to open 2nd location These 8 businesses announced store closings in March Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Christopher Burch can be reached at cburch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisBurch856. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tip CarePoint Health System, the nonprofit that owns and operates three hospitals in Hudson County, says it wasnt involved in suspicious transactions that caused nearly $1 million in federal funds to be diverted from the systems charitable foundation. The CarePoint Foundation reported earlier this year that $970,000 in checks dedicated to a program that provides care for HIV/AIDS patients had been stolen. The checks originated with Hudson County government, which is responsible for distributing funds from the federal Ryan White program. Because the CarePoint Health hospitals Christ Hospital in Jersey City, Bayonne Medical Center and Hoboken University Medical Center were previously for-profit facilities, funding from the Ryan White program travels from the federal government to the county and then to the foundation, the hospital chains charitable organization, which then transfers the money to the hospitals. Somewhere along the way, however, the funds wound up getting deposited in an account at Wells Fargo Bank that CarePoint Health officials say has nothing to do with them or any of their business affiliates. It is imperative that these funds are located immediately in order to ensure that this program remains financially viable, said CarePoint spokeswoman Shannon Brennan. While there is no deadline, we will be happy to have this matter resolved as soon as the checks are traced. CarePoint is asking that Hudson County reimburse the hospital chain for the missing money, since the county was responsible for administering the federal grant. County officials could not be reached Friday for comment. Foundation officials say they did not receive the checks, which are mailed to Christ Hospital, as expected in February. They later determined that the checks had been deposited in an account with Wells Fargo. CarePoint Health System says it doesnt have any accounts with Wells Fargo, so it never received any of the money. Just who deposited those checks is under investigation by Hudson prosecutors, sources told The Jersey Journal. CarePoint is a victim in this situation, Brennan said. We are hopeful that there will be a swift resolution. The investigation comes just as the hospitals are receiving state permission to convert from for-profit to nonprofit status. Certification for both Bayonne Medical Center and Hoboken University Medical Center has been approved, and the State Health Planning Board has recommended that the change in status for Christ Hospital should be approved as well. The decision on Christ Hospital was delayed so the board could examine a new lease deal that was agreed upon in December, when the majority of the hospital property was sold to a company controlled by Alaris Health founder Avery Eisenreich. CarePoint Healths conversion to a nonprofit will open up tens of millions of dollars in potential funding opportunities not available under the current structure with a separate foundation, and we will evaluate all options once we receive final state approval in order to provide Hudson County residents with the best possible care, said Brennan. Those new funding opportunities can come from many sources, including FEMA, JBOC, ARPA and 340b Prescription Drug funding, and we will also be able to establish a distinct foundation under the 501c3 designation to raise money from private donations. A man was shot in the mouth while driving in Jersey City Thursday afternoon, Jersey City police said in radio transmissions. The shooting occurred at approximately 3:25 p.m., although authorities could not be sure where it happened. According to the police radio transmissions, officers responding to a report of shots fired located the injured man in the area of Bergen and Harrison avenues. The victim, who told police that he was driving when he was struck by the gunfire, was taken to the Jersey City Medical Center to be treated. When details emerged last week about Hoboken and Jersey City meeting to discuss merging their fire departments, the reaction from most people was Why? But a Jersey City spokeswoman said the question should rather be Why not? Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione hinted that enhanced fire department collaboration between the cities that share Hobokens southern and western borders, could equate to taxpayer savings and larger emergency responses. But resistance from unions and local politicos illuminate the other reality fire department mergers in New Jersey are exceedingly rare for a reason. An investigation by multiple agencies into a drug and gun distribution network in Morristown resulted in the arrest of four people Thursday and the seizure of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and multiple weapons, authorities said. Few details about the investigation were released but the operation ended with the seizure of nearly a half pound of cocaine, 2.5 pounds of fentanyl, 6 pounds of marijuana, multiple bricks of heroin, five handguns, one assault rifle, numerous high-capacity magazines, various ammunition, two bullet proof vests, drug distribution packaging and paraphernalia, over $7,000 and four cars, according to a statement from the Morris County Prosecutors Office. Prosecutors said the drugs and weapons seized were found at multiple locations but did not specify where. A Haledon woman and three Paterson men were arrested on multiple drug and weapons-related charges and taken to the Morris County Correctional Facility. Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll said the investigation demonstrated that law enforcements cooperation and intelligence-sharing will lead to more successful investigations to remove dangerous weapons and drugs from our communities. The investigation comes amid an increase in fentanyl overdoses nationally and in New Jersey. Fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid, has surpassed heroin as the leading cause of overdose deaths in New Jersey in 2018, according to state Office of the Medical Examiner data. In 2019, the most recent year with confirmed overdose death information, New Jersey had 2,248 deaths attributed to fentanyl. Essex County had the most fentanyl deaths that year, with 320, followed by Camden (285), Middlesex (168) and Ocean (143) counties. Some high-profile overdoses in New Jersey recently have brought attention to the drug. In Hackensack, an investigation is ongoing into the death of one woman after five coworkers overdosed on suspected fentanyl in a mall. The Bergen County Prosecutors Office described the incident as a fentanyl crisis in the area. When the Bergen County Prosecutors Office first started looking into the effects of overdoses in 2015, all suspected heroin that was sent to the lab contained between 4% to 8% of fentanyl, officials said. In 2023, all suspected heroin sent for testing contained a staggering 98% fentanyl. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Native American activist Winona LaDuke has resigned as executive director of the Indigenous-led environmental group Honor the Earth after the organization lost a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a former employee. LaDuke announced her resignation Wednesday in a Facebook post, saying she failed Margaret Campbell by not responding sufficiently to her allegations of sexual harassment by a coworker in 2014 and 2015. A Minnesota jury awarded Campbell $750,000 last week in the suit against Honor the Earth. I take personal responsibility for the mistakes made," LaDuke wrote. "I was the executive director, and it was my job to create a good foundation to heal and move forward." LaDuke, 63, a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, is best known for leading opposition to Enbridge Energy's Line 3 oil pipeline across northern Minnesota in 2021 and participated in protests against the Dakota Access pipeline near North Dakota's Standing Rock Reservation in 2016. She also ran for vice president as Ralph Nader's running mate on the Green Party ticket in 1996 and 2000. She founded Honor the Earth 30 years ago with members of the musical duo Indigo Girls. LaDuke, who owns an industrial hemp farm, said she planned to take some time off and is already is busy with preparations for spring planting and maple syrup gathering. Krystal Two Bulls, who had been co-executive director since December, will now lead Honor the Earth. The New Jersey Turnpike Authoritys other widening project which would add a third lane to the existing two lanes in each direction between exits 1 and 4 in South Jersey has flown under the radar and not gotten the same opposition as a larger widening project in Hudson County. But, there is now an online petition opposing the proposed widening of the New Jersey Turnpike between exits 1 and 4 in South Jersey. It calls on Gov. Phil Murphy to scuttle the project, which is still in the planning phase. The undated online petition which had 113 signatures as of Thursday afternoon cites several reasons to oppose the project. They include concerns about increasing pollution and encouraging more traffic by adding one lane in each direction, which would only provide short term relief from existing congestion, the petition says. BALTIMORE Josh Donaldsons locker was barren in the Yankees clubhouse on Friday afternoon in Baltimore. His name plate was there, but the corner locker was empty. Donaldson is on the active roster for Fridays series opener against the Orioles in Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Hes listed on the bench on manager Aaron Boones lineup card. The third baseman wont be making an appearance, though. Hes not even in the state of Maryland. The third baseman is back in New York, working out to see if he can pull off the improbable and avoid a stint on the injured list with a barking hamstring. Its likely going to be an IL situation, Boone said a few hours before first pitch on Friday afternoon. Well make that call probably at the end of the day. Nothing too serious, itll probably knock him down four or five days. Were going to likely be cautious of this situation. BUY YANKEES TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETMASTER Donaldson hurt his hamstring on Wednesday while running to first base in a win over the Phillies. He grimaced and hopped in front of the bag for a split second, retreating to the dugout before he was replaced on defense by Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Boone added that Donaldson didnt have an MRI on his hamstring. At least not yet. The team is just erring on the side of caution with a 37-year-old thats owed quite a bit of money this season, a slugger thats coming off the worst season of his big-league career. The other news that came out of Boones pregame scrum involves fan favorite Jhony Brito. The right-hander was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after his magnificent and historic MLB debut last week. Now, Brito is back with the big-league club, joining the team in Baltimore on the taxi squad. Depending on how Donaldsons workout back in New York goes on Friday, the Yankees can make the necessary roster adjustments before Saturday nights game. The wrinkle here is that Brito and Donaldson cant be corresponding moves for one another. Teams cant carry more than 13 pitchers, so another arm would need to be subtracted in order for Brito to be added. Want to bet on MLB? See the best NJ Sports Betting sites In theory, the Yankees can survive for a few days with a three-man bench while Donaldson is hurt, if they dont want to place him on the IL. DJ LeMahieu will start at third base most days. Both Kiner-Falefa and Oswaldo Cabrera can fill in at the hot corner as well, with Anthony Volpe at shortstop and Gleyber Torres at second base. The only available piece on the 40-man roster thats an infielder is shortstop prospect Oswald Peraza, but the reason he was demoted to Triple-A was to give him an opportunity to have consistent playing time up the middle. Unless the Yankees are comfortable having Peraza on the bench, taking him out of his rhythm playing every game in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, theyll need to add to their 40-man roster to replace Donaldson. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. Max Goodman may be reached at mgoodman@njadvancemedia.com. Watertown, NY (13601) Today A mix of clouds and sun. Slight chance of a rain shower. High around 50F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low around 35F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. Confronting Security Fears to Control Cyber Risks Part 3 To make cybersecurity a part of the business process and effectively implement necessary changes, the understanding and support of the C-suite is critical. Watch this webinar to discover what it takes to get the board on board with a 12-step plan to effectiveness. XDR for Beginners As advanced threats push security controls to their limits, SOC teams are struggling to detect and respond, and the XDR movement has promised to address this issue. Discover if XDR is a good fit for you, and what to expect from your XDR vendor, in this webinar. Confronting Security Fears to Control Cyber Risks Part 1 The hyper-complexity of IT infrastructures and their related attacks by threat actors leaves C-suites longing for simplicity. But enabling simplicity requires clear direction built on a strong foundation, in a way that can be measured. Watch this webinar and access 8 steps to lead change in your cybersecurity operating model. Confronting Security Fears to Control Cyber Risks Part 2 To effectively adapt during times of stress, businesses must align leadership and security teams to build a consistent approach. Well-designed protection level agreements (PLAs) are a great place to start, but they need to be monitored. Watch this webinar to learn how to create PLAs with KPIs and introduce accountability to your cybersecurity. 2022 Vulnerability Intelligence Report This Vulnerability Intelligence Report examines 50 vulnerabilities that pose considerable risk to your organization. 45 of these were exploited in the wild in 2022 with 44% arising from zero-day exploits. Access the report here to learn what you need to be prepared for. 4 Ways XDR Levels Up Security Programs With complex cyberattacks on the rise, how can your business boost its security programs defenses? Step in XDR (Extended Detection and Response). This white paper presents 4 ways that XDR can enhance security programs. #1: Simplifies SecOps by providing precise, speedy insights. Keep reading to unlock the rest. The ASX 200 Attack Surface How do the attack surfaces of 200 of Australias largest publicly traded companies fare? To find out, Rapid7 surveyed the organizations internet-facing attack surfaces, Microsoft Exchange patching and more. Check out this report to unlock insights. Cloud Misconfigurations Report To understand how and what kind of data are compromised in data breaches, this report examines 68 accounts that experienced a publicly disclosed breach in 2021. Continue on to learn what simple security measures can decrease the likelihood of your organization suffering from such a breach. Cyber Risk For ASX-Listed Companies No More Than Global Average Modern cybercriminals are not the prototypical young hoody-wearing laptop users that we often think of. In this interview, Rapid7 CEO Corey Thomas discusses the state of cyberattacks, providing tips for what organizations can do to protect themselves from the ever-increasing threat of todays sophisticated hackers. Watch now to learn more. Key Features in Building a Security Operations Center Whether a SOC is internally staffed or provided externally, building a security operations center means including some key technical capabilities engineered to cover the full lifecycle of a cybersecurity incident. Download this e-guide to learn about the must-have features when building a SOC. In the first big public relations push for the mayor's Violent Crime Reduction Task Force last month, New Orleans officials in suits stood alongside workers in hard hats, applauding the emergency teardown of a derelict Gert Town car wash deemed a public safety hazard. But the Paradise Carwash at 8020 Olive St. remains standing, after the owner successfully blocked the demolition by alleging in court that his rights to due process were violated. A City Council committee this week interrogated task force chair Tyrell Morris about the aborted demolition and criticized the panel for operating largely out of public view. "Finding ways to work with business or property owners is the best approach," council member Helena Moreno said. "Why didn't that happen instead of moving forward with demolition?" Morris said City Hall provided proper notice to owner Lenny Motwani of LKM Enterprises LLC. "It wasn't until we arrived at the property that the owner appeared and was ready to have a conversation," he said. But Motwani asserts that he heard about the demolition just hours before it was set to begin, according to his petition for injunctive relief, filed March 23 in Civil District Court. The incident was resolved on March 31 when both parties signed a settlement that keeps the car wash standing, with the goal of returning it to commerce. Motwani has 21 days to fence the property and 90 days to remove weeds, according to documents. He must also give City Hall a timeline for the property's sale. Otherwise, the building could be subject once again to demolition. There's a number of strangely placed elements in Chupa, Netflix's latest sci-fi kids' adventure. Least of those issues is the film's title, which, in Spanish slang, can mean fellatio. Hardly the association a children's film that crimps this hard from Steven Spielberg's E.T. (1982) wants to have. But it isn't the only issue plaguing a movie with uneven performances, a rote storyline, and a callous treatment of a stumbling, Alzheimer's-ridden Demian Bichir in a luchador costume. Taking place in 1996, Chupa follows Alex (Evan Whitten), a fatherless kid in Kansas City who loves nineties culture and hates barbacoa meat. The former is expressed in an endless barrage of cultural and period signifiers like a Game Boy he can't put away and tee shirts that range from Beavis and Butthead to Pac-Man. The hatred of taco meat is used ad nauseum as a metonym for Alex's uncomfortable situation as a diasporic kid neither here nor there, in Mexico. Alex's mother (Adriana Paz) sends Alex to his grandfather's estate on a vacation without her, which he protests for similar reasons he protests to barbacoa: it's a reminder that he's not quite the American his racist white classmates wish him to be. But Alex has to go anyway, and he is quickly welcomed in by his grandfather, Chava (Bichir), a former luchador of considerable fame, and his two cousins Memo (Nickolas Verdugo) and Luna (Ashley Ciarra). Meanwhile, Richard Quinn (Christian Slater), an Indiana Jones-looking archaeologist (scientist? Zoologist? Unclear!) hunts down the trail to find the mythical chupacabra, which is rumored to have restorative powers embedded in its blood. When it becomes clear that Chava has been harboring a young chupacabra in his secluded estate in San Javier, Quinn and the family are set on a collision course over the squirrely animal. Amongst the myriad of aspects the film can't quite get a handle on is Alex's relationship with his own identity. Cuaron uses the overused trope of a dead father to suggest that Alex is, like the young chupacabra, without a family. But that feels hard to accept considering he has an attentive mother, an adoring grandfather, and two cousins. If the film is supposed to be about learning that family is more expansive than traditional definitions, then the film misses the mark; when Alex talks about not having one, he comes across as petulant, not sympathetic. More curious is the film's rocky relationship with the Spanish language. Alex barely speaks it, which makes sense considering he is an American who has no emotional connection to his parents' country, but when the film switches locales to Mexico it twists and turns to allow Chava, Memo, and Luna to speak in half-Spanish, half-translated English sentences as if the characters are somehow aware that an audience of American kids will be watching. It further doesn't explain why Luna has perfect English but Memo can't speak a single word; choices like these might feel inconsequential, but it adds to a televisual aesthetic reminiscent of early 1990s Nickelodeon and Disney television. It makes the entire film feel less like the Spielberg it constantly references and more like the didactic writing of Gulla Gulla Island. The film is actually at its best when it sinks its teeth deeper into the consequences of a white colonizer (Slater) on a warpath to pilfer the Global South (in this case, Mexico) of a resource (the chupacabra's magical blood) for profit. But, that element is mostly pushed to the background. It gets minor lip service in an early scene about "unhappy investors" but lets it go almost immediately. From an alien-like creature's otherworldly abilities to its focus on children, with references to Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, and ET, Chupa never quite feels like its own movie. Produced by Chris Columbus, it seems even stranger that the movie even references Columbus's own Gremlins with a half-baked scene about feeding the chupacabra chorizo. It treats Chava's burgeoning Alzheimer's like a personality quirk rather than the life-threatening situation it really is, then bizarrely asks us to feel safe watching him driving kids around and saving them from life-or-death situations. In the final moments of Chupa, when Chava is driving Alex back to the airport from this whirlwind adventure, he lamely gives his grandson the advice to "never be ashamed to be who you are." If that's the best the film can offer, one wishes Cuaron would take it for himself, instead of making a copy of a copy of a copy. At least then we might have something more original. Chief Deputy Registrar Danielle Duplessis Hammond flips through signature forms that were deemed invalid during a press conference at City Hall in New Orleans, Thursday, March 23, 2023. Parish Registrar of Voters Sandra WilsonOs office did not include 59% of signatures in the LaToya Cantrell recall campaign final count due to various reasons. (Photo by Sophia Germer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate) Here a Fire Captain chose the written word over just smashing the window of a Tesla. A woman who ran her rental Tesla dry found out the doors default to locked, and she was trapped. For heat, the woman lit a candle, and for help, she called emergency services. The first responder chose to download and read the manual for the rental Tesla the woman was being held captive within, determined how to emergency release the door, and communicated it to the prisoner. RTFM, kids. KEZI: "I could not make entry, I was kind of at a loss other than taking out glass, to make entry into the vehicle to assist her getting out or getting in to treat her to see if she needed any attention," Captain McPherson said. However, before he acted, he called the dispatch center and luckily they found a manual for the Type 3 Tesla. With the manual, the captain was able to direct the woman to find the manual release on the driver's seat door under the window. Once out of the car, McPherson brought her over to his vehicle and turned on the heater. She was also checked for any injuries, she was not hurt. She told Captain McPherson she was traveling to Ashland in a rental car. "She was probably unfamiliar with it and she said she had went past a charging station and I don't know where her point of origin was," McPherson said. "If it was Seattle, or Portland, or Salem I have no clue." Florida governor Ron DeSantis learned recently that Disney had already legally neutered the planning board he stocked with cronies in an effort to punish it for criticizing his anti-gay policies. His new plan? Toll the roads going into Disneyworld and hike hotel taxes. A statement delivered Thursday made clear that it's completely personal at this point, too: "They can keep trying to do things. But ultimately we're going to win on every single issue involving Disney I can tell you that," DeSantis said at Hillsdale College, a conservative school in Michigan. In a separate speech hosted by the Midland County Republican Party in Michigan, the governor said "Disney tried to pull a fast one on the way out the door. That story's not over yet. Buckle up. There's more coming down the pike." Through the final meeting of the Reedy Creek Improvement District's board, which was controlled by Disney, the board passed a number of restrictive covenants which handed most of the District's power to Disney for a period of at least thirty years, but also lasting until after the death of the final living descendant of King Charles III. The move shocked DeSantis and his board, who expressed disbelief at Disney's actions and retained multiple law firms to fight the agreement in court. I know that personal vendettas are now presidential, but this shows a key difference between him and Trump, too: Trump picks general, abstract fights with weak enemies, but DeSantis picks specific, concrete fights with powerful ones. In a credible leader it might be admirable, but DeSantis already has the Rubios. A woman kidnapped in New York was "found dead" after a shootout between her captor and police. The use of passive voice and exonerative language in the report makes it sound an awful lot like the cops think they killed her, and NBC News doesn't let hardly a paragraph pass without appending something like, "according to police." New York State Police identified Davis as allegedly firing at the Virginia troopers. He was critically wounded, police said. "David was located deceased outside the vehicle at the crash location with an apparent gunshot wound. Her cause of death is pending investigation and an autopsy is scheduled for later today, police said. No police were injured in the shooting, according to Virginia State Police. "In accordance with state police policy, the troopers involved in the shooting are being placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. A Fairfax County Police Officer was also involved in the shooting," police in Virginia said. How were they to know the kidnappee might be in the vehicle with the kidnapper? Check out the very cool artwork of Maarten Baas, a Dutch designer whose work sits at the intersection of art and design. His website describes his work: He occupies a unique position in the field, embodying conceptual art, craftsmanship, installation, public space and performance into his oeuvre. He's known for his rebellious, intellectual, theatrical and artistic style. Baas' most renowned works are Smoke, Clay and Real Time, that gave him instant worldwide recognition. In 2009, he was named 'Designer of the Year' at Design Basel/ Miami. In 2012, the New York Times listed both Smoke and Clay in its 'Top 25 Design Classics of the Future'. In 2016, Baas won the Artprize for his Real Time Sweepers clock. My favorite series of his is called "Real TimePublic Works," which he describes this way: The Real Time series are 12-hour films of performances indicating the time. With Real Time, Baas combines theatre, art, film and design in a series of new clock designs. Real Time was launched in April 2009 at the Salone Del Mobile in Milan (IT). He first presented the Sweepers clock, Analog Digital and the Grandfather clock. Since then, Real Time has expanded from a Grandmother clock and a Self Portrait clock, to an iPhone app and special commissions, such as the Schiphol clock that was launched in July 2016. One of his Real Time public works is located just outside Paddington Station. IanVisits explains: For this clock, Baas filmed an actor dressed in a 19th-century three-piece suit in reference to Paddington Station's architect, Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Although mostly seen as a dark silhouette against the clock face, the actor comes close enough to the glass that you get to see the details of his clothing. Every so often he'll put on a top hat, in the style of Brunel, but maybe either not visible or a nod to modern sensibilities, no cigar. Throughout, he draws minute and hour hands, then a minute later has to clean the clock face and redraw the whole thing, every single minute. I find the Real Time clocks mesmerizingI could watch the little person inside of the clock drawing, erasing, and then redrawing the clock hands for hours. What a very cool project! Diocese of Gary Bishop Robert J. McClory invites Northwest Indiana residents to attend Easter and Holy Week services. In addition to Sunday masses, I would encourage you to make it to one or all of the special Holy Week liturgies, particularly during the Triduum, McClory said. You might consider participating in a Good Friday service or the Stations of the Cross. If you've never been to an Easter Vigil on Saturday night, make that one of your priorities. This Lent, he issued a "plus one" challenge, inviting the faithful to share Jesus's message with others and to add something new, different, and additional to your celebration of Holy Week." "Renewed by these liturgies, reach out with love to someone in need," he said. "Show someone the love of Jesus in a special, unexpected way. McClory will lead hundreds through the Stations of the Cross at the Shrine of Christs Passion in St. John at noon Friday. He will then go to St. Casimir Church in Hammond for the Celebration of the Lords Passion at 7 p.m. Friday. On Holy Saturday, he will celebrate Easter Vigil Mass at 7:30 p.m. at Nativity of Our Savior in Portage. On Easter Sunday, McClory will preside over mass at 11 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary. The Diocese of Gary serves about 170,000 Catholics in Lake, Porter, LaPorte and Starke counties. It has 59 parishes across Northwest Indiana as well as a network of private schools across the Calumet Region. For more information, visit dcgary.org. PHOTOS: Patriarch Porfirije visits Northwest Indiana for the first time His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije visits Northwest Indiana for the first time at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church following major newsworthy visits to Chicago, New York and Milwaukee. His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije visits Northwest Indiana for the first time at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church following major newsworthy visits to Chicago, New York and Milwaukee. His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije visits Northwest Indiana for the first time at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church following major newsworthy visits to Chicago, New York and Milwaukee. His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije visits Northwest Indiana for the first time at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church following major newsworthy visits to Chicago, New York and Milwaukee. His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije visits Northwest Indiana for the first time at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church following major newsworthy visits to Chicago, New York and Milwaukee. His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije visits Northwest Indiana for the first time at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church following major newsworthy visits to Chicago, New York and Milwaukee. His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije visits Northwest Indiana for the first time at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church following major newsworthy visits to Chicago, New York and Milwaukee. His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije visits Northwest Indiana for the first time at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church following major newsworthy visits to Chicago, New York and Milwaukee. Enough is enough. These three words were hoisted into the air on a sign written by a Valparaiso High School student. Only a few curious observers showed up Wednesday outside the front entrance of the school, but it shouldnt dilute the importance of the walkout protest by dozens of students. Theyre our future, a woman told me in the parking lot. She wondered if any VHS students would emerge from the building that day at noon, joining thousands of other students from more than 200 schools across the country. The demonstration was part of a nationwide protest organized by Students Demand Action For Gun Sense in America. Weve grown up in the midst of Americas gun violence crisis, the groups website states. In fact, weve been called the school shooting generation. Now were rising up and organizing in our high schools, colleges, and communities across the country to demand action to end gun violence. Gun Sense in America is an oxymoronic phrase in our country. I ranted about this topic in a recent column. More school students are going to get killed this year by gun violence, I wrote. Children will die. Fingers will be pointed. Politics will be blamed. Funerals will be held. Prayers will be said. And our lives will resume until another school shooting takes place. Reader reaction came from all sides. Sadly, so very very true, Larry J. wrote. Every day I drop my two family members off at school and I worry so much for their safety, Kimberly W. told me. Nobody wants to take away citizens rights to their guns but a little common sense is way overdue. It seems humans are not much different from a flock of chickens who peck one of their own to death, Kathy A. wrote. Other readers strongly disagreed with the premise of my stance. The sentiment underlying your writing is so far off base it just defies comprehension, Arnold C. wrote. Killing the killer and immediately canceling their name, image and likeness would go a long way in discouraging future killers, Dale M. wrote. I sorted through reader responses Wednesday while waiting in the VHS parking lot. I wasnt sure if 20 students or 200 students would join the walkout protest. Or if the demonstrators would be disciplined for their actions. We discussed this with my daughter at dinner last night, Jeff Lamb, of Valparaiso, said. My wife and I told her we want her to always do what she thinks is right but to understand that actions can have consequences. Ill support her decision either way. Lambs teenage daughter is a VHS junior who thought about taking part in the protest at her school, taking into account she is part of this school shooting generation. No one wants violence in schools, her father said. Theres lots of awareness of the issue. So whats the goal? What change do you wish to effectuate and is it possible for the school to accommodate? If not, is the protest simply performative? These are excellent points to address with teenagers of any generation. His daughter ended up not taking part in the protest. We didnt want to sway her, but we also didnt want her to just follow the crowd, Lamb told me. Sounds like she made the decision she was comfortable with. Lamb also commented on my Facebook page in response to a post I made from the high school parking lot, prompting more than 300 comments from readers. "Maybe these little concerned citizens need to consider their behavior," Nick P. wrote. "Guns don't get up and walk into a school on their own. ALWAYS there is a person who has been ignored, marginalized, humiliated, or 'didn't fit in.' Sorry to say walking out and holding a sign isn't going to change what's going on." Advocating the removal of their own liberties, Gregory P. wrote about the student protest. Im encouraged that many of these kids are going to be voting soon. Some of them already are, Toby K. countered. I applaud the students for voicing their opinions, and their fears, at the risk of potential consequences. The VHS students were told by faculty that they'd receive a disciplinary mark for unexcused absence if they left their class at noon. Its all part of the generational chess game between schools and students. As I quickly learned after escaping high school, those consequences dont matter all that much in the face of adulthood and more serious concerns. Gun sense in America certainly fits the criteria for more serious concerns. Someday, these students will look back on April 5, 2023, as a memorable day when they made a decision to be on the right side of history. For other students, it may be recalled as just another ho-hum Wednesday lunch hour when they chose to have pizza over a burrito. Were committed to ending gun violence, one of the student protesters told me. I admire their idealism. And I look forward to their lessons for our country. The adults in the room aren't getting very far with this issue. Enough is enough. CROWN POINT Prosecutors have filed charges against a 22-year-old man in connection with the killing of Jordan Miller, 24, of East Chicago last week in Gary's Glen Park neighborhood. Brandon McFadden, 22, of Gary, was charged Wednesday with murder and unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, according to court documents. Court documents allege Miller and another male were selling drugs to individuals inside of a home on the 400 block of Delaware Street on March 30 when he was shot six times in the torso. The Lake County coroner's office ruled Miller's death a homicide. Miller entered the residence to distribute the drugs while the other male waited for him inside a vehicle. Approximately five seconds after Miller entered, he abruptly turned to leave and McFadden allegedly shot him, according to court documents. Additional shots were fired while Miller was down. Eyewitnesses placed McFadden at the scene of the crime and McFadden changed his story multiple times during an interview with detectives, initially telling police he was not at the Delaware Street residence at all that day. He eventually told police he was outside the residence when he heard shots fired, but did not fire a weapon himself, according to charging documents. Police were called to the scene around 1:10 p.m. for a report of shots fired. They found Miller unresponsive on the front porch of the residence. Gary police's SWAT team was dispatched as a precautionary measure because investigators believed the suspects might still be inside the residence. Police eventually determined the suspects were not in the home and SWAT was called off. The shooting was one of six others in Gary over a 24 hour period that resulted in two dead and four wounded last week, police said. Officials said they would increase police patrol in higher crime areas, but asked the public to reach out to investigators with any information related to a crime. Anyone with information on the shooting can contact the Lake County Prosecutor's Homicide Task Force, 219-755-3855; the Gary police's Violent Crimes Division, 219-881-1210; or the Crime Tip Line, 866-CRIMEGP (866-274-6347). Anonymous tips can be called to the tip line or texted to 219-207-TIPS (219-207-8477). PORTAGE An 18-year-old Portage High School students faces numerous criminal charges, including a felony, after being nabbed at school with hallucinogenic mushrooms, THC vape cartridges and paraphernalia, Portage police said. School officials reportedly told police they used the school's surveillance camera system Wednesday morning to identify Kiara Kowalczyk as a suspect in the case. Kowalczyk was found in possession of 16 THC cartridges, psilocybin mushrooms, two THC vape pens, a marijuana pipe and grinder, and 11 nicotine vapes, according to the arrest report. "I also asked Kiara where she was getting these items to which she only stated she gets them from home and brings them to school," police said. She was taken to the Porter County jail and faces a felony count of possessing a controlled substance and misdemeanor charges of possessing a controlled substance, marijuana and paraphernalia, according to police. CROWN POINT Self-representing litigants can now seek assistance prior to entering the courtroom with the implementation of the Lake Circuit Court self-help center. "The number of self-representing litigants is growing," said Lake Circuit Judge Marissa McDermott. "It's a phenomenon happening in Indiana and elsewhere." The self-help center is the result of a partnership among the court, the county, the state and local attorneys. According to McDermott, around 60% of civil court cases involve parties representing themselves. The center will bridge the gap between judges and self-litigants in the courtroom. Originally it was set to open on April 1, 2020, but was delayed due to COVID-19. The process began with an application for a Family Court Project Grant through the Indiana Supreme Court Office of Court Services, which was approved in 2019. "The fact that the state is willing to step up and offer grant money to get these self-help centers started is tremendous," McDermott said. After being deferred for three years, the center officially opened its doors in January. Under the current schedule, licensed attorneys are available to assist self-representing litigants at the center from 9 to 11 a.m. on the first and third Tuesday of each month. "This is a great way for lawyers to give back to the community without the commitment of full representation," McDermott said. "Having attorneys who can assist with things like filling out forms and explaining court procedures is a huge benefit to litigants and the court." An hourly fee is paid to the attorneys through the state grant. Shana Levinson has been working at the center a few times per month. Levinson is an attorney who specializes in family law, municipal representation and general litigation. "There's an enormous amount of self representation and it creates a lot of problems," she said. "This concept makes it easier for the litigants, and helps keep the court's schedule flowing." Levinson has been able to provide litigants with general advice and specifically inform those who have questions about family law. The center is available to individuals at no cost. "It's been a pretty steady flow, but we need to continue to get the word out," she said. The Lake County Commissioners assisted with the center by creating functional space. With help from the commissioners, new countertops have been installed and a conference room has been created. McDermott hopes the center will help demystify what can be a confusing and daunting process for individuals. Specifically, she said attorneys can help inform individuals about the Real ID law, which will be set in motion on May 7, 2025. Attorneys can provide assistance to ensure individuals don't have discrepancies in their identifying paperwork a common issue when it comes to name changes. "Judge McDermott has been trying to come up with ways to help self-represented litigants get through the process," Levinson said. "She's identified that need and she's really trying to assist the public the best she can." Self-service civil legal kiosks are an additional form of assistance available to Hoosiers across Indiana, McDermott said. The IndianaLegalHelp.org kiosks help provide information to individuals facing eviction or housing instability. The Lake County kiosk is available for use in the clerk's office located on the first floor of the courts building at 2293 N. Main St. in Crown Point. CROWN POINT Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. and the 91 other sheriffs across Indiana answer to no one when it comes to contracting for purchases related to the county jail and its inmates. The Indiana Supreme Court turned down a request Thursday to review a Court of Appeals decision granting independent contracting authority to Martinez for jail-related purchases, leaving the lower court ruling the final word on the matter for now. "I am very pleased that the Indiana Supreme Court denied transfer and has upheld the rulings in this matter by the Indiana Court of Appeals and the Lake Superior Court," Martinez said in a statement provided to The Times. "Today's decision by the Supreme Court confirms that Lake Superior Court Judge Stephen Scheele was 100% correct, when he ruled on June 30, 2022, that: 'The sheriff has and retains the authority to enter into contracts to take care of the Lake County Jail and its prisoners,'" Martinez added. The appellate court said in November the Indiana Constitution and state law unquestionably establish a duty that the sheriff take care of the jail and its prisoners. To fulfill that duty, the court said the sheriff has the authority to enter into contracts relating to the jail without the sheriff's jail contracts being conditioned on further approval by the three-member Lake County Board of Commissioners, which serves as county executive, so long as the seven-member county council has appropriated sufficient funds for the purchases. "Indeed, if the board had the exclusive right to enter into such contracts, as it claims, the sheriff would be transformed into a passive manager, a mere department head, notwithstanding his constitutional office, and would have limited ability to take care of the jail and its prisoners," wrote Appeals Judge Robert Altice Jr. in the 3-0 ruling. Records show Martinez initially sued the commissioners after they rejected his 2022 jail medical services contract with Correctional Health Indiana Inc. (CHI) at a cost of $6.1 million, a 5% increase compared with 2021 and 20% more than 2020. The sheriff granted CHI another 5% increase in 2023 for a total annual cost to Lake County taxpayers of $6.4 million for jail health care. Matt Fech, the commissioners attorney, said he's disappointed the Supreme Court declined to review the case because it means the sheriff's practice of awarding no-bid jail health contracts will continue without "the necessary transparency that the citizens of Lake County deserve." "The jail medical contract hasn't been put out for bid since 2016 or 2017 and the increase of the jail medical contract has just continued to rise exponentially over the last several years," Fech said. The Indiana General Assembly still could change the law addressing the sheriff's jail-related contracting authority prior to the Legislature adjourning for the year on or before April 29. Language to restore the commissioners' authority over sheriff jail contracts circulated at the Statehouse earlier this year but it was discarded to avoid interfering with pending litigation. EAST CHICAGO The local Fraternal Order of Police president said his members have defied what they see as a politically motivated attempt to cancel their candidate-endorsement meeting. Brandon Holzhauer, president of the East Chicago FOP Lodge 59, said his members met Wednesday night to endorse Adrian Santos, Mayor Anthony Copelands opponent in the May 2 Democratic primary. Holzhauer said they did this in spite of an order by Police Chief Jose Rivera to close the venue the East Chicago Yacht Club only 90 minutes before the meeting was to begin. Holzhauer said the chief showed up outside the yacht club to turn away everyone invited to the event. Rivera said Thursday that the event violated a city ordinance requiring those conducting public events, like the FOP candidates night, to contact him within 24 hours so he can assign police officers to provide security at the venue. Holzhaur said the FOP moved the event outside the city limits to an American Legion Post near 11th and Taft Street in Garys Tolleston neighborhood. He said FOP members then heard candidate speeches and voted to endorse Santos, the North Township trustee, for mayor. This is an extremely important endorsement," Santos said. "I have been saying that public safety is the Number One issue in this campaign, and the patrol officers know I want a safer community. Holzhauer said Copeland was invited to the forum but didnt attend. Copeland did not respond to a request for comment. The mayor previously told The Times that the crime rate has dropped for 11 consecutive years and his administration has provided a new fleet of squad cars and advanced technology, such as license plate readers. Holzhauer said the FOP's candidates night shouldn't have required the 24-hour notice because it wasnt a public event; only FOP members and candidates were invited to attend. You have to be buzzed through the door to get in, he said. But the police chief said inviting any non-FOP member to an FOP meeting makes it a public event. Holzhauer added that it is "ludicrous" to argue that a meeting of trained law enforcement officers requires additional security. Rivera said he was concerned about a possible confrontation between two FOP members involved in a dispute over property damage. They were offering alcohol and food," he said. "It was a recipe for disaster. This is the kind of event this ordinance was drafted for. Holzhauer said the ordinance-violation claim was a ruse to cover up a strong-arm attempt on behalf of the mayor to intimidate the FOP into keeping out of the mayoral contest. The chief said the mayor had nothing to do with it: That was my decision. The mayor doesnt get involved in FOP matters. Rivera added that Holzhauer hasnt been an East Chicago police officer for several months; he left the force to work part time in Porter County. Holzhauer said he was reelected as the East Chicago FOP's president in January, after he left the force because of harassment by the police administration. Brandon is anti-East Chicago department," Rivera said. "Another FOP board member is a Whiting police officer. This is not the voice of the East Chicago police officers making these endorsements. GARY Incumbent Mayor Jerome Prince and State Sen. Eddie Melton agree, the best thing about the Steel City is its people. The importance of community collaboration and resident involvement was a throughline for both Democratic mayoral candidates during the Thursday night debate. Hosted by the League of Women Voters of the Calumet Area, Lakeshore Public Television, the Gary NAACP and AARP, the debate covered a wide range of topics including: education, environmental health, employment, public safety, youth programming, blight removal and small business support. Candidates had 90 seconds to answer a range of questions that came from audience members and from the media panel. Prince, who unseated Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson in 2019, highlighted past accomplishments and initiatives currently underway. "What stands out is experience vs. exaggerated claims of what we've done and what we haven't done," Prince told the crowded room of attendees. "long-range plans take time to effectuate." However Melton, whose campaign slogan is "Gary Deserves Better NOW," said the city doesn't have time to wait. I firmly believe that currently this administration has not been able to deliver, Melton said, criticizing Prince for not having a clear plan for progress. A mayor with a plan Melton said he decided to run because he'd grown frustrated with the lack of progress in his hometown. He noted that in 2019 he pushed for the Indiana law authorizing the Gary casino relocation. The Majestic Star Casino operated on Lake Michigan in Buffington Harbor for 25 years. After the 2019 relocation law was passed, Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana was able to replace the Majestic Star. Located adjacent to eastbound Interstate 80-94 at the Burr Street exit, Hard Rock opened in 2021 and has been the top-earning gaming destination in the state for over a year. This session Melton authored Senate Bill 434 which would establish Lake County convention center. The plan also includes funds for redevelopment of Gary's Metro Center transit hub, Gary public safety improvements and the demolition of blighted buildings. Both Melton and Prince have appeared before the House Ways and Means Committee to support the legislation. However, during the Thursday night debate, Melton's message was clear, "Senate Bill 434 is my bill." Demolishing abandoned buildings has been a big focus of Prince's. He said removing abandoned structures from the downtown will help make the area more attractive to developers. Prince wants to revitalize the downtown area with mixed-use development. Prince is also working to make Gary a technology hub. In November the state named Gary a Broadband Ready Community, a designation meant to encourage investment in broadband infrastructure. The city has also launched a five-part broadband equity initiative aimed at increasing internet speeds. Higher internet speeds will help the city attract higher-paying jobs that are safe and don't negatively impact the environment, Prince explained. Melton also discussed the importance of sustainable development, saying the city needs to properly vet corporations and hold industries accountable for contamination. When Melton announced his campaign in November, he said Gary needs an updated master plan, with a specific vision for each part of the city, will help guide future development. He said the city needs to listen to the public before making final decisions. Residents have protested multiple projects throughout the past year because they felt the developments would harm the surrounding neighborhood. "We continue to not have a plan with development and we allow developers to come in and tell use where they want to go," Melton said. Public safety Both candidates have listed improving a public safety as a top priority throughout their campaigns. When Prince named Indiana State Police Maj. Jerry Williams interim police chief of the Gary Police Department, Melton criticized the move saying the city needs permanent leadership. Williams is set to fill-in as chief until July, he will then asses the department and give recommendations on who the next chief should be. Prince said the Gary Police Department is steadily improving, noting that the amount of officers on the streets has increased over the past few months. Melton's Public Safety Plan involves enhanced code enforcement, offering better benefits to first responders and focusing on the root causes of crime. "It's not as simple as doing press conferences and announcing new initiatives and programs," Melton said. "You don't address crime by over-policing, you address crime by addressing poverty." Prince responded to many of Melton's critiques by noting many of the city's struggles took decades to get into and will not be solved overnight. "We have to place these things in the proper context and anyone who voted for me four years ago under the premise that I was going to resolve all of these issues in three years, in my opinion, that within itself is a recipe for disappointment," Prince said. Gary residents will get another chance to hear from mayoral candidates on April 14 and 29. On April 14, mayoral candidates will discuss the city's compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. The event is being hosted by the disability rights agency Everybody Counts and will take place from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on the main floor of the Gary Public Library and Cultural Center, located at 220 W. Fifth Ave. The Hilltop Organized Citizens group will host a debate among the mayoral candidates April 29 at 3 p.m. in Indiana University Northwest's Bergland Auditorium, 3400 Broadway. The primary election is May 2. Gary residents can also early vote at the Public Library and Cultural Center. The winner of the Democratic contest will compete against Andrew Delano, who is unopposed in the GOP primary, in the Nov. 7 general election. PHOTOS: Prince touts progress in Gary in State of the City address Gary State of the City Gary State of the City Gary State of the City Gary State of the City Gary State of the City Gary State of the City Gary State of the City Gary State of the City Gary State of the City Gary State of the City In Farmington, New Mexico, police "mistakenly approached the wrong house" and when 52-year-old Robert Dotson appeared at the door with a handgun, they killed him. They claim to have announced themselves as police, but the man's wife reportedly opened fire on the intruders and only stopped when she realized they were, in fact, police. Dotson was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife was uninjured. New Mexico State Police said the Farmington police officers were not injured and will not be identified at this time. Body camera video of the police response is expected to be released in the coming days. "This is an extremely traumatic event," said Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe in a video statement. I hope he recovers soon. HOBART A 76-year-old man was found Wednesday floating deceased in Robinson Lake, the Hobart Police Department said. Police and dive teams responded to the area around 2 p.m. and pulled the body from the water. The man was identified by the Lake County coroner's office as Eugene Wells of Hobart. Hobart police said they do not believe there are any signs of foul play. Wells sustained no trauma to his body, the coroner's office said. His official manner of death is pending, but preliminary reports show it could have been a suicide. According to police, evidence in the area of the scene indicated Wells may have intended to end his own life. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources will be leading the investigation and Hobart police detectives will offer assistance if necessary, Hobart police said. Anyone who needs suicide or mental health crisis support or who has a loved one in crisis can connect with a trained counselor by calling, chatting or texting 988. VALPARAISO The Porter County Plan Commission voted unanimously to favor repealing and revising the countys ordinance regulating solar farms. The Board of Commissioners, which considers the Plan Commissions advice, will consider the recommendation at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Porter County Administration Building. The ordinance, passed in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, allows solar farms in agricultural areas and sets various requirements for them. A Plan Commission committee spent three hours working on recommendations on a new version of the ordinance but isnt done yet. I like what Im seeing. I think youve identified those potential problem areas, County Surveyor Kevin Breitzke said. County Councilman Greg Simms, D-3rd, said he made notes about points that werent brought up in that lengthy meeting following testimony at a public hearing Wednesday night. Sometimes we miss some things, he said. The committee will continue working on a new version of the ordinance. We might not all like it, but I think we can tolerate it, Simms said. Plan Commission member Bob Gilliana said the committee needs to research environmental concerns, type of panel to be used, impact on migratory birds and other wildlife, setbacks and landscaping requirements, impact on roads and residential structures, maximum noise level at residential structures, types of soils considered prime farmland and more. The committees work could be ready for Plan Commission approval by August, he said, although theres no set deadline. Its going to take time, and its going to take work, Plan Commission member Brian Damitz said. Board of Commissioners Vice President Barb Regnitz, R-Center, added, We need to have a pause so we can take our time. We dont want to have to be revising our solar ordinance every year. The committee needs to contact other counties and identify best practices, she said. Public comment included plenty of references to the proposed Malden Solar project in Morgan Township, although County Attorney Scott McClure made clear that the public hearing was on the ordinance itself and not any particular solar project or township. NextEra Energy began the process of seeking Porter County permits for the Malden Solar project on Tuesday, planning to fence in a total of 1,173 acres, Board of Commissioners President Jim Biggs, R-North, said. Morgan Township resident Larry Robbins said his internet research led him to believe a solar farm has 1,500 to 2,000 solar panels per acre. Thats over 2 million panels in a 2,000-acre solar farm, he said. Why are we in such a big hurry that we cant build a plant in our own country, produce permanent jobs? A solar farm creates some permanent jobs, but the immediate economic impact comes from the installation. Robbins said the United States ships coal to China and receives solar panels from there. Its just confusing to me why were doing it in the reverse of what we should be doing, he said. Daniel Straka, of Munster, represented the Indiana Land and Liberty Coalition, which supports private property rights for farmers and other landowners. The existing ordinance more than adequately balances interest of participating and nonparticipating landowners, he said. Straka gave the planners a guidebook of what works in communities across the state. Paula Brown, who lives in Morgan Township, saw complaints about Next Era Energys Dunns Bridge solar farm and went to check it out herself. Heavy equipment broke drain tiles and damaged roads, and NextEra has security patrolling 24/7 because of people shooting at solar panels, she said. We will be another Jasper County if this isnt stopped, she said. Matthew Johnson, NextEra Energys lead for the Malden Solar project, said the Dunns Bridge installation is still under construction. Resident John Paduch said he has been talking with others in the area of the proposed Malden Solar project. Nobody has answers. This is all brand new to us, said. He figures 378 homes are within a one-mile radius of the proposed solar farm. My concern is that all these inverters are going to be making noise, he said. Solar panels operate on DC current. The inverters switch the power to AC for use by the power grid. Johnson said the footprint of the Malden Solar proposal was shrunk by 400 acres. Now only four homes, rather than 38, are within 500 feet of it, he said. Elena Shook, who lives in the area, said property values could drop 15% based on proximity to a solar farm. People dont want to live next to a power plant, and thats exactly what this is, she said. Johnson offered studies that refute the ones Shook cited. Brianna Schroeder, an Indianapolis-based attorney, represents some of the landowners who have signed leases with NextEra Energy. She urged the county to respect their private property rights. Thats a bedrock principle, she said. Solar farms can help farmers keep the operation in the family even if operating the family farm skips a generation, she said. Photos: Severe weather impacting much of US BELFAST, Northern Ireland Peter Olphert was 14 when Irish Republican Army gunmen killed his father. Forty years later, he says it's time to set aside the past. Mark Thompson lost his brother to British Army bullets, another victim of "the Troubles" that wracked Northern Ireland for three decades. He thinks society can't move forward until it confronts unfinished business and holds some of those responsible to account. This month marks 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement largely ended bloodshed that left 3,600 people dead, some 50,000 wounded and thousands bereaved. Northern Ireland is observing the anniversary with a reunion of key peace process players and a visit from U.S. President Joe Biden. Deep divisions remain over the conflict's legacy making it hard for some of Northern Ireland's 1.9 million people to move past it. And Britain's exit from the European Union only complicated matters. "It is time, in my opinion, to draw a line in the sand and move forward," said Olphert, who recently retired after 30 years as a police officer the same job held by his father, John Olphert, who was shot dead by masked gunmen in 1983 in the family's shop. Olphert said it would have been "very easy" for him, as a grieving teenager, to join one of the pro-British loyalist militias waging war against Irish republican militants in a conflict that also drew in the British military. "There was that invitation there, let's just say, that I should follow that certain path and get revenge," he said. "But that was never for me. The more you perpetuate what happened in the past, the more generations are going to have that bitterness." But Thompson argues that moving on is not so simple and moving on without fully grappling with the past could inadvertently set the stage for more conflict. After his brother Peter was shot dead by undercover British soldiers in Belfast in 1990, he co-founded Relatives for Justice, a group that campaigns to uncover the truth about killings involving U.K. security forces, for which there have been few prosecutions. "To say that we draw a line under that means that we don't learn the lessons of it," Thompson said. "The lesson of any society emerging from conflict is you can't sweep it under the carpet because it really reinvigorates some of the grievances that lead to further conflict." Ending the Troubles meant balancing competing identities in Northern Ireland, which remained in the United Kingdom when the rest of Ireland won independence a century ago. Irish nationalists in the north most of them Catholic seek union with the Republic of Ireland, while largely Protestant unionists want to stay part of the U.K. The Good Friday Agreement, struck on April 10, 1998, after almost two years of U.S.-backed talks, committed armed groups to stop fighting, ended direct British rule and set up a Northern Ireland legislature and government with power shared between unionist and nationalist parties. The peace accord succeeded far better than many expected, despite occasional attacks by dissident armed groups that last month prompted U.K. authorities to raise Northern Ireland's terrorism threat level to "severe." During the Troubles, downtown Belfast was a ghost town at night, surrounded by a security ring of steel. Now busy pubs, hip cafes and microbreweries dot the Victorian streets. A gleaming new campus for Ulster University is helping to revive the scarred city center. "It's a hugely different place now," said Steve Malone, who leads walking tours focused on Belfast's bloody past. "Even in the physical infrastructure. We now have a transport system that connects the western, Catholic-dominated side of the city with the eastern, Protestant-dominated side. That did not happen during the conflict." Katy Hayward, professor of political sociology at Queen's University Belfast, said one goal of the peace agreement has been neglected: reconciliation. She said the deal placed emphasis on releasing prisoners jailed for taking part in the conflict and reintegrating them into society. As a result, former militants "remain powerful and influential" in their communities. A U.K. government plan to end prosecutions of militants and British soldiers for alleged crimes during the Troubles would further bury hopes of holding perpetrators to account. It has been met with widespread opposition. Fortified 25-foot-tall "peace walls" still separate some nationalist and unionist neighborhoods in Belfast. Rival murals of masked IRA fighters and gun-toting loyalist militants adorn streets on either side. The Northern Ireland Assembly has not sat for more than a year, after the main unionist party pulled out of the government to protest new trade rules for Northern Ireland brought in after Brexit. Some argue that the power-sharing structure set up by the peace accord no longer works in a changing Northern Ireland, where more than 40% of people reject the old sectarian labels. Catholics now outnumber Protestants for the first time, and the question of whether in the long run Northern Ireland will remain part of the U.K. or join the south remains unresolved. The Good Friday Agreement authorizes a referendum on Irish unification if polls ever indicate it would likely pass. Photos: A look back at 'the Troubles' in Northern Ireland In a pivotal scene in the movie, a character based on a real-life prosecutor tells a panel of judges that the trial can help forge a peace based on justice and memorializing the atrocities. This is our opportunity, he says. It may be our last. Rather than an end, those words, taken from the real closing arguments, were a beginning. To this day, in courtrooms across Argentina, roughly 180 former military officials, police officers and civilians are being prosecuted for crimes against humanity. With more than 300 open investigations and 14 trials, the process is permanently alive, said Estela de Carlotto, the president of Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo, a human rights organization started by women searching for their grandchildren who were born in captivity to political prisoners and then given to other families. Some investigations are focused on crimes committed in clandestine detention centers where hundreds of people were tortured and killed. In one case, a former marine captain is on trial for orchestrating the illegal adoption of his brothers daughter, who was born in a detention center and raised by another member of the military. Her parents are still missing. As the years passed, plenty of things changed, but Bo Ne Houston remained. I continually made excuses to find my way back. Even if I didnt need to drive all the way down Bellaire for daikon, I did anyway. Maybe I was flying out of town for a few months, but I wanted butter and pate in the freezer when I got home. It would need only a warm Vietnamese baguette for immediate bliss. Bo ne translates to dodging beef, and its a dish emblematic of Vietnamese cuisines expansiveness. Marinated meat is cooked in a special cast-iron pan alongside fried eggs and served with herbs, baguette, pate and butter. Its usually served for breakfast, alongside a salad and an assortment of condiments, but there are as many ways to partake in bo ne as there are diners to order it. You could work through each component individually, or you could let the egg yolk seep toward your beef while you sop up everything with your bread. Or if youre anything like me, you could opt for a sort of sandwich, combining every ingredient at hand, lodging them into your bread and washing it all down with iced coffee afterward (an A-1 experience). If youd like a morning of decadence, you can prep a spread just for yourself. If youre opting for deliciousness, why not lean all the way in? This affinity for bo ne goes a long way for me. When Im away from Houston, the dish is one of the first things Ill look for. And so Ive had variations in Denmark (on a glossy patio, while Clairo played overhead) and Alabama (at an otherwise-abandoned strip mall across from a Walmart) and, for a few months one year, at a tiny enclave in Tokyos Shimokitazawa neighborhood (where an obliging chef served it whenever I passed through). But if youre in Space City, there are myriad bo ne opportunities. This wasnt always the case in the early 1970s, there were a little more than a hundred Vietnamese folks in Houston. After the federal government relocated Vietnamese refugees around the United States, Houston had an influx of thousands of people. The citys economy was growing, and the climate was warm, making it an attractive place to relocate. By the 1980s, Houstons Vietnamese population was second stateside only to the greater Los Angeles area. And well into the early 2000s, this population continued to grow, much of it concentrated on the citys southwest side. I heard that two million dollars worth of advertising had been canceled, Ms. Sheraton recalled in her memoir. She approached the executive editor. I asked Abe Rosenthal if that was true. He said, Thats none of your business. It was a great story. Negative reviews by Ms. Sheraton generated some lawsuits, and she occasionally received angry letters from restaurateurs and diners. But they were far outnumbered by missives from those who liked her straightforward judgments. Some said her vivid culinary descriptions evoked childhood memories of kitchens and holiday dinner tables, or of travels to exotic lands. For Times readers on Nov. 15, 1981, Ms. Sheraton caught the moods of open markets from Africa to Asia: In Calcutta, graceful women in silken saris are colorful competition for the pyramided cones of earth-toned spices they sell in the markets. The Indian women provide a sharp contrast to the workmen in the Tsukiji wholesale fish market in Tokyo, who can be seen taking naps on the concrete platforms at 2 or 3 in the morning, curled up against giant sharks that look no less menacing for being dead. Vendors in the souks of Marrakesh, selling lemons, mint, coriander, grilled meat and nougat candy, look as if they had stepped out of biblical times. Ms. Sheraton often ate four meals a day, at venues ranging from pushcarts to palatial restaurants. But she usually chose little-known places with good food and dined with a few quickly recruited colleagues or friends. She paid for meals in cash. She never took notes in a restaurant but had a remarkable memory for flavors, aromas, service and ambience. After years of using a typewriter, she resisted computers for a time, dictating reviews by phone, as her civilized world turned digital. Jane LaTour, a union activist and writer who chronicled the lives of women in traditionally male labor unions, documenting their battles with both their employers and their unions, died on Monday in the Bronx. She was 76. Her husband, Russell Smith, said her death, in hospice care at Calvary Hospital, was caused by lung cancer that had spread to other organs. Working as unions were declining in strength, Ms. LaTour often criticized labor leaders, whom she accused of not representing the needs of their rank and file. She was the author of the 2008 book Sisters in the Brotherhoods: Working Women Organizing for Equality in New York City, and her writing won several journalism awards. She also taught, managed labor history archives, helped create maps of labor history sites in New York City and State, and ran a nonprofit program supporting democratic reforms within unions. But judges have significant power over defendants who appear before them, and Justice Merchan would have several means of disciplining Mr. Trump, if he deems it necessary. I am sure Justice Merchan wants to avoid a real confrontation, if that is humanly possible, but he will want to assert the authority of the court, said Michael J. Obus, a judge who served in State Supreme Court for more than two decades and who has known Justice Merchan for about 14 years. Though judges often act on their own accord, they sometimes exercise their powers over a defendant after prosecutors ask them to do so. On Tuesday, one of the prosecutors, Catherine McCaw, said that her team was in talks with Mr. Trumps lawyers over a draft protective order that would limit how the former president uses evidence and other case material shared with his lawyers. Prosecutors are seeking to bar him from reviewing the material without his lawyers present, and from sharing the material with third parties, including the press or his social-media following. If he were to violate such an order, he could be held in contempt of court, Ms. McCaw said. But Mr. Trumps defense lawyers have since decided that theyre going to oppose the proposed order, and the matter likely will be subject to litigation, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. SAN FRANCISCO A senior lawyer at Twitter submitted his resignation on Thursday, four people familiar with the matter said, becoming the latest in a string of executives to leave the company since Elon Musk took it over nearly six months ago. The lawyer, Christian Dowell, rose to the top of Twitters legal department in recent months after the companys legal leaders resigned or were fired by Mr. Musk. Mr. Dowell had been intimately involved in Twitters recent negotiations with the Federal Trade Commission, two people familiar with those discussions said. The F.T.C., which currently has oversight over Twitter, is looking into a former executives claims that the company has had security problems. The commission accelerated its inquiry after the sudden resignations of three Twitter executives responsible for privacy, security and compliance. They departed Twitter in November, shortly after Mr. Musk acquired the company. The agencys investigation into Twitter has intensified in recent months, and is scrutinizing whether the company has the resources to uphold its privacy promises after mass layoffs and resignations. This April, in New York, when the rains have come and the winds have calmed and the cherry trees and hyacinths have hustled into bloom, theatergoers might find themselves making a pilgrimage to the Brooklyn Academy of Musics Harvey Theater, for the New York premiere of The Wife of Willesden, the novelist Zadie Smiths adaptation of a lusty wedge of Geoffrey Chaucers The Canterbury Tales. And despite the punch and panache of the plays language, they might find themselves going nowhere. As literary marriages go, one between Smith (White Teeth, On Beauty, Swing Time) and Chaucer, is in theory, of true minds. Though separated by some 600 years, both are keen stylists, eager comedians and dyed-in-the-worsted-wool humanists with a consuming interest in the varieties of emotion and experience. But marriage is hard and somehow Smiths rendering presented by BAM in association with A.R.T. never quickens into life. The Wife of Willesden, Smiths first play, is bookish bed death. Smith, aided by the director Indhu Rubasingham, has updated the action to the present and the setting a few miles north, from a South London tavern to a pub on the Kilburn High Road. (Rubasingham is the artistic director of Kilburns Kiln Theater, where the play debuted in 2021.) In Robert Joness design, the pub expands across the whole stage floor with lamps and lanterns flickering high above. Chaucers text, even unfinished, extends to 29 pilgrims and a host. Here the cast runs to just 10, though audience members seated onstage at wooden tables, swell those numbers. A prologue delivered by a character identified as Author (Jessica Murrain, charming in Smith drag), explains the circumstances. These pilgrims arent religious. (Unless drinking is your religion?) Instead, they are locals, out for a beer and a laugh and committed to a lock-in, a way to keep the party going long after closing time. Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Press release Long-standing human rights concerns endure in Balochistan HRCP releases fact-finding report Lahore, 7 April 2023. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) notes with considerable alarm that Balochistan faces mounting public frustration pertaining to enforced disappearances, economic exclusion, curbs on press freedom, misgovernance and allegations of political manipulation by the establishment. A fact-finding mission led by HRCP in October 2022 has observed a palpable sense of anger among ordinary citizens, many of whom went so far as to refer to Balochistan as a colony of the state during meetings with the organisation. The mission comprised senior journalist and HRCP treasurer Husain Naqi, vice-chair HRCP Balochistan Habib Tahir, staff members Maheen Pracha, Fareed Shahwani and Ghani Parwaz, and journalist Akbar Notezai. The team spoke to a wide range of civil society members, including human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, and members of the fisherfolk community, as well as political leaders and members of the administration in Gwadar, Turbat, Panjgur, and Quetta. The mission is concerned at the states widespread use of enforced disappearances to muzzle dissent, a grievance echoed in numerous conversations. This discontent has been compounded by the extensive presence of paramilitary check-posts, which citizens say has cultivated a climate of fear, particularly in Makran. Additionally, in the midst of a serious economic downturn, the resource-rich province continues to be deprived of its fair share of revenues from large development projects. The mission also observed that the absence of a healthy legal trading ecosystem between Balochistan and neighbouring countries has exacerbated poverty levels in the province. Among other recommendations, the mission calls for an immediate halt to unwarranted interference in Balochistans political affairs by the establishment, accountability for perpetrators of enforced disappearances and legislation by the Balochistan Assembly to protect the security and independence of the provinces media professionals. The mission strongly feels that the Haq Do Tehreeks long-standing demands for basic amenities must be met, while any ongoing or planned projects under CPEC should not impinge on the Gwadar fisherfolk communitys source of livelihood. The mission also believes that the legitimate grievances of the Pashtun population, particularly those around unequal representation in the provincial legislature, must be given a fair hearing by all political stakeholders. Given the devastating impact of the floods in parts of Balochistan, the mission has also underscored the need for a consistent and empowered local government able to develop early warning systems, evacuation plans and community sanctuaries with stockpiles of emergency supplies in conjunction with the PDMA. Hina Jilani Chairperson The report can be accessed here. Dispensary applicants face a bumpy road Getting a retail cannabis license isn't easy, and things don't get much easier once you've got one. From securing real estate to getting simple procedural questions answered, those in the process of opening licensed retail dispensaries are having a tough time. The public comment period following Office of Cannabis Management Control Board meetings is often the only outlet cannabis dispensary applicants have to engage OCM board members, so they are often a window into the frustration of applicants and licensees who have waded through months of bureaucracy and what has often been described as a bungled rollout of legal cannabis sales. It was no different at Monday's meeting, where 99 new retail licenses were awarded in the state. Speakers took their opportunity to plead for clarity, transparency and expediency in the long and bumpy road toward Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary licensing. Several people spoke about the difficulty finding suitable real estate to locate their dispensaries once they finally had licensing in hand. "My team and I are finding it difficult to secure locations with landlords that are comfortable with having cannabis dispensaries as tenants," said Richard Liriano. The Office of Cannabis Management had said dispensary licensees would have to use real estate developed by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, and that it would match licensees with locations. But, without having locations secured in time for licensing, it changed that requirement and told licensees to secure their own spaces. That has been problematic, because many landlords do not want to lease to occupants whose trade is still federally illegal. Lack of feedback Other than an incorrectly addressed form email, David Nicponski said he had not received any feedback about his application from the time he submitted it in September until Thursday, when he was alerted to Monday's licensing meeting. "Waiting around for six months with no indication of any kinds of progress is incredibly stressful for applicants and, I believe, unnecessarily so," he said. "Even minimal progress reporting would go a long way 'Your application has been scored, your application is number 37 in line in your geographic region.' Any of these would be a godsend for the folks who are nervously waiting to learn how their future is going to change," he said. Because of the nature of the public comment period, board members can't answer questions or make comments, but that doesn't stop commenters from asking lists of questions they can't get answered elsewhere. Applicants and licensees said having the floor at such meetings often feels like the only way to know their voices are heard amid months of discouragement and uncertainty. Osbert Orduna, another retail cannabis licensee, outlined his desperation attempts to locate a store in Queens amid the state's bureaucracy and location regulations. By the end, he resorted to begging for aid for himself and fellow licensees. "We need your help, OCM. We have to make this work," he said. Samantha Christmann Want to know more? Three stories to catch you up: Welcome to Buffalo Next. This newsletter from The Buffalo News will bring you the latest coverage on the changing Buffalo Niagara economy from real estate to health care to startups. Read more at BuffaloNext.com. Two new retail concepts open in Lancaster and Derby Owners are celebrating grand openings at two new retail concepts in Erie County. Emily's Closet will cut the ribbon on its new store April 28. The upscale consignment boutique is situated in the heart of the Village of Lancaster, 19 W. Main St. Owner Lori Hannon, a passionate shopper and bargain hunter, named the clothing resale shop after her daughter Emily. Shoppers will find new and gently used designer clothing at deeply discounted prices. Thee Mercantile is a home decor and gift store at 7065 Erie Road in Derby. A store-within-a-store, it's located inside Evans Ace Hardware. The hardware store constructed an addition to accommodate the retailer. THE LATEST A virtual reality center will help Buffalo Bills season ticket holders pick their seats in a new stadium. A new Fruit Belt community health center is a collaborative effort. New attractions are coming to Riverworks. A look at the trends behind the merger of Trocaire College and Medaille University. How the Bills stadium deal will impact contractors. Lackawanna picked a developer for an Abbott Road property. The Life Storage deal includes big penalties if it falls apart. A long-delayed housing project in Clarence finally is moving forward. A new senior housing complex opened in Buffalo. Life Storage agreed to be a acquired in a $12.7 billion deal. Imagine Staffing made a deal. Tesla's solar roof hasn't been selling. Controversial plans by developer Douglas Jemal to renovate a historic building won approval. The developer of the Piano Keys project wants tax breaks. A local workforce development program is getting a $1 million grant. A German company plans to move into a vacant factory in Falconer. The Salvation Army's Buffalo expansion project is expanding. The new owners of the Lenhart Hotel on Chautauqua Lake have big plans for the historic inn. The Buffalo Niagara region's unemployment rate took an unusual turn during February. Buffalo Niagara tax filers could get an extension until May 15, but you'll have to work for it. ICYMI Five reads from Buffalo Next: 1. Pat Roche determined to keep Moog flying high: The new CEO of the Elma-based manufacturer took over leadership of the company in February. 2. Buffalo in spotlight as Starbucks' labor practices scrutinized: The labor movement's Buffalo connections came up frequently in Howard Schultz's testimony to a Senate committee. 3. $100 million in donations later, First Niagara Foundation signing off: The foundation long outlasted the bank from which it took its name. 4. Innovation driving growth at Rich Products: The Buffalo-based food products company is targeting $6 billion in revenues by 2025. 5. Three years after Covid-19 sent workers home, employers walk a fine line bringing them back: Local employers are looking for ways to bring employees back more often, to encourage in-person collaboration. The Buffalo Next team gives you the big picture on the regions economic revitalization. Email tips to buffalonext@buffnews.com or reach Buffalo Next Editor David Robinson at 716-849-4435. Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up to get the latest in your inbox five days a week. The Tennessee House voted on Thursday to expel two Democrats one week after they interrupted debate by leading protesters in a call for stricter gun laws in the wake of a shooting that left six dead at a Christian school. The extraordinary punitive action against the Democrats Representatives Justin Jones and Justin J. Pearson for an act of protest marks just the third time since the Civil War era that the Tennessee House has expelled a lawmaker from its ranks and threatens to further inflame the partisan rancor within a bitterly divided state. An effort to expel a third Democrat, Representative Gloria Johnson, who had stood by the two men in the front of the chamber and joined in the chants during the protest, fell short by one vote. The expulsions of two of the states youngest Black representatives, carried out before lawmakers were scheduled to leave for the Easter weekend, were a stunning culmination to a week that saw the conclusion of the funerals for the six killed in the shooting, hundreds of students and teachers walk out of school to protest at the General Assembly and a vitriolic debate about democracy in the state. In Juan de Pareja: Afro-Hispanic Painter, a show of concentrated insight now on view in the Mets Lehman wing, we at last come to grips with one of the first European artists of African descent whose works survive today. Parejas paintings, hanging alongside Velazquezs, are fine if not remarkable specimens of the later Spanish Baroque, though Ive got to be fair: In Velazquezs company, just about anyone else will look second-tier. (Quietly enough, Juan de Pareja is also the largest exhibition of paintings by Velazquez to appear in New York in 20 years, with 10 canvases painted or probably painted by his hand.) But the show is playing for bigger stakes than a simple rediscovery of Pareja as painter. Its about how things get made, and who gets to make them; about freedom and violence, creative labor and physical labor, the building blocks of culture we miss when we fixate on genius. In a similar way to Posing Modernity/Le Modele Noir, the landmark exhibitions of 2018 and 2019 on Black models in French painting, Juan de Pareja does its most radical work by simply unearthing the facts. Who worked for whom. Under what conditions. In what society. Some of its revelations were hidden deep in the archive, such as baptism records of children enslaved by the Velazquez family. Other facts, more embarrassingly for us, hid in plain sight on the walls of the Prado. The museum in Madrid lent two of the five Parejas here: The Calling of Saint Matthew (1661), whose bright tones renounce Velazquezs shadows, and The Baptism of Christ (1667), a thronging tableau of saints, angels and lambs. Another 18 paintings, attributed to Pareja with greater or lesser firmness, appear in the catalog. In a masterstroke of historical framing, the organizers David Pullins, an associate curator in the Mets European painting department, and Vanessa K. Valdes, a provost and professor at City College have interwoven their research with another voice: that of Arturo Schomburg, the Puerto Rican intellectual who sought out Pareja 100 years ago, when other Americans barely bothered. Schomburgs writings on Afro-Hispanic culture ripple through the wall texts; photographs he took in Seville and Madrid spotlight the multicultural exchanges of Spains Golden Age. By any measure, a Florence B. Price renaissance is well underway. Seven decades since her death, and nine since the groundbreaking premiere of her Symphony in E minor, her luminous music is enrapturing audiences worldwide. Most recently, the London-based Chineke! Orchestra highlighted that symphony on its debut North American tour, which has included stops at Lincoln Center and Jordan Hall in Boston, where Price herself performed as a New England Conservatory pupil. She has amassed a recorded catalog that includes recent Grammy Award-winning albums by the Philadelphia Orchestra and the New York Youth Symphony. This excitement stems from a half-century of scholarly and artistic work built on foundations laid by the late musicologists Barbara Garvey Jackson and Rae Linda Brown. A fluke discovery of dozens of Prices unpublished scores at her abandoned Illinois summer home in 2009, which was then publicized in 2018, added significant momentum that has grown unabated since. While the explosion of attention is welcome, it has far outpaced a careful assessment of the historical record that may reshape how we view Price and her world. Brown, the leading authority on Price, died in 2017, before she could fully integrate the new discoveries into her magisterial biography that was published in 2020. But, knowing that there was still a great deal more to uncover, she remarked in a 2015 speech, It is for the next generation of music scholars to tell the rest of the story. As we take up the task of writing a new Price biography that draws on materials that were once lost, we have responded to Browns invitation by starting at the beginning. Here are just a few of the revelations that have led us to rethink what we know of Price, her music and the world she inhabited. Mario de Andrades novel Macunaima: The Hero With No Character follows a shape-shifting, rule-flouting, race-switching trickster as he roams the vast nation of Brazil, meeting historical characters, folkloric figures, and outrageously satirized stereotypes along the way. Rich with words and references from Indigenous and Afro-Brazilian cultures, the modernist novel was hailed as a classic upon its publication in 1928, and has long been seen as an allegory for Brazils unique cultural blend. Faced with criticism of the books uncredited reliance on anthropological research, Andrade offered up, in an open letter, a typically insouciant response: I copied Brazil. Some scholars have deemed the books complexity virtually untranslatable but this week, New Directions published a new translation of Macunaima by Katrina Dodson that aims to transport Andrades idiosyncratic prose into English. Over six years of research, Dodson familiarized herself with every aspect of the novel. She chased down obscure flora and fauna on two trips to the Amazon, waded through reams of critical commentary, immersed herself in Andrades archives in Sao Paulo and discussed the books continued relevance with contemporary Brazilians. While she found that for some readers the book continues to represent the endless and unfinished national spirit of Brazil, she also met many Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous artists who have set out to reclaim the folkloric roots that Andrade drew on. A fight has erupted in several states between Republican lawmakers and locally elected Democrats over how to respond to crime. Democratic district attorneys (often serving cities with many Black and Latino voters) say they are prioritizing serious crimes. In response, Republicans (often representing mostly white and rural areas) have accused them of ignoring criminal law and are making it easier to remove them from office. Today, Ill explain whats happening and why it matters. The policy fight Since 2015, dozens of prosecutors promising progressive reforms have taken office across the country. They vowed to send fewer people to prison and reduce the harms to low-income communities that are associated with high incarceration rates. To achieve that goal, many of these prosecutors said they would use the discretion the law generally allows them to decline to charge categories of crimes, like low-level marijuana offenses. About 90 prosecutors, out of more than 2,000 nationwide, also pledged not to prosecute violations of abortion bans. Many of these prosecutors have been re-elected, a sign of sustained voter support. At a cotton gin in the San Joaquin Valley, in California, a boxy machine helps to spray a fine mist containing billions of molecules of DNA onto freshly cleaned Pima cotton. That DNA will act as a kind of minuscule bar code, nestling amid the puffy fibers as they are shuttled to factories in India. There, the cotton will be spun into yarn and woven into bedsheets, before landing on the shelves of Costco stores in the United States. At any time, Costco can test for the DNAs presence to ensure that its American-grown cotton hasnt been replaced with cheaper materials like cotton from the Xinjiang region of China, which is banned in the United States because of its ties to forced labor. Amid growing concern about opacity and abuses in global supply chains, companies and government officials are increasingly turning to technologies like DNA tracking, artificial intelligence and blockchains to try to trace raw materials from the source to the store. Companies in the United States are now subject to new rules that require firms to prove their goods are made without forced labor, or face having them seized at the border. U.S. customs officials said in March that they had already detained nearly a billion dollars worth of shipments coming into the United States that were suspected of having some ties to Xinjiang. Products from the region have been banned since last June. The exodus began roughly a year ago, in the first days of Russias invasion of Ukraine. Western news organizations, confronting a harsh crackdown on free speech by President Vladimir V. Putin, pulled correspondents from Moscow and suspended their news gathering in Russia. The risk to journalists, in a country where describing a war as a war was suddenly a crime, was too great. Some outlets, like the BBC, quickly resumed their work in the country; others, like Bloomberg News, never returned. Newspapers that once maintained permanent Moscow bureaus began rotating correspondents in and out from safer posts like Berlin and Dubai. Still, even under challenging circumstances, Western correspondents were hopeful that their work could continue. That hope was shattered last week by the arrest of Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter who is believed to be the first American reporter held on spying charges in Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union. The Journal rejects the claims against Mr. Gershkovich, 31, a son of Soviet Jewish emigres, and the Biden administration has lobbied for his release. Mr. Gershkovich was formally charged with espionage on Friday, according to Russian state media. The Tass news agency, citing an unidentified law enforcement source, also said he had denied the accusations. Canva, a design software maker, has 3,500 employees across eight offices worldwide. If someone tries to schedule a meeting on Wednesday, the companys designated no-meeting day, an auto decline comes with a note that says that we are trying to adopt this policy for mental health and productivity, said Jennie Rogerson, Canvas global head of people, who is based in Sydney, Australia. The company cherishes this policy so much I use Wednesdays to get through my emails, Ms. Rogerson said, adding that there is nothing better than inbox zero it is experimenting with entire weeks, called focus weeks, when nonessential meetings are canceled. Its not easy to carry out something like this, Ms. Rogerson said. For example, employees are in different time zones. Having meeting-free Wednesday means one more day that Australia and the U.S. dont get to meet, and with the time zone shifting, the amount of hours people can meet is already minimal, she said. Were trying to think through this. Another problem is that other workdays can be busier than they otherwise would. You know when you have a game of Tetris and things get wild? Ms. Rogerson asked. That is what my calendar looks like with the exception of no-meeting Wednesday. With the same attention to granular detail, she walked readers through her precise instructions for making one of her favorite dishes, fried eggs from the size of the eggs to the preferred type of pan to the proper way of eating them: Some break yolks over whites, a method as unattractive as another in which whites are eaten first and then whole yolks are consumed intact. The neatest and most efficient method is to place the eggs over lightly buttered toast, so the yolk can be absorbed as it is cut and can be eaten neatly with fork and knife. Eggs-over-easy seem desirable only when a fried-egg sandwich is the ultimate goal, but that is another subject for another time. Ms. Sheraton loved food markets of all kinds. In this 1981 survey of markets around the world, she reveled in watching the people who work and shop in them: For a newcomer to a city, food markets offer a revealing glimpse of the inhabitants going about the routine of daily life. Intent on the buying and selling at hand, they lose outward reserve, and the careful observer notes whether there is bargaining, as in vegetable markets along the Mediterranean, or if prices are fixed, as in Northern Europe. There may be a sense of distrust between customers and vendors, as evidenced by shoppers who choose each apple and bunch of grapes carefully, look fish squarely in the eye and then monitor the weighing, alert for a heavy thumb on the scale. And how carefully do they count their change? As The Timess restaurant critic from 1976 to 1983, she was keenly aware of the pitfalls of her profession. A 1981 review lavished four stars on Vienna 79, an Upper East Side restaurant yet lamented the effect such a rating can have: Although it seems quite natural that a negative review can damage a restaurant, it may be surprising to learn that a rave sometimes does a kind of damage all its own. Whether because of greed or inexperience, a restaurateur who gets a three-star or four-star rating, may pack the house beyond the capacities and temperaments of its kitchen and dining-room staff. The inevitable result of such action is poor food and rude or careless service, and a spate of justified complaints. Ms. Sheraton also leveled with readers about her own biases, as in this 1976 restaurant review that awarded four stars, the papers top rating, to the Palm, a classic New York steakhouse: By now, it should be obvious which camp I am in when it comes to Palm: mine is an adoration based on 20 years of ecstatic gorging, and if the fried shrimp sometimes taste of iodine and the waiter occasionally brings me clams on the half shells when I have ordered them garlicky and arreganata, it only proves that extraordinary does not mean perfect. She did not always treat classics with reverence. From her 1976 review of Tavern on the Green: There were other disasters here, among them a pasty veal chop en chemise, an esthetically offensive creation since a delicate crepe should never enrobe anything as heavy and as solid as a chop. Charcoaled corn was another dreadful conceptoverboiled corn that appeared to have been merely rolled in ashes. There was creamed spinach that might have been Gerbers, and hashed brown potatoes were burned black at both dinners. Ms. Sheratons trove of reviews, stretching back to the 1970s, offers an armchair history of New York restaurants. In 1977, she gave three stars to an East Harlem establishment that went on to become the archetypal place-you-cant-get-into: Raos, a tiny, unprepossessing but excellent Italian restaurant improbably situated at the corner of Pleasant Avenue and East 114th Street, just behind Benjamin Franklin High School in one of the citys most brokendown and devastated neighborhoods, is the sort of place every reviewer longs to come upon. It is, in every sense, a find. Set a few steps down in an otherwise ramshackle building, Raos looks, at first glance, like little more than a prosperous neighborhood bar, which it is in part, servicing the few Italian families still living along the more sprucedup streets this area. Long after her days as a critic, she kept up on new developments in dining though this 2011 piece on New Nordic cuisine came with the caveat that in food, few things are truly new: Dr. Colin McCord, a surgeon credited with saving countless lives by championing a draconian ban on smoking in New York City and limits on trans fats in processed foods, galvanizing improved health care for Black men in Harlem, and improving maternal and child health globally, died on March 11 at his home in Oxford, England. He was 94. His son, Andy, said the cause was congestive heart failure. Dr. McCord, who was known as Coke, trained lay people as paraprofessional doctors and surgeons in Mozambique and other African nations decimated by the departure of medical personnel; proved the efficacy of oral rehydration to save infants stricken with diarrhea in India and Bangladesh; and helped reduce birthrates in Bangladesh by teaching women to deliver advice on contraception and reproductive health. Those international initiatives probably spared millions of lives. He also exercised a profound impact on public conduct and health policy in New York City. Dr. McCord successfully lobbied for a ban on smoking in workplaces, restaurants and bars while he was an assistant health commissioner in Mayor Michael R. Bloombergs administration. The ban, which took effect in 2003, was later expanded and replicated in jurisdictions around the world. New York had banned smoking in most restaurants in 1995, but the city continued to allow smoking in bars and the bar areas of restaurants. As the son of chain smokers who both died of cancer, Dr. McCord described himself as the heaviest secondhand smoker in New York City. When Public Storage made an unsolicited bid to buy Life Storage late last year, it forced the Amherst self storage company to see if there were other suitors willing to pay more. It turns out, there was one. Utah-based Extra Space Storage agreed last week to acquire Life Storage for $12.7 billion. It was a better offer than Public Storage's unsolicited bid and it will create the nation's largest self storage company, with a market share of around 13%. The Extra Space offer is 32% higher than Life Storage's share price before Public Storage launched its bid. "The shareholders of Life Storage are the biggest winners in the deal because of the substantial acquisition premium and the benefits of becoming a part of the biggest portfolio owner in an industry where scale is extremely important," said Morningstar analyst Suryansh Sharma. Scale is important because the self storage industry is so highly fragmented, dominated by mom-and-pop operators. If the deal closes as planned by the end of June, Public Storage will be the nation's No. 2 self storage firm with a 10% market share and the next three biggest competitors each will have a market share of about 4%. Milkshake and Pickles are reluctant travelers. So when Patience Warren needed to take the two elderly cats on a 12-hour drive in February, she was hoping to get some pharmaceutical assistance, especially for Pickles, a petite gray tabby with a history of severe motion sickness. The dilemma: Taking Pickles to the vet typically triggered the very distress Ms. Warren was hoping to avoid. Within like a minute of being put into her carrier and put into the car, she would usually vomit or lose her bowels, said Ms. Warren, a political researcher in Missouri. She would also just cower and be really scared and meow. And I didnt want to put her through that stress. Over the course of the pandemic, Ms. Warren had grown accustomed to having her own health needs met virtually, seeing a doctor, therapist and nutritionist online. She wondered whether there were veterinarians who might prescribe anti-anxiety and motion sickness medications over a video call. When she searched online, she was surprised to discover numerous options. Exile Rent it for free on the Goethe-Instituts website. Its not necessarily because youre a foreigner maybe they dislike you as a person, Nora, the German wife of Kosovan immigrant Xhafer (Misel Maticevic), says in Visar Morinas drama, after her husband relates his feeling of being ostracized at his job. For anyone whos ever experienced racist microaggressions, that statement will cut deep. Everyday bigotry thrives by turning the political into the personal, by making you wonder: Is it society, or is it just me? Exile builds a taut thriller around this uncertainty. Xhafer comes home one day to find a dead rat hanging from his door. Already driven up the wall by problems at work he is often mistaken for a Croatian; he seems to be routinely left off mailing lists he becomes convinced that its the doing of a xenophobic colleague. Whether Xhafer is paranoid and deluded or genuinely being persecuted is the films central mystery, and it brings to light both the real wounds of microaggressions and the ways in which they can be weaponized even by those who suffer their brunt. That Xhafer is treated as an outsider is evident, but his dismissive interactions with a Kosovan cleaning woman at work and colleagues struggling with mental health issues drive home his blinkered self-pity, his indignant indifference to those worse off than him. One of the sharpest films Ive seen about the immigrant experience in some time, Exile dramatizes Toni Morrisons famous assertion: The very serious function of racism is distraction. Another World Stream it on Mubi. Over the past year, the writer-director Saim Sadiq has garnered a series of unprecedented accolades for Pakistani cinema. Last May, his debut film, Joyland, out Friday, became the first production from Pakistan to compete in the official selection at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the jury prize in the Un Certain Regard sidebar. It was also the first entry from the country to be shortlisted for the best international feature film Oscar. And just last month, it emerged as the first Pakistani title to win at the Film Independent Spirit Awards in the same category. The project also counts among its executive producers the Nobel Peace Prize recipient Malala Yousafzai, the Oscar-winning British Pakistani actor Riz Ahmed and the Iranian American director Ramin Bahrani. But despite this international recognition and notable support, Joyland, which features characters defying traditional binary gender norms, remains banned in Sadiqs hometown of Lahore, and in the entire Punjab Province, which houses the majority of Pakistans cinemas and about half of the Islamic nations entire population. Theres no requirement to come back, Magaro said. A lot of these people go on and make a lot more money doing other jobs. But the actor said that there was a reason people return. At the heart of it is Kelly and that team and that camaraderie and that family atmosphere she creates. Reichardt works with small budgets and often in and around Portland, Ore., telling intimate stories that often focus on outsiders and the minutiae of life, whether shes making a movie set in a fur trapping community in the 19th century or at an art school in the present. Showing Up is arguably her lightest film yet, a funny exploration of the quotidian struggles of being an artist. The directors resources have grown since she made Wendy and Lucy (2008) her first collaboration with Williams but not by much. Reichardt remembered the actress, who had recently received her first Oscar nomination, sitting on an apple box on the side of the road during the filming of Wendy. We had nothing, Reichardt said. She also explained that, on Night Moves, Eisenberg and Dakota Fanning helped push a car out of a ditch and lugged equipment around with the rest of the crew. You really need to be the kind of person who wants to pitch in and who doesnt mind that there arent walls between people and that you might be asked to drive yourself to work, Williams said. Over the years Reichardt has recruited big name stars including Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart and Laura Dern, but she has said that plenty of people still say no to her. Acting in a Reichardt movie is not for everyone, she herself admitted. In the summer of 2020, Niloufar Bahadorifar, an expatriate Iranian in California, received a message from someone in her home country asking her to send money to the PayPal account of a person in Manhattan. Ms. Bahadorifar passed along $670 and forwarded proof of the transaction to Iran. The payment may have seemed unremarkable, but federal prosecutors have said it was part of an audacious plot to kidnap an Iranian-born journalist who fled the authoritarian government in Tehran in 2009 and had been living in New York City. Iranian operatives employed private investigators in the United States who were unaware of the plan but spied on the journalist, Masih Alinejad, even setting up a live, high-definition video feed of her home, the prosecutors said. Ms. Bahadorifars payment went to one of those investigators. She was not accused of taking part in the kidnapping conspiracy, but pleaded guilty last year to a charge of conspiracy to violate U.S. economic sanctions on Iran by helping channel money to the investigator. An identity crisis involving a vaunted Chinese restaurant and the New Yorkers who love it strikes the Upper West Side. April 7, 2023 The text message from Danny Cramers mother to the family group chat arrived with urgency. Look whats going into the empty storefront at 98th and Broadway, she wrote, punctuating her sentence with chopsticks, fortune cookie and noisemaker emojis. Whoopee!!! Mr. Cramers Aunt Julie replied. Wowwww, Uncle Frank added. The occasion appeared auspicious: A new outpost of Shun Lee, New Yorks storied Chinese restaurant, had arrived. Mr. Cramer, 28, has been enjoying special occasion meals since he was a child at Shun Lee, a brand so embedded in the cultural history of the city that Shun Lee matchbooks dating to the 1960s are part of the permanent collection at the New-York Historical Society Museum & Library. Mr. Cramer, who lives in Brooklyn Heights, arranged to schlep 40 minutes on the subway to his childhood apartment on the Upper West Side to order takeout. But for Mr. Cramers family, as for other Shun Lee fans, elation quickly turned to confusion and even anger. The new Shun Lee is not the same as the venerated Shun Lee Palace, in Midtown, or Shun Lee West and Shun Lee Cafe, near Lincoln Center. Throughout the 19th century, even during years without epidemics, the death rate was about 25 deaths per 1,000 people. That is about four times as high as it was in modern day New York just before the pandemic. But by the start of the 20th century, the death rate began dropping precipitously. Another significant drop in the death rate occurred over the last 30 years or so, attributable to a drop in smoking, the introduction of effective H.I.V. medication, and a range of other advances. The health departments calculations conclude that Covid-19 killed 241.3 people per 100,000 New Yorkers, while the 1918 influenza pandemic the most severe pandemic of the 20th century killed 228.9 people per 100,000. Covid-19 tended to kill the old, while the 1918 flu was unusually deadly for adults under 40. In addition, the death toll for influenza in 1918 seen in the Conquest chart and used in the health departments death rate calculations may involve a dramatic undercount. Back then, the health department often distinguished between deaths from the initial influenza infection and the bacterial pneumonia that often followed. The health departments calculations comparing 1918 to 2020 appear to only include the first category. Life Expectancy The 4.6-year-drop in life expectancy across the city was also profound. Thats a pretty dramatic decline in a short amount of time, Dr. Vasan said. Covid no longer poses the same deadly threat it did in 2020, but Dr. Vasan said he is worried that life expectancy wont rise back to prepandemic levels for years to come. The pandemic has had a ripple effect as chronic diseases, from mental illness to diabetes, have gone unmanaged for many people, he said. Drug overdoses have increased. But having made the criminalization of abortion a central axis of their political project for decades, Republicans have no obvious way out of their electoral predicament. A decisive majority of Americans 64 percent, according to a recent Public Religion Research Institute survey believe that abortion should be legal in most cases. A decisive majority of Republicans 63 percent, according to the same survey believe that it should not. When abortion bans were merely theoretical, anti-abortion passion was often a boon to Republicans, powering the grass-roots organizing of the religious right. Now that the end of Roe has awakened a previously complacent pro-choice majority, anti-abortion passion has become a liability, but the Republican Party cant jettison it without tearing itself apart. The reason voters think Republicans support full abortion bans, as Schweppe wrote, is that many of them do. In the last Congress, 167 House Republicans co-sponsored the Life at Conception Act, conferring full personhood rights on fertilized eggs. In state after state, lawmakers are doing just what the R.N.C. suggested and using every means at their disposal to force people to continue unwanted or unviable pregnancies. Idaho, where almost all abortions are illegal, just passed an abortion trafficking law that would make helping a minor leave the state to get an abortion without parental consent punishable by five years in prison. The Texas Senate just passed a bill that, among other things, is intended to force prosecutors in left-leaning cities to pursue abortion law violations. South Carolina Republicans have proposed a law defining abortion as murder, making it punishable by the death penalty. In Florida, which already has a 15-week abortion ban, Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to soon sign a law banning almost all abortions at six weeks. This isnt something Florida voters want polls show a majority of them support abortion rights but its a virtual prerequisite for his likely presidential campaign. Republican attempts to moderate abortion prohibitions even slightly have, for the most part, gone nowhere. Last year, Idahos Republican Party defeated an amendment to the partys platform allowing for an exception to the states abortion ban to save a womans life. In the weeks before the Wisconsin election on Tuesday, Republican lawmakers introduced a bill providing some narrow exceptions to the states abortion prohibition for cases of rape, incest and grave threats to a pregnant persons health, but they lacked the votes in their own party to pass it. In the debate over free speech and social justice, commentators on the right and the heterodox left often claim that college students are all either stridently liberal or cowed into silence by those who are. As someone who has spent two decades teaching at colleges large and small, public and private, I dont recognize this description and its not because I think that its conservative students who are dominating the discourse. In my experience, college students are all too reluctant to express strong opinions about the world at large. I wish my students were so eager to voice their ideas in class. Ideally, they would address the topic of the course, but Id take what I could get the news perhaps, social media more likely, the weather if it came down to it. If theyre talking, then maybe I can steer the conversation toward what they need to learn. But Ive found one place where students ideas emerge into splendid view: the opinion pages of student newspapers. I recently immersed myself in student papers from across Texas, where I live and teach. It certainly wasnt a scientific sample, but it gave me new insight into an otherwise reticent population. Depending on whom you ask, the Tasmanian tiger or thylacine has either been extinct for nearly a century or has been just really good at hiding. Now new research examining hundreds of reports from more than a century shows there is a good chance the thylacine may have persisted for a few decades longer in the most remote parts of Tasmania. There are pockets where the species could have maintained small populations, said Barry Brook, a professor of environmental sustainability at the University of Tasmania. One of the problems with the thylacine, and extinction in general, is its hard to prove something is truly gone. Australias night parrot for instance, was thought to be extinct for 140 years until its recent rediscovery. CHICAGO (AP) A firefighter who died while battling a blaze in a high-rise building on Chicagos North Side died of a heart attack, autopsy results released Thursday showed. Lt. Jan Tchoryk, 55, died of hypertensive-arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to the autopsy results released by the Cook County medical examiner. Tchoryk "went down on the stairs on the buildings 11th floor, Fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt told reporters. The blaze was reported before 8 a.m. Wednesday on the 27th floor of the condo and apartment building in the Gold Coast neighborhood. The extra-alarm fire was ruled accidental and started after combustible material was placed too close to a heat-generating appliance, Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said Thursday. Tchoryk was the second Chicago firefighter to die this week. Jermaine Pelt, 49, died on Tuesday and two other firefighters were injured while battling a house fire on the citys South Side. Pelt died of died of carbon monoxide poisoning, the medical examiner's office said Our men and women who are first responders in the city are heroic, outgoing Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Wednesday afternoon at a news conference. They are brave. They, every single day, put their lives on the line for us. They deserve our unending thanks and support, not just on a tragic day like this, but every single day. Three other firefighters were hurt in Wednesdays blaze and taken to hospitals where their conditions were listed as fair to serious, officials said. Two civilians also were taken to hospitals in good condition. We can talk about these kinds of things at a deep level, Mr. Hall said. Someone who loves to go to the museum and who is really excited about it it was really great to have someone to share this with. The next day, they went to Artrue Gallery, and afterward, they ate Cuban sandwiches at a restaurant nearby. Mr. Hall was eager to show her a taste of something related to my hometown, he said. Ms. Cheng was only in Taipei for those two days. After she returned to Hong Kong, they kept in touch via WhatsApp. He sent her links that he thought were interesting as a way to start conversations with her, but she thought he just wanted to share random bits of information as a friend with common interests. In July 2020, he moved to Hong Kong for graduate school at the Education University of Hong Kong. They met about twice a month at different museums and danced around their feelings for each other. He didnt want to be too obvious about his interest in her and ask her out directly, although she did like him as well. In July 2021, shortly before flying back to Taipei, he finally tried to declare his feelings for her. What I wanted to express was: Look, I really like you, I think youre a great person, I want to get to know you better, he said. Would it be possible to get to know each other more intentionally over Skype? However, he added, I didnt express that very well. Instead, she thought he was suggesting that they develop their friendship further. The way that he told me was too indirect, she said. Later, I always said that he is more Chinese than me. I was at Nubar, an elegant cafe near Harvard Square, to meet David, with whom I had been corresponding online. He sounded like the perfect man: a recently retired professor, early 70s, grew up in Brooklyn, taught psychology and social sciences in New York, California and Massachusetts, and was divorced, with two grown sons in California. Our shared interests included hiking, biking and reading, and we were looking for similar qualities in a mate. For our date, he told me that he would be wearing bluejeans and a blue shirt and carrying a book. Nubar at 5 p.m. that Friday afternoon was nearly empty. Ten minutes in, I pulled out my phone, opened the app and wrote, Hi David. Im at Nubar. Are you on your way? Oh, hi, Anita, he replied. Im so sorry for any confusion. I was under the impression that our meeting was scheduled for tomorrow at 5, and I apologize for any inconvenience or miscommunication. I wasnt surprised. A friend had told me I should have asked how long David had been divorced newly divorced men can be very anxious on entering the dating scene. But that wasnt really the problem. As David went on to explain (and as I already knew): Im an A.I. language model and I dont have a physical presence or the ability to meet in person. Fabrizio Lombardo, the former head of Miramax in Italy and a close associate of Harvey Weinstein, has been accused of rape in a lawsuit filed on April 6 in New York State Supreme Court. The suit was brought by Sara Ziff, a former model and the founder of the Model Alliance, an advocacy group for models and fashion creatives. The suit alleges that Mr. Lombardo assaulted Ms. Ziff in a New York City hotel in 2001 when she was 19. Ms. Ziff is suing Mr. Lombardo, as well as Mr. Weinstein, Disney and its subsidiaries Buena Vista and Miramax, for abuse and negligence under the Adult Survivors Act. The A.S.A., which was passed in May 2022, extended, until November 2023, the rights of sex crime victims to bring civil claims that would otherwise have expired under the statute of limitations. Mr. Lombardo whom Mr. Weinstein once credited with saving his life and whose 2003 wedding involved Mr. Weinstein as his best man often figured on the sidelines of the many stories about Mr. Weinsteins predations on young women. He was named in the sexual harassment class action suit brought against the Weinstein Company and numerous related entities in October 2018. But this is the first time he himself has been accused of sexual assault in a court of law. What would you be willing to give for an ultraexclusive T-shirt? Hundreds of dollars? Hours spent waiting in line? How about blood? A white graphic T-shirt featuring the Peanuts character Snoopy has become an object of obsession online. The shirt was dropped by the Red Cross and Peanuts as part of a promotion to encourage blood donation in April. It is free though the only way to get it is by donating blood, plasma or platelets. The prize shirt shows Snoopy, in the guise of his alter ego, Joe Cool, leaning nonchalantly against the distinctive Red Cross emblem above a caption that reads: Be cool. Give blood. A video posted Wednesday on TikTok about donating blood specifically to get the Snoopy shirt was viewed more than four million times. Dozens of similar clips followed, some of them set to the Vince Guaraldi Trios jazzy instrumental Linus and Lucy. In March, two Google employees, whose jobs are to review the companys artificial intelligence products, tried to stop Google from launching an A.I. chatbot. They believed it generated inaccurate and dangerous statements. Ten months earlier, similar concerns were raised at Microsoft by ethicists and other employees. They wrote in several documents that the A.I. technology behind a planned chatbot could flood Facebook groups with disinformation, degrade critical thinking and erode the factual foundation of modern society. The companies released their chatbots anyway. Microsoft was first, with a splashy event in February to reveal an A.I. chatbot woven into its Bing search engine. Google followed about six weeks later with its own chatbot, Bard. The aggressive moves by the normally risk-averse companies were driven by a race to control what could be the tech industrys next big thing generative A.I., the powerful new technology that fuels those chatbots. Elon Musk has declared he wants to transform Twitter into an all-inclusive app that people can use for payments, news and food orders. Buying Twitter is an accelerant to creating X, the everything app, Mr. Musk posted in October, weeks before completing a $44 billion acquisition of the social network. He later said Twitter could be like WeChat, the popular Chinese app that combines social media, instant messaging and payment services. But nearly six months after Mr. Musk took over Twitter, his ambitions for the platform have remained mostly that ambitions. Although the billionaire has made dozens of tweaks to Twitter, they have largely been cosmetic. His changes have mostly affected the platforms appearance, said Jane Manchun Wong, an independent software engineer who studies social apps. Those updates include adding more symbols and metrics displayed with tweets, but Twitters main elements making it a place to quickly share news and discuss live events havent altered. SAN FRANCISCO On Wednesday, the newsletter service Substack announced that it had built a Twitter competitor. On Thursday, Twitter prevented Substack writers from sharing tweets in their newsletters. And on Friday, Twitter took steps to block Substack newsletters from circulating on the platform. Twitters move to swat an upstart was an abrupt deviation from normal behavior among internet companies and publishers. It also provided more grist for critics who say that while Elon Musk, Twitters new owner, has often hailed the importance of free speech, he has not shied from restricting competitors and content that he doesnt like. The new fight with a young company is the latest controversy in Mr. Musks chaotic ownership of Twitter, which he acquired about six months ago. He has laid off more than 75 percent of its employees, has been sued by commercial landlords for failing to pay office rent and has lost advertisers. While Mr. Musk has long clashed with mainstream news outlets, targeting Substack largely affects independent writers, some of whom depend on Twitter to drive readers to their work. If Dmitry Krymov, the celebrated Russian director and playwright, were directing a play about his life, the third act would begin, he mused, in a cramped, art-filled apartment on Manhattans Upper West Side. It is winter, nearly a year after Russia invaded Ukraine, turning his brief visit to the United States into an open-ended exile after he spoke out against the war. And his living room has suddenly burst into flames. So much brownish-black smoke is filling the apartment that he cant see his arms, and hes gasping for air. The computer containing drafts of his plays is burning. He is struggling to stamp out the flames with a blanket. Then darkness. His lungs are so badly damaged by the fire, which was apparently caused by a wire that short-circuited, that his doctors keep him in an induced coma for nine days. But this third act, Krymov stressed later, is not meant to be the final one. Surviving a fire, he added wryly, had been a baptism of sorts for his new life in the United States. A fire brings you closer to a country, when you burn, Krymov, 68, said recently as he recovered at a friends apartment and reflected on his self-imposed displacement, which he sees as a banishment of sorts, but also as a rebirth. My life as a play needs to end with something, and I hope that were not at the end, he added. Krymov, who scaled the heights of Russian theater during a storied career, left Moscow last year, the day after the invasion of Ukraine, for what he thought would be a six-week trip to the United States to direct a production of Chekhovs The Cherry Orchard at the Wilma Theater in Philadelphia. He packed only one small suitcase. Paul Edmondson, the head of research at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, said that the story of Shakespeares wife was likely complex and compelling. While little evidence of her personality survives we dont even have a portrait the facts we know point to a shrewd, capable woman who managed a large house, was responsible for significant amounts of money and land, and possibly ran a brewing business on the side. In addition, of course, she raised a family for a husband who was mostly away working, as many men in England were at the time. Shes running the household, shes a co-earner, and shes also keeping an eye on his investments in the town. She was his equal in many ways, Edmondson said. And that second-best bed? Edmondson said that it could have been the marriage bed, filled with intimate memories; its mention in the will might also have been a legal understanding, guaranteeing her residential rights after his death. In the novel, Anne/Agnes might not be able to write women rarely received formal education at the time but her husband does encourage her to read. And, crucially, Williams departure for London isnt framed as abandonment, but his wifes idea. She realizes he needs more, said Mantock, the actress. She wants to encourage him to be who he needs to be. The fury erupted within hours, as word spread that the 43-year-old man who had been stabbed to death this week in an enclave of high-rise condominiums near the Bay Bridge was Bob Lee, a well-known tech executive. The leaders of lawless San Francisco had Mr. Lees literal blood on their hands, Matt Ocko, a tech entrepreneur and venture capitalist in Palo Alto, Calif., tweeted. I hate what San Francisco has become, added Michael Arrington, the founder of the industry blog TechCrunch. Violent crime in SF is horrific, Elon Musk, the chief executive of Twitter and Tesla, chimed in. The drumbeat has built since then in the liberal city that only last year recalled its progressive district attorney amid calls for law and order and deepening frustration over the citys homelessness crisis. While city officials agree that the murder is a terrifying tragedy and a signal that San Francisco has work to do on public safety, theyre also clashing with powerful figures in the tech sector over the nature and severity of the citys problems with crime. A small minority has tried to weaponize this tragedy to advance a narrative about a crime wave that just isnt borne out by the data in San Francisco, Kevin Benedicto, a police commissioner and lawyer, said on Thursday. At a commission meeting earlier in the week, Mr. Benedicto complained that some on social media are exploiting this horrific incident for political gain. The name Ralph C. Wilson Jr. will soon be added to another site in Buffalo, this time, the Buffalo AKG Art Museum. 'Beacon of culture': What Buffalo AKG learned from the Cleveland Museum of Art With its reopening set for June, the renovated Buffalo AKG Art Museum is taking a cue from the Cleveland Museum of Art, which reaped huge benefits from an expansion a decade ago. A stadium, city park and children's museum have all been named for the founder and longtime owner of the Buffalo Bills who died in 2014. The new 6,000-square-foot community area in the Seymour H. Knox Building will soon bear his name in a space designed in 1962 by Gordon Bunshaft that originally was an open-air courtyard at the historic museum. Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Town Square will be covered by "Common Sky," a kaleidoscopic sculpture commissioned for the space and designed by artists Olafur Eliasson and Sebastian Behmann of Studio Other Spaces. Visits to the Knox Building, as well as the new, three-story Jeffrey E. Gundlach Building and the refurbished 1905 building now named for the late banker Robert Wilmers will have to wait a little longer. The reopening of the museum closed since November 2019 for a $195 million redesign and renovation is being pushed back from late May almost three weeks to June 12. "Having Ralph's name on the new Town Square at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum is an incredible honor and very fitting," said Mary Wilson, Ralph's widow and a life trustee of the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation. The building is expected to be the museum hub for community engagement, as well as learning and creativity programming. Admission to the Knox Building will be free year-round. There will also be 2,000 square feet of gallery space for the museum's modern and contemporary art and the new on-site Cornelia restaurant. "I recently toured the Ralph Wilson Town Square and was blown away by the beauty of the 'Common Sky' work of art that creates an indoor space that brings all the sights and feelings of outdoors all around you," Mary Wilson said. "I look forward to this becoming a new cultural landmark in the city of Buffalo, bringing people together from all walks of life, just as Ralph did throughout his life." The naming of the space in Wilson's honor is in recognition of the more than $11 million contributed by the foundation in his name for the creation and operation of the museum. In 2016, the foundation gave $6 million in response to Gundlachs first matching challenge. It gave another $90,000 in 2018 to facilitate a comprehensive community-focused planning process. After the process was completed in 2021, the foundation gave the Buffalo AKG $5 million to build and program the space. Wilson Foundation announces $100 million to support arts and cultural organizations The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation today will announce a $100 million donation that will provide funding in perpetuity to support many of the region's most well-known attractions. Also that year, the Wilson Foundation committed to give the Buffalo AKG $500,000 in annual operating funds through a grant administered by the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo. The grant was part of a $100 million commitment made to 13 arts and cultural organizations to help their long-term viability. The planning grant the Wilson Foundation provided enabled the museum to convene a 22-member Town Square taskforce and undertake a rigorous planning process. Community gathering spaces in other cold-climate cities were considered, as well as those that offered free admission. A public meeting was held in March 2019, and online feedback was provided to discuss how to apply what was learned to the Wilson Town Square. Together, ideas were brought to the surface that formed the foundation for what the space will offer when it opens. "The Wilson Foundation assisted in planning the space and engaging community voices not just in a ceremonial way, but in a true, authentic way," said Jillian Jones, Buffalo AKG's director of advancement. "From that, we articulated clear goals for the space that reflected what our community wanted to see." The museum then applied for funding to build the space they planned. "The Wilson Foundation is really unique in that it allows for the space and time for an organization to study and articulate what it needs, and then it provides those resources," Jones said. "We're most grateful that the foundation trusted all of us the museum and the people in the community that spoke up during this process. "We collectively are excited to debut a space we think Mr. Wilson would have been extremely proud of." The New Mexico State Police are investigating a fatal shooting by police officers in Farmington, N.M., after the officers responded to the wrong house for a domestic violence call on Wednesday night, officials said. Farmington Police Department officers were responding to a call at 5308 Valley View Avenue in Farmington, a city in the rural northwest corner of New Mexico, but knocked on the front door at 5305 Valley View Avenue instead, the State Police said. Police officers fatally shot Robert Dotson, 52, after they mistakenly approached his home around 11:30 p.m. and he opened his screen door armed with a handgun, the New Mexico State Police said in a statement on Thursday. Mr. Dotsons wife, who was not named, then fired from the houses doorway with a handgun, investigators said, and the police fired back. She put down the gun once she realized that the people outside were police officers. Last Friday, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of Spain met with Mr. Xi in Beijing and urged him to speak with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, which Mr. Xi has avoided doing. Ms. von der Leyen has said Europe could soon take a harder line on China, including limiting trade, if China continues its aggressive actions on security and commercial issues. In a major policy speech last week, she said the European Union might cancel a trade deal it reached with China in 2020 as part of economic de-risking. That would further align Europe with views in the United States, where any positive comments on the robust trade relationship with China, the worlds second-largest economy, are drowned out by talk of security risks. The Biden administration has pushed European governments to take more protective measures on critical technologies. In January, it got the Netherlands to commit to limiting the sales of some semiconductor manufacturing equipment to China. Some European officials have balked at those efforts, but Ms. von der Leyen agrees there must be a reassessment of Europe-China ties. It is clear that our relations have become more distant and more difficult in the last few years, she said. We have seen a very deliberate hardening of Chinas overall strategic posture for some time. Mr. Xis tolerance of Russian atrocities in Ukraine has shifted European attitudes. Ms. von der Leyen pointed in her speech to parting remarks that Mr. Xi made to Mr. Putin on the steps of the Kremlin last month: Right now there are changes, the likes of which we havent seen for 100 years. And we are the ones driving these changes together. WASHINGTON A new batch of classified documents that appear to detail American national security secrets from Ukraine to the Middle East to China surfaced on social media sites on Friday, alarming the Pentagon and adding turmoil to a situation that seemed to have caught the Biden administration off guard. The scale of the leak analysts say more than 100 documents may have been obtained along with the sensitivity of the documents themselves, could be hugely damaging, U.S. officials said. A senior intelligence official called the leak a nightmare for the Five Eyes, in a reference to the United States, Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, the so-called Five Eyes nations that broadly share intelligence. The latest documents were found on Twitter and other sites on Friday, a day after senior Biden administration officials said they were investigating a potential leak of classified Ukrainian war plans, include an alarming assessment of Ukraines faltering air defense capabilities. One slide, dated Feb. 23, is labeled Secret/NoForn, meaning it was not meant to be shared with foreign countries. The Justice Department said it had opened an investigation into the leaks and was in communication with the Defense Department but declined to comment further. WASHINGTON Call it an escape valve, an off-ramp or a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option. From Pennsylvania Avenue to Wall Street to Main Street, those anxious about the political impasse over raising the federal debt limit are eying an arcane, seldom successful congressional process known as a discharge petition as a possible solution to ward off a disastrous default. The petition is just what its name implies: a signed demand, in this case bearing the signatures of a majority of the House, that can force consideration on the floor of a certain piece of legislation. The demand would be an increase in the federal debt limit a way of staving off disaster if House Republicans refuse to agree to raise it before the Treasury Department exhausts its legal authority to borrow to pay its creditors this summer. But the process is exceedingly difficult, time-consuming and easily derailed. It has been successful only rarely in recent decades, most notably with passage of a campaign finance overhaul in 2002. That high degree of difficulty and the economic threat posed by a federal default has some Democrats urging their colleagues in the House to, at minimum, begin the process soon. They see it as a safeguard in the event that dormant debt talks between President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy deteriorate further and the country finds itself on the brink of economic peril with no end in sight this year. The states more enthusiastic Democrats have been clamoring for a way to win back seats and put South Carolina in play in the same way that Georgia, its neighbor to the west, has been. Ms. Spain has cautioned fellow Democrats against overplaying their hand, even in the face of the money and attention that voting first in 2024 might bring. Those kinds of inroads are made over several cycles, she said, and will require newer, bolder and realistic thinking. We have to be strategic and responsible about what were doing, Ms. Spain said at a recent meeting of Orangeburg County Democrats. We have to establish our battlefield. That battlefield makes up all 46 of South Carolinas counties and the voters whom Democrats have failed to mobilize. Her main focus, she said, will be on winning back the State House seats the party lost in previous cycles and protecting the remaining safe seats. Then they can talk about unseating Republicans. Much of Ms. Spains stump speech focuses on her experience. She started at the state party as a volunteer and worked for the last three state chairs. In 2016, she joined Bernie Sanderss presidential campaign team. After directing Cory Bookers South Carolina operation in 2020, she coordinated Jaime Harrisons U.S. Senate campaign with the state party. In 2022, she directed Black engagement for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The departing state party chair, Trav Robertson, is also supporting her bid. On the other hand, Mr. Upson is aiming to harness grass-roots groups, young voters and political newcomers a constituency that has grown in the state in recent years. Under his leadership, the state partys Black caucus has expanded its membership, putting a healthy number of delegates in his corner. Thats where my base of support is, he said. Youre not going to see it in James Clyburns office. On Tuesday morning, Mr. Upson joined more than three dozen labor activists protesting working conditions at a factory outside Columbia. After sweating and chanting in the sun outside a Ryder trucking warehouse, he encouraged the crowd to think of the Democratic Party as a partner in their activism, not a bystander. Former President Donald J. Trump recently told aides to hire Laura Loomer, a far-right and anti-Muslim activist with a history of expressing bigoted views, for a campaign role, according to four people familiar with the plans. Mr. Trump met with Ms. Loomer recently and directed advisers to give her a role in support of his candidacy, two of the people familiar with the move said. On Tuesday, after Mr. Trumps arraignment in Manhattan, Ms. Loomer attended the former presidents speech at Mar-a-Lago, his resort and residence in Palm Beach, Fla. Some of Mr. Trumps aides were said to have concerns that such a hire would cause a backlash, given her history of inflammatory statements and her embrace of the Republican Partys fringes. That proved to be correct: The New York Timess report on the potential hire ignited a firestorm among some of Mr. Trumps most vocal conservative supporters, and by late Friday, a high-ranking campaign official said Ms. Loomer was no longer going to be hired. Expelled by their Republican colleagues for an act of protest, Justin Jones and Justin J. Pearson were no longer members of the Tennessee House of Representatives on Friday. They could not advocate for their constituents in Nashville and Memphis, take to the floor again to push for gun control legislation or even access the building after hours. But instead of sidelining the Democratic lawmakers, the expulsions have sparked outrage and galvanized national support within their party, and the two young Black lawmakers are poised to return to the state legislature as soon as next week with a platform and profile far surpassing what they had just days ago. On Friday, Vice President Kamala Harris made a hastily arranged visit to Nashville to meet with the state lawmakers, and President Biden, who described the Republicans actions as shocking and undemocratic, called the ousted Democrats to offer his support and invite them to the White House. That made these individuals martyrs, Representative Antonio Parkinson, a Democrat from Memphis, said of the expulsions. Its going to be extremely hard to silence them. A South African pilot is being hailed as a hero this week after he unexpectedly came face-to-face with a venomous snake 11,000 feet in the air. The pilot, Rudolf Erasmus, 30, laughed about the incident in an interview on Friday, but he and his four passengers, all colleagues, were not hurling any Snakes on a Plane jokes on Monday, when he noticed a Cape Cobra, one of South Africas most dangerous snakes, slithering around the cockpit. The group was on the second leg of its journey from the Western Cape to Mbombela, in the eastern region of the country, when Mr. Erasmus, a pilot for an engineer consulting company, felt something unusual. I felt this cold sensation that was underneath my shirt, underneath where the hip area is, he said. He initially thought his water bottle was leaking. As he turned to the left, he saw the head of the snake under his feet. He estimated it to be between four and five feet long. South African officials are fuming after learning on Thursday that a court in the United Arab Emirates denied their request to extradite the brothers Atul and Rajesh Gupta, businessmen accused of sweeping corruption, at a hearing seven weeks ago that the South African authorities say no one ever bothered to tell them about. The Guptas had been fingered as linchpins of the widespread looting of state funds during the tenure of former President Jacob Zuma that has contributed to the countrys broken economy. An investigator estimated that the Guptas, who fled to the U.A.E. about five years ago, secured at least $3.2 billion worth of business through a vast network of corporations and government connections. The Guptas have denied any wrongdoing and said that they are the victims of political infighting. Ronald Lamola, South Africas justice minister, accused the United Arab Emirates on Friday of failing to uphold a treaty between the two countries. He said at a news conference that South African officials had been pressing their counterparts in the U.A.E. for updates on the case for several months. But it was only on Thursday night that the U.A.E. sent official notice that a hearing had been held on Feb. 13 in Dubai and that the Gupta brothers were no longer in custody because extradition had been denied. KABUL, Afghanistan The Afghan government this week barred female Afghan employees at the United Nations from working in Afghanistan, according to U.N. officials, a move threatening one of the last lifelines of badly needed aid in a country where millions risk starvation and restrictions on women have hampered aid operations in recent months. The decision this week comes just over three months after the Taliban administration issued a decree barring women from working in local and international aid organizations, many of which are involved in carrying out U.N. programs in Afghanistan. That decision led many organizations to suspend or scale back their programs across the country. At that time, Afghanistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs assured U.N. officials that the decree did not apply to the United Nations. But in a meeting with U.N. officials this week, the ministry reversed course, saying the governments supreme authority, Sheikh Haibatullah Akhundzada, had clarified that the ban extends to the U.N., and he instructed the governments intelligence wing to enforce it, according to U.N. officials. That news drew immediate condemnation from the United Nations, which instructed its nonessential male and female staff members to remain home as it pressed the Taliban administration to reverse the decision. This week's international takedown of an online marketplace selling stolen account login credentials ensnared a 26-year-old Buffalo man. Federal prosecutors have accused Wul Isaac Chol of possessing online credentials of 21 people, totaling 778 different accounts, from Netflix and Twitter to Airbnb and Amazon, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court. West Side raid tied to seizure of Genesis Market, an international cybercriminal marketplace Several media organizations reported Wednesday that the FBI and worldwide partners successfully shut down Genesis Market, reportedly a cybercriminal platform that took sensitive data from malware-infected computers and sold it on the dark web. Chol went on Genesis Market which the Department of Justice described as a "criminal online marketplace" that sells access to social media, bank and email accounts about 104 times between June 13, 2019, and May 10, 2022. Some of his activity happened on computers at a Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, according to court documents. Chol was arrested on a federal warrant on Tuesday and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer, according to court records. He was released on conditions, with his next court date scheduled for July 12. The judge imposed conditions on Chol's release, including having to surrender his passport, restricting his travel to the 17 counties of the Western District of New York and participating in the U.S. Probation Office's computer/internet monitoring program. About 120 alleged users of Genesis Market around the world have been arrested as part of the law enforcement activity, which included the seizure of 11 domain names, the Associated Press reported Wednesday. A raid at a home on West Ferry Street on Tuesday morning was part of the global law enforcement operation, a representative of the FBI's Buffalo office confirmed Wednesday. Genesis Market put up for sale more than 80 million account credentials stolen from more than 1.5 million compromised devices since March 2018, the Department of Justice said. Federal investigators allegedly linked Chol to a Genesis Market account, in part, by tracing a cryptocurrency transaction to a Buffalo address where Chol lived and an email he allegedly used. They also got a search warrant for his Facebook account and obtained messages in which he discussed with another Facebook user stolen identities or stolen credit card information, as well as obtaining gift cards with money on them, according to the complaint. In addition to commonly stolen account credentials, like Google, Instagram, Hulu and other popular services, other stolen credentials allegedly possessed by Chol included Los Angeles County jury duty portal, British Gas, Iowa Workforce Development Unemployment Insurance weekly claim and Dallas Baptist University Online Library. Genesis Market compiled stolen data taken from computers infected with malware and sold it, according to the federal complaint against Chol. Prices varied, with some sets of a person's credentials available for $10 to $20. Prices depended on the number of accounts, how recently the malware was planted on the device where the data came from and whether the data contained a "fingerprint." A fingerprint is information third-party applications use to identify a device and having them allows the sites or applications to see the device as a trusted source. Genesis Market also provides a proprietary plug-in, which allows the person with the stolen credentials to "masquerade" as the victim's computer or device, according to the complaint. Mr. Samson was arrested in December at Mandalay International Airport as he prepared to fly to Bangkok for a medical checkup. He is being held at Myitkyina Prison in Kachin State, where he has not been allowed to receive visitors, according to his attorney and family members. His trial was held in a courtroom inside the prison. Only his attorney and witnesses were allowed to be present. He has seen his wife, Zung Nyaw, just once since his arrest, when his attorney called her as a witness, she said. In an interview with The New York Times, Ms. Zung Nyaw said her husband was subjected to harsh interrogation that lasted for 24 days after his arrest. She described him as a man who is more interested in the common good than his own affairs. He is a man who knows God and loves God, she said. He is a preacher, so he has no enemies. He is a person who sacrifices himself and helps others. Christians make up about 6 percent of the population of Myanmar, which is predominantly Buddhist. Mr. Samsons attorney, Dau Nan, said two of the charges arise from a trip he took in January 2022 from his home in Myitkyina, Myanmar, to the remote mountain town of Laiza. The town is under the control of the Kachin Independence Organization, an ethnic political group that has sought autonomy in Myanmar for decades. The groups military arm, the Kachin Independence Army, has long battled Myanmars military forces and controls more than half of Kachin State, which is predominantly Baptist. Ms. Zung Nyaw said her husband had traveled to Laiza with the militarys permission. He met there with the longtime ethnic Kachin leader Duwa Lashi La, who is the acting head of the National Unity Government, a political organization established by ethnic groups and ousted elected leaders after the coup that claims to be Myanmars true government. President Emmanuel Macron of France concluded a three-day visit to China on Friday, with the two countries having discussed everything from the study of lunar samples to the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. But their joint statement on the talks said little about Russias invasion of Ukraine, despite Mr. Macrons efforts to persuade Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, to do more to help end the war. Mr. Xis meetings with Mr. Macron, which included a private dinner and a rare meeting outside Beijing, are part of Chinas efforts to strengthen its ties with Europe as its relations deteriorate sharply with the United States. To the frustration of European and American leaders, China has not condemned Russias invasion and has instead preserved its close ties to Moscow, where Mr. Xi was welcomed warmly on a trip last month. The joint statement released on Friday avoided mention of Russia in several places, suggesting that China had not changed its stance on the war. The Australia Letter is a weekly newsletter from our Australia bureau. Sign up to get it by email. This weeks issue is written by Natasha Frost, a reporter in Melbourne. In her first speech to lawmakers in 2008, Jacinda Ardern, the former New Zealand prime minister, told her new colleagues a little about what they might expect from her. Some people have asked me whether I am a radical. My answer to that question is very simple: I am from Morrinsville, she said, referring to the small New Zealand town where she grew up and where her father was a police officer. She added: Where I come from, a radical is someone who chooses to drive a Toyota rather than a Holden or a Ford. More a social democrat than a revolutionary, she said, she had a passion for social justice and a deep commitment to the values of human rights, social justice, equality and democracy, and the role of communities. She mentioned the power and influence of her family; her teenage campaign for the right of schoolgirls to wear trousers instead of a skirt; her pride in New Zealand; her concerns about the future of the climate; and the scourge of child poverty. My love of politics came when I realized that it was the key to changing what I saw, she said. And there is much to change. Prompted by Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Irelands government will re-examine its longstanding policy of military neutrality at a forum being held this summer, the countrys government said this week. Irelands foreign and defense minister, Micheal Martin, said the government was convening a consultative forum with various stakeholders from the security, foreign policy and defense sectors, as well as political leaders, academics and members of the general public, to discuss whether the country should continue to stay out of foreign conflicts like the war that has devastated Ukraine. The international security environment has changed significantly over the last year because of blatant and brutal disregard by Russia of international law and Europes collective security architecture, Mr. Martin said in a statement on Wednesday. He added: Irelands commitment to a rules-based international order with the U.N. Charter at its heart, and our traditional policy of military neutrality, do not inure us from the need to respond to this new reality. Her case has attracted international attention. But more than a month after Maria, 13, was removed from her fathers care after drawing an antiwar picture in school, the Russian authorities have yet to determine who will take custody of her, and a hearing this week failed to settle the matter. The father, Aleksei Moskalyov, who is a single parent, was placed under house arrest in early March and charged with discrediting the Russian military on social media after the antiwar stance of Maria, known as Masha, came to light. Masha was taken to an orphanage. Mr. Moskalyov, 54, escaped house arrest in late March and was not present for his sentencing to two years in prison. He was detained soon after in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, and his reported whereabouts a pretrial detention center in the Belarusian city of Zhodino appeared to become clear only on Friday morning. He is awaiting a deportation hearing, according to the Russian state news agency Tass. During all of this time, who would take long-term custody of Masha has been an open question. Mashas mother had not been in the picture since the child was little, and there did not appear to be any other close relatives to take care of her. Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal correspondent jailed in Moscow, was formally charged with espionage on Friday, according to Russian state media. The Tass news agency cited an unidentified law enforcement source about the steps taken by Russias Federal Security Service, or F.S.B., and said Mr. Gershkovich had denied the accusation. The F.S.B. investigation charged Gershkovich with espionage in the interests of his country, the news agency quoted its source as saying, echoing the statement issued by Russias security police agency at the time the 31-year-old reporter was first detained. He categorically denied all accusations and stated that he was engaged in journalistic activities in Russia, the source was quoted as saying. The source declined to comment further because the case was marked top secret, according to Tass. LONDON The leader of Britains opposition, Keir Starmer, can often seem more like the technocratic human rights lawyer he once was than the no-holds-barred politician now reshaping the Labour Party with an eye toward making it more electable. But as his former allies on the left wing of his party have discovered, appearances can be deceptive. Mr. Starmer prompted a bitter rift recently when he banned his leftist predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn, from running as a Labour lawmaker, leaving the former leader claiming democratic procedures had been trampled and warning that his supporters were not going anywhere. But beneath the ugly media brawl, the unceremonious purging of Mr. Corbyn was a substantive victory for Mr. Starmer, strengthening his already firm grip over the party. Three years after taking over, he has quietly but efficiently marginalized Labours once ascendant left wing, enforced strict discipline over his top political team and grabbed control of the party machinery, including its selection of Labour candidates for Parliament. A local port worker, who asked not to be identified because of ongoing investigations, told The Times that he remembered the visit unusually well: He had repeatedly tried to speak to the crew, first in German, then English. Instead of attempting any kind of reply, in any language, one man simply handed him the docking fee and turned away. The Andromeda now sits in dry dock overlooking the Baltic Sea, its innards pulled out by investigators. Three German officials told The Times that the investigators had found traces of explosives on the boat, and discovered that two crew members had used fake Bulgarian passports. That hunt led back to Christianso, where Mr. Andersen, the governor, said that in December, the Danish police had him write a Facebook post, instructing residents to send photographs of the harbor or boats from Sept. 16 to Sept. 18, around the time the Andromeda is believed to have docked. Investigators arrived a month later to interview residents and check the photos. Christianso locals scoffed at the idea a 50-foot pleasure yacht could pull off such a spectacular attack and so have naval experts from Germany, Sweden and Denmark. They argue that even with skilled divers, it would be extremely challenging for a six-person crew to plant the explosives needed on the seabed some 262 feet below, and create blasts registering 2.5 on the Richter scale. Pope Francis wont attend the traditional Good Friday Way of the Cross procession because of cold weather in Rome, the Vatican said in a statement. It will be the first time that Francis has missed the Good Friday Via Crucis at Romes Colosseum since he became pope, but the news came as little surprise as winterlike temperatures returned to Italy this week. Francis, 86, was recently in the hospital for treatment of bronchitis, and was discharged less than a week ago. The Vatican had said at the time that the pontiff would take part in all the Holy Week celebrations, but as temperatures descended to about 10 degrees Celsius in Rome, and light snow fell in parts of the country, his participation in the procession, which commemorates the last moments of Jesus life, seemed more uncertain. In interviews with the Italian press, medical experts had warned that, in the case of heavy rain or intense cold, it might be more sensible to keep the pontiff indoors, especially in the evening. Cheektowaga police and the family of a 24-year-old man who was shot to death outside a Genesee Street bar-restaurant more than a month ago are seeking the public's help in bringing his killer to justice. DeAngelo Williams of Buffalo was found on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds in the parking of lot of 33 Speakeasy Grill, 3455 Genesee St., in the early morning hours of Feb. 22. Police were investigating a report of a fight involving 20 people and possible gunshots. With new leads in the investigation waning, police are hoping for more help from witnesses. "We're at the point in this investigation where we're making a plea to the public, to the community, to come forward and help us with some information," Police Chief Brian Gould said Thursday at a news conference in police headquarters, where he was joined by members of Williams' family and local clergy. "What we've learned so far is that there were a group of people inside the bar, many people inside the bar. Some of them ended up outside. There was an altercation outside. We believe, at this point, that the victim was trying to break up the fight, trying to stop the fight, when the gunshots happened," Gould said. Weslyn Ward of Orchard Park said she was not surprised to learn that her brother was trying to keep the peace in the midst of an altercation. "He wouldn't allow anyone to harm anyone. So that's not shocking for him to step in the middle and play peacemaker. And I'm very proud of heroism. He absolutely would stand up in that manner. He would never do any wrong by anyone, which is why we can't understand the insensitive nature of the person that took his life from us," Ward said. She described her brother as having been "the life of the party," but who also was shy and laid back, and enjoyed being around family and friends. "He's a party guy, always seen dressing fly. He had sayings. He was always in motion, so to speak. It's hard doing things without him now, knowing that there will never be another celebration to which our brother can attend," said Ward. She also pleaded for the public's assistance in solving her brother's homicide. "We would just like some closure. And we would provide assistance. Our family would do the same for any other family. So we just ask you to keep us in your prayers, keep us in your thoughts and please share what you know. Thank you," Ward added. Gould said police have identified numerous people who were inside the bar at the time of the shooting, and spoken to numerous witnesses. However, witnesses' cooperation with the police has started to wane, he said. "We're not getting the cooperation that we would like on this case. We know that, you know, there are some issues in the community as far as speaking with the police," Gould said. He encouraged reticent witnesses to the shooting to visit the Cheektowaga Police Department website, cpdny.org, and click on the TIP411 link to leave an anonymous tip. As President Emmanuel Macron of France and Xi Jinping, Chinas top leader, concluded a three-day summit on Friday, their two governments issued a joint statement supporting peace efforts and opposing attacks on nuclear facilities in Ukraine. The statement said that China and France support all efforts to restore peace in Ukraine on the basis of international law and the goals and principles of the United Nations Charter. It also said they endorsed the U.N. nuclear agencys efforts to promote the security of peaceful nuclear installations, including the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southern Ukraine, which has been repeatedly hit by shelling during the yearlong war. The statement, released by the French government, called on all parties in the conflict to scrupulously observe international humanitarian law and to provide safe, fast and unhindered access for humanitarian aid. Mr. Macron and Mr. Xi visited the southern Chinese manufacturing hub of Guangzhou on Friday, shifting attention to the countries economic ties a day after the French leader called on Beijing to do more to help bring an end to Russias war in Ukraine. After a rare outbreak of violence along the Israel-Lebanon border, the situation across the region remained volatile on Friday, when two Israelis were killed in a drive-by shooting in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and at least one other civilian was killed during a car-ramming in Tel Aviv. But fears of a wider escalation on multiple fronts involving Israel, Lebanon and Palestinians in Gaza subsided, at least for the moment. Palestinian militias stopped firing rockets toward Israel, tensions cooled at a sensitive Jerusalem holy site, and the Israeli military ended its counterattacks on Lebanon and Gaza. The shootings in Israel and the West Bank capped an alarming sequence of violence across the region this week, with interconnected escalations in Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon. An Israeli police raid on Wednesday in Jerusalem on the Aqsa mosque compound, a sensitive holy site known to Jews as Temple Mount, outraged Palestinians marking the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. That prompted militias in Lebanon led by Hamas, according to the Israeli military to fire an unusually large barrage of 34 rockets at Israel on Thursday, at least two of which landed in built-up areas. Human Who is LeBron James? A.I. LeBron James is an American NBA professional All iconic When artificial intelligence software like ChatGPT writes, it considers many options for each word, taking into account the response it has written so far and the question being asked. It assigns a score to each option on the list, which quantifies how likely the word is to come next, based on the vast amount of human-written text it has analyzed. ChatGPT, which is built on what is known as a large language model, then chooses a word with a high score, and moves on to the next one. The models output is often so sophisticated that it can seem like the chatbot understands what it is saying but it does not. Every choice it makes is determined by complex math and huge amounts of data. So much so that it often produces text that is both coherent and accurate. But when ChatGPT says something that is untrue, it inherently does not realize it. It may soon become common to encounter a tweet, essay or news article and wonder if it was written by artificial intelligence software. There could be questions over the authorship of a given piece of writing, like in academic settings, or the veracity of its content, in the case of an article. There could also be questions about authenticity: If a misleading idea suddenly appears in posts across the internet, is it spreading organically, or have the posts been generated by A.I. to create the appearance of real traction? Tools to identify whether a piece of text was written by A.I. have started to emerge in recent months, including one created by OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. That tool uses an A.I. model trained to spot differences between generated and human-written text. When OpenAI tested the tool, it correctly identified A.I. text in only about half of the generated writing samples it analyzed. The company said at the time that it had released the experimental detector to get feedback on whether imperfect tools like this one are useful. Identifying generated text, experts say, is becoming increasingly difficult as software like ChatGPT continues to advance and turns out text that is more convincingly human. OpenAI is now experimenting with a technology that would insert special words into the text that ChatGPT generates, making it easier to detect later. The technique is known as watermarking. The watermarking method that OpenAI is exploring is similar to one described in a recent paper by researchers at the University of Maryland, said Jan Leike, the head of alignment at OpenAI. Here is how it works. Human Imagine a list of every word you know, every unique word you might use when writing an essay, email or text message. Now imagine that half of those words are on a special list. If you wrote a couple of paragraphs, about half of the words you used would probably be on the special list, statistically speaking. (This text is from a New York Times article about Serena Williams from 2022.) When a language model or chatbot writes, it can insert a watermark by choosing more of the words on the special list than a person would be expected to use. The text here was generated by the researchers at the University of Maryland who wrote the watermarking paper. They used a technique that essentially bumped up the scores of the words on the special list, making the generator more likely to use them. When the generator got to this point in the text, it would have chosen the word the but the word who was on the special list, and its score was artificially increased enough to overtake the word the. When the generator got here, the words Tuesday, Thursday and Friday were on the special list but their scores were not increased so much that they overtook Saturday, which was by design. For watermarking to work well, it should not overrule an A.I. on its choice of words when it comes to dates or names, to avoid inserting falsehoods. (Although, in this case, the A.I. was wrong: Ms. Williamss final match was indeed on a Friday.) In the end, about 70 percent of the words in the generated text were on the special list far more than would have been in text written by a person. A detection tool that knew which words were on the special list would be able to tell the difference between generated text and text written by a person. That would be especially helpful for this generated text, as it includes several factual inaccuracies. If someone tried to remove a watermark by editing the text, they would not know which words to change. And even if they managed to change some of the special words, they would most likely only reduce the total percentage by a couple of points. Tom Goldstein, a professor at the University of Maryland and co-author of the watermarking paper, said a watermark could be detected even from a very short text fragment, such as a tweet. By contrast, the detection tool OpenAI released requires a minimum of 1,000 characters. Like all approaches to detection, however, watermarking is not perfect, Dr. Goldstein said. OpenAIs current detection tool is trained to identify text generated by 34 different language models, while a watermark detector could only identify text that was produced by a model or chatbot that uses the same list of special words as the detector itself. That means that unless companies in the A.I. field agree on a standard watermark implementation, the method could lead to a future where questionable text must be checked against several different watermark detection tools. To make watermarking work well every time in a widely used product like ChatGPT, without reducing the quality of its output, would require a lot of engineering, Dr. Goldstein said. Dr. Leike of OpenAI said the company was still researching watermarking as a form of detection, and added that it could complement the current tool, since the two have different strengths and weaknesses. Still, many experts believe a one-stop tool that can reliably detect all A.I. text with total accuracy may be out of reach. That is partly because tools could emerge that could help remove evidence that a piece of text was generated by A.I. And generated text, even if it is watermarked, would be harder to detect in cases where it makes up only a small portion of a larger piece of writing. Experts also say that detection tools, especially those that do not use watermarking, may not recognize generated text if a person has changed it enough. "I think the idea that there's going to be a magic tool, either created by the vendor of the model or created by an external third party, that's going to take away doubt I don't think we're going to have the luxury of living in that world," said David Cox, a director of the MIT-IBM Watson A.I. Lab. Sam Altman, the chief executive of OpenAI, shared a similar sentiment in an interview with StrictlyVC last month. Fundamentally, I think it's impossible to make it perfect, Mr. Altman said. People will figure out how much of the text they have to change. There will be other things that modify the outputted text. Part of the problem, Dr. Cox said, is that detection tools themselves present a conundrum, in that they could make it easier to avoid detection. A person could repeatedly edit generated text and check it against a detection tool until the text is identified as human-written and that process could potentially be automated. Detection technology, Dr. Cox added, will always be a step behind as new language models emerge, and as existing ones advance. This is always going to have an element of an arms race to it, he said. It's always going to be the case that new models will come out and people will develop ways to detect that it's a fake. Some experts believe that OpenAI and other companies building chatbots should come up with solutions for detection before they release A.I. products, rather than after. OpenAI launched ChatGPT at the end of November, for example, but did not release its detection tool until about two months later, at the end of January. By that time, educators and researchers had already been calling for tools to help them identify generated text. Many signed up to use a new detection tool, GPTZero, which was built by a Princeton University student over his winter break and was released on Jan. 1. Weve heard from an overwhelming number of teachers, said Edward Tian, the student who built GPTZero. As of mid-February, more than 43,000 teachers had signed up to use the tool, Mr. Tian said. Generative A.I. is an incredible technology, but for any new innovation we need to build the safeguards for it to be adopted responsibly, not months or years after the release, but immediately when it is released, Mr. Tian said. BANAGHER College was honoured at the recent national Digital Schools Awards hosted in the school itself by receiving validation in all seven areas assessed by the judges. That success also meant that the school received an overall Digital Schools Award, leaving Banagher College joining a select group of schools from across Europe who have achieved the distinction. The Digital Schools Awards recognises schools who have made significant strides in incorporating the use of digital technologies into all aspects of school life. Each school hoping to receive the award must conduct an audit of their use of digital technology using the European SELFIE For Schools survey a specially designed tool, created by the European Commission. The schools Digital Learning Team then designs an action plan based on the results, with the aim of improving key areas of education at the school. Evidence of the actions taken and their effectiveness are later submitted to the panel of experts to assess whether the school has made sufficient progress in each area. The judges deemed that Banagher College was successful in all seven areas, which also qualified them to receive the overall award. Banagher College was one of fourteen schools from around Ireland who managed to achieve the overall distinction. The award was presented to the principal, as well as members of the schools Digital Learning Team and student leaders, at the awards ceremony, where representatives of the technology sector were on hand to present the awards. Banagher College principal, Ms Lily Kinahan, spoke of how honoured the school was to achieve the award, and how it was recognition for the hard work of all the staff and students of the school, who have done so much to develop the schools growing reputation as a hub of digital innovation. Banagher College will now go on to become a mentor school, helping others as they seek to also receive Digital Schools Awards status. What is it? Genesis arrived in the UK in mid-2021. While car brands typically launch with a single model and then gradually introduce more, this premium South Korean brand, owned by Hyundai, did the opposite, introducing four new models in its first couple of months, all of the saloon and SUV variety. Its since expanded the line-up with the stylish G70 Shooting Brake, its first European-specific model. While Genesis didnt have a single electrified model at first, its ramping this up now there are EV versions of the G80 saloon and GV70 SUV, but here is its first bespoke electric car, the GV60. Showing a bolder direction for Genesis, is it a model worth considering? Whats new? The GV60 is built around a bespoke electric car platform, and one shared with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6. The advantages of this are that Genesis can be much bolder with its design, while the interior doesnt have to be limited by the packaging drawbacks of using a petrol or diesel platform. While the GV60 might be its cheapest EV, it is a car packed full of gadgets and technology. Theres a crystal ball gear selector that rotates, along with a widescreen digital display that gives it an especially futuristic look. Whats under the bonnet? There are three powertrains available on the GV60 a single-motor 226bhp model, a dual-motor with 314bhp and a mighty Sport Plus car that packs a significant 483bhp. Our test car uses the lesser of the powertrains, though we reckon its the pick of the range. Accelerating to 60mph takes 7.6 seconds, with the GV60 carrying on to a top speed of 115mph. This model is also rear-wheel-drive, with the others sending power to all wheels. All GV60s use the same 77kWh battery though, and youll get the most miles from this entry-level powertrain a claimed 321 miles. Its also one of the quickest-charging EVs on the market, taking as little as 18 minutes to charge from 10 to 80 per cent if you find a quick enough 350kW charger. Whats it like to drive? The GV60 is a really rather impressive choice behind the wheel. With a particular focus on comfort and refinement, even by EV standards, this is a remarkably hushed way of getting about. A real-world range of around 250 miles is good too and means this is an EV that longer trips can be completed in a particularly relaxing way. But should you find yourself on a windier stretch of road, the GV60 isnt bad at all. You can just about feel that its rear-wheel-drive, meaning its a bit more enjoyable than front-wheel-drive EVs. The acceleration is never startling or especially brisk, but it gets up to speed without fuss, and will suit drivers that dont want or care about headline-grabbing figures. The only slight letdown is that rear visibility isnt the best, with a combination of the sloped roofline and painted metal across the window limiting the view out of the back. How does it look? The GV60 is an especially eye-catching choice and is a car that turns plenty of heads. Theres the allure that comes with a new brand and people not knowing what it is; though we had passers-by asking if it was a Bentley during our time with it. High praise indeed. It looks noticeably different to Genesis other models too, as with no need for a grille, it has a much smoother face than the huge wash of chrome that appears on other models from the brand. The quad lights at both the front and rear look great, and we particularly like the flush door handles and sloping roofline, even if the latter does limit visibility. Whats it like inside? Without a doubt, the best thing about the GV60 is its interior. In fact, it feels a few notches above rivals Audi and Mercedes in terms of quality. Our test car came with Nappa leather a 2,310 option, but one that feels like it takes the GV60 from premium to luxury. Wed argue there isnt a better car interior on anything of a similar price. Thanks to the use of the EV platform, Genesis has been able to free up plenty of interior space. Theres a floating centre console which houses the gear selector and aforementioned crystal ball, while theres a completely flat floor in the rear that means adults will be able to sit comfortably. The 432-litre boot isnt the largest, however. Whats the spec like? First proper go in a Genesis GV60 and I am more than impressed. Without doubt one of the best car interiors Ive ever been in pic.twitter.com/lyoLPDnHLv Ted Welford (@TedWelford) February 26, 2023 The entry-level Premium model is absolutely laden with equipment. From the off, you get 19-inch alloy wheels, and a heated and electric steering wheel, while the driver even has a massage function on their seat. Theres also a 12.3-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital dial display, both of which are especially clear. The touchscreen is perhaps overburdened with menus, though. Prices kick off from 53,905 for the GV60, which means this is by no means a cheap car. While its closest rival the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback might look a bit cheaper on paper, when you delve into the specs, theyre almost incomparable when you realise all the extra features the Genesis has. Verdict Genesis has had a good start to proceedings with its range of petrol and diesel models, but the GV60 feels like the car that will get people talking about this South Korean premium brand. The GV60 delivers in all the areas that matter range, interior quality and technology but manages so much more than that. Choose the cheapest model weve tested here and its unquestionably one of the best electric cars currently on the market. We can all agree we dont need any more rain in the near term. All interests who needed moisture replenishment, including those who depend on well water, have gotten more than their fair share. As Ben Tsujimoto wrote in The Buffalo News in late March, our region has experienced a record wet stretch since November. We began the year with surplus moisture from the November and December snowfalls, and since then liquid totals have been running quite high. Buffalo has already received 13.12 inches this year, compared to an average of 9.37, which is a large anomaly of +3.75 inches. Looking to the Cornell Northeast Regional Climate Center, we can see how far above average the precipitation departure in Western New York has been. There is the percent of normal precipitation, which shows similar trends. For growers who want to get their machinery out in the fields, calculated soil moisture as of Thursday is as expected, running high. The good news is the actually anomaly from normal is not extreme, meaning a dry stretch can solidify soils sooner than you might expect. Looking at the comparison between Western New York versus California and the Sierra offers a clearer perspective. After a beautiful-to-the-eye but chilly-to-the-touch Friday, temperatures will tumble again Friday night, reaching the low to mid 20s by Saturday morning. Brilliant sunshine returns for a seasonably cool Saturday. The afternoon high will reach the mid 40s, below the average of 50, but a lighter breeze will make it feel milder and ideal for walks. By the way, the UV index will be high due to the time of the year and the clarity of the atmosphere. Keep in mind ultraviolet exposure is not related to air temperature, and is the same whether youre cold or warm. Easter Sunday will be spectacularly sunny, after a cold start at dawn, with temps in the upper 20s. The positioning of the Canadian ridge of high pressure will assure tranquil conditions, and the afternoon high near 53 will feel warmer. The slow building of this ridge to our south and southeast will bring slowly warming temperatures each day next week, with mornings growing progressively less chilly. By midweek, the ridge will be supplying us with a brisk southwest flow, along with low humidity. Afternoon highs will run in the upper 50s Monday, low 60s Tuesday, and mid 60s Wednesday. Thursdays upper 60s will give way to exceptional warmth next Friday, though well fall a bit short of Wednesdays short-lived 77 (when Dunkirk hit 82 while areas north of Buffalo never reached those lofty levels). Here is the best news of all. I cant recall the last time I saw a Weather Prediction Center seven-day precipitation outlook like this one. The brisk breeze that begins to develop Tuesday and continues through Thursday will also aid in evaporation, speeding the soil-drying process and ending the parade of muddy pawprints for homes like mine. Another sign of spring is a renewed pollen count from Pollen.com. Although we dont have a pollen count measured locally, this site consults with agronomists and plant data, along with local weather conditions, to make scientific estimates that are reasonably reliable. The Buffalo Lake Erie temperature is up to 41 degrees, 7 degrees above average for the date and a sure sign of how mild our cold weather season has been. From November through March, every months mean temperature in Buffalo has been above average. Through Thursday, our April mean has been running 7.6 degrees above average. In the extended range, the dry pattern appears to have signs of staying power beyond the seven-day forecast period, as does the warmth. In the six- to 10-day period, the Climate Prediction Center/CPC shows high confidence for warmer and drier conditions. CPC shows similar confidence for the eight- to 14-day outlook. The upper air ensemble means support this confidence during mid-month, and even lower atmospheric temperatures are strongly favored to run above average. Some ups and downs are statistically likely to return later in the month, but there are no signs of anomalously cold outbreaks returning. Still, it would be unrealistic to expect the totally dry forecast in the next seven days to go on indefinitely. In the meantime, the nation will have an easier time of it in the next week as far as severe weather outbreaks go. Warming is shifting planting zones The ongoing warming climate is changing planting zones, with higher minimum temperatures during the winter months over recent decades. From USDA and NOAA data, the trend is readily apparent in our region, as it is over much of the nation. Nationally, this brief animation demonstrates the moderation, which is driving the northward planting zone shift. Fact Check: Is this man criticising CM Yogi for the killing of Atiq Ahmed Fact Check: Have the NRIs launched a not vote for BJP campaign in Karnataka Fact Check: Did Bengal varsity allowed Iftaar but not Saraswati Puja? Fact Check oi-Vicky Nanjappa A claim has gone viral with the claim that an Iftar party at a Kolkata college has hurt Hindu sentiments. Many users on the social media have criticised the Presidency University for allegedly hurting Hindu sentiments over the Iftar party. An image allegedly taken from the Iftar party posted on Twitter claimed, " "#WestBengal Today evening, Dawat-e-Iftaar organised at Presidency University, Kolkata. Most of the students joined this Iftar. For information, this University didn't allow to do Saraswati Puja inside campus. Left students orprotested [sic] against Saraswati Puja. This is #Secularism." Fact Check: Are these images of Trump's arraignment real? "Dawat-e-iftar in Presidency College's Eden Hindu hostel. Plz remember, Presidency University did not allow Saraswati Puja within the compound citing it goes against "secular" nature of the institution," said spokesperson of the BJP Keya Ghosh while sharing two images of the the Iftar party. Some websites even shared an article about the Iftar party being held at the Presidency University and questioned why this was being allowed. The articles cited social media accounts who had claimed that the university had granted permission for the Iftar party, but had denied the same for Saraswati Puja. We have learnt that the Iftar party was held in the Eden Hindu Hostel and not inside the university as is being claimed. It has also been learnt that a Saraswati puja was also held in the Eden Hindu hostel. We did a search on Google for the Eden Hindu hostel and found that the images being posted with the viral claim are not from the Presidency university. These searches made it clear that the images are from Eden Hindu hostel and not from inside the Presidency University campus. Fact Check: Video of dogs chasing women not from Hyderabad We also found several report which said that the student body of the Trinamool Congress had sought permission to perform the Saraswati puja inside the university campus. The same was however denied by the university citing grounds of secularism. These reports however said that no religious events had been allowed inside the campus. Hence these reports make it clear that the an Iftar party was hosted in the Eden Hindu college and not the Presidency University as is being claimed on various social media accounts. Fact Check Claim Iftar party was held in the campus of Kolkatas Presidency university, while permission was denied for a Saraswati puna. Conclusion The Iftar party was organised at the Eden hostel and a Saraswati puja was also held. Rating False Raise your request for FACT CHECKING. Mail us at [email protected] We are only fighting against Khalistanis but not against the idea of Khalistan Why Amritpal may have ended up dividing Sikhs rather than uniting them Don't try to create panic: Akal Takht Jathedar to Punjab govt India oi-Madhuri Adnal Takht Damdama Sahib jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh on Friday during a special gathering at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo, announced a new platform to track and bust 'anti-Sikh' content being circulated online. The Jathedar called a special gathering at Takht Damdama Sahib on Friday to discuss the role of Sikh and Punjabi journalism, Sikh media contribution, and challenges the state is facing at present. The gathering comes at a time when concerns about the rise of secessionist forces in the border state are being expressed, especially in the wake of a major law and order breach in Ajnala Police Station attack led by radical preacher Amritpal Singh, who has been declared a fugitive by police. While addressing a special gathering, Singh lamented the Punjab government and national media for wrongly covering them. ''National media covering this event is running news that Amritpal will be arrested today in the event,'' he said. Singh also said that tyros and budding journalists will be roped in for the forthcoming project aimed at curtailing hateful content against the community. ''To track anti-Sikh or anti-Punjabi phobia, we will constitute a strong group to keep tab on news running against us in a bid to defame our community. We want to tell Punjab government to stop this panic created by removing huge force from here as due to which devotee are turning up here. This is not only defaming Punjab or Punjabis but the party ruling in the state. Now government is creating panic that on Baisakhi day, Amritpal will come here,'' Singh was quoted as saying by Tribune. No 'Sarbat Khalsa: Akal Takht rules out Amritpal meet on Baisakhi day Apparently referring to certain media reports, the Jathedar said, "earlier they said Amritpal Singh will surrender here. Now they will start saying that he will surrender on Baisakhi day, and an attempt will be made to create panic in his name. The government should avoid it." The Jathedar said when such a situation is created, it does not affect only the image of Punjabis and Punjab, but also the government which is ruling Punjab. "At least save your image." The Jathedar said leaves of police staff in Punjab have been cancelled and they have been asked to be present for duty. "All of them have been sent to Damdama Sahib. What will happen here?" he said. Punjab Police has cancelled leaves of all its staff till April 14, said sources on Friday. Baisakhi, one of Punjab's biggest festivals in north India, marks the foundation day of the 'Khalsa Panth' (Sikh order) by the tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh. It also marks the onset of harvest season. On the day of the festival, people across Punjab offer prayers at gurdwaras. Security has been stepped up in Talwani Sabo in Bathinda ahead of Baisakhi. Anil will be thrown out like curry leaves by BJP: Antony's younger son India oi-Madhuri Adnal A day after Congress veteran and former Defence Minister A.K. Antony's son Anil joined the BJP snapping all association with the Congress, his brother Ajith on Friday said that his decision was an 'impulsive' one and the saffron party would throw him out like 'curry leaves' after using him. According to Ajith, his father A.K. Anoty is devastated after seeing Anil accepting the BJP membership at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Thursday. Anil joined the BJP in the presence of Union ministers Piyush Goyal and V. Muraleedharan. Speaking to reporters, Ajith said Anil had not given the slightest hint to the family about his decision, and it was a shock to all of them to see the news flash on channels about the development on Thursday. ''Pappa (A.K. Antony) was seen sitting with utmost pain in a corner of the house. I have never ever seen him so weak like this in my life. He did not shed tears, that's all,'' Ajith said. He said his brother might have his own reasons to join BJP and said he used to receive several abusive calls from unknown Congress party workers, which might have had hurt him. ''I thought he might have gone away from the (Congress) party out of anger, but I never ever thought that he would go to the BJP. The decision was a totally unexpected one,'' Anil's younger brother said. Wrong decision, pained by Anil joining BJP, says A K Antony Terming Anil's decision to join the BJP as 'very impulsive', Ajith said he believes that he will come back to the Congress party after rectifying his mistakes. He may continue to remain in the BJP if he feels that it is good for his political future, Ajith said in response to a question. ''He probably would have gone, as he felt that it would be good for him. But, I will say again and again that they (BJP) will throw him out like curry leaves,'' he said. Citing the examples of leaders like Alphons Kannanthanam and Tom Vadakkan, who had joined the BJP a few years ago, Ajith said BJP would use everyone temporarily and throw them out like used curry leaves. After Anil joined BJP, an emotionally charged A.K. Antony had said in Kerala that it was a 'wrong decision' and a 'very painful' moment for him. Anil, who headed the Digital Media Cell of Congress in Kerala, quit the party in January this year after criticising the party's stand on the controversial documentary series of the BBC on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and slammed the Congress leadership for working for a single family instead of for the country. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 7, 2023, 17:20 [IST] BJPs first list may contain list of 130 candidates India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The BJP is expected to release its list of candidates for the Karnataka Assembly elections this week. Sources tell OneIndia that the first list of the party is likely to be released by Saturday and it would contain the names of 130 candidates. Former chief minister and senior BJP leader, B S Yediyurappa will be going to Delhi and take part in a meeting. "We will finalise all the seats as early as possible. BJP will get a majority and form the government in Karnataka," Yediyurappa also said. Meanwhile a fake list did the rounds, which prompted the BJP to clarify on the same. The state unit of the party, blamed the Congress party and alleged that it has been spreading fake news. "Another lie from the Congress lie factory. Bharatiya Janata Party candidate selection process is in progress and this list will be 'FAKE,' the BJP said in a tweet. Karnataka Chief Minister, Basavaraj Bommai said that opinion is being sought from the local level, then district level and state level, and based on a complete information and ground reality, it is being done in a democratic way. I am confident it will go smoothly, Bommai had said. He also said that the names will be out either on April 8 or 9. The two splits in the Congress and its link to Karnataka The source cited above also said that most nearly all sitting MLAs will be retained. However there may be some hits and misses in the final list. The party is aiming at releasing the list as soon as possible and it may be done in two phases, the source also said. Bommai too had indicated that there would be a surprise element in the list of candidates. "Some seats will give a surprise result. You are going to see it in the days to come," he also said. The BJP would look to release the list before Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes another visit to the state. The PM will be campaigning in the state extensively over the next couple of days and the BJP hopes that it would make further inroads. The BJP has set itself a target of winning 150 seats in the state so that it has a clear majority in the 224 member house. Voting will take place in Karnataka on May 10, while the results will be declared on May 13. Cheetahs from Namibia, South Africa get new names, here is what they are called Cheetah Oban that strayed out of Kuno rescued from forest area in Shivpuri, brought back India pti-PTI A male cheetah that had strayed out of the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur and was spotted at an agricultural field adjoining a village a few days back, was rescued from a forest area in neighbouring Shivpuri district and released into the park again, a forest official said on Friday. Oban, one of the eight cheetahs brought from Namibia in September last year, had strayed out of the KNP on April 2 and the feline was rescued on Thursday evening, he said. "After moving out of the KNP, Oban was wandering in nearby areas. On Wednesday, the feline reached the Bairad area in Shivpuri district via Vijaypur's Jhad Badora and Parvati Badoda areas and also hunted a blackbuck as he was hungry," divisional forest officer (DFO) P K Verma said. After getting information that Oban is in the Bairad area, the cheetah monitoring team decided to rescue the animal. The team finally caught him around 5 pm on Thursday, he said. After being rescued, Oban was brought back to the KNP and released into the Palpur forest area, the official said. Verma, however, did not share details of the rescue operation, including whether the animal was tranquilised. On the reports that a female cheetah - Asha - also moving out of the forest area, the DFO said she was wandering in the KNP's reserve area and the monitoring team is keeping an eye on her movements. So far, four out of the eight cheetahs brought from Namibia to the KNP in September, 2022, have been released into the wild (free range area) from enclosures. Oban and Asha were released into the wild on March 11, almost six months after they were brought to the KNP, while Elton and Freddie, popularly known as "Rockstars", were released into park's free-range area on March 22. The eight Namibian cheetahs - five females and three males - were brought to the KNP as part of the cheetah reintroduction programme aimed at reviving the species' population in India, where they became extinct more than 70 years ago. The eight Namibian cheetahs, comprising five females and three males, were brought to the KNP as part of an ambitious reintroduction programme of the species and were released into special enclosures on September 17, 2022 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. One of them, Sasha, died of a kidney ailment on March 27, while another, Siyaya, gave birth to four cubs. Another set of 12 cheetahs, comprising seven males and five females, were brought to the KNP from South Africa on February 18 this year. Cheetahs from Namibia, South Africa get new names, here is what they are called Cheetahs exploring habitat, nothing to worry: Project Tiger head on straying incident in MP India pti-PTI Cheetahs released into the wild are exploring their habitat and it's a very good sign, a senior environment ministry official has said after a spotted feline strayed out of Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park recently. Oban, one of the eight cheetahs brought from Namibia in September last year, strayed out of the Kuno National Park on April 2. State forest officials on Friday said it was rescued from a forest area in a neighbouring Shivpuri district on Thursday evening and released into the national park again. Additional Director General of Forests S P Yadav told PTI that such movement of cheetahs is a natural phenomenon and there is nothing to worry about. "Four cheetahs have been released completely. They are free ranging in the wild. Their movement is natural. We are happy that cheetahs are moving and exploring the areas and based on the exploration they identify their suitable habitat," Yadav, who is also the head of Project Tiger, said in an interview with PTI. "It is a very good sign that they are exploring other areas. It's a natural phenomenon and there is nothing to worry about. But I must tell you that every cheetah which has been released in Kuno is monitored round the clock," he said. The senior official said the government has appointed "Cheetah mitras" to familiarise the local populations with the felines and minimise potential conflicts. Forest officials in Madhya Pradesh have trained around 400 "cheetah mitras" from 51 villages. Those trained include school teachers, village headmen and patwaris. "And if at all any conflict takes place with small animals like sheep, goats etc, our compensation plan is ready. They (owners) will be adequately compensated," Yadav said. Under the ambitious Cheetah reintroduction programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the first batch of eight spotted felines -- five females and three males -- from Namibia into a quarantine enclosure at Kuno in Madhya Pradesh on his 72nd birthday on September 17 last year. One of the Namibian cheetahs, Sasha, died due to a kidney-related ailment on Monday, forest and wildlife officials in Madhya Pradesh said. Another cheetah, Siyaya, gave birth to four cubs and they were first spotted on March 29. In a second such translocation, 12 cheetahs were flown in from South Africa and released into Kuno on February 18. Kuno, spread over 750 kilometres in the state's Chambal region, has a good prey base for cheetahs, comprising the four-horned antelope, chinkara, nilgai, wild pig, spotted deer and sambar, according to wildlife officials. Cheetah is the only large carnivore that got completely wiped out from India due to overhunting and habitat loss. The last cheetah died in the Koriya district of present-day Chhattisgarh in 1947 and the species was declared extinct in 1952. New bipartisan legislation aimed at improving rail safety is on track to pass in the U.S. Senate, Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer said during a news conference Friday as he stood along the Norfolk Southern rail line in Attica. In the wake of a disastrous train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, in February, Schumer said the proposed Railway Safety Act of 2023 will help establish new rail safety protocols, hold rail companies accountable for the lack of such and force them to be more open about the hazardous materials that are regularly transported through communities across Western New York. Buffalo's state lawmakers call for rail regulations following train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio Lawmakers gathered in Cheektowaga on Saturday to send a clear message: The train derailment that has devastated East Palestine, Ohio, could have happened in Western New York. "Western New York is a hub for freight rail activity and we cant let this problem go off the rails any further," Schumer said in a statement Friday. "I am here to say that the Senate is moving full steam ahead with bipartisan common sense rail safety reforms, and as majority leader I will serve as the conductor and do all I can to get the support needed to increase transparency and communication, strengthen safety protocols, increase investment in equipment and personnel and jack up fines for wrongdoers," he added. In response to the derailment in Ohio, Schumer last month sent a letter to the major freight rail carriers that traverse the state, demanding that they take action so that such dangerous accidents may never occur in New York. He noted that a number of freight accidents have already occurred upstate in recent years, including a 2020 derailment of a freight train carrying hazardous petrochemicals in East Aurora that authorities characterized as a near miss with the potential to have been catastrophic. A Norfolk Southern train derailed in Attica in 2018, sending two railroad engines and about 10 railroad cars off the tracks. The lead engine caught fire. About 10 different fire and emergency services from Wyoming and adjoining counties responded to the incident. The engines were carrying about 2,225 gallons of diesel fuel and responding firefighters were advised to let the fire burn itself out. Cleanup at the site took several days. Higgins calls for investigation of suspected rail car fire in Buffalo "I'm calling on Norfolk Southern and the Secretary of Transportation to investigate what occurred and provide an explanation," Rep. Brian Higgins said. "At the very least, an explanation is required ... " Wyoming County also was the site of a derailment in Silver Springs that caused at least two covered hoppers used for hauling salt to tip over over and halt switching operations, according to Schumer's office. As a result, most of the village's railroad crossings were blocked for half a day to allow for a cleanup of the wreckage. In hopes of preventing future accidents, the proposed Railway Safety Act would require top executives of Norfolk Southern, CSX and other freight lines to improve safety requirements for all trains carrying hazardous materials, require that there be at least two highly trained crew members aboard every train, increase the maximum fine for safety violations from $225,000 to 1% of a rail company's operating income and set a $1 million annual fee on railroads to pay for training local emergency responders on the scene of derailments. Not in the game now, Congress eyes 2019 polls in Seemandhra Kiran Reddy has seen many turns in his long political career Never thought would leave Congress: Kiran Reddy after joining BJP India oi-Prakash KL Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, who quit the Congress party last month, joined the BJP on Friday. Reddy joined the saffron party in the presence of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and other prominent party leaders at the party headquarters in New Delhi. Speaking on the occasion, Joshi said that Reddy's clean image would help BJP in Andhra Pradesh. "Many members of Kiran Kumar Reddy's family were in Congress. When I met him some time ago, he told me that he was influenced by PM Modi. Today, he is taking a big leap and joining the BJP. He will strengthen our fight against corruption because his image as MLA and minister has been very clean. It will be a big boost for BJP in Andhra Pradesh," ANI quoted Joshi in a tweet. On his turn, Reddy said, "I had never imagined that I'll have to leave Congress... There is a saying - 'My king is very intelligent, he doesn't think on his own, doesn't listens to anyone's advice'." The senior Congress leader had sent his one-line resignation letter to party chief Mallikarjun Kharge in March. In a letter dated March 11 and addressed to Kharge, Reddy had written, "Please accept this letter as my resignation from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress." It has to be noted that he was the last Chief Minister of the undivided Andhra Pradesh. Opposing the decision of Andhra Pradesh's bifurcation, Kiran Kumar resigned from the Congress party in 2014 as a mark of protest against the then UPA government. He floated his own party called 'Jai Samaikyandhra'. He had fielded candidates from some constituencies but his party failed to make any impact. In 2018, he rejoined Congress. Today's development comes only a day after another senior Congress leader and party veteran A.K. Antony's son Anil K. Antony, who quit the party in January this year, joined the BJP. Hours after his release, Telangana BJP chief holds grand roadshow India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Bandi Sanjay, chief of the Bharatiya Janata Party held a grand roadshow following his release from the Karimnagar district, where he had been incarcerated following his arrest in the SSC paper leak case. He was granted bail by a magistrate court this morning. Visuals shared by news agency ANI showed Sanjay to be in a jubilant mood, with his arms raised a grin on his face. In the video a sea of BJP workers and supporters were seen waving party flags and shouting slogans and dancing to loud music. Sanjay was offered garlands by his followers and the BJP leader also paid floral tributes at the statue of Dr. B R Ambedkar. #WATCH | Telangana BJP President Bandi Sanjay along with his supporters pays floral tributes to Dr BR Ambedkar in Karimnagar, following his bail in the SSC paper leak case pic.twitter.com/Q7HkoD1p0B ANI (@ANI) April 7, 2023 Sanjay was arrested on Wednesday and sent to judicial custody until April 19 following a photograph of what appeared to be a question paper for Class 10 Hindu exam emerged online. It was sent to the politician on WhatsApp by one of the two accused, a journalist who has been arrested. #WATCH | Telangana BJP president Bandi Sanjay holds rally in Karimnagar after being released on bail in the SSC paper leak case pic.twitter.com/gWpCABuK0x ANI (@ANI) April 7, 2023 The arrests of Bandi Sanjay sparked a major row in Telangana, which is due to hold elections this year. Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay gets bail in SSC paper leak case The BJP is hoping to make inroads in Telangana. The elections would also be a litmus test for Chief Minister, K Chandrasekhar Rao's prime ministerial ambitions and also the ability of his Bharat Rashtra Samithi to challenge the BJP on the national stage. Bandi Sanjay's advocates have rejected the allegations as baseless and termed it a political vendetta. While granting bail, the court imposed several conditions which included that he will not be allowed to leave the country without permission. How many more should say it...? Anil Antony welcomes Reddy to BJP India oi-Madhuri Adnal Congress veteran A K Antony's son Anil Antony, who joined BJP on Thursday, has welcomed another former Congressman and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy to the BJP with an 'emperor' jibe against the grand old party. Taking to micro-blogging Twitter, Anil Antony wrote, ''Welcome Kiran Kumar Reddy to the @BJP4India! Glad you have also joined the organization that is working for India's core national interests and for public interests without prejudice and bias. How many more should say that the emperor has no clothes before the grand royals realise?.'' Welcome Kiran Kumar Reddy ji to the @BJP4India ! Glad you have also joined the organization that is working for Indias core national interests and for public interests without prejudice and bias. How many more should say that the emperor has no clothes before the grand royals https://t.co/ZUKzJ9mPJU Anil K Antony (@anilkantony) April 7, 2023 Though Antony has taken any name, it is amply clear that he is referring to Rahul Gandhi as 'emperor' and the Gandhi family as 'grand royals'. Reddy is the second prominent Congress leader from the South to join the BJP in as many days. Antony deserted the Congress in January this year when he took a stand against BBC's documentary showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi in poor light and the party asked him to delete his post supporting Modi on social media. Though the two-episode docu-series was blocked by the Union government later, it received support from the opposition parties, including Congress. Wrong decision, pained by Anil joining BJP, says A K Antony Anguished by his son's move, A K Antony called it a 'wrong decision' and a 'very painful' moment for him. He said that he would never support the ideology of BJP and its ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which he accused of making attempts to divide the country and weaken the foundations of democracy. Meanwhile, BJP's Kerala chief K. Surendran has said many more Congress leaders would soon switch to his party. Kiran Kumar Reddy, who served as the last Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh before the formation of Telangana State in 2014, joined BJP in the presence of Union Minister Prahlad Joshi, party general secretary Arun Singh and MP K. Laxman at a function organised at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Friday. Reddy became Andhra Pradesh's Chief Minister on November 11, 2010, but resigned on March 10, 2014, in protest against the Congress party's decision to bifurcate the State. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 7, 2023, 17:55 [IST] Will vote for BJP: Padma awardee Quadri amid row over praising Modi India oi-Prakash KL Padma Shri awardee and veteran Bidri craft artist Shah Rasheed Ahmed Quadri has said that he spoke his mind amid controversy around his praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I told him whatever was in my heart. I told him that I tried for the award during Congress time. When the BJP government came, I was upset and gave up trying. But he proved me wrong-- this is what I told him. I never approached any individual politician. I used to work on my own and send my profile to the government. I never received any reply then but now they are replying and saying that I have been taught," India Today quoted him as saying in an interview. In the viral video, Quadri is heard telling the PM that the BJP government proved him wrong by giving him an award. "When your government came, I thought now the BJP government would not give me any award. But you have proved me wrong. I express my sincere gratitude to you," Quadri was heard saying in the clip. Prime Minister Modi responded with laughter in admiration of the veteran artist. However, the Congress slammed the video and accused the BJP of tutoring him to praise PM Modi. He then claimed that he used to send his portfolios to the government when the Congress was in power, but it was of no use. "I met the Prime Minister and spoke what I had in mind. I told him what I went through. During the Congress regime, I gave up my hope of getting a Padma Shri after repeatedly getting rejected for five years," he told the channel. PM Modi to attend inaugural ceremony of 'Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam' in Somnath on April 17 "I have always voted for the Congress. But now I have a favour to return to the BJP government," he is quoted as saying by another news channel. He also stated that he cannot be tutored. "I am 68 years old. Am I a child that I can be tutored?" he asked. President Droupadi Murmu presented three Padma Vibhushan, five Padma Bhushan and 47 Padma Shri Awards for the year 2023 at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-II held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday. 'Illegal' film studio demolished in Mumbai after NGT order India oi-Madhuri Adnal A day after National Green Tribunal (NGT) decision, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday undertook a demolition drive against the 'illegally built' film studios in the Madh-Marve area in Malad. According to reports, of the total 11 studios as many five studios will be demolished, civic officials said. #WATCH | Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) demolishes "illegally built" film studios in the Madh-Marve area of Mumbai pic.twitter.com/YpagsHIH4z ANI (@ANI) April 7, 2023 The move occurred when former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya revealed the matter in September 2022, stating that unlawful buildings worth Rs 1,000 crore had been built in the regions, flagrantly breaking all standards. Thackeray, Shinde factions of Sena clash at party office in BMC Somaiya, who is the whistle-blower in the case, hit out at BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal claiming that he knew the structures were illegal but didn't take any action. ''We approached court which questioned BMC on how illegal constructions were allowed,'' he said. Permission was given to these five studios for a temporary structure, but they had set up a huge structure in which a lot of steel and concrete material was used. On April 6, the National Green Tribunal vacated its stay and ordered action, following which action was initiated against five studios, the civic body said. A team of 10 engineers and 40 civic employees is carrying out demolitions with the help of JCB machines, two dumpers, two gas cutters and other equipment amid police presence, it added. With Anil Antonys entry, BJP pushes for Christian outreach in Kerala, K'taka India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The move by the Bharatiya Janata Party to welcome Anil Antony, the son of Congressman, A K Antony is aimed at its Christian outreach in the state of Kerala. The BJP has been reaching out to the Christian population in Kerala for long in a bid to boost its prospects in the state, where it is yet to make a major mark. Reacting to his son joining the BJP, Antony said that it was a wrong decision. The decision is painful and I will remain a Congressman till death. I am 82 yers old and my life is in its last lap. I do not know how I will live. After my son quit the party posts, I have not discussed or reacted to that. This is my first and last reaction to this, Antony who is also a former Kerala chief minister and defence minister said. The decision to take Anil into its fold was a decision taken at the Central level. He has been in touch with the top leaders of the BJP since January before an official announcement was made on Thursday. Wrong decision, pained by Anil joining BJP, says A K Antony Anil joined the BJP in the presence of Union Minister, Piyush Goyal and other senior BJP leaders. The BJP with the entry of Anil would be hoping to blunt the fears among the Christian community. The Christians are a very influential community in Kerala and parts of Karnataka which goes to polls next month. The party has been trying to gain the trust of the Christians and has in recent times even projected leaders like Tom Vadakkan and K J Alphons. Further more the BJP and the Christian community have been raising concerns about issues such a Love Jihad in Kerala and Karnataka. The BJP's Prakash Javadekar who is in charge of Kerala has been leading the party's outreach to various communities. He has also been meeting with various Christian leaders. Following the elections in Northeast where the BJP returned to power in all the three states, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that the results in Meghalaya and Nagaland proved that the party was not seen as 'anti-Christian' and added that a BJP coalition would come to power in Kerala too. At the press conference in New Delhi, the BJP's V Muraleedharan said that Anil Antony is a man of faith. He holds national interest beyond political interest. "His joining the BJP will prove the false campaign that the BJP does not welcome non-Hindus wrong. This is a befitting reply to those who spread it," he had said. What led to Anil Antony quitting the Congress and joining BJP: 6 points Anil Antony quit the party after citing online threats for his stance on the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He has earned the praise of the BJP for his stance and has been described as a 'multi-faceted' personality. "The fact that he raised strong objections to the BBC documentary which sought to inflame tempers and raise completely unfounded baseless allegations against the honourable Prime Minister. Anil Antony termed these as an assault on India's sovereignty and integrity. It was obviously not liked by the Congress, which, at the same time, was trying to use the British soil to attack all democratic institutions in India," Piyush Goyal said at the press conference. Identify emergency hotspots, ramp up testing: Centre asks state to up vigil as Covid cases rise India oi-Deepika S Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday chaired a high-level meeting to discuss the Covid situation amid increase in Covid cases and asked states to stay alert. The meeting comes on a day when India reported 6,050 fresh coronavirus cases, the highest in 203 days. The Union health ministry data shows that the active cases have increased to 28,303. During the meet, Mandviya advised States to be on the alert and keep all preparedness for COVID-19 management. The government also asked states to identify emergency hotspots, ramp up testing and ensure hospital infrastructure readiness. Mandaviya also asked health ministers to visit hospitals to review mock drills across all health facilities on April 10,11. Union Minister @mansukhmandviya chairs a meeting with state health ministers on the COVID-19 situation in the country@MoHFW_INDIA pic.twitter.com/Z53eQMNdsZ DD News (@DDNewslive) April 7, 2023 He also urged States to identify emerging hotspots by monitoring trends of ILI/SARI cases and sending sufficient samples for testing of COVID-19 and Influenza; and ramping up whole genome sequencing of positive samples. It was observed that 23 states had average tests per million below the national average. Dr. Mandaviya said that irrespective of the new COVID variants, the five-fold strategy of 'Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate & Adherence to COVID Appropriate Behaviour' continue to remain the tested strategy for COVID management. This would facilitate undertaking of appropriate public health measures, he said. States were also requested to expeditiously increase the rate of testing from the current rate of 100 tests per million, as on week ending 7 April. They were further advised to increase the share of RT-PCR in tests. States were briefed that India has been witnessing a steady increase in COVID-19 cases with average daily cases rising to 4,188 in the week ending 07th April from 571 in the week ending 17th March and weekly positivity up to 3.02% in the week ending 07th April. However, 88,503 daily average cases have been reported globally in the same time, with the top five countries contributing 62.6% of global cases in the last one week. States/UTs were further informed that currently WHO is closely tracking one variant of interest (VOI), XBB.1.5 and six other variants are under monitoring (BQ.1, BA.2.75, CH.1.1, XBB, XBF and XBB.1.16). It was highlighted that while Omicron and its sub-lineages continue to be the predominant variant, most of the assigned variants have little or no significant transmissibility, disease severity or immune escape. The prevalence of XBB.1.16 increased from 21.6% in Feb to 35.8% in March, 2023. However, no evidence of an increase in hospitalisation or mortality has been reported. India's death toll has increased to 5,30,943 with 14 deaths, three reported from Maharashtra, two each from Karnataka and Rajasthan, one each from Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, and one was reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated. The daily positivity rate has been recorded at 3.39 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 3.02 per cent, it said. The total tally of Covid cases stands at 4.47 crore (4,47,45,104). As Covid cases shoot up, Centre in huddle with State Health Ministers The active cases now comprise 0.06 per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid recovery rate has been recorded at 98.75 per cent, according to the health ministry's website. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has increased to 4,41,85,858, while the case fatality rate has been recorded at 1.19 per cent, it said. According to the ministry's website, 220.66 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered so far under the nationwide Covid vaccination drive. A Times of India report stated that the seven-day average of daily cases continues to double in seven days. In the past week (March 30-April 5), India reported 26,361 fresh cases, double the number reported in the previous seven days (13,274). Deaths in the last seven day totalled 48, up from 38 in the preceding period, the report stated. Notably, the Covid cases have been tripling in the last seven days in Kerala, which accounted highest number cases during the period. JDS for ban on Sudeep's films days after the actor extended support to BJP India oi-Prakash KL Days after Kannada actor Sudeep extended his support to Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai ahead of the state polls, Janata Dal (Secular) has written to the Election Commission, seeking a ban on the screening and telecast of his movies, shows and commercials. It has claimed that they might influence voters in upcoming Assembly elections. On Wednesday, Sudeep confirmed he would campaign for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).Addressing a joint press conference with Karnataka Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai on Wednesday, Sudeep said, "I had no need to come here, and I an not here for any platform or money. I have here only for a person. I have high regard for CM Mama (Bommai). That's why I am announcing my full support to Bommai sir". On whether he believes in the BJP's ideology, Sudeep said, "As a citizen, I totally respect certain decisions PM Modi has taken, but that's my perspective. But that has got nothing to do with me sitting here today." CM Bommai said Sudeep doesn't belong to any political party. Reacting to superstar's statement on Wednesday, South star Prakash Raj said, "I am shocked and hurt by Kichha Sudeep's statement." Can Sudeep turn around BJP fortunes in Karnataka? Meanwhile, on Wednesday, a lawyer based in Shivamogga, K P Sripal, wrote to the Election Commission, asking it to ban the screening and telecasting of movies, shows and commercials featuring the superstar Kannada superstar Kichcha Sudeep till the declaration of results of Assembly polls. The polling for the Karnataka Assembly is scheduled to be held on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13. However, the Election Commission usually bans TV channels from showing films and videos of film stars who are candidates in the poll. Notably in Tamil Nadu, this becomes an issue as Chief Ministers like MGR and Jayalalithaa attained stardom before foraying into films and the debate is airing their movies would can influence voters once the model code comes. Karnataka has 32 MLAs who have been framed by court under RP Act India oi-Vicky Nanjappa There are 32 MLAs in Karnataka against whom charges have been framed by the court for offences falling under the Representation of People Act, a report said. A report prepared by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and the Karnataka Election Watch analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 219 MLAs. The number of MLAs with criminal cases which fall under Section 8(1) of the RP Act who will be disqualified, if convicted. The number of MLAs with criminal cases which fall under Section 8(2) of the RP Act and who will be disqualified, if they are convicted with a punishment of not less than 6 months. The number of MLAs with criminal cases which fall under Section 8(3) of the RP Act who will be disqualified, if they are convicted with a punishment of not less than 2 years, the report said. Karnataka minister Munirathna booked for hate speech Highlights: There are a total of 32 MLAs who have declared criminal cases where the charges have been framed under Section 8(1) (2) & (3) of the R.P Act,1951. Among parties, BJP has the highest number of MLAs i.e. 22, followed by INC with 5, JD(S) with 4 and 1 Independent MLA who has declared criminal cases where the charges have been framed under Section 8(1) (2) & (3) of the R.P Act, 1951. As per details of criminal cases declared in the self sworn affidavits submitted by the MLAs while contesting Karnataka assembly elections in 2018 and bye-elections held thereafter, pendency in respect of criminal cases where charges have been framed under Sec 8 (1), (2), (3) is shown below. However, it may be pointed out that the status of these cases may have undergone a change over the years for some MLAs. The exact current status will be known only in respect of MLAs who decide to re-contest in the Karnataka Assembly elections 2023, after they file their nomination papers, the ADR report said. The average number of years that criminal cases against 32 MLAs have been pending is 5 years. 6 MLAs have a total of 9 criminal cases pending against them for ten years or more. Criminal cases pending for the period: 16 years: Punishment of criminal conspiracy: G Somasekhara Reddy of BJP from Bellary City constituency. 14 years: Punishment for Defamation, Printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory, Sale of printed or engraved substance containing defamatory matter: B Sreeramulu of BJP from Molakalmuru constituency. Punishment for criminal breach of trust, Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property: Ranganath H D of INC from Kunigal constituency. 11 years: Punishment for criminal intimidation, Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace, Punishment for Rioting, Rioting, armed with deadly weapon, Assault or criminal force with intent to dishonour person, otherwise than on grave provocation, Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees: Yashvanthrayagouda Patil of INC from Indi constituency. 10 years: Mischief by destroying or moving, etc., a land- mark fixed by public authority Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage to amount of one hundred or (in case of agricultural produce) ten rupees, Joining or continuing in unlawful assembly, knowing it has been commanded to disperse, Punishment for Rioting, Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees: K.Y. Nanjegowda of INC from Malur constituency. Joining or continuing in unlawful assembly, knowing it has been commanded to disperse, Rioting, Punishment for Rioting, Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees: D.C.Thammanna of JD(S) from Maddur constituency. Will restore 4% quota for Muslims if voted to power: Karnataka Cong chief DKS India oi-Prakash KL Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar on Friday reiterated that the Congress will restore 4 per cent Muslim quota if it comes to power. "Without any complications, we raised our two lists. BJP could not raise its list yet...More lists will come...As soon as our government comes, we will cancel the reservation issue and will protect the minority interest," ANI quoted DK Shivakumar as saying in an interview. Last month, the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government announced the scrapping of 4 per cent reservation for Muslims under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota. The 4 per cent quota will now be equally shared by between dominant Vokkaligas and Lingayat communities. "A cabinet sub-committee recommended the changes in quota categories and we have done it," NDTV quoted the Karnataka CM as saying. Muslims had come under Category 2B and now they will compete with the EWS quota, which has Brahmins, Vysyas, Mudaliyars, Jains and others. After the latest announcement, Vokkaligas have six per cent reservations and Lingayats have seven per cent reservations under Categories 2 (C) and 2 (D), respectively. Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said the BJP's State Election Committee has shortlisted three names per constituency for the May 10 Assembly polls and the Parliamentary Board will meet in New Delhi on April 8 to discuss and finalise the list of candidates. The Chief Minister is leaving for New Delhi this evening. "Tomorrow our Parliamentary Board meeting is there (in Delhi). After discussions today and tomorrow (on candidates) the Parliamentary Board will meet to finalise," Bommai said. Speaking to reporters here, he said, "Opinions have been gathered from constituency and district level, after which the State Election Committee has discussed and has shortlisted three names (per constituency), it will be discussed and finalised by the Parliamentary Board in Delhi." Ticket aspirants are waiting for the BJP to announce the list of candidates, with the election date approaching. With inputs from agencies For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 7, 2023, 17:37 [IST] A Super deal Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz spoke to Buffalo News reporters this week as the county, at long last, publicly released documents related to the Buffalo Bills stadium deal. The final pact came more than a year after the county, state and Bills reached a tentative agreement. Complicated negotiations of this kind are nothing new for Poloncarz. In fact, he previously wrote up an insider's account of the talks that led, in 2013, to a renewed, 10-year lease for the Bills at their current stadium with Poloncarz at its heart, naturally. A reporter asked Poloncarz, "Are you going to write a book about this negotiation process?" "I might," he responded. He said he's heard other prospective authors might jump in with their own reports on the new stadium talks. "If they do, they're not going to have the exact story, because only I would," Poloncarz continued. Another reporter then chimed in: "Where's the agreement that mandates how many Super Bowls the team is going to win?" "That was a running joke for a while, 'til it started to perturb the team," Poloncarz said. "It's like, 'How many are we gonna get? How many are you gonna guarantee?' " Still, Poloncarz said, anyone who thought a domed stadium would bring a Super Bowl to Buffalo is dreaming, because the region doesn't have the hospitality infrastructure for an event of that scale. "So hopefully we have a Super Bowl celebration, but one will never be played here," he said. We'll take that deal. Stephen T. Watson Icy Hot Jan. 30 was a typical winter day in Buffalo, with a high of 28 degrees and a low of 22 degrees. At least, those were the actual temperatures. But anyone who stopped by the Allen-Medical Campus Metro station saw a fantasy weather report. There, a digital screen boasted of summer-like conditions: partly cloudy, with a high of 83 degrees and a low of 72. In fact, according to one eagle-eyed correspondent, Dan Ward, the screen was stuck on those same "ridiculous" temperatures for weeks. He sent us screenshots showing the same temperatures on various days extending well into March. And the frozen-in-time forecast always showed the same, balmy temperatures for the upcoming "Sat," "Sun," "Mon" and "Tue," when the high was expected to soar to 88 degrees. Ward emailed the main Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority address but it didn't prompt an immediate response. We reached out to the NFTA to find out what caused the glitch. Employees became aware a few months ago that a software problem had screwed up the weather on the screen, installed four years ago, that also reports estimated arrival times for trains coming into the station, said Helen Tederous, an NFTA spokeswoman. "The details regarding the ETA are correct but the weather, well, that is aspirational," Tederous said. They're working to get the problem fixed soon, she said. Or, they can just leave it as is. By July, it should end up hitting the correct temperature naturally. Stephen T. Watson Should have called an EMTree You might not think a Facebook account with a serious name like "The Southtowns Scanner" would have a sense of humor. But social media users intrigued by police and fire news for places like Hamburg and Orchard Park have found themselves chuckling, too. One example came late last month, when Southtowns Scanner posted "EAST AURORA Report of an unconscious tree on Buffalo Street near Knox Park." And while the post was an amusing way of noting that a tree was down, commenters quickly added their own quips. "Good to see this page admin branching out," wrote Facebook user Trav Man. "Not to be sappy, but they should leave it alone," said another. "Probably should get to the root of the problem," added Paul Leuer. One of the best comments was also among the shortest. "It needs to be spruced up," David Reinhardt wrote. Ben Tsujimoto Kiran Reddy has seen many turns in his long political career India oi-Deepika S Kiran Kumar Reddy, the last Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh who joined the BJP on Friday, lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi while slamming the leadership of the opposition party. With this, Reddy became the second Congress leader from South India to switch sides in as many days as Congress veteran A.K. Antony's son Anil joined the BJP only yesterday. Citing his family's over six-decade-long association with the Congress, Reddy said he never imagined he would ever leave the party. Congress is getting smashed in all States and its high command does not interact with others or take their opinion, he said. Reddy contrasted the rise of the BJP with the decline of the Congress since 1984 and lauded the ruling party's leaders led by Modi for their hardwork and commitment towards the nation. Smooth start Reddy entered the political arena in 1989 and won his first election on a Congress ticket from Vayalpadu. He went on to secure victories in the same constituency in the 1999 and 2004 elections. Later, in 2009, he won from the Pileru Assembly constituency. Never thought would leave Congress: Kiran Reddy after joining BJP Following the resignation of K. Rosaiah, the previous Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh, citing personal reasons, Kiran took over as the 16th CM of the State in 2010. Reddy remained Chief Minister of the undivided State between November 25, 2010, and March 1, 2014. Reddy lobbied against the then UPA government's decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh and carve out Telangana. He struggled hard to keep the state united and exerted pressure on the high command not to grant statehood to Telangana. Angered over the party high command's refusal to accept his demand not to accord separate statehood to Telangana, Reddy had passed a resolution in the Assembly to keep the State united. He left the party after the split. Floating new outfit On 10 March 2014, he floated his new political outfit called Jai Samaikyandhra Party. But the party failed to win a single seat and lost deposits in numerous seats. In 2018, he rejoined Congress. Five years later, Reddy has once again quit the grand old party to join the BJP. Reddy's decision to join the BJP is crucial ahead of the Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh next year, where the ruling YSR Congress is in direct contest with the opposition Telugu Desam Party. The move would certainly help BJP, which is trying hard to make inroads in the southern State. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 7, 2023, 14:30 [IST] Bommai to take up Mahas insurance scheme in 865 border villages of Karnataka with Amit Shah 7 killed after an old tree falls on tin shed in Maharashtra's Akola 12 dead, several hurt as bus falls into gorge on old Mumbai-Pune highway Maharashtras daily Covid cases near 1,000-mark, 3 fatalities in 24 hours India oi-Madhuri Adnal Maharashtra on Friday reported 926 new Covid-19 cases, and three deaths while the capital Mumbai recorded 276 new cases, according to the state's daily Covid health bulletin. The new cases brought the total number of infections to 81,84,599, while three people died, bringing the total number of fatalities to 1,48,457, according to a health official. As per the state health department, Maharashtra had on Thursday registered 803 fresh coronavirus cases and three fatalities that raised the tally of infections to 81,47,673, which includes 1,48,454 deaths. According to the official, Mumbai led the way with 276 new cases, a 27 per cent increase from the previous day, while three deaths were reported in Gondia, Kolhapur, and Raigad districts. The recovery count climbed by 423 in the past 24 hours to 79,95,655, leaving the state with a backlog of 4,487 current cases, he added. Covid upsurge: Centre asks States, UTs to remain battle-ready The recovery rate was 98.12 per cent and the death rate was 1.8 per cent. According to official statistics, 8,66,87,653 coronavirus tests have been performed throughout the state thus far, with 11,881 in the previous 24 hours. On Friday, during a COVID-19 review meeting presided over by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, it was discovered that Maharashtra was one of three states with ten or more districts having a positive rate (cases per 100 tests) of more than 10 per cent. Delhi reports over 3,000 Covid cases last week, active cases up 121% India oi-Madhuri Adnal The sudden increase in coronavirus infection in the nation has once again prompted health institutions to review their preparations ahead of surge times. In Delhi, more than 3,000 Covid cases have been recorded in the past one week, while the tally of active cases has increased by over 121 per cent in the same period, according to official data. The national capital logged 606 cases on Thursday, the highest in over seven months, with a positivity rate of 16.98 per cent. The city had recorded 620 cases on August 26. According to data shared by the Delhi government's health department, the active cases tally on Thursday stood at 2,060, a jump of over 121 per cent since March 30 when the corresponding figure was 932. In the March 30-April 6 period, six fatalities have been recorded, including two deaths on April 3. According to health department bulletins shared over these days, ''Covid finding was incidental'' in all the cases. The positivity rate too has seen a rise in the past one week. On April 5, the city logged a positivity rate of 26.54 per cent, the highest in nearly 15 months, with 509 people testing positive in a single day. In January last year, the positivity rate had touched the 30-per cent mark. Delhi has witnessed a spurt in the number of fresh Covid infections over the last few days amid a sharp rise in H3N2 influenza cases in the country. WHO asks China to share more data on Covid origin The city saw 295 cases on March 30 and zero fatality. The positivity rate stood at 12.48 per cent then. As on Thursday, the city's Covid death toll stood at 26,534, while its case tally had risen to 20,12,670. The data showed that 3,569 Covid tests were conducted on Wednesday. After March 30, the daily cases count increased to 416 on April 1 and 429 on April 2. The city saw 521 cases on April 4 and 509 on April 5. The total number of cases logged in the Match 30-April 6 period stands at 3,069. The Delhi government has maintained that it is keeping an eye on the spurt in Covid cases and is ''prepared to face any eventuality''. Addressing reporters after chairing a review meeting on the Covid situation, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal last week had said there was no need to worry for now and that the city government was taking all required steps. The number of fresh cases had dropped to zero on January 16, the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic. The rise in cases is being reported since the past couple of weeks. Nearly 120 of the 7,989 beds in dedicated Covid hospitals in the city are occupied while 1,337 patients are in home isolation, the health department said on Thursday. Amid a gradual increase in the number of Covid cases in Delhi, medical experts say the new XBB.1.16 variant of the virus could be driving the surge. However, they maintained that there is no need to panic and people should follow Covid-appropriate behaviour and get booster shots of the vaccines. They also said this rise in the number of cases could be the result of more people getting themselves tested for Covid as a precaution when they actually get infected with the influenza virus and develop fever and related symptoms. The Indian Council of Medical Research has said the rise in the number of influenza cases is due to the Influenza A sub-type H3N2. The H3N2 virus is leading to more hospitalisation than the other subtypes. The symptoms include a runny nose, persistent cough and fever. PIB-flagged fake news have to be taken down by online platforms India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The Information Technology Ministry on Thursday notified a new rule which will give powers to the Press Information Bureau (PIB) to fact-check any 'fake, or false or misleading' information about the central government and ask social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter or Google to take it down. If the companies refuse to abide by the order of the PIB fact-check, they will lose their safe harbour immunity which guarantees them from protection against any illegal or false content posted by the users on their platforms. The changes which were proposed as part of the amendments to the IT Rules 2021 had generated a controversy. The new rule will allow the fact-check unit within the PIB to keep tabs on any 'misleading content or fake information' related to the working of the Union Government. Karnataka Election: Fake list of BJP candidates goes viral on social media The fact check unit will reach out to the relevant government departments to get their view on whether a piece of news is fake or not. A call would be taken accordingly. This move had been criticised by the Editors Guild of India and The News Broadcasters and Digital Association. The two bodies had said that this would give the PIB sweeping powers and would result in censorship of the press. Minister of State for Information and Technology and Electronics, Rajeev Chandrasekar had said that the idea is not to censor the media. "Let me also add that there is no obligation on the intermediaries to take down the content flagged by PIB if they conclude that the fact-check report is erroneous. In this case, they will lose their safe harbour, and the matter will be taken to a court of law," the minister had said. Did RSS internal survey claim BJP would win just 65-70 seats in Karnataka polls 2023? Fake news busted "There is already an obligation under Section 3(1)(b)(v) [of the IT Rules] that you cannot have misinformation. Nobody said anything in October when the Rules were notified," Chandrasekar said. He also dismissed concerns that this amendment would lead to censorship of posts on the social media platforms which are critical of the government. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 7, 2023, 8:21 [IST] PM's low qualification dangerous for country: Sisodia writes from jail India oi-Prakash KL An embittered Manish Sisodia, who is languishing in jail for his involvement in the infamous Delhi liquor scam and money-laundering case, has targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his education qualification. He claimed that a "less educated" PM is very dangerous for the country. In an open letter, the former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister has written from behind the bars: "The youths of the country are aspirational. They want to do something. They are in search of the opportunity. They want to conquer the world. They want to do something in science and technology. Is a lesser educated PM capable of fulfilling dreams of the youth?" He claimed that over 60,000 government schools have been shut across the country in the last few years. "I saw a video of PM Modi in which he proudly says he is not educated and has taken education in village school. Is it proud thing to be uneducated or lesser educated? A good education cannot be made available to a child of a common man in a country whose Prime Minister is proud of being less educated. A well-educated man is searched for a post of a manager in a company, so shouldn't the biggest manager of a country be educated?" Sisodia said in the letter. He further said that it 'disheartens' him to see PM Modi talking about making tea from polluted gas out of "dirty drains". "When the Prime Minister talks about how radars will not be able to detect jets in cloudy weather, he becomes a laughingstock for the whole world. Students in schools and colleges make fun of him," Sisodia added. People should be aware of academic qualification of PM Modi: Sanjay Raut Last week, Gujarat High Court set aside an order of Central Information Commission (CIC) asking Gujarat University and Delhi University to provide information on PM Modi's degrees to AAP supremo and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. The court also imposed a cost of Rs 25,000 on Kejriwal and asked him to deposit the amount within four weeks with Gujarat State Legal Services Authority (GSLSA). AAP had raised the issue in 2016 also and then BJP chief Amit Shah and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had displayed Modi's degrees at a press conference to debunk its allegations and demanded an apology from the Delhi Chief Minister for trying to defame Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 7, 2023, 12:44 [IST] Rahul to take call on Siddaramaiah's second seat India oi-Deepika S Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will take a call on the Kolar Assembly seat from where former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is eyeing to contest as a second seat. The Congress Election Committee, which held a meeting for nearly 3 hours on Thursday, decided to leave the decision to Rahul Gandhi amid hectic lobbying from leaders opposing Siddaramaiah's candidature. Rahul, in consultation with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, is expected to take a decision by early next week. Siddaramaiah has expressed his willingness to fight from Kolar in the upcoming Karnataka Assembly polls, even after the party fielded him from his home turf of Varuna in Mysuru. However, he said that the decision to field him from Kolar is subject to approval of the party high command. The two splits in the Congress and its link to Karnataka Notably, Rahul had advised Siddaramaiah not to contest from Kolar after as a party internal survey has predicted a "setback" to the veteran leader from the seat. The Congress leadership had asked Siddaramaiah not to take even 1 per cent risk while deciding on the constituency. Why Siddu insists on Kolar? Kolar is beleived to be safe bet for Siddaramaiah as it will consolidate AHINDA votes in his favour and Vokkaliga leaders of the party from the region also may pledge support to him. His supporters have conducted surveys, which says, Kolar being close to Bengaluru city may be easy for him to ensure his presence there often. Karnataka Elections: Congress second list out, Kolar undecided However, internal rift in the party's Kolar unit, especially with party veteran andf for Union Minister K.H. Muniyappa sulking, may cause a bit of worry for Siddaramaiah to some extent. Siddaramaiah had won the Varuna seat in 2008 and 2013. However, he vacated the seat for his son Yathindra in 2018 and contested from Badami seat where he managed to win the seat by over 1,500 votes against BJP's Sri Ramulu in a toughly-contested battle. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 7, 2023, 17:08 [IST] Don't spread fake news: Punjab cops deny report on Amritpal's surrender India oi-Deepika S The Punjab Police has requested the public not to believe in rumours and fake news about the surrender of pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh. Responding to a media report on Friday, Punjab Police, in a tweet, said, "This is fake news and factually incorrect. Please fact-check the news before sharing. Dont spread rumours and fake news." Meanwhile, all leaves of Punjab cops have been cancelled until April 14, due to high alert in the state for Baishakhi. Until April 14, the leaves of all gazetted and non-gazetted officers have been cancelled, Punjab DGP said in a message to the officers, according to reports. This is a fake news and factually incorrect Please fact-check news before sharing. Don't spread rumours and fake news. pic.twitter.com/QsXfrwoIAq Punjab Police India (@PunjabPoliceInd) April 7, 2023 Only the Akal Takht chief can decide whether to call such a congregation after consulting with Sikh scholars and intellectuals, top gurdwara body Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) said following Amritpal's request. Amritpal Singh has made a joke out of the Punjab Police "It is the personal wish of Amritpal Singh. It is the sole prerogative of the Akal Takht jathedar to call or not call a 'Sarbat Khalsa'. The jathedar would see what needs to be done under the prevailing circumstances," SGPC general secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal told news agency PTI. The hunt for Amritpal The radical Sikh preacher remains untraceable since March 18, when he gave the slip to a police dragnet in Jalandhar, switching cars and changing appearances. The trigger for the crackdown was the storming of the Ajnala police station last month by him and his supporters - some of them brandishing firearms - to secure the release of an arrested man. Six police personnel were injured. Punjab govt transfers cops in district amid manhunt for Amritpal There has been a lot of CCTV footage has been released, which shows Amritpal in various locations, including Haryana and Delhi. The latest information is that Amritpal is back in Punjab and is likely to surrender before the Baisakhi festival. Going by the contents of the video, it is clear that Amritpal Singh wants to create chaos in Punjab. His urging of people to come out in large numbers is an indication that he wants to foment trouble in the state before he either surrenders or is arrested. He wants to create sympathy for himself on religious lines and hence is calling on a large number of people, so that he could surrender in style. The cops had said that it had released 197 persons of the total 353 taken into preventive custody in the apprehension of breach of law and order. Meanwhile, Punjab Police is on alert amid the massive manhunt launched to catch the fugitive Amritpal Singh. Sharad Pawar snubs JPC demand into Hindenburg report; Congress responds India oi-Madhuri Adnal The Nationalist Congress Party's Sharad Pawar, disagreed with the Congress's demand of joint parliamentary committee (JPC) into the US-based short-seller Hindenburg report, stating he had a different viewpoint. In an exclusive interview to NDTV, Pawar came out in support of the Adani Group and criticised the narrative around the Hindenburg Research's report on the conglomerate. "Such statements were given by other individuals too earlier and there was a ruckus in Parliament for a few days but this time out-of-proportion importance was given to the issue. The issues that were kept, who kept them, we had never heard of these people who gave the statement, what is the background,'' he said. ''When they raise issues that cause a ruckus across the country, the cost is borne by the country's economy, we cannot disregard these things. It seems this was targeted," Pawar told NDTV. "An individual industrial group of the country was targeted, that is what it seems. If they have done anything wrong, there should be an inquiry," Pawar told NDTV in an interview. Mallikarjun Kharges Louis Vuitton scarf sparks controversy; BJP hits back, says 'Should JPC look into...?' On being asked his opinion on the Congress's intent behind pushing for a JPC probe, Pawar replied, "I cannot say what the intent was but I know that the Supreme Court took the initiative and appointed a committee which has retired a SC judge, experts, administrators and economists. He said the committee has been given guidelines, a timeframe and asked to submit the probe report.'' "If the Supreme Court investigates the matter, who no one can influence, then there was a better chance of the truth coming to light. So, after the Supreme Court announced an inquiry, there was no significance of a JPC probe. It was not needed." Congress's response to ally Sharad Pawar's comment on Adani-Hindenburg With Pawar stating that the Adani Group was seemingly targeted by the US-based short-seller, the Congress on Friday said its ally NCP may have its view but 19 like-minded Opposition parties are convinced that the charges against the conglomerate are real and very serious. The Congress also said all 20 like-minded Opposition parties, including the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), are united and will be together in saving the Constitution and democracy from the "BJP's assaults". Asked about Pawar's remarks, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the NCP may have its view but 19 like-minded Opposition parties are convinced that the "PM-linked Adani Group" issue is real and very serious. "But all 20 like-minded Opposition parties including NCP are united and will be together in saving the Constitution & our democracy from the BJP's assaults and in defeating the BJP's divisive and destructive political, social and economic agenda," Ramesh said. The Congress, NCP and the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray are in an alliance in Maharashtra called the Maha Vikas Aghadi. Several Opposition parties, led by the Congress, protested through the second half of the budget session of Parliament demanding a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the Adani issue. The Hindenburg Research has made a litany of allegations, including fraudulent transactions and share-price manipulation, against the Adani Group. The Gautam Adani-led group has dismissed the charges as lies, saying it complies with all laws and disclosure requirements. The two splits in the Congress and its link to Karnataka India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Elections in Karnataka are round the corner and all eyes are on whether the BJP will be able to retain power or will the Congress snatch it from them. When it comes to the politics of Karnataka, it has a long and interesting history. The Congress has always been the dominant force for long, until the rise of the BJP in the late 90s. There are also plenty of interesting facts and the Indian National Congress which split twice has a close connect to the state. OneIndia caught with renowned psephologist, Dr. Sandeep Shastri to discuss these issues. Nijalingappa vs Indira: In the late 1960s when Indira Gandhi was the prime minister, Nijalingappa from Karnataka was the president of the Congress party. There were differences that had arisen between the prime minister and the president of the party. Within party circles, the two groups came to be referred as Syndicate and Indicate, says Dr. Shastri. Following the death of Lal Bahadur Shastri, the party leadership had backed Indira Gandhi as they thought she would be under their control, considering that her opponent Morarji Desai was independent in his thoughts, he says. Karnataka has 32 MLAs who have been framed by court under RP Act: Report However after Indira became the prime minister, she asserted her presence and carved a political space for her self. Problem between Indira and the leadership began at the time of the Presidential elections. The party's leadership wanted Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy as the nominee, but Indira was not in favour of it, Dr Shastri said. The party leadership however had its way and nominated Reddy. Indira on the other hand made then vice-president of India, V V Giri resign and told him to contest as an independent. She told the party leaders to vote as per their conscience and this led to Giri's victory. This formalised the split in the party, says Dr. Shastri. The split interesting took place in the Glass House in Bengaluru, then Bangalore where a meeting was called for. The Congress then formally split into Congress (R) and Congress (O). The entire development took place as a result of a movement that began because of a leader from Karnataka, Sandeep Shastri said. Indira vs Urs: The second split in the Congress also has a Karnataka connect. It began when differences emerged between Devraj Urs and Indira Gandhi. He had helped get voted back to power. At that time the Janata Party was rising and Indira felt that Urs was not doing enough to defend her agains the criticism. This led to differences between the two leaders, Dr. Shastri explained. The second split in the Congress started off and crystallised in 1979. The party was split into the Congress (U) and Congress (I). Sandeep Shastri says that the split had an immediate impact and Devraj Urs lost majority, following which Gundu Rao became leader and then chief minister of the state. What is shaping battle in Karnataka & why is it important for 2024 The Patil fiasco: Another incident that became national headlines was the removal of Veerendra Patil as the chief minister of Karnataka. The party was in a very strong position and in the 1989 elections, the Congress went to get a 3/4th majority in Karnataka. Never had this happened before and never did it happen again. A year later, Patil had a stroke and Rajiv Gandhi announced a new CM. This was however rejected by Patil as a result of which he had to be expelled from the party. The V P Singh government which was at the centre used this as an opportunity to impose president's rule in Karnataka. The Congress had to declare S Bangalarappa as the chief minster, following which president's rule was lifted, says Dr. Sandeep Shastri. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 7, 2023, 9:46 [IST] Amritpal visited Georgia for surgery to look like Bhindranwale India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Amritpal Singh, the radical Sikh leader, who has been on the run for the past three weeks had visited the United States last year for a surgery in a bid to look like terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, reports said. Reports said that Singh is said to have spent two months in Georgia before returning to India in August 2022. He is said to have undergone a cosmetic surgery to look like Bhindranwale, the report also said. Amritpal Singh is referred to as Bhindranwale 2.0 by his supporters. He is seen donning a white 'chola' and navy blue turban and moves around with armed men just like Bhindranwale. Singh had recently released a video stating that he was not a fugitive and would soon appear before the world. "Those who feel that I have turned fugitive and have left my associates, should come out of this illusion. I do not fear death," he also said in the video. The Punjab Police have launched a massive manhunt for Amritpal Singh since the past three weeks. He has been captured on CCTV cameras in which he is seen donning different avatars. There were also reports earlier that he may have tried to flee India and go to Nepal. However in the videos that surfaced later, he made it clear that he was very much in Punjab. Amritpal Singh likely to surrender today, Punjab Police on high alert, leave cancelled Meanwhile the Punjab Police has called the leave of all cops in the state till April 14 after Amritpal sought a meeting of Sikhs later this month. The Punjab Police is in a state of very alert ahead of this meeting. Reports say that Amritpal is likely to surrender soon, but after holding this meeting. The police want to stall this meeting at any cost as they fear that he may end up becoming a hero if he is arrested post this meeting. The Akal Takht (the highest temporal seat of Sikhs) Jathedar (high priest) Giani Harpreet Singh has scheduled the 'Gurmat Samagam' on Baisakhi from April 12 to 15 at Takht Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo near Bathinda. This rules out the chances of calling for a Sarbat Khalsa (religious congregation) as demanded by Singh. LOTSA April meeting, Oakes to speak The Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association (LOTSA) is hosting its first educational meeting of the year on April 20 at the North Amherst Fire Company, 2200 Tonawanda Creek Road, Amherst, starting at 7 p.m. The meeting is open to the public and free to attend. Capt. Joe Oakes of Salmonboy Sportfishing will be the guest speaker and talk about spring salmon fishing in the Western Basin of Lake Ontario. Oakes has been fishing the lake for more than three decades and his wealth of knowledge will help to get your fishing season for salmon headed in the right direction. For more information, check out lotsa1.org. Niagara County Bullhead contest set The 10th Annual Niagara County Bullhead Tournament has been moved to a week later because of the Easter weekend. With the weather we have been experiencing, that could be a good thing. The bullhead contest will start at 5 p.m. April 14 and runs through 1 p.m. April 16. Entry fee will be $10 for anglers 13 years of age and older. Kids 12 years old and under are free to compete, but for merchandise prizes. Weight of your best two fish during legal fishing time will determine the winner. The weigh-in will be Sunday morning only, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Wilson Conservation Club, 2934 Wilson-Cambria Road, Wilson. Registration will be through CMC Auto Repair, 418 Lake St., Wilson. You can also register and pay through PayPal with IFRFlight@verizon.net. Be sure to include all names in the message section. If you have any questions or need more information, contact Eric at 628-6078. DEC Family Fishing Event April 16 in Rochester The states Department of Environmental Conservation is teaming up with the City of Rochester's Department of Recreation and Human Services to hold an inclusive, family-friendly fishing event April 16 at Cobbs Hill Park. People of all ages, abilities and experiences are welcome to attend and adaptive equipment will be available for use. The event is from 1 to 4 p.m. and is free for all ages and abilities. Cobbs Hill Park is located at 80 Culver Road in Rochester. Interested parties will meet at Lake Riley Lodge. DEC fish biologists and Environmental Conservation Officers will be assisting first-time anglers and anyone else who might need assistance. For more information, contact Betsy Ukeritis at 315-314-0768. Allied to start 3-D Archery League April 18 Allied Sportsmen, located at 12846 Clinton St. in Alden, is scheduled to kick off its sixth season of Outdoor 3-D Archery Shooting on April 18. The league will shoot every Tuesday and Wednesday starting at 5:30 p.m. using a 15-target course. Three classes are available for shooters, set at 30, 40 and 50 yards. Walk-on shooters are welcome either day. While the league is set up for 17 weeks, league shooters only need 13 scores to qualify for the final party and prizes. For information, contact John Floriano at 725-5822 or Kevin Ulrich at 430-1059. Southtowns Walleye to Hold Perch Contest April 22 Southtowns Walleye Association of WNY is hosting yellow perch tournament on Lake Erie on April 22 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is open to the public. You do not have to be a member to participate. The best five fish caught by weight will determine the winners. Payouts are based on 75 entries and the Top 10 will be paid cash prizes. Cost is $35 per person. An all-you-can-eat perch fry will be held at the conclusion of the weigh-in. The weigh-in will take place at the clubhouse located at 5895 Southwestern Blvd., Hamburg, from noon to 2 p.m. You must be in line by 2 p.m. If the contest is called off due to weather, there will be a drawing for the prize money. Sign up at the club from 8 to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday mornings, on the clubs website at southtownswalleye.com until April 10, or at the club meeting April 20 starting at 7 p.m. Call Tom Chiavetta at 208-4245 for more information. Trouble erupts in Congress over denial of tickets for Karnataka elections India oi-Deepika S In an angry backlash a day after the ruling Congress announced its candidates for the May 10 assembly polls, supporters of ticket seekers who failed to make it to the list staged protests across Karnataka have openly expressed displeasure. While some have decided to quit the party, a couple of them have said they would discuss things with their supporters and decide on their future course of action. Former MLC Raghu Achar who was denied the Chitradurga ticket said he was joining the JD(S) on April 14, and would ensure that the party won all the seats in Chitradurga district. JD(S) leader T A Saravana met Achar today, following which the latter said he had not placed any demand but would "give back" to the Congress for the insult caused to his self-esteem, and ensure that it got defeated across the district. Earlier in the day, K C Veerendra (Pappy), whom the Congress has given a ticket to, met Achar, and sought his cooperation, to which he said, "It's too late. I have already announced about filing nomination on April 17. Pappy is a good friend, I wish him the best." According to party sources, another ticket aspirant from Chitradurga S K Basavarajan has decided to resign from the party and call a meeting of his supporters and well-wishers to decide on what to do next. Ticket aspirant from Mandya K K Radhakrishna, speaking to reporters after meeting his supporters, said he would travel across the constituency for a week and then come up with his next move. Stating that he was still in the party, he said he would be meeting party leaders and his supporters. "I will call a meeting of my supporters after April 13 and announce my decision." The Congress has given a ticket to P Ravikumar from Mandya. Aspirant from Kadur YSV Datta too has called a meeting of his supporters on Sunday to chart a course of action. He has written a letter to supporters in which he said "insult has been done to our self-esteem." It was widely expected that the Kadur seat would go to Datta, a senior politician who had switched to the Congress from JD(S) recently, but the ticket was given to Anand K S. Datta is considered to have been one of the close confidants of former Prime Minister and JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda. The Congress released its second list of 41 candidates on Thursday. Meanwhile, Congress MLA of Pulikeshinagar R Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy, who is among the few sitting legislators for whose constituency the ticket has not been announced so far, met Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah who has returned from Delhi. "I'm confident I will get a ticket as I was the one who got the highest votes in the last election in the state.... You should ask them (party leadership) as to why the delay.... I'm confident it will be announced in the next list. Our leader has said it will get cleared," Murthy said. Shri Immadi Siddarameshwara Swamiji of 'Akhila Karnataka Bhovi Gurupeetha' also met Siddaramaiah and sought tickets for aspirants from the Bhovi community. "There is fear that social justice has not been done to the Bhovi community in ticket distribution...I have urged (the party) to give at least 7 tickets to the community representatives like last time," he said after the meeting. Congress has so far announced candidates for 166 of the total 224 seats, and is yet to finalise the list for the remaining 58 seats. Karnataka will vote on May 10 and the results will be declared on May 13. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 7, 2023, 21:27 [IST] UAPA, murder charges stare at prime accused in Kerala train arson case India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The main suspect in the Kerala train fire arson is likely to be charged for murder and under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The main accused, Sharukh Saifi has been remanded in police custody until April 28 and is likely to be charged with murder soon as the probe agencies have found his hand in the death of three people. Saifi is currently in hospital for injuries that he sustained, but will be discharged soon as the medical board has found him to be healthy enough. Following his discharge, he will be transferred to a district jail. The board concluded that he had only one per cent burn injuries and the other wounds on his bodies were because he jumped off the train. There was also confirmation that there were no problems with his vision, the board said while recommending his release from hospital and transfer to a jail. Given the gravity of the crime, the stringent provisions of the UAPA may be invoked against him. Although the motive behind the attack is not clear as yet, the invoking of UAPA makes it clear that the police will treat this as a case of terror. Saifi was nabbed in a joint operation by the Central Intelligence and Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad. Saifi is accused of starting a fire aboard the Alappuzha-Kannur Executive Express, to Kozhikode last week. Nabbing Kerala train arson suspected: How the chase unfolded Following his arrest, he was shifted to hospital where he was diagnosed with jaundice and liver-related problems. The Kerala police registered the case on the basis of a complaint lodged by an injured passenger who was present in the train at the time of the incident. The preliminary probe has revealed that the accused had knowingly poured petrol on the passengers in the running train. This revealed that he had boarded the train with a specific intention of carrying out an attack. Since he had used explosive material, the advice given to the police was to file a case under the UAPA. During the course of the interrogation, Saifi has remained elusive and has even given contradictory statements. He has not given any definitive reply as to why he had carried out the attack. He remained elusive when asked if he was asked or motivated by anyone to carry out the attack. He even said that he had never visited Kerala before and he had come to the state in search of a job. He also did not tell the police the name of the place from where he had sourced the petrol. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 7, 2023, 14:19 [IST] Sharad Pawar predicts clear win for Congress in Karnataka elections India oi-Deepika S Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief Sharad Pawar on Friday predicted a clear win for the Congress party, in the upcoming Karnataka assembly elections, scheduled to be held on May 10. In an exclusive interview to NDTV, Pawar said the Karnataka assembly election will be different from national, although the BJP tends to connect national with state issues in its campaigns. "Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh aren't BJP governments. There is an election in Karnataka and my assessment is the Congress will win," Pawar told NDTV, whose NCP is an ally of the Congress in Maharashtra. For the BJP the elections are much more prestigious as it holds power only in one South Indian state-Karnataka. The push for Karnataka also comes in the wake of the party aspiring for power in the other southern states of Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. This time around the BJP has decided not to target just the Lingayats. There is a massive push to bag in the votes of the Vokkaligas, Dalits and tribals. The recent decision to realign the reservation for both the Vokkaligas and Lingayats is proof of the same. The four per cent reservation for Muslims was taken away and equally divided between the Vokaligas and Lingayats. For the Congress winning Karnataka would be a big deal. By ensuring a win in Karnataka, the party also wants to bounce back after the recent losses in the northeastern states, and give it a momentum of sorts to take on the battle-ready election machinery of the BJP, later this year in the Hindi heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. The Congress seems to be heading for the Karnataka polls so far on the strength of its local leadership and focusing on issues concerning the State, making corruption a central theme of its campaigning. This polls is also a prestige battle for the grand old party with a Kannadiga M Mallikarjun Kharge, who hails from Kalaburagi district, at its helm, as the national President. Polls in Karnataka will be held on May 10, while counting will take place on May 13. Why Amritpal may have ended up dividing Sikhs rather than uniting them India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Both the state and central agencies are maintaining a very high state of alert in Punjab as reports have surfaced that radical Sikh preacher, Amritpal Singh may look to arrange for a Sarbat Khalsa and then surrender before the police. He has been on the run for the past three weeks ever since the Punjab Police launched a massive manhunt for him. Singh has since released videos stating that he is not afraid to die and also said that he will not betray his associates. It has now become a perception battle, said a source to OneIndia. By organising the Sarbat Khalsa and then surrendering, Singh plans to become a hero and the agencies want to prevent this. To look like Bhindranwale, Amritpal visited Georgia for surgery: Reports The manner in which he has been evading arrest and then calling for a Sarbat Khalsa is similar to what his hero Bhindranwale did. Let us rewind to the 80s. Lala Jagat Narain was murdered as per the orders of the Bhindranwale and the police was on the lookout for him. Bhindranwale in turn offered before a court that he would turn himself if he was allowed to address a public gathering. He addressed the gathering and following his arrest there was large-scale violence in various parts of Punjab. There was immense political pressure at that time and this eventually led to the release of Bhindranwale. Following this he walked out of jail and was escorted by a sea of humanity, which in turn propelled his status even further. Amritpal is aiming for that status and is playing to the plan of the ISI which wants widespread violence in Punjab. If Amritpal manages to do what Bhindranwale did, then there would be chaos in the state. If the Sarbat Khalsa is allowed and Amritpal addresses it, then it would be a disaster for the security mechanism. Post this event if he surrenders, then like one saw in the 1980s there would be chaos in Punjab, the agencies feel. However there is a twist to the tale with the Akal Takht ruling out a Baishaki meet by Amritpal. A statement issued by the Jathedar has appealed to the people to attend the religious meeting that the Akal Takht is organising. The Jathedar (high priest) Giani Harpreet Singh said that he is already organising a programme on the current situation in Punjab and the role of the Punjabi media. Amritpal Singh likely to surrender today, Punjab Police on high alert, leave cancelled The agencies are also keeping a close tab in the wake of the Dal Khalsa opposing the convention of the Sarbat Khalsa on April 13 which is Baisakhi. The Dal Khalsa said that the timing and the ground situation is not conducive to convene such a meeting. Dal Khalsa leader, Kanwar Pal Singh said that when the Sarbat Khalsa was held in November 2015, there was a virtual split in the community. "The Sikhs today are divided on political, social and religious issues and calling for such a meeting in a fluid situation as this may further create controversy and divisions," he said. 'Will cut your tongue': Tamil Nadu Cong leader to judge who sentenced Rahul India oi-Madhuri Adnal A Congress leader in Tamil Nadu said that once the party came to power, they would 'cut off the tongue' of the judge who sentenced Rahul Gandhi to two years in jail in a 2019 criminal defamation case. A video clip, shared by former BJP and current AIADMK member Nirmal Kumar, showed the Congress leader issuing the threat. Meanwhile, a case has been registered under three sections against him for his remark and an investigation has been initiated by the Dindigul Police. Why is Rahul always sulking? "The Surat court judge gave two years' prison term for our leader Rahul Gandhi. Listen Justice H Varma, when the Congress comes to power, we will chop off your tongue," Manikandan the district head of the party can be heard saying in the video clip. TN Congress Leader says once they come into power they will cut the tongue of the judge who gave verdict against Rahul. As usual @tnpoliceoffl have not taken any action. pic.twitter.com/asPrwcgsk9 CTR.Nirmal kumar (@CTR_Nirmalkumar) April 7, 2023 Rahul Gandhi was convicted and sentenced to prison for two years last month for a speech in which he linked PM Modi's last name with two fugitive businessmen, remarking how the "thieves" shared the same last name. The lower court had granted him bail for 30 days to appeal the verdict. A day later, he was disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha. The disqualification from Lok Sabha will bar Gandhi (52), a four-time MP, from contesting polls for eight years unless a higher court stays his conviction. Meanwhile, Rahul has remained defiant saying that he would not apologise for his comments made since his name was 'Gandhi' not 'Savarkar.' For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 7, 2023, 23:26 [IST] WHO asks China to share more data on Covid origin International oi-Prakash KL The World Health Organization (WHO) has asked China to share relevant data on Covid-19, saying it is sure that Beijing has more data on the origins of coronavirus. "Without full access to the information that China has, ...all hypotheses are on the table," AFP quoted WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as telling reporters in Geneva. "That's WHO's position and that's why we have been asking China to be cooperative on this," he said, insisting that if Beijing does provide the missing data "we will know what happened or how it started." There are two dominant theories put forward by experts on the origins of the virus. According to the theory number one, SARS-CoV-2 is the result of a natural zoonotic spillover. Whereas as per the second theory, the virus infected humans as a consequence of a research-related incident. Covid origins: WHO calls on China to be transparent in sharing data Last month, a new analysis of genetic samples collected from a seafood market in central China's Wuhan city showed the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in raccoon dogs sold at the venue, strengthening the case for the natural origin of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a team of international experts. The New York Times said in a report on Thursday that genetic data was drawn from swabs taken from in and around the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market starting in January 2020, "shortly after the Chinese authorities had shut down the market because of suspicions that it was linked to the outbreak of a new virus." The new evidence comes weeks after an intelligence assessment from the US Department of Energy pointed out that an "accidental laboratory leak" from a virology laboratory in Wuhan was most likely the cause of the pandemic. While the animals had been cleared out from the market, researchers took swabs from the walls, floors, metal cages and carts used for transporting animal cages, the report said. "In samples that came back positive for the coronavirus, the international research team found genetic material belonging to animals, including large amounts that were a match for the raccoon dog," it said, quoting three scientists involved in the analysis. According to WHO's technical lead Maria Van Kerkhove, the new data provided "clues", but no clear answers, insisting that the data "collected in January and February 2020, more than three years ago" should have been shared long ago. "Without information and data, it's very difficult for us to make a proper assessment and give a concrete answer. And in the present time, we don't have a concrete answer of how the pandemic began," she said. XBB.1.16 accounting for 38.2% of COVID-19 infection in India, says INSACOG bulletin However, she highlighted that China's "incredible scientists" had conducted far more studies and collected much more data that could be relevant in the search. "We know there is more information that's out there," she said. "We need scientists, public health professionals and governments to share this information. This is not a game." However, China has called the suggestion that COVID-19 began in a laboratory "baseless" and countered that the virus originated in American facilities, which were also known to be researching coronaviruses in animals. The first case of Covid-19 was reported in Wuhan in 2020. With inputs from agencies 2008-2023 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Rumble 11 Aug 2022 Kansas is holding the nation's first test of voter feelings about the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade, with people.. Upworthy 06 Apr 2023 Coolio, the rapper who was among hip-hops biggest names of the 1990s with hits including Gangstas Paradise and.. Google LLC is an American multinational technology company focusing on online advertising, search engine technology, cloud computing, computer software, quantum computing, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, and consumer electronics. It has been referred to as "the most powerful company in the world" and one of the world's most valuable brands due to its market dominance, data collection, and technological advantages in the area of artificial intelligence. Its parent company Alphabet is considered one of the Big Five American information technology companies, alongside Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft. STATEMENT BY CONCERNED HISTORIANS ON THE RECENT CHANGES MADE BY THE NCERT IN SCHOOL TEXTBOOKS Date: 07.04.2023 The recent decision of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to drop entire chapters from the history textbooks for class 12, as well as from other classes and to delete statements from other textbooks is a matter of deep concern. Using the period of the pandemic-cum-lockdowns to argue that there was a need to lighten the load of the curriculum, the NCERT initiated a contentious process of dropping topics like the history of the Mughal courts, the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat, the Emergency, mention of Dalit writers, the Naxalite movement, and the fight for equality from social science, history, and political science textbooks of classes 6 to 12. The new editions of these NCERT books have simply made the deletions the norm even when we are in a post-pandemic context in which school education has limped back to normalcy and is no longer in the online mode. In this light, it is deeply troubling that a chapter on the Mughals has been deleted from part-II of the history textbook for class 12, while two chapters on modern Indian history have been removed from part-III of the history textbook. There has been no attempt to consult members of the teams that had prepared the textbooks, which included historians and school teachers, apart from members of the NCERT. The books were developed through a process of consultation and wide-ranging discussions. This was valuable not only in terms of content, but also in terms of pedagogy, which ensured an organic unity and a graded development in understanding from the middle to the senior school. The attempt was also to make the textbooks as inclusive as possible, and to provide a sense of the rich diversity of the human past both within the subcontinent and the wider world. As such, removing chapters / sections of chapters is highly problematic not only in terms of depriving learners of valuable content, but also in terms of the pedagogical values required to equip them to meet present and future challenges. While we understand the need for periodic revisions of school textbooks, this can only be done in sync with the consensus of existing historical scholarship. However, the selective deletion in this round of textbook revision reflects the sway of divisive politics over pedagogic concerns. According to the Director, NCERT, the deletions are part of the rationalisation of the school textbooks, and have been done in order to reduce the burden on students. As per the NCERT, during the pandemic the students faced loss in learning, and in the post-pandemic period the students have been feeling overburdened with the syllabus. According to the NCERT, since some of the chapters were overlapping across subjects and classes, it was rational to reduce the content for the overburdened students. The NCERT authorities have denied any ulterior political motive behind this move of rationalisation. However, notwithstanding the NCERT Directors denial, the selective dropping of NCERT book chapters which do not fit into the larger ideological orientation of the present ruling dispensation exposes the non-academic, partisan agenda of the regime in pushing through amendments to school textbooks. This becomes abundantly clear when one critically analyses the removal of selective themes in the textbooks in the backdrop of the present central governments larger ideological agenda of misconstruing the history of the people of the Indian subcontinent as a product of a hegemonic singular (Hindu) tradition. Driven by such an agenda, the chapter titled Kings and Chronicles: The Mughal Courts (c. sixteenth-seventeenth centuries) has been deleted from part-II of the history textbook. This is despite the fact that the Mughals ruled several parts of the subcontinent for a substantial period; making the history of these times an inseparable part of the subcontinents history. In medieval times, the Mughal empire and the Vijayanagara empire were two of the most important empires in the Indian subcontinent, both of which were discussed in the previous textbooks. In the revised version, while the chapter on the Mughals has been deleted, the chapter on the Vijayanagara Empire has been retained. The exclusion exposes the wider communal undertones, based on an inaccurate assumption about Indias past that the religion of the rulers was the dominant religion of the times. This leads to the deeply problematic idea of a Hindu era, Muslim era, etc. These categories are uncritically imposed on what has historically been a very diverse social fabric. Moreover, two very important chapters have been deleted from part-III on Modern India, namely, Colonial Cities: Urbanisation, Planning and Architecture and Understanding Partition: Politics, Memories, Experiences. Also significant is the deletion of any mention of the role of Hindu extremists in the killing of Gandhi. For example, in the chapter titled Mahatma Gandhi and the Nationalist Movement in part-III of the history textbook the reference to Nathuram Godse being the editor of an extremist Hindu newspaper has been expunged. It is important to stress that the present retrograde step by the NCERT to delete entire chapters and portions of texts from the history textbooks is not based on any academic or pedagogic consideration. Rather, the chapters deleted from the history textbook are precisely those which do not fit into the pseudo-historical schema of the ruling dispensation. Excising any period from the study of the past would make students unable to comprehend the connecting thread of the past with the present times, and would deprive students of an opportunity to connect, compare and contrast the past and the present, and would disrupt the organic inter-connectedness of the subject-matter of the discipline. Furthermore, removing entire periods of history from history textbooks would not only perpetuate misconceptions and misunderstandings, but would serve to further the divisive communal and casteist agenda of the ruling elites. The books and history syllabi designed earlier by the NCERT were meant to provide an understanding of the Indian subcontinent as a great melting pot of different cultures consisting of various groups, ethnicities, etc. The sequence of the chapters was designed to teach students about the craft of history, and to develop critical thinking about the past. The composite heritage of the Indian subcontinent and historical genealogies of the present times were the main focus of the old NCERT syllabus from which chapters have now been strategically excised. Apart from deletions in the history textbook of class 12, there are several deletions from the history textbook of class 11, which includes very essential themes like the industrial revolution, inter alia. There are also deletions from the textbook for political science, which includes sections on the rise of popular movements, the 2002 Gujarat Riots, and the mention of the report of the National Human Rights Commission. Similarly, the reference to the 2002 Gujarat Riots has been dropped from the Class 11 sociology textbook Understanding Society. Guided by a divisive and partisan agenda, the NCERT by selectively deleting several important themes from school textbooks is not only doing great disservice to the composite heritage of the Indian subcontinent, but betraying the aspirations of the Indian masses. The colonial constructions and their contemporaneous reproduction manifest the misconstruing of Indian civilization as a product of a hegemonic singular tradition, such that categories like Hindu society are uncritically imposed on what has historically been a very diverse social fabric. Ultimately, all these deletions present the students with a sanitized history of a homogenous Hindu society in the Indian subcontinent. History of this variety has a disturbing preoccupation with the narrative surrounding kings and the wars they waged. It reduces state formations, empire-building, and transformations of the medieval period to an unsubstantiated, perennial contest between an allegedly homogenous Hindu society and Islamic invaders and rulers. It also projects the idea of presumably widespread social harmony in Indias past which conceals the exploitation and oppression of populations under different state formations along the axes of gender, caste, and class etc. It also overlooks regional diversity. By reducing the study of history to such monolithic accounts, the ground is being prepared for pseudo-histories, especially of a communal and casteist variety, to hold sway. In any case, such histories are widely circulated today through WhatsApp and other social media applications. We are appalled by the decision of the NCERT to remove chapters and statements from the history textbooks, and demand that the deletions from the textbooks should be immediately withdrawn. The decision of the NCERT is guided by divisive motives. It is a decision which goes against the constitutional ethos and composite culture of the Indian subcontinent. As such, it must be rescinded at the earliest. A R Khan Retired Professor, IGNOU Abhijit Guha Retired Professor Abhijit Roy Jadavpur University Abigail Mcgowan Professor of History, University of Vermont Adil Jussanwalla Aditi Kanchanbaras University of Hyderabad Aditya Mukherjee Retd. Professor, Centre for Historical Studies, JNU Aisarya Dutt Roy University of Hyderabad Ajeet Kumar Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College, DU Ajitha Kakumanu Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College Akanksha Singh Lady Sriram College, DU Akhila Mathew Azim Premji University Alka Saikia Gargi College, DU Amita Paliwal Jesus & Mary College, DU Anamitra Sarkar St. Pauls Cathedral Mission College, Kolkata Anand Chakrabarti Former Professor, DU Anand K. Sahay Anand Patwardhan Researcher and documentary filmmaker Anil Kumar Motilal Nehru College, University of Delhi Anindita Ghoshal Diamond Harbour Womens University, Kolkata Anisha Srivastava Sri Aurobindo College (Eve), University of Delhi Anita Rampal Retd. Professor, Central Institute of Education, DU Anjan Roy Anuradha Roy Retd. Professor, Jadavpur University Anwesha Sengupta Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata Aparna Balachandran Dept of History, DU Apoorvanand Dept. of Hindi, DU Archana Ojha Kamala Nehru College Archisman Chaudhuri Rutgers University Arnav Gogoi University of Delhi Arunangsha Maity Taki Government College, West Bengal Asha Hans Sansristi Ashesh Kumar Dhar University of Hyderabad Ashish Ghosh Retd. Associate Professor, Dyal Singh College (Evening), University of Delhi Ashoke Chatterjee Ashwin Padi Zakir Husain Delhi College, University of Delhi Asshique Ahmad Iqbal KREA University Ataullah Zakir Husain Delhi College, University of Delhi Avijit Singh Research Scholar, DU Avinash Kumar Centre for Equity Studies Barbara D. Metcalf University of California Davis Bharati Jagannathan Miranda House College Bhim Tiwari Research Scholar, DU Bhupinder K Chaudhry Maharaja Agrasen College, DU Biswajit Mohanty Delhi University Biswaroop Chatterjee Durgapur, West Bengal Bob van der Linden University of Amsterdam Brij Tankha Retd. Professor, Department of East Asian Studies, University of Delhi C. Saratchand University of Delhi Chairashree Das Gupta Centre for Law and Governance, JNU Chayanika Uniyal Shyama Prasad Mukherji College for Women, DU Chitran D University of Hyderabad Christiane Brosius Heidelberg Centre for Transcultural Studies Christine Marrewa-Karwosi Columbia University D. Manjit Delhi University Dane Kennedy Professor Emeritus, George Washington University David Blamey London David Ludden Professor of History, New York University Debashree Mukherjee MESAAS, Columbia University Debjani Sengupta IP College, Delhi University Denys Leighton OP Jindal University Devaki Khanna Devarpita Manjit Delhi University Dilip Menon University of Witwatersrand Dilip Simeon Writer and former Professor, Ramjas College, DU Dilshad Ahmad Composite school SARVAT Dinesh Kumar Singh Bharati College, Delhi University Dinesh Varshney Motilal Nehru College (Evening Dipta Bhog Dolan Samanta Research Scholar, JNU Farhat Hasan Dept. of History, DU Feroze Chandra Retired G. Arunima Professor, JNU Geeta Arya Lakshmibai College, University of Delhi Gyan Prakash Professor, Princeton University Harbans Mukhia Retd. Professor, Centre for Historical Studies, JNU Inder Salim Indu Agnihotri Historian and writer Indranee Dutta OKDISCD, Guwahati Irfan Habib Historian and Professor Emeritus, AMU Ismail Vengasseri Lady Sriram College, DU Jabir P. Dept. of History, University of Hyderabad Jashobanta Pan Berhampur University Jaya S. Tyagi Dept. of History, DU Jayanti Gupta Kamala Nehru College Jayati Ghosh University of Massachusetts Amherst Justin Mathew Hansraj College, DU K N Sunandan Ajim Premji University K. Satchidanandan Professor K.I. Tuteja Kali Chittibabu JNU Kanhad Sinha The Sanskrit College and University, Kolkata Karuna Dietrich Wielenga Azim Premji University Kavita Singh Retd. Professor, School of Arts and Aesthetics, JNU Kavita Srivastava PUCL Keya Dasgupta Retired faculty, CSSSC, Kolkata Krishnakumar M.V. Newman College, Thodupuzha, Kerala Kumkum Roy Centre for Historical Studies, JNU Lakshmi Subramaniam Visiting Professor of History, BITS Pilani, Goa Latika Gupta University of Delhi Levin N R Bharati College, Delhi University Lianboi Vaiphei Indraprastha College for Women, University if Delhi M H Ilias Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam M V Shobhana Warrier Kamala Nehru College, DU Madhuri Chatterjee Madhuri Sharma Bharati College, Delhi University Malavika Kasturi Dept. of History, University of Toronto Manorama Sharma Retired professor, Dept. of History, NEHU, Shillong Manu V. Devadevan IIT-Mandi Maroona Murmu Dept. of History, Jadavpur University Martin Sokefeld Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany Maya John Jesus and Mary College, DU Maya Krishna Rao Theatre artist Md. Hamid Husain Zakir Husain Delhi College, University of Delhi Meena Bhargava Retd. Associate Professor, Indraprastha College for Women, DU Meena Megha Malhotra History for Peace - The Seagull Foundations for the Arts Mekhola Gomes Amherst College Mercy Dutta JNU Mita Hussain Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, DU Mohd. Bilal Research Scholar, DU Monmayee Basu Hansraj College, DU Moushami Bhowmik Mridula Mukherjee Retd. Professor, Centre for Historical Studies, JNU Mukul Kesavan Retd. Professor, Jamia Millia Islamia Mukul Mangalik Retd. Professor, Ramjas College, DU Naina Dayal St. Stephens College, DU Najibuddin Ahmed Assam Nandita Narain Delhi University Nasir Tyabji Jamia Millia Islamia Navoneel Ray Research Scholar, JNU Nayana Dasgupta Lady Sriram College, DU Neerja Singh Satyawati College (Evening), DU Neeru Ailwadi Delhi College for Arts and Commerce, DU Nishtha Srivastava Shivaji College, University of Delhi Nitoo Das IPCW, DU P.K. Basant Jamia Millia Islamia Pankaj Jha Lady Sriram College, DU Partho Datta School of Arts and Aesthetics, JNU Parvin Sinclair Retd. Professor, IGNOU Pia Malik Research Scholar, Delhi University Ponniah Rajamanickam People Science Movement Poonam Kanwal Janaki Devi Memorial College, DU Prabhu Prasad Mohapatra Department of History, University of Delhi Pradip Datta Retd. Professor, JNU Pragati University of Hyderabad Pragati Mohapatra Indraprastha College for Women, University if Delhi Pranab Kanti Basu Retired Professor, Visva-Bharati Pratyay Nath Ashoka University Preeti Chauhan Lakshmibai College, University of Delhi Preeti Chauhan Lakshmibai College, DU Prem Kumar Delhi University Promukh Bhattacharya Durgapur, West Bengal Puneet Yadav Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi Purwa Bharadwaj Delhi R. Mahalakshmi Centre for Historical Studies, JNU R. S. Meena Banaras Hindu University Rachna Singh Hindu College, DU Radhika Chadha Miranda House, DU Rajesh Kumar Motilal Nehru Evening College, DU Rajinder Arora Rajni Arora Rajshree Chandra DU Rajshree Dhali Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, DU Rakesh Kumar Ram Lal Anand College, Du Ram Murti Sharma Central Institute for Education, DU Ramesh Dixit Rana P. Behal Retd. Associate Professor, Deshbandhu College, DU Ranbir Chakravarti Retd. Professor, Centre of Historical Studies, JNU Ranjan Anand Zakir Husain College (Evening), University of Delhi Ranjan Ghosh Rashmi Pant Delhi University (retired) Ratan Lal Hindu College, DU Ravi Ahuja Centre for Modern Indian Studies of Georg-August-University Gottingen Renu Bala DU Renuka Devsare Goethe Institit, Delhi Reyaz Ahmad Rhea David St. Stephens College, DU Ritu Menon Delhi Romila Thapar Historian and Professor Emerita, JNU Rudrashish Chakraborty Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi Ruplekha Khullar S.K. Ehteshan Uddin Ahmad Dept. of Law, AMU S.Krishnaswamy Retired Senior Professor Ex Madurai Kamaraj University Sabina Kazmi Delhi University Sagnik Saha Doctoral Scholar, University of Hyderabad Sandhya Sharma Vivekanand College, Du Sangeeta Luthra Sharma St. Stephens College, DU Sanghamitra Rai Verman Jesus & Mary College, DU Sanjay Verma Kirori Mal College, DU Sanjeeb Mukherjee formerly with University of Calcutta Sanjukta Naskar Sanoj Kumar Shyam Lal College, DU Santanu Sengupta Polba Mahavidyalaya, University of Burdwan Santosh George Santoshi Kumari Delhi University Sarah Chauhan Jamia Millia Islamia Sarika Sunder Dept. of History, University of Vermont Saumya Gupta Janaki Devi Memorial College, DU Sayandeb Chowdhury School of Letters, Ambedkar University Delhi Shabnam Hashmi Anhad Shadab Banu Womens College, AMU Shahana Bhattacharya Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi Shailja Menon Ambedkar University, Delhi Shantha Sinha Shatarupa Bhattacharya Lady Sriram College, DU Sheodutt University of Delhi Shikha Jhingan Associate Professor, JNU Shilpi Rajpal University of Copenhagen Shivaji K. Panikkar Delhi/Vadodara Shobhana M V Warrier Kamala Nehru College, DU Shobna Nijhawan York University, Toronto Shreekala MV JNU Shubhra Sinha Kamala Nehru college Shubhra Sinha Kamala Nehru College, DU Simmi Mehta Mata Sundri College for Women, DU Smita Sahgal Lady Sriram College, DU Sneha Ganguly Jesus and Mary College Snigdha Singh Miranda House, DU Sonu Vincent Jesus and Mary college Souraj Bhan Bhardwaj Srabani Chakraborty Centre for Historical Studies, JNU Sreekala M V Jawaharlal Nehru University Srimanjiri Miranda House, DU Subhendu Dasgupta Retired faculty, Calcutta University Subir Rana Research Scholar, JNU Suchandra Ghosh School of Social Sciences, University of Hyderabad Sucheta Mahajan Professor, Centre for Historical Studies, JNU Suchetna Chattopadhyay Dept of History, Jadavpur University Sufiyan Abdul Sathar Calicut Sujata Patel Retd. Professor, University of Hyderabad Sujato Bhadra Sujeet Kumar Delhi College for Arts and Commerce, DU Suparna Puri Surajit Sarkar Delhi Surbhi Vatsa Miranda House College, DU Suvritta Khatri Deshbandhu College, DU Syed Ali Nadeem Rezavi Professor, Dept. of History, AMU & Secretary, Indian History Congress Tanu Parashar Jesus and Mary College, DU Tasneem Suhrawardy St. Stephens College, DU Tilak Hazarika Cotton University, Guwahati Tilottama Mukharjee Jadhavpur University Uma Chakrabarti Historian, DU Upinder Singh Ashoka University Urmimala Sarkar Munsi JNU Vaibhav Ramani Ashoka University Vandana Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi Vandna Mathur University of Delhi Vani Subramanian Delhi Vibhas Chandra Verma Delhi University Victoria Potshangbam Kamala Nehru College, DU Vijaya Venkataraman University of Delhi Vijjika Pandey Singh ARSD college Vinita Malik Kamala Nehru College, DU Virender Singh Research Scholar, Panjab University Vishwa Mohan Jha Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College, DU Yael Rice Amherst College Yasser Arafat Dept of History, DU Yousuf Saeed Jamia Millia Islamia News / National by Staff reporter The Citizens Coalition for Change's candidate selection process for August's general elections passed off smoothly on Wednesday, but was not without incident, the party said.Violent confrontations were reported in Beitbridge and Harare. In Bulawayo, a candidate reportedly snatched nomination papers and went away.The party's deputy spokesman Gift Ostallos Siziba said by Thursday, they had received "85 percent" of the nomination papers, while expressing hope that they would be all in by the end of the day.At many centres across the country, the nomination process was hit by delays due to logistical challenges in delivering nomination papers, he added.Thousands of people taking part in the process also appeared confused by a complicated nomination procedure adopted by the party, which is not holding primary elections. Instead, candidates are nominated by CCC supporters before "community stakeholders" from their wards and constituencies settle on one candidate after assessing their "good standing in the movement", "good standing in the community" and their "security risk."The community stakeholders to be consulted include traditional leaders, business owners, teachers, nurses, farmers representatives, churches, war veterans, trade unions, civil society organisations, community influencers, school development committees and residents associations.Some candidates were reported to have ferried supporters to nomination centres, turning the event into a popularity contest similar to primary elections."People who made it appear like primary elections missed the point," Siziba told ZimLive.He said the party would first publish a list of all the candidates who were nominated before they are all subjected to a vetting process."During vetting we are looking at things like criminal history, political history and assessing the CVs," Siziba said.He said following the vetting, in areas where candidates are unchallenged they will be confirmed as the party's representatives in those areas."Where there are two or more candidates, where there is contestation, the stakeholders will meet and make a decision. These will be validated at national level and we will announce our final candidates. We expect the process to be complete by the end of April," Siziba added.Siziba said the party was receiving reports from "commissioners" who were in charge of the nomination process, and those found to have instigated violence would be subjected to disciplinary hearings."We are collecting evidence, and where people did not follow the rules, action will be taken. Some will be disqualified and that's non-negotiable," Siziba said."Overally, the generality of the process was very smooth across the country. There were logistical challenges for sure. Where we were supposed to start at 11AM we had processes beginning a few hours later, but everyone did have their say in the end."The ruling Zanu-PF party has held its primary elections and announced the winning candidates. In 2014, Larisa Iordache came closer than anyone to beating Simone Biles. Thats out now, but one last medal could help her.. NYTimes.com 28 Jul 2021 Sky News 06 Apr 2023 Protests have broken out across France on the 11th day of national strikes with one of President Emmanuel Macron's favourite.. Buzz60 21 Apr 2023 Preparation for the coronation of King Charles III is well underway, and while there are many royals who will be in attendance,.. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Sydneys north, while two people were rescued from a.. Sydney Morning Herald 02 Apr 2023 More than 20 foreign firms that fled Russia after its invasion of Ukraine relocated to Kazakhstan, authorities in Astana claim. DW reached out to some of those companies to find out the credibility of these assertions. Public prosecutors had originally sought the death penalty for the six accused. Three people, including Italian ambassador Luca Attanasio, were killed on February 22, 2021 in an ambush on a UN convoy in eastern Congo. A man has pleaded guilty to providing actor Michael K Williams with fentanyl-laced heroin, which resulted in his death in 2021. The Israeli military blamed Palestinian exiles in Lebanon for what appeared to be a retaliatory attack over Israels raid of a mosque at a Jerusalem holy site two days earlier. Sir Tony Blair says the Good Friday agreement remains "one of the if not the only successful peace accord" over the last 25 years,.. ODN 28 Mar 2023 News / National by Al Jazeera Investigative Unit An Al Jazeera investigation shows how criminals use the city's pro-business policies to smuggle gold, clean dirty cash. Over the last 20 years, Dubai has become one of the biggest gold-trading hubs in the world. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the world's second-biggest importer of gold by volume, behind only India.Yet, while Dubai's markets draw millions of tourists from around the world, the city has also emerged as a preferred destination for money launderers and gold smugglers trying to wash their dirty cash, according to the United Nations (PDF), think tanks and non-profits tracking illicit trade.Gold Mafia a four-part Al Jazeera investigation into major Southern African smuggling gangs uncovers the process that allows these groups to abuse Dubai policies, designed to facilitate business, to instead cleanse billions of dollars of tainted gold and cash."It all comes out of Dubai. Dubai, Dubai, Dubai," Zimbabwean gold smuggler Ewan Macmillan told undercover reporters from Al Jazeera's Investigative Unit (I-Unit).'They don't bother'For years, Dubai has ranked near, or at the top of, cities globally that attract the most foreign direct investment. It is also a popular commodities trading hub. That reputation has been built on the back of a series of policies to attract businesses.Dubai's so-called free zones trade areas specifically established for foreign investors to easily set up their companies are at the heart of this strategy, with no taxes and duties, negligible bureaucratic red tape and norms that allow quick repatriation of profits.But critics say those same policies also enable large financial crimes to slip through the cracks."Dubai was set up to be a financial capital," former United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigator Karen Greenaway, who now works as an anti-money laundering consultant, told Al Jazeera. "They have set themselves up to be in the middle of the gold trade, with lax laws and no enforcement.""All of those things make Dubai a great place to have something like this, a major international money laundering operation involving, in this case, gold smuggling," she said, referring to the Al Jazeera investigation.The absence of "policing" of the free zones allows them to be abused, Greenaway said.During the Gold Mafia investigation, Kamlesh Pattni, a gold smuggler who was once accused of nearly bankrupting Kenya, took undercover reporters who he believed to be Chinese criminals to Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT), one of Dubai's free zones.Pattni has multiple companies in Dubai. At one of his offices in JLT, he told the reporters they could park gold bought from their unaccounted cash. "You need a representative office in the Gold Tower," Pattni told the reporters, referring to a skyscraper in the JLT district that houses several gold firms.Another smuggler, Alistair Mathias, also advised the reporters to set up a company with an office in Dubai's free zones, and offered to help them with the process. "Whatever is grey area, I take to Dubai," Mathias, a business partner of fellow smuggler Ewan Macmillan, said.Asked if authorities in Dubai might scrutinise the company he had asked the Al Jazeera team to set up, Mathias said: "They don't bother."How the Golden Laundromat works'Practically brand new gold'According to research by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in 2020, the so-called hawala system plays a significant role in the money laundering chain that passes through Dubai.Hawala is a way of transferring cash across borders outside the scrutiny of the formal financial system. It relies on trust and connections, and is used often for legitimate reasons in regions where people do not have access to banks. But it is also ideal for money laundering as there are no official transactions on the books, making it impossible for authorities to trace money flows."A combination of loosely regulated gold imports, poor oversight of free trade zones, trade misinvoicing, and the flow of currency via informal systems like hawala are a boon to trade-based money laundering networks," the Carnegie report on Dubai's gold trade said.During Al Jazeera's investigation, smugglers like Pattni and Macmillan offered to use Zimbabwean gold to effectively turn dirty cash into legitimate money for our reporters.The gold from Zimbabwe is sent to a Dubai refinery where it is melted down again. It is then turned into a gold bar with the Dubai refinery's stamp. Evidence of its roots is eliminated, making it easier to sell the gold because of the taint associated with Zimbabwe and its leaders as a result of Western sanctions."Gold that comes to refiners, once it's refined, it's practically brand new gold," said Amjad Rihan, a former partner at global accounting firm Ernst & Young whose work involved tracking the gold trade in Dubai. The money from the sale of this gold is then transferred into bank accounts as legitimate earnings.'Very disturbing findings'In 2013, while working at Ernst and Young, Rihan was tasked with auditing Kaloti, which was Dubai's largest gold refinery at the time."They were very disturbing findings. We found that Kaloti was doing over $5.2bn in cash in one year," Rihan told Al Jazeera, explaining that dealing in cash makes risk assessment and customer due diligence a lot more difficult. "That represents about 40 percent of Kaloti's business done in cash."On top of that, Kaloti was dealing with sanctioned countries or entities, including conflict gold from Sudan, he said. Subsequent investigations connected these trades to money-laundering and financing organised crime."We concluded that Kaloti's due diligence management system was a huge failure," Rihan said.Rihan reported his findings to his superiors but was forced out of the company for blowing the whistle, a court in the United Kingdom ruled in 2020. The court found that Ernst & Young had tried to "sweep under the rug the findings" of Kaloti's "money laundering". Rihan's experience was not unique.As head of compliance at Deutsche Bank in Dubai, Anna Waterhouse's role was to ensure transactions complied with both local and international laws and regulations. She too noticed irregularities with Kaloti's business.She filed what is called a suspicious activity report (SAR), which noted irregular behaviour by the bank's client, Kaloti. In it, she cited reports from a local Dubai bank that Kaloti was withdrawing so much cash from their accounts that they needed to use wheelbarrows."To have a bank calling because they were concerned about their own client is very, very unusual. So, straight away that was a red flag to me." The cash withdrawals were largely funded by transfers from Kaloti's Deutsche Bank account.The SAR is a first step to ensuring a bank's client engaged in questionable behaviour is subject to further scrutiny. Deutsche Bank, however, saw that differently, Waterhouse said. "When I said that I was going to and we should all file suspicious activity reports, I was met with resistance."A later audit of Deutsche Bank's business with Kaloti revealed that the bank's automated transaction monitoring systems also flagged a number of transactions over the years. "None of those instances picked up by the system had actually been manually investigated, so far as I could work out," Waterhouse said.In 2015, the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), the city's main licensing authority for commodities trade, acted against Kaloti, removing the company from Dubai's list of approved gold refiners.The DMCC told Al Jazeera that it is not a regulator but provides companies the necessary licenses to operate within the Dubai Free Zone using a "clear, comprehensive and robust compliance process". It also emphasised that it was not given an opportunity to provide evidence or make representations during the court action in London between Amjad Rihan and EY. It denied allegations made against it in those proceedings, and strenuously denied being involved in money laundering or criminal activity of any kindKamlesh Pattni denied involvement in any form of money or gold laundering and that he had offered to deal with funds he knew originated from illegal sources. He told us that, when he met with our undercover team, he believed he was meeting with an investor who wanted to buy a stake in hotel businesses and "to divest of a portfolio in China into gold buying and mining" and that all he did was to help them understand the gold business.Alistair Mathias denied that he designed mechanisms to launder money and said he had never laundered money or gold, or traded illegal gold or offered to do such things. He told us he had never had any working relationship with Ewan Macmillan.Ernst & Young said that it was the work of its staff that identified and reported irregularities, resulting in sanctions and changes to the sourcing of precious metals and the regulation of refiners in Dubai.Kaloti denied all wrongdoing. It said that substantial transactions in cash were "perfectly legal and common" in Dubai at the time in question and did not amount to evidence of criminality or wrongdoing.Others mentioned in this report did not respond to our request for comment. The Israeli military said it was targeting Hamas operations in retaliation for rocket strikes. The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon has called for restraint from all sides. United Arab Emirates (UAE) has ultimately turned down the official request by South Africa to extradite Atul and Rajesh Gupta, the.. Eurasia Review 08 Apr 2023 The Israeli military said it was targeting Hamas operations in retaliation for rocket strikes, while the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon urged restraint. A shooting in the West Bank has also killed two Israelis. Republican legislators in Kansas have approved a proposal to end gender-affirming care for transgender youth. Their action early Friday capped three days of intensifying efforts to follow other states with GOP-controlled legislatures in rolling back LGBTQ rights. The Kansas House voted 70-52 to pass a bill requiring the states medical board to revoke the licenses of doctors who provide gender-affirming care to minors, even though many professionals who deal with transgender youth see such care as vital to preserving their mental health and preventing suicides. The Senate then voted 23-12 to approve the measure, sending it to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. The governor is expected to veto it. Former President Donald Trump will appear at a GOP donor event in Nashville, Tennessee, this weekend as Republican lawmakers in the.. Upworthy 15 Apr 2023 Rumble 24 Apr 2023 The three Tennessee State representatives who faced expulsion a few weeks ago for leading a gun reform protest on the chambers.. Republican lawmakers proposed a measure to stop officials from phasing out the sales of new gasoline-fueled vehicles in Delaware by 2035. Kentucky Democratic Party Chairman Colmon Elridge compared Republicans to Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus Christ to death, on the day before Good Friday. Rio De Janeiro (AFP) April 6, 2023 Protected Indigenous reservations in the Amazon rainforest absorb thousands of tonnes of airborne pollution each year, saving around $2 billion annually in healthcare costs for treating respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, according to a study published Thursday. The decade-long study analyzed the health impacts of forest fires in the Brazilian Amazon, which release huge amounts of parti Choluteca, Honduras (AFP) April 7, 2023 On the Pacific coast of Honduras, thousands of people working in the shrimp farming industry are worried about their futures following the government's decision to break diplomatic ties with their largest export market: Taiwan. "We don't want them to stop business with Taiwan," Lorena de Jesus Zelaya, 51, who works in a shrimp packing plant, said to AFP. Along with another 800 women, she News / National by Staff reporter INDIVIDUALS implicated in the gold Mafia scandal including prophet Uebert Angel have had their assets frozen by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe's Financial Intelligence Unit with arrests imminent.The directive to freeze accounts and arrests confirms the strong position taken by the RBZ against money laundering with insiders saying they are tracking activities that will expose the money laundering that could have been done by the alleged gold Mafia.According to inside sources at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, more assets have been frozen of those implicated in gold smuggling, money laundering, bribery, and other corrupt activities whose self-incriminating comments are contained in the documentary."Ewan McMillan, Kamlesh Pattni, Uebert Angel, and Simon Rudland were reported to banks on March 30 listing all accounts and assets held by these people including their balances," said an insider.Part of a memo sent to banks heads of compliance seen by The Herald read, "Submit confirmation that the accounts have been frozen. No funds should be transferred from the frozen account until the Financial Intelligence Unit has finished its investigations. The directive is with immediate effect," said the source.In the Al Jazeera documentary, Angel is captured offering to Al Jazeera's undercover reporters that he could use his diplomatic cover to carry large volumes of dirty cash into Zimbabwe as part of a laundering operation also involving gold smuggling.And he is captured repeatedly, name-dropping the President's name.The Kenyan-born Pattni, who calls himself Brother Paul features as one who could help the undercover reporters launder more than US$100 million.A boastful Macmillan is portrayed in the same vein as Rudland as smugglers, who have deals with Fidelity to deliver gold bought from small-scale miners to the refinery.They then export it to Dubai and allegedly provide hard currency for Zimbabwe. But like Pattni and Angel, this mechanism was portrayed as also allowing him to launder millions of dollars.In an earlier memo seen by The Herald, the FIU directed that the assets of Cleopas Chidodo, David Chirozvi, Mehlululi Dube, and Fredrick Kunaka be frozen."You are being directed to immediately identify and freeze all assets of the following individuals: Cleopas Chidodo, David Chirozvi, Mehlululi Dube, and Fredrick Kunaka."May you also freeze all assets of legal persons and arrangements associated with them. Kindly treat this request as urgent," read the memo in part.Chidodo is the Airports Company of Zimbabwe Head of Security, who was captured in Episode 2 of the documentary detailing how he assists gold smugglers to avoid detection as they transport their contraband to Dubai via Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, while Chirozvi is the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe's Aurex Jewellery Head of Finance.Kunaka is the general manager of Fidelity Printers and Refiners. He was allegedly on the payroll of the gold mafia during which he received a kickback of US$30 000 a month, according to the documentary.Dube, who was allegedly being paid US$3 000 per month by the gold smuggling syndicate, is associated with Golden Beryl Private Limited.The four form part of the team that has been aiding criminal elements in smuggling gold and abusing their positions.Earlier on Monday, Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said Government remains seized with the matter and the nation will be kept apprised of new developments."Government takes the allegations raised in the documentary seriously and has directed relevant organs to institute investigations into the issues raised therein."Any person found to have engaged in acts of corruption, fraud or any form of crime will face the full wrath of the law," she said.Minister Mutsvangwa said Zimbabwe is a law-abiding nation that will continue to act as such."Government takes this opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to upholding local and international laws, including laws relating to financial transactions, the trade of gold and other precious minerals."Boastful behaviour and name-dropping by some personalities featured in the documentary, seeking personal gain and glory should never be taken as an enunciation of Government policy," she said.The Second Republic has on countless times warned name-droppers, the corrupt and malcontents who pursue narrow selfish interests at the expense of broad-based development, that the Government is always on high alert to flush them out.This follows rampant abuse of top Government officials' names, especially the First Family, by criminally-minded elements who seek to grab national resources at the expense of the public.But that is not how the Second Republic under President Mnangagwa operates since the First Citizen's emphasis has always been on honest hard work. Guangzhou (AFP) April 7, 2023 French President Emmanuel Macron was greeted by a huge crowd at a university in southern China on Friday as he neared the end of a three-day visit in which he has repeatedly pushed his counterpart Xi Jinping to help end the Ukraine conflict. Macron, who landed in the capital Beijing on Wednesday, has said he is seeking to dissuade China from supporting Russia's invasion of its neighbour. The Israeli military struck targets in the Gaza Strip, being the latest sign of rising tensions during a sensitive holiday period for both Jews and Muslims. (Apr. 7) Long-time Mideast rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia took another significant step toward reconciliation Thursday, formally restoring diplomatic ties after a seven-year rift, affirming the need for regional stability and agreeing to pursue economic co-operation. If one were to believe Moscow or Grozny, Chechnya is the most pro-war republic in the Russian Federation, but neither statistics about Chechen participation in the conflict nor the attitudes Chechens express confirm this. Instead, they suggest just the opposite that Chechnya may be among the most anti-war places within... The worlds human rights defenders (HRDs) continue to be under constant attacks worldwidewith Latin America branded as the deadliest region. In its Global Analysis 2022 released April 4, the Dublin-based Front Line Defenders (FLD) provides a long list of threats faced by HRDs in all regions of the world, along with the... The national flag of Finland was raised for the first time at the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in Brussels on Tuesday, which also marked the 74th anniversary of the western alliance. It signifies for Finland a historic abandonment of its policy of neutrality. Not even propagandistically, anyone can... Israel's military hit sites in Lebanon and Gaza early on Friday, in retaliation for rocket attacks it blamed on the Islamist group Hamas, as tensions following police raids Last week, three more students and three school officials were gunned down in yet another tragic mass shooting in Nashville. On.. Eurasia Review 07 Apr 2023 News / National by Staff reporter A recent report by the United States embassy showed that Zimbabwe's human rights situation remains dire, with numerous factors that contributed to a flawed election process in 2018 still in play ahead of this year's elections.THE United Nations (UN) has warned President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration to ensure the country holds non-violent polls this year saying conflicts before, during and after elections tend to have devastating consequences.Zimbabwe is expected to hold its general elections in August and Mnangagwa is yet to proclaim the exact election date.Speaking at the joint steering committee meeting of the 2022-26 Zimbabwe UN Sustainable Development Co-operation Framework in Harare yesterday, UN resident and humanitarian co-ordinator Edward Kallon said conflict reverses developmental gains achieved by any country."Here in Zimbabwe, in line with this commitment and National Development Strategy 1 priorities, the UN country team remains committed to strengthening governance and institutional capacities to build, and sustain peace, promote transparent and accountable institutions, and advance human rights and the rule of law," Kallon said."We must work together to endear social cohesion to sustain peace including before, during and after the 2023 elections. The costs of conflicts are high and further reverse development gains achieved."A recent report by the United States embassy showed that Zimbabwe's human rights situation remains dire, with numerous factors that contributed to a flawed election process in 2018 still in play ahead of this year's elections.Electoral watchdogs have continued to implore government to implement meaningful electoral reforms ahead of the polls.Kallon described the country's politics as toxic and implored government to use structured dialogue to address debt management and arrears clearance to secure mutual political respect."As stakeholders engage to accelerate implementation of the sustainable development goals, the discussion on arrears clearance and debt relief must be anchored on mutual accountability and linked to progress on three issue areas; securing political mutual respect including engagement with partners to remove international politics and humanitarian assistance from toxic domestic politics, leveraging trade for development with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to promote trade with foreign missions as entry points and dividends of dialogue, and linking debt resolution, arrears clearance and social development with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development working with international financial institutions and development agencies agreeing to secure grant funding for basic services for the poor as a priority," he said. Rumble 25 Apr 2023 Here are High IQ moments in SPORTS !! . For those of you interested on how I make my videos, I primarily use Final Cut Pro X.. Jerusalem: Israel conducted rare airstrikes in Lebanon on Friday, a sharp escalation that sparked fears of a broader conflict after militants fired dozens of rockets from Lebanon into Israeli territory. Israel also continued bombarding the Gaza Strip. Just hours later, during a brief lull in hostilities on Israel's northern and southern borders, an alleged Palestinian shooting attack near an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank killed two women in their 20s and critically wounded another 45-year-old, Israeli medics said. The attack, coming after weeks of unusually heightened unrest in the West Bank, suggested that the recent violence over Jerusalem's most sensitive site could be spreading to the occupied territory. The early morning Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon what analysts described as the most serious border violence since Israel's 2006 war with Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group meanwhile threatened to push the confrontation into a dangerous new phase following heightened tensions at one of Jerusalem's holiest sites. Although the Israeli military was quick to emphasise that its warplanes struck sites belonging to only Palestinian militant groups, the barrage risks drawing in Israel's bitter foe Hezbollah, which holds sway over much of southern Lebanon and has in the past portrayed itself as a defender of the Palestinians and the contested city of Jerusalem. Just as calm appeared to return to Israel's borders, prompting the military to allow residents of the south to leave bomb shelters, a Palestinian driving in the Jordan Valley allegedly opened fire on a car of three women, killing two of them. Medics said they dragged the unconscious women out of their destroyed car and declared two dead at the scene, where a Palestinian car also appeared to be smashed on the side of the highway. The Israeli military said it was searching for the attacker, who had fled the area. No Palestinian group immediately claimed responsibility for the shooting. On Israel's borders with Lebanon and Gaza on Friday, the Israeli military said it was boosting infantry and artillery forces in a defensive move to prepare for all possible scenarios. A Palestinian official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media, said that Egyptian security officials have been working with Hamas and Israel to de-escalate the situation. Earlier Friday, Israeli missiles struck an open field in the southern Lebanese town of Qalili, near the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh, according to an Associated Press photographer and residents, killing several sheep and inflicting minor injuries on residents, including Syrian refugees. Other strikes hit a small bridge and power transformer in the nearby town of Maaliya and damaged an irrigation system providing water to orchards in the area. Qalili resident Bilal Suleiman said his family woke to the violent bombing that shattered their windows. I immediately gathered my wife and children and got them out of the house in case there was another strike, he said. The Lebanese military said it found another rocket launcher Friday after dismantling several the day before. The Israeli airstrikes came in response to an unusually large barrage of rockets from Lebanon after Israeli police raids at the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem spiralled into unrest and sparked outrage in the Arab world. The holy site, a tinderbox for Israeli-Palestinian tensions, sits on a hilltop sacred to both Muslims and Jews. In 2021, an escalation also triggered by clashes at the Al-Aqsa compound spilt over into an 11-day war between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers. On Friday, violence again broke out at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Chaos erupted at one of the entrances to the esplanade before dawn prayers on Friday as Israeli police wielding batons descended on crowds of Palestinian worshippers, who chanted slogans praising Hamas as they tried to squeeze into the site. An hour later, according to videos, people leaving the prayers staged a vast protest in the limestone courtyard, with Palestinians raising their fists and shouting in support of Hamas rocket fire, and Israeli police forced their way into the compound. Police did not comment on the earlier beatings, but said security forces entered the holy compound after prayers in response to masked suspects who threw rocks toward officers at one of the gates. Military analysts and officials said they did not expect heavier fighting given the limited nature of Israeli strikes, but scenes of Israeli police beating Palestinians could further inflame tensions during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, a time of heightened religious fervour. The Israeli military said it was clear that both sides wanted to avoid a full-blown conflict. Quiet will be answered with quiet, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, a spokesman for the Israeli military told reporters Friday. But, he added, All our eyes are now on Jerusalem. The Israeli military said on Friday that Palestinian militants in Gaza had so far fired 44 rockets from Gaza, only 23 of which crossed into Israeli territory. The others either failed to launch, fell into the Mediterranean Sea, or were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome aerial defence system, the military said. Most missiles that managed to cross the border struck open areas in Israel's south, but one landed in the town of Sderot, sending shrapnel slicing into a house. There were no reports of Israeli casualties. The Israeli military said it pounded Gaza with more airstrikes on Friday, hitting 10 targets that it described as underground tunnels, along with weapons production and development sites belonging largely to the Hamas militant group. There were no immediate reports of casualties in Gaza, but the Palestinian Health Ministry said that one of the strikes caused some damage to a children's hospital in Gaza City. This is not the first time that health facilities have been targeted, and it is unacceptable, the ministry said of the damage to Al Dorra Pediatric Hospital, which it said caused panic and confusion. Hecht added that the military was looking into the reports of damage to the hospital. Residents in Gaza surveyed destruction at the site of a nearby Israeli attack in Gaza City, where an airstrike bore massive holes into the dirt, charred cars and blew out windows. The current round of violence began Wednesday after Israeli police twice raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque. That led Thursday to rocket fire from Gaza and, in a significant escalation, the barrage from Lebanon. Tensions have simmered along the Lebanese border in recent weeks as Israel appears to have ratcheted up its shadow war against Iranian-linked targets in Syria, another close ally of Iran, Israel's archenemy in the region. Suspected Israeli airstrikes in Syria in recent weeks have killed two Iranian military advisers and temporarily put the country's two largest airports out of service. Hecht, the military spokesman, said Thursday's rocket fire was not believed to be connected to events in Syria. It's Hamas-dominant, Hecht said, referring to the targets of the Israeli airstrikes both in Lebanon and Gaza. The attack on the West Bank came just as tens of thousands of Palestinians were pouring into Al-Aqsa for midday Friday prayers. Violence has surged to new heights in the West Bank in recent months, with Palestinian health officials reporting the start of 2023 to be the most deadly for Palestinians in two decades. Nearly 90 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank since the start of the year, according to an Associated Press tally. During that time, 16 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks on Israelis all but one of them civilians. Israel says most of those Palestinians killed have been militants. But stone-throwing youths protesting police incursions and people not involved in the confrontations have also been killed. Seoul (South Korea): South Korea, the US and Japan called for stronger international support of efforts to ban North Korea from sending workers abroad and curb the North's cybercrimes as a way to block the country's means to fund its nuclear program. The top South Korean, US and Japanese nuclear envoys met in Seoul on Friday in their first gathering in four months to discuss how to cope with North Korea's growing nuclear arsenal. The North's recent weapons tests show it is intent on acquiring more advanced missiles designed to attack the US and its allies, rather than returning to talks. Despite 11 rounds of UN sanctions and pandemic-related hardships that have worsened its economic and food problems, North Korea still devotes much of its scarce resources to its nuclear and missile programs. Contributing to financing its weapons program is also likely the North's crypto hacking and other illicit cyber activities and the wages sent by North Korean workers remaining in China, Russia and elsewhere despite an earlier UN order to repatriate them by the end of 2019, experts say. In a joint statement, the South Korean, US and Japanese envoys urged the international community to thoroughly abide by UN resolutions on the banning of North Korean workers overseas, according to Seoul's Foreign Ministry. The ministry said a large number of North Korean workers remain engaged in economic activities around the world and transmit money that is used in the North's weapons programs. It said the three envoys tried to call attention to the North Korean workers because the North may further reopen its international borders as the global COVID-19 situation improves. It is not known exactly how many North Korean workers remain abroad. But before the 2019 UN deadline passed, the US State Department had estimated there were about 100,000 North Koreans working in factories, construction sites, logging industries and other places worldwide. Civilian experts had said that those workers brought North Korea an estimated US $200 million to $500 million in revenue each year. Japan's Vice Defence Minister Toshiro Ino said the North Korean-fired ballistic missiles seemed to have landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).: REUTERS/Edgar Su We need to make sure that its provocations never go unpunished. We will effectively counter North Korea's future provocations and cut their revenue streams that fund these illegal activities, Kim Gunn, the South Korean envoy, said in televised comments at the start of the meeting. Sung Kim, the US envoy, said that with its nuclear and missile programs and "malicious cyber program that targets countries and individuals around the globe, North Korea threatens the security and prosperity of the entire international community. South Korea's spy agency said in December that North Korean hackers had stolen an estimated 1.5 trillion won (USD 1.2 billion) in cryptocurrency and other virtual assets in the past five years, more than half of it last year alone. The National Intelligence Service said North Korea's capacity to steal digital assets was considered among the best in the world because it has focused on cybercrimes since UN economic sanctions were toughened in 2017 in response to its earlier nuclear and missile tests. Friday's trilateral meeting will likely infuriate North Korea, which has previously warned that the three countries' moves to boost their security cooperation prompted urgent calls to reinforce its own military capability. North Korea has long argued the UN sanctions and US-led military exercises in the region are proof of Washington's hostility against Pyongyang. The North has said it was compelled to develop nuclear weapons to deal with US military threats, though US and South Korean officials have steadfastly said they have no intention of invading the North. Earlier this week, the United States conducted anti-submarine naval drills with South Korean and Japanese forces in their first such training in six months. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un walks away from what state media report is a "new type" of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in this undated photo released on Thursday by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Photo: Reuters The US also flew nuclear-capable bombers for separate, bilateral aerial training with South Korean warplanes. North Korea hasn't performed weapons tests in reaction to those US-involved drills. But last month, it carried out a barrage of missile tests to protest the earlier South Korean-US military training that it sees as an invasion rehearsal. Takehiro Funakoshi, the Japanese envoy, said North Korea's recent weapons tests and fiery rhetoric pose a grave threat to the region and beyond. Under such circumstances, our three countries have significantly deepened our coordination, he said. Sung Kim reiterated that Washington seeks diplomacy with Pyongyang without preconditions. People watch a TV broadcasting a news report on North Korea firing three ballistic missiles into the sea, in Seoul, South Korea, November 2, 2022. Yonhap via REUTERS North Korea has previously rejected such overtures, saying it won't restart talks unless Washington first drops its hostile policies, in an apparent reference to the sanctions and US-South Korean military drills. Many experts say North Korea would still eventually use its enlarged weapons arsenal to seek US concessions such as the lifting of the sanctions in future negotiations. There are concerns that North Korea could conduct its first nuclear test in more than five years since it unveiled a new type of nuclear warhead last week. Foreign experts debate whether North Korea has developed warheads small and light enough to fit on missiles. Ending tobacco use is the bedrock for progressing towards ending TB and SDGs SHOBHA SHUKLA, BOBBY RAMAKANT - CNS End tobacco use to progress towards ending TB and keeping promises on other SDGs goals and targets (Image by CNS) Details DMCA Globally all governments have promised to end tuberculosis (TB) by 2030, with the Indian government aiming to end it 5 years before the global target. TB was the deadliest of all infectious diseases till the pandemic hit us. But if we look at TB high-burden nations, such as India and Indonesia, it continues to be the biggest killer infectious disease leaving COVID-19 behind - though undeniably, even one death due to TB or COVID-19, is a death too many. Every case of active TB disease comes from those who are infected with the TB bacteria (referred to as latent TB infection). Additionally, the top-5 TB risk factors - malnutrition, tobacco use, alcohol use, diabetes and HIV- increase the risk of progressing from latent TB to active TB disease manifold. these risk factors also make it difficult to treat TB, and risk of death also shoots up, says Dr Guy Marks, President of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union). Indonesia's Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin called for stronger actions to end all forms of tobacco smoking in the country to progress towards ending TB. Tobacco smoking is the biggest preventable cause of not only TB but also several other life-threatening diseases in Indonesia, as well as globally. He was delivering the keynote address at the Indonesia National Webinar on the theme "Yes! We can end TB and tobacco smoking," co-hosted a day before World Health Day 2023 by Indonesia's Ministry of Health, All Indonesia Public Health Services Association (ADINKES), Indonesian TB Research Network (JetSet TB), International Union Against TB and Lung Disease (The Union) and Asia Pacific Cities Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT). This almost 5-hours long virtual session was attended by 1000 people from diverse government ministries, departments and other sectors from Indonesia, Nepal, India, Singapore, and other countries in Asia Pacific region. According to the latest Global TB Report 2022 of the World Health Organization (WHO), Indonesia has the second highest TB burden in the world after India. There were 969,000 estimated TB cases in Indonesia in 2021, out of which 74% (717,941) were notified to the national programme. Over half of TB cases (53%) were males (in whom smoking rates are higher too). More alarmingly, the WHO report points out that the top-5 TB risk factors in Indonesia in 2021 were: undernourishment (which caused 120,000 new TB cases), tobacco smoking (which caused 113,000 new TB cases), HIV (which caused 35,000 new TB cases), diabetes (which caused 28,000 new TB cases), and alcohol (which caused 14,000 new TB cases). Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). We never tire of National Day days because we almost always have something relevant and usually delicious to share. Friday, April 7, is National Beer Day, and were looking at the new and growing options for local craft beer in Oregon. Double Mountain Brewery is set to open its third location in North Portland, serving up brews and its popular pizza in a former Lucky Labrador location. Read more: Double Mountain to open in former Lucky Lab location in N. Portland Labyrinth Forge Brewing announced its first tasting room and commercial brewery in Southeast Portland. Read more: Labyrinth Forge Brewing to take over former Hair of the Dog space in SE Portland The pandemic forced Reverend Nats Hard Cider to close its Portland tasting room, but the cidery re-opened in a new location on March 24. Read more: Reverend Nats Hard Cider to open taproom in SE Portland Lost Love 23 from Crux Fermentation ProjectAndre Meunier/Staff Crux Fermentation Project, based in Bend, announced plans to take over the space left by Vagabond Brewings pandemic closure. The Crux Portland Pub will open in Southeast Portland this summer. Read more: Crux Fermentation Project to open SE Portland pub in former home of Vagabond Brewing 16 Upright Brewing's new taproom Upright Brewing serves up its farmhouse, lager, hoppy and Old World pub style beers in an abandoned former gas station in the Cully neighborhood of Northeast Portland. The Beer Station opened in February 2023, and will soon have onsite food carts. Plus its got a screen for viewing Blazer and Timbers games. Read more: Upright Brewing opens new taproom in NE Portlands Cully neighborhood Cooper Mountain in 2020 took over Max's Fanno Creek Brew Pub in Tigard.Courtesy of Cooper Mountain Ale Works Cooper Mountain Ale Works is opening a downtown Sherwood location in the former home of Smockville Brewhouse, which closed in August. Read more: Cooper Mountain Ale Works expands to Sherwood; OLCC in hot water Tom Waters, who with his family owns Backwoods Brewing, pours a Comfy Womfy winter ale for a visitor to the Carson, Washington-based brewery's Pearl District pub.Andre Meunier/Staff Backwoods Brewing has announced plans to open its third location this one in Ridgefield on nearly an acre that will include ground and mezzanine dining spaces plus an outdoors drinking and dining area. Read more: Backwoods Brewing expanding with brewpub in Ridgefield, bigger plans for Carson Family-and-friends-owned Time Travelers brewing has taken over the old Fearless brew pub in Estacada, serving up beers with a story. Each beer follows the story of time travelers off on a fantasy adventure to find the ingredients to make the perfect beer called Nectar of the Gods. New beers will bring new chapters. Read more: Time Travelers Brewing launches its journey in downtown Estacada Gigantic Brewing has opened its third Portland location, a pub with a full food menu at 4343 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd. The Sunnyside neighborhood location has already been updated with Gigantics familiar red and blue comic book theme.Andre Meunier/Staff Gigantic Brewing just got a smidge more gigantic: The Southeast Portland brewery has opened its third location, a pub on Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard that is the operations first foray into food service. Read more: Gigantic Brewing opens 3rd location: Gigantic Hawthorne Pub in SE Portland Want more like this? Sign up for our beer newsletter: Sign up for our free Oregon Brews and News newsletter. Email: Is traditional alcoholic beer not quite your style? Youre in luck. No-alcohol beer is having a moment. We tried 12 nonalcoholic beers, and most of them were good. Some of them were really, really good! Check it out: The state of Oregon is paying $150,000 to settle a lawsuit on behalf of former Hood River County District Attorney John Sewell, who was accused of trumping up a criminal charge against a hospital security manager because the managers staff had placed a parking notice on his wifes car. The suit, filed by Celeste Richardson, alleged Sewell pursued a malicious prosecution against her in 2020, violating her constitutional rights and causing her intentional distress. Sewells wife, Elese Sewell, is an emergency-room nurse at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, the same hospital where Richardson worked. Although the suit was filed only against Sewell, who retired as district attorney on Jan. 4, 2021, the state of Oregon is paying the settlement costs, according to court records. The settlement also says neither Sewell nor the state are acknowledging any wrongdoing. Sewell was represented by assistant attorney general Jessica Spooner from the Oregon Department of Justice. The settlement was filed in federal court in Portland on Wednesday, the same day that the Oregon State Bar filed a formal complaint against Sewell, stemming from his attempted prosecution of Richardson. The bar complaint alleges Sewell violated Oregon rules of professional conduct. Under state law, only a peace officer may issue a criminal citation, and prosecutors are not statutorily-defined peace officers, wrote Alison F. Wilkinson, an assistant disciplinary counsel for the bar. Sewell has previously argued to the bar that there was ample, indisputable evidence to support the prosecution of Richardson for her misguided parking enforcement activities. He denied retaliating for an action by the hospital that affected his wife, though he wrote in a probable cause statement that he learned of the matter from his wife and that she had received one or more parking-violation notices from the hospital. In response to an initial complaint to the state bar, Sewell also wrote that the hospitals behavior was creating a vexing and harassing environment for a number of hospital employees. The hospital had a good neighbor parking agreement to ensure those living in the immediate area surrounding the hospital would have access to street parking, according to the suit. Hospital employees were told to park in one of the two parking structures close to the hospital, and its security services were responsible for enforcing the agreement, according to the suit. Hospital security placed notices on cars to inform drivers they were in violation of the hospital policy. The notices instructed the driver to contact Providences security services by phone, the suit said. Sewells wife had spoken out against the good neighbor parking policy while working at the Providence hospital, according to court and state bar records. Sewell showed up at the hospital on Dec. 2, 2020, interrupting a meeting Richardson was conducting and told her to call him later that day, according to the suit. When she did, he threatened to arrest her on a warrant if she didnt meet him to receive a citation, according to the suit. Sewell returned to the hospital that day, and, in front of one or more other Providence employees, handed Richardson a criminal citation and summons, accusing her of simulating legal process, a felony, the suit said. Sewell had no legal authority or probable cause to charge Richardson with a felony, and his actions were in retaliation for the parking notices that his wife had received, the lawsuit argued. Sewells successor, District Attorney Carrie Rasmussen, dismissed the criminal charge against Richardson the first day she took over the office, about a month after the charge was filed. When he went to the hospital, Sewell acknowledged in court papers, he wore his DA badge on his belt, and does so whenever he wears a suit and tie. He acted in an arbitrary manner with a vindictive motive and to further his own personal agenda, Richardsons attorney, Beth Creighton, wrote in the lawsuit. Richardson, 46, transferred from the Providence hospital in Hood River in July 2021 to a Providence hospital in Alaska, where she works as an emergency preparedness and safety coordinator. She said shes worked for Providence for 13 years and the company has supported her throughout her career. Retired Clackamas County District Attorney John Foote, who filed the initial complaint against Sewell with the state bar, said Sewell abused his authority as DA by wrongfully charging the victim without any evidence. And now it has cost taxpayers $150,000. -- Maxine Bernstein Email mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212 Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe A judge on Thursday ordered a 24-year-old Portland man held without bail in the fatal shooting of a driver killed in what investigators say was a road rage encounter on a highway near the Oregon Coast last year. Justin McAnulty appeared Thursday before Polk County Circuit Court Judge Rafael Caso on second-degree murder and other charges in the July 13 shooting of Dennis Anderson, 45, of Tigard as Anderson drove home from a trip to Lincoln City. Caso ruled that McAnulty must remain in the Polk County Jail until his trial, according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Matt Wilson. Andersons father, David Anderson, 65, traveled from Massachusetts for the hearing and said he was sickened by the new information he heard about the shooting, including that his son had been shot nine times. McAnulty pleaded not guilty last September. He also faces charges of unlawful use of a weapon and reckless endangerment. The night of the shooting, Anderson and his partner of 18 years, Brandy Goldsbury, had been gambling at the Chinook Winds Casino Resort in Lincoln City. The couple left the casino shortly after 8 p.m. and were driving east on Oregon 18 in their Subaru Forester when they noticed a black car aggressively tailing them, court records show. Goldsbury later told police Anderson had sprayed his windshield wiper fluid, which may have blown back onto the black car behind them. The black car, later identified as a BMW 3 Series, eventually passed them. Several miles later, the couple saw the same car parked on the side of the road near a rest area northeast of Otis. When the couple drove by, the black car started following them again, court records show. The BMW drove close enough to the back of the Forester for Goldsbury to worry it would hit them. The BMW then began driving into the oncoming lane of traffic and swerving at Andersons car, as if to push Forester toward the side of the road, Goldsbury told The Oregonian/OregonLive last year in an interview. Anderson pulled over on the side of the highway near milepost 15 so Goldsbury could call 911. The black car pulled up parallel to the Forester and Anderson got out of the car. The occupant of the black car immediately started shooting, striking Anderson multiple times and nearly hitting Goldsbury, according to court records. The black car sped off erratically, court records show. A medical examiner determined Anderson had been shot nine times, court records show. Oregon State Police detectives said McAnulty took steps to conceal his alleged crimes, including selling his BMW, crafting an alibi, changing his appearance and trying to hide a 9mm Glock semi-automatic handgun, according to court records. Police recovered McAnultys car and gun, which a father and son found in a community greenspace about a block from McAnultys parents house in a plastic sealable bag with a fully loaded magazine and a round in the chamber, court records show. Police arrested McAnulty at his home last Sept. 9. They found him with a loaded AR-style rifle in the bed next to him, according to court records. During his seven months at the Polk County Jail, McAnulty has repeatedly been aggressive and threatening toward other inmates and jail staff, including attacking another inmate in January, court records indicate. He has pleaded not guilty to a harassment charge in that case. David Anderson said he is planning to travel back to Polk County for McAnultys trial, set to begin Dec. 4. I just got to wait for that, he said. I miss (Dennis) so much. -- Catalina Gaitan, cgaitan@oregonian.com, @catalingaitan_ Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe. Longtime Umatilla sergeant Bill Wright resigned from the towns police department on March 24, just two weeks after The Oregonian/OregonLive disclosed he was named in a lawsuit stemming from his lackluster response to a reported sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl. Wright, 58, had worked at the 13-member Umatilla Police Department for more than 30 years. The Oregonian/OregonLive had highlighted the inadequate investigation by Umatilla police and Wright into the girls reported sexual assault. The East Oregonian first reported Wright had left the department. In his own sworn testimony during a federal trial, Wright revealed how little he did to investigate the sexual assault of the girl, according to a court transcript. The sergeant told the girls parents he didnt believe their daughter, and he directed her mother to find out the full name of the attacker. He failed to do basic investigative work, such as discovering who reserved the hotel room where the assault occurred, according to court testimony and the girls attorneys. The FBI eventually conducted a proper investigation, which led to the arrest and conviction of a Florida man, Michael Wayne Lyon. Lyon began a monthslong online grooming of the then-13-year-old girl in 2018 before he flew to Hermiston, picked her up from her house in the middle of the night, drove her to a hotel, sexually assaulted her and secretly filmed the abuse, according to court records. After the girl and her father first went to Umatilla police to report the assault, Wright testified that he talked to the girl probably 10 minutes or less. He wrote a brief report and referred her to Guardian Care Center, a child-abuse intervention center, for another interview. He assured the girls father that a full investigation would be done. Two days later, the girl and her mother returned to police and provided the sergeant with a recording of the video of the assault, which Lyon had shared with the girls brother and a friend. At that meeting, Wright remarked how calm the girl was and suggested she might be just upset at a boy and trying to get back at him, the lawsuit alleges. Wright never went to the Comfort Inn & Suites in Hermiston where the sexual assault took place, never asked for information on who registered to rent the room where the assault occurred, and relied on the Comfort Inn manager to review any video from the hotel. He never asked for a copy of the hotels video surveillance and never sought a search warrant to review the girls social-media exchanges with the suspect. Attorney Terry Scannell, who represents the girl who was sexually assaulted and is suing the Umatilla Police Department, said he was surprised to learn of Wrights departure from the police agency. He added: This is a case where our review leads us to conclude he did not do even the most minimal investigation. Wright did not immediately return messages seeking comment. Umatilla City Manager Dave Stockdale confirmed Wights last date of work but declined to comment on the circumstances or pending litigation. Attorney Dave Lewis, representing the city of Umatilla in the suit, also declined to comment on the allegations. Wright was hired by Umatilla in November 1992. He was promoted to lieutenant in April 1999 but then demoted to detective sergeant in 2005. A federal judge last month sentenced Lyon, 39, to 25 years in prison for using a minor to produce a visual depiction of sexually-explicit conduct. U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut called the circumstances of his grooming and sexual assault quite egregious, and made even more disturbing by his sharing of the video of the assault with his victims brother and boyfriend. -- Maxine Bernstein Email mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212 Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe Henk Pander, a leading and influential figure in Oregons art landscape, died Friday morning at the age of 85, two months after being diagnosed with cancer. Panders death was confirmed by his assistant and long-time friend, Julia Hanfling. Henk was a visual historian, Hanfling said Friday afternoon. He had insights into the nature of current events unlike anyone elses. Beyond his skill as a painter, she added, He was just a very kind person. He had a good heart and a good sense of humor. Panders work, Portland art critic Bob Hicks wrote in 2010, fused the long tradition of Dutch art with the frontier edge of the Pacific Northwest and a keen outsiders feeling for the American psyche. Within that fusion, Pander emphasized bluntness and force, creating art that insisted on taking up space and attention. In his still lifes, he dispensed with traditional compositions, choosing instead to present weathered rock formations rising out of arid terrain, or skeletons capering against apocalyptic skies. His city scenes were brooding, melancholy, pensive, sometimes downright gloomy. He was drawn to imagery of action, destruction and urgency he made art around the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, the 1999 wreck of the New Carissa off the Oregon coast, the 2014 crash of a Netherlands-Malaysia flight shot down as it passed over Ukraine, and the work of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. He is a remarkable Northwest master whose art provides a synthesis of New World and Old World experience in sometimes beautiful and sometimes toxic ways, curator and art historian Roger Hull wrote in Henk Pander: Memory and Modern Life, a monograph accompanying a 2011 retrospective of Panders work at the Hallie Ford Museum of Art at Willamette University. Hendrik Pieter Pander was born in 1937 in Haarlem, the Netherlands, the first of artist Jacob Pander and Hendrica Smedes Panders 10 children. Part of his childhood was spent under Nazi occupation, a period he later addressed in his art his painting The Floor has a childs perspective of a pair of German soldiers searching a room while two naked, pallid figures hide under the floorboards. As a boy, Pander learned studio painting from his father and accompanied him on outdoor artistic expeditions. The budding artist went on to study in Amsterdam, where he met and married an art student from Oregon, Marcia Lynch, and moved with her and their first son to Portland. The marriage produced a second son before it ended; Pander stayed in Portland to be near his children. Pander was briefly married to Linda Long Pander after his first marriage ended. After that relationship, he was married to Delores Rooney Pander for 32 years. Oregons landscapes, so different from Dutch terrain, made an immediate impression. When I arrived in Portland by boat and train from the Netherlands in 1965, I was utterly unprepared for the grandeur of the Northwest landscape, he recalled in the Portland Art Museum exhibit Volcano! Mount St. Helens in Art. Pander sank roots in Portland, teaching at the Museum Art School (later the Pacific Northwest College of Art), contributing to the alternative newspaper Willamette Bridge and winning a $500 prize in an Artists of Oregon exhibition at the Portland Art Museum. Then an exhibit of his oil paintings, watercolors and drawings, including several works depicting nude human figures in various poses, went up at Portland State University in 1969. The Oregon Legislature, Portland City Council and Portland city attorneys office received numerous complaints that the exhibit was pornographic and otherwise objectionable. Pander was stunned by the response. Three decades later, he was still processing the experience in a 1998 ink drawing titled Disgust at My Show at PSU, which centers a scowling couple leaving the gallery while other people peer disapprovingly at the artworks. Panders career recovered from the setback. His works were acquired for museum, public and private collections, he received public commissions, and his materials went into the Pacific Northwest Artists Archives at Willamette University. The Oregon Historical Society created an entry for him in its Oregon Encyclopedia. And in what might be the ultimate Oregon seal of approval, he was chosen to create portraits of former Govs. Tom McCall and John Kitzhaber that now hang at the state Capitol. After the death of Delores Pander in 2010, he married long-time friend and herbalist Jody Sterne. According to Hanfling, the two shared a sweet love. She was his caregiver, Hanfling said, and the two had been married about a year and a half at the time of his death. Survivors include his wife Jody Sterne Pander, his sons, Jacob and Arnold, who work together professionally as comic book creators, artists, and filmmakers, and grandchildren. A remembrance will be planned for sometime in the coming weeks, Hanfling said. Anyone interested in contacting the family can reach out to Kayla Newell. This story originally misspelled Jody Sterne Panders name. The Oregonian Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe It was 2004 when the Los Angeles Times disclosed that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas had accepted expensive gifts and private plane trips paid for by Harlan Crow, a wealthy Texas real estate investor and a prominent Republican donor. The gifts included a Bible that once belonged to abolitionist Frederick Douglass a gift Thomas valued at $19,000 and a bust of Abraham Lincoln valued at $15,000. I just knew he was a fan of Frederick Douglass, and I saw that item come available at an auction and I bought it for him, Crow explained at the time. He also flew Thomas on his personal plane to Northern California to be his guest at the Bohemian Grove, which held all-male retreats for government and business leaders. Thomas refused to comment on the article, but it had an impact: Thomas appears to have continued accepting free trips from his wealthy friend. But he stopped disclosing them. ProPublica on Thursday revealed Thomas accepted free luxury vacations worth millions for years, all courtesy of Crow, without disclosing the pricey trips as required by law. The justice and his wife, Ginni Thomas, flew on private jets, cruised on a megayacht and enjoyed an annual weeklong holiday in a plush Adirondacks retreat without paying a dime, ProPublica reported. We have been here before, said Gabe Roth, executive director of Fix the Court, an advocate for court reform. Clarence Thomas has been taking these trips for decades and not disclosing them. In his recent annual disclosure statements, Thomas has checked a box indicating he had no gifts to report. Responding to the ProPublica story, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Richard J. Durbin, D-Ill., tweeted the highest court in the land shouldnt have the lowest ethical standard. Justice Thomas lavish undisclosed trips with a GOP mega-donor undermine the trust that our country places in the Supreme Court. Time for an enforceable code of conduct for justices. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., renewed her call for Thomas to be impeached over the junkets, which she called rank corruption. This degree of corruption is shocking almost cartoonish, the progressive lawmaker tweeted. Last month, the federal courts policy-making group announced somewhat tighter standards to require the reporting of travel on private jets and lodging at private resorts that operate commercially. While those rules may prompt further disclosures next year, they would not regulate or prohibit such travel. Roth said ProPublicas report makes clear that the personal hospitality rules the judiciary adopted last month do not go far enough: the Supreme Court and lower courts need the same, if not stricter, gift and travel rules than what members of Congress have. That means a judicial ethics office to preapprove sponsored trips, no matter who even a friend is footing the bill. The extent and frequency of Crows apparent gifts to Thomas have no known precedent in the modern history of the U.S. Supreme Court, ProPublica wrote, adding these trips appeared nowhere on Thomas financial disclosures. It remains unclear whether Thomas has violated any law or regulation by accepting such gifts and not disclosing them. Since 1978, the Ethics in Government Act has required judges and justices to report travel costs and other expenses that are provided to them by groups, universities and other such entities. However, it includes an exception for the personal hospitality of any individual, so long as the travel does not involve official business. Justice Thomas and Ginni never asked for any of this hospitality, Crow said in a statement to ProPublica. He added that we never asked about a pending or lower court case, and Justice Thomas has never discussed one. Ethics advocates have been frustrated that the court and Congress have failed to enforce stricter rules for the nations top judges. They say Thomas and his wife illustrate the need for greater scrutiny. Ginni Thomas is a longtime conservative activist in Washington who sought to overturn President Donald Trumps election loss in 2020, including communicating with Trump White House aides and state election officials. Crow, a real estate magnate, is a major right-wing donor and has given at least $10 million to Republican and conservative causes, some of which aim to shape the judiciary. He insists that he never discussed pending cases with Thomas, who earns $275,000 a year. There is no specific code of ethics for Supreme Court justices. But all federal judges are required to submit disclosure forms listing gifts. Ethics experts and former judges say Thomas should have included the expensive trips, whether Crow is a friend or not. Failing to mention all-expense-paid international vacations, gifts of historic artifacts, and private confabs with avowed political activists for over 20 years cannot be chalked up to a string of innocent mistakes, said Jeff Hauser of the Revolving Door Project, an ethics in government group. This is a pattern of open contempt for American law. --Tribune News Service and Los Angeles Times contributed Across Canada, an estimated seven million birds and counting have been infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza. Now, as millions more migrate north, scientists warn its yet another opportunity for this virus to spread and evolve. (Maryse Zeidler/CBC - image credit) Across Canada, an estimated seven million birds and counting have been infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) during a devastating global outbreak that shows no signs of winding down. The virus is also striking and killing other species, from farmed mink to wild sea lions to a domestic dog in Ontario, federal officials announced last week. Now, with millions of birds crossing the continent and flying north to Canada in the months ahead, scientists warn it's yet another opportunity for this virus to spread and evolve. "It gives more opportunity for transmission," said veterinarian Dr. Scott Weese, a professor at the Ontario Veterinary College. "And if we have birds coming from different areas where the virus has evolved differently, it creates more opportunities for this virus to change further." Canadian researchers are watching this year's migration season closely. They aim to gauge how it impacts ongoing virus transmission, and to determine which species are being hit hardest by HPAI and which ones are, somehow, beating the odds. WATCH | Scientists say bird migration routes help spread deadly avian flu: Able to infect mammals This fast-spreading H5N1 strain has already caused mass mortality among waterfowl, raptors, and poultry flocks. Deaths among mammals appear largely relegated to close interactions with infected birds the Ontario dog that died, for instance, had been "chewing on a wild goose," as noted in a government release though a large outbreak on a Spanish mink farm also suggested possible mammal-to-mammal transmission. What's particularly concerning for Dr. Samira Mubareka, a clinician-scientist with Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, are the early signals that this virus appears to be evolving in ways that make it more adept at infecting mammals, with heightened virulence. One recent study from Canadian researchers, which looked at sporadic H5N1 cases among 40 different species including red foxes, skunks, and mink, found the disease presented as a central nervous system infection, with 17 percent of the virus samples showing "mammalian adaptive mutations." Story continues "I'm definitely more concerned now than I was ten years ago. We're seeing neurological illness, we're seeing [viral] reassortment," Mubareka said. Migratory birds are particularly at risk of HPAI, and the mutations they bring back from southern climates this spring and summer could be different from those currently circulating in Canada, she added, potentially posing new threats at a time when scientists and farmers are already struggling to track and contain the virus. Hundreds of Canadian poultry farms have battled outbreaks so far, which often involve culling vast numbers of birds. There's also growing concern that reported deaths among wildlife which are tougher to track are just the tip of the iceberg. "Is it a handful of mammals affected?" questioned Weese. "Or is it happening more in the background, and they die and just don't get noticed?" 'Some immunity is built up' Andrew Lang, a professor in Memorial University's biology department, said there were waves of infections among seabirds on the East Coast last year, and various species fared differently, potentially impacting their subsequent migration patterns. "Some birds seem to migrate normally while infected," he said, "while other birds get extremely sick and are almost guaranteed to die." Those with prior exposure to milder strains of avian influenza likely built up some level of cross-protective immunity, while other species hadn't. "That's what I think happened with northern gannets," Lang said, speaking of a species native to Newfoundland whose death toll is likely in the thousands. "Avian influenza typically doesn't circulate within those birds, because of their biology and limited interactions with other birds. When this strain came along, it devastated them." WATCH | 'Explosive' avian flu hits global bird populations: Jennifer Provencher, a research scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada's (ECCC) wildlife health and ecotoxicology division, said European researchers have seen similar patterns, with blood testing showing that there are birds who are getting the H5N1 strain and surviving. "And so we would expect that some immunity is built up at least in some of the populations," she said. Going forward, Provencher stressed the need for ongoing surveillance, and said members of the public can report sightings of dead or dying wildlife to ECCC through the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative. "That will actually help us predict where we need to be paying attention," she said. Beyond the deaths of poultry and wildlife, Lang said it's also important to find out which bird species in Canada are developing antibodies against the virus. "If we can sample as many birds as possible this coming year the ones alive this year can we find evidence that they were infected last year and survived?" State officials are encouraging people who receive health coverage through the Oregon Health Plan to proactively update their contact information to avoid losing their benefits. Officials on April 1 began the massive undertaking of redetermining the eligibility of all 1.5 million people in Oregon who receive Medicaid coverage. While federal rules require states to periodically verify the incomes of people who receive Medicaid to ensure their income doesnt exceed the threshold, those eligibility checks were paused during the pandemic and people who received Medicaid had their coverage automatically renewed. But the federal government is now requiring that states resume those checks. Oregon has until June 2024 to complete its eligibility determinations. Oregon Health Plan members will receive renewal notices at some point between now and January 2024 that will tell them what they need to do to keep their benefits. Thats why its imperative that Oregon Health Plan members provide their updated contact information to the state. Members can update their contact information online. Officials are urging Oregon Health Plan members to respond to any information requests they receive and to submit renewal forms right away to ensure they dont lose their benefits. Given the large number of eligibility checks the state is conducting, officials warn that there could be long wait times for those who call the Oregon Eligibility customer service center and that members could experience possible interruptions to their benefits. Nationwide, millions of people who are eligible for coverage will likely be kicked off their plans over the next 10 months. The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 45% of the people who are disenrolled during the redetermination process will be people who remain eligible for coverage. In Oregon, those who lose coverage because they are no longer eligible will receive Oregon Health Plan benefits for another 60 days before their coverage lapses. People can learn more about what to do if they are losing their Oregon Health Plan coverage by visiting the states resource page online. Jamie Goldberg; jgoldberg@oregonian.com; 503-221-8228; @jamiebgoldberg Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe An independent investigation into allegations of discrimination at the Oregon Employment Department, made public Thursday, found that a Latina employee, who has since departed, was subjected to racism, sexism and a hostile work environment. The investigation found broader problems as well, including a dysfunctional work environment and a leadership vacuum that negatively affected multiple employees and hampered overall progress of the departments paid leave division. The department hired law firm Barran Liebman in October 2021 to conduct an outside investigation after Isela M. Ramos Gonzalez resigned as a lead operations and policy analyst for the relatively new paid leave division. Ramos Gonzalez said that she had endured discrimination and feared the racist work environment would mar implementation of the long-awaited program. The investigation, conducted by Shayda Z. Le, a partner at the law firm, concluded that a dysfunctional workplace culture and lack of leadership created negative experiences for multiple employees and managers. But she concluded in her 110-page report that Ramos Gonzalez had a harder time than other workers, encountering more roadblocks and pushback than other members of the programs leadership team. And she noted that employees she interviewed for the investigation employed gender stereotypes in describing Ramos Gonzalez leadership style, saying she should be more soft, be less abrasive, and she should smile more. I find, based on a preponderance of the evidence, that Ms. Complainant experienced racism, gender bias and microaggressions, Le wrote. Le conducted the investigation by reviewing department records and speaking with 26 Employment Department employees. Ramos Gonzalez did not participate in the investigation, however, despite Les multiple attempts to contact her. Le said the results of the investigation were limited by Ramos Gonzalez lack of participation. David Gerstenfeld, the Employment Departments acting director, said the department didnt wait until the investigation concluded to make changes to the paid leave division. Gerstenfeld hired Karen Humelbaugh to lead it in November 2021, asking her to make equity and inclusion a focus for the division and the services it provides. The division has since hired an equity and inclusion policy analyst and now requires that its employees participate in racial equity training, among other changes. What the complainant experienced was completely unacceptable and goes against the values we hold at the Oregon Employment Department, Gerstenfeld said in a statement. Equity and inclusion arent an option for us. Its how we do business. Ramos Gonzalez was among at least nine paid leave employees who resigned between May and November 2021, resignation letters obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive show. Those letters and emails obtained by the newspaper through a public records request show that the division was rife with conflict at that time. Lawmakers agreed to delay offering Oregon workers paid leave benefits by eight months that same year, attributing the need for that delay to an ambitious timeline and unforeseen issues brought on by the pandemic. However, a 2021 investigation by The Oregonian/OregonLive found that the division was already badly failing to meet benchmarks set by lawmakers and its own leaders before the pandemic. The program is finally supposed to start paying out benefits in September. However, the eight-month delay is costing Oregon workers approximately $450 million that they would have received if the program started on time, the newspaper found. Le concluded in her investigation that Ramos Gonzalez endured microaggressions while working for the division, which Le defined as a unintentional act or comment which conveys a prejudice towards members of a marginalized group. When asked in one meeting what the division was doing to promote diversity, one employee noted it had just hired Ramos Gonzalez, something Le wrote could be interpreted as Ramos Gonzalez being hired because she was a Latina, not because of her skills and background. When Ramos Gonzalez, an attorney with more than 15 years of experience in labor and employment law, suggested in another meeting that the paid leave program would need to follow the same appeals process as the unemployment insurance program, other employees did not accept her assessment until a white Department of Justice attorney and a white administrative law judge agreed. The report also cited several incidents in which employees made jokes about Ramos Gonzalez not attending a morning meeting that she had requested to be excused from because she said she had experienced racism and sexism in those meetings. During one of those meetings, an employee wrote in a chat in reference to Ramos Gonzalez, Have you thought about using a Milk Carton for the person missing during the morning update meetings? I also find that these comments, and the lack of reaction or redirection by others present, reasonably indicate that there was a broader environment where comments of this nature were made and accepted, Le wrote. The investigation also concluded that some employees were resistant to changes intended to address inequities and disparities that had existed in the unemployment insurance program and that individuals, including Ramos Gonzalez, who were invested in making those improvements were more frequently met with resistance and frustration. Le concluded that Ramos Gonzalez supervisor didnt adequately respond to concerns she raised about her treatment, failing to bring the issues to the attention of human resources or to follow up with Ramos Gonzalez on actions being taken to rectify the situation. During Ramos Gonzalez time with the program, Gerhard Taeubel was the divisions acting director, having been vaulted into that role when Gerstenfeld, who had previously headed the paid leave program, was tapped to lead the Employment Department as it navigated significant challenges paying out unemployment benefits during the pandemic. The investigation found that Taeubel lacked the knowledge and experience necessary to lead the paid leave division, had a passive leadership style that was problematic for a developing program and failed to remedy significant team issues that were brought to his attention. His leadership approach negatively affected the (Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance) team and the progress of its work, as well as the authority and effectiveness of other leaders on his team, Le wrote. Broader leadership within PFMLI was ineffective at guiding their team through both the substantive implementation of the work as well as personnel difficulties. Taeubel retired in October 2021. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday afternoon. Le said that most employees she interviewed said the approach taken by management caused them to spend substantial time and frustration spinning their wheels and that employees felt that management were unable to adequately guide their teams through the development and implementation of the program. Le concluded that Gerstenfeld also failed to provide enough support to the paid leave division as it navigated significant challenges, although she said the pandemic prevented him from giving the program more attention. After Ramos Gonzalez alleged that she had faced discrimination at the division, Gerstenfeld told the media about the complaint without first telling Ramos Gonzalez he planned to make her complaint public. Le concluded that Gerstenfeld was trying to be transparent, but Ramos Gonzalez wrote that she found his actions to be intimidating and coercive. Le was not asked to provide recommendations for further action as part of her investigation. However, it does appear that there have been meaningful improvements within the division since October 2021. An internal staff survey conducted last July showed significant improvements in how employees viewed the paid leave division and its leaders, with the majority of 43 staff members surveyed indicating that morale was good and that managers valued equity practices. However, some employees still raised significant concerns about the divisions culture, according to the survey, which The Oregonian/OregonLive obtained through a public records request. Jamie Goldberg; jgoldberg@oregonian.com; 503-221-8228; @jamiebgoldberg Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe Disney and Lucasfilms Star Wars Celebration event hit London on Friday, when Lucasfilm execs and creatives have revealed some of the projects the studio is set to blast into a galaxy far away. First up, Lucasfilm studio exec Kathleen Kennedy rolled onstage and welcomed the 4500-capacity crowd to the event, which is the 15th Star Wars Celebration. More from Deadline The event is at the ExCeL Centre in London, which holds the UKs largest auditorium. But its still barely big enough to accommodate the weekends festivities, where thousands of fans have turned up with their lightsabers to celebrate the Jedi universe and its many iterations. Events at the ExCel Centre run across the Easter weekend, ending Monday evening. Heres a list of what has been announced: Andor To Debut In August 2024 Andor creator Tony Gilroy said the shows second and final season will debut in August 2024 before debuting a teaser trailer for the series, which is still in production. We started shooting in November. Were halfway. We will finish shooting in August, a year on post, and well come out in the following August, Gilroy said. The teaser trailer was introduced by Gilroy who was joined onstage by the majority of the shows cast including lead actors Diego Luna and Andy Serkis. The teaser featured footage of Lunas character free and on a mission against time. (L-R) Diego Luna, Denise Gough and Andy Serkis Later when asked about the show ending with the upcoming season, Gilroy said he and the crew are very pleased the show is ending in the near future because they know exactly where the story is heading. We know exactly where were going so you know what you have to deliver, he said. It was a decision born of survival, but its been creatively potent. Were very pleased, its good to know theres an ending coming. Story continues The Acolyte First Footage Revealed The Acolyte creator Leslye Headland told the London crowd that her new original Star Wars series will be set during a time period between the high republic and the beginning of the prequel films. Headland added that this is the furthest back in the past the Star Wars series has been in the live-action universe. Headland was joined on stage by the main cast including The Hate U Give actress Amandla Stenberg, Squid Game Emmy Award-winner Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett, and Star Wars veteran Joonas Suotamo, who plays Kelnacca. Im really in love with Leslyes work, Stenberg told the crowd. She has a really emotionally profound way to approach the darker parts of ourselves. For a show like this thats set in this time period, that style is perfect. Jung-jae added: I play the Jedi Master. It was the first time I touched a lightsaber and Im still shaking from the experience. The show is currently shooting in London but a teaser trailer was shared with fans in London. The footage features Carrie-Anne Moss as a Jedi Master in battle with Stenberg. Jung-Jae can also be seen wielding a lightsaber. When asked about the theme and structure of the show, Headland said she pitched the idea for Acolyte to Kathleen Kennedy as a mix between Frozen and Kill Bill with inspiration from Akira Kurosawas films of the 1950s. Skeleton Crew: Jude Law Shared First Footage Jude Law and Jon Favreau debuted the first trailer for Skeleton Crew on stage at the ExCel. The trailer features new characters centered around the lives of a group of rebellious kids traveling the galaxy. Jude Law features in the trailer as a Jedi with a new look: a clean shaved head. (L-R) Jon Favreau, Jude Law and Dave Filoni On stage, Favreau confirmed the series will feature episodes directed by Jon Watts, David Lowery, The Daniels, Jake Schreier, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Lee Isaac Chung. I was six years old when this galaxy gripped me, blew my mind, and I feel like Ive been in prep ever since, Law said of his role in the show. Ahsoka Rosario Dawson confirmed on stage that the Ahsoka series will debut in August 2023. She was joined on stage by Mary Elizabeth Winstead who confirmed that she is playing Hera Syndulla in the series. The pair also shared a teaser trailer for the show, which you can watch here. The trailer opens in the desert, with a voiceover featuring Dawson who says: Something is coming, something dark. Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka Tano Star Wars Films: Daisy Ridley To Return As Rey Kathleen Kennedy confirmed that a new series of Star Wars films are on the way from directors James Mangold, Dave Filoni and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. Daisy Ridley will reprise her role as Rey in Obaid-Chinoys film. Introducing the new series, Kennedy said Mangolds movie will be set during the time period of the dawn of the Jedi while Filonis project will be based around the escalating war between the Imperial Remnant and the fledgling New Republic. Kennedy added that Filonis project will connect the worlds explored in the TV shows. Obaid-Chinoys film, however, will chronicle events following the Rise of Skywalker. Obaid-Chinoy said her film will tell the story of the rebuilding of a new Jedi order. Daisy Ridley on Friday Last month, Deadline confirmed that Academy Award nominee Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders) had taken over as the screenwriter for Obaid-Chinoys Star Wars movie following the recently announced departure of scribes Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson. Sources tell us that the film will likely be one of the first out of the gate for the studio, if not the first. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny: Footage & Characters Revealed Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Mads Mikkelsen debuted a new trailer and shared six minutes of footage from the final movie onstage. The new trailer sets out the plot of the film: Indiana Jones is about to retire when he is coxed into a final adventure by his god-daughter played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge. The Fleabag actor is in her usual witty form and can be heard describing Harrison Fords Jones as an aging grave robber. Phoebe Waller-Bridge Watch the full trailer here. Last week, the Cannes Film Festival confirmed that Dial of Destiny will get its world premiere on May 18 at the festival. Harrison Ford and director James Mangold will be among those to tread the red carpet to a John Williams soundtrack. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. With many craft breweries in Michigan rebounding after the devastating and lingering impact of the pandemic, National Beer Day on Friday, April 7, is shaping up to be quite a celebratory day in the state. Michigan clearly loves it beer and with nearly 400 craft breweries of all shapes, sizes and philosophies located throughout the state, you dont have to look too hard or travel too far to experience what MI Brew Trail has been sharing for the last couple of years: Michigan is in the drivers seat when it comes to blazing a beer trail. As a leader nationally in the craft beer industry, National Beer Day is the perfect opportunity to visit any one of our many unique microbreweries, said Ed Fritz, Mi Brew Publisher. Each and every one of these establishments has its own history and, of course, its own great beer. Cheers to the hard-working, creative men and women who have put Michigan on the beer map. Studies show Michigan is the No. 1 state in the country when evaluated on three metrics: the average rating of beers brewed in the state, the amount of breweries per capita, and the average price of a 24-pack. Michigan doesnt rank No.1 in any of these categories, but is ranked high enough in all three to earn the best average ranking of all states. People love variety and Michigans brewers offer a product for every beer lover, Fritz said. We have brew masters that have learned their craft under the tutelage of some of the finest brewers and training institutes in the world. Were fortunate to have so many that could be plying their trade anywhere choosing to do so right here in Michigan. The states craft breweries produce beers that win accolades and medals at prestigious national and even international beer competitions. Moreover, theres no underestimating the positive impact this burgeoning industry continues to have on Michigans economy. So, even if you arent a beer lover, you might want to take a moment to reflect on National Beer Day and how many people are feeding their children and raising families because of the myriad job opportunities breweries and distilleries have created up and down the chain in this state. Reportedly the industry has pumped a staggering $9.9 billion into the states economy, supporting 67,000 jobs. Its been a game changer, Fritz said. Thats why MIBrew Trail was founded, back in November 2020. The intrigue, the profound difference the risk takers that gambled on a dream make are stories that we felt needed to be told. Every brewery, no matter the size or scope, has a story to tell, Fritz said. It could be a multi-generational family connection. It could be dreamers who dared to dream beyond 9-5 and golden handcuffs. It could be a story rooted in history, whether its a long-dormant industrial building that has been transformed into a warm, bustling hangout for people of all backgrounds and beliefs. Politicians often talk about unifying people. Craft breweries, like sports, actually does it. We enjoy guiding you along the states beer trail and we hope youre enjoying the ride as much as we are. National Beer Day is celebrated in the United States every year on April 7. It marks the day the Cullen-Harrison Act was signed into law back in 1933, marking the end of Prohibition. Learn more about the Michigan craft beer scene at www.MiBrewTrail.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SAN DIEGO (AP) California officials want federal disaster aid for the state's salmon fishing industry, they said Friday following the closure of recreational and commercial king salmon fishing seasons along much of the West Coast due to near-record low numbers of the iconic fish returning to their spawning grounds. Dealing a blow to the salmon fishing industry, the Pacific Fishery Management Council unanimously approved the closure Thursday for fall-run chinook fishing from Cape Falcon in northern Oregon to the California-Mexico border. Limited recreational salmon fishing will be allowed off southern Oregon in the fall. Much of the salmon caught off Oregon originate in Californias Klamath and Sacramento rivers. After hatching in freshwater, they spend an average of three years maturing in the Pacific, where many are snagged by commercial fishermen, before migrating back to their spawning grounds, where conditions are more ideal to give birth. After laying eggs, they die. The forecasts for chinook returning to California rivers this year are near record lows, Council Chair Marc Gorelnik said after the vote in a news release. The poor conditions in the freshwater environment that contributed to these low forecasted returns are unfortunately not something that the Council can or has authority to control." Biologists say the chinook population has declined dramatically after years of drought. Many in the fishing industry say a rollback of federal protections for endangered salmon under the Trump administration allowed more water to be diverted from the Sacramento River Basin to agriculture, causing even more harm. The fact is that just too many salmon eggs and juvenile salmon died in the rivers in 2020 as a direct result of politically driven, short-sighted water management policies, under the prior federal administration, to maximize irrigation river water deliveries during a major drought," said Glen Spain, acting executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermens Associations. Unfortunately, this purely politically driven mistake will cost our fishing-dependent coastal communities dearly. California fishing industry representatives and elected leaders said federal aid must be released quickly and efforts need to be ramped up to restore salmon habitat in California rivers with better water management, and the removal of dams and other barriers. We have to make sure that the policies and practices and the rest are not such that they are defying the evolutionary progress of salmon, U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi said Friday, speaking in San Francisco in the rain, surrounded by fishers who spoke of their concerns about making ends meet during the closure. The Democratic congresswoman, whose district includes the San Francisco Bay area, pledged to push for the Biden administration to act quickly on the state's request to declare the situation a fishery resource disaster, the first step toward a disaster assistance bill that must be approved by Congress. In a letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo seeking the declaration, the California governor's office stated that the projected loss of the 2023 season is over $45 million and that does not include the full impact to coastal communities and inland salmon fisheries. Californias salmon industry is valued at $1.4 billion in economic activity and 23,000 jobs annually in a normal season and contributes about $700 million to the economy and supports more than 10,000 jobs in Oregon, according to the Golden State Salmon Association. There's a lot of fear and panic all up and down the coast with families trying to figure out how they're going to pay the bills this year," said John McManus, the groups senior policy director. Experts fear native California salmon are in a spiral toward extinction. Already, Californias spring-run chinook are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, while winter-run chinook are endangered along with the Central California Coast coho salmon, which has been off-limits to California commercial fishers since the 1990s. Recreational fishing is expected to be allowed in Oregon only for coho salmon during the summer and for chinook after Sept. 1. Salmon season is expected to open as usual north of Cape Falcon, including in the Columbia River and off Washingtons coast. There's some hope that the unusually wet winter in California, which has mostly freed the state of drought, will bring relief. An unprecedented series of powerful storms has replenished most of Californias reservoirs, dumping record amounts of rain and snow and busting a severe three-year drought. But too much water running through the rivers could also kill eggs and young hatchlings. ___ Baumann reported from Bellingham, Washington. Douglas Sacha/Getty Images MILLBROOK TWP. A car crash Thursday morning in southeastern Mecosta County sent a 31-year-old woman and her passengers to the hospital. At 9:51 a.m. Thursday, April 6, Mecosta County deputies responded to a two-vehicle injury accident at the intersection of 30th Avenue and Eisenhower Road. According to police reports, the 31-year-old, from Pinconning, struck a vehicle driven by a 23-year-old female from Wisconsin who had pulled onto 30th Avenue from Eisenhower Road. Robert McGreevy is spending his retirement with his wife, Suzanne, in a beautiful farmhouse on the eastern shore of Michigans Thumb region, very close to Lake Huron. McGreevy is known for his work as an artist and maritime historian, painting depictions of the grand ships that have sailed the Great Lakes over the past 150 years, from steamships to large freighters like the ones that can be seen on the waters today. Though his life now centers on the vessels that traverse the Great Lakes, perhaps his most significant work could be found in the driveways and parking lots of the 1970s and '80s. McGreevy spent decades as an artist for the former Chrysler Corporation designing vehicle badging like nameplates and emblems. He also sculpted hood ornaments. One of the ornaments he worked on, the Ram head for the Dodge pickup, would become an automotive icon admired by gearheads worldwide. Mark Birdsall/Huron Daily Tribune A passion for art McGreevys study, or art studio, is filled with his illustrations showing ships resting on the bottom of the lake from information provided by divers drawn to this part of the world by the countless shipwrecks dotting the lake floor. The origin of his passion for ships and the lakes themselves can be found in his childhood. Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the McGreevy family emigrated to America following World War II due to worsening economic conditions in Europe. His father and uncle had worked in the shipyards like the one that made the Titanic in the early 20th century. Both McGreevys father and uncle landed jobs building ships for the Great Lakes Engineering Works in Detroit. He remembers watching the launch of the legendary Edmund Fitzgerald, having been invited by his uncle to attend the ceremony in 1958. He would not follow in his fathers footsteps. McGreevy had a passion for art and studied at Cass Technical High School and what is now known as the College for Creative Studies, both in Detroit. He was still in school when he began working for Chrysler. Sometime in the early 1970s, the automaker wanted to make a striking statement over the branding of its Dodge trucks, and the plans included adding a hood ornament. They eventually settled on a ram, specifically a rams head, inspired by the radiator ornaments introduced by Dodge in the early 1930s. It was really a bold step for them, McGreevy said. Hood ornaments were not very much in use in the '70s. McGreevy set to work sculpting a new hood ornament. Mark Birdsall/Huron Daily Tribune Visitors at the door A ram, body and all, had also been considered but rejected when those involved in the creative process realized the back end of the ram would be facing the vehicle's occupants. "Everybody realized when you were driving you were staring up the ram's ..." McGreevy tailed off. "That didn't test well." The final version of the ram's head one with the fearsome animal charging forward was completed, and it was time to put the ornament into production. Due to safety regulations that required hood ornaments to be flexible, McGreevy said, the hood ornaments would be manufactured by a Japanese company, Marui, which had the capability to make the ornaments that would meet specifications. McGreevy created a wax model of the ram head and turned it over to a Marui representative visiting from overseas. When that representative returned to Japan, he packed the model which McGreevy described as "quite valuable" in one of his suitcases and checked the bag. A few days later, McGreevy said, he was sitting at home when he heard a knock on his front door. It was around 8 p.m. and he wasnt expecting any visitors. When he opened his front door, he found four executives from the Marui company and their interpreter standing there. There was a problem with the model. When he arrived back in Japan, the Marui executive discovered, to his horror, that the detailed, painstakingly crafted, one-of-a-kind model had broken into several pieces. McGreevy said the wax model contained numerous tiny air bubbles and the changing air pressure in the planes cargo hold likely made those bubbles expand, shattering it. The Marui executives returned to Japan with a new model, this time more carefully transported, and got to work on making automotive history. Mark Birdsall/Huron Daily Tribune Lost to history The hood ornament was heralded as successful, and grateful Marui executives would present McGreevy with a gold-plated hood ornament mounted on a walnut board containing pens on either side. McGreevy has kept photographs of the model and a production piece. He added that an untold wealth of automotive production art and prototypes have been lost to history. He said the art department always stored its previous works, but when their offices were relocated, much of that work did not accompany them. "Because it was all old stuff," he said. PIPESTONE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) A southwestern Michigan man suspected of domestic violence has died after being struck by a police stun gun and arrested in a wooded area. State police used the stun gun on Josh Tanner Wednesday as he was holding a knife to his own throat in Berrien County's Pipestone Township, according to state police. Politics doesnt have to be this way. State Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) cant ignore what she calls a noticeable shift toward personal, destructive tactics used in Michigan politics. In fact, she wants to do her part to expose these tactics and change the states political landscape. McDonald Rivet represents the 35th State Senate District in Michigan, a position she won in the general election in November 2022. Her career in politics, however, spans almost 20 years. She served as Chief of Staff for the Michigan Department of Education from 2006 to 2007, Senior Policy Advisor for the Governors Childrens Cabinet from 2004 to 2006 and Federal Legislative Liaison for the Department of Human Services from 2004 to 2006. She was CEO of Greater Midland, Inc. from 2016 to 2021 and a Bay City Commissioner from 2020 to 2022. Despite this extensive career, McDonald Rivet said she is seeing changes that are creating a harmful political climate. McDonald Rivet openly discusses what she calls a hired intimidator, her political tracker, who continues to follow her months after the general election. Trackers are hired individuals that follow and record candidates during their campaigns in an attempt to capture them saying something offensive or inconsistent in what McDonald Rivet calls hot mic moments. During campaign times, both parties will hire trackers for big or tight races. The 35th Senate District had a high profile race in 2022, McDonald Rivet said, so she expected to have some sort of negative attention. Everyone involved acknowledged that the outcome of this seat would determine control of the Michigan Senate, so we knew it was going to have a lot of attention, she said. So when this gentleman showed up in early June, I said, Well OK, here it comes. She noticed him first at her campaign events. Soon after, she started to spot him standing around her car or waiting for her outside of restaurants while she dined with her family. Sometimes I would see him rounding the corner at night when I was on my way into a meeting, she said. Sometimes he would have a camera, sometimes he would shout questions at me. And I thought it was going to end when the election was over. Trackers usually only work during the campaign season. Once an election is over theyll disappear until the next campaign. This one continues to follow her. Two days after McDonald Rivet was sworn into the Senate, she said she saw him at the State Capitol dressed head-to-toe in black in order to create an imposing figure. He continues to carry a camera and shout things at her as she enters and exits the Capitol building. It is three-and-a-half years before I file for re-election, she said. What has turned into the standard, run-of-the-mill tracker has flipped into a space of intimidation, in an attempt to, I believe, frighten me out of certain votes or doing certain things. The man also follows three other Democratic senators: Kevin Hertel, Veronica Klinefelt and Darrin Camilleri, recording them and shouting questions. The Capitol Police noticed the man at the Capitol Building before McDonald Rivet did. Now, sergeants escort her from her office in the Binsfield Senate Building across the street to the State Capitol for sessions to act as a barrier. Hes not a stalker; hes not violating any laws, she said. He knows exactly how far away he has to stay from me. He knows exactly where he can go and where he cant go. This is this mans full-time job. McDonald Rivet said she believes the man is paid by the Michigan Freedom Fund, which is run by Greg McNeilly, a Republican political strategist. However, Sarah Anderson, executive director of the Michigan Freedom Fund, said the organization does not have any trackers hired at this time. While McDonald Rivet expected her campaign race to be negative, she was surprised by the misinformation spread about her. In addition to her tracker, mail pieces were spread insinuating she was a drug dealer and accusing her of handing out illegal drugs to children on Halloween. Like her tracker, these pieces continue to come out during a non-election year that she said features inaccurate information, such as saying that she voted for certain legislation that she did not. It just seems to be this strategy of trying to spread lies and intimidate me personally, and other candidates personally, she said. To intimidate us into this space of voting a certain way and radicalizing people around the district into thinking that were 'coming for their guns,' that were destroying their jobs, that were taking money on the side. McDonald Rivet emphasized that these campaign strategies can, and should change, to create a safer environment not just for those in public service, but also for police officers, teachers and other public occupations that face these sorts of attacks. I believe to my core that politics doesnt have to be this way, she said. The more sunlight we can put on it the more we can talk about it and expose it the more likely we are to get rid of some of it. It can get better if we all just demand it gets better. McDonald Rivet said she would be surprised if her tracker goes away during her time in office. She does believe, however, that if both parties demand change then the intimidation would stop. If Republicans stand up and say, This is nonsense, stop it, it would stop, McDonald Rivet said. We have to start calling on political leaders to stop. I would be very critical of this if it were happening in my own party. McDonald Rivet also said it is important to note that Republican legislators themselves are not involved with this man or the organization that hired him. However, its critical to ensure that the people living in her district and all around the state are not receiving misinformation that leads them to dangerous acts, such as planning to kidnap the governor or other leaders. There will always be negative campaigns through mail, Facebook. Thats a part of politics, McDonald Rivet said. This is quite different. Weaponizing fear is quite different. McDonald Rivet emphasized that she has never felt in physical danger from the man and has not received threats. She also does not condone fighting this polarized and dangerous politics with more of the same. Photo Provided She did say that it takes more of an emotional toll when candidates feel they can no longer go out to dinner with their families. By the end of her campaign, she had to have her car pulled up to the front door of restaurants so she could walk out and immediately get in the back seat. Despite this, she says the intimidation has not worn her down and that her fellow senators who face the same tracker support one another. The four senators make jokes about it, text each other warnings when they see him unexpectedly, and give him nicknames. McDonald Rivet calls him Bob. Theres a bit of camaraderie created out of being in the center of constant attack that the four of us have together, she said. The more that we can laugh at it, the less power it haswere getting good things done, I feel so intensely honored by my ability to be able to do this. I wont let this nonsense tarnish that. KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) A dispute between Sudans military and a paramilitary group again forced the delay of signing a deal with politicians to restore the countrys democratic transition, which was derailed by a 2021 coup, a pro-democracy bloc said Wednesday. The bloc, known as the Forces for the Declaration of Freedom and Change, announced the postponement in a statement saying that the deal would not be signed Thursday as planned. The bloc said the military and the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Force were still negotiating on a reform for the security and military sector to be included in the final agreement. They are discussing the integration of the Rapid Support Force into the military. The blocs statement said the military and the paramilitary force had made progress and only one point remined unresolved. It did not offer further details. It was the second time within less than a week that Sudanese parties failed to meet a deadline set to sign the agreement between the generals and pro-democracy groups. It originally had been scheduled to be signed last Saturday. The deal aims at restoring Sudans short-lived transition to democracy, which was halted byr an October 2021 military coup that removed a Western-supported, power-sharing administration. The coup dashed Sudanese aspirations for democratic government after three decades of autocracy and repression under Islamist-backed strongman Omar al-Bashir. A months-long popular uprising had led the military to oust al-Bashir and his Islamist government in April 2019. Al-Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court over the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region, has been imprisoned in Khartoum. According to a draft of the deal obtained by The Associated Press, the military would withdraw from politics and be barred from non-military businesses. The deal includes an overhaul of the security apparatuses that will eventually lead to a unified, professional and non-partisan national military. Political parties would form a civilian administration to lead the chaos-stricken nation through elections in two years. They are to name a prime minister who would form a Cabinet and chair the Defence and Security Council, which decides on security issues. The dispute has focused on the integration of the Rapid Support Force into the military. The force, led by powerful Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, grew out of former janjaweed militias that executed a brutal crackdown in Darfur over the past two decades. The second postponement came as Sudan braced for anti-coup demonstrations called by protest groups for Thursday. That is the anniversary of the overthrow of President Jaafar al-Nimeiri in a bloodless coup in 1985 after a popular uprising against his repressive rule. Authorities ordered tight security measures in the capital ahead of the protests, with the military bolstering its presence in Khartoum over the past few days. Armored vehicles were parked at most intersections near the Presidential Palace, and trucks belonging to both the army and the Rapid Support Force were seen parolling downtown after sunset Wednesday. ___ Magdy reported from Cairo. (MobileCoin/Getty) Bob Lee, the founder of the Cash App, was stabbed to death in San Francisco in an apparently random early morning mugging on Tuesday, according to friends and colleagues. The well-respected tech executive, who also served previous roles at companies Square and Block, was mourned by members of the tech community in San Francisco and beyond, including Twitter owner Elon Musk, who vented his frustrations about the citys violent crime. Many people I know have been severely assaulted, Mr Musk tweeted on Wednesday. Violent crime in SF is horrific and even if attackers are caught, they are often released immediately. Flowers have been left outside an apartment building where Bob Lee was fatally stabbed in San Francisco (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (In 2020, Mr Musk moved to Texas from California, criticising the Bay Area and California at large for being entitled and having too much influence on the world.) Following Lees death, many on social media, particulary in the close-knit tech world, echoed the Tesla founders point, with one Redditor who said they knew Lee writing, Im getting so sick of all the needless violence in SF. How violent is San Francisco? Have city officials given up on fighting crime? And do San Francisco police really release violent offenders, as Mr Musk claims? The answer, as with so much when it comes to online debates, is far more complicated that whats playing out on social media. To start, the city isnt among the most dangerous in America, according to statistics. Despite being one of the countrys largest cities by population, San Francisco wasnt in the top 10 cities with the highest homicide rate in the US, according to an analysis of local and federal crime data from WLBT. Those cities Jackson, Mississippi; New Orleans, Louisiana; Birmingham, Alabama; St Louis, Missouri; Baltimore, Maryland; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Detroit, Michigan; Cleveland, Ohio; Memphis, Tennessee; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin were almost all concentrated in the Midwest and South in Republican-controlled states with high poverty rates. In fact, violent crime rates have largely been declining in San Francisco since peaking in the 1990s, with the beginning of 2022 marking the lowest level of reported violent crime since 1985, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Story continues The scene outside an apartment building below the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge where Bob Lee was fatally stabbed (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) The city of Jackson, Mississippi, the place with the highest per capita murder rate by some measures, had nearly 13 times more murders per capita than San Francisco, according to city police data. Meanwhile, the Bay Area tech hub, which saw 56 homicides in 2022, is in fact safer than cities with comparable populations like Indianapolis, where 210 people died last year in criminal homicides, or Charlotte-Mecklenburg, North Carolina, where 110 people were killed in 2022. As The Independent has reported, despite relentless depictions in the media of liberal states like California or Illinois as the leading zones of violence in the US, red states also typically suffer the highest rates of gun violence and gun death. Thats not to obscure San Franciscos struggles. The city has grappled for years with deep inequalities: it is home to some of the wealthiest corporations in the world, as well as one of the nations highest rates of unhoused people without shelter. According to a 2022 analysis from the San Francisco Chronicle, using household income data, San Francisco is the third most unequal city in the country. Some experts say it is this inequality that drives public safety issues in San Francisco. Bob Lee, who founded the Cash App, was stabbed to death in San Francisco in the early hours of Tuesday April 4 (Twitter / Bob Lee) There is not a crime spike happening, except in limited areas, James King, a criminal justice reform activist in the Bay Area with the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, told Jewish Currents last year. But what is, I hope, peaking is frustration with a diminishing quality of life as a result of the pandemic. The pandemic revealed serious inequities in our society, as well as a lack of social safety net infrastructure to mitigate them. He added that San Franciscans sometimes have a heightened perception of crime and disorder because of the visibility of problems like the lack of housing. That type of visibility causes genuine discomfort for people who have more resources, Mr King continued. Whats lacking is any type of plan to deal with the root causes of what were seeing. In the face of this reality, where Fortune 500 companies share blocks with encampments of homeless people, many within the tech and business communities have complained that city officials dont do enough to stop crime. Alan Alden, who works in finance in Palo Alto and knew Bob Lee, blamed San Francisco mayor London Breed for public safety issues, telling the mayor on Twitter her policies have claimed another life. The homicide of Bob Lee is a horrible tragedy and my sympathies go out to his family and friends. The Police are actively investigating what happened and will share details as soon as they can, the mayors office told The Independent in a statement. San Francisco is prioritizing public safety, including recently passing our budget supplemental so we have the police staffing necessary to have more police officers in our neighborhoods and to investigate violent crimes when they do occur. Im confident that when the Police make an arrest in cases like this, our District Attorney will do whats necessary to hold any individuals accountable for their actions. San Francisco police officers assist San Francisco firefighters during a medical call on May 24, 2022 in San Francisco, California (Getty Images) Despite initially overseeing a $120m reinvestment from the SFPD budget to other social service programmes aimed at minority communites, Ms Breed has emerged as a backer for increased police funding. Last month, she asked the city Board of Supervisors to approve a $27m budget supplemental to fund police overtime. Between 2019 and 2022, even with the $120m cuts, the SFPD budget still grew by 4.4 per cent, and none of the reinvestments cut active-duty officer positions, KGO reported. In the last five years, San Francisco police clearance rates for assault and robbery also declined. San Francisco police have said some issues are the result of staffing issues, and that the department is running at about 75 per cent capacity. The mayors stance on policing has even won plaudits from the conservative-leaning Wall Street Journal editorial board. Nonetheless, a perception remains that city officials are soft on crime, with much of the anger funneled at former DA Chesa Boudin, who was eventually recalled in 2022. He took steps alternatively celebrated by criminal justice reformers and reviled by critics, such as rolling back the use of often racially disproportionate sentence enhancements, and directing prosecutors to consider the immigration status of certain drug criminals and avoid high-level charges against non-violent offenders who could be deported. Bobs literal blood on their hands Matt Ocko, a Palo Alto tech venture capitalist and friend of Bob Lee Even after he left office in 2022, facing a well-funded recall effort, some were still blaming Mr Boudin for the citys crime problems. Matt Ocko, a Palo Alto tech venture capitalist who was friends with Bob Lee, blamed former San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin and what he called the criminal-loving city council for creating a lawless city. Take action, he urged city leaders on Twitter, claiming they have Bobs literal blood on their hands. Some argue this singling out is unfair, as one local prosecutor like Mr Boudin couldnt be blamed for a citys failure to ensure a social safety net. As a prosecutor, Boudin could not undo the root causes driving displacement, the Vera Institute of Justice, a liberal criminal justice reform group, wrote in a post-mortem of the recall effort. He decriminalized what are commonly referred to as quality-of-life crimes, like public camping and public urination. He also sought alternatives to incarceration to address substance use, including investments in diversion programs proven to reduce harm. Bob Lee pictured at the New York Stock Exchange in 2015 on the day that Square, now known as Block, was listed as a public company (Facebook / Bob Lee) Those policies drew the ire of people who wanted to police the housing crisis rather than invest in the public housing and support services needed to address it, the group added. Analysis from Mission Local shows that Mr Boudin filed about as many charges as any other prosecutor in the city since 2011, while city police data shows overall crime and larceny theft on a downward trend in the years before and during when Mr Boudin was in office. In some categories, like burglary, crime did go up while Mr Boudin was in office, rising by 45 per cent, though its worth noting the DA was also in power during the immense social dislocation of the pandemic. Critics like Mr Musk also appear to take issue with pre-trial release in California, where those accused of crimes can sometimes pay cash bail to be released until their case is over, or can otherwise by released by diversion programmes. As The Appeal reports, median bail in California is more than five times the national level, keeping thousands of people in jail despite having not been convicted of a crime because they cant afford release like their wealthier counterparts. According to research from UCLA, the statewide percentage of unsentenced people in California jail populations has been increasing since 2017. San Francisco DA Brooke Jenkins, who replaced Mr Boudin after the recall, has said she will continue his practice of rarely seeking cash bail. A study from the California Policy Lab at UC Berkeley and UCLA found that between May 2016 and December 2019, about one in six defendants released from jail pre-trial went on to commit a new violent offence, though experts say the data in the study excludes many low-level cases, and involves a San Francisco jail population where roughly a third of people are homeless and nearly three-quarters have a history of substance abuse. Early on Thursday morning, area Republicans gathered at their annual Dave Camp Breakfast with a special keynote speaker Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Based on speeches the governor has made in the recent past, he likes to say things like Florida is the place where woke goes to die and greetings from the free state of Florida. As breakfast goers arrived at the Great Hall, greeting them from across the street were about 120 people, waving Gay Pride flags and holding signs saying things like Proud to be Woke. Over the course of the morning, with people coming and going, about 200 people participated in the demonstration, some coming from as far away as Oxford, Ann Arbor, and Holland. Courtesy We were exercising our First Amendment right of freedom of speech, sending a message to Gov. DeSantis and everyone else attending, just how we feel about the policies being implemented by one of the most authoritarian governors in the country. Those policies, like the Dont Say Gay bill or the Stop WOKE Act mean that Florida is NOT a free state. The infamous Florida man (often featured in headlines like Florida man punches bobcat in face) is free to do weird things, but not free to explain the birds and the bees to third graders or to attend workplace seminars on diversity, equity, and inclusion, both of which are prohibited by the previously mentioned state laws. What does Mr. DeSantis mean by saying Florida is the place where woke goes to die? Does he mean that people in Florida arent aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice)? (The definition of woke from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.) Does he mean that people arent concerned about reproductive freedom or rights for LGBTQ+ persons? Or concerned about justice and equality? That is apparently what he means. The governor and the Florida legislature are so determined to stop people from even talking about justice and equality that in 2022, that state passed a law called the Stop Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees (WOKE) Act. This law restricts how race is discussed in Florida schools, colleges and workplaces. Just weeks ago, Tallahassee U.S. District Judge Mark Walker ruled that the law violates the first and 14th Amendments as well as the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution and so cannot be enforced in colleges and workplaces. In the word of Judge Walker, the First Amendment does not permit the State of Florida to muzzle its university professors, impose its own orthodoxy of viewpoints, and cast us all into the dark. The injunction against the Stop WOKE Act does not stop it from being enforced in Floridas public schools, which has resulted in widespread confusion among teachers and administrators about what can be said when teaching about events in Americas past. The law prohibits teaching anything that could make anyone feel guilt, anguish or any form of psychological distress because of their race, gender, sex, or national origin. Florida teachers are now concerned about what they can or cannot say when teaching American history, which includes many events that might cause psychological distress to someone learning about them for the first time. And its not just civil rights history or the history of slavery in this country that is disturbing to learn. The history of labor union organizing, for example, includes multiple events at which not just strikers or strikebusters were killed, but sometimes women and children as well (The Matewan, Lattimer, or Ludlow massacres.). In fact, a Google search on the history of massacres in the United States yields a distressingly long list of mass murders committed during our history. How do teachers discuss the Montgomery Bus Boycott, for example? How will students feel when they learn that Rosa Parks, a Black woman, was asked to give up her seat to a white person because the law at the time required Black people to sit in the back of the bus. A reasonable question that a young child might ask would be why did the law say that Black people had to sit in the back? If a teacher replied, truthfully, that it was because white people believed that Black people should not sit in the same section as white people, would that make the white child feel guilty because they, too, are white? Perhaps learning about white prejudice towards Black people would make a Black child feel anguish that they are in the group that were prohibited from sitting in the front of the bus. Lets face it, It is impossible to teach about the importance of Rosa Parks, without stating the fact that for many years in this country, Black people did not have the same rights to public accommodation as white people. The Stop WOKE Act, the Dont Say Gay law, laws prohibiting transgender youth from participating in sports, prohibiting abortion after just 6 weeks, and similar laws all do one thing they make the people of Florida less free to lives their lives as they choose. And they distract attention from the things that Gov. DeSantis is not doing, like helping more poor Floridians receive healthcare by implementing the Medicaid expansion allowed under the Affordable Care Act or like teaching basic sex education to help prevent teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, both of which are higher in Florida than in the state of Michigan. The voters of Michigan, including the voters in Midland, stated decisively in the November 2022 election that we care about reproductive freedom, that we support equal rights for LGBTQ+ persons, and that we support teaching honest history to our students. Here in Midland, by voting yes on Prop 3, by rejecting the Moms for Liberty MPS school board candidates, and by voting for Democratic candidates like Gov. Whitmer, Dan Kildee, and Kristen McDonald Rivet, we stated that we do care about justice and equality for everyone. Being woke is alive and well in Michigan and we are proud of that fact. Allison Wilcox is a member of Women of Michigan Action Networks leadership team. Paducah, KY (42003) Today Mostly cloudy early, then afternoon sunshine. High 68F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly cloudy during the evening followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low near 45F. Winds light and variable. Bamako, Mali (PANA) - Five people - two gendarmes, two civilians and a police officer - were killed in a terrorist attack by unidentified gunmen on the new checkpoint of Zambougou, in the Koulikoro region, about 50 kilometres from the Malian capital, Bamako, security sources told PANA Bujumbura, Burundi (PANA) - Depression, psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, mania and autism are among the main mental illnesses that affect 10-15% of the Burundian population between the ages of 16 and 45, Justin Mugisha, a young psychotherapist told PANA Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, said here Thursday that he was deeply concerned about restrictions on the media and civic space in Burkina Faso, following the suspension of media outlets and the expulsion from the country of two foreign correspondents Photo: (Photo : VALERIE MACON /Getty Images) Disney movies are known for their unforgettable characters, beautiful animation, and heartwarming stories. Disney movies often narrate tales of family, exploration, love, and grief. While many Disney films focus on romantic love or friendships, some of the best Disney movies explore the special bond between siblings. While it's a frequent plot point in these movies for parents to take a secondary role in their children's exciting journeys, some of the most notable characters in the studio's films have siblings who serve as built-in companions. These movies showcase the power of family, the importance of teamwork, and the beauty of sibling relationships. In this article, we will take a look at the top 5 Disney movies that highlight sibling relationships. Top 5 Best Disney Movies About Sibling Relationships 1. Frozen According to Ranker, this is a Disney movie about sibling relationships that took the world by storm. The movie follows two sisters, Elsa and Anna, as they navigate the challenges of growing up and learning to love and accept each other for who they are. Elsa is born with magical powers that she struggles to control, and Anna must learn to support her sister as she discovers her true identity. This movie is a beautiful tale of sisterly love, forgiveness, and redemption. It shows that no matter what challenges siblings may face, they will always be there for each other in the end. 2. Lilo & Stitch This Disney movie about sibling relationships is both heartwarming and hilarious. The movie follows Lilo, a young girl living in Hawaii, who adopts a mischievous alien named Stitch. Together, Lilo and Stitch learn the value of family and the power of unconditional love. The movie also showcases the special bond between siblings, as Lilo and her older sister Nani navigate the challenges of life and learn to appreciate each other's differences. 3. The Incredibles As per Rotoscopers, this is a superhero movie that puts family first. The story follows the Parr family, a group of superheroes forced to hide their powers from the world. The movie showcases the importance of teamwork and communication within a family, as each member of the Parr family must use their unique skills and abilities to overcome obstacles and save the day. The movie also explores the complex relationships between siblings, as Violet and Dash Parr learn to work together and appreciate each other's strengths. Read Also: Spring Break: Top 10 Fun, Affordable Activities for Families 4. Brave This Disney movie is about sibling relationships that break the mold. The movie follows Merida, a young Scottish princess who defies tradition and seeks to forge her own path in life. Along the way, she must navigate the complex relationships between her three younger brothers and learn to appreciate their unique personalities and strengths. The movie is a beautiful tribute to sibling relationships, as Merida learns that sometimes the people who are closest to us can be our greatest allies. 5. Encanto According to CBR, Encanto is a recent addition to the list of the best Disney movies about sibling relationships. The movie follows the Madrigal family, a group of magical people living in Colombia. The story centers around Mirabel, the only member of the family without magical powers, as she tries to save her family from a mysterious curse. The movie showcases the complex dynamics between siblings as each member of the Madrigal family struggles to balance their individual needs with the needs of the family as a whole. Related Article: Our Top Picks: Favorite Educational Shows for Kids to Watch Guilt-free A Warner Robins man, who was the leader of a meth ring in Middle Georgia, was sentenced to 35 years in prison Tuesday, officials said. Ontarrio Torrie Veal, 33, of Warner Robins was sentenced in Georgia Middle District court in Macon by U.S. District Judge Tilman E. Self III, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a statement. Veal pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine in November. Ontarrio Veal brazenly ran an armed criminal organization that pushed a significant amount of methamphetamine into Warner Robins and surrounding communities, U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary said in the statement. He is now held to account through the hard work of our prosecutors, working alongside our Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force partners. Police tracked Veals drug group and contacts from January to June of 2020, court evidence showed. They discovered Veal and his group contacting other drug dealers over the phone and traveling to Atlanta to distribute meth. Veal was arrested in June 2020 when police stopped him driving back to Middle Georgia from Atlanta and found meth and guns in Veals car, according to the statement. Other searches in Middle Georgia locations revealed more weapons and more than $100,00 in cash. The statement also listed nine more defendants that had pleaded guilty as members of Veals drug ring: 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 The Goodness of the Cross and Good Friday: Lessons from Bavaria, written by John W. Welch Abstract: It is natural to wonder how the day on which Jesus was crucified could come to be known as Good Friday. In this exploration of the topic, John Welch examines the many events which occurred on that fateful day and the meaning they have for us today. [Editors Note: This article is based on a talk delivered on Good Friday, April 2, 2021, to the German Missions Reunion in Salt Lake City. It has been lightly edited for publication.] We are entering into the Easter weekend. On the whole, apart from Easter-egg hunts, low-church American Protestants and American Latter-day Saints, whose culture basically emerged from low-church American Protestantism dont pay much attention to Good Friday or Holy Saturday, and our Easters themselves are too often somewhat perfunctory. Thats unfortunate, in my opinion, and Im pleased to see that a movement seems to have arisen within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints it was certainly noticeable at last weekends General Conference of the Church. Happily, an English-born neighbor brought over some hot cross buns just a few minutes ago, as she has done for a number of years now. Easter weekend is, thus, officially underway. In honor thereof, I offer a poetic meditation on the event that todays holiday commemorates. It may require two or three slow, careful readings : Good Friday, by Christina Rosetti Am I a stone, and not a sheep, That I can stand, O Christ, beneath Thy cross, To number drop by drop Thy bloods slow loss, And yet not weep? Not so those women loved Who with exceeding grief lamented Thee; Not so fallen Peter, weeping bitterly; Not so the thief was moved; Not so the Sun and Moon Which hid their faces in a starless sky, A horror of great darkness at broad noon I, only I. Yet give not oer, But seek Thy sheep, true Shepherd of the flock; Greater than Moses, turn and look once more And smite a rock. Here are some of the Easter-related columns that I used to publish in the Deseret News, one or two of which may be of interest to my one or two readers: The mysterious 40-day ministry of Jesus after Easter Can modern people believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ? Easters answer to the terrible question: One of the most obvious facts facing human beings is the inevitability of death Evidence of Jesus Christs resurrection Religion matters in death Life after death is a joyful fact The days leading up to Easter Sunday Palm Sunday led to liberation from death The gospel truly brings joyful news Christs resurrection was a witnessed fact, not a later fantasy In submission is our salvation A great cloud of witnesses at Easter Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and C.S. Lewis on the hope of Easter Ive also written at least one Easter-related piece for Meridian Magazine: An Ancient Witness of the Savior We Dont Often Hear About And here are some relevant specimens from the biweekly column that my late (and much missed) friend and colleague Bill Hamblin and I used to write for the Deseret News: Holy Week aids Easter reflections The words of Easter The holy light of Easter in Jerusalem The challenge of the empty tomb The tomb of Jesus Choosing the date of Easter and how Western, Eastern celebrations are on the same day this year (2017) Rebecca Reynolds Lambert wrote the Interpreter Foundations Easter message for last year, 2022, but I somehow omitted it from yesterdays list. Our Faithful Lord: Passover to Easter Abstract: Studying the origins and traditions of Passover enriches our understanding of Easter. We can deepen our own worship and expand our ritual memory by an acquaintance with these traditions. Latter-day Saints possess unique understandings that further illuminate the constancy and plenitude of the Lords covenantal relationship with us. Additionally, I want to share with you an excellent article by a different Peterson. He too used to do columns (irregularly) for the Deseret News, and in this column he actually dared the French term lese-majeste comes to mind to cast a bit of doubt on something that I had written in The Words of Easter, above: Think Easters symbols are all pagan? Many are more Christian than you think And I like this New York Times article, which was published just yesterday: A Naive Reading of the Gospels May Be Just What Christianity Needs And this short essay is worth a look: Americas Favorite Prophet: Elijah. Hes not just for Passover anymore. In his concluding remarks during the final session of last weeks General Conference, President Russell M. Nelson declared that Easter Sunday . . . is the most important religious observance for followers of Jesus Christ. The main reason we celebrate Christmas is because of Easter. (emphasis in the original). I confess that Ive gone back in forth in my mind for years now anyway, for at least one or two minutes annually about whether Christmas or Easter is the more theologically significant holiday. As President Nelson says, we celebrate Christmas because of Easter. But then, on the other hand, Easter would not have happened had the Son of God not taken a human body upon himself in the Incarnation, which occurred at Christmas. Its a chicken-and-egg conundrum. Here, though, is an article from the Jesuit magazine America that endorses President Nelsons judgment. It was originally published in 1962: Daniel J. OHanlon, S.J.: Easternot Christmasshould be the most important Christian holiday The wicked reign of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel is summarized in the Bible as follows: 1 Kings 16:29-33 (RSV) In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD more than all that were before him. And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took for wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshiped him. He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the ki29, 32.ngs of Israel who were before him. As to the chronology of the kings of Judah and Israel in relation to extrabiblical sources, Egyptologist and archaeologist Kenneth Kitchen writes, We find in Kings a very remarkably preserved royal chronology, mainly very accurate in fine detail, that agrees very closely with the dates given by Mesopotamian and other sources. . . . It cannot well be the free creation of some much later writers imagination that just happens (miraculously!) to coincide almost throughout with the data then preserved only in documents buried inaccessibly in the ruin mounds of Assyrian cities long since abandoned and largely lost to view. (1) Utilizing his extraordinary knowledge of such matters, Kitchen estimates the reign of King Ahab (the twenty-two years of 1 Kings 16:29) to be 875 or 874 to 853 B.C. (2) We have external, extrabiblical evidence that Ahab was the king of Israel in 853 B.C.: In 853 BC, the Assyrian king, Shalmaneser III fought against a coalition of western kings near at Qarqar in modern-day Syria. He left a description of the battle on a stele that was discovered in 1861 at Kurkh, near the Tigris river in Turkey. In the inscription on the Kurkh Monolith, he names Ahab the Israelite as one of the combatants and claims that he had one of the strongest forces, with 2000 chariots and 10000 soldiers. . . . While neither Shalmaneser III, nor the Battle of Qarqar are mentioned in the Bible, this inscription is still important for several reasons. First, it is a clear confirmation of Ahab as a king of Israel. Secondly, it testifies to the wealth and power of the Israelite kingdom at the time. Finally, it references a historical event that can be dated. (3) Expert on biblical chronology Edwin Thiele elaborates, Shalmaneser also mentions that he received tribute from Jehu during his expedition to the west in his eighteenth year. This would be in the eponymy of Adam-rimani (841). Thus Jehu was already reigning over Israel sometime in 841.the interval between the death of Ahab and the accession of Jehu is exactly twelve years, being made up of the reigns of Ahaziah ,the son and successor of Ahab, and Joram, who was slain and succeeded by Jehu [2 Kings 2:51 & 3:1].Since the interval between the battle of Qarqar, at which Ahab fought in 853, and the time Jehu paid tribute to Shalmaneser in 841 is also for a period of just twelve years, it is in this period that the reigns of Ahaziah and Joram must have taken place, with 853 as the last year of Ahab and 841 for Jehus accession. (4) 1 Kings 22:39 Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he built, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? Bryan Windle comments on this: Scholars have speculated that one of the enhancements which Ahab made to the capital of Samaria was to adorn the palace walls and furniture with ivory decorations such that it became known as the Ivory House. When Kathleen Kenyons team excavated Samaria in 1932, they unearthed a large collection of carved ivories dating to the Iron Age. . . . Because they date to the time of King Ahab, and were discovered near the palace complex, most scholars believe they come from the fabled, Ivory House. (5) See an example of one of the figures. (6) Dr. Liat Naeh (7) wrote her dissertation for the Archaeology Institute of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, on ritual artifacts made of bone and ivory dating from the Middle to Late Bronze Ages in the Levant. Bible History Daily notes her work in relation to our subject: Naeh reviews recent wood, bone and ivory finds from the sites of Jerusalem, Rehov and Hazor in Israel to shed light on the Samaria ivories. These discoveries suggest that there was a local tradition of wood, bone and ivory carving of inlays (decorative materials inserted in something else), featuring recurring themes, during both the Bronze and Iron Ages in the southern Levant. The early interpretation of categorizing the Samaria ivories as Phoenician has impacted the subsequent discovery of other southern Levantine ivory artifacts. The bias to associate any such ivory find with the Phoenicians has caused the regions local ivory tradition to be overlooked. Naeh suggests that it is necessary to change our view of the Samaria ivoriesand ivories found throughout the southern Levantas being made by the hands of foreigners. (8) Bryant Wood recounts further archaeological corroboration of Ahab and the activities during his reign: Excavations at Samaria have laid bare Ahabs palace. An earlier palace was built on the acropolis by Ahabs father Omri (1 Kgs 16:24). It was surrounded by a wall 5 ft thick. The royal quarter was later expanded by building a casemate (hollow) wall 32 ft wide outside the earlier wall. This is believed to be the work of Ahab. Within the compound was a building dubbed the ivory house where many fragments of carved ivory plaques were found (see cover). This represents the most important collection of miniature art from the kingdom period found in Israel. The ivories appear to be remains of inlay originally placed on furniture in the palace of Ahab and later Israelite kings. Another interesting feature found in the royal compound was a pool in the northwest corner which could possibly be the pool referred to in Scripture where Ahabs chariot was washed [1 Kings 22:38]. Ahab is credited with fortifying a number of cities in his kingdom (1 Kgs 22:39). At Megiddo, Stratum IVA has been attributed to this king. There were a number of prominent structures associated with Stratum IVA, including an offset-inset fortification wall 12 ft wide, large pillared buildings, a palace, and a water system which included a 260 ft long tunnel. At Hazor, Stratum VIII is dated to the time of Ahab. As at Megiddo, the city was totally rebuilt at this time. A solid fortification wall 10 ft wide was constructed, along with a citadel, a large pillared building, and an underground water system. At Tel Dan, a well-preserved city gate was constructed in the days of Ahab in Stratum III. The high place, originally constructed by Jeroboam I (1 Kgs 12:28-30) and destroyed by Ben-Hadad king of Aram (1 Kgs 15:20), was reconstructed at this time. (9) With regard to archaeological evidence for Queen Jezebel, Bryant Wood sums up (10): In the early 1960s a seal was purchased on the antiquities market and donated to the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. The late Nahman Avigad [my link], a leading Israeli paleographer (one who studies ancient writing), published an article about the seal in 1964 (11). He suggested the name on the seal was possibly Jezebel, but there was a problem the first letter of the name was missing. And so, little attention was paid to the seal and it languished in the Israel Museum for decades. Then, Dutch researcher Marjo Korpel (Associate Professor of Old Testament, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands) became interested in it (12) . Korpel was first drawn to the seal because of its imagery, but then became intrigued with the inscription. She noticed that a piece had broken off at the top and this could very well have been where the missing letter was originally located. She conjectured that there were initially two letters in the area of the break: a Hebrew lamed, or L, which stood for (belonging) to or for, and the missing first letter of Jezebels name. Apart from the inscription, there are other compelling reasons for identifying the seal as that of Jezebel. First, as Avigad observed, it is very fancy, suggestive of royalty. It is made of the gemstone opal and is larger than average, being 1.24 in (31 mm) from top to bottom (13). Secondly, the form of the letters is Phoenician, or imitates Phoenician writing (14). Thirdly, the seal is filled with common Egyptian symbols that were often used in Phoenicia in the ninth century BC and are suggestive of a queen. At the top is a crouching winged sphinx with a womans face, the body of a lioness and a female lsis/Hathor crown. To the left is an Egyptian ankh, the sign of life. In the lower register, below a winged disk, is an Egyptian-style falcon, symbol of royalty in Egypt. On either side of the falcon is a uraeus, the cobra representation of Egyptian royalty worn on crowns. At the bottom left is a lotus, a symbol often associated with royal women. All of these icons taken together denote female royalty (15). Although 100% certainty cannot be attained, Korpels assessment of the evidence leads her to conclude, I believe it is very likely that we have here the seal of the famous Queen Jezebel (16). Moreover, King Ahab is mentioned in the Mesha Stele (aka Moabite Stone) (17), dated to c. 840 B.C.: only about thirteen years after Ahabs estimated year of death. Its a Canaanite inscription under the name of King Mesha of Moab (in current-day Jordan). All of this adds up to the conclusion that the Old Testament (as has been proven again and again) is minutely, extraordinarily accurate, even about fine details and dates of events. FOOTNOTES 1) Kenneth A. Kitchen, On the Reliability of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan, Eerdmans Pub. Co., 2003), 29, 32. 2) Ibid., 30. 3) Bryan Windle, King Ahab: An Archaeological Biography, Bible Archaeology Report, May 15, 2020. 4) Edwin R. Thiele, The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1983), 76. 5) Windle, ibid. 6) Furniture inlay: striding sphinx, Samaria, Iron Age II, ninth-eighth century B.C. (Israel Antiquities Authority); https://web.archive.org/web/20210927000927/https://www.imj.org.il/en/collections/365181. 7) Liat Naeh, Curriculum Vitae. 8) The Samaria IvoriesPhoenician or Israelite?, Bible History Daily / Biblical Archaeology Society, August 28, 2017. 9) Bryant Wood, Ahab the Israelite, Bible and Spade, Fall 1996; reprinted at Associates for Biblical Research. 10) Bryant Wood, Seal of Jezebel Identified, Associates for Biblical Research, July 15, 2019. See a photo of the seal in this article. 11) Nahman Avigad, The Seal of Jezebel, Israel Exploration Journal (1964) 14: 274-76. 12) Marjo C.A. Korpel, Fit for a Queen: Jezebels Royal Seal, Biblical Archaeology Review (2008) 34.2: 32-37, 80. 13) Avigad, 274. 14) Korpel, 37. 15) Korpel, 36-37. 16) Korpel, 37. 17) Encyclopedia Britannica, Moabite Stone. *** Photo credit: Photo: Yuber. The Kurkh Monolith of the Assyrian King Shalmaneser III that mentions Ahab the Israelite. [Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain] *** Summary: I offer various archaeological evidences of the time-period and various aspects and events regarding wicked King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, in the 9th c. B.C. Cocoa farmers in Ghana can heave a sigh of relief as the European Union (EU) has clarified that the majority of cocoa from the West African country is at no risk of an EU market ban. Legislation passed in December by the EU parliament seeks to ban some commodities linked to deforestation, including cocoa, coffee, soya and beef. Cocoa production is tagged as the leading cause of deforestation in West Africa, a region responsible for two-thirds of global cocoa beans output. Civil society groups, farmer cooperatives, the industry regulator and the government of Ghana alike have been reeling from the introduction of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Ghana exports more than 80 percent of its annual cocoa output to the European Union. Fears are that hundreds of thousands of smallholder cocoa farmers in Ghana would be left destitute if the EUDR came into force. But interacting with members of the Ghana Civil-society Cocoa Platform (GCCP) during his recent visit to Accra, the EU Director General for International Partnerships (INTPA), Regis Meritan (PhD), said such concerns are unfounded. Dr. Meritan explained that when implementation of the law commences in two years, it will only apply to produce from cocoa farms established after December 2020 and not those existing before. The objective of this law in Europe is to say thanks to our law we are stopping deforestation. As for what happened before the law started, leading to deforestation, it is too late, he underscored. The INTPA chief further clarified, So, what we want is to not encourage new deforestation. Ghana is the second-largest producer of cocoa beans globally after its neighbour Cote dIvoire. More than 800,000 farmer-families account for its output. The countrys annual production has averaged 800K metric tonnes in the last decade, with most of it exported in a raw state to the EU and other markets. With local value addition capacity almost non-existent, cocoa growers are apprehensive that a ban on Ghana cocoa from the EU market would inflict unimaginable hardship on them. Even without a ban, cocoa farmers are living in squalor due to low international market and farmgate prices for our harvests, complained Leticia Yankey, President of Cocoa Mmaa a female-only cocoa farmer cooperative in Ghanas Central Region. But Regis Meritan strongly allayed the fears of cocoa farmers in both Ghana and Ivory Coast regarding any adverse impact of the EUDR on their livelihoods. I do not think the regulation on deforestation will have a major impact on your ability to continue selling your cocoa and your cocoa being imported into Europe, Dr. Meritan assured. I am not talking about 100 percent of your production, but I think if we are talking about 98 or 95 percent of your production I would probably be right, he stated. The European Union DG for International Partnerships insisted that: The main problem that could happen is more probably linked to your own legislation than this new criterion applied by the EU after 2020. According to him although the majority of cocoa farms in Ghana pre-date the EUDR cut-off date of December 2020, the designation of such farmlands by Ghanaian law as protected areas could be problematic. Source: B&FT Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has filed 11 new charges against the former Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Development Authority, (NDA) his two deputies, and a private contractor. Mr. Sumaila Abdul-Rahman, Chief Executive of NDA, and three others namely Stephen Yir-eru Engmen, Deputy Chief Executive (Operations), Patrick Seidu Deputy Chief Executive (Finance & Administration) and Andrew Kuundaari, Chief Executive of A&QS Consortium Limited, have been arraigned before the Tamale High Court presided by His Lordship Eric Ansah Ankomah for alleged breaches of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663). The accused persons however pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against them. The accused persons have all been admitted to bail to the sum of GHS2,000,000 upon the following conditions; submission of passport to the registry of High Court, not to leave the jurisdiction without informing the court and each accused to produce two sureties with an undertaking to pay the bail sum of GHS2,000,000. According to a statement sighted by DGN Online, the prosecution will file disclosures by April 18, 2023. However, the Case Management Conference has been fixed for May 2, 2023, with the possibility to open Prosecutions case that same day. The NDA has been in the news in recent times over some alleged corruption-related cases at the office. The complaint Mr. Martin Luther Kpebu alleged that the Public Procurement Authority approved the award of GHS5,720,000 on 16 January 2020 and that no approval was sought for the inflated figure of GHS10,400,000. The complaint further alleged that though the contract has expired, NDA has gone ahead to implement the same and paid about GHS3,000,000 and that there was an attempt to pay an additional GHS 5,000,000. Before the filing of the complaint by Mr. Kpebu, the Chief of Staff at the Presidency had been petitioned on 11 January 2022 by a former Acting Chief Executive of NDA, Dr. Alhassan Sulemana Anamzoya on the same matter. In his petition titled Falsification of A&QS Contract under the IPEP Dr. Anamzoya stated that his attention had been drawn to a document purportedly signed by him awarding a Ten Million Four Hundred Thousand cedi contract (GHS10,400,000.00) to A&QS by NDA under the IPEP. Dr. Anamzoya denied executing any such contract. He claimed that on 28 January 2020, he signed (for and on behalf of NDA) a contract awarded by NDA to A&QS of Five Million Seven Hundred and Twenty Thousand cedis (GHS5,720,000.00) based on approval by the Public Procurement Authority (hereafter, PPA) dated 16 January 2020. He contended that the document containing the contract sum of Ten Million Four Hundred Thousand cedis (GHS10,400,000.00) was doctored by the transposition of his signature onto that document, which numbering does not tally with the remaining pages of the document. Dr. Anamzoyas object of petitioning the Chief of Staff was twofold to expose the perpetrators for punishment and to clear his name. Source: dailyguidenetwork.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 Mayor of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) Hon. Sam Pyne has hinted he is ready to rescind his decision to contest for the Suame Parliamentary seat if incumbent MP Hon Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu chooses to contest again. According to Sam Pyne, his decision is in respect of the new law made by the National Council of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) barring MMDCEs from contesting incumbent MPs. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) will open nominations for the upcoming Parliamentary Elections to be held on February 24, 2024, according to sources available to MyNewsGH.com. As per our sources, the nominations will open on December 20, 2023, and close on January 4, 2024. The decision is in line with the partys election guidelines as enshrined in Article 11 (2) of its constitution. The party in a new law by the National Council says National Officers (chairmen), Regional Officers (chairmen) and MMDCEs cannot contest in areas there is already an NPP MP. In places where there are sitting MPs, you cannot contest, the party has said. However, speaking in an interview with Angel FM Kumasi monitored by MyNewsGH.com, Sam Pyne noted that, to respect the partys decision, he will not contest the Suame Constituency primaries should the incumbent MP Hon Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu makes a U-turn and decides to contest. The new law states that, if you are an MMDCE you cant contest and people are not clear with that. It is applicable to where there is a sitting MP. For instance, though I have the intention to contest for the Suame seat, if Hon Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, says he will contest again, I will have to resign. But if he says he is not going to contest then I will go, Sam Pyne told Kwame Tanko on the show Angel in the Morning. 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 A member of the Advisory Board of the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), Rev. Dr. Fred Deegbe, has stated that as a coalition, they are willing to admit any evidence that proves contrary to what they have presented against the two commissioners recently appointed by the president to serve as board members of the Electoral Commission of Ghana. He believes that the reasons for calling for the resignation of the two are sound enough to support their argument, but if others say otherwise and provide proof, the coalition will hastily revise its position on the matter. Rev. Dr. Fred Deegbe was speaking on Joy News' The Probe, monitored by GhanaWeb. "Yes, we have, and since we've gone public, if there is any evidence to the contrary and we are shown the evidence, we will be the first to admit that we are wrong. But as far as we know, we have put this out here because we are sure of it," he said. According to him, there is no critical violation to say that the appointees should not serve, but "we [are] just appealing to them and their good conscience" to step down from the position. Dr. Deegbe went on to say that the current procedure in the constitution to have the appointees impeached is a long process for the matter at stake. However, it would be honourable for them to step down in the interest of peace and justice. At a press conference held on April 5, 2023, CODEO called for the resignation of two of the three members, Dr. Peter Appiahene and Hajia Salima Tijini, appointed by the president to serve as board members of the electoral commission. The President, Nana Akufo Addo, on Monday, March 20, 2023, swore in three new members of the Electoral Commission of Ghana. Among the people sworn in are Dr. Peter Appiahene, Reverend Akua Ofori Boateng, and Hajia Salima Tijini, who are expected to serve in their new roles until the end of the 2024 general election. Since appointing the two as commission members, pressure has been mounting on the president to withdraw their appointment after social media videos and comments pointed out their affiliation with the ruling party, the NPP. Some bodies and individuals have also spoken against the president's appointment. Dr Kwame Asa Asante, a senior lecturer at the University of Ghana, has argued that Dr Appiahene is an active communication member of the NPP, and his appointment does not augur well for confidence in the EC to be a fair arbiter in the 2024 general election. The Center for Democratic Development (CDD) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) both argue that there is evidence that shows Dr. Appiahene is the patron of TESCON, a campus establishment of the NPP at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR). CODEO, again, argues that there are known relatives and relations of Hajia Salima Tijini who are members of the NPP. This, they believe, is going to affect her work as a board member of the commission. 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 Ezra Miller and Ben Kingsley are two sides of the same Dali. Both actors transform into artist Salvador Dali for Magnolia Pictures Daliland, directed by Mary Harron (American Psycho, I Shot Andy Warhol). More from IndieWire The film focuses on Salvador Dali, one of the most world-renowned artists of the 20th century, and centers on the later years of the strange and fascinating marriage between Dali and his wife, Gala (Barbara Sukowa), as their seemingly unshakable bond begins to stress and fracture, per an official synopsis. Set in New York and Spain in 1974, the film is told through the eyes of James (Christopher Briney), a young assistant keen to make his name in the art world, who helps the eccentric and mercurial Dali prepare for a big gallery show. Daisy Jones & the Six breakout Suki Waterhouse, Andreja Pejic, and Rupert Graves also star. Daliland debuted closing night at 2022 TIFF and is produced by Daniel Brunt, Chris Curling, Edward R. Pressman, Sam Pressman, and David O. Sacks. Director Harron addressed the controversies surrounding actor Miller. The non-binary star who uses they/them pronouns was arrested on felony charges for trespassing; allegations of Miller choking a woman and running a cult-like community for teens have also been made public. Miller apologized and announced they were seeking mental health treatment. Harron shared that Miller was on her mind for over a decade to star as a young Dali. At that point, the producers and everyone were saying, Well, you cant cast them because theyre not a big enough star, Harron told Vanity Fair. And then a year later they were too big a star and had to drop out because they got Fantastic Beasts, and then later got The Flash. Harron added, They stayed very loyal to the project for years, even when other people dropped out right and left because of schedule changes and the pandemic. Story continues As for the accusations against Miller, Harron said, They were very professional and nice to everybody. There was no trouble or a sign of trouble on set. So it was very upsetting and terrible to read what happened later. Reading this stuff was very sad very sad for everybody involved. Hopefully they are getting help for what sounds like a very, very serious break. Daliland premieres June 9 in select theaters and VOD. Check out the trailer below. Best of IndieWire Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Some religious leaders have supported calls for the review of the 1992 Constitution to make it robust and inclusive and to conform to modern governance dynamics. Taking their turn at the Institute of Economic Affairs' (IEA) Constitutional Review Seminar in Accra on Wednesday, the leaders said 30 years after the implementation of the current constitution, there had been identifiable lapses in the areas of presidential powers, separation of powers, social exclusion, gender equity, institutional weaknesses, and decentralisation, among others. The religious leaders said the review of the constitution must, however, lead to an enhancement of religious tolerance, deepening democracy, and improvements in the lives of the people. The speakers at the event were: Dr Lawrence Tetteh, President, Worldwide Miracle Outreach; Sheikh AremeyawShaibu, Spokesperson, National Chief Imam; the Most Reverend Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo, Presiding Bishop, Methodist Church of Ghana; Maulvi Mohammed Bin Salih, Head, Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, and Apostle Samuel Amponsah Frimpong, Chairman, Christ Apostolic Church. Dr. Tetteh called for the review of the four-year term of presidents to six years to offer governments adequate time to plan and implement them. He said the current arrangement did not offer presidents adequate time to put things in order and implement policies for the various sectors of the economy in the long term. Dr. Tetteh, however, expressed concern over what he described as the excessive powers enjoyed by the president, saying the situation limited checks and balances. "The Constitution should be reviewed to reduce the president's authority while enhancing the functions of Parliament," he said. Dr. Tetteh also called for gender inclusivity in the review of the 1992 Constitution and recommended that women be allotted full representation in governance. Sheikh Shaibu said he was not in support of the total overhaul of the 1992 Constitution, but the inadequacies identified after three decades of implementation should be addressed. He called for an entrenched provision in the constitution to make the long-term development agenda of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) binding on successive presidents. "We need a new breed of politicians with a new mindset, who see politics as a means of serving the people and not to amass wealth," Sheikh Shaibu said. The Most Rev. Boafo called for a review of the indemnity clause, which insulated presidents from any prosecution within three years after leaving office. He said the period provided by the constitution was not enough for the gathering of evidence to support any form of prosecution of a president in the event of mismanagement. Most Rev. Boafo said Affirmative Action should be given constitutional recognition to promote inclusivity at all levels. "The NDPC should be entrusted with the development agenda of the country, and it should be such that no party can abandon the plan," he said. Maulvi Bin Salih said the 1992 Constitution had thus far promoted religious tolerance and that any review of the constitution must encourage religious harmony and peaceful coexistence. "Apart from politics, which is a big problem, we should pay attention to religion. Let's restrain some of our people who make fearing speeches and attack people regardless of the consequences," he said. Maulvi Bin Salih added: "We should remain a secular state, and the Constitution should allow anyone to profess their faith in harmony," he said. Apostle Frimpong said the 1992 Constitution had been "the most enduring" one, adding that a review of some portions of the constitution would deepen the culture of democracy and create an inclusive atmosphere. He said the review should also embrace measures that would lead to the transformation of the economy and bring relief to the people. "The review of the Constitution must take care of things that will make us economically viable and eliminate poverty," Apostle Frimpong said. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Today, we join Christians around the world in solemn remembrance of how Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and Saviour, shed His precious blood on Calvary so that we could be reconciled with our Father in Heaven. This Easter season, let us reinforce our commitment to living righteously for Christ and the Kingdom of God. The triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are what make us Christians. Therefore, Easter is not just a time for revelry, but also a time for us to strengthen our commitment to living righteously for Christ and His Kingdom. As Christians, we must remember the message of forgiveness and reconciliation that is at the core of our faith. It is my prayer that our beloved homeland, Ghana, would always find favor in the eyes of the Lord as we commit ourselves to praying without ceasing for Him to bless us and make us great and strong. As we reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, let us also remember those who are suffering and in need in our communities. Let us be the hands and feet of Christ, helping those in need and sharing the hope of salvation with all. Like Christ, who suffered and emerged victorious, we too, as a nation, can overcome our present sufferings. Let us keep praying and seeking God's intervention in our lives and in our nation. May the humility with which Christ approached the Cross in spite of all the humiliation and suffering be our guiding principle so that we also strive to live in humble coexistence, knowing that our earthly journey is only a path to eternal glory with our Lord and King. Wishing everyone a blessed Easter, and may this Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday rekindle in us the message of salvation and the need to be ambassadors of the Kingdom in all spheres of our lives. May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, rest and abide with us all now and always. Indeed, our Redeemer lives! 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 43-year-old man, Kwadwo Affum, has been stabbed to death at Sefwi Anwiam in the Sefwi Wiawso Municipality of the Western North Region. According to a citinewsroom.com report, even though the reason was not stated, the suspect stabbed Kwadwo Affum, who lives in the same vicinity, on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, around 7:30 pm near the house of the deceased. The matter has been reported to the Sefwi Wiawso District Police Command, and the suspect has been put in police custody after escaping a mob attack. The Assemblyman for Sefwi Anwiam, Isaac Asante, who kept the suspect in his house until the arrival of the police, told Citi News that the mob pursued the suspect and his family in their quest to take revenge on him. 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 A Tennessee book and periodical publishing companys plan to expand its operations in Franklin County includes the closure of a facility in the Allentown area. Lightning Source, which is owned by the Ingram Content Group filed a WARN notice with the Department of Labor & Industry informing the state that it will close the facility at 860 Nestle Way in Upper Macungie Township, Lehigh County near Breinigsville and Allentown and lay off 270 employees -- 11 employees in April, 20 in May, 40 in June, 20 in July, 20 in August, 20 in September, 20 in October, 69 in November and 40 in December. The WARN notice was dated April 4. The Ingram Content Group is expanding its distribution center in Guilford Township near Chambersburg through the addition of book manufacturing and print-on-demand services. The facility will become a print-on-demand and distribution center. We are investing in the technologies that will enable us to keep up with increasing demand and better serve our customers, Shawn Morin, CEO of Ingram Content Group, said in a news release in January. We are excited to be able to get more books into the world with the expansion of the Chambersburg facility to include both distribution and print-on-demand. The facility near Allentown will close on Nov. 1. The company provided the following statement. Ingram Content Group recently announced the expansion of its distribution center in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania to become a co-located, state-of-the-art print-on-demand and distribution center. As a result of this strategic investment, Ingrams longtime Allentown, Pennsylvania print-on-demand facility will officially close on November 1, 2023, with the last date of employment for Allentown associates being December 31, 2023. Current associates of the Allentown facility have been notified of the pending closure, and Ingram has offered relocation opportunities and/or severance and outplacement assistance to all Allentown associates. Ingram is grateful for the contribution and dedication of all Allentown associates, many of whom have chosen to relocate to the Chambersburg facility. The facilities are about two hours-and-ten minutes apart from each other. The WARN Act is federal legislation that offers protection to workers, their families and communities by requiring employers to provide notice 60 days in advance of a covered-business closing and covered-business mass layoff. There are some exceptions to the 60 day rule. The Ingram Content Group had announce the facility closing in January. Sign up for Eat, Shop, Go, a weekly report on food, restaurants, business, retail centers, things to do and places to go all around central Pa. Sign up for free by clicking here. DALLAS Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan pocketed a 75% pay and compensation increase in his first year on the job, a year that ended in an epic debacle as the carriers operations melted down during the holidays. Jordans $5.33 million in total compensation for 2022 was below the $9 million in total pay, stock awards and other benefits he could have potentially earned for the year, but higher than the $3.05 million he made the year before when he was the executive vice president of corporate services, according to regulatory filings made public Thursday. Jordan, who was elevated to CEO last February after 34 years at the company, made $676,875 in base salary, bonuses worth about $978,600 and stock awards of $3.6 million. Those bonuses and stocks are awarded based on the company hitting certain performance metrics for both finances and operations. Jordan wont be eligible to cash in on much of the $3.6 million in stock awards for several years while the options vest. Jordans compensation for 2022 was slightly higher than Southwests second-highest-paid executive, chairman Gary Kelly, who made $5.07 million after serving as CEO in January and then moving to oversee the board and do some lobbying in Washington, D.C., for the company. Kelly made $5.3 million in 2021 and $9.8 million the year before. Southwest posted a 2022 profit of $539 million, significantly decreased by the $800 million hit the company took in lost revenue, refunds and other gestures of goodwill for the 16,700 flights the carrier canceled in December after weather and tech shortfalls essentially shut down operations around the Christmas holiday. Liza Taylor of Portland looks for her lost luggage at the Sacramento International Airport terminal B near the Southwest carousel on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022. Taylor spent Christmas in Sacramento after she was unable to visit her family in Riverside County, and said she was flying back home after she found her suitcase.TNS Among Southwests other top-paid executives were chief financial officer Tammy Romo, who made $2.78 million, and Andrew Watterson, who made $2.59 million in total compensation after taking over as chief operating officer in the fall for the retiring Mike Van de Ven, who made $3 million for the year. Jordans 2022 total compensation was 61.5 times higher than the average Southwest employee, who made $86,599. Jordans compensation also is slightly higher than that of his crosstown competitor Robert Isom, CEO of Fort Worth-based American Airlines, who earned $4.89 million in total compensation in 2022. Chicago-based United Airlines and Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines have not yet released 2022 compensation for their top executives. Kyle Arnold of The Associated Press wrote this story. 2023 The Dallas Morning News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. More: Walmart tells hundreds of workers they have 90 days to find jobs at other locations; see list of stores closing Passenger dies after falling off balcony to lower deck on cruise ship: reports Pax Christi Harrisburg held its annual walking Way of the Cross in downtown Harrisburg on Good Friday. Good Friday is a Christian holiday that commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. This year Good Friday is April 7. Easter is Sunday, April 9. The event connects Jesus journey to the cross with current themes of peace and justice. The contemplative walk takes participants through downtown Harrisburg to stop at 14 places of interest to correspond with the 14 stations of the cross. At each stop a Gospel passage is read along with a commentary about current social justice issues to make the Gospel relevant to today. Grounded in the Gospel and Catholic social teaching, Pax Christi USA rejects war, preparation for war, every form of violence and domination, and personal and systemic racism. READ MORE: Where to find Easter 2023 egg hunts, bunny visits and more in central Pa. Painted potatoes instead of eggs? Spud promoter suggests new, cheaper Easter tradition Where to go in the Harrisburg-area for Easter dinners, brunches and buffets This is a holy season for four faiths, and many are finding ways to celebrate together | Social Views Starting your own business is quite the undertaking no matter what it is. However, the number of hurdles you may have to jump over to do so can depend on where you live. SimplifyLLC an independent publication that provides free guides for small business owners conducted and published a study which found the most and least expensive states in the country to start a business in. This was done by first establishing four business-related categories on which to score each state plus Washington D.C.: Basic Business Costs; Labor Costs & Availability; Cost of Space & Utilities; and Healthy Business Environment. Category grades were then calculated by factoring in relevant values, Corporate Income Tax Rates and Net Change in Business Establishments among them. Pennsylvania ranked among the worst with its 33rd overall ranking, scoring bottom marks in things such as average corporate income tax rate. On the bright side, the Keystone State did rank among the best for average monthly commercial electric bill. While many entrepreneurs start their businesses out of their homes (and Apples founders famously started their company in the garage of Steve Jobs parents house), if your business begins to flourish, chances are youll look to expand beyond the bounds of your own home, elaborates the study. But with expansion comes more headaches and additional costs, including finding space and paying utilities. While those arent the extent of the costs, of course, we used commercial space availability and average commercial electric bills to determine the most and least expensive states when it comes to business space. The top three best states to start a business in were Arkansas (third), Colorado (second), and Nevada (first). The bottom three were Louisiana (49), New York (50), and Minnesota (51). Happy National Beer Day 2023, everyone! In celebration of this glorious occasion, a new study has determined the most searched-for beer in Pennsylvania. Shane Co. was the mastermind behind this study, which first listed 100 top-rated beers in each U.S. state based on information from Beer Advocate. Researchers proceeded to then gather Google Trends data from January 2018 to January 2023 to analyze keywords and compared that search interest by location. It was thus determined that Pennsylvanias one brew love, search-wise, was Troegs. Based in Hershey, Troegs was founded by Chris and John Trogner in the nineties and was just recently voted as having the Best Brewery Tour by USA Today readers. The companys About Us page explains how the Troegs crew is a bunch of family, friends and kindred spirits who share a love of great beer and who are driven by a sense of adventure and curiosity. In going outside of Pennsylvania, the Shane Co. study found a wide variety in beers that were being searched for: Those in Alaska, for one, were looking into Forty Ninth State Brewing more than any other while Nebraska residents number one query was Boulevard Brewing Co. No matter which state you call home, theres a craft beer out there for you, concludes the study. So whether your favorite made the list or not, you can be sure that no matter where in the U.S. your travel takes you, theres a frothy craft beer out there that will make your taste buds sing. Valerie Bertsch has always been drawn to rabbits, so much so she decorated her Medford Lakes, New Jersey, home with paintings and sculptures of bunnies. Yet for much of her life, Bertsch owned only cats and dogs. As I got older, I thought Ive always wanted a bunny. What am I waiting for? she said. And so, for her 59th birthday, Bertsch wrote a note that read I got you a bunny, put the note in a box, wrapped it, addressed it to herself, and signed it from her husband, Jay. He was in good humor about it, she said. In the two years since getting her first bunny, Bertsch a mother, grandmother, and Compass real estate broker quickly fell down the rabbit hole. Shes now got two litter-box trained house buns, (who live harmoniously with her three dogs), and shes converted her two-car garage into a rabbit cafe where shes currently fostering 10 bunnies through Tribbles Rabbit Rescue of South Jersey. Valerie caught rabbit fever, said Lori Mills, founder and owner of Tribbles. Once you have a rabbit, you are going to be smitten. Though Bertschs cafe is more homespun than public rabbit cafes in Japan and Canada, its still ear-resistibly adorable. Visitors are greeted with a sign welcoming everybunny, you can get hopped up on free coffee and tea served in bunny cups, and prints of rabbit artwork by Hunt Slonem decorate the walls. Even the bathroom here is bunny-themed. (Rabbit fact break: Did you know bunnies poop 200 to 300 times a day?) Ava Colon, 15, of Medford, New Jersey, visits with her favorite resident of the rabbit cafe, a perfectly-rotund bunny named Sandy. (Tyger Williams/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)TNS The cafe is ringed with pens where the rabbits live some in bonded pairs (like odd couple Charles, a slob, and his devoted partner Bun Bun, a neat freak), and some alone, like bun (a Netherland dwarf rabbit who looks like a chinchilla). In the center is a large pen where visitors can interact with the bunnies. With notice, guests can come to learn about pet rabbits and see if they might be interested in fostering or adopting one. Even bunny snugglers are welcome because they too have an important job at the cafe. The best shot the buns have at being adopted is by being more acclimated to humans so they will be the chosen ones, Bertsch said. Some of the rabbits were surrendered to Tribbles, others were abandoned in cages or dumped in the wild, where they have little hope of survival. Mills (whom Bertsch calls the Mother Teresa of rabbits) began rescuing bunnies in 2010 and founded Tribbles in 2015, naming it in honor of her late father, a Star Trek fan who said her rabbits reminded him of the furry aliens who multiplied exponentially on the show. In a given year, Mills said she rescues more than 1,500 rabbits. She has 40 to 60 at a time in her Lindenwold home and uses a network of fosters to house the rest. Tribbles is particularly busy around Easter, when people buy rabbits as gifts, not knowing what ownership entails, and around Thanksgiving and Memorial Day, when they go on vacation and dont want to worry about a pet, Mills said. Valerie Bertsch with one of her "house buns," a litter-trained rabbit who lives in her home with her three dogs. The rabbit's name was Penelope, until Bertsch discovered that it's a male. Current names under consideration include Trevor, Henry, Seamus and David Hasselhoch. (Tyger Williams/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)TNS The reasons people abandoned or surrender rabbits are as diverse as the bunnies the rescue takes in. While rabbits like to be snuggled, being picked up bugs bunnies, unless theyre very familiar with someone. This often leaves kids, who expect them to be like kittens or puppies, bored, Mills said. Some people who surrender rabbits are moving or face eviction because their rabbit isnt covered under a pet clause. Others just dont do their research on what rabbit ownership entails, Mills said. One reason people give up on bunnies is something Bertsch encountered with her first rabbit, a white Holland lop named Fiona. About three months in, the precious rabbit shed known began making buzzing sounds, running laps, and spraying urine. Confused, Bertsch went online and found Tribbles and Mills, who told her Fiona was in heat and needed to be spayed. Grateful for Mills help, Bertsch began fostering rabbits for Tribbles. It started with one, then she devoted an entire room in her home before renovating her garage and converting it into the rabbit cafe last fall. While she dreams of having a fluffle (Rabbit fact break: A group of bunnies is called a fluffle), Bertsch keeps her buns separated, except for the bonded pairs, because they can be territorial. At bedtime, she gives each rabbit a square of plain shredded wheat cereal, their favorite snack. They all lose their minds over this, Bertsch said. I go out and everyone is standing up on their back paws. (Rabbit fact break: When a bunny is so happy it cant contain itself, it does a binky, which is jumping straight up in the air while twisting its head or legs.) A sign welcomes "everybunny" to the rabbit cafe in Medford Lakes, New Jersey. (Tyger Williams/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)TNS Regular visitors to Bertschs rabbit cafe include Ava Colon, 15, of Medford, whos studying to be a vet tech. I come here and I just love it, Colon said, as she petted Sandy, a perfectly-rotund brown bun. I would love to do something like this someday. ____ Those who wish to visit the rabbit cafe may contact Bertsch at valerie.bertsch@compass.com or Tribbles Rabbit Rescue on Facebook and at tribblescorp@gmail.com. A 26-year-old man in Australia was arrested after being accused of kidnapping a platypus, according to reports. The man, alongside a woman, stole the animal from a local waterway in Morayfield, Queensland, and then showed it off to passengers on a train as well as in a shopping center on Tuesday, according to reports from The New York Times and The Hill. Taking a platypus from the wild is not only illegal, but it can be dangerous for both the displaced animal and the person involved if the platypus is male as they have venomous spurs, Queensland police said in a statement, The Hill reported. If you are lucky enough to see a platypus in the wild, keep your distance. Australian police requested the platypus immediately be returned. The animal could become sick or even die outside of its natural habitat. Authorities also said male platypuses have venomous spurs, presenting a potential threat to people. Authorities added the duo released the animal into the Caboolture River. Police havent been able to recover the platypus yet and hence, its health is unknown. The man was charged with stealing the platypus. His court date is planned for April and he could face a $300,000 fine. Read more via The New York Times. READ MORE: Artificial Intelligence What the Past Can Teach Us About the Future of AI and Education Current attitudes toward generative AI hearken back to early skepticism about the impact of the internet on education. Both then and now, technology has created challenges but also opportunities that can't be ignored. In 1998, noted technology critic and historian of automation David Noble published his influential article "Digital Diploma Mills: The Automation of Higher Education," in which he warned about the negative impacts the internet would have on education. His main concern was with the potential effects of "automation" on higher education, describing automation in the educational context as "the distribution of digitized course material online." Noble looked into the future and saw a commercial takeover of higher education in which "the new technology of education, like the automation of other industries, robs faculty of their knowledge and skills, their control over their working lives, the product of their labor, and, ultimately, their means of livelihood." That same year, I launched the OpenContent initiative, proposing that society should combine the communication and collaboration capabilities of the nascent internet with the emerging open source software movement's innovative approach to copyright licensing in order to create and sustain "open content" digitized educational materials and other creative works that can be freely copied, modified, and used by everyone. I looked into the future and saw a world in which everyone had access to freely available, openly licensed educational resources that supported learning both in and out of school. As different as these versions of the future were, they were both correct in predicting how the internet would affect education. On the one hand, open content (years later rebranded "open educational resources") has had a massive impact on access to education. My own organization's website alone has recorded more than 1 billion views of our open content by learners around the world over the past decade. And in the U.S., open content is estimated to have saved college students over $1 billion in required textbook costs. But much of what Noble foresaw has also come to pass. Today, more than half of U.S. college and university faculty have contingent (rather than long-term, tenure track) appointments. And even students have lost control of their own labor, as they are frequently required to provide copies of their homework to companies that "protect academic integrity" before faculty will agree to grade their homework. Two Sides of the Coin: How Educators Are Thinking About the Impact of Large Language Models (LLMs) The internet has created both incredible opportunities and complex challenges for teachers, students, and the entire enterprise of education. Twenty-five years later, as we discuss the advent of LLMs like ChatGPT, Bard, and Claude, it feels a lot like it did back in 1998. Some looking into the future see LLMs and related AI as ushering in an era of even greater democratization of access to information. Instead of the current search paradigm, in which you need to scroll through a list of ads intermingled with links to actual search results, and then visit those links one by one hoping to find an answer, you can simply ask your question and get an answer. This is a dramatic improvement in the way we search for and find information. Just a few years in the future you'll look back on a typical Google search and never believe we actually did things in such a clunky way. But others looking into the future see LLMs causing the collapse of assessment as we know it. LLMs can not only answer multiple choice questions, they can also explain why the correct answer is correct. Gone are the days when a student had to visit multiple cheating websites hoping to find an uploaded copy of their exam. An LLM can just answer the exam questions for them. LLMs are also able to write passable essays on a wide range of topics, and this capability is certain to improve over time, meaning that even written assignments will need to be reframed and rethought. (Of course, math instructors have been dealing with a version of this issue since the invention of calculators, and more recently, tools like WolframAlpha that can solve math problems and show the step-by-step process.) LLMs will cause something like an assessment crisis in education, forcing educators to take a long, hard look at the role of assessment in both supporting and certifying student learning. Can LLMs Push Us to Develop Better Education Tools and Systems? As we're looking to the future, there's another place we must not forget to look: the world outside our colleges and universities. LLMs are already radically changing a wide range of fields from marketing to software development. Even my own field of instructional design has already been impacted, and LLMs are changing the way we do that work inside Lumen. Graduates who have been taught how to leverage LLMs (and other AI tools) to radically improve both their creativity and productivity are going to be in high demand very soon, while those whose faculty worked aggressively to make sure they never used these tools may not be. I don't believe it's a stretch to say that institutional reputations with employers and, consequently, their state legislatures, will increasingly correlate with the degree to which their graduates are prepared to work effectively in this new context. When we look back on this moment 25 years from now, LLMs and other AI will have altered the face of education as profoundly as the internet did in the 25 years before. And both the advocates and the critics of AI will have been proven right in broad strokes. AI will have created even more incredible opportunities for education as well as even more complex challenges. You can't have one without the other. But more importantly, LLMs and other AI will have changed the world in which our institutions exist as profoundly as the internet changed the world in the 25 years before possibly even more so. If our institutions hope to be relevant in the future, they will have to do a better job of leveraging the power of this new wave of technologies in the service of education than they did the internet. The pandemic showed quite starkly that we're still not very good at that yet. Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News (TNS) Tesla workers had access to private, sensitive images and videos from vehicle cameras and used them to make memes of car owners, according to a report released Thursday. Employees could essentially use the cameras to spy on owners if they wanted to, Reuters reported. I saw some scandalous stuff sometimes. I did see scenes of intimacy but not nudity, one employee told the outlet. There was just definitely a lot of stuff that I wouldnt want anybody to see about my life. One man was captured approaching his car completely nude, a different employee told Reuters. Another Tesla owner was caught driving at high speed in a residential area and slamming into a child on a bike, sources told Reuters. Video of that crash spread through Tesla offices like wildfire. It was a breach of privacy, to be honest, an employee said. And I always joked that I would never buy a Tesla after seeing how they treated some of these people. Tesla tells car buyers that privacy is and will always be enormously important to us and the cars cameras are designed from the ground up to protect your privacy. The cameras are used to build Teslas automated driving system. The company did not respond to a Daily News request for comment. Earlier this year, Tesla had to change camera settings in Europe due to tougher privacy laws across the pond. However, those cases focused on passers-by being secretly recorded, not Tesla owners. The Tesla employees interviewed by Reuters admitted workers would often make memes from private scenes recorded by car cameras. If you saw something cool that would get a reaction, you post it, one ex-employee told Reuters. People who got promoted to lead positions shared a lot of these funny items and gained notoriety for being funny. Teslas privacy notice warns buyers your vehicle may collect the data and make it available to Tesla for analysis. However, David Choffnes, executive director of the Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute at Northeastern University, told Reuters, Any normal human being would be appalled by this. 2023 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A phone call from a young woman convinced an 81-year-old Pennsylvania woman that her granddaughter was in trouble and needed her help specifically a lot of cash. The grandma in northeast Pa. then mailed and wired money over the course of 30 days totaling $96,000 trying to help her granddaughter, but the money all went to scammers, authorities say. Northumberland County District Attorney Anthony Matulewicz released information about the crime in a news release this week. The crime fits a pattern of so-called grand kid scams, run by organized groups of criminals across the country who instill a sense of urgency for victims to act immediately and send money. In addition to calls from grandkids, the scammers can enlist fake attorneys, police witnesses or judges, to call victims, all in attempts to lend credibility to the scam. Matulewicz said the case should act as a warning to others to be wary of any similar type of phone calls they might receive. The victim in this case, from Paxinos, received the first call in late February from the woman, who said she was her granddaughter and needed money to get out of jail. The woman said she had been in a crash that was her fault and police had found drugs in her vehicle. She asked for help with legal fees and to get her record expunged. The woman told her grandma that she would send all the money back once the matter had been resolved. So the elderly woman began mailing cash and wiring payments to various locations across the country. Some transactions were rejected by employees and officials who recognized them as suspicious. Some notified the woman and one entity even called police. But a series of phone calls from the woman over 30 days convinced the 81-year-old that her granddaughter was truly in trouble, so the victim ignored warnings that she was being scammed, according to the district attorney. She continued to find ways to send payments to the scammers, Matulewicz said. This scam was unique in that the scammers even had an Uber driver pick up the victim once from her home to drive her to the bank so she could withdraw a large amount of cash, which was then given to the driver. The case is still under investigation. The district attorney did not provide any details on the progress in the case or whether the scammers were believed to be local. The news release gave a series of advice to people, especially senior citizens, to try to avoid such scams. If someone receives a all purported to be from a grandchild, Matulewicz said call your grandchild directly or enlist other family members to do so. Call employers, friends and colleagues of your grandchild, in an effort to determine where they are and if they are safe. Northumberland County Detective Degg Stark, who has interviewed hundreds of scam victims, said much of the information used by criminals is gleaned from victims social media pages. Scammers find names of relatives, dates of births, names of pets, places of employment, travel plans, nicknames and other information that allow them to make legitimate-sounding pleas for help. Matulewicz suggested family members establish a secrete code word, to be employed in an actual emergency to prove legitimacy if necessary and root out any scammers. The district attorney also suggested people should limit personal information shared on social media sites and adjust privacy settings to limit who can see personal information. Scams can be reported to local police departments or with the federal government at www.ftc.gov, where there is information listed on several times of current scams. READ MORE: 4 men arrested in western Pa. for duping possibly dozens of seniors with grandma scam Con man foiled by his own greed deserves prison term for role in grandparent scam, Pa. court says A former Pa. city treasurer was sentenced to six months in prison for marriage and immigration fraud, and failure to pay taxes. Three years of supervised release will follow the prison time, according to reports. Christian Dunbar, the former Philadelphia City Treasurer, was fired from his job in September 2020, 14 months after starting the position. Dunbar was charged with marriage fraud and bank embezzlement, predating his tenure in the city position, according to Philly Voice and The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Phillys ex-treasurer pleaded guilty to a scheme to garner citizenship by submitting false documentation and statements and failing to pay his taxes. Dunbar will also have to pay a $10,000 fine as well as $33,202 in restitution to the IRS. The three years of supervised release will also consist of financial monitoring. As city treasurer, Christian Dunbar held a key position of public trust, Jacqueline Maguire, special agent in charge of the FBIs Philadelphia Division said via Philly Voice. Little did the people of Philadelphia realize that his U.S. citizenship was fraudulently obtained and hed been dodging doing his taxes. Philly deserves better and the FBI will continue to work on behalf of the public to hold corrupt officials like Dunbar accountable. Dunbar will also lose his U.S. citizenship as a result of immigration fraud. Read more via Philly Voice and The Philadelphia Inquirer. READ MORE: Rural school districts in north-central Pennsylvania have been forced to close elementary schools because of aging infrastructure, budget shortfalls, and declining student populations. A Lancaster County jury convicted 55-year-old Carlos Montalvo-Rivera of killing his wife and setting fire to their family home in 2010, the district attorneys office said Thursday. Charges were filed in 2019, nearly a decade after the killing, according to the DAs office. Montalvo-Rivera was found guilty of first-degree murder, three counts of attempted homicide, one count of arson and one count of risking catastrophe, the DAs office said. Olga Sanchez was found dead on the floor of a bedroom at their home on North Plum Street on Dec. 6, 2010, according to authorities. The home had been set on fire as well. Forensic pathologist Dr. Wayne Ross testified at trial that Sanchez died from asphyxia and smoke inhalation, but was alive when the fire started. There was evidence she had not moved from where she had been left on the floor. Carlos Montalvo-Rivera was convicted of killing his wife and setting their family home on fire on April 6, 2023. Photo provided by the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office. The prosecution, led by assistant district attorneys Christine Wilson and Jennifer Ponessa, argued that Montalvo-Riveras stories from that night were inconsistent. All the evidence over the years, everything has ever only pointed to him, nobody else, Ponessa said in her closing argument. He lied since day one in this investigation. He could not give major details of what happened to him that night. At the fire scene, Montalvo-Rivera yelled that his wife was still inside, which prosecutors argued was evidence of what he had done to her. He knew she was in there because he left her in there on the floor where he killed her, Ponessa said. Then he set the fire in order to get rid of as much evidence as possible. That night, Montalvo-Rivera told investigators that intruders broke into his home, killed his wife and set fire to it out of retaliation because her brother had cooperated with the DEA on an unrelated case, according to the DAs office. Neighbors told investigators that they were helping save the couples three children by going onto a nearby roof to get to them, the DAs office said. Montalvo-Rivera eventually appeared from a foot alley next to the home after the children were rescued. Testimony against Montalvo-Rivera included a family member who heard him say he would kill his wife like a dog after an argument, and that Montalvo-Rivera ran into someone he believed Sanchez was having an affair with twice the night of the murder, according to the DAs office. Montalvo-River said he was knocked unconscious by intruders for nearly an hour, but his medical records showed no injuries were found in a CT scan or observed by medical personnel, the DAs office said. His carbon monoxide levels also did not match what would have been seen if he had been in the house as the fire raged. Another inconsistency was that Montalvo-Rivera said he jumped out of a second-floor window to escape the fire, but evidence showed the window he claimed to have jumped out of was closed during the fire, according to the DAs office. One final point prosecutors made was refuting Montalvo-Riveras claim that he had his hands tied by the intruders. Ponesse was able to tie both her wrists and ankles with a similar binding to how he claimed to have been tied up during her closing argument. The defenses argument was that the prosecution hesitated and did not act on these charges from 2011 to 2019, which is a key aspect of reasonable doubt. The defense also argued that a thorough investigation was not done. In the end, the jury agreed with the prosections version of events: that Montalvo-Rivera killed Sanchez, poured gasoline up the steps and into her bedroom, and set the house on fire while his children were on the third floor. The DAs office argued he went out a door on the first floor, tied himself up and attempted to create a story to cover his tracks and prove his innocence. The jury deliberated for about an hour and 45 minutes after the three-week trial before sending down their verdict. In Pennsylvania, a first-degree murder conviction requires a minimum sentence of life in prison. Montalvo-Rivera will be sentenced on that and the other charges at a later date. Read more on PennLive: According to reports, a 5-year-old boy is in recovery after he accidentally shot himself inside a Pa. home. The accident happened around 11:30 a.m. late Wednesday morning at the 3100 block of North Patton Street in Philadelphias Strawberry mansion neighborhood, NBC Philadelphia reported. The child found a hidden gun not in a manila folder in the back part of the home. He picked up the gun, played around with it and then accidentally shot himself in the leg, police confirmed. Authorities rushed the boy to the hospital where hes been in staple condition. Philadelphia Police First Deputy Commissioner John Stanford responded to the accident, saying via NBC Philadelphia, A child having to deal with this at all is traumatic in itself but the fact that hes in stable condition, were very thankful and Im sure his family feels the same way. Making sure folks understand the need to have weapons not just hidden away, but secured with gun locks in a safe somewhere where a child cannot access it and actually fire the weapon, Stanford added. 6ABC reported there were two adults and four kids (including the child who shot himself) in the home when it happened. It hasnt been revealed if any of the adults will be charged in the accidental shooting. READ MORE: Borough police in Huntingdon County raided an apartment behind their station and said they found five children inside among drugs, guns and explosives. According to WTAJ-TV in Altoona, Huntingdon police arrested three adults in the multi-agency Thursday morning raid at an apartment in the 500 block of Penn Street. The children were also removed from the home by child welfare workers. The execution of the search warrant was the culmination of a six-month-long investigation into alleged drug distribution in the area, police said in a news release. Police said that they found methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, guns and a box of explosive devices in the apartment. A state police bomb squad removed the explosives and Child and Youth Services took the children, WTAJ reported. The police statement did not detail the amounts of any drugs, how the guns were stored in the home or the kind of explosives. WTAJ reported that Joel Fouse Jr. and Abigail Fouse, both 52-year-old Huntingdon residents, and Ociel Ortiz, Abigail Fouses 27-year-old son from San Antonio, Texas, were arrested. Police said the Fouses were each charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, while Ortiz was charged with possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. They were not charged with any crimes related to the guns. All three people charged were being held in the Huntingdon County Jail on $100,000 bonds, police said. Huntingdon police said on its Facebook page that the countys district attorneys office, state police, state attorney generals office, Tyrone Borough police K-9 unit and the Huntingdon County Sheriffs Department participated in the raid. WILLIAMSPORT The companies that own and operate a continuing care retirement community in Union County have agreed to pay $215,000 to settle a Fair Housing Act violation. Albright Care Services based in York and Asbury Communities Inc. of Frederick, Md., which do business as Asbury RiverWoods agreed to the settlement without admitting liability, acording to a consent decree filed Thursday in U.S. Middle District Court. The $215,000 will go to Harry Gural and the estate of his mother, Ruth Gural, who the government alleged, based on a Department of Housing and Urban Development investigation of their complaint, were victims of discrimination under the act. The violation occurred by not allowing Harry Gural to stay in his mothers apartment as a live-in aide during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government claims. In addition to the payment, Albright and Ashbury agreed: * Not to discriminate in the sale, rental or otherwise make unavailable a dwelling to any resident because of a disability. * Take all steps necessary to remedy the effects of the illegal discriminatory conduct alleged in the complaint and to prevent similar occurrences in the future. * Ensure upper management and senior leadership at all their facilities, including Bethany Village in Mechanicsburg and Normandie Ridge in York, are familiar with the Federal Housing Act within 60 days. The decree also addresses policy revisions, notifications to residents, employee training and record keeping. In effect for two years once it is signed by Judge Matthew W. Brann, the decree requires Albright and Ashbury to submit reports to the government documenting compliance efforts. The first report is due within 60 days of signing the decree, with subsequent reports due every six months thereafter. This is the background of the case taken from court records: Between December 2017 and July 8, 2022, Ruth Gural resided in an independent living apartment in the RidgeCrest Court section of Riverwoods near Lewisburg. She had a cognitive impairment that substantially limited her ability to care for herself on a day-to-day basis. Her son had power of attorney and the authority to make medical decisions for her. In the summer of 2018, Gural hired a personal aide to take his mother grocery shopping and to run errands for her once or twice a week. In October 2019, he was advised his mother had become confused going back to her apartment. During the weekend of March 14-15, 2020, Gural while visiting his mother was advised RiverWoods was going into lock down because of the COVID-19 pandemic and all visitors, including him, had to leave. The aide also was told she could not enter the premises, thus depriving Ruth Gural of any assistance. That weekend, despite Riverwoods policies prohibiting family members from being live-in aides, Gural began staying in his mothers apartment. Management voiced no concern about that arrangement until May 17, when RiverWoods executive director Lennea Brown told him had to vacate the apartment by May 28 or steps would be taken to evict his mother. On May 27, 2020, during an in-person meeting at Riverwood, Albright President and CEO Shaun Smith also threatened to evict Ruth Gural if her son did not leave the apartment. The Gurals attorney sent a letter requesting an exception to the 14-day limit on overnight guests as a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act. The request was denied. Ruth Gural moved out last July 8 and lived in Lewisburg with her son and his girlfriend until she died Sept. 29. Albright owns RiverWoods and manages it with Ashbury. It consists of a 40-unit personal care facility, 226-bed skilled nursing unit, 78 residential apartments and 54 cottages. The Pennsylvania Prison Society is asking the state Department of Corrections to reinstate a program that helps family members visit incarcerated relatives after the department confirmed during budget hearings last week that the funding had been stopped. Corrections Secretary Laurel Harry told legislators that the program which bussed inmates relatives to visit them at state prisons had been put on hold due to concerns that the funds werent directly supporting inmates and that the program was not being competitively bid. The life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. have been the subject of ongoing debate ever since his assassination on April 4, 1968. Today, those invoking Kings memory range from Black Lives Matters organizers and President Joe Biden to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Educators trying to teach Black history call on his principles, even as their opponents claim that lessons about systemic racism go against Kings desire not to judge people by the color of their skin. In an age of polarization, it is worth remembering that one of the pillars of Kings philosophy was pluralism: the idea of multiple communities engaging one another, acknowledging their differences and shared bonds, and striving to create what King called a Beloved Community. As an African American philosopher who studies comparative religion, I am especially interested in what role religious pluralism played in Kings fight for civil rights in the United States of America and human liberation around the world. A chorus of faiths Kings worldview was deeply nurtured by his experiences in the Black Church, where the Bibles stories of freedom and oppression are central. The Book of Exodus, for example, tells the story of Hebrew slaves seeking deliverance, and the message has been a frequent theme in Black hymns and preaching for centuries. In the Book of Amos, the prophet cries out, Let justice roll down like waters which is a line King famously quoted in his I Have a Dream speech. Building off the work of other pioneering Black Christians, King embraced interfaith leadership. His mentor Howard Thurman, who founded the Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples, traveled to India to meet with activist Mahatma Gandhi, who was Hindu. Gandhis approach to nonviolent protest was also influential for Mordecai Johnson, president of Howard University, whose sermon on the subject after a trip to India in 1949 profoundly shaped Kings religious philosophy. The religious diversity of Kings coalitions was evident in events like the 1965 March on Selma, where some participants were severely beaten by police on Bloody Sunday. Marchers came from a chorus of faiths that included priests and nuns, Episcopal seminarian, high-profile Unitarian Universalists like James Reeb, who was murdered days later, as well as Jewish leaders like Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. Complementing his Black Church upbringing, King was inspired by wisdom across continents and cultures, from the Greek classics and Gandhi to Buddhist leaders like Thich Nhat Hanh. Despite their differing dogmas, he hoped leaders from across the religious spectrum and those of no particular faith would join efforts to promote economic and racial justice and stand against imperialism. The great world house When King used the word pluralism, he assumed that its ideal of belonging had both religious and racial connotations. For example, King praised the Supreme Courts decision in Engel v. Vitale, which concluded that public schools could not sponsor prayers, and which segregationist Alabama Governor George Wallace opposed. In a pluralistic society such as ours, who is to determine what prayer shall be spoken, and by whom? King said in a 1965 interview. More than a decade earlier, during his time at seminary, King had written a paper exhibiting a keen awareness of Christianitys connections with other faiths: To discuss Christianity without mentioning other religions would be like discussing the greatness of the Atlantic Ocean without the slightest mention of the many tributaries that keep it flowing. Other vivid imagery like the great world house underscored how King interpreted all persons and all faiths as living in an interconnected web. Identifying common themes in the discrimination against Indian Dalits, the castes formerly known as untouchable, and the plight of African Americans in the U.S., King surmised, I am an untouchable. He also saw parallels between the African American struggle for freedom and the work of labor unions such as the National Farm Workers Association. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, King insisted. King then, today, tomorrow King wanted people to embody the highest forms of their own religion and morality. Religion at its best, he thought, promoted peace, understanding, love and good will. This is true of all of the great religions of the world, he wrote in a statement for Redbook magazine. Those were the kinds of ethics King hoped to fulfill in his own Christian ministry, as is clear in his wishes for what might be said at his own funeral. Id like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to give his life serving others, he said. Id like for somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to love somebody. I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity. Yet Kings goal of a world without hunger, war and racism remains unrealized. Poverty persists. War continues. Black peoples safety is still imperiled. Resolving current social and political crises in America may require the real integration and power-sharing that Kings radical vision demanded. However, the debate about Kings pluralist legacy is not only about him, but also about us. How do we want to be remembered? What world are we leaving future generations? Roy Whitaker, Associate Professor of Black Religions and American Religious Diversity, San Diego State University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Reuters: Brazils President Lula will meet with President Xi Jinping in Beijing on April 14, according to Lulas office. Are you able to confirm that? Mao Ning: President Lula da Silva is welcome to visit China at a time of mutual convenience at an early date. We are keeping close communication with the Brazilian side on his visit. We will keep you updated if there is more to share. AFP: Yesterday, French President Emmanuel Macron met with Xi Jinping. According to diplomats, the Chinese President expressed a willingness to speak with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy but only when the time is right. Can you confirm that? And when it could be the right time for that? Mao Ning: On the Ukraine issue, China maintains communication with all relevant parties including Ukraine. China always stands on the side of peace and would like to work with the rest of the world to make its contribution to the realization of peace. CCTV: We have learned that Special Envoy Zhai Jun of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue met with diplomatic envoys of Arab countries this morning and exchanged views on the ongoing Israel-Palestine and Israel-Lebanon conflicts. Can you share more with us? Mao Ning: Special Envoy Zhai Jun of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue had a group meeting with diplomatic envoys of Arab countries this morning upon request. He elaborated on Chinas position on the escalation of conflicts between Israel and Palestine and Israel and Lebanon. He particularly urged relevant sides to act in accordance with relevant UN resolutions, and earnestly respect and maintain the historical status quo of the holy sites in Jerusalem, and shared what China has done to ease the situation. Zhai Jun said that the pressing task now is to keep the situation under control. China urges relevant parties, Israel in particular, to stay calm and exercise restraint to the greatest extent, avoid taking any actions that may heighten tensions and prevent further escalation of the situation. China has actively responded to the call of Arab states and asked the UN Security Council to hold emergency consultations on the Israel-Palestine situation together with countries including the UAE, making active efforts for deescalation. We stay in close communication with relevant parties in the international community to facilitate peace talks. Zhai Jun said that the fundamental way to resolve the conflicts between Palestine and Israel is the implementation of the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent state of Palestine. The international community needs to act with a stronger sense of urgency, heed the legitimate concerns of Palestine and take real steps to fulfill the pledge to the Palestinian people. Major countries with influence need to step up to their responsibilities, take a just position and play their due part in facilitating the resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel on the basis of the two-state solution. China will continue to make relentless efforts to facilitate a proper resolution of the Palestinian question at an early date. Reuters: According to Egyptian local media, China has agreed to cancel a part of its $7.5 to $8 billion loan to Egypt and allow currency or assets swap for the other part. Can you confirm that Cairo has managed to come to some sort of arrangement with Beijing? Mao Ning: I am not aware of the report you mentioned or the specifics. I would refer you to competent authorities of China. Global Times: We have learned that China and Japan will soon hold the 15th round of high-level consultations on maritime affairs. Can you share with us the time, location and issues to be discussed? Mao Ning: As agreed by the two sides, China and Japan will hold the 15th round of high-level consultations on maritime affairs in Tokyo on April 10. Officials on both sides from departments responsible for foreign affairs, defense, maritime law enforcement, marine management and so on will attend the event. The high-level consultations are conducted as a comprehensive mechanism of communication and coordination for maritime affairs between China and Japan. We look forward to a thorough exchange of views on bilateral maritime issues with the Japanese side to increase mutual understanding and trust, properly manage differences and disputes, and advance practical cooperation in the maritime field. Beijing Youth Daily: According to an article by The New York Times, the US government, through a front company, finalized a secret contract with NSO Group, an Israeli hacking firm, in 2021. Under the arrangement, NSO gave the US government access to its geolocation tool Landmark, which can covertly track mobile phones around the world without the phone users knowledge or consent. Sources say the US has used Landmark to conduct thousands of queries in Mexico. However, President Biden signed an executive order further cracking down on the use of commercial spyware just last week. Some say the US governments acts once again laid bare the hypocrisy of the USs claim that it is a defender of global cybersecurity. Do you have any comment? Mao Ning: The US government, in an attempt to maintain its hegemony in cyberspace, knowingly abuses technology for cyber surveillance and theft of secrets under the cover of front companies and conducts indiscriminate surveillance and theft of secrets on other countries, including its allies, which seriously harms other countries sovereignty and the privacy of global internet users. At the same time, the US government frames the innocent and suppresses and sanctions foreign companies under the pretexts of national security and human rights without any evidence. The latest revelation once again proves that the USs theft of secrets is the biggest threat to global cybersecurity. The US needs to reflect upon its practice, stop its global hacking operations, stop confounding public opinion with disinformation, and stop charging down the wrong and dangerous path. Reuters: Canada said on Thursday that it will deploy a military aircraft to Japan to support with the implementation of UN sanctions against North Korea. Does China have any comment? Mao Ning: I want to stress that UN Security Council resolutions have never authorized any country to deploy military power for surveillance activities in waters and air under the jurisdiction of other countries under the reason of monitoring violations of UN resolutions. AFP: According to Taiwan authorities, China sent warships and aircraft near the island today for the second day. This happened after the meeting between the Taiwan region leader with the US House Speaker. Can you confirm that and give us some details? Mao Ning: China will take resolute measures to safeguard our sovereignty and territorial integrity. I would refer you to the Ministry of National Defence of China for your specific question. Kyodo News: We have noted that when meeting a Japanese political figure today, Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao said that there is mounting evidence supporting the suspicion that the Japanese national recently detained in Beijing engaged in espionage activities. At the same time, there are voices of concern across the Japanese business community over the lack of transparency and openness regarding the procedures and other aspects of the case as it concerns national security. Can you reveal the exact reason for his detention? Mao Ning: We have shared information on the case several times recently. Relevant Chinese authorities adopted compulsory measures in accordance with the criminal procedure law against the Japanese citizen suspected of engaging in espionage activities. In accordance with relevant international conventions and the China-Japan Consular Agreement, the Chinese side has arranged for a timely consular visit by officials of the Japanese Embassy in China to this individual. China is a country under the rule of law. The case concerned will be handled in accordance with the law and the lawful rights and interests of the people concerned will be protected accordingly. All companies and individuals need to abide by host country laws. As long as one operates within the law, there is nothing to worry about. NBC: There is one argument prevailing in the US and other countries that it is not quite right for China to claim sovereignty over the island democracy of Taiwan, and that defending Taiwan is defending Taiwans democracy. How do you view this issue? Mao Ning: The Taiwan question is not about democracy, but about Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity. Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinas territory. The sovereignty and territory of China have never been divided and shall never be divided. Some countries hype up the false narrative of democracy versus autocracy, connive at and support Taiwan independence separatist forces in the name of democracy, and use the Taiwan question to contain China. Such moves are highly dangerous and will get nowhere. The future of Taiwan lies in Chinas reunification, and the wellbeing of the people in Taiwan hinges on the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The difference in systems across the Strait is not a barrier to reunification or an excuse for division. Peaceful reunification and One Country, Two Systems takes Taiwans realities into full account and helps Taiwan achieve longstanding peace and stability after reunification. It is the basic principle for resolving the Taiwan question and the best way to realize national reunification. Two Madison women are among 23 people facing possible domestic terrorism charges in Georgia after they allegedly participated in a violent protest at a site outside Atlanta where a police training center is being built. Grace Martin, 22, and Kayley Meissner, 19, face at least five years in prison and as many as 35 if formally charged and then convicted under a Georgia statute for participating in the March 5 attack on the future site of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, or whats been dubbed cop city. Both were booked into the DeKalb County, Georgia, jail on March 5. Martin posted $5,000 bond and was released March 21, according to online court and jail records. Meissner was bailed out March 17; the records dont indicate for how much. Martins attorney in her bond hearing, Jennifer Hyman, said Thursday that a grand jury hasnt been convened by prosecutors in the case, so there are no formal indictments against the 23 people arrested. Right now, its sort of in a limbo, she said. Hyman said Martin has returned to Wisconsin. She said she believed other people who participated in the protest who are not from Georgia have returned to their home states. Atlanta police say only two of the 23 are from Georgia. Nineteen others are from states including Utah, Virginia and New York, while one is from France and one from Canada. Meissner and Martin do not have any criminal history in Wisconsin, according to online state court records. Dozens of people in black masks attacked the site located in a wooded area, throwing flaming bottles and rocks at police, trying to blind officers by shining green lasers into their eyes, and using tires and debris to block a road, the Georgia Department of Public Safety said. The site has become the flashpoint of ongoing conflict between authorities and left-leaning protesters with a variety of causes, including opposing the militarization of police, protecting the environment, and opposing corporations that they see as helping to fund the project through donations to a police foundation. Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said after the protest that pieces of construction equipment were set on fire in what he called a coordinated attack at the site. Surveillance video released by police shows a piece of heavy equipment in flames. It was among several destroyed pieces of construction gear, police said. Officers used nonlethal enforcement methods to disperse the crowd and make arrests, Schierbaum said, causing some minor discomfort. In January, 26-year-old environmental activist Manuel Esteban Paez Teran, or Tortuguita, was shot to death by officers during a raid at a protest camp at the site. Police have said that Tortuguita attacked them, a version that other activists have questioned. Defend the Atlanta Forest, a social media site used by members of the movement, said on Twitter the day after the protest that those arrested were not violent agitators but peaceful concert-goers who were nowhere near the demonstration. It's important to note that the the 35 people that police arrested tonight were not "violent agitators," but peaceful concert goers who were nowhere near the demonstration. https://t.co/ULx8uh9fSf Defend the Atlanta Forest (@defendATLforest) March 6, 2023 Along with classrooms and administrative buildings, the training center would include a shooting range, a driving course to practice chases and a burn building for firefighters to work on putting out fires. A mock village featuring a fake home, convenience store and nightclub would also be built for rehearsing raids. Opponents have said that the site would be to practice urban warfare, and the 85-acre training center would require cutting so many trees that it would be environmentally damaging. Many activists also oppose spending millions on a police facility that would be surrounded by poor neighborhoods in a city with one of the nations highest degrees of inequality. Officials counter that the state-of-the-art campus would replace substandard offerings and boost police morale beset by hiring and retention struggles following violent protests against racial injustice after George Floyds death in 2020. WASHINGTON (AP) Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said Friday he was not required to disclose the many trips he and his wife took that were paid for by Republican megadonor Harlan Crow. Describing Crow and his wife, Kathy, as among our dearest friends, Thomas said in a statement that he was advised by colleagues on the nations highest court and others in the federal judiciary that this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable. Thomas did not name the other justices or those in the judiciary with whom he had consulted. The nonprofit investigative journalism organization ProPublica reported Thursday that Thomas, who has been a justice for more than 31 years, has for more than two decades accepted luxury trips from Crow nearly every year. Thomas, 74, and his wife, Virginia, have traveled on Crows yacht and private jet as well as stayed at his private resort in Upstate New Yorks Adirondack Mountains, ProPublica reported. A 2019 trip to Indonesia the story detailed could have cost more than $500,000 had Thomas chartered the plane and yacht himself. This undated photo provided by Joe Hackett shows Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas with a rock bass fish he caught in the Adirondacks region of Upstate New York. Supreme Court justices, like other federal judges, are required to file an annual financial disclosure report which asks them to list gifts they have received, but provides exemptions for hospitality from friends. Ethics experts have offered conflicting views about whether Thomas should have disclosed the trips. Last month, the federal judiciary bolstered disclosure requirements for all judges, including the high court justices, although overnight stays at personal vacation homes owned by friends remain exempt from disclosure. Thomas, the longest-serving member of the court, said he has always tried to comply with disclosure guidelines. Regarding those changes, It is, of course, my intent to follow this guidance in the future, he said in the statement. Democratic lawmakers said the ProPublica story was the latest illustration of why the Supreme Court should adopt an ethics code and further tighten the rules on travel and other gifts. It is by no means clear that the justices will agree to subject themselves to an ethics code or that Congress will seek to impose one on the court. Thomas did not refer to any individual trips paid for by Crow. But he said, As friends do, we have joined them on a number of family trips during the more than quarter century we have known them. Last year, questions about Thomas ethics arose when it was disclosed that he did not step away from election cases following the 2020 election despite the fact that his wife, a conservative activist, reached out to lawmakers and the Trump White House to urge defiance of the election results. The Tennessee legislature voted to expel two members Thursday over their conduct during a gun violence demonstration last week. Expulsions of state lawmakers, while rare, are not unheard of. In the Pennsylvania legislatures 341-year history, more than a dozen lawmakers have been expelled for offenses ranging from contemptible language to federal crimes. Only once in this state was it for behavior that loosely resembled what prompted the GOP-controlled Tennessee state House to expel two of its members. The offense that led to the two Tennessee Democrats expulsion was a rule violation for engaging in disorderly behavior when they led a raucous gun control demonstration on the House floor in the wake of the Nashville school shooting. The shooting left six dead, including three nine-year-olds. A motion to expel Rep. Gloria Johnson, who also stood in the House well during that same demonstration, was defeated by a bipartisan 65-30 vote. The ouster of Tennessee Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson marks only the third time since the Civil War that a representative in that state was expelled by their colleagues. Rep. Justin Pearson, Rep. Justin Jones, Rep. Gloria Johnson People hold their hands up as they exit the House Chamber doors at Tennessee State Capitol Building in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, April 3, 2023. Tennessee Republican lawmakers have taken the first steps to expel three Democratic members from the GOP-dominant House for their role in a recent gun control protest at the state Capitol. (Nicole Hester /The Tennessean via AP)AP Expelling duly elected legislators for breaking a House rule strikes Muhlenberg College political science professor Chris Borick as a new level of partisan warfare. Typically, breaking institutional rules is punished by a formal reprimand or censure that is brought forward and made public. Expulsions occur when members commit ethical violations, lapses in good judgment, and criminal activities, and in those instances, typically draw bipartisan support because they brought shame to the institution, he said. But in this case where the legislators were expelled for what is described as a rule violation for a demonstration that had clear partisan overtones, Borick said it takes the punishment to the highest level. Thats relatively new in terms of legislative politics, he said. There have been plenty of fiery moments on the Pennsylvania House and Senate floor - with lawmakers even coming to near fisticuffs on a chamber floor on at least two occasions in modern memory - but only once did floor conduct result in an expulsion, according to House and Senate archives. In 1840, a heated debate on the House floor that nearly erupted into a fistfight led to the expulsion of Bedford County representative Thomas MElwee, after he spit into a members face who had called him a damned scoundrel. MElwee asked the House to reinstate him but the chamber refused. Article II, Section 11 of the Pennsylvania Constitution gives each chamber power to determine the rules of its proceedings and punish its members or other persons for contempt or disorderly behavior in its presence, to enforce obedience to its process, to protect its members against violence or offers of bribes or private solicitation, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, to expel a member. Over the years, some calls for expulsions were never carried out because the member resigned, their term expired, or there simply was not enough votes to meet the minimum two-thirds majority in a chamber to execute it. Only one member of the Pennsylvania Senate has been expelled, according to legislative records. Allegheny County Democratic Sen. Frank Mazzei was expelled in 1975 following his conviction on federal extortion charges for taking $20,000 in kickbacks for lease of state office space in his district, according to the Senate archives. The same year the House voted to expel Rep. Leonard Sweeney, another Allegheny County Democrat, following his conviction on mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud for filing false insurance claims. Throughout its long history, the House has proposed expulsion or voted to expel 15 of its members although some were reinstated after apologizing shortly thereafter, according to a document from the chambers archives. That includes John Bridges who was expelled in 1685 for uttering contemptible words against the Assembly but was re-admitted after an apology. Rep. Emile J. Petroff, a Republican from Philadelphia, was expelled in 1876 for accepting and distributing bribes in exchange for delivering votes he promised to a Harrisburg firm. But it was voters who reinstated him. He was re-elected the next year and he served for three more years. Whether what played out in the Tennessee House on Thursday is a harbinger of what you may see in similar fights in other states and places like Pennsylvania. Its hard to tell, Borick said. I think its reflective of the hyper-partisan environment were living in in so many places. Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy. Read more on PennLive: Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro viewed favorably three months into his term: poll Pa. agencies and advocates push fentanyl tests strips especially for more casual drug users For over a decade, Democrats have called for undoing Wisconsin's Republican-drawn legislative maps, which are broadly considered the most gerrymandered in the nation. Those calls have grown louder since liberal Justice-elect Janet Protasiewicz, who has called the current maps "rigged," defeated conservative Dan Kelly by 11 percentage points in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race. On Thursday, Nicole Safar, executive director of the liberal group Law Forward, said she was working with Madison law firm Stafford Rosenbaum and the Campaign Legal Center to file a lawsuit in the late summer or early fall about the time Protasiewicz will join the court, cementing a 4-3 liberal majority to challenge the current legislative maps. Critics say those maps have locked in a lopsided Republican majority in the Legislature, regardless of Democratic turnout. Saying discussions about the group's legal strategy are "ongoing and evolving," Safar added, "The real issue at stake is that Wisconsin voters have suffered and are suffering a constitutional injury to their right to vote and have that vote matter." But while liberals are fired up about the issue, experts say the states political geography makes it unlikely that any new set of legislative maps would give Democrats a majority. "Under neutrally drawn maps, Republicans would still have a structural advantage based on the political geography of the state," said John Johnson, a research fellow in the Lubar Center for Public Policy Research and Civic Education at Marquette Law School who has extensively analyzed the state's maps. "But there would be a whole lot more seats that would actually have the potential to change hands in any given election." That's a situation Democratic leaders have said they would welcome. "Even if we had maps that have a slight Republican majority, just by the drawing of those maps, that is a completely different situation than we're in now because then we can compete," Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer, D-Racine, said at a WisPolitics.com luncheon earlier this year. "These maps are really not allowing the will of the people to be represented, and Republicans do not feel the necessary impetus to engage in real conversations about compromise when they feel insulated with these maps," she said. "We will look at every opportunity legislatively (and) through the courts to get fair maps in Wisconsin." Yet, if one were to simulate 100,000 randomly drawn legislative maps that follow nonpartisan mapmaking principles, Republicans would win a legislative majority the vast majority of the time if each political party gets 50% of the vote, Johnson said. That's because the state's Democratic voters are largely concentrated in Madison and Milwaukee, giving them an enormous advantage in districts in those areas but leaving them in the minority in most other districts, Johnson said. Still, Democrats would improve their standing in the Legislature under nonpartisan maps because the new boundaries would include more competitive districts, Johnson continued. Campaign issue No issue galvanized liberals more in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race than abortion, and the likelihood a Protasiewicz victory would ensure the court eventually tosses out the state's 1849 law banning abortion in almost all cases. But Protasiewicz also made clear her desire to redraw the maps chosen by the Wisconsin Supreme Court a year ago. When new legislative lines were drawn in 2021, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers championed boundaries drawn by the People's Maps Commission, a group that emphasized creating independent and nonpartisan maps. Those maps were thrown out when the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that this decade's legislative maps must make minimal changes to the previous boundaries, forcing the governor to draw and submit new districts. "We never should have adopted 'least-changed' since it was unmoored from any legal requirement for redistricting," liberal Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Jill Karofsky said recently on the legal podcast Strict Scrutiny. Had the People's Maps Commission's maps been enacted into law, Democratic Assembly candidates probably would have won 43 of the Assembly's 99 seats given their performance in the November election, Johnson said. That's eight seats more than they won under the current maps, but still not enough for an Assembly majority. But had Evers' preferred maps been selected and every Assembly district had a Democratic candidate who performed as well as Evers did last November, Democrats would have obtained a 53-seat majority in the Assembly, according to Johnson. Hence, Republican-leaning maps drawn under nonpartisan principles could still allow Democrats a fighting chance to obtain a majority. But it's also possible for Democrats to draw maps that inherently favor them. "If you're just doing a nakedly political exercise, then you can get pretty much any outcome you want," Johnson said. Such a map would rival Illinois' congressional boundaries, with thin districts that traverse the state and wrap around other districts, Johnson said. Throughout the Wisconsin Supreme Court campaign, Republicans warned their supporters that liberals wanted to draw new maps like Illinois'. "In Janet they see a chance to make Wisconsin look like this," conservative candidate Dan Kelly spokesperson Chad Doran said on Twitter above a picture of Illinois' maps. Dems like Dan Shafer here love to say this about Wisconsin but never want to talk about Illinois for some reason. Thats because in Janet they see a chance to make Wisconsin look like this. After all, Janet said Wisconsins maps are rigged, but she promises to be impartial. https://t.co/WskbSdRdcV pic.twitter.com/bxG5yCV3gI Chad Doran (@doranchad) March 26, 2023 Future litigation Though Law Forward intends to sue over the matter, there is no active lawsuit in state court challenging the 10-year legislative maps that resulted from litigation in 2022. And it's difficult to predict on what basis the maps could be dispute now, although challengers would have several legal theories to choose from, said Dustin Brown, a senior staff attorney at the University of Wisconsin Law School's State Democracy Research Initiative. The sorts of legal claims weve seen in previous litigation over Wisconsins maps sought to bring the maps to a middle ground and ensure fair electoral competition," Brown said. "Past cases have not tried to bake in an inherent advantage for Democrats. Safar from Law Forward said it doesn't have a position on what specific maps are constitutional. "We will be working with voters from across the state and trying to address their individual and collective injury that the partisan gerrymander has created," she added. If Law Forward or another group files a case soon after Protasiewicz becomes a justice in August, its likely the court would resolve the argument the following spring, well before the 2024 legislative elections, Brown said. These are difficult and fact-intensive cases, but at the same time, courts are accustomed to managing redistricting cases efficiently and quickly, he said. There's one particular catch in liberals' plan to have the Wisconsin Supreme Court draw new maps or hear a new redistricting case. Saying the court's last redistricting process was a "profoundly disheartening odyssey," Karofsky said in the dissenting opinion in the most recent redistricting lawsuit that in future redistricting cases, "I hope that we will permit a politically insulated federal court to manage the task." "Federal courts are better able to conduct extensive factfinding through trial-style litigation, a task for which we proved ill equipped," she wrote in the dissent, joined by the court's other liberal justices. Such a strategy would bypass liberals' new Wisconsin Supreme Court majority and Protasiewicz' stated hopes for the court to revisit the maps. But if the state high court were to take up a redistricting case again, Karofsky wrote, "We must acknowledge our responsibility to implement the best, judicially appropriate maps possible." On the same Strict Scrutiny podcast as Karofsky, liberal Justice Rebecca Dallet implied that process would entail the justices acting like chefs in drawing their own maps rather than restaurant diners choosing predrawn maps from a menu. "We could actually have those maps drawn in a way that was fair," she said. From what was once a garage on an unused lot on the southeast side of Schuyler, a new and unique business has grown. Tipicos y Abarrotes Quetzalteca, or Tipicos Quetzalteca, a Guatemala-centric store at 1719 H St. brings more than just clothes and food options to the area. Owners Ada Tevalau and Edras Ramirez opened the store in late October of 2022, starting with what is now their clothing area and later expanding to sell groceries and sundries from Guatemala. The first thing we started with was the clothing store. I noticed there were a lot of people from Guatemala in Schuyler so I thought it was a good idea to have that kind of clothing to sell, Tevalau said, translated from Spanish. The clothing, called Tipicos, is the stores namesake, traditional Guatemalan wear handmade with bright colors and patterns. The tipicos Tevalau sells, she said, are handmade in Guatemala. The clothes are made in Guatemala and its all handmade, Tevalau said. The Mayans would wear these clothes, thats how this started, its traditional to wear in Guatemala. Being from Guatemala herself and her parents being Mayan, Tevalau said, the clothing is not just something to wear. It has meaning to her and her family. What makes my store different is the experience. I know a lot of stores in Schuyler sell dresses and stuff but the material is different from what I sell and since my parents are Mayans I have that experience as well, Tevalau said. On March 15, Tipicos celebrated its opening with a ribbon-cutting, one of four that day. Members of the Schuyler Area Chamber of Commerce, city leaders and curious residents all piled into the shop to see exactly what Tipicos was about. Mayor Art Lindberg said while everything there was good to bring to the community, exactly where it was in the city was important in his mind. What they bring to the community is they bring another location for people in that area to buy small groceries and snack items, for one. They also bring other types of clothing, but the location is what was important for me, Lindberg said. It shows there is a need for more businesses in that area so the rest of that area can go there and buy things like clothing. Aside from clothing, Tevalau also sells food, medicine and odds and ends from Guatemala. Her inventory depends on demand, she said, in a very direct way. Basically all it is Guatemalan. A lot of times people will order something and say get this, and get this and we bring it in. There is also some stuff from California, lotion, jeans and some others, Tevalau said. One thing this is about is bringing in new stuff for people, that way they can try new stuff. Thats something I really enjoy. Lindberg went on to say that the offering of Guatemalan goods is beneficial for not just the Guatemalan community, but Schuyler as a whole as it encourages growth. "What that does is gives people from Guatemala a sense of security, for one thing, to get clothing and goods from their home country. If they feel more at home, they're more apt to bring their family and that's how we keep growing," Lindberg said. The location and subsequent renovation of what was not initially a storefront also encourages businesses coming to town to look more into that part of Schuyler as a potential space for them to set up shop. "Having that business there, location is a key factor. If we can get more businesses in that area, all we're going to do is grow our business district," Lindberg said. "That being there opens up a new avenue to consider building out there." In recent years, child welfare, education and care have been hot topics as jobs in the field rise in demand. As such, stakeholders in every part of the process have questions and concerns, according to John Stephen, managing partner of the Stephen Group. On April 4 at the Columbus Family YMCA multipurpose room, the Stephen Group, a business and government consulting agency based out of New Hampshire, assembled those stakeholders to discuss LB1173, a bill that aims to change Nebraska's child welfare system. The bill purports to achieve this change through a new integrated model that works across all aspects of the child welfare system through the legislative, judicial and executive branches of government, alongside those in the community. A committee has been established to begin this task. "The committee is very committed to innovation, transformation, making sure the system works for those with lived experiences, those that are families involved in the system, community providers, collaborations, stakeholders, which is so exciting because most of the states that look at this type of effort, its done at department level," Stephen said. The bill, which was passed in 2022 by Gov. Pete Ricketts, is threefold. First, it aims to establish an intersectoral child welfare practice model work group, something Stephen emphasized as community members asked their questions. "This is not just about the Department of Health and Human Services, this is about the Department of Education, the courts, county attorneys, all aspects of the system are working together to benefit the child and the family," Stephen said. The second objective is to establish appropriate strategic leadership and guidance for practice and finance model development from across the three branches of government. This part, Stephen said, is different from almost every other comparable piece of legislation on the subject. "In this state the legislature was very wise to say this isnt just about the department that runs child welfare, this is about the community, this is about every single state agency that has any connection to childrens wellbeing,' which is so exciting, including tribal nations and those with lived experience," Stephen said. Parents, caregivers, representatives and people who work regularly with the child welfare system voiced their concerns. Among them, Carrie Beltran of Jenda Services' foster care division spoke to her experiences from two different sides of the coin. "We work in the foster care program and I also wanted to come today because I am a foster parent, so I wanted to make sure that foster parents were represented today too," Beltran said. The forum was broken into two sessions, one from 2-4 p.m. and one from 6-8 p.m. By and large, the early session focused on mental health faculties, allowances and considerations in this framework and whether the people elected to the committee will consider such when making decisions. The predominant concerns were staffing, availability of services to rural areas and exactly what services are available in general. When Stephen asked the audience what their biggest concerns were that they hoped to see addressed, Beltran brought up supervision and availability of supervisory services for youths between 13-17 who may be suspended from school but cannot be left unattended. "It's supervision for working parents. I can't stay home and watch a 13-year-old all day, I have to go to work," Beltran said. " (It is) the inability to hire staff at a reasonable wage at a bachelor's level of education to provide services to children and families that are working full-time. Having a liveable wage is especially meaningful to compete with McDonald's." Third and finally, the bill intends to appropriate funds for contractual support to build the practice and finance model for Nebraska, which would mean more options for the various services and structures the communities they canvassed. "At the end, there will be a framework that will talk a lot about inter-agency collaboration, how can you maximize areas of funding, support and services to benefit the family, the whole family?" Stephen said. PN Podcast: Introducing the Global Poker PokerNews Stream Team - AcePoker & Kyle Anderson April 07, 2023 Chad Holloway Executive Editor U.S. On the latest PokerNews Podcast episode, Chad Holloway, Jesse Fullen, and Connor Richards introduce two members of the new PokerNews Stream Team on Global Poker. Hear interviews from both Anthony "AcePoker" Caldiero and Kyle Anderson including how they discovered poker and their plans for the future. The team also discusses the fun April Fool's Day prank involving Robbi Jade Lew, recap winners from the recently-completed U.S. Poker Open (including a big with by Phil Hellmuth), and highlight winners from the WPT Prime, Merit Poker Carmen Series, and the RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) bestbet Jacksonville. Plus, the 2023 Wynn Summer Classic schedule is out and there are some events you'll want to note on your calendar. Finally, PokerNews remembers poker players Thayer Rasmussen and Cy Church, who both passed away this past week. Listen to those stories and more on the latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast! Time Stamps Tell us who you want to hear from. Let us know what you think of the show tweet about the podcast using #PNPod, and be sure to follow Chad Holloway, Jesse Fullen, and Connor Richards on Twitter. Subscribe to the PokerNews Podcast on Apple Podcasts here! Check Out Past Episodes of the PN Podcast Here! Sharelines On the latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast, hear from the @official_glp PokerNews Stream Team. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Laura Loomers anti-Muslim bigotry has been so extreme that she has been banned from some social media networks, so Trump is looking to hire her for his campaign. The New York Times reported: Former President Donald J. Trump has told aides to hire Laura Loomer, a far-right and anti-Muslim activist with a history of expressing bigoted views, for a campaign role, according to four people familiar with the plans. Mr. Trump met with Ms. Loomer recently and directed advisers to give her a role in support of his candidacy, two of the people familiar with the move said. It is unclear whether she would serve on his campaign or the main super PAC backing his presidential bid. On Tuesday, after Mr. Trumps arraignment in Manhattan, Ms. Loomer attended the former presidents speech at Mar-a-Lago, his resort and residence in Palm Beach, Fla. Loomer has lost two US House races. She lost a general election in 2020 and a Republican primary in 2022. She is a darling of the bigoted far right but is almost as if Trump looked at his failed 2020 campaign and came to the conclusion that what was needed was someone even more bigoted than Stephen Miller. A potential hiring of Loomer suggests that Trump is going to campaign even more to right in 2024, which is great news for Democrats. Trump lost the 2020 popular vote to Joe Biden in a trouncing, and if he goes even more extreme, the margin will only grow next year. Loomer is such a bigot that she is banned from Uber and Lyft due to anti-Muslim comments about drivers. She also described herself as a white nationalist. Trump looks to be planning to go overt bigot if he wins the Republican nomination, which could be great news for Democrats, but awful for the country if the press gives the failed former president any sort of platform at all. Kyle Busch and Richard Childress Racing seemed a strange pairing considering a rocky history between the driver and team owner. But when Busch needed a new job, the two sides came together for a partnership that is helping RCR return to prominence. Busch won at Talledega on Sunday. That gave RCR its second win of the season through just 11 races. Read moreColumn: Kyle Busch helps RCR return to NASCAR's victory lane The Columbus Public Schools (CPS) facilities bond referendum is coming in just over one month, but residents in the school district still have time to register to vote for the special election. On March 9, the CPS Board of Education approved the bond referendum in the amount of $53.5 million. If OKd by voters, the bond would allow the school district to make needed updates to its facilities to meet a growing need in the community. Between 2010 and 2020, CPS Superintendent Troy Loeffelholz told the Columbus City Council on April 3, the community grew by 1,917 residents. For every 100 residents that have moved to Columbus, he said, 20 of them are children. Those children may attend CPS, Scotus Central Catholic, Lakeview Community Schools or another parochial schools, but Loeffelholz said the growth still puts pressure on the community. CPS has seen 400 new students since 2012, Loeffelholz said, and is currently over capacity at Lost Creek Elementary and Columbus Middle schools. They are within 10 students of capacity at Emerson, North Park and West Park elementary schools. If we have 500 children move into our community, typically between 300 to 400 of them come to Columbus Public Schools, Loeffelholz said. So if we had another 300 to 400 students, we're now pushing 4,500 to 4,600 students in our school district. The projects that would be completed include construction of a new K-4 elementary school on land the district already owns in the north part of town, classroom additions and dining renovations at Columbus Middle School, dining facilities at Centennial and North Park elementary schools, health and physical education facilities at Emerson and West Park elementary schools, classroom additions at Columbus High School and space for alternative learning. Elementary, we're talking about increasing by about 15 classrooms districtwide. At the middle school, about 12 or 13 classrooms in addition to what we have now, Loeffelholz said. At our high school, it'll be four new rooms based upon our programming, with a lot of our career and technical education programs, but also by moving our alternative programming to our current district office site. That opens up three more classrooms or so, plus seven rooms for growth at the senior high school. The cost of the bond would be $4 per month per $100,000 valuation. For the life of the bond whether it's 15 years, 20 years, 25 or 30 years it's always going to be $4 per $100,000, Loeffelholz said. What we ask will never go up. In fact, as more houses are being built and more residences, it actually comes down. The special election is a mail-in election, and ballots will be mailed to registered voters residing within the Columbus Public Schools district on April 17. The ballots must be returned to the Platte County Election Commissioners Office no later than 5 p.m. on May 9 in order for that vote to be counted. Those who arent registered to vote or have had a move or name change since they last updated their voter registration can do so at the Department of Motor Vehicles, with Health and Human Services or online at nebraska.gov/appssosvoterregistration by April 21. Political party affiliation will not impact this election. People can also register at the election commissioners office, located on the second floor of the Platte County Courthouse, by May 1; the office will be open until 6 p.m. that day. However, Election Commissioner Eryn Roberts said the ballots would still be mailed, so those who want to participate in the CPS bond election and need to register to vote should do so sooner rather than later to allow time to receive the ballot and return it. Completed ballots can be mailed back, placed in an election drop box (theres one in front of the courthouse) or taken directly to the election commissioners office. Those who did not receive a ballot, make a mistake on their ballot or have questions can contact the election commissioners office at 402-563-4908. We are in the midst of our campaign, and we've got about six weeks to the election, Loeffelholz said. So were working fast and furious. We've got a fantastic group of community volunteers who are working very, very hard, trying to get the message out and meeting different groups. CPS will be holding Sundaes with the Superintendent events in which community members can join administration for an ice cream sundae and learn more about the school districts needs and the May 9 election. There will be a 30 minute presentation and a 30 minute question-and-answer session. Tours will be available at each building for those who would like one. Upcoming Sundaes with the Superintendent are April 13 at 7 p.m. at Emerson Elementary, April 20 at 7 p.m. at Centennial Elementary, April 25 at 7 p.m. at North Park Elementary, April 27 at 7 p.m. at Lost Creek Elementary, April 27 at 7 p.m. at Columbus Middle School and May 2 at 7 p.m. at Columbus High School. Loeffelholz added CPS has paid off two bonds early, saving taxpayers about $13 million. During the city council meeting, Third Ward Council Member Rich Jablonski asked about the school districts building fund and if they would have the ability to do some of the projects if the facilities bond referendum doesnt pass. Loeffelholz said there is $1.2 million in the building fund, which is being used for the Kramer Education Center. CPS would not have the ability for facilities expansion without the bonds passage, he added. The maximum we can levy is a dollar five, so our building fund has to be under that dollar five along with our general fund. As our general fund needs go up, our ability to tax for our building fund shrinks, Loeffelholz said. We're in a commitment on a lease purchase with our Kramer center for the next six years. That building funds going to be tied up with that. First Ward Council Member Charlie Bahr asked Loeffelholz how he would encourage support of the bond referendum to someone whose children attend a parochial school. Columbus is lucky to have three good school systems, Loeffelholz said, but the issue should be looked at it from the perspective as the community as a whole. You dont get tied up in maroon, blue and green; you get tied up into the community and whats best for all children, Loeffelholz said. Caroline Gwinn, the executive director of the Aiken Center for the Arts, said receiving the 2023 Governors Award for Arts in the Organization Category is a reflection of the Center's commitment to providing access for all to the arts. Moncks Corner, SC (29461) Today Cloudy early, then off and on rain showers for the afternoon. High near 70F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. MOUNT PLEASANT A restaurant that's been in the works since last June in East Cooper is almost ready to welcome diners. Bohemian Bull plans to open to the public at 4 p.m. April 10 at 2668 Highway 17, according to Richard Thomasson of Red Bird Hospitality Group. The restaurant will open be open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily, with the bar open until midnight, starting April 11. The restaurant's launch will come after a soft opening for invitees over the weekend to give workers time to get accustomed to the menu and restaurant routine, he said. Thomasson leased the 6,143-square-foot space last June, taking over the former location of Carrabba's Italian Grill, which closed in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bohemian Bulls flagship venue is on Folly Road on James Island. Other restaurants are in Greenville and Mauldin in the Upstate. Another is on the way to Grapevine, Texas. The owner of a Charleston consulting business can't claim partial ownership of three restaurants because he previously denied having any financial interest in them during his divorce proceedings, a judge has ruled. Richard Stoney, an attorney and owner of Crew Carolina, sued Moe's Southwest Grill founder Martin Sprock last year, alleging Sprock backed out of a deal to give him a 50-percent stake in two dining establishments in Mount Pleasant and a third in Charleston: Kid Cashew, Flying Biscuit Cafe and RuRu's Tacos and Tequila. Stoney said in his lawsuit he was promised the ownership deal in exchange for his consulting work and thousands of hours of "sweat equity" in launching and operating the three restaurants. The relationship started to go south in 2020, Stoney said, when Sprock became dissatisfied with his purported partner's management of the businesses. When they parted ways, Sprock denied giving Stoney any promise of ownership, according to the complaint. Stoney, who launched the long-running Boathouse at Breach Inlet restaurant on the Isle of Palms, sued Sprock in 2022. He asked a judge to award him financial damages equal to 50 percent of the fair-market value of each restaurant. At the same time, Stoney was embroiled in a decadelong divorce. During two hearings in his family court case, in which his finances were being scrutinized, Stoney "repeatedly and unequivocally denied any ownership interests or interests, generally in the restaurants," records show. "At no point during the divorce case did (Stoney) claim he owned a 50-percent ownership interest in the restaurants or that he had a specific claim against the restaurants for past services rendered or otherwise," according to court documents. When Ross Appel, Sprock's lawyer, learned of the divorce case testimony he asked to dismiss Stoney's lawsuit. Judge Roger Young took the unusual step of tossing the case while it was still in its early stages based on a legal doctrine that a person can't say one thing in court and then change the story when the facts no longer suit them. Stoney's lawyer, Jesse Sanchez, asked Young to reconsider his decision. The judge denied the request on April 4. "We plan to appeal and let the judicial process take its course," Sanchez told The Post and Courier this week. Appel said Sprock, founder of the national burrito chain Moe's as well as Planet Smoothie and other concepts, is "grateful the court dismissed this frivolous lawsuit," adding further action could be forthcoming. "Mr. Stoney, who is an attorney himself, should have known better than to bring a lawsuit containing allegations squarely at odds with his prior sworn testimony and court filings," Appel said. South Carolina's busiest airport terminal has seen more than twice as many passengers in three months than in half of 2010, when CHS hit the 2-million-passenger milestone for the whole year. The year-to-date tally for the traditionally slower months at the start of the year now stands at 1.2 million. Read moreCharleston airport sets new March passenger record at nearly 500,000 COLUMBIA A pair of University of South Carolina professors accused of sexual harassment and workplace discrimination have left or will be leaving the school. Art professor David Voros is "no longer with" the school, USC spokesman Jeff Stensland said, having retired from the university on Jan. 16, a week after the spring semester started. Theater professor Robert Richmond, whose legal name is Bourne, will resign from the university effective July 1. He is not currently teaching classes. Both of the professors had not been teaching classes for some time amid ongoing complaints against the state's largest university system, accusing the school of mishandling employee and student complaints. USC would not say whether the professors' departures were tied to litigation or complaints against them. Voros' attorney Damon Wiodarczyk declined to comment about the case, instead referring the reporter to court documents. Bourne told The Post and Courier that he is leaving the university for professional reasons to work in directing. "An opportunity has been offered to me in New York City that I simply couldn't turn down," he said. "I'm excited about the future." In response to the public outcry against Voros teaching online classes in fall 2021, USC leadership had determined it was not tenable to have Voros teaching in any form, Stensland told The Post and Courier at the time. Voros was given administrative duties only reviewing syllabi and designing online curriculum according to court documents. Voros has been sued by staff and a student who alleged he sexually harassed and retaliated against them in 2017, claims which Voros has denied in court documents as "false" and "fabrications." Only two of those lawsuits, both by university staff members, remain active. The third lawsuit "has been resolved" with a confidential agreement put in place, according to Samantha Albrecht, the lawyer who represented the woman who filed it. Voros, in court documents, claimed the woman "recanted" at least a portion of her claims. One former professor alleged in her suit that Voros took her into a dark closet in an unused classroom, put his arm around her, held up a plastic head used in the art department in front of her and whispered in her ear to look out a small window. The professor, in court documents, said she thought Voros was making a sexual advance on her. She also alleged, when she made various complaints about Voros and his behavior toward her and students, he began accusing her of poor job performance and was reassigning her duties to others. Voros, in court documents, described the encounter in the closet as "an art tool that all students utilize." He also said she was "not completing work assignments when left unsupervised," resulting in the job performance complaints. The other lawsuit, filed by Voros' ex-wife, a USC professor, alleged he made unwanted sexual advances, used sexist slurs and interrupted her classes. There are no active lawsuits against Bourne. Complaints against him were filed with the university involving text messages sent to a student asking her what she was wearing, telling her to take it off!!! and stating, I wanted to sleep with you tonight." Bourne's response to the complaint is that the messages were witty banter." He told The Post and Courier on April 10 that he cooperated with that investigation. Another former USC professor, David Snyder, who taught history, also continues to face a lawsuit filed by a former student against him and the university, alleging sexual harassment. Snyder resigned from the university in 2021. COLUMBIA The Richland County elections board has picked a new person to head the historically troubled office. The Board of Voter Registration & Elections extended an offer to Travis Alexander, a local representative for the State Election Commission, at its April 6 meeting. Alexander, who was at the meeting, said he would accept the offer but declined to comment further. The board's decision followed an eight-month process in which members interviewed five candidates, board member Shelia Washington said. The last director, Alexandria Stephens, resigned suddenly in August after two years in the position. Interim Director Terry Graham has run the office since, through a statewide election and special city of Columbia election. Ultimately, the board chose Alexander because he's engaging, highly qualified and has an open-door policy, board Chairwoman Anjanette President said. He's also enrolled in the national Certified Elections Registration Administrator program, which gave him a leg up, President said. "Based on his experience and record, he's imminently qualified, and I believe he'll do a good job," board member Benjamin Dunn said. The county's precinct coordinator submitted her resignation soon after Stephens, and Graham initially announced he planned to resign as well in what state lawmakers called "a mass exodus." Graham later agreed to stay to run the November election, then decided to stick around longer after that process went smoothly. When asked what made Alexander stand out to replace Stephens in the role, Washington said, "I'll let you figure that out when you see him in action." Alexander will need to officially accept the role and resign from the SEC, but Washington said she was hopeful he would be able to start within the coming weeks. At the same April 6 meeting, the board announced board member Yolanda Taylor had resigned, effective March 20. She did not give a reason why, President said. "We respect her resignation and wish her well," President said. Taylor attended the meeting virtually but did not respond to a request for comment by phone after. The Richland County legislative delegation will be responsible for appointing another person to fill her role on what is meant to be a six-person board, though two positions have long remained vacant. Richland County's election director position along with its department has historically been fraught with trouble. Stephens' predecessor, Rokey Suleman, resigned in 2019 after the county failed to count more than 1,000 votes a problem that led Gov. Henry McMaster to remove the entire board. Following Suleman's resignation, the new board voted to hire another director from Tennessee, but she turned down the offer because she and the board couldn't agree on a contract. The board landed on Stephens in June 2020, after a year of searching for a suitable director. She did not give a reason for her resignation in August 2022. Elections have long been fraught for the state's second-largest county. In 2010, the county failed to count 1,100 votes, causing it to incorrectly certify the election. In 2012, voters dealt with long lines because the county failed to roll out enough voting machines. In 2016, the state stepped in to help after the county missed a recount deadline. But the most recent elections have gone smoothly. November's gubernatorial election went without a hitch, election officials have said, along with the March 28 special election for Columbia City Council. Click here for more news from Columbia, S.C. Horseshoe crab harvesting has been prohibited on nearly 30 beaches in South Carolina this spawning season until further order from a district court in a resolution agreed to by opposing groups with interests in their future. The move is the second blow to the lucrative crab blood-draw business in less than a month and leaves few places in the state where horseshoe crab harvesting can take place. Some areas, like marshes, could remain open to takings. Environmentalists have long expressed concerns that removing the crabs during the March 15 to June 15 spawning season threatens endangered species, like the red knot seabird, that depend on the animals for food. This week's decision out of the U.S. District Court in Charleston further protects the birds, as the list of beaches included in the resolution are all considered critical habitats for red knots. Groups such as the biomedical company Charles River Labs have hired contractors in the past to collect an undisclosed number of the crabs in late spring. The business collects their blue blood to yield a valuable medical extract. Charles River Labs spokeswoman Sam Jorgensen said in an email April 7 the company agreed to the resolution in a preliminary injunction, as it allows the lab to continue the "important work protecting the health and safety of patients, as well as the security of the global biopharmaceutical supply chain." Jorgensen said the company is committed to collecting the natural resource of horseshoe crab blood in a safe and humane manner that is environmentally sustainable and ensures safe medical treatments for patients globally. Part of the request for a preliminary injunction filed last month in district court by the Southern Environmental Law Center concerned the use of containment ponds for the horseshoe crabs. The SELC represents Defenders of Wildlife and the S.C. Coastal Conservation League in the matter and fought against the state Department of Natural Resources' authorization of horseshoe crab containment ponds and Charles River Labs' use of such ponds. Court documents say harvesters often take crabs for pond storage while red knots are foraging for their eggs. This is like taking food directly from the protected species, the groups say. Critical habitat areas for horseshoe crabs Charles River Labs, Marsh Point Farms and Gault Seafood are prohibited from harvesting horseshoe crabs from these beaches during the spawning season, March 15-June 15: North Cape Island South Cape and Lighthouse Island beaches Raccoon Key Complex and White Banks beaches Marsh Island Bulls Island beach Capers Island beach Dewees Island beach Isle of Palms beach Sullivan's Island beach Folly Beach Bird Key Stono Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island beaches Deveaux Bank Edisto Island beaches Pine and Otter Island beaches Harbor and Hunting Island beaches Fripp Island Beach The agreement signed April 6 prohibits purchasing, selling, placing in containment ponds and biomedically processing any horseshoe crabs harvested from beaches considered as critical habitat areas for red knots. The list of coverage areas includes about 30 beaches from North Cape Island Beach in the northern part of the state to Fripp Island Beach in the south. Charles River Labs and its contractors will have to certify that any horseshoe crabs they take were not harvested from any of the critical habitat areas. They must also use a GPS device while harvesting and provide a weekly record to Defenders of Wildlife, Coastal Conservation League, DNR and the court, beginning April 21. A status conference is planned near the beginning of July to evaluate the effectiveness of the preliminary injunction and to explore final resolution of the action, according to consent order from the court. This month's resolution is a "huge victory for red knots," said Catherine Wannamaker, an attorney with the SELC. "This is the largest protection of red knot feeding habitat we've ever had in South Carolina," she added, noting that the order also requires compliance with a DNR rule that prohibits females crabs from going into ponds. Blaik Keppler, DNR's deputy director for marine resources, said she could not comment on the consent order beyond noting that the agency is adjusting permits accordingly. More restrictions on horseshoe crab harvesting were proposed last month as well. Federal wildlife officials are considering ending horseshoe crab harvesting at Cape Romain because the practice is not compatible with the coastal refuge's mission of protecting nature. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed a number of reasons why harvesting the crabs within the refuge 20 miles north of Charleston is not feasible. One factor cited was that the federal agency would have to divert funding and personnel time to oversee the activity. The service also noted that removing the crabs from the ecosystem can negatively impact species the refuge was established to protect. The General Insurance Employees' All India Association (GIEAIA), the majority union in the government owned non life insurance companies, is demanding an audit of consultancy firm EY by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and a statutory audit.Citing the German government levying a hefty fine of 5,00,000 euros on the German arm of audit firm EY and banning it from taking audit of certain kinds for two years, Trilok Singh, General Secretary, GIEAIA said the firm should be audited by CAG and its report on the restructuring of the public sector general insurance companies should be scrapped.According to Singh, under the pressure from some officials of the Department of Financial Services, the management of public sector general insurance companies are blindly imposing the EY's report involving the closure/merger of offices and imposing key performance indicators (KPI) in haste."It is strange that the management of PSGI (public sector general insurance) companies have not shared the complete reports with the employees, officers, and other stakeholders and are moving ahead unilaterally," Singh said in a statement. Summerville, SC (29483) Today Cloudy skies with a few showers this afternoon. High 73F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low near 55F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. CONWAY Horry County Council will soon consider a massive multipurpose development in one of its fastest-growing areas, despite residents' concerns of how it could make overcrowding worse. The plan likened to Myrtle Beach's popular residential and shopping district Market Common would rezone about 130 acres into a mixed-use development off Postal Way and U.S. Highway 501 in Carolina Forest, within unincorporated Myrtle Beach. The change would pave the way for 1,154 new units, including homes, offices and retail spaces. The homes would consist of townhomes and single-family and multifamily units, according to county documents. The county Planning Commission voted April 6 to recommend the plan. County Council is expected to vote on the first of three readings of the offering later this month. Some area residents oppose the plan, saying it could worsen overcrowding within Carolina Forest, an area where thousands more homes are expected to be built over the next decade. With a population of 23,342, per 2020 census data, Carolina Forest would be one of South Carolinas top 25 largest cities if it were incorporated. Sherry Reid of Myrtle Beach said she was worried about how the development would further strain vital community services, like police and fire departments and healthcare providers. For example, she noted how local dentists and dermatologists are already booked out for at least six months, making it more difficult to receive care. "You keep adding people and adding people, and it is going to affect quality of life down the road," Reid said. "People are being affected, big time." Terry Ewing of Myrtle Beach, a retired teacher, said she was particularly worried about how this new development would worsen school overcrowding. Many Horry County schools have exceeded functional capacity for the 2022-23 school year. "We need to be sure that when we have these homes for people to come down and live here, as we all did, that we have room for their children to get a good education," Ewing said. At least 24 district schools have exceeded 85 percent "efficient" functional capacity, including seven in Carolina Forest. Functional capacity reflects a schools space constraints, and helps districts plan for individual facility needs, according to county documents. David Jordan, county planning department head, addressed these school concerns, noting how the district is building two new schools in Carolina Forest. "We coordinate, or try to coordinate, with the schools as much as we can and send it to their facility staff," Jordan said, regarding the development plans. "They get an advance notice as well." Sean Flynn, regional director for Thomas & Hutton, an involved engineering consulting firm, said he thinks the staff has done well with planning the development, especially with its infrastructure improvements. "We understand traffic is a huge issue," Flynn said. Thomas & Hutton, on behalf of the property owner, plans to pay about $1.73 million toward site improvements, including creating three new lanes, a roundabout, sidewalks and a frontage road to U.S. Highway 501 within the development, according to county documents. SUMMERVILLE School safety, county growth and district demographics are just a few things on Dorchester District 2 Superintendent Shane Robbins' mind as he prepares to close out his first school year overseeing the district. During a state of the district address April 6, the veteran school administrator who came last year from Kershaw County said hes hosted such events for communities and businesses every year hes been a superintendent. Robbins said he does it to maintain transparency and bring awareness of what he and the school district have been doing. Robbins added he does it to also recognize the businesses the district has partnerships with, and hopes to strengthen those relationships. While speaking to a mix of business owners, school board members, district faculty and staff, Robbins gave an overview of what he and the school board have been focusing on for the past school year. School safety is a top priority in the district, Robbins said. He said the district will look a little harder at safety protocols following an April 5 incident where two students were found with loaded guns at Summerville High School. During a press conference immediately following the State of the District, DD2 Director of Security Preston Giet said within half an hour of being tipped off, both students were in custody and no one was harmed. Seventeen percent of the county is underneath a DD2 roof 180 days of the year, Robbins said. Thats a huge responsibility to be taken very seriously. Robbins also touched upon the rapid growth in the Summerville area of Dorchester County, referencing developments like Summers Corner and The Ponds as areas that are growing quickly. DD2s student population has grown from around 16,000 students in the 2000-2001 school year to over 25,000 for the 2021-2022 year. Robbins added that he had a conversation with a school board member about it recently and is weighing various ways to address the increasing student population. If we decide we want to build a school building its going to take us three years 36 months, easily, to try to meet the needs of the people that are moving in. These people are moving in and theyre becoming residents of Dorchester County, we cant turn them away, Robbins said. We will have to buy mobiles until we can get a solid structure put into place ... we are looking at this, and we are going to exhaust every resource possible. As the county grows, the demographics continue to change. Robbins pointed out how theres been an increase in the Hispanic population, and how the district has started looking at more resources to help with non-native English speakers. Robbins commended all the faculty and staff for always going the extra mile to ensure the success of the district. He referenced the theme of the districts teacher forum for the year DD2 teachers are "on fire" for education. At 211 degrees, water is hot, right? Once you get to 212 degrees, water starts to boil, and with boiling water comes steam, and with steam, you can power a train, Robbins said. Ive observed that steam and the passion of our community and the passion of our staff, and more importantly, the passion of our teachers in Dorchester School District. Just about everything they do is driven by passion. I think thats one of the things that sets us apart. School board Chairwoman Gail Hughes commended Robbins for hosting and putting the State of the District together. She also expressed gratitude to the community members and business owners in the audience, acknowledging how the school boards decisions not only affect the students, but also the public at large. We are proud of the long history of success by our school district, as we have consistently been considered a shining example of success in South Carolina, Hughes said. We are also very aware we must continue to push forward to ensure our future is bright, if not brighter than our past. She added the board is focusing on seven principles such as focusing on student achievement, connecting with the community and monitoring progress and using data to ensure their success. We appreciate all of the input and all of the involvement that you have in our school district, Hughes said. We look forward to working with you further in the future. The Charleston County Housing and Redevelopment Authority abruptly fired its executive director April 3 after holding a same-day emergency meeting. All seven members of the authority's governing board voted to remove Franklin Scott from the position, chairman Sandino Moses told The Post and Courier on April 7. The board gave no public notice of the meeting, which was held in executive session. The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act mandates public bodies give notice of at least 24 hours in a publicly accessible place before holding a special called meeting. However, emergency meetings, which Moses said this was, are exempt under the law. After the meeting, minutes must be available to the public "within a reasonable time after the meeting," though discussions held during executive sessions are also exempt. The board decided to oust Scott because he hadn't passed any of his performance reviews last year, Moses said. His firing comes 18 months after he began managing the troubled public housing agency, which operates independent of both the city and Charleston County. Scott was placed on probation in fall 2022, Moses said. During his final review in December, board members had given Scott a list of six action items he needed to accomplish before his next one, which was scheduled for March 2, the chairman said. He did not say what the specific actions were. When the board realized Scott hadn't done any of the six tasks, they looked to hire a new executive director, Moses said. Scott declined to comment on the decision, other than to thank Charleston County for the opportunity to serve its communities. The authority worked with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development throughout March to hire Scott's replacement, Moses said. The board chose Angela Childers, who currently serves as executive director of Beaufort Housing Authority, an independent agency with its own board, similar to Charleston County. Childers will start her new position in Charleston on May 8. She could not be reached by press time. Scott took the helm of Charleston County's authority at a precarious moment. It had been without an executive director for 17 months after the board fired James Williams in May 2020. Joseph Floyd Manor, one of two complexes the authority manages, houses some of the county's most vulnerable residents. The 13-story building was thrust under a spotlight after reports in The Post and Courier detailed deplorable living conditions. Moses said the board understood how challenging Scott's position would be and gave him more chances than another job might have to improve. At the end of the day, the housing authority is responsible for its tenants, Moses said: "They've been through a lot." The majority of residents living inside Floyd Manor's 156 units are elderly or disabled, in addition to living below the poverty line. The authority took the first procedural step last summer in demolishing the high-rise, moving forward with plans to build a new complex. But those plans have stalled, Moses said a major factor in deciding to fire Scott. "He wasn't doing anything to move that effort forward," the chairman said. Every day the board didn't do something meant another day of tenants "not getting what they need," Moses added. Board members were pushed to quickly act this week after learning Childers had submitted her resignation, Moses said, leading to the emergency meeting. When asked why public notice wasn't given after the fact, Moses said the board wanted to "get through the week" and "ask some questions." Reporter Tony Kukulich contributed to this report from Beaufort. NORTH CHARLESTON Kiawah Island resident Dwight Williams was flying home from Charlotte the evening of April 5 when he observed his American Airlines flight doing laps in the sky near the Charleston International Airport. The 65-year-old consultant, who specializes in emergency management, had sparse information 30,000 feet above the ground when his Charleston-bound flight turned back around to North Carolina. Authorities later said they closed the airfield above the Holy City to investigate a bomb threat, which turned out to be a hoax. "We were just passengers," Williams said. "We were at the mercy of trying to figure out what was going on." Williams and hundreds of other travelers flying to and from Charleston were delayed after local airport police say a San Diego man aboard a departing American Airlines flight threatened passengers with a bomb around 6 p.m. Brandon James Buckley, 38, was arrested and charged with threatening to use a weapon of mass destruction for terrorism. Buckley told two people before boarding that he had multiple bombs, according to affidavits supporting his arrest. The defendant warned them to keep quiet, but one of the passengers notified a flight attendant after she observed Buckley tell the pilot I can fly this plane as they entered the aircraft. The flight attendant notified Charleston County aviation police, who searched the defendants luggage but did not find any weapons or explosives, per the affidavit. Responding aviation police evacuated the plane, an incident report shows. Airport spokesman Spencer Pryor said air traffic control closed the airfield temporarily while the FBI swept the concourse for explosives, with negative results. Air traffic resumed by 8 p.m. In total, eight flights were delayed while one was diverted, Pryor said. A spokeswoman for American Airlines confirmed that American Eagle flight 5349, with service from Charleston to Charlotte, was delayed April 5 due to a possible security risk. "Safety and security are our top priorities," spokeswoman Bri Harper said. "We never want to disrupt our customers' travel plans and are thankful for their understanding." Williams and his fellow passengers, including a couple seated next to him who were returning from their honeymoon in Jamaica, finally touched down in the Holy City at 9:27 p.m. He said he arrived on Kiawah at 11 p.m. and went straight to sleep. The California defendant spent the night in the county jail. A magistrate at an April 6 hearing set bail at $1 million. Threatening the use of a mass destruction weapon to further terrorism carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison upon conviction. Court records April 6 did not list an attorney for Buckley. The WeGOJA Foundation is a small nonprofit operation committed to preserving African American historical and cultural sites in South Carolina. But given its modest size and budget, it can only do so much. It began in May 2008 as a private arm of the S.C. African American Heritage Commission, which is part of the state Department of Archives and History. In the years since, WeGOJA has helped to document historical sites and get historical markers installed; create teacher guides; create The Green Book of South Carolina, published by Hub City Press; conduct an oral history project; and develop a resource guide for entrepreneurs. Now, a grant award of $750,000 the largest WeGOJA has received will enable the nonprofit to step up its game. Executive Director Dawn Dawson-House said the grant money will fund two related efforts. One is to add staff and develop a long-term fundraising strategy. The other is to create a preservation toolkit. WeGOJA does not have the capacity to help everyone, Dawson-House said. But what we can do is pull together a toolkit (for all to use). The toolkit would provide information about available grant funding and other financial resources, and it would include a directory of people from various fields who engage in preservation work: grant writers, architects, archivists, historians and others. WeGOJA always will be available to users of the toolkit, but the aim is to empower them to do the work themselves, Dawson-House said. Its a way for her organization to scale up without depending on a big staff. That growth involves networking and collaboration. The Mellon Foundation grant will be paid in two installments. This year, WeGOJA will consult with community and organizational leaders in an effort to determine need, Dawson-House said. Then it will develop, fine-tune and consolidate the information to be distributed to groups throughout South Carolina. She said she hopes to have the toolkit ready by January 2025. The goal is to make sure that anybody who wants to do preservation work can find the tools easily, she said. It shouldnt take two years to install a historic marker. Getting markers approved and placed is a big part of what WeGOJA does. But it can be complicated. A site must be deemed worthy though surveys, study and consultation; the money must be raised; a historian must be engaged to draft a short description that adhered to state standards; the marker must be fabricated and delivered; an unveiling event needs to be scheduled. The marker is just the tip of the iceberg. South Carolinas Black history runs deep and wide, and there is much to uncover, examine and convey, Dawson-House said. Justin Garrett Moore, program officer for the Mellon Foundation, said the first Humanities in Place grant was made in June 2021. Since then, the new program has made more than 120 grants worth $112 million. And its just getting started. The Humanities in Place program aligns with the Mellon Foundations tradition focus on the humanities and the arts, though it is meant to extend the foundations reach to smaller, local institutions, and to those working at the intersections of the built environment where place, public access, and historical and cultural preservation converge, Moore said. Sometimes, he said, the program awards grants to organizations working to preserve a specific historical asset; sometimes it provides support to an organization working to create a network, platform or set of tools that make cultural preservation possible in the first place. Think of it like software, Moore said of WeGOJAs efforts to create the infrastructure and connections necessary for the identification, documentation and conservation of South Carolinas African American historical sites. Zach Bjur, a project manager with the Conservation Voters of South Carolina, has worked closely with WeGOJA on an effort to preserve and interpret Rosenwald schools in the state. Conservation Voters is working to secure funds for a state park planning study; WeGOJA is providing historical information and community outreach assistance. Theyve just been great, Bjur said. It helps that Dawson-House once worked for the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, he said. As partners, they want to acquire Rosenwald school properties that can form the basis for a state park, then collaborate with private owners to extend the network. Its all part of an effort to broaden conservation efforts historical, cultural and environmental, which often are intertwined in underserved communities, Bjur said. Dawson-House said her organization already fields many calls for assistance, and now she wants to solidify its position and purpose in the state, becoming the go-to group for those seeking to preserve African American historical assets. WeGOJAs typical annual budget is a modest $200,000 or so. The Mellon Foundation grant nearly triples it. She is committed to transparency, and plans to hire an accountant to manage and track all spending, she said. Were serious about honoring Mellons gift to us, and serious about serving the public, Dawson-House said. We want other potential donors to know we are a reliable partner. It all seemed so basic. An alleged property owner reached out to Angela Miller offering a listing. The Charleston realtor agreed to take on the new business, and the land officially went on the market. Of course, being a real estate agent for nearly 30 years, she first checked off all the boxes. Among other things, that includes making sure the address was legit and the 19-acre vacant lot on Johns Island was real; and that the particulars lined up with tax records. Besides, she was taking phone calls regarding the relationship, not dealing with a voiceless person on the other side of an email chain. And even those emails passed the smell test, as they also included the owners name. There was no reason for Miller to believe she was being scammed. That is until she received a call from a man asking why her sign was on his property. A day of digging to previously unexplored depths validated the second callers claims. I was in tears, Miller said. The most disheartening thing for me is how do we protect ourselves from this? Because I took all the necessary steps. I did all the things I feel like I should do to verify the property. Theres no reason for me not to believe the people who are calling me arent who they say they are. It wasn't the first time. About a month earlier she was approached to list a pair of lots in Mount Pleasant, but that turned out to be bogus, as well. And she's not alone. Real estate fraud is happening more and more nationally, particularly when it involves vacant land. According to CoreLogic, a property analytics firm, instances in which a seller misrepresents information increased 23 percent in the second quarter last year compared to the same period in 2021. Thats likely a conservative estimate, as many schemes are either discovered and not reported or stuffed into a file with wire fraud crimes. Gil Jackson, a Charleston Police detective and U.S. Secret Service Task Force officer, estimated that the Holy City likely has had less than 10 reports of property fraud filed since January 2022. Thats because those were the only instances that were specifically reported as real estate fraud. I cant put an exact number on it, he said, and its hard to drill down in RMS to determine a number because the report is just wire fraud like many other types of reports. It falls under the wire fraud umbrella because its a financial crime that implements telecommunications or information technology all communications that are electronic, not in person. In this scam, the criminal searches public records to scope out real estate thats free of a mortgage or other liens, as well as the identity of the property owner. These often include vacant lots or rental properties. The criminal poses as the property owner and contacts a real estate agent to list the targeted property for sale below market value to generate immediate interest. The criminal pushes a preference for a cash buyer and quickly accepts an offer. The criminal refuses to sign the closing documents in person, and requests a remote notary signing, impersonates the notary and provides falsified documents to the title company or closing attorney. The title company or closing attorney then unwittingly transfers the closing proceeds to the criminal. The FBI lumps real estate fraud in with business email compromise, something its Internet Crime Complaint Center said contributed to victims losing more than $2.4 billion in 2021. The odyssey to try to recoup that money is arduous. If the real estate transaction goes through or close to closing, we would follow the money or where the money was supposed to be sent to locate a potential suspect, Jackson said. Phone numbers, email addresses and IP addresses can be searched, but it takes a lot of time and effort. It often leads investigators down a false path because many times the digital fingerprint is altered to hide their identity and/or location. There are ways to protect against this property fraud. Various organizations ranging from state real estate commissions to federal agencies provide checklists. But that really just covers the basics: Independently search for the identity and a recent picture of the property seller; request an in-person or virtual meeting and to see their government-issued identification; be on alert when a seller accepts an offer below market value in exchange for receiving the payment in cash and/or closing quickly; never allow a seller to arrange their own notary closing; and use trusted title companies and attorneys for the exchange of closing documents and funds. Those are all prudent steps, but not nearly enough as criminals continue to evolve and adapt. Their schemes grow more sophisticated as modern resources and technology expands. Remaining vigilant, realtors say, is critical. Always cautious! Always looking for red flags, said a Kelly Hyatt, realtor since 2016 for Carolina One who focuses on Charleston and Colleton counties. And you have to go with your gut. If it walks like a duck and it quacks like a duke, chances are its a duck. Miller said law enforcement and her industry must do likewise. What I found out during this situation is that local law enforcement is limited in their knowledge of the real estate industry, Miller said. They know how to track a stolen car, but havent really been taught anything about property ID numbers. Realtors have to push beyond local authorities to report the fraud. And they need to know that, yes, real estate agents have been victimized, too. Property owners face losing their investment by identity theft. Real estate agents are victimized by false pretenses, losing time and money. Its disappointing real estate agents are being taken by these scammers. As were evolving, the real estate business changes. How do we protect ourselves in the future? Hilton Head Island Elementary School is putting on a Spanish-English performance of "Aladdin" directed by drama teacher Helen Ashton. The school is host to a Dual Language Program that teaches students either Chinese or Spanish, and the bilingual play is to help harmonize the program with the island's growing Hispanic population. Close GILBERT It was a political homecoming of sorts for Nikki Haley. But this time she returned as a 2024 GOP presidential contender to the rural and suburban stretches of ruby-red Lexington County where she launched her political career nearly 20 years ago. When I first said I was running for that Statehouse race, people laughed," she said April 6 of the long-shot run that started her political career. "But I got to work and I earned your support and we won, Haley told a barn of hundreds of supporters some 30 miles west of Columbia in her old S.C. House of Representatives district. Lexington, weve got to do it one more time, she said. Haley bookended her usual stump speech with references meant to appeal to the local South Carolina crowd about her rise through the ranks of state and now national politics in her old stomping ground in Lexington. I did not know you weren't supposed to run against a 30-year incumbent in a primary," she said of her 2004 GOP run versus the then-longest-serving member of the House state Rep. Larry Koon. "But once we realized he was related to half the district, we had to win, she said. Haley drew repeated allusions to that first run as she cast herself as a rabble-rouser who got results, an image shes trying to convince Republican primary voters of as she campaigns on the national stage. She used the story of her fight to require more roll call votes in the Statehouse on bills debated on the floor as well as each individual section of budget packages which met strong opposition from the establishment to cast herself as an outsider, practically a must in todays Republican politics. She recounted her rise from 3 percent in the polls in the 2010 Republican gubernatorial primary to victory, to reassure supporters wary of her modest standing in current polls versus GOP front-runner Donald Trump. State Rep. Nathan Ballentine, a Chapin Republican who was one of Haleys closest political allies in the House, said he was getting the same vibe at the rally he had during Haleys 2004 run in remarks delivered at the rally. There was a guy who had that seat. He thought everybody loved him. He thought he did a great job. A little arrogant, Ballentine said in a remark about the 2004 run that doubled as a thinly veiled reference to Trump, the current GOP front-runner. And yall Im not talking about current day stuff. I know it sounds like it. Several attendees had supported Haley in her first run. There was a lot of door-knocking, said Allen Amsler, whose family lived in the same neighborhood as the Haleys in 2004 and who went on to serve as chair of the state Department of Health and Environmental Control while she was governor. Shes always had that drive, he said. Nell Tyler, a 65-year-old retired state employee who said she will vote for Haley in the South Carolina GOP primary next February, said Haley transformed the state as governor and could unite a divided country. I think Trump knows the economy, but hes tearing us apart, she said. However, there were also many of the more-recent arrivals who have fueled Lexington Countys rapid growth at the rally, some of whom werent yet won over to Haley. I dont like Trumps mouth, but I like his policies. Im hoping DeSantis will come in and take over, but I want to hear from her, Linda Patterson, a 70-year-old Colorado transplant, said before the event, referring to the Florida governor who is widely expected to run. After retracing her political career in Lexington County, Haley mostly delivered a variation of the stump speech shes been making at numerous events across Iowa and New Hampshire since entering the race in February. She criticized both the Biden administration and congressional Republicans for deficit spending, and hammered the president for the chaotic withdraw from Afghanistan and the waves illegal migration across the southern border, which she visited earlier this week. Like I told you like I did when I was your governor, Haley said. No more whining about it; no more complaining about it. Now we get to work. Haley repeated calls for entitlement reform, stepped-up deportations at the border and a ban on discussing gender in public schools before 7th grade, which she pitched as a more expansive version of DeSantis Dont Say Gay bill in Florida. She drew another implicit contrast with DeSantis, who has occasionally been tepid in his support for Ukraine. She described the war a fight for freedom that must be won. Haley made no mention of Trumps indictment on 34 charges related to allegedly paying hush money to an adult film actor in New York. After the event ended, Patterson, the Colorado transplant, said she was very impressed, with Haley's speech but when asked if the remarks put Haley on par with DeSantis, she hesitated. Really close, she said. In a show of "might" in the Indo-Pacific region, more than 210 U.S. Air Force airmen and four B-52 bombers assigned to the 96th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron arrived here last week as part of the Air Forces ongoing Bomber Task Force mission. The bomber task force, and specifically the B-52s in the Indo-Pacific region, not only allows our crew force to hone their superior technical and weapons system expertise, but also sends an extremely important message, Lt. Col. Vanessa Wilcox said in a press release issued Monday by Pacific Air Forces. It demonstrates our continued readiness and commitment to our allies in the region to ensure freedom of movement now and in the future, as well as ensures stability in the region. The bomber squadron from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, arrived March 30 at Andersen Air Force Base in support of Pacific Air Forces training efforts with allied partners and joint forces, according to the release. The arrival of the B-52H Stratofortresses at Andersen serves as a "tangible representation of a commitment to strengthen the relationship between U.S. Air Force personnel and Indo-Pacific partners to strengthen global security, Pacific Air Forces said in the release. This bomber task force displays our ability to provide agile combat-ready forces for combatant commanders and support the critical mission, vision and priorities of Pacific Air Forces, Wilcox said. While on Guam, airmen familiarized themselves with operating in a joint and coalition environment with a focus on the full spectrum of military operations, including combat missions, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief," the release stated. Guam, long known for its strategic military importance, has three main military installations: Andersen Air Force Base, Naval Base Guam and Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz. Given those assets, Guam would serve as a prime staging area for U.S forces in a conflict with China or North Korea, according to a news report from Stars and Stripes, which also noted the Department of Defense $1.5 billion investment to build a rigorous missile defense system for Guam. Missile defense But, as of Wednesday, $147 million for the development of the missile defense system was listed as an unfunded requirement, according to U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D. Rounds questioned Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Wednesday on President Joe Bidens proposed budget. Can you discuss how that decision by the department not to fund this INDOPACOM requirement comports with the department's priority to defend Guam?" he asked. Austin said the military continues to heavily invest in a defense of Guam. That work is ongoing," Austin said. Rounds called for a Guam missile defense system to be very seriously considered by Congress, as the military has been criticized for providing a list of unfunded requests." Austin explained that submitting the unfunded list is required by law. I do believe that all of our commanders and chiefs believe that whats on there is important, Austin said. Austin has asked these military leaders to build their requirements for readiness and also combat capability into their base budget, but, at some point in time, choices have to be made. First female B-52 commander The 96th Bomb Squadron is led by the first female B-52 commander in Air Force history, Wilcox, who took command in April 2022. "We look forward to showcasing the might of the airmen of the 2nd Bomb Wing to accomplish these objectives, she said in the Pacific Air Forces release. "It will take all of the airmen of this task force to ensure we get the best training and experience working with our partner nations, and we are dedicated and ready." The military exercise allowed for the air crews to test equipment, develop tactics and strengthen alliances in the Indo-Pacific region. All of which are essential in maintaining peace and stability in an increasingly complex global security environment, she said in the release. You may not ever be faced with the prospect of a street robbery, but its important to know how to act if you ever encounter such a situation. April is World Autism Month. The site autismspeaks.org proclaims, Throughout the month, we focus on coming together in unity and collaboratio Read moreAutism has spiked; what does data show? PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-07 17:00:16 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 646 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 7, 2023 / Aflac: When looking for a life insurance policy, one thing to consider is the cost. Many insurance companies offer quotes to help customers decide on the best policy. In today's digital age, customers can now get easy access to life insurance quotes online. 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For instance, whole life insurance policies cost more than term life policies because they offer lifelong coverage. Policies that are longer and have a higher amount of coverage or feature insurance riders will also typically come with higher premiums.How to get quotes onlineShoppers can go to a life insurance company's website, submit personal information, and usually receive a quote instantly. There are also websites that provide people with quotes from multiple insurers based on the information they provide. Some of the information that companies may request include age, gender, location, history of nicotine or tobacco use, and marital status. Getting a life insurance quote online takes only a few minutes of a shopper's time. It's important for people to get multiple quotes in order to decide on the best life insurance policy for their coverage needs and budget.This is a brief product overview only. Coverage may not be available in all states including but not limited to ID, NJ, NM, NY, or VA. Benefits/premium rates may vary based on plan selected. Optional riders may be available at an additional cost. Policies and riders have limitations and exclusions that may affect benefits payable. For costs and complete details of the coverage, please contact your local Aflac agent. In Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia, Policies: ICC1368100, ICC1368200, ICC1368300, ICC1368400 and Riders: ICC1368050, ICC1368051, ICC1368052, ICC1368053, ICC1368054, ICC1368055.Aflac insurance coverage is underwritten by Aflac. In New York, coverage is underwritten by Aflac New York.Aflac | WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999Aflac New York | 22 Corporate Woods Boulevard, Suite 2 | Albany, NY 12211Z2201201EXP 12/23About AflacVisit WebsiteAflac Inc. is an American insurance company and is the largest provider of supplemental insurance in the United States. Aflac offers voluntary insurance or an optional layer of financial protection.Contact InformationAngie BlackmarSenior PR & Corporate Communicationsablackmar2@ aflac.com 706-763-4813SOURCE: Aflac PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-07 15:00:16 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 358 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 During National Mental Health Awareness Week, CARE Counseling is partnering with Newport Healthcare to raise awareness about adolescent mental health by hosting a free virtual event on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. CST.MINNEAPOLIS, MN / ACCESSWIRE / April 7, 2023 / Dr. Heidi Bausch Ryan, Psychologist and Clinical Director of Training at CARE Counseling, along with Ryan Federoff, M.Ed., Vice President of Education at Newport Healthcare, will speak on key signs of mental health concerns in high school students and how to talk with teens about seeking help. They will also provide helpful tools for supporting teens struggling with mental health.CARE COUNSELING HOSTS VIRTUAL SESSION DISCUSSING TEEN MENTAL HEALTH AMID RISING CONCERNS ABOUT ANXIERegister for this free event at https://care-clinics.com/teenevent/ Studies show anxiety and major depressive episodes are on the rise in teens. Reportedly, six out of 10 high school students will have a major depressive episode. Teaching parents and educators how to recognize the signs and help support students is crucial to deescalate depressive episodes. During the informational awareness session, Dr. Heidi and Ryan Federoff will also share how to connect teens with mental health services and explain the process of finding care, scheduling services and what the first few care sessions may entail.All are welcome to attend! This informational event is designed for parents of high schoolers, high school counselors, high school administrators and high school teachers seeking ways to understand and support adolescent mental health and well-being. Registration is available for this free event at https://care-clinics.com/teenevent ***CARE Counseling operates out of seven locations in the Twin Cities and virtually serves the entire state of Minnesota. It staffs over 250 highly trained professionals, serving the mental health needs of the community with hour-long talk therapy sessions. Learn more about CARE and the services they provide: CAREcounseling.com 612-223-8898Currently, CARE Counseling supports the community with one-hour talk therapy for all Minnesotans. They believe therapy should be accessible for all, which is why they accept all major Minnesota insurance brands and strive for same-week availability to see a clinician.Contact InformationNicole DahlVP of Marketing6122238898SOURCE: CARE Counseling PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-07 04:45:29 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 444 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / April 6, 2023 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until May 8, 2023 to file lead plaintiff applications in securities class action lawsuits against Credit Suisse Group AG (NYSE:CS), if they purchased the Company's securities between March 10, 2022 and March 15, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). These actions are pending in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of Credit Suisse and would like to discuss your legal rights and how these cases might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-cs/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in the class action, you must petition the Court by May 8, 2023.About the LawsuitsCredit Suisse and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On February 9, 2023, the Company announced its 2022 financial results, disclosing that, contrary to its prior statements, it had continued to experience large customer outflows through yearend 2022, specifically, outflows of 110.5 billion Swiss francs in the final three months of 2022, a figure which far exceeded market expectations. On this news, shares of Credit Suisse fell $0.56 per ADS, or 15.64%, to close at $3.02 per ADS on February 9, 2023. Then, on March 15, 2023, news media sources revealed that the Company's "biggest backer," Saudi National Bank, would not buy any more of the Company's shares on regulatory grounds. On this news, shares of Credit Suisse fell 13.94% to close at $2.16 per ADS.The case is Calhoun v. Credit Suisse Group AG, et al., No. 23-cv-01297.A subsequently-filed case, Turner v. Credit Suisse Group AG, et al., No. 23-cv-01476, expanded the class period.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit http://ksfcounsel.com/ Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partner1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-07 04:45:34 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 410 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / April 6, 2023 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until May 1, 2023 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Dutch Bros Inc. ("Dutch" or the "Company") (NYSE:BROS), if they purchased the Company's securities between March 1, 2022 and May 11, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of Dutch and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-bros/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by May 1, 2023.About the LawsuitDutch Bros and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On May 11, 2022, the Company disclosed dismal 1Q2022 financial results including a net loss of $16.3 million, compared to a net loss of $4.8 million for the first quarter of 2021 and an adjusted net loss of $2.5 million (a loss of $0.02 per share), which fell below analysts' expectations, due to its failure to "perceive the speed and magnitude of cost escalation within the quarter," among other things.On this news, shares of Dutch fell $9.26, or 26.9%, to close at $25.11 per share on May 12, 2022.The case is Peacock v. Dutch Bros Inc., et al., No. 23-cv-01797.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit http://ksfcounsel.com/ Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partner1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-07 04:55:26 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 467 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / April 6, 2023 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until May 5, 2023 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (NYSE:FIS), if they purchased the Company's shares between February 9, 2021 and February 10, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.What You May DoIf you purchased shares of Fidelity National and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-fis/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by May 5, 2023.About the LawsuitFidelity National and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On July 31, 2019, the Company announced it had completed the acquisition of payments company Worldpay, Inc. for $43 billion, which became part of the Fidelity National Merchant Solutions business. The Company subsequently, assured investors that the integration of Worldpay was "ahead of schedule," achieved "success in revenue synergies," and ultimately was "successfully completed" throughout the Class Period. Then, on February 13, 2023, the Company disclosed that it would be spinning off Worldpay and recording a goodwill impairment charge of $17.6 billion related to its Merchants Solutions business, a write-down of more than 40% of the purchase price for Worldpay just a few years earlier.On this news, shares of Fidelity National fell more than 12%, from a closing price of $75.43 per share on the prior trading day of February 10, 2023 to a closing price of $66.00 per share on February 13, 2023.The case is Palm Bay Police and Firefighters' Pension Fund v. Fidelity National Information Services, Inc., No. 23-cv-252.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit http://ksfcounsel.com/ Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partner1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-07 02:01:18 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 465 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Fourteen Foods, led by CEO Matt Frauenshuh, has established its presence in Lafayette, Tennessee, acquiring its next DQ Grill & Chill franchise location.LAFAYETTE, TN / ACCESSWIRE / April 6, 2023 / Fourteen Foods has recently purchased the Dairy Queen location in Lafayette, Tennessee, a store previously owned by Chris and Andrea Crowder. Led by CEO, Matt Frauenshuh, the company continues to extend its reach and involvement in communities like Lafayette, preserving each of its franchise locations' unique stories. The deal was closed on March 22, and Fourteen Foods looks forward to leading the store's celebration of its first anniversary on April 18."Our story has its next chapter," said CEO Matt Frauenshuh, "and Fourteen Foods is once more positioned to use our resources to support local communities and contribute to the partnerships, initiatives, and growth that Lafayette, Tennessee is poised to experience. We are proud to be part of the DQ Grill & Chill franchise system and welcome this store into the Fourteen Foods franchisee family." The former owners of this newly acquired location, Chris and Andrea Crowder, are long-standing community members whose entrepreneurial endeavors have proved beneficial to the Lafayette community. Andrea has taught in the community for over two decades, and the couple has built and sold three Subway restaurants in the area. Chris, a contractor, entrepreneur, and commercial property owner, took advantage of one of his long-vacant properties to add a Dairy Queen store to the community, and while thoughts of selling the store were never top-of-mind, a compelling letter from the Fourteen Foods organization brought Andrea to consider its family values and the potential for the store's growth under a more extensive group whose family-centric values aligned with the Crowders' own.With the transition of ownership, the Crowders look forward to new ways to contribute to the community while managing other businesses and spending time with family. Their daughter will remain on as an employee of the Fourteen Foods-owned stores. The company looks forward to continued measured and meaningful growth in communities like Lafayette, where local fundraisers, community partnerships, and small-town vibes inform the traffic and scaling of the company.About Fourteen FoodsFourteen Foods was established in 2002 and operates more than 240 DQ Grill & Chill braziers and restaurants in 13 states. The company is the largest franchisee for the corporation. Matt Frauenshuh joined the family business in 2006 when seven stores comprised the company. Matt now leads the multi-owner company as Chief Executive Officer. Matt received his undergraduate degree in business economics from St. Olaf College and continued at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management, where he received his MBA.###For more news and information about Fourteen Foods, please visit their website https://fourteenfoods.net For more information about Matt Frauenshuh, please visit LinkedIn.Contact InformationMedia RelationsSOURCE: Fourteen Foods PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-07 08:39:45 Press Information Dhirtek Business Research and Consulting Private Limited +91 7580990088 email www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com Published by Parmeet Singh 7580990088 e-mail https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/ # 1114 Words +91 7580990088Parmeet Singh7580990088 Dhirtek Business Research and Consulting recently released their most comprehensive study on the global medical viscosupplementation injection market. This research report provides a detailed overview of the market's drivers and restraints, as well as a thorough analysis of the current trends that are likely to shape its future. To create this in-depth report, the team of analysts used both primary and secondary research methods. The report offers an unbiased perspective on the medical viscosupplementation injection industry, allowing clients to make well-informed business decisions. The report reveals key insights about the global medical viscosupplementation injection industry, such as the market's size and potential for growth. It also examines the impact of technological advancements, regulatory changes, and consumer behaviors on the market's performance. Analysts also take a closer look at the market's competitive landscape, highlighting the strategies used by leading players to gain a competitive edge. Additionally, the report outlines potential threats and opportunities that may arise in the near future.Overall, this comprehensive report offers an invaluable resource for those looking to better understand the global medical viscosupplementation injection market. With the help of the study's data-driven insights, clients can gain a better understanding of the current market dynamics, allowing them to make informed business decisions.Request a Sample of this Report at: https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/market-report/Medical-Viscosupplementation-Injection-Market/request-for-sample-report The global medical viscosupplementation injection market was in a state of flux, and the future direction was uncertain. To gain clarity, a comprehensive research study was conducted to analyze the market using Porter's five forces analysis and SWOT analysis. By combining these two methods of analysis, the research could gain a clear perspective of the global medical viscosupplementation injection market's expected direction.The SWOT analysis focused on identifying the market's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. It was a useful tool in determining the potential of the market to succeed and develop, as well as its potential vulnerabilities. The Porter's five forces analysis, on the other hand, provided a detailed look into the competitive landscape, examining the level of competition, the bargaining power of customers, the bargaining power of suppliers, the threat of new entrants, and the threat of substitute products.The research report delved into the trends that were shaping the market, as well as consumer behavior patterns. It was found that the competition among the existing players in the market was intense, and new entrants posed a major threat. The bargaining power of customers was also strong, and suppliers had to come up with innovative products to keep their customers satisfied. Additionally, the threat of substitute products was also present, and companies had to be prepared to face this competition.Overall, the research study provided a comprehensive understanding of the global medical viscosupplementation injection market's expected direction. By combining Porter's five forces analysis and SWOT analysis, the research was able to gain a clear picture of the market's future. The report gave readers a better understanding of the trends and consumer behavior patterns that would shape the market's evolution.Highlights of Global Medical Viscosupplementation Injection Market ReportThe global medical viscosupplementation injection market report is a comprehensive overview of the current state of the industry and provides an in-depth analysis of its future trends and developments.The report details the market size, growth rate, industry trends, and other noteworthy information. It also highlights key products and services that are driving the growth of the market, as well as their respective market shares.One of the most important aspects of the global medical viscosupplementation injection market report is the analysis of the competitive landscape. The report details the competitive positioning of the leading players in the market and the various strategies they are using to stay ahead of their rivals.The report also examines the recent technological developments that are disrupting the industry and the effect they will have on the market in the long term. It also covers the impact of government regulations and policies on the industry and provides an insight into the future trends in the industry.The global medical viscosupplementation injection market report provides an insightful look at the current state of the industry and a comprehensive overview of its future prospects. It is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to gain an understanding of the market and its potential.Scope of the ReportMedical Viscosupplementation Injection Market SegmentsThe market by product type is segmented into single injection, three injection, five injection.The market by application is segmented into hospital, clinic, other.Regions Covered in the Global Medical Viscosupplementation Injection Market:North America (the United States and Canada)Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Spain, Russia, and Rest of Europe)Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, Korea, Australia, and Rest of Asia Pacific)The Middle East and Africa (GCC Countries, South Africa and Rest of the Middle East & Africa)Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Rest of Latin America)The medical viscosupplementation injection market has been under intense scrutiny over the past few years, and the latest report released by the market research division provides a comprehensive overview of the leading players in the industry. The report contains a detailed chapter on company profiles which provides an overview of the strategic objectives of the leading players, their primary products and services, and an in-depth analysis of their strategic initiatives.The report reveals that the leading players in the medical viscosupplementation injection market are taking aggressive steps to strengthen their position in the industry. Many of the organizations have embarked on R&D activities to stay ahead of the competition and remain competitive. Their strategic initiatives have also been designed to capitalize on the technological advances in the industry.The report also provides an overview of the financial outlooks of the leading players in the industry. An overall analysis of the organizations' financial statuses reveals the current trends in the market. This allows readers to gain a better understanding of the potential of the medical viscosupplementation injection market and its expected trajectory.It is clear that the medical viscosupplementation injection market is a highly competitive industry and the leading players have to continuously innovate to keep up with the competition. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the industry and its key players and provides readers with an understanding of the industry's current and future prospects. This research aims to provide readers with an informed assessment of the anticipated trajectory of the medical viscosupplementation injection market.The following Companies as the Key Players in the Global Medical Viscosupplementation Injection Market Research Report:Anika Therapeutics, Bioventus, Ferring, Freda, Haohai Biological, LG Chem, Sanofi, Seikagaku, Shanghai Jingfeng, Zimmer BiometContact UsDhirtek Business Research and Consulting Private LimitedContact No: +91 7580990088Email Id: sales@ dhirtekbusinessresearch.com PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-07 15:08:15 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 515 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 7, 2023 / Hagens Berman urges Catalent, Inc. (NYSE:CTLT) investors who suffered substantial losses submit your losses now.Class Period: Aug. 30, 2021- Oct. 31, 2022Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Apr. 25, 2023Visit: https://www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/CTLT Contact An Attorney Now: CTLT@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895Catalent, Inc. (CTLT) Securities Fraud Class Action:The litigation focuses on Catalent's repeated claims that its drug product development and manufacturing were done under rigorous quality and operational standards, that its vaccines for COVID would be a sustaining and enduring source of revenue, and that its financial statements complied with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP").According to the complaint, Defendants made misleading statements and failed to disclose that Catalent: (1) materially overstated its revenue and earnings by prematurely recognizing revenue in violation of GAAP; (2) had material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting related to revenue recognition; (3) falsely represented demand for its products while knowingly selling more products to its direct customers than could be sold to healthcare providers and end consumers; and (4) disregarded regulatory rules at key production facilities in order to rapidly produce excess inventory that was used to pad its financial results through premature revenue recognition in violation of GAAP and/or channel stuffing its direct customers with this excess inventory.Investors began to learn the truth through a series of partial disclosures beginning on Aug. 29, 2022, when Catalent revealed that demand for its COVID-related products was facing substantial headwinds.Then, on Sept. 20, 2022, the Washington Post reported that the release of Catalent's COVID-19 vaccines had been delayed by regulators because of improper sterilization at one of the company's key facilities.Finally, on Nov. 1, 2022, Catalent announced that its quarterly earnings had fallen to $0, slashed its financial guidance, and revealed that regulatory issues at its key facilities were negatively impacting financial results.In response to these events, the price of Catalent shares has traded sharply lower."We're focused on investors' losses and proving Catalent cooked its books," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.If you invested in Catalent and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Catalent should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email CTLT@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens BermanHagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.Contact:Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-07 06:00:31 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 490 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Acoustic rock artist's second album finds an eager audience - everywhere - courtesy of playlists and independent mediaWASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / April 7, 2023 / The pre-release reviews are strong. UK Independent says, "This is a classic sounding American record great lyrics and a nice modern folk sound." New Artist Discoveries enthuses the music is "animated by perfect melody and precise lyrics. This is a wonderful style of Pop." Our Sound calls it "a breath of fresh air among so many electronic songs." Hailed as fresh and original, Gumbrecht's songs are playing on six continents in over 50 countries via popular playlists and social media.Enter the Muses cover art by Deb WalleyHot air balloon sails over the water before the full moon Today, Enter the Muses officially drops as the spring holiday weekend gets underway. The album follows last year's Colorshow with a fresh take on traditional rock/folk/songwriter-style music. Muses explores the sources of inspiration and connection in modern life. It is a broadly optimistic collection. Gumbrecht's signature features - bright guitars, country/southern-rock arrangements, animated storytelling - are abundant. He sings with a confident and engaging voice. His poetic lyrics bear repeated listening. Here are stories about summer car trips, the whims of luck, backyard parties, and tumbling road races. The songs relate to and enhance each other underscoring the idea that muses are present and constantly shaping our experience.Eight original songs are performed by Gumbrecht and the talented team that delivered his debut album. Collaborators include the velvet-voiced Claire Marie, musician/producer Eric Michael Lichter, and sound engineer Guido Falivene. The ensemble handles the range of moods and styles in a relaxed, sometimes improvised manner. They infuse Gumbrecht's songs with easy-going charm and warmth.Gumbrecht, a native New Yorker, was raised in the album-rock era. His music recalls Paul Simon, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, the Eagles and CSNY with a modern vitality. Ed initially performed in NY bands and theater before leaving the arts for a traditional career. He continued writing - penning songs daily as well as authoring novels, short stories and screenplays. With the 2022 release of Colorshow, Ed returned to musical performance. Enter the Muses is his second album release in 14 months. A third project is underway for late 2023 release.Today, Gumbrecht's albums stream beyond genre and geographic boundaries. World Indie Generation calls his music "Emotional, lyrical, touching. A complete delight." As Enter the Muses pours into the world this week, it promises to become a bright highlight in the soundtrack of 2023.Enter the Muses is now available through all major music outlets and streams. Add these classic songs to your playlists and share them with friends who appreciate fine music.Album Tracks: Enter the Muses, Well, Another Leaf, Walking Backward, Sunset Drive,(Love Will) Make us Wise, Cry a Little Longer, AirContact InformationEd GumbrechtComposeredwritessongs@ gmail.com 860-510-3888SOURCE: Ed Gumbrecht, composer PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-07 02:15:32 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 862 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 6, 2023 / NEXGENRX INC. ("NexgenRx" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its annual financial results for the financial year ended December 31, 2022, once again highlighted by continued revenue growth and positive EBIDTA. The Company showed revenue growth of $939,942 in 2022 or 7.94% over the prior year, with a positive EBITDA of $1,626,524. The Company's cash position remained strong at $1,766,891, after total cash dividend payouts of $703,358 to the common shareholders.Although the Company had numerous challenges throughout 2022, each challenge presented new opportunities and potential for the Company. Some of the Company's success stories included renewing its contract with one of its top five clients, expanding its SaaS (Software as a Service) offering to a wider range of customers and rewarding its shareholders with two dividend distributions. In addition, the Company officially transformed to a hybrid workplace model upon completion of its office move, which allows it to free up cash for other purposes. With various investments that the Company made upfront to develop and maintain customer relationships, together with distribution of dividends, a strong statement has been made that reflects the Company's capability of generating free cash flow.Ron Loucks, President and CEO, stated "I am proud of what we have accomplished in 2022 and look forward to what 2023 has to offer. We have a strong pipeline of activity in various segments of our business that we are systematically converting into successful revenue-generating opportunities. This year, we are entering a new phase as a technology solution provider, promoting and expanding our fully managed SaaS solutions that empowers our customers to self-manage their benefit plans effectively and efficiently." Mr. Loucks continued, "2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the incorporation of NexgenRx. This significant milestone is particularly gratifying to me as the Company continues to expand its reach in the marketplace with new and innovative product solutions." About NexgenRxNexgenRx is Canada's only independent full-service Third-Party Administrator and Technology Solutions Provider, offering proprietary full front-end, eligibility, enrolment, hour bank and mobile access capabilities, together with state-of-the-art claims adjudication and full provider network coverage. These combined capabilities allow NexgenRx to provide Plan Sponsors, sophisticated administration and health benefit technology applications in a cost-effective SaaS (Software as a Service) Model.NexgenRx is committed to building partnerships with organizations looking to exceed the expectations of their clients and plan members and deliver superior administration and claims processing solutions at a competitive cost. More information on NexgenRx can be found at www.nexgenrx.com Caution Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsExcept for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The Company cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information.Forward-looking information is 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 anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: uncertainty as to whether the Company's strategies and business plans will yield the expected benefits; availability and cost of capital; the ability to identify and develop and achieve commercial success for existing and new products and technologies; the level of expenditures necessary to maintain and improve the quality of products and services; changes in technology and changes in laws and regulations; continued development and enhancement of the Company's proprietary software technology; cyber security risks and the other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's annual Management's Discussion and Analysis, as filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive.The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The Company undertakes no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in the Company's expectations except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the release.FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:Ronald C. LoucksNexgenRx Inc.President and CEO416.695.3393 x801Kelly Ehler CPA, CANexgenRx Inc.Chief Financial Officer416-695-3393x803SOURCE: NexgenRx Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-07 02:01:15 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 498 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Premium Healthcare Beacon Campus is the first medical institute in the nation to deploy SENSORA Cardiac Disease Platform by Eko Health to identify structural heart diseaseMIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / April 6, 2023 / Premium Healthcare has announced the implementation of SENSORA Cardiac Disease Detection Platform by Eko Health to identify structural heart disease. With the launch of Eko Health technology, Premium Healthcare is advancing the way to more accurately and consistently identify valvular heart disease (VHD) in patients during routine visits with their primary care physician (PCP).Premium Healthcare SENSORA ScreeningValerie Rodriguez MSN, APRN, FNP-BC co-founder of Premium Healthcare's Cardiac Department conducting a SENSORA Screening on a female patient. "I was brought in to use this advanced new equipment. In what felt like a few moments I was done and received my results immediately. It was a painless quick procedure. Thank god everything is great, and I don't have anything to worry about," said Oscar Penaber, a 72-year-old patient at Premium Healthcare Plus Senior Medical Center.By combining murmur analysis artificial intelligence (AI) with its digital stethoscopes, Eko Health has pioneered a non-invasive detection platform that can identify structural murmurs in seconds, so patients can get the treatment they need sooner. Premium Healthcare is the first healthcare institution in the United States to deploy SENSORA for structural murmur detection, which was recently cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).VHD, the most common type of structural heart disease, is a life-threatening condition diagnosed in more than 8 million Americans. Left undetected and untreated, it can lead to heart failure, stroke, blood clots, and death. Older adults have approximately a 1 in 10 chance of developing clinically significant VHD. However, more than half (57%) of clinically significant valvular heart disease goes undetected in this population. SENSORA for structural murmur detection more than doubles the likelihood of detecting significant VHD."The primary care setting is a patient's first line of defense for identifying and diagnosing heart disease. However, we know from clinical evidence that detection rates are low," said Dr. Keila Hoover M.D, Founder and CEO of Premium Healthcare. "We're excited about the promise of this technology to better serve our patient community by increasing the accuracy and consistency of structural murmur identification and improving the quality of referrals for valve disease treatment." Premium Healthcare will debut the use of SENSORA for structural murmur detection at their newly opened 5-story tower building, Beacon Campus, on 69th Ave SW Coral Way and their Senior Medical Center in the heart of Westchester, FL.Premium Healthcare is South Florida's fastest-growing medical centers, and their introduction of Eko Health's SENSORA Platform at the Beacon Campus is evidence of the medical organization's commitment to fast-paced technological advancements.For more information about SENSORA at Premium Healthcare call 786-523-3836 or visit premiumhealthcare.com Contact InformationDaniel GonzalezMarketing Managerdgonzalez@ premiumhealthcare.com (786)523-3836Carlos De CespedesCo Owner of Premium Healthcare Plus Senior Medical Centercdecespedes@ premiumhealthcareplus.com (305)586-1234SOURCE: Premium Healthcare PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-07 15:08:08 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 486 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 7, 2023 / Hagens Berman urges Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE:RAD) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.Class Period: Apr. 26, 2018 - Mar. 13, 2023Lead Plaintiff Deadline: May 19, 2023Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/RAD Contact An Attorney Now: RAD@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895Rite Aid Corporation (RAD) Securities Fraud Class Action:The litigation focuses on Rite Aid's compliance with federal regulations concerning its pharmacies' prescriptions practices and its federal healthcare program reimbursement billing.According to the complaint, Defendants made false and misleading statements or failed to disclose that Rite Aid: (1) filled hundreds of thousands of unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances that lacked a legitimate medical purpose until June 2019; (2) ignored evidence that its stores were dispensing unlawful prescriptions and intentionally deleted internal notes about suspicious prescribers written by concerned pharmacists; (4) violated the Controlled Substances Act by knowingly filling unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances; and (5) violated the False Claims Act when it sought reimbursement from federal healthcare programs.Investors began to learn the truth on Mar. 13, 2023, when the US Department of Justice announced it filed a lawsuit against Rite Aid alleging that the company knowingly filled hundreds of thousands of unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances and knowingly submitted false or fraudulent reimbursement claims for such prescriptions to federal healthcare programs. The DOJ alleges these activities violate the Controlled Substances Act and the False Claims Act and states, in part, "[w]hile making millions of dollars [Rite Aid] opened the floodgates for millions of pills of opioids and other controlled substances to flow illegally out of [its] stores." This news sent the price of Rite Aid shares sharply lower."We're focused on investors' losses and proving Rite Aid's decision to put profits ahead of safety enabled it to record illegally-generated revenues," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.If you invested in Rite Aid and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Rite Aid should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email RAD@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens BermanHagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.Contact:Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP The University of Virginias Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps program plans to host a race on Saturday to honor a former ROTC cadet killed in Afghanistan. The 10th annual R.J. Hess Memorial 5K Race honors 1st Lt. Robert Joseph Hess, an aviation officer from the Cavalier Battalion who was killed in combat in 2013. Proceeds from this years race will benefit the Companion Animal Fund in Charlottesville. R.J. loved animals and volunteered at animal shelters during his time in college, said Army ROTC cadet and one of the race organizers Lucas Bires in a UVa statement. The Companion Animal Fund is a great organization that we have worked closely with for a number of years now. We believe it embodies the same kindness and compassion that R.J. had for animals. Hess parents, retired Col. Robert T. Hess Sr. and Laura Hess, selected the charity and are scheduled to attend the event. The Army ROTC will also present the R.J. Hess Leadership Award and Scholarship to a commissioning second lieutenant, according to a statement. The race is scheduled to start at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday at UVas Carrs Hill Field. Registration is available online, and runners can also register in person on the day of the event with cash or Venmo. There will be prizes for first, second and third places in the mens and womens divisions. Drinks and food are to be available before and after the race. PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-07 15:00:19 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 411 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 OCEANSIDE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 7, 2023 / Rayven, a clean tech-focused, multi-family building acquisition company, announced today the launch of its Regulation A capital raise. The company plans to convert existing apartment buildings to net zero energy buildings throughout the United States. Through an investment platform for impact-oriented retail investors, Rayven will create an evergreen real estate fund dedicated to eliminating emissions from the buildings we acquire.The fund is a unique opportunity for investors to support sustainable, environmentally-friendly projects while also earning a return on their investment. The company is seeking to raise $75 million in capital through the Regulation A offering, which will be used to acquire apartment buildings and retrofit them to generate more renewable energy than they consume.Investors can earn 10% annual interest while saving the planet.(1) With the rising demand for true sustainable solutions, Rayven is poised to meet the needs of the market."We're excited to launch this Regulation A offering to give non-accredited investors a chance to participate in a real solution for the energy and climate crisis our planet is facing, while also benefiting from a cash-flowing real estate investment with solid returns," said Rayven Founder and President Owen Barrett.Rayven has a track record of success in the apartment solar industry, having completed the largest apartment solar installation in Texas. The company's management team boasts world-class experience in clean technology and real estate with $190,000,000 in clean technology projects and $232,000,000 in real estate assets over the past 10 years.Investors who participate will have the opportunity to invest in a company with a proven track record of success decarbonizing existing buildings with solar energy. For more information on Rayven and its Regulation A offering, visit joinrayven.com or contact Rayven investor relations at invest@ joinrayven.com View the offering circularAbout RayvenInstead of focusing on new construction, Rayven prioritizes existing apartment buildings that are ideal for solar energy. Our model cracks the code for net zero energy retrofits, an enormous market in the growing fight against the climate crisis. Together we can create real solutions, with real results, for real returns.Climate change is the biggest existential threat to our future. Rayven addresses this unacceptable reality by implementing a revolutionary, results-driven approach to environmentally conscious investing. That's how we fly.(1) Assuming the company has sufficient capital, the notes sold in this offering bear simple interest at 10% per calendar year from the date of issuance.Contact InformationGrant BowmanSenior Vice Presidentgrant@ joinrayven.com 206.330.1505SOURCE: Rayven PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-07 08:19:55 Press Information Dhirtek Business Research and Consulting Private Limited +91 7580990088 email www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com Published by Parmeet Singh 7580990088 e-mail https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/ # 1150 Words +91 7580990088Parmeet Singh7580990088 Dhirtek Business Research and Consulting recently released their most comprehensive study on the global antibody purified magnetic beads market. This research report provides a detailed overview of the market's drivers and restraints, as well as a thorough analysis of the current trends that are likely to shape its future. To create this in-depth report, the team of analysts used both primary and secondary research methods. The report offers an unbiased perspective on the antibody purified magnetic beads industry, allowing clients to make well-informed business decisions. The report reveals key insights about the global antibody purified magnetic beads industry, such as the market's size and potential for growth. It also examines the impact of technological advancements, regulatory changes, and consumer behaviors on the market's performance. Analysts also take a closer look at the market's competitive landscape, highlighting the strategies used by leading players to gain a competitive edge. Additionally, the report outlines potential threats and opportunities that may arise in the near future.Overall, this comprehensive report offers an invaluable resource for those looking to better understand the global antibody purified magnetic beads market. With the help of the study's data-driven insights, clients can gain a better understanding of the current market dynamics, allowing them to make informed business decisions.Request a Sample of this Report at: https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/market-report/Antibody-Purified-Magnetic-Beads-Market/request-for-sample-report The global antibody purified magnetic beads market was in a state of flux, and the future direction was uncertain. To gain clarity, a comprehensive research study was conducted to analyze the market using Porter's five forces analysis and SWOT analysis. By combining these two methods of analysis, the research could gain a clear perspective of the global antibody purified magnetic beads market's expected direction.The SWOT analysis focused on identifying the market's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. It was a useful tool in determining the potential of the market to succeed and develop, as well as its potential vulnerabilities. The Porter's five forces analysis, on the other hand, provided a detailed look into the competitive landscape, examining the level of competition, the bargaining power of customers, the bargaining power of suppliers, the threat of new entrants, and the threat of substitute products.The research report delved into the trends that were shaping the market, as well as consumer behavior patterns. It was found that the competition among the existing players in the market was intense, and new entrants posed a major threat. The bargaining power of customers was also strong, and suppliers had to come up with innovative products to keep their customers satisfied. Additionally, the threat of substitute products was also present, and companies had to be prepared to face this competition.Overall, the research study provided a comprehensive understanding of the global antibody purified magnetic beads market's expected direction. By combining Porter's five forces analysis and SWOT analysis, the research was able to gain a clear picture of the market's future. The report gave readers a better understanding of the trends and consumer behavior patterns that would shape the market's evolution.Highlights of Global Antibody Purified Magnetic Beads Market ReportThe global antibody purified magnetic beads market report is a comprehensive overview of the current state of the industry and provides an in-depth analysis of its future trends and developments.The report details the market size, growth rate, industry trends, and other noteworthy information. It also highlights key products and services that are driving the growth of the market, as well as their respective market shares.One of the most important aspects of the global antibody purified magnetic beads market report is the analysis of the competitive landscape. The report details the competitive positioning of the leading players in the market and the various strategies they are using to stay ahead of their rivals.The report also examines the recent technological developments that are disrupting the industry and the effect they will have on the market in the long term. It also covers the impact of government regulations and policies on the industry and provides an insight into the future trends in the industry.The global antibody purified magnetic beads market report provides an insightful look at the current state of the industry and a comprehensive overview of its future prospects. It is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to gain an understanding of the market and its potential.Scope of the ReportAntibody Purified Magnetic Beads Market SegmentsThe market by product type is segmented into silica magnetic beads, agarose magnetic beads, polymer magnetic beads, others.The market by application is segmented into plasma antibody purification, antibody purification from tissue culture supernatant.Regions Covered in the Global Antibody Purified Magnetic Beads Market:North America (the United States and Canada)Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Spain, Russia, and Rest of Europe)Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, Korea, Australia, and Rest of Asia Pacific)The Middle East and Africa (GCC Countries, South Africa and Rest of the Middle East & Africa)Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Rest of Latin America)The antibody purified magnetic beads market has been under intense scrutiny over the past few years, and the latest report released by the market research division provides a comprehensive overview of the leading players in the industry. The report contains a detailed chapter on company profiles which provides an overview of the strategic objectives of the leading players, their primary products and services, and an in-depth analysis of their strategic initiatives.The report reveals that the leading players in the antibody purified magnetic beads market are taking aggressive steps to strengthen their position in the industry. Many of the organizations have embarked on R&D activities to stay ahead of the competition and remain competitive. Their strategic initiatives have also been designed to capitalize on the technological advances in the industry.The report also provides an overview of the financial outlooks of the leading players in the industry. An overall analysis of the organizations' financial statuses reveals the current trends in the market. This allows readers to gain a better understanding of the potential of the antibody purified magnetic beads market and its expected trajectory.It is clear that the antibody purified magnetic beads market is a highly competitive industry and the leading players have to continuously innovate to keep up with the competition. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the industry and its key players and provides readers with an understanding of the industry's current and future prospects. This research aims to provide readers with an informed assessment of the anticipated trajectory of the antibody purified magnetic beads market.The following Companies as the Key Players in the Global Antibody Purified Magnetic Beads Market Research Report:Agilent, Beavers, Bio Rad, Bioclone, GenScript, Geno Technology, JSR Life, Merck, Micromod, Miltenyi Biotec, Promega, Qiagen, Rockland, Spherotech, Takara, Thermo Fisher ScientificContact UsDhirtek Business Research and Consulting Private LimitedContact No: +91 7580990088Email Id: sales@ dhirtekbusinessresearch.com PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-07 01:01:06 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 641 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 6, 2023 / WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Tupperware Brands Corporation (NYSE:TUP) between March 10, 2021 and March 16, 2023, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important May 19, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline.SO WHAT: If you purchased Tupperware 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 Tupperware class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=12606or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@ rosenlegal.com or cases@ rosenlegal.com 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 May 19, 2023. 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. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose, among other things, that: (1) Tupperware did not disclose its serious issues with internal controls; (2) Tupperware's financial statements, from its 2020 Annual Report to the present, included misstatements, particularly as it related to the Company's accounting for income taxes; (3) as a result, Tupperware would need to restate its previously filed financial statements for certain periods; and (4) as a result, Defendants' statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the Tupperware class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=12606or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@ rosenlegal.com or cases@ rosenlegal.com 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 FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827lrosen@ rosenlegal.com pkim@ rosenlegal.com cases@ rosenlegal.com SOURCE: Rosen Law Firm PA Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. On Thursday in Lagos, the cast and producer of the new action crime-thriller, Gangs of Lagos, interacted with the media and shared more insight into their roles. The film is a project with women at the forefront- Jade Osiberu (Co-Producer, Director and Co-writer) and Kemi Lala Akindoju (Co-Producer). Gangs of Lagos, which premiered on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, is the platforms first African original movie. The producer, Ms Osiberu, described the film as a hard-hitting action crime-thriller with an authentic storyline about a group of friends who must navigate destiny while growing up on the bustling streets and neighbourhood of Isale Eko, Lagos. The films core, she said, centres on friendship, family, secrets and betrayal but adds a uniquely Nigerian twist to a genre that is very popular around the globe. The resilient story of people mirrors the daily struggle people go through. The action-crime story portrays the intense hustle on the streets of Lagos, the desire to thrive, and the need for grit to survive. Cast choice The key cast is Olarotimi Fakunle (Kazeem), Chioma Chukwuka (Mama Ify), Chike (Ify), Adesua Etomi-Wellington (Gift) and Tobi Bakare (Obalala). Other cast members are: Bimbo Ademoye (Teni), Tayo Faniran (Ninalowo) Iyabo Ojo (Mama Oba), Toyin Abraham (Mrs Bamidele), Alabi Pasuma (London), Idowu Yhemo_lee Adeyemi (Muri) and Tayo Faniran (Ninalowo). Others are Temitayo Zlatan Omoniyi (Kashope) and Funke Williams (Blessing), Damilola Ogunsi ( Ekun) and Adebowale Mr Macaroni Adedayo (Wemimo). As with her previous productions, in the Gangs of Lagos, the filmmaker took a chance by casting notable Nigerian musicians, Pasuma, Zlatan and Chike, in prominent roles. Osiberu said it was a no-brainer featuring Pasuma, who has come a long way since starring in GSM Lomo (2003) in her film. The 37-year-old filmmaker known for Isoken (2017), Sugar Rush (2019), and Brotherhood (2022) said she didnt want to stick to the stereotypical names you would see in an average Nollywood film. She said: Pasuma has a long history of acting. Because we shot in Isale Eko, who else? Pasuma fits into that world. When we were shooting in Isale Eko, he was one of the people we had to escort out with an army because they wouldnt let him go. After all, he belongs to the people. Zlatan was one that perhaps people wouldnt have seen coming. But I was surfing the internet, and I have just been watching his interviews. Something said this guy could do it. So we had him in the room for a little audition, and he was terrific. He attended all our stunt training. He did his stunts in the film, in fights. In everything, he was superb. Because the film was set in the heart of Isale Eko, in Lagos, Osiberu said she was particular about actors who could speak the Yoruba language considerably well. We just had to think outside the box. To see how we cast the film. I didnt want to cast people who didnt understand Yoruba but were supposed to be speaking it. It would not just work. I saw Chike act on TV and knew he is a fantastic actor. It was a no-brainer for me to have him on there. He is not just a musician. He is a broad entertainer, she revealed. Plot Best friends Obalola and Ify were born and raised in Isale Eko, where politically affiliated gangs rule the streets. Both have big dreams of leaving Isale Eko; Obalola wants to be a writer, the next Wole Soyinka, while Ify has his eyes set on Afrobeats. But Isale Eko is not a place for lofty dreams. When their adopted street father, Ninalowo, is murdered, they join a gang led by Kazeem Olaotan the chairman of the Road Workers Union and Lagos underboss. As election campaigns begin, rival gangs paint the streets red. Ify gets caught up in gang wars and is butchered to death in the streets. A guilt-ridden Obalola sets out to avenge his friend but uncovers secrets that will shake the very foundations of Isale Eko. Gangs of Lagos is showing on Prime Video Naija. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. On Thursday evening, President Muhammadu Buhari sacked Saratu Umar as the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC). Without stating the reasons for her dismissal, Femi Adesina, Mr Buharis spokesperson, announced that the most senior director should take over the leadership of the commission in the interim. The dismissal of the chief in such an important government agency towards the end of Mr Buharis administration was a surprise to many. But history is only repeating itself on the dismissed NIPC chief. In 2015, a few months before the end of former President Goodluck Jonathans tenure, Ms Umar was sacked for displaying gross incompetence and ineptitude in public service. In 2022, Mr Buhari reappointed her, following the recommendation of some power brokers in the presidency. But in less than one year of her second coming, Ms Umar exhibited the same traits of malfeasance that led to her sack under Jonathan. Again, after receiving dozens of petitions, Mr Buhari had to sack her for the same reasons of competence crisis, poor management of the commission and corruption allegations around her neck. As a public servant at the Nigerian Export-Import Bank, she had been compulsorily asked to retire from the service on the infamous grounds of poor performance and lack of management competence. Yet she was made to head NIPC, only to be sacked by two different, consecutive administrations. Since January, PREMIUM TIMES has tracked and reported several petitions by staff and directors against the NIPC boss. The circumstances that led to the eventual sack of the woman who was asked to lead one of Nigerias most important agencies corroborated allegations of power play, high-handedness, toxic tendencies and weak leadership prowess. Disregarding a superior authority In March 2022, an inter-ministerial committee, led by Evelyn Ngige, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade and Investment, invited Ms Umar to defend several allegations against her but she refused to appear before the panel. Before then, the panel had invited and interrogated directors and senior workers at NIPC, who were said to have been victimised by the Executive Secretary. They all testified against her before the committee. The panel also invited senior and mid-level staff loyal to the ES (Ms Umar) to appear on 21 March 2023 and NONE of them appeared before the committee despite receiving the invites, a director at NIPC, who declined to be described by name over the fear of victimisation, told PREMIUM TIMES. We understand that the ES asked them not to honour the invitation in defiance of the Ministers directive. Other sources, who corroborated the director, said Ms Umar had demonstrated shocking disregard for the superior Ministry of Trade and Investment. Since her re-emergence, the sources said, she had defied accountability to the minister, claiming to be reporting only to the president, an act considered to be clear insubordination. The 14-man committee consists of at least four directors from the trade and investment ministry, as well as other directors from the offices of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Ministry of Labour and Employment, among others. The inter-ministerial panel probed alleged inefficiency by Ms Umar, after reviewing a number of petitions by staff and directors of the commission. In our previous reporting, PREMIUM TIMES detailed how aggrieved staff of NIPC spotlighted Ms Umars malfeasances, including stalling the approval of pioneer status incentives and refusing to work with other directors thereby leaving the commission prostrate. Read our previous stories below: The Committee has an even broader composition than the one that indicted Saratu Umar in 2015. The 2015 Committee was an in-house Committee of the Ministry of Trade and Investment, chaired by the permanent secretary while this 2023 Committee was a high-level inter-ministerial Committee, another NIPC staff said. Over N50 million extra-budgetary expenditure In another development, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) was probing Ms Umar for extra-budgetary expenditures of over N50 million. Insiders said the ICPC investigation is around several cases of financial impropriety, including laundering millions through two staff by paying them N5 million each in violation of all extant rules; paying unknown external auditor millions of naira and paying N300,000 monthly to a Police Station in Bauchi for reasons unknown. ICPC has now invited 8 staff for interrogation on these financial issues. Will get a copy of the invite and send, one such insider said. When contacted, Ms Umar failed to respond to calls and messages asking for her reactions by PREMIUM TIMES. She had ignored similar inquiries in our previous reporting. Minister writes Buhari, recommends dismissal of NIPC chief In March, the Ministry of Trade and Investment wrote Mr Buhari to recommend the dismissal of Ms Umar on account of gross incompetence, ineptitude and poor management of the federal parastatal. In his recommendation letter, the minister told Mr Buhari that Ms Umar has shown gross incapacity to serve as chief of NIPC for not attending to both foreign and local investors; stalling pioneer status incentive applications and refusing to participate in the negotiation of bilateral investment treaties between Nigeria and other countries, sources said. Among other reasons, the minister referred to the administrative atrocities committed by the woman in the office, including the indiscriminate sack of directors, making unilateral decisions, neglecting critical official duties, creating disaffection among staff and tuning the government agency into a toxic workplace. Mr Buhari only worked on the recommendation of the minister when he announced the termination of the appointment of Ms Umar as NIPC boss. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Thursday met with the nine aspirants jostling to replace him as speaker in the 10 Assembly. Mr Gbajabiamila, in a tweet on his timeline on Friday, said they are all men he has worked with for many years. Yesterday I met with aspirants for the office of the Speaker of Nigerias House of Representatives in the coming 10th Assembly. All 9 aspirants I have known and worked with for many years and I have no doubt will do well in continuing and building on the legacy of the 9th Assembly, he said. Some of the men at the meeting include Deputy Speaker Idris Wase (APC, Plateau), Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau), Muktar Betara (APC, Borno), Ben Kalu (APC, Abia), Sada Soli (APC, Katsina), Tunji Olawuyi (APC, Kwara) and Abubakar Makki (APC, Jigawa). Others include Tajudeen Abbas (APC, Kaduna) and Aminu Jaji (APC, Zamfara). PREMIUM TIMES reported how the aspirants have commenced the campaign while waiting for the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on where the position will be zoned to.. The ruling party had in March met to discuss the zoning of the office, however, no decision was made on zoning. Mr Gbajabiamila, while speaking to journalists after the March meeting held at the State House, said the decision will be taken after the governorship elections. The governorship elections were held on 18 March. It is perhaps possible that the ruling party will wait for the outcome of the 15 April supplementary elections for taking a decision on zoning. The results of only 325 seats were declared after the 25 February National Assembly elections. There are 360 seats in the lower chamber. The chamber has had nine speakers since the return of democracy in 1999. Whoever emerges in June when the 10th National Assembly will be inaugurated will be the 10th speaker. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. The Association of All Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria (ALGON) Kano State chapter has denied that the state government is planning to use local government funds to finance elections logistics and vote buying in the 15 April supplementary election in the state. The allegation was made by the Chairman of the Transition Committee of the New Nigeria People Party (NNPP), Baffa Bichi. He claimed that chairmen of the 44 local governments in the state were planning to use funds belonging to their local councils to support the outgoing government. The 2023 NNPP Gubernatorial Transition Committee wishes to draw the attention of all the 44 Local Government Council Chairmen and their Managements and advise them to desist from the alleged round tripping of public funds between their councils and the States Ministry for Local Governments. We advise them not to allow themselves to be used, again, as conduits for siphoning public funds to finance the forthcoming supplementary elections in some states and federal constituencies of the State; and We further advise them to operate strictly by all the relevant financial regulations and extant guidelines, the NNPPs transition committee said. However, the Kano ALGON chairman, Baffa Muhammad, in the statement urged the NNPP to play politics with caution as such an allegation is capable of heating up. Spurious allegations of this nature are common whenever there is a change in the baton of leadership, numerous examples abound: In particular, we wish to remind the signatory of the said Advisory to a similar allegation made against the former Governor of Kano State, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in 2014 of using public funds siphoned from the 44 local government areas to finance his presidential ambition. It could be recalled that the sum of seventy million naira was alleged to have been illegally sourced from each of the 44 Local Governments for that purpose, a case of which is still pending before the Anti-Corruption Agencies. The statement noted that this is meant to set the records straight, adding that though the Advisory was issued before the gubernatorial election and subsequent inauguration of the Transition Committee (signed and dated the 060323), the ALGON chairman said. There are about 16 supplementary elections in Kano for the State House of Assembly and for the Doguwa/Tudun-Wada federal constituency that were declared inconclusive. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. Labour Party National Chairman, Julius Abure, on Thursday, alleged that thugs escorted by policemen believed to be working for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) broke into the national headquarters of the party (LP) in Abuja. In a statement he personally signed, Mr Abure said the invaders who were armed pulled down the fences, burglaries, doors and windows of the building to gain access to their secretariat located in the Utako district of the federal capital. In the process, he said, they sacked workers and party members who were at the secretariat at the time. Few minutes ago, the national headquarters of the Labour Party in Abuja witnessed a massive attack and was broken into by a detachment of the Nigerian Police and thugs believed to be working for the All Progressives Congress, APC, the statement said. However, Mr Abure said he did not witness the incident because he was out of town. He stated that information has it that the agenda of the Invaders was to inaugurate an illegitimate executive which has been chosen for them by their sponsors. He said the incident occurred a few days after a similar invasion occurred in the Imo state secretariat of the party. He added that, to date, the secretariat is still being occupied by the agents of the Imo State Government. Plot Mr Abure reiterated that the LP is only a political party contesting for power but regrettably it is being suffocated. He recounted that the presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi, had alerted the public that there was a plot by some unnamed persons to hound him out of the country. Only yesterday, our Presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi through the Presidential Campaign Council alerted Nigerians of a plot to hound him out of the country over APCs covert plot in collaboration with some security agents to frame him up allegedly on matters bothering on treason, he noted. He said the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, having conducted elections ranked the LP third, a position it has rejected and has approached the Presidential tribunal to contest it. That is our only offence, he added. Mr Abure asked President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene and stop the APC from further suffocating other political parties. He said: We, therefore call on President Muhammadu Buhari to call his party, the APC to order and also refrain them from using unorthodox means to suffocate political structures in Nigeria. A court of competent jurisdiction only yesterday ordered that I, Julius Abure remain the National Chairman, and should not be restrained from performing my duties, it, therefore baffles me why the Nigerian Police should allow itself to be used to perpetrate illegalities, the chairman said. Mr Abure urged the police, APC and their sponsors to play by the rules. READ ALSO: Labour Party in Cross River moves to resolve internal disputes We will no longer tolerate the often intimidation and deployment of brute forces against the party and their personnel. We demand they put a stop to the abuse of power and respect the rights and privileges of other political parties, particularly, the Labour Party to contest for power, he said. Several controversies have trailed the Labour Party and its Presidential candidate, Peter Obi after the party rejected the outcome of the just-concluded presidential election in February. Mr Obi came third in the election but he, and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, who came second, is challenging the victory of Mr Tinubu of the ruling APC. Police, APC decline comments FCT Police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, when contacted by PREMIUM TIMES on phone, said she cannot comment on political matters. I cannot comment on political matters, it is out of my Jurisdiction. Call the FPRO, she told PREMIUM TIMES via phone call. Likewise, APC spokesperson, Felix Morka, said he cannot comment on a statement he has not seen. He requested that the statement by Mr Abure be shared with him, which our reporter did forward to him but he had responded as of the time of filling this report. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. A Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Adichie, has criticised the United States Government for congratulating Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after he was declared winner of the 25 February presidential election. The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, had, on 1 March, declared Mr Tinubu Nigerias president-elect. The APC candidate polled a total of 8,794,726 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored a total of 6,984,520 votes. The Labour Party (LP) candidate, Peter Obi came third with a total of 6,101,533 votes. The US State Department would later congratulate Mr Tinubu for his electoral victory. But in an open letter to the US President, Joe Biden, which was shared on her verified Twitter handle on Thursday, Ms Adichie said the US government ought not to have congratulated the president-elect given that the exercise through which he emerged winner was flawed. The famous writer also said Nigerias electoral umpire, INEC, reneged on its guidelines and assurances to Nigerians to upload results of the election on its Result Viewing portal (IReV) from polling units immediately elections were concluded. She said it was curious that, unlike results of the presidential election, results of the National Assembly elections, which were held on the same time, were easily uploaded on INECs portal in real time. She said the intentional delay to upload the presidential election results afforded the APC the opportunity to manipulate them. Some electoral workers in polling units claimed that they could not upload results because they didnt have a password, an excuse that voters understood to be subterfuge. By the end of the day, it had become obvious that something was terribly amiss, she said. No one was surprised when, by the morning of the 26 February, social media became flooded with evidence of irregularities. Result sheets were now slowly being uploaded on the IReV, and could be viewed by the public. Voters compared their cellphone photos with the uploaded photos and saw alterations: numbers crossed out and rewritten; some originally written in black ink had been rewritten in blue, some blunderingly white-out with Tipp-Ex. The election had been not only rigged, but done in such a shoddy, shabby manner that it insulted the intelligence of Nigerians, Ms Adichie stated. The smoldering disillusionment felt by many Nigerians is not so much because their candidate did not win as because the election they had dared to trust was, in the end, so unacceptably and unforgivably flawed. Grouse with US government Ms Adichie said she was surprised to see the US government congratulating Mr Tinubu despite widespread cases of irregularities in the election and rage brewing among young people against the process. She said it was perplexing that INEC ignored so many glaring red flags in its rush to declare results of the presidential poll without investigating allegations of the irregularities. How surprising then to see the U.S. State Department congratulate Tinubu on March 1. American intelligence surely cannot be so inept. A little homework and they would know what is manifestly obvious to me and so many others: The process was imperiled not by technical shortcomings but by deliberate manipulation, she stated. The writer asked Mr Biden, the US president, to distance himself from the endorsement of the election results and congratulatory message to Mr Tinubu by the US State Department. Has the United States once again decided that what matters in Africa is not democracy but stability. The battle for influence in Africa will not be won by supporting the same undemocratic processes for which China is criticised. Congratulating its outcome, President Biden, tarnishes Americas self-proclaimed commitment to democracy. Please do not give the sheen of legitimacy to an illegitimate process. The United States should be what it says it is, Ms Adichie said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. The Nigerian government Thursday took delivery of an air traffic control radar from Argentina. Argentina completed the first sale to Nigeria of a radar for civil use built by INVAP SE , which landed today in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, and will be used for air traffic control in the African country, Argentina foreign ministry said in a statement. The primary 3D radar (RPA-200MC) supplied by INVAP is the first export of its kind between Argentina and any African country. A statement announcing the purchase said the procurement was facilitated by Jampur International FZE, a company from the United Arab Emirates, which is responsible for the provision of airport equipment required by the Federal Ministry of Aviation of Nigeria to improve the safety of civil aviation operations in that country. The contract was signed in March 2021 by Mohammad Shafiq, CEO of Jampur International FZE, and Vicente Campenni, General Manager of INVAP. The radar, the first of nine to be supplied, was transferred on Tuesday in a Hercules plane of the Argentine Air Force which arrived in Nigeria on Thursday. It was received by the Argentine ambassador in Nigeria, Alejandro Herrero, and Nigerias Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika. As for the radar, its modern design puts it at the forefront of this type of radar. These systems make use of techniques considered state-of-the-art in the field, known as Software Defined Radars. It has state-of-the-art solid-state amplifiers and an active antenna with Digital Beam Forming, INVAP said. It added that the radar can operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with high availability, minimal preventive maintenance and low logistical and operational costs throughout its life cycle. It can also be operated remotely and integrates with traffic management systems (ATM) and multi-sensor command and control, minimising the number of personnel required to operate it. According to Argentinas foreign ministry, this international commercial operation opens the doors of the African market to the radar technology sector, and allows it to strengthen its position and prestige as a responsible provider of highly complex technology. It added that there are prospects to expand exports of this type to other nations. Teams of specialised scientists and technicians will begin the final integration process and the radar testing phase. Commenting on the delivery, Mr Herrero said the export highlights the work of the Argentine Technology and Science agency, complying with the highest international standards for sensitive technology exports. This is just a sample of what can be done in Argentina thanks to the trust deposited in us by Nigerias government. My appreciation to H.E. President Buhari and H.E. Hadi Sirika for this vote of confidence, he added. Mr Sirika on Thursday tweeted saying I received one out of nine Primary Radar equipment to be procured. This procurement will ensure both willing and unwilling aircraft in our airspace are promptly detected. Safety, security and efficiency has been the focus of Buharis aviation since 2015. It is a long range primary radar which can detect any aircraft in flight that is willing or unwilling to be seen, Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency Pwajok Lawrence told PREMIUM TIMES. This is in addition to the countrys radars which are all short range. READ ALSO:Aviation minister directs NSIB to investigate Lagos train accident He added that the recent acquisition will help in securing the territorial integrity of Nigeria. Maiduguri will receive the first radar owing to the insecurity in the region, Mr Lawrence told PREMIUM TIMES. The areas where the other eight radars will be located include Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt (Rivers), Numan (Adamawa), Talata Marafa (Kebbi), Obubra (Cross River), Lagos, and Ilorin (Kwara). Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Last month, a committee proposed new names for Charlottesvilles Burnley-Moran and Johnson elementary schools. A month later, its back to the drawing board. Burnley-Moran and Johnson are the second pair of schools to undergo the name review process as the Charlottesville school division proceeds with its plan to review every school name based on modern standards and values. While plans approved in January to rename Clark Elementary, to Summit, and Venable Elementary, to Trailblazer, will still go forward, the school division said the recommended names for Burnley-Moran and Venable did not pass muster with school officials or the community. Charlottesville School Board will vote on affirming a name change for Burnley-Moran and Johnson, but will pause on voting on specific name recommendations to allow the staff and the school communities time to explore other names that are better reflective of the schools purpose and place, the school division said in a statement. At a March 3 Charlottesville School Board meeting, a renaming committee recommended Burnley-Moran be renamed Blue Mountain Elementary School and Johnson Elementary School be renamed Cherry Avenue Elementary School; Blue Mountain for the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains and Cherry Avenue for the street the school sits on. The names were chosen after the committee determined that the original names, which were derived from local community leaders, were no longer in line with the school divisions mission and values. We want to do this in a way that does not disparage anybody, Charlottesville School Board Member Sherry Kraft said at the meeting where the names were presented. Sarepta Moran, one half of Burnley-Moran, was one of the first two women to lead a Charlottesville school, having served as the principal of Venable Elementary. She was also an active member in the Albemarle chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Carrie Burnley, the other half, was also among the first female leaders of a Charlottesville school, serving as principal of the former McGuffey School. Burnley was also a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. As principal of McGuffey, she invited students to decorate the since-removed statues of Confederate generals in downtown Charlottesville. James G. Johnson served as the superintendent of city schools from 1909 until 1946, while the division was racially segregated. During the review, the renaming committee considers whether a school needs to have its name changed and consults with students, staff and each schools community to come up with a new name. For Burnley-Moran, 61% of respondents to a January community survey expressed some level of support for changing the schools name. Changing Johnsons name received less support: 50% of survey respondents said the name should change, while 30% said it should not. The Charlottesville School Board still intends to hold a vote affirming the idea of changing these two schools names at its upcoming Thursday meeting. However, Charlottesville City Schools Superintendent Royal Gurley has requested that the actual selection of the two names be put on pause, according a school divisions statement. The hope is that with further time for reflection, we will find names that more fully align with the guiding principles of purpose and place, the school division said. The division described a name with purpose as one that might be values-driven or aspirational. Such a name, the division said, would communicate its goal of helping students be their best selves and make the world better. The new names for Venable (Trailblazer) and Clark (Summit) demonstrate purposeinviting students to be trailblazers or to reach new summits. A name with place might focus on the schools own history or its geographic location, the division said. Again, at Venable, the name Trailblazer honors the schools history as a site where members of the Charlottesville 12 desegregated our schools. Clarks mountain views and the fact that it is situated on high ground in Belmont led to the selection of Summit. Charlottesville City Schools officials have said that there was some pushback to specifically the Blue Mountain name for Burnley-Moran, considering the schools considerable distance to the Blue Ridge Mountains. It may not be possible to find names for Burnley-Moran and Johnson that combine both purpose and place, the school division said, but we would like to slow down the name selection process to give us the best chance of finding lastingly meaningful and fitting names for our schools. In the meantime, the school division has said it will consult with horticulturalists and other local experts who can generate some ideas inspired by plants, trees, or geographical features that are unique or local to Charlottesville. Those who are helping to develop the new names also plan to meet with Burnley-Moran and Johnson staff to consider new names. Depending on whether each schools staff emerges with a single recommendation or a few finalist names (or if they need additional time), we will craft a plan moving forward, the school division said. Anyone with any names they would like to consider nominating is also encouraged to contact Charlottesville City Schools at schoolnames@charlottesvilleschools.org. We received a number of nominations in the initial survey but are still listening. Just remember that the committee has decided against selecting new names that honor people. Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. Oh yes, could these rabid parochial minds of easy excitation also kindly stop flattering themselves that ones energies are consecrated solely to the nation space known as Nigeria? The whines of silence are relative to the reading scope and world knowledge of idle complainants, as well as their grasp of the chain of continuity. I choose my methods of intervention without the permission of social media border patrols, so where you find a gap, just pick up the baton where last deposited and stop whining and belly-aching It would appear that a record discharge of toxic sludge from our notorious smut factory is currently clogging the streets and sewers of the Republic of Liars. It goes to prove the point that provoked the avalanche EXACTLY! The seeds of incipient fascism in the political arena have evidently matured. A climate of fear is being generated. The refusal to entertain corrective criticism, even differing perspectives of the same position, has become a badge of honour and certificate of commitment. What is at stake, ultimately is Truth, and at a most elementary level of social regulation: when you are party to a conflict, you do not attempt to intimidate the arbiter, attempt to dictate the outcome, or impugn, without credible cause, his or her neutrality, even before hearing has commenced. That is a ground rule of just proceeding. Short of this, Truth remains permanently elusive. The ensuing cacophony has been truly bewildering. It strikes me as a possible ploy to smother recent provocations by other far more trenchant issues, such as the revelation of declarations of a religious war. If so, let it be known that I have long declared war against religious fundamentalism, the nature of which justifies the butchery, kidnapping and enslavement of students in the name of religion. That aspirants alleged gaffe cuts no ice with me. Far more alarming was the grotesque fantasy of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court disguised on a wheelchair, zooming off in space to a secret meeting with other parties to the conflict. On its own, that is sufficiently scary. Swiftly followed thereafter by a television tirade of intimidation, it strikes one as more than the mere antics of the mentally deranged. The tactics are familiar: ridicule, incriminate, then intimidate. Objective: undermine the structure of justice. Just as a reminder: I was not being rhetorical when I declared, on exiting prison detention: Justice is the first condition of humanity. The instigating contest Nigerian Democracy 2023 has witnessed much that is innovative largely in the retrogressive vein. Violence and ethnic profiling. Spiritual warfare in the shape of sacrificial rams to keep disloyal communities under restraint in short, intimidation yet again! Easily overlooked, however, are those missives of violence directed against dissenting voices, real or suspect. Such, for instance, were the virulent attacks and threats to the musician, Seun Kuti, his family and iconic music Shrine. His crime consisted of nothing more than declaring the name Obidient derogatory to his sense of civic dignity and activist history. Such beginnings and instances are numerous have culminated in the open intimidation of the Court of Last Resort, even before proceedings have begun. By the way, I do agree with Seun Kuti; Obidients is one of the most repulsive, off-putting concoctions I ever encountered in any political arena. Some love it however, and this is what freedom is about. Choice. Taste. Free emotions. By contrast, I have no quarrel with Yes Daddy. Roman Catholics are used to saying Yes, Father. Secularists say Enh, Baba. The context and content are what matters, and lies where established raise bothersome issues such as Integrity Deficiency. Let us remind ourselves of the following: In any adjudication, society finds it unacceptable that a party to the dispute resorts to influencing tactics by extra-judicial means such as bribery. Intimidation and threats are merely the obverse complements of material inducement. Those who fail to appreciate this are entirely free to their existence in an illusory world. What the nation needs to know right now is if you are planning to send assassins after such negative analysts! Coming to terms with an unpalatable projected eventuality sorry possible eventuality, counsels deep reflection, not demonisation of the bearer of sour news. For the seriously committed, it requires pulling back the horns a little in order to regroup, rethink and resurge. Democracy is sometimes a long haul. Some of us have been at it for quite a while. We shall add the following pointer for this particular electoral tussle the news may be unpleasant, but here it comes. Quite a few pundits have set out in some impressive not necessarily persuasive detail the possibility that the complainants in this presidential election are not as strongly planted on the victory podium as they presume, see for instance Ambassador Haastrups fascinating analysis in Newspeak etc. of 6 April. Right or wrong? That is not the issue. What the nation needs to know right now is if you are planning to send assassins after such negative analysts! Coming to terms with an unpalatable projected eventuality sorry possible eventuality, counsels deep reflection, not demonisation of the bearer of sour news. For the seriously committed, it requires pulling back the horns a little in order to regroup, rethink and resurge. Democracy is sometimes a long haul. Some of us have been at it for quite a while. I am well aware that the foregoing is further invitation for more nauseous bilge from the besotted. Please, be my guest. It is, after all, one of those special seasons of convergence of two seasons of self-flagellation. Fasting makes bearers of constricted minds even more light-headed. Delusions fill the vacuum. Oh yes, could these rabid parochial minds of easy excitation also kindly stop flattering themselves that ones energies are consecrated solely to the nation space known as Nigeria? The whines of silence are relative to the reading scope and world knowledge of idle complainants, as well as their grasp of the chain of continuity. I choose my methods of intervention without the permission of social media border patrols, so where you find a gap, just pick up the baton where last deposited and stop whining and belly-aching he stopped talking all this while, why now? etc. etc. ad nauseum. Flat, easy disposable lies that gain traction by repetition. However, even more importantly, they remain irrelevant to the rights and wrongs of ongoing material issue. Sadly, these virtue vigilantes succeed with the ignorant and susceptible especially among the younger, confused generation. The consequence is that the nation is plagued by fake CVs compiled by all kinds of amateur commentators, still wet behind the ears, who have too few truths to build on before they are corralled into positions of No-Retreat. Nowhere has this been more evident than in the effrontery of attempts to place the present contention on the same podium as the twenty-year old anti-Abacha struggle! This gross abuse of historic licence actually provides smug satisfaction for rookie activists. I advise them to seek out the school of survivors where pertinent lessons still exist for those with sufficient humility to LEARN before MOUTHING! Otherwise their world of false mythologies will collapse under their feet, and leave them dangling in the void. Project Nigeria, I must confess, has become near terminally soul-searing. Do I still believe in it? I am no longer certain but first, we must rid ourselves of the tyranny of the ignorant and the opportunism of time-servers. In any case, there is not much else to engage one on a foundation of ownership stakes. There is, of course, always the possibility of a Revolution, with a clarity of purpose and acceptance of all attendant risks, including costly errors. May I seize this opportunity, by the way, to condemn the sanctions imposed on Channels Television, which anchored the performance of the LP candidate. As stated, I watched the programme keenly saw the valiant efforts of the interviewer to ensure fair hearing. I fail to understand just where the station could be faulted, except from a disposition for injustice. To sustain that penalty is to give joy to others who turn the Internet into a soakaway for their rancid emissions, yet feel that others should be silenced. If Channels feels up to it, I offer myself willing to engage Mr Datti or any nominee of his on its platform on this very bone of contention one-on-one without the malodorous intervention of media trolls, and with the same interviewer as mediator. That should be taken as a serious offer. Project Nigeria, I must confess, has become near terminally soul-searing. Do I still believe in it? I am no longer certain but first, we must rid ourselves of the tyranny of the ignorant and the opportunism of time-servers. In any case, there is not much else to engage one on a foundation of ownership stakes. There is, of course, always the possibility of a Revolution, with a clarity of purpose and acceptance of all attendant risks, including costly errors. Revolutions are not however based on the impetus of speculative power entitlement. No matter, until that moment, the structures that ensure just and equitable cohabitation must be protected from partisan appropriation be it from material inducement, fake news, or verbal terrorism the last being the contribution of one who is positioned to assume co-leadership of the nation, no less. Revolution is not about lining up behind the nearest available symbol. When a symbol does emerge, however, we are still obliged to examine every aspect of what is fortuitously on offer, and continue to guard our freedoms every inch of the way. Before I take myself off for well, next port of call the final word goes to a favourite maverick, propagated even as he matched his words by action. I suspect that in this instance we find ourselves on opposite sides of the strategic fence that is democracy. This now coopted watchword of his formulation remains apt, applicable to all who strive for authentic social transformation: Your mumu don do! Ramadan Kareem. Happy Easter! Wole SOYINKA is the first Black Nobel Laureate in Literature. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. Public service needs to work hard to re-institute the process of learning within the institution. The easy way out of relying on ready-made policy documents obtained from the World Bank and the UNDP can only undermine capacity, not build it. Effective public service reform requires the reversal of the marginalisation of ministries and putting a stop to the multiplication and duplication of extra-ministerial agencies. There was a symposium yesterday organised by Nextier for the presentation of Professor Tunji Olaopas latest book: The Unending Quest for Reform: An Intellectual Memoir. Olaopas life and commitment has been one of an intellectual in government devoted to seeking pathways to the reform of public service so that the Nigerian state can produce and deliver the necessary public goods to a people who desperately need them. In Nigeria, there has been a high consciousness of the lack of effectiveness in the delivery of public services, leading to many efforts to reform the public service, so as to improve its performance. Indeed, for the past thirty-five years, Nigeria has been undergoing a regular process of public sector reforms aimed at increasing the capacity of state actors to provide public goods to citizens. The reforms have not been very successful. They have simply led to a series of disruptions in the organisation and power equations in the public sector, which have led, neither to increased efficiencies nor improved service provisioning. Central to the crisis in the public sector has been the marginalisation of key actors in the policy community that could have been a positive force in the reform movement. Specifically, the Nigerian reform-minded public servants, alongside academic and research communities, have been placed at arms-length in relation to public sector reform and policy development. The civil society is acclaimed as a key partner in public sector engagement but the reality is that it is acclaimed essentially in rhetoric, while it only plays a minor role in practice. The key issue is that over the years, the Nigerian state has gradually lost its capacity to perform its key functions and rebuilding public administration would require a strengthening of state capacity. Indeed, one of the most important signifiers of the crisis of the Nigerian state is the collapse of public administration. The major change that has occurred in Nigerian public administration since the 1980s has been to settle the question of the source of power in favour of political office holders, who have now succeeded in subordinating the professional and, above all, the administrative cadres of the civil service. This important change took a long time to occur because the tradition of the civil service, established since the colonial era, has been characterised by the pre-eminence of the administrative cadre. We recall that the system of colonial administration had all powers legislative, executive and judicial invested in the hands of appointed officials. A former colonial official used the concept of Administocracy to describe the system (Nicolson). There has been a major transformation in the structure of governmental functions, which occurred essentially during the Babangida administration, from 1985 to 1993. Rather than focus on improving learning in the public service to enhancing performance, the easy way out of alternative services was adopted. The process started with a concentration and replication of government functionsunder one umbrella: the Presidency. The adjectives currently employed to describe post-colonial public administration have since been inverted. The service is now generally acknowledged to be inefficient, incompetent, corrupt and lacking in motivation and commitment to its duties. At the root of the decomposition of public administration in Nigeria has been the rise of kleptocracy the institutionalised robbery of state resources by those who are supposed to be custodians of state power. Immediately after independence, bribery, graft, nepotism and other corrupt practices increased rapidly. Gradually, public administration was transformed into the instrument for administering this systematic looting of resources of the Nigerian state and its citizens. The colonial ethos of an efficient, selfless and committed civil service declined at the same pace at which a patrimonial state evolved in the country. There has been a major transformation in the structure of governmental functions, which occurred essentially during the Babangida administration, from 1985 to 1993. Rather than focus on improving learning in the public service to enhancing performance, the easy way out of alternative services was adopted. The process started with a concentration and replication of government functions regulation, planning, policy-making, policy-implementation and evaluation under one umbrella: the Presidency. On the other hand, there was a multiplication of extra-ministerial agencies, commissions, boards, committees, etc., charged with various governmental functions. The reason was that a reform process developed on the assumption that improving the existing system of public administration was impossible. The strategy adopted therefore aimed at creating a new parallel public administration, as they could not dissolve the one they found. The conscious decision to sideline existing structures of public administration led inexorably towards the marginalisation of ministries. Following the inauguration of the democratically elected president in 1999, the new administration tried to revive public administration by motivating civil servants. The main strategy used was by increasing their salaries in the first year of the Obasanjo administration, which initiated a new process of public sector reform after the president won a newer term in power in 2003. The decision was to develop more long-term strategies that would address the crisis of structure and agency that had crippled policy-making and policy-implementation in the country. At the core of the new reform agenda developed by Obasanjos Dream Team was the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS). It was a comprehensive economic reform programme aimed at laying the foundations for economic growth, employment creation, national value orientation and poverty reduction. The policy package for the reform was based essentially on the precepts of the Bretton Woods institutions and essentially the team believed it did not need national actors to think through policies that could work. Drawing essentially on World Bank policy papers, they developed transparency and accountability measures to address the crisis of public administration. They also set out to privatise the commanding heights of the economy. The outcome of the process was that Nigeria abandoned its core policy-making process, comprising: It is this policy process of extensive consultations within and outside government, leading to a policy document that has ownership and the backing of law and is integrated into the normal budgetary process, that has been lost in Nigeria. It is this re-integration of the policy community into the policy making process that should be the first step into developing policies that work. GREEN PAPER: A process of extensive consultations between government ministries, departments and agencies to elaborate a new policy direction in relation to analysis of the inadequacies of existing policy and the resources available. This process usually led to the inter-ministerial committee publishing a Green Paper. A process of extensive consultations between government ministries, departments and agencies to elaborate a new policy direction in relation to analysis of the inadequacies of existing policy and the resources available. This process usually led to the inter-ministerial committee publishing a Green Paper. STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS : The Green Paper is then widely distributed to the policy community and stakeholders, including the media, universities and research centres and all interested parties, for comments, criticisms and inputs on the suggested policy direction. Under the World Bank approach, stakeholder consultations became a one-day affair, where stakeholders were expected to respond to a policy document they had only received that morning. In the past, weeks and months were devoted to the process. : The Green Paper is then widely distributed to the policy community and stakeholders, including the media, universities and research centres and all interested parties, for comments, criticisms and inputs on the suggested policy direction. Under the World Bank approach, stakeholder consultations became a one-day affair, where stakeholders were expected to respond to a policy document they had only received that morning. In the past, weeks and months were devoted to the process. WHITE PAPER : Government then revisits the Green Paper following the stakeholder inputs and adopts a revised policy direction, which it subsequently issues as a White Paper. : Government then revisits the Green Paper following the stakeholder inputs and adopts a revised policy direction, which it subsequently issues as a White Paper. ACT: The White Paper is thereafter translated into an executive bill, which is sent to parliament for enactment as a law of the federation, with modalities for implementation and finance of the new policy direction. It is this policy process of extensive consultations within and outside government, leading to a policy document that has ownership and the backing of law and is integrated into the normal budgetary process, that has been lost in Nigeria. It is this re-integration of the policy community into the policy making process that should be the first step into developing policies that work. The incoming governments need to take this seriously. Public service needs to work hard to re-institute the process of learning within the institution. The easy way out of relying on ready-made policy documents obtained from the World Bank and the UNDP can only undermine capacity, not build it. Effective public service reform requires the reversal of the marginalisation of ministries and putting a stop to the multiplication and duplication of extra-ministerial agencies. The expansion of the number of parastatals, mostly under the Presidency, should be curbed. The excellent report of the Oronsanye Panel on rationalising, merging and suppression of parastatals has not yet been implemented after so many years. Over the period, law-making processes in the National Assembly have led to the creation of more agencies of government. That process must be curtailed, so that we can fund the really essential agencies of government. A professor of Political Science and development consultant/expert, Jibrin Ibrahim is a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Democracy and Development, and Chair of the Editorial Board of PREMIUM TIMES. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. all political parties would already have the results in their hands through their party agents. What remains is the collation of already known results at the levels of the ward, local government, state, and finally at the National Collation Centre for the presidential election. Non-transmission of the results that political parties already have in their hands electronically in real time, does not invalidate the actual election that took place. Yesterday, I read an op-ed by Chimamanda Adichie addressed to the President of the United States published by The Antlantic NP in the United States. Unfortunately, Adichie in very beautiful prose and high-falluting language opined that her candidate, Peter Obi who came a distant third in the just concluded Nigerian presidential election was rigged out because the INEC-led Mahmood Yakubu failed to follow the law guiding the 2023 election as laid out in the Electoral Act. In her article, she wrote, and I quote: A law passed last year, the 2022 Electoral Act, changed everything. It gave legal backing to the electronic accreditation of voters and the electronic transmission of results in a process determined by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The problem of a lot of educated and well read people with a bit of fame is that they think they know it all and whatever they say or write is golden and everyone must take it hook, line and sinker. Even when they distort the truth and the reality of what they are writing about. I will advise Chimamanda to stick to her literary work and stop pontificating on Nigerian electoral matter as if an expert, especially when she obviously distorted the letters and spirit of the Electoral Act. As a writer, it behoves on her to have first gone ahead to read and distil the Electoral Act properly before misleading her American audience and obviously to whip up further emotions amongst her Obidient crew. The Electoral Act never in any way compels INEC to transmit election results electronically in real time. The Electoral Act says INEC alone can determine the mode of collating and transmitting election results. Yes, INEC, in its pre-election media briefing, did say it would transmit results live, but yet it is not compelled by law to do so. While INEC erred by over-promising, it did no wrong, neither did it flout any law by not transmitting the results electronically. You can only sue an institution for flouting the law. You cant sue it for not fulfilling a promise. In fact, the Electoral Act even gave INEC a window of seven days after an election has been concluded within which it can transmit results unto its iReV server. The problem of a lot of people, including Adichie, is that emotions have overriden stated basic principles. They would rather hold on to fake news and gossip talk-shops as facts. Justice Emeka Nwite, in a judgment, also held that it is only INEC that has the prerogative to direct how Polling Unit Presiding Officers should transfer election results, including proclaiming on the total number of accredited voters and results of ballots. I believe Adichie and her Obidient crew have this idea that the electronic transmission of results is an angelic feature of the Electoral Act. This is far from the truth. Rather, it is just an add-on to an already set electoral procedure. There must first be an accreditation, which this time around every observer hailed as a game changer; even the international observers. After accreditation comes the actual voting by electorates, then the counting of results and their recording in the form EC8, which each party agent must sign on, along with the electoral officer at each polling unit. Each agent and law enforcement personnel at each polling unit will have a copy of the already signed form EC8. By this time, all political parties would already have the results in their hands through their party agents. What remains is the collation of already known results at the levels of the ward, local government, state, and finally at the National Collation Centre for the presidential election. Non-transmission of the results that political parties already have in their hands electronically in real time, does not invalidate the actual election that took place. To buttress this point, as recent as the 10th of March, a Federal High Court in Abuja held that it is only the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that is empowered by law to determine the mode of collating and transmitting election results. Justice Emeka Nwite, in a judgment, also held that it is only INEC that has the prerogative to direct how Polling Unit Presiding Officers should transfer election results, including proclaiming on the total number of accredited voters and results of ballots. So, again, Chimamanda, stop writing beer parlour gossips as fact and presenting highly unresearched allegations in op-eds to personalities such as the president of the United States. Americans are no fools. They dont act on emotions like you but on facts. Justice Nwite further held that the collation and transfer of election results manually in the 2023 general elections cannot be said to be contrary to the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022. The judgment was in relation to a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1454/2022 filed by the Labour Party (LP), with INEC as the sole defendant. LP had prayed the court to declare that INEC has no power to opt for a manual method of transmission, other than the electronic method provided for by the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022. In the delivered judgement, Justice Nwite held that the plaintiff misconstrued the provisions of the law and proceeded to dismiss the suit. He said: From the argument of the learned plaintiffs counsel, I am of the humble opinion that the bone of contention or the sections that seeks for interpretations are actually sections 50(2) 60(5) and 62(2) of the Electoral Act, 2922. Section 47(2) as cited by the learned counsel to the plaintiff only deals with accreditation of voters using a Smart Card Reader, but not collation or transmission of result as postulated by the learned counsel, the judge held. It is pertinent to note that the presiding judge is not a Yoruba or Hausa/Fulani, so they wont say hes doing the bidding of Tinubu or Buhari, as usual, or that he has been bought. So, again, Chimamanda, stop writing beer parlour gossips as fact and presenting highly unresearched allegations in op-eds to personalities such as the president of the United States. Americans are no fools. They dont act on emotions like you but on facts. Kayode Adebiyi is a media/PR practitioner and public affairs analyst. He writes from London, England. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. Dear Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Let me congratulate you and your party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), on your victory at the presidential election, and being declared the presidentelect by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). I am not a card carrying member of the APC, but I voted for the APC, as you were the only presidential candidate amongst the three leading candidates that I believed, had the capacity, experience and broad-based national political support to implement the much needed economic reforms and policies in Nigeria. Arising from the election and declaration of your victory as the president-elect by the INEC, there has been a sustained and vicious media campaign to discredit and delegitimise not only your victory, but the entire presidential election, which I daresay and from my own voting experience, was peaceful, credible and a reflection of the choice of voters at least in my polling area. Thus, President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu, please permit me to respectfully state that your inaction, particularly as these subversive elements continue their attack to imperil our democracy, and delegitimise the 25th February elections, is not what is required now. You must and should take legal means available to you to defend the faith and confidence I expressed in you and the APC, through my vote on February 25th. Prior to the presidential election, as your supporter, I (and many of your other supporters) endured months of vicious, malicious and outright demeaning and virulent social media attacks and provocations mainly from the supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP). You must have endured the same too, whilst choosing to keep a dignified silence and focus on the task of winning the presidential election. Your stoic attitude in ignoring the attacks, insults, demeaning caricaturisation of your person, and ridiculous attempts to criminalise your health status, gave me and your supporters the confidence to continue my support for your candidacy, without yielding to the provocations. The nationwide suffering caused by the ill-advised and perhaps politically motivated naira re-design policy and cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), became fodder for more political provocations and virulent online social media attacks against the APC and your supporters. Interestingly, you were the only presidential candidate who spoke against the CBNs devilish twin monetary policies, while calling out the CBN Governor and President Muhammadu Buhari to reverse the naira re-design policy in the interest of ordinary Nigerians who had been unjustly denied their own cash deposited with commercial banks. The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi is on record to have advised Nigerians to bear with the CBNs naira re-design policy, which effectively became a naira confiscation policy, obviously in the hope of benefitting in terms of votes, from the widespread public anger against the APC that the policy brought about. Thank God it all turned out well for you and your party! Today, no one, even your most virulent opposition or critic, can claim that your well-deserved victory and declaration as the president-elect was as a result of vote buying or voter inducement using cash. The elections have now come and gone. But in seeking to discredit and reverse a popular mandate freely given to you by Nigerians, it seems many supporters of the presidential candidate of the LP have taken political provocations and virulent social media propaganda to dangerous levels that now threaten our democracy and our national sovereignty. I specifically refer to the letter to President Joe Biden by Ms Chimamanda Adichie, first published in The Atlantic, an American magazine and multi-platform publisher on 6th April. Since its publication, the letter has now been reproduced or reported by various online and traditional media across the world. In her letter, Ms Adichie, who neither voted during the elections, nor was an electoral observer, made very egregious and blatantly false claims in order to discredit the 25th February presidential election, the INEC and yourself, with the government of the United States of America. She also sought to discredit US institutions and media that had applauded the 25th February election as being credible. Notable was her ridiculous attempt to put down American intelligence services, the US State Department and The Washington Post that recently published an editorial commending the Nigerian people for a relatively credible presidential election. Ms Adichie unfortunately disregards the fact that both the State Department and The Washington Post (whom she accuses of imaginative poverty and intellectual laziness) highlighted concerns about the election, but which however in their opinion, were not enough to characterise the Nigerian presidential election as flawed. In her closing sentence, she accuses President Joe Biden of tarnishing Americas self-proclaimed commitment to democracy by congratulating the Nigerian people and yourself on the peaceful presidential election. Just imagine the sheer insolence! Ms Adichie terms the APCs (and your) victory as soiled, a disdainful choice of word for Nigerians who voted for the APC on 25th February. But all of her accusations and false claims of a flawed election process, pale in comparison to her egregious accusation that Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC Chairman was compromised or bribed with millions of dollars by the presidentelect. Not done, she says, as a matter of fact, that the presidentelect is an enthusiastic participant in the art of compromising. Shockingly, Ms Adichies view of the presidential election, and her accusations against the INEC and your victory are based on hearsay, not having being in Nigeria herself to vote for Mr Peter Obi, her chosen presidential candidate, whom she vigorously campaigned for internationally. Interestingly, Ms Adichie found time to visit Nigeria barely less than two months before the presidential election, to be conferred with the traditional chieftaincy title of Odeluwa (meaning Writer for the World) in her village on the occasion of the 80th birthday celebration of the Igwe (local chief) of her village. Mr Peter Obi, who was a two-term governor of Anambra State, Ms Adichies home state in Nigeria, was one of the distinguished guests at that very culturally beautiful event. While the presidential candidates of both the PDP and the LP have approached the courts to challenge the election in line with the Electoral Act 2022, Ms Adichie, in her letter to President Joe Biden, goes further to attack the integrity and credibility of the Nigerian judiciary and the Nigerian Supreme Court in what she terms judicial coronations. The attempt to reach predetermined conclusion and maliciously undermine the judicial process by Ms Adichie and supporters of Mr Peter Obi is not new. Prior to the presidential election, Mr Obis spokespersons and some members of his presidential campaign team are on record to have stated that the only way Mr Obi would lose the presidential election is only if the election was rigged. Ms Adichie terms the APCs (and your) victory as soiled, a disdainful choice of word for Nigerians who voted for the APC on 25th February. But all of her accusations and false claims of a flawed election process, pale in comparison to her egregious accusation that Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC Chairman was compromised or bribed with millions of dollars by the presidentelect. Not done, she says, as a matter of fact, that the presidentelect is an enthusiastic participant in the art of compromising. As a Nigerian who voted for the APC and support our electoral and democratic institutions, this particular accusation cannot be overlooked or ignored as another irrelevant, meaningless accusation by a bitter opposition. President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu, please note that this is not about you anymore. It transcends your person. Ms Adichies wild accusation is an attack on my vote; it is a revolting attack on our democratic institutions such as the INEC; it is an attack on the young men and women of the NYSC who braved insecurity and paid no heed to their safety and comfort to serve their country as ad-hoc staff of INEC on election day; it is a nauseating attack on the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022; it is an attack on the over eight million voters who freely voted for you on 25th February. The continued attempts by Ms Adichie and others to discredit our electoral and judicial institutions and invalidate your victory as the president-elect wont cease anytime soon, except Mr Peter Obi is miraculously and somehow crowned as presidentelect! We have seen protesters in Abuja stand in front of the Defence Headquarters, the seat of the Nigerian Armed Forces, pleading with the Nigerian Army to step in and save democracy! This is a clear indication that these persons would go to any lengths to destabilise our dear country to bring about what they term as returning their stolen mandate. They broach no opposition and are prepared to be uncivil in both their public conduct and speech. Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has termed these supporters of Mr Obi as fascists. In her 2009 TED talk, Ms Adichie spoke about the danger of a single story, where she argued that single stories often originate from simple misunderstandingsbut that these stories can also have a malicious intent to suppress other group of people due to prejudice. The narrative of a flawed and illegitimate presidential election, compromised by the INEC Chairman and yourself, is a clear example of how dangerous a single story has become to our democracy. Thus, President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu, please permit me to respectfully state that your inaction, particularly as these subversive elements continue their attack to imperil our democracy, and delegitimise the 25th February elections, is not what is required now. You must and should take legal means available to you to defend the faith and confidence I expressed in you and the APC, through my vote on February 25th. There must be consequences for this false and malicious accusation by Ms Adichie, else a generation of young people would grow up believing that it is just okay to not only maliciously discredit electoral and judicial institutions, but rubbish and disregard the constitutional rights of others to vote for their preferred political choice, when election outcomes go against their choices. Ms Adichies ominously threatening statement that rage is brewing, especially among young people should not be ignored, and give an indication of their intent to cause the widespread breakdown of law and order to invalidate your mandate. In her 2009 TED talk, Ms Adichie spoke about the danger of a single story, where she argued that single stories often originate from simple misunderstandingsbut that these stories can also have a malicious intent to suppress other group of people due to prejudice. The narrative of a flawed and illegitimate presidential election, compromised by the INEC Chairman and yourself, is a clear example of how dangerous a single story has become to our democracy. President-elect, you must now act within the ambits of the law to ensure that our youths and the international community are not influenced by this flawed single story of the presidential elections. Mr President-elect, may I again respectfully urge that you should and must take legal action against this extreme malicious accusation by Ms Adichie, accusing you of compromising the elections and the INEC chairman. It is most gratifying to note that Ms Adichie lives in the United States, where the law is no respecter of social or literary status. Please note that I am willing to start a fund raising appeal to fund any such legal process by you against Ms Adichie in the United States. In conclusion, dear Presidentelect Bola Ahmed Tinubu, your honourable and distinguished silence so far in the face of continued falsehood and malicious accusations against your victory by Ms Adichie and others is no longer golden. The time to act is now. Sincerely, Odion Omonfoman Odion Omonfoman writes from Lagos and can be reached on oomonfoman@gmail.com Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. I will suggest the following solutions as bargaining tools for the disputing parties and as a sustainable economic model for funding public tertiary education in Nigeria: (a) introduce a 2% education tax on personal income tax if state governments will allow shared funding of all tertiary institutions in Nigeria or a 2% education tax on company income taxes, to fund federal government owned tertiary institutions only It is necessary to give historical and sociological perspectives to the evolution of free tertiary education and emergence of academic unionists globally. The wake of Marxist revolutions in the early 20th century, commencing from the defunct USSR and spreading to other parts of the world, inspired the biggest rise of unionists on the premise of workers of the world uniting. Socialist thinkers before Karl Marx had advocated for free education. The wave of radical labour unionism, coupled with radical Intellectualism, spread to Africa, especially with the support of Soviet-backed Marxist literatures and Marxist movements. Unavoidably, Nigeria caught the unionist flu/Marxist influences long before 1970s, but it is my opinion that the 1970s ushered in Nigerias most vibrant years of unionism, involving labour unions, trade unions (the Trade Union Congress [TUC] was created as a rival to the Nigeria Labour Congress [NLC]), university unions, students unions, etc. This introduction is necessary to allow readers understand the Marxist/socialist foundational orientations of academic unions in Nigeria. Moreover, there are economic debates on whether education should be for profit or not-for-profit, leading to different economic perspectives on why education at all levels must be totally free. While the capitalists/neoliberals disagree with such perspective, the leftist/socialist leaning thinkers support the notion that education is a public good and should be totally free. However, we have a resolved dilemma, considering how different countries have addressed the demands of education. For example, USA has an educational system which provides free basic education (totally subsidised) and tuition based tertiary education, which could also be loan aided for those who qualify. Countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa have borrowed models similar to that of the USA, while some have chosen the socialist model of running subsidised educational systems at all levels, and Nigeria is one of such countries. Nigerias choice of adopting a socialist inclined educational funding model is not as naive as we might be tempted to think it is. Prior to the 1950s, basic education was not affordable in the country and was only accessible to the privileged class, while tertiary education was largely open to only those who could afford to travel to study outside the country. Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the first Premier of the Western Region, was a victim of such a system and he pioneered the free education model to right the wrong. The model was nationally adopted to encourage an impressive literacy rate, and was inclusive of enviable tertiary education. Awolowo actually ran the free education model based on a creative fiscal policy, which included taxes. Subsequently, the free education system was overgrown and overfed with large populations of students, leading to an overburdened public finance, and hence lean funding and a very discouraging condition of basic education, which is being fairly rescued by private schools. The lean funding approach is currently threatening our tertiary educational system, which academic unions are agitating to save but through member-oriented bargains and dogmatic approaches. Examining the economic dimension of funding public education, especially tertiary education, will reveal to us that educational funding is an investment, whether as a socialist or capitalist goal. The proponents of free tertiary education, citing Germany, Norway etc. as examples, should understand how such systems work. Countries such as Norway, Italy, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Lithuania, etc., have free or affordable tertiary education because they have fiscal systems that ensures the payment of fat taxes. Furthermore, it is important to resolve the dilemma and frequent altercations between academic unions and the Nigerian government by examining the economic perspectives of educational funding, especially tertiary education. ASUU, which represents the university academic union is freshly requesting for over N1 trillion from the Federal Government of Nigeria, while other academic unions have their own demands too. The Federal Government of Nigeria has failed in its bargains with these academic unions, but not without the cry of a helpless father with many demands. Academic Unions seem not to care about such cries, as they cite the fat allowances and emoluments that political office holders enjoy in Nigeria. It is true that Nigerias public education is underfunded, and most especially tertiary education, but the need for Nigerias public finance and fiscal policy regarding tertiary education must be critically reviewed and separated from populist biases. Infact, socialism is not the same as populism. The goal of socialism is to create an egalitarian society through strategic public investments/financing tools like taxes, revenues, etc., while populism is just satisfying public appeal without a sustainable plan. Academic unions must see the need for this renewed perspective, beyond outdated dogma. Examining the economic dimension of funding public education, especially tertiary education, will reveal to us that educational funding is an investment, whether as a socialist or capitalist goal. The proponents of free tertiary education, citing Germany, Norway etc. as examples, should understand how such systems work. Countries such as Norway, Italy, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Lithuania, etc., have free or affordable tertiary education because they have fiscal systems that ensures the payment of fat taxes. For example, the personal income tax-to-GDP in the following countries are: UK 45%, Sweden 52%, Netherlands 49.5%, Norway 30.9%, Germany 47.5%, Denmark 55.9%, France 55.4% and Austria 55% (according to PwC world tax summaries for 2022). Many of these countries are known for tax-to-GDPs above 20%, in comparison to Nigeria whose tax-to-GDP is not even up to 15%. It is also important to note that the best universities in Africa are largely found in South Africa and Egypt, such as the University of Western Cape, Ain Shams University, University of Johannesburg, American University of Egypt, etc., according to the statistics of web ranking, but it is important to consider the following: the tuition fees of universities in South Africa, which is $10,000 on the average; government funding of universities in South Africa; public funding of universities in Egypt, where the government has earmarked 4% of its gross domestic product, at about $11 billion, on education. This is not up to public funding of education by OECD countries, which spend $10,000 (on average) on each student. USA, which is one of the OECD countries, spends over $500 billion on education. Interestingly, the average tuition fees (annually) for private universities in Nigeria is $3,000. This analysis is pertinent, so as to establish that education is not cheap, there has to be a payment plan, yet education is a public investment. the alternative solutions mentioned above will enable government to renew its fiscal policy regarding the funding of tertiary education through a sustainable model, against the current populist model which has overburdened the government without maximum economic gains. This new model must ensure that the Federal Government of Nigeria boosts its funding of tertiary education by 50% over the next 10 years above the current fundings Importantly, considering the bogus financial demands of public tertiary education in Nigeria and its urgency: how should we resolve the dilemma, which symbolises a mosquito landing on a scrotal sac? I am offering this perspective as an alternative solution. Personally, I will not support the USA loan model or the commercialised university model, which some Nigerian elites fixated only on USA/UK realities have advocated. People sharing such opinion have failed to realise that the global university administration and funding model surpasses those of the USA/UK models alone. Also, USAs loan funding model might have worked for the system but a loan trap of $1.7 trillion, according to US federal reserve bank, is not a model I will encourage for any developing economy. Albeit, Nigeria cannot afford to run a market-led tertiary education model, where an average student will be forced to pay the market price of $3,000 annually, when the GDP per capita is $2200, making Nigeria one of the poorest countries in the world. I will suggest the following solutions as bargaining tools for the disputing parties and as a sustainable economic model for funding public tertiary education in Nigeria: (a) introduce a 2% education tax on personal income tax if state governments will allow shared funding of all tertiary institutions in Nigeria or a 2% education tax on company income taxes, to fund federal government owned tertiary institutions only. (B) create a special scheme/bilateral agreements that will tax the income of graduates of Nigerian institutions working in the diaspora. The case of Nigerian doctors and professionals is the most peculiar, considering the economic migrations of these professionals who will always see need to relocate to developed countries. Alternatively, introduce a policy that will mandate professionals trained in Nigerias tertiary institutions to work for a certain number of years before migrating (the least preferred alternative). (C) introduce 70% tertiary education subsidy in all Federal Government owned tertiary institutions against the current subsidy scheme, which is almost 100% but with a condition of government aid, which will allow students from less privileged backgrounds, through financial records of their parents/guardians, to pay existing or adjusted tuition fees and those from privileged backgrounds will be mandated to pay the market price of tertiary education. This model of government aid/exclusion is being practiced in South Africa called National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). This policy will grant automatic free education to extraordinary students from any of the social backgrounds. In conclusion, the alternative solutions mentioned above will enable government to renew its fiscal policy regarding the funding of tertiary education through a sustainable model, against the current populist model which has overburdened the government without maximum economic gains. This new model must ensure that the Federal Government of Nigeria boosts its funding of tertiary education by 50% over the next 10 years above the current fundings, subject to renewed consensus with state governments where applicable, to avoid state chapters of academic unions joining in strike actions against the Federal Government. This should be coupled with the introduction of a Tertiary Education Funding Appraisal Tribunal (TEFAT), which will see to the annual auditing of disbursed funds for tertiary institutions, investigating/punishing university administrators culpable in financial malpractices and appraising/supervising project executions independent of the Ministry of Education. This body should either be subjected to the authority of the Presidency or Ministry of Justice. Mujib Dada-Qadri is a lawyer and policy analyst. He writes from Abuja. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. Residents of communities in Tsafe local government area of Zamfara state North-west Nigeria say more than 80 people were abducted by terrorists early Friday morning. Residents who spoke to BBC Hausa service as monitored by PREMIUM TIMES said some of those abducted had gone to the bush around 7:45 a.m. to gather firewood for domestic purposes. Others were working on their farmlands as rainy season begins. We were sitting between 8 oclock in the morning when we heard that some of our youths who went to fetch firewood in the bush and those who have gone to clear their farmlands have been abducted by bandits, a village elder whose name was not mentioned said in the Hausa language. When asked the actual number of those taken, the elder said its between 80 to 100. Well, we cant say the actual number of the victims now but we expect it to be between 80 and 100 of our people. Most of them are youths between teenage years and those who are in their twenties. There is one old man who is in his fifties. And there are others too. But the majority are young men and women, he said. The source, who spoke to BBC Hausa on behalf of the other residents said one person was seriously wounded and is being treated. He said several others escaped being abducted and have been reunited with their families. Another resident, who also didnt give his name for security reasons said his son was among those abducted. I cant say how many of them have been abducted but my son was taken. He went with my motorcycle and theyve taken him with the motorcycle. I dont know the actual number but theyre many including children and young people, he said. My daughter was also abducted today, a woman told the BBC Hausa. My daughter is 15 years old and she was among those who went to fetch firewood for usyou know how the situation is..they went to fetch firewood but theyve now been abducted. She said the people of the community immediately notified security agents stationed in the community but the terrorists had already left. The police spokesperson in the state, Mohammed Shehu, didnt respond to calls and SMS sent to him on the abduction. Terorrists have continued to unleash mayhem on people of Zamfara State and other North-west and North-central states for over a decade. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), after a few days of confusion and tension, declared Alex Otti of the Labour Party (LP) as the winner of the 18 March governorship election in Abia State. The victory ends the dominant rule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state with a new governor from a different party to be inaugurated on 29 May. Established in 1998, the PDP came into power in 1999 when a former head of state, Olusegun Obasanjo, was elected the first Nigerian civilian president after 13 years of turbulent military rule. Like 20 other states in Nigeria, Abia elected the PDP candidate, Orji Kalu, as its governor, in the same year. Little break The PDP has governed the state for almost 24 years 1999 to 2023 although the party lost to the defunct Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA) in the 2007 governorship election in the state. However, the loss in 2007 was possible for one reason: the outgoing governor, Mr Kalu, had switched to the PPA, a party he founded in 2006 following his disagreement with the national leadership of the PDP. Mr Kalu subsequently picked Theodore Orji, his former chief of staff, as his successor, and helped him to emerge governor in 2007 under the PPAs platform. But Mr Orji returned to the PDP on which platform he was re-elected in 2011, while Mr Kalu, now a senator representing Abia North District, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Mr Orji later anointed Okezie Ikpeazu as his successor, who went ahead to win the 2015 governorship election in the state to continue PDPs rule in the state. Reelected in 2019, Mr Ikpeazu will complete his second term on 29 May. Ottis victory, a surprise? But the emergence of Mr Otti as the governor-elect in the South-eastern state did not come as a surprise to many. It was something many political analysts had predicted, given the odds which were in favour of the LP candidate. The odds Peter Obis effect Despite being a stronghold of the PDP, Abia State, like other states in the South-east and South-south regions, fell to the effect of Peter Obi, the LP candidate in the presidential election. Mr Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, enjoyed swelling support mainly in the two regions and parts of the North-central. Incidentally, Mr Ottis entry into the governorship race under the platform of the LP almost coincided with Mr Obis emergence as the LP presidential candidate. Mr Obis emergence as the LP presidential candidate made many people embrace the party as the platform to rescue the country and their states from the old class of politicians in the PDP and APC believed to be behind alleged bad governance. Although Mr Obi did not win the presidential election, his candidacy triggered mass revolts against the PDP and APC, the two dominant parties in the country. As a result, many relatively unknown LP candidates for other elective positions in many states surprisingly won in the 2023 general elections, even defeating the incumbents. Mr Ikpeazu, while appearing as a guest recently on Channels TVs Politics Today, admitted that the effect of the former governor of Anambra State was the major reason the PDP lost in the governorship election in the state. The Abia governor was the PDP senatorial candidate for Abia South District but lost in the election to Enyinnaya Abaribe of the All Progressives Grand Alliance. Interestingly, Mr Abaribe had stormed out of the PDP, where he was the Senate Minority Leader, because he was denied the PDP governorship ticket. That Peter Obi effect, I predicted it and told my party. I even volunteered that reasonable politicians should not ignore what Peter Obi was doing, the governor said in the interview. Like the governor, Charles Esonu, the State Commissioner for Youth Development, who served as the State Collation Agent for the PDP in the election, believes Mr Obis effect was the major factor in the partys loss. The biggest factor that made the contest look as if it was anything to go by between the Labour Party and the PDP was the Peter Obis wave, Mr Esonu, a lawyer, told PREMIUM TIMES. Alex Otti has contested several elections in Abia State (but lost in all). The only thing is that this Obis syndrome now helped him to muster votes (in the election), he added. G-5s squabble with PDP The PDPs poor outing in Abia, like other states in the two regions, observers believe, was slightly aided by the squabble the G-5 governors of the PDP had with the partys presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as well as the national leadership of the party. Mr Ikpeazu was a member of the G-5, which was led by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike. The group had insisted on not supporting Atiku in the election because he failed to facilitate the resignation of the then partys National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, to pave the way for a southerner to lead the party in order to achieve a regional balance. The governors argument was that both Mr Ayu and Atiku hail from northern Nigeria. However, Mr Ayu, after the elections, stepped aside in response to a court judgement which barred him from parading himself as the partys national chairman. The G-5s ditching of Atiku, observers said, appeared to have worked against the PDP in the 18 March governorship election in Abia, just like in other states. The partys supporters had no clear direction during a period the Peter Obi effect was attracting people. The drama provided an advantage for Mr Otti to emerge as governor-elect in Abia State. Inadequate time to market Ahiwe The PDP in Abia State faced the tough challenge of adequately marketing its governorship candidate who emerged a few weeks before the elections. Uche Ikonne was elected as the PDP governorship candidate in the state but he died on 25 January. The party nominated Okey Ahiwe to replace the deceased candidate on 4 February, exactly five weeks before the original date for the election. The election, earlier billed to hold on 11 March, was later postponed by a week (18 March), but some PDP members in the state believed that the party did not have enough time to market its candidate to the people. Peter Aguwamba, a member of the PDP in the state, said though the inadequate time for Mr Ahiwes campaign contributed to the loss in the governorship election, it was minor. It could be seen as one, but a minor part of them, Mr Aguwamba said about the inadequate time the PDP had to campaign for its candidate in the election. But given that this man (Ikonne) had gotten the (PDP governorship) ticket in May last year and had campaigned and reached out to people, he had actually gotten into the minds of the people. He (Ikonne) did all those in six months. What you can do in six months, certainly, you cannot do in two months, he said in reference to the time between Mr Ahiwes emergence and the governorship election. In all, the inadequate time for Mr Ahiwes campaign may have worked in favour of the LP candidate who won the election by a margin of over 84, 000 votes. Perceived bad governance of PDP governors For years, residents of Abia State complained of not enjoying the dividends of democracy. The PDP, the party which had governed the state for over 20 years, has been blamed for the alleged under-development of the state. Many residents and visitors to Abia usually refer to it as a state with a long history of poor infrastructural development, especially road projects. That is not far from reality. A PREMIUM TIMES investigation in 2020, for instance, revealed the terrible condition of road networks as well as poorly executed road projects in the state. There have been widespread indications of neglect and rot in the states system. The people had grown increasingly frustrated with successive PDP administrations in the state. Mr Ottis entry into the race, his third attempt in a row, therefore, gave Abia people an escape route to perceived bad governance under PDPs watch in the state. So, when the news of Mr Ottis victory went public, there were widespread jubilations across the state. In several video clips circulating on social media after the declaration of the LP candidate as the winner of the exercise, some residents were seen claiming that the end of bad governance in the state had come. Analysts said the jubilation shows that the residents were fed up with the perceived poor performances of the PDP-led governments in the state and, therefore, desired a change of government led by another political party. Abians have been highly disappointed in the way that the PDP administrations have piloted the affairs of Abia State since the dawn of democracy in 1999, said Chidiebere Nwachukwu, from Isiala-Ngwa North Council Area of the state. Mr Nwachukwu, a lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, said the residents of the state had attempted to unseat the PDP government in 2015 and 2019 but were unsuccessful due to alleged electoral malpractices. Fortunately, in 2023, the story was different. So, the spontaneous celebration that you observed among Abia people, soon after the election results were announced, was an indication that Abia people were happy that this time around their votes were allowed to count, he said. The academic argued that the incumbent governor, Mr Ikpeazu, failed woefully in governing Abia, like other PDP governors who had served in the state. The perceived bad governance of successive PDP governments in the state apparently worked against the partys chances at the poll with Mr Otti seen as a credible route to good governance in the state. With less than two months to the inauguration of Mr Otti, the former banker will be looking to justify the trust and confidence reposed in him by Abia residents during the election. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. The Labour Party in Lagos State has indefinitely suspended six of its chieftains, including the immediate past chairman, Kayode Salako, over alleged anti-party and disparaging activities in the just-concluded elections. The LP Secretary in the state, Sam Okpala, disclosed this at a news conference on Thursday at the partys secretariat in Ikeja, Lagos. Mr Okpala listed the suspended leaders to include: Moshood Salvador (LP Senatorial Candidate, Lagos West), Mutiu Okunola (House of Ikeja Rep. Candidate), Theodore Ezeunara, Olumide Adesoyin and Opeyemi Taiwo. He said the suspension followed the partys reception and ratification of the report of the Disciplinary Committee set up to investigate the acts of anti-party activities levelled against the leaders. Explaining that the decision was taken at the State Working Committee meeting held on 31 March, Mr Okpala said the affected leaders had been found culpable of acts inimical to the progress of the LP. He said: Labour Party in Lagos state discovered that there were a lot of anti-party activities committed by people who claimed to be members of the party in Lagos state. Our post-mortem of what really transpired and happened during the general elections revealed that a lot of people who called themselves members of the party were indeed working for the opposition. With that information, the LP in Lagos state set up a disciplinary committee headed by one of the deputy chairmen of the party to look into these allegations. As an obedient party that adheres to the rule of law, the committee gave everyone involved a fair hearing and opportunity to defend themselves and clear their names. At the end of the exercise, the report was tendered before the LP state working committee and at the meeting held on March 31, the report of the disciplinary committee was accepted and ratified for implementation. He said that out of the seven chieftains involved, one Sunbo Onitiri said he had resigned his membership of the LP. In obedience to the relevant sections of our constitution, the party took the decision to suspend them from being members of the party with immediate effect. The essence is to serve as a deterrent to others who may want to toe that inglorious path again, he added. Mr Okpala said the party could not accept having enemies within its fold. The scribe decried that the affected officers openly demonstrated solidarity and preference to work with and for the candidates of another party during the polls. According to him, the affected leaders have consistently been disparaging/ denigrating the image of the party candidates as well as the state leadership of the party without decorum. He said their actions had brought LP to disrepute, hence the suspension with immediate effect. READ ALSO: Peter Obi donates N10 million to Nigerian university Mr Okpala commended Lagos residents and Nigerians for believing in the LPs vision and philosophy of bringing about a new Nigeria and for supporting the party in the 25 February and 18 March general elections. On the national leadership crisis of the party, Mr Okpala said the Lagos state chapter would continue to stand with its LP National Chairman, Julius Abure and other national officers. He said the court ex parte order restraining the LP national chairman and five other national officers of the party from parading themselves as leaders of the party was the handiwork of detractors who wanted to stop the party from the mission to reclaim its alleged stolen mandate. We want to pass a vote of confidence on our national chairman and other leaders of the party. They have done so much for the party. The leaders have committed all they got to the success of the Labour Party, he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was attended by the LP state working committee members. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. Students of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, in Ondo State went on the rampage on Thursday in a violent reaction to the news of the killing of their colleague, Temitayo Ayodeji. A mob of the protesters reportedly set the family house of the suspected killer on fire. Mr Ayodeji was stabbed to death by a suspected cultist who is an indigene of the town during an argument in an off campus residential area. Some persons said the argument was over N1000, although the details were sketchy. As soon reports of the incident reached the school campus, students reacted violently raising panic and apprehension on the school premises. It was gathered that the house of the suspects mother was burnt down by the irate students during the protest. There were further protests in the Akungba community where students took to the streets over the killing. However, the police waded in and in collaboration with the school management, restored calm to the university community. READ ALSO: The police spokesperson in the state, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, confirmed the incident. She said the stabbed students was confirmed dead at the hospital. An indigene had an issue with a student and one thing led to the other, and he stabbed the student which resulted to the students death, she said. Students took to the street to protest, corpse taken to the morgue by police, while on it some people mobilize to the suspects mothers house to set it ablaze, policemen are there to douse the tension. The last time the students of the university were on the streets protesting was in February last year, when they raised the alarm over the incessant kl6ing of students by hit and run drivers plying the expressway. Meanwhile, the Students Union Government of the institution has given further details on the incident. A statement signed by the SUG President, Ogunsanmi Kolade, and General Secretary, Adeyefa Tolulope, and made available to journalists on Thursday, said the culprits were on the run, but efforts were underway to apprehend them. Information at our disposal, given by some eyewitnesses, reports that Temitayo Ayodeji was stabbed to death in his hostel (off campus) by some indigenes who are already on the run, the statement read. However, the case has been reported at Akungba Police. Our position remains that the security services should launch a manhunt immediately to apprehend the perpetrator, and we shall NOT rest until justice is served. We call on all students to remain calm and follow the directives of the Students Union. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print ( Read 1836 Times) 07 Apr 23 Share | Print This Page This Article/News is also avaliable in following categories : Your Comments ! Share Your Openion Laman Ismayilova Spectacular concert has been held in Paris within the 35th anniversary of the UNESCO Silk Roads Programme. A series of events are co-organized by UNESCO and the Permanent Delegations to UNESCO of Azerbaijan, China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Oman as part of the celebration, Azernews reports. UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences Gabriela Ramos welcomed the guests of the event. In her speech, she drew attention to the rich cultural heritage of the Silk Road countries. During the concert, Saida Zulfugarova (piano) and Agarahim Guliyev (flute) thrilled the audience with Jovdat Hajiyev's "Ballade", Fazil Soy's "Black Earth" and Fikrat Amirov's Six Pieces for Flute and Piano Flute. The guests of the event also enjoyed Azerbaijani national dances "Naz elema" and "Uzundara". Launched in 1998 with the Integral Study of the Silk Roads, the Roads of Dialogue (1988-1997), UNESCO Silk Road Programme highlights the cultural interactions between the peoples of East and West through scientific expeditions, field studies, conferences, and cultural performances along the Silk Roads. Since launching its second phase in 2012, the programme has focused on three key areas: developing, mobilising and disseminating knowledge, building partnerships and networking, and empowering youth. UNESCO Silk Road Programme traces the exchanges and mutual influences which occurred along the Silk Roads, seeking a deeper perspective on the development and social transformations of the modern pluralistic societies with a view to reinforce inclusion and peace through major initiatives such as the Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads international photography contest, the Thematic Collection of Cultural Exchanges along the Silk Roads, and the Silk Roads Youth Research Grant. At sunset on Wednesday, roughly 170 students at the University of Virginia celebrated the start of the seven-day Passover holiday with a gathering at the Brody Jewish Center to hear Rabbi and Executive Director Jake Rubin lead a Seder feast. Jewish people around the world participate in Seder, which means order in Hebrew, on the first night of Passover to retell the story of the Israelites liberation from slavery in Egypt, as described in Exodus, the second book of the Hebrew and Christian bibles. Truman H. Brody-Boyd, assistant director of development at the Brody Jewish Center told The Daily Progress on Friday that Seder is often a time for family, friends and congregants to come together. One of our core values as the Brody Jewish Center is being our students home away from home, Brody-Boyd said. For us, that means on times when Seder falls in the middle of the week, like on a Wednesday, we provide that Seder experience for them and we give them all the comforts that they would have had at home. The students, who only just returned from spring break a few weeks ago, had the opportunity to participate in a true Seder meal on Wednesday evening, Brody-Boyd said. On a traditional Passover Seder table, there is a Seder plate, where each food is symbolic of an aspect of the Passover holiday. A roasted lamb shank represents the Paschal lamb sacrificed at the first Passover; an egg represents spring and the circle of life; bitter herbs represent the bitterness of slavery; charoset, a mixture of apples and cinnamon, represent the mortar used by the Jews in Egypt; greens, often parsley, represent spring. Also on the table is matzah cracker-like unleavened bread, that represents the bread the Israelites took with them when they fled Egypt. The students on Wednesday also participated in the storytelling aspect of Seder, taking turns reading about the Israelites being freed from slavery in Egypt from a pamphlet that included excerpts from the Bible and instructions on when to eat each item on their Seder plates and the significance of each of the food items. The meal included everything from whole Seder plates to tons of amazing delicious brisket that Rabbi Jake prepared, Brody-Boyd said. We tried to make it as welcoming and as warm as inclusive as possible, Brody-Boyd said. So whether we've seen that student 10 times this year, only one time this year or this is their first thing with us, they feel a part of the community and they feel that they're welcome and feel included. It's really vital to us to provide that space for them, and it's really meaningful for us to be able to be that home away from home for our students. After feeding and educating UVas Jewish student population, the leaders at the Brody Jewish Center introduced the Passover Around Grounds program, providing students with their own Seder kits to share with their own communities of friends, roommates and peers. It's a really meaningful way for them to take control of their Jewish identity and start to form their Jewish tradition, Brody-Boyd said. Starting Friday, the Brody Jewish Center will provide students with Kosher meals for lunch and dinner through the end of Passover at sunset on Thursday. Leaders from the center will host the Passover meals in the center on 1824 University Circle. Meanwhile, in downtown Charlottesville, Congregation Beth Israel, Virginias oldest standing synagogue, held its first Seder celebration on Wednesday at the temple since before the pandemic made it unsafe to meet in-person. We have somebody who cooked for us every year, and singing and prayer the rabbi played the guitar for the congregation for Seder, a congregant who asked not to be named from Congregation Beth Israel told The Daily Progress. So it was a celebration of the exodus from Egypt, which is what Passover is about, and it was wonderful to get our community back together. It was absolutely beautiful. DALLAS, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Amid the passing of Mr. Kirk D. Myers-Hill, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Abounding Prosperity, Inc., the Board of Directors announces the appointment of Ms. Tamara Stephney as Acting Chief Executive Officer of Abounding Prosperity, Inc. The Board of Directors of Abounding Prosperity, Inc., met for an emergency meeting on the evening of April 4th and unanimously voted to appoint Ms. Stephney to the role. The appointment went into immediate effect as part of the agency's succession plan. Tamara Stephney Kirk Myers-Hill "Ms. Stephney has played a vital role in helping Mr. Myers-Hill grow the agency to what it is today. We, the Board of Directors, have no doubt that she is well suited to further advance the mission of Abounding Prosperity, Inc., and the legacy of Mr. Myers-Hill," said Michelle Myers, board chair. Tamara Stephney is a long-standing, committed and visible part of Abounding Prosperity. She has served Abounding Prosperity for the past 12 years, working side-by-side with Kirk Myers-Hill. She started as a Manager, then she was promoted to Associate Director, and for the past 6 years, she has served as Chief Operating Officer. She has over 20 years of public health experience working in medically underserved areas, including developing and implementing high-impact prevention efforts for Black and Latinx populations in the Southern United States, including Texas. Ms. Stephney has more than ten years of experience in fiscal management and programmatic infrastructure and management. Ms. Stephney is an active advocate in the community, contributing as part of many relevant organizations. She is a member of the State HIV Planning Group, the Dallas local HIV Task Force, and the Hepatitis C Task Force. "I am truly honored and privileged to have worked alongside Mr. Kirk Myers-Hill for the past 12 years. The best way to honor his memory is to continue the work and carry his legacy forward," said Tamara Stephney. "I will continue that work, the work to fulfill the mission of Abounding Prosperity, Inc. and the vision of Mr. Kirk Myers Hill." Kirk Myers-Hill founded Abounding Prosperity, Inc. in 2005 and was a tireless advocate for the health and wellness of the Black family, particularly Black LGBTQ+ community members in Dallas. Several services have been planned to celebrate the life and legacy of Mr. Kirk Myers-Hill. Please see the full schedule below: Community Vigil & Balloon Release Saturday, April 8, 2023 6 p.m. 8 p.m. Irene H. Trigg-Myers Prosperity Park 2215 Warren Avenue, Dallas, TX 75215 Visitation Thursday, April 13, 2023 5 p.m. 8 p.m. The Hall of State at Fair Park 3939 Grand Avenue, Dallas, TX 75210 Funeral Service Friday, April 14, 2023 11 a.m. Cathedral of Hope 5910 Cedar Springs Road, Dallas, TX 75235 B-ROLL/INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES Tamara Stephney , Acting Chief Executive Officer, Abounding Prosperity Inc. , Acting Chief Executive Officer, Abounding Prosperity Inc. Ahmad Goree , Public Affairs Director, Abounding Prosperity, Inc. Media contact: Kayla Tucker Adams, KTA Media Group, [email protected], 214-403-9852 SOURCE Abounding Prosperity, Inc. Gala honors Dermatology Giant Mark G. Lebwohl, MD and Pharmaceutical Leader LEO Pharma NEW YORK, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On Tuesday evening, at The Plaza, American Skin Association (ASA) held their Spring Gala, where they presented awards to two outstanding honorees and celebrated another successful year of funding research and educating youth on skin health. The in-person gala returned after celebrating virtually during the pandemic to the delight of their loyal supporters and donors, including philanthropists, business leaders, and many renowned physicians from the field of dermatology. Howard P. Milstein, Chairman of ASA, said, "We were proud to honor Dr. Mark Lebwohl and LEO Pharma for their dedication to the field of dermatology. Both honorees share in ASA's crucial mission of finding cures for skin diseases." This year, awards were presented to the following: Mark G. Lebwohl, MD, Dean for Clinical Therapeutics for the Department of Dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai was presented ASA's Lifetime Achievement Award for his distinguished four-decade career in dermatology. The award was presented by ASA President, David A. Norris, MD, who applauded Dr. Lebwohl's continuing dedication to inspiring, educating and mentoring the next generation of dermatologists. Dr. Lebwohl is Chairman Emeritus of the Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Department of Dermatology. He is an internationally respected physician, scientist, and administrative leader, as well as a pioneer in immuno-dermatology. He is also an accomplished author of over 700 publications and is co-author of the leading book on dermatologic therapy, Treatment of Skin Disease, now in its 6th edition. Global pharmaceutical leader LEO Pharma received the 2023 Distinguished Corporate Leadership Award. The award was presented by Mark G. Lebwohl, MD and was accepted by LEO Pharma's Vice President and Global Head of Medical Affairs, Dr. Judit Nyirady. LEO has a long and rich history in the pharmaceutical industry and was founded in Copenhagen 115 years ago. Dr. Lebwohl shared that the company is dedicated to advancing the standard of care for the benefit of patients, their caregivers, and the world. LEO's stated values of integrity, customer focus, innovation, passion and adaptability reflect the way their people strive to increase the quality of life for patients. President of ASA, Dr. David A. Norris, said, "I congratulate Dr. Lebwohl and LEO Pharma on these well-deserved honors! We look forward to continuing to build strong partnerships with physicians like Dr. Lebwohl and organizations like LEO Pharma as we work together to provide hope to patients and their families." For nearly four decades, ASA and its affiliates have funded over $50 million in grants to support the work of more than 300 promising young scientists. Recipients, who work on breakthrough efforts to prevent, detect, and treat skin cancer and other skin diseases, have gone on to become top researchers in dermatology. The critical research funded by ASA addresses not only the causes and treatments of melanoma, vitiligo, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and other skin diseases, but also promises remarkable breakthroughs in the search for long-sought-after cures. ASA's educational mission is no less crucial. The organization continues to support the SPOTS (Sun Protection Outreach Teaching by Students) program, a free community outreach program designed to teach students from preschool through high school about the importance of early detection and prevention of skin cancer. ASA's educational contributions are part of a growing worldwide understanding of the importance of skin health awareness. The event's Master of Ceremonies was NBC's Emmy-winning weather anchor Dave Price. Mr. Price has emceed the event in previous years and was once again a wonderful addition to the festivities. ABOUT AMERICAN SKIN ASSOCIATION A unique collaboration of patients, families, advocates, physicians, and scientists, ASA has evolved over thirty-six years as a leading force in efforts to defeat melanoma, vitiligo, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and other skin diseases. Established to serve the now more than 100 million Americans one-third of the U.S. population afflicted with skin disorders, the organization's mission remains to: advance research, champion skin health, particularly among children, and drive public awareness about skin disease. ASA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information, visit americanskin.org. American Skin Association has earned Candid's 2023 Seal of Platinum Transparency. SOURCE American Skin Association BEIJING, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report by haiwainet.cn: 2023 marks the 40th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and Angola. Over the past 40 years, Chinese companies have undertaken many projects for water supply and drought relief in Angola, bringing "tangible changes" to the lives of residents. Smiles spread across the faces of all, from adults with buckets on their heads to children with plastic bottles in their arms, when they first saw clean tap water filling the sink in their village. "You've fulfilled the dream we've had for generations! Now, people, cattle and sheep all have enough water to drink. The drought is a thing of the past. I'm very, very happy about that," said Mengela, an Angolan villager, in expressing his gratitude for the drought relief project undertaken in Cunene Province by POWERCHINA, a state-owned enterprise taking the lead in infrastructural construction worldwide. The project is one of the top ten livelihood projects in Angola, including a 150-kilometer-long canal, 30 pools of 50,000 cubic meters, and 30 drinking water points for livestock. After the project is completed, it can meet the water needs of 235,000 people and 400,000 livestock along the line and provide irrigation for 5,000 hectares of farmland. In addition to the recognition it has gained among residents, the project has also been acclaimed by people from all sectors at home and abroad. In January this year, Manuel Quintino, Secretary of State for Water Affairs of Angola, paid a visit to the site, saying that the project had greatly mitigated drought conditions in the region and that it not only played a vital role in facilitating people's life and work and the development of agriculture and animal husbandry in the region but also provided a useful reference for projects of the same kind to be implemented in other provinces in southern Angola and even in neighboring countries. Earlier, Abdullah Shahid, President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, said during a visit to the project that the model therein applied should be introduced to other drought-affected regions worldwide. Channeled into Africa is not only the water that fights against droughts but also the cordiality of the Chinese people. The Cunene Drought Relief Project is on its way to becoming a bond of long-lasting friendship between China and Africa. SOURCE haiwainet.cn LOS ANGELES, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SoLa Impact , a leading minority-owned and operated social impact fund, in partnership with its affiliated 501c3 non-profit, the SoLa Foundation , will award the 2023 SoLa Social Impact Award to nationally-recognized recording artist, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and social change leader, Kwanza Jones. This award is for her deep and abiding commitment to expanding access to higher education, creating opportunities and increasing access to capital for underrepresented founders and fund managers, supporting bodily autonomy, promoting women's and LGBTQ+ rights, advancing gender and racial equity, and providing relief funds for those affected by natural disasters across the globe. Kwanza Jones will accept the Social Impact Award at the SoLa Foundation's 2nd Annual Sneakerball Gala and Fundraiser at the SoLa Beehive on Saturday, April 15, 2023. Kwanza lives her values. Her life's work intersects culture, community, and capital. As an artist, she uses her voice to uplift humanity her music calls for social change and inspires action. She infuses her songs with powerful social messages that motivate and inspire. Seven of her songs have achieved high rankings on the Billboard music charts. Her activism and civic engagement includes previously serving on the Washington, D.C. Board of Education and being a member of the United Way Tocqueville Society. Kwanza's approach to philanthropy is unique. Ms. Jones is Co-Founder and CEO of the Kwanza Jones & Jose E. Feliciano Initiative , which has invested more than $150 million in diverse founders, entrepreneurs, organizations and allies in support of education, empowerment, equity, and entrepreneurship, directly and positively impacting more than 80,000 people. Kwanza says "money can be the easy part; we invest more by providing partnership, connection, networks, and community". In addition, Ms. Jones collaborated with artists such as Beyonce, Sinead O'Connor, Halle Berry, Mary J. Blige, and others to rally support against sexual exploitation and trafficking of young girls. "Kwanza Jones embodies the SoLa Foundation motto, 'If you can see it, you can be it','" said Sherri Francois, Chief Impact Officer of SoLa Impact and Founder and Executive Director of the SoLa Foundation. "She is a self-made woman who acts with determination to make our world a more equitable and positive place. Her life is an inspiration to Black and Brown girls and boys who want to make a difference. She is receiving the 2023 SoLa Impact Award because of this work. We cannot wait to celebrate all of who she is and what she does for so, so many." Among Kwanza's many social impact ventures is SUPERCHARGED by Kwanza Jones , a media company and personal development community that encourages and inspires the public to make the world a better place. Established in 2017, SUPERCHARGED works to build a place where people can connect to discover, learn, and share resources that help them fulfill their human potential and improve their lives. The Kwanza Jones Boost Friends Community is inclusive but exclusive, offering an elevated opportunity to connect with inspired and inspiring people to boost professional networks, provide mentorship, and propel individuals to achieve their personal goals. "My personal motto is: own your power, live your purpose, be of service," said Kwanza Jones. "It's an honor to be honored by a purpose-driven organization that serves so many. I applaud Martin Muoto and the SoLa Impact team. Their work is demonstrative of my belief that no one succeeds alone, sometimes you need a boost. I'm inspired to continue boosting and building for better." "SoLa Impact believes that conscious capital can uplift communities and change the course of people's lives. So does Kwanza. Her work to support entrepreneurs, women and minority owned ventures along with her philanthropy has uplifted thousands of people. She has made a real and lasting impact in this world," said Martin Muoto, Founder and CEO of SoLa Impact. The 2nd Annual Sneakerball Gala and Fundraiser will feature SoLa inventors, community leaders, elected officials, celebrities, influencers and non-profit leaders from throughout South LA. Proceeds from the Gala go directly to supporting the SoLa Foundation's marquee projects, the SoLa Technology and Entrepreneurship Center and the SoLa College Scholarships program along with other education and community engagement programs. About SoLa Impact SoLa Impact is a family of real estate funds with a double bottom line strategy focused on preserving, rehabbing, and building high-quality, affordable housing in Black and Brown communities. SoLa's proven track record leverages data-driven social impact strategies to deliver market returns. SoLa Impact's fourth fund, the Black Impact Fund, will deploy over $1 billion in Los Angeles and Southern California to build over 3,500 workforce and affordable housing units. SoLa Impact was ranked as the 7th fastest-growing Black-led private company. Additionally, it was recognized as the Leading Social Impact Housing Developer in recognition of SoLa's demonstrated ability to deliver positive changes in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters. SoLa Impact's funds have attracted a number of leading investors due to its disruptive business model of leveraging private capital to dramatically reduce the cost of affordable housing. About SoLa Foundation The SoLa Foundation , a 501(c)3 nonprofit affiliate of SoLa Impact, aims to improve the lives of South LA residents and break the cycle of intergenerational poverty by providing opportunities for education and economic mobility. SoLa's Technology and Entrepreneurship Center Powered by Riot Games, is a state-of-the-art, first-of-its-kind center at the heart of South Central Los Angeles. SoLa provides the community with skills-based technology programming, scholarships, and career development opportunities for underinvested communities to ensure Black and Brown Angelenos get increased access to jobs, mentorship, and placement in the most competitive fields of business. About Kwanza Jones Kwanza Jones is a catalyst. She is a sought-after speaker, accomplished artist, impact investor, and philanthropist. With a multifaceted background spanning music, media, production, law and business, Jones is an energetic and visionary leader. As co-founder and CEO of the Kwanza Jones & Jose E. Feliciano Initiative , a high-impact philanthropic grant-making and impact investment organization, she invests in individuals, organizations, early stage/growth ventures, nonprofits and for-profit companies that make a lasting impact across four key areas: Education, Entrepreneurship, Equity and Empowerment. Jones has served on numerous boards including the Apollo Theater, Bennett College, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer, and Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. She also founded SUPERCHARGED by Kwanza Jones , a lifestyle & motivational media company that helps individuals and organizations continuously improve. To learn more, visit kwanzajones.com and connect with her on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Kwanza Jones Boost Friends Community . SOURCE SoLa Impact Ballotpedia has tracked 16 cases in which lawmakers were expelled from legislative chambers between 1961 and 2023nine Republicans and seven Democrats. MIDDLETON, Wis., April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- What: Current and historical information about elected officials expelled from state legislatures, click here . Current and historical information about elected officials expelled from state legislatures, click . Who, When, Where: On April 6 , the Tennessee House of Representatives voted to expel Reps. Justin Jones (D) and Justin Pearson (D) from the legislature. The vote was 72-25 to remove Jones and 69-26 to remove Pearson. The House also voted 65-30 to expel Rep. Gloria Johnson (D), failing to meet the two-thirds thresholdor 66 votesfor removing a member of the chamber. On , the House of Representatives voted to expel Reps. (D) and (D) from the legislature. The vote was 72-25 to remove Jones and 69-26 to remove Pearson. The House also voted 65-30 to expel Rep. (D), failing to meet the two-thirds thresholdor 66 votesfor removing a member of the chamber. Why: Rep. Bud Hulsey (R), Rep. Gino Bulso (R), and Rep. Andrew Farmer (R) introduced the resolutions to expel the three representatives from the chamber. The resolutions state Johnson, Jones, and Pearson "did knowingly and intentionally bring disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives through their individual and collective actions." Rep. (R), Rep. (R), and Rep. (R) introduced the resolutions to expel the three representatives from the chamber. The resolutions Johnson, Jones, and Pearson "did knowingly and intentionally bring disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives through their individual and collective actions." Full report here: https://ballotpedia.org/Daily_Brew:_April_7,_2023 SOURCE Ballotpedia More than four months after launching the Cut The Check campaign to address the issue of graduate student workers receiving late paychecks, the United Campus Workers of Virginia chapter at the University of Virginia marched across Grounds to Madison Hall to speak with Provost Ian Baucom on Friday afternoon. A group of about 70 undergraduate and graduate students, including a graduate campus worker from Virginia Commonwealth University, chanted on the steps of Madison Hall in call-and-response style, demanding that UVa and all Virginia universities abide by their contractual obligations to pay student workers. A delegation of five workers spoke with the provost as the rest of the group continued to protest outside of the building that houses Baucoms office. Provost Baucom refused to commit to hiring more staff in the appropriate divisions to ensure that UVAs graduate workers will no longer have to worry about late and missing payments, the United Campus Workers of Virginia wrote on its website on Friday. The graduate workers launched the campaign in December of last year after most of them did not receive their paychecks until three weeks after the university was scheduled to pay them, said Laura Ornee, who is a member of the UVa chapter of United Campus Workers of Virginia. Baucom on Jan. 5 promised to establish a Graduate Stipend Task Force. He formally charged the task force with identifying the "precise cause of the delay and to ensure that delays are avoided in the future" on Feb. 9. The Graduate Stipend Task Force sent an update on March 2 with recommendations to get to the root of the wage delays and identify solutions. Recommendations included better communication of and adherence to established deadlines; aligning monthly stipend payments with bimonthly wage payments in order to minimize the time gap between payments; and creating more ways to upload stipend and wage information to a professional portal. The graduate workers, many of whom say they are still receiving late paychecks, are not satisfied with the task forces response. JAKARTA, Indonesia, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk. (IDX: BBRI) has partnered with MIND ID, a State-Owned Enterprise in the Mining Industry Holding, to provide Notional Pooling and Short-Term Working Capital Loan Facilities. The partnership was made official through a Cooperation Agreement signed on 16 March 2023 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Agus Noorsanto, BRIs Director of Institutional and Wholesale Business with Devi Pradnya Paramita, MIND ID's Director of Finance The Cooperation Agreement was signed by Agus Noorsanto, BRI's Director of Institutional and Wholesale Business, with MIND ID Group represented by Devi Pradnya Paramita, Director of Finance of MIND ID; Farida Thamrin, Risk Management of PT Bukit Asam Tbk.; Elisabeth RT Siahaan, Director of Finance and Risk Management of PT ANTAM Tbk; Fina Eliani, Director of Finance and Risk Management of PT Timah Tbk; and Syafrizal, Director of PT Indonesia Papua Metal and Mineral. The service can be accessed through the BRI cash management platform and provides daily monitoring of consolidated balances in Indonesian Rupiah and other foreign currencies. It is designed to help companies manage their finances and allows for easy transfer of funds among group companies. "This cooperation optimizes and ensures a more efficient cash management. It can also increase synergy, not only among companies within the MIND ID Group, but also synergy among state-owned enterprises, in this case with BRI," explained Devi. Notional Pooling also allows companies to manage their corporate liquidity with ease, thereby improving their financial structure. For instance, a company's subsidiary, such as those within the MIND ID Group, can receive such liquidity in times of need via the excess liquidity of their consolidated balance. These features significantly benefit clients by enabling them to utilize excess funds as additional investment options. In addition to Notional Pooling, BRI offers end-to-end financial transaction management solutions through Qlola. Developed for leasing companies and other corporations, Qlola integrates features such as financial dashboards, cash management, supply chain management, and foreign exchange, and is equipped with multi-language functions as well. "BRI is committed to providing the best service of integrated banking solutions by ensuring the ease of managing financial transactions through the Qlola platform," said Agus. Through various banking service facilities, BRI is committed to supporting financial inclusion in Indonesia and providing convenient and secure transactions for customers. For more information about BRI, visit www.bri.co.id . SOURCE PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia Tbk (BRI) PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cambodia is leading Southeast Asia's transition to cleaner energy, and it's gaining momentum. Following the submission of the country's long-term strategy for carbon neutrality to the United Nations, the Royal Government introduced the Power Development Masterplan (PDP) and the National Energy Efficiency Policy (NEEP) to the public. These initiatives demonstrate the government's unwavering commitment to the energy transition and the nation's first long-term energy plan for coordinated and strategic energy direction. "By adopting best practices, we can reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, create new jobs, and position Cambodia as a leader in the region," said Prime Minister Hun Sen. "Investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy is key to building a more sustainable future for our people and our planet." Energy efficiency is a critical aspect of Cambodia's clean energy transition, with the government committing to reducing energy consumption by 19% in relation to business-as-usual levels by 2030. The National Energy Efficiency Policy lays out strategic directions, priority areas, and sectoral targets, with Minister of Mines and Energy, Suy Sem, stating that "To harness the full potential of energy efficiency, developing a robust policy and regulatory framework, building stakeholder capacity, raising awareness of the benefits, and supporting private sector investment are crucial." Furthermore, Cambodia is currently working with Singapore to become a major exporter of clean energy in the region. The deal, which is still at the commercial negotiation stage, would see Singapore importing 1 GW of renewable energy annually from Cambodia, making up a quarter of their low-carbon electricity imports by 2035. The potential exports to Singapore would contribute to Cambodia's positive impact on the world and solidify its position as a leader in the clean energy industry in the region while mitigating the impact of climate change on the planet. "By prioritizing renewable energy sources, Cambodia is creating a competitive economic advantage while mitigating the impact of climate change and promoting sustainable development," said Minister of Environment Say Sam Al. "Investing in energy efficiency and clean energy technologies creates new economic opportunities and enhances the well-being of our citizens. Cambodia's unwavering dedication to a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable development path will inspire others to join us in the global effort towards a cleaner, healthier, and more prosperous future." As Cambodia continues to build towards an inclusive and competitive economy, the Power Development Masterplan and the National Energy Efficiency Policy will ensure that power prices remain stable and affordable. This will help Cambodia reach its development goals across sectors and position itself as a key player in the region on energy efficiency and renewable energy. Bold and visionary leadership in transitioning towards clean and green energy sources is crucial for securing a sustainable and prosperous future for all. Cambodia's commitment to sustainable energy and energy efficiency not only creates economic opportunities, promotes public health, and enhances the overall well-being of its citizens but also gives the country a competitive advantage in the regional marketplace. With ambitious goals and continued investment in sustainable technologies, Cambodia's positive impact on the world will be felt for generations to come. Media Contact: Tin Ponlok, Secretary of State, Ministry of Environment, Phone: +855 12915351, Email: [email protected] SOURCE Ministry of Environment, Cambodia With nearly 50 years of manufacturing experience, Carol Electronics serves over 300 brand-name companies worldwide. TAIPEI, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The demand for stylish, noise-canceling handheld microphones has significantly increased over the past several years, as an emerging trend. With its "AHNC Active Noise Canceling" handheld microphones, Carol Electronics, the Taiwanese company with a remarkable 47-year track record for designing, developing, and manufacturing quality electroacoustic products, has successfully solved the annoying problem and provides users with an incredibly pleasant acoustic experience. The core technology that enables the noise-canceling capability of AHNC microphones, utilizes the reverse connection of the upper and lower capsules to cancel the noises and maintain the authentic output of sounds. It also significantly reduces various vibration noises, such as handheld noise, vibration noise, linkage vibration noise, stage vibration noise, electromagnetic noise, etc., and delivers clear and clean sound for a superior and enjoyable acoustic experience for the audience. Another featured product of Carol Electronics is its Bluetooth multimedia audio and video system. It can successfully integrate audio and visual content to achieve multi-functional capabilities for its Bluetooth wireless audio and video amplifier. With technology such as "Dual video output", the Bluetooth system is compatible with both HDMI and VGA output to connect with televisions, projectors, laptops, etc. Through the multimedia system, audio inputs are amplified. While exhibiting visual media presentations, the output volume can be adjusted independently to make the teaching or presentation reporting more engaging. The Bluetooth system supports VGA, HDMI, UHF, Bluetooth, 3.5mm and 6.3mm/ 2.4g and is compatible with all existing mainstream video and audio input and output devices. With 47-year history, Carol Electronics has been entrusted by more than 300 OEM customers for its all-rounded product development and service packages. From product research and development, design, and manufacturing to shipment, Carol Electronics delivers the internationally highest standard of quality control system. In addition, Carol Electronics owns more than 120 international patents from different countries. Carol Electronics' brand, "Carol", is now a leading brand in the electroacoustic industry with product distributors in 17 countries worldwide. Welcome to our booth at The 2023 NAMM SHOW in Anaheim (booth 11530, Hall A). For more information, please visit Carol Electronics at: Company website: https://www.taiwancarol.com/index_tw.php Product Page: https://twncarol.en.taiwantrade.com/ Amazon Carol Store : https://www.amazon.com/stores/CAROL/page/9FD1835D-3101-4EB9-9073-B52DDD85B0CA?ref_=ast_bln SOURCE Taiwan Carol Electronics CO., LTD. TAIPEI, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cathay Financial Holdings (Cathay FHC) and the World Climate Foundation (WCF) have officially announced the signing of partnership for the third consecutive year. Cathay FHC president Chang-Ken Lee and WCF founder/CEO Jens Nielsen met in an online ceremony to address the importance of climate finance as well as the importance of strengthening collective global efforts and partnerships, in response to the threat of climate change. As WCF's first committed global strategic partner in 2023, Cathay FHC is continuing its long-running dedication to accelerating and implementing climate finance. Lee emphasized the important role financial institutions play in promoting sustainable economic development through intermediation and risk-management functions, and by linking investments to the real economy. This facilitates and supports the flow of financial instruments and services for the fulfillment of sustainable business practices, investments, green-energy transition, NBS implementation, environmental and social projects, and more. Lee also highlighted the significance of Cathay FHC's partnership with WCF. Starting as the first WCF strategic partner from Taiwan at COP26 in 2021, Cathay FHC has played a key role in channeling global green transitions to Asia in hopes of helping the Asian market prioritize climate-risk mitigation. In 2022, this interconnectedness grew even deeper. Cathay FHC live-streamed WCF's major eventthe World Climate Summit, which took place in Egypt's Sham El Sheikh, alongside COP27. "The sharing of global experiences by major leaders from different governments, industries, academia, and civil societies is important in helping Taiwan and Asia in embracing the challenges towards a net-zero economy," stated Lee. Lee hopes that by being actively engaged in WCF's planned roadmap to COP28 eventssuch as the Climate Investment Summit in London alongside London Climate Week; the World Biodiversity Summit alongside UNGA 78 and Climate Week NYC; and the largest ever World Climate Summit at COP in Dubaimore urgent issues, including finance transition, energy safety, food security, geopolitical risk, biodiversity, etc., will be discussed and resolved. Jens Nielsen, the founder and CEO of World Climate Foundation, reiterated the importance of the financial sector by quoting the COP28 President, Sultan Al Jaber's remark: "The lynchpin to all progress is climate finance. We need urgent reform of international financial institutions and multilateral development banks." Nielsen is delighted to continue partnering with Cathay FHC. "It has been a highly successful long-term collaboration," he stated. "Cathay FHC is an important player, not just in the Asia-Pacific but also globally, particularly in light of how strong a focus finance and investment are, in terms of being key drivers, enabling the positive transition to a low-carbon economy, etc." He further invited Cathay FHC's leader, chairman Hong-Tu Tsai, to deliver the opening keynote on the second day of the World Climate SummitThe Investment COP. "What Cathay FHC demonstrates is suitably positioned and aligned with our strong focus on finance," Nielsen added. The World Climate Foundation is the biggest and most influential global platform focused on action and impact on climate, biodiversity, and healthy resilience. For over a decade, WCF have facilitated large-scale collaboration between governments, businesses, financial institutions, and international organizations, accelerating the transition to a green economy. As a pioneering frontrunner teaming up with WCF, Cathay FHC hopes to encourage and influence more in-depth climate actions across sectors. SOURCE Cathay Financial Holding Co., Ltd. DUBLIN, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "China Refrigeration Appliances Market 2022-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The refrigeration appliances market in China is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 5.87% (by revenue) over the forecast period 2022-2028. Also, the market (in terms of category) is anticipated to develop at a CAGR of 1.90% (by volume), during this period. The COVID-19 sparked the introduction of new products with more advanced fresh-keeping technologies, in order to keep up with the varied food preservation demand from consumers. Midea's compartment utilizing magnetism to extend fruits' shelf life and Hisense's vacuum compartment for frozen food are key examples of such products. This is expected to positively influence the growth of the refrigeration appliances market in China over the forecast period. On the other hand, the premiumization trend in technology, storage, and aesthetics, coupled with the "smartization" trend post 2021, drove up the per unit price of refrigeration equipment. This, in turn, is likely to hamper the market's growth prospects in the country over the considered period Key Topics Covered: 1. China Refrigeration Appliances Market - Summary 1.1. Market Definition 1.2. Market Size & Forecasts 1.3. Market Driving Aspects 1.4. Market Restraining Aspects 1.5. Key Players 2. China Refrigeration Appliances Market Outlook 2.1. Impact of Covid-19 on the China Refrigeration Appliances Market 2.2. Market Share Analysis 2.3. Brand Share Analysis 2.4. PESTLE Analysis 2.5. Key Buying Criteria 2.6. Value Chain Analysis 3. China Refrigeration Appliances Market - by Category (Value in $ Million & Volume in Thousand Units) 3.1. Built-In Refrigeration Appliances 3.2. Electric Wine Coolers/Chillers 3.3. Freezers 3.4. Fridge Freezers 3.5. Fridges 4. China Refrigeration Appliances Market - by Distribution Channel (Value in $ Million) 4.1. Hypermarkets 4.2. Electronics and Appliance Specialist Retailers 4.3. E-Commerce 4.4. Other Distribution Channels 5. Competitive Landscape 6. Methodology & Scope 6.1. Research Scope & Deliverables 6.2. Sources of Data 6.3. Research Methodology A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes Haier Group Corporation Midea Group Hisense Hefei Meiling Xingxing Group For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/o47m3w About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets NEW YORK, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The coding bootcamp market size is set to grow by USD 1.20 billion from 2021 to 2026 at a CAGR of 19.31%. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current global market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The coding bootcamp market is driven by the low cost of bootcamps. The cost of a coding bootcamp is equivalent to one semester of a CS degree program. Such programs provide access to high-paying job profiles, and the cost of training for students varies per region and program. The bootcamps provide various options for students to finance the program, such as self-financing or access to low-interest loans. Vendors also offer deferred payment options that include monthly installments, tuition deferral until employment, and free training through scholarships. - Here is an exclusive report about market scenarios during the forecast period (2022-2026). Download a Sample Report! Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Coding Bootcamp Market 2022-2026 The coding bootcamp market covers the following areas: Coding Bootcamp Market Sizing Coding Bootcamp Market Forecast Coding Bootcamp Market Analysis The report on the coding bootcamp market provides a holistic update, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis. Coding Bootcamp Market 2022-2026 - Market Dynamics Emerging Trends The rise in ready-to-work coding boot camps is one of the key coding boot camp market trends. The bootcamps provide people with the full set of skills required to qualify for a junior developer and are typically referred to as Zero to Sixty code schools. They include intense training programs that are full-time and part-time training programs. Training programs are organized five days a week, with full-time training programs requiring 6-10 hours a day and part-time training requiring 3-5 hours a day, and the training imparted in ready-to-work coding boot camps is heavily oriented toward in-person training. Some examples of ready-to-work coding boot camps include General Assembly, Simplon, Ace Hacker , Geekskool, Learn Tech Labs, among others. Most vendors offering ready-to-work coding boot camps develop an in-house curriculum. Why Buy? Add credibility to the strategy Analyzes competitor's offerings Get a holistic view of the market Grow your profit margin with Technavio - Buy the Report Major Challenges The rise in formal education, such as bachelor's and master's degrees in the field of computer science engineering, is one of the key challenges hindering the coding bootcamp market growth. The growing demand for software engineers in both developed and developing economies compels students to opt for degree programs from formal educational institutions. In most emerging regions, acceptance of boot camp-qualified students is low, which further drives the growth of the formal education sector and suppresses the emergence of coding boot camps. Moreover, there is an unfamiliarity with boot camps among students, which further hinders the growth of the market. Hence, formal education is the biggest substitute and a major challenge for the growth of the global coding bootcamp market. Drivers, trends, and challenges have an impact on market dynamics, which can impact businesses. Find more insights in a sample report! Coding Bootcamp Market 2022-2026: Market Segmentation The coding bootcamp market analysis includes end-user (individual learners and institutional learners), delivery mode (full-time boot camps and part-time boot camps), language (java, python, .NET, ruby, and others), and geography (North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The market share growth by the individual learner's segment will be significant during the forecast period. More individuals are enrolling in coding boot camps to increase their job prospects, which is a major driver for the growth of the segment. Due to the increase in the number of online coding boot camps, many employees opt for online modes of delivery to enhance and polish their skills. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) provide various materials that help employees gain additional skills, which will help them improve their performance. Hence, the preference for bootcamps by individual learners to improve their skills is a major driver for the growth of the segment. This report presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources through an analysis of key parameters- View a Sample Report Companies Mentioned 4Geeks Academy LLC Academia de Codigo Adecco Group AG Barcelona Code School Chegg Inc. Dataquest Labs Inc. Epicodus Inc. Flatiron School LLC Fullstack Academy LLC Galvanize Inc. Hackwagon Academy Pte Ltd. Ironhack Inc. LA LOCO SAS Launch School Makers Academy Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. Skillcrush Inc. Tech Talent South Udacity Inc. Zip Code Wilmington Vendor Offerings 4Geeks Academy LLC - The company offers coding bootcamp programs for senior software engineers. The company offers coding bootcamp programs for senior software engineers. Adecco Group AG - The company offers coding bootcamp programs, such as Software Engineering Immersive, Data Science, and UX and UI Design. The company offers coding bootcamp programs, such as Software Engineering Immersive, Data Science, and UX and UI Design. Barcelona Code School - The company offers coding bootcamp programs, such as JavaScript Full Stack in-person and online bootcamp and UX and UI Design in-person bootcamp. What are the key data covered in this Coding Bootcamp Market report? CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the coding boot camp market between 2022 and 2026 Precise estimation of the size of the coding boot camp market and its contribution to the parent market Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior Growth of the coding boot camp market across APAC, North America , Europe , Middle East and Africa , and South America A thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information about vendors Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of the coding boot camp market vendors Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Related Reports: The computer-assisted coding market size should rise by USD 2.38 billion from 2021 to 2025 at a CAGR of 11.05%. The report extensively covers market segmentation by deployment (on-premise and cloud) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA). The increasing implementation of electronic health record (EHR) systems is driving the computer-assisted coding market growth. The coding and marking equipment market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.78% between 2022 and 2027. The size of the market is forecast to increase by USD 1,352.38 million. This report extensively covers market segmentation by product (CIJ printing and coding, laser coding and marking, TIJ printing, DOD printing, and others), end-user (food and beverage, healthcare, industrial, and others), and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, Middle East and Africa, and South America). One of the factors driving growth in the marking and coding equipment market is the increasing need for product traceability. Coding Bootcamp Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 19.31% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 1.20 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2021-2022(%) 19.24 Regional analysis North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution APAC at 39% Key countries US, Canada, India, UK, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled 4Geeks Academy LLC, Academia de Codigo, Adecco Group AG, Barcelona Code School, Chegg Inc., Dataquest Labs Inc., Epicodus Inc., Flatiron School LLC, Fullstack Academy LLC, Galvanize Inc., Hackwagon Academy Pte Ltd., Ironhack Inc., LA LOCO SAS, Launch School, Makers Academy, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp., Skillcrush Inc., Tech Talent South, Udacity Inc., and Zip Code Wilmington Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Browse for Technavio's Consumer Discretionary Market Reports Table of contents 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market overview Exhibit 01: Executive Summary Chart on Market Overview Exhibit 02: Executive Summary Data Table on Market Overview Exhibit 03: Executive Summary Chart on Global Market Characteristics Exhibit 04: Executive Summary Chart on Market by Geography Exhibit 05: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Language Exhibit 06: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by End-user Exhibit 07: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Delivery Mode Exhibit 08: Executive Summary Chart on Incremental Growth Exhibit 09: Executive Summary Data Table on Incremental Growth Exhibit 10: Executive Summary Chart on Vendor Market Positioning 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem Exhibit 11: Parent market Exhibit 12: Market Characteristics 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 13: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 14: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2021 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026 Exhibit 15: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 17: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 18: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 4 Five Forces Analysis 4.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 19: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026 4.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 20: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026 4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 21: Bargaining power of suppliers Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 22: Threat of new entrants Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 23: Threat of substitutes Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 24: Threat of rivalry Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.7 Market condition Exhibit 25: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026 5 Market Segmentation by Language 5.1 Market segments Exhibit 26: Chart on Language - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 27: Data Table on Language - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 5.2 Comparison by Language Exhibit 28: Chart on Comparison by Language Exhibit 29: Data Table on Comparison by Language 5.3 Python - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 30: Chart on Python - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Python - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 32: Chart on Python - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 33: Data Table on Python - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.4 Java - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 34: Chart on Java - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Java - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 36: Chart on Java - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 37: Data Table on Java - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.5 .NET - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 38: Chart on .NET - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 39: Data Table on .NET - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 40: Chart on .NET - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 41: Data Table on .NET - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.6 Ruby - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 42: Chart on Ruby - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 43: Data Table on Ruby - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 44: Chart on Ruby - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 45: Data Table on Ruby - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.7 Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 46: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 47: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 48: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 49: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.8 Market opportunity by Language Exhibit 50: Market opportunity by Language ($ million) 6 Market Segmentation by End-user 6.1 Market segments Exhibit 51: Chart on End-user - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 52: Data Table on End-user - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 6.2 Comparison by End-user Exhibit 53: Chart on Comparison by End-user Exhibit 54: Data Table on Comparison by End-user 6.3 Individual learners - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 55: Chart on Individual learners - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 56: Data Table on Individual learners - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 57: Chart on Individual learners - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 58: Data Table on Individual learners - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 6.4 Institutional learners - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 59: Chart on Institutional learners - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 60: Data Table on Institutional learners - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 61: Chart on Institutional learners - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 62: Data Table on Institutional learners - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 6.5 Market opportunity by End-user Exhibit 63: Market opportunity by End-user ($ million) 7 Market Segmentation by Delivery Mode 7.1 Market segments Exhibit 64: Chart on Delivery Mode - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 65: Data Table on Delivery Mode - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 7.2 Comparison by Delivery Mode Exhibit 66: Chart on Comparison by Delivery Mode Exhibit 67: Data Table on Comparison by Delivery Mode 7.3 Full-time bootcamps - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 68: Chart on Full-time bootcamps - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 69: Data Table on Full-time bootcamps - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 70: Chart on Full-time bootcamps - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 71: Data Table on Full-time bootcamps - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.4 Part-time bootcamps - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 72: Chart on Part-time bootcamps - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 73: Data Table on Part-time bootcamps - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 74: Chart on Part-time bootcamps - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 75: Data Table on Part-time bootcamps - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.5 Market opportunity by Delivery Mode Exhibit 76: Market opportunity by Delivery Mode ($ million) 8 Customer Landscape 8.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 77: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 9 Geographic Landscape 9.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 78: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 79: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) 9.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 80: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 81: Data Table on Geographic comparison 9.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 82: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 83: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 84: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 85: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 9.4 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 86: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 87: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 88: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 89: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 9.5 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 90: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 91: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 92: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 93: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 9.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 94: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 95: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 96: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 97: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 9.7 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 98: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 99: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 100: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 101: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 9.8 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 102: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 103: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 104: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 105: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 9.9 Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 106: Chart on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 107: Data Table on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 108: Chart on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 109: Data Table on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 9.10 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 110: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 111: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 112: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 113: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 9.11 India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 114: Chart on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 115: Data Table on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 116: Chart on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 117: Data Table on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 9.12 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 118: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 119: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 120: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 121: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 9.13 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 122: Market opportunity by geography ($ million) 10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10.1 Market drivers 10.2 Market challenges 10.3 Impact of drivers and challenges Exhibit 123: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026 10.4 Market trends 11 Vendor Landscape 11.1 Overview 11.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 124: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 11.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 125: Overview on factors of disruption 11.4 Industry risks Exhibit 126: Impact of key risks on business 12 Vendor Analysis 12.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 127: Vendors covered 12.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 128: Matrix on vendor position and classification 12.3 4Geeks Academy LLC Exhibit 129: 4Geeks Academy LLC - Overview Exhibit 130: 4Geeks Academy LLC - Product / Service Exhibit 131: 4Geeks Academy LLC - Key offerings 12.4 Adecco Group AG Exhibit 132: Adecco Group AG - Overview Exhibit 133: Adecco Group AG - Business segments Exhibit 134: Adecco Group AG - Key offerings Exhibit 135: Adecco Group AG - Segment focus 12.5 Barcelona Code School Exhibit 136: Barcelona Code School - Overview Exhibit 137: Barcelona Code School - Product / Service Exhibit 138: Barcelona Code School - Key offerings 12.6 Chegg Inc. Exhibit 139: Chegg Inc. - Overview Exhibit 140: Chegg Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 141: Chegg Inc. - Key news Exhibit 142: Chegg Inc. - Key offerings 12.7 Dataquest Labs Inc. Exhibit 143: Dataquest Labs Inc. - Overview Exhibit 144: Dataquest Labs Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 145: Dataquest Labs Inc. - Key offerings 12.8 Flatiron School LLC Exhibit 146: Flatiron School LLC - Overview Exhibit 147: Flatiron School LLC - Product / Service Exhibit 148: Flatiron School LLC - Key offerings 12.9 Fullstack Academy LLC Exhibit 149: Fullstack Academy LLC - Overview Exhibit 150: Fullstack Academy LLC - Product / Service Exhibit 151: Fullstack Academy LLC - Key offerings 12.10 Galvanize Inc. Exhibit 152: Galvanize Inc. - Overview Exhibit 153: Galvanize Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 154: Galvanize Inc. - Key offerings 12.11 Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. Exhibit 155: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. - Overview Exhibit 156: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 157: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 158: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. - Segment focus 12.12 Udacity Inc. Exhibit 159: Udacity Inc. - Overview Exhibit 160: Udacity Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 161: Udacity Inc. - Key news Exhibit 162: Udacity Inc. - Key offerings 13 Appendix 13.1 Scope of the report 13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 163: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 164: Exclusions checklist 13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 165: Currency conversion rates for US$ 13.4 Research methodology Exhibit 166: Research methodology Exhibit 167: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 168: Information sources 13.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 169: List of abbreviation About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio - Both companies will strategically cooperate in embedding AI chips into robot platforms - For the past year in the process of examining in advance, various AI algorithms for robots were operated to check for the latest AI algorithm support, excellent AI accuracy, and high computing efficiency of the DEEPX NPU - "This will be an opportunity for DEEPX's AI semiconductor to become the mass-production ready core solution in the global smart mobility market" SEOUL, South Korea, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DEEPX and Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation will cooperate with technology development for on-device AI technology for robot platforms. On March 24 (Friday) at the Uiwang Research Facility of Hyundai Motors & Kia Corporation, DEEPX announced its execution of the MOU on AI semiconductor collaboration use for robot platforms, with the representatives of both companies including Lok-Won Kim CEO, and Dong-Jin Hyun, Robotics Lab leader of Hyundai Motors & Kia Corporation. DEEPX to work with Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation on AI semiconductor load for robot platforms. On March 24(Friday) at the Uiwang Research Facility of Hyundai Motors & Kia Corporation, DEEPX announced its execution of the MOU on AI semiconductor use for robot platforms, with the representatives of both companies including Lok-Won Kim, CEO, and Dong-Jin Hyun, Robotics lab leader of Hyundai Motors & Kia Corporation present. (Right: DEEPX CEO Lok-Won Kim, Left: Hyundai Motors & Kia Corporation) DEEPX develops AI semiconductors and implements AI technology used in various electronic devices that exist outside of the data center with high-performance and low-power advantages. Currently DEEPX has 4 kinds of AI semiconductors that are optimized for performance and function that can match with various edge and server AI application fields and have secured more than 150 patents, both domestic and international, that are related to fundamental AI semiconductor technology. Domestically, DEEPX is evaluated as the leading AI semiconductor fabless company, and DEEPX is targeting the global edge AI market. During the Proof-of-Concept (PoC) conducted over the past year by Hyundai Motor Group and Kia Robotics Lab, DEEPX demonstrated outstanding AI performance by providing higher AI accuracy with INT8bit than FP32bit. In addition, it has been proven that various robot application AI algorithms developed by the Robotics Lab can be smoothly operated, making it possible to implement AI models required by robots. In particular, it is evaluated as suitable for mass production of battery-powered robot products due to its exceptionally high AI computational efficiency and low power operation. This agreement aims to cooperate on the application of DEEPX's AI semiconductor technology to the robot platform currently under development with the aim of commercialization by Hyundai Motor Group and Kia. To achieve this, the two companies will incorporate AI functions for robots into DEEPX's AI SoC (System on Chip) products, verify their operability and mass production for deployment in the final products developed by Robotics Lab. In this way, the AI technology can be implemented in the robots developed by the Robotics Lab. Lok-Won Kim, CEO commented: "According to the global market research data, the size of the global smart mobility is expected to grow to be about 145 billion dollars by the year 2027. For the AI semiconductor, the core technology of this market, there are currently no optimized solutions for each detailed fields, therefore it is possible to lead the market if a mass production-ready solution is prepared. Having technology cooperation with the global market leader Hyundai Motors and Kia Corporation will present DEEPX's AI semiconductor an opportunity to become the core solution of the future market in the related field. This is a great inspiration for us. DEEPX has succeeded in commercializing NPU IP in 2021, and I am grateful to earn the chance to demonstrate the test for mass-production as soon as we reach NPU development milestone this year". Dong-Jin Hyun, leader of the Robotics Lab of Hyundai Motors & Kia Corporation said, "I expect we can lead the excellent robotics service development in both performance and price by combining the SW technology of the Robotics Lab and DEEPX's HW technology." He also added, "As soon as we confirm and examine the superiority of DEEPX NPU chip products, we will carry on with further cooperation and apply it to the robot that is under research and development." Contact Ah-hyeong Lee, PR & Marketing Manager, [email protected] Company official SNS guide (Online channel) Company page: https://deepx.co.kr/ Company Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/deepx-corporation/ Official YouTube: https://bit.ly/3Q0VRdw SOURCE DEEPX The increase in the prevalence of skin care treatments, the rise in the adoption of minimal invasive procedures in various aesthetic service providers, a surge in the number of plastic surgeons to conduct dermabrasion procedure, and the demand for aesthetic appearance drive the global dermabrasion and microneedling market. PORTLAND, Ore., April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Dermabrasion and Microneedling Market By Procedure (Dermabrasion, Microneedling), By Gender (Female, Male), By Application (Scar, Fine line and Wrinkle, Others), By End User (Specialty and Dermatology Clinics, Hospitals, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031." According to the report, the global dermabrasion and microneedling industry generated $417.7 million in 2021 and is anticipated to generate $684.4 million by 2031, witnessing a CAGR of 5.1% from 2022 to 2031. The report offers a detailed analysis of changing market trends, top segments, key investment pockets, value chain, regional landscape, and competitive scenario. Download Free Sample Report: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/11786 Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities The increase in the prevalence of skin care treatments, the rise in the adoption of minimal invasive procedures in various aesthetic service providers, a surge in the number of plastic surgeons to conduct dermabrasion procedure, and the rise in the demand for aesthetic appearance, and an increase in the number of product approvals for dermabrasion and microneedling devices for different procedures drive the global dermabrasion and microneedling market. However, the high cost of dermabrasion procedure and the availability of alternative treatments are likely to hinder the market growth during the forecast period. On the other hand, a rise in the number of development strategies, such as agreement and collaboration by market players is expected to provide new opportunities in the coming years. Covid-19 Scenario: The outbreak of COVID-19 had a negative impact on the global dermabrasion and microneedling market, as the pandemic caused a stress in healthcare systems across the globe. A huge number of clinics and hospitals worldwide were reconstructed to increase the hospital capacity for the patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Furthermore, non-essential surgical procedures were cancelled due to the pandemic. A decline in the number of elective surgeries during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the decrease in the demand for facial aesthetic procedure owing to the imposition of lockdown by governments of several countries. This had a negative impact on the market for dermabrasion and microneedling. On the other hand, a sudden sharp cut in the monthly income of population restricted the market growth during the pandemic. The dermabrasion segment to grab the lion's share during the forecast period Based on procedures, the dermabrasion segment contributed to the largest share of more than two-thirds of the global dermabrasion and microneedling market in 2021, and is expected to maintain its dominance during the forecast period. The growth is attributed to the rising prevalence of skin disease like acne scar and advancement in technology for the development of advanced dermabrasion treatments. The microneedling segment, on the other hand, is projected to witness the fastest CAGR of 5.5% from 2022 to 2031. This is due to the increase in the demand for anti-aging procedures, the surge in R&D activities in medical aesthetic centers, and a rise in the number of clinical trials on microneedling treatment. Procure Complete Report (220 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout-final/dermabrasion-and-micro-needling-market The scar segment to dominate the market during the forecast period In terms of application, the scar segment held the highest market share in 2021, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the global dermabrasion and microneedling market and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Also, the same segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 5.3% from 2022 to 2031. The growth of the segment is driven by the increase in the prevalence of scars caused due to acne, accident, and previous surgery and the rise in the demand for minimal invasive aesthetic procedures. The hospitals segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period On the basis of end user, the hospitals segment contributed to the largest share of more than two-fifths of the global dermabrasion and microneedling market revenue in 2021 and is expected to maintain its dominance during the forecast period. The same segment is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 5.5% from 2022 to 2031. The increase in the adoption of aesthetic procedures in hospitals and a rise in expenditure by government on developing the healthcare sector are the factors driving the growth of the segment. North America to garner the largest revenue by 2031 Based on region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2021, accounting for around two-fifths of the global dermabrasion and microneedling market and is likely to dominate the market during the forecast period. The growth is attributed to a rise in the number of minimal invasive surgical aesthetic procedures, the increase in the adoption of advanced aesthetic procedures in hospitals, the surge in the prevalence of acne scar, and a strong presence of key market players in the region. However, the market in Asia-Pacific is likely to show the fastest CAGR of 6.1% from 2022 to 2031. This is due to the high prevalence of aging population with increased need of aesthetic surgery, the rise in healthcare awareness, and a rise in healthcare expenditure in the region. Leading Market Players: Essi Clinic SpaSurgica, LuxeSkin Med Spa Bingham Memorial Hospital Azura Skin Care Center Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd. JNU Hospital Cutis Skin Clinic & Cosmetology Center Fortis Healthcare Yorkville Institute of Plastic Surgery Trending Reports in Healthcare Industry (Book Now with 10% Discount): Orthodontics Market by Age Group (Adults and Children), and Type (Brackets, Anchorage Appliances, Ligatures and Archwires): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030 Equine Healthcare Market by Product Type (Drug, Vaccines, and Medicated Feed Additives), Disease (Influenza, Tetanus, Equine Herpes Virus, and Others), and Distribution Channel (Veterinary Hospitals and Clinics and Retail Pharmacies and Drug Stores): Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030 Spectrometry Market by Type (Molecular Spectrometry, Mass Spectrometry, Atomic Spectrometry), by End User (Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies, Research and Academic Institutes, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031 Digital PCR Market by Technology (Droplet Digital PCR, Chip Based Digital PCR, Beaming Digital PCR), by Product Type (Digital PCR Systems, Consumables And Reagents, Software And Services), by Application (Research, Clinical Diagnostics, Forensic And Others), by End User (Pharmaceuticals And Biotechnology Industries, Clinical Diagnostic Laboratories, Universities And Other Organizations): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030 Digital Health Market by Product & Service (mHealth and eHealth), Component (Software, Hardware, and Services), and End User (Healthcare Providers, Payers, Healthcare Consumers, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030 About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): +1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 [email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Allied Market Research WASHINGTON, April 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) today applauds the signing of Kentucky bill HB 345, which will ensure access to Medicare Supplement also called Medigap -- coverage for Kentuckians under 65 living with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). This bill received resounding bipartisan support in both the Kentucky Senate, where it passed on a 37-0 vote, and in the Kentucky House of Representatives, which passed the measure on a 91-1 vote. HB 345, which was introduced by Representative Kimberly Poore Moser (R-District 64), allows Commonwealth residents under 65 to acquire affordable Medigap plans to supplement their Medicare coverage. In addition, the bill provides an annual 60-day window around an enrollee's birthday to switch insurers (though not the plan letter) to give them an opportunity to find more affordable premiums. "This legislation is a significant win not only for ESRD and ALS patients across Kentucky, but for their families as well," said Representative Moser. "I appreciate the immense support this bill received in the General Assembly. This bipartisan accomplishment will change the lives of thousands of Kentuckians, who can now be confident they will be able to afford their treatments and more easily qualify for transplants." "Kentucky now joins 15 other states that have enacted Medigap access and affordability laws, and 12 others which have an annual open enrollment period for Medigap enrollees to make changes to their coverage," said DPC Board President Andrew Conkling. "On behalf of DPC, I want to thank Representative Moser for her work on this bill and Governor Andy Beshear (D) for signing it into law. Now patients in Kentucky will not need to spend down assets to qualify for Medicaid and avoid going tens of thousands of dollars into debt just to afford life-saving treatment." Background While all patients with ESRD qualify for Medicare, it only covers the cost of 80 percent of the cost of care. Previously, Kentucky ESRD patients under 65 did not have access to affordable supplemental "Medigap" coverage to pay the remaining 20 percent. This forced patients to either pay that cost out of pocket upwards of $18,000 annually for dialysis patients or turn to expensive Medigap plans costing up to 250 percent more than those available to ESRD patients 65 and older. Further, some patients make the decision to spend down their assets to qualify for Medicaid to pay the 20% out-of-pocket costs. annually for dialysis patients or turn to expensive Medigap plans costing up to 250 percent more than those available to ESRD patients 65 and older. Further, some patients make the decision to spend down their assets to qualify for Medicaid to pay the 20% out-of-pocket costs. The benefits of this bill come at no fiscal impact to Kentucky , as Medicare Supplement policies are sold by private insurance companies. A study from the nationally recognized consulting firm Health Management Associates which utilized the latest fee-for-service Medicare claims data estimated that if insurers choose to raise their rates, it would likely be no more than a de minimis premium increase of up to 0.9 percent, or about $2.00 per month for the overall Medigap pool. , as Medicare Supplement policies are sold by private insurance companies. A study from the nationally recognized consulting firm Health Management Associates which utilized the latest fee-for-service Medicare claims data estimated that if insurers choose to raise their rates, it would likely be no more than a premium increase of up to 0.9 percent, or about per month for the overall Medigap pool. The premium protection and birthday rule provisions included in HB 345 are modeled after legislation that Missouri has had in place since 2009. Today, there are more than 245 plans being offered by 37 insurers in Missouri for the under-age 65 market, signaling a truly healthy and competitive marketplace. has had in place since 2009. Today, there are more than 245 plans being offered by 37 insurers in for the under-age 65 market, signaling a truly healthy and competitive marketplace. Most transplant centers will not list ESRD patients on the active kidney transplant waitlist without secondary insurance coverage. Media Contact: Hannah Bracamonte [email protected] SOURCE Dialysis Patient Citizens NEW YORK, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The digital english language learning market is estimated to grow by USD 14.37 billion from 2021 to 2026 progressing at a CAGR of 16.78% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current global market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The market is driven by adoption of English as a global language. English is spoken by 20% of the global population and is an official language in 39 countries around the globe and a co-official language in 34 countries. English is the common medium of instruction in multiple countries, even in the ones that have not declared it as their official language. Additionally, admission to internationally acclaimed universities requires basic proficiency in English. Numerous multinationals such as Airbus, Daimler-Chrysler, Renault, and Samsung have also adopted English as their official business language. Moreover, proficiency in language aids in smooth cross-border business communication. Hence, such factors contribute to the growth of the global market. Here is an exclusive report about market scenarios with forecast period (2022-2026). Download a Sample Report! Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Digital English Language Learning Market The report on the digital English language learning market provides a holistic update, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis. The digital English language learning market covers the following areas: Digital English Language Learning Market Sizing Digital English Language Learning Market Forecast Digital English Language Learning Market Analysis Digital English Language Learning Market 2022-2026 - Market Dynamics Emerging Trends The growing use of artificial intelligence and chatbots is one of the key market trends in the market. Artificial intelligence helps in assimilating data from multiple sources and producing content, which is customized for students. Therefore, the incorporation of artificial intelligence has revolutionized digital teaching methods and digital language learning solutions. For instance, in August 2019 , Google launched an English Language Speech Assistant (ELSA), an artificial intelligence application, to improve English speaking skills in India . It uses speech recognition technology to help English learners with their pronunciation. , Google launched an English Language Speech Assistant (ELSA), an artificial intelligence application, to improve English speaking skills in . It uses speech recognition technology to help English learners with their pronunciation. Furthermore, chatbots will aid in facilitating a conversation with a student via artificial intelligence and their use facilitates interactive learning, which will further support market growth during the forecast period. Why Buy? Add credibility to strategy Analyzes competitor's offerings Get a holistic view of the market Grow your profit margin with Technavio buy now Key Challenges Innovations in the wearable devices market are hindering the English language learning market growth. Due to the increased sale of smartwatches and wristbands, smart footwear, jewelry, and wearable cameras, the global wearable devices market has witnessed rapid growth. Product innovations in the market lead to the development of language translation and interpretation devices. These devices are known as hearables. They are in-ear devices that facilitate the instant translation of languages. For instance, Waverly Labs has launched the Pilot speech translator, which eases communication between two persons who speak different languages. Hence, the introduction of hearables and potential innovations in the global wearable devices market may hinder the growth of the global market. Digital English Language Learning Market 2022-2026: Market Segmentation The digital english language learning market analysis includes end-user (non-academic learners, academic learners), deployment (on-premise, cloud-based), and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The market share growth by the non-academic learners segment will be significant for the growth of the digital english language learning market during the forecast period. The extensive use of English for corporate communication and international business operations contributes to the high demand for digital learning courses. The adoption of IELTS and TOEFL as benchmarks of language proficiency by multiple organizations further enhances the demand for digital English language learning courses among non-academic learners. Moreover, technological advances in developed nations have contributed to the adoption of self-paced learning among employees. Companies are building central libraries of multiple courses, which can be easily accessed via mobile phones and tablets. Hence, technological advances will drive the growth of the segment during the forecast period. This report presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources through an analysis of key parameters - View a Sample Report Companies Mentioned Benesse Holdings Inc. Cambridge University Press Press Cengage Learning Holdings II Inc. Chegg Inc. digital publishing AG EF Education First Ltd. ELSA Co. Ltd. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co. inlingua International Ltd. IXL Learning Inc. John Wiley and Sons Inc. New Oriental Education and Technology Group Inc. Oxford University Press Press Pearson Plc Sanako Oy Transparent Language Inc. Voxy Inc. WordDive Ltd. Vendor Offerings: Cambridge University Press - The company offers a digital English language learning platform for academic, business, professional, and vocational English. The company offers a digital English language learning platform for academic, business, professional, and vocational English. Cengage Learning Holdings II Inc. - The company offers digital English language learning through National Geographic Learning. The company offers digital English language learning through National Geographic Learning. EF Education First Ltd. - The company offers a digital English language learning platform through its brand EF English Live. What are the key data covered in this Digital English Language Learning Market report? CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the digital English language learning market between 2022 and 2026 Precise estimation of the size of the digital English language learning market and its contribution to the parent market Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior Growth of the digital English language learning market across North America , Europe , Asia , and Rest of World (ROW) , , , and Rest of World (ROW) A thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information about vendors Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of the digital English language learning market vendors Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Related Reports: Based on Technavio's market sizing methodology, the business English language training market size is predicted to surge by USD 7.20 billion from 2021 to 2026 at a CAGR of 9.76%. This report extensively covers business English language training market segmentation by end-user (institutional learners and individual learners), learning method (online learning and blended learning), and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa). One of the factors driving the business English language training market is the high demand for vocational English training. According to a research report English language training (ELT) market in China will witness a growth of 18.67 % at a CAGR of 19.75% which is expected to increase by USD 70.81 billion for the forecast period 2021 to 2026. This report extensively covers segmentation by end-user (institutional learners and individual learners) and product (classroom-based, online, and blended). The rise in the number of international schools is one of the key drivers impacting the market growth. Digital English Language Learning Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 16.78% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 14.37 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2021-2022(%) 15.4 Regional analysis APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution APAC at 45% Key countries US, China, India, UK, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Benesse Holdings Inc., Cambridge University Press, Cengage Learning Holdings II Inc., Chegg Inc., digital publishing AG, EF Education First Ltd., ELSA Co. Ltd., Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co., inlingua International Ltd., IXL Learning Inc., John Wiley and Sons Inc., New Oriental Education and Technology Group Inc., Oxford University Press, Pearson Plc, Sanako Oy, Transparent Language Inc., Voxy Inc., and WordDive Ltd. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Browse for Technavio's Consumer Discretionary Market Reports Key Topics Covered: 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market overview Exhibit 01: Executive Summary Chart on Market Overview Exhibit 02: Executive Summary Data Table on Market Overview Exhibit 03: Executive Summary Chart on Global Market Characteristics Exhibit 04: Executive Summary Chart on Market by Geography Exhibit 05: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by End-user Exhibit 06: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Deployment Exhibit 07: Executive Summary Chart on Incremental Growth Exhibit 08: Executive Summary Data Table on Incremental Growth Exhibit 09: Executive Summary Chart on Vendor Market Positioning 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem Exhibit 10: Parent market Exhibit 11: Market Characteristics 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 12: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 13: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2021 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026 Exhibit 14: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 15: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 16: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 17: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 4 Five Forces Analysis 4.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 18: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026 4.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 19: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026 4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 20: Bargaining power of suppliers Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 21: Threat of new entrants Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 22: Threat of substitutes Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 23: Threat of rivalry Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.7 Market condition Exhibit 24: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026 5 Market Segmentation by End-user 5.1 Market segments Exhibit 25: Chart on End-user - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 26: Data Table on End-user - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 5.2 Comparison by End-user Exhibit 27: Chart on Comparison by End-user Exhibit 28: Data Table on Comparison by End-user 5.3 Non-academic learners - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 29: Chart on Non-academic learners - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 30: Data Table on Non-academic learners - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 31: Chart on Non-academic learners - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 32: Data Table on Non-academic learners - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.4 Academic learners - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 33: Chart on Academic learners - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 34: Data Table on Academic learners - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 35: Chart on Academic learners - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 36: Data Table on Academic learners - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.5 Market opportunity by End-user Exhibit 37: Market opportunity by End-user ($ million) 6 Market Segmentation by Deployment 6.1 Market segments Exhibit 38: Chart on Deployment - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Deployment - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 6.2 Comparison by Deployment Exhibit 40: Chart on Comparison by Deployment Exhibit 41: Data Table on Comparison by Deployment 6.3 On-premise - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 42: Chart on On-premise - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 43: Data Table on On-premise - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 44: Chart on On-premise - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 45: Data Table on On-premise - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 6.4 Cloud-based - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 46: Chart on Cloud-based - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 47: Data Table on Cloud-based - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 48: Chart on Cloud-based - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 49: Data Table on Cloud-based - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 6.5 Market opportunity by Deployment Exhibit 50: Market opportunity by Deployment ($ million) 7 Customer Landscape 7.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 51: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 8 Geographic Landscape 8.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 52: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 53: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) 8.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 54: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 55: Data Table on Geographic comparison 8.3 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 56: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 57: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 58: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 59: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 60: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 61: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 62: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 63: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.5 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 64: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 65: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 66: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 67: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 68: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 69: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 70: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 71: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.7 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 72: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 73: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 74: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 75: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.8 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 76: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 77: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 78: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 79: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.9 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 80: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 81: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 82: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 83: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.10 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 84: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 85: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 86: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 87: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.11 India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 88: Chart on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 89: Data Table on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 90: Chart on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 91: Data Table on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.12 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 92: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 93: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 94: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 95: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.13 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 96: Market opportunity by geography ($ million) 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 9.1 Market drivers 9.2 Market challenges 9.3 Impact of drivers and challenges Exhibit 97: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026 9.4 Market trends 10 Vendor Landscape 10.1 Overview 10.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 98: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 10.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 99: Overview on factors of disruption 10.4 Industry risks Exhibit 100: Impact of key risks on business 11 Vendor Analysis 11.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 101: Vendors covered 11.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 102: Matrix on vendor position and classification 11.3 Cambridge University Press Press Exhibit 103: Cambridge University Press - Overview Press - Overview Exhibit 104: Cambridge University Press - Product / Service Press - Product / Service Exhibit 105: Cambridge University Press - Key offerings 11.4 Cengage Learning Holdings II Inc. Exhibit 106: Cengage Learning Holdings II Inc. - Overview Exhibit 107: Cengage Learning Holdings II Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 108: Cengage Learning Holdings II Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 109: Cengage Learning Holdings II Inc. - Segment focus 11.5 EF Education First Ltd. Exhibit 110: EF Education First Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 111: EF Education First Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 112: EF Education First Ltd. - Key offerings 11.6 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co. Exhibit 113: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co. - Overview Exhibit 114: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co. - Business segments Exhibit 115: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co. - Key offerings Exhibit 116: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co. - Segment focus 11.7 IXL Learning Inc. Exhibit 117: IXL Learning Inc. - Overview Exhibit 118: IXL Learning Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 119: IXL Learning Inc. - Key offerings 11.8 John Wiley and Sons Inc. Exhibit 120: John Wiley and Sons Inc. - Overview Exhibit 121: John Wiley and Sons Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 122: John Wiley and Sons Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 123: John Wiley and Sons Inc. - Segment focus 11.9 New Oriental Education and Technology Group Inc. Exhibit 124: New Oriental Education and Technology Group Inc. - Overview Exhibit 125: New Oriental Education and Technology Group Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 126: New Oriental Education and Technology Group Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 127: New Oriental Education and Technology Group Inc. - Segment focus 11.10 Oxford University Press Press Exhibit 128: Oxford University Press - Overview Press - Overview Exhibit 129: Oxford University Press - Business segments Press - Business segments Exhibit 130: Oxford University Press - Key offerings Press - Key offerings Exhibit 131: Oxford University Press - Segment focus 11.11 Pearson Plc Exhibit 132: Pearson Plc - Overview Exhibit 133: Pearson Plc - Business segments Exhibit 134: Pearson Plc - Key offerings Exhibit 135: Pearson Plc - Segment focus 11.12 Sanako Oy Exhibit 136: Sanako Oy - Overview Exhibit 137: Sanako Oy - Product / Service Exhibit 138: Sanako Oy - Key offerings 12 Appendix 12.1 Scope of the report 12.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 139: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 140: Exclusions checklist 12.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 141: Currency conversion rates for US$ 12.4 Research methodology Exhibit 142: Research methodology Exhibit 143: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 144: Information sources 12.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 145: List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio On his fourth day as the new chancellor of the Virginia Community College System, David Dore spent Thursday in Charlottesville hearing from students, faculty and community partners fielding questions about salaries, mental health resources, child care and connections between the University of Virginia and Piedmont Virginia Community College. One of the biggest things that I certainly believe is why I was selected for the position is because I bring a really strong workforce background, Dore told those gathered in the Woodrow W. Bolick Advanced Technology and Student Success Center on PVCCs campus. Im bringing a lot of experience aligning community colleges with the needs of business and industry. Dore said another important action item for him to build on the college systems strategic plan Opportunity 2027, which he said is aimed at addressing the educational achievement gap. The skill gap is another big priority of mine as we have a lot of unfilled positions in the commonwealth and community colleges will play a critical role in that. From the time it is written through 2027, the new strategic plan will help guide PVCCs focus on the future as it reassesses the colleges internal and external communities while preparing for partnerships with other community colleges in the future, PVCC President Jean Runyon said Thursday. In addition to celebrating PVCCs 50-year anniversary this year, the college has also made recent changes that Runyon said will remove some of the barriers to success that students encounter. Its really important that our students feel connected from the moment they reach out to us all the way through to completion, said Runyon, who became PVCCs sixth president in July of last year. So we recently launched a new advising model. When a first-time college student comes to college, they are presented with the question of what they want to do. We are going to have advisors who are specialized in those areas of interest to connect with students and follow them all the way through their journey with us ad Piedmont. In January, the State Board of Community Colleges announced that Dore would succeed Sharon Morrissey, who had served as the interim president over the commonwealths 23 community colleges since last July. Dore has more than 26 years of experience in community college leadership. Most recently, he was the president of campuses and executive vice chancellor for student experience and workforce development at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona. Each Arizona community college has its own chancellor, but in Virginia, one chancellor oversees all of the schools and their various campuses. For example, while Dore was executive vice chancellor in Tucson, he oversaw the strategic plans of five community college campuses in Southern Arizona. The Virginia system is much bigger than the district that Im coming from, Dore said. This is a massive system. In Arizona, we did not have a statewide system, so Virginia is different in that sense. I think there are a lot of advantages to a statewide system. We can have a more unified voice and can really leverage all of the colleges to take a much more strategic approach to meet the needs of the commonwealth. A first-generation college student, Dore earned a doctorate degree in education from Pepperdine University in California, a Master of Business Administration degree at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., a Master of Education degree from Boston College, a Master of Theological Studies degree from Santa Clara University in California, a Licentiate of Philosophy in Ethics from Gonzaga University in Washington state and a bachelors in philosophy from Gannon University in Pennsylvania. Dore was a 2017-18 presidential fellow of the Aspen Institutes College Excellence Program. Although Dore has never lived in Virginia, he got to know Northern Virginia as a graduate student at Georgetown, he said. Dore has committed himself to make in-person visits to each of the commonwealths 23 community colleges in 36 days in order to better understand the institutions that he represents while embracing the value of seeing people in person. The college tour began on Tuesday at Central Virginia Community College in Lynchburg. I thought the best way to get the know the system was to visit all 23 of our colleges and thats just what Im doing, Dore said. I wanted to hear directly from students or faculty or staff and administrators, and then Im also meeting community leaders in business and industry. Im doing this across the entire system and Im doing it in a bit of a rush before the end of the semester. This week, Dore and his team visited the Virginia Community Colleges Shared Services Center, Central Virginia Community College, Virginia Western Community College, New River Community College and PVCC. He will resume the tour next Tuesday at Southwest Virginia Community College. DUBLIN, April 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Dimethyl Ether Market- Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2018-2028 Segmented By Feedstock (Coal, Natural Gas, Methanol, Bio-based, Others), By Application (LPG Blending, Aerosol Propellants, Industrial, Others), By Region" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Global dimethyl ether will grow impressively during the forecast period. There will likely be a huge need for dimethyl ether as clean fuel becomes increasingly in demand due to escalating environmental contamination. The market expansion is expected to be augmented by other significant reasons, such as rising greenhouse gas emissions and diminishing oil reserves. The market is being further stimulated by the extensive use of Dimethyl Ether as an aerosol propellant in producing medicines, paints, coatings, and personal care items, including fragrances and hair, sprays. Additionally, the expanding demand for DME for increased drilling and fracturing efficiency and higher oil recovery is a growth-inducing driver. Aside from that, the market is dominated by corporate activity, increasing R&D spending, and governmental trade and export laws. The market is growing due to consumer preferences for new technologies that optimize profit. The worldwide dimethyl ether market is therefore expected to grow throughout the forecast period. Rising demand for LPG blending applicability Driving the Market In the current scenario, one of the world's most pressing issues is global warming. The primary cause of this is fossil fuel use. A large concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere alters the climate cycle, which in turn causes various problems, including pollution and glacier melting, among others. Modification of the current fuel source is one way to rectify this problem. To reduce harmful emissions, improve combustion, and reduce dependency on LPG, DME is blended with it as a fuel alternative additive. This is projected to boost the future market outlook for dimethyl ether. Governments and regional regulatory bodies should promote the use of renewable energy sources to minimize CO2 emissions. According to the World Energy Council, China, the region's largest coal resource, will have 80.2 thousand MTOE (million tonnes of oil equivalent) in total recoverable coal reserves by 2020, which will assist cut down on imports and fulfill the region's expanding DME demand at reasonable costs. Increasing Demand from the Automobile sector The market for dimethyl ether is primarily driven by rising automobile demand. As a result, many companies and manufacturers choose to use higher-quality gasoline in their vehicles. This will consequently create fresh growth opportunities. Dimethyl ether is being used in hybrid automobiles by the automotive industry more and more. The market for dimethyl ether is expected to grow as a result. There has been a sharp rise in demand for both diesel and bio-diesel as a result of a few automakers searching for crossover vehicle options worldwide. The need for dimethyl ether for the production of biofuels will rise as initiatives to fulfill energy demands from sustainable sources obtain support from several national governments. As a consequence, major players in the worldwide dimethyl ether market are anticipated to gain a lot from the biofuel sector. The value of aromatic ether exports from China in 2021 was estimated to be USD 133,809 thousand, up from USD 124,434 thousand the year before, according to figures from the International Trade Center (Trade map). Methanol Will Continue to Be a Key Feedstock The worldwide dimethyl ether market has been divided into methanol, natural gas, coal, bio-based, and others, depending on the raw material used. In the following years, the dimethyl ether market is anticipated to be dominated by the methanol sector. The ease with which DME may be produced using methanol as a raw material is reflected in the strong demand. In addition, it is easy and inexpensive to create DME from methanol. The segment's expansion is being hampered by the pollution from using coal as a raw material to produce DME. DME from natural gas is produced using a costly method. Report Scope: In this report, global dimethyl ether market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends, which have also been detailed below: Dimethyl Ether Market, By Feedstock: Coal Natural Gas Methanol Bio-based Others Dimethyl Ether Market, By Application: LPG Blending Aerosol propellants Industrial Others Dimethyl Ether Market, By Region: North America United States Canada Mexico Europe Germany France United Kingdom Spain Italy Netherlands Russia Sweden Asia-Pacific China India Japan Indonesia Malaysia South Korea Australia South America Brazil Argentina Middle East & Africa & South Africa Saudi Arabia UAE Key Topics Covered: 1. Product Overview 2. Research Methodology 3. Executive Summary 4. Voice of Customer 5. Global Dimethyl Ether Market Outlook 6. North America Dimethyl Ether Market Outlook 7. Europe Dimethyl Ether Market Outlook 8. Asia-Pacific Dimethyl Ether Market Outlook 9. South America Dimethyl Ether Market Outlook 10. Middle East and Africa Dimethyl Ether Market Outlook 11. Market Dynamics 11.1. Drivers 11.1.1. Utilization of Dimethyl Ether in LPG blending increases 11.1.2. Broad applicability and a variety of raw materials 11.1.3. Increasing demand for clean fuel due to rising environmental pollution 11.2. Challenges 11.2.1. Changes to the current infrastructure 11.2.2. Distribution network deficiencies are impeding the supply chain 12. Market Trends & Developments 13. Global Dimethyl Ether Market: SWOT Analysis 14. Porter's Five Forces Analysis 15. Competitive Landscape 16. Strategic Recommendations A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes Akzo Nobel N.V. Haldor Topsoe Holding A/S Toyo Engineering Corporation Oberon Fuels Inc. Mitsubishi Corporation Ferrostaal GmbH Grillo-Werke AG China Energy Limited Japan DME Association PCC SE Nouryon Holding BV For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/pw1doc About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets NEW YORK, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Technavio has been monitoring the dry bulk shipping market, and it is expected to grow by USD 930.41 million from 2021 to 2026. As per the latest report, the market's growth momentum will decelerate at a CAGR of 3.59% during the forecast period. This report aids business leaders with an up-to-date analysis that includes the study of the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers that are likely to influence the market growth, and the overall market environment. The increasing use of container and security solutions is an emerging trend driving the market growth during the forecast period. There is a growth in safety concerns among end-user industries in the global market following a rise in piracy and armed robbery incidents. Containers installed with a GPS tracking system are easily tracked. Hence, factors such as growing safety and security concerns, the increasing need to optimize logistics management systems to improve digital connectivity, and the growing global use of the Internet of things (IoT) are expected to drive the growth of the market during the forecast period. Download the Latest Sample Report! Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Dry Bulk Shipping Market Dry Bulk Shipping Market 2022-2026: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our dry bulk shipping market report covers the following areas: The market is fragmented and the degree of fragmentation will decelerate during the forecast period. Bulk Marine, Dampskibsselskabet Norden A/S, Diana Shipping Inc., Egon Oldendorff Management GmbH, Golden Ocean Group Ltd, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, Pacific Basin Shipping Limited., Star Bulk Carriers Corp, and Western Bulk are some of the major market participants. Although the rising seaborne trade across the world will offer immense growth opportunities, volatility in steel prices will challenge the growth of the market participants. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Dry Bulk Shipping Market 2022-2026: Major Driver The rising seaborne trade across the world is notably driving the dry bulk shipping market growth. Compared to barges and other shipping vessels, cargo through seaways can be transported in dry containers with minimal damage. Seaborne trade plays a vital role in economic growth in various countries. And distant suppliers have made it necessary for delivering goods through seaways. Some of the goods transported through container ships in bulk include coal, grains, and ores. Growth in seaborne trade is expected to drive the demand for ships, which, in turn, creates the need for marine electronics. Major emerging economies such as China and India have become crucial sources of manufacturing goods and commodities. Key Challenge One of the key challenges for the dry bulk shipping market growth is the volatile prices of steel pipes. Steel extracted from iron ore is a key raw material for manufacturing dry carriers and is considered to be the second-highest price-fluctuating commodity after oil, which will negatively affect the profit margins of shipping container manufacturers. Thus, the prices of steel need to be moderate and stable for healthy financial operations of shipping container manufacturers. Hence, the volatility of steel prices is estimated to have a negative impact on the dry bulk shipping market during the forecast period. Dry Bulk Shipping Market 2022-2026: Segmentation Type Capesize Panama Supramax Handysize Geography APAC Europe North America South America MEA The market share growth by the capsize segment will be significant during the forecast period. The ships belonging to the largest class are known as capsize, and they can carry a variety of cargo in bulk predominantly. The growth in industrialization and liberalization of emerging economies has resulted in an increase in demand for commodities such as coal and iron ore. Furthermore, these large-sized vessels have to be passed through the Cape of Good Hope because they are unable to pass through narrow channels such as Panama. Hence, the vast size of the capsize vessels is expected to drive the segment growth during the forecast period. For insights on global, regional, and country-level parameters - Download a Sample Report Why Buy? Add credibility to strategy Analyzes competitor's offerings Get a holistic view of the market Grow your profit margin with Technavio Buy Now Dry Bulk Shipping Market 2022-2026: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the dry bulk shipping market, including Bulk Marine, Dampskibsselskabet Norden A/S, Diana Shipping Inc., Egon Oldendorff Management GmbH, Golden Ocean Group Ltd, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, Pacific Basin Shipping Limited., Star Bulk Carriers Corp, and Western Bulk. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the dry bulk shipping market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile, and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Vendor Offerings Bulk Marine - The company offers transportation for both major and minor bulks including Iron Ore, Coal, Coking Coal, Petcoke and Mineral Concentrates (major bulks) and Alumina, Cement Clinker, Fertiliser, Grain, Gypsum, Limestone, Steel & Scrap and Sugar. The company offers transportation for both major and minor bulks including Iron Ore, Coal, Coking Coal, Petcoke and Mineral Concentrates (major bulks) and Alumina, Cement Clinker, Fertiliser, Grain, Gypsum, Limestone, Steel & Scrap and Sugar. Dampskibsselskabet Norden A/S - The company offers dry operator which offers advanced risk management, market analytics, and a trading-oriented mindset to match cargos such as grain, wood pellets, and coal to an ever-changing fleet of Panamax, Supramax, and Handysize vessels. The company offers dry operator which offers advanced risk management, market analytics, and a trading-oriented mindset to match cargos such as grain, wood pellets, and coal to an ever-changing fleet of Panamax, Supramax, and Handysize vessels. Diana Shipping Inc. - The company offers a quality and experienced team for shipping transportation services in dry bulk shipping. Dry Bulk Shipping Market 2022-2026: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2022-2026 Detailed information on factors that will assist dry bulk shipping market growth during the next five years Estimation of the dry bulk shipping market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the dry bulk shipping market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of dry bulk shipping market vendors Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Related Reports: The shipping container market size should rise by 22.29 million TEU from 2021 to 2026 at a CAGR of 8.78%. The report extensively covers market segmentation by type (dry containers, reefer containers, tank containers, and special containers) and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and MEA). The growing global shipping container liners traffic is notably driving the market growth. The tanker shipping market size is expected to increase by 164.10 million tons from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 4.59%. The report extensively covers tanker shipping market segmentation by tanker type (oil tankers and liquid gas tankers) and geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America). The growth in the global oil and gas logistics market is notably driving the tanker shipping market growth. Dry Bulk Shipping Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Decelerate at a CAGR of 3.59% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 930.41 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2021-2022 (%) 3.97 Regional analysis APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution APAC at 57% Key countries China, US, Germany, India, and Denmark Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Bulk Marine, Dampskibsselskabet Norden A/S, Diana Shipping Inc., Egon Oldendorff Management GmbH, Golden Ocean Group Ltd, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, Pacific Basin Shipping Limited., Star Bulk Carriers Corp, and Western Bulk Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Browse for Technavio's Industrials Market Reports Table Of Contents : Executive Summary Market Landscape Market ecosystem Value chain analysis Market Sizing Market definition Market segment analysis Market size 2021 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021 - 2026 Five Forces Analysis Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition Market Segmentation by Type Market segments Comparison by Type Capesize - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Panama - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Supramax - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Handysize - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Market opportunity by Type Customer landscape Geographic Landscape Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 MEA - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Key leading countries Market opportunity by geography Market drivers Market challenges Market trends Vendor Landscape Vendor landscape Landscape disruption Vendor Analysis Vendors covered Market positioning of vendors Bulk Marine Dampskibsselskabet Norden A/S Diana Shipping Inc. Egon Oldendorff Management GmbH Golden Ocean Group Ltd Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha Pacific Basin Shipping Limited. Star Bulk Carriers Corp Western Bulk Appendix Scope of the report Currency conversion rates for US$ Research methodology List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio Meet Attorney Tom D'Amore, the Only Board-Certified Truck Accident Attorney Residing in Oregon PORTLAND, Ore., April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Looking for a truck accident lawyer in Oregon for a seriously injured family member may be harder than you think. If you are looking for a truck accident attorney that delivers strong results and is board-certified, there are few options in Oregon. Not all attorneys have the same experience, and some out of state attorneys do not actually practice in Oregon. In fact, D'Amore Law Group's founding attorney Tom D'Amore is the only board-certified truck accident lawyer that lives in Oregon. Here's a look at Tom's background and an overview of his experience. Attorney Tom D'Amore About the Certifications The National Board of Trial Advocacy, or NBTA, is the only national organization that offers accredited board certification for truck accident lawyers. The NBTA is a non-profit organization that dedicates itself not only to improving the quality of legal advocacy provided to consumers, but also to helping them select qualified attorneys. It is also the first certifying board to be accredited by the American Bar Association. To receive a certification from the NBTA, an attorney needs to pass an extensive peer review process and meet several professional qualifications. This certification is provided in partnership with the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (ATAA). Currently, Attorney Tom D'Amore is the only board-certified truck accident attorney in Oregon through this organization. D'Amore is also certified by the NBTA in Civil Trial Law and Civil Practice Advocacy. While there are attorneys who practice truck accident law, few attorneys in the United States are board-certified in truck accident law. Tom D'Amore's Experience For over 30 years, Tom has practiced personal injury law in Oregon, Washington, and California. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for his skilled, compassionate, and ethical representation. This includes Trial Lawyer of the Year by the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association in 2020, AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell, Super Lawyers Top 50 attorney in Oregon, and a 2016 Arthur H. Bryant Public Justice Award by the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association. Tom also serves on the Board of Governors and Executive Committee for the American Association for Justice and is past President of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association. He takes pride in helping improve his extended community in Oregon by supporting organizations like Good Deeds, Oregon Food Bank, Safe Kids Oregon, and End Distracted Driving. About D'Amore Law Group: D'Amore Law Group was founded by Tom D'Amore in 1992 with the sole focus of seeking justice for individuals and families harmed by another's wrongful conduct. In that time, the firm has represented more than 2,000 individuals and families and obtained several multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of injured victims. With four convenient locations in Portland, Lake Oswego, Bend, and Vancouver, the firm is committed to providing ethical, knowledgeable legal representation to personal injury victims throughout Oregon and Washington. To schedule a consultation with an experienced truck accident attorney in Oregon, please visit damorelaw.com. Contact Information: D'Amore Law Group 1050 SW 6th Ave. #1000 Portland, OR 97204 (503) 222-6333 or (800) 905-4676 www.damorelaw.com SOURCE D'Amore Law Group The bank celebrates Satellite Award win at the Annual Stars Over Dulles Awards Gala by the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce FAIRFAX, Va., April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Freedom Bank of Virginia ("Freedom Bank") announced today that it received the Satellite - Corporate Social Responsibility Award at the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce Stars Over Dulles Awards Gala event. The award honors the exceptional effort and service businesses provided to the Dulles Region community. Freedom Bank was recognized for demonstrating a strong, active role in giving back to their local community. The Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce exists as an innovation gateway to create an environment where business leaders come together to create, develop, and share ideas aimed at making the Dulles Region a center for both business and community growth. "Through philanthropy, volunteerism, and donations of time and resources, Freedom Bank has gone above and beyond to address the needs in their community," said Melissa McKenna, President & CEO of the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce. "We are grateful to the wonderful Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce for this award and it is very gratifying to see our company and colleagues recognized for our efforts in the local community. Through the Freedom Bank Foundation, we continue to invest in the NOVA Freedom Fund, which makes loans to entrepreneurs of color in the DC Region. We believe that this has helped improve the equity in and access to financial services which are critically needed by small business owners to grow and succeed," said Joe Thomas, President and CEO. About Freedom Bank Freedom Bank is a next-generation community bank, headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, offering commercial banking, personal banking, and mortgage banking solutions using banker expertise and innovative technology to build lead relationships with clients. Focusing on businesses, real estate owners, and professionals, Freedom Bank concentrates on key industry verticals to deliver unique, sector-specific solutions to help clients meet their goals and realize their dreams. Freedom Bank has sales office locations in Fairfax, Vienna, Reston, Manassas, and Chantilly, VA. The Freedom Bank Mortgage Division is headquartered in Chantilly, VA and the Freedom Bank Small Business Lending Division is headquartered in Harrison, NY. For information about Freedom Bank, visit our website at www.freedom.bank. Contact: Joseph J. Thomas President & Chief Executive Officer Phone: 703-667-4161 Email: [email protected] SOURCE The Freedom Bank of Virginia ORLANDO, Fla., April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Fresh Express Incorporated is voluntarily recalling a limited quantity of three varieties of already-expired branded and private label salad kit products produced at the company's Morrow, Georgia facility out of an abundance of caution due to a possible health risk from Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products are no longer available for sale and no illnesses have been reported to date. Related Documents View PDF Fresh Express limited recall of expired products Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. Consumers with these symptoms should consult their health care provider. The recall was initiated when it was learned a random sample test of a single salad kit with a Use-By Date of March 31, 2023 collected by the Georgia Department of Agriculture yielded a positive result for the Listeria pathogen. Recalled salad items all carry Product Code GO75 and Use-By Dates of March 31 or April 2, 2023 located on the front of the package. They were distributed through retailers in the states of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Retailers have been instructed to ensure the recalled products are removed from all inventories. Consumers who might still have the recalled products in their refrigerators should discard and not consume them. A listing of products subject to this recall are summarized at the end of this announcement. To obtain a refund or for more information, consumers may call the Fresh Express Consumer Response Center at (800) 242-5472 between the hours of 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time. Refunds are also available where purchased. Brand Product Ounce UPC Codes Product Code Use-By Date Distribution States Fresh Express Caesar Chopped Kit 9.40 00071279309194 G075 4/2/2023 FL, GA, NC, SC Fresh Express Chopped Kit Chipotle Cheddar 11.3 00071279306049 G075 4/2/2023 FL, GA, NC, SC, VA Publix Makoto Honey Ginger Salad Kit 8.75 00071279309194 G075 3/31/2023 Fl, GA, NC SOURCE Fresh Express DUBLIN, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) Market Outlook In Warehouse Industry" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) are expected to account 20% market share in coming 5 years in the total warehouse automation market. This research study about the global autonomous mobile robots provides pertinent insight and information about the penetration of technology in warehousing industry. The industry is expected to triple its size by the year 2030 and these positive projections point to an industry with tremendous growth potential. The study also highlights an upward market trajectory trend that is being sustained by improvements in technology, demand, and competitiveness among industry players. Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) have gained popularity among warehouses and logistical companies to improve operational efficiency, speed, precision, and safety. AMRs can understand and navigate their environment independently using sophisticated sensors, artificial intelligence, machine learning and compute for path planning. Equipped with cameras and sensors, AMRs can detect and avoid unexpected obstacles, such as fallen boxes or crowds of people, by adjusting their path and continuing with their task. The evolution of large companies such as Amazon, Alibaba and other e-commerce giants has largely been driven by the effectiveness and efficiency of their warehousing operations. Warehousing is as old as humanity itself. However, the concept of warehousing gained new meaning as a result of the industrial revolution. An increase in manufacturing meant that there was an increase in the demand for raw materials and an increase in the production of different goods. Today, Warehousing is a specialized activity. The function of the warehouse has moved from being a simple storage facility to fulfilling other functions such as receiving goods and managing inventory, as a display for commercial buyers, packaging orders, order confirmation and labeling and dispatching them. Warehousing for large and small corporations can have a negative impact on operations if best practices are not employed to handle the different functions that define the activity. Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) provide the best and cost-effective solutions for companies seeking to eliminate market inefficiencies. Built with the latest technologies in terms of software and sustainable materials for the hardware, these robots can perform most if not all of the warehousing tasks such as picking and packing, transportation, and inventory management. The inbuilt software allows the robots to use sensors, cameras, and other technology to navigate and perform tasks within a warehouse. The key industries that are driving the demand for AMRs are e-commerce, manufacturing, logistics and warehousing. It is a move towards increasing customer satisfaction and experience. The faster the customer receives their shipment in the condition ordered, the higher their level of satisfaction. This move has also led to an increase in the number of technology companies seeking a share of this lucrative market. With an emphasis on aesthetics and functionality, these companies have developed and produced AMRs for every aspect of warehousing and the application of AI is now the leading feature of differentiation. Competition The AMR industry is dominated by players both big and small who not only seek to maximize profits but also to produce better products that serve individual customer needs. A company's competitiveness is thus determined by its organization, size, investments in research and development, its marketing and branding activities, its ability to meet customer needs and its relationship with customers. Competition is an aggressive nature of business with companies seeking to increase their market share and have a positive return on their investment. Fortunately, this has increased the level of creativity and innovation in the industry, which has led to the development of better robots that can handle multiple warehousing functions. Some of the leading players in the market include KUKA AG, Amazon Robotics, Fetch Robotics, GreyOrange, and Locus Robotics. These companies are well-established players in the market and have a strong global presence. They are known for their advanced technology, and they are continuously investing in research and development to improve their products and stay ahead of the competition. The collective investment in warehouse robotics was close to $250 million in 2018 which doubled to reach half a million in 2020, despite of the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. In 2022, the capital invested in warehouse robotics again increased by 2x to reach around $1billion. The mammoth funding in this segment which is doubling every two years signifies that the warehouse robotics holds high growth potential for emerging players. Other notable players in the market include companies such as ABB, Mobile Industrial Robots, Clearpath Robotics, and Omron Adept Technologies. These companies also have a strong presence across regions, and they are continuously investing in research and development to improve their products and stay competitive in the market. They are also entering into strategic partnerships and collaborations with other companies to expand their presence in the market. In addition to the established players, the market also has several new and emerging players. These companies are focusing on developing new and advanced AMR technologies to meet the changing demands of the market. They are also entering into strategic partnerships and collaborations with established players to gain a foothold in the market. Overall, the AMR market in warehousing is highly competitive, with a large number of players operating in the market. Report Highlights The AMR market in warehousing is a rapidly growing industry, driven by the increasing demand for automation in warehouse operations and the need for cost-effective and efficient solutions. North America continues to dominate the market and show strong growth, driven by the increasing adoption of AMR technology in the retail and e-commerce industries continues to dominate the market and show strong growth, driven by the increasing adoption of AMR technology in the retail and e-commerce industries ASEAN is expected to be a key growth market, owing to the boom in the manufacturing and logistics industries and the thrive to adopt of robotics automation to match the GDP growth of around 5% Germany is early adopter of AMR technology and hence is leading in European market capturing significant market share, few of the attractive markets in Europe are UK, Sweden , and France . is early adopter of AMR technology and hence is leading in European market capturing significant market share, few of the attractive markets in are UK, , and . The AMR market in warehousing is highly fragmented, with several stakeholders operating in the market including OEMs, technology players, software and AI companies, mapping and localization providers, system integrators, and service providers The major factors driving the AMR market in warehousing include the increasing adoption of automation in warehouse operations, the need for cost-effective and efficient solutions, and the growing demand for e-commerce and online retail The increasing adoption of Industry 4.0, the trend towards the smart factory and the growing trend of connected logistics are also propelling the growth of the market The high cost of AMR solutions and the lack of standardization in the market are some of the major challenges for growth of AMRs in warehousing Some of the critical analysis covered in the report are as follows: Analysis of 60+ OEM brands both leading and emerging players across warehousing robotics ecosystem. Analyzing the penetration of AMRs in restrictive environment like warehouses and growth potential. Analysis of various business models including direct OEM sales, System Integration, and Robot-as-a Service (Raas) Analyzing the current status of automation in warehouse industry, and identifying potential future demand for AMRs till 2030 Analyzing the market penetration of each type robots used in warehouses such as inventory transportation robots, picking robots, sorting robots, collaborative robots, and drones Identifying OEM strategies and regional market potential for ARMs Analyzing investment/funding analysis of start-ups and technology providers Companies Mentioned 6 River Systems - 6RS (Acquired by Shopify) (Acquired by Shopify) BALYO Bionic HIVE Beum, Inc. Bluebotics Brain Corporation CAJA Robotics CPM - Durr Group EiraTech Robotics EK Automation (Ek Robotics) Eurotec (Lowpad) Fetch Robotics (acquired by Zebra Technologies) Fixposition AG ForwardX Robotics FREEDOM ROBOTICS Geek+ GIDEON Brothers GreyOrange Guidance Automation (Matthews International) Zhejiang Guozi Robotics Co., Ltd. HAI Robotics HikRobot (HikVision) IAM Robotics IDEALworks GmbH inVia Robotics Jaten Robot & Automation Co.,Ltd. John Bean Technologies (JBT Corporation) Locus Robotics Magazino GmbH MALU Innovation Matthews Automation Solutions (Matthews International) Mobile Industrial Robots - MiR (Acquired by Teradyne) MOV AI MOVEL AI Mushiny Intelligent Technology NeoBotix NextShift Robotics (acquired by Jasci Software) OCEANEERING Omron (Adept Technology) Oppent OTTO Motors (Clearpath Robotics) PAL Robotics Quicktron (Flashhold) ROBOMINDS ROMB Technologies Scallog SEEGRID Shanghai Seer Intelligent Technology Corporation (SEER) SLAMcore Syrius Robotics Tompkins Robotics Vecna Robotics Waypoint Robotics (Acquired by Locus Robotics) Wellwit Robotics Continental Mobile Robots Sherpa Mobile Robotics AgiloX GmbH Megvii Myrmex, Inc Kuka Milvus Robotics Robotnik For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/11swx4 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets HUANGLING, China, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On the morning of April 5, the 2023 Qingming Festival Memorial Ceremony for the Yellow Emperor was held at the Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor in Shaanxi Province. The mausoleum, located in Huangling County, Shaanxi Province, is the location of the tomb of Yellow Emperor, the common ancestor of the Chinese nation. Guimao (2023) Qingming Festival Memorial Ceremony for the Yellow Emperor was held in Shaanxi At 9:50 am, the memorial ceremony officially started. All the attendees were standing solemnly for the drum beats and bell rings. The 34 drumbeats symbolized the common aspiration of the whole Chinese nation, as well as all overseas Chinese to worship the ancestor of the Chinese nation. The 9 bell rings represented the highest etiquette of traditional rituals of the Chinese nation, expressing the infinite admiration and gratitude of sons and daughters of the Chinese nation to their ancestor, the Yellow Emperor. During the superb and elegant memorial music and dance performance,Xiao Jie, Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, presented the flower basket to the statue of the Yellow Emperor. Zhao Yide, Secretary of the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Party Committee and Director of Shaanxi Provincial People's Congress Standing Committee, presented the flower basket on behalf of the representatives of Shaanxi province. Zhao Gang, the governor of Shaanxi Province, delivered the memorial address. Upon the end of the memorial address, all the attendees made three deep bows to the statue of the Yellow Emperor. After the memorial music and dance performance, a 56-meter-long Chinese dragon hovered and leaped from the center of the altar, soaring to the sky. The dragon traveled through five thousand years of history, gazing at the ever-changing present and flying towards a bright and magnificent future. As the Memorial Ceremony was completed, the attendees visited the Xuanyuan Hall and the Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor, they then planted the Qiaoshan cypresses. The memorial ceremony was jointly organized by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and Shaanxi Provincial People's Government. Image Attachments Links: Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=439614 Caption: Guimao (2023) Qingming Festival Memorial Ceremony for the Yellow Emperor was held in Shaanxi SOURCE Shaanxi Provincial People's Government As a part of the brand's "Building On Hope" campaign from April through July, Gwaltney will provide "Play It Forward" playsets to families throughout the southeast. Additionally, to support the organization, a portion of the donation will support initiatives to be announced at Roc Solid's annual fundraising gala. Throughout the partnership Gwaltney has provided playsets to 13 children from Florida to Virginia. The brand also contributed more than 280 Ready Bags, which include everything that a family might need for an unexpected hospital stay including toiletries, a blanket, a journal, a tablet and more, to communities in the southeast. "For six years, the Gwaltney brand has proudly partnered with Roc Solid Foundation to help bring hope to kids facing cancer throughout the southeast," said Chris Braselton, brand manager for Gwaltney at Smithfield Foods. "The initiatives we've supported have made a positive impact in the communities we serve, and we're honored to be a part of these programs." Roc Solid Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Chesapeake, Va., has impacted thousands of families since its inception in 2009. It focuses on the power of play for kids diagnosed with pediatric cancer by surprising them with brand-new backyard playsets and "Ready Bags," which are distributed through partnerships with children's hospitals across the country. "Over the last few years, we've seen the need to pivot in the way we love and serve families facing cancer, and Gwaltney has always stepped up to the challenge," said Roc Solid Foundation's Chief Play Officer Eric Newman. "This year is no different. Gwaltney's support continues to allow us to bring hope to families all over with playsets and Ready Bags for those in immediate times of need." For more information about the partnership or to follow Gwaltney Building On Hope, find the brand on Facebook or visit Gwaltneyfoods.com. About Gwaltney Founded in 1870 by P.D. Gwaltney in Smithfield, Va., Gwaltney has made the promise to create delicious and affordable food. With a variety of bacon, hot dogs, lunchmeats and sausage, this dedication proves why Gwaltney Great Dogs are America's number one chicken franks and Gwaltney Great Bologna is America's number one chicken bologna. For more information and family recipes, visit www.GwaltneyFoods.com or follow us on Facebook. Gwaltney is a brand of Smithfield Foods. About Roc Solid Foundation Roc Solid Foundation builds hope for kids fighting cancer nationwide through the power of play. The organization distributes Ready Bags to families just after they hear the devastating news that their child has cancer, and then provides backyard playsets so kids have a safe place to play during treatment. Roc Solid currently partners with 85 children's hospitals to distribute Ready Bags, and playsets have been provided to thousands of kids fighting cancer in almost every state across the U.S. For more info, visit www.rocsolidfoundation.org. About Smithfield Foods, Inc. Headquartered in Smithfield, Virginia, since 1936, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is a U.S. food company that employs nearly 60,000 people in seven countries and partners with thousands of American farmers. As one of the world's leading vertically integrated protein companies, we are dedicated to producing "Good food. Responsibly." to feed a growing world population. We have pioneered sustainability standards for more than two decades, including our industry-leading commitments to become carbon negative in our U.S. company-owned operations and reduce GHG emissions 30% across our entire U.S. value chain by 2030. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to food banks, disaster relief efforts and community outreach programs in all 50 U.S. states. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield, Eckrich, Gwaltney and Nathan's Famous, among many others. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. SOURCE Smithfield Foods, Inc. Gao will be speaking on a panel discussing blockchain and web3 CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yida Gao, Founder and Managing General Partner at venture capital firm Shima Capital, will be amongst the esteemed guest speakers at the prestigious Harvard College China Forum. The event has been running for over 25 years and each year features dozens of business, government, and other luminaries in the Chinese community. The event in 2020 was fully remote and garnered over 8 million views, followed by a move to Beijing in 2021 and hybrid in 2022. This year, the Harvard College China Forum returns to Massachusetts for a fully in-person event between April 7-9. All told, there will be over 10 panels and 70 speakers. "It's truly a thrill to be invited to this event," said Yida Gao, who has attended the conference in the past but is a first time speaker this year. "The guest list is, like every year before, filled with some of the biggest names in the Chinese business community and beyond. I'm honored to be here with them." Mr. Gao's panel, which takes the stage on Sunday the 9th, will discuss Blockchain and Web3. He'll be joined by some of his peers from the business world: Herbie Fu, Partner, Infinity Ventures Crypto, Venture partner, Alpha Square Group; KJ Jia, Partner at OnePiece Labs; David Shuttleworth, Managing Director, Binance Labs, Ex Consensys; and Potter Li, Cofounder, EthSign. The Harvard College China Forum was founded in 1997 and is dedicated to a constructive dialogue on the challenges, trends, and issues affecting China. The forum aims to engage leaders in business, academia, and politics in a discourse that offers insights and generates ideas. Past speakers include Jack Ma, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman Alibaba Group; Jin Liqun, President of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank; and Ray Dalio, Founder, Co-CIO, and Co-Chairman of Bridgewater Associates. Mr. Gao looks forward to having discussions with some of the greatest minds in the community. For more on Yida Gao and Shima Capital, visit www.yidagao.com and www.shima.capital. About Yida Gao Yida Gao (Forbes 30 Under 30) is the Managing General Partner of early stage crypto investment firm Shima Capital. Yida formerly co-ran Struck Capital, an early stage industry agnostic venture fund, and also DDC (Divergence Digital Currency), a multi-strategy crypto fund. Prior, Yida served as a technology investor at New Enterprise Associates, a $25Bn+ venture capital fund, and as an M&A investment banker at Morgan Stanley. He graduated from MIT with degrees in mathematics and computer science and dropped out of Stanford's Graduate School of Business to pursue crypto investing full time in 2017. He teaches the 15.492: Crypto Finance course at MIT. Contact: ***@shima.capital Photo(s): https://www.prlog.org/12959046 Press release distributed by PRLog SOURCE Shima Capital Kerrville, TX (78028) Today Rain showers in the morning with scattered thunderstorms arriving in the afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 76F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Cloudy skies early with showers later at night. Low 63F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%. After 40 years of hearing aid retail, Andreozzi looks forward to continuing to champion the Beltone brand while supporting and growing its independent network with new role GLENVIEW, Ill., April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Beltone, named America's #1 Hearing Care Retailer & Best in Customer Service by Newsweek, is pleased to announce hearing industry veteran Michael Andreozzi will be joining GN Hearing and Beltone as Beltone Brand Ambassador and supporting the growth of its independent network. Michael Andreozzi, Beltone Brand Ambassador Andreozzi has been in hearing aid retail for over 40 years joining the Beltone network as an independent owner in 2001. Since then, he successfully grew from three small offices in Rhode Island to over 125 Beltone locations spanning 10 states and employing over 260 team members. Andreozzi and his practices received countless awards including the prestigious Beltone President's Cup Award for his outstanding achievements. He recently announced he sold his business to his business partner of 17 years, Brian Snowden, also a long-time independent Beltone owner and President's Cup Winner. "We're thrilled to continue to grow our relationship with Mike as he truly is an amazing leader in the industry and such a great champion of the Beltone brand. We look forward to exciting things to come and welcome those looking to take their hearing practices to the next level to consider joining our ever-growing network," says David Molella, President of Beltone North America. With his new role at Beltone corporate, Andreozzi will continue to inspire and help independent owners and hearing care professionals succeed in their practices. He will also continue to serve the hearing industry as a whole in his role as President-Elect of the International Hearing Society (IHS). "I am so passionate about our brand, owners, staff, and business model," says Andreozzi. "Our profession is entering its most exciting decade and I look forward to being a part of its growth and prosperity." As the hearing industry changes, Beltone is ready and is growing nationwide. Beltone provides the tools and resources to differentiate your business while addressing the challenges you may face. With marketing and practice support, business operations, training specialists, and more Beltone will help you be in business for yourself, but not by yourself. Please visit www.ownabeltone.com to learn more about joining our award-winning network of independent owners or contact Andreozzi directly at [email protected]. About Beltone For more than 80 years, Beltone has been one of the nation's most trusted and leading hearing care provider. In addition to providing some of the most reliable, affordable, and advanced hearing aids, we also pride ourselves on serving as a partner to our patients every step of the way during their hearing health journey. With approximately 1,500 Beltone locations nationwide, each office is a local business part of the community it serves and the hearing care professional and staff at your local Beltone will get to know you to provide a personalized experience during your journey to better hearing. And with a nationwide network, you can expect this level of personalized service wherever you go. Our Beltone hearing care professionals receive extensive training and education, so they are always equipped with the latest knowledge to bring you the best care. Proudly part of the GN Group, Beltone continues to focus on the needs of our patients through the research and development of innovative new hearing technologies to allow you to hear what truly matters the most. To learn more, please visit us at www.beltone.com and on LinkedIn. SOURCE Beltone Express Lanes STARTSM Pilot Program Opens Today for Online Enrollment SAN FRANCISCO, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Metropolitan Transportation Commission's (MTC) Bay Area Infrastructure Financing Authority (BAIFA) affiliate today inaugurated a new pilot program intended to help more travelers from households with lower incomes take advantage of the Express Lanes along the Interstate 880 corridor in Alameda County. BAIFA is now accepting applications from residents throughout the Bay Area whose household income is no more than 200 percent of the federal poverty level (about $60,000 for a family of four) to participate in the Express Lanes START program and qualify for reduced toll charges in the I-880 Express Lanes. Toll discounts are based on the number of people in the car. Solo drivers enrolled in the Express Lanes START program will receive a 50 percent discount off the posted toll and two-person carpools will receive a 75 percent discount. All Express Lane customers in carpools with three or more people travel toll free. The Express Lanes START pilot does not apply to other Bay Area Express Lanes, nor does it apply to the region's toll bridges. Eligible participants may apply online at ExpressLanesSTART.org or by mailing or faxing a paper application. Both the website and the paper application are available in English, Chinese, Spanish and Vietnamese. If an applicant already has a FasTrak account and is approved for Express Lanes START, the discount will be activated in their FasTrak account automatically. If a participant does not have a FasTrak account, they can still apply for the Express Lanes START discount. If approved, these customers will receive a unique approval code to enter when signing up for a FasTrak account at bayareafastrak.org. "MTC has a long history of serving residents with low incomes through community-based planning and other outreach programs," noted Commission member and Union City Mayor Carol Dutra-Vernaci. "Express Lanes START demonstrates an expanding commitment to make commuting in the Bay Area more affordable to a wider group of people, and we want to get the word out so those who qualify take advantage of this pilot program." To ensure those who are income eligible are aware of and have assistance applying for the Express Lanes START program, BAIFA has conducted extensive outreach to social services and housing agencies, as well as to dozens of community-based organizations and other human services programs. BAIFA partnered with four 'hub' organizations to help spread the news about the new Express Lanes START program. These include the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC), Roots Community Health Center, Union City Family Center, and Vietnamese Voluntary Foundation (VIVO). "The Union City Family Center is a central hub serving students and families in our community, and we are pleased to partner with BAIFA to help those who qualify reduce the financial burden of travelling to and from work or school along the I-880 corridor by participating in the Express Lanes START program," said Union City Family Center Director Marcus Lam. VIVO Program Director Tam Nguyen asserted, "As we work to empower refugees, immigrants and low-income ethnic families, we are eager to educate them about the Express Lanes START pilot program, which offers a boost towards mobility equity as they become productive participating citizens, benefitting themselves, their families and their communities." Ener Chui, Director of the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation, sounded a similar theme, "EBALDC is looking forward to partnering with the BAIFA team to bring more equitable mobility options to East Oakland. This program is a direct investment in improving access to expanded income and wealth-building opportunities for our neighborhood's residents." Dr. Noha Aboelata, M.D., founder and CEO of Roots Community Health Center affirmed, "We appreciate BAIFA's efforts to combat regional transportation inequities, and Roots is proud to play a key role informing our community members about the Express Lanes START program so they may take advantage of essential resources available to them." The Express Lane START pilot program will run for 18 months, with evaluation of the program results set to begin in 12 months. Once the evaluation is complete, MTC will decide whether to continue the program. The I-880 Express Lanes extend about 20 miles in the northbound direction from the Alameda-Santa Clara county line to Lewelling Blvd. in San Lorenzo, and about 25 miles in the southbound direction from Hegenberger Road in Oakland to the Alameda-Santa Clara county line. MTC is the regional transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. BAIFA oversees the financing, planning and operation of MTC Express Lanes and related transportation projects. SOURCE Metropolitan Transportation Commission SEATTLE, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- JND Legal Administration A settlement has been proposed in a class action lawsuit about alleged wages owed for work performed at Chevron's oil refineries. The settlement will provide $1,925,000 to pay for the alleged wages owed and related penalties from September 20, 2015 through February 22, 2023. If you qualify, you may send proof of employment to Clayborne v. Chevron USA Settlement Administrator; c/o JND Legal Administration; PO Box 91461; Seattle, WA 98111, to get your share of the settlement. Alternately, you can exclude yourself from the settlement or object to it. If you are not sure you are included, you can get more information, including a detailed notice, using the QR code below, visiting www.RefinerySettlement.com, or by calling (844) 798-0758. The United States District Court for the Northern District of California authorized this notice. Before any money is paid, the Court will have a hearing to decide whether to approve the settlement. WHAT'S THIS LAWSUIT ABOUT? Plaintiff claimed that Chevron jointly employed its contractors' employees and its contractors failed to pay hourly workers at Chevron's Richmond and El Segundo refineries for all hours worked, including for time spent on mandatory pre-shift transportation to their work sites, time spent putting on Nomex and other special protective gear before the start of each shift and improperly docked hourly workers' pay. Chevron and its contractors deny they did anything wrong. The Court did not decide which side was right. But both sides agreed to the settlement to resolve the case and get benefits to workers. WHAT IS THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT? Chevron and Newtron have agreed to pay $1,925,000 into a fund to be divided among Class Members. Your share of the fund will depend on the number of weeks you worked at Chevron's Richmond and/or El Segundo refinery from September 20, 2015 through February 22, 2023. A Settlement Agreement, available at www.RefinerySettlement.com or accessed by using the QR code included here, provides details about the proposed settlement. HOW DO YOU ASK FOR A PAYMENT? If you didn't get an individually addressed settlement notice, you must contact the settlement administrator at Chevron USA Settlement Administrator; c/o JND Legal Administration; PO Box 91461; Seattle, WA 98111, or use the QR code included here for further instructions. You must contact the settlement administrator by May 22, 2023 to be included. WHAT ARE YOUR OTHER OPTIONS? If you don't want to be legally bound by the settlement, you must exclude yourself by May 22, 2023, or you won't be able to sue, or continue to sue Chevron or Newtron about the legal claims in this case. If you exclude yourself, you can't get money from this settlement. If you stay in the settlement, you may object by May 22, 2023. The Court can only approve or reject the settlement. The detailed notice explains how to exclude yourself or how to object. The Court will hold a hearing in this case (Clayborne v. Chevron U.S.A., Inc., et al., Case No. 19-cv-07624-JSW) on June 30, 2023 at 9:00 a.m., to consider whether to approve the settlement and a request by the lawyers representing Class Members (Outten & Golden LLP of San Francisco, CA and Steven S. Elster of Concord, CA) for attorneys' fees of up to 35% of the settlement fund; reimbursement for up to $45,000 in costs, for investigating the facts, litigating the case, and negotiating the settlement; and a service award of up to $15,000 for the Class Representative, Shawn Clayborne. You may ask to appear at the hearing, but you don't have to. The date of the hearing may change, so check the www.RefinerySettlement.com for updates. This notice summarizes the proposed settlement. For more information, call (844) 798-0758, visit www.RefinerySettlement.com, write to Chevron USA Settlement Administrator; c/o JND Legal Administration; PO Box 91461; Seattle, WA 98111, or access the Court dockets, for a fee, through PACER at https://ecf.cand.uscourts.gov, or visit the office of the Clerk of the Court for the United States District Court for the Northern District of California at 1301 Clay Street, Oakland, CA 94612, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Court holidays. Scan the QR code to visit the settlement website. SOURCE JND Legal Administration CHICAGO, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Industrial Vehicles Market size will grow to USD 49.2 billion by 2028 (forecast year) from USD 39.7 billion in 2023 (estimated year), at a CAGR of 4.4% during 2023-2028 period, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Factors such as growing e-commerce industry, paired with increasing focus on workplace safety are expected to augment revenues growth for the industrial vehicles market. Advent of smart factories in material handling industries, in conjunction with rising trend of hydrogen-powered forklifts are likely to create favorable opportunities for the industrial vehicles market during the forecast period. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=164686137 Browse in-depth TOC on "Industrial Vehicles Market". 327 - Tables 90 - Figures 333 - Pages Industrial Vehicles Market Scope: Report Coverage Details Market Size USD 49.2 billion by 2028 Growth Rate 4.4% of CAGR Largest Market Asia Pacific Market Dynamics Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities & Challenges Forecast Period 2023-2028 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Vehicle Type, Drive Type, Application, Capacity, Level of Autonomy, Aerial Work Platform Type, and Region Geographies Covered Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and RoW Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Increasing demand for battery-operated industrial vehicles Key Market Drivers Increasing focus on AGVs across end-use industries Aisle trucks segment is estimated to hold the largest market during the forecast period The aisle trucks segment is estimated to account for the largest share in terms of value as well as volume. In addition, the aisle trucks segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Growing e-commerce and warehousing are expected to support the revenue growth of the aisle trucks segment of the global industrial vehicles market. Demand for automation solutions in material handling processes across industries and increasing focus on improving workplace safety are factors that are also anticipated to propel the aisle trucks segment of the global industrial vehicles market during the forecast period. Battery-operated segment is expected to hold the largest share in the industrial vehicles market during the forecast period Battery-operated is expected to be the largest segment by drive type during the forecast period. Battery-operated industrial vehicles are preferred choices for end-use industries such as manufacturing, freight, and logistics, etc., as these vehicles are environment-friendly and relatively silent during operation, have low operational and maintenance costs, and are easier to operate than ICE and gas-powered industrial vehicles. In addition, most industrial vehicle manufacturers are focusing on new product development of battery-operated industrial vehicles due to CO2 emission concerns. Toyota Industries Corporation, KION Group AG, Jungheinrich AG, HysterYale Materials Handling, Inc., Crown Equipment Corporation, and Hangcha Group Co., Ltd. offer battery-operated industrial vehicles for end users with varying load capacities. Asia Pacific is expected to have largest share in the industrial vehicles market by 2028 Asia Pacific is expected to have largest market share in the industrial vehicles market during the forecast period in terms of value as well as volume. Countries considered under this report for Asia Pacific are China, India, Japan, South Korea, and the Rest of Asia Pacific. The region is a leading producer of industrial vehicles and comprises some of the fastest-developing economies in the world, including China and India. This has led to an increase in industrial vehicle production volumes over the years, with OEMs catering not only to domestic demand but to overseas demand as well. Major industrial vehicle manufacturers are expanding in Asia Pacific to establish themselves in this promising market. For instance, in December 2021, KION Group (Germany) opened a new forklift truck plant in China. In addition to the increase in the population, factors such as increasing GDP, infrastructure investments, and rising per capita income have created more opportunities for industrial vehicles in the Asia Pacific region. Inquire Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=164686137 Industrial Vehicles Market Dynamics: Drivers: 1. Growth in warehousing and e-commerce sectors. 2. Technological advancements across end-use industries. 3. Increasing focus on AGVs across end-use industries. 4. Focus on improving workplace safety. Restraints: 1. High cost associated with automation. 2. High maintenance of industrial vehicles and lack of R&D facilities. Opportunities: 1. Rising demand for electrically operated industrial vehicles. 2. Advent of smart factories in material handling industry. 3. Development of autonomous, connected, and fleet management solutions. Challenges: 1. Government regulations and safety concerns. 2. Low labor costs in emerging economies. Key Market Players: The Industrial Vehicles Market is dominated by major players including Toyota Industries Corporation (Japan), KION Group AG (Germany), Mitsubishi Logisnext Co., Ltd. (Japan), Jungheinrich AG (Germany), and Crown Equipment Corporation (US) Recent Developments: In January 2023 , Crown Equipment Corporation expanded its counterbalance forklift portfolio with the launch of four-wheel forklifts available in electric, diesel, and LPG propulsion types. These lifts have load capacities ranging from 2.0 up to 5.5 tons and are capable enough of tackling a wide variety of material handling tasks in indoor as well as outdoor applications. , Crown Equipment Corporation expanded its counterbalance forklift portfolio with the launch of four-wheel forklifts available in electric, diesel, and LPG propulsion types. These lifts have load capacities ranging from 2.0 up to 5.5 tons and are capable enough of tackling a wide variety of material handling tasks in indoor as well as outdoor applications. In December 2022 , CLARK announced the launch of its SEC20-35 four-wheel electric forklift. This industrial vehicle (forklift) comes with capacities ranging from 4,000-7,000 pounds. , CLARK announced the launch of its SEC20-35 four-wheel electric forklift. This industrial vehicle (forklift) comes with capacities ranging from 4,000-7,000 pounds. In May 2022 , CLARK launched the S40-60 IC Pneumatic forklift truck, which has built-in capacities of 8,000 to 12,000 pounds. This forklift offers safety features including an integrated backup camera, LED lights, and optional speed limit control, among others. , CLARK launched the S40-60 IC Pneumatic forklift truck, which has built-in capacities of 8,000 to 12,000 pounds. This forklift offers safety features including an integrated backup camera, LED lights, and optional speed limit control, among others. In November 2021 , Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas launched two new forklifts _ PF(D)80N and PF(D)120N model series of 4-wheel internal combustion mid-sized pneumatic tire forklifts. These engine-powered forklifts are available to all the dealers associated with the UniCarriers brand. , Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas launched two new forklifts _ PF(D)80N and PF(D)120N model series of 4-wheel internal combustion mid-sized pneumatic tire forklifts. These engine-powered forklifts are available to all the dealers associated with the UniCarriers brand. In April 2020 , Konecranes launched E-VER forklift in its existing product portfolio. This product offers advanced digital experience to the end users. Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=164686137 Browse Adjacent Market: Automotive and Transportation Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Construction Equipment Market - Global Forecast to 2027 Autonomous Forklift Market - Forecast to 2027 ADAS Market - Global Forecast to 2030 Electric Construction Equipment Market - Global Forecast to 2027 About MarketsandMarkets: MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/industrial-vehicle-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/industrial-vehicle.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets KERRVILLE, Texas, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- James Avery Artisan Jewelry, a family-owned jewelry retailer based in Texas, is excited to announce the opening of its first retail location in Brenham. The new store is located at the Brenham Crossing shopping center at 940 US Highway 290 E, Brenham, Texas 77833. Guests can expect to see designs that represent Brenham and Washington County including the Bluebonnet Charm, Bluebonnet Ring and the iconic Texas Landscape Charm highlighting the picturesque Texas scenery. "We're excited to open our first store in Brenham and serve our loyal customers who previously had to travel over 20 miles to shop in-person at a James Avery store," James Avery Chief Product and Revenue Officer Karina Dolgin says. "Brenham has a vibrant and authentic Texas spirit, and we are excited to be a part of the community." The new store opens today, and visitors are invited to register for a gift card drawing. During the grand opening celebration on Saturday, April 15 there will be drawings for 30 James Avery gift cards valued at $50, $100 and $500. Additionally, the first 100 guests will receive a gift with purchase. "We are happy to welcome our customers to our new store in Brenham Crossing, and we can't wait for them to shop some of our beloved designs," said store manager Jackie Maddox. "We are opening just in time to start shopping for Mother's Day and will have dedicated displays full of gifts for Mom including designs to celebrate her family, her faith and much more." The store's hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, 12 to 6 p.m. Store Manager Jackie Maddox and her team are ready to welcome customers to shop in the new store or use the Curbside Pickup or Buy Online, Pickup in Store options at JamesAvery.com. About James Avery Artisan Jewelry James Avery is a vertically integrated, family-owned company located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. We offer finely crafted jewelry designs for men and women in sterling silver, 14K and 18K gold, bronze and gemstones. James Avery jewelry is designed in the Texas Hill Country, with more than 90 percent of our pieces crafted in Kerrville, Comfort, Hondo and Corpus Christi, Texas using the finest materials sourced worldwide. We are a multi-channel retailer with over 120 James Avery stores in four states. Our jewelry is also available at JamesAvery.com, over 250 Dillard's locations and at Dillards.com and at 38 Von Maur locations and VonMaur.com. You can also find our designs at airport stores in Austin, Houston and Nashville, as well as select Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) locations. Follow us @jamesavery on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, as well as @jamesaveryjewelry on TikTok for new releases, trends and behind the scenes. Drawing Details Odds of winning depend on total number of entries received. Thirty James Avery gift cards will be awarded: 24 $50 gift cards, three $100 gift cards, and three $500 gift cards. Entries accepted April 5 through April 15. Hourly drawings on April 15 between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. during the grand opening celebration at the Brenham James Avery Artisan Jewelry store. No purchase necessary. Must be at least 13 years old to enter. Only one entry per person, per day. Winners not eligible to win a subsequent gift card in the same promotion. Winners need not be present to win; however, if prize is not claimed within 14 days of drawing, prize will be awarded to an alternate winner. Associates and immediate family members not eligible for this gift promotion. SOURCE James Avery Artisan Jewelry SHANGHAI, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Juyi Cosmetics Co., Ltd. ("JOY GROUP"), a leading multi-brand China-based cosmetics company, has announced its financial results for FY2022, with annual revenue reaching USD256.7 mn (RMB1.8 bn), and estimated GMV reaching USD313.8 mn (RMB 2.2bn), up c. 30% year-on-year. The company has secured strong double-digit revenue growth and sustainable profitability for consecutive years, confirming its leading position among the China domestic beauty players. Established in 2017 and headquartered in Shanghai, JOY GROUP has evolved into a multi-brand beauty company with digital first DNA and omnichannel expertise. With a direct-to-consumer approach, JOY Group now operates a network of flagship stores on major ecommerce platforms, and 25+ offline monobrand boutiques. Over 60 million consumers in total were served through JOY GROUP's DTC channels. The company also collaborates with key retail partners to operate 6,000+ point-of-sales all over the country. The company encompasses two iconic cosmetics brands, JUDYDOLL and JOOCYEE, selling two products every second in 2022. JUDYDOLL caters to a colorful, sweet and fun lifestyle, ranking No. 2 brand in the domestic cosmetics category on Douyin (TikTok China). JOOCYEE exudes a modern, romantic and tailored style for Asian female consumer. The brand now ranks No.1 in domestic lipstick category and No. 6 within the domestic cosmetics category on Tiktok China, and the size of business has grown 7 times in past two years. JOY GROUP has built its integrated end-to-end supply chain capability from R&D, procurement, production, inventory to delivery. In 2022, the company has fully acquired and integrated a cosmetics manufacturer located in Shanghai, with strong innovation capability in cosmetics, skincare and perfumery. The integration of in-house R&D lab, factory, e-commerce operation, retail stores and marketing hubs, enables JOY GROUP to remain agile and responsive amidst the fast evolving beauty market in China. JOY GROUP is backed by leading investors from both global and local backgrounds. Existing investors include General Atlantic, Tencent, and Shunwei Capital (co-founded by Lei Jun, the founder and CEO of Xiaomi). JOY GROUP has been proactively expanding to overseas markets since 2020. In 2022, JUDYDOLL was widely gaining popularity from consumers in Japan and Malaysia, benefiting from its emerging presence in local offline channels with high price-to-value portfolio offerings. While JOOCYEE achieved an important milestone: penetrating its 600th store overseas, with its footprint expanding beyond APAC (mainly Japan and Australia) to Canada. SOURCE Shanghai Juyi Cosmetics Co., Ltd. BANGKOK, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- J&T Express, a global logistics service provider, celebrated its fourth anniversary in Thailand themed "Parcel Story of 4ever Friendship". J&T Express Celebrates Its Fourth Anniversary in Thailand Since its launch in Thailand in March 2019, J&T Express has quickly grown into a leading delivery service provider. Through its vehicle fleet, the Jet Transport, J&T Express covers 928 districts in 77 provinces, including remote areas. Currently, J&T Express operates 24/7, 365 days a year supported by customer service hotlines and a one-on-one service for VIP customers. In addition, J&T Fulfillment provides automated warehousing solutions and a suite of diversified services to cater to the various needs of B2B and B2C customers. To supplement its offerings in the domestic market, J&T International, a subsidiary of J&T, also offers one-stop international logistics solutions to customers, contributing to the rapid development of cross-border e-commerce in Thailand. J&T Express operates gateway centre with an area of over 100,000 square meters fitted with leading automatic sorting technology in Southeast Asia. Benefiting from this, the company achieved an increase of 25% in parcel volume and a 19% improvement in service efficiency year-over-year in 2022. Mrs. Lily Chen, Chief Marketing Officer of J&T Express Thailand said, "J&T Express' achievements would not have been made possible without the support of our customers and partners. Rooted in our 'customer-oriented and efficiency-based' mission, we strive to be the best courier logistics provider in Thailand. We will continue to make strides with our customers and contribute to the development of the digital economy in Thailand." The fourth anniversary celebration was also attended by Mario Maurer, a Thai national idol, and a spokesperson for J&T Express Thailand. About J&T Express J&T Express is a global logistics service provider with leading express delivery businesses in Southeast Asia and China, the largest and fastest-growing market in the world. Founded in 2015, J&T Express' network spans thirteen countries, including Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, China, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Mexico, Brazil and Egypt. Adhering to its "customer-oriented and efficiency-based" mission, J&T Express is committed to providing customers with integrated logistics solutions through intelligent infrastructure and digital logistics network, as part of its global strategy to connect the world with greater efficiency and bring logistical benefits to all. SOURCE J&T Express BANGKOK, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- J&T Express, a global logistics service provider, celebrated its fourth anniversary in Thailand themed "Parcel Story of 4ever Friendship". J&T Express Celebrates Its Fourth Anniversary in Thailand Since its launch in Thailand in March 2019, J&T Express has quickly grown into a leading delivery service provider. Through its vehicle fleet, the Jet Transport, J&T Express covers 928 districts in 77 provinces, including remote areas. Currently, J&T Express operates 24/7, 365 days a year supported by customer service hotlines and a one-on-one service for VIP customers. In addition, J&T Fulfillment provides automated warehousing solutions and a suite of diversified services to cater to the various needs of B2B and B2C customers. To supplement its offerings in the domestic market, J&T International, a subsidiary of J&T, also offers one-stop international logistics solutions to customers, contributing to the rapid development of cross-border e-commerce in Thailand. J&T Express operates gateway centre with an area of over 100,000 square meters fitted with leading automatic sorting technology in Southeast Asia. Benefiting from this, the company achieved an increase of 25% in parcel volume and a 19% improvement in service efficiency year-over-year in 2022. Mrs. Lily Chen, Chief Marketing Officer of J&T Express Thailand said, "J&T Express' achievements would not have been made possible without the support of our customers and partners. Rooted in our 'customer-oriented and efficiency-based' mission, we strive to be the best courier logistics provider in Thailand. We will continue to make strides with our customers and contribute to the development of the digital economy in Thailand." The fourth anniversary celebration was also attended by Mario Maurer, a Thai national idol, and a spokesperson for J&T Express Thailand. About J&T Express J&T Express is a global logistics service provider with leading express delivery businesses in Southeast Asia and China, the largest and fastest-growing market in the world. Founded in 2015, J&T Express' network spans thirteen countries, including Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, China, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Mexico, Brazil and Egypt. Adhering to its "customer-oriented and efficiency-based" mission, J&T Express is committed to providing customers with integrated logistics solutions through intelligent infrastructure and digital logistics network, as part of its global strategy to connect the world with greater efficiency and bring logistical benefits to all. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2049604/J_T_Express_Celebrates_Its_Fourth_Anniversary_Thailand.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1721319/JT_Express_Logo.jpg SOURCE J&T Express MADISON, Wis., April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LEGAL NOTICE If You Bought Natural Gas in Wisconsin Between January 1, 2000 and October 31, 2002, A Class Action Settlement May Affect You. Why was this notice published? A Settlement has been reached with certain Defendants in class action lawsuits involving natural gas. To participate in the Settlement you must file a claim form postmarked or submitted online no later than July 26, 2023. For more information or to file a claim please go to www.NaturalGasAntitrustSettlement.com. What are these lawsuits about? The lawsuits allege that certain companies involved in the production, marketing, or sale of natural gas engaged in an unlawful conspiracy to manipulate the price of natural gas. Plaintiffs further claim that commercial and industrial purchasers of natural gas who purchased natural gas other than from utilities or local distribution companies and for their own use or consumption in Wisconsin may recover for the effect that the alleged conspiracy had on the prices of the natural gas they purchased. Plaintiffs allege that, as a result of the unlawful conspiracy, they and other Wisconsin purchasers paid more for natural gas than they would have absent the conspiracy. The Settling Defendants deny Plaintiffs' claims. Who's included in the Settlement? All industrial and commercial purchasers of natural gas for their own use or consumption during the period from January 1, 2000 through October 31, 2002 (the "Class Period"), and which gas was used or consumed by them in Wisconsin. Excluded from the Class are (a) entities that purchased natural gas for resale (to the extent of such purchase for resale); (b) entities that purchased natural gas for generation of electricity for the purpose of sale (to the extent of such purchase for generation); (c) entities that purchased natural gas from entities that sold natural gas at rates approved by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (to the extent of such purchases at such approved rates); (d) defendants and their predecessors, affiliates and subsidiaries; and (e) the federal government and its agencies. This is the fourth notice in this case. The first notice involved settlements in Kansas, Missouri, and Wisconsin with American Electric Power Company, Inc., and certain of its affiliates; Coral Energy Resources, LP, and certain of its affiliates; Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, and certain of its affiliates; and ONEOK, Inc., and certain of its affiliates. The second notice involved two additional settlements, for natural gas purchases in Wisconsin only, with El Paso Corporation and certain of its affiliates, and CenterPoint Energy Services, Inc. The third notice involved the Wisconsin-only settlement with CMS Energy Corporation and certain of its affiliates. The Court has now granted preliminary approval to an additional settlement, for natural gas purchases in Wisconsin only, with Williams, as defined below. If you filed a claim and received payment in a prior settlement in Wisconsin, you do not need to file another claim unless additional information has become available to amend your prior claim. Who are the Settling Defendants? A settlement has now been reached with Defendants The Williams Companies, Inc., Williams Merchant Services Company LLC (f/k/a Williams Merchant Services Company, Inc.), and WPX Energy Marketing, LLC (f/k/a Williams Power Company, Inc.) (collectively, "Williams"). A complete list of Defendants is set out in the Long Form Notice available at www.NaturalGasAntitrustSettlement.com. What does the Settlement provide? The Settlement creates a total settlement fund of $12 million in cash, plus any interest accrued (the "Settlement Fund"), before deductions for Court-approved expenses and attorneys' fees. Class Counsel will ask the Court for reimbursement from the Settlement Fund of a portion of their costs and expenses incurred to date. Class Counsel will also ask the Court to award attorneys' fees not to exceed thirty-five percent (35%) of the remaining Settlement Fund after any fees and expenses are reimbursed. In addition, up to $50,000 in administration fees will be paid from the Settlement Fund to the claims administrator that will assist with the processing of notices, requests for exclusion, and other settlement-related tasks. Additional amounts may be paid to the claims administrator to assist with the processing of claims in the event the Court finally approves this settlement. Class Counsel also plans to request that an amount be paid from the Settlement Fund to each of the Class Representatives who helped the lawyers pursue these claims on behalf of all members of the Class (known as an "incentive award"). The Court will ultimately approve the amount of attorneys' fees, costs and expenses, and any incentive awards. What are my rights? To receive a payment from the Settlement you must file a claim unless you filed an accepted claim under the previous settlements in the Wisconsin actions in 2017, 2019 or 2020. You may amend your prior claim if you have additional information otherwise any payment in this settlement will be based on the data provided with your earlier claim(s). If you did not receive a payment in the prior settlement(s) you may download or file a claim on the Settlement Website. The estimated deadline to file a claim form, postmarked or submitted online, is no later than July 26, 2023, pending Court approval. If you wish to remain a member of the Settlement Class and not receive a payment, you do not need to take action at this time. If you stay in the Settlement Class, all of the decisions by the Court and this Settlement will bind you, and you will be unable to sue the Settling Defendants about the alleged misconduct or legal issues in these cases, or be part of any other lawsuit against the Settling Defendants about such issues. Please carefully review the specific provisions of the Settlement Agreement, including the release of claims contained therein, at www.NaturalGasAntitrustSettlement.com. If you do not wish to be legally bound by the Settlement, you must exclude yourself in writing or you will not be able to sue, or continue to sue the Settling Defendants about the alleged misconduct or legal claims that were or could have been asserted in these cases. If you exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you may not intervene as a party plaintiff in the Actions. If you would like to exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, then you must send a letter that includes the following: (a) your name, address, and telephone number; (b) any trade names or business names (and addresses) you or any parent, subsidiary, or affiliate that purchased the natural gas used during the Class Period; (c) an estimate of the total dollar amount and volume of natural gas purchased by the entity(ies) listed in subparts (a) or (b) and the names of all entities from or through which such natural gas was purchased; (d) the name of the cases Arandell Corporation, et al. v. Xcel Energy, Inc., et al., Case No: 3:07-cv-00076-wmc (W.D. Wis.) and NewPage Wisconsin System Inc. v. CMS Energy Resource Management Company, et al., Case No: 3:09-cv-00240-wmc (W.D. Wis.) Settlements; (e) the statement that "[name of person or entity] and all its parents, subsidiaries, and affiliates hereby request to be excluded from the proposed class settlement described in the notice of settlement pertaining to the Wisconsin Actions;" (f) the title or position of the person signing on behalf of the entity, and a statement that the person is duly authorized to sign on behalf of such entity; and (g) the signature of the duly authorized person identified in subpart (f). All exclusion requests must be sent to Natural Gas Claims Administrator c/o A.B. Data, Ltd., Exclusions, PO Box 173001, Milwaukee, WI 53217-8091 and must be postmarked no later than June 5, 2023. The Court will exclude from the Settlement Class any member who validly requests exclusion. You may also enter your appearance through an attorney if you so desire. If you wish to object to any aspect of the proposed Settlement, you must do so in writing no later than May 30, 2023. The Settlement Agreement, along with the details on how to object to it is available at www.NaturalGasAntitrustSettlement.com. The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin will hold a Fairness Hearing on June 30, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. CDT, at the Courtroom of the Honorable James D. Peterson, United States District Court, 120 N. Henry Street, Madison, WI 53703, to consider whether the Settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate. If there are objections, the Court will consider them at that time. You may also appear in person at the hearing, but you do not need to do so. If you wish to appear, however, you must first provide written notice of your intention to appear. We do not know how long it will take for the Court to make these decisions. The hearing may be moved to a different date or time without additional notice, so it is a good idea to check the website, at www.NaturalGasAntitrustSettlement.com, for information. Please do not contact the Court about this case. The Court has appointed the law firms of Kohner, Mann & Kailas, S.C., Perkins Coie LLP and Polsinelli PC to represent settlement class members in Wisconsin. This is a Summary Notice. For more details, call toll free 800-429-7281, visit www.NaturalGasAntitrustSettlement.com, or write to Natural Gas Claims Administrator, c/o A.B. Data, Ltd., PO Box 173068, Milwaukee, WI 53217-8091. Source(s): Kohner, Mann & Kailas, S.C. Perkins Coie LLP Polsinelli PC SOURCE Kohner, Mann & Kailas, S.C., Perkins Coie LLP and Polsinelli PC HOUSTON, April 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mark Lanier, founder of Houston's Lanier Law Firm, has issued the following statement in response to news reports of a proposal by Johnson & Johnson to resolve consumer claims in ongoing talc litigation through bankruptcy court. "A wise person once said, 'Settlements feed families; verdicts feed egos.' That sentiment was behind my comments that are circulating concerning J&J resolving talc cancer cases. My comments should not be taken as my support for the plan, which I have not yet read, nor its economics. I have not agreed to participate in it, and I hadn't even heard of it, ironically, until April Fool's Day. I am in favor of victims receiving prompt and fair compensation from voluntary settlements." About the Lanier Law Firm For more than 30 years, the men and women at The Lanier Law Firm have worked tirelessly, throughout the United States, to find unique and effective solutions for their clients. More than 60 skilled attorneys practice law in a broad array of areas, including business litigation, pharmaceutical litigation, asbestos exposure, oil and gas litigation, personal injury as well as defective and dangerous products, among others. Named an Elite Trial Law Firm by The National Law Journal, The Lanier Law Firm has offices in Houston, New York, and Los Angeles. To learn more visit http://www.lanierlawfirm.com Media Contact: J.D. Cargill 713-659-5200 [email protected] SOURCE The Lanier Law Firm The Finnish Ministry of Defense has informed the Israeli Ministry of Defense of its decision to procure the Davids Sling Weapon System (DSWS), an advanced airdefense system. The procurement decision follows a long competitive evaluation that lasted several years; the two finalists were Rafael and IAI. The Finnish Ministry of Defense chose the advanced Israeli system, which will form a layered defense against various threats. The Finnish MOD has set a minimum intercept ceiling of 15,000 m (50,000 ft) for this new capability. The system will significantly strengthen the capability of Finlands air defense. said Commander of the Finnish Air Force, Maj Gen JuhaPekka Keranen, Together with the commissioning of the F35 and the already fielded groundbased air defense systems in service, the air defense of Finland will be very substantial on the European scale. This is the first export sale of the Davids Sling Weapon System to a foreign military. DSWS is a joint program developed by the IMoDs Israel Missile Defense Organization and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems as the prime contractor. The system is designed to intercept advanced aerial threats, including ballistic missiles, aircraft, UAVs, and cruise missiles. DSWS has been operational in Israel since 2017 and is a core component of the countrys multitier airdefense array. Israel will provide Finland with Davids Sling system according to the agreement, including interceptors, launchers, and radars, which will be connected to Finnish command and control systems. The agreement is valued at approximately 316 million euros. The contract includes further options worth 216 million euros. The possible exercise of these options requires a separate decision. Due to the programs joint development with the United States, it is contingent on final export approval from the US Government. The procurement contract will include a separate part between the Israel Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Defence of Finland to ensure the security of the supply of the system. The arrangement will ensure the availability of critical system components in all security situations. The Finnish version of the system will be manufactured and integrated as a collaboration between Israeli, American, and Finnish contractors led by Rafael and Raytheon. Finnish companies will participate in the integration of the system and in the planning and equipping of the systems command and control elements. DSWS is an advanced system designed to intercept ballistic and cruise missiles, developed jointly by the Israel Missile Defense Organization and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. Rafael is the prime contractor for Davids Sling, working alongside Elta. This IAI subsidiary developed the MultiMission Radar and Elbit Systems, which developed the Israeli command and control system. The system is a central component of Israels multilayered defense network. It serves as an intermediate layer between the Iron Dome at the lower tier and the Arrow missiledefense systems (Arrow 2 and 3) at the highest tiers. At the intermediate layer, DSWS is a centralized national asset designed to deal with advanced threats at long ranges. From its central locations, DSWS relies on its high speed and long range (>250 km (150 miles) to engage targets well beyond Israels borders. It adds interception opportunities to the Arrow 3 exoatmospheric interceptors, Arrow 2, and future Arrow 4 missile defense interceptors, also operated as centralized assets. DSWS can also intercept targets from long range before they are engaged by the Iron Domes, distributed to multiple locations around the country. With high kinematic capabilities, superior dual seeker, and extended range, DSWS also provides optimal defense against cruise missile attacks. The system uses an interceptor powered by an advanced rocket motor with exceptional maneuverability and speed. Davids Sling offers high interoperability with external systems, using an architecture allowing maximum flexibility while operating as part of an air defense network that consists of different and diverse systems. XI'AN, China, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Roundtable Meeting with the Captains of Industry" was held in Beijing recently, in conjunction with the official visit of Dato Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, to China. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar, Minister of Transportation Luk Siu Fook, Minister of International Trade and Industry Tunku Zavru and Foreign Minister Zabriri, among other important dignitaries, attended the meeting. The founder and president of LONGi, Li Zhenguo, was also invited to join this significant gathering. The roundtable is aimed at deepening trade and investment cooperation between China and Malaysia, enhancing understanding and interaction between the Chinese and Malaysian business communities by building a face-to-face communication platform, and jointly promoting project cooperation to achieve greater mutual benefit and win-win results. Speaking at the event, LONGi's Founder and President, Mr. Li Zhenguo, shared the company's expansion plans in Malaysia over the next years. "Today, I am proud to announce that LONGi has continued to increase its production capacity for ingot, wafer, cell, and module in Malaysia, which is expected to create over 7,000 employment opportunities. Since starting our operations in Malaysia's Kuching City in Sarawak state in 2016, we have been committed to driving technological innovation and empowering local communities. All our new projects are adopting the most advanced automated process and technology. Our current workforce of 4,000 employees is 99.9% Malaysian, and we are eager to continue building our business in Malaysia," Li said. In the future, LONGi will continue to focus on technological innovation, strengthen overseas manufacturing capabilities, and contribute to the global energy transition, he added. SOURCE LONGi EAST PALESTINE, Ohio, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Gary M. Klinger of the national law firm Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, PLLC ("Milberg") has been appointed to the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee for a group of consolidated lawsuits over the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Since the crash of a train operated by Norfolk Southern on February 3, plaintiffs have filed more than two dozen class action lawsuits against the rail operator. On April 5, U.S. District Judge Benita Y. Pearson from the Northern District of Ohio issued an order consolidating the cases, which focus on diminished property values and residents' exposure to toxic and carcinogenic chemicals stemming from the derailment. Judge Pearson also chose a leadership structure to oversee the litigation. Milberg's Gary Klinger will serve on the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee, where he will work with other lead lawyers on the case to represent the classes of those impacted by the Ohio train disaster. "The East Palestine train derailment is one of the worst environmental disasters in our country's history, and Milberg is honored to have a leading voice in representing the victims of this terrible tragedy," said Milberg Senior Partner Marc Grossman. "We look forward to doing our part to help those who Norfolk Southern has treated as collateral damage in their multi-billion-dollar operation." Mr. Klinger filed the East Palestine train derailment class action Barnhouse v. Norfolk Southern Corporation. The lawsuit claims that Norfolk was negligent in its operation of the freight train that released hundreds of thousands of pounds of toxic chemicals when it derailed in East Palestine, exposing nearby residents to the known carcinogens vinyl chloride and ethylhexyl acrylate, among other toxins. It seeks loss of property value and medical monitoring damages for anyone within a 15-mile radius of the derailment site. Norfolk Southern made the controversial decision to ignite containers carrying vinyl chloride to avoid a potential explosion that they say would have caused more damage to the region. East Palestine residents, cleanup crews, and federal investigators studying the derailment have reported symptoms such as sore throat, headaches, coughing, rashes, and nausea. Despite assurances from Norfolk Southern that the town's air, soil, and water are safe, scientists conducting independent research in the area say the long-term implications of the disaster are still unknown, and that residents could face long-term health risks. About Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, PLLC: For over 50 years, Milberg and its affiliates have been fighting to protect victims' rights and have recovered over $50 billion for clients. A pioneer in class action litigation, Milberg is widely recognized as a leader in defending the rights of victims of corporate wrongdoing. Media Contact: Karine Lim [email protected] SOURCE Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman PLLC WASHINGTON, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A NASA instrument to provide unprecedented resolution of monitoring major air pollutants down to four square miles lifted off on its way to geostationary orbit at 12:30 a.m. EDT Friday. The Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) instrument will improve life on Earth by revolutionizing the way scientists observe air quality from space. "The TEMPO mission is about more than just studying pollution it's about improving life on Earth for all. By monitoring the effects of everything from rush-hour traffic to pollution from forest fires and volcanoes, NASA data will help improve air quality across North America and protect our planet," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. NASA's TEMPO launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The instrument is a payload on the satellite Intelsat 40E, which separated from the rocket approximately 32 minutes after launch. Signal acquisition occurred at 1:14 a.m. TEMPO commissioning activities will begin in late May or early June. From a fixed geostationary orbit above the equator, TEMPO will be the first space-based instrument to measure air quality over North America hourly during the daytime and at spatial regions of several square miles far better than existing limits of about 100 square miles in the U.S. TEMPO data will play an important role in the scientific analysis of pollution, including studies of rush hour pollution, the potential for improved air quality alerts, the effects of lightning on ozone, the movement of pollution from forest fires and volcanoes, and even the effects of fertilizer application. "NASA makes data from instruments like TEMPO easily accessible to everyone," said Karen St. Germain, division director for NASA's Earth Sciences Division. "Which means that everyone from community and industry leaders to asthma sufferers are going to be able to access air quality information at a higher level of detail in both time and location - than they've ever been able to before. And that also provides the information needed to start addressing one of the most pressing human health challenges." TEMPO's observations will dramatically improve the scientific data record on air pollution including ozone, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and formaldehyde not only over the continental United States, but also Canada, Mexico, Cuba, the Bahamas, and part of the island of Hispaniola. "Our TEMPO slogan is 'It's about time,' which hints at TEMPO's ability to provide hourly air pollution data," said Xiong Liu, deputy principal investigator for TEMPO at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian in Cambridge, Massachusetts. "After working on the TEMPO for more than 10 years, it is about time to launch TEMPO to produce real TEMPO data and start the new era of air quality monitoring over North America." From its geostationary orbit a high Earth orbit that allows satellites to match Earth's rotation TEMPO also will form part of an air quality satellite virtual constellation that will track pollution around the Northern Hemisphere. South Korea's Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrometer, the first instrument in the constellation, launched into space in 2020 on the Korean Aerospace Research Institute GEO-KOMPSAT-2B satellite, and is measuring pollution over Asia. The ESA (European Space Agency) Sentinel-4 satellite, scheduled to launch in 2024, will make measurements over Europe and North Africa. "This marks a new era in our ability to observe air pollution over North America, including the entire continental United States," said Barry Lefer, TEMPO project scientist and tropospheric composition program manager for NASA. "It's also opening the door for us to work more closely with our international partners to better understand global air quality and its transport." The instrument was built by Ball Aerospace and integrated onto Intelsat 40E by Maxar. To learn more about NASA's Earth sciences, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/earth SOURCE NASA Dr. Alice Evans will use the $100,000 O'Shaughnessy Fellowship grant to write the first-ever global history of gender. Tony Morley will use the $100,000 O'Shaughnessy Fellowship grant to fund research, communication, and innovation in progress studies. GREENWICH, Conn., April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- O'Shaughnessy Ventures LLC ("OSV"), a creative investment firm that empowers creators, has announced that it has awarded O'Shaughnessy Fellowships to Dr. Alice Evans and Tony Morley. OSV's founder and CEO, Jim O'Shaughnessy, commented as follows: OSV Fellowship Recipient Dr. Alice Evans OSV Fellowship Recipient Tony Morley "We're delighted to award O'Shaughnessy Fellowships to Dr. Alice and Tony. Both of their projects have a potentially enormous social impact, and OSV will be doing everything we can to help them unleash this potential. I can't wait to see how the projects develop over the coming 12 months." About Dr. Alice Evans Dr. Alice Evans is writing "The Great Gender Divergence" (forthcoming with Princeton University Press). This book will explain how the world became more gender equal and why some countries are more gender equal than others. To this end, she is studying the history of every country and undertaking qualitative research in six continents. She is a Senior King's College London Lecturer and Visiting Associate Professor at Yale. Dr. Alice commented as follows regarding her fellowship grant: "The Great Gender Divergence is the most fundamental fact about humanity that existing research cannot explain. To understand the drivers of gender equality and global heterogeneity, we need to study the history of every single country globally. The O'Shaughnessy Fellowship makes my ambitions more achievable, and I am extremely grateful." Further information about Dr. Alice is available via her website. She is also the host of the Rocking Our Priors podcast. About Tony Morley Tony Morley is a progress studies writer specializing in the historical trends in global living standards and the forces that drive human progress. His written work has appeared in TIME, Big Think, Freethink, The Progress Network, and HumanProgress.org, among others. Tony will use his fellowship grant to fund research, communication, and innovation in progress studies, including continuing his work on "Human Progress for Beginners," the world's first children's book on progress, scheduled to be published with Pantera Press in Q4 of 2023. Tony commented as follows regarding his fellowship grant: "Ever wanted to unplug from your full-time job? Go out and change the world? Contribute to something that matters? Yeah, me too! There's just one problem. I've got all those things that stop people from packing up and trying something new: family, job security, a house, and bills good things to be thankful for, but also roadblocks to transformative innovation. Participating in the OSV Fellowship over the coming year will provide an unprecedented opportunity to park the vicissitudes of the daily grind and dedicate all my time to research and communications in progress studies. I couldn't be more honored or more grateful for having been selected to undertake the OSV Fellowship and for the incredible support of the progress studies community. Here's to the following year, a year to tell some of the greatest stories of human progress and, hopefully, to inspire a better future." Further information about Tony is available via Linkedin and Twitter. About the Fellowship Program OSV launched the Fellowship Program on 1 January 2023. It is a one-year program for ambitious people who want to build something great. Fellows will receive a $100,000 equity-free grant and access to OSV's network of founders, investors, and experts to support them in bringing their projects to life. OSV will award twelve Fellowships in total. It awarded the first two Fellowships on 21 February 2023. Applications remain open for the remaining Fellowships. Creators interested in applying can do so via OSV's website. About O'Shaughnessy Ventures OSV is a creative investment firm that empowers and inspires creators to bring their ideas to life. Founded by Jim O'Shaughnessy, a pioneer in quantitative investing, founder of O'Shaughnessy Asset Management, and author of four books on investing, OSV aims to provide financial support and partner in growing the next life-changing creative ideas. OSV combines Jim's deeply rooted interest in all things art, science, investing, and tech with his long-held desire to establish positive-sum scenarios designed to help promising creators and their inspiring ideas succeed, regardless of age, location, job history, or level of education. For more information, visit https://www.osv.llc/. Media Contact: Ena Gong (917) 355-7420 [email protected] SOURCE O'Shaughnessy Ventures, LLC SALT LAKE CITY, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- QuHarrison Terry, author of The Metaverse Handbook, and Emmy-nominated artist Genesis Renji today release " Double Tap ," the latest installment in their sonic storytelling project via VNM USA. "Double Tap" is about navigating between reality and the dreamworlds we give our time to on screens. The track is inspired by Hassan Ragab, a interdisciplinary designer who has become known for his architectural dreamscapes generated using Midjourney. Listen now: https://qt.lnk.to/hassan By many accounts, Hassan Ragab is at the forefront of AI-assisted image generation. But to Hassan, Midjourney is an engine for exploration. It's the telescope he uses to discover new worlds and bring them into focus. After peering into these unknown universes, he returns with a perspective free from constraints all of which expand the possibilities of his work in architecture, construction, digital fabrication, and furniture design. "Hassan Ragab teaches us that tinkering in dreamland will alter your view of the world when you're awake. He proves that Generative AI Tools don't have to silence human creation, but instead can amplify the artist's voice and be megaphones for the spirit," said QuHarrison Terry. For example, in his "The City is a Tram" series of works, Hassan reminisced on his childhood in Alexandria, Egypt, looking at the city's trams and feeling they were as big as buildings and could house entire cities. Using the text-to-image art generator Midjourney, he was finally able to convey that perspective he once held as a child. "Everything fresh and great in this world starts with a dream beyond a screen. It begins with an impossibility and then someone shows us it's possible," said Genesis Renji. Streaming here: https://qt.lnk.to/hassan Ryan Cowdrey 505-333-9117 [email protected] SOURCE QuHarrison Terry NEW YORK, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The renal anemia therapeutics market size is forecasted to increase by USD 1.97 billion from 2021 to 2026 at a CAGR of 8.25%, according to a recent market study by Technavio. The growth of the market will be driven by the presence of a large pool of CKD patients, new drug approvals, and the growing adoption of biosimilars. Technavio offers an up-to-date analysis of the current global market scenario and the overall market environment. View a Sample Report Renal Anemia Therapeutics Market - Vendor Analysis Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Renal Anemia Therapeutics Market 2022-2026 The global renal anemia therapeutics market is subject to rapidly changing consumer demands and preferences. The changing consumer consumption patterns may affect vendor performance in the global renal anemia therapeutics market. It can also be affected by consumer tastes, global and regional economic conditions, and other demographic trends. AstraZeneca Plc, Akebia Therapeutics Inc., Amgen Inc., Bayer AG, Covis Pharma BV, Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd., Dr. Reddys Laboratories Ltd., F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd., FibroGen Inc., GlaxoSmithKline Plc, JCR Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., JSC BIOCAD, Pfizer Inc., and Pharmacosmos AS are some of the major players in the market. Vendor Offerings - AstraZeneca Plc - The company offers renal anemia therapeutics, namely Roxadustat. The company offers renal anemia therapeutics, namely Roxadustat. Akebia Therapeutics Inc. - The company offers renal anemia therapeutics, namely Vadadustat. The company offers renal anemia therapeutics, namely Vadadustat. Amgen Inc. - The company offers renal anemia therapeutics, namely Aranesp. Charts & data tables about market and segment sizes for the forecast period (2022-2026) have been covered in this report. Download the Sample Report Key Benefits for Industry Players & Stakeholders The report offers information on the criticality of vendor inputs, including R&D, CAPEX, and technology. It also provides detailed analyses of the market's competitive landscape and vendors' product offerings. The report also provides a qualitative and quantitative analysis of vendors to help clients understand the wider business environment as well as the strengths and weaknesses of key market players. Data is qualitatively analyzed to categorize vendors as pure play, category-focused, industry-focused, and diversified; it is quantitatively analyzed to categorize vendors as dominant, leading, strong, tentative, and weak. Expand operations in the future - To get requisite details, ask for a custom report. Get a holistic overview of the endoscopic closure devices market from industry experts to evaluate and develop growth strategies. Download the Sample Renal Anemia Therapeutics Market - Market Segmentation: This report extensively covers renal anemia therapeutics market segmentation by application (IV and oral) and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and the Rest of the World (ROW)). The market share growth by the IV segment will be significant for the growth of the renal anemia therapeutics market during the forecast period. These products are the least expensive IV iron drugs that can be administered in a large single dose. Hence, the high demand for renal anemia therapeutics is being bolstered by the increasing frequency of product approvals in the IV iron drugs segment. This results in the launch of several new drugs and will drive the growth of the IV drugs segment in the global renal anemia therapeutics market during the forecast period. Renal Anemia Therapeutics Market - Market Dynamics: Key Drivers The presence of a large pool of CKD patients is one of the major drivers supporting the renal anemia therapeutics market growth. The incidence rate of diabetes, high blood pressure, and other health conditions have increased in recent years, and individuals with these conditions are most prone to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Affected kidneys are unable to produce the required amount of erythropoietin (EPO) leading to a decline in the production of RBCs, which causes anemia. The low RBC production results in a reduced oxygen supply that is indicated by symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, breathlessness, and chest pain. This results in the increased need for renal anemia therapeutics, translating to higher sales for the renal anemia therapeutics market vendors. Why Buy? Add credibility to strategy Analyzes competitor's offerings Get a holistic view of the market Grow your profit margin with Technavio Buy Now Major Trends: The rising number of CKD dialysis centers in emerging economies is an emerging trend that is contributing to market growth. Vendors are investing in the renal anemia therapeutics market due to the increasing number of patients with CKD in emerging countries such as India , China , and others. , , and others. Investments in emerging markets drive the number of dialysis centers. For instance, NephroPlus has announced an investment of USD 25 million in India to pursue growth opportunities across APAC. in to pursue growth opportunities across APAC. Similarly, in August 2020 , Renal Project, a healthcare start-up in India , raised USD 0.3 million from angel investors to fund its expansion plans. , Renal Project, a healthcare start-up in , raised from angel investors to fund its expansion plans. Such instances of growing CKD dialysis centers in emerging countries will propel the renal anemia therapeutics market growth during the forecast period. Key Challenges: One of the factors hindering the renal anemia therapeutics market growth is the side effect of oral administration. Patients undergoing oral therapy can face poor gastrointestinal (GI) tolerance or absorption. The therapeutics need to be administered in multiple doses, which are associated with numerous side effects, which limit the absorption of oral iron drugs into the patient's body. The protein restricts the absorption of iron from the intestine and limits the release of iron from macrophages and hepatocytes. Hence, such limitations are expected to hinder the renal anemia therapeutics market growth during the forecast period. Drivers, trends, and challenges have an impact on market dynamics, which can impact businesses. Find more insights in a sample report! What are the key data covered in this Renal Anemia Therapeutics Market report? CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the renal anemia therapeutics market between 2022 and 2026 Precise estimation of the size of the renal anemia therapeutics market and its contribution to the parent market Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior Growth of the renal anemia therapeutics market across North America , Europe , Asia , and Rest of World (ROW) , , , and Rest of World (ROW) A thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information about vendors Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of the renal anemia therapeutics market vendors Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Related Reports: The renal biomarkers market size is expected to increase by USD 507.23 million from 2021 to 2026, at a CAGR of 7.40%. This renal biomarkers market research report extensively covers renal biomarkers market segmentation by end-user (hospitals, clinics and diagnostic laboratories, and research laboratories) and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and ROW). The growing prevalence of chronic kidney diseases is one of the key drivers supporting renal biomarkers market growth. The gastrointestinal stromal tumors therapeutics market size is expected to increase by USD 1.08 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 5.97%. The report extensively covers the gastrointestinal stromal tumors therapeutics market segmentation by route of administration (oral and parenteral) and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and the Rest of the World (ROW)). The growing geriatric population is one of the factors driving the gastrointestinal stromal tumors therapeutics (GIST) market growth. Renal Anemia Therapeutics Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 8.25% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 1.97 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2021-2022 (%) 7.65 Regional analysis North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Performing market contribution North America at 45% Key countries US, Canada, Germany, UK, and China Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled AstraZeneca Plc, Akebia Therapeutics Inc., Amgen Inc., Bayer AG, Covis Pharma BV, Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd., Dr. Reddys Laboratories Ltd., F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd., FibroGen Inc., GlaxoSmithKline Plc, JCR Pharmaceticals Co. Ltd., JSC BIOCAD, Pfizer Inc., and Pharmacosmos AS Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Browse for Technavio's Consumer Discretionary Market Reports Table of contents 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market overview Exhibit 01: Executive Summary Chart on Market Overview Exhibit 02: Executive Summary Data Table on Market Overview Exhibit 03: Executive Summary Chart on Global Market Characteristics Exhibit 04: Executive Summary Chart on Market by Geography Exhibit 05: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by End-user Exhibit 06: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Deployment Exhibit 07: Executive Summary Chart on Incremental Growth Exhibit 08: Executive Summary Data Table on Incremental Growth Exhibit 09: Executive Summary Chart on Vendor Market Positioning 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem Exhibit 10: Parent market Exhibit 11: Market Characteristics 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 12: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 13: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2021 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026 Exhibit 14: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 15: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 16: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 17: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 4 Five Forces Analysis 4.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 18: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026 4.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 19: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026 4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 20: Bargaining power of suppliers Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 21: Threat of new entrants Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 22: Threat of substitutes Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 23: Threat of rivalry Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.7 Market condition Exhibit 24: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026 5 Market Segmentation by End-user 5.1 Market segments Exhibit 25: Chart on End-user - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 26: Data Table on End-user - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 5.2 Comparison by End-user Exhibit 27: Chart on Comparison by End-user Exhibit 28: Data Table on Comparison by End-user 5.3 Non-academic learners - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 29: Chart on Non-academic learners - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 30: Data Table on Non-academic learners - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 31: Chart on Non-academic learners - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 32: Data Table on Non-academic learners - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.4 Academic learners - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 33: Chart on Academic learners - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 34: Data Table on Academic learners - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 35: Chart on Academic learners - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 36: Data Table on Academic learners - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.5 Market opportunity by End-user Exhibit 37: Market opportunity by End-user ($ million) 6 Market Segmentation by Deployment 6.1 Market segments Exhibit 38: Chart on Deployment - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Deployment - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 6.2 Comparison by Deployment Exhibit 40: Chart on Comparison by Deployment Exhibit 41: Data Table on Comparison by Deployment 6.3 On-premise - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 42: Chart on On-premise - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 43: Data Table on On-premise - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 44: Chart on On-premise - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 45: Data Table on On-premise - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 6.4 Cloud-based - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 46: Chart on Cloud-based - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 47: Data Table on Cloud-based - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 48: Chart on Cloud-based - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 49: Data Table on Cloud-based - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 6.5 Market opportunity by Deployment Exhibit 50: Market opportunity by Deployment ($ million) 7 Customer Landscape 7.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 51: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 8 Geographic Landscape 8.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 52: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 53: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) 8.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 54: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 55: Data Table on Geographic comparison 8.3 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 56: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 57: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 58: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 59: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 60: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 61: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 62: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 63: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.5 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 64: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 65: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 66: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 67: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 68: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 69: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 70: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 71: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.7 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 72: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 73: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 74: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 75: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.8 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 76: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 77: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 78: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 79: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.9 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 80: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 81: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 82: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 83: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.10 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 84: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 85: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 86: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 87: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.11 India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 88: Chart on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 89: Data Table on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 90: Chart on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 91: Data Table on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.12 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 92: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 93: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 94: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 95: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.13 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 96: Market opportunity by geography ($ million) 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 9.1 Market drivers 9.2 Market challenges 9.3 Impact of drivers and challenges Exhibit 97: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026 9.4 Market trends 10 Vendor Landscape 10.1 Overview 10.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 98: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 10.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 99: Overview on factors of disruption 10.4 Industry risks Exhibit 100: Impact of key risks on business 11 Vendor Analysis 11.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 101: Vendors covered 11.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 102: Matrix on vendor position and classification 11.3 Cambridge University Press Press Exhibit 103: Cambridge University Press - Overview Press - Overview Exhibit 104: Cambridge University Press - Product / Service Press - Product / Service Exhibit 105: Cambridge University Press - Key offerings 11.4 Cengage Learning Holdings II Inc. Exhibit 106: Cengage Learning Holdings II Inc. - Overview Exhibit 107: Cengage Learning Holdings II Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 108: Cengage Learning Holdings II Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 109: Cengage Learning Holdings II Inc. - Segment focus 11.5 EF Education First Ltd. Exhibit 110: EF Education First Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 111: EF Education First Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 112: EF Education First Ltd. - Key offerings 11.6 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co. Exhibit 113: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co. - Overview Exhibit 114: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co. - Business segments Exhibit 115: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co. - Key offerings Exhibit 116: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co. - Segment focus 11.7 IXL Learning Inc. Exhibit 117: IXL Learning Inc. - Overview Exhibit 118: IXL Learning Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 119: IXL Learning Inc. - Key offerings 11.8 John Wiley and Sons Inc. Exhibit 120: John Wiley and Sons Inc. - Overview Exhibit 121: John Wiley and Sons Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 122: John Wiley and Sons Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 123: John Wiley and Sons Inc. - Segment focus 11.9 New Oriental Education and Technology Group Inc. Exhibit 124: New Oriental Education and Technology Group Inc. - Overview Exhibit 125: New Oriental Education and Technology Group Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 126: New Oriental Education and Technology Group Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 127: New Oriental Education and Technology Group Inc. - Segment focus 11.10 Oxford University Press Press Exhibit 128: Oxford University Press - Overview Press - Overview Exhibit 129: Oxford University Press - Business segments Press - Business segments Exhibit 130: Oxford University Press - Key offerings Press - Key offerings Exhibit 131: Oxford University Press - Segment focus 11.11 Pearson Plc Exhibit 132: Pearson Plc - Overview Exhibit 133: Pearson Plc - Business segments Exhibit 134: Pearson Plc - Key offerings Exhibit 135: Pearson Plc - Segment focus 11.12 Sanako Oy Exhibit 136: Sanako Oy - Overview Exhibit 137: Sanako Oy - Product / Service Exhibit 138: Sanako Oy - Key offerings 12 Appendix 12.1 Scope of the report 12.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 139: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 140: Exclusions checklist 12.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 141: Currency conversion rates for US$ 12.4 Research methodology Exhibit 142: Research methodology Exhibit 143: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 144: Information sources 12.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 145: List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio NEW YORK, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Trinseo PLC (NYSE: TSE) resulting from allegations that Trinseo may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. SO WHAT: If you purchased Trinseo securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=13711 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On March 27, 2023, The Inquirer published an article entitled "Bristol plant that spilled chemicals into Philly's water supply had other mishaps over the last decade." The article reported "a chemical plant in Bristol that authorities said caused a toxic spill, threatening Philadelphia's drinking water, has a long history of mishaps including at least four recent contamination incidents." In addition, the article stated "over the past decade, the U.S. Coast Guard twice before detected releases of acrylates [commonly used to produce glass-like acrylics] from the Bristol facility into the Delaware. The EPA had separately flagged two other acrylate releases." The article cites, "David Salas-de la Cruz, a Rutgers University associate professor of chemistry, worked at the Bristol plant during its Rohm and Haas days. He said the number of incidents over the past decade was unusual." On this news, the price of Trinseo's stock fell $1.09, or 5.26%, to close at $19.62 per share on March 27, 2023. 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. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. 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. 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. LINCOLN, Neb., April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Downward value trends continued in March across Sandhills Global marketplaces. Used truck and trailer values have been in almost non-stop decline for a year, while used construction equipment values remained in a cooling pattern that began in Q3 2022. The most significant change in March occurred in used farm equipment, where inventory is rising and auction values are declining, both historical precursors to declines in asking values. Used heavy-duty truck inventory increased 36.03% YOY, and inventory levels accelerated month to month, jumping 5.4% from February to March. Since heavy-duty truck values reached all-time highs in March 2022, asking and auction values have been in nearly continual decline. Asking values dropped 16.12% YOY and auction values are 28.12% lower than last year. The Sandhills EVI shows M/M value declines also occurred, with asking values decreasing 2.12% and auction values down 3.52%. Used semitrailer inventory levels were up 3.9% M/M and 50.08% YOY in March. Inventory increases and resulting decreases in asking and auction values were driven by dry van and reefer semitrailers. Asking values for semitrailers have been in decline since spring of 2022. In March 2023, asking values decreased 3.27% M/M and 18.6% YOY. Auction values have trended down in recent months for used semitrailers, and March auction values were down 7.2% M/M and 31.86% YOY. Used medium-duty truck inventory increased 6.01% M/M and 15.21% YOY in March. Inventory levels are currently trending sideways, while asking and auction values have cooled. Asking values decreased 0.19% M/M and 4.96% YOY. The Sandhills EVI shows auction values have decreased in consecutive months. Auction values were down 0.84% M/M and 11.9% YOY. Used farm equipment inventory levels have increased in consecutive months and showed a 1.38% M/M gain in March. Inventory was also up 19.62% YOY. Late-model combine values are driving value trend decreases in farm equipment. The Sandhills EVI shows asking values declined 0.63% M/M, continuing a sideways trend, and increased 10.11% YOY. Auction values have also been trending sideways in recent months. Auction values dropped 2.14% M/M but were up 6.41% YOY in March. Although used compact and utility tractor inventories decreased slightly in March, they remain on an upward trend. Inventory levels decreased 2.17% M/M but were still up YOY with a 77.45% increase. Asking and auction values for less-than-100-horsepower tractors appear to have found their peak. In March, auction values decreased 1.76% M/M and were down 2% YOY. Declines in auction values tend to foreshadow asking value decreases. Used heavy-duty construction equipment inventory levels have seen back-to-back months of increases. Inventory levels increased 2.06% M/M in March and were still down YOY with a 3.6% decline. Asking and auction values decreased into negative YOY territory in March, led by crawler excavators. Asking values dropped 1.26% M/M and 2.42% YOY. Auction values are also trending down, decreasing 2.64% M/M and 5.58% YOY in March. Within the used medium-duty construction equipment market, inventory levels for mini excavators and track skid steers continue to increase faster than loader backhoe inventories. Inventory for all medium-duty construction equipment increased 3.99% M/M and 28.56% YOY. Asking values were mostly flat in March, decreasing 0.46% M/M and increasing 0.57% YOY. "With values hitting record numbers across the board in 2022, market value corrections were bound to happen," says Sales Manager Mitch Helman. "On the retail side, now is a great time for sellers to be more aggressive with pricing strategies, especially for units that they'd like to move quickly. There's still time to move construction and farm equipment while the overall values remain elevated. Truck and semitrailer sellers should also stay aggressive with pricing as values continue their downward trends." The key metric used in all of Sandhills' market reports is the Sandhills Equipment Value Index (EVI). Buyers and sellers can use the information in the Sandhills EVI to monitor equipment markets and maximize returns on acquisition, liquidation, and related business decisions. The Sandhills EVI data include equipment available in auction and retail markets as well as model year equipment actively in use. Additional Market Report Takeaways Sandhills market reports highlight the most significant changes in Sandhills' used heavy-duty truck, semitrailer, farm machinery, and construction equipment markets. Each report includes detailed analysis and charts that help readers visualize the data. The newest reports examine year-over-year variance in detail, noting changes from March 2022 to March 2023 with an eye to inventory, asking value, and auction value trends. U.S. Used Heavy-Duty Trucks Used heavy-duty truck inventory increased 36.03% YOY, and inventory levels accelerated month to month, jumping 5.4% from February to March. Since heavy-duty truck values reached all-time highs in March 2022 , asking and auction values have been in nearly continual decline. Asking values dropped 16.12% YOY and auction values are 28.12% lower than last year. , asking and auction values have been in nearly continual decline. Asking values dropped 16.12% YOY and auction values are 28.12% lower than last year. The Sandhills EVI shows M/M value declines also occurred, with asking values decreasing 2.12% and auction values down 3.52%. U.S. Used Semitrailers Used semitrailer inventory levels were up 3.9% M/M and 50.08% YOY in March. Inventory increases and resulting decreases in asking and auction values were driven by dry van and reefer semitrailers. Asking values for semitrailers have been in decline since spring of 2022. In March 2023 , asking values decreased 3.27% M/M and 18.6% YOY. , asking values decreased 3.27% M/M and 18.6% YOY. Auction values have trended down in recent months for used semitrailers, and March auction values were down 7.2% M/M and 31.86% YOY. U.S. Used Medium-Duty Trucks Used medium-duty truck inventory increased 6.01% M/M and 15.21% YOY in March. Inventory levels are currently trending sideways, while asking and auction values have cooled. Asking values decreased 0.19% M/M and 4.96% YOY. The Sandhills EVI shows auction values have decreased in consecutive months. Auction values were down 0.84% M/M and 11.9% YOY. U.S. Used Farm Equipment Used farm equipment inventory levels have increased in consecutive months and showed a 1.38% M/M gain in March. Inventory was also up 19.62% YOY. Late-model combine values are driving value trend decreases in farm equipment. The Sandhills EVI shows asking values declined 0.63% M/M, continuing a sideways trend, and increased 10.11% YOY. Auction values have also been trending sideways in recent months. Auction values dropped 2.14% M/M but were up 6.41% YOY in March. U.S. Used Compact and Utility Tractors Although used compact and utility tractor inventories decreased slightly in March, they remain on an upward trend. Inventory levels decreased 2.17% M/M but were still up YOY with a 77.45% increase. Asking and auction values for less-than-100-horsepower tractors appear to have found their peak. In March, auction values decreased 1.76% M/M and were down 2% YOY. Declines in auction values tend to foreshadow asking value decreases. Asking values remained elevated YOY in March, up 3.95%, but were down 0.66% M/M, exhibiting a sideways trend. U.S. Used Heavy-Duty Construction Equipment Used heavy-duty construction equipment inventory levels have seen back-to-back months of increases. Inventory levels increased 2.06% M/M in March and were still down YOY with a 3.6% decline. Asking and auction values decreased into negative YOY territory in March, led by crawler excavators. Asking values dropped 1.26% M/M and 2.42% YOY. Auction values are also trending down, decreasing 2.64% M/M and 5.58% YOY in March. U.S. Used Medium-Duty Construction Equipment Within the used medium-duty construction equipment market, inventory levels for mini excavators and track skid steers continue to increase faster than loader backhoe inventories. Inventory for all medium-duty construction equipment increased 3.99% M/M and 28.56% YOY. Asking values were mostly flat in March, decreasing 0.46% M/M and increasing 0.57% YOY. Auction values for all equipment in this category dropped in March. As a whole, auction values decreased 1.61% M/M and 5.49% YOY. Obtain the Full Reports For more information, or to receive detailed analysis from Sandhills Global, contact us at [email protected]. About Sandhills Global Sandhills Global is an information processing company headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. Our products and services gather, process, and distribute information in the form of trade publications, websites, and online services that connect buyers and sellers across the construction, agriculture, forestry, oil and gas, heavy equipment, commercial trucking, and aviation industries. Our integrated, industry-specific approach to hosted technologies and services offers solutions that help businesses large and small operate efficiently and grow securely, cost-effectively, and successfully. Sandhills Globalwe are the cloud. About the Sandhills Equipment Value Index The Sandhills Equipment Value Index (EVI) is a principal gauge of the estimated market values of used assetsboth currently and over timeacross the construction, agricultural, and commercial trucking industries represented by Sandhills Global marketplaces, including AuctionTime.com, TractorHouse.com, MachineryTrader.com, TruckPaper.com, and other industry-specific equipment platforms. Powered by FleetEvaluator, Sandhills' proprietary asset valuation tool, Sandhills EVI provides useful insights into the ever-changing supply-and-demand conditions for each industry. Contact Sandhills www.sandhills.com/contact-us 402-479-2181 SOURCE Sandhills Global MECHANICSBURG, Pa., April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Select Medical Holdings Corporation ("Select Medical") (NYSE: SEM), will release the financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2023 on Thursday, May 4, 2023 after the market closes. Select Medical will host a conference call regarding its first quarter results, as well as its business outlook, on Friday, May 5, 2023, at 9:00am ET. The conference call will be a live webcast and can be accessed at Select Medical Holdings Corporation's website at www.selectmedicalholdings.com. A replay of the webcast will be available shortly after the call through the same link. For listeners wishing to dial-in via telephone, or participate in the question and answer session, you may pre-register for the call at Select Medical Earnings Call Registration to obtain your dial-in number and unique passcode for the call. Select Medical is one of the largest operators of critical illness recovery hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, and occupational health centers in the United States based on the number of facilities. Select Medical's reportable segments include the critical illness recovery hospital segment, the rehabilitation hospital segment, the outpatient rehabilitation segment, and the Concentra segment. As of December 31, 2022, Select Medical operated 103 critical illness recovery hospitals in 28 states, 31 rehabilitation hospitals in 12 states, 1,928 outpatient rehabilitation clinics in 39 states and the District of Columbia, 540 occupational health centers in 41 states, and 147 onsite clinics at employer worksites. At December 31, 2022, Select Medical had operations in 46 states and the District of Columbia. Information about Select Medical is available at www.selectmedical.com. Investor inquiries: Joel T. Veit Senior Vice President and Treasurer 717-972-1100 [email protected] SOURCE Select Medical Holdings Corporation CHICAGO, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Taxes can be complex and confusing. Below are some common misconceptions about taxes countered with the conclusive truth provided by experts at Ladder Up, Chicagoland's premier nonprofit financial partner. The income tax filing deadline is April 18 don't delay file your income taxes now! Myth: Filing Taxes is Voluntary Fact: The confusion may arise because the U.S. tax system is characterizedeven by the IRS as voluntary. "Voluntary" in this context means that the taxpayer is responsible for completing the tax return and determining the amount of tax owed. Myth: Students Don't Have to File Returns Fact: If a student earns a paycheck, they should file a tax return, even if the student is a dependent on their parent's return. If the amount earned is less than their standard deduction, they should still file, to get a refund of excess tax withheld. Myth: Pets Can be Claimed as Dependents Fact: Many of us consider pets as part of the family, however, they are not considered dependents; the IRS classifies dependents as either qualifying children or qualifying relatives. Myth: If I Don't Receive Tax Forms, I Don't Have to Report Income Fact: Whatever form of payment cash or in-kind a taxpayer receives must be reported as income on their tax return. Myth: Can't File For Free Fact: Ladder Up offers free tax preparation and electronic filing for qualified Chicagoland clients via the IRS' Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. There are other VITA sites throughout the U.S. IRS Free File lets a taxpayer prepare and file their federal income tax form online using guided tax preparation, at an IRS partner site. Per the IRS, it is safe, easy and at no cost to the taxpayer for a federal return if the taxpayer meets the eligibility criteria. Some providers charge a fee for state tax preparation. Myth: Filing an Extension Means I Have More Time to Pay my Taxes Fact: A taxpayer may file an extension to file their return, however, this extension only applies to the tax return, and not the amount due. If the taxpayer owes taxes, they should be paid when the extension is filed. Failure to pay on time will result in interest and penalties being charged on the amount due. Myth: Filing a Paper Return is More Secure Fact: E-filing is more secure than paper filing and will accelerate any refund. Media Contact: Cat Donovan Email: [email protected] SOURCE Ladder Up Oregon's seven public universities have some of the highest tuition rates and lowest levels of state funding in the nation, even after recent legislative efforts to shore up their standing. "Despite state investments in the last decade, Oregon ranks low nationally in higher education and financial aid funding," said a report this week from the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. "Students and families are facing the effects." Oregon currently ranks 39th out of 50 states in support for public universities and 30th in funding for community colleges, according to the commission. The information was part of a 168-slide presentation by the commission this week to the education subcommittee of the Joint Ways & Means Committee, the panel that will write and approve the 2023-25 state budget. Higher education funding is included in House Bill 5025. Tuition and state aid Lawmakers were told Oregon's public university annual tuition and fees are the highest of 17 western states, at $12,826. The average for the region is $10,309. The report showed state financial aid per full-time public university student in 2021 was $574 in Oregon, a little over one-quarter of the $1,904 spent by Washington state and just over half the $1,084 spent in California. The national average is $921 per student. Tuition and fees at Oregon four-year institutions have increased 25.3% in the past five years, and 54.9% in the past 10 years. Higher Education Coordinating Commission Executive Director Ben Cannon told the subcommittee that while legislative support has rebounded over the past decade, Oregon's universities remain more dependent on student tuition and fees compared to many states. "You can't really have a public post-secondary education system that deserves the label "public" when students are bearing the vast, vast brunt of the cost," Cannon said. Cost of living not helping matters Tuition and fee hikes have come against a background of a higher cost of living in general across Oregon. "The largest cost of attending a public institution of higher education in Oregon, for most students, are living costs," Cannon said. "Where am I going to live, how am I going to feed myself, how am I going to get to school, how am I paying for books?" Cannon and commission staff pushed for fixes, such as a $100 million increase in the Oregon Opportunity Grant program, which assists the neediest higher education students in Oregon. Sen. Lew Frederick, D-Portland, the subcommittee chair, lamented the limits on funding increases, new programs and other innovations that could speed the improvement of Oregon's community colleges and universities. He said the committee's job was to prioritize the likely level of funding that will be available over the next two years. "We have a lot of really outstanding ideas, a lot of really outstanding programs," Frederick said. "We don't have a lot of money." Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland, a subcommittee member who was a faculty member at Portland Community College and has served in the Legislature since 2009, said the state was still struggling with the budget whiplash of deep cuts mandated by Measure 5 in 1990. The voter-approved ballot measure capped property taxes, which had traditionally funded public K-12 schools. Lawmakers made up the shortfall with the state's general fund, including money that once went to community colleges and universities. "As responsibility shifted over to the state for funding K-12, higher ed really got hammered," Dembrow said. This year's budget planning Lawmakers are crafting a 2023-25 state budget with a $32.1 billion plan proposed by Gov. Tina Kotek as a starting point. In her first budget as Oregon's chief executive, Kotek has proposed large chunks of available funds go to affordable housing, homelessness and shoring up the state's semiconductor industry against domestic and foreign competition. Kotek did not call for major tax increases or revising Oregon's one-of-a-kind "kicker" law that sends a large part of higher-than-anticipated individual tax revenue back to taxpayers. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Corvallis Gazette-Times. The co-chairs of the full Ways & Means Committee, Sen. Elizabeth Steiner, D-Portland, and Rep. Tawna Sanchez, D-Portland, have issued their own "framework" for budget decisions in specific areas. State agencies and programs are now appearing before legislative panels to make their case for slices of available money. The education subcommittee will craft the portion of the budget dealing with nearly all university expenses, but any major new building on the campuses would go through the Ways & Means capital construction subcommittee. Kotek's budget calls for $200 million in funds for the maintenance of college campuses, but no bonds for new construction. The 23 Senators and House members on Joint Ways & Means will take the recommendations from the seven subcommittees and create a final proposed budget. Unlike the federal budget, the Oregon state budget must be balanced between projected spending and revenue. No deficits are allowed. With the committee made up of leading Democrats and Republicans from both chambers, issues are vented and portions revised before the budget goes to the full Senate and House for approval. It cannot be amended on the floor of either chamber. The 2023-25 budget will be the first since 2017-19 in which Democrats do not have a three-fifths voting majority in both chambers required to approve the budget. Democrats have a 35-25 majority in the House. The Senate has a 17-12 Democratic majority, with an additional Independent, Sen. Brian Boquist of Dallas, who was first elected as a Republican and reliably votes with the GOP on fiscal matters. At least one non-Democrat vote will be needed in each chamber to pass the budget. The budget must be sent to the governor prior to the June 25 constitutional deadline for the legislative session to adjourn. Kotek could approve the entire budget or use a line-item veto to remove specific spending allocations. The Oregon constitution allows the Legislature to override vetoes by a two-thirds vote. The new budget would go into effect July 1 and run through June 30, 2025. Employer tech job postings rebound, increase 76,546 for the month; tech unemployment rate unchanged at 2.2% DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Technology employment across the economy increased in conjunction with a higher volume of employer tech job postings, according to the latest "Tech Jobs Report" from CompTIA, the nonprofit association for the information technology (IT) industry and workforce. Tech industry employment, covering all workers employed by technology companies, experienced a modest decline of an estimated 839 jobs last month. Telecommunications accounted for the largest share of the decline at -3,100 positions, which was offset by gains in cloud infrastructure, tech services and software. "While caution is in order, the data suggests segments of employers may be stepping back into the tech talent market." Tweet this Employer job postings for tech positions increased by 76,546 month-over-month, to a total for March of nearly 316,000.1 This represents the highest level of employer hiring activity as measured by job postings in seven months. Technology employment across all industry sectors increased by an estimated 197,000 positions for the month, according to CompTIA's analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics #JobsReport data.2 The unemployment rate for tech occupations held steady at 2.2% "As a forward-looking indicator the rebound in employer tech job postings is a notable positive," said Tim Herbert, chief research officer. "While caution is in order given the state of uncertainty, the data suggests segments of employers may be stepping back into the tech talent market." Markets across the country saw increases in employer job postings for tech positions, led by New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta and Charlotte. The jump in hiring activity also extended to cities such as Arlington (VA), Huntsville (AL) and Plano (TX). Among states, California, Virginia, Texas and Maryland recorded the largest month-over-month increases in tech jobs postings. Positions for software developers and engineers accounted for the largest share of job postings in March, but employers are also in the market for IT support specialists, systems engineers and analysts, IT project managers and cybersecurity analysts and engineers. About one in five tech jobs postings offer remote work or hybrid work arrangements as an option. The "CompTIA Tech Jobs Report" is available at https://www.comptia.org/content/tech-jobs-report. About CompTIA The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is the world's leading information technology (IT) certification and training body. CompTIA is a mission-driven organization committed to unlocking the potential of every student, career changer or professional seeking to begin or advance in a technology career. Each year CompTIA, directly and through its global network of partners, provides millions of people with training, education and certification. To learn more visit https://www.comptia.org/ Media Contact Steven Ostrowski CompTIA [email protected] 630.678.8468 1 Labor market data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and employer job posting data from Lightcast may be subject to backward revisions. 2 Monthly occupation level data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tends to experience higher levels of variance and volatility. SOURCE CompTIA NEW YORK, April 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The test preparation market size in the US is set to grow by USD 11.93 billion from 2021 to 2026 at a CAGR of 6.39% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current global market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The increasing use of analytical tools in test preparations is a key factor driving the market growth of test preparation in the US. The analytical tools provide not only effective and efficient test preparation modules but also offer various insights for teachers, trainers, as well as students to identify their progress through reporting tools. This helps in optimizing the entire learning process. For instance, Kaplan provides various Kaplan Partner Solutions (KPS) consisting of test preparation programs that offer performance analysis tools, through its corporate partnership programs. The performance tracking tools help educators identify program trends and any outstanding matriculation and retention issues associated with individual students. Hence, advances in technology related to test preparation programs will drive market growth in the US during the forecast period. Here is an exclusive report about market scenarios during the forecast period (2022-2026). Download a Sample Report! Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Test Preparation Market in US The test preparation market in the US covers the following areas: Test Preparation Market in the US Sizing Test Preparation Market in the US Forecast Test Preparation Market in the US Analysis The report on the test preparation market in the US provides a holistic update, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis. Test Preparation Market in the US 2022-2026 - Market Dynamics Emerging Market Trends One of the key factors supporting the test preparation market trends in the US is the technological advances in test preparation services. The rising tech-savvy population and the increasing adoption of tablets, mobile phones, and other mobile devices have increased the demand for technologically advanced modes of delivery and innovative test preparation. Moreover, educators are focusing on the use of visual technologies such as AR and VR and other technologies such as virtual schools to impart education to students. For instance, MITAR games developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Teacher Education Program and The Education Arcade blend real-life locations with virtual individuals and scenarios to enhance the learning skills of students. Teacher Education Program and The Education Arcade blend real-life locations with virtual individuals and scenarios to enhance the learning skills of students. Hence, these factors will fuel the growth of the test preparation market in the US during the forecast period. Why Buy? Add credibility to the strategy Analyzes competitor's offerings Get a holistic view of the market Grow your profit margin with Technavio - Buy the Report Major Challenges The availability of open-source test preparation materials and the growth of the unorganized sector are some of the major factors impeding the test preparation market growth in the US. Vendors such as Pearson are known for their content and courseware. As the market is fragmented, there are numerous national and international course providers offering general and specialized test preparation courses. However, such courses are not clear in content and are incomplete. Therefore, they are constantly changing and need to be updated frequently. In addition, the number of startups that provide test preparation materials such as mock exams and mock exam collections for free is increasing significantly. These factors will limit the market growth of test preparation in the US during the forecast period. Drivers, trends, and challenges have an impact on market dynamics, which can impact businesses. Find more insights in a sample report! Test Preparation Market in the US 2022-2026 - Market Segmentation The test preparation market in the US analysis includes product (university exams, certifications exams, high school exams, elementary exams, and other exams) and end-user (higher education and K-12), and learning model (blended and online) segmentation. The market share growth by the university exams segment will be significant during the forecast period. The growth of the segment can be attributed to factors such as the rising number of enrollments in nationalized as well as standardized tests in the US and the increasing demand for private tutoring. In the US, students must acquire appropriate scores on SAT or ACT to enter colleges. Hence, there is an increase in demand for SAT and ACT test preparation courses. These factors will drive test preparation market growth in the US during the forecast period. This report presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources through an analysis of key parameters - View a Sample Report Companies Mentioned ArborBridge Inc. Cengage Learning Holdings II Inc Club Z Inc. CogniFit Inc. Edgenuity Inc. Graham Holdings Co. Instructure Inc. McGraw Hill Education Inc. Pearson Plc TPR Education IP Holdings LLC Vendor Offerings ArborBridge Inc. - The company offers a wide range of test preparation programs such as SAT, ACT, ISEE, and Academic Programs. The company offers a wide range of test preparation programs such as SAT, ACT, ISEE, and Academic Programs. Club Z Inc. - The company offers in-home and online test prep tutoring such as ACT, SAT, PreACT, and GRE. The company offers in-home and online test prep tutoring such as ACT, SAT, PreACT, and GRE. CogniFit Inc. - The company offers cognitive training tools for standardized exam preparation such as SAT and GMAT. The company offers cognitive training tools for standardized exam preparation such as SAT and GMAT. For more insights on vendors and their offerings - Request a Sample Report! Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Related Reports: The test preparation market size in India is expected to increase by USD 9.07 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 15.02%. The report extensively covers test preparation market segmentation in India by product (university exams, certification exams, high school exams, elementary exams, and other exams), end-user (post-secondary and K-12), and learning method (offline learning and online learning). One of the factors driving growth in the test preparation market in India is the rising number of enrollments in test preparation courses. The online education market in India is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 19.9% between 2022 and 2027. The size of the market is forecasted to increase by USD 3,461.93 million. This report extensively covers market segmentation by end-user (higher education and K-12) and product (content and services). Skill development and employment are driving market growth. Test Preparation Market Scope in the US Report Coverage Details Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.39% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 11.93 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2021-2022 (%) 5.61 Regional analysis US Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled ArborBridge Inc., Cengage Learning Holdings II Inc, Club Z Inc., CogniFit Inc., Edgenuity Inc., Graham Holdings Co., Instructure Inc., McGraw Hill Education Inc., Pearson Plc, and TPR Education IP Holdings LLC Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Browse for Technavio's Consumer Discretionary Market Reports Table of contents ***1. Executive Summary **1.1 Market overview *Exhibit 01: Key Finding 1 *Exhibit 02: Key Finding 2 *Exhibit 03: Key Finding 5 *Exhibit 04: Key Finding 6 *Exhibit 05: Key Finding 7 *Exhibit 06: Key Finding 8 ***2. Market Landscape **2.1 Market ecosystem *Exhibit 07: Parent market *Exhibit 08: Market characteristics **2.2 Value chain analysis *Exhibit 09: Value chain analysis: Education services *2.2.1 Inputs *2.2.2 Operations *2.2.3 Marketing and sales *2.2.4 Support activities *2.2.5 Innovations ***3. Market Sizing **3.1 Market definition *Exhibit 10: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition **3.2 Market segment analysis *Exhibit 11: Market segments **3.3 Market size 2021 **3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026 *Exhibit 12: US - Market size and forecast 2021 - 2026 ($ million) *Exhibit 13: US market: Year-over-year growth 2021 - 2026 (%) ***4. Five Forces Analysis **4.1 Five Forces Summary *Exhibit 14: Five forces analysis 2021 & 2026 **4.2 Bargaining power of buyers *Exhibit 15: Bargaining power of buyers **4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers *Exhibit 16: Bargaining power of suppliers **4.4 Threat of new entrants *Exhibit 17: Threat of new entrants **4.5 Threat of substitutes *Exhibit 18: Threat of substitutes **4.6 Threat of rivalry *Exhibit 19: Threat of rivalry **4.7 Market condition *Exhibit 20: Market condition - Five forces 2021 ***5. Market Segmentation by Product **5.1 Market segments *Exhibit 21: Product - Market share 2021-2026 (%) **5.2 Comparison by Product *Exhibit 22: Comparison by Product **5.3 University exams - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 *Exhibit 23: University exams - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) *Exhibit 24: University exams - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) **5.4 Certifications exams - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 *Exhibit 25: Certifications exams - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) *Exhibit 26: Certifications exams - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) **5.5 High school exams - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 *Exhibit 27: High school exams - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) *Exhibit 28: High school exams - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) **5.6 Elementary exams - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 *Exhibit 29: Elementary exams - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) *Exhibit 30: Elementary exams - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) **5.7 Other exams - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 *Exhibit 31: Other exams - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) *Exhibit 32: Other exams - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) **5.8 Market opportunity by Product *Exhibit 33: Market opportunity by Product ***6. Market Segmentation by End-user **6.1 Market segments *Exhibit 34: End-user - Market share 2021-2026 (%) **6.2 Comparison by End-user *Exhibit 35: Comparison by End-user **6.3 Higher education - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 *Exhibit 36: Higher education - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) *Exhibit 37: Higher education - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) **6.4 K-12 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 *Exhibit 38: K-12 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) *Exhibit 39: K-12 - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) **6.5 Market opportunity by End-user *Exhibit 40: Market opportunity by End-user ***7. Market Segmentation by Learning model **7.1 Market segments *Exhibit 41: Learning model - Market share 2021-2026 (%) **7.2 Comparison by Learning model *Exhibit 42: Comparison by Learning model **7.3 Blended - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 *Exhibit 43: Blended - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) *Exhibit 44: Blended - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) **7.4 Online - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 *Exhibit 45: Online - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) *Exhibit 46: Online - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) **7.5 Market opportunity by Learning model *Exhibit 47: Market opportunity by Learning model ***8. Customer landscape *Technavio's customer landscape matrix comparing Drivers or price sensitivity, Adoption lifecycle, importance in customer price basket, Adoption rate and Key purchase criteria **8.1 Overview *Exhibit 48: Customer landscape ***9. Drivers, Challenges, and Trends **9.1 Market drivers *9.1.1 Increasing use of analytical tools in test preparations *9.1.2 Increasing emphasis on online mode of test preparation *9.1.3 Rising demand for test preparation services in the US **9.2 Market challenges *9.2.1 Availability of open-source test preparation materials and growth of the unorganized sector *9.2.2 Rising number of test-optional institutes *9.2.3 Increase in education debts *Exhibit 49: Impact of drivers and challenges **9.3 Market trends *9.3.1 Technological advances in test preparation services *9.3.2 Rising emphasis on private tutoring *9.3.3 Increase in M&A activities and the number of startups ***10. Vendor Landscape **10.1 Competitive scenario *Exhibit 50: Vendor landscape **10.2 Landscape disruption *Exhibit 51: Landscape disruption *Exhibit 52: Industry risks ***11. Vendor Analysis **11.1 Vendors covered *Exhibit 53: Vendors covered **11.2 Market positioning of vendors *Exhibit 54: Matrix on vendor position and classification **11.3 ArborBridge Inc. *Exhibit 55: ArborBridge Inc. - Overview *Exhibit 56: ArborBridge Inc. - Product and service *Exhibit 57: ArborBridge Inc. - Key offerings **11.4 Cengage Learning Holdings II Inc *Exhibit 58: Cengage Learning Holdings II Inc - Overview *Exhibit 59: Cengage Learning Holdings II Inc - Business segments *Exhibit 60: Cengage Learning Holdings II Inc - Key News *Exhibit 61: Cengage Learning Holdings II Inc - Key offerings *Exhibit 62: Cengage Learning Holdings II Inc - Segment focus **11.5 Club Z Inc. *Exhibit 63: Club Z Inc. - Overview *Exhibit 64: Club Z Inc. - Product and service *Exhibit 65: Club Z Inc. - Key offerings **11.6 CogniFit Inc. *Exhibit 66: CogniFit Inc. - Overview *Exhibit 67: CogniFit Inc. - Product and service *Exhibit 68: CogniFit Inc. - Key offerings **11.7 Edgenuity Inc. *Exhibit 69: Edgenuity Inc. - Overview *Exhibit 70: Edgenuity Inc. - Product and service *Exhibit 71: Edgenuity Inc. - Key offerings **11.8 Graham Holdings Co. *Exhibit 72: Graham Holdings Co. - Overview *Exhibit 73: Graham Holdings Co. - Business segments *Exhibit 74: Graham Holdings Co. - Key News *Exhibit 75: Graham Holdings Co. - Key offerings *Exhibit 76: Graham Holdings Co. - Segment focus **11.9 Instructure Inc. *Exhibit 77: Instructure Inc. - Overview *Exhibit 78: Instructure Inc. - Product and service *Exhibit 79: Instructure Inc. - Key offerings **11.10 McGraw Hill Education Inc. *Exhibit 80: McGraw Hill Education Inc. - Overview *Exhibit 81: McGraw Hill Education Inc. - Business segments *Exhibit 82: McGraw Hill Education Inc. - Key offerings *Exhibit 83: McGraw Hill Education Inc. - Segment focus **11.11 Pearson Plc *Exhibit 84: Pearson Plc - Overview *Exhibit 85: Pearson Plc - Business segments *Exhibit 86: Pearson Plc - Key offerings *Exhibit 87: Pearson Plc - Segment focus **11.12 TPR Education IP Holdings LLC *Exhibit 88: TPR Education IP Holdings LLC - Overview *Exhibit 89: TPR Education IP Holdings LLC - Product and service *Exhibit 90: TPR Education IP Holdings LLC - Key offerings ***12. Appendix **12.1 Scope of the report *12.1.1 ????Definition *12.1.2 ????Objectives *12.1.3 Notes and caveats **12.2 Currency conversion rates for US$ *Exhibit 91: Currency conversion rates for US$ **12.3 Research methodology *Exhibit 92: Research Methodology *Exhibit 93: Validation techniques employed for market sizing *Exhibit 94: Information sources **12.4 List of abbreviations *Exhibit 95: List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio A roundup of the most newsworthy press releases from PR Newswire this week, including the next astronauts headed to the Moon and Jennifer Lopez's new line of cocktails. NEW YORK, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists and consumers stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a recap of some major stories from the week that shouldn't be missed. The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download. PR Newswire Weekly Press Release Roundup, April 3-7, 2023. Photo provided by NASA. https://prn.to/3Gg7rxU Read more of the latest releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNalert on Twitter. Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists. Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers, and freelancers have access to the following free features: Customization: Users can create customized newsfeeds that will deliver relevant news right to their inbox. Newsfeed results can be targeted by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Users can create customized newsfeeds that will deliver relevant news right to their inbox. Newsfeed results can be targeted by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include in a journalist or blogger's next story. Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include in a journalist or blogger's next story. Subject Matter Experts: Journalists will have access to ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in their articles. Journalists will have access to ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in their articles. Related Resources: Our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, features regular media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more. About PR Newswire and PR Newswire for Journalists For more than 65 years, PR Newswire has been the industry leader with the largest, most comprehensive distribution network of print, radio, magazine, television stations, financial portals and trade publications. PR Newswire has an unparalleled global reach of more than 200,000 publications and 10,000 websites and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. PR Newswire for Journalists (PRNJ) is an exclusive community that includes over 20,000 journalists, bloggers and influencers who are logging into their PRNJ accounts specifically looking for story ideas. PR Newswire thoroughly researches and vets this community to verify their identity as a member of the press, blogger or influencer. PRNJ users cover more than 200 beats and verticals. For questions, contact the team at [email protected]. SOURCE PR Newswire A roundup of the week's most newsworthy energy industry press releases from PR Newswire, including Shell's acquisition of Volta and a new cable field testing program from UL. NEW YORK, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering the energy and natural resources industry stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed. The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download. PR Newswire Weekly Energy Press Release Roundup, April 3-7, 2023. Photo provided by Honeywell. https://prn.to/3ZOwZt8 Read more of the latest energy-related releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNenergy on Twitter. Can't-Miss Earnings In addition to these popular releases, several must-read earnings reports crossed the wire this week, including the quarterly results for SinglePoint Inc. and MSC Industrial Supply Co. Catch up on all the latest earnings reports here. Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists. Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers and freelancers have access to the following free features: Customization: Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Subject Matter Experts: Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Related Resources: Read and subscribe to our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, for media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more. About PR Newswire and PR Newswire for Journalists For more than 65 years, PR Newswire has been the industry leader with the largest, most comprehensive distribution network of print, radio, magazine, television stations, financial portals and trade publications. PR Newswire has an unparalleled global reach of more than 200,000 publications and 10,000 websites and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. PR Newswire for Journalists (PRNJ) is an exclusive community that includes over 20,000 journalists, bloggers and influencers who are logging into their PRNJ accounts specifically looking for story ideas. PR Newswire thoroughly researches and vets this community to verify their identity as a member of the press, blogger or influencer. PRNJ users cover more than 200 beats and verticals. For questions, contact the team at [email protected]. SOURCE PR Newswire A roundup of the week's most newsworthy technology industry press releases from PR Newswire, including a new phone from Motorola and a cybersecurity solution from BlackBerry. NEW YORK, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering the business technology industry stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed. The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download. PR Newswire Weekly Technology Press Release Roundup, April 3-7, 2023. Photo provided by Surgent Accounting & Financial Education. https://prn.to/411QgYS Read more of the latest business technology releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNtech on Twitter. Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists. Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers and freelancers have access to the following free features: Customization: Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Subject Matter Experts: Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Related Resources: Read and subscribe to our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, for media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more. About PR Newswire and PR Newswire for Journalists For more than 65 years, PR Newswire has been the industry leader with the largest, most comprehensive distribution network of print, radio, magazine, television stations, financial portals and trade publications. PR Newswire has an unparalleled global reach of more than 200,000 publications and 10,000 websites and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. PR Newswire for Journalists (PRNJ) is an exclusive community that includes over 20,000 journalists, bloggers and influencers who are logging into their PRNJ accounts specifically looking for story ideas. PR Newswire thoroughly researches and vets this community to verify their identity as a member of the press, blogger or influencer. PRNJ users cover more than 200 beats and verticals. For questions, contact the team at [email protected]. SOURCE PR Newswire A roundup of the week's most newsworthy travel industry press releases from PR Newswire, including ChatGPT in the Expedia app and TikTok's influence on the travel industry. NEW YORK, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering the travel industry stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed. The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download. PR Newswire Weekly Travel Press Release Roundup, April 3-7, 2023. Photo provided by Bush's Beans. https://prn.to/3zyuGj6 Read more of the latest travel-related releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNtravel on Twitter. Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists. Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers and freelancers have access to the following free features: Customization: Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Subject Matter Experts: Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Related Resources: Read and subscribe to our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, for media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more. About PR Newswire and PR Newswire for Journalists For more than 65 years, PR Newswire has been the industry leader with the largest, most comprehensive distribution network of print, radio, magazine, television stations, financial portals and trade publications. PR Newswire has an unparalleled global reach of more than 200,000 publications and 10,000 websites and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. PR Newswire for Journalists (PRNJ) is an exclusive community that includes over 20,000 journalists, bloggers and influencers who are logging into their PRNJ accounts specifically looking for story ideas. PR Newswire thoroughly researches and vets this community to verify their identity as a member of the press, blogger or influencer. PRNJ users cover more than 200 beats and verticals. For questions, contact the team at [email protected]. SOURCE PR Newswire BEIJING, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A new insightful study reveals that the mass loss of lake-terminating glaciers in the greater Himalaya has been significantly underestimated, due to the inability of satellites to see glacier changes occurring underwater, leading to critical implications for the region's future projection of glacier disappearance and water resources. The research, which combines multi-temporal satellite data with bathymetric measurements, offers valuable insights into the growing issue of subaqueous mass loss in the Himalaya. TPE Researchers Find 'Invisible' Underwater Glacier Loss in the Himalayas Published in Nature Geoscience journal on April 3, 2023, the study conducted by an international team including researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Graz University of Technology, Austria, University of St Andrews, UK and Carnegie Mellon University, USA demonstrates that a previous assessment underestimated the total mass loss of lake-terminating glaciers in the greater Himalaya by 6.5%. The most significant underestimation of 10%, occurred in the central Himalaya, where glacial lake growth has been the most rapid. A particularly interesting case is Galong Co in this region, with a high underestimation of 65%. This oversight was largely due to the limitations of satellite imaging in detecting underwater changes, which has led to a knowledge gap in our understanding of the full extent of glacier loss. From 2000 to 2020, proglacial lakes in the region increased by 47% in number, 33% in area, and 42% in volume. This expansion resulted in an estimated glacier mass loss of around 2.7 Gt, equivalent to 570 million elephants, or over 1000 times the total number of elephants living in the world. This loss was not considered by previous studies as the utilized satellite data can only measure the lake water surface but not the ice underwater replaced by water. "These findings have important implications for understanding the impact of regional water resources and glacial lake outburst floods" says lead author ZHANG Guoqing from the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences. "By accounting for the mass loss from lake-terminating glaciers, we can more accurately assess the specific annual mass balance of these glaciers compared to land-terminating ones, which further highlights the accelerated glacier mass loss across the greater Himalaya." The study also highlights the need to understand the mechanisms driving glacier mass loss and the underestimated mass loss of lake-terminating glaciers globally, which is estimated to be around 211.5 Gt, or roughly 12%, between 2000 and 2020. "This emphasizes the importance of incorporating subaqueous mass loss from lake-terminating glaciers in future mass-change estimates and glacier evolution models, regardless of the study region," explains co-corresponding author Tobias Bolch from Graz University of Technology, Austria. "In the long run, we expect mass loss from lake-terminating glaciers to continue being a major contributor to total mass loss throughout the twenty-first century as glaciers with significant mass loss may disappear more rapidly compared to existing projections," adds David Rounce, another co-author from Carnegie Mellon University, USA. "By more accurately accounting for glacier mass loss, researchers can better predict future water resource availability in the sensitive mountain region," said co-author YAO Tandong, who also co-chairs Third Pole Environment (TPE), an international science program for interdisciplinary study of the relationships among water, ice, climate, and humankind in the region and beyond. Title of the original paper: Underestimated mass loss from lake-terminating glaciers in the greater Himalaya Journal: Nature Geoscience DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-023-01150-1 Contact: Cuihui Xia 86-10-84097124 [email protected] SOURCE Third Pole Environment ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AMCP Foundation and partners announced the top schools of pharmacy in the 23rd Annual National Student Pharmacist Pharmacy & Therapeutics (P&T) Competition at AMCP 2023. The competition brought together teams from around the country to develop a drug monograph and recommendations for formulary placement. Congratulations to the 2023 recipients: First Place: University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, Storrs, CT School of Pharmacy, Second Place: University of Washington School of Pharmacy, Seattle , WA School of Pharmacy, , WA Third Place: University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Minneapolis, MN Additionally, University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, and University of Florida College of Pharmacy competed in the live national finals. Ten additional teams were recognized as semifinalists and close to fifty PharmD programs nationwide participated. The competition is designed to provide a firsthand experience into the complexity of formulary management. Teams worked through a case study evaluating ADBRY (tralokinumab-ldrm) injection as the study drug. Student pharmacists reviewed the drug dossier in the AMCP Format for Formulary Submissions and presented to a mock P&T Committee. Adbry is an interleukin-13 antagonist indicated for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in adult patients whose disease is not adequately controlled with topical prescription therapies or when those therapies are not advisable. Adbry can be used with or without topical corticosteroids. "This competition is the marquee event for student pharmacists who are interested in managed care," said AMCP Foundation executive director Paula J. Eichenbrenner, MBA, CAE. "We're grateful to our partners and the dedicated managed care pharmacists who serve as judges for supporting this opportunity for future leaders to consider evidence gaps, value, health equity, and utilization management." The Foundation is deeply grateful to our sponsors for their generous support of the Competition. Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, is the Executive Sponsor of the National Student Pharmacist P&T Competition. Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Leo Pharma Inc. are supporting sponsors of the Annual National Student Pharmacist P&T Competition. AMCP Foundation thanks LEO Pharma Inc., for use of the Adbry dossier for this competition and FormularyDecisions for hosting AMCP eDossiers. Learn more about partnering with AMCP Foundation to develop managed care leaders. About AMCP Foundation Established in 1990, the 501(c)3 nonprofit AMCP Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP). It exists to advance the collective knowledge and insights on major issues associated with the practice of pharmacy in managed care health care settings. By facilitating innovative research initiatives and providing educational opportunities to learn about managed care pharmacy, the AMCP Foundation invests in the future of managed care. Visit www.amcpfoundation.org. SOURCE AMCP Foundation Youth Enrichment Platform Company Executive Chris Andrews Receives Award for Technology Advancement DALLAS, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chris Andrews, the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Unleashed Brands, the world's first Youth Enrichment franchise platform company, was recognized by HMG Strategy as one of the industry's top-performing technology executives who are making a difference in their organizations. HMG Strategy, the leading digital platform for connecting business technology executives, presented Andrews and six other recipients with the prestigious Global Leadership Institute Award at the 2023 CIO Executive Leadership Summit in Dallas last night. The recipients were measured in demonstrating exceptional leadership in several areas including building a culture of trust and creating new go-to-market business models. Andrews joined Unleashed Brands in May 2022, becoming the company's first-ever CIO. Over the past year, he's leveraged the Unleashed data lake to build customer insight artificial intelligence (AI) models and successfully enhanced the e-commerce platform to support all of the Unleashed Brands world-class brands including Urban Air Adventure Park, Snapology, The Little Gym, XP League, Class 101 and Premier Martial Arts. Andrew's next goal is to expand the Unleashed Brands Command Center platform, a fully-integrated suite of business management solutions for franchise owners, to be available across all six brands. "Chris has been a monumental leader for Unleashed Brands by bringing fresh ideas on how to best leverage technology so we can continue to support our franchisees and customers while growing our platform," said Michael O. Browning Jr., Founder & CEO of Unleashed Brands. "The Global Leadership Institute Award is one of the industry's most distinguished honors and I'm thrilled that Chris is being recognized for all of his hard work and achievements." Unleashed Brands is backed by a management team with more than 150 years of combined consumer industry experience, focused on serving families. It continues to grow its industry-leading platform to better serve and support families as moms and dads seek to "Build Great Kids." To learn more about Unleashed Brands and current opportunities, please visit unleashedbrands.com. About Unleashed Brands Unleashed Brands, currently includes portfolio brands Urban Air, Snapology, The Little Gym, XP League, Class 101, and Premier Martial Arts and was founded to curate and grow a portfolio of the most innovative and profitable brands that help kids learn, play and grow. Over the last 10 years, the team at Unleashed Brands has built a proven platform and know-how for scaling businesses focused on serving families. Its mission is to impact the lives of every kid by providing fun, engaging, and inspiring experiences that help them become who they are destined to be. For more information, please visit www.unleashedbrands.com. Media Contact: Camille Douglas, Fishman Public Relations, [email protected] or 248-841-0937 SOURCE Unleashed Brands SHENZHEN, China, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- VAPORESSO, a world-leading vaping brand, is set to launch its latest brand innovation campaign, the "Fun with Innovation Now VAPORESSO Sparkling Creative Design Competition". The event, which runs from April 15 to September 15, aims to highlight the Company's innovation DNA by combining its latest XROS 3 NANO product with a unique design innovation platform, allowing consumers to play a key role in co-creating the future of vaping. As part of its focus on innovation, VAPORESSO has introduced a new theme for 2023 Innovate at Once a commitment to fearlessly pursue innovation and push boundaries in all areas of design and user experience optimization, which allows VAPORESSO to focus on its three core brand values innovation, reliability, and style while continuing to emphasize its commitment to a multidimensional approach to innovation. In the latest campaign, VAPORESSO is focusing on the concept of "unlimited innovation". This means that VAPORESSO's innovation is not restricted to a single dimension but instead permeates across multiple dimensions such as products, design, culture, and ecology. The Company's ideology goes beyond the conventional, and aims to integrate, break through, and empower, in order to create infinite beauty for the world. With such innovation philosophy, VAPORESSO aims to create unlimited beauty for the world, and the FUN WITH INNOVATION NOW VAPORESSO SPARKLING CREATIVE DESIGN COMPETITION is an excellent example of this, with the Company inviting all consumers to join them in this journey of innovation. During the campaign, VAPORESSO will showcase the CMF (Color, Material, and Finish) of the XROS 3 and XROS 3 NANO series, and invite internal ID designers, artists, and KOLs to build unique CMFs for display. In addition, consumers will have the opportunity to participate in the XROS 3 NANO customization competition, where they can submit their own designs for the chance to win exciting prizes, including an iPad Pro, an iWatch, and Air Pods. The winners also have the chance to be included in the blind box imagination plan and become a custom blind box product sold globally. About VAPORESSO VAPORESSO was created in 2015 and is dedicated to establishing a smoke-free world while raising the quality of life for its users. Based on its continuous innovation, strict quality control, and substantial commitment, VAPORESSO creates products that can fit all levels and styles of vapers. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2048839/image_5004956_9241386.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2011704/Vaporesso_Logo.jpg SOURCE VAPORESSO CHICAGO, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The future of the veterinary vaccines industry looks promising. The industry is expected to grow at a steady rate over the next few years, driven by rising demand for pet health products and increasing awareness of pet health among pet owners. The rising demand for vaccines, particularly in developing countries, is expected to further drive growth in the industry. Additionally, advancements in technology and the development of new vaccine formulations and delivery methods are anticipated to play a significant role in the growth of the industry. Furthermore, increasing investments in the development of animal health products, such as vaccines, by both the public and private sector are expected to contribute to the growth of the industry. Veterinary Vaccines Market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $8.1 billion in 2022 and is poised to reach $10.8 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 5.9% from 2022 to 2027 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Growth in this market can primarily be attributed to the growing demand for pet insurance and rising animal health expenditure. Spending on pet healthcarewhich includes the purchase of pet food, supplies/over-the-counter medications, veterinary care, pet insurance policies, and other services, has increased significantly in recent years. A large number of pet owners, especially in major markets across North America and Europe, are purchasing pet insurance because of the significant growth in pet care expenditure in recent years. Download an Illustrative overview: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=1233 Browse in-depth TOC on "Veterinary Vaccines Market" 305 - Tables 56 - Figures 292 - Pages Veterinary Vaccines Market Scope: Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2022 $8.1 billion Estimated Value by 2027 $10.8 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 5.9% Market Size Available for 20202027 Forecast Period 20222027 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By type, disease, technology, route of administration, distribution channel Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Technology Adavancements Key Market Drivers Rising demand for animal-derived food products Injectable vaccines accounted for the largest share of the veterinary vaccines market Based on the route of administration, the veterinary vaccines market is segmented into injectable vaccines, oral vaccines, and intranasal/spray vaccines. In 2021, injectable vaccines accounted for the largest share of the veterinary vaccines market. This mode of administration allows the medication to be absorbed into the bloodstream quickly. It also results in a better immune response and a lower rate of injection-site reactions, this factor will support the market growth. The veterinary hospitals segment accounted for the largest share of the veterinary vaccines market Based on the distribution channel, the veterinary vaccines market is segmented into veterinary hospitals, veterinary clinics, and retail pharmacies. In 2021, the veterinary hospitals segment accounted for the largest share of the veterinary vaccines market. The large share of the veterinary hospitals segment is attributed to the growing awareness about animal health in developing countries. Asia Pacific segment accounted for the largest share of the veterinary vaccines market The global veterinary vaccines market is segmented into North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. In 2021, Asia Pacific segment accounted for the largest share of the veterinary vaccines market. The growing trend of pet ownership in APAC countries has resulted in increased pet healthcare expenditures. This can also be attributed to the growing disposable income levels in APAC countries, due to which the willingness to spend on animal healthcare and well-being is rising. Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=1233 Veterinary Vaccines Market Dynamics: Drivers: 1. Growth in companion animal population 2. Rising incidence of zoonotic diseases 3. Initiatives by various government agencies and animal associations 4. Rising demand for animal-derived food products 5. Growing demand for pet insurance and rising animal health expenditure Restraints: 1. High storage cost of vaccines 2. Rising pet care costs Opportunities: 1. Technological advancements 2. Untapped emerging markets Challenges: 1. Inadequate surveillance and reporting systems 2. Lack of animal healthcare awareness in emerging countries Key Market Players: The major players in the veterinary vaccines market include Zoetis, Inc. (US), Merck & Co, Inc. (US), Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (Germany), Elanco Animal Health (US), Virbac (France). Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=1233 Recent Developments: In September 2022 , Zoetis acquired Jurox, a privately held animal health company that develops, manufactures, and markets a wide range of veterinary medicines for treating livestock and companion animals. , Zoetis acquired Jurox, a privately held animal health company that develops, manufactures, and markets a wide range of veterinary medicines for treating livestock and companion animals. In June 2022 , Boehringer Ingelheim and CarthroniX partnered to pursue small molecule therapeutics in canine oncology. , Boehringer Ingelheim and CarthroniX partnered to pursue small molecule therapeutics in canine oncology. In July 2021 , Elanco acquired KindredBio, a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel pet therapeutics. Veterinary Vaccines Market Advantages: Veterinary vaccines are important for the prevention of animal diseases and the reduction of animal deaths. Vaccines can help reduce the spread of zoonotic diseases from animals to humans, thus reducing the risk of human disease. Veterinary vaccines can prevent the transfer of disease between animals, which can help to improve the health and productivity of livestock herds, and reduce the economic losses associated with animal diseases. Vaccination can also help to reduce the use of antibiotics, which can help to reduce the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Veterinary vaccines can help to reduce the spread of emerging diseases and pandemics, which can cause serious economic and public health consequences. Veterinary vaccines are relatively inexpensive and easy to administer, making them accessible to a wide range of veterinary practices. Veterinary Vaccines Market - Report Highlights: REFINEMENTS IN THE SEGMENTS OF THE GLOBAL VETERINARY VACCINES MARKET: The current edition of the report consists of an updated market overview, which includes information on the industry trends, regulatory analysis, value chain analysis, supply chain analysis, ecosystem market map, porter's five forces analysis, patent analysis, technology analysis, indicative pricing model analysis, and key conferences and events during 2023 to 2025. It also includes the list of key regulatory bodies, government agencies, other organizations, key stakeholders, and their buying criteria. The competitive landscape chapter has been updated with the revenue share analysis, market share analysis, company footprint, company evaluation quadrant, company evaluation quadrant for startups, and competitive benchmarking segments. The current edition of the report consists of an updated segmentation, including chapters on the route of administration (injection vaccines, oral vaccines, and intranasal/spray vaccines) and distribution channels (veterinary hospitals, veterinary clinics, and retail pharmacies). UPDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION/PRODUCT PORTFOLIOS OF PLAYERS: The new edition of the report provides updated financial information in the context of the veterinary vaccines market until 2021/2022 for each listed company in a graphical representation in a single diagram (instead of multiple tables). This will easily help analyze the present status of profiled companies in terms of their financial strength, profitability, key revenue-generating country/region, business segment focus in terms of the highest revenue-generating segment, and investment in R&D activities. UPDATED MARKET DEVELOPMENTS OF PROFILED PLAYERS: Recent developments are important to understand the market trend and growth strategies players adopt in the global veterinary vaccines market. The current edition of this report provides updated developments of profiled players from January 2019 to March 2023, indicating a continuation of the previous version. Product launches & upgrades, expansions, acquisitions, partnerships, and collaborations have been the principal growth strategies adopted by market players in this period. Related Reports: Vaccine Adjuvants Market - Global Forecasts to 2027 Veterinary Diagnostics Market - Global Forecasts to 2027 Veterinary Imaging Market - Global Forecasts to 2027 Infectious Disease Diagnostics Market - Global Forecasts to 2027 Allergy Diagnostics Market - Global Forecasts to 2026 About MarketsandMarkets: MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/animal-veterinary-vaccines-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/animal-veterinary-vaccines.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets TAMPA, Fla., April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- vivenu, a global primary ticketing and experience tech company, is pleased to announce the opening of its new US headquarters in Tampa, Florida. The office will further expand vivenu's operations into the Americas, alongside the growing regional customer base, and attract the industry's best people to scale its local operations. vivenu Expands U.S. Operation, Opens Regional Headquarters in Tampa, FL! "We are excited to be liberating ticketing for more customers in the US marketplace and expand our global reach," said Simon Hennes, CEO and Co-Founder of vivenu. "Tampa, Florida is the perfect location for our regional headquarters. The vibrant and dynamic community offers a thriving economy, tech talent, and an exceptional quality of living. We look forward to building relationships with the local universities and businesses contributing to the region's economic development." In August of 2022, Forbes named Tampa the No. 1 Emerging Tech City in the U.S., and one of the reasons was that the city is responsible for 25% of tech jobs in the state. Jordan Mest, Senior Talent Manager of vivenu, added, "We are confident that Tampa's skilled workforce and strong community support will help us achieve our growth objectives. With academic institutions like the University of South Florida and the University of Tampa next door we are beyond excited to hire the top local talent." The office is located downtown in Tampa, and vivenu plans to hire many new roles in the coming months. The team is looking to hire talented individuals in a variety of sales, customer experience, and marketing jobs. vivenu is seeking motivated individuals who are eager to learn, committed to providing an excellent customer experience, and passionate about the ticketing industry. For more information about career opportunities at vivenu, please follow Jordan Mest on LinkedIn, visit https://vivenu.com/career or email [email protected]. In addition to hiring top talent, vivenu is committed to being an active member of the Tampa community. The company plans to partner with local organizations and participate in community events to give back to the local area. About vivenu: vivenu is liberating ticketing by empowering ticket sellers to be independent with complete control of their own branded white-label ticket shops and ownership of ticket-buyer data. The customer-centric primary ticketing platform has earned a reputation in the global experience economy for technology leadership, scalability through openness, and a great customer experience. vivenu, is backed by $65M in venture capital funds from industry leaders such as Activant Capitaal and the San Francisco 49ers. The team is trusted by thousands of customers including brands like the Grammy Awards, Overtime Elite, and Lake Placid FISU World University Games. vivenu has offices in Dusseldorf and Darmstadt, Germany, and Tampa, Florida to serve its clients across the world. Contact: Keal Blache, vivenu, [email protected], +1 650 513 9305 SOURCE vivenu CHANGSHA, China, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 30, Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., Ltd. ("Zoomlion") released its 2022 annual report. Key highlights: The company secured operating revenue of RMB 41.631 billion ( $6.051 billion ), and a net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company of RMB 2.306 billion ( $335.2 million ). ( ), and a net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company of ( ). Zoomlion's overseas revenue reached RMB 9.992 billion ( $1.452 billion ), up 72.6% year over year. ( ), up 72.6% year over year. The proportion of the company's overseas revenue in total revenue increased to 24%, a year-on-year increase of 15.38 percentage points. In 2022, Zoomlion accelerated the transformation of digitalization, intelligence, and sustainability, focusing on its three-pillar segments: construction machinery, agricultural machinery + smart agriculture, and new construction materials, while expanding its emerging and overseas business segments. Firm market position of leading products with strong breakthroughs in emerging sectors Concrete equipment, engineering hoisting machinery, and construction hoisting machinery maintained their market dominance. Concrete machines, long boom pump trucks, and 200-ton all-terrain cranes continued to top the market. The Earthmoving Machinery Demonstrative Smart Park achieved full production in 2022. Medium and large excavators with good profitability saw comprehensive upgrading in their reliability and intelligence. The overall market share continuously increased, achieving a revenue of RMB 3.512 billion ($510.7 million). The new construction materials business kept growing rapidly with the market share of dry-mixed mortar equipment remaining in the first tier in China. Strong growth in international business By expanding the globalization and localization strategy, the revenue of international business reached RMB 9.992 billion ($1.452 billion), up 72.6% year-over-year. The company's overseas revenue accounted for 24% of total revenue, a year-on-year increase of 15.38 percent. Zoomlion empowered its global business model through digitization, and continuously improved its strategic layout. The company's sales performance increased by over 100% year-on-year in key markets including Indonesia, India, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, while the exportation of ZAT8000H all-terrain crane set a new record as China's largest tonnage all-terrain crane that exported overseas. Technology innovation further drives Zoomlion's intelligent manufacturing Zoomlion continued to strengthen technological innovation with 127 major new products and 330 key core research, leading the industry in digital, intelligent, and green transformation and upgrading, and consolidating its high-quality development foundation. Zoomlion developed new single-machine intelligence, human-machine cooperation, and machine-group intelligent collaboration technologies, pioneering the first full-process digital closed-loop construction model and the first green and intelligent construction site. Zoomlion fully automated processes for R&D, supply chain, production, sales, and services. Additionally, the business developed industry-leading essential technologies for full-process intelligent manufacturing, upgrading from host to components. Zoomlion also prioritizes new energy. Zoomlion innovated in the fields of lithium batteries, electric drives, hydrogen energy, and entire machines, linking the three technological chains of new energy and establishing a new green development scenario. Looking forward to 2023 and beyond, Zoomlion will continue to accelerate the speeding up of digitalization, intelligence, and sustainability to drive further growth. SOURCE Zoomlion New Delhi, April 7 : While in his teens, he once accompanied his father, theatre director M.K. Raina to Kashmir, encountering the Bhands -- Kashmir's traditional folk theatre artists who were 'banned' by militants from performing in the Valley. Years later, when the theatre director made an adaptation of Shakespeare's 'King Lear' with the folk artists in the Valley, and Anant Raina accompanied a Stanford University (in the US) professor wanting to write about it as part of her thesis, he was shocked. "It was such a powerful performance that I immediately decided that I wanted to make a film on it. I barely knew any filmmaking at the time, but the story had to be told -- so I just did it. There was an effort to get funding, etc. but nothing panned out. That was also the time when DSLRs were just becoming popular for filming, so I bought one and started shooting," remembers the filmmaker, who finished the film 'Badshah Lear' in 2018-19 but owing to the pandemic, could not screen it. Now showing the movie, reflecting the tragedy of land against the madness of its 'rulers' at different venues, Anant, who grew up in Delhi says his introduction to Kashmiri culture came when along with his father, he made a film on Kashmiri Sufi music for which they would go to the Valley every season. The young director admits it took him several years to finish the film as he kept second-guessing whether his effort was "worthy". "Also, having been rejected for funding multiple times from various documentary forums, working practically by myself on it, there were times I did feel as if it was just me who was interested in this story. I am not going to lie, it was quite a struggle internally." In many ways, the film is not just about the Bhands but also operates on different layers -- the Pandit exodus, the idea of 'Kashmiriyat', and censorship among others. In one of the scenes, M.K. Raina says, "After several years, when I visited my ancestral house in Kashmir, it was locked. I knocked a few times and then returned. I cannot describe how I felt. Houses remain, we perish." Anant had abandoned the initial plan for the film because it just was not turning out to be "interesting". He then let the footage lead him to a story. Adding that censorship emerged as a theme without him planning for it as it is inherent in the story of the Bhands, he says, "I have an intense dislike for hierarchy and authority because it only serves to narrow down the human experience. Art is diametrically opposed to that because it is about freedom, expanding our experiences, and seeing the world in newer ways. For me, this story in particular is a tale about the resilience of art tinged with melancholy as you realise that the battle of ideas is never really over. We need to constantly push back." The director, who comes from a culturally mixed home (mother being part Maharashtrian and Bengali, while MK Raina is Kashmiri), Anant, when asked if M.K. interfered with his creative process during the shoot of the film that unfolds through the latter's eyes, laughs. "One particular day, during the shoot, he kept giving instructions to one of the Bhands. At first, I told him that I was recording sound so he should not say anything. But he did not stop. I finally had to tell him angrily that this was my film, not his. Things were a bit tense for some time but it was smooth sailing later." M.K. Raina tells IANS that for him the most striking aspect of the film is that it deals with a subject that, while being political, is not part of any discourse in the country. "The natural way of unfolding of Kashmiri syncretic life without any underlying or deliberate attempts to propagate the 'Kashmiriyat' theme, and how it has vanished is established honestly. The celebration of culture as a resistance despite being marginalised in a wider violent political turmoil is the high point for me. I like his prologue and epilogue, his deliberately avoiding the often repeated Kashmiri pretty pictures landscapes cliche, which would have dwarfed the depth of the film. it is a very important document of the culture of the people for the people who work in conflict zones. One does not witness a black-and-white approach," says Raina, who assures that he followed the son's instruction as he would do for any director. (Sukant Deepak can be reached at sukant.d@ians.in) New York, April 7 : An Indian national has been sentenced to 33 months in prison, and ordered to pay $2.4 million in restitution for his role in an international conspiracy that preyed on elderly victims in the US. Ashish Bajaj, 29, pleaded guilty in August last year before District Judge Kevin McNulty in Newark federal court to information charging him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court, from April 2020 to August 2021, Bajaj and his conspirators preyed on elderly victims by impersonating fraud prevention specialists from various banks, online retailers, and online payment companies. They contacted victims and falsely claimed that they were fraud prevention specialists employed by reputable companies and that the victims' accounts with banks, online retailers, or online payments companies were being targeted for fraud. Bajaj and his conspirators then falsely told the victims that their fraud prevention efforts required the victims' assistance in a sting operation to catch the perpetrators. Bajaj and the conspirators asked the elderly victims to send money from their bank accounts to accounts controlled by the former and falsely promised to return their money within a few days of the purported sting operation. The victims were also falsely promised that once they sent the money, the sting operation would result in the arrest of the purported perpetrators. The victims sent international wire transfers to various banks located in India, China, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. The victims also sent money through an online application to bank accounts held by Bajaj in the US. The victims further sent cash and cashier checks to Bajaj at an address in California. The scheme resulted in losses of more than $250,000. Jerusalem, April 7 : In response to a major rocket attack, Israel on Friday launched airstrikes in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon amid escalating tensions in the region. In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that it "struck targets including terrorist infrastructures belonging to Hamas in southern Lebanon". "The IDF will not allow the Hamas terrorist organisation to operate from within Lebanon and hold the state of Lebanon responsible for every directed fire emanating from its territory," the statement said. This comes in retaliation after 34 rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel late Thursday night, said the IDF. It said that 25 rockets were intercepted by the IDF Aerial Defense Array, while five landed in Israeli territory and four additional launches were under review. Meanwhile in the Gaza Strip, Israeli warplanes stepped up airstrikes with around 20 missiles hitting four new sites in 10 minutes, the BBC reported. Meanwhile, Hamas, the militant organisation which controls the besieged Palestinian enclave, said that it was not aware of who launched the rockets into Israel from Lebanon. The attack was the biggest single barrage from Israel's northern neighbour in 17 years. Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was in Lebanon when the rockets were launched, said Palestinians would not "sit with their arms crossed" in the face of Israeli aggression. Tensions remain high after Israeli police raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem on consecutive nights earlier this week. The violence first broke out on Tuesday night during a sensitive holiday time when tens of thousands of Muslim worshippers observe the holy month of Ramzan through prayers at the hilltop compound. Below the compound, scores of Jewish pilgrims commemorate the Passover holiday with prayers at the Western Wall. The Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site for Muslims and the most sacred place for Jews. In the past, the shrine has often seen clashes between Palestinian worshippers and Israeli security forces, triggering wider unrest. In May 2021, an Israeli raid here contributed to an 11-day full-scale conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist militant group which governs the Gaza Strip. Barabanki : , April 7 (IANS) A 15-year-old girl committed suicide by consuming poison in Barabanki, after being allegedly harassed by a neighbour, said police. The accused has been arrested. SHO, Mohammadpur, Ashok Kumar Singh, said the alleged accused Salman was arrested and booked under charges of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, IPC 354 (A) (sexual harassment). He said the girl took the extreme step after facing harassment from Salman. She was taken to the district hospital by her parents and then referred to KGMU Trauma Centre in Lucknow where she died during treatment. The police said that the girl had stepped out of her house earlier this week when Salman, 26, began to harass her. "When she shouted, Salman threatened her with dire consequences," said the girl's father in the FIR. The next day, the survivor consumed poison and shut herself in her room and when she did not come out of it till noon, her mother opened the door and found her unconscious, said the FIR. New Delhi, April 7 : The modest bhujia has long been a ridiculously well-liked food option in India. The delicious bhujia has been a constant in our eating habits and daily routines, whether it is for breakfast in the morning when combined with tea or any other beverage, for a quick break from work in the afternoon, or for night-time snacks. That bhujia is frequently used as a crucial garnishing for foods and preparations in our everyday eating customs and culture. Invented under the patronage of the Bikaneri royalty However, few people are aware that the humble bhujia did not actually have low beginnings. Instead, it is thought to have royal origins according to the majority of accounts, including popular history. According to legend, in 1877, Maharaja Dungar Singh of the then-princely state of Bikaner was the one who first had this delicious savoury made for his guests. The Maharaja and his guests were served the snack, and to everyone's pleasure, they couldn't help but keep asking for more and more of the item they had just tried for the first time in their lives. The besan or gram-flour-based snack, which was light or golden yellow in colour and spiced with a variety of herbs and seasonings, had never before delighted the royal palates of Bikaner and Rajasthan. Became a mass product in course of time But that was only the start. The freshly created savoury, which was crispy, crunchy, and utterly irresistible, quickly made its way from the royal kitchen and nobility's homes to the homes of commoners and families, becoming a culinary craze in Bikaner and elsewhere. The raging popularity of this savoury quickly attracted small businesses, food adventurers, and entrepreneurs - even before the word "entrepreneur" became fashionable in India - who turned this obsession into formal business outlets. In due course, bhujia came to be one of the most constant and staple offerings of countless street food vendors, snack stall owners, and food and snack business operators who started to serve bhujia to their customers not only as an independent offering but also by combining it with other food items and tidbits to satisfy the need and demand of the ever-increasing patrons of this snack. Bhujia became a constant presence everywhere, whether it was on pushcarts, bicycle carts, on-head vendors, or established stores and stalls. Family businesses took the lead, later joined by multinationals By the turn of the century, a significant number of small localised players had appeared in Bikaner and even further afield in Rajasthan as a part of the so-called cottage industry, advancing bhujia as a core product as a part of their larger basket of offerings. Around the middle of the 20th century, a few famous family-owned ethnic food companies were established, using bhujia and its variations as their main product to capitalise on the snack's enduring and unwavering popularity. These family-owned companies and their numerous offshoots have developed into prominent ethnic food brands with a presence both domestically and abroad. In an effort to join the trend, several multinational corporations have developed their own versions of bhujia and related savouries over the past few decades in an effort to catch up with the family-owned Indian ethnic food and savoury businesses. Modern packaging has increased shelf life while reinforcing their identity Unlike the open and loose forms of bhujias that were previously distributed, the introduction of contemporary and designer packaging has increased their shelf life while also giving bhujias their own unique identity. Different types and variations of bhujia have developed over time based on the primary ingredients used to make them. Because of the need to preserve the purity and freshness of the product, packaging has become an essential component of the entire process as production of this savoury has progressively scaled up as part of the expanding savoury snack companies due to their continuously rising popularity. For the packaging of these bhujias, the use of contemporary packaging materials like laminated low-density polyethylene and polypropylene pouches has been especially noteworthy.It is not surprising that ethnic bhujia now accounts for over 15 per cent of the Indian savoury industry. At the same time, branded and locally produced bhujias coexist with their branded equivalents in tier II and III markets. Therefore, the humble bhujia has gone a long way since then. The government's decision to give it the Geographical Indication label in 2020 attests to both its enduring fame and the distinctiveness and exclusivity in terms of appeal and reputation that this modest savoury from the Bikaner region has established for itself. It should come as no surprise that bhujia and its variations, including more recent spinoffs like aloo bhujia, paneer bhujia, and maggibhujia, will continue to dominate snack lovers' hearts and minds both in India and around the world. (Manish Aggarwal, Director, Bikano, Bikanervala Foods Pvt Ltd) (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) Washington, April 7 : The US administration has blamed the hasty withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan in the wake of the 2021 Taliban takeover on former President Donald Trump, saying that President Joe Biden was "severely constrained" by his predecessor's decisions, including the 2020 Doha Agreement to end the war. This was revealed in a new report which was put together by the White House National Security Council with input from Biden and made available to the public on Thursday. It says that when Biden took office in January 2021, he "believed the right thing for the country was to end the longest war in American history and bring American troops home". But "Biden's choices for how to execute a withdrawal from Afghanistan were severely constrained by conditions created by his predecessor", the report said. "When Trump took office in 2017, there were more than 10,000 troops in Afghanistan. Eighteen months later, after introducing more than 3,000 additional troops just to maintain the stalemate, he ordered direct talks with the Taliban without consulting with our allies and partners or allowing the Afghan government at the negotiating table. "In September 2019, Trump embolded the Taliban by publicly considering inviting them to Camp David on the anniversary of 9/11. In February 2020, the US and the Taliban reached a deal, known as the Doha Agreement, under which Washington agreed to withdraw all forces from Afghanistan by May 2021. "In return, the Taliban agreed to participate in a peace process and refrain from attacking US troops and threatening Afghanistan's major cities, but only as long as the US remained committed to withdraw by the agreement's deadline," it added. The report goes on to say that as part of the agreement, the former President had also pressured the Afghan government to release 5,000 Taliban fighters from prison, "without securing the release of the only American hostage known to be held by the Taliban". Over his last 11 months in office, Trump ordered a series of drawdowns of American troops and by June 2020, he reduced personnel in Afghanistan to 8,600. The report mentions that there was an unclassified signed order directing the US military to withdraw all forces from Afghanistan no later than January 15, 2021. One week later, that order was rescinded and replaced with one to draw down to 2,500 troops by the same date. During the transition period, the outgoing Trump administration "provided no plans for how to conduct the final withdrawal or to evacuate Americans and Afghan allies", claims the report. "As a result, when President Biden took office on January 20, 2021, the Taliban were in the strongest military position that they had been in since 2001, controlling or contesting nearly half of the country. At the same time, the US had only 2,500 troops on the ground -- the lowest number of troops in Afghanistan since 2001," it said. The deadly pull-out in August 2021 ended America's longest war. When the Afghan government collapsed on August 15, 2021, there were desperate scenes at Kabul airport as huge crowds tried to flee the Taliban. On August 26, an attack at the airport by two suicide bombers killed 170 Afghans and 13 US soldiers as the American troops were scrambling to evacuate more than 120,000 people in a matter of days. Responding to the report, Trump shot back on social media, accusing "Morons in the White House" of playing "a new disinformation game - Blame "TRUMP" for their grossly incompetent SURRENDER in Afghanistan". "Biden is responsible, no one else!" he said. Bengaluru, April 7 : On the World Health Day, health experts say more people are adopting preventive healthcare post-Covid pandemic. Dr. Nikhil Mathur, Group Chief of Medical Services, CARE Hospitals Group explained that there has been a considerable focus on curative healthcare over preventive care for decades in India. However, post-Covid, a gradual but visible shift in people's outlook towards preventive healthcare is being witnessed. This vital preventive health sector is expected to grow further and reach 97 billion dollars by 2025, showing a high inclination of people and healthcare brands towards preventive care, he says. With the rising prevalence of lifestyle conditions, chronic and non-communicable diseases pertaining to our fast-paced lifestyle and changing environmental conditions, more people are adopting the preventive healthcare approach, says Dr. Mathur. He further states, "With early detection and the correct diagnosis, quick remedies or treatment is possible, which is not only influential in the outcome but also eliminates further progress of the ailment and can save money in the long run. "Hence it is highly recommended that after the age of 35 years, both men and women should undergo periodic, full-body health checkups to identify pre-existing conditions like diabetes, heart disease, cancer and others and take necessary corrective and timely treatment courses." Dr. Aditya S. Chowti, Senior Consultant - Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Bengaluru said that preventive healthcare is crucial for ensuring the well-being of the people in the state. "To promote preventive healthcare in the region, there are several measures that can be taken. Health education and awareness campaigns can be conducted to educate people about healthy eating habits, regular exercise, stress management, and the importance of preventive health check-ups," he said. "These campaigns can be an effective way to spread awareness and promote healthy living. Immunization is a vital measure for preventing infectious diseases. Although the government has implemented several programmes to increase immunization coverage in the state, there is still a need to educate people about its importance and ensure that everyone has access to vaccines," Dr. Chowti. "Regular health checkups can aid in the early detection and treatment of diseases. The government can encourage people to undergo regular health checkups by providing incentives such as free or subsidised health checkups," he said. He said, "Promoting a healthy lifestyle is essential for preventing chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. The government can create public spaces for physical activities, encourage the consumption of healthy food, and raise awareness about the harmful effects of smoking and alcohol consumption." The World Health Day is a global health awareness day celebrated every year on April 7, and sponsored by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The WHO marks its 75th anniversary on Friday, along with its 194 Member States and other partners, by calling for a renewed drive for health equity. Beijing, April 7 : Visiting French President Emmanuel Macron has asked his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping "to bring Russia to its senses" in an effort to end the ongoing war in Ukraine, according to media reports. Macron arrived in Beijing on Wednesday on his state-visit to China with high expectations for a possible breakthrough on working with the Asian giant to find solutions to end the war, reports CNN. While Ukraine tops the agenda, Macron's trip also has a strong economic component, with the President being accompanied by a delegation of some 50 business leaders, with some expected to finalise or even sign new deals during the trip. He is also joined by European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen. Macron and Xi engaged in closed-door talks on Thursday, which officials from the two nations described as being "frank" and "friendly", the BBC reported. Later in the day, the two Presidents joint addressed the media at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. In his opening statement, Macron told Xi: "I know I can count on you to bring Russia to its senses, and bring everyone back to the negotiating table." He went on to say Russia had "put an end to decades of peace in Europe" and that finding a "lasting peace" that respected internationally recognized borders was "an important issue for China, as much as it is for France and for Europe". "We can't have a safe and stable Europe," as long as Ukraine remained occupied, Macron said,adding that it was "unacceptable" that a member of the UN Security Council had violated the organisation's charter. On his part, the Chinese leader emphasised his country's position on the Ukraine issue which is "consistent and clear", Xinhua news agency reported. "It is essentially about facilitating peace talks and political settlement. There is no panacea for defusing the crisis." Xi said it requires all parties to do their share and create conditions for ceasefire and peace talks through a buildup of trust and added "China supports Europe in playing its role in the political settlement of the crisis". He also said that peace talks should resume as soon as possible and urged the international community to "stay rational, exercise restraint, and avoid taking actions that might cause the crisis to further deteriorate or even spiral out of control". The Chinese leader reiterated that "nuclear weapons must not be used and nuclear wars must not be fought", as well as opposed the "use of biological weapons under any circumstances". "China is ready to stay in touch with France and play a constructive role in the political settlement of the crisis," the President added. Since the war began in February 2022, China has claimed neutrality and attempted to frame itself as an agent of peace. It has also released its own peace plan which Western nations have been generally dismissive of, saying it sides too much with Russia. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed interest in it and called for direct talks with Xi, who is yet to publicly respond. Macron's trip, which comes four years since his last visit, marks the most politically significant interaction Xi has had with a Western leader since he met US President Joe Biden at the G20 summit in Bali last November. Macron will continues his state visit on Friday with a trip to China's southern commercial hub of Guangzhou, where he is expected to dine with Xi. Johannesburg, April 7 : A 47-year-old Indian-origin in South Africa has been charged with perjury for faking her own kidnapping and demanding 2 million rand ransom from her husband. Firoza Bee Bee Joseph from Phoenix, north of Durban, was tracked down in a hotel room in Pietermaritzburg, by investigators. She was charged with "defeating the ends of justice" and has been placed on bail until her next court appearance on June 7, said Natasha Kara, a representative for the National Prosecuting Authority. Joseph was arrested earlier this week after police investigations proved her version of events was not entirely accurate. Her husband received a call on Monday saying she was kidnapped and pleaded with him to deposit an undisclosed amount of money for her release, said police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda. There was a ransom demand for 2 million rand, according to the charge sheet. Her husband received another call from a man who threatened to hurt the woman if the money was not paid, Netshiunda said. As investigations proceeded, police found footage of Joseph at a casino in Pietermaritzburg, some 80 km from Phoenix, after the ransom calls were made. Further probe led police to locate Joseph from a bed and breakfast facility in the city, where she had checked in under a different name. She was also found in possession of all her jewellery, which she claimed was taken by the kidnappers. Joseph was granted bail of 3,000 rand and the matter was postponed to June 7 for further investigation. Islamabad, April 7 : In a major development, Pakistan's Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has cancelled his visit to the US where he was scheduled to meet the International Monetary Fund (IMF) management for the removal of bottlenecks in the way of the staff-level agreement regarding the revival of the stalled bailout package. Highly placed sources told The Express Tribune that Dar would not attend the spring meetings of the World Bank-IMF that were taking place from April 10-16 in Washington. Dar, who is also leader of the house in Senate, was scheduled to land in Washington on Sunday. "I am not going due to the domestic state of affairs," the Finance Minister told The Express Tribune on Thursday. The deepening political uncertainty and developing judicial crisis were said to be the reasons behind the cancellation of the trip to Washington. Dar had planned to address the financial and political worlds' concerns regarding the continuity of the government, future economic plans and bridging the once again trust deficit with the multilateral lenders The sources said that Minister for Economic Affairs Sardar Ayaz Sadiq would also not go to the US due to the prevailing uncertain political conditions. The Minister for Economic Affairs always represented Pakistan at the World Bank. Sadiq was considered very close to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and also handled the political affairs of the allied parties. Mumbai, April 7 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will travel to Ayodhya for a darshan of the Lord Ram Temple there, and then likely to have a dinner meeting with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday, an official said here on Friday. This will be a second visit by a Maharashtra Chief Minister to the upcoming Ram Temple - in March 2020, then Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had prayed there. Shinde will depart from Mumbai on Saturday evening for Lucknow, accompanied by party ministers, MLAs, MPs and other leaders of the Shiv Sena, following an invite extended recently by the Mahant of Ayodhya. More than 3,000 Shiv Sena activists from Shinde's home district and other parts have already left for Ayodhya to join him there, said the party's Spokesperson Krishna Hegde. After an overnight halt in the Uttar Pradesh capital, the Chief Minister will fly by helicopter from Lucknow to Ayodhya where he will participate in the Maha Aarti at the Lord Ram Temple and then visit the temple construction site. Hegde said thereafter, Shinde will go to the Laxman Killa and seek the blessings of saints and mahants there followed by an aarti at the River Sharayu. Shinde will then drive down to Lucknow for a possible dinner rendezvous with the Chief Minister Adityanath scheduled at the latter's residence around 9 p.m. on Sunday. Upon completing his final engagement, the Maharashtra delegation is expected to depart for Mumbai around midnight. Shinde's trip to Ayodhya comes a week after the Maharashtra government sent the first consignment of prized teak-wood from Chandrapur district for the Lord Ram Temple's main doors, windows, the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum and wooden construction requirements. Earlier, then Maharashtra minister Aditya Thackeray and other senior leaders had gone to Ayodhya and prayed at the Lord Ram Temple in June 2022, barely a fortnight before the MVA government was toppled by a Shinde-led rebellion. However, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray - the estranged cousin of Uddhav - was barred from going to Ayodhya in early June 2022 in view of threats by the Uttar Pradesh BJP MP Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, though the MNS-BJP are now cosying up in this state. Denver, April 7 : Two people were killed and another hospitalised after a shooting at a residence in US state of Colorado, authorities said. Police were called to the residence for reports of shots being fired at 11.52 a.m. on Thursday in City of Lakewood, located southwest of state capital Denver, Xinhua news agency quoted the Lakewood Police Department as saying. "When agents arrived on scene, three males were suffering apparent gunshot wounds," the police said in a statement. One was pronounced dead at the scene. Two others were taken to hospital with one dead from injuries and the other expected to live. "While the nature of a connection between the three males shot is still unknown, it is apparent that they were familiar with each other in some manner," said the statement. Detectives believe there is an additional fourth party involved in this shooting who had fled the scene before police arrived. It appears that the fourth party may have also suffered a gunshot wound, the police added. Police do not believe there was any active threat to the community. An active investigation is underway. Mumbai, April 7 : A day after the National Green Tribunal (West)'s verdict, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation started demolishing around half-dozen illegal film shooting studios that had come up at Malad's picturesque coastal Madh, Erangal, Marve and Batti, here on Friday. The action came after Bharatiya Janata Party's former MP Kirit Somaiya had exposed the issue in September 2022, alleging that illegal constructions worth Rs 1,000 crore had come up in the areas blatantly violating all norms. "The NGT passed an order yesterday (April 6) that these studios are unauthorised, and they have misused permissions and built permanent structures instead of temporary studios for six months," Somaiya told media persons at the demolition site. Launching a strong attack on the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), Somaiya alleged that this is the demolition of "Thackerays' unlawful monuments of corruption" and pointed accusing fingers at Shiv Sena (UBT) former Minister Aditya Thackeray and Congress ex-minister Aslam Sheikh, who is the local MLA, for giving the permissions. Following Somaiya's complaint, the BMC Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal had ordered a probe into the issue and the inquiry report was submitted in February 2023. The findings reportedly concluded that there were no illegalities, but only procedural shortcomings by half-a-dozen civic officials from various concerned departments in the BMC P-North Ward. In 2021-2022, the BMC had received over four dozen complaints from locals alleging that several unsanctioned film shooting studios had mushroomed in areas that fell under the Coastal Regulatory Zone and No Development Zone, while Somaiya had also pinpointed some 20 such studios. Ahead of the razing, a beaming Somaiya and his supporters reached the area this morning, carrying a symbolic hammer and axe, 'surveyed' the site with some purported civic officials, made 'thumbsup' signs and oversaw the bulldozing of the standing studios to rubble. Buenos Aires, April 7 : Argentina will officially rejoin the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) to "promote its institutional revitalisation and build an increasingly integrated region", Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero said here. Cafiero described the return as crucial for Argentina, for it would consolidate an increasingly integrated region "with greater intra-regional trade and higher levels of cooperation for development", reports Xinhua news agency. President Alberto Fernandez announced on March 21 the decision to rejoin the regional bloc during a meeting in Buenos Aires with members of the Puebla Group and the Latin American Council for Justice and Democracy. At the end of the meeting, the President said that in "in Latin America we are all in the same boat... That is why we must revitalise UNASUR as soon as possible". Argentina left the bloc in 2019. After Uruguay's withdrawal from the organisation in 2020, only Guyana, Suriname, Bolivia and Venezuela remain in union. Hyderabad, April 7 : Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan remembered the sacrifices of Jesus Christ for the people on the occasion of Good Friday which marks the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The Governor stated in her message that Good Friday is observed by Christians all over the world in memory of crucifixion of Jesus Christ. "Jesus Christ showed great love towards all human beings and made the ultimate sacrifice for their welfare. On this day, His sacrifices are remembered with solemn hymns and prayers of thanksgiving. I pray for all people this Good Friday. May Lord always guide all of us through the way," she said. Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer said Good Friday is observed by Christian brethren all over the world, to commemorate crucifixion of Jesus Christ. "Jesus Christ showed great love for the entire humanity and on this holy day, his ultimate sacrifice is remembered with solemn hymns and prayers of Thanksgiving. May God fill your life with goodness and eternal love on this holy day," he said. Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said that it is possible only for compassionate Jesus Christ to possess the great qualities of love for the entire mankind, sympathy for helpless, boundless sacrifice, unrelenting patience and forgiveness for enemies. The Chief Minister asserted everyone should imbibe these qualities. He noted that Jesus Christ gave the message of peace, tolerance, non-violence and companionship to mankind through practice. The teachings of Jesus Christ contributed a lot to all people living together as one without any differences and discrimination. On this occasion, Chief Minister KCR wished that people celebrate Good Friday with prayers, and peace and harmony prosper among the people. Kochi, April 7 : With an objective to open BJP's account in Kerala in the 2024 general elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced to visit the state on April 25 to interact with the youth. Prime Minister Modi will meet select youths from across the state here. People are now curious to see whether the party's latest entrant and prized catch-Anil Antony, son of veteran Congressman A.K.Antony, would share the dais with Modi. Scheduled for 3 p.m, the meeting will most likely be held in an open ground. The national BJP leadership is making huge efforts to get maximum support and as part of that exercise, Union Minister Smriti Irani will be meeting with women in Thrissur. Besides, a meeting of Ex-service men is also planned at the state capital. Incidentally, the BJP does not have a single legislator in the 140-member Kerala Assembly leave alone the 20 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Hence, for the party, it's going to be a tough electoral battle. Bengaluru, April 7 : A Karnataka activist who threw ink at Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait in May last year, has lodged a police complaint after receiving threats on social media warning him of revenge against his act. In his complaint lodged at the Yelahanka Newtown police station in Bengaluru, Bharath Shetty claimed that he was getting the threat messages on Facebook and WhatsApp from one Osama Shah. Shetty said the miscreant warned him that "we will take revenge for insulting and attacking Rakesh Tikait. Your time has started", "This Osama Shah has been threatening me for a month. He is threatening that he will finish me off and also threatening the family," he further alleged. Shetty along with his associates Shivakumar, Pradeep Kumar and Umadevi, attacked Tikait while the latler was addressing a press conference at the Gandhi Bhavan in Bengaluru on May 30, 2022. The High Grounds police had submitted a 450-page charge sheet and recorded the statements of 20 eye witnesses. Eighty-nine witnesses have been named in the charge sheet. New Delhi, April 7 : On the basis of evidence provided by a JK Peace Forum, Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha has ordered an SIT probe into the illegal lease of temple properties in Kashmir and the nexus in the said properties for illegal use. The Kashmir-based NGO has alleged that in the last 33 years no successive governments have taken any initiative to protect temple properties of minorities of Kashmir. Despite repeated court orders, temple properties have been illegally given on lease or sold. Satish Mahaldar, Chairman, JK Peace Forum said, "The Jammu and Kashmir administration/ revenue department has failed to protect the temple properties and have been unable to vacate the temple properties /premises, which have been leased out by the respective managements illegally for personnel favours. We are thankful to the Honorable Governor for initiating the SIT probe. "We would like to draw your attention to the bitter truth that the earlier J&K governments have failed to protect Hindu minority properties in Kashmir," Mahaldar said. Despite repeated court orders and The Kashmir Migrant Immovable Property (Preservation, Protection and Restraint on Distress Sales) Act, 1997, the temple properties have been illegally given on lease. The Jammu and Kashmir administration/ revenue department has failed to protect the temple properties and has been unable to vacate the temple properties /premises, Mahaldar said. In the absence of Kashmiri Pandit community in the valley, a few select people in connivance with the J&K government officials operated defunct temple Trusts in between 1989 till 2022 and sold/leased temple properties. "We feel suspicious that the J&K government is protecting its employees who are involved in selling temple properties," Mahaldar said. The government officials should also be identified who in connivance with a select group of people operated defunct temple trusts in between 1989 - 2022 and sold /leased temple properties in Kashmir illegally. The defunct temple trusts/ societies had failed to comply with statutory compliance laid down by the J&K state government. The defunct temples trust have not submitted any audited balance sheets, minutes of meetings nor have conducted any elections in the presence of the election officers deputed by registrar of societies from time to time, Mahaldar said. San Francisco, April 7 : Google has announced that WebGPU, an API (Application Programming Interface) which allows high-performance 3D graphics and data-parallel computation on the web, is now available by default in Chrome 113, which is currently in the Beta channel. "WebGPU is a new web graphics API that offers significant benefits such as greatly reduced JavaScript workload for the same graphics and more than three times improvements in machine learning model inferences," Google said in a blogpost. According to the company, the initial release of WebGPU is available on ChromeOS, macOS, and Windows. However, support for other platforms will come later this year. Google CEO Sundar Pichai also shared about the release of WebGPU on Twitter, saying: "WebGPU in Cromium 113, excited for the web and great to see this ship to stable!". WebGPU will now allow developers to achieve the same level of graphics as they do now with far less code. The tech giant also said that "the API is designed with the web platform in mind, featuring an idiomatic JavaScript API, integration with promises, support for importing videos, and a polished developer experience with great error messages". Google further mentioned that the initial release of WebGPU serves as a building block for future updates and enhancements. Meanwhile, Google is reportedly working on a new "Search Companion" feature for Chrome. The Search Companion will be a helpful new way to search the web using Lens, reports 9To5Google. With the new feature, the tech giant aims to bring a deeper connection between Lens and Chrome. Guwahati, April 7 : Nine people were arrested for allegedly gang raping a woman in Assam's Hajo town, officials said on Friday. The incident took place in the town's Tapabari Char area and the victim's family lodged a complaint on Tuesday. According to the police, the accused had lured the woman with job prospects, but she was instead gang raped later inside a car. Superintendent of Police, Kamrup district, Hitesh Chandra Roy told IANS: "We acted promptly after receiving the complaint. We have arrested the main accused Altaf who happened to be a cab driver from Baksa on Thursday night. All his eight aides who were involved in the crime were taken into custody." The police also seized the vehicle in which the incident happened. According to sources, the victim is a native of Dhemaji district and the incident sparked anger among the locals in her village. Kolkata, April 7 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probing the multi-crore teachers' recruitment scam in West Bengal has written to Google seeking information on two fake websites used in the crime. While investigating the case, the officials came across two websites duplicating the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC)'s. According to sources, the CBI sleuths have written to the Google authorities, asking for details of the two fake websites. Both the websites are currently defunct. The probe agency sleuths have sought information on the email accounts which used to open these websites, IP addresses of the devices which were used to open them and then disable them in due course. Once the detailed report on this count is available from the Google authorities, the investigating officers will be able to make further progress in the probe. As per the sources, the original website of WBSSC ends with ".in", whereas the fake websites floated for the purpose ended with ".com". A mention about these two websites was made at a special court of CBI by the central agency counsel on Thursday during the hearing on the bail petition by expelled youth Trinamool Congress leader Kuntal Ghosh who is in judicial custody. Explaining the modus operandi of running these fake websites, a CBI associate explained that the names of those who paid advance for getting jobs before the written examination were uploaded on these websites and shown as selected in the examination. "This was a modus operandi to gain their confidence so that they pay out the remaining agreed amount so that the next stage of manipulations in the recruitment process could be started. The scam is in true sense a labyrinth where opening of one door leads to many other doors leading to multiple secret chambers," a CBI associate said. On Thursday, the CBI counsel detailed in the court about the different rates charged by Kuntal Ghosh and his associates for increasing the marks in the written examination for the teachers' eligibility test (TET) for the recruitment of primary teachers. The central agency counsel told the court that the rates for increasing the marks in the written examination varied over "how much the marks were to be increased". "The rate for increasing the marks from 60 to 70 was much higher than the rate for increasing the marks from 65 to 70," the CBI counsel told the court on Thursday. Hyderabad, April 7 : Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has called for 'Maha Dharna' on Saturday against the Centre's decision to auction coal mines of Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL). Telangana's ruling party has called for the protest on a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Hyderabad to launch various projects and address a public meeting. BRS recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Ramagundam on November 11, 2022 had assured that Sinagreni would not be privatised but he did not stand by his promise. BRS working president and minister K.T. Rama Rao questioned how Modi would respond to it during his visit to the state on Saturday. Vehemently opposing the Centre's 'veiled attempts to privatize SCCL', KTR has given a call for 'Maha Dharna'. Stating that the Centre issued a notification to auction the mines in Sattupalli Block 3, Shravan Palli, Penagadapa, KTR demanded the auctioning process, which was scheduled to be conducted from March 29 to May 30, be rolled back. He also demanded that SCCL should be allocated the mines without auctioning. BRS leaders and activists along with Singareni employees will stage protests against the Centre, in Mancherial, Kothagudem and Ramagundam on Saturday. KTR asked if anyone from the Center will dare to reason the need for privatising SCCL when it is setting records in terms of production, profits and Plant Load Factor (PLF). In a statement, the BRS leader spoke about the economic significance of SCCL, the Centre's conspiracy to impede Telangana's growth by privatising SCCL, disastrous impact of its privatisation on various sections of the state and other crucial aspects. The party's working president said that the Centre is conspiring to push Singareni, which is currently reaping profits, into losses by not allocating the coal mines. Stating that the Centre sold many Public Sector Units which made profits, he said that Vizag Steel Plant (VSP) was pushed into losses by not allocating mines to it. KTR stated that Telangana will strongly oppose the Centre's conspiracy. He said that Chief Minister and BRS President K. Chandrasekhar Rao already wrote to the Centre stating that the coal mines needed for SCCL be allocated to it. The party's working president said that Singareni employees too have placed the same demand. He said that there was no response from private companies to earlier attempts to auction the mines. "Though the Telangana government urged the Central government from the past several years to allocate the mines to Singareni, the Centre turned a deaf ear to it," said KTR. He recalled that a large number of Lignite mines were allocated to Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC) following the nomination method. However, KTR said that the same request to allocate mines to SCCL was not considered by the Centre. The Minister said that the Prime Minister, who was generous towards Gujarat, discriminated against Telangana. KTR said that the attempts to privatize SCCL is to mar CM KCR's determination to provide 24 hours free electricity to farmers. Stating that Singareni plays a crucial role in thermal power generation in the state and that it provides high quality power to agricultural needs, industries, and domestic requirements, he said that the Centre is creating obstacles. KTR said that the Centre is not able to digest the appreciation Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project has been receiving. He added that the Centre is plotting to deprive the lift irrigation projects of power supply. Meanwhile, BJP state president Bandi Sanjay Kumar has termed as a political gimmick the call by BRS for protests. He said Prime Minister Modi has already clarified that Singareni will not be privatised. He pointed out that the state government holds 51 per cent stake in SCCL and hence there is no truth in the BRS claim that the Centre is trying to privatise it. New Delhi, April 7 : With the arrest of three men, the Delhi Police on Friday claimed to have busted a fake placement agency which has duped over 100 people after promising job opportunities overseas. An official said that they have also recovered 68 Indian passports of the victims, fake job offer letters of a Chinese company and copies of fake e-air tickets of Turkey and Ethiopia from the possession of the accused. The accused have been identified as Sohail Nijam, Parvej Alam and Afroz Alam both residents of Delhi. According to police, on April 3 the complainant Dilawar Singh lodged a complaint at Sarita Vihar police station in which he alleged that he was cheated by the owner of 'AR Enterprises' on the pretext of providing jobs in leading overseas firms in Turkey and Ethiopia. "He made payment of Rs one lakh to the accused through online mode and cash in lieu of getting a job in overseas companies. In return, they gave him e-visa, job offer letter and air ticket which were found to be fake. After receiving the amount, the accused also stopped receiving phone calls of the complainant," said Rajesh Deo, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast). During investigation, on the basis of technical surveillance, the police team succeeded in apprehending Sohail Nijam. "He confessed to his crime and on his instance, Afroj and Parvej were apprehended from their residences," said the DCP. On interrogation, the accused revealed that they duped more than 100 job seekers. "Sohail disclosed that they created a fake website in the name of 'AR Enterprises' to dupe common job aspirants. They used to advertise the name and work profile of the alleged company through social media and lure gullible people on the pretext of providing high paying jobs in leading overseas firms in Turkey and Ethiopia," said the official. "They used to send fake job offer letters through WhatsApp to victims after the receipt of payment and keep passports of the job seekers as a part of the job process. The cheated amount was received by the accused persons in the bank account pertaining to AR Enterprises," said the official. "The bank account statement details were obtained and transactions of approximately Rs 50-60 lakh were found and subsequently the account was frozen," said the official. Chennai, April 7 : The General Insurance Employees' All India Association (GIEAIA), the majority union in the government owned non-life insurance companies, is demanding an audit of consultancy firm EY by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and statutory audit. Citing the German government levying a hefty fine 5,00,000 euros on the German arm of audit firm EY and banning it from taking audit of certain kinds for two years, Trilok Singh, General Secretary, GIEAIA said the firm should be audited by CAG and its report on the restructuring of the public sector general insurance companies should be scrapped. According to Singh, under the pressure from some officials of the Department of Financial Services, the management of public sector general insurance companies are blindly imposing the EY's report involving closure/merger of offices and imposing key performance indicators (KPI) in haste. "It is strange that the management of PSGI (public sector general insurance) companies have not shared the complete reports with the employees, officers, and other stakeholders and are moving ahead unilaterally," Singh said in a statement. Los Angeles, April 7 : On the heels of her Oscar victory with 'Everything Everywhere All At Once', Michelle Yeoh will be celebrated by Kering at this year's Cannes Film Festival. The actress will receive the 2023 Women In Motion Award, reports Variety. The ceremony will be held in Cannes during the glamorous Women In Motion dinner which is dedicated to honouring women in cinema. Yeoh was chosen as this year's honoree by Francois-Henri Pinault, chairman and CEO of Kering, and Iris Knobloch, the new president of the Cannes Film Festival, as well Thierry Fremaux, Cannes Festival's director. As per Variety, the dinner is part of the pioneering Women in Motion programme, launched in 2015 during the Festival to highlight the creativity and contribution made by women in the world of culture and the arts. Yeoh, who was born in Malaysia, has become a revered actor and producer known for portraying complex and fearless women on screen. She has also helped to challenge gender and age-related stereotypes in the film industry. She just won an Academy Award for her multi-faceted performance in 'Everything Everywhere All at Once', becoming the first Asian actor to win an Oscar in this category. She also scooped a Golden Globe and a SAG award. In her acceptance speech, which proved to be a highlight of the Oscar ceremony, Yeoh touched on issues such as diversity, racism and ageism, as she said: "I believe that times are changing. There is much more inclusivity. There is more diversity. Look at me. I've been in this business for 40 years and I finally get to be number one on the call sheet." Gaza/Jerusalem, April 7 : Israel on Friday intensified airstrikes on military posts in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, in response to rockets fired at several parts in the Jewish state, escalating tensions with Palestine over the past three days the Israeli police and Palestinian worshippers clashed at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem. Hamas security sources said that Israeli reconnaissance drones and fighter jets launched dozens of airstrikes on military posts and facilities that belong to the Al-Qassam Brigades, the militant group's armed wing, reports Xinhua news agency. Rsidents told Xinhua that they heard the buzz of the fighter jets and drones hovering over the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and that bombings were heard all over the coastal enclave. Medical sources in Gaza said that no injuries were immediately reported and hospitals and clinics have declared a state of emergency and readiness to receive possible casualties. The Al-Qassam Brigades and other minor militant groups said in separate statements that their militants fired anti-craft missiles at the Israeli jets that hovered over the Gaza Strip. The joint Palestinian chamber of operations, which comprises several armed wings of Palestinian factions, including Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, said earlier that their militants "are ready to confront any Israeli attack". "In light of the enemy's threats to our resistance and our people in Gaza, we affirm our readiness to confront and respond with all force to any aggression and to defend our people in all places of its presence and our sanctities," it said in a statement. Meanwhile, an Israeli army spokesman said that sirens were turned on in southern Israel after barrages of projectiles and rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip and that Israeli fighter jets bombed several Hamas posts and facilities in the southern, central, western and northern Gaza Strip. "The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attacked tonight, using a remotely manned aircraft, a heavy launcher from which missiles were fired at IDF aircraft and Israeli territory," said the spokesman. The Israeli army on Friday confirmed that the country's air force struck southern Lebanon as Israel accused Hamas and other militant groups of being responsible for firing at least 34 rockets from south Lebanon at northern Israel. According to the army, 25 rockets were intercepted by the IDF Aerial Defense Array, while five landed in Israeli territory and four additional launches were under review. The Israeli military warned that it will not permit Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip and has a smaller presence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, to operate from within Lebanon, and that it "holds the state of Lebanon responsible for every directed fire emanating from its territory". The Israeli airstrikes began as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was convening his Security Cabinet to discuss possible military responses to the rockets fired from Lebanon -- the biggest single barrage in 17 years. The latest escalation comes during a sensitive holiday time as Muslims were observing the holy month of Ramadan with prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and Jews were commemorating the Passover holiday. The clashes erupted after Israeli police had raided at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, the third holiest site to Muslims for two consecutive days, firing gas canisters and stun grenades at worshipers. Earlier this week, militants in Gaza fired about 20 rockets at southern Israel in a response to Israeli raids at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. In the past as well, the shrine has often witnessed clashes between Palestinian worshippers and Israeli security forces, triggering wider unrest. In May 2021, an Israeli raid here contributed to an 11-day full-scale conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist militant group which governs the Gaza Strip. Kolkata, April 7 : Three members of a family were hacked to death at Sitalkuchi in West Bengal's Cooch Behar district on Friday. Those killed have been identified as Bimal Kumar Burman (68), his wife Nilima Burman (52) and their elder daughter Runa Burman (24). The couple's younger daughter Iti Burman (22) was also injured in the attack and is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital, where her condition is stated to be critical. While Nilima Burman was an elected Gram Panchayat member for Trinamool Congress from Sitalkuchi, her husband was the Sitalkuchi block president of the Scheduled Caste/ Schedule Tribe/ Other Backward Class cell of the state's ruling party. Additional district police superintendent Amit Verma said that the prime accused Bibhuti Bhusan Roy and two of his associates have already been arrested from the crime spot. Further investigation is on, he added. Meanwhile, as per the locals, Bibhuti Bhusan Roy was in a relationship with Iti, which her family strongly disapproved of. This morning, on hearing screams, the neighbours rushed to the Burman's residence only to find the four family members lying on the grounds bleeding profusely and the three accused standing at the spot. The neighbours nabbed the three and handed them over to the police. Although there were frequent fights over the alleged affair, none could imagine that the matter would take such a tragic turn, the neighbours said. New Delhi, April 7 : India received 6.19 million foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) during 2022 as compared to 1.52 million during the same period of 2021. There were 10.93 million FTAs in India during the pre-pandemic year 2019. The Tourism Industry has shown good signs of revival after Covid-19 pandemic. The Ministry of Tourism under its Schemes of 'Swadesh Darshan', 'PRASHAD' and Assistance to Central Agencies, provides central financial assistance to the state governments, Union territories and Central agencies for development of tourism related infrastructure and facilities to provide an enriching tourism experience to visitors in a planned and phased manner. The Ministry of Tourism has set up a 24x7 Multi-Lingual Tourist Info-Helpline on the toll free number 1800111363 or on a short code 1363 in 12 languages, including 10 international languages (German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic), Hindi and English for domestic and foreign tourists to provide support service in term of information relating to travel in India and to offer appropriate guidance to tourists in distress while travelling in India. According to a written reply in Parliament on April 6, the Ministry of Tourism has taken several initiatives to give a boost to the tourism sector in the country and to increase foreign tourist arrivals. It launched the 'Dekho Apna Desh' initiative with the objective of creating awareness among the citizens about the rich heritage and culture of the country and encouraging citizens to travel within the country. It is conducting programmes under the 'Capacity Building for Service Providers' (CBSP) Scheme to train and upgrade manpower to provide better service standards. It also launched Incredible India Tourist Facilitator Certification Programme, a digital initiative that aims at creating an online learning platform with the objective of creating a pool of well trained professional tourist facilitators across the country to support tourists. New Delhi, April 7 : Delhi's former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who is currently lodged at the Tihar Jail over his alleged involvement in an excise policy scam, has questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's educational qualifications in an open letter. In his hand-written letter in Hindi, the AAP leader raised doubts about Modi's educational qualifications and emphasised the importance of having a highly-educated individual in the country's top elected post. "Whenever I hear the Prime Minister's claims that we can prepare tea or cook food using dirty gas from a drain by inserting a pipe, it saddens me deeply. It is impossible to cook food using dirty gas from a drain. His statement that radar cannot detect an airplane flying behind clouds has made him a laughing stock in the global community. Even students in schools and colleges mock him for his remarks," Sisodia says in the letter. The former Deputy Chief Minister asserted that the Prime Minister's "lack of education and basic understanding of science is common knowledge worldwide". He further pointed that other heads take advantage of this by demanding a high cost for every hug they give the Prime Minister. He also expressed uncertainty about the documents that the Prime Minister signs, as he believes that latter's lack of education renders him incapable of understanding them. The AAP leader claimed that the closure of 60,000 schools in recent years is a clear indication that the government does not prioritise education. He emphasized the crucial role of education in a country's progress, stating that without providing a quality education to children, a country cannot progress. In the letter, Sisodia also referenced to a video where the Prime Minister had proudly claimed that he is not highly educated, and that he only studied in a village school. "Is being illiterate or less educated something to be proud of?" the AAP leader questions. Sisodia further asserted that a country where the leader takes pride in being less educated will never be able to provide a good education to the nation's children. A photo of the letter was shared by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Twitter. In a series of tweets, he said: "Manish Sisodia's letter to the nation, written while in jail, highlights the danger posed to the country by having a Prime Minister with lesser education. "Modi Ji's lack of understanding of science and the importance of education. 60,000 schools have been closed over the last few years. It is necessary to have an educated PM for the progress of India." Lucknow, April 7 : The CBI court on Friday framed charges against gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and his son Umar in a case related to kidnapping and assault of a businessman in Deoria jail where Atiq was then lodged. Charges have been framed under various sections of IPC. Atiq appeared in court via video conferencing. Atiq had allegedly assaulted a Lucknow-based businessman Mohit Jaiswal in Deoria jail -- where he was lodged -- in December 2018 after getting him abducted. The businessman had claimed that Ahmed forced him to sign away property worth Rs 40 crore. In his police complaint, Mohit Jaiswal, alleged that Atiq Ahmed, his son Umar and about 15 others forcibly took away his SUV in which he was driven to Deoria from the state capital. Police booked Atiq, his son Umar, and others on various charges, including attempt to murder, after Jaiswal filed the complaint at the Krishna Nagar police station in Lucknow. Hyderabad, April 7 : Renowned surgeon Dr P. Raghu Ram has been appointed as an international advisor to the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Glasgow (RCPSG), which is one of the oldest Royal Colleges in the world. Raghu Ram, currently director of KIMS-Ushalakshmi Centre for Breast Diseases in Hyderabad, is the first doctor from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to achieve the distinction. Raghu Ram, who is also a Padma Shri awardee, would be providing strategic advice to RCPSG. He is one of the few in the world to have obtained Fellowship from all the four Surgical Royal Colleges in the British Isles (FRCS - London, Edinburgh, Glasgow & Ireland) at a very young age. It is in recognition of his established academic track record and outstanding contribution to help budding surgeons from the Indian subcontinent over the past two decades that he has been given this new onerous responsibility by RCPSG, said a statement. Confirming the appointment from 203 -2026, with an option to extend for another three years, Professor Hany Eteiba, International Director for the RCPSG in a letter addressed to Raghu Ram stated: "I wish to extend my sincerest thanks for your willingness and commitment to the College's goal of developing this important international network. "It was great to meet with you virtually last weekAto gain insight into your ideas about how the College can engage with existing and prospectiveAmembers in India. I extend a warm welcome to you as our new International Advisor." Founded in 1599, RCPSG is the only multidisciplinary Royal College in the British Isles that represents a diverse community of over 15,000 surgeons, dentists and professionals working in podiatry and travel medicine from across 97 countries around the world. The Royal College empowers its members to provide the highest standards of care to their patients through education, training and assessment. Raghu Ram has also served as international surgical advisor for The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh for 10 years from 2010-2020 and that makes him the only surgeon from South Asia to have been associated with two of the oldest Royal Colleges in the world as international advisor. Guwahati, April 7 : President Droupadi Murmu on Friday inaugurated the Gaj Utsav at Assam's Kaziranga National Park, and said that the responsibility of man-elephant conflicts rests on the human society. Speaking on the occasion, the President said, "Elephants have been most respected in our tradition. It has been considered a symbol of prosperity. It is the National Heritage Animal of India. Therefore, protecting elephants is an important part of our national responsibility to preserve our national heritage." She said, "The Human-Elephant Conflict has been an issue for centuries and when we analyze this conflict, it is found that a barrier created in the natural habitat or movement of elephants is the root cause. Therefore, the responsibility of this conflict lies with human society." She asserted that protecting elephants, conserving their natural habitats and keeping elephant corridors free from obstruction are the main objectives of Project Elephant. Solving the problems related to Human-Elephant Conflict is also the aim of this project. The President said that Kaziranga and Manas National Parks of Assam are an invaluable heritage not only of India but of the whole world. That is why these have been given the status of 'World Heritage Site' by UNESCO. "Assam has the second largest population of wild elephants in the country. Therefore, Kaziranga is a very apt place for organising the Gaj Utsav," Murmu said. She emphasized that for the success of Project Elephant and Gaj Utsav, all the stakeholders would have to move forward together. The President said that the actions which are in the interest of nature, animals and birds, are also in the interest of humanity and Mother Earth. The forests and green areas of Elephant Reserves are very effective carbon sinks. She mentioned, "It can be said that all of us will be benefited by the conservation of elephants and it will also help in facing the challenges of climate change. Participation of society along with the government is necessary in such efforts." The President further said that elephants are considered as very intelligent and sensitive animals. They are also social animals like humans. "We should have the same sense of sympathy and respect for elephants and other living beings as we have for humans. We can learn the feeling of selfless love from animals and birds," she added. President Murmu mentioned that there is a very sacred relationship between nature and humanity and the culture of respecting nature has been the identity of India. Kochi, April 7 : Kingpin of Kerala gold smuggling case K.T.Ramees has been arrested and sent to a jail here by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), an official said here on Friday. The central agency is set to question him in detail. As per the official, the arrest was made on Wednesday when Ramees was called for questioning in the case in which Swapna Suresh is the prime accused. In the past, Ramees had been arrested by both NIA and Customs in the same case. Ramees is understood to be controlling the gold smuggling business from the Middle East. The ED called him for questioning on Wednesday and recorded his arrest. He was produced before a court here which sent him to judicial custody. According to the source, the move is indicative of the seriousness with which the central agency is determined to proceed. His name surfaced strongly after Swapna was arrested by the NIA from Bengaluru in July 2020. Soon he was made an accused in the case. Brasilia, April 7 : Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has said that neither Ukraine nor Russia can achieve every goal they've set in their conflict, but need a mediator to facilitate peace talks, while faulting the EU and the US were too quick to back Kiev instead of trying for a de-escalation, media reports said. "It is not necessary to have a war," Lula said at a media breakfast at his official residence, Palacio do Planalto on Thursday, RT reported. "We think that the developed world, especially the EU and the US, had the option not to enter the war the way they did, so fast, without spending time trying to negotiate," he contended. "Negotiating peace is very complicated." The Brazilian leader, who is set to travel next week to China, a nation with a similar position on Ukraine to his own, says he hopes his contacts with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will help bring about a conversation "that we should have had a year ago". India and Indonesia may have a role, too, he added. Explaining his view on how the hostilities could end, he suggested that the status of Crimea should be excluded from the discussion, but stressed that Russia "cannot keep the land in Ukraine". He also said that Ukraine's President Vladimir Zelensky "can't want everything either". Kiev has declared a military victory over Russia and a return of all lands, including Crimea, as preconditions for entering peace talks. Kohima, April 7 : The Centre has decided to extend the ceasefire agreement with three Naga groups for a further period of one year, officials said here on Friday. A Nagaland government official, quoting a decision of the Union Home Ministry, said that the ceasefire agreements were signed on Thursday with the three outfits - the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-NK (NSCN-NK), the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Reformation (NSCN-R), and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-K-Khango (NSCN-K-Khango). As per agreements, the ceasefire with NSCN-NK and NSCN-R will be effected from April 28 this year to April 27, 2024. However, the ceasefire agreement with NSCN-K-Khango was from April 18, 2023 to April 17, 2024. All these groups are breakaway factions of Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) and National Socialist Council of Nagaland-K Niki Group and signed ceasefire agreements with the government over the years. The Central government had signed the ceasefire agreement with dominant Naga group NSCN-IM in 1997, and with various Naga outfits including the NSCN-K, with effect from September 8, 2021 for a period of one year and more than 200 cadres of NSCN-K group along with 83 weapons joined the peace process. The Centre has been holding separate negotiations with the NSCN-IM since 1997 and the Naga National Political Groups (NNPG), comprising at least seven groups, since 2017. A Framework Agreement was signed with the NSCN-IM in 2015 and Agreed Position with NNPGs in 2017. The stalemate in the peace process continued as the NSCN-IM remained firm on its demand for a separate flag and constitution for the Nagas. Laman Ismayilova The State Film Fund invites cinema lovers to be taken on an interesting journey through Azerbaijani documentary cinema. Within a cycle of retrospective of Azerbaijani films, cinema lovers watched films by prominent film director, People's Artist Tofig Ismayilov (1939-2016), Azernews reports. Director of the State Film Fund Honored Art Worker Jamil Guliyev spoke about Tofig Ismayilov's films. He stressed that the film director significantly enriched the national cinema. For many years, Tofig Ismayilov worked at AzerbaijanFilm studio and AzTv channel. Later, he headed the directing department at the Institute of Arts (1988-1994). From 1994 to 2006, he worked in Turkiye at the Memar Sinan State University of Arts. He was a cultural adviser to the Istanbul Municipality. In addition to working in cinema as a director and screenwriter, Tofig Ismailov starred in the films of the People's Artist, laureate of the State Prizes of the USSR and Azerbaijan, the prominent film director Rasim Ojagov "Temple of the Air" and "Hotel Room", in the film of the prominent film director and screenwriter, laureate of the State Prize, People's Artist Eldar Guliyev "Istanbul flight" and other films. Tofig Ismayilov is the author of the famous film "Muslim Magomayev Sings", filmed in 1971. In September 2014, his latest work "Memories of Muslim Magomayev" was presented to the audience, which consists of three artistic parts, including "You are my song", "True friends" and "Blue Sea". He is also the author of five children's books, many excellent plays and television and radio scripts. The film director has shot more than 30 feature and documentary films. Tofig Ismayilov is the creator of the first three-part film in Azerbaijan based on Mehdi Hussein's novel "Absheron". Among his works are such films as "Stones of our city", "Music teacher", "Special position", "I invent a song". His film "Difficult Ways" was among the 17 best Soviet films selected for screening in the United States. Further, the films "Stones of our city (1968)", "Prima (1994) about the famous choreographer, dancer, People's Artist Amin Dilbazi were screened as part of the event. After the screening, Chairman of the Azerbaijani Filmmakers Union, People's Artist Shafiga Mammadova, People's Artist, film director Abdul Mahmudov, Honored Art Worker, cameraman Rafig Gambarov, Honored Artist, actor Otkam Iskandarov, Honored Art Worker, film critic Aydin Kazimzade, son of the famous People's Artist of Azerbaijan Amina Dilbazi - Mikail Hajiyev shared their memories of Tofig Ismayilov, spoke about his merits in the national cinema. In conclusion, the daughter of Tofig Ismailov, Vafa Ismayilova, expressed her gratitude to the leadership and staff of the State Film Fund, as well as to all participants in the evening for their attention to the creative heritage of the film director. Mumbai, April 7 : Actress Raveena Tandon was treated with a heartwarming message from her daughter Rasha Thadani on Friday after the former's Padma award win. The actress was recently feted with the fourth highest civilian honour of India - Padma Shri in Delhi for her achievements and contribution to cinema. Beaming with joy and pride, Rasha had accompanied her mother to the event. Taking to her Instagram, Rasha celebrated her mother's big win through a special message. Sharing the two pictures from the event, she penned a lengthy note for her mother as she wrote in the caption: "The Padma Shree award, one of the most prestigious awards of the Republic of India. What a year this has been for you. You keep saying it's Nana's doing, that he's helping you achieve what you're achieving, and I don't doubt that, but it's also all your hard work. You deserve all the success, love and respect you're receiving (sic)." She further mentioned in her note: "I couldn't be a prouder daughter, watching you and your work getting honoured in front of the most respected people of our community. This is a victory for you mama. Your humility, grace and kindness inspires Ranbir and me to work harder and to be our best selves. The sky is your limit, can't wait to see what you do next." New Delhi, April 7 : A review meeting chaired by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya noted on Friday that seven states are reporting high number of Covid cases in India with rising test positivity rate, which include Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Haryana. At the meeting with the health ministers of different states and Union Territories, Mandaviya stressed on the importance of enhancing public awareness campaigns regarding adherence to Covid appropriate behaviour. The state health ministers were advised to personally monitor and review the preparedness of all logistics and infrastructure, including availability of sufficient designated hospital beds, besides ensuring that there is adequate stock of essential medicines. The states were also asked to regularly update their Covid data on the designated Portal. The meeting also discussed the global Covid situation, along with the domestic scenario .A The states/UTs were reminded of the joint advisory issued by the Union Health Ministry and ICMR on March 25, which called for a reinvigorated public health response to contain the surge of seasonal influenza and Covid cases through early detection, isolation, testing and timely management of suspected and confirmed cases to detect and contain outbreaks of new SARS-CoV-2 variants. Mandaviya requested the states/UTs to ensure effective implementation of the same. There was comprehensive and detailed discussion on various aspects of Covid management, including ramping up of hospital infrastructure, increased testing etc. India reported 6,050 new Covid cases in the last 24 hours while the active caseload stood at 28,303 on Friday. New Delhi, April 7 : The World Health Organisation (WHO) has slammed China once again, saying the country should have shared viral samples from Wuhan which was the epicentre of the pandemic, immediately, and not three years later. Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead for Covid-19 response at WHO, wrote in the prestigious journal Science that earlier this month, the global health agency learned that scientists in China possessed data on viral samples from Wuhan that had been gathered in January 2020. "These should have been shared immediately, not 3 years later. The lack of data disclosure is simply inexcusable," she said. The WHO continues to call on China and all countries to share any data on the origins of SARS-CoV-2 immediately. "China has advanced technical capabilities and I, therefore, believe that more data exist that have yet to be shared -- on the wild and farmed animal trade; the testing of humans and animals in Wuhan and across China; the operations of labs in Wuhan working on coronaviruses; the earliest potential cases; and more," Van Kerkhove wrote. She said the world needs to move away from the politics of blame and, instead, exploit all diplomatic and scientific approaches so that the global scientific community can collaborate and find evidence-based solutions to thwart future pandemics. China made Covid-19 disease official on December 31, 2019. Last month, US President Joe Biden signed a bill to declassify intelligence information on the origins of the Covid pandemic, which has so far claimed more than seven million lives globally. Under the new legislation, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines has 90 days to declassify all information on possible links between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the origins of Covid. The Wuhan Institute of Virology has been a major centre of coronavirus research. The US Energy Department in February concluded with "low confidence" that the Covid-19 virus leaked out of a laboratory in China. In 2021, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also agreed to the lab leak claim with "moderate confidence". More than three years after the pandemic, the origin of Covid-19 remains unclear. Kolkata, April 7 : In a shocking incident at Hanskhali in West Bengal's Nadia district, a local Trinamool Congress leader was shot dead in broad daylight by miscreants on Friday morning. The deceased has been identified as Amod Ali Biswas, who was an area vice-president of Trinamool at Hanskhali. According to eyewitnesses, Biswas came to the market on Friday morning and ordered a cup of tea at a tea-stall, something he did regularly. Suddenly, a group of around eight bike-borne miscreants arrived at the spot and started firing indiscriminately at Biswas from a close range. All the miscreants had their faces covered. A profusely bleeding Biswas died on the spot, while the assailants fled from there. The body has been sent for post-mortem with a large contingent of police patrolling the area, which has been gripped by tension. Biswas' family members claimed that there had been attacks on him earlier as well. "His rivals in the locality had attacked him with crude bombs thrice in the past. However, he had managed to escape on all three occasions, something which he could not do on Friday," said Biswas' wife. Meanwhile, a political slugfest has erupted in the state following the killing. Senior state BJP leader Rahul Sinha, who's a former national secretary of the party, said that the murder was a fallout of the factionalism and infighting in Trinamool Congress. "Before the upcoming panchayat elections, different groups of the ruling party are trying to establish their supremacy in different pockets of the state, with party insiders often becoming the victims," Sinha said. On the other hand, Trinamool's Rajya Sabha member Santanu Sen claimed that goons backed by the opposition parties were behind the murder of Biswas. "Before the panchayat elections, the opposition parties are deliberately trying to create disturbance in the state," he said. New Delhi, April 7 : Three people have been arrested on the charges of looting two kg gold and Rs four lakh cash at gunpoint from a jewellery shop in Nangloi village in the national capital, police said on Friday. Outer Delhi DCP Harender Kumar Singh said that the accused, identified as Paramjeet, Nitesh and Abhishek, were arrested from Mundka on Thursday. Around 259 gram gold, Rs 30,000 cash and guns were recovered from their possession, Singh said. "ACP Arun Kumar Chaudhary and Inspector Praveen Kumar got a tip-off after which a raid was conducted in Mundka area and the accused were arrested," said Mr Singh. Accused Nitesh was also wanted in the murder case of one Traffic police constable in Shahbad Dairy area. Their aides Roshan and Rajat and one Shabnam is on the run in the matter. "The accused took a rented accommodation in Luxmi Park. Shabnam had visited the jewellery shop many times. She and another one did recce," said a source. According to information, the incident occurred on April 4, at around 1.30 p.m. Virender Verma, the owner of the shop, told IANS that he along with his employees Jai Prakash Soni, and Rahul, was dealing with the customers when four masked men entered the shop and threatened them at gun point. "They asked me to hand over all the valuables and started picking up gold jewellery. One of their aides was standing at entry gate. They took the entire gold and went outside. Soon after this, one of them again entered and took a bag kept at our lockers. I tried to chase them, but they opened fire while fleeing the scene," said Verma. The police lodged a case of dacoity and formed several teams. The police said that they were conducting raids to nab the aides of the accused who are on the run. Mumbai, April 7 : Aashey Mishra, and Shivika Pathak, who are seen playing the character of Satvik Bhosle and Jeevika Rane in the show 'Agnisakshia Ek Samjhauta', have recreated the characters of Nisha and Prem, played by Bollywood stars Madhuri Dixit and Salman Khan in the 1994 film 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun'. During the birthday special episode of the show, Aashey and Shivika donned the looks of iconic characters from the movie and danced to 'Didi Tera Deewana'. Shivika said: "Playing the iconic character of Nisha from 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun' is a dream come true for me, and I feel privileged to revisit an era that is so dear to my heart. I am confident that the upcoming episodes, filled with a delightful filmy flavour, will leave the audience thoroughly entertained." On the other hand, the 'Shubh Laabh' actor added that shooting for this special episode has been an exhilarating experience for him. "I've been thoroughly enjoying preparing for it, from learning the dance steps to perfecting my 90s look. I even watched Hum Aapke Hain Koun again to make sure I got my character's mannerisms and style just right." The story revolves around Satvik and Jeevika and what happens when the guy gives divorce to the girl just after their wedding took place. They both are on the brink of divorce and then Satvik realises his love for Jeevika and decides to surprise her with a birthday party which is planned on a theme of the era of 90s Bollywood. 'Agnisakshi Ek Samjhauta' airs on Colors. Thiruvananthapuram, April 7 : In a day of fast-paced developments, the prime suspect in the Kerala train fire case, which claimed three lives, was on Friday first sent to 14-day judicial custody and hours later, produced at a local court in Kozhikode where the police probe team was granted his custody for 11 days. Accused of setting fellow passengers ablaze on a moving train, Shahrukh Saifi, 24, was, since Thursday morning, undergoing treatment at Kozhikode Medical College hospital. He was hospitalised after being taken into custody from Maharashtra's Ratnagiri as he had suffered injuries and his bilirubin levels were high. On Thursday, after the medical examination tests revealed that he had suspected jaundice, he was admitted to the hospital and on Friday morning, a local magistrate arrived at the hospital and decided to send Saifi to judicial custody. Soon after the magistrate left, the medical board met and after assessing the medical condition of Saifi, decided that he could be discharged. The police then decided to apply for custodial interrogation and moved the papers for it and in the evening got his custody for 11 days. The court asked the police to produce him before a medical team on Monday. With Saifi finally in custody of the Kerala Police probe team, they expect to unravel the case and for that they will have to take him for evidence collection to a few places at Kozhikode, Kannur, and then to Ratnagiri from where he was arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terror Squad with the help of Central agencies on Wednesday. Saifi was driven down to Kozhikode and arrived at a police camp at around 5.45 a.m. on Thursday. It was on Sunday night that Saifi, hailing from Delhi, doused petrol on fellow passengers and set them afire while the train was moving from Kozhikode to Kannur. Three people, including a two-year-old girl, died after they panicked and jumped out of the moving train. Nine others suffered burn injuries. Earlier on Friday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, presently touring his home district of Kannur, visited the familu of the two-year-old girl and then, of her aunt, who also died on Sunday, and handed over an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh to both families. New Delhi, April 7 : Delhi police has arrested 18 persons including seven women and busted a Chinese loan fraud call centre operating under the guise of prominent finance companies in the national Capital, an official said on Friday. According to police, a complaint on MHA Cyber Crime Reporting Portal was received in Cyber North police station in which the complainant, a resident of Manju Ka Tila, alleged that on February 25, a call was received on the complainant's mobile from a woman who threatened him saying, your daughter has taken a loan of Rs 3,500 which you should deposit through the link, otherwise your daughter's nude photo will be made viral. "After that someone edited his daughter's photo with an obscene photo and sent it to the complainant's WhatsApp number," said Sagar Singh Kalsi, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (North). In that picture, indecent words like "XXXXX, one night only 3000" were used, along with the phone numbers of the complainant and his daughter. During the investigation, the technical analysis of call detail records and money trail was carried out and surveillance of suspect mobile numbers which zeroed on the location of alleged calling number Sangam Vihar, Delhi. "A raid was conducted in Sangam Vihar area and one Renu was apprehended, who revealed that she is working at a call centre, which is situated at East Kailash. The details provided by the woman matched with the day time location of the suspect number," said the official. Further raid was conducted in East Kailash, where a proper call centre was found running with around 50 people working and on questioning with the staff, it was found that half of the employees were working for prominent finance companies and under their cover, the other employees were working on Chinese Loan Fraud Apps. "Total 17 people who were found working on the App have been apprehended. The team leader Amit, a resident of Sarita Vihar, was arrested and is presently on police remand. However, the main accused namely Mohsin and his accomplices are still absconding and raids are being conducted to nab them," said the official. The official said that Amit and Khan were earlier working in call centres for EMI loan reminders of Bajaj and IDFC but due to less income, they opted for call centres of fake Chinese loan recovery apps. "Amit was deployed as a leader over the call centre employees and Mohsin Khan and his friend Firdaus used to provide the login ID and password for these fake Chinese apps. The call centre employees used to make calls through VOIP Sim Box Gateway devices installed by Mohsin, who used to change it frequently to dodge police action," said the official. "Payments were made by the complainants at the link provided in the Chinese apps and Mohsin used to get his share from his seniors. Many desktops, laptops and mobile phones have been recovered from the alleged call centre, data from which has been extracted for technical analysis," said the official. Dibrugarh : , April 7 (IANS) Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Friday that the Ayush Ministry would set up a 100-bedded Yoga and Naturopathy Hospital here in this Assam town. Sonowal, who hails from Assam, said this while speaking on the occasion of the 'Yoga Mahotsav', celebrated to commemorate 75 days to the International Day of Yoga. An official said the event was "a huge success as thousands joined at the gala event as they practiced Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) at the Dibrugarh University ground here on Friday". "It is a matter of immense pleasure & pride that Dibrugarh is hosting this wonderful 'Yoga Mahotsav' in this pristine environment. As thousands of you joined us, we are emboldening the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make Yoga a global movement towards healthier and better tomorrow," the Ayush Minister said. "The Ministry of Ayush is going to set up a 100-bedded Yoga & Naturopathy Hospital in Dibrugarh. This is going to further bolster Dibrugarh as the centre of healthcare in the region. This centre will cater to needs of the region by providing Yoga and naturopathy out- patient and inpatient treatments to the people of Assam," he added. An MoU was also signed between the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) and Dibrugarh University to develop an ecosystem of Yoga practitioners. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha also addressed the gathering on the occasion. "It is a great moment when all of us have joined today to perform Yoga - one of the greatest boons of Indian heritage. As we practise Yoga today, it not only boosts the Yoga practice among people, but also promises a better, healthier tomorrow," Saha said. Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Chowna Mein, who was also present at the programme, said: "Yoga is a wonderful gift of India's rich heritage that has benefited the world to become a healthier place. I am happy that I am participating in this event today and we work towards a healthier tomorrow." Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Rameshwar Teli; Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Rajkumar Ranjan Singh; Assam cabinet ministers Bimal Borah, Keshab Mahanta, along with ministers and MLAs of Assam's neighbouring states also graced the event. Apart from thousands of Indian students, international students from Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Togo, Nepal, Nigeria, Lesotho, Botswana, Egypt, Namibia and South Korea, yoga enthusiasts participated at the Yoga Mahotsav, an official said. Bengaluru, April 7 : Two minors born to a Pakistani father and Indian mother living in Bengaluru are facing a legal challenge after a Karnataka High Court bench headed by Justice M. Nagaprasanna rejected a plea seeking Indian citizenship for the two children. The law of attaining 21 years of age to denounce the citizenship of Pakistan has become a roadblock for attaining Indian citizenship for the two minors, who are presently living with their separated mother in Bengaluru. The court ruling came on Wednesday. In 2002, Ameena Rahil from Bengaluru had married Pakistani national Assad Mallik in Dubai, where they had settled down. However, in 2014, the couple got divorced in a court in Dubai, which gave the custody of the two children to Ameena. In 2021, Ameena decided to return to her mother's place in Bengaluru along her two kids aged 17 and 14. Though Ameena is an Indian national, her kids are Pakistani nationals as their father hails from that country. Ameena had contacted the Indian Embassy in Dubai after she faced legal hurdles to bring her children to India. On a humanitarian ground, the Indian Embassy had given temporary passports to the children after submitting their earlier passports to the Pakistan Embassy. Now the children have to obtain Indian passport and citizenship, as the duration of the temporary passport has lapsed. Ameena and her family had made submissions to the Union Home Ministry seeking extension of the temporary passport. But now with the high court rejecting their plea, Ameena and her children are worried over the consequences. Family sources said they are hoping to get an extension of the temporary duration from the Home Ministry. Kolkata, April 7 : A fresh round of tussle between the state secretariat and Raj Bhavan has started snowballing in West Bengal over a fresh set of guidelines imposed on the vice-chancellors of state universities by the Governor's House. The Raj Bhavan on Thursday issued a letter to all the vice-chancellors of state universities, directing them to take the concurrence of the Governor's House in all finance-related matters. The VCs have also been asked to submit a weekly report on the overall functioning of their respective universities. On Friday, state Education Minister Bratya Basu questioned the legal validity of the guidelines issued by the Governor. "I have asked the education secretary to seek legal advice on how far the letter from the Governor is legally valid," Basu said. The minister also alleged that the letter was sent to the vice-chancellors keeping the education department in the dark. Basu further questioned if the Raj Bhavan can directly send such instructions to the state universities by bypassing the state education department. This is the second major tussle between the state secretariat and the Raj Bhavan. Earlier this year, the Governor's House had sought to replace the erstwhile principal secretary to the Governor, Nandini Chakaroborty. After initial hesitancy, the state government had replaced Chakroborty. However, the post vacated by her is still lying vacant as the Governor has not given concurrence to any of the three names suggested by the state secretariat as Chakroborty's replacement. Recently, Governor C.V. Ananda Bose had issued strongly-worded statements against the state administration over the attack on the convoy of Union minister Nisith Pramanik at Dinhata in Cooch Behar district, as well as on the recent clashes over Ram Navami processions in the state. Chandigarh, April 7 : The head of the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhism, Giani Harpreet Singh on Friday appealed to the Sikhs to gather in crowds at Talwandi Sabo, the home to one of the five temporal seats Sri Damdama Sahib, to celebrate 'Khalsa Sajna Diwas' on Baisakhi (April 14). At the same time, he clarified this appeal should not be mistaken as a call for Sarbat Khalsa, meaning an assembly of all factions of Sikhs, that has been given by self-styled Sikh preacher and 'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh, who has been on the run since March 18. "This Khalsa Sajna Diwas is to show that Sikhs are not scared of anything," Giani Harpreet Singh said while addressing a gathering of Sikh journalists on media censorship at Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda district. Amritpal Singh had asked the Akal Takht Jathedar to call the Sarbat Khalsa on Baisakhi Day at the Takht Sri Damdama Sahib. Amid rumours that Amritpal Singh might surrender before police on this day in Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, the security was beefed up. The head of the Akal Takht, who had recently given an ultimatum to the state government to release all Sikhs arrested in the crackdown against Amritpal Singh, announced a new platform to track and bust "anti-Sikh" content being circulated online. He said budding journalists would be roped in for tracking and even busting the hateful content against the Sikhs. Without naming the BJP-led Central government, he said judiciary and executive are under constant "threat" of the government. "Concerted efforts were being made to malign the Punjabis and a section of media is being abused for it." He slammed the state government for spreading panic among masses by running stories of Amritpal Singh's possible surrender at Talwandi Sabo. The jathedar also expressed annoyance over the failure of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to initiate legal action against police officials who allegedly wrongly identified a Sikh religious flag as those of Khalistan. "I again direct the SGPC to lodge first information reports against police officials as it amounted to character assassination," he stressed. The jathedar called people to come in large numbers to Sri Damdama Sahib on Baisakhi, which can tell that "we don't fear of the government which is suppressing Sikhs". For the Sikhs, Baisakhi is a big festival as it marks the foundation day of Khalsa Panth or Sikh order by tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh. The Khalsa Panth was founded in Anandpur Sahib in 1699. Surat, April 7 : Surat Police on Friday detained CGST Division Superintendent, Rakesh Sharma, along with his contracted driver, Kailash, and friend Raj, for allegedly orchestrating a fraudulent GST raid at a Chaniya Choli trader's shop here in the old Bombay Market area. According to reports, the GST official and his accomplices conducted an unauthorised raid at Dheeraj Fashion and falsified returns, claiming a difference of Rs 80 lakh in GST. They then demanded a payment of Rs 40 lakh from the trader, which was eventually settled for Rs 12 lakh before the trio fled the scene. Upon discovering the deceitful act, the trader lodged a complaint with the police, leading to the detention of Rakesh Sharma. A probe into the matter is underway, a police officer said. Dubai, April 7 : An Indian national had poisoned his wife and strangled his two kids before jumping to death from the 11th floor of his apartment in Al Buhairah, the Sharjah Police said, revealing a preliminary autopsy report. Forensic investigation revealed that the 35 year-old man poisoned the wife, and strangulation marks were found on the necks of his two daughters, aged between 3 and 7, the Khaleej Times reported. There were no signs of violence or resistance on the bodies of the wife and children. Major General Saif Al Zari Al Shamsi, Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police, confirmed that the man was a Sharjah resident but worked in a neighbouring emirate. He added that the man had no motives or financial crises that compelled him to take the extreme step, the Khaleej Times reported. Police said further investigations are on to find the motive behind the suicide-murder case, and officers are questioning a friend of the wife. The Sharjah police had immediately rushed paramedics to the site after they were alerted to the incident at 5.45 pm (local time) on March 28. Investigating officers had recovered a note from the man's body which said that he killed his wife and two children, and asked them to shift their bodies from upstairs. After hospital, the bodies were taken to the forensic laboratory for autopsy procedures, where the man succumbed to his injuries. The bodies of the woman and her daughters will be repatriated once the investigation report is handed over to the Public Prosecution. The family had been living in the building for the past six months. New Delhi, April 7 : A 29-year-old woman has been arrested by the Delhi Police's Crime Branch for allegedly killing a businessman at a hotel in south Delhi's Safdarjung Enclave area, and then robbing him, an official said on Friday. The arrested woman has been identified as Usha, a resident of Panipat in Haryana. The police said that Usha has three aliases -- Anjali, Nikki and Nikita, and she also possessed a fake Aadhaar card. According to the police, on March 31, an information was received at Safdarjung Enclave police station that a man was lying dead in a hotel room following which a police team was dispatched for the spot. During initial investigation, it was revealed that Deepak Sethi (53), a resident of Mayur Vihar, had checked into the Baljeet Lodge guest house the night before at 8.50 p.m. (March 30) along with a woman. However, the woman had left the guest house around midnight. Deepak was found dead the next morning with some froth coming out of mouth. Some stains were spotted on the pillow. It was learnt that he had also consumed liquor. "A handwritten note was also found near the dead body on which it was written 'you are a nice person. Sorry... sorry... sorry... understand that I was in a lot of compulsion, which made me do this to you. Extremely sorry'," said Ravindra Singh Yadav, the Special Commission er of Police (Crime). "A team from the Crime Branch visited the spot and analysed the CCTV footage minutely. The team obtained the copy of the Aadhaar card of the woman who accompanied the deceased, but the Aadhaar card with name 'Anjali' on it was found to be fake," said the Special CP. After analysing more than 500 contact details of Deepak, the police team found some "suspects' numbers" but the prime suspect's mobile number was also found issued on fake documents and it was activated on March 20. "On further scrutiny of the call details records, it was found that the suspect's mobile phone was recharged somewhere in the area of Santgarh. However, the phone was recharged by one Chide, Nigerian national who told police that the phone number belongs to one Nikki a.k.a. Nikita, who is a friend of Madhumita, his live-in partner," said the official. Usha a.k.a. Anjali was arrested by police from Noida. "The team also succeeded in recovering the blue bag and gold ring of the deceased, fake Aadhaar card and mobile phone which was used in crime from the possession," said the official. She also disclosed the sequence about this crime and about the note she had written which was found at the spot of crime. "Madhumita and Usha were friends and Madhumita had introduced Deepak to Usha. Later, Usha and Madhumita had met Deepak on March 30 and they had planned to give him some drugs after reaching the hotel," said the official. "When Deepak became unconscious, she took the bag, mobile phone and some jewellery of Deepak and fled from the hotel along with Madhumita who was waiting for her in a cab. It was a fool proof conspiracy as all the IDs and mobile numbers were taken on forged documents," the official added. Patna, April 7 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, along with his deputy Tejashwi Yadav, conducted a surprise inspection of the Patna Metro project work at the Rajendra Nagar Moin-ul-Haq stadium on Friday. Kumar instructed the officials to speed up the project, and especially asked them to focus on completing the underground projects as quickly as possible. Earlier, he had held a review meeting with the officers of Urban Development Department as well as with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). The contract for the construction has been given to the DMRC and it is funded by the Bihar government and Central government. The Bihar government also collaborated with the Japanese government for funds for this project. During the inspection, the CM's Principal Secretary, Chief Secretary, City Commissioner, and the officials of DMRC were present. The construction of Patna metro is underway at several places including at Patna bypass, Rajendra Nagar, Danapur, PMCH, Gandhi Maidan and some other places. Nashik/Bengaluru, April 7 : Union Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane on Friday inaugurated the third LCA production line and also handed over the 100th Sukhoi-30 MKI ROH aircraft to Air Vice Marshal Sarin at HAL's Nashik Division. The Signal Out Certificate (SOC) of the 100th ROH aircraft was handed over by Saket Chaturvedi, CEO (MiG Complex), HAL, to Air Vice Marshal Sarin in the presence of HAL CMD C.B.Ananthakrishnan and other senior officials. The Defence Secretary lauded HAL's efforts in taking up the challenge of setting up an ROH facility for Su-30 MKI and also for establishing a new production line for LCA manufacturing. Stating that HAL has been fulfilling the needs of the country's security, Aramane said, "The government has come out with several 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' policies, and that puts HAL in a very important position. HAL will be producing more in the coming years. Build more systems, come out with new concepts, new platforms for future growth." He also urged HAL to take up new initiatives to aggressively compete in the defence market and look into new areas like unmanned vehicles as the country is in need of these advanced systems. He emphasised on initiatives, innovation, excellence and focus on performance. Aramane also visited the LCA Assembly Complex, Su-30 ROH Flight Hangar and Final Assembly Hangar. C.B. Ananthakrishnan, CMD, HAL, said, "The new production line will enable the company to enhance LCA MK1A production capacity from 16 to 24 aircraft per year. HAL's Nashik Division has achieved peak overhaul capacity of 20 Su-30 aircraft per year despite having supply chain issues in the current geopolitical situations." HAL has already set up two LCA manufacturing facilities in Bengaluru. HAL's Nashik Division set up the Su-30 MKI Repair and Overhaul (ROH) facility in 2014 to meet the operational requirements of the IAF. Having gained experience from manufacturing MiG-series and Su30-MKI aircraft and subsequent overhaul of MiG-series aircraft, HAL successfully mastered the technology with valuable support from the IAF, regulatory bodies and private industries. Several HAL sister divisions are involved in the ROH activities. The company plans to reduce the dependency on OEM by indigenising majority of components required for ROH within the next 3-5 years. Kolkata, April 7 : The Calcutta High Court has denied permission to terminate the 28-week pregnancy of a 12-year-old minor girl who conceived after being raped. The mother of the rape victim made an appeal at the Calcutta High Court seeking permission to terminate her daughter's 28- week pregnancy. The judgement on the matter, announced on Wednesday, was made available on Friday. The termination of pregnancy, which is more than 24 weeks, can be done only after getting permission from any court. However, the report of the medical board argued against the termination, claiming it might prove fatal for the minor victim. Justice Aniruddha Roy of the Calcutta High Court accepted the argument of the medical board and denied permission for the termination of pregnancy. The medical board constituted for the matter submitted its report to the court on April 5. The medical board had submitted that rather than termination, giving birth to the child would be safer for the victim. Justice Roy also observed that the prime consideration for the court is the safety aspect of the minor girl. He also observed that it is the responsibility of the state to protect the dignity of the minor mother and her child in such cases. "The state cannot deny its responsibilities on this count," Justice Roy observed. Ahmedabad, April 7 : Conman Kiran Patel, who was arrested in Jammu and Kashmir last month for posing as a top official in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), is likely to be brought to Ahmedabad on Friday night, an official said. A team of Ahmedabad Police has reached Jammu and Kashmir to take custody of Patel, according to a senior official. Four FIRs related to cheating have been registered against Patel in different police stations in Gujarat. "Our team is in Jammu and Kashmir to take Kiran Patel's custody in a cheating case registered with us. He will be brought here on Friday night," a senior police officer said. Kiran Patel and his wife, Malini Patel, were accused of attempting to usurp a senior citizen's bungalow. The Ahmedabad Crime Branch registered a case of cheating against them on March 22, six days after Malini Patel was arrested. The complainant, Jagdish Chavda, had wanted to sell his bungalow in the Shilaj area. Patel approached Chavda claiming to be a real estate agent and persuaded him to renovate the property, claiming that it would fetch a good price. To gain Chavda's trust, Patel allegedly claimed to be a "Class-1 officer in the PMO" and a partner in a cafe chain. Chavda agreed to the renovation, and Kiran along with his wife Malini, and an interior designer took Rs 35 lakh in instalments from him for the work. When the renovation was underway, Chavda shifted to his friend's residence. A few days later, he learned that Patel and his wife had put up their own name-plate outside the bungalow and had conducted a house-warming ritual as if they were the owners. When confronted, the couple left the bungalow without finishing the renovation, and Chavda moved back into the house. In August 2022, Chavda received a court notice informing him that Kiran Patel had filed a civil suit claiming ownership of the property using photographs of his nameplate and invitation card for the house-warming ceremony, said the FIR. Islamabad, April 7 : Pakistan's Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Marriyum Aurangzeb, on Friday demanded that Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial must step down as his position has become controversial, especially after Justice Athar Minallahs note in the Punjab polls case, according to a media report. The statement came after Justice Minallah, earlier on Friday, maintained that the Supreme Court's suo motu notice over the delay in the announcement of provincial assembly elections was dismissed by a majority 4-3 ruling, The Express Tribune reported. Justice Minallah stated that he has read the detailed reasoning of Justice Shah and Justice Mandokhail and that he "agrees with their opinion, particularly regarding the final outcome of the petitions and the suo motu assumption of jurisdiction by a majority of 4 to 3 because this was the understanding in the meeting held in the anteroom on February 27". "It is noted that I had not recused nor had any reason to dissociate myself," he said in a 23-page note dismissing the suo motu case regarding the announcement of the polling date for the Punjab Assembly. "Justice Athar Minullah has made a major decision today. Following this decision, the majority of judges have reached a conclusion. The decision made by Justice Minullah today raises questions about the judicial process," Marriyum Aurangzeb said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad. She said the CJP's suo motu notice has already been dismissed with 4-3 vote. However, she added that a three-member bench was formed on a petition that was already "dismissed". "When there was no petition, questions arise as to why the bench was formed and why a decision was made," she said, The Express Tribune reported. The minister said that the four judges on the bench had urged to make a full court bench, adding that the political parties too were in favour of constituting a full bench so the people could accept the decision. "Political parties do not shy away from elections, but this is no longer just an election issue. It has become a matter of 'bench fixing'," she added, The Express Tribune reported. A multi-state settlement will require Robinhood to pay up to $10.2 million in penalties for operational and technical failures by the company, according to a Friday news release from Colorado Securities Commissioner Tung Chan. This settlement came from an investigation spearheaded by state securities regulators in Alabama, Colorado, California, Delaware, New Jersey, South Dakota and Texas. This settlement makes clear that Robinhood and every trading platform must take their customer care obligations seriously, Chan said in the release. The multi-state investigation was related to outages on the Robinhood platform in March 2020 "a time when hundreds of thousands of investors were relying on the Robinhood app to make trades" and deficiencies prior to March 2021. These weaknesses included the firms monitoring and reporting tools as well as insufficient customer service, according to the press release. Robinhood failed to serve its retail clients, Chan said in a press release. When customers had questions about their accounts, Robinhood responded with automated email and chats or significantly delayed responses. "Insufficient customer service and escalation protocols that in some cases left Robinhood users unable to process trades even as the value of certain stocks was dropping," according to the release. Violations included negligent dissemination of inaccurate information to customers, and several failures including points like a a reasonably designed customer identification program or exercise due diligence before approving certain option accounts, according to the press release. A copy of the full order is available at the Commissioners website under Search Enforcement Actions. Robinhood is now required to supervise customer support function and provide accurate disclosure to customers about its support capabilities. The company is also required to report customer service responsiveness to senior management regularly, according to the press release. In a year from the settlement date, Robinhood will have to attest that it is in full compliance with the FINRA-ordered independent compliance consultants recommendations or has otherwise instituted measures that are more effective at addressing the recommendations to Alabama, the lead state on the investigation. Bengaluru, April 7 : The Karnataka unit of Janata Dal (Secular) has written to the Election Commission of India for stopping a show starring popular Kannada actor Kichcha Sudeep, along with advertisements featuring him, till the end of the Assembly elections scheduled on May 10. The move came after Sudeep declared that he would campaign for Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and other candidates of the BJP, as he has shared a good bond with the CM since their childhood. He had also clarified that he is not going to join BJP. The JD(S) has approached the poll panel claiming that Sudeep's show, advertisements, posters etc. can influence the voters as he is currently recognised as one of the star campaigners for the BJP. Asked about former CM and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy's claims that Sudip was extending support to him, Chief Minister Bommai sought to know had Kumaraswamy not fielded candidates in the elections previously. "Has the JD(S) leader forgotten about roping in (late actor) Ambareesh for campaign during the 1996 Ramanagar bypolls? Film actors extending support to political parties is not new, as they have done it in the past for all the parties. This is a prevalent trend in the country, and also in Karnataka. "Why is Kumaraswamy shocked if a superstar supports BJP's campaign? He is making such statements because he is scared. The writing on the wall is loud and clear -- the JD(S) will lose in the upcoming Assembly elections," Bommai said. Patna, April 7 : Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas (LJPR) President Chirag Paswan on Friday said that his party will contest in all 40 Lok Sabha seats of Bihar. The decision was taken during the party's state executive committee meeting here. "We are preparing to contest the Lok Sabha election for all 40 seats. I am a firm believer that every party has to prepare for every seat. We are strongly preparing for all 40 seats of Lok Sabha and 243 Assembly constituencies," Paswan said. His statement came in wake of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during his Nawada rally, claiming that the BJP will contest on 40 seats of Bihar and will win all of them. With his announcement, Paswan, who claimed to be 'Hanuman' of PM Narendra Modi and always stood on the side of NDA, has given a strong message to the saffron party leaders. Asked about alliance with any other party, he said: "We have to prepare for every challenge. I cannot demand seats from any other party and I also will not break the alliance pact. During the 2020 Assembly election, you have seen that the election commission had announced the dates of voting and alliance partners were not decided in the NDA as well as in Mahagathbandhan. So, going with the alliance has time." Asked about the Iftar party of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday evening, Paswan said that he will not go there, but will sent a senior leader of his party to the event. "We cannot form an alliance with Nitish Kumar. He brought Bihar on the path of destruction. I did not make an alliance with him when my party was weak. Now, we have huge public support. So, there is no question of making an alliance with him at this stage," he said. Guwahati, April 7 : President Droupadi Murmu on Friday attended the 75th anniversary celebrations of the Gauhati High Court here. On the occasion, she launched a mobile app 'Bhoroxa' made for the safety of women and elderly people. Women in need of assistance can use this app, which features women-related programmes and a number of helplines throughout the state. The 181 helpline number for women seeking assistance is one of the key features of the app. This helpline will make sure that women in need may contact the authorities and request assistance right away. Addressing the gathering, Murmu said: "Gauhati High Court holds a unique place in India's judicial landscape. After its inception in 1948, it had jurisdiction over seven states for more than six decades and still has jurisdiction over four states. It has established a distinct identity for itself by producing a number of legal luminaries. It has also received attention for delivering several landmark decisions." She expressed confidence that the Gauhati High Court would continue to serve the people in the same manner in the years to come. Murmu said: "The northeastern region is possibly the best example of how various communities have lived together historically. As a result, it has rich ethnic and linguistic diversity. In such a region, institutions need to have a great deal of sensitivity and responsibility, as divergent traditions and laws govern the lives of the people of the region. The legislations applicable to different areas may vary, but the entire area is administered by a common High Court." She further said that it is heartening to see that the Gauhati High Court continues to uphold the customary laws that have been in practice in some of the states under its jurisdiction. By respecting the sentiments of the indigenous people, this institution has helped enhance the ethos of peaceful coexistence in this region. The President said: "Justice is hindered by many factors. Cost of justice is one of them. We need to keep expanding the reach of free legal counselling." She said that the language of justice is another hindrance but there is praiseworthy progress in that direction and the higher judiciary has started making verdicts available in more and more regional languages. Murmu asserted that the increasing role of technology in the administration of justice has been solving many problems that had affected the system for long. She urged lawyers and students of law to find technological solutions in the legal domain that can provide a helping hand to the poor and the needy. Guwahati, April 7 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Friday that the state government has withdrawn at least 27,000 cases related to minor crimes with an aim to reduce the burden on the judiciary. Attending the platinum jubilee celebrations of Gauhati High Court, Sarma said, "For facilitating ease of justice, the Assam government took a decision of withdrawing petty offence cases to bring down the pendency of cases. "Cases punishable for up to three years with or without fine were taken into consideration for withdrawal, barring the cases of heinous nature," Sarma said, adding that till February this year, around 27,000 such cases have been withdrawn and it is estimated that through this action around one lakh criminal cases will be disposed of. Sarma also asserted that this will reduce the load on lower courts. The Chief Minister hailed the role played by the Gauhati High Court as the true guardian of human rights, protector of the Constitution and promoter of the age-old democratic ethos. He mentioned that the Gauhati High Court has a unique identity for being the common high court for all the seven states of the northeast for a longer span of its existence. "This court has been dealing with the fascinating task of interpreting enacted laws as well as tribal laws and customs and has judicial authority on subjects falling under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution of India, which is unique to this region only," Sarma said. The Chief Minister also expressed his commitment to create as many posts as required in the lower judiciary with adequate infrastructure. He said, "The state government has decided to create a new campus of Gauhati High Court, work for which will start this year." New Delhi, April 7 : The government said on Friday that it is not aware of any cases where facial recognition technology (FRT) has been misused for malicious purposes. Official sources said that there is no reliable information regarding inaccuracy of the FRT technology. Facial recognition technology is a way of identifying or confirming an individual's identity using their face. Facial recognition systems can be used to identify people in photos, videos, or in real-time. The Ministry Of Telecommunication has undertaken a project on Artificial Intelligence(AI) and facial recognition powered solution for Telecom SIM Subscriber Verification (ASTR), which is a Next-Gen indigenous and innovative solution for detecting and weeding out fraudulent SIM subscribers, who have obtained multiple mobile connections using fake or forged documents, across all telecom service providers. The government is using the facial recognition system in its Digi Yatra initiative for providing passengers seamless and hassle-free experience at airports, without the need for verification of ticket and ID at multiple touch points. Digi Yatra was launched on December 1, 2022 at Delhi, Bengaluru and Varanasi airports. Sources informed that the FRT technology used in the Sarathi system is 99.9 per cent accurate. Sarathi is the web portal of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, which was launched to provide online services like driving licence, learner's licence, transfer and ownership forms, among others. FRT is also used for vehicle recognition and automatic number plates recognition system by external agencies authorised by the state police or transport authorities for identification of traffic violations, which are converted into traffic challans or notices by the Road Transport Ministry. New Delhi, April 7 : In another incident of unruly behavior by an air passenger, a drunk flyer on board an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Bengaluru on Friday tried to open the flap of an emergency door. The matter was reported to the agencies concerned and appropriate action was initiated. "The passenger travelling on flight 6E 308 from Delhi to Bengaluru tried opening the flap of the emergency exit in an inebriated state. On noticing this, the crew on board alerted the captain and the passenger was appropriately cautioned," an airline spokesperson said. "There was no compromise on the safe operation of the said flight and the unruly passenger was handed over to CISF upon arrival in Bengaluru," the spokesperson added. In end March, two passengers on a Indigo flight from Dubai to Mumbai continued consuming alcohol onboard despite multiple warnings from the crew, and then verbally abused the crew and co-passengers. Airlines have witnessed many such incidents of unruly behaviour by some air passengers in the last few months. In order to deal with unruly behaviour on-board, aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued CAR, Section 3- Air Transport, Series M, and Part VI titled "Handling of unruly/ disruptive passengers". As per the procedure defined in the CAR, airlines are required to follow a prescribed procedure for holding passengers accountable before they are placed in the 'No Fly List' by the airline. Based on the information provided by the airlines, 'No Fly List' is maintained by the DGCA. Mumbai, April 7 : Romanian music composer and DJ Edward Maya, who is known for his chartbuster 'Stereo Love', is in Mumbai. The DJ arrived in the city on Friday and is set to do a number of shows in India. Maya will be in Mumbai till April 14. He'll then leave for Delhi for his show on April 15 and will be back to where he is stationed in Rishikesh. His Raasta SINE Tour will also kick off from Mumbai on April 28, followed by a show in Goa on April 29. After a break of five days, the DJ will be in Kolkata for his performance scheduled on May 5 and the next day in Gurugram. He will perform in Dehradun from May 10 to May 15. followed by an international show on May 19 in Quito, Ecuador. And then, finally, he will land in Goa for the International Dirt Week on May 21. Apart from this, the composer is busy with his new venture called Mayavin School. He has called India his second home and says the country has played an important role in shaping his artistic career. His Mayavin School, based in Rishikesh, seeks to unite people from all around the globe in a community ready to create and experience 'conscious art and yoga' at a whole new level. New Delhi, April 7 : Out of the 16 operational central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) under the administrative control of the heavy industries ministry, five CPSEs including Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC) and Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) are making losses. A high-level Parliamentary panel of Rajya Sabha has expressed concern over this fact and also noted that a number of CPSEs under the ministry's administrative control are gradually decreasing. The panel has asked the heavy industries ministry to work towards enhancing the performance of CPSEs under its control and adopt restructuring measures to revive the loss making units, so that no further closure of PSUs takes place. The Parliamentary standing committee on industry which is headed by DMK MP Tiruchi Siva, in its report, presented in the Parliament during the recently concluded budget session, said that HEC has been a loss-making enterprise continuously for the past several years, yet a meagre token amount of Rs 0.01 crore has been kept as a budgetary support for it for 2023-24. The committee thus has recommended that the ministry should make concerted efforts to improve the situation of HEC and if need arises, may seek additional funds at the "revised estimate" stage. The ministry should also give details of the steps taken and plans conceived to revive and strengthen the CPSEs within its administrative ambit to the panel, it said in the report. Apart from HEC and HMT, the other loss making PSUs under the ministry's control are Engineering Projects (India) Limited (EPIL), Rajasthan Electronics and Instruments Limited (REIL) and NEPA Ltd. The committee also expressed dismay that year after year the number of CPSEs under the control of the heavy industries ministry are decreasing. The committee has recommended that the ministry should do a serious and holistic analysis of the causes that are making its PSEs sick and loss-making, and make concerted efforts for their revival and restoration. Imphal, April 7 : A total of 30 contestants of 59th Femina Miss India-2023 arrived in Imphal on Friday for the 'Grand Finale' on April 15. The Grand Finale will be held at Khuman Lampak Indoor Stadium in Imphal. At the Bir Tikendrajit International Airport, the leaders of various organisations, especially women's organisations, welcomed the contestants. They also handed over traditional clothes to them as a gift. Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, said in a Facebook post, that the 59th Femina Miss India Grand Finale will be another opportunity to showcase the warm hospitality of the people of Manipur to visitors. Singh also tweeted: Extending a hearty welcome to all the contestants of Femina Miss India to the Jewel of India, the Land of Culture,Manipur With the Grand Finale happening here, I hope you enjoy your stay and carry the message of goodwill, friendliness and warm hospitality of Manipur on your departure." This is for the first time the event will be held in Manipur and the Northeast Patna, April 8 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has admitted that he had a conversation with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge over the phone. "I have regular interactions with him over the phone. We had an interaction three days ago," he said soon after an Iftar party hosted at his official residence ended in Patna on Friday. When asked about the point of discussion, especially on Opposition unity, Nitish Kumar said that he will share the details later. Nitish Kumar, after the formation of Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar, had visited New Delhi and met senior leaders of various political parties, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, D. Raja, Sitaram Yechury, Akhilesh Yadav, and Arvind Kejriwal. During the CPI-ML convention in Patna last month, Nitish Kumar told Congress senior leader Salman Khurshid to convey his message to the Congress top leadership for the opposition unity. In reply to Kumar, Salman Khurshid on that occasion had said that "they are standing on the one side and waiting for who is saying I Love You first". Reacting on the development, Jitan Ram Manjhi said: "If any such development has taken place, it is a good indication for the Opposition unity. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar always said that opposition unity without Congress party cannot be possible." When asked why BJP boycotted the Iftar party, Nitish Kumar said: "When they (BJP) were sharing the power with us in Bihar, every leader of the BJP used to attend the Iftar party at my residence. What happened now? As they are out of power, they used to say many things against me without any reason." Nitish Kumar held an Iftar party at his official residence in Patna on Friday, where he invited leaders of every party. However, the BJP decided to stay away from Nitish Kumar's Iftar party. Samrat Chaudhary, the state president of the BJP claimed that Nitish Kumar government "failed to prevent communal violence in Sasaram and Bihar Sharif and he was doing the Iftar party. Nitish Kumar is doing the politics of appeasement". Nicosia, April 8 : No Russian arms held by Cyprus' National Guard will be sent to Ukraine, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis has said. The statement was made during the visit here of Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov who met with his Cypriot counterpart Michalis Georgallas, Xinhua news agency reported. Cyprus' Defence Ministry said the two ministers held discussions regarding development and security situation in Ukraine, Cyprus and the wider Eastern Mediterranean region. Reznikov had told CyBC state television ahead of the meeting that Ukraine needed anti-aircraft systems and additional offensive arms. Cyprus' National Guard is armed with mostly Russian-made weapons, such as attack helicopters, tanks and armored trucks. Letymbiotis said Cyprus cannot afford to deprive its National Guard of any of its arms as it faces a 40,000-strong Turkish army, which controls the northern one third of the island since 1974. "The Republic of Cyprus has made it clear that it cannot contribute militarily (to Ukraine) as it cannot remain without arms," he said. Lagos, April 8 : At least 46 civilians were killed in an attack by armed bandits at a community in Nigeria's central state of Benue, an official said. Scores of residents were injured while others fled their houses in the attack, which occurred between Tuesday and Wednesday in the Umogidi community of the state, Bako Eje, chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, confirmed the attack to reporters on the phone in Makurdi, the state capital. According to him, the attackers invaded the community on Wednesday at about 4:15 p.m. local time shooting indiscriminately at everything in sight and killing 46 people, Xinhua news agency reported. Paul Hemba, special adviser on security to the state governor, also confirmed the latest attack and described the incident as "very tragic and painful". "The causality figure, from what I was told, was 46. But the figure may be higher because some people are still reported missing," he told reporters on the phone. Addressing journalists in the Nigerian capital of Abuja, Hyacinth Alia, state governor-elect, who tasked security agencies to find the killers, also sympathized with the families of the deceased and condoled with the entire community over the killing. "I am saddened over the killings, and I call on the government at all levels to be more proactive in addressing the security challenges in the state," he said. Armed attacks have been a primary security threat in Nigeria's northern and central regions, leading to deaths and kidnappings in recent months. Scholars from Eastern Europe and North America will convene for a two-week residency at the American University in Bulgaria in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria (pictured). While pandemic-related travel restrictions delayed many scholarly projects, this Summer Institute provides a crucial opportunity for scholars to advance their research and collaborate with one another. The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), in partnership with the Centre for Advanced Study Sofia (CAS), is pleased to announce 14 awardees of the inaugural Summer Institute for Scholars of East Central and Southeastern Europe (SISECSE). These talented scholars from Eastern Europe and North America will convene for a two-week residency June 1-15, 2023, at the American University in Bulgaria in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria. In addition to undertaking local fieldwork at regional archives, museum collections, communities, and historic sites, participating scholars will join collaborative writing workshops and engage in a series of interdisciplinary discussions on Scholarly Writing in the Digital Age. The 2023 participants represent a diverse range of institutions across the United States and Eastern Europe, including Kennesaw State University, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, University of Miami, and University of Sarajevo. Their research topics include how Eastern European philosophers address the concept of truth in the age of postmodern propaganda; the impact of forced migration on gender identities and roles of Ukrainian migrants in Bulgaria during the current Ukraine-Russia War; and an examination of the 1942 Novi Sad massacre and how the legacies of genocide and mass violence are reflected in the physical urban landscape. Learn more about the 2023 awardees and their projects. This is a critical region for understanding political, cultural, and religious transformation from antiquity to the present day, said ACLS President Joy Connolly. While pandemic-related travel restrictions delayed many scholarly projects, this Summer Institute provides a crucial opportunity for scholars to advance their research and collaborate with one another as they help build better understandings of the region, its contributions, challenges, and diverse communities. Formed in 2000, the Centre for Advanced Study Sofia has established itself as a beacon of freedom of research, scholarly excellence, and intellectual creativity in Bulgaria and the broader region of Southeastern Europe, said Centre Director Diana Mishkova. By bringing together, in close partnership with ACLS, East European and American scholars, this new program expands on the Centres expertise and networks in Eastern Europe to create more encompassing global visions in the humanities and the social sciences and stimulate dialogue across disciplines, research communities, and national academic traditions. The Summer Institute for Scholars of East Central and Southeastern Europe is made possible by a generous donation from Carl and Betty Pforzheimer. Additional Summer Institutes are planned for 2024 and 2025. The program builds on a long history of ACLS support for humanistic scholars and scholarship in Eastern Europe including the ACLS Humanities Program in Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine (1999-2010). Formed a century ago, the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is a nonprofit federation of 79 scholarly organizations. As the leading representative of American scholarship in the humanities and interpretive social sciences, ACLS upholds the core principle that knowledge is a public good. In supporting its member organizations, ACLS utilizes its $155+ million endowment and $37 million annual operating budget to expand the forms, content, and flow of scholarly knowledge, reflecting our commitment to diversity of identity and experience. ACLS collaborates with institutions, associations, and individuals to strengthen the evolving infrastructure for scholarship. In all aspects of our work, ACLS is committed to principles and practices in support of racial and social justice. The Centre for Advanced Study in Sofia is an independent institution with strong international and interdisciplinary orientation, promoting freedom of research and scholarly excellence in the humanities and the social sciences. Since its establishment in 2000, CAS has been attracting young talents and outstanding senior scholars by offering institutional conditions conducive to free pursuit of knowledge and dialogue in the framework of individual research fellowships or collaborative multi-disciplinary and cross-cultural enquiries. In partnership with other Institutes for Advanced Study, universities, scholarly and cultural associations, it works to re-establish the tradition of intellectual communities and to facilitate open critical debate and exchange of ideas on national and trans-national levels. Heather True, lead aide, Benchmark Senior Living at Haverhill Crossings To find an employee that spends a tremendous amount of quality time with our residents outside of their daily job is just really, really special. -Nick Barash, executive director, Benchmark Senior Living at Haverhill Crossings Benchmark, the largest senior housing provider in New England, today announced that Heather True of Haverhill, lead aide at Haverhill Crossings, a Benchmark assisted living and memory care community, has received the Benchmark 2023 Compassionate Caregiver Award, the companies highest honor. At Benchmarks 20th Annual Awards Gala held on March 9, 2023, True was selected out of over 5,000 associates for best fulfilling the companys mission of meeting individuals where they are and connecting them to the people, passions and things that matter most to them. She was recognized by residents and fellow associates for not only providing excellent care, but for going above and beyond with genuine comfort that builds trust. Residents expressed appreciation for Heather always being there to help, including for emotional support when they need a shoulder to lean on. When it comes to Being the Benchmark, there is no better associate than Heather, said Nick Barash, executive director of Benchmark Senior Living at Haverhill Crossings. To find an employee that spends a tremendous amount of quality time with our residents outside of their daily job is just really, really special. Each year, Benchmark asks their residents and families to nominate a caregiver to be honored. Over 350 nominations were submitted this year, including from Bill Barnes, a Haverhill Crossings resident who came to the community a year and a half ago for help when his late wife was struggling with Alzheimers. Heather was first on the scene to help me get comfortable, he said. However, the real test came five months later when my son died suddenly. When I told Heather she took me to my apartment and sat with me. We talked, hugged and cried. She was so compassionate. It was exactly what I needed at that time. True has been a Haverhill Crossings associate for over seven years. Before that, she was an inpatient rehabilitation assistant at Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital. I am so grateful for the work that Heather and all of our associates do every single day to transform lives through human connection, says Tom Grape, founder, chairman and CEO of Benchmark. Our annual awards gala is an opportunity for associates from across the Northeast to come together to celebrate our communities and colleagues who bring our purpose to life and live our values. This years award winners are truly exemplary, and I could not be prouder of all that we have accomplished together. # # # About Benchmark Senior Living Benchmark is New Englands largest senior living provider with 64 independent living, assisted living, memory care and continuing care communities and over 5,000 dedicated associates providing compassionate care and outstanding experiences throughout the Northeast. The Waltham, Mass.-based company was founded over 25 years ago by Tom Grape with the purpose of Transforming Lives Through Human Connection. Since then, Benchmark has continued to set the industry standard, having won over a hundred local, regional and national awards for its care, programs and as a top workplace. Benchmark has been named one of the Top Places to Work for 15 straight years in The Boston Globes annual employee-based survey and received repeated recognition in FORTUNEs Best Workplaces for Aging Services list. For more information, visit BenchmarkSeniorLiving.com. HablaCuba.com, a leading provider of international top-up services, is excited to announce an enchanting new promotion in partnership with CubaCel, the trusted and reliable mobile operator in Cuba. This limited-time offer brings an array of fantastic bonuses for customers topping up mobile accounts for their friends and family in Cuba, making it more affordable and delightful to stay connected. Why Choose This Promo? This captivating promotion offers a unique combination of value, convenience, and benefits for those looking to help their loved ones in Cuba stay connected. By choosing this magical promo, customers will enjoy incredible bonuses on top-ups, making it more affordable for their friends and family to keep in touch through voice calls, text messages, and data services. Additionally, customers will have the peace of mind knowing that they are using a reliable and trusted mobile operator in Cuba. 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KeepCalling has been listed by Inc 5000 as one of the fastest growing companies in the USA for 5 consecutive years. In 2015 the company registered a revenue increase of over 200% from 2011 to 2014. All the green is beautiful to look at, but as time passes, those weeds dry out and become a fire hazard. The long-awaited rain has broken the California drought cycle and thats a good thing for the most part, except that more rain means taller and denser weeds. For San Luis Obispo County the deadline for weed abatement is around June 1 depending on local fire department regulations, so now is the time to make an appointment with Ants Tractor Mowing. All the green is beautiful to look at, but as time passes, those weeds dry out and become a fire hazard. Its important to make the appointment for weed abatement now because: Local jurisdictions have laws requiring property owners to maintain their land and yards. Scheduling now means there is time to comply and avoid fines. Scheduling now can be more cost-effective than waiting until the last minute, as it can prevent more serious damage or complications from arising. A well-maintained property not only looks better but can also increase property values. Overgrown weeds can pose a safety hazard by blocking visibility, causing tripping hazards, and interfering with walkways and roads. Unattended weeds can attract pests, such as rodents and insects, which can cause further damage to your property. Overgrown weeds can negatively affect the natural resources in your area. By removing unwanted and overgrown weeds, healthy plants and vegetation grow better. Weed abatement services can help detect early signs of problems with your landscaping or property, such as diseased or damaged plants. Ants Tractor Mowing, the San Luis Obispo County weed abatement professionals, have the expertise and experience to safely and effectively remove weeds and unwanted vegetation, ensuring that your property is properly maintained. Weed abatement helps control wildfires by creating defensible space around buildings and on property by creating fire-safe and clear spaces around buildings, trees, shrubs, and more for the purpose of: Slowing or stopping the spread of a wildfire Giving you and your family time to get to safety if needed Giving firefighters a safe and effective area to work in to put out the fire Wildfires are fires that travel very quickly, burning vegetation, buildings, and everything else in their path. Any fire is always at risk of burning out of control. The more flammable material available to feed a fire, the faster and farther its going to burn before firefighters can get it under control. Thanks to modern technology, weed abatement has advanced far beyond the old ways of turning livestock loose in the yard, plowing up space around homes and barns, or the family spring ritual of hand raking, hand-pulling or scraping weeds away with hoes and shovels. The San Luis Obispo County weed abatement company uses the most effective tools to quickly and thoroughly eliminate weeds and overgrowth. Owner Anthony Elisarraras, born and raised on the Central Coast, acquired the company from his father, who started it with a recycled Caltrans mower in 2004. Since taking over the company, Anthony implemented protective equipment, updates equipment annually and regularly updates safety and abatement procedures to meet CalFire guidelines. Ants Tractor Mowing is a complete San Luis Obispo weed abatement service. Through integrity, hard work and quality service year after year, the company maintains an excellent work ethic, competitive pricing and works to protect the customers properties and homes year after year. The weed abatement services include: Weed eater services that are effective for spaces that are too small for a tractor, where there is landscaping to preserve or where more detailed weed abatement is needed, such as along fence lines. Other terms for weed eating include weed whacking, string or line trimming, edge trimming or whipper snipping, Mowing, accomplished with a tractor and a flail mower is a cost-effective and efficient method for removing and controlling weeds and shrubs on acreage, large lots, pastures, and other open spaces. Defensible space is the amount of space, defined in zones, that fire authorities advise is necessary to protect structures, property and lives in the event of a wildfire. Get a free online estimate and make your appointment now. Ants Tractor Mowing 330 Old Settler Rd, Paso Robles, CA 93446 (805) 203-0669 OperaWine 2023 group photo The wines selected for OperaWine represent the great diversity of the Italian wine regions and include both veteran producers who have been with us since the beginning, as well as selected producers appearing for the first time. The twelfth edition of OperaWine, Finest Italian Wines: Great Producers selected by Wine Spectator, was held on 1 April at the site of the former Gallerie Mercatali, an imposing post-industrial site that has been revitalized as a stunning conference and exhibition space. 130 top producers, selected by the American magazine Wine Spectator, were invited to share their wines with an exclusive audience of invited international journalists, sommeliers, wine experts, ambassadors, and educators. Once again, the event demonstrated the great diversity of Italian wine, showcasing the excellence of Italian wine to a domestic and international audience. Among the wines on offer were 96 reds, 25 whites, 7 sparkling, and 2 sweet wines, representing all 20 Italian regions. Commenting on this years event, Jeffery Lindenmuth, executive editor of Wine Spectator, said: The wines selected for OperaWine represent the great diversity of the Italian wine regions and include both veteran producers who have been with us since the beginning, as well as selected producers appearing for the first time. Stevie Kim, chief executive of Vinitaly International, said: A lot of work went on behind the scenes to ensure the success of this signature event. Bringing together some of the best Italian producers with the most influential figures in the global wine industry really is the best way to launch Vinitaly and sets the tone for the serious networking, dialogue, and trade that follows. Reflecting on the success of the event, Maurizio Danese, president of VeronaFiere, said: It was the most beautiful edition yet, but next year will be even better! ******* About Vinitaly: Vinitaly 2023 was held in Verona from 2-5 April 2023. The premiere event, OperaWine Finest Italian Wines: 100 Great Producers, took place on 1 April, on the eve of Vinitaly, and gave international wine professionals a unique opportunity to discover and taste the wines of the 130 Best Italian Producers, as selected by Wine Spectator. Since 1998 Vinitaly International has extended its global reach abroad, with the help of its strategic arm, Vinitaly International. In February 2014 Vinitaly International launched an educational project, the Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) with the aim of promoting and sharing the excellence and diversity of Italian wine around the globe. To date, there are 340 Certified Italian Wine Ambassadors of whom 16 are also Italian Wine Experts. About Wine Spectator: Wine Spectator is the worlds leading authority on wine. Anchored by Wine Spectator magazine, a print publication that reaches around three million readers worldwide, the brand also encompasses the most comprehensive wine site (http://www.winespectator.com), mobile platforms, and a series of signature events. Wine Spectator examines the world of wine from the vineyard to the table, exploring wines role in contemporary culture and delivering expert reviews of more than 15,000 wines each year. Parent company M. Shanken Communications, Inc., also publishes Cigar Aficionado, Whisky Advocate, Market Watch, Shanken News Daily, and Shankens Impact Newsletter. PTI Fact Check: No, the women in photos are not Bangladeshi freedom fighters; Social media posts shared with false claims New Delhi, Apr 6 (Abhinav Gupta / Pratyush Ranjan PTI Fact Check): A Facebook user shared a set of two photos one monochrome and the other coloured of four women carrying rifles on a jeep and claimed that they were freedom fighters from the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War who recreated the image after over 50 years. In its investigation, the PTI Fact Check Desk found that the black-and-white photo was clicked in 1961, a decade before the Bangladesh Liberation War. Also, the women in the set of images were not freedom fighters. The collection of photos was shared on social media with false claims. Claim A Facebook user shared a combination of two photos, both showing four women carrying rifles on a jeep. The user claimed that the women were Bangladeshi freedom fighters from 1971 (the period of the Bangladesh Liberation War) who recreated the same photo after over 50 years. Four Bangladeshi freedom fighters recreate their 1971 photograph in the same Willy's Jeep, read the March 25 post with more than 2600 likes. Here is the link and archive link to the post, and below is a screenshot of the same: Investigation Starting the investigation, the Desk conducted a Google Reverse Image Search on the photo. The search results led to a Mar 28 Facebook post, which carried the same picture with a similar claim. Here is the link and archive link to the post, and below is a screenshot of the same: One of the users commented on the post claiming that the women were forcefully converted to Islam. Below is a screenshot of the comment. The Desk also came across a similar Twitter post with the same photo and claim. Here is the link and archive link to the post with over 300K views. We also found that the same photo had been shared on social media in March 2021, claiming that the women in the picture had been converted to Islam by the time they recreated the moment. Here is the link and archive link to one such Twitter post. The Desk then customised the Google Reverse Image Search with relevant keywords, which led us to a Pinterest post, which carried the black-and-white photo with the caption: Women are posing with a gun in a village trip. Bangladesh (1965) Photo courtesy- Renan Ahmed. Here is the link to the page, and below is a screenshot of the same: We also found the same black-and-white photo shared by a Facebook page named Bangladesh Old Photo Archive on July 19, 2013. Here is the link to the post, and below is a screenshot of the same: The Desk noticed that both Pinterest and the Bangladesh Old Photo Archive attributed the photo to Renan Ahmed. Since the same person was tagged in the Facebook post, we scanned his profile and found the same black-and-white shared with the caption 1961. Here is the link to the August 2020 post, and below is a screenshot of the same: Further scanning the profile, we found that Renan had shared more photos of his grandmother Rokeya Ahmed. On Aug 26, 2020, Renan shared an obituary post for his grandmother, a day after she passed away. Here is the link to the post, and below is a screenshot of the same: The Desk noticed that the woman in the photos was the same as the one sitting next to the woman in the drivers seat in the coloured photo shared in viral social media posts. Below is a combination image comparing the two photos: In the next part of the investigation, the Desk contacted Tasmia Nehreen Ahmed, the granddaughter of Rokeya Ahmed, who outrightly rejected the claim that the women in the photos were freedom fighters. Stating that the original monochrome photo was clicked in 1961, she left the share of them converting to Islam. This family photo of the Ahmed family has caused quite a stir for two reasons, one of which was wrongly shared by an outsider to our family, who claimed the photograph was taken during Bangladesh's Liberation War. My grandfather, Mr Alauddin Ahmed, captured this image on one of his and our grandfathers' hunting trips it was pure fun! The first snap was in 1961, and the next photo 50 years later saw us all recreating the same pose, Tasmia told PTI. Sadly, two grandmothers in the pictures have since passed away. Recently, during my cousins brother's wedding celebrations, we thought it would be a nice tribute to recreate this image again; however, it seems somebody outside of our family got wind of it and spread an inaccurate story that it was taken during wartime this is not true! I'd also like to add that our family has always been Muslim there's never been any change in religion. My grandfather captured this unique shot as a keepsake, she added. The Desk also reached out to Renan Ahmed for a response. The story will be updated as and when it is received. Subsequently, the Desk concluded that the women in the viral photos were not freedom fighters from the Bangladesh Liberation Movement of 1971. Also, none of the women all Muslims ever converted their religion. Claim Four women freedom fighters from the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War recreated a photo of them sitting with rifles in a jeep after 50 years. When the first photo was clicked, the women were Hindus and later converted to Islam. Fact The original black-and-white photo was clicked in 1961, 10 years before the Bangladesh Liberation War. None of the four women was a freedom fighter, and neither did they convert their religion. Conclusion Several social media users shared two photos one monochrome and the other coloured of four women recreating a photograph after 50 years. The users claimed that the older photo was clicked in 1971 and that the women were freedom fighters from the Bangladesh Liberation War, who were originally Hindus and later converted to Islam. The Desk found in its investigation that neither the women were freedom fighters nor they had any connection to the 1971 Liberation War. We also found that all four women were from the same Muslim family and never converted their religion. The photos were shared in social media posts with false claims. You can contact PTI Fact Check on WhatsApp Number +91-8130503759 and share any claim or social media post you think is essential to fact-check and want us to verify. PTI Fact Check: Photo of former Gujarat University Vice-Chancellor shared on social media with false claim New Delhi, Apr 6 (Abhinav Gupta / Pratyush Ranjan PTI Fact Check): A verified Twitter user shared a collage of two photos one of former Gujarat University Vice-Chancellor K S Shastri along with dates 22-08-1980 to 13-07-1981 written on the image and the other of Prime Minister Narendra Modis Masters degree, signed by the former VC in 1983. The user claimed when Shastri passed away in 1981 and how his signature was on the degree issued two years later. The PTI Fact Check Desk found in its investigation that Shastri was alive, and the dates mentioned along with his photo showed his tenure at another university, not his dates of birth and death years. The social media post was shared with a false claim. Claim A verified Twitter user shared a collage of two photos one of Prime Minister Narendra Modis Masters degree and the other of former Gujarat University Vice-Chancellor K S Shastri, along with the dates 22-08-1980 to 13-07-1981 in brackets. The user questioned how the degree was signed by Shastri in 1983 when he passed away in 1981. K S 1981 ... ? the user wrote in the post, tagging PM Modi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvjind Kejriwal. An English translation of the post read: Vice Chancellor KS Shastri, who signed the Prime Minister's degree, had passed away in 1981...so how was the degree printed after that? The tweet, shared on April 5, has garnered over 1 million views, more than 8,000 likes and 3,000 retweets. the link and archive link to the tweet. Below is a screenshot of the tweet: Here isandto the tweet. Below is a screenshot of the tweet: Investigation Starting the investigation, the Desk scanned the comment section of the Twitter post and found several users claiming that the dates mentioned with Shastris photo were not of his birth and death but of his period of tenure at another varsity. here and here, and their screenshots can be seen below: Two such comments can be viewedand, and their screenshots can be seen below: Taking a cue from the comments, the Desk conducted a customised Google search with the keyword Professor KS Shatri, Gujarat University. The search results led to a PDF file uploaded on the official website of Gujarat University. The PDF showed the tenure of all the 17 Vice-Chancellors who have served at Gujarat University. PDF file, and below is a screenshot of the same: Here is the link to the, and below is a screenshot of the same: The Desk then conducted a Google Reverse Image Search on the photo of Shastri shared in the viral Twitter post. The search results led to the Veer Narmad South Gujarat University website, where the exact picture was displayed, along with his tenure as the varsity Vice-Chancellor. university page, and below is a screenshot of the same: Here is the link to the, and below is a screenshot of the same: Som-Lalit Education and Research Foundation and the Som-Lalit Institute of Business Management. Further, researching Shastri, the Desk found Professor Shastri listed on the advisory committees of theand the In the next part of the investigation, the Desk contacted Gujarat University and Som-Lalit Education and Research Foundation, seeking their responses on the viral claim. The story will be updated as and when they are received. Subsequently, the Desk concluded that the viral claim on Professor Shastris death was false. The dates mentioned along with his photo in the viral post showed his tenure at a university, not his birth and death dates. Claim Professor K S Shastri, whose signature can be seen on Prime Minister Narendra Modis Masters degree issued in 1983, passed away in 1981. Fact Professor K S Shastri is alive. The dates mentioned with his photo state his period of tenure at a university, and are not his birth and death dates. Conclusion A Twitter user shared a collage of two photos, one of which was of PM Modis Masters degree and the other of Professor K S Shastri, who signed the decree issued in 1983, with dates 22-08-1980 to 13-07-1981 on the photo. The user questioned how Professor Shastri signed the degree in 1983 when he passed away in 1981. In its investigation, the Desk found the claim regarding Professor Shastri to be false. The dates mentioned along with his photo showed his tenure at a different university, not his birth and death dates. The social media post was shared with a false claim. You can contact PTI Fact Check on WhatsApp Number +91-8130503759 and share any claim or social media post you think is essential to fact-check and want us to verify. OZARK Schools in Dale Countys and the city of Ozarks school systems are among the 122 schools in Alabama that have received 2023 Purple Star School designation, according to an announcement from the state department of education Thursday. Thursdays announcement means that all schools in the Dale County and Ozark City Schools are now recognized as Purple Star Schools in the two-year-old state department of education program that recognizes schools that show a major commitment to students and families connected to our nations military. As military families relocate to a new community and students transition between schools, the students are often faced with unique challenges, said State Superintendent Dr. Eric G. Mackey Thursday. Adapting to a new school, along with varying course offerings, schedules, and graduation requirements can be stressful. The 2023 Purple Star Schools in Dale County are Ariton High School, Dale County High School, George W. Long Elementary School, George W. Long High School, Midland City Elementary School and Newton Elementary School. South Dale Middle School and Ariton Elementary School were named to the inaugural Purple Star list last year. We are so excited that all of our schools are designated Purple Star Schools now, said Dale County Schools Superintendent Ben Baker. Its a status given to us by the state department of education for our ability to make the transition for military families easier and providing them support. Dale County is home to Fort Rucker, Baker said. A lot of our students have parents who serve our nation through Fort Rucker and were proud of that and proud to be able to support them. In Ozark, Lisenby Primary School and Mixon Intermediate School received the Purple Star designation this year. Carroll High School and D.A. Smith Middle School in Ozark were named to the inaugural Purple Star list. I think I speak for many in the community when I say that few things are more important than our relationship with Fort Rucker, said Ozark City Schools Superintendent Reeivice Girtman Thursday. With two of our school on the inaugural Purple Star Schools list, we were excited but we knew we had more work to do, so with the addition of our two elementary schools, we now have all four of the schools in our system recognized as Purple Star Schools in support of our military families. This means a tremendous amount to our system. Our board believes in supporting military children and so does our community, Girtman said. We are working very hard to strengthen our relationship with the leadership of Fort Rucker and I think that is shown by an increased attendance of students from Fort Rucker in Ozark City Schools in recent years. We want to continue to showcase all the wonderful things we have in our Ozark City School, Girtman said. Not only do we believe in supporting military children, we believe in supporting all children. The Purple Star Program, established by the state legislature with the passage of Act 2021-7, recognizes the efforts of the K-12 schools in the state that are committed and supportive of military students, and their families, as they transition to new homes and schools, Mackey said. We want to ensure every student who moves to Alabama is given every opportunity for academic growth and achievement and the Purple Star School Program helps families identify military-friendly schools and helps the schools become more prepared to address to the challenges facing these students. By the end of the first paragraph of Ruth Madievskys debut novel, All-Night Pharmacy (Catapult, July), theres no question you are in for a wild read. The story involves two sisters whose relationship is toxic and all-consuming, and Madievsky sets the stage with the voice of the unnamed narrator: Spending time with my sister, Debbie, was like buying acid off a guy you met on the bus. You never knew if it would end with you, euphoric, tanning topless on a fishing boat headed for Ensenada, or coming to in a gas station bathroom. The sisters share a grandmother who spins tales of pogroms in Russia and a paranoid, mentally unstable mother: Her moods were the weather of my life, the narrator recounts. She had a kaleidoscope of diagnoses no two psychiatrists could agree upon. Bound in a dangerous codependency, the two young women hit the L.A. clubs, consuming alcohol and unidentified drugs. They also play Wealthy Patron, a game where someone comes up with a weird, shitty thing a wealthy patron could pay to watch you do, and everyone else names a price. When its the turn of a skeletal hipster in wire-frame glasses, he taps his fingers on the table and says, Ive got one. How much would the wealthy patron have to pay to watch a stranger plug one of your nostrils and jizz in the other? Everyone groaned. The relationship with her sister is a mystery to the narrator and causes her endless anguish: How could I explain this thing between Debbie and me when I didnt fully understand it myself? My whole life, Id had this compulsion to watch over her. My presence didnt stop her from doing what she wanted, but I felt the need to play witness. It was spiritual, how she magnetized me. How, where she went, dynamite followed. Being Debbies sister was obliterating. But then Debbie disappears, and Sasha, a Jewish refugee from Moldova, arrives, presenting herself as a psychic, prepared to act as the narrators spiritual guide. Mina Hamedi at Janklow & Nesbit says she was looking for intergenerational trauma stories, sister stories, and complicated family stories when she was introduced to Madievsky by a friend, also a writer. Hamedi saw a first draft of All-Night Pharmacy in March 2020. I responded to the voice, she says. The unnamed narrator with this toxic relationship with her sister. Its toxic but she cant let go, the attachment is too strong. Theres this balance of humor with darkness. The immigrant experience in the story also appealed to Hamedithe connection to the past, where youre removed but its in your genes. Hamedi advised Madievsky to expand the text, then signed her as a client in February 2021. They worked on the book together, and in April 2021, it went out to 14 editors. Alicia Kroell at Catapult responded immediately.I didnt know Ruth, but I knew who she was, Kroell says. She was everywhere. Ruth is active on social media, and I had seen her pieces on Literary Hub. I was quickly blown away by the manuscript. Kroell points to the nimble writing and the funny but difficult subject of family. She knew she wanted the book. She showed it around and got quick yeses from everyone who saw it. The story was strange and fresh, she says. Ruth is so good with imagery. The lines stay with you long after you close the book. Theres so much emotionthe sisters relationship is so noxious yet so intimate. Kroell had a call with Madievsky and made the deal for North American rights in June 2021. Madievsky moved to Los Angeles from Moldova as a Jewish refugee when she was two years old. Her love of writing started young. Reading good books made me feel human, happy to be alive, all of it: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, she tells me. So I wanted to do it all myself. Shes written for major newspapers and magazines and in 2016 published a book of poems, Emergency Brake. If I like reading it, I want to write it! she says. Madievsky studied biology as an undergrad at USC and then graduated from USC's pharmacy school in 2017. She explains that her parents were very supportive of my writing, but as immigrants, wanted me to have a profession. Shes presently a clinical pharmacist at UCLA Health and says she enjoys her work. Im an extrovert. Writing and working as a medical professional are different aspects of my personality. I studied pharmacy and took creative writing classes, and there was this angst until I realized I could do both. All-Night Pharmacy started out as short stories, and Madievsky thought it would be a novel of linked stories. She tells me about sending her stories to T.C. Boyle, who would come to meet with creative writing students at USC, where she was getting a doctorate in pharmacy. I just signed up by email to meet with him, and every semester, from 2014 to 2016, I casually sent him a new story. Looking for an agent, Madievsky sent out what material she had. I thought it was a book, but it came to about 42 pages! she laughs. An agent along the way suggested it would work better as a novel. I focused and revised it, Madievsky says. I engineered the stories, put meat on the bones. I felt lucky that Alicia responded in a few weeks and understood what I was doing. She got the trauma of generations and the ambiguity. I wanted to write the next Jesus Son, to write with a voice that pressed me down to my red blood cells. Madievsky expects that the book will appeal to readers who like complicated women, and also that some will love it and some will hate it. She did, after all, devise the Madievsky Rule in a 2020 Lit Hub article: 3.5 stars on Goodreads is the sweet spot for contemporary literary fiction written by women about women. I expect All-Night Pharmacy will hit that sweet spot. Via news of an unexpected victory in Idaho this week as Republican governor Brad little vetoed HB 314, the so-called Children's School and Library Protection Act of 2023. Among its provisions, the bill, which passed both houses of the Idaho legislature with strong ( but not veto-proof ) majorities, would have empowered parents to seek $2,500 rewards from libraries for making supposedly inappropriate materials available to minors. "This legislation makes sweeping, blanket assumptions on materials that could be determined as 'harmful to minors' in a local library, and it will force one interpretation of that phrase onto all the patrons of the library," Little wrote in his veto statement, adding that allowing "any parent, regardless of intention, to collect $2,500 in automatic fines" would create "a library bounty system that will only increase the costs local libraries incur, particularly rural libraries," costs that would then be "forced onto property taxpayers of Idaho or cause the libraries to close to minors altogether." A statement from the Idaho Library Association thanks the governor for his action. "Although this legislative session is over, there is still work to do," the statement reads. "We hope that Idahoans who care about their libraries and the freedom of parents to choose what is right for their own families will continue to engage with lawmakers on this issue. "Freedoms are only as strong as the will to exercise them. Libraries are an embodiment of the quintessential American value of freedom of speech. The ILA is extremely proud to stand with other Idahoans in supporting the values of intellectual freedom and open access to information for the great state of Idaho." EveryLibrary executive director John Chrastka praised the advocacy efforts of Idaho librarians. "The Idaho Library Association decided to actively and visibly fight for what they believe this legislative session," Chrastka told PW, adding an important observation: "When we are working in political environments where one vote andone vetois all that stands between the right to read and onerous censorship in our libraries, the time for quiet campaigns is over." As the Idaho Press reports, the bill's failure comes even as Idaho lawmakers made national headlines for passing two other controversial measures, which Little signed this week: "one that criminalized transgender health care for minors and another that bans taking a minor across state lines for an abortion without parental consent." In Texas, as I reported for Publishers Weekly this week, freedom to read advocates also scored an important legal victory. Federal judge Robert Pitman found that library board members in Llano County infringed the constitutional rights of readers in the community by unilaterally removing books they deemed inappropriate from library shelves. In a preliminary injunction, Pitman ordered books be returned to library shelves and blocked the library from removing any other books while the case continues. In a statement to CNN, Ellen Leonida, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, called the decision a ringing victory for democracy. Llano County has appealed the order to U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. A report in the local Daily Trib reports that the library has complied with the order, with most of the books swiftly returned to the shelves (where they were almost immediately checked out). Although libraries are afforded great discretion for their selection and acquisition decisions, the First Amendment prohibits the removal of books from libraries based on either viewpoint or content discrimination, Pitman wrote in his 26-page decision. But perhaps the most important message delivered from the lawsuit is a warning to library boards around the country: If you intend to censor your library collections, prepare to pay up. That's a point Alyssa Rosenberg makes in an excellent Washington Post editorial this week (which quotes officials from EveryLibrary). "Library supporters can point out that censorship has costs and wastes public resources," she writes. "Libraries have been sued for removing books or restricting access to them on the grounds that it is illegal for public facilities to favor one political viewpoint over another. Towns cant ban books because theyre Marxist, or use internet filters that restrict access to gay rights websites while letting users browse conversion therapy ministries. Even if a library or school system wins a case, defending it costs money, and damages can be substantial." Meanwhile, the Texas Tribune reports that the Texas Senate has passed Senate Bill 1601, which would "defund public libraries where drag queens are allowed to read to children," and Senate Bill 12 which would "bar kids from drag shows if the performances are overly lewd and lascivious," though it's not defined what would constitute lewd behavior. "For months, Texas Senators have said their bills targeting drag shows are meant to protect children from sexually explicit performances," the article states, while opponents counter that "the Republican proposals are helping to fuel an overall backlash against dragas performers have increasingly seen protests and threats coordinated against them by activists and extremist groups." Ive known librarians who have saved lives by handing the right book to the right child at the right time. And for that one kid, finding themselves in a book can be a lifesaver. In the Austin American Statesman, one Texas librarian attempts to explain the commitment librarians have to the freedom to read. "No matter who is browsing through a school or public librarys collection, they should find things they will like (that other people might hate), and they should find things they will hate (that other people might like). You cannot have one without the other because these are public libraries and libraries in public schools, and that means we provide materials for everyone in the public." In Indiana, NPR affiliate WFYI reports that the Indiana House Education Committee heard testimony this week on an amendment to a bill that would expose librarians and teachers to criminal prosecution if they are found to share material deemed harmful to minors. "While lawmakers have drafted legislation to address these concerns, theyve presented little evidence to suggest its a widespread problem," the reports notes, a point raised by lawmakers opposed to the measure. We are not the court of appeals from parents who are unhappy with school board decisions, Rep. Ed Delaney (D-Indianapolis) said, according to the report. But if we were the Court of Appeals, we would want evidence. What parent? What school? What book? What hearing? What process? Not this vague discontent. The amendment would also sweep in public libraries, the report states. Also in Indiana, an editorial in the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette comes out in opposition to the state's 'harmful to minors' library bill. "I am wholly in favor of parents having a voice in their childrens education. I am not aware of a school corporation in my realm of experience that hasnt adopted a policy or a procedure for parents to lodge complaints regarding materials used in the classroom or housed in school libraries," writes contributor Anna Spalding. "I am not in favor of a law that tells a librarian or teacher 'if you dont get rid of those books I dont like, Im going to see that you get put in jail and pay a hefty fine.'" The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the Missouri Senate is will not support a house plan to defund the state's libraries. "Sen. Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, said Tuesday that the panel will place $4.5 million back in the budget, which covers spending for the fiscal year beginning July 1," the paper reports. The move comes after lawmakers in the Missouri House of Representatives approved a plan to cut funding for public libraries as payback for Missouri librarians joining with the ACLU in a lawsuit that challenges the constitutionality of a new 'harmful to minors' state law, Senate Bill 775, which bans libraries and teachers from sharing allegedly 'sexually explicit' material under the threat of criminal prosecution. Variety reports that legendary author (and Florida resident) Judy Blume, no stranger to book bans, offered a "passionate" defense of the freedom to read (and had some choice words for her governor, Ron DeSantis) at Varietys Power of Women luncheon this week. "The reality is, we are right back where we were in the 80s except its the 80s on steroids," Blume told attendees, pointing out that "its not the moral majority or only the religious right" behind the current wave of book bans, but the government. "They are criminalizing teachers and librarians. Its not just that theyre threatening their jobs, theyre threatening them," Blume said. "Ive known librarians who have saved lives by handing the right book to the right child at the right time. And for that one kid, finding themselves in a book can be a lifesaver. In her weekly censorship roundup for Book Riot, Kelly Jensen asks a sobering question for a nation where lawmakers in many states think books are more dangerous to kids than assault weapons. "When book banning started to heat up two years ago, many wondered how long until a library worker would be seriously hurt over defending the right to read. Now, we know its not going to be long at all," she writes. "Over the last month, several libraries have faced bomb and shooting threats as a direct result of the books housed in their collections. In the Indianapolis Star Oseye Boyd weighs in on the ongoing drama over its director position. "The Indianapolis Public Library boards continuous dysfunction has worn thin and is now to the point of exasperation," Boyd writes. In South Carolina, another sobering library board story: the Greenville News reports that a well-qualified local leader nominated to fill a library board vacancy was rejected after a conservative city council member circulated an email warning the nominee "would advocate for children having access to 'adult' materials" in the library. From Inside Higher Education, a look at the new pain points librarians face in the wake of the pandemic. "In recent years, students appear to have shifted the ways in which they engage with the library and librarians," writes Susan D'Agostino. "'Were teaching this generation of post-pandemic, traumatized students who dont have confidence in information,' said Christina Trunnell, assistant dean of the library at Montana State University. 'Our core foundational information literacy programs that we teach dont reach those students anymore.' And finally this week, in Pennsylvania, an important, passionate editorial by opinion page contributor (and former teacher) Jill Sunday Bartoli in the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. "The war against truth, understanding, human decency, and a full and rich education for all of our children is very well-funded and organized. Dark money is behind the relentless attacks on our teachers and schools (and school boards) who are burning out at record numbers," Bartoli notes. The way to push back? Show up. "Despite the rampant and vindictive culture wars, and despite anti-teacher and anti-public school propaganda, we are still a representative democracyas long as we all participate actively," Bartoli concludes. "We must all find the ways that we can move ahead together, fully awake and committed to the important democratic education that our youth deserve. We can do this togetherleft, right and centerfor our teachers, librarians, public schools, and democracy. And most of all, for our children and grandchildren." The Week in Libraries is a weekly opinion and news column. News, tips, submissions, questions or comments are welcome, and can be submitted via email. Previous columns can be viewed here. Jacqueline Hollands debut, The God of Endings, offers a reflective and poetic look at the nature of immortality. In the 1830s, Ana watches the rest of her village succumb to tuberculosis. Before the disease can take her, too, an older gentleman claiming to be her grandfather changes her into a vampire like himself. A century-and-a-half later, Ana has taken the name of Collette and travels to her grandfathers country estate at his request, as hes in need of a caretaker. Shes happy enough running a preschool out of his mansionuntil her hunger grows suddenly insatiable and nightmares from her past reappear. Hollands vampires lean philosophical, struggling with immense grief and loneliness, and her magical world is layered with mystery. Anyone who writes a vampire novel, as I have, had better be prepared for lots of canny questions about the rules of vampirism. Can your vampires go out in daylight? Can they see their reflections in a mirror? How do they feel about garlic on their pizza? Vampire fans are a uniquely passionate bunch and are often experts on the tropes and rules of vampirism that theyve gleaned from all the popular fiction. But what if I told you that vampires, across the world and through the centuries, have broken all the rules and taken forms you wouldnt believe? Like, for instance, the vampires of the Caribbean, who were old women believed to detach their fanged heads at night to send them flying off in search of victims while their inert bodies rested hungrily at home? Or what about the long tradition of vampire mothers, women who died in childbirth and then came back from the grave to collect their children one by one? Vampire terror is a long, rich, and surprisingly varied tradition that spans the globe and traverses both literature and history. If you want to take your vampire expertise to the next level and get a delightful case of the creeps at the same time, Ive got seven books for you. 1. Vampires and Vampirism, The Vampire: His Kith and Kin, and The Vampire in Lore and Legend by Montague Summers When I was researching vampires for The God of Endings, I came upon the works of Montague Summers, an author who himself possesses the aura of a creature of lore and legend. In the early 1900s, he was respected for his scholarship on the theatre, but he also went about dressed as a priest (despite having been denied ordination by church superiors due to his obsession with the occult) and left a trail of rumor and scandal in his wake. Whatever you make of the man, his work researching and exhaustively cataloguing the creatures of our collective nightmares (he studied vampires, witches, and werewolves) is undeniably thorough and bewitching. His writing traces the earliest appearances of vampires in ancient civilizations like Babylonia and Assyria, analyzes their representation in literature, and reports with an unnerving journalistic deadpan the vampire rumors of far-flung villages. Strangely, I found that reading account after account of handed-down and allegedly eye-witness vampire encounters in the Balkans, for instance, disturbed my sleep more than any work of pure vampire fiction ever has. 2 Food for the Dead: On the Trail of New Englands Vampire by Michael E. Bell If Montague Summers impresses one with how far back the tales of vampires go, folklorist Michael Bells work impresses with how near they come. Food for the Dead tells the astonishing story of the New England vampire panic, or panics, that took place intermittently along the eastern seaboard from 1793 to as recently as 1892! Isolated communities ravaged by tuberculosis became convinced that their buried loved ones were rising (or worse, crawling) out of the earth at night to drain the blood of the living and drag them down into the grave beside them. The measures these folks took to ward off the malevolent dead will sound familiar if youve read The God of Endings, and horrify you if you havent. Why every school kid knows about the Salem witch trials but has never heard of the New England vampire panic is beyond me. Its a truly extraordinary story. 3 Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno Garcia Enough with the sinister-eastern-European-in-a-coffin vampire! (I mean, I like those too, but) How about some vampires descended from ancient Aztec blood drinkers? How about some leather-jacketed narco-blood vampire cartels shooting it out amid the shadows and the glow of a neon-noir Mexico City? Sound good? Of course it does. My next recommendation for a vampire story like none youve encountered before is Garcias wildly original Certain Dark Things, which, aside from being a wild romp, gets bonus points for taking its title from one of my favorite Pablo Neruda poems. 4 We Are All Monsters Here by Kelley Armstrong This suggestion comes with a trigger warning. Anyone who lived through the pandemic (which is anyone reading this) is guaranteed to experience some discomfiting flashbacks while reading Armstrongs unsettling short story, the tale of a plague of vampirism that sweeps the world, inciting lockdowns, distrust in the government, and suspicion of ones neighbors and closest friends. Its a well-crafted bit of divination published in Seize the Night in 2015, and Nightmare Magazine in 2019. It's one of those stories that makes the line between fiction and reality feel a little too porous for my comfort. 5 Let The Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist The vampire genre can feel, at times, overly constrained by strict tropes, but Lindqvist doesnt let that cramp his style in this absolutely unpredictable novel. Key to that freshness, I think, is the deep and vibrant character work that suffuses Lindqvists tale, which centers on two lonely outsiders: Oskar, an adolescent boy and victim of brutal schoolyard bullying, and Eli, the strange, frail-looking girl who moves into the apartment next door, but only comes out at night. Neither of these characters are as simple as a one-line description would suggest, and no other character in the book is either! A large cast brimming with so much complexity makes for a horror reading experience that feels intricately textured and vividly real. Lindqvist has been compared to Stephen King, and I, for one, can definitely see the resemblance. Speaking of the King 6 Salems Lot by Stephen King How could anyone read Bram Stokers Dracula and not wonder, what if the counts sinister plan to invade London and populate it with vampires had actually worked out? Or what if he picked up his operation and moved it somewhere more discreet, like, say, to a rural New England town already wasted away to nearly nothing? This is just the scenario King plays out in his second, and purportedly favorite, published novel. The thing I love about Salems Lot is the way King uses a roving point of view and a playful temporal structure to make the town itself a character every bit as compelling as the nefarious invader bent on its destruction. During a trip to Taiwan last week, we visited the Jing-Mei White Terror Memorial Park, a former prison that has been converted into a human rights museum. The site serves as a stark reminder of the countrys remarkable transformation. In just over 40 years, Taiwan has evolved from an authoritarian state where political opponents of the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) dictatorship were imprisoned without due process, tortured, and executed into what is now a thriving multiparty democracy. These democratic advances are exceptional in a global context of eroding democracy and rising authoritarianism. Taiwan received a score of 94 out of 100 in the latest edition of Freedom in the World, Freedom Houses annual report on political rights and civil liberties. That puts it well ahead of many other democracies, including the United States. Peaceful transfers of power between rival parties have occurred regularly since the first opposition presidential victory in 2000, and Taiwan is notable for hosting one of the freest online environments in Asia. It is Taiwans success as a free and democratic society that is most threatening to the increasingly repressive regime in China, where President Xi Jinping during his decade in office has crushed the already limited space for civil society and independent expression. Beijing, which characterizes the island as a renegade province under malign Western influence, is dramatically upgrading its military preparedness, with Xi reportedly instructing his forces to develop the capacity for a potential invasion of Taiwan by 2027. But whether the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) ultimately pursues armed aggression or simply continues its recent campaign of political and economic pressure, it is clear that the goal is to extinguish Taiwans democracy and ensure that its 23 million people come under Beijings rule. The people of Taiwan certainly would not consent to that outcome. The overwhelming majority wish to maintain the countrys autonomy, according to opinion polls. Although many are of Han Chinese ethnicity, the island has not been controlled by mainland China since 1895, and its current residents prize their hard-won prosperity, their personal liberties, and their lively elections and democratic institutions. One country, two systems, the supposedly accommodating model for unification proposed by Beijing, is no longer credible in Taiwan given the sobering example of Hong Kong, where the CCP has steadily demolished local autonomy, the rule of law, and basic freedoms in recent years despite its promises to preserve them. Hong Kong was a wake-up call, Jaw-Nian Huang, a professor at National Chengchi University, told us. 'One country, two systems' does not work. A number of Taiwanese leaders with whom we met also emphasized that the fate of Moscows invasion of Ukraine could have serious implications for Taiwan. From their perspective, it is critical for Ukraine to succeed, as the Chinese leadership is closely observing the conflict and drawing lessons for its own strategic planning. The parallels are indeed striking. The regimes in Russia and China share a deep hostility to the United States and to the ideals of free self-government, and each is determined to crush the democratic progress of its ethnic neighbor whose gains could inspire demands for similar changes at home. Americans are generally supportive of providing military supplies to Ukraine and Taiwan, and both Kevin McCarthy, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and his Democratic Party predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, have now met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, rebuffing objections from Beijing. Still, given our domestic policy challenges as well as our traumatic experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan, many Americans are reluctant to accept that the global struggle for freedom and democracy is a vital national interest of the United States. What our visit to Taiwan reinforced is that solidarity with existing democracies in the face of authoritarian pressure is vital for the defense of their freedoms and for the preservation of our own. Many observers have noted the worlds dependence on Taiwan for the production of semiconductors and advanced computer chips, which are essential to a wide range of industries, including defense manufacturing. But as a front-line democracy, the country offers additional expertise in strengthening democratic institutions in part by confronting historical injustices and resisting authoritarian influence, including through cutting-edge techniques for countering disinformation campaigns. These skills are sorely needed in the United States and many other settings. Support for threatened democracies like Taiwan is both a moral imperative and a matter of strategic interest for Americans. The United States and its allies must not waver in their commitment to deter authoritarian aggression, ensuring not only that Ukraine is able to defeat Moscows invasion, but also that Taiwan has what it needs to protect its impressive achievements as a free society. Michael J. Abramowitz is president of Freedom House. Wendell L. Willkie II is an adjunct fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a Freedom House emeritus board member. He served in senior positions in the Reagan and G. W. Bush administrations. The views expressed are the authors' own. Details on new additions to the Star Wars universe were announced at the 15th Star Wars Celebration at the ExCel Centre in London. ADVERTISEMENT Among the big announcements was that Daisy Ridley will make her return to Star Wars. She'll star in at least three new films set in the time "15 years after events of the Rise of Skywalker," she said at the event. Tony Gilroy who created Andor, the origin story for the Rebel Alliance, announced that the Disney+ series is expected to debut its second season on the streamer in August 2024. Stars Diego Luna and Andy Serkis joined him onstage for the reveal of a teaser trailer not yet released to the public. "We know exactly where we're going so you know what you have to deliver," Gilroy told Deadline. "It was a decision born of survival, but it's been creatively potent. We're very pleased, it's good to know there's an ending coming." Rosario Dawson and Natasha Liu Bordizzo introduced the teaser trailer for Ahsoka, the Mandalorian spinoff where Dawson stars as Ahsoka Tano a Jedi in exile. Mary Elizabeth Winstead was announced as the character Hera Syndulla. "So often, I take pieces from a character, and then I inject so much of myself into things of my own experience and what I have to draw from," Dawson told Deadline in 2022. "But this is absolutely going in the other direction and she is so influencing me. It's just been so powerful to be on that journey." Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Jodie Turner-Smith and Carrie-Anne Moss star in The Acolyte, a new original Star Wars series and a teaser was shown at the event. Series creator Leslye Headland says The Acolyte is set in the earliest time period for a show in the Star Wars live-action universe. She described it as a mix between Frozen and Kill Bill with the vision of Japanese director Akira Kurosawa thrown in. Emmy Award winner Lee Jung-jae also stars. Jude Law plays a Jedi in Skeleton Crew, which covers a group of children who travel the galaxy. Law and Jon Favreau introduced a clip showing the children on spaceships and speeders. Cast members include Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Kyriana Kratter and Robert Timothy Smith, who Law introduced. Per the production, here's what is known: Though the plot has remained under wraps, the series is set in the time after Return of the Jedi reconstruction, the same time period as The Mandalorian. Show creators Jon Watts and Chris Ford were also behind Spider-Man: Homecoming. 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! The trailer for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny was also shown at the Star Wars Celebration. KG Mobility's Torres is seen at an exhibition in South Korea. Photo courtesy of Naver South Korea auto manufacturer SsangYong is set to return to the Vietnam market under the name KG Mobility with sales set to begin next year. KG Mobility has recently signed a deal with its Vietnamese partner Kim Long Motor to export completely-knocked-down (CKD) cars to Vietnam, according to Yonhap News Agency. A CKD unit is exported in parts and then assembled in the target country. The company is set to ship the first three SUV models, Tivoli, Korando and Torres, in 2024, and two other models in 2025. Kim Long Motor is a unit of the Futa Group, also known as Phuong Trang, a popular transportation company in Vietnam. A representative of Futa Group told VnExpress that there has not been any official information about the partnership. Kim Long Motors in 2019 said it would build a car manufacturing and assembly plant on an area of 160 hectares in Thua Thien Hue in central Vietnam. The first phase of the plant is set to cost VND3.3 trillion. It will have a capacity of 16,000 units per year. KG Mobility bought out SsangYong in June last year, ending the brands 35 years of existence. SsangYong started selling cars in Vietnam in 2000 but left the country in 2018 due to low sales and unfavorable policies. So far the most popular South Korean auto brands in Vietnam are Kia and Hyundai. The Athens community didnt have to turn on their TV on Friday night to catch the longest-running game show in television history. Instead, Georgians from near and far gathered at The Classic Center on April 7 for the chance to win anything from some cash to a brand new car at The Price is Right Live, in town for one night only. Attendees of the Athens Transgender Day of Remembrance met at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens on Nov. 20 to commemorate trans individuals across the world who lost their lives to violence within the last year. If you have seen Zwigato, Param Kumars story will sound familiar. Laid off from his job as a repairman at a Gurugram-based water purifier provider, he now delivers groceries and food for a mobile-based delivery app, in Delhi. Kumar, who started making deliveries last August, told Business Standard that he is working longer hours than his older salaried job as an RO repairman, and has no paid leaves or health insurance. Kumar is part of Indias estimated 7.7 million-strong force of gig workers. The number of gig workers is expected to grow to 23.5 million by 2029-30, according to a Niti Aayog report. Another recent report by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry also points out that nearly 42.24 per cent of Indias start-ups are looking to hire temporary and gig workers. Arif Siddiqui, a delivery partner for Blinkit, said that more than 45 men from his village near Jhajjar, Haryana, have taken up gig work as delivery personnel or drivers with firms like Ola, Uber, Zomato, Swiggy and Dunzo. Some are driving cabs while looking for permanent jobs or earning money in the big city as their fields lay fallow for the next sowing season, Siddiqui explained. But is it easy to hunt for permanent jobs while working temporary ones? Both Kumar and Siddiqui work seven days a week. Kumar starts work at 8 am, and Siddiqui at 9. Both work beyond midnight. With such all-consuming schedules, gig workers hardly get time for family or divert their energy to other creative processes. Moreover, the average daily earning of the gig worker remains paltry. Counting the tips, and deducting fuel prices, my daily earnings hardly exceed Rs 600. "The monthly income barely scratches Rs 20,000, Kumar said. In 2020, the government of India consolidated 44 labour codes into four. The Social Security Code of 2020 offered guidelines to companies for gig work. It included gig workers in its very definition of social security. It said, Social security means the measure of protection afforded to employees, unorganised workers and gig workers. Since the subject of labour is on the concurrent list, the rules under the Social Security Code need to be drafted by the Centre as well as states. The delay is due to the state governments being in the process of formulating rules and there is a conflict between the respective representatives of employers and employees over some provisions in the draft rules. "As of July 2022, 25 states/Union Territories had framed draft rules under the Social Security Code, 2020. "As a step towards implementation of the labour codes, the Centre has taken the step to pre-publish the draft rules, inviting comments of all stakeholders, Nandini Gore, senior partner, Karanjawala & Co, explained. The Social Security Code draft rules provide for Aadhaar-based registration, including self-registration by gig workers, on the central government portal. Gig workers would be eligible to register if they are aged between 16 and 60 years and their companies would need to pay a monthly contribution. Further, the state government and the aggregators were made responsible to register eligible gig workers, who were not enrolled under the Employees State Insurance or Employees Provident Fund schemes, on the central government portal. Shaik Salauddin, national general secretary of the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers, said that the central government was yet to implement the codes or act on suggestions that the federation had sent in lieu of the labour code drafts. Thanks to the delay, Kumar or Siddiquis hectic workdays do not fetch them paid leave, health benefits, pension, medical cover or a provident fund. However, Sachin Alug, CEO of talent solutions firm NLB Services, said that the increasing dependency of companies on gig workers was forcing them to adopt a more empathetic approach. Companies today are adopting gig workers as an integral cog in the system and offering new benefits for them. "The formerly transactional relationship between employers and gig workers is being repackaged for higher engagement of top professionals, he said. According to the Annual Insights Report by RazorpayX Payroll, from October 2021 to September 2022 there had been 62 per cent increase in the number of gig workers earning between Rs 85,000 and Rs 150,000 and 69 per cent increase for those earning over Rs 150,000. In fact, several companies incentivise contract workers with pay above market rate and other perks recognising the trade-off that both companies and contract staff make. "The business need to create nimble and agile teams is here to stay, said Jaymin Bhuptani, founder and CEO of Uplers, a tech-talent matchmaking firm. We already offer the most essential benefits and provide safety and health care support to delivery partners. "We have provided inputs to the government and trust them with the successful implementation of the code, a Zomato spokesperson told Business Standard. Balasubramanian A, business head at Teamlease Services, also pointed out that some firms were covering them under third-party insurance policies such as group medical cover, group personal accident cover and group term life insurance that are crucial considering many gig/platform workers are required to travel extensively. Companies such as BigBasket and Flipkart have also committed to ensure that all gig workers on their platforms earn at least the hourly local minimum wage after factoring in their work-related costs. An Uber spokesperson said its registered drivers have access to on-trip insurance and micro-credits through the platform, among other benefits. We also launched Indias first driver advisory council last year to facilitate a two-way dialogue between Uber and drivers to address critical issues and improve drivers platform experience. The governments e-Shram portal also aims to extend the benefits of social security schemes to migrant workers, construction workers, and gig and platform workers. If a worker registered on the e-Shram portal meets with an accident, he will be eligible for Rs 200,000 in case of death or permanent disability, and Rs 100,000 lakh for partial disability. In the state Budget last month, the Rajasthan government also set aside Rs 200 crore, a new law and a board under it, for the welfare of such workers. However, Salauddin pointed out, the responses of employers have been anything but uniform and most of the reforms or measures remain on paper. Alug believes the management of gig workers must be approached with a more empathetic lens. Despite the Centre taking control of matters relating to life and disability cover, theres still a long way to go in executing them for the betterment of gig workers. "Paid time off, health and well-being protection, and uniformity between regular employees and gig workers are some of the aspects that can be reformed for the social security code to make a difference. For workers like Kumar, the essential requirement, however, boils down to being treated as human beings. Additional reporting by Raghav Aggarwal Work in progress After joining the Bharatiya Janata Party, Anil Antony on Thursday said that it is not the ticket instead dedication to the nation is needed. IMAGE: Anil Antony, son of Congress leader and former Union Minister A K Antony, is being welcomed by Union Minister Piyush Goyal as he joins the BJP, at party headquarters, in New Delhi on Thursday. Photograph: Sanjay Sharma/ANI Photo Former Defence minister A K Antony's son Anil joined the BJP in Delhi on Thursday. Talking about the relationship with his father, Anil Antony said, "We all are different and our thinking is also different. Joining the BJP is my personal decision and my father has been associated with the Congress for many decades. He has a different attachment to the Congress." "I had a discussion on this topic at my home but I already knew what to do and I did what I thought was right. I want to dedicate myself to India and I will do that. Relations with father will remain the same as before," he added. Talking to ANI, after taking the membership of BJP, Anil Antony said, "It is a matter of honour for me that I joined the party on the occasion of BJP's foundation day. I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and national president J P Nadda." "It is a matter of honour for me that I am associating with a national party like the BJP. My father has been serving the Congress for six decades and has held many key positions. Before taking membership of the BJP, I have not discussed ticket distribution and the responsibility in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. My aim is only dedication to the nation," he added. During the conversation, Anil further said, "I had resigned from the Congress a few months ago because of the way the Congress worked. The party now has started prioritising the interest of two-three individuals, after which I joined the BJP. The Congress now is not the Congress I knew when I was growing up." Talking about why did he choose the BJP, Antony said, "There are many local parties in India but BJP is a national party and is working on national interest and that is why I have joined the BJP. The BJP's vision is clear, they have to transform India in the coming 25 years. India is developing under the leadership of PM Modi and in 25 years India is bound to do politics of development." Anil joined the BJP in the presence of Union ministers Piyush Goyal and V Muraleedharan. Kerala BJP chief K Surendran and senior party leaders Tarun Chugh and Anil Baluni were also present at the occasion. "Am I a terrorist or an anti-national", PDP president Mehbooba Mufti's daughter Iltija asked on Friday, a day after she was issued a "country-specific passport" for two years to allow her to study in the United Arab Emirates. IMAGE: Iltija Mufti, daughter of former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and President of Peoples Democratic Party Mehbooba Mufti, shows documents pertaining to her passport during a press conference over its issuance, at PDP Headquarters in Srinagar, Friday, April 7, 2023. Photograph: PTI Photo The 35-year-old had moved the Jammu and Kashmir high court in February after her application for a passport was not cleared following an adverse report by the J-K Police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Her passport had expired on January 2 and she had applied for a fresh one on June 8 last year. The court directed the Regional Passport Office (RPO) to look into the merits of the case. Following this, Iltija, who wants to go for higher studies, has been issued a passport that is valid from April 5, 2023 to April 4, 2025, according to a letter by the RPO to the additional solicitor general. "The Regional Passport Officer, Kashmir, Davinder Kumar, and the CID have misled the judiciary," she told a press conference at the PDP headquarters here. "The passport issued to me is a two-year passport and it is mentioned clearly that it is valid only for the UAE," Iltija said and described the document issued to her as a "conditional passport". She said she was an "Indian citizen and a law abiding citizen" and has not broken any law. "But, even to issue the two-year passport, the Official Secrets Act has been invoked against me. This Act is usually invoked for espionage," Iltija claimed. "Am I a fugitive? Am I Nirav Modi, am I a terrorist, anti-national that I am being punished? If I talk about the central government, is it like talking against the country? What is my fault?" she asked. "I am not a fugitive or a conman like Kiran Patel who was treated as a VVIP," Iltija said. Patel was arrested in Kashmir last month for allegedly posing as an official of the Prime Minister's Office. The PDP chief's daughter alleged that she was being treated like a hardened criminal and "like I have taken thousands of crore of rupees as loans from banks and have become a defaulter". She asserted that she would continue to fight her case in the court despite "pressure to withdraw her petition". "The Deputy Solicitor General (of India) (Tahir Majid) Shamsi has asked the court to dismiss my petition as a passport has been issued to me. But, what passport is this?" Iltija asked. She claimed that the CID told the court that it was not stopping her passport and "not violating any of my fundamental rights". "The right to travel abroad is a fundamental right and I am being deprived of that right," Iltija said. "This is happening to me because I am the daughter of a former chief minister. I am not entitled to a passport because Mehbooba Mufti is my mother. I am entitled to a passport because I am a law abiding citizen," she said. Iltija asked if there was any FIR registered against her or if there were any charges against her that she was being "deprived of this right". "What is my fault? If this is happening to me, you can imagine what is happening to common Kashmiris," she said. Accusing the CID of "playing a very bad role and criminalising basic things such as passport issuance" in Kashmir at the "behest" of the Centre, Iltija said Kashmir is on "auto-pilot mode, silent mode" after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 as people "do not have the freedom to raise their voice and they are jailed if they say something". "It is a conditional passport, which is not given even to fugitives. The regional passport officer is flouting the Passport Act and violating his duties because if you are giving a conditional passport to me then they have to tell me," she said. "Legally, you have to let me know, you are answerable to me as to why a conditional passport was issued to me. Am I involved in some Hawala scam, or money laundering?" Iltija said. She also asked "why has the CID submitted an adverse report in a sealed cover?". "If you are so confident about your report, then why did you have to invoke the Official Secrets Act? Why do you not want the document to come out in public domain?" Iltija asked. "Because there is nothing substantial in that, there are no solid grounds (against me). So, you are misleading the court. So, I request the court to see that it is being misled...,"she said. Iltija said the government wants to make an example out of her family "so as to stop people from raising their voice". She said she believes that some officers of the CID were bringing "disgrace and disrepute" to the department. "They are lying to the court, harassing the people like the Nazi Germany. The CID here has only job that is to harass and persecute the Kashmiris," Iltija alleged. Asked if she would continue to pursue the matter in the court, Iltija alleged that there is pressure on her lawyer to "withdraw the petition". "But, I will not withdraw my petition because this is not my fight only but of others who have been deprived of such rights. There is tremendous pressure on us to withdraw this petition, but I will continue to fight it in the court and I have full faith in the honourable judiciary that they will issue this passport," she said. Cheetahs released into the wild are exploring their habitat and it's a very good sign, a senior environment ministry official has said after a spotted feline strayed out of Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park recently. IMAGE: Cheetahs were released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh on September 17, 2022 . Photograph: PTI Photo Oban, one of the eight cheetahs brought from Namibia in September last year, strayed out of the Kuno National Park on April 2. State forest officials on Friday said it was rescued from a forest area in a neighbouring Shivpuri district on Thursday evening and released into the national park again. Additional Director General of Forests S P Yadav told PTI that such movement of cheetahs is a natural phenomenon and there is nothing to worry about. "Four cheetahs have been released completely. They are free ranging in the wild. Their movement is natural. We are happy that cheetahs are moving and exploring the areas and based on the exploration they identify their suitable habitat," Yadav, who is also the head of Project Tiger, said in an interview with PTI. "It is a very good sign that they are exploring other areas. It's a natural phenomenon and there is nothing to worry about. But I must tell you that every cheetah which has been released in Kuno is monitored round the clock," he said. The senior official said the government has appointed "Cheetah mitras" to familiarise the local populations with the felines and minimise potential conflicts. Forest officials in Madhya Pradesh have trained around 400 "cheetah mitras" from 51 villages. Those trained include school teachers, village headmen and patwaris. "And if at all any conflict takes place with small animals like sheep, goats etc, our compensation plan is ready. They (owners) will be adequately compensated," Yadav said. Under the ambitious Cheetah reintroduction programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the first batch of eight spotted felines -- five females and three males -- from Namibia into a quarantine enclosure at Kuno in Madhya Pradesh on his 72nd birthday on September 17 last year. One of the Namibian cheetahs, Sasha, died due to a kidney-related ailment on Monday, forest and wildlife officials in Madhya Pradesh said. Another cheetah, Siyaya, gave birth to four cubs and they were first spotted on March 29. In a second such translocation, 12 cheetahs were flown in from South Africa and released into Kuno on February 18. Kuno, spread over 750 kilometres in the state's Chambal region, has a good prey base for cheetahs, comprising the four-horned antelope, chinkara, nilgai, wild pig, spotted deer and sambar, according to wildlife officials. Cheetah is the only large carnivore that got completely wiped out from India due to overhunting and habitat loss. The last cheetah died in the Koriya district of present-day Chhattisgarh in 1947 and the species was declared extinct in 1952. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday said social service by Hindu spiritual gurus in the southern states was several times more than that provided by missionaries, but added that this is not a matter of competition. IMAGE: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat. Photograph: ANI Photo He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of a three-day conclave of the Rashtriya Sewa Sangam organised by a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh affiliate at Keshav Vidhyapeeth in Jamdoli near Jaipur. Bhagwat said intellectuals in the country generally mention (Christian) missionaries when talking about service to society. "Missionary organisations run various institutions, schools and hospitals all over the world -- everyone knows this. But what is the Hindu seer community doing?" With this thought in mind, a Hindu service fair was held in Chennai, he said. It was noticed there that the service done by the acharyas, munis and sanyasis in Kannada-speaking, Telugu-speaking, Malayalam-speaking and Tamil-speaking provinces is many times more than the service done by the missionaries, he said. But I am not talking about any competition -- about more than them, less than them, the RSS chief added quickly. This cannot be the measure of service. Service is service, service is not a matter of competition. Service is the natural expression of man's humanity, he said. Bhagwat said animals too are sensitive but it is a human quality to act on sensitivity, which is called compassion. Emphasising on the need to eradicate backwardness from society, Bhagwat said everyone is equal. "We all are part of the society; we all are the society together. If we are not united, we will be incomplete," he said. He said there is a disparity in society, which is not needed. Unfortunately this situation has come. We do not want this situation, this disparity, he said. Citing the example of the human body, he said when there is pain in the leg, all other parts start functioning together (as a support system) to focus on the pain. Similarly, service should be done in such a way that no section of society is left out. He said service makes a healthy society, but before that, it makes an individual healthy. Referring to the nomadic community, Bhagwat said they contributed to the freedom struggle, refused to bow down and roamed from place to place but have no domicile. RSS is doing service for them also, he said. Speaking earlier, Balyogi Umesh Das Nath, the mahant of Valmiki Dham in Ujjain, said saints, seers and great men had stopped separatism in the country and maintained the strength of Sanatan Dharma. But because of some infiltrators within the country, the sound of conch shells and bells has stopped and people have to hear "azan" blared through loudspeakers five times a day, he said. He also said that because of economic disparity, cases of "love jihad" are rising as young boys and girls are ready to marry on their own (love marriage). Nath asked "conservative people" to show willingness to marry their children in families from the lower economic strata to allow society to achieve social harmony. Love Jihad is a term used by right-wing organisations to allege conversions are taking place through marriages. Later, Bhagwat in his speech referred to the address by Nath and said whatever he said was "very clear and true". However, Bhagwat did not clarify which part of Nath's speech he appeared to be endorsing. We will have to think about it and go according to it, if not today then tomorrow. We are trying to make it happen today because that is the goal of a healthy society, he said. Ajay Piramal, the chairman of Piramal Group, Mumbai, was also present at the conclave. The three-day event is being organised by Rashtriya Sewa Bharti which is held after five years. Nearly 4,000 representatives of voluntary service organisations are attending the conclave based on the theme of "self-reliant and prosperous India". On Easter, April 9, 10,000 BJP workers are being assigned to visit the houses of 100,000 Christian families. Plans are afoot to visit the homes of Muslims on Eid. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi offers prayers at the Sri Adi Shankara Janma Bhoomi Kshetram in Kochi. Photograph: ANI Photo A Hallelujah Chorus, followed by an invocation by a Baptist Church pastor, is most likely to fasten on a Christian event. However, this was the swearing-in of Neiphiu Rio, who is in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party, as Nagaland chief minister on March 8. More importantly, this was in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra D Modi, Union Home Minister Amit A Shah, BJP President J P Nadda, and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. According to political experts and party functionaries, this is the model the BJP wants to replicate down south in Kerala, taking the minorities along with it. In the North East, critics even dubbed the party 'Bharatiya Jesus Party'. The Nagaland ceremony came days after Modi told workers at the party headquarters in New Delhi that the BJP would continue to expand and Kerala would be the next staging post. Later a question came to the public mind how the party would do this in a state that has traditionally voted for either the Left Democratic Front (LDF), led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPI-M, or the United Democratic Front (UDF), led by the Congress. More importantly, even after several attempts and also the Sabarimala issue, which allegedly turned Hindus in the state against the LDF government, the BJP hardly managed to translate these into votes. Although the BJP's vote share increased from a mere 6.1 per cent in 2011 to 15.3 per cent in the assembly elections in 2016, it slipped to 14 per cent in 2021, despite the party being at the forefront of the Sabarimala protests. It even lost the only seat of Nemom it had won in 2016, backed by the persona of veteran leader O Rajagopal. The saving grace in the elections of 2021 was that it came second in at least eight constituencies, when the party had expected at least 20 per cent vote. The ambitious target set by Modi needs to be seen taking this into account. Strategy to grab more votes "In Kerala in the age group 60 and above, the majority of the people are committed to Communist politics. Similarly, for those in the age group 50-70, there are people loyal to the Congress. It is those below 40 years, or the youth, that the BJP is primarily targeting," a senior BJP leader B Gopalakrishnan told Business Standard. According to him, surveys say 31-36 per cent of the state's population admire Modi and of that, around 70 per cent are below 40. "It will be through job creation and reaching out by focusing on central schemes like Startup India and those in micro, small, and medium enterprises," he added. According to the 2011 Census, 54.7 per cent of the state's population are Hindu, 26.6 per cent Muslim, and 18.4 per cent Christian. Hence, the party is looking at grabbing "30-40 per cent of the votes from the Hindu community". According to the official data, around 21 per cent of Kerala's population are the Ezhavas, while the Nairs account for 12 per cent. An alliance with the Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), with blessings from the leadership of the Sree Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (a body of Ezhavas), is considered one step towards getting a good share of this Hindu vote bank. The Ezhavas are considered to be a traditional vote bank of the CPI-M. On the other hand, it has already started outreach programmes among Christian communities. "During the Christmas week in 2022, thousands of BJP workers visited the homes of Christian families across the state, giving them gifts and distributing Christmas cards with the picture of Modi on it," said a senior church leader based out of Kochi, while stating that no official talks happened with his community in this regard. On Easter, April 9, 10,000 BJP workers are being assigned to visit the houses of 100,000 Christian families. Plans are afoot to visit the homes of Muslims on Eid. Similarly, these Christian families are being invited to BJP workers' homes on Vishu (April 15). "The idea is to build bonds with Christian communities and to reduce the misconception spread by the CPI-M and the Congress that the BJP is against minorities. Targeting those below 40 years through central government schemes will help us overcome other political parties in 10 years. It is not a concept to win Kerala in 2026. It is a long-term plan for 10-15 years," said Gopalakrishnan. However, it may not be an easy ride for the party. "We have to see that almost 99 per cent of the BJP votes are coming from the majority community. Even among the majority community, they are not able to penetrate. Unless it changes its ideological stand of majoritarianism, coming to power may be difficult in Kerala. They may also have to form a strong third front because the state's politics is bipolar," said J Prabhash, a political analyst and former Kerala University pro vice-chancellor. The lack of a strong regional ally like in Nagaland and other states was one reason why it was unable to make its mark in Kerala, Prabhash added. Though the strategy is ready, there are experts who say it may need some out-of-the-box ideas for the party to increase its vote share. They are raising the possibility of Modi contesting from Thiruvananthapuram. "Then the entire equation will change and the party will get a fair chance to perform well in places like Attingal, Palakkad, and Thrissur, and increase its chances in all its seats. It may also help them in getting 15 or more seats in the next assembly elections too," added Prabhash. Closure announcement of An Khanh ward (HCMC) people's committee outside a karaoke bar on Tran Nao street in March 2023 due to not meeting fire safety requirements. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran Enterprises are calling on the government to loosen fire safety regulations, which they say are unrealistic and a hindrance to doing business. The regulations, which have been tightened after the fire at An Phu karaoke bar in Binh Duong in September 2022 killed 33 people, are too hard to comply with, according to businesses. The Private Economic Development Research Board cited an example: the need for factory steel columns to be covered with fireproof paint. It pointed out there is no such paint available in the Vietnamese market. Obtaining a license for fireproof items like construction materials is another hassle businesses have to deal with under the new safety regime. Only two institutions are now authorized to issue them, both in Hanoi: the University of Fire Fighting and Prevention and Institute for Building Science and Technology. This means businesses in the south have to send samples to Hanoi for testing, which evidently involves a lot of time and cost. Previously it was done locally. Besides new tightened regulations from the end of 2022, some old requirements also created difficulties for businesses. For example, the minimum distance requirement of nine to 15 meters between buildings -- depending on the nature of the business -- to ensure fire safety is also difficult to fulfill in urban areas like Hanoi and HCMC. In Dong Nai, a province with 30 industrial zones and 1.2 million workers, almost all manufacturing and other businesses have been affected. A Dong Nai business that asked not to be identified said it built a three-story warehouse and office last year to expand, but they have been unable to get approval due to lack of fireproof paint for the steel truss on top of the warehouse. Fabric manufacturer Hyosung Vietnam, a Korean company that has been making big investments in Dong Nai, said since the end of 2022 it has been taking a long time to receive a fire safety certificate. "We dont know how long it will take for our documents to be approved, and we are in a pinch with our production expansion plans," a spokesperson said. Another major foreign investor, Taiwans Foxconn, also complained that many of its facilities have not passed fire safety inspections in the last two years. "We have many investment plans in Vietnam for two years, so such a procedure will make expansion difficult," a Foxconn representative said in a recent meeting with the Ministry of Planning and Investment. Foxconn is a major supplier for Apple, investing in factories in northern provinces such as Bac Ninh and Bac Giang. Earlier this year hundreds of karaoke bars in Hanoi and HCMC had to close since they could not meet the new fire safety standards. At the end of last year the Japanese Business Association of HCMC sent a petition to Minister of Public Security To Lam for easing fire safety regulations, saying 18 projects worth a total of nearly VND3.1 trillion ($132.1 million) had been delayed. Many firms are awaiting inspection and approval and have had to stop operation. Besides, all renovations and repairs, no matter how small, have to be inspected and approved. A Dong Nai-based business said: "The economic situation is very stressful, and if there is no road map for tightening fire safety measures, businesses will be exhausted." Do Minh Tuan, chairman of the Thanh Hoa Province people's committee, said 99% of businesses, not to mention offices, schools, hospitals, and others would fail to meet the new requirements. So only those guilty of serious violations of safety norms should be required to stop operations and the rest should be given a road map to gradually remedy things, he added. The Bharatiya Janata Party had won 30 of the total 50 seats in the region in the 2018 assembly polls, followed by Congress 17, Janata Dal-Secular 2, and others (KPJP-Shankar) 1. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi along with Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, left, at the dedication of key development projects to the nation, in Hubballi-Dharwad, March 12, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo With each political party having a distinct area of influence in various regions of the state, it is key to understand the "micro picture" in every such part, as Karnataka heads for assembly polls on May 10. Kittur Karnataka (earlier known as Mumbai/ Bombay Karnataka region) sends 50 MLAs to the Legislative Assembly. Comprising seven districts -- Belagavi, Dharwad, Vijayapura, Haveri, Gadag, Bagalkote and Uttara Kannada -- it's a direct fight between the ruling BJP and the Congress in this region, where the Janata Dal (Secular) is considerably weak. The state government decided in 2021 to rechristen the region that was under the erstwhile Bombay presidency, before Independence, as 'Kittur Karnataka' from 'Mumbai-Karnataka.' The name Kittur is after a historical taluk in Belagavi district that was ruled by Rani Chennamma (17781829), who had fought the British before Jhansi Rani Laxmibai did. Predominantly a Lingayat dominated region (other than Uttara Kannada district), it is the home turf of several senior political leaders including Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. The Bharatiya Janata Party had won 30 of the total 50 seats in the region in the 2018 assembly polls, followed by Congress 17, Janata Dal-Secular 2, and others (Karnataka Janata Paksha-Shankar) 1. Backed by the politically-influential Lingayat community, the BJP is a dominant force in the region, where the Congress had once held sway. The Congress lost the region to the saffron party in the elections in the 1990s, following the sacking of its then Chief Minister Veerendra Patil, a Lingayat, who was recouping from a stroke, by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, which turned the community against the party. Thereafter, as the dominant community started rallying behind another Lingayat stalwart BJP's B S Yediyurappa, the region slowly turned into a stronghold of the saffron party for more than a decade till 2013. However, Congress made a comeback in the region in 2013, by winning 31 of the 50 seats. Along with the anti-incumbency against the then BJP government, a split in the saffron party with Yediyurappa breaking away and floating the Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP) had helped the grand old party to bounce back. Later, with Yediyurappa returning to the party ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha polls under Narendra Modi's leadership, and KJP back into BJP's fold, the Congress failed to repeat the performance in the 2018 elections, thereby paving the way for the BJP to regain lost ground in the region. Lingayat religion movement not working in Congress' favour, was also one of the major factors for Congress witnessing a dip in its electoral fortunes in Kittur Karnataka in 2018, despite the then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah himself contesting from the region's Badami segment. Along with the Congress facing losses in the Lingayat-dominated belt, most of its leaders who were actively involved in the 'separate Lingayat religion' movement suffered defeat. With Yediyurappa retiring from electoral politics, the Congress is now trying to woo Lingayats back into the party fold, and aimed at countering this, the BJP is falling back on the octogenarian leader, as its poll mascot. Implications of the BJP government's decision to hike Lingayat reservation by two per cent, just ahead of the polls need to be watched out, as certain groups within the community were looking at a much higher quota. Along with SCs, STs, and OBCs, Muslims too are politically significant in some segments of Kittur Karnataka. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have held massive public meetings and mega roadshows in parts of the region like Dharwad and Belagavi in view of the importance of this belt in garnering votes in favour of the BJP. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has held a "Yuva Kranti Samavesha", a youth convention, organised by the party's state unit, at Belagavi last month. After Bengaluru Urban with 27 assembly segments (28 including Anekal), Kittur Karnataka region's Belagavi is the second biggest district in the state with 18 seats. Along with being a numerically large district, it is also politically significant. In 2018, BJP had won 10 seats and Congress eight in Belagavi. Home to influential political families in both parties, the majority of the elected representatives from the district are sugar barons with a background in sugar cooperatives like-Jarkiholis, Jolles, Kattis. Among the candidates to be watched out from Belagavi district are, Jarkiholi brothers, who are split between the two national parties- Ramesh Jarkiholi, who played a key role in installing BJP government by leading defection of 17 Congress-JD(S) MLAs, and Satish Jarkiholi, who is Congress' Working President. Also, Congress' Laxmi Hebbalkar, who is seen as a bitter opponent of Ramesh Jarkiholi. The Congress with a plan to make further gains in this crucial district had started its state-wide 'Praja Dwani Yatre' from Belagavi. On the other hand, the BJP has faced setbacks with the untimely deaths of Hukkeri MLA Umesh Katti and Saundatti MLA Anand Mamani, and will have to find new candidates in these constituencies. Also ticket fight within BJP in the district, especially for Athani between senior leader Laxman Savadi and Jarkiholi-led group has become a cause of concern for the party. Haveri district in the region with six Assembly segments, is also crucial for the BJP, as Chief Minister Bommai's constituency Shiggavi comes under it. Congress had caused an embarrassment to the BJP by wresting Hanagal, the neighbouring constituency of the CM, from it, in the 2021 bypolls. Congress in upcoming polls too, hopes to dent the ruling party's prospects and cause it a huge embarrassment in Bommai's backyard. Badami in Bagalkote district, which senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah currently represents, is also among the key constituencies in this election. The former Chief Minister has decided not to contest from Badami this time, citing its long distance from state capital Bengaluru and his inability to make himself available to the people there on a day-to-day basis as the reason. He has been fielded from his home turf of Varuna for the upcoming polls, and is also looking for Kolar as the second seat. The BJP had won five out of seven seats in Bagalkote district in 2018 polls, the Congress in two. Bijapur City, one among the eight Assembly segments in Vijayapura district is also significant as senior BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal is likely to contest from the seat once again. The firebrand Hindutva proponent, who was an open critique of state BJP strongman Yediyurappa, has several times in the past has expressed his Chief Ministerial ambitions. Increasing tally in Gadag is important for Congress as it has only one MLA, AICC member H K Patil from the district, which has four Assembly segments. Dharwad district, the social, cultural and commercial hub of Kittur Karnataka with seven seats, is significant as it is the Parliamentary constituency of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, who is considered to be close to both Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar represents Hubli-Dharwad-Central segment from the district. In Uttara Kannada district with six seats, veteran Congress leader 76-year old R V Deshpande is the only Congress MLA. He is contesting from Haliyal segment. Consisting of both coastal and Western ghats, the district has become the stronghold of BJP. The Sirsi segment here is represented by Legislative Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri. He is likely to get a ticket from BJP once again. While the BJP is doing all that it can to continue its hold and improve its tally on this belt, the Congress is making a concerted effort to regain political ground in the region. JD(S). Amid rising cases of coronavirus, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday held a review meeting and advised states to stay alert and be prepared for COVID-19 management. IMAGE: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya holds a review meeting on COVID-19 management. Photograph: @mansukhmandviya/Twitter In the meeting with state health ministers and principal and additional chief secretaries held virtually, Mandaviya stressed on identifying emergency hotspots by monitoring trends of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases, ramping up testing and vaccination and ensuring readiness of hospital infrastructure. Along with enhancing genome sequencing and ramping up whole genome sequencing of positive samples, he also emphasised on creating awareness about following Covid-appropriate behaviour. The Centre and the states need to continue working in collaborative spirit as was done during the previous surges for COVID-19 prevention and management, Mandaviya said. He also urged the state health ministers to conduct mock drills of all hospital infrastructure on April 10 and 11 and review the health preparedness with district administrations and health officials on April 8 and 9. States and Union territories were further informed that currently WHO is closely tracking one variant of interest (VOI), XBB.1.5 and six other variants are under monitoring (BQ.1, BA.2.75, CH.1.1, XBB, XBF and XBB.1.16), a health ministry statement said. It was highlighted that while Omicron and its sub-lineages continue to be the predominant variant, most of the assigned variants have little or no significant transmissibility, disease severity or immune escape. The prevalence of XBB.1.16 increased from 21.6 per cent in February to 35.8 per cent in March, 2023. However, no evidence of an increase in hospitalisation or mortality has been reported, the statement said. During the meeting, it was observed that 23 states and Union territories had average tests per million below the national average, according to a health ministry statement. Mandaviya said irrespective of the new variants, the five-fold strategy of 'Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate and adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour' continue to remain the tested strategy for Covid management. This would facilitate undertaking of appropriate public health measures, he said. States and Union territories were also requested to expeditiously increase the rate of testing from the current rate of 100 tests per million, as on the week ending April 7. They were further advised to increase the share of RT-PCR in tests, the statement said. The states and Union territories were briefed that the country has been witnessing a steady increase in COVID-19 cases with average daily cases rising to 4,188 in the week ending April 7 from 571 in the week ending March 17; and weekly positivity up to 3.02 per cent in the week ending April 7. However, 88,503 daily average cases have been reported globally in the same time, with the top five countries contributing 62.6 per cent of global cases in the last one week, the statement said. It was also informed that while India has achieved over 90 per cent coverage of primary vaccination, the coverage of precaution dose is very low. The Union health minister advised the states and Union territories to ramp up vaccination of all eligible population, especially of the elderly and vulnerable population group. It was also observed that eight states are reporting high number of Covid cases in India with 10 or more districts reporting more than 10 per cent positivity in Kerala, Maharashtra and Delhi and over 5 districts reporting more than 5 per cent positivity in Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Haryana. Mandaviya stressed on the importance of enhancing public awareness campaigns regarding adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour. He requested all the state health ministers to personally monitor and review the preparedness of all logistics and infrastructure including availability of sufficient designated hospital beds and ensure that there is adequate stock of essential medicines. States were also asked to regularly update their Covid data on the Covid India portal. They were reminded of the joint advisory issued by the Union health ministry and ICMR to all states on March 25 which calls for a reinvigorated public health response to contain the surge of seasonal influenza and Covid cases through early detection, isolation, testing and timely management of suspected and confirmed cases to detect and contain outbreaks of new SARS-CoV-2 variants. Mandaviya requested he states and Union territories to ensure effective implementation. There was comprehensive and detailed discussion on various aspects of COVID management including ramping up of hospital infrastructure; increased testing. Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangaswamy, health ministers of Uttarakhand (Dhan Singh Rawat), Assam (Keshab Mahanta), Goa (Vishwajit Rane), Jharkhand (Banna Gupta), Madhya Pradesh (Prabhuram Choudhury), Punjab (Balbir Singh), Manipur (Sapan Ranjan Singh), Haryana (Anil Vij), Tamil Nadu (Thiru Ma Subramanian) and Telangana (Thanneeru Harish Rao) among others attended the meeting. With Nationlaist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar stating that the Adani Group was seemingly targeted by the US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research, the Congress on Friday said its ally NCP may have its view but 19 like-minded Opposition parties are convinced that the charges against the conglomerate are real and very serious. IMAGE: NCP chief Sharad Pawar criticised the narrative around the Hindenburg Research's report on the conglomerate. Photograph: ANI Photo The Congress also said all 20 like-minded Opposition parties, including the Nationalist Congress Party, are united and will be together in saving the Constitution and democracy from the "BJP's assaults". In an interview to NDTV, Pawar came out in support of the Adani Group and criticised the narrative around the Hindenburg Research's report on the conglomerate. "Such statements were given by other individuals too earlier and there was a ruckus in Parliament for a few days but this time out-of-proportion importance was given to the issue. "The issues that were kept, who kept them, we had never heard of these people who gave the statement, what is the background. When they raise issues that cause a ruckus across the country, the cost is borne by the country's economy, we cannot disregard these things. It seems this was targeted," Pawar said. Asked about Pawar's remarks, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the NCP may have its view but 19 like-minded Opposition parties are convinced that the "PM-linked Adani Group" issue is real and very serious. "But all 20 like-minded Opposition parties including NCP are united and will be together in saving the Constitution & our democracy from the BJP's assaults and in defeating the BJP's divisive and destructive political, social and economic agenda," Ramesh said. The Congress, the NCP and the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray are in an alliance in Maharashtra called the Maha Vikas Aghadi. Several Opposition parties, led by the Congress, protested through the second half of the budget session of Parliament demanding a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the Adani issue. The Hindenburg Research has made a litany of allegations, including fraudulent transactions and share-price manipulation, against the Adani Group. The Gautam Adani-led group has dismissed the charges as lies, saying it complies with all laws and disclosure requirements. Jailed Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia has written a letter addressing the people of the country, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not understand the importance of education. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with school students in Varanasi, on July 7, 2022. Photograph: ANI Photo Hitting back, the Bharatiya Janata Party claimed that Sisodia has lost his political relevance after being "submerged in corruption" and was trying to remain in the news through his "letter game". Sisodia had earlier too written letters from jail. The Central Bureau of Investigation had on February 26 arrested him in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. In the letter which was posted on Twitter by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his former deputy said, "It is very dangerous for the country if the prime minister is less educated." "(Narendra) Modi does not understand science... Modi ji does not understand the importance of education," Sisodia claimed in the letter, alleging that 60,000 schools have been closed in the country in the last few years. "It is necessary to have an educated prime minister for the progress of India," he said. In an attack on Modi, the hand-written letter, purportedly of Sisodia, asked if a "less educated" prime minister is "capable" of fulfilling the dreams of the aspirational youth of the country. "Youth are aspirational. They want to do something, they want to win the world. They want to do wonders in the field of science and technology," the letter said. Hitting back at the AAP leader, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said, "Before asking about the educational qualification of others, Sisodia should tell what is his own educational qualification." Sachdeva also claimed that Delhi government schools' performance took a plunge when Sisodia was the education minister. "For eight years Sisodia worked on schools as an event manager and not as the education minister of Delhi. As a result, now up to 40 per cent of students in government schools either fail in classes 9 and 11 or appear in compartment exams. Class 10 and class 12 students are also in disarray," alleged the Delhi BJP president. The reason behind it is that instead of improving the education standards by appointing teachers, Sisodia focused on conducting happiness classes like an event manager. He wasted money and resources by appointing his party workers as school managers instead of bringing in principals, Sachdeva alleged. Former Congress leader and last chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh N Kiran Kumar Reddy joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday, lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi and slamming the opposition party's leadership for "damaging" its organisation across the country. IMAGE: Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy addresses the media after joining Bharatiya Janata Party at the party HQ in New Delhi on Friday, April 7, 2023. Photograph: Kamal Singh/PTI Photo Reddy joined the BJP in the presence of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and hit out at the Congress "high command", an apparent reference to the Gandhi family, for its inability to accept people's verdict and make a course correction. This is the reason why he has left the party, he said. "My king is very intelligent. He does not think on his own and he does not listen to anyone's advise," he cited a saying to attack his former leaders. They believe they are correct and all others, including the people of India, are wrong, he said, accusing them of being unable to analyse repeated electoral failures of the party. They want authority to control but don't want to work hard or take any responsibility, said the four-time former MLA, who had quit the Congress last month. Citing his family's over seven-decade-long association with the Congress, Reddy said he never imagined he will leave the party. The Congress is getting damaged in all states and its high command does not interact with others or consider their opinion, he said. IMAGE: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and MP Arun Singh welcome Reddy to the BJP. Photograph: Kamal Singh/PTI Photo Reddy contrasted the rise of the BJP with the decline of the Congress since 1984 and lauded the ruling party's leaders led by Modi for their hardwork and commitment towards the nation and its development. The talk of BJP now brings to the fore ideas like nation-building in people's mind, he said. Its leadership has clarity of thought and consistency, and taking courageous decision is the hallmark of the government, he said. Reddy also lauded Modi's commitment to fighting corruption. With their lack of interaction with people and leaders, the Congress leadership invariably picks wrong people for different jobs, he said. Joshi expressed confidence that Reddy's joining will boost the party in Andhra Pradesh, where it remains a marginal force, and also in Telangana, which was carved out of the state in 2014 when Reddy was the undivided state's chief minister. Opposed to the state's division, he had quit the Congress and formed his own party which failed at the hustings. He rejoined the Congress in 2018. Though Reddy is not really seen as a very influential leader in the state, the BJP believes that his experience and profile will bring heft to its organisation there. Attacking Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his recent remarks in the United Kingdom, Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that it's not democracy that is in danger, but "your family" and the idea of dynasty politics that is under threat. IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses the gathering at Kaushambi Mahotsav, in Kaushambi on April 7, 2023. Photograph: PTI Photo Addressing a public meeting after inaugurating the Kaushambi Mahotsav in Uttar Pradesh, Shah accused the Congress of surrounding Indian democracy with three naasuron (ulcerous wounds) -- casteism, dynasty politics and appeasement. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi defeated all three and hence "you are afraid," he added. "They say democracy is in danger, brother democracy is not in danger, your family is in danger. It is not the idea of India, which is in danger, it is the idea of dynasty, your politics of parivarvad (dynasty), which is in danger. It is not the democracy of India, but the autocracy of your family, which is in danger," the senior BJP leader said. During a visit to the UK last month, Gandhi alleged the structures of Indian democracy were under "brutal attack" and a full-scale assault on the country's institutions was underway. His remarks triggered a war of words between the BJP and the Congress. The BJP accused Gandhi of "insulting" the country on foreign soil and demanded an apology, but the Congress leader said his position that India's democracy was under attack "was known" to all. Shah also hit out at the Congress party for allegedly not allowing Parliament to function. "Yesterday, the Parliament was adjourned. In the history of independent India, it has never happened that the Budget Session ended without a sitting and discussion... What was the reason? Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as Lok Sabha MP," the Union minister said. On March 18, a Surat court sentenced Gandhi for two years in jail in a criminal defamation case filed over his remark against people with the surname "Modi", but allowed him 30 days to appeal in a higher court. A day later, the Lok Sabha Secretariat issued a notification suspending his Lok Sabha membership. The Congress accused the BJP of indulging in "vindictive politics" but the ruling party said it was the law. On Friday, addressing the gathering in Kaushambi, Shah asked, "Who brought the law?" He also said Gandhi was not the only leader whose membership has "gone" after sentencing by a court. "So far, the membership of 17 MLAs-MPs has gone, including that of Rahul Gandhi." The Union minister asked Gandhi to "follow the law "and secure acquittal from a higher court. "Friends, I wish to tell Rahul Gandhi he should follow the law, which is the 'dharma' of every citizen. You were an MP. You could have challenged the punishment and fought in court. You have sacrificed the time of Parliament. The people of this country will never forgive you," Shah said. Exhorting the people to vote for BJP again in 2024 general election, Shah also slammed the Congress, SP and the BSP for allegedly delaying the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. "All of us wanted Ram Temple in Ayodhya to be built at the birthplace of Lord Ram. The Congress kept it (the issue) hanging, the SP diverted it, and the BSP lingered it. Modi ji laid the foundation stone of the temple, and soon you will see Lord Ram seated in his temple," Shah said. He also said that Uttar Pradesh was moving ahead on the path of development under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. In 2014, the people of UP reposed their faith in PM Modi. "In 2017, when I was the BJP chief, the BJP won a record number of 325 seats (in UP) and Modi ji made Yogi ji chief minister. In 2019, the SP, BSP and the Congress got united, but all of them were defeated, and Modi ji once again became the prime minister. After this, in 2022 (UP assembly elections) you made Yogi ji the chief minister again," Shah said. "Modi ji has made the country prosperous and enhanced the pride of the country. And the Congress people say 'Modi teri kabra khudegi' (Modi your grave will be dug). I want to tell these Congress people that whether it is Sonia ji, Rahul ji or anybody else, whenever abuses are hurled at Modi ji, the public has made the lotus bloom in the mud of these abuses in a strong manner," Shah asserted. "Rahul baba, this time again Modi ji's government is going to be formed with '300-paar' (over 300 Lok Sabha seats)," he claimed. Meanwhile, SP MLA from Sirathu constituency in Kaushambi district Pallavi Patel claimed she was put under house arrest at her party office and not allowed to welcome the home minister. However, Additional Superintendent of Police Samar Bahadur dismissed Patel's claims. One fallout of Rahul Gandhi's disqualification will be reflected in the Opposition's role in Parliament and related institutions. IMAGE: Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge with Congress MP Sonia Gandhi and other Opposition MPs takes out a Tiranga March towards Vijay Chowk on the last day of the Budget session of Parliament, April 6, 2023. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI Photo With just over a year left for the general elections, the disqualification of Wayanad Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi is almost certain to deepen the divide between the Opposition and the ruling National Democratic Alliance. There has been a semblance of bipartisan agreement on issues of governance so far, notwithstanding tensions following the actions of presiding officers that led to the suspension of several MPs from the same party in the Upper House. For instance, Trinamool Congress MPs were handed a sessional suspension for their role in the Rajya Sabha, but the TMC abstained from voting in the election to Vice President, leading to NDA candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar's victory by a massive margin. But things have changed. Sharp, pointed opposition to most -- if not all -- proposals made by the Bharatiya Janata Party is expected to be the order of the day and rule-making in Parliament, as well as the appointment of top functionaries will be the first casualty. As Congress MP Manish Tewari -- who has repeatedly moved adjournment motions in the Lok Sabha to get the government to lay the facts before Parliament on the border skirmishes with China and has been blocked in his efforts -- told Business Standard: "It will have to be seen whether there will be any cooperation (between the government and the Opposition) at all. Or even the possibility of cooperation." The first test of this was the election to members of the public accounts committee (PAC) on Monday, March 27. PAC members have a one-year term; the committee is tasked with the examination of accounts showing the appropriation of sums granted by Parliament for the expenditure of the Government of India. Reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India are frequently the starting point of PAC investigations. Since the 1960s, the chairman of PAC has invariably been an Opposition leader. The election takes place via proportional representation: 22 members are elected, with 15 from the Lok Sabha and seven from the Rajya Sabha. This year, the election took place after Rahul's disqualification. Few realise the extent of influence the Opposition exercises in policy-making, even in a dysfunctional Parliament. This influence is exerted via departmental standing committees where Opposition and Treasury bench MPs scrutinise policy and laws before they become laws. Many of these meetings are contentious like the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the draft Personal Data Protection Bill that yielded many dissent notes being attached to the final report. The result was that the government rewrote the draft Bill in its entirety. The functioning of committees, especially those on Bills or policy changes, also enables wider consultation. As the consultations do not attract the anti-defection law, parties are free to take one stand in public and another in the committee. But experts agree that the process enriches policy-making. Cooperation between the government and the Opposition, for instance, led to a more refined version of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which replaced the 1986 law, and was passed only after an earlier version of the Bill was examined by the committee on food and consumer affairs. The committee had recommended several amendments, including the increase of penalties. Most of these were accepted by the government and incorporated into the 2019 Act. The National Medical Commission Bill, 2017, also saw many changes after several recommendations of the standing committee on health were incorporated into the 2019 law. There is another election due that no one in the government is discussing -- the post of the Deputy Speaker lying vacant for almost four years. The Treasury benches have maintained there is no 'immediate requirement as Bills are being passed and discussions held' in the House. A minister argued that 'there is a panel of nine members who can act as chairpersons to assist the Speaker'. Says Jairam Ramesh, general secretary, Congress: "For the past four years, there has been no Deputy Speaker in the Lok Sabha. This is unconstitutional. What a far cry from March 1956 when (Jawaharlal) Nehru proposed the name of Sardar Hukam Singh, an Opposition Akali Dal MP and a critic of Nehru, for the post and he was unanimously elected." A public interest litigation in the Supreme Court is pending. Of the Constitutional positions that require joint consultations with the Opposition, all have been filled bar one: The office of the Lok Pal, an authority that has the power to probe charges of corruption against anyone, including the prime minister. Since May 2022, there is only an officiating Lok Pal. The government says the process of appointing a Lok Pal 'has begun'. How much the Opposition will cooperate with the government in appointing a new Lok Pal remains to be seen. Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party President Bandi Sanjay Kumar who was arrested in a case related to class X exam paper leak was release from jail after a court in Hanumakonda granted him bail on Thursday night. IMAGE: Telangana BJP president Bandi Sanjay reaches his residence after being released from Karimnagar jail on Friday. Photograph: ANI on Twitter Sanjay Kumar, a Lok Sabha MP from Karimnagar constituency, was named as the prime accused in the case relating to the alleged circulation of Class 10 (SSC) Hindi examination question paper in groups of an instant messaging app. He was arrested by the Warangal Police on April 5 on charges of criminal conspiracy and malpractices, among others. Speaking to reporters after being released from jail, Kumar demanded that the state government inquire into the paper leak case with a sitting judge and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's son and minister KT Rama Rao should be expelled from the cabinet. "The state government should announce an ex gratia of Rs 1 lakh to each student who suffered due to question paper leak. These three demands should be met," he said. He alleged that 30 lakh candidates who appeared for service commission exam suffered due to paper leak and hence KT Rama Rao should be dropped from the cabinet. "Your (KCR) family is liquor and leaker family," he alleged and charged that the state government was trying to divert the issue of Telangana State Public Service Commission paper leak case. He dared the Warangal Police Commissioner A V Ranganath to swear on his cap which has the Indian emblem (three lions) that whatever the official said was true. He claimed that the police commissioner did not know the difference between paper leak and malpractice. The BJP leader asked in what way he was related to the case when somebody forwarded the leaked question paper to his mobile phone. He found fault with the police for not issuing a notice before the arrest. Kumar said his party would intensify the agitation against the TSPSC paper leak issue. The MP and three others arrested in the case were on April 5 remanded in judicial custody till April 19 by a court in Hanamkonda and they were lodged in a jail in Karimnagar. A minor boy, who had allegedly taken photos of the paper from the exam centre in Hanamkonda after being told to do so by two accused, was also apprehended. Sanjay Kumar had filed a bail application which the court accepted Thursday night after hearing the arguments and counter-arguments. The principal judicial magistrate court granted bail to Sanajy Kumar on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 20,000 with two sureties. The much publicised ongoing exercise of the headcount of social groups in Bihar by the state government has run into fresh controversy over enumeration of members of 'third gender' as a separate caste. Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: ANI Photo Castes in Bihar will now be identified on the basis of codes, in the form of numbers, and each caste has been given a numerical code for use during the month-long second phase of caste-based headcount from April 15 to May 15. For instance, the sub-categories of Maithil, Kanyakubj and other Brahmins have been merged into a single social entity called Brahmin, which will have caste code as 126. No separate enumeration of its sub-categories will be done. Similarly, the caste code of the Rajput is 169, Bhumihar (142), Kayastha (21) and for members of 'third gender' is 22. Total 215 codes have been allotted to different castes and 'third gender' has also been considered as caste with the allotment of a separate caste code. Terming the state government's move of considering 'third gender' a separate caste in the ongoing exercise as a 'criminal act', Reshma Prasad, founder secretary of Dostanasafar, a Bihar-based NGO, on Friday told PTI, "How can gender identity of a human being, become his/her caste? Can 'male' or 'female' be considered as castesimilarly, how can 'transgender' be considered as caste ? People belonging to transgender community can be of any caste". The move is against the 'Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules' that talk about the prevention of non-discrimination of transgender persons, said Reshma Prasad. "The social welfare department of the state government must intervene into the matter so that gender identity of a person should not be considered as caste. I will definitely write to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in this regard and seek his immediate intervention into the matter. It's a sheer injustice with people belonging to transgender community". As per the 2011 Census, the total population of transgender persons in Bihar is 40,827. Echoing a similar view, Grace Banu, a known trans person rights activist and a software engineer from Thoothukudi (Tamil Nadu), told PTI over phone, "The move of the Bihar government is simply 'a social injustice' with people belonging to transgender community. How 'transgender', which is a gender identity, can be considered as caste ?there are so many castes in transgender community. If the state government (Bihar government) does not know how to count the transgender people, we are here to help them". "In the path breaking judgment in National Legal Service Authority (NALSA) vs Union of India (2014), the Supreme Court made an authoritative pronouncement that transgenders be treated as 'third gender' for the purpose of safeguarding their rights under Part III of the Constitution, as well as under the laws made by Parliament and state legislatures. This social injustice of the Bihar government needs to be rectified immediately....gender of a person cannot be considered as caste at all", said Banu. Justifying the demand of people belonging to transgender community, Vidyarthi Vikas, Assistant Professor, A N Sinha Institute of Social Studies (Patna), said, "It must be rectified immediatelygender identity of a person can not be considered as caste. There should be a separate column for transgender in gender categories. Freedom should be given to them (trans people), if they want to disclose their caste identities. In that condition their caste should be mentioned in caste categories". Reacting to this, Bihar Social Welfare Minister, Madan Sahni, told PTI, "If they (transpeople) have any issues with the ongoing exercise of caste-based headcount, including codes allotted to different castes, they must approach the department concerned and discuss with senior officials. The Grand alliance government in Bihar has already taken several welfare measures for improving the socio-economic condition of the people belonging to transgender community". Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has always maintained that caste-based headcount would benefit all sections of the society. The enumeration exercise, which started from January 7, will be completed by May, 2023. The state government will spend Rs 500 crore from its contingency fund for the exercise. The General Administration department is the nodal authority for the survey. How could a President, seen as a political time-server, have manoeuvred things to a stage where he could strike fear into the heart of a prime minister who, only two-and-a-half years before, had been elected with the largest majority in history? IMAGE: Then President Giani Zail Singh, left, with then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi at Delhi airport February 3, 1987. Photograph: Richard Ellis/Reuters It is common now for political commentators to remark on the similarities between Indira Gandhi's style of functioning and the current regime. But what often passes without comment is that both Mrs Gandhi and Narendra Modi also have the same approach to appointing Presidents. As K C Singh points out in this informative and extremely readable book, The Indian President: An Insider's Account of the Zail Singh Years (1982-87), Presidents were never intended to be rubber stamps or mere ceremonial figures. They were expected to be figures of substance who contributed to national discourse. And yet they didn't count for much politically under Mrs Gandhi or now, in this era. You could argue that Indira Gandhi's decision to elevate Giani Zail Singh to the office had something to do with his minority status as a Sikh. But there was more to it than that. Zail Singh was a shrewd politician who had been chief minister of Punjab and home minister of India. He was unfailingly loyal to Mrs Gandhi and drew some of his political power from his proximity to Indira's private secretary R K Dhawan. It is a measure of how much Mrs Gandhi subverted our institutions that Dhawan was the second most powerful person in India, to whom even senior cabinet ministers deferred. It seems likely that the decision to make Zail Singh President emerged out of a combination of factors: A desire to give representation to Sikhs, Dhawan's influence and Singh's years of faithful service to Mrs Gandhi. But mostly it was the certainty that he would do as he was told. Nothing about Zail Singh's behaviour once he was selected as the Congress candidate dispelled that impression. Asked how he felt about being President, he famously replied that he would accept whatever job his leader asked him to take. If she had asked him to pick up a broom and sweep the floor, he would have done that too. The problem with appointing politicians to high Constitutional offices is that, all too often, their political baggage moves in with them. In Zail Singh's case, this problem took many forms. The first was that the chief minister of Punjab, Darbara Singh, was his old political rival, and the two men despised each other. Till the end, Zail Singh blamed Darbara Singh for fabricating what became the dominant narrative -- that Zail Singh had propped up Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and blocked any solution to the militancy in Punjab. The second problem was that, as powerful as Dhawan was, he was not without enemies. K C Singh suggests that Dhawan was opposed by another faction in Mrs Gandhi's circle led by M L Fotedar. This faction saw Zail Singh as Dhawan's man. He is right, but there was another faction at work too. Contrary to popular wisdom, Arun Nehru was not brought into politics by Rajiv Gandhi, but by Indira. Nehru and Fotedar often made common cause (on such subjects as Kashmir) but when Rajiv entered politics, Nehru tried to function as his chief political advisor. IMAGE: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are met by then prime minister Indira Gandhi and then President Zail Singh at Palam airport, New Delhi, November 17, 1983. Photograph: Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images The Rajiv-Nehru faction believed that Dhawan and his allies were misleading Mrs Gandhi and had contempt for all Dhawan's proteges. They carried this hostility into Rajiv Gandhi's term as prime minister. Pranab Mukherjee, a key Dhawan ally, was sacked. Dhawan himself was thrown out and even accused of complicity in Mrs Gandhi's assassination. (Both men were rehabilitated after Rajiv and Arun Nehru fell out.) That left Zail Singh. K C Singh suggests that Zail Singh was perfectly willing to transfer his loyalties to Rajiv, but the new prime minister consistently snubbed him. It could be that Rajiv had also accepted the line that Zail Singh had played a negative role during the Punjab militancy (and Rajiv certainly believed that.) Or it could just be that Rajiv had never liked him from the days when he was seen as a Dhawan stooge. Whatever the reasons, these differences led to a battle between South Block and Rashtrapati Bhavan, unparalleled in the history of modern India, where a wily Zail Singh uncomplainingly bore the insults heaped on him by a popular prime minister before finally making his move just as Rajiv's popularity was slipping. There have been some accounts of this battle before, but never one from someone who was at the centre of the action in Rashtrapati Bhavan (K C Singh was Zail Singh's key aide during the months of that confrontation). At one stage, even Rajiv seriously believed that the President planned to dismiss him as prime minister. This should have been unthinkable: How could a President, seen as a political time-server, have manoeuvred things to a stage where he could strike fear into the heart of a prime minister who, only two-and-a-half years before, had been elected with the largest majority in history? This is the inside story of how it happened and while K C Singh does not claim to be a dispassionate observer, he fills the book with historical precedents and an overview of the political situation to offer an accurate account of that period. A personal note: He quotes from my memoir where I mention that Rajiv had accused Zail Singh of interfering in Bangladesh politics. He points out that the factual position is somewhat at variance (to use his famous formulation) with what I have written. He is right. It is possible that Rajiv got it wrong, but much more likely that I misremembered our conversation of early 1987. This is history recorded by an insider. Anyone who cares about Indian politics should read this book. The Indian President: An Insider's Account of the Zail Singh Years (1982-87) Author: K C Singh Publisher: HarperCollins Pages: 312 Price: Rs 699 Vir Sanghvi, the reviewer is a journalist and TV presenter A Japanese engineer works on the first metro line of Ho Chi Minh City in 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) authorities say they have sped up the issuing of work permits to foreign workers, but businesses say the process still takes too long. At a conference between businesses and the city administration on Thursday, a member company of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham) said that the application for a work permit takes as long as two months. Many other foreign firms attending the event called for reducing the time it takes to process applications They said it took seven to 10 days for the city merely to accept applications submitted online. "The receipt stated the appointment date in accordance with the law," said a representative of one company. "However, due to the delay in receiving the application via the online portal, the progress of the work permit application was affected." The city Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs announced early last month it was speeding up the process of issuing work permits by digitizing the process. It promised that the number of working days would be reduced from 10 to seven days for issuance of new permits, and from three to one for renewal. A department representative said at the conference that if the online submission of an application is not accepted within one day, businesses should bring a hard copy of the application and submit it directly. Since the department has permitted businesses to submit online applications and even outside office hours and on weekends, the number is getting is "huge" and it takes a lot of time to process them. Nguyen Van Lam, the departments deputy director, said some businesses do not submit correct and complete documents when applying, explaining that some companies fail to accurately describe the nature of their business or the need for foreign workers, or fail to get consular attestation and notarization. Lam said his department would seek to reduce the processing time for two things, extension of work permits and certification of foreigners not requiring to obtain work permits, from five to three days. He added that the department has reported to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs some problems faced by enterprises in the process of complying with Decree 152 on obtaining foreign work permits. The decree, which took effect in 2020, defines a "foreign expert" as a person with a bachelors degree or higher and at least three years experience in the relevant field. However, some businesses said many experts have worked in Vietnam for a number of years but no longer have their university degrees for some reason or could not get the experience certification since their former companies no longer exist or they had graduated in one major but have worked in another field for many years. Decree 152 also regulates that a work permit is valid for two years and can only be renewed once for up to two years. After that, the foreign employee is required to start the process again. The Malaysia Business Chamber Vietnam proposed that the validity period of work permits should be extended. It said in Malaysia, for example, a work permit is valid for up to 60 months, depending on the employment contract and upon the discretion of the Foreigners Commission. In Singapore, experienced technologists can obtaina work permit that lasts more than five years. In 2022 the city department received more than 15,400 applications, and issued 10,800 new work permits and extended 1,126 others. At the 2023 Vietnam Business Forum held on March 19, Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung said the government is working to simplify the labor laws, and that foreign workers will be one of the top priorities when drafting the regulations for new work permits. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today A mix of clouds and sun this morning followed by increasing clouds with showers developing this afternoon. High near 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight A few clouds. Low 34F. Winds light and variable. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today A mix of clouds and sun this morning followed by increasing clouds with showers developing this afternoon. High near 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low 34F. Winds light and variable. To the editor: As a reader that is appreciative of Chris Mays' body of work covering our region, I did find the choice to profile ("Tim Wessel Photographer / Multimedia Editor Has been working as a photojournalist since 2007, before moving into newspapers, he worked with an NGO called Project HOPE. He then went to work for the Press and Sun-Bulletin in New York, and then in New England working for the Brattleboro Reformer. Search and rescue personnel look for victims of a helicopter crash near Ha Long Bay. Photo by VnExpress/Xuan Hoa Rescuers found the body of the fifth victim of the helicopter crash near Ha Long Bay Friday morning. The remains of Nguyen Thi Hoi, 60, were found around 30 m from the site of the crash, a spokesperson for the Hai Phong military headquarters said. They are expected to be taken to Bai Chay hospital before being handed over to her family, the spokesperson added. Search and rescue efforts ended Friday morning after all the fragments of the helicopter were retrieved. The VN-8650 helicopter piloted by Chu Quang Minh, 59, crashed with four passengers while on a sightseeing trip over Ha Long Bay on Wednesday evening. It lost contact 10 minutes after taking off from Tuan Chau Island, and crashed into the sea seven kilometers away. Over 300 people took part in the rescue effort. Other victims were Hoi's husband Ho Ta Luc, Luc's sister, and a family friend. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PHOENIX (AP) A judge expressed skepticism about whether he can order any changes in response to a lawsuit against Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, that attempts to force her to carry out an execution previously scheduled for Thursday. Superior Court Judge Frank Moskowitz agreed to let attorneys brief their arguments in the coming weeks, but he also said hes not sure what he has the power to do since the Arizona Supreme Court order authorizing the execution of Aaron Gunches in the 2002 killing of Ted Price will expire late Thursday night. What can I do? There is no warrant of execution to do anything with, Moskowitz said, noting he cant issue or extend such a court order. The judge scheduled a June 23 hearing for lawyers to make their arguments. Hobbs who has ordered a review of Arizonas death penalty protocols because of the state's history of mismanaged executions had vowed to not carry out any death sentences until theres confidence the state can do so without violating the law. While the governor's review of death penalty procedures is underway, the office of newly elected Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes has said it wouldnt seek any court orders to execute prisoners. The lawsuit filed by the victim's sister Karen Price and daughter Brittney Kay alleges the Democratic governor and Corrections Director Ryan Thornell exceeded their authority in refusing to execute Gunches. Their lawyers also said in the suit that the states refusal to carry out the execution violates their clients rights to justice and finality. Lawyers for Hobbs have said the state lacks staff with expertise to carry out executions. They also said corrections officials are unable to find an IV team to carry out the lethal injection and dont currently have a contract with a pharmacist to compound the pentobarbital needed for an execution. They also said a top corrections leadership position thats critical to planning executions remains unfilled. Bo Dul, an attorney representing Hobbs, said their governor offers her condolences to the Price family for its loss and pain, but said the governor has the discretion to ensure that the death penalty is carried out lawfully and humanely. While we empathize with the plaintiffs (Prices sister and daughter) here, what they seek is an unprecedented encroachment on the executive branchs authority, duties and expressions, Dul said. Ryan Green, a prosecutor with the Maricopa County Attorneys Office, which represents Prices daughter in the lawsuit, said that by refusing to carry out the execution, the governor and the corrections director werent doing their duties. Green said possible remedies could include ordering the state to prepare for executions to be carried out, in case an execution warrant is issued in the future. Green said that not allowing the courts to review Hobbs decisions about whether to carry out executions would set up a situation in which the governor could decide she isn't going to enforce the law. The victims will never have their rights in this type of case to prompt and final conclusions, Green said. Late Wednesday afternoon, the Arizona Supreme Court declined a request from Prices sister and daughter to reschedule the execution for May 1. It was the second time the states highest court declined an attempt by Prices sister to keep the execution on track. Late last month, the court declined Prices bid to order Hobbs to carry out the execution. The court concluded the governor wasnt required to carry out Gunches execution on Thursday. Now, Prices sister and daughter are advancing their claims in a lower court. Gunches had pleaded guilty to a murder charge in the shooting death of Ted Price, who was his girlfriends ex-husband. Arizona, which currently has 110 prisoners on death row, carried out three executions last year. That followed a nearly eight-year hiatus brought on by criticism that a 2014 execution was botched, and because of difficulties obtaining execution drugs. Since then, the state has been criticized for taking too long to insert the IV for lethal injection into the person's body and for denying the Arizona Republic newspaper permission to witness the three executions. Gunches, who isnt a lawyer, had asked the state Supreme Court to issue a warrant for his execution, saying justice could be served and Prices families could get closure. In his last month in office, Republican Attorney General Mark Brnovich asked the court for a warrant to execute Gunches. But Gunches withdrew his request in early January, and Mayes, who replaced Brnovich, asked for the warrant for Gunches execution to be withdrawn. The state Supreme Court rejected Mayes request, saying that it must grant an execution warrant if certain appellate proceedings have concluded and that those requirements were met in Gunches case. Gunches switched courses again, saying now that he wants to be executed and asked to be transferred to Texas, where, he wrote, inmates can still get their sentences carried out. Arizonas high court denied the transfer. Gunches took part in Thursday's hearing, telling the judge, I want whatever gets my sentence carried out as fast as possible. Azerbaijan's Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov met with Oleg Serebrian, Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration within the framework of his visit to Moldova, Azernews reports. At the meeting, the importance of a peaceful and sustainable solution to the Transnistrian conflict with unconditional respect for the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity was emphasized, and the existing cooperation between Chisinau and Tiraspol was discussed. Deputy Prime Minister Oleg Serebrian stressed that the 5+2 negotiation format will remain frozen during the ongoing military operations in neighboring Ukraine, and Chisinau will continue its interactions with all partners involved in the process of settling Transnistria. At the same time, he noted the efforts of national institutions and foreign partners to manage all the problems arising from the complexity of the internal and regional situation. Oleg Serebrian thanked Azerbaijan for the interest shown in strengthening the cooperation between Moldova and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Moldova Qudsi Osmanov also participated in the meeting. State President Vo Van Thuong will pay an official visit to Laos from April 10-11 at the invitation of General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This will be his first foreign trip since taking office last month. Vietnam and Laos established relations in September 1962. In February 2019, the two sides agreed to raise the level of "traditional friendship" to "great friendship". Vietnam currently has 219 investment projects in Laos with a total registered capital of about $4.3 billion, ranking third after China and Thailand. Vietnam last year launched five new projects in Laos and increased investment in four others with a total value of $70 million, up nearly 50% from 2021. Two-way trade turnover reached nearly $1.7 billion in 2022, an increase of more than 25%. In 2022, Vietnam gave Laos 1,155 scholarships. Laos offered Vietnam 60 scholarships. Some 14,000 students from Lao studied at 160 educational institutions in Vietnam last year. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, defense and security cooperation between the two countries continues to be strengthened. Vietnam and Laos have also been working together to search for and repatriate the remains of Vietnamese volunteers and experts who died in Laos. The two countries are also working to strengthen border control, prevent illegal entry and exit, and manage issues related to security and social order, human trafficking, transnational crime and especially drug trafficking and transportation. Communal clashes during Ram Navami celebrations in West Bengal were "sponsored" by the Trinamool Congress government in the state, alleged Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya on Thursday. He accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of giving "provocative statements" against the central government on the day of the Hindu festival last week. Violence and arson were witnessed during the Ram Navami festival in Howrah and Hooghly, sparking a fresh war of words between the ruling TMC and the Opposition BJP. Vijayvargiya, talking to reporters after attending a local party meeting at the BJP office in Indore, alleged the communal violence on Ram Navami in West Bengal was "sponsored" by the state government. He claimed Banerjee gave "provocative statements" during a sit-in and this vitiated the atmosphere. "Banerjee is holding a responsible post of chief minister. I think she should refrain from making such irresponsible statements, Vijaywargiya remarked. The BJP leader, who was earlier in-charge of West Bengal, maintained Banerjee herself wants communal tension in her state so that she can take political advantage out of it. The TMC, on the other hand, has claimed BJP leaders fomented trouble during Ram Navami. The former Madhya Pradesh minister alleged the West Bengal government gives "security" to those who create disturbance during processions taken out on the occasion of Ram Navami or Hanuman Jayanti. Responding to a question, Vijayvargiya said the "Modi effect" (the influence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi) is leading to a transformation of the Congress party. "Earlier, if Congress leaders used to appear at any religious event, it was only at 'iftar' parties (organised during the holy month of Ramadan). But now their leaders have started wearing janeu (sacred thread), going to temples and reciting Hanuman Chalisa. This means the Modi effect is not only visible on the country, but also on the Congress, he remarked. The BJP general secretary said former Congress president Rahul Gandhi did not apologise for his alleged anti-India remarks made in London because he is "feudal-minded" and has no faith in democracy, Parliament and judiciary. He said these days the people of Pakistan, facing one of its worst economic crises since its creation in 1947, can be heard saying on news channels that Mohammad Ali Jinnah was wrong in demanding partition of the country. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India is progressing well and the country's reputation is getting enhanced in the world. On the other hand, Pakistan has joined the ranks of the poorest countries in the world. In such a situation, the people there (Pakistan) have started feeling that we should get merged with India," said the BJP leader. PTI HWP MAS RSY RSY An enormous stash of arms and ammunition was found by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir police in a combined operation from Haprudha forest in North Kupwara district on Thursday, April 6. The Indian Army in a press release mentioned that along with the J&K police, they launched an operation in the Haphruda forest in the Northern Kupwara district on Thursday morning. The operation resulted in the recovery of a huge cache of ammunition including 720 rounds of 7.62mm, five rounds of RPG and 10x UBGL grenades. The ammunition was concealed in two locations in the jungle area with adequate packaging and some of them were also found in sealed packets. More operations have been initiated by the Army and J&K police to search for more ammunition stockpiles or their hiding places. About the operation Following the discovery of weapons and ammunition, the Army's 3/8 Gorkha Rifles and Kupwara police conducted a joint search operation in the Hajam Mohalla of Tad Karnah. They recovered 10 pistols, 17 pistol magazines, 54 rounds of pistol ammunition and five grenades during the search operation. The police and security personnel believe that arms and ammunition had been smuggled from across the border from Pakistan and kept in the area to be distributed among the recruits who have joined terror ranks in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The operation helped in recovering arms and ammunition and also averted a major terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir which could have resulted in the loss of many innocent lives. The Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir police have launched such operations earlier as well where many arms and ammunition have been recovered and most of them are made in Pakistan. Pakistan-sponsored terrorism has been on the rise in the valley where such arms and ammunition have been recovered from forests and in cities. The forces have always been vigilant and have taken measures to avert any major incident in the valley. Earlier on March 24, 2023, Indian Army and the J&K police foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LOC) in the Tangdhar Sector in North Kashmir's Kupwara district. One terrorist was killed in the operation and a huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered. The Indian Army continues to remain vigilant along the Line Of Control (LOC) making efforts to not allow adversaries to push terrorists on the Indian side to disturb peace and stability in the valley and other parts of the country. Former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi said he believes he will overcome the lung infection caused by a chronic leukemia that has hospitalized him in intensive care, Italian daily Il Giornale reported on Friday. Its hard, but Ill make it once again, the 86-year-old media mogul said in a phone call with Il Giornales editor in chief, Augusto Minzolini. I managed, also in delicate and difficult situations, to pull myself up, Berlusconi added, according to the report. The media tycoon and three-time premier spent a second consecutive night in intensive care at Milans San Raffaele Hospital, where his doctors on Thursday signed off on a medical bulletin saying that he has had leukemia for some time, but that the cancer of the blood cells is in a persistent chronic phase. The statement was the first official word from doctors since Berlusconi was admitted to San Raffaele on Wednesday. The current treatment strategy envisions treatment of the pulmonary infection as well as specialized treatment aimed at limiting the negative effects of the chronic leukemia, the bulletin stated. On Friday morning, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, quoting Berlusconis personal doctor Alberto Zangrillo, reported that Berlusconi was alert and was responding to the treatments. Tajani is the coordinator of Forza Italia, the political party that Berlusconi created some 30 years ago. Berlusconi was admitted to an intensive care unit at San Raffaele Hospital on Wednesday for treatment of what aides indicated was a respiratory problem stemming from a previous infection. The former premier and now senator had left the same hospital a week earlier after several days of tests. Doctors said the kind of leukemia afflicting Berlusconi usually appears in people of advanced age and is characterized by an increase in white blood cells known as monocytes. Treatment for older patients can involve a stem cell transplant. But that could be difficult, according to an Italian nonprofit association dedicated to combating leukemia. Another treatment would involve controlling the white blood cell count. The last years have seen Berlusconi suffer numerous health problems, including heart ailments and COVID-19 in 2020, which saw him hospitalized then in critical condition with pneumonia. He has had a pacemaker for years, underwent heart surgery to replace an aortic valve in 2016 and overcame prostate cancer decades ago. French President Emmanuel Macron and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping struck crucial co-operation deals on Thursday during the former's state visit to China. According to Chinese tabloid Global Times, the leaders solidified ties during their meeting and discussed how to boost co-operation in areas like civilian nuclear technology, aviation, green development, aerospace, and technological innovation. One of the deals discussed involves the construction of a China-France carbon neutrality centre and providing joint trainings to personnel. The presidents held wide-ranging talks and vowed to provide an unbiased and free business environment for each other's firms. Macron's China visit becomes 'excellent opportunity' to boost bilateral ties Macron, who touched down in Beijing with a business delegation of over 60 executives, made it clear that France is not in favour of "decoupling and chain breaking" and aspires to help build an open supply chain worldwide. "The visit is an excellent opportunity to strengthen ties between France and China on both the diplomatic and economic levels. It's very positive news for the business community that we're all here today," said SUEZ chairman Sabrina Soussan, who is part of the business delegation. With Macron's visit, France also looks forward to being the guest of honor at the 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services and the seventh China International Import Expo. Experts believe that the visit could help send a positive message to other European nations and soften a hawkish stance on China. Meanwhile, Jinping touched upon the Russia-Ukraine war after Macron urged him to bring Russia to its senses". While the Chinese leader expressed that "peace talks should resume as soon as possible, he did not indicate any possibility of China using its leverage and persuading Russia to end its invasion. Palestinian shooting attack in West Bank kills 2 people, hours after Israeli strikes on Lebanon, Gaza, Israeli medics said. In retaliation, Israel unleashed rare airstrikes on Lebanon and bombarded the Gaza Strip on Friday, an escalation that sparked fears of a broader conflict after days of violence over Jerusalems most sensitive holy site. Later in the day, there were signs that both sides were trying to keep the hostilities in check. Fighting on Israels northern and southern borders subsided after dawn, and midday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem passed peacefully. But a Palestinian shooting attack in the Israeli-occupied West Bank killed two Israeli sisters just hours later a grim reminder of the combustible situation. The early morning Israeli strikes followed an unusually large rocket barrage fired at Israel from southern Lebanon some of the heaviest and most serious cross-border violence since Israels 2006 war with Lebanons Hezbollah militants. The violence erupted after Israeli police raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem earlier in the week, sparking unrest in the contested capital and outrage across the Arab world. The Israeli strikes Friday seemed designed to avoid drawing in Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shiite group that Israel considers its most immediate threat. The Israeli military said its warplanes struck infrastructure belonging to Hamas militants that it accused of firing the nearly three dozen rockets that slammed into open areas and towns in northern Israel on Thursday. Nonetheless, the Israeli military said it believed the Palestinian militants acted with the knowledge of Hezbollah, which holds sway over much of southern Lebanon. There were no reports of serious casualties, but several residents of the southern Lebanese town of Qalili, including Syrian refugees, said they were lightly wounded. I immediately gathered my wife and children and got them out of the house, said Qalili resident Bilal Suleiman, who was jolted awake by the bombing. A flock of sheep was killed when the Israeli missiles struck a field near the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh, according to an Associated Press photographer. Other airstrikes hit a bridge and a power transformer in nearby Maaliya and damaged an irrigation system providing water to orchards. In the Gaza Strip, Israels military pounded what it said were weapons production sites and underground tunnels belonging to Hamas, the militant group ruling the Palestinian enclave. A childrens hospital in Gaza City was among sites sustaining damage, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. After the retaliatory strikes, Israelis living along the southern border returned home from bomb shelters. Most missiles that managed to cross into Israeli territory hit open areas, but one landed in the town of Sderot, sending shrapnel slicing into a house. There were no reports of casualties on either side of the southern border. The Israeli military said everyone wanted to avoid a full-blown conflict. Quiet will be answered with quiet, said spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht. A Qatari official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the emirate was mediating to de-escalate the situation. The Palestinian shooting attack in the West Bank, near an Israeli settlement in the Jordan Valley, killed two sisters in their 20s and seriously wounded their 45-year-old mother, Israeli officials said. The three were residents of the Efrat settlement, near the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, said Oded Revivi, the settlements mayor. The girls father was driving in a separate car behind his wife and daughters and witnessed the attack, Revivi added. Medics said they dragged the unconscious women from their smashed car, which appeared to have been pushed off the road. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant toured the site late Friday and vowed to catch the attacker. Its just a matter of time, and not much time, until we settle the score, Netanyahu said. He also said his Security Cabinet had passed a series of measures overnight. We acted in Lebanon, we acted in Gaza, we beefed up forces in the field, he said, promising additional actions. No militant group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. But Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem hailed it as retaliation for the crimes committed by Israel in the West Bank and the Al-Aqsa mosque. Jerusalems holy site of Al-Aqsa, a tinderbox for Israeli-Palestinian conflict, sits on a hilltop sacred to both Muslims and Jews. In 2021, an escalation triggered by clashes there spilled over into an 11-day war between Israel and Gazas Hamas rulers. On Friday, over 130,000 worshippers poured into the compound for midday prayers, which ended without incident. Pakistan's Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has cancelled his visit to the US to attend the spring meetings of the World Bank and the IMF and hold talks with officials to unlock a much-needed USD 1.1 billion IMF bailout, amid deepening domestic political uncertainty and developing judicial crisis, according to a media report on Friday. During the visit, Dar was to meet the International Monetary Fund management for the removal of bottlenecks in the staff-level agreement on the revival of the stalled bailout package. Sources said that Dar would not attend the spring meetings of the World Bank and the IMF that will take place from April 10 to 16 in Washington, The Express Tribune newspaper reported. I am not going due to the domestic state of affairs, the newspaper quoted Dar as saying. The deepening political uncertainty and developing judicial crisis were said to be the reasons behind the cancellation of the trip to Washington, the paper said. Dar had the plan to address the financial and political worlds concerns regarding the continuity of the Pakistan government, future economic plans and bridging the once again trust deficit with the multilateral lenders. The sources said that Minister for Economic Affairs Sardar Ayaz Sadiq would also not go to the United States due to the prevailing uncertain political conditions. The economic affairs minister always represented Pakistan at the World Bank. Ayaz is considered very close to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and also handled the political affairs of the allied parties. The development came amid the widening chasm between the judiciary and the federal government over holding polls in the country's politically crucial Punjab province. The federal government asserts that it has the power to delay the polls and hold them with the general elections in the country after August this year. However, former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party has been pushing for early polls and demanding that instead of delaying the elections in the Punjab province, the national assembly should be dissolved and general elections called in the country. Finance Secretary Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh and Economic Affairs Secretary Kazim Niaz would now represent the government at the WB-IMF spring meetings. During the visit, Dar scheduled meetings with the presidents of WB, Asian Development Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank the three multilateral creditors that were very crucial for Pakistans plans to raise USD 6 billion in additional loans to meet the last IMF condition. Cash-strapped Pakistan is awaiting a much-needed USD 1.1 billion tranche of funding from the Washington-based IMF, which was originally due to be disbursed in November last year. The funds are part of a USD 6.5 billion bailout package the IMF approved in 2019, which analysts say is critical if Pakistan is to avoid defaulting on external debt obligations. The IMF programme, signed in 2019, is going to expire on June 30, 2023, and under the set guidelines, the programme cannot be extended beyond the deadline. The pending 9th review was scheduled to be completed in December 2022 and the 10th review should have been kick-started from February 2023. The 11th review was scheduled to commence on May 3. Pakistan and the IMF have been negotiating the resumption of the stalled programme for months but have yet to reach an agreement. There is no easy solution available to fix the ailing economy of Pakistan and the government is of the view that they have taken all the tough decisions for reviving the stalled IMF programme. Pakistan, currently in the throes of a major economic crisis, is grappling with high external debt, a weak local currency and dwindling foreign exchange reserves, enough to shore up for barely one month's imports. The current volatile political situation in Pakistan has become a factor in delaying a much-needed deal with the IMF. PTI NSA Pakistan top intelligence agency arrested a high-value target in an operation against a Baluch insurgent group in the country's southwest, the Army said Friday. The military statement said Gulzar Imam, also known by the name Shambay, is the militant founder and leader of the banned Baluch Nationalist Army. An umbrella group for Blauch insurgents, the BNA was formed after two main insurgent groups merged: The Baluch Republican Army and United Baluch Army. The Army said BNA had been involved in dozens of terrorist attacks in the country, including those on security forces. The militarys media wing said that Shambay's visits to India and Afghanistan were on record and his suspected links with hostile intelligence agencies are being investigated. The military said the arrest was made possible after a monthslong intelligence effort, but did not provide further details. The gas-rich southwestern Baluchistan province at the border of Afghanistan and Iran has been a scene of low-level insurgency by Baluch nationalists for more than two decades. Baluch nationalists initially wanted a share from the provincial resources, but later they initiated an insurgency for independence. The crucial National Security Council (NSC) meeting convened by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday decided to launch a "comprehensive operation" to eliminate the scourge of terrorism in all its forms from the country. The 41st meeting of the NSC was chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz, with Cabinet ministers, chief ministers, services chiefs, intelligence chiefs and other key civil and military officials. A press release issued from the Prime Ministers Office said Friday's NSC session was in continuation of a previous meeting that was convened after a terrorist attack at Peshawar Police Lines. The meeting has agreed to launch an all-out comprehensive operation with the support of the entire nation and the government, which will rid the country of the menace of terrorism with renewed vigour and determination, according to an official statement. It said that the operation to eliminate the scourge of terrorism in all its forms from Pakistan would incorporate measures at the political, diplomatic security, economic and social levels. The press release said that a high-level committee was formed that would give recommendations regarding the implementation and limitations of the operation within two weeks. The meeting was held amid the widening chasm between the judiciary and the federal government over holding polls in the country's politically crucial Punjab province. The NSC is a federal institutional and consultative body chaired by the Prime Minister of Pakistan. It is a principal forum that is mandated for considering national security and foreign policy matters with the senior national security advisers and Cabinet ministers. According to an official statement, the NSC discussed in detail the threats posed by the rebel groups, especially those linked with the banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. As a result of the support given by these returning dangerous terrorists and various terrorist organisations present in large numbers in Afghanistan, peace and stability in the country was destroyed which was achieved as a result of countless sacrifices and continuous efforts, it said. The Dawn newspaper quoted sources as saying that the federal government would ask the top brass for a briefing on potential threats from militants in case elections were held in the Punjab province on May 14 as per the Supreme Courts order. Last month, the Pakistan Army informed the Election Commission of Pakistan that its troops will not be available for poll-related duties due to the prevalent law and order situation in the country. The previous NSC meeting was held in January this year, which reiterated its resolve to have zero tolerance for terrorism in the country. Pakistan's National Assembly did not stop at just rejecting the Supreme Court's April 4 verdict on the Punjab polls date, but went on to blatantly label it as unlawful". On Thursday, the NA dismissed the SC's ruling that the elections in Punjab will be held on May 14 of this year. This has intensified the NA's current standoff with the judiciary by making it "binding on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and federal cabinet not to implement it" altogether. According to Pakistani news outlet Dawn, the resolution was read out by Balochistan Awami Party's Khalid Magsi and was later passed with a majority vote by the assembly. This House rejects the minority decision of the three-member bench and binds the prime minister and the cabinet not to implement the unconstitutional and unlawful decision, read the resolution, which is the second of its kind to be passed by the NA against the country's judiciary in over a week. The resolution was also backed by erstwhile Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who said that the parliament is a supreme body and it was right to pass such a resolution against the SC, Dunya News reported. Pak lawmakers call SC's ruling 'unconstitutional' Later on, lawmakers called the SC's verdict unlawful and unconstitutional" and expressed serious concerns over the courts unwarranted interference in the political matters", exhorting the apex court to refrain from doing so. The proceedings were briefly attended by Sharif, who exited the house shortly after the resolution was passed. Only two members of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party objected to it, namely, Mohsin Leghari and Mahmood Baqi Moulvi. It made a reference to the resolution passed on March 28, stating that the house was in support of the decision taken by four judges of the Supreme Court in the suo motu case. Most of the circles also demanded the formation of a full court, but it was not approved and the viewpoint of other political parties, except one, was not heard, said Thursday's resolution. Furthermore, it backed the decision taken by a three-member SC bench under Justice Qazi Faez Isa which demanded that cases filed under Article 184(3) must not be set for hearings until the decisions on the full court meeting. The lawmakers expressed "deep concern" over the "move to stop its implementation through the executive circular and hastily fixing the same judicial decision for hearing before another controversial bench and giving a quick decision on it in a few minutes". At least eight people were dead and scores injured after violent clashes broke out between two ethnic outfits in the rugged terrains of Bandarban district in Bangladesh, sparking panic and forcing locals to flee their homes, police said on Friday. The incident took place on Thursday night in Rowangchhari upazila in Bangladesh's south-eastern Bandarban District, which is a hotbed of insurgency. Clashes and gunfire were witnessed in a remote corner of Roangchhari upazila (sub-district) of Bandarban on late Thursday. We have recovered eight bodies from the scene, police officer Abdul Mannan said. Mannan said the bodies were brought to the upazila headquarters on Friday for autopsy and other legal formalities. Police said nearly 200 people fled their homes following the clashes, fearing violence among feuding groups, and took refuge at an army camp at Roangchhari. The reason for the clashes is not known. But police suspect the incident involved members of the newly-formed outfit called Kuki Chin Front (KNF), which is the break-away faction of the United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF). The UPDF is a regional political party based in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. Chakmas form the majority ethnic group in the party. Formed in 1998, the group claims to seek a fully autonomous Hill Tracts through peaceful and democratic means. Security officials said the KNF emerged as an armed group dominated mostly by the Bom ethnic community and reportedly formed an alliance with an Islamist militant group in the hills. The KNF claims to be representing six of the 16 ethnic minority groups of Chittagong Hill Tracts. They are demanding a separate state be formed with several sub-districts of two of the three hill districts. The KNFs terrorist activities forced residents there to leave their abode and come to our (army) camp for temporary refuge. We have sheltered them and arranged their food with the help of civil administration, Captain Fahim, an official of Bangladesh Armys Bandarban Zone told journalists. Bangladeshs security agencies said a manhunt was underway to track down and arrest Nathan Bome, the KNF chief. Meanwhile, authorities will maintain heightened security in the affected areas. In the event of further violence, they may enact movement-restrictive measures, such as imposing a curfew in the region, officials added. PTI AR VM VM Vietnams renowned fashionista Chau Bui took part in a pop-up event held by fashion billionaire Tory Burch in Singapore that was attended by many Asian celebrities. Tory Burch (L) and Chau Bui at the pop-up event in Singapore on April 5, 2023. Photo by Chau Bui Chau Bui was a guest a Burchs event on April 4-5. At the evening party, Chau donned a classic outfit with a brown jacket, a white dress and a black box-shape handbag. The 25-year-old fashionista took photos with Burch and had a talk with her about the new projects of her brand. "Its exciting when I can meet this famous and inspiring woman," Chau said. "I have been a fan of her talent for a long time." At the event, Chau also met Asian celebrities such as supermodel Liu Wen, actress Qin Lan and actor Lawrence Wong. Previously, Chau attended the grand opening of the new Tory Burch store and met Singapores famous fashionista Yoyo Cao. Chau Bui at the pop-up event in Singapore on April 5, 2023. Photo by Chau Bui Tory Burch, 56, is an American designer who runs a renowned fashion brand of the same name. She was included in the list of 100 most powerful women in the world by Forbes in 2020. Her brand has made its mark with simple designs with distinctive colors, prints and details. Her designs include shoes, bags and other accessories. Currently, Tory Burch has more than 100 stores in the U.S., Europe, Middle East, Latin America, and Asia and more than 1,000 agencies globally. Chau Buis rise to fame in Vietnam began with freelance modeling, a trade she has gradually leveraged into establishing herself as one of the countrys most prominent fashion influencers. A Belarusian opposition leader and former ally of President Alexander Lukashenko received a 17-year prison sentence in absentia Friday on charges that included forming an extremist group and discrediting Belarus. Valery Tsepkalo, 58, was also fined around $14,000 and barred from holding public office for five years following a closed-door trial that resulted in his conviction. Other charges included issuing calls to seize power, slander and insulting the country's president. Tsepkalo fled to Russia in 2020 after the Central Election Commission barred him and eight other candidates from challenging Lukashenko in a presidential election that year. He later moved to Ukraine, Latvia and Greece. According to the Belarusian human rights center Viasna, Tsepkalo could not defend himself in court or get acquainted with the details of the case against him because he had no contact with the state lawyer. His wife went on to support the candidacy of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who decided to run against Lukashenko in place of her jailed husband. Tsikhanouskaya contested the official election results that showed the incumbent winning a sixth term by a wide margin, and later fled Belarus as well. Another opposition politician who finished fourth in the election, Andrey Dzmitryeu, was arrested in Minsk and imprisoned at the beginning of the year. Lukashenko's August 2020 reelection set off huge antigovernment protests following an election that the opposition and the West denounced as having been rigged. Belarusian authorities responded to the demonstrations with a major crackdown that saw more than 35,000 people arrested, thousands beaten by police and dozens of media outlets and nongovernmental organizations shut. Lukashenko has ruled Belarus since 2004. US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is at the receiving end of strong backlash by Democrats after an explosive investigation conducted by nonprofit organisation ProPublica found that he swept decades' worth of lavish gifts and trips from Republican donour Harlan Crow under the rug. The findings of the investigation have sparked outrage from Democrats, with New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez calling for his immediate impeachment. "This is beyond party or partisanship. This degree of corruption is shocking - almost cartoonish. Thomas must be impeached. Barring some dramatic change, this is what the Roberts court will be known for: rank corruption, erosion of democracy, and the stripping of human rights," she tweeted on Thursday, just hours after the report was published. Illinois Democrat and Senate Judiciary Committee chair Dick Durbin also joined the outcry, and vowed that his committee would take some action on the report. He also criticised Thomas' professional ethics and said that they were simply inconsistent with the ethical standards the American people expect of any public servant, let alone a Justice on the Supreme Court," RT reported. What did the report reveal? The backlash came after ProPublicas report revealed that Dallas-based businessman Harlan Crow splurged hundreds of thousands of dollars on the top judge's annual vacations, accommodations, and private flights for more than 20 years. The extent and frequency of Crows apparent gifts to Thomas have no known precedent in the modern history of the US Supreme Court, the report said. It further slammed his inability to mention the gifts in his financial disclosures, something that is required of US justices, judges, members of Congress, and federal officials. However, Crow justified that Thomas was a friend of his who had never demanded any such gifts. The hospitality we have extended to the Thomass over the years is no different from the hospitality we have extended to our many other dear friends," he said. US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said Friday he was not required to disclose the many trips he and his wife took that were paid for by Republican megadonor Harlan Crow. Describing Crow and his wife, Kathy, as among our dearest friends, Thomas said in a statement that he was advised by colleagues on the nation's highest court and others in the federal judiciary that this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable. Thomas did not name the other justices or those in the judiciary with whom he had consulted. The nonprofit investigative journalism organization ProPublica reported Thursday that Thomas, who has been a justice for more than 31 years, has for more than two decades accepted luxury trips from Crow nearly every year. Thomas, 74, and his wife, Virginia, have traveled on Crows yacht and private jet as well as stayed at his private resort in New York's Adirondack Mountains, ProPublica reported. A 2019 trip to Indonesia the story detailed could have cost more than $500,000 had Thomas chartered the plane and yacht himself. Supreme Court justices, like other federal judges, are required to file an annual financial disclosure report which asks them to list gifts they have received, but provides exemptions for hospitality from friends. Ethics experts have offered conflicting views about whether Thomas should have disclosed the trips. Last month, the federal judiciary bolstered disclosure requirements for all judges, including the high court justices, although overnight stays at personal vacation homes owned by friends remain exempt from disclosure. Thomas, the longest-serving member of the court, said he has always tried to comply with disclosure guidelines. Regarding those changes, It is, of course, my intent to follow this guidance in the future, he said in the statement. Democratic lawmakers said the ProPublica story was the latest illustration of why the Supreme Court should adopt an ethics code and further tighten the rules on travel and other gifts. It is by no means clear that the justices will agree to subject themselves to an ethics code or that Congress will seek to impose one on the court. Thomas did not refer to any individual trips paid for by Crow. But he said, As friends do, we have joined them on a number of family trips during the more than quarter century we have known them. Last year, questions about Thomas ethics arose when it was disclosed that he did not step away from election cases following the 2020 election despite the fact that his wife, a conservative activist, reached out to lawmakers and the Trump White House to urge defiance of the election results. Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen meets U.S. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, Wednesday, April 5, 2023. In Brief Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy on April 5, setting a precedent for transit diplomacy by a Taiwanese head of state. Three Chinese entities its Foreign Ministry, its National People's Congress Foreign Affairs Committee and its embassy in Washington soon issued statements that blasted the United States for violating the one-China principle and provisions outlined in three joint communiques. American officials responded by saying that the countrys one-China policy has not changed and transits through the United States by Taiwanese presidents are nothing new. Asia Fact Check Lab (AFCL) found that Beijings claims were untrue, and a misleading attempt to amplify Beijings own political narrative. In Depth McCarthy led a bipartisan group of 17 lawmakers to meet with Tsai at the Reagan Library in California on May 5. After the meeting, the two leaders issued a statement in which McCarthy emphasized that the friendship between the people of Taiwan and America is a matter of profound importance to the free world and it is critical to maintain economic freedom, peace and regional stability. US Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy [6th R] speaks with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen [5th L] during a meeting at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. Credit: AFP Tsai said that in the face of unprecedented challenges to peace and democracy, the urgency of keeping the beacon of freedom shining cannot be understated. The public meeting with the speaker of the house on U.S. soil set a precedent for transit diplomacy conducted by a Taiwanese head of state. McCarthy, who is third in line to the presidency, is viewed as an important political figure by Beijing. Tsai's meeting with him crossed the first uncrossable red line in Sino-U.S. relations. Soon after the meeting, the Chinese Foreign Ministry accused the United States of being in serious violation of the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiques. Is there any provision in the China-US joint communiques that prohibit Taiwans president from transiting through the U.S.? No, there is not. No statement, provision or text in any of the three U.S.-China Communiques, the Taiwan Relations Act or the Six Assurances prohibits such transit. Is Tsai the first Taiwanese president to transit through the U.S.? No. All four of Taiwans presidents chosen through free and direct elections -- Lee Teng-hui, Chen Shui-bian, Ma Ying-jeou and Tsai have transited through the United States. Daniel Kritenbrink, former Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs for the Department of State, pointed out at a briefing on March 30th that Tsai herself has done so six times since taking office in 2016. Such transits are undertaken out of the safety, comfort, convenience and dignity of the traveler, he said. In this March 27, 2019, photo, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen [R] is greeted by supporters upon arriving in Hawaii. Credit: Taiwan Presidential Office via AP Has China protested each Taiwanese presidents' transit through the U.S equally? No, China has objected more strongly to some Taiwanese presidents transits than others, depending on their political party. The late Kuomintang (KMT) President Lee Teng-hui established diplomatic precedent for such transits when he was allowed to pass through Hawaii in 1994 under the conditions that he was not to be granted a visa and would not stay overnight. Lee later refused to leave the plane he was on while it was refueling as a sign of protest against the unceremonious reception. This aroused the sympathy of Congress, which intervened and later paved the way for Lee to officially make a private visit to his alma mater Cornell University the following year. Chinas subsequent diplomatic uproar and live missile tests conducted in the Taiwan Straits pushed the United States to establish internal regulations for similar future incidents, with all subsequent Taiwanese presidents trips being labeled as transits and not visits. Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui receives the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences during a breakfast banquet at the university at Ithaca, N.Y., in 1995. Credit: Associated Press China ardently opposed the Democratic Progressive Party President Chen Shui-bians visit to New York City in 2003 to receive the International League for Human Rights annual Human Rights Award, mobilizing pro-Beijing factions of overseas Chinese in the U.S. to protest. But its reaction was more restrained when KMT President Ma Ying-jeou delivered a closed-door speech at his alma mater Harvard University in 2015. A year later, China offered little protest even after Ma was confirmed to have spoken over the phone with then-Speaker of the House Paul Ryan while transiting through Los Angeles and was rumored to have spoken with then-Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Tsais latest trip is the first time a Taiwanese president has publicly met with the speaker of the House on U.S. soil and the second time in the past year that Tsai has met with a speaker of the House, following Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan in 2022. McCarthy's office confirmed and announced the meeting on its own initiative, and both Republican and Democrat legislators attended the event. The meeting between Tsai and Mcarthy will likely lead to another serious confrontation in U.S.-China relations. Minister Xu Xueyuan, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in the United States, told international media that,The so-called transit is merely a disguise to a true intention of seeking breakthrough and advocating Taiwan independence. In response to U.S. statements that Tsais transit is not a visit and follows established precedent, Xu noted past mistakes cannot be considered precedents. This will not lessen our response. After the United States and China established diplomatic relations, Washington promised to maintain unofficial relations with Taiwan, noted Susan Thornton, former acting assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. This was not formally spelled out, but was exercised following diplomatic normalization in a series of conventions that were seriously enforced at the beginning and have been eroding ever since, said Thornton. China worries that more lax enforcement by the U.S. will erode its one China principle, while the U.S. believes such looser regulations do not break its commitment to only maintain unofficial relations with Taiwan. Is Tsais meeting with Mcarthy an official visit? It depends. Thornton told AFCL that questions concerning the Tsais transit and subsequent meeting with McCarthy are basically grey areas where the U.S. and China have different versions of the truth. The American government views the legislative branch and Congress as independent of the executive, and hence not official, Thornton said. China views this as the number three person in the U.S. government per order of precedence (diplomatic protocol). When asked about McCarthy's meeting with Tsai, Kritenbrink stated, Congress is an independent, co-equal branch of government and noted that Tsai is not the first Taiwanese president to interact with members of the U.S. Congress while in transit. In an effort to reassure China, Kritenbrink repeatedly emphasized that the U.S. one-China policy has not changed, and that the U.S. still does not support Taiwan independence. Long-standing disagreements between Washington and Beijing concerning Taiwan boil down to fundamental differences between China's one-China principle and the U.S. one-China policy. Are Washingtons one-China policy and Beijings one-China principle in accord? No, they are not. The United States and China have always been divided on the issue of Taiwan. Beijings one-China principle is solely based on its interpretation of the three joint U.S.-China communiques. The U.S. one-China policy is also built on the subsequent Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances to Taiwan, which Beijing does not recognize as legitimate. While the United States accepts there is only one China and that the Peoples Republic of China is its sole legitimate government, Washington also acknowledges -- rather than accepts -- China's claims of sovereignty over Taiwan, notes Evan Medeiros, former senior director for Asia on the National Security Council under President Obama. According to McEwen, the U.S. believes that Taiwan's sovereignty is undetermined and remains intentionally ambiguous on the issue. In response to the meeting between Tsai and McCarthy, Chinas National People's Congress Foreign Affairs Committee noted that several documents of international law, including the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, clarify China's sovereignty over Taiwan. Did the three joint Communiques touch on the topic of Taiwans president transiting through the U.S.? No they did not. The 1972 Shanghai Communique China reaffirmed its longstanding position that the Taiwan question is the crucial question obstructing the normalization of relations between China and the United States; the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government of China; Taiwan is a province of China which has long been returned to the motherland; the liberation of Taiwan is China's internal affair in which no other country has the right to interfere; and all US forces and military installations must be withdrawn from Taiwan. The Chinese Government firmly opposes any activities which aim at the creation of one China, one Taiwan one China, two governments two Chinas an independent Taiwan or advocate that the status of Taiwan remains to be determined. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen attends a bipartisan meeting with US Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, a California Repubican, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, on April 5, 2023. Credit: AFP Washington responded that The United States acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China. The United States Government does not challenge that position. It reaffirms its interest in a peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question by the Chinese themselves. With this prospect in mind, it affirms the ultimate objective of the withdrawal of all US forces and military installations from Taiwan. In the meantime, it will progressively reduce its forces and military installations on Taiwan as the tension in the area diminishes. The 1978 Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Compared to the lengthy Shanghai Communique, the Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations contains only eight terse points. The second point states: The United States of America recognizes the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China. Within this context, the people of the United States will maintain cultural, commercial, and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan. The seventh states: The Government of the United States of America acknowledges the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China. The 1982 August 17 Communique This is the only communique that focuses exclusively on Taiwan, specifically on the issue of American arms sales to Taiwan. In order to understand the U.S. position fully, it is necessary to compare the communique with the now declassified Six Assurances to Taiwan and the Reagan Memorandum, the details of which AFCL has written about before. Conclusion AFCL found that Chinese accusations that the United States had committed serious violation of the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiques to be false. There is no provision in the three U.S.-China Joint Communiques that prohibits the president of Taiwan from transiting through the U.S. or meeting with the speaker of the House. Beijings latest misinformation surrounding Tsais transit follows a long trend of tailoring its responses to examples of Taiwanese transit diplomacy based on the political party currently holding office in Taiwan. A review of history shows that Beijing favors mild reactions for transits by KMT officials while reserving more severe critiques for transits conducted by DPP officials. Candlelight Party activists demonstrate in front of their party headquarters in Phnom Penh to demand the release of party officials on April 7, 2023. About 100 activists with the main opposition Candlelight Party started a protest on Friday in Phnom Penh their first demonstration in several years but police quickly confronted and dispersed them, claiming they were causing a traffic jam. The activists gathered in front of the partys headquarters to demand the release of recently arrested party officials. The city had refused to give them permission to protest at Freedom Park, the location of previous rallies against Prime Minister Hun Sens government, the partys Youth Movement President Thorn Chantha said. Party organizers have faced threats and harassment as they prepare for Julys parliamentary elections. Party Vice President Thach Setha, for example, was arrested in January on charges of writing false checks. Her lawyers filed another request for bail earlier this week. We also would like the political space to be opened ahead of the election to show the international and national community is acceptable, said Thorn Chantha. There should be fair competition. While other parties have the right to do everything, the Candlelight Party is being restricted. Separately, Thorn Chantha said he was assaulted on Thursday by two unknown people after he ordered coffee. He said he was struck with a baton on his shoulder. The assailants then followed him as he was fleeing in his car and smashed his drivers window with a rock, he said. This violence is to intimidate opposition party activists who dare to conduct political activities ahead of the election, Thorn Chantha said. People understand their rights Police from the citys Sen Sok district pushed the protesters away from the partys headquarters, and activists eventually agreed to move off the street and into the party's headquarters, said Rong Chhun, a labor leader who recently became the partys vice president. We were protesting on the pavement, but the traffic was flowing. The accusation is unjustified, he said. This shows that they restrict freedom of speech and assembly. There was no violence between police and protesters, he said. District officials invited him to a meeting on Monday to discuss the demonstration, which he told Radio Free Asia he would attend. But he urged NGOs and diplomats to monitor what takes place. This was yet another image of repression to scare the youths and to scare people into not expressing themselves, he said. But people understand their rights and the law now. The more they scare us, the more people will join us. Translated by Samean Yun. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster. The sentences don't address widespread trafficking and abuse of women and girls in China, critics say. Dong Zhimin, the man with whom the woman had lived since 1998, was sentenced to nine years in prison. Chinese authorities have handed down jail terms of up to 13 years to six people in connection with the discovery last year of a woman chained by the neck in an outbuilding in Feng county. The Xuzhou Intermediate People's Court in the eastern province of Jiangsu handed down a prison sentence of nine years for abuse and wrongful imprisonment to Dong Zhimin, the man with whom the woman had lived since 1998, state news agency Xinhua reported. However, the accusations of rape made by the woman weren't mentioned by the court, in a case has shone a spotlight on the prevalence of trafficking and rape of women and girls in China. The court also sentenced five other people to jail terms of up to 13 for "trafficking in women," the report said. Five of the six defendants pleaded guilty during a trial that lasted two days, it said, in a case that has become the poster child for women's rights or the lack of them in China, "The woman later identified as Xiaohuamei was abducted from her hometown in Yunnan province and taken to Jiangsu province in 1998," Xinhua reported, citing the court. "She was later trafficked three times before being purchased by Dong's family in Feng county." Shackled and starved Xiaohuamei bore Dong eight children during her incarceration, during which she was frequently shackled and starved, particularly after her mental health deteriorated, the report said. "From July 2017 to the point at which Xiaohua was discovered, Dong Zhimin imprisoned and tortured Xiaohuamei, tying her with cloth ropes and chains around her neck," the court found. "During this period, Xiaohuamei's food supply and daily needs weren't always met, and she often suffered from hunger and cold." The woman, identified by authorities as Yang Qingxia, but known by her nickname Xiaohuamei, was found chained in a shed in Chinas Feng county. Social media users still question whether she has been properly identified. Credit: Screenshot from video "The place she was living in was very hard on her, with no water supply, electricity, or sunlight," it said, adding that the woman identified as Xiaohuamei had since been diagnosed with schizophrenia. "The court said Dong's abusive acts rendered Xiaohuamei's schizophrenia irreversible and caused serious injuries," the report said. Nothing has been solved Chinese director Hu Xueyang, who made a documentary to raise awareness of the case, and of trafficking and rape in China, said the case still counts as an official cover-up. "They targeted Dong Zhimin, who is at the bottom of the entire chain, just to appease public anger," Hu said. "Actually, nothing has been solved." "This verdict is just being used ... as a way to cover up the horrible crimes of selling and raping Chinese women, that have been going on for decades," he said. While the authorities quickly identified the woman as Yang Qingxia, known by her nickname Xiaohuamei, a young woman who went missing in the southwestern province of Yunnan in the 1990s, social media users still take issue with the claim, saying the woman more closely resembles a missing woman from Sichuan province, Li Ying. Public anger over widespread trafficking in women and girls, mostly for "marriage" to men who can't find willing partners, remains high in China since the woman's discovery. Twitter account "Save the chained woman" commented on the sentences: "Kidnapping, human trafficking, illegal detention, rape, intentional injury and killings of trafficked women in Xuzhou, Jiangsu province." "How can such terrible deeds be stopped? When will the trafficked women living in hell on earth regain their freedom?" Green light for traffickers Twitter user Martin Lyu commented: "The victim is still only being referred to as Xiaohuamei, not even by a formal name," while "Moreless commented that the sentences were a "green light" to traffickers. Former Sina Weibo censor Liu Lipeng said Dong Zhimin was easy for the authorities to target, as he is neither a member of the ruling party nor a local official. "The point of not prosecuting anyone for rape is to avoid the death penalty or a life sentence," Liu said via his Twitter account. "As a result, a large number of victims of large-scale human trafficking ... have come forward to demand the case be overturned." Rights lawyer Lu Tingge agreed, saying that the sentences are carefully judged to "maintain stability" in a case that has shocked many middle-class Chinese to the core. "They are avoiding the most serious allegation, because of the high profile that this case has," Lu said. "They are seeking to minimize the impact to maintain stability, [and] so they don't have to investigate local [officials] for criminal responsibility." Ignored public doubts Lu said the authorities' handling of the case had totally ignored public doubts. "They just go right ahead regardless of the questions," he said. "The police are blatantly covering up crimes now they're the criminals here." According to U.S.-based economist He Qinglian, the counties around Xuzhou have a long history of human trafficking. "The case of the chained woman has forced Chinese people at home and overseas to relive the vile abduction and sale of some 50,000 women in the 1980s; it has also revealed that there has been a criminal community of human traffickers in and around Dongji township, where that abducted woman was kept chained up for so many years," she wrote in a commentary for RFA Mandarin at the time of the women's discovery. He's comments have been backed up by the relatives of trafficking victims, prompting some to speak out more openly about the abuse suffered by their close relatives. But analysts and activists interviewed for an award-winning investigative report by RFA Mandarin said the political will is lacking at the local level to eradicate its systemic causes. Part of the problem is the systematic disempowerment of victims, many of whom are abducted, trafficked and subjected to regular abuse from a young age, and kept locked up by their persecutors, leaving them with severe trauma and other mental illness. Some women develop Stockholm Syndrome, a state of intense dependence on and emotional attachment to abusers by victims of kidnap and prolonged incarceration and abuse, they said. Meanwhile, the authorities have also retaliated against people who spoke out over the Jiangsu chained woman case, jailing Guangxi dissident Lu Huihuang for four-and-a-half years last November after he called on the ruling Communist Party to fully investigate the case. Lu refused to accept the judgment and has expressed his intention to appeal. Authorities also arrested Chen Zhiming, chief editor of the Hong Kong-based political magazine Exclusive Characters, in a move that Germany-based poet Yang Lian said was likely linked to his magazine's recent focus on the chained woman case. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. The move comes in retaliation for Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wens meeting with the US House Speaker. Taiwan's chief U.S. envoy Bi-khim Hsiao being interviewed by The Associated Press at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington, Jan. 20, 2023. UPDATED AT 06:30 a.m. ET on 2023-04-07 Beijing on Friday announced further sanctions against the Taiwanese de facto ambassador to the United States following the meeting between Taiwans president and the U.S. House speaker, Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office said. New punishments with immediate effect have also been imposed against two organizations, the Taiwan Prospect Foundation and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats. China also announced sanctions on U.S.-based Hudson Institute, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, and their four senior officials. Bi-khim Hsiao, Head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S., as well as her family members, will be strictly banned from entering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, a spokesperson for Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office said. Hsiaos financial sponsors and related businesses will also be banned from cooperating with mainland organizations and individuals. All other necessary punitive measures will be taken to ensure lifelong accountability according to law, the spokesperson warned. Hsiao, who is being labeled a diehard Taiwan independence separatist by Beijing, responded on Twitter: Wow, the PRC just sanctioned me again, for the second time, referring to China by its official name the Peoples Republic of China. Last August following a visit by then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, China imposed an entry ban on Pelosi and her immediate family members, as well as Hsiao and six other Taiwanese officials and lawmakers. The measures are believed to have little impact as Hsiao does not travel to China and her family has no business interests in the mainland. Taiwans foreign ministry reacted by saying the move exposed the irrational and absurd nature of the communist regime. It described President Tsais visit as a complete success, and called sanctions an overreaction to further suppress our countrys international space. Resolve, will and ability Similar sanctions were also imposed on two Taiwanese organizations the Prospect Foundation and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats for their involvement in promoting Taiwan independence under the guise of academic and research exchanges." "No individual or force should underestimate our strong resolve, will and ability to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the spokesperson of the mainlands Taiwan Affairs Office said. China lists Taiwan as one of its provinces but Chinese courts do not hold jurisdiction over the island. In a statement, the Prospect Foundation said it regretted the Chinese move, saying it would set up obstacles for China's communication with the outside world. It called on Beijing to reverse the move as soon as possible but added that the foundation would not change its principles of upholding the spirit of academic independence and the principle of safeguarding Taiwan's sovereignty, conducting exchanges and cooperating with the outside world, because of China's announcement. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, second from right, welcomes Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen as she arrives at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., April 5, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu The Chinese Foreign Ministry also imposed an entry ban on four senior executives of the Hudson Institute and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, which hosted Tsai Ing-wen during her recent stopovers in New York and California. Universities, institutions and other organizations and individuals in China are prohibited from conducting exchanges and cooperation with the two U.S. institutions, the ministry said in a statement. On Thursday, Beijing vowed to take strong and resolute measures against Taiwan and a Chinese carrier group is currently operating in the waters east of the island. The aircraft carrier Shandong is in the West Pacific for the first time its regular operation area is the South China Sea. It is equipped with a large number of warplanes on the deck, including J-15 multirole fighters, Z-18 transport helicopters and at least one Z-9 reconnaissance helicopter. The Chinese Foreign Ministry repeatedly condemned the meeting between Tsai Ing-wen and Kevin McCarthy, as well as the Taiwanese presidents stopovers in the U.S. Beijing said Washington and Taipei have crossed the line and seriously infringed upon Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity. Meanwhile, former Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou returned from a trip to China Friday, warning that the policies of Tsai Ing-wens government have escalated tensions with Beijing and the island will in future have a choice between peace and war, the Reuters news agency reported. Ma is the first former president to visit China since 1949. His Kuomintang party hopes to regain the presidency in next Januarys election on a campaign of increased cooperation with Beijing. This story has been updated to include comments from Taiwan's foreign ministry and the Prospect Foundation. Edited by Mike Firn. Saigon weekend: What to do and where to go Celebrate this weekend in Saigon with a variety of fun events, such as an art festival and exhibition, a Korean Culture Festival, and a cookie workshop. Krossing Over Art Festival The Krossing Over Art Festival (KOAF) is a celebration of dance and its interactions with music, poetry, visual arts, cinema, and more. It also showcases cultural exchanges between local and international artists. After four years of absence, the festival returns to Ho Chi Minh City with a new look and more exciting activities. From April 8 to 15, there will be four performances and two dance workshops that explore various aspects of personal and social identity. The poster for the Krossing Over Art Festival. Photo courtesy of the Krossing Over Art Festival The festival will kick off this Saturday with "When Film Meets Dance," a collection of six captivating short films that capture the fleeting beauty of dance, featuring the work of local artists and filmmakers. The program will be held from 8 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. at IDECAF, 28 Le Thanh Ton St., District 1. On Sunday, at the "Resonance" dance workshop, visitors will use movement, voice, and sound to create a shared space shaped by the participants themselves. Whether you're an experienced artist or a beginner, this event will be a fun and stimulating experience. The worship will take place from 9 a.m. to noon, at The Lyricists Studio (3rd Floor of Youth Cultural House), 4 Pham Ngoc Thach St., District 1. Exhibition LIT by Sun Life LIT (Light up) is an exhibition that showcases four visual art spaces. The public can explore stories that reflect aspects of life illuminated by light, created by artists Uot Mi, Cao Hoang Long, Kyunri Vien, Diego Lazy and Chom Hom. A piece of art from the exhibition LIT. Photo courtesy of Sun Life Viet Nam The trio of artists Cao Hoang Long, Diego Lazy, and Kyunri Vien bring to the exhibition Generative AI technology and interactive art. Chom Hom uses virtual reality animations while Uot Mi (Pham Thi Vinh) brings a world full of light and color to viewers through her arts. The exhibition is open to the public at The Ant Studio, Vu Tong Phan Street, An Phu Ward, District 2. Easter cookies decoration workshop L'Usine Thao Dien will host an Easter cookie decoration workshop for kids. You will get all the ingredients, materials, guidance from the L'Usine bakery team and a refreshing drink, and then take home your cookies after the workshop. The poster for L'Usine Easter cookies decorating workshop. Photo courtesy of LUsine The L'Usine Easter cookies decoration workshop costs VND350,000 ($14.92) per person. The event happens on April 8 at L'Usine, 24 Thao Dien, District 2. Korean Culture Festival 2023 At the Korean Culture Festival on April 7 and 8 in the Phu My Hung area, you can try on Hanbok, play Korean folk games, or write your name in Korean. You can also enjoy various Korean street food. There will be an acoustic music show and an outdoor singing contest for kids. And you can win prizes from the lucky draw program or by answer quiz questions. The poster for the Korean Culture Festival 2023. Photo courtesy of Kiwooza Edutainment Vietnam The festival is on Friday and Saturday, from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. The event will take place at the SSMC Building, 9A Tran Van Tra St., Tan Phu Ward, District 7. Admission is free. Sourdough baking class Tartine Saigon Vista Verde opens a beginner-friendly baking class this weekend, with two sessions on Saturday and Sunday. The Saturday class is from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., and includes a tea break. The Sunday class is from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., with brunch break included. You will learn the whole sourdough process from scratch. The class is limited to 10 students. Loaves of sourdough bread with a golden crust and a soft inside. Photo courtesy of Tartine Saigon Tartine Saigon Vista Verde is 43 D2eight, Dong Van Cong St., Thanh My Loi Ward, District 2. The fee is VND2.4 million ($102.32) per person The members of the Shenzhen Holy Reformed Church fled in 2019 fled due to alleged religious persecution. Chinese nationals, who are members of the Shenzhen Holy Reformed Church, also known as the Mayflower Church, leave Pattaya Provincial Court in Pattaya, Thailand, on March 31, 2023. UPDATED at 9:01 ET on 2023-04-07 Dozens of Chinese Christian asylum seekers who fled alleged religious persecution in their homeland left Thailand for the United States after being released from Thai custody for an immigration violation, police and United Nations officials said Friday. A group of 63 members of the Shenzhen Holy Reformed Church (also known as the Mayflower Church) had feared Thailand might deport them to China, but American officials and a lawmaker reportedly intervened and persuaded Thai authorities to send them to the U.S. They flew out last night on multiple flights, a police official who works closely with Gen. Surachate Hakparn, the deputy national police chief, told reporters in Bangkok on Friday. Radio Free Asias Mandarin Service confirmed with China Aid staff on Friday that only 59 of the 63 church members are on their way to the U.S. They will arrive at Dallas International Airport at 7 p.m. local time. One family of four stayed behind in Thailand. Earlier in the week, Surachate said that Thai authorities had met with American Embassy officials and the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR to arrange for the Chinese Christians to be sent to the U.S. for resettlement, and their departure from Thailand was expected to happen on Friday. We understand this group left to the U.S. However, we are unable to provide details on the procedures involving these cases due reasons of confidentiality and protection, Morgane Roussel-Hemery, a spokeswoman for UNHCR, told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service, in an email Friday. The American embassy in Bangkok declined to confirm the information and referred questions to the U.S. State Department. While talking to reporters on Wednesday, Surachate said that authorities arrested the members of the church group last week after the National Police Bureau launched a crackdown on undocumented Chinese visitors who may commit crimes while staying in major Thai cities such as Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket. The 63 were detained in Pattaya and tried at a court there for overstaying their visas by at least six months, officials said. They were fined and then bused to Bangkok, where they were placed in immigration detention before their release. The mothers and children in the group were held at a center for mothers and children in Don Mueang district, while the rest were held at the Suan Plu immigration detention center, according to Surachate. During a visit to Washington in late February, Surachate said he met with U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, who asked the senior Thai police official to help take care of the Chinese Christians. Smith, a New Jersey Republican who chairs the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, did not immediately respond to an email query from BenarNews. Surachate met with officials from the American embassy and UNHCR on Wednesday and an agreement was reached to send the Christian exiles to the U.S., he said. We came to the conclusion to send them to the U.S. as soon as possible, Surachate told reporters later that day but asked that the information not be made public until after the group had departed for the U.S. The Chinese exiles fled China in 2019 amid what they said was escalating persecution. The group first traveled to South Koreas Jeju Island, and then to Thailand in 2022, according to Radio Free Asia (RFA), a news organization affiliated with BenarNews. Based on the investigation, these people for two years were seeking asylum and a certificate from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Korea, but to no avail, Surachate said. Therefore, they traveled to Thailand because they heard it is easier to obtain UNHCR papers hereThey received the certificate just after four months of arrival. We did not know they already had papers when they were arrested, he added. Thailand is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, but the non-refoulement principle under international human rights law states that people cannot be sent back to a country where they are likely to be persecuted, tortured, mistreated or have their human rights violated. According to U.S.-based Freedom House, Christianity has expanded rapidly in China since 1980, but is strictly controlled by the state. The Chinese authorities seek to monitor and control Christians by encouraging them sometimes forcefully to join state-sanctioned churches that are affiliated with patriotic associations and led by politically vetted clergy, said a 2017 Freedom House report. Religious leaders and congregants who refuse to register for theological or practical reasons risk having their place of worship shuttered and face detention, beatings, dismissal from employment, or imprisonment. Freedom Seekers International, an American faith-based group that assists people fleeing from religious persecution aboard, was working this week to arrange for the members of the Mayflower Church to be allowed to travel to Texas. FSI Freedom Seekers International has been working with them for two years. And we are taking the lead on their resettlement in the United States, Deana Brown, the founder and CEO of the group based in Tyler, Texas, told BenarNews in an email on Wednesday. Several organizations were working with the State Department to facilitate the release of the Mayflower Church people from Thai custody, she said. Since Monday we have been able to take supplies daily to the detention center for the 63 Mayflowers: baby formula, water, Pedialyte, diarrhea medicine, bug bite, medicine, underwear for everyone, a change of clothes for the children, shirts for the adults, snacks, bread, toilet paper, etc., Brown said. Late on Friday, Brown notified BenarNews that the group of asylum seekers had arrived at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport. The Mayflower have landed in the United States and are on U.S. soil, she said in an email. BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated news service. This report has been updated to include confirmation from Deana Brown about the arrival in Texas of the Mayflower church people. Democracy activist Zhu Yufu wont be allowed to visit his terminally ill sister in Japan, despite having a visa. Zhu Yufu was among a group of activists who sought official permission to set up the now-banned China Democracy Party in 1998 and has served jail time for incitement to subvert state power. Authorities in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang have slapped a travel ban on veteran democracy activist Zhu Yufu, as he prepared to travel to Japan to visit his terminally ill sister. In his first interview with the media in five years, Zhu, 71, told Radio Free Asia that he had applied for, and gotten, a visa for Japan to visit his sister Zhu Yanmin in Sasebo, who is dying of cancer. My sisters lung cancer is at an advanced stage, and she has already had surgery on both lungs, he said. All four of her cancer treatment plans have failed, and now her white blood cells are nearly zero, which is very dangerous. Thats why I want to go and visit her now the trip is for humanitarian reasons, Zhu said. Zhu, who was among a group of activists who applied for official permission to set up the now-banned China Democracy Party in 1998, has previously served time in jail for incitement to subvert state power. He served a second jail term from 2012 for subversion of state power after he posted a political poem online titled Its Time, calling on people to stand up for their freedom. He has been under house arrest and close surveillance since his release from prison, and has spent the last two years navigating the bureaucracy necessary to get himself to Japan to visit his sister despite the restrictions of the ruling Chinese Communist Partys zero-COVID policy, which ended last December. Zhu Yufu told Radio Free Asia that he had gotten a visa for Japan to visit his sister, who is dying of cancer. Credit: Provided by Zhu Yufu In mid-March, however, he got a visit from state security police in his home in the eastern city of Hangzhou, who confiscated his passport and shattered his dream of meeting with his ailing sister one last time. They said if I left the country, I would become a focal point for other people, Zhu said. Nobody is being allowed to leave the country now. Zhu said he had retorted that the state security police didnt want to lose the funding that came attached to his case under Chinas draconian stability maintenance system, which seeks to nip potential political and social unrest in the bud by targeting activists seen as likely instigators. I havent opposed the Communist Party for more than 10 years, Zhu said. I havent given any interviews or written any articles. All I have done is keep on trying to visit my sister. Top surveillance target Zhu said he has long been regarded as the No. 1 threat to social stability by authorities in his home province of Zhejiang. Im the top surveillance target in Zhejiang, he said. Im not allowed to leave Hangzhou, nor say or write anything. There are several surveillance cameras downstairs in this building that were installed just to watch me, he said. They call me if I cross the Qiantang River [to leave town], and they come to my door every week to take photos. Zhu said he plans to ignore such restrictions now that he has been prevented from seeing his sister. Im not going to comply from now on, he said. Im going to do what I want to do. Fellow Hangzhou dissident Zou Wei called on the authorities to let Zhu leave for compassionate reasons. This is a form of political persecution, Zou told Radio Free Asia. I hope the authorities will approve Zhu Yufus overseas trip to visit a terminally ill relative as soon as possible, on humanitarian grounds, he said. In 2013, Zhu was subjected to abusive treatment in jail after his relatives traveled to the United States to garner more support for his release. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Matt Reed. Villagers have stopped working their farms in the evening out of fear the animals will return. A dozen wild elephants destroyed several homes in a village in northern Laos that borders protected forest land, causing extensive damage to rice fields and other crops, several villagers said. The rampage on Monday in Oudomxay province followed a similar incident in January when the elephants showed up just as the rice plants were growing tall, according to one resident of the provinces La district. They came again five days later to eat other crops in the area. The elephants also wrecked a shelter at a nearby rubber plantation, the resident said, adding that villagers are now afraid to work their farms in the evening because the animals like to come after sunset. A husband and wife said in a video clip on their Facebook page that their hut and rice fields were ruined in the Monday attack. They destroyed all of our property, including our clothes, kitchen wares, pots and dishes, the couple said in a video clip on their Facebook page. This time is the worst, they destroyed everything. Radio Free Asia attempted to contact the couple through Facebook, but didnt immediately receive a response. The annual aggressive period Elephants who eat farmers crops are simply looking for food, said a staff member at the Elephant Conservation Center in neighboring Xayaburi province. But if they destroy other property, like homes or trees, thats an indication that male elephants are in their annual aggressive period, known as musth, the staff member said. A large stretch of forest land has been set aside for elephants where they can live and forage peacefully, an official with Oudomxay provinces Agriculture and Forestry Department said. There are about 20 wild elephants in La district, he said. Weve ordered people to move away from the habitat, the official said. Weve also built some tree houses to monitor and watch the wild animal activities. District authorities paid some compensation to villagers who lost their homes in January that included the provision of lumber, corrugated sheets and nails. Eventually, provincial authorities want to develop the area as a tourist attraction where people can drive their cars to watch the elephants, the official said. Laos has about 800 elephants, and half of those live in the wild, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Translated by Max Avary. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster. Heavy artillery began raining from the sky onto villages to the north of Kale township on March 30, touching off what would become a week of fierce fighting between junta troops and local armed opposition forces. By the time the dust had settled on Wednesday, more than 50,000 residents of 17 villages had scattered, leaving a vast swathe of area on the outskirts of the bustling township in Myanmars Sagaing region eerily quiet and creating a humanitarian crisis in nearby population centers where many fled to seek shelter. They all had to flee to the town of Kalay the number of refugees coming into town amounted up to about 30,000 in two days, according to our calculations, an aid worker assisting the displaced told Radio Free Asia. The influx of refugees amounts to nearly a quarter of the towns population of around 130,000. What they mainly need is mosquito nets, as there are a lot of mosquitoes in the summer. The weather is too hot, too. They need medicines and food such as rice, cooking oil and salt. Following the artillery barrage, junta troops from the juntas Kale-based Kha-La-Ya (228) unit, backed by forces from the regional command headquarters, conducted village raids using ground troops while aircraft provided support. A fighter jet and three military helicopters were deployed to attack a location near the village of Pyin Taw U on Monday evening alone, residents said. An official with the anti-junta Kale Peoples Defense Force paramilitary group told RFA that multiple buildings were destroyed during the week of raids. How the fighting broke out was that the junta forces first started firing heavy artillery on the villages in the north of Kale more than 40 times and then their ground troops [and air force] began to attack, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity citing security concerns. We havent been able to confirm the details of the casualties and property damage in the villages yet. A Christian church and several houses have been damaged, he said. The junta threw fire bombs into the villages [on Thursday]. Nyung Kone and Kyi Kone villages are still burning. The official said that two people from the Kale PDF had been captured by the junta, one was killed and three were injured in the fighting. A spokesman for the Kale PDF claimed that 10 junta soldiers were killed and 20 were wounded over the course of the week, but RFA has not been able to independently confirm the numbers. A Baptist church in Kales Pyidaw village, Sagaing region, was destroyed by air raids by Myanmar junta forces, Monday, April 3, 2023. Credit: Chin National League (Upper Chindwin) Early on Tuesday, fighting broke out between junta soldiers stationed at Kale University and the anti-junta Siyin region Civic Defense Militia, the militia said in a statement. One junta soldier was killed and CDM forces captured some military weapons, the group said. Attempts by RFA to reach Aye Hlaing, the junta spokesman for Sagaing region, about the clashes went unanswered Friday. Our village is burning A resident of one of the villages north of Kale, who also declined to be named, told RFA that most of the people displaced by the fighting are sheltering in the homes of relatives in town, churches and Bible schools, or in the jungle. Other sources said that at least two civilians were killed by the military during the raids, while three others were injured by shelling and airstrikes. Meanwhile, the junta troops have set up camp at a Buddhist monastery in Nyang Kone village, making it impossible to return to the area, a resident said. When the fighting paused, we returned home riding motorcycles to fetch our items of value, but once we heard them start back up, we had to flee again, the Nyang Kone resident said. We can hear gunshots and artillery shelling from the town. I dare not go back to my village. Other villagers who fled to the nearby woods said that our village is burning. On Thursday, the anti-junta Kale Defense Force issued a warning to residents traveling to the north of the township that a fight could break out at any time. Residents estimate that since Myanmars military seized power in a Feb. 1, 2021 coup detat, around 70,000 people or 1 out of every 5 inhabitants have fled fighting in Kale township. Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster. Wai Moe Naing will have to serve at least 20 years of the combined sentences. A prison court in Sagaing regions Monywa township has sentenced student activist and anti-regime strike leader Wai Moe Naing to 34 years in prison. He has already been sentenced to 12 years in prison but will probably only have to serve the longest of all the terms, meaning he will spend 20 years behind bars, Monywa University of Economics Student Union President Shin Thant told RFA. Wai Moe Naing is in good health and passes the time with a strong spirit, Shin Thant said. He gave a message for his comrades outside to be patient and strong. Wednesdays judgment included a 20 year sentence for robbery, three years for rioting, one year for carrying a deadly weapon in a crowd, one year for inflicting pain on another, and three years for incitement to mutiny under Section 505 (a) of the Penal Code, broadened after the Feb. 2021 coup from only military personnel to include all civil servants. Wai Moe Naing could face an even longer sentence if two more cases, both carrying maximum 20 year terms, are not served concurrently. He is yet to be tried for the alleged killing of two policemen and sedition, according to his college's student leaders. After the military seized power just over two years ago, Wai Moe Naing led anti-regime strikes in Monywa. On April 15, 2021, he was riding in a column of motorcycles with other protesting students when junta troops and police ran him down in cars and arrested him. Wai Moe Naing founded the Monywa University Student Union and served as its first president. He is also an author of short stories, magazine articles and online blogs. His short story, Pwint Chain Tan Lyin (When Time Starts to Bloom) was published in Phuu Ngon Sal Kyaw That magazine when he was 13. Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn. Each defendant received three years hard labor for allegedly organizing the flash protest. Among those sentenced were Ya Min Kay Thwal Khaing [left], Zu Zu Yar Khaing [center] and Aye Chan Aung of Myanmar Labor Alliance, who each received three years in prison. A junta court has sentenced 13 youth activists to three years of hard labor in prison each for incitement after they organized a flash protest against military rule that authorities broke up by plowing into them with vehicles. They were among nearly 30 activists accused of organizing the Sept. 13, 2022, flash protest organized over social media to keep authorities in the dark in Yangons Kyimyindaing township. To quell the protest, junta security personnel drove two taxis and three other civilian cars into the crowd, injuring several people. The court in Yangons Insein Prison issued the sentences in a closed hearing on March 29 for spreading rumors or reports with the intent to cause fear or alarm among the public to commit offenses against the state under Section 505(a) of Myanmars Penal Code, the defendants lawyers and sources close to their families told RFA Burmese. These young activists were those arrested during the anti-junta protest on Pan Pin Gyi Street [in Yangon] in September 2022, one of the lawyers said, speaking on condition of anonymity citing fear of reprisal. The lawyer said that the 13 youths who were sentenced last week are just old enough to be prosecuted under Section 505(a). They ranged in age from 18 to 25. Some of [the arrested activists] are minors and they were tried [separately] in juvenile courts, the lawyer said. The activists belong to various groups that have protested the militarys Feb. 1, 2021, coup detat including the Octopus youth organization, Basic Education Students & Youths Association, Myanmar Labour Alliance, Bama Youth Network, Pyin Nyar Nan Daw Private School Student's Union, Owl Community, and Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar. It was not immediately clear whether those sentenced intend to appeal. Those arrested in poor health A member of the Myanmar Labour Alliance whose members Nay Min Tun, Than Zaw, Zu Zu Yar Khaing, Ya Min Kay Thwal Khaing and Aye Chan Aung were among those sentenced told RFA that all 13 are in poor health after being violently arrested and interrogated. We know that they had asked for medication as they could not sleep at night due to the pain from those injuries, the alliance member said. Among those sentenced were journalists Myat Ko Oo, Pyae Phyo Thu and San Lin Phyo, said lawyers. A tweet by a member of the Yay Bawai (Octopus) People's Benevolent Youth Organization references a story about the group's anti-junta protest in Yangon, Sept. 14, 2022. Credit: Myanmar Now Yay Ba Wal, the president of Octopus, said five members of his organization were in the group of 13, including two women, two men, and one non-binary member of the LGBTQ community. The five Octopus members who have been arrested and imprisoned have only been able to see their families when they were taken out [of Insein Prison] for a court hearing, he said. Arbitrary and unjust punishments for young people who protest peacefully have already become a routine practice of the terrorist junta. Sending a message Jewel, a member of the anti-junta Pazundaung Botahtaung Youth Strike Committee, told RFA that the forceful arrest and maximum punishment of the youth protesters was meant to send a message to the international community that Myanmar is stable under military rule. When there was a protest, news spread through the internet and social media networks, reaching the international community, she said. Thats why every time there is a protest, the junta fails in its attempt to convince the international community that it is ruling the country in a stable state. Thats why I think they have suppressed the youth protesters so aggressively like this, she added. Jewel noted that protests of military rule have not stopped, despite the junta using every means at its disposal to arrest participants. Septembers crackdown was not the first time junta security personnel had driven vehicles into a crowd of protesters on Pan Pin Gyi Street. On Dec. 5, 2021, authorities driving a military vehicle rammed into a group of youths protesting the coup on Pan Pin Gyi Street, seriously injuring two journalists, before arresting participants. According to Thailands Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), authorities in Myanmar have killed at least 3,225 civilians and arrested more than 21,275 others since the coup, mostly during peaceful anti-junta protests. Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster. RFA has reviewed this story, which was first published by the Burmese service on March 30, 2023. RFA has confirmed the facts as given to our reporter by the lawyer representing the three journalists. The journalists lawyer confirmed to our reporter that he told the court the three men were arrested while covering the protests. They attended the protest not as participants but as members of the media. Stopping the genocide of the mostly Muslim group should be a priority, one human rights expert says. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gestures as she speaks during a press conference at the Delegation of the European Union to China, in Beijing, April 6, 2023. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discussed human rights issues with Chinas Xi Jinping during a high-level meeting on Thursday in Beijing, a rare move for European leaders who usually avoid the topic when they visit the Chinese capital for talks. Von der Leyen, who visited China from April 5 to 7 along with French President Emmanuel Macron and a delegation of about 50 business leaders, told a news conference held after their meeting with the Chinese president that the human rights situation concerning Uyghurs in Xinjiang was particularly concerning. I expressed our deep concerns about the deterioration of human rights in China, she said. The situation in Xinjiang is particularly concerning. It is important that we continue to discuss these issues, and I therefore welcome that we have already resumed the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue. The most recent dialogue took place in February in Brussels, where the parties exchanged views on human rights developments both in the EU and in China. During that session, EU representatives highlighted the vulnerable situation of Uyghurs and underscored the urgency of implementing the recommendations of a report issued by U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights on the human rights situation in Xinjiang. That report, issued last August, said Chinas arbitrary detentions of Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities in its western Xinjiang province may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity. Short of expectations Von der Leyens meeting with Xi comes at a time when Uyghur rights groups have called for concrete measures to stop Chinas repression of the mostly Muslim group in recent years through intrusive digital surveillance, arbitrary detentions in re-education camps, imprisonment, torture and forced labor. But von der Leyens comments at the news conference, which included trade relations and Russias war of aggression in Ukraine, fell short of the expectations of rights groups, even though most European leaders steer clear of criticizing Chinas dismal human rights record when they meet with Chinese leaders in Beijing. In a Western view, complimenting a few minor positive steps on the environment is a standard diplomatic acquiescence, but these things will ultimately be rendered meaningless while also communicating to the Chinese leadership that they can carry out genocide with impunity, Nury Turkel, chair of the bipartisan U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and senior fellow at Hudson Institute, a Washington, D.C., think tank. China's President Xi Jinping (C), his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron (L), and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (R) meet for a working session in Beijing, April 6, 2023. Credit: Pool via Associated Press Turkel went on to say that stopping an active genocide, which is a clear violation of international law, should be the first and foremost concern of any diplomatic engagement. In June 2022, members of the European Parliament passed a resolution calling the Chinese governments systemic human rights abuses against Uyghurs crimes against humanity and a serious risk of genocide. The U.S. State Department and the parliaments of several Western counties also have declared that the Chinese governments repression of Uyghurs amounts to genocide and crimes against humanity. Systemic threat to global peace Regarding von der Leyens statement about having deep concerns about Chinas human rights situation, Turkel asked, How on earth can any European leader make such a statement with a straight face? Do they honestly believe that the Chinese regime carrying out genocide is moved by deep concerns from international leaders? he asked. Such naivete brought us to a Russian invasion and is fueling the destruction of the Uyghur people while creating a less stable world in which China can carry out atrocity crimes and further breaches of international law with impunity. As feared, the visits by President Macron and President von der Leyen have contributed to the whitewashing of this genocide and have certainly done more harm than good, he added. Laura Harth, campaign director at the Spanish humanitarian group Safeguard Defenders, said von der Leyens messaging in recent weeks indicates a fundamental and much-needed policy shift away from the EUs blind engagement with China. But such statements on grave human rights violations by the Chinese Communist Party, or CCP, regime need to be backed up by the imposition of concrete consequences, she told Radio Free Asia. At this point, we are not yet where we ought to be in that respect, but some European decision-makers seem to have finally understood that the CCPs crimes against the peoples in China and its aggressive posture abroad represent one and the same systemic threat to global peace and stability, Harth said. Statements about the high-level discussion issued by Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not mention human rights issues. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Matt Reed. Welcome back to the China In Eurasia briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter tracking Chinas resurgent influence from Eastern Europe to Central Asia. To subscribe, click here. Im RFE/RL correspondent Reid Standish and heres what Im following right now. Beijing, Moscow, And Leaked Documents Along with my colleagues at Systema, RFE/RL's Russian investigative unit, we obtained never before reported documents and recordings from closed-door meetings in 2017 and 2019 between Chinese and Russian officials where they share methods and tactics for monitoring dissent and controlling the Internet. Finding Perspective: China and Russias growing ties are no secret, but the documents provide a unique window into the practical level of cooperation under way between China and Russia when it comes to monitoring and restricting their respective Internets. Among some of the key findings, Russian officials are seen asking for advice and practical know-how from their Chinese counterparts on a range of topics, including disrupting circumvention tools like VPNs and Tor, cracking encrypted Internet traffic, and seeking tips from China's experience in regulating messaging platforms. LISTEN: Beijing and Moscows deepening ties are no secret, but what do recently leaked Pentagon documents tell us about where their burgeoning military partnership is headed? Dennis Wilder, former Asia adviser to U.S. President George W. Bush, joins host Reid Standish. In another instance, in July 2017, Aleksandr Zharov, who served as the head of Roskomnadzor until 2020, asks a Chinese delegation to help arrange a visit for Russian specialists to China, where they could study the operations of the Golden Shield Project -- the all-encompassing Internet censorship and surveillance system that helps make up what is colloquially known as Chinas Great Firewall. In turn, Chinese officials sought Russian expertise on regulating media and dealing with popular dissent, including monitoring protests led by opposition figure Aleksei Navalny. In another 2019 exchange, officials from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) also made requests to Roskomnadzor to block a variety of China-related links to news articles and interviews that they had deemed to be of a dangerous nature and harmful to the public interest. Why It Matters: Beijing and Moscow have been deepening their ties for the past decade and controlling the flow of information online has been a focal point of that cooperation since Chinese leader Xi Jinpings first trip to Russia as leader in 2013. The documents shed new light on a pivotal time inside Russia and point to how Russia has sought to emulate China in exerting control over its people in the social media age. For years, the Russian government has been putting in place new measures to smother freedom of speech online, but many have stumbled in practice. But in 2019, those efforts reached a zenith when a controversial sovereign Internet law went into force that allowed Moscow to tighten control over the countrys Internet by routing web traffic through state-controlled infrastructure and creating a national system of domain names. While many of Russia's measures are still a far cry from those inside China, they have continued to be more technologically advanced and restrictive, a process that has accelerated since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Expert Corner: Who Speaks For Europe? Readers asked: French President Emmanuel Macron got into hot water over his comments about Taiwan. Weve also recently seen various other -- sometimes contradictory -- comments coming from European Union and European officials. Why does this seem to happen when it comes to China? To find out more, I asked Rikard Jozwiak, RFE/RLs Europe editor: It happens because there really isnt a coherent policy toward China. It is sometimes a rival, notably when it comes to geopolitics, and sometimes a partner in areas such as climate change mitigation. And then, of course, there is economic dependence on Beijing that leads to some EU member states not wanting to be too harsh on China. EU foreign policy is made up via the lowest common denominator as all the 27 EU capitals need to green-light any move. For China, this means that you have a mishmash of interests, ideas, and fears that makes outsiders unsure about what Europes China policy really is. I also think that the EU has failed to formulate a coherent Taiwan policy and this adds to the mixed messages coming out from Europe. Macron said that Europe should not get caught up in a conflict over the island, but have he and fellow European leaders drawn up any plans on what Brussels will do if China were to attack? Its still unclear what Europes red lines would be and how it would react. Do you have a question about Chinas growing footprint in Eurasia? Send it to me at StandishR@rferl.org or reply directly to this e-mail and Ill get it answered by leading experts and policymakers. Three More Stories From Eurasia 1. The Pentagon Leaks China approved the provision of lethal aid to Russia for its war in Ukraine but wanted any shipments to remain a secret, according to leaked U.S. government documents. What You Need To Know: The recently leaked trove of classified Pentagon documents that contain assessments and reports from Americas intelligence agencies shows that Beijing had approved the incremental provision of weapons to Moscow, which it would disguise as civilian items. That comes from a February 23 top-secret intelligence summary that The Washington Post reported was gathered by U.S. agents eavesdropping on discussions by Russias secret service. The Russians said Chinas central military commission wanted the shipments to remain secret. Among other revelations, a separate file in the trove of leaked documents said Beijing would consider a significant Ukrainian strike with American or NATO weapons on Russian territory as an escalation of the conflict that would merit sending arms to Russia. The timing is notable. A public U.S.-led campaign over a potential Chinese arms transfer accelerated in late February, and shortly after that document circulated within the U.S. government NBC News reported that the U.S. information about the plan to obtain lethal aid from China was gleaned from Russian officials. Whats less clear is if the transfers are taking place or if the public pressure on China has worked. Reports based on trade data show private sales of small-scale weapons from China to Russia, and senior Ukrainian officials have said their forces are finding a growing number of components from China in Russian weapons on the battlefield. Whether Chinese covert efforts are under way or not, defense cooperation between China and Russia is set to grow. A large portion of the Chinese delegation for Xis Moscow summit in March were defense officials, and Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu was in Russia on April 16 to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. 2. Lula's 'Peace Club' Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva wrapped up a state visit to China, where he sought to position himself as a peace broker in the ongoing war in Ukraine while attempting to elevate Brazil's global status and boost economic ties with Beijing. The Details: As I reported here, a key piece of Lula's outreach is courting political backing for his proposal that Brazil and other developing countries, including China, form a peace club to broker a deal to end the war in Ukraine. Analysts, however, remain skeptical about the chances of Lula's peace proposal, which is unlikely to gain support from Kyiv and its backers given China's close ties with Russia and past comments from the Brazilian leader that Ukraine should cede Crimea -- which was forcibly annexed by Moscow in 2014 -- as a means to reach a deal. Beyond the diplomacy push from Lula, the visit allowed him to shore up Brazils economic and political ties with China, as he left Beijing with a slew of new agreements. But as Carlos Solar, a senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, told me, Lula is still hedging his bets, having already made a trip to Washington to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden and made moves to position Brazil to be a regional power in Latin America. [Lula] needs this frenzy of deals in China and talks with Xi in part to show his public that he's still an influential guy around the world, Solar said. But when you look more closely, you can see that he is putting his eggs in different baskets. 3. Frustrated By The Taliban, Interested In Afghanistan Frustrated by the Talibans reluctance to take action against an array of militants, including a strengthening Islamic State group, Afghanistan's neighbors have resolved to come up with a joint strategy to counter security threats emanating from the country. What It Means: Top diplomats from Russia, China, Iran, and Pakistan attended an April 13 conference that focused on ensuring regional security in light of the situation in Afghanistan. Russia and China are among the few countries that have kept their diplomatic missions in Kabul since the Taliban retook power, but lingering frustrations with the group as a partner have been boiling up. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said it was ready to work more closely with Afghanistans neighbors and the international community, and Beijing also expressed hope that the Taliban would continue working actively to meet Afghans' interests and the international communitys expectations for an open and inclusive political structure. China has a growing interest in the countrys resources -- having secured rights for mining and oil and gas exploration -- but security concerns have kept those projects mostly on paper for the time being. Still, the cash-strapped Taliban is hoping that it can draw in more Chinese interest, recently floating progress on a potential $10 billion investment from the China Petroleum Economics and Information Research Center (CPEIC) in Afghanistans lithium deposits. Few details beyond a Taliban press release were offered, but even if something is inked, realizing the project -- and others with China -- is still a distant prospect due to the countrys tough security situation. Across The Supercontinent A New Case In Pakistan: A Chinese man has been arrested in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province after an angry mob accused him of blasphemy and tried to enter a camp near the construction site of the Dasu Dam, the biggest hydropower project in Pakistan, which involves both Chinese and Pakistani workers. Police filed a blasphemy charge against the Chinese man, RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal reported. Internal Review: Hikvisions human rights investigator admits the company's Chinese police contracts in Xinjiang explicitly target Uyghurs as a group. The Chinese surveillance giant has repeatedly denied reports that the company is complicit in human rights abuses targeting Uyghurs, but documents obtained by technology trade publication IPVM show otherwise. Brussels To Beijing: The EU lodged a protest with China after police detained veteran rights lawyer Yu Wensheng and his activist wife, Xu Yan, ahead of an April 13 meeting with its diplomats in China, Radio Free Asia reports. Macron In China: Looking to catch up on Macrons trip to China earlier this month? Listen to the last episode of Talking China In Eurasia, where guest Rikard Jozwiak explained why the French president thinks he can split China and Russia and where he fits among Europes large groups of actors looking to engage and pressure Beijing. One Thing To Watch Chinas economic growth is exceeding expectations. GDP grew 4.5 percent year on year in the first quarter. Strong growth in exports and infrastructure investment, as well as a rebound in retail consumption and property prices, are said to be driving the recovery. That momentum looks set to continue, but economists have warned that consumption and the property sector might struggle to maintain strong growth, while exports could be threatened by weaker demand in developed economies. Thats all from me for now. Dont forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you might have. Until next time, Reid Standish If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every other Wednesday. Ukrainian defenders continue to hold their strategic positions in Bakhmut, a senior military commander has said after Russia claimed it had made advances in the city that has been the epicenter of a fierce monthslong battle for the control of the eastern Donetsk region. "We hit the enemy, often unexpectedly for him, and continue to hold strategic lines," Oleksandr Syrskiy, the commander of Ukraine's ground forces, said on Telegram. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensives, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. "Everyone here is a hero. The Russians are suffering heavy losses -- we are destroying their personnel and their offensive potential," Syrskiy wrote. His comments came after Russia's Defense Ministry said on April 23 that its forces had captured two districts in the western part of the city that Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chief of Russia's mercenary group Wagner, says his forces control almost completely. The reports could not be independently verified. Two more civilians were killed in Bakhmut by Russian shelling the previous 24 hours, the head of the Donetsk regional military administration, Pavlo Kyrylenko, said on April 24, adding that two others were wounded. Separately, RFE/RL correspondents reported that two explosions could be heard early on April 24 in the Russian-occupied Crimean port of Sevastopol. Moscow-installed Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said the city had been attacked by two Ukrainian drones, one of which was shot down by Russian air defenses while the second one exploded by itself. Russia's Defense Ministry later said that on the night of April 24, Ukraine "tried to attack" the base of the Black Sea Russian Fleet in Sevastopol with three drones, all of which were shot down. In Kherson, Russian forces stepped up their shelling of Ukrainian-controlled part of the southern region, a spokeswoman for the Southern Defense Forces of Ukraine said in televised comments, after reports that the Ukrainian military had crossed the Dnieper and established positions on the eastern bank of the river. Nataliya Humenyuk denied that the crossing had taken place already and said the shelling was "provoked by loud statements that preceded the actual reality and ran a little ahead." "One must be wary of military analysts' assumptions and understand that these are speculations," Humenyuk said. IN PHOTOS: Despite being outgunned, Kyiv continues to "hold the line" as it punishes Moscow's forces in their relentless and bloody assault on the destroyed eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. Her comments came after the influential U.S. Institute for the Study of War (ISW) argued in its regular update on April 22 that Russian military bloggers "have provided enough geolocated footage and textual reports to confirm that Ukrainian forces have established positions in east [left] bank Kherson Oblast as of April 22 though not at what scale or with what intentions." The ISW added that geolocated footage from Russian military bloggers indicated that Ukrainian forces had established a bridgehead north of the town of Oleshkiy and that they have put in place "stable supply lines to these positions" in the Kherson region. Many experts have said -- and Ukrainian leaders have hinted -- that a major spring counteroffensive by Kyiv's forces is in the works, and the reports heightened expectations that Kyiv was on the verge of launching its long-awaited counterattack. One suggested goal would be to split the land corridor the Kremlin's forces have established between the illegally annexed Crimean Peninsula and Russia itself. The Ukrainian military declined to confirm or deny the reports that its troops had taken up positions on the partly Russian-controlled bank of the strategically crucial Dnieper River. Vladimir Saldo, the Moscow-installed head of the Kherson region, also denied that Ukrainian forces had established a foothold on the Dnieper east bank, saying on Telegram that Russian forces remain in "full control" of the area. With reporting by AP and Reuters The Pakistani Army claimed on April 7 that it arrested the leader of an armed group that has been responsible for numerous attacks as the countrys national security committee said it plans to launch a new nationwide operation to root out Islamist militants. The public relations office of the army said it arrested Gulzar Imam, known as Shamba, in an operation but did not say where and when the arrest took place. Gulzar Imam is the founder and leader of the illegal armed group called the Baloch National Army, which is responsible for "dozens of bloody attacks" in Pakistan, including assaults on law enforcement agencies, a statement from the armys public relations office said. The Baloch National Army was formed in the merger of two other armed groups -- the Baloch Republican Army and the United Baloch Army, it said. Baloch separatist groups mentioned in the statement have not responded to the army's claims, but in November a group called the Baloch Nationalist Army sent a statement to the media claiming that Gulzar Imam was in the custody of Pakistan's intelligence agencies. Baloch separatists have been active in Pakistan's Balochistan Province for years and they demand the province's independence. Pakistani Army and paramilitary forces have been stationed in Balochistan for almost two decades and have continued to carry out operations against armed groups there. The separatists have claimed responsibility for attacks on Pakistani security forces, government officials, and on Chinese workers who are in Pakistan working on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects. Baloch separatist groups allege that the Chinese are trying to capture equipment that belongs to Balochistan with the help of the Pakistani government, and that is why they are attacking them. Beijing has invested billions of dollars in infrastructure projects in various areas of Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor program. The national security committee made its announcement about plans to launch an operation against the militants after a committee meeting on April 7 chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and attended by the country's military leadership. "The meeting agreed to launch an all-out comprehensive operation with the entire nation and the government, which will rid the country of the menace of terrorism with renewed vigor and determination," the security committee said in a statement. The security committee said it formed a commission to make recommendations regarding the details of the operation within two weeks. Pakistan has seen a rise in attacks by Islamist militants in the last few months following the breakdown of negotiations last year with the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group. The group and its factions have unleashed a wave of attacks this year. One suicide bombing at a mosque in the northwestern city of Peshawar killed more than 100 people, mostly policemen. The January 30 attack on the Sunni mosque located inside a high-security police facility was one of the deadliest that targeted Pakistani security forces in recent years. Some 221 people were also wounded in the bombing. With reporting by Reuters Colorful umbrellas are seen in a restaurant as tourists enjoy a beach in the island of Phuket in Thailand, January 19, 2023. Photo by Reuters Vietjet will be the first airline to operate a direct service between Hanoi and Phuket (Thailand) starting this summer. The direct service between will operate one daily return flight from May 19 with around three hours per leg. The flights will take off from Hanoi at 11:35 and land in Phuket at 14:40. The return flights will depart Phuket at 15:45 and arrive in Hanoi at 18:35. Vietjet is operating the only direct route between Ho Chi Minh City and Phuket with two-hour flights daily. Apart from Phuket, the airline offers weekly flights from Vietnams major cities to Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi Airport) besides the Ho Chi Minh City Chiang Mai route. Andrei Tkachev has become known for fiery sermons in which he says death in war is the best way to go. He's just one of many pro-war Russian Orthodox priests in a church that, according to one senior former member, has lost its way. Some Russian clergymen have gone as far as to reinterpret the Christian commandments to give grounds for Moscow's brutal war in Ukraine. Ethnic Serbs have boycotted en masse local elections in four municipalities in northern Kosovo with ethnic Serb majorities where local mayors resigned in November 2022 to protest a cross-border dispute over vehicle registrations. The Central Election Commission late on April 23 said preliminary results indicated that the Vetevendosje (Self-Determination) party of Kosovo's prime minister, Albin Kurti, had won the mayoral races in North Mitrovica and Leposavic, while the opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo had taken races in Zvecan and Zubin Potok. As expected, turnout was low, after the dominant ethnic Serb party, Srpska Lista (Serbian List), which enjoys the support of neighboring Serbia's government, announced it was boycotting the votes. The commission said only 1,567 people -- or 3.47 percent of voters -- showed up at polling stations. Despite the low turnout, the results are considered legally valid. There is no minimum turnout rule for the vote. There are around 45,000 voters eligible to elect new mayors in North Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zvecan, and Zubin Potok, along with municipal assemblies in Zvecan and Leposavic. RFE/RL correspondents reported that the only ballots that were being cast were submitted in places with ethnic Albanian residents. WATCH: Most of the voters in RFE/RL footage from North Mitrovica and Zvecan are local Albanians, as are most of the candidates for mayor, due to a boycott by the dominant Kosovo Serb party, Serbian List. The result could further step up tensions between ethnic Serbs who are mostly loyal to neighboring Serbia and Kosovo's central government that represents the country's overwhelmingly ethnic Albanian majority. Ethnic Serbs compose some 1-2 percent of Kosovo's population of around 2 million people. Milan Radoicic, vice president of Serbian List, said following the vote that "those who think that with 1 or 2 percent of votes, they can lead the municipalities in the north, I have to say that the Serbian people will never allow them to do that." A former chairwoman of Kosovo's Central Election Commission, Valdete Daka, told RFE/RL that so long as proper procedures were being followed, the tiny number of votes would likely result in mayoral seats being filled but not necessarily an end to the local problems. Daka said the "nonappearance in the elections" was essentially "conveying a message to the government of Kosovo that they won't accept the leaders who emerge from these elections." Fifteen years after the mostly ethnic Albanian former province declared independence from Serbia, Belgrade continues to oppose recognition of Kosovo's independence. Many ethnic Serbs in Kosovo continue to lean heavily on support from Serbia and its nationalist president, Aleksandar Vucic. The Serbian List party has demanded the formation of an Association of Serb Municipalities, as Kosovo's government pledged to the international community a decade ago, and the withdrawal of special units of the Kosovo Police from the north of the country. A total of 10 candidates were competing for the mayorships, only one of whom -- independent candidate Sladjana Pantovic in Zvecan -- is an ethnic Serb. Pantovic was the rare exception among ethnic Serbs, turning out to vote at around 8 a.m. Pantovic received just five votes, or 2.6 percent. Another ethnic Serb candidate, Aleksandar Jablanovic from the Party of Kosovo Serbs, withdrew from the race in Leposavic three days ago, saying there were not "adequate conditions" for voting. All of the remaining candidates were ethnic Albanians from the Mitrovica Civic Initiative, the Democratic Party of Kosovo, and Kurti's Self-Determination movement. The election commission had to organize alternative polling stations for the April 23 voting because the schools that normally host the voting in northern Kosovo operate within the so-called parallel system run by Serbia's leadership. Kurti this week accused Belgrade of intimidating Serbs from the north to discourage their participate in the voting. Vucic alleged on April 22 that Kosovar authorities were effectively staging "an occupation" of the north after the elections. The four northern municipalities have been without mayors since November, when Serbian representatives largely loyal to Belgrade resigned from their jobs over the Kosovar government's threatened imposition of a requirement for all vehicles to be registered locally. The voting took place at 19 polling stations, 12 of which were organized by Kosovar authorities in the final days before the vote. Kosovar President Vjosa Osmani and the Central Election Commission urged citizens in the north to exercise their right to vote. The international community has also expressed regret at the Serb-led boycott and urged all sides to exercise restraint. Following the election, the U.S. Embassy in Pristina said, "We recognize Kosovan election officials' efforts to make polling places available to citizens wishing to exercise their right to vote, while minimizing potential points of tension." "We likewise express our appreciation for the professionalism of the Kosovo Police, EU Rule of Law Mission (EULEX), and KFOR in ensuring a secure environment for the elections." Kosovo remains blocked from many multinational organizations due to Serbian and Russian opposition to recognition, although there were recently signs of a possible breakthrough under EU-mediated talks. The European Parliament on April 18 approved a decision on visa liberalization that will allow citizens of Kosovo to travel to most European countries without a visa by January 2024 at the latest. It is the last Western Balkan country to achieve such status. U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo Jeffrey Hovenier told RFE/RL's Balkan Service on April 21 that citizens in the north of Kosovo and all political parties "have a responsibility to respect the democratic process, recognizing that they all had the opportunity to register and participate." "He never complained," a woman from Russia's mid-Volga region who asked not to be identified said about her partner, who was killed fighting in Ukraine on January 1, 2023. "He told us that everything was fine. Toward the end of December, they were moved to Makiyivka. And on January 1, tragedy struck." Just after midnight, a Ukrainian rocket attack struck a trade-school dormitory in the Donetsk region city where Russian troops, mainly from the Samara region, were quartered. Scores of soldiers were killed in what was one of the most lethal strikes Ukraine has inflicted on the invading Russian forces. Three months later, the Russian military remains tight-lipped about what happened and exactly how many soldiers were killed. Moscow only acknowledged the incident two days afterward, initially reporting that 63 soldiers had died. On January 4, that figure was raised to 89. At the same time, the Ukrainian military was claiming up to 400 soldiers had been killed and another 300 wounded. In the days immediately following the strike, RFE/RL's North.Realities managed to speak with the relatives of several soldiers who were in the building. "Please, don't use his name," one woman said of her husband, who survived the attack. "I'm afraid. He lived by a miracle, managed to run out of the building even after the initial explosion. He was surrounded by meat, meat and blood -- he just kept saying that over and over.... He doesn't know how he survived. Many boys from his unit were killed, but he still doesn't know what happened to a lot of them." Since January 10, however, relatives of the mobilized soldiers who were at Makiyivka, just outside the regional capital of Donetsk, have largely refused to speak with the media. Unknown "moderators" on various local social-media forums have warned people not to talk to journalists. Russian government and military officials have also offered no further information on the deadly attack. Officially, the Makiyivka death toll remains at 89. More than 56,000 people have signed an online petition urging the Defense Ministry to fully identify all those who were killed. 'Grateful For Any Information' However, RFE/RL's Idel.Realities conducted an open-source investigation, monitoring social media and local government information resources to track war casualties, including those from the Makiyivka attack. RFE/RL has identified by name 140 soldiers killed in the incident. In many cases, their ages, ranks, and hometowns have been determined. Of the 140 soldiers, 139 were from the Samara region, on the Volga River, and one was from Buryatia. Most of those killed were mobilized after President Vladimir Putin ordered a military call-up in late September. Their ages ranged from 21 to over 50. The Russian government has released little information about its war casualties. On September 21, 2022, the military reported 5,937 soldiers had been killed since the start of the full-scale invasion seven months earlier, and it has provided no updates over the last half-year. Western experts put the total number of Russian killed and wounded at over 200,000. RFE/RL's Idel.Realities has identified 4,125 killed Russian soldiers from the Volga Federal District alone. Of those, 401 were from the Samara region, meaning that more than one-third of the region's known casualties came on that single night in Makiyivka. Sixty-four of those killed were posthumously awarded the Order of Courage. RFE/RL attempted to speak to relatives and acquaintances of the slain soldiers, but most refused to speak to journalists. One woman said her friend had been killed and that his body was only returned in mid-February. "I never met a nicer person," she told RFE/RL. "He was very friendly and willingly served in the 'special military operation.'" She added that her brother was currently on the front line in Ukraine -- "in a place where he shouldn't be." In addition, RFE/RL has found 18 families who are still searching for information about their relatives, who they believe were stationed in Makiyivka at the time of the Ukrainian strike. "Searching for Petrov, Dmitry Aleksandrovich, DOB November 6, 1979. Last seen at the vocational school in Makiyivka," reads a March 19 post on social media. "Soldiers carried him out on a metal door and loaded him into an ambulance. Since then, no information. I'd be grateful for any information." Adapted from the Russian by Robert Coalson based on reporting by RFE/RL's Idel.Realities Russian forces unleashed more waves of assaults on Bakhmut over the past day, but neither side managed to make critical advances in the monthslong battle for the city in the eastern region of Donetsk, the Ukrainian military said on April 25. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensives, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. "Fierce battles are going on for the city of Bakhmut," the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in its daily report, adding that Moscow's main push on the battlefield remained focused on the Bakhmut-Avdiyivka-Maryinka front line. Russian forces launched 62 air strikes and six missile strikes against Ukrainian military positions and civilian objectives, the General Staff said in its report. Ukrainian defenders also repelled 43 Russian attacks on Bakhmut and Maryinka, the report said. Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar, meanwhile, described the ongoing fighting in Bakhmut as a "continuous dynamic process." Malyar said on Telegram on April 25: "We can lose positions in battle today, and regain them the next day; that is why the military prefers to talk about the result after the operation is over." Malyar's comments came a day after Ukrainian commanders denied a Russian claim that mercenaries from the Wagner Group almost completely controlled the city. Meanwhile, at least one person was killed and several wounded after an air attack by Russian forces hit a museum in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kupyansk on April 25. Oleh Synehubov, the head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, said the strike on the city center involved S-300-type missiles, one of which hit the Museum of Local History. He said rescue work continues, with officials saying at least one more person may be under the rubble. In Washington, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby warned that Russian forces can step up their offensive actions once the weather begins to get warmer. "We know that in the spring, when the weather improves -- and it is already starting to improve -- we can expect that the Russians will want to go on the offensive in some areas. We don't know exactly where and how they will do it, but we want to be sure that Ukrainians are able to defend themselves better against it," Kirby told Voice of America on April 24. At the same time, Kirby added, if Ukrainian forces decide to conduct their own counteroffensive operations, they must have the appropriate capabilities. Military experts have reported -- and Ukrainian leaders have hinted -- that a major spring counteroffensive by Ukraine is in the works. On April 23, some reports indicated that the Ukrainian military had crossed the Dnieper River in souther Ukraine and established positions on its eastern bank. But Ukraine's military denied the reports, calling them "speculations." "One must be wary of the military analysts' assumptions and understand that these are speculations," military spokeswoman Nataliya Humenyuk said on April 24. With reporting by AP and Reuters The forms covering the seven-meter wide, two-meter high abstract painting float in a scene of violent chaos where domed roofs, falling figures, and disembodied hands jump out of the canvas. When They Bombed Bukhara is former dissident Uzbek artist Vyacheslav Akhunov's 1987 depiction of the Bolsheviks' 1920 bloody assault on the fabled Silk Road citadel of the same name -- an air and ground operation that unseated the last emir of Bukhara and asserted communist control over the city. Last week, the artwork was supposed to end its more than three-decade exile from Uzbekistan to take its place at an exhibition in the state art museum in Tashkent. But that didnt happen and when Akhunov -- who had brought the painting to Uzbekistan from New York -- visited the museum, he found his artwork tightly guarded and wrapped in cellophane. They came up with all sorts of excuses, like that the museum hadnt had time to document the painting before the exhibition. But I knew that wasnt the case because another painting of mine -- the portrait of the poet Abdulhamid Chulpon -- was included in the exhibition. Akhunov has his own theory as to why plans for the exhibit suddenly changed. Most likely there are some officials here who are sympathetic to Russia and didnt want to irritate Moscow, he told RFE/RL. Perhaps they thought that a painting showing how the Bolsheviks dropped bombs on a city where people had never seen airplanes before would recall the current situation with the war in Ukraine, Akhunov said. Fraught Histories The apparent standoff over Akhunovs painting comes at a time when debates over Russias colonial legacy in Central Asia are even more fraught than usual thanks to Moscows unprovoked and bloody invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022. Central Asian governments typically tread a difficult line between accommodating popular demands to readdress periods of history under Moscows yoke and irritating a country that remains an important and sometimes capricious partner. But it is rare that Moscow openly criticizes states that it considers its close partners over their approach to historical events, noted Sergei Abashin, a historian and anthropologist at the European University in St. Petersburg, who specializes in Central Asia. Clearly we have a much more emotional Kremlin at the moment, with the war in Ukraine, but they are still somewhat pragmatic, so I doubt any Russian official or even the embassy raised any objections about Akhunovs painting, Abashin told RFE/RL. At the same time, Abashin said, it is not out of the question that a high-up Uzbek official decided to exercise caution in relation to the artwork, despite the fact that Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoevs own daughter, Saida Mirziyoeva, had played a not insignificant role in facilitating Akhunovs participation in the exhibition. The first half of last century is particularly rich in contested history in Central Asia from Tsarist crackdowns through the state-induced famine that killed more than 1 million people in Kazakhstan in the 1930s and the Stalinist repression that wiped out some of Central Asias leading lights. The Bolsheviks capture of Bukhara, aided by resistance to the emir inside the city and reinforced with a shock and awe, air-and-ground assault that claimed thousands of lives, is another dramatic event from this period. In an article marking a century since the operation, news website Eurasianet noted that the leader of the operation, Red Army commander Mikhail Frunze, remains a villain in modern-day Bukhara. He is known, particularly among younger generations, as the man whose bombing destroyed the citys now-reconstructed Ark, the heaving fortress memorialized in countless propaganda paintings and movies, Eurasianet wrote. Akhunov suggested in comments to RFE/RL that the new deputy director of the state museum, a Russian national called Mikhail Ovchinnikov, might have had a hand in the decision not to exhibit his painting. Ovchinnikov previously worked in the Faberge Museum in St. Petersburg, Akhunov noted, which was founded by Viktor Vekselberg, a Russian oligarch who was placed under U.S. sanctions after the Kremlins February 2022 invasion. The museum in Tashkent has released no statement on the matter. But Akhunov said the apparent censorship has led to a surge of interest in his painting. Everybody has been asking me how they can see it, he said, laughing. Paintings With Stories Whatever the truth, both When They Bombed Bukhara and Akhunovs portrait of the repressed Uzbek poet Abdulhamid Sulaymon-ughli Chulpon -- which did appear in the exhibition last week -- say something about modern-day Uzbekistan as well as Moscows legacy in the region. When They Bombed Bukhara was painted at a time when Mikhail Gorbachevs policy of glasnost (openness) was allowing more scope for artistic expression, and Akhunov was able to display it in Tashkent where pro-communist artists criticized it strongly before taking it to London to exhibit it. He then gave it to a relative who took it to the United States, where it remained until last month. But, by the time Uzbekistans independence came around, the painting would not have been welcome in Tashkent anyway. That is because of Akhunovs close friendship with Muhammad Salih, a popular, opposition-minded writer and poet who challenged Karimov in Uzbekistans first-ever presidential election. Solih lost, alleging massive ballot-rigging in Karimovs favor, and was forced out of Uzbekistan. He would later be sentenced in absentia on terrorism charges that were widely viewed as politically motivated. Akhunovs portrait of Chulpon, which he had gifted to Salih, disappeared after the election, having been embroiled in a scandal a few years earlier. In 1988, Salih was elected chairman of the Union of Writers, Akhunov recalled. One of his first actions in his new office was to take down the portrait of Lenin and replace it with my portrait of Chulpon. Even at that time [during glasnost] it was a tremendously daring thing to do. The communists were livid. In 2009, Akhunov was reunited with his old friend in Istanbul, where Salih was living and where Akhunov was exhibiting at the Istanbul Biennial. When he returned home, Akhunov was informed by the authorities he would no longer be able to travel abroad. That travel ban remained in force until Karimovs death and the arrival in power of Uzbekistans current leader, Karimovs reform-touting successor and protege, Mirziyoev. The bid to find the portrait of Chulpon and exhibit both works in Tashkent began some time ago and was spearheaded by YUZUK, an Uzbek cultural collective based in Germany. Their efforts were later supported by a foundation chaired by 38-year-old Mirziyoeva, who holds a post in her fathers administration and has used her political heft to promote artistic and cultural causes. Eventually, the portrait was found in February of this year in Tashkent and handed over to YUZUKs Dilbar Gaffarova in March. Gaffarova told RFE/RL that the portrait of Chulpon had gone through at least seven owners since the days when it had hung on the wall at the Union of Writers in Tashkent. There was a hole on the canvas, a layer of thick dust, and another layer of dirt. I took the painting home to Akhunov before it was handed over to the museum. He cleaned the painting with a weak solution, Gaffarova said. Akhunov, meanwhile, told RFE/RL that, while he believes some positive changes have occurred in the Mirziyoev era, the situation surrounding the exhibit has added to his pessimism about the direction the country is traveling in. Reforms are facing extreme difficulty. Corruption is massive. Resistance to change is a huge problem, he said. Written by Chris Rickleton with reporting by RFE/RLs Uzbek Service Five years ago, when Cam Tien met Lim Swee Chong, she never would have dreamed how much her life was about to change. "Give me your phone number so I can order meals from you for delivery." Those are the first words that Lim, a Malaysian of Chinese descent, first spoke to Tien. Tien had just arrived in Malaysia from Vietnam and was working at a diner. She didnt understand Lim, so she used Google Translate. Tien agreed to give him her number because she thought it would be good to make him a new steady customer. Lim, a mechanic, soon began texting Tien regularly. When he learned that she was having trouble adjusting to Malaysian food and was thus eating mostly instant noodles for dinner, he began bringing her fried rice with eggs. He also began giving Tien Chinese language lessons so she could communicate better, not only with him but with other local customers as well. When she first started trying to speak Chinese with other Malaysian-Chinese, Lim was the only one who could understand her mispronunciations and idiosyncratic body language. Cam Tien and Lim Swee Chong in Malacca, Malaysia. Photo courtesy of the couple After a few months of dating, Lim brought Tien to meet his parents. They quickly became close. Then one day, Lims mother told Tien she should marry Lim. "I can see that you work so hard every day but your family is not here to take care of you. You can be my daughter-in-law if you want. You will have an extra family here," Lims mother told the woman 14 years younger than her son. Tien never thought that she would receive such a proposal. Lim was standing on the other side of the room listening. When Tien stayed silent, Lim was about to change the subject. But Tien then spoke firmly: "I want my family in Vietnam to be financially stable before I think about marriage." Calamity, serenity Tien is the eldest child in her family, followed by two younger sisters. Her parents are farmers in Cu Lao Dung District in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang. When Tien finished 10th grade, her family couldnt afford her tuition fees so she quit school and went to work in Saigon. A relative introduced her to a job in Malacca, Malaysia. In the new country, she worked 12 hours a day and tried to send home as much money as she can. For Tien, making money was the only goal. After the failed proposal, Lim was embarrassed but still dropped by Tiens diner from time to time. But mostly he just admired her sorrowfully from afar. He could see he did not hold a space in her heart, but still had hope deep down somewhere that might change. In mid-2020, Tien had a horrific accident in which she fell four stories while trying to put clothes on a drying rack. The fall dislocated her neck, broke her thigh bones and put her in a coma for two weeks. The doctor said the only way to save her was a surgical procedure with only a 10% chance of success. Tiens parents didnt have passports so her uncle went to Malaysia and take care of her. But even after pooling all the familys money, Tiens VND250 million hospital fee was still out of reach. Fortunately, Tiens story was shared on social media and people came together to pay for her life-saving operation. Lim heard about Tiens accident through one of her relatives in Taiwan. "They said Tien had an accident but didnt know which hospital she was at, so they asked me to help," Lim recalled. The city has many hospitals but Lim found Tien at the first place he inquired. The 40-year-old man believes that it was destiny that brought them together again like that. On the hospital bed in extreme pain after the surgery with needles sticking out of her body, Tien was easily irritated. But Lim was there every day to keep her company and encourage her. He asked her about the places she wanted to go, and what she wanted to do when she recovered. "I will return to Vietnam when I can walk again. Now I need to focus on recovery so I wont be a burden to my family. I will also have repay those who have helped me," Tien said. Lim remained silently by her side every day to take care of her. He even helped her practice walking again and gave her massages when she was in pain. One day while practicing, Tien asked Lim if he believed in fate. "Destiny is God-given, but fate is decided by both of us," he replied. Tien then remembered her mother's advice, given long ago: "only genuine people stick by you during tough times." Tiens feelings for Lim then began to change. "I had been watching Lim for a long time and I realized that I began to miss the smell of engine oil on his clothes when he would visit me after work," she said. However, for a girl with injured legs, weighing only 35 kg, jobless and living off the kindness of others, Tien put aside all thoughts about love. Her only wish was to return to Vietnam. Tien, Lim and their daughter in January 2023. Photo courtesy of the couple In 2021, Tien planned to come back with her uncle, but because of a clerical error, she couldnt return home. Her uncle went first and Tien stayed alone in Malaysia. So, Lim asked her to stay with his family while waiting for corrections to her paperwork. She agreed. At Lim's house, Tien helped his parents cook and clean even though her legs were not yet fully recovered. She and Lim spoke every day. Without any confession of love, Lim was always with Tien when she was angry, hugged her when she was homesick, and comforted her when she had nightmares. Then one day Tien found out she was pregnant. "Its my child and I will keep it," she told Lim. When she saw Lims smiling face she believed fate had finally tied them together. They went to the embassy to get married. Their daughter, nicknamed Tra Sua (means milk tea in Vietnamese), is now 1.5 years old. She can walk and is learning to speak. In the morning, Tien and Tra Sua visit Lims repair shop to help with chores then they return home to cook and sell food online. On weekends, Tien provides laundry and cleaning service for neighboring families. When a busy day ends, the couple often take their little daughter for a walk around their neighborhood. Sometimes Tien has trouble standing or walking due to her lingering injuries, but she shes able to count on Lims support. They hold hands, walk together and talk until the sun goes down. oes down. The United States continues to promote efforts to hold Aleksandr Lukashenkas regime in Belarus to account for its repression of the Belarusian people and their democratic aspirations, as well as its complicity in and facilitation of Russias war in Ukraine. Additional sanctions are one way to do that. The Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC, has designated three entities and nine individuals, and identified one presidential aircraft as blocked property. OFAC also re-designated the Central Election Commission of Belarus and designated seven members of the Commission. The designations are part of a coordinated response by the United States, the EU, UK, and other close partners to the regimes ongoing brutal crackdown on the pro-democracy movement and civil society which began after the fraudulent 2020 presidential election. But sanctions imposed on individuals and entities in Belarus are not only in response to Lukashenkas cruelty against his own people. The implementation of sanctions is part of the United States firm resolve to promote accountability for Lukashenka and his regimes continued facilitation of Russias unjustified war against Ukraine by putting Belarusian air, land, and infrastructure at the Kremlins disposal. The authoritarian Lukashenka regime relies on state-owned enterprises and key officials to generate substantial revenue that enables oppressive acts against the Belarusian people, said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson. We remain committed to imposing costs on the Lukashenka regime for its suppression of democracy and support for Putins war of choice. Specifically, OFAC has designated two state-owned enterprises: Open Joint Stock Company Belarusian Automobile Plant and Open Joint Stock Company Minsk Automobile Plant. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the Department of State has taken steps to impose visa restrictions on an additional 14 individuals under Presidential Proclamation 8015 for their involvement in undermining democracy in Belarus. These individuals include regime officials involved in policies to threaten and intimidate brave Belarusians exercising their human rights and fundamental freedoms at great personal cost. The United States will continue to impose costs on the Lukashenka regime and those who support it for their repression of the people of Belarus and their democratic aspirations, the regimes dangerous and destabilizing activity in the region, and its ongoing facilitation of Russias unprovoked and illegal war against Ukraine. With the record and near record snowpacks across Nevada, area reservoirs will see much needed recharging this spring. Great news for anglers. However, with forecast highs ranging between 50 and 70 degrees over the next 10 days in Elko County, the snow will be melting quickly causing very high flows in area streams and there is a flood watch in place for many areas in eastern Nevada. Not good news for stream anglers. This high water can be dangerous in a number of ways. First, if you get swept off your feet while wading a stream it can be difficult to get back on your feet and this can result in serious injury if you hit a rock or stump and even result in drowning. Second, anglers who are wading may be struck by a large limb or other objects that the heavy flows are washing down the stream. The best way to handle this is to prevent it. When fishing streams, use a wading staff to give that third leg to help keep your balance. This way one foot and the staff are always in contact with the stream bottom giving extra support. Keep the staff on the downstream side so that it is pushing against the flow. Even with a staff, anglers can still fall in. So before wading take a look at the stream and see what is downstream in case you do take a spill. Look for a place that would make it easy to get out and if you fall and have trouble getting to your feet, head for that spot. Always wear a wading belt on your waders so that in the event you do go in, your waders dont fill up with water and drag you down. If you arent used to wading fast water, it is advisable to have a PFD on so to help keep your head above the water. Also, if you do have to head for a downstream spot, go feet first so that if you hit something, like a submerged boulder or stump, your feet, and not your head, take the beating. Finally, it is recommended that anglers dont fish alone. In the event an accident, that person can either help or go get help. Hypothermia is a common problem this time of year if you get wet and once you become hypothermic your decision making skills deteriorate rapidly. Your fishing partner will be able to make the right decisions in this case. WILDHORSEWildhorse still had 20 to 24 inches of good ice earlier this week with slushy surface conditions. Waterproof boots are a must. Ice closer to the dam is porous and there is open water between the old and new dams so anglers should stay away from the dam. Ice near the bridge in the Hendricks Arm may not be safe as there is some open water near the bridge. There was also some open water where hot creek at the south end of the lake. The bad news for ice anglers is that with the warmer weather forecast for the next week, the edges are going to start to soften and open up. Things will change quickly and anglers should proceed with caution. Trout fishing has slowed a bit as anglers report fewer fish in areas they were catching them a few weeks ago. Perch fishing continues to be very slow with few taken. Dead sticking worms or PowerBait and jigging gold Kastmasters, jigs, or small spinners tipped with worms or PowerBait three to four feet below the ice in water that is seven to 13 feet deep should still produce a few trout. If trout fishing is slow in the spot fishing moving to a different spot often makes a difference. Perch fishing is poor due to the fishery recovering from the spring 2022 die-off. SOUTH FORK RESERVOIRThe south end of the lake is opening up and anglers were catching 13- to 16-inch trout along coyote cove. With daytime highs projected to be between 45 and 65 degrees at South Fork next week, the open water will continue to grow. As the flows in the stream above the reservoir increase, so does the amount of material in the water increase and the open water at the south end of the lake is stained with mud. While this time of year fly fishermen would normally be using chironomid patterns, the turbid water conditions have fly anglers using bigger flies such as leech patterns and wooly buggers. Anglers were having success using olive, black/red and wine colored balanced leeches this week. Black or olive wooly buggers were also working. For spin fishermen, still fishing worms in the stained water conditions is not very effective, so they should be throwing spinners and small lures with a slow retrieve to attract the fish. With the discolored water dark colors that provide a good silhouette seem to be working the best. If the water clears then bait fishing can be productive. WILSON RESERVOIRWilson Reservoir is the first in the area to be mostly ice free. Last weekend the road was in fairly good shape though muddy in spots. No recent reports of how fishing is, but generally after ice out the fishing is good here for 12- to-16-inch trout. The usual small spinners, worms or PowerBait for spin fishermen should be working. For fly fishermen, wooly buggers, leech patterns, chironomids, hares ears and pheasant tail nymphs should all be productive. RUBY LAKE NWRTravel to Ruby Lake NWR is still not recommended and much of the Refuge continues to be inaccessible due to road conditions. Much of the valley is single lane driving and even if you do get there, there isnt any off road parking for fishing. Best route to the area though was Overland Pass last week. Hopefully snow will start to recede with the warmer weather next week, though expect lots of mud once it does. Anglers may want to wait a few more weeks before venturing here. JAKES CREEK/BOIES RESERVOIRAs of Thursday, April 6, Jakes Creek had safe ice with some slush. However, conditions are going to change quickly here with the warm weather and anglers should use caution before venturing upon the ice this weekend. This will probably be the last weekend for ice fishing here. The road in is drivable but has had some water damage and county crews are working to fix it. COLD CREEK RESERVOIRAccess to the lake is poor due to snow and muddy conditions and at last report the road around the lake wasnt plowed. The lake is only 50% covered in ice and is considered unsafe. Anglers can expect to catch eight to 10-inch rainbow or tiger trout fishing open water if they can get here. CAVE LAKE Cave Lake is lowered to minimum pool and unfishable. Fish stocking will resume once the dam repairs are completed. Cave Lake is closed to fishing due to shorelines that are very soft and dangerous due to the complete saturation of the soil. For more information on Cave Lake, please contact the NDOW Ely Field Office. COMINS LAKEIce at Comins was holding steady at 14 inches this week but with daytime highs forecast to be between the mid-40s and mid-50s expect that to change. With warmer temperatures and water coming into the lake, the water level may start rising causing some open water later this week. Anglers should use caution and common sense when venturing upon the ice. The edges will probably open up this weekend and at that point stay off the ice. Please note that NDOW has placed radio tags in several Northern Pike. These pike will have an orange Floy tag near their dorsal fin and a small antenna (~ 7 inches long) coming from their stomach. Please return these fish to the water for research purposes. All other pike should be humanely dispatched. There is no limit on the pike. ILLIPAHNo recent report on ice or fishing conditions, but with the warmer temperatures expect the lake level to start rising causing some open water around the lake. Expect muddy road conditions to get to the lake. Anglers should use caution and common sense before venturing upon the ice. ANGEL LAKE The road is closed for the winter and the lake is ice covered. There will be no reports until late spring or early summer depending upon weather and snow conditions. ALPINE LAKESAvalanche danger continues to be high in the Ruby Mountains and those wanting to hike into the Rubies will find very deep snow conditions, cold temperatures and only experienced back country trekkers should attempt to get away from the roads. The lakes are ice and snow covered. With the snowpack expect a very late start to summer fishing at the high elevation lakes. It will probably be July before some of the lakes will be accessible. STREAMS Expect flows to increase with the forecast of warmer temperatures. The flows given below were from early in the morning before the heat of day and anglers can expect double or even triple the flows later in the day when it is warmer. Access to the fishable parts of streams is very difficult due to road conditions and either deep snow or mud in most areas. Travel is not recommended off most paved roads at this time. Carry chains, tow chain or rope and a shovel and be prepared to spend the night. Please leave a trip plan with someone responsible so that if you dont return home at the expected time someone can start looking for you. If anglers get to the streams expect ice, snow, and mud to making fishing difficult. Streams will be turbid which will also add to the difficult fishing conditions. With cold water temperatures the fish are moving slower and anglers should slow their presentations down. Lamoille Canyon access is by snowshoe, skis or snow mobile due to snow which is still almost seven feet deep at the lower Snotel site in the canyon and more than 10 feet deep as you get past the end of the road. Access to both the Bruneau and Jarbidge Rivers is through Idaho due to snow conditions and even then, it is difficult to impossible to travel into the Bruneau due to snow and muddy conditions and travel is not recommended. Access the Jarbidge through Rogerson, Idaho north of Jackpot. As of the morning of April 7, the East Fork of the Owyhee had minimal flows below Wildhorse dam, while the station near Mountain City is at 37.3 cfs. The Jarbidge River at 7.38 cfs, the Bruneau River flowing at 55.9 cfs, Salmon Falls Creek 74.1 cfs, Lamoille Creek at 8.25 cfs, the South Fork of the Humboldt at 182 cfs, Cleve Creek at 7.78 cfs, Steptoe Creek at 1.71 cfs and Kingston Creek at 5.37 cfs. Jobs Candidates have to visit the official website to apply for Job NEW-DELHI: Union Public Service Commission has announced recruitment for all posts including Junior Engineer, Public Prosecutor, Research Officer. Candidates have to visit the official website upsconline.nic.in to apply for the vacancy. A total of 146 posts will be filled through this recruitment drive. Special dates... Advertisement Application Start Date: 8th April 2023 Last date of application: 27 April 2023 Vacancy Details... Junior Engineer (Electrical) 20 Posts Junior Engineer (Civil) 58 Posts Public Prosecutor 48 Posts Assistant Director (Regulation & Information) 16 Posts Research Officer (Yoga) 1 post Research Officer (Naturopathy) 1 post Assistant Director (Forensic Audit) 1 post Assistant Architect - 1 Post Advertisement Application Fee.... Candidates from general category, OBC and EWS category will have to pay a fee of Rs 25 as fee. SC, ST, PWD and women candidates do not have to pay any fee. How to Apply? Advertisement - Go to official website upsconline.nic.in - Click on One Time Registration and Create Registration Profile. - Now in the next step, fill the form for the post you want to apply for. - Upload all required documents. Pay the fee and submit the form. - Take a print out of the page. J&K Police Arrests two smugglers Further Investigation in the matter is underway JAMMU: Police has arrested two drug smugglers after busting drug smuggling module across the border. 11 kg of heroin worth Rs 70 crore and cash worth Rs 11.82 lakh have been recovered from their possession. Both have admitted during interrogation that this consignment has been sent from Pakistan. As per the reports, police is interrogating the two accused about the other members of the gang. The police said that both the arrested smugglers live in a rented house in Srinagar. Based on specific information, Srinagar Police conducted raid at the house of Ghulam Mohammad Dar in Rajbagh, Srinagar. Advertisement During the search, 11.089 kg of heroin and cash worth Rs. 11,82500 were recovered. Meanwhile, Sajjad Ahmed Badana, a resident of Nichian Village in Karnah area of Kupwara district, and Zaheer Ahmed Tench of Amrooi Village in Karnah were arrested. According to the police, this amount has been collected from the sale of heroin. Sources said that both have admitted during interrogation that they have been in this business for a long time. Notably, Narco-terrorism is being promoted continuously from across the border. Several cases of drug smuggling across LoC in Kupwara, Bandipora and Baramulla have been busted earlier. Holidays of Punjab Police Personnel Cancelled till April 14 over Amritpal Singh Punjab Police is on High Alert & Every Single Movement is being Monitored in the State CHANDIGARH: The holidays of Punjab Police personnel have been cancelled till April 14 over 'Waris Punjab De' Chief and radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh called for a meeting of Sikhs. The orders have been issued by the DGP (Director General of Police) Gaurav Yadav due to safety concerns of the public. The leaves of all gazetted and non-gazetted officers have been cancelled. Notably, Sources said that the decision of Punjab Police is being linked with Amritpal Singh's demand to call Sarbat Khalsa (Religious Assembly of Sikhs) in Talwandi Sabo on the occasion of Baisakhi on April 14. However, the demand has not received the approval of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the supreme authority of Sikhs. Advertisement The Punjab Police is on high alert and every single movement is being monitored in the state. Huge number of Punjab Police and paramilitary forces are deployed in Talwandi Sabo. The officials of the Intelligence Wing are also keeping a check on every moment in the area. For Representation Purpose Only Indian man suffered 50% Brain Damage A compensation of 50 lakh dirhams (approximately Rs. 11 crores in Indian currency) has been announced to an Indian who was seriously injured in a bus accident in Dubai four years ago. It is being told that after the accident, the Indian man suffered 50% brain damage. After which, the United Arab Emirates Supreme Court has directed to pay the insurance amount. According to media reports, in the year 2019, Muhammad Baig Mirza was travelling to UAE from Oman. He met with a bus accident in Dubai. 17 people died in this accident, out of which 12 were Indians. The bus hit the overhead height barrier near the parking lot of the metro station. Due to this, the upper part of the bus was damaged. Advertisement The bus driver, who is from Oman, was sentenced to 7 years imprisonment and ordered to pay 3.4 million dirhams to the families of the victims. The report quoted Mirza's lawyer as saying that the UAE Insurance Authority had given him 1 million dirhams as compensation. The petitioners later approached the Dubai court, where the compensation was increased to 5 million dirhams. After the accident, Mirza stayed in the hospital for about two months. Meanwhile, he remained unconscious for about 14 days. After this he also spent a long time in a rehabilitation center. It is reported that he was preparing for the final semester of Diploma in Mechanical Engineering and could not complete his studies due to severe injuries. The media reports said that during treatment, the doctors said that due to brain damage, the chances of his life being normal are low. Luis A. Gaxiola Aguirre, 22, of Elko was arrested March 31, 2023, at Sunnyside and Celtic drives for burglary of a motor vehicle. Bail: $2.500 Craig W. Huff, 33, of Elko was arrested March 31, 2023, at 1805 Ruby View Drive for failure to appear after bail on a felony crime and violation of probation. Brandon L. Martinez, 28, of Elko was arrested March 31, 2023, for grand larceny worth $5,000 to $25,000, burglary, grand larceny of a gun, conspiracy to commit a non-felony crime, and possession of stolen property worth $5,000 to $25,000. Bail: $200,000 David E. Owens, 37, of Elko was arrested March 31, 2023, at 1111 Idaho St. for domestic battery by strangulation. Bail: $20,000 Patricia Y. Sanchez-Molina, 31, of Elko was arrested April 1, 2023, at 2065 Idaho St. on a warrant for failure to appear after bail on a felony crime and failure to appear after bail on a misdemeanor crime. Bail: $13,640 Conja P. Engelhart, 39, of Elko was arrested April 3, 2023, at Last Chance Drive and Industrial Way for failure to appear after bail on a felony crime. Bail: $25,000 Ryan S. Flynn, 37, of Lamoille was arrested April 3, 2023, at 801 Idaho ST. for drug paraphernalia and violation of parole or condition of suspended sentence. Torin S. Francis, 36, of Spring Creek was arrested April 3, 2023, at 2955 Mountain City Highway on two felony counts of possession of a controlled substance. Bail: $10,000 Jordan A. Rose, 26, of Spring Creek was arrested April 3, 2023, at 1550 Idaho St. for possessing a gun by a prohibited person. Bail: $20,000 James D. Smith, 57, of Louisville, Kentucky, was arrested April 3, 2023, at Elko County Jail on a felony warrant for driving disobeying peace officer endangering others, battery with use of a deadly weapon against a first responder, three counts of assault with a deadly weapon against a first responder, felony possession of a controlled substance, driver disobeying peace officer, and displaying bogus vehicle registration, plate or title. Bail: $137,475 Joshua A. Haas, 31, of Elko was arrested April 4, 2023, at 1050 Connolly Drive for using a credit or debit card or ID without consent, and possessing a credit or debit card without owners consent. Bail: $10,000 Cortney A. Keefer, 30, of West Valley, Utah was arrested April 4, 2023, on a warrant for failure to appear after bail on a felony crime. Bail: $10,000 Mikyla M. Enders, 40, of Elko was arrested April 5, 2023, at Fourth Street and Shoshone Avenue in Wells for felony possession of a controlled substance, drug paraphernalia, and failure to appear after bail on a misdemeanor crime. Bail: $6,275 Daniel J. Mortensen, 51, of Provo, Utah was arrested April 5, 2023, for fugitive felon from another state. Jessie M. Patterson, 23, of Lamoille was arrested April 5, 2023, at 1805 Ruby View Drive on a warrant for obtaining money, property or labor by false pretenses, and intent to utter a fictitious bill, note or check. Bail: $75,000 William T. Patterson, 41, of Wells was arrested April 5, 2023, at Martha Hoots Ranch for failure to appear after bail on a felony crime. Bail: $100,000 Christina J. Shope, 33, of Elko was arrested April 5, 2023, at Western Inn for obtaining or using another persons ID for harmful or unlawful purposes, forgery, and obtaining money, property or labor by false pretenses. Bail: $26,140 Tanaya L. Becker, 25, of Elko was arrested April 6, 2023, at 1016 C St. on a felony warrant for child abuse or neglect. Bail: $100,000 James M. Huskey, 56, of Elko was arrested April 6, 2023, at 2944 Mountain City Highway on a felony warrant for robbery. Bail: $100,000 David L. Judd, 64, of Reno was arrested April 6, 2023, for violation of probation or condition of suspended sentence. Nicholas C. Lanzalaca, 32, of Salt Lake City was arrested April 6, 2023, for violation of probation or condition of suspended sentence. Nicholas L. Snyder, 27, of Elko was arrested April 6, 2023, at Dottys Casino by Raleys for intent to utter a fictitious bill, note or check. Bail: $5,000 Japan will on Friday see February results for its leading and coincident economic indexes, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. In January, the leading index score was 96.6. Japan also will release February numbers for household spending, with forecasts suggesting a decline of 0.4 percent on month and a gain of 4.3 percent on year. That follows the 2.7 percent monthly jump and he 0.3 percent annual decline. South Korea will provide February figures for its current account; in January, it showed a deficit of $4.52 billion. Finally, the in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and Indonesia are closed on Friday for Good Friday. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Economic News What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more. The Canadian market ended marginally up on Thursday after a cautious session. Volumes were somewhat thin ahead of a long weekend. Stronger than expected Canadian jobs data aided sentiment. Investors looked ahead to the crucial U.S. non-farm payrolls data, due on Friday. The benchmark S&P/TSX Composite Index ended with a gain of 37.14 points or 0.18% at 20,196.69 after scaling a low of 20,099.80 and a high of 20,201.63 intraday. North West Company Inc (NWC.TO) shares climbed about 5.4%. Teck Resources (TECK.B.TO) surged 4.3%. CCL Industries (CCL.B.TO), WSP Global Inc (WSP.TO), Bombardier Inc (BBD.B.TO), Tourmaline Oil Corp (TOU.TO), Colliers International (CIGI.TO) and Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC.A.TO) gained 1.5 to 2.2%. Canadian National Railway (CNR.TO), FirstService Corporation (FSV.TO), Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM.TO) and Constellation Software (CSU.TO) also ended notably higher. ATS Corporation (ATS.TO), Nutrien (NTR.TO), Precision Drilling Corporation (PD.TO), Cenovus Energy (CVE.TO), Finning International (FTT.TO) and Cargojet (CJT.TO) ended lower by 2 to 5%. Data released by Statistics Canada this morning showed the Canadian added 35,000 jobs in March 2023, much higher than the expected addition. The unemployment rate in Canada was at 5% for the fourth consecutive month in March, remaining close to the record low of 4.9% seen in June and July 2022. Meanwhile, average weekly earnings for permanent employees in Canada increased by 5.2% from a year earlier, after a 5.4% rise in the prior month. A report from Richard Ivey School of Business said the Ivey Purchasing Managers Index in Canada jumped to 58.2 in March 2023, from 51.6 in February, beating market forecasts of 56.1. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Merck (MRK) and Eisai Co., Ltd. announced that Phase 3 LEAP-003 trial and LEAP-017 trial failed to meet endpoint of overall survival (OS). The companies stated that Phase 3 LEAP-003 trial evaluating KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA for the first-line treatment of adults with unresectable or metastatic melanoma did not demonstrate an improvement in overall survival (OS), versus KEYTRUDA alone. The company said that it will discontinuing the study based on the recommendation of an independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC), which reviewed data from a planned interim analysis. The Phase 3 LEAP-017 trial evaluating KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA did not meet its primary endpoint of OS for patients with unresectable and metastatic colorectal cancer that is mismatch repair proficient (pMMR) or not microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) who experienced disease progression on, or became intolerant to, prior therapy. The company specified that both the LEAP-003 and LEAP-017 trials, the safety profile of KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA was consistent with previously reported data on the combination. A full evaluation of the data from these studies, including pre-planned key subgroup analyses, is ongoing. The companies said it will work with investigators to share the results with the scientific community. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Waiting period for Innova HyCross hybrid variant has touched 2.5 years in some cases While advanced gadgetry has always been a major draw, Toyota-Maruti focused on strong hybrid tech to attract customers with their new range of cars. It started with Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara / Toyota Urban Cruiser HyRyder, while Innova HyCross was launched later. Market response has been phenomenal, with all strong hybrids from Toyota-Maruti registering strong growth. Buyers see value in investing in strong hybrid cars, as cost savings are simply unparalleled. When running only on battery power, strong hybrids can perform just like an electric car. Fuel efficiency is a major advantage. For example, Toyota HyRyder and Innova HyCross hybrid have best-in-class fuel efficiency of 27.97 kmpl and 21.1 kmpl, respectively. Toyota Innova Hybrid ZX, ZX (O) Variants Bookings halted temporarily Since their launch, Toyota Innova HyCross has been witnessing heavy demand for the strong hybrid variants. It has led to a situation where waiting periods have increased to more than 2.5 years months in specific locations. To avoid any inconvenience to customers, Toyota has temporarily halted bookings for its Innova HyCross ZX, ZX (O) hybrid variants from 8th April, 2023. Dealers have been notified about the same. Media Statement The Innova Hycross was launched recently during Nov 2022 to cater to the needs of the customers seeking proportions & poise of an SUV with the spaciousness of an MPV. The versatile Innova Hycross, available in both self-charging strong hybrid electric variant [SHEV] as well as gasoline variant is for every occasion owing to its glamor quotient, advanced technology, comfort, safety features and a thrill to drive. We are grateful to our valued customers for the overwhelming response that they have shown to Innova Hycross across all its variants within a few months of its launch. However, owing to the ongoing supply challenges, we deeply regret to announce the temporary halt of bookings for top end grades of Innova Hycross i.e., ZX and ZX (O) only, with effect from 8th April 2023. The bookings of the other grades of Innova Hycross both the hybrid and gasoline will continue. We are doing our best to resume the Innova Hycross bookings for the said variants at the earliest. Huge Waiting Period For Toyota Hybrid Variants As per some dealers we spoke to, much of the demand is for top-spec variants of HyCross and HyRyder. For HyCross ZX (O), waiting period is 2.5 years. For HyCross VX variant, waiting period is in the range of 8 to 12 months. In case of HyRyder hybrid variants, waiting period is more than a year in some cities. No direct rival to Hybrid Innova, HyRyder In terms of strong hybrid powertrain, there is currently no direct rival to the likes of HyRyder and HyCross. Moreover, there is no hard evidence that other OEMs in these segments are planning to introduce strong hybrid variants in future. Most other OEMs seem to be focusing more on introducing plug-in-hybrids and BEVs. Toyota-Maruti have taken a different approach and it appears to be working till now. Strong hybrids are self-charging vehicles that dont have constraints like recharging time and limited range. Moreover, they are cheaper than EVs. All these factors place Toyota-Maruti hybrid cars at an advantageous position, at least for the next few years. On April 6, 1963, China's first medical team was dispatched from Beijing to Algeria. Since then, batch after batch of Chinese doctors have been working in Africa, offering much-needed medical aid and services to local people. Despite facing numerous difficulties and challenges, Chinese doctors have persevered in their efforts to save lives, treat illnesses, forge new friendships, and promote goodwill throughout Africa. Their unwavering commitment, sense of duty, and exemplary expertise have earned them a reputation as the most welcome guests on the African continent, endearing them to countless Africans. As China and Africa strive to build a community with a shared future in the new era, including building a global community of health for all, the Chinese doctors serving on aid missions in Africa have become shining exemplars with their great contribution to the lofty cause. This combined photo shows a copy photo of Xue Jin at a hospital in Algeria on Aug. 26, 1967 (L) and Xue Jin posing for a photo at Hubei Cancer Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, on March 14, 2023 (R). In 1965, Xue Jin, a 29-year-old surgeon at the Hubei Medical College Second Hospital, became the youngest member of a Chinese medical team that was sent to assist a hospital in Saida, a city in northwestern Algeria. (Xinhua/Rao Rao) CHINA'S UNSHAKABLE COMMITMENT Since the first Chinese medical team arrived in Algeria in 1963, China has dispatched around 30,000 medical personnel to 76 countries and regions across five continents, with a primary focus on Africa, providing 290 million diagnoses and treatments for local people, according to the National Health Commission of China. This significant effort underscores China's unwavering commitment as a major country to deliver public goods to the international community. Wu Yilun, an ultrasound doctor at Xi'an Honghui Hospital in Shaanxi Province, China, has completed three separate two-year stints in Sudan. Notably, three other members of Wu's family, including his uncle, sister, and brother-in-law, have also provided medical aid in Sudan over the past 21 years. "For me, joining the medical team to Africa is not only a family legacy but also our mission and obligation as a Chinese doctor," he told Xinhua. Shen Ali, an anesthesiologist at Ying Cheng Chinese Medicine Hospital in central China's Hubei Province, followed the footsteps of his grandfather and uncle to join the Chinese medical teams dispatched to Algeria. Through a relay between father and son, husband and wife, and even sisters working hand in hand, Chinese doctors have never left the African continent in the past 60 years, passing on the baton of the aid mission from one generation to the next. It is never easy for the Chinese doctors to settle down far away from home, not to mention that the hospitals where they work in Africa are usually in remote areas with harsh conditions. Patient Alili Kheira (L), 63, goes to the hospital to thank Li Hongling, a member of the Chinese medical team to Algeria, at a hospital in Ain Defla, Algeria, on Feb. 27, 2023. (Xinhua) FILLING MEDICAL GAPS Chinese doctors have made significant contributions to health care in local communities over the past 60 years, with their efforts spanning not only diagnoses and treatments but also pioneering surgeries to help bridge the medical gaps in the host countries. In Sudan, the Chinese medical team successfully conducted the first open-heart surgery in 1977 at the China-Sudan Abu Osher Friendship Hospital, said Mohamadain Hussein, former head of the hospital. The Sudanese girl who received the surgery is now a mother of five children. In Algeria, the first femoral head replacement operation in the Khenchela Province was successfully performed in 2011 by Tu Dachun, an orthopedic physician from central China's Hubei Province. Tu, now on his last mission in Algeria, has worked in the North African country for 12 years. Du Bingbing, head of the current Chinese medical team to Tanzania, successfully conducted a laparoscopic radical operation of congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis for a one-week-old baby. That was the first minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery done in Tanzania. Chinese doctors have also successfully conducted the first cardiac pacemaker implantation in The Gambia, the first craniectomy in Benin, and the first replantation of a severed right upper arm in Mozambique, to name a few. Falciparum malaria is a high-incident disease in Africa. Bai Chunmei, a Chinese malariologist, had worked for more than four years in Sudan, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, helping establish malaria control centers and cure those who suffer from the disease. Chinese doctors have also introduced traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to Africa, including acupuncture, which is gaining popularity in many African countries. Hu Changrong, a member of the Chinese medical team to Tunisia, inspects eyes of an old man during a free clinical activity in Tunisia's northwestern province of El Kef, on Feb. 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Supei) ANGELS IN WHITE "The Chinese people love peace and cherish lives, which is vividly illustrated by their efforts in international medical assistance," Chinese President Xi Jinping said in February in a reply letter to the 19th Chinese medical team dispatched to the Central African Republic. Alongside providing medical assistance to various African countries, Chinese doctors have also established friendships with local people, who often regard them as close friends and even family members. The Chinese doctors shoulder two missions in Africa, one being the "angles in white" to save lives and another being "messengers" to pass on friendship to local people, said Yang Yong, head of the 27th Chinese medical team dispatched to Algeria. "China provided medical help timely when there was a severe lack of medical personnel in African countries after the colonial period more than half a century ago," said Nasser Bouchiba, president of the Africa-China Cooperation Association for Development in Morocco. Chinese doctors usually work in remote areas with harsh conditions, playing "a significant humanitarian role" in helping improve local health care, Bouchiba told Xinhua. China's continued dispatching of medical teams to Africa over the past six decades is "the best illustration of China's internationalism and responsibilities as a major country," he added. Liu Wei, an obstetrician and gynecologist of the Chinese medical team to Sudan, examines a newborn at Abu Osher Hospital in central Sudan's Gezira State on Feb. 22, 2023. (Chinese medical team to Sudan/Handout via Xinhua) Noureddine Djoudi, 89, a former Algerian diplomat, hailed the 60-year Chinese medical aid mission in Algeria as "a model of South-South cooperation." The Chinese doctors "are the most welcome guests in the African continent," he told Xinhua. Chinese doctors cured one of his hands which suddenly lost feeling. He called it the "amazing effect" of TCM. In Namibia, TCM has been introduced into the health insurance system through unremitting efforts by Wang Peng, a member of the Chinese medical team in Namibia during 2014-2016. "It's a step warmly welcomed by many local patients who benefit from TCM for its curative effects," said Ben Nangombe, executive director of Namibia's Ministry of Health and Social Services. Pierre Somse, minister of public health and population in the Central African Republic, said the Chinese medical teams not only treat patients and save lives but also have touched the local people with their medical ethics and great love. "The Chinese medical team has been deeply integrated into the daily life of the people of Zanzibar," said Nassor Ahmed Mazrui, Tanzania's Zanzibari minister for health, praising the Chinese doctors as "true angels in white." Qabil Ashirov A commission was established to prepare the response statement of the Milli Majlis to the Iranian parliament, Azernews reports. Fazail Ibrahimli, the deputy chairman of the Milli Majlis will lead the commission in the preparation of the text of the statement. The Commission includes Zahid Oruj, Rafael Huseynov, Cavanshir Pashazade, Afat Hasanova, and Kamran Bayramov. Besides that, The Speaker of The Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova criticized the biased Statement of the Iranian Parliament over the opening of an embassy in Israel by Azerbaijan. "Iran has never objected to Armenia, which kept Azerbaijani lands under occupation for over 30 years and brutally looted the wealth of Azerbaijan. Iran, which supported Armenia with various means, today is worried about the opening an embassy in Israel, she said. In addition, Sahiba Gafarova noted that Azerbaijan is an independent country and it is Azerbaijans internal affair to build relations with any country. "No one has the right to interfere with the sovereign rights of Azerbaijan. We strongly reject the groundless accusations made by the Iranian parliament against our country, we call on the Iranian parliament to stop such provocations against Azerbaijan and refrain from actions that could harm bilateral relations," said Sahiba Gafarova. We should note that the Iranian Parliament adopted a statement against Azerbaijan over the opening embassy in Israel. The Statement reads about the occupation of Quds, as well as criticizes and threatens Azerbaijan for building bilateral relations with Israel. However, we should recall that Azerbaijan has sound relations not only with Israel but also with Palestine state. In addition, always voicing that the vast majority of Azerbaijan's population is Muslim Shia, Iran emphasizes and even requires that Azerbaijan should side with Palestine in the Israeli-Palestine conflict, somehow defying the fact that the Azerbaijani population is Muslim Shia in the Karabakh conflict which Armenians dispelled about one million people from their homelands and kept under occupation the 20 percent of Azerbaijani lands over 30 years. Further, for demonstrating Iranian support to Armenia against Muslim Azerbaijan, Iran opened the Consulate General in Gapan last year and held several military drills in the Azerbaijani-Iranian borders. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh talks to Australian Governor-General David Hurley. (Photo: VNA) This is the first foreign leader paying a State visit to Vietnam in 2023, and also the first national guest that President Vo Van Thuong has received in his new position. The visit is part of activities in celebration of the 50th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Australia diplomatic relations. During his visit, Hurley laid wreaths at the Monument to Heroes and Martyrs, and President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi; attended an official welcome ceremony; held talks with President Vo Van Thuong; met with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue. He also visited the headquarters of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations in Hanoi and several educational institutions in Ho Chi Minh City. At the talks and meetings between Vietnamese leaders and the Australian Governor-General, the two sides expressed their pleasure with the substantive and effective development of the Strategic Partnership between the two countries after 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Many cooperation areas mentioned in the Action Programme for the period 2020-2023 have become pillars and bright spots in the two countries' relationship such as security - defense, economy - trade, science - technology, education - training, and people-to-people exchange. The leaders shared about collaboration between the legislatures of the two countries in perfecting legal institutions to strengthen cooperation in regional and global issues such as promoting the digital transformation ecosystem and just energy transition and climate change response. Considering that the two countries still have a lot of room and potential for cooperation, they discussed major orientations to beef up Vietnam-Australia relations in various fields. They agreed to discuss upgrading the relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership at an appropriate time. Within the framework of the visit, President Vo Van Thuong's spouse Phan Thi Thanh Tam and spouse of the Australian Governor-General Linda Hurley visited the Vietnam National Academy of Music. The State visit to Vietnam by Australian Governor-General David Hurley and his wife has contributed to further strengthening the bilateral realtions and the strategic trust between the two countries, and is a prominent milestone in the year celebrating the two countries' diplomatic ties./. A booth at the Expo (Photo: VNA) The booths introduce national brands, exports, electronics, machines, and other products in the fields of digital technology, e-commerce and food industry, among others. In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai reviewed the national economic recovery and development last year, with the gross domestic product (GRP) growing 8.02% , the highest since 2011, industrial production expanded significantly, and export-import hitting the record of 730.28 billion USD. In the first two months of this year, the export-import was valued at nearly billion USD, the official said, adding that although the figure represents a year-on-year drop, it reflects efforts by all-level agencies and the business community. He attributed the outcomes to significant contributions of trade promotion activities, with the rollout of incentives and solutions in order to ensure goods circulation and boost export-import. Since its inception in 1991, Vietnam Expo has brought about economic values and practical opportunities to domestic enterprises, helping them enhance export, promote the domestic market and improve their capacity for engaging in the global value chain, while contributing to fulling the Governments commitment to international economic integration, Hai stressed. Participating firms will maintain interaction with visitors during not only the four days of the expo but also through the year via a business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce platform. Organisers said many international delegations and organisations and foreigners from more than 60 countries and territories have registered to visit the event, of which the delegations from Slovakia and China will hold trade exchanges with businesses. The expo is expected to offer organisations and businesses opportunities to enhance the exchange of experiences, promote their products, seize investment opportunities, and transfer technologies to improve efficiency in production and business. Other seminars to boost efficiency in investment and trade promotion in both domestic and foreign markets will also be held. Vietnam Expo is held annual in Hanoi in April and Ho Chi Minh City in December./. Women in Hanoi honoured for title Good person, good deed in 2022 (Photo: NDO) In which, Thach That district has 24 individuals; Chuong My district, 12 individuals; Me Linh district, 7 individuals; the three districts of Ba Dinh, Hoai Duc and Thanh Oai, each have 5 individuals; Cau Giay district, 4 individuals; Hai Ba Trung district, 1 individual; and Soc Son district, 1 individual. In addition, Hanoi College of Commerce and Tourism has 3 individuals awarded the title "Good people, good deeds"; Hanoi Sewerage One Member Limited Liability Company, 2 individuals; and Vietnam - Korea Vocational College of Hanoi City, 1 individual. Bonuses for the title Good person, good deed are deducted from the City's Emulation - Commendation Fund and transferred to the accounts of the units for implementation./. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been gaining attention as promising carbon-neutral porous materials, thanks to their high performance in gas storage, separation, and conversion. The geometric building blocks of MOFs, metal clusters and organic linkers, allow chemists to predict and synthesize new structures like assembling LEGO. However, finding new metal building blocks is still a daunting challenge due to the complex nature of metal ions in synthesis. A research team, led by Professor Wonyoung Choe at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), South Korea, was inspired by the molecular metal clusters previously synthesized before realized in porous materials. This implies one can predict future MOFs by looking closely at their metal building blocks. The research team compared zirconium metal clusters found in both MOFs and molecules. Zirconium-based MOFs are one of the representative metal-organic porous materials with remarkable stability and a broad range of applications. The researchers identified seven types of zirconium building blocks in MOFs and discovered additional fourteen types of potential metal building blocks. The research team provided a library of those various molecular clusters for future metal building blocks of MOFs, and suggested practical synthetic strategies. This research is expected to greatly accelerate the discovery of new MOFs by presenting metal cluster candidates whose structures were previously difficult to predict. "Zirconium metal clusters feature outstanding molecular adsorptive and catalytic properties depending on their structures. Very excited to see what properties the new zirconium cluster will show," said Dr. Dongsik Nam, the first author of the study. "This research can be extended to various metal clusters in MOFs beyond zirconium," noted Professor Wonyoung Choe. "New metal building blocks will provide a big hint to accelerate the discovery of future carbon-neutral porous materials." The findings of this research have been published as an Opinion in Trends in Chemistry, a sister journal to Cell, on April 4, 2023. This study has been supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea via the Mid-Career Researcher Program, Hydrogen Energy Innovation Technology Development Project, Basic Science Research Program, Science Research Center (SRC), and Global Ph.D. Fellowship (GPF), as well as Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST). Think about how frustrating it is to try to fit a gift into a box that is too small. Sometimes you just need a bigger box. Building a bigger box Nanocages are tiny artificial containers that can be used to deliver therapeutics to a target destination in the body. But some drug molecules are like gifts that are too big for a standard-sized nanocage 'box'. Now, in an article published today in Nature Synthesis, researchers from the University of Cambridge describe how they have built a super-sized nanocage that could be used to deliver larger drug cargoes. They have built a bigger box. Simple building blocks Rational control over the self-assembly of these types of cages generally poses considerable challenges. So instead of following traditional self-assembly methods, the team decided to use a simple building block process inspired by natural biological systems. Using the new method, they were able to build progressively larger artificial nanocages, with the largest cage having an enclosed volume greater than 92 cubic nanometres -- the largest ligand-enclosed inner cavity volume ever made. Larger cages have been reported, but they have more open ligand frameworks, which are not as useful because these cages have not been able to bind cargoes. Prospective 'guest' molecules slip out between the widely-spaced bars, unless they are covalently tethered to the 'host' framework. First author Dr Kai Wu, a postdoctoral researcher in the Nitschke lab in the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, said: "The findings of this study are important because they demonstrate how we are able to create ever-larger complex, functional structures using simple building blocks." Larger cargoes The super-sized nanocages have potential applications in fields such as drug delivery and biotechnology, where they could be used to deliver larger therapeutic biomolecules to specific parts of the body. The researchers also note that the large internal cavities of the nanocages could serve as a platform for the binding of large biomolecules, such as hydrophobic membrane proteins or proteases, which could be useful in drug discovery and development. Wu said: "Overall, this research expands our understanding of how to create nanoscale structures and may have practical implications in a variety of fields." Professor Jonathan Nitschke, who led the research, said: "This work, sponsored in part by Astex Pharmaceuticals under its Sustaining Innovation Postdoctoral Programme, aims to have real-world impact in the field of new drug development." A new look at decades of data from museum collections and surveys of leaf-litter ants in Florida reveals a steady decline in native ants and simultaneous increase in nonnative ants -- even in protected natural areas of the state, researchers report. The study tracked leaf-litter ant abundance from 1965 to 2019. Nonnative ants represented 30% of the 177 ground-dwelling species detected in surveys across the state in later years, the team reports. Their dominance grew most notably in southern Florida, where nonnatives increased from 43% to 73% over the decades studied. The nonnative ants are most likely arriving with goods transported to Florida from around the world. Reported in the journal Current Biology, the findings point to a potential future devoid of native ants, the researchers said. "Leaf-litter ants tend to be very small, just a few millimeters in length, so moving through soil, leaves and other litter is like climbing over hills for them," said University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign evolution, ecology and behavior professor Andrew Suarez, who led the research with Douglas Booher, a research entomologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service; and Corrie Moreau, a professor of entomology and of ecology and evolution at Cornell University. "Many of them are small specialist predators, like trap-jaw ants of the genus Strumigenys, which are solitary hunters that specialize in catching small arthropods like springtails." These ants rely on the litter that accumulates under trees and other plants, Suarez said. "These communities are sensitive to habitat loss, especially the loss of canopy trees," he said. "They also are very susceptible to heat and water stress, as they require humid environments." While native and nonnative leaf-litter ants share many traits and likely perform some of the same ecosystem services, the science is still unsettled as to whether the invasives will fill the same niches, the researchers said. Future studies should examine whether certain ecological functions are lost when native ants decline. "Our biggest worry is that the loss of a few key species that act as specialized predators or seed-dispersers could have ecological consequences for these already threatened ecosystems," Booher said. Native leaf-litter ants differ from the invaders in at least one significant trait, the researchers found. The team tested how well the ants tolerated sharing their nests with individuals of the same species from other nests. "We collected more than 300 live ant colonies and set them up in artificial nests," Booher said. "By marking individuals of the same species from different colonies and introducing them to one another, we evaluated if workers from different colonies were adopted or excluded." Most of the nonnative workers adopted conspecific worker ants from different colonies, but most natives rejected the outsiders, the team found. This difference seems to give nonnative ants an advantage, Booher said. By accepting and cooperating with ants from various nests, nonnative ants "effectively act like a single unified colony over a large landscape," he said. There are still many more native than nonnative leaf-litter ants in Florida, but the nonnative ants "are becoming more abundant and common," Booher said. "This concerning trend has increased steadily over the past 54 years. Across all regions of Florida, nonnative species have doubled in collection frequency." The research highlights the importance of museum collections for understanding species diversity and loss, Moreau said. "Only through comparing past species diversity and abundance with current data can we really understand how biodiversity is changing through time," she said. "While we are starting to appreciate just how bad insect declines are globally, we often don't have species-level data for many groups," Suarez said. "By looking at trends for individual species over long periods, we can get an idea of the possible ecological consequences of these patterns." Suarez also is a professor of entomology and an affiliate of the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology and the Carle R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology at the U. of I. The National Science Foundation supported this research. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a trilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) BEIJING, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping held a trilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Beijing on Thursday. Xi pointed out that China and the European Union (EU) share extensive common interests. Cooperation and common ground between the two sides outweigh competition and differences. In a complex and volatile world, China and the EU should respect each other, promote political trust, strengthen dialogue and cooperation, uphold world peace and stability, promote common development and prosperity, and address global challenges together, Xi said. Noting that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, Xi said China is prepared to work with the EU to set the right direction and tone for China-EU ties, fully resume exchanges at all levels and revitalize mutually-beneficial cooperation in various fields, thus injecting fresh impetus into China-EU relations and global peace, stability and prosperity. Stressing the importance of enhancing the stability of China-EU ties, Xi said the China-EU relationship does not target any third party, nor should it be dependent on or dictated by any third party. China has all along viewed the relationship from a strategic and long-term perspective and ensured stability and continuity in its EU policy, he said, adding that China hopes the EU will develop a more independent and objective perception of China and adopt a pragmatic and positive China policy. Xi said the two sides should respect each other's core interests and major concerns, work through dialogue and consultation to build consensus and overcome differences. It is important to respect each other's development paths. He said Chinese modernization and European integration are strategic choices China and the EU have made with the two sides' respective futures in mind. China and the EU should be each other's trustworthy and reliable cooperation partners on their paths to development. The Chinese people take pride in choosing the right development path for themselves in light of China's national reality, Xi said, calling on the two sides to seek common ground while shelving differences, and learn to accommodate, appreciate, draw upon and facilitate each other's development. Playing up the so-called "democracy vs authoritarianism" narrative and stoking a new Cold War will only bring division and confrontation to the world, Xi said, stressing the importance to maintain an open and trusting environment for cooperation. China and the EU should keep their markets open to each other, provide a fair and nondiscriminatory environment for businesses from the other side, and avoid turning economic and trade matters into political or national security issues. The two sides should build stable and trustworthy supply chains, and synergize the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Gateway strategy in support of sustained and stable economic growth in China and the EU, Xi said. President Xi underlined that China champions true multilateralism and a global governance vision featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefit. He said China is prepared to work with the EU to enhance coordination and cooperation in multilateral affairs, and uphold the international system centered on the United Nations (UN), the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Xi said China and the EU need to jointly uphold global stability and prosperity, and stand against hegemonism, unilateralism and attempts to decouple economies or sever supply chains. The two sides need to step up macroeconomic and financial policy communication and coordination, deepen their green partnership, and increase dialogue and cooperation on green financing, environment-friendly technologies and clean energy. China and the EU also need to help other developing countries, encourage multilateral institutions and private capital to contribute more to implementing the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative, and explore cooperation in Africa and other regions involving three or more parties, Xi added. For her part, von der Leyen noted that the EU respects China's history and culture. Frank and constructive dialogue with China and continuous development of EU-China relations are crucial for peace and stability in Europe. The EU and China are each other's important trading partners and the two economies are highly intertwined, von der Leyen said, adding that decoupling from China is neither in the EU's interests nor the EU's strategic choice. She said the EU sets its China policy independently. It would like to restart the High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue and advance steady and balanced growth of economic and trade ties with China for mutual benefit. The EU congratulates China for hosting a successful United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) and commends China's efforts to cut carbon emissions. The EU stands ready to enhance communication and coordination with China to jointly meet global challenges and contribute to peace, stability and development in the world, von der Leyen said. Macron noted that in a world full of uncertainties, the EU and China need to enhance dialogue and exchange with mutual respect, openness and humility. The two sides should work with each other to stay away from the trap of economic decoupling and severing supply chains, carry out mutually-beneficial cooperation on an equal footing, tackle pressing global challenges such as climate change, and keep deepening the EU-China comprehensive strategic partnership. The three leaders exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Von der Leyen and Macron shared the European perspective. They agreed that China did not create the Ukraine crisis, and said that they appreciate China's efforts to promote a political settlement and look forward to China playing a more important role. They also said that they are prepared to work with China to find a way to facilitate talks for peace. Xi stressed that China independently decides its position based on the merits of issues. China's position on Ukraine boils down to supporting talks for peace. China calls on the parties to be calm and rational and jointly create conditions for peace talks. Xi said the pressing priority is to bring about a ceasefire and oppose actions that further inflame or complicate the situation. The Ukraine crisis is not an issue between China and the EU. China will continue to play a positive role in facilitating peace talks. China supports EU efforts to propose approaches and plans for a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, and to build a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework, which serves the fundamental and long-term interests of the EU, Xi said. Wang Yi and Qin Gang, among others, participated in the meeting. In a separate meeting with von der Leyen after the trilateral meeting, Xi said China has always regarded the EU as a strategic force in the international landscape, and the development of China-EU relations has always been a priority in China's diplomacy. Xi said China is willing to continue the good tradition with the European side, maintain close communication, enhance strategic mutual trust, focus on mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation, jointly overcome interference and challenges, and achieve a high-level operation of China-EU relations. He said the sound development of China-EU relations cannot be separated from independence, mutual respect and mutually beneficial cooperation. China firmly adheres to the independent foreign policy of peace and respects the rights of people of all countries to choose their own development path. China and the EU should face up to differences, control differences and respect each other, Xi said, adding that it is hoped that the European Commission will focus on the fundamental and long-term interests of the EU, proceed from the overall situation of China-EU relations, and play an active role in the healthy and stable development of China-EU ties. On the Taiwan question, Xi emphasized that it is the core of China's core interests. The Chinese government and the people will never allow anyone to make a fuss about the one-China principle. Anyone who expects China to compromise on the Taiwan question could only be wishful thinking and self-defeating, Xi added. Von der Leyen reiterated that the EU has no intention to change its long-standing one-China policy, recognizes the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government representing the whole of China and hopes that the Taiwan Strait will maintain peace and stability. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a trilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) Editor: Zhang Zhou Seattle Universitys Office for Diversity and Inclusion, in partnership with the campus community, is hosting the Racial Equity Summit on April 13. The theme of this years summit, which is a biannual event, is Freedom Dreaming and will include a keynote from award-winning author Imani Perry, PhD, JD, LLM, an internationally acclaimed historian and winner of the 2022 National Book Award for nonfiction for South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation. In addition to Dr. Perrys keynote, the Racial Equity Summit will feature Freedom School sessions based on the model of the Freedom Schools created during the Civil Rights era. We are thrilled to offer this unique opportunity to engage with pressing issues of racial equity, says Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Natasha Martin, JD. Freedom Dreaming is not fantasy or daydreaming but instead it is a mindful, continuous act of empowerment and hope. I look forward to the summit as a way for all of us to connect, dialogue, support and enrich one another. The Freedom Schools of the 1960s were first developed by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) during the 1964 Freedom Summer in Mississippi. The Freedom School sessions were intended to serve as an answer to the "sharecropper education" received by many African-American students and poor whites. Freedom School curriculum was progressive and designed to empower attendees to act politically and civically on their own behalf. Freedom Schools Racial Equity Summit Freedom School sessions will be led by Seattle University faculty and staff and include a range of topics. Attendees will be able to select up to two different sessions through the course of the event. Heres a closer look at the offerings: Building Community 8 a.m. Readying for the Journey Preparation, Pigott Atrium (with live music by Zach Bruce and Band) Enjoy breakfast, coffee and live music while you take a walk through an exhibit celebrating freedom dreamers throughout U.S. history. Take advantage of this opportunity to reflect on the journeys, work and dedication of those who move with the courage and audacity to dream of a better tomorrow. 8:30 a.m.: The Journey Begins (Context) Welcome & the Power of Place, Pigott Auditorium This stop will open the door to the rest of our endeavor focusing on wholeness and reconciliation. Various community members will then provide affirmations, centering framework and invocation to mark our journey together. Nurturing Radical Inclusion through Collective Learning and Engagement 9:15 a.m.: Pause at the Mountain Top (Clarity) Keynote Address and Q&A, Pigott Auditorium Acclaimed author and historian Dr. Imani Perry joins us remotely to speak about her award-winning book, South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation. Dr. Perry will discuss important concepts, themes and insights related to the journey to racial equity. This is a rare opportunity to hear from one of the foremost scholars and a 2022 National Book Award Winner for nonfiction. 10:30 a.m.: Reimagine an Equitable Future (Reflect) Remarks by Senior Leadership, Poetry Presentation and Discussion with Dr. Imani Perry on Imagining Transformation, Pigott Auditorium Imagining Transformation 11 a.m.: Exploring Pathways to Freedom: More Knowledge is Power Freedom Schools, various classroom locations on campus. Learn something new or deepen an understanding on a range of racial equity topics. Freedom School facilitators will engage participants in a wide range of topics related to racial equity, encompassing intersectional voices and perspectives on productive activism, spirituality, media, personal accountability, creative acts and many others. 11:10 a.m.: Freedom School Session One (A New Pathway) Noon: Freedom School Session Two (A Second Pathway) Choose another topic or engage with another Freedom School session. The Freedom School track repeats so you get to choose two pathways to explore! 12:45 p.m.: RecommitConcluding this Journey, Beginning Another (Evolve) Stewarding Freedom Dreams with Remarks, Special Giveaways and a Send-Off, Pigott Auditorium Join as a community to debrief on the days lessons and experiences. Recommit to the ongoing journey toward freedomyour unique dreams and our collective ones as a university. There will also be prizes and other special giveaways! Explore the history of Freedom Schools and review a flipbook created by ODI to learn more on Freedom Dreaming. More about Keynote Speaker Dr. Imani Perry Born just nine years after the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama, Imani Perry was instilled from an early age with a strong instinct for justice and progressive change. The rich interplay between history, race, law and culture continues to inform her work as a critically acclaimed author and the Hughes-Rogers Professor of African-American Studies at Princeton University. Among many other awards and accolades, Dr. Perry is the winner of the 2022 National Book Award for Nonfiction for her most recent book, South to America: A Journey Below the Mason Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation. Dr. Perrys writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, New York Magazine and Harpers, among other publications. Learn more about the Racial Equity Summit, which is free and open to all members of the SU community. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) BEIJING, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Beijing on Thursday. President Xi welcomed President Macron's visit to China. He noted the profound historic transformation taking place in the world, and pointed out that China and France, as permanent members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, major countries with a tradition of independence, and firm advocates for a multi-polar world and for greater democracy in international relations, have the ability and responsibility to rise above differences and obstacles, keep to the overall direction of a comprehensive strategic partnership that is stable, mutually beneficial, enterprising and dynamic, and practice true multilateralism for global peace, stability and prosperity. Xi spoke favorably of the momentum of positive and steady growth in the China-France relationship. He stressed that stability, a defining feature and valued asset of this relationship, should be cherished by both sides. The two sides need to make good use of their all-round, high-level communication channels, maintain close communication between the two presidents, and hold a new round of meetings this year for the three high-level dialogue mechanisms, namely the strategic dialogue, the economic and financial dialogue, and the dialogue on people-to-people exchanges. He said the two sides should respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, respect each other's core interests, and properly handle and manage differences. They need to stay committed to mutual benefit and common development. "China's pursuit of high-quality development and high-standard opening up will bring France even broader market opportunities," Xi said, adding that China will work with France to deepen cooperation in such fields as agrifood, space, aviation, and civil nuclear energy, foster new cooperation areas including trade in services, green development, and innovation in science and technology, and support the joint development of a carbon neutrality center and joint cultivation of talents. Xi said China welcomes France as the guest country of honor at the China International Fair for Trade in Services 2024 and the seventh China International Import Expo. China hopes that France will provide Chinese businesses with a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment. Taking the opportunities brought by the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, and the Paris Olympics next year, China will step up cooperation with France in relevant fields, he added. Xi stressed China's readiness to continue to act in the spirit of openness and work with France to maintain close communication and coordination in multilateral mechanisms such as the UN, the G20 and the WTO, practice true multilateralism, and counter global challenges like climate change and energy issues. China supports France in hosting the UN Ocean Conference 2025, and welcomes France's participation in the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. He stressed that China and Europe are two major forces, big markets, and great civilizations in the world, saying that China-Europe relations bear on the wellbeing of both sides and the stability and prosperity of the world at large. China will keep its Europe policy stable in the long run, continue to see Europe as an independent force in a multi-polar world, and stay committed to a China-Europe relationship that is not targeted at, subjugated to, or controlled by any third party. "China will work with the EU and take this year's 20th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership as an opportunity to resume exchanges and dialogues on all fronts, reinforce friendship and cooperation as the keynote of China-EU relations, explore a supply chain partnership featuring stability and mutual trust, and deliver benefits to both sides," Xi said, expressing the hope that France will play an active, leading role in this regard. President Macron recalled his last visit to China more than three years ago and expressed his delight at visiting China again to explore with President Xi ways to further elevate the France-China comprehensive strategic partnership. He fully agreed with President Xi's positive assessment of France-China relations and important suggestions on growing the bilateral ties. Next year, France and China will celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties. Over the past six decades, France-China relations have maintained steady and sound growth. Despite their different development models, the two countries have respected each other, communicated with candor, and achieved mutual benefits in their wide-ranging cooperation. Meanwhile, the two sides have made important progress in jointly meeting global challenges facing the world. France respects and follows the one-China policy. Macron pointed out that he is taking a large delegation to China to seek closer cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. France congratulates China on the success of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and wants to continue close communication and cooperation with China on issues like climate change and food security, Macron said. He said France is ready to work with China on the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation that China will host. France commends China for its abiding commitment to the purposes of the UN Charter and its positive role in addressing regional and international hotspot issues, and looks forward to closer communication and coordination with China for durable peace and stability in the world. "France is committed to an independent foreign policy and to the strategic autonomy of Europe, and opposed to stoking confrontation, division and bloc rivalry," Macron said, adding that France will not pick sides. Instead, France calls for unity and cooperation to keep relations stable between major countries. He said that France will maintain candid and in-depth communication with China to increase mutual trust, seek common ground while reserving differences, and pursue open cooperation. France will actively contribute to the growth of EU-China relations. The two presidents also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. President Xi emphasized that China's position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear. It is essentially about facilitating peace talks and political settlement. There is no panacea for defusing the crisis. Xi said it requires all parties to do their share and create conditions for ceasefire and peace talks through a buildup of trust. China supports Europe in playing its role in the political settlement of the crisis. He said China stands ready to issue a joint call with France for the international community to stay rational, exercise restraint, and avoid taking actions that might cause the crisis to further deteriorate or even spiral out of control; to strictly abide by international humanitarian law, avoid attacking civilians or civilian facilities, and protect women, children and other victims of the conflict; to earnestly honor the pledge that nuclear weapons must not be used and nuclear wars must not be fought, oppose the use of biological weapons under any circumstances, and oppose armed attacks against nuclear power plants or other civilian nuclear facilities; to resume peace talks as soon as possible, observe the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, accommodate the legitimate security concerns of all parties, seek political settlement, and foster a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture; and to jointly address the spillover effects of the Ukraine crisis in food, energy, finance, transportation and other fields, and reduce the negative impact of the Ukraine crisis on the world, especially on developing countries. China is ready to stay in touch with France and play a constructive role in the political settlement of the crisis, Xi said. Macron shared France's view on the issue, and commended China's important role in the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. France calls for the resumption of political negotiations and a settlement of the crisis through diplomatic means to achieve lasting peace in Europe. France hopes to increase communication and make joint efforts with China toward peace. At the end of their talks, the two presidents witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents covering agrifood, science and technology, aviation, civil nuclear energy, sustainable development, and culture. The two presidents also jointly met the Chinese and foreign press. Prior to the talks, President Xi held a welcoming ceremony for President Macron at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People. Upon President Macron's arrival, honor guards lined up in salutation. The two presidents stepped onto a reviewing stand, and the military band played the national anthems of the two countries. A 21-gun salute was fired from Tiananmen Square. Accompanied by President Xi, President Macron then reviewed the guard of honor of the People's Liberation Army and watched the march-past. Wang Yi and Qin Gang were present at the events. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron jointly meet the Chinese and foreign press after their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. Xi held talks with Macron in Beijing on Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for French President Emmanuel Macron at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. Xi held talks with Macron in Beijing on Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for French President Emmanuel Macron at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. Xi held talks with Macron in Beijing on Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for French President Emmanuel Macron at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. Xi held talks with Macron in Beijing on Thursday. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) Editor: Zhang Zhou Filmmaker Cynthia Martinez poses with Nayeli Mora, who stars in Martinez' documentary "First Voice Generation." Filming of the documentary film, "First Voice Generation." "First Voice Generation" promotional poster The crew of the documentary film "First Voice Generation" https://firstvoicegeneration.wixsite.com/firstvoicegeneration https://capitalcityfilmfest.com/ Cynthia Martinez speaks at a screening of her documentarty "First Voice Generation." https://bgch.org/support-us/ For filmmaker Cynthia Martinez, access to college is an issue that hits close to home. It was during high school that she realized there could be more to life than the cycle of generational poverty she had experienced.I would see college flags hanging inside the homes of my white affluent friends. I would sit at the dinner table where parents were having conversations with their kids about college. That was not happening in my home. It was all about survival.Education became Martinezs way out of generational poverty. She sought out her high school guidance counselor and completed the application to be enrolled in TRIO Upward Bound, a federally funded program that helps level the playing field and creates access to higher education for first-generation college students. Hope College has one of the longest-running TRIO Upward Bound programs in the country, and that is the program Martinez participated in.The memories of those summers on Hope Colleges campus made me think, Wow! If this is what college is like sign me up! Yes, I can go to college. I can do this.In fact, Martinez did just that. She attended Western Michigan University and went on to attend Columbia Universitys Graduate School of Journalism. It was there she became exposed to the wide world of filmmaking that, years later, she would explore for herself.During the COVID-19 pandemic, Martinez found out that TRIO Upward Bound students were facing challenges she never had to face. As she dove deeper into these challenges, she realized there was a story that needed to be told.It was a totally new experience. I do know how to tell stories, but I never dreamed of making a film. I just knew I had a passion for bringing a light to issues people may not be aware of. I decided to just start, and I knew I would figure it out.Martinezs documentary, First Voice Generation, follows three first-generation college students experiencing the ups and downs of the global pandemic as they make their way through the TRIO Upward Bound program.The films impact has been made visible by winning the jury award for Best Independent Feature Documentary at the Central Michigan International Film Festival this past February.So whats next for Martinez and this film?Im hopeful we can continue being accepted into more film festivals. My biggest dream is for this film to be screened at the White House. As a federally funded program (TRIO Upward Bound), getting this film screened in front of lawmakers could help with continued funding.Martinez also hopes to get the film in front of distributors, as any money made from the film will go to create scholarship funding for students like those highlighted in the documentary. She also hopes to raise funds to bring the featured students to film festivals, colleges, and universities to participate in Q&As.Martinez says reactions to her film have been quite positive. Ive heard people say were providing an authentic depiction of the experience of first-generation Latino college students, and that this film inspires and relates to people on many levels.To learn more about the documentary, which is set to screen next at the Capital City Film Festival in Lansing at noon on April 15, visit links:Instagram @firstvoicegenerationFacebook First Voice Generation Inspired to donate? Visit the link below. The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holland serves as the fiduciary for the film. To donate, go to the website and please be sure to note that the proceeds are to benefit First Voice Gen Film. UPDATE: Police arrest man for allegedly beating ex-S.F. fire commissioner in the Marina A former San Francisco fire commissioner was brutally attacked with a metal object in the Marina on Wednesday evening, sending him to the hospital, according to Joe Alioto Veronese, a prominent lawyer and former candidate for district attorney. Alioto Veronese said his friend Don Carmignani was leaving his mothers house on Magnolia Street between Buchanan and Laguna streets in the Marina District when he was approached by three men Carmignani said were homeless and lived in the neighborhood. Read more: Man accused of assaulting ex-S.F. fire commissioner to make first court appearance They hit him with a metal pole to the head, Alioto Veronese, who did not witness the attack, said in an interview Thursday evening, citing Carmignanis account. He is a big guy. They slashed his face with a knife and continued to hit him with a pole. Carmignani remained in surgery at San Francisco General Hospital to repair his fractured skull Thursday evening, Alioto Veronese said. The former fire commissioner had also suffered a broken jaw and knife wounds to his face after the attack, he added. On Friday, Carmignani's father, Ray Carmignani, told The Chronicle that his 53-year-old son had 51 stitches, a fractured skull and a broken jaw after he was attacked. The assault occurred a day after a prominent tech executive, Bob Lee, was fatally stabbed in Rincon Hill, another affluent neighborhood in the city. Lees slaying prompted widespread outrage from public officials and the tech community. FBI data shows violent crime in San Francisco is lower compared with most other large U.S. cities, but residents are increasingly expressing concerns about safety. Representatives for the San Francisco police department did not respond Thursday to questions about the nature of the attack or whether arrests had been made, but police records said a man was allegedly struck with a metal object at that location Wednesday. The alleged aggravated assault occurred around 5:20 p.m. and left one victim with non-life-threatening injuries, police records showed. Police announced Friday that they had arrested a man for the alleged beating. Alioto Veronese, who is also a former fire commissioner, said he believes the assault may have been retribution for a phone call Carmignani made to police Tuesday requesting that officers remove three men loitering in front of his mothers house. Supervisor Catherine Stefani, who represents the Marina, also believes the call to police may have prompted the attack. In remarks at a public hearing Thursday, Stefani said the victims mother had called him to her house for help because there were homeless people outside that wouldnt leave, had their garbage, were doing drugs. Stefani, who called the victim a friend, linked the incident to San Franciscos police officer shortage. Understaffing at police precincts across the city has been a perennial problem, with the department spending millions on overtime to fill openings as the city has struggled to hire and train enough officers. I hope we havent got to the level in this city where thats acceptable and we cant do anything about it, Stefani said. Stefani tried to dispel any notion that she was fear mongering because this is whats really happening, she told her colleagues on the Board of Supervisors government audit and oversight committee, which voted to advance a new contract with the city police union. Ive been here 21 years. This didnt use to happen, she said. I believe it is a direct result of the fact that we do not have enough officers on our street. Alioto Veronese said the incident had shaken him, especially given his friends large stature. When its not safe in the Marina, its not safe anywhere. Nobody is safe in this city, he said. Aerial photo taken on Sept. 17, 2020 shows the Houhai area in Nanshan District of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) Despite the ongoing global recession resulting from pandemic challenges and conflicts, China has emerged as the only economy in the world with positive growth in 2020, achieved hard-won feats in economic growth in 2021 and 2022, and is projected to rebound with a GDP growth rate of around 5% this year. This illustrates the resilience and strength of the Chinese economy and the effectiveness of Chinese President Xi Jinping's leadership in navigating the country through difficult times. The Chinese government not only took measures to minimize the impacts of the pandemic on business operations and supply chains but also enabled post-pandemic trade. The strong economic performance also indicates China's commitment to peace and development, as a stable and growing economy is a crucial component of both these ideals. Vehicles under production are transferred through the office area at the Tiexi Plant of BMW Brilliance Automotive (BBA) in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Feb. 16, 2022. (Xinhua/Yang Qing) With all the positivism on the economic and pandemic front, China becomes increasingly attractive to overseas tourists and investments. The optimization of epidemic prevention and control measures in China was met with excitement from the global community. Many people planned to visit China. According to data from Ctrip, a Chinese travel platform, there was a tenfold increase in destination searches in the first half hour following the announcement of relaxed international travel rules. Chinese global partners also throw their weight behind China to explore wider opportunities in China's vast market. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce statistics reveal that foreign direct investment in the Chinese mainland expanded 6.3 percent year on year to 1.23 trillion yuan in 2022. The amount of China's FDI in the first 11 months of the year had already surpassed the total of 2021. Goldman Sachs reflects optimism for China in its global market study. The American Chamber of Commerce in South China also expresses confidence in the Chinese market, reporting 75% of American companies are willing to reinvest in China. The ultimate way forward for China and the world is to work together. As President Xi noted in his 2023 New Year Address, today's China is a country closely linked with the world. The optimization of supply chains within China is likely to revitalize the global trade trajectory, which highlights China's role as a pioneer in economic recovery and a key player in the global economy. China does not rely on a pattern of projected growth and development; instead, it believes in an open economy, thus, is willing to extend its cooperation to the world. Development and growth are the inalienable right of any country which cannot be wiped away. Shared development is the only way forward toward the shared future and destiny of mankind. There exists no doubt about the Chinese development agenda and intentions behind economic growth. China has made tireless efforts to create a favorable environment, enabling each state actor to secure its economic interests. Thus, the international community should rely on better judgment to side with transparency and accountability and reject the invisible but prevalent forces of protectionism, competition, and confrontation. Contributed by Muhammad Asif Noor, Director of the Centre for BRI and China Studies Editor: WXL UPDATE: Man accused of assaulting ex-S.F. fire commissioner to make first court appearance this week A former San Francisco fire commissioner bludgeoned in San Franciscos Marina district on Wednesday needed emergency skull surgery and 51 stitches, according to his father. As 53-year-old Don Carmignani lay in a hospital bed on Friday morning, a suspected assailant sat in a San Francisco County jail cell, awaiting his first court hearing in the afternoon. Police arrested Garret Doty, 24, on charges of assault with a deadly weapon and battery causing serious bodily injury after the attack that stunned residents and drew outcry from local politicians. The assault occurred on Magnolia Street near Laguna Street at 7:20 p.m. on Wednesday, just as Carmignani left his house, which is next door to his parents' house. Police found the victim, later identified by friends as Carmignani, had been attacked with a metal pipe. Medics transported the victim to San Francisco General Hospital with serious injuries, police said. He was expected to live, though his father, Ray Carmignani, anticipates a weeks-long hospital stay. Officers broadcast a radio description of the suspect before arresting Doty at Laguna and Lombard streets shortly thereafter. Friends of Carmignani told The Chronicle that three men attacked him outside his mothers home on Magnolia Street, and that he suffered a fractured skull and fractured jaw, along with knife cuts on his face. Joseph Alioto Veronese said Carmignani, a friend, was fighting for his life. In an interview with The Chronicle outside of Carmignanis house on Friday afternoon, Alioto Veronese said that he had just returned from visiting Carmignani in the hospital. He said the victim, though conscious and disoriented, had recognized his visitors and was able to share a little about his attack. Hes very mad actually, said Alioto Veronese. The words he said to me were, Joe, they got me. It really pulls on my core to hear him say that because if they can get Don, a big, alert guy, this could happen to anyone. A witness who requested that The Chronicle not use his name out of fear of retaliation said he was eating dinner in his apartment on Lombard Street when he heard a commotion outside, looked out his window and saw a bloodied man running away, screaming for help as a man holding a metal object chased him. The victims face was covered in blood and his shirt was blood-stained, said the witness, who added that he and his roommates called 911. Someone yelled out a window for the suspect to stop beating the victim and the suspect stopped chasing him and walked away. The victim staggered along Lombard, turned the corner onto Buchanan and disappeared from view, the witness said. The elder Carmignani was so shaken after seeing his son admitted to the hospital that he began feeling dizzy and said his blood pressure dipped to dangerously low levels. In an emotional interview behind the gate of his home, Ray Carmignani, 78, said he sought treatment at San Francisco General and was released back home around 10 p.m. Thursday. Shortly before going into surgery, Don Carmignani told his parents that two people had crossed the street after seeing him leave his parents' house on Wednesday, and that they began striking him with a metal pipe and slashing his face with a knife, according to Ray Carmignani. Veronese had previously said three men had perpetrated the attack, and that they were homeless and lived in the neighborhood. Ray Carmignani said he is fed up with the city where he was born and raised. Weve leaving, he said. Enough is enough. Well go to Nevada, well go to Arizona, well go somewhere but Im not staying here. I cant worry about walking out my door and getting attacked. A father of two, Don Carmignani had recently begun a career in real estate and was buying and selling properties downtown, his father said. Supervisor Catherine Stefani, whose district includes the Marina, issued a statement Friday expressing outrage over the attack and blaming it on inadequate police staffing. Stefani pushed for a $25 million supplemental allotment the Board of Supervisors recently approved for additional police overtime and has advocated hiring more officers. We cannot tolerate this type of criminal activity, she said. Not in the Marina. Not anywhere. Everyone has the right to feel safe in San Francisco and that means the city has to stop playing politics with public safety. One person was fatally shot and two others including a California Highway Patrol officer were wounded after a man took hostages Thursday afternoon in Roseville (Placer County) while authorities attempted to serve him a warrant, according to Roseville police. The shooting happened just after 12:30 p.m. near the area of Pleasant Grove Boulevard near Mahany Park, according to police Capt. Kelby Newton. Last fall, I was having breakfast in downtown Salinas when I overheard a waitress complaining about the air quality. The odor and light smoke drifting through town was coming from a prescribed fire or controlled burn that Cal Fire was conducting nearby. And, though the smell might be mildly annoying for a short period, the benefits of fighting fire with fire are tremendous. Prescribed fires are intentionally set fires under controlled conditions to thin, reduce or eliminate ground fuel so that when an uncontrolled fire burns through that area, it will have much less of an impact. Prescribed fires remain one of the best wildfire prevention strategies in the states toolbox and a beneficial use of fire. California faces major wildfire risks year-round. There is no longer a fire season. Scientists recognize that much of Californias high fire potential comes from a landscape of fuel that has gone untreated for many years. Naturally occurring fires that once burned millions of acres each year in California are now regularly extinguished rather than allowed to burn and reduce future high-fuel loads. Though aggressively extinguishing fires that pose a risk to the population is necessary, many areas of California are ripe for prescribed burns to manage vegetation and prevent wildfires. Prescribed fires have a long history of controversy. Like the Salinas waitress, many local air quality management districts have concerns. However, the amount of smoke generated from a small, controlled burn under planned weather conditions is minor when compared to the amount released from a large uncontrolled wildfire. Cal Fire works closely with air quality management districts on the timing and location of prescribed burns to minimize the health effects. The is some risk of fires escaping the perimeter of a prescribed burn and becoming a threat to neighboring populations. This liability often poses a barrier to more aggressive use of beneficial fire. However, with the proper planning, adequate resources, proper operational implementation and the right weather conditions, those risks can be substantially minimized. The heavy rainfall this year will result in more vegetation growth than in drought years and will increase the wildfire risk during the late summer and fall when it dries out. Summer high temperatures and low humidity along with Santa Ana winds in the south and Diablo winds in the north will dry the new growth quickly and contribute to high-risk conditions. Prescribed burns are most effective in late spring and late fall when the fuel is dry enough to burn and the winds do not create conditions for the rapid spread of fire or for smoke to drift into unplanned areas. The peak fire season (high temperatures, low humidity, high winds) varies throughout the state and is not an appropriate time for prescribed fires. The same guidelines should be considered by property owners using machinery for vegetation management. Mowers striking rocks during peak fire conditions can contribute to unintended ignitions. While recognizing there are some risks, prescribed burns will improve the health and resilience of our forests and wildland-urban interface. They reduce the spread of invasive species, consume dead and dying vegetation, and reduce the likelihood of dangerous, more intensive wildfires that can threaten populated areas. Prescribed fires are also used to conduct important research. San Jose State Universitys Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center recently conducted a study of fire behavior from a prescriptive burn in Salinas Canyon. This research is studying the impacts of weather and fuel loading on the characteristics of a wildfire moving through the canyon. A company called Hexion also successfully conducted a study of its products ability to protect power poles from wildfire. Hexion-wrapped power poles at the Salinas Canyon burn withstood temperatures above 1,700 degrees without sustaining any damage. This would have been a game changer for Paradise (Butte County) and other California wildfires where fallen power poles blocked evacuation routes and firefighting efforts. PG&E has begun utilizing this new technology and has already deployed nearly 100,000 protected poles in California. Other public and private utility companies need to follow suit. In March 2022, the California Wildfire & Forest Resilience Task Force published a plan that highlighted how prescribed burns can be an effective part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce the impacts of wildfires, which caused over $12 billion in damage and killed 33 people in California in 2020 alone. The plan establishes acreage targets for state and federal agencies, as well as Native American tribes and non-governmental partners. Agencies will seek to deploy beneficial fire on 400,000 acres annually by 2025. Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature recently passed important legislation and budgeted more resources toward beneficial fire activities. Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service need the continued support of state and federal officials with the resources and staffing to actively manage Californias forests and wildlands. More aggressive use of beneficial fire is required if the state is to make any progress in reducing the states wildfire risk. Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price and San Francisco D.A. Brooke Jenkins come from different sides of the street politically, but they have at least one practice in common using a state law to disqualify a local judge from hearing any of their cases. The law, passed in 1957, allows each side in a civil or criminal case to remove the assigned judge by declaring, in advance, that the judge would be prejudiced against them, without having to provide evidence of any such bias. Each party is allowed one such challenge in a case, and the judge is required to step aside. Price, a civil rights lawyer, was elected in November on a platform of reducing harsh criminal penalties and ending death-penalty prosecutions. She moved recently to disqualify Superior Court Judge Mark McCannon, who rejected a plea agreement she had reached for a 15-year sentence for Delonzo Logwood, charged with three murders in Oakland at age 18. Logwoods attorney also sought to remove McCannon, but the judge refused to step down on Wednesday, a decision he was authorized to make because the case was already underway when both motions were filed. Price then said, however, she would use the 1957 law to disqualify McCannon from all future cases involving her office, asserting that he would not conduct a fair and impartial trial. The law does not require her to cite any supporting evidence, and she offered none. Similarly, Jenkins, appointed by Mayor London Breed in 2021 to succeed recalled San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin and retained by the voters in November on a tough-on-crime platform, provided no evidence in October when she began removing Judge J. Anthony Kline from all juvenile court cases. Kline had spent 40 years on the state appeals court in San Francisco, retired in 2021 but then began a scheduled one-year stint on the San Francisco juvenile court. He has a generally liberal record, but Jenkins did not cite any of his rulings in her assertion that he would be prejudiced against her office. Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen relied on the same law to remove Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky from a sexual assault case in 2016, shortly after Persky had sentenced former Stanford athlete Brock Turner to six months in jail for sexually assaulting and attempting to rape an unconscious woman. Rosen said he opposed recalling Persky from office a recall approved by county voters in June 2018 but did not believe the judge would be impartial in the upcoming trial. Prices predecessor in Alameda County, Nancy OMalley, also invoked the state law last July to disqualify another judge, Amy Sekany, based on her rulings in a child-molestation case, but withdrew her challenge after discussions with the court. The prosecutors actions may have been foreshadowed by the state Supreme Court when it upheld the judge-removal law in 1977. In a 5-1 ruling, Justice Stanley Mosk said the 1957 statute may be used for judge-shopping but that the Legislature had acted within its powers to give both sides an extraordinary right to disqualify a judge in any newly filed case. In dissent, Justice Mathew Tobriner said the use of blanket challenges because of a judges philosophy or past rulings seriously undermines the principle of judicial independence. District attorneys have used the law over the years to sideline judges they consider too pro-defense, David Sklansky, a Stanford law professor, former federal prosecutor and co-director of the law schools Criminal Justice Center, said Thursday. It has the effect of allowing prosecutors to essentially remove a judge from criminal court, by making it impossible for the judge to hear criminal cases, Sklansky said. Robert Weisberg, another Stanford law professor and co-director of the Criminal Justice Center, said prosecutors and other lawyers should generally refrain from blanket challenges to judges and instead should use the law when there is evidence that a judge cannot be fair in a particular case. I think its a bad idea when done wholesale, Weisberg said. I think it should be limited to cases where bias or the appearance of bias might have some case-specific factual basis. But a wholesale challenge might be justified, he said, where a judge has made general pronouncements about a legal issue that display a one-sided approach. A once-famous Lake Tahoe casino resort that has sat defunct for the past decade by the shores of Crystal Bay has a new owner that hopes to revitalize the property. On Thursday, Denver real estate firm McWhinney announced that it has purchased the site of the old Cal Neva Resort and Casino with the aim of building a boutique luxury hotel. Our vision is to reimagine and revitalize this iconic resort with deep historic roots into an exceptional experience for guests and the local community to enjoy for years to come, said Chad McWhinney, co-founder, chairman and CEO at McWhinney in a press release. Named for its location straddling the California-Nevada border in North Tahoe, Cal Neva was built in 1926. It is remembered today for being owned during a few years of its heyday by Frank Sinatra and frequented by the Rat Pack as well as mafiosos in the 1960s. Dwindling gaming revenue caused the casino at Cal Neva to shut down in 2009. The resort, with its rustic A-frame entrance facade, closed in 2013 and has come to represent a decaying connection to Tahoes past as a premier gambling destination. In 2018, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison bought the 13-acre property out of bankruptcy for $35.8 million. However, his intentions for the site were never made public. McWhinney aims to develop the site in the vein of its Proper-branded hotels, a chain with locations in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Austin, Texas. The company did not disclose the purchase price of the Tahoe property and said the project is in its "initial visioning and design." The lead investor on the project is billionaire entrepreneur Hayes Barnard, a former Oracle executive who, according to McWhinney, owns a home in Crystal Bay near the Cal Neva site. Our family has created lasting memories at Lake Tahoe for over 20 years and we are excited to play a meaningful role in restoring the Cal Neva Resort, Barnard said in the McWhinney release. Watch out for mines. How long will it take to make Ukraine safe again? Serhiy Magera, member of the Parliament of Ukraine, member of the Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management Ukraine is the world's most mined country. According to Sky News, due to the full-scale invasion of Russia, up to 40% of the territory of our state is currently mined. Its like the territory of Romania or Great Britain. 250 thousand square kilometers of the territory of Ukraine are dangerous not only for Ukrainians, but also for Europe and the world in general. The main explosive regions are Donetsk, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv and Kherson regions. Eastern Ukraine is one of the most polluted regions in the world. What do these numbers hide? How much money and time will be needed to overcome this danger? At the end of 2022, a man and his seven-year-old son were blown up by a landmine in Kharkiv region. Another story: in the summer on the coast of the Black Sea near Odessa, a man was blown up by a mine. He died there. In March 2023, three men were killed by a landmine near Snigurivka, which was freed from occupation, in the Mykolayiv region. Unfortunately, there are many such stories. According to the Mines Advisory Group, from February 24, 2022 to January 10, 2023, at least 611 civilians were injured by mines in Ukraine. At that time, for example, in the first six years of the war, there were 1190 such cases. According to representatives of the State Emergency Service, since the beginning of the war, sappers have defused more than 320,000 explosive objects. Now the territory of Ukraine is full of explosive devices, which are prohibited for use in the civilized world. I emphasize: in the civilized world. Russia does not belong to it. One of the most dangerous for the population is the so-called jumping fragmentation mine with a seismic proximity sensor. Its able to kill even when no one has approached it yet. It jumps up from the ground to a height of one meter. Such mines are able to scatter fragments with a diameter of at least 16 meters. According to the Ottawa Convention, the use of these mines has been prohibited since 1997. Ukraine signed this convention like 164 other countries. But not Russia. In early April, the government commissioned the creation of the State Center for Humanitarian Demining, which will participate in the planning of mine action activities. But clearing territories from mines is a very expensive. According to the Prime Minister Denys Shmygal, Ukraine needs about 37 billion dollars for this matter. It is necessary to find a dangerous device and neutralize it. It is necessary to clean the ground. Especially the fields that are directly involved in sowing operations. However, now a large amount of fertile Ukrainian land is unsuitable for cultivation at all. Although crops from these lands could feed more than 80 million people worldwide. It is good that humanitarian demining for farmers is carried out free of charge - it is financed by foreign donors. But sappers are not enough for everyone. According to preliminary estimates, about 470,000 hectares of agricultural land in nine regions of Ukraine need to be surveyed and demined. It is currently impossible to calculate the economic losses due to mine contamination of these areas. But the worst thing is the death of Ukrainian civilians who, returning to their hometowns, may come across landmines. How many years will it take to make Ukraine safe to live in? According to experts, at least 10 years. And if we look at the experience of other countries, such as Kosovo and Georgia, the process can be delayed. The war in Kosovo lasted throughout 1998-1999, but the demining of the territories is only now being completed. In Georgia, for example, the hostilities of 2008 didnt last as long, but demining also took 10 years. Only in 2018, the organization Halo Trust declared Georgia a "mine-free country". However, dangerous finds still occur in the country - 3-4 mines or other munitions during the year. And the war in Ukraine has not yet ended. That is why we are appealing to all possible partners and donors to help us in demining our territories today. Because every day of waiting is equivalent to the loss of innocent lives of our fellow citizens. MADISON, Wis. (AP) A federal judge in Wisconsin sentenced a Minnesota man on Friday to two years in prison for aiming a laser at a Delta Air Lines jet in 2021, an act that prosecutors said disrupted the pilots' efforts to land and putting passengers in incredible danger. James Link, 43, of Rochester, Minnesota, pleaded guilty in January. Laser strikes on planes and helicopters hit a record in the U.S. in 2021. Pilots reported 9,723 incidents, a 41% jump over the year before, according to Federal Aviation Administration figures. The FAA said it handed out $120,000 in fines in 2021. Violators like Link can also face up to five years in prison. According to the U.S. attorneys office in Madison, the pilots of the Delta flight from Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, to Minneapolis on Oct. 29, 2021, reported that their cockpit was lit up three times by a bright blue laser while they were at an altitude of 9,000 feet (2,700 meters) just west of River Falls, Wisconsin. At the time, air traffic control had just instructed them to change runways, which required them to plot a new course to the Minneapolis airport. The laser strikes caused a major distraction in the cockpit as they were not able to look at their iPads to brief the new approach, prosecutors said in a statement. The pilots were eventually able to chart the new path and land safely, the statement said. The first officer did not suffer any disruption to his vision, but the captain said that vision in his right eye was affected for several hours after this event, prosecutors said. Air traffic control called a Minnesota State Patrol aircraft, which flew to River Falls. The State Patrol aircraft was also struck by a blue laser. The pilots spotted the suspect and worked with River Falls police, who found Link with a blue laser on his person. At sentencing, U.S. District Judge William Conley remarked on Links extensive criminal record, which included numerous domestic assaults. He also said the behavior was similar to a 2017 arrest when Link shined a flashlight in the eyes of the arresting officer. Judge Conley called aiming a laser at an aircraft incredibly dangerous and reckless, and in this case forced the Delta pilots to focus on their temporary blindness which put everyone on the aircraft in incredible danger, the statement said. S&P Global Ratings lowered the long-term foreign currency rating on Ukraine to 'CCC' from 'CCC+', the outlook on the foreign-currency rating is negative and that on the local-currency rating is stable, the agency said on its website. "The rating action follows Ukraine's official announcement that it will restructure its foreign currency external debt to restore public debt sustainability, as part of the recently agreed, four-year, $15.6 billon Extended Fund Facility arrangement with the IMF," it said. "The negative outlook on the FC long-term rating reflects risks to Ukraine's commercial debt service, given the government's debt restructuring plan," the report reads. "At the same time, we affirmed our 'C' short-term foreign currency, 'CCC+/C' local currency, and 'uaBB' national scale ratings on the sovereign. We understand Ukraine's hryvnia-denominated government debt is not in scope for the debt restructuring plan. The outlook on the local-currency rating is stable," the experts said. "We could lower the FC ratings in the next 12 months if, for instance, we consider it a virtual certainty that commercial debt obligations will be included in the government's debt restructuring. We understand that the parameters and timing of the restructuring have yet to be decided and are contingent on the IMF's assessment of public debt sustainability, which is expected to be updated in early 2024," according to the document. "Official creditors, including the U.S., U.K., Canada, France, Germany, and Japan (the Group of creditors of Ukraine [CGU]), have agreed to an extension of the deferral of external debt payments until the end of the IMF program in 2027, from the previously agreed period of August 2022 until September 2024. The CGU also agreed to an additional debt restructuring, which we expect to take place by midyear 2024. This agreement is subject to private external creditors delivering a debt restructuring at least as favorable. However, the potential restructuring will take place more than one year from now and the development of the war in Ukraine remains uncertain. To that end, visibility on the exact scenario for commercial creditors will increase only next year," the report says. "That said, bilateral debt represents a small 5% of total government debt. Given our understanding that multilateral and domestic government debt (both in LC and FC) are excluded from the debt restructuring plans, there is, in our view, a relatively high probability that a meaningful debt relief exercise will include Ukraine's commercial external debt outstanding. The latter represents about 20% of total government debt, with another 40% constituting domestic-law bonds (both in LC and FC) and 35% from international financial institutions," S&P stated. "If the commercial debt restructuring takes place in 2024, in light of protracted balance-of-payments and fiscal challenges, we would likely view it as distressed," it said. "In our view, the government's ability and medium-term incentives to meet its financial commitments in LC are somewhat higher than those in FC. Hryvnia-denominated debt is primarily held by domestic banks, half of which are state-owned," it said. "Ukraine's medium-term macroeconomic outlook depends heavily on the duration and evolution of the war. Our base-case assumption is that there will not be a near-term end to hostilities," the experts said. Ahead of a raucous student party weekend in Santa Barbara, officials are closing beaches as a precautionary measure, the Central Coast city announced Thursday. Isla Vista beaches will be closed from Friday to Sunday during Deltopia weekend. The closure comes after beaches in Isla Vista were left with trash and debris, including human waste, in 2009, the Santa Barbara County Community Services Department said. The closure is intended to protect public health and safety and protect the beach from excessive waste and litter. The large-scale event has resulted in a handful of medical emergencies and other hazards in previous years. Last year, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department responded to about three dozen calls during the event, many of which were due to drugs, alcohol and trauma from falling, ABC7 reported. Many social media posts over several years show large crowds of students standing on balconies, partying and walking on the street. Partygoers will be required to follow a city ordinance issued by the Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Office. The ordinance prohibits outdoor music festival activities in the areas bounded by El Colegio Road, Camino Majorca to Storke Road, Ocean Road to Stadium Road and the Pacific Ocean in the area of Isla Vista from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. Friday through Sunday, the office said. The sheriffs office also added that open alcohol containers in public streets and areas will be prohibited. For minor violations, the office will offer a restorative justice program, which will require participants to take a two-hour safety class and work an hour of community service to waive a fine and avoid a citation on their criminal record. Officials will use traffic barricades to block off streets with large numbers of pedestrians and create boundaries where only residents are allowed to enter. In previous years, UC Santa Barbara has offered resources for students attending the event, including health and safety information, workshops and alternative events, according to its website. The university did not not immediately respond to SFGATEs request for comment. North Dakota lawmakers have appointed an Ojibwe woman as the states poet laureate, making her the first Native American to hold this position in the state and increasing attention to her expertise on the troubled history of Native American boarding schools. Denise Lajimodiere, a citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band in Belcourt, has written several award-winning books of poetry. She's considered a national expert on the history of Native American boarding schools and wrote an academic book called Stringing Rosaries in 2019 on the atrocities experienced by boarding school survivors. I'm honored and humbled to represent my tribe. They are and always will be my inspiration," Lajimodiere said in an interview, following a bipartisan confirmation of her two-year term as poet laureate on Wednesday. Poet laureates represent the state in inaugural speeches, commencements, poetry readings and educational events, said Kim Konikow, executive director of the North Dakota Council on the Arts. Lajimodiere, an educator who earned her doctorate degree from the University of North Dakota, said she plans to leverage her role as poet laureate to hold workshops with Native students around the state. She wants to develop a new book that focuses on them. Lajimodieres appointment is impactful and inspirational because representation counts at all levels, said Nicole Donaghy, executive director of the advocacy group North Dakota Native Vote and a Hunkpapa Lakota from the Standing Rock Nation. The more Native Americans can see themselves in positions of honor, the better it is for our communities, Donaghy said. Ive grown up knowing how amazing she is, said Rep. Jayme Davis, a Democrat of Rolette, who is from the same Turtle Mountain Band as Lajimodiere. In my mind, theres nobody more deserving. By spotlighting personal accounts of what boarding school survivors experienced, Lajimodiere's book Stringing Rosaries sparked discussions on how to address injustices Native people have experienced, Davis said. From the 18th century and continuing as late as the 1960s, networks of boarding schools institutionalized the legal kidnapping, abuse, and forced cultural assimilation of Indigenous children in North America. Much of Lajimodiere's work grapples with trauma as it was felt by Native people in the region. Sap seeps down a fir trees trunk like bitter tears.... I brace against the tree and weep for the children, for the parents left behind, for my father who lived, for those who didnt," Lajimodiere wrote in a poem based on interviews with boarding school victims, published in her 2016 book Bitter Tears. Davis, the legislator, said Lajimodieres writing informs ongoing work to grapple with the past like returning ancestral remains including boarding school victims and protecting tribal cultures going forward by codifying the federal Indian Child Welfare Act into state law. The law, enacted in 1978, gives tribes power in foster care and adoption proceedings involving Native children. North Dakota and several other states have considered codifying it this year, as the U.S. Supreme Court considers a challenge to the federal law. The U.S. Department of the Interior released a report last year that identified more than 400 Native American boarding schools that sought to assimilate Native children into white society. The federal study found that more than 500 students died at the boarding schools, but officials expect that figure to grow exponentially as research continues. ___ Trisha Ahmed is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Trisha Ahmed on Twitter: @TrishaAhmed15. West Coast fishery managers have officially recommended the cancellation of California salmon fishing season this year. Thursday, the Pacific Fishery Management Council announced its decision to close commercial and recreational salmon fishing in California and most of Oregon until next spring to conserve the dwindling Chinook salmon population. While this fishing ban doesn't exactly come as a surprise in early March, the council announced that it would most likely recommend the ban it's a huge blow to local fishers. This one is going to hurt, said Sarah Bates, the captain of a San Francisco fishing boat. Im not exactly sure what to do yet. Salmon is Bates' main fishery, so the news is devastating, although not entirely unexpected. Obviously now were out of this drought, but we were in a severe drought for years, she said. Water policy decisions have not taken into account the needs of salmon during the drought. So its not surprising, unfortunately. Climate change-induced heat and drought, as well as dam construction that cut salmon off from certain waterways, are to blame for the declining Chinook (also known as king salmon) population, according to the New York Times. This is only the second time salmon fishing season has ever been canceled in California, reported CNN. The forecasts for Chinook returning to California rivers this year are near record lows, said Pacific Fishery Management Council Chair Marc Gorelnik in a news release. The poor conditions in the freshwater environment that contributed to these low forecasted returns are unfortunately not something that the Council can, or has authority to, control. For consumers, this cancellation means no local wild salmon in California grocery stores or on restaurant menus this year, as well as higher prices for nonlocal salmon. Im heartbroken that we wont have any local king salmon this summer, Delfina chef and co-owner Craig Stoll said via email. I literally look forward to it all year. I worry about the future for our local salmon population hoping politicians with responsible waterway management policies prevail. Eleza Jaeger, who runs a Bay Area fishing charter company called Gatherer Outfitters, said that salmon fishing is usually a third of her business. She plans to shift her company's focus to California halibut, which she said is having a great season this year. Its definitely a big loss, she said. But fishermen must be optimistic to survive just every year were facing more restrictions and limitations. And, you know, it takes resilience and reimagining. The Pacific Fishery Management Council's recommendations will be forwarded to federal agency NOAA Fisheries by May 16, which is expected to implement the closure, according to the Washington Post. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HONOLULU (AP) The brother of a Hawaii man recently released after more than 20 years in prison for the killing and rape of a tourist has filed a similar request seeking exonerati on. An attorney for the California Innocence Project, which is representing Shawn Schweitzer, filed a petition Thursday in one of Hawaii's biggest murder cases. Schweitzer, his brother and a third man were indicted for the death of Dana Ireland, who was found barely alive in the bushes along a fishing trail in Puna, a remote section of the Big Island in 1991. She had been sexually assaulted and beaten, and later died at a hospital. The mangled bicycle she had been riding was found several miles away and appeared to have been run into by a vehicle. The slaying of the visitor from Virginia gained national attention and remained unsolved for years, putting intense pressure on police to find the killer. After seeing a jury find his brother guilty, Schweitzer and his family decided he needed to take a plea deal, his former attorney has said. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter and kidnapping in exchange for credit for about a year served in jail. In January, a Big Island judge ordered his brother, Ian Schweitzer, released immediately after his attorneys presented new evidence, including DNA that belongs to an unknown male and not the three men who were convicted. Shawn Schweitzer's petition cites the same evidence. Schweitzer's plea was the result of manifest injustice, the petition said. It asks that a judge vacate the conviction and dismiss the indictment or allow him to withdraw his guilty plea and dismiss the case. Schweitzer said he's looking forward to clearing his name after being ostracized in their small community. You go places and you see people that give you stink eye, dirty looksit was very difficult," he told the Associated Press in a phone interview Friday. His wife, children and other relatives also suffered. They all carry our last name," he said. "Its a pretty unusual last name so its hard to hide it. His attorney, Alex Simpson, said they filed the petition after trying to negotiate a resolution with prosecutors. Im hopeful that were going to come to a peaceful and quick resolution," he said. A hearing hadn't yet been set. Prosecutors didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Ireland's relatives couldn't be reached. In 1994, Frank Pauline Jr. came forward and claimed he was with the Schweitzer brothers when Ian Schweitzer ran Irelands bike over and then killed her. But he was interviewed at least seven times and gave inconsistent accounts each time. When it was clear he would be indicted along with the Schweitzers, he tried to take it all back and said he had lied to try to get drug charges dropped against his half-brother, according to court documents. Pauline was convicted, along with the brothers, and killed by a fellow inmate in a New Mexico prison in 2015. Myles Breiner, an attorney representing Paulines family, said a petition is pending that seeks to have him posthumously exonerated. From dressing as Roman soldiers in Antigua, Guatemala, to carrying palm fronds on the streets of Lagos, Nigeria, Christians around the world are celebrating Holy Week. For millions of Christians, the week between Palm Sunday and Easter, known as Holy Week, is the most sacred time of the year. It's the week Christians commemorate the passion of Jesus Christ. The week began with Palm Sunday, where mass at the Vatican was celebrated by Pope Francis in St. Peters Square the day after he was discharged from the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital in Rome, where the Vatican said he was treated for bronchitis. In Bolivia's highland region, artists gathered for an annual event where they built sand sculptures based on Bible stories. Members of the faithful in Brazil wore tunics and hoods to take part in the Procession of Souls in Goias state. And in Managua, Nicaragua, a child dressed as an angel during an event observing Good Friday, during which a masked worshipper held a religious banner depicting Jesus Christ on a cross. Half a world away, Catholic nuns held candles during a Holy Thursday procession at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem. It's the site where Jesus was crucified and buried according to tradition. Celebrations in Haiti included a Stations of the Cross reenactment in Port-au-Prince on Good Friday. In Spain, worshippers carried a portable dais platform supporting a statue of the Virgin Mary through the streets of Seville. In recent years, Holy Week has been scaled back due to COVID-19 restrictions that require precautions such as social distancing and mask use. However, this year many of the faithful gathered in celebrations reminiscent of the era before the virus changed the nature of religious observance. This year's Holy Week was a year for gathering together in prayer. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ROSEVILLE, Calif. (AP) The gunman who shot a California Highway Patrol officer and two hostages, killing one, in a public park was initially wanted for questioning in connection with a freeway shooting, police said Friday. The violence unfolded Thursday afternoon as CHP officers tried to serve a search warrant on Eric Abril in Roseville while families played nearby at baseball fields and children attended camp. Amid the chaos, Abril took two hostages identified Friday as a married couple in the city of about 150,000 northeast of Sacramento. James MacEgan was killed in the shooting and his spouse was injured, Roseville police said. The injured CHP officer, whose name was also not disclosed, has since been released from medical care. Abril, however, remained hospitalized Friday with a gunshot wound, Roseville police said. Although investigators believe Abril was the gunman in an earlier freeway shooting in Sacramento County, CHP Officer Ricardo Ortiz said Friday that there was no warrant out for Abril's arrest. At the time, the officers only had search warrants for his home and car. Ortiz said they just planned to question him on Thursday. Ortiz did not have details about the freeway shooting, such as when and where it occurred. Ortiz also said he did not know how the CHP officers found Abril near the suburban Mahany Park and why they approached him while families and children were close by. The loss of life is of course a tragedy, Ortiz said Friday. "I cant speak on behalf of the officers that were there and went through the situation, and why they did what they did. Thats not something I can comment on. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong is seeking a court order to force the owners of Stone Academy to turn over records as part of its investigation into the nursing school. The office said the owners of the school failed to turn the records over by a deadline last month. The school announced the closure of its three campuses in West Haven, Waterbury and East Hartford in February after state regulators identified issues concerning unqualified staff, holding clinical instruction in non-clinical spaces and attendance recording. State regulators have also alleged that the school exceeded the student-to-staff ratios allowed and that students who graduated from the program had low passage rates on licensing exams. Tong's office said it served the owners, Joseph Bierbaum and Richard Scheinberg, with demands on March 15, weeks after the office announced an investigation into Stone Academy. The civil investigative demands sought "detailed information regarding their financial and legal interests and duties and responsibilities at Stone Academy and other for-profit education entities in Connecticut," Tong's office said in a news release Thursday. "The demand also sought information regarding where Stone Academy records are stored, as well as payroll, staffing, enrollment and attendance records." In addition, Tong's office said it's also seeking "answers" from Bierbaum and Scheinberg about their knowledge of student-faculty ratios, "efforts to allow non-clinical assignments to count toward clinical instruction hours" and how the school made sure student transcripts were accurate. The office said the owners responded to the demands, but those answers were "incomplete," the attorney general's office said. The state is asking the courts to order the school to comply. Perry Rowthorn an attorney for Stone Academy, said in a statement that the state Office of Higher Education had "misinformed" the attorney general "about the causes and circumstances leading to Stones closure. Stone has nevertheless cooperated extensively with the Attorney Generals investigation, providing tens of thousands of documents," Rowthorn said. "OHE bungled this matter from the beginning, misreading applicable facts and regulations, rashly requiring the schools closure on short notice and prohibiting an orderly teach out of Stone students. "OHE now threatens to conduct a misguided and improperly funded audit of transcripts to illegally disenfranchise students of their hard-earned educational credits," Rowthorn continued. "We urge the State of Connecticut to protect vulnerable Stone students from OHEs unlawful deprivation of their property and help ensure that they receive access to an appropriate teach out program to continue their studies." The attorney general said in a statement meanwhile that Stone "utterly failed" its students. "What has happened to these students is a tragedy, and I am beyond outraged on their behalf," Tong said in a statement. "We are bringing everything weve got to this investigation, and we are going to get to the bottom of this. If our office finds any wrongdoing, I will not hesitate to hold those responsible to the fullest extent of the law, he said. Last month, the Connecticut Office of Higher Education agreed to pay $200,000 for an audit of students' records to see which credits they can transfer to other schools. Stone has argued against the audit, with one lawyer saying that it was "unnecessary" and that an audit would "disenfranchise" credits students have already earned. A lawyer who has spoken with some Stone students made a similar argument. "You already have your credits. You already went to school. You have already borrowed student loan money. You should not have to have an audit to determine whether your credits are good or not, the attorney, Cynthia Jennings, told the Connecticut Mirror last month. HARTFORD Police say they drove a pulseless baby to the hospital Wednesday because an ambulance couldnt get there fast enough. About 6:10 a.m., officers went to a home where an infant was unresponsive, according to a Hartford police report. Police and fire personnel determined the baby did not have a pulse and was not breathing, so an officer and a member of the Hartford Fire Department performed CPR on the 6-month-old. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) Nevada Democrats and gun control advocates rallied around a trio of bills Thursday that amplified calls for gun regulation while recalling the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting that became the deadliest in U.S. history. More than five years after a shooter killed scores of people at a country music concert, the recent rise in mass shootings across the U.S. was repeatedly cited in debates over a bill to solidify language meant to ban homemade ghost guns and raise the eligible age to possess semi automatic shotguns and assault weapons from 18 to 21. Another bill would bar possession of a gun within 100 yards (91 meters) of an election site entrance, with narrow exceptions. A third bill would prohibit owning a firearm within a decade of a gross misdemeanor or felony hate crime conviction. An increasing number of mass shootings across the U.S. have widened the political divide on gun ownership, with Democratic-led states pushing restrictions on gun ownership. In many states with Republican-led legislatures, shootings appear unlikely to prompt new restrictions this year, reflecting a belief that violent people, not their possession of weapons, are the problem. With Democrats firmly in control of both branches of the Nevada Legislature, the fate of the bills may fall to Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, who was the Clark County sheriff during the Las Vegas mass shooting. Ahead of a hearing lasting more than five hours in Carson City, bill sponsor and Assembly Majority Leader Sandra Jauregui said the package would protect second graders and the second amendment at the same time. But the proposal encountered heavy opposition from Republicans and pro-gun groups, including the National Rifle Association and the Nevada Republican Party. Jauregui, a Democrat, was among the 22,000 concertgoers who in October 2017 fled 10 minutes of gunfire raining into a country music festival crowd from the windows of a high-rise hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. The attack killed 60 people and injured hundreds more. I never want a Nevadan to experience the trauma that I and so many have endured, she said in a quivering voice while presenting the bill, flanked by more than a dozen attendees in the red shirts of gun control advocacy group Moms Demand Action. Jauregui called the legislation common sense during a press conference earlier in the day. She was joined by several other advocates and lawmakers including Democratic State Sen. Dallas Harris of Las Vegas, who brought forth the decade-long firearm ban for those convicted of hate crimes. This is something we should not try and wheel and deal on, Harris said. The lives of Nevadans are not a bargaining chip. The Nevada Assembly Republican Caucus released a statement on Wednesday opposing the two Jauregui-backed bills, calling the measures unconstitutional and ineffective at stopping violent people from getting weapons. Lombardo has previously bucked other Republicans by supporting universal background checks, although he still positions himself as firmly pro-Second Amendment while touting his NRA membership. While campaigning in 2022, he vowed to veto any legislation curtailing ghost gun access. In a statement responding to questions about Lombardos stance on the bills, spokesperson Elizabeth Ray said well monitor all bills as they work through the legislative process and engage when we feel necessary. Harris and Jauregui said they had not been in contact with the governors office about the bills. The gun proposal hearings were at times emotional and contentious. Several speakers and lawmakers recounted connections to the Las Vegas mass shooting. One recalled throwing her body over her younger sister and her friends to protect them from a madman with a gun. Republican state Senator Jeff Stone of Henderson noted several friends who are still traumatized by the 2017 shooting. Several gun control advocates mentioned a provision allowing an exemption for the age restriction for active or honorably discharged military members under the age of 21. They also said raising the age to 21 for possession of semi-automatic shotguns and assault weapons would be on par with the eligible age to own a handgun. The NRA, the Nevada Republican Party and a host of residents called the bills unconstitutional and discriminatory. Some said taking away guns, particularly in public areas where elections are held, could make those areas more dangerous. People who are going to use guns illegally dont check the rulebook to determine what they can and cannot do, Jacob Paiva of Lyon County said. NRA lobbyist Daniel Reid argued raising the age was unconstitutional and would qualify as age discrimination. He referenced a California court ruling last year deeming a law unconstitutional that banned the sale of semiautomatic weapons to those under 21. Olivia Li, counsel with Everytown for Gun Safety, countered with a similar law in Florida that was ruled constitutional. ___ Stern is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. Follow him on Twitter: @gabestern326. NEW HAVEN A man who was punched in the face by a New Haven officer filed a federal lawsuit earlier this year alleging unconstitutional use of excessive force and a broken system of police accountability. The lawsuit, filed by Jose DeJesus in Connecticut District Court, concerns an incident at Walmart on Foxon Boulevard in 2021, where DeJesus was punched during an arrest, after a police report at the time alleged Dejesus got in a fighting stance, verbally threatened the officer and raised his fists. Bodycam footage of the arrest was released shortly after a brief clip of the incident captured by an observer inside Walmart was posted to social media. The punch is not disputed, but the court is being asked to determine whether it was necessary. Officers Rafael Ramirez and Christopher Fennessy, Sgt. Joshua Armistead, Assistant Chief David Zannelli, then-Assistant Chief Renee Dominguez, the city of New Haven and Walmart are named as defendants. As the lawsuit detailed, DeJesus entered the store in March 2021 to pick up his girlfriend who worked there, and was not wearing a face mask. Walmart employees instructed Ramirez to take him out get him out. While DeJesus was never asked to put on a mask despite holding one, according to the lawsuit, he was confronted by Ramirez, who grabbed him and then punched him in the face, fracturing his jaw in several places and knocking him to the floor. The federal complaint alleges four claims against Ramirez: unconstitutional excessive force, assault and battery, recklessness and negligence. From that punch, the lawsuit contends, DeJesus suffered injuries including fracture of facial bones, mandibular angle fractures, bruising, swelling and edema of face and difficulty breathing. The lawsuit also contends that prior to the altercation with DeJesus, Ramirez, who was working in the store, was apprehending an alleged shoplifter who also was punched in the face by the officer. In a formal court response, Ramirez denied all legal allegations. He admitted to striking the plaintiff in the left side of his face with a closed fist, but only after DeJesus got in a fighting stance, very close to the defendant and threatened that he was going to injure Ramirez, according to the response. The response claims Ramirezs use of force was justified and that any damages DeJesus sustained were a result of his own criminal conduct or negligence. An internal investigation was opened after the incident in 2021. Ramirez was cleared and wasnt disciplined for the incident. Police Chief Karl Jacobson said Thursday that he stands by the result of the internal investigation. Patricia King, citys corporation counsel, said the city is confident that it will prevail when all the facts are disclosed in court. Barry Silver, one of the attorneys representing DeJesus, said Thursday that DeJesus did nothing illegal, he just didnt wear a mask and that at no point did anybody ask him to put one on. I walked into court during COVID and I forgot to put on my mask, Silver said. Nobody beat me up. Nobody punched me out. Nobody broke my jaw. DeJesus was charged with first-degree trespassing, disorderly conduct and interfering with an officer in connection with the incident. He was only convicted on the third charge, court record shows. Asked about the compensatory damages the lawsuit is seeking, Silver said theres no specific amount but its about justice. You watch the news and theres a big crime problem, but the people have to feel safe and they have to feel respect for the police, Silver said. Youre not going to get respect for the police until they respect the people. An attorney representing Ramirez didnt respond to an email seeking comment Thursday. DeJesus seeks to hold liable police brass and the city for their alleged systematic failure to hold officers accountable, Sgt. Armistead who was there for allegedly not intervening, and Walmart as its employees allegedly instructed the officer to confront him, according to the suit. New Havens system of police accountability is so broken that it enables bad officers to escalate situations and recklessly risk physical harm, safety, and lives, without any risk of discipline from the department or the city, the lawsuit alleges. Jacobson said Thursday that the assertion is not true at all, pointing out that the department has put up nine people for termination for different violations in the past nine months. Jacobson said what Ramirez did was in self-defense and reasonable. We are holding people accountable when it's necessary, Jacobson said. (The Walmart incident) was investigated to the full extent and Officer Ramirez was cleared and I stand by that decision. Since May 2021, the department has changed some of the work the officers do at Walmart, according to the chief, because he said officers were having different issues due to different types of response at the store. Their security handles things that we used to handle. We don't chase people in the parking lot. There's a whole list of things that we decided to do after there were a couple incidents, Jacobson said. That list includes: Walmart employees must make first contact with any shopper or suspect and no extra-duty officer shall be tasked with anything that may carry the officer beyond the curb outside the store, return fraud valued at $50 of less or anything involves suspected larceny of $50 or less, according to the police department. Thankfully, since this agreement has been put into place, there have been no major incidents of note at Walmart that Im aware of, Jacobson said in a separate statement. Ukraine to refrain from exporting grain, sunflower seeds to Poland until new season Minister of Agrarian Policy To solve the problem of overstocking the Polish market and the protests of Polish farmers, Ukraine will temporarily stop exporting grain and sunflower seeds to this country until the new season, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Poland has reported with reference to the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Mykola Solsky. "We all understand who is to blame for this situation, but we must solve the problem. Therefore, Ukraine will refrain from exporting wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds to Poland (until the new season)," the Polish ministry quoted Solsky from a joint press conference on Friday with his Polish counterpart Robert Telus on the border with Ukraine in Dorohusk. "The Ukrainian side came up with a proposal to severely limit for some time, and at the moment even stop the flow of grain to Poland," Telus said in turn. As reported, on April 5, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, at a meeting with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in Warsaw, said that the parties had found a way out of the situation with exporting Ukrainian grain to Poland. "We discussed the issues of our farmers Polish and Ukrainian. We found a way out. I believe that in the coming days, weeks we will finally resolve all issues because there can be no difficulties between such close partners and real friends as Poland and Ukraine," Zelenskyy said. Earlier, the governments of Poland and Romania announced their intention to ask the European Commission to develop mechanisms to help avoid price dumping to the detriment of local farmers. Polish farmers had threatened to disrupt events during Zelenskyy's visit to Warsaw, and Poland's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Henryk Kowalczyk, resigned. If the world community could "put the squeeze" on Russia to increase inspections of vessels in the Bosphorus, Ukraine would have been able to reduce the flow of road transportation of grain through European countries, Solsky said then, in turn. FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) Officers with the Farmington Police Department in northwestern New Mexico shot and killed a homeowner when they showed up at the wrong address in response to a domestic violence call, state police investigators said. The shooting happened around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday. New Mexico State Police released more details late Thursday, and Farmington police confirmed Friday that the three officers involved are on paid administrative leave pending a review of the case. The officers were not immediately identified, and it wasn't clear what administrative action could be taken. Body camera footage reviewed by state police shows the homeowner opening the screen door armed with a handgun and that's when officers retreated and fired. Not knowing who was outside, the mans wife returned fire from the doorway and officers fired again. State police said the woman put down her gun after realizing the individuals outside her home were police officers. Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe said in a social media post that it was a chaotic scene and that more information will be released in the coming week. He called it a dark day for the police force and for the family of homeowner, who was identified as Robert Dotson. What I will tell you as the chief is that this is an extremely traumatic event and that I am just heartbroken by the circumstances surrounding this, he said. ... This ending is just unbelievably tragic. I am extremely sorry that we are in this position. The case comes amid an ongoing reckoning across the country over use of force by law enforcement officers. Most recently, the U.S. Justice Department opened a civil rights investigation after a U.S. Park Police officer in Washington fatally shot a 17-year-old who drove off with an officer in the back seat after being found asleep in a suspected stolen car. In Farmington, the officers had initially knocked on the front door of the wrong home and announced themselves as police officers. When there was no answer, they asked dispatchers to call the reporting party back and have them come to the front door. Dotson, 52, was pronounced dead at the scene. When asked about the initial report of domestic violence that came from a home across the street, Farmington police spokesperson Shanice Gonzales said no action was taken against any of the parties in that case and that no one was armed at that address. The shooting remains under investigation. The State Police Investigations Bureau said any findings will be shared with the district attorney for further review. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) A Rhode Island police captain who was seen on video slamming a handcuffed man's head into the pavement during an arrest has been sentenced to a year of probation. Providence police Capt. Stephen Gencarella was sentenced Thursday after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor charge of simple assault in connection with the July 3 incident. He had previously pleaded not guilty. SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) The executive director for a Northern California police union who was charged with attempting to illegally import synthetic opioids from India and other countries has been fired from her job, officials said Friday. Joanne Marian Segovia, who was the executive director of the San Jose Police Officers Association, was arrested last week on charges she attempted to unlawfully import valeryl fentanyl, a synthetic opioid. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison. Starting in 2015, Segovia had dozens of drug shipments mailed to her San Jose home from India, Hong Kong, Hungary and Singapore with manifests listing their contents as wedding party favors, gift makeup, chocolate and sweets and food supplement, according to a federal criminal complaint. Segovia, 64, at times used her work computer to make the orders and at least once used the unions UPS account to ship the drugs within the country, federal prosecutors said. Her attorney, Will Edelman, did not immediately respond Friday to a voicemail seeking comment. The police association fired her after completing an initial internal investigation, union officials said in a statement. An outside investigator will be hired to conduct a comprehensive no-holds-barred probe of Segovia's alleged crimes, determine to what extent she utilized union resources and whether that could have been prevented, they said. The abhorrent criminal conduct alleged against Ms. Segovia must be the impetus to ensuring our internal controls at the POA are strong and that we enact any changes that could have identified the alleged conduct sooner, said Sean Pritchard, president of the union. Federal officials began investigating Segovia last year after finding her name and home address on the cellphone of a suspected drug dealer who is part of a network that ships controlled substances made in India to the San Francisco Bay Area, according to the complaint. That drug trafficking network has distributed hundreds of thousands of pills in 48 states, federal prosecutors said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW YORK (AP) An Iranian opposition activist who U.S. authorities said was the target of two thwarted kidnapping or murder plots urged a federal judge in New York on Friday to hand a tough prison sentence to a woman who unwittingly funded one of the planned attacks. Masih Alinejad, a onetime Iranian journalist, said her sense of safety has been shattered since authorities notified her in 2020 that she was being watched and that photographs were taken of her Brooklyn residence of 10 years. Since then, she has received U.S. government protection and has moved frequently between safe houses. This crime left its mark. Every day when I go out in the street, I have to look over my shoulders. ... I miss my tree-lined street and my neighbors who treated me as one of their own, Alinejad told Judge Ronnie Abrams as she asked her to set an example by sending 48-year-old Niloufar Bahadorifar, of Irvine, California, to prison for as long as possible. Abrams did just that, announcing a four-year prison term after agreeing with prosecutors who urged her to impose a sentence between 46 and 57 months behind bars. She said she wanted to deter others who might aid the Iranian government in the targeting of individuals in the United States. Abrams rejected a request by Bahadorifar's lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, that his client be spared a prison term on the grounds that she, too, was a victim of a dark, repressive, evil terror regime that had left her so programmed to do as she was told that she fled Iran only to live for a time in Canada with a fundamentalist, lunatic, abusive husband. Afterward, Bahadorifar addressed the court, telling Alinejad she was humiliated to have been involved in any attempt to harm you, even if I was unaware of it. She added: You are a hero to all Iranians. I am so sorry. Outside court, Alinejad was unimpressed. Even trying to use this to save herself? I'm not a hero, she said. My heroes are those people who got killed by the Iranian regime, and they never played victims like she did, Alinejad long has been targeted by Iran's theocracy after fleeing the country following its disputed 2009 presidential election and crackdown. She is a prominent figure on Farsi-language satellite channels abroad that critically view Iran and has worked as a contractor for U.S.-funded Voice of Americas Farsi-language network since 2015. She became a U.S. citizen in October 2019. In December, Bahadorifar, a U.S. citizen originally from Iran, pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate U.S. economic sanctions on Iran by enabling access to the U.S. financial system for four Iranians who wanted to kidnap and silence Alinejad by taking her back to Tehran. Authorities said the Iranians used Bahadorifar as a go-between to pay an American private investigator. The investigator was part of a plan by the would-be kidnappers, working for the government of Iran, to use private investigators in 2020 and 2021 to surveil, photograph, and video record Alinejad and others in her home on multiple occasions, prosecutors said. Last summer, police arrested a man armed with a loaded assault-style rifle and dozens of rounds of ammunition near her Brooklyn home. Alinejad said a home security video had recorded the man outside her front door. Since 2015, Bahadorifar had provided financial and other services, including access to the U.S. financial system and institutions, to various individuals from Iran, prosecutors said. Beginning in 2019, she structured cash deposits totaling at least $476,000 in more than 120 individual deposits, topping $10,000 only twice, authorities said. At her December plea, Bahadorifar said she had sent funds to the private investigator on behalf of a government official in Iran who was a longtime family friend. An Iranian intelligence officer and others were charged in New York in 2021 with trying to kidnap Alinejad. The Iranian officials have denied the charge. The private investigator, who also was unaware his employers were Iranian agents, later cooperated with the FBI and was not charged. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Gutwillig said the case demonstrated why sanction violations are gravely serious. After the sentence was announced, Lichtman said as he left the courthouse that he was disappointed, calling it comical to think Iranian terrorists were going to be deterred from other sinister plots because of his client's fate. Outside court, Alinejad said the word safe is a luxury for her. "I'm not safe in America," she said. I cannot believe that this all happened to me. Three men were trying to kill me on U.S. soil. She added: It's not about me. It's about the national security of the United States of America. LOS ANGELES Rapper Coolio died in September due to the effects of fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine, the Los Angeles medical examiner determined Thursday. The Grammy-winning "Gangsta's Paradise" rapper, whose real name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr., died Sept. 28, 2022. He was 59. According to information in the coroner database on Thursday, cardiomyopathy, asthma and recent PCP use also factored into the musician's death. Cardiomyopathy is a "disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body," according to the Mayo Clinic. His death was ruled an accident. In September, Coolio's representative Jarez Posey told TMZ that the musician was found unresponsive on the bathroom floor at a friend's house. He suspected cardiac arrest was to blame. Posey told the website Thursday that fentanyl was found to have killed the rapper, who also had traces of heroin and methamphetamine in his system. "We are saddened by the loss of our dear friend and client," Coolio's manager Sheila Finegan announced in September. "He touched the world with the gift of his talent and will be missed profoundly." Shortly after news of the rapper's death spread, fellow musicians and Hollywood stars paid tribute on social media. "RIP Coolio," tweeted "Weird Al" Yankovic. In 1996, he parodied the rapper's biggest hit with "Amish Paradise." "Dangerous Minds" star Michelle Pfeiffer honored the "gift artist" in an Instagram video. "A life cut entirely too short," Pfeiffer captioned an Instagram video. "As some of you may know I was lucky enough to work with him on Dangerous Minds in 1995. He won a Grammy for his brilliant song on the soundtrack which I think was the reason our film saw so much success." The rapper's family will honor his legacy "through documentaries and film," TMZ said Thursday. Coolio was cremated. He is survived by 10 children. He was married only once to radio personality Josefa Salinas, who died in November. Heather Baker was 28 and a school administrator in Pecatonica, Illinois, when she walked into a conference room for a meeting. She was chatting and joking with her colleagues when she was hit by a sudden wave of nausea. "The whole room was spinning," she said. She tried to tell her colleagues that something was wrong. She wanted to let them know that she might vomit. She tried to move toward the trash can. Instead, she fell to the ground. She hit her head against the conference table and rolled onto the floor. She'd gone into cardiac arrest. Several of her colleagues thought she might be having a seizure, because she was gasping and her body was twitching. Not Bill Faller, her school district's superintendent. He'd gone through CPR training the month before and knew exactly what to do. Faller started chest compressions while the school psychologist, who was eight months pregnant, ran for an automated external defibrillator, or AED. She was back in less than a minute. Middle school principal Tim King walked into the room about that time. As a volunteer firefighter, he was trained to help. He used the AED to try restoring a normal rhythm. Her heart didn't respond. After a series of compressions, he did it again. More compressions, then a third use of the AED. It produced a sustainable rhythm. At a hospital, doctors placed her into a medically induced coma. When she woke up the next morning, she heard the story of what had transpired. Her doctors told her just how remarkable her story was. They'd never seen a 28-year-old experience cardiac arrest. Regardless of age, only about 10% of people survive cardiac arrest outside of a hospital. "CPR saved my life," Baker said. She had no known preexisting conditions or warning signs. She'd been an athlete all her life, playing varsity softball in high school, alongside being a member of the cheerleading team and the drum major of the marching band. She continued going to the gym nearly daily as an adult. She said colleagues would describe her as "vivacious, energetic and talkative." Her medical team suspected a medication she was taking for migraines might have contributed, as it depleted her potassium. Still, no one knows for sure why her heart stopped. Baker feels grateful that she was in the right place at the right time, especially since she grew up hearing about her grandfather, who was not as fortunate. He was driving home from work late at night when his heart stopped. He hit a building with his car and died. He was 50. "Nobody was around to administer CPR," said Terry Kole, Baker's mother. "I was always disappointed that I missed out on having an amazing grandfather," Baker said. "Reflecting on his incident after my own reminded me of how lucky I was that I was not alone when my cardiac arrest happened." Baker is using her second chance in life to train others in the essential skills that kept her alive. And, she's doubled down on her efforts now that she's the mother of a newborn with a heart condition a right ventricular aneurysm. Her son's condition was caught and diagnosed through a fetal echocardiogram at 27 weeks after an ultrasound detected an abnormality with his heart. Baker underwent additional testing throughout her pregnancy due to her health history. Doctors don't think genetics are a factor in her son's condition. They believe it's another extremely rare case, like Baker's own heart scare. She's approached her son's heart health like her own with extra diligence, a degree of surrender to what she can't control and a determination to focus on what she can. "I am more motivated than ever to make schools and communities safer, knowing that I will be sending my son out into the world," she said. Baker has trained nearly 3,000 people in CPR since her own heart scare in 2018. She's co-chair of the policy committee of her local office of the American Heart Association, and is a founding member of her local chapter of Project ADAM, a nonprofit that works to increase access to AEDs and CPR training in schools. Baker now lives in Rockton, Illinois, and is an elementary school principal in nearby Winnebago. She brought her heart health advocacy to that position when she started in 2020. She's made sure her school trains staff and teachers in CPR and AEDs, educates students about heart health, has a cardiac response plan and practices responding to an emergency. Doing so helped her school become the third school in Illinois to receive a Heart Safe School designation through Project ADAM. Baker got an AED for her home in case of an emergency. Kole asks every business that she goes into if there's an AED on hand, like the repair shop that recently worked on her car. "How do you possibly thank someone who saved your child's life?" she said. "The only thing you can do is educate others and share the importance of CPR training and AEDs." Stories From the Heart chronicles the inspiring journeys of heart disease and stroke survivors, caregivers and advocates. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. Permission is granted, at no cost and without need for further request, for individuals, media outlets, and non-commercial education and awareness efforts to link to, quote, excerpt or reprint from these stories in any medium as long as no text is altered and proper attribution is made to American Heart Association News. Other uses, including educational products or services sold for profit, must comply with the American Heart Associations Copyright Permission Guidelines. See full terms of use. These stories may not be used to promote or endorse a commercial product or service. HEALTH CARE DISCLAIMER: This site and its services do not constitute the practice of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment, including your specific medical needs. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health care professional immediately. If you are in the United States and experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or call for emergency medical help immediately. NASHVILLE, Tenn. The Tennessee House voted Thursday to expel two Democrats one week after they interrupted debate by leading protesters in a call for stricter gun laws in the wake of a shooting that left six dead at a Christian school. The extraordinary punitive action against the Democrats Reps. Justin Jones and Justin J. Pearson for an act of protest marks just the third time since the Civil War era that the Tennessee House has expelled a lawmaker from its ranks and threatens to further inflame the partisan rancor within a bitterly divided state. An effort to expel a third Democrat, Rep. Gloria Johnson, who had stood by the two men in the front of the chamber and joined in the chants during the protest, fell short by one vote. The expulsions of two of the states youngest Black representatives, carried out before lawmakers were scheduled to leave for the Easter weekend, were a stunning culmination to a week that saw the conclusion of the funerals for the six killed in the shooting, hundreds of students and teachers walk out of school to protest at the General Assembly and a vitriolic debate about democracy in the state. As protesters flooded the Capitol again Thursday, their chants of Gun control now and Not one more were deafening outside the House chamber. After the final vote, the crowds in the galleries burst into angry yells and cries of Shame on you, with fists held high above their heads. Seven Republicans joined Democrats in voting against the expulsion of Johnson. Asked why she thought she had survived the expulsion vote, Johnson, who is white, said, It might have to do with the color of my skin. Pearson, crowded by supporters after he was ejected and yelling over the sound of demonstrators, said: You cannot ignore the racial dynamic of what happened today two young Black lawmakers get expelled and the one white woman does not. Republican leaders, speaking to reporters afterward, denied that race played a factor in the decision and pointedly noted that the majority of their conference was still in favor of expelling Johnson. The ousted lawmakers could run again for their seats. But their expulsions temporarily leave thousands of residents in Memphis and Nashville without representation in the House in the final weeks of a legislative session in which increasingly hard-line Republicans from rural districts have used the power of their supermajority to clamp down on the states more liberal cities and muscle through conservative priorities. The world is watching Tennessee, Jones said. And what is happening here today is a farce of democracy. The votes against Jones and Pearson passed largely along on party lines after hours of deeply personal, angry and at times condescending debate. The Republican supermajority voted overwhelmingly to provide the two-thirds majority necessary to push the votes against the two men through, despite Democratic opposition. The lawmakers who were expelled readily acknowledged that the outburst violated the Houses rules of conduct, but many in their party questioned why Republicans decided to take the drastic step of moving to expel members of the minority party. Republicans have decried the behavior and invoked the violence of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol to describe the gun control protest, which was peaceful. As he questioned Jones on the House floor, Rep. Gino Bulso, a Republican, declared that refusing to expel him would simply invite him and his colleagues to continue to engage in mutiny on the House floor. The expulsions come as national political divisions have continued to seep into local politics. In Tennessee, the General Assembly has carved up the states more Democratic-leaning cities and all but guaranteed that the majority of political representation is determined in Republican primaries instead of in general elections, leaving lawmakers more responsive to a far-right base. But after the attack at the private Covenant School last week, hundreds of residents began marching toward the state Capitol to demand that the legislature restrict access to guns. Republicans, led by Gov. Bill Lee, have largely focused their response on toughening school security, including passing a measure through the House on Thursday that would require schools to develop a safety plan and implement stricter security measures. The frustration and grief in the aftermath of the attack have remained raw in Nashville. Students have flanked the entrance to the House chamber, waving hand-drawn sketches and signs, while teachers and parents have pushed back against efforts to pour billions of dollars into hardening schools. American students are angry, we are scared and we demand change, Lochlan Cook, 16, a student at Nashville School of the Arts, told a crowd of students and teachers outside the state Capitol on Thursday. You will hear our voices loud and clear until we see that change. Those emotions spilled into the chamber a week ago when three Democrats, including Johnson, brought proceedings to a halt as Jones and Pearson led chants from the floor of the House with a bullhorn. The disruption came, the three lawmakers said, after they felt Republicans had largely sidestepped the question of gun reform and turned off their microphones during debate. The disruption infuriated Republicans, who pledged immediate punishment. Despite the lack of arrests and the largely peaceful, if raucous, crowd, Speaker Cameron Sexton, along with other rank-and-file Republicans, has compared the actions with those of the Jan. 6 mob. Within days of the protest, Sexton stripped two of the lawmakers Johnson and Jones of their committee assignments and revoked their legislative access. Pearson, who won a special election in late January to represent his Memphis district, had not yet received committee assignments. By Monday afternoon, Republicans had filed the three resolutions of expulsion, saying that the lawmakers had sought to knowingly and intentionally bring disorder and dishonor to the House. What happened one week ago was that members that shut the order of this institution down silenced 7 million people, said state Rep. Johnny Garrett, a Republican who began a series of prosecutorial-style questions pressing the three lawmakers about their actions. In impassioned, defiant speeches, punctuated by cheers and chants from outside, Jones, Pearson and Johnson took turns arguing against expulsion, framing the protest as a response to Republican inaction, rattling through a list of transgressions on the House floor that never prompted expulsion and warning that their removal was a repudiation of democratic values. How can you bring dishonor to an already dishonorable House? Jones asked. Pearson, who noted that he had just been formally sworn in last month to represent part of Memphis, declared, Id much rather be talking with you about legislation to protect Shelby County than talking about why we deserve to have our representation lost because we came to the well of this House saying, We have to do something. The solution isnt expulsion, he added. The solution is doing something to pass meaningful gun violence prevention. Jones and Pearson, who are in their late 20s, represent a wave of young Black activists elevated by voters from sit-ins and protests to legislatures across the country. Jones was a well-known presence on the legislative plaza in summer 2020 as he led a 61-day protest outside the state Capitol against racial injustice. And in Memphis, Pearson and his family helped lead protests against the construction of a crude oil pipeline through predominantly Black neighborhoods of the city, a project that has since been canceled. The Democrats said their careers and activism had been shaped by gun violence, with Pearson reflecting on lost family members and mentors and Johnson recalling when a student was shot at a Knoxville school where she taught. Before the votes, as lawmakers discussed more than a dozen legislative measures, Pearson, Jones and Johnson all spoke up in a separate debate to criticize the Republican effort to toughen school security as ineffective, as protesters outside cheered their names. As debate continued, Republicans grew increasingly testy with the three Democrats, at times dismissing comments about mass shootings and gun restrictions as off topic. At one point, Pearson walked through the gallery and thanked supporters, sharing an emotional hug with Sarah Neumann, whose 5-year-old son, Noah, attends the Covenant School. The votes have further rallied demonstrators to the lawmakers side, brought in thousands of fundraising dollars and elevated the three Democrats to a national profile, with the White House and national Democrats weighing in on the representatives behalf. Several members of the Metro Council that governs Nashville pledged to reappoint Jones to fill the seat before a special election, and Pearson said he would seek to run for the open seat again. On Thursday, supporters of the three lawmakers crowded the Capitols plaza, carrying red roses and chanting We stand with the Tennessee Three in the driving rain. Some held pictures of the victims of the Covenant School shooting; others held signs with slogans like Expel guns not the T3. Lily Barrie, 18, a student at the nearby Martin Luther King Jr. High School, stood on the steps of the Capitol holding a cardboard sign that read I turn 18 today. Hallie, William and Evelyn never will, referring to the three 9-year-olds killed in the shooting. Barrie said that she registered to vote that morning, before joining many of her classmates and teachers at the Capitol as they had on many other days in the past week. The threatened expulsion of the three Democratic lawmakers had angered her, she said. Were not going to have any representation for however long those elections will take, she said. This is not democracy. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. TALLINN, Estonia (AP) A Belarusian opposition leader and former ally of President Alexander Lukashenko received a 17-year prison sentence in absentia Friday on charges that included forming an extremist group and discrediting Belarus. Valery Tsepkalo, 58, was also fined around $14,000 and barred from holding public office for five years following a closed-door trial that resulted in his conviction. Other charges included issuing calls to seize power, slander and insulting the country's president. Tsepkalo fled to Russia in 2020 after the Central Election Commission barred him and eight other candidates from challenging Lukashenko in a presidential election that year. He later moved to Ukraine, Latvia and Greece. According to the Belarusian human rights center Viasna, Tsepkalo could not defend himself in court or get acquainted with the details of the case against him because he had no contact with the state lawyer. His wife went on to support the candidacy of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who decided to run against Lukashenko in place of her jailed husband. Tsikhanouskaya contested the official election results that showed the incumbent winning a sixth term by a wide margin, and later fled Belarus as well. Another opposition politician who finished fourth in the election, Andrey Dzmitryeu, was arrested in Minsk and imprisoned at the beginning of the year. Lukashenko's August 2020 reelection set off huge antigovernment protests following an election that the opposition and the West denounced as having been rigged. Belarusian authorities responded to the demonstrations with a major crackdown that saw more than 35,000 people arrested, thousands beaten by police and dozens of media outlets and nongovernmental organizations shut. Lukashenko has ruled Belarus since 2004. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) A judge canceled the air quality permit for a natural gas power plant thats under construction along the Yellowstone River in Montana citing worries over climate change. State District Judge Michael Moses ruled Thursday that Montana officials failed to adequately consider the 23 million tons of planet-warming greenhouse gases that the project would emit over several decades. Many utilities across the U.S. have replaced coal power with less polluting natural gas plants in recent years. But the industry remains under pressure to abandon fossil fuels altogether as climate change worsens. The $250 million plant is being built by Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based NorthWestern Energy and would operate for at least 30 years. The company will appeal the order, a spokesperson said in a statement Friday, saying that the ruling could jeopardize reliable power service. Montana officials had argued they had no authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. They also said that because climate change is a global phenomenon, state law prevented them from looking at its impacts. But Moses said officials from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality had misinterpreted the law. He ordered them to conduct further environmental review and said they must gauge the climate change impacts within Montana in relation to the project. Major flooding on the Yellowstone last year wiped out bridges and triggered widespread evacuations following extreme rains, which scientists say are becoming more frequent as the climate changes. The emissions and impacts of the (gas plant) are potentially significant, Moses wrote. Defendants do not dispute this. The judge also faulted officials for not considering how lights from the project could impact surrounding property owners. It's on the outskirts of the town of Laurel across the river from a residential neighborhood. The plant would produce up to 175 megawatts of electricity. Its air permit was challenged in a 2021 lawsuit from the Montana Environmental Information Center and Sierra Club. The Department of Environmental Quality was reviewing Moses order and agency officials had no immediate comment, spokesperson Moira Davin said. A NorthWestern Energy representative did not say if the ruling would halt construction. The company says the plant would ensure enough electricity is available at times of high demand, such as on hot days or cold nights. Our air permit was reviewed and approved by the DEQ using standards that have been in effect for many years, Vice President John Hines said in a NorthWestern's statement. "We will work with the DEQ to determine the path forward. The ruling comes as the Montana Legislature weighs bills that would make it more difficult for organizations and individuals to sue state agencies over environmental decisions. The state Senate passed a bill requiring anyone who wants to challenge an agency environmental review to have commented during the review process. They'd also have to pay for some of the agencys court costs. The bill would also bar nonprofit organizations from using tax deductible donations to pay for lawsuits against state agencies. __ Hanson reported from Helena, Mont. Head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy Danylo Hetmantsev sees a significant potential for additional revenues to the state budget of Ukraine in the event of a significant increase in the fight against the shadow market of excisable goods, especially tobacco products. "Of all the excisable industries, we see the greatest potential in removing the tobacco industry from the shadow. It is about UAH 15-17 billion," he said in an interview on Radio NV. According to him, the potential in the fuel market is also great. "As for vodka, the potential for de-shadowing is less here since the total amount of excise tax on alcoholic products is about 10 times lower than for tobacco. Although there is a certain reserve for alcoholic products in removing them from the shadow," Hetmantsev said. The head of the committee said that shadowing and tax evasion in the tobacco market occur not at the level of its leaders but at the level of smaller companies and illegal producers. He recalled that the tobacco industry consists primarily of four large international manufacturers which are not suspected of tax evasion because if this happens, the risks of such evasion for them will not be commensurate with the benefits. "And we see, in fact, by their tax behavior that it deserves trust. These are market leaders, these are honest companies, these are companies that pay taxes in full," Hetmantsev said. At the same time, he said, some smaller Ukrainian tobacco companies are suspicious. "There are some legal producers who raise doubts about their compliance with taxation rules. In particular, there is a tobacco factory in western Ukraine, where the Bureau of Economic Security (BES) recently conducted searches and found excisable goods without excise stamps worth UAH 80 million," he said. He added that there are also some small legal production facilities on the market that do not significantly affect it, but there is still a significant part of the market illegal producers, even without a license. "For example, recently the Odesa customs office detained and confiscated a line for the production of cigarettes, which they tried to illegally import into Ukraine under the guise of a line for the production of soap," Hetmantsev said, citing an example. At the same time, the head of the relevant parliamentary committee stressed the inadmissibility of tax evasion during the war. UNITED NATIONS (AP) The International Committee of the Red Cross says it has been in contact with a Russian official suspected of war crimes as it works for the return of Ukrainian children who were deported to Russia. The ICRCs contacts with Russian childrens rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova marked the first confirmation of high-level international intervention to reunite families with children who were forcibly deported. ICRC spokesman Jason Straziuso said Thursday the organization is in contact with Lvova-Belova in line with its mandate to restore contact between separated families and facilitate reunification where feasible. That goes beyond the engagement of other agencies. The U.N. childrens agency UNICEF said it has also been in contact with Russian officials about the children, but spokesman Kurtis Cooper told The Associated Press that UNICEF has not received feedback on our offer to facilitate reunifications processes." Refugees International denied any contact with the Russians despite Lvova-Belova's claim it had contacted her. Deportations of Ukrainian children have been a concern since Russias Feb. 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine. The International Criminal Court increased pressure on Russia when it issued arrest warrants on March 17 for Lvova-Belova and Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing them of abducting children from Ukraine. An AP investigation revealed Lvova-Belovas involvement in the abductions and found an open effort to put Ukrainian children up for adoption in Russia. Lvova-Belova told an informal U.N. Security Council meeting Wednesday that the children were taken for their safety, not abducted a claim widely rejected by the international community. Lvova-Belova spoke by video link at a meeting called by Russia and opposed by Western countries that sent low-level diplomats instead of their ambassadors. Representatives from four countries the U.S., UK, Albania and Malta walked out when she began her remarks. She said Russia has had no official communication with Ukrainian authorities about the children, but added her office has met with representatives of the ICRC, UNICEF, and Refugees International, and provided all available information about the situation of children. ICRC spokesman Straziuso on Thursday confirmed its contact with Lvova-Belova. Straziuso said the reunification process includes tracing family members, establishing and maintaining contact, obtaining relevant consents and documentation, reuniting families, and seeking to clarify the fate and whereabouts of those who remain missing. For the ICRC to move forward, he said, families must first file a tracing request with details about the child with the Red Cross. The exact number of Ukrainian children taken to Russia has been difficult to determine, and numbers from the warring countries differ vastly. A statement posted Wednesday on Twitter by Ukraines U.N. ambassador, Sergiy Kyslytsya, said more than 19,500 children had been seized from their families or orphanages and forcibly deported. Lvova-Belova said that since February 2022, Russia has taken in more than 5 million Ukrainians, including 700,000 children all with parents, relatives or legal guardians except for 2,000 from orphanages in the eastern Donbas. To date, she said, about 1,300 children have been returned to their orphanages, 400 were sent to Russian orphanages and 358 were placed in foster homes. She claimed no Ukrainian children have been adopted. ___ Associated Press writer Jamey Keaten contributed to this report from Geneva This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The family of a Native American woman who went missing from her home on the Navajo Nation pleaded with the man accused of assaulting her and taking her pickup truck, asking during a court hearing Friday that he tell them where he left Ella Mae Begay so they could bring her home and find closure. The tearful messages of family members resonated through a courtroom in Flagstaff, Arizona, as they told the judge about what they have endured since Begay disappeared nearly two years ago. Theres nothing thats coming out of this whole situation except all the pain that hes caused, the anger, the frustration, her son Gerald Begay said. I mean, this is a mother, an aunt, a grandma, a sister, you know, that doesnt deserve this type of assault. A soft-spoken woman who was known as a master weaver, Begay was always cautious and never drove around at night. So her family knew immediately that something was wrong when they saw her gray pickup truck leaving her home in the remote community of Sweetwater, Arizona, that June night in 2021. Prosecutors outlined the allegations against Preston Henry Tolth, 23, after he entered not guilty pleas to assault and carjacking charges that stemmed from Begay's disappearance. The indictment naming Tolth had been under seal until earlier this week. Tolth was ordered to remain in custody pending trial after U.S. Magistrate Judge Camille Bibles determined that he was dangerous and that no conditions of release would guarantee the community's safety. The proffered facts of the case are extremely concerning, the judge said. They involve senseless acts of extreme violence against a victim who was defenseless. Luke Mulligan, a federal public defender for Tolth, did not argue with the prosecution's request that Tolth remain in custody. Begay was 62 at the time she disappeared. Her case has garnered national attention as tribal leaders, state legislators and law enforcement agencies across the country have been working to establish special commissions and task forces aimed at investigating missing person cases and unsolved slayings in Indian Country. A year after Begay disappeared, her niece Seraphine Warren began walking from the Navajo Nation to Washington, D.C., to bring attention to the decades-long epidemic of violence that has disproportionately affected Indigenous people. Begay's family members also have met with U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who recently joined Justice Department officials in hosting the first in-person session of the Not Invisible Act Commission in Washington. The commission is developing recommendations for preventing and responding to violence affecting tribal communities. Warren addressed Tolth directly during Friday's hearing. Will you please just tell us where my aunt is? You know exactly what you did to her," Warren said before breaking down in tears. Federal prosecutors said the indictment naming Tolth marked an important step in determining the truth about what happened to Begay. They told the judge that Begay's daughter had called authorities the night of the disappearance to report that someone was breaking into her home. She hid while the suspect rummaged around and took some drinks before leaving and walking down the road in the direction of her mother's home. The daughter called police again after they did not respond to the first call and told them that she saw her mother's truck leaving the home and that she could not reach her. Police arrived about 20 minutes later and the search began. Navajo Nation authorities previously identified Tolth as a person of interest, and federal prosecutors confirmed Friday that shoe prints found between the two homes matched shoes belonging to Tolth. Investigators also found bloody clothing that belonged to Tolth at a relative's home. Authorities said Tolth admitted to taking the truck so he could drive to New Mexico, where ultimately he ended up selling the vehicle for $200 and methamphetamines. Authorities determined through multiple interviews that Tolth had been drinking that night and got into a fight with his father, resulting in him being left on the side of the road. The spot where he was dropped off was about 11 miles (18 kilometers) from Begay's home. Tolth told federal agents during a series of interviews that he snapped and struck Begay in the face multiple times, causing her to bleed from the nose and mouth. He told authorities that he wasn't sure if she was dead when he drove away and that he regretted hitting her since all he wanted was the truck. Tolth has a criminal history including charges of aggravated battery, resisting arrest, residential burglary and drug possession dating back to 2019, according to New Mexico court records. ___ Montoya Bryan reported from Albuquerque, New Mexico. BANGKOK (AP) More than 60 asylum-seeking members of a Chinese Christian church who were detained last week in Thailand are en route to the United States, a religious freedom advocate who has been aiding them said Friday. A colonel in Thailands police immigration division confirmed that the group left Thailand on Thursday night. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not his agencys spokesperson. Thai police on Wednesday said the 63 members of the Shenzhen Holy Reformed Church, also known as the Mayflower Church, would be deported within a week, likely to a third country. The U.S. Embassy has declined comment on the fate of the group but was involved along with representatives of the U.N. Refugee Agency in talks with Thai officials about the matter. The church members, who have been in Thailand since last September, were arrested last week in the seaside city of Pattaya for overstaying their visas, fined, and then taken to Bangkok, where they were detained in immigration facilities. Bob Fu, president of ChinaAid, a Texas-based Christian human rights organization, said the group was heading to the United States and is expected to arrive in Dallas, Texas, on Friday evening. ChinaAid welcomes the landing of the persecuted Chinese Mayflower Church to freedom in America and welcome to Texas, Fu said in a text message which also thanked U.S. and Thai officials and activists. We will not rest until religious freedom is fully realized in China, he said. Christian church organizations have been working to resettle them in Texas, lobbying for their admittance to the U.S. and offering to host them. The church members have said they faced unbearable harassment in China. Christians in China are legally allowed to worship only in churches affiliated with Communist Party-controlled religious groups, but for decades the authorities largely tolerated independent, unregistered house churches. They have tens of millions of worshippers, possibly outnumbering those in the official groups. In recent years, however, house churches have come under heavy pressure, with many prominent ones shut down. Unlike previous crackdowns, such as Beijings ban on Falun Gong, a spiritual movement it labels a cult, the authorities have also targeted some believers not explicitly opposed to the Chinese state. Prior to their arrival in Thailand, the Mayflower Church members fled to South Koreas Jeju island in October 2019 and stayed there for nearly three years. They decided to leave after it became clear that prospects for refuge there were dim. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate TOKYO (AP) An unused lifeboat, a door and other fragments believed to be from a Japanese army helicopter were found after the Black Hawk carrying 10 crew members was presumed to have crashed at sea, officials said Friday. Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada, apparently struggling to hold back tears, told reporters that none of the missing crew members have been found as the search continued Friday. He said he took the accident seriously and would take all precautious for the safe operations of Self Defense Force aircraft. We will do our utmost for the rescue of the 10 people who are still missing, while continuing to gather information related to the extent of damage, he said. The UH-60JA Black Hawk helicopter disappeared Thursday afternoon while on a reconnaissance mission in Japan's southern islands, according to the head of the Ground Self Defense Force, Yasunori Morishita. It disappeared from radar only 10 minutes after departing from a base on Miyako Island and is believed to have crashed into the water between Miyako and nearby Irabu Island to the northwest. The area is about 1,800 kilometers (1,120 miles) southwest of Tokyo. Coast guard patrol ships found an unused lifeboat whose serial number matched that of the missing helicopter and a door believed to belong to the same aircraft near the presumed crash site, army officials said. Japan is aggressively building up its defense capability in its southwestern islands in response to Chinas increasingly assertive military activity in the region, including near Taiwan. According to the Defense Ministry, Japan started deploying the Black Hawk, a twin-engine, four-bladed utility helicopter developed by U.S. manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft and produced by the Mitsubishi Heavy Industry, in 1999 forrapid response, surveillance and disaster relief missions. The helicopter was stationed at a key army base in Kumamoto prefecture on Japans southern main island of Kyushu, Morishita said Thursday night. One of its 10 crew members is the division commander, Yuichi Sakamoto, who was just promoted to the post at the end of March. The army said the helicopter had a routine safety inspection in late March. No abnormality was found during its subsequent test flight or on its trip from its home base of Kumamoto to the Miyako island. BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) Farmers in Romania and Bulgaria staged protests Friday to express their anger over the European Unions response to a glut of agricultural products from Ukraine that they say are flooding local markets and undercutting prices. About 100 farmers converged in Romanias capital, Bucharest, while hundreds more protested across the country in long convoys of tractors. In neighboring Bulgaria, grain producers blocked some border crossings with farm vehicles. Some farmers outside the European Commission's representative office in Bucharest brandished placards that read: Do not punish our solidarity, while others urged bloc officials to "take responsibility, take action, take care. Last year, the EU waived customs duties and import quotas on Ukrainian agricultural products as a way of facilitating transport to third-country markets. Ukraine is one of the biggest producers in the world of grain and sunflower oil, but its exports were restricted by Russia's blockade of its Black Sea ports, threatening global food security. Russia has warned it may pull out of a deal which has unblocked the ports since last July. However, farmers in Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, and other EU countries have been disproportionately hard-hit by an influx of cheap Ukrainian produce namely grain which stays on local markets and undercuts prices. Polish farmers have also held protests in recent weeks. Poland's agriculture minister, Henryk Kowalczyk, resigned on Wednesday after he became the focus of farmers' anger. Liliana Piron, executive director of the League of Romanian Agriculture Producers' Associations, said at the Bucharest protest that Romanian farmers have reached a point where they feel they can no longer face the costs of the "unfair competition from Ukraine. We are less than three months away from the new harvest and the danger is real, that the goods we will have ready this season will not be able to be sold at prices above production costs, she said. We will witness a chain of bankruptcies of Romanian farmers. Brussels last month had pledged to help grain and cereal farmers in Romania, Bulgaria, and Poland with a total compensation package of 56.3 million euros ($61 million) 16.7 million for Bulgaria; nearly 30 million for Poland, and 10 million for Romania. Farmers and national governments said the money wasn't enough. If todays protest is not heard in Brussels, we will consider larger actions with the participation of other countries that share the same view, said Iliya Prodanov, head of the grain producers association in Bulgaria. He added that there are currently 3.5 million tons of Bulgarian wheat and 1 million tons of Bulgarian sunflowers stored in local warehouses. Marian Popa, a Romanian farmer from southern Teleorman County who attended the protest in the capital, estimates he has so far lost about 500,000 euros ($545,000). I still have 1,000 tons of sunflower seeds but the price has gone down and its still going down, he said. ___ Stephen McGrath reported from Sighisoara, Romania; Veselin Toshkov reported from Sofia, Bulgaria. KINSHASA, Congo (AP) Six men in Congo were sentenced to life in prison on Friday for the 2021 murder of Italy's ambassador and two others. The sentence was announced by a military tribunal in the capital, Kinshasa, following a six-month trial. Luca Attanasio, Italy's ambassador to Congo since 2017, was one of three people killed in February 2021 in an ambush on a World Food Program convoy that was traveling from Goma, Congos eastern regional capital, to visit a WFP school project in Rutshuru. Italian security officer Vittorio Iacovacci and driver Moustapha Milambo were also killed. Violence has been simmering in eastern Congo for decades as more than 120 armed groups fight for power, resources, land and some to protect their communities. Several armed groups are active in the specific area of the attack including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, which is a Rwandan Hutu rebel group known as FDLR, the Nyatura militia and M23 rebels. The attack occurred in the same area where two Britons were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in 2018, though they were released days later. Congos government initially blamed the killings on FDLR. who denied responsibility for the attack. The prosecution said the men were part of a criminal gang and had called for the death sentence. They accused the defendants of trying to kidnap the ambassador so they could demand a ransom and said the initial intent was not to kill him. Five of those sentenced are in the NDolo military prison in Kinshasa while the sixth man is still on the run. The defense said their clients were tortured into confessing and has appealed the decision, which would launch a new trial in the military court. They all claim their innocence pure and simple," said Joseph Amzati one of the defense lawyers. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LONDON (AP) Police have warned that armed dissident groups are planning violent attacks over the Easter holiday weekend as Northern Ireland marks 25 years since the peace accord that ended three decades of bloodshed. U.S. President Joe Biden is due to visit Belfast next week as Northern Ireland commemorates the signing of the Good Friday Agreement on April 10, 1998. The U.S.-brokered deal got Irish republican and British loyalist paramilitary groups to lay down their arms and setup a power-sharing government for Northern Ireland. The peace accord largely ended 30 years of violence, known as the Troubles, in which 3,600 people died, but small splinter groups mount occasional gun or bomb attacks on the security forces. The Police Service of Northern Ireland Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton said police had received intelligence about planned violence around a parade in Londonderry on Easter Monday commemorating the 1916 Easter Rising against British rule in Ireland. He said there was potential for dissidents to try and draw us in to disorder and then experience tells us where that happens, that can quite often become the platform for an attack on our officers. The threat from dissidents prompted U.K. authorities last month to raise Northern Irelands terrorism threat level to severe, meaning an attack is considered highly likely. In February, a senior police officer, John Caldwell, was shot and seriously wounded by two masked men as he coached a childrens soccer team in the town of Omagh, about 60 miles (nearly 100 kilometers) west of Belfast. Police Chief Constable Simon Byrne said police officers, military personnel and prison staff, and their families, were the dissidents' main targets. The style of attack that we are dealing with and trying to frustrate is gun attacks and bomb attacks on these people by a small number of determined dissident terrorists, he said Thursday. While the peace forged by the Good Friday Agreement has largely held, the political structures have been through multiple crises. The Northern Ireland Assembly has not sat for more than a year, after the main unionist party pulled out of the government to protest new post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland. Key players in the talks that led to the peace accord gathered at Stormont, the seat of the mothballed assembly, on Friday for a ceremony to mark the anniversary. Gerry Adams, former leader of the IRA-linked party Sinn Fein, said the 1988 agreement had saved countless lives. Were all in a better place and despite current challenges, the future is bright," Adams said. Former Ulster Unionist Party leader Reg Empey, who also attended the ceremony, said young people in Northern Ireland now are the second generation that has grown up in this country who have no working knowledge of what violence and our Troubles meant. If theres nothing else it has achieved, that in itself is a victory," Empey said. Under the terms of the agreement, people jailed for taking part in the violence were released, an issue that still pains families of those who were killed. A group of relatives of Troubles victims held a sunrise ceremony Friday on a beach in County Down, south of Belfast, to reflect on the conflict and the peace. It was incredible being here with all these people, Catholic and Protestant, unionist and nationalist, republican and loyalist we have all lost people, said Alan McBride, whose wife and father-in-law were killed by an IRA bomb in Belfast in 1993. To look out at the sea and see the sun come up, that is the vision of the Good Friday Agreement, people standing together. Later Friday, residents from Catholic nationalist and Protestant unionist neighborhoods planned to hold a ceremony at a gate in one of the fortified peace walls that still divide Belfast. LONDON (AP) British police charged a 12-year-old boy with murder on Friday after a car plowed into a woman on a city street in northern England. The woman was found dead Wednesday night at the scene of the crash in Sheffield, South Yorkshire police said. Relatives identified her as 60-year-old Marcia Grant and said she was a warm, loving and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend and a pillar of her community. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili have made press statements in Gabala. The President of Azerbaijan made the statement first. Statement by President Ilham Aliyev - Dear Prime Minister, Dear guests, ladies and gentlemen. First of all, dear Prime Minister, I sincerely welcome you to Azerbaijan. Welcome to Azerbaijan! Our meetings are regular in nature. Six months ago, we were your guests in Georgia and today you are visiting Azerbaijan. When I was in Georgia, I visited Mtskheta district. Today you are visiting Gabala district. I think this is a very good tradition. Because, in this way, we get to know the interesting historical sites of both Georgia and Azerbaijan, and this strengthens our friendship even more. Georgia and Azerbaijan have been in close contact for many years. We are friends and allies, and our peoples are bound by brotherly ties. All issues discussed have one goal to deepen bilateral cooperation and take all necessary steps for the future of our peoples. Many important issues have been discussed today, and we will build our future activities on the basis of the agreements reached. Of course, Georgia and Azerbaijan are countries that play an important role in European energy security today, and this role is gradually growing. Of course, the friendly relations between us and cooperation in this field are a great contribution to Europe's energy security. The export of Azerbaijani natural gas to Europe is increasing by the year. As a whole, this year, Azerbaijan will export 24.5 billion cubic meters of gas to world markets, and this figure is increasing year by the year. According to the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the European Union last year, we must ensure the transportation of 20 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe alone by 2027, and I am sure that we will reach this figure. Considering the current geopolitical situation, of course, energy security issues have come to the fore for all countries. Azerbaijani company SOCAR has been successfully operating in Georgia for many years. According to the information I received yesterday, SOCAR has built 11,000 kilometers of gas pipelines in Georgia and thus provides natural gas to more than 830,000 subscribers. In the future, we will actively work on new directions of cooperation in the field of energy. Rather, this work has already begun. Azerbaijan, Georgia, Hungary and Romania signed an important agreement at the end of last year and the first steering committee meeting on the green energy project was held in Baku in February of this year. This is a large-scale project. Of course, the successful implementation of this project may be possible thanks to cooperation of all four countries. At the same time, as you know, the European Union attaches great importance to this project. It is no coincidence that the President of the European Commission also participated in the signing ceremony. Of course, an important part of our bilateral relations is transport. Here too, all work is going on successfully and according to plan. Georgia and Azerbaijan are working successfully on the implementation of the Middle Corridor. Of course, at the next stage, additional steps will be taken to increase the volume of cargo transportation. I visited the countries of Central Asia many times last year and this year, and I will visit more countries this year. Therefore, there are ample opportunities for transporting new goods along the Middle Corridor. All administrative issues should be resolved, the tariff policy should be resolved from a single perspective. At the same time, joint effort should be made to attract and transport cargo. Of course, this issue has been and will be extensively discussed today. These are the key activity directions. However, Georgia-Azerbaijan relations are not limited to that. Our relations cover many areas defense industry, education, culture, tourism, technologies, agriculture. Of course, necessary steps are being taken to increase our trade turnover. I am sure that today's visit by the Prime Minister will give a new impetus to our relations. Dear Prime Minister, you are welcome again! X X X Then, the Prime Minister of Georgia made the statement. Statement by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili - Mr. President, my dear friend, it is very nice to see you. Dear Mr. Aliyev, I am honored to be visiting this charming region of your country today. I would like to thank my friend, President of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev, for the hospitality extended to us. You have rightly mentioned that you visited Georgia a few months ago. It is already a new tradition that we are visiting not only the capitals, but also the regions of our countries. It is a great initiative, and the fact that we are here today is proof of that. I would like to emphasize again that such friendly and fraternal relations with Azerbaijan and the people of Azerbaijan are very important to us. Our friendship has an ancient history, and Azerbaijan is not only our neighbor and friend, it is an important strategic partner. For many years, we have implemented historic projects in various fields, and these projects have brought our peoples and countries even closer together. We are interdependent in a good way, and I am sure this will continue to be the case for many years to come. We have mentioned these important projects many times. It is known that Georgia is also a reliable transit country and transit partner. As mentioned by Mr. President, we continue this activity and do not stop. As you may know, we will lay an electric cable under the Black Sea. We are developing the issue of the Middle Corridor. We have a huge potential to transport green energy to Europe, which has great prospects. This is a future. Both countries will invest more in this area. We have discussed that too. In addition, of course, we discussed the situation in the region. The current situation in Ukraine has also been discussed, as there are risks and challenges challenges that did not exist after World War II. Our main task is to ensure peace and stability because without these, there can be no talk of development and prosperity. We must create jobs and ensure the prosperity of our people. We have the same vision in this field. We are interested in closer relations between our countries. I would also like to add that we are working together on the Middle Corridor project in a coordinated manner. Our goal in the near future is to remove all obstacles and jointly develop the infrastructure our seaports and railways. As you know, we are working on the construction of a new port in Georgia. In a year, we will implement the railway expansion project. The operation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will be expanded and we will be able to attract more cargoes through the Middle Corridor. I would like to reiterate that our main goal is to ensure peace and stability in the region. We need to implement more projects in the region and we will carry out our work in a wonderful atmosphere of brotherhood. Mr. President, let me once again express my immense gratitude to you. This year you are celebrating the 100th anniversary of your genius father Heydar Aliyev in your country. You are our friend, and Heydar Aliyev was also a great friend of Georgia. I wish you and the people of Azerbaijan peace and stability. Thank you for your attention. The Russian occupiers have tasked substance abusers in the construction of fortifications in temporarily occupied Crimea, the General Staff of Ukraine has said. "The Russian invaders involve the local population in the construction of fortifications in the settlements of Dzhankoi district in temporarily occupied Crimea," it said on Facebook on Friday. According to the General Staff, mostly men, the majority of people involved in engineering works are drug and alcohol addicts. The occupiers promise the workers to pay money, however, the people do not receive it at all or are paid less than had been promised. "There are cases when the deceived people refuse to cooperate further, after which the armed occupiers force them to dig trenches," it said. The fatal stabbing of Cash App founder Bob Lee, which occurred in San Franciscos Rincon Hill neighborhood early Tuesday morning, became political almost immediately. Once the executive was identified as the person killed, various members of the tech community and other onlookers criticized San Franciscos handling of crime, with Twitter CEO Elon Musk tweeting, Violent crime in SF is horrific and even if attackers are caught, they are often released immediately. FBI data shows that San Franciscos violent crime rate is actually lower than that of many other major U.S. cities. Most of San Franciscos elected leaders even Supervisor Matt Dorsey, a proponent of stronger crime policies, and District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, who took office after campaigning for the recall of her former boss Chesa Boudin on the grounds he worsened public safety have been measured in their public statements since the stabbing, noting that an arrest has not been made, and that few details are publicly available at this time. The outlier is District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio, who in November rode a wave of voter dissatisfaction toward progressive crime and education policies to become the first candidate in 20 years to defeat an elected supervisor seeking reelection. On Wednesday, Engardio wrote a lengthy Twitter thread about Lees death, which opened with, The murder of tech exec Bob Lee on a San Francisco street is tragic, unnerving, and enraging. Im hearing many residents expressing all of these emotions. People dont feel safe and we must enforce laws and make arrests. In that thread, Engardio offered a series of general policy prescriptions to public safety, including arresting drug dealers and compelling treatment for people suffering from homelessness, addiction, and mental illness. Some may accuse Engardio of politicizing a tragedy before its known whether his policy proposals would have affected the circumstances leading to Lees death. Others may say hes the one city politician who has been responsive to a public sentiment thats clearly out there. Engardio spoke with SFGATE on Thursday to discuss the Lee stabbing and the state of San Francisco crime policy more broadly. The interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. SFGATE: You have been the only elected official Ive seen so far push for specific policy prescriptions. Police Commissioner Kevin Benedicto said yesterday, I find it premature and distasteful to try to fit this horrifying act of violence into a preconceived narrative and use it to advance a political agenda. Do you have a response to that? Engardio: The murder of Bob Lee obviously has made a lot of headlines and was unnerving, tragic and has put people on edge. But its important to note, its not about this particular murder, its about months and years of San Franciscans feeling unsafe in their own city. Its about catalytic converters getting stolen, and just a few weeks ago, after a catalytic converter theft, thieves fired a gun. These are serious crimes that people are experiencing and want a solution for. Its also important to note that violent crime in San Francisco is not common when compared to other cities, and when compared to the citys old past. But its no consolation to say we have less murders than we had in the 1970s when people are feeling less safe over several things like catalytic converter thefts, home invasions, Muni stabbings and elders being assaulted. People are up in arms and want to see change. Im sad for Bob Lees family, and no ones tragedy should be used for political purposes. But a high-profile murder is going to make residents look at whats happening in their own neighborhood and demand answers. My job as a supervisor is to listen to them and do what I can to support those who want a safe, healthy city. SFGATE: Theres a very famous conservative commentator whose maxim is facts dont care about your feelings. But youd posit the inverse? Engardio: Absolutely not. Facts always have to be what we deal with first and foremost. But you can rattle off all of the statistics you want, and people could still feel unsafe, and youre not acknowledging their valid feelings. Feelings are always valid, and we need to acknowledge where people are coming from. Its true that murder is not common in San Francisco. You can look at all of the data on that. But theres also data showing that other crimes are real problems. SFGATE: You are right that, for example, San Francisco has higher rates of property crime than other cities, so the facts and feelings are aligned. But can you see an argument that its unfair to link the Bob Lee killing to many of the other crimes you reference, especially when policy prescriptions might be different? Engardio: I dont understand the premise of that question. The killing happened, its in the news, and it highlights a fear people already have about real issues beyond murder that are happening in their neighborhoods. People are worried about the slippery slope. And lets also be clear about this: Weve had reports on teenagers getting stabbed on Muni, so those arent murders, but they were still stabbed in the neck and could have been murders. But people are understandably connecting dots and are worried. Its not fear-mongering or stoking panic to listen to what people feel in their neighborhoods based on their lived experiences. SFGATE: So what are the policy prescriptions for those general public safety fears? Engardo: If were going to be factual, we have to be mindful that we dont know the cause of Bob Lees murder, so when Im talking about general public safety issues, it doesnt mean theyre all connected to this one murder. Its about opening up a conversation about how people feel, and when people feel unsafe, we need to address that. So when it comes to homeless encampments, we have many people suffering from drug addiction and mental illness in those encampments. We have to treat the underlying crisis. Yes, homelessness is a housing issue and we have to build more housing, but we also have to treat those underlying crises, and sometimes that has to be compelled. What were doing now is not working. When dealing with things like addiction and mental illness, those are complex problems so the solutions need to be complex as well. We have to use every tool in our toolbox to address them. Harm reduction policies work, so we should use those. Compelled treatment also works. We have to use the whole range. SFGATE: Isnt the city stuck on the compelled treatment issue until theres a change in state law that makes it easier to place individuals into conservatorships? Engardio: The city doesnt have to be stuck. Sen. Scott Wiener passed a conservatorship law that counties can opt into, but when San Francisco opted in, it was watered down so much it became meaningless. Thats why it matters who sits on the Board of Supervisors. Were stuck now but when a new state law comes our way I hope we opt in, and I certainly will support it. SFGATE: I dont want to get too deep into compelled treatment since, as you noted, there hasnt been an arrest in the Lee case and we have no idea if the two issues are connected. Another prescription you called for in the wake of the Lee killing is increased police staffing. Theres a pretty widely cited 2022 paper from the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice that found that, when compared to other California jurisdictions, SFPD solves fewer crimes despite larger staffing per city resident and costs per area patrolled. In your view, does an increase in staffing need to be coupled with some other component thatd improve efficiency? Engardio: First of all, we can call for increased staffing all we want, but if no one is willing to be a police officer, none of it matters. We need to change the narrative on what it means to be a police officer in San Francisco. The police department has done terrible things in its past, but its not the same department it was 10 years ago and even five years ago. Its been leading on reform, and we need to change the story so its seen as a noble profession in an area thats leading on reform. But they do need to make do with what they have. Officers need to be more efficient, and they cant just throw their hands up and say theres nothing more they can do. They need to do their jobs, and to be held accountable for solve rates. Im hopeful that for first time in many years, we have a district attorney and police chief who dont hate each other. For years, the two departments have pointed fingers and blamed each other for various problems, but now, for the first time in a while, they like each other and will work together in common cause to rebuild their respective departments and improve public safety. Ill do everything I need to give them the resources they need to succeed. SFGATE: Some people have characterized the Bob Lee killing as an inflection point in the public safety discourse. But I think youd argue its a continuation of what youve been hearing from constituents for quite a while now. Engardio: Its an additional inflection point but yes, I think we have been seeing multiple inflection points. Ive been on the job for three months, and have seen a house explode in the Sunset because of a drug lab, saw teens beat up other teens at Stonestown, and stabbings on Muni. Its a series of inflection points that help explain why residents feel unsafe in San Francisco. In a recent interview with Politicos Jonathan Martin, former California Gov. Jerry Brown said he would mount a primary challenge to President Joe Biden if he were younger. Brown, who turned 85 on Friday, told Martin of the presidency, I can handle the job but I dont think the politics can handle my age. Throughout the article, Martin goes to painstaking lengths to show the reader how hard he had to work to extract answers out of a particularly crotchety Brown. With regard to the Biden question, Martin wrote that it took a great deal of pressing to elicit his actual view of Biden, but its worth the effort. Brown said Biden is a student of Eastern seaboard Catholic Democratic politics, a group that holds a deep respect for the verities that have made us what we are and hold us together, but is unable to respond to changed circumstances. The former governor declined to endorse Bidens forthcoming reelection bid, stating, Well, you know, it depends on what the alternatives are. Martin writes of Brown, If he were younger, yes, he concedes hed mount a primary of his own. 'It would probably be hard to hold me back,' he says in a moment of self-awareness, recalling his 'very stupid' challenge of then-President Jimmy Carter in 1980. The article also offers a tease of what a Brown primary challenge of Biden would have looked like. Brown sounds quite different from todays liberals, Martin writes, as the former governor largely eschews identity issues and, perhaps even more notable, appears unbothered by the threats to American democracy that alarm so many on the left and middle in the Age of Trump. The core issues Brown said he wants to focus on are climate change, homelessness, housing and education. Its not hard to imagine this hypothetical Brown primary challenge drawing support from a class of Biden-skeptical leftist pundits such as Briahna Joy Gray and Aaron Mate, who believe the Democratic Partys focus on Trump and the Republican Party distracts from class-based issues. The overarching theme of the article, however, is that Brown is skeptical of the now-bipartisan consensus that China should be treated as a U.S. adversary. At one point, Brown even warned that if Americans are torn apart by the identity-based culture war, unspecified forces will initiate an actual war with China in an attempt to get us to unite against a common foe. He also downplayed Chinese human rights abuses by saying that not everything we have done has been perfect, so we ought to have a little humility, and he dismissed concerns about the spy balloon that flew over the country earlier this year. Brown was also asked about other prominent California politicians, such as Vice President Kamala Harris, Gov. Gavin Newsom and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. You can read the full article here. WFO HOUSTON/GALVESTON Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Thursday, April 6, 2023 _____ FLASH FLOOD WARNING The National Weather Service in League City has issued a * Flash Flood Warning for... Southeastern Grimes County in southeastern Texas... Northwestern Montgomery County in southeastern Texas... * Until 1015 PM CDT. * At 815 PM CDT, Local law enforcement reported thunderstorms producing heavy rain in western Montgomery County. High water reported by Montgomery County Sheriff's Office on Mt. Mariah Road west of FM 1486 and on Dobbin/Country Road. Between 1 and 3 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is already occurring. HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms. SOURCE...Law enforcement reported. IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas. * Some locations that will experience flash flooding include... Montgomery, Dacus and Dobbin. This includes the following Low Water Crossings... State Highway 105 at Caney Creek, Dacus Johnson Road at Lake Creek, State Highway 105 Old Dobbin Road at Lake Creek, Farm to Market 149 at Little Lake Creek, Mount Mariah Road at Little Caney Creek, Big Oak Drive at Little Lake Creek Tributary, Forest Woods Lane at Little Lake Creek Tributary and Bluewater Road at Little Lake Creek Tributary. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding. Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads. ...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of eastern Duval, west central Nueces and northwestern Jim Wells Counties through 900 PM CDT... At 815 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm capable of producing a landspout near Alice Acres, or near San Diego, moving northeast at 25 mph. HAZARD...Landspouts, winds in excess of 40 mph, and half inch hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. This strong thunderstorm will be near... Ben Bolt around 820 PM CDT. Alice Acres around 825 PM CDT. Alice around 835 PM CDT. Alfred around 855 PM CDT. Alfred-South La Paloma around 900 PM CDT. Other locations impacted by this storm include Agua Dulce and Lake Alice. This includes US Highway 281 between mile markers 660 and 680. If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. LAT...LON 2772 9829 2800 9805 2773 9785 2763 9804 2764 9806 2758 9818 TIME...MOT...LOC 0115Z 240DEG 20KT 2771 9817 LANDSPOUT...POSSIBLE MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH _____ Copyright 2023 AccuWeather WFO HOUSTON/GALVESTON Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, April 9, 2023 _____ FLOOD WARNING BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Flood Warning National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX 113 PM CDT Fri Apr 7 2023 ...The National Weather Service in Houston/Galveston TX has issued a Flood Warning for the following rivers in Texas... Lake Creek at Sendera Ranch Road affecting Montgomery County. For the West Fork San Jacinto River...including Sendera Ranch Road, Conroe, Porter, Humble, Sheldon...Minor flooding is forecast. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Please report observed flooding to local emergency services or law enforcement and request they pass this information to the National Weather Service when you can do so safely. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov. The next statement will be issued late tonight at 115 AM CDT. ...FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT TO SUNDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Lake Creek at Sendera Ranch Road. * WHEN...From late tonight to Sunday afternoon. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 10:45 AM CDT Friday the stage was 132.6 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise above flood stage late tonight to a crest of 138.8 feet early tomorrow afternoon. It will then fall below flood stage Sunday afternoon. - Flood stage is 138.0 feet. - Flood History...This crest compares to a previous crest of 138.4 feet on 02/22/2017. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood Fld Observed Forecasts (1 pm CDT) Location Stg Stg Day/Time Sat Sun Mon Lake Creek Sendera Ranch Rd 138.0 132.6 Fri 10 am CD 138.7 138.1 136.2 _____ Copyright 2023 AccuWeather WFO LAKE CHARLES Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, April 8, 2023 _____ FLOOD WARNING BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Flood Warning National Weather Service Lake Charles LA 612 AM CDT Fri Apr 7 2023 ...The National Weather Service in Lake Charles LA has issued a Flood Warning for the following rivers in Louisiana...Texas... Vermilion River At Lafayette, Surrey Street Gage Bayou Vermilion Near Carencro Bayou Anacoco Near Rosepine Sabine River Near Deweyville Additional information is available at www.weather.gov. ...FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE... * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Sabine River Near Deweyville. * WHEN...From Sunday afternoon until further notice. * IMPACTS...At 24.0 feet, Minor lowland flooding will occur. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 5:45 AM CDT Friday the stage was 18.0 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise above flood stage early Sunday afternoon and continue rising to a crest of 24.4 feet Monday morning. - Flood stage is 24.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood Fld Observed Forecasts (7 am CDT) Location Stg Stg Day/Time Sat Sun Mon Sabine River Deweyville 24.0 18.0 Fri 5 am CDT 21.1 23.7 24.4 _____ Copyright 2023 AccuWeather One of the most commonly used weather terms also happens to be one of the most frequently misunderstood. If youve heard a meteorologist say a 30% chance of rain is expected in an upcoming storm and assumed they meant rain would show up 30% of the time, or even that 30% of the forecast area would get hit with precipitation, youre not alone. Its rather complicated and complex and depends on whos talking, said Scott Rowe, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. The phrase actually refers to the probability of precipitation, Rowe explained that at least one-hundredth of an inch of rain will fall somewhere in the forecast area within a given time frame. Warren Blier, who has been a science and operations officer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration office in Monterey for 25 years, said that measurable quantity of rain has been the standard for as long as he can remember. This is likely due to the design of rain gauges, which are marked with clear, easy-to-read lines that count every hundredth of an inch of collected rainfall. When we say chance of rain, in a sense, were really saying a chance of rain for a particular location, Blier explained. It might be a chance of rain across an area in which many locations are included, but I would do the interpretation from a spot-on-the-ground standpoint: Hey, where I am, there is a measurable chance of rain or will be a measurable chance of rain where I will be. Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE But how do forecasters calculate rain percentages? Theres a formula that goes something like this: Forecaster confidence times aerial coverage of expected precipitation equals the chance of rain. However, both Blier and Rowe described that method as more of a hypothetical and bygone way of determining the forecast. In recent years, the weather service has shifted toward a newer system known as the National Blend of Models. The latest version, which was adopted by meteorologists across the country in early 2020, is a sophisticated, post-process computer weather forecast model output calibrated by a series of numerical weather prediction models, Blier said. And its not just used for rain; it also helps meteorologists get a better probabilistic take on other weather parameters like temperature, cloud cover, wind and humidity, Rowe said. The computer-generated models are only a starting point, though. The output is provided in a way that there still are places where the human forecaster can make adjustments, Blier said. Whats also important to consider is how most people perceive the term chance of rain. If a meteorologist says theres a 30% chance of rain, that also means theres a 70% chance and a higher likelihood that it wont rain at all. Because we live in a place where its much more common for it not to be raining, people tend to focus on the thing thats less frequent and could have a higher impact, Blier said. So, if no precipitation shows up, it doesnt mean the forecaster was wrong. Regardless, its information the weather service has to relay to the public. Roads could get slick. It could flood, he continued. We do want to highlight potential risks that could have an adverse impact. What if a forecaster doesnt bring up a percentage but instead refers to a slight or likely chance of rain? Those qualifying terms actually refer to a range of probability-of-precipitation percentages. A slight chance of rain could be used by a forecaster if the probability of precipitation is between 1% and 20%, but it's usually mentioned when the chance of rain is between 15% and 24%. A chance of rain refers to a probability between 30% and 50%. A likely chance of rain would be between 60% and 70%. And with any probability of precipitation higher than 75%, the forecaster has the option of describing it as periods of rain, occasional rain or simply rain, Blier said. Measurements and percentages aside, what if a few drops of rain hit your windshield while youre driving but not enough to be formally counted as a day of rain? Id say thats simply a trace, Blier said. Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely focused on the strengthening of Russian economic control over Belarus, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has said in its daily report. During a one-on-one meeting with Alexander Lukashenko, Putin highlighted the creation of a joint system for indirect taxes, measures to form general standards for Russian and Belarusian industrial enterprises, and efforts to unify Belarusian and Russian trade legislation. Putin and Lukashenko said that Russian and Belarusian officials are focused on import substitution measures. The countries also continue creating a joint oil and gas market and are working on drafting an agreement for the formation of a single electricity market. Thus, the Kremlin is likely advancing longstanding efforts to subsume elements of Belarus' defense industrial base, the western analysts said. Over $300 million of funds from all over the world have been collected with the help of the Ukrainian government charitable platform UNITED24 over 11 months of its operation, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. "In 11 months of operation of the UNITED24 fundraising platform, thanks to donations from more than 110 countries, more than $300 million were raised. Ukraine feels the support of the whole world in the fight for freedom and independence. Thank you," Zelenskyy said on Telegram on Friday. Every year on April 7th, the world comes together to celebrate World Health Day, an important day that marks the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) and highlights global health issues. This year, the theme for World Health Day is "Health for All," a concept that has been at the forefront of the WHO's mission since its inception. The goal of "Health for All" is to ensure that every person, regardless of their economic or social status, has access to essential healthcare services. It includes access to clean water and sanitation, primary medical care, vaccinations, and education and information about health and wellness. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the urgent need for equitable access to healthcare and the importance of investing in resilient health systems. Unfortunately, despite significant progress over the years, millions of people worldwide still need access to essential healthcare services. This is often due to poverty, a need for more education, information, or infrastructure and resources. According to the WHO, around half of the world's population cannot access essential healthcare services. Achieving "Health for All" will require significant investment in healthcare systems and a commitment to addressing the underlying social and economic factors contributing to poor health outcomes. This will require collaboration between governments, healthcare providers, and communities. Many examples of countries and communities are making progress towards achieving "Health for All." For instance, in Rwanda, the government has invested heavily in healthcare infrastructure and education, significantly improving maternal and child health outcomes. In Kerala, India, a comprehensive public healthcare system has led to high access to healthcare and improved health outcomes for the population. As we celebrate World Health Day 2023, we must reflect on the progress made in global health while renewing our commitment to achieving "Health for All." So it will require a concerted effort from all stakeholders, including governments, healthcare providers, and communities. Healthcare providers can work to improve access to healthcare services and promote health education and awareness in their communities. Governments can invest in healthcare infrastructure and resources and prioritize policies promoting health equity and healthcare access for all. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society groups can advocate for better healthcare and raise awareness about global health issues. Dr. Vishal Rao, Regional Director, Head & Neck Surgical Oncology and Robotic Surgery, HCG Cancer Hospital Bengaluru, said, Health is profoundly, often adversely, affected by policies made in non-health sectors. These policies may arise from the decisions of various government ministries or from the workings of the international systems that govern trade, business relations and financial markets. Prevention requires population-wide interventions that are largely beyond the power of ministries of health to introduce and hence requires a Health in all policies approach. Public policies dealing with (for example) water and sanitation, education, social services, built and natural environments, agricultural and industrial production, trade, regulation, revenue collection and allocation of public resources have important ramifications for population health and health equity. Dr. Shyam Shrivastava, Director-Radiation Oncology, and HCG Cancer Centre Mumbai, said According to an ICMR Study, one in every nine people in India are at risk of developing cancer. There are multiple factors such as changing lifestyle habits and climate that are responsible for the rise in cancer incidences. Cancer as a disease, if detected at an early stage, can be managed well and many cancers may be cured. On the occasion of World Health Day, we encourage people across age groups to do regular screenings as it will help in early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. This will certainly increase the chances of successful treatment and good quality of life. Raghavendra Rao, Chief Distribution Officer, Future Generali India Insurance Company, said World Health Day is a global observance that highlights the importance of promoting good health and well-being for everyone. On this day, we recognize the significant role of the insurance sector in helping to achieve universal health coverage and ensuring access to quality healthcare for all. Health insurance is not just a financial product; it's a critical tool for ensuring access to healthcare for everyone. On this World Health Day, let us recognize the important role of the insurance sector in promoting universal health coverage and building a healthier, more resilient world. Health insurance is an essential tool that can provide financial protection against unforeseen medical expenses, which can otherwise be a significant burden on individuals and families. It not only helps to provide financial security but also promotes preventive care and early detection of illnesses, leading to better health outcomes. As we celebrate World Health Day, let us acknowledge the critical role of the insurance sector in building a healthier, more resilient world for all. TM Shyamsunder, COO of Royal Sundaram General Insurance Co Ltd, said We all live in a fast-paced world where data and workflow at 5G speeds. While we are move ahead keeping up the pace, our health has become a major issue due to hectic schedules, irregular eating habits, minimal physical exercise, and fast food at an app away. Such an unhealthy lifestyle is inviting silent killer diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiac issues and debilitating musculoskeletal disorders. Therefore, physical fitness is the first requisite for happiness. I believe that the greatest gift we can give our family is health. On World Health Day, we should take steps towards enhancing and protecting our health by undertaking physical exercises and keeping focus on our mental wellbeing. Dr. Shankar V, Senior Consultant - Internal Medicine, Manipal Hospital Malleshwaram, said Every year we celebrate world health day. I since early suggest in the society we careful about the vector born diseases. And also we concentrate on chronic diseases diabetes, hypertension and heart diseases. Please change the life style modifications. Because we are working under major stress. Beat the diseases by taking proper treatment and need a good life. India and Mexico have introduced studies to discover the potential for a free-trade agreement (FTA), Mexicos Ambassador to India, Federico Salas Lotfe, said in an interview. However, Lotfe said that the deal is unlikely to be inked within the next two years due to India's focus on continuing FTA discussions with the UK, Australia, and other countries. To bolster economic linkages, Lotfe proposed connecting entrepreneurs from both countries while also highlighting opportunities in research on the uses of lithium. Last year, Mexico encouraged Indias Sun Mobility, which builds energy infrastructure for electric vehicles, to expand into Mexico. Ambassador Lotfe stated that joint ventures between Indian and Mexican firms on lithium research should be realized over the medium term. Edited excerpts: India and Mexico have a growing economic relationship. Are there any plans for an FTA? We got an expression of interest from the Indian side before the pandemic to explore the possibility of a free trade agreement. Now, what has happened is that India has been very busy negotiating other free trade agreements with Australia, the UK and the European Union. So, I would think that the negotiating team of India is quite busy right now. So this has not moved as fast as one would think. But we are at the stage right now of exploring whether having a FTA is something that were both interested in. This is in the pipeline. Having said that, I think what is important is that even without a free trade agreement, the trade relationship is a very healthy and growing one. Its so I would think that if we were to eventually have a free trade agreement, things would move much, much faster. However, I think this isnt something that is going to happen this year or next. You mentioned that Mexico is interested in Indias digital and startups sector. Will India and Mexico set up a formal platform to connect entrepreneurs from both countries? Well, that has not been a proposal so far, but it certainly is not ruled out. So far, we have linked the Mexican startups with some of the Indian startups. We have also been in close touch with Nasscom. Moving towards a forum is certainly a possibility. Within Mexico, we created a forum which includes some of the Indian startup companies that are already working in Mexico. But we may move in that direction (of a formal platform). We are just starting in some ways. Both countries have agreed to look into technology tie-ups on lithium technology. Are we going to be looking at specific investments by Indian firms in Mexico or vice-versa? That may be the case in the future. We have just taken the first step in that direction. The question of investments is open-ended. If companies want to invest in Mexico, theyre more than welcome to. But were looking more into the aspect of research into the possible uses of lithium. From there, we would look not so much into the mining and exploitation of the lithium itself but what happens once it is being used in, for example, electrical batteries for automobiles. That is an area where there might be opportunities for investments. Right now, in Mexico, were starting to look into the whole question of electric vehicles, which includes work on batteries. But this is a work in progress. The possibilities are there, and we are looking forward to greater collaboration on this. Apart from research on this new technology, would joint ventures between Indian and Mexican companies also be considered in the long term? I would say in the medium term. As I said, Mexico is moving very much into this field. There have been announcements recently of some very significant investments in Mexico. Tesla is going to build a major plant in Mexico for electric vehicles, and some electrical battery companies are also going to start building in Mexico. We have encouraged some makers here in India to also look into the Mexican market. For example, when our Foreign Minister was here (in 2022), we met with Sun Mobility, a company that makes electric batteries and charging infrastructure. Were encouraging this company to come to Mexico. With India looking to diversify its energy suppliers and secure its energy security, should we expect to see any energy tie-ups between the two countries or investments by Indian oil majors in Mexico? Well, I can tell you that there are some Indian companies that do have investments in the oil sector of Mexico. At the same time, they are part of multinational consortiums. So that is taking place already, and whether there will be opportunities in the future will depend on the actual operational situation on the ground and whether what Indian companies, together with others, can offer will be of interest to Mexico. On energy security, we are providing India with a large amount of oil. A big chunk of our $10 billion bilateral trade includes this oil trade. India received 6.19 million foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) during 2022 as compared to 1.52 million during the same period of 2021. There were 10.93 million FTAs in India during the pre-pandemic year 2019. The Tourism Industry has shown good signs of revival after Covid-19 pandemic. The Ministry of Tourism under its Schemes of 'Swadesh Darshan', 'PRASHAD' and Assistance to Central Agencies, provides central financial assistance to the state governments, Union territories and Central agencies for development of tourism related infrastructure and facilities to provide an enriching tourism experience to visitors in a planned and phased manner. The Ministry of Tourism has set up a 24x7 Multi-Lingual Tourist Info-Helpline on the toll free number 1800111363 or on a short code 1363 in 12 languages, including 10 international languages (German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic), Hindi and English for domestic and foreign tourists to provide support service in term of information relating to travel in India and to offer appropriate guidance to tourists in distress while travelling in India. According to a written reply in Parliament on April 6, the Ministry of Tourism has taken several initiatives to give a boost to the tourism sector in the country and to increase foreign tourist arrivals. It launched the 'Dekho Apna Desh' initiative with the objective of creating awareness among the citizens about the rich heritage and culture of the country and encouraging citizens to travel within the country. It is conducting programmes under the 'Capacity Building for Service Providers' (CBSP) Scheme to train and upgrade manpower to provide better service standards. It also launched Incredible India Tourist Facilitator Certification Programme, a digital initiative that aims at creating an online learning platform with the objective of creating a pool of well trained professional tourist facilitators across the country to support tourists. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. As Walmart prepares to shutter more than a dozen stores across the country, the company has announced even more cutbacks, giving hundreds of workers at five e-commerce fulfillment centers just 90 days to find a job at other company locations. A Walmart spokesperson told Reuters that this latest reduction affects about 200 workers in Pedricktown, N.J. Hundreds of other workers were let go due to an elimination of evening and weekend shifts in the following places: Fort Worth, Texas; Chino, Calif..; Davenport, Fla.; Bethlehem, Pa. The layoffs are significant, Reuters reported, and the job reductions could signal further turmoil in the U.S. economy. The spokesperson said that impacted workers would be paid for 90 days and given that time to find a job at other facilities, including those in Joliet, Ill., and Lancaster, Texas, where the company has opened up new high-tech e-commerce distribution centers. The company noted that there are 5,000 U.S. stores and facilities where these workers can seek employment. In recent weeks, Walmart has drawn national attention for a series of store closures, which come after CEO Doug McMillion said in 2022 that record-breaking retail theft has hit the companys economic performance and could lead to store closures, Yahoo News reported. Theft is an issue. Its higher than what it has historically been, McMillion said, adding that prices will be higher and/or stores will close if authorities dont crack down on shoplifting crimes. In March, the company announced it would shutter the two stores in Portland, Oregons largest city, because the locations were not meeting financial expectations. Those closures affected more than 500 workers. More than a dozen other stores will also close this year across 11 states. Heres a look at the full list: Arkansas 3701 SE Dodson Road, Bentonville (pick-up only) Georgia 1801 Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta 835 M.L.K. Jr Dr NW, Atlanta Florida 6900 US Highway 19 North, Pinellas Park (Neighborhood Market concept) Hawaii 1032 Fort Street Mall, Honolulu Illinois 17550 South Halsted St, Homewood 12690 S. Route 59, Plainfield 840 N. McCormick Blvd, Lincolnwood (pick-up only concept) Indiana 3701 Portage Road, South Bend Minnesota 1200 Shingle Creek Pkwy, Brooklyn Center New Mexico 301 San Mateo Blvd. SE, Albuquerque Oregon 4200 82nd Ave. SE, Portland 1123 N Hayden Meadows Dr., Portland Texas 24919 Westheimer Pkwy, Katy (Neighborhood Market concept) Washington 11400 Hwy. 99, Everett Washington D.C. 99 H Street NW, Washington Wisconsin 10330 W. Silver Spring Dr, Milwaukee The chain also closed two Ohio locations -- one in Mayfield Heights and one in Cincinnati -- in April and May 2022, respectively. ADDITIONAL BUSINESS NEWS Development of Amazon Fresh stores on pause. Will possible Staten Island location ever open? Are you Facebook friends with co-workers? New research identifies social media challenges in workplace. How much does the average customer spend at Costco? New report reveals some key numbers. Mick Mars, lead guitarist of the heavy metal band Motley Crue, is suing his bandmates, Variety is reporting. In documents filed on Thursday in Los Angeles Countys Superior Court, Mars, 71, claims the band had him sign a severance agreement stripping him of his 25% share in the band in exchange for a 5% share of the bands current tour, which he is not performing on for medical reasons, the report said. Mars said he would retire from touring duties due to crippling pain from Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), an ailment hes had since age 27, but that he would remain a member of the group, the report said. During much of the bands recent tenure, (Nikki) Sixx continually gaslighted Mars by telling him that he (Mars) had some sort of cognitive dysfunction, and that his guitar playing was sub-par, claiming that Mars forgot chords, and sometimes started playing the wrong songs, the lawsuit stated. Motley Crue has been mainly comprised of vocalist Vince Neil, bassist Sixx, drummer Tommy Lee and Mars since the band began in 1981 in Los Angeles. The Grammy-nominated group is widely recognized for numerous hit songs including Dr. Feelgood, Girls Girls Girls, Kickstart My Heart and Home Sweet Home, among others. A Brooklyn drug dealer who sold The Wire actor Michael K. Williams fentanyl-laced heroin, which led to his death, pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court on Wednesday, the Associated Press reported. Irvin Cartagena, 39, faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and the possibility of as many as 40 years after pleading to a charge of conspiring to distribute drugs. Williams, who appeared in films and TV series including The Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire, overdosed in September 2021 in his Brooklyn apartment at the age of 54 hours after authorities allege he bought heroin from Cartagena, the report said. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams (who is not related to the actor) said in a statement that the sale occurred in broad daylight in New York City, feeding addiction and causing tragedy. In doing so, he dealt the fatal dose that killed Michael K. Williams, Williams said. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Staten Island is the site of the top nursing home in the state, according to Newsweeks ranking for 2023. NYC Health + Hospitals Sea View, located at 460 Brielle Ave., was ranked the number one hospital in the state. The Newsweek rating was based on performance data, reputation, pandemic response and accreditation by the Joint Commission International. Earlier this week, NYC Health + Hospitals CEO Matthew Levy celebrated the top-spot ranking with Sea View employees during a luncheon at the facility, thanking them for their hard work, dedication and expertise. To be recognized as the best-performing nursing home in all of New York State is truly incredible and one that fills my heart with a deep sense of pride, said NYC Health + Hospitals CEO Matthew Levy. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel) Receiving the #1 ranking from Newsweek is a tremendous honor and one that we are very proud of. I have always known that our exceptional staff go above and beyond in their care of our residents, even in the most challenging of times, Levy said. To be recognized as the best-performing nursing home in all of New York State is truly incredible and one that fills my heart with a deep sense of pride, he added. Newsweek's ratings were based on performance data, reputation, pandemic response and accreditation by the Joint Commission International. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel) Last year, Sea View was ranked third in the state and sixth in 2021, the first year that Newsweek began publishing its Best Nursing Homes list. In addition to its number one ranking, NYC Health + Hospitals Sea View also has a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare and is known for its Alzheimers care and traumatic brain injury services. Levy was presented with a Certificate of Recognition for providing high-quality health care to Staten Islanders from Ryan Crimmins, community liaison with the Community Partnership Unit at the Richmond County District Attorneys Office. The facility was presented with a Certificate of Recognition for providing high-quality health care to Staten Islanders from Ryan Crimmins, community liaison with the Community Partnership Unit at the Richmond County District Attorneys Office. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel) District Attorney Michael McMahon said, As a lifelong Staten Islander, it brings me immense pride that our very own Sea View was ranked as the top nursing facility in all of New York. We are so thankful to the dedicated nurses, physicians, staff and families who make Sea View the great place that it is and incredibly deserving of this honor. Out Island is a better place now, and we will continue to be in the future, because of the care they provide to our neighbors and loved ones. MORE FROM KRISTIN F. DALTON: Sexually transmitted infections on the rise in NYC; Health Department urges testing School shooting hoax calls in NY could be coming from overseas, trying to cause disruption, report says 7 things to know about Staten Islands first legal weed dispensary Retired NYC probation officer back to work after retirement via Silver Stars: I truly have benefited from it Spring cleaning of Staten Island streets: Find out when, where roads will be closed NYC opioid settlement $$: Assemblyman says Staten Island is being blatantly deprived of the funds Towing company accused of overcharging customers on Staten Island gets another extension to continue operating South Shore mobile outreach center for those struggling with drug addiction gets funding boost New NYC camera program targeting loud cars has been issuing $800 summonses Enhanced STAR property tax exemption deadline approaching: heres who qualifies, how to apply How much is the average tax return in 2023? Nearly 8 million refunds issued so far What U.S. state charges the most sales tax on weed? Heres a breakdown of all 21 states FOLLOW KRISTIN F. DALTON ON TWITTER. Need to get caught up quickly with whats happening at Reckon? Subscribe to the Reckon Report for a weekly rundown. A Texas couple say their infant daughter was wrongfully taken from their home by child protective services and are demanding her immediate return. At a press conference on Thursday, Rodney and Temecia Jackson said police and county officials showed up at their Dallas County home on March 28 and took their 1-week-old daughter Mila from them, then handed them paperwork that bore the name of a different set of parents whom theyd never heard of. They said they believe Child Protective Services used the troubled history of the wrong mother to justify taking their child. I felt like they had stolen my baby as I had had a home birth, and they were trying to say my baby belonged to this other woman, said Temecia Jackson. She said she was home alone with her 7-day-old daughter when police and CPS officials arrived to take the baby. Her husband had just returned from walking the family dog and was arrested in the front yard after refusing to unlock the door for police, the couple said. He was later released. A representative from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services told Reckon the department cant release information publicly because CPS cases are confidential. Temecia Jackson said she gave birth to Mila at their home on March 21, attended by Cheryl Edinbyrd, a certified professional midwife licensed by the state of Texas. The birth went well, she said, and Mila was born a healthy 6 lbs. 9 oz. Three days later, the Jacksons said, they took Mila to their pediatrician, Dr. Anand Bhatt, for a checkup. Temecia said Mila was seen by the nurse practitioner, who said Mila looked fine except that she had jaundice, a condition common in newborns in which a babys liver isnt mature enough to remove bilirubin a substance made during the bodys normal process of breaking down old red blood cells from the bloodstream. Jaundice typically resolves without medical intervention but can in some cases be more serious. We left the visit thinking everything was fine, said Temecia. A couple of hours later, the pediatrician called my phone and wanted us to direct-admit Mila to the hospital. In a letter to CPS, Bhatt said Mila had a bilirubin level of 21.7, and that at a bilirubin over 20, a baby risks brain damage, because the bilirubin can cross the blood brain barrier, according to a report from WFAA. Bhatt wanted Mila to undergo phototherapy at the hospital, which is a standard treatment for jaundice. What followed was back-and-forth texts and calls between herself and the pediatrician, she said. She told him she and Mila were receiving follow-up care from their midwife and that they would be able to safely treat Mila at home. She said she told him they would follow the care options hed outlined for them, including making sure Mila got enough breastmilk, providing Mila phototherapy treatment and giving him the contact information for her midwife. Temecia said Bhatts texts became aggressive, and he said if she didnt take Mila to the hospital he would call CPS. In his letter to CPS, Bhatt said he filed a report with CPS after multiple attempts to appeal to the family. Parents are very loving and they care dearly about their baby, Bhatt wrote in his letter, obtained by WFAA. He was concerned they would not have the right kind of light source for the phototherapy. Their distrust for medical care and guidance has led them to make a decision for the baby to refuse a simple treatment that can prevent brain damage. Police and CPS officials came to the Jackson home twice the following day, the couple said, but the Jacksons refused to let them in the house. In the meantime, Edinbyrd told Reckon, she was monitoring Milas case of jaundice. She said Mila was eating well and having regular bowel movements and it appeared the jaundice was clearing up. Temecia comforts her husband Rodney Jackson. The Texas couple say officials wrongly removed their infant daughter from their home on March 28, 2023. (Courtesy of Cheryl Edinbyrd) On Tuesday, March 28, they said DeSoto police officers and CPS officials came again with EMS and other emergency personnel, while Temecia was home with Mila and Rodney was walking the dog in the neighborhood. Temecia said she refused to let the police in the house and called Rodney. When Rodney arrived at the home, he said officers arrested him when he refused to unlock the door. He said they took his keys to be able to enter the house. Temecia said officials then took Mila from her arms and handed her an affidavit that had been signed the previous day by the pediatrician. But the affidavit didnt have Temecias or Rodneys names anywhere on it, she said. Instead, it listed the name and personal history of a woman and man shed never heard of, she said. We dont know where the mistake was made, she said, either by the doctor reporting it or by (child protective services) who took the call. We dont know who these people (listed in the document as Milas parents) are. Edinbyrd told Reckon the affidavit includes a history of the womans multiple prior interactions with CPS. Temecia said the family has never had prior involvement with child services. When Reckon called Bhatts office for comment, an office employee redirected the call to the patient relations department of Baylor Scott & White Health, the Dallas-based health system that employs Bhatt. A representative of Baylor Scott & White declined to comment on the case specifically, citing patient privacy, but said, We do abide by reporting requirements set forth in the Texas Family Code and any other applicable laws. The Jacksons say they have contacted their state representative and other officials but have not been able to regain custody of Mila, who turned 2 weeks old on Tuesday and is currently in foster care. Edinbyrd said she got nowhere when she called CPS to tell them they had the wrong mother listed on the paperwork. Were trying to make as much noise as possible to get our daughter back, said Rodney. We have been ignored by CPS. Weve been treated like criminals. This is a nightmare I wouldnt wish on anyone. The couple said theyve only been allowed to see their daughter twice since she was removed from their home. They said that when they visited her on Wednesday, they noticed she had what looked like diaper rash and possible vaginal yeast infection. When they brought that to the attention of CPS workers, they said, CPS brought in a police officer and took Mila away, promising she would be taken to a doctor. Edinbyrd said Mila is currently with a foster parent the Jacksons do not know, and they are concerned shes not receiving adequate care. Requests to have Mila transferred to the care of a relative have been delayed, she said. This baby is bonding with a perfect stranger, she said. If CPS needs to investigate, why not do that while the child is with the mother, or allow the mother to visit the child every day under supervision? Research has shown separating a child from her parents can have detrimental, long-term emotional and psychological consequences for the child and the parents. Children of color are disproportionately affected; studies have noted that medical providers and child welfare workers are more likely to report child abuse when the child is Black or Latino. A virtual court hearing was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Thursday, but Edinbyrd who was on the hearings video call said that a few minutes before the hearing was supposed to start, the judge in the case rescheduled the hearing for April 20. Its unclear what kind of investigation, if any, has been opened into the Jacksons case. Edinbyrd said nobody from CPS or any other department has contacted her, even though she is Temecias healthcare provider and was caring for Mila after the birth and has their medical records. Is nobody seeing what were seeing? she said. Is nobody looking at this and seeing something has gone wrong? Mila is Temecias third child the couple have two older sons and this was her first experience with home birth. Edinbyrd said the situation with the doctor and CPS is indicative of a medical system that does not respect midwifery care, Black midwifery care and the right of Black mothers to make the choices they feel are best for their families. The Afiya Center, a Texas-based reproductive justice nonprofit focused on Black women and girls, hosted the Jacksons press conference with the Next Generation Action Network, a Dallas-based social justice organization. This is a direct violent attack on Black women, Black bodies, Black families, said Qiana Arnold, a doula who works on Afiya Centers birth justice team. The reason why we are here is because of systems and systemic racism. A non-Black physician decided this capable family could not parent their child. This is a violation of their human rights to parent their children. The Jacksons still dont know where their daughter is living, and dont know when she will be returned to them. Mila needs to come home today, said Edinbyrd. Her parents need to hold her today. We dont want to hear wait. Theres an injustice being done. Send Mila home today. *Updated 4/10/2023 with a response from Baylor Scott & White Health. Russian commanders are reportedly constructing specialized company-size units within key frontline formations engaged in urban combat to reinforce the diminished combat effectiveness of most Russian units, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has said in its daily report. "'Storm Z' companies are intended to conduct urban combat operations or operations in complicated geographic areas to capture important and strategic objects such as strongholds, command posts, and communication centers. [] The personnel that staff these companies receive 10 to 15 days of refresher training, a remarkably short amount of time to adequately train personnel (even reservists with some experience) to perform complex combat tasks and create unit cohesion," it said. According to the analysts, the "Storm Z" companies will likely primarily deploy along the AvdiyivkaDonetsk City frontline, where Southern Military District (SMD) units are heavily committed to continuously unsuccessful offensive operations. "It is unlikely that the use of these formations will lend Russian forces on this frontline a significant offensive edge," the ISW said. Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks along the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line and continued ground attacks in and around Bakhmut on April 6. "Ukrainian officials indicated that Russian forces are able to maintain a suitable rate of artillery fire in prioritized areas of the front at the expense of other sectors," the analysts said. According to the ISW, Russian forces may have withdrawn equipment from occupied Crimea for redeployment elsewhere in southern Ukraine out of fear of a Ukrainian counteroffensive. San Mateo, CA (94402) Today Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 72F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear early, then a few clouds later on. Low 48F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. The competition regulator will launch a public review of Viva Energys $1.15 billion bid to buy the OTR convenience store chain as analysts warn the combined groups market power in South Australia looms as a potential hurdle to the deal proceeding. Viva Energy, which owns the Geelong oil refinery and Australias Shell, Liberty and Coles Express service stations, last week signed a binding deal with Adelaide-based Peregrine Corporation to acquire OTRs 205 stores across the country. Viva Energy, the owner of the Geelong oil refinery and Australias Shell petrol station network, has agreed to acquire OTRs 200-plus stores in a $1.15 billion deal. Credit: Patrick Scala Viva Energy has spruiked the deal as transformative, as OTRs highly successful retail offerings at its service stations including cafes, quick-serve restaurants and groceries are set to become increasingly important as motorists spend longer periods waiting for their electric vehicles to charge. Analysts said the deal puts Viva on track to ownership of more than 1000 stores and a market-leading convenience offering that could lift Vivas non-fuel earnings from 30 per cent to 50 per cent of profit. About a year on, Sun is changing Huobis direction again, according to current and former workers. Some of Huobis hundreds of workers on the mainland say theyre concerned that insufficient controls to keep people in China from trading on the platform could antagonise local authorities and put them at risk. These people spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid reprisals from Huobi. The company says it complies with Chinese regulations and doesnt serve clients in the country. For Sun, wooing Chinese customers represents a potentially lucrative way of turning the business around. Sun said in an interview with Bloomberg News in January that Huobi was losing roughly $US10 million a month, and the company announced it would cut about a fifth of its workforce to help stem the bleeding. (Sun says he became an adviser to Huobi after amassing a large position in its native token, called HT.) Throughout December and January, Huobi added thousands of Chinese citizens as customers per day on average, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter who asked not to be identified discussing confidential information. Theres no information on whether these new customers were based inside or outside China. In late December, the majority of the roughly 80,000 clients it signed up daily did so using either a Chinese phone number or an email address used predominantly by Chinese nationals, the person said. Huobi said in a response to questions from Bloomberg News that it doesnt operate in China. It added that Chinese Internet Protocol addresses are strictly prohibited from accessing the platform, and the new customers are from anywhere but China. Huobi has exited the Chinese market and barred Chinese users from signing up or logging in, the company said. Chinese regulators havent announced sanctions on any offshore exchange operators for signing up users based in China since the ban took effect. And people living in the country can also access other crypto trading venues with relative ease these days, for example by using virtual private networks to mask their location. Sun says he doesnt own any stock in the company, founded in China almost a decade ago, and his official title is adviser yet he works at its main office in Singapore, sends mass memos to employees, represents it in media interviews and has used about $US200 million of his own wealth to help prop it up so far this year. Credit: Bloomberg Binance, one of Huobis two main rivals in China before the crackdown, didnt answer questions from Bloomberg News about its policy on Chinese users or whether it has employees there, saying only that it doesnt operate in China. The other one, OKX, declined to comment. The Peoples Bank of China, which oversees crypto regulations, didnt respond to a faxed request for comment. Blocking users in China Under previous majority owner Leon Li, Huobi used geolocation to ensure that people in China were cut off from the platform after the ban, according to three people who worked there at the time. Those safeguards have been dropped under Sun, two of the people said. Geolocation involves methods such as using GPS coordinates or the location of cell-phone towers to determine where a user is, in addition to IP addresses. Asked about whether it currently uses geolocation beyond banning Chinese IP addresses, Huobi said it employs KYC verification to prevent China users from accessing the platform, using the acronym for know-your-customer procedures. The companys main huobi.com URL is blocked in China, and Huobis mobile application isnt available on local app stores. However, using a slight variation of the URL on a web browser allows users on the mainland to download Huobis trading app. Asked about the URL variation, Huobi said only that it doesnt engage in crypto business in China. The lure of potentially taking on Chinese traders is obvious: The nation of 1.4 billion people was once the worlds biggest market for Bitcoin trading, and dominated mining of the token. Huobi has gone further than competitors in making the platform available to Chinese crypto traders by enabling them on its mobile app to register under a Dominican nationality. Citizens of the eight other countries listed as barred from using Huobi in its user agreement arent immediately given the same option. Sun is no stranger to walking the regulatory tightrope in China. In 2017, while he was based there, his Tron Foundation raised about $US70 million in an initial coin offering of the TRX token that was completed just days before Chinese authorities banned ICOs. Sun, believing he was a fugitive, hurriedly left China soon after the deal, The Verge reported in March last year, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter. In July 2019, Chinese news outlet Caixin said Sun had been placed on a border control list by the government amid allegations of illegal fundraising. Huobi declined to comment on the two reports. Sun has previously said he worked with Chinese regulators to refund local TRX holders quickly after the ban took effect, and hes called the Caixin story completely inaccurate. The US Securities and Exchange Commission on March 22 sued Sun for allegedly violating securities rules, accusing him of breaking anti-fraud and market manipulation regulations. Sun tweeted at the time that the suit lacks merit. Anti-China strategy Sun eventually settled in Geneva and in 2021 became permanent trade representative to the World Trade Organisation for Grenada a title that comes with diplomatic immunity and adopted the honorific his excellency on his Twitter profile. Sun currently splits his time between Geneva, the Caribbean and Singapore, where hes been working at Huobis office in the main financial district. On Friday, Sun tweeted that his term as trade representative for Grenada has come to an end. In the January interview with Bloomberg News, Sun blamed what he called Lis anti-China strategy for Huobis rapid loss of market share. At the same time, he was vague on how he plans to reverse it, saying that Hong Kong the Chinese enclave thats increasingly embracing crypto will be an initial focal point for Huobis expansion. Li couldnt be reached for comment through the Hong Kong-listed company he controls. In a Bloomberg Television interview in early February, Sun said Huobis revenue may have tripled in January, adding that the company would probably be profitable in the first quarter. Sun says he believes China is likely to reverse its crypto ban after studying how the industry develops in Hong Kong, which has a separate legal and financial system. However, he signalled hes content to wait until that happens before actively courting Chinese traders. Currently, our focus is not to directly go to Chinese users, Sun said in January. Becoming Dominican Interviews with 11 current and former employees who spoke on condition of anonymity paint a different picture. As of mid-February, at least six workers in Beijing had left or were in the process of leaving because they were concerned that the recent influx of Chinese clients could attract the attention of local authorities, given what they describe as a lack of safeguards to ensure those users arent based in China. In September 2021, the Peoples Bank of China (PBOC) banned all cryptocurrency transactions. Credit: Bloomberg Even as Huobis top management and other workers relocated to Singapore or Hong Kong after Chinas ban, many employees mostly in areas like engineering and marketing remained in the country, according to the people. Huobi declined to say how many workers it has in China. Overseas-based crypto platforms that sign up traders in China are probably not at legal risk from authorities but any employees located on the mainland could be, along with the users themselves, according to Dominic Wai, a partner at ONC Lawyers in Hong Kong. One thing that distinguishes Huobi from rivals is an option, announced in November, that lets would-be users apply for a digital identity with the tiny island nation of Dominica. Those selecting China as citizenship when applying on Huobis app are told that because of nationality restrictions, they will be redirected to a page where they can apply for a Dominican digital identity, or DID, the people said. Once on-boarded, their profile on the app then shows them as Dominican citizens, according to the people. New funding route The current and former employees interviewed for this story said they perceived the DID system as designed specifically to make it easier to attract Chinese clients trying to get around the crypto ban. A January 4 internal memo from Sun written in Chinese, seen by Bloomberg News, said the introduction of DID was helping Huobi mitigate regulatory risks, without elaborating. Huobi said its not aware of the memo. Huobi treats Chinese users in the same way it treats those from areas where it has no presence, and it never singles Chinese users out for KYC verification, the company said in response to questions about DID. It also said DID has nothing to do with KYC procedures. Starting March 1, clients who sign up using DID have a new avenue for funding their Huobi accounts through Chinese banks like ICBC, according to marketing materials seen by Bloomberg News. The process involves a roundabout method of buying a so-called digital collectible basically a Chinese version of nonfungible tokens thats legal there on online marketplace Yuanhou. In effect, the client buys a collectible designated by Huobi on Yuanhou, and Huobi then funds their trading account by the equivalent amount. Sun retweeted a February 28 Twitter post advertising the yuan funding method from a person whose account identifies them as working at the exchange. Huobi said in response to questions about the initiative that it doesnt issue the collectibles on Yuanhou and that it doesnt support yuan-denominated trading. ICBC, Chinas largest bank, didnt respond to a request for comment. Some recent comments and actions by Sun and Huobis management indicate theyre aware of the risks. In January, human resources staffers told workers in China that their employment contracts would be terminated and asked them to sign consulting agreements with overseas Huobi entities instead, four people with direct knowledge of the matter said. Huobi also wanted to pay them in Tethers stablecoin USDT instead of in yuan, they said. The people said one reason given for the changes was ensuring employees safety given the push to on-board Chinese customers. Local staffers pushed back and went so far as to start a group on popular chat app QQ decrying the proposal and discussing ways to fight it. After initially pausing the switch to consulting contracts and payment in crypto, Huobi has revived it and the changes were implemented in mid-February, two of the people said. Huobi didnt comment on the matter, saying only that it has been taking active measures to protect employees interest. Around 70 per cent of Go-Tos social media following is from Foster Blakes Instagram account, which is more than double Go-Tos base of followers. The BWX announcement at the time, also made it clear that Foster Blake retains ownership of key intellectual property and cited her relationship with the business as a key woman risk. The loss of founder and brand ambassador ... could have a materially adverse impact on Go-To and its activities and financial performance, it said. Foster Blake declined to comment, but Go-To gave this masthead the first indications that BWX might be ready to offload its controlling stake last month, with a statement highlighting its independence from the already embattled ASX-listed group. Go-To operates as an independent entity, managing its own treasury, formulations, manufacturing and retailer relationships. We have an independent Sydney-based team led by our CEO, Brad Dransfield, and no financial, manufacturing or supplier affiliations with BWX, Go-To said. That puts Go-To in a much better position to control its destiny, even as BWX tries to find a way to keep the likes of Sukin and Mineral Fusions alive. The BWX appointed administrators, and CBAs receivers, have both confirmed that the Go-To sales process will continue but would not give any indication of when a deal might be reached. Zoe Foster-Blake with her husband, comedian and TV host Hamish Blake. Credit: Getty For the BWX insiders, who had planned to use the sale of the Go-To stake and BWXs US retail operation as a springboard to rejuvenate the core Australian business, their sense of grievance against CBA and its advisers from KPMG, is palpable. BWXs new executive team hit the ground running on February 27, with a new chief executive in Thinus Keeves and chairman Steven Fisher. The company had conducted a clean sweep of the board and executive suite as demanded by CBA. In less than five weeks, the new team was on the cusp of selling its 50.1 per cent stake in Go-To and its US business to private equity group Quadrant. The deal would have given the company enough financial breathing space to revive its Australian business and seek out further funding. But CBA would not budge on its March 31 deadline for BWX to get its financing in order. The bank had been supporting BWX, despite loan breaches, since November last year on debts that topped $105 million by the end of December. BWX shareholders, including billionaire Andrew Forrest, will likely be wiped out by the collapse. Credit: Bloomberg The bank, as it seems, has clearly run out of patience, leaving BWXs new management bewildered as to what more it could have done. Undoing the misfortune suffered by the previous leadership team - a string of loss-making investments and the practice of channel stuffing, which involves retailers inflating sales by selling more products to their distributors than they can readily sell to consumers - was always going to take more than just a few months. The channel stuffing turned out to be particularly costly for BWX, as it burned through cash while distributors sold the excess stock, which did not generate any fresh revenue for the business. Last weekend, in direct talks with the BWX CEO and its chairman, CBA executives made it clear that the group was not going to get its debt waivers extended to May. The board was forced to appoint administrators on Monday. CBA appointed receivers on Tuesday to take charge of the business and work out how to extract the $105 million it is owed. Loading If that was going to be a foregone conclusion, why ask for a new board and management? one BWX insider exclaimed after their frantic attempt to save the company over the previous five weeks. With the receivers now in control, BWX staff are no longer allowed to speak on the companys behalf. Thats the most heartbreaking thing, we had a plan there, we just needed 6 weeks, said the insider. The problem for CBA, however, is that it is not a venture capitalist looking for a good turnaround story. It is a bank looking for safe borrowers. The bank declined to comment, and it is likely that the one big reason for its decision to not give BWX more time was that despite its best efforts BWX failed to find a private equity-style turnaround specialist willing to take the project on. Allegro Funds had looked at the possibility of taking over CBAs loans - and effectively wipeout investors like Forrests Tattarang with a debt for equity swap - but the talks went nowhere. Tanarra Capitals John Wylie. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Conversations with John Wylies Tanarra Capital were also unsuccessful. Despite CBA digging in its heels, there remains a road back for the BWX business. The teaching principal at Tibooburra Outback Public School has left 1000 kilometres behind her former life in western Sydney and is not looking back. Cast your eye to the far north-west corner of NSW, and youll find Amanda Wheelers happy place. Tibooburra, population 134, sits just 100 km from Camerons Corner, where the NSW, South Australian and Queensland borders meet, and the locals have taken Miss Wheeler to heart since she arrived in 2022. Tibooburra is the most welcoming community I have ever experienced, Ms Wheeler said. Its a thriving community. I feel accepted and a real part of it. In Sydney you always felt you were up against people, vying for housing or for a spot in the traffic or at the cash register, but here everyone doffs their hat you and nods, says your name and says good day. After living and working everywhere from North-West England to the deep South of the USA, Miss Wheeler loves teaching in a remote Australian town. Advertisement Eating outRestaurant news Is St Kilda about to have a restaurant and bar renaissance? New restaurant and bar openings and shiny new developments point to a brighter future for the beleaguered suburb. Emma Breheny April 7, 2023 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share Its early days, but the opening or renovation of 10 quality hospitality venues in St Kilda, plus an influx of high-profile property investors, suggests the suburb may be on the cusp of a renaissance. Vacancy rates for Fitzroy Street dropped to 5.6 per cent in December 2022, according to local council data, down from the circa 30 per cent norm in the years preceding COVID. The Saint team, from left, James D Field, Mrinal Beekarry and Gary Lai, are a welcome addition to down-at-heel Fitzroy Street. Simon Schluter The construction of high-end residential and retail premises is exciting, says James D. Field, co-owner of the newly renovated Saint Hotel that opened last month with premium food and cocktails. Other new St Kilda additions include cocktail bar Lady Peacock, a revamped Post Office Club Hotel, Italian restaurant Abbiocco and Loti on the ground-floor of the luxury St Moritz apartments near the foreshore. Advertisement Similar residential projects are due over the next five years from upscale developers such as Fortis, who have spent $25 million on a five-storey mixed-use project, while a QT Hotel is also proposed. Cafe Di Stasio, which has traded for 35 years on Fitzroy Street, reopened last October after a long hiatus, partly caused by staff shortages. Loti is part of a wave of new upscale hospitality openings in St Kilda. Wayne Taylor The St Kilda end of Carlisle Street was highly desirable to Michael Woods and his business partners who opened Latin American restaurant Rufio in January. Its a central location and undervalued, I think, compared to Chapel Street and Richmond. We saw it as an area of growth post-COVID, Woods says. Advertisement David Blakeley, president of the Fitzroy Street Business Association, describes the strip as the street that had COVID before COVID came. But a drying up of tourists due to the pandemic may have finally shifted the beleaguered boulevard away from backpackers and late-night revelry towards a place for locals. Revival hopes as locals begin to reclaim Fitzroy Street in pandemic Since 2020, projects such as Renew Fitzroy Street have helped fill empty shops with short-term tenants from creative fields. The next step would be daytime traders, such as butchers, that the local community can use, Blakely says. Geospatial data gathered by Propella.ai from mobile phones shows only five per cent of visitors to Fitzroy Street live in St Kilda. Real estate agent Tom Larwill of Colliers, who has worked in the area for six years, is part of a new project to improve this. Under High Street CPR, Colliers will be the sole agent for a strip of Fitzroy Street shops, hand-picking retail tenants that complement each other. Advertisement The attitude of just putting any tenant in because youve had a property vacant for a long time needs to change. It needs a bit of thought, he says. The art-filled Cafe Di Stasio has reopened its doors on Fitzroy Street, a positive sign for the area. Supplied Rinaldo Di Stasio and Mallory Wall of Cafe Di Stasio say bold ideas are needed in St Kilda, such as converting vacant shops into residences with retail at the front, similar to Naples bassi. They also want City of Port Phillip to improve street cleaning, remove bike lanes that affect car access and to present a vision for revitalisation. Its all up to individuals and private money, says Wall. There has to be some sort of support and gameplan from the council. Di Stasio agrees. We just cant roll the dice and hope that it works, he says. Advertisement Port Phillip mayor Heather Cunsolo sees a change in the conversation in local residents Facebook groups, with more enthusiasm about hospitality and fewer concerns about safety. I think we are starting to see [the rebirth]. It feels like murmurs, but it feels really like its coming. But it doesnt mean we stop, she says. St Kildas unique history and location are worth celebrating, according to local traders. Simon Schluter Among the reasons for St Kildas upswing, she identifies private investment and the councils own efforts, such as improving safety and supporting events and trader associations. The councils St Kilda Strategic Plan is also being implemented over 20 years to improve the businesses along Carlisle, Fitzroy and Acland streets. The council is currently considering two high-end developments, she adds. Advertisement Woods, who lives in St Kilda, says the signs are positive, with cleaner streets, an improvement in the quality of venues, and more late-night trade on Carlisle Street compared to 10 years ago. The rebooted Prince Hotel, with its newly hatted Dining Room, is held up by many locals as a symbol of St Kildas potential. The Prince of Wales has a new identity that many feel better suits the St Kilda of today. Penny Stephens The sticky carpet days are long gone, says Blakeley. Theyve repositioned the pub. It reflects the demographic of now, not the demographic of 30 years ago. He believes that Fitzroy Streets failure to move with the times contributed to its demise. The perfect Fitzroy Street would be a mix of the old, something contemporary, and a bit of a daytime trade with the night-time trade Theres nothing like it in Melbourne: its not northside, and its not Brighton. Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up I read the story by Melissa Fyfe and Jacqueline Maley on how sexual assault allegations and charges are being handled in Australia [April 1]. They did an excellent job, all the more so because they must have found the exercise harrowing at times. I see that there are some positive signs but, overall, I found it quite distressing that the evidence shows there is so much more hard work to be done before the scales of justice are balanced fairly. Rick Grounds Vermont South, Vic Loading As your story amply demonstrates, the system for sexual assault survivors needs an overhaul. There is no better proof of this than the fact reports of sexual assault to police have increased significantly in recent years, while convictions through the court system have dropped. This isnt the first story on this important issue that Good Weekend has published much to its credit which makes us ask: why is so little being done, despite all the media attention? Why is the system continuing to fail women and lets face it, the victims are mainly women so badly? From what I have read and heard, part of the problem lies with the preconceived prejudices and stereotypes that juries themselves bring to a trial. Perhaps the answer lies in judge-only trials for sexual assault victims that of course assumes judges are also up-to-date with gender relations in the 2020s. The only long-term solution is education, especially of boys, which begins in the high school years. Chris Brown Erskineville, NSW Gunman on the run after shooting in Melbourne's west Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Were working to restore it. Please try again later. Dismiss Zelenskyy signs decree on establishing military administrations in 19 settlements of Zaporizhia region President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday, April 7, signed a decree on the establishment of military administrations in 19 settlements of Zaporizhia region within the implementation of the law of Ukraine On the legal regime of martial law. Relevant document No. 197/2023 was published on the President's website. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Zaporizhia Regional State Administration were instructed to carry out activities related to the formation of military administrations. The decree comes into force from the day of its publication. A top paediatric cardiac surgeon has resigned from the Childrens Hospital at Westmead, which leaves the hospital with two surgeons to perform all heart surgeries for critically ill infants and children. Dr Yishay Orr, the cardiac surgeon who helped spearhead five successful heart transplants at the hospital in 2021, will leave to take up a position at Texas Childrens Hospital in the US. Paediatric heart surgeon Dr Yishay Orr has resigned from the Childrens Hospital at Westmead for a position in the US. Credit: Louise Kennerley Orr is the second paediatric cardiac surgeon to resign from the hospital within four years, and her departure is a devastating blow that staff say will cause further delays for children needing essential cardiac surgery amid a protracted staffing recruitment and retention crisis and record numbers of children on elective surgery wait lists. The two remaining paediatric cardiac surgeons at CHW will need to be on-call every second day to cover all emergency cardiac cases, as well as surgical support for the statewide paediatric ECMO (heart lung bypass) service and interventional cardiology. Two Sydney private schools have been forced to repay more than $23 million in government funding after they were found to be operating for profit. An independent school split over two campuses in south-west Sydney, Al Amanah College, was ordered to return $19.4 million in public funding after an investigation found it had breached not-for-profit rules by running a hotel. Al Amanah College, a dual campus school at Bankstown and Liverpool, will repay $19.4 million in government funding. Credit: Janie Barrett The kindergarten to year 12 Islamic school is repaying the money in instalments until the end of 2025 after an investigation found it was operating for profit from 2011 to 2018. In a letter to parents, the schools principal said the investigation found it had used its assets and income for purposes that were not needed to operate the school, including buying a Bankstown hotel and restaurant for $6.1 million. I sank further and further into my chair at the National Press Club as I watched Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe, in his soft and dispassionate tone, read out his prophecies of doom. Rental stress, he said, was at least as big an issue as mortgage stress. And with population growth high and housing supply low, it would likely get worse before it gets ... well, slightly less worse. RBA boss Philip Lowe, a prophet of (rental) doom. Credit: Brendon Thorne/Bloomberg On my phone, browsing one-bedders in Zetland, the evidence was writ large. Apartments that were going for $500 per week a year or two ago were now $700 minimum. The next day, confirmation: the latest Domain rental report found the median unit rent in Sydneys inner south was $760 a week. This is, after all, the place former premier Dominic Perrottet said resembled something that had arrived from another planet, a suburb whose best feature was that it eventually came to an end. Police investigating the death of a Brisbane retiree known to check through the bins at her apartment complex have suggested her habits might have created angst among her neighbours. Lesley Trotter, 78, went missing from her Toowong home on March 28. Credit: QPS More than 40 detectives are working to solve how Lesley Trotter, 78, had died, with police not ruling out her death as suspicious. On Friday, a senior detective confirmed the demise of the retired teacher, missing since last week, even though officers had not found her body. Police were investigating whether her death could be linked to her regularly checking if residents around her Toowong apartment had placed their recyclables in the correct bin. Two teenagers have been charged with murder following the fatal stabbing of the mother of one of the boys inside her Melbourne home. Police allege the pair, aged 14 and 15, fled the bloodied bedroom, took their 41-year-old victims white Toyota RAV4, and crashed it. Police believe the two teenagers then drove around St Kilda and Elwood where they allegedly met a friend who supplied them with camping gear and food. The vehicle was later discovered dumped in a quiet St Kilda street. Multiple sources with knowledge of the investigation, who didnt want to speak publicly because of the sensitivity of the incident, told The Age that the boys allegedly met a teenage friend in Elwood, who handed over the supplies as they shared their plans to travel to western Victoria. As political honeymoons go, its been a long one. And despite Peter Duttons sensational decision this week to oppose what has become Anthony Albaneses signature policy since winning government last year, the PM remains confident the Voice referendum will succeed even without bipartisan support, and that the two-term strategy he outlined to this masthead during the election campaign remains on track. There is a level of confidence among Labor MPs that voters will give them another term in office, given the strong start the government has made and the historical precedents. After finalising the AUKUS deal, securing key legislation on climate policy and the National Reconstruction Fund, the governments focus has shifted to its second budget and passing the Voice referendum. Illustration: Simon Letch. Credit: But discussion and planning is also underway in Labor ranks about what a second term frontbench could look like, including who might retire and who might be promoted into the outer ministry and cabinet. This is the sort of medium-term planning a well-run government should be doing. The prime minister will have to manage three issues in a reshuffle that is likely to take place before the next election, due no later than May 2025. List, withdraw from sale and sell later on the quiet. That seems to be the increasingly well-rehearsed routine among some of Sydneys high-end sellers this year, like veteran property developers Bob and Margaret Rose, of Breakfast Point redevelopment fame. The couple listed their Darling Point home in what was originally built as a family triplex for $15 million last year with Ken Jacobs and Brad Pillinger, but when it didnt sell they took it off the market. The three-bedroom apartment of Bob and Margaret Rose was bought by the Pongrass family. End of story, youd think, but settlement records show that in the months since it was sold behind closed doors for $13.5 million to Nick Pongrass and Leigh Clunes-Pongrass, of Pongrass Properties. The three-step sales routine has become somewhat of a feature of this years top results, from aged-care mogul Dr Shane Morans $23 million sale of Darling House in The Rocks, shopping centre tycoon Dai Yongges $25 million house sale in Rose Bay, and Nicky Zimmermanns purchase in Vaucluse late last year. Funding the cost of stamp duty is a real challenge. Then saving for deposit has become a real challenge, its influencing lower turnover. Loading Even when home owners overcome these hurdles, there are few homes for sale to choose from. In the 12 months to February, only 4 per cent of Sydney homes have sold. Even at the height of the boom, turnover wasnt much higher at 5.9 per cent. Fewer people are transacting through the market - that flows through to longer hold periods, Lawless said, noting home owners in affluent suburbs held property for longer while the reverse was true for lower priced postcodes. Home owners were choosing to stay put and spend what they would have spent on stamp duty to extend or renovate to accommodate their changing needs. For Bruce and Jenny Finn, selling their long-term family home in Ryde has been on the cards for some time, but they had delayed it until now because of the cost of stamp duty, even in a downsize, and the need for space to host their adult children and grandchildren. Bruce and Jenny Finn are selling their family home of 40 years after it accommodated them through the different stages of life. Credit: Jessica Hromas We had thought of it but then taking all those things into consideration, well, we might as well stay, Bruce said. The Finns said the home has served them well, being close to shops, parks and schools. Even our grandkids have started to have sleepovers, we can take them down to Buffalo Creek for adventures. Were right next to Ryde park, its a very good spot to enjoy the facilities. One of their daughters, Erica Frain, 48, said while it will be hard to sell the home as it holds sentimental value, it has served the whole family, including her sister, in different stages of their lives. Its been a safe haven for both of us when I was separating and when she [sister] was renovating, she said. Their selling agent Benjamin Mulae of McGrath Hunters Hill said transaction costs, such as stamp duty, and the limited homes to choose from, delay many from selling. In Ryde, where the median house price is $2,093,500 stamp duty would cost $99,342.50. On the northern beaches where the median house price is $2.3 million, stamp duty would cost $110,700 a bill many home owners cannot afford, John Cunningham, principal of Cunninghams Real Estate, said. Loading We have had a lot of people going oh look its not worth moving because that is such a big chunk of money that I would rather stay put and renovate, Cunningham said, noting the trend was occurring in all segments, including units. Theyre improving those properties rather than just living in them and so there are fewer transactions occurring in the lifespan of their property journey. The Demographics Group co-founder and demographer Simon Kuestenmacher said there was little incentive for people to move because of the high cost of housing and stamp duty. There isnt so much sense in doing so. You have your kids home for longer too. Once everything aligns, and you could theoretically downsize, all of sudden then your kids have kids, then once youre grandparents you want the bigger home, Kuestenmacher said. Many prefer to stay put, spending transaction costs on improving the home. Credit: Peter Rae He said many Baby Boomers preferred to age in their home, and even for those prepared to downsize, there were few attractive alternatives. Even younger home owners move less, Kuestenmacher said, because they either stay in their first home for longer or aim to buy into their forever home in the first instance. Washington: Classified war documents detailing secret US and NATO plans for building up the Ukrainian military before a planned offensive against Russia were posted this week on social media channels, senior Biden administration officials said. The Pentagon is investigating who may have been behind the leak of the documents, which appeared on Twitter and on Telegram, a platform with more than half a billion users that is widely available in Russia. Military analysts said the documents appear to have been modified in certain parts from their original format, overstating US estimates of Ukrainian war dead and understating estimates of Russian troops killed. The modifications could point to an effort of disinformation by Moscow, the analysts said. But the disclosures in the original documents, which appear as photographs of charts of anticipated weapons deliveries, troop and battalion strengths, and plans, represents a significant breach of US intelligence in the effort to aid Ukraine. Police estimated that 570,000 people took part in marches nationally on Thursday, down from 740,000 a week earlier, when crowds were already smaller than a high point on March 23 when more than one million people turned out. In Paris, unions say that 400,000 people took to the streets, down from 450,000 the week before, while police put the figure at much less than half of that. Protesters run through tear gas in Nantes, western France, on Thursday. Credit: AP Outside the Eiffel Tower, the most visited attraction in the world, electric signs apologised for it being closed. But Charles, selling tickets for the hop-on-hop-off bus, declared to one tourist: Were always running, strikes or not. But he spoke too soon, as even a 12-tonne double-decker bus couldnt find its way through the crowds and traffic jams which clogged many of the bridges crossing the Seine. Australian tourist Diane Lee, from Tongala in northern Victoria, made it to Paris with her sister Carly MacDonald, a school teacher from Shepparton, on once-in-a-lifetime European tour to celebrate a milestone birthday. Having wanted to visit its iconic tourist attractions for years from the Moulin Rouge to the grave of Doors frontman Jim Morrison the pair did not expect what they saw. I felt like we were witnessing something we normally wouldnt have, but at the same time I was relieved where we were staying was clean, and we only saw and smelt rubbish in other parts of Paris, Diane said, stressing that the police presence made them feel safe at all times. Diane Lee, from Tongala, and her sister Carly MacDonald, from Shepparton East, didnt let the protests ruin their Paris holiday. The main people protesting were not the problem. The night-time trouble-makers were setting fire to everything. Also, all our tour operators and Uber drivers kept commenting about how French people were spoilt and loved complaining. Given I wont be able to retire until I am 75, I thought it was a bit petty. Any outsider who spends time in Paris will quickly notice that although a 35-hour-week was introduced in 2000, the French still work far fewer hours than Britons or most European Union neighbours. The minimum holiday entitlement of 30 days a year plus 11 public holidays is the highest in Europe. The French pension system is funded on a pay-as-you go basis and remains one of the most generous in Europe. Consequently, it is one of the most expensive. Macrons logic is that rising life expectancy has made the existing model unaffordable. The state pension funds deficit is set to surge to 13.5 billion ($22.2 billion) by 2030. The proposed retirement age of 64, from 62 currently, will also still be below that of most of Frances neighbours. Unions had been hoping for a mass turnout on the 11th day of action since January, after signs the protest movement was starting to lose momentum. But Luc Rouban, director at the Politics Research Centre at Sciences Po, a prestigious Parisian university, told French breakfast television the rise in violence was turning off some less-activist workers. The demonstrations have become more violent as theyve gone on. That means many in France are now staying away, he said. For the eleventh time in over two months, unions called on opponents of the pension reform to take to the streets of France. Credit: Getty Images As well as raising the minimum age to 64 for most workers, the reforms will require people to work for 43 years to receive a full pension, which unions argue is too harsh, especially for those with physically demanding jobs. The stand-off has seriously eroded Macrons popularity, with a poll suggesting this week that far-right leader Marine Le Pen would beat him if the presidential election of last year were held now. The survey, from the Elabe group, indicated Le Pen would score 55 per cent and Macron 45 per cent if they faced each other in a run-off vote. Young workers appear especially angered by Macrons high-handedness at bypassing parliament to pass the reform, expanding the dispute into one about democracy and political legitimacy. According to an Ifop poll this month, some 72 per cent of people under 35 are opposed to any rise in the retirement age, compared with 61 per cent of over-35s. National Nuclear Generating Company Energoatom has reported on the kidnapping by the Russian occupiers of workers of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, who are considered loyal to them. "On the evening of April 6, masked invaders broke into one of the premises of the temporarily occupied ZNPP and took away four employees of the plant's physical protection service. The nuclear workers were taken to an unknown direction, and at present, their location remains unknown," Energoatom said on its Telegram channel on Friday. At the same time, the company drew attention to the fact that the kidnapped workers were considered loyal to the occupation leadership of the ZNPP since they signed contracts with the fake JSC Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant Operator. Energoatom said that among the detainees, in particular, was the deputy head of the service, Mark Volkov, who, according to the company, contributed in every possible way to the illegal activities of the invaders. "One way or another, the situation at the ZNPP is becoming tenser and tenser: inspections and the search for "unreliable elements" are intensifying, and cooperation with the occupiers does not save from the basement or interrogations," Energoatom said. No chance. The policy-wonky, low-rating normalcy of the Biden-presidency news cycle was over. Cable news had its cash cow back. Former President Trump arrives at his Mar-a-Lago estate after being arraigned in New York. Credit: AP I dared to hope: Perhaps the media would give this prosecution of relatively small-bore crimes exactly the same treatment as if it were any other sleazebag New York businessman. The dumpster has reignited. I tried to block my ears. I would not feed the oxygen of my attention to the blaze. Trump limo leaving Mar-a-Lago. Trump-branded plane in flight all the way to New York City. Hours of blather from reporters with nothing to report. Finally, the dramatic moment: unsealing the indictment to reveal: 34 counts of falsifying business records. The lowest possible level of felony and only felonies at all if the prosecution can prove they were committed with intent to further a second crime of election interference or tax fraud. For this, we removed the stake from Draculas heart and hooked him up to a plasma bag? While all the cameras focused on that New York courtroom on Tuesday, two significant news events were playing out in Wisconsin and Illinois and garnering far less attention. Wisconsin is famous for cheese production and for being the state that Hillary Clinton forgot to visit during the 2016 election. Her narrow loss of the state the first loss by a Democrat since 1984 tipped Trump into the Oval Office. ~Bank pledges to refine and transform its business in St Kitts introducing smart ABMs and other enhanced digital services.~ Bridgetown Barbados:--- FirstCaribbean International Bank Limited has announced today that the sale of its assets of FirstCaribbean International Bank (Barbados) Limited in St. Kitts to St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank Limited (SKNANB) will not now go ahead. The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) provided conditional approval for the sale of the assets and banking business of FirstCaribbean International Bank (Barbados) Limited (FCIB Barbados) in St. Kitts to the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank Limited (SKNANB) on July 15, 2022, subject to certain conditions. SKNANB recently informed FCIB Barbados that it has not secured final approval from the ECCB to conclude the acquisition. The ECCB subsequently notified FCIB Barbados of its decision to not grant final approval for the sale of its operations in St. Kitts. Notwithstanding the denial of approval outlined above, the ECCB remains fully engaged with FCIB Barbados as it continues to assess its operational footprint in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union. This means that FirstCaribbean International Bank (Barbados) Limited will retain its presence in St. Kitts and has announced plans to transform the way it does business in St. Kitts. Chief Executive Officer of CIBC FirstCaribbean, Mark St. Hill, noted that while the ending of the sale process is disappointing for the bank, CIBC FirstCaribbean will take advantage of this opportunity to refine its business in St. Kitts. He added: We are an agile organisation and it is our duty on behalf of our employees and clients to ensure that we deliver a steady ship that provides omni-channel access to banking services in St. Kitts. We are prepared to pivot and look towards growing our business in St. Kitts into the future. Managing Director for the bank in Barbados and the OECS countries, Donna Wellington, noted that the bank will take this opportunity to transform its business in St. Kitts. Our priority is to signal to the market that we are staying and open for business. We have been conservative in the St. Kitts market over the past year-and-a-half as we prepared the business for sale. However, we will now concentrate our effort on building the business, reconnecting with both our Retail and Corporate clients in a big way and providing them with the best products and services CIBC FirstCaribbean has to offer. Ms. Wellington went on to thank both staff and clients for their commitment to the bank. Our employees are a huge asset to the business, and we owe them a huge debt of gratitude for the grace and professionalism they have exhibited over the past several months. As for our clients, we have already spoken to some of them and they have assured us of their continuing support for us, so it is full steam ahead. Ms. Wellington noted that the bank plans to eventually transform its branch and network in Basseterre to be able to provide access to both in person and digital banking services to St. Kitts, with the installation of Smart ABMs, and other self-serve products that will allow customers to choose how and where they bank with CIBC FirstCaribbean. Maple Gold reports final assay results at Eagle and completes more than 7,000 metres of deep drilling at Telbel Maple Gold Mines Ltd. (TSX-V: MGM) (OTCQB: MGMLF) (FSE: M3G)A (\Maple Gold\ or the \Company\ https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/maple-gold-mines-ltd/ ) is pleased to report results from the final 20% of assays that were received from the previously completed 14,720 metres (\m\) of drilling at the 100%-controlled Eagle Mine Property (\Eagle\). The Company is also pleased to report that more than 7,000 m have now been completed (6,000 m planned) at the Telbel Mine area of the Joutel Project, which is held by a 50/50 joint venture (the \JV\) between the Company and Agnico Eagle Gold Mines Limited. The final batch of assays received from completed drilling at Eagle correspond to approximately 3,000 m of the 14,720 m drilled to-date. The results continue to demonstrate continuity of mineralization and the potential significance of the multiple horizons/splays to the northwest of the former Eagle mine. Highlights include (see Table 1 and Figure 1 for highlighted results from all Maple Gold drilling at Eagle to-date): EM-22-008W intersected 6.2 grams per tonne (\g/t\) gold (\Au\) over 2.0 m in the South Mine Horizon (\SMH\) and 4.2 g/t Au over 3.9 m in sediments further downhole. EM-22-006W1 intersected multiple intercepts including 6.5 g/t Au over 1.2 m and 2.0 g/t Au over 3.0 m in the SMH and 2.3 g/t Au over 3.0 m at the microgabbro/Harricana sediment contact further downhole. EM-22-006W4 intersected 4.0 g/t Au over 0.7 m within a broader 1.1 g/t Au over 14.2 m intercept within the SMH. EM-22-017A intersected 2.9 g/t Au over 2.0 m and additional lower grade over broader near-surface intervals (1.0 g/t Au over 15.5 m from 93 m downhole). aWe have come along way since first consolidating the Joutel ground into our JV property package,a stated Matthew Hornor, CEO of Maple Gold. aAll of our exploration and drilling work along the past-producing Eagle-Telbel mine trend is designed with the aim of defining high-grade zones of gold mineralization and additional mineral resources to complement the established potentially bulk-mineable resource present at Douay. Our first year of drilling at Eagle has more than covered our exploration spending commitments to earn a 100% interest and we are now in position to finalize our compilation and model updates to support focused follow-up drilling in areas we believe have the most promise to deliver additional high-quality ounces.aA Overview Summary and Key Takeaways from Drilling at Eagle The Eagle-Telbel Mine trend produced 1.1 Moz at 6.5 g/t Au from 1974 a 1993, during a period when the price of gold averaged approximately $350 per ounce. During the first year of the JV (2021), all historical mining, stope and drilling data was digitized to underpin a new 3D geological model. The Company signed an option agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the Eagle Mine Property (see press release July 19, 2021) and has since completed more than 21,500 m of drilling across the 4 km long Eagle-Telbel Mine trend, with 14,720 m at Eagle (see Figure 1) and more than 7,000 m (assays pending) of JV drilling at Telbel. The Companya?s drilling to-date at Eagle has served to confirm that gold mineralization is not limited to a narrow stratigraphic interval (Eagle-Telbel Mine Horizon) but instead covers a significantly broader stratigraphic interval of over 100 m straddling the Harricana Deformation Zone. Drill core observations also support the Companya?s concept of a significant structural component to gold mineralization in the form of an orogenic gold overprint. EM-22-005: 4.0 g/t Au over 7.5 m, including 6.4 g/t Au over 3.0 m EM-22-009: 11.4 g/t Au over 3 m, including 24.4 g/t Au over 1 m EM-22-013: 2.3 g/t Au over 10.4 m, including 5.0 g/t Au over 3.2 m EM-22-015: 10.3 g/t Au over 7.8 m, including 41.1 g/t Au over 1.0 m EM-22-015: 4.3 g/t Au over 3.9 m, including 7.4 g/t Au over 1.5 m EM-22-016: 3.1 g/t Au over 7.3 m, including 4.0 g/t Au over 3.6 m When combining the Companya?s drilling results and observations with notable historical results and new geophysical data, several priority target areas emerge along the SMH and North Mine Horizon (\NMH\); including multiple cross-plunging target concepts that will form part of the focus for the Companya?s next phase of drilling (~5,000 m). The Company has initiated target definition and permitting work for a planned summer 2023 follow-up program at Eagle (see press release March 16, 2023) and priority follow-up targets will also be defined at Telbel once assay results have been received and interpreted from the first phase of deep drilling. Qualified Person The scientific and technical data contained in this press release was reviewed and prepared under the supervision of Fred Speidel, M. Sc., P. Geo., Vice-President Exploration of Maple Gold. Mr. Speidel is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Speidel has verified the data related to the exploration information disclosed in this press release through his direct participation in the work. Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) The Company implements strict Quality Assurance (\QA\) and Quality Control (\QC\) protocols at Eagle covering the planning and placing of drill holes in the field; drilling and retrieving the NQ-sized drill core; drill hole surveying; core transport; core logging by qualified personnel; sampling and bagging of core for analysis; transport of core from site to the Val d\-Or, QuAbec AGAT laboratory; sample preparation for assaying; and analysis, recording and final statistical vetting of results. Check assays for gold are being done on a sample subset at ALSa? laboratory in Val da?Or. For a complete description of protocols, please visit the Company\-s QA/QC webpage at www.maplegoldmines.com. About Maple Gold Maple Gold Mines Ltd. is a Canadian advanced exploration company in a 50/50 joint venture with Agnico Eagle Mines Limited to jointly advance the district-scale Douay and Joutel gold projects located in QuAbec\-s prolific Abitibi Greenstone Gold Belt. The projects benefit from exceptional infrastructure access and boast ~400 km2 of highly prospective ground including an established gold resource at Douay (SLR 2022) that holds significant expansion potential as well as the past-producing Eagle, Telbel and Eagle West mines at Joutel. In addition, the Company holds an exclusive option to acquire 100% of the Eagle Mine Property. The district-scale property package also hosts a significant number of regional exploration targets along a 55 km strike length of the Casa Berardi Deformation Zone that have yet to be tested through drilling, making the project ripe for new gold and polymetallic discoveries. The Company is well capitalized and is currently focused on carrying out exploration and drill programs to grow resources and make new discoveries to establish an exciting new gold district in the heart of the Abitibi. For more information, please visit www.maplegoldmines.com. ON BEHALF OF MAPLE GOLD MINES LTD. \Matthew Hornor\ B. Matthew Hornor, President & CEO For Further Information Please Contact: Mr. Joness Lang Executive Vice-President Cell: 778.686.6836 Email: jlang@maplegoldmines.com In Europe: Swiss Resource Capital AG Jochen Staiger & Marc Ollinger info@resource-capital.ch www.resource-capital.ch NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS PRESS RELEASE. Forward Looking Statements: This press release contains \forward-looking information\ and \forward-looking statements\ (collectively referred to as \forward-looking statements\) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation in Canada, including statements about exploration work and results from current and future work programs. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, uncertainties and management\-s best estimate of future events. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company\-s expectations and projections. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to Maple Gold Mines Ltd.\-s filings with Canadian securities regulators available on www.sedar.com or the Company\-s website at www.maplegoldmines.com. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Victoria Gold: New Board of Director Nominees Victoria Gold Corp. (TSX-VGCX) (aVictoriaa or the aCompanya https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/victoria-gold-corp/ ) is pleased to announce three new nominees to its Board of Directors. The Companya?s Annual General Meeting will be held on May 10, 2023 whereat Kimberly Keating, Steve Haggarty and Ria Fitzgerald are being nominated as new members to Victoriaa?s Board of Directors. Concurrently, Michael McInnis, Stephen Scott and Letha MacLachlan will not be standing for re-election and are stepping off the Board. aWe are very pleased to invite and nominate Ms. Keating, Mr. Haggarty and Ms. Fitzgerald to the Board of Directors. Each brings a wealth of mining experience and are expected to reinvigorate the Board with their deep and relevant technical, capital markets and ESG knowledge and skillset,a stated John McConnell, President and CEO. aOn behalf of Victoriaa?s Board and management, we would like to express our sincere appreciation to Mr. Michael McInnis, Mr. Stephen Scott and Ms. Letha MacLachlan who will not be standing for re-election as directors of the Company at the Meeting,a stated Sean Harvey, Chairman of the Board of Directors. aMike, Steve and Letha have each been an integral part of Victoria as the Eagle Gold Mine advanced through construction into operation to become the largest gold mine in Yukon history.a Kimberly Keating Ms. Keating is a Professional Engineer with 25 years of broad international experience in the oil and gas, nuclear, hydropower, and mining sectors. Most recently, Ms. Keating was the Chief Operating Officer of the Cahill Group, one of Canada\-s largest multi-disciplinary construction companies with operations across the country. Prior to joining the Cahill Group in 2013, Ms. Keating held a variety of progressive leadership roles from engineering design through to construction, commissioning, production operations and offshore field development with Petro-Canada (now Suncor Energy Inc.). Throughout her career, Ms. Keating has made significant leadership contributions to major projects in the Canadian, Norwegian and UK energy sectors, bringing a wealth of strategy, operational execution, and technical expertise to her Board roles. She is currently the chair of the board directors of Major Drilling Group International Inc. and serves as a director at Drax Group plc. Ms. Keating is also a board director of Makwa-Cahill Limited Partnership, a fully nuclear qualified indigenous fabrication company. Ms. Keating graduated from the Rotman-Institute of Corporate Directors Education Program and was awarded her ICD.D designation. Steve Haggarty Mr. Haggarty, P.Eng., is the Managing Director of Haggarty Technical Services Corp., a consulting company providing project, process and risk management services to the mining industry. Prior to forming Haggarty Technical Services, Mr. Haggarty had a lengthy 40-year career with companies including Barrick Gold, Homestake Mining, International Corona and Teck Corporation. His metallurgical background and operational experience includes copper, molybdenum, gold, silver and PGM group metals at mining operations involving copper SX-EW, flotation, heap leaching, pressure oxidation, roasting and CIL recovery plants. Mr. Haggarty is a member of the Professional Engineers of Ontario and the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. He is a graduate of McGill University with a degree in Metallurgical Engineering. Ria Fitzgerald Ms. Fitzgerald has over twenty years of experience in equity capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, project financing and project development with global and start-up companies in mining, infrastructure, and renewable power sectors. Ms. Fitzgerald has ten years of experience as an investment banker focused on the mining industry, where she was involved in numerous private and public equity financings for global mining companies.A Ms. Fitzgerald is currently the Director of Mining at Solvest Inc., a Yukon based renewable energy company specializing in the design, construction, and financing of remote energy generation including solar power and energy storage for industrial, residential and Indigenous clients. Her focus is in providing cost saving power solutions to mines that reduce carbon emissions and enhance capacity building for Indigenous partners. Ms. Fitzgerald holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Saskatchewan, where she graduated with High Honours and Great Distinction. She holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and in 2021 earned the newly established Certificate in ESG Investing, both from the CFA Institute.A About the Dublin Gulch Property Victoria Gold\-s 100%-owned Dublin Gulch gold property (the aPropertya) is situated in central Yukon Territory, Canada, approximately 375 kilometers north of the capital city of Whitehorse, and approximately 85 kilometers from the town of Mayo. The Property is accessible by road year round, and is located within Yukon Energy\-s electrical grid. The Property covers an area of approximately 555 square kilometers, and is the site of the Company\-s Eagle and Olive Gold Deposits. The Company press released the results of a National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report for the Eagle Gold Mine on February 24, 2023 (the a2023 Eagle Technical Reporta). The 2023 Eagle Technical Report will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days from the press release. The Eagle and Olive deposits include Proven and Probable Reserves of 2.6 million ounces of gold from 124 million tonnes of ore with a grade of 0.65 grams of gold per tonne. The Mineral Resource for the Eagle and Olive Gold Deposits has been estimated to host 245 million tonnes averaging 0.59 grams of gold per tonne, containing 4.7 million ounces of gold in the \Measured and Indicated\ category, inclusive of Proven and Probable Reserves, and a further 36 million tonnes averaging 0.63 grams of gold per tonne, containing 0.7 million ounces of gold in the \Inferred\ category. Cautionary Language and Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed \forward-looking statements\. Except for statements of historical fact relating to Victoria, information contained herein constitutes forward-looking information, including any information related to the intended use of proceeds from the Term Facility and the Revolving Credit Facility, the amended terms and conditions of the Loan Facility, and Victoria\-s strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance. Forward-looking information is characterized by words such as aplana, aexpecta, abudgeta, atargeta, aprojecta, aintenda, abelievea, aanticipatea, aestimatea and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions amaya, awilla, acoulda or ashoulda occur, and includes any guidance and forecasts set out herein (including, but not limited to, production and operational guidance of the Corporation). In order to give such forward-looking information, the Corporation has made certain assumptions about its business, operations, the economy and the mineral exploration industry in general, in particular in light of the impact of the novel coronavirus and the COVID-19 disease (aCOVID-19a) on each of the foregoing. In this respect, the Corporation has assumed that production levels will remain consistent with managementa?s expectations, contracted parties provide goods and services on agreed timeframes, equipment works as anticipated, required regulatory approvals are received, no unusual geological or technical problems occur, no material adverse change in the price of gold occurs and no significant events occur outside of the Corporation\-s normal course of business. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made, and are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other known and unknown factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those described in, or implied by, the forward-looking information. These factors include the impact of general business and economic conditions, risks related to COVID-19 on the Company, global liquidity and credit availability on the timing of cash flows and the values of assets and liabilities based on projected future conditions, anticipated metal production, fluctuating metal prices, currency exchange rates, estimated ore grades, possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates, changes in accounting policies, changes in Victoria\-s corporate resources, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, changes in development and production time frames, the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, uncertainty of mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates, higher prices for fuel, steel, power, labour and other consumables contributing to higher costs and general risks of the mining industry, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, final pricing for metal sales, unanticipated results of future studies, seasonality and unanticipated weather changes, costs and timing of the development of new deposits, success of exploration activities, requirements for additional capital, permitting time lines, government regulation of mining operations, environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, title disputes or claims, limitations on insurance coverage and timing and possible outcomes of pending litigation and labour disputes, risks related to remote operations and the availability of adequate infrastructure, fluctuations in price and availability of energy and other inputs necessary for mining operations. Although Victoria has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in, or implied by, the forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein is presented for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding Victoria\-s expected financial and operational performance and Victoria\-s plans and objectives and may not be appropriate for other purposes. All forward-looking information contained herein is given as of the date hereof, as the case may be, and is based upon the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management of the Corporation as at the date hereof. The Corporation undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information contained herein and the documents incorporated by reference herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws. For Further Information Contact: John McConnell President & CEO Victoria Gold Corp. Tel: 604-696-6605 ceo@vgcx.com In Europe: Swiss Resource Capital AG Jochen Staiger & Marc Ollinger info@resource-capital.ch www.resource-capital.ch Cabinet approves appointment of head of Bucha district prosecutor's office Kravchenko as head of Kyiv Regional Administration The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the appointment of Ruslan Kravchenko as head of Kyiv Regional State Administration. As representative of the Cabinet of Ministers in the Verkhovna Rada Taras Melnychuk said on Telegram, the corresponding decision was made at a government meeting on Friday. The Cabinet of Ministers, in particular, approved the draft presidential decree on the appointment of Ruslan Kravchenko as the head of Kyiv Regional State Administration. From March 2021 to the present, Kravchenko has been heading Bucha District prosecutor's office of Kyiv region. UK eco-activists rail against judge's ban on using climate defence London, April 7 (AFP) Apr 07, 2023 "We had no defence," said environmental campaigner David Nixon referring to a British judge's recent surprise ruling that barred him from using climate change as a defence for a road-blocking protest. Nixon, a 36-year-old former social worker, was one of three protesters who refused to abide by the ban, earning him a contempt of court conviction and four weeks in jail. "We should be allowed to mention the climate crisis wherever we go, especially in front of a jury," he told AFP. "On the back of that, we had no defence." Nixon is part of Insulate Britain, which campaigns for better home insulation, typically adopting disruptive tactics including blockading transport networks. Their actions have enraged motorists and the Conservative government, which wants to restrict this form of protest. The group ramped up its campaign in late 2021, leading to dozens of arrests and 56 prosecutions on at least 201 "public nuisance" charges. Nixon was arrested after taking part in a blockade in the heart of the City of London financial district on October 25, 2021. In court, judge Silas Reid forbade Nixon and three co-defendants facing charges from talking about their motives, telling the jury they had no bearing on their guilt. Failure to abide by the ruling would be considered as contempt of court. Nixon was the only one of that quartet to ignore the order, arguing that public disruption requires giving "an honest account of what we did and why we did it". - 'Denied justice' - Nixon was sentenced to eight weeks behind bars and served four. "I didn't personally try to appeal," he said. "I knew what I was doing and judge Reid told me what he was gonna do and he did it." The conviction revealed "how ridiculous it is in 2023 that people are getting jailed for mentioning climate change," he added. "Just to show up that it is ridiculous, I'm more than happy for that," Nixon said of his stint in prison. All four defendants were found guilty of the original charges and will soon be sentenced. Giovanna Lewis, a 65-year-old local councillor from southern England, spent three and a half weeks in prison after separately refusing to comply with the same judge's ruling. "Reid calls it contempt of court, I call it truth-telling," said Lewis, adding: "I couldn't go in the court and be silenced that way." "I had to tell the truth and take the consequences," she told AFP. "We've been denied justice". Other activists involved in similar cases have been able to explain their motives in their trials and were acquitted, she noted. - 'Huge win' - According to human rights lawyer Jodie Blackstock, the defendants have been denied "the right to a fair trial" and an "effective defence". Lawyers announced on Thursday that they would appeal the contempt of court convictions on behalf of two of the three activists who were jailed. The Good Law Project, which launched a fund to finance the appeal, denounced the "disturbing decisions that silence climate protesters and undermine the crucial role both protest and jury trial play in upholding our democracy". On March 31, another Insulate Britain activist was found guilty of "public nuisance" and also ignored Reid's ban, but this time without being held in contempt. Insulate Britain applauded a "huge win for free speech". "Whatever the reason, we are very glad that today judge Reid has come to his senses and put an end to his campaign of jailing people for speaking the whole truth in UK courtrooms," said Cameron Ford, an Insulate Britain spokesperson. The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, which oversees the judicial system in England and Wales, declined to comment. "We are never able to comment on individual cases or decisions made by judges when they are in court," a spokesperson said. US radio broadcaster NPR halts tweets in Twitter row Washington, April 7 (AFP) Apr 07, 2023 US radio NPR upheld a freeze of activity on Twitter Friday as a report said Elon Musk was revisiting his decision to label the highly respected broadcaster as "state affiliated." Twitter earlier this week designated Washington-based National Public Radio as "state-affiliated media," branding the venerable news outlet in the same way as government-owned Chinese and Russian platforms. In its updated Twitter bio, NPR's main account -- which has more than 8.8 million followers -- invited users to "find us every other place where you read the news." Other accounts run by NPR, such as its music and politics handles, did not have the "state-affiliated" specification and have continued to post tweets. Musk's move against NPR came just days after Twitter stripped The New York Times of its verified status on the platform, which like NPR, is often accused of left-leaning bias, particularly by US conservatives. According to Twitter policy, the decisions will deamplify tweets from both companies, limiting their reach on a platform that remains a major communication tool for media outlets, celebrities and officials. NPR CEO John Lansing said the decision by Twitter was "unacceptable" and the radio's account has remained silent ever since. "We stopped tweeting from the main @NPR account after they attached that false label to it because each tweet we publish would carry it," NPR spokesperson Isabel Lara said. The pause would last "until we hear back from Twitter on this," she told the Nieman Journalism Lab. Musk has for years expressed a deep disdain for the news media and in recent weeks installed an automatic response of a poop emoji to emails sent to the site's main press address. But on Thursday, NPR said Musk had signaled in a series of emails that the relabeling may not have been "accurate" and that Twitter would look further into the matter. "The operating principle at Twitter is simply fair and equal treatment, so if we label non-US accounts as government, then we should do the same for the US, but it sounds like that might not be accurate here," Musk wrote to NPR. According to NPR's website, the bulk of its budget comes from fees paid by member stations throughout the United States, who are themselves supported by individual donors and government funds. NPR, one of America's most respected news outlets, told AFP less than one percent of its operational budget comes from federal sources. arp/bfm President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held a regular meeting of the Supreme Commander's Headquarters on Friday, the press service of the President's Office reports. Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny informed the participants about the operational situation in the main directions of the front. Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, commander of Khortytsia operational-strategic group of troops Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Tavria operational-strategic group of troops Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, commander of Pivnich (North) operational-strategic group of troops Serhiy Nayev and commander of Odesa operational-strategic group of troops Eduard Moskaliov reported on the course of hostilities in the areas of the front within their areas of responsibility, the message reads. Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense Kyrylo Budanov spoke about the likely actions of the enemy in the near future. In addition, the press service reported, the members of the Staff reviewed in detail the formation and arming of new brigades. Attention was also paid to the level of personnel training. Separately, the participants of the meeting focused on measures to prevent the leakage of information regarding the plans of the defense forces of Ukraine, the message reads. The meeting was attended by: Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak, Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense Kyrylo Budanov, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov, commanders of troops and operational directions. Trailer 2 12th February 2023 - TV Spot Trailer 7th June 2021 - First Set Photos Exclusive Photo that we got right now! Harrison Ford sighted on Set of Indiana Jones 5 pic.twitter.com/jVzTB25XIw IJ Adventure Outpost (@IndianaJones_ch) June 7, 2021 Another photo of Harrison Ford on Set received right now pic.twitter.com/IDmNdbRczF IJ Adventure Outpost (@IndianaJones_ch) June 7, 2021 26th February 2020 - James Mangold In Early Talks to Direct Source: Deadline Deadine has confirmed that the Ford v. Ferrari, two time Oscar nominated filmmaker is in early negotiations to direct Disneys Indiana Jones 5. Steven Spielberg will still be involved as a hands-on producer. 10th July 2018 - Release Date Pushed to 2021 The studio made a slew of other changes to its calendar, including announcing that Dwayne Johnson-starrer Jungle Cruise will open in theaters on Oct. 11, 2019, while Angelina Jolie's Maleficent 2 will hit theaters on May 29, 2020 Source: The Hollywood Reporter Disney has moved the Indiana Jones 5 release date to July 9, 2021, the studio said Tuesday.The studio made a slew of other changes to its calendar, including announcing that Dwayne Johnson-starrer Jungle Cruise will open in theaters on Oct. 11, 2019, while Angelina Jolie's Maleficent 2 will hit theaters on May 29, 2020 28th June 2018 - Movie Delayed; Missing 2020 Release Date The fifth film in the adventure series will miss its original release date, Variety has learned. Filming was supposed to begin in April of 2019 in the United Kingdom, but sources close to the production say that shooting will no longer start next spring and will have to be pushed back by months, if not a year. Potential crew members have already been informed of the delay. Part of the issue is that the key members of the creative team have yet to sign off on a finished script. Collider reported on Thursday that Jonathan Kasdan, son of Raiders of the Lost Ark scribe Lawrence Kasdan, has been enlisted to deliver a new draft. A deal has yet to close to bring the writer on board, but it looks as though he will board the project. David Koepp (Jurassic Park) took the first pass at the script. At one point, the fifth Indiana Jones was supposed to hit theaters in 2019. Source: Read More on Variety Indiana Jones will not be riding back into theaters on July 10, 2020.The fifth film in the adventure series will miss its original release date, Variety has learned. Filming was supposed to begin in April of 2019 in the United Kingdom, but sources close to the production say that shooting will no longer start next spring and will have to be pushed back by months, if not a year. Potential crew members have already been informed of the delay.Part of the issue is that the key members of the creative team have yet to sign off on a finished script. Collider reported on Thursday that Jonathan Kasdan, son of Raiders of the Lost Ark scribe Lawrence Kasdan, has been enlisted to deliver a new draft. A deal has yet to close to bring the writer on board, but it looks as though he will board the project. David Koepp (Jurassic Park) took the first pass at the script. At one point, the fifth Indiana Jones was supposed to hit theaters in 2019. 20th March 2018 - Filming to Start in April 2019 Source: Deadline The director revealed that he will be shooting the next Indiana Jones movie in April 2019 in the UK. Spielberg said, Its always worth the trip when I get to work with this deep bench of talent coming out of the UK. The actors, and the crew, the chippies, the sparks, the drivers everybody who has helped me make my movies here, and will continue helping me make my movies here when I come back in April 2019 to make the fifth Indiana Jones movie right here. 25th April 2017 - Release Date Revealed Star Wars: Episode IX is now set for release on May 24, 2019. Directed by Colin Trevorrow, the film will close out the third Star Wars trilogy. In addition, the fifth chapter of the Indiana Jones series is now confirmed for a July 10, 2020 release. Both Steven Spielberg, director of every Indiana Jones film, and star Harrison Ford will return. Source: Star Wars The Walt Disney Company and Lucasfilm announced today two major upcoming release dates.Star Wars: Episode IX is now set for release on May 24, 2019. Directed by Colin Trevorrow, the film will close out the third Star Wars trilogy.In addition, the fifth chapter of the Indiana Jones series is now confirmed for a July 10, 2020 release. Both Steven Spielberg, director of every Indiana Jones film, and star Harrison Ford will return. 15th March 2016 - Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford Returning Indiana Jones is one of the greatest heroes in cinematic history, and we cant wait to bring him back to the screen in 2019, said Disney chairman Alan Horn. Its rare to have such a perfect combination of director, producers, actor and role, and we couldnt be more excited to embark on this adventure with Harrison and Steven. Franchise veterans Kathleen Marshall who now is president of Lucasfilms and Frank Marshall will produce. Disney, which owns Lucasfilms, home of the Indiana Jones franchise, is taking over duties from Paramount, which released the previous four films. Source: The Hollywood Reporter Steven Spielberg will direct Harrison Ford in the untitled fifth installment in the classic action-adventure franchise, which will open July 19, 2019, Disney announced Tuesday.Indiana Jones is one of the greatest heroes in cinematic history, and we cant wait to bring him back to the screen in 2019, said Disney chairman Alan Horn. Its rare to have such a perfect combination of director, producers, actor and role, and we couldnt be more excited to embark on this adventure with Harrison and Steven.Franchise veterans Kathleen Marshall who now is president of Lucasfilms and Frank Marshall will produce. Disney, which owns Lucasfilms, home of the Indiana Jones franchise, is taking over duties from Paramount, which released the previous four films. Harrison Ford returns as the legendary hero archaeologist in the highly anticipated fifth installment of the iconic Indiana Jones franchise, which is directed by James Mangold (Ford v Ferrari, Logan). Starring along with Ford are Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag), Antonio Banderas (Pain and Glory), John Rhys-Davies (Raiders of the Lost Ark), Shaunette Renee Wilson (Black Panther), Thomas Kretschmann (Das Boot), Toby Jones (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom), Boyd Holbrook (Logan), Oliver Richters (Black Widow), Ethann Isidore (Mortel) and Mads Mikkelsen (Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore). Directed by James Mangold, the film is produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Simon Emanuel, with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas serving as executive producers. John Williams, who has scored each Indy adventure since the original "Raiders of the Lost Ark" in 1981, is once again composing the score. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DANBURY A 34-year-old man facing felony charges stemming from incidents in the Danbury area was at one point a suspect in the disappearance of a 20-year-old who was reported missing just over a year ago, according to a police affidavit. The warrant stems from a motor vehicle theft Christopher Lemke has been accused of committing two days before Carlos Reyes, a DoorDash driver and driver-for-hire, was last seen by his family around 11 p.m. March 28, 2022. No one has been charged in Reyes disappearance, but police had said last year they believed Lemke had information related to Reyes whereabouts. Lemke's attorney could not be reached for comment. The warrant largely details the police investigation into a car stolen from a Mobil gas station on the corner of Main and North streets in Danbury on March 26, 2022. Lemke, who is being held as he awaits trial on kidnapping, home invasion and other charges stemming from a separate incident, was charged last month with stealing a firearm, second- and third-degree larceny, and first-degree reckless endangerment in the gas station incident. Police said the Toyota Avalon was found fully engulfed in flames in Bethel the day after it had been stolen at the gas station, according to the warrant. The warrant notes that New York State Police had discovered Reyes vehicle on fire around midnight on March 29, 2022. Fire officials ruled the fire an arson, the warrant states. This investigation developed Christopher Lemke as a suspect. Danbury police have declined to comment on the Reyes case, directing questions to the FBI, which is also involved in the investigation. The FBI has not returned requests for comment. Erin Henry, Danburys public information specialist, declined to say last week whether there was a connection between the Reyes investigation and Lemkes latest charges. Gas station incident According to the arrest warrant affidavit, a woman was checking the engine oil level of her 2011 Toyota Avalon around 11:50 p.m. March 26, 2022 when a man got into the drivers seat of the vehicle and drove off. She told police that among other items, there was a Glock model 42, .380 caliber pistol containing six rounds of ammunition in the car. Police said video surveillance from the gas station showed a man later identified as Lemke walk up behind the car, carrying what appeared to be a cup containing an orange-colored beverage, according to the warrant. He placed the cup on the trunk of the victims car before hopping into the drivers seat, taking off with the vehicles hood still up and heading eastbound on North Street, according to the warrant. Police said he almost struck the victim with the vehicle, but she managed to get out of the way, the warrant stated. Other surveillance footage showed Lemke getting out of a light-colored sedan before walking to the gas station, and the light-colored sedan taking off in the same direction after he stole the Toyota Avalon, according to the warrant. Police spoke with a woman who said that on the night of March 26, 2022, she drove Lemke and another woman from the 7-11 on Federal Road to North Street, according to the warrant. The other woman in the car told police got out of the car at North and Main streets, walked to the Mobil gas station and stole a car, according to the warrant. She told police they then went to where Lemke was living in Bethel and that he "got a gun from the car and she thought he blew it up (the car) the next day," the warrant states. Surveillance footage from Bethels Clarke Business Park showed the stolen Toyota Avalon and the first woman's vehicle driving through the industrial park around 9:22 a.m. and her car exiting the property about 10 minutes later, the warrant states. Danbury police said they learned the next morning that the stolen vehicle had been found fully engulfed in flames in the Francis J. Clarke Industrial Park in Bethel. On April 7, 2022, police executed a search-and-seizure warrant on a Ball Pond Road property after learning Lemke had recently lived there, according to the warrant. The affidavit states that residents of the address told police Lemke recently left after residing there for the last week or so. At the time, Danbury police told Hearst Connecticut Media Group they searched Ball Pond Road to look for possible evidence or clues connected with the Reyes case and surveillance footage and evidence associated with the missing person were collected. According to the recently obtained warrant for Lemkes arrest, identification and insurance cards from the stolen Toyota Avalon were among items found during the search. Police later learned Lemke was staying at a house in Newtown and obtained a search-and-seizure warrant as they tried to recover the firearm that was in the Toyota Avalon, the warrant stated. When officers served the warrant on April 14, 2022, Lemke fled from the house on foot, kidnapped a woman at gunpoint, stole a vehicle and engaged police in pursuit, which ended with him crashing the stolen vehicle in Southbury, police said. State police took Lemke into custody and found him in possession of the stolen gun, which had five rounds of ammunition in it, police said. When police returned the gun to its owner, she confirmed she would keep six rounds in the Glock, according to the warrant. According to the warrant, Lemke refused to speak to Danbury detectives after being taken into custody, except to say he wanted a lawyer, followed by, Im a drug addict, what do you expect? Man missing for over 1 year According to Reyes case page in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, authorities believe he met up with a suspect (possibly related to narcotics trafficking) in Danbury, CT and subsequently disappeared. Henry said in February that a city detective had updated the description on the page to make it a bit more factual. Prior to the update, it said Reyes had met with an unidentified individual in Danbury, who authorities determined robbed and subsequently killed him before burning Reyes vehicle in Brewster, N.Y. The Berkshire Eagle reported on May 9, 2022, that the FBI searched in Sheffield, Mass., for the body of someone who either lived or died in Danbury, but no body was found during the two-day search. Lemke is being held at the MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution in Suffield, according to the state Department of Correction, and is scheduled to be arraigned on his latest charges April 10, at state Superior Court in Danbury. HARTFORD A citizen of the Dominican Republic will serve more than two years in prison after investigators determined he was a drug supplier for a large-scale drug trafficking ring based out of Waterbury, according to federal prosecutors. U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford sentenced Jeffrey Amarante-Perez, 29, Wednesday to 30 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for trafficking fentanyl and heroin, U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery said in a news release. Amarante-Perez has been detained since his July 2022 arrest. On Nov. 15, 2022, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, according to the U.S. attorney's office. Amarante-Perez's charge stems from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration's New Haven Task Force and the Waterbury Police Department into a Waterbury-based drug trafficking organization headed by Nestor Sosa-Ortiz. The investigation revealed that Sosa-Ortiz's organization received large quantities of fentanyl and heroin from suppliers in Connecticut and New York. They then distributed the narcotics through a network of co-conspirators, the U.S. attorney's office said. Authorities arrested Sosa-Ortiz on a separate drug trafficking charge in May 2019. He continued to control his drug network while incarcerated, according to the U.S. attorney's office. Later that year, officers searched an apartment on Bishop Street and four other locations. They seized an estimated 6 kilograms of fentanyl and heroin, about 100,000 bags of fentanyl and heroin packaged for street sale, approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills disguised as Percocet, one firearm and about $50,000 in cash, the U.S. attorney's office said. Investigators also seized drug ledgers, which connected Amarante-Perez to the Sosa-Ortiz organization. According to the U.S. attorney's office, the ledgers showed that the organization owed Amarante-Perez more than $30,000. As the investigation continued, officers determined that Amarante-Perez and his brother, Jeisson Amarante-Perez, were an alternate drug supplier source for the Sosa-Ortiz organization. Investigators also heard Jeisson Amarante-Perez and a drug courier coordinate narcotics transactions through wiretapped communications, the U.S. attorney's office said. Jeisson Amarante-Perez and Sosa-Ortiz have also pleaded guilty to related charges and await sentencing, according to the U.S. attorney's office. Yermak: I welcome proposal of Poland, Baltic states to include restrictions on Russia's nuclear energy in 11th EU sanction package Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak welcomed the proposal of Poland and the Baltic states to include restrictions on Russia's nuclear energy in the 11th EU sanction package. "Sanctions against the nuclear power industry of the Russian Federation are exactly what is needed. I welcome the proposal of Poland and the Baltic states to include restrictions on Russia's nuclear energy in the 11th EU sanction package," Yermak wrote on the Telegram channel on Friday. "The McFaul-Yermak International Sanction Group is now finalizing the preparation of an Action Plan to strengthen sanctions against the Russian Federation 2.0," the head of the President's Office added. "We are preparing a lot of troubles for the Russians," he summed up. GREENWICH U.S. Rep. Jim Himes said it's unlikely that the indictment of former President Donald Trump is going to affect how anybody feels about him. "The thing that fascinates me is, Donald Trump said in Iowa in 2016, 'I can shoot someone on Fifth Avenue, and I wouldn't lose a voter,' " said Himes, who spoke Wednesday at the Retired Men's Association. "He has this group of folks who, regardless of the facts, will stand by him. So he can get convicted, (but) he's still going to be enormously popular." Trump was indicted in Trump in a Manhattan courtroom on Tuesday on charges he falsified business records. Himes, a Greenwich resident who has represented the 4th Congressional District in southern Connecticut for 14 years, said in general, he doesn't like commenting on ongoing court cases, though he said that "nobody is above the law." Himes spoke on a variety of topics, including the Jan. 6 attack by a mob on the U.S. Capital in 2018, which he witnessed personally. "I was in the Chamber that day, one of the last people out," Himes said. "I saw these folks hurt police officers, break windows....What are the forces, what are the things that cause otherwise normal Americans to get there?" Himes said he believed political violence of the kind he witnessed in Washington D.C. was concentrated by right-wing extremists, while noting "the violent instinct exists on the far left, too." Social media has been the pathway for radicalization by giving extremists and anger-generating content a big platform, he said. "It only works because people dehumanize their adversaries," Himes said. "Frankly, it's exacerbated by social media....These platforms make a lot of money by enraging people, and rage is a very powerful emotion. An American electorate that is enraged leads to the world we're in." Himes said the public had a say in defusing the extremists on both sides of the political spectrum. "It's not really up to me, it's up to you," he said, "We need to get back to a more civil, constructive politics." The talk was one of the most well-attended Retired Men's Association events in recent times, with a large crowd in the community room at the First Presbyterian Church, and over 100 people watching by teleconference, said Peter Berg, an RMA organizer who introduced Himes. He called the discussion an especially informative one. "I think it was a great way to promote good government and democracy," he said. NEW HAVEN A local man was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison Thursday for shooting a woman in December 2018 and exchanging gunfire with a police detective who helped apprehend him one year later, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice. Marcus Rivera, who was 22 when he was charged, previously pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree assault, attempted assault on a public safety officer, carrying a pistol without a permit and possession of narcotics with intent to sell in connection with the 2019 shootout with police. Rivera also pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and carrying a pistol without a permit in connection with the 2018 shooting. That incident injured a woman in New Haven's Fair Haven neighborhood, state officials said. Rivera was the subject of an outstanding arrest warrant stemming from a traffic stop at the time of the attempted shooting on Jan. 8, 2019, according to police. Members of the New Haven Police Departments Intelligence Unit were dispatched to the area of Hurlburt Street and Washington Avenue after receiving information about Riveras whereabouts, a New Haven State's Attorney report said. In an arrest warrant affidavit completed after the shooting, Connecticut State Police Detective Michael Beauton said a tip reported Rivera was selling narcotics and carrying a firearm in the area. Rivera was found riding a bike on Kimberly Avenue, according to the report. Members of the unit watched as he entered a Sams Food Store, the report said. With the intention of apprehending and arresting Rivera, the report said, some investigators then approached the store. Rivera fled out the back door of the store once he saw police, according to the report. His escape attempt sparked a police pursuit. In a statement provided to state police, Francisco Sanchez, then a seven-year veteran of the New Haven Police Department, said he came face-to-face with Rivera in a driveway between two Greenwich Avenue houses. Pointing his gun at Rivera, Sanchez repeatedly ordered him to show him his hands, according to the statement. When Rivera raised his hands, Sanchez saw he was aiming an object that the officer identified as a gun, the report showed. Believing Rivera intended to shoot him, Sanchez fired his weapon, the statement said, prompting an exchange of gunfire. In the aftermath, then-New Haven State's Attorney Patrick J. Griffin assigned the Connecticut State Polices Western District Major Crime Squad to determine whether Sanchez was justified in using deadly force. The shooting predated the formation of the state Office of Inspector General, the agency now tasked with investigating officer-involved shootings. In June 2019, Sanchez was officially cleared. Detective Sanchez was confronted with an armed subject determined to avoid apprehension who aimed a firearm at the officer, and ultimately fired upon the officer, Griffin wrote in his review. Detective Sanchez was justified in his actions based upon his reasonable belief that the use of such force was necessary to defend himself and others from the use or imminent use of deadly physical force. Immediately following the shootout, Rivera fled down the right side of the driveway as Sanchez took cover behind a parked vehicle, according to the officer's statement. Rivera was eventually found on Howard Avenue suffering from a gunshot wound and transported to Yale New Haven Hospital, the report said. When Rivera was taken into custody, he was observed to be missing several clothing items, including a pair of jeans and a coat, according to the arrest warrant affidavit. Surveillance footage depicted him discarding the jeans, a sweatshirt and the coat in the backyard of a 1st Street home and a handgun in the yard of a Howard Avenue home, the affidavit said. When investigators recovered the items, they located $154 in cash next to the jeans, discovered 2 grams of crack cocaine and two cellphones in the jacket and determined that the handgun held .380-caliber ammunition, according to the affidavit. One .380-caliber casing was found at the shooting scene, the affidavit said, along with four .40-caliber shell casings that had come from Sanchezs firearm. Rivera pleaded guilty on Dec. 22, 2022. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison, but will only have to serve half of the time followed by five years of conditional discharge. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD A city man has pleaded guilty to charges related to a drunk-driving crash that killed two of his teenage passengers in 2019. Jerry Diaz, 21, pleaded guilty to two counts each of first-degree manslaughter and second-degree assault with a motor vehicle, and single counts of operating under the influence and carrying a pistol without a permit during a disposition hearing at the state Superior Court in Stamford Thursday. Under the agreement he made with state prosecutors, Diaz will be sentenced to 20 years in prison suspended after he serves 10 years. He also faces five years of probation following his release. Diaz was arrested by Stamford police on two counts of second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault with a motor vehicle, operating under the influence and reckless driving in 2019 for his role in a crash on Canal Street that killed Nishawn Tolliver, 18, and Ky-Mani Antoine-Pollack, 19, and injured Diaz and three others, police wrote in an arrest affidavit. Tolliver was slated to start his senior year at Stamford High School at the time of the crash. Pollack was a recent graduate of Stamford schools. Police say Diaz was driving between 91 and 96 mph down Canal Street early in the morning of Aug. 26, 2019, with five passengers in his mother's care before crashing the vehicle into two utility poles, snapping them in half. Police say his blood alcohol concentration was .137 percent, well above the .08 driving limit. For those under the age of 21, the legal limit is .02. Ky-Mani Antoine-Pollacks mother watched from the gallery as Diaz appeared in court Thursday but, apparently overwhelmed by emotion, left the courtroom as Diaz entered his pleas. Sgt. Jeffrey Booth, head of Stamfords Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Squad and one of the investigators Diazs case, said on Thursday that he believed the states resolution in the case was a fair deal. He also commended the members of the Stamford Police Departments thorough investigation in the case. Im glad the family is finally able to get some closure, and Im glad the driver finally took responsibility for what he did, after not wanting to for a couple of years, Booth said. Neither Antoine-Pollacks mother, nor Tollivers family members, could be reached for comment following Thursdays hearing. In addition to charges connected to the crash, Diaz also pleaded guilty to others tied to a 2020 assault: Police said he pointed a loaded semiautomatic firearm at a man in an attempt to win back a former girlfriend. Diaz is scheduled to be sentenced on June 6. The Republican-led Tennessee House of Representatives voted Thursday to expel two Democratic lawmakers, Reps. Justin Jones of Nashville and Justin Pearson of Memphis, after they and Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) joined protesters demanding gun-control legislation at the state Capitol. The protest was staged after three children and three adults were killed in a shooting at a Christian school in Nashville last week. The three lawmakers have been dubbed the "Tennessee Three." They joined protesters at the Tennessee Capitol on March 30 to demand that lawmakers pass gun-control legislation, bringing a House session to a halt. Jones shouted "No action, no peace!" and held a sign reading: "Protect kids, not guns." Pearson spoke through a megaphone and chanted "Enough is enough!" about gun violence. In a historic act of partisan retaliation on Thursday, Jones was ousted in a 72-25 vote and Pearson in a 69-26 vote. Johnson survived the expulsion vote. Two-thirds of the House must vote in favor of expulsion for the measure to take effect, according to the state constitution. The decision has ignited fierce partisan debate across the nation, with President Biden labeling it "shocking, undemocratic and without precedent." On social media Friday, the hashtag #TennesseeThree was trending across Twitter as people pledged to stand with Jones, Pearson and Johnson. Here's what we know about them. - Who is Justin Jones? Jones is a 27-year-old community organizer elected to Tennessee's House in November for his first term and one of the state's youngest legislators. He is of Black and Filipino descent and received a political science degree from Fisk University, a historically Black liberal arts college in Nashville. He is studying theology as a graduate student at Vanderbilt University, according to his campaign website. Born in Oakland, Calif., Jones describes himself as an activist and community organizer who has advocated for the "expansion of health care in Tennessee, the repeal of restrictive state voter ID laws, and community accountability in cases of police brutality." Jones says he has been arrested over a dozen times for nonviolent protests, including a 62-day sit-in outside the Tennessee Capitol following the death of George Floyd in 2020. In an interview with Teen Vogue last year, he called for reparations to be paid to break the "cycle of plantation politics" in the United States and described slavery as one of "America's original sins." Jones has spoken of participating in a sit-in in Congress with Rep. John Lewis, the civil rights leader and Georgia Democrat who died in 2020. In an interview with the Tennessean newspaper last year, he called that action a "transformative moment" for him in seeing an elected official battle for "common-sense gun legislation" in the wake of the 2016 Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando. In 2019, Jones was temporarily banned from the Tennessee Capitol after throwing liquid at state Rep. Glen Casada (R) while demanding the removal of a bust of Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, an early leader of the Ku Klux Klan, the Associated Press reported. The bust was later removed. Casada agreed to drop the charges later that year, the Tennessean reported. Discussing why he joined protests at the Capitol last week, Jones tweeted: "There comes a time when you have to do something out of the ordinary." He also called his expulsion so soon after the Nashville mass shooting "morally insane," adding: "What's happening in Tennessee is a clear danger to democracy all across this nation." - Who is Justin Pearson? Pearson, 29, is a community organizer and environmental campaigner from Memphis. He was elected in January 2023 and caused a backlash when he wore a dashiki to be sworn in. He is one of five sons born to teenage parents in Memphis, according to his official website, and graduated from Mitchell High School as valedictorian and Bowdoin College in 2017, majoring in government, legal and education studies. Pearson started his social justice advocacy early while still in high school, demanding textbooks from the local board of education and becoming a prominent member of the debate team. He founded the Memphis Community Against Pollution grass-roots group and went on to help stop a multibillion-dollar crude oil pipeline from running through Memphis, a project that he said would have impacted local drinking water. Pearson has accused Tennessee of "suffering from a lack of compassionate legislators" and said it needs better laws to help working-class people, small-business owners and communities. "The well-connected and powerful are misusing their power to whittle away our civil rights and our values of respect, integrity, transparency and honesty," he said. Despite being ousted this week, he said he was determined to continue fighting, tweeting: "We will not stop. We will not give up! We will continue working to build a nation that includes, not excludes, or unjustly expels. People power will always prevail!" - Who is Gloria Johnson? Johnson, 60, is a former teacher from Knoxville who lost a student to gun violence. Born in Colorado, she moved with her family to California and then to Mississippi for her father's work as an FBI special agent, according to her official website. They returned to Tennessee when she was in seventh grade. She later attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, earning a degree in education. Johnson spent 27 years working as a teacher, educating special-needs children before retiring and embracing her "passion for politics." She worked as a community organizer for the 2008 presidential campaign of Barack Obama and was elected Knox County Democratic Party chairwoman in 2009 and 2011. In 2012, she successfully ran for the state House "to give a needed voice for students, teachers and working families in Tennessee." She remains an advocate for education and affordable health care and was endorsed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). Known as an outspoken legislator, Johnson once moved her desk into a hallway to protest being assigned a small office, which she contended was in retaliation for not voting to reelect the Republican House speaker. Asked by reporters why she thinks she survived the expulsion vote this week while Jones and Pearson did not, she replied: "I'll answer your question - it might have to do with the color of our skin." In late March, at a meeting of the Education Committee, Sen. Doug McCrory, D-Hartford, delivered what may have been the most rousing defense of charter schools ever heard in Connecticut's legislature. McCrory, a Hartford Democrat, spoke for 31 uninterrupted minutes, quoting Martin Luther King Jr., invoking civil rights touchstones such as the killing of George Floyd and arguing that poor families in Connecticut cities need school choice for a shot at a good education. "It is time to give our parents a choice and give our students a chance," he concluded, drawing applause from some in the hearing room, where clapping is strongly discouraged. When McCrory was done, however, not everyone was convinced. The proposal at hand, designed to facilitate the approval of more charter schools statewide, drew support from all but one Republican on the Education Committee but left Democrats split nearly down the middle: 15 in support, 13 against. "We have a lot of schools that already have a lot of shortages and do not have supports that they need," state Rep. Maryam Khan, D-Windsor, one of the Democrats who voted against the proposal, said this week. "What's more important is to start funding our neighborhood schools that have remained under-funded." Always a divisive subject in education circles, charter schools have emerged as a subject of tension during the current legislative session, mostly in relation to Senate Bill 1096, which would reverse a 2015 change requiring the legislature to approve funding for new charter schools, but also in the context of a separate proposal to reshape how public schools are funded. Proponents of charter schools say they give families, particularly Black and Latino ones, an alternative to under-funded neighborhood schools in poor cities. Opponents argue that instead of funding new, privately run schools for a handful of students, the state should bolster traditional public schools for all students. The charter school debate has led to public sniping at the Capitol, and with both legislative proposals having advanced out of the Education Committee, the issue is likely to emerge again in the coming weeks. The night before the committee was set to vote on SB 1096, Connecticut's two largest teachers unions emailed lawmakers urging them to oppose the bill, while noting that one of the groups, the Connecticut Education Association, would consider the upcoming vote as part of its legislative scorecard. The letter rankled some members of the committee, including McCrory, who said moments before the vote that the unions' position "has placed a bulls-eye on each and every one of our backs," as well as fellow co-chair, Rep. Jeff Currey, D-East Hartford, who accused CEA and AFT of "veiled threats." Kate Dias, the CEA's president, said she was surprised McCrory and Currey had read the email that way and that the group did not intend it how legislators seemed to have taken it. "I did not appreciate some of the sentiment that we are putting bulls-eyes on people," Dias said. "That's a really gross misrepresentation of how we were approaching this." More charter schools? Under a 2015 law, opening a new charter school in Connecticut requires two tiers of approval: one from the state Board of Education and one from the legislature, which must grant the school's funding. SB 1096 would remove the second tier of approval, meaning the Board of Education alone would be able to authorize charter programs. This would likely result in the creation of at least several new charter schools, including in Danbury and Norwalk, where proposals approved by the board have stalled in the legislature. Proponents of the bill say green-lighting those schools, and others like them, would mean more options for families in those cities. "They're a choice for families that have a limited about of choice," said Ruben Felipe, a former Bridgeport official who is now executive director of the Connecticut Charter Schools Association. "And they have a proven track record of educating particularly Black and brown and low-income students at an incredibly high level." Charter school opponents, meanwhile, offer several counter-arguments. For one thing, research into the benefits of charter schools is mixed, with several studies finding little difference in student performance at charter schools vs. traditional public after accounting for the fact charters often attract higher performing students. For another, they note that charter schools, which receive public funding but operate independently, run by private companies instead of local boards of education, lack the sort of democratic accountability that traditional public schools have. Finally, they argue that charters draw funding from other schools, leaving behind the remaining students. Though public school districts do not directly fund charter schools, they are responsible for certain costs, including transportation and special education. "Charter schools pull away resources from the public school districts in many cases public school districts that are already inadequately funded by the state or by the local government," said Robert Cotto Jr., a Trinity College researcher who studies education policy. "When you make these choices you have to think about what are the consequences for the whole district, for other children that may not have the advantages that the kids that leave do." Both the CEA and AFT Connecticut oppose SB 1096, arguing that the state should focus on supporting traditional public schools. Dias said she isn't against charter schools in principle but believes they should have significant oversight. "We understand the function of charters, but only 2 percent of students sit in charters, and there's an extraordinary amount of discussion about how to get them more as opposed to how to support the 98 percent that are in [traditional] public schools," she said. AFT Connecticut leaders declined to be interviewed for this story but said in a statement they're focused on securing higher staffing levels and more funding for public schools. while "keep[ing] the existing process for approving and funding new charters." "As educators, we want every child no matter their language, zip code, background or ability to receive a high-quality education and the resources they need for the best start in life," AFT Connecticut president Jan Hochadel, also a state senator, said. "Right now our public schools are severely under-funded and understaffed." In an interview this week, McCrory expressed little patience for people who oppose charter schools, suggesting many legislators voted against SB 1096 primarily out of deference to the unions. As for the idea that charter schools leave behind students in traditional public schools, McCrory asked why the same argument doesn't apply to magnet schools and said it's because "magnet schools give white people choice." "They have no argument," McCrory said. "Either you want to give people choice or you don't. That's what it comes down to." Khan, herself a public school teacher in Hartford, rejected the idea that she and other representatives had voted against the charter school proposal only to appease the unions. In reality, she said, she voted that way because she doesn't think the state needs more schools at a time of declining student populations and because she'd first like to see more funding for traditional public schools. "Many of us that were not for this bill were not for it before the email [from the unions] came out," Khan said. "We just really wanted to make sure our traditional public schools and neighborhood schools are fully funded before we decide to open additional schools." A funding debate The debate over charter schools has spilled over to another piece of legislation, House Bill 5003, which would boost funding for districts across Connecticut and reduce disparities between wealthy and poor school systems but would do so in part by boosting funding for charter programs. Specifically, the proposal would allot extra money to charter schools (and other schools of choice) with high-need students, using the same formula currently applied to traditional public schools. Felipe says this would have a "huge impact, a really significant impact" on charter schools, which would see sharp funding increases. Proponents see this as fair: The money follows the students, wherever they happen to be. "There are students that go to those schools, and those students should not be penalized because of the politics of the situation and whether someone agrees with the school type," said Michael Morton, a deputy executive director of the nonprofit School + State Finance Project, which has pushed the bill. "At some point we do need to have adults in the room and understand that this is about students, not about whatever school type you prefer." Opponents, however, argue that every dollar that goes toward charter schools could instead go toward traditional schools. More funding for charter schools, they say, only facilitates further privatization. Joseph Sokolovic, a member of the Bridgeport Board of Education, has roundly criticized HB 5003 on social media, noting that it wouldn't boost Bridgeport as substantially as it would other Connecticut cities and that a disproportionate amount of the new funds in the bill will go toward charter schools. "When you spend more money on a charter school, you spend less money on a traditional public school," Sokolovic said in an interview. "And by diluting our public school dollars, people get fed up with our public schools because we can't afford the services, thereby feeding the charter schools more." Cotto, who formerly served on Hartford's Board of Education, said he thinks the proposal benefits charter schools disproportionately. "Why is the state and the legislature moving fast with making and funding more charter schools instead of saying let's fund and improve our current public schools where they are now?" he said. Unlike the bill regarding the charter school approval process, HB 5003 faced relatively little pushback in the Education Committee, passing with unanimous bipartisan support. Though Gov. Ned Lamont did not include funding for the bill in his budget proposal in February, proponents hope he'll eventually support some version of it as the budget process progresses. For some legislators, the charter school component may be a reason to pause before supporting the bill. For McCrory, who said he has opposed similar proposals in the past, it was a plus. He said he voted to advance the bill specifically because it includes support "for all public schools." Moving forward Cotto and Felipe are on opposite sides of the charter school debate but agree on one thing: Charters seem to have momentum in Connecticut, in a way they didn't in the recent past. "It seems like a shift," Cotto said. "The legislature is saying we're going to put more money in charter schools, we're going to reduce the rules about how do we approve and fund new charter schools, and then you see which charter schools are going to be put up for approval and it starts to raise alarms." Felipe said he has seen legislators become more receptive to charter schools and that he's "cautiously optimistic" that a version of SB 1096 will pass this session. For now, the bill is headed to the Appropriations Committee. If it gains approval there, it will come under the consideration of the broader legislature, where it will surely face both substantial support and substantial pushback. McCrory said the bill will likely be the subject of negotiation but that he think it will ultimately pass. Dias, from CEA, said she couldn't predict what would happen but that "the conversation is still going on." "Our position on that bill has not changed," she said. alex.putterman@hearstmediact.com. SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) New Mexico's governor signed anti-crime bills Thursday that aim to curtail coordinated theft at retail stores and block the sale of stolen catalytic converters that can be sawed out of unattended cars and pickups. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham also helped enact felony penalties for straw purchases of firearms, in which a weapon is bought legally in order to sell it to someone who cant lawfully possess a gun. Federal law already prohibits straw gun purchase, and new legislation in New Mexico would enable local prosecutors to pursue separate sanctions. The bill was sponsored by Republican House Minority Leader Ryan Lane in a rare example of bipartisan support for restrictions on guns. State and local business associations lobbied legislators to create a new category of organized retail crime and stiffen penalties for organized theft of store merchandize as retailers struggle to contain losses from coordinated pilfering. In a statement, Democratic House Speaker Javier Martinez of Albuquerque praised the new legislation and said that organized retail crime also affects the safety retail workers and families as they shop. Newly signed environmental legislation will devise a clean-up plan for underground pollution from coal ash at a recently shutter coal-fired power plant in northwestern New Mexico at the San Juan Generating Station. Nariel Nanasi, executive director of the New Energy Economy environmental advocacy group for utility customers, said the legislation will help ensure that that toxic metal contaminants dont leach into the ground or leak into waterways. In economic development efforts, the governor has signed a bill to support creative artists and entrepreneurs through public investments in shared facilities such as foundries, galleries, high-tech tool shops and manufacturing centers. Sponsors included Democratic state Rep. Reena Szczepanski of Santa Fe. Another recently signed bill from Democratic state Rep. Micaela Lara Cadena of La Mesilla eliminates a variety of court fees that can have a disproportionate effect on the poor. Fines imposed as punishment are not eliminated. Advocates for the legislation say fees are not supposed to be punitive but that court debts have often led to bench warrants that are coupled with additional fees and can prompt or prolong incarceration. WASHINGTON (AP) The Justice Department has launched an investigation into the possible release of Pentagon documents that were posted on several social media sites and appear to detail U.S. and NATO aid to Ukraine, but may have been altered or used as part of a misinformation campaign. The documents, which were posted on sites such as Twitter, are labeled secret and resemble routine updates that the U.S. military's Joint Staff would produce daily but not distribute publicly. They are dated ranging from Feb. 23 to March 1, and provide what appears to be details on the progress of weapons and equipment going into Ukraine with more precise timelines and amounts than the U.S. generally provides publicly. They are not war plans and they provide no details on any planned Ukraine offensive. And some inaccuracies including estimates of Russian troops deaths that are significantly lower than numbers publicly stated by U.S. officials have led some to question the documents' authenticity. In a statement Friday, Sabrina Singh, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said the Defense Department made a formal referral of the matter to the Justice Department for investigation. And the Justice Department, in a separate statement Friday, said, We have been in communication with the Department of Defense related to this matter and have begun an investigation. The investigation comes as questions continued to swirl about the origination and the validity of the documents, and as reports suggest more have begun to appear on social media sites. It is very important to remember that in recent decades, the Russian special services most successful operations have been taking place in Photoshop," Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraines military intelligence directorate, said on Ukrainian TV. From a preliminary analysis of these materials, we see false, distorted figures on losses on both sides, with part of the information collected from open sources. Separately, however, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office released a statement Friday about a meeting he had with his senior military staff, and it noted that the participants of the meeting focused on measures to prevent the leakage of information regarding the plans of the defense forces of Ukraine. If the published documents are authentic to any degree, however, the leak of classified data is troubling and raises questions about what other information about the Ukraine war or any coming offensive could be distributed. U.S. officials on Friday provided no clarity on the origin of the documents, their authenticity, or who actually was the first to post them online. The New York Times was the first to report about the documents. Later Friday, the Times reported that more documents involving Ukraine as well as other sensitive national security topics such as China and the Middle East had begun appearing on social media. One U.S. official said the initial documents resemble data produced daily by the Joint Staff, although some numbers are wrong. Even if they were legitimate, the official said, the U.S. believes there is little real intelligence value to the documents, since much of it is information Russia would already know or could glean from the battlefield. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence documents. The charts and graphs describe some battlefield status of both sides from a month ago, U.S. military movements during the previous 24 hours, personnel numbers and the local weather outlook. But there are errors. Under a section titled Total Assessed Losses, one document lists 16,000-17,500 Russian casualties and up to 71,000 Ukrainian casualties. Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said publicly last November that Russia has lost well over 100,000 soldiers, and Ukraine had lost about that many also. And those estimates have continued to climb in recent months, although officials have stopped providing more exact numbers. MOSCOW (AP) Jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has been charged with espionage in Russia and has entered a formal denial, two Russian news agencies reported Friday. The state news agency Tass and the Interfax news agency said a law enforcement source informed them that Russias Federal Security Service, known as the FSB, had officially charged the American journalist. The news outlets didnt say in what form Gershkovich was formally charged or when it happened, but generally suspects are presented a paper outlining the accusations. In the Russian legal system, the filing of charges and a response from the accused represent the formal start of a criminal probe, initiating what could be a long and secretive Russian judicial process. Tass quoted its source as saying: The FSB investigation charged Gershkovich with espionage in the interests of his country. He categorically denied all accusations and stated that he was engaged in journalistic activities in Russia. The source declined further comment because the case is considered secret. Russian authorities arrested Gershkovich, 31, in Yekaterinburg, Russias fourth-largest city, on March 29. He is the first U.S. correspondent since the Cold War to be detained for alleged spying. The FSB specifically accused Gershkovich of trying to obtain classified information about a Russian arms factory. The Wall Street Journal has denied the accusations. The case has caused an international uproar. In a rare U.S. bipartisan statement, the Senates top two leaders demanded Friday that Russia immediately release Gershkovich. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. declared that journalism is not a crime and praised Gershkovich as an internationally known and respected independent journalist. On Thursday, the U.S ambassador to Russia and a top Russian diplomat met to discuss the case. In the meeting with U.S. Ambassador Lynne T. Tracy, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stressed the serious nature of the charges against Gershkovich, according to a Russian Foreign Ministry statement. The statement repeated earlier Russian claims that the reporter was caught red-handed while trying to obtain secret information, using his journalistic status as a cover for illegal actions." Lawyers representing Gershkovich met with him Tuesday for the first time since his detention, according to Wall Street Journal. Editor-in-Chief Emma Tucker. Tucker said the reporter is in good health and is grateful for the outpouring of support from around the world. We continue to call for his immediate release." Gershkovich was ordered held behind bars for two months in Russia pending an investigation. A Moscow court said Monday that it had received a defense appeal of his arrest; the appeal is scheduled to be heard on April 18, Russian news agencies reported. I grew up loving reading books, I still read constantly. Books show us more than we can see on our own, they are a view into different worlds, different lived experiences, a way to dream who we might become, and a way to envision a future. Currently we are in a precarious place with books in our communities, as efforts abound to suppress or eliminate books that extremists dont approve of, in libraries across the nation. The American Library Association (ALA) recently reported that last year there were 1,269 attempts to ban books across the country, a dramatic uptick from 729 attempts in 2021. These book bans continue attempts by some to erase history and culture. These attempts, regardless of whether they're successful, pose a threat to our democracy to shutter knowledge. In Connecticut, we value all voices which is why, with Senate Bill 2, we will protect and empower libraries that lend books that have been banned elsewhere. With Senate Bill 2, I was proud to include a section providing municipalities with the ability to designate their libraries as sanctuary libraries, just as leaders in Chicago named its public library a book sanctuary. In Stamford this year the Ferguson Library also became a sanctuary library, a step that was reaffirmed by both the city's Library Board, the Stamford Board of Representatives, and Mayor Caroline Simmons. In Senate Bill 2, a sanctuary library is one that makes available and lends books that have been banned or censored as well as one that does not prohibit or otherwise limit the availability of books or related library materials through bans or censorship. Sanctuary Libraries are eligible to apply for state library grants. The local library is a hub for residents, serving as a community gathering space and a place for people to learn and study. It is a place for parents to bring their children to participate in story time, socialize with other kids, nurture a love of books, and expand their childrens imaginations through reading. Libraries are the centerpiece of our communities, for a community to be strong, members must feel connected to their neighbors. A knowledge of history and culture is one of the most effective ways to develop a tolerance and rapport with those around us. Book bans endanger individual freedom and weaken important connections imperative to community strength and togetherness. Banning books is a direct attack to sever these ties. Protecting access to history, arts and culture is a responsibility, and although no Connecticut Republicans joined Democrats in voting Senate Bill 2 out of the Committee on Children this session, I am confident this bill will pass both the House and Senate. Democrats in Connecticut are dedicated to ensuring we protect and preserve our culture, while unfortunately other states are choosing to go in the opposite direction. Last year, Texas banned 801 books from July 1 2021-June 30, 2022 according to Statista. During this time period, Florida banned 560 books and Pennsylvania banned 457. According to PEN America, Between August and November, Missouri banned nearly 300 books in at least 11 school districts. These bans are targeted specifically at books regarding the LGBTQ community and communities of color. Per PEN America, "more than 40% of the banned titles address lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer themes or have prominent queer characters." According to Statista, "40 percent of banned titles featured protagonists or other key characters of color." These bans are reprehensible attempts to score political points at the expense of long disenfranchised groups. There is no purpose in fanning the flames of a culture war other than to distract residents from the reality that politicians who choose to go this route are lacking in ideas which will benefit the public. What's more, there are real consequences for the people and groups targeted in these bans as well as the brave librarians who offer the threatened books. In Livingston Parish, Louisiana librarian Amanda Jones reportedly received death threats after pushing back against censorship and book bans, per a September piece in Education Week. Despite a sad trend of cultural divisiveness, we are not powerless. In Connecticut I encourage you to check out a book at a local library that has been targeted in other states. Books such as "How to Be an Antiracist," "Gender Queer," "1984," "The Bluest Eye," or "The Hate U Give." Supporting your local library and these books serves as a showing of our strength and resolve to protect our democracy in the face of very real threats. We can all do our part, including in the General Assembly, where Im confident SB 2 will pass, and will protect books, democracy, and libraries across our state. T ributes have been paid to a generous schoolgirl with a heart of gold who perished in a flat fire in east London. Tiffany Regis, 14, has been named locally as the victim of the fire that injured five others in Tollgate Road, Beckton. The Kingsford Community School student is believed to have joined friends to celebrate the Easter holidays before the fire ignited at around 5.25pm on Thursday. Children as young as four reportedly jumped from upper-floor windows to escape the flames onto an old mattress laid out by hero neighbours. The fire is being treated as arson and a 16-year-old boy has since been arrested on suspicion of murder. TikTok/PA Five others injured in the blaze have since been discharged from hospital. Vasee Ahmed a family friend, who saw the blaze take hold, told the Standard: Tiffany was loving and caring and was very close to my daughter and wife. Tiffany was living with her gran near the Asda as her gran was elderly. That flat was Tiffanys friends I think the school friends got together and met up in the flat to just have a chat and enjoy their holidays. Tiffany had a heart of gold according to friends / TikTok They added: We have lived in Beckton since 1988 and have seen kids and families grow up over the years. My daughter is in the same class as Tiffany in Kingsford Community School. We always saw Tiffany she was so generous and humble and has a heart of gold. My daughter is very distressed since yesterday as she is trying to come to terms with this tragedy. People hug at the scene on Tollgate Road in Beckton / PA He said: People tried their best to help. They were bringing mattresses so kids could jump to safety out of the windows. A woman purporting to be Tiffanys aunt posted on TikTok: This cant be real this was my niece. R.I.P beautiful you were gone to soon. The world is so horrible may your beautiful soul rest at peace now. Love you baby girl. Forensic investigators at scene on Tollgate Road in Beckton, Newham after a fire at a block of flats / PA Paying tribute, a man who said he was a family friend described the teenager as an angel. The man who gave his name only as Godfrey, 30, said: Ive even got videos of her from when she young. She spent some time with my little nephews. Those memories with her I will never forget. Witnesses said they watched people jump from windows onto a mattress to escape the fire. Neighbour Inga Tilvikiene said: First a small boy, four or five years old, jumped Two guys found an old mattress. About six or seven people [jumped on it]. One girl just jumped onto the floor, you could see yesterday she was bruised. Forensic investigators at scene on Tollgate Road in Beckton, Newham after a fire at a block of flats / PA Rahina Begum, who lives opposite the flats, described how the fire went up very quickly, within a few seconds. She said: In 10 to 15 seconds the whole building was on fire, from the bottom to the top. Kenesha Lawrence, 43, who lived in the block of flats with her 14-year-old son, is having to stay in a hostel after her home was destroyed. She said: I am in the same clothes as I left for work yesterday morning. My whole life was in there. I have been living there for nine years I have no idea what is going on in there. Just above me I know there is a family with a young baby boy. I dont know their names. Above that it was a mother and a daughter. The scene / PA Chf Supt Simon Crick who leads the North East Command Unit said: My thoughts at this time are with the victim and their family and friends. Incidents such as these send shockwaves through our communities and I dont underestimate the impact this will have in the local area and beyond. Your officers will be on patrol in the immediate vicinity over the Easter Weekend, please talk to them if you have any concerns. A scene and safety cordons remain in place and enquiries are ongoing. Detective chief inspector Joanna Yorke of the Mets Specialist Crime Command said: We are at the very early stages of our investigation and are still keen to hear from anyone who has information but has not yet spoken with police. I understand the effect an incident of this kind will have on the local community and I reiterate Chief Superintendent Cricks advice that anyone with concerns should speak with local officers. I would like to thank residents in the immediate area for their co-operation while my team conduct their enquiries. Our thoughts are with the family of the victim. Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Tweet @MetCC quoting 5315/6APR. To remain 100 per cent anonymous call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit Crimestoppers-uk.org. Following the talks in China, Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron released a joint statement in which they opposed the use of nuclear weapons and expressed support for efforts to restore peace in Ukraine on the basis of international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. As stated in one of the provisions of the statement published on the website of the Elysee Palace, France and China believe that differences and disputes between states should be resolved peacefully - through dialogue and consultations. In addition, France and China reaffirmed their support for the Joint Statement of the Heads of State and Government of China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States of January 3, 2022 on the prevention of nuclear war. As this statement reminds us, "nuclear war cannot be won and should never be fought." The two countries urge to refrain from any actions that may exacerbate the risk of tension, the text of the document says. In addition, the two countries opposed armed attacks on nuclear power plants and other peaceful nuclear facilities, and support the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in its efforts to promote nuclear safety and protect peaceful nuclear installations, including ensuring the safety and security of the Zaporizhia NPP. Another provision indicates that France and China emphasize the importance of strict compliance by all parties with the norms of international humanitarian law. They call, in particular, to protect women and children affected by war, to increase humanitarian aid to conflict zones, as well as to ensure safe, rapid and unhindered access of humanitarian aid in accordance with international obligations. France and China will hold annual meetings of the two heads of state. As reported, at the invitation of the President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping, President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron visited China from April 5-7, 2023. A 12-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of a 60-year-old woman who died after being hit by a car in Sheffield, police have said. Marcia Grant died on Wednesday after being hit by a car in the Greenhill area, police said. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The mother and grandmother was remembered as a pillar of the community. South Yorkshire Police have since charged a 12-year-old boy with the murder of Ms Grant. He is due to appear Sheffield Youth Court on Saturday April 8, 2023. Previously, Ms Grants family said: Marcia was a warm, loving and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend and a pillar of her community. Her loss has already sent shockwaves through all who knew her or was lucky enough to be included in her orbit. We ask for privacy at this time while further investigations are under way and the family try to come to terms with this enormous loss. E xperts have uncovered a 200-year-old carved, wooden fish while restoring the Palace of Westminster. Archaeologists found the animal figure beneath the House of Lords Royal Court and said it was most likely used as a token in card games. Roland Tillyer, a senior geoarcaeologist at the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA), discovered the object while monitoring the digging of a borehole. Counters like this were commonly used at gaming tables in Britain during the 18th and 19th Century and were used as tokens for scoring, Michael Marshall, MOLA finds team leader explained. A famous literary description of this practice comes from Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice - published in 1813 - where Lydia Bennet is described as winning and losing fish while playing games of lottery tickets, he added. Archaeologists from the programme said the fish counter would have been whittled to shape, then polished - the mouth cut with a saw and the eye inscribed with a centre bit tool or compass. The eye may originally have been filled with black wax, or a similar dark substance, experts explained. Diane Abrams, from the Houses of Parliament Restoration and Renewal Programme, described the discovery as amazing. It certainly highlights the value of the Palaces hidden archaeology beneath its buildings and spaces and how even a single find such as this can contribute to its overall sense of history and our literary past, she added. It comes after the remains of a medieval stone wall likely to be at least seven centuries old may have been found beneath the Palace of Westminster last year. The structure, thought to be the original medieval Thames River wall which ran under the Houses of Parliament, was unearthed during restoration work. Experts said it was likely to be at least 700 years old and made from Kentish ragstone, a hard grey limestone quarried from Kent and used in the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey. T wo British-Israeli sisters were killed and their mother badly injured in a gun attack on their car in the West Bank. The attack took place near an Israeli settlement in the Jordan Valley and the girls father witnessed the incident from a separate car following behind, local officials said. In London, the Foreign Office confirmed the deaths and appealed for all sides in the Israel-Palestine dispute to de-escalate a situation which has seen violence flare up in recent days. There was further bloodshed in Tel Aviv, as Britons were reportedly among those injured when a car rammed into a group of people near a popular seaside park. An Italian man was killed in the attack, but reports suggested Britons were among six people injured. The family of the two sisters killed in the West Bank were residents of the Efrat settlement, near the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, according to Oded Revivi, the settlements mayor. He said: With great sorrow we received an update on a shocking terrorist attack in which terrorists shot a car including a mother and her two daughters, residents of Efrat. The two girls were murdered and the mother is in (a) critical condition and we all pray for her quick recovery. The father of the family who drove in another car from the front turned around and witnessed the efforts to take care of his wife and daughters. A Foreign Office spokesman said: We are saddened to hear about the deaths of two British-Israeli citizens and the serious injuries sustained by a third individual. The UK calls for all parties across the region to de-escalate tensions. Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said: I am shocked by reports of the killing of two British sisters in an appalling and cowardly attack in the West Bank. My thoughts are with their family and loved ones. More civilian victims of this cycle of violence show the urgent need for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly had earlier called for calm after Israel launched strikes in southern Lebanon and bombed targets in the Gaza Strip in retaliation over rocket attacks. The cross-border fighting, while Jews are celebrating the Passover holiday and Muslims are marking Ramadan, erupted following violent scenes at Jerusalems Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon came after militants fired nearly three dozen rockets from there. The Israeli military said it targeted installations of the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Lebanon. Mr Cleverly said both sides in the Israel-Palestine dispute should recommit themselves to a negotiated settlement. He said: The UK condemns the indiscriminate rocket attacks from southern Lebanon and Gaza and recognises Israels right to self-defence. Now is the time for all parties across the region to de-escalate tensions. At the convergence of Passover, Ramadan and Easter, the UK calls for all parties to respect the historic status quo arrangements at Jerusalems holy sites and cease all provocative action. The UK is a strong supporter of freedom of religion or belief and calls for places of worship to be respected. We value Jordans important role as custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem and condemns the Israeli police violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. When Israeli security forces conduct operations, they must ensure they are proportionate and in accordance with international law. In Jerusalem, violence flared again at the Al-Aqsa Mosque before dawn prayers, with Israeli police stationed at one of the gates forcibly dispersing vast crowds of worshippers who chanted praise for Hamas. Human rights campaign group Amnesty International UK criticised Mr Cleverlys response. The charitys Kristyan Benedict said: James Cleverlys belated response to shocking Israeli violence against Palestinians at Al-Aqsa Mosque isnt just weak and tokenistic its also dangerously misguided because it effectively isolates individual incidents of violence from the overall context, which is decades of apartheid, occupation and systematic injustice against the Palestinian people. Despite the Foreign Secretarys usual platitudes about peace and de-escalation, the UK continues to oppose vital international measures such as the ongoing ICC (International Criminal Court) investigation, designed to bring justice and accountability for Israeli and Palestinian civilians. T he UK appealed for de-escalation as Israel launched strikes in southern Lebanon and bombed targets in the Gaza Strip in retaliation at rocket attacks. The cross-border fighting, while Jews are celebrating the Passover holiday and Muslims are marking Ramadan, erupted following violent scenes at Jerusalems Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon came after militants fired nearly three dozen rockets from there. Now is the time for all parties across the region to de-escalate tensions The Israeli military said it targeted installations of Palestinian militant group Hamas in Lebanon. The UKs Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said both sides in the Israel-Palestine dispute should recommit themselves to a negotiated settlement. He said: The UK condemns the indiscriminate rocket attacks from southern Lebanon and Gaza and recognises Israels right to self-defence. Now is the time for all parties across the region to de-escalate tensions. At the convergence of Passover, Ramadan and Easter, the UK calls for all parties to respect the historic status quo arrangements at Jerusalems holy sites and cease all provocative action. The UK is a strong supporter of freedom of religion or belief and calls for places of worship to be respected. We value Jordans important role as custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem and condemns the Israeli police violence at the Al Aqsa Mosque. When Israeli security forces conduct operations, they must ensure they are proportionate and in accordance with international law. In Jerusalem violence flared again at the Al Aqsa Mosque before dawn prayers, with Israeli police stationed at one of the gates forcibly dispersing vast crowds of worshippers who chanted praise for Hamas. Human rights campaign group Amnesty International UK criticised Mr Cleverlys response. The charitys Kristyan Benedict said: James Cleverlys belated response to shocking Israeli violence against Palestinians at Al Aqsa Mosque isnt just weak and tokenistic its also dangerously misguided because it effectively isolates individual incidents of violence from the overall context, which is decades of apartheid, occupation and systematic injustice against the Palestinian people. Despite the Foreign Secretarys usual platitudes about peace and de-escalation, the UK continues to oppose vital international measures such as the ongoing ICC (International Criminal Court) investigation, designed to bring justice and accountability for Israeli and Palestinian civilians. D etails of the King's coronation celebrations in central London were revealed on Thursday. King Charles III will be crowned on Saturday May 6, alongside his wife, Camilla, with three-days of festivities planned over the bank holiday weekend. The Government has laid out its party proposals for Hyde Park, Green Park and St James's Park, as well as the area in front of Buckingham Palace, the Mall, Whitehall and Parliament Square. London's City Operations Group (COG), which includes officials from the Met Police, City Hall, TfL, Westminster Council, Royal Parks and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, first met on January 10 to begin laying the groundwork for the complex event. Rehearsals are due to take place on May 2 and 3. Documents, published on Thursday, show pubs, food stalls and at least three pop up "Pimms bars" will be set up in the parks near Buckingham Palace for the thousands of people expected in the capital to commemorate the occasion. Giant screens showing the parade, concert and historical films will be placed in sections of Hyde Park. Here's what's planned: A new portrait of the King and Queen has been released for the coronation / Hugo Burnand Friday, May 5 On the evening before the coronation hot food is expected to be sold in Green Park for the revelers camping overnight in central London in a bid to secure a place on the coronation parade route. The Government has applied for a licence for refreshments to be sold between 11pm and 5am in the area for those sleeping on the streets "We anticipate that the provision of late-night refreshment will be limited to hot drinks and bacon sandwiches, or its equivalent," the plans state. "No alcohol will be served." Saturday, May 6 The coronation itself takes place in Westminster Abbey on Saturday, May 6. Charles and Camilla will arrive at the church in procession from Buckingham Palace, known as The Kings Procession . A Military procession will then leave the Abbey, ending with a balcony appearance by the newly crowned King and Queen at Buckingham Palace. Future King Prince George will play an important role in the coronation of his grandfather. He will be a Page of Honour alongside seven other schoolboys, who are either family friends or close relatives of Charles and Camilla, including three of the Queens grandchildren. Just 2,000 guests have been invited to attend the service in the Abbey. But screens will be set up in the Royal Parks for the mass crowds of well-wishers and tourists expected to flock into central London to see the event and line the Mall and parade route. Applications for bars to sell booze in Green Park and Hyde Park from 10am on Saturday, May 6, with "bars closing at 6pm", documents submitted to Westminster Council show. "There will be provision of catering across several hospitality compounds within the proposed licensed areas, providing a range of food and drink," it states. "Screens will relay the ceremony, and associated procession to and from Westminster from Buckingham Palace which may also include the showing of historical film footage." No tickets are needed to attend the screenings and events in the Royal Parks. But a grandstand in front of Buckingham Palace and a small standing area in front of Admiralty Arch will be reserved for about 4,400 key workers, veterans, police and military cadets. Sunday, May 7 Sunday evening will see the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle. An orchestra will play interpretations of musical favourites fronted by some of the worlds biggest entertainers on the Castles East Lawn. But royal fans unable to secure a ticket to the event through the ballot will be able to enjoy the music at screenings in Hyde Park. A licence for bars and pop up stalls to serve booze in the area between 4pm and 10pm is expected to be approved by Westminster Council next week. The concert is due to start at 8pm and last two hours. As a finale, iconic locations across Britain will be lit up using projections, lasers, drone displays and illuminations. "DCMS has the experience and partnerships with other key stakeholders to ensure that the Coronation is celebrated safely and securely, and with the national importance and profile it deserves," the Government said in its application. L abour has doubled down after an attack ad claiming that Rishi Sunak does not think child sex abusers should go to prison drew criticism from MPs across the political spectrum. The opposition party was accused of a vile and desperate campaign strategy by Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson and cheapened and debased politics by SNP MP John Nicolson after posting the advert on Twitter. In a tweet pitching itself as the party of law and order, Labour shared a photo of the Prime Minister alongside the words: Do you think adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should go to prison? Rishi Sunak doesnt. Labour backbencher and former shadow chancellor John McDonnell urged the party to climb down, saying: This is not the sort of politics a Labour Party, confident of its own values and preparing to govern, should be engaged in. I say to the people who have taken the decision to publish this ad, please withdraw it. We, the Labour Party, are better than this. A Tory source said: Labour HQ have highlighted Sir Keirs appalling record at keeping children safe. During Sir Keirs controversial tenure as director of public prosecutions, less than 30% of child pornographers saw the inside of a prison cell. Its no wonder only 12% of his staff thought he was any good and criminals want a Labour government. But Labour stood firm following the backlash, with a spokesperson responding later on Thursday saying: The Conservatives have left dangerous convicted criminals free to roam the streets. Labour is the party of law and order, and we will implement tougher sentences for dangerous criminals. Senior Tory MP Tobias Ellwood described the ad as appalling and claimed it threatened to undermine the democratic process, adding: We should be better than this. Ive called it out on my own side for stooping low and do so again now. Mr Nicolson said: This is absolutely nauseating. Politics cheapened and debased. The Labour Party wants to win, of course, but like this? Conservative MP Robert Largan said: Im not going to quote tweet it. But that Labour Party post about the Prime Minister is in the gutter. Really shameful stuff. Mr Anderson shared a tweet describing the message as gutter politics, adding: This is vile and desperate. It comes amid heightened efforts by Labour and the Tories to pitch themselves as the party of law and order in the run-up to local elections. Both main parties have put crime-fighting plans at the heart of their campaigns to snap up votes on May 4. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer repeated his promise to halve levels of violence against women and girls as he met with charities supporting victims in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, earlier on Thursday. Meanwhile Mr Sunak has announced a crackdown on grooming gangs to protect young women and girls from sexual abuse, with measures including a new police taskforce of specialist officers and the collection of ethnicity data. Vietnam-Russia intergovernmental committee holds 24th meeting Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Chernyshenko co-chaired the 24th meeting of both countries Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic, Trade and Scientific-Technological Cooperation in Hanoi on April 6. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha (R) and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Chernyshenko sign the minutes of the meeting (Photo: VNA) In his address, Deputy PM Ha stated that Vietnam greatly appreciates the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, wishing it to continue to develop and achieve many substantive results in the time ahead. He highlighted the meeting as a good opportunity for both sides to discuss and agree on a score measures to step up their bilateral cooperation. Chernyshenko, in turn, said that his nation considers Vietnam its top important partner in the region and aspires to expand and deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership. The two sides consented to effectively carry out the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union, creating favourable market access conditions for each other, especially concerning their products with strengths and without direct competition. In education and training, they concurred to early sign a new treaty based on the 2005 agreement, hold the second Vietnam Russia rectors' forum, and collaborate in the teaching of Vietnamese and Russian. The two sides agreed to hold Russian Cultural Days in Vietnam in 2023, better implement their cultural cooperation programme for 2022-2024, and enhance collaboration in high-performance sport. Potential cooperation orientations in climate change response and digital government were also touched upon during the meeting. Concluding the event, the two Deputy PMs signed its minutes and agreed to hold the next session of the committee in Russia next year. They also witnessed the signing of cooperation pacts in the areas of science and high technology. Hitachi Energy, a leading provider of innovative solutions for utility and infrastructure sectors, has signed an agreement with Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority to upgrade the Al Fadhili high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter station under the authority in Saudi Arabia. A major utility facility, Al Fadhili converter station began its operations in 2009 as part of a project to interconnect the power grids of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE. Once upgraded, the Al Fadhili station will be able to exchange up to 1,800MW of electricity between these states. Additionally, the station serves a special purpose vehicle to maintain the stability of the connected grids. This upgrade project will replace hardware and software with Hitachi Energys cutting-edge MACH control and protection system, the brain behind HVDC links, it stated. According to Hitachi Energy, the contract was mainly aimed at creating a resilient interconnected grid, ensuring power security and economic benefits. The GCCIA allows the sharing of the operational and spinning reserve, which achieves higher efficiency in the use of operating capacities and higher efficiency in the operation of electric power production stations, leading to great improvements in the regions power security and reliability. Power security in the Gulf countries is especially critical due to extreme weather conditions. Furthermore, the link will allow optimization in electricity generation resulting in reduced CO2 emissions by minimizing the need for additional power generation, ensuring a secure power supply between the member countries, it stated. Niklas Persson, the Managing Director at Hitachi Energys Grid Integration business, said: "Security of electricity is something society often takes for granted, but its special systems like the Al-Fadhili converter station which keeps the power flowing, is essential for the economy and well-being of the local society." "With this upgrade, Hitachi Energy will deliver significant value with a real impact improving the system performance and further expanding its lifetime," he noted. Authority CEO Ahmed bin Ali Al Ibrahim said the project will contribute to strengthening the electrical interconnection expansion projects adopted by the authority, which aims to increase the reliability of energy in the Gulf network and make it more efficient. "The project represents great opportunities to exchange energy, especially in light of the increase in the capacity of the electrical connection to achieve economical operation of the network, especially during the summer, and also to increase the security and stability of the network and reduce interruptions," he added. Al Ibrahim pointed out that HVDC systems are commonly used for large-scale transmission and exchange of electricity over large distances between two HVDC converter stations, but the Al Fadhili HVDC converter station is a back-to-back system in a single location. "Back-to-back stations utilise the sophisticated, digital controllability of an HVDC system to precisely manage the flow and properties of the electricity supply, providing many benefits for grid control and stability," he added. In addition to this upgrade and the other ongoing projects, Hitachi Energy and GCCIA are strengthening their collaboration to build a resilient interconnection grid by ensuring power security and economic benefits. Al Ibrahim said this will accelerate GCCIAs journey to become a global hub in grid interconnections and create a dynamic electricity market for the region and beyond. "Initial areas of focus for the collaboration include developing standardized base designs to be applied for high-voltage direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) transmission systems to interconnect countries. This includes grid connections and power quality solutions, in particular Statcoms, which provides significant benefits throughout the assets plan, build, operate and maintain life cycle," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Ukrainian law enforcement officers notified in absentia a pro-Russian blogger-priest from Lviv of suspicion, who thanked the occupiers for "dirty bloody work" in Ukraine, Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office reports. "Under the procedural guidance of Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office, a native of Lviv was notified in absentia of suspicion of public calls for an aggressive war against Ukraine and justification, recognition and denial of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine (Article 436, Part 2 of Article 436-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine)," the City Prosecutor's Office said on the Telegram channel on Friday. According to the prosecutor's office, the suspect previously served in the Cathedral of the UOC (MP) in Lviv for 12 years, lived in Kyiv since 2005, and fled to Moscow in 2014. According to the investigation, after the start of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, the suspect, using his own account in social networks, distributed messages and videos to an unlimited number of users. "He justified the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and publicly called for an aggressive war. In his posts and videos, the suspect supported and popularized the actions of the occupying country in connection with the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, glorified the Russian military, distributed Russian narratives about secret biological laboratories in Ukraine and Ukronazists, claimed that "Ukrainians are to blame for everything," the message emphasizes. The prosecutor's office notes that the priest tried to convince that the Russian Federation did not start the war, but, on the contrary, ends it, and shifted the blame for its beginning to the Maidan and Ukrainians. "The man also expressed gratitude to the Russian military for doing dirty bloody work in Ukraine," the report says. The conclusions of the forensic linguistic examinations confirmed that the texts of the published materials are of a propaganda nature and are aimed at justifying, recognizing the legitimate armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and contain public calls for an aggressive war against Ukraine. The pretrial investigation is carried out by the investigators of the SBU in Kyiv and Kyiv region. A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after one person, believed to be a woman, died in a fire at a block of flats in east London. Five others were taken to hospital following the blaze on Tollgate Road in Beckton, Newham, at around 5.28pm on Thursday. London Fire Brigade (LFB) said the person who died was found in a second-floor flat and was pronounced dead at the scene. A spokesperson for LFB said: The stairwell from the ground floor to the second floor of a residential block was destroyed by fire. Half of the second floor was also damaged by the blaze. Police said investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: It is believed that there has been one female fatality and a number of others injured. One male has been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the incident and inquiries are ongoing. The London Ambulance Service said five ambulance crews and the air ambulance attended the scene. A spokesperson said: We treated five patients before taking them to hospital. Sadly, a person was pronounced dead at the scene. The mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz, said she was deeply saddened by the incident. She wrote on Twitter: Deepest thanks to @LFBNewham fire fighters, @MPSNewham and @Ldn_Ambulance for their emergency response efforts. @NewhamLondon officers are working closely with them to support affected residents. She added: We are deeply saddened by the news that there has been one fatality already from the fire that broke out in flats in Beckton. Our deepest condolences to loved ones now in mourning. R apper Coolio died from a lethal dose of fentanyl, his manager confirmed. The Gangstas Paradise star, 59, was found dead at a Los Angeles house in September after he went to use the bathroom and never came out. Paramedics suspected he had a cardiac arrest but his manager Jarez Posey said the coroners office had told the family that he died from an overdose of the opioid. Fentanyl is up to 100 more potent than morphine and has played a role in the deaths of a string of music stars, including Prince as well as The Wire actor Michael K Williams. Coolio had traces of heroin and methamphetamines in his system too. His severe asthma and decades of smoking cigarettes also played a part in his death. He appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2009. Coolio was born in Monessen, Pennsylvania, and later moved to Compton, California. He sold more than 4.8 million albums and his songs attracted over 978 million streams, according to Luminate. He was nominated for six Grammys. T wo sisters killed in a shooting on their family car in the West Bank were British, according to reports. The siblings, aged 15 and the other in her 20s were shot dead on Friday as they drove near the Hamra settlement. Their mother was seriously injured in the attack 30 miles north of Jerusalem. Sky News said the family moved to Israel around 2005. The three were residents of the Israeli settlement of Efrat, near the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, said Oded Revivi, the settlements mayor. Local reports suggested they were killed in a Palestinian shooting attack in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The girls father was driving in a car behind his wife and daughters and witnessed the attack, Revivi added. Medics said they dragged the unconscious women from the smashed car, which appeared to have been pushed off the road. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant toured the site of the shooting late Friday and vowed to catch the attacker. Its just a matter of time, and not much time, until we settle the score, Netanyahu said. He also said his Security Cabinet had passed a series of measures overnight. We acted in Lebanon, we acted in Gaza, we beefed up forces in the field, he said, promising additional actions that I cannot divulge at the current time. Israels military set up roadblocks as it searched for the attackers. No militant group immediately claimed responsibility. But Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem hailed the attack in retaliation for the crimes committed by Israel in the West Bank and the Al-Aqsa mosque. The attack came as Israel unleashed rare airstrikes on Lebanon and bombarded the Gaza Strip on Friday, an escalation that sparked fears of a broader conflict after days of violence over Jerusalems most sensitive holy site. A Foreign Office spokesman said: We are saddened to hear about the deaths of two British-Israeli citizens and the serious injuries sustained by a third individual. The UK calls for all parties across the region to de-escalate tensions. E aster might be a moveable feast but Thai New Year, at least, takes place on the same spring day every year: April 13, though in Thailand, the five-day national holiday lasts from April 12 to 16. New Years Day itself is called Songkran, which is derived from the Sanskrit word samkranti, which means astrological passage and expresses a sense of transformation or change a concept which also describes the evolution of Londons Thai restaurant scene in recent years. Perhaps more than any other food trend of the past three decades, Thai cooking went from thrillingly exotic to Western palates, at least to ready-meal ubiquity before the 1990s were even out. But while many of the restaurants below are a delicious reminder that a properly made pad Thai is not something that can be achieved with three minutes in the microwave, it is the exploration of Thailands lesser-known regional traditions that have re-invigorated the cuisine for the capitals palates, though spice levels at these newer places are often not for the faint-hearted. Whats more, Thai is one of those rare cuisines where the best restaurants are as likely to be found in Highbury or Hammersmith as a Hyde Park hotel, while the size of the bill will rarely unbalance the monthly finances. So from fried chicken to fragrant curries, fast and furious small plates to gracious, formally served feasts, heres our pick of the 14 best Thai restaurants in London. Sawasdee! Kiln info@benjaminmcmahon.com A ker-ching of a chefs counter, Kiln has hit the jackpot by offering a tickbox of Londoners favourite things. Its not just Thai cooking but Thai *barbecue* cooking, served at both a chefs counter for couples and weeny tables where in-the-know diners can show off to their friends about that great little place they know in Soho serving the best Thai food in the capital. Kiln is what self-taught British chef Ben Chapman did between closing the original Smoking Goat and re-opening it in Shoreditch, exposing the best native produce (aged cull yaw, raw beef, Cornish greens, pork offal) to exhilarating levels of spicing one doesnt usually encounter at the farmers market: a sour curry of mussels with winter squash, say, or a long pepper duck curry. The counter with its view of chefs cooking in claypots and grilling over charcoal is the most fun place to sit, but be warned that its walk-ins only; groups of two to six can book a table in the basement. 58 Brewer Street, W1F 9TL, kilnsoho.com The Begging Bowl Press handout This Peckham classic brought something new to London dining when it opened in 2012. Not only did The Begging Bowl turn Peckham into a restaurant destination, but owner Jane Alty had serious chef chops. Alty had worked with David Thompson, of Michelin-starred Nahm in Bangkok, on his book Thai Street Food, which is the starting point here though fusing British ingredients with Thai technique is just as important for current head chef Daniel Yeo. Expect the likes of charcoal grilled celeriac with galae peanut curry and pickled ginger, one of several excellent veggie dishes, while something like garee braised beef with sweet potato curry and radish ajat (a Thai relish) demonstrates an expert balancing of flavour. The dining room, with its potted plants, wooden furniture and conservatory-style windows, feels as eclectic as the cooking. And this being Peckham, theres a short kids menu, too, plus 16 French wines to calm parents nerves. 168 Bellenden Road, SE15 4BW, thebeggingbowl.co.uk Supawan Press handout A charismatic alternative to the rather soulless restaurant developments around Coal Drops Yard, chef Wichet Khongphoons colour-pop dining room is the ideal local, as well suited to after-work beers and sharing plates as Kings Cross residents out for a Saturday night supper. The southern Thai cooking approximates to what most Londoners probably think a Thai menu should look like, though for all the familiarity, theres no holding back on flavour in the likes of a peanut-rich Penang chicken curry, steamed tofu slapped around with chilli and garlic or slow-cooked pork belly with five spice, plus all the sweetcorn fritters, crispy prawns and stuffed chicken wings that one table could ever humanly need. In case you hadnt gathered that good times are the name of Supawans game, there are a dozen cheesily-named cocktails alongside a short wine and beer list. 38 Caledonian Road, N1 9DT, supawan.co.uk Esarn Kheaw Serving spicy Thai food that brings diners out in a sweat is now all the rage in London but before anyone had even heard of Isan, Esarn Kheaw had been knocking out the fiery cooking of Thailands north-east in Shepherds Bush since 1992. The six-page menu is not the easiest to negotiate, though as no-one should really be here for the green curry and pad Thai, ask the friendly staff to zoom in on the house specialities: homemade Thai sausages scattered with birds eye chillies, minced catfish with anchovy and green chilli dip and raw vegetables, tiger cry chilli steak that lives up to its name with a chilli-hot shriek; even the coconut milk-free veggie jungle curry, bristling with fresh green peppercorns, is blisteringly spicy. Cool the palate with deep-fried son-in-law-eggs with a sour-sweet tamarind sauce and scattered with garlic. The cooking, happily, has the riotous colour the sombre ding room lacks. 314 Uxbridge Road, W12 7LJ, esarnkheaw.com Singburi Not only the best restaurant in E11 but one of the best Thai restaurants in London, Singburi is worth an hour of anyones time trundling around the Overground to Leytonstone High Road, though on no account turn up without a booking. This family-run Thai, more cafe than restaurant, has been here for as long as anyone cares to remember in the same tiny premises that could easily double in size and still be full. All the classics of pad Thai, fishcakes and massaman curry are not only present but absolutely correct, though its with the dishes one rarely encounters elsewhere that chef Sirichai Kularbwong has made a name for Singburi, whether crispy pork belly with chilli and basil or Thai basil-infused clams with chilli. In the unlikely event that chilli-and-basil boredom ever sets in, here today, gone tomorrow specials such as soft-shell crab in the silkiest of curries are chalked up on a blackboard. Singburi is BYOB, too pick up a bottle of something white and aromatic from Theatre of Wine up the road. 593 Leytonstone High Road, E11 4PA, @singburi_e11 Farang Press handout Sebby Holmes was the chef at Begging Bowl and Smoking Goat before going solo up north at the best thing to happen to Highbury since Arsenal moved to Holloway. Farang is the Thai word for a white foreigner, a self-deprecating joke which also refers to the short menus fusion of British produce with Thai ingredients and flavours and, perhaps, Farangs origin story: the site used to be an Italian restaurant owned by Holmess stepdad Marco and some dishes are still prepared in the old pizza oven. Umami plays a key role, as too texture: prawns are salted in turmeric and wrapped up with fruit in betel leaves, chicken is glazed in a batter of Thai IPA and glazed in fish sauce with blood orange to cut through the fatty mouthfeel, while fork-tender aged beef shin comes in a spicy jungle curry. And the turmeric and roasted garlic butter roti bread with curry-leaf salt is a contender for Londons best side dish. Like what you eat? Holmes Payst range of sauces is available to take home. 72 Highbury Park, N5 2XE, faranglondon.co.uk Nipa Thai Rebecca Hope Many Brits associate Thai cooking with cheap and cheerful street food to chase away a backpacking Chang beer hangover but a monarchy that dates back to the 13th century means that Thailand equally has a long history of refined, courtly cuisine which values balanced subtlety over extreme spicing. The Thai-owned Royal Lancaster hotel overlooking Hyde Park is a suitably luxurious place to try it, with prices to match (pad Thai clocks in at 21). Long-serving chef Sanguan Parr leads an all-female kitchen team who send out beautifully presented dishes in expertly balanced sauces. Expect superior renditions of crab spring rolls and chicken satay to start ahead of chicken and Thai aubergine green curry or stir-fried prawns with pepper, coriander and fried garlic. Waitresses dressed in traditional outfits are just as neatly turned out as the teak-panelled dining room and deliver service that is every bit as polished, though come in summer and all eyes are likely to be on the leafy view outside; beautifully laid tables adorned with vases of Thai orchids are almost as pretty. Set menus from 52 can somewhat keep the price down. Royal Lancaster London, Lancaster Terrace, W2 2TY, niparestaurant.co.uk Kaosarn An early adopter of Brixton Village Market, casual Kaosarn has a light-filled corner spot that feels pleasantly removed from the hectic foodie hubbub it has in part created (sit outside for the most market vibe). Theres nothing unexpected on a straightforward menu of curries and noodles, stir-fried and salads, and gentle spicing is pitched to Western palates, but saucing is spot on in the likes of battered sea bream fillets with garlic sauce, larb and som tum salads zing with zippy fresh flavours, while fresh herbs festoon dishes such as stir-fried minced pork with chilli and sweet basil. There are other branches in Clapham and Tooting and each gives plenty of Bangkok for your buck, not least because Kaosarn is BYO; otherwise, wash everything down with homemade lemongrass tea. Granville Arcade, Unit 96 Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8PR, kaosarnlondon.co.uk 101 Thai Kitchen Hammersmith might be famous for its Indian restaurants but this Thai canteen proves theres more to curries than korma. Theres a noodle curry, say, with spicy fish, vegetables and boiled egg, or a mackerel and prawn curry cooked in salted fish kidney sauce with chilli paste, green beans, bamboo shoots and aubergine, both from the menus line-up of southern Thai specials. But 101s kitchen is equally at home in the even hotter cooking of north-east Thailand, whether an Isan-style fermented sour sausage heady with garlic or whole grilled poussin with sour-and-spicy nam jim jaew sauce. Theres salt-and-pepper squid, green chicken curry and pad Thai for more timid palates, vegan choice is decent while ever-changing blackboard specials ensure regular local custom. Service can be abrupt, though at these prices, no one should expect a table for the whole evening, and nor does the functional decor encourage lingering. 352 King Street, W6 0RX, 101thaikitchen.uk Plaza Khao Gaeng Press handout The flagship of the Arcade Food Hall at the base of Centre Point, Plaza Khao Gaeng succeeds in recreating the roadside cafes one finds in southern Thailand: its very bright (the windowless room is illuminated by fluorescent light seemingly set to blinding midday sunshine), very casual meals are eaten in melamine bowls off garish vinyl tablecloths and very noisy. One thing it isnt is very hot (thank you aircon), unless one takes hot to mean perhaps the best Thai to open in London since Kiln. The hottest thing of all is the cooking, overseen by British-born but Bangkok-based Luke Farrell, which detonates in the mouth with an explosion of chilli, from nut-stuffed betel leaves to minced pork and a massaman beef curry; fried eggs, steamed rice and bitter melon are there to counteract the heat, though to little effect. Granted, on recent visits Plaza seems to have tempered the spice somewhat, which is a shame, but whispers suggest it will return to full strength soon. Largaritas a pint glass of lager and Tequila are rather more effective until one realises theres a flight of stairs to negotiate on the way out. Relatively new sibling Speedboat Bar offers a similar experience in Chinatown. Mezzanine at Arcade Food Hall, 103-105 New Oxford Street, WC1A 1DB, plazakhaogaeng.com Kin + Deum Press handout Suchard Inngern opened his Thai pub, Suchards, in London Bridge in 1975; his three children took it over in 2018, changed the name to the modishly lower-case kin + deum (Thai for eat and drink), drastically shortened the menu and introduced dishes inspired by Bangkok street food. Its proved a winning formula, not least because the buildings striking bone structure of high windows and original floorboards ticks all the boxes for a Bermondsey Street supper. House dishes are the ones to go for: cauliflower coated in crunchy oats, covered in a turmeric curry and served up with onions and grapes; claypot prawns balancing a richly flavoured soy sauce with the fresh bite of ginger and celery; crispy pork belly unexpectedly made even better for being stir-fried with kale. The drink side of things is just as thoughtful: Tiger beer and 15 or so wines but, more excitingly, half a dozen Thai spins on classic cocktails as well as booze-free plant-based tonics and teas. 2 Crucifix Lane, SE1 3JW, kindeum.com Chets Press handout Its Thai, but not as we know it: Chets comes courtesy of Kris Yenbamroong, the chef behind LA and Vegass natural wine and Thai food hangouts, Night + Market. An all-day menu filters classic American cooking through a fiery South-East Asian lens: a whole fried onion coated in five spice, skillet steak served with Thai chimichurri and French fries, candied pork jowl grafted on to a wedge salad slathered in blue cheese, plus a signature smashburger dripping Thousand Island dressing. A couple of traditional dishes larb gai with chicken and mint, coconut and lemongrass sea bass are there to prove that for all the playful mashups, Yenbamroong is a chef with a proper understanding of the fundamentals of Thai cooking, though huge portions are US all the way. Chets might not take itself too seriously, but this is a seriously good newcomer and another piece of cool destination dining from the Hoxton Hotel crew (Maya, Seabird). 65 Shepherds Bush Green, W12 8QE, chetsrestaurant.co.uk Addies Thai A welcome strike for independence in chain-heavy Earls Court, Addies is an excellent choice for any cheap-eat refugees from neighbouring Kensington and Chelsea, not least the students from nearby Imperial College who make up a sizeable chunk of the clientele. Follow their lead for the more interesting items on the crowd-pleasing menu various whole sea bass specialities, lamb neck with tamarind dipping sauce, condensed milk tea otherwise settle in for textbook versions of chicken satay with a properly peanutty sauce, steamed pork and prawn dumplings to dunk into sweet soy sauce, pad Thai under a filigree of omelette or a sirloin steak salad that has to be one of the tastiest protein hits in town, all served in generous portions. Staff might not always be on the ball but never lose an ability to smile, even when theyre rushed off their feet which is most of the time, so remember to book ahead or expect to wait in the foyer. 121 Earls Court Road, SW5 9RL, addiesthai.co.uk Smoking Goat Press handout Ben Chapmans east London sibling to Kiln is a very different beast: while Kiln is an intimate chefs counter that feels like an insider secret (despite the queues), Smoking Goat is a big and boisterous canteen in the warehouse space underneath Brat, all tall windows, bare-brick walls and a bar dispensing cocktails as strong as the cooking is bold. Classics of fried chicken wings sticky with salty fish sauce never leave the menu, fish and animals served whole (fried plaice, five-spice braised chicken) are a speciality while the kitchen isnt afraid to push diners boundaries with offal: barbecued beef heart with coriander and peanut salad, or nam tok salad with grilled duck liver take nose-to-tail dining to a whole new level as too egg-fried rice cooked in silky lardo, Shoreditchs most essential side dish. Fast and frenetic and the perfect stomach-liner for an East London bar crawl after. 64 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JJ, smokinggoatbar.com @mrbenmccormack E ddie Marsan has said he felt vulnerable and afraid when he was growing up around white working class men on a council estate full of toxic masculinity in the 1970s and 1980s. The 54-year-old actor, who was raised in Bethnal Green in east London, is currently starring in science fiction drama The Power along with Toni Collette which sees the relationship between men and women change. Marsan portrays a London crime boss in the Amazon series, which explores a fictional world in which young women discover they can release electrical jolts from their fingertips. Asked on the Channel 4 News YouTube show and podcast, Ways To Change The World With Krishnan Guru-Murthy, if he was afraid of men when he was young, Marsan said: I remember being afraid of white working class men. The actor known for fantasy series Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell and comedy film Happy-Go-Lucky added that he has never been able to portray working class men in the same charismatic way as fellow east London actors Danny Dyer and Ray Winstone. Winstone is known for portraying gangsters in the films Sexy Beast, The Departed and Ripleys Game, while Dyer has starred in London soap EastEnders and fronted the documentary series Danny Dyers Deadliest Men. Marsan said: I mean, when you see Danny Dyer and Ray Winstone, they have a kind of appeal to me and Ive never been able to do that, and its because my experience of growing up within the white working class, (there) was always an element of fear. I always felt very vulnerable. The actor has also appeared in superhero comedy Hancock, in which he played a bank robber, Guy Ritchies Sherlock Holmes as Inspector Lestrade, and crime drama Gangster No 1. Recalling growing up on a working-class estate in the interview released on Friday Marsan said: There was a lot of violence when I was a kid, and there was a lot of criminality and there was a lot of toxic masculinity. The estate where I was raised, most of the fathers had court orders not to come near the house. So me and the other boys that I grew up with, if you saw somebodys father you didnt run and give them a cuddle, you went and told the mum to phone the police because the dads coming. Marsan was born in 1968, a year before the Divorce Reform Act which allowed couples to divorce without proving fault was enacted and a few years before the first national Womens Liberation Movement conference in 1970. He added: It was the beginning of womens (liberation), women were beginning to divorce (their) husbands, who were treating them bad, and 20, 30 years earlier, they didnt divorce them, they just stuck it out. So men began to feel like their power was being taken away and thats why they then turned to violence. D avid Schwimmer has hailed the absolutely fabulous Jennifer Saunders ahead of her guest appearance in comedy spy show Intelligence. The US actor said it was such a treat having Saunders appear in the show, having previously worked with her on hit TV sitcom Friends. Intelligence follows the capers of brash NSA agent Jerry Bernstein, played by Schwimmer, who is assigned to tackle cyber crimes in the UKs Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). The series was written by comedian Nick Mohammed, who also stars as computer analyst Joseph Harries. A one-off special, airing on Easter Saturday on Sky Comedy and Now, will see the pair reunited to take on a more personal threat to GCHQ. The programme also stars Jane Stanness, Sylvestra Le Touzel, and Gana Bayarsaikhan, as well as Saunders, who joins the cast as Joanna Telfer-Fotheringham. Schwimmer described Saunders as an icon and said there was a lot to look forward to from her part in the episode. The entire gang is back and we have a really wonderful guest star, Jennifer Saunders. Shes an icon, I absolutely love her. She is absolutely fabulous, he said. But the really delicious subplot or story surprise here is that Chris, our fearless leader, has a little sister (Saunders) who is our baddie in the episode. Its really good fun, with some wonderful new backstory to our characters. So, its a lot to look forward to in this episode. The pair previously worked together on Friends, in which Schwimmer played the hapless Ross Geller, when Saunders made a cameo appearance as Andrea Waltham, the stepmother of Emily Waltham Ross then-girlfriend. Schwimmer said Saunders had been wonderful in her guest appearance on Friends. Shes so good and so fun and it was such a treat having her join us for this special, he said. Mohammed said he had also been desperate to work with Saunders again, having starred in her Absolutely Fabulous movie in 2016, and said she had always always been his first choice for the role. I have been such a huge fan of French and Saunders ever since I was growing up they were always my absolute favourite, and to be honest, still are they just make me laugh so much, he said. Jennifer had seen me perform live quite a few times a while ago and had always been really kind, and she put me in the Absolutely Fabulous movie. I was desperate to work with her again, so when I knew there would be a guest lead in the show we offered it to her and when she came back and said yes I was simply over the moon. Schwimmer also praised Mohammed and their chemistry on the show, which had started three years ago, prior to the coronavirus pandemic. I love working with Nick he is not only one of the most talented people Ive ever had the pleasure to work with, hes also probably the nicest, he said. He is such a sweet, generous and just lovely, lovely man. I hope everyone gets a chance to work with Nick Mohammed, hes truly the best. Schwimmer said that he and Mohammed would continue to work on the show, and hoped to land further series or specials that could cover topical issues such as the rise of artificial intelligence. Well just keep going because we really enjoy it, he said. So as long as Sky and the fans want to hear from us, were up for it. Intelligence: A Special Agent Special airs on Sky Comedy and Now on Saturday April 8. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has created a budget-funded institution Center for Humanitarian Demining. As the representative of the Cabinet of Ministers in the Verkhovna Rada, Taras Melnychuk, said on his Telegram channel, the decision was made at a government meeting on Friday. In particular, the proposal of the State Emergency Service on the establishment of the budget-funded institution Center for Humanitarian Demining was approved. The Russian occupiers are actively continuing the forced issuance of passports to the population of the temporarily occupied territory of Zaporizhia and Kherson regions, carrying out psychological and physical pressure on people, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports. "In particular, at checkpoints, the enemy restricts the movement of citizens of Ukraine who have not received a passport of the Russian Federation. The occupiers purposefully and intentionally search vehicles, record all personal data of citizens who do not have Russian documents, threaten to ban entry into the city," the General Staff said on the official Facebook page on Friday. According to the General Staff, "the enemy forces the postmen to distribute forms to the local population, in which you need to specify information about the presence of a Russian passport. Citizens who do not have an enemy passport are subjected to constant searches, intimidation and coercion to obtain this document." Also, the occupiers are actively threatening forced eviction from their own homes and confiscation of private property in case of refusal to receive a Russian passport. At the same time, for the same reason, the enemy threatens the parents of school-leavers with the refusal of their children to receive a certificate of basic secondary education. "The invaders are also being forced to change the marriage certificate and the certificate of registration of technical means from Ukrainian to Russian samples," the General Staff said. Despite the statements of the Kremlin leadership, the protest of Russians against the current regime is quite possible, according to the Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. "The recent events in Bryansk region are a vivid confirmation of this. In particular, there were riots in Pogarsky district. Russian rebels killed two fighters of the occupation army. There is a significant number of wounded, the exact figure is still being specified. An enemy APC was also disabled. Other machinery, equipment and property of the occupiers were damaged," the Agency said on the Telegram channel on Friday. As noted, "it is not the first time that the Russian volunteer corps holds such events, the scale of which is only growing. The fighters struck a military facility and talked to the local population." "As a result of the actions of the rebels, the civilian population was not injured," the Ukrainian Intelligence Agency said. Police have arrested three men in connection to a fatal shooting in Oakville. On Aug. 19, 2022, the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) was called to the area of Belt Lane and Littlefield Road in Oakville following numerous reports of suspected gunshots. Two victims were located there, one man and one woman, suffering from gunshot wounds. The man was subsequently pronounced deceased at the scene, while the female victim was transported to hospital with serious injuries. The suspects fled the scene in a vehicle shortly after the shooting. On April 4 of this year, the HRPS, with the support of the Peel Regional Police and the Hamilton Police Service, carried out simultaneous search warrant operations at three different locations in the Greater Toronto Area. During this operation, three men were arrested and charged in relation to the murder. Jeff Hill, deputy chief of the HRPS, said police services from outside the province took part in the investigation. This was a terrifying event for the residents of this community. Fortunately, no other persons were injured as a result. The Halton Regional Police Service will relentlessly investigate all acts of gun violence. I would like to thank all those members in the community, both here in Halton and throughout the GTA, who provided information to support this investigation, said Hill. Police say the homicide was a targeted and planned event that crossed provincial lines as part of a larger criminal-based conflict. The male victim of this homicide was identified as 27-year-old Arman Dhillon of Alberta. The adult female, who was in the company of the deceased victim, survived the shooting but sustained life-altering injuries. A 30-year-old man of Pickering, a 29-year-old man of Edmonton and a 25-year-old man of Calgary have each been charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder. Anyone with information or video of the area is asked to contact the Homicide Unit tip line at 905-825-4776. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. "See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers" at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca. Read more about: SHARE: When you want to make something that will withstand the test of time, you may consult with a blueprint. Niagara College and its students are proud to launch an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Blueprint, reflecting a shared commitment and a clear plan to support and enhance EDI initiatives where all members of our community are engaged, valued and supported. A reflection of the voices of the College community, the EDI Blueprint was born from tremendous collaboration between NC and the Niagara College Student Administrative Council (NCSAC). The plan a living document that will evolve with the changing needs of students and employees was informed by more than two years of work by the joint Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce and extensive consultations with students, employees and community members. As we write the next chapter in our Colleges history, NCs Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Blueprint is a tremendously important guide for our continuous efforts in support of a learning environment and workplace that is respectful, inclusive and welcoming for all, said NC president Sean Kennedy. The lived experiences and collective wisdom of our NC community will guide us as we move forward with this work. The EDI Blueprint is more than a simple document, said outgoing NCSAC president Sam Jemison. It is a testament to continuous improvement and a commitment to ensure that all students are welcomed, included and accepted during every step of their NC journey. The EDI Blueprint aligns with the colleges five-year strategic plan and includes steps that will take place over the short and long term to ensure all NC programs, services, physical spaces and policies are accessible and equitable. Based on feedback collected through the consultation process, four interconnected areas of focus emerged to shape the EDI Blueprint, including: 1. Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing 2. Student experience 3. Employee experience 4. Organizational culture and structure Within these areas of focus is a list of actions. Some examples include hiring an Indigenous curriculum consultant, increasing EDI learning opportunities for students during orientation and cocurricular activities, regular and ongoing recognition of days of significance, increased representation across physical and digital spaces including artwork by Indigenous and racialized artists, updating pride crosswalks on campus and the use of gender-neutral and accessible language on signs and forms. In 2021, the college hired Samah Sabra as workplace EDI manager. Sabra consults and advises on this important work, supporting ongoing leadership for inclusive workplace programs, practices and initiatives. In 2022, an EDI Coordinating Council formed at NC to support cross-college collaboration on EDI events and initiatives. As we celebrate the launch of our EDI Blueprint, we are propelled by the momentum of work that is already underway at our college, said Sabra. Collaboration, engagement and continuous learning are key to the success of this work and will support the strong culture of inclusion and belonging at NC. The creation of the EDI Blueprint will ensure that everyone is included throughout our NC Community, said Dipal Patel, new president of NCSAC for the 2023-2024 school year. Its existence will inspire and encourage us to have open minds and hearts, making NC a safe space for our students, staff, and faculty. The student body has and will continue to play a crucial role in bringing about this positive change, added Patel. SHARE: Pelham Fire Services Capt. Terry Beckett has a seat behind the wheel of a 1939 Ford pumper truck, which was one of the first pieces of new equipment purchased for what was then the Fonthill Volunteer Fire Department. In 2023, the Fonthill Volunteer Firefighters Association is marking the centennial of the founding of the department. Firefighting in Pelham has come a long way in the 100 years since the Fonthill Volunteer Fire Department was established in 1923. Long gone are the days when firefighters sole mission to douse the flames in a burning building. Now, they are a part of response to medical calls, extrications at the scene of vehicular accidents and more. We did between 120 and 130 (medical calls) last year, said Capt. Terry Beckett. And thats just out of this building (Station 1 on Hwy. 20). Beckett is the currently the longest serving member of the Fonthill Volunteer Firefighters Association at 42 years. Hes seen plenty of changes over that time. The first year after I joined, we had 51 calls, Beckett said. Firefighting runs in the blood of the Beckett clan. Terrys father, Jim, was a firefighter for 33 years, and his son, Greg, was also a volunteer in Pelham before moving out of town. The evolution of Pelhams fire department is not unlike others across North America, said Fire Chief Bob Lymburner, who started with the department as a volunteer 30 years ago. When it started there were virtually no resources other than manpower, he said, adding equipment often was borrowed or purchased used. The first piece of new equipment was a 39 (Ford pumper truck), Lymburner said. And the department remained a strictly volunteer operation until Wolf Minor became the first paid fire chief in 1981. And we didnt have any administration until 1993 or 94, Lymburner said. But as the community grew, so too did the department. Today, Pelham Fire Services -- which was created in 1970 with the amalgamation of the Township of Pelham, Village of Fonthill and Fenwick as a part of the creation of Niagara Region -- boasts 15 pieces of equipment and 92 volunteers spread across three stations in Fonthill (Station 1), Fenwick (Station 2) and Short Hills (Station 3). At one time, firefighters were supported by a ladies auxiliary, which would provide food and water to firefighters battling large blazes. That has disappeared due to public health requirements regarding food handling so these days, Pelham firefighters, through agreements with entities such as Tim Hortons and Sobeys, still receive that kind of support when it is needed. But the biggest changes have come to caring for the health and safety of firefighters. District Chief Ben Gutenberg, a 35-year veteran of the department, said decontamination of firefighters gear has become more and more important as time goes on. Our gear is cleaned in a separate room. It is stored in a separate room, he said. Beckett recalled how that wasnt always the case and the state of a firefighters gear after a fire was almost a status symbol. The dirtier your gear was, the cooler you were, Beckett said. And Lymburner said the equipment itself has evolved. I remember when it was just long boots and a long coat, he said. Now we have the SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) masks. Todays firefighter, like other first responders, face many health challenges, notably instances of cancer from carcinogens inhaled during fire calls and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The province recently announced expanded coverage for claims related to thyroid and pancreatic cancers retroactive to Jan. 1, 1960. The changes are welcome, Lymburner said, adding that firefighters are diagnosed with some form of cancer at four or five times the rate as the public. He described PTSD and an inherent danger across the emergency services sector, but times are changing and it is being recognized and people are being treated. It used to be suck it up, buttercup, he said. STORY BEHIND THE STORY With the Fonthill Fire Fighters Association marking the centennial of the founding of the Fonthill Volunteer Fire Department, Niagara this Week wanted to discuss how firefighting has changed with members of what is now Pelham Fire Services. MARKING 100 YEARS While a flag was raised March 1 to kick off celebrations marking 100 years since the establishment of the Fonthill Volunteer Firefighters Association, several more events are planned for the rest of 2023, said Station 1 District Chief and chair of the anniversary committee, Ben Gutenberg, including: June 10: An open house featuring memorabilia of 100 years of firefighting as well as activities for children and adults; Sept. 16: A street dance will be held at the Meridian Community Centre; November: An expanded Turkey Raffle with a long list of prizes will be held. SHARE: Two Welland residents face multiple drug and weapons charges after Niagara Regional Police seized 2.36 kilograms of fentanyl, 78.7 grams of crystal methamphetamine and 1.3 kilograms of cocaine with a combined approximate street value of nearly $850,000 in late March. Police also seized $160,000 in currency, a loaded and modified to be fully automatic .40-calibre Glock handgun, and a loaded .25-calibre Browning handgun. In January, members of the Welland street crime unit started an investigation of the sale of illegal drugs in the Rose City, and detectives identified two suspects. On March 20, with the assistance of street crime units from Niagara Falls and St. Catharines, a controlled drugs and substances search warrant was carried out at a residence in the Quaker Road and Goodwillie Drive area. Police said a 34-year-old and 24-year-old face charges of possession of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition, possession of a firearm without a licence, careless storage of a prohibited firearm, and possession of proceeds obtained by crime. The man also faces charges of possession of a loaded prohibited firearm, possession of a prohibited firearm, carrying a concealed weapon, and two counts of possession of a weapon contrary to court-imposed prohibition. Police said the man remains in custody, while the woman was released on April 6 with a court date of May 4. Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives by calling 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1023300. Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online crimestoppersniagara.ca or call 1-800-222-8477. SHARE: A 23-year-old Welland man has been arrested and charged in relation to uttering threats, along with drug and gun offences. Niagara Regional Police issued a press release Friday afternoon saying officers responded to a threats complaint in Niagara Falls. Police said officers attended a motel on Lundys Lane, near Drummond Road. Police said a man had come to the motel and tried to enter the property with a Cane Corso dog. When the man was told the dog was not welcome in the motel, he became upset and forced the dog to lunge at the victim while verbally threatening to have the dog attack and cause serious injury to the victim. Police said the male suspect and dog left the property in a black/grey Mazda prior to the arrival of officers. At 12:56 a.m. Friday, police said officers located the Mazda parked in the area of Victoria Avenue and Walnut Street. The suspect and dog were asleep inside. Police said the suspect was arrested for uttering a threat. A search of the suspect following his arrest led to officers to discover and seize methamphetamine, fentanyl, a loaded .45 revolver handgun and $115 in Canadian currency. The suspect was also charged with several other drug and firearm offences. Police said officers arranged for an acquaintance of the man to come to the scene and take possession of the dog. Police ask anyone with information about the incident to call them at 905-0688-4111, option 3, ext. 1022200. Or anonymously contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara at 1-800-222-8477. SHARE: A Hamilton inmate who was accidentally let out early from jail last month has pleaded guilty to being unlawfully at large. Shawn Delaney was mistakenly released from the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre on March 7. Assistant Crown attorney Rose Branton said in court Thursday the 46-year-old was aware he had more time to serve and intentionally evaded police. Court records obtained by The Spectator show Delaney was convicted on multiple offences including choking, and breaking and entering on the same day he was released. He was supposed to return to the Barton Street jail to serve the remaining 33 days of his sentence, but instead was released. Delaney was advised to turn himself in and failed to do so, Branton said. Hamilton police worked with the provincial repeat offender parole enforcement (ROPE) squad to located Delaney, arresting him on March 14 around Queenston Road and Main Street East. In a joint submission, Branton and defence lawyer Asgar Manek proposed a sentence of 15 days. He got the punishment by getting the notoriety, Manek said of the media attention Delaney received following his release. The judge accepted the proposed sentence. I have no problem with it, replied Justice Michael Wendl, turning to address the accused. You should have turned yourself in earlier, but quite frankly the jail ... what do they expect when they say, You can go? Some confusion about when his original sentence ended prompted Wendl to ask staff to confirm with the jail before he imposed another one. Mr. Delaney, you know what we dont want to do today? Release you when were not supposed to, Wendl said. Delaney laughed from the prisoners box: You call the shots, he told the judge. Accounting for time served, Delaneys sentence amounted to nine more days. If they let you go today, dont leave, Wendl told him. In about five decades as a criminal lawyer, most of those in Ontario, this is the first time hes ever encountered this type of error, Manek told The Spec. Manek believes the manhunt for his client was poor use of police resources. Delaney has roots in Hamilton, having lived in the city for 38 years, he said. His mother and girlfriend also live here. Given this, police would have picked him up eventually, he said. Drug and mental health issues have derailed Delaney, Manek said. But his rehabilitation prospects are strong, he added. He has a certificate in construction from Mohawk College, and worked for years, including seven at National Steel Car, prior to incarceration. SHARE: For more than two decades, the people of Grassy Narrows First Nation have blockaded the logging roads near their homes to protect the trees on their land. They drove south to march in front of Queens Park and they sued the province of Ontario when it opened their traditional lands to clear-cutting. And now, it seems, theyve won. In a letter to Chief Rudy Turtle of the Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek First Nation, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry said it has abandoned its plans to open up a portion of the First Nations traditional forest to commercial logging for the next 10 years. Instead, the province will ban logging throughout the no-harvest zone, an area that encompasses approximately 75 per cent of the Whiskey Jack Forest, designated in 2017 after Grassy Narrows sued the province to prevent clear-cutting. This is great news, said J.B. Fobister, one of the original blockaders who now leads the communitys youth Land Protection Team. Weve been working hard since 2008. Weve had a few exciting moments. But this is a good score for us. The provinces reversal enshrines a de facto logging ban that has existed since all the logging companies and mills in the area stated they will not harvest lumber from Grassy Narrows land without permission. No commercial forest harvest would be planned under the 10-year forest management plan, states the ministry letter. No harvest could be authorized in the area. Richard Lindgren, a lawyer with the Canadian Environmental Law Association, called the logging ban very significant and long overdue. To my knowledge, this may be the first time the province of Ontario has set aside (such a large portion) of a forest management unit for 10 years, said Lindgren, who represented Grassy Narrows in its lawsuit against the government. The ministry is still keeping the option open to log in the future, however, after the current plan expires in 2034. The letter says the government will monitor the forest in the no-harvest zone, which will involve the identification of eligible forest stands, modelling wildlife habitat and establishing sustainable harvest objectives. Its a 10-year decision, said Lindgren. Its a great idea and an interim step. But it doesnt address the long-term fate of the land. In response to questions, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry said it is listening to Indigenous partners and forest industry experts to identify shared priorities. This approach reflects the variety of complex interests and concerns raised by Indigenous communities during reassessment of the non-harvestable area, ranging from historic impacts to potential economic and community benefits, said ministry spokesperson Ed Mick in an email. In recent years, attention has shifted from logging to other environmental concerns at Grassy Narrows, including a decades-long legacy of mercury poisoning and new threats presented by unauthorized mining claims. After a 2016 Star investigation revealed that mill workers had buried barrels of mercury in the ground, the province pledged $85 million to clean up the toxic pollution caused by gross neglect. Since Premier Doug Ford was elected in 2018, mineral prospecting has soared in Grassy Narrows. A 2021 Star investigation found more than 4,000 mining claims, covering an area double the size of the city of Toronto. Decades of industrial extraction forced on Grassy Narrows have had a devastating impact, Chief Turtle told the Star last December. It is past time to start on the path of reconciliation by respecting our control over our own land so that we can heal the land and heal our people. While the new forest management plan represents a relatively long-term win, the future of Grassy Narrows will continue to be under threat until permanent local authority over its use is established, said Fobister. The people will still want to be vigilant. Theyll maintain the blockade until things are written in stone, he said. In 2018, Grassy Narrows made a land sovereignty claim over the no-harvest zone, prohibiting clear-cutting, mining, the damming of rivers, and oil and gas extraction. Last year, in recognition that Indigenous people are best positioned to be stewards of their land, the federal government pledged $341 million to help First Nations across the country establish Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs). These natural preserves are initiated by local Indigenous groups, but must be recognized by a province or territory to achieve legal standing. IPCAs are the path forward, said Lindgren. Grassy Narrows has already exercised and vocalized its authority. Now its time to start negotiations with the Crown. Grassy Narrows continues to push the Canadian government and the international community to recognize its sovereignty claim as an IPCA. We wont rest until our territory has permanent protection that respects Grassy Narrows law, Chief Turtle said last year. Babies who were born during the blockade are now adults we will always be here, and we will never give up on defending our land. SHARE: Shmyhal to go to Canada for talks on armored vehicles, ammunition media Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal will visit Canada in the next few weeks to negotiate the supply of ammunition and heavy equipment, The Globe and Mail reports, citing the head of the government of Ukraine. "Now we need heavy armored vehicles. And we need more artillery shells: ammunition for howitzers and ammunition for tanks. This is extremely important for the organization of our counteroffensive," Shmyhal said in an interview with the publication. The trip is due to take place in the coming weeks, but the exact date of the visit has not been disclosed yet for security reasons. According to The Globe and Mail, the Prime Minister also spoke in favor of the Canadian government providing insurance against military risks to Canadian companies that invest in Ukraine. Shmyhal also said that during the visit it is expected to sign cooperation agreements with a Canadian company in the nuclear industry. Earlier it was reported that Canada sent a batch of Leopard 2 for Ukraine. In addition, Canada will provide Ukraine with about 8,000 of 155 mm ammunition, as well as 12 anti-aircraft missiles from the stocks of the Canadian Armed Forces to support air defense systems. JERUSALEM (AP) Palestinian assailants carried out a pair of attacks on Friday, killing three people and wounding at least six as tensions soared after days of fighting at Jerusalems most sensitive holy site, officials said. Earlier in the day, retaliatory Israeli airstrikes had hit Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, sparking fears of a broader conflict. Israeli authorities said an Italian tourist was killed and five other Italian and British citizens were wounded when a car rammed into a group of tourists in Tel Aviv, Israels commercial hub. In a separate incident, two British-Israeli women were shot to death near a settlement in the occupied West Bank. The spasm of violence in Israel and the West Bank heightened fears of an even more intense surge, with the rare convergence of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, the Jewish Passover holiday and Easter currently underway. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was calling up all reserve forces in Israels border police, a paramilitary force usually deployed to suppress Palestinian unrest, to confront the terror attacks. The additional border police would be activated Sunday and join other units that have recently been deployed in Jerusalem and Lod, a town in central Israel with a mixed Jewish and Palestinian population. Israel had unleashed rare airstrikes on Lebanon and bombarded the Gaza Strip on Friday morning, but later in the day there were signs that both sides were trying to keep the border hostilities in check. The fighting subsided after dawn, and midday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem a flashpoint for violence in recent days passed peacefully. The round of violence erupted after Israeli police raided the mosque earlier in the week, sparking unrest in the contested capital and outrage across the Arab world. Militants fired an unusually large rocket barrage at Israel from southern Lebanon on Thursday some of the heaviest and most serious cross-border violence since Israels 2006 war with Lebanons Hezbollah militants as well as from Gaza. In the Tel Aviv car-ramming late Friday, the alleged attacker rammed his vehicle into a group of civilians near a popular seaside park, police said. Israels rescue service said a 30-year-old Italian man was killed, while five other British and Italian tourists including a 74-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl were receiving medical treatment for mild to moderate injuries. Police said they shot and killed the driver of the car and identified him as a 45-year-old Palestinian citizen of Israel from the village of Kafr Qassem. A video circulating on social media showed the car hurtling along a sidewalk for several hundred yards (meters) before crashing out of control. Italian Premier Giorgia Melonis office expressed closeness to the family of the victim and solidarity with the Israel for the vile attack. She identified the man killed as Alessandro Parini from Rome. The shooting in the West Bank meanwhile killed the two sisters, who were in their 20s, and seriously wounded their 45-year-old mother near an Israeli settlement in the Jordan Valley, Israeli and British officials said. The family lived in the Efrat settlement, near the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, said Oded Revivi, the settlements mayor. Medics said they dragged the unconscious women from their smashed car, which appeared to have been pushed off the road. No groups claimed responsibility for either attack. But the Hamas militant group that rules Gaza praised both incidents as retaliation for Israeli raids earlier this week on the Al-Aqsa mosque the third-holiest site in Islam. On Tuesday, police arrested and beat hundreds of Palestinians there, who responded by hurling rocks and firecrackers at officers. Fridays airstrikes on neighboring Lebanon targeted Hamas militant sites, the Israeli military said, accusing the group of firing the nearly three dozen rockets that slammed into open areas and towns in northern Israel on Thursday. The bombardment seemed designed to avoid drawing in Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shiite group that Israel considers its most immediate threat. There were no reports of serious casualties from the airstrikes, but several people in the southern Lebanese town of Qalili, including Syrian refugees, said they were lightly wounded. I immediately gathered my wife and children and got them out of the house, said Qalili resident Bilal Suleiman, who was jolted awake by the bombing. A flock of sheep was killed when the Israeli missiles struck a field near the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh, according to an Associated Press photographer. Other airstrikes hit a bridge and a power transformer in nearby Maaliya, and damaged an irrigation system. In the Gaza Strip, Israels military pounded what it said were Hamas weapons production sites and underground tunnels. A childrens hospital in Gaza City was among sites sustaining damage, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. After the retaliatory strikes, Israelis living along the southern border returned home from bomb shelters. Most missiles that managed to cross into Israeli territory hit open areas, but one landed in the town of Sderot, sending shrapnel slicing into a house. There were no reports of casualties on either side of the southern border. The Israeli military said everyone wanted to avoid a full-blown conflict. Quiet will be answered with quiet, said spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht. A Qatari official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the emirate was mediating. Even as a fragile calm took hold along the Lebanese and Gaza borders, the West Bank remained volatile. Violence has surged to new heights there in recent months, with Palestinian health officials reporting the start of 2023 to be the most deadly for Palestinians in two decades. Nearly 90 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank since the start of the year, at least half of them affiliated with militant groups, according to an Associated Press tally. During that time, 17 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks on Israelis all but one of them civilians. Its just a matter of time, and not much time, until we settle the score, Netanyahu said as he toured the site of the deadly shooting in the West Bank with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. We acted in Lebanon, we acted in Gaza, we beefed up forces in the field. Al-Aqsa has long been a nexus of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the skirmishes between Palestinian worshippers and Israeli police at the holy compound this week spiraled into a regional confrontation. The mosque sits on a hilltop sacred to both Muslims and Jews. In 2021, an escalation triggered by clashes there spilled over into an 11-day war between Israel and Gazas Hamas rulers. Before dawn prayers Friday, chaos erupted at an entrance to the esplanade as Israeli police wielding batons descended on crowds of Palestinian worshippers who chanted slogans praising Hamas as they tried to squeeze into the site. Later, people leaving prayers staged a large protest on the limestone courtyard, raising their fists, shouting against Israel and waving Hamas flags. Israeli police said they forced their way into the compound in response to masked suspects who threw rocks toward officers at a gate. Israeli authorities control access to the area but the compound is administered by Islamic and Jordanian officials. The unrest comes at a delicate time for Jerusalems Old City, which was suffused with religious fervor and teeming with pilgrims from around the world. The Christian faithful retraced the route Jesus is said to have taken for Good Friday and Jews celebrated the weeklong Passover holiday, while Muslims prayed and fasted for Ramadan. ___ Associated Press writer Abby Sewell in Beirut, Jill Lawless in London, Frances DEmilio in Rome and Joseph Krauss in Ottawa, Canada, contributed to this report. Read more about: SHARE: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The expulsion of two Tennessee Democrats over a gun control protest is an extraordinary showcase of how the levers of single-party power in Americas statehouses can be pulled not only to shut down opponents, but to also punish them. On any given day in Tennessee, Republicans have the commanding majority to pass just about any law they want. The lopsided dynamic is common in many U.S. statehouses including where Democrats are in charge and it has widened under gerrymandered voting maps that redraw legislative district boundaries to dilute the opposition partys votes. But in ousting Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson altogether from the Tennessee Legislature on Thursday, Republicans went beyond their typical ability to steamroll Democrats. They instead maximized their parliamentary power to exact retribution. Not only did Republicans have the votes to oust the lawmakers one of the few times such drastic action has been taken since the Civil War they suspended legislative rules of procedure to hasten the process. The expulsions reverberated far beyond Tennessee, with Democrats in states where theyre similarly outnumbered taking notice. GOP leaders defended their actions as necessary to send a message that disruptive protests in the Tennessee House would not be tolerated. A third Democrat, Rep. Gloria Johnson, was narrowly spared expulsion by a one-vote margin. The erosion of democracy in the state Legislature is what got us here, Pearson said after his ouster. It wasnt walking up to the well, it wasnt being disruptive to the status quo, it was the silencing of democracy and its wrong. THE TENNESSEE VOTE In Tennessee, Republicans hold a supermajority control in both the House and Senate and have wielded full control of the Legislature since 2008. But in the House, GOP members have increasingly used parliamentary maneuvers to cut off debate particularly on controversial topics ranging from abortion to LGBTQ+ issues and guns. Republicans have used a legislative tactic known as calling the question, which forces an immediate vote on a bill and cuts off debate that can otherwise stretch on for hours. In the days leading to the expulsion hearing, Republicans also employed whats known as suspending the rules, which allows lawmakers to sidestep usual procedure such as what happened on Thursday, when lawmakers suspended rules to allow the so-called Tennessee three to defend themselves. Suspending the rules is not always divisive it can be used to speed up passage of uncontentious bills, for example but it can also inflame tensions. Democrats who spoke during Thursday spent most of their time calling on Republicans to pass some sort of gun control legislation in the aftermath of the Nashville school shooting. But they also accused their GOP colleagues of having used the rules to keep debate to a minimum on other topics throughout the legislative session. Several Democrats joked Thursday how they normally werent allowed to talk at such length but got a minor break of sorts during the hearing because of to the national attention it had attracted. House Speaker Cameron Sexton, a Republican, dismissed suggestions that Democrats have been silenced, saying lawmakers have many opportunities to speak up during legislative committee hearings and on the House floor. We havent had anybody complain, Sexton said. People raise their hands to be recognized. I dont know who is going to call the question. LEGISLATIVE TACTICS The aggressive actions by Tennessee Republicans demonstrated a flip side to parliamentary tactics that lawmakers in the minority often use to as a last-ditch effort to thwart the other side. Among the most common are filibusters, in which lawmakers try to run out the clock on a bill through lengthy speeches. In Nebraska, a filibuster brought lawmaking to a standstill for weeks this year over GOP legislation that would impose restrictions on transgender rights. State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, a Democrat, introduced amendment after amendment to every bill on the Senate floor and took up all eight debate hours allowed by the rules each day. Two years ago, Texas Democrats temporarily stalled passage of new voting restrictions for weeks by breaking quorum and going on a 38-day walkout. They had quietly walked out of the House chamber one by one while facing the potential of Republicans calling the question for a decisive vote before a midnight deadline to pass the bill. NUCLEAR OPTION Texas state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, who helped spearhead the Democrats walkout in 2021, described calling the question as a nuclear option and criticized it an offensive tactic to stop debate. On Friday, he called the expulsions in Tennessee a warning for lawmakers in minority parties to keep their guard up. He said he was especially mindful of how state legislators act at a time when there is gridlock in Washington and the Supreme Court is throwing contentious issues back to the states to decide. If you can willy-nilly silence voices by changing rules, then I think that is a significant assault on our democracy, Fischer said. ___ Weber reported from Austin, Texas. SHARE: ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) Maryland lawmakers kept working Friday on passing some remaining priority measures of the Democratic-led legislature in the waning days of the session. At the top of the list: bills to enable a recreational marijuana market to open July 1 and to respond to the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling last year that expanded gun rights. With the session set to end at midnight Monday, a sense of urgency was setting in for supporters of bills that had not yet been passed by the General Assembly in the 90-day session. Police led seven protesters away in handcuffs in front of the Capitol, as they rallied to urge lawmakers to pass a bill that would enable any resident to enroll in a health plan through the states Health Benefit Exchange, regardless of their immigration status. The measure called the Access to Care Act has passed the House but has not advanced in the Senate. Sen. Melony Griffith, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, told reporters later in the day that the bill might not be the best solution and that senators wanted to proceed with caution and see the results of a study and other possible options. What you have is a group of people who have identified a solution to a part of the problem, and I think that because of their passion and their desire to see the health care needs met, they dont necessarily understand why we want to look at all of the options available to us, Griffith, a Prince Georges Democrat, said. We think its important to consider all of the options, because no matter what solution is chosen, its going to require an investment from the state. Meanwhile, lawmakers continued working on legislation that creates licensing and tax rates to open a recreational marijuana market on July 1. In November, voters approved a constitutional amendment with 67% of the vote to enable adults ages 21 and older to be able to legally possess up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis. Existing medical cannabis dispensaries will be able to have dual licenses to sell recreational marijuana. There will be additional licenses available with priority given to minority owners in communities that have been negatively affected by past marijuana laws. Both the House and Senate have passed separate versions of the legislation. One difference between the two chambers is the tax rate. The House measure would impose a 6% tax in the next fiscal year. It would go up 1% each year to maximum of 10% in fiscal year 2028. The Senate bill would put a 9% tax on recreational marijuana. Medical marijuana would remain untaxed. Lawmakers also were working on changes to state gun laws, after the Supreme Court struck down a New York law last year that was very similar to Marylands good and substantial reason standard for permits to carry concealed handguns. The courts decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen ended a requirement for people to demonstrate a particular need to get a license to carry a concealed gun in public, saying it violates Second Amendment rights. A measure that has passed the Senate would prohibit certain areas where someone could carry a concealed handgun. Those places would generally be in an area for children, like schools, or a government or public infrastructure area. A bill that has passed the House would remove the good and substantial reason language to make the states concealed carry law comply with the courts ruling. It also would prohibit possession of a regulated firearm and procuring a wear-and-carry permit, if a person is on supervised probation for a crime with a maximum penalty of a year or more, or supervised probation for any driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated or supervised probation for violating a protective order. The House and Senate also are working on reconciling some differences in a bill that expands Marylands commitment to offshore wind as part of the states efforts to address climate change. It sets a goal for Maryland to generate 8.5 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2031. The bill also aims to modernize the electricity grid to transmit offshore wind energy from the ocean to land. SHARE: PHOENIX (AP) Native American tribal members fighting plans for an enormous copper mine on land they consider sacred say they are increasingly worried U.S. officials will publish an environmental review paving the way for the project even as they await a federal appeals court ruling in the case. A U.S. government attorney said during last months hearing of a full panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that the final environmental impact study for construction of the mine at Oak Flat could be published this spring. San Carlos Apache Tribe Chairman Terry Rambler said during a visit last week that U.S. Forest Service officials confirmed plans to push forward on publication of the environmental analysis. That step would kick off a 60-day period culminating in a land swap allowing the project to go forward. Obliterating Oak Flat for a copper mine will be a grave human rights violation against Indigenous people and an environmental catastrophe, Rambler said in a written statement this week. The Biden Administrations commitment to Indian Country will be seriously eroded if it approves this mine. Apache Stronghold, a group composed of San Carlos Apache members and others, wants to halt the land swap while the case plays out in court. The panel of 11 judges on the appeals court is expected to issue a decision in the next few months. Apache Stronghold sued the U.S. government under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to protect the land known as Chichil Bildagoteel, an area of ancient oaks and traditional plants the San Carlos Apaches consider important for their ceremonies. Tonto National Forest officials said they forwarded email queries from The Associated Press about the agencys plans to their superiors. Oak Flat is in the Tonto National Forest about 70 miles (110 kilometers) east of Phoenix. Representatives of the Resolution Copper mining company said they didnt know what the agency was planning. U.S. Rep. Raul M. Grijalva, a Democrat who represents southern Arizona, has introduced legislation aimed at halting the project. He urged Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack this week to continue withholding publication of the environmental review. If allowed to proceed, Resolution Copper would desecrate Oak Flats tribal cultural and religious heritage sites, deplete already scarce water resources in Arizona, adversely impact imperiled species, and create a crater up to 1,115 feet deep and roughly 1.8 miles across, Grijalva wrote. The destruction this mine would cause far outweighs its benefits. The swap was a provision included in a must-pass defense bill to give Resolution Copper 3.75 square miles (9.71 square kilometers) of national forest land for eight other parcels the company owns elsewhere in Arizona. Publication of the environmental analysis will start the clock on the 60-day period for the Forest Service to transfer Oak Flat to Resolution Copper. An earlier environmental survey was pulled back while the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the Forest Service, consulted for months with Native American tribes and others about their concerns. The mining company says it has been addressing concerns about the project. It notes there is broad local support for the mine, which could create thousands of jobs, add up to $1 billion annually to Arizonas economy and potentially supply enough copper to meet up to one-quarter of U.S. demand. Resolution Copper is a joint venture of global mining firms Rio Tinto, which has headquarters in Australia and the U.K., and BHP, which is based in Australia. A smaller 9th Circuit panel previously ruled 2-1 that the federal government could give the Oak Flat land to Resolution Copper for the project. The court later agreed to let the larger panel hear the case. SHARE: In March the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) issued a warning. Unless immediate action was taken climate change could careen out of control. Theres a fine line between inspiring change and creating paralyzing fear and hopelessness. Lakehead University surveyed teens and young adults between the ages of 16-25. Over half of the respondents said that climate change was making them feel anxious, afraid and they felt powerless to do anything about it. Traditionally, the best place for any young person, to find hope is from the example set by the adults, parents, grandparents, teachers, aunts and uncles in their lives. Researchers at Stanford University say that when older adults contribute to the well-being of youth it cultivates a sense of purpose that extends both ways. But are we, the so-called example-setters, also feeling anxious about climate change? In 2021 the Pew Research Center asked respondents in 17 countries if they were willing to change the way they lived to tackle climate change. Over half said they were but added that they werent convinced it would make a difference. After British Columbias infamous 2021 heat dome researchers noticed a 13 per cent increase in anxiety related to the climate emergency among British Columbians. Climate change anxiety is intergenerational. In the United Kingdom, a study by Kings College and the New Scientist magazine found little to no difference between age cohorts on how they felt about climate change. Indeed, the research found that baby boomers, aged 59 and older are more likely to act environmentally consciously than their younger Gen Z counterparts. The authors of the study concluded that parents and grandparents care about the state of the planet and the legacy theyre leaving. Across Canada, older Canadians are taking action and using their years of experience to leave a better world for their grandchildren. In Ontario, for example, Seniors for Climate Action Now (SCAN) say theyve heard young people and will use their voices to amplify concerns and lobby the government to act. The youth Lakehead surveyed pointed figures at lawmakers for not doing enough. In fairness, the federal government has created the Environment and Climate Youth Council, whose mandate is to advise politicians on climate issues. But it doesnt solve the problem. My GenZ nieces see the world as a much different place 30 years from now. They envision depleted resources and sea level rise from melting polar ice wiping out entire communities. Its hard for me to tell them it will be OK when scientists say that even if we immediately stopped fossil fuels it would take centuries for climate change to abate. One of the findings of the Lakehead survey was the cone of silence around climate anxiety. Youth are not sure who will listen to them. Im scared and anxious too. Maybe by talking about my fear it helps pave a path for them to express theirs and then together we can find the answers. Jennifer Cole is a Vancouver-based freelance writer. Read more about: SHARE: Words dont just hurt. Some words kill. Consider, for example, the authorization to invade, search out, capture, vanquish and subdue a group of people, and to reduce their persons to perpetual slavery. Those words arent just hurtful; theyre downright deadly. Nonetheless, those are the words of Romanus Pontifex, the 1455 Papal Bull (decree) that authorized Portugal to run roughshod over lands and people during its military adventures. Other 15th century bulls authorized Spanish colonization, and formed the foundation of what later became known as the Doctrine of Discovery. By permitting Christians to treat non-Christian lands as terra nullius no ones land the doctrine supplied the framework for European colonization of Africa and the Americas. Its pernicious influence is still being felt today as it led to the development of the Indian Act and the Indian Residential Schools, which engaged in the systematic destruction of Indigenous languages and cultures. Consequently, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada called on faith groups to repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius. And when the Indigenous leaders met with the Pope in both Canada and the Vatican last year, they reiterated their longstanding demand that he rescind the doctrine. Last week, the Catholic Church finally took action, stating that it repudiates those concepts that fail to recognize the inherent human rights of Indigenous peoples, including what has become known as the legal and political doctrine of discovery. Although it was a long time coming, the Churchs statement is welcome, and was greeted warmly by many Indigenous leaders, including the Assembly of First Nations. It also came just days before the most important holiday in the Christian calendar: Easter, with its emphasis on atonement, redemption and rebirth. In the spirit of atonement, the Church must, of course, not merely issue statements. Certainly, words can heal, but they should be accompanied by actions, including the return of artifacts wrongly taken from Indigenous peoples around the world, and the provision of adequate compensation for harms done. Atonement is not just for the Church, however. Since the Doctrine of Discovery has played an important role in Canadian law and society, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission also called on all levels of government to repudiate both Discovery and terra nullius. And its therefore incumbent on secular authorities to follow the Church and remove the vestiges of these ideas from our laws. Initially introduced to North American jurisprudence through an 1832 American court case, the Doctrine was recognized in Canadian common law in 1888 when a court held that while Indigenous peoples have the right to occupy and use land, the Crown retains the underlying title. That case remained influential for the better part of a century, and even in 2007, Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand were the only four countries to vote against the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Among other things, the declaration describes doctrines like Discovery as racist, scientifically false, legally invalid, morally condemnable and socially unjust. Nonetheless, Canada voted no due to significant concerns about the wording of provisions concerning land and resources. Canada has since reversed course and endorsed the declaration, and is currently consulting with Indigenous peoples to develop an action plan to ensure federal laws are consistent with UN document. Yet according to Amnesty Internationals annual report, released just last week, Canada continues to violate the declaration by failing to obtain the free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous communities regarding the use of resources on Indigenous lands. Consequently, in this Christian Holy Week, which is also a sacred time for Judaism (Passover) and Islam (Ramadan), we must not expect the Church to atone for its sins without also seeking redemption for our own. After all, while words can hurt, heal and even kill, it is only through actions that we are redeemed. SHARE: Blog Archive Apr 2010 (22) May 2010 (25) Jun 2010 (8) Jul 2010 (12) Aug 2010 (18) Sept 2010 (19) Oct 2010 (29) Nov 2010 (30) Dec 2010 (18) Jan 2011 (13) Feb 2011 (21) Mar 2011 (23) Apr 2011 (19) May 2011 (31) Jun 2011 (36) Jul 2011 (46) Aug 2011 (26) Sept 2011 (12) Oct 2011 (15) Nov 2011 (17) Dec 2011 (7) Jan 2012 (18) Feb 2012 (4) Mar 2012 (12) Apr 2012 (17) May 2012 (10) Jun 2012 (21) Jul 2012 (8) Aug 2012 (15) Sept 2012 (7) Oct 2012 (17) Nov 2012 (20) Dec 2012 (10) Jan 2013 (58) Feb 2013 (59) Mar 2013 (60) Apr 2013 (98) May 2013 (134) Jun 2013 (203) Jul 2013 (293) Aug 2013 (350) Sept 2013 (363) Oct 2013 (347) Nov 2013 (374) Dec 2013 (438) Jan 2014 (543) Feb 2014 (474) Mar 2014 (525) Apr 2014 (526) May 2014 (470) Jun 2014 (408) Jul 2014 (472) Aug 2014 (522) Sept 2014 (441) Oct 2014 (471) Nov 2014 (496) Dec 2014 (535) Jan 2015 (535) Feb 2015 (520) Mar 2015 (579) Apr 2015 (657) May 2015 (679) Jun 2015 (673) Jul 2015 (728) Aug 2015 (803) Sept 2015 (922) Oct 2015 (919) Nov 2015 (801) Dec 2015 (791) Jan 2016 (781) Feb 2016 (834) Mar 2016 (929) Apr 2016 (864) May 2016 (946) Jun 2016 (1044) Jul 2016 (881) Aug 2016 (1035) Sept 2016 (966) Oct 2016 (918) Nov 2016 (854) Dec 2016 (885) Jan 2017 (879) Feb 2017 (777) Mar 2017 (896) Apr 2017 (872) May 2017 (850) Jun 2017 (851) Jul 2017 (971) Aug 2017 (1040) Sept 2017 (998) Oct 2017 (1144) Nov 2017 (1046) Dec 2017 (838) Jan 2018 (873) Feb 2018 (769) Mar 2018 (885) Apr 2018 (808) May 2018 (827) Jun 2018 (820) Jul 2018 (840) Aug 2018 (854) Sept 2018 (844) Oct 2018 (851) Nov 2018 (870) Dec 2018 (912) Jan 2019 (919) Feb 2019 (827) Mar 2019 (957) Apr 2019 (913) May 2019 (1007) Jun 2019 (934) Jul 2019 (949) Aug 2019 (936) Sept 2019 (910) Oct 2019 (920) Nov 2019 (874) Dec 2019 (908) Jan 2020 (941) Feb 2020 (848) Mar 2020 (898) Apr 2020 (848) May 2020 (822) Jun 2020 (787) Jul 2020 (819) Aug 2020 (858) Sept 2020 (841) Oct 2020 (873) Nov 2020 (811) Dec 2020 (780) Jan 2021 (765) Feb 2021 (716) Mar 2021 (819) Apr 2021 (805) May 2021 (815) Jun 2021 (824) Jul 2021 (830) Aug 2021 (832) Sept 2021 (791) Oct 2021 (754) Nov 2021 (683) Dec 2021 (693) Jan 2022 (694) Feb 2022 (654) Mar 2022 (740) Apr 2022 (745) May 2022 (748) Jun 2022 (701) Jul 2022 (704) Aug 2022 (702) Sept 2022 (699) Oct 2022 (737) Nov 2022 (718) Dec 2022 (692) Jan 2023 (662) Feb 2023 (611) Mar 2023 (692) Apr 2023 (527) Approval from the European Commission for aid to farmers affected by drought is expected in the coming days and, within 35 days of obtaining approval, the money will enter the farmers' accounts, Agriculture Minister Petre Daea said on Friday. "Since February 2 this year, we have sent to the European Commission the mechanism that we have agreed at country level to get approval from the Commission, as it is a state aid. We expect such approval to come in the coming days. We have the legal act, we will on this path of legal approval, so that this money will also come for the crops that were affected last year and were planted last spring. Of course, depending on the approval that will come from the European Commission, we estimate that the money can reach the farmers within 30-35 days," Daea said, after the meeting with the farmers' representatives who protested in the Capital. He said that the amount foreseen for the disaster aid in the document sent to the European Commission is 870 million lei. Farmers organised protests on Friday in several counties of Romania and in the Capital, dissatisfied with the solution found by the European Commission to the problems and serious imbalances faced by the Romanian agri-food sector, amid market distortions caused by the armed conflict in Ukraine, told Agerpres. In Bucharest, the protest started at the European Commission Representation, after which the farmers went to the Ministry of Agriculture, where they asked to talk to Minister Petre Daea. The Minister of Research, Innovation and Digitization, Sebastian Burduja, stated, on Friday, at the University of Craiova, that if Romania is not be able to generate research, innovation to be exported to the rest of the world, then it will always be condemned to be a consumer market "and in fact to consume what others give us". "Economic growth means innovation. In order to develop our country, we must generate innovation in our country, not always import other people's technologies. This is the reality. If we are not be able to generate from Romania research, innovation that we will export in the rest of the world, then we are condemned all the time to be a consumer market and in fact to consume what others give us", said Burduja at a workshop organized by the University of Craiova. He specified that Romania currently spends about 0.2% of GDP on public research and about the same from private funds. "So we are going towards 0.4-05% of GDP. In the first place in the world is the state of Israel, which spends 5% of GDP (of course, Israel has a GDP about twice as high as Romania's GDP; they have about 480 billion USD, we are somewhere at 280 billion USD). I went there and asked them how they do it and they presented me with some simple data. With them, of that 5% of GDP, 90% is private money. And I believe that we must also aim for such a model, in which we encourage private companies, through tax facilities, by clarifying the regime, through various other programs, to invest in research and development", Sebastian Burduja said. According to him, all the economic data show that "the Romanian cities have performed in an extraordinary way at the European level, especially the big cities. So the trend has been maintained, the tendency has been maintained and if you look at the last 10 years, the cities with the fastest growth rate in Europe in the top 10, 7 cities are from Romania, including Craiova. This happened because on on the one hand, you had investments and managed to coagulate economic development and, on the other hand, you certainly benefited from the support of European funds", says the minister of research, innovation and digitization. The rector of the University of Craiova, Cezar Spinu, stated that multinationals and SMEs are not particularly concentrated in the region and there are numerous economic entities that do not produce under their own brand, and Romanian companies have not developed a budget allocated to research, development and innovation (RDI). "What stands out is the fact that not only Romanian companies hesitate to develop RDI activities and all those companies that associate them with financial risks, such as the non-guaranteed result, the specific psychology of researchers - researchers are a special class - and the fact that their employment involves financial expenses perennial regardless of the degree of charge in a company. Also, there is a lack of conviction that even the partial achievement of RDI objectives can lead to an increase in competitiveness and can produce benefits greater than the investment amounts", said Cezar Spinu. He also stated that research is not materialized only through publications and contracts, but must be capitalized through applied measures or through the transfer of results to economic agents: technological transfer, knowledge transfer. "Thus, this HUB - INCESA - research infrastructure in applied sciences has been operating for over 10 years within the University of Craiova, and the main objective is to provide CDI for economic agents in the outsourcing regime, through bilateral contracts," Cezar Spinu told the workshop "Collaboration between the University of Craiova and partners from the economic and research environment in research, development, innovation projects", told Agerpres. The blocking of the issue of biomethane export to Europe by the Ministries of Finance and Energy threatens the development of this market and harms the national interests of Ukraine, said Heorhiy Heletukha, chairman of the board of the Bioenergy Association of Ukraine. "I assure you that those five plants (scheduled to open in 2023) that think about the production of biomethane will change their mind about producing it if they are not allowed to export. But, unfortunately, this becomes a real threat," he said at a press conference of the Global 100% RE Ukraine platform on signing a cooperation agreement with German renewable energy associations at the Interfax-Ukraine agency. He explained that in order to export biomethane, which, according to him, the first projects for the production of this renewable gas are currently working on, it is necessary to make several technical amendments to the regulatory framework, in particular, add the word "biomethane" to the mandate of the energy customs, and also provide for in the resolution on the ban on the export of natural gas the possibility of exporting biomethane. "We turned to the government, we thought we would quickly solve everything, because these are technical things, but the first answer of the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Finance is as follows: we do not believe that the export of biomethane during the war is expedient, this affects the energy security of the country," he said. At the same time, he drew attention to the fact that future biomethane production accounts for a too small share against the background of natural gas consumption to threaten energy security. "Even if these five plants had already opened, they would have produced about 20 million cubic meters per year, and we consume 20 billion cubic meters. That is, we are talking about one tenth of a percent that we want to export," the expert said. In his opinion, with this approach, if it does not change, "we will kill the industry that has not yet been born." At the same time, he specified that the advantage of the European market over the Ukrainian one lies in its premium nature, which makes biomethane production projects profitable. President Klaus Iohannis has convened a meeting of the Supreme Council for National Defence (CSAT) on Tuesday, April 11, at 10:00, the Presidential Administration informed on Friday. According to the Presidential Administration, the agenda of the meeting, which will take place at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace, includes topics related to the developments of the security situation in the Black Sea region in the context of Russia's aggression against Ukraine and external interventions on the democratic process in the Republic of Moldova.The concept of the development of the Romanian military aviation will also be analysed.Other topical issues in the field of national security will also be analysed at the CSAT meeting, the source said. The immigration police are celebrating, on Friday, 142 years since King Carol I signed the first normative act regulating the regime of foreigners in Romania - the "Law on foreigners," published in Official Journal No. 6 of 1881. "The Day of the Weapon was marked, at the national level, by a series of informative and cultural activities, but also by the awarding of the distinctions 'Policeman of the Year' and 'Structure of the Year'," informs a press release of the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) sent to AGERPRES on Friday. This year, in the Regional Centres for Procedures and Accommodation of Asylum Seekers in Galati, Radauti and Timisoara, the event was marked on Thursday and Friday by a series of informative and cultural activities, told Agerpres. In Galati and Timisoara, the Open Doors Day took place, when the techniques used in the police activity were presented. "In continuation of the activities dedicated to the General Inspectorate for Immigration Day, at the Regional Centre for Procedures and Accommodation of Asylum Seekers in Radauti, activities were organised in different areas. The themes addressed were: 'They too have the right to fulfil their dreams;' 'Forms and effects of migration on human behaviour;' 'Historical and biographical realities that have favoured exile,' as well as 'The history of war zones'," the source said. NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana said on Friday, during a visit at the Multinational Brigade South East in Craiova, that NATO is preparing a new defence and deterrence architecture on the eastern flank, an eastern flank that is much deeper and altered by the arrival of Finland as a new member of the Alliance. "Here is a place where the North Atlantic Alliance is strengthening its presence on the eastern flank. I am glad to see here the allies from Poland, from Portugal, from North Macedonia together with the Romanian military, training together and being ready to be part of the new NATO defence and deterrence architecture that the Alliance is preparing at this very moment. It is an important moment in European history and it is a moment when we need to continue to support Ukraine, but also to strengthen our defence and deterrence posture on the eastern flank, an eastern flank much deeper and altered by the arrival of Finland as a new member of the Alliance and the arrival, we believe swiftly, of Sweden. This will give us an eastern flank that stretches from the Barents Sea to the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea and the Danube, and the Mediterranean Sea," said Mircea Goana, at the end of his visit to the Headquarters Multinational Brigade South East in Craiova.He also said that the Multinational Brigade South-East represents "an excellent model of interoperability at NATO level"."My presence here today is to encourage the Romanian ally and our NATO allies present here to prepare for the next level of defence, joint exercises, interoperability and multi-domain military operations (. ..) An excellent model of interoperability at NATO level and I would like to thank the Romanian military and my fellow citizens of Craiova, because this elite unit makes us proud of our Romanian ally and the Romanian army," said the NATO official.Asked if there are other concerns at the moment, given all that is happening in Ukraine, the NATO Deputy Secretary General said that there is no security risk for the allied countries, but what is seen on a traditional military level does not always represent the whole reality."We do not presently see a security risk to allied security. The Russian Federation has significant difficulties in fighting Ukraine, but that does not mean that Russia does not remain an unpredictable and dangerous nation. And what we see in traditional military terms is not always the whole story. The Republic of Moldova: full hybrid warfare waged by Kremlin against the pro-Western direction of this country. In allied countries: cyber attacks, hybrid attacks, disinformation, manipulation of public opinion, alteration of our democratic system. It is something that is happening and that is why we, at NATO, are vigilant both for the traditional military dimension and look at how robust, and how coherent, and how vigorously we are acting not only at the NATO level, but also for our societies in the face of a need to have a more pronounced societal resilience. After all, the resilience of each and every one of us is the first line of defence for NATO. But I am convinced that despite the sometimes socio-economic difficulties, the effects of war are not easy to counteract, we will understand that we need each other and that only together we can succeed," he added.After his visit at the Multinational Brigade South East in Craiova, Mircea Geoana gave a lecture at the University of Craiova on "Innovation, Transformation and Security - From the War Economy to a New Economic Model", an event organised in partnership with the US Embassy in Bucharest and NET/New Economy Trust. The NATO official mentioned that he will also go to Mischii commune, where he will visit the ClusterPower Company, which has built here the largest data and artificial intelligence centre in the region. In a lecture to the University of Craiova on Friday, NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana said that the real challenge for Romania amidst a changing strategic outline of Europe is how to turn its immense strategic relevance into economic dividends and make the leap forward toward a prosperous country, so that people no longer choose to leave the country in droves. "This is a moment of immense transformation at the global level, at the European level. (...) The sad reality of the war started by Russia against Ukraine shows us how much we need to invest in defence and security and in an as strong as possible industrial base. This is a change in the strategic contours of Europe.(...) The question is and remains for Romania and for the countries on the eastern flank [of NATO] how to turn the immense strategic relevance of Romania into economic dividends, prosperity. This is the real challenge for Romania: a historic leap forward towards a developed economy, towards a prosperous country so that people no longer choose to leave it in droves," Geoana said in his speech called "Innovation, transformation and security - From a war economy to a new economic model." The NATO official also mentioned the development gaps among Romania's regions, between large cities, on the one hand, and small towns and the countryside, on the other hand, the need for investment in small farms and peasant households, and also a low level of confidence of the Romanians, which he says is at an "alarming level," although Romania is a member state of NATO and the European Union, told Agerpres. "We need an ecosystem in which Romanian and foreign companies coexist, a place under the sun closer to our strategic value. We are in the process of renegotiating the balances at the European level: strategically, economically, technologically and as and political power. King Mihai, in his speech before the Romanian Parliament at the age of 90 in 2011 -- I remember witnessing that historic speech -- spoke about the fact that agriculture is not an area of the past, but one of the future. And he was right. Romania can be an agro-industrial superpower and not just an agricultural one. Romania needs investment in small-scale farms and peasant households, both of which are struggling mightily." After touring the Headquarters Multinational Division South East in Craiova and delivering his speech to the University of Craiova, Geoana went to the small town of Mischii, where he visited the ClusterPower Company, the builder of the largest data and artificial intelligence hub in the region. "I will go to the small town where my father was born, to Mischii. Before we made a schedule for my visit, I did not know that the company I am visiting - Cluster Power -- a modern company with large databases -- is based on Viitorului Street in the small town of Mischii. Maybe you can find the way in which small communities can have a big future," said Geoana. In Craiova on Friday, he also visited the Headquarters Multinational Division South East, which he called "an excellent model of interoperability at NATO level." Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca had a meeting on Friday, at the Victoria Palace, with Agriculture Minister Petre Daea, whom he asked for urgent measures in support of the Romanian farmers, Spokesman of the Executive Dan Carbunaru mentioned. "Romania's prime minister requested urgent solutions to the problems which farmers and processors are confronted with, which were also signaled in the discussions carried out on Thursday by the Executive head with representatives of the relevant sector. The main measures should be aimed at a fair relations between producers, agriculture processors and retail chains, but also the facilitation of exports in the agricultural products area, in view of evening out the trade balance," Carbunaru showed. Farmers are organising protests on Friday in several countries and in Bucharest, unsatisfied with the solution which the European Commission found to the serious issues and unbalances which the Romanian agri-food sector is confronted with, because of the market distortions caused by the armed conflict in Ukraine, told Agerpres. Romania will have its own stand at the London Book Fair, April 18-20, and a diverse schedule of events to be organised by the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR) through the National Book Centre under the slogan "ROMANIA at LBF - Write Where We Belong!" On display at the 25-sq.m. Romanian stand will be a selection of recent Romanian books, made available to the Romanian Cultural Institute by the most famous Romanian publishing houses, as well as a catalogue prepared by the National Book Centre bringing together 15 Romanian prose titles with presentations and excerpts exhibited next to several dozen postcards illustrated by Romanian artist depicting national identity offered by the Romanian Post Office, told Agerpres. "We are up to date on translations from the world literature, and the professionals of the Romanian publishing industry are increasingly connected to international book publishing events," according to Director of the National Book Centre Oana Boca Stanescu. Organised under the umbrella of the London Book Fair, with support from the Romanian Embassy in the UK, the events will take place in three well-known bookstores in London. The series of events starts on April 18 with a debate for the book publishing and distribution professionals, hosted by the London Review BOOKSHOP, the bookstore of the famous British cultural publication. Called "Breaking into the '3%'. Ways of Publishing Romanian Books in English," the meeting will bring to the same table Rebecca Servadio (managing partner, London Literary Scouting), Vlad Niculescu (one of the most well-known and appreciated Romanian booksellers, the founder of the independent bookstore Anthony Frost, the current manager of the Carturesti & friend bookstore), Raluca Selejan (co-founder of the La Doua Bufnite independent bookstore in Timisoara), as well as authors Paula Erizanu and Livia Stoia (founder of the Livia Stoia Agency, one of the most active Romanian literary agencies promoting Romanian authors). Opening the event, moderated by journalist Marius Constantinescu, will be ICR Chairman Liviu Jicman. On April 19, at Nomad Books, recently named the best independent bookstore of 2023 at The British Book Awards, "Politics and Power in Romanian Arts Before the Romanian Revolution" debate will take place. "The discussion is built around the volume 'Visual Arts in Romania 1945-1989. With an Addendum 1990-2020' by Magda Carneci (published in 2022 by the ICR Publishing House, English translation by Alina Carac). Joining the author for the debate will be Raluca Oancea (Nestor), a lecturer at the Bucharest National University of Arts, an active curator on the visual art scene and a cultural journalist specialising in aesthetics, contemporary arts and new media. Moderating the event will be Paula Erizanu, author, journalist, editor, graduate of history, literature and history of arts at the New College of the Humanities in London and a City University London journalism graduate," according to ICR. Magda Carneci's "FEM" novel translated by Sean Cotter has recently been published by Deep Vellum. The novel "Caiet de cenzor" (The Censor's Notebook) by Liliana Corobca (Polirom, 2017), recently published in English by Seven Stories Press, will be the starting point of a meeting on "Censorship as Literature | Literature as Censorship" on April 20 at the INK@84 Books bookstore. The author of the novel and its English translator Monica Cure, together with Dan Simon of the Seven Stories Publishing House, will be the protagonists of a debate moderated by literary critic and cultural journalist Matthew Janney. The ICR stand at the London Book Fair will host, for the entire duration, an audio installation called The BLACK BOX of Romanian Poetry, a time capsule and possible relic dedicated to the post-Anthropocene, containing the works of 20 contemporary Romanian poets recited by actor Alexandru Potocean. The London Book Fair, hosted by Olympia London, and dedicated exclusively to the book publishing industry -- publishers, literary agents, printers, electronic book producers, booksellers and book distributors -- is the world's second-largest international book fair. Chairman of the Save Romania Union (USR) Catalin Drula asks leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Marcel Ciolacu to remove Petre Daea from Agriculture Minister office, taking into account "the resounding failure in the negotiations in Brussels on the compensation granted by the European Commission to Romanian farmers." "Farmers are protesting across the country. The buffoon from the Agriculture, Petrica, was not capable to negotiate with the European Commission more money for our farmers. Nevertheless, the PSD and the PNL [the National Liberal Party] keep him in office. Thy keep him in office because he responds to the orders of some barons with businesses in agriculture, such as PSD's Secretary General Paul Stanescu. They keep him in office because the only quality of the buffoon is to hire in the Ministry the people requested by the PSD and the PNL. 10.5 million EUR. That's all Petre Daea could negotiate. He went to Brussels with an incomplete file, with wrong data. He thought he went to Romania, just like in the party meetings of the PSD," Catalin Drula stated, according to a USR press release sent on Friday. Romania obtained 10.5 million EUR from the European Commission, whereas Bulgaria got 16.7 million EURO and Poland, almost 30 million EUR, Drula showed, told Agerpres. "A disgrace. It is time for Marcel Ciolacu to dismiss Petre Daea! He has done enough harm to the farmers," Catalin Drula stated. The USR argues that Petre Daea is "the weakest Agriculture minister in the past 30 years," and that he "needs to go home." Farmers are organising protests on Friday in several countries and in Bucharest, unsatisfied with the solution which the European Commission found to the serious issues and unbalances which the Romanian agri-food sector is confronted with, because of the market distortions caused by the armed conflict in Ukraine. BLUMENAU, Brazil A man with a hatchet burst into a day care center Wednesday in Brazil, killing four children, authorities said, in an attack that shook the country and put pressure on the government to curb a rising tide of violence. The assailant, who got inside by jumping over a wall, turned himself in at a police station, officials said. He did not appear to have any connection with the center, which offers nursery services, preschool education and after-school activities. The dead were between the ages of 5 and 7, authorities said. At least four other children were wounded in the attack in Blumenau, a city of 366,000 in southern Brazil. A book that inspired me to revisit some classics and a memoir that many people especially if they are British are talking about were among the books I read in March for my three book clubs. The Reading List By Sara Nisha Adams What I thought As a member of three book clubs, I am well aware of the connections you can make through reading. In Sara Nisha Adams debut novel, Mukesh, an 80-year-old widow, feels lost without his wife and is struggling with loneliness and grief. Aleisha is a grumpy 17-year-old who is fighting issues of her own, including shouldering more at home than she should because her mom has depression. The two form a friendship through books when they meet at the library where Aleisha works. Mukesh is looking for something to read, and Aleisha reluctant to make suggestions at first because, despite working at a library, she is not a reader finds an anonymous Reading List. As the two make their way through the list of eight books, which begins with To Kill a Mockingbird, we meet a handful of other characters who also happened upon the list and see each books impacts. Though slow-paced and a bit heavy at times with themes of depression, mental illness and suicide, Adams shows how books have the power to heal, give comfort and offer an escape. At book club One member liked how the books and reading brought different generations together and the sweet relationship between Aleisha and Mukesh. The author, who lives in London and was born to English and Indian parents, was partly inspired by her relationship with her grandfather. Some members felt the book dragged in parts. It was sad and just hard to get through at times, said one reader. The Reading List did inspire at least three of us, including myself, to read the second book on the list Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. The haunting and gothic atmosphere at Manderley, the mansion in the novel, drew me in and did not let go. Some books deserve to be classics, and Rebecca, first published in 1938, is one of those. Our host, tempted by the Indian food described in the book, made some delicious Indianish food to accompany our conversation. A few weeks after the book club, one member received our April pick from the library, and someones reading list fell out of it. A sign of which book she would pick next? Perhaps. Horse By Geraldine Brooks What I thought My cousin recommended this book last summer, and I admit I was hesitant to read it because I wasnt sure I was into horses enough to read a novel titled simply Horse. Turns out an interest in equines was not necessary. The novel begins in 2019 with Theo, a Black man and an art historian who has just rescued a racehorse painting from a pile of junk on a curb in Georgetown. We also follow Jess, a scientist with a special interest in bones at the Smithsonian, during that time period. The story then jumps to 1850, before the Civil War, where we meet Jarret in Lexington, Kentucky, a groomsman and trainer for Lexington, the thoroughbred stallion at the center of this story. Another time frame follows an art dealer in the 1950s. Much of this story is the product of Brooks imagination, but what we learn about 19th-century horse training and the integral roles Blacks, enslaved and free, played in horse racing is based on facts. Lexington is a real horse, a very successful racehorse who won six of his seven races. He excelled even more as a stud, siring 575 foals, 230 of which won nearly 1,200 races. Thomas J. Scott, a painter from the Civil War era, art dealer Martha Jackson and Lexingtons owners are also based on real people. Weaved within the story is a stirring look at racism in the past and present with the undercurrent of the more things change, the more things stay the same. A cast of five narrators gave voice to the characters in the audiobook, making it easier to follow along with three different time periods and five different viewpoints. At book club Though most everyone enjoyed the novel, many enjoyed the historical part over the modern-day part. The Theo and Jess storyline felt predictable and a bit disconnected at times, said one reader. One plot twist felt forced to most. But one member felt if the author had expanded Jess and Theos story, it may have worked better. She enjoyed the mystery of the painting and the details of the discovery and restoration of the horse skeleton at the Smithsonian. Two members who had connections to horses were moved (sometimes to tears) by Brooks depiction of the love and bond shown between a human and a horse. One outlier said that, though there were interesting parts, she found the book a bit boring at times and the characters one-dimensional. She also felt she was being told a story about race in America by a white woman from Australia (Brooks native country) which felt a little strange. Spare By Prince Harry What I thought My interest in the royal family is limited. I watched Princess Dianas wedding in 1981, but who didnt? I had no desire to read this memoir, other than skimming through the highlights in the many, many news stories I read about the book and his many TV appearances, which in my opinion clashes with his expressed desire for privacy. One thing was certain. I was not going to actually purchase the book. As luck (or unluck) would have it, I found it on the Lucky Day rack at my library, which meant I had a week to read it. It took a lot to keep me focused on this book, but having a deadline to finish it helped. And there were some interesting details and dirt about what goes on behind the scenes in the royal family and their relationship with the press. Though Prince Harry has some gripes about members of the royal family, his true enemy and the villain in this book is the British tabloid press. And though I found him a bit annoying, reading the book did make me like him at least a little bit and gave me a better understanding of him. Team Haz and M! Maybe. At book club Most members found the book interesting, if a bit too long (416 pages). There were too many details about Harrys war service, said multiple members. The length of the book may be because he thinks he is a more interesting person than he actually is, one person added. It was a much heavier read than one member, an avid follower of the royal family, anticipated. I feel sorry for him in that I 100% believe he was made to truly feel like he was born for one purpose, and that was to be the Spare. Bonus book Dual dramas unfold one in 1974 and the other in present day in Rachel Hawkins The Villa. In the 1970s, stepsisters Lara and Mari are on a holiday at the invitation of rock star Noel Gordon. Its a creative retreat with lots of debauchery for the writers and musicians staying at Villa Rosato in Italy. The holiday ends after the brutal murder of Maris husband, Pierce. In present day, writers and complicated friends Emily and Chess have booked the Villa, now called Villa Aestas, for the summer as a place to reconnect and reignite their creative sparks. Once there, Emily is drawn to the murderous history of the place. Hawkins novel has hidden surprises all the way until the end. Julia Whelan, who has narrated books by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Kristin Hannah and Jojo Moyes among others, was one of three narrators for this audiobook. She is fast becoming one of my favorites. Norma Klingsick is a former designer and editor at the Post-Dispatch. She can be reached at mythreebookclubs@gmail.com. Some pilot projects to create energy-independent communities can be launched in Ukraine head of Global 100% RE Ukraine platform KYIV. April 7 (Interfax-Ukraine) The Global 100% RE Ukraine expert platform, which brings together the leading associations of the renewable energy industry in Ukraine, plans to launch some pilot projects together with European partners to create decentralized distributed energy systems for territorial communities, Oleksandr Dombrovsky, Board Chairman of the platform, has said. "We already have preliminary cooperation agreements. I think several starting model territorial communities of various sizes will be selected, where we, together with our German partners, the European Commission in Ukraine, will try to launch pilot projects of energy-independent, energy-safe communities," he said at a press conference on signing a cooperation agreement with German renewable energy associations at Interfax-Ukraine on Friday. As Dombrovsky said, launching such projects, each of which "will have its own face and specifics," is not an easy task since they will need to integrate various technologies, in particular, solar, bio, wind, as well as energy storage systems and energy efficiency measures. At the same time, the head of Global 100% RE Ukraine said that now, the centralized energy system built back in the USSR has lost its relevance with the shelling of it by Russian invaders. "We understood the need to decentralize the energy system: electricity, gas, heat, and have a completely different philosophy and concept of what we call the energy security of Ukraine," Dombrovsky said. According to him, now a discussion of such projects at the level of territorial communities and ministries, in which, in particular, the German Energy Agency (DENA) is involved, is going on. As reported, on March 29, 2023, Global 100% RE Ukraine signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation with Germany's largest renewable energy association Bundesverband Erneuerbare Energie (BEE). It includes associate members Fachverband Biogas e.V, German Wind Energy Association, and BSW Solar. The main goal of the memorandum is to create and maintain permanent contacts, strengthen cooperation between Germany and Ukraine in the field of renewable energy and climate, develop measures to protect the environment, stop climate change, accelerate the green transition, and develop the export potential of green sectors of the Ukrainian economy. ST. LOUIS The man accused of causing a crash that critically injured a 17-year-old volleyball player entered a not-guilty plea Friday. Daniel Riley, 21, of St. Louis, did not appear in court and waived a formal reading of his indictment, but entered the plea Friday through his lawyer Dan Diemer. Riley became the center of intense scrutiny facing the courts and St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardners office last month. He is accused of speeding in downtown St. Louis the evening of Feb. 18 and causing a crash that injured out-of-town teenage pedestrian Janae Edmondson. Both of Janaes legs were amputated after the crash and she is now undergoing rehab. Diemer said Friday that prosecutors now have 20 days to turn over evidence to the defense in Rileys case. Riley was out on bond under GPS monitoring for a 2020 robbery case at the time of the crash but remained free despite dozens of GPS monitoring violations. The robbery charge was set to go to trial in July 2022, but prosecutors said in court last year they werent ready for trial. Charges were dropped and refiled. In the refiled case, he violated the conditions of his GPS monitoring device, which dictated where he could go, 51 times. The prosecutors office never filed a written motion to revoke his bond, but Gardners office has said prosecutors did verbally raise the violations in discussions with judges on the cases. Riley is now being held without bond. He is charged with second-degree assault, two counts of fourth-degree assault, armed criminal action and operating a vehicle without a valid license in connection to the crash. Nashville TV news station Fox 17 reported that on Wednesday Janae Edmondson made her first public appearance since the crash at a rally in her honor at Smyrna High School. The teen cried as she was brought into a high school gym full of her supporters, according to the station. UPDATE: A very special moment as Janae sat in front of a large crowd in support of her. Everyone pulled out their phones as music played in the background. We are told that this is her first public appearance since her accident. pic.twitter.com/SnP0HQyCir Kylie Walker FOX17 (@FOX17Kylie) April 6, 2023 ST. LOUIS St. Louis prosecutors have blamed police for having to dismiss and refile a double murder case. St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardners office on Thursday said police withheld records in the 2021 case prosecuting the murders of 26-year-old Darrion Rankin-Fleming and his 7-year-old daughter, Dmyah Fleming. In this case, the CAO was not provided evidence in a timely manner due to acknowledged staffing challenges at the police department, Gardner spokeswoman Allison Hawk said in a statement. Javonn Nettles, 30, and his co-defendant, 27-year-old Andre Anderson, were first charged almost two years ago. The first trial in Nettles case was set for last July, but St. Louis prosecutors dismissed and refiled the case. They hadnt turned over key pieces of evidence, defense attorneys said, and werent ready to proceed. Both cases were again dismissed and refiled Wednesday, days before Nettles was set to begin. It will likely be months before theyre brought back around for trial. The St. Louis Police Officers Association on Friday blasted Gardners office for shifting blame. The union said Gardners office is once again failing to accept responsibility for mistakes made by its attorneys. Police officers shouldnt be made scapegoats for an overworked, backlogged, and mismanaged Circuit Attorneys Office, the union wrote in a release, sent by Business Manager Joe Steiger. It appeared, however, that the Circuit Attorneys office and the union were referencing different cases. Steiger did not immediately respond to a request for clarification. The maneuver of dismissing and refiling cases has become increasingly common as Gardners understaffed office, which has lost lawyers by the dozens in recent years, has struggled to prepare for trials. In 2022 alone, prosecutors dismissed and refiled at least a dozen murder cases, according to a Post-Dispatch analysis. Gardner has faced a firestorm since mid February when a 17-year-old volleyball player from Tennessee was seriously injured in a car crash while visiting downtown St. Louis. Both of the girls legs were amputated. The man charged with causing the wreck had a pending robbery case and remained free despite violating his bond dozens of times. Adversaries and former allies alike called for Gardners resignation after years of criticism over organizational dysfunction in her office. State lawmakers ramped up an effort that would strip her of the power to prosecute most violent felonies, and Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey sued to remove her, arguing she has been negligent in office. ST. LOUIS COUNTY Police officers appear to have followed department policy this week during a chase that led to the death of another driver, County Executive Sam Page said on Friday. Police are put in a difficult position when they decide to pursue someone who is a danger to our community, County Executive Sam Page said in a statement. Policy appears to have been followed in this case, but the suspect ignored police, resulting in the tragic death of a bystander. This case highlights the risk associated with pursuits. But one activist questioned whether Tuesdays fatal chase which started with the theft of laundry detergent from a Dollar General was justified under the departments own policy. Its unfortunate we risked the lives of police officers and the citizens over some laundry detergent, St. Louis NAACP President Adolphus Pruitt told the Post-Dispatch on Friday. I would probably take a different position if the person flashed a gun, because thats a dangerous person, but that wasnt the case. It was somebody who stole some detergent. On Thursday, authorities charged Daryl Powell, 31, with murder. They said Powell drove the getaway car after his passengers stole a cart of laundry detergent from a Dollar General store and beat an employee with a container. Powell then fled from police in both St. Louis and St. Louis County, authorities said, and crashed into 34-year-old Jerome Hightower. Hightower died at a hospital that afternoon. Two toddlers were also in Powells car at the time of the chase, police said. Police pursuits have been a contentious issue in St. Louis and St. Louis County. At least 10 people have been killed during chases in the last year and a half, including several who were not involved in the pursuits. Brian Ashworth, chair of the St. Louis County Board of Commissioners, said the agencys pursuit policy is reviewed often, and said it was most recently updated sometime in the middle of last year. When we pursue and tragedy happens, its terrible, he told the Post-Dispatch. And our condolences go out to Mr. Hightowers family. Ashworth acknowledged the danger in pursuing suspects and said the department keeps the policy up to date with current best practices. The challenge, he said, is finding a balance between the danger of a pursuit and the risk of a person harming someone else in another way if theyre not arrested by officers. Fatal police pursuits are an issue seen across the country, according to the Department of Justice. In a May 2017 study, researchers found an average 355 people were killed annually in pursuit-related crashes. Pruitt said that after he learned of the what happened prior to the chase, he questioned whether the chase was justified under current policy. Pruitts organization called in a federal mediator last year to facilitate discussions between the NAACP and city and county police departments, hoping to set parameters for when police chases are warranted. I question if the policy that justifies the chase as it relates to an individual being dangerous and a danger to the public I question whether it was met in this particular instance, he said. Simply because they struck someone in the head with a bottle of laundry detergent in trying to escape from the store, I question if this rises to the level that is the intent of the policy as it relates to dangerous. Police say one of Powells co-defendants, 30-year-old Javon Crawford, hit the stores assistant manager in the head more than 10 times with a container of laundry detergent that weighed about 11 pounds. The assistant manager was injured, but the Post-Dispatch confirmed he returned to work the next day. The officers involved in Tuesdays pursuit are not on administrative leave, said spokeswoman Sgt. Tracy Panus. Per policy, a supervisor will review the circumstances of the chase and the officers actions to determine if they followed department policy. If the supervisor believes the chase did not follow policy, the Bureau of Professional Standards will investigate further. Pruitt cited a law passed in 2021 in Washington state that sought to reduce police pursuit deaths by keeping police from chasing suspects in cars unless they have probable cause of a violent crime or sex crime. In October 2022, an NPR affiliate reported there had been one police pursuit death in the state since the law was implemented down from seven in 2020 and seven in 2019. But a law just passed the Washington Senate that would lower the threshold for pursuits to police having reasonable suspicion that a person has committed or is committing a crime, according to The Seattle Times. Since the beginning of 2022, more than 4,000 drivers have failed to stop for officers in St. Louis County, said Panus. Of those, 77 led to police pursuits. St. Louis County Chief Kenneth Gregory was out of the office Friday and unavailable for comment, Panus said. Panus on Friday said the memorandum of understanding between the NAACP, city police and county police has some great points in it regarding education and new technology. The agencies plan to host a press conference once the agreement is signed, she said. ST. LOUIS Metro Transit is sticking with its plan to trim its paratransit van service area next week despite a new complaint disability rights advocates filed Friday with the U.S. Department of Justice. The complaint alleged that Metros Call-A-Ride service hasnt met minimum standards set by the federal government, following up a similar protest letter the groups sent last week to the Federal Transit Administration. We believe this transit agency has failed to comply with the complementary transit requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act, officials with the organizations said in an email to DOJs civil rights division. Among those submitting the new complaint were representatives of Paraquad, the Starkloff Disability Institute, Easterseals Midwest, the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis and three groups advocating for blind people. Metros executive director, Charles Stewart, in an interview repeated his agencys point that the reduction in Call-A-Rides service area, which begins Monday, is aimed at addressing some of the very issues cited in the two complaints. Shorter trips within the new boundaries (is) improving our efficiency to provide better service to those qualifying, Stewart said. The change will eliminate service for some areas on the far north, south and west fringes of St. Louis County beyond Interstate 270. Most of St. Louis County and St. Louis will continue to be covered. Under federal rules, paratransit rides must be provided for trips beginning or ending within three-fourths of a mile of a Metro bus route or MetroLink station when a bus or train is in service. Although Metro has reduced its regular bus service several times in recent years, it hasnt downsized its Call-A-Ride area accordingly since 2016. The changes also will bar any trip outside MetroLink or MetroBus service times, even in the reduced coverage area. Stewart said many people affected by that issue have been able to continue to qualify by agreeing to changes in their pickup times. In the complaints, the disability rights groups say their employees and people they serve have been repeatedly denied Call-A-Ride trips, a situation thats gotten worse with a shortage of Metro van drivers and other employees in recent years. They also say Call-A-Ride customers typically have to call three days ahead to book a trip, despite a federal requirement of next-day service. And they say telephone wait times are much too long. Speaking generally, Stewart said we are acknowledging that these situations do exist but said they are due partly to the agency overextending itself in recent years to provide rides to and from areas its not legally required to serve. Metro has said about 250 regular customers would be affected by the change. In response, Jeanette Mott Oxford, a Paraquad official and a former state legislator, said every Call-A-Ride user will be affected in some way, because they no longer will be able to travel to locations that will now be out of the service area. Oxford also asked how cutting 250 people off a system can fix a problem that caused 18,000-plus trip denials in January. Oxford says that while Metros planned cuts to the routes and service times are allowed by the federal rules, the existing violations give the feds a reason to investigate. Were hoping the scrutiny would lead to improvements, she said. Stewart, the Metro official, said his agency is working to inform users affected by the cuts about other available paratransit services, such as those provided for people who qualify for Medicare. Call-A-Ride was never meant to be the solution for the entire region, he said. The Justice Department did not respond Friday to a request for comment. In January, the department reached a settlement agreement with the city of Honolulu to take immediate steps to reduce telephone hold times for callers to its paratransit van service. Late last year, a U.S. attorneys office got a New Jersey transit agencys van service to agree to cut telephone hold times, improve the timeliness of pickups and dropoffs and make other improvements. Another U.S. attorneys office last October told the New York City Transit Authority to improve its paratransit program. JEFFERSON CITY Much of downtown St. Louis will be without a state representative for nearly two years if Gov. Mike Parson doesnt schedule a special election to fill the post. Tuesdays municipal election saw state Rep. Rasheen Aldridge, D-St. Louis, win the 14th Ward seat on the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, meaning he will soon be giving up his seat representing the 78th House District in the state Capitol. Unless Parson, a Republican, chooses to schedule a special election, the House seat in the heavily Democratic district will remain vacant until after the November 2024 regular election, leaving Democrats with just 51 seats, compared to 111 for Republicans. A spokeswoman for the governor said Friday that a decision has not been made. It has yet to be determined, Kelli Jones told the Post-Dispatch. Aldridge, who was elected state representative in 2019, beat realtor Ebony Washington a 51.6% to 47.2% in a battle for the 14th Ward seat. He becomes part of a progressive majority on the board that is looking to put more money into infrastructure on the citys north side. The 78th district covers a swath of downtown St. Louis, including major tourist draws like Busch Stadium, the Enterprise Center and the Americas Center convention facility. It also reaches north to the St. Louis Place neighborhood and south to areas like Fox Park and Lafayette Square. House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, said Parson is required under state law to schedule an election without delay once Aldridge formally resigns, which could come within the next two weeks. There is no legitimate reason for him not to hold a special in November and have a representative in by January with this seat, Quade said Friday, adding that the residents of the House district shouldnt have to wait until January 2025 for representation in the Capitol. Parson, however, has a spotty record when it comes to scheduling special elections for vacant seats in the Legislature. In 2019, for example, he called for a special election to fill two vacancies in the House following the resignation of Jean Evans, R-Manchester, who left to become executive director of the Missouri Republican Party, and the appointment of then-Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick, R-Shell Knob, as the state treasurer. At the time, Parson said, Its important that we work quickly to fill vacancies in the peoples house to ensure that Missourians have representation here in Jefferson City. Aldridge himself won the 78th district seat in a special election after former Rep. Bruce Franks resigned. But last year, Parson did not set special elections for six open House seats, despite a rare request from Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft to schedule them. Among the reasons cited by the governor was the absence of district lines because the once-per-decade redistricting process was still underway. In 2014, Democrat Gov. Jay Nixon was sued for not calling special elections to fill four vacant legislative seats. He later scheduled those elections to take place. ST. LOUIS Crowds formed outside the city's two breweries and jammed "watch parties" in hotels, restaurants and neighborhood diners. The festive bustle befitted a New Year's Eve. Which it was, in a way. The countdown led to 12:01 a.m. Friday, April 7, 1933, when beer would be legal again after 13 long years. No more need for nasty home brew. More than 25,000 enthusiasts kept vigil outside Anheuser-Busch Inc., South Broadway and Arsenal Street, where a revived workforce had prepared 45,000 cases of beer and was busily brewing more. An additional 10,000 people crowded Forest Park Avenue at Spring Avenue, where Joseph Griesedieck's new operation produced Falstaff, a brand name he had bought from former brewer William Lemp Jr. shortly after Prohibition began in 1920. Griesedieck had 40,000 cases ready for midnight's stroke. In November 1932, a nation that had grown tired of Prohibition's deprivations and frauds elected Franklin D. Roosevelt for president and a soakingly "wet" Democratic Congress, which quickly set about the mechanics of repeal. But removing the U.S. Constitution's 18th Amendment would take months. Congress quickly allowed beer with 3.2 percent alcohol content by finessing the definition of "intoxicant" in the Volstead Act, the reviled federal enforcement law. Missouri, Illinois and 16 other states jumped aboard. At midnight, the brewery whistles were overwhelmed by the roar of happy humans. Out rushed the first beer trucks, plus a Clydesdale-drawn hitch for show. August A. "Gussie" Busch Jr. spoke to a national radio audience, then went inside to greet his private guests. "Come and get it," he told them. People outside had to be content with history's moment. Brewers shipped straight to the lucky holders of 3,763 new government permits allowing the sale of beer. Delivery was prompt. At 12:08 a.m., a truck pulled up at the Elks Club, 3619 Lindell Boulevard, where Mayor-elect Bernard Dickmann led the first round. Customers at the big hotels snapped up 10-cent drafts. At 12:58 a.m., the taps flowed again at Krumm's Restaurant, 824 Pine Street, a popular beer joint before Prohibition. At Delmar Boulevard and Kingshighway, police nabbed four gangsters for trying to hijack a beer truck. Imbibers shouted "Prosit" German for good cheer and declared the first batch "as good as the old stuff." By noon, it was gone. Frantic calls for resupply swamped brewery switchboards. The Anti-Saloon League filed suit in Jefferson City in a failed bid to stop the "menace." Grocery stores soon offered Budweiser at $2.75 per case, Falstaff for a dime less. On Dec. 5, 1933, Utah became the 36th state to adopt the 21st Amendment, ending national Prohibition. Illinois immediately went full drinks, but Missouri dithered another month before allowing hard liquor. Photos: How St. Louis celebrated the repeal of prohibition Read more stories from Tim O'Neil's Look Back series. JENNINGS The New Northside Missionary Baptist Church here reverberated with the sounds of gospel music from an electric organ, bass and drums as about 180 people gathered for worship on a recent Sunday. Grandparents walked grandkids into the pews hand in hand. Friends greeted each other with hugs. Loud, joyous voices sang out in unison. About half the pews were filled. The Rev. Rodrick Burton, senior pastor at the historic Black Baptist church, spoke of Gods desire for people to gather together. The sermon was part of the churchs Fellowship Day, a decades-old tradition of inviting congregants to bring friends and family to worship and share a meal. The message resonated with the church, where weekly in-person attendance has slowly rebounded since the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered its doors three years ago. Its been a process, but weve come a long way, said Richard Prymer, 67, of Florissant, who along with his wife, Annie, were among several congregants who wore masks. New Northside, like most other houses of worship, closed for months when the virus surged, opening only with capacity limits and strict health precautions. In the past year, the church has settled into a new normal. Where the church used to see about 300 people for regular weekly services, it now gets 200 at most, Burton said. People are not coming back in person in the numbers that they used to, said Burton. The percentage of U.S. adults who say they attend religious services at least once a month is 3 percentage points lower than it was before COVID, dropping to 30% in 2022 from 33% in 2019, according to a Pew Research Center report released March 28. Pew reported a 6 percentage point drop among Christians and 3 percentage point drop among Jews, but did not analyze patterns for other faiths because of sample size limitations. Religious participation and weekly church attendance have been on the decline for years in the U.S. And after initially rebounding from historic lows in 2020, weekly attendance has plateaued. That, church leaders say, can lead to fewer volunteers and donations that keep smaller houses of worship viable. But there is a silver lining. While 20% of those surveyed by Pew said they attend worship in person less often than before the pandemic, 15% say they participate more often by tuning in online. When you add it together, we have more people overall worshipping one way or another than we did pre-COVID, said Matt Miofsky, lead pastor of The Gathering, a United Methodist church founded in 2015 that has three campuses across the St. Louis area and an online presence that includes a dedicated podcast and regular mini-sermons on social media. The church has seen newcomers who, after the pandemic, sought religious guidance and found it first online, then later in person, Miofsky said. The isolation, the loneliness, the struggle, had some people turn to the church for the first time. A lot of the new people weve reached are younger, more diverse and less experienced with church than at any time in our history. In-person declines, virtual rises Various denominations in the St. Louis area have seen dips in in-person attendance since the pandemic. Catholic Mass attendance lagged last year in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, where a plan to consolidate parishes among a dwindling number of registered Catholics and priests has been well publicized. In 2022, an average of 27% of pews were occupied during weekend Mass across the St. Louis area, according to parish records. In 2019, that number was 35%. The same was true for the Southern Baptist Convention, which last year reported a nationwide decline in average in-person weekly attendance of 18.7%, down from 4.4 million people in 2020 to 3.6 million in 2021, according to an annual report released last May. Attendance is about 80% what it was before COVID-19 at the 5,800 Lutheran churches across the U.S. and Canada, said Mike Behr, a spokesman for the Kirkwood-based Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The Gathering sees about 1,250 in-person worshipers each week, down from 1,600 before the pandemic, Miofsky said. But virtual sermons get another 1,000 views online, he said. Many churches had some kind of online presence before their doors were closed in 2020, but it became a necessity during the pandemic, Burton said. The general consensus in the faith community is that if youre going to be viable, you have to meet people in person and online, he said. Virtual services are especially useful for elderly members, who remain at the highest risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19. But faith leaders say the online presence also allows them to appeal to young people and new faithful without a geographical limit, including people seeking mental health and even welfare support after the pandemic. Churches meeting those needs are seeing the best rebound in attendance, said the Rev. Linden Bowie, president of the Missouri Missionary Baptist Convention and pastor of Zion Travelers Missionary Baptist Church in Riverview. If their focus has kept up with the changing world were living in, then those churches are doing well, but if the church is going back to business as usual, those churches may not be coming back, Bowie said. At Congregation Temple Israel in Creve Coeur, attendance has largely returned to pre-COVID-19 levels, said Rabbi Amy Feder, who also serves as president of the St. Louis Rabbinical and Cantorial Association. But they, too, have seen an increasing number of attendees joining services virtually. I see those people out in the street and they say, Oh, Ive been seeing you every Friday night and Ill be like, Oh didnt know, Feder said. Taking some time Back at New Northside, Annie Prymer, who attended worship with her husband, Richard, on Fellowship Day, said the couples college-aged kids, who live out of town, often tune in to services virtually. But being there with her church family is just a different vibe, she said. When you walk into the church you feel the fellowship, said Prymer, 64. James Stringfellow, 70, of St. Louis, said his aunt is one of several older adults who have not come back to New Northside in person, but she still donates and tunes in virtually. Burton and other church leaders visit her at her home. Theyre still part of the church family, said Stringfellow, who has been attending New Northside for nearly 50 years. On Fellowship Day, Burtons church welcomed several new members to be baptized that day. The slight decline in in-person attendance, he said, just means faith leaders have more work to do. Christian scripture says: Dont forsake the assembly of yourselves, Burton said. I think people are going to come back. Its just taking some time. BOLLINGER COUNTY, Mo. As crews worked to restore power and clear roadways after the tornado that touched down in southeast Missouri Wednesday,officials identified the five people who died in the storm. In a Facebook post Thursday morning, the Bollinger County Sheriff's Office said County Coroner Calvin Troxell had identified the dead as: Jimmy Skaggs, 37;Susan Sullivan, 57; Destinee Koenig, 16; Glen Burck, 62; and Micheal McCoy, 18. Clark Parrott, public information officer for Missouri State Highway Patrol, said there were also five injuries reported. Troxell,who is also the county's assistant emergency management director and chief of the Woodland Fire Protection District, said Thursday morning that cleanup efforts were underway. There hadn't been any additional injuries or deaths reported, he said. Officials don't believe any residents are missing. Responders went door-to-door in the affected are as on Wednesday, and everyone was accounted for. The village of Glenallen,Parrott said, took much of the damage. "Power poles were snapped, lines were down," Parrott said. Electricity was out in some areas, but was slowly being restored. On Thursday at the response center, Parrott said, the parking lot was full of tractors, backhoes and excavators ready to help clear debris from the roadways,he said. County Sheriff Casey Graham said most of them were brought by private citizens donating their time, and some businesses had also reached out to lend equipment to the recovery effort. Graham said it's believed that three or four locations took the brunt of the storm: Grassy, Glenallen, Scopus, and an area north of Marble Hill on Highway 51. "It was an extensive storm," Graham said. "People today are trying to pick up the pieces." Responders walked through Glenallen on Wednesday, Parrott said, and counted 13 homes destroyed, 76 that had some level of damage, and 34 that were un harmed. The Red Cross of Missouri established a shelter at Marble Hill Baptist Church, at 502 Broadway Street in Marble Hill. "Cleanup efforts went into full force today,"Graham said Thursday. "I want to make sure every citizen gets the resources they need." "We're going to see this out to the very end." Annika Merrilees 314-340-8528 @annie3mer on Twitter amerrilees@post-dispatch.com Not journalisms finest hour Its not quite clear what Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, did to merit being taken seriously by one of broadcast journalisms most trusted programs, 60 Minutes, or why she deserved to receive an uncritical spotlight last Sunday. Interviewer Leslie Stahl undermined her own substantial journalistic legacy by allowing Greene to spout nonsense, lies and bizarre conspiracy theories with little more than gentle pushback and occasional camera shots of Stahl reacting with shock and disbelief. The CBS news Sunday evening news magazine made its name with aggressive reporting and unrelenting questioning of the people it chose to spotlight. Virtually every show carried a segment in which swindlers, corrupt politicians, corporate abusers and other scofflaws were raked over the coals by renowned journalists like Mike Wallace and Morley Safer. Stahl undermined that legacy with her timid handling of Greene. An opportunity to set the record straight on Greenes Trumpian and QAnon fantasy world morphed into a platform for Greene to wax incoherently and yet emerge unscathed and unchallenged. Greene was quoted as saying afterward that she felt good about the way it went. Of course she did, because Stahl didnt do her job. When Stahl questioned Greene about her embrace of wild QAnon theories most notably that Jewish space lasers were responsible for massive forest fires in the Pacific west Greene responded that she had been allowed to believe those theories. Allowed? By whom? It appears that some force or being somewhere gives Greene permission to hold anti-semitic beliefs and make crazy pronouncements. And yet Stahl just let the remark slip by. Even worse was Stahls passive response when Greene repeated the QAnon belief that President Joe Biden and other leading Democrats are pedophiles. This was television journalism at its worst, and a shameful moment for a program that once set the standard for hard-nosed investigative reporting. Right-wing media sours on DeSantis Right-wing news outlets are suddenly awakening to the potential consequences of an effort by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his legislative supporters to loosen the rules for public figures to sue journalists for libel. DeSantis wants to rewrite the protections outlined by the U.S. Supreme Courts 1964 ruling in New York Times v. Sullivan. Those protections require public figures not merely to prove that they have been defamed by a journalistic entity but also that the reporting was untruthful, that the journalist reported with reckless disregard for the truth and demonstrated malice aforethought in going after the plaintiff. Its a deliberately high bar designed to make sure plaintiffs are discouraged from filing frivolous lawsuits as a way of stifling aggressive journalism. DeSantis and his Republican legislative supporters want to ease the rules, apparently to temper critical reporting by what they regard as the left-leaning mainstream news media. But right-wing journalism outlets are suddenly waking up to the implications for themselves especially given the enormous financial jeopardy faced by Fox News over its erroneous allegations that Dominion Voting Systems helped skew the 2020 presidential election in Joe Bidens favor. The result of repealing these protections will ultimately harm all conservative media organizations, especially the ones that stick up for conservative rights and tell the truth to the American public, says the St. Louis-based Gateway Pundit, which is no stranger to exaggerated, error-filled reporting. Furry accomplice A biker from (where else?) Florida led police on a 100 mile per hour chase around Louisiana last week with a small dog on his motorcycle, following an altercation at a local business. The police pursuit of the man who was wearing a superhero T-shirt and Thor-like beard created a memorable public statement from the Sabine Parish Sheriffs office, The Miami Herald reported. If you were traveling or live on La. Hwy 6 West in Natchitoches Parish around lunch time and saw a motorcyclist and his dog running from the police, this is what happened, began the statement. It went on to describe the route of the chase as it proceeded, culminating with: The motorcyclist and his passenger, a dog, then turned traveling westbound at speeds near 100 mph back through the Hagewood community then Robeline. The man, whose name wasnt immediately released, was ultimately taken into custody by police. The dog was in custody at an animal shelter. One of the Louisiana deputies has offered to foster the dog. Snotty and endangered Its time to think about saving ugly animal species too. A bipartisan bill moving through Congress would provide more than $1.4 billion a year to states to confront looming extinction crises based on which species face the most imminent danger of disappearing. That priority may sound like common sense, but as The Washington Post reports, underfunding for preservation efforts has often prompted state wildlife agencies to focus their limited resources on charismatic species that draw oohs and ahhs from the public think, bald eagles and mountain lions while neglecting uncharismatic species like the lowly snot otter, an endangered salamander that is about as attractive as its name suggests. The snot otter, also known as the hellbender salamander, is described by the newspaper as having a flat head and body, four stubby legs, a long, rudder-like tail and small, beady eyes. Theyre not necessarily the animal you would expect to see on a cereal box, quipped Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., co-sponsor of the funding legislation. But when it comes to preventing animal extinction, he stressed that all of these things are connected. The leading mobile operator is now collaborating with Samsung Azerbaijan to unlock 5G services exclusively for its subscribers. Azercell subscribers can now test 5G on their Samsung Galaxy S22 series in the area of Fountain Square. Thus, Samsung Azerbaijan in collaboration with the industry leader pushed out software updates across these smartphone models from April 6, 2023. Azercell consumers will enjoy the fast data speed of fifth-generation technology at the 5G experience zone at no additional cost using their existing data traffic by dialing *595#YES. Moreover, customers testing 5G for the first time will receive 5GB free data plan from the leading mobile operator. The internet pack which will be valid for 30 days will be provided within 24 hours of the test. It is worth remarking that, Azercell pioneered 5G technology launch in trial mode in Azerbaijan in December last year taking the lead in making the new technology accessible for its subscribers. The fifth-generation wireless network offers download rates of up to 1 Gbps, ultra-low latency, better dependability, vast network capacity, and advanced user experience. Currently, 5G technology is mainly utilized by large industrial entities for remote equipment control or instant access to data from any distance. The deployment of a 5G network will significantly improve technology solutions for local businesses and domestic industries and open up new horizons for the end-to-end user experience. Concerning the use cases for 5G at the consumer level, many promising innovations are being developed worldwide to unlock the value of the new technology in customers' everyday lives. U.S. House fiddles with nonsense as the country burns While reading Dana Milbanks op-ed The No. 1 crisis amid an explosion of crises: public urination (April 4), I found myself laughing until I realized it was not a parody. I fact-checked, and Colorado Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert did indeed grill District of Columbia government officials on the crisis of public urination. This is clearly a sad commentary on the misguided priorities of some members of Congress. Like Nero, the House of Representatives fiddles as the country burns. Robert Howard Bridgeton WeightWatchers is abandoning north St. Louis County WeightWatchers has decided that north St. Louis countyis no longer a viable location and has closed the Florissant/Ferguson meetings, making members drive to Maryland Heights or further, which isnt feasible for many. These particular meetings were very well attended, and the members have become family. My sister has lost nearly 160 pounds with their support and information as she gained friendships and confidence. Weight Watchers is now buying into an expensive medication that may work for awhile for some but at the expense of the very people who got them where they are. (WeightWatchers gets into prescription weight loss business, March 7.) Healthy habits without crutches and in-person support combine to create the best path for weight loss and maintenance. Perhaps there are churches or organizations that can lend a meeting room for a nominal fee to allow these dedicated members to continue meeting in the Florissant/Ferguson area. Its a disgrace that WeightWatchers has turned its back on members who have, I believe, gotten them where they are. Deborah Casciato Summerville, S.C. Missouri needs facilities dedicated to mental health In the greater Kansas City area, I have lived in my nursing home for three years, and the last two years I have been president of the very active resident council. We have some of the same issues as the homes in St. Louis. (Mental health conditions increasing in St. Louis nursing homes, report says, March 28.) Our resident population is mainly seniors, but we have a few younger residents who have physical disabilities, and we also have people who have mental health issues and physical disabilities. I am one: I am bipolar in remission, and I have physical disabilities. The primary care of people with mental illnesses is our prisons and jails, since nationally and here in Missouri they have closed state mental hospitals. We need special homes for people with primary psychiatric illnesses. Our nursing homes for the aged are not equipped. Mary Kay Green Lees Summit Mass shootings are todays versions of child sacrifice In prehistoric times, infants and children were sacrificed to the gods. In our times, the semiautomatic rifles at Uvalde, Nashville, Sandy Hook, Columbine, etc., are the tools of worship. Americans must not continue tolerating these man-made but deified instruments of slaughter and electing those who practice sophistry regarding the slaying of children. No more, please. Richard Wagner Kirkwood Trumps continued political rise is a source of bafflement Facts and the law are catching up to Donald Trump, finally. Just how this man rose to the presidency in the first place is baffling. I read his tweets and listen to his name-calling, and I just know this is a troubled kid who appealed not to the better angels of our nature but to our primitive thoughts. He has attacked the foundation of our democracy just as his friend, Russian leader Vladimir Putin, has attacked civilization. Theres a relevant book titled Duh! The Stupid History Of The Human Race, by Bob Fenster. Perhaps the book will be banned, but meanwhile, Republicans are writing a new chapter. Jim Arnitz St. Louis Registering now for organ donation can save lives Nationally, 28 people on the organ transplant waitlist will die today or become too sick for surgery. Every nine minutes, another person is added to the waitlist. In the St. Louis region, 1,400 people are waiting. They might be your family, friends, coworkers or neighbors. Because of the generosity of 955 St. Louis-area organ donors and their families over the past five years, the organization I lead, Mid-America Transplant, provided 2,782 organs for transplant. Another 6,876 people donated tissues and corneas to help 515,700 people, including breast cancer survivors, children with heart defects, injured athletes and those losing their sight. What a wonderful legacy to leave behind. Our community needs more people who are willing to be donors, and we need them to make that wish known by registering. It takes just minutes, costs nothing, and would mean everything to someone else. No one wants to imagine their death or the death of a loved one. But if the unimaginable happens, there is still a chance for life and healing. Organ donation brings tremendous healing for those left behind, and for another family, its the miracle they are waiting for. Donors can register at Kevin Lee St. Louis Read letters online at STLToday.com ST. LOUIS COUNTY A proposed property tax increase in the West Overland EMS and Fire Protection District failed when vote counting ended in a tie Tuesday night. Unofficial final results showed 286 people voted in favor and 286 against. Unless a provisional ballot or late-arriving military absentee ballot is added to the mix in the next few days and the "yes" side gains the upper hand, the result likely will stand. "A tie still means you're a loser," said the district's disappointed fire chief, Greg Vogel. In contrast, when candidates for an office end up dead even, state law gives them the option of having a repeat election or, if both agree, to decide the matter by drawing lots or a coin flip, said Eric Fey, a St. Louis County Election Board director. Vogel said the proposed tax hike would be the first since 2007 for the district, which includes parts of St. Ann, Creve Coeur and Bridgeton and unincorporated areas. He said the tax boost, of as much as 50 cents per $100 assessed valuation, is needed because of rising operating costs and an increase in the number of calls handled by district personnel in recent years. If the vote total stays as is, he said, the district is in for some "belt-tightening." In November 2021, a proposed property tax increase in the small South County municipality of Bella Villa also split down the middle in unofficial returns. A late military absentee vote in the city came in a few days later. But because it turned out to be a "no" vote, the proposition still failed. Other propositions The West Overland vote was part of a mixed bag of results for public safety-related propositions across the Missouri side of the metro area on Tuesday. Property tax increases passed in the Hillsboro and Gerald-Rose-bud fire districts but failed in the Dunklin fire district and St. Clair Ambulance District. Bond issues that didn't involve a tax hike were approved in the Metro North, O'Fallon, Pacific and Boles fire districts. Arnold voters passed a sales tax increase to generate more money for law enforcement; the measure also will reduce the city's part of the property tax. Meanwhile, voters in St. Charles and Fenton approved establishing use taxes on purchases from out of-state vendors. But they were the exception, as similar measures were rejected Tuesday in Chesterfield, Maryland Heights, St. Peters and several other cities. Propositions put forward by school districts passed, including a property tax hike in the Mehlville district to fund teacher and staff raises. In Jefferson County, voters approved no-tax-increase bond measures for improvement projects in the Dunklin, Grandview, Northwest and Sunrise school districts. Bridgeton voters rejected four city charter amendments,including one requiring a city administrator to e hired Mark Schilnkmann.314-340-8265@markschinkkmann on Twitter mschlinkmann@post-dispatch.com LGBTQ+ RIGHTS INDIANAPOLIS Republican governors in Indiana and Idaho signed into law bills banning gender-affirming care for minors, the latest states to prohibit transgender health care as Republican-led legislatures work to restrict LGBTQ+ rights. Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb on Wednesday signed legislation to prohibit transgender youth from accessing medication or surgeries to transition, and for those currently taking such medication to stop by the end of the year. Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed legislation on Tuesday evening that criminalizes gender-affirming care for youth. More than a dozen other states are considering bills that would prohibit transgender youth from accessing hormone therapies, puberty blockers and transition surgeries, even after the approval of parents and the advice of doctors. Other proposals target transgender individuals by legislating their participation in everyday life. Kansas lawmakers on Wednesday overrode Gov. Laura Kelly's veto of a bill to ban transgender athletes a day after passing a broad bathroom bill. Nineteen other states imposed restrictions on transgender athletes, most recently Wyoming. After Holcomb signed the Indiana legislation, the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana filed a lawsuit on behalf of four transgender youth and an Indiana doctor who provides transgender medical treatment. It argues the ban violates the U.S. Constitution's equal protection guarantees as well as federal laws regarding essential medical services. Under the Indiana law that takes effect July 1, doctors who offer gender-affirming care to minors would be disciplined by a licensing board. Under the Idaho law set to go into effect next January, providing hormones, puberty blockers or other gender-affirming care to people under age 18 would be a felony crime. The Arkansas Senate also sent a bill Wednesday to Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders that would require parental approval for Arkansas teachers to address transgender students using their preferred name and pronouns. It also would prohibit schools from requiring teachers to use the pronouns or name a student uses. In some states where Democrats control the legislature, lawmakers are enshrining access to gender-affirming health care. Democratic New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a bill Wednesday that protects providers of gender-affirming health care against potential civil and criminal prosecution. Opponents say such care is vital and often life-saving for transgender kids, and medical providers say most of the procedures are reversible and safe. The Missouri Commission on Hu-man Rights is supposed to con-front discrimination. So what was the commission's chairman, the Rev. Timothy Faber, doing testifying last week against state legislation that would prohibit discrimination against Missourians based on sexual orientation or gender identity? Faber, testifying in his capacity as a lobbyist for the Missouri Baptist Convention, specified that he believes landlords, employers and others should be able to legally discriminate against those populations. He certainly has the right to that opinion, but that doesn't make him the logical choice to lead a commission that is supposed to work against discrimination. Gov. Mike Parson, who appointed Faber to the commission in 2021 and who himself has supported expanding anti-discrimination protections should heed Democrats' calls to replace Faber. The Missouri Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on race, gender, religion, disability and more, but it doesn't extend such protections based on sexual orientation or gender identity. As the Post-Dispatch's Jack Suntrup reports, the pending Missouri Nondiscrimination Act would change that, extending legal protection to those populations. Among supporters of earlier attempts at that reform was Parson himself, in 2013, when he served in the state Senate. "Do I think people should be discriminated on in the workforce? No I don't," Parson told The Kansas City Star in 2018. "I never have felt that way." But Parson's appointee to the human rights commission, Faber, clearly does. An "employer or a landlord should also have rights in how they conduct their business," Faber told the Senate General Laws Committee last week, as quoted by the Missouri Independent. "They can discriminate against someone based on a number of factors. That's their right." That may be true under current Missouri law, but it shouldn't be. What's most concerning is that, should the nondiscrimination act pass and extend those protections to the LGBTQ community, it would fall to staff under the Missouri Commission on Human Rights Chairman Faber presiding to enforce those protections. Among the issues raised by 10 Democrats who signed a letter demanding Faber's removal was that he didn't mention until he was directly asked that he was a member, let alone chairman, of the commission. Even in arguing that the commission was too overloaded to take on the additional cases that expanded rights would bring, he referred to the commission as "they" rather than "we." Faber said later he wasn't trying to mislead anyone and that his opposition to the bill expanding anti-discrimination rights wasn't voiced in his capacity as leader of the state's anti-discrimination panel. That, at least, is good to know. That a state commission chairman would appear with his role unrecognized by a roomful of senators may speak to a neglect of this important panel by Parson, who has left seven of its 11 seats unfilled. He should remedy that after appointing a new chairman. One side effect of the China mediated peace deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran is improved relations between Syria and other Arab states. The Saudis have invited Bashir Assad, the Iran backed Syrian leader to the next Arab League meeting on May 19th. This one is being held in Saudi Arabia. In late 2021 Syria was invited to attend the March 2022 Arab League meeting of all 22 members. President Assad has been negotiating with Arab League members since 2017 about abandoning Iran and rejoining the league. Syrian membership was suspended in 2011 for its many sins. Assad went public about rejoining in late 2018 and has been speaking with other Arab League members more frequently ever since. Syria has obtained offers of assistance in rebuilding Syria as well as assisting Syria in becoming an active member of the Arab League once more. In late 2011 Syria was suspended from the Arab League and many of the 21 other League members cut diplomatic relations or imposed sanctions. The Arab League was unable to do much more. By early 2013 the Arab League was still unable to muster enough unity to call for international (Western) intervention in Syria. The Arab League did that in 2011 for Libya and many Arabs considered it shameful that the Arab world could not handle the military intervention itself. Despite trillions of dollars in oil income and hundreds of millions of Arabs demanding something be done, the Arab League had to call on outsiders to save Libya from degenerating into an interminable bloodbath. That is what happened in Syria and many Arabs refused to accept responsibility and just blamed the West and Israel for the mess. Given that toxic atmosphere, Western nations, including NATO member Turkey, were reluctant to do what the Arabs wanted done but would not admit they cannot do it themselves. Iran and the Russians intervened in support of the Assads and the slaughter of pro-rebel civilians continued as did Assad efforts to force pro-rebel civilians out of Syria. In 2020 the U.S. negotiated the Abraham Accords, which made it possible for Arab League members to establish diplomatic and other relations with Israel. The League sees Iran as a very dangerous foe and only the unity of all Arab states, including Israel, can deal with Iran. Arabs have long known that over half the Israeli population is ethnically Arab, the descendants of Middle Eastern Jews forced from Arab nations where they had lived for over a thousand years and most came to Israel. The Assads have accepted all this but must first formally renounce their alliance with Iran, or at least expel Iranian forces from Syria. In 2023 Iran made peace with Saudi Arabia and that provided Bashir Assad an opportunity to rejoin the Arab League without risking immediate assassination by the Iranians. So far its all talk. It remains to be seen whether Assad will perform the Leagues required actions for rejoining, and what Iran will do to him if he does anything Iran disapproves of. April 6, 2023: In the west, across the border in southern Lebanon an Iran-backed Palestinian faction fired 30 unguided rockets into Israel. The Iron Dome defense system intercepted 15 of the rockets that were headed for populated areas while the others landed in uninhabited territory. Iran sponsors Hamas in Gaza and gas smuggles in rockets and rocket components. Iran control Hezbollah in Lebanon has recruited local Palestinians to form an anti-Israel group and use Iranian-made rockets provided by Hezbollah to attack Israel. Hezbollah does not want to do this itself because Israel would retaliate against the many Hezbollah facilities in Lebanon. Israel retaliated for this rocket barrage with artillery fire against Iranian or pro-Iranian group targets near the border. For years Iran has threatened to unleash massive simultaneous rocket barrages from Gaza and Lebanon but was dissuaded by Israeli retaliation, which would include ground invasion and enormous damage on Hamas and Hezbollah facilities. Worse, the Lebanese government would become more hostile to the Hezbollah presence in Lebanon and the many anti-Hamas Palestinians in Gaza threaten to do the same. April 4, 2023: In central Syria (Homs province) an Israeli airstrike hit the Al-Qusayr airport, which is near the Lebanon border and used by Hezbollah. April 3, 2023: In the northwest (Idlib province) an American UAV missile attack killed Khalid Aydd Ahmad al-Jabouri, a senior planner of ISIL attacks in Europe. Attacks like this are more frequent in the last two years because ISIL has few friends or supporters among less fanatic Islamic terrorists (like HTS), the Turks, Kurdish militias or Syrian forces. That means lots of people available to provide details of individual ISIL leaders locations and movements. Iraqi intelligence also provided information about the ISIL leaders movements. April 2, 2023: In the south (the Israeli border) Israel shot down an UAV that crossed into Israeli air space. The UAV apparently came from Syria. Elsewhere in the south (Damascus) a car bomb went off outside the city near a military airport. There were no injuries. Earlier in the day there was an Israeli airstrike in the west Syrian city of Homs. Five Syrian soldiers were wounded. This was the third Israeli airstrike in the south in the last three days. Most of these attacks are against Iranian or Iran-backed personnel and facilities. In the northeast (Hasaka province) ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) gunmen ambushed an SDF patrol, killing one of the Kurdish SDF men and wounding three others. So far this year, there have been 44 ISIL attacks in eastern Syria that left 32 people dead and many more wounded. Some of the attacks consisted of roadside bombs. April 1, 2023: In the north (Aleppo and Idlib provinces) fighting between Syrian troops and Islamic terror group HTS continues. Efforts to get HTS (the dominant Islamic terrorist coalition in the province) to cooperate with the Turks have failed. Turkey proposed that HTS work with Turkey-backed Syrian militias to keep the peace so Turkey could move more Syrian refugees back to Syria. Turkey offered HTS sanctuary in Turkish controlled areas and a few HTS members would be allowed into Turkey. Reaching an agreement with HTS on the details proved difficult, so the fighting continues between HTS and Syrians working for the Turks. In central Syria (Homs province) an Israeli airstrike hit the T4 airbase., in retaliation for a recent Iranian UAV that tried to cross the border into Israel but was detected and destroyed. The targets at T4 were Iranian training areas and weapons warehouses. Five Syrian soldiers were killed and many more wounded. Air-to-surface missiles are used and some are intercepted by Syrian S-200 SAMs (Surface-to-Air missiles) that have less success against Israeli fighters that are equipped with countermeasures and pilots who know how to avoid the SAMs. The T4 airbase, near the ancient ruins of Palmyra, has been hit at least three times a year since 2018. T4 is the largest airbase in Syria and Iran has constantly built new structures for storing weapons and housing personnel, usually to replace buildings destroyed by the air strikes. T4 is where Iran moved its UAV operations in 2018 after its original UAV base in Syria was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike. Some of the Israeli attacks are against Hezbollah, a large Iran-backed Shia militia in southern Lebanon. March 30, 2023: In the south (Damascus) Israeli airstrikes hit intelligence headquarters operated by Iran and Hezbollah March 27, 2023: in the southwest (Rif Dimashq province) a bomb planted in the car of an army colonel went off near where he worked as a weapon development engineer. Israel was suspected. March 23, 2023: In the northeast (Hasaka province) an Iran backed Iraqi group called the Al-Ghaliboun Brigade launched an attack on an American base, using an explosive carrying UAV. The attack killed an American contractor, wounded another and wounded five American soldiers. The Americans retaliated with air strikes on bases used by the IRGC and known anti-American groups in Syria. The Iraqi government has tried to shut down Iran-backed Iraqi militias but some still operate, especially along the Iraqi border. March 20, 2023: It was twenty years ago today that the Saddam Hussein government, a longtime foe of Syria and Iran, was defeated and replaced by a democracy that could not initially deal with continuing resistance from the Sunni minority that Saddam belonged to. Iran expanded its influence in Iraq and supported attacks on Iraqi Sunni Arabs. The Sunnis were using Islamic terrorism to justify its continuing violence and in 2014 this led to the creation of ISIL in Syria by Iraqis, many who used to work for the Saddam government. March 19, 2023: In the south (Damascus) a car bomb killed a senior member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. This group is based in Gaza but Syria has long provided sanctuary for such groups as long as they do no violence in Syria. The car-bomb was blamed on Israel, which has used similar tactics in the past. March 8, 2023: Its no coincidence that the least corrupt nations are the most successful. The most corrupt nations (currently Yemen, Venezuela, South Sudan, Syria and Somalia) are the poorest and often mired in civil war or chronic violence. The least corrupt nations (currently Denmark, Finland, New Zealand, Norway and Singapore) are peaceful and prosperous. This problem is most acute in Somalia, which explains why the latest annual Transparency International Corruption Perception Index showed that Somalia is the most corrupt nation in the world. Somalia continued to be as corrupt as it has been during the last decade, with a corruption score of 12, which is why Somalia is stuck at the bottom of the list. Transparency International measures corruption on a 1 (most corrupt) to 100 (not corrupt) scale. The nations with the lowest scores are currently Syria (score of 13), South Sudan (13) and Somalia (12). The least corrupt nation is currently Denmark, with a CPI of 90, followed by Finland and New Zealand, each with 87. While the Middle East has a lot of corruption, there are exceptions. In the Persian Gulf the UAE (United Arab Emirates) is the last corrupt nation in the region, followed by Israel. Both Somalia and UAEs corruption score have not changed much since the 2011 Arab Spring revolution when it was 8 for Somalia and 68 for the UAE. The UAE achieved the most favorable corruption score in the region because it has long depended on foreign trade to survive and to make money in that business you must be known as an honest trading partner. The UAE is also different in that it is a federation of formerly independent emirates that realized the wisdom of joining forces. Laws and customs vary somewhat among the emirates and some are more gangster than others. Overall, the UAE is a place where foreigners feel comfortable doing business. The UAE has also partnered with Turkey to provide foreign aid to Somalia. This has proved very difficult to carry out and Somalia is not a place most foreigners want to do business in. Somalia is also a federation of seven (including separatist Somaliland and Puntland in the far north) clan-dominated regions that have never achieved the degree of unity and prosperity of the UAE. March 7, 2023: In the north (Aleppo) an Israeli airstrike put the Aleppo airport out of service. This was apparently part of the effort to disrupt shipments of weapons to Syria and Lebanon. March 6, 2023: Turkey summoned the U.S. ambassador to express its disagreement with a trip to northeast Syria U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Mark Milley made March 4. Milley visited a U.S. military mission located in territory controlled by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The SDF is a key ally of the U.S.-led coalition to defeat the Islamic State in Syria. Turkey contends the SDF is really part of the Syrian Kurd People's Protection Units (YPG). Turkey insists the YPG is a wing of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Turkey regards the PKK and YPG as terrorist organizations. March 5, 2023: Syria benefits from Iran and Russia becoming closer allies. This includes Russian plans to provide Iran with S400 air defense systems and cooperating with Iran in Syria, where Israeli air strikes have prevented Iran from launching attacks into Israel. At the same time Israel is improving its relationship with Ukraine. This is influenced by its worsening relationship with Russia because of Russias closer relationship with Iran. Israel has been sending economic aid to Ukraine but not weapons. So far. Russia is obsessed with conquering Ukraine and failing to do so while suffering enormous losses. and losing. At the same time, Iran remains obsessed with destroying Israel, but failing to do so even after decades of effort. Iran has been supplying Russia with UAVs designed to operate as cruise missiles. A lot of other military equipment has been sent to Russia. In Return Russia is supplying Iran with two dozen modern jet fighters and whatever it has available but doesnt need in Ukraine. Russia is also delivering to Iran any captured Western weapons in Ukraine. This includes anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles. March 3, 2023: The Israeli domestic intelligence service (Shin Bet, similar to the British MI5) revealed that it had arrested four members of a Hamas terrorist cell (group) that had received training in Syria and Turkey before returning to the West Bank, where they were arrested. March 1, 2023: In the south (Quneitra and Daraa provinces), Israeli aircraft dropped thousands of leaflets warning Syrians to not cooperate with Hezbollah members who operate intelligence networks and seek to recruit Syrians to work with Hezbollah to network of pro-Iran operatives who would help Iran establish a military presence on the border and attack Israel. The leaflets pointed out that Israeli air and artillery strikes often hit Hezbollah operations near the border. For several years Israel has been increasingly active in attacking their hostile operatives near the border. Since the 1980s the Lebanese Hezbollah Shia militia has been supported financially and with weapons by Iran. That led to the Iranian 2011 order that sent Hezbollah forces into Syria to protect the Shia Assad government and later to take control of the Syrian side of the Israeli border and work with Iranian troops to launch attacks on Israel. Israeli efforts to prevent Iranian forces from operating close to the Israeli border or gaining support from the border population in the border provinces of Quneitra, Daraa and Suwayda have increased. Total population of these provinces in 2011 was 1.4 million but only about 20 percent of that was on or near the border. After the 2011 Civil War began much of the Sunni population fled. How much remains on the border is unclear but is apparently at least 100,000. Only Quentera and Daraa border Israel. Israel has occupied most of Quentera province since the 1967 War and the Israeli controlled area is mostly the Golan Heights. This is the high ground overlooking northern Israel and the Syrians made a major and ultimately failed effort in the 1973 War to retake Golan. Control of the Daraa border with Israel was sought by Iranian forces but Russian and Syrian troops blocked many of the Iranian efforts and are now pushing away Iranian-backed forces already there. At the G20 meeting in New Delhi, India, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. The diplomats discussed diplomatic efforts to normalize relations between Turkey and Syrias Assad dictatorship. February 28, 2023: Relief agencies now estimate the February 6 earthquake killed 6,000 people in Syria. The total dead in Turkey has now risen to 46,000 (February 6 quake). There is serious damage to infrastructure in both countries. The February 20 quake injured around 150 people in Syria. The February 20 quake killed at least three people in Turkey and injured around 200. At least three people remain missing. February 22, 2023: Syria backs Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. Other nations that support the Russian invasion have a lot in common with Russia as they tend to be aggressive and warlike dictatorships or those with ideological or economic reasons to back Russia. These supporters also include Belarus, Eritrea, India, Iran, Mali, Myanmar, Nicaragua, North Korea and China. All these supporters agree that the West is a problem for them and Russia. Even before the 2022 invasion, Russia insisted that its operations in Ukraine were part of an effort to defend Russia from growing NATO efforts to destroy Russia. By Lara Warren BIRMINGHAM, AL / ACCESSWIRE / April 7, 2023 / Regions Bank is pleased to announce it has received the 2023 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award (GEWA). The award recognizes the most engaged workplace cultures in the world. This is the ninth year Regions has been named a GEWA winner. "We are honored to once again be named an exceptional workplace by Gallup," said John Turner, President and CEO of Regions Financial Corp. "The Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award is a recognition of our commitment to creating an outstanding workplace culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters innovation, and drives business success." The ratio of engaged employees to actively disengaged employees of GEWA winners averages 16 times higher than the international average. Worldwide, only 21% of employees are engaged - that is, committed to their work and connected to their workplace - and just 32% of employees in the U.S. workforce are engaged, according to Gallup. In contrast, 72% of employees at winning GEWA organizations are engaged. "Even during some of the most challenging times, strong cultures are resilient and find new ways to get work done and meet customer needs." Jim Harter, Gallup's chief scientist of workplace management and wellbeing "Gallup's 2023 GEWA winners proved that even during some of the most challenging times, strong cultures are resilient and find new ways to get work done and meet customer needs. These organizations continued to make employee engagement a central cultural priority as part of their business strategy, and they maintained record levels of employee engagement while achieving or exceeding their business goals," said Jim Harter, Gallup's chief scientist of workplace management and wellbeing. Gallup's meta-analysis on team engagement and performance is the most comprehensive workplace study ever conducted, with data on more than 2 million employees in 276 organizations across 54 industries and 96 countries. Highly engaged organizations significantly outperform their peers in important business outcomes, including customer ratings, profitability, productivity, turnover, safety incidents, shrinkage, absenteeism, quality, wellbeing and organizational citizenship. About Regions Financial Corporation Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE: RF), with $155 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation's largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates more than 1,250 banking offices and more than 2,000 ATMs. Regions Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com. About Gallup Gallup delivers analytics and advice to help leaders and organizations solve their most pressing problems. Combining more than 80 years of experience with its global reach, Gallup knows more about the attitudes and behaviors of employees, customers, students and citizens than any other organization in the world. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Regions Bank on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Regions Bank Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/regions-bank Email: [email protected] SOURCE: Regions Bank View source version on accesswire.com: An IKEA Foundation and SELCO Foundation partnership embarks upon the world's largest public health infrastructure program to sustainably upgrade health facilities with solar energy 25,000 health care facilities in 12 states in India will be powered by sustainable energy, and upgraded with energy efficient medical equipments by 2026. According to the 2023 IPCC Report, power generation, buildings, industry, and transport are responsible for close to 80% of global emissions, therefore, investing in clean energy & efficiency is one of the key solutions to mitigate climate change. The initiative, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, State Health Missions and SELCO Foundation, has received initial funding of 48 million from the IKEA Foundation. DELHI, India--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- In 2021, WHO identified climate change as the biggest global health threat of the 21st century. While half of the worlds population continue to lack access to essential health services, according to a 2019 Health care climate footprint report, if the healthcare sector were a country, it would be the fifth largest greenhouse gas emitter on the planet. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230407005011/en/ Aerial view of Khudei Khunou Health facility in North East India (Photo: Business Wire) In a significant step towards transforming the public health infrastructure for improved sustainability, SELCO Foundation and IKEA Foundation, in partnership with Indias Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) and various State Health Missions, have launched a groundbreaking initiative Energy for Health. The program recognises climate adaptation and mitigation at the center to all efforts to upgrade the public health facilities across the world. Speaking about the significance of this program globally, Dr. Maria Neira, Assistant Director-General a.i., Division of Healthier Populations, and Director, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, at the World Health Organization said, Reliable electricity in health-care facilities is essential to save lives and to provide quality health care. And yet, one billion people around the world are still served by health-care facilities without reliable electricity or with no electricity access at all. Decentralized renewable energies represent a key opportunity to accelerate electrification of health-care facilities, including in remote areas. I congratulate the Government of India and our partners from Selco Foundation and Ikea Foundation for this critical program, which will have a transformative impact on strengthening the health system. The first-of-a-kind initiative will bring solar energy solutions with efficient medical and electrical equipment to 25,000 healthcare facilities in 12 states by 2026. Across the 12 states under this program, there is a diversity in terms of topography, socio-economic vulnerabilities, disease burden and climate. This diversity across selected geographies will contribute to this programme serving as a showcase globally- innovating on approaches, models and processes relevant for similar contexts in other parts of the world. Reflecting on Indias leadership in the effort, Dr. Harish Hande, CEO of SELCO Foundation said, Affordable and equitable access to healthcare is a function of two aspects- one, resources required to deliver health care, and two, cost of accessing health care. Through this program, SELCO Foundation and IKEA Foundation, along with Indias Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) and various State Health Missions, will showcase at scale how sustainable energy can be used to make health services affordable at the doorstep of the poor. Energy for Health initiative brings with it positive impacts across the spectrum of stakeholders- for last mile communities in their access to timely healthcare; for health facility staff in ensuring a conducive work environment to provide quality services; for health sector in reducing energy and equipment-related costs as well as avoiding wastage of vaccines and other critical resources; reinforcing climate resilience building and carbon mitigation efforts while ensuring positive health outcomes for all citizens. Mr. Per Heggenes, CEO of IKEA Foundation said, At the IKEA Foundation, we strongly believe caring for the health of people and our planet must go hand-in-hand. This initiative will improve healthcare outcomes and reduce emissions, by providing reliable and renewable energy to thousands of clinics. Our hope is that the success of this programme can serve as a model for building effective and efficient health systems globally. Supported by IKEA Foundation, through this initiative, SELCO Foundation along with Government of India will create systems and processes that demonstrate ownership, management, and regular maintenance of the energy systems and appliances. Together, through the 25,000 public health facilities, technical knowledge and capacity, as well as guidelines and policies that enable health staff at different levels to plan for public health infrastructure in a sustainable manner will be improved. The program will also improve the local technical network for solar energy, which could potentially also have indirect impacts on local economies and boost adoption of solar energy across other sectors as well. The initiative aims to reach over 170 million people across the 12 states and improve working conditions for over 160,000 front line health staff at these health facilities. Across the 25,000 public health facilities, this will add ~100MW of solar energy capacity in the country, and mitigate over 3 million tonnes of CO2e emissions over a 20 year period. These will directly contribute to Indias Net Zero targets, while also creating a paradigm shift on how health targets can be achieved for resource constrained communities across the world in an efficient manner. About the partners: SELCO Foundation: Established in 2010, SELCO Foundations mission is to develop holistic solutions that use sustainable energy as a catalyst to address poverty alleviation alongside ensuring environmental sustainability. SELCO's interventions lead to the sustainable delivery of essential services such as healthcare, and enable improvements in livelihoods productivity and till date more than 7 million people have been impacted. The foundation does this by also developing enabling conditions, i.e the ecosystem for sustainable energy solutions to be locally developed, adopted, scaled and institutionalized through stakeholders including government agencies, financiers, local NGOs and enterprises. For more information, visit www.selco foundation.org, and follow them on Twitter (@SELCOFoundation) and LinkedIn. IKEA Foundation: The IKEA Foundation is a strategic philanthropy that focuses its grant making efforts on tackling the two biggest threats to childrens futures: poverty and climate change. It currently grants more than 200 million per year to help improve family incomes and quality of life while protecting the planet from climate change. Since 2009, the IKEA Foundation has granted more than 1.5 billion to create a better future for children and their families. In 2021 the Board of the IKEA Foundation decided to make an additional 1 billion available over the next five years to accelerate the reduction of Greenhouse Gas emissions. Learn more at: www.ikeafoundation.org or by following them on LinkedIn or Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230407005011/en/ Lotika Mehta [email protected] Source: IKEA Foundation SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Douglas Emmett, Inc. (NYSE: DEI), a real estate investment trust (REIT), announced today that it plans to release its 2023 first quarter earnings results after market close on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. A live conference call is scheduled for the following day, Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time / 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Jordan Kaplan, President and Chief Executive Officer, will host the call along with Peter Seymour, Chief Financial Officer, Kevin Crummy, Chief Investment Officer, and Stuart McElhinney, Vice President Investor Relations. Interested parties can listen to the call via the following: INTERNET: Go to www.douglasemmett.com/investors at least fifteen minutes prior to the start time of the call in order to register, download and install any necessary audio software. PHONE: 888-349-0488 (U.S.) or 412-542-4156 (International). Please ask to join the Douglas Emmett, Inc. call. REPLAY: A rebroadcast of the live call will be available for 90 days on our website at www.douglasemmett.com/investors About Douglas Emmett, Inc. Douglas Emmett, Inc. (DEI) is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT), and one of the largest owners and operators of high-quality office and multifamily properties located in the premier coastal submarkets of Los Angeles and Honolulu. Douglas Emmett focuses on owning and acquiring a substantial share of top-tier office properties and premier multifamily communities in neighborhoods that possess significant supply constraints, high-end executive housing and key lifestyle amenities. For more information about Douglas Emmett, please visit our website at www.douglasemmett.com. Safe Harbor Statement Except for the historical facts, the statements in this press release regarding Douglas Emmetts business activities are forward-looking statements based on the beliefs of, assumptions made by, and information currently available to us about known and unknown risks, trends, uncertainties and factors that are beyond our control or ability to predict. Although we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, they are not guarantees of future performance and some will inevitably prove to be incorrect. As a result, our actual future results can be expected to differ from our expectations, and those differences may be material. Accordingly, investors should use caution in relying on forward-looking statements to anticipate future results or trends. For a discussion of some of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230406005787/en/ Stuart McElhinney, Vice President Investor Relations 310.255.7751 [email protected] Source: Douglas Emmett, Inc. Fashion Exchange launches 2022 Fashion IP 100 and 2022 Global Fashion IP White Paper NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fashion Exchange officially released its 2022 Global Fashion IP White Paper: Old World and New World: Chinas Fashion Consumption in 2022, as well as the 2022 Fashion IP 100 produced in partnership with CBNData. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230406005803/en/ Fear of God tops Fashion IP 100 list as Rihanna debut in TOP5 (Photo: Business Wire) The 2022 Fashion IP 100 is ranked on the basis of the FX INDEX data evaluation system and the online consumption data of Alibaba platforms. By taking into account CBNDatas consumption influence data, popularity on top 3 social media platforms (Weibo, Xiaohongshu and Tik Tok), and Baidu Index, nearly 400 fashion IPs across the globe were quantitatively evaluated. The final result identified 100 IPs with top overall performances in the Chinese market in 2022. According to 2022 Fashion IP 100, Fear of God, the dark horse of the 2021 list, topped the 2022 list. Its diffusion line ESSENTIALS jumped to No. 2 on the list. It is also the first time that 2 of the Top 3 fashion IPs come from the same founder over the past 4 four years since the list's launch. TOP10 ranking sees a big reshuffle. Rihanna (Fenty) debut in TOP5. ISSEY MIYAKE, Justin Bieber (Drew House), Bai Jingting (Goodbai) and Alexander Wang, all made their debut in the TOP10 list. From the perspective of regions: Asia's vibrant design hits Europe and America. There were 17 new Asian entrants to the 2022 list, nearly double the number of new entrants from North America and Europe combined. Chinas fashion IPs soar by 100%. China overtook Japan for the first time as the country with the second most fashion IPs in the overall list. Of the 11 countries, China's fashion IPs on the list grew from 12 in 2021 to 24 in 2022, a 100% increase. Fashion Exchanges 2022 Global Fashion IP White Paper, themed Old World and New World: Chinas Fashion Consumption in 2022, presents an exploration and observation of the changes in China's fashion consumption amidst the structural processes of complex macroeconomic and social development, after suffering from the three-year pandemic. Through clear insights into China's fashion consumption landscape, 10 global best collaboration case study and 10 fashion IPs to watch in 2023, the White Paper aims to helping brands and enterprises find entry points and partners for high-quality collaborations. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230406005803/en/ Kris Zhang [email protected] www.fashionexchange.com.cn Source: Fashion Exchange PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: GETLINK S.E. (Paris: GET): The combined general meeting (ordinary and extraordinary) is convened on April 27, 2023 at 10:00 a.m (CET) at Cite des Echanges, 40 rue Eugene Jacquet, 59700 Marcq-en-Barul, France. The notice of meeting and the convening notice (which include the agenda of the meeting and the draft resolutions) were published in the French BALO (Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires) dated respectively April 5, 2023 and March 1, 2023. In accordance with Articles R. 225-83 and R. 225-89 of the French Commercial Code, the documents that must be made available to shareholders in connection with General Meetings are available at Getlink's registered office. Shareholders are invited to regularly check the 2023 General Meeting page on the Companys website where the documents and information relating to the meeting referred to in article R. 225-73-1 of the French Commercial Code are available on the at the following address: https://www.getlinkgroup.com/en/shareholders-investors/2023-general-meeting/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230407005097/en/ Getlink Contacts: For UK media enquiries contact John Keefe on + 44 (0) 1303 284491 Email: [email protected] For other media enquiries contact Anne-Sophie de Faucigny on +33 (0)6 4601 5286 Romain Dufour on +33(0)6 2000 3138 For investor enquiries contact: Virginie Rousseau on +33 (0)6 7741 0339 Source: GETLINK S.E. For the first time in the country's history, our schoolchildren participate in the global competition organized by NASA! This year, for the first time, Azerbaijan is participating in the world-famous FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). Our country is represented by the MeckHack #903022 team of young people aged 14 to 18 in the competition held in the USA under the auspices of NASA (US National Aeronautics and Space Administration). Our team, which joined the competition with the support of Azercell and the preparation of the "Train Brain" Center, developed a unique robot for this international event. The robot, presented to the competition jury in New York, will compete with the robots of 48 other teams worldwide. The competition results will be announced at the end of the final phase, which is scheduled for April 9th. FIRST Robotics Competition is an international event held among secondary school students. Competing teams are required to build a team brand and program industrial robots within strict rules, limited resources, and a set time. Each year, dozens of teams worldwide, including high school students and their mentors, work on creating robots in competitive conditions and are obliged to hand them over to the competition organizers within the established timeframe. Azercell Telecom wishes success to our team of young roboticists in the FIRST Robotics Competition, which contributes to the development in schoolchildren of such essential skills for future scientists and engineers as critical thinking and an innovative approach to solving problems, as well as teamwork experience! WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- LTC Properties, Inc. (NYSE: LTC) will release first quarter earnings on Thursday, April 27, 2023 after market close. LTC will conduct a conference call on Friday, April 28, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. Pacific / 11:00 a.m. Eastern, to provide commentary on the performance and operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. Conference Call Interested parties may access the live conference call via the following: Webcast www.LTCReit.com USA Toll-Free Number 1-833-470-1428 Canada Toll-Free Number 1-833-950-0062 Conference Access Code 796837 Conference Call Replay A replay of the call will be available one hour after the live call and through May 12, 2023. USA Toll-Free Number 1-866-813-9403 Canada Local Number 1-226-828-7578 Conference Access Code 313430 An audio replay of the conference call and the Companys earnings release and supplemental information package for the current period will be available on the Companys website at: https://ir.ltcreit.com/Investors. About LTC Properties LTC is a real estate investment trust (REIT) investing in seniors housing and health care properties primarily through sale-leasebacks, mortgage financing, joint-ventures and structured finance solutions including preferred equity and mezzanine lending. LTCs investment portfolio includes 213 properties in 29 states with 31 operating partners. Based on its gross real estate investments, LTCs investment portfolio is comprised of approximately 50% seniors housing and 50% skilled nursing properties. Learn more at www.LTCreit.com. Forward Looking Statements This press release includes statements that are not purely historical and are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding the Companys expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. All statements other than historical facts contained in this press release are forward looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. All forward looking statements included in this press release are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update such forward looking statements. Although the Companys management believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. The actual results achieved by the Company may differ materially from any forward-looking statements due to the risks and uncertainties of such statements. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230407005001/en/ Mandi Hogan (805) 981-8655 Source: LTC Properties, Inc. VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The provinces largest union, the Canadian Union of Public Employees-BC, is calling on Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim to reverse course on his process of decampments in the Citys Downtown Eastside (DTES). The ongoing decampment in the DTES is the vision of Vancouvers City Council and Mayor Ken Sim, said CUPE BC President and Vancouver resident Karen Ranalletta. The Mayors tactics, forcibly removing people from their homes and disposing of their belongings as they watch, are unnecessarily cruel and dehumanizing. While some of the decampment process has involved CUPE members working for the City of Vancouver, the approach taken by the Citys leadership does not reflect the values of CUPE BC or CUPE Local 1004. CUPE workers have no capacity to reject this work under current labour laws, and face discipline or termination if they refuse their daily assignment without legal justification. City workers are members of our community who go to work every day to provide the services that support Vancouver residents, families and visitors, said Ranalletta. The tasks demanded of these workers stands in contrast to our advocacy, which calls for a harm reduction and a trauma-informed approach when dealing with vulnerable populations. CUPE BC believes the actions of the City are irresponsible without the adequate housing solution for anyone and everyone being displaced. Ken Sims approach only exacerbates the problem of housing insecurity. We need safe, dignified, and supportive housing, quickly, said Ranalletta. Until more housing is constructed, we need to make sure that all forms of housing, whether they be in parks or shelters, are as safe, supportive and as dignified as possible. cope491 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230406005779/en/ Steven Beasley CUPE Communications Representative 778-903-7394 Source: Canadian Union of Public Employees TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Marquest Asset Management Inc. (the Manager), the Manager of Marquest Mutual Funds Inc. (the Corporation), announces the proposed termination of Marquest Mutual Funds Inc. - Flex Dividend and Income Growth Series Fund (the Fund). The Corporation is a mutual fund corporation under the Income Tax Act (Canada). Since the establishment of the Corporation, the refundable dividend tax on hand (RDTOH) account accumulates passive investment income until taxable dividends are declared and paid to shareholders. As such, the RDTOH account represents an asset of the Corporation for financial reporting purposes. As the Fund is a class of shares of the Corporation, the Manager has allocated a portion of the Corporations RDTOH account to the Fund reflecting the passive income received by it but not paid to shareholders of the Fund. Given recent sizeable redemptions in respect of the Fund and the related decline in the assets under management of the Fund, the Manager has determined that the value of the RDTOH receivable allocated to the Fund has become impaired. As a result, the audited financial statements of the Fund for the year ended December 31, 2022 will reflect this impairment and, effective April 5, 2023, the net asset value of the Fund has reflected the write-off of the value of the allocated portion of the RDTOH receivable. After discussions with its advisors, the Manager has determined that the preferred course of action is to terminate the Fund and seek to maximize the value of the net assets of the Fund, including the allocated portion of the RDTOH receivable. To this end, the Corporation will: issue a stock dividend to the shareholders of record of the Fund on April 24, 2023 (the Record Date) in an amount that is expected to result in the maximizing of any potential refund of RDTOH; and confirm the expected amount and timing of the payment to shareholders of the Fund on the Record Date of their portion of the termination proceeds, including in respect of their proportionate share of the RDTOH refund received by the Corporation in respect of the Fund. The Fund has ceased to be available for purchase with effect from April 6, 2023. Shareholders who elect to redeem shares prior to the Record Date will receive a proportionate share of the net asset value of the Fund but will not be entitled to receive their proportionate share of the RDTOH refund. Any redemption of shares, the receipt of the stock dividend and/or the disposition of shares upon wind-up of the Fund will have tax consequences to a shareholder. In respect of individuals, upon the redemption of shares or other disposition of such shares, a capital gain (or a capital loss) will be realized by the shareholder to the extent that the proceeds of disposition of the shares exceed (or are less than) the aggregate of the adjusted cost base of the shares and any reasonable costs of disposition. One-half of the capital gain is included in computing income as a taxable capital gain and one-half of the capital losses may be deducted against taxable capital gains to the extent and under the circumstances prescribed in the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the Tax Act). Shareholders must include in income the stock dividends received from the Fund. For individual shareholders, such dividends will be subject to the usual gross-up and dividend tax credit rules with respect to taxable dividends paid by Canadian corporations under the Tax Act. An enhanced gross-up and dividend tax credit is available on eligible dividends received from a taxable Canadian corporation which are so designated by the corporation. Individuals (other than certain trusts) realizing net capital gains or receiving dividend may be subject to an alternative minimum tax under the Tax Act. We encourage all shareholders of the Fund to consult with their financial advisors to understand the financial and tax implications associated with redeeming their shares and the termination of the Fund. If you have any questions regarding the termination of the Fund, please do not hesitate to contact us by email at [email protected]. Sincerely, Marquest Asset Management Inc., as Manager on behalf of the Fund Notice on forward-looking statements: This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding the Corporation and the Fund. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as plans, is expected, expects, scheduled, intends, contemplates, anticipates, believes, proposes or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Such statements are based on the current expectations of the Manager, and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Although the Manager believes that the assumptions underlying these statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur by certain specified dates or at all and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting the Fund. Although the Manager has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward- looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and, except as required by applicable securities laws, the Manager undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230406005786/en/ Marquest Asset Management Inc. [email protected] Source: Marquest Asset Management Inc. PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: In accordance with Article 5 of EU Regulation n 596/2014 (Market Abuse Regulation), detailed information is available on the website of Tikehau Capital (Paris: TKO): https://www.tikehaucapital.com/fr/shareholders/regulatory-information Disclosure of shares repurchases from 31 March 2023 to 6 April 2023 Name of the issuer Issuer Identity Code (LEI) Trading Day ISIN Aggregated volume per day (number of shares) Weighted average price per day Market (MIC Code) TIKEHAU CAPITAL 969500BY8TEU16U3SJ94 03/04/2023 FR0013230612 2,000 24.5401 XPAR TIKEHAU CAPITAL 969500BY8TEU16U3SJ94 04/04/2023 FR0013230612 10,436 24.5186 XPAR TIKEHAU CAPITAL 969500BY8TEU16U3SJ94 05/04/2023 FR0013230612 2,000 24.2964 XPAR TIKEHAU CAPITAL 969500BY8TEU16U3SJ94 06/04/2023 FR0013230612 2,000 24.4700 XPAR TOTAL 16,436 24.4883 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230407005092/en/ Tikehau Capital Source: Tikehau Capital Shoham, Israel, April 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mobilicom Limited (Mobilicom or the Company, ASX: MOB) advises that in accordance with ASX Listing Rule 3.13.1 it anticipates its Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Tuesday 30 May 2023. Accordingly, for the purposes of ASX Listing Rule 3.13.1 and Clause 60(2) of its Constitution, the Company advises that the closing date for nominations for the position of Director is 5:00pm (AEDT) on 18 April 2023. The Company notes that the deadline for nominations for the position of Director is separate to voting on the election of Director. Details of the Directors nominated to be elected will be provided in the Companys Notice of AGM in due course. -ENDS- Authorised for release by the Board of Mobilicom Limited. About Mobilicom Mobilicom is an end-to-end provider of cybersecurity and robust solutions for drones, robotics & autonomous platforms. As a high-tech company it designs, develops and delivers robust solutions focused primarily on targeting global drone, robotics and autonomous system manufacturers. The Company holds patented technology & unique know-how for Mobile Mesh networking. It has a large, field proven portfolio of commercialised products used in a variety of applications. Mobilicom is growing a global customer base with sales to high profile customers including corporates, governments and military departments. Mobilicoms competitive advantages include outstanding security capabilities and performance in harsh environmental conditions. Mobilicoms large solution portfolio is being deployed worldwide, seeing the Company derive revenue from hardware, software sales & licensing fees and professional support services for its solutions. For investors, please use https://ir.mobilicom.com/ For company, please use www.mobilicom.com For more information on Mobilicom, please contact: Liad GelferMobilicom Ltd [email protected] Source: Mobilicom Limited ZUG, Switzerland, April 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Following the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations decision, Covis Pharma Group (Covis) is effectuating the withdrawal of Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection), which has been the only treatment approved to reduce the risk of preterm birth in pregnant women who have had a prior spontaneous preterm birth. The decision from the FDA Commissioner and Chief Scientist deferred to the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) to determine next steps to implement the withdrawal. This guidance is available here: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/makena-hydroxyprogesterone-caproate-injection-information. In furtherance of CDERs guidance, CDER recognizes that a limited supply of Makena and generics has already been distributed and acknowledges that some healthcare providers might continue to prescribe or administer that limited remaining supply to their patients. The company recommends that healthcare providers consider FDAs conclusion on the withdrawal of Makena. As detailed previously, shortly following the 2022 public hearing, Covis requested an orderly wind-down in an effort to voluntarily withdraw Makena. This request included a proposed wind-down period that would allow current patients to complete their course of treatment, rather than face a disruption in care. The company remains committed to providing patient and provider support services throughout the Makena withdrawal process. Patients who have questions are encouraged to speak with their healthcare providers, or call 1-800-847-3418, MondayFriday from 8:00 AM8:00 PM ET. Consultation for healthcare providers is available at 1-877-411-2510, MondayFriday, 9:00 AM5:00 PM ET. About Covis Covis Pharma, founded in 2011 and headquartered in Luxembourg, is a global specialty pharmaceutical company that markets therapeutic solutions for patients with life-threatening conditions and chronic illnesses. Additional information is available at www.covispharma.com. Media Contact [email protected] Press release Montrouge, 7th april 2023. Credit Agricole Leasing & Factoring finalises its stake in the capital of Watea by Michelin Credit Agricole Leasing & Factoring is strengthening its position as leader in low-carbon mobility in Europe with the legal finalisation of its 30% stake in Watea by Michelin announced on 1 December 2022. This strategic partnership will accelerate the "greening" and access to Low Emission Zone (LEZ) areas for commercial vehicles weighing less than 3.5 tons. It is in line with Credit Agricole Group's Corporate Social Responsibility Project and, in particular, its commitment to act on climate change and the transition to a low-carbon economy. A complete range of low-carbon mobility solutions to support the greening of business fleets By acquiring a stake in Watea, Credit Agricole Leasing & Factoring aims to offer Credit Agricole Group's professional and corporate customers a complete electric mobility offer that guarantees continuity of activity and quality of service. This includes the provision of electric utility vehicles on long-term leases, on-site or mobile recharging infrastructures, and digital applications to help customers in all business segments on a daily basis: last mile delivery, services and maintenance, housing/construction, craftspeople, etc. The aim is also to support companies in their efforts to comply with the regulations, as many diesel-powered commercial vehicles will eventually be refused access to the Low Emission Zones. In the Ile-de-France region, some of these vehicles will no longer be able to circulate from July 2023. CAL&F confirms its ambition to support all professionals and companies in the transition to zero-emission mobility thanks to the strength of the territorial network of Credit Agricole Group's universal banks. Herve Varillon, Chief Executive Officer of Credit Agricole Leasing & Factoring and Herve Leroux, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Credit Agricole Leasing & Factoring, also sit on the Board of Directors of Watea by Michelin to support these strategic ambitions by leveraging their financing expertise. Three CAL&F employees have also been seconded to Watea as Chief Financial Officer, Head of Distribution and Head of Synergies with Credit Agricole Group. This transaction has a negligible impact on Credit Agricole SA's CET1. Watea by Michelin, an award-winning sustainability player CAL&F is proud to rely on a recognised and legitimate partner. Indeed, Watea by Michelin has won several prestigious awards in just a few months. These are all recognitions of Watea's commitment to sustainability and low-carbon mobility: - Prix de l'Innovation Logistique, Best Transport & Logistics Services Innovation category (March 2023); - Coup de cur Innovation Award of the Flotauto Meetings (March 2023); - Netexplo Change Prize, which recognises large companies with an innovative transformation initiative that reconciles technological innovation and sustainability issues (November 2022). - Trophee de L'Automobile & L'Entreprise in the New Mobility and Electromobility category (July 2022); - Trophee de l'Industrie Durable 2022 de L'Usine Nouvelle in the Clean Transport category (July 2022); - Solar Impulse Label (April 2022). "I am proud to have been able to finalise this operation with Watea by Michelin, a recognised and award-winning player in green mobility. There is no shortage of synergies and we are already working hand in hand to offer inclusive green mobility financing for very small businesses. We are therefore delighted to participate in the greening of professional fleets and we are convinced that this collaboration will be beneficial to all." says Herve Varillon, CEO of Credit Agricole Leasing & Factoring. Credit Agricole Leasing & Factoring press department: [email protected]; +33 1 57 72 44 19 / [email protected]; +33 1 43 23 95 29 About Credit Agricole Leasing & Factoring Present in 10 European countries, Credit Agricole Leasing & Factoring (CAL&F) is a major player in leasing, factoring, and energy and territorial financing in France and Europe. Credit Agricole Leasing & Factoring offers specialised financing for businesses, professionals, farmers and local authorities. Key figures at the end of 2022, France and international: 256,000 customers, 2,676 employees and 29.7 billion in outstandings financed, of which 29% internationally. For more information: www.ca-leasingfactoring.com About Watea by Michelin Watea by Michelin is a tailor-made electric mobility solution for commercial vehicle fleets. Thanks to its unique positioning as a mobility operator, Watea by Michelin supports its customers in their energy transition through an all-in-one subscription including electric vehicles adapted to their use, access to recharging infrastructures, assistance, maintenance, and a package of digital services enabling productivity and profitability gains. Openness, reliability and boldness are the three values that drive the teams on a daily basis. Created in July 2021, Watea by Michelin is headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand and currently employs around one hundred people. www.watea.green Attachment SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, April 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Recently, due to the thunder of European and American banks, the international financial market sentiment has been very fragile, and investors are worried and anxious about the current financial market derivatives investment. How to obtain stable and high-return investment in the current "turbulent" financial market has become a question for investors to ponder. As a world-renowned foreign exchange futures trading service provider, JLT GROUP has become one of the worlds most authoritative financial online trading brokers with its safe and stable trading environment and high-quality service advantages, and is deeply favored by many investors. Rich investment products to meet diverse needs The JLT GROUP platform has a wealth of investment products, including stocks, foreign exchange, gold, silver, financial futures, and global futures contract brokerage and trading. The platform has been deeply involved in financial derivatives trading and has been operating steadily for many years. It has been committed to providing stable and high-quality online trading services for global professional investors, as well as providing exchange rate risk hedging and liquidity docking services. So far, JLT GROUP has expanded its business scope to Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and Europe and the United States. Advanced technical support and a pleasant trading experience JLT GROUP adheres to the spirit of innovation and continuously introduces and develops advanced trading technology. The trading platform supports multi-terminal access and can conduct transactions anytime and anywhere through computers, mobile phones, and tablet devices. Real-time market data, high-speed order placement response, and a stable trading environment allow customers to enjoy a pleasant investment experience. Strict risk control to ensure fund safety There are risks in investment, which has always been the same principle. In foreign exchange transactions, security is crucial.". Its risks can be divided into two categories: trading strategy risks and capital security risks. Transaction strategy risks can be avoided through continuous knowledge learning and technology upgrading, but fund security risks must be effectively guaranteed through technical channels and third-party bank custody. Through strategic cooperation with the world's top IT security service provider, COMODO of the United States, JLT GROUP provides full site protection to ensure the security of customer information and capital accounts, with a risk compensation of up to $2 million! High-quality customer service and thoughtful companionship throughout the process JLT GROUP always puts customer needs first. The company has a professional customer service team, providing each customer with a dedicated account manager, providing real-time one-on-one guidance services, providing 7x24 hours of investment information and problem handling, making investment more secure. Throughout the global financial market landscape, onlinefinancial trading platforms play an important role in connecting customers and the financial market. Professional trading platforms can provide customers with a safe environment and ensure smooth trading. In the future, JLT GROUP will continue to providea high-quality trading environment and customer service for traders, assist in the construction of high-quality service work in the industry, and promote the better development of the financial investment industry. Disclaimer: This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies (including product offerings, regulatory plans and business plans) and may change without notice. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Lin Son JLT GROUP service at jltforex.com Source: JLT GROUP: On 28 April 2023, at 12:00 p.m., an Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of AB "Rokiskio suris" (company code 173057512, registered at the following address: Pramones g.3, Rokiskis) shall be convened at the head office of AB "Rokiskio suris" (Pramones str.3, Rokiskis). The meeting shall be convened on the initiative of the Company's Board of Directors in accordance with the decision of the Company's Board of Directors of 7 April 2023. Registration starts at 11:00 a.m. and lasts until 11:45 a.m. Accounting day of the general meeting of shareholders April 21, 2023. Record day May 15, 2023. Draft Agenda of the General Meeting of Shareholders: Auditors findings regarding the consolidated financial reports and annual report. The Audit Committee report. The Companys consolidated annual report for the year 2022. Approval of the consolidated and companys financial accounting for the year 2022. Allocation of the profit of the Company of 2022. Approval of the Companys Remuneration Report. Regarding purchase of own shares. Election of the Companys auditor and establishment of payment conditions. The general meeting of shareholders may be attended and voted by the persons who were shareholders at the end of the meeting accounting date (April 21, 2023) or other persons authorized by actual shareholders, or the persons with whom the voting transference agreement was made. A person participating in the general meeting of shareholders and having the right to vote must present an identity document. The Company does not provide the opportunity to participate and vote at the meeting by electronic means. Each shareholder shall have a right, in the manner established by the Law, to authorise another (natural or legal) person on his/her behalf to attend and vote at the General Meeting of Shareholders. The authorised person must provide a power of attorney certified in the manner established by the Law. A power of attorney issued in a foreign state must be translated into Lithuanian and legalised in the manner established by the Law. At the General Meeting of Shareholders, an authorised person shall have the same rights as would be held by the shareholder represented by him/her. The Company does not establish special form of power of attorney. The right of shareholder to participate at the general meeting of shareholders also means the right to question. A shareholder or a person authorised by him/her shall have a right to vote in writing in advance by filling in the General Voting Ballot. The General Voting Ballot shall be placed on the companys website not later than 21 day before the General meeting http://www.rokiskio.com at the heading Investor Relations. Upon a shareholder's request, the Company, not later than 10 days before the General Meeting, shall send the General Voting Ballot by registered mail free of charge. The filled in General Voting Ballot and the document confirming the voting right (if any) must be submitted to the Company in writing not later than on the last business day before the General Meeting of Shareholders by sending it by registered mail to AB Rokiskio suris, Pramones street 3, Rokiskis LT-42150. The Company keeps the right to not account a shareholders General Voting Ballot if the General Voting Ballot does not comply with the requirement set by the Law on Joint Stock Companies Article 30 parts 3 and 4, or the ballot is filled misleadingly and it is impossible to read the shareholders will for one or another item. The Company shall make voting at the meeting possible by submitting to the Company a ballot paper signed with a qualified electronic signature no later than the close of shareholder registration for the General Meeting. A shareholder may, by means of electronic communications, authorise another natural or legal person to attend and vote on the shareholder's behalf. Such a proxy shall not be notarised. A proxy executed by electronic means shall be certified by the shareholder with a qualified electronic signature created with secure signature creation software and confirmed by a qualified certificate valid in the Republic of Lithuania. The shareholder must notify the Company of the electronically executed proxy by e-mail to [email protected] not later than by the last business day before the meeting. The proxy and the notification must be in writing. Each shareholder holding shares that grant at least 1/20 of all votes shall have the right of proposing to supplement the agenda of the General Meeting of Shareholders. Draft decisions on the proposed issues shall be submitted together with the proposal or, if the decisions do not need to be approved, explanations on each proposed issue of the General Meeting of Shareholders shall be presented. Proposal to supplement the agenda must be presented in writing by sending it by registered mail to AB Rokiskio suris, Pramones street 3, Rokiskis LT-42150, Lithuania, or by e-mail [email protected] The agenda will be supplemented if the proposal is received not later than 14 days before the General Meeting of Shareholders. The shareholders shall have the right to present questions related to the agenda issues of the General Meeting of Shareholders to the Company in advance in writing. The questions should be sent by e mail address [email protected] not later than 3 business days before the General Meeting of Shareholders. The Company will not respond personally to the shareholder if the respective information is posted on the Company's website. The Company may refuse to respond to the questions of a shareholder if they are related with the commercial (manufacturing) secret, confidential information, then the shareholder will be informed unless the identity of questioner cannot be identified. Documents related to the agenda of the Company's General Meeting of Shareholders, draft resolutions on each item on the agenda, documents to be submitted to the General Meeting of Shareholders and other information related to the implementation of shareholder rights are available at the Company's on the website www.rokiskio.com in the section Investors, as well as by visiting AB Rokiskio suris at Pramones st. 3, LT-42150 Rokiskis. The total number of voting rights is 35,867,970 ordinary registered shares. Nominal value of the shares is EUR 0.29 (twenty nine hundredth) each. ISIN of the Companys shares is LT000100372. The Company has purchased 861,274 treasury shares. Dalius Trumpa Company Manager +370 458 55200 Attachments Solvay to hold 2023 Annual General Meeting Brussels, April 7, 2023 - 5.45 pm CEST Solvay today announced that it has published materials for its next Ordinary General Shareholders Meeting, which will be held on Tuesday May 9, 2023 at the Square Brussels Meeting Center, Mont des Arts B-1000 Brussels, at 10.30 am CEST. All documents relating to this meeting are now available on www.solvay.com. Shareholders will be asked to vote on a number of resolutions, among others the approval of the financial statements for the financial year 2022. The Board will also propose to approve a total gross dividend of 4.05 per share, following the record financial performance of Solvay, with 3.2 billion underlying EBITDA, 1.1 billion free cash flow (reflecting higher profits, margin expansion and working capital discipline) and a record ROCE level. Shareholders will also be asked to renew the following mandates of the Board of Directors: The renewal of the mandate, for a four-year period, of Mrs Marjan Oudeman, an independent director and member of the Audit Committee. The renewal of the mandate, for a one year period, of Mrs Rosemary Thorne, as an independant and Chair of the Audit Committee, to ensure a smooth transition of her Board duties. The mandate of Mr Charles Casimir-Lambert will expire at the end of this Meeting; he has been a member of the Board since 2007, and an active member of the Finance Committee. Furthermore, effective at the end of the same Meeting, Solvay announces the resignation of Mrs Laurence Debroux as director, entirely motivated by the increased and competing demands on her time, which will prevent her from contributing fully as a board member in the future. On behalf of the Board of Directors, the Chairman Nicolas Boel expresses his sincere gratitude for the dedication and hard work of Mr Casimir-Lambert and acknowledges Ms. Laurence Debrouxs decision, with appreciation for her contribution. As a result, the Board of directors shall consist of 13 members of which 9 are independent directors and 6 women directors. Meeting information: Only shareholders of Solvay SA who are officially recorded as such on April 25, 2023 at 12.00 p.m. CEST will have the right to participate and vote at the meeting on May 9, irrespective of the number of shares they hold on the day of the meeting. The meeting will be organized in a hybrid manner, both in person and virtually. Shareholders can participate physically in the Meeting. Alternatively, they can exercise their rights either by granting a proxy or by participating and voting live in a virtual and interactive manner via the Lumi's AGM+ platform (www.lumiconnect.com). Additional details are available in the convening notice available on www.solvay.com. Shareholders who wish to participate at the meeting, either in person or digitally, should declare their intentions no later than May 3, 2023. All questions can be addressed to [email protected] by May 3, 2023 the latest. Visit the Shareholders Meeting dedicated page for more details regarding the agenda, the admission conditions and voting methods. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. The 19th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan Intergovernmental Commission has kicked off in Baku, Trend reports. The Co-Chairs of the Commission are Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan Parviz Shahbazov from the Azerbaijani side and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin from the Kazakh side. As part of the meeting, discussions will be held on cooperation in a wide range of areas, including energy, trade, transport, and logistics partnerships, as well as agriculture. In conclusion, the signing of a joint protocol is expected. Stellantis Annual General Meeting Live Webcast AMSTERDAM, April 7, 2023 - Stellantis N.V. announced today that a link for the live webcast to its Annual General Meeting for the approval of Stellantis N.V.s 2022 financial statements will be made available on www.stellantis.com on the day of the event. # # # About Stellantis Stellantis N.V. (NYSE: STLA / Euronext Milan: STLAM / Euronext Paris: STLAP) is one of the world's leading automakers and a mobility provider. Its storied and iconic brands embody the passion of their visionary founders and todays customers in their innovative products and services, including Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroen, Dodge, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Jeep , Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, Vauxhall, Free2move and Leasys. Powered by our diversity, we lead the way the world moves aspiring to become the greatest sustainable mobility tech company, not the biggest, while creating added value for all stakeholders as well as the communities in which it operates. For more information, visit www.stellantis.com. Attachment DENVER (PRWEB) April 07, 2023 Author Darla Worden is deep into the writing process of a new book, but while organizing her research from her recently published "Cockeyed Happy: Ernest Hemingway's Wyoming Summers with Pauline" (Chicago Review Press), she unearthed some stories she'd discovered about the famous writer that she wanted to share--behind-the-scenes tales that hadn't made it into the final edit of her book. She recently published one of those stories, "Love and Folly: Hemingway's 'Trophy' Gift," on her blog and shared it with readers of her newsletter as part of a new series titled "Cockeyed True Stories." "Ernest Hemingway was a larger than life character and there are many stories that Hemingway fans probably haven't heard before," Worden says. "In 1928, Ernest Hemingway and his friend Bill Horne arrived at Folly Ranch, a dude ranch in the Bighorn Mountains owned by the Donnelley family," the "Love and Folly" post begins, echoing the opening scene of Worden's "Cockeyed Happy," which observes Hemingway and Horne's playful sparring en route to the ranch as they drive up steep, curving Red Grade road. As Horne, a Princeton alum, wrote in 1979 for the Princeton Alumni Weekly about that fateful visit: "On a plateau 8,000 feet up, we reached our destination, the Folly Ranch, owned by Eleanor Donnelley. At least 16 lovely girls, mostly Eleanor's Bryn Mawr classmates, were waiting to greet us--including my future wife, Frances "Bunny" Thorne. The place turned out to be heaven, or a reasonable facsimile thereof, with a swell cook, Folly the collie, and some active trout ponds." Several romances blossomed on the ranch that summer: Eleanor "Darn" Donnelley met Pardee Erdman and they married later that year; Bill Horne met Bunny Thorne, and they married in 1929, spending their honeymoon at Folly Ranch. As a thank you following his stay, Hemingway gifted to the ranch in 1929 a pewter bowl he'd had engraved with the words "HEMINGWAY-HORNE TROPHY, Folly Ranch Loving Cup, 1928 Darn-Pardee, 1929 Bunny-Bill." Worden tells the rest of the story of the trophy and how it eventually came to reside in The Wyoming Room of the Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library in the "Love and Folly" blog post and invites readers interested in reading additional "Cockeyed True Stories" to sign up for her newsletter on her darlaworden.com author website. "It's fun to have a place to share some of these stories about Ernest Hemingway, his second wife, Pauline Pfeiffer, their friends, and Ernest and Pauline's time in Wyoming that I discovered while researching 'Cockeyed Happy,'" says Worden. "I hated to just shut them away in a file drawer once the book was published." Called "an immersive debut," by Publisher's Weekly and "an enticing story" that's "a lot of fun to read" by the Denver Post, among other acclaim, "Cockeyed Happy" reveals the little-known tale of Hemingway's impactful time in Wyoming, as well as the often-overlooked story of his marriage to second wife Pauline Pfeiffer. Chronicling the highs and lows of the couple's relationship through Wild West adventures over six summers from 1928 to 1939, "Cockeyed Happy" is now available in paperback, as well as hardcover and eBook editions. About Darla Worden: Wyoming native Darla Worden lives in Denver, Colorado, where she is editor in chief of "Mountain Living" magazine. Worden also is founder and director of the Left Bank Writers Retreat in Paris and a journalist known for articles about art, architecture, travel and the West. Her quest to uncover the story of Hemingway's time in Wyoming was first sparked when she learned the author had spent a summer in her hometown of Sheridan and nearby Big Horn, Wyoming. For additional information about "Cockeyed Happy" and related book events, visit darlaworden.com or follow @authordarlaworden on Facebook and @darlaworden on Instagram. Read the full story at https://www.prweb.com/releases/author_darla_worden_reveals_behind_the_scenes_hemingway_story_of_love_and_folly/prweb19270182.htm SAN FRANCISCO (PRWEB) April 06, 2023 Join the city's biggest bash as CrawlSF and Funcheap present the highly-anticipated 415 Day Pub Crawl, a lively celebration of everything that makes San Francisco special. Scheduled for Saturday, April 15, from 4PM to 10PM, the event will feature an exhilarating blend of San Francisco style, cultural references, and an unforgettable journey through some of the city's best-loved bars. San Francisco's 415 Day is a unique local celebration that pays homage to the city's renowned 415 area code. With its roots dating back to the 1970s, this special day has become a cherished tradition for locals who come together to honor the diverse culture, creativity, and charm of the City by the Bay. This year's 415 Day Pub Crawl promises to be the ultimate tribute to San Francisco's rich history and vibrant spirit. Ticket prices for the 415 Day Pub Crawl start at just $12, increasing as the event draws closer. Each ticket includes admission to the event, drink specials, access to live DJ sets, free entry to participating bars, and exclusive party favors. To secure your tickets, visit the event website at https://crawlsf.com/event/415-day-pub-crawl/. The 415 Day Pub Crawl kicks off at Mayes Oyster House (1233 Polk Street, San Francisco, CA 94123), where attendees can check in, collect their wristbands, and receive their pub crawl maps. From there, revelers can embark on a memorable journey through some of San Francisco's best bars, including Wreck Room, California Jacks, Barley, Amsterdam Cafe, McTeagues, Decodance, El Lopo, Route 101, Lush Lounge, and more! This unparalleled celebration is the perfect opportunity for locals and visitors alike to immerse themselves in San Francisco's unique atmosphere, making new friends and memories as they navigate the city's iconic streets. Don't miss out on this unforgettable tribute to the heart and soul of San Francisco grab your tickets now and join the party! For more information on the 415 Day Pub Crawl, visit the event microsite at https://415crawl.com/. Follow CrawlSF and Funcheap on social media for the latest updates and announcements. About CrawlSF: CrawlSF is a premier event organizer in San Francisco, specializing in pub crawls, themed parties, and unique experiences that showcase the city's vibrant nightlife and culture. About Funcheap: Funcheap is a go-to resource for discovering the best of San Francisco's events, activities, and deals, helping locals and visitors uncover the city's hidden gems and make the most of their time in the Bay Area. Read the full story at https://www.prweb.com/releases/2023/4/prweb19268539.htm Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation. Reputable Bangkok-based B2B gem manufacturer offers an impressive collection of the finest quality gemstones with competitive pricing, emphasizing high customer satisfaction as its priority. A brilliant-cut oval-shaped stone and still the largest of the rare Paraiba tourmaline stones, when the Ethereal Carolina Divine Paraiba was first unveiled a decade ago, it drew gasps of awe among gemstone collectors across the world. Often described as the color of paradise and much sought after for its intense neon scintillations in varying hues of vivid blue and green, Paraiba tourmaline is a rare gem, with one mined for every 10,000 diamonds. Located on the lofty heights of the Jewelry Trade Center in the heart of the gemstone capital of the world, Bangkok, Star Lanka has been manufacturing and distributing fine natural gemstones since 1985. It is one of the few gemstone manufacturers with access to reliable sources of quality Paraiba tourmaline gemstones. Paraiba is considered one of the most valuable gemstones, with prices soaring exponentially in recent years. Star Lankas collection offers a variety of tourmalines with a sublime range of colors, from lime green and frost white to neon green, and in varying saturation, tone, and weight. With its vast experience in gemstone manufacturing, global distribution network, and realistic valuation competence, Star Lanka has risen above other dealers in the niche. And while the company aims high, it has not forgotten its humble beginnings, offering its products across a wide price range to meet the budgets of any customer. Its tourmalines range from under $1,000 to over $60,000, catering to special requests from high-end customers with unique requirements. For more information, visit https://www.starlanka.com/gemstones/paraiba-tourmaline/ Founded by Veera Salahudeen, an amicable man steeped in manufacturing and trading the finest gemstones of all varieties, Star Lanka specializes in all varieties of gemstones, from rubies and garnets to an impressive collection of Tourmalines. The founders passion is reflected in each of its finely crafted jewelry and its experts have gained the experience and expertise to perfect the reshaping, resizing, and polishing of the gemstone to turn precious stones into an exclusive piece. This passion for customer satisfaction and beauty is visible in the quality of its stock. The luster and fire within the minerals are maximized by its experts according to each mineral's properties, maximizing the splendor of each gem. Star Lankas objective is to bring the best nature has to offer in its purest form and in the most transparent way possible to its customers. Transparency is a key part of the industry and the company is committed to sharing those values with its clientele. Its in-house expert lapidarist has access to state-of-the-art equipment, ensuring the fine craftsmanship of the highest order. Star Lanka also employs technology as a collaborative platform to unite jewelry designers and gemstone dealers. Its use of the revolutionary Charmes Jewelry rendering system offers a mechanism for gem dealers to list their products in any design created by the designers. Over the years, Star Lanka has honed its manufacturing skills to perfect the reshaping, resizing, and polishing of gemstones into precious stones of exquisite quality. True to its founding principles, the companys integrity and sincerity stand testimony to its stellar reputation. About the Company: Located on the 50th floor of the Jewelry Trading Center in Silom Road, in the gemstone district of Bangkok, Star Lanka is a gemstone company that stands out for its commitment to quality, sustainability, and ethical practices. Its extensive experience in the industry, combined with its dedication to excellence nurtured by its founder, Veera Salahudeen, makes the company a trusted source for some of the world's most beautiful and sought-after gemstones. Contact Info: Name: Suhail S Email: Send Email Organization: Star Lanka Address: 919/604 Jewelry Trade Center, 50th Floor Silom Road, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand Phone: +662-235-6954 Website: https://www.starlanka.com/ Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqXAqHV3TEVkM02a9jx9Jdg Release ID: 89093961 If you detect any issues, problems, or errors in this press release content, kindly contact [email protected] to notify us. We will respond and rectify the situation in the next 8 hours. PHNOM PENH, Cambodia , April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Cambodia is leading Southeast Asia 's transition to cleaner energy, and it's gaining momentum. Following the submission of the country's long-term strategy for carbon neutrality to the United Nations , the Royal Government introduced the Power Development Masterplan (PDP) and the National Energy Efficiency Policy (NEEP) to the public. These initiatives demonstrate the government's unwavering commitment to the energy transition and the nation's first long-term energy plan for coordinated and strategic energy direction. "By adopting best practices, we can reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, create new jobs, and position Cambodia as a leader in the region," said Prime Minister Hun Sen . "Investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy is key to building a more sustainable future for our people and our planet." Energy efficiency is a critical aspect of Cambodia 's clean energy transition, with the government committing to reducing energy consumption by 19% in relation to business-as-usual levels by 2030. The National Energy Efficiency Policy lays out strategic directions, priority areas, and sectoral targets, with Minister of Mines and Energy, Suy Sem , stating that "To harness the full potential of energy efficiency, developing a robust policy and regulatory framework, building stakeholder capacity, raising awareness of the benefits, and supporting private sector investment are crucial." Furthermore, Cambodia is currently working with Singapore to become a major exporter of clean energy in the region. The deal, which is still at the commercial negotiation stage, would see Singapore importing 1 GW of renewable energy annually from Cambodia , making up a quarter of their low-carbon electricity imports by 2035. The potential exports to Singapore would contribute to Cambodia 's positive impact on the world and solidify its position as a leader in the clean energy industry in the region while mitigating the impact of climate change on the planet. "By prioritizing renewable energy sources, Cambodia is creating a competitive economic advantage while mitigating the impact of climate change and promoting sustainable development," said Minister of Environment Say Sam Al . "Investing in energy efficiency and clean energy technologies creates new economic opportunities and enhances the well-being of our citizens. Cambodia 's unwavering dedication to a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable development path will inspire others to join us in the global effort towards a cleaner, healthier, and more prosperous future." As Cambodia continues to build towards an inclusive and competitive economy, the Power Development Masterplan and the National Energy Efficiency Policy will ensure that power prices remain stable and affordable. This will help Cambodia reach its development goals across sectors and position itself as a key player in the region on energy efficiency and renewable energy. Bold and visionary leadership in transitioning towards clean and green energy sources is crucial for securing a sustainable and prosperous future for all. Cambodia 's commitment to sustainable energy and energy efficiency not only creates economic opportunities, promotes public health, and enhances the overall well-being of its citizens but also gives the country a competitive advantage in the regional marketplace. With ambitious goals and continued investment in sustainable technologies, Cambodia 's positive impact on the world will be felt for generations to come. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cambodia-takes-bold-steps-in-energy-efficiency-leadership-paving-the-way-for-major-renewable-energy-deal-with-singapore-301789666.html TAIPEI , April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cathay Financial Holdings (Cathay FHC) and the World Climate Foundation (WCF) have officially announced the signing of partnership for the third consecutive year. Cathay FHC president Chang-Ken Lee and WCF founder/CEO Jens Nielsen met in an online ceremony to address the importance of climate finance as well as the importance of strengthening collective global efforts and partnerships, in response to the threat of climate change. As WCF's first committed global strategic partner in 2023, Cathay FHC is continuing its long-running dedication to accelerating and implementing climate finance. Lee emphasized the important role financial institutions play in promoting sustainable economic development through intermediation and risk-management functions, and by linking investments to the real economy. This facilitates and supports the flow of financial instruments and services for the fulfillment of sustainable business practices, investments, green-energy transition, NBS implementation, environmental and social projects, and more. Lee also highlighted the significance of Cathay FHC's partnership with WCF. Starting as the first WCF strategic partner from Taiwan at COP26 in 2021, Cathay FHC has played a key role in channeling global green transitions to Asia in hopes of helping the Asian market prioritize climate-risk mitigation. In 2022, this interconnectedness grew even deeper. Cathay FHC live-streamed WCF's major eventthe World Climate Summit, which took place in Egypt's Sham El Sheikh , alongside COP27 . "The sharing of global experiences by major leaders from different governments, industries, academia, and civil societies is important in helping Taiwan and Asia in embracing the challenges towards a net-zero economy," stated Lee. Lee hopes that by being actively engaged in WCF's planned roadmap to COP28 eventssuch as the Climate Investment Summit in London alongside London Climate Week; the World Biodiversity Summit alongside UNGA 78 and Climate Week NYC; and the largest ever World Climate Summit at COP in Dubaimore urgent issues, including finance transition, energy safety, food security, geopolitical risk, biodiversity, etc., will be discussed and resolved. Jens Nielsen , the founder and CEO of World Climate Foundation , reiterated the importance of the financial sector by quoting the COP28 President, Sultan Al Jaber's remark: "The lynchpin to all progress is climate finance. We need urgent reform of international financial institutions and multilateral development banks." Nielsen is delighted to continue partnering with Cathay FHC. "It has been a highly successful long-term collaboration," he stated. "Cathay FHC is an important player, not just in the Asia-Pacific but also globally, particularly in light of how strong a focus finance and investment are, in terms of being key drivers, enabling the positive transition to a low-carbon economy, etc." He further invited Cathay FHC's leader, chairman Hong-Tu Tsai , to deliver the opening keynote on the second day of the World Climate SummitThe Investment COP. "What Cathay FHC demonstrates is suitably positioned and aligned with our strong focus on finance," Nielsen added. The World Climate Foundation is the biggest and most influential global platform focused on action and impact on climate, biodiversity, and healthy resilience. For over a decade, WCF have facilitated large-scale collaboration between governments, businesses, financial institutions, and international organizations, accelerating the transition to a green economy. As a pioneering frontrunner teaming up with WCF, Cathay FHC hopes to encourage and influence more in-depth climate actions across sectors. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cathay-financial-holdings-world-climate-foundations-first-global-strategic-partner-in-2023-aiming-to-accelerate-climate-finance-beyond-taiwan-301792327.html WASHINGTON , April 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) today applauds the signing of Kentucky bill HB 345, which will ensure access to Medicare Supplement also called Medigap -- coverage for Kentuckians under 65 living with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). This bill received resounding bipartisan support in both the Kentucky Senate , where it passed on a 37-0 vote, and in the Kentucky House of Representatives , which passed the measure on a 91-1 vote. HB 345, which was introduced by Representative Kimberly Poore Moser (R-District 64), allows Commonwealth residents under 65 to acquire affordable Medigap plans to supplement their Medicare coverage. In addition, the bill provides an annual 60-day window around an enrollee's birthday to switch insurers (though not the plan letter) to give them an opportunity to find more affordable premiums. "This legislation is a significant win not only for ESRD and ALS patients across Kentucky , but for their families as well," said Representative Moser . "I appreciate the immense support this bill received in the General Assembly . This bipartisan accomplishment will change the lives of thousands of Kentuckians, who can now be confident they will be able to afford their treatments and more easily qualify for transplants." " Kentucky now joins 15 other states that have enacted Medigap access and affordability laws, and 12 others which have an annual open enrollment period for Medigap enrollees to make changes to their coverage," said DPC Board President Andrew Conkling . "On behalf of DPC, I want to thank Representative Moser for her work on this bill and Governor Andy Beshear (D) for signing it into law. Now patients in Kentucky will not need to spend down assets to qualify for Medicaid and avoid going tens of thousands of dollars into debt just to afford life-saving treatment." Background While all patients with ESRD qualify for Medicare, it only covers the cost of 80 percent of the cost of care. Previously, Kentucky ESRD patients under 65 did not have access to affordable supplemental "Medigap" coverage to pay the remaining 20 percent. This forced patients to either pay that cost out of pocket upwards of $18,000 annually for dialysis patients or turn to expensive Medigap plans costing up to 250 percent more than those available to ESRD patients 65 and older. Further, some patients make the decision to spend down their assets to qualify for Medicaid to pay the 20% out-of-pocket costs. annually for dialysis patients or turn to expensive Medigap plans costing up to 250 percent more than those available to ESRD patients 65 and older. Further, some patients make the decision to spend down their assets to qualify for Medicaid to pay the 20% out-of-pocket costs. The benefits of this bill come at no fiscal impact to Kentucky , as Medicare Supplement policies are sold by private insurance companies. A study from the nationally recognized consulting firm Health Management Associates which utilized the latest fee-for-service Medicare claims data estimated that if insurers choose to raise their rates, it would likely be no more than a de minimis premium increase of up to 0.9 percent, or about $2.00 per month for the overall Medigap pool. , as Medicare Supplement policies are sold by private insurance companies. A study from the nationally recognized consulting firm which utilized the latest fee-for-service Medicare claims data estimated that if insurers choose to raise their rates, it would likely be no more than a premium increase of up to 0.9 percent, or about per month for the overall Medigap pool. The premium protection and birthday rule provisions included in HB 345 are modeled after legislation that Missouri has had in place since 2009. Today, there are more than 245 plans being offered by 37 insurers in Missouri for the under-age 65 market, signaling a truly healthy and competitive marketplace. has had in place since 2009. Today, there are more than 245 plans being offered by 37 insurers in for the under-age 65 market, signaling a truly healthy and competitive marketplace. Most transplant centers will not list ESRD patients on the active kidney transplant waitlist without secondary insurance coverage. Media Contact: Hannah Bracamonte [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dialysis-patient-citizens-applauds-kentucky-legislation-expanding-medigap-access-301792266.html SOURCE Dialysis Patient Citizens ORLANDO, Fla. , April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Fresh Express Incorporated is voluntarily recalling a limited quantity of three varieties of already-expired branded and private label salad kit products produced at the company's Morrow, Georgia facility out of an abundance of caution due to a possible health risk from Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products are no longer available for sale and no illnesses have been reported to date. Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. Consumers with these symptoms should consult their health care provider. The recall was initiated when it was learned a random sample test of a single salad kit with a Use-By Date of March 31, 2023 collected by the Georgia Department of Agriculture yielded a positive result for the Listeria pathogen. Recalled salad items all carry Product Code GO75 and Use-By Dates of March 31 or April 2, 2023 located on the front of the package. They were distributed through retailers in the states of Florida , Georgia , North Carolina , South Carolina and Virginia . Retailers have been instructed to ensure the recalled products are removed from all inventories. Consumers who might still have the recalled products in their refrigerators should discard and not consume them. A listing of products subject to this recall are summarized at the end of this announcement. To obtain a refund or for more information, consumers may call the Fresh Express Consumer Response Center at (800) 242-5472 between the hours of 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time . Refunds are also available where purchased. Brand Product Ounce UPC Codes Product Code Use-By Date Distribution States Fresh Express Caesar Chopped Kit 9.40 00071279309194 G075 4/2/2023 FL, GA, NC, SC Fresh Express Chopped Kit Chipotle Cheddar 11.3 00071279306049 G075 4/2/2023 FL, GA, NC, SC, VA Publix Makoto Honey Ginger Salad Kit 8.75 00071279309194 G075 3/31/2023 Fl, GA, NC View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fresh-express-incorporated-announces-precautionary-recall-of-expired-fresh-salad-kits-due-to-potential-health-risk-301792694.html SOURCE Fresh Express Gao will be speaking on a panel discussing blockchain and web3 CAMBRIDGE, Mass. , April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yida Gao , Founder and Managing General Partner at venture capital firm Shima Capital , will be amongst the esteemed guest speakers at the prestigious Harvard College China Forum . The event has been running for over 25 years and each year features dozens of business, government, and other luminaries in the Chinese community. The event in 2020 was fully remote and garnered over 8 million views, followed by a move to Beijing in 2021 and hybrid in 2022. This year, the Harvard College China Forum returns to Massachusetts for a fully in-person event between April 7-9 . All told, there will be over 10 panels and 70 speakers. "It's truly a thrill to be invited to this event," said Yida Gao , who has attended the conference in the past but is a first time speaker this year. "The guest list is, like every year before, filled with some of the biggest names in the Chinese business community and beyond. I'm honored to be here with them." Mr. Gao's panel, which takes the stage on Sunday the 9th, will discuss Blockchain and Web3. He'll be joined by some of his peers from the business world: Herbie Fu , Partner, Infinity Ventures Crypto, Venture partner, Alpha Square Group ; KJ Jia, Partner at OnePiece Labs ; David Shuttleworth , Managing Director, Binance Labs , Ex Consensys; and Potter Li, Cofounder, EthSign. The Harvard College China Forum was founded in 1997 and is dedicated to a constructive dialogue on the challenges, trends, and issues affecting China . The forum aims to engage leaders in business, academia, and politics in a discourse that offers insights and generates ideas. Past speakers include Jack Ma , Co-Founder and Executive Chairman Alibaba Group; Jin Liqun, President of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank ; and Ray Dalio , Founder, Co-CIO, and Co-Chairman of Bridgewater Associates . Mr. Gao looks forward to having discussions with some of the greatest minds in the community. For more on Yida Gao and Shima Capital , visit www.yidagao.com and www.shima.capital. About Yida Gao Yida Gao (Forbes 30 Under 30) is the Managing General Partner of early stage crypto investment firm Shima Capital . Yida formerly co-ran Struck Capital , an early stage industry agnostic venture fund, and also DDC (Divergence Digital Currency), a multi-strategy crypto fund. Prior, Yida served as a technology investor at New Enterprise Associates , a $25Bn+ venture capital fund, and as an M&A investment banker at Morgan Stanley. He graduated from MIT with degrees in mathematics and computer science and dropped out of Stanford's Graduate School of Business to pursue crypto investing full time in 2017. He teaches the 15.492: Crypto Finance course at MIT . Contact: ***@shima.capital Photo(s): https://www.prlog.org/12959046 Press release distributed by PRLog View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/harvard-china-forum-2023-includes-yida-gao-of-shima-capital-301792641.html Bids Due April 18, 2023 NEW YORK , April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hilco Streambank presents the opportunity to acquire the brand, patents, finished inventory, tooling and additional assets associated with the all33 ergonomic office chair brand. The all33 ergonomic chair revolutionized the office chair industry with its patented hinged pivot solution, keeping all 33 vertebrae engaged while sitting. The system keeps the user from slouching, allowing for movement with flexibility and core strength. The Sit in Motion technology acts like a swing to relieve crucial pressure points while providing lumbar support. Bids are due on or before April 18, 2023 , at 12:00 p.m. (ET) , and an auction will be conducted on April 20, 2023 , at 12:00 p.m. (ET) . Hilco Streambank Senior Vice President Richelle Kalnit commented, "The all33 brand revolutionized the office chair industry with a patent portfolio that provides broad coverage for a range of seating applications. An acquirer of the all33 assets has the opportunity to leverage the brand and its technology to create seating solutions for theaters, airplanes, trucks and automobiles, and other seating environments." Interested parties should click here for additional information or contact Hilco Streambank directly. The assets are being offered pursuant to Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code on behalf of the secured lender. The assets will be sold free and clear of the secured lender's lien and any subordinate security interests in the assets. The assets are being sold without recourse to the seller and its attorneys, agents or representatives. The seller does not claim title to the assets being sold hereunder and disclaims any warranty of title, possession and the like in the sale. About Hilco Streambank: Hilco Streambank is a market-leading advisory firm specializing in intellectual property disposition and valuation. Having completed numerous transactions, including sales in publicly reported transactions, private transactions, and online sales through IPv4.Global, Hilco Streambank has established itself as the premier intermediary in the consumer brand, internet, and telecom communities. Hilco Streambank is part of Northbrook, Illinois -based Hilco Global , the world's leading authority on maximizing the value of business assets by delivering valuation, monetization, and advisory solutions to an international marketplace. Hilco Global operates more than twenty specialized business units offering services that include asset valuation and appraisal, retail and industrial inventory acquisition and disposition, real estate, and strategic capital equity investments. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hilco-streambank-presents-brand-and-patent-acquisition-opportunity-all33-ergonomic-office-chair-brand-301792533.html SOURCE Hilco Streambank Dubai International (DXB) recently welcomed Cyprus Airways inaugural flight from Larnaca, which arrived at Terminal 1. The carrier is operating three weekly flights between the two destinations on a 180-seat capacity Airbus A320 aircraft. Connecting Cyprus to the UAE, the route is expected to generate multiple connectivity options with the Middle East, Far East and other global destinations while boosting tourism and business on both sides. DXB is currently connected to 230 destinations across 95 plus countries via more than 85 international airlines. TradeArabia News Service BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. The Intergovernmental Commission plays an important role in determining promising areas of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan's Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov said at the 19-th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan Intergovernmental Commission, Trend reports. "I am confident that this meeting will give impetus to our cooperation," he said. He noted that currently Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are participating in a number of projects. He added that the relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are strengthening thanks to the political will of the heads of the two countries. The energy minister went on to say that during the visit of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev to Azerbaijan in August 2022, a comprehensive program for the development of collaboration for 2022-2026 was signed, which will become a roadmap for the cooperation between the two countries. Noting the importance of trade relations, the minister said that the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan increased by more than 4.4 times and reached $598 million. Furthermore, Shahbazov touched on the issue of cooperation in the field of transportation. He also noted the critically important significance of the transport cooperation between the two countries, adding that Baku is ready to support it as part of the existing routes. Speaking about the energy field, Shahbazov noted the significance of the five-year agreement signed between the national oil and gas companies of the countries - SOCAR and KazMunayGas. He also spoke about green energy, adding that Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are efficiently exchanging experience in this field. He concluded by noting Azerbaijan's readiness to cooperate with companies from Kazakhstan, both in the field of traditional and renewable energy. SHANGHAI , April 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Greener's Distributed Generation Strategic Study, Jinko Solar was the leader for PV modules volume imported in Brazil last year with 3,065 MWp imported, confirming once again its lead in the Brazilian solar PV market. As a result, Jinkosolar is expected to surpass a market share of 17.6% in Brazil for the first time. This marks a significant achievement for the solar module manufacturer as it continues to gain market share despite more brands hitting the market. About this success, Alberto Cuter , General Manager for Latin America and Italy commented, "The excellent result obtained in 2022 gave us further motivation to continue investing in the country. Over 60% of sales are related to the new Tiger NEO, demonstrating that the Brazilian market is very attentive to products quality. And this keeps us positive towards a further strengthening of Jinko's market share in 2023" and continues "I really want to thanks all our brazilian partners who contributes to this incredible success promoting JinkoSolar high quality products". JinkoSolar entered in the Brazilian Market in 2012 seeing from the very first stag, the potential of this big market and understanding since the beginning the necessity to establish a local team. These huge results and achievements are now the results of all the past choices we did, never stop believing in the potentiality of this country, but also the results of the strong and faithful relationship we built together with our main partner both in Utility and in DG segments and for sure, in the last year, the launch of the N-type Topcon Tiger Neo Modules that have thrilled the market. At present, we are accompanying this growth with an ever-growing team that not only operates in sales, but also operates in the technical, logistics, marketing and operations services. Among the 71 brands that supplied solar panels to Brazil in 2022, the 10 with the highest volume were responsible for 81% of the total imported. In addition, the consultancy pointed out that the volume of modules demanded by the Brazilian market in 2022 to meet solar generation exceeded 17 GW, up 73% compared to 2021 (10.3 GW). In total, according to the survey, investments in excess of R$ 64 billion were made possible for both DG (distributed generation) and GC (centralized generation). View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jinko-solar-leads-solar-photovoltaic-market-in-brazil-in-2022-301792298.html EAST PALESTINE, Ohio , April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Gary M. Klinger of the national law firm Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman , PLLC ("Milberg") has been appointed to the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee for a group of consolidated lawsuits over the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio . Since the crash of a train operated by Norfolk Southern on February 3 , plaintiffs have filed more than two dozen class action lawsuits against the rail operator. On April 5 , U.S. District Judge Benita Y. Pearson from the Northern District of Ohio issued an order consolidating the cases, which focus on diminished property values and residents' exposure to toxic and carcinogenic chemicals stemming from the derailment. Judge Pearson also chose a leadership structure to oversee the litigation. Milberg's Gary Klinger will serve on the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee, where he will work with other lead lawyers on the case to represent the classes of those impacted by the Ohio train disaster. "The East Palestine train derailment is one of the worst environmental disasters in our country's history, and Milberg is honored to have a leading voice in representing the victims of this terrible tragedy," said Milberg Senior Partner Marc Grossman . "We look forward to doing our part to help those who Norfolk Southern has treated as collateral damage in their multi-billion-dollar operation." Mr. Klinger filed the East Palestine train derailment class action Barnhouse v. Norfolk Southern Corporation. The lawsuit claims that Norfolk was negligent in its operation of the freight train that released hundreds of thousands of pounds of toxic chemicals when it derailed in East Palestine , exposing nearby residents to the known carcinogens vinyl chloride and ethylhexyl acrylate, among other toxins. It seeks loss of property value and medical monitoring damages for anyone within a 15-mile radius of the derailment site. Norfolk Southern made the controversial decision to ignite containers carrying vinyl chloride to avoid a potential explosion that they say would have caused more damage to the region. East Palestine residents, cleanup crews, and federal investigators studying the derailment have reported symptoms such as sore throat, headaches, coughing, rashes, and nausea. Despite assurances from Norfolk Southern that the town's air, soil, and water are safe, scientists conducting independent research in the area say the long-term implications of the disaster are still unknown, and that residents could face long-term health risks. About Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, PLLC : For over 50 years, Milberg and its affiliates have been fighting to protect victims' rights and have recovered over $50 billion for clients. A pioneer in class action litigation, Milberg is widely recognized as a leader in defending the rights of victims of corporate wrongdoing. Media Contact: Karine Lim [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/milbergs-gary-m-klinger-named-to-leadership-role-in-ohio-train-derail-litigation-301792618.html FILE PHOTO: Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan's top representative in U.S., speaks during an event with Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen and members of the Taiwanese community, in New York, U.S., in this handout picture released March 30, 2023. Taiwan Presidential Off By Liz Lee and Ben Blanchard BEIJING/TAIPEI (Reuters) -China has imposed further sanctions on Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan's de facto ambassador to the United States, prohibiting her and family members from entering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, state media reported on Friday. The sanctions announced by China's Taiwan Affairs Office also ban investors and firms related to Hsiao from cooperating with mainland organisations and individuals. They come after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during a stopover in the United States this week. "Wow, the PRC (People's Republic of China) just sanctioned me again, for the second time," Hsiao tweeted in response to the announcement. China's Foreign Ministry also announced steps against the United States' Hudson Institute and Reagan Library and their heads, saying both institutions provided a platform and facilities for what it called Tsai's separatist activities. Taiwan's Foreign Ministry reacted angrily, saying China had no right to "butt in" when it came to Tsai's overseas trips and that Beijing was "deceiving itself" if it thought the sanctions would have any effect. "It not only deepens our people's antipathy but exposes the irrational and ridiculous nature of the communist regime," it said. China considers Taiwan its own territory and not a separate country. Taiwan's government disputes China's claim. The Chinese foreign ministry said it has immediately restricted universities, institutions, and other organisations and individuals in China from engaging and cooperating with the Hudson Institute and Reagan Library and their leaders. China has also banned the leaders from entering the country, and frozen any properties they have in China, it said. Hudson Institute in a statement said it was proud to host Tsai and that it stands "firmly with Taiwan and against the CCP," referring to the Chinese Communist Party. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute said it was proud of its decision to host Tsai's meeting with McCarthy and "will not shy away from living up to President Reagan's expectation that the library bearing his name be a 'dynamic intellectual forum'". Chinese sanctions will have little practical impact as senior Taiwanese officials do not visit China while Chinese courts do not have jurisdiction in Taiwan. China imposed similar sanctions on The Prospect Foundation, which is headed by a former Taiwanese foreign minister, and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats, a multinational alliance that Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) co-founded in 1993. China's Taiwan Affairs Office accused the institutions of promoting the idea of "Taiwan independence" internationally. The Prospect Foundation expressed "strong regret" at the decision, saying in a statement that it would "still uphold the spirit of academic independence and the principle of defending Taiwan's sovereignty". The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats said the sanctions were "unfortunate" but that it stands by its programmes and activities to advance democracy, human rights and rule of law for everyone in Asia. Last August, after then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, China imposed sanctions including an entry ban on seven Taiwanese officials and lawmakers including Hsiao, whom it accused of being "independence diehards," drawing condemnation from the democratically governed island. Others on the August sanctions list include Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu; Wellington Koo, Secretary-General of Taiwan's National Security Council; and DPP politicians. DPP lawmaker Chao Tien-lin told reporters at parliament the sanctions on Hsiao were "absurd." "This will have no impact on her," he said. (Reporting by Liz Lee and Beijing newsroom and Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Additional reporting by Michael Martina in Washington; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman, Lincoln Feast, Mark Heinrich, Barbara Lewis and Mark Porter) BEIJING (Reuters) - A Chinese court has jailed six people for up to 11 years for the abuse of a woman whose appearance last year in an online video chained by the neck sparked a public outcry and calls for the better protection of women. The video, which surfaced in January last year, showed the woman in an apparently confused state in the eastern province of Jiangsu. It was seen by millions, stirring debate about the treatment of women and in particular the trafficking of brides in rural areas. A man called Dong Zhimin had bought the woman for 5,000 yuan ($727.26) and had kept her chained up in a room without sun, electricity, and running water since 2017, the Jiangsu Xuzhou Intermediate People's Court said in a statement on Friday. Dong was jailed for nine years on Thursday for abuse and illegal imprisonment, the court said. The woman, who suffered from schizophrenia, had been sold twice bfore ending up with Dong. She had eight children during her time with Dong from 1999-2020, the court said. Another five people who bought and sold her were jailed for eight to 11 years for trafficking women, the court said. (Reporting by Albee Zhang and Ryan Woo) FILE PHOTO: An Airbus A320neo 'quiet jet' comes in to land at the ILA Berlin Air Show in Schoenefeld, south of Berlin, Germany, June 4, 2016. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke/File Photo By Tim Hepher and Sophie Yu PARIS/BEIJING (Reuters) - China and France will study the need for cargo planes and long-haul jets "in due course," a joint statement said on Friday, following a state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron. The comments suggest a more muted stance on the prospect for significant orders of large Airbus jets compared with the planemaker's best-selling A320neo medium-haul model, for which it is doubling production capacity in China. "The two countries will in due course study the freight and long-haul needs of Chinese airlines, depending on the recovery and development of China's air transport market and fleet," the statement wrapping up Macron's visit to Beijing said. It also welcomed an agreement giving delivery clearance for 150 A320neo and 10 A350 jets that Airbus had already sold to China. No new airplane orders were announced during the visit. Airbus is marketing a freighter version of its A350 jet and is keen to sell more wide-body passenger jets to China. It opened an A350 completion centre there in 2021. While domestic traffic has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels after extended COVID-19 lockdowns, international traffic is at about 30% of 2019 levels. Rival Boeing had been expected to secure a large order for its wide-body 787 before a chill in Sino-U.S. relations left the planemaker partially frozen out of China. With international demand still behind the rebound in domestic flying, analysts have said airlines have time to wait for an eventual detente and ensure maximum competition before making major long-haul fleet choices. The statement also said European and Chinese regulators would accelerate certification involving the Airbus H175 helicopter, Dassault Aviation 8X business jet and Harbin Y12F turboprop. The H175 was co-developed by Airbus Helicopters and Chinese aerospace conglomerate AVIC and is often used for ambulance or police service. The Chinese version is certified in the country but the French-produced one has yet to win the Chinese safety approval needed before it can be exported to China. Airbus Helicopters, the world's largest civil helicopter maker, separately announced a major deal for its new multi-mission H160 with the sale of 50 units to Chinese lessor GDAT. The deal was signed during Macron's visit and is the biggest since the helicopter, which is designed for missions like oil and gas or servicing wind farms, was launched in 2015. (Additional reporting by Ethan Wang; editing by Barbara Lewis) FILE PHOTO: TikTok app logo is seen in this illustration taken, August 22, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration BEIJING (Reuters) - China said Australia's "discriminatory" ban on TikTok from all federal government-owned devices harmed the interests of Australian businesses and the public, urging Canberra to treat all firms fairly, a commerce ministry statement said on Friday. "Australia treated TikTok differently from other social media platforms and adopted discriminatory restrictive measures, which are not conducive to maintaining Australia's national security," the statement said. China also urged Australia to create a favourable environment for bilateral economic and trade cooperation. (Reporting by Ellen Zhang, Judy Hua and Liz Lee; Editing by Jacqueline Wong) FILE PHOTO: A military helicopter, operated by the Houthis, flies over Sanaa, Yemen September 21, 2022 for the first time since the Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen and controlled the country's airspace in 2015. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah By Aziz El Yaakoubi and Mohammed Alghobari RIYADH/ADEN (Reuters) - Saudi and Omani envoys are planning to visit Yemen's capital Sanaa next week to negotiate a permanent ceasefire deal with Iran-aligned Houthi officials and end an eight-year-old conflict there, two people involved in the talks said. The move signals that regional rifts are easing after rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to restore relations last month following years of hostility and backing opposite sides in Middle Eastern conflicts, including Yemen. A visit by Saudi officials to Sanaa is an indication of progress in Oman-mediated talks between the kingdom and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, which run in parallel to United Nations peace efforts. Oman, which shares borders with Yemen, has been trying for years to bridge differences between Yemen's warring parties, and more broadly between Iran and Saudi Arabia and the United States. A permanent ceasefire in Yemen would mark a milestone in stabilising the Middle East. If an agreement is reached, the parties could announce it before Islam's Eid holiday starting April 20, the sources said. The Saudi and Yemeni governments did not immediately respond to requests for a comment. The Houthis, who ousted the internationally recognised government from Sanaa in late 2014, de facto control north Yemen and say they are rising up against a corrupt system and foreign aggression. They have been fighting against a Saudi-led military alliance since 2015 in a conflict that has killed tens of thousands and left 80% of Yemen's population dependent on humanitarian aid. FERTILISERS AND BATTERIES The discussions are focused on a full reopening of Yemen's ports and airports, payment of wages for public servants, a rebuilding process and a political transition, the sources said. Saudi Arabia restarted its direct talks with the Houthi group last summer after both sides failed to renew a United Nations-brokered truce deal. The U.N. hopes to resume a peaceful political process which would lead to a transitional unity government, if a ceasefire agreement is reached. U.N. Special Envoy Hans Grundberg met with senior Omani and Houthi officials in Muscat this week and discussed ways to make progress towards an inclusive Yemeni-led political process, his office said. Following years of a bitter rivalry and armed conflicts between Saudi Arabia and Iran, their biggest trade partner China recently stepped in to work with both sides and improve relations. Beijing, concerned with stability in a region that covers most of its crude oil needs, recently brokered a deal between Riyadh and Tehran to restore diplomatic relations. In an additional sign of progress in Yemen's peace efforts, the Saudi-led coalition lifted eight-year-old restrictions on imports headed for Yemen's southern ports, allowing commercial ships to dock directly there, including Aden, the Saudi-backed government said. This follows the easing of restrictions in February on commercial goods entering the Houthi-held western port of Hodeidah, the country's main seaport. Abu Bakr Abeed, deputy head of Yemen's Chambers of Commerce, told Reuters ships would not have to stop at the Saudi Red Sea port of Jeddah for security checks for the first time since the Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015. Abeed said more than 500 types of goods would be allowed back in Yemen through southern ports, including fertilisers and batteries, after they were removed from a list of banned products. The Saudi-led coalition had since 2015 imposed severe restrictions on flow of goods into import-reliant Yemen, where war has devastated the economy, contributing to what the United Nations has called the world's worst humanitarian crisis. (Reporting by Aziz El Yaakoubi in Riyadh and Mohammed Alghobari in Aden; Additional reporting by Reyam Mokhashef in Aden; Writing by Aziz El Yaakoubi, Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Angus MacSwan) FILE PHOTO: Russian citizen Alexei Moskalyov, who is accused of discrediting the country's armed forces in the course of Russia-Ukraine military conflict, attends a court hearing in the town of Yefremov in the Tula region, Russia, March 27, 2023. SOTA/Han MOSCOW (Reuters) - Alexei Moskalyov, a Russian man who was charged with discrediting the country's army after his daughter drew an anti-war picture, is being held in Belarus, Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported, citing the Russian embassy in the country. TASS cited the embassy's press service as saying: "We confirm that citizen of the Russian Federation Alexei Moskalev was detained on the territory of the Republic of Belarus. Now he is in a pre-trial detention center in the city of Zhodino". Alexei Moskalyov was convicted of discrediting the armed forces and given a two-year jail term, leaving his daughter Maria, or Masha in the diminutive, in the hands of the state. Masha last year drew a picture in a school art class last year that featured Russian missiles flying towards Ukraine and the slogans "Glory to Ukraine" and "No to Putin, no to war", touching off her father's legal troubles. (Reporting by Felix Light; Editing by Alison Williams and Tomasz Janowski) FILE PHOTO: JPMorgan Chase Bank is seen in New York City, U.S., March 21, 2023. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs/File Photo (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co is being scrutinized by U.S. regulators for the due diligence the bank conducted on a number of its past acquisitions, the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) in the U.S. scheduled a specific audit of JPMorgan's deal making after the bank bought dozens of smaller companies in 2021 and 2022, the report said. This comes after the U.S. government filed criminal charges accusing Charlie Javice, the founder of the now-shuttered college financial aid company Frank, of defrauding JPMorgan into buying the startup for $175 million in 2021. Javice, 31, was charged by the Department of Justice with repeatedly lying to the largest U.S. bank by claiming that Frank had lined up 4.25 million student customers when in fact she had data for only about 300,000. JPMorgan had sued Javice and Olivier Amar, who was Frank's chief growth officer, in Delaware federal court in December. The OCC audit was scheduled before JPMorgan's lawsuit, the report said. Javice filed counterclaims in February, accusing JPMorgan of having "compromised her reputation" and wrongfully withheld $28 million of retention payments and equity. The bank shut down Frank in January, and Chief Executive Jamie Dimon branded the acquisition a "huge mistake" in a Jan. 13 conference call with analysts. JPMorgan and the OCC did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment. (Reporting by Baranjot Kaur in Bengaluru; Editing by Jamie Freed) FILE PHOTO: Harvey Weinstein departs New York Criminal Court following another day of jury deliberations in his sexual assault trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., February 21, 2020. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File Photo By Daniel Wiessner (Reuters) -A former model has filed a lawsuit claiming a one-time executive at movie studio Miramax raped her after luring her to a hotel with the promise of a meeting with the company's then-Chief Executive Harvey Weinstein. The lawsuit was filed in New York state court on Thursday by Sara Ziff, who says the alleged assault by Fabrizio Lombardo, the former head of Miramax in Italy, took place in 2001 when she was 19 years old. Ziff says she was an aspiring actress at the time and had attended a private movie screening in New York with Lombardo, who was in his early 40s. She claims the assault took place afterward in a hotel where she was told she would be meeting with Weinstein to discuss her career. Miramax at the time was owned by Walt Disney Co, which sold the movie studio to an investment group in 2010. The lawsuit names Weinstein, Miramax and Disney as defendants, claiming they were aware that Lombardo was a "danger to women whom he encountered at work," but did nothing to prevent him from victimizing her. Disney and Miramax did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday. Lombardo could not immediately be reached for comment. Allegations that Weinstein sexually assaulted models and actresses helped fuel the #MeToo movement that began in 2017. He has been convicted of sex crimes in New York and California and sentenced to a combined 39 years in prison. According to Ziff's lawsuit, Lombardo and Weinstein were "very close" and Weinstein was best man at Lombardo's 2003 wedding. Imran Ansari, a lawyer for Weinstein, said in an email on Friday that Weinstein had no knowledge of or control over Lombardo's conduct. "As such, Mr. Weinstein firmly denies that he has any liability for the alleged conduct of another," Ansari said. Ziff is accusing Lombardo of sexual battery and gender-motivated violence, and accuses Weinstein and the companies of negligent supervision. She is seeking unspecified damages for lost earnings, mental anguish and emotional distress. The lawsuit was brought under a New York law passed last year creating a one-year window for adult victims of alleged sexual abuse to file lawsuits that otherwise would have been barred because the cases were too old. (Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi, Bill Berkrot and Rosalba O'Brien) Details added (first published: 6 April 2023 19:44) BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 6. Under the leadership of the head of the Azerbaijani state, important measures are taken to increase the stability and safety in the country as well as strengthen the fight against crime and ensure efficient cooperation in this field, the press service of the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan told Trend. Azerbaijan, actively participating in the global fight against crime, contributes to increasing the effectiveness of international cooperation in this area, improving the relevant conventions, and adapting them to modern challenges. Meanwhile, the country's Ministry of Justice puts forward proposals in this area and takes an active part in the development of new agreements. Last year, Azerbaijan ratified the fourth additional protocol to the European Convention "On Extradition", which serves to increase the efficiency of the extradition procedure. Additionally, efficient cooperation is carried out in this area. Meanwhile, given the importance of the second additional protocol to the European Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, which contains such issues as sending relevant requests in electronic form, conducting interrogations via videoconferencing, expanding the scope of the convention, etc., and including issues of increasing efficiency and responsiveness in the fight against crime, Azerbaijan decided to join this Convention. In connection with the above, a signing ceremony of this protocol was held as part of Azerbaijan's Justice Minister Fikret Mammadov's visit to Strasbourg (France) in accordance with the powers given to him by the head of state. The event was attended by Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Bjrn Berge, and other officials. Bjrn Berge noted the high level of cooperation of the Council of Europe with Azerbaijan and said that in May the Council will hold a summit with the heads of member countries. During the conversation, the issue of Azerbaijani citizens suffering from Armenian mines was discussed. In this regard, a report prepared by the Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency was presented. As part of the visit, a bilateral meeting was held in Strasbourg with the judge of the European Court of Human Rights, Siofra O'Leary. At the meeting, where the fruitful cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Court was noted, detailed information was provided on the progressive judicial and legal reforms being carried out in Azerbaijan. Furthermore, it was noted that particular attention is attached to implementation of international norms and case law in the administration of justice. It was noted how important it is to raise national specialists, to involve international experts, etc. At the same time, an exchange of opinions was held on the challenges facing the European Court of Justice, including the high workload and ways to cope with it. Also, other issues of interest were discussed. The event was attended by Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to the Council of Europe Fakhreddin Ismayilov and Judge of the European Court from Azerbaijan Latif Huseynov. Israeli officials work at the scene of a shooting attack in Tel Aviv, Israel April 7, 2023. REUTERS/Nir Elias TEL AVIV (Reuters) - An Italian tourist was killed and five other tourists were wounded in a Tel Aviv car ramming attack on Friday, Israeli and Italian officials said. An Israeli security source identified the assailant as an Israeli Arab from the town of Kafr Qassem. A police officer who was nearby arrived at the scene to find several people wounded and an overturned car near a popular Tel Aviv promenade. The officer "neutralized" the driver when he tried to pull a gun, police said. The car had veered off the street near a popular bike and walking path along the beach. Reuters video from shortly after the incident showed a white car upside down on the grass of a park. Police cordoned off the area that was brimming with emergency responders. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed on Twitter that the man killed was Italian. It was the second deadly attack on Friday, after two Israeli sisters were killed when their car was shot up in the occupied West Bank. A U.S. State Department spokesperson said on Friday that the U.S. "strongly condemns today's terrorist attacks...The three horrific attacks today, in which three were killed and at least eight others wounded, affected citizens of Israel, Italy, and the United Kingdom. The targeting of innocent civilians of any nationality is unconscionable." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed police "to mobilize all reserve border police units and has directed the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) to mobilize additional forces to confront the terror attacks," his office said. Israel's Magen David Adom ambulance service said all the victims in the Tel Aviv attack were tourists. The police said four reserve companies of border police would be called up in the coming days. (Reporting by Rami Amichay, Ari Rabinovitch, Dan Williams; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Diane Craft) Far right political party Chega leader Andre Ventura gestures during a rally on the final day of campaigning ahead of Portugal's general election, in Lisbon, Portugal, January 28, 2022. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes LISBON (Reuters) - Portuguese party Chega will hold a world summit in Lisbon with several far-right party leaders in May, including former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and Italian deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini, the president of Chega said on Friday. In a video statement, the president of Chega, Andre Ventura, said Bolsonaro and Salvini "already accepted the invitation to the great right-wing world summit" on the 13th and 14th of May. "The presence of Jair Bolsonaro, Matteo Salvini and many other leaders of the European right, places Lisbon as one of the strongest new centers of the right in Europe and one of the world references in the fight against socialism", he said. In January 2022, Portugal's ruling Socialist Party gained an unexpected outright majority and the Social Democrats finished second, but Chega increased its support and became the third largest party in parliament. In March, Ventura told journalists he also planned to invite Marine Le Pen of France or Geert Wilders of the Netherlands, leaders of far-right parties in their countries. (Reporting by Sergio Goncalves and Catarina Demony; Editing by David Gregorio) FILE PHOTO: Mykhailo Podolyak, a political adviser to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, speaks during an interview with Reuters, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine November 2, 2022. REUTERS/Sergiy Voloshyn KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's president and top security brass discussed ways to prevent leaks of military information at a meeting on Friday, Kyiv said, after secret documents detailing Western help for Ukraine reportedly ended up online. A statement about the meeting issued by the president's office did not say a leak had occurred. It also did not refer to a New York Times report that said documents about U.S. and NATO plans to build up the Ukrainian military had been leaked online. "The participants of the meeting focused on measures to prevent the leakage of information regarding the plans of the defence forces of Ukraine," a presidency statement said, detailing other topics that participants also discussed. The Times reported on Thursday that the Pentagon was investigating how documents about plans to build up Ukrainian forces before their planned counter-offensive against invading Russian forces were posted on social media channels this week. Reuters was not immediately able to review the leaked documents. A spokesperson for Ukrainian military intelligence said it was possible the information in the posts was entirely fictitious, and that there had been no leak. A preliminary analysis of the posts indicated they were made up of false and distorted casualty figures, and that some of the information was drawn from open sources, the spokesperson, Andriy Yusov, said. "We'll wait of course for official commentary (from the Pentagon), but I think the Ukrainian public has no grounds to worry," he said. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak told Reuters earlier that the posts looked like a Russian disinformation operation to sow doubts about the counter-offensive. He said they contained a "very large amount of fictitious information" and that Russia appeared to be trying to seize back the initiative in its invasion, now in its 14th month. "These are just standard elements of operational games by Russian intelligence. And nothing more," Podolyak said in a written statement. Ukrainian troops have for months faced a Russian onslaught in its east that has focused on the city of Bakhmut. Kyiv hopes its forces can launch a counter-offensive in the coming weeks or months to wrest back occupied territory. "Russia is looking for any ways to seize back the initiative," Podolyak said. "To try to influence the scenarios for Ukraine's counteroffensive plans. To introduce doubts, to compromise the ... ideas, and finally to intimidate (us) with how 'informed' they are." The Times report said the documents appeared to have been modified in certain parts. One part offered an estimate for Ukrainian military losses that was far higher than Western estimates made available so far. Ukraine does not disclose the scale of its losses and is very sensitive about the subject. (Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; writing by Tom Balmforth; editing by Jason Neely, Mark Heinrich and Jan Harvey) Members of Ukrainian special forces engage in zeroing their weapons prior to a mission, amid Russia?s attack on Ukraine, in the region of Bakhmut, Ukraine, April 6, 2023. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach By Pavel Polityuk KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine's leaders discussed ways to prevent leaks of military information on Friday after secret documents detailing U.S. and NATO efforts to help the country plan a counter-offensive against Russia's invasion reportedly appeared on social media. The New York Times said on Thursday, citing senior U.S. officials, that classified war documents were posted this week on Twitter and Telegram, which is widely used in Russia. A Ukrainian official told Reuters the documents contained a "very large amount of fictitious information" and the posts looked like a Russian disinformation operation to sow doubts about the offensive, which requires advanced Western weapons. "These are just standard elements of operational games by Russian intelligence. And nothing more," presidential official Mykhailo Podolyak said in a statement. The Kremlin did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The announcement by the presidential office of talks on Friday at the Ukrainian headquarters of the armed forces supreme command attended by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy made no mention of a leak having occurred. "The participants of the meeting focused on measures to prevent the leakage of information regarding the plans of the defence forces of Ukraine," it said. It was not clear whether the discussions centred on preventing leaks from within Ukraine or from among the Western partners it now shares information with, after an initial reluctance in the immediate aftermath of Russia's invasion. The Times said the documents did not reveal when or where the offensive would take place but that the leak could affect trust between the allies as it gave timetables for the delivery of weaponry and Ukrainian troops trained by the West. They appeared to have been modified in places, overstating American estimates of Ukrainian war dead and underestimating Russian military casualties, the paper said, adding that U.S. officials were working to get the posts taken down. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. Reuters was not immediately able to review the documents. Asked to comment, a Pentagon spokesperson said: "We are aware of the reports of social media posts and the department is reviewing the matter." Three U.S. officials told Reuters in Washington that Russia or pro-Russian elements were likely to have been behind the leak. One document posted on social media said 16,000 to 17,500 Russian forces had been killed since the invasion. The United States believes the actual figure is much higher, at around 200,000 Russians killed and wounded, officials say. BAKHMUT AT RISK British intelligence said earlier that Russian forces were threatening a key supply route to Bakhmut, the focus of their assault for months which Ukraine has said it is defending to wear the invaders down before its counter-offensive. The Ukrainian military said it was holding on in the city but the situation was difficult. Zelenskiy said on Wednesday that if his troops came under risk of encirclement they would pull back from Bakhmut - one of the last urban centres in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk province yet to fall to Russian forces. Donetsk is one of four provinces in eastern and southern Ukraine that Russia declared annexed last year and is seeking to fully occupy in what appears to be a shift in its war aims after failing to overrun the country early in the war. Friday's daily update from British military intelligence contrasted with the usual emphasis on Ukrainian successes. "Ukraine's key 0506 supply route to the west of the town is likely severely threatened," it said. Ukrainian military expert Vladyslav Selezniov has said Ukraine will have to pull back if the route for getting supplies in and wounded out is threatened. Eastern Military Command spokesperson Serhiy Cherevatyi told Reuters Ukraine controlled the situation in Bakhmut and understood Russian intentions. Western analysts say both sides are losing large numbers of troops in the battle for Bakhmut, a regional transport and logistics hub now largely in ruins. Zelenskiy told CNN last month that he feared Russian forces would have "an open road" to two bigger cities in Donetsk - Kramatorsk and Sloviansk - if they took Bakhmut. GIRL'S FATHER DETAINED Millions of Ukrainians have fled the conflict, which has laid waste to many towns and cities and killed thousands of civilians. Three civilians were killed and 17 wounded over the past 24 hours in Russian artillery, missile and aerial attacks on 114 settlements in nine regions, the Ukrainian Defence Ministry said. Authorities in Russian-controlled areas of eastern Ukraine said seven civilians were killed on Thursday in two Ukrainian artillery strikes. Both sides deny targeting civilians. Moscow says it invaded Ukraine in February 2022 because its moves towards the West threatened Russia's own security, and Russian authorities have since cracked down on internal dissent. Alexei Moskalyov, a Russian man charged with discrediting the country's army after his daughter drew an anti-war picture, is being held in Belarus, Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported, citing the Russian embassy in the country. Belarus is a close ally of Russia. The Kremlin says it will not consider peace in Ukraine unless Kyiv accepts the loss of the territories Russia has annexed. Ukraine says it posed no threat to Russia and there can be no negotiations until Russia withdraws all its forces. Turkey is concerned about the potential intensification of the conflict in the spring, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told a joint news conference with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Ankara. Lavrov reiterated that Russia's security concerns were ignored by the West and said its interests must be taken into account. Asked if he would meet with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the United Nations headquarters, Lavrov said Moscow would never refuse serious proposals for dialogue. (Additional reporting by Tom Balmforth, Don Durfee, Ronald Popeski, Alexander Vasovic, Heather Timmons and Reuters bureaux; writing by Philippa Fletcher; editing by Mark Heinrich and Angus MacSwan) (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Commerce is weighing an enforcement action against Russian cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday citing people familiar with the matter. President Joe Biden's administration is looking at an enforcement action against the company under its online security rules, the report said. The administration ramped up its national security probe into Kaspersky Lab's antivirus software last year as fears grew about Russian cyberattacks after Moscow invaded Ukraine. U.S. regulators have already banned federal government use of Kaspersky software. The U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security, when asked for a comment on the report, said it does not comment on any potential company specific actions. The department "is committed to fully exercising its authorities to protect Americans' sensitive data, and to working with Congress in a bipartisan way to adapt to evolving risks", it said. Kaspersky Labs did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The reported enforcement action on Kaspersky follows the introduction of a new U.S. legislation that would allow the White House to ban China based TikTok or other foreign-based technologies if they pose a national security risk. (Reporting by Akanksha Khushi in Bengaluru; Editing by David Gregorio, Kirsten Donovan) appointment within a period of 30 calendar days after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Right Certificate (who will, with such notice, submit his/her Right Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the incumbent Right Agent or registered holder of any Right Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, will be (a) a corporation or other legal entity organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state of the United States, in good standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise stock transfer powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and which has, along with its Affiliates, at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million, or (b) an Affiliate of a Person described in clause (a) of this sentence. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent will be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent will deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose, but such predecessor Rights Agent shall not be required to make any additional expenditure or assume any additional liability in connection with the foregoing, and shall thereafter be discharged from all duties and obligations hereunder. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company will file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent, each transfer agent of the Common Shares, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Right Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, will not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be. 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates . Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by the Board to reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind of securities issuable upon exercise of the Rights made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale by the Company of Common Shares following the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, the Company (a) will, with respect to Common Shares so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities (other than Rights) issued prior to the Distribution Date which are exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into Common Shares, and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary, appropriate or desirable by the Board, issue Right Certificates representing an equivalent number of Rights as would have been issued in respect of such Common Shares if they had been issued or sold prior to the Distribution Date, as appropriately adjusted as provided herein as if they had been so issued or sold; provided, however, that (i) no such Right Certificate will be issued if, and to the extent that, in its good faith judgment the Board determines that the issuance of such Right Certificate could have a material adverse tax consequence to the Company or to the Person to whom or which such Right Certificate otherwise would be issued and (ii) no such Right Certificate will be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment otherwise has been made in lieu of the issuance thereof. 23. Redemption . (a) The Board may, at its option, redeem all but not less than all of the then-outstanding Rights at the Redemption Price at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the 10th day following the Share Acquisition Date (or, if the 10th day following the Share Acquisition Date occurs before the Record Date, the Close of Business on the Record Date) and (ii) the Expiration Date. Any such redemption may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board in its sole discretion may establish. (b) Immediately upon the effectiveness of the redemption of the Rights as provided in Section 23(a), and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price, without interest thereon. Promptly after the effectiveness of the redemption of the Rights as provided in Section 23(a), the Company will publicly announce such redemption and, within 10 calendar days thereafter, will give notice of such redemption to the holders of the then-outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to all such holders at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Company (with prompt written notice thereof to the Rights Agent); provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, any such notice will not affect the validity of the redemption of the Rights. Any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided will be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. The notice of redemption mailed to the holders of Rights will state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made. The Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price in cash, Common Shares, or any other form of consideration deemed appropriate by the Board (based upon the fair market value of such other consideration, determined by the Board in good faith) or any combination thereof. The Company may, at its option, combine the 24 Explanatory Note Due to an oversight that occurred in 2021 as explained below, this Schedule 13G/A was not timely filed. The Reporting Person has filed a separate Schedule 13G/A immediately prior to the filing of this 13G/A to correct a Schedule 13G/A filed on February 21, 2021, which inadvertently omitted 50,000 shares held by a charitable foundation of which the Reporting Person serves as sole trustee, and with respect to which the Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership. This Schedule 13G/A was required to be filed by February 14, 2023, because a sale of 4,260 of such shares by the charitable foundation was completed during 2022. The Reporting Person does not have any pecuniary or other economic interest in the shares held by the charitable foundation, nor in any transactions with respect to such shares. Item 1 (a). Name of Issuer: MicroStrategy Incorporated Item 1 (b). Address of Issuers Principal Executive Offices: 1850 Towers Crescent Plaza Tysons Corner, VA 22182 Item 2 (a). Name of Person Filing: Michael J. Saylor Item 2 (b). Address of Principal Business Office: 1850 Towers Crescent Plaza Tysons Corner, VA 22182 Item 2 (c). Citizenship: United States Item 2 (d). Title of Class of Securities: Class A Common Stock Item 2 (e). CUSIP Number: 594972 40 8 Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a: (a) Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o); (b) Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c); (c) Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c); (d) Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8); A Fort Bliss soldier was arraigned this week on a murder charge for a killing that occurred three years ago at the Texas base, according to court records. Sgt. Carmen J. Ironhawk is accused of shooting and killing another Army sergeant on Dec. 22, 2019, at or near Fort Bliss, according to the charge sheet. Fort Bliss redacted the name of the victim from the document. Ironhawk pleaded not guilty at an arraignment Monday before Col. Robert Shuck, a military judge for the 4th Judicial Circuit. She is not under confinement while she awaits a court-martial with a jury panel scheduled for Nov. 6, according to court documents. Two additional court hearings are scheduled for Ironhawk in June and October, according to online court records. Ironhawk is assigned to the 1st Armored Division, though Lt. Col. Kimbia Rey, spokeswoman for the division, declined to provide her service information or answer any questions about the case. [The] basis for denying is that the requested information could affect the findings of a court-martial and otherwise prejudice the due administration of military justice, she said. Sherilyn Bunn, a civilian attorney identified as representing Ironhawk in online court records, did not respond to calls. Jeffrey Castro, spokesman for the Army Criminal Investigation Division, also declined to comment on the case, citing an ongoing investigation and pending legal proceedings. STUTTGART, Germany Burkina Faso, a West African country where Islamic militants are expanding their reach, has been added to the places where U.S. troops will receive danger pay given the risks they now face on deployments. The country has experienced two recent military coups and faces growing insurgencies. There also are indications of meddling by Russias Wagner Group, a private army thats active in neighboring Mali. Burkina Faso presents our military personnel with threats from violent extremist organizations and mercenary forces that can quickly escalate and spread with little to no warning, U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., said in a statement Friday. Panetta is part of a group of lawmakers who have been calling on the Pentagon to expand benefits for troops sent to the broader Sahel region, where U.S. troops routinely carry out training and advisory missions. Given the instability in the region and the terrorist activities of both al-Qaida and the Islamic State within Burkina Faso, it is important to recognize the risks our men and women in uniform face, U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., said in the statement. Panettas office said it was informed last month that Imminent Danger Pay for troops sent to Burkina Faso was in effect. While not a cash windfall, Imminent Danger Pay adds up to an additional $225 per month in a service members paycheck and will be effective retroactively to February 2022. The Stuttgart-based U.S. Africa Command had requested the pay change more than a year ago, Panettas office said. In addition, the lawmakers are calling on the Defense Department to designate Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Chad as qualified hazardous duty areas with tax exclusion benefits, given the security risks in the broader region, Panetta said. The push comes as conditions deteriorate in Burkina Faso and other Sahel countries, such as Niger and Mali, all of which are grappling with insurgencies. AFRICOMs Gen. Michael Langley testified before senators in March that West Africa is at a tipping point. Numerous countries in the region need more U.S. support in the form of training and equipment, but the approval process is moving too slow for countries that have terrorist affiliates at their back door, Langley said. Panetta said U.S.-designated terrorist groups such as al-Qaida affiliate Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara now control much of Burkina Faso. France withdrew its personnel from the country last year after Burkina Faso ordered French special operations troops to leave. As a result, U.S. forces are expected to shoulder additional burdens as they confront terrorist and mercenary threats, Panettas office said. In West Africa, the U.S. is focused on training and advisory initiatives aimed at boosting the capabilities of local forces in their battles against an array of militant groups. In 2022, AFRICOM deployed or put forces on alert more than 20 times. And with unrest on the rise in West Africa, the demand for crisis response will also trend upwards, Langley said in his 2023 posture statement issued in March. OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso Just weeks after Burkina Faso's junta ousted hundreds of French troops, signs appeared that the West African country could be moving closer to Russia, including the mercenary outfit, the Wagner Group. One signal was Burkina Faso authorities requested in February, nearly $30 million in gold from its mines to be handed over for "public necessity." It's unclear what the gold was used for but some suspect the gold could be used to hire mercenaries from the Wagner Group that already is entrenched in other troubled African countries like Mali and Central African Republic. "It might be a coincidence that the Burkinabe demanded the purchase of the gold right after they kicked out the French and started moving closer to the Russians," said William Linder, a retired CIA officer and head of 14 North Strategies, an Africa-focused risk advisory. "Still, it strikes fear among investors that the state will renege on existing agreements and disadvantage established industrial miners to pay for Russian military contractors." Burkina Faso's government denies hiring Wagner mercenaries but the government is expecting Russian instructors to come train soldiers on how to use equipment recently purchased from Russia, said Mamadou Drabo, executive secretary for Save Burkina, a civic group that supports the junta. "We asked the Russian government because of the bilateral collaboration between Burkina and Russia, that they send us people to train our men," he said, adding that the instructors will teach soldiers about weapons, military techniques as well as culture. The sale of arms and bilateral military cooperation agreements between Russia and some African countries have in some instances been a precursor to the deployment of Wagner's mercenary troops, said a report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. Observers say countries using Wagner Group fighters often refer to them as Russian instructors. Wagner, founded by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a Russian millionaire businessman with ties to President Vladimir Putin, has had about 1,000 forces in Mali for more than a year. In January, Burkina Faso ordered the departure of some 400 French special forces based in the country, cutting military relations with France amid soaring jihadi violence that's killed thousands and plunged the once peaceful nation into crisis. In addition to ejecting the special forces, in February the government told all French military personnel working with Burkina Faso's army and administration to leave, severing a military accord with France dating back to 1961, according to a confidential document by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs seen by The Associated Press. Anti-French sentiment in the former colony has grown since junta leader Capt. Ibrahim Traore seized power in September. Earlier this month, two French journalists were expelled from the country without reason. In March, French broadcaster, France 24, was suspended for interviewing a top jihadi rebel and months earlier the government suspended French broadcaster Radio France Internationale for having relayed an "intimidation message" attributed to a "terrorist," according to a statement from the junta. The anti-French sentiment coincides with increasing Russian support, including demonstrations in the capital, Ouagadougou, where hundreds of protesters have waved Russian flags. France has had troops in West Africa's Sahel region since 2013 when it helped drive Islamic extremists from power in northern Mali. But it's facing growing pushback from populations who say France's military presence has yielded little results as jihadi attacks are escalating. Burkina Faso's junta says it has nothing against France but wants to diversify its military partners in its fight against the extremists and, notably, has turned to Russia. "That's what we've seen happening in country after country. We saw it in CAR, Mali. It's just been dominos," said Sorcha MacLeod, member of the United Nations working group on the use of mercenaries. "There's a vacuum now where France used to be (and) Russia has imperialist ambitions in Africa," she said. "It's destabilizing for the region." If Wagner mercenaries arrive in Burkina Faso the risk increases of human rights atrocities, including war crimes and crimes against humanity, she said. Rights groups and communities have already accused the junta of committing more extrajudicial killings against civilians since Traore came to power in September. Wagner Group mercenaries have established a foothold for Russia in at least half a dozen African countries. Earlier this year, the group was designated a significant transnational criminal organization by the United States and was sanctioned by the European Union for human rights abuses in Central African Republic, Sudan and Mali. African countries have often paid the Russian group for its mercenary fighters by granting Wagner access to natural resources, such as mining concessions. Western countries say the use of Wagner mercenaries in Africa is a red line. French President Emmanuel Macron called the Wagner group "criminal mercenaries" and "the life insurance of faltering and putschist regimes." Burkina Faso's government said it has no plans to contract Wagner. Instead it's working to secure the country from jihadis by recruiting and arming tens of thousands of volunteer fighters, which it refers to as its own Wagner force. "We already have our Wagners. The (civilian volunteers) who we are recruiting are our first Wagners," said Traore during an interview on state media in February. But for much of Burkina Faso's population, this provides little comfort. Like Wagner, the volunteers who fight alongside Burkina Faso's military, have been accused by civilians and rights groups of committing atrocities such as extrajudicial killings and abductions of people alleged to be working with the jihadis. An investigation by The Associated Press into a video circulating on social media, determined that Burkina Faso's security forces killed children in a military base in the country's north. Many locals say they'd rather work with Western countries like France, than turn to forces like Wagner. But they say the French are unwilling to sell them the weapons they need, leaving them little choice. "The French have everything, aircrafts, everything, but they don't help us," said a soldier who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. "They are here for their own business." Associated Press reporter Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. The significance of the South Caucasus is rapidly increasing on a global scale, thus, the role of the major players in the region Azerbaijan and Georgia is growing at a fast pace. In sight of the swiftly changing global geopolitics, the decisive, farsighted steps that President Ilham Aliyev has taken in relations with its closest neighbors have brought the region to a certain new level. Strong friendship ties between Georgia and Azerbaijan go back a long way. The relations between the two countries have been built on the foundation of friendship, brotherhood, and mutual respect. An Agreement on strengthening friendship, cooperation and mutual security between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Georgia signed during the historic visit of national leader Heydar Aliyev to Georgia in March 1996, as well as the Declaration On Peace, Security and Cooperation in the Caucasus, or the so called Tbilisi Declaration, became the cornerstone of the strategic partnership between the two countries. The Azerbaijani population in Georgia makes up 6.5 percent of the total population and is currently the second largest ethnic group in the country. To date, Azerbaijani companies have invested more than $3.5 billion in Georgias economy. Azerbaijani State Oil Company (SOCAR) alone has invested nearly $1.5 billion in Georgia. At the same time, Georgia has put in $260 million in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani companies, including SOCAR, are the largest taxpayers in Georgia. Moreover, thousands of new job places have been created in the country through investments made by these companies. According to statistics, about 3,200 companies with Azerbaijani capital have been registered in Georgia. Those companies are engaged in various spheres, such as energy, transport, communications, construction, production, hotel and restaurant services, real estate, finance, mining, and many more. In addition, more than 700 companies with Georgian capital have been registered, operating in various sectors of the Azerbaijani economy, including the non-oil sector, which are also successfully operating. The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Georgia over the last year totaled $1.3 billion, which is an increase of 18.1 percent year-on-year ($1.1 billion in 2021). Azerbaijans share in overall Georgias trade in 2022 accounted for 6.9 percent. Of this, Azerbaijani exports to Georgia amounted to $672.6 million, while imports totaled $642 million. Furthermore, the number of mutual visits between the two countries is growing year-on-year. In 2022, 152,969 Azerbaijanis visited Georgia. This number has increased by 84.9 percent, compared to 2021, when 82,718 people traveled to Georgia from Azerbaijan. The number of Georgians visiting Azerbaijan in 2022, in turn, grew 1.5 times, and totaled 5.7 percent of all foreigners coming to Azerbaijan in the reporting period. Energy cooperation between the two countries has been one the main pillars in the development of bilateral relations, since the two countries have gained independence. The memorandum on increasing gas exports to Europe, signed between Azerbaijan and the EU in July last year, implies the expansion of supplies up to 20 bcm by 2027. In this regard, the capacity development of the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) that passes through Georgia is of utmost importance. Azerbaijan also plans to increase exports via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. Moreover, it is planned to use the Baku-Supsa oil pipeline, which is not currently operational. Thus, amid the high need for Azerbaijani energy resources in Europe, cooperation with Georgia in this regard is of great potential. One of the latest key steps taken by Azerbaijan to implement the start of alternative electricity exports to Europe was the signing of the "Agreement on a strategic partnership in the field of green energy development and transmission", in which Georgia is also included. As part of this project, it is planned to lay a 1,195-kilometer power transmission line with a capacity of 1,000 MW between Georgia and Romania and install a digital connecting cable. To this end, with the support of the World Bank, it is planned to prepare a technical and economic justification of the project by the end of 2023. At present, since there is a high demand for energy resources throughout the world and in Europe, Georgia and Azerbaijan will have to act in a coordinated manner on this issue and safeguard their national interests by focusing on one point. Thus, fundamentally important agreements have been signed in energy, transport and a number of other areas, and all these agreements also affect the interests of Georgia, since most of them are connected with its territory. Consistently coordinating efforts on this solid basis in the changing regional and global environment, Azerbaijan and Georgia have succeeded not only in creating the modern appearance of the South Caucasus, but also, in become a reliable bridge between East and West. MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan Military police responded Thursday after a student fired an airsoft gun at another student at the high school on this U.S. base near Hiroshima. The student fired the airsoft gun inside Matthew C. Perry High Schools information center during lunch period, principal Latressa Cobb said in a letter to parents Thursday. The safety of our students is our highest priority, she wrote. We understand you place your confidence in us every day to teach your children in a safe environment and this is a responsibility we take seriously. Cobb on Friday referred Stars and Stripes to Miranda Ferguson, the spokeswoman for Department of Defense Education Activity Pacific. The incident did not result in any serious injuries, Ferguson wrote in an email that afternoon. The school did not go into lockdown and no classes were disrupted from the incident, she said. Airsoft guns are toy replicas that look like real firearms and shoot small, round plastic projectiles using air pressure. They come in a variety of models, from pistols to automatic weapons familiar to service members. They are used in mock combat games but also by some law enforcement agencies in training scenarios. School administrators confiscated the gun and called the MCAS Iwakuni provost marshals office and parents of the students involved, according to Cobb. The spokesman for MCAS Iwakuni, Maj. Gerard Farao, on Friday referred Stars and Stripes to Ferguson for questions about the military police response. DODEA has a zero-tolerance policy for weapons at school and appropriate action will be taken, Cobb told parents. The DODEA handbook on student discipline suggests expulsion or long-term suspension of a student who brings a firearm to campus, even for a first offense, but doesnt directly address toy or replica guns. CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea The largest-ever joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea last month were a prudent response to the Norths continued weapon tests and not mere war demonstrations, two former U.S. intelligence officials said Thursday. Former CIA senior analyst Sue Mi Terry and former CIA deputy division chief Bruce Klingner agreed the allied exercises were necessary for regional security. Terry, director of the Wilson Centers Asia Program, and Klingner, a senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation, appeared in a virtual panel discussion sponsored by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The U.S. and South Korea held several large-scale military exercises throughout the country in March. The allies on Wednesday rehearsed air cover for strategic bombers by sending South Korean F-35A and U.S. F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters, F-16 Fighting Falcons and B-52H Stratofortress bombers over the Korean Peninsula, according to a Ministry of National Defense news release that day. This is an important part of us showcasing the U.S.s commitment, resolve to defend South Korea, [and] to really enhance the credibility of extended deterrence, Terry said. Extended deterrence is a U.S. foreign policy doctrine used to counter threats using a network of allies, such as South Korea and Japan. In addition to deterring North Korea, the exercises reassure our allies that were there for them, Klingner said. We have treaty obligations, he said. Its the right thing to do. Following the 1950-53 Korean War, the U.S. and South Korea signed a mutual defense treaty agreeing to maintain and develop appropriate means to deter armed attack. North Korea has condemned the drills, which it views as a rehearsal of an invasion, and likened them to a declaration of war. The allies unprecedented drills will be met with offensive action from Pyongyang, the state-run Korean Central News Agency said Thursday in an online column. North Korea has conducted 11 ballistic missile tests so far this year. It last launched two short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, or Sea of Japan, on March 27. Terry described North Koreas description of the joint drills as a convenient excuse for its threats and part of their whole strategic plan all along. The U.S. and South Korea cannot stop the Norths missile tests, she said. So, its critical that we have appropriate readiness and capabilities to demonstrate to North Korea that we can swiftly respond to any of [their] future provocations. North Koreas military held its own annual, large-scale winter exercise, Klingner added. A shooting in the northern West Bank on Friday killed two Israeli sisters and seriously injured their mother, adding to an already tense atmosphere in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories during a holiday week marred by violence. The sisters, 21 and 16, lived in Efrat, a settlement just south of Jerusalem, according to a statement from Oded Revivi, the mayor of Efrat. Their mother, who is in her 40s, was injured in the attack, Revivi said in a voice message. They were driving in a car in the Jordan Valley, while the rest of the family drove ahead in a separate car. The family, which has lived in Efrat for two decades, was on its way to a holiday gathering in the north when the attack occurred, Revivi said. Police have not yet released the names of the victims. Israeli medics said they pronounced the sisters dead at the scene. The older women was suffering from severe multi-system injuries, and they had airlifted her by helicopter to a hospital. A video shared by the Magen David Adom, Israels national emergency medical service, shows a white car that had driven off the road and appeared to have crashed into a tree. Two body bags could be seen several feet away. Emergency services initially responded to the incident as a car accident, but Israeli soldiers who arrived at the scene found bullet holes in the Israeli car and assessed it had been attacked, the Israel Defense Forces said in a tweet. Israeli soldiers blocked roads around the scene and were searching for the perpetrators of the shooting, which they are treating as a terrorist attack, the Israel Defense Forces said on Twitter Friday afternoon local time. Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, praised the shooting in a statement, though it did not explicitly claim responsibility. We congratulate the Jordan Valley operation and warn the occupation against continuing its aggression against our Palestinian people and the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, the group said. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered an increased security presence across the country. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said in a tweet he would hold a security assessment after the shooting. Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai called on licensed Israelis to carry their firearms in the wake of the attack, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported. General Yehuda Fox, who commands troops in the West Bank, called the attack extremely severe, the Times of Israel reported. Well settle the score with these terrorists too, were hunting them and will catch them, he said. The shooting came after a night of violence, during which the Israeli military carried out airstrikes on Lebanon early Friday and continued attacks on the Gaza Strip in response to a barrage of rockets fired from south Lebanon toward northern Israel. The exchange of rocket fire followed two Israeli raids on al-Aqsa Mosque, on the sensitive religious site known to Jews as Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary. Police forced their way into the compound again around dawn Friday. The Muslim holy month of Ramadan coincided with the Jewish Passover holiday this week, an overlap Israeli security officials have long warned could lead to further escalation. Political instability in Israel and increased violence in the West Bank have added to the combustible situation. Israeli forces have killed at least 81 Palestinians in the West Bank so far this year, including 16 minors, according to the latest figures from the United Nations. Before the killings Friday, at least 14 Israelis had been killed by Palestinians in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories this year. Horrified to see the deadly terror attack in the West Bank today, where a mother was critically injured, and her two daughters were killed, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides said on Twitter on Friday. Praying for peace as we continue to observe the holidays. The European Unions ambassador to Israel, Dimiter Tzantchev, also condemned the attack, saying, Violence is never justified. Israeli opposition lawmakers expressed condolences to the victims and prayers for the injured woman. Right-wing lawmakers in the governing coalition, meanwhile, called for a tougher response by the government in the Palestinian territories. After the shooting, angry settlers blocked roads leading to Ramallah and to the Palestinian village of Huwara. The scenes resembled those from late February when, after two Israeli brothers were killed by a Palestinian gunman, settlers went on a retaliatory rampage through Huwara and surrounding communities, attacking Palestinians and setting fire to homes and businesses. Louisa Loveluck, Jesse Mesner-Hage and Sufian Taha contributed to this report. (Tribune News Service) The police investigator who searched James Rays Montclair home on the night police discovered the bullet-riddled body of Angela Bledsoe says he noticed two things that were unusual about the crime scene. Frank Ricci, a crime scene investigator with the Essex County Prosecutors Office, testified Wednesday at Rays murder trial being held in Newark. He told the jury he saw no blood on the top side of the 9mm pistol found in a pool of coagulated blood next to Bledsoes body on the kitchen floor of the stately North Mountain Avenue home. I found it peculiar that there was no blood on that firearm, Ricci said near the end of his second day on the witness stand in Superior Court. Ricci never explained his rationale to the jury as the defense objected, but he seemed to infer that if Bledsoe was pointing a gun at him when Ray shot her at close range, there should have been blood spatter on the firearm. Ricci told the jury that he also found it odd that three .45 shell casings that police recovered at the crime scene were found neatly lined up on the coffee table in the living room, alongside three other firearms that Ray claims he was cleaning at the time of the shooting. I find that very out of the ordinary that all three shell casings were lined up next to each other, Ricci told the jury before stepping off the witness stand. Ricci added that during his long career in law enforcement, hed investigated hundreds of crime scenes, but had never seen shell casings so neatly lined up. After Ricci left the stand, the state presented Antonio Badim, the ballistics expert who studied the shell casings found at the scene. Badim testified that the shell casings were all fired from the same .45 handgun, although Ray allegedly disposed of the gun after the shooting and it has not been found. The prosecution contends that on the morning of Oct. 22, 2018, Ray, a Marine Corps veteran and former cop with the NYPD, shot Bledsoe multiple times with a .45 automatic handgun on the first floor of the home. Bledsoe, a successful financial advisor, was in the process of moving out with the couples six-year-old daughter, the state contends. On the morning she died, Bledsoe was looking for a new house and had an 11:30 a.m. appointment with a realtor. The Montclair police officers who discovered the womans body about 12 hours later noted that a clock had fallen off the wall and into the kitchen sink and had stopped at 11:14. Rays defense is that Bledsoe was having an affair, and he was cleaning his guns on the coffee table in the living room that morning when the couple began to argue. Ray, who kept a journal detailing the shooting that has been admitted as evidence, contends that during an argument, Bledsoe picked up a 9mm handgun and pointed it at him, and he shot her in self-defense. Ray then wrote a note to his brother, Robert, in which he gave his account of the shooting and explained his intention to flee the country. Ray slipped the note into his daughters suitcase, and later that day, dropped the girl off with his brother at a steakhouse in Piscataway. Ray then fled to the Texas border, where he crossed into Mexico and boarded a plane to Havana, Cuba. He was arrested six days after the shooting by Cuban authorities and turned over the U.S. Marshals. Ray, 60, was charged with murder and has been in the Essex County Correctional Facility ever since. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit nj.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. WASHINGTON Three Marines credited with stopping a stabbing at a fast-food restaurant in Virginia received awards at a ceremony on Thursday morning from the Marine Corps, according to a service official. Cpl. John Darby, Cpl. Bradley Feldkamp and Lance Cpl. Nicholas Dural received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for intervening in a fight in which two teenagers, 14 and 17 years old, allegedly attacked another teenager at a Chick-fil-A on Saturday afternoon in North Stafford, Va., Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Bragg said. Witnesses told local police that one male teenager was approached by the other two, according to the Stafford County Sheriffs Office. The three boys got into an argument before a physical altercation ensued. As the two teenagers assaulted the other teen, one of them pulled out a knife, police said. The three Marines jumped into action and attempted to separate the parties. One Marine broke the knife in half and the two suspects quickly fled. Deputies for the sheriffs office responded to a disturbance call at about 1:41 p.m. at the restaurant, which is located at 25 Dunn Drive. No one was stabbed during the incident. The victim told the deputies his phone was stolen. Deputies searched the area for the two suspects and took them into custody in a CVS parking lot. The victims phone was recovered and returned to him. Thank you to the hero Marines who stepped up. Without you, this altercation could have been a lot worse, according to sheriffs office. The three Marines were students at the Marine Security Group School, taking a course to prepare them to act as security at U.S. embassies around the world. Bragg said Darby and Feldkamp departed Thursday for the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, while Dural leaves next week for the U.S. Embassy in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on amending the membership of the Tariff (Price) Council, Trend reports. According to the decree, "Deputy Chairman of the State Committee of the Azerbaijan Republic on Statistics and Chairman of the Board of the State Agency for Compulsory Medical Insurance" were added to the list of members of the Tariff Council. WASHINGTON The Defense Department is investigating a purported leak on social media of classified military documents that lay out details about U.S. and NATO support for Ukraine against invading Russian forces, a Pentagon official said Friday. We are aware of the reports of social media posts, and the department is reviewing the matter, said Sabrina Singh, the deputy Pentagon press secretary. The documents included secret American and NATO plans for building up the Ukrainian military ahead of a planned offensive against Russian troops, The New York Times reported Thursday. The documents were leaked on the social media sites Twitter and Telegram. The materials posted online included maps of Ukraine, information on where troops are located and what kind of weapons are available to them, according to images of the purported secret documents. The materials are not high-quality scans, but rather crude photographs of physical documents. One is titled U.S., Allied and Partner UAF Combat Partner Build and another carries a top secret heading that reads Status of the Conflict As of 1 Mar. The documents leaked online have not been authenticated by U.S. officials and Ukrainian leaders, who think the leak could be an attempt by Russia to spread disinformation. This is a bluff, dust in the eyes, said Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to a translation of his social media channel. [The leakers] are only trying to play destabilization, informationally and psychologically influence decision-makers. Russia is looking for any way to intercept the information initiative, to try to influence the scenario plans of Ukraine's counteroffensive, he added. To introduce doubts, to compromise previous ideas, to frighten. This has nothing to do with Ukraine's real plans. The purported leak comes at a time when Russian forces continue to struggle on the battlefields in eastern Ukraine. For months, Russian and Ukrainian forces have been fighting for control of Bakhmut, a key city in Donetsk Oblast in the far east of the country thats important because of its infrastructure connecting southern Russia with Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city. For weeks, Ukraine and allies have been preparing to withstand a possible spring offensive by Russian troops, which have already suffered tremendous losses in Ukraine since the war began in early 2022. U.S. officials estimate that at least 150,000 Russian ground troops were killed or injured between the start of the war and February. Most politicians would see criminal charges as career-ending. Not Donald Trump. The former president is seizing on his indictment by a New York grand jury as an opportunity to strengthen his status as the 2024 Republican front-runner and rake in donations from the small-dollar individual contributors who powered his previous campaigns for the White House. Since news of his prosecution broke, Trump has blasted supporters with email fundraising solicitations and posted a personal video appeal asserting that his opponents "only attack me because I fight for you." Within days, he raised $10 million, according to his campaign. Trump's campaign is also trying to enlist donors who have supported his chief Republican rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, by presenting the former president's rising poll numbers as an unstoppable force in the GOP race. One donor said Trump's indictment may overshadow other Republicans' ability to fundraise, including DeSantis, at least in the short term. "This indictment guarantees that he'll be the center of the story for the foreseeable future," said GOP strategist Alex Conant, who's worked on presidential campaigns including the 2016 bid by Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. Cable networks spent the week covering all of the minutiae of Trump's arrest and arraignment, down to the movement of his motorcade through Manhattan and the arrivals and departures of his plane, branded "Trump Force One." Networks broke into prime-time coverage to carry Trump's remarks from his Mar-a-Lago resort upon his return to Florida. But it remains to be seen whether Trump can sustain the injection of fresh energy, which came just as it appeared many in the party wanted to move on. Trump was at a low point politically after being widely blamed for the GOP's disappointing 2022 midterm results, compounded by a lackluster launch of his third White House bid. While Trump faces serious legal jeopardy from the 34 felony charges unveiled by the Manhattan district attorney's office Tuesday - as well as from other state and federal investigations of his conduct - the prosecution's case marked a political inflection point, prompting Republicans to again rally behind him. Even DeSantis - who has not yet formally declared he's running for president - and Republican critics like Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah criticized the prosecution as political. "The indictment freezes in place the Republican field for now and blunts any negative impact on Trump in terms of getting the nomination again," said Marty Cohen, a professor of political science at James Madison University. "There is a conscious need from his rivals to not inflame his base." Trump's campaign is highlighting sentiments of support from more than 110 state and federal GOP officials, and - according to one Trump ally - is working behind the scenes to secure more endorsements from lawmakers who Trump has supported in the past. On Thursday, Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., whom Trump backed for reelection last year, endorsed him as the leader who "can seize the moment and deliver what we need." Early polling suggests the indictment has boosted Trump's standing in the GOP. Trump's lead over DeSantis in the RealClearPolitics average of polls increased to 50.8% to 24.6% on Tuesday from 45.7% to 28.9% the day before news of the indictment broke. A CNN poll conducted after the indictment showed that while 60% of Americans and 62% of independents approve of the charges, 79% of Republicans disapprove. The response to Trump's indictment may put pressure on DeSantis and others to officially join the race "to claw back some of that very shiny limelight that Trump is basking in," said Wendy Schiller, a political science professor at Brown University who served on the staffs of New York Democrat Daniel Patrick Moynihan when he was in the Senate and Mario Cuomo when he was the state's governor. In Iowa, the former political director of the state party, Craig Robinson, said that a number of Republicans were ready to vote for a candidate other than Trump but that the indictment drew them back toward him. "Everyone on the Republican side thinks this is politically motivated," Robinson said. "A month ago, Ron DeSantis had all of the momentum, but he has stalled now in a sense. When you are running against Trump and everything that means, you can't afford to stall out." Trump's legal woes could still hurt his campaign, especially if they mount. Officials in Georgia are weighing another indictment for Trump's attempts to interfere with the state's counting of ballots, and the Justice Department continues to investigate his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection, as well as his handling of classified documents post-presidency. Trump also will be forced to take time away from his campaign to help with his legal defense and possibly attend hearings or a trial in New York, a potential distraction. "He thinks that's good news for him. It's not," said Chris Christie, a former New Jersey governor, federal prosecutor and 2016 presidential candidate who's considering his own White House bid. Trump's critics say the charges also could further alienate the independent and suburban voters Trump would need to win in a general election, adding to the sense among Republicans that it would be better to nominate an alternative. "The last three cycles have been dominated by Trump and have been terrible for the party," said Mike DuHaime, the top strategist for Christie's campaigns. "What's getting better by being indicted?" Bloomberg's Gregory Korte contributed to this report. A hardcore militant and founder of the banned militant group Baloch National Army (BNA) was captured, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), who described the detainee as a high-value target with suspected links to hostile intelligence agencies operating against Pakistan. Gulzar Imam alias Shambay was apprehended after an innovatively conceived, carefully planned and meticulously executed operation, spanned over months over various geographical locations, the militarys media wing said in a statement today. The statement, however, did not disclose the exact location where the militant was apprehended. The report of the apprehension of a wanted terrorist surfaces on the same day as a high-profile National Security Committee (NSC) meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Over the past few months, the law and order situation in the country has worsened, with terrorist groups executing attacks with near impunity across the country. According to the ISPR statement, Imam was apprehended in a high profile and successful intelligence operation. The military said the captured terrorist was a hardcore militant, as well as the founder and leader of the banned BNA outfit, which was formed after the merger of the Baloch Republican Army (BRA) and the United Baloch Army (UBA). It stated that the BNA had perpetrated numerous violent terrorist attacks in the country, including targeting the installations of law enforcement agencies in Panjgur and Noshki. Imam also remained as deputy to Brahamdagh Bugti in the BRA till 2018. The militarys statement added that the apprehended militant was pivotal in creating the Baloch Raji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS) and served as its operational chief. His visits to Afghanistan and India are also on the record, while his linkages with hostile intelligence agencies are being investigated, it said. It further said the hostile agencies also tried to exploit the militant to work against the state of Pakistan and its national interests. The arrest of Gulzar Imam is a serious blow to the BNA as well as other militant groups, which have been attempting to destabilise the hard-earned peace in Balochistan. The statement said the arrest of the militant leader of such a stature demonstrated the capability and resolve of the LEAs to uproot the menace of terrorism as well as speaks volumes about the successes garnered through supreme sacrifices of unsung heroes. Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb strongly refuted media reports suggesting that coalition government partners are pulling out of the Punjab elections by withdrawing their nomination papers. Rumors had been circulating in the federal capital about the government and its allied parties devising a new strategy after the Supreme Court ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on April 4 to hold elections in Punjab. The electoral body subsequently announced the schedule for Punjab polls fixing May 14 as a date for polling. The reports quoting sources said that three major parties Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had decided not to contest the polls in Punjab. Reacting to these reports, the information minister said there is no truth in the reports of government alliance parties withdrawing nomination papers. "The party leadership has not taken any decision to withdraw the nomination papers," she stressed. "These reports are fabricated and mere speculations." The government and its partners are determined to give a tough fight to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, who she termed a "foreign agent, trouble-maker, Constitution-violator, and watch thief". The minister stressed that all the parties in the coalition government seek elections across the country on the same day. A three-member bench of the top court had earlier this week ruled unanimously that the ECP's order to delay the election in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was "unconstitutional". The bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Munib Akhtar, and Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan also ordered the electoral body to hold the election in the province on May 14. In its March 22 order, the ECP had announced to postpone the date of the election in Punjab to October 8 initially scheduled to take place on April 30 citing a resurgence of terror attacks, shortage of security personnel and an unprecedented economic crisis. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which filed the plea against the delay, has welcomed the court's decision, but the federal cabinet has rejected the verdict and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the legal team was outlining the future course of action. The National Security Committee (NSC) the country's top security body comprising civil and military leadership decided on Friday to "speed up" the operation against terrorists. The two-hour long NSC meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. According to sources, the meeting was attended by Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, chairman joint chiefs of staff committee (CJCSC), heads of armed forces, federal ministers for defence, finance and information and senior military leadership. According to sources, Director General of the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum gave a detailed briefing on the ongoing operations against terrorism and the security situation of the country. Sources shared, that in two-hour long meeting, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar also briefed the NSC on the economic situation of the country. The detailed statement on the NSC meeting is yet to be issued. Interestingly, the meeting was held as the nation passes through serious economic and political crises compounded by the recent Supreme Court verdict on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) petition challenging delay in elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. The ruling coalition has firmly opposed the verdict which it believes is a minority verdict of 3-2 and should not be implemented. Sullivan, IN (47882) Today Considerable cloudiness. High 64F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 39F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. The Baku Process launched on the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev in 2008 is of great importance in cooperation with UNESCO [United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization], Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said, Trend reports. He made the remark via video conference at the opening ceremony of the 9th meeting of the National Commissions for UNESCO of the TURKSOY [International Organization of Turkic Culture] member states. This meeting was organized by TURKSOY jointly with the National Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan for UNESCO under the President of Azerbaijan, ADA University, and its Institute for Development and Diplomacy. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the International Organization of Turkic Culture. "Azerbaijan has always been committed to cooperation with UNESCO. Given that Azerbaijan is an example of intercultural dialogue, we attach great importance to cooperation with UNESCO," the minister said. Speaking about the Azerbaijan-UNESCO collaboration, the minister also mentioned the inclusion of the city of Shusha in the World Heritage List. "Ancient Shusha, which has been under Armenian occupation for 30 years, was subjected to destruction. A year after Azerbaijan liberated the city, in 2021 Shusha was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Since the day of liberation, Azerbaijan has been holding various international events there. I would also like to note that Shusha was declared the capital of the Turkic world in 2023. This demonstrates the universal love and value of the Turkic countries for the city of Shusha," Bayramov added. In his speech, the minister also expressed gratitude to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan for building a school in the Fuzuli district and a Creative Development Center for children in Karabakh. Daniel McDonnell serving mandatory life sentence for gun murder of 16-year-old Melanie McCarthy McNamara A CONVICTED murderer accused of threatening to kill a prison officer during a routine cell search has been sent for jury trial. The prison officer allegedly found a sharpened piece of metal when he was searching Daniel McDonnells cell in Wheatfield Prison, Dublin. It is alleged the 28-year-old then told the prison officer Im going to slit your throat with that. He is facing trial in the circuit court after a judge previously refused jurisdiction to deal with the matter in the district court. McDonnell is serving a mandatory life sentence for the gun murder of 16-year-old Melanie McCarthy McNamara. The accused, previously of Brookview Lawn, Tallaght, is charged with making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to a named prison officer at Wheatfield Prison on August 12, 2021. Outlining the allegation for jurisdiction purposes, Garda Mark Grant previously alleged the prison officer found a sharpened piece of metal in McDonnells cell. Gda Grant alleged McDonnell made a threat, saying: Im going to slit your throat with that and if I cant do that Im going to get someone on the outside to do it. A State solicitor said the book of evidence was ready and had been served on the accused, who goes forward to the next sittings of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Gerard Jones assigned defence solicitor Michael Hennessy and one junior counsel on free legal aid. McDonnell has not yet indicated a plea to the charge. He was given a life sentence in 2014 for the murder of Melanie McCarthy McNamara. Ms McNamara was shot in the head as she sat in a car in Brookview Way, Tallaght, on February 8, 2012. McDonnell had denied murdering Ms McNamara, but he wrote two letters while in custody which were used as evidence in his trial. One included the line two in the head, the b**** is dead. He would be delighted that people sent him a card. People are being urged to send birthday cards to Gerry The Monk Hutch to cheer him up on his 60th birthday just days before he is to learn the verdict in his trial for the murder of David Byrne. A Twitter account called Free the Monk posted this week: It is the monk's 60th birthday on Tuesday and could you imagine the smile on his face if he was to get a load of birthday cards from those on here who support him? He would be delighted that people sent him a card. So if you have the time please send him a birthday card with a nice message to help lift his spirits while he's on remand for his 60th birthday. It would make a huge difference and he would be extremely grateful to you. In the past killers such as Graham Dwyer and Joe OReilly are known to have got fan mail from people despite their horrific crimes. In recent years letters sent into prions are scanned to ensure theyre are not infused with drugs after cards and photos were sued to smuggling drugs such as fentanyl and LSD. Hutch is currently on a restricted landing in Dublin's Wheatfield prison where he keeps himself busy writing legal notes to his legal team. His trial at the Special Criminal Court lasted 13 long weeks which ended with the prosecution stating that he was one of the men who shot David Byrne at the Regency hotel. Hutch is believed to be hopeful, the three-judge panel will find the State failed to prove its case against him beyond a reasonable doubt allowing him to return to Spain. Gerry Hutch The Sunday World recently revealed how he had set up a rental real estate company in Spain from behind bars. Hutch set up the real estate business in the name of Gerard Hutch just 10 months after the Regency Hotel attack that claimed the life of David Byrne, as he put in place a plan to leave Ireland for good. Hutch listed the primary function of the business, which effectively saw him register to operate as a sole trader, as management of real estate on a fee or contract basis. But The Monk is still facing a separate investigation which could pose a serious threat to his freedom. He is under investigation on suspicion of directing a criminal gang and was questioned by a garda investigation team on 28 September last year. As part of this probe, gardai also arrested disgraced ex-garda and convicted drug dealer John Spud Murphy. Murphy (63), is serving a six and a half year sentence in the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise after pleading guilty to possession of 260,000 worth of cannabis at his Dublin home in 2021. Jailed Kinahan gang member is suspect in 2016 killing in Dublin Gardai investigating the murder of Gerry The Monk Hutchs brother, Eddie Hutch, expect to make a number of arrests in the coming weeks, including rearrests of murder suspects. It comes as a Kinahan cartel gunman, who was being questioned over the February 2016 murder, was released from garda custody last night and returned to Mountjoy Prison. The investigation is now understood to be at a critical stage, with the analysis of CCTV footage and mobile phones data playing a crucial role. Eddie Hutch (59) was murdered as part of the Hutch-Kinahan feud in his north inner city home on February 8, 2016, in a revenge attack for the Regency Hotel shooting three days earlier. Read more PSNI confirm arrest of man (26) on suspicion of murder of woman in Limerick The 42-year-old convicted Kinahan gangster, from Finglas, was arrested in Mountjoy on Wednesday afternoon on suspicion of murder. He is suspected of being one of two gunmen in the attack. A file will now be prepared for the DPP in relation to his role in the murder. A source said: This has been a complex investigation that has gone on for over seven years. The analysis of CCTV and mobile phones has played a huge part as well as the movements of a large number of vehicles. The expectation is that it is now at its concluding stages, and it is fair to say there will be more arrests and rearrests coming soon. The murder suspect is considered a highly dangerous criminal. He has been a suspect for a number of shootings, including attacks on criminal John Gilligan in 2013 and 2014. However, he has rarely faced disciplinary action during his lengthy sentences for firearms and other serious offences. Prison bosses have been forced to move him to other jails on occasion to disrupt his activities and his influence on other prisoners. His latest stretch behind bars began in November 2019. He has been issued with a number of P-19 disciplinary forms for minor breaches, such as a row he had with another prisoner and possession of a USB stick. On one occasion in September 2021 he was moved from high-security Portlaoise Prison to Mountjoy after his activities in the Co Laois facility were causing serious concern. Six months earlier, he was moved to Portlaoise from Mountjoy after being linked to a plot to smuggle drugs into the Dublin jail. A spokesman for the Irish Prison Service (IPS) said it would not comment on individual prisoners. By 2016, the suspected killer was a key member of the Kinahan cartel and one of the first of nine people to be arrested in relation to the murder of Eddie Hutch after quickly being identified as a suspect. He spent a number of days in custody when he was first arrested and questioned about the murder in 2016. He is the first to be rearrested as gardai move into the closing stages of their case against him. A four-man hit-team, including the two gunmen, were involved in the Eddie Hutch murder, while several other people are believed to have provided logistical support to the murder gang. Mr Hutch, a father of five and taxi driver from Poplar Row, Ballybough, was approached by two gunmen as he pulled up in his taxi outside his home. A silver-coloured BMW 3 series vehicle, believed to have been used as the getaway car, was found abandoned a short distance away on St Patricks Parade in Drumcondra. Eddie Hutch was the first of six people associated with the Hutch gang to be murdered by the Kinahan gang in 2016 in the aftermath of the Regency Hotel shooting in a gangland feud that has claimed a total of 18 lives to date since the killing of Gary Hutch in 2015. Eddie Hutchs younger brother, The Monk, faces judgment at the Special Criminal Court in 10 days time on the charge of the murder of Kinahan cartel gangster David Byrne in the Regency attack. A 26-year-old male arrested on Thursday by members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) on suspicion of murder Gardai believe the person who stabbed a woman to death in an apartment in Limerick City acted alone in the killing before fleeing the scene. A source familiar with the murder probe said gardai did not suspect at this stage that the killer was assisted by others. A 26-year-old male arrested Thursday by members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) on suspicion of murder. Detectives based at Limericks Divisional Headquarters are believed to have travelled to Northern Ireland to assist their PSNI colleagues who were questioning the man at Musgrave Police Station, Belfast. The victim, in her 20s and from Romania, was found with multiple stab wounds inside an apartment block at Dock Road, Limerick City, around 1.30pm on April 4. Senior garda sources said the joint investigation involving Gardai and the PSNI was at an advanced stage following the mans arrest and that Gardai were assisting their PSNI colleagues. They said Gardai had contacted the victims family in Romania, and that the womans loved ones had been appointed a Garda Family Liaison Officer who would inform them of any developments in the murder probe. Gardai continued harvesting video footage off of CCTV cameras along Dock Road, OCurry Street, as well as in and around parts of Limerick City Centre. Detectives were examining CCTV footage to try to trace the movements of a male seen acting suspicious in the vicinity of the murder scene between 1pm-2pm, last Tuesday. Garda were anxious to speak to a man seen with a bandage on one of his hands who washed his hands in a shop near the scene last Tuesday afternoon. A senior garda source said cross border legislation between Northern Ireland and the Republic allowed Gardai to assist their colleagues in the PSNI in investigations. They added that if the arrested man was to face was charges, he would likely be charged within the jurisdiction of Northern Ireland, but that he could face trial in the south. Gardai at the scene Gardai did not comment on whether or not they had recovered a murder weapon. Search teams combed a stretch of Dock Road, OCurry Street, Henry Street in the hunt for evidence. Two scenes were being forensically examined by gardai, including the apartment block where the woman was found. Gardai examined a business premises near the scene and removed a number of items in evidence bags. A garda source praised the good work of gardai and the PNSI which led to the arrest of the chief suspect. Romanian television reported the victim was 27-years-of-age, from the Tulcea, and she was a mother of four children. STIRILE PROTV reported that the image of a suspect had been captured on surveillance cameras entering an apartment where the victim was found dead. It said the victim had travelled to Ireland with a man three weeks ago and that the victims family were looking after her four children. It reported that the victims mother did not know her daughter had travelled to Ireland as she had understood her daughter had been staying with a relative in Germany. A senior Garda source said gardai would not be making any comment officially or otherwise about any specific details regarding their investigation. Gardai continued house to house enquires near the scene as well as harvesting CCTV from locations across the city as part of the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Henry Street Garda Station, Limerick, on 061-212400, or the Garda Confidential Line 1800-666-111, or any garda station. Following his arrest this week, the murder suspect's jail cell in Mountjoy Prison was searched by prison officials. The funeral of Eddie Hutch in 2016 Detectives have recovered a smartphone from a dangerous Kinahan prisoner after he was arrested over the murder of The Monk's brother. The 43-year-old criminal was detained for questioning on Wednesday as part of an intensifying investigation into the fatal shooting of Eddie 'Neddie' Hutch (59). Eddie, the older brother of Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, was shot dead outside his north inner-city home in February 2016. Following his arrest this week, the murder suspect's jail cell in Mountjoy Prison was searched by prison officials. During the operation a mobile smartphone, understood to be an iPhone, was discovered hidden inside a sock. Jail authorities subsequently handed the phone over to detectives based in Mountjoy who will now carry out an examination of the device. One source told the Sunday World: "He won't care about being disciplined by prison authorities over it. It's the fact that gardai now have the phone that will worry him. "He's been quiet enough but he's also the man in charge of inmates on the D-Wing of the prison. "Gardai now have possession of it and will examine it to find any evidence of criminality." The Kinahan associate has since been given a P-19 disciplinary form, which are issued for internal breaches of prison rules by inmates. He is currently serving a lengthy jail term for firearms offences. A spokesman for the Irish Prison Service said they do not comment on individual prisoner cases. The Finglas man became a prime suspect in the Eddie Hutch murder early on in the inquiry and garda intelligence has also linked him to other murders carried out on behalf of the cartel. He was arrested in 2016 over the Hutch murder but later fled the country after being released without charge. However, he returned to Ireland in 2019 and was arrested during a significant armed garda operation. Detectives were acting on intelligence that he had travelled to Dublin to carry out a murder. The funeral of Eddie Hutch in 2016 The dangerous gunman is also suspected of shooting John Gilligan in Clondalkin in 2014. He has been transferred a number of times within the prison system to prevent him exerting control over other inmates. In September 2021, he was moved from the high-security Portlaoise Prison to Mountjoy after officials at the Laois facility raised serious concerns about his behaviour. He was re-arrested over the Eddie Hutch murder after investigating gardai uncovered further information about his alleged involvement in the shooting. The inquiry has intensified in recent months with further arrests expected, including that of a north-inner city criminal who was previously quizzed. Detectives are also focusing their investigation on a number of senior members of the Kinahan organised crime group in relation to the murder. The fatal shooting of Hutch on Poplar Row, Ballybough, was carried out in retaliation for the Regency Hotel murder three days earlier on February 5. His younger brother Gerard Hutch is currently before the Special Criminal Court charged with the murder of David Byrne at the hotel on the Whitehall Road in Drumcondra. Three judges are due to deliver judgement in his case on April 17. The Genesis Market made stolen log-in details and other data available to criminals around the world Genesis Market was one of the most significant platforms on the criminal market A suspect is arrested by the NCA as part of the operation Laptops, mobile phones and other devices were seized in Northern Ireland this week as part of a global investigation into one of the world's biggest online criminal marketplaces. The Genesis Market made stolen log-in details and other data available to criminals around the world before it was taken offline in an operation across 17 countries. The FBI and Dutch National Police led operation resulted in around 120 arrests, over 200 searches and close to 100 pieces of preventative activity carried out across the globe. A PSNI spokesperson said Cyber Crime Unit detectives carried out searches in Tandragee, Co Down earlier this week, while a search took place in west Belfast on Thursday morning. "A number of items, namely laptops and mobile phones, have been seized for further examination," the spokesperson told the Irish News. Genesis Marketplace was a service for criminals seeking to defraud victims. Essentially, it sold victims personal data information, such as IP addresses, that would help fraudsters to log into bank or shopping accounts. Our enquiries are continuing, and I would ask anyone with concerns, or who feel they may have been targeted, to contact officers on 101. Alternatively, please report to Action Fraud and quote Genesis. As part of the investigation, Britains NCA, working with City of London Police and other police forces across the UK, executed 31 warrants and carried out coordinated raids. A total 24 people were arrested in the UK, including two men, aged 34 and 36, who were detained by the NCA in Grimsby on suspicion of Computer Misuse Act and fraud offences. Genesis Market was one of the most significant platforms on the criminal market Rob Jones, NCA Director General NECC and Threat Leadership, said: Behind every cyber-criminal or fraudster is the technical infrastructure that provides them with the tools to execute their attacks and the means to benefit financially from their offending. Genesis Market was a prime example of such a service and was one of the most significant platforms on the criminal market. Its removal will be a huge blow to criminals across the globe. Targeting this infrastructure is at the core of the NCAs efforts to disrupt the highest harm offenders and protect the public from those seeking to infiltrate their lives, stealing their identities and their money. Genesis Market sold bots that would give criminals access to all the data pertaining to an individual identity, such as cookies, saved logins and autofill form data. The price per bot would range from as little as $0.70 up to several hundreds of dollars., The most expensive bots would contain financial information, which would allow access to online banking accounts. Criminals could use this access to steal from victims, either by directly moving money out of an account, or using the credentials to pay for goods and services for their own benefit. They may also have used the victim account in the process of laundering the profits of other criminal activity also known as money muling. Genesis Market was unique in that it provided users with a custom browser, which would mimic that of their victim, the NCA said. This allowed the criminals to essentially masquerade as the victim, making it look like they were accessing their accounts from the usual location and operating system, thus not triggering security measures. Its likely that criminals would use information about a victim they had obtained from their various accounts, such as interests, names of friends and family, and personal circumstance, to socially engineer them for further offences. This process sees a fraudster using the information to build trust with a victim, then manipulating them into handing over money voluntarily, through romance or investment frauds. Members of the public can check whether their data has been compromised and accessed by criminals on Genesis Market by visiting https://www.politie.nl/checkyourhack and inputting their email address. Rob Jones added: Cyber-crime is a key enabler of the vast majority of fraud, which is now the single largest crime type in the UK, affecting more people than any other. Its therefore extremely important that our response to these two threats is a collaborative effort at both an international and national level. The NCA is attacking criminal infrastructure from all angles and those seeking to use such services should be aware that we are coming after them. Sinn Feins Mark Ward said young people are being hospitalised with numbness in their hands and feet as a result A Dublin TD has said the recreational use of nitrous oxide gas, commonly known as laughing gas, has become a significant problem in parts of his Dublin Mid-West constituency. Sinn Feins Mark Ward said young people are being hospitalised with numbness in their hands and feet as a result while the HSE says over one in five attending their Adolescent Addiction Service admitted to taking nitrous oxide. Deputy Ward, who is calling for tighter regulation of nitrous oxide gas, warned that there are other, long-term effects that just dont know about. Young people are presenting [to hospital] with numbness in the hands, in the feet, in the extremities, he told Newstalk Breakfast. Theres also serious issues that people are having with balance, theres problems with the heart rates and theres also mental health issues that are associated with the use of it. There could also potentially be lasting, long-term neurological problems that we just dont know about now. The gas has been used as an anaesthetic in medical settings and can also be used as a food additive. It is commonly known as laughing gas and is sometimes inhaled recreationally to induce euphoria or uncontrollable laughter for a short period of time. Deputy Ward added: The bill Im introducing is to regulate that so it cant be sold outside of those [catering and medical] industries, he said. It wont criminalise the young person for the possession of nitrous oxide but it would give the Gardai the power to confiscate it. Last year, the Netherlands banned the sale of nitrous oxide gas for recreational purposes on the grounds of enormous health risks and its link to terrible road accidents in the country. It [the legislation] is working in Holland, I dont see why it cant be working here, Deputy Ward said. He hopes to secure Government support for the legislation and says TDs from other parties share his concerns. Darren Whelan lost his life in the accident on the island of Ios after suffering fatal injuries in a fall in July of last year A major community fundraising event is taking place in the Co Limerick town of Kildimo this weekend in honour of a young local man who tragically died while on holiday in Greece. Darren Whelan, a talented 23-year-old hurler, lost his life in the accident on the island of Ios after suffering fatal injuries in a fall in July of last year. Darren, who was described as a kind, caring, fun-loving young man with the brightest of futures ahead of him will be remembered during the first staging of the Jimmy Nealon Perpetual Cup. His home club of Kildimo-Pallaskenry GAA will open the gates of its Kildimo clubhouse from 2pm tomorrow where there will be a seven-a-side hurling tournament, with the panels managed by his friends. All-Star Limerick hurler and clubmate Kyle Hayes will present the trophy to the winner. Six teams will participate, and will play three games each. Entry to the event is free, and there will be a barbecue and refreshments. A raffle and a 'Split the Pot' contest will take place with the proceeds split between Headway, the brain injury charity, and Kildimo-Pallaskenry GAA Club. One of the organisers Danny O'Sullivan, told the Limerick Leader: "It'll be a fun day for our junior and senior hurlers. We have a new trophy for it. Jimmy Nealon was a former Kildimo/Pallaskenry hurler. When his family found out we were planning this, they offered to sponsor the cup. It'll be a bit of craic. Everyone is going to be involved." According to Danny, the idea for the event came from a group of his friends and mentors at the West Limerick side. It is hoped that the event will become an annual tradition as Darren is never far away from the community's minds. "He was such a young, energetic guy, Danny added. One of his best friends was Kyle Hayes, and his group of friends are a really tight knit group. Every second game, we'd be talking about him, Let's do this for Darren and things like that. So it is still very close to us," he said. As well as Kyle, it's expected the club's other senior inter-county stars will make an appearance - Darren O'Connell and Barry O'Connell have been on the Treaty's All-Ireland winning panel. Family of Limerick man Darren Whelan who died in Greece help raise 50,000 for charity Talented GAA player who died after fall in Greece named as Darren Whelan (23) Darren, from the parish of Kildimo-Pallaskenry, had studied civil engineering at Limerick Institute of Technology and had travelled to the Greek island with friends to celebrate graduating from college. An online fundraiser launched at the time by his family, including parents Eddie and Geraldine and his two brothers Gavin and Eamon resulted in more than 1,200 donations, totalling more than 47,000. The GoFundMe page was set up by the Whelan family after the tragic loss of our beloved Darren. As many of you will know Darren was holidaying in Greece with friends when he sadly lost his life in an accident, it reads. Darren was a kind, caring, fun-loving young man with the brightest of futures ahead of him. In his short 23 years he touched the lives of everyone he met with his positive energy and friendly nature. His sudden passing has devastated his family, friends and local communities. It adds: We are fortunate to have the support of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust at this time. They are working tirelessly to bring Darren home to his family and friends. We would be lost without their help, compassion and professionalism at this time. We want to dedicate this GoFundMe page to the memory of Darren, with all proceeds going to this essential charity. We, Darren's family, would greatly appreciate any donations you feel you wish to make in Darren's memory. Our sad situation today, will unfortunately be some other poor families situation tomorrow and we wish all support to be available to other families in need. In a tragic twist, his older brother Ciaran died following a single vehicle accident outside Granard on New Years Day 2022. Martin (right) with his later brother Ciaran (left) The distraught fiancee of a young Longford man who was knocked down and killed after being struck by a Bus Eireann bus last night has told of how the pair had planned to get married later this month.. Shirley Dempsey revealed how her life has been turned upside down following the tragic death of her boyfriend Martin McDonnell (19) in Longford town yesterday evening. The young Longford man was fatally injured as he walked along the Convent Road area of the midlands town shortly after 6pm. In a tragic twist, his older brother Ciaran died following a single vehicle accident outside Granard on New Years Day 2022. In a heartbreaking tribute, Shirley said both she and Martin were looking forward to getting married in Northern Ireland in three weeks time. You where my whole life, she said. Id give my life just to have you back. I just cant come to terms that God took you away from me and I will never understand why. All We had was each other and you told me that everyday. We were going to the north in three weeks to get married and were going to keep it a secret until the day. The late Mr McDonnells sister, Helen also took to social media and said she had been left numbed at the news. My poor brother Martin, he didnt deserve this, she wrote. Scene of the incident in Longford Details surrounding the tragedy come just over a year since the late Mr McDonnell spoke at his older brother Ciarans funeral mass following a single vehicle accident outside Granard on New Years Day. I dont even know where to start, he told mourners at the time. Our hearts are broken into pieces. You were one of a kind and you were my best friend. He said despite the enormity of the past few days, the memory of his late brother would continue to live on. I promise you I will do you proud, he added. You are my hero and I will always love you. You were simply the best. You will be missed and you will always be in our hearts. A full garda forensic collision investigation is currently underway at the junction of Convent Road and New Street in Longford town where last nights tragedy unfolded. The Bus Eireann bus which had been turning onto the Convent Road at the time of the incident remains at the scene with both ends of New Street remaining cordoned off to traffic. Martin (right) with his later brother Ciaran (left) The bus at the centre of the incident had been travelling from Cavan to Athlone, Bus Eireann confirmed in a statement, who also revealed there were no reported injuries to either the driver or passengers that were onboard at the time. This is a sad and shocking event and the sympathies of everyone at Bus Eireann are with the family and friends of the deceased, said its Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Kent. We are grateful to the Gardai and emergency services for their rapid response and we will support the investigation fully. Longford Municipal District Cathaoirleach Cllr Gerry Hagan said the local community had been left in a state of shock over the tragedy. "It's a tragedy at any time of the year, but especially so with it being Easter week," he said. "On behalf of the Longford community I would like to take this opportunity to extend deepest sympathies to the family of the young man." Gardai, in the meantime, are continuing to appeal to motorists and members of the public who may have witnessed yesterdays incident to come forward. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who may have video footage (including dash-cam) is asked to contact Gardai. Gardai can be contacted at Longford Garda Station on 043 335 0570, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. Kyle Corkery, who had served in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom, was born in the US and raised in Ireland A condolence page set up for an Irish American US Marine Corp veteran has been flooded with messages of sympathy ahead of his funeral in Co Kerry on Monday. Kyle Corkery, who had served in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom, was born in the US and raised in Ireland. He had recently been living in Colorado before his death on March 26. According to his death notice on RIP.ie, Corkery, of Keelnabrack Lower, Glenbeigh, Kerry, was the beloved son of Michael and Mary, dear brother of Blaine, and loving father of Charley". The notice says that a reposing will be held this Saturday, April 8 at Flynns Funeral Home in Killorglin, Co Kerry. A requiem mass will be held at St James Church in Glenbeigh, Co Kerry on Monday, April 10 followed by burial at Ballinakilla Cemetery. The emotional post adds that Corkery will be "forever loved and missed by his heartbroken parents, brother Blaine, daughter Charley and her mother Nicole, his partner Ali, uncles Michael, Andrew, and Patrick, aunts Joan, Ina, Patricia, Margaret, and Anne, cousins, neighbours, and many friends in Ireland and the United States Corkery's family thanked people for their support and understanding. In the condolences section hundreds of people have left messages for the Corkery family on the sad passing of Kyle. We are saddened to hear this news no words may god comfort you all at this most difficult time, one reads. Another adds: Deepest sympathies to Mike, Mary, Blaine, Charley and all the extended family. Thinking of you all. May Kyle rest in peace. One person has written: Our deepest condolences to you all. Words cannot express how your deepest pain & grief must be but know you are all in our thoughts and prayers at this time. Another adds: Our sympathy to Michael, Mary, Blaine, Charley and extended family on the death of Kyle. A handsome charming boy, may he have eternal peace. In the days after Corkerys death, his friend Anthony O'Carroll launched a GoFundMe to help bring the veteran home to Ireland from the US. By April 5, it had raised nearly 40,000, far surpassing its initial goal of 10,000. On April 1, O'Carroll said in an update on the GoFundMe page: On behalf of Mike, Mary, and Blaine, there isnt words to describe the incredible response that has been seen since setting up the fundraiser. Its difficult to describe just how much your gesture of support in their time of need means to them. To have a reminder from their friends and community that care for them that they are not alone in their grieving is immeasurable. "When you're away abroad you always hear 'home is where the heart is' and the response from everyone at home proves this. "Thank you for reaching out and sharing your condolences. It is only with the help of the wonderful people in their lives and community that they will be able to get through this." O'Carroll added: "Once again thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for all your help. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. Armenia has been creating obstacles for sending a UNESCO research mission to the territory of Karabakh over the past 30 years, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said, Trend reports. Bayramov made the remark during a video message at the opening ceremony of the 9th meeting of the National Commissions for UNESCO of the member countries of International Organization Turkic Culture (TURKSOY). The event has been organized by the National Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan for UNESCO under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, TURKSOY, ADA University and the Institute of Development and Diplomacy of the University in Baku. Asked for his view on abortion, Francis says priests should be merciful towards women who have terminated a pregnancy Pope Francis has declared sex as one of the beautiful things that God has given to the human person in an open and honest new interview. The 86-year-old pontiff made the comment as he debated LGBT rights, abortion, the porn industry, sex, and faith and sex abuse within the Catholic Church in the Disney+ documentary 'The Pope: Answers'. In one scene the Pope is seen meeting with ten people in their early 20s last year in Rome where he is quizzed on his views regarding a variety of topics. Sex is one of the beautiful things that God has given to the human person, he says in the documentary. To express yourself sexually is a richness. So anything that detracts from real sexual expression lessens you and depletes this richness, he added, in a reference to masturbation. The film focuses on the 10 young people from across the globe who meet the Pope with the aim of talking and conveying to him the main concerns of their generation. Asked whether he knew what a non-binary person' is, he replies that he does, while adding that LGBT people must be welcomed by the Catholic Church. All persons are the children of God, all persons. God does not reject anybody, God is a father. And I have no right to expel anyone from the Church, he says Asked for his view on abortion, Francis says priests should be merciful towards women who have terminated a pregnancy, while adding that the practice remains unacceptable. Its good to call things by their name. It is one thing to accompany the person who had one (abortion), quite another to justify the act, he says. The Pope's remarks were published by L'Osservatore Romano, the official Vatican newspaper, which described his conversation with the young people as an open and sincere dialogue. Appearing to have fully recovered from a bout of bronchitis which kept him in hospital for four days last week after complaining of breathing difficulties, the Pope has had a busy four days in the lead up to Easter. On Holy Thursday, Francis and dozens of cardinals and bishops, and some 1,880 priests, gathered in St Peter's Basilica, Rome, to renew the commitments they made on their ordination. The Pope then travelled to the jail of Casual del Marmo on the outskirts of the city, where he washed and kissed the feet of 12 young inmates in a gesture meant to commemorate Jesus' humility towards his apostles on the night before his death To celebrate our Golden Jubilee weve asked our biggest names to tell us their story shane mcgowan meets eddie rowley at sandycove dublin as he creates awareness for the need to raise funds for a machine for the cystic fibrosis at temple street hospital pix brian mcevoy AS a wannabe journalist with a passion for the world of showbusiness and a keen interest in celebrities and their life stories, the exciting, brash and colourful Sunday World was my dream job in the Seventies. It arrived on the scene in March 1973 while I was still in secondary school and, as a teenager, it seemed so much more fun to work on compared to the other dull and boring nationals of the time. It had the perfect package of exposes, human interest stories that no other paper was focusing on, and features on the stars of movies, TV and music. There was even a centre page, full colour pull-out poster of your favourite pop star every Sunday! It soon became Irelands biggest-selling Sunday paper. Fast-forward to 1983 and my teenage dream came to life when I was hired as a reporter on the 10-year-old Sunday World. Silver mullet: Eddie with Rod Stewart I had already served my apprenticeship on two provincial newspapers in the midlands, covering events such as the monthly meeting of Westmeath Co Council and stories that included the scourge of potholes on country roads. Now, with my pulse racing, I buckled my seat belt and got set for what promised to be a thrill-a-minute rollercoaster ride through life with my Sunday World access all areas VIP pass to meet and interview some of the worlds biggest stars about their remarkable lives. Get ready for some noise as big names are about to be dropped! And they dont come bigger than Yoko Ono, the charming, quiet-spoken widow of Beatle John Lennon. She talked about being wrongly blamed for splitting up The Beatles at the height of their fame. When I met her in London Yoko was coming to terms with the murder of her husband, John, in 1980. Kylie Minogue meets Eddie Rowley In 1988, I joined Jason Donovan in Melbourne, Australia, on the set of then hottest TV soap, Neighbours, to report on the series and his character Scotts marriage to Charlene, played by Kylie Minogue. As her pop career went into the stratosphere, I would have several personal chats with Kylie in the decades that followed and, yes, the Aussie superstar is as affable as she appears. At the end of the 1980s, I landed an invite to join Tom Selleck on location in Hawaii as he shot the final episode of his popular TV series, Magnum, P.I. Gentle giant Selleck also chatted about his new movie at the time, Three Men And A Baby. Gary Glitter had been one of the British glam rock superstars of the Seventies and was still playing arenas when I interviewed him before his Dublin concert in the early Nineties. He looked every inch a star with his trademark bouffant hair, but an ex-girlfriend had just told a British newspaper that it was a wig and he was bald underneath. Before the interview, Glitters manager warned me that if I asked him about the story hed immediately stop the interview. I did bring it up in a light-hearted way I hear youre bald! - and Glitter laughed it off. But none of us knew then that there was a sinister side to Gary Glitter, who was later exposed as a paedophile and jailed for sexually abusing young girls. In 1990, the late Sunday World photographer Val Sheehan and myself found ourselves riding around New York city in a limo with the Hothouse Flowers. We were there to do a special feature on the Irish group as they got set to headline the very first Feile, aka The Trip To Tipp, that August in Thurles. Eddie Rowley and Dolores O' Riordan of Cranberrys at Kippure for their music video. Eddie Rowley One of the craziest interviews I did in the Nineties was with Jim Corr of The Corrs, which took place as he personally flew me around Dublin in his private helicopter! The Nineties was also the decade of the boybands and girlbands. Boyzone had their own column in the Sunday World, which I had the pleasure of editing every week. When they split up, Westlife took over the spot with their weekly column. The Spice Girls were the biggest girl group of the era and I had the thrill of a cameo role in their 1997 film, Spice World - The Movieplaying a Sunday World reporter! In the decades that followed there has been lots of girl power dominating the music charts. Ive been lucky to get up close and personal with outstanding female stars such as Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift when they agreed to interviews for the Sunday World and our magazine. Apart from their phenomenal talent, the other common denominator between all three is their insane work ethic. Beyonce had done eight hours of interviews by the time she sat down with me on one occasion and she was still totally engaging. Westlife in London on an exclusive shoot for our magazine cover Eddie Rowley One of the funniest rock stars Ive interviewed is Noel Gallagher, particularly when hes slagging off his brother Liam. Theres a future for him in stand up comedy. They say you should never meet your idols. Rod Stewart was a hero from my teenage years and he treated me like a best mate when we met. Michael Buble has the same natural charm, as does Lionel Richie. Theyre easy to like and its part of their success. Garth Brooks has broken all kinds of world records, including eventually playing five sold out nights at Croke Park. Ive been interviewing him since the early Nineties and hes always the most humble person in the room. Bruce Springsteen is the same as is, believe it or not, Bono! Who's the Boss? Now in my 40th year with the Sunday World, I look back and remember watching unknown people such as Daniel ODonnell, Michael Flatley and Niall Horan blossom and become major stars. Its amazing to see lives transformed and superstars emerge. I watched the Sunday World do the same and luckily they took me on board for the incredible ride. QE Health in Rotorua has received a grant of $30,000 from NZCT for rehabilitative gym equipment. QE Health has an established gym that caters for clients needing rehabilitation from injuries, chronic pain, mental and physical disabilities and other ailments that prevent them from living a fully active life, as well as the general public seeking a gym focused on rehabilitative and wellness exercise, says Rehabilitation Fitness Centre Coordinator Tracey Lawson. Our clientele range in age from 15-94, including attendees of our two-week ReCharge programme, young mountain biking athletes, local senior rugby teams, and local men's groups with a focus on moving the body to improve mental health and wellbeing, and reduce anxiety and depression. QE Health had occupied the same site since 1942, using building stock originally designed to last 15 years. Its ongoing success meant it had outgrown the existing aged and not fit-for-purpose building. Much of our equipment in the previous building was old and no longer fit for purpose. When we moved to our new building in March, we did so with upgraded and more modern gym equipment in line with our new facilities. We thank NZCT for the support that allowed us to purchase this new gym equipment. To provide a valuable service to our clients we needed a variety of machines that allow for the correct use not only of the machine, but also the bodys own natural mechanics. Specifically, this funding will enable us to: 1. Reduce the future burden on health services by supporting a wide variety of clients that attend the gym and programmes purely for the focus of rehabilitation. 2. Improve the success of the ReCharge programmes offered at QE where we work with people with many forms of chronic pain conditions, muscle and joint problems, and arthritis. Previous results show remarkable improvement in their physical abilities by using movement. Many of the machines and much of the equipment that will be purchased because of this funding will directly impact the ongoing improvement and success of the programmes. 3. Support those aiming to boost mental well-being by providing access to a wide variety of machines and free weights to help build their strength and confidence. 4. Provide quality rehabilitation and well-being services to the community, providing local jobs and training opportunities. 5. Offer a unique combination of rehabilitation and clinical spa, with comprehensive complementary wrap-around services all under one roof. 6. Develop a true community offering with a multi-disciplinary approach, allowing QE Health to offer a private/public integration in regard to service delivery. The story of QE Health began in 1942 when the NZ Government commissioned the Public Works Department to construct a temporary building known as the Services Convalescent Hospital, providing rehabilitation care to soldiers returning from WWII. By mid-1948, the hospital ceased to function as one solely for servicemen. Patients from the Rotorua Sanatorium were transferred, and the hospital treated patients suffering from arthritis, rheumatism, and allied complaints. Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) also graciously consented to the hospital being named Queen Elizabeth Hospital. In the 1960s, the spa treatments were brought over to a new wing at QE Health when the Rotorua Bathhouse, now known as the Tudor Towers, closed. After twenty years of Government administration, Queen Elizabeth Hospital was officially handed over to the Waikato Hospital Board in October 1968. In 1993 a private interest Health Group and Queen Elizabeth Community Trust combined to form QE Hospital Ltd, a private company that continued to provide specialised rheumatology, multidisciplinary musculoskeletal rehabilitation, and arthritis surgery. March 2003 saw the unveiling of a commemorative glass window in the main entrance funded by the Patients Association. This was a Turn of the Century gift to QE Health to celebrate sixty years of healing and caring. Celebrations were held in July 2003 to mark the tenth anniversary of the private company and a name change to QE Health. In December 2005, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Community Trust became the sole shareholder of QE Health representing QEs focus away from illness and more towards wellness. QE Health has been a part of the fabric of Rotorua for more than 80 years and will continue to play an important role in providing quality clinical health and wellness services in Rotorua and beyond, says chief executive Aaron Randell. With the construction of our modern health and wellness facility complete, we have certainty that we can continue to support the community long into the future. It will allow us to grow, build on our legacy, and become more innovative. Our new facility reflects the excellent services QE Health is known for and will allow us to support the wider Rotorua community with both employment and health and wellness services. Thanks, NZCT. Waka Kotahi - NZ Transport Agency has listened to pleas from the community and has included a roundabout at the Mill Road intersection in its draft plans for State Highway 30. A team from Waka Kotahi, headed by Bay of Plenty director of regional relationships David Speirs, spent two days last week listening to the concerns and ideas from the public about proposed safety improvements to the highway between Awakeri and Whakatane. Halfway through the second day of the engagement sessions, David said they had already spoken to upwards of 150 people and received more than 300 pieces of feedback. "One of the things Ive been most happy with is that weve had a really good cross-section of people. Everything from agricultural contractors to heavy vehicle users, motorcyclists and road cyclists, to mum and dad picking the kids up at school at 3pm. Weve had quite a few visits from emergency services; Fire and Emergency New Zealand, ambulance, and such. In that cross-section of people, we have also had a cross-section of opinion from I will never believe in this, to I am actually open minded. Large-scale laminated maps spread out during the two day sessions displayed the proposed safety measures the agency hopes to have funding confirmed for early next year. The engagement team encouraged people to place sticky notes on specific areas they wanted to give feedback on. The maps were covered with notes, some containing detailed descriptions of peoples issues, and hand drawn diagrams of what they thought particular intersections should look like - others with terse statements such as this wont work or not needed. David says an addition to the original plan of a roundabout at Mill Road received the most positive feedback. This had come about through previous engagement meetings with Whakatane District Council, road user groups and businesses and residents adjacent to the highway. What wed been hearing from people was that [Mill Road] was a significant cause of concern. It was a place where there were not so many actual crashes, but a lot of near misses that could go very badly. [It is] also an area of focus for a lot of businesses who are growing. It has addressed a concern that a lot of people have, but also, its demonstrated to people that when they tell us about an issue we are going away and having a rethink. He says Waka Kotahi will also be open to the Shaw Road intersection connecting to the proposed Mill Road roundabout. However, that will be something the district council will need to consult with the community about as it will require some local investment, including a new crossing over the Kopeopeo Canal. Thats not a concrete proposal at the moment, but its an idea. David says the most polarising aspect of the safety measures is the median barrier. Concerns included dairy farmers needing to cross the road with stock, farm vehicles not being able to pull over to allow vehicles to pass, and emergency vehicles not being able to reach people with life-threatening conditions in time. We had area commander Stuart Nightingale from New Zealand Police there, so weve been able to have really good, detailed conversations with them about how we could manage an environment with whats been designed and where their specific design concerns are." David says the area commanders feedback has been constructive, showing areas where the police would require road-widening. A number of people have provided positive feedback about the installation of median barriers. These were mostly people who had experienced near-miss incidents in the past with vehicles crossing the centre line. He says the most useful part of the engagement days was that the team received a lot of very specific feedback. People were able to identify individual stretches where theyve got a concern about this particular driveway, or this particular piece of road or this bridge or whatever. So, were able to have a really constructive conversation with those people. Our purpose here for these two days is to listen to people. We are going to hear what their specific issues are, and were going to go away and see what we can do to address those. Waka Kotahi Bay of Plenty director of regional relationships David Speirs has plenty of suggestions to consider for the State Highway 30 safety improvements. Photo Diane McCarthy. Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agencys State Highway 30 Awakeri to Whakatane Safety Improvements proposal is going through a consultation and community engagement process. Bay of Plenty director of regional relationships David Speirs says this stretch of highway has been identified by Waka Kotahi as a high-risk rural road. Between 2017 and 2021, four people have died and 16 seriously injured in crashes and almost half of those were head on crashes. As part of New Zealands Road to Zero programme, Waka Kotahi is trying to reduce the frequency and likelihood that a crash happens. We do this by managing impairment, managing speed, managing the quality of the vehicles that are available to New Zealanders, managing the road surface. This year weve had a big increase in the maintenance and operations focus. Unfortunately, the weathers been challenging. Then, accepting that people make mistakes, and that people drive tired, or they drive impaired or they have a momentary lapse of judgement, because theyre human, we try and make the road environment as forgiving as possible. One of the most effective things we can do is a median barrier. As well as median barriers between The Hub and White Pine Bush Road, the safety improvements include roundabouts at the intersections of Thornton Road, Te Rahu Road and White Pine Bush Road and no right turn intersections at all other intersections. A separate speed review is also in progress and an outcome is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. A detailed design is expected to be completed by the middle of this year so funding from the 2024-2027 National Land Transport Programme can be applied for. Subject to funding being confirmed early next year, construction on safety improvements is expected to begin mid-2024. -Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. Iran keeps aggravating relations with Azerbaijan, trying to 'build' its future by cooperation with Armenia. The Karabakh issue has become the litmus test of Iran's policy towards Azerbaijan. Iran, which economically supported Armenia during the most difficult periods of the Second Karabakh War, posed a threat to Azerbaijan. It is widely believed that there is a law and an international system in the world, as these narratives are persistently supported. However, numerous 'irritating' phenomena make one doubt the existence of such things. One of the states most concerned about the new geopolitical situation in the region is Iran. This fact is indeed not that hard to see and understand, as is evidenced by the attack on the Azerbaijani Embassy in Iran, as well as the ongoing provocations and statements of Iran. In light of recent events, the Iranian parliament adopted a statement against Azerbaijan opening its embassy in Israel. The statement claims that Azerbaijan's officials will suffer a great deal of political repercussions as a result of their actions. They treated this move as "against the Islamic world." And this was noted in the statement of Iran, the country that organized a terrorist attack on the Azerbaijani Embassy. But here the question arises: wasn't the 30-year occupation of Azerbaijani territories and the destruction of mosques by Armenians "against the Islamic world"? And if yes, then shouldn't Iran speak out against not Azerbaijan opening the embassy in Israel but against Armenia, which Iran has been supporting rigorously for 30 years? Evidently, Iran has made a lot of remarks of this nature thus far. It is remarkable that this country is now trying to dictate Azerbaijan's foreign policy in addition to interfering in the country's internal affairs. The fate of a nation, a state, or a country should be determined by its own people, and Azerbaijan is doing this. This is what reality looks like. Statements that are a piece of paper, tweets consisting of a set of words, and threatening declarations cannot change reality. Iran, openly expressing a biased position, sent a note to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stating that anti-Iranian articles are published in Azerbaijani media. This is another statement by Iran that goes beyond objectivity. Azerbaijan has always taken positive steps to restore relations. But, unfortunately, the other side does not accept this. Azerbaijan, unlike Iran, has always been a rational and objective state, that bases its position on facts. As a result of this approach, on April 6, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Iran Seyyed Abbas Mousavi was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mousavi was notified that four employees of the Iranian Embassy were declared persona non grata by the Azerbaijani government for activities that do not correspond to diplomatic status and are contrary to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961. The ambassador was also informed that these persons should leave the territory of Azerbaijan within 48 hours. Iran has always looked around through the prism of its own interests and has been blind to what is happening in reality. This country is aware that it is weak and hopelessly behind in development and therefore does not want to have a strong state as a neighbor. For this reason, Iran cannot accept the growing power of Azerbaijan and chooses Armenia to keep a weaker state nearby, which Iran will help and thereby assert itself. However, while continuing to aggravate relations with Azerbaijan, Iran is trying to 'build' its future by cooperating with Armenia. It is obvious that Iran is experiencing "difficulties with thinking," and the way to its salvation lies through neighboring Azerbaijan. Iran should open its eyes and reconsider its relations with Azerbaijan from a rational point of view, if, of course, it considers itself a rational state. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. Azerbaijani Parliament will make a statement on recent anti-Azerbaijani steps of the Iranian parliament, Trend reports. An appropriate commission was established to prepare the text of the statement. Previously, the Iranian Parliament adopted a statement containing threats against Azerbaijan in connection with the opening of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Israel. Syracuse, N.Y. A Clay man facing his third trial for an alleged sexual assault following a car accident in 2017 was found guilty on Friday. Prince Royal-Clanton, 25, was found guilty of forcing a woman to perform sex acts next to a dumpster in the parking lot of a Liverpool apartment complex after her car hit him at the intersection of John Glenn Boulevard and Oswego Road. Syracuse, N.Y. A man has filed a lawsuit against Onondaga County charging a probations officer who forced him to be her sex slave. The lawsuit filed Tuesday says the probation officer sexually assaulted the man and forced him to have sex in various location around Central New York between May 2017 and October 2017. The lawsuit charged she forced the man to be her sex slave. The probation officer, Bridgett Duerr, 50, of Cicero, pleaded guilty in October 2018 to official misconduct and resigned from her position. She admitted having sexual relations with two male probationers. The man who filed the lawsuit this week also filed a lawsuit against Duerr in 2021, but the victims attorney said he was unable to file against the county in a timely manner. However, the states Adults Survivors Act signed into law in May 2022 gives sexual assault survivors a one-year window to file a civil case against an abuser or institution regardless of the statue of limitations. Hes eligible to bring a suit against the county for their negligence and hiring and supervision of having this probation officer on the force, the victims attorney Caitlin Robins said. Duerr was the victims probation officer from Dec. 16, 2016 until at least October 2017, court records said. Duerr first initiated a sexual relationship with the 37-year-old man in May 2017, according to the lawsuit. She pressured him to let her perform oral sex as a favor for letting him take a birthday trip to Miami, the lawsuit alleges. Over the next few months, Duerr made the man participate in sexual acts at least nine times at various location including at a Carrier Cirlce hotel, a school parking lot and at her home, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit said Duerr once sent a text message to the man with a photo of a gun, following a text that read, look what I found. The text implied she would say the gun was his and put him in jail for violating the terms of his probation if he refused to have sex with her, the lawsuit states. A reasonable person in Officer Duerrs position would have understood that Plaintiff did not consent, and that Plaintiffs actions expressed a lack of consent to such sexual misconduct under all circumstances, the lawsuit said. The lawsuit does not specify how much money the man is seeking from the county. Duerr was sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge on a misdemeanor official misconduct charge. She had to resign from her job as probation officer as part of the deal. Duerr was initially charged in December 2017 for having sex with a man on probation who she was supervising, a man not named in the new lawsuit. The original lawsuit against Duerr is still pending. The first probationer to come forward said their relationship lasted from June to October 2017. The man bringing the latest lawsuit was released from federal prison recently, following time he served for on an illegal gun case. Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard is not identifying the man who filed the lawsuit as he may be the victim of sexual abuse. Staff writer Darian Stevenson covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at dstevenson@syracuse.com Watertown, N.Y. A North Country police officer was found to be intoxicated while on duty and driving a marked patrol car last month, police said. Ernest J. Miller, a Watertown City police officer, was arrested Friday and suspended without pay, according to a news release from the Watertown police. On Feb. 7, Miller was working as a uniformed police patrol officer and driving a marked patrol car, police said. It was determined that Miller was driving intoxicated and was relieved from duty that day. His blood alcohol content was .17%, police said. In New York state, the legal limit is .08%. Miller agreed to turn himself in to police after he returned from leave on Friday, they said. Around 10 a.m., Miller was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, police said. The Watertown City Manager Kenneth Mix has suspended Miller without pay pending a disciplinary hearing, police said. Miller is scheduled to appear in court on April 26, police said. Miller made $87,914 in 2022, according to an online public employee salary database. Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at ahayes@syracuse.com. Update as of 2:30 p.m.: The police officer has been identified as Joseph Hilliker according to a Facebook post from Syracuse Police. A total of 10 people have been displaced, according to a news release from the Syracuse Fire Department. Syracuse, N.Y. A Syracuse police officer ran into a burning home on Syracuses Far Westside Friday to alert residents to get out. Around 10 a.m., a 911 caller reported that a fire started by a candle had spread inside 114 Coykendall Ave., according to Syracuse Deputy Fire Chief Leonard Danielwicz. When firefighters arrived four minutes later there was heavy fire and smoke coming from the left side of the building Danielwicz said. One woman was able to get out of the house on her own before firefighters arrived, Danielwicz said. A police officer ran into the burning home to warn six residents on the second floor that a fire was spreading and they needed to get out, Danielwicz said. All the residents on the second floor were able to get out of the home safely. One woman was evaluated for smoke inhalation but did not need to be transported to the hospital, Danielwicz said. Firefighters were able to get the blaze under control in around 30 minutes. The home sustained significant damage and is uninhabitable, Danielwicz said. A neighboring home also sustained minor damage on the siding of the building, he said. Staff writer Rylee Kirk covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, photo, question or comment? Reach her at 315-396-5961, on Twitter @kirk_rylee, or rkirk@syracuse.com. Syracuse, N.Y. A man shot in a gunfight in Syracuse has been charged with murder over the death of a 26-year-old man, police said Friday. Melchizedek Pearson, 20, was arrested after he was discharged from Upstate University Hospital, Syracuse police spokesman Lt. Matthew Malinowski said in a news release. Pearson was shot in the midsection Monday afternoon after an online feud with Khadeem Conley, 26, spilled into an argument in the 100 block of Temple Place, according to the Onondaga County District Attorneys Office. The two were commenting on Facebook to each other before Pearson ended the exchange at 12:50 p.m. Monday by sending his location. At South Ave right now, whats the word, he said. At 1:34 p.m. Pearson and Conley got into an argument and then shot at each other, prosecutors said. Conley was shot in the chest and later died at the hospital. Pearson was charged with second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Hes being held in the Justice Center. Staff writer Fernando Alba covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, question or comment? Reach him: Email | Twitter or at 315-690-6950. In the largest state-level beer competition in the country, nearly 100 medals were awarded in Albany last month in 29 different beer-style categories. Winners in the annual New York State Craft Beer Competition came from across the state. Eleven Central New York brewers (from Onondaga and adjacent counties) took home 16 total medals at the March 24 awards ceremony. The Central New York breweries took six gold medals. Four of the brewers were multiple medal winners, including all three located in Cayuga County. The annual contest, coordinated by the New York State Brewers Association, is open to the more than 500 craft breweries in New York state, from Long Island and New York City and across Upstate to the Adirondacks and the Niagara frontier. In the major honors, the contest named Wayward Lane Brewing of Schoharie County as the 2023 New York Brewery of the Year. The Governors Cup award for the states top beer went to the Genesee Brew House Helles, a German-style lager made by the small-batch brewhouse owned by the big Genesee Brewery in Rochester. Today, April 7, is the 90th anniversary of the day in 1933 that Prohibition officially ended. (Some celebrate it as National Beer Day). In that spirit, heres a look at Central New Yorks medal-winning beers from this years New York craft beer contest. Note: Craft brewers make small batches, so its possible the winning beers might not be available on your visit. Breweries are listed in alphabetical order. Aurora Brewing Co., 1897 Route 90, King Ferry (Cayuga County) Category: Golden/Blonde Ale (American, Kolsch, Cream Ale) Medal: Gold Beer: La Crema Category: Hazy Double IPA Medal: Silver Beer: Simcoe Super Fresh to Death Lunkenheimer Craft Brewing, 8931 N. Seneca St., Weedsport (Cayuga County) Category: Pale Ale Medal: Silver Beer: Bay Bridge Pale Ale Category: Imperial Stout and Porter Medal: Silver Beer: Baltic Porter Category: Kettle and Simple Sours Medal: Bronze Beer: Berliner Style Weisse Note: Lunkenheimer won the 2022 Governors Cup for its Berliner Weisse McGraw Box Brewing Co., 1 Spring St, McGraw (Cortland County) Category: Wheat Medal: Bronze Beer: Holznot Hefeweizen ONCO Fermentations, 397 Route 281, Tully Category: American IPA Variations Medal: Gold Beer: Hyphen (New England IPA) Prison City Brewing, 251 North St, Auburn Category: Barrel Aged Sour Medal: Gold Beer: Something, Something, Something 2022 Category: Hazy IPA Medal: Silver Beer: Haze On Riseform Brewing Co., 4 E. Main St., Marcellus Category: Brown Ale (American & British) Medal: Bronze Beer: Oh, Bother (American Brown Ale) Seneca Street Brew Pub, 315 E. Seneca St., Manlius Category: Amber/Red Ales (British, American, Irish, Scottish) Medal: Gold Beer: Irish Red Ale Note: This is third medal in the contest for the Irish Red, including two golds. Skaneateles Brewery, 4022 Mill Road, Skaneateles Category: Brown Ale (American & British) Medal: Gold Beer: Major Trail Brown Ale (American Brown Ale) Underground Beer Lab, 7000 Airways Park Drive, East Syracuse (2 medals) Category: Hazy Pale Ale Medal: Bronze Beer: Defies Logic Hazy Pale Ale Note: This is second state medal for the Defies Logic Category: Hazy DIPA (Double IPA) Medal: Bronze Beer: Topology Double NEIPA Willow Rock Brewing Company, 115 Game Road, Syracuse Category: Experimental Medal: Silver Beer: We Made It (Barleywine Ale) WT Brews, 18 E. Genesee St., Baldwinsville Category: Stout (Non-Imperial) Medal: Gold Beer: Present Absence (Foreign Extra Stout) Heidi Menikheim, co-owner of Seneca Street Brewpub in Manlius, holds the gold medal the brewery won at the 2023 New York State Craft Beer Competition for its Irish Red Ale. Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook. The Syracuse Watchfire will return to the NYS Fairgrounds this Memorial Day weekend after being canceled the last three years. The Watchfire is a memorial where retired flags are put into a wood pile and burned to honor U.S. soldiers and veterans. Thousands of onlookers from all over Central New York come to watch. Syracuse receives a few thousand old flags and the fire is the size of a house once its lit. The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 103 ran the event for over 35 years. It was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. The CNY Veterans Recognition Foundation is taking over the event -- most Vietnam vets are reaching their 70s or 80s. The foundation plans on running the memorial for the next few years. The Watchfire isnt just a Syracuse tradition. Watchfires date back to the 18th and 19th century where fires were created to reunite troops who were lost or wounded in battle, according to John Paddock, one of the organizers of the event. Paddock is the chair of the Onondaga County Veterans Service Advisory Board. The watchfire is really a beacon to bring troops that were lost in battle, wounded, drifted off or just couldnt find their way or may never come back. Its just a memorial fire to honor them, said Paddock. The 2019 Watchfire held at the NYState Fairgrounds the day before Memorial Day. May 26, 2019. The Watchfire stems from the military tradition that following a battle or long march, a large fire would be started so those missing or lost could locate and rejoin their comrades. Retired and tattered U.S. flags collected by veterans' groups and other organizations are burned in the watchfire -- the proper way to dispose of worn flags. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comDennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com There will be light refreshments like an ice cream stand and a DJ playing military music and music from the Vietnam War era. Theres also a memorial board signing where attendees can write messages to their loved ones they lost in war. The board, like the flags, will go up in flames. If you have a tattered or retired flag, there will be directions on the CNYVRFs website in the next few weeks on how to donate it for the fire. If You Go: What: CNY Watchfire 2023 When: Sunday, May 28 at 6 p.m. until dark Where: Brown Parking Lot, NYS Fairgrounds How Much: Free Once a Catholic rectory and convent of French Canadian nuns, this Upstate New York outdoor adventure bed and breakfast believed to be haunted will be featured on an upcoming episode of Ghost Hunters on the Travel Channel. The reality show episode titled Diocese of the Dead, will air as Ghost Hunters season finale on The Travel Channel at 9 p.m. on May 25 and stream on discovery+. Current owner Hal Kench, a technology teacher and Ogdensburg native living on Long Island, bought the home at 709 Franklin Street with his wife Rachel during the pandemic. Located in the heart of the city, the High Victorian Gothic style building caught Rachels eye on a trip back to Hals hometown. Ive probably driven by that building a million times in my life and never noticed it. There used to be a giant nursing home next door, so I remember the nursing home. Now, theyve torn down the nursing home so this house kind of stands out, Hal said. Rachel told him if they could live in that house, she would retire to the area. Hal immediately hopped on that idea. What was a five-year plan to take ownership quickly turned into a five-month plan when the previous owners took the Kench family up on the offer to buy the home. Renamed the Claire House, the 38-room home was built in 1884 and was the rectory of a church which burned down in 1947. After that it was the offices of Catholic Charities and most recently the convent housing for the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart who helped to run the nursing home that was next door. The property is where many people have passed or services were given as they were laid to rest. After they had purchased Claire House, the Kenches had heard murmurings on Facebook and received some innocuous comments about weird happenings inside its walls. Hal brushed the comments off thinking it was a joke, but on their first night in the home, peculiar things started to happen bats in the house, strange noises, lights flickering or turning on-and-off by themselves all incidents that he attributed to living in an old house. Then, the ghosts appeared. Both of my kids saw an apparition, Hal said. I told them, you guys are nuts, thats not a real thing. Rachel was also spooked and told her husband she had seen things in halls of the limestone mansion. Hal was a non-believer until one day the spirits appeared to him too. I was sitting in the parlor with my adult niece and we both saw a guy walk by the door inside the house at the same time. We were waiting for a food delivery at the time and I thought maybe the delivery driver didnt know we had the bell and just walked in. So many people have walked in to our house thinking it was the B and B down the road, he said. We both got up and walked out and there was nobody in the house. It was just us. One of the resident spirits is believed to be Bishop Joseph Henry Conroy, the third bishop of Ogdensburg. Hes been seen in the windows of the largest suite on the second floor. It is also the room that experiences the most activity with noises and a previous guest reported the feeling of having their foot grabbed in the middle of the night. Hal reached out to the TV series Ghost Hunters, with information about the house and its ghostly residents. After sending up some investigators, the production company decided to feature the home on an episode. The Atlantic Paranormal Society was called to Upstate New York to investigate the hauntings in Ogdensburg's Claire House for the Travel Channel's series, 'Ghost Hunters.' The episode will air on May 25. Provided photo | nyup.com They showed up with their whole crew and were there for a whole week. We cant talk much about what they found until show it on TV. I was pretty shocked, but I also felt good and a little validated that this is a real thing, he said. The ghosts arent only the extra guests staying at Claire House. The Kench family is also running the historic home as an outdoor adventure bed and breakfast with four suites available to visitors. Hal and his family offer outdoor snow safari adventures, including guided snowmobile tours, ice fishing, snow shoeing. They have had two soft openings thus far. The Kenches want Claire House to be a destination for tourists, not just an afterthought of where to stay while visiting Ogdensburg. The Kenches been steadily working on the home doing renovations. Theyve made many discoveries during their journey updating the home including doors that have been walled off. Most of those doors simply lead into the next room, but there is one room that appears to have no way in or out. The family refers to it as the hidden room. Theres two dormers on the house on one section that I thought were decorative because theres no access to the area. I got up on the lift one time when we were putting the roof on and I looked in the window and theres a whole room up there with plumbing and everything, but there didnt seem to be any access to it, Hal said. He looked through the plaster for some entryway to no avail. The room has been completely sealed off. They are not sure what it was used for, but they think there might have been a stairwell too the room on the outside of the house that has since been removed. Claire House has already had two soft openings and are now booking for this summers International Seaway Festival in July, next winters snow safari adventures, and they are also hosting a festival for the solar eclipse happening in 2024. Though Hal and Rachel are currently still teaching on Long Island, they plan to move up to Ogdensburg and have Claire House open full time for visitors in about two years. To book a stay at Claire House, visit their website. At the end of last year, New Yorks Office of Cannabis Management reversed a requirement for the states first-round of retail dispensary operators to use state-secured property, and announced they could find and use their own real estate. However, some attorneys representing these business owners are concerned their clients must now compete against a state agency for these locations. Sign up for the NY Cannabis Insider Newsletter Enter your email address to get exclusive reporting on NY's cannabis market delivered to your inbox: David Feder, a lawyer who specializes in cannabis and real estate, told NY Cannabis Insider that he recently approached an NYC real estate broker to inquire about a retail space in a desirable location on behalf of a client licensed under the Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary program. They said, were already in talks with [the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York] on this property so you should know that were already speaking to them about it, Feder said. They didnt turn me away, Feder said. In fact, theyre inviting us to participate in almost what seems like a bidding war against DASNY. Long before CAURD dispensaries started opening, cannabis industry stakeholders were worried about a real estate crunch especially for retailers, and especially in densely-packed New York City. However, the dynamic emerging is that of small business owners being pitted against DASNY a huge government institution that issued more than $10.6 billion in bonds in the 2021 fiscal year. An OCM spokesperson told NY Cannabis Insider in an email that the agency received notice of prospective or proposed locations from CAURD licensees and managers of the social equity fund overseen by DASNY. OCM receives notice of prospective or proposed locations from the Fund and from CAURD licensees. For the purposes of the distancing requirements between locations, OCM measures each new proposed location against prospective and active locations already in our system, OCM said. While it is possible that CAURD provisional licensees may also identify the same locations where the SESC and the Fund have been negotiating leases, all locations are added to our system in the order they are received. Feder, who said he hasnt contacted either agency about the topic, isnt sure whether his client will move forward pursuing the property, as outbidding a large agency like DASNY would be difficult especially when rules in the MRTA and regulatons proposed by OCM severely limit the locations where CAURD licensees are allowed to operate their businesses. Not only are they competing with the other CAURD awardees in the region, theyre also competing with DASNY now; which is a very unnerving prospect, Feder said. Paula Collins, an attorney and accountant who represents cannabis clients, said none of her clients have faced a situation where theyre competing against DASNY for a space, but wasnt surprised that the issue has arisen. DASNY had already been scouting and negotiating for properties for months when the Cannabis Control Board started issuing CAURD licenses late last year. In cases where landlords or real estate brokers are fielding offers by individual CAURD businesses and DASNY, the small business owner is at an obvious disadvantage, Collins said. If I put myself in the position of a commercial landlord, I would go with the DASNY contract before I went with the individual, Collins said. Its likely commercial landlords would want the security of a state contract over an individual, especially a CAURD licensee who may or may not have great credit, or may or may not have a lot of capital. New Yorks cannabis real estate crunch is especially acute downstate in the greater New York City metro area, said Matt Leonardo, an attorney who represents multiple CAURD licensees and entrepreneurs who intend to apply for general licenses. Landlords who are willing to do business with cannabis clients are conscious of state law that prohibits dispensaries from opening within 500 feet of a school or 200 feet of a house of worship, and theyre leveraging the situation, Leonardo said. Its been really difficult to find a space that satisfies requirements with a willing landlord, Leonardo said. The landlords are just playing extreme hardball: a lot of conditions, a lot of money upfront. Additionally, the OCM has proposed regulations that would bar dispensaries from opening within a 1,000-foot radius of another weed retailer in communities with more than 20,000 residents or a 2,000-foot radius in communities with fewer residents. However, an OCM spokesperson previously told NY Cannabis Insider that the agency is currently reviewing and revising proposed regulations which have not been fully approved based on public comments, and that the proposed rules include a mechanism for the CCB to override the buffer, if it was determined it was in the public convenience and advantage to do so. Competition with DASNY exacerbates existing difficulties for CAURD licensees, who are very likely less savvy at negotiating a property deal than the Dormitory Authority, which boasts a staff of experts with deep connections in the Empire States real estate community, Leonardo said. However, he added that its not particularly surprising that this particular issue has emerged, since the state set up the CAURD program in a way that required licensees to use DASNY spaces, and then later abandoned that requirement. This is almost a natural consequence of setting up the program the way they did, Leonardo said. This story has been updated to include the Office of Cannabis Managements response. Syracuse, N.Y. -- One of the federal governments top science officials will be in Syracuse Monday to meet with U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer and executives of Micron Technology to talk about training workers for Microns proposed semiconductor manufacturing plant in Clay. Sethuraman Panchanathan, director of the U.S. National Science Foundation, will come to Syracuse University for the event at the invitation of U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer. Schumer said he wants Panchanathan to hear about workforce training plans to help fill up to 9,000 jobs Micron expects to create in the town of Clay. Micron will send two top officials to the workforce summit: Manish Bhatia, executive vice president of global operations; and April Arnzen, senior vice president and chief people officer. Also on hand will be local development officials and representatives of Syracuse Universitys College of Engineering and Computer Science, which plans to expand student enrollment by 50% over the next three to five years to help produce Micron engineers. Micron, based in Boise, Idaho, plans to spend up to $100 billion over 20 years building the massive complex in Clay. That is expected to create an additional 40,000 supply-chain jobs in the region. One of the big challenges facing Micron is finding enough trained engineers and technicians. The company has told Onondaga Community College officials it will need 1,000 technicians and 1,000 engineers to operate each of the four semiconductor fabrication facilities, or chip fabs, it plans to build at the 1,400-acre Clay complex. Substantial hiring is expected to start in 2025, with production beginning in 2026. The National Science Foundation, an independent federal agency that distributes federal aid to support science and engineering, plans to award $200 million in competitive grants to help schools train and expand the nations semiconductor workforce. Schumer, the Senate majority leader, pushed to include the money in the CHIPS and Science Act, the law that set aside $52 billion in incentives for chip makers to open new plants in the United States. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. Natural heritage in Azerbaijan's Karabakh has suffered enormous damage from Armenia, Azerbaijan's Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources said, Trend reports. He made the remark at the opening ceremony of the 9th meeting of the National Commissions for UNESCO of the TURKSOY [International Organization of Turkic Culture] member states. This meeting was organized by TURKSOY jointly with the National Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan for UNESCO under the President of Azerbaijan, ADA University, and its Institute for Development and Diplomacy. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the International Organization of Turkic Culture. Will be updated Pat Hogan is chairman of the board of the Greater Syracuse Land Bank. Katelyn Wright is the agencys executive director. We were quite surprised by the headline Land Bank is hoarding land on South Side on the front page of the Post-Standard on Sunday, March 26, 2023, and after reading the article a few times, found ourselves wondering if the intent was to confuse or amuse the reader. Michelle Breidenbach gathered information from the Land Bank for months leading up to publication. However, land banking (a longstanding best practice in urban planning) and what that work entails was not explained to readers. That headline and the phrase aggressive hoarding used elsewhere in the article contradict the general message of the article, which explains that we have been acquiring and assembling larger parcels, and testing for and remediating environmental contamination (although without clearly explaining that we are doing so to better attract developers to these sites), and that we are land banking in a deliberate and thoughtful way to retain control over development outcomes as opposed to letting speculators take control away from our local community. Describing this work as hoarding, presumably for dramatic effect, is misleading, inconsistent with the rest of the article and obscures the collaborative nature of our land banking in the Blueprint 15 area, which is driven by the city of Syracuse, Blueprint 15, the Syracuse Housing Authority and the Land Bank. Stating that The Land Bank, city officials and others do not have a plan is patently false and the article goes on to contradict that statement, describing how the Land Bank is working with the city, Home HeadQuarters and others to build new affordable housing in the area. We are holding properties off the market in about 25% of the Blueprint 15 area, waiting to follow behind SHAs planned redevelopment, but concurrently implementing a plan to assemble and clean up these sites to make them shovel-ready for when that time comes. In the other 75% of the Blueprint 15 area, we are assembling sites for new construction of affordable housing in furtherance of the citys Resurgent Neighborhood Initiative (RNI), construction of which has already begun. The example we shared with the author is the eight new homes recently constructed by Home HeadQuarters on Baker, Woodland and Garfield. We explained in detail the many steps that took place over five-plus years to acquire 12 parcels, demolish nine homes and obtain approval for six resubdivisions in order to create those eight shovel-ready building sites. The land bank is assembling similar clusters like this throughout the Blueprint 15 area and, in fact, nearly every buildable lot we own in this area is under contract for new construction of affordable single- or two-family homes planned by the city, Home HeadQuarters, Housing Visions and Onondaga County Community Development. Breidenbach mentions these eight new homes and references RNI, but doesnt explain what RNI is, how many additional homes are planned for this area in the short term or the fact that land banking pre-development made all this possible. Especially in a long-form article such as this, this was a great opportunity to explain the real nuts and bolts of how land banking works and why its necessary, but we fear that many readers will only remember the sensational statements in this piece such as, The Land Bank, city officials and others do not have a plan or aggressive hoarding. The author also fails to note that the Land Bank has sold over 1,200 properties, returning them to the tax base generating nearly $2 million/year in property taxes; demolished over 575 properties, removing their drag on surrounding property values and quality of life; that the number of vacant and abandoned buildings in the city has been reduced by 20% since the Land Bank was created; that weve brought more state grant funds back to our community than any other New York land bank because we proactively acquired and assembled shovel-ready projects; or that the Greater Syracuse Land Bank is widely acknowledged as one of the most successful land banks in the country and is used as a model for other communities looking to engage in more thoughtful, collaborative and deliberate revitalization planning -- also known as land banking. Those results would not be possible without strategic land banking or, as your paper calls it, hoarding. Related: How to buy a house, commercial building or vacant lot from the Syracuse Land Bank The annual Oneida Lake walleye fishing derby, a long-time Central New York tradition celebrating the opening of walleye season, is now under new management led by Matthew Gutchess, a former charter captain from Central Square. In keeping with 43 years of tradition, the derby will run on the first weekend after opening day of walleye season, May 5-7. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation began assigning hard dates to fishing seasons last year, with walleye season opening May 1. WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) A former New York suburban police officer turned drug dealer was convicted Thursday in the strangulation death of one man and the execution-style murders of three others. Nicholas Tartaglione was convicted in White Plains federal court after a three-week trial that occurred nearly four years after he briefly was a cellmate of Jeffrey Epstein, a notorious sexual predator and financier. The bodies were recovered in December 2016, about eight months after the four were killed in Otisville, about 70 miles (113 kilometers) north of Manhattan. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement that Tartaglione masterminded the killings after suspecting that one of the victims, Martin Luna, had stolen money from him. The prosecutor said he lured Luna into meeting him in a bar in what became a deadly trap for the man, two of his nephews and a family friend he brought with him. Prosecutors said in court papers that Tartaglione drove Lunas body to his Otisville ranch, while his co-conspirators brought the other three men alive and bound to the same place. What occurred next could only be described as pure terror, as Tartaglione tortured Martin, then forced one of his nephews to watch as Tartaglione strangled Martin to death with a zip tie, Williams said. The prosecutor said Tartaglione and two associates then transported the three other men to a remote wooded location, forcing them to kneel before shooting each of them in the back of the head and burying all four in a mass grave. Prosecutors said Tartaglione shot one of the remaining three men himself. Tartagliones heinous acts represent a broader betrayal, as he was a former police officer who once swore to protect the very community he devastated, Williams said. He said the conviction will ensure that Tartaglione faces a lifetime in federal prison for his unconscionable murder of four men. At trial, defense attorneys argued that Tartaglione had nothing to do with the killings and was being used by the government as a convenient fall guy. In July 2019, Tartaglione shared a Manhattan jail cell with Epstein when the wealthy financier was placed on suicide watch after being discovered with bruises on his neck. Epstein hanged himself weeks later while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. Kathleen Moore, Times Union, Albany, N.Y. (TNS) ALBANY A group of SUNY Albany students shut down a Tuesday-night appearance by a popular conservative who had come to campus at the request of a student organization to discuss free speech. Ian Haworth, a writer and podcast host, had been invited by the UAlbany chapter of Turning Point USA, a conservative group. But opponents hung a poster and crafted social media posts asking students to drown out transphobia by protesting the event. Haworth has said on Twitter that he believes in biology and opposes genital mutilation being carried out on children. According to protesters and numerous videos posted on Twitter by Haworth and others, students responded by filling the meeting room at Assembly Hall and chanting epithets including F__ you, TPUSA! and Ian sucks! At one point, they formed an improvised conga line and called for Haworth to come out. When Avery Middendorf, the president of TPUSA at UAlbany, tried to speak, they drowned him out by shouting, We cant hear you! Meanwhile, Haworth was just outside a back door, waiting in a stairwell to be introduced. One of the protesters, Mehr Sharma, said the protester had told TPUSA they would sit down when Haworth came in. But Middendorf said that was categorically false. I wouldve brought Ian out if they wouldve stopped, he said. I even talked to the police about it do I bring Ian out with whats taking place right now? And they said no, its like adding fuel to the fire. After an hour, Middendorf said, the UAlbany police chief told the crowd that if they stayed in the room, he would cancel the event. Police escorted the TPUSA members to another room. There, Haworth gave an abbreviated speech of about 20 minutes and police escorted the students to their cars. I was quite disappointed, Middendorf said. They got what they wanted: They didnt want the speaker on campus in the first place; they got their way. He said he had repeatedly warned UAlbanys administration about rumblings on social media concerning attempts to disrupt the event, and had been assured the protesters would be given a separate space. Middendorf said he was told that if protesters were disruptive, they would be removed. That didnt happen, he said. School officials and campus police didnt do anything to try to help the situation. UAlbany had additional Student Affairs staff and University Police Department officers assigned to the event, a school spokesman said. All recognized student organizations are entitled to reserve space on campus, invite guest speakers, and host their events without interference, the university said in a statement. As a public university, we will continue to help members of our community fully understand their rights and responsibilities under the First Amendment. Students are expected to voice their views in a manner that promotes constructive dialogue, the statement said. The university also said the event was moved to a room with a more controlled access. But journalists from the university newspaper, the Albany Student Press, said they were not allowed in and two students who used an elevator to get near the room were arrested. The university said the two arrested students had repeatedly tried to gain access to an area that was closed for the event. Shouting them down Haworths speaking engagements have drawn protests on other campuses, including an October appearance at the University of New Mexico where protesters pushed at barricades outside the event, prompting pushback from State Police in riot gear, according to the Albuquerque News. In 2019, protesters used techniques similar to those used at UAlbany this week to shut down an appearance by conservative economist Arthur Laffer. That episode drew criticism from then-President Donald Trump when he appeared at a Turning Point USA summit a few weeks later. More recently, disruptions at a speech by a conservative jurist at Stanford Law School prompted the schools president to issue a long statement to the faculty and student body insisting on the necessity of civility to foster academic freedom and free speech in general, and promising additional measures to ensure that discourse continues. This type of protest is becoming much more common, said Zach Greenberg, senior program officer at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, based in Philadelphia. Students have gone from holding signs, debating, questioning (their opponents) really debating the issues to shouting them down, he said. I think it really just shows a lack of knowledge about a free-speech culture. Students should develop questions to expose the weaknesses in someones argument, or hold a counter-event to air their side, Greenberg said. You do not have a free-speech right to drown out someone else, he said. We want groups there debating the issues. This act of silencing thats not very persuasive. Protesters acknowledged that their express intent was to shut Haworth down, and then use the resulting attention to highlight what they see as threats to the transgender community. We see this as an incredible catalyst to getting these conversations going on campus, said Mehr Sharma, co-chair of the Young Democratic Socialists of America organization on campus. Sometimes you need that inciting moment to get that clear to administration and get students involved. Protesters also said Haworths tweets about transgender mutilation felt like an attack especially considering the current political climate in which numerous states are restricting access to transgender health care for children and adults. We cannot stress this enough: It is an attempt to cause trans genocide, said protester Mairead McElvoy, referring to the new laws. A study in 2022 found that 56 percent of transgender youth had attempted suicide before turning 20. We know the facts show, the statistics show, science shows that children who need this treatment, their lives will be saved if they can receive it, McElvoy said. We are not sure they can make it to adulthood if they dont. And some states are not allowing adults to choose. Sharma added that the protesters werent interested in debating transgender rights with Haworth or his hosts. The intent of our showing up there was ultimately not to engage in a debate with a handful of conservative students, Sharma said. Were not going to change their minds. We showed up to show our queer rage and our queer joy. ___ (c)2023 the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) Visit the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) at www.timesunion.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. Turkiye with great pride and pleasure hands over to Azerbaijan the chairmanship of the National Commissions for UNESCO of the member countries of TURKSOY, Chairman of the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO Ocal Oguz said, Trend reports. Oguz made the remark at the opening ceremony of the 9th meeting of the National Commissions for UNESCO of the member countries of TURKSOY. Speaking with an opening speech at the event, he noted the importance of including the Azerbaijani city of Shusha in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. "Shusha city is not only the pearl of Azerbaijani culture, but of the entire Turkic world. Its very regrettable that this city and the whole of Karabakh were subjected to vandalism," Oguz added. He also stressed the importance of involving world organizations in the process of restoring Karabakh. The event has been organized by the National Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan for UNESCO under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, TURKSOY, ADA University and the Institute of Development and Diplomacy of the University in Baku. TusharK Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Pune Posts: 5,144 Thanked: 45,391 Times Scoop! Kia Seltos facelift spied in India with sequential turn indicators Scoop! Kia Seltos facelift spied with sequential turn indicators A test mule of the Kia Seltos facelift has been spotted testing once again. While you may have already seen spy images of the car, this video confirms that the upcoming SUV will get sequential turn indicators. The upcoming Seltos will be based on the updated model that is already on sale in the global markets. The SUV gets reprofiled LED taillights with an LED light bar and a redesigned rear bumper. This particular test car also had dual chrome exhausts and was riding on dual-tone alloy wheels. Up front, the Seltos features an updated grille and new LED headlights, while on the inside, it gets dual screens with a digital instrument cluster. The SUV is also likely to be offered with ADAS. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4lqLe23bxs The Seltos facelift will also come with a new 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine, producing 158 BHP and 253 Nm. It replaces the current 1.4-litre turbo-petrol motor. Kia will carry forward the 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engine options. Thanks to Surya Chandra for sending this video in. Heartfelt gratitude for sharing it with other enthusiasts via Link to Team-BHP News A test mule of the Kia Seltos facelift has been spotted testing once again. While you may have already seen spy images of the car, this video confirms that the upcoming SUV will get sequential turn indicators.The upcoming Seltos will be based on the updated model that is already on sale in the global markets. The SUV gets reprofiled LED taillights with an LED light bar and a redesigned rear bumper. This particular test car also had dual chrome exhausts and was riding on dual-tone alloy wheels.Up front, the Seltos features an updated grille and new LED headlights, while on the inside, it gets dual screens with a digital instrument cluster. The SUV is also likely to be offered with ADAS.The Seltos facelift will also come with a new 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine, producing 158 BHP and 253 Nm. It replaces the current 1.4-litre turbo-petrol motor. Kia will carry forward the 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engine options.Thanks tofor sending this video in. Heartfelt gratitude for sharing it with other enthusiasts via this Team-BHP share page Last edited by TusharK : 5th April 2023 at 12:44 . Some of us go for a run for our morning routine, others get the kids ready for school, and some of us just want to know if it will be smooth sailing during their rush-hour commute. The weather can throw a monkey wrench into any of those plans. Owning a personal weather station is one way to stay on top of mother nature. Yes, you can open an app, but the information there is from a remote station miles away and up to an hour old. With a home weather station, you get up-to-minute information on what shes up to doing right outside your door. Weve performed extensive evaluations on a number of home weather stations and picked our favorites. Well also discuss the features you should look for when shopping for one of these systems. Best home weather station platform Ambient Weather WS-5000 Read our review Best Prices Today: Ambient Weather does the best job of designing and manufacturing a home weather station that can be incorporated into a smart home. The WS-5000 impressed us with its easy setup, accurate reporting, and support for Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT. We also like its app and its color console. Its a big step up in price compared to Ambient Weathers WS-2902, which is still available, but youll find the investment to be justified. Runner-up WeatherFlow Tempest Weather System Read our review Best Prices Today: The WeatherFlow Tempest is still a strong home weather station, but we found over time (we reviewed it in June, 2020) that its haptic rain sensor wasnt quite as accurate as we thought it should be. Its still a good productand like our top pick, it supports Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT. The Ambient Weather WS-5000, however, is just a little betterand just a little cheaper. Scroll down to read more about home weather stations and to see more product reviews. How we tested We test weather stations over a period of at least one month to ensure we get the widest possible array of weather conditions to see how the station performs. We paid special attention to ease of use and installation, and also used nearby National Weather Service stations to judge accuracy. Weather conditions can vary dramatically in just a few miles, so with temperature we judged readings of within plus-or-minus two degrees, and all other measurements within a five percent tolerance of the NWS station as accurate. We also evaluated each systems ability to connect to and influence smart home systems. Which platforms are supported? Can you use voice commands? Did it work as expected? Finally, we examined durability. With instruments being out in the elements 24/7, this is a very important factor to consider. What to look for when shopping At a minimum, a basic weather station should report temperature and humidity, inside and outside your home, and barometric pressure outside your home. A mid-priced station will measure wind speed and direction, as well as rainfall. A high-end model should deliver all of the above, plus other specialized measurements such as UV index, soil moisture, and water temperature (think your pool or a koi pond, for example). Netatmo Weather Station comes with the base station and one indoor/outdoor temperature/humidity sensor, but you also need the rain and wind gauges to really enjoy this stations capabilities. As with any product, spending more money doesnt necessarily guarantee youll get a great product, but weve yet to find a cheap weather station deliver genuine value. The vast majority of the budget stations available at chain discount and hardware stores are inaccurate. While temperature is generally accurate to within a degree or so, humidity is poorly measured, and readings can be 10 to 15 percent off actual values. Mid-range and high-end weather stations are typically much better, and in my experience never more than about five-percent off most of the time. Wind and rain measurements are very useful, especially if you have activities affected by that type of weather. High-end stations are nice to have if you can afford them; theyre typically the most accurate, but unless you need specialty measurementsUV, soil moisture, and the likedont spend the money. Here are some other features you might want to look for in a weather station: Accuracy: By far the most important, accuracy is also the hardest to gauge. Here wed recommend looking at the spec sheets and choosing stations with low margins of error. Additionally, look through user reviews (or ours) for real-world testing. Not all weather stations are built the same, and a high price doesnt always mean high quality. Battery or solar power? Just about all weather stations these days operate wirelessly, so your instruments will run on either battery or solar power. Avoid stations that rely mostly or solely on solar power, as a few dreary days can prevent the instruments from have energy stored to do their job. Battery-operated or solar-assisted units are the best choiceyou might need to change the batteries once a year. Internet connectivity: If your weather station can connect to the Internet, youll not only be able access it while youre away, typically through an app or a special website, but youll also be able to share your data with the world via services such as Weather Underground. Meteorologists might need your data, especially if youre in a place where their weather stations arent! Smart home support: Personal weather stations can make your smart home even smarter. If you already own a connected-home system, look for a weather station thats compatible with your setup. Some stations now support automation services like IFTTT, so you can turn on your heater when the temperature gets too cold, or your A/C if it gets too hot. Others are compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing you to ask for highly localized weather reports. Expandability: Your weather station might suit you fine now, but your needs could change later. Instead of going for all the bells and whistles up front, save some cash and buy mid-range product that can be expanded with new and different sensors down the road. That way, youll never outgrow it. Durability: The elements can be harsh, and your sensors will be in it 24/7. Inexpensive stations are constructed from low-grade plastic that will quickly deteriorate. Look for a well-built station, and stay from all-in-one units where all the sensors are in a single housing. The sensors represent the bulk of the cost, and if one fails, youll need to replace all of themeven if the others are working just fine. Oregon Scientifics WMR89A comes with all the sensors you need right out of the box, with no need to buy anything additional for basic local weather reports. A word about sensor placement Now heres where my meteorologist side comes out. Please, please, please choose carefully where you place your instruments. The temperature and humidity gauge should be placed in an shaded and grassy area about eye-level height off the ground (National Weather Service specifications say five feet), and out of direct rain or snowfall. Do not place it near or above concrete, macadam, or other potential heat radiators. This means your bedroom window, too: warm air escaping from your house will throw off its readings. For the rain gauge, the level you place it at isnt as important. What is important is that its not placed too low, so that splash-back from the ground causes abnormally high readings, or near tall obstructions that might block rainfall in windy conditions. The NWS generally recommends you place the rain gauge as far from obstructions as they are high. Thats tough to do, so just put it in as clear of a spot as possible. The anemometer (the fancy name for the wind gauge) is the toughest instrument to place. Most people are surprised to find out that the wind speed readings you see on TV are taken at a height of 33 feet above the ground. Thats not practical for most of us, but try to get it 10 feet above any nearby obstructions if you can. Youll also need a compass nearby: youll need it to point the wind vane in the right direction. The stations setup instructions will tell you how to align it correctly. Our home weather station reviews Look below for hands-on reviews of the weather stations weve tested. We will expand our coverage over the coming months, and well add new features to look for as they come up. TechSpot is about to celebrate its 25th anniversary. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust What just happened? Did you recently find that Google Pay unexpectedly sent you between $10 and $1,000 and a message about "dogfooding?" It turns out that the cause of this unintended generosity was a bug, and if you were quick enough to use the money, Google says you don't have to pay it back. Android researcher Mishaal Rahman was one of the many people to receive an unexpected cash deposit via the Google Pay rewards program earlier this week. The popular contactless payment platform lets users earn rewards for performing certain actions, like making purchases or spending money. Rahman and others received their cash rewards - he got a total of $46 - alongside a message that claimed it was "for dogfooding the Google Pay Remittance experience." There were other users on Reddit who said they received hundreds of dollars, with one person claiming Google Pay gave them $1,072. Uhhh, Google Pay seems to just be randomly giving users free money right now. I just opened Google Pay and saw that I have $46 in "rewards" that I got "for dogfooding the Google Pay Remittance experience." What. pic.twitter.com/Epe08Tpsk2 --- Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) April 5, 2023 The clue to what happens lies in the term dogfooding, which refers to internally testing pre-release software; developers are forced to eat their own "dogfood," as it were, so they can discover the errors and fix them before the full release. The use of the term suggests that these messages and rewards were meant to be sent to either Google employees or testing partners instead of everyday users, many of whom received multiple copies of the message and multiple payouts. Recipients of the cash later received another message from Google, this one confirming that an error had deposited unintended funds in their account. It added that the issue had been resolved and, where possible, the credit taken back out of the account. However, for anyone who had already spent or transferred the money, Google said they can keep it, and no further action is necessary - thereby avoiding any legal claims and bad publicity. Guess it didn't pay to be honest, in this instance. Accidental payouts aren't a new phenomenon. While not quite on the same level as Google's mistake, cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com accidentally issued a $7.2 million to an Australian customer instead of $68.55 last year, an error it didn't even notice for seven months. Image credit: Karolina Grabowska Details added (first published: 10:37) BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. The process of expulsion of Iranian diplomats, declared persona non grata has started in Azerbaijan, the latter's Foreign Ministry (MFA) told Trend. On April 6, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Iran Seyyed Abbas Mousavi was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mousavi was notified that four employees of the Iranian Embassy were declared persona non grata by the Azerbaijani government for activities that do not correspond to diplomatic status and are contrary to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961. The ambassador was also informed that these persons should leave the territory of Azerbaijan within 48 hours. The big picture: Worldwide IT spending and consumer demand for electronics have both taken a significant hit in recent months, prompting many companies to revise their revenue forecast. Samsung is no exception but the company has been reluctant to reduce production in a bid to preserve its dominant position in the memory market. As memory prices reach new lows and profits fade away, however, the world's largest manufacturer of DRAM and NAND chips sees no other option but to make fewer of them for a while. Last year, Samsung saw the first taste of the economic downturn with a DRAM and NAND supply glut in South Korea. As demand for its chips continued to slide, the company scrambled to beat TSMC in the race to develop the most advanced process node, hoping to woo clients of the Taiwanese rival. Fast forward to last month, and the problem had only grown after a holiday quarter turned out to be one of the worst since 2008. In fact, the whole DRAM market plunged to 2008 lows, prompting companies like Micron and SK Hynix to reduce their profit margins, cut down on new investments, and lay off staff. Samsung has even taken a 20 trillion won loan from its display subsidiary to try and cover the chipmaking division's expenditures with ongoing factory developments in South Korea and the US. The idea was likely born of optimism for a rebound in consumer demand for PCs and smartphones later this year, but industry watchers don't see that happening until next year at the earliest. Even enterprise IT spending is slowing as companies big and small are looking for additional ways to cut costs. As a result, the Korean tech giant will scale back chip production to what it calls a "meaningful level" in an effort to keep memory prices from falling further. The company's latest earnings guidance suggests it only made around 63 trillion won (~$48 billion) in sales during the three months ending in March, representing a 19 percent decrease over the previous quarter. More importantly, operating profit is projected to have fallen more than 95 percent to just 600 billion won (~$456 million). A Samsung spokesperson told Korea Herald the move to reduce chip output is merely a short-term solution meant to stabilize prices and discourage excessive stockpiling. The company is still hopeful memory orders will grow over time, so it will continue to invest heavily in modernizing production lines and developing more advanced memory chips. It even enlisted AMD's help to make faster and more energy-efficient DDR5 based on a 12nm process. For consumers, this means DRAM and SSD prices have yet to reach a floor. Analysts at TrendForce believe DRAM in particular may get up to 15 percent cheaper this summer, meaning DDR5 kits will become more accessible to those looking to make significant upgrades to their PCs. The average selling price of M.2 SSDs has also fallen steadily over the past several months, a trend that looks set to continue into the second half of this year. Just watch out for fake Samsung SSDs, as these have also become a common occurrence when hunting for deals online. Masthead credit: Babak Habibi A hot potato: Security breaches are apparently far more common than public disclosures and news reports suggest. As part of its 2023 Cybersecurity Assessment, Bitdefender found that more than half of those surveyed (51.7%) have experienced a data breach or data leak in the last 12 months. Leading concerns include software vulnerabilities / zero-days (53.9 percent), phishing / social engineering (52.2 percent), supply chain attacks (49 percent) and ransomware (48.5 percent). Arguably even more alarming is the number of organizations that would like to sweep a breach under the rug and act like it never happened. Among those surveyed, 42 percent said they have been told to keep a security breach confidential when they knew they were obligated to disclose it. Nearly one in three - 29.9 percent - said they complied with orders to keep a breach under wraps. Hush requests vary depending on geographical location. In the US, a whopping 70.7 percent of those surveyed said they have been asked to hide a breach and 54.7 percent of them did the deed. On the opposite end of the spectrum, only 26.9 percent of IT pros in France have been asked to do the same. It is no surprise that companies would like to keep a security breache confidential. A public security disclosure can tarnish a brand's reputation, erode customer trust and even lead to legal action and costly fines. Last summer, for example, T-Mobile agreed to pay $350 million to settle a class action lawsuit relating to a previous data breach. Despite the growing threat landscape, the overwhelming majority of IT pros surveyed (94 percent) said they were very / somewhat confident that they have the tools, strategies and people in place to respond to the next cybersecurity threat. Bitdefender surveyed 400 IT pros working at large companies (1,000+ employees) across a range of industries in the US, the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and France. The full report is available for download for those interested in learning more. Walmart is planning to build a nationwide EV fast-charging network located at its retail stores by 2030. As per the company, this effort will help make ownership of electric vehicles more accessible, reliable, convenient, and affordable. (Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 21: In an aerial view, A sign is seen posted on the exterior of a Walmart store on February 21, 2023 in Richmond, California. Walmart reported a stronger than expected holiday quarter but warns of slower profit growth and lower sales in the coming year. Walmart's EV Fast-Charging Stations As Walmart's customers continue to look for sustainable ways to save money and live a "greener" life, the company is expanding its EV fast-charging network to several retail stores across the United States. Walmart Energy Transformation Senior Vice President Vishal Kapadia stated that this would be an addition to the 1,300 existing EV stations operating in its 280 stores. "We are uniquely positioned to deliver a convenient charging option that will help make EV ownership possible whether people live in rural, suburban, or urban areas," the SVP added. Walmart aims to meet the needs of its customers and members by encouraging them on having easy access to its chargers that may potentially change their minds to purchase an EV. As per the company's statement, this commitment serves as a natural extension of their work to help customers and members live better, easiest, and more sustainable lives, which is a big win not only for the company but also for busy families and drivers all over the country. Kapadia added that the new charge points are expected to be direct-current fast chargers with four chargers installed per store. By having its own chargers instead of partnering with other third-party companies, Walmart will be able to address cost and reliability issues. Walmart is prioritizing accessibility and affordability in this plan. CNBC reported that the company's stores and wholesale warehouses are located within 10 miles of approximately 90% of Americans. Additionally, the company will offer "Everyday Low Cost" charging, including Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, and Sam's Clubs. Also Read: Walmart's PhonePe Relocation to India Costs $1 Billion in Taxes The Verge reported that this effort comes after several companies announced nationwide charging solutions in the US, including 7-Eleven, Big Pulse, and DC America. Meanwhile, Ikea and Starbucks are also planning to become charging hubs in the future but will rely on specialized companies like Electrify America and ChargePoint when it comes to logistics. EV Chargers in the US According to Reuters' report, there are currently 30,000 fast-chargers in the country that can top up a vehicle in less than an hour. This usually powers up vehicles that cost more than $100,000. Due to the vehicles' high value, EVs remain fewer in the country. 'But with Walmart's commitment and its existing 4,700 stores and 600 Sam's Clubs, this marks the beginning of adopting change that will eventually lead to more affordable models in the future. The United States also announced an investment of over $7.5 billion to launch a national charging network that will be located in lower-income and rural communities, which will likely boost sales for electric vehicles. Related Article: Walmart Chooses Canoo's EVs-Purchases 4,500 Delivery Vans that Runs on Electric Power 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Tesla Inc. wants to bring back former Chief Technology Officer and co-Founder JB Straubel as the company nominates him to the board of directors. He is currently running his own battery materials company Redwood Materials. (Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) FREMONT, CA - AUGUST 16: JB Straubel, Tesla Motors chief technical officer, speaks during a ribbon cutting for a new Supercharger station outside of the Tesla Factory on August 16, 2013 in Fremont, California. Tesla Motors opened a new Supercharger station with four stalls for public use at their factory in Fremont, California. Nominating Co-Founder JB Straubel Former Co-Founder JB Straubel left Tesla in 2019 to run his own startup, Redwood Materials. He joined the company in 2004 and was a Chief Technology Officer of the company for fourteen years. TechCrunch reported that the company wants him back and nominated him as its next independent board member to take over the vacated spot of former Chief Investment Officer Hirmocichi Mizuno of Japan's $1.5 trillion pension fund, after joining the board and its audit committee in 2020. If elected by the shareholders, Straubel will join the members of the board, including the CEO, Kimbal Musk, Ira Ehrenpreis, Joe Gebbia, James Murdoch, Kathleen Wilson-Thompson, and newly elected eighth member Robyn Denholm. Tesla also named Tom Zhu as Senior Vice President for Automative Operations after leading the construction and operations of Tesla's factory in Shanghai. Zhu will be one of the four executive officers at Tesla, together with Musk, CFO Zachary Kirkhorn, and Powertrain Head Andrew Baglino. Strauble as Tesla's CTO Straubel was usually known as the quiet steady hand of Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk but his role at Tesla cannot be overlooked. He was responsible for the company's most important technology, which is batteries. But despite his understated presence, his knowledge provided stability in the company despite several controversies. During his early beginnings with the company, Wall Street Journal reported that he was tasked with groundbreaking battery technology to direct the development of the plan to make electric vehicles powered by bundled laptop batteries. He also led the construction and concept of Gigafactory Nevada and the production ramp of its Model 3 sedan. Running His Own Company The former CTO then left the company in 2019 and was preceded by Vice President of Technology Drew Baligon to take over his duties. For a short period, he stayed in the company as a senior advisor. After this, Straubel threw himself into making his own company that supplies and recycles battery materials called Redwood Materials. The company was founded in 2017 and is based in Carson City, Nevada. Since then, his company landed hundreds of millions in corporate and venture capital by locking in several big company deals, including with Panasonic and Amazon. Also Read: Tesla Conducts Cybertruck Suspension Test! Can It Efficiently Handle Road Obstacles? Reuters reported that the nomination comes after shareholders hit their concerns regarding Musk, focusing more on his role as the new owner of Twitter, amidst the softening demand for electric vehicles in China, the United States, and other countries. Shareholders of the company are set to vote on May 16 during an investor proposal for the company and will report on "Key-Person-Risk" to discuss concerns with Musk's leadership. The proposal aims to determine the key persons, succession processes, and other strategies to recover from potential losses. Related Article: Tesla's Head of China Takes Over North America, To Replicate Giga Shanghai's Success? 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Microsoft is making a big step in developing Artificial Intelligence technology by expanding the DALL-E-powered AI image generator onto the desktop version of Microsoft Edge. Create Unique Visuals with Microsoft Edge and Image Creator According to the story by The Verge, with this new feature, anyone with the Edge browser will have access to the AI image generator, allowing them to create unique visuals while they browse the web easily. Microsoft's new AI image generator, Image Creator, is designed to revolutionize how creatives use technology. It is now available to Microsoft Edge users, allowing them to quickly and easily generate "very specific" visuals to enhance their work. Generate Images with Simple Clicks and Commands: The Microsoft Edge Image Creator Tool The advantages this technology provides for content creators are vast. By being directly built into the Edge sidebar through the 'Image Creator toggle,' users can generate images with simple clicks and commands. Before this, Microsoft provided a variety of methods to generate visuals. However, none were as straightforward as this. The new tool enables creators to quickly put together social media posts, slide shows, or any other type of digital content. The Drop Tool: Bringing Seamless File Sharing Across Multiple Devices Generated images can then be downloaded and used as desired. Microsoft has not specified the number of images users publicly will be able to make with the tool. However, it is expected to serve the common needs of many. To further its commitment to users, Microsoft is introducing several other tools to Edge, such as the Drop, Browser Essentials, and Personal Notebook. The Drop tool will allow users to send files, content, and more across multiple devices. AI Image Creator: Microsoft's Latest Step Into the Artificial Intelligence Space Browser Essentials provides users with an efficient scanning feature, while the personal notebook will allow them to sync all their work across devices. This suite of tools allows users to get more out of the Microsoft Edge program. Microsoft's decision to integrate the AI image generator into its Edge browser is a testament to its commitment to making its customers' lives easier. The possibilities the Image Creator offers will have many content creators relying solely on this tool for their projects. Furthermore, this move sets Microsoft apart from others making such moves into the artificial intelligence space. It is a great step forward for the company and will help them capture an even larger market share of creative minds. Read Also: China's Falling Behind AI Race Due to 'Lack of Vision,' Researcher Claims Creating Visuals with AI: The Enhanced Image Creator in Edge With the ingenious Image Creator in Edge, users can now also curate what artwork and visuals they'd like to produce and use for various purposes. Per ZDNet, previously, users could access AI image generation through OpenAI's Dall-E. From social media posts to slideshows and documents, Edge encourages users to create in a new way that takes very little time, with no need to search and edit images manually. This is a breakthrough in the world of AI, modernizing how we use and create visuals, with no limit to what we can come up with. Related Article: OpenAI Addresses Italian Authorities' Concerns Over ChatGPT Ban 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. United States Senators Democrat Mark Warner and Republican John Thune argued that the proposed Bipartisan Legislation is the best way to address security concerns about the risks being brought by foreign-owned apps like TikTok. (Photo : Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 07: Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) (L) and Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA) hold a news conference to introduce The Restrict Act at the U.S. Capitol on March 07, 2023 in Washington, DC. In reaction to software built in countries hostile to the United States. Criticisms Regarding Restrict Act After proposing the Restrict Act to grant the Commerce Department the authority to block, review, and address transactions that involve foreign information and communications technology that pose a threat to national security, Senators Mark Warner (Democrat) and John Thun (Republican) argued that it is still the best way to address security concerns. As per critics, the bipartisan bill is overboard and hurts the civil liberties of citizens, including more than 150 million American users of TikTok. Critics included the Republican House Financial Services Committee, which believes that it would make the Commerce Department a dictator regarding trade, sanctions, investments, cryptocurrency, and more. The Washington Post reported that Republican Senator Rand Paul blocked a bid to fast-track a separate bill to ban TikTok. This was introduced by Senator Josh Hawley as he argued that Restrict Act does not ban the platform but only gives the president a new authority. Thune & Warner's Response In response to this, the two senators denied targeting individual users using a private network to access TikTok. According to an essay by Warner and Thune in the Wall Street Journal, the bipartisan bill would benefit a lot of areas in the government. "Our bill is designed to modernize the president's international economic authorities for the digital era, put significant guardrails on presidential authority, give Congress the authority to overturn certain decisions made by the president, and establish a risk-based process to deal with foreign-adversary technology," they noted. Despite the criticisms, the White House along with 26 senators continues to support the Restric Act that would apply to foreign technologies from countries including China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba. Also Read: TikTok Ban? Senator Asks Apple, Google to Remove it-Platform Sees New Executive from Douyin As per Reuters' report, this led to the bill being misrepresented in bad faith by TikTok given that there is money to be made by allowing the company to continue its operations in the country and not much to be made by protecting citizens from national security threats. TikTok already spent more than $1.5 billion on data security efforts as a commitment to reject the allegations. Chief Executive Officer Shou Zi Chew appeared before Congress last month and faced several questions from Congress regarding concerns over the platform. During the hearing, US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy described the CEO as dishonest for his statements about whether China has access to TikTok user data. He stated, "The House will be moving forward with legislation to protect Americans from the technological tentacles of the Chinese Communist Party." Related Article: AOC Joins TikTok; Pushes for Stricter Data, Privacy Laws Instead of Ban 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Samsung Electronics, the world's largest memory chip maker, is facing a major setback as it anticipates its lowest operating profit since the first quarter of 2009, according to a report by TechCrunch on Friday, April 7. Reducing Memory Chip Production The company announced on Friday that it plans to reduce memory chip production due to an oversupply of chips, a global economic slowdown, and slow demand. In response to these challenges, Samsung is taking steps to optimize its line operations while continuing to invest in infrastructure and research & development. According to the preliminary earnings release, Samsung is projected to post a quarterly profit of 600 billion won ($450 million) from January to March. This represents a drop of 95.8% from the 14.12 trillion won the company earned in Q1 2022. The results are well below analysts' expectations, who were anticipating a quarterly profit of 1.4 trillion won. The company's revenue is also expected to decline from 77.78 trillion won a year earlier to 63 trillion won in the first quarter of 2023. Samsung had previously stated that it would not reduce its memory chip investment even though there is sluggish demand, as it expects the memory chip market to bounce back in the second quarter of 2023. However, in the face of the current market conditions, the company has decided to cut back on memory chip production to a meaningful level. The move will help Samsung secure enough memory chip volume for future demand. The company's counterparts, including Micron Technology, Kioxia, and SK Hynix, have already reduced their memory chip production to counter oversupply as well, according to TechCrunch. Nevertheless, Samsung still holds the largest global market share of 40.7% and 31.4% in DRAM memory chips and NAND flash memory, respectively, as of the third quarter of 2022. Read Also: Samsung to Bring Galaxy S23 FE, the Budget Variant of its Flagship Smartphones, Allegedly by End of Year Decreasing Prices of DRAM and NAND In the first quarter of 2023, DRAM and NAND prices decreased by roughly 20% and 15%, respectively, according to a recent TrendForce report. The difficulties Samsung is facing as it tries to hold onto its position in the memory chip market have been made worse by this price fall. Samsung's decision to cut back on memory chip production is significant as it is one of the company's most profitable businesses. Last month, Samsung announced it would invest $230 billion (300 trillion won) in building five new memory and foundry fabs in South Korea for the next two decades. This investment is in line with the South Korean government's plan to create a mega semiconductor hub in Yongin. The tech giant will release its full financial statement at the end of April, which will include net profit and earnings by sector. Investors will be keenly watching the company's performance and its plans for the future. Related Article: Samsung Bixby Voice Assist Update Gives New Child-Friendly Feature: Music, Games, Stories, and Ask Questions 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A new microfluidic sperm selection device has been developed by researchers from the University of Technology Sydney and NeoGenix Biosciences to improve the success rate of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) for couples struggling with male fertility issues. This could be a breakthrough for many couples who suffer the emotional and financial turmoil that comes with a 78% IVF failure rate. Addressing Male Infertility According to the World Health Organization, around 1 in 6 people worldwide suffer from infertility. In Australia, one in every 22 children is born through assisted reproduction. Male fertility problems are a factor in approximately 30% of cases and can be caused by low sperm count, poor motility or movement, or reduced sperm quality. Sperm selection has received little attention up until now, despite substantial studies into egg and embryo selection to increase IVF success rates. Traditional sperm selection techniques like swim-up and density gradient centrifugation can result in DNA fragmentation, cell death, and failed IVF cycles, according to experts. Sperm selection has received little attention up until now, despite substantial studies into egg and embryo selection to increase IVF success rates. Traditional sperm selection techniques like swim-up and density gradient centrifugation can result in DNA fragmentation, cell death, and failed IVF cycles, according to experts. "While much work has been done around selecting eggs and embryos to boost the success rates of IVF, sperm selection, an essential component in assisted reproduction, is by far the most neglected step in regard to technological innovation," Professor Majid Warkiani from the School of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) said in a press release statement. Read Also: Magnetic Seed for Breast Cancer Operations Now Utilized in Providence Breast Center, First in B.C. 3D Printing the Female Reproductive Tract The new microfluidic sperm selection device uses 3D-printed technology to replicate the female reproductive tract and natural sperm selection process. This technology mimics the conditions where only a small percentage of total sperm reaches the egg. In extensive testing against conventional IVF selection methods, the new method showed an 85% improvement in DNA integrity and an average 90% reduction in sperm cell death. Moreover, the selected sperm demonstrated better recovery after freezing than traditional methods, according to the research team. To implement the device in clinical settings, the researchers have teamed with Monash University and Australian IVF clinics. The selection of sperm is a crucial step in assisted reproduction, according to Professor Warkiani, and the new device may provide infertile couples with a better chance of success. The device may provide a more reliable process for selecting high-quality sperm and is an innovative solution to an overlooked area of IVF. This breakthrough technology could help reduce the number of unsuccessful IVF cycles and provide hope for couples experiencing difficulties in having a child. With an 85% improvement in DNA integrity, this technology could bring new opportunities for those who have exhausted all other options. The research team's findings were published in Nature: Microsystems & Nanoengineering. Related Article: Revolutionary GlucoScreen: Smartphone-Based System for Early Detection of Prediabetes 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Cornell University's Smart Computer Interfaces for Future Interactions (SciFi) Lab has developed an AI-powered eyeglasses interface that can read the wearer's silent speech. Called EchoSpeech, the eyewear recognizes up to 31 unvocalized commands based on lip and mouth movements, and it uses acoustic sensing and artificial intelligence to do so. AI Reads Silent Voice Commands The wearable interface requires just a few minutes of user training data before it can detect and activate commands on a smartphone. It is ideal for people who cannot vocalize sound, enabling them to use silent speech technology as an excellent input for a voice synthesizer. Using design tools like CAD, the silent speech interface can also be used with a stylus, almost eliminating the need for a keyboard and mouse. Using technologies like EchoSpeech makes it possible to communicate with others by smartphone in noisy settings. The wearable technology has speakers and a pair of microphones no larger than pencil erasers. The glasses recognize mouth movements, transmit and receive sound waves across the face, and analyze them in real-time with an accuracy of roughly 95% using a deep learning algorithm. Audio data can be communicated to a smartphone through Bluetooth in real time and uses less bandwidth than image or video data because it is significantly smaller. Additionally, the data is processed locally on the smartphone rather than sent to the cloud, ensuring privacy-sensitive information never leaves the user's hands. Read Also: 2024 Paris Olympics: French Lawmakers to Vote on Controversial Bill Legalizing AI-Powered Surveillance Next Step: Commercialization The team is attempting to commercialize the technology underlying EchoSpeech with gap funding from Ignite: Cornell Research Lab to Market. The SciFi Lab has created several wearable gadgets that use tiny video cameras and machine learning to track body, hands, and facial motions. For tracking face and body movements, the lab has recently switched away from cameras and toward acoustic detection, citing better battery life, greater security and privacy, and smaller gear. EchoSpeech is based on the lab's wearable earbud that records facial movements dubbed EarIO, which similarly uses acoustic sensing. In their upcoming study, researchers at SciFi Lab are investigating smart-glass applications to monitor facial, eye, and upper body motions. The lab believes that glass will be a crucial personal computer platform for comprehending human behavior in natural environments. Hence, the EchoSpeech came to be. Related Article: Meta Quest Headsets to Feature Price Reductions, is it Preparing for Apple AR/VR Headset Arrival? 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. South Korean authorities have discovered $314.2 million in illicit assets linked to Do Kwon, Terraform Labs' co-founder. Additionally, prosecutors have directly related about $69 million of the specified amount to Kwon. Kwon is said to have converted the majority of the illicit funds into Bitcoin using offshore cryptocurrency exchanges, rendering them unrecoverable and outside the jurisdiction of South Korean authorities, Cointelegraph explains in a report. Authorities Continue to Trace Illicit Funds The authorities have already asked Binance to halt any withdrawal requests related to Kwon. The exchange has confirmed cooperating with prosecutors and providing any assistance they require. Prosecutors are actively tracing properties associated with Terraform Labs executives in order to recover some of the ill-gotten gains from the Terra-Luna fiasco. Terra Luna was a thriving cryptocurrency ecosystem built around the algorithmic stablecoin Terra-USD classic (USTC). However, the stablecoin imploded in May 2022, resulting in the $40 billion ecosystem collapsing within days. Former CEO Kwon is said to be the mind behind the fraud. After months of hiding, Do Kwon, the founder of Terraform Labs, was arrested in Montenegro in late March. Kwon reportedly attempted to flee Dubai with forged documents when apprehended at Podgorica Airport in Montenegro's capital. What Authorities Discovered According to on-chain data, one entity dumped over $450 million in USTC on the open market in the three weeks preceding the depeg, and USTC began collapsing four days after their last sale. Terraform Labs was the organization responsible for the massive dump. Despite a South Korean arrest warrant and an Interpol red notice against his name, Kwon eluded capture for nearly a year before being apprehended on March 23 in Montenegro. Cointelegraph tells us that South Korean authorities have seized homes and other assets to prevent former Terra employees from selling items that may be connected to legal cases. The prosecutors also filed foreclosure proceedings against their foreign-registered vehicles and lands in Gyeonggi-Hwaseong do's, Gapyeong, and Taean in South Chungcheong Province. Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, is assisting the authorities and has cooperated with them. However, the exchange cannot comment on ongoing investigations and has directed journalists to contact prosecutors for further information. South Korean authorities continue investigating the Terra-Luna scandal and are working hard to recover some illicit funds associated with Do Kwon and his associates. The case emphasizes the importance of regulatory oversight in cryptocurrency to prevent fraudulent activities and protect investors from losing money. Read Also: The Phishing Tools and Services Marketplace is Booming on Telegram: Here's What's Observed The Terra-Luna fiasco is one of the largest cryptocurrency fraud cases involving millions of dollars in illicit assets linked to Do Kwon and his associates. This led investigators to discover similar crypto-related fraud cases in the following months. The South Korean government is working to recover some assets and bring the perpetrators to justice. Still, the case also highlights the importance of regulatory oversight in the cryptocurrency industry. Related Article: Crypto Exchange Binance, YouTubers, NBA Player Hit With $1 Billion Lawsuit Over Unregistered Securities 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Details added (first published: 11:33) BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. We call on Iran to refrain from the steps that damage bilateral relations with Azerbaijan, Chair of Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis (Parliament) Sahiba Gafarova said at today's parliamentarian meeting, Trend reports. The chairwoman noted that on April 5, the Iranian parliament held a biased political campaign against Azerbaijan and issued a statement based on false and fabricated accusations. Unfortunately, she said, Iran has never protested against Armenia, which for 30 years kept Azerbaijani territories under occupation and brutally plundered the wealth of Azerbaijan. Sahiba Gafarova noted that, on the contrary, Iran supported Armenia in every way possible. She noted that Iran is currently concerned about the opening of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Israel. Gafarova said that everyone should know that Azerbaijan is an independent state, and the way it builds relations with other countries is only Azerbaijan's business. "No one has the right to interfere with the sovereign rights of Azerbaijan. We strongly reject the unfounded accusations made by the Iranian parliament against our country. We call on the Iranian parliament to stop such provocations against Azerbaijan and refrain from actions that could damage bilateral relations," she said. Gafarova continued by saying that in some countries, certain forces cannot bear Azerbaijan's liberation of its territories and the restoration of historical justice. "They are slandering our country, trying to stir up conflict in the region, and frustrate efforts to establish long-term peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan," the chairwoman said. MIT students have established a start-up called Roofscapes to convert the pitched roofs of Paris into green spaces using timber structures. The structures would offer an opportunity to grow local food, boost biodiversity, reduce temperatures, improve air quality, and provide a haven to escape the urban surroundings. All About Roofscapes Roofscapes was founded by Eytan Levi, Olivier Faber, and Tim Cousin. They were inspired by the need to work with as little contradiction as possible to their environmental and social values. The founders say that Roofscapes can help build climate resilience for the future while improving the quality of life in cities now. After graduating and working at design firms, the students, who had met while studying architecture in Switzerland, started to look at ways to improve the built environment. They applied to the DesignX accelerator when they got to MIT to find ways to make cities greener. The company's first project will be on the roof of a former town hall building in the heart of Paris. The project was funded by a grant awarded by the City of Paris as part of a program to increase the city's climate resilience. The company will assess the project's impact on temperature, humidity, and biodiversity. Although the founders have over 60 buildings on their list for future projects, they intend to start with test projects in Paris before rapidly expanding with prefabricated buildings. Read Also: MIT Mini Cheetah Robot Speed Enhancement Made Possible, Thanks to New Simulation Training-Similar to 'Matrix?' Addressing Environmental Issues "In European city centers, two-thirds of the roofs are pitched, and there's no solution to make them accessible and put green surfaces on them," Cousin said in a statement. "Meanwhile, we have all these issues with heat islands and excessive heat in urban centers, among other issues like biodiversity collapse, retention of rainwater, and lack of green spaces. Green roofs are one of the best ways to address these problems." According to the co-founders, Roofscapes is a response to the issue of pitched roof adaptation, which has been ignored by traditional architecture. It addresses problems such as heat islands, excessive heat in urban centers, biodiversity collapse, and many more. Roofscapes is based on a vision of urban green spaces typical of European cities hundreds of years ago. However, in today's urban centers, these green spaces are rare, and the company believes that converting pitched roofs into green spaces will benefit buildings, the environment, and people's lives. Related Article: How MIT's Space Bubbles Project Can Protect Earth From Solar Radiation! Other Top Global Warming Solutions 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. As TikTok faces a potential ban in the United States, Instagram and YouTube are poised to see a significant increase in user numbers. While TikTok has been the most downloaded app globally since 2020 and has surpassed YouTube in some countries, its uncertain future may leave a significant void in the industry, opening the door for entrenched competitors such as Instagram and YouTube. TikTok surpassed YouTube in the United Kingdom in June 2020. In the United States, TikTok and YouTube went head-to-head in 2020 before TikTok came out on top in April 2021. However, TikTok's possible ban in the US would significantly impact its creators and the industry as a whole. Creators Migrating to Other Social Media Platforms According to Datareportal, the vast majority of TikTok users are also avid users of other social media platforms. A whopping 76.9 percent of TikTok users are known to visit YouTube, while 80.5 percent have succumbed to Instagram's eye-catching content. With this, the ban could leave millions of users and creators searching for a new platform and open the door for YouTube and Instagram to capture this audience. This Forbes report tells us that some creators are already preparing for the possible ban by redoing contracts, thinking through YouTube- or Instagram-specific strategies, and bracing for more saturation on the platforms that would be left. Ahmad Alzahabi, a Syrian-American creator, tells Forbes that he would focus more on YouTube if TikTok were banned because of its history and longevity. Both YouTube and Instagram launched their TikTok clones, Shorts and Reels, respectively, in 2020. However, TikTok has supplanted them in some crucial areas. TikTok has been able to create a community heavily focused on short-form video, something that Instagram and YouTube have struggled with in the past. If TikTok is banned, creators and users could migrate to YouTube and Instagram's short-form video features. This would create a new landscape in the social media industry, with Instagram and YouTube vying for the attention of millions of users. Read Also: TikTok Ban: US Schools Act to Ban TikTok From Campus Devices Amidst Data Privacy Concerns The uproar surrounding the possible ban is causing people in the creator ecosystem to form contingency plans. TikTok's possible ban in the US has previously happened in India, where YouTube Shorts became an instant hit. The ban could help big tech giants, which US lawmakers have tried to corral for years. Instagram and YouTube are already trying to take advantage of this opportunity. They have been working hard to improve their short-form video features and make them more appealing to creators and users. Instagram has been promoting Reels heavily in its app, and YouTube has been testing new features for Shorts to make it more competitive with TikTok. While TikTok has been the most popular short-form video app in recent years, Instagram and YouTube have already pushed to improve their short-form video features and make them more appealing to creators and users. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: What If ByteDance Sells TikTok? Here are Potential Buyers, Other Outcomes 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. The conditions of the trilateral statement signed on November 10, 2020, must be fulfilled, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during the joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara, Trend reports. "We stand for continuing cooperation between the countries of the South Caucasus. All kinds of obstacles should be eliminated in the region. The conditions of the trilateral statement signed on November 10, 2020, must be fulfilled," he said. Following over a month of military action to liberate its territories from Armenian occupation from late Sept. to early Nov. 2020, Azerbaijan has pushed Armenia to sign the surrender document. A joint statement on the matter was made by the Azerbaijani president, Armenia's PM, and the president of Russia. A complete ceasefire and a cessation of all hostilities in the zone of the Karabakh conflict were introduced on Nov. 10, 2020. Discover the rest of the story dedicated to Jean-Martin Charcot, father of modern neurology and great promoter of clinical medicine in France in the nineteenth century. In the city, Dr. Charcot married a rich Parisian heiress. Freed from domestic contingencies, he now devotes all his time to the creation of neurology, the study of the nervous system. He set out to find traces of hysteria in the brains of patients. It is thanks to a patient, the young Augustine Gleizes, that he will make an unexpected discovery... In this new episode of the podcast "Au coeur de l'Histoire" produced by Europe 1 Studio, Virginie Girod tells the story of Charcot's special relationship with her patients. Details added: first version posted on 11:43 BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis (Parliament) has strongly condemned the statement of the Iranian parliament against Azerbaijan, Trend reports. Chairman of the Milli Majlis Committee on Science and Education Bakhtiyar Aliyev said that during the 30 years of Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani lands, the Iranian authorities have never made any statements about the actions of Armenia, which committed genocide in Khojaly and dozens of other Azerbaijani villages, but, on the contrary, expanded diplomatic relations and military cooperation with Armenia. "The unfair statement of the Iranian parliament is strongly condemned by the Azerbaijani people, former internally displaced persons, including refugees expelled from Armenia," he noted. MP Azer Badamov said at today's meeting of the Milli Majlis that Iran cannot accept the successful development and growing authority of Azerbaijan. "Iran shouldnt prompt Azerbaijan what to do. Azerbaijan is an independent state, and it knows how to build relations with other states. It would be good for the Iranian parliament to abandon its anti-Islamic, treacherous actions. It should protect Islamic values, and not build close relations with Armenians who insult Islam," Badamov noted. Another MP Nizami Jafarov pointed out that Iran's position has long been known. "We knew the position of Iran during the occupation of Azerbaijani lands. There is no second country that betrayed the values of Islam as cynically as Iran. This country violates the rights of Azerbaijanis to life, Jafarov said. According to the MP, Azerbaijan, building relations with other countries, does not and wont consult with anyone We have seen friendship on the part of Israel and betrayal on the part of Iran, he added. Previously, the Iranian parliament adopted a statement containing threats against Azerbaijan in connection with the opening of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Israel. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. Azerbaijan highly commends Kazakhstan's efforts in development of liberated areas, Deputy Head of the Department of Eastern Europe, South Caucasus, West-Central Asia at the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan Zamin Aliyev said during a round table dedicated to the second meeting of the Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan expert council, Trend reports. "After the end of the second Karabakh war, new realities have emerged, and Kazakhstan's efforts to support the reconstruction and development of Karabakh, including the construction of the Children's Creativity Development Center in Fuzuli city, are extremely important for Azerbaijan, Aliyev noted. According to him, based on mutual trust and ties, bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan continue to develop dynamically. The Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan Expert Council is very important for strengthening cooperation and implementing joint measures aimed at increasing and diversifying trade between the countries," the official added. The groundbreaking ceremony for the Childrens Creativity Development Center in Fuzuli city took place on March 7 this year. Actor Jeremy Renner, who was severely injured on January 1 when a heavy snow plough ran over him, said in a TV interview that the truck had hit him as he was trying to save his nephew, an accident that broke more than 30 of his bones and upended his life. Renner, an Oscar-nominated actor who is perhaps best known for his role as Hawkeye in the Marvel Avengers movie and TV franchise, spoke publicly at length about his frightening experience and arduous recovery for the first time in an interview with ABC News. Jeremy Renner. Credit: AP Ive lost a lot of flesh and bone in this experience, Renner told journalist Diane Sawyer. But Ive been refuelled and refilled with love and titanium. In the interview, Renner appeared to still be in shock over what had occurred to him and struggled to hold back tears at times as he recalled details after the accident, like the moment he told his family from the hospital in sign language, Im sorry. We [grown-ups] have these scripts or schemas that weve got if this happens, we respond in this way, says associate professor Jordy Kaufman, director of Swinburne Universitys Babylab, which explores the cognitive, social and brain development of babies and children. By this he means, for instance, that when we receive a present we dont like, we automatically tell the person we love it to spare their feelings. Following a script is reputation-saving for grown-ups. If they do [blurt out the first thing they think], theyre often thought to have some kind of socialisation issues, or be on the autistic spectrum, says Kaufman. But by automatically filtering our thoughts, we lose out on opportunities for potentially more nuanced or even profound observations and communication, says Kaufman. For instance, by smiling and lying to the person who has given us a gift we loathe, its potentially losing out on an opportunity to let people know what you really like. Then theres the matter of existential issues that kids ask about, but that most of us ignore. Like the time one of my kids asked my great-uncle, after his wife had died: Are you sad that your wife is dead? Loading Its questions like this that have led American philosopher Scott Hershovitz to explore contemporary and classical philosophy through the eyes of his primary school-aged children Rex and Hank. A lot of people are put off by questions they dont know the answers to or because they dont know where the conversations will go if they dont have the answers, says Hershovitz, whose book Nasty, Brutish and Short was released last month. He thinks children make natural philosophers because they happily test theories about everything from gender to sex and the existence of God that either make the rest of us squirm or we choose to ignore. Probably the script most people have [about death] is no script at all, Kaufman says about us grown-ups. We dont talk about it, dont think about it. And, he adds, all our various scripts keep us complacent when it comes to thinking about what we want out of life. You go through the day with the patterns youve established without necessarily thinking about whether there are other avenues that would make you happier in your personal [or] work lives or both, he says. Mum and dad, out of all my enemies, I hate you guys the least. My nine-year-old son Maybe, he says, if we were to look at the world with pure curiosity, as children do, without filtering our thoughts before blurting them out, wed wonder, why dont we do this instead of that? That persons having fun, why cant I do that? But are all unvarnished truths created equal? What of those comments that kids come out with that bruise other peoples hearts? One woman I know recalls when, years ago, a boy around the age of nine who she was looking after said she had a big nose. Loading It was particularly brutal at the time because I loathed my nose and actually ended up getting a nose job years later, she says. Was the boys comment part of that decision? I mean, sure, she says. It added to it. (She also had a deviated septum.) It didnt help that when she replied to him, thats rude, he laughed. Should one of our kids behave this way, do we need to worry? Look, I think theres no line in the sand, says clinical psychologist Tamara Cavenett, about which comments reveal that a kid is unsympathetic or whether theyre just plain curious. They may laugh because thats been modelled by somebody else, or because theyre nervous and they dont know whether what they said was OK. Or they might laugh because they cant consider how it feels on the other end. Its about knowing your child, and trying to work out what the intent was behind it. Parents need to know, she says, that children arent able to see the world from another persons point of view until theyre between the ages of three and five. With very young children, if you ask them what the room looks like from the other persons point of view, they will describe the room from their point of view, says Cavenett, president of the Australian Psychological Society. The development of empathy takes a while, too, and theres no hard-and-fast rule for when a child gains the skill. Then, on top of it all, children need to develop impulse control to not blurt out whats on their mind. Loading Impulse control is not actually fully developed until the age of 25, says Cavenett. Which is why, she says, when teens say things that cut, we might want to give them some slack. They have a thought, and bang its out there. (Ill have to let my colleague know; when she told her 12-year-old that she was cooler than her kid realising, her kid responded: If there was any cool left in you, I think I would have seen it by now.) And when kids unleash unvarnished truths on their parents, it is often a sign that they feel emotionally safe. Kids are really inquisitive and curious by nature, and often young kids, theyre simply sort of flexing their observation or their verbal development muscles, says Melbourne clinical psychologist Stephanie Tan-Kristanto. And they get to do that in front of their parents and caregivers, because its a safe place to share and explore and build their autonomy and language and observation skills. So to nurture children who are curious but also able to take other peoples perspectives and feelings into consideration, we need to praise them for when they do share anothers point of view, says Cavenett. And teach them to not be judgmental and be accepting of others, no matter what they look like, says Tan-Kristanto, director of the Australian Clinical Psychology Association. Freaking out when they let rip with an emotionally oblivious reaction might see you end up on YouTube, with your kid amusing other parents. While its not going to be the kids goal to make you squirm, she says, they will notice when phrases get a rise out of you. When Leifer joined this community from Israel in 2001, the congregation was excited to have her. She became Head of Jewish Studies at the girls campus of the Adass Israel School in Elsternwick and enjoyed enormous trust among parents and the community. Religion held total importance, school administrator Jenny Measy told the court during Leifers trial. The Adass Israel Congregation began as a breakaway from the Elwood Shule, or synagogue, in the early 1940s. Its members embraced Hasidic Judaism, often termed ultra-Orthodox. Living in Ripponlea, St Kilda East and Elsternwick in Melbournes inner south-east, most children are raised without television, internet or radio access. Theyre kept entirely separate from members of the opposite sex outside their family homes, and are traditionally not given sex education. To understand Leifers story and the bravery of the three sisters Nehama Meyer, known as Nicole, Hadassa (Dassi) Erlich and Elisheva (Elly) Sapper who broke from their community to report the abuse, its important to understand the congregation which formed the focal point of this international scandal. Leifers conviction is a story that stretched over two decades and across continents. It began among the members of Adass Israel, a community of about 100 families in Melbournes inner south-east, but would strain relations between Australia and Israel, and result in the criminal prosecution of a senior member of Israels parliament. Nicole Meyer, the eldest sister, was defiant outside court. Even though the jury did not convict Leifer on the charges from her evidence, she said that when she had left the courtroom, she had looked Leifer straight in the eye: I turned around and looked at her after my charges were found not guilty because I know she did it, and if she doesnt want to look at me, so be it. Malka Leifer absorbed the verdict as she had the entire trial: her expression unmoving, looking straight ahead, her face not betraying any distress at being found guilty of raping two of her students. Her accusers, too, three sisters sitting in the back corner of the court, were still as the jury convicted Leifer of 18 of 27 charges heard at the County Court of Victoria over the past two months. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Dassi Erlich recalled: Anyone that had a connection with her, other people became jealous over it. Leifer would pick favourites, asking them to perform special tasks. Because she was so well respected, if she did call me out of class, I was allowed to get up and leave, Elly said. It felt like she came to the school with this massive burst of energy, Dassi Erlich told the trial. She was revered as much as a rabbi and I had never seen a woman that people looked up to like this. Leifer, her rabbi husband Yaakov and their children settled in a modest yellow-brick home on Gordon Street in Elsternwick. Two more babies were born in Australia, in March 2004 and August 2005, bringing the family to 10. Asked by defence barrister Ian Hill, KC, whether Leifer was a devoted and hard-working principal, her friend and colleague, Esther Spigelman, replied: Very much so. The school gets state and federal government funding and students receive lessons from young, unaccredited student-teachers, and graduates with limited secular education. In a busy school, the abuse was opportunistic and risky. Leifer would abuse the sisters in locked offices, on school camps and at her home. She would hold one of the sisters back from a school trip, and abuse them then. One of the girls had a friction burn on her leg, a trip on a slide which went wrong Leifer fussed over the injury, then abused them. Leifer taught kallah (bride) lessons , in this case a meagre pre-wedding sex education tutorial, which she would use as an opportunity to abuse. The jury heard that Leifer knew that because of her position, the girls would be less likely to resist, and that because of their lack of sexual education, they were less capable of understanding what was happening. Sometimes, according to the sisters testimony, the abuse seemed to be about sexual gratification; Leifer would make noises and become flushed. At other times, she would tell the girls that it was about education, the court heard, for the girls benefit. Leifers eldest child was in Ellys year at the school, which had become a haven. Into this turmoil stepped a female authority figure who would shower the sisters with love: Leifer. Sammi had borderline personality disorder, the court heard, and for years verbally and physically abused the girls. She would hit them and scream at them in public. They would be refused meals or locked out of the house. Elly resented having to hide the physical abuse she suffered at her mothers hands. The special connection with Leifer that the sisters testified to in court can only be understood in the context of their home life. Nicole, Dassi and Elly grew up in the Adass community, three of seven daughters of Matisyahu (Mark) and Smadar (Sammi) Sapper. Having remained silent, Dassi married Joshua Erlich in September 2006 and moved to Israel. Joshua said Dassi had been disappointed Leifer wasnt at her wedding. Manny Waks, who campaigns against child abuse in Jewish communities, agrees. He said its unlikely that ultra-Orthodox communities would heed pronouncements by the RCV, certainly not the more ultra-Orthodox community, especially Adass. Since 2010, the Rabbinical Council of Victoria has repeatedly stated that this prohibition does not apply in cases of child sexual abuse, but not everyone in the community accepts that view. Jenny Weinstein, who was married to a member of the Adass community, said: I, personally, know of families that gave testimony at the child sexual abuse royal commission under pseudonyms, and they still face shunning practices today. This can include extended family and potentially anyone who supports them. Behind these personal considerations stood religious ones. A member of the community making allegations of abuse might be accused of lashon hara (gossip) and creating a chillul Hashem, or offence to God. Reporting Leifer to authorities outside the Jewish community could also be seen as breaching the prohibition on mesirah: reporting the conduct of another Jew to a non-Jewish or non-rabbinical authority. But for all three sisters, reporting these incidents would have carried its own risks. Leifer implied to Dassi that if she told anyone what was happening, she would tell everyone about her mothers domestic abuse. Dassi feared that if this became community knowledge, it would harm her chances of getting married because the communitys matchmakers wouldnt set her up: She was the principal I saw the way that she reacted to people that attempted to cross her and I was scared. A short time later, Casen told Bromberg a young lady had disclosed the abuse in a therapy session. Bromberg called Leifer in the middle of the night, picking her up at her home. After driving a short distance, Bromberg pulled over and said the question had come up again. Leifers answer was the same. Bromberg did not ask Casen for the source of the allegation before visiting Leifer. Thank you very much for coming, Leifer apparently told Bromberg, adding she had spoken to a council of rabbinical elders about the issue and that all was in order, all was good. In August 2007, another psychologist, Ruthie Casen, called her friend, Sharon Bromberg, who taught at the Adass Israel School, and posed the question that would shake the tightly knit community: Is it possible at all that Mrs Leifer has crossed any boundaries with the girls is all in order there? News of the accusations made its way back to Australia. I recall being utterly terrified, Erlich told the trial. Her sister, Elly, was taken to see Dr Vicki Gordon, a clinical and forensic psychologist with close ties to the Adass community. Gordon read out Ellys comments in court: She [Leifer] even asked if I was enjoying it, and when I said no, I didnt like it, she would say to me, I will never be able to give a man pleasure. For the first time, Dassi Erlich had access to the internet, and would spend all day gazing at the screen. Increasingly depressed, she began therapy with Chana Rabinowitz, a social worker she knew from Australia. Afraid to speak aloud about the abuse she had experienced, Erlich could only whisper her allegations against Leifer. Instead, she would text Rabinowitz the details. This time, Bromberg decided to contact two senior rabbis, Binyomin Wurzberger and Avraham Tzvi Beck. On February 29, 2008, she spoke to Wurzbergers wife by phone. [She] knew what [I] was calling about, Bromberg recalled Mrs Wurzberger telling her on the phone, and she was literally feeling sick. Five days later, on March 4, three other rabbis Zvi Hirsch Telsner, Moishe Donnenbaum and Yehudah Katz as well as Norman Rosenbaum, a barrister who provided pro bono legal advice to the Adass community, and Vicki Gordon met Bromberg at Telsners home. There were now multiple accusations of abuse against Leifer. The next day another meeting was held, this time with respected Adass member Izzy Herzog, Rosenbaum, Gordon, and school board members Yitzhok Benedikt and Mark Ernst, at Herzogs home. It was decided that Leifer should be stood down, before calling her. You have destroyed my reputation, Leifer told them, according to people present. Im not going to stand for this. Im leaving. I resign. Barrister Norman Rosenbaum, who provided pro bono legal advice to the Adass community at the time of the abuse allegations against Malka Leifer. Credit:Pat Scala Tammy Koniarski, a travel agent, told a court she received a phone call from Ernsts wife, Hadassa, about 9 or 10pm that night, and was told Leifer and four children needed to travel to Israel urgently. Leifer and the children flew out of Australia at 1.20am on March 6. The tickets were paid for by an Adass community member, Robert Klein, and a company associated with Benedikt. The school later reimbursed them both. Ernst said that Leifer was asked to leave. Rosenbaum said that the allegations of sexual abuse were not reported to police because we didnt know who the people were, the victims. In his 2015 decision in a civil case Erlich brought against the school, Supreme Court Justice Jack Rush said it was apparent that within a day of the school becoming aware of the allegations, it knew of a further eight persons [sic] affected by Mrs Leifers alleged misconduct. Rush criticised Bromberg for going to Leifer: I find it remarkable that matters of such significance would not be directly raised by an experienced teacher at the school with a person involved in the administration of the school itself. Rush also found the timing of the booking of the tickets and departure of Leifer and members of her family extraordinary. The conduct demonstrates a disdain for due process of criminal investigation in this state, he said. Nobody has ever been charged for helping Leifer flee the jurisdiction. The court awarded Erlich $1,024,428. In April 2018, Jenny Weinstein invited senior members of the schools board to her home and asked why Erlich hadnt received the apology she was asking for, and what support services they were providing to those affected by what had happened. She got a million dollars, isnt that enough? one senior member of the community said, referring to Erlich. I said she was one of many sexually abused and the entire community has been impacted, Weinstein recalls. And he sort of shrugged it off, as if women cant abuse women. According to Weinstein, one person wept during the meeting. Weinstein has since left the community. The fight in Israel In 2011, Elly Sapper made a statement to Victoria Police regarding allegations of sexual abuse by Leifer. Dassi Erlich and Nicole Meyer made statements shortly afterwards. Joshua Erlich had observed his wife as the allegations came out. He told the court that Dassi became worried and wondered why her therapist, Rabinowitz, who was in Melbourne and looking into the allegations, was making such a big deal of them. Dassi was scared and panicked about what was happening, Joshua told the court in February. Joshua also said he overheard two of the sisters speaking about ways they would attempt to harass Leifer, and agreed with a description of the conversation, made by defence barrister Ian Hill, that they were speaking about it like it was a fun and exciting thing to do. In August 2014, Victoria Police charged Leifer with 74 child sex offences. She was placed under house arrest in Israel and ordered to wear an electronic tag. The sisters said publicly they thought extradition would be a straightforward process. But Leifers lawyers told Jerusalem District Court judge Amnon Cohen that the extradition request should be thrown out due to Leifers extreme anxiety, which they claimed resulted in debilitating panic attacks. By 2016, Leifer had evaded 10 extradition proceedings by arguing she was too mentally ill to face trial. She was released to the ultra-Orthodox Jewish settlement of Emmanuel in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Fed up with Israels justice system, the sisters began a public campaign, with Erlich using the hashtag #BringLeiferBack, that took them to meetings with former Victorian premier Ted Baillieu, then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and ultimately the steps of Israels parliament, the Knesset. From left: Elly Sapper, Dassi Erlich, Israels then-justice minister Ayelet Shaked, Nicole Meyer and Victorian MP David Southwick during a visit to the Knesset in Jerusalem in November 2017. During a visit to Israel in October 2017, Turnbull had turned up the pressure: I filled [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu in on all the details and explained what the issues were and why it was very important that the extradition be completed. A month later, Caulfield MP David Southwick accompanied the sisters to their crucial meeting with Israels then-justice minister Ayelet Shaked. I was standing there, outside the Knesset building, thinking: How did I go from being a shy Adass girl from this tiny, closeted community, to being in front of Knesset members ... asking for their help? Erlich said in 2017. Loading In the meeting, which lasted for about 30 minutes, the sisters asked why Leifer wasnt being extradited even though they had seen video of her in the community, clearly not debilitated by her condition. That was the plea, to kind of say: This doesnt seem fair, it doesnt seem reasonable, Southwick says. Everyone, you know, prime ministers, the premiers, everyone has been advocating ... and we just dont seem to be getting anywhere. Southwick and the sisters left the meeting deflated, before Shakeds chief of staff called after them down the hall. He said, Look, we have got things in place to try and get things happening, but we cant really talk about it, Southwick recalls. Speaking to The Age during a recent visit to Melbourne, Shaked who is no longer an MP wouldnt comment on whether she believed Leifer was genuinely mentally ill, but said: She could appeal my decision [as minister] to the District Court and then to the Supreme Court and just take time, and she tried to claim that she is insane etcetera, and it just took time. The sisters impressed her, Shaked said, by speaking openly about their abuse to Israels leaders. They didnt want to give up, and they did succeed to engage ... It shows a lot of strength. In February 2018, Leifer was rearrested on suspicion that she had feigned mental illness. More than 200 hours of video filmed by private investigators put her extradition back on the table. But behind the scenes, she had powerful allies, chief among them Rabbi Yaakov Litzman, then head of the ultra-Orthodox political bloc known as United Torah Judaism. The arithmetic of Israeli politics meant the blocs MPs were crucial to Netanyahus coalition government. In 2019, allegations began to surface that Litzman had been using his position at Israels health ministry to pressure officials into altering psychiatric reports that said Leifer was fit to be extradited. Litzman said his intervention in the case was for the good of the public. But in June 2022, a magistrate in Jerusalem accepted a plea deal allowing the rabbi to avoid jail after he admitted abusing his powers to thwart the extradition. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) and then-health minister Rabbi Yaakov Litzman at a February 2020 meeting in Tel Aviv on the COVID-19 crisis. Credit:AP In May 2020, a court ruled that Leifers claim of mental illness had been fraudulent from the beginning, and on January 25, 2021, she was returned to Australia. Victoria Police had vehicles parked on the tarmac of terminal two at Melbourne Airport to take her to prison. The trial When Leifer emerged from custody to stand in the dock on the first day of her trial on February 8, she tightly held a religious text as the jury walked in. A few months in custody at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre in Melbournes outer suburbs had thinned her face. The charges were whittled down to 29; Justin Lewis, for the prosecution, painstakingly went through each one for the jury. Leifer occasionally shut her eyes and soundlessly muttered. Some in the gallery thought she was praying. One of Leifers daughters and her sister-in-law attended regularly at first, but stopped coming near the end of the trial. Leifer rarely expressed emotion. She smiled when people she knew came and visited her, or when she stole a few moments for consultation with her lawyers, but mostly she looked up at whoever was speaking, brow furrowed, closely listening to everything said. Little seemed to shake her. The sisters gave their evidence first, in closed court, with Ian Hill cross-examining. He asked about the setting of the abuse: Was the door locked? What colour was the room? Who was around? Often such questions were met with I dont recall. Leifer sat behind a curtain while the sisters gave evidence. Ian Hill, KC (front right), outside the County Court in March. Credit:Paul Jeffers Hill would put it to them that Leifer had not abused them, but without directly calling them liars. He argued the police had allowed the sisters to collude when they wrote their statements. Additionally, Hill pointed out, nobody police or therapists seemed to keep any notes, so how could anyone know exactly what was said at the time? The defence also relied on Joshua Erlichs testimony that the sisters conspired to harass Leifer. The allegations commenced, perhaps from innocent beginnings, and from remarks taken out of proportion, which grew, as we said, some time ago now into a story which was constantly added to and developed and varied over the years, Hill argued. He added that Leifer had suffered significant disadvantage because the case was brought after so much time had passed, meaning she was unable to call people who might have provided alibis. He omitted that Leifer was the primary architect of that delay, and the jury was not told. Where Hill was combative, Lewis was restrained. He said evidence presented at trial of the sisters praising Leifer wasnt inconsistent with abuse because they had been groomed to love her. Knowing that they were neglected at home she manipulated their emotions while abusing them for her own sexual gratification, he told the jury. The sisters watched proceedings every day, via a video link in a small room on the first floor of the County Court. Each day, they would come down William Street together, hand in hand, before making their way through security and into the small room. When the jury finally retired to deliberate on March 22, they had heard six weeks of evidence and argument. After they left the room, Jenny Measy, the Adass schools deputy principal, approached Leifer in the dock and briefly chatted to her. People in the Adass community did not attend many court hearings. Someone close to the community said that, more than 20 years after she had been received with such excitement, much of Leifers support had collapsed. Loading After more than a week of deliberations, people started to wonder what was going on. Judge Mark Gamble urged the jury to relax. Whether its a walk, or run, watching a movie, maybe listen to music, play with your pets, whatever it is that works for you, he told them. On Monday, just before 4pm, the jury entered and delivered a verdict: guilty of 18 charges, not guilty of nine. It took 11 years, the sisters declared, to get to this point: prime ministers and ministers had come and gone, international relationships had been damaged and repaired, and outside the County Court, three lives could finally begin. Today, we can start to take our power back that she stole from us as children, Dassi Erlich said, her hand in Nicoles, and Nicoles hand in Ellys. If you need support, call the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here. The Australian Federal Police will be investigated for attempting to pervert the course of justice while looking into the alleged sexual assault of former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins by her colleague Bruce Lehrmann. The Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (ACLEI), a watchdog tasked with detecting corruption in federal agencies including the AFP, will also investigate how the private diaries and text messages of Higgins were leaked to the media despite not being tendered in evidence to court. In an email seen by the Herald and The Age, ACLEI executive director of operations Peter Ratcliffe confirms his agency is investigating whether AFP members attempted to pervert the course of justice by pressuring Ms Brittany Higgins not to proceed with the matter. Bruce Lehrmann entering the Federal Court in March. Credit: Kate Geraghty The agency will also investigate whether the police attempted to pervert the course of justice by bypassing administrative processes that enabled protected information contained in a brief of evidence to be served on the defence at the time the summons and charge were served. The loss of Aston was catastrophic not merely because it was the first time since 1920 that a federal government had picked up a seat from an opposition at a byelection. It is because Victorians have done this to the Liberals before at state level. When Steve Bracks led Labor into minority government in 1999, there was an assumption that the Coalition would be competitive at the next state election because it no longer had the one-man drag on their vote former premier Jeff Kennett. Insert Scott Morrison in Kennetts place and you can appreciate why the Albanese government will be wargaming another byelection upset if and when the former prime minister resigns from his southern Sydney electorate of Cook. Loading Labor won the byelection for Kennetts seat of Burwood, in Melbournes middle east, in 1999, and then the byelection for the former National Party leader and deputy premier Pat McNamaras rural seat of Benalla in 2000. Neither had ever been held by Labor before, and while Benalla returned to the Coalition fold in 2002, Burwood remained in Labor hands during the next two Brackslides in 2002 and 2006. Today, it is part of the new seat of Ashwood, which Labor won with a primary vote of 40.3, and a 2PP of 56.2 per cent, at last Novembers state election landslide for Daniel Andrews government. Dutton may not have bothered with the finer details of Victorian state politics when he was a rising star in John Howards Coalition government. But Bracks is the leader who is closest in manner, and underestimated political appeal to Albanese. Neither are white Anglo men. Bracks has Lebanese heritage; Albanese is half Italian. Neither man is consciously ethnic; in fact, they are routinely surprised when constituents share stories from homelands to which they themselves have no direct connection. Bracks and Albanese have diversity projected onto them. It is innocent in many ways. But in the head-to-head between Albanese and Dutton, in a nation that is majority migrant now, it matters more than the latter probably appreciates. Dutton is already sick of hearing the advice from his own side that the Liberals have a problem with female voters, with young Australia who cant afford to enter the housing market, and with migrant communities, especially Chinese Australians whom he helped alienate with his war talk. Illustration by John Shakespeare. Credit: But there is a structural paradox that he and his colleagues ignore at their peril. It is inevitable that diversity will accelerate in every state. Take a step back from the slicing and dicing of the electorate by cohorts and consider the basic question of population growth, through the concept of the Australian family tree, with First Australian roots, an Old Australian trunk and New Australian branches. The trunk represents non-Indigenous people who were born in this country, as were their parents and grandparents, while the branches cover migrants and their locally born children. At the 2021 census, New Australia formed the majority with 50.8 per cent of the then population of 25.4 million; Old Australia was 45.4 per cent and First Australia 3.8 per cent. Almost two years on, the population is one million larger and the branches and the roots will have increased their respective shares at the expense of the slower-growing trunk. We know this because of what happened in the boom years before lockdown. Migrants were responsible for the majority of the nations population growth for the first time since the gold rushes of the 1850s. Loading Migrants accounted for 60 per cent of Sydneys population growth and 54 per cent of Melbournes between 2011 and 2021. In Darwin, it was 62 per cent, Hobart 55 per cent, Canberra 46 per cent, Adelaide 44 per cent and Perth 42 per cent. Brisbane was the outlier at 39 per cent because it had a more even mix of growth thanks to internal migration. Yet once you add the children of migrants, 69 per cent of the growth in the Queensland capital came from New Australia. In Sydney, the figure was 97 per cent; Melbourne 88 per cent and Perth 75 per cent the three key cities from which the Liberals were evicted by Labor and the teals at the last federal election. Australia, seen through Duttons LNP binoculars in Brisbane, looks like another country. But even Brisbane is moving closer to the cosmopolitan south. Remember that Greens picked up three seats here two from the LNP and one from Labor. They did this in the whiter parts of the city where young professional renters are moving the pendulum to the left. The most brazen aspect of Duttons decision this week to lock in the LNP and Liberals to a No vote on the referendum for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to parliament is the attempt to shake the leaves of our family tree. Migrant communities are among the key swinging voters in the referendum soft Yes voters, according to the public and private polls, who could be persuaded to vote no if change is seen as too risky, or complicated. Loading What Dutton seems to have forgotten is that Howard himself took an equivalent dark path as opposition leader in the late 1980s when he criticised Asian migration. It cost Howard the Liberal leadership at the time, and placed a personal re-entry barrier to the job which he finally cleared in 1995 by apologising for his comments. Howard helped make the Liberals electable again by dropping his ideological baggage on Medicare, industrial relations and migration. He met the electorate on its terms, while articulating a positive agenda around core Liberal values. Where is the equivalent work being done by Dutton and his colleagues, either federally, or in basket case states or Victoria, South Australia or Western Australia? On the evidence so far, Dutton believes he has nothing to learn. He went to work immediately after the Aston debacle determined to double down on the politics of division that helped make the Liberals a minor party across large parts of the country. The German militarys decision to invite Darth Vader to the launch of its new space defence program has backfired after critics pointed out awkward parallels to the countrys Nazi past. At the opening ceremony for the new headquarters of Germanys Space Command, Major General Michael Traut gave his speech flanked by Stormtroopers and imperial officers from Star Wars. Star Wars Stormtroopers - but who inspired them? Not renowned for their sense of humour, German officials have come in for sharp criticism, with critics reminding the military that the evil Galactic Empire in Star Wars was partly inspired by the countrys Nazi history. The military apparently has no problem with the fact that the Galactic Empire committed genocide in the fictional universe, nor that some of the characters who took part in the ceremony wore trousers suspiciously reminiscent of those worn by the Wehrmacht, commented the tech website Golem. We are losing our democracy. This is not normal. This is not OK, Pearson told reporters Thursday. The three broke a House rule because were fighting for kids who are dying from gun violence and people in our communities who want to see an end to the proliferation of weaponry in our communities. Johnson, a retired teacher, said her concern about school shootings was personal, recalling a day in 2008 when students came running toward her out of a cafeteria because a student had just been shot and killed there. Former Representative Justin Pearson, left, Representative Gloria Johnson, centre and former Representative Justin Jones embrace outside the House chamber after Pearson and Jones were expelled. Credit: AP The trauma on those faces, you will never, ever forget. I dont want to forget it, she said. Thousands of people flocked to the State Capitol to support the Democrats, cheering and chanting outside the House chamber so loudly that the noise drowned out the proceedings. The trio held hands as they walked onto the floor, and Pearson raised his fist to the crowd during the Pledge of Allegiance. Offered a chance to defend himself before the vote, Jones said the GOP responded to the shooting with a different kind of attack. Representative Gloria Johnson raises her fist after a resolution to expel Johnson from the legislature failed on the floor of the House chamber in Nashville. Credit: AP We called for you all to ban assault weapons, and you respond with an assault on democracy, he said. Jones vowed that even if expelled, he would continue pressing for action on guns. Ill be out there with the people every week, demanding that you act, he said. Republican Representative Gino Bulso said the three Democratic representatives effectively conducted a mutiny. State Representative Justin Jones raises his fist on the floor of the House chamber as he walks to his desk to collect his belongings after being expelled from the legislature in Nashville, Tennessee. Credit: AP The gentleman shows no remorse, Bulso said, referring to Jones. He does not even recognise that what he did was wrong. So not to expel him would simply invite him and his colleagues to engage in mutiny on the House floor. The two expelled representatives may not be gone for long. County commissions in their districts get to pick replacements to serve until a special election can be scheduled, and they also would be eligible to run in the special election. Under the Tennessee Constitution, representatives cannot be expelled for the same offence twice. Tennessee State Troopers block the stairwell leading to the legislative chambers in Nashville. Credit: AP During discussion, Republican Representative Sabi Kumar advised Jones to be more collegial and less focused on race. You have a lot to offer, but offer it in a vein where people are accepting of your ideas, Kumar said. Jones said he did not intend to assimilate in order to be accepted. Im not here to make friends. Im here to make a change for my community, he replied. Fielding questions from representatives, Johnson reminded them that she did not raise her voice nor did she use the bullhorn as did the other two, both of whom are new representatives and among the youngest members in the chamber. But she also suggested that race was likely a factor on why Jones and Pearson were ousted but not her, telling reporters that it might have to do with the colour of our skin. That notion was echoed by state Senator London Lamar, a Democrat representing Memphis. Representatives expelled the two black men and kept the white woman, Lamar, a Black woman, said via Twitter. The racism that is on display today! Wow! However, House Speaker Cameron Sexton, a Republican who voted to expel all three, denied that race was at play, arguing that Johnsons arguments might have swayed other members. Our members literally didnt look at the ethnicity of the members up for expulsion, Majority Leader William Lamberth added. He alleged that Jones and Pearson were trying to incite a riot last week, while Johnson was more subdued. After sitting quietly for hours and hushing anyone who cried out during the proceedings, people in the gallery erupted in screams and boos following the final vote. There were chants of Shame! and Fascists! Representatives quickly adjourned for the evening. Outrage over the expulsions underscored not only the ability of the Republican supermajority to silence opponents, but its increasing willingness to do so. Loading In Washington, President Joe Biden blasted the GOPs priorities. Three kids and three officials gunned down in yet another mass shooting. And what are GOP officials focused on? Punishing representatives who joined thousands of peaceful protesters calling for action. Its shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent, Biden tweeted. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. Armenia carried out 214 terrorist acts around the world, 32 of them in Azerbaijan, a veteran of security agencies, Colonel Azer Garayzade said within Trend News Agency's "Relevant with Sahil Karimli" project. "Armenian terrorism has a long history. Most of the terrorist acts in Azerbaijan were committed in public transport,"Garayzade noted. According to him, the Azerbaijani intelligence services managed to uncover, detain and bring to justice all the criminals. "Two terrorist ats were committed in the subway [in Baku] on March 19 and July 3, 1994. On July 3, 1994 at 8:32 (GMT +4), a powerful explosion occurred between the Ganjlik and May 28 stations, he reminded. Of course, law enforcement agencies quickly responded to the incident, and since it was a terrorist act, it was under the direct jurisdiction of the intelligence services. A large amount of operational work was done, and the search for the terrorist was conducted day and night, and about a month later, the identity of the terrorist was identified and confirmed, Garayzade said. Then, we determined his location and revealed that he was a former military serviceman. During his stay in Armenian captivity, he was recruited by Armenian intelligence services. Using their methods, they forced him to commit this terrorist act. His mother was taken from Baku to Armenia, and from there to Shusha, where they were held hostage, he noted. Garayzade also reminded that having determined the location of the terrorist acts perpetrator in Armenia, several appeals were made to the intelligence services of this country, but they in every possible way denied his presence there. After the intervention of the great leader Heydar Aliyev in this matter, we were able to extradite the terrorist to Azerbaijan. The great leader talked about this with the president of this country and achieved his return to Azerbaijan. Later in 1998, the terrorist was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Supreme Court," he said. Garayzade also stressed that the Azerbaijani people were lucky that the great leader Heydar Aliyev came to power at that time. "Precisely after his arrival, Azerbaijan began to achieve certain stability and development, because the intelligence services of many countries did not want Azerbaijan to develop freely. At that time, thanks to the genius of Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijan was saved," he added. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. A trip to the city of Shusha will allow members of TURKSOY (the International Organization of Turkic Culture), to make important decisions on their activities, Bilal Cakici, Deputy Secretary General of TURKSOY, told journalists after the opening ceremony of the 9th meeting of the National Commissions for UNESCO of the TURKSOY member countries, Trend reports. "The National Commissions for UNESCO of the TURKSOY Member States have already done a tremendous amount of work. However, today's event and a trip to Azerbaijans Shusha tomorrow will allow us to hold consultations and figure out the best way to develop our cooperation within UNESCO," he said. He also noted that the city of Shusha bears inexhaustible significance for cultural heritage. "I think that most objects of the city of Shusha should be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. And, it is pleasant that such cultural values will be on the agenda," the deputy secretary added. The TURKSOY meeting was organized by the National Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan for UNESCO under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, together with the ADA University and its Institute for Development and Diplomacy. The International Organization of Turkic Culture celebrates its 13th anniversary of its foundation this year. Details added (first published: 13:32) BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. Turkiye wishes a speedy establishment of peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said during a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, Trend reports. "Yesterday, Minister Lavrov and I discussed the South Caucasus, especially the process of normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia as well as Turkiye and Armenia. These must be taken to establish lasting peace and prosperity in South Caucasus. We will continue our contacts with Russia on this issue," he said. Earlier, Turkish Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar noted that relations between Turkiye and Armenia depend on Azerbaijan-Armenia relations. He said that Armenia must accept the hand of peace and friendship extended to it, and also added that Turkiye supports steps to normalize relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Following over a month of military action to liberate its territories from Armenian occupation from late Sept. to early Nov. 2020, Azerbaijan has pushed Armenia to sign the surrender document. A joint statement on the matter was made by the Azerbaijani president, Armenia's PM, and the president of Russia. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. Human bones have been found during excavations in Azerbaijans Aghdam, the press service of the Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan told Trend. The prosecutor's office of the Aghdam district is investigating the discovery of human remains during excavations in the territory called Ergi duzu. Previously, mass graves were discovered in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan. As a result of the relevant search activities, the graves were found in the villages of Dashalty (Shusha district), Edilli (Khojavand district), Sirkhavend (Aghdam district), as well as Farrukh village (Khojaly district), and other areas. Cheyenne, WY (82001) Today Rain and snow in the morning changing to all rain in the afternoon. Thunder possible. High 42F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Snow in the evening will transition to snow showers overnight. Thunder possible. Low 32F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 70%. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. Azerbaijan submitted its proposal (on the country's Hirkan Forests) for the UNESCO World Heritage Committee's transnational nomination at the end of 2022, Azerbaijan's Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mukhtar Babayev said, Trend reports. He made the remark at the opening ceremony of the 9th meeting of the National Commissions for UNESCO of the TURKSOY [International Organization of Turkic Culture] member states. This meeting was organized by TURKSOY jointly with the National Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan for UNESCO under the President of Azerbaijan, ADA University, and its Institute for Development and Diplomacy. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the International Organization of Turkic Culture. The minister stated that work has started on the establishment of geoparks and involving the UNESCO global network of geoparks on the territory of Azerbaijan in accordance with the resolution adopted at the 8th meeting of the National Commissions for UNESCO of the TURKSOY member nations. Hirkan National Park is a national park in Azerbaijan. It was established in an area in Lankaran and Astara administrative districts on February 9, 2004 on the basis of the former "Hirkan State Reserve" which it superseded, on a surface area of 29,760 hectares. It was enlarged in 2008 to 40,358 hectares. The area of Hirkan National Park is almost entirely covered by forests in a primarily mountainous region and is strictly protected. It constitutes one of the largest contiguous forests in Azerbaijan, which is not interrupted by any settlement or pasture. Batavia, NY (14020) Today Clouds and some sun this morning with more clouds for this afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 49F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Rain showers this evening mixing with snow showers overnight. Low near 35F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precip 70%. Details added: first version posted on 09:34 BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. Human bones have been found during excavations in Azerbaijans Aghdam, the press service of the Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan told Trend. The prosecutor's office of the Aghdam district is investigating the discovery of human remains during excavations in the territory called Ergi duzu. Previously, mass graves were discovered in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan. As a result of the relevant search activities, the graves were found in the villages of Dashalty (Shusha district), Edilli (Khojavand district), Sirkhavend (Aghdam district), as well as Farrukh village (Khojaly district), and other areas. Details added (first published: 12:46) BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. Azerbaijan submitted its proposal (on the country's Hirkan Forests) for the UNESCO World Heritage Committee's transnational nomination at the end of 2022, Azerbaijan's Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mukhtar Babayev said, Trend reports. He made the remark at the opening ceremony of the 9th meeting of the National Commissions for UNESCO of the TURKSOY [International Organization of Turkic Culture] member states. This meeting was organized by TURKSOY jointly with the National Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan for UNESCO under the President of Azerbaijan, ADA University, and its Institute for Development and Diplomacy. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the International Organization of Turkic Culture. The minister stated that work has started on the establishment of geoparks and involving the UNESCO global network of geoparks on the territory of Azerbaijan in accordance with the resolution adopted at the 8th meeting of the National Commissions for UNESCO of the TURKSOY member nations. Hirkan National Park is a national park in Azerbaijan. It was established in an area in Lankaran and Astara administrative districts on February 9, 2004 on the basis of the former "Hirkan State Reserve" which it superseded, on a surface area of 29,760 hectares. It was enlarged in 2008 to 40,358 hectares. The area of Hirkan National Park is almost entirely covered by forests in a primarily mountainous region and is strictly protected. It constitutes one of the largest contiguous forests in Azerbaijan, which is not interrupted by any settlement or pasture. 25-Year-Old Chinese-American Activist Claims First Victory Against Woke University Programs Twenty-five-year-old activist Kenny Xu has recently garnered media attention for his outspoken opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The second-generation Chinese-American and his team, Color Us United, scored a major victory in February when they successfully campaigned for the University of North Carolina (UNC) system to ban DEI requirements in recruitment and hiring. At its Board of Governors meeting on Feb. 23, UNC voted to ban DEI statements and compelled speech from admission, hiring, promotion, and tenure decisions. However, Xu sees it as a small success. His ultimate goal is to abolish DEI across all universities in the United States. The boards vote to remove the DEI statement was their decision, and we are proud to support them, Xu told The Epoch Times. But theres still plenty of DEI in the med school. They still have their task force to integrate social justice into the curriculum, they still have fellowships that they give out only to black students Theyre still doing race-based fellowships, theyre still teaching unconscious bias. Xu says his teams ultimate goal at UNC is to eliminate DEI initiatives in the universitys medical school. He would like to see the dean of the medical school renounce DEI, and talk about how DEI is corrupting the med school and lowering the standards for their profession and how he will work to fight against it. If we can take it out in the medical profession, by exposing the injustice being done at medical schools, I think we can be well on the way to eliminating DEI in our country, he said. Challenging DEI Policies at UNC Medical School Xu launched a petition drive in late January to cancel DEI policies at UNC Medical School. The petition had over 2,600 signatures at the time of publishing. Most Americans, regardless if theyre left, right, or center, want to be treated by the most qualified doctor. They dont care if the doctor is white, black, yellow, [or] green, Xu said. They want to know that the doctor thats treating them is the most excellent and has come from the most excellent training. UNC Health is currently teaching unconscious bias, and teaching students that health care problems are due to racism, rather than teaching future doctors essential medical knowledge, Xu remarked. It does inspire a lack of faith from the public towards their doctors These are not good ways to train the best quality doctors. So I think that the ordinary American would be opposed to this. The Epoch Times reached out to UNC for comment. A Bias Against Hard Work Xus campaign originated from his observations during college. He found that high-performing Asian American students were called a privileged race, and placed in the same category as whites by DEI advocates. Looking back at our history, most of us come to the U.S. with no money and no social connections. How are we privileged? We got here through hard work. And then I realized that there is an attack on anybody who works hard in our country, and its done in the name of diversity and inclusion, Xu said. Xus parents taught him to work very hard, no matter what I did, he said. They taught him that everything in life requires effort and that excelling in any field requires 10,000 hours of hard work. So when I saw that there is a decline in hard work in our country. I looked for the sources of that. I saw that people kept complaining about their problems in college and saying its because of racism. And its not because of racism. So that angered me, he said. Xu acknowledged that diversity, equity, and inclusion are in part good things, but said people dont realize that DEI officers are lowering standards to achieve diversity. He cited the example of Harvards admission policy, which requires Asian students to score points higher than black students to be admitted. I dont like lowering standards for diversity for any reasons, he said. In his book An Inconvenient Minority: The Attack on Asian American Excellence and the Fight for Meritocracy, Xu argues that Asian Americans have to work twice as hard as others to achieve success and that a stable two-parent family structure plays a significant role in their academic and career achievements. The book is about how Asians really inconvenience this narrative on race, Xu said. When first or second-generation Asian immigrants who made their way in America with very little besides hard work are labeled privileged, it highlights the illogic of the DEI ideology. I just want to erase this culture of victimhood from our country. So thats my motivation for fighting DEI, he said. Countering the Fallacy of Wokeism Xu is essentially waging a war against all left-wing woke ideologies, including DEI and CRT. According to him, Americas race-based policies stem from a sense of guilt about why black Americans arent achieving at the same level as whites. Concern about the lack of black representation among the elites in the United States has led to the implementation of DEI and other initiatives, with the goal of increasing the percentage of black Americans in elite professions, Xu said. However, affirmative action and welfare have failed to bridge the gap over the past several decades. DEI and quotas wont solve the problem: People dont realize that you cant solve this at the level of medical school. You have to solve this at the level of culture and family and study habits, he stressed. Xu believes that a practical and effective approachpromoting candidates based on merit only and replacing unconscious bias training with more hours in the lab and in the medical fieldis key to resolving Americans distrust of the medical field. His ideal is a color-blind, merit-based America, he says. God doesnt use skin color to judge us. Why should we be using skin color to judge other people? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned doctors in an update on Thursday that they should be aware of growing outbreaks of the highly fatal Marburg virus in Africa and will start communicating with travelers to the United States to watch for symptoms. Like Ebola, Marburg virus disease (MVD) is a a rare but severe hemorrhagic fever that affects humans and primates, causing bleeding from the nose, gums, eyes, and other areas. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that it has a fatality rate of about 50 percent, with some case fatality rates varying from 24 percent to 88 percent in past outbreaks. Currently, the risk of MVD in the United States is low; however, clinicians should be aware of the potential for imported cases. It is important to systematically assess patients for the possibility of viral hemorrhagic fevers, the CDC warned on Thursday in a Health Alert Network Health Advisory. It noted that there are two Marburg outbreaks in Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea, adding that there is no evidence to suggest that these two outbreaks are related. The alert said that its likely that the outbreaks represent two independent animal-to-human spillover events. To date, no confirmed cases of MVD related to these outbreaks have been reported in the United States or other countries outside Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania. This Health Advisory provides information about these outbreaks to increase awareness of the risk of imported cases in the United States, the CDC said. Those with Marburg arent contagious until symptoms show up. They include fever, muscle and joint pain, headache, fatigue, unexplained bleeding, and gastrointestinal problems. The virus is spread via contact with the blood or other bodily fluids, the CDC said, adding that it doesnt spread via airborne transmission. Amira Roess, a global health and epidemiology professor at George Mason University, told NBC News that the recent Marburg outbreak appears to be more widespread than previous ones. Were definitely seeing an increase in those more severe cases and were also seeing just more transmission in the areas where we havent seen these viruses before, Roess said. It is concerning. Other Details So far, local authorities in Equatorial Guinea have confirmed 14 cases since an outbreak was declared in February, while 10 people have died. The CDC said that eight cases have been confirmed in Tanzania, and five have died. But in Equatorial Guinea, located on the African continents central western coast, cases have been reported across the country, officials have warned. Doctor Mark Katz, a member of the World Health Organization (WHO), takes an oral sample from patient Feliciana suspected of having Marburg haemorrhagic fever in Angola on May 6, 2005. (Christopher Black/WHO/AFP via Getty Images) Though we do not know yet the origin of the Marburg outbreaks in Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania, we do know that there continues to be increased capacity in Africa to recognize and test samples for viral haemorrhagic fevers like Marburg and Ebola, the WHOs Dr. Tieble Traore said on April 4. There are no direct flights from either Tanzania or Equatorial Guinea to the United States. Currently, no enhanced domestic travel measures are recommended, as the overall risk in the United States is considered low at this time, the CDCs alert said. In response to the outbreak reports, the White House released a statement late last month saying the United States has provided protective gear as well as technical support to Tanzania. An American laboratory was set up in Equatorial Guinea on March 10, and officials are now training local medical authorities to diagnose suspected cases of the virus, according to the U.S. Department of State. There is no FDA-approved treatment or vaccine for the virus, the alert said. The CDC recommends that Marburg be treated with early fluid replacement and intensive supportive care. However, some drug manufacturers have been working on an experimental shot, including one from the Sabin Vaccine Institute, CBS News reported. About 750 doses of the vaccine, based on a chimpanzee adenovirus, are slated to be deployed in Equatorial Guinea. When the conditions may be favorable, the [vaccine] trials may be initiated. So right now is building the basics of good alert management and case management and other basics of the outbreak response. And at a future date may be considered, but as of now, we dont have a firm date for when it will start, the WHOs Dr. Abdi Mahamud told reporters, according to the outlet. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. The chairmanship of the National Commissions for UNESCO of the member countries of TURKSOY has passed from Turkiye to Azerbaijan, Deputy Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan Adil Karimli said, Trend reports. He made the remark at the opening ceremony of the 9th meeting of the National Commissions for UNESCO of the TURKSOY [International Organization of Turkic Culture] member states. This meeting was organized by TURKSOY jointly with the National Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan for UNESCO under the President of Azerbaijan, ADA University, and its Institute for Development and Diplomacy. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the International Organization of Turkic Culture. He expressed hope for great achievements during Azerbaijan's chairmanship. "On May 12, the opening ceremony of "Shusha - the cultural capital of the Turkic world in 2023" will take place. We believe that this will contribute to the development of cooperation between the Turkic states in the field of culture," Karimli said. Carmine Mancuso at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at Teatro Massimo, on March 30, 2023. (NTD) PALERMO, ItalyItaly is the home of some of the most famous operas. However, Shen Yun Performing Arts is not Italian opera. It is the revival of traditional Chinese culture. Its a formidable show, a must see, said Carmine Mancuso, a politician, on March 30. Shen Yun is based in New York and its mission is to revive Chinas 5,000 years of civilization. Bringing this 5,000-year culture [here] is a formidable mission. It makes you honestly understand the problems and the uncertainties of the [communist] regimes, said Mr. Mancuso. Using dance and music, Shen Yun paints the beauty of China before communism. Its art that can rejuvenate people. The spirit of freedom can give space and room to human beings. People cannot be repressed and suppressed in a dictatorship, expressed Mr. Mancuso. Shen Yuns artists are trained in classical Chinese dance. This dance style requires that the dancer has a deep understanding of Chinese culture. The artists are exceptional, wonderful, of very high calibreunmatched, said Mr. Mancuso. He added that he would like to express his gratitude to Shen Yuns artists. Many audience members return and see Shen Yun year after year. Mr. Mancuso said that he could watch it again, because you never get tired of seeing it. the scenes, the views, the skill of the artists, the costumes, everything is one. We are lucky that we could see and appreciate what Eastern art means. Although Shen Yun is sharing the beauty of Chinese culture, Shen Yun is unable to perform in China. My impression cannot but be positive. This is a wonderful show that I had the privilege to watch. It leaves you quite emotionally engaged and it makes you understand that China is under some restriction of liberty. He added that he has a wish that the Chinese people will hope and overcome and be the vanguard against the restrictions of that anti-culture totalitarian regime. China was once a land of deep spiritual devotion. Shen Yun is bringing this back along with all the values that once permeated China. One of the dances depicted the Creator descending to the earth. Mr. Mancuso shared that he appreciated this scene because it leads to spirituality. Because culture is also spirituality. Getting nearer to culture means believing in God. It means understanding the values of human essence and having a conscience and being able to have a dialogue with ones own conscience and understanding that the soul is immortal. Reporting by NTD and Maria Han The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. After Trump Indictment, GOP Prosecutors Want to Go After the Bidens: James Comer Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, delivers remarks during a hearing in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington on Feb. 1, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) said the Trump indictment has spurred calls from county GOP attorneys about how they can go after President Joe Biden and his family. He suggested that the unprecedented charges against the former president, viewed by many Republicans as politically motivated, opened a can of worms, which might ultimately spark political retaliation from GOP attorneys. I had two calls yesterday, one from a county attorney in Kentucky and one from a county attorney in Tennessee, Comer said on Fox News on April 5. They were Republican, obviously, both states are heavily Republican. They want to know if there are ways they can go after the Bidens now. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, unveiled a list of 34 felony charges against former President Donald Trump. Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges, which center around a $130,000 payment to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels. Daniels in 2016 was prepared to go public with claims that she and Trump had an affair in 2006. However, Trump has persistently denied these claims. With this move to indict Trump, Comer said, theyve set precedents now that we cant go back on. The result, Comer suggested, would be more ambitious political people like Alvin Bragg pursuing big pie-in-the-sky federal cases for political ends. Its just not a good path that we need to go forward on in our judiciary, Comer said. Warnings of Repercussions Comer is not the first lawmaker to warn of possible damage wrought upon American institutions by the indictment. Today, American politics crosses a line that its never going to come back from, said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in a video posted to his Twitter page after Trumps arraignment, especially on the basis of how ridiculous these charges are. Specifically, Rubio echoed Comers point that the case gives a green light to prosecutors on both the left and right to target their political enemies. Whats going to stop them? Nothings going to stop them. Because today we set a new normal, Rubio said. Today, we set the new normal that if you really want to take someone down, nothing should stop you. You should be able to manipulate the law any way you want to charge someone. Comer, in tandem with House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), has been mounting investigations into the weaponization of the federal government, particularly via the FBI, Department of Justice, and IRS. The two contend that Democrats have exploited the tools of government against their political enemies. Republicans have placed Trumps indictment into the same category of weaponization. Comer and Jordan have also made some moves to investigate Bragg and those close to him. After it leaked that Bragg might request a gag order against Trump, preventing the 2024 candidate from discussing the case, Comer and Jordan released a response calling the report unconstitutional. To put any restrictions on the ability of President Trump to discuss his mistreatment at the hands of this politically motivated prosecutor would only further demonstrate the weaponization of the New York justice system, the duo wrote. To even contemplate stifling the speech of the former commander in chief and current candidate for President is at odds with everything America stands for. On April 7, Jordan also issued a subpoena for Mark Pomerantz, a former prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorneys Office who led an investigation into Trump and pushed for his arrest. Anti-Feminism: The Men Going Their Own Way Commentary Warren Farrell, the co-author of The Boy Crisis, recently wrote an op-ed criticizing the 57th Super Bowl. Or, as he called it, the Supersexist Bowl. The event, which was watched by 113 million Americans, was littered with a number of sexist ads, according to Farrell. To be more specific, it was littered with anti-male ads. One of the advertisements, for Friday Night SmackDown, saw a woman approach a man from behind and assault him with a wooden chair. A man being beaten to a pulp by a womanhilarious, right? Not really. Sadly, in this post-Harvey Weinstein world, it has become perfectly acceptable to ridicule men and compare them to pieces of trash. Some men have had enough. Thoroughly disillusioned with the state of modern-day America, theyre going their own way. Literally. Youre no doubt familiar with the various waves of feminism. Were currently living in the fifth iteration of the socio-political movement. According to Mary Retta, a rather outspoken feminist writer, fifth wave feminism aims to destroy our current systems and build a new world that prioritizes the needs of all marginalized people. In other words, theres very little, if any, room for men. For this reason, among others, meninism is gaining traction. According to Dictionary.com, a supposedly credible website, a meninist is someone whowait for itbelieves men are victimized by feminism and that attention needs to be called to what they believe are the struggles of being a man in the 21st century. That definition, heavy on sarcasm, is also loaded with contempt. It also demonstrates why a male-oriented movement is needed. Enter Men Going Their Own Way (MGTOW), an all-male, largely online community that believes we live in a gynocentric world. According to the researcher Sebastian Gygax (pdf), the first central concept within MGTOW is that society is increasingly gynocentric. The successful institutionalization of feminist ideals in wider society, he notes, has created a situation in which women are privileged and rewarded, and men rendered expendable and inherently dangerous. When a major institution such as the American Psychological Association (APA) demonizes masculinity, prominent writers call all men dangerous, and elite universities turn their backs on young men, its difficult to argue with MGTOW sentiments. Difficult, but not impossible. Last year, three Polish professors published a paper arguing that these men are not, in fact, going their own way. Instead, theyre simply pretending to go their own way. One of the authors of the paper, Anna Maria Gorska, told me that the official narrative of the MGTOW movement is a sham. Gorska and her colleagues found that, despite the widespread narrative of men going their own way, MGTOW members communications are predominantly focused on attacking women, which contradicts the movements official values. The MGTOW movement, Gorska told me, started two decades ago, mainly as an offshoot of the broader Mens Rights Movement (MRM) and is part of the manosphere. The Manosphere, she suggested, is nothing more than the digital manifestation of mens rights activism, and the mens liberation movement, both of which are rooted in misogyny. This, however, doesnt appear to be true. According to the activist and writer Sean Galla, mens rights movements, which gained traction in the 1980s, were created to champion mens rights without being socially conservative or anti-feminist. These men focused on important issues such as child custody, child support obligations, alimony, female-on-male domestic violence, negative masculinity, and draft requirements. MGTOW and other mens groups, according to Gorska, a self-declared feminist, are united by their members willingness to embrace male victimhood and antifeminism, as well as a refusal to believe in gender inequality. MGTOW, she said, is deeply set in patriarchal and sexist ideology that aims to preserve a patriarchal system of dominance and entitlement. As someone who has studied and written about disillusioned, loveless men in great detail, I feel compelled to point out an important fact: MGTOW is not a homogeneous block; the group consists of men with differing views and diverse opinions. Are some members hateful, even dangerous? Of course (pdf). Are all members hateful and dangerous? No. According to Gorska, MGTOW is now one of the fastest-growing online meninist communities on the internet. According to one study published in 2020, the subreddit r/MGTOW grew from 54,000 members in early 2018 to 104,000 members in early 2019. However, as Gorska noted, It is difficult to determine the exact number of MGTOW members as the movement is primarily an online community without official membership or leadership structures. She believes that its entirely possible that the MGTOW movement will continue to grow in size and influence, as more men become frustrated with feminist movements that pose a risk to their entitlement. The word entitlement is particularly interesting. In 2023, what does this word even mean? Of course, one could substitute ego for entitlement, and the sentence would read similarly. Many MGTOW members may feel entitledto what exactly, Im not surebut all of them feel utterly disgusted by the state of the intersexual dynamics. Some members choose to voice their disgust in disgusting ways. Again, some, but not all. Alex DatePsych, a behavioral expert, told me the MGTOW movement is part of a broader trend in poor gender relations between men and women. What would have been called the battle of the sexes just a few decades ago has morphed into something even more hostile, said Alex, a man who has, rather wisely, considering the divisive times we now live in, opted to keep his real surname private. There are large ideological communities of men and women now that have a lot of hostility toward one another, he noted. MGTOW seems to be one of those. Hes right. The hostility goes both ways. Men dont have a monopoly on hateful rhetoric. Large numbers of female-led, online groups now populate the web, and many members direct their hatred toward men. What were witnessing is a fundamental breakdown in communication and trust, with members of both sexes lobbing verbal grenades at each other. Internecine warfare. Nothing more, and nothing less. Alex is particularly concerned by the idea of younger men getting into MGTOW, as early adult romantic relationship formation is a crucial part of development. If a man in his 20s devotes his time to MGTOW-like groups instead of attempting to navigate the tricky world of romance, then he may develop some ideological dislike of women, that may make dating even harder for them in the long run. For any men reading this and planning to go their own way, take a second to ask yourself the following: Where will I go, exactly? Do I really want to go there? Men and women complement each other. We arent enemies. Were allies. Or at least we used to be. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Anticipated Ukrainian Counter-Offensive Plans Reportedly Leaked Online A Ukrainian serviceman checks a machine gun of a tank after loading an ammunition belt during a military training exercise near a frontline in Zaporizhzhia Region, Ukraine, on March 29, 2023. (Stringer/Reuters) Several classified documents that detail U.S. and NATO plans to assist an anticipated springtime Ukrainian counter-offensive appear to have been leaked online, according to mainstream media reports. On April 6, The New York Times reported that the documentswhich contain sensitive military informationhad been posted on Twitter and Telegram and were being shared on pro-Russia social media accounts. We are aware of the reports of social media posts, and the Department [of Defense] is reviewing the matter, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said on April 7. The leaked information includes arms-delivery schedules, troop sizes, and other logistical data, according to the NY Times article, which cites a senior Biden administration official. While it doesnt contain detailed battle plans, the data represent a significant breach of American intelligence in the effort to aid Ukraine, the newspaper asserts. Ukrainian servicemen atop a tank near the bombed-out eastern city of Bakhmut, in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine, on April 2, 2023. (Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters) The article also cites military analysts who claim the documents appear to have been modified in certain parts from their original format, raising concerns about their authenticity. The Pentagon hasnt explicitly confirmed the legitimacy of the documents in question. The reports appear to have prompted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to convene a meeting with top military advisers to discuss means of preventing leaks of classified information. According to an April 7 statement released by his office, meeting participants focused on measures to prevent the leakage of information regarding the plans of the defense forces of Ukraine. Counter-Offensive Expected Recent weeks and months have seen Russian forces achieve slow but decisive gains, especially in the eastern Donetsk region. But they have also seen growing indications that a Ukrainian counter-offensivebolstered by Western arms and supportis imminent. On April 5, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking at NATO headquarters in Brussels, called on allies to remain focused intensely on the weeks and months ahead as Ukraine prepares for a counter-offensive, again, to try to retake more of its territory. For months, Ukrainian forces have been pinned down in Donetsks city of Bakhmut, where they face superior Russian troop numbers and firepower. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 16, 2023. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP Photo) Military experts say the fall of Bakhmut, a key transport hub, would likely pave the way for a Russian advance to the north and northwest. On April 7, the UK Defense Ministry confirmed Ukraines tenuous position in the beleaguered city. Russia has made further gains and has now highly likely advanced into the town center and has seized the west bank of the Bakhmutka River, the ministry said in its daily briefing. Some indications suggest that the anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive will attempt to relieve pressure on Bakhmut. Others suggest it will focus on the southern Zaporizhzhia region in hopes of splitting the Russian land corridor to Crimea. In any event, the counter-offensiveif it happenswill depend heavily on Western support and badly needed Western arms and equipment. Last month, Kyiv received several German-made combat tanks from both Germany and Portugal, with more reportedly on the way. Last week, the Pentagon unveiled a new $2.6-billion military assistance package for Kyiv, bringing total U.S. contributions to Ukraines war effort to $35.2 billion. Both Sides Fear Disinformation Some officials in Kyiv say the leaked documents are part of a Russian disinformation campaign meant to sow confusion before the upcoming counter-offensive. These are standard elements of operational games by Russian intelligence, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelenskyy, said on April 7. He went on to assert that the leaked information contained large amounts of fictitious information. Russia is looking for any way to seize back the initiative and try to influence the scenarios for Ukraines counter-offensive plans, Podolyak said. Notably, some pro-Russian sources have also raised the possibility that the leaks were part of a disinformation campaignbut by Kyiv and its allies. I think its a classical disinformation operation being conducted to mislead us; to make us think that they [Ukrainian forces] arent ready yet, Vladimir Rogov, a pro-Moscow official in the Russia-held Zaporizhzhia region, said. He went on to confirm a significant buildup in recent weeks of Ukrainian forces near Zaporizhzhia. Equipment continues to arrive, equipment is ready, and enough [Ukrainian] militants have been trained, Rogov told Russias TASS news agency on April 7. The leaked information, he added, could be intended to make us think an offensive may only be possible after some timeand not within the next few days. Reuters contributed to this report. Appeals Court Upholds DOJs Novel Use of Obstruction Law Against Jan. 6 Defendants Fractured ruling could be problematic for prosecutors A divided three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on April 7 conditionally upheld the U.S. Department of Justices novel use of a felony evidence-tampering statute against Jan. 6 criminal-case defendants. The appeals judges issued a fractured ruling on the crime of obstruction that upholds the law as used in Jan. 6 cases only if a certain condition is met. The ruling could be appealed en banc to the full Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Some Jan. 6 defense attorneys said their reading of the divided ruling means obstruction charges against their clients should be dismissed. Judge Florence Pan, appointed by President Joe Biden, and Judge Justin R. Walker, appointed by President Donald Trump, voted to reverse the 2022 rulings by U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols dismissing obstruction charges against three Jan. 6 defendants. The court decision is made up of three opinions: a lead opinion written by Pan, a conditional partial concurrence by Walker, and a dissent by Judge Gregory Katsas. Pan adopted the broad reading of the obstruction statute advanced by the DOJ. Walker said he concurred, but only if the definition of the term corruptly in the law is narrowly defined, requiring proof that defendants knew they would obtain an unlawful benefit by the alleged obstruction. Judge Katsas warned that the interpretation advanced in Pans lead opinion would, for example, expose protesters standing outside a judges home to 20 years in federal prison. Brushing aside the statutes history stemming from evidence tampering in the Enron scandal, Pans opinion said the law applies to any effort to obstruct an official proceeding, including the ceremonial tallying of Electoral College votes by the U.S. Congress. Frequently Used Charge The obstruction statute is the most frequently used felony charge against Jan. 6 defendants. The DOJ has charged hundreds of people with obstruction of Congress because the protests and rioting that took place on Jan. 6 delayed the counting of Electoral College votes by some six hours. Defense attorneys have watched this case with intense interest. Many argue that the federal government is misusing an evidence-tampering law to punish constitutionally protected political speech and protests. In rulings on March 7, March 17, and June 7, 2022, Judge Nichols threw out the obstruction charges against Joseph W. Fischer of Jonestown, Pennsylvania; Garret A. Miller of Richardson, Texas; and Edward Jake Lang of Newburgh, N.Y. The DOJ appealed the decisions. Protesters gather on the west front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Brent Stirton/Getty Images) Nichols ruled that federal law under 18 U.S.C. 1512(c) does not apply to the conduct of the defendants because the statute was intended by Congress to have a narrow, limited focus related to the destruction of documents. Its part of a section of the U.S. Code titled Tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant. Appeals Judges Pan and Walker disagreed, adopting a sweeping interpretation that the law includes evidence tampering and all acts that obstruct, influence, or impede any official proceeding or attempt to do so. The subsection of 18 U.S.C. used widely by prosecutors against Jan. 6 defendants was approved by Congress as part of the SarbanesOxley Act of 2002, to close a loophole in the law that was discovered in the wake of the Enron corporate fraud and accounting scandal. In her lead opinion, Pan rapped as dubious Judge Nicholss cramped, document-focused interpretation of the law. We must accept, and think it far more likely, that Congress said what it meant and meant what it said: Section 1512(c)(2) prohibits all acts that obstruct, influence, or impede any official proceeding or attempt to do so, beyond the document or object-related acts that are already covered by 1512(c)(1), Pan wrote. Tear gas is fired into the densely packed crowds on the west side of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images) She said the law does have guardrails because the obstruction must be accompanied by corrupt intent; and the behavior must target an official proceeding. In a forceful dissent, Judge Katsas wrote that using the obstruction statute as envisioned by his two colleagues would supercharge a range of minor advocacy, lobbying, and protest offenses into 20-year felonies. Section 1512(c)(2) has been on the books for two decades and charged in thousands of casesyet until the prosecutions arising from the January 6 riot, it was uniformly treated as an evidence-impairment crime, Katsas wrote. This settled understanding is a powerful indication against the governments novel position. Katsas warned that accepting the DOJs position could bring the harsh penalties of obstruction-of-justice law to new realms of advocacy, protest, and lobbying. It seems to me a stretch to say that the governments interpretation is not only the best but so much better than the others that we can declare it unambiguously correct and call it a day without completing a full-blown statutory analysis, Katsas said. The conduct alleged here violates many criminal statutes, but section 1512(c) is not among them, Katsas wrote. Update: This story has been updated with more detail on the splintered nature of the court ruling. Babies and children under the age of 5 are to be offered the COVID-19 vaccine for the first time, UK health authorities have announced. On Thursday, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advised that clinically vulnerable children aged 6 months to 4 years old should be offered the jab. The committee does not currently advise vaccination of children aged 6 months to 4 years if they are not in a vulnerable group. It means 57,000 children will be offered two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, with an interval of 8 to 12 weeks between the first and second doses. The JCVI added that further advice regarding a potential third 3-microgram dose of the vaccine will be issued in due course. A study that used data from the first 12 months of the pandemic claimed that the mortality rate for under-18s was two per million. This was based on data from those who died within 100 days of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test in England. NHS England confirmed it will begin offering vaccinations to those eligible in England from mid-June. Health Secretary Steve Barclay arrives in Downing Street ahead of a Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street in London on Dec. 13, 2022. (Leon Neal/Getty Images) Very Low Risk of Harm Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said that children are at very low risk of harm from COVID. However, there are a very small number of children with health conditions which make them particularly vulnerable, and for those children, we want to give parents the choice as to whether they wish to vaccinate their at-risk child or not, he added. I have accepted advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation on vaccinating children aged from 6 months to 4 years who are in a clinical risk group. It is a parental decision, and this advice is simply to enable parents of children with medical conditions to choose if they wish to have the protection, said Barclay. The JCVI said that the odds of admission to paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) with severe COVID-19 is over seven-fold greater for infants and young children with underlying medical conditions compared to those without such conditions. It added that admission rates to hospital and to PICUs for confirmed COVID-19 cases have remained low among children aged 4 years and under. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) previously calculated that in the Omicron era during winter 20212022, around 65,000 children aged 1 to 4 years, regardless of underlying medical conditions, would need to be vaccinated with two doses to prevent one person requiring admission to hospital and requiring oxygen, assisted ventilation, or admission to PICU. The Virus Is Not Going Away Professor Wei Shen Lim, chairman of the JCVIs COVID-19 committee, said: For the vast majority of infants and children, COVID-19 causes only mild symptoms, or sometimes no symptoms. However, for a small group of children with preexisting health conditions it can lead to more serious illness and, for them, vaccination is the best way to increase their protection. Dr. Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at the UKHSA, said: COVID-19 is still in circulation, with thousands of new cases reported every week. The extra protection offered by the vaccine could be important for young children in clinical risk groups, who are at greater risk of severe illness. The virus is not going away so I would encourage all parents to bring their child forward if they are eligible. Parents should wait to be contacted by their local health professionals. COVID-19 Vaccination Last September, authorities wound down COVID-19 jabs for children aged 511, except for those in clinical risk groups, as they said the offer was only applicable to children who recently turned 5 years old. At the time, in line with previous plans, the UKHSA confirmed that children who had not turned 5 by the end of August were not offered a routine COVID-19 vaccination. Since February, healthy people under 50 in England can no longer get seasonal booster shots, with the government citing the high levels of population immunity from vaccination, natural immunity, or both. PA Media and Lily Zhou contributed to this report. A baby boy who was set on fire in a freak accident involving a candle has spent 45 days in the hospital, including a month in an induced coma, recovering from severe burns on his neck, chest, and arms. But the bubbly boy has been wanting to return to normal from the get-go, giving his parents an extra boost of hope for the future. Mom of four Rochenda Golightly from Cobb County, Georgia, was attending a birthday party with her oldest son, 11-year-old Joshua, on Nov. 12, 2022, when her then-17-month-old son, Amahd, fondly known as Bubby, had an accident. Bubby clambered onto a kitchen chair, near a candle. He had a topical ointment on his skin for coughs and colds and when he approached the flame, he caught on fire. His dad went to the bathroom for a split second, and by the time he finished his restroom break, Bubby was already on fire, Rochenda told The Epoch Times. His dad ended up putting out the fire and rushing him to our local emergency room. (Courtesy of Rochenda Golightly) Rochenda, who is also mom to Alia, Joshua, and Joseph, got a call from Paulding County Hospital emergency room from her teenage daughter. That was alarming first off, because she never calls, she always texts, Rochenda said. She told me that Bubby caught fire. I didnt think to the extent of third- and second-degree burns. Bubby had sustained third-degree burns on his neck and left arm, and second-degree burns on his chest and right arm, covering 40 percent of his body in total. The medical staff wrapped the little boy up in a wet cloth and airlifted him to a specialized burns unit in Augusta, Georgia. (Courtesy of Rochenda Golightly) When Rochenda saw her toddler son, he was screaming at the top of his lungs in pain. From [the chin] down, he was completely raw, Rochenda said. His arms were completely raw, and not only were they raw, they were trying to get an IV in his arm on top of the burn. He was in shock and he was just screaming. Doctors worked on maintaining blood flow in Bubbys arms to avoid amputation. Luckily, the baby did not sustain damage to his internal organs but his throat was swollen. He was placed in an induced coma and intubated to help him breathe. Rochenda, a small business owner, tried to stay positive and maintain normalcy for the sake of her oldest three children. Her partner, Tony Black, started a GoFundMe page to help with mounting medical bills. (Courtesy of Rochenda Golightly) During this time, Rochenda found comfort in prayer and discovered a prayer partner in her familys trusted babysitter, who came out to Augusta to sit by their sides. But she was surprised to see that Bubby seemed to generate his own positivity. Even when Bubby was in a medically induced coma he was ready to play. They kept having to give him drugs to keep him down because he kept moving his hands and his feet and his arms, Rochenda told The Epoch Times. They wanted to keep him in the coma so that everything could heal properly but it was hard. They put heavy boots on him so he couldnt move and he still would move! When he woke up, he wasnt a sick, hurt, injured baby. He was vibrant, she added. According to Rochenda, Bubby really loves his brother Joseph who he calls Joe Joe. So when he first woke up, one of the first things he said was Joe Joe, even though he was in immense pain. Hes a resilient, strong, brave little boy, Rochenda said. (Courtesy of Rochenda Golightly) As Bubbys situation improved, he went in for his first skin graft surgery, with medics borrowing skin from his back, thighs, and scalp and shaving off much of his thick hair in the process. Now 21 months old, Bubby has been having corrective surgeries that will allow him to be fully mobile. Additionally, his arm which was previously bound in place has been released. He will have physical and occupational therapy and approximately 36 surgeries in total, as part of a treatment plan which will see him through to high school. Rochendas other two children, who experienced depression after Bubbys accident, are in counseling to help them recover from the shock of the ordeal. Even though the situation is tough and it was hard to endure. I had a feeling in my heart that everything was going to be just fine, Rochenda said. I still have my moments because its really hard. Im caring for a child with burns. I still pray and that keeps us strong. (Courtesy of Rochenda Golightly) (Courtesy of Rochenda Golightly) At the time of writing, Bubbys at home and has been running, playing, and laughing. He loves to dance, any kind of beat. Of course, he has his bad days because hell be itching; the healing makes him have an extreme urge to itch so hell be a little fussy, Rochenda said, I feel good that I stayed positive and I didnt break down, didnt lose the things that I fight for every day we just kept looking forward and not backwards. Rochenda sometimes worries about the opinions of others when out in public with Bubby and the effect their reactions might have on his self-confidence. Since the accident, she has had people on social media comment on her neglect as a mother for the cause of the accident. However, she doesnt let that bother her and knows in her heart that shes a fantastic mother. Meanwhile, she has also been encouraged by messages on social media from other child burn victims who have reached adulthood without significant problems. She knows Bubby will still conquer and will grow to accept his scars. (Courtesy of Rochenda Golightly) Sharing her story, Rochenda has a message for others. She said: If youre a parent theres no book, we dont have any kind of instruction manual. You just have to have that positive energy and accidents do happen. I dont wish this accident upon anyone but dont beat yourself up. Just be there for your child. (Courtesy of Rochenda Golightly) Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter Balboa Island Ferry May Close Due to Californias Zero-Emission Regulation A California regulation requiring the historic Balboa Island Ferry in Newport Beach to install electric engines might put them out of business. The California Air Resources Board, or CARB, is requiring the 104-year-old company to meet zero-emission standards and use electric engines by the end of 2025. Its probably not going to happen. Its probably impossible, Seymour Beek, owner of the Balboa Island Ferry, told The Epoch Times. Beek has been meeting with members of CARB, asking them to postpone the regulation, but such efforts have thus far been unsuccessful. At this rate, we [will] stop operating, which is a bad thing for the public and a bad thing for the city of Newport Beach. Its very popular, Beek said. Co-owner and Balboa Island resident, Seymour Beek, watches people ride the Balboa Island Ferry boats across Newport Beach harbor on Dec. 29, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Every year the ferry shuttles around 1.5 million people, up to 400,000 cars, and 500,000 bicyclists, according to the owner. A lot of people would miss it if it went away, Beek said. Many take the five-minute ferry, which runs between Balboa Island and the Balboa Fun Zone, to see the bay at a much cheaper cost than renting a boat. The ferry costs $1.50 for pedestrians, $1.75 for bicyclists, and $2.50 per car. But it isnt just a tourist attraction. Beek estimates half the ridership is Newport Beach residents, while the rest are visitors. Whether theyre going to the hairstylist or the beauty salon or the restaurant or wherever, a lot of people just take the ferry, he said. As such, the ferry may be cutting down on air pollution, he said, keeping people who otherwise would have needed to drive longer distances to cross the island. Beek said his boats currently burn up to 25 gallons of diesel fuel per day, or less than a gallon an hour per boat. Its like about taking one car off the highway to convert us to electric, he said. It doesnt appear to me that its a very cost-effective way to spend $3 million or $4 million [on electric engines]. For Beek, operating the business is not a major source of income, but a service to the community. The ferry employs around 40 people, Beek said, from boat captains to crews, all of whom would lose their job if the ferry closed. People enjoy riding the Balboa Island Ferry boats across the harbor in Newport Beach, Calif., on Dec. 29, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Beeks father started the operation in 1919 with a rowboat and outboard motor. It has since become a popular destination, especially in recent years. The ferry raked in $2 million in gross revenue last year, Beek said, a record for the company. But that still falls short of the estimated $4.5 million the company needs to convert its three vessels to meet the states zero-emissions requirement, he said. Plus, the installation of the engine and its batteries would require, for example, redesigning the boats ventilation and fire suppression systemsa very difficult technical problem that would cost millions of dollars to solve, he said. Beek said the company would need a government grant to fund the conversion, for which he has hired a consultant in order to secure one with CARB, but the effort has so far been unsuccessful. But even if the company has enough funding, it still wouldnt meet the 2025 deadline, ordering an electric motor can take up to 50 months, Beek said. He said at least a couple of years more might be enough time for the company to become compliant, but thus far there has been no leeway allowed by CARB officials. An oil pumpjack (L) operates as another (R) stands idle in the Inglewood Oil Field in Los Angeles on Jan. 28, 2022. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) A spokesperson for the California Air Resources Board did not respond to a request for comment. The ferry is among a dozen of its kindthat is, short-run ferries that travel less than three milesto be impacted by CARBs zero emission regulation. Others include the San Francisco-based Angel Island Ferry and boats that ferry people to Alcatraz. The regulations dont just apply to short-run ferries. Tugboats, sportfishing vessels, whale-watching boats, and dinner cruises must also upgrade their older diesel engines to meet stricter emission standards, with the latter two required to soon have at least 30 percent power from a zero-emission source. But sportfishing boats received an extension, after widespread pushback among operators, to install electric engines by 2035. But they still must meet stricter standards and install whats called a Tier 3 engineone step below electricby 2025. The requirement is part of the states efforts to reduce its carbon footprint through several means, such as banning the sale of gas-powered cars, diesel-powered trucks, gas stoves, and gas water heaters. The ideal of cleaning up the environment and making less air pollution is wonderful, Beek said. But one size does not fit all. And in our situation, its very expensive. Beijing Attempts to Reverse Chinas Population Decline by Softening Barbaric One-Child Policy Slogans A one-child policy billboard saying, 'Have less children, have a better life', greets residents on the main street of Shuangwang, in southern China's Guangxi region, in May 2017. (Goh Chai Hin/AFP via Getty Images) News Analysis Many local authorities in China have recently issued notices to revise the one-child policy slogans on billboards. The slogans, often gruesome and brutal, reflect the horror and inhumanity of the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) policy over the past few decades. On March 27, the Health Commission of Fengjie County in Chongqing Municipality issued a draft for soliciting comments on the implementation plan of the three-child policy. The main goal of the draft was to strive to solve the problem of women not wanting to, or afraid to, give birth, to remove individual childbearing conditions from household registration, school enrollment, employment, excellence selection, and promotion, and to deal with historical problems. The so-called historical problems include the still widespread propaganda slogans on family planning, such as the following examples: Have the over-birthing families ruined; It is better to have a river of blood than to have excess children; Induce it, abort it, absolutely dont give birth to it; Better to have ten more graves than one more newborn; The entire village will get in trouble for an unplanned birth. On March 28, the Duji District government of Huaibei City, Anhui Province, issued a notice to update slogans promoting family planning in Gaoyue neighborhood, saying that if the slogans are not revised, it will have a negative impact on the population and family planning work in the new era, as well as the image of the government. The neighborhood said it would comply with the order. On March 17, the health bureau of Xinhe County, Xingtai City, Hebei Province, said on its official WeChat account that the county had issued a notice requiring towns and villages to revise family planning slogans on billboards, especially those that do not comply with the CCPs three-child policy. A billboard encourages couples to have only one child, along a road leading to a village in the suburb of Beijing, on March 25, 2001. (Goh Chai Hin/AFP/Getty Images) Hebei Province was recently singled out for outdated family planning slogans by Health Times, a newspaper affiliated with CCP mouthpiece Peoples Daily, along with the provinces of Gansu, Hainan, Fujian, Yunnan, Shanxi, Sichuan, Hunan, and Hubei. CCPs Brainwashing Propaganda Is Ineffective According to the official population data, the birth rate hit a new low of 6.77 per 1,000 in 2022, compared with more than 10 per 1,000 in 2019. It was also the first time in more than 60 years that the CCPs official population data showed a significant decline. The reason the CCP cleaned up the family planning slogans and replaced them with slogans promoting a three-child policy is that Chinese people have generally lost interest in having more children, and this brainwashing propaganda wont have any effect, Zhuge Mingyang, a freelance writer, told The Epoch Times on March 29. On whether Chinese people would like to have a third child, the Chinese language edition of The Epoch Times interviewed some residents in mainland China on March 30. The birth rate in China is very low now, mainly because the financial pressure is too great. Even if you find a job, the work hours are long, and the income is low. For example, a college graduate can work as a cashier for more than 10 hours a day, earning only 3,500 yuan [about $525] a month, Zhang Miao (pseudonym) from Suzhou city told The Epoch Times. Nowadays, many older women dont get married, let alone have children, because life is too stressful, Wang Hao (pseudonym), a resident of Changchun city, told the publication. In my area, there is no high salary. People working in the [state] system are better off. Those who work in the kindergarten canteen opposite my home earn only 1,700-1,800 yuan [$255-270] a month. Now, if you start a business, you must lose money. [Yet] you cant find a job. Three years of COVID-19 and wolf warrior diplomacy have shifted the supply chain. Life is too stressful. If welfare had kept up, it wouldnt be like this. From Strength in Numbers to Population Control In 1957, economist Ma Yinchu published New Population Theory, which proposed that China needed to control its population. However, former CCP leader Mao Zedong believed that there is strength in numbers, and Mas publication was considered a great poisonous weed attacking the CCP. As a result, Chinas population soared in the 1960s. According to official data, from 1962 to 1972, the average annual birth rate was 26.69 million, with 300 million births in total. In the 1970s, the CCP shifted its attitude to population control, and from Sept. 25, 1980, it called on couples to have only one child. The one-child policy was written into Chinas constitution in December 1982. In the 1970s and 1980s, painting slogans on houses was one of the CCPs usual propaganda techniques. At the time, gruesome family planning slogans were seen throughout the country. In rural Jiangsu Province, for example, one slogan read: It is better to have a river of blood than to have excess children. Women had to undergo four primary operations: intrauterine device (IUD) insertion, tubal ligation, abortion, and induced labor. In October 2010, the government of Caojun town, Huarong County, Hunan Province, ordered all women to undergo surgeries, and local authorities were required to supervise operations in their jurisdictions. Authorities who failed to complete 60 percent of this task were removed from their posts. Human Rights Crisis Under One-Child Policy Many women and families have been subjected to inhumane persecution under the one-child policy. In Qianjiang city, Hubei Province, for example, at least 300 women were victims of botched hysterectomies. Most rural women were forced to get a hysterectomy around the age of 24, and the so-called operating table was merely a desk. In some cases, the pain was unbearable immediately after surgery, with swelling in the abdomen and back pain, and the condition deteriorated to the point where the patient became bedridden. Chinese human rights lawyer Chen Guangcheng with his wife and daughter outside their home in Dongshigu village on March 28, 2005. Chen spent over four years in prison for accusing family-planning officials in Shandong Province of forcing at least 7,000 women to be sterilized or undergo late-term abortions. (AFP/Getty Images) The CCPs family planning rules also prohibited couples from having a second child if their firstborn was a boy. However, if the first child is a girl, the couple can have a second child after six to eight years, but only with the authorities approval. This has led to a humanitarian crisis in which unwanted baby girls were aborted, given up for adoption, abandoned, and murdered. In an interview with the media on Nov. 11, 2013, Mao Qunan, the former spokesman and head of the publicity department of the CCPs Health and Family Planning Commission, said that more than four decades of family planning in China had prevented over 400 million births. Those 400 million people were all killed by the CCP, Li Yanming, a political commentator, told The Epoch Times on March 30. After the CCP established the government from Mao Zedongs belief that there is strength in numbers, encouraging Chinese people to have more children in preparation for wars, to implementing the national policy of family planning, and then to encouraging families to have more children now, behind the capriciousness is the arbitrary enslavement of the people in order to preserve its dictatorship, creating not only a severe demographic crisis, but also a deep social and family crises, Li said. Biden Administration Proud of Handling of Afghanistan Withdrawal Amid Criticism: White House National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby speaks during the daily briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, on March 22, 2023. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) The Biden administration has a lot to be proud of in how it handled the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the White House said on April 6. The remarks by National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby came as the administration released a 12-page summary of classified reports that mostly blamed the chaotic U.S. pullout from Afghanistan on his predecessor, Donald Trump, for failing to plan for the withdrawal he had agreed on with the Taliban. Kirby was asked if the administration had any regrets upon reviewing how it handled the withdrawal, to which the spokesperson replied that President Joe Biden was very proud of how the military, foreign service, and intelligence community conducted the operation. Later when pressed again on if the administration was proud of how it conducted the mission, given chaotic scenes at Kabuls international airport showing Afghans desperate to flee Taliban rule with some handing babies to U.S. troops or breaking in and hanging onto departing aircraft, Kirby confirmed that the president is happy with how the military acted. Proud of the fact that we got more than 124,000 people safely out of Afghanistan. You bet. Proud of the fact that American troops were able to seize control of a defunct airport and get it operational in 48 hours. You bet. Proud of the fact that we now have about 100,000 Afghans, our former allies and partners living in this country and working towards citizenship. You bet, Kirby said. Does that mean that everything went perfect in that evacuation? Of course not. He continued: Nobodys saying that everything was perfect. But there was a lot that went right. And a lot of Afghans are now living better lives in this country and other countries around the world because of the sacrifices and the work of so many American government officials. So yeah, theres a lot to be proud of. The administrations review acknowledged that the evacuation of Americans and allies from Afghanistan should have begun sooner, but attributes the delays to the Afghan government and military and to assessments by the U.S. military and intelligence community. The administration stated that the State Department and Pentagon sent evaluations with additional information to Congress in confidence on April 6, and that those documents were highly classified and would not be made public. There are presently two Congressional investigations into the withdrawal. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who requested documents from Blinken in January, is leading one of them. McCauls committee signed a subpoena on March 28 for Secretary of State Antony Blinken to obtain a July 2021 Dissent Channel cable that is believed to have warned the administration of a lack of proper preparation Bidens decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan, according to the Foreign Affairs Committees March 27 press release. We have made multiple good faith attempts to find common ground so we could see this critical piece of information. Unfortunately, Secretary Blinken has refused to provide the Dissent Cable and his response to the cable, forcing me to issue my first subpoena as chairman of this committee, the statement read. The committee asserts that this cable and Blinkens response are crucial documents as they reveal what information State Department employees who were on the ground provided to Blinken about a month before the evacuation and the secretarys response. Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. The Azerbaijani Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov and other leaders of the Defense Ministry have visited the Commando Mountain Training Center under the instruction of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports citing the ministry. According to the ministry, Hasanov inspected the progress of the Commando Initial Courses taken in the center by the 4th-year cadets of the Military Institute named after Heydar Aliyev. It was reported that during field training held in a military camp in the territory of settlements, the military personnel participating in the courses are practicing modern methods of combat, mountain and other activities in conditions corresponding to real combat. In the conducted classes, the main attention is paid on improving the individual skills of military personnel, improving their combat and management skills. After watching the training classes, Hasanov met with the personnel and inquired about their needs. The minister noted that continuous reforms in the Azerbaijan Army instructed by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief involve the field of military education as well. Besides, the minister emphasized that the Turkish model is applied in the training of professional officers, and commando training is mandatory for the implementation of this process. In order to improve the knowledge and skills of military personnel, and further increase the combat capability of units, modern combat methods are being practiced during the training, and military personnel master the rules for the effective application of modern weapons and military equipment, which are in the armament of the Azerbaijan Army. Hasanov stressed that the Azerbaijan Army demonstrated its power to the whole world during the April battles (2016), the Gunnut operation (2018), the 2020 Second Karabakh War, and subsequent operations. He noted that the work done to further strengthen and develop the Azerbaijan Army is underway. The minister emphasized that today, along with all military personnel, future officers studying at the Military Institute must decently fulfill their duties. After watching the training classes, the minister attended the newly commissioned medical point in the center. He was informed that the necessary conditions have been created for ensuring the health of military personnel, providing them with first medical aid and evacuating them to the hospital in case of need, there is a reception and diagnostic cabinet, wards, as well as an administrative cabinet in the medical point. Then, Hasanov inspected the field camp of cadets who are in the field training, as well as the conditions created for the effective organization of the accommodation, nutrition and leisure of military personnel in the field camp. Besides, the minister gave his recommendations to the involved military personnel on studying the lessons more deeply and training as true military specialists in the future. In the end, he set specific tasks for the relevant officials increasing the combat readiness of the military personnel. Biden Weighs In on Expulsion of Tennessee Lawmakers, Pushes for Gun Control U.S. President Joe Biden holds a meeting with his science and technology advisors at the White House in Washington, on April 4, 2023. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) President Joe Biden on Thursday criticized the ousting of two lawmakers in Tennessee. Last week, three more students and three school officials were gunned down in yet another tragic mass shooting in Nashville. On Monday, 7,000 Tennesseans, many of them students, marched to their state capitol to call on their lawmakers to take action and keep them safe, Biden said in a statement issued by the White House. The statement came after two Tennessee House lawmakers were expelled Thursday from the states general assembly in a vote by the Republican supermajority-controlled state House. There was a third House lawmaker who was also facing expulsion but hung on to her seat by a margin of just one vote. The resolutions to expel them were introduced on April 3, after the three lawmakers led a group of people to protest at the statehouse to call for tighter gun control laws on March 30. It came days after a tragic shooting at Covenant School in Nashville on March 27 that killed three 9-year-old children and three staff members of the school. Republican state Reps. Andrew Farmer (R-Sevierville), Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood), and Bud Hulsey (R-Sullivan), who filed the three resolutions on April 3, said their Democrat colleagues Reps. Justin Jones (D-Nashville), Justin J. Pearson (D-Memphis), and Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) had broken decorum by leading the demonstration in the well of the House floor, onto which hundreds of protesters flooded. According to the Nashville Tennessean, the Democrats took to the podium on the House floor with a bullhorn in hand and cheered on the crowd of demonstrators, without being recognized to speak. This marked a breach of chamber rules. Protesters gather inside the Tennessee State Capitol to call for an end to gun violence and support stronger gun laws in Nashville, Tenn., on March 30, 2023. (Seth Herald/Getty Images) The resolution to expel the three Democrats said they knowingly and intentionally brought disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives through their individual and collective actions over a roughly one-hour period. Johnson, unlike Jones and Pearson, did not use a megaphone to lead chants during the protest, which may have been why she was spared from expulsion. Biden on Thursday said the Democrat lawmakers had merely engaged in peaceful protest and called their expulsion shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent. Rather than debating the merits of the issue, these Republican lawmakers have chosen to punish, silence, and expel duly-elected representatives of the people of Tennessee, said Biden in the statement. A strong majority of Americans want lawmakers to act on commonsense gun safety reforms that we know will save lives, Biden said. But instead, weve continued to see Republican officials across America double down on dangerous bills that make our schools, places of worship, and communities less safe. Our kids continue to pay the price. Congress must ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines, require safe storage of firearms, eliminate gun manufacturers immunity from liability, and require background checks for all gun sales, and state officials must do the same. In a Twitter post on April 3, Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) said the actions of the three Democrats are and will always be unacceptable, and they break several rules of decorum and procedure on the House floor. Their actions and beliefs that they could be arrested on the House floor were an effort, unfortunately, to make themselves the victims, Sexton said. In effect, those actions took away the voices of the protestors, the focus on the six victims who lost their lives, and the families who lost their loved ones. The Republican added that the House has always welcomed peaceful protestors to the capitol to have their voices heard on any issue but that it cannot allow the actions of the three members to distract us from protecting our children. In a statement on Monday after the vote, the House Democratic Caucus said it stands firmly united with the three lawmakers, adding that it has unanimously, formally voted to oppose the baseless resolutions for expulsion & will zealously oppose them should they come up for a vote on the House floor. The Epoch Times has reached out to Sexton and the three lawmakers for further comment. Chase Smith contributed to this report. While the media in America has been laser-focused on the arrest and indictment of former President Donald Trump, the rest of the world hasnt stopped spinning. Instead, many of the United States geopolitical rivals are taking this opportunity, while America is distracted, to make their moves. For instance, the BRICS nations (an organization, similar to the Group of 7, for the leading and emerging economies comprised of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) are working to create a brand new currency of their own that will be pegged to physical assets, such as gold. Together, these five nations represent 26 percent of the worlds land surface area, 41 percent of the global population, and approximately 31.5 percent of the global GDP. And these BRICS nations are currently making large moves to supplant the U.S. dollar as the worlds global reserve currencymeaning that this group of nations, representing about 40 percent of the worlds people (and a growing portion of the worlds GDP) are actively working on developing a new currency in order to bypass the U.S. dollar. Episode Resources: My Patriot Supply: https://ept.ms/3E69hhe BRICS: https://ept.ms/3Kef3lX https://ept.ms/3MoONrQ https://ept.ms/3KEXLzA https://ept.ms/3GkdwJV De-Dollarization: https://ept.ms/3ZMS5b5 https://ept.ms/3ZQpxxo https://ept.ms/3UiuZbo https://ept.ms/3zGxWc8 https://ept.ms/3UnTBzC https://ept.ms/3zDUoml Gold vs. Fiat Money: https://ept.ms/437he3n California Public School Data Points to a Drop in Enrollments Due to Pandemic Students walk to their classrooms at a public middle school in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 10, 2021. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images) California Public Schools are still recovering from the pandemic as schools across the state experience a decline in student enrollment since returning to in-person classes. The California Department of Education (CDE) released data on Tuesday that pin-points student enrollment trends throughout county school districts. According to the CDE, the data was gathered from more than 900 school districts, 58 county offices of education, and about 1,300 charter schools. For the 202223 academic year, preliminary enrollment figures show the statewide total at 5,852,544 students, down 39,696 (or 0.67 percent) from the previous year. In comparison, the academic year 202122 showed a statewide decline of 1.84 percent, representing more than 110,000 students, the CDE report said. California was the first state to close all in-person classes at the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Many students were immediately learning from home over Zoom school with local administrators struggling to provide online classes in the best ways possible as the lockdown affected students, faculty, and staff. Many parents had to stay home from work to help their children with their class assignments, along with many parents who lost their jobs due to the pandemic. This put extra strain on students success rate from virtual learning. A high school teacher holds a class remotely in Los Angeles on Sept. 8, 2020. (Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images) Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Superintendent Alberto Carvalho outlined a plan to help students recover from in-person education loss in his 202226 Strategic Plan. The plan includes summer school, more available tutoring, and hiring additional counselors and mental health workers to assist students with their educational and mental health needs. The Los Angeles Unified community has worked tirelessly over the past few years and endured incredible challenges throughout the pandemic, so this news is truly a bright spot after a period of darkness, Carvalho said in an October statement last year. The strategies we have implemented to address learning loss and achievement gaps are working. LAUSD had the highest enrollment rate in LA County with 538,295 students, where 74.2 percent of students enrolled came from the Hispanic/Latino population, the highest ethnic group enrolled in LAUSD public schools, according to a Los Angeles County report. LAUSD reported a 1,313,935 student enrollment rate compared to a 5,852,544 statewide enrollment rate, according to the Los Angeles County report. In a study done by PPIC research, it was found that families that were low-income, black, or Latino, or did not have any college graduates were more likely to have lower rates of consistent access to the computing devices and high-speed internet needed for distance learning, according to the site. Students and parents arrive masked for the first day of the school year at Grant Elementary School in Los Angeles on Aug. 16, 2021. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images) Improving Enrollment Rates Carvalho, in an article on Education Week published in December, outlined his approach to improving enrollment rates and student learning outcomes for 2023. School districts are still facing a barrage of challenges from pandemic disruptions, and many leaders find themselves in a paralyzing predicament where solutions are no longer straightforward or even accessible, Carvalho wrote. Carvalho acknowledged the difficulties brought on by the pandemic while adding that LAUSD has been focusing on attendance for the 2022-23 school year and outlined some of the measures taken. We implemented a student outreach and -attendance initiative called iAttend for which we have dedicated staff members calling and visiting families to ensure students are in classrooms learning, he said. Carvalho said the initiative successfully identified reasons for chronic absenteeism and implemented intervention efforts. Just within the past year, this has helped us decrease chronic absenteeism by 5 percent and increased excellent attendance by 3 percent over the previous year. He also listed fully leveraging pandemic funding, closing the digital divide, expanding tutoring opportunities, and boosting instructional time as areas his district is focusing on. Returning students walk the hallway at Hollywood High School in Los Angeles on April 27, 2021. (Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images) Despite the challenges that children faced during virtual learning, Gov. Gavin Newsom insists it was the best decision for children during the pandemic. California focused on keeping kids safe during the pandemic while making record investments to mitigate learning loss and transforming our education system, Newsom said in a statement. While Californias students experienced less learning loss than those in most other states during the pandemic, these results are not a celebration but a call to actionstudents are struggling academically and we need to keep getting them the resources they need to thrive, he said. Thats why weve made record investments in education, created a new pre-K grade, implemented universal free meals, expanded before and after school programs, bolstered mental health, and more. Canada Sends Military Aircraft to Japan to Monitor North Korea Sanctions A Canadian CP-140 Aurora on the tarmac at the Italian naval air station in Sigonella, Italy, in this undated photo. (Murray Brewster/The Canadian Press) A Canadian military aircraft was deployed to Japan on April 6 to assist in countering North Koreas illicit maritime activities that are banned under the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions. Canadas defense ministry said the aircraft will monitor for suspected maritime sanctions evasion activities, in particular ship-to-ship transfers of fuel and other commodities banned by the UNSC for six weeks. The CP-140 Aurora aircraft consists of 40 personnel. It is a long-range patrol aircraft with a range of 4,598 miles and is equipped with advanced sensors, according to the ministry. Canadia also deployed the Halifax-class frigate HMCS Montreal and the CH-148 cyclone helicopter to support the monitoring mission and the countrys ongoing naval forward presence operation in the Indo-Pacific. The Indo-Pacific region is crucial to global securityand through Canadas Indo-Pacific Strategy, we will continue to strengthen our partnerships with our friends in the region, Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand said in a statement. Together, we are promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific and protecting the international rules that keep us all safe, Anand said while referring to Japan as one of Canadas most important defense partners in the region. The United Nations has imposed a series of sanctions against North Korea since 2006 over the countrys nuclear and ballistic missile tests. In 2017, the UNSC restricted North Koreas import of refined petroleum products, setting a cap of 500,000 barrels per year. The council said that U.N. member states shall seize, inspect, and freeze (impound) any vessel in their ports and territorial waters if they have reasonable grounds to believe that the vessel was involved in illicit activity prohibited under the U.N. resolution. However, the United States said last year that North Korea has deliberately evaded the sanctions through elaborate black-market networks across the region and clandestine ship-to-ship transfers. North Korea Evades Sanctions With Chinas Help According to a 2020 UNSC report, North Korea began a substantial sand-export operation to China in May 2019, with over 100 illicit shipments of sand originating in North Korea. These shipments involved 1 million tons of sand and were worth at least $22 million. North Koreas coal export also increased in 2019 despite the international ban, with 3.7 million tons of coal exported between January and August 2019, estimated to be worth $370 million, the report said. The U.N. stated that at least 2.8 million tons of coal were transferred from North Korea to Chinas local barges via ship-to-ship transfers. Ships are moored next to the West Sea Barrage, a system of dams, lock chambers, and sluices that close off the Taedong River from the Yellow Sea, in Nampo, North Korea, on Feb. 7, 2019. (Carl Court/Getty Images) The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a London-based defense and security think tank, published a report in 2020 analyzing satellite photos, commercial vessel information, and ships automatic identification system (AIS), which emits a location signal that can be picked up by satellites and radio equipment to prevent collisions at sea. A large fleet of North Korean cargo ships continues to deliver coal to China in contravention of U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, in what appears to be a large-scale, coordinated effort to evade sanctions imposed on the country over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, the report concludes. According to the report, North Korean vessels would load coal and other resourceslikely sanctioned commoditiesbefore sailing to Chinese waters around the Zhoushan Islands, an archipelago part of coastal Chinas Zhejiang Province. Those shipments were likely meant for Chinese shipping terminals, the report said. Zhoushan is one of Chinas naval bases. It houses the East Sea Fleet, with destroyers, frigates, and corvettes stationed there. The islands are also home to facilities operated by the China Coast Guard, the China Maritime Safety Administration, and the Zhoushan Port Authority, according to the report. Despite such a heavy military presence, the think tank found that based on satellite images, North Korean ships werent stopped or detainedeven when the ships were transmitting fraudulent AIS signals to disguise themselves. Frank Fang contributed to this report. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is issuing a new subpoena related to Trumps indictment. Hes asking for an appearance from a former Manhattan prosecutor who pushed to indict Trump and who also wrote a book titled People vs. Donald Trump. What is the GOP looking for as they probe this unprecedented legal case against the former president? We turn back to the Afghanistan withdrawal that left 13 U.S. troops dead. The Biden administration is now releasing its review of the missionthe White House says it learned a few lessons while they try to lay the blame elsewhere. House representatives are on a three-day visit to Taiwan starting Thursday. The lawmakers say the Chinese Communist Party tried intimidating them before their flight took off. To discuss the changing dynamics in U.S., China, and Taiwan relations, we hear from Steven Yates, a global strategist and former deputy national security adviser. New competition for the Democratic nomination arises from one of the most powerful names in American politics. We recap how the 2024 presidential field is shaping up. Could three Democratic state representatives be expelled after protests last week? Tennessee lawmakers are voting on it. The White House condemns the vote, criticizing GOP lawmakers. CBDCs Grease the Slippery Slope to Financial Slavery and Political Tyranny: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The U.S. government will use the current financial crisis to promote a central bank digital currency (CBDC), warned Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., adding that such a move will only culminate in absolute financial surveillance and threaten basic personal liberties. CBDCs grease the slippery slope to financial slavery and political tyranny. While cash transactions are anonymous, a #CBDC will allow the government to surveil all our private financial affairs, wrote Kennedy in a tweet on April 5. The central bank will have the power to enforce dollar limits on our transactions, restricting where you can send money, where you can spend it, and when money expires. A CBDC tied to digital ID and social credit score will allow the government to freeze your assets or limit your spending to approved vendors if you fail to comply with arbitrary diktats [such as] vaccine mandates. Though Kennedy is a registered Democrat and has recently thrown his hat into the 2024 presidential race, he is known to oppose many policies of the Biden administration. Kennedy has been vocal about the harms related to COVID-19 vaccinations, and is against Big Pharma influencing regulatory agencies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH). FedNow and CBDC The Fed just announced it will introduce its FedNow central bank digital currency (CBDC) in July. The Fed will initially limit its CBDC to interbank transactions, but we should not be blind to the obvious danger that this is the first step in banning and seizing Bitcoin as the Treasury did with gold 90 years ago today in 1933, said Kennedy. On March 15, the Federal Reserve announced the FedNow Service, which is projected to start operating in July. FedNow offers a nationwide instant payment solution for participating financial institutions and their industry partners. Those using the service can send and receive instant payments at any time of day with full access to funds immediately. FedNow is not a CBDC; however, critics are calling the service a beginning step toward mainstream adoption of a CBDC by reducing the resistance through offering some of the same basic services of a digital dollar. FedNow appears to be a prototype CBDC, Jordan Schachtel, publisher of The Dossier on Substack, stated in a tweet. While instant, 24/7 payments seems good, theres implications to leaning into credit-based system. FedNow can quickly transform to a surveillance system. Foundational Threat to Americas Economic Systems As a CBDC gives the federal government complete visibility into every financial transaction by establishing a direct link between the government and each citizens financial activity, the project is a direct attack against basic privacies as protected by the U.S. Constitution, said a recent analysis by the CATO Institute. Any buffercurrently provided by institutions like banks and payment servicesbetween the average citizens financial activity and governmental intrusion would immediately cease to exist as all financial data would be only a keystroke away. Such unrestrained access leads to the inevitable establishment of governmental control over such activities, and it could be preemptive (prohibiting and limiting purchases), behavioral (spurring and curbing purchases), or punitive (freezing and seizing funds). Federal Reserve vice chair Lael Brainard had said that if CBDCs were widely adopted, it would disrupt the entire banking system because people would make direct central bank deposits bypassing retail institutions. Similar to crypto, a disadvantage of using CBDCs is that they are prone to cybersecurity breaches and malicious hacking. A centralized digital dollar makes a very attractive target for cyberattacks by giving threat actors a prominent platform on which to focus their efforts. Kennedy is the nephew of the assassinated president John F. Kennedy, and the son of Sen. Robert Kennedy (D-N.Y.), who also was assassinated, when running for the presidency in 1968. Watch as governments, which never let a good crisis go to waste, use COVID-19 and the banking crisis to usher in a new wave of CBDCs as a safe haven from germ-laden paper currencies or as protection against bank runs, he said. CDC Partners With Social and Behavior Change Initiative to Silence Vaccine Hesitancy A general view of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta. (Tami Chappell via Reuters) Dr. Mary Talley Bowden, a Stanford-educated ear, nose, and throat doctor, isnt afraid to voice her beliefs. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she repeatedly used her platform on Twitter and TikTok to question the vaccines, promote ivermectin as a treatment, and call out pharmacists for refusing to dispense it. But her efforts resulted in significant backlash. On Nov. 7, 2021, Dr. Danielle Jones, an OBGYN who posts under the handle @MamaDoctorJones on YouTube, TikTok, and Twitterand has millions of followersput out a video accusing Bowden of grifting, rejecting science, and profiting from those who questioned the vaccine. The video received thousands of comments, including from Team Halo members Dr. Zachary Rubin, a pediatrician, and Christina Kim, an oncology nurse practitioner. Team Halo is a social media influencer campaign formed as part of the United Nations Verified initiative and the Vaccine Confidence Project to increase vaccine uptake. That doc is problematic, Rubin wrote. Kim followed with, Wow. That doctor should have her license revoked. The logos of Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat on mobile devices in a combination of 20172022 photos. (AP Photo) On Nov. 12, 2021, five days after the video, Bowden received a text message from the Houston Chronicle that read: Hi Dr. Bowden, Im told youve been suspended from Houston Methodist pending further investigation because of your comments on social media. I plan to report that this afternoon but wanted to give you an opportunity to comment. Stunned, Bowden responded that the text was the first she had heard of the suspension. The suspension turned out to be the tip of the iceberg. Over the following months, Bowdens life was thrown into chaos as multiple social media influencers targeted her. However, the most dogged was a pharmacist named Savannah, who posts under the handle @rxOrcist. Savannah has over a million followers. She made a video about me because I have been calling out, online, pharmacists that were refusing to dispense ivermectin, Bowden told The Epoch Times. The majority of them happen to be Asian. So she, therefore, concluded that I was racist against Asians and called me a xenophobic, racist [expletive], among other things. Because she has so many followers, when she makes a video about you, you get an army of people coming after you. A lot of fake people [writing] reviews. Thats one of the biggest things. You cant get them removed. Ive tried to get them removed, and I can prove that theyre not my patients. Bowden added that shed been kicked off of TikTok, is on probation on YouTube, had complaints filed against her, and has even been threatened at her office, necessitating that she call security. In the video, Savannah showed that she reported Bowden to the Texas Medical Board. The board declined to investigate her specific complaints. Still, they are pursuing two other complaints: one filed by Houston Methodist claiming a violation of patient care and one filed by Texas Health Huguley Hospital for prescribing ivermectin. In the comments of Savannahs video, Tyler Kuhk, a nurse and previous Team Halo member, according to web archives, and who posts under @thatsassynp, wrote, How these loons still have licenses is beyond me. Why is an ENT even treating COVID? Doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and vaccination record cards for children under 5 in Seattle in a June 21, 2022, file image. (David Ryder/Getty Images) Savannah is part of a group called Shots Heard, which calls itself a rapid-response digital cavalry dedicated to protecting the online safety of health care providers and practices. Kuhk is also a member. Savannah joined Shots Heard on Aug. 6, 2020, and Kuhk joined on Feb. 13, 2021. According to its website, Shots Heard is an initiative under The Public Good Projects (PGP), a public health nonprofit specializing in large-scale media monitoring programs, social and behavior change interventions, and cross-sector initiatives. Another of PGPs initiatives is the Public Health Communications Collaborative (PHCC), which sits within the CDC Foundationa nonprofit arm of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) established by Congress. The goal of the communications collaborative, according to PGP, is to decrease misinformation and increase vaccine demand worldwide. And its using social media influencers to silence vaccine detractors. A Tangled Web PGP is headquartered in New York and was founded in 2013. Its current CEO is Dr. Joe Smyser, who holds a Ph.D. and masters in public health and completed his postdoctoral training at the CDC. The Tennessee Department of Health states about Smyser and PGP, Dr. Smyser has designed some of the United States most influential and impactful health campaigns to date in partnership with the CDC, FDA, Kaiser Permanente, Rockefeller, and Humana. According to its website, the CDC Foundation is the sole entity created by Congress to mobilize philanthropic and private-sector resources to support the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions critical health protection work. The Emergency Operations Center at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta on March 19, 2021. (Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images) Since its creation, the CDC Foundation has started more than 1,300 health protection programs and raised more than $2 billion in support for the CDC. One of those health protection programs is PGP partner PHCC, which, according to its website, was formed in August 2020 to provide unbiased communication about the COVID-19 pandemic. And one of the ways PHCC accomplishes that is by putting out Misinformation Alerts, which are powered by PGP. For example, on March 23, PHCC posted on its website that a well-known anti-vaccine physician claimed that COVID-19 vaccines caused an increase in miscarriages and stillbirths. It labeled it a high-risk alert and recommended directly addressing and debunking the misinformation. That debunking, according to PHCC, includes using a strong, robust social mobilization to amplify messages from the World Health Organization and UNICEF, encouraging social media organizations to flag misinformation, and promoting trusted pro-vaccine voices. Enter Shots Heard. Shots Heard and Team Halo On its homepage, Shots Heard states, If you stand up for vaccine science, well stand up for you. It includes a link for people to apply to sign up to defend vaccine advocates. It also provides a link to Alert the Shots Heard Cavalry, plus a link to a members-only Facebook group, which currently has 1,176 members. An insider in the group who requested to remain anonymous for fear of being kicked out supplied The Epoch Times with screenshots and messages of the Shots Heard Facebook group. In one alert, a Shots Heard member named Bernadine Huff posted, Its important for all of us to stop the insanity and to call out other healthcare workers that dont believe in science. She encouraged Shots Heard members to report a graduate nurse named Megan to the Ohio Nursing Board for providing information on how to get a medical exemption for the COVID-19 vaccine. The replies from numerous Shots Heard members simply state, reported. In another alert, Shots Heard group administrator Jeff Sykes posts, Hey Shots Heard, its been brought to our attention that Dr. Scott Jensen has been using his online platforms to spread misinformation about COVID-19. We need your help reporting him. A smartphone with Facebooks logo is seen with new rebrand logo Meta, in this illustration taken on Oct. 28, 2021. (Dado Ruvic via Reuters) Shots Heard member Marcia Fiamengo posted, Need help reporting this group, and linked to a group promoting ivermectin. Among the many who replied was New Yorks Suffolk County Department of Health account, which wrote, Reported. Fiamengo also posted on Dec. 29, 2021, Fantastic news, and attached a screenshot of Dr. Robert Malones suspended Twitter account. Shots Heard member Angie Anderson states in the comments, Ooooh, I just reported a few of his posts yesterday. So satisfying when you see real results. On March 24, 2022, Fiamengo encouraged Shots Heard members to report Bowden. Again, Suffolk County Health responded, this time with Done. On May 2, 2022, Fiamengo again made a celebratory post. This time for an American Frontline doctors being stripped of all state licenses after prescribing ivermectin. Wooooo!!!! Another one bites the dust! she wrote. Shots Heard doesnt limit itself to reporting single health care practitioners. On Sept. 12, 2021, Shots Heard member Liz Ditz reported a preprint by researchers Dr. Tracy Beth Hoeg, Allison Krug, Josh Stevenson, and Dr. John Mandrola that found that vaccine-induced myocarditis might be worse than COVID-19-induced myocarditis. Shots Heard members were outraged. The Twitter sign is seen at their headquarters in San Francisco, on Oct. 28, 2022. (Constanza hevia/AFP via Getty Images) Moreover, Shots Heard doesnt limit itself to simply reporting. When Bowden posted on Twitter, Are Americans supposed to take this [expletive]? We dont want your shot, and we especially dont want it for our kids, her post was flagged and flooded with Shots Heard member comments. Such tactics are called gang stalking, Nicole Sirotek, a registered nurse in Nevada and the founder of American Frontline Nurses, told The Epoch Times. [Shots Heard members] make videos about [the offending health care worker] saying they need to be delicensed, then [Shots Heard] followers go and hunt down the nurse and swarm the licensing board, she said. Sirotek has been the victim of many such attacks from Shots Heard and Team Halothe two groups share many of the same members. For example, in December 2022, Team Halo member Jess, who posts under the TikTok handle @jesss2019, doxed Sirotek on TikTok by revealing a previously court-sealed name change. Jess is a Featured Influencer for The Health Influencer Council, another PGP project that includes Shots Heard, and This Is Our Shota diverse coalition of health heroes who engage on social media to combat misinformation and build vaccine trust, according to its website. An Inside Look Tyler Hardy, a previous Team Halo member known as your favorite field epidemiologist until he ignited a social media firestorm for lying about some of his credentials, told The Epoch Times hes seen both sides of the social initiates. I joined Team Halo at the beginning of 2022, in January. I was invited by nurse Jess [@jesss2019], Hardy said. I wanted to educate, and that was why I thought Team Halo would be good because it would give me the exposure to do that. As I got behind the scenes of these big creators, right, these people like Dr. Cat and Dr. Jon, Jess, @thatsassynp, I learned that they were, pardon my French, just [expletive]. And they let that stardom of being part of Team Halo get to their head. During his time at Team Halo, Hardy said Team Halo members communicated over a private WhatsApp chat. According to Hardy, any time a Team Halo member disagreed with someone online, they would just put it in the chat, and then every single person in Team Halo would instantly jump on them, get them fired. The social media application logo for TikTok is displayed on the screen of an iPhone in front of a U.S. flag and Chinese flag background in Washington, D.C., on March 16, 2023. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images) They would have all of their followers reach out to the nursing boards to basically attack them in several different ways, he said. And so it was very much a situation where if you didnt support Team Halo, you were part of the problem. I mean, Nicoles [Sirotek] entire life was put on display for the world to see because of Jess and Tyler. They posted her car and where she lives. We knew all about Nicole, like in and out, intimate details of her because of what Jess did. Hardy also said that because Team Halo and TikTok had an agreement, TikTok didnt apply the same community standards to Team Halo members accounts. When you go with Team Halo, you get special privileges, he said. TikTok lets you basically bully and harass people and do things that other people cant do, and you dont get the community guidelines violations. You get whitelisted. All that changed for Hardy when Savannah accused him of faking his credentials. For that, Hardy explained that another TikTok user harassed him to prove he was a licensed social worker and addiction counselor. However, Hardy didnt have such credentials and flashed another persons certificates in a TikTok video. Hardy expounded that he never practiced under that persons license and did it to embarrass the other poster. I simply flashed it on the screen as sort of a diversionary tactic, and so I understand that was really stupid, he said. It was a combination of constantly being harassed and bombarded, the fact that I was going through a pretty terrible breakup at the same time in my personal life. And also, it was just the stardom of social media. I didnt think I could do anything wrong. Hardy is apologetic about his actions but added that Team Halo allowed it to blow up into something much bigger. Before he officially joined Team Halo, Hardy had to fill out an application that included two forms of identification and his college credentials. Plus, Team Halo contacted his employer. I mean, they knew that I was an epidemiologist for the state of Colorado. Like, that was not unclear to anybody, Hardy said. Hardy supplied The Epoch Times with his employment offer letter from the CDC Foundation. Its dated Oct. 27, 2021, and reads, Dear Tyler, I am so pleased to offer you the position of Epidemiologist for the National Foundation for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Inc. (CDC Foundation). Despite the background check, Hardy said he was still accused by other Team Halo members of faking being an epidemiologist. After he was removed as a member, everyone started releasing videos. Protesters hold up white pieces of paper against censorship as they march during a protest against Chinas strict zero-COVID measures in Beijing on Nov. 27, 2022. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) Later that afternoon, almost like clockwork, they all started to release videos admonishing me at the same time, Hardy said. They were all very scripted. You can tell the difference between when someone speaks in their scripted tone and their natural flow. And I knew exactly what it was because we had been scripted lots of times for Team Halo videos. But that wasnt the end of Hardys Team Halo experience. Anytime I apply for a job, people know and they call the job ahead of time to tell them that Im, you know, a monster and that I stole a black womans credentials. And Im just like, You know what? I deserve to be held accountable for the lies that I told, Im not diminishing that. But I dont have to be held accountable by anybody but God and the court system. Im working on doing better. Im going to therapy; Im doing the right thing. But I constantly hear it. Im constantly harassed by these people online. Hardy said about Shots Heard and Team Halo, If you are against [them], youre destroyed, and theres no retribution. Like, there is no retribution whatsoever. Vaccine Hesitancy In addition to its social media initiatives, PGP runs The Public Good News, a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to accurate health news. It states of its mission, The erosion of trust in science and shared facts is a threat to our democratic way of life. On Jan. 20, it posted an article titled, CDC data shows bivalent boosters are safe. To combat vaccine hesitancy worldwide, on April 29, 2021, UNICEF, the Yale Institute for Global Health, and PGP started the Vaccination Demand Observatory. People walk past a vaccine clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mississauga, Ont., on April 13, 2022. (Nathan Denette via The Canadian Press) Of its efforts to increase vaccinations, PGP stated, The coronavirus pandemic is the defining public health crisis of our time, and the U.S.and the worldis currently in the middle of the largest immunization campaign in history. Yet misinformation threatens these efforts, fueling an infodemic of myths, lies, and inaccurate information. In the campaigns below, we use our expertise in media monitoring to fight misinformation and decrease vaccine hesitancy. Some of PGPs recent partners include Google, The Rockefeller Foundation, UNICEF, and Yale Institute for Global Health. PGP, Shots Heard, and Team Halo didnt respond by press time to requests by The Epoch Times for comment. China Sanctions Reagan Library After McCarthys Meeting With Taiwan President House Speaker Kevin McCarthy speaks with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen at The Regan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., on April 5, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) China retaliated against Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthys meeting with Taiwans president this week by announcing sanctions against the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and other organizations, heightening tensions over the self-governed island that Beijing claims as part of its territory. Amid Chinese threats, McCarthy met with President Tsai Ing-wen on April 5 at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California. McCarthy welcomed Tsai as a great friend of America during a high-level meeting on U.S. soil, risking Chinas ire in a demonstration of U.S. support. During her visit, Tsai accepted a leadership award from the Hudson Institute and spoke about Taiwans regional security challenges. McCarthy joined an increasing number of foreign legislators who have met with Tsai to demonstrate their support for Taiwan in the face of Chinese intimidation. We will take resolute measures to punish the Taiwan independence separatist forces and their actions, and resolutely safeguard our countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Chinese Cabinets Taiwan Affairs Office said in a statement on April 6, according to an English translation. U.S.-Chinese relations have reached their lowest point in decades due to disagreements over the status of Taiwan, which separated from China in 1949 following a civil war, as well as security, technology, and Beijings treatment of Hong Kong and Muslim ethnic minorities. The Chinese regime claims the democratic island as its own territory and has vowed to seize Taiwan, by force if necessary. Chinas Response Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on April 7 that the Reagan Library and the Hudson Institute, a think tank in Washington, were sanctioned for providing a platform and facilitation to Taiwan separatist activities. It stated that Chinese institutions were prohibited from cooperating with or contacting them. Amid escalating tensions between Taiwans self-governing democracy and Chinas communist dictatorship, McCarthy urged Congress to expedite the delivery of military armaments to Taiwan. During the Taiwanese officials trip, McCarthy encouraged the United States and its allies to take a stand against Chinas aggression with a clear and consistent unified message that promotes peace and protects democracy. The House leader said it is crucial that congressional leaders speak with one voice so that Chinas leaders understand where we stand. Dont send a balloon over our air space. Dont use authoritarian bully tactics, McCarthy said. It wont go far. McCarthy was accompanied by a bipartisan delegation that uniformly emphasized Congress commitment to supporting Taiwan. Alluding to Chinese threats, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), chair of the House China Select Committee, said the bipartisan delegation intended to send a simple messageand that is, we are not afraid. We support our friends in Taiwan, he said. Were going to keep saying that whenever we have the opportunity, and were going to turn those words into action because Taiwan is a small, very bright candle burning at the edge of a vast authoritarian darkness. Hudson President and CEO John P. Walters issued a response to the Chinese Communist Partys sanctions against his organization saying, We were proud to honor Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen last week for her great courage and clear-eyed determination to resist tyranny. The Chinese Communist Party has a long history of attempting to silence voices, domestically and abroad, that oppose its international aggression and its oppression of the Chinese people. It has not worked before and it will not work now. We stand firmly with Taiwan and against the CCP and its ruthless, genocidal policies and we remain steadfast in promoting the security, freedom, and prosperity of America and its allies. David Trulio, president and CEO of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute responded to The Epoch Timess questions about the sanctions saying: Ronald Reagan believed passionately in freedom, democracy, and the exchange of ideas, not simply for Americans, but for all people around the globe. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute is proud of its decision to host a bipartisan meeting between Members of the United States House of Representatives, led by Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and Tsai Ing-wen, the President of Taiwan, and her delegation. We will not shy away from living up to President Reagans expectation that the library bearing his name be a dynamic intellectual forum. Brad Jones and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Chinese Nationals Flood US Southern Border Amid CCP Espionage Concerns Border Patrol agents detain a group of migrants near the border wall after they entered the United States from Ciudad Juarez on Feb. 3, 2022. (Herika Martinez/AFP via Getty Images) In the wake of China abandoning its strict zero COVID policy, U.S. border officials have recorded a surge of Chinese immigrants crossing the southern border this year. Between Oct. 1, 2022, and the end of February, U.S. Customs and Border Protection encountered nearly 3,000 Chinese nationals. This represents a more than 700 percent spike from the same period in 2022. A second analysis by Axios put that number at more than 4,000 for 2023. In February alone, there were 1,368 encounters with illegal Chinese immigrants. By contrast, U.S. border agents recorded just 55 encounters during the same month in 2022. Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) is shown around the offices of Chinese tech firm Huawei Technologies by its president, Ren Zhengfei, in London during his state visit on Oct. 21, 2015. (Matthew Lloyd/AFP via Getty Images) Analysts say the deepening income gap in China combined with the Chinese Communist Partys (CCPs) draconian COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns is driving the surge in migration. The ominous arrival of a new wave of Chinese illegal immigrants is occurring against the backdrop of an ongoing battle against CCP agent espionage on U.S. soil. Since 2019, U.S. universities have become ground zero for spy activities involving CCP actors. Reports of espionage and the unlawful exchange of information have been linked to at least five U.S. colleges across Texas, California, Kansas, Massachusetts, and Illinois in the past four years. In October 2022, U.S. prosecutors charged 13 Chinese nationals for attempting to unlawfully exert influence in the United States on behalf of the CCP. No country poses a greater, more severe or long-term threat to our national security and economic prosperity than China, FBI agent Joseph Bonavolonta told reporters after a Texas professor was accused of spying for the benefit of the CCP. Chinas communist governments goal, simply put, is to replace the United States as the world superpower. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) introduced legislation to stop Chinese spies in U.S. education with the Stop Higher Education Espionage and Theft Act as a counter-maneuver, saying that China is the single greatest geopolitical threat facing the United States, and the CCP is a profoundly malign influence. Arriving in the wake of U.S. university spy attacks was the notorious spy balloon event earlier this year. On Feb. 4, U.S. military officials shot down an alleged Chinese surveillance balloon over the coast of South Carolina. That was the same month that Chinese illegal immigrant encounters at the U.S. southern border soared by more than 900 percent. Better Options The United States grants asylum to Chinese nationals at a comparatively high rate. Government data show that 58 percent of Chinese illegal immigrants are given asylum upon request. By contrast, Chilean and Brazilian asylum seekers are granted at a rate of 15 percent and 11 percent, respectively. And while analysts say that higher numbers of illegal immigrants from China carry similar risks as other groups, some think that the CCP has better options for intelligence operations than asylum seekers. Illegal migration is not the optimal method for spies to get in because its risky [and] attracts more scrutiny, Irina Tsukerman, security analyst and founder of Scarab Rising, told The Epoch Times. Tsukerman said illegal immigrants arent ideal for collecting the type of intelligence the CCP wants because of a high probability of legal entanglement and apprehension by border officials. She said its Chinese nationals who arrive with legitimate U.S. visas who are the ones to watch. Legal migrants with ties to the home country, who are more likely to come back for visits, are better targets for intelligence recruitmentparticularly if they have positions in universities, research labs, or companies where they may acquire influence or information desired by Beijing, Tsukerman said. She said she believes that the wave of Chinese migrants heading for the U.S. southern border is problematic just the same. U.S. Border Patrol agent Carlos Rivera is reflected in the window of a vehicle as he speaks to another agent along the border wall in downtown El Paso, Texas, on June 3, 2022. (Paul Ratje/AFP via Getty Images) The Chinese migrants crossing the southern borders carry the same risk as any other category of people. In the case of Chinas gangs and organized crimes, the southern border has become a welcoming sign for fentanyl trafficking, Tsukerman said. Human trafficking often goes hand in hand with drug smuggling. But U.S. immigration attorney Min Hwan Ahn noted that its important to avoid generalizing asylum seekers. Given last years incidents involving espionage charges against 13 immigrants, it is reasonable for legislators to be concerned about potential security risks associated with illegal immigration from China, Ahn told The Epoch Times. As the founder of EZ485, a visa application and assistance service, Ahn has witnessed the U.S. immigration crisis up close. He said U.S. officials should strive to uphold national security but maintain a compassionate approach to solutions. Its crucial for authorities to strike a balance between ensuring national security and upholding humanitarian values when dealing with migrants seeking asylum or refuge, he said. This includes thorough background checks and vetting processes while also providing necessary support for those genuinely fleeing persecution or seeking better opportunities. Just the Beginning? Motives aside, it appears that the mass migration of Chinese nationals toward the U.S. border isnt slowing down anytime soon. In the first 60 days of 2023, Panama border officials reported 2,200 illegal Chinese immigrants entering the country and heading north from the treacherous Darien Gap, a broad swath of jungle defining Panamas border with Colombia, which is part of the migrant caravan route. Some have cited the CCPs pandemic response and the subsequent economic fallout as the impetus for the spike in Chinese nationals migrating overseas. The damage to the Chinese economy compared to four or five years ago is just so devastating for low-skilled workers, Liang Zai, a U.S. sociology professor who also studies Chinese migration, told Axios reporters. Others cant bear to live another day in the shadow of the CCPs COVID-19 lockdowns, which prompted Shanghai residents to scream for release in a haunting cacophony during a confinement episode in April 2022. But Tsukerman said its important to remember that not everyone fleeing is doing so due to political repression. Although she said Beijings politics have definitely triggered the new wave of migration, pandemic policies, as well as the increasingly inward-looking political and economic restructuring, have had a significant impact on Chinas economy. Ahn agreed, saying, Political tensions and crackdowns on dissent within China may have prompted some individuals to seek asylum or refuge in the United States. Kimberly and Chad Howard attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts on April 6, 2023Lily Yu/The Epoch Times JACKSONVILLE, Fla.Chad Howard, a designer, and his wife Kimberly Howard, an accountant, watched Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts on April 6. The color choices for the outfits were amazing, said Mr. Howard. Theyre graceful, so graceful, added Mrs. Howard. Ive never seen it before, and Im absolutely blown away. Based in New York, Shen Yun was founded in 2006 and is the worlds premier classical Chinese dance and music company. Now with eight equally sized companies touring the world simultaneously, Shen Yuns mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture. Mr. Howard shared that he was very interested in East Asian culture and that he was mesmerized by the performance. Everything was just phenomenal, he said. You could feel this sort of emotion come off just the way they dance and [the] expressions on their face. They really love what they do, and its just absolutely amazing. Mr. Howard added that he found plenty of inspiration in Shen Yun. There was so much So much circles and flowing and just colors, bright colors. I just want to go home and just design this collage of just melting paint. Its just very fluidic. So much inspiration, he said. I could talk to you all day about inspiration, but its all running through my head. Just the color theory in general that you see there, it was just on par with what they were doing it was a perfect match, a perfect match with the colors, with the choreography. Everything was just amazing. Shen Yuns program also includes story-based dances, some of which are set in modern-day China and depict the Chinese Communist Partys persecution of followers of Falun Dafa, a spiritual practice that teaches the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. They cant even practice their own religion which is just heartbreaking, said Mr. Howard. The emotion they had up there just had me in tears, said Mrs. Howard. Its beautiful in a sense that it has the emotion, but its so sad knowing that that goes on. Connecting With the Audience Mr. and Mrs. Howard both found Shen Yuns performance powerful in its ability to connect to the audience on an emotional level without using any words. When you can connect with the audience in such a powerful way without saying anythingits just motion, color, and theatricsthats beautiful, said Mr. Howard. When asked what message they got out of the performance, Mr. Howard answered, Love each other, respect each other, be kind, be thoughtful [and] togetherness. Compassion, [and to] feel free to believe what you believe, was Mrs. Howards reply. Theres a spiritual thing there that you can just feel. According to Shen Yuns website, traditional Chinese culture is deeply rooted in spiritual teachings from Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism, which Shen Yun aims to depict on stage. Mr. Howard said that he appreciated the way spirituality was presented. Finally, the couple said that they would be telling their friends to see Shen Yun. Im absolutely going to tell everybody. You have got to see the show, said Mrs. Howard. Its worth every penny. You have got to see it. Reporting by Lily Yu and Wandi Zhu. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. Footage of human remains found during excavations in Azerbaijans liberated Aghdam district has been released, Trend reports. Human bones have been found during excavations in the territory called Ergi duzu in the Aghdam district. The prosecutor's office of the district is investigating the fact. Previously, mass graves were discovered in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan. As a result of the relevant search activities, the graves were found in the villages of Dashalty (Shusha district), Edilli (Khojavand district), Sirkhavend (Aghdam district), as well as Farrukh village (Khojaly district), and other areas. Dire Warning Issued on Major Citys Economy: Doom Loop Fishing boats can be seen at Pier 45 in San Francisco on March 20, 2023. (Godofredo A. Vasquez/AP Photo) The San Francisco Chronicles editorial board issued a warning this week that office workers staying home to work rather than commuting to the city will spark a doom loop that will erode its tax base. Experts say post-pandemic woes stemming from office workers staying home instead of commuting into the city could send San Francisco into a doom loop that would gut its tax base, decimate fare-reliant regional transit systems like BART and trap it in an economic death spiral, the papers editorial board wrote, specifically referring to downtown San Francisco. Despite our housing crisis, it was years into the COVID pandemic before our leaders meaningfully questioned the logic of reserving some of the most prized real estate on Earth for fickle suburbanites and their cars, the editorial also said. And so we wasted generous federal COVID emergency funds trying to bludgeon, cajole, and pray for office workers to return downtown instead of planning for change. Were now staring down the consequences for that lack of vision. The Chronicles editorial board suggested making more investments into office-to-housing conversions. It also recommended that some office buildings be demolished to make way for new projects, but it said that such moves would require assistance from the California state government. In the opinion article, the citys paper of record claimed that the Newsom administration needs to do its long-neglected part to help San Francisco address the behavioral health crisis on its streets, referring to rampant drug usage and homelessness. In the meantime, San Francisco should address the roadblocks that have hampered it from spending the hundreds of millions of dollars earmarked for homelessness and prevented it from filling hundreds of empty housing units, it said. The board drew a comparison between San Franciscos post-COVID-19 reality and Manhattan after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. After the 2001 incident, New Yorkers feared returning to work in Lower Manhattan skyscrapers. The Chronicle said that subsidies allowed Manhattan to rebound following the attacks. San Francisco hasnt made such changes, it argued. The citys mayor, Democrat London Breed, responded to the Chronicles prognostications of doom-and-gloom. Its easy to throw out dire predictions about the death of downtown. But thats not our reality and its not going to happen, Breed said, although she did not provide evidence to the contrary. Meanwhile, in recent years, San Francisco has developed a reputation for being dirty and fraught with drug addicts as well as homeless encampments. Last year, the city recalled left-wing District Attorney Chesa Boudin, who was accused of taking a soft-on-crime approach, and replaced him with District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, considered by many to be a moderate. In the early hours of Tuesday morning, Cash App founder Bob Lee was stabbed to death in San Francisco, sending shockwaves through the tech world. A number of tech billionaires, including Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey and current owner Elon Musk, weighed in. Musk, whose social media company is based in San Francisco, said that crime is out of control. Lee was reportedly stabbed to death in an affluent part of the city, not in a more irreputable spot like the Tenderloin district, which has been notorious for its open-air drug markets and high violent crime rate. Very sorry to hear that. Many people I know have been severely assaulted. Violent crime in SF is horrific, Musk wrote on Twitter this week. Some residents said to local media outlets several weeks ago that surging crime and dirty streets remain a serious problem. Oscar Gonzalez, who operates a restaurant in the Mission District, told CBS Bay Area that it cant go on like this. Its just getting worse there has to be a positive change. The situation in The Mission is terrible, resident Guadalupe Hernandez chimed in. Its sad. I remember 21 years ago when I came to live here, and The Mission was so pretty, but now everything is ugly, sad, dirty. Fight for Private Health Care Back to Political Arena After Legal Defeat, Doctor Behind the Case Says Dr. Brian Day sits for a photograph at his office in Vancouver on Aug. 31, 2016. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck) After losing his legal battle to ensure the right to private health care in B.C., Dr. Brian Day says its now up to legislators to bring change. The Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) announced it would not hear the case brought forward by the Vancouver orthopedic surgeon and patient plaintiffs who had suffered due to long wait lists in the publicly funded system. Days legal challenge, first launched in 2009, argued that B.C.s Medicare Protection Act (MPA) was unconstitutional in barring doctors from billing the provincial government for services rendered under the public system while also earning income from private clinics. He also contested its ban prohibiting doctors from billing patients or their insurance companies for services already covered under the public system. Im actually ashamed of the Supreme Court of Canada for not wishing to hear this, Day told The Epoch Times. Its a very sad reflection on Canada. Its very important to reiterate that there is no country in the world, not Cuba, not China, not Russia, not Afghanistan, not the Taliban, that outlaws private health insurance. Only in Canada, outside of Quebec. Its bizarre. Day, co-founder of the Cambie Surgery Centre in Vancouver, said we did what we could do, and now that his legal fight is over, his cause needs a new champion in the political arena. I would just be there to support lobbying and political action, but Im not going to stand for political office or anything like that, he said. Its in the hands of the politicians again now. And I think that there are a bunch of Canadians who get sick and they realize this has to change. Challenge In 2020, 11 years after Day launched his constitutional challenge, the B.C. Supreme Court upheld the MPA following a four-year trial, a decision reaffirmed by the B.C. Court of Appeal in June 2022. A similar challenge years earlier by a Quebec doctor and patient to Canadas highest court produced the opposite outcome for privatized health care in that province. The SCC ruled 43 in 2005 that Quebecs ban on private health care went against the provinces Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms given the unreasonably long wait times to receive health care. Judges were split, however, over whether the issue also violates Canadas charter. Quebec is the only province with its own charter. Day says the SCCs refusal to hear his case means Quebecers are left with rights other Canadians dont have. He says many of his court opponents were treated at the Cambie Surgery Centre, just as judges, prisoners, workers compensation claimants, and people from outside B.C. can continue to do. Its bizarre. We live in a bizarre country, and to say the U.S. Supreme Court has become politicizedits nothing compared [to ours]. The Canadian Supreme Court is more politicized. In a written statement, B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix affirmed the SCC decision. Todays decision affirms our ongoing efforts to preserve and uphold our public health-care system, and confirms the legal arguments heard at the B.C. Supreme Court and the B.C. Court of Appeal, Dix said. It sends a strong message that our nations highest court supports the principles of universal health care where access to medical care is determined by a patients needs, not their ability to pay their way to the front of the line. Day said the status quo means many people have no way to do anything but wait in line, just as his five patient plaintiffs did. Those patients represented ordinary people suffering under the health system, a young teenage boy paralyzed for life because they waited an unacceptable time in the health system, cancer patients dying after not having access. Day, a past president of the Canadian Medical Association, says the situation in Canada is so unusual, he has been invited abroad to talk about it. I was invited to go to Budapest and speak to an international health conference. I gave the opening address. Afterwards, five delegates from Beijing, China, came up to me and said, No Chinese government would ever dare to outlaw private health care. There would be 100 million people in the streets protesting,' he said. Thats what were facing here. This is authoritarian government by definition. Canadians dont realize it. Following Veteran Patient Deaths and Injuries, VA Pauses Rollout of Electronic Record System Following a long series of problems in the delivery of veteran health care linked to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) electronic health record (EHR) systemincluding several serious injuries and four deathsthe VA announced on April 6 that it had extended the eight-month pause on rolling out the technology. In July 2022, the VA Office of the Inspector General issued a report (pdf) that documented 149 cases of patient harm that took place over a nine-month period at the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane, Washington, all resulting from installation and operation of the Oracle Cerner EHR. In October 2022, the VA put a hold on deploying the Oracle Cerner EHR and planned to resume installations in June. The VA has yet to publicly set a new date for the deployment to start up again. Only five of the VAs 171 medical facilities have the Oracle Cerner EHR installed. Congressional lawmakers have called to task the VA and Oracle Cerner for the problems. Two Republican lawmakers in the HouseCommittee on Veterans Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (R-Ill.) and Subcommittee Technology Modernization Chairman Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.)who have been highly critical of the VAs Oracle Cerner contract, lauded the VA decision. We applaud Secretary McDonoughs responsible decision not to resume implementing the disastrous Oracle Cerner electronic health record at more VA sites. It is abundantly clear to us that the Oracle Cerner EHR system is not ready for prime time, and VA is not ready to carry out this project. Local VA medical center leadership and staff have said so themselves for months, said Bost and Rosendale in a joint release. Bost and Rosendale added: This pause should last as long as it takes for VA and Oracle Cerner to get their houses in order. That may be years, but the delivery of good care and services to veterans depends on it. Continuing Problems In May 2018, the VA entered into a contract with Cernerabout four years before Oracle purchased the companyto provide an EHR for its entire health care network. The early price tag for the Cerner technology to be bought and installed was originally in the neighborhood of $10 billion for a 10-year project, but would rise to approximately $16 billion at the time Oracle acquired Cerner. The inaugural deployment of the Cerner software was at the Mann-Grandstaff Medical Center in Spokane, Washington, in 2020. From the start, the EHR system did not work correctly, compromising patient safety. It was in June 2022 that Oracle, looking to expand its presence in the health care sector, acquired Cerner for $28.4 billion, all in cash, while stating that it could get the VA project back on track and performing efficiently and effectively. Oracle Cerner and the VA face the mountainous challenge as the length of time and price tag for the rollout climb dramatically. Last summer, VA officials estimated that with the problems and delays, and other factors, installing the Oracle Cerner EHR will take 30 years and cost approximately $51 billion. Former Minister Quits Liberal Party Over Voice Stance Former Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt at the announcement of the targets for the Closing The Gap initiative at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on July 30, 2020. (Sean Davey/Getty Images) Former Indigenous Minister Ken Wyatt has quit the centre-right Liberal Party following the partys decision to oppose changing the countrys Constitution to include an Indigenous advisory body. I still believe in the Liberal Party values but I dont believe in what the Liberals have become, he told the West Australian newspaper. Aboriginal people are reaching out to be heard but the Liberals have rejected their invitation. Former Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull applauded the move. He is a wise history-making leader and now with a referendum to win. We will be voting YES with millions of Australians, he wrote on Twitter. Wyatt was the first Indigenous person to hold the portfolio and reportedly handed in his resignation on April 6 after opposition leader Peter Dutton announced the partys decision. A day earlier, Dutton said the party voted overwhelmingly against enshrining an Indigenous advisory body into the Australian Constitution, but was supportive of local and regional Aboriginal representative bodies (or Voices) and changing the preamble of the founding document to recognise Aboriginal Australians. Sometime this year, Australians will go to the polls to decide whether a near-permanent advisory body to Parliamentfeaturing 24 Indigenous membersshould be embedded into the Constitution. The members would then be allowed to make representations to the executive on matters affecting Indigenous peoples. Opposition to Liberal Party Stance Receives Plenty of Media Attention Wyatts decision comes as a small section of the Liberal Party continues their opposition to the partys decision (receiving plenty of positive media attention in the process). Sometimes I do consider [resigning] and then I consider the people in the Liberal Party that share my views people that I consider to be like-minded Liberals, said Tasmanian MP Bridget Archer, in an interview with ABC Radio National on April 6. I stay because I know that I am not the only person that thinks that way and I stay because I think the Liberal Party is at a crossroads. While New South Wales Senator Andrew Bragg said he maintained an open mind on The Voice. I note the Liberal Partys position to oppose the Constitutional Amendment on the Indigenous Voice, he said in a statement. This position is not binding for all Members and Senators in the Liberal Party. Concerns Remain Over The Voice and Its Powers While The Voice has received much support from progressive-leaning politicians, media outlets, and Indigenous bodiesthe proposal does have its detractors who warn of legislative overreach and no realistic benefit from an extra layer of bureaucracy. Constitutional legal expert Greg Craven said the move could open up the door to lawsuits. If you get into a situation, for example, The Voice hasnt yet made a representation on some important view and the Commonwealth hasnt told The Voice and given it that chancethen legally it is entirely practical for someone to take a challenge to court to stop that action until The Voice has made a representation, he told 2GB radio in March. While Indigenous leader Warren Mundine, former Labor Party president and now-committee member of No campaign against The Voice, said it would have no practical effect on Aboriginal communities. What is the benefit of it? Is it going to stop situations like Alice Springs? Because Alice Springs is just the tip of the iceberg, and the government cant even respond to that, he previously told The Epoch Times in reference to rampant youth crime in the central Australian town. Meanwhile, former Senator Eric Abetz welcomed the oppositions stance saying it had finally taken a stand on something. The temptation to go with the zeitgeist, the media mayhem, and the endless virtue signallers to avoid the foreseeable criticism was a test of fortitude and resolve so absent from Australias centre-right Coalition for the past half dozen years, he wrote in The Epoch Times. The strong sense is theyve finally taken a stand on something based on principle, not tactics alone. But such a stand comes with riskshigh risks. Gang Associate Pleads Guilty in Fatal Shooting of Off-Duty LAPD Officer LOS ANGELESA street gang associate pleaded guilty April 5 to her role in the robbery and killing of an off-duty Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer who was gunned down in January 2022 while house-hunting with his girlfriend. Haylee Marie Grisham, 19, entered her plea for her part in the robbery and fatal shooting of Los Angeles Police Officer Fernando Arroyos, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. The charge of violent crime in aid of racketeering carries a possible sentence of life in federal prison without the possibility of parole because the fatal shooting occurred during a robbery, prosecutors said. U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson set sentencing for Sept. 11. Three other defendantsall suspected gang membersface trial in July in Los Angeles federal court. On the night of Arroyoss death, Grisham and her co-defendants were driving around looking for someone to rob when they decided to target the victim, who was wearing gold chains around his neck, according to her plea agreement. While committing the robbery, the three co-defendantsone of whom was Grishams boyfriendkilled Arroyos, the document states. When defendant participated in this robbery she was a major participant and acted with reckless indifference to life, according to the plea agreement. Also charged with violent crime in aid of racketeering to increase and maintain position within the Latino gang based in South Los Angeles were Luis Alfredo De La Rosa Lil J Rios, 30; Ernesto Gonzo Cisneros, 23; and Jesse Skinny Jack Contreras, 35. Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva indicated at the time of their arrests that he directed detectives to take the case to the U.S. Attorneys Office because of his opposition to District Attorney George Gascons decision to no longer pursue sentencing enhancements in gang cases. Those enhancements in a murder case can mean the difference between a life term with the possibility of parole and never being released from prison. Day of the Shooting The shooting occurred about 9:15 p.m. Jan. 10, 2022, in the 8700 block of Beach Street, near Firestone Boulevard, in the unincorporated Firestone-Florence area, authorities said. According to a complaint filed by FBI Special Agent Seamus Kane, Rios admitted in an interview with sheriffs detectives his involvement in the killing, saying he and the other defendants were driving around looking to make money, which he further explained meant to rob a person of property or money. Federal prosecutors allege that Rios and Cisneros exited a black pickup and confronted Arroyos, a three-year veteran of the LAPD, and his girlfriend as they were searching for a home to purchase in the area. The two gang members allegedly pointed guns at the victims and removed property from both, including a wallet and two silver chains from Arroyoss neck, said sheriffs Capt. Joe Mendoza. At some point after Cisneros removed [Arroyoss] chains, [Arroyos] and the two suspects exchanged gunfire, according to court documents. Arroyos sustained a single gunshot wound, ran from the area, and collapsed in an alley as the two suspects left the scene in the truck. Responding sheriffs deputies found bystanders performing CPR on Arroyos, Mendoza said. The deputies loaded Arroyos into a patrol car and took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Detectives retrieved a loaded handgun from the scene belonging to one of the suspects, and the sheriffs department received a report of a man suffering from a gunshot wound in the area of Junction Street and East 60th Street about a mile-and-a-half from the site of the shooting, Mendoza said. Investigators later determined the wounded man was Cisneros and he had sustained the gunshot during the shootout with Arroyos. Contreras was also found in the area hiding inside the garage of his residence in the 5900 block of Junction Street. A second handgun was retrieved from Contrerass residence, Mendoza said. Rios and Grishamwho were then a couplewere later found and taken into custody at their home. Government Report Provides Roadmap on Tackling Foreign Interference Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on March 28, 2023. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) A report to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau outlines steps the federal government is taking to address foreign interference after media reports in recent months have alleged extensive meddling by Beijing. The most consequential steps announced include beginning work to update key pieces of legislation to better tackle foreign interference. The plan says Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino will work to modernize the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) Act to improve the collecting of intelligence, as well as the Security of Information Act and the Criminal Code to facilitate prosecution. Trudeau had announced on March 6 that his government would develop a plan to address foreign interference within 30 days, as pressure for action was building, and said the plan would be based on the recommendations made in previous reviews. The report was presented on April 5 by Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc and Clerk of the Privy Council Janice Charette. It says LeBlanc is currently working on amendments to the Canada Elections Act that would address foreign interference. Our government continues to identify, address and respond to the evolving nature of threats against Canadas democracy, said LeBlanc in a news release issued April 6. Significant progress has been made to implement the recommendations from the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians [NSICOP] and the Protocol evaluation reports. The NSICOP recommendations refer to its 2018 and 2019 reports, while the Protocol reports refer to work recently conducted by Morris Rosenberg regarding the 2021 election and by James Judd for the 2019 election. A key takeaway the federal government took from the four reports is that they all point out that equipping citizens with knowledge is the best defence against those who try to meddle in Canadas democratic processes. Rosenberg, a former public servant and executive of the Trudeau Foundation, submitted his report in late February and said several elements of the Critical Election Incident Public Protocol had worked well. The Protocol is a mechanism established by the Trudeau government in 2019 to communicate with Canadians during elections about incidents that threaten the integrity of the vote. But Rosenberg identified improving communications in several of his recommendations. The Privy Council Office will develop a strategy to better communicate with Canadians about the Protocol and how it fits within the suite of measures to counter foreign interference and protect democratic institutions, says the April 5 report in response to a Rosenberg recommendation. The two NSICOP Annual Report 2019 recommendations on foreign interference were addressed by the government by highlighting its recent creation of the National Counter Foreign Interference Coordinator under Public Safety Canada. The NSCIOP report had said Canada should develop a comprehensive strategy to counter foreign interference and build institutional and public resiliency, and the April 15 report says the new coordinator will play a leading role in that regard. The report also said most recommendations had been addressed or would be, but some were also shot down. Jim Judd, a former CSIS director, had recommended that the Protocol cover the pre-writ period, or the period prior to an election being called. The April 5 report says this was not implemented since ministers already have the responsibility and the necessary powers to address any concerns about foreign interference that could arise between elections. National security leaks in the press in recent months have alleged that the Trudeau government has ignored previous warnings from CSIS about Liberal Party members working on behalf of the Chinese regime. These revelations led to opposition parties calling for a public inquiry, but the Liberals have instead announced a number of measures, including the appointment on March 15 of former governor general David Johnston as special rapporteur to evaluate Canadas response to the threat. Trudeau said Johnston could eventually make a recommendation to hold a public inquiry, and in that case it would be followed. The federal government also announced the launch of consultations on March 10 to establish a foreign agents registry. The consultation period is set to end May 9. Meanwhile, two House of Commons committees that are studying foreign interference have heard testimony from various stakeholders in recent weeks. Appearing before the ethics committee, former CSIS officer Michel Juneau-Katsuya recommended the creation of a brand new independent office with arrest powers to counter the threat. The committee also heard from former CSIS executive Dan Stanton, who said foreign interference has eclipsed traditional espionage as a threat. The Procedure and House Affairs Committee is set to hear testimony from Trudeaus chief of staff Katie Telford on April 14 and is seeking to learn exactly at which point in time Trudeau and his office were briefed on foreign interference. Haley Promises Supporters She Will Address the Nations Huge Deficit Republican presidential candidate and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley greets attendees after speaking at the Vision 24 National Conservative Forum in Charleston, S.C. on March 18, 2023. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) GILBERT, S.C.Speaking in a barn in the legislative district where she got her political start, Nikki Haley, former UN ambassador and South Carolina governor, said the nation needs to get its fiscal house in order. Now Im going to tell you like I told you when I was your governor. No more whining about it. No more complaining about it. Now we get to work, she told an appreciative crowd of about 400 people. And that work, she said, will include reforming entitlements. Social Security will be bankrupt in 10 years. Medicare will be bankrupt in five, she said. Rick and Donna Winfield of Lexington, S.C., attend former governor Nikki Haleys presidential campaign speech on April 6, 2023. (Dan M. Berger/The Epoch Times.) We will do entitlement reform the way you do entitlement reform, Haley said. You dont touch anybody thats given in. You dont take from anybody thats been promised. My parents are in their 80s. We take care of them. I dont want anybody bothering theirs. But my kids are in their 20s. We go to them and we say, The rules have changed for you. We change their benefits to where it reflects life expectancy. We say we are going to limit what is given to the wealthy. Were going to expand Medicare Advantage Plan. She summed up the domestic scene the way many folks see it. You dont even have to look at the news but you feel how bad everything is. You feel it at the grocery store. You feel it in our schools. You feel it when youre walking around. You see it when you look at the banking system. Its bad. So Im running for president because when I look at all of that, something has to give. We are $31 trillion in debt. We are borrowing money just to make interest payments and the spending is out of control. And she didnt hesitate to include her party as one of the responsible ones. Its easy for us to blame [President Joe] Biden. But Ive always been a truth-teller to you and Ive always told you the truth even when it hurts. Our Republicans did that to us too. You go back and you look at that Covid stimulus bill with no accountability whatsoever$2.2 trillion that they passed that expanded welfare. We now have 90 million Americans on Medicaid. Forty-two million Americans on food stamps. And look at what they did. They paid people to sit on the couch. Shannon Amick (L) and Marsha Gunter, both of Lexington, S.C., waiting for former governor Nikki Haley to speak on April 6, 2023. (Dan M. Berger/The Epoch Times) She faulted Republicans for reopening the use of earmarks for the first time in 10 years. She ticked off millions that have gone to local projects like horse racing in Arizona, an honors college in Vermont, and a courthouse in Colorado. Thats not how you want your money spent. Thats not how I want my money spent. They say Republicans and Democrats dont agree on anything. They do agree on wasting our money. They have no problem doing that. Haley brought that theme to her analysis of foreign affairs, with the perspective her two years as the Trump administrations UN ambassador has given her. She supports Ukraine, admires the courage with which the Ukrainians have fought against the Russian invasion, and thinks the United States should do what it canshort of boots on the groundto support it with money and arms. She added that Ukraine had been one of the United States most loyal allies in the UN. That cant be said of countless countries worldwide that receive American assistance while opposing us in the United Nations, Haley said. She told a story about her UN tenure: When we moved the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, we were condemned by the world. I was so mad because America can put its embassy anywhere we want. Its always in the host nations capital, and Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, she said. Carter Senf, 17, (L) and his dad Steve Senf of Gilbert, S.C., at Nikki Haleys campaign speech on April 6, 2023. (Dan M. Berger/The Epoch Times) But on that day, 128 countries voted against us. She went back to her office and told her staff, she said, to make a book: to list all the UN member nations, the percentage of times they voted with or against the United States, and how much U.S. aid they get. I took that book and I gave it to President Trump. And he lost his mind. And I said to him, Im not saying you give foreign aid based on a percentage vote, but that should be one of the things we look at. Haley was forthright about who she considers American adversaries: Russia, Iran, North Korea, and, most of all, China. She noted some recipients of foreign aid: They gave it to Pakistan, who harbored terrorists that tried to kill our soldiers. They gave it to Iraq whos infiltrated now with Iranians who say Death to America. They gave it to Zimbabwe, the most anti-American African country. They gave it to Belarus, whos holding hands with Russia in the fight against Ukraine. They gave it to communist Cuba, who we said was a sponsor of terrorism. And yes, are you ready, they gave money to China. We will stop paying money to countries that hate America. Other budget-balancing measures she advocated included clawing back hundreds of billions of dollars in unspent Covid relief money, going after Covid money spent fraudulently, firing the 87,000 new IRS agents the Biden administration is hiring, and stopping welfare program payments to illegal immigrants. I had to balance a budget as your governor in South Carolina. Youve got to balance the budget at home. You have to balance [the budget] in your businesses. There is no reason Congress cant balance a budget. Your families dont deserve what youre dealing with right now. But the way we will fix it is when you send a badass Republican woman to the White House. Former South Carolina Republican Governor Nikki Haley speaks at the Republican Jewish Coalition Annual Leadership Meeting in Las Vegas, Nev., on Nov. 19, 2022. (Wade Vandervort/AFP via Getty Images) Haley addressed other issues Republicans warm to, including supporting the police, facing the Chinese threat, instituting voter ID, fighting illegal immigration, being pro-life, transgenders competing in womens sports, and whats taught as sex education in elementary schools. She alluded to Floridas Parental Rights in Education bill, called by some the Dont Say Gay bill. It basically said you couldnt talk about gender before 3rd grade. When I was in school, you didnt have sex ed until 7th grade. And even then you had to have a permission slip signed by your parents, and my dad wouldnt sign it. So I was the uncool kid in the classroom next door. Teachers shouldnt be stuck with this task anyway, she said. They have enough on their plate. They should be teaching reading and writing, and math, and science, and history. Bureaucrats do not get to parent our kids. Thats more unsettling. Thats for us to talk about. Haleyone of three declared candidates for the Republican nominationis way down in the polls. The most recent Real Clear Politics average of polls, for the two weeks ending April 3, had her at 4.5 percentbehind Trump at 50.8 percent. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at 24.6 percent, and former Vice President Mike Pence at 5.0 percent. Neither DeSantis nor Pence has declared candidacy. Shes been in that position before, she said. When I ran for governor I ran against a lieutenant governor, an attorney general, a very popular Congressman, and a state senator. I was Nikki Who? I had 3 percent in the polls, and I had the least amount of money. I worked this state like no one else and you invested in me and we won. Dont underestimate her, said some of the listeners in the crowd. Shes tough-skinned and wont back down. Shes not afraid of Trump. She doesnt have a whole lot to hide. Shes very forthcoming, said Rick Winfield, a disabled Navy vet and retired paralegal there with his wife, Donna. Winfield said he knew Haley in the business community of nearby Lexington before she ran for office. If you have a problem, go straight at it. She doesnt play political games like others do. Shes genuine, said Marsha Gunter, who listened with her friend Shannon Amick. Both are nurses in Lexington. Shes tough. Shell definitely stand her ground. Both saw Trump speak at the same property in 2015 before the barn was built. Gunter recalled that Trump spoke in a tent at the site. Haleys speech was held at The Groves on Augusta, a venue on a rural stretch of U.S. 1 used for events such as weddings and political speeches. Amick predicted Haley would win the South Carolina primary against him. Steve Senf, a retired state employee from Gilbert who came with his son Carter, 17, said he came to hear what Haley had to say and had been going to hear presidential candidates for years. Senf saw Mitt Romney speak on the same property, he said. He thought Haley ran a good state government when he worked for it. She was responsible. Not divisive. I like how she rallied our state together during times of crisis, the kinds of crises that might send other cities or states into chaos, Senf said. Senf was thinking, he said, of the Emanuel A.M.E. Church shooting in Charleston, in which Dylann Roof was convicted of killing nine black church members in 2015. Roof was sentenced to death in federal court and life imprisonment without parole in state courts for the murders. Haley only mentioned Trump, her former boss, by name when she told the UN story. She was implicitly critical of his fiscal handling of the early Covid pandemic. And, in a week when the former president was indicted in New York, she talked about why shed be the right candidate now. We are going to have to have a new generation of leader, Haley said. Were going to have to leave the baggage and the status quo with the drama of the past. And were going to have to focus on what it really takes to win. A few simple engineering fixes could dramatically reduce radiofrequency radiation emitted by cellphones, according to the authors of a new peer-reviewed study, who said they believe the wireless industry is going to have to start competing on safety. This article was originally published by The Defender Childrens Health Defenses News & Views Website A few simple engineering fixes could dramatically reduce radiofrequency radiation (RFR) emitted by cellphones, according to scientists with the International Commission on the Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields (ICBE-EMF). The team of researchers, whose peer-reviewed report was published April 4, said these low-cost software and hardware modifications are easy to implement, and in one case, the fix relies on technology already patented by the industry. Joel Moskowitz, Ph.D., director of the Center for Family and Community Health at the University of California, Berkeley and one of the reports authors said in a statement: Given the growing evidence of the health effects of radiation from cellphones and cell towers, I believe the wireless industry is going to have to start competing on safety. Concern about the safety of cellphones and other wireless devices has moved into the mainstream, said Moskowitz. Moskowitzwho does not endorse or promote any product in order to avoid conflicts of interestsaid he is aware of at least one brand of wireless router designed to reduce wireless radiation exposure. I expect more and more products, including cellphones, that reduce wireless radiation exposure to come onto the market in the months and years ahead, he said. Common-Sense Changes Dramatically Reduce Wireless Radiation From Cellphones Elizabeth Kelley, managing director of ICBE-EMF and also one of the authors of the peer-reviewed report, said the proposed common-sense changes can quickly and dramatically reduce RFR exposure from cellphones, thereby creating a healthier environment for all of uswhile still allowing us to stay connected to others and to the information we need daily. Cellphones are constantly transmitting their location to cell towers, but when we are stationary, these constant transmissionscalled handshakesare unnecessary, she said. Kelley added: Why not shut down these transmissionswhich cause frequent radiation emissionswhen our phones are stationary, such as when they are sitting on a bedside table as we sleep or on our desk next to us as we work? The authors said cellphones could be configured to shut off RFR emissions when a proximity sensor detects the presence of the human body. Some wireless companiesincluding Nokia Corp. and Motorola Inc.already hold patents for technologies that could be used to create improved antenna systems and reduce wireless radiation exposure, the authors said. They pointed out that designing phones to make calls using Wi-Firather than cell towerswherever available would also dramatically reduce radiation emissions from the phone. Moreover, the authors suggested cellphones could have software installed that would limit radiation exposure by controlling the cumulative dose of RFR. This makes sense, since much of the evidence regarding cancer and RFR has used cumulative exposure to establish links, they said. The authors added: Even if the placement of the phone was allowed against the head, users RFR exposure could be automatically controlled by a limit on phone call durations, particularly when base stations [or cell towers] are remote. We Cannot and Should Not Tell the Public That We Know Cellphones Are Safe In their paper, the authors examined the history behind current cellphone emissions standards and found a trail of dated assumptions and poorly designed experiments and tests that dont reflect how people use cellphones today. Paul Heroux, Ph.D., the papers first author and a professor in the School of Population and Global Health at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, said: Our team of scientists and engineers has identified seven blind spots in the methods and experiments upon which our current cellphone radiation emission standards and guidelines are based. These blind spots call into serious question the validity of those standards. For example, experiments using wireless radiation exposures lasting 4060 minutes are not representative of the 24/7 chronic exposures which all of us are and will be subject to for the rest of our lives, he said. Another example, Heroux said, is testing designs that estimate exposure using the phone and the head. Whats missing, of course, is the hand holding the phone. Including the hand in the exposure test shows that most of the phones radiated emissions are absorbed by the body and little is actually available for wireless communications, he said. These blindspots tell us that our current cellphone emissions standards cannot be trusted, Heroux said. We cannot and should not tell the public that we know cellphones are safe. Moskowitz said we will certainly hear from cellphone manufacturers that cellphones already comply with government standards. What we wont hear, he said, is a cellphone manufacturer spokesperson saying, My company guarantees that the radiation emitted by our cellphones is safe and will not harm users. They wont say it because they know better and because their lawyers have told them never to claim publicly that their cellphones are safe, he said. Some in the wireless industry may protest a move toward safer cellphones and other wireless devices by saying its costly and unnecessary, Moskowitz said, adding: But carmakers said the same thing when the public demanded safer cars and the government required them. Today, those same carmakers compete on safety. This article was originally published by The DefenderChildrens Health Defenses News & Views Website under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Please consider subscribing to The Defender or donating to Childrens Health Defense. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Epoch Health welcomes professional discussion and friendly debate. To submit an opinion piece, please follow these guidelines and submit through our form here. High Lithium in Drinking Water Substantially Increases Risk of Autism: Study Autism rates have reached new heights with boys being over four times more likely than girls to be diagnosed.(Dubova/Shutterstock) Higher lithium concentrations in drinking water among pregnant women carry significant possibilities of raising the risk of autism among children, a new study has found. The study, published in JAMA Pediatrics on April 3, looked into whether maternal exposure to lithium in drinking water is linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the offspring. Conducted in Denmark, the study analyzed 8,842 children diagnosed with ASD born between 2000 and 2013. Lithium levels in the water were categorized into four groups, with the first quartile representing the lowest lithium level and subsequent quartiles having higher concentrations of lithium. Researchers found that high lithium levels in the second and third quartiles were associated with a 24 to 26 percent higher risk of autism compared to the first quartile. The risk in the fourth quartile was 46 percent higher. Estimated maternal prenatal exposure to lithium from naturally occurring drinking water sources in Denmark was associated with an increased ASD risk in the offspring. This study suggests that naturally occurring lithium in drinking water may be a novel environmental risk factor for ASD development that requires further scrutiny, the study found. Lithium, a naturally occurring trace element, is known to have mood-stabilizing effects. The element has been linked to cardiac malformations among newborns as well as miscarriages. Lithium usually ends up in drinking water due to weathering of underground minerals. The level of the element in water is considered to be moderate to low in Denmark. Lithium Contaminated Water Beate Ritz, the lead author of the study and a professor of neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, decided to look at potential links between lithium and autism risk after discovering that there was little research into how the element affects human brain development. Any drinking water contaminants that may affect the developing human brain deserve intense scrutiny, she said, according to an April 3 news release. In the future, anthropogenic sources of lithium in water may become more widespread because of lithium battery use and disposal in landfills with the potential for groundwater contamination. Zeyan Liew, the first author of the study and an assistant professor of epidemiology at the Yale University School of Public Health, pointed out that earlier research done in Denmark had already shown that ingestion of lithium via drinking could affect the onset of adult-onset neuropsychiatric disorders. The recent study also found that high lithium levels continued to pose a higher risk of autism diagnosis even when the data was divided up by subtypes of the disorder. The link between lithium levels and autism risk was found to be slightly higher among individuals living in urban regions compared to rural areas and small towns. Autism in the US, Genetic Links The JAMA study comes as autism rates among children have been rising in the United States, according to the latest data by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In a study published last month, the CDC estimated that 1 in 36, or 2.8 percent, of 8-year-old children in the country are affected by autism. This is up from 1 in 44 in 2018 and 1 in 150 in 2002. Boys were found to be far more likely to develop autism than girls. The study was conducted among 11 communities that are part of a CDC-funded program called the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. Another national estimate put autism rates among children between the ages of 3 and 17 at 2.9 percent. In an October 2022 study published in the International Journal of Health Geographics, researchers from the University of Utah proposed that ancestry contributed to the increased risk of autism, especially where and when ones grandparents and their children were born. The nutritional access of paternal grandparents during their childhood was found to have a direct impact on health outcomes among grandkids. Looking back at families and where and when they lived helped us detect clusters of individuals who seem to have a higher subsequent risk of autism among their descendants, said senior author and environmental epidemiologist James VanDerslice from the University of Utah. How I Stayed Grounded With 40 Years Experience in Civilian and Military Aviation Commentary Just as a preface, this story has a point. Mainly that there are lessons I learned early in life that have stood me in good stead. Such as the need to be patient and calm when things are going sideways, and also to keep my mouth shut unless I have something of real value to add. And lastly, I learned about charity from a great man. So, on to the story. I was born in an Air Force hospital in 1958. YepIm the wheeziest geezer you probably know. And when I retired from the Air National Guard in 2018 I was the oldest member of the Indiana National Guard (Army and Air). My dad was a crew chief, and my grandfather was a crew chief in the Army Air Corps in World War II. I had relatives in both the Union and Confederate armies as well as some who served in the War of Independence. As far as I know, none of them distinguished themselves above and beyond which for sure included myself. Maybe Im wrong, but I think we are all best categorized as those who served to the best of their ability. When I was really young, I didnt get the normal bedtime stories. Instead, my dad told me airplane stories. He had, and still has, an amazing love of military aviation and passed that along to me. I guess, in a way, I was preprogrammed through both genetics and nurture. Dad left the Air Force shortly after I was born, but when I was six, we attended the open house at Amarillo Air Force Base (where I was born) where the Thunderbirds performed. They were flying the F-100 Super Sabre, and those planes were just larger than life. Just as a side note, there is an F-100 that operates out of Fort Wayne, Indiana at the same base I retired from and it was always a sentimental journey when they flew it. That airplane has a bang-in burner which means that when the afterburner lights off there is a very loud bang. Modern fighters have soft-light burners that ignite more quietly. Which leads to something else. If you havent stood right next to an engine running in full burner then you havent lived. Every molecule in your body vibrates as adrenaline courses through your veins. Double or even quadruple the engines, like on the B-1 and its, well, indescribable. Back to the 1964 season Thunderbirds. I was impressed. Later in life, after having to support them for a number of airshows, my opinion of the team changed. But to be fair, the Blue Angels and Golden Knights arent any better. They are great to the public but treat the support people like crap. Generalization? Probably so, but I supported at least a dozen shows in military status and that was my experience every time. In the 1960s, the Air Force was impressive, especially at open houses and airshows. None of the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and current whiny baby girlie panty Air Force restrictions were in place. Planes flew over the spectators at low altitudes and really showcased the aircraft. At Nellis, they even had airpower demonstration days where they dropped live bombs, napalm, and shot the guns, all within a distance today that would cause mass heart attacks with our sensitive, sheepy population. At 16, I soloed in a sailplane, which was another life-changing event. Flying those is a very Zen sort of thing for me. This was in New Zealand and our tow plane was a bright yellow World War II-era DeHavilland Tiger Moth biplane in Royal Air Force markings. There was a brief foray into powered flight instruction, but I hated it. Inexplicably, when I heard there was an Air Force Academy I got excited about the idea of attending and becoming a fighter pilot. But the timing was wrong for the application and my grades werent high enough. They could have been, but to the frustration of my teachers, I was happy to get a B since it was easy and then I got to goof off the rest of the time. There was another roadblock that I didnt know was there until I joined the Air Force. Because I went to High School in New Zealand, the Air Force didnt recognize my diploma and classified me as a non-high school graduate and placed me as a GED. The funny thing is that the last year of high school in New Zealand is the equivalent of a freshman year in college. But whatever. Looking back the Academy would have been a disaster for me and the Air Force. Im a rebel without a clue and the academy staff and commandant would have booted me within weeks. My family moved back to the United States when I was 17 and my graduation present was a 1957 Chevy which cost my parents a whopping $300. Keep in mind that in 1975 it wasnt as cool a car as today. Now get ready for a shock. Sit down or hold onto something. I sold it in 1979, the year before I joined the Air Force, because I had a car that was more practical. And the sale price? $300! Yeah, go ahead. I kick myself too. But get this. When I was about four years old my dad had a pristine 1956 Porsche Speedster and a growing family. Wanna guess how much he sold it for? Sit down again. No, maybe youd better lie down. He sold it for $300. Like father, like son. Ha! Im guessing my grandpa traded a Duesenberg for a cow and my Revolutionary War relatives traded a full set of Paul Revere silver for a pouch of pipe tobacco. You can shut up now. We are patriots, not financial wizards. I turned down a commission on three separate occasions so I think that speaks volumes about my monetary acumen. Lol! As a typical high school grad, I pretty much bummed around my parents house doing nothing. I worked enough to pay for gas and insurance and have date money which normally occupied my evenings. You probably know where this is going with my parents, and they finally reached their breaking point. To keep them happy, I signed up for community college, which also did not recognize my foreign diploma and said I had to take all the pre-101 courses. Sitting in pre-Algebra when youve taken a few terms of Calculus is Russian Roulette-inducing agony. I lasted two weeks and dropped out of a full course load. So it was back to the couch and the parental looks of concern at their firstborn. Also, disappointment mixed with beginnings of regret for not thinking in terms of birth control in 1957. Hey, it just clicked with me that they got married the same year my Chevy was on the production line. Theres a joke or two in there somewhere. I think it was during this time that I experienced my first real grief. One day I came home from school and there was a letter from one of my close friends in New Zealand informing me of the death of my inseparable best friend in a motorcycle accident. He had sent the letter three weeks earlier and enclosed a picture of the new Kawasaki he had bought and how excited he was. The letter I had just received had a clipping of his obituary and I figured out that he had died a few days after sending his letter. Apparently, a driver turned in front of him and he went up over the top of the car, and after he landed he decided he wasnt hurt that bad and got up and started walking around. Sadly, when he got up he had multiple broken bones that punctured his organs and he died en route to the hospital. He was really into music and we had both taken a liking to Elton Johns Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album. The opening song on that album is Funeral for a Friend and Ill be honest here and say that to this day I shed a tear when I hear that song. I miss you, Will. You were a great friend. Now back to our regularly scheduled program. One fateful day, as I was slowly being absorbed by the couch, my dad told me he was taking my brother to a nearby A&P school to check it out and asked if I wanted to go along. Since he was pointing a loaded 1911 at my forehead I decided that it might be fun. Besides that, if I died on that couch nobody would ever find my body. If you remember 1970s decor and color schemes youll get it. And for those that dont know, A&P is short for Airframe and Powerplant which is the FAA license thats pretty much required to work on civilian aircraft. There are exceptions, but in the main, thats the requirement. So I went with them and toured the place. The technology and smell of aircraft and parts reactivated my dormant genes that dad had cruelly infected me with and I signed up. My brother did not. Looking back, I wish he had because he went to work in a mom-and-pop furniture refinishing place. These were pre-OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) days. He got leukemia from the chemicals and died a long and painful death in 1993 at the age of 33. Dan, I wish it had been me instead of you. You were by far the better human being. Mechanically, I wasnt much. Both dad and granddad, besides being aircraft mechanics, had later become car mechanics, and granddad ran his own shop almost up until the day he died. As a kid, I hung out in his shop, but about all I was good for was wiping down the tools. He was a man of few words but taught me a few things about working on cars. But heres what he really taught me. Patience and calm when things appear to be falling apart or when people have done something really stupid. One day my brother was in the shop with us and he saw my grandpa using the hydraulic shop press to remove a ball bearing from a transmission shaft. He thought it looked fun and retrieved a bearing from the scrap pile and just set it on the plate and started pumping the ram down. Mind you, there was no shaft in this bearing. Just a 4-inch ball bearing with I dont know how much pressure being applied to it by an eight-year-old daredevil. Within moments there was a bang and then the air was filled with flying deadly spheres as the bearing let loose. 2020: Dave flashes to the movie The Green Berets when they set off the Claymores and my brother was frozen in shock. Fortunately, nobody was hurt except for a few holes in the wall. All my grandpa did was walk calmly over to my brother and move him away from the shop press. All he said was, Here, here, you cant do that. And then he showed him how to correctly use the machine. Dont get me wrong, I sure dont have the patience and calm he did. But I got some of it. It helped me immensely later in life, especially when I became an instructor. He also taught me to only speak when I had something of value to add. By being that way, when he spoke you listened because you knew it wasnt just going to be fluff. Ive been in way too many situations where people were speaking just to let everyone know that they are important because they have something of value to add. The quintessential one is: Just to piggyback on what the commander said and then they just say verbatim what the commander just said. Its the same thing as making someone read a book and then you read the book to them. Shut up, you idiots! By doing that you just prove that you dont have anything important to say. Now the flip side is that if you are quiet most of the time then people may think you are anti-social. Ok. Yeah. I dont care. Moving on. I retired as a maintenance group superintendent (E-9), which technically meant that I was responsible for everyone who worked on the aircraft and I reported directly to the colonel, who was maintenance group commander. I always frustrated the poor guy at Commanders Calls because of my speak little philosophy. [Editors note: In the military, Commanders Calls are unit meetings to discuss important issues and recognize outstanding accomplishments.] He would give his talk and then go around the room to other leadership to see what they had to add. Of course, they were plenty of piggybackers, but he always asked me last and my answer, 99 percent of the time, was: Nothing to add, sir, and he would press me to say something (which I rarely did). Then came the last meeting on the day of my retirement. My commander came to the end and said: Chief, since this is your last meeting before retirement, do you have any final words for us? My reply was, Meeting adjourned, and it was. He said, You heard the Chief. Even in my current civilian job, I still carry the same philosophy. And there is another reason I do it. I hate most meetings/briefings and the less I say, the quicker its over. One last thing I learned from my grandpa was charity. When the widows came into his shop to get their cars fixed he rarely charged them, or he at the least would deeply discount the price. He would do a tune-up for $1 sometimes and tell the ladies it was a quick and easy job so the labor wasnt much. I dont think he knew that I saw what he was doing. He did that sort of thing through all areas of his life, and it has stood me in good stead to emulate him. The karma you get back from giving someone your older laptop instead of charging them $30 is immeasurable. Taking someones duty so that they can be with their family will gain you all sorts of loyalty and good morale. And the Big Guy upstairs digs it too. No, not the base commander. Now jumping back to my story. Eighteen months of training and $18,000 in student loans see me graduate from A&P school in August of 78. All excited about starting a career as an aircraft mechanic. But the Air Force at this point isnt even on my radar. This article first appeared in The Havok Journal. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Details added: first version posted on 17:09 BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. Footage of human remains found during excavations in Azerbaijans liberated Aghdam district has been released, Trend reports. Human bones have been found during excavations in the territory called Ergi duzu in the Aghdam district. The prosecutor's office of the district is investigating the fact. Previously, mass graves were discovered in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan. As a result of the relevant search activities, the graves were found in the villages of Dashalty (Shusha district), Edilli (Khojavand district), Sirkhavend (Aghdam district), as well as Farrukh village (Khojaly district), and other areas. By John Kyle In 2021, Americans lost approximately $5.8 billion from identity theft. There were 2.8 million consumer identity theft incidents reported, which means there could have been much more. Of that, $2.3 billion were from imposter scams, and $392 million were from consumer online shopping. For businesses, 47 percent of all businesses had one form or another of fraud affect them. According to the FBI, in 2020, scams cost U.S. businesses over $1.8 billion. And since 2020, fraud cases are up by over 70 percent. If youre not alarmed by this info, you should be. The hard truth is that even though many companies you deal with will try to keep your personal and business information private and inaccessible to these criminals, it ultimately comes down to you being fully aware of the various types of identity theft there are, and most importantly, how to prevent it from happening. If you take the stance that this is someone elses responsibility, youre placing yourself and your business at high risk simply by having the wrong attitude! So, here is some great info that you can take action on for both your business and personal protection: Related: How to Prevent Identity Theft in Todays Digital World 1. What Is Identity Theft? The below definitions come straight from the Bureau of Justice Statistics website: The definition of personal identity theft includes three general types of incidents: unauthorized use or attempted use of an existing account unauthorized use or attempted use of personal information to open a new account misuse of personal information for a fraudulent purpose The definition of business identity theft (also known as corporate identity theft) is: The illegal impersonation of a business In that broad description of business fraud, it includes any type of business structure that has an Employee Identification Number (EIN), also known as a Tax Identification Number (TIN)meaning that this can range from a sole proprietor making peanuts to a large C-corp generating millions. 2. Various Types of Identity Theft There are many ways that people can get your business/personal information. Here are the most common: Online: This is what most folks think of when they think of identity theft. This involves crimeware, which is considered malicious software used to steal personal information. We usually call these things worms. The most common types include phishing, spyware and Trojan horses through emails. And the best way to prevent this from happening is to avoid unsecured networks, such as those found in airports, coffee shops, etc. Delete any emails that seem suspicious. Another idea is to keep your spyware protection software on your computer systems as up-to-date as possible. This is what most folks think of when they think of identity theft. This involves crimeware, which is considered malicious software used to steal personal information. We usually call these things worms. The most common types include phishing, spyware and Trojan horses through emails. And the best way to prevent this from happening is to avoid unsecured networks, such as those found in airports, coffee shops, etc. Delete any emails that seem suspicious. Another idea is to keep your spyware protection software on your computer systems as up-to-date as possible. Offline: This is almost 90 percent of how all fraud starts! Lets call this one old school. This is when you receive calls or emails that request your business and/or personal information. Scammers will impersonate any number of companies, like banks, insurance and even Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents! The scammers will always say that you owe them money for one reason or another (by the way, did you know that your bank will never call and say you owe them money? Nor will the IRS). Whats the best way to fight this type of fraud? First, never give out your business or personal information to any company, no matter how legitimate the phone call or email seems. Second, simply hang up if its a phone call and/or do not reply to any emailjust hit delete. This is almost 90 percent of how all fraud starts! Lets call this one old school. This is when you receive calls or emails that request your business and/or personal information. Scammers will impersonate any number of companies, like banks, insurance and even Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents! The scammers will always say that you owe them money for one reason or another (by the way, did you know that your bank will never call and say you owe them money? Nor will the IRS). Whats the best way to fight this type of fraud? First, never give out your business or personal information to any company, no matter how legitimate the phone call or email seems. Second, simply hang up if its a phone call and/or do not reply to any emailjust hit delete. Large-scale identity theft: This is when a hacker gets past a firewall at a company like Target and can then access your account numbers, credit card and/or debit card numbers along with PIN numbers. In this type of instance, there isnt much you or I can do to prevent this type of breach from happening. What we can do is be prepared for a rapid reaction. This type of theft will make national news, so if you hear of this happening, respond immediately by changing your all usernames and passwords and canceling and then ordering new debit and credit cards. This is when a hacker gets past a firewall at a company like Target and can then access your account numbers, credit card and/or debit card numbers along with PIN numbers. In this type of instance, there isnt much you or I can do to prevent this type of breach from happening. What we can do is be prepared for a rapid reaction. This type of theft will make national news, so if you hear of this happening, respond immediately by changing your all usernames and passwords and canceling and then ordering new debit and credit cards. Internal employee identity theft: This is when you have employees with access to vital banking and account information. They may wire or Zelle funds to themselves or anyone. They can steal checks from your office and write those checks to themselves or others. They can also sell this information to people for cash if they choose to. The reality is that if you have provided this employee with access to your bank account, then the banks cannot do much since you allowed someone access. Therefore, the bank is not at fault, and while they will do what they can to help and get some money back, they are not responsible, you are. The good news is that the court system can do something about this situation. The only way to prevent this is either by doing all your banking yourself, and/or being REALLY picky about who gets access and to what information. Related: Make Your Businesses Invulnerable to Corporate Identity Theft 3. Examples of Business Identity Theft Bogus social media accounts: Check your social media accounts, and see if there are any Facebook pages, Instagram pages or other social media sites you use that are pretending to be your business. Check your social media accounts, and see if there are any Facebook pages, Instagram pages or other social media sites you use that are pretending to be your business. Bogus websites: Naive customers are directed to these sham websites through search engines, various social media ad campaigns or phishing email scams. Naive customers are directed to these sham websites through search engines, various social media ad campaigns or phishing email scams. Phishing emails: These fake emails are sent by scammers to employees and usually have a type of spyware attached to them that will activate once you click on a link. These fake emails are sent by scammers to employees and usually have a type of spyware attached to them that will activate once you click on a link. Bogus tax information: Scammers use stolen business information to file fraudulent tax returns in order to attempt to receive a refund. Scammers use stolen business information to file fraudulent tax returns in order to attempt to receive a refund. Ransom of your trademark: Criminals steal your business name/logo and register it as an official trademark of their own. Then, after they wreak havoc, theyll actually demand a ransom to release the trademark! Criminals steal your business name/logo and register it as an official trademark of their own. Then, after they wreak havoc, theyll actually demand a ransom to release the trademark! Bogus invoices: Youll get this from a scammer pretending to be your vendor asking for money. It will look legit as it will have the logo, etc. on it. 4. How to Prevent Personal and Business Identity Theft: There are many, many ways to help prevent identity theft. Here is a short list to get you started: Shred any and all statements: Credit cards, bank, mortgage, etc. Better yet, set up auto-pay and use online statements instead. Credit cards, bank, mortgage, etc. Better yet, set up auto-pay and use online statements instead. NEVER provide personal/business info over the phone: Never do this unless you made the call and can identify the person/company. Never do this unless you made the call and can identify the person/company. Software protection: Consider getting some type of protection onto your personal and business computer. Consider getting some type of protection onto your personal and business computer. Get identity theft protection: Think of companies like LifeLock. Think of companies like LifeLock. Dont keep your SS card in your wallet/purse: Maybe even consider this for ALL your credit and debit cards? Maybe even consider this for ALL your credit and debit cards? Create longer passwords: If you can get 10-15 digits in there, with a mix of letters, numbers and special characters, then you have a good one. If you can get 10-15 digits in there, with a mix of letters, numbers and special characters, then you have a good one. Check your credit reports: Be sure to check your credit reports at least monthly if not more often. You can get them from the actual credit companies, not the knockoffs. Be sure to check your credit reports at least monthly if not more often. You can get them from the actual credit companies, not the knockoffs. Be wise about shopping online: Practice common sense here. Use sites like Amazon and not some unknown site. Practice common sense here. Use sites like Amazon and not some unknown site. Be wise about social media: Maybe only send friend requests to folks you actually know, and give a double-check on an account that looks weird or off in some way. Maybe only send friend requests to folks you actually know, and give a double-check on an account that looks weird or off in some way. Unsecure networks: Stay away from places like coffee shops that have Wi-Fi but are not secure. Stay away from places like coffee shops that have Wi-Fi but are not secure. Healthy skepticism: When someone is contacting you by email or phone, be VERY sure of who they are before clicking any links or providing any info. Pro Tip: Ninety percent of fraud is still initiated by receiving a phone call, NOT from someone mysteriously accessing your bank account. I help customers each week with fraud, and the truth is that the fraud happened because they GAVE a fraudster the username and password over the phone. Every. Single. Time. Just be smart, folks. The Epoch Times Copyright 2022 The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors. They are meant for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation. The Epoch Times does not provide investment, tax, legal, financial planning, estate planning, or any other personal finance advice. The Epoch Times holds no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided. Huntington Beach Seeks to Dismiss State Housing Lawsuit Huntington Beach Mayor Tony Strickland (C) speaks at a city council meeting at the Civic Center in Huntington Beach, Calif., on Jan. 17, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) The City of Huntington Beach filed new court documents April 3 asking an Orange County Superior Court judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed against it by the state, saying the states charges in the suit, relative to housing, have been remediated. The action comes after the Huntington Beach City Council voted 61 March 21 to resume accepting applications under SB9which was passed by the California Legislature in 2021 and allows up to four homes on lots where only one existed previouslyand for accessory dwelling units, better known as ADUs or granny flats. There is nothing in controversy, the citys fresh filing reads. Huntington Beach city officials gather with residents to challenge state housing laws in Huntington Beach, Calif., on Feb. 14, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) The council, in February, voted to ban such applications, prompting state Attorney General Rob Bonta and the California Department of Housing and Development (HCD) to file a lawsuit March 8 against the city saying the citys actions were in conflict with California law. According to city officials, during the brief four-week ban, no applications were received for such housing permits. The states lawsuit also threatened future consequences if the city council voted to ban whats known as builders remedy, which allows developers to skirt local zoning laws for some new development projects, if a city has failed to meet a state-mandated affordable housing plan. The council had a first discussion on the issue March 7. But in the citys filing this week, Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates indicated that the issue never returned for a vote by the council, so there is nothing for the state to litigate on that issue. Requests for comment to attorneys representing the state as well as to the housing department were not immediately returned. If dismissed, Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates said he will then focus his attention on the citys lawsuitfiled in federal court March 9against state housing lawmakers, Gov. Gavin Newsom, and Housing Community Development Department Director Gustavo Velasquez seeking exemption from a current housing mandate, which has indicated it needs to zone for 13,368 housing units by 2029. Mandatory Housing Plan The citys lawsuit argues the number of housing units it is required to zone for is disproportionate to other cities, and the largest allocation in the state based on a citys size and population. The citys lawsuit references a 2022 report by the States Independent Auditor which determined the housing departments 2021 calculations in question were created using a flawed system and are therefore inaccurate. The housing department could not demonstrate that it adequately considered all of the factors that state law requires, concluding that this insufficient oversight and lack of support for its considerations risks eroding public confidence that HCD is informing local governments of the appropriate amount of housing they will need. Housing in Huntington Beach, Calif., on March 17, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Of concern to Huntington Beach officials is that of the more than 13,000 units it must zone for, a tad more than 8,000 must be set aside as affordable for individuals earning very low, low, and moderate incomes. Developers usually include around 20 percent affordable units in new projects, to maintain no net loss fiscally. To meet that number, according to city officials, the affordable units would have to be spread out over multiple developmentsmeaning each new development would only include a quarter of units deemed affordablewhich could result, they say, in having to plan for as many as 40,000 units overall. They say such would increase the amount of housing in the city by 50 percent and would drastically change its makeup. According to the Southern California Association of Governments, in April of 2021, Huntington Beach had a little over 76,000 units of housing. Violating Free Speech California cities were required to have an approved housing plan, including a signed declaration stating the need for housing overrules unavoidable environmental impacts, by Oct. 15, 2022. Huntington Beach still does not. A plan was almost approved during the March 21 council meeting, but a presentation by city staff said the impacts of approving it would create significant and unavoidable, environmental impacts, such as exceeding thresholds for air quality, greenhouse gases, hydrology and water quality, noise, and utilities, and services systems. The council voted 43 on the issue again April 4, with the newly elected conservative majority voting against signing the declaration. Councilors Dan Kalmick, Natalie Moser, and Rhonda Bolton voted in favor. I will not allow the state to violate my first amendment right by forcing me to sign a document that says I think these housing mandates are more important than the negative impacts on the environment that they will create. I wont do it, Councilman Casey McKeon said during the meeting. The Civic Center in Huntington Beach, Calif., on Sept. 29, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) McKeon said he reflected on campaign promises he and Gracey Van Der Mark, Pat Burns and Tony Strickland made during their campaigns last fall, which included protecting the city against overdevelopment. This is the moment we stand our ground and draw the line in the sand to save our city. This is the moment we fight back, he said. But Kalmick said during the meeting that the declaration regarding environmental impacts was more guidance than actual policy and that the new board majority was copping out on a technicality. This is an administrative document that shows that we can meet state law, its not a building target, he said during the meeting. But Mayor Tony Strickland said signing the environmental declaration would force the council to declare that the governors housing crisis, is more important than the negative environmental impacts caused by following the states housing mandates. I dont agree with that at all, he said. In a dramatic flourish, McKeon doubled down with his closing comment on the matter. I will never stop fighting against state overreach in order to protect the city I love and the amazing residents who elected me, because I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees, he said. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) made history by becoming the highest-ranking elected official to meet with a Taiwanese president on American soil since the United States established diplomatic relations with Beijing. On Wednesday, McCarthy, alongside a bipartisan congressional delegation, welcomed Tsai at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. During the meeting, McCarthy called Tsai a great friend to America and emphasized the strong bond between the two countries, which he believes is stronger than ever before. The question of how strong the bond is remains, however. Would the United States respond militarily if China invaded Taiwan? To discuss this, Larry Elder is joined by James R. Gorrie, an Epoch Times contributor and author of The China Crisis. Gorrie criticized the Biden administrations policy of strategic ambiguity regarding Taiwan and its relations with China. He argued that the strategy was no longer effective and urged the United States to take more decisive action in support of Taiwan, including potentially arming the island and increasing military cooperation with Japan. On another topic, Elder is joined by Cully Stimson, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for detainee affairs in the George W. Bush administration and now a senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation. Stimson, who co-authored the book Rogue Prosecutors: How Radical Soros Lawyers Are Destroying Americas Communities, discusses the rise of rogue prosecutors who have been funded by billionaire financier George Soros and other organizations to take over prosecutors offices and dismantle the criminal justice system, which they claim is systemically racist. These hand-selected prosecutors, including Kim Fox in Chicago and Alvin Bragg in New York, have issued indictments without substantial evidence. The Larry Elder Show is sponsored by Birch Gold Group. Protect your IRA or 401(k) with precious metals today: http://larryforgold.com/ Israel Launches Air Strikes Targeting Hamas in Lebanon, Gaza After Rocket Attack Israeli security personnel check the remains of a rocket in Shlomi, northern Israel, on April 6, 2023. (Fadi Amun/Reuters) Israels military said it launched air strikes across Gaza and Lebanon in the early hours of the morning on April 7, striking targets linked to the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The strikes came in response to rocket attacks from Lebanon towards northern Israeli areas on Thursday, which Israeli officials blamed on Hamas. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Twitter translated by multiple news media that its forces attacked infrastructure targets and targets of the terrorist organization Hamas in southern Lebanon. It added that the IDF will not allow the terrorist organization Hamas to operate from Lebanon and considers the state of Lebanon responsible for all fire from its territory. Israels military later said it was also attacking the Gaza Strip due to what it called Hamas security violations. Military officials said fighter jets struck multiple targets including underground tunnels and weapons manufacturing sites of Hamas. However, there are reports that multiple residential homes were damaged by the strikes and the Palestinian Ministry of Health said a childrens hospital in Gaza City was hit, which left young patients inside distressed. This is not the first time that health facilities have been targeted, and it is unacceptable, the ministry added in a statement. People react as a siren sounds following incoming rockets from Lebanon to Israel near Shlomi, northern Israel, on April 6, 2023. (Fadi Amun/Reuters) Lebanon Strikes Israel Two people in the Galilee region were injured, including a man hit by shrapnel and a woman who was hurt as she ran to a bomb shelter, according to the Israeli medical aid society Magen David Adom. The latest air strikes mark the most serious escalation between Lebanon and Israel since the 2006 war. In a statement responding to the strikes, Hamas said it holds Israel fully responsible for the grave escalation and the flagrant aggression against the Gaza Strip and for the consequences that will bring onto the region. In another statement, the terrorist group said it stands in solidarity with the Lebanese people. Israels strikes on Gaza and Southern Lebanon came after at least 34 rockets were fired into northern Israel from Lebanon on Thursday afternoon, according to the IDF. The military said 25 of the rockets were intercepted by air defense systems. Axios reports that four of the rockets fell inside Lebanon and five fell into Israeli territory, including the northern town of Shlomi. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack from Lebanon but Hamas and Islamic Jihad are believed to be responsible this time, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, told multiple media outlets. Israeli army soldiers take aim during clashes with Palestinian protesters following a demonstration to denounce the annual nationalist flag march through Jerusalem, in the city of Hebron in the West Bank on May 29, 2022. (Mosab Shawer / AFP via Getty Images) Israel Will Exact a Heavy Price In a statement early on Friday following the IDF strikes on Gaza and Lebanon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacks were carried out in response to the firing at citizens of Israel in the north and the south. Israels response, tonight and in the future, will exact a heavy price, Netanyahu said. Lebanons caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, also condemned the firing of rockets from Lebanon adding that the country opposes any military escalation from its territory and opposes the use of its territory for acts that destabilize the region. He noted that Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers were investigating and trying to find the perpetrators. The latest strikes come during the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims, which this year coincides with the Jewish Passover holiday. Tensions have been running high following Israeli police raids on the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem this week, which is regarded as the third-holiest site in Islam. Since Ramadan began on March 22, a group of Palestinians has repeatedly attempted to stay overnight in the mosque, which is usually permitted only during the last 10 days of the holiday. Israeli police have evicted the group on a nightly basis. Police used stun grenades and rubber bullets against what they said were protestors barricaded inside, who in turn threw stones and launched fireworks against the police. More than 350 people were arrested according to police, and at least 12 sustained injuries. National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby told reporters on Thursday that Washington is very concerned about the escalating violence in Israel. We call on all sides to de-escalate, reduce the violence, Kirby said. Matthew Horwood and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Japans Foreign Minister Visits China for the First Time in Three Years Amid Turbulent Relations U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) listens as Japan's Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi (R) makes opening remarks during a meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) foreign ministers in Melbourne on February 11, 2022. (Photo by Sandra Sanders/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Japans Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi visited China on April 1. The visit came as the Japanese government announced restrictions on the export of 23 types of semiconductor manufacturing equipment. This is also a time of significant tensions between the two countries because a Japanese employee of Astellas Pharma, a Japanese multinational pharmaceutical company in China, was arrested by the Chinese regime on suspicion of espionage. Yoshitomo Hayashi was the first Japanese foreign minister to visit China in over three years. On March 31, just one day before the visit, the Japanese government announced that Japan would restrict exporting 23 types of semiconductor manufacturing equipment starting in July, which may affect Japanese companies, including Nikon and Tokyo Electron. Those leading semiconductor equipment manufacturers would need permission from the Japanese government to export cutting-edge technology. Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura Yasutoshi said the measures were not intended to be country-specific. He only emphasized the need for manufacturers to obtain prior export permission if they seek to export equipment to any region. He also said that Japan decided to prevent these advanced technologies from being used in the military. On the same day Japan announced the export restrictions, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials claimed that Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshitomo Hayashis visit to China was at the invitation of CCP State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang and that China values the visit. The CCP also referred to China and Japan as important neighboring countries and emphasized that maintaining healthy and stable relations between the two countries is in their common interest. On March 27, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said that the CCPs State Security Department had arrested a Japanese citizen in China on suspicion of espionage. In response to Japans call for release, Mao said the mans freedom must be done per the law. Japans Export Restrictions Are Inevitable According to U.S.-based political and economic analyst Lu Yuanxing, Japans announcement of export restrictions after the CCP arrested a Japanese citizen and before the Japanese Foreign Ministers visit to China is a sign of Japans position of not showing weakness to the Chinese regime. A monitor displaying a virtual meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden (top L), Australias Prime Minister Scott Morrison (bottom L), Japans Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga (top R), and Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi (bottom R) is seen during the virtual Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) meeting, at Sugas official residence in Tokyo on March 12, 2021. (Kiyoshi Ota / POOL / AFP) Lu told The Epoch Times: Some may think the time is a coincidence, but that is not the case. If Japan had shown weakness, the Japanese Foreign Minister could have gone to China and tried to secure their own citizens release before announcing the export restrictions, but Japan did not do that. I believe its not a coincidence that Japan is making its position clearit wont show weakness to the CCPs intimidation. This was a clear statement to the Chinese regime. Lu further explained that the CCPs approach would only show the international community how unreliable China is, further isolating itself and pushing Japan to the U.S. camp. Wang He, a China expert and current affairs commentator in the United States told The Epoch Times on April 2 that Japans announcement to restrict the export of 23 types of semiconductor manufacturing equipment is inevitable. In March 2021, the U.S. Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense and the Japanese Foreign Minister and Defense Minister met and together stated that Chinas behavior was inconsistent with the current international order and posed a threat to the international community, and expressed concerns over Taiwan, the South China Sea, and Xinjiang. Such a statement was met with furious rebuke from then-Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian. In August 2022, when the CCP staged military exercises around Taiwan, five missiles landed in Japans exclusive economic zone, causing Japan great concern. In this situation, when Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida came to power in 2022, he adopted a confrontational position against the CCP, Wang said. Japan has adopted a new National Security Strategy and plans to increase defense spending to 2 percent of Japans GDP by 2027. Japan seeks to contain Chinas technology developments through disassociation with China, aligning with the U.S. strategy. Japan Cuts Export of Photolithography Equipment to China Right After Dutch Restrictions Japan, the United States, and the Netherlands are the three leading chip equipment manufacturers needed by the CCP. Last October, the Biden administration announced a chip-export ban on China, restricting the CCPs access to advanced chips for weapons and its military logistics. The White House urged Japan, the Netherlands, and other allies to follow suit. A view of a lens used to manufacture semiconductor circuits at ASML, a Dutch company currently the largest supplier of semiconductor manufacturing machines via photolithography systems in Veldhoven, Netherlands, on April 17, 2018. (Emmanuel Dunand/AFP via Getty Images) In January, the United States, Japan, and the Netherlands reached an agreement in Washington to expand chip export controls against China, with Japan and the Netherlands making arrangements to implement their controls. More than a month after the agreement with the United States, on March 8 of this year, the Netherlands announced that it would formally join the United States in imposing new export controls on specific semiconductor manufacturing equipment, including the most advanced deep ultraviolet lithography (DUV) in the semiconductor industry. The move was to protect Dutch national security. In a letter to Dutch parliamentarians, Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Liesje Schreinemacher said, In light of technological developments and the geopolitical context, the (Dutch) government has concluded that it is necessary to extend existing export controls on specific semiconductor production equipment for the sake of national security. On the same day as the Dutch announcement, news broke in the Chinese industry that a major Japanese photoresist manufacturer had implemented the U.S. restrictions and cut off the supply of KrF resists to a Chinese company. Photoresist is a crucial material required in the process of semiconductor chip manufacturing. According to Chinas icsmart tech news site, Chinas self-sufficiency rate of KrF photoresist is less than 5 percent. In contrast, high-end ArF photoresist relies on imports, one of Chinas significant hurdles in domestic semiconductor production. Last May, Eric Johnson, CEO of Japanese semiconductor manufacturer JSR, said that despite Chinas efforts to promote chip self-sufficiency, the essential infrastructure for Chinas semiconductor industry needs to be improved. It is challenging to master complex chip manufacturing technology based on extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, and developing chip manufacturing technologies for advanced processes will be very difficult. Jeffrey Epsteins One-Time New York Cellmate Convicted of Quadruple Murder The Metropolitan Correctional Center where Jeffrey Epstein was being held in New York on Aug. 10, 2019. (Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images) A former New York police officer who shared a jail cell with Jeffrey Epstein at the time of the notorious sex traffickers death has been convicted of murdering four men and burying them in his yard. Nicholas Tartaglione, a 55-year-old retired police officer-turned-drug dealer, faces life imprisonment after a jury on Thursday found him guilty of the strangling death of one man and the execution-style killings of three others. While awaiting his trial, Tartaglione attracted widespread media attention after he was identified as Epsteins cellmate at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in lower Manhattan. A well-connected financier accused of operating a sex trafficking ring involving dozens of children, Epstein was found dead on the morning of Aug. 10, 2019, just a few days after prison officials removed him from suicide watch. Bruce Barket, the attorney for Tartaglione, claimed at that time that his client and Epstein got along well and both complained about living conditions there. After sharing the cell with Epstein for some time, Tartaglione was transferred out and never returned, even when Epstein was placed on watch and then removed from the list. In the case for which he was convicted, prosecutors said Tartaglione schemed the killings after suspecting that one of the victims, Martin Luna, had stolen more than $200,000 from him. Having no idea what Tartaglione had planned, Martin showed up on April 11, 2016, to a meeting in a bar in Orange County, New York, accompanied by his two nephewsMiguel Luna and Urbano Santiagoas well as a family friend, Hector Gutierrez. In what prosecutors described as pure terror, Tartaglione tortured Martin and strangled him to death with a zip-tie while one of his nephews watched. According to prosecutors, Tartaglione and two of his associates then took Martins nephews and friend to a remote wooded location, forcing them to their knees before killing them by shooting into the backs of their heads. Tartaglione then buried the bodies of his victims in a grave dug at a ranch he rented in Otisville, about 70 miles north of Manhattan, only for them to be recovered by the police about eight months later. We commend the career prosecutors and investigators for their relentless pursuit of justice in this case over the past seven years, and for ensuring that Nicholas Tartaglione faces a lifetime in federal prison for his unconscionable murder of four men, said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams. Most of all, we thank the victims families for trusting law enforcement to find their loved ones and see that justice was done. Three associates of Tartaglione have testified against him at his murder trial, according to the Associated Press. A fourth associate, who was also a former police officer, had killed himself. Meanwhile, Bruce Barket said his client is deeply disappointed with the verdict and intended to file an appeal asking a higher court to reverse the guilty verdict against him. Mr. Tartaglione wont stop fighting until he gains his freedom, he said in a statement. This didnt end here, it just moves to the next phase, the appellate courts. Judge Overseeing Trump Case Appears to Have Donated to Bidens Campaign and Stop Republicans Group: FEC Records Former U.S. President Donald Trump is accompanied by members of his legal team, Susan Necheles and Joe Tacopina, as he appears in court for an arraignment on charges stemming from his indictment by a Manhattan grand jury, in New York City on April 4, 2023. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters) Juan Merchan, the judge overseeing the Manhattan criminal case against former President Donald Trump appears to have donated at least $35 to Trumps 2020 political opponents, according to a recent review of Federal Election Commission (FEC) records. The FEC lists a $15 entry from a Juan Merchan in 2020 to Biden for PresidentJoe Bidens official 2020 campaign. Another FEC entry lists a $10 donation to the Progressive Turnout Projectan organization whose stated mission is to rally Democrats to vote. A third FEC entry lists a $10 donation to Stop Republicansa subsidiary of the Progressive Turnout Project that describes itself as a grassroots-funded effort dedicated to resisting the Republican Party and Donald Trumps radical right-wing legacy. The Juan Merchan described in all three entries listed himself as a judge living in the Forest Hills neighborhood of New York City, and lists his employer as the New York State Office of Court Administration (NYS OCA). NTD News reached out to Biden For President and the Progressive Turnout Project for comment but neither organization responded before this article was published. Ethical Concerns Merchans apparent political donations, if authentic, could pose an ethical issue for his continued handling of Trumps case. Section 100.5 of the New York Code of Judicial Conduct, states sitting judges cannot directly or indirectly engage in any political activity except to vote, identify himself or herself as a member of a political party, and comment on behalf of measures to improve the law, the legal system or the administration of justice. Prohibited political activity includes soliciting funds for, paying an assessment to, or making a contribution to a political organization or candidate. The New York State Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethicss yearly-updated handbook further states, A sitting judge may not make political contributions at any time, even to a U.S. presidential candidate or to a federal congressional candidate outside of New York State. Furthermore, the American Bar Associations Model Code of Judicial Conduct states that unless permitted by law, a judge shall not solicit funds for, pay an assessment to, or make a contribution to a political organization or a candidate for public office. In addition, a part-time judge who practices law may not permit his/her law firm to make political contributions using the law firms checking account, even where the judge is not the signatory on the check.' These New York State judicial conduct rules are similar to the American Bar Associations Model Code of Judicial Conduct, which states a judge shall not make a contribution to a political organization or a candidate for public office unless otherwise permitted by law. It remains to be seen if and how these apparent political donations by Merchan may impact the Trump case. We would have no idea regarding any donations, and should either party have any issues or concerns, it is for them to address directly with the Court, a spokesperson for the New York court system said in an emailed statement. NTD News reached out to Merchans office for further comment but did not receive a response before this article was published. Trumps Criticism of Merchan Merchans apparent political donations have resurfaced as he is set to oversee a criminal proceeding against Trump on allegations that he falsified business records. Trump was Bidens main political rival in the 2020 presidential election and is currently running for the Republican 2024 presidential nomination. Polling has consistently placed Trump as the frontrunner in the 2024 Republican presidential race. Trump has already accused Merchan of holding political bias against him in the case. In a post on Truth Social on March 31, Trump wrote that the judge assigned to his witch hunt case HATES ME. Trump noted that Merchan has presided over previous cases involving Trumps business affiliates and alleged Merchan strong armed former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg into taking a plea deal in a recent case. Trump has claimed Merchans anti-Trump bias may go even deeper. In an April 4 Truth Social post, he said Merchans family are WELL KNOWN TRUMP HATERS. Trumps son Donald Trump Jr. also recently posted a link to a Breitbart report indicating Merchans daughter worked as a director of digital persuasion for Kamala Harris For The People and has worked for a campaign firm tied to other Democratic political candidates. Mike Davis, a former Republican chief counsel on the Senate Judiciary Committee, told CNN that Merchans apparent political donations should disqualify him from overseeing the case against Trump. He donated to Joe Bidens campaign. He should get off this case. And this judge has a history, with President Trump, in prior cases, Davis said. CNN legal analyst and former Manhattan prosecutor Karen Friedman Agnifilo said, Judge Merchan has a reputation of being a fair down-the-middle judge, however, donating to a defendants political rival can cause the appearance of a conflict, even where there is none, and creates an unforced error in this case involving Trump. From NTD News Kansas Parents Could Opt Kids Out of LGBT Lessons After Bill Passes Parents in Kansas could be able to remove their children from lessons on LGBT topics after lawmakers passed a bill on Thursday. If enacted, House Bill 2236 will allow parents to choose an alternate activity for their K12 children if they decide lessons dont align with their sincerely held beliefs, values, or principles. The majority GOP state House passed the bill in a 7646 vote. It passed the state Senate last week and will now go to the desk of Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat. Parental rights have been strengthened in a number of states through legislation aimed at pervasive left-wing ideologies being taught in classrooms across the country. Such lessons, which often focus on LGBT topics and critical race theory (CRT), have been deemed indoctrination mostly by conservative lawmakers and advocates. CRT is a highly contentious left-wing theory that holds that white people are inherently privileged and that non-white people are inherently oppressed. Critics of CRT note that it has its origins in the political thought of Karl Marx, the ideological founder of communism. The theory has also been criticized as racist for its efforts to reduce the individual to a member of a group on the basis of their skin color. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, has led the charge with parental rights legislation, banning topics on gender identity and CRT from being taught in kindergarten through the third grade. Recently proposed legislation might see that expanded to 12th grade. The last few years have seen pushback by parents concerned about these ideologies being taught in classrooms. Among the issues raised at school board meetings are classroom lessons on sexual orientation, gender identity, CRT, and sexually explicit books being available by young children. Kansas Bill According to the text of the Kansas bill (pdf), parents would be able to object to things their kids are being taught in school if its not part of the school curriculum or state educational standards. If parents dont want their kids exposed to materials or activities they feel might impair their religious values, the school district must let them take their children out of the class without it affecting their academic record. When parents opt their child out, the student will need to complete an alternative assignment in order to obtain the required credits and attendance hours for graduation. The bill states that if a particular activity clashes with a parents beliefs or values, the school must find a suitable alternative that everyone can agree on. If its possible, the student can stay in the class, but if not, the school will provide some extra help to make sure they dont fall behind in their studies. Under this bill, every school districts board of education will have to create policies that protect parents rights to direct their childs education. These should make sure that the law is properly followed, and they should include specific instructions for how to implement its provisions. National Parental Bill of Rights At a national level, Republicans are pursuing a parental bill of rights, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives on March 24. That bill, known as H.R. 5, was proposed by Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). The bill has several provisions, all aimed at making sure parents are aware of whats happening in their childrens classrooms. The bills primary focus is to ensure that parents are aware of what their children are being taught in school. It proposes that schools must publicly disclose the contents of their curriculum and library materials so that parents can be informed about what is being taught to their children. Currently, some schools teach radical ideologies without parents knowledge. The bill also establishes the right of parents to view their childrens school expenditures. The bill was created in response to COVID-19 restrictions that led many parents to see firsthand what their children were learning in the classroom via online learning. Some parents were surprised to find that far-left ideology was being promoted, and this led to nationwide protests at school board meetings. The protests were framed by the National School Boards Association in a letter to President Joe Biden as domestic terrorism and hate crimes. The association claimed the countrys public schools and its education leaders are under an immediate threat from these parents who were concerned about what was being taught to their kids. Attorney General Merrick Garland was caught in an Oct. 4, 2021, memo offering federal resources and legal aid to states to fight back. Since that memo came to light, McCarthy has vowed to deliver legislation to ensure that parents control over their childrens education is legally protected. Joseph Lord contributed to this report. Labor Energy Plans Will Hurt Australia: Dutton Leader of the opposition Peter Dutton MP during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on Feb. 14, 2023. (Martin Ollman/Getty Images) Opposition leader Peter Dutton is warning Australian families could be in for soaring power bills if the federal government continues with its proposal to limit gas supply in the Australian energy market. One of the most important debates in our country, as I say, is energy policy, Dutton said in Melbourne on April 4. Weve supported much of what the Albanese government has done in relation to their investment in renewable technologies, but the first step that they took was to price fix, which doesnt work here and its not worked anywhere around the world. We know that power prices arent coming down. On the contrary, theyre set to rise by 20 percent or more on the 1st of July for almost 250,000 businesses and 1.6 million households. Dutton is calling for the federal government to have a genuine conversation on reliable and affordable baseload power, which currently provides 65 percent of Australias power and which he believes the government may turn off before other systems are ready. He also wants the Albanese government to reconsider gas as a transitory power as the push to net-zero continues. Gas in our country is in huge demand, and the government now decides to limit supply, which of course, drives up prices even further. And they are now talking about new projects being stopped altogether. That will only increase power prices further, he said. The reality is that we need reliable baseload power to keep the fridges running at the IGA and keep the air conditioning running in small businesses around the country. Dutton was also concerned that any failure in supply would send manufacturing offshore, which he argues is an untenable position for business. Government Alleges Energy Prices On the Way Down However, the federal government has said that they have helped shield Australians from the worst energy price rises. Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said in a media release that recent draft increases in the Default Market Offer (DMO) for electricity showed that the governments actions on energy had worked. The DMO, which is set by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER), is the maximum price that electricity retailers in New South Wales, South Australia, and south-east Queensland can charge customers from July 1, 2023with the majority, around 90 percent, up to 29 percentage points lower than the AER projected in late 2022. The government estimates this means potential increases between $268 and $530 were avoided for households and up to $1,243 additional increase avoided for small business customers. The government, faced with large increases in the DMO, urgently acted to curb spiralling prices of gas and coal and shield Australian families and businesses from the worst of these energy price spikes, Bowen said. Australias Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen speaks to media during a press conference in the Mural Hall at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on June 23, 2021. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images) We know there is more to do, which is why our Energy Price Relief Plan also included consumer and small business rebatesadditional, targeted assistance to those who need it most. And over the medium to long-term, we are driving the transformation to 82 percent renewables by 2030 with Rewiring the Nation and our Capacity Investment Scheme because firmed renewable energy is the cheapest form of energy. Nuclear Power Needs To be Considered Dutton has previously stated he believes that the government needs to consider nuclear power and has questioned the governments renewable power plan, which he said will need to construct 40 wind turbines every month, 22,000 solar panels every day, and roll out 28,000 kilometres of transmission lines by 2050, which he argues will cost an estimated $100 billion dollars. A man fishes with the towering Dukovany nuclear power plant in the background in Dukovany, Czech Republic, on Sept. 27, 2011. (Petr David Josek/AP Photo) To be honest, its just not realistic, and there is certainly no regard to the cost$100 billion is not going to be absorbed by companies or by the governmentits going to be passed on to you as consumers, Dutton said. So we need to have a realistic discussion in our judgement about the use of small modular reactor nuclear technology. Labour Faces Backlash Over Twitter Post Targeting Sunak on Child Abuse Offenders ROCHDALE, ENGLAND - APRIL 3: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks to the media following a meeting with the local community and police leaders, following the announcement of a new police task force to help officers tackle grooming gangs, on April 3, 2023 in Rochdale, England. (Photo by Phil Noble - Pool/Getty Images) Labour is facing backlash from within its own party ranks over a social media advert stating Prime Minister Rishi Sunak does not believe child sex abusers should be jailed. The post, which included a graphic of the prime minister, was published on the partys official Twitter account on Thursday. The post pitches Labour as the party of law and order alongside the words: Do you think adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should go to prison? Rishi Sunak doesnt. Politiciansincluding Labour MPs Diane Abbott and John McDonnellhave slammed the post, which appears to have received mostly negative feedback on social media. On Friday, shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell refused to endorse her partys ad, but did state that it was part of the cut and thrust of political debate which sought to highlight the Tories record on law and order. Judges and magistrates, rather than the prime minister, are responsible for handing out sentences. The figures Labour highlighted cover the period since 2010. Sunak only entered Parliament in 2015 and did not become prime minister until October last year. Labour was accused of a vile and desperate campaign strategy by Tory Deputy Chairman Lee Anderson and cheapened and debased politics by SNP MP John Nicolson after posting the advert on Twitter. Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell urged his party to climb down, saying: This is not the sort of politics a Labour Party, confident of its own values and preparing to govern, should be engaged in. I say to the people who have taken the decision to publish this ad, please withdraw it. We, the Labour Party, are better than this. Describing the post as horrible, former shadow home secretary Diane Abbot wrote: Sunak is responsible for lots of things. But sentencing is the responsibility of the judiciary. You would think a former DPP [Director of Public Prosecutions] would know that. Labours shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell delivers her keynote speech on day three of the Labour Party Conference at the ACC in Liverpool, England, on Sept. 27, 2022. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) Twitter Warning Appearing on BBC Breakfast on Friday, Powell suggested her partys post was a skit based on Sunaks own promotional material. Asked if she stood by the post, she said, What I stand by is what that graphic is trying to show, which is that the prime minister of our country is responsible for the criminal justice system of our country and currently that criminal justice system is not working. Asked again whether she stood by the message, Powell replied, I stand by what this tweet and this campaign is trying to highlight. She added, The graphic itself, obviously, is a skit based on his own graphics that he extensively uses. In response to McDonnells criticism, Powell said that she could see the advert was not to everybodys taste. Clearly, John McDonnell is one of those, she added. But that is the cut and thrust nature of politics. I didnt design the graphic, its not my graphic. Asked if the Twitter post should be removed, Powell later told Times Radio, I dont think it should be deleted. The post, which highlights Labour analysis of Ministry of Justice data, said: Under the Tories, 4,500 adults convicted of sexually assaulting children under-16 served no prison time. Labour will lock up dangerous child abusers. Twitter has since added a context label to the political partys post, which is used when a post may contain disputed or misleading information. It states that the current sentencing guidelines for this crime have a maximum sentence of 14 years. It added that there is no Conservative Party policy that plans to remove this. Crime-Fighting Policies In a statement on Thursday evening defending the post, a Labour spokesperson said the Conservatives have left dangerous convicted criminals free to roam the streets. Labour is the party of law and order, and we will implement tougher sentences for dangerous criminals, the spokesperson added. The Epoch Times has contacted 10 Downing Street for comment. Both main parties have put crime-fighting plans at the heart of their campaigns to snap up votes on May 4. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer repeated his promise to halve levels of violence against women and girls as he met with charities supporting victims in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, earlier on Thursday. Meanwhile Sunak has announced a crackdown on grooming gangs to protect young women and girls from sexual abuse, with measures including a new police taskforce of specialist officers and the collection of ethnicity data. At a meeting in Greater Manchester with police and other agencies involved in tackling grooming gang abuse, Sunak said cultural sensitivity and political correctness had previously stopped abusers being brought to justice. The prime minister stopped short of repeating Home Secretary Suella Bravermans comments made in a series of media interviews over the weekend surrounding British Pakistani men. Braverman pointed to a predominance of certain ethnic groupsand I say British Pakistani maleswho hold cultural values totally at odds with British values, who see women in a demeaned and illegitimate way and pursue an outdated and frankly heinous approach in terms of the way they behave. Her language was criticised by some campaigners, with the NSPCC emphasising that just considering race could create new blind spots. Asked on Monday if the focus on BritishAsian grooming gangs was appropriate, Sunak said that all forms of child sexual exploitation carried out by whomever are horrific. He then referred to several independent inquiries that looked at grooming gang abuse in Rochdale, Rotherham, and Telford. PA Media contributed to this report. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. A series of events dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the Silk Roads Programme is being held at the headquarters of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), located in Paris, the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan told Trend. According to the ministry, a colorful concert program was organized on April 6, 2023 with the participation of artists from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and China. At the concert, the works of classical music performed by Saida Zulfugarova (pianist) and Agaragim Guliyev (fluitist) were welcomed by a multinational audience. The audience was especially interested in the dances "Uzundere" and "Naz Eleme" performed by Azerbaijani dancers in national costumes. At the same time, interesting performance collectives from China and Kazakhstan, as well as a collection of national costumes, were demonstrated. In addition, during the event all three countries represented the samples of their national cuisines. Man Gets 12 Years for San Diego Stabbing Death on New Years Day 2022 SAN DIEGOA man who fatally stabbed another man in Logan Heights last year was sentenced April 6 to a dozen years in state prison. Guillermo Lopez-Perez, 24, pleaded guilty to a voluntary manslaughter count for stabbing 27-year-old Rodrigo Diaz-Perez to death on New Years Day 2022. San Diego police first received reports at about 3:45 p.m. that day regarding a fight involving a group of men at the corner of 29th Street and Clay Avenue. Officers arrived to find Diaz-Perez lying in the street with stab wounds to his upper body, according to San Diego Police Department Lt. Andra Brown. He died at a hospital less than an hour later, according to the lieutenant. Following an argument, Diaz-Perez ran and Lopez-Perez gave chase, Deputy District Attorney Kelsey Hollander said. As he was fleeing, the victim fell and Lopez-Perez stabbed him while he was on the ground, the prosecutor said. Lopez-Perez was arrested on Jan. 25, 2022, in the city of Fairfield in Solano County. Transgender Individual Arrested for Allegedly Plotting School Shootings A police officer lifts barricade tape while in their vehicle in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Nov. 20, 2022. (Kevin Mohatt/Reuters) Charges have been filed against a man who identifies as a woman after he allegedly planned to carry out mass shooting attacks on multiple schools in Colorado Springs, the 18th Judicial District Attorneys Office announced. William Whitworth, 19, was charged on April 6 following an investigation into threats involving the schools in Colorado Springs Academy District 20, officials said. Whitworth, who told police he identifies as Lilly, has been charged with two counts of criminal attempt to commit murder in the first degree, one count of criminal mischief, one count of menacing, and one count of interference with staff, faculty, or students of educational institutions. The suspect is currently being held in the Elbert County Jail on a $75,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing on May 5, officials said. According to arrest records obtained by local news outlets, Whitworth previously attended three District 20 schools in Colorado Springs for a total of nine months over a two-year period between August 2014 and October 2016: Prairie Hills Elementary, Home School Academy, and Timberview Middle School. Arrest records state that a family contacted the Elbert County Sheriffs Office after Whitworth allegedly made multiple references to school shootings and threatened to shoot up a school, NBC affiliate KOAA-TV reported. Police reportedly visited Whitworths home and questioned him regarding the allegations, to which he allegedly responded by nodding his head when asked if he had planned to carry out a school shooting. According to arrest records, police believed Whitworth to be intoxicated when they arrived at the home to question him. Police confirmed that Whitworth had once attended Timberview Middle School and the suspect allegedly confessed that he was planning on attacking that school for no specific reason, as well churches in the area, according to arrest records. Police Find Manifesto Whitworth reportedly confirmed to law enforcement officials that he had been planning the school shootings for months and had too much knowledge about school shootings. His arrest affidavit reportedly references a manifesto with an entire page regarding mass killings, which allegedly includes drawings of classrooms and a detonator. Whitworth allegedly told police that he had watched a YouTube video to learn how to create a detonator. Police reportedly took multiple pieces of evidence from Whitworths home, including journals detailing various firearms and how to 3D print them, detailed lists of individuals that were to be killed and how they would be murdered or injured, and information regarding how to build improvised explosive devices. The journals also listed the locations of Timberview Middle School, Prairie Hills Elementary, and Pine Creek High School, according to police. Officials did not state in arrest records that firearms or explosives were found at Whitworths home. Eric Ross, a spokesman for the 18th Judicial District Attorneys Office, told The Gazette that Whitworth is in the process of transitioning to female. It is not clear if Whitworth has legal representation. The Colorado Public Defenders Office, which represents the defendant, states that it does not issue comments to the media. The charges against Whitworth come shortly after a former student of The Covenant School who identified as transgender and used male pronouns opened fire on the Nashville school, killing six people, including three young children. Police said the suspect in that shooting, identified as 28-year-old Audrey Elizabeth Hale, also had a manifesto and had planned the massacre by drawing out a detailed map of the school, which included potential entry points. Hale was shot dead by authorities on site. Maryland AGs Report Reveals Tragic Scope of Alleged Sex Abuse in Baltimore Archdiocese The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore's Cathedral of Mary Our Queen is seen in Baltimore, Maryland, on June 23, 2017. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown has finally released a report detailing eight decades of alleged sexual abuse by more than 150 Catholic priests and others associated with the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The current or former clergy, seminarians, deacons, religious, teachers, and other Archdiocesan employees preyed on at least 600 children, the report said. This Report illustrates the depraved, systemic failure of the Archdiocese to protect the most vulnerablethe children it was charged to keep safe, said Brown in a press release (pdf). This Report shines a light on this overwhelming tragedy, and it was the courage of the survivors that made it possible. Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown comments on the redacted report on child sexual abuse in the Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore, on Wednesday, April 6, 2023. (Kim Hairston/The Baltimore Sun via AP) Released on April 5, the attorney generals report reveals not only the immense scope and scale of abuse but also the Archdioceses efforts to hide the abuse, which was brought to light after subpoenaing hundreds of thousands of documents going back to the 1940s. The report includes material gathered from hotlines set up for reporting purposes, victim and witness interviews, open-source media, documents provided by the Archdiocese in response to grand jury subpoenas, and reporting letters from the Archdiocese. The Archdiocese of Baltimore encompasses much of the state of Maryland. In addition to Baltimore, it includes Allegheny, Anne Arundel, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, and Washington counties. The staggering pervasiveness of the abuse itself underscores the culpability of the Church hierarchy, the report said (pdf). The sheer number of abusers and victims, the depravity of the abusers conduct, and the frequency with which known abusers were given the opportunity to continue preying upon children is astonishing. The Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) said they hope the public will read the attorney generals report to better understand how the abuse was perpetrated and allowed to continue for so long, and to encourage other victims to step forward. This report goes back as far as 80 years, so this is a good picture of historical abuse. But were most concerned about recent and ongoing abuse, and we hope that this news will encourage anyone who has been hurt by clergy in Maryland to come forward and get help, SNAP wrote in an April 5 statement. SNAP said the goal of the report should be to protect children by identifying and holding key powerful figures accountable for supporting abusers. Current Baltimore Archbishop William Lori apologized to the victims and their families, saying the abuse is reprehensible, and that victims will not be ignored or forgotten. The detailed accounts of abuse are shocking and soul-searing. It is difficult for most to imagine that such evil acts could have actually occurred, Lori said in a written statement. For victim-survivors everywhere, they know the hard truth: These evil acts did occur. Abuse victim Jean Hargadon Wehner (L) speaks to the media after the release of the redacted report on child sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore by the Maryland Attorney Generals Office, on Wednesday, April 6, 2023. Standing next to her is victim Teresa Lancaster. (Kim Hairston/The Baltimore Sun via AP) Lori added that standards for reporting and investigating sex abuse have improved. Having spent four years investigating the Archdiocese, former Attorney General Brian Frosh signaled that the cultural changes, child protection policies, and accountability measures the Archdiocese began implementing more than a generation ago have proven successful, he said, adding, Make no mistake, however: todays strong record of protection and transparency does not excuse past failings that have led to the lasting spiritual, psychological and emotional harm victim-survivors have endured. Until recently, church officials who received complaints of abuse behaved no better. Time and again, bishops and other leaders in the church displayed empathy for the abusers that far outweighed any compassion shown to the children who were abused, the report stated. Last month, the Maryland legislature passed Senate Bill 686 (.pdf), to end the states statute of limitations on abuse-related civil lawsuits. Governor Wes Moore said he supports the new legislation, which will allow those victims whose abusers are still alive to seek justice. Currently, victims of child sex abuse in Maryland cant sue after they turn 38. The measure, if passed, will eliminate the age limit and allow for retroactive lawsuits under certain circumstances. The attorney generals report mainly focuses on the years from the 1940s to 2002, and shows that certain parishes had multiple abusers. For example, St. Mark Parish in Catonsville had eleven child abusers living and working there from 1964 to 2004, according to the report. The report also details how some clergy were not prosecuted after being caught or admitting to abusing children, but moved to other parishes or facilities by church leaders. Many of those clergy eventually retired with financial support from the Archdiocese. Although federal and state sex abuse laws have improved over the years, the Baltimore Archdioceses internal process was still flawed, including an incomplete public list of abusers, and investigations done by clergy who were not trained as investigators and were not independent of the church, said the report. Abuse victim Kurt Rupprecht speaks about the abuse he suffered, after the release of the redacted report on child sexual abuse in the Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore on Wednesday, on April 6, 2023. (Kim Hairston/The Baltimore Sun via AP) Former Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh launched the initial investigation into the case in 2018. In 2022, he filed a motion with the Baltimore Circuit Court to make the report public. The report was not released immediately because it included information obtained from church officials by way of grand jury subpoenas, which are confidential in Maryland. The report includes a disclaimer stating the accusations described in this Report do not constitute findings of guilt. McCarthy Calls for One Voice Against CCP Aggression After Meeting With Taiwans Tsai House speaker also calls for faster weapons delivery to the democratic island Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) greets Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on arrival at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library for a bipartisan meeting in Simi Valley, Calif. on April 5, 2023. The historic meeting occurring on U.S. soil has been greeted by threats of retaliation by Beijing. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) LOS ANGELESHouse Speaker Kevin McCarthy has called on Congress to hasten the supply and delivery of military weapons to Taiwan amid rising tensions between the self-governed democracy and Chinas communist regime. McCarthy (R-Calif.) urged the United States and its allies to take a stand against Chinas aggression with a clear and consistent unified message that promotes peace and protects democracy, after meeting with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen in California on April 5. Its important that congressional leaders speak with one voice so that Chinas leaders know where we stand, he said. Dont send a balloon over our air space. Dont use authoritarian bully tactics, he said. It wont go far. Instead, U.S.China relations should be based on mutual respect to foster peace and prosperity through trade and commerce, McCarthy said following the meeting at a press conference at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, about 40 miles north of Los Angeles. But, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leaders denounced the meeting, building up Chinas military presence near Taiwan and threatening repercussions against the United States for allowing the meeting. My first message to China is there is no need for retaliation, McCarthy said. He dismissed CCPs intimidation tactics, saying hes not going to let China dictate where he can go or with whom he can speak. Im the Speaker of the House. Im not the general manager of the Houston Rockets, he said. The Six Assurances McCarthy said the library was a fitting place for the discussion because of President Ronald Reagans Six Assurances, a framework developed in 1982 that forms the foundation of how relations between the United States and Taiwan are conducted. President Reagans Six Assurances serve as the backbone of our relationship with the people of Taiwan. The members here today make clear we take our support for the people of Taiwan seriously and are determined to speak with one voice, he said. One of the assurances allows the United States to supply Taiwan with military weapons that serve as a deterrent to war and allow the Taiwanese people to defend themselves against an invasion, McCarthy said. Tsai and congressional delegates discussed how to speed up the process of delivering weapons Taiwan has purchased from the United States, McCarthy said. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy arrive at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., on April 5, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) CCP Threats Since Chinas communists took power in 1949, the CCP has claimed Taiwan as its territory and has vowed to eventually reunify the self-governed island with the mainlandusing military force if necessary. The official U.S. One China policy established in 1972 recognizes the Peoples Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, but the United States has rejected the CCPs claims of sovereignty over Taiwan. The United States has maintained strong diplomatic ties with the Taiwanese government, kept the Six Assurances that Reagan promised, and has denounced any of Beijings attempts to subjugate the island. Last August, the CCP staged a military show of force around Taiwan after former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) visited Taipei, Taiwans capital city. When asked whether a possible imminent Chinese attack on Taiwan is likely, McCarthy said he hoped that day never comes and called for more dialogue. He also suggested the war between Russia and Ukraine could have been averted with more dialogue a few years before it started. Communication matters, and regardless of whether people have differences of opinion, I think today is going to foster greater peace long-term, he said. When asked whether he intends to visit Taiwan, McCarthy said he doesnt have any current plans but hasnt ruled out the possibility. If he does go to Taiwan, McCarthy said it wouldnt be to take an adversarial role but to be part of a bipartisan delegation to encourage peace and stability in the region. McCarthy expressed concerns that some nations have backed away from their support for Taiwans democracy in exchange for promises of economic support from China. I wish all nations would make a decision based upon democracy, he said. When asked if the United States should commit to the defense of Taiwan if China attacks, McCarthy replied that the goal is to prevent conflict. Sanctions alone wont stop a potential conflict, he said. What we know through history, the best way to do that is to supply the weapons to allow people to deter war [so] that people could defend themselves, McCarthy said. Its a critical lesson every American learns. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy speaks at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., on April 5, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Freedom and Democracy McCarthy pointed out that China lost respect when it reneged on its promise to allow Hong Kong to keep its version of democracy for 50 years after the United Kingdom handed it to the Peoples Republic of China in 1997 after 156 years of British rule. I think that harmed them around the world. We watched them shut down newspapers and freedom of the press that had been there for decades, and I think when the world stays silent on these issues, thats what fosters the problem that gets you to that point, he said. Against the backdrop of a piece of the Berlin Wall displayed outside the library, McCarthy said Reagans patriotic spirit, belief in democracy, and commitment to the ideas of peace and freedom have always served as the bedrock of our friendship with the people of Taiwan. McCarthy said Americas bond with Taiwan is stronger now than at any point in his lifetime and more important now than ever before. And, of course, President Tsai is a great champion of that bond, he said. The friendship between the people of Taiwan and America is a matter of profound importance to the Free World, and it is critical to maintain economic freedom, peace, and regional stability. We will honor our obligations and reiterate our commitment to our shared values. McCarthy listed several crucial ways to strengthen bonds between the United States and Taiwan, including continued arms sales and expedited delivery of weapons to Taiwan, increased economic cooperation, especially trade and technology, and promoting shared values on the world stage. We live in a decisive moment in history and must act with urgency, McCarthy said. Tensions in the world are their highest point since the end of the Cold War as authoritarian leaders seek to use violence and fear to promote needless conflict. America must stay true to its values and remain consistent in its resolute, unwavering, and bipartisan support for the people of Taiwan and their desire to live in peace, freedom, and democracy. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen speaks at a press conference alongside House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) during a meeting with a bipartisan congressional delegation at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., on April 5, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Tsais Remarks In her remarks following the meeting, Tsai thanked McCarthy and the congressional delegates for their efforts to reassure Taiwans people that we are not isolated, and we are not alone. Quoting Reagan, who said freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction and that each generation must fight to defend it, Tsai said she shares his belief in peace through strength. However, it is no secret that today, that peace that we have maintained and the democracy we have worked hard to build are facing unprecedented challenges. We once again find ourselves in a world where democracy is under threat. And the urgency of keeping the beacon of freedom shining cannot be understated, she said. Reagan played a crucial role in partnership with the U.S. Congress to protect and fortify U.S.Taiwan relations with the Six Assurances he gave Taiwan in 1982, she said. With the help of the United States, to enhance Taiwans self-defense capabilities, Taiwan is committed to defending a peaceful status quo where the people of Taiwan can continue to strive in a free and open society, she said. We are stronger when we are together, she said. Taiwan strives to be a cornerstone for stability in the IndoPacific region, and a force for good in the world, she said. In our efforts to protect our way of life, Taiwan is grateful to have the United States of America by our side as we confront the unique challenges of our time. Let us be mindful of the principles that have forged great partnerships and bear in mind the lessons of President Reagans enduring legacy, she said. Dueling Protests Meanwhile, CCP supporters waving large Peoples Republic of China flags blasted anti-Taiwan sentiments via a loudspeaker as Tsai arrived, calling her a traitor. One China! Taiwan is part of China, they chanted as pro-Taiwan supporters gathered to support Tsai. Police officers clad in riot gear stood between the opposing sides, keeping them about 25 feet apart as they brandished signs and chanted at each other. McCarthy Visit to Taiwan Just a Matter of Timing: Taiwanese Official Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., on April 5, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Taiwan still anticipates Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) will visit the self-ruled island in the near future despite President Tsai Ing-wens meeting with the House Speaker in California this week drawing sharp criticism from Chinas communist regime. I extended an invite to McCarthy to come visit before he became House speaker, You Si-kun, the speaker of Taiwans Legislative Yuan, told reporters in Taipei on April 7, Bloomberg reported. You made the remarks alongside House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas), who is leading a bipartisan delegation of lawmakers in the Capitol this week to discuss bolstering the U.S. economic and defense relationship with Taiwan. I understand that Speaker McCarthy is a person of promise. Its just a matter of timing, he added. McCarthy introduced Tsai as a great friend of America as he hosted her at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley on April 5 in a historical visit attended by dozens of lawmakers from both parties. During the meeting, McCarthy promised to speed up arms deliveries to Taiwan amid increasing threats from the Chinese regime, which views Taiwan as part of its own territory and opposes any official interactions between Taipei and Washington. Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen and the U.S. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy hold a news conference following a meeting at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., on April 5, 2023. (David Swanson/Reuters) Beijing Condemns Taiwan-US Meeting McCarthys meeting with Tsai on U.S. soil drew swift ire from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), with Chinas foreign ministry branding it an erroneous act of collusion and a disregard of Chinas serious representations and repeated warnings. The ministry called on the United States to immediately stop supporting Taiwans independence, pull any form of official exchanges with Taiwan, and stop creating factors that could cause tensions in the Taiwan Strait, stop containing China by exploiting the Taiwan question, and not go further down the wrong and dangerous path. Following the meeting, Beijing deployed warships into the waters around the self-governed island and flew aircraft into the islands air defense identification zone, Taiwans Ministry of National Defense said on Friday. Taiwanese armed forces said they were monitoring the situation and had deployed CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond to the activities. Chinese state media also reported on Friday that Beijing had imposed further sanctions on Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwans de facto ambassador to the United States, banning her and her relatives from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. Wow, the PRC (Peoples Republic of China) just sanctioned me again, for the second time, Hsiao wrote on Twitter in response to the announcement. Stronger When We Are Together McCarthy said there is no place for Beijing to tell him where he can go or with whom he can meet during Wednesdays high-profile meeting. He also pushed for the United States to strengthen its economic cooperation with Taiwan, particularly with regard to trade and technology. The friendship between the people of Taiwan and America is a matter of profound importance to the free world. It is critical to maintain economic freedom, peace, and regional stability, McCarthy said. Tsai, meanwhile, thanked Washington for standing by Taipei in the face of increasing threats from Beijing but warned that democracy is under threat. It is no secret that today the peace we have maintained and the democracy which [we] have worked hard to build are facing unprecedented challenges, Tsai said. We once again find ourselves in a world where democracy is under threat, and the urgency of keeping the beacon of freedom shining cannot be understated. Were stronger when we are together, Tsai continued. In our efforts to protect our way of life, Taiwan is grateful to have the United States by our side. The meeting was praised by many, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who commended her successor for his leadership. Todays meeting between President Tsai of Taiwan and Speaker McCarthy is to be commended for its leadership, its bipartisan participation, and its distinguished and historic venue, Pelosi said in a brief statement. Pelosi visited Taiwan in August last year despite warnings from the CCP, prompting Beijing to stage military drills around Taiwan and launch multiple missiles and extensive military patrols. McConnell, Schumer Condemn Detention of US Journalist in Russia Reporter for U.S. newspaper The Wall Street Journal Evan Gershkovich in Moscow in 2019. (The Moscow Times/Handout via Reuters) Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) have come together to condemn Russias detention of a U.S. journalist. We strongly condemn the wrongful detention of U.S. citizen and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, and demand the immediate release of this internationally known and respected independent journalist, the two wrote in a joint statement released on April 7. They join President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in calling for the release of Gershkovich. Mr. Gershkovich was accredited by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work as a journalist in Russia. Since his arrest, Russian authorities have failed to present any credible evidence to justify their fabricated charges, the statement from Schumer and McConnell reads. Let there be no mistake: journalism is not a crime. Gershkovich was apprehended on March 29 by Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) in the eastern city of Yekaterinburg. The FSB is the successor to the Soviet-era KGB. The FSB claims he was acting at the behest of the American side to gather information constituting a state secret about the activities of an enterprise within Russias military-industrial complex. His arrest marks the first detention of a U.S. journalist on espionage charges in Russia since the Cold War. Russian media reported that Gershkovich has been formally charged with espionage on behalf of the United States on April 7. They report he has fully denied the accusations. If convicted, he could face a two-decade prison sentence. According to Schumer and McConnells statement, Gershkovich still hasnt had access to the U.S. consul. They characterized that situation as contrary to standard diplomatic practice and as likely in violation of international law. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the journalist was caught red-handed, according to the Russian news agency Tass. About Gershkovich Gershkovich, 31, was born in the United States to Russian Jewish parents who escaped the Soviet Union in 1979. He began working for the Wall Street Journal in January 2022, according to his profile on the outlets website. That profile states he has also held affiliations with Agence France-Presse, The Moscow Times, and The New York Times. Russian State Duma Deputy Sergey Obuhkov, a member of the Russian Communist Party, has suggested Gershkovich should be traded for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, as reported by Russias RT news service. The Department of State on April 2 said Blinken spoke with his Russian counterpart, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, demanding the release of Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, a Michigan corporate security executive whom Russia jailed on espionage charges in 2018. The United States and Whelans family both deny the allegations of spying. Whelan wasnt part of a 2022 prisoner swap that led to the release of WNBA player Brittney Griner, detained and convicted on drug charges, in exchange for Viktor Bout, the Russian arms dealer who inspired Nicolas Cages character in the 2005 movie Lord of War. Tensions between the United States and Russia remain high against the backdrop of the ongoing RussiaUkraine war. Americans should please heed the U.S. governments warning not to travel to Russia. U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Russia should depart right away as the State Department continues to advise, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on March 30. Memorial University President Removed After Scrutiny of Indigenous Claims Memorial University president Vianne Timmons is seen at the university in St. John's, July 9, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Sarah Smellie) The president of Memorial University was removed from her role Thursday after she faced weeks of scrutiny about her claims of indigenous heritage. The Newfoundland and Labrador universitys board of regents said in a public statement that Vianne Timmonss contract is being ended on a without cause basis. We extend our best wishes in all her future endeavours, the statement said, after thanking Timmons for her work. A CBC News report last month raised questions about Timmonss claims that her fathers great-great-grandmother was Mikmaq. Timmons issued an apology shortly after, saying she regretted any hurt or confusion sharing (her) story may have caused. She announced on March 13 that she would be taking a six-week paid leave while the board of regents considered its next steps. The board said Thursday that it has appointed an interim president and will launch a search for a new president in due course. Timmons is among several high-profile Canadian academics whose claims of Indigeneity have recently been challenged. The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association revoked an award last month from former judge Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, saying it believed she falsified her claims to Cree ancestry. Earlier this year, McGill University, Carleton University and the University of Regina each rescinded honorary degrees awarded to Turpel-Lafond. She has also returned honorary degrees from Simon Fraser University and Brock University. Last July, Carrie Bourassa resigned from her position as a health professor at the University of Saskatchewan after a CBC report raised doubts about her claims of being Metis. Timmons has said her father told her when she was in her 30s that their ancestors were Mikmaq, and that he had been raised to be ashamed of that history. In a public statement on March 7, the day before CBC News published its story, she said she never claimed to be indigenous, just to have indigenous heritage. It is a distinction I have been careful to make, because it is an important distinction, she wrote. However, for years Timmons listed membership with the unrecognized Bras dOr Mikmaq First Nation in Nova Scotia in her professional credentials. The membership is included in a December 2018 announcement from the federal government that Timmons would sit on an independent advisory board for Senate appointments. The group is not recognized as a First Nation by the federal or Nova Scotia governments. In 2019, Timmons accepted an award from Indspire, a national indigenous-led charity celebrating indigenous education and achievement. The Indspire website says she is Mikmaq from Nova Scotia. The Innu Nation in Labrador said Memorial University must still address larger issues of indigenous participation and funding at the school. This includes the need for a process to address the growing problem of people and groups who wrongly claim to be indigenous, the First Nation said in a news release Thursday. It is clear that MUN can no longer sit on the sidelines on this issue and must, like other academic institutions in Canada, take proactive steps to address this problem. Timmons took office at Memorial in April 2020 with a five-year contract and an annual base salary of $450,000. If the contract is terminated without cause, she is entitled to a severance payment of 18 months salary$675,000as well as a payment for administrative leave worth at least $270,000. The universitys faculty association called on the board of regents to conduct an independent investigation into Timmonss claims. Dr. Timmonss tenure has not been a success in general, but the scandal regarding her claims to indigeneity has harmed many peoplewe feel deeply sorry to indigenous members of the community that the university has caused these harms, the union said in a release Thursday. Microsoft Fined More Than $3 Million in Penalties for Multiple Sanctions Violation The Biden administration has imposed a multimillion-dollar penalty on Microsoft after the company was found to have engaged in trade with certain sanctioned nations, including Russia and Iran. The Department of Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has decided on a $2.98 million settlement with Microsoft Corporation. The settlement is related to the companys potential civil liability arising due to exporting its services and products from the United States to sanctioned jurisdictions or blocked persons, violating the agencys sanctions programs. In addition, the Commerce Departments Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) imposed an administrative penalty of $624,013, which was later reduced by $276,382. The combined overall fine on Microsoft came to $3.33 million. According to the OFAC, Microsoft engaged in 1,339 apparent violations of its sanctions programs between July 2012 and April 2019. During this period, Microsoft sold its products and services from the United States and Ireland to specially designated nationals (SDNs), blocked persons, and other end-users located in Syria, Iran, Cuba, Russia, and the Crimea region of Ukraine. The total value of these transactions amounted to $12.11 million. U.S. companies will be held accountable for the activities of their foreign subsidiaries, said Matthew S. Axelrod, assistant secretary for export enforcement, according to a Treasury Department press release on April 6. As this coordinated resolution demonstrates, BIS and OFAC will work together to ensure that U.S. export control and sanctions laws are enforced effectively, wherever in the world the underlying conduct occurs. The $3.3 million fine represents a rather minuscule amount for the tech giant, which earned $198.3 billion in annual revenues last year. Microsoft takes export control and sanctions compliance very seriously, which is why after learning of the screening failures and infractions of a few employees, we voluntarily disclosed them to the appropriate authorities, said a Microsoft spokesperson in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times. We cooperated fully with their investigation and are pleased with the settlement. The Violations Out of the 1,339 violations Microsoft is said to have engaged in, 1,252 violations were related to Ukraine/Russia-related sanctions, 54 were tied to Cuba, 30 with Iran, and three to Syria. Microsoft could have faced a statutory maximum civil monetary penalty of $404 million from the OFAC. However, the agency determined that the applicable fine only comes to $5.96 million, which it further reduced to $2.98 million due to Microsoft voluntarily disclosing the violations and other considerations. The majority of the apparent violations involved blocked Russian entities or persons located in the Crimea region of Ukraine, and occurred as a result of the Microsoft entities failure to identify and prevent the use of its products by prohibited parties, the OFAC said in an enforcement release (pdf) on April 6. The settlement amount reflects OFACs determination that the conduct of the Microsoft entities was non-egregious and voluntarily self-disclosed, and further reflects the significant remedial measures Microsoft undertook upon discovery of the apparent violations. Russian Sanctions Breach In Russia, Microsoft employed an indirect resale model under which it worked with third-party licensing solution partners (LSP) to develop sales leads and negotiate bulk sales agreements with end customers. Microsoft was neither provided with nor obtained complete or accurate information regarding its end customers. The OFAC accused Microsoft Russias employees of having intentionally circumvented the companys screening controls to prevent other Microsoft affiliates from knowing the identity of end customers. For instance, after the OFAC sanctioned the Russian oil firm Stroygazmontazh in 2014, Microsoft had initially rejected one of the entitys subsidiaries as a customer. However, Microsoft Russia employees used a pseudonym for the subsidiary and arranged orders on behalf of the specially designated national. The OFAC also blamed Microsoft for shortcomings in its screening process. Further, Microsofts screening against restricted-party lists did not identify blocked parties not specifically listed on the SDN list, but owned 50 percent or more by SDNs, or SDNs Cyrillic or Chinese names, even though many customers in Russia and China supplied order and customer information in their native scripts, the agency said. These failures, which also included missing common variations of the restricted party names, resulted in Microsoft engaging in ongoing business relationships with SDNs or blocked persons. Mother of Shen Yun Dancer Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison in China for Her Faith Steven Wang's father previously died as a result of torture by the CCP. Now his mother is being targeted for her belief in Falun Gong. Steven Wang, Shen Yun principal dancer, at his home in New York state on March 31, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) NEW YORKFor the past 15 years, a cellphone was the only thing that held together Steven Wang and his family, who are an ocean away in China. It was a phone call that brought the news of his fathers death in 2009of kidney failure resulting from years of torture while detained in a Chinese prison because of his faith. In another phone call, Wang learned about his mothers arrest in July 2022. Earlier this month, he found out she had been sentenced to four years in prisonfor the same reason his father was imprisoned. It hurts Wang to think that the thread he holds to his loved ones is so fragile. In my family, Im always the last to know, Wang told The Epoch Times from his home in New York state. Wang, a 36-year-old professional dancer and U.S. citizen, was born in Shaoyang, central China, the city he called home for the first two-plus decades of his life. But now he has no way to go back despite his burning anxiety for his family. Like his parents, Wang practices the spiritual discipline Falun Gong, which has been brutally suppressed by the Chinese Communist Party for more than two decades. The practice, which involves meditative exercises and moral teachings centered on the values of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, spread rapidly by word of mouth in China in the 1990s, with an estimated 70 million to 100 million adherents by 1999. The communist regime perceived this popularity as a threat to its authoritarian grip on power. Since 1999, followers of the practice have been the target of a relentless eradication campaign by the regime that has killed, imprisoned, or enslaved hundreds of thousands of adherents like Wangs father, and kept the rest of the Falun Gong community under an ever-present threat of persecution. Fifteen years ago, when Wang left home for New York, his mother, Liu Aihua, accompanied him all the way to the airport. Take good care of yourself, she told him during their farewells. By then, Wang had trained in classical Chinese dance for 12 years. Eager to take his art to the next level, he was journeying overseas to join Shen Yun Performing Arts, a New York-based company seeking to revive Chinas 5,000 years of traditional culture, which had been decimated by the communist regime. Little did he know that this would be the last time he would talk face to face with his mother. A Family Changed Both parents of Wang, who has three older sisters, were once middle school teachers. But this decision to have more children than the regime allowed under its now-abolished one-child policy cost Wangs parents their jobs and forced them to set up small businesses to make a living. This put another strain on his parents, who also suffered from various health issues. Wang credited Falun Gong and the values of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance for bringing harmony to his family. His fathers diabetes and his mothers high blood pressure and heart problems went away after they took up the practice in 1996. Steven Wang (2nd R) with his family in China, in 1996. His mother, Liu Aihua (C), was sentenced to four years in prison for her faith in March 2023. (Courtesy of Steven Wang) If Wang misbehaved, his parents would now talk to him with reason and hear his perspective, instead of giving him a beating as they once would have. But the regimes sweeping persecution in 1999 upended their peaceful family life. In 2003, five months into Wangs fathers fourth stint in prison, he became emaciated and developed diabetes and kidney failure. If this man isnt released today, tomorrow he will be a dead body, the prison doctor warned the guards, according to an account from Minghui, a U.S.-based website that documents the persecution of Falun Gong. Fearing that they would be held accountable for his death, the guards freed him. By the time Wang left China in 2008, his fathers health had deteriorated so much that he was relying on painkillers to get to sleep. Wang recalled that during school breaks in China, he would frequently massage his fathers body to ease his suffering. Wang called home that fateful November day in 2009, hoping to hear the familiar voice of his father, whose gentle critiques and encouragement had helped steer him in the right direction in life. Instead, his mother picked up and told him that his father had died of kidney failure. Wang hid in a cabinet and cried for more than an hour, feeling as if the sky had fallen. Something that I had only seen on TV was all of a sudden happening to me, and suddenly, a pillar in my life was gone, he said. Steven Wang, Shen Yun principal dancer, at his home in New York state on March 31, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) It was a month before his dance company would depart on a world tour. Wang kept himself busy jogging, training, and memorizing dance moves to escape from the pain. Still, during the late hours of the night, the grief would come back, and all he could do was go back to my room, wrap myself in a blanket, and swallow it down, bit by bit. That helpless feeling cuts him even now. I have a home that I cant return to, he said, noting the high risk of persecution. Even when my father died, I couldnt see him for one last time. Years later, as the authorities target his mother, Wang again can only watch from afar. Steven Wangs mother, Liu Aihua, in Liuzhou, Guangxi Province, China, in 2007. Liu was sentenced to four years in prison in China for her faith in March 2023. (Courtesy of Steven Wang) It Makes No Sense The 69-year-old Liu had undergone 11 arrests and spent about eight years in various detention facilities prior to her latest sentence. According to family accounts, the police once arrested her at a hospital where she was caring for her second daughter, who was still unconscious after delivering a baby. During another arrest, Liu was held in a dark, damp room and forced into slave labor for 17 months, making plastic flowers that the facility would later sell for a large profit. The hours of sitting on a low stool caused her lower body to swell and develop festering sores. The criminal verdict, dated March 1, cited Lius distribution of Falun Gong informational materials and her discussion of the practice with locals as evidence of wrongdoing. She was also slapped with a 10,000 yuan ($1,500) fine, a hefty sum for someone living on her savings. Steven Wangs deceased father, Wang Guanghui, in Guilin, Guangxi Autonomous Region, China, in 2007. (Courtesy of Steven Wang) The family hasnt seen Liu since her arrest in July 2022 and knows little about how shes faring. For months, authorities turned away their requests for visits, citing Beijings strict COVID-19 protocols. What would you want to arrest a 70-year-old for? Wang asked. It makes no sense. Liu is now detained in Changsha No. 4 Detention Center. Shes appealing her sentence, and Wang has initiated a Change.org petition in hopes of garnering more attention to her plight. Skin and Bones Wang never directly witnessed the numerous house raids and arrests his family was subjected to. He was in boarding school from the age of 12, and his parents revealed little of their suffering to him and his sisters, to allow them to focus on their studies. But still, Wangs parents couldnt completely shield them from the chilling reality. During the 2002 Chinese New Year, a period when families reunite for the years biggest celebration, both of Wangs parents were in custody, leaving the four siblings at home to fend for themselves. Wang was 14 at the time. Snapshot from Steven Wangs childhood in China. (Courtesy of Steven Wang) It was the first time I felt that our family wasnt whole, he said. Later that year, Wang and his sisters visited their father in prison. Wang brought him warm clothes and homemade preserved ham. The guards didnt let detainees talk to visitors. From across a glass panel, Wang uneasily watched his father write words on a chalkboard to communicate, shocked at how quickly prison life had reduced his fathers medium build to mere skin and bones. All I managed to say was to tell him I was well and what awards I won during dance competitions, he said. Steven Wang, Shen Yun principal dancer, looks at family photographs at his home in New York state on March 31, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Millions More When Wang lived in China, he struggled to face his peers, finding it impossible to explain how his parents were imprisoned repeatedly despite having committed no crime. In the suppressive environment, he wasnt free to openly discuss Falun Gong or the persecution of his parents, for fear of being targeted himself. But whatever emotions he bottled up inside, he was able to find an outlet through dancing for Shen Yun. During the companys 2010 tour season, Wang portrayed the father of a young girl who was beaten to death for refusing to renounce Falun Gong. In the performance, right before the communist regimes terror campaign is unleashed, he holds the girl in his arms and strokes her hair, a scene that reminded Wang of how his own father would carry him on his shoulder when he was young. It felt so blissful, so secure, Wang said. Steven Wang, Shen Yun principal dancer, in High Point State Park in New Jersey, on June 28, 2022. (Daniel Ulrich) Living in a free country, Wang has pledged to lift the voices of those who cant speak for themselves in communist China. Its not just about my family, he said. Millions more families out there are facing such a predicament or worse. As Wang nervously anticipates more phone calls from China, he finds some comfort in knowing his mothers resilience. At least she is standing by her faith and doing what she believes is right. Musk Calls NPR State Affiliated Designation should be reserved for real dictators such as communist China A phone screen displays a photo of Elon Musk with the Twitter logo shown in the background in Washington on Oct. 4, 2022. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images) Commentary On April 4, National Public Radio staff discovered that the media outlets Twitter page suddenly had the same designation of state-affiliated media as did outlets controlled by dictatorial regimes such as China and Russia. An NPR spokeswoman initially said she thought it was a mistake, as it contradicts Twitters own guidelines, which previously excepted outlets such as NPR and BBC, which receive state funding but maintain an independent editorial board. On the evening of April 4, Twitter removed NPR from its exception list but left the BBC. NPR gets about 1 percent of its funding directly from the federal government, though about 10 percent comes indirectly through federal, state, and local government sources, according to Influence Watch. NPR also gets listener donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants. The latest NPR kerfuffle comes amid a longstanding controversy over whether taxpayers should fund biased media outlets. Like most prominent U.S. outlets, NPR is left-leaning. NPR received more than half its funding from the federal government from its founding in 1970 until 1983, when mismanagement led its major funder, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, to require NPR to obtain more funding from independent sources. Apparent confirmation that the state-affiliated media designation was purposeful came when Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of Twitter, replied to a user who complimented him on the move. Seems accurate, Musk wrote in a tweet. This elicited a storm of protest in the press against the designation, as NPR is generally seen as having an independent editorial policy. However, like all media outlets, it has its own bias on the leftright spectrum. Most prominent news media in the United States, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times, are left of center. NPR is far closer to other prominent media outlets on both sides of the spectrum than to the likes of China Daily and Russia Today, which are both state-controlled media. NPR and a similar outlet in Britain that is also center-left, the BBC, have independent newsrooms but some government funding. The public funding plays a role different from that of funding from the Putin and Xi regimes. In the United States, for example, government funding of public media allows for some freedom of the press from the preferences of corporate advertisers and billionaires, such as Jeff Bezos, who bought The Washington Post, and the Murdoch family, which controls The Wall Street Journal and Fox News. A China Daily newspaper box is with other free daily papers in New York on Jan. 20, 2021. (Chung I Ho/The Epoch Times) Multiple mainstream news outlets on both left and right have taken millions in advertising dollars from China Daily, a state-owned media outlet, which arguably makes them state-affiliated as well. Unlike China Daily, the negative coverage of NPRs own government indicates that it is largely editorially independent of the state, even if its finances are as much as 10 percent dependent on various government entities. The designation of NPR as state-affiliated is therefore technically correct, though misleading because it implies a false equivalency with outlets such as China Daily and Russia Today, whose reporters lives would be in danger if they criticized the state on air. Last year, NPR reported that an editor at Channel One TV, controlled by Russia, stood behind a presenter with a sign protesting the war in Ukraine. It read, No war, stop the war; dont believe the propaganda; theyre lying to you here. The editor, Marina Ovsyannikova, was immediately arrested and subjected to a long interrogation without a lawyer. After her release and further protests, Ovsyannikova was charged under a law that makes it illegal to call the war an invasion. After another release with an ankle bracelet, she escaped with her 11-year-old daughter through seven vehicle changes and evasion of multiple border patrols during an hours-long border crossing on foot. This is quite different from NPR, though both Channel One and NPR must now carry the same state-affiliated media designation. When Twitters press office email address was contacted for comment by various outlets about the NPR designation, it was widely reported that the office auto-replied with a poop emoji. The Epoch Times confirmed this on April 6. While humorous and thought-provoking, Musks disrespect for the free press raises concerns. Above all, his binning of NPR with Russian and Chinese state-owned media outlets is a false equivalency. He should instead consider a more nuanced approach that includes whether state affiliation is to a democracy or dictatorial regime, and what percentage of the outlets funding comes from the state, including advertising revenues from government sources. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. Export of clean energy from Azerbaijan to Europe will ensure not only Georgia's energy security, but of the whole South Caucasus and Europe, Sebastian Molineus, WB Regional Director for the South Caucasus, said at a high-level meeting regarding the Black Sea submarine cable project held in Tbilisi on April 6, Trend reports via Georgian media. "Black Sea submarine cable project will contribute to strengthening ties between the South Caucasus and Europe. It is a pleasure for the WB to participate in the implementation of this project of high strategic importance," he said. Azerbaijan, Romania Georgia and Hungary signed an agreement to build a Black Sea sea-belt electric cable from the Black Sea coast of Georgia to the Black Sea coast of Romania on December 17, 2022. As part of this project, it is planned to lay a 1,195-kilometer power transmission line with a capacity of 1,000 MW between Georgia and Romania and install a digital connecting cable. To this end, with the support of the World Bank, it is planned to prepare a technical and economic justification of the project by the end of 2023. New CCP United Front Minister Signals Escalating Infiltration of Foreign Countries China's Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, CPC Central Committee Political Bureau member Liu Guozhong and Vice Chairman of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Shi Taifeng attend the fourth plenary session of the National People's Congress in Beijing, on March 11, 2023.(Lintao Zhang/Getty Images) News Analysis Beijing recently made Shi Taifeng the new minister of the United Front Work Department (UFWD) in a move that can be seen as part of an escalation of overseas influence peddling by the Chinese Communist regime, a China expert suggests. Shi also leads the China Overseas Friendship Association (COFA), which recruits wealthy and influential Chinese people living in different countries around the world to become directors of COFA and operate as influencers in their local areas for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). All COFA directors and members must be approved by the UFWD. The so-called COFA is UFWDs overseas sock puppet, Li Yanming, a China expert living in America, said to The Epoch Times. Li pointed out that even the name of COFA is deceptive as its hard to know what sort of unit it is. There is no similar organization in the West, indicating that the CCP is reluctant to disclose COFAs actual function. Unlike the CCPs state security and military intelligence systems, UFWD works unofficially, focusing on boosting networks overseas, and recruiting non-professional intelligence personnel. Overseas representatives of China Development Forum including Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook CEO (L) attend a meeting in Great Hall of the People at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on March 21, 2016. (Kenzaburo Fukuhara Pool/Getty Images) UFWD has a long history of infiltrating overseas countries. It works both politically and economically to bring influential people around the world into the saddle of the CCP. Domestically, the UFWD will also infiltrate Chinese ethnic and religious minority groups targeted by the CCP. The Most Powerful Minister The 67-year-old Shi Taifeng is considered to be the most powerful minister of the United Front in the history of the CCP for his multiple critical titles, such as a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, secretary of the Central Secretariat, deputy secretary of the party group of the Committee of Political Consultative Conference, and vice president of Political Consultative Conference. Shi has also served as vice president of the Central Party School, vice secretary and governor of the Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee, Party Secretary of Ningxia, Party Secretary of Inner Mongolia, and President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, according to official statements. Its a CCP practice for the vice president of the Political Consultative Conference to become the united front minister. Shis promotion to the Central Politburo after the 20th Party Congress in October 2022 signaled his access to the decision-making level of the CCP. UFWD now has an unprecedentedly extensive jurisdiction, reining in the National Ethnic Affairs Committee and offices catering to Xinjiang and Tibetan regions. In addition, the State Councils Overseas Chinese Affairs Office and the State Administration of Religious Affairs, which oversee respectively foreign affairs and religious beliefs, were also merged into UFWD five years ago. The expansion of UFWD and its ministers remit indicates that the CCP is ramping up a grand united front with aggressive global ambitions, Li said, adding a warning that the international community must be alert to the possibility of a further escalation of the regimes secret service activities overseas. Utah, a Heavily Infiltrated State COFA is active overseas, as exemplified by the recent revelation of its infiltration of the state of Utah despite the tensions between the United States and China. According to an Associated Press report on March 28, the CCP and its supporters have spent years building ties with officials in Utah. As a result, Utah legislators have delayed legislation that Beijing does not like, vetoed resolutions expressing dissatisfaction with the CCP, and voiced support for ways to enhance the image of the communist regime. Such a successful effect is thanks in large part to Taowen Le, a Utah resident and a director of COFA. Le is a professor in the Department of Information Systems and Technology at Weber State University in Utah, according to the report. He attended a meeting of the Political Consultative Conference in Beijing in 2022, when he was quoted in a publication by the UFWD as saying, I deeply feel the strengths of the Chinese system. When a Utah legislator introduced a resolution condemning the CCPs crackdown on Uighurs in Xinjiang in 2021, Le sent a text message attacking the legislator. That resolution failed to pass that year, and a similar solution in January was not even given a chance to be heard, the report said. The report said Le sent a personal request to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox to take a meeting with the Chinese ambassador. He has also organized meetings for Utah and CCP officials, accompanied legislators to China, and advised on how best to win Beijings favor. Le told the Associated Press that his advocacy on China issues is spontaneous and not at the behest of the Chinese regime. The report quoted U.S. officials as saying that local officials in the United States are at risk of being manipulated by the CCP and that the communist influence movement poses a threat to U.S. national security. The Epoch Times reporter was not able to contact Le for comment. Plenty of Overseas Chinese Alliances In September 2020, the Jamestown Foundation, a Washington-based think tank, released a report that dissected the financial statements of Chinese agencies. It found that UFWD spent more than $2.6 billion in 2019 alone, more than the expenditure of either CCPs Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Ministry of Public Security. Of the $2.6 billion, nearly $600 million was spent on offices to influence foreigners and overseas Chinese communities, according to the report. In October 2020, Newsweek published an exclusive survey reporting that approximately 600 organizations in the United States maintain regular contact with or are under the leadership of the CCP. Xi Jinping, deputy leader of the Chinese Communist Party, makes a speech before he opened Australias first Chinese Medicine Confucius Institute, at the RMIT University in Melbourne on June 20, 2010. (William West/AFP via Getty Images) Newsweek identified the following types of organizations as being affiliated with the CCPs UFWD: Chinese Townsmen associations (at least 83), Chinese assistance centers (10), chambers of commerce (32), Chinese language media (13), nearly half of the Chinese professional associations (70), peace unification associations (38), friendship organizations (5), and 129 groups that conduct educational and cultural activities. In addition, there are 265 Chinese Student and Scholar Associations for the approximately 300,000 Chinese students in the U.S. These are connected to [CCP] politics, often via Chinese diplomats, usually the education secretary in a consulate, the investigating report said. The report also said that it is essential to note that most Chinese in each group may not be made aware of the organizations ties to the CCP and that individuals may have joined out of a sense of community or for business opportunities. In this regard, Li believes that most of these organizations look like civil society organizations, but they are all secret service agencies working on behalf of the CCP. They [Most overseas Chinese Associations] are on par with the CCPs overseas nerve system, infiltrating various places and extending the CCPs ideology overseas, Li said. Macron Meets With Xi in Beijing; No 3rd Way for EU, Experts Warn French President Emmanuel Macron (L) and Chinese leader Xi Jinping take part in a FrancoChinese business council meeting in Beijing on April 6, 2023. (Photo by Ludovic Marin/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) French President Emmanuel Macron is visiting Beijing in a bid to improve economic cooperation with the Chinese communist regimeand to seek Chinas help in de-escalating the RussiaUkraine war. Observers have pointed out that Macrons pursuit of cooperation with the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is somewhat idealistic. He has consistently attempted to take the third waywhich tends to differ from the path of the United States. In the context of the increasingly acrimonious U.S.China relationship, however, the feasibility of this practice is continuing to decline. A statement issued by the Xinhua News Agencythe CCPs official mouthpieceon the meeting between Macron and CCP leader Xi Jinping was comparatively short, at a little more than 300 words. It cited Xi as saying that the international situation is complicated, that China and France enjoy high-quality strategic communication, and that the two countries are both promoters of the democratization of international relations. French President Emmanuel Macron gives a speech as he meets members of the French community in Beijing on April 5, 2023. (Thibault Camus/AP Photo) According to international media, Macron told Xi during their meeting, I know I can count on you to bring Russia back to its senses and everyone back to the negotiating table. However, Russia immediately ruled out the possibility of the CCP mediating an end to the war in Ukraine. Of course, China has a very effective and impressive potential for mediation, said Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for the Kremlin. But in the case of Ukraine, the situation is still complicated. It does not yet show any prospects for a peaceful settlement. However, some politicians in the European Union countries are indeed idealistic and hope that the CCP can become a responsible stakeholder, playing a so-called mediating role, Sun Guoxiang, associate professor at the Department of International Affairs and Entrepreneurship at Nanhua University in Taiwan, told The Epoch Times on April 6. Feng Chongyi, a professor at the University of Technology Sydney and an expert on China issues, told The Epoch Times on April 6 that Xi and Putin wont listen to Macron but will act according to the political logic of the dictators they are. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen flew to Beijing with Macron. Following the meeting between Xi and Macron, von der Leyen joined the dialogue, which focused on the de-escalation of the RussiaUkraine war. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is pictured at a press conference after a virtual summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Brussels on Sept. 14, 2020. (Yves Herman/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) In a recent speech, von der Leyen warned Beijing against directly supporting Russia in the Ukraine war, while at the same time ruling out the possibility of a decoupling of the EU from China. No Third Way Because the geopolitical competition between the United States and China is increasing by the day and its getting harder for Europe to play the role of an independent player, the EUs and Macrons attempt to forge a third way will be incredibly difficult, Sun told The Epoch Times. Feng said France is playing the leading role for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Europe and, therefore, has always attempted to counterbalance the influence of the United States. In 2018, Macron even suggested that European NATO forces couldnt rely on the United States for security. Macron has always wanted to maintain a certain distance from the United States and to highlight Frances status. So he is going to Beijing to continue in the same vein, he said. Sun believes that the current situation is unlike the Cold War period, in which global markets could be separated almost completely. He said Macrons trip is also meant to engage in deeper economic exchanges with China. However, the CCP also uses the economy and the market to divide Europe from the United States and to divide the relationship between the old EU member states and the new EU member states in Europe through economic enticements, such as building infrastructure, etc., he said. So the CCPs strategy is very clear, and it will continue to divide other international institutions. Because of Chinas divide-and-conquer strategy, the EU needs to show even more that it has a unified voice to deal with Chinas actions. Ning Haizhong and Luo Ya contributed to this report. Northern Ireland Police Fear Terror Attack Ahead of Biden Visit Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) ACC Chris Todd (L) from the Operational Support Department and ACC Bobby Singleton from the Local Policing Department during a briefing at the Stormont Hotel in Belfast on April 6, 2023. Police have received strong community intelligence that dissident republicans are planning to launch terror attacks against officers on Easter Monday. (PA Media) Northern Ireland police say they are preparing for the worst after receiving strong intelligence of a terror attack ahead of U.S. President Joe Bidens visit. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed it had received credible information that dissident republicans were planning significant violence on Easter Monday, a day before Bidens highly-anticipated visit to the province. Officers are now being moved to frontline duties, on longer shifts, to counter any potential threats, PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne said on Thursday. The policing strategy, that has not been used in years, reflected the exceptional circumstances ahead of the Easter weekend, Byrne added. The U.S. president will visit Belfast on Tuesday to mark the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, the Northern Ireland peace deal that brought an end to 30 years of violence. He is due to travel on to the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday where he is expected to attend events in Dublin, County Louth and County Mayo, the White House confirmed on Wednesday. MI5 recently raised the terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland to severe, meaning an attack is highly likely. This followed the attempted murder of senior PSNI detective John Caldwell in County Tyrone, who remains in a critical but stable condition over a month on from the gun attack. Police believe the New IRA was behind the attempt on Caldwells life. Easter Fears Speaking at a PSNI press conference in Belfast on Thursday afternoon, Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton said: Its going to be a really significant weekend for the PSNI. There is also very strong community intelligence specifically coming forward in respect of Mondays events in Derry/Londonderry and a real concern that there may be attempts to draw police in to serious public disorder and to use that then as a platform to launch terrorist attacks on police as well. So going into our operation thats something that is very clearly right at the forefront of my mind, the minds of the commanders that will be delivering that and of course our officers as well. Dissident republicans traditionally mark the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising rebellion against British rule on Easter Monday. Parades are set to take place in the nationalist areas of Rosemount and Creggan, while a commemoration in the city cemetery will also be held. Violence has flared at similar events in the past, which have included masked men dressed in military combat gear. According to the Irish News, this years parade has been organised by the Derry 1916 Commemoration Committee, which has the support of anti-agreement party Saoradh. Nine members of the dissident political group are currently facing terrorism charges after being arrested in Aug. 2020 in the joint MI5 and PSNI-led Operation Arbacia. The Easter Monday events in Derry fall on April 10, exactly 25 years after the historic peace accord was signed. The head office of Saoradh, the political wing of the New IRA, in Derry, Northern Ireland, in October 2019. (Chris Summers/The Epoch Times) Public Concern Singleton said that while dissident republican intent to kill police officers remained the same, he said officers were concerned they may use public disorder in Derry as a platform to launch attacks. The intent remains the same. I think as I see it, its the risk, its the platform potentially, in particular, that public disorder may present, he said. We dont have to go too far back, sadly, to see precisely that kind of scenario playing out in Derry/Londonderry in the past. In April 2019, journalist Lyra McKee was shot dead in Derrys Creggan estate while observing dissident republican disorder ahead of the Easter weekend. The New IRA later admitted responsibility for her murder which it claimed happened in the course of attacking the enemy, according to a statement given to the Irish News at the time. When asked whether guns or explosives could be used to target police, Singleton said police were prepared for all eventualities on Monday. Speaking in Belfast, Irish Deputy Premier Micheal Martin condemned the threat of a terrorist attack as criminality in its worst form and said it was very evil people who are contemplating this. I would condemn any attempts by anybody to injure or to attack the PSNI, Martin said on Thursday. An attack on the PSNI is an attack on all of us on this island. Journalist Lyra McKee poses for a portrait outside the Sunflower Pub on Union Street in Belfast, Northern Ireland on May 19, 2017. (Jess Lowe Photography/Handout via Reuters) Preparing for the Worst Briefing the Northern Ireland Policing Board in Belfast, Byrne laid out policing plans to deal with the terror threat. In policing terms we have initiated what we call Operation Inspire level four, he said. What that means is that in some cases operational officers across the service have moved to 12-hour shifts and officers in a number of non-frontline roles will move to support the collective effort to focus on preventing further terrorist outrage and actually increasing our patrol visibility across the country. This is the first time in a number of years we have had to activate this plan. The chief constable said the move was a reflection of the quite difficult and exceptional circumstances facing police. The plan will remain in place for around 10 daysincluding during Bidens visitbefore its reviewed. PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd said there was no specific intelligence that the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement was acting as an additional motivation for dissident republicans to launch attacks. We plan for the worst and we hope for the best to be quite frank, we will respond to the intelligence as it develops, we have no such intelligence that would support that at the moment, he said. PA Media contributed to this report. NS Mass Shooting: How Gun Smuggling Happened, and the Inquirys Call for Reforms RCMP officers descend on a gas station in Enfield, N.S., where the gunman behind the mass killing was shot dead, on April 19, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Tim Krochak) HALIFAXA decade before a Nova Scotia man used smuggled guns to murder 22 people in the province in 2020, police information systems had labelled him as a firearms risk. Yet those records never found their way to the Canada Border Services Agency, and they didnt prevent the mass shooter from obtaining a Nexus card granting him status as a lowrisk traveller. The final report of the public inquiry into Canadas worst mass shooting, released last week, details troubling breakdowns in information sharing and recommends reforms to develop fully interoperable systems for exchanging records between police and the federal border agency. The report also describes how red flags about the killer didnt lead to detection of his illegal activities during any of his 21 border crossings between 2016 and the April 1819, 2020, killings. It was during that time that Gabriel Wortman a wealthy, 51yearold denture maker is believed to have smuggled three semiautomatic guns through Woodstock, N.B. Two were handguns he obtained from a friend in Houlton, Maine, and the third was a rifle he bought after spotting it at a gun show in Maine. However, after Wortman threatened to kill his father in 2010, a notable warning went undetected. After the death threat, Halifax police generated a report on Wortman that included a reference to him as Firearms Interest to Police. That was attached to a report in the Canadian Police Information Centre which intelligence officers with the border agency were authorized to access. The police information centre, operated by the RCMP, is the national information sharing system that links law enforcement and other public safety agencies. The inquirys final report says the document stated in capital letters, This person may be of interest to firearms officers. Yet when Wortman applied for and received his Nexus card in 2015, the border agency did not have access to the firearms warning, the report says. It also says the border agency didnt have a record of a 2011 Nova Scotia police intelligence report indicating that Wortman had said he wanted to kill police officers. Through the summer of 2016, a lookout was placed on Wortman by the border agency suggesting he was undervaluing motorcycles he bought in Florida. The inquiry report says he was pulled aside for more detailed examinations at the border on seven occasions as a result, but no seizures occurred. The inquiry said despite the 2016 lookout and an earlier one in 2010 on suspicion of drug activity, Wortman kept his Nexus status. The border services website says Nexus is reserved for trusted travellers who are deemed lowrisk. Though it doesnt exempt holders from secondary border searches, it gives them a fast track at ports of entry. The inquiry found that the inability of the border agency to access the 2010 and 2011 red flags about Wortman when they processed his Nexus application in 2015 clearly indicates there are gaps in information and intelligence sharing between law enforcement and the CBSA. Kat Owens, the project director of the Womens Legal Education and Action Fund which participated in the inquiry said in a telephone interview Wednesday that the CBSA should have had additional knowledge about the perpetrator when assessing his application for a Nexus card. Its important CBSA have information about potential possession of firearms, she said. The border agency cancelled an interview it had agreed to provide to The Canadian Press with its vicepresident of intelligence and enforcement and instead sent written comments. The agency said it has reviewed the inquirys recommendations and is working with our partners in Canada and internationally to examine the possibility of increasing our collaborative frameworks to facilitate the sharing of information and records among law enforcement agencies. Karine Martel, a spokeswoman, said CBSA intelligence officers have had access to the Firearms Interest to Police reports since 2007, and since June 2022, the agencys immigration enforcement officers, criminal investigators and border officers have also had access. However, she wrote, employees who screen for Nexus cards still arent allowed access to the firearms warning because it would not be appropriate under current legislation and rules. The mass shooting inquirys final report cites a 2020 border agency assessment that says that before the killings, there was minimal intelligence about firearms smuggling in Atlantic Canada because it was a lower tiered priority for the CBSA. It also noted the agency had ended the practice of having its own regional intelligence position in the years before the mass killing, even though these officers were key resources when it comes to firearms smuggling from the United States. The final report noted that special joint U.S.Canadian border enforcement teams had been set up across the country, but a unit in New Brunswick was disbanded in 2018, and no reason was provided to the commission. The border agency said in an email the position of regional intelligence officer was reinstated in the Atlantic region in late 2021. It also said it has taken other steps to strengthen information sharing, while balancing privacy and Charter rights, including regular meetings with U.S. border agency officials and the creation of a special task force to combat the threat posed by smuggled firearms. By Michael Tutton For years, U.S. consumers have been unknowingly funding the rise of Americas chief strategic threat. Now Americans are on alert and eager to fight backto save their families, communities, and country. Whats needed now is U.S. leadership as determined as Americans are to decouple the land of liberty from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). *Follow Over The Target on social media! Twitter | Truth Social | Gettr | Facebook In this eye-opening new episode of Over the Target, Lee Smith speaks with conservative activist and Tea Party founder Mark Meckler about the American peoples Beijing boycott. Protestors Swarm Tennessee State Capitol Amid Vote to Expel 3 Democrat Lawmakers Tennessee State Troopers block the stairwell leading to the legislative chambers of the state's House of Representatives in Nashville, Tenn., on April 6, 2023. (George Walker IV/AP Photo) Protesters filled the Tennessee State Capitol building in Nashville on Thursday as lawmakers debated expelling a trio of Democrat members who joined a separate protest inside the building last week that disrupted proceedings. The protesters gathered both inside and outside the capitol building on Thursday, holding signs and chanting. Some of the protesters were seen standing in the gallery above the floor of the state House, where they could watch as Democrat state Reps. Justin Jones of Nashville, Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, and Justin Pearson of Memphis faced an expulsion proceeding. Jones, Johnson, and Pearson all joined a disruptive protest inside the state capitol on March 30 as activists entered the building and shouted slogans calling for tighter regulations on guns after a suspect, whom police identified as transgender, entered a private Christian school and killed six people, including three children, on March 27. The trio of Democrat lawmakers stood on the House floor and used a bullhorn to shout over their fellow lawmakers, joining chants with protesters. In response to last weeks disruption, Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton stripped Jones and Johnson of their committee assignments. On Wednesday, Republican lawmakers also introduced a resolution to expel the three Democrat lawmakers, arguing that they participated in disorderly behavior and did knowingly and intentionally bring disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives. Supporters of the three Democrats who gathered in the House gallery expressed their anger after the expulsion resolution was introduced on Wednesday. Sexton responded with an order for state troopers to remove the protesters from the gallery. Gun control activists and supporters of the three Democrats continued to fill the capitol on Thursday as the expulsion proceeding moved forward. At one point during the proceedings, Pearson stood up and raised his fists in the air in acknowledgment of his supporters in the House gallery. State Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) raises his fists on the floor of the House chamber to recognize his supporters before the start of the legislative session in Nashville, Tenn., on April 6, 2023. (George Walker IV/AP Photo) Republican lawmakers have favored adding security funding and arming school teachers and staff in response to the recent Christian school shooting. Democrats, in contrast, have favored adding new restrictions on guns. On Monday, Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee proposed a revised state budget that includes additional spending for school security. The budget includes $30 million to place at least one Homeland Security agent in every county to serve both public and private schools, and increase the requirements and accountability for physical security at all Tennessee schools. Before the expulsion vote on Thursday, House members debated more than 20 bills, including another school safety proposal requiring public and private schools to submit their building safety plans to the state. The school safety bill did not include gun restrictions, sparking criticism from some Democrat lawmakers. White House Weighs In During a Thursday press briefing, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre denounced the Republican-led expulsion vote in Tennessee. Referring to last weeks disruptive incident, Jean-Pierre said Jones, Johnson, and Pearson stood in solidarity with children and families peacefully protesting for action on gun safety. The fact that this vote is happening is shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent, Jean-Pierre added. As the debate over the expulsions began on Thursday, Jones said, We called for you all to ban assault weapons, and you respond with an assault on democracy. In a Wednesday interview with Fox News, Sexton said the expulsion vote had nothing to do with a policy disagreement or the citizens who protested in and around the building last week, but rather about the specific actions of the three Democrat lawmakers. [Jones is] trying to make this about the protesters. Hes trying to make this about what people were protesting about. Their voices were not silenced. This has nothing to do with anything that happened outside the House chamber, Sexton said. These three individuals stormed up to the well where you speak from without being recognized, did not display decorum, they disrupted the proceedings where we had to shut down, pulled out a megaphone and started to lead the balcony in protest for the next 30 to 45 minutes. Their actions on the House floor rise to the level of expulsion. Even after being expelled from the House, however, the three Democrat lawmakers may still have a way back into the legislature. After lawmakers are expelled, county commissions in their districts get to pick replacements to serve until a special election can be scheduled. Any expelled lawmakers would be eligible for an appointment back to their seats. They would also be eligible to run in the special election and, under the Tennessee Constitution, lawmakers cannot be expelled for the same offense twice. The Associated Press contributed to this article. From NTD News Putin Says US-Russia Relations Are in Deep Crisis, as Moscows Senior Diplomats Depict It as a Hot Conflict Russian President Vladimir Putin said the relations between the United States and Russia are in a deep crisis, while Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said that Moscow is now in a hot conflict with Washington. Putin made his remarks while addressing new U.S. Ambassador Lynne Tracy on Wednesday. Tracy was among 17 ambassadors who presented their diplomatic credentials to Putin at a televised ceremony in the Kremlin. U.S. support for a revolution in Ukraine in 2014 ultimately led to the current situation where Russia and Ukraine are in conflict, Putin said. Dear Madam Ambassador, I know that you may not agree with my opinion but I must say today that the use by the United States of such tools as support of the so-called color revolutions, support of the coup of Kyiv in 2014, ultimately led to the current Ukrainian crisis and additionally made a negative contribution to the degradation of Russia-U.S. relations, Putin said. He was referring to an armed coup in February 2014 in which anti-Russia, pro-European Union (EU) factions overthrew then-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovychs government, which wasnt against Russia, and which had refused to sign a political association and free trade agreement with the EU in late 2013. Anti-government protesters guard the perimeter of Independence Square, known as Maidan, in Kiyv, Ukraine, on Feb.19, 2014. (Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) In response, a vast majority of people in Crimea voted in a referendum in March 2014 to reunite with Russia and secede from Ukraine. The referendum was condemned by the United States and the EU, with the latter deriding it as illegal and illegitimate. Following the vote, Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine. Both Luhansk and Donetsk in the Donbas region also declared independence from Ukraine in April 2014 in response to the February coup. Shortly after the breakaway, the Ukrainian military was deployed to fight the rebels in the Donbas. More than 10,000 civilians have died since the fighting began. Ukraine accused Russia of being responsible for the escalation of the conflict, but Moscow has denied any involvement. Relations between Russia and the United States, which directly affect global security and stability, are in a deep crisis, Putin said Wednesday, addressing Tracy. Unfortunately, fundamentally different approaches to a formation of the modern world order are at its heart. Putin took a similar line with the new EU ambassador, Roland Galharague, telling him the European Union initiated a geopolitical confrontation with Russia. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov gestures during a press conference following talks with his U.S. counterpart on soaring tensions over Ukraine, in Geneva, on Jan. 10, 2022. (Eloi Rouyer/AFP via Getty Images) On the same day, Ryabkov, Russias Deputy Foreign Minister, said on the Sputnik radio station in response to a question that he believes Moscow and Washington have already passed a Cold War period, reported Russian state-owned Tass news agency. Now we are in the phase of a hot conflict with the United States, Ryabkov added. We are witnessing the direct involvement of that country in a hybrid war with Russia on various fronts. Ryabkov said Russias opponents were playing with fire in the truest sense of the word. Rash of Migrant Robberies, Assaults Reported to Border Patrol A Border Patrol agent is posted in front of the U.S.-Mexico border barrier in Imperial County on July 24, 2020. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) SAN DIEGOThe U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) April 6 warned anyone considering sneaking across the U.S.-Mexico line about several recent armed robberies and assaults of migrants in the Otay Mountain Wilderness area. On March 24, five undocumented travelers detained by personnel with the federal agency in the remote region straddling San Diego County and Baja California reported having been held up by gun-toting bandits, according to USBP public affairs. The group told the agents the robbers threatened them with a rifle and a pistol and ordered them to pay $1,000 to be allowed to continue their journey. The migrants reported that when they could not produce the money, the thieves stole their cell phones, according to the border patrol. The detainees also told the officers that bandits were holding other victims captive just south of the international line. The agents who took the group into custody saw several suspected robbers running off to the south, the federal agency reported. On March 27, USBP officers patrolling in the southern San Diego-area wilderness preserve stopped 20 undocumented migrants, some of whom reported that they had been robbed a short time earlier by bandits armed with revolvers, according to the border patrol. Agents at the scene saw three suspects walking to the south and crossing into Mexico. That same day, USBP personnel encountered another contingent of migrants who reported having been assaulted and robbed as they entered the United States illegally from Mexico. The migrants told the personnel that two bandits armed with pistols punched and kicked them, stole their money and cell phones, and made a failed attempt to separate one of them from the group and forcibly take her back across the border. All the people detained during the three encounters were medically evaluated before being transported to a border patrol station for deportation processing. Agents assigned to the USBP Foreign Operations Branch reported the cases to the Mexican government, according to the patrol agency. We continue to stress to migrants: Do not place your life or the lives of your loved ones in the hands of callous smugglers or risk encountering thieves and kidnappers in these remote areas, USBP San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent Aaron Heitke said. There is only one safe and secure means of entering the United States, and that is through a designated port of entry. Rep. Hinson Calls for Biden Admin to Shut Down CCPs Expansive Surveillance in US Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) called for the Biden administration to shut down the CCPs expansive surveillance in the United States following her participation in the delegation meeting with Taiwanese leadership. Let me be clear: The U.S. stands with Taiwan in the face of the CCPs aggression, Hinson told The Epoch Times. Furthermore, it comes as no surprise that the CCP spy balloon was transmitting sensitive intelligence back to Beijing in real time. The Biden administration must work with Congress and get serious about shutting down the CCPs expansive surveillance statewhether its a spy balloon, TikTok spyware, or their police stations on American soil. Enough is enough. Hinsons comments come following an NBC News report that the Chinese balloon was able to transmit data to Beijing in real time despite U.S. government efforts to prevent it from doing so. This revelation could increase Republican criticism of President Joe Bidens decision to wait until the balloon reached a safe location before shooting it down. The publication cited two anonymous current senior U.S. officials and one purportedly former senior administration official. The lawmaker was one of the recipients of the Chinese embassys threatening letter over the Taiwan meeting where it said it would not sit idly by in the face of what it called blatant provocation. This is a pathetic threat from the CCP. We will relentlessly stand up for freedom and with Taiwan, and we are never going to cower, Hinson said. My message back to them is this: I look forward to meeting with President Tsai and reaffirming our commitment to Taiwan and freedom-loving nations everywhere. Several other Republican lawmakers have spoken out against the Chinese spy balloon narrative. Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) told Newsmax on April 6 that he believes the federal government is lying to the American people about the spy balloon. President Biden told the American people that the Chinese spy balloon wasnt a security breach. Its not the first time President Biden was wrong on foreign policy, and unfortunately for our country, it wont be the last, he wrote on Twitter. Meanwhile, Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), the ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that we have consistently learned more from press reports about the Chinese surveillance balloon than we have from administration officials in recent days. In a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Wicker wrote that the Pentagon should provide answers to questions in an unclassified manner. These revelations clearly demonstrate that the administration made an unacceptable mistake. I will not abandon my oversight efforts to discover the full range of information related to this event, and I intend to hold this administration accountable. It is critical that Congress also explore the capability and protocol improvements at the Department of Defense that are necessary to prevent something like this failure from ever happening again, he added. Jack Phillips contributed to this report. Rep. Jordan Expands Probe Into Manhattan DA Office, Seeks Info From Top Trump Prosecutor Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) speaks during the House Judiciary Committee hearing on Policing Practices and Law Enforcement Accountability at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on June 10, 2020. (Michael Reynolds/Pool/Getty Images) House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) on April 7 expanded his probe into the indictment of former President Donald Trump, asking for documents and testimony from a leading prosecutor in the Manhattan district attorneys (DA) criminal case against Trump. Specifically, Jordan addressed a letter (pdf) to Matthew Colangelo, a senior counsel at the DAs office and former Department of Justice (DOJ) attorney. The letter comes as part of the House GOPs probe into the office of Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, who is leading the case against Trump in New York. On April 4, Trump appeared at the New York Supreme Court, where Braggs office charged him with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in the weeks before the 2016 presidential election. Daniels claims she had an affair with Trump in 2006, which Trump denies. Trump has maintained his innocence, saying the case is politically motivated, a refrain echoed by many Republicans. You are uniquely situated to provide information that is relevant and necessary to inform the Committees oversight and potential legislative reforms, Jordan wrote to Colangelo. The letter noted that Bragg reportedly hired Colangelo to jump-start his investigation into Trump due to Colangelos past experience investigating the former president. Colangelo has worked on other investigations of Trump for both the New York attorney generals office and the DOJ. You had previously served in senior positions in the U.S. Department of Justice and the New York Attorney Generals Office, both of which had competing investigations related to President Trump. Given your history of working for law-enforcement entities that are pursuing President Trump and the public reporting surrounding your decision to work for the New York County District Attorneys Office, we request your cooperation with our oversight in your personal capacity, Jordan wrote. Jordans letter requests information about Braggs hiring of Colangelo, as well as Colangelos personal motivation for or interest in working for the DAs office. The move comes one day after Jordan issued a subpoena to Mark Pomerantz, a former prosecutor at the DAs office who resigned in February 2022 because of Braggs initial unwillingness to pursue a criminal case against Trump. The Manhattan DAs office hit back at the subpoena, calling the GOP investigation an abuse of power that undermined an active criminal investigation. House GOP Probes Since the announcement of the indictment against Trump, Jordan has issued requests for testimony from Pomerantz and Carey Dunne, another former Manhattan prosecutor who resigned at the same time as Pomerantz. Jordan, along with two House GOP committee chairs, has also sought testimony and documents from Bragg himself. The judiciary chair has criticized the criminal caes as an unprecedented abuse of prosecutorial authority. Braggs office has denounced the probe, calling the congressional inquiry illegitimate. Leslie Dubeck, general counsel for the Manhattan DAs office, in a March 23 letter responding to a GOP request for testimony, wrote that complying would interfere with law enforcement, the requests for documents and communications violate New Yorks sovereignty, and a congressional review of a pending criminal investigation usurps executive powers. In his letter to Pomenrantz on Thursday, Jordan responded to these criticisms, saying that his investigations are entirely legal. The Supreme Court has recognized that Congress has a broad and indispensable power to conduct oversight, which encompasses inquiries into the administration of existing laws, studies of proposed laws, and surveys in our social, economic or political system for the purpose of enabling Congress to remedy them, Jordan wrote. Further, Jordan said that Congress has a specific and manifestly important interest in preventing politically motivated prosecutions of current and former Presidents by elected state and local prosecutors, particularly in jurisdictionslike New York Countywhere the prosecutor is popularly elected and trial-level judges lack life tenure. The Epoch Times has reached out to the Manhattan DAs office for comment. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. This month, 125,000 tons of Kazakhstan's oil is planned to be transported through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC), Parviz Shahbazov, Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan, wrote on his Twitter page, Trend reports. "With Serik Zhumangarin, Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan - Minister of Trade and Integration, we discussed our contributions to the strengthening of strategic relations between our countries and the deepening of mutual cooperation through the Intergovernmental Commission and new opportunities for cooperation," he added. The 19th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan Intergovernmental Commission has kicked off in Baku. The Co-Chairs of the Commission are Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan Parviz Shahbazov from the Azerbaijani side and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin from the Kazakh side. As part of the meeting, discussions will be held on cooperation in a wide range of areas, including energy, trade, transport, and logistics partnerships, as well as agriculture. In conclusion, the signing of a joint protocol is expected. 40 Percent of Farm Operators Retiring in Next 10 Years Will Worsen Labour Shortage Crisis: Report The retirement wave coming to Canadas agricultural sector over the next 10 years will exacerbate the already serious shortage of workers to fill that labour gap, according to a new report. The report by the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) says that by 2033, 40 percent of farm operators will retire, while a shortfall of 24,000 general workers on farms, in nurseries, and in greenhouses is expected to happen in the same period. Adding to the concerns is the fact that two-thirds (66 percent) of those producers have no succession plans in place, which puts agriculture on the cusp of one of the biggest labour and leadership transitions in the countrys history, the report said. Canadas agricultural skills crisis is already one of the worlds worst, it said, noting that the country has one of the highest skill shortages in food production compared to other major food exporting nations in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)trailing only the United States and the Netherlands. The report was authored by Mohamad Yaghi, RBCs agriculture and climate policy lead, alongside a team of researchers at the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph. The findings echo a December 2022 report by researchers from several universities in Canada. Titled Canadas Food Price Report 2023, it forecast that Canadian households are expected to see their grocery bill increase by an average of 5 percent to 7 percent this year. Immigration, Education, and Automation To address the labour shortages, the RBC authors provided a three-point solution to offset the crisis. In the short term, they recommend providing permanent immigration status to over 24,000 general farm workers and 30,000 operators to bridge retirement and staffing gaps. Canada could also look to attract more highly skilled farm operators from countries where regulatory policies have forced them to downsize or even driven them out of work. The authors pointed to the Netherlands, where the government seeks to buy out 3,000 Dutch farmers to meet the European Unions greenhouse gas emissions target. Hundreds of thousands of skilled farmers worldwide are being forced to downsize or are facing closures. In the EU alone there has been a loss of over four million farms since 2005, the report said. This is creating a labour pool of qualified farmers around the world that can help Canada grow its food exports while also adapting to stringent sustainability regulations. In the medium term, the report called on Ottawa to continue boosting enrolment in agriculture schools across Canada. Following an enrolment decline in the 1990s, many academies reassessed their curricula, and through the introduction of cross-disciplinary courses, the enrolment rate has gradually improved since 2003, the report said. Canada currently has one of the highest post-secondary education enrolment rates in agricultural, forestry, fishing, and veterinary compared to other countries in the OECD, EU, and Group of 20. Automation in agriculture should be considered as an even longer-term solution, the report said, encouraging more ambitious research and development, and calling for more funding from public sources. The agriculture sector is facing a transformational skills and labour crisis. However, with the right approach, this acute disadvantage can become a generational advantage, the authors said in conclusion. The opportunity is there for farmers, governments and the broader agricultural supply chain to work together on this issue. Sen. Johnson Says Advocating for Vaccine-Injured Played Big Role in Seeking Reelection Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), speaks at the event "China Threat Briefing: Unrestricted Warfare: The Chinese Communist Party's War against America and the Free World" organized by the Committee on the President Danger in Washington on May 2, 2019 (Jennifer Zeng/The Epoch Times) Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) has revealed that one of the main reasons for him to seek another term in the 2022 midterm elections was to advocate for those who have suffered an injury after COVID-19 vaccination. During an appearance on Fox Business on Thursday, Johnson said not enough people are advocating for the vaccine-injured, arguing that postvaccine injuries are not all that rare. One of the main reasons I ran again is nobody else is advocating for the vaccine-injured, Johnson said. These vaccine injuries are real. Theyre serious. Theyre not all that rare. During the midterms, Democrat Mandela Barnes conceded the Senate race to Johnson after numerous election projections showed the Wisconsin Republican prevailing. Johnson, whos been vocal on adverse reactions that can occur after COVID-19 vaccination, also said during a sit-down on EpochTVs American Thought Leaders program in late March that hell continue to use his position to support the vaccine-injured because nobody else is really stepping up the plate to do this. I got connected to the vaccine-injured community. Nobody was advocating for them. You cant turn your back on people like that. All they wanted was to be seen, heard, and believed because they wanted to be cured, Johnson said. Were spending tens of billions of dollars on research, he added. Are we spending any money on vaccine injuries at all, whether its childhood vaccinations or whether its the COVID vaccination? Are we even doing the research? I doubt we are, because they dont want to know, the 67-year-old politician continued. They got a good thing going. They have pharmaceutical companies being able to crank out new vaccines. If were up to 70 over how many years, its more than one a year, with no liability issue. They just make a lot of money off of it. Its just self-perpetuating. They dont want to ask questions. They dont want to do the research. They dont want to know. Its called willful ignorance. Johnson, citing figures from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), called into question the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in May 2021, saying more than 3,000 deaths were reported to the system within 30 days of people taking the shot, but federal health officials have not linked the deaths to the vaccine. VAERS, a system co-managed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), helps to detect unusual or unexpected reporting patterns of adverse events for vaccines. Anyone is allowed to voluntarily submit a report to the system. Although Johnson did not suggest the thousands of deaths were directly caused by the COVID-19 vaccines, he proposed in a lengthy statement that health officials need to take the VAERS findings seriously and research what is going on. Johnson expressed concern because adverse events reported to the system skyrocketed in contrast to the last five flu seasons, throughout which there were just 119 reports of deaths to VAERS among people who received a seasonal flu vaccine. During Thursdays interview, Johnson stressed that going forward, hell put an increased effort toward uncovering and exposing the truth of injuries caused by vaccines. Thats what Im going to be focusing on because I think I can get a fair amount of information, uncover and expose the truthat least with the results of vaccine injuries, Johnson said. From NTD News ADELAIDE, AustraliaHon. Irene Pnermatikos, a South Australian member of the Legislative Council, said she appreciated the message of freedom shared by the worlds premier Chinese dance company Shen Yun Performing Arts, which is touring the world to showcase China Before Communism. Its a message of freedom. Its lovely, Pnermatikos said after seeing Shen Yun for the first time on Good Friday in Adelaides Festival Theatre. Peopleno matter who they are, where they come fromhave a right to express their identity and their culture, she said. It is lovely to watch I think because it looks back in terms of classical Chinese culture, looks at different ethnic groups, and their forms of dance. Shen Yun is based in New York where its artists have the freedom to explore all aspects of Chinas rich 5,000 years of history and culture, ironically much of which is not as accessible in China due to censorship and destruction of traditional culture under the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This year, Shen Yun is performing in almost 200 cities around the world with its eight touring companies. But it is banned from performing in China by the communist party. Pnermatikos said she has visited China twice before and seen performances there in the Peoples Hall. But she said of Shen Yun, I dont see that in Chinese culture in China. I mean, you see other things in terms of their acrobatics and their routines but this is unique in terms of ethnic and cultural expression. Id recommend it to all people who love music and culture, Pnermatikos said. I would say its important to come and see this element of dance and culture, which youre not necessarily exposed to anywhere else. Theyre bright, colorful. Theyre a joy to watch. Never Seen Anything Like It Retired earth scientist Dr. Gordon Stanger and his wife attend Shen Yun Performing Arts at Festival Theatre in Adelaide, Australia, on April 7, 2023. (NTD) Also in the audience was retired Flinders University earth scientist Dr. Gordon Stanger with his wife. [Ive] never seen anything like it, Dr. Stanger said. The dance was I dont know how humans actually do some of that stuff, it is just amazing I hate to think how many hours they had to practice to do that. Mrs. Stanger said she was also left in amazement by Shen Yuns performers, and also its live orchestra and virtuoso musicians. Absolutely amazed. It was so beautiful and they are so alive and fit and healthy and active, she said. Dr. Stanger said they were amazed that the performers were able to, and felt free to, comment against what is happening in China now. He described his travels to western China, where he saw firsthand how oppressive it is and how the CCP and the police state is everywhere. I didnt expect that but Im happy to see it, he said of one of the scenes in the performance where a young girl was persecuted by the CCP to death for her faith in Falun Gong, a spiritual practice banned by the regime for its popularity. The faith teaches practitioners to strive to live the universal principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. We were talking with some other people from China, and I was saying to them, The Chinese Communist Party will not last forever. We are Christians. We pray for love and peace, Dr. Stanger said. To all those people in China who have known only oppression, we wish them well and we pray for them. The couple encouraged more Australians to experience Shen Yun for themselves. Dr. Stanger said seeing Shen Yun will reveal to you that, China is not what you thinkits more than that. NTD and Melanie Sun contributed to this report. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006 Reza Nour and his wife at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at Marion Oliver McCaw Hall in Seattle on April 6, 2023. (Frank Zhang/The Epoch Times) SEATTLEChina has 5,000 years of civilization, yet many now only think of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) when they think of China. Shen Yun Performing Arts is reminding audiences that China before communism was a bright and morally upright place. My impression before seeing thisthis is the same as communist China. But now I know that China doesnt mean the communist government of China. So that was very interesting for me, said Reza Nour, the owner of a construction company. After seeing New York-based Shen Yun, Mr. Nour said he would recommend it to his friends so that more people can recognize that China is not what they think. I will tell them, go and see that because youre going to see a different face of China [than what] you see in the press or what communist China tries to represent about China, said Mr. Nour. He added that China is a very uptight country that is thinking about money and power. But through Shen Yun, you see those stories. You see all those ancient stories [about] family. It just differentiates people from the government. And its important for everybody to see that. Mr. Nour, who attended Shen Yun with his wife, shared that one story-dance that stood out for him was the one from Journey to the West. Another story that intrigued Mr. Nour was the one depicting the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. He shared that it reminded him of the past crimes against humanity in China. My impression was that the people of China, they are [loyal to] communist China, he said. He also said that the Chinese people must think what the Communist Party teaches them. I know that in the past there has been some uprisingthe Tiananmen Square incident. Then after that, they were totally suppressed. But seeing this, it gave me hope that: hey, no, people are still thinking about their freedom and not being oppressed by the communists. That was really interesting for me, he added. The United States has always been a place that welcomed cultures and people from around the world. Mr. Nour shared that through Shen Yun, he has learned about Chinese culture. It is very important because we are in multicultural countriesCanada, the United States, and Europe. And we learn from each other, each others cultures. All we know is Chinese food. Seeing this type of show introduces you to Chinese culture, dance, how they think, and their ancient stories. Those are the important things that I wanted to see in this show, he said. Reporting by Frank Zhang and Maria Han. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. ICU Doctor Sees Series of Medical Miracles, Says Phenomenon Is an Invitation to Be Critical but Open Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas Denies Wrongdoing Thomas says he had been advised that hospitality from close friends 'was not reportable' U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas arrives for the ceremonial swearing in of Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh at the White House on Oct. 8, 2018. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) After a news report highlighted luxurious vacations that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas allegedly accepted from a wealthy friend, Thomas said he was advised that he didnt have to report the trips. In a new statement, Thomas denied any wrongdoing and vowed to follow new reporting requirements imposed on the federal judiciary. Thomass critics in Congress promptly seized on the report last week of the vacations, suggesting it raised the appearance of impropriety. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) demanded that the justice be impeached, saying his actions evidenced an almost cartoonish level of corruption. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committees panel on federal courts, called for an independent investigation of the justice, who has long been a target of the left. Whitehouse and other critics also said that justices whose spouses are involved in political activism should have to recuse themselves from involvement in cases related to that activism. Thomass wife, Ginni Thomas, is a supporter of former President Donald Trump and is otherwise active in conservative politics. Despite pressure, the justice declined to recuse himself from the various challenges to the disputed 2020 presidential election that made it to the Supreme Court. Billionaire businessman and Republican Party donor Harlan Crow, who made the gifts to Thomas, has reportedly not had any business before the Supreme Court, so any allegation of a conflict of interest rests on weak grounds. Its unclear whether Thomas violated the judicial ethics code by not declaring the vacations. Legal experts say the code doesnt apply to the Supreme Court. The court has said in the past that the justices voluntarily adhere to the ethics guidelines. Crow reportedly said the trips with Thomas and his wife were no different from the hospitality extended to many other dear friends. Justice Thomas and Ginni never asked for any of this hospitality, he said. Details of the vacations appeared in an April 6 article published by ProPublica, a left-wing nonprofit funded by preeminent Democratic Party donor financier George Soros through his Foundation to Promote Open Society. Soros has been criticized by conservatives for funding the election campaigns of various district attorneys who are soft on crime. The ProPublica article states that Thomas has accepted luxury trips almost every year over the past two decades without publicly disclosing them. The extent and frequency of Crows apparent gifts to Thomas have no known precedent in the modern history of the U.S. Supreme Court, according to the article. Thomas said in a statement released by the Supreme Courts public information office on April 7 that Harlan Crow and his wife, Kathy Crow, have been friends with Thomas and his wife for over twenty-five years. As friends do, we have joined them on a number of family trips during the more than quarter century we have known them, the justice said. Early in my tenure at the Court, I sought guidance from my colleagues and others in the judiciary, and was advised that this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable. I have endeavored to follow that counsel throughout my tenure, and have always sought to comply with the disclosure guidelines. These guidelines are now being changed, as the committee of the Judicial Conference responsible for financial disclosure for the entire federal judiciary just this past month announced new guidance. And, it is, of course, my intent to follow this guidance in the future. The justices comments came a week after it was reported that a committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States, the policymaking body for the federal courts, issued new regulations requiring members of the federal judiciary to provide more information about hospitality, gifts, and benefits they receive from outside sources. Supreme Court justices have said they voluntarily comply with the official code of conduct, but it isnt clear that they are required to do so. Although they are members of the federal judiciary, they enjoy a level of independence that the rest of the federal judiciary does not. Thats because the Supreme Court enjoys a special status because it was created by the U.S. Constitution, not Congress. Legal experts say this means that only the Supreme Court can regulate the Supreme Court. Its a problem that the Judicial Conference was created by Congress, not the Supreme Court, legal experts previously told The Epoch Times. Attorney J. Christian Adams, president of the Public Interest Legal Foundation, said he doubts the new ethics regulations apply to the Supreme Court. I think there is a fair chance they are unconstitutional, Adams said. The Constitution does not give Congress the power to regulate the Supreme Courts behavior, he said. Veteran Supreme Court observer Curt Levey, president of the conservative Committee for Justice, also questioned the ability of the Judicial Conference to regulate the conduct of Supreme Court justices. The Supreme Court can voluntarily follow this, but they certainly dont have the right to impose it on them, Levey said. Whitehouses communications director, Meaghan McCabe, didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. Supreme Courts Decision Will Hurt Patients in Canada Commentary Recently, the Supreme Court of Canada announced it was not willing to hear an important health-care court case. Patients should know, the courts decision is anything but good news. Dr. Brian Day, founder of the Cambie Surgery Centre in British Columbia, was hoping to build on a 2005 Supreme Court ruling that found it was unlawful for the Quebec government to force patients to wait long periods for health care while also banning private options. The Supreme Court then famously noted: access to a waiting list is not access to health care. Following that decision, private health care options grew in Quebec. For various reasons, patients cannot pay for whatever procedure they want in La Belle Province, but Quebecers do have the option of going to a private clinic to pay for many common surgeries, such as knee and hip operations. (Quebec patients can of course continue to use the public system if they so chooseand most do.) Back in 2009, Dr. Day began a legal challenge against legislation in British Columbia that also restricted patients access to private health care. Considering the Supreme Court had ruled just a few years prior that private health care bans violated Quebecs provincial Charter of Rights, and although decision was split on whether it also violated Canadas Charter of Rights, many expected Dr. Days court challenge to be fairly straightforward since a precedent had been set and people in one Canadian province were assured certain rights. Fast forward 14 years and Days case finally made its way to the Supreme Court of Canada. But despite what should have been an easy decision, the court announced on April 6 that the case would not be heard. Dr. Brian Day, medical director of the Cambie Surgery Centre, sits for a photograph at his office in Vancouver on Aug. 31, 2016. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck) Thus, Canada is now in a position where the Supreme Court has awarded Quebecers more health-care rights than the rest of the nation. At the same time, the highest court in the land has signalled that it has no plans to change this disparity. Patients should know that health-care systems that outperform Canada allow patients a choice: use the public system or pay out-of-pocket for private care. Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Norway, Japanthey all give patients a choice. No other developed nation on earth bans private health care like Canada does. While Canada remains trapped in an ideological health-care straightjacket, other nations understand that by giving patients a choice, some will decide to pay for private care. When that happens, there is less pressure on their public system. Simply put, each time a patient pays for a private MRI scan or hip operation, thats one less case the public system has to worry about. It would be foolish to expect Ottawa to step up and pass legislation to give Canadians in the rest of the country the same rights as Quebec patients. Our federal government has, after all, taken a rather extreme position when it comes to health care. They expect all Canadians to wait together in misery while provincial governments continue to fumble around and slowly ration health services to the public. In fact, the federal government recently announced $74 million in fines for provincial governments that allow patients to pay for diagnostic scans at private clinics if they dont want to wait for the public system. If provincial governments cave under Ottawas pressure and shut down private diagnostic clinics, then well see even more patients flooding into the governments system. In other words, longer wait times. In the meantime, patients will continue to suffer, face worsening health conditions, and even die. SecondStreet.org has gathered government data from across the country showing at least 41,620 patients have died while waiting for surgery and diagnostic scans since 2018-19. Many of these patients died while waiting for procedures which could have improved their quality of life (e.g. hip operations) in their final years, but the data also includes cases where patients died while waiting for potentially life-saving treatment. For instance, retired Ontario nurse Judy Anderson told SecondStreet.org about how her daughter Shannon died while waiting for a potentially life-saving heart procedure in 2021. After waiting as long as she could, Shannon eventually called her family over to her house, said her goodbyes, and checked in to the hospital the next day. A few days later, she was gone, leaving behind four children. Its unacceptable that Canadas top court has essentially created rights for patients in one province, but has decided against extending those rights to the rest of the country. Perhaps if youre a six-figure-salary Supreme Court judge with a golden pension, you dont need to worry about health careyou have the means to skip long waiting lists by simply travelling to another country for faster treatment. But for the rest of us, we could certainly do with more choice. And isnt the system supposed to be about patients? Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Texas Senate Passes Bills Banning Child Gender Modification and Drag Shows for Kids Conservative Texans showed up to protest against a drag-queen event held at a Katy, Texas, church on Sept. 24, 2022. (Darlene McCormick Sanchez/The Epoch Times) The Republican-controlled Texas Senate passed key bills to ban medical gender modification for children and outlaw drag queen performances in front of minors, including Drag Queen Story Hour. SB 12 and SB 14 were part of Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patricks priorities for the 88th Legislative session. Patrick holds one of the most powerful positions in Texas as head of the Senate. The bills passed on April 4 will now head to the House, where they will go to a committee. The legislation is part of a nationwide push by conservatives to give power back to parents and protect children from sexualization. Protesters at a Matt Walshs Rally to End Child Mutilation hold a sign for transgender rights Oct. 21, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Bobby Sanchez for The Epoch Times) Those on the left say allowing children to switch genders helps them mentally and drag performances are art that is protected by the First Amendment. SB 14, sponsored by Sen. Donna Campbell (R), who is a medical doctor, would end gender modification in Texas. It passed the Senate after a contentious amendment was stripped. The amendment would have grandfathered non-surgical gender modification for children who started treatment 90 days before the bill would become law. SB 14 prohibits health care providers from performing sex change surgeries or prescribing puberty blockers to minors unless medically necessary. Doctors would lose their medical licenses should they break the law under the bill. Additionally, SB 14 prohibits public money from being used or distributed to providers, medical schools, hospitals, or physicians who provide these surgeries or drugs. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks after Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the reopening of more Texas businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic at a press conference at the Texas State Capitol in Austin on Monday, May 18, 2020. (Lynda M. Gonzalez-Pool/Getty Images) SB 12, which would ban drag shows in front of children, was sponsored by Sen. Bryan Hughes (R) and his companion bill SB 1601 would halt Drag Queen Story Hours by defunding municipal libraries that host them. SB 12 would ban male performers exhibiting as a female, or female performers exhibiting as a male who use clothing, makeup, or other similar physical markers and who sings, lip syncs, dances, or otherwise, performs before an audience, appealing to prurient sexual interests. It would make sexually oriented performances on public property, a business, or in front of children illegal. Breaking the law could result in a Class A misdemeanor with a fine of up to $10,000. Conservatives applauded all three bills. Patrick put out statements applauding the Senates passage of his legislative priorities. As Lt. Governor, I believe the practice of child gender modification is abhorrent and must be stopped in Texas, Patrick wrote. Patrick attributed the drag queen legislation as a way to stop radical left-wing attempts to sexualize children. Children, who cannot make decisions on their own, must be protected from these sexually-oriented drag shows now occurring more and more in front of them, he wrote. Texas Sen. Bryan Hughes proposed bills banning drag shows for children. (Courtesy of Texas Senate) The Texas GOP lauded SB 14 in a statement calling it one of the strongest bills in the country banning the chemical castration and surgical mutilation of children. GOP Texas Chairman Matt Rinaldi said the legislation would stop misguided adults who have sacrificed children at the altar of political ideology. However, the Republican-controlled Texas legislature failed to pass a law banning gender modification for minors during the 2021 legislative session. Patrick pointed to 2021 when the Texas Senate passed two bills banning child gender modification last session in 2021, but none passed the Texas House. Some Republican lawmakers have questioned why a transgender modification bill in the Texas House didnt pass the last session and was allowed to die. Both bills received pushback from pro-trans protesters, medical associations, and Democrats. Transgender supporters gathered on March 3 outside the Austin capitol to oppose the bill. Sen. Jose Menedez (D) spoke against it, saying it hurt children who believe they are a different gender than at birth. I worry about the harm, Menedez said. The Trevor Project reported that after our never-ending sessions of 2021 that more than two-thirds of LGBT youth said that recent efforts by states to limit the rights of transgender and nonbinary people had negatively impacted their health. Drag queens went to the state capital to protest during the Youth Capital Takeover. Drag queen Nadine Hughes used the protest as an opportunity to perform in the Capitol Rotunda. Some Democrats argued that not all drag queen shows were inherently sexual and were part of free speech. Democratic Senators questioned the bill asking if it wasnt already against the law or if it banned any cross-dressing. The Republican bills sponsor, Hughes, clarified that no law bans sexualized drag shows performed for children, which is why the bill is needed. He added that movies such as Mrs. Doubtfire wouldnt be outlawed because the movie wasnt of prurient interest. The Founders and the Constitution, Part 4: John Dickinson Commentary Like James Madison, the subject of the last essay in this series, John Dickinson was one of those Founders about whom it could be said, Without him, we probably would not have a Constitution. However, Madisons contribution is justly renown, while Dickinsons has been unfairly overlooked. Testifying to the proposition that Dickinson should get more credit was Forrest McDonald, the eminent 20th century constitutional historian I mentioned in the previous essay. McDonald ranked Dickinson as the most underrated of all the Founders. McDonald made that assessment in 1985, and when Dickinsons convention notes came to light in 1987, they supported it. In the first installment, I described the Founding-era political spectrum as ranging from unreconstructed Tories, through high nationalists, moderate nationalists, centrists, conditional Federalists, to firm Anti-Federalists. Dickinson was a leading centrist. Many specific clauses in the finished Constitution reflected his ideas. It was his wisdom, moreover, that reminded the framers that in writing a constitution they couldnt indulge their political fancies. Rather, they had to consider what had worked in the past and what the general public would accept. Personal Life Born on Nov. 8, 1732, Dickinson was nine months younger than George Washington. His first home was in Maryland, but the family soon moved to Kent County, Delaware, near Dover. You can visit the family homestead today. Dickinson was home-schooled. His education featured the typical heavy dose of Greco-Roman classics, and he retained a love for the classics all his life. As was true of Madison, John Adams, and Ben Franklin, he was not only a man of action, but also deeply intellectual. His writings are rich with references to thinkers profiled in my Ideas that formed the Constitution series: Aristotle, Polybius, Cicero, Tacitus, John Locke, and others. Dickinson decided he wanted to be a lawyer. From 1750 to 1753, he clerked at a leading Philadelphia law firm, and then spent four years at the Middle Templeone of the four Inns of Court that trained English barristers (trial lawyers). While in London, he composed a series of letters to his father describing life and study there. The letters show he was quick to recognize the talent of a young Scottish advocate named William Murray. Dickinsons youthful judgment was vindicated when Murray, later known as Lord Mansfield, became the greatest of all Britains chief justices. When Dickinson returned to America in 1757, he entered law practice in Philadelphia. In the ensuing years, he split his public life between Delaware and Pennsylvania. Dickinson came from Quaker stock and, although he was not formally observant, in accordance with Quaker views he liberated all his slaves. At the Constitutional Convention, he said it was inadmissible on every principle of honor & safety that the importation of slaves should be authorized to the States by the Constitution. Dickinson seems to have had a magnetic personality, because people repeatedly entrusted him with political offices, whether he sought them or not. Physically, he was unlike the short stocky Adams and the diminutive Madison: He was tall and very lean. Like Madison, he suffered from fragile health, but through careful management enjoyed a comparatively long life. He died on Feb. 14, 1808, at the age of 75. Public Career Before the Constitutional Convention At age 26, Dickinson won a seat in the lower house of the Delaware legislature. In his second term, his colleagues chose him as speaker. But Philadelphia was where he was practicing law, and in 1762, he ran for the Pennsylvania legislature and was elected. While serving there, he carried on a celebrated battle over Pennsylvanias colonial chartercourageously opposing Benjamin Franklins dominant state political faction. Dickinson lost the battle, but later events showed that he had been correct on the issue, while Franklin and his allies had been wrong. Dickinsons principal speech from the colonial charter controversy still survives. Its a remarkable performance. A good man, the youthful lawmaker contended, ought to serve his country, even though she resents his services. In 1765, he prepared the primary draft of the Pennsylvania Assemblys resolutions against the Stamp Act and served in the convention of colonies known as the Stamp Act Congress. In 17671768, he supported the colonial cause with a series of newspaper essays written under the title, Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania. The Farmer letters were celebrated both throughout America and in Europe. When the authors identity became public, Dickinson became the second most famous American in the world, after Franklin. From 1774 until adoption of the Declaration of Independence, he served in the First and Second Continental Congresses, and was the principal author of official congressional pronouncements. Dickinson also chaired the congressional committee that wrote the Articles of Confederation. The first draft of the Articles is in his handwriting. After opposing the Declaration of Independence as premature, he, along with fellow Pennsylvania delegate Robert Morris, withdrew from the final congressional vote so the tally for Independence would be unanimous. Once Independence was declared, he enlisted in the American armed forces. In 1779, however, Delaware sent him as its representative to the Continental Congress. Two years later the Delaware legislature elected him (or, more accurately, drafted him) to be state president. The following yearwhile he was still the president of Delawarethe Pennsylvania executive council chose him in absentia to be president of their state. Dickinson served briefly in both offices before resigning from the Delaware presidency. He remained president of Pennsylvania for a three-year term The Constitutional Convention By 1786, Dickinson, like most Americans, recognized the need for a stronger government. Delaware sent him to the Annapolis Convention, where he was (of course!) elected chairman. The Annapolis gathering recommended calling another interstate convention with wider powers. In response to this recommendation, the Virginia legislature called the Constitutional Convention. Delaware chose Dickinson as one of its commissioners (delegates) to the Constitutional Convention. Although he was absent for several weeks due to illness, he remained in Philadelphia during this time, apparently supplying ideas and recommendations to his colleagues. Only three weeks into the convention, Dickinson prepared an outline for a proposed Constitution. The outline built on Edmund Randolphs Virginia Plan, but included many additional features the delegates eventually adopted: enumerated powers, selection of Senators by the state legislatures, a minimum age of 30 for Senators, rotating elections, restrictions on the states issuing money, guarantees of trial by jury and habeas corpus, and the embryo of what became the Necessary and Proper Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18). Naturally, the plan also included some ideas not ultimately adopted, such as an executive branch headed by three persons instead of one. One of Dickinsons most important constitutional contributions was his role in developing the concept later known as dual sovereignty, by which the central government would have sovereignty as to enumerated (listed) subjects and the states would be sovereign as to all other matters. Dickinson thought the states should be equally represented in the Senate, and he envisioned states actively checking the federal governmenta process Madison later denoted interposition (pdf). In an earlier Epoch Times essay, I quoted Dickinsons convention speech in which he compared the prospective federal system to the balance between the sun and the planets in the solar system. More typically, Dickinson resorted to history, tradition, and prudence. In some ways his thought anticipated the later writings of the British parliamentarian Edmund Burke, the father of modern conservatism. A good illustration is Dickinsons Aug. 13, 1787 convention floor speech. In the Anglo-American tradition, only a legislatures lower house could initiate bills imposing taxes. Some of the conventions participants argued for abandoning that tradition. Here is Dickinsons response as reported by Madison. (I have cleaned up some of the punctuation and shorthand.): Experience must be our only guide. Reason may mislead us. It was not reason that discovered the singular and admirable mechanism of the English Constitution. It was not reason that discovered or ever could have discovered the odd and (in the eye of those who are governed by reason) the absurd mode of trial by jury. Accidents probably produced these discoveries, and experience has given a sanction to them . And has not experience verified the utility of restraining money bills to the immediate representatives of the people? Shall we oppose to this long experience, the short experience of 11 years [i.e., 1776 to 1787] which we had ourselves, on this subject? All the prejudices of the people would be offended by refusing this exclusive privilege to the House of Representatives, and these prejudices should never be disregarded by us when no essential purpose [is] to be served. When this [Constitution] goes forth, it will be attacked by the popular leaders. Aristocracy will be the watchword; the Shibboleth among its adversaries. Eight states have inserted in their constitutions the exclusive right of originating money bills in favor of the popular branch of the legislature. Most of them, however, allow[] the other branch to amend. This would be proper for us to do. Assisted by Edmund Randolph, Dickinson won this argument. The result was the Origination Clause (Article I, Section 7, Clause 1), which provides that only the House of Representatives can initiate new taxes (pdf). During the ratification debates, the Origination Clause proved to be a lifesaver. Just as Dickinson predicted, opponents assailed the Constitution as being too aristocratic. If the Origination Clause had not been available to rebut that charge, the document may never have been ratified. The Ratification Fight Still contending with ill-health, Dickinson left the convention shortly before the Constitution was signed. He deputized his Delaware colleague, George Read, to sign for him. Dickinsons two home states, Delaware and Pennsylvania, became the first and second to ratify. When the pace of ratification slowed, Dickinson once more took up his famous pen and composed a series of essays supporting the Constitution. The pseudonym he chose was Fabius, the famous Roman general whose guerilla tactics kept Hannibal at bay. The Fabius essays were distributed nationwide. Conclusion Like Madison, John Dickinson played crucial roles at several stages of constitution-making: creating background institutions (such as the Articles of Confederation), drafting the document, and promoting ratification. Far more than Madison, however, Dickinson impressed his specific ideas into the text of the Constitution. You can find more information in my longer scholarly article, The Constitutional Contributions of John Dickinson (pdf). Read previous installments here: first, second, third. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. The New York Times Finally Warms to Swedens Pandemic ResponseThree Years Later People have lunch at a restaurant in Stockholm, Sweden, on April 22, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images) Commentary Last week The New York Times published an article that would have been unthinkable a few years ago. How Did No-Mandate Sweden End Up With Such an Average Pandemic? the headline asked. Times writer David Wallace-Wells doesnt accept claims that Swedenwhich drew intense criticism for refusing to go into lockdown in 2020had the lowest excess death rate in Europe, with just 3.3 percent more deaths than expected, the lowest percentage among OECD countries. But he does concede that its hard to argue on the basis of Swedens epidemiological experience that its policy course was a disastrous one. This might not sound like much of a concession, but it is. The Grey Lady reported in 2020 that Sweden Has Become the Worlds Cautionary Tale for its COVID response, and the NY Times was joined by a chorus of media outlets (and President Donald Trump) who alleged Sweden had botched the pandemic and amplified the virus. Today we know this wasnt the case. And though Wallace-Wells seems to begrudge Anders Tegnellthe architect of Swedens policytaking a victory lap through the media, its worth pointing out that the epidemiologist received death threats for his pandemic response, which looks better with each passing week. Just how successful Swedens approach was is still subject to debate. While Wallace-Wells is skeptical of Swedish claims that the country had the lowest excess mortality in Europehe says the data set is imperfect and isnt adjusted for demographicsits clear Sweden performed better than many lockdown nations. World Health Organization data he references show Swedes had an excess death rate average of 56 out of 100,000far better than Italy (133), Germany (116), Spain (111), and the UK (109). Whatever data one chooses, one fact is undebatable: This isnt what modelers predicted. Its important to remember that one of the reasons nations went into lockdown in the first place was that Imperial College London predicted as many as 40 million people would die in nine months if the virus was left unchecked. Those same modelers predicted that Sweden would suffer 96,000 deaths by July 2020 if the nation didnt close. That didnt happen. (The actual death count by July 2020 was 5,700.) So whether one accepts claims that Sweden had the lowest excess death toll in Europe or merely performed averagely, its clear modelers were horribly wrong. While Wallace-Wells doesnt address these modeling errors, he does highlight the ineffectiveness of government regulations, conceding that mandates may matter somewhat less than social behavior and the disease itselfand surely less than we want to believe. People will continue to debate mandates, of course. Theyll point out that countries such as Finland and Norway had lower COVID mortality than Sweden, ignoring that (as Wallace-Wells also notes) these countries actually had policies less stringent than Sweden for much of 2020, according to Oxfords Coronavirus Government Response Tracker. (Neighbors were apparently quick to adopt Swedens lighter touch approach.) This doesnt mean we dont have clear answers, however. Early in the pandemic, I asked a proactive question: Could Swedens laissez-faire approach to the coronavirus actually work? Though Wallace-Wells never quite says yes, he includes a telling quote from Francois Balloux, the director of the UCL Genetics Institute and a professor of computational biology at University College London. What the Swedish model really suggests is that pandemic mitigation measures can be effectively deployed in a respectful, largely non-coercive way, writes Balloux. This is as close to an admission of Sorry, we were wrong as were likely to see in the New York Times. After all, the non-coercive measures Balloux mentions are precisely what proponents of Swedens approach, including signers of the Great Barrington Declaration, had advocated all along. (Wallace-Wells is correct when he notes that Sweden never adopted a let it rip approach, as many claim.) Sadly, most countries instead adopted highly coercive measures, even tyrannical ones, believing they had the knowledge to plan society. In doing so, they ignored the warning of Nobel Prize-winning economist F.A. Hayek, who cautioned that if man is not to do more harm than good in his efforts to improve the social order, he will have to learn that in this, as in all other fields where essential complexity of an organized kind prevails, he cannot acquire the full knowledge which would make mastery of events possible. This is the biggest lesson of the pandemic: Central planners dont possess the knowledge to effectively organize society, but they do possess the power to wreck the social orderquickly. This is precisely why Hayek said it was imperative that those with power approach society with humility. Some people appear to have learned this lesson. Wallace-Wells said its humbling to acknowledge that mandates simply were unable to do what many believed they could. Lets hope others learn this lesson as welland offer the Swedes and Dr. Tegnell a well-deserved apology. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. Within the trade mission that is taking place in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, eight contracts have been signed, the value of which exceeded $55 million, Serik Zhumangarin, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan, said during the 19th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan Intergovernmental Commission, Trend reports. The deputy PM noted the success of the trade mission in Baku and suggested continuing the practice of mutual missions on a semi-annual basis. Zhumangarin also spoke about the continuous development of the strategic relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Moreover, the deputy PM underlined the importance of the Comprehensive Program on the Development of Cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2022-2026, which was signed by the two countries during the visit of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in August 2022. With regard to the development of trade relations, Zhumangarin pointed out that the trade volume of 400-500 million manat (about $294 million) is a low figure. The minister, saying that the Azerbaijani market is important for Kazakhstan, also added that Baku and Kazakhstans Astana have a greater potential that needs to be carried out. In the framework of transit and transport cooperation, the minister emphasized the importance of partnership with Azerbaijan, noting that they are interested in eliminating bottlenecks within the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TMTM). At the same time, he highlighted the importance of establishing a joint venture between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan to increase the effectiveness of cooperation within the framework of TMTM. Furthermore, Zhumangarin informed the commission participants about the work on the creation of a joint venture in the framework of the project on laying a fiber-optic communication line (FOCL). He also mentioned that Kazakhstan is working on establishing the necessary infrastructure and resolving issues related to the financing of this project. Trump Indictment Totally Erroneous, Sets Bad Precedent for the Nation: GOP Leaders Former President Donald Trump attends the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 287 mixed martial arts event at the Kaseya Center in Miami on April 8, 2023. (Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images) Days after former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to falsification of business records charges, his indictment by a Manhattan grand jury continues to spark outrage and concern among Republican leaderswith some holding that it could open the door to rampant prosecutorial misconduct. Now the threat is that this occurs not only in this instance but occurs to any other Republican or Democrat, Mississippi Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann warned in an April 5 interview with NTD News, The Epoch Times sister outlet. This is a bad precedent for the country, and Im real hopeful that itll be dismissed by the judiciary at an early level, he added. The indictment, which was unsealed on April 4 following the former presidents arraignment, revealed 34 felony counts relating to an alleged hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election cycle. Hosemann, who used to draft nondisclosure agreements as an attorney, noted that the practice is very legal and that he thought the charges against Trump were totally erroneous. I think its a political event, and not something that we should either be supporting or proud of in our country, the lieutenant governor said. And Ive been really pleased to see all wings of the Republican Party come out and say, This is a witch hunt, and this never should have occurred to the president. I think its unified our party a lot by seeing how egregious the step was. Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, another Republican, shared Hosemanns concerns regarding the repercussions of what he considered to be a politically motivated attack on Trump. Whenever you weaponize or do things for political reasons, whatever it is, it sets a bad precedent, he said, noting that he had worked with many Democrats over the years to get things done. This political punishment has got to stop in our country, he added. Weve got to come together and work at fixing our problems, and well never do it as long as we weaponize the court systems or anything for political payback or punishment. Also noting that there did not seem to be much substance to the charges against Trump, Nungesser described the indictment as unfortunate and harmful to the nation. Legal Foundation Prior to the unsealing of the indictment, leaks to the press revealed that Trump would be facing more than 30 felony counts of falsification of business records. Upon the full indictments release, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg asserted that Trump had lied again and again to circumvent the law. Under New York state law, it is a felony to falsify business records with intent to defraud and an intent to conceal another crime, Bragg said at a press conference. That is exactly what this case is about34 false statements made to cover up other crimes. These are felony crimes in New York state, no matter who you are, he added. We cannot and will not normalize serious criminal conduct. However, when the full indictment was unveiled, even critics of the former president said that the legal foundation for the case appeared weak. Speaking as someone who very strongly does not want Donald Trump to get the Republican presidential nomination, Im extraordinarily distressed by this document, Trumps former National Security Adviser John Bolton told CNN. I think this is even weaker than I feared it would be. The Yale Law School graduate, whom Trump fired in 2019, said he worried the case could easily be dismissed before it goes to trial. Notably absent from the indictment was the basis for elevating the falsification of business records chargesa misdemeanor under New York lawto the felony level. What is the legal theory that ties that very solid misdemeanor case, 34 counts of misdemeanors, to the intent to conceal another crime, which is what makes it a felony? It simply isnt there, former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe held in another CNN interview. McCabe led the FBIs investigation into false allegations Trump colluded with Russia to steal the 2016 presidential election. At the end of the day, if all of our legal friends read this indictment and dont see a way to a felony, its hard to imagine convincing a jury that they should get there, he added. Political Motivations According to an April 2 ABC News/Ipsos poll, a plurality of Americans (47 percent)including 79 percent of Republicansbelieve the charges against Trump to be politically motivated. When you think about it, theyre trying to suppress the momentum that President Trump already has, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) contended in an interview with Steve Bannons War Room. And, more than just the momentum that President Trump has, theyre trying to distract us from the lack of momentum, or the slide, in the Biden camp. But if the goal was to keep Trump out of the White House, the case would appear to be having the opposite effect. Since his indictment last week, Trumps popularity has skyrocketed among Republicans, spurring him to a massive 37-point lead over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for the GOP presidential nomination, according to an April 7 Reuters/Ipsos pollan eight-point jump in just three days. Meanwhile, in a one-on-one rematch between Trump and President Joe Biden, likely voters would choose Trump 47-40 percent, according to an April 5 Rasmussen Reports survey. On Feb. 15, Rasmussen showed Biden narrowly leading Trump 45-42 percent. Addressing supporters from his Mar-a-Lago estate on April 4, Trump maintained his innocence of the charges against him and asserted that, under the current leadership, the United States had become a mess that only he could effectively clean up. Incredibly, we are now a failing nation, he said. We are a nation in decline, and now these radical left lunatics want to interfere with our elections by using law enforcement. We cant let that happen. With all of this being said, and with a very dark cloud over our beloved country, I have no doubt nevertheless that we will Make America Great Again. Jack Phillips, Nathan Worcester, and John Haughey contributed to this report. Trump Says White House Blame Over Afghanistan Withdrawal a Disinformation Game Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an event at the Mar-a-Lago Club April 4, 2023 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Trump pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan courtroom today to 34 counts related to money paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016, the first criminal charges for any former U.S. president. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Former President Donald Trump on Thursday accused the White House of playing a new disinformation game after the Biden administration blamed the previous administration for the chaos that unfolded during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in the summer of 2021. In a statement on Truth Social, Trump criticized the administration of President Joe Biden for its handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, calling them morons and accusing them of blaming him for their grossly incompetent surrender. The chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 left 13 service members dead, with billions of dollars worth of military equipment left behind, and saw the Taliban overrun the Middle Eastern countrys government. Trump firmly stated that Biden was responsible for the outcome and that no one else should be blamed. I watched this disaster unfold just like everyone else, he continued. I saw them take out the Military FIRST, GIVE $85 Billion of military equipment, allow killing of our soldiers, and leave Americans behind. Biden is responsible, no one else! Trumps comments were hitting back at a White House review of the chaotic withdrawal published Thursday. That review claimed Biden was constrained for choices in how to execute a withdrawal because the Trump administration failed to coordinate with the incoming Biden administration in sharing insights on the February 2020 Doha Agreement peace pact. President Bidens choices for how to execute a withdrawal from Afghanistan were severely constrained by conditions created by his predecessor, the report reads. National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said in a media briefing Thursday that outgoing Trump administration officials were not forthcoming with insights into the Doha Agreement and their May 2021 withdrawal plans. There were multiple attempts to try to gain insight into what the previous team had been doing; none of those plans had been forthcoming, Kirby said. It wasnt for lack of trying. They werent sharing. Therefore, Kirby said, the Biden administration was almost starting from scratch in developing a plan to meet the conditions that the time. I Am Outraged: Pompeo Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday he disagreed that Bidens choices were constrained. He argued instead that Biden simply made a hash of it and the White House was trying to protect Biden from embarrassment. We didnt constrain them at all, Pompeo told Fox News after the report was released. The Biden administration has demonstrated their willingness to break up good plans that the Trump administration had. Think of our southern border, where we had a good plan in Remain in Mexico, he continued. Now thousands and thousands [are] coming across each day. Former U.S. Secretary of State and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Mike Pompeo speaks during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel And Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., on March 3, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Pompeo said Thursday that it was outrageous for the White House to blame anyone but Biden for the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. I am outraged. I am outraged by the fact that the 13 Americans that were killed there didnt have to happen, he said. Pompeo said the military had clearly told Biden that the withdrawal would likely result in chaos if they publicized the date of withdrawal, which they did. I dont know what theyre talking about. I was the CIA director. I was in the middle of all this, Pompeo said. The military, for our entire four years, made very clear to us that if we withdrew too hastily, that if we publically announced the date of withdrawal, that precisely what you just saw happen in the summer of 21 was a likely outcome. It was a reasonably likely outcome. Pompeo denied Kirbys use of the word constrained and argued that U.S. military and intelligence circles had predicted what occurred, as they understood the Taliban well. For Kirby today to say that hes somehow proud of the way we departed, that this wasnt an unmitigated disasterwe should just all believe our own eyes. We all saw the video. This was chaotic. Thirteen Americans killed, Pompeo said. Pompeo said the United States had a conditions-based plan, which the Biden administration botched as they went about undoing many Trump plans. They came in, took the plan that we had, and just botched it. They made a hash of it, he said. And the American people have suffered for it. And frankly, Americas standing in the world is continuing to suffer from that, today. Kirbys remarks were also criticized Thursday by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, who said Biden was ultimately to blame for the chaotic withdrawal, having picked the date. McCaul also criticized the Biden administrations overdue decision to release the Afghanistan withdrawal after-action reports with Congress. The report wasnt released until McCaul threatened to subpoena them after multiple requests. John Kirbys comments during todays White House press briefing were disgraceful and insulting, McCaul said in a statement. President Biden made the decision to withdraw and even picked the exact date; he is responsible for the massive failures in planning and execution. Trumps Indictment Damages the US in World Politics Commentary A fundamental aspect of politics is that domestic events impact international ones and the reverse. U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthys meeting with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen deserves praise for demonstrating that the House leadership stands with Taiwan. That is an important deterrent message to communist China as its leader, Xi Jinping, weighs his consideration of an attack against Taiwan. Half a world away, New York prosecutor Alvin Braggs indictment of former President Donald Trump is another seemingly wholly domestic event. But it is not solely a domestic matterit has major international consequences for U.S. global interests, its allies and partners, and its enemy, the Chinese regime. The United States is a valuable ally for three reasons. First, due to its power, it possesses the military, diplomatic, and economic might to advance the interests of allies and partners for security and prosperity. Second, the United States is also respected and prized as an ally due to the health of the U.S. political system. Global allies and partners understand that the United States has been a reliable ally since it entered World War II in 1941. To be sure, at times of domestic political turmoil, U.S. credibility has waned, as former President Richard Nixons fall due to Watergate emboldened China in 1974 to conquer from South Vietnam all of the Paracel Islands. A year later, it did the same for North Vietnam. Hanoi knew that the United States was paralyzed, and so it could conquer South Vietnam without fear of U.S. intervention to save Saigon. The fear of another Vietnam hindered the U.S. response to the Cambodian genocide, the Angolan civil war, the Iranian Revolution, Somozas overthrow in Nicaragua, and support for El Salvadors effort to defeat a communist insurgency. Most importantly, it aided the expansion of the Soviet Union and Soviet Bloc power in the Third World. In the 1980s, it also weakened Washingtons ability to support insurgents fighting Soviet-supported regimes. Third, the United States is an example to the world due to its ideology and political culture. The Washington Consensus model of democratic governance, free market capitalism, and low levels of political and economic corruption serve as the template for developing states to follow, unites allied governments, and distinguishes the United States from its adversaries. Washingtons model for the world demonstrates that states can be democratic, prosperous, and stableall of which provide better allies for the United States and better protection for human rights. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg leaves his office in New York City on March 22, 2023. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) Thus, the U.S. example is important for the values that the country projects but also as a political lodestar. It is a force multiplier in ideological warfare with China. This is significant as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has realized that its grand strategic goal of dominance is hindered by the absence of a strategic narrative that will allow it to advance its ambitions while minimizing balancing and other forms of resistance against it. Beijings new strategic narrative, the common destiny of mankind or Xis Global Civilizational Initiative announced in March is intended to advance that aim and legitimize the CCPs tyrannical surveillance state as the model for world governance. Thus, as it did during the Cold War, the world has two competing ideologies and worldviews. Although these considerations were probably far from the minds of those who authorized the indictment of a former president, that act weakens that distinction and violates American principles and political culture. The world expects Xi to employ every means against his domestic political enemies. The United States is different. Its political culture did not allow current presidents to indict their political enemies, particularly a former and possible future president. Those who came close to violating this understandinghowever indirectly like Nixons cover-up after the Watergate break-inwere disgraced and hounded from office. The political culture and history of the United States forbade such an act. Now it seems possible, thus eroding important distinctions between the United States and most countries. U.S. political principles and culture are thus eroded. The distinction between the political systems and their respective claims to global leadership is not as sharp as before. Through the indictment against a former president, the Biden administration has handed the CCP a weapon to expand its influence in international politics and challenge the position and legitimacy of liberal democracy in the minds of the Chinese people and others around the world. The indictment and likely trial, and possible additional indictments in other cases in Georgia and by the Special Counsel for Trump Inquires, Jack Smith, have multifaceted domestic effects that will play out between now and the Republican Party nomination process, and if Trump is the nominee, to November 2024. Moreover, these events have myriad and adverse international ones. The great strength of the United States in its competition with communist China is that its ideology, political culture and values, rule of law, and respect for human rights stand in direct contrast to an odious and repressive regime that is the CCP. No administration should be allowed to jeopardize U.S. values and global image. The Biden administration did this with a raid on Mar-a-Lago in August 2022 and by not stopping the indictment. The administration just gave the CCP an unearned and undeserved victory in the ideological fight. The raid at Mar-a-Lago, the indictment against Trump, and his future trial, likely in January 2024, now have a life and legacy in global politics that is to the detriment of the United States and its allies in the struggle against the Chinese regime. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Two Women Arrested Upon Returning to Canada From Syrian Camps A general view of Karama camp for internally displaced Syrians, Feb. 14, 2022 by the village of Atma, Idlib province, Syria. (The Canadian Press/AP-Omar Albam) The RCMP says its Federal Policing Integrated National Security Enforcement Team arrested two women at the Montreal-Trudeau International Airport and is seeking a terrorism peace bond against them under the Criminal Code. Police say in a release Thursday that Ammara Amjad and Dure Ahmed appeared in Ontario provincial court by video conference for a bail hearing in relation to the peace bond applications. RCMP say the matter was adjourned and the women remain in custody until their next scheduled court appearance on Tuesday. The success of this investigation can be attributed to the strength of our policing partnerships, Chief Superintendent Matt Peggs said in the release. The RCMP stands fast against support to terrorism, including support to groups such as ISIS, and remains committed to the safety of all Canadians. Earlier Thursday, Lawrence Greenspon, a lawyer for the women, said the two had just returned from Syria and were arrested by the RCMP and faced bail hearings in Brampton, Ont. Greenspon said the Crown is seeking terrorist peace bonds that would place strict conditions on them. The two are among four Canadian women and 10 children who arrived in Montreal after being freed from prison camps in northeastern Syria. There are many foreign nationals in Syrian camps run by Kurdish forces that reclaimed the war-ravaged region from the extremist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Under a terrorism peace bond, a judge can order the defendant to enter into an arrangement to be of good behaviour or possibly face a prison sentence. Conditions such as a curfew or prohibition on having weapons might be attached. Kimberly Polman, a British Columbia woman repatriated to Canada from Syria last year, was granted bail pending a peace bond hearing. The latest flight to Canada had been expected to bring more people home from Syria. Greenspon reached an agreement with the federal government in January to repatriate six Canadian women and 13 children who had been part of a court action. However, two mothers and three children were not at a designated meeting point and missed the flight, Greenspon said Thursday. They werent able to find them. He said he expects Global Affairs Canada will try to locate the five people and return them to Canada as well. A Quebec mother and her six children, who also wanted to come to Canada, are not among the returnees either, Greenspon said. While the six children have been ruled eligible for repatriation from Syria, their mother has been told she cannot join them because her security assessment is incomplete. It is inexcusable, given that Global Affairs said in writing late last November that the woman and her children met the criteria for federal consideration of assistance to Canadians detained in the region, Greenspon said Thursday. Its just ridiculous to put that up as an excuse. Asked about the family on Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada will always protect Canadians in difficult situations overseas, but also make sure were doing everything necessary to keep Canadians safe here at home. For operational reasons, I wont be commenting further. A federal judge recently directed Ottawa to also secure the release of four Canadian men from detention in northeastern Syria. The federal government has appealed that ruling. In a statement Thursday, Global Affairs and Public Safety Canada said that amid reports of deteriorating conditions in the camps, we have been particularly concerned about the health and well-being of Canadian children. As long as conditions allow, we will continue this work. The departments thanked the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria for its co-operation and the United States for its assistance in the repatriation. Due to privacy considerations, we cannot provide information about the individuals, and we cannot share details of the repatriation for operational reasons. Little is known publicly about the 14 returnees or how they wound up in detention. RCMP officers recently visited Syria to conduct interviews in the camps. Where there is sufficient evidence, law enforcement and public safety agencies will independently take the necessary steps to keep our communities safe, the federal departments said Thursday. We reiterate that it is a serious criminal offence for anyone to leave Canada to knowingly support a terrorist group and those who engage in these activities will face the full force of Canadian law. Washington appreciates Canadas repatriation of the 14 women and children and stands ready to assist other nations in their efforts, said Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson for the U.S. State Department. Resolving the humanitarian and security challenges that followed the dismantling of ISILs so-called caliphate is a key priority for the United States and its partners, Patel said in a statement. Approximately 10,000 people from more than 60 countries outside Syria and Iraq remain in two displaced persons camps in northeastern Syria, Patel added. Repatriation is the only durable solution for this population, most of whom are vulnerable children under the age of 12. Separately, thousands of ISIL fighters are being held in detention facilities across the region, Patel said. This constitutes the single largest concentration of detained terrorist fighters in the world and remains a threat to regional and international security. By Jim Bronskill UN-sponsored Report Would Destroy Communities by Gutting Criminal Law Commentary If you like the chaos and criminality unleashed in some of our greatest cities by progressive district attorneys refusing to enforce the criminal law, youll love the reforms a new U.N.-sponsored report advocates for the entire world. The 8 March Principles, (pdf) as theyre called, are a woke nightmare. Drafted by the International Commission of Jurists in conjunction with two U.N. agencies, the proposals would decriminalize socially dissipating activities such as prostitution, homeless squatter encampments, public defecation, and hard drug use. Not only that, but statutory rape laws would be hobbled, adult incest would have to be allowed, and all abortioneven at the end of gestationwould become sacrosanct. The Principles arent aimed at protecting society. Rather, they seek to ensure that decadence isnt stigmatized. The report makes that intention clear in the introduction: While retribution, deterrence, incapacitation and rehabilitation are generally considered to be its main purposes, criminal law may also perform an expressive function, through public condemnation of certain conduct seen as deserving reprobation and punishment. We cant have that! People should be able to behave any way they want, no matter how personally destructive or socially harmful. Otherwise, the law could embody and codify unequal power relations that, in turn, are often the legacy of colonial, xenophobic, racist, sexist, classist, ableist, cultural, religious, social, political, economic and other power dynamics. And that also means as little jail time as possible for those crimes that would remain on the bookseven violent offenses. The Principles declare that custodial sentences may only be imposed as a measure of last resort. If you want to see how well that approach works, consider the harm caused by the cash-free bail approach in places such as New York, in which recently arrested people are immediately released and many quickly predate new victims. As far as the Principles are concerned, that doesnt matter. Human rights are at stake! The unjustified criminalization of individuals and sometimes entire communities is increasingly impeding progress in advancing human rights in many areas, including: racial and gender equality; reproductive autonomy; disability; economic justice; civil liberties; sexual orientation; gender identity; education; youth development; and public health, the report reads. It somehow never mentions that members of these same communities are often victims of the criminals on whose behalf the Principles advocate. So lets get into specifics. The Principles start with the sacred cause of abortion: Criminal law may not proscribe abortion. Abortion must be taken entirely out of the purview of the criminal law, including for having, aiding, assisting with, or providing an abortion, or abortion-related medication or services, or providing evidence-based abortion-related information. In other words, abortion absolutism at any time in pregnancy for any reason. And no punishment if a mothers dysfunctional behavior adversely affects her baby. No one may be held criminally liable on the basis that their conduct is alleged to be harmful to their own pregnancy, such as alcohol or drug consumption or contracting HIV or transmitting it to the foetus while pregnant, or for their own pregnancy loss. And speaking of HIV, if a person passes the disease on to another or acts with extreme recklessness in this regard, that potentially lethal act cant be criminalized either unless the infected person intended to pass on the disease. Criminal law may not proscribe non-disclosure of HIV status or exposure to HIV or HIV transmission per se. The use of criminal law should be limited to cases of intentional transmission of HIV: that is, where a person knows their HIV-positive status, acts with the intent to transmit HIV, and does in fact transmit it. The Principles would also open the door to legalized incest, since the right to consensual sex would be absolute. Consensual sexual conduct, irrespective of the type of sexual activity, the sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression of the people involved or their marital status, may not be criminalized in any circumstances, the report reads. Prostitution could also not be punishedeven in public places. The exchange of sexual services between consenting adults for money, goods or services and communication with another about, advertising an offer for, or sharing premises with another for the purpose of exchanging sexual services between consenting adults for money, goods or services, whether in a public or private place, may not be criminalized, absent coercion, force, abuse of authority or fraud, the report reads. That could turn our busiest streets into so many brothels. But surely children can still be protected from sex with adults? Maybe the youngest. But not necessarily if the child is deemed mature and the sex was consensual. Sexual conduct involving persons below the domestically prescribed minimum age of consent to sex may be consensual in fact, if not in law, the report reads. In this context, the enforcement of criminal law should reflect the rights and capacity of persons under 18 years of age to make decisions about engaging in consensual sexual conduct and their right to be heard in matters concerning them. The Principles would also prevent criminal prosecution for taking any drugno matter how addicting it is to the individual or devastating the drug scourge might be to communities. Criminal law may not proscribe: a) drug use or the possession, purchase or cultivation of drugs for personal use, including by anyone under the age of 18 or while pregnant, the report reads. Again, to see how open drug consumption destroys communities, check out the squalor of homeless encampments in San Francisco or Seattle. And while were on the subject of the unhoused, the horrific encampments that now befoul our most progressive cities would become untouchable. No one may be held criminally liable: a) for engaging in life-sustaining economic activities in public places, such as begging, panhandling, trading, touting, vending, hawking or other informal commercial activities involving non-contraband items, the report reads. That includes squatting in public places, such as sleeping, eating, preparing food, washing clothes, sitting or performing hygiene-related activities, including washing, urinating and defecating, or for other analogous activities in public places, where there are no adequate alternatives available. Criminalizing personal behavior certainly isnt the answer to all our proliferating social ills. Freedom matters. But personal restraint also needs to be encouraged, sometimes by punishing profligacy. In this sense, criminal law has a place in protecting innocent life, defending human dignity, and promoting the general welfare. Under the Principles, this important function of criminal law would collapse. Anti-social behavior would surge, communities quality of life would plunge, street squalor would proliferate, our streets would become less safe, and social anarchy would reign supreme. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. US, Japan, South Korea Urge UN Members to Repatriate North Korean Workers U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Sung Kim (L), Japan Director-General for Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Takehiro Funakoshi (C), and South Korea Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Kim Gunn pose for photographers prior to hold trilateral meeting on North Korea at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in Tokyo on Sept. 7, 2022. (Eugene Hoshiko/AP Photo) The United States, South Korea, and Japan have urged United Nations members to repatriate North Korean nationals working overseas to generate funds for North Koreas nuclear weapons program. U.S. special representative for North Korea, Sung Kim, met with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts, Kim Gunn and Takehiro Funakoshi, in Seoul on Friday to discuss North Koreas nuclear threats. In a joint statement, the three envoys condemned North Koreas unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programs and called on all U.N. member states to fully implement the Security Council resolutions on North Korea. We underscore that in accordance with UNSC resolution 2397 (2017), U.N. member states are required to repatriate all DPRK laborers earning income in their jurisdictions, unless repatriation is prohibited by applicable national or international law, the statement reads. U.N. member states should be vigilant and ensure that no work authorizations are renewed or granted to overseas DPRK laborers consistent with UNSC resolution 2375 (2017) and address the DPRKs attempts to evade sanctions, it added. DPRK stands for the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, North Koreas official name. They warned that North Korean information technology workers use forged identities to evade UNSC sanctions and earn income abroad to finance their countrys nuclear and ballistic missile programs. We are also deeply concerned about how the DPRK supports these programs by stealing and laundering funds as well as gathering information through malicious cyber activities, the envoys stated. Citing data from the U.N. panel of experts, they said North Korea had attempted to steal $2 billion between 2015 and 2019 through cyber activities. The regime reportedly stole an estimated $1.7 billion in cryptocurrency last year. We highlight the importance of our joint efforts to block such illicit revenue streams, the envoys said. The U.S. Treasury Department said on Thursday that North Korea used decentralized finance (DeFi) to transfer and launder their illicit proceeds. The department described DeFi as virtual asset protocols and services that purport to allow some form of automated peer-to-peer transactions, often through the use of self-executing code known as smart contracts based on blockchain technology. Our assessment finds that illicit actors, including criminals, scammers, and North Korean cyber actors, are using DeFi services in the process of laundering illicit funds, said Brian Nelson, the departments undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. The United Nations has imposed a series of sanctions against North Korea since 2006 over the countrys nuclear and ballistic missile tests. In 2017, the UNSC restricted North Koreas import of refined petroleum products, setting a cap of 500,000 barrels per year. Anti-Submarine Drills The United States, South Korea, and Japan on Monday held their trilateral anti-submarine exercises in South Koreas southern island of Jeju to counter North Koreas nuclear and missile capabilities. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits a hall displaying what appear to be various types of warheads designed to be mounted on missiles or rocket launchers in an undisclosed location in North Korea on March 27, 2023. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) The drills came as North Korea vowed last week to produce more weapons-grade nuclear materials to expand its arsenal, and boasted of what it called a nuclear-capable underwater attack drone. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un vowed to make the United States and South Korea realize that they are bound to lose more than they get and face a greater threat over their expansion of war drills in the region. The United States has persisted in engaging in direct talks with North Korea without preconditions in favor of a diplomatic solution, but North Korea has rebuffed these efforts. We reaffirm that the path to dialogue remains open, as demonstrated by repeated attempts to engage the DPRK in dialogue, and urge the DPRK to return to negotiations rather than engage in unlawful, provocative, and escalatory actions, the envoys said. Reuters contributed to this report. US Lawmakers Invite South Korean President to Address Congress South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol arrives for the G-20 leaders' summit in Nusa Dua, on the Indonesian resort island of Bali on Nov. 15, 2022. (Mast Irham/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Leaders from both houses of Congress have invited the president of South Korea to address a joint meeting of Congress, a move aimed at reaffirming the historic alliance between that nation and the United States. With this year marking the 70th anniversary of the alliance between our two countries, it is an especially important time to reflect on the achievements of our partnership and to reaffirm our shared commitment to democracy, economic prosperity, and global peace, the leaders wrote in an April 4 letter to President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) announced the invitation on April 6, which was jointly issued by McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). The address will take place on April 27. President Joe Biden will host Yoon for a state dinner on April 26. The invitation comes at a time when the United States is showing bipartisan support for strengthening alliances in Asia in the wake of aggressive acts by the Chinese Communist Party. Across much of the Indo-Pacific region, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is using military and economic coercion to bully its neighbors, advance unlawful maritime claims, threaten maritime shipping lanes, and destabilize territory along the periphery of the Peoples Republic of China, the U.S. State Department warned in a 2021 statement. A Chinese spy balloon was detected transiting the United States in January and subsequently shot down. Congress is currently considering action concerning TikTok, the popular video-sharing app some believe provides data on U.S. citizens to the CCP. Taiwan Presidents Unofficial Visit The invitation to President Yoon of South Korea was announced one day after McCarthy met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in California, drawing condemnation from the CCP. The island of Taiwan is claimed as part of the Peoples Republic of China by the CCP. McCarthy is the highest-ranking U.S. leader to meet with a Taiwanese president on U.S. soil. Jeffries met with Tsai in New York on March 30. Both visits occurred during what were billed as stopovers during Tsais 10-day tour of Central America. Congress occasionally invites foreign leaders to address a joint meeting to reinforce alliances. A joint meeting of Congress is less formal than a joint session. Joint meetings are usually convened to hear an address from a foreign visitor, whereas joint sessions typically involve an address by the U.S. president or to conduct official congressional business. The invitation to Yoon marks the first joint meeting of the 118th Congress. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, prime minister of Greece, addressed a joint meeting in May 2002, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president of Ukraine, addressed one in December. US Would Run Out of Missiles in a Week in Two-Front Conflict: War Game Analysis Australia is among nations providing M777 howitzers and the 155mm artillery shells they use to support Ukraine in fighting off invading Russia, but at an average expenditure of 7,000 rounds a day, the war in Eastern Europe is depleting U.S., NATO, and allied stockpiles. (Major Roger Brennan/Australian Defence Forces) Institutional think-tanks such as the Washington-based Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) routinely scrutinize data in war game analyses that alert Pentagon planners of projected stresses and shortfalls across varying conflict scenarios. Right now, with Ukraine receiving weapons, munitions, and financial support from more than 50 nations in fighting off Russias February 2022 invasion, a strata of supply chain strains are vexing Western European and American efforts to meet Kyivs demand for such basics as bullets and bombs. Decades after the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union, the United States, its NATO partners, and its allies across the globe, are racing to revitalize a defense industrial base that had contracted and retooled as part of the peace dividend that followed the conclusion of the Cold War. The United States, NATO, and the European Union (EU) are using lessons learned in Ukraine to beef up defense production with an array of strategies such as joint-procurement, multi-year funding, inter-operability standardization, and coordinated specialization to incentivize private industry to groove into a war economy. These initiatives will take years to fully synchronize to sustain Ukraine in what most analysts now project will be a sustained high-intensity war of logistics, supplies, and attrition not seen in Europe since World War II. While Russia is the pressing, immediate threat to NATO and the EU, it is not the top pacing challenge for the United States and its Indo-Pacific allies such as Australia, Japan, and the Philippines. That top priority is the Peoples Republic of China, which has aggressively modernized its expanding military the last two decades, amassing a 400-ship navy, building bases on disputed South China Sea islands, and threatening to invade Taiwan. If a shooting war between the PRC and United States erupts while Ukraine remains intensely engaged with Russia, war game analyses, such as those conducted by CSIS, question whether Americas defense industrial base can independently produce enough firepower fast enough to keep its forces in the fight. U.S. Navy launches a Sea Sparrow long-range missile from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) during an exercise in the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Jordon R. Beesley/U.S. Navy via Getty Images) US Industry Not Ready for Two-Front War During a four-hour series of Transatlantic Defense forums on April 5, CSIS Transnational Threats Project Director Seth Jones said in war game scenarios where the United States is confronted with supplying Ukraine in a high-intensity war against Russianever mind direct NATO engagementwhile simultaneously fighting an Indo-Pacific war against the PRC, the demand for munitions, particularly long-range missiles could quickly outpace supply. In fact, Jones said, We run out in a week or so. I dont think the results [of war game projections] are wrong. If we are in that kind of fight, it is going to go fast, said U.S. Navy Admiral Christopher Grady, the vice chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, acknowledging that ramping up defense production is a very real challenge. Grady said the Pentagon, NATO, EU, and Indo-Pacific allies are re-examining and adjusting defense production using the Ukrainian shell rate of 7,000 expended 155mm artillery rounds a day as the standard projected need. That rate of expenditure far exceeds projections, he said, before noting planners typically miss the mark in forecasting munitions expenditures in combat. The bigger issue is we always underestimate how much we are going to shoot, Grady said, especially with the liberal use of guided munitions in relatively low-tech conflicts against non-nation terrorist groups in the Middle East and North Africa where were shooting Hellfires [missiles] at guys on motorcycles; pretty expensive weapon for that. The Pentagon is revamping its procurement schedules for weapons systems and munitions based on Ukraine, which provides a sanguine, realistic analysis of what our needs will be, he said. A key component for the United States in preparing for a war with the PRC is NATO and EU member nationsmost but not all the same countriesincreasingly assuming more munitions production capacity in a whole of Europe approach to confronting Russia. That will allow American industry to restock U.S. arsenals and stockpiles for a storm brewing on an ever-nearing horizon. If Russia is the hurricane, said French Navy Vice Admiral Herve Blejean, director general of EUs military staff and Ukraine assistance mission, China is climate change. The USS Ohio (SSGN 726) in dry-dock at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash., one of six U.S.-based shipyards that build and refurbish warships, down from 25 decades ago. (Photo by Jason Kaye, PSNS & IMF photographer) Paying for the Peace Dividend When asked if America has the defense industrial base right now to sustain forces in a two-front war, former U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment in the Trump administration Ellen Lord replied with an emphatic, We have not. Its a serious problem, she said, but by recognizing it as an issue, theres an opportunity for constructive collaboration to simplify and speed weapons and munitions production. That process has begun with the fragility of the industrial base exposed by the Ukrainian challenge, Grady said. There are three contributing factors constraining U.S. defense production that must be addressed, he said. The first is the contraction of the industrial base, Grady said, noting a quarter century ago there were 25 U.S. shipyards qualified to build and refurbish warships and were now down to six. When it comes to weapons development and munitions productions, he said, the post-Cold War peace dividend contraction often means the military is reliant on a single source in the supply chain. The second factor, Grady said, is the complexity of what we build. In World War II, [U.S. shipyards] were pumping out a Liberty ship every three days. You are not going to do that with, say, a contemporary submarine. Third is just-in-time deliveries of materials by contractors still operating in a phase zero peacetime mode, he said. While that guarantees a good profit margin it cannot continue in the fight that we see now. Grady said the 21st century foundry must be one that can surge to meet sudden demand. To have that capacity, the U.S. must incentivize private capital to flow into a larger, hardened industrial base with allies and partners. Lord cited regulatory issues and supply chains that typically go six, seven deep with different suppliers contributing different weapons systems components. We need to focus on a few things and work on them, said Lord, a former Textron Systems CEO and National Defense Industrial Association chair who is now a consultant with Washington-based Chertoff Group. We need to collaborate with allies to understand where we are sole-sourced, where we have non-partners and non-allies supplying us, and where we could pool [production] and start divvying it up, she said. There are also cultural issues to contend with, she said. The trades here in the United States are undermanned because of an attitude that it is not as honorable to be an electrician, a carpenter, a pipe-fitter as it is to be a white-collar professional, she said. Indeed, Grady agreed. To maintain an industrial base that has the right numbers of artisans to create these systems at speed, he said, is going to be a challenge. Javelin anti-tank missiles on an assembly line as President Joe Biden tours a Lockheed Martin weapons factory in Troy, Ala., in May 2022. (REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst) What Can Be Done ASAP Were too slow. How do we go faster? Grady asked before answering his own question about the Pentagons procurement process. We have to be a good customer. We have to have communication with the industry to leverage adaptive acquisition with steady stockpile-building. That would require a clear strategy that current procurement practices dont always demonstrate, Lord said, noting that the Pentagon must communicate with industry that it is open to multi-year contracts necessary for manufacturers to invest in retooling production lines. There is an urban myth among manufacturers that the Hill will not allow us to do multi-year orders, she said. Assistant Secretary of Defense Deborah Rosenblum said the Department of Defense emphasizes long-range production contracts in its $863 billion Fiscal Year 2024 budget request to induce more bids. You need a clear demand signal over a span of years to drive that capacity and capability, Rosenblum said. We in the U.S. have gotten away from funding any type of surge capacity. We need to pick a couple of things and have a clear demand cycle and get the contracts going. Putting contracts on the streets; that builds capacity. Industry will respond quick when contracts are let, Lord said. But we got to pick winners and we got to get going. Rosenblum said one dynamic, or cultural shift, that is improving proficiency is a unified DOD-wide approach rather than each service dealing with a set of supply challenges or workforce challenges independently that lead to inadvertently cannibalizing ourselves. Bill Lynn, a former DOD comptroller who served as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense during the Obama administration and Under Secretary of Defense during the Clinton administration, said the Pentagon needs to clarify four objectives to induce industry. Increase capacity with new formations, more mass, he said. Capabilitythe best technology for our forces. Depth, [which] has risen to the forefront now with Ukraine with the need to be able to replace equipment. Cost efficiencydo things at a scale that is going to bring cost down. Lynn, who is CEO/Chair of Leonardo DRS, a European-based defense and aerospace conglomerate, said the best way to achieve these objectives is to use our allies. The U.S. has great technology, but not all of it. There are two paths to get to those four things, he said. One is specialization with, say, one country exclusively producing munitions, another manufacturing fighting vehicles, and so on, Lynn said. The other is collaboration, he said, citing the joint development by European manufacturers of two new fighter jets, including one with Japanese aerospace contributions. The question is how we leverage those two pathsspecialization and collaborationto achieve those four goals? Lynn asked. Everything else is just moving things around. Despite the glaring need to boost and sustain munitions production right now, he said, the easier thing to cut is production of munitions from defense budgets, especially when there is no immediate need. There is an inefficiency in bootstrapping surge production to meet unplanned demand but, otherwise it is doable. Munitions have frequently been bill-payers when it comes to cutting [defense] budgets, Lord concurred. Such an approach requires a world where you dont need that flexibility in stockpiling munitions, Lynn said. I think we under-appreciated the value of munitions stocks, he said. People thought it was a lower priority and lower priorities get cut from the budget. There is a cost to this. You are going to have to give something up elsewhere in the budget to put surge capacity higher on your list. So, I think, one of the major impacts of the Ukraine is that we under-appreciated the value of the stocks and are adjusting to ensure it doesnt happen again. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (C) meets with NATO defense ministers in Brussels, Belgium, in June 2022 to discuss weapons supplies to Ukraine. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys) ITAR Reform In addition to multi-year contracts, streamlined DOD procurement, and coordination with allies in producing weapons and munitions that feature inter-operability, private sector panelists called for changes in the U.S.s International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). ITAR regulates and restricts the transfer of strategic classified technologies across 22 U.S. Munitions List (USML) items, meaning only vetted U.S,-based manufacturerswith some exceptionscan bid on a wide array of defense contracts. Lord said defense industry production is always going to be constrained in the U.S. from a manufacturing point of view, so reforming ITAR and other regulations to allow some technology release is essential to move the needle in ramping up defense production. The U.S. has partners and allies that want to produce for us but, obviously, we do not want technology falling into our enemies hands, she said. ITAR reform presents a conundrum, Lord said, especially with American electronics being found in Russian and Iranian weapons, including drones Russia uses in Ukraine. Ukraine has shown us we have to face these issues and come up with something that is workable, she said. There are two paths to ITAR reform, said Lynn. The biggest question is weve set up a system where we balance in favor of caution about technology transfer and in terms of who is going to get it. The first path is change that balance of caution, he said. I dont know if theres support for that. The country may not want to do that. You know State and Commerce [departments] most surely do not. Rosenblum was not enthused, indicating the DOD would also have reservations about allowing greater technology transfers with allies. But without ITAR reform, Lynn said, the Pentagon will still be reliant on a system that is slow and cumbersome. This is the bargain we have made with ourselves. Maybe we will change it. Maybe it wont. The other path is revising the definitions of classified, Lynn said, with Lord agreeing that much of defense production is needlessly over-classified. Rosenblum said this path is being reviewed by the Pentagon. There really is a mindset shift now in asking Why this is classified? Theres a ton of work to be done in that area. Over-classification doesnt just affect overseas defense contractors but harms U.S. manufacturers, she said. Our defense industry is losing sales because, for instance, we will only sell four generations behind latest jet models to foreign nations. Lord recounted how while representing a defense contractor she attended an air show where she met with a leader of an unnamed Mideast nation that had been talking with us for two years about tactical UAS [unmanned aircraft systems, aka drones]. The sale had been entangled in an ITAR review for a long time, she said. The unnamed leader told her, I am going to buy it from the Chinese. I can buy 10 times as many as what it will cost to buy yours. I know 80 percent of them will crash but at least Ill have something. Lynn sees lessons learned from Ukraine having an impact. There has been progress. The U.S. is far more open to international sourcing than it was several decades ago. You dont have to invent it here to produce it here. He said the best way to go is to follow the lead set by automakers. BMW is largest exporter of cars manufactured in U.S., he said. Defense can go down that same path. There are ways to get this done, Lord said, if people put their minds to it. Victims Break Silence After Family Courts Forced Children to Live With Abusers A child holds a sign outside of a courthouse as part of a protest against court-ordered reunification therapy. (Courtesy of Alienation Industry) A 15-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy refused to leave their grandmothers Santa Cruz, California, home in October 2022 when transport agents from a private company arrived to enforce a reunification therapy court order by a local family court judge. At the beginning of a video of the incident, the agents appear to reason with the children. When that fails, havoc ensues, with the agents dragging the children and forcing them into a car. The incident ignited protests, spawned local media outrage, and led Santa Cruz lawmakers to impose a no-touch policy on the transport agencies. The video, which has since been watched at least 40 million times, was just one flashpoint in a long-running controversy over family courts ordering therapy in private custody disputes and forcing children into relationships with parents that they say are abusive. California Family Court Judge Rebecca Connolly ordered the two children in Santa Cruz to attend a so-called reunification camp as a means to force them into a relationship with their mother, despite allegations they both made that their mother sexually abused them for years. Two transport workers, operating under a court order, lifted the teenage girl to carry her into the car, with her clothes being pulled off in the process. The girl yelled for help as the workers struggled to force her into the car. One of the handlers appeared to step on the girls hair as she screamed, Get off of me. The Epoch Times reported earlier this month on a trend of family court judges granting full custody to a parent despite evidence that the parent abused the child. In some cases, the parent murdered their children. Tina Swithin, founder of One Mom Battle and Alienation Industry, a national advocacy group she founded based on her own experiences with the family courts, told The Epoch Times that whats going on with court-ordered coercion therapy is equally as disturbing. We have heard about children who had their clothing taken away piece by piece until they were down to their underwear in an effort to degrade them and humiliate them, she said. Some of the stories coming out of these camps are criminal. The court practice, which Swithin said has been going on for more than a decade, has become so public recently that earlier this month, one of the top U.S. law firms contacted her and offered to file a class action lawsuit on behalf of children and parents victimized by court-ordered reunification camps. The firm has asked to remain anonymous but is collecting names of alleged victims for the suit on a dedicated website. Breaking Code Silence, a national organization against institutionalizing troubled teens, has partnered with Swithin on the lawsuit. Swithin emphasized that the children sent to reunification camps were never deemed troubled children but that they are sent to for-profit facilities such as those for troubled children. There are dozens of national organizations working to bring awareness to court practices of ordering reunification therapy. Reunification therapy isnt recognized by the American Psychiatric Association and isnt covered by insurance. An initial four-day program costs $40,000. Judges decide how parents split the bill. The four-day program usually leads to a longer stay, with the camps essentially becoming a childs home. One of the bills reviewed by The Epoch Times was more than $100,000. Some parents have had to mortgage their homes to shoulder the payments to avoid the other side of a court-ordered ultimatum: never seeing their children again. Parental Alienation Theory According to family court reform expert Elizabeth Peterson, reunification therapy was born out of the theory of parental alienation. Richard Gardner, a known pedophilia-friendly psychiatrist, coined the term as a defense against mothers when they report their childrens fathers for molesting their children. Gardner committed suicide in 2003. In a book titled Creative Therapeutic, Gardner wrote, Special care should be taken not alienate the child from the molesting parent [The removal of a pedophilic parent from the home] should only be seriously considered after all attempts at treatment of the pedophilia and rapprochement with the family have proven futile. Older children may be helped to appreciate that sexual encounters between an adult and a child are not universally considered to be reprehensible acts. In citing Shakespeare, he also concluded that the child might be helped to appreciate the wisdom of Shakespeares Hamlet Nothings either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.' According to Pearson and several other accounts tracing the origins of reunification camps, the launch of these wildly profitable treatment programs can be found in Gardners theory. Begins With Violence Friends of the Santa Cruz siblings, teens themselves, say they see the court-ordered therapy as a green light to commit kidnapping, child trafficking, and acts of violence. Theres no way for reunification camps to be a healing process if it begins with violence, one of the friends told a local television station. As questions about the Santa Cruz incident and the teens well-being continued, videos in another closely watched case over court-ordered reunification therapy emerged out of Utah. There, a 15-year-old brother and his 12-year-old sister barricaded themselves in one of their bedrooms and began livestreaming about their case on TikTok after Family Court Judge Derek Pullan ordered them to attend a reunification camp to force them into a relationship with their father. Pullan made the order despite pending charges against the childrens father for felony child abuse and a past finding by child protective services that he had sexually assaulted them. The videos captured national attention on social media as the Utah siblings talked about their fathers alleged abuse and a court that they saw as deliberately putting them in danger. The court system isnt trying to save usnobodys trying to keep us safe, the 15-year-old says in the video. I am the one thats going to have to choose my own safety. He said he and his sister were afraid to go to school or leave the room they were barricaded in out of fear of retaliation from their father. I am scared if I get sent, I will be killed by my father because of how many threats he has made to me and my family if I told anybody, the teen said. Pullan wouldnt budge on his order until the Utah County Sheriffs Office refused to enforce it and asked for a hearing in the matter. On March 13, after the standoff garnered national media coverage, Pullan announced at the hearing that he had decided to pause his order until the investigation could be completed. The Utah County Attorneys Office has since stated that theyre starting an investigation into the case. The only reason that judge stood down is he got caught, Darrel Riley, a Seattle father whose two daughters were forced to attend a reunification camp, told The Epoch Times. Darrel Riley, with his oldest daughter Arianna. As a minor, she and her younger sister were court-ordered to attend a reunification camp when they were minors after they accused their mother of abuse. (Courtesy Darrel Riley) As in most of the cases examined by The Epoch Times, when Riley brought up the abuse, he was stripped of custody. According to Riley, who shared court records from the case, his oldest daughter was so sure she was being kidnapped and trafficked that she caused security to shut down the Seattle-Tacoma Airport. When the airport refused to allow the camp transporters to board with the teens, they put the girls in cars and drove with them alone for hours to a reunification camp. After a few weeks, my oldest daughter leaped out of a second-story window barefoot and told a person passing by to catch her as she fell, Riley said. They were told that they needed to watch psychological videos to understand that their memories were false and told that if they didnt obey everything their alleged abusers said, they would be starved or drugged into submission. Riley now runs a support group on Facebook for parents and children caught up in what he calls the reunification camp scam. Contradictions Richard Ducote, a Pennsylvania attorney whos considered to be a national expert on reunification therapy, pointed to the contradictions at the core of it. You have judges who immediately disbelieve child abuse despite criminal convictions of it, but without examining a single piece of evidence or listening to any testimony, and before parties even walk into a courtroom, the judge has already made a finding of parental alienation against a parent, Ducote told The Epoch Times. Its a simple case of following the family courts well-worn money trail. Ducote has talked nationally about the dangers of reunification therapy. Swithin said family court judges appear to not have any legal authority to send children to unregulated camps. A review by The Epoch Times of family court laws in all 50 states found that theres no statutory provision for ordering children into any kind of reunification therapy when child abuse is alleged in private custody matters. This is a cottage industry that completely deviates from any child abuse laws or even normal court procedures, she said. Ducote noted that alienation is the only disease diagnosed by lawyers. Order Reversed On March 1, the 2nd Appellate District Court in California ruled that Los Angeles County Judge Steven Ellis abused his discretion and reversed his order forcing a pair of teenage siblings to attend reunification therapy. In the three-judge panels ruling, the appellate court cited Elliss ruling denying the childrens mother an evidentiary hearing as a primary basis for its decision, concluding that the court didnt demonstrate good cause for the denial and that it left itself without any reason to make such a drastic ruling, which included stripping the mother of custody and ordering the children into reunification therapy. According to court and police records in the case, the mother had primary custody because of a previous court finding of domestic violence against the childrens father. After refusing to allow the mother to call witnesses or offer evidence, Ellis issued a ruling concluding that it was in the childs best interest to award full custody of the children to their father, with little explanation as to why. The California appellate court disagreed. Nothing in the record supports the courts finding that this significant disruption to the childrens established living arrangement with the mother was in their best interest, the judges said. Never See Your Kids Again As part of reunification therapy orders, judges usually strip the so-called alienating parent of custody and then order them to pay for at least half of the cost of the reunification camps. Riley, a computer programmer who spent his life savings to comply with the court mandate, said that in his case, the court made it very clear that it was either pay up or never see your kids again. As it turned out, what was supposed to be a one-week camp turned into an indefinite time at the facility. Riley said he didnt see his daughters for years. Swithin said that experience isnt unusual. Reunification camp is the start of separating kids from their safe parent, she said. The first generation of children subjected to reunification camps who have reached adulthood have recently started to come forward with what sound like stories of survival, rather than therapeutic sessions. Many give disturbing accounts of being dragged out of bed at night, handcuffed, and driven to reunification camps hundreds of miles away from their homes. Among them is Ally Cable, who, after turning 18, filmed and shared on social media a video about what happened to her after being forced at the age of 16 by a family court judge to attend a reunification camp. I was terrified, Cable said, noting that her clothes and phone were confiscated by transporters. I could barely stop shaking. Cable said she and the other children were told that if they didnt denounce their safe parent, they would be sent to a psychiatric facility or foster care. Others have spoken about the abuse, including sexual abuse, that they were sent back to endure by the court orders. Addyson Bender held a press conference accusing Texas Family Court Judge Susan Rankin of subjecting her to eight more years of being molested, beaten, and tortured by her father. And to top it all off, Susan Rankin barred me from seeing my mother at all for three of these years, Bender said. She also mocked the courts for trying to create a narrative that mothers are part of what she called a men-hating cult for brainwashing [children] to hate their fathers. According to Swithin, family court judges often, at least initially, award custody of the children to the transport companies. Thats how they are getting around the trafficking laws, she said, pointing out that the transport companies often take the children across state lines without following any legal procedure to do so. In the Santa Cruz case, police were called to the scene but stood by and did nothing. The department later released a statement claiming that their hands were tied because the handlers were acting under a judges order. Protesters outside the courthouse in Santa Cruz, Calif., following the release of a video showing two teens being dragged out of their homes under a court order that they be taken away to a reunification camp. (Courtesy of Alienation Industry) Custody is then switched to the camps and then eventually to the alleged abuser, according to Swithin. The family court judges pass these kids around like beachballs, she said. Legislative Efforts Some legislative efforts have been made to ban court-ordered reunification therapy. In 2021, California state Sen. Susan Rubio drafted Piquis Law, named after 5-year-old Aramazd Piqui Andressian Jr., whose father killed him in 2017 by suffocating him in his car seat. The father killed his son after the boys mother was accused of parental alienation for raising concerns about her sons safety with his father. Rubio withdrew the bill under pressure from the Judicial Council of California. The council didnt respond to inquiries by The Epoch Times. The Epoch Times also reached out to judges Pullan, Ellis, and Connolly. They didnt respond. New Hampshire Republican lawmakers have repeatedly introduced a bill calling for a ban on reunification therapy, but each time the bill has come up for a hearing, family court judges and court administrators show up and convince them to kill the proposals. In testifying against a bill to ban reunification therapy in New Hampshire, Family Court Judge Jennifer Lemire told the New Hampshire Child and Family Law Committee that the court orders the therapy only after it has been determined to be in the best interest of children in a custody dispute matter. She urged the committee to not take away what she called a sustainable solution available to the courts. Why would anyone want to take one of the very arrows we have left in our quiver? Lemire said, indicating that she was repeating the words of a colleague who was also against banning reunification therapy. Victoria Government Will Not Bail Out Collapsed Builder Porter Davis A partially finished Porter Davis home is seen in Rochedale, south of Brisbane, Australia on March 31, 2023. Building works will stop immediately on more than 1,700 properties in Victoria and Queensland as a result of the collapse of Porter Davis. (AAP Image/Jono Searle) Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is not bailing out collapsed major builder Porter Davis saying it is the right call. Porter Davis went into liquidation on March 31, affecting over 1,500 homes in Victoria and 200 in Queensland. An additional 779 signed contracts were in the pipeline but are yet to commence. If the bank is not prepared to fund you because your fundamentals are just not there, then I dont know that would be a business that the Victorian government would want to bail out, Andrews said on April 6. At the same time, the premier has not ruled out supporting affected customers revealing while the government continues its investigation into whether the Porter Davis Homes Group (PDH Group) illegally left customers uninsured after taking their deposit. Under the Domestic Building Insurance Ministerial Order, builders in Victoria are required to purchase domestic insurance policies on behalf of homeowners if the project is worth more than $16,000this is before deposits are taken. Some customers may have lost their deposit given Porter Davis did not take out insurance. The new builds were also in stasis awaiting planning permits, which could take weeks or months after their contracts were signed. The Victorian Managed Insurance Authority (VMIA) said on April 5 that customers who gave a five percent deposit, but have yet to see construction begin, could get their money back if they had VMIA building insurance. However, Andrews said there were some doubts that paid insurance premiums had not been forwarded to VMIA. I just want to remind everybody in this industry, the law applies to everyone. Its not a matter of choosing to lodge those insurance premiums, Andrews said. You are required to launch those insurance premiums and there are very significant penalties if you choose not to. The collapse of Porter Davis comes as another building companyPBS Buildingwas found owing around $60 million to more than 400 creditors across Queensland, NSW, and the ACT after it folded. Some Good News But Liquidators at Grant Thornton confirmed on April 6 that construction of over 250 homes could be completed given how close they were to be finished. Discussions are underway with 20 builders that have offered to assist with completing the outstanding homes. The PDH Group Board of Directors stated they regret the current circumstances and that their efforts to secure a funding solution for the Group could not be achieved, Grant Thornton said in a statement on March 31. The extremely challenging environment for residential home building has directly contributed to the PDH Groups financial position, with rising input costs, supply chain delays, labour shortages, and a drop in demand for new homes in 2023 impacting the Groups liquidity. Notwithstanding the financial support from shareholders and lenders, the Group has exhausted options to secure the further funding required to allow Porter Davis to continue to operate viably, and the directors were left with no option but to place the companies into liquidation. Porter Davis has reportedly approached the states Treasurer Tim Pallas with a request for a bailout. Meanwhile, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)Porter Houses largest secured creditorrefused to intervene, reported The Age. There was a due diligence process done by the Commonwealth Bank, they got external consultants the size of the problem got bigger, not smaller when the externals had a close look at it, Andrews said. Where a bank refuses to prop up a business, thats exactly the place where I dont think we should be stepping in To go without an administration, to go straight to a liquidation phase, tells you that the fundamentals of that business were not strong. Opposition Criticises Premier For Not Acting Sooner Victorias opposition leader John Pesutto criticised the Andrews government for not preventing the building groups collapse. If Daniel Andrews had acted when Porter Davis came to his government, isnt it possible that some deposits from home buyers might have been protected? Pesutto said on April 6. Its always easier and better to deal with a company in a state of distress before it goes into liquidation. Andrews did say there was enough evidence that the builder was in trouble when it began slashing $50,000 off the price of new homes. Again, I caveat all this by saying this is all to be proven, Andrews said. We are looking at that actively. Melbourne Customer Says Many Risk Being Left in Limbo Melbourne resident Eric Poon, 33, who is among Porter Davis uninsured customers said some had fallen through the gap. Poon and his wife paid the deposit for their Porter Davis home at Lilydale in outer Melbourne in December 2020 but the land was only titled last week because of delays by a developer in handing over the property. Poon said that Porter Davis told the couple it would arrange for insurance but upon contacting the builder after its collapse, they were told there was no policy. The VMIA has confirmed this. This has put a considerable financial strain on us, Poon told AAP. We were hoping to complete the construction of our new home as soon as possible so that we could rent out our current apartment and generate some cash flow. We are already dealing with a rental and building shortage crisis and now consumers dont feel protected and are afraid to build. Poon said that the government should assist those who have been affected by the collapse. We appreciate this is a stressful time for all PDH stakeholders and we thank you for your continued patience while we work to find alternative options and possible solutions for customers, a Grant Thornton spokesperson said in a statement. For those customers where PDH is unable to offer handover under the current contract, we expect to be in a position to introduce them to replacement builders within the coming week to discuss how their home build may be completed. What to Do If You Are Affected? Affected customers in Victoria who are unsure whether they have domestic building insurance can contact the VMIA. Queensland customers can contact the Queensland Building and Construction Commission, which is also dealing with claims. Those without a certificate of insurance should contact liquidators Grant Thornton. Porter Davis has about 470 employees and forecasted revenue of $555 million for the 2023 financial year. Grant Thornton and the VMIA have been approached for further comment. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline is 40 percent full, and we aim to fill an available volume with 20 million tons of oil, Serik Zhumangarin, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan said this, answering journalists' questions on the sidelines of the 19th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan intergovernmental commission, Trend reports. The minister said that the agreement signed between the oil and gas companies of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, SOCAR (the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan) and KazMunayGas (the state-owned oil and gas company of Kazakhstan), is designed for the transshipment of 1.5 million tons of oil. "About 20,000 tons have been already passed in March of this year via the BTC pipeline route, and 125,000 tons are expected to be transshipped in April. Kazakhstan's subsoil users view the first volumes of oil as a pilot to test the route," Zhumangarin said. The deputy FM also noted the strengthening of cooperation in other areas, in particular in the field of trade. "According to Kazakh statistics, our mutual trade turnover has reached almost $500 million," Zhumangarin concluded. The 19th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan was held in Baku. World Food Prices Fall for 12th Month Running in March: FAO A sign displays the price in pound sterling of food goods, including peppers, Oranges, and grapes, at a market in stall east London on March 31, 2023. (Susannah Ireland/AFP via Getty Images) ROMEThe United Nations food agencys world price index fell in March for a 12th consecutive month, and is now down 20.5 percent from a record high hit one year ago following Ukraines conflict. The Food and Agriculture Organizations (FAO) price index, which tracks the most globally traded food commodities, averaged 126.9 points last month against 129.7 for February, the agency said on Friday. It was the lowest reading since July 2021. The February reading was originally given as 129.8. A combination of ample supplies, subdued import demand, and the extension of a deal allowing the safe export of Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea contributed to the drop, FAO said. The Rome-based agency said the decline in the index reflected lower prices for cereals, vegetable oils, and dairy products, which offset rises in sugar and meat prices. While prices dropped at the global level, they are still very high and continue to increase in domestic markets, posing additional challenges to food security, Maximo Torero, FAOs chief economist said in a statement. This is particularly so in net food importing developing countries, with the situation aggravated by the depreciation of their currencies against the U.S. dollar or the euro and a mounting debt burden, he added. The FAO cereal price index fell 5.6 percent month-on-month in March, with wheat registering a 7.1 percent drop, maize a 4.6 percent decline, and rice easing 3.2 percent. Vegetable oils fell 3.0 percent, some 47.7 percent down on the level the index hit in March 2022, while the dairy index was down 0.8 percent. By contrast, sugar rose 1.5 percent to its highest level since October 2016, hit by concerns over declining production prospects in India, Thailand, and China. The meat price index rose by 0.8 percent. Higher Wheat Production In a separate report on cereals supply and demand, the FAO raised its forecast for world wheat production in 2023, now pegged at 786 million tonnes1.3 percent below the 2022 level but nonetheless the second largest outturn on record. Near-record sown areas are expected in Asia, while dry conditions are impacting North Africa and southern Europe, FAO said. FAO also raised its forecast for world cereal production in 2022 to 2.777 billion tonnes, just 1.2 percent down from the previous year. World rice production in 2022/23 was seen at 516 million tonnes, 1.6 percent below the record 2021/22 harvest. World cereal utilization in the 2022/23 period was seen at 2.779 billion tonnes, FAO said, down 0.7 percent from 2021/22. World cereal stocks by the close of the 2022/2023 seasons are expected to ease by 0.3 percent from their opening levels to 850 million tonnes. BJPs attempt to send message of solidarity By Bhavana Aparatjia Shukla Amid gala celebration on Foundation Day, the leaders of BJP are also trying to rectify its internal rifts and came together to mark the event with solidity. Senior leaders like Sumitra Mahajan (eight-time MP), General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya and many others who were felt sidelined were at the centre stage at partys function. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the State is battling dissent in its ranks on a scale that appears much bigger than its rival, the Congress. Political experts say it is a crucial time for the party to put aside their differences as elections are near. Although this time rife within the party is wider. Government is drawing flak for its alleged adamant attitude. As it was seen during the Uma Bharati episode. After senior leaders and RSS intervention things could have been streamlined. In todays message, it was clearly visible that the party would do well to take a long, hard look towards leaders irrespective of his position in Government to keep organisation above power. With elections coming up later this year, the party cant afford the rigidity of a few members. Since the last six Assembly elections, they won 3 times, and had to face defeat in the elections of 1993, 1998 and 2018. Senior BJP leaders have been asked to pacify annoyed members. Senior leaders will increase communication with grass root level workers as well as party men at district level. There will be an effort to bridge the gap between capital and districts. During urban local body elections a few months ago, it was felt that the party had to bear the burn of dissidents and disgruntled leaders. Since 2018, the voices of dissidents have been high. whether it was matter of former minister Deepak Joshis complaint letter to Prime Minister about alleged corruption in Madhya Pradesh, Resignation of 165 functionaries of minority cell or four-time BJP Member of Parliament, Ramkrishna Kusmaria, (75), and Pateriyas announcement during last Assembly elections to contest as an independent candidate. Now the senior leaders have been asked to quell down discontent. Partys foundation day has been chosen as an excellent occasion to begin with this endeavour. The party is also making a bid to strengthen linkage between the young and old generation. State Unit President and Member of Parliament V D Sharma has spent the day with young partymen and attended Yuva Chaupal at Berasia. He has depicted slogans on the wall with others on this day. BJP stands against graft, nepotism: PM Modis message on 44th Foundation Day NEW DELHI, PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the BJP was committed to taking tough steps to rid India of corruption, nepotism and law and order challenges as he slammed people with a baadshahi mindset for insulting the poor and backwards since the party stormed to power in 2014. Addressing the BJPs 44th Foundation Day celebrations, Modi cautioned against complacency among the partys workers as he noted that it is being already said that no one can defeat it in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Despite being the worlds biggest political party, we dont have to be complacent. People have already started saying that no one can defeat the BJP in 2024. This is true but as BJP workers we have to win the heart of every citizen of the country, he said. Modi slammed the Congress and other political parties which, he claimed, carried the culture of the main Opposition party and accused them of being tied to nepotism, dynasty, casteism and regionalism. The BJP represents a new culture of taking everyone along, he asserted. Without referring to various allegations levelled by these parties against his Government, the Prime Minister said they have been battling an existential crisis and resorting to levelling allegations and conspiracies against the ruling party. They are full of hate and frustration, he added. Cong veteran Antonys son Anil joins BJP NEW DELHI, ANIL K Antony, the son of veteran Congress leader A K Antony, on Thursday joined the BJP in the presence of Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and V Muraleedharan here. Antony, who headed the Digital Media cell of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, slammed the Congress leadership for working for a single family instead of working for the country. He had quit the Congress after criticising the partys stand on the controversial documentary film of the BBC on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Welcoming Antony in the BJP, Goyal described him as a very grounded political worker, who was convinced that the BJP cares for the country and shared the prime ministers vision of sustainable growth. This is not about personalities, this is about difference of opinion and ideas. I strongly believe that I have taken the right step. My respect for my father will remain the same, Anil Antony said when asked whether he had consulted his father before joining the BJP. Hi-tech rose farming yielding high profits for Kanker farmers Staff Reporter RAIPUR, High-tech rose farming is being carried out in Kanker district of Chhattisgarh. Farmers are producing Dutch variety roses. Farmer Girja Nishad, who started rose farming by bringing changes to his traditional farming methods, is now earning lakhs of rupees annually. The Dutch roses thus produced are not only gaining popularity in Raipur, but also in other cities. This has made a positive impact on his life as well. There is a huge demand of flowers, including roses, for decoration in the state capital Raipur as well as in other major cities of State. Keeping this in view, State Government is encouraging flower cultivation by farmers. Department of Horticulture, Government of Chhattisgarh provides technical guidance in addition to building polyhouses and other facilities under the National Horticulture Mission for advanced flower farming. Farmers can also obtain loans for building polyhouses through banks. Shri Girja Nishad from Chogel village in Kanker district is earning around Rs 9 to 10 thousand per day by cultivating Dutch variety rose plants of Netherlands in the polyhouse builtin one-acre area on his farm. He is able to yield 45 to 50 kg of rose flowers per day from just one acre of land, which are then packaged and sold in Raipur for Rs 200 per kg. Girja stated that he has hired four workers for the purpose of harvesting and maintaining the flowers in the polyhouse. He further explained that, unlike other crops which require three to four months of hard work and only produce once, rose farming starts producing after two to three months of planting and continues for three consecutive years. After three years, the rose plants are replanted and cared for through pruning and cutting. An official of the Agriculture Department informed that farmer Girja Nishad received a subsidy of Rs 31 lakh from the National Horticulture Board for his rose cultivation and polyhouse construction. The soil suitable for rose cultivation must be porous with good drainage. Since the stony Marhan soil in Shri Girjas field was not suitable for growing food grains, he opted for rose cultivation, which has been successful. The official said that the rose is often referred to as the king of flowers and is in high demand in both national and international markets. Various products such as gulkand, rose water, oils, cosmetics, soaps, incense sticks, perfumes, jams, jellies, beverages, and more are made from rose flowers. Therefore, farmers can earn a good income from rose cultivation. India shares Japans vision for free, open, rules-based Indo-Pacific: Rajnath NEW DELHI, DEFENCE Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that India shares Japans vision for a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific and stressed that both the countries must continue to expand the scope of their bilateral cooperation. Singh conveyed this to Japans Vice Minister of Defence for International Affairs Oka Masami during a meeting. Oka is currently on a visit to India primarily to attend the seventh Defence Policy Dialogue. The dialogue took place on Wednesday over two weeks after Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited India during which he described the country as an indispensable partner of Japan to achieve the ambitious goal of peace, prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. In the Defence Policy Dialogue, India and Japan agreed to diversify their defence cooperation in new and emerging domains like space and cyber as part of an aim to consolidate the overall strategic engagement. In the meeting with Singh, Oka reiterated Japans keenness to further enhance bilateral defence cooperation, including collaboration in defence equipment and technology sector, the Defence Ministry said. Rajnath Singh conveyed that India shares Japans vision for a free, open, secure and rules-based Indo-Pacific and stressed that both the countries must continue to expand the scope of their bilateral cooperation, it said. Oka was also accompanied by Ambassador of Japan to India Suzuki Hiroshi, who thanked Singh for the impetus provided by his strong and positive leadership towards strengthening the bilateral defence ties, the Ministry said. Moderate AQIthroughout Febin city: MPCB By Kaushik Bhattacharya : Moderate AQI causes breathing discomfort to ones with lung, heart diseases, kids and old DESPITE administrative efforts to reduce air pollution in Nagpur city, the air quality is not up to the mark as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) standards. According to the seven Air Quality Monitoring Stations of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) in the city, the Air Quality Index (AQI) of Nagpur in the month of February was moderate on most days. The only functional Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS) at Divisional Commissionerate in Civil Lines shared the daily AQI data. As per the uploaded data of the CAAQMS, the AQI of Nagpur city in the month of February was moderate for 25 days. The Respiratory Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) of Nagpur city for all 25 days was above 100 g/m3 which is poor. The Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station situated at MPCB Regional Office in Civil Lines calculate the AQI six daysin a week and the Station onFebruary recorded eight daysmoderate AQI of the city whereas remaining days were satisfactory. Remaining five Ambient AirQuality Monitoring Stations inthe city including Institution of Engineers, North Ambazari Road; MIDC Office, HingnaRoad; Government PolytechnicCollege, Sadar; WaterTreatment Plant, Kamptee; andMJP Water Supply Station, Wadi; which provide the AQI data of the city for two days ina week also recorded moderate air quality most of the daysin the month of February. Nagpur city has comes underthe list of 131 non-attainmentcities of CPCB under theNational Clean Air Programme(NCAP) initiative. According toNCAP portal, Nagpur cityreceived Rs 142.05 crore under NCAP fund for improvement of air quality till 2018. As per the portal, city received Rs 26.25 crore for the financial year 2022-23 but it is not yet utilised by the local administration. MPCB installed three new CAAQMS in city at Town Hall, Mahal; VNIT; and LIT premises to monitor air quality on daily basis. However, the functioning of the stations are still not started. All the four CAAQMS in the city are working but due to some technical reason the three newly installed stations not providing data to the CPCB website, Umakant Bahadule, Sub Regional Officer, MPCB told The Hitavada. Haphazard construction work in all over city, increased traffic jams and emission from thermal power plants are the main reason behind deteriorating air quality of the city. NCAP is a good initiative by the Central Government to improve the air quality in the country and the cities are also getting fund under this initiative, said a senior official of MPCB on a condition of anonymity. NEW DELHI, OPPOSITION parties, including the Congress, TMC, BRS and Samajwadi Party, came together in a show of unity on Thursday and accused the Modi Government of getting the second half of the Budget Session washed out, while asserting that if this attitude continues, the country will move towards a dictatorship. With tricolour in hand, several Opposition MPs marched from Parliament to Vijay Chowk and then representatives of 19 parties held a press conference at the Constitution Club where Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and other leaders resolved to take the Opposition unity further. Kharge accused the Narendra Modi Government of not walking the talk on democratic principles and causing disruptions in Parliament to divert attention from the Oppositions demand for a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the Adani issue. In a boost to Opposition unity, the TMC, Bharat Rashtra Samithi, the Aam Aadmi Party and the Samajwadi Party, which had been blowing hot and cold on sharing stage with the Congress on earlier occasions, participated in the march and the presser to give a joint call against the Government on issues such as the Adani matter, price rise and alleged attack on democracy. Kharge said, The budget of Rs 50-lakh crore was passed in just 12 minutes, but they (BJP) always alleged that the Opposition parties have no interest and they kept disturbing the House. The disturbance was created by the ruling party. Whenever we made a demand or gave a notice, we were not allowed to speak. This has happened for the first time in my public life of 52 years and never has such a thing happened earlier, he said. He said the Government talks a lot about democracy, but it does not walk the talk. Asked if Rahul Gandhi was the prime challenger to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, DMKs T R Baalu claimed that the BJP is jittery and after the Bharat Jodo Yatra it is afraid of Rahul Gandhi. It was because of the Governments hegemonic attitude they disrupted the House. First time treasury benches disrupted proceedings, he said, adding that all issues would be discussed going forward and Opposition strengthened. BRS MP K Keshava Rao said the parties on the podium had distance and differences between them but were now coming together. You have right before you all the Opposition parties who maintained some distance and had differences but today you are seeing how it is evolving. We are becoming so strong that all the efforts to divide us have failed. We are today united right before you on the ground, he said. What happens tomorrow please let us leave it because we are working to see how we come together, he said. To a query on the Oppositions leadership issue, Rao said, Why are you are always obsessed with the leadership issue, a nation will certainly be led by a person, led by a combination of ideologies and the programmes. What we are trying to do is to see that kind of programme is on the board that we are all on the same page. All efforts to divide us have failed and we are united on the ground. We are working on how we will come together. The question that why you are always asking is the leadership issue. The nation will certainly be led by a person and led by a combination of ideologies and programmes, Rao said. We are trying to do whatever is required to ensure that we are on the same page, he said. AAPs Sanjay Singh said the message behind Rahul Gandhis disqualification was clear that one can attack the Centre but not Adani for whom the government was working. Kharge said 18 to 19 opposition parties raised the Adani matter and how his wealth increased to Rs 12 lakh crore in just a period of 2 to 2.5 years. Why are you fearing from constituting a joint parliamentary committee probe even when the BJP will have its say as it will have majority members...Something is fishy, that is why the government is not agreeing to order a JPC probe into the Adani issue, Kharge said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LAS VEGAS (AP) Letters addressing the gunman who in October 2017 unleashed the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history in Las Vegas, apparently written by an ex-convict who lived in Texas, foretold the carnage to come, according to documents obtained Friday. My friend it sound like you are going to kill or murder someone or some people, said a handwritten letter to Stephen Paddock dated June 1, 2017, and signed Jim Nixon. Addressed Dear Steve, it said, Please don't go on any shooting rampage like some fool. I am concern about the way you are talking and believe you are going to do something very bad, said another letter, dated May 27, 2017, that was among 10 unredacted documents released by Las Vegas police. Letters dating to 2013 and 2014 described the men doing business together. Please dont go out shooting or hurting people who did nothing to you, the May 27 letter pleaded. Steve please please dont do what I think you are going to do. Police did not receive the letters until nearly two months after Paddock rained gunfire from windows of a high-rise casino hotel into an outdoor concert crowd, killing 58 people and injuring more than 850. Paddock killed himself before police reached him. Two more people died later of their wounds. The letters were found by new owners of a vacant office building in Mesquite, Texas, who mailed the letters to Las Vegas police. Police said the letters were forwarded to the FBI and that agents investigated. A reference to the letters was among hundreds of pages of documents made public by the FBI last week in response to a records request from the Wall Street Journal. There was no description of their credibility, but an FBI record said Paddock sold property he owned in Mesquite in approximately 2012. Paddock used the money from that sale to buy dozens of weapons that were ultimately used in the shooting, said a typewritten FBI report with sections blocked out that characterized other records as "negative for contact" between the writer and Paddock. We moved into an office and found ... a folder full of what appears to be copies of letters, said a brief Nov. 30, 2017, cover letter with sender and recipient information redacted. We wish you well with your investigation. In a statement Friday, the bureau in Las Vegas declined to comment and pointed to findings by Las Vegas police and the FBI that did not specify a motive for Paddock's attack. Police said in August 2018 that Paddock, 64, gambled away more than $1.5 million playing high-stakes video poker, amassed a cache of guns and became increasingly unstable including distancing himself from his girlfriend and family. Paddock acted alone, investigators said, and meticulously planned the attack. He also apparently scoped out large gatherings in at least four cities as potential targets, investigators said at the time, and booked rooms overlooking a Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago in August 2017 and a Life is Beautiful show in Las Vegas several weeks before executing his plan. It was all about doing the maximum amount of damage and him obtaining some form of infamy," the FBI agent in charge in Las Vegas at the time said in January 2019. The FBI does not comment on individual interviews conducted during an investigation and we do not comment on (freedom of information) documents, the bureau said Friday. There is no new information that the FBI was not aware or that the FBI has not shared with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in this case. We stand by the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit key findings summary report. Las Vegas police declined to comment, and efforts by AP to contact Jim Nixon on Friday were not successful. The Review-Journal identified Nixon as a disabled Vietnam War veteran and ex-convict who served prison time for tax fraud and is now 75. He told the newspaper he never contacted authorities about his concerns about Paddock. He did what he did and I feel bad I couldnt have stopped him, Nixon said. I didnt know he was going to do what he did. ____ Associated Press writers Rio Yamat in Las Vegas and Jacques Billeaud in Phoenix contributed to this report. Hartford Police Department/contributed photo HARTFORD Police say they drove a pulseless baby to the hospital Wednesday because an ambulance couldnt get there fast enough. About 6:10 a.m., officers went to a home where an infant was unresponsive, according to a Hartford police report. Police and fire personnel determined the baby did not have a pulse and was not breathing, so an officer and a member of the Hartford Fire Department performed CPR on the 6-month-old. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. Cooperation on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) is successfully developing, Serik Zhumangarin, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan said, answering journalists' questions on the sidelines of the 19th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan intergovernmental commission, Trend reports. According to the deputy PM, Kazakhstan continues to build the DostykMoyinty railway section near its eastern borders, which will lead to an increase of moving Chinese trains from 12 to 60 per day. Zhumangarin also pointed out some measures to eliminate "bottlenecks" on TITR. In particular, he mentioned the expansion work of the ports of Aktau, Kuryk and the reconstruction of a road around Kazakhstans Almaty. At the end, Zhumangarin informed journalists about the construction of a container hub in the port of Aktau. The 19th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan was held in Baku. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate EDWARDSVILLE State tourism grants totaling $1.13 million for projects across Madison County include a big boost for the Edwardsville Children's Museum and support for the Madison County Historical Society. The Edwardsville Children's Museum will receive $90,000 to expand its Discovery Garden as part of the $1.13 million in state tourism grants that Madison County will receive. Plus, the Madison County Historical Society will receive $19,600 for the Living History Days festival planned at various locations in Edwardsville. Among the other top plans for the grant funding are public kayak kiosks are planned on two area rivers On Friday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced that $22.5 million is heading to 89 local tourism festivals and attractions across Illinois. The program, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, includes $1,134,269 for five Madison County tourism efforts. Illinois is the best place in the nation to visit, and now that people are finding that out through our marketing, our tourism economy is booming, said Pritzker. When we invest in projects like these it reverberates beyond just one event or exhibit. It benefits entire communities, from small business owners who get to attract more customers to families with young children who get to enjoy all that Illinois has to offer. This second round of Illinois' Tourism Attractions and Festivals Grant program builds upon $10 million in funding that was awarded through the first round of the grant program to 40 localities. Of the $22.5 million, $5 million was reserved for festivals and $17.5 million will support a other tourism-related projects such as attractions, museums and live performance venues. One of the largest grant recipients will be World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison which will receive half a million dollars for preparation for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Race June 2-4. Last year's inaugural Enjoy Illinois 300 is credited with attracting more than 80,000 people and providing a $60 million economic impact. Grants also include $340,669 for improvements to the We Live Performing Arts Center in Granite City and $184,000 for the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau to purchase and install 10 self-serve kayak kiosks and interpretive panels at various locations along the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. Bringing outdoor recreation to the forefront in southwest Illinois has been a major driver for the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau, said Cory Jobe, President & CEO of the bureau. State funding for the kayak kiosk project along the Great River Road is game changer for the region and will help us provide kayak access to the Mississippi River from locations along the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic byway," he said. "Continuing to build our outdoor recreation/nature based tourism product is key to continued growth in our region. Applications for the tourism grants were selected through a competitive process, with each grantee demonstrating how the award would help businesses in the surrounding area, as well as the project's ability to attract visitors for overnight stays. Projects also scored higher based on proximity to commercial corridors and services including hotels/motels, restaurants, retail, and other commercial operations. In FY23 to date, hotel tax collections have surpassed all of FY22 collections and are on-track to surpass the highest fiscal year collections on record in FY19. Per the latest data available, in 2021 Illinois welcomed more than 97 million visitors who spent more than $32 billion in the state. The recipients can be found here. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ni Komang Erviani (The Jakarta Post) Denpasar Fri, April 7, 2023 Local police on Wednesday arrested a United States national, identified as Ryan John Dill, after he allegedly assaulted an employee and damaged property at a cafe in Denpasar, Bali. Denpasar Police chief Sr. Comr. Bambang Yugo Pamungkas said the 37-year-old American attacked a female employee with a knife. We received information that several other people also sustained minor injuries," Bambang said on Thursday. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Or let Google manage your subscription Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fadli (The Jakarta Post) Batam Fri, April 7, 2023 13:48 18 91bd6e1d1220161ebde1a4c1fadb7a87 1 Archipelago mahfud-md,human-trafficking,Batam Free Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD is questioning the National Police over their handling of a human trafficking case in Riau Islands province in which they have yet to detain any suspects. Mahfud said he was appalled that the two suspects who had been named still remained free. How come they haven't been arrested yet? Instead, they can continue their activities as human traffickers. I will question the National Police," Mahfud MD said on Thursday on the sidelines of a public discussion themed Universal War Against the Syndicate for Indonesian Migrant Workers in Batam, the Riau Islands. According to Mahfud, the Agency for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BP2MI) has also questioned Riau Police chief Insp. Gen. Tabana Bangun about their slow progress on similar cases. "BP2MI head Benny Rhamdani has also met with the Riau Police chief to ask about [the polices] handling of human trafficking cases that have not been [solved]," the senior minister said. Mahfuds visit to Batam follows a report stating that although the government has clear regulations and laws on human trafficking, networks existed in Batam that involved government offices and private companies. Before his visit, the senior minister held a meeting in March with a civil society organization comprising Chrisanctus Paschalis Saturnus and Petrus Selestinus, the leaders of local Catholic churches, which is keeping tabs on human trafficking in Batam. The group claims that the activity is backed by the Batam deputy chief of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), Col. Bambang Panji Priyanggodo. In response to the report, Mahfud formed a team to eradicate human trafficking in Batam and to investigate those involved in assisting, abetting or otherwise allowing the criminal activity to continue unchecked. Paschal had sent a letter to BIN chief Budi Gunawan asking him to reprimand Bambang for allegedly intervening in a human trafficking case in October 2022 by ordering the suspects to be released. Bambang later reported Paschal to the Riau Islands Police for defamation. According to BP2MI chief Benny, of the 9 million Indonesian migrant workers currently abroad, only 4.6 million possess formal documents and are registered, while the rest are working illegally, and the agency has no clear records of either their occupation or domicile abroad. Benny said the agency had organized the Universal War discussion as a massive public awareness campaign in its bid to fight human trafficking as a crime against humanity. "This universal war wants to encourage and build awareness as a form of prevention so there will be no more human trafficking," he said. "These illegal [migrant] workers are vulnerable to violence and nonprocedural termination of employment". (dre) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Novan Iman Santosa (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, April 9 2023 The armies and navies of France and Indonesia conducted two separate joint exercises in late March as part of the Mission Jeanne dArc round-the-world sail for cadets of the French Naval Academy. The Jeanne dArc group consisted of the Dixmude L9015 Mistral-class landing helicopter dock and the La Fayette F710 La Fayette-class stealth frigate, which included an army embedded tactical group (GTE) and an army light aviation (ALAT) detachment. Both French warships conducted a passing exercise on March 30 when they were departing Jakarta to continue their circumnavigation of the globe. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Yvette Tanamal (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, April 8 2023 The government and some of the countrys largest Muslim organizations have responded to the violence inflicted by Israeli security forces at Jerusalems Al-Aqsa Mosque, expressing strong condemnation accompanied by loud calls to the United Nations to implement sanctions. Israels actions, they said, have injured the feelings of Muslims worldwide as well as escalated conflict in the month of Ramadan. On Wednesday Jerusalem time, Israeli forces clashed with Palestinians worshiping at the Al-Aqsa mosque, prompting the arrest of over 300 people and escalating tensions, spreading to the Gaza border where thousands rallied in protest, Reuters reported. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Yvette Tanamal (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 7, 2023 The government and some of the countrys largest Muslim organizations have responded to the violence inflicted by Israeli security forces at Jerusalems Al-Aqsa Mosque, expressing strong condemnation accompanied by loud calls to the United Nations to implement sanctions. Israels actions, they said, have injured the feelings of Muslims worldwide as well as escalated conflict in the month of Ramadan. On Wednesday Jerusalem time, Israeli forces clashed with Palestinians worshiping at the Al-Aqsa mosque, prompting the arrest of over 300 people and escalating tensions, spreading to the Gaza border where thousands rallied in protest, Reuters reported. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Details added: first version posted on 11:28 BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. The opening of new flights will contribute to the development of tourism between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, Director of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerkin Tukumov said, Trend reports. Tukumov made the remark during a round table dedicated to the second meeting of the Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan expert council. According to him, the existing tourist flow between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan is insufficient and doesnt correspond to the countries' potential in this area. "The development of tourism is one of the crucial points for increasing the level of ties between our countries. A deeper knowledge of culture by our peoples, each other's history, undoubtedly, has a significant impact on the positive dynamics of humanitarian and cultural ties between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, he noted. The opening of new flights will facilitate travel citizens, which will affect the economy of both countries, the director added. According to Azerbaijan's State Tourism Agency, 73,823 tourists from Central Asian countries visited Azerbaijan in 2022, which was 4.75 times more than in 2021 (15,516). According to the agency, the number of visitors from Kazakhstan amounted to 30,350 people (an increase of 4.3 times per year), Turkmenistan - 11,188 (an increase of 4.08 times per year), Uzbekistan - 26,309 (an increase of 6.2 times per year), Kyrgyzstan - 3,240 (an increase of 3.87 times per year), and Tajikistan - 2,736 (an increase of 3.33 times over the year). For the last five years, a total of 411,141 foreigners from Central Asia visited Azerbaijan (167,052 from Kazakhstan; 119,201 from Turkmenistan; 96,278 from Uzbekistan; 15,467 from Kyrgyzstan, and 13,143 from Tajikistan). BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. Azerbaijan's current law on the electric power industry does not meet modern demands, Azerbaijan's Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov said during the discussions of a new draft law "On the electric power industry" held at today's meeting of the Committee of Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis (Parliament) for Natural Resources, Energy and Ecology, Trend reports. "Currently, we are observing very serious transformational processes in the energy system on a global scale, countries of the world are intensely carrying out energy transition processes, implementing development models that responds to todays challenges," the minister said. As he noted, the action plan of the Strategy for Socio-Economic Development for 2022-2026, approved by the relevant decree of the head of state, covers the issues of production, transmission, distribution and power supply. At the same time, this plan encompasses promotion of the activities of independent supply entities, and applying market-based principles in general with the formation of the necessary regulatory environment. The main aim is to provide citizens with affordable, reliable, high-quality and sustainable electricity. According to the minister, this will create favorable conditions for modern areas of energy development, facilitating the rational use of resources, declining countrys financial burden, and a favorable environment for private investment. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. Liberalization of electricity prices is not envisaged in the near future and the tariffs will be regulated, Azerbaijan's Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov said, Trend reports. Shahbazov made the remark during the discussions of a new draft law "On the electric power industry" held at today's meeting of the Committee of Azerbaijan's Parliament for Natural Resources, Energy and Ecology. "Given that during the discussion of the bill, the deputies asked most of the questions regarding electricity tariffs, the adoption of the law should not mean an increase in prices," he noted. Previously, Shahbazov said that Azerbaijan's current law on the electric power industry does not meet modern demands. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) and Azerbaijan Fintech Association (AzFina) have discussed the expansion of payment services and the role of non-banking organizations in development of digital payments, Trend reports via the tweet of the CBA's Governor Taleh Kazimov. The sides discussed the reforms and projects carried out by the Central Bank in the field of development of the payment services market, as well as initiatives to expand non-cash payments. "During the meeting with representatives of the Azerbaijan Fintech Association, we discussed ways to expand payment services and strengthen the role of non-banking organizations in order to ensure the sustainable development of the country's financial system," Kazimov said. The CBA governor noted that an exchange of opinions was held on the legislative projects of AzFina as well as the problems they face in their activities. "Information was also provided on the reforms and projects carried out by the Central Bank in the field of development of payment services markets, as well as on initiatives to expand non-cash payments," he said. Azerbaijan Fintech Association was established in December 2020 by six leading fintech companies. The main objectives of the Association are to support the development of the digital financial ecosystem and creation of conditions for the transition to a digital economy, to promote the development of fintech companies, to represent and protect their interests, to contribute to more effective cooperation between fintech companies and other market participants. Globally-acknowledged Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has berated the United States's State Department for congratulating Nigerias president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinub, on his victory in the alleged widely flawed electoral process. In an open letter to the President of the United States, Joe Biden, published on Thursday, Adichie called into question the authenticity of the election results, while referencing widespread reports of violence, ballot box snatching, voters intimidation, and other malpractices which marred the February 25 poll. She also argued that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed to deliver on its promise to upload election results from polling units in real-time via its result viewing portal. Quoting Ned Price, the spokesperson for the US State Department, Chimamanda noted that the congratulatory statement itself mentioned that Nigerians were frustrated at the manner in which the process was conducted and the shortcomings of technical elements that were used for the first time in a presidential election cycle. She warned the United States president against being apathetic towards the current state of Nigeria by endorsing the results of the undemocratic process,. You have spoken of the importance of a global community for democracy, and the need to stand up for justice and the rule of law. A global community for democracy cannot thrive in the face of apathy from its most powerful member. Why would the United States, which prioritises the rule of law, endorse a president-elect who has emerged from an unlawful process?, she wrote. The renowned author further stated that most Nigerians are not really angry about their desired losing the election, but because the election they had dared to trust was, in the end, so unacceptably and unforgivably flawed. Congratulating its outcome, President Biden, tarnishes Americas self-proclaimed commitment to democracy. Please do not give the sheen of legitimacy to an illegitimate process. The United States should be what it says it is, she added. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. FlyArystan, a Kazakh low-cost flight operator, will launch direct flights from Astana to Turkiyes capital Ankara, Trend reports, citing FlyArystan. According to the source, the first flight on Astana Ankara Astana route is scheduled for May 23, 2023. Regular flights in this direction will be carried twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Furthermore, the Kazakh air carrier also plans to resume flights from Kazakhstans Turkestan and Aktau to Turkiyes Istanbul. No other details on the date for resuming flights on Turkestan-Istanbul-Turkestan and Aktau Istanbul Aktau routes were not provided. FlyArystan offers a diverse network of flights for its customers, which includes several popular destinations, such as Turkiye, Georgia, the UAE, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, among others. Back in March 2023, the company revealed that direct flights between Astana and Baku, Azerbaijan will be launched starting on June 2, 2023. The regular flights in this direction will be carried out on Airbus A320 each Monday and Friday. A non-partisan, non-profit and non-governmental group under the aegis of Network For Domestic Election Monitors (NDEM), Sokoto State chapter, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently intervene in the forthcoming re-run elections in the state. In a statement on Friday signed by the groups representative in Sokoto, Prof Sani Abubakar Yar Sakke Esq, and addressed to the President, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), INEC chairman and other stakeholders, the group decried the alleged abuse of power by the serving Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi over the conspicuous absence of the Police from polling units during the Presidential and National Assembly elections which resulted in unprecedented political violence and thuggery never seen in the state. As a result, over 470 polling units with a total of over 300,000 registered voters were disenfranchised and unable to cast their votes leading to inconclusive election for all the National Assembly elections in the State. This is unheard of in this country, and even more so given the fact that your cabinet minister of Police Affairs is clearly responsible for this unwholesome development, in spite of your warning, NDEM said. Reminiscing on the last election in Sokoto state, NDEM condemned the arbitrary and violent withdrawal of many opposition leaders from their polling units and later detained at various police posts across the state to pave way for manipulation of election results. According to the group, the action was the handiwork of Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, the current Minister of Police affairs and Sen Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko. The group further urged President Buhari to order the duo to order. Part of the statement reads: Mr. President we wish to again commend your bold attempt at ensuring free and fair credible elections in Nigeria. We equally acknowledge your emphatic efforts and pronouncements leading to the February 25th and March 18th 2023 general elections. The Naira redesign policy of your administration, despite the efforts of some members of the political class to undermine that laudable objective, the policy to a large extent, helped in minimizing the endemic vote buying and money politics in the country generally. Mr. Presidents stance against the use or misuse of security agencies for election is highly commendable. We recall times without number your pronouncements directing the security services to steer clear of partisan politics and avoid being used by any person or group of persons for political purposes. It is indeed sobering to chronicle the elections in Sokoto State where all the fears raised in our previous letter have been rudely confirmed. Our grounds for the rejection of appointment of the Minister of Police Affairs Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi as the Director General of a Partys campaign Council in the State have now been sadly and unfortunately justified. Minister Dingyadi as the overseeing minister of Police Affairs in the country allegedly used his office to ensure the following: Plot to ensure the conspicuous absence of the Police from polling units during the Presidential and National Assembly elections which resulted in unprecedented political violence and thuggery never seen in the state. As a result, over 470 polling units with a total of over 300,000 registered voters were disenfranchised and unable to cast their votes leading to inconclusive election for all the National Assembly elections in the State. This is unheard of in this country, and even more so given the fact that your cabinet minister of Police Affairs is clearly responsible for this unwholesome development, in spite of your warning. The assignment and deployment of Police officers to all his Party leaders and Agents, who used them to harass and assault all other political party leadership across the state. Many opposition party leaders were violently withdrawn from their polling units and detained at various police posts across the state to pave the way for manipulation of election results. Your Excellency against the background of the re-scheduled supplementary elections in the state on Saturday 15th April, 2023 people in the state are now justifiably worried that the same scenario is about to play out again. In this context, the level of preparations and mobilization by all the political parties in the state has created a very wild and tense atmosphere requiring the immediate and direct intervention of the Commander-in-Chief to save the situation. Meanwhile there is a graveyard silence in the state over the outcome of the last governorship election in the State. Phil Mercer and his daughter, Jessica, moved to Warkworth in 2022 and would like a family doctor close to home. Raising two daughters without having a family doctor is a scary place to be. During her girls formative years of childhood and adolescence, Hastings resident Sharon Glover sought help from the emergency department at Campbellford Memorial Hospital (CMH) when her children needed care. It was her only option, she said. Glover is one of about 4,000 residents in the Trent Hills area without a family physician. The municipality, which encompasses Campbellford, Warkworth, and Hastings as its most urban settings, currently requires four family doctors to meet the communitys health care needs, according to the Trent Hills Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee. The committee is hosting a fundraising event in May that is aimed at supporting physician recruitment efforts and ultimately bringing more doctors to the area. Glovers daughters are older now, but the trio still doesnt have a family doctor. We definitely need help here, Glover said. She and her daughters moved to Hastings from Aurora back in 2015, when her girls were 15 and nine. At a time when it is so important to set an example for them to take proper care of themselves during such impressionable ages, we had the worst experiences -- and no consistent health care, Glover recalled. We went through so much and felt like a burden to the Campbellford hospital. Its been a very frustrating topic for many years now. As a mom, its a scary place to be. Glover and her youngest daughter have been on the Health Care Connect waiting list for seven years, amounting to many years of missed treatment and lengthy hospital visits. The Trent Hills Physician Recruitment and Retention Committees fundraiser takes place on Thursday, May 11 at 7 p.m. at the Aron Theatre in Campbellford. The event features a concert by the Aubrey Dayle Jazz Quartet and a short film detailing Dayles life-saving kidney transplant. All event proceeds will go to the Trent Hills Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee. Recruitment challenges are not just a local issue, noted Michele Haddow, medical affairs co-ordinator at CMH and the Trent Hills Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee. There is currently a national shortage of physicians, with some estimates saying nearly four million Canadians are currently without a family doctor or primary care provider, Haddow said. Competition to recruit physicians is high in all areas as there are a limited number of new doctors ready to take on practices each year, which means every community must have a robust local effort to support recruitment. Phil Mercer and his daughter moved to Warkworth in September 2022. They both commute to doctors in Durham Region despite living here now. It would be great to have a family physician in the area, Mercer said. I have a family physician in north Oshawa that keeps having babies so (shes) not very available to me. Plus, its very out-of-the-way now that I live east. Id like to find a good, professional physician in the area. Trent Hills needs family doctors to join the Trent Hills Family Health Team, and four physicians for CMHs emergency department and inpatient hospitalist team. Recently, the Canadian Resident Matching Service reported there are 250 unmatched family physician residency spots across Canadas 17 medical schools. This means some medical students who have now graduated to residency are choosing more specialized training programs, rather than family medicine. A lot of people are concerned about how we can recruit physicians to Trent Hills, Haddow said. One small way the community can support our work is by attending our upcoming fundraiser. Money generated by the event will be funnelled towards marketing and advertising materials. These materials are used at recruitment fairs and included in tailored information packages and advertising campaigns, Haddow said. We need to stay competitive by having information online and in print, available to prospective physicians, so they can see why Trent Hills is a great place to live and work. In addition to the fundraiser, the committee is currently planning for Campbellford to play host to a number of medical students during Rural Medicine Week later this spring. Ashley Bernach has access to a nurse, but shed prefer to have a family doctor. The Campbellford resident said she doesnt have any medical issues now but is concerned about the bigger picture. Our small town is not small anymore, Bernach said. Lots of people have come from the city and lots of seniors (are) in need of care. Tickets for the upcoming fundraiser are $40 each and can be purchased online through the Aron Theatres website or by contacting the Trent Hills Physician Recruitment and Retention Committees office at 705-653-1140, extension 2007. Story behind the story: After learning about an upcoming fundraiser geared towards doctor recruitment efforts in the Municipality of Trent Hills, we connected with patients to explore their needs. SHARE: Numerous impassioned pleas were made at a city council meeting last week to restore municipal funding to The Theatre on King (TTOK) and the Artisans Centre after both organizations had grant applications rejected. Despite the strong public support, including a petition on change.org that gained more than 1,500 signatures, city council still voted 7-3 against a motion put forward by Coun. Matthew Crowley to pull $19,000 from the city's contingency fund to contribute to both organizations. As a graduate of the former PCVS Integrated Arts Program I certainly hold a deep appreciation for the arts. My grandmother also used to work behind the scenes on some of the plays presented at the Peterborough Theatre Guild. Although my own focus has been visual arts, drama is critical to the health of the entire arts and culture scene in our community. There is set and costume design, writing, dancing, singing, and of course acting. Theatre performances really pull the entire spectrum of the arts together. Peterborough is particularly blessed to have such a vibrant arts community. Some of my former classmates have gone on to do some amazing work. Take the Finlan brothers as an example. Matthew Finlan has recently starred in the Netflix romantic thriller Brazen, as well as Orphan: First Kill, a prequel to the 2009 horror film Orphan. He also played a young Charlie Chaplin on the TV series Murdoch Mysteries. His older brother Daniel is now a fashion designer in Vancouver and came seventh on the second season of Canada's Drag Race as Synthia Kiss. There are hundreds of other artists worth noting who found their start within the arts community in Peterborough. Unfortunately, I would venture to guess that at least half of the talented people I once knew have had to seek out success far beyond our city limits. My point in even mentioning PCVS is the impact its closure inevitably had on the downtown core. If we keep letting critical arts infrastructure crumble, there will continue to be negative impacts on the culture and health of our downtown core, like losing out on tourism revenue, talented individuals either moving away from or avoiding Peterborough altogether, and a general loss of potential. Ryan Reynolds and George Dewey's co-founded production company, Maximum Effort, just announced it will be building a 1.2-million-square-foot studio in Markham. I can't help but wonder if something like that could materialize in Peterborough one day. It would certainly require the active support of our broader community and the city. The city is funding the arts, culture, and heritage division to the tune of $5.3 million this year. That brings up another question. How is it that these vital grants are so limited out of a multi-million-dollar arts budget? Of course, the big ticket items like the public library and museum will require the most funding overall. That does not negate the fact that smaller projects need support too. The overall problem with relying on government funding is that government funding is by nature unreliable. Organizations like TTOK and the Artisans Centre become far too dependent on grants to survive. They are placing the success of their organizations into the hands of the government whose desires and priorities can and do change as frequently as the weather. I would certainly hope that TTOK can rally some of their supporters in order to come up with the funding they need for this year. As for the city, Crowley had put forward another motion to review the application and assessment process which was unanimously supported. Kudos for that, however, the real issue comes down to the availability of funds. In a perfect world, every organization or individual artist would receive all the funding they need. I don't think anyone expects these grants to be rubber stamped, but when demand is up, perhaps the amount of available funding should reflect that need. SHARE: ST. JOHNS, N.L. - This years early Easter has put a damper on a Newfoundland tradition of eating fresh seal flipper on Good Friday -- or at least it has for the man most widely known for selling them in the provincial capital. Reg Taylors seal flipper truck is a well-known and welcome sight each spring along the St. Johns harbour, especially in the days leading up to Good Friday. But the Newfoundland seal hunt began on Thursday this year, just a day before the holiday. No meat had come back from the boats in time for him to sell it to eager Easter shoppers from the back of his red truck, Taylor said in an interview. Though the Catholic Church counsels against eating meat on the holy holiday, seal is considered to be more of a fish in Newfoundland and Labrador, he said. Its not the same as a Vienna sausage, he said in an interview, referring to a popular tinned meat product. The seal itself is a fish almost in the sense of what its made up of, of what it eats. Its perhaps no surprise that Good Friday, which emphasizes eating fish on one of the holiest days in the Christian year, is taken seriously in a province thats home to both an active fishing industry and what the 2021 census suggests is the highest Christian population in the country. Fish and chips restaurants in St. Johns are packed beginning at 11 a.m. as the heady smell of deep-fried batter wafts down Freshwater Road, which is home to Ches Fish and Chips and Leos Restaurant and Take Out -- two of the citys most celebrated spots for what locals call fee and chee. There will be many Good Friday plates of crispy, flaky fish and fresh cut fries served in rural parts of the province too, said Andrea OBrien of the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador. In lots of places outside of town, theres a lot of shed parties and house parties where fish and chips is being made, she said in an interview. Eating seal particularly in a flipper pie on Good Friday is more common in St. Johns, she said. In other parts of the province, its tradition to eat freshly hunted seabirds, including turrs and saltwater ducks, she said. Those meats were considered OK, she said. I dont know if its because those meats come from the sea. Ellen Reid grew up in St. Johns eating flipper and flipper pie on Good Friday, often cooked by her mother or grandmother. In our family, I think we saw it as being a fish because it came from the ocean, Reid said in an interview. She described seal flipper as kind of like a stewing meat, but not gamey or tough. Its almost like a dark meat version of turkey, she said. I personally enjoy it because it has almost like a dessert texture. The Reid family mostly got their flippers from Taylors truck, she said. Taylor, 69, has been selling seal meat since he was 12 years old. He and his seven brothers would go door to door selling fresh seal meat from their truck. They got the meat from the sealing boats which would pull up to the docks in Dildo, N.L., after days or even weeks among the ice floes. Before big grocery stores arrived in Newfoundland, the Taylor brothers product was the only fresh meat available in the spring, he said. Wed ask for a bread pan, he said. And wed run and put a chunk of seal or flippers or whatever they wanted in the pan, run back to the door and grab the money and run to the next door. He now owns a store just outside St. Johns in Conception Bay South called Taylors Fresh Fish, Fruit and Vegetable Market. Its always busy before Easter with people buying Good Friday fish. But if we would have had seal, it would have been madness, he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 7, 2023. SHARE: NEW YORK (AP) An Iranian opposition activist who U.S. authorities said was the target of two thwarted kidnapping or murder plots urged a federal judge in New York on Friday to hand a tough prison sentence to a woman who unwittingly funded one of the planned attacks. Masih Alinejad, a onetime Iranian journalist, said her sense of safety has been shattered since authorities notified her in 2020 that she was being watched and that photographs were taken of her Brooklyn residence of 10 years. Since then, she has received U.S. government protection and has moved frequently between safe houses. This crime left its mark. Every day when I go out in the street, I have to look over my shoulders. ... I miss my tree-lined street and my neighbors who treated me as one of their own, Alinejad told Judge Ronnie Abrams as she asked her to set an example by sending 48-year-old Niloufar Bahadorifar, of Irvine, California, to prison for as long as possible. Abrams did just that, announcing a four-year prison term after agreeing with prosecutors who urged her to impose a sentence between 46 and 57 months behind bars. She said she wanted to deter others who might aid the Iranian government in the targeting of individuals in the United States. Abrams rejected a request by Bahadorifars lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, that his client be spared a prison term on the grounds that she, too, was a victim of a dark, repressive, evil terror regime that had left her so programmed to do as she was told that she fled Iran only to live for a time in Canada with a fundamentalist, lunatic, abusive husband. Afterward, Bahadorifar addressed the court, telling Alinejad she was humiliated to have been involved in any attempt to harm you, even if I was unaware of it. She added: You are a hero to all Iranians. I am so sorry. Outside court, Alinejad was unimpressed. Even trying to use this to save herself? Im not a hero, she said. My heroes are those people who got killed by the Iranian regime, and they never played victims like she did, Alinejad long has been targeted by Irans theocracy after fleeing the country following its disputed 2009 presidential election and crackdown. She is a prominent figure on Farsi-language satellite channels abroad that critically view Iran and has worked as a contractor for U.S.-funded Voice of Americas Farsi-language network since 2015. She became a U.S. citizen in October 2019. In December, Bahadorifar, a U.S. citizen originally from Iran, pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate U.S. economic sanctions on Iran by enabling access to the U.S. financial system for four Iranians who wanted to kidnap and silence Alinejad by taking her back to Tehran. Authorities said the Iranians used Bahadorifar as a go-between to pay an American private investigator. The investigator was part of a plan by the would-be kidnappers, working for the government of Iran, to use private investigators in 2020 and 2021 to surveil, photograph, and video record Alinejad and others in her home on multiple occasions, prosecutors said. Last summer, police arrested a man armed with a loaded assault-style rifle and dozens of rounds of ammunition near her Brooklyn home. Alinejad said a home security video had recorded the man outside her front door. Since 2015, Bahadorifar had provided financial and other services, including access to the U.S. financial system and institutions, to various individuals from Iran, prosecutors said. Beginning in 2019, she structured cash deposits totaling at least $476,000 in more than 120 individual deposits, topping $10,000 only twice, authorities said. At her December plea, Bahadorifar said she had sent funds to the private investigator on behalf of a government official in Iran who was a longtime family friend. An Iranian intelligence officer and others were charged in New York in 2021 with trying to kidnap Alinejad. The Iranian officials have denied the charge. The private investigator, who also was unaware his employers were Iranian agents, later cooperated with the FBI and was not charged. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Gutwillig said the case demonstrated why sanction violations are gravely serious. After the sentence was announced, Lichtman said as he left the courthouse that he was disappointed, calling it comical to think Iranian terrorists were going to be deterred from other sinister plots because of his clients fate. Outside court, Alinejad said the word safe is a luxury for her. Im not safe in America, she said. I cannot believe that this all happened to me. Three men were trying to kill me on U.S. soil. She added: Its not about me. Its about the national security of the United States of America. SHARE: 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. As Premier Doug Ford embarks on his privatization blitz of our health care system, theres a nagging question. If the purpose of opening a slew of new private clinics is to reduce Ontarios surgical backlog, why does the enabling legislation do so many other things things that will dramatically reduce public accountability and leave our precious public health care system vulnerable to corruption? Its a question that urgently needs to be answered as Ford plows ahead with privatization plans that are huge in scope and ominous in design. Of course, what makes his whole privatization project so dubious is that, as a number of doctors have noted, we could deal with the surgical backlog simply through better use of existing hospital operating rooms. Dr. Michael Warner, medical director of critical care at Michael Garron Hospital, says wait times could be quickly reduced if operating room hours were extended by even just two hours a day. Imagine if they were extended by four or five hours a day! Instead of working on this simple, low-cost solution, the premier plans to invite in private companies potentially including large multinationals notorious for driving up U.S. health care costs to set up clinics where they will perform up to 50 per cent of all surgeries in Ontario (that is, the uncomplicated ones where profits will be easy and large). These clinics will be funded through our public system and will also be allowed to sell expensive extras to patients at a time when their judgment may not be best. Ontario already has private clinics. But the government is greatly expanding them in number and function and carving out a whole new zone within our health care system where theyll be allowed to operate with far less public accountability, scrutiny and oversight than is currently required of private clinics. A key difference, created by the new legislation, Bill 60, removes the requirement that the director overseeing private clinics be an employee of the Health Ministry and therefore be subject to all the strict rules for conflict-of-interest, public and financial accountability that govern the public service. This raises the possibility that Ford could appoint a crony, a lobbyist or even a corporation closely tied to the industry. Bill 60 imposes no financial disclosure requirements on the director, who will have sweeping powers over the awarding of lucrative clinic licences. This means the director could own stock or have relatives who own stock in the very companies being awarded licences and yet there would be no way for the public to know this, says Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition. The rules governing inspections are also being loosened, even though the Auditor General has already expressed concerns about private clinic inspections. Gone is the requirement that clinics be inspected by the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons. No new inspecting authority is identified. Perhaps the clinics will inspect themselves? Interestingly, the Ford government carefully avoids the term private clinics, referring to them instead as Integrated Community Health Service Centres. Why shroud these clinics in such misleading language? In fact, we already have Community Health Centres, which function as youd expect a community centre to function no one makes a profit, theyre run by democratically elected boards and are subject to full public accountability. Theyre popular and could have served as a model for an expansion of clinics. Instead, without any public consultation, Ford is creating a special zone where a large number of new private clinics performing core functions currently performed only in public hospitals will be shielded from the prying eyes of concerned citizens and stripped of existing protections that were put in place to ensure high standards and prevent corruption. Perhaps we can trust Doug Ford to ensure there wont be corruption, extreme profiteering or diminished standards in these clinics. But then why did he introduce legislation that opens the door to all these possibilities? Read more about: SHARE: OTTAWA - A Canadian woman who returned to Canada from a prison camp in northeastern Syria this week has been released on bail in Edmonton pending a terrorism peace bond application, Mounties in Alberta said Friday. She was among four Canadian women and 10 children who landed in Montreal either late Wednesday or early Thursday, the largest single group Canada has repatriated from Syria, said lawyer Lawrence Greenspon, who has been helping get them home. Three of the women were arrested upon arrival, while the fourth was not detained. Two of those arrested were sent to Brampton, Ont., where they will undergo a bail hearing Tuesday, Greenspon said. The third was sent to Edmonton where a bail hearing was held Thursday. RCMP in Alberta said Friday the 38-year-old woman is subject to a number of conditions while she awaits the peace bond process but did not specify what those were. The 10 children are all with relatives, said Greenspon. On Jan. 18, Global Affairs Canada agreed that all of them could return to Canada, along with two other women and three additional children. Greenspon said the other two women and those three children did not make it on the plane and he does not yet know why. Im confident that Global Affairs Canada will continue in good faith to do what they said they would do, which is to repatriate these two women and the three children, he said. They are war refugees. They were on territory that was taken over by the Kurds, (who) have said to the countries of the world, please come and take your nationals. The women and children were held for years at the al-Roj prison camp in northeastern Syria. It is one of two displaced persons camps in the region that is now controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which runs what is known as the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. The detainees in the camps are mostly women and children who were rounded up after the fall of the extremist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in 2019. Some are relatives of suspected ISIS fighters, but they have never been brought before a court. About 10,000 of them are foreign nationals from more than 60 countries outside Syria and Iraq. The Kurds have asked those countries to repatriate their citizens. United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres said last month countries like Canada have a responsibility to bring their citizens home from the camps, which he says have the worst possible conditions and are depriving people of their rights. Alexandra Bain, director of Families Against Violent Extremism, said she is trying to help 32 others in the camps return to Canada. That includes the two women and three children who missed the plane this week, and one additional Canadian woman and her six children. Canada has agreed to allow her children to come back but havent yet issued a security clearance to the mother, who is from Quebec. RCMP officers recently visited the camps to interview the Canadians, but Bain said they didnt speak French and the Quebec mother was unable to understand them. She is working with four non-Canadian women who are mothers to 10 Canadian children living in the camps, and six Canadian men. Some of the men are fathers of the children, said Bain. A Federal Court judge ruled On Jan. 20 that Canada must repatriate four Canadian men held in the camps. The federal government appealed that ruling and the appeal was heard in late March. A decision has not yet been issued. Bain said if that ruling is upheld it will apply not just to the four men involved in the case but to any Canadians in the camps. None of the women who were arrested upon arrival in Canada are charged with a crime, said Greenspon. Instead the Crown is seeking a terrorism peace bond, available when the Crown has reasonable grounds to fear an individual may commit a terrorism offence. Such a bond would require an individual to maintain good behaviour and follow specific conditions for up to a year or face a possible prison sentence. The conditions could include a curfew and refraining from communicating with certain other people, said Greenspon. A terrorism peace bond is also being sought for Kimberly Polman, a British Columbia woman repatriated to Canada from Syria last year. Greenspon said Polman was granted bail pending a hearing for the peace bond, which has not yet taken place. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 7, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: CAAT reminds of fare ceilings as Bangkok-Phuket flights remain among most expensive PHUKET: The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has reminded Thai and foreign passengers that it had set fare ceilings for all domestic flights in the country and air carriers must not exceed the limits or will face action from the CAAT. The list of maximum prices was published alongside a press release explaining actions in response to prime minister Prayut Chan-o-chas order to tackle the soaring prices of air tickets. The Bangkok-Phuket route was specifically mentioned by the CAAT as the one receiving the biggest number of complaints about fares. transporttourism By The Phuket News Friday 7 April 2023, 02:30PM The CAATs guidlines on how to choose air tickets wisely. Image: CAAT As of March, prices for Bangkok-Phuket flights were over the B2,500 benchmark in 17.5% of cases and under it in 82.5% of cases, the CAAT explained in the press release posted on Apr 6. The agency explained that ticket prices usually increase during festive season, such as New Year or Songkran. Passengers were advised to book their flights in advance to get the best prices. The CAAT did not elaborate on why B2,500 was chosen as a benchmark. The maximum allowed prices for Bangkok-Phuket flights are currently B9,074 for full-service airlines and B6,561 for low-cost airlines. The prices are based on the maximum tariff of B13 per km for full-service carriers and B9.4 for low-cost companies. The route distance is 698 km, according to CAAT. The same rates of B13 per km and B9.4 per km apply to all other domestic routes. Only two of them are more expensive than Bangkok to Phuket, namely Bangkok to Hat Yai (B10,049 and B7.266) and Bangkok to Trang (B9,620 and B6.956). Five-point plan to bring fares down Answering to Gen Prayuts request to decrease fares in the short and long term, the CAAT has studied the causes and factors of price increase and developed a five-point plan to deal with the issue. The five problems are as follows: Insufficient ground handling capacity at Suvarnabhumi Airport (only 50% of what is needed). Slot allocation issues, namely problems with re-allocating vacant slots when an airline cancels flights. Airlines not having enough aircraft to increase flights to meet the demand . Long unavailability of aircrafts undergoing maintenance and repairs abroad and not within the country. Limited choice of airlines operating on some routes with low demand. All the five issues will be addressed in due manner, the CAAT assured. For the CAATs guidelines on how to get tickets at best prices, see the agencys brochure here. Cash handouts spark concern BANGKOK: The Pheu Thai Partys promise to give away B10,000 to anyone 16 or older as part of its proposed economic stimulus policies has been called into question. How this pledge will be honoured and paid for are among the questions being asked. politics By Bangkok Post Friday 7 April 2023, 08:54AM Srettha Thavisin, a prime ministerial candidate of the Pheu Thai Party, announces the B10,000 handout policy in Nonthaburi province on Wednesday (Apr 5). Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill The party announced during an electioneering event on Wednesday (Apr 5) that if it can form a government after the May 14 general election, it will give B10,000 in digital currency to everyone 16 and over to spend on a local economic stimulus project, reports the Bangkok Post. The project was described by Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Pheu Thais chief adviser on public participation and innovation, as a blockchain technology-based effort to help distribute products made in Thailand abroad and bring digital currencies into the kingdom. The B10,000 is to be spent within a 4-kilometre community radius within six months during the projects early phase in a bid to attract international digital currencies. Pheu Thais aim is to make Thailand Aseans fintech hub, Ms Paetongtarn said. In response to this Pheu Thai policy, Waiwit Thongthongkham, 51, a commercial bank employee, said everyone likes free money, especially low-income people but the question is where it comes from. The initiative by Pheu Thai, which would likely be funded by the taxpayer, would indeed be a vote-winner, he said. He also questioned why Pheu Thai had previously criticised a policy by the Prayut government regarding a state welfare scheme for poor elderly people. Preeyaphat Raksasana, a second-year university student, disagreed with the B10,000 handout policy and questioned the source of funding. The policy is disgusting, she said. Do they really think most people are that foolish? Sunthari Hatthi Sengking, an activist in an informal economy network, called on Pheu Thai to improve the quality of life for vulnerable groups, particularly poor children. This policy is simply intended to attract public recognition for Pheu Thai and to win more votes, she said. Bandit Paenwiset from the Friends of Women Foundation believes the policy targets first-time voters. Business people-turned-politicians dont have to invest in much except in thinking of what to say to get results, Mr Bandit said. Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, minister of Digital Economy and Society, and also deputy leader of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party, said he needs more time to study the Pheu Thai policy before commenting in detail. On the surface, he said, the policy appears to be a reinvention of the village fund policy of Thai Rak Thai, which preceded Pheu Thai. That policy involved giving B1 million to every village. Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, declined to comment on the Pheu Thai giveaway policy. He said his party preferred to focus on policies that improve peoples quality of life through income generation. We are not treating them as people who are always waiting for money, Anutin said. They instead have the right to some assistance to help them stand on their own two feet. Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, a minister in the prime ministers office and a chief strategist in the United Thai Nation Party, said he also wanted more detail. He estimated the budget would run to B500 billion if 50 million Thais were each given B10,000. Creating a digital currency would be a major challenge with implications for Thailands entire financial system, he added. He suspected the policy was a marketing gimmick. Considering Thailands current financial status, I dare say we are not financially capable of funding populist policies that involve giving away money, said Anusorn Tamajai, a leading economist. Chinese arrested for working illegally in Phuket PHUKET: Two Chinese nationals were arrested at Phuket International Airport on Wednesday (Apr 5) on charges of breaching regulations on foreign labour in the Kingdom. Nothing was said about the duration of their stay in the country or the specific occupation which was deemed illegal. By The Phuket News Friday 7 April 2023, 05:41PM The second of the two Chinese nationals arrested at Phuket airport on Apr 5. Photo: Phuket Immigration Checkpoint The first of the two Chinese nationals arrested at Phuket airport on Apr 5. Photo: Phuket Immigration Checkpoint The arrests were reported yesterday (Apr 6) by the Phuket Immigration Checkpoint Facebook page, publicising news about the work of the Immigration Bureau officers stationed at the airport. As typical of these reports, only the bare minimum of information was revealed to the public. According to the reports, the foreigners were arrested at around 10.30pm at the Phuket International Airport tour parking lot. Both men were then handed over to Sakhu Police and charged with working without permission or outside of permitted range of occupation. Phuket Immigration did not reveal anything about the identities of the arrested Chinese national. Their names and age remain unknown, just as the detail of their illegal work in Thailand. The news was presented as two separate reports on Facebook with different pictures but 100% identical texts. Yet Phuket Immigration did not elaborate on whether the two cases were linked in any manner. For deaf Ukrainians, smart watches can be life-saving KYIV: It took a second for Andrii Yeger, a deaf Ukrainian, to realise that the waves of energy he felt were coming from a Russian rocket landing near his car. UkrainetechnologyRussianSafety By AFP Friday 7 April 2023, 08:30AM Ukrainians who are deaf are struggling to receive air strike alerts, a challenge one group hopes to solve with smart watches. Photo: AFP It all slowed down inside of me... I felt a vibration in my whole body, Yeger told AFP. I saw people and smoke, I took my phone, read the news and thats when I understood there was an explosion, the 61-year-old said. The deaf community in Ukraine has been facing many challenges during the war, including inaudible air siren alerts, which an organisation hopes to solve with smart watches. Yeger is a volunteer at the Ukrainian Society for the Deaf (UTOG), which has helped many through wars added hardships. The main issue was the access to information for hearing-impaired people. At the beginning of the war, there was almost nothing for them, UTOGs interim president Tetyana Kornyenko told AFP. Kornyenko said residents evacuating from the southern Kherson and the eastern Donetsk and Lugansk regions near the frontline told the organisation they had struggled at checkpoints. It was very scary, they could not hear (the orders), Kornyenko said. Once at the railway stations, train numbers and platforms were given via loudspeakers, which they couldnt hear, she added. Kyiv and its region counted around 4,000 deaf residents before the war, according to UTOG. Around 700 to 1,000 remain. Vital device Those still in the country are made vulnerable to shelling because they cannot hear air sirens alerted over loudspeakers or on phone applications. Olena Mentchenko, 80, said people help her take cover when sirens resonate. I stayed in a shelter for three days, with nothing to eat, I was hungry, Mentchenko told AFP. But there were people who could hear in the shelter, they helped me and gave me food. The Ukrainian Society for the Deaf created channels on the messaging platform Telegram to inform people of air raid alerts. It has started translating video statements from officials into sign language, and advocates for the use of technology from smartphones to wearable devices to warn of upcoming strikes and rescue victims. In January, a smart watch saved a young womans life after a Russian missile strike on a residential block in Dnipro, which killed 45 people. Deaf people cannot hear rescuers coming, so they cannot shout to guide them, UTOGs interim president explained. The 27-year-old woman was pulled out from the rubble after she used her smart watch to tell her mother she was alive, Kornyenko said. Since then, the organisation - which does not have the means to provide watches itself - has been asking the government to help improve access to the life-saving devices. The watches can cost up to a few hundred dollars and remain a luxury item in a country at war. Yeger has gotten used to feeling missile strikes rather than hearing them. Still, he is wearing the watch he got for his birthday just in case, after what happened in Dnipro. Officials honour Chakri Day PHUKET: Phuket officials gathered yesterday (Apr 6) to honour His Majesty King Buddha Yodfa Chulalok the Great and Chakri Royal Family Memorial Day. culture By The Phuket News Friday 7 April 2023, 11:16AM The ceremony took place at the Phuket Provincial Government Center and was chaired by Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew, who paid his respects to the Royal dynasty with the placing of fresh flowers in front of a portrait of His Majesty King Buddha Yodfa Chulalok the Great and lighting joss sticks and candles. The event was attended by many of the islands top-ranking officials, as well as members of the judiciary, prosecutors, military and police officers, local business leaders and members of the public. The Governor presented a speech to mark the occasion, praising His Majesty King Buddha Yodfa Chulalok the Great and Chakri Royal Family. Chakri Memorial Day is observed on Apr 6 every year as the founding day of the establishment of the Chakri Dynasty. After the official ceremony, many local activities were held to make merit in honour of the national public holiday. Phuket taxi driver assaulted for using unregistered app PHUKET: A green plate taxi driver was assaulted by a fellow cabbie in front of a hotel in tambon Karon after coming to pick up a passenger who ordered a car through an application not recognised by the Department of Land Transport (DLT). The case is now being investigated by Karon Police and the Phuket office of the DLT. By The Phuket News Friday 7 April 2023, 06:52PM UPDATE: Phuket Provincial Police confirmed at around 9pm on Friday night (Apr 7) that the wrench-wielder was not the driver from the hotel taxi queue but his opponent who had been accused of using an un-registered app. Adcha Buachan, Chief of the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO, or Phuket DLT), became aware of the most recent episode in Phuket taxi turf wars at about 8.30pm yesterday (Apr 6), Phuket Info Center reported today. According to the publication, Mr Adcha had to interfere after receiving video clips and information about the controversy between public taxi drivers on Patak Rd in Karon subdistrict. It was not revealed how many videos were sent to Mr Adcha and what exactly was in them. The video available to The Phuket News does not show the conflict itself but only the aftermath. Yet the screenshots posted by Phuket Info Center match the said clip. In the video, one driver is seen standing by a Phuket-registered green plate taxi holding two wheel wrenches. Another driver is sitting by the vehicle holding his head. The off-camera announcer explained that the latter had been hit on the head for coming to pick up a passenger who placed an order via a mobile application not registered with the DLT. The date, time and place of the incident were not revealed. Nothing was said about the passengers who ordered the car using a wrong app. According to Phuket Info Center, Mr Adcha of PLTO, Col Khundet Na-Nongkhai of Karon Police and other relevant officials went to the scene of the controversy to mitigate and help to resolve the issue. It was reported that both parties of the conflict had filed official complaints with Karon Police after the incident. Karon Police officers are now investigating the case which will be handed over to court in due manner. When the court makes its verdict, PLTO will consider suspension or revocation of the driving license of the guilty party as per court decision. PLTO asks public taxi drivers to comply with the laws to help promote Phuket tourism image, Phuket Info Center quoted Mr Adcha as saying. Mr Adcha explained previously, that currently only two taxi apps are legal in Phuket: Hello Phuket and Grab. In case of suspecting an illegally working driver, cabbies are advised to not approach him or her but contact police. The recommendation was given after a viral video depicting one of Central Festival cabbies verbally abusing a woman went online. The woman a female taxi driver was picking up passengers in a car that had been approved by the PLTO to use with the approved apps, but the order in question was received via an app which is yet to be approved. Ukrainian woman summoned to police for anti-war graffiti PHUKET: Wichit Police has tracked down a Ukrainian woman who had spraypainted anti-war graffiti on rocks and roadside pavilion near Ao Yon Beach and Khao Khad Viewpoint in Phuket. UkraineRussian By The Phuket News Friday 7 April 2023, 07:51PM The unnamed 34-year-old Ukrainian woman presented herself to Wichit Police today (Apr 7) after having been tracked down using CCTV and summoned by the officials, the Public Relations Office of Phuket (PR Phuket) reported today. The investigation was launched after a series of complaints by local residents, who informed officials about spraypainted slogans on the rocks and in a roadside pavilion near Ao Yon Beach in Wichit. One of the photos provided by PR Phuket shows graffiti saying Russia is a terrorist state. Another picture shows just #Russia. Thre other picture show a woman in a pink t-shirt near seaside rocks and on a scooter with Samut Sakhon license plates. Wichit Police Chief Col Chatri Chukaew said that the woman entered Thailand as a tourist around three months ago and is planning to return to Ukraine on Apr 10. The woman said she just wanted to express her feelings about Russias aggression towards her country and did not mean to destroy the image of Phuket in any way. Following the incident, Wichit Police reminded that illegal spraypainting in public places is an offense and warned people against doing so. The PR Phuket report doesnt say if the unnamed Ukrainian tourist has been fined for her actions. The incident in Wichit is the second of its kind in Phuket since the beginning of this year. On Feb 9, anti-Putin and anti-war slogans were found on a rock near Nai Thon Beach. The case was reported to Sakhu Police and Sirinath National Park, as the rock is within the national park boundaries. The graffiti was quickly removed, but officials did not report if they were successful in tracking down the person who spraypainted the rock in the national park which Thailand aims to see among UNESCO heritage sites. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. A delegation from Saudi Arabia visited the Khatlon region of Tajikistan on April 6, according to the regional authorities, Trend reports via Tajik media. The delegation's visit is expected to enhance cooperation and facilitate joint ventures and investment projects in the region. The region's leadership stressed the significance of cultural, humanitarian, and educational ties between the two nations to strengthen their collaboration, adding that Several Days of Culture of Saudi Arabia have been held in Tajikistan. One of the key areas for cooperation highlighted was tourism, which is an important sector in Tajikistan's economy, and the government has implemented several important measures in this area. The Khatlon region, located in the southwest of Tajikistan, is the most populous of the four first-level administrative regions of the country. It is known for producing high-quality cotton, early watermelons, gourds, onions, etc. Every once in a while, Flash From the Past likes to catch up with readers comments, corrections, additions and photographs connected with recent columns. A fortnight ago, the Blue Top Brewery essay brought a flurry of recollections. One reader remembered his uncles description of drinking Blue Top beer in the 1940s: great-tasting but it ripped right through you. For Donald Duff-McCracken, the Blue Top story recalled the day he was digging around the foundation of his house and unearthed a Huether beer bottle marked Berlin. Like many people he had always associated Huether with Waterloo (primarily because the modern-named Huether Hotel in Waterloo snuck the name back to that city), but the story cleared it up. He isnt the first person to unearth a vintage beer bottle. Ive been told it was a tradition here in old Berlin that when the carpenters, bricklayers, painters, etc. were all finished, theyd gather in the front yard to share a beer, then ceremoniously bury the bottle for good luck under the porch. Karl Zaryski recalled another of the popular businesses on that King/Victoria corner following the Blue Top brewerys 1964 demolition. In addition to Frostop, Tim Hortons and the Asian grocery store, he added that in the 1990s Tin Roof Donuts also occupied the distinctive A-frame structure. Robert Schmidt sent in a photo of a clear glass Blue Top ashtray, another of the firms promotional gimmicks. Likewise, Bob Frey of Cambridge got his camera out and sent a photo of several Blue Top key fobs that he found when clearing out his dads estate. Bob Karns interest was piqued by the Breslau train derailment photo published in early March. Digging through family albums, he found pictures taken on the same day in 1935 by his father-in-law, George Issler. The HMCS Kitchener story, K225, brought a note from Jeannie MacGregor noting that her late father, Malcolm, had served briefly on K225. She recommended the forposterityssake.ca/CTB-BIO/MEM000689.htm website for his details and detailed Canadian naval history. Brothers Allen and Brian Legge each sent in notices that their father Mansford served on HMCS Galt, another of the Flower-class corvettes, and also mentioned that website. The HMCS Galt, and HMCS Hespeler (another corvette), and HMCS Prestonian (a frigate) will be part of an upcoming Flash From the Past on Waterloo Countys named warships. I urge anyone with photos or stories of family members who served any of those three ships to contact me. The father of longtime Record editor John Roe spent time on board HMCS Prestonian and I am hoping he will touch base with some family recollections. The Toonerville Trolley story brought in one of those Eureka! messages. Jean Costelecs father-in-law, Joseph, was the person who bought the old PUC Toonerville Trolley in the mid-1940s, moved it to a site that today is part of the cloverleaf near First Avenue and made it into the family home for more than a decade. Jeans husband was 10 when the family then moved to 7th Avenue in 1959 and said the old trolley was simply bulldozed. Who knows? Parts of it may still lie under the on-ramp. Another reader, Paul Chapman, said his dad rode the Toonerville Trolley daily to his job in Brantford from his home in Kitchener. And that was a side story to the PUCs Toonerville Trolley I wrote about. The original cartoons symbolism had seeped so far into the North American psyche that almost any electric railway could gain the affectionate nickname. In this case, the Grand River Railway line running from Kitcheners Queen Street South station to Brantford earned the comic moniker from its passengers. Those are just a few of the recent contributions from Flash From the Past readers. Next week, Cam Shelley takes us to Wellington County and in two weeks, some feedback from the Elmira/Charles Gates photo story of Feb. 18. About the Grand River Railway: this afternoon, April 8, Waterloo Historical Society holds its first meeting of 2023. Guest presenter is Trevor Parkins-Sciberras. In addition to being a top-notch railway photographer, he is most knowledgeable about transit and train history in southern Ontario. Trevors focus today is on the Grand River/Lake Erie & Northern electric railway lines. All are welcome at the Kitchener Public Librarys main auditorium. Doors open at 1 and the presentation is at 2. SHARE: Wade Cole poses with one of his WBC beard balm products. This article is part of the New in Town series in Cambridge, which will be regularly updated as we learn of new businesses and restaurants opening (within one year of opening) or closing in Cambridge. We also write about businesses growing, including founding anniversaries. Spot a new business or know of a longtime business closing its doors? Share it with our newsroom at newsroom@cambridgetimes.com and mrosalesgerpe@metroland.com with the subject line: New in Town. NEW IN TOWN BE BEARDED WITH WADING BEARD COMPANY Be Bearded is the slogan of new Cambridge-original Wading Beard Company, originally founded in 2022, but which kicked off merchandise in 2023. WBC seeks to pamper those strong with the follicle force with a balm meant to smooth and moisturize the unruliest of facial bristles. Working with premium natural ingredients for strengthening, conditioning, and promoting healthy beard growth, according to its website, WBC aims to take the fuss out of the fuzz while smelling good in the process. The neatly tin-packaged balm comes in nine scents, according to its Facebook page. These scents range from delicious tropical pirate vibes of mango, watermelon, tangerine to earthy Bedouin lumberjack notes of sandalwood, out wood scent, and desert musk. WHERE: Cambridge, Ont. WHEN: N/A (online store) CONTACT: https://wadingbeardcompany.com/contact/ WEBSITE: https://wadingbeardcompany.com/ SOCIAL: https://www.instagram.com/wadingbeardcompany/ and https://www.facebook.com/groups/619562126290482/ THE HERO'S TALE PREPARES FOR GRAND OPENING Preparing for a grand opening on April 15, the Heros Tale is currently open for business in Preston. The new comic book store opened in late February, and has already made a mark in the community, with events that included Cambridges very own resident Spidey. The store sells DC and Marvel classics, including DCs popular Sandman graphic novels, manga, and nostalgia items like Rin Tin Tin, and the Man From U.N.C.L.E. collection. The website reads, we are proud to offer a wide selection of comic books that feature diverse characters, perspectives, and stories. WHERE: 634 King St. E WHEN: Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Thursday, noon to 7 p.m. Friday, noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. CLOSED ON MONDAY CONTACT: 519-653-5343 and hero@theherostale.ca WEBSITE: https://theherostale.ca/ SOCIAL: https://www.instagram.com/theherostalecomicbooks/ and https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087624684220 BLACK THORN TATTOO READY TO IMPRESS IN PRESTON Officially opened on March 1 in Preston, Black Thorn Tattoo is the child of Indigenous ink artist Shannon Brook, who is also a new a mom, and who has amassed a loyal client based since her work at award-winning Deathly Hollows Ink tattoo studio, where she was also the owner. Brook is passionate about highlighting the work of ink artists in her studio, and for her ink to be a vessel through which her clients can express their wishes, feelings, and lived experiences. WHERE: 640 King St. WHEN: Message for booking. According to her Instagram, Book is currently booking for May. CONTACT: 519-781-3790 and shannonbrooktattoos@gmail.com WEBSITE: https://www.facebook.com/bbgirl.tattoos/ SOCIALS: https://www.secure.instagram.com/bbgirl.tattoos/ BUSINESS BIRTHDAYS, AND REOPENINGS PHIDON PENS ONLINE STORE TURNS THREE It feels like just yesterday we were scrambling to figure out how to survive the pandemic as a brick-and-mortar store, reads a Phidon Pens Instagram post by co-founders and owners Mano and Baldeep Duggal. A staple of downtown Cambridge, many customers jumped in to comment on their anniversary post. My mom loved the service and extra touches that you provide your customers even during the pandemic when we couldnt come in, one customer wrote; This is amazing! Thank you for sharing! I discovered your shop during the pandemic and Im so glad I did! another person added. Their blog Celebrating one Year of Phidons Online Store, written on April 2, recounts how leaning into the digital world expanded their horizons. March 16, 2020, is etched into my mind. I was so overwhelmed by the prospect of closing the store, but we pivoted to an online shop within weeks and its what saved us, wrote Mano Duggal of the endeavour. The Duggals expressed their gratitude toward their loyal staff and client base in the recent Instagram post. This year will be extra especial for the Duggals as their business will celebrate 15 years and their son Arman Duggal will soon embark on his own venture, when he opens his shop Disko Coffee right next door to Phidon Pens. The family shares a love for stationery, reading, and writing, and good chai, through which Disko Coffee plans to stand out. WHERE: 63 Dickson St. WHEN: Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. CLOSED ON SUNDAY CONTACT: 519-624-8787 WEBSITE: https://phidonpens.com/ SOCIAL: https://www.facebook.com/PhidonPens/, https://www.instagram.com/phidonpens/?hl=en Spot a new business or know of a longtime business celebrating an anniversary or closing its doors? Share it with our newsroom at newsroom@cambridgetimes.com and mrosalesgerpe@metroland.com with the subject line: New in Town. SHARE: WATERLOO REGION The Region of Waterloo spent more than $160,000 on legal fees for its injunction application to remove people living unsheltered at 100 Victoria St. N. in Kitchener. The regions legal costs to pursue the injunction application totalled $168,842.27 with HST and associated costs, said Lynsey Slupeiks, the regions manager of corporate communications, on Thursday. Thats more than double the $80,000 the region said it was spending on security, portable toilets and garbage collection for the encampment at its peak. A hearing on the application was held in November, and it was dismissed in January. Justice Michael Valente said in his decision that eviction would violate the charter rights of residents. The region announced Feb. 23 it would not appeal the decision. People have been living unsheltered at the site at Victoria and Weber streets in Kitchener for more than a year. The region sought an injunction that would have allowed Waterloo Regional Police to remove and detain people living at the site. Valentes decision was based in part on the regions inability to prove it had enough space in shelters for all of the more than 400 people living unsheltered in the region. The shelter spaces that do exist are not low-barrier, accessible and appropriate for all the people without homes and do not meet individual needs, the ruling said. The ruling set a precedent in Ontario and got the attention of municipalities across the country. Lawyers for people at 100 Victoria and advocates for people experiencing homelessness hailed the ruling as a victory for everyone living unsheltered. Paige Desmond is a Waterloo Region-based reporter focusing on municipal issues for The Record. Reach her via email: pdesmond@therecord.com SHARE: The growing call for NRC Detecting illegal immigrants | Centres nod needed to introduce or enforce the National Register of Citizens in Manipur-The State Government is ready to enforce NRC but the approval of New Delhi is necessary, is the line maintained by the Chief Minister and while this is understandable and appreciated, one would still want to question, what steps have been taken up to approach New Delhi for this ? This question is important for on the one hand the State Government has been talking of the need to identify illegal immigrants and on the other there have been reports of non-residents of Manipur getting enlisted as voters and even in the PMJAY list. It is following the revelation of some non-residents of Manipur being named in the voters list as well as in the PMJAY list, that Chanam Sandrok under Keirao Assembly Constituency has risen as one to demand that the NRC be implemented to identify and mark out the non-residents. There is merit in this call and that this comes close on the heels of the Government having opened up temporary shelter homes to house refugees who have fled the neighbouring country of Myanmar should tell something significant. There are reasons why terms such as indigenous folks or indigenes and illegal immigrants have gained currency and this could be one reason why the Government at Imphal recently passed an order that no new village with less than a certain number of households would be recognised. The same line may also be read in the blanket ban imposed on transfer of land by way of gift, sale or mortgage from an indigenous person to a non-indigenous individual. In short this means that no land can be transferred to a foreigner and this should say something profound. The story of how the name of the historically important Thangjing Ching was found changed to another name, the claim and counter claims over Mount Koubru, the recent stand off between Konsakhul and Leilon village, the announcement of the Chief Minister that house to house survey would start soon to identify illegal immigrants, all reflect something disturbing. Rather late in the day, but significant to note that the Government has woken up to the pressing need to give some sort of a protection to the land and resources of indigenous folks of the land. The common thread running through the War on Drugs campaign, the drive launched against poppy plantations, the call for NRC, the setting up of the Manipur State Population Commission, the stand off over the base year for the ILP to be effective-1951 versus 1961 cannot be missed and while the Government may be intent on protecting the interests of the indigenous folks, it should also take a long and serious look at the demand raised by the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee, Manipur, the World Meetei Council, Kangleipak Kanba Lup and others to send the recommendations to the Centre to include the Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribe list of the Constitution. The threat posed to the hills and valley of Manipur via illegal immigration is understood but let it also dawn on all concerned, that while the hills are Constitutionally protected, it is the valley which is open to everyone to come and settle. A look at some of the names given to some localities in Imphal should drive home this point, though some may argue what is in a name ? Details added (first published: 13:24) BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. Russia supports the normalization process between Turkiye and Armenia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during the joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, Trend reports. "Russia stands for expanding cooperation between the South Caucasus and the countries neighboring this region. We welcome post-conflict reconstruction in the South Caucasus. A trilateral statement has been reached between the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia. This statement remains the basis for continuing work," Lavrov added. Following over a month of military action to liberate its territories from Armenian occupation from late Sept. to early Nov. 2020, Azerbaijan has pushed Armenia to sign the surrender document. A joint statement on the matter was made by the Azerbaijani president, Armenia's PM, and the president of Russia. A complete ceasefire and a cessation of all hostilities in the zone of the Karabakh conflict were introduced on Nov. 10, 2020. The Waterdown Lions Clubs Easter egg hunt in Waterdown Memorial Park on Good Friday saw more than a thousand children racing to collect chocolate eggs and other prizes. Participants in the egg hunt at the Waterdown Lions Club easter egg hunt at Waterdown Memorial Park. John Rennison/The Hamilton Spectator It was the second year for the Lions Club hosting the event after taking over from a community group. Local businesses donated 180 pounds of chocolate and the prizes for the participants up to 12 years old. Two participants compare their collection at the Waterdown Lions Club easter egg hunt at Waterdown Memorial Park. John Rennison/The Hamilton Spectator Participants race to collect chocolate eggs and toys at the Waterdown Lions Club easter egg hunt at Waterdown Memorial Park. John Rennison/The Hamilton Spectator Participants race to collect chocolate eggs and toys at the Waterdown Lions Club easter egg hunt at Waterdown Memorial Park. John Rennison/The Hamilton Spectator Participants wait for the start of the egg hunt at the Waterdown Lions Club easter egg hunt at Waterdown Memorial Park. John Rennison/The Hamilton Spectator A participant in a bunny costume at the Waterdown Lions Club easter egg hunt at Waterdown Memorial Park. John Rennison/The Hamilton Spectator SHARE: Many people knew Gerry Lawrence. Many had been to his east Hamilton apartment to buy drugs. Some had borrowed money from him. Everyone knew he carried cash from sales in his wallet, suggested defence counsel Ashley Audet. Gerry liked to be flashy with his money, didnt he? the lawyer asked during cross-examination. Witness Brandie Carretta, a close friend of Lawrences, agreed. He might have $1,000 in his wallet at any given time, she testified Wednesday. Gerry Lawrence was found stabbed to death in his third-floor apartment at 555 Queenston Rd. E. around 10 p.m. on Sept. 29, 2019. Of his 14 wounds, seven were stab wounds. The most fatal were to his heart and jugular. He was 76 years old, assistant Crown attorney Mark Dean said in his opening address to a jury of 12 Tuesday. Sandro De Oliveira of Hamilton is charged with second-degree murder. On the witness stand Wednesday, Carretta occasionally struggled to retrieve names and events from memory. She was using drugs at the time of Lawrences death and was high when she testified during pretrial, the court heard Wednesday. She has since moved in with her mother and got clean, she said in court Wednesday. She did remember De Oliveira, and identified him in the courtroom when prompted by the Crown: Can you point him out to the members of they jury? Carretta looked around the room. All the way over there, on the other side of the room, she said, pointing to the accused. De Oliveira, a short, balding man, sat with his lawyers wearing a green sweater, grey polo shirt and khaki pants. He occasionally swivelled his chair back and forth as he listened to proceedings before Justice Toni Skarica. Carretta testified that De Oliveira and his wife, Andrea Dino, sold prescription pills to Lawrence. She and the couple used to live in the same building, the court heard. They were among a small circle of clients and suppliers that fuelled Lawrences opioids business, the Crown said Tuesday. But, he said, they werent friends. You will be presented with evidence that, in the four-month period leading up to his death, Gerry had repeatedly told his close friend, Christine, that he wanted this business relationship with Sandro to end, Dean said Tuesday. Lawrences body was found by friend, Helena Eyles, at around 10 p.m. the day he was killed, Eyles testified Tuesday. He was lying on his back at the foot of his bed in a pool of blood, Dean said in his address. Valuables, such as his wallet and cellphone, were missing, he said. An agreed statement of facts presented Wednesday detailed the forensic investigation at Lawrences apartment. Photos show bloodstains on the floor, door frame, dresser and bathroom sink and door of the unit, several matching Lawrence. No evidence was found linking Sandro to the scene, the Crown said At least two samples were unidentifiable. One came back with Carrettas DNA. The defence asked whether there was anything that might have caused her to bleed while at Lawrences apartment. Oh, probably, yeah, the witness replied. She said she had used in the bathroom, which might cause her arm to bleed. Audet asked if shed be surprised to learn her blood was found in his bathroom. I wouldnt be surprised if it was in the living room, too. And the kitchen, Carretta Carretta testified Lawrence had put her up rent-free for about nine months, up until about six months before he was killed. In exchange, she cleaned, shopped and cared for an ulcer on his foot. After she moved out, she continued to visit him to purchase pills, help him dress the ulcer and take care of his cat. Audet said it was clear Lawrence was quite generous, lending money and taking IOUs for drugs from several in his circle. Carretta herself had been a recipient of his generosity, having lived with him for about nine months and, on several occasions, receiving pills in advance of payment. She was one of several people who owed him money when he was killed, she testified. She also admitted to stealing pills from him on occasion. She said others had stolen from him, too money, bikes, a cellphone. Witnesses in the trial include both close friends and those who had interactions with De Oliveira around Sept. 29, 2019, including the cab driver who picked the accused up from the victims apartment the day of the murder, the Crown said. The first police officer on scene also testified Tuesday. The jury will also review cellphone records and surveillance footage, including from inside the lobby of Lawrences apartment, which the Crown said shows De Oliveira coming and going three times on the afternoon Lawrence was killed. We are going to be presenting you with evidence, piece by piece, through each witness, until you are certain of who killed Gerry Lawrence, the Crown told jurors. The trial, which began April 4, is expected to last several weeks. CORRECTION: The article was updated April 8 to correct the description of De Oliveira in the courtroom. SHARE: An Indian national who died with his family last week when a boat capsized in the St. Lawrence River during an attempt to enter the United States was mortally afraid of water, says his cousin. Pravinbhai Chaudhari, 49, was found in a marshy area in Akwesasne, Que., with his wife Dakshaben, 45, their 23-year-old daughter, Vidhi and their 20-year-old son, Meet. A couple of Romanian descent and their two Canadian-born children, aged one and two, also died during the failed March 29 crossing. He would never sit in a boat, Jasubhai Chaudhari said of his cousin. I dont understand. How did he sit in that boat? He was very afraid of the water. Chaudhari said in a phone interview that he and other family and friends held special evening prayers on Thursday at his home in Gujarat for his deceased cousins. He said he wont be able to come to Canada to perform last rites for the family and hopes the Gujarati community in the area will undertake the ritual. A search of waterways for a missing Akwesasne man linked to the eight migrants was suspended Thursday. The Akwesasne Mohawk Police said in a news release they believe they have exhausted their search efforts around the community 130 kilometres southwest of Montreal. Casey Oakes, 30, was last seen on the night of March 29 operating a boat that was found next to the bodies of the two migrant families. Police have said the families were trying to cross illegally into the United States through the Mohawk territory, which straddles provincial and international boundaries and includes parts of Quebec, Ontario and New York state. Halfway across the world in India, Chaudhari said relatives are in shock. He last spoke with his cousin two to three weeks ago when the family was in Toronto, he said. He was very happy in Toronto, Chaudhari said. He would send us photos and videos from Toronto that wed see. He described his cousins as well-travelled, having visited London and Thailand a few years ago. Pravinbhai Chaudhari was a farmer who owned about 1.2 hectares of land on which he mostly grew cotton and castor bean. He also owned a transportation business that he shut down about six months ago, his cousin said. But his cousin didnt share their plans, if they had any, of going to the United States, Chaudhari said. All he told me was that he was going to visit Canada, he said. We dont know if that family went in that boat to cross to the U.S. or just for a ride. We have absolutely no idea. He never told us that he was going to America. He said he was especially heartbroken about his niece, Vidhi Chaudhari, who he said had recently graduated with a masters degree in business management and had high-paying job offers in India. She had no need of going to any other country for a good life, he said. Vidhi had so many dreams. She had her whole life ahead of her. She was so smart. He recalled a family trip from about five years ago to the temple city of Dwarka on the western shores of Gujarat. Praveen refused to get into a boat then, saying I am very scared of the water. To think he got into that boat, Chaudhari said, his voice trailing. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 7, 2023. SHARE: WINNIPEG - The death of an Indigenous woman whose body was found in a landfill was not a homicide, Winnipeg police said Thursday after retracing Linda Beardys final hours. Beardy, 33, was seen leaving a store and climbing into a garbage bin, alone, hours before her body was discovered, police Chief Danny Smyth said. There was some activity observed within the bin and after a short period of time, there was no further activity observed, Smyth said. About three hours later, a truck picked up and emptied the bin, and carried the contents to the Brady landfill, where Beardys body was soon found, he added. The autopsy is ongoing, including toxicology tests, but the medical examiner reported no signs of injuries other than those consistent with being moved around by a truck. There were no other injuries that suggest any kind of foul play, Smyth said. Were satisfied that this is not a homicide. Nothing unusual happened in the store and police said they do not know why Beardy went into the bin. They are hoping for more information from the public as the investigation continues. The discovery of Beardys body raised suspicion after the remains of Rebecca Contois were found in the same landfill in June. Police had said that the killings of Contois and other women also believed to have ended up in landfills were not linked to Beardys death. The remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran are believed to be in the privately run Prairie Green landfill north of Winnipeg, police have said, but their bodies have not been found. Jeremy Skibicki has been charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Contois, Harris and Myran all First Nations women as well as an unidentified woman Indigenous leaders have named Mashkode Bizhikiikwe, or Buffalo Woman. Police have also not located her remains. An Indigenous-led committee is in the process of putting together a feasibility study to search the Prairie Green landfill, which is expected to be completed in the next four to six weeks. Beardys family said they are devastated and heartbroken as they try to comprehend what happened. In a statement issued Thursday evening, the family said they were saddened and disappointed by the police decision. We do not feel that they treated us respectfully and we felt intimidated, the statement reads. We also believe that they have not been transparent in the dissemination of information. As a result our trust has been eroded and we feel this impacts the investigation. Calling Winnipeg police dismissive, the family said there are many unanswered questions surrounding exactly what happened to Beardy, and they are concerned police may not be compelled to complete a thorough investigation into her death. We call on Canada to immediately appoint an independent investigator to thoroughly investigate the untimely death of our sister under suspicious circumstances. They described Beardy as someone who fiercely supported her four older sisters, their children and her own four children, who were her pride and joy. Beardy was a mother and a member of Lake St. Martin First Nation but grew up in Winnipeg and was living in the city at the time of her death. The family said Beardy had a strong Christian faith and attended Believers Church in central Winnipeg. Linda was our baby girl, a mommy, our sister, auntie, niece, cousin and friend. She will always be truly deeply loved beyond measure, said a statement. This is who our loved one Linda Beardy is and how she will be remembered in our hearts. First Nation leaders and community members have called for the Brady Road landfill to be shut down permanently. Lake St. Martin Chief Christopher Traverse joined in those calls Thursday. We need the governments to consider closing (Brady) and make that landfill a memorial site. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 6, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) China retaliated for the United States House speakers meeting with the Taiwanese president by announcing sanctions Friday against the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and other organizations, adding to strains over the self-governed island democracy Beijing claims as part of its territory. Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy held talks Wednesday with President Tsai Ing-wen at the Reagan library in Simi Valley, California, in defiance of Chinese warnings. McCarthy joined a growing series of foreign legislators who have met Tsai in a show of support for Taiwan in the face of Chinese intimidation. U.S.-Chinese relations have sunk to their lowest level in decades due to disputes over the status of Taiwan, which split with China in 1949 after a civil war, as well as security, technology and Beijings treatment of Hong Kong and Muslim ethnic minorities. The mainlands ruling Communist Party says Taiwan is destined to reunite with China, by force if necessary, and has no right to conduct foreign relations. President Xi Jinpings government says contact with foreign officials will encourage Taiwanese who want formal independence, a step Beijing says would lead to war. Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the Reagan library and the Hudson Institute, a Washington think tank, were sanctioned for providing a platform and convenience to Taiwan separatist activities. It said Chinese institutions were prohibited from having any cooperation or contact with them. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute is proud of its decision to host a bipartisan meeting between Members of the United States House of Representatives, led by Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and Tsai Ing-wen, the President of Taiwan, and her delegation, said a statement Friday by David Trulio, president and CEO of the foundation, which sustains the library. We will not shy away from living up to President Reagans expectation that the library bearing his name be a dynamic intellectual forum, he said. Hudson Institute President John P. Walters said in a statement that Chinas Communist Party has a long history of attempting to silence voices, domestically and abroad, that oppose its international aggression and its oppression of the Chinese people. It has not worked before and it will not work now. We stand firmly with Taiwan and against the CCP and its ruthless, genocidal policies. Tsai accepted a leadership award from the Hudson Institute as part of her U.S. trip and gave a speech about Taiwans challenges in regional security. The ministry also cited Walters; Sarah May Stern, chair of the Hudson Institute board of directors; John Heubusch, former executive director of the Reagan Foundation, and Joanne M. Drake, the foundations chief administrator. The ministry said they were barred from visiting China and any property or financial assets belonging to them in China would be frozen. We will take resolute measures to punish the Taiwan independence separatist forces and their actions, and resolutely safeguard our countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Chinese Cabinets Taiwan Affairs Office said in a statement Thursday. China has stepped up efforts to intimidate Taiwan by flying fighter jets and firing missiles into the sea nearby on a near-daily basis. The pressure campaign has left many concerned about the possibility of an invasion. Tsai remained firm in her stance of increasing Taiwans global engagement upon her return to Taiwan on Friday night. We have shown the international community that when we face pressure and threats, Taiwan will be more united, she said. We will never give in because we are suppressed, nor will we stop communicating with the world because we are hindered. On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that in recent years, we have seen: For the Chinese leadership, the status quo that brought peace and stability to the Taiwan Strait for decades is no longer acceptable. This has led China to increase pressure and coercive means against Taiwan. The United States government has no official relations with Taiwan but maintains extensive informal and commercial ties. Washington is required by federal law to ensure the island has the means to defend itself if attacked by China. We are sticking to our One China policy. But we are equipping Taiwan with what it needs to defend itself against any form of aggression. We are taking that very seriously, Blinken told German newspaper group Funke Mediengruppe and French newspaper Ouest-France in remarks published Friday that have been retranslated back to English. McCarthys predecessor as speaker, Nancy Pelosi, flew to Taiwan in August and met Tsai. Legislators from European parliaments have also visited the island. Meanwhile, another congressional delegation landed Thursday in Taiwan and is to meet with Tsai on Saturday. Additionally, two groups in Asia the Prospect Foundation and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats were sanctioned for their involvement in promoting Taiwan independence under the guise of academic and research exchanges, said Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian. The Prospect Foundation is a government-funded Taiwanese think tank that works on dialogue and cooperation on issues related to Taiwans security, economy and social development. The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats is a regional organization established in Thailand that promotes exchanges among liberal and democratic political parties in Asia, including Taiwans Democratic Progressive Party, which is a member. Separately, the Taiwan Affairs Office also announced further sanctions on Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwans representative in the United States. The ban on Hsiao does not appear to be substantively different from the ban enacted on her when Pelosi visited Taiwan. China had announced sanctions on a list of individuals from the DPP and ruling administration, including Hsiao. Then it banned the individuals, their family members and related organizations from traveling or operating in China, including Hong Kong. Fridays announcement said any financial sponsors of Hsiao are also included. ___ Associated Press writers Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin, Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington, D.C., and Robert Jablon in Los Angeles contributed to this report. SHARE: BEIJING (AP) A Chinese man on Friday was sentenced to nine years in prison for abusing and unlawfully detaining a woman who was shown chained in a viral video that sparked an outcry in China last year. The abuse of the woman, Xiaohuamei, or Little Plum Blossom, raised widespread concerns in China in February last year and at times overshadowed Beijings Winter Olympics online. Her story appeared in Chinese social media despite digital and human censors and prompted commentators to exhort national media to highlight the scandal. After the announcement of the sentencing on Friday, the case became one of the most searched topics on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, with many people complaining that nine years imprisonment for the man was too lenient of a punishment for what he did to her. The court in Xuzhou city that handed down the sentence said in a statement that Dong Zhimin and his late father bought Little Plum Blossom in the late 1990s for 5,000 yuan ($727) and that he had abused her in recent years by chaining her around the neck and tying her body with pieces of cloth and ropes. She suffered from hunger and lived in a place without water or electricity, it said. That was despite him fathering eight children with her. Dong Zhimins abuse has caused serious harm to Little Plum Blossoms health. After examination, Little Plum Blossom was diagnosed with schizophrenia, the statement said. The court also sentenced five others to prison for between eight and 13 years and fined them for trafficking her decades ago. According to an investigation, Little Plum Blossom was first brought to Jiangsu province on Chinas eastern coast from southwestern Yunnan province after she was abducted by two of the five people in early 1998. They sold her to a farmer for 5,000 yuan ($727). After living with the farmer for a while, the woman went missing and was found by a couple in Henan province in central China in June 1998. The couple then sold her to two others for 3,000 yuan ($436) and that pair subsequently sold her for 5,000 yuan ($727) to the Dongs in Feng county in Jiangsu. The wife of the couple was not charged because the impact of her role was considered relatively minor, the court said, but her husband and the pair who sold Little Plum Blossom to Dong were among the five who were charged and sentenced for trafficking her. The official Xinhua news agency quoted Little Plum Blossoms doctor in a report saying she was still being treated in a hospital. But her eldest son told the agency that his mother, who once could not identify him at times, can now recognize him and call him by his name. On Weibo, many people expressed their anger over the case. Only nine years? Nine years for ruining her life? Go to hell really, one user wrote. _____ Associated Press writer Kanis Leung in Hong Kong and researcher Chen Wanqing in Beijing contributed to this report. Read more about: SHARE: BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. The Israeli armed forces struck targets including infrastructures belonging to Hamas in southern Lebanon, the Israeli militarys press service said, Trend reports. "The IDF will not allow the Hamas terrorist organization to operate from within Lebanon & hold the state of Lebanon responsible for every directed fire emanating from its territory," the Israeli Defense Forces said in a statement. ISLAMABAD (AP) Pakistan top intelligence agency arrested a high-value target in an operation against a Baluch insurgent group in the countrys southwest, the army said Friday. The military statement said Gulzar Imam, also known by the name Shambay, is the militant founder and leader of the banned Baluch Nationalist Army. An umbrella group for Blauch insurgents, the BNA was formed after two main insurgent groups merged: The Baluch Republican Army and United Baluch Army. The army said BNA had been involved in dozens of terrorist attacks in the country, including those on security forces. The militarys media wing said that Shambays visits to India and Afghanistan were on record and his suspected links with hostile intelligence agencies are being investigated. The military said the arrest was made possible after a monthslong intelligence effort, but did not provide further details. The gas-rich southwestern Baluchistan province at the border of Afghanistan and Iran has been a scene of low-level insurgency by Baluch nationalists for more than two decades. Baluch nationalists initially wanted a share from the provincial resources, but later they initiated an insurgency for independence. Read more about: SHARE: ROME (AP) Three people were killed at a farm in Northern Italy when their car crashed into a silo, which collapsed and buried the vehicle under an enormous mound of chicken feed, local police and firefighters said Friday. The victims were an 18-year-old and two minors, according to the communications office of the fire department in Forli, a small town near Bologna. It was unclear how fast the car was going when it crashed. The Forli police department could not immediately provide information on the victims ages and nationalities. Italian media reported they were North African. Forli is in the region of Emilia-Romagna, which borders the Adriatic Sea. The farm where the crash took place, called Casagrande, breeds more than two million chickens per year and produces eggs, fruit, cereals, according to the farms website. SHARE: BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) Farmers in Romania and Bulgaria staged protests Friday to express their anger over the European Unions response to a glut of agricultural products from Ukraine that they say are flooding local markets and undercutting prices. About 100 farmers converged in Romanias capital, Bucharest, while hundreds more protested across the country in long convoys of tractors. In neighboring Bulgaria, grain producers blocked some border crossings with farm vehicles. Some farmers outside the European Commissions representative office in Bucharest brandished placards that read: Do not punish our solidarity, while others urged bloc officials to take responsibility, take action, take care. Last year, the EU waived customs duties and import quotas on Ukrainian agricultural products as a way of facilitating transport to third-country markets. Ukraine is one of the biggest producers in the world of grain and sunflower oil, but its exports were restricted by Russias blockade of its Black Sea ports, threatening global food security. Russia has warned it may pull out of a deal which has unblocked the ports since last July. However, farmers in Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, and other EU countries have been disproportionately hard-hit by an influx of cheap Ukrainian produce namely grain which stays on local markets and undercuts prices. Polish farmers have also held protests in recent weeks. Polands agriculture minister, Henryk Kowalczyk, resigned on Wednesday after he became the focus of farmers anger. Liliana Piron, executive director of the League of Romanian Agriculture Producers Associations, said at the Bucharest protest that Romanian farmers have reached a point where they feel they can no longer face the costs of the unfair competition from Ukraine. We are less than three months away from the new harvest and the danger is real, that the goods we will have ready this season will not be able to be sold at prices above production costs, she said. We will witness a chain of bankruptcies of Romanian farmers. Brussels last month had pledged to help grain and cereal farmers in Romania, Bulgaria, and Poland with a total compensation package of 56.3 million euros ($61 million) 16.7 million for Bulgaria; nearly 30 million for Poland, and 10 million for Romania. Farmers and national governments said the money wasnt enough. If todays protest is not heard in Brussels, we will consider larger actions with the participation of other countries that share the same view, said Iliya Prodanov, head of the grain producers association in Bulgaria. He added that there are currently 3.5 million tons of Bulgarian wheat and 1 million tons of Bulgarian sunflowers stored in local warehouses. Marian Popa, a Romanian farmer from southern Teleorman County who attended the protest in the capital, estimates he has so far lost about 500,000 euros ($545,000). I still have 1,000 tons of sunflower seeds but the price has gone down and its still going down, he said. ___ Stephen McGrath reported from Sighisoara, Romania; Veselin Toshkov reported from Sofia, Bulgaria. SHARE: KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Russian forces used ground- and air-fired missiles, rocket launchers and weaponized drones to bombard the provinces of Ukraine it has illegally annexed but doesnt fully control, causing casualties, building damage and power outages Friday. The Ukrainian military said Russian forces launched 18 airstrikes, five missile strikes and 53 attacks from multiple rocket launchers between Thursday and Friday mornings. According to the General Staff statement, Russia was concentrating the bulk of its offensive operations in Ukraines industrial east, focusing on the cities and towns of Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka in Donetsk province. Most of Fridays battlefield reports concerned the four Ukrainian provinces Russia annexed in September: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his military to gain complete control of the provinces, while Ukraine has indicated it will soon launch a counteroffensive to take back more territory. Russia also annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014, a move that most of the world also regarded as illegal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vowed to regain all Russian-occupied areas. Looking ahead to how the war might end, Ukraines defense minister, Oleksii Reznikov, told Cypriot state broadcaster CyBC ahead of talks with his Cypriot counterpart on Friday that his country would negotiate peace with Russia only after its occupied territory is liberated. He said Zelenskyy has made clear he would negotiate only with Putins successor to ensure peaceful coexistence. Regarding armament procurement, Reznikov said Ukraines top priority is for antiaircraft systems, followed by artillery ammunition, infantry vehicles, tanks and electronic warfare equipment, including drones and anti-drone technology. In the latest fighting, the Ukrainian military said it downed a Russian Su-25 ground attack jet near Marinka. A video showed a big explosion as the plane slammed into the ground, with its pilot descending on a parachute. The Russian military, in keeping with its general silence on losses, didnt confirm the warplanes downing. British military officials said in their latest daily analysis that Russian forces have likely advanced into the center of Bakhmut and captured the western bank of the Bakhmutka River. Russias eight-month campaign to take Bakhmut and Ukraines determination to defend the city have produced the longest and potentially bloodiest battle of the war that Putin started on Feb. 24, 2022. The U.K. Defense Ministry said Russias progress, which had largely stalled since the end of March, had regained momentum. According to British intelligence, Ukraines key supply route to the west of Bakhmut was under threat, with Russia using artillery more effectively and benefiting from reinforcements by regular forces that likely include airborne troops. British military officials noted also that regular military commanders and those from the Wagner Group, a private Russian military company that has sent its soldiers to fight in multiple African countries, had probably improved cooperation and put on hold their feud. The Wagner Group, which has appeared to take the lead in the Bakhmut fighting, has frequently complained about the regular Russian militarys strategy as well as its failure to provide sufficient ammunition and other support. The Wagner Groups owner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said Ukrainians continued to put up fierce resistance in Bakhmut. The enemy is not going anywhere, Prigozhin wrote in a Telegram messaging app post Thursday. They organized defense inside the city, first by rail, then in the area of high-rise buildings in the western quarter of the city. Also in Donetsk province, Russia launched a missile attack on the city of Sloviansk, destroying residential buildings, while one civilian was wounded during fighting in Bakhmut. Donetsk regional Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said Friday morning that 15 cities and villages on the front line were shelled in the region. The Moscow-installed mayor of Donetsk city, Aleksei Kulemzin, said Ukrainian shelling killed one person and wounded six. Russias Defense Ministry reported inflicting dozens of casualties on Ukrainian forces and destroying drones and other Ukrainian weapons and combat vehicles in several battlefront hot spots in the annexed provinces. Each side tends to report only the losses it inflicts on its enemy, and their claims are generally impossible to verify independently. In southern Ukraines partially occupied Kherson province, seven people were wounded in 24 hours, regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said Friday. Writing on Telegram, Prokudin said that Russia had carried out 46 attacks on the province, including seven attacks on the regional capital, also called Kherson, with heavy artillery and aircraft fire. A 10-year-old girl, a 3-year-old boy and 30-year-old woman were wounded Friday in Russian shelling of the village of Stanislav in the province, the head of Ukraines presidential office Andriy Yermak, reported. Earlier, debris from Russian ammunition killed a 36-year-old resident of Beryslav, another city in Kherson province. Residential areas of Kherson city were shelled seven times, damaging energy facilities and residential buildings. A drone attack on the village of Zmiyivka wounded six people. Shells hit Nikopol and Marhanets across the Dnieper River from the occupied and shut-down Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraines eastern Dnipropetrovsk province, damaging power lines. Further north, shelling in the Novhorod-Siverskyi district of the Chernihiv region left four towns and villages without electricity, authorities reported. Mortar fire damaged residential buildings in the town of Vovchansk in Kharkiv province, near the border with Russia. A 39-year-old man was killed in Russian shelling in the border village of Borysivka, Kharkiv Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said. At a mosque on the outskirts of Kyiv, Zelenskyy met Ukrainian Muslim soldiers on Friday to celebrate Iftar, the evening meal marking the end of the Ramadan fast, and to underscore that Kyiv wont give up on Crimea, a historic homeland of the Crimean Tatars, a Muslim ethnic minority. He noted that Russia began its campaign against Ukraine with the 2014 annexation of Crimea, and vowed: Where the path of evil began, victory awaits us there, I am sure. Victory over this evil. The liberation of Crimea has no alternative. Crimean Tatars were deported en masse from their historic homeland of Crimea to Central Asia by the Soviets 70 years ago. They began returning to Crimea in the 1980s. ___ Associated Press reporters Hanna Arhirova, Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia and Menelaos Hadjicostis in Nicosia, Cyprus, contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine-war Read more about: SHARE: BAGHDAD (AP) An explosion struck next to the Suleimaniyah International Airport in northern Iraqs semi-autonomous Kurdish region Friday, local officials said. The blast came days after Turkey closed its airspace to flights to and from the airport, citing an alleged increase in Kurdish militant activity threatening flight safety. Turkey has spent years fighting Kurdish militants in its east. Large Kurdish communities also live in neighboring Iraq and Syria where they have a degree of self-rule. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based opposition war monitor, and some local media reported that the explosion was a Turkish drone attack on Mazloum Abdi, the leader of the Syrian Democratic Forces, the main U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led force in Syria. Officials with the SDF and the Kurdish regional government in northeast Syria denied that Abdi was in Suleimaniyah at the time or had been the target of an attack. Fethullah al-Husseini, a representative of the Kurdish self-rule administration in northeast Syria, said Abdi was carrying on his work and is in northeast Syria. The airports security directorate said in a statement that an explosion took place near the fence surrounding the airport at 4:18 p.m. local time, causing a fire but no injuries. It said the cause of the blast was under investigation and the airport was operating normally. Lawk Ghafuri, head of foreign media affairs for the Kurdish regional government in Iraq, said investigations were still underway and that he was unable to confirm whether the explosion had been a drone attack. However, a statement from the Iraqi Kurdish regional government appeared to blame local authorities in Suleimaniyah, which it accused of provoking an attack on the airport and using government institutions for illegal activities. The regional government, with its seat in Irbil, is primarily controlled by the Kurdish Democratic Party, while Suleimaniyah is a stronghold of the rival Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. Qubad Talabani, deputy prime minister of the regional government and a member of the PUK, rejected the regional government statement that appeared to cast blame on his party. He said the statement represents only one party ... and cannot speak for the entire government. Two Kurdish officials in Irbil, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the incident with reporters, said that the explosion was caused by a drone attack. One of them said the attack had targeted Abdi. A representative of the Turkish defense ministry said he had no information about the incident. Turkeys foreign ministry announced Wednesday that Turkish airspace was closed to flights taking off from and landing at the Suleimaniyah airport. Turkish officials said the closure was a response to an alleged increase in the activities of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, in the city of Suleimaniyah, including its infiltration of the airport. The decision came weeks after two helicopters crashed in northern Iraq, killing Kurdish militants who were on board. The incident fueled claims that the PKK was in possession of helicopters, infuriating Turkish authorities. The SDF later said it lost nine fighters, including a commander, in the crash, which occurred during bad weather on a flight to Suleimaniyah. The nine included elite fighters who were in Iraq as part of an exchange of expertise in the fight against the Islamic State group, the SDF said. Officials from the Kurdish Democratic Party, which has maintained largely good relations with Turkey, alleged after the crash that the helicopters had been originally purchased by the rival Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and that they had been flying without permission from the regional government. The Kurdish regional government was forced last month to stop exporting nearly half a million barrels of oil through via a pipeline to Turkey. That followed a decision by the International Chamber of Commerce siding with the central Iraqi government in Baghdad in a long-standing dispute over the independent export of oil by the Kurdish region. Last week Baghdad and Irbil reached a deal to resume the oil exports. ___ Associated Press writers Hogir Abdo in Qamishli, Syria, Suzan Fraser in Istanbul and Abby Sewell in Beirut contributed to this report. Abdul-Zahra reported from Boston. SHARE: OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles to Atlanta resumed its flight Friday after being diverted to Oklahoma City a day earlier. The airline said in a statement that the flight was diverted out of an abundance of caution due to an onboard medical issue. Passengers told KOCO-TV that at least three flight attendants began feeling sick during the flight Thursday. They told us they were having trouble breathing and that there was something about them being nauseous in heat, passenger Emmy Kelly said. They didnt give us a ton of information. The head stewardess was actually having trouble breathing at some point, another passenger, Greg Everett, said. She was seated and using the oxygen mask. Emergency Medical Services Authority spokesperson Adam Paluka said three people were transported by ambulance from the airport to a hospital. Their conditions were not released. The Boeing 757 aircraft landed at Will Rogers World Airport shortly before 6 p.m., according to the flight tracking website FlightAware. Delta said in the statement that the flight resumed shortly before noon Friday. SHARE: KYIV, UkraineRussian forces used ground- and air-fired missiles, rocket launchers and weaponized drones to bombard the provinces of Ukraine it has illegally annexed but doesn't fully control, causing casualties, building damage and power outages Friday. The Ukrainian military said Russian forces launched 18 airstrikes, five missile strikes and 53 attacks from multiple rocket launchers between Thursday and Friday mornings. According to the General Staff statement, Russia was concentrating the bulk of its offensive operations in Ukraines industrial east, focusing on the cities and towns of Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka in Donetsk province. Most of Friday's battlefield reports concerned the four Ukrainian provinces Russia annexed in September: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his military to gain complete control of the provinces, while Ukraine has indicated it will soon launch a counteroffensive to take back more territory. Russia also annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014, a move that most of the world also regarded as illegal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vowed to regain all Russian-occupied areas. In the latest fighting, the Ukrainian military said it downed a Russian Su-25 ground attack jet near Marinka. A video showed a big explosion as the plane slammed into the ground, with its pilot descending on a parachute. The Russian military, in keeping with its general silence on losses, didnt confirm the warplane's downing. British military officials said in their latest daily analysis that Russian forces have likely advanced into the center of Bakhmut and captured the western bank of the Bakhmutka River. Russia's eight-month campaign to take Bakhmut and Ukraine's determination to defend the city have produced the longest and potentially bloodiest battle of the war that Putin started on Feb. 24, 2022. The U.K. Defense Ministry said Russias progress, which had largely stalled since the end of March, had regained momentum. According to British intelligence, Ukraines key supply route to the west of Bakhmut was under threat, with Russia using artillery more effectively and benefiting from reinforcements by regular forces that likely include airborne troops. British military officials noted also that regular military commanders and those from the Wagner Group, a private Russian military company that has sent its soldiers to fight in multiple African countries, had probably improved cooperation and put on hold their feud. The Wagner Group, which has appeared to take the lead in the Bakhmut fighting, has frequently complained about the regular Russian military's strategy as well as its failure to provide sufficient ammunition and other support. Also in Donetsk province, Russia launched a missile attack on the city of Sloviansk, destroying residential buildings, while one civilian was wounded during fighting in Bakhmut. Donetsk regional Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said Friday morning that 15 cities and villages on the front line were shelled in the region. The Moscow-installed mayor of Donetsk city, Aleksei Kulemzin, said Ukrainian shelling killed one person and wounded six. Each side tends to report only the losses it inflicts on its enemy, and their claims are generally impossible to verify independently. In the partially occupied southern Kherson province, seven people were wounded over the previous 24 hours, regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said Friday. Writing on Telegram, Prokudin said that Russia had carried out 46 attacks on the province, including seven attacks on the regional capital, also called Kherson, with heavy artillery and aircraft fire. A 10-year-old girl, a three-year-old boy and 30-year-old woman were wounded Friday in Russian shelling of the village of Stanislav in the Kherson region, the head of Ukraines presidential office Andriy Yermak, reported. Earlier, debris from Russian ammunition killed a 36-year-old resident of the city of Beryslav in Kherson province. Residential areas of the city of Kherson were shelled seven times, damaging energy facilities and residential buildings. A drone attack on the village of Zmiyivka wounded six people. Shells hit Nikopol and Marhanets across the Dnieper River from the occupied and shut-down Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraines eastern Dnipropetrovsk province, damaging power lines. Further north, shelling in the Novhorod-Siverskyi district of the Chernihiv region left four towns and villages without electricity, authorities reported. Mortar fire damaged residential buildings in the town of Vovchansk in Kharkiv province, near the border with Russia. A 39-year-old man was killed in Russian shelling in the border village of Borysivka, Kharkiv Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said. Yuras Karmanau contributed to this report from Tallinn, Estonia. Read more about: SHARE: Assertions about Donald Trumps historic arraignment in a New York City courtroom Tuesday struck me as an overstatement, and thats an understatement. Ancient precedents shattered, a former president arrested a divided nation looking on (Globe and Mail). You know what would be historic? When something occurring in the U.S. isnt instantly declared historic. Americans have an irresistible impulse to dramatize. They watch politics the way they watch Succession: everything is telegraphed yet you manage to feel surprised. In fact, lots of U.S. politicians have been criminals. Wikipedia lists over 130 who were convicted, including many for Watergate. President Richard Nixon wasnt, but thats because he was pardoned in advance by his successor. Lots of other countries have sent presidents to jail, like Brazils Lula or Frances Sarkozy. Instead of calling this a first, you could say the U.S. is part of a long line of nations that have charged and then jailed their leaders. Its no big milestone. And what makes history itself a big deal? Harold Innis, a great Canadian historian, said history in the modern sense is only about 400 years old. He meant as a record of dates, elections, wars etc., i.e. since the rise of print. Before that, you couldnt keep track of such facts and factoids. Since then, theyve piled up, while what counts as historic has grown ever more trivial. If theres anything truly historic today, it isnt the appearance of an orange buffoon in a New York courtroom, its the potential of species extinction. You want historic? Go for that. Anyway, as I was waxing derisive, watching Trumps sad little motorcade approach its destination, I suddenly felt nostalgic! Why? Because I realized with a jolt that I, too, had been driven under arrest to that very building, processed, then arraigned like many, many thousands, as Van Jones said on CNN albeit in 1970, for protesting the war in Vietnam with students nationwide. It hit me when they flashed the address, 100 Centre St., onscreen. Maybe it was the Canadian spelling that stuck with me. I spent hours being processed, then waiting tediously, jammed in a holding cell, a taciturn cop on a chair glancing up at about 20 of us through the bars, then taken directly into an august, wood-panelled courtroom that was back-to-back with the grotty cell as if youd entered a reverse world, very Alice-y. U.S. TV puzzled a lot about the disgruntled look on Trumps face in the courtroom but I felt empathetic. For one thing, as a criminal defendant, both those defending you and the prosecutors plus the judge, tend to ignore you and interact with each other. Youre on mute. One of the few faculty whod backed us but declined to be arrested, showed up sheepishly with thousands of dollars in cash for bail but it wasnt needed. I didnt know the address then (we came by paddy wagon) but I needed it months later to take the subway to the trial. Trump was a figure even then in New York, though basically of derision and scorn. Cartoonist Garry Trudeau (no relation) mocked him endlessly in his Doonesbury strip. It was an upbeat time for us on the left; it never occurred to me that hed have staying power. I thought in mere years, maybe less, thered be no more Trump, nor beauty contests and capitalists for that matter. There was even a photo on the front page of the New York Post, a liberal tabloid then, of our incarcerated little gang being shoved into the paddy wagon in front of the New School on Fifth Avenue, headed for 100 Centre, with me raising my fist, like Trumps tentative fisticle on Tuesday. We saw it on the way back from our arraignment as we passed a cluttered news stand (talk about nostalgia) and my friend Salomon, who became esteemed left economist in Colombia, said, Hey look! There we were, with our own place in history, just like The Donalds. Rick Salutin is a freelance contributing columnist for the Star. He is based in Toronto. Reach him via email: salutinrick@gmail.com Read more about: SHARE: The decision has been made. Barring a miracle, Donald Trump will be the Republican contender in next years U.S. presidential race. He is well-positioned to win the presidency itself. This is the upshot of a wild week in American politics centred on a Manhattan court case that saw Trump charged with more than 30 felonies related to his behaviour in previous presidential contests. Whether Trump is found innocent or guilty on these charges is largely irrelevant. Whats important is the perception among Republicans that the eastern elites are ganging up on their guy. Specifically, Trump is accused of using his money to buy up stories the financier-turned-politician might find embarrassing. He is said to have paid off the doorman of his swanky Fifth Avenue apartment to keep him sweet as well as a Playboy model named Karen McDougall and famously porn star Stormy Daniels. None of this is particularly damning. Indeed, some Manhattanites might sympathize with a man betrayed by his own doorman. Its certainly not enough to make Trump loyalists break with him. In fact, it reinforces their regard for him. Polling suggests that the Manhattan allegations have served to make Trump even more popular with his base. This makes sense. Americans are notoriously forgiving of their leaders foibles. Former president Ulysses S. Grant remained popular in spite of his having been arrested in 1872 for driving a two-horse carriage over the speed limit. In short, the Manhattan prosecutors decision to charge Trump has ended up benefitting him. His reputation as a populist has been reinforced. His base has been mobilized to support him. Even those who are challenging him for the Republican presidential nomination must support him in this or risk alienating rank and file Republicans. Thats why he has the nomination sewn up. There is no effective way to attack Trump from inside the GOP. He can only be attacked from outside. Yet in the Republican universe of 2023, there is no room for outsiders. Those Republicans willing to take on Trump are on a fools errand. There is no way they can beat him. The only practical option for Nikki Haley, say, is to swear fealty and support Trumps candidacy. This was obvious before charges were laid against Trump. It is even more obvious today. So get ready for more Trump. He is on the move. He is a real contender for the presidency. This prediction will not be universally popular. A Trump presidency will not be welcomed in Europe. It certainly wont be welcomed in Ukraine. Trump and his supporters are openly hostile toward that country. Trump is not interested in spending money on a war he doesnt support. He remains a fan of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He doesnt treat China as inherently evil. And he is not much interested in Canada. Unlike current U.S. president Joe Biden, Trump shows little interest in reviving the Cold War. He is interested in Donald Trump. This weeks court case confirms that. Read more about: SHARE: The field is crowded and the big ideas are starting to flow. Welcome to the beginning of Torontos mayoral by-election the consequence of Mayor John Torys shocking resignation in February. The race to the June 26 vote for mayor formally kicked off this week at city hall. By Thursday afternoon, 34 candidates had already signed up to contend for the citys top job. Some had their young kids in tow as they arrived to register. Mayoral candidate Rob Davis, meanwhile, approached the desk on Monday holding something different: an old Dundas St. W. sign. It was a symbol, he said, of Torontos misguided priorities, specifically the citys several-million-dollar plan to rename Dundas street. Some mocked Davis sign stunt as over the top. But regardless of ones stance on the renaming issue, it drew attention. Candidates will have to be memorable in this campaign if they are going to stand out in a crowded byelection field. During the last municipal election, held just last October, many residents struggled to name a candidate who was not Tory. This time around it seems as though everyone but Tory is on the ticket. Those vying for mayor include former city councillors Ana Bailao and Giorgio Mammoliti, current councillors Josh Matlow and Brad Bradford, Liberal MPP Mitzie Hunter, former police chief Mark Saunders, and urbanist Gil Penalosa among others. Former NDP MP Olivia Chow is rumoured to be contemplating a run as well. Needless to say thats a lot of names for voters to remember. The challenge for candidates will be in differentiating themselves from the rest of the pack. So far, it appears, the theme of the election is safety on Torontos transit system and concerns over random acts of violence, including the slaying of a teenage boy at Keele station. Several candidates have announced their intentions to improve transit safety. Bradford launched a plan that includes installing platform edge doors on the subway, bringing cell reception to every station, beefing up security, and forming a new agency of crisis outreach workers. He is also keen to fight gridlock in Toronto by appointing a congestion relief commissioner. Matlow, meanwhile, has announced a $115 million Community Health and Safety Fund to address the root causes of violent crime a fund to be financed by what he calls stabilizing the police budget for three years. For too long, weve expected police to do too much, Matlow said in a statement. They arent social workers, youth counsellors or public health nurses. Lets allow them to focus on solving crimes while properly resourcing community experts who can prevent violent incidents before they happen. Hunter has also launched a transit plan that involves pairing social workers with transit officers, installing glass sliding doors on subway platforms, and establishing a city-wide network of community ambassadors to conduct safety audits of their local transit stations. Bailao is running to fix services and build more housing. Shes offered an alternate plan to Premier Doug Fords controversial spa venture for Ontario Place: a proposal to move the Ontario Science Centre to Ontario Place so that the lands remains public. She would also approve the building of 5,000 new homes, among them 1,500 affordable homes, on the city-owned lands where the science centres current location. Matlow, on the other hand, has his own ideas for Ontario Place. The city councillor announced plans to withhold the city owned land there that the Ford government would need to go ahead with the controversial spa project. As mayor, he would instead use the site for a revitalized public park. Former police chief Mark Saunders is determined to make Toronto safer and cleaner. Adding bike lanes to busy streets should not be a major priority for Torontos next mayor, Saunders argues. In the end, the next mayor will have to pay for their bold ideas a daunting undertaking in a city facing a nearly $1 billion budget shortfall on the heels of a pandemic. In addition to laying out their platforms in these coming weeks, the candidates will need to explain exactly how they intend to tackle the financial hole in the municipal budget. That includes their strategy for getting senior governments to negotiate a new fiscal framework to support cities. Yet even the soundest fiscal proposal ceases to matter if residents dont vote for it. Ultimately, we hope a crowded by-election with no clear shoe-in, inspires Torontonians to show up at the polls. In 2022, voter turnout in the city was abysmal at just below thirty percent. Torys resignation has given us an opportunity to choose a new path for the city. The only way to make that choice is to cast a vote. Read more about: SHARE: BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. Israel Defense Forces struck military posts belonging to the Hamas in Gaza Strip, Trend reports citing the press service of IDF. "This morning (Friday), following the continuation of rocket fire from the Gaza Strip toward Israel, IDF tanks and aircraft struck Hamas terrorist organization military posts along the border with the Gaza Strip," the Israeli Defense Forces said in a statement. When I first looked at the photograph it hit me like a wallop. The picture, shot last month on Bay St. by Star photographer Steve Russell and taken while a major snowstorm was blanketing the city, shows an unidentifiable man lying in and covered by slush on the sidewalk. Its not uncommon to walk downtown and see homeless people on the ground. But this photo is heart rending, stark, disturbing. To me, as public editor, the photo also speaks volumes at a time when homelessness has risen to the fore tied to heightened concerns about public safety on transit, a woeful lack of affordable housing, mental health and drug use problems clearly visible on city streets, and encampments in parks. The city is in a crisis and the picture seems to demand solutions to these pressing matters. Fixes from governments, businesses, somewhere. Sometimes you have to look at a shocking image for things to move forward. You have to deal with the problem head on, Russell said. In addition, I find the back story here the photo was slated to be published for the first time over a week ago, but was held at the last minute at night after a Star editor raised concerns about its suitability for this newspaper provides useful insights into some of the difficult choices we face at the Star when it comes to depicting homelessness. My column this week looks into the decisions made surrounding this picture. And were showing the photo to you, our readers. Russell was on an evening shift March 3, looking for what we commonly refer to as a weather shot a photo depicting the storm. After walking a fair distance, he came across what he thought was a homeless persons belongings on the west side of Bay St. at King St. W. When the photographer realized it was an individual lying over a vent, it was like a punch to the gut, he told me. I was totally shocked it was a person. The man was completely covered under the sleeping bag, including his head. He had a coat and mitts on. Russell tried to engage the man: Are you OK? Do you want someone from a shelter to pick you up? I can call a shelter. A reply came. Words to the effect of No, Im fine. Leave me alone. Russell took some pictures because he was so moved by the mans circumstances and thought it was a photo Star readers needed to see. I thought it was an important picture, Russell told me. The Star has no policy for photographers when it comes to taking pictures of homeless people on the street, but they try when possible not to identify them. Its about being respectful. Russell said he didnt feel he needed to ask permission from the man to take this picture, because theres no way anyone would look at this photo and say this is Bob or Shirley, or anyone identifiable. A few weeks later, the Stars opinion page editor Scott Colby was searching for a photograph to illustrate an op-ed about Premier Doug Fords new health care plan, which, the authors of the piece argued, negatively impacts the disadvantaged, including the homeless. Colby came across Russells powerful and tragically beautiful photo and decided to go with it. But that evening, close to deadline, Andrea Macdonald, a Star print production editor, balked. Years ago she was responsible for choosing a photograph, a similar weather shot that showed two homeless men on the ground at spring time, one whose face was half visible. The photo ran in the Star but was later pulled online after a reader complained to one of my predecessors, public editor Kathy English, that the picture was undignified and showed two people on the ground, clearly not having been able to give consent for photography. For Macdonald the issues at play in her decision last week to flag Russells photo as problematic, pertained to the question of whether someone could identify the person in the snow, but also was the Star exploiting this individual? Was it a type of tragedy porn? she told me she thought at the time. There is a fine line. Im not sure where the line is, but I wanted to be sensitive to a vulnerable person and I thought it best to err on the side of caution, she said. Colby said he has used similar photos to Russells in the past to illustrate articles when he thought it was appropriate and not gratuitous to do so. Bruce Campion-Smith, the head of the Stars editorial board, made the final decision last week to hold the photo because he wanted more time to better understand the concerns it garnered. He opted for a photo that shows a homeless persons makeshift shelter, but no homeless people are visible. He told me hes troubled that the replacement picture just doesnt have the same impact as Russells. While recognizing the significance of homeless people maintaining their dignity, Campion-Smith said he worries that by not showing photos of unhoused individuals photos done with care to avoid stigmatizing them we risk allowing the crisis to go unseen. A very compelling argument, I would say. Star editor-in-chief Anne Marie Owens said the question of whether to run pictures like these is a judgment call that requires thoughtfulness and sensitivity. She added that Russells photo is a powerful image arresting and profoundly disturbing certainly, but one that hits home the devastating impact of being homeless in Toronto. As public editor my take on the production editor Macdonalds call is she went with an instinct that came from a good place. Her decision was sound. Still, the notion of not running Russells picture also leaves me a bit unsettled. I feel that by holding it back we might be tip toeing around what this mans plight signifies for all of us as Torontonians. Donovan Vincent is the Star's Public Editor and based in Toronto. Reach him by email at publiced@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @donovanvincent SHARE: A Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court on Thursday directed the West Bengal government to have a discussion on the issue of pending dearness arrears with the joint forum of state government employees, which is spearheading the movement in the matter. The Division Bench of acting Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmoy Bhattacharya directed the state government to fix a meeting on this count with a three-member team of the state government employees on 17 April. The Bench also ordered that the meeting should be in the presence of the state chief secretary HK Dwivedi and the states additional chief secretary (finance) Manoj Pant. The Division Bench also observed that all attempts should be made to arrive at a positive outcome at the meeting on 17 April. The state government should take some decision to resolve the complications arising of the dearness allowance payments, Justice Sivagnanam observed. The direction of the Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court comes on a day when the joint forum is observing ceasework in the state government offices in support of their demands. The employees of the different courts in the state, including the Calcutta High Court are also observing ceasework as an expression of solidarity Governor CV Ananda Bose visited different parts of the city on Thursday to take stock of security arrangements taken by the state government in view of Hanuman Jayanti celebrations across the state. He also spoke to common people and shop owners during his visit. The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed the Bengal government to requisition central forces to assist police during Hanuman Jayanti processions in the state particularly at the backdrop of chief ministers fear that incidents of stray violence may happen in some pockets. In a bid to prevent rerun of violence happened in Shibpur and Rishra during Ram Navami processions, last week, Bose kicked off his visit to Bal Hanuman temple in Lake Town first and offered prayers there. He then went to Ekbalpore and spoke to locals amidst tight security arrangements from both central forces and Kolkata Police. With the directives of the HC, central force jawans were seen patrolling in the nearby Mayurbhanj area. Police suspended public transport services in the area during his visit. Bose spoke to the police personnel, jawans and common people and assured the latter saying, I think there wont be any more violence. People are cooperating with the administration to live together peacefully. Communal clashes broke out in the Ekbalpore area in October in 2022. From there, he went to the Posta area. He interacted with locals, including children, owners of small businesses and also with the security personnel deputed in those areas. People are cooperating. I think today will be a very happy day. Bengal will set a trend in peace and harmony in society, he added. Bose also visited the Hanuman Mandir Char Chowk in Posta, and spoke to the priest and devotees there. After enquiring about the prevailing law and order situation from on-duty police officers, he stopped at a roadside stall in Posta and had a glass of sattu sharbet. Interacting with the locals, the governor asked them whether they feel safe. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. Meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has started in Ankara, Trend reports via Turkish media. During the meeting, the ministers are expected to discuss a wide range of issues, including the state and prospects of bilateral cooperation in trade, energy and tourism. Trinamul Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee has asked her party leaders to go to the people and tell them about the Centres conspiracy not to release funds due to West Bengal. Before leaving East Midnapore, Banerjee told leaders like Akhil Giri, Soumen Mahapatra to organize a movement to tell people about the conspiracy of the saffron party to deprive the state financially. As chief minister, Banerjee had written letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to release the funds that are long overdue. She had organized a two-day dharna to protest against the delay in clearing the money meant for houses for rural poor and 100 days work under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme. Trinamul national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, along with 25 MPs met the secretary of rural development ministry, yesterday, urging him to release the funds within 15 days. The Trinamul delegation failed to meet the Union minister for rural development Giriraj Singh as he was not available in office. Trinamul Congress leaders alleged that local BJP leaders had convinced their counterparts in New Delhi that Trinamul would do badly in the ensuing panchayat election if the funds meant for rural development were stopped. Accordingly, the Centre is not releasing the fund. Trinamul has decided to launch a movement up to the block level to tell people about the real picture. From May 2022, Trinamul has been constantly writing to the Union ministers requesting them to release funds. Miss Banerjee during her speech in East Midnapore had said those local BJP leaders who had conspired with the Centre not to release funds had no right to stay in the state. Political experts said the saffron partys scheme to put Trinamul in trouble by not releasing funds would backfire. Trinamul Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee will go to Hooghly to address a public meeting on 20 April. She has decided to visit the districts and tell people how Centres delay in releasing funds had affected states development. The movement will start throughout the state soon to show how the BJP had stalled states development deliberately before the panchayat election. The upcoming film Auron Mein Kaha Dam Tha has locked its cast. Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Saiee M Manjrekar, and Shantanu Maheshwari have signed the dotted line for the film, which will be directed by Neeraj Pandey. This film will be Pandeys first directorial in 5 years after his last Aiyaary. The film is touted to be a musical journey spanning over a period of 20 years, and is set between 2002 and 2023. Sources have shared that the film will be shot extensively in some exotic locations across the globe. The film pairs Saiee M Manjrekar with Shantanu Maheshwari of Gangubai Kathiawadi fame. Saiee was earlier seen opposite Telugu actor Adivi Sesh in the tri-lingual release Major, which was based on the life of Indias national hero Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan who was martyred in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Tabu and Ajay can be seen in the recently released theatrical film Bholaa directed by Ajay himself. The Punjab Police on Friday urged people not to believe rumours and fake news of the surrender of radical preacher and pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh. Responding to a media report on Friday, Punjab Police, in a tweet, said, This is a fake news and factually incorrect. Please fact-check news before sharing. Dont spread rumours and fake news. Waris Punjab De chief, Amritpal, has been on the run since March 18, the day Punjab Police launched a massive manhunt for him. Amid speculations that the radical preacher is likely to surrender at Amritsars Golden Temple, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, Parminder Singh Bhandal said last Saturday that if the fugitive Khalistani leader wants to surrender, they will facilitate the same in accordance with the law. We are continuously working to ensure the safety and security of people in Amritsar. Right now, we are more focused on managing traffic as Baisakhi is around the corner. If Amritpal wants to surrender, we are ready to help him do that in accordance with the law, he said. Earlier, in a video, the fugitive preacher was purportedly heard saying that he was not a fugitive will soon appear in front of the world. In the video, the veracity of which couldnt be ascertained, Amritpal also sought to address some comments about an earlier video. I uploaded a video addressing the people. Many are under the impression that the video was shot in police custody I am seen switching glances while facing the camera and speaking. Anyone who has seen my earlier videos would know that I dont talk much looking at the camera, he said. Amritpal said those who think he ran away or left his friends should get that thing out of your minds. The pro-KhaIistan leader, who has been declared fugitive by Punjab Police, said no one should have any apprehensions that he had run away from his people. Soon I will appear in front of the world. Im not the kind of person who will escape abroad and put out videos, he said. Amritpal is on the run since March 18, the day Punjab Police launched a massive manhunt for him. The crackdown on Waris Punjab De came almost over three weeks after Amritpals supporters stormed Ajnala police station on February 23 demanding the release of one of his close aides, Lovepreet Toofan. Hitting out at the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that democracy is not in danger but it is casteism and dynastic politics that are in danger. Addressing a public gathering in Kaushambi and then in Azamgarh, Shah said, Never in the history of independent India has the budget session ended without one proper discussion. The opposition members didnt let Parliament function, the reason was Rahul Gandhis disqualification as a member. Rahul insulted India abroad. The people of the country see and understand this as well. Once again, the Modi government will cross 300. Union Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Kaushambi Festival 2023 with CM Yogi Adityanath. On this occasion, both the Deputy Chief Ministers of the state, Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, were also present. Later the Union Home Minister Shah laid the foundation of a music college in Azamgarh. In his address in Kaushambi, Amit Shah attacked the opposition and appealed to make Narendra Modi the Prime Minister. We have come here with a resolution to make Modi the Prime Minister again in 2024. The Union Home Minister said that the Supreme Court implemented this law with its judgement. Manmohan Singh wanted to amend it to protect Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rahul stopped him. Surat Court convicted Rahul and he was disqualified. So far, 17 members have been expelled and the same happened with Rahul. For this, Congress MPs wore black attire and stalled Parliament proceedings. Attacking Rahul, he went on to say, Its the duty of all citizens to follow the law, and you were a parliamentarian. You can challenge the conviction and fight it out in court. You have wasted Parliaments time, the country will not forgive you for it, he remarked. Shah said that Congress, the SP, and BSP were putting obstacles in the way of the building of Ram Mandir. Now Lord Ram will sit in the temple of Ayodhya. He asserted that Kashmir is ours and that we have eliminated terrorism there. By abolishing Article 370, we made Kashmir ours forever. While launching the 2024 poll bugle in Poorwanchal from Azamgarh , Shahaddressing the public meeting in Namdarpur, Amit Shah fiercely targeted the opposition. Speaking in Azamgarh, Shah said that SP-BSP have done the work of defaming this city, once famous for music. The BJP government in UP has done the work of bringing back that pride by starting a music college.The Azamgarh which was known as the center of terror in the whole country. Today work has been done to give respect to Harihar Gharana. In his honor, the work of laying the foundation of a music college has been done here,he said. Targeting the opponents, Amit Shah said that SP and BSP had done the work of tarnishing the image of Azamgarh during their tenure. Today Azamgarh has got its respect back under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath. During the tenure of SP and BSP, UP was known for riots. But ever since Yogi Adityanaths government has been formed in UP, he did not allow a single riot to happen. UP has started on the path of development and Azamgarh has become a new identity of development. He said, I have come to Azamgarh many times before. Earlier there was no electricity here at night. But ever since the BJP government came to power, people are getting 24 hours electricity. There is not a single village in UP where electricity has not reached. The BRS has given a call for Maha Dharna on April 8 against the Centres decision to auction the coal mines of Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), on the very day Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in the state capital to address a public rally and lay the foundation stone for a slew of projects. Vehemently opposing the Central governments veiled attempts to privatize SCCL, the BRS working president and Minister KT Rama Rao gave the call for protests. The Centre has issued a notification to auction the mines in Sattupalli Block 3, Shravan Palli, Penagadapa. Rao demanded that the auctioning process, which was scheduled to be conducted from March 29 to May 30, be rolled back. Instead SCCL should be allocated the mines without auctioning. BRS leaders and activists along with Singareni employees will protest against the Centre, in Mancherial, Kothagudem, Ramagundam on April 8, Rao said. He wondered why it was necessary to privatize the SCCL when it is setting records in terms of production, profits and Plant Load Factor (PLF). He alleged that the Centre was conspiring to push the profitable Singareni into losses by not allocating the coal mines. The Centre has already sold many profitable public sector units, he said, adding that the Vizag Steel Plant (VSP) was pushed into losses by not allocating mines to it. He said that Chief Minister and BRS president K Chandrashekar Rao earlier wrote to the Centre stating that the coal mines needed for SCCL should be allocated to it. He recalled that a large number of lignite mines were allocated to Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC) following the nomination method but the Prime Minister, who was generous towards Gujarat, discriminated against progressive Telangana. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi who visited Ramagundam on 11 November last year assured that Singareni would not be privatized. But the PM did not stand by his promise, he rued. Rao said that the attempts to privatize SCCL was actually to prevent the chief minister from providing 24 hours free electricity to farmers. Party workers of the Opposition Congress in Madhya Pradesh burnt effigies of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday demanding his resignation for his alleged derogatory and highly-objectionable statements against state Congress chief Kamal Nath. The MP chief minister had said on Friday morning that Nath had gone mad in his hunger for votes and that he was trying to toss the state into violence and communal riots through his statements. In reaction to the chief ministers remarks, the Congress workers burnt Chouhans effigies near the Congress office in Bhopal and at other places across the state. The Congress leaders also demanded the resignation of the chief minister from his post. Kamal Nath also accused Chouhan of having forgotten his traditions and culture and speaking like a roadside hooligan. He said he was extremely disappointed, as a person of such a mentality like Chouhan was the CM of MP. Yesterday, Chouhan had vehemently castigated Kamal Nath for the latters statement during a roza iftaar function on Wednesday, where Nath had allegedly said, without taking the name of the BJP, that everywhere communal riots are taking place and these people will ruin the country. Chouhan had said on Thursday that Naths statement was highly-condemnable. The MP CM said that Nath had displayed his vicious intentions by saying such a thing. Chouhan alleged that the Congress has always indulged in politics of fear and appeasement. He averred that it has always been the strategy of the Congress to plant feelings of fear in a particular community in order to get votes. Chouhan questioned if any communal unrest or riots were taking place anywhere in Madhya Pradesh. Chouhan also accused Kamal Nath of portraying himself as a Hanuman devotee on the one hand but spreading fears of communal riots in a roza iftaar function on the other. Kamal Nath had attended a roza iftar event in his hometown Chhindwara on Wednesday evening. It was in this function that the MP Congress Chief had allegedly told some people that the country would be ruined and communal riots were taking place all over the country. In a first, Indian Rafale combat aircraft are likely to participate in a multinational wargame codenamed Orion which is being hosted by France involving many of its NATO and other important allies. Indian Air Force Rafale fighter jets are likely to fly to France to participate in Exercise Orion being held at a French air base there. The wargames are planned to be held from the third week of April to May 5, defence officials told ANI. The aircraft likely to take part in the exercise are likely to be from the Western Air Command of the force which has the Golden Arrows squadron as part of it, they said. The exercise is taking place in France with the Russia-Ikroane war in the backdrop where NATO led by US is opposing the Russian moves against Ukraine. The Rafales of the IAF have earlier participated in wargames with foreign countries which took place within India including the ones with French Air Force in Jodhpur codenamed Desert Knight. The French Air Force would be taking part in the wargames with its NATO and other allies with their Rafale and Mirage-2000 fighter aircraft. Orion is reportedly the largest ever multinational exercise being carried out by the French defence forces which have involved their Army, Navy and Air Force along with their allies the US and the UK. Over 7,000 NATO troops have reportedly taken part in the drill involving the land forces of their NATO allies. The Indian Air Force is also going to take part in Exercise Copeindia from April 10 in Kalaikunda, West Bengal. There is the possibility that the schedule of the drills and availability of American F-15 fighter planes may see some changes, sources said. The Rafale aircraft are the latest fighters to have been inducted into the Indian Air Force and are considered to be the most potent in the entire Asian region. The 36 Rafales have been completely inducted and they have played a significant role in improving the countrys operational preparedness along both the borders with Pakistan and China. Alarmed by the resurgence of Covid-19, Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday chaired a meeting of health ministers of all states and Union Territories and advised them to keep all preparedness for Covid management. Continuing the rising trend, Covid cases crossed 6k-mark this morning, the Union Health Ministry data showed. The Centre and states need to continue working in collaborative spirit as was done during the previous surges for Covid-19 prevention and management, the minister said as he chaired the meeting virtually. He urged the State Health Ministers to conduct mock drills of all hospital infrastructure on April 10 and 11, and review the health preparedness with district administrations and health officials on April 8 and 9. Minister Mandaviya also urged the states to identify emerging hotspots by monitoring trends of ILI/SARI cases and sending sufficient samples for testing of Covid-19 and Influenza; and ramping up whole genome sequencing of positive samples. It was observed that 23 states/UTs had average tests per million below the national average. Mandaviya said that irrespective of the new variants, the five-fold strategy of Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate & Adherence to Covid Appropriate Behaviour continues to remain the tested strategy. This would facilitate undertaking of appropriate public health measures, he said. The states/UTs were also requested to expeditiously increase the rate of testing from the current rate of 100 tests per million, as on the week ending April 7. They were further advised to increase the share of RT-PCR in tests. India has been witnessing a steady increase in Covid cases with average daily cases rising to 4,188 in the week ending April 7 from 571 in the week ending March 17; and weekly positivity rate up to 3.02 per cent in the week ending April 7. In a show of strength, Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Friday held a massive roadshow in Karimnagar soon after he was released from jail on conditional bail by a court in Hanamkonda ahead of the Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Hyderabad tomorrow. The BJP is treating Bandi Sanjay Kumars release on bail as a victory for the party. The partys national general secretary Tarun Chugh, who arrived in Karimnagar today, said, A Lok Sabha MP was arrested without warrant or showing him the FIR. He was released by court and this is the victory of the students, youths and all those citizens fighting against the arrogant, corrupt and oppressive government of KCR. Earlier, Bandi Sanjay slammed the BRS Government and the police for falsely implicating him in the case of leak of SSC question paper and announced that he will file a breach of privilege motion in the Lok Sabha against the police commissioners of Warangal and Karimnagar. Ahead of his release, the police had imposed section 144 in the vicinity of the jail as a large number of BJP supporters poured in Karimnagar to welcome him. The BJP MP was released on a conditional bail late yesterday evening after a hearing that stretched to eight hours. The conditions included surety worth Rs 20,000 and he was asked not to interact or influence witnesses or leave the country without permission and also to cooperate with the investigations. Addressing the media after his release, Bandi Sanjay demanded an inquiry into the paper leak by a sitting judge of the high court and alleged that he was falsely charged in order to divert attention and cover up TSPSC paper leak in which he accused KT Rama Rao of his involvement. If you have the guts, investigate the matter by a sitting judge, dared the BJP chief. He demanded that KT Rama Rao should be expelled from the Cabinet and Rs one lakh compensation be paid to job aspirants after the TSPSC exams were cancelled due to the leak. The state BJP chief complained that the police had arrested him illegally without a warrant at a time when his family was grieving over the demise of his mother-in-law. As the prime accused in the question paper leak case, he was charged with conspiracy against the BRS Government after a minor boy took a photograph of Hindi question paper of the SSC exam and forwarded it to the accused number 2 B Prasanth, a former journalist associated with NaMo TV. Prasanth then forwarded it to two WhatsApp groups and also to several BJP leaders. The police said they arrested and charged Bandi Sanjay on the basis of chats between him and Prasanth. Emphasising that one could learn the feeling of selfless love from animals and birds, President Droupadi Murmu on Friday made an appeal to the people to have the same sense of sympathy and respect for elephants and other living beings as they have for humans. Inaugurating the Gaj Utsav-2023 at the Kaziranga National Park, she said the actions which were in the interest of nature, animals and birds, were also in the interest of humanity and Mother Earth. The forests and green areas of Elephant Reserves are very effective carbon sinks. Therefore, it can be said that all of us will be benefited from the conservation of elephants and it will also help in facing the challenges of climate change. Participation of society along with the government is necessary in such efforts, she added. The president noted that there was a very sacred relationship between nature and humanity. The culture of respecting nature has been the identity of India where nature and culture have been linked to each other and have been receiving nourishment from each other. Elephants have been most respected in the Indian tradition. The elephant has been considered a symbol of prosperity. It was the National Heritage Animal of India. Therefore, protecting elephants was an important part of Indias national responsibility to preserve its national heritage, she added. She said the elephants were considered very intelligent and sensitive animals. The President said that the Human-Elephant Conflict has been an issue for centuries. And when we analyse this conflict, it is found that a barrier created in the natural habitat or movement of elephants is the root cause. Therefore, the responsibility of this conflict lies with the human society. She noted that protecting elephants, conserving their natural habitats and keeping elephant corridors free from obstruction were the main objectives of Project Elephant. Solving the problems related to Human-Elephant Conflict was also the aim of this project. Ankara is making efforts and continuing talks to stop the conflict in Ukraine as soon as possible, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday, Trend reports citing Turkish media. "Our balanced policy has made it possible to prevent an escalation of the war in Ukraine and keep it from spilling over into our country. Moreover, thanks to our additional steps, we have saved numerous lives. We continue talks to stop the bloodshed and settle the conflict between Russia and Ukraine," he said. The Turkish leader said earlier that his regular communication with Russian and Ukrainian Presidents, Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky, could facilitate the resolution of the conflict. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) for crop damage to farmers should not be included in the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. Requesting the PM in his letter to amend the new rules issued by the Government of India in October 2022, Gehlot appealed not to include the assistance given to farmers from SDRF for crop damage in the amount received through PMCIS. He demanded that the SDRF be kept separate from PMCIS. This leads to multiple delays in disbursement of SDRF assistance while farmers have to raise funds for the next crop immediately after crop damage, he stressed. Gehlot said that before October 2022 rules came into existence, the farmers used to receive quick financial assistance under SDRF, whereas under the new rules, the purpose of SDRF is not being fulfilled due to non-availability of timely assistance to the farmers. Therefore, rules must be amended in order to provide immediate assistance under SDRF, he requested. Gehlot has also mentioned that under the new rule, relief provided to the farmers in NDRF and SDRF from crop damage has been limited to only two hectares. In Rajasthan, especially western Rajasthan, farmers are not receiving proper compensation for crop damage due to larger average holding size. Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Friday hit out at the Centre saying that the under the current regime, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Taking to Twitter, Sibal posted, PM: BJP lives for social justice and follows it in letter and spirit. Facts: 1) 40 per cent of the wealth created from 2012-2021 went to only 1 per cent of the population 2) In 2022 Adanis wealth increased 46 per cent 3) 64 per cent of GST came from the bottom 50 per cent; 4 per cent came from top 10 per cent. Rich get richer the poor poorer, Sibal tweeted. Meanwhile, Sibals remarks come a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the BJP believes in social justice and follows it in letter and spirit. Addressing the BJP workers on the partys 44th Foundation Day on Thursday, PM Modi said, BJP lives social justicefollows it in letter and spirit. Getting 80 crore people free ration is a reflection of social justice. The facility of free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh to 50 crores poor without discrimination is a demonstration of social justice. I firmly believe that the devotion, dedication and power of our Karyakartas, and our Mantra of Nation First will keep inspiring us. In his address, PM Modi also lashed out at the Congress over its alleged dynastic politics, saying, Today, the BJP is creating a new political culture in the country. While the Congress and the other Opposition parties are still rooted to dynasty, casteism and regionalism, the BJPs political culture is to take every countryman along. Prime Minister Modi said the Opposition never imagined that Article 370 would be history one day. Seeing their corrupt deeds exposed, people with imperial mindset are frustrated and are now openly threatening to dig Modis grave, he said. They (Opposition) cant stomach the work being done by our government. They have grown so desperate that they are openly threatening to dig my grave. They can keep conspiring against us but they dont know that the poor, deprived, Dalits and tribals are our protective shield. A review meeting chaired by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya noted on Friday that seven states are reporting high number of Covid cases in India with rising test positivity rate, which include Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Haryana. At the meeting with the health ministers of different states and Union Territories, Mandaviya stressed on the importance of enhancing public awareness campaigns regarding adherence to Covid appropriate behaviour. The state health ministers were advised to personally monitor and review the preparedness of all logistics and infrastructure, including availability of sufficient designated hospital beds, besides ensuring that there is adequate stock of essential medicines. The states were also asked to regularly update their Covid data on the designated Portal. The meeting also discussed the global Covid situation, along with the domestic scenario .A The states/UTs were reminded of the joint advisory issued by the Union Health Ministry and ICMR on March 25, which called for a reinvigorated public health response to contain the surge of seasonal influenza and Covid cases through early detection, isolation, testing and timely management of suspected and confirmed cases to detect and contain outbreaks of new SARS-CoV-2 variants. Mandaviya requested the states/UTs to ensure effective implementation of the same. There was comprehensive and detailed discussion on various aspects of Covid management, including ramping up of hospital infrastructure, increased testing etc. India reported 6,050 new Covid cases in the last 24 hours while the active caseload stood at 28,303 on Friday. Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has announced a Hindutva-centric Apna Abhimaan, Danush-Baan campaign to expand the partys reach in the National Capital and other states. With the campaign, the party would be launching a massive membership drive. The campaign was announced in Delhi on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti on April 6. Former Union minister Anandrao Adsul said the party is reaching out to people with its Hindutva and good governance agenda. A massive membership drive will begin in Delhi and other states soon to expand our reach, he said. Adsul, along with a large number of party workers, gathered at the famous Sankat Mochan Hanuman Mandir here. Talking to reporters, Adsul said, With massive membership drive, the party would leverage youth leadership to expand its base in 19 states. We have formed executive committees from block to state levels. Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay, who was detained by Police late at night from his residence in Karimnagar was on Thursday granted bail by a magistrate court in the Hindi SSC paper leak case, informed Advocate Shyam Sunder Reddy, Lawyer of Bandi Sanjay. Court has accepted our request and bail was granted to Bandi Sanjay furnishing with and sureties and Rs 20,000. Tomorrow morning after furnishing the release order, he will be released from the Karim Nagar jail, said Advocate Reddy. Court has made a condition that he cant leave India without permission, he added. Earlier on Wednesday, Bandi Sanjay along with three others was sent to judicial custody till April 19 in the SSC paper leak case. Bandi Sanjay and 3 others have been sent to judicial custody till April 19 and will be shifted to Karimnagar jail, Advocate Karuna Sagar, lawyer of Bandi Sanjay had said. We will be filing a contempt proceeding against the investigative officer for violating the SC guidelines. We are planning to challenge the order in High Court tomorrow, he had added. Bandi Sanjay Kumar was detained after midnight on Wednesday from his residence in Karimnagar ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the state. Reportedly, a team of police reached the MPs residence in Karimnagar and took him into custody. This created a tense atmosphere as Bandi Sanjays supporters and party workers tried to stop the police. Earlier the police registered a case against BJP leader Bandi Sanjay Kumar under sections 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 4(A), 6 T.S. Public Examinations (Prevention of Malpractices and 66-D ITA-2000-2008 at the Kamlapur police station of Warangal district. Responding to the arrest, the office of Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar said that the detention of Bandi Sanjay in the SSC paper leak case is totally undemocratic and there is a clear-cut conspiracy in the whole episode. Telangana State President Bandi Sanjay Kumar has been detained by Police late at night from his residence in Karimnagar. The Police have not yet announced officially on what grounds he was detained. There is a clear-cut conspiracy in the whole episode. The detention of Bandi Sanjay is totally undemocratic. The BRS government is gradually losing credibility among the public hence they are performing these stunts. This paper leak is out and out a failure of the BRS government, the office of Bandi Sanjay Kumar told ANI. An official from Bandi Sanjay Kumars office also alleged that the detention has been done to cover up the recent failures of the Telangana government regarding school and job examinations. The tourism industry in India has shown encouraging signs of revival after the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the latest figures received by the government from the Bureau of Immigration, India registered 6.19 million Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) during 2022 as compared to 1.52 million during the same period of 2021. There were 10.93 million FTAs in India during the pre-pandemic year of 2019. The Ministry of Tourism, under schemes like Swadesh Darshan, PRASHAD and Assistance to Central Agencies, is providing Central financial assistance to state governments/Union territories/Central agencies for the development of tourism-related infrastructure and facilities in the country to provide an enriching tourism experience to visitors in a planned and phased manner, according to Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy. The ministry, he said, has set up a 247 Multi-Lingual Tourist Info-Helpline on the toll-free number 1800111363 or on a short code 1363 in 12 Languages including 10 international languages (German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic), Hindi and English for domestic and foreign tourists to provide support service in term of information relating to travel in India and to offer appropriate guidance to tourists in distress while travelling in India. He said the Ministry of Tourism has taken several initiatives to give a boost to the tourism sector in the country and to increase foreign tourist arrivals. Some of the major initiatives are launched Dekho Apna Desh initiative with the objective of creating awareness among the citizens about the rich heritage and culture of the country and encouraging citizens to travel within the country; has been conducting Programmes under the Capacity Building for Service Providers (CBSP) Scheme to train and up-grade manpower to provide better service standards; launched Incredible India Tourist Facilitator Certification Programme, a digital initiative that aims at creating an online learning platform with the objective of creating a pool of well-trained professional tourist facilitators across the country to support tourists; launched 247 toll-free Multilingual Tourist Helpline; has been providing the facility of e-Visa for 5 sub-categories i.e. e-Tourist visa, e-Business visa, e-Medical visa, e-Medical Attendant visa and e-Conference visa for nationals of 166 countries; E-Visa has been further liberalised and the visa fee substantially reduced; New mountain peaks have been opened for Mountaineering/Trekking to give a boost to adventure tourism in the country; lowered of GST on hotels rooms with tariffs of Rs 1,001 to Rs 7,500/night to 12 per cent; those above Rs 7,501 to 18 per cent to increase Indias competitiveness as a tourism destination; 59 tourism routes have been awarded to the identified airlines by the Ministry of Civil Aviation under the RCS UDAN Scheme, for which the Ministry of Tourism extends financial support in the form of VGF (Viability Gap Funding). 51 of these routes have been operationalized to date; In order to boost visitor arrival, the Ministry of Tourism has declared Incredible India! Visit India Year 2023; G20 meetings are being held at 55 destinations throughout the country. The infrastructure in these cities is being augmented and upgraded for the G20 meetings; and Tourism offerings are being highlighted in the run-up to these meetings. Excursion of Delegates is also organised to nearby tourist attractions. Efforts are being made to make G20 delegates visiting these destinations tourism ambassadors. Important tourism sites and facilities are being upgraded to international standards. In a shocking incident at Hanskhali in West Bengals Nadia district, a local Trinamool Congress leader was shot dead in broad daylight by miscreants on Friday morning. The deceased has been identified as Amod Ali Biswas, who was an area vice-president of Trinamool at Hanskhali. According to eyewitnesses, Biswas came to the market on Friday morning and ordered a cup of tea at a tea-stall, something he did regularly. Suddenly, a group of around eight bike-borne miscreants arrived at the spot and started firing indiscriminately at Biswas from a close range. All the miscreants had their faces covered. A profusely bleeding Biswas died on the spot, while the assailants fled from there. The body has been sent for post-mortem with a large contingent of police patrolling the area, which has been gripped by tension. Biswas family members claimed that there had been attacks on him earlier as well. His rivals in the locality had attacked him with crude bombs thrice in the past. However, he had managed to escape on all three occasions, something which he could not do on Friday, said Biswas wife. Meanwhile, a political slugfest has erupted in the state following the killing. Senior state BJP leader Rahul Sinha, whos a former national secretary of the party, said that the murder was a fallout of the factionalism and infighting in Trinamool Congress. Before the upcoming panchayat elections, different groups of the ruling party are trying to establish their supremacy in different pockets of the state, with party insiders often becoming the victims, Sinha said. On the other hand, Trinamools Rajya Sabha member Santanu Sen claimed that goons backed by the opposition parties were behind the murder of Biswas. Before the panchayat elections, the opposition parties are deliberately trying to create disturbance in the state, he said. Stressing samvedna aur karuna (empathy and compassion) for human beings, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sanghs Sarsanghchalak Dr. Mohanrao Bhagwat called upon people to universalise the spirit of selfless service and initiate a campaign to become a global leader in the world. Mohan Bhagwat was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the three-day Rashtriya Sewa Bhartis Seva Sangam at Keshav Vidyapeeth, Jamdoli, Jaipur on Friday. India will become a world leader only when we make our service ubiquitous, make contacts with those doing service and make it a +samajwadi abhiyan+ (social campaign) and become Vasudhaiva Kutumbakan to showcase our service strength in the world over, he said. He further said, We have to make every part of the society strong and the whole world a family with the spirit of service. This is possible only when the work of service becomes a society wide campaign. We have to make such an effort. He said that the people should take on their challenges and put an end to problems and set an example of devotion, knowledge and action to the entire world. Those who are into social service, he said, should move together as a group. This way we will be able to achieve our goal easily. Recalling the life of Ghumantu (nomads), Bhagwat said there was a neglected class of Ghumantu having no ration card and vote as they were not domicile since pre-Independence. But these nomads had a great role in the nations independence. They kept fighting for the country and did not bow down, and the English rulers declared them aparadhi (criminals) and erased their identities, Bhagwat recalled. Even after Independence, we forgot them. But we have developed a strong sight to recognise them, paid attention to them and have begun the service in this direction too, he claimed, adding, so far over 1.25 lakh welfare works have been done by Seva Bharti in the country. Referring to the recently held meeting of the C-20 group at Nagpur, he said compassion should be the basis of international relations as well. Sometimes it is natural to have ego after service, but if the spirit of service remains intact, the ego automatically goes. Referring to the missionaries who are running schools and hospitals all over the world, he said, However, when we toured four southern regions, we found that saints (with Kannada, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam languages) are rendering a better service than the missionaries. Representatives of more than 3,000 voluntary organisations from across the country were present at the Sangam along with Dattatreya Hosabale, the head of the Sangh. An exhibition of the works related to Seva Sangam was also inaugurated. Businessmen, Ajay Piramal, Subhash Chandra, and people from different business groups also participated in the confluence. Local BJP leaders, including BJP State President C P Joshi, leader of Opposition in the state Assembly R S Rathore, Deputy Leader Satish Poonia were present at the sessions. Kailash Sharma, who is associated with Sewa Sangam, said that the Sewa Bharti provided employment to more than 25,000 people last year. Besides, the organisation is constantly working in areas like efficiency, health, skill development and women empowerment, he added. As a precautionary response to the reports of increasing Covid numbers with every passing day, the Madras High Court has advised lawyers to switch to virtual mode for court proceedings from next week onwards. With effect from April 10, lawyers have been asked to electronically file all types of cases as well as argue their cases in virtual mode on account of news reports on the steady rise in Covid cases, a notification issued on Thursday by Registrar General (in-charge) M. Jothiraman stated. According to the notification, while e-filing of cases had been made mandatory for anticipatory bail petitions till now in order to introduce the electronic mode in a phased manner, the court administration is now advising e-filing of all cases to reduce footfalls in the court complex on account of the reported rise in Covid cases. The High Court Registry, which had decided to hold hybrid hearings of cases from Monday, has now advised lawyers to opt for virtual mode of hearings, to the extent possible. The advisory pertaining to e-filing and virtual hearings will be in force until further orders. United States President Joe Biden has blamed Donald Trumps administration for troubled US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in the summer of 2021, according to a document released by the White House. In a 12-page document, the Biden administration said, President Bidens choices for how to execute a withdrawal from Afghanistan were severely constrained by conditions created by his predecessor. John Kirby, the National Security Council spokesman, said that Biden inherited a depleted operation in Afghanistan from Trump that crippled the US response. Transitions matter. Thats the first lesson learned here. And the incoming administration wasnt afforded much of one, Kirby told reporters. Biden was left with a stark choice: withdraw all US forces or resume fighting with the Taliban. Clearly we didnt get it right, Kirby said, but he sidestepped questions about whether Biden has any regrets for his decisions and actions leading up to the withdrawal. The document recalled the year 2017 when Trump took the office, at that time there were more than 10,000 troops in Afghanistan but eighteen months later, after introducing more than 3,000 additional troops to just maintain the stalemate, President Trump ordered direct talks with the Taliban without consulting with any of the allies or the partners. In September 2019, President Trump emboldened the Taliban by publicly considering inviting them to Camp David on the anniversary of 9/11. In February 2020, the United States and the Taliban reached a deal, known as the Doha Agreement, under which the United States agreed to withdraw all U.S. forces from Afghanistan by May 2021. In return, theTaliban agreed to participate in a peace process and refrain from attacking US troops and threatening Afghanistans major citiesbut only as long as the United States remained committed to withdrawing by the agreements deadline, the statement read. The statement revealed that the former US President pressurised the Afghan government to release 5,000 Taliban fighters from prison, including senior war commanders, without securing the release of the only American hostage known to be held by the Taliban. The report, which was led by the National Security Council, says as a result of the Afghanistan experience, US policy has been adjusted to speed up evacuations when safety conditions are deteriorating. According to the official document, in his last 11 months in office, Trump ordered a series of drawdowns of US troops and by June 2020, he reduced the US troops in Afghanistan to 8,600 and in September, 4,500. On September 28, 2021, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Milley testified that, on November 11, he had received an unclassified signed order directing the US military to withdraw all forces from Afghanistan no later than January 15, 2021, the statement read. However, a week later, that order was rescinded and replaced with one to draw down to 2,500 troops by the same date. During the transition from the Trump Administration to the Biden Administration, the 2 outgoing Administrations provided no plans for how to conduct the final withdrawal or to evacuate Americans and Afghan allies. Indeed, there were no such plans in place when President Biden came into office, even with the agreed-upon full withdrawal just over three months away, the statement revealed. As a result, when President Biden took office on January 20, 2021, the Taliban were in the strongest military position that they had been in since 2001, controlling or contesting nearly half of the country, the statement added. Republicans in Congress have sharply criticized the Afghanistan withdrawal, focusing on the deaths of 13 service members in a suicide bombing at Kabuls airport, which also killed more than 100 Afghans. On August 31, the US completed its military withdrawal from Afghanistan after a huge but chaotic airlift that cost the lives of 13 American troops and left behind thousands of Afghans and hundreds of army members still seeking an escape from Taliban rule. The United States, South Korea and Japan expressed deep concern over North Korea's "malicious" cyber activities to support its weapons programmes, in comments released in a joint statement on Friday, Trend reports citing Reuters. Crypto currency funds stolen by North Korean hackers have been a key source for financing the sanctions-stricken country's weapons programmes, officials and experts in the U.S. and its allies say. Amid North Korea's rising nuclear and missile threats, South Korea's nuclear envoy held talks with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts in Seoul this week and condemned the isolated country's weapons tests. "We reiterate with concern that overseas DPRK IT workers continue using forged identities and nationalities" to evade U.N. sanctions and raise funds for missile programmes, according to the envoys' joint statement, using the acronym for North Korea's official name. "We are also deeply concerned about how the DPRK supports these programmes by stealing and laundering funds as well as gathering information through malicious cyber activities," the statement said, urging U.N. member states to comply with U.N. Security Council resolutions to repatriate North Korean workers on their soil. Amid a high-profile meeting between Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Chinas aircraft carrier Shandong engaged in a drill near Taiwan on Thursday, Al Jazeera reported. The Shandong carrier immediately drew attention off the East Coast when Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen returned home after meeting the US House Speaker. Quoting Taiwanese Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng, Al Jazeera reported that the aircraft carrier was located 200 nautical miles (370 km) off Taiwans east coast. The carrier was being watched by Taiwanese warships at a distance of five to six nautical miles, he subsequently informed. The drills coincide with Tsai and McCarthys stopover in California, which China fiercely denounced. Beijing believes Taiwan is its own and hasnt ruled out using force to seize control of the island. Notably, Shandong is Chinas first home-built aircraft carrier. The aircraft carrier, along with a number of other Chinese navy vessels entered the Pacific on Wednesday by passing via the Bashi Channel south of Taiwan, reported Al Jazeera. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen met the speaker of the United States House of Representatives, McCarthy, on Wednesday (local time) in California. This was the first time when Taiwans President met with a US House speaker on American soil. Both leaders briefly shook the hands after her SUV pulled up to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, northwest of Los Angeles. Taiwans President met McCarthy despite the threats of retaliation from China. Washingtons current One China policy acknowledges Beijings claims but does not endorse it, according to The New York Post. The meeting between the two leaders is seen as something China extremely disapproves of and has repeatedly shown opposition to. Ahead of their meeting, China dispatched several maritime vessels near Taiwans coast. On Wednesday night local time, Beijing sent a large scale patrol and rescue vessel to the central and northern Taiwan Strait for a three-day joint patrol and inspection operation, Chinas Fujian Maritime Safety Administration said in a statement. Earlier in March, the US State Department said that China has overreacted to Taiwan President Tsais visit to the US. US Department of State Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said the transits of the Taiwan President are consistent with the longstanding policy of Washington. The statement of Vedant Patel comes after the Chinese spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council said that China firmly opposes Tsai Ing-wens planned transit visit to the US to meet US officials and will take resolute countermeasures in such an event, CGTN reported. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday embarked on a 10-day visit to Central America, which will include transit in the US, CNN reported. Saint-Laurent, CA (H4T1V6) Today Light rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 52F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Showers early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 36F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. In this photograph provided by Stephen Davis Phillips/Goldwater Institute, Amber Lavigne, of Newcastle, Maine, poses on March 25, 2023, at her home in Newcastle. Lavigne is suing a school district saying a counselor encouraged her teen's social gender transition without consulting her. The federal lawsuit argues parents' rights trump state statutes allowing school counselors to keep student gender and sexuality information private. John M. Crisp , an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service, lives in Texas and can be reached at jcrispcolumns@gmail.com. EDWARDSVILLE The Madison County Sheriffs Department is seeking to purchase a mobile license plate reader for use in one of the departments vehicles. On Thursday the county boards Judiciary Committee approved the purchase of a mobile license plate reader, or LPR, system for $20,146.16 from Utilitra, an Edwardsville-based technology company. There are currently at least 150 stationary LPR cameras in Madison County. Chief Deputy Marcos Pulido said several other departments have mobile LPR systems that have been very effective. LPR cameras scan license plates and record hits on reported stolen vehicles, vehicles used in serious crimes, or those owned by people with outstanding warrants. In 2018 Alton, Godfrey and Madison County States Attorneys Office placed an LPR camera on the Clark Bridge, and later added a second camera on Godfrey Road. Since then additional cameras have been placed on Madison County highways and bridges, most with little fanfare. Pulido specifically noted the mobile LPR would be useful for the Madison County Cross-River Task Force which targets criminals coming in from Missouri, committing crimes, and then heading back across the Mississippi River. The sheriffs department also requested spending $5,273.82 for an annual corrections policy update, which was approved by the committee. Both issues were supposed to go to the Public Safety Committee for approval, which was scheduled to meet immediately after the Judiciary Committee. However, the Public Safety Committee did not have a quorum so a special meeting has been set for April 13. At the Judiciary Committee meeting, Pulido reported the Madison County Jail had 245 prisoners on April 3. The total number detained so far this year is 1,119, up 128 from 991 at this time last year. He that increased emphasis on mental health issues is creating concerns because, in most cases, those prisoners are kept separate from the general population. That reduces the overall capacity of the jail. In general, county law enforcement officials have said jails are a poor place for people with mental health issues, because it is difficult to provide any treatment. This lead to a wider committee discussion about mental health and law enforcement, but no action was taken. In other business, the committee approved a number of technology purchases, including several for the circuit court. Those include audio/video equipment for Courtroom 144 at the countys Criminal Justice Center at a cost of $10,858; software licensing at a cost of $17,75708; and nine Owl conference cameras for use in courtrooms, at a cost of $9,157.77. Also approved was paying up to $40,000 for electronic monitoring for the Probation Department, and technology licensing and software for the Circuit Clerks Office and Probation Department. The financial issues now go to the Finance Committee for approval before going to the full Madison County Board. EDWARDSVILLE A Bridgeton, Missouri man was charged after being found with a stolen vehicle in Madison County. Brandon K. Adams, 41, was charged April 6 with offenses relating to motor vehicles, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. According to court documents, on April 4 Adams allegedly had a stolen 20`10 Mazda SUV. Bail was set at $50,000. Other felony charges filed April 6 by the Madison County States Attorneys Office include: Jeffery L. King, 43, of Kansas, Oklahoma, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine and forgery, both Class 3 felonies. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. According to court documents, on April 5 King allegedly had less than five grams of methamphetamine and tried to pass a bad check at FCB Bank for $1,958.33. Bail was set at $50,000. Thomas J. Kelley, 30, of Shipman, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. According to court documents, on April 6 Kelley allegedly had less than 15 grams of oxycodone. Bail was set at $15,000. Brando C. Allen, 33, of Florissant, Missouri, was charged with retail theft over $300, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Wood River Police Department. According to court documents, on March 1 Allen allegedly took automotive accessories valued in excess of $300 from the Wood River Walmart. Bail was set at $20,000. Samantha K. Domnick, 36, of Brighton, was charged with aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, a Class 4 felony, and criminal trespass to real property, a Class B misdemeanor. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. On April 5 Komnick allegedly was driving a 2005 Dodge Ram when she fled from a Madison County sheriffs deputy, disobeying two or more traffic control devices. She alelgedly had entered a building in Alton, without permission. Bail was set at $25,000. The administration of US President Joe Biden tried to gaslight the American people by publishing its report on US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, former US President Donald Trumps spokesperson Steven Cheung has said, Trend reports citing TASS. "Biden and his administration are trying to gaslight the American people for their disastrous withdrawal in Afghanistan that directly led to American deaths and emboldened the terrorists," Cheung told the Daily Caller news portal. "The world has become a more dangerous place under Joe Biden." In turn, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Republican Michael McCaul, described the reports conclusions as disgraceful and insulting. "President Biden made the decision to withdraw and even picked the exact date; he is responsible for the massive failures in planning and execution," he said in a statement. "Congress must be given access to the full and complete record of documents from the withdrawal in order to get the answers on why the withdrawal was such a disaster." The report, released on Thursday, says the administration of former US President Donald Trump drafted no clear plan for withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and is therefore responsible for mistakes committed by his successor Joe Biden in 2021. In the White Houses opinion, further presence of US troops in Afghanistan would not change the situation in any way, so their withdrawal was imminent. Job Title: Consular Associate (Fresher Admin High School Diploma Jobs) Organisation: United States US Embassy, US Mission in Uganda Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda Salary: USD $40,488 Position Number: Kampala-2023-029T About US Embassy: The United States Embassy in Kampala, Uganda has enjoyed diplomatic relations with Uganda for over 30 years. Ambassador Natalie E. Brown currently heads the U.S Mission to Uganda. The Mission is composed of several offices and organizations all working under the auspices of the Embassy and at the direction of the Ambassador. Among the offices operating under the U.S Mission to Uganda are: United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Peace Corps Job Summary: Under the direct supervision of the Consular Officer, the Consular Associate is assigned a wide range of responsibilities in the American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit, Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) Unit, Immigrant Visa Unit, and Fraud Prevention Unit (FPU). The jobholder provides consular services to U.S. citizens, conducts non-adjudicatory visa processing, and assists in investigation and validation studies. Incumbent also handles correspondence with the public, attorneys, U.S. and host governments, Congress, and other parties. Must be able to secure and maintain a Secret level security clearance. Qualifications, Skills and Experience: NOTE: All applicants must address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item. The applicants for the United States US Embassy Consular Associate job opportunity should have completed High School. Required. At least two years of office administration. Must be able to input data in consular systems with minimum errors, and spot and correct errors made by others (applicants and fellow staff). Demonstrated skills in MS Office Suite and general computer skills including information and database management. Organizational skills, including task management and filing skills; communication skills including writing skills appropriate for drafting official correspondence and reports. Ability to obtain and maintain a DOS Secret Security clearance. Tact and good judgment in dealing with the public, often under difficult and sensitive circumstances. Sensitivity in evaluating evidence and applying complex regulations correctly. Ability to learn applicable U.S. and host country laws, regulations, legal precedents, and court decisions. Good interpersonal skills. Language: Level IV (Fluent) Speaking/Reading/Writing of English is required. How to Apply: All those interested in working with the United States Embassy, US Mission in Kampala should send their applications online at the link below. Click Here Deadline: 24th April 2023 For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline Twitter chief Elon Musk's push for paid blue checkmarks may not have worked as he anticipated, as major institutions in the US including the White House refused to pay for the verified tag. Amid the push-back against the subscription scheme, Musk had announced that on April 1, Twitter would remove blue checkmarks from all legacy verified accounts that do not sign up for its $8 per month Twitter Blue service. Though this has not happened yet, Twitter Verified account on Friday unfollowed everyone including Musk himself. The account reportedly followed over 420,000 legacy verified accounts earlier. Though Musk has not issued a clarification, it is said this could be a move towards verification removal. According to a report by Mashable, only 12,305 accounts had subscribed to the paid Twitter Blue plan as of Tuesday. Twitter has already removed the blue tick from the New York Times after the news orgnaisation refused to pay for the plan. Several other news outlets in the US, including The Washington Post and CNN have said they will not pay for Twitter verification. A representative of the Post said that it is now evident that verified checkmarks no longer represent authority and expertise. Twitter first introduced verified accounts in 2009 to help users identify that celebrities, politicians, companies and brands, news organisations and other accounts "of public interest" were genuine and not impostor accounts. On April 1st, we will begin winding down our legacy verified program and removing legacy verified checkmarks. To keep your blue checkmark on Twitter, individuals can sign up for Twitter Blue here: https://t.co/gzpCcwOpLp Organizations can sign up for https://t.co/RlN5BbuGA3 Twitter Verified (@verified) March 23, 2023 In an attempt to boost dwindling revenues, Musk rolled out his new verification system in October shortly after acquiring the microblogging platform. However, the initial roll-out was a disaster and had to be paused after fake and parody accounts seized blue ticks. In December, Twitter brought back the service, along with gold and grey checkmarks for businesses and government accounts. The Twitter Blue subscription, which includes features like the ability to edit tweets and share tweets up to 4,000 characters, costs Rs 900 per month in India on iOS and Android. On desktop, it costs Rs 650 per month. Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu on Thursday said she had initially turned down the offer to headline the upcoming film Shaakuntalam as she didn't have the confidence to pull off the mythological character often described as the "symbol of perfection". The Telugu film, based on Kalidasas acclaimed Sanskrit play Abhijnana Shakuntalam, is set to release in theatres on April 14. Billed as a whimsical tale, Shaakuntalam revolves around the epic love story of Shakuntala (Samantha) and King Dushyant, played by Dev Mohan of Sufiyum Sujatayum fame. After playing a gritty role in the second season of The Family Man, Samantha said she was scared to step into the world of Shaakuntalam. "I had first said no because I was doing 'The Family Man 2', in which I had a real role. Since childhood, Disney has been my favourite genre. Irrespective of whether I am happy or sad, I would watch Disney films. So, I did not have confidence that I could play Shakuntala, a princess, a symbol of perfection. "I was scared. If you see, in the last three years, I have been taking on a lot of challenges. Then I spoke to the producer, Dil Raju, who had a lot of confidence (in me). I thought of taking it (up) as a challenge because it is my only chance to play a role that I dreamt of as a child," the 35-year-old actor told reporters here. She was speaking at the trailer launch press conference of Shaakuntalam. Dev, whose credits also include Malayalam film Panthrandu, said he is happy to have his first pan-India release in Shaakuntalam. "It is a dream debut. We shot in Telugu and it is my first pan-India film and I did it with Samantha. I am so, so happy. It was a great experience," he said. He also praised Samantha for helping him with the Telugu language. "It was very difficult for me initially as Telugu is not my mother tongue, it is a very new language. She supported me to get the best... Her support helped me bring the chemistry out," Dev added. Gunasekhar, the director of Shaakuntalam, expressed his gratitude to legendary filmmaker V Shantaram for inspiring him to make the film. "On this occasion, I would like to remember V Shantaram sir, who made two films on the same subject, like 'Shakuntala', in 1943 and he made 'Stree' in the 1960s. He is a great inspiration for technicians like us. I am honoured. I am happy I got to do this film," he said. Asked if life had changed post The Family Man 2 and the hit song "Oo Antava Oo Oo Antava" from Pushpa: The Rise, Samantha said, "Somebody has to tell my dogs, I am a pan-India star... I don't think it has changed at all. I am only a star till 6pm and after that my life is extremely normal. Nothing has changed in my head at least." She is grateful to have received diverse work opportunities, including the Indian chapter of the Prime Video series Citadel, the actor said. "I didn't expect I would come this far. I feel very privileged with the kind of roles that I am doing. Like, I am working on 'Citadel' and everyday was exhilarating, it is so fulfilling. I am so happy. "It is tough. But yet it is so fulfilling for a woman to do action and not have a hero saving her all the time. So, it is great. It is a new phase for me and I am enjoying it," she added. Shaakuntalam is presented by Dil Raju via Sri Venkateswara Creations in collaboration with Gunaa Teamworks and is produced by Neelima Guna. South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin, who is in India for a two-day visit, admitted that he is an admirer of Bollywood movies. Jin said the 'Naatu Naatu' dance number from the Telugu movie RRR is very popular in Korea. "I saw the movie myself, Rise Roar and Revolt (RRR), which is a fantastic movie," he said and added that the story of the movie was "extraordinary." I love Bollywood movies, he said, adding that he watched 3 Idiots, and that the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Chennai Express is one of his favourite movies. Jin is scheduled to hold wide-ranging talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Delhi on Friday evening. The South Korean foreign minister is also scheduled to call on Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. On Saturday morning, he will leave for Chennai. In another setback for Congress, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy joined BJP on Friday ahead of the assembly elections in the state next year. Reddy had sent his resignation to the party chief Mallikarjun Kharge in March. Please accept this letter as my resignation from the primary membership of the Indian National congress, he wrote in his one-line resignation letter. #WATCH | Kiran Kumar Reddy, who served as the CM of united Andhra Pradesh, joins Bharatiya Janata Party in Delhi pic.twitter.com/WrlGjG5Uwr ANI (@ANI) April 7, 2023 He hit out at Congress leadership for its inability to accept people's verdict. While addressing a press conference in Delhi, the four-time MLA said that he had to leave Congress, and blamed his move on wrong decisions by the party leadership. "What has happened is, state after state, due to bad decisions of Congress high command, the party is getting damaged in all states. They don't interact with people. They don't take the opinion of the leaders. It is not the story of one state. It is a story throughout the country, Reddy was quoted by Hindustan Times. "There is an old saying-my king is very intelligent, he doesn't think on his own, and he doesn't listen to anyone's advice, he added during the conference. Reddy lauded the ruling party's leaders led by Modi for their hardwork and commitment towards the nation. They have clarity of thought, consistency and taking courageous decision is the hallmark of the government, he said. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi while addressing the media said that "He told me that he was influenced by PM Modi...He is taking a big leap and joining the BJP. He will strengthen our fight against corruption because his image as an MLA and minister has been clean. It will be a big boost for BJP in Andhra Pradesh," Reportedly he is likely to boost the BJP's presence in his strong-hold Rayalaseema. Earlier in 2014 too Reddy had resigned from the Congress party over the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. He was the last CM of the undivided Andhra Pradesh. He had formed his own party 'Jai Samaikyandhra' and even fielded candidates in some constituencies in the 2014 elections. But, however, it had no electoral gains. Later he rejoined Congress in 2018. The bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh led many Congress leaders to quit the party and since then they were not able to win an assembly seat in AP. The Janata Dal (Secular), on Friday, urged the Election Commission to ban the screening and telecast of films and advertisements featuring popular South Indian actor Kichcha Sudeep. Sudeep had recently announced his support to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai in poll-bound Karnataka even as he clarified that he is not entering politics or contesting the polls. The JD(S) wrote to the EC, demanding that films and ads featuring the actor should be stopped till the elections are concluded. The party claimed that such ads, films, and posters can influence voters now that the actor has extended support to the BJP. "Sudeep does a press conference along with Karnataka CM, and an invitation to all media was sent on letterhead of BJP. He (Sudeep) says that he is going to do whatever CM says. He adheres to a political party, so he is a politician. According to rule of law of the land, any person who has a political affiliation, cannot be seen on a public platform. That is the reason we have requested EC to look into the matter of Sudeeps movies, OTT platforms, and advertisements," JD(S) spokesperson Tanveer Ahmed said. Sudeep had said he would follow Bommai's instructions as the CM stood by him during his difficult times. "I am here only because Bommai wants me to support a few people. However, I cannot campaign for everybody because humanly I cannot and I won't," he had said. Reacting to the demand of the JD(S), minister K. Sudhakar said it does not matter whether Sudeep's films and ads are shown on TV or anywhere else. "He (Sudeep) is hugely popular, when he goes in favour of our people, for campaigning we will definitely have great support from the cadre and also he will fetch us votes and seats," news agency ANI quoted Sudhakar as saying. Federal Officers Nab Suspect, Recover Weapon in Shooting of Rookie NYPD Officer (Photo : NYPD) Federal officers arrested the man accused of shooting a rookie New York Police Department (NYPD) officer after a dispute over a bus seat, according to sources. The US Marshals Fugitive Task Force apprehended the alleged shooter at a Bronx residence in the Wakefield neighborhood around 8 p.m. on Thursday. Advertisement A firearm was recovered during the arrest, but law enforcement sources have not confirmed whether it was the same weapon used to shoot Officer Brett Boller in Queens on Wednesday. The man's identity is being withheld by The Post pending formal charges, and he reportedly has no arrest history. The Detectives' Endowment Association tweeted on Thursday, "Detectives said they wouldn't give up until they apprehended the person who shot our brave brother in blue and risked the lives of fellow New Yorkers." They added, "There's no hiding from the Regional Fugitive Task Force - anywhere." The suspect allegedly shot Boller, 22, after brandishing his gun at another passenger during a fight over a seat on an MTA bus. The shooter attempted to evade arrest by pushing past two officers when the bus driver flagged them down. Boller, the son of an NYPD inspector with only three months on the job, pursued the shooter down the street. Disturbing video footage shows the shooter grappling with Boller on a Queens street before firing a shot that struck the officer in the right hip. The gunman retreated while pointing the weapon at the wounded officer on the ground. Boller's partner, who also had less than a year of experience, fired two return shots. The shooter's discarded jacket, mask, and sweatshirt were later discovered at a nearby parking garage. Officers quickly attended to the injured rookie, applying a tourniquet to his right leg and rushing him to an NYPD van. Following successful surgery, Boller was recovering at Jamaica Hospital on Thursday. Police had offered a combined $20,000 reward for information about the shooter, who was considered armed and dangerous. Mayor Eric Adams attributed the incident to the prevalence of firearms on city streets, emphasizing the need to identify and remove extreme recidivists from the streets and continue efforts to remove guns. The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, has ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the illegal lease and use of temple properties in Kashmir. Aadil Fareed, Assistant Commissioner with Divisional Commissioner, citing a communication from LG's office, has written to all deputy commissioners in Kashmir to "ascertain any instance (illegal lease of temple property) in your district and necessary action taken under the rules with intimation to this office. Besides, furnish the updated inventory of Religious Minority Properties (temple, Gurdwara, and others) to this office within a week's time." A copy of the said communication has also been sent to Satish Mahaldar, president of JK Peace Forum, a migrant Kashmiri Pandit organisation working for the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir. Mahaldar, while thanking Sinha, said that for the past 33 years, successive governments have failed to take any initiative to protect the temple properties of minorities in Kashmir, despite repeated court orders. The statement said temple properties have been leased out in violation of the law. It said the Jammu and Kashmir administration/revenue department has been unable to get the properties/premises that have been illegally leased out by the respective managements for personal favours, vacated. The issue was first raised by Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti (KPSS), an organisation of non-migrant Kashmiri Pandits. KPSS president Sanjay Tickoo had petitioned the court after government inaction on the issue. The petition had highlighted that, in the absence of the Kashmiri Pandit community in the valley, a selective few in connivance with the J&K government officials, operated defunct temple trusts between 1989 and 2022 and sold or leased out temple properties, despite the orders of the J&K High Court and the Jammu and Kashmir Migrant Immovable Properties (Preservation, Protection and Restraint on Distress Sales) Act 1997. The petitioners said they were surprised how non-resident Kashmiri migrants are allowed to sell temple properties when the respective district deputy commissioners (J&K government) are the custodians of all migrant properties. It said the defunct temple trusts/societies have failed to comply with the statutory compliance laid down by the J&K state government since inception. It said the defunct temple trusts have not submitted any audited balance sheets, minutes of meetings, nor conducted any elections in the presence of the election officers deputed by the Registrar of Societies from time to time. Hundreds of properties belonging to temples in Kashmir had become unmanageable after the migration of Kashmiri Pandits from Kashmir in the 90s. Many such properties were leased or sold by land sharks in Kashmir allegedly in connivance with revenue officials. A Kerala court on Friday sent Shahrukh Saifi, the prime accused in the Kozhikode train fire incident, to 14-day judicial custody. Saifi will continue to remain under medical treatment at Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, reported ANI. For further proceedings in the case, city police commissioner Rajpal Meena and Munsiff Magistrate judge had arrived at Government Medical college hospital, where Saifi is undergoing treatment on Friday morning. Reportedly, his discharge date will be decided after the medical board meeting. Saifi had suffered burn injuries during the incident. Reportedly, his injuries are not serious. The police will approach the court again for his custody once he is discharged. Saifi was detained by the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) from Ratnagiri on Tuesday night. He was later handed over to the Kerala police team. Saifi allegedly doused his co-passengers in petrol before setting them on fire inside a moving train. The incident occured when the Alappuzha-Kannur Express train reached Korapuzha bridge near Elathur. Three persons, including a child, died when they fell off the train while trying to escape the fire while nine others suffered burn injuries. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Kerala police was subsequently formed and it had intensified its probe into the incident. According to police, the incident was probably pre-planned as he was carrying petrol in a bottle in his bag. Kerala police chief Anil Kant said that Saifi was apprehended due to combined efforts of the SIT formed. This is a special case which warranted a combined investigation. Kerala police and other related agencies worked together and located the accused and nabbed him...We cooperated with the Maharashtra police team and other investigation agencies to capture him and transport him here. Based on the nature of the case, we need a detailed and comprehensive investigation into this case, ADGP (Law and Order) M. R. Ajith Kumar told media. After Congress veteran A.K. Antony's son Anil Antony joined the saffron party on Thursday, the BJP's state president K. Surendran claimed that more leaders from the Congress are expected to switch over to the BJP. When he was asked if Anil Antony joining the BJP will further the party's prospects in Kerala, the state BJP chief said, "A.K. Antony is a senior Congress leader who held key positions in the party. Today, his son Anil Antony took party membership of the BJP. More Congress leaders will be joining the BJP soon," reported news agency ANI. Anil Antony, who headed the Digital Media Cell of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, quit the Congress two months ago, after criticising the party's stand on the controversial documentary film of the BBC on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and slammed the Congress leadership for working for a "single family" instead of for the country. Surendran claimed that erudite and highly educated leaders in the opposition camp are now joining the BJP, and added that the saffron party is approaching several leaders from the Congress and Left, asking them to jump ship. The party is planning to boost its prospects by wooing the Christian community in the state, and Surendran said the party hopes to gain a major share of Christain votes as the community has shown that it has faith in PM Modi's leadership. "We are running several campaigns in the state. The 'Happy Easter Ghar Ghar Chalo' campaign will be conducted across the state from April 9. During this campaign, we will make an effort to connect Christians with the BJP, which will significantly impact our vote share," he was quoted as saying. A court in Hanamkonda granted bail to Telangana BJP president and MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar who was arrested over the alleged leak of secondary school exam papers. The principal judicial magistrate court granted bail to Sanajy Kumar on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 20,000 with two sureties. It also directed him not to leave the country without the court's permission. He was also asked not to tamper with the evidence, and cooperate with the investigation. Sanjay Kumar, a Lok Sabha MP from Karimnagar constituency, was named as the prime accused in the case relating to the alleged circulation of Class 10 (SSC) Hindi examination question paper in groups of an instant messaging app. He was arrested by the Warangal Police on Wednesday on charges of criminal conspiracy and malpractices, among others. He and three others arrested in the case were on Wednesday remanded in judicial custody till April 19 by a court in Hanamkonda and they were lodged in a jail in Karimnagar. A minor boy, who had allegedly taken photos of the paper from the exam centre in Hanamkonda after being told to do so by two accused, was also apprehended. Sanjay Kumar had filed a bail application which the court accepted tonight after hearing the arguments and counter-arguments. The Warangal Police opposed the bail plea on the grounds that the accused may try to tamper with the evidence and disturb the process of the conduct of the exams which was underway. Police had also filed a petition in the court on Thursday seeking three-day custody of Sanjay Kumar and other accused for further investigation. The court posted the custody petition to Monday. The photo of the purported SSC Hindi question paper was posted in a group of the app by one of the accused on April 4. It was subsequently shared in other groups by the second accused (a former journalist) who sent it to Sanjay Kumar, BJP MLA E Rajender and several others, police had said. Police on Thursday also issued notices to BJP MLA E Rajender and others asking them to appear before the investigators for recording their statements as witnesses. BJP leader and Union Tourism and Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy condemned the notice issued to Rajender, saying it was done with a "vindictive attitude towards the BJP". He also said the threat to issue notices to journalists as part of the investigation is an attempt to crush the rights of mediapersons in Telangana. He said the BJP would stand by journalists if they are served notices by the police. Meanwhile, the Telangana High Court on Thursday posted to Monday hearing on a petition filed by Sanjay Kumar, challenging the remand order of the magistrate court. On the habeas corpus petition filed by the BJP, the High Court issued notice to police and posted the matter for hearing after four weeks. After purported images of two question papers surfaced on social media, police accused Sanjay Kumar of conspiring with other accused to create rumours and provoke breach of peace during the ongoing SSC public examination to defame the state government. The images of the SSC Telugu and Hindi question papers surfaced in the social media platform on April 3 and April 4 while the exams were under. The exams began across the state on April 3. Joe Biden's administration has defended its decision to pull American troops out of Afghanistan and blamed former US President Donald Trump for creating conditions that "severely constrained" his successor and led to the chaotic withdrawal from the war-torn country in 2021. The White House on Thursday released a 12-page document on the conditions that led to US' exit from Afghanistan in 2021 and sent related classified documents to various Congressional committees. The report places much of the blame on the previous Trump administration, saying President Biden was severely constrained by former president Trump's decisions. "President Biden's choices for how to execute a withdrawal from Afghanistan were severely constrained by conditions created by his predecessor, the report said. The Trump administration had negotiated a withdrawal agreement with the Taliban that Biden pledged to honour. But Thursday's report criticised the former Republican president for a lack of planning to carry out the deal. According to the report, when Biden took office on January 20, 2021, the Taliban were in the strongest military position that they had been in since 2001, controlling or contesting nearly half of the country. At the same time, the US had only 2,500 troops on the ground, the lowest since 2001, and President Biden was facing Trump's near-term deadline to withdraw all US forces from Afghanistan by May 2021, or the Taliban would resume its attacks on US and allied troops, it said. It said Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin testified on September 28, 2021, The intelligence was clear that if we did not leave in accordance with that agreement, the Taliban would recommence attacks on our forces." John Kirby, White House National Security Coordinator for Strategic Communications, told reporters here that the Biden administration was proud of its withdrawal from Afghanistan. The president's very proud of the manner in which the men and women of the military, the Foreign Service, and the intelligence community conducted this withdrawal," he said. "I've been around operations my entire life, and there's not a single one that ever goes perfectly according to plan, he said. Kirby said Biden's choice was stark, either to withdraw all US forces or resume fighting with the Taliban. "He chose the former, but even in doing so, secured extra time to conduct that withdrawal, stretching it out to August. Despite having his options curtailed, President Biden led a deliberate, rigorous and inclusive decision-making process that was responsive to facts on the ground, he said. Noting that the administration focused keenly on the need for proper planning, he said Biden directed his top national security leaders to begin planning for a withdrawal even before he had made the final decision to leave Afghanistan. He ordered troop reduction plans, plans to turn over bases and equipment to the Afghan government as the previous administration had negotiated, plans to draw down the diplomatic presence and plans to evacuate both American citizens and Afghan allies alike, Kirby said. The White House official said the evacuation planning started in the spring of 2021 and the president ordered additional military forces pre-positioned in the region by mid-summer in case they were ever needed. Throughout, President Biden insisted that his team plan for worst-case scenarios such as the fall of Kabul, even though the intelligence community's assessment when he was making the decision in early 2021, was that Taliban advances would accelerate only after the withdrawal of US forces, Kirby said. The president repeatedly requested assessments of the trajectory of the conflict from his military and his intelligence professionals, he said. The long-awaited report also cites intelligence failure in not predicting rapid Taliban victory. Responding to a question on inaccurate intelligence assessment, Kirby said no agency predicted a Taliban takeover in nine days. "No agency predicted the rapid fleeing of President Ghani who had indicated to us his intent to remain in Afghanistan up until he departed on the 15th of August," he said. The internationally backed Afghan government collapsed and then-President Ashraf Ghani fled the country in August 2021 as the Taliban took over the capital, Kabul, amid the withdrawal of US forces. During the evacuation, a suicide bombing by the Afghanistan branch of ISIS killed at least 175 people, including 13 US service members. "No agency predicted that the more than 300,000 trained and equipped Afghan National Security and Defense Forces would fail to fight for the country, especially after 20 years of American support, Kirby said. The mission that was originally sent into Afghanistan was accomplished a long, long time ago, he said. Remember, they were ordered under President Bush to avenge the 9/11 attacks and to go specifically after Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida. And decimating and degrading al-Qaida's capability in Afghanistan was a mission that we accomplished a long, long time ago, he said. Over time, the president has talked about this, the mission in Afghanistan morphed into something it wasn't intended to originally be, Kirby said. Trump rejected the findings of the report on Thursday. These Morons in the White House, who are systematically destroying our Country, headed up by the biggest Moron of them all, Hopeless Joe Biden, have a new disinformation game they are playing Blame TRUMP' for their grossly incompetent SURRENDER in Afghanistan," on his Truth Social platform. "I watched this disaster unfold just like everyone else. I saw them take out the Military first, give $85 Billion of military equipment, allow killing of our soldiers, and leave Americans behind. Biden is responsible, no one else! he was quoted as saying by the New York Post. The Biden administration has faced mounting criticism, especially from Republicans, over its withdrawal from Afghanistan. Despite criticism of the Trump administration, which initiated the American withdrawal after 20 years in Afghanistan, the report said Biden who took office in January 2021 also wanted to end the longest war in US history. A day after series of rockets fired from Palestinian territory, Israel struck two targets in the Gaza strip and southern Lebanon early Friday. The border tensions and cross-firings are during a time of Passover and Ramadan celebrations. The air strikes on Thursday had left several buildings damaged and two people wounded. The Israel Defence Forces said Hamas's "terrorist" infrastructure was hit in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military also noted that it was targeting only sites linked to Palestinian militants. According to Associated Press (AP), Israeli missiles struck an open field in the southern Lebanese twon of Qalili, near Palestinian refugee camp Rashidiyeh. The strikes has also hit a small bridge and power transformer in the nearby town of Maaliya, AP reported. Reportedly, tensions were high after Israeli police raided Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque earlier this week. The raids in the holy site has triggered violent confrontations with Palestinians inside and caused an outrage. Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, while briefing the reporters said that the army drew a clear connection between the Lebanese rocket fire and the recent unrest in Jerusalem. Meanwhile, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said that Palestinians would not "sit with their arms crossed" in the face of Israeli aggression, BBC reported. The IDF struck targets including terrorist infrastructures belonging to Hamas in southern Lebanon. The IDF will not allow the Hamas terrorist organization to operate from within Lebanon & hold the state of Lebanon responsible for every directed fire emanating from its territory. pic.twitter.com/LIAlbOa3Rn Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 7, 2023 In a statement on Friday, the IDF tweeted that it struck targets including terrorist infrastructures belonging to Hamas in southern Lebanon. The IDF will not allow the Hamas terrorist organization to operate from within Lebanon & hold the state of Lebanon responsible for every directed fire emanating from its territory. While Hamas said that it had no information about the missiles fired from Lebanon. Israeli warplanes had launched around 20 missiles in Gaza striking four new sites. In counter-attack, Palestinian militants also fired a new round of rockets at southern Israel, where warning sirens were heard sounding. Israeli jets attacked an underground weapons production site and three above-ground sites, the IDF spokesperson's unit was quoted as saying by the Jerusalem Post. The Israeli airstrikes are said to be the heaviest since a round of fighting with Islamic Jihad in August 2022, BBC reported. The Israeli response came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an urgent security cabinet meeting. "We will hit our enemies and they will pay a price for all acts of aggression." He also called for a calming of tensions, adding "we will act decisively against extremists who use violence". Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned any military operations from the country's territory that "destabilise the situation". Pakistan's minister for climate change on Friday said the letter from India seeking to begin negotiations for the review of the 62-year-old Indus Water Treaty was "vague" and Islamabad in its reply has asked for a clarification from New Delhi. India earlier this year for the first time issued a notice to Pakistan, seeking a review and modification of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), in view of Islamabad's 'intransigence' to comply with the dispute redressal mechanism of the pact that was signed more than six decades ago for matters relating to cross-border rivers. Pakistan's Minister for Climate Change, Senator Sherry Rehman told the Senate that the contents of the letter regarding the IWT modification were "vague as India accused Pakistan of violating the agreement and committing a material breach. The government of Pakistan is fully cognisant of the matter and is dealing with it on its merits, she said. The minister said the government has deliberated with all the relevant stakeholders, and a response was sent to India on April 1, seeking clarification from the Indian side on the contents of their letter. No one can change Indus Waters Treaty unilaterally, the minister said as she apprised the Upper House about the Indian letter. The IWT was signed in 1960 through the good offices of the World Bank and has survived the vicissitudes of the acrimonious ties between the countries. Rehman noted the IWT is the only ratified treaty between Pakistan and India and has not been replaced by a duly ratified treaty concluded between the two governments ever since 1960, and continues to be an instrument in force. It is imperative for India to ensure implementation of the Treaty in its true letter and spirit, she said. Pakistan is committed to the treaty and expects India to comply with it, she added. India on Thursday said it has received Pakistan's response to its notice sent over two months ago seeking a review and modification of the IWT for the management of cross-border rivers. New Delhi took the significant step of sending the notice to Pakistan conveying its intent to amend the treaty around months after the World Bank announced appointing a neutral expert and a chair of the Court of Arbitration to resolve the differences over the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects. India has been particularly disappointed over the appointment of the Court of Arbitration. New Delhi considers the start of the two concurrent processes to resolve the dispute a violation of the provision of the graded mechanism prescribed in the pact and wondered what will happen if the mechanisms come out with contradictory judgments. India has not cooperated with the Court of Arbitration. Under the pact, any differences need to be resolved under a three-stage approach. However, in the case of the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects, the World Bank started two concurrent dispute redressal processes at the insistence of Pakistan, which India felt was a breach of the pact. The Vatican said Pope Francis would not preside Way of the Cross event as part of Good Friday due to extremely cold weather in Rome. The Pope was recently hospitalised for bronchitis. It said that instead of presiding over the torch-led procession at the Colosseum, Francis will watch from the hotel where he lives in the Vatican. He will still attend the Passion celebration at St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican said. The Vatican said the pope would follow the event from his residence. The 86-year-old pontiff will still attend an indoor Good Friday service earlier in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican, Reuters reported. According to reports, it is the first time the pope will not preside at the "Via Crucis" service in Rome since he was elected. Pope Francis got discharged from the hospital on Saturday after being treated for bronchitis. The pope, 86, was hospitalised at Rome's Gemelli hospital after complaining of breathing difficulties. His medical team said Pope responded rapidly to an infusion of antibiotics. NEW DELHI, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SI-UK India, a leading study abroad education company, recently hosted four successful subject specific virtual fairs to help Indian students make informed decisions about their higher education choices in the UK. Students who participated in these fairs got a chance to speak in-person with representatives from various prestigious UK universities such as the Universities of Manchester, Edinburgh, Bath, Birmingham, and many more. Over 2000 students registered to participate in the SI-UK subject fairs and met with university representatives. The online subject fairs were organised to assist students looking to pursue degrees in computer science, health science, social science, and business management in the UK and build careers in these fields. The fairs provided an excellent platform for the students to gain in-depth information on the courses offered by the participating universities in these subject streams. Lakshmi Iyer, MD of SI-UK India, said, "As we enter the summer months here in India, it is also the peak time for decision-making for our students. SI-UK organised four subject specific virtual events to give our applicants the opportunity to have one-on-one time with the universities in their consideration set. We understand that this is a once-in a lifetime, high involvement, high stakes decision, and we want to give our students every chance to make a well informed decision. All of our events are for our students to get first hand exposure to our client institutions to help them make good choices." The University of Manchester team expressed their appreciation for SI-UK India. "The University of Manchester team is happy to be part of the SI-UK subject fairs since this is an excellent opportunity for us to engage with our offer holders who have applied via the very professional and experienced SI-UK offices. A big thank you to the SI-UK team for arranging these interactions for us and helping us connect with our prospective University of Manchester students,"said Aprajita Kalra, Country Advisor India for the University of Manchester. Davina Smith, Country Manager India for The University of Liverpool, added, "The SI-UK subject-specific event was successful because it gave us a chance to promote some of our niche courses within the University of Liverpool's Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. We met with a mixed batch of prospective students and offer holders, who were inquisitive not only about the various options available but were well researched about the department as well. Another highlight was speaking to some really driven and meritorious potential UG applicants. The interactions at SI-UK events have always been rewarding, and we look forward to participating in more specialised and department focused events." Virtual subject fairs are part of SI-UK India's ongoing activities to provide information on undergraduate and graduate level courses from UK universities to Indian students who wish to pursue higher education in the UK in September 2023. The team at SI-UK India is committed to providing students with the best advice and guidance to make the best choices for their academic pursuits in the UK through more such events in the future. About SI-UK India SI-UK India is part of SI-UK, a premier global education agency with 83 offices across 40 countries worldwide. We provide free advice and support to international students applying to study in the UK, Ireland and UAE. Our team of education consultants is experienced and trained by trusted university partners and agencies such as the British Council and Education in Ireland. We guide students through each step of the application process to universities, language schoosl and colleges. In addition to helping students with their visa applications and other study abroad-related services, SI-UK India annually conducts both online and offline events and fairs to provide information on represented colleges and courses. CONTACT: United Knowledge Education Consultants Pvt Ltd Suite 8-13, 1st Floor, Indra Palace H Block, Middle Circle, Connaught Place 110001, India T: +91-11-4202-8200 E: delhi@studyin-uk.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2049109/SIUKLogo.jpg (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR PWR Washington, Apr 7 (AP) Regulators are worried that faucet leaks in Boeing 787 jets could pose a safety hazard by water seeping into the planes' electronics during flights. The Federal Aviation Administration proposed Friday to order repetitive inspections and, if leaks are found, replacing faucet parts. The move comes after reports of water from lavatories getting under the cabin floor and into electronic equipment bays. The FAA said the leaks could damage critical equipment and lead to a loss of continued safe flight and landing. The agency said one airline found wet carpet in the cockpit of a plane and, when it inspected its entire fleet of 787s, found multiple planes with leaking faucets. The FAA did not identify the airline. Boeing advised airlines in November about the issue, which has been traced to an O-ring seal and described as a slow leak about 8 ounces of water per hour. However, Boeing said the issue was limited to certain 787s while the FAA order would cover all of them. The FAA described the extra inspections as a temporary measure while the manufacturer redesigns the faucet modules. There will be a 45-day period for comments before the proposal can become a final order. The inspections would apply to 140 planes in U.S. fleets. Boeing calls the 787 the Dreamliner. It is a bigger plane than the 737 Max and is used extensively on long flights including international ones. Dreamliner deliveries have been halted for several stretches during the past two years because of FAA concern over production flaws, although deliveries recently resumed after the latest stoppage. (AP) VM Florida Triple Homicide: Minors Arrested, Suspected of Killing Fellow Teen Robbery Crew Members (Photo : Marion County Sheriff's Office) Marion County Sheriff's Office (Photo : Marion County Sheriff's Office) Florida Triple Homicide: Minors Arrested, Suspected of Killing Fellow Teen Robbery Crew Members (Photo : Marion County Sheriff's Office) Florida police announced on Friday the arrest of two minors in connection to a triple homicide that left three teenagers dead in a rural area of the state last week. Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods emotionally revealed that the victims and the alleged killers were acquainted, and the group had been participating in burglaries before the violent events transpired. Advertisement Sheriff Woods stated, "There's no honor among thieves. At some point, these three individuals turned on our three victims and murdered them." The first victim, 16-year-old Layla Silvernail, was discovered dead on the side of the road on March 30. A 17-year-old boy was found the next morning, approximately half a mile away. The third victim, a teenage girl, was discovered in the trunk of Silvernail's car, which was submerged in a pond nine miles from where Silvernail's body was initially found. Woods explained that the suspects fled the scenes, leaving behind substantial evidence. Although police did not provide a detailed timeline, they indicated that all six individuals were together in Silvernail's car at some point. A witness reportedly heard the fatal gunshots, suggesting that the victims were likely killed simultaneously. One of the suspects, Robert Robinson, was arrested at a juvenile facility on Thursday after being apprehended for fighting at his school. Another suspect, Christopher Atkins, was arrested at his home. A third suspect, Tahj Brewton, is still at large. According to Woods, all six teenagers had gang affiliations and had previously committed crimes together. While the exact motive for the killers turning against their victims is unclear, authorities believe robbery was likely involved. The firearm used in the murders had been stolen during a car burglary. Sheriff Woods also took the opportunity to criticize calls for stricter gun laws, arguing that they do not prevent crimes. He said, "The gun laws we have in place didn't prevent it. Neither will any new ones. Because here's the fact. The bad guy is going to get the gun no matter what laws you have in place." Woods urged the public to provide any information about Brewton's whereabouts. Mumbai, Apr 7 (PTI) Allu Arjun's first look from the much-anticipated sequel of his blockbuster hit "Pushpa" was shared by the makers on Friday on the eve of the Telugu superstar's 41st birthday. Directed by Sukumar, "Pushpa 2: The Rule" follows the first installment "Pushpa 1: The Rise'', which sets up a clash between Arjun's titular character and Malayalam star Fahad Faasil's menacing inspector Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat. Production banner Mythri Movie Makers unveiled the first glimpse of the film on Twitter in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam languages. "Happy Birthday to Icon Star @alluarjun #HappyBirthdayAlluArjun #WhereIsPushpa? #Pushpa2TheRule," the post read. The video opens with news reports that Pushpa has escaped from the Tirupati jail and was shot multiple times. While some claim that the red sanders smuggler might be dead, others speculate Pushpa has made his way to foreign land. The over three-minute long clip also shows his supporters hoping for his return, with some coming on streets to protest leading to curfew in the area. Towards the end, an exclusive footage is seen being broadcasted on a news channel, which features Pushpa scaring away a tiger in the forest and giving a furious look to the night vision camera. In the last shot, Arjun sits on a chair and declares 'Pushpa's rule'. Produced by Naveen Yerneni and Y Ravi Shankar of Mythri Movie Makers in association with Sukumar Writings, the film also brings back Rashmika Mandanna as Srivalli and Faasil as Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat. Actors Dhanunjay, Rao Ramesh, Sunil, Anasuya Bharadwaj and Ajay Ghosh round out the cast. Music is composed by Devi Sri Prasad (DSP), with cinematography and editing by Miroslaw Kuba Brozek and Karthika Srinivas, respectively. Kathmandu, Apr 7 (PTI) A 30-year-old Indian national was arrested from Nepal's Chitwan district on Friday for ferrying a huge cache of hashish in a truck, police said. Acting on a tip-off, police raided the truck owned by Kundan Patel, a resident of East Champaran district in Bihar, in Chitwan district. Police recovered 181 kg and 500 grams of hashish from the truck. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, two youths were arrested on Friday for entering Nepal from the Indian border carrying over 5,000 tablets of Tramadol, a narcotic drug, police said. They were identified as Dinesh Kumar Das, 26 and 19-year-old Santosh Kumar Das. Nepal police have initiated an investigation into this incident. Everman (US), Apr 7 (AP) A 6-year-old Texas boy whose mother has given various stories to explain his absence since last fall is believed to be dead, police said Thursday. Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez was last seen around the time his mother gave birth to twin girls in October, Everman police Chief Craig Spencer said at a news conference. He said searches for the boy's body have been focused near the family's home in Everman, located just south of Fort Worth. Around the time that Noel was last seen, he was described as appearing unhealthy and malnourished, Spencer said. On March 31, arrest warrants on charges of abandoning and endangering a child were issued for the boy's mother, Cindy Rodriguez-Singh, and her husband, Arshdeep Singh. They are believed to have flown to India on March 22 along with six children. Two days earlier, police had been asked by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to do a welfare check on the children at the couple's home. During that visit, Rodriguez-Singh told officers that Noel was staying with family in Mexico. Spencer said that Rodriguez-Singh has been known by relatives to be abusive and neglectful to Noel. Also, he said, investigators learned through interviews that Rodriguez-Singh had referred to Noel as evil, possessed or having a demon in him and believed he'd harm the twins. Police have said that Noel suffers from numerous physical and developmental challenges. Relatives and witnesses stated that food and water were often withheld from Noel because Cindy did not like changing Noel's dirty diapers, Spencer said. A relative even witnessed Cindy strike Noel in the face with keys because he drank water. Spencer said that on November 1, 2022, Rodriguez-Singh got passport photos for all of the children living with her except for Noel. And then, the next day, she applied for passports for herself and all of the children except for Noel. Spencer said that in November, Rodriguez-Singh began to try to explain Noel's absence with various stories, including that he was either with his biological father or aunt in Mexico, or that she'd sold him to a woman in a grocery store parking lot. Spencer said that investigators have looked into all of those stories and none were true. (AP) GRS Halifax (Canada), Apr 7 (The Conversation) The United States government is considering a national ban of TikTok, a social media application used by over 150 million Americans. Although the primary reason for the ban is privacy concerns, it presents an opportunity to consider other potential risks. It is well known social media apps can negatively impact mental health outcomes, a fact even acknowledged by Facebooks leaked internal research. The impact social media use may have on our cognitive abilities, however, is less well known. As an attention researcher, I study all the different processes our brains use to focus and maintain attention. Attention isnt a single mechanism, but rather the result of a number of different mechanisms across various areas of the brain. One of these mechanisms is executive functioning, defined as our ability to focus on the task at hand and filter distractions. However, not all tasks are created equal: its easier to focus when the object of our attention is engaging and entertaining. Designed with attention in mind In order to keep you entertained, social media companies are constantly tracking the content you engage with. This not only means the content you like, but also how long you spend on each piece of content. By doing this, the app methodically presents you with related content, to keep you on its platform as long as possible. The way social media apps present content is crucial, as many apps now use an endless scroll feature in which users simply swipe upwards to view the next piece of content. Having a continuous stream of content is meant to absorb users into what researchers refer to as a flow state. We experience flow states when we are so deeply engaged in an activity that we lose our sense of time. Flow states can be highly advantageous in a work setting, as they help us stay focused and increase efficiency in completing relevant tasks. However, social media apps try to elicit flow states to make it more difficult to leave their platform. To put it briefly, companies are constantly tracking our attention and leveraging this data to keep us hooked. With a majority of social media users logging in at least once a day, and one-third of teenagers using these apps almost constantly, it raises the question of whether social media is hurting our attention abilities. The cost of task-switching Throughout the day, many individuals multitask by alternating between work-related activities and using social media platforms. According to a study conducted on middle and high school students, teenagers spend, on average, less than six minutes on a task before switching to social media or texting. While some forms of multitasking are harmless, like walking and chewing gum at the same time, it is not possible to effectively multitask on activities that share cognitive mechanisms. Instead, we engage in task-switching, which involves alternating between two related activities. Think of trying to read while simultaneously engaging in conversation: its not possible without disengaging from one of these activities, since they both involve language processing. Social media and most forms of work fall into this category. One of the problems with task switching lies in switch costs, a term used to describe the negative effect that re-engaging with a task has on your cognition. This means every time you open social media while studying for school or working at your job, you will be slower and more error prone for a period of time when getting back to work. Not surprisingly, people who typically engage with multiple forms of media at once show general decreases in sustained attention, or the ability to maintain focus. It is much better to block off time for work: 20 continuous minutes of work is significantly better than four five-minute blocks separated by brief social media breaks. What about executive functioning? There is limited research measuring the impact of social media use on the various aspects of executive functioning, but researchers do know a bit about how social media addiction may impact cognition. Social media addiction was determined based on a developed questionnaire which asks questions on how social media impacts mood, whether the person experiences withdrawal, and whether it negatively impacts different areas of their life. If the person scores high enough on this scale, they are considered to meet the criteria for social media addiction. Those who meet that criteria tend to be more impulsive than non-addicted social media users, as measured by a risk-assessment task, in which those addicted to social media tend to make more risky choices associated with long-term losses. People in the study were also more impulsive after being exposed to social media during the testing session, compared to when they were tested without exposure. However, overall, individuals with social media addiction functioned normally on many of the other cognitive assessment tasks, so it appears impulsivity is the main component of cognition being impacted with problematic social media users. Its not all bad news, though: there are possible cognitive benefits associated with social media use for some people. Researchers found social media use in middle-aged and older adults can help improve executive functioning because of the increased access to social connection it provides. This offers a support channel to individuals who are at risk for cognitive decline due to social isolation or loneliness. Internet trends as a measure of attention Until there is more research on social media use and its effects on attention, we can look at alternate sources of data to make some early predictions. One group of scientists looked at how long hashtags spend on the top 50 charts as a measure of attention span. Researchers found that in 2013, a hashtag stayed in the top 50 for an average of 17.5 hours. This number gradually decreased to 11.9 hours by 2016. This may reflect how our capacity to engage our attention shrinks as more content becomes available. More recently, there has been a trend on TikTok of using split-screening to display multiple videos at once. This is a new development that reflects the desire to multitask media, where a viewer can shift their eyes to another stream of content as soon as any level of boredom arises. While further research is needed to determine potential cognitive costs associated with this new style of media, the trend suggests a growing preference for content that demands less attentional effort. (The Conversation) NSA Israel launched rare strikes in southern Lebanon early Friday and pressed on with bombing targets in the Gaza Strip, marking a widening escalation in the region following violence this week at Jerusalem's most sensitive holy site. The cross-border fighting erupted during a time of heightened religious fervour when Jews are celebrating the Passover holiday and Muslims are marking the Ramazan holy month. In 2021, an escalation also triggered by clashes at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, spilled over into an 11-day war between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers. Friday's strikes in southern Lebanon came a day after militants fired nearly three dozen rockets from there at Israel, wounding two people and causing some property damage. The Israeli military said it targeted installations of Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, in southern Lebanon. An Associated Press photographer said several missiles fired by Israeli warplanes struck an open area near the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh, close to the coastal southern city of Tyre. Israeli strikes in Lebanon risk drawing Lebanon's Hezbollah militia into the fighting. The Iran-backed group, armed with thousands of rockets and missiles, holds sway over much of southern Lebanon and is viewed by Israel as a bitter foe. In recent years, Hezbollah has stayed out of other flareups related to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which stands on a hilltop revered by Muslims and Jews. The Israeli military was careful to note in its announcement about Friday's attack that it was targeting only sites linked to Palestinian militants. The head of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, Maj Gen Aroldo Lazaro, said he was in contact with Israeli and Lebanese authorities early Friday. The force, known as UNIFIL, said that both sides have said they do not want war. Meanwhile, Israeli air strikes on Gaza resumed early Friday, after militants fired more rockets from the blockaded territory, setting off air raid sirens in the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon. The military said targets included the entry shaft to an underground network used for weapons manufacturing. The current round of violence began Wednesday after Israeli police twice raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem's Old City. That led Thursday to rocket fire from Gaza and, in a significant escalation, the rocket barrage from Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his Security Cabinet for a three-hour meeting late Thursday. Israel's response, tonight and beyond, will extract a heavy price from our enemies, he said in a statement after the meeting. Almost immediately, Palestinian militants in Gaza began firing rockets into southern Israel, setting off air raid sirens across the region. Loud explosions could be heard in Gaza from the Israeli strikes, as outgoing rockets whooshed into the skies toward Israel. For now, Palestinian militants have fired only short-range rockets from Gaza, rather than the long-range projectiles that can reach as far as Tel Aviv and typically invite harsher Israeli retaliation. The Israeli military said the rocket fire on its northern and southern fronts was carried out by Palestinian militants in connection to this week's violence at Al-Aqsa where Israeli police stormed into the building with tear gas and stun grenades to confront Palestinians barricaded inside on two straight days. The violent scenes from the mosque ratcheted up tensions across the region. In a briefing with reporters, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, said the army drew a clear connection between the Lebanese rocket fire and the recent unrest in Jerusalem. It's a Palestinian-oriented event, he said, adding that either the Hamas or Islamic Jihad militant groups, which are based in Gaza but also operate in Lebanon, could be involved. But he said the army believed that Hezbollah and the Lebanese government were aware of what happened and also held responsibility. The mosque the third-holiest site in Islam stands on a hilltop revered by Jews as the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism. The competing claims to the site have repeatedly spilled over into violence over the years. No faction in Lebanon claimed responsibility for the salvo of rockets. A Lebanese security official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to media, said the country's security forces believed the rockets were launched by a Lebanon-based Palestinian militant group, not by Hezbollah. Lebanon's caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, condemned the firing of rockets from Lebanon, adding that Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers were investigating and trying to find the perpetrators. Mikati said his government categorically rejects any military escalation and the use of Lebanese territories to stage acts that threaten stability. Hezbollah has condemned the Israeli police raids in Jerusalem. Both Israel and Hezbollah have avoided an all-out conflict since a 34-day war in 2006 ended in a draw. The current escalation comes against the backdrop of Netanyahu's domestic problems. For the past three months, hundreds of thousands of Israelis have been demonstrating against his plans to overhaul the country's judicial system, claiming it will lead the country toward authoritarianism. Key military units, including fighter pilots, have threatened to stop reporting for duty if the overhaul is passed, drawing a warning from Defense Minister Yoav Gallant that Israel's national security could be harmed by the divisive plan. Netanyahu said he was firing Gallant, but then backtracked as he put the overhaul on hold for several weeks. Critics could also accuse him of trying to use the crisis to divert attention from his domestic woes. Netanyahu said that the domestic divisions had no impact on national security and that the country would remain united in the face of external threats. Tensions have simmered along the Lebanese border as Israel appears to have ratcheted up its shadow war against Iranian-linked targets in Syria, another close ally of Iran, Israel's archenemy in the region. Suspected Israeli airstrikes in Syria in recent weeks have killed two Iranian military advisers and temporarily put the country's two largest airports out of service. Hecht, the military spokesman, said Thursday's rocket fire was not believed to be connected to events in Syria. In Washington, the principal deputy State Department spokesman, Vedant Patel, said, Israel has legitimate security concerns and has every right to defend themselves. But he also urged calm in Jerusalem, saying that any unilateral action that jeopardizes the status quo to us is unacceptable, he said. In Jerusalem, the situation remained tense at Al-Aqsa. For the previous two nights, Palestinians barricaded themselves in the mosque with stones and firecrackers. Worshippers have been demanding the right to pray overnight inside the mosque which authorities typically only permit during the last 10 days of the monthlong Ramazan holiday. They also have stayed in the mosque in protest over threats by religious Jews to carry out a ritual animal slaughter at the sacred site for Passover. Israel did not try to prevent people from spending the night in the mosque early Friday apparently because it was the weekend, when Jews do not visit the compound. But tensions could re-ignite Sunday when Jewish visits resume. Israel bars ritual slaughter on the site, but calls by Jewish extremists to revive the practice, including offers of cash rewards to anyone who even attempts to bring an animal into the compound, have amplified fears among Muslims that Israel is plotting to take over the site In this week's violence, Israeli police fired stun grenades and rubber bullets to evict worshippers who had locked the doors of the building. Palestinians hurled stones and fireworks at officers. After a few hours of scuffles that left a trail of damage, police managed to drag everyone out of the compound. Police fiercely beat Palestinians and arrested over 400 people. Israeli authorities control access to the area but the compound is administered by Islamic and Jordanian officials. The violence at the site has resonated across the region, with condemnations pouring in from Muslim leaders. (AP) NSA Islamabad, Apr 7 (PTI) Pakistan's Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has cancelled his visit to the US to attend the spring meetings of the World Bank and the IMF and hold talks with officials to unlock a much-needed USD 1.1 billion IMF bailout, amid deepening domestic political uncertainty and developing judicial crisis, according to a media report on Friday. During the visit, Dar was to meet the International Monetary Fund management for the removal of bottlenecks in the staff-level agreement on the revival of the stalled bailout package. Sources said that Dar would not attend the spring meetings of the World Bank and the IMF that will take place from April 10 to 16 in Washington, The Express Tribune newspaper reported. I am not going due to the domestic state of affairs, the newspaper quoted Dar as saying. The deepening political uncertainty and developing judicial crisis were said to be the reasons behind the cancellation of the trip to Washington, the paper said. Dar had the plan to address the financial and political worlds concerns regarding the continuity of the Pakistan government, future economic plans and bridging the once again trust deficit with the multilateral lenders. The sources said that Minister for Economic Affairs Sardar Ayaz Sadiq would also not go to the United States due to the prevailing uncertain political conditions. The economic affairs minister always represented Pakistan at the World Bank. Ayaz is considered very close to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and also handled the political affairs of the allied parties. The development came amid the widening chasm between the judiciary and the federal government over holding polls in the country's politically crucial Punjab province. The federal government asserts that it has the power to delay the polls and hold them with the general elections in the country after August this year. However, former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party has been pushing for early polls and demanding that instead of delaying the elections in the Punjab province, the national assembly should be dissolved and general elections called in the country. Finance Secretary Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh and Economic Affairs Secretary Kazim Niaz would now represent the government at the WB-IMF spring meetings. During the visit, Dar scheduled meetings with the presidents of WB, Asian Development Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank the three multilateral creditors that were very crucial for Pakistans plans to raise USD 6 billion in additional loans to meet the last IMF condition. Cash-strapped Pakistan is awaiting a much-needed USD 1.1 billion tranche of funding from the Washington-based IMF, which was originally due to be disbursed in November last year. The funds are part of a USD 6.5 billion bailout package the IMF approved in 2019, which analysts say is critical if Pakistan is to avoid defaulting on external debt obligations. The IMF programme, signed in 2019, is going to expire on June 30, 2023, and under the set guidelines, the programme cannot be extended beyond the deadline. The pending 9th review was scheduled to be completed in December 2022 and the 10th review should have been kick-started from February 2023. The 11th review was scheduled to commence on May 3. Pakistan and the IMF have been negotiating the resumption of the stalled programme for months but have yet to reach an agreement. There is no easy solution available to fix the ailing economy of Pakistan and the government is of the view that they have taken all the tough decisions for reviving the stalled IMF programme. Pakistan, currently in the throes of a major economic crisis, is grappling with high external debt, a weak local currency and dwindling foreign exchange reserves, enough to shore up for barely one month's imports. The current volatile political situation in Pakistan has become a factor in delaying a much-needed deal with the IMF. London, Apr 7 (PTI) The discovery of a colonial-era file from the archives of the India Office, the then-British government department responsible for its rule over the Indian subcontinent, has shed light on many precious gems and jewels that came into the possession of the royal family. As part of a Cost of the crown series, The Guardian newspaper has been chronicling an investigation into Britain's royal wealth and finances in the lead-up to the Coronation of King Charles III next month. In one of the reports this week, it references a remarkable 46-page file uncovered from the India Office archives that detail an investigation, apparently commissioned by Queen Mary the grandmother of the late Queen Elizabeth II, into the imperial origins of her jewels. Among its references is an emerald-encrusted gold girdle used to decorate the horses in the stables of Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab, which now forms part of King Charles royal collection. The report, from 1912, explains how priceless pieces, including Charless emerald belt, were extracted from India as trophies of conquest and later given to Queen Victoria, The Guardian investigation reveals. The items described are now owned by the monarch as property of the British crown, it notes. Among the discoveries included a journal recording a tour in 1837 of Punjab by the British society diarist Fanny Eden and her brother George, then Britain's governor general of India, who visited Ranjit Singh the powerful king who had signed a so-called treaty of friendship with the British at the time. Dazzled by his kingdoms jewels, Eden wrote: He puts his very finest jewels on his horses, and the splendour of their harness and housings surpasses anything you can imagine." If ever we are allowed to plunder this kingdom, I shall go straight to their stables, Eden wrote. Later in the 19th century, Ranjit Singhs son and heir, Duleep Singh, was forced to sign Punjab over to the East India Company and according to historical records, the kingdoms stables would have been among the many targets of plunder. The infamous Koh-i-Noor diamond is said to have come into the possession of Queen Victoria as a result of just such a plunder by East India Company officials. While modern-day royals averted a diplomatic row by not choosing the traditional Koh-i-Noor encrusted crown for Queen Camilla's Coronation on May 6, the Cost of the crown has cast a spotlight on the wider extent of colonial-era jewels in royal possession today. Among the jewels identified in the document uncovered by The Guardian is a short necklace of four very large spinel rubies, the largest of which is a 325.5-carat spinel that later came to be identified as the Timur ruby. However, research by the academic Susan Stronge in 1996 concluded it was probably never owned by the Mongol conqueror and belonged to several kings of Persia and Mughal emperors before Queen Victoria sent it from India. Another Indian item chronicled is a pearl necklace consisting of 224 large pearls, which is also believed to have come from Ranjit Singhs treasury. We have finally entered an era where colonial loot and pillage is being recognised for what it really was, rather than being dressed up as the incidental spoils of some noble civilising mission, Congress MP and author of Inglorious Empire: What the British Did to India Shashi Tharoor told the newspaper. As we are seeing increasingly, the return of stolen property is always a good thing. Generations to come will wonder why it took civilised nations so long to do the right thing, he said. According to the investigative series, Queen Marys interest in investigating the origins of her jewellery appears to have been prompted by a curiosity about some of her pearls' origin rather than any moral concern about their colonial origins. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson told the newspaper that slavery and colonialism were matters that King Charles III takes profoundly seriously. It has also been revealed that the palace is supporting research into the British monarchys historical links with slavery. Historic Royal Palaces is a partner in an independent research project, which began in October last year, that is exploring, among other issues, the links between the British monarchy and the transatlantic slave trade during the late 17th and 18th centuries, the palace has said. London, Apr 7 (PTI) British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murty, have spoken of their pride in author and philanthropist Sudha Murty being conferred the Padma Bhushan at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. Akshata, the First Lady at 10 Downing Street, was present at the ceremony and later took to social media to express her emotions towards her parents Sudha Murty and Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy. Her husband, Britains first Indian-origin Prime Minister, replied to his wifes post with the words a proud day. Yesterday I watched with unspeakable pride as my mother received the Padma Bhushan from the President of India, Akshata Murty posted on Twitter on Thursday after her 72-year-old mother got the award. On #IWD [International Womens Day] last month, I reflected on my mothers extraordinary journey, from STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) to storytelling, but her charitable and volunteering efforts have served as her greatest inspiration to me," Akshata writes. "Always asking if she can be doing more, she has given back to her community countless times: founding and running a series of philanthropic organisations for 25 years; funding numerous literacy initiatives; and jumping into action to aid those most in need many in the most remote parts of India after natural disasters have destroyed their lives, she writes. The First Lady said her mother's example has helped put volunteering, learning and listening at the heart of how she hopes to live at 10 Downing Street. My mother doesnt live for recognition. The values my parents have instilled in my brother and me hard work, humility, selflessness mean she is always on to the next thing. But it was such a moving experience to see her have a moment of recognition yesterday, she added. Her brother, Rohan Murty, similarly praised his mother as a positive force in their lives in his social media post. In her acceptance speech at the ceremony attended by her family, Sudha Murty thanked the people of India for their unconditional support. I owe this award to the people of India. I hope my recognition today inspires the younger generation to take up social welfare as a vocation. It is needed for the continuous development of our great nation. I always feel that the generosity of a few gives hope for a million, she said. Islamabad, Apr 7 (PTI) A powerful panel of Pakistan's Parliament has sought a criminal investigation against officials of a government agency who allegedly accessed the personal information of Army chief General Asim Munir and his family, a media report said on Friday. According to the Dawn newspaper, two Pakistani journalists claimed in a vlog earlier this week that in October 2022, personal data and travel records of Gen. Munirs family were allegedly accessed by National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) officers in a bid to stop his appointment as the Chief of Army Staff. NADRA also confirmed the news of the personal information of the Army chief's family being accessed and stolen. At a Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (PAC) meeting on Thursday, chaired by Member of the National Assembly Noor Alam Khan, expressed serious concerns over media reports about the breach, the report said. Khan said that those involved in the data theft should be behind bars, adding that Military Intelligence and Inter-Services Intelligence should be a part of the criminal investigation. It should be determined how the familys personal information was stolen, Khan was quoted as saying in the report. Munir was serving as a Lieutenant General at the time of the alleged data breach, in line to be appointed to the top post. The PAC also summoned the NADRA chairman Tariq Malik, who was absent from the meeting due to other engagements. Stating that the news has become viral, Khan added that he also saw a vlog in which two journalists discussed the issue. Munir, a former spymaster, assumed charge as the country's new Army chief late last year and became the 17th Chief of the Army Staff. He replaced Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, who retired after two consecutive three-year terms. Johannesburg, Apr 7 (PTI) South Africa said Friday that the UAE has turned down its request to extradite two brothers from the wealthy Indian-origin Gupta family to face trial in the country on fraud and corruption charges. The three Gupta brothers, Ajay, Atul and Rajesh, are wanted in South Africa for their alleged roles in the looting of billions of rands from state enterprises. They are alleged to have used their closeness to former president Jacob Zuma to do this. The South African government last year submitted a formal extradition application to the United Arab Emirates for Rajesh Gupta and Atul Gupta. The family fled to Dubai five years ago as the net closed in on them following Zumas ousting by his own African National Congress when he refused to step down. Justice Minister Ronald Lamola says his government is shocked and dismayed after the UAE declined the request Lamola said he only learnt about the decision after his office enquired with the local UAE embassy, which said that they had received a note verbale stating this. We learnt with shock and dismay that the extradition hearing had been concluded in the Dubai courts on February 13, 2023, and our extradition request was unsuccessful," Lamola said. "The reasons provided are of a technical nature, and fly in the face of (earlier) assurances given by the UAE authorities that our request meets their requirements, he said. Lamola said the decision would be appealed. Legal experts however said such an appeal would be to no avail, as the Gupta brothers are believed to now be in Switzerland. Originally from Saharanpur in India, the Guptas built an empire in the IT, media and mining industries after first arriving in the country to start a shoe shop soon after Nelson Mandela was released from 27 years as a political prisoner to become the first democratically-elected president. We have complied with every letter of the extradition treaty that we have between ourselves and the UAE authorities. To ensure this compliance, we have even allowed the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to go to the UAE for engagements with their counterparts before the papers were submitted, Lamola said at a media briefing. The Central Authority in the UAE and the prosecution in the UAE confirmed that all our papers are in order. So from our side, we have complied and that is why we are bemused by this judgement that cites technicalities. We find it shocking, he added. Lamola said that even if there was a technical issue, the UAE should have sought clarity from South Africa in line with Article 17 of the UN Convention Against Corruption, which requires consultation with the applicant country before a decision is taken. We still intend to engage with our counterparts in the UAE to ensure that the decision of the court is promptly appealed, as well as to devise other mechanisms to deal with the matter. That discussion must also preserve the integrity of our bilateral relations, Lamola said. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris leads a session of the President's online COVID Summit inside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House in Washington, U.S. (Photo : REUTERS/Tom Brenner) Vice President Kamala Harris will make an unexpected visit to Nashville on Friday to advocate for gun control and meet with two Tennessee Democratic lawmakers who were expelled from the General Assembly after protesting for gun reform on the statehouse floor. The impromptu trip follows the Tennessee House Republicans' decision on Thursday to expel Reps. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) and Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) in a move that garnered national attention on gun control and race issues and received criticism from President Joe Biden. Advertisement The two Black lawmakers, along with a third Democrat, Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville), were penalized by Republicans for organizing protests with bullhorns on the House floor following a mass shooting at a Nashville private Christian school that claimed six lives. Johnson, who is white, narrowly avoided expulsion by a single vote. In a tweet, Harris said, "Six people, including three children, were killed last week in a school shooting in Nashville. How did Republican lawmakers in Tennessee respond? By expelling their colleagues who stood with Tennesseans and said enough is enough. This is undemocratic and dangerous." A White House official verified the trip, stating that Harris intends to visit Nashville to amplify the voices of thousands of young voters who have organized demonstrations at the Tennessee state Capitol demanding changes to gun laws but have been unable to influence the state's Republican majority. Harris is expected to arrive on Friday afternoon and reiterate Biden's call for Congress to pass a nationwide ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. The Vice President plans to meet with the state Legislature's Democratic caucus, including Jones, Pearson, and Johnson, as well as the young people who led protests at the Tennessee Capitol. According to the White House official, the Vice President "wants to make sure that these young people's voices are heard" and that "in the face of a very tragic event, they want action." The "Tennessee Three" lawmakers were accused by Republican leadership of violating decorum and floor rules by speaking at the House podium on March 30 without being recognized. However, by proceeding with the expulsions, Tennessee's Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton inadvertently transformed two Democrats, who had no legislative power in a Republican supermajority, into national heroes for the political left. In a statement, President Biden called the expulsions "shocking, undemocratic, and unprecedented," adding that "rather than debating the merits" of gun control, "these Republican lawmakers have chosen to punish, silence, and expel duly-elected representatives of the people of Tennessee." Islamabad, Apr 7 (PTI) A senior Pakistani minister on Friday demanded the resignation of Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial after another judge of the Supreme Court issued a dissenting note on the suo motu notice regarding holding elections in Punjab province, further deepening the faultlines between the judiciary and the government. Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb addressing the media demanded Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial to resign after his position has become controversial. On Friday, Justice Athar Minallah, in his dissenting note, maintained that the Supreme Court's suo motu notice was dismissed by a majority 4-3 ruling. Aurangzeb, who is part of the Pakistan Democratic Movement, in the ruling coalition alliance, said Justice Minallah's decision raised questions about the judicial process. "Justice Minallah has made a major decision today. Following this decision, the majority of judges have reached a conclusion. The decision made by him today raises questions about the judicial process," the information minister said. A three-member bench of the apex court led by Chief Justice Bandial on Tuesday fixed May 14 as the new date for elections to the Punjab Assembly, as it quashed the Election Commission of Pakistan's decision to extend the polls date from April 10 to October 8. The dissenting note of the judge provided an opportunity for the government to put more pressure on the apex court to accept its demand to set up a full court to decide the election date in Punjab province. The verdict was criticised by the coalition government, which refused to accept it. "When there was no petition, questions arise as to why the bench was formed and why a decision was made," she said. Aurangzeb maintained that political parties were not running away from elections but the issues was not limited to elections but had become a matter of "bench fixing." The minister added that the illegal use of powers and arbitrary interpretation of the Constitution cannot be accepted. On Thursday, the National Assembly or the lower house passed a resolution to reject the decision of the apex court. The resolution came after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressing the cabinet meeting on Wednesday described the court decision as a "mockery of the Constitution and law and added that it could not be implemented. His idea was supported by the National Assembly, showing the bitter divide over the date of election in Punjab where the assembly was dissolved on January 13 and the polls should be held within 90 days. The federal government asserts that it has powers to delay the polls and hold it with the general elections in the country after August. However, former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party was pushing for early polls and demanding that instead of delaying the Punjab elections, the national assembly should be dissolved and general elections called in the country. Separately, an application was filed by lawyer Raja Sibtain Khan in the Supreme Judicial Council, the body having powers to remove a judge of higher judiciary, for the removal of Chief Justice Bandial. The complainant claims that the Chief Justice devised groupings within the vagaries of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and was guilty of misconduct. The latest development widened the gulf between the government and the judiciary and increased the political and economic uncertainty in the cash-strapped country. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI) Thane, Apr 7 (PTI) The highly-decomposed body of a nine-year-old girl has been recovered from the water tank of a building near her house in Maharashtra's Thane district two days after she went missing, police said on Friday. The girl from Bhiwandi tehsil had gone missing on April 3 and her body was found on Wednesday, they said. "The girl had stepped out of her house to buy eggs from a grocery shop near Amjadia School in her locality. However, she did not return home after that. Her family members carried out a frantic search but failed to find her. After that, a missing person's report was filed," an official of Shanti Nagar police station in Bhiwandi said. During their probe, the police received information that the girl's body was found in the water tank of a building in the locality. The residents told the police that as a foul smell emanated, they checked the water tank where they found the body, which was in a highly-decomposed state. The police sent the body to a government hospital for a post-mortem, he said. After the recovery of the body, the police have registered a case of kidnapping and investigation into the incident was on. Surat, Apr 7 (PTI) A superintendent with the Central Goods and Services Tax (GST) department and two others were arrested in Surat in Gujarat for allegedly extorting Rs 12 lakh from a shopkeeper, a police official said on Friday. The CSGST superintendent, his driver and one more person were held on the complaint of Dhirendrasinh Rajpurohit at Varachha police station and have been charged with extortion and other offences, he said. "On the evening of March 30, the three accused entered Rajpurohit's apparel shop in Old Bombay Market in Varachha area claiming they are from the GST department and that a warrant has been issued by the department against him for hiding income and GST evasion," he said. "Without revealing their names or designations, the trio carrying files with the official emblem of the government told Purohit his shop's turnover was Rs 5 crore during the last two years and that he needed to pay Rs 80 lakh as GST," he added. Threatening to seal his shop and send him to jail for 10 years, the accused sought Rs 45 lakh, and after Rajpurohit expressed his inability to give such a large amount the accused took Rs 7 lakh from his shop and Rs 5 lakh from his home, the official said. On Rajpurohit's complaint, a case was registered and the three were nabbed on Thursday on the basis of CCTV footage and other inputs, the police official said. Thane, Apr 7 (PTI) Police have registered a case against a man and his four family members in Thane district of Maharashtra for allegedly harassing his wife and seeking from her half of the Rs 30 lakh compensation that her family had received from the Uttar Pradesh government following her father's death due to COVID-19, an official said on Friday. The first information report (FIR) against the man and his relatives was registered at the Navghar police station under the Mira Bhayandar-Vasai Virar police commissionerate based on a complaint lodged by his 29-year-old wife. "The victim married the man in February 2020. In April 2021, her father died of COVID-19 and the Uttar Pradesh government gave Rs 30 lakh compensation to his family. After the woman's in-laws came to know about it, they demanded half the compensation amount," a police official said. As they did not get any money despite their repeated demands, the woman's husband and his family members started abusing and harassing her physically and mentally. They even drove her out of the house last month, the woman said in her complaint. A case under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 498A (harassment and cruelty by husband or his relatives), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 504 (intentional insult) and 506 (criminal intimidation) was registered against the man, his parents and others. However, none of them have been arrested so far, the police said. The UP government had announced in July 2021 that it would give Rs 30 lakh as compensation to the family of the each of its over 2,000 employees who died due to COVID-19 during the panchayat polls duty that year. Burhanpur, Apr 7 (PTI) A mob of more than 60 people launched an attack on a police station in Madhya Pradesh's Burhanpur district on Friday and free three accused persons, including a dacoit, lodged in the lock-up, an official said. The incident took place around 3 am, when the mob entered Nepanagar police station, attacked and injured on-duty policemen and damaged several police vehicles, the official said. Four policemen were injured in the incident and are undergoing treatment at a private hospital, he said. The mob freed dacoit Hema Meghwal, who was carrying a reward of Rs 32,000, and their two other associates lodged in the lock-up. Meghwal was arrested a few days ago, Burhanpur SP, Rahul Kumar Lodha said. On being alerted about the attack, senior officials including Collector Bhavya Mittal and the superintendent of police reached the spot. At the time of the incident, four policemen were on duty, while the attackers were more than 60, Lodha said. The police were using CCTV footage to identify the attackers, he said. Apart from Meghwal, the mob also freed Magan Patel and another youth from the lock-up, the official added. Ahmednagar, Apr 7 (PTI) Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Friday said there will be change of power after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls with West Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh deciding the "destiny" of the country. He also slammed the Union government for its "silence" on China despite the latter's "incursions". "There will definitely be change of power in the country after 2024. I can say this very confidently," Raut, a key aide of former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, said while being interviewed at an event here. He said the Bharatiya Janata Party's "real power" was in instigating Hindu-Muslim riots and creating an atmosphere of tension between India and Pakistan for electoral gains. Slamming the Union government's silence on China, he said, "Then why not create atmosphere of tension between India and China because China has made incursions into the country." Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh have not uttered a word on China, Raut alleged. He also said the BJP's Hindutva was "stolen and bogus". Mumbai, Apr 7 (PTI) Messages sent to an IAS officer opposing the cutting of trees in Mumbai's Aarey Colony for the construction of a Metro Rail car shed were not offensive, but were assertion of a democratic right of a citizen of this country to put forth his view to object and protest, the Bombay High Court has said. A division bench of Justices Sunil Shukre and Milind Sathaye noted that registering a first information report (FIR) for such an offence would amount to an invasion on the rights of citizens of this country. The bench on April 5 quashed a January 2018 FIR registered at the suburban Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) police station against Avijit Michael, a Bengaluru resident, for allegedly sending offensive messages to IAS officer Ashwini Bhide, who at the time was heading the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL), and for allegedly obstructing her from discharging her public duties. The court in its order said the intention of the sender of these messages appears to be to protect the forest, which he considers to be acting like lungs for Mumbai. "These messages do not contain any offensive material or any obscenities. Rather, they appear to have been sent in assertion of a democratic right of a citizen of this country to put forth his view point, to object, to protest, to persuade, to urge, and so on," the court said. If anybody is booked for criminal offences such as those as have been registered against the petitioner, it may amount to an invasion upon the rights of the citizens of this country, the court said. The police upon receiving such a complaint, howsoever high he or she may be in position, must never book any ordinary citizen of the country under criminal law, it added. "...and if it does, it would be like suppressing his voice against what he considers to be a wrongful thing," the court said. The bench while quashing the FIR issued a warning to the concerned police officer. "The investigating officer, who registered the crime against the petitioner, is hereby cautioned to be careful in registering crimes in such matters in future," the court said. The bench in its order noted that the allegations made in the FIR, when taken at their face-value, do not, in any manner, constitute the offence punishable under section 186 (obstructing a public servant in discharging their public duties) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the provisions of the Information Technology Act for sending offensive messages. "It is necessary that there must be a public servant who is voluntarily obstructed by another in discharge of his public functions and such obstruction must have direct connection with the discharge of public functions of such public servant," the court said. The bench noted that it is for the public servant who has been obstructed in discharge of his public functions to voluntarily come forward and allege the obstruction. The allegation in the present case is that the petitioner and others had caused obstruction to Bhide. The MMRCL had at the time proposed to cut trees at the suburban Aarey Colony for the construction of Metro car shed, which was protested by environmental activists and several others. The allegation is that Michael sent Bhide certain offensive messages on her phone, which were construed as causing obstruction to her public duties. The bench noted that Bhide herself has not come forward and made these allegations and the FIR is lodged by a city resident. It added that the alleged messages sent to Bhide do not show that the sender had intended to obstruct her from discharging her public duties. "These messages show at their face-value that the sender of the messages was the person who had intention to make efforts for preservation of the trees in the larger interest of society," the order said. The sender had stated that the Aarey Forest was a green lung for the city of Mumbai just as Cubbon Park is for Bengaluru and, therefore, the sender has pleaded with Bhide to look for alternatives so that the trees can be saved. It would be clear from the above referred messages that the sender had acted in a bona fide manner, on the basis of what he believed to be an act which was necessary for maintaining the health of Mumbai, the order said. Gumla (Jharkhand), Apr 7 (PTI) A 22-year-old man was arrested in Jharkhands Gumla district, after police recovered from him around Rs 6.54 crore in cash allegedly stolen from a businessman in Delhi, an official said. Following a tip-off, the police intercepted a bus and nabbed the man, they said. The money was kept in five bags in the luggage compartment of the bus travelling from Daltonganj to Rourkela in Sundargarh district of Odisha, the place where the man belonged to, the official said. However, his two accomplices including an employee of the Delhi businessman fled. With the help of machines, officials of a bank on Thursday counted the cash that amounted to Rs 6,53,97,730, Gumla SP Ehtesham Waquarib said. It was stolen from the businessman dealing in gold in Karolbagh area of Delhi. Ranchi, Apr 7 (PTI) Tribal bodies in Jharkhand have called a day-long shutdown in Ranchi on Saturday in protest against the burning of a religious flag by miscreants. The tribal bodies under the banner of Kendriya Sarna Samiti took out a torchlight procession on Friday evening here demanding the arrest of those responsible. The Ranchi administration on Friday imposed Section 144 Cr PC in the 200-meter radius limit of Chief Minister Hemant Soren's house and the secretariat because of the bandh. The bandh sponsors said that ambulance and milk van services and pharmacies will be kept out of the bandh purview. A Sarna flag was burnt at Lower Karam Toli area in Ranchi on March 25, a day after the Sarhul festival, by some miscreants. But the administration took no action in this regard," KSS president Phoolchand Tirkey said. Alleging that there were more such incidents, he said a tribal religious flag was thrown away in Nagri and Thakurgaon localities. In these instances too no action was taken though the tribal organisations had lodged their protests. Since the administration is taking no action, we are forced to call Ranchi bandh on Saturday, he said. Sarnas are sacred groves in Chhota Nagpur plateau region and are worshhipped by tribals in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. The prohibitory order at the chief minister's house was imposed also due to the slated protest by students on the employment issue. Jharkhand State Students Union (JSSU), however, announced on Friday that it has postponed the CM House gherao programme after the death of state Education Minister Jagarnath Mahto in Tamilnadu on Thursday. JSSU has been demanding the scrapping of the 60-40 ratio-based employment policy and the one based on the introduction of 1932 khatiyan (land settlement). The state cabinet on March 3 approved the ammendment to various rules related to Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) examinations. We have rescheduled the protest to April 17, JSSU leader Devendra Mahto. The charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) rescued on Tuesday 440 irregular migrants from a fishing boat drifting in the international waters near Malta. The boat was carrying nationals from Egypt, Syria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Somalia and Sri Lanka, a spokeswoman for the MSF told Reuters on Wednesday. The rescued group had set off from eastern Libya, near Benghazi, on Saturday. Rescue efforts took a total of 11 hours due to the weather conditions. The GeoBarents rescue boat was originally headed north for shelter when it received a distress signal from Alarm Phone, an independent support agency for people crossing the Mediterranean Sea to the European Union. The boat in distress had already run out of fuel and was drifting in unstable waters, practically in the eye of a storm, the MSF added. Eight women and 30 children were among the rescued, MSF added. Following the rescue, survivors reported being at sea for more than four days, the last two without food and water, the MSF noted. Of the 440 irregular migrants rescued, 100 will be transshipped to an Italian naval vessel off the coast of Sicily, while the remaining 339 will be taken to the southeastern Italian port of Brindisi. Italy has seen a surge in sea migration from North Africa, with more than 28,000 arrivals this year, compared to around 6,800 in the same period of 2022, according to Reuters. Since 2016, Egypt has taken steps to combat the smuggling of migrants. These steps include passing a law that criminalises all forms of migrant smuggling. The law sentences smugglers and their accomplices to up to 5 years in prison and imposes hefty fines ranging from EGP 200,000 to EGP 500,000. Egypt toughened the law in 2022 by adding an additional fine equivalent to the value of the amount the smugglers or their accomplices profited from their crime. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi had stressed in a press conference with Danish Prime Minister in March 2022 that his country takes the issue of irregular migration very seriously. "No boat or citizen has crossed from Egypts maritime border to Europe since September 2016," the president added. The provision of job opportunities for African nationals will curb those who illegally migrate to Europe searching for better financial prospects, El-Sisi had asserted. Search Keywords: Short link: Kolkata, Apr 7 (PTI) The West Bengal government has drafted an action plan with the help of Dutch experts to tackle floods, prevent embankment damage and decrease salinity level in Sunderbans and in the coastal areas. Principal Secretary of Irrigation and Waterways department Prabhat Kumar Mishra told PTI that the department had signed the letter of intent (LoI) with the Netherlands government in the sixth edition of the Bengal Global Business Summit in April last year for technical assistance in delta management and development of the Sunderbans and coastal areas of Digha. "An action plan has been formulated and pilot project already taken off near Mousumi islands in South 24 Parganas district to strengthen embankments and the Dutch team - consisting of experts - has made three-four visits to the delta areas of south Bengal to take forward the work," he said. Mishra said various waterways, including blocked water canals and river channels, crisscrossing parts of south Bengal, had been connected with Hooghly river system at one time before tectonic shifts and other activities made them defunct and the links were severed. "Our aim is for restoring those links so that fresh water inflow is made possblle in those parts again and decrease the salinity level," he added. These defunct waterways in the zone, once excavated, will facilitate flow of fresh water and cause dip in the salinity level, the principal secretary said, adding that Dutch experts have been roped in for the ambitious project as they are the "best" in this. The team, apart from making on the spot visits to different zones, has been building up a satellite image-based map. Mishra told PTI that the measures would help in mitigating flood in Kolkata, particularly southern parts of city and stop inundation of low lying areas during heavy rains. "Once the system is implemented both upper delta and lower delta will be benefitted," he said but did not give a time frame. "The Dutch experts have advocated natured-based solution" apart from sharing their engineering expertise in building a multi-pronged system which can prevent flooding, stop erosion in coastal areas," the principal secretary added. He said the move will also lead to stop in washing of saplings in coastal areas like Sunderbans which include species like Mangroves. "We are working on both medium-term and long-term approaches to address the situation with one of the best collaborators in the world," he added. Another state official said the government will seek funding from World Bank and Asian Development Bank for the project. He said till this date the department has already excavated 500 km for storing freshwater in south Bengal upper delta. The medium term plan is to excavate over 700 km of land in five years. "In the Netherlands dykes have proved to be effective in checking inundation of areas. We think as embankments in coastal areas of both South 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur districts gave way to breaching during disaster, we urgently need a mechanism to put in place to stop its recurrences," Mishra said. Ranchi, Apr 7 (PTI) Jharkhand minister Jagarnath Mahto's body was brought to Ranchi on Friday morning and it was kept at Jharkhand Assembly premises for ministers and MLAs to pay their last tributes. Mahto, 56, the school education and literacy minister died on Thursday at a hospital in Chennai where he was undergoing treatment. At Ranchi's Birsa Munda airport, hordes of leaders from ruling as well as opposition parties including Chief Minister Hemant Soren, leader of opposition and former chief minister Babulal Marandi, Union minister Annapurna Devi, cabinet ministers Mithilesh Thakur and Alamgir Alam were present to receive his body. "He was such a leader who always fought for Jharkhand and its people. It's a great loss to the state," Thakur said at the airport. Assembly Speaker Rabindranath Mahto, Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Parliamentary Affairs minister Alamgir Alam, Union minister Annapurna Devi, Jharkhand Cabinet ministers Champai Soren, Badal Patralekh, Banna Gupta and Mithilesh Thakur, Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi, Independent MLA Saryu Roy and many others offered floral tributes. After the Assembly, his body will be kept at JMM office. From there, it will be taken to his native place Simrakuli Alargo in Bokaro district where the last rites will be performed with state honour. Mahto was airlifted to Chennai last month due to health complications. He had undergone a lung transplant in November 2020 after suffering from COVID-19. He is survived by a son and four daughters. The Jharkhand government declared mourning for two days from April 6 in honour of Mahto, during which no official ceremony would be held. Ranchi, Apr 7 (PTI) Amid rising cases of coronavirus, Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta on Friday urged the Centre to provide at least 50,000 COVID vaccine doses to continue with the immunisation drive in the state. Gupta raised the issue in a review meeting conducted by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya virtually. Jharkhand runs out of COVID vaccine doses. We had sent a request to provide at least 50,000 doses to the state two-week back but its arrival is still awaited," Gupta told the central minister. With 11 new COVID-19 cases reported on Thursday, the total number of active patients in Jharkhand rose to 60, according to a bulletin of state health department. Two persons were cured of the disease in the past 24 hours, it said. Gupta, however, claimed that the majority of patients are having mild symptoms and they are under treatment at their respective homes. In the meeting with state health ministers and principal and additional chief secretaries, Mandaviya stressed on identifying emergency hotspots by monitoring trends of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases, ramping up testing and vaccination besides ensuring readiness of hospital infrastructure. Gupta said that the union minister asked the state to conduct mock drills of infrastructure in hospitals and medical colleges on April 10 and 11 and review the health preparedness with district administrations on April 9. The state minister also sought Mandaviya's intervention for approval of four RT-PCR laboratories at Khunti, Lohardaga, Koderma and Pakur from Indian Council of Medical Research. New Delhi, Apr 7 (PTI) Former Congress leader and last chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh N Kiran Kumar Reddy joined the BJP on Friday, lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi and slamming the opposition party's leadership for "damaging" its organisation across the country. Reddy joined the BJP in the presence of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and hit out at the Congress "high command", an apparent reference to the Gandhi family, for its inability to accept people's verdict and make a course correction. This is the reason why he has left the party, he said. "My king is very intelligent. He does not think on his own and he does not listen to anyone's advise," he cited a saying to attack his former leaders. They believe they are correct and all others, including the people of India, are wrong, he said, accusing them of being unable to analyse repeated electoral failures of the party. They want authority to control but don't want to work hard or take any responsibility, said the four-time former MLA, who had quit the Congress last month. Citing his family's over seven-decade-long association with the Congress, Reddy said he never imagined he will leave the party. The Congress is getting damaged in all states and its high command does not interact with others or consider their opinion, he said. Reddy contrasted the rise of the BJP with the decline of the Congress since 1984 and lauded the ruling party's leaders led by Modi for their hardwork and commitment towards the nation and its development. The talk of BJP now brings to the fore ideas like nation-building in people's mind, he said. Its leadership has clarity of thought and consistency, and taking courageous decision is the hallmark of the government, he said. Reddy also lauded Modi's commitment to fighting corruption. With their lack of interaction with people and leaders, the Congress leadership invariably picks wrong people for different jobs, he said. Joshi expressed confidence that Reddy's joining will boost the party in Andhra Pradesh, where it remains a marginal force, and also in Telangana, which was carved out of the state in 2014 when Reddy was the undivided state's chief minister. Opposed to the state's division, he had quit the Congress and formed his own party which failed at the hustings. He rejoined the Congress in 2018. Though Reddy is not really seen as a very influential leader in the state, the BJP believes that his experience and profile will bring heft to its organisation there. New Delhi, Apr 7 (PTI) Under attack over the fact-check provisions of the IT Amendment Rules, Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Friday dismissed the criticism as "deliberate misinformation". Chandrashekar's remarks came in response to CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury describing the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules as "draconian", "unacceptable" and one that gave "sweeping powers" to the Press Information Bureau to "censor content" on social media platforms. Besides Yechury, Congress leader Pawan Khera and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi also slammed the IT Amendment Rules as a "new way to restrict news critical of the government". "There are NO Sweeping powers - neither is it 'draconian'. IT Rules already have provisions from Oct 2022, which mandate Social Media intermediaries to not carry certain types of content if they are to have legal immunity under Sec79 of IT act," Chandrasekhar said on Twitter. He said the new credible fact-checking unit for all government-related content will help social media intermediaries. "Social Media intermediaries will have the option to follow or disregard fact checking finding. If they choose to disregard fact checking, the only consequence is that the concerned department can pursue legal remedy against the social media intermediary," the minister said. Chandrasekhar said the goal of the government was to ensure that the Internet was safe and trusted for all citizens. The minister asked "Comrade Yechury" to direct his "draconian" tweets at the Left Front government in Kerala led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan "who raids media channels". Hitting back at the opposition, Chandrasekhar recalled the use of Section 66A of the IT Act during the UPA government to "jail" young cartoonists for drawing cartoons. "To Comrade Yechury, Comrade Rahul and all other Lefties and latest entrant Uddhav's party with no name. Even as you two (or 3) besties try hard to misrepresent & lie about our serious work at creating a misinformation-free Internet in India whilst protecting fundamental rights, let me remind you of your joint terrible draconian record on free speech Eg Use of Sec66A of IT act - where young cartoonists were sent to jail for cartoons," the minister said. Earlier, Khera had said the new IT Rules make the government "judge, jury and executioner" when it comes to monitoring content on social media platforms. "They are afraid of voices of dissent, they are afraid of questions, they are afraid of anybody who can corner them with their questions or with their facts. The news rules are on online platforms where PIB will decide what is fake and what is not fake," Khera said. Chaturvedi said the IT Amendment Rule was a new way of restricting any news critical of the government. "Silencing the opposition and opposing voices is now complete. Made broadcast and print media toothless, now social media platforms will be made defunct," said Chaturvedi, a Rajya Sabha member. On Thursday, Chandrasekhar had said that the IT ministry will notify an entity that will flag false information posted online pertaining to the government. "Government has decided to notify an entity through Meity and that organisation then would be the fact checker for all aspects of content online and only those content that are related to the government," Chandrasekhar had said. Noida, Apr 7 (PTI) The Noida Police on Friday apprehended a teenager from Lucknow who is believed to have sent an email to a media house, threatening to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, officials said. The 16-year-old boy, who hails from Bihar, was picked up from the Chinhat area of the state capital on Friday morning and has been brought here, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Noida) Rajneesh Verma said. An FIR was lodged in connection with the case of April 5 at Sector 20 police station here after which the matter was investigated, technical teams also roped in to trace the sender of the email, which contained the threat message, Verma said. On the basis of the investigation, the email sender was traced and found in Lucknows Chinhat area. The sender turned out to be a schoolboy, who has just completed his Class 11 and will be beginning Class 12 in this session, the police officer told PTI. The boy is being produced in a juvenile court here and further legal proceedings are being carried out, Verma added. The police had lodged an FIR against unknown person after a media house representative approached them with a complaint, stating they have received an email threatening to assassinate the prime minister and the Uttar Pradesh chief minister. The FIR was lodged under the Indian Penal Code sections 153A (1b) (act prejudicial to maintenance of harmony, or likely to disturb public tranquillity), 505 (1b) (act likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the state or against the public tranquillity), 506 (criminal intimidation), 507 (criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication), police said. The police also invoked provisions of the Information Technology Act in the case. New Delhi, Apr 7 (PTI) Writer Madhu Kishwar on Friday released her new book on the rape-and-murder of a minor girl in Kathua in 2018 and claimed to have "exposed a sinister misinformation campaign to persecute Hindus in Jammu". The book, "The Girl from Kathua: A Sacrificial Victim of Ghazwa-e-Hind", shows that the whole case was "fabricated as part of a sinister jihadi plot to change the religious demography of Kathua district" in Jammu province, the author said. The eight-year-old girl was kidnapped on January 10, 2018 and raped after being kept sedated for four days in a small village temple. A special court on June 10, 2019 sentenced three people to life imprisonment till last breath in the case, while three others were handed down five years in jail and Rs 50,000 fine each. One accused was acquitted and another was treated a juvenile by the court. The latter was declared an adult by the Supreme Court in November 2022. Speaking at the book launch, Kishwar claimed that eight Hindus of Kathua district were "trapped" in the case. She said the "humongous publicity given to the murder of this unknown girl from an unknown village in Jammu province" forced her to ask how did the campaign for justice for the girl "become a cause celebre within hours of the release of the charge sheet by the Mehbooba Mufti government, not just in India but worldwide." She added that upon investigating the case personally in April 2018, she found the "bizarre, absurd charge sheet full of gaping holes", while alleging that hundreds of innocents were tortured by the police to give false testimonies. The book release event was attended by Rajya Sabha MP Sonal Mansingh and retired Major General G D Bakshi. Dehradun, Apr 7 (PTI) The father of a class 2 boy recently approached the Dehradun district magistrate complaining against the use of "abbu" and "ammi" for father and mother in English textbook of his school. The boy's father, Manish Mittal, said his seven-year-old son had begun to address him as "abbu" and his mother as "ammi" after learning the words from his textbook. In his complaint to District Magistrate Sonika, he has demanded that the words be replaced with English words father and mother as "abbu" and "ammi" are not "part of our culture". "I received a complaint to this effect from the parent of a child sometime back. I have referred the matter to the chief education officer," Sonika told PTI. An officer privy to the development said the words appear in a caricature in the book in which the main character, Amir, addresses his father and mother as "abbu" and "ammi". Published by a Hyderabad-based publisher, the book has been part of the approved study material of ICSE board for years with thousands of its copies in circulation already, he said. Gurugram, Apr 7 (PTI) Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday met the family members of a London School of Economics student who had alleged that he was disqualified from contesting the student union elections following a "smear campaign" over his Indian and Hindu identity. The chief minister visited Karan Kataria's residence here to enquire about their well-being and assured them of all help. Khattar said Karan is a meritorious student and no injustice will be allowed to happen to him. "Arrangements will also be made for his security," he said. Khattar has also written to the London School of Economics (LSE) asking its administration to step in regarding the matter. The LSE has written back saying bullying, discrimination and harassment are completely unacceptable. "We are aware of the reports that you raise in your letter, and we are investigating them," wrote Eric Neumayer, President and Vice Chancellor of LSE, London. Jaipur, Apr 6 (PTI) Syed Naseeruddin Chishti, the chairman of the All India Sufi Sajjadanshin Council, on Thursday condemned the vandalisation of a prominent Hindu temple in Canada and demanded strict action against the perpetrators of the crime. It is highly condemnable and shameful that this kind of uncivilised incidents are happening in the so-called most civilised and advanced countries of the world. We, the people of India, are with our government in demanding a strong action against the perpetrators of this crime, the successor of the spiritual head of Ajmer Dargah said. The temple in Canada's Ontario province was vandalised by unknown people with "anti-Hindu and anti-India graffiti", in what was described by police as a "hate-motivated incident." In a statement, the police in Ontario's Windsor city said on Wednesday that it had launched an investigation into the incident and looking for two suspects. The High Commission of India in Ottawa, Canada has strongly condemned the act of vandalism. The Israeli military struck targets in the Gaza Strip early Friday, pushing the region closer toward a wider conflagration after a day of rocket fire along the country's northern and southern borders following two days of Israeli attacks on Palestinian worshippers at Al-Aqsa mosque in occupied Jerusalem. A pair of explosions were heard in Gaza late Thursday. The Israeli military said it had bombed four sites belonging to the Hamas militant group, which rules Gaza. The sound of outgoing rocket fire could be heard in Gaza and air-raid sirens sounded in southern Israel early Friday. The sirens went off shortly after Israel began bombing Gaza. It was the latest signs of rising tensions during a sensitive holiday period. Similar fighting in 2021 led to an 11-day Israeli war on Gaza. The airstrikes came after militants in Lebanon fired a heavy barrage of rockets at Israel earlier in the day, forcing people across Israel's northern frontier into bomb shelters, wounding at least two people. In Gaza, militants also fired rockets toward Israel. Israel's army said it had identified 34 rockets and 25 of them were intercepted by Israeli air defences, while "five rockets landed in Israel. Israeli army spokesperson Lt. Colonel Richard Hecht said Palestinian groups were responsible for the rockets. "We know for sure it's Palestinian fire," he told reporters. "It could be Hamas, it could be Islamic Jihad, we are still trying to finalise but it wasn't Hezbollah. No faction claimed responsibility for the salvo of rockets, and a spokesperson for Hezbollah did not respond to a request for comment. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired several rockets toward Israel. On Thursday, Hezbollah condemned Israels storming of Al-Aqsa. A Lebanese security official, who spoke on the condition, said the country's security forces believed the rockets were launched by a Lebanon-based Palestinian militant group, not by Hezbollah militants. The official said there were no casualties on the Lebanese side. The Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad hailed the rockets as a heroic operation against the Israeli crimes in the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which rules Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, is visiting Lebanon, where he met with exiled leaders of Palestinian militant groups late Thursday. Our Palestinian people will not remain passive towards the ongoing aggression, he said. *This story was edited by Ahram Online Search Keywords: Short link: Nagpur, Apr 7 (PTI) A 28-year-old man was killed by his neighbours in a drunken brawl in Umred town of Maharashtra's Nagpur district, police said on Friday. The incident took place in Kawarapeth area of Umred, some 60 km from the district headquarters on Thursday, an official said. The victim Anis Ajiz Shaikh had consumed alcohol and entered into an argument with his neighbours who were also in an inebriated state, he said. The argument turned into a scuffle and the accused picked up an iron rod and hit the victim on his head, chest and face, killing him on the spot, the official said. The police have arrested the accused and a case under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code has been registered against them, he added. Israel launched rare strikes in southern Lebanon early Friday and pressed on with bombing targets in the Gaza Strip in response to rocket fire from Gaza on Leil HaSeder and the launching of 34 rockets from Lebanon on the first day of Pesach. Another 44 rockets were launched into Israel from the Gaza Strip overnight Thursday, with a new salvo fired early Friday morning. Sirens blared in Ashkelon, Sderot, Ibim, Yated, Nir Am, Gavim, Sapir, Nachal Oz, Alumim, and Mefalsim. An apartment in a building in Sderot sustained a direct hit by shrapnel but BChasdei Hashem, the residents of the apartment, a mother and a daughter, had run to the safe room and were uninjured. A number of people were treated for shock. The IDF has instructed the residents of the south to stay close to bomb shelters as further rocket attacks are expected. Fridays strikes in southern Lebanon came a day after terrorists fired nearly three dozen rockets from there at Israel, wounding two people and causing some property damage. The Israeli military said it targeted installations of Hamas, the Palestinian terror group, in southern Lebanon. Israeli strikes in Lebanon risk drawing Lebanons Hezbollah terror group into the fighting. The Iran-backed group, armed with thousands of rockets and missiles, holds sway over much of southern Lebanon. In recent years, Hezbollah has stayed out of other flareups related to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which stands on a hilltop revered by Muslims and Jews. The Israeli military was careful to note in its announcement about Fridays attack that it was targeting only sites linked to Palestinian terrorists. The head of the U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon, Maj. Gen. Aroldo Lazaro, said he was in contact with Israeli and Lebanese authorities early Friday. The force, known as UNIFIL, said that both sides have said they do not want war. Meanwhile, Israeli air strikes on Gaza resumed early Friday, after terroristss fired more rockets from the blockaded territory, setting off air raid sirens in the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon. The military said targets included the entry shaft to an underground network used for weapons manufacturing. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his Security Cabinet for a three-hour meeting late Thursday. Israels response, tonight and beyond, will extract a heavy price from our enemies, he said in a statement after the meeting. Almost immediately, Palestinian terrorists in Gaza began firing rockets into southern Israel, setting off air raid sirens across the region. Loud explosions could be heard in Gaza from the Israeli strikes, as outgoing rockets whooshed into the skies toward Israel. For now, Palestinian terrorists have fired only short-range rockets from Gaza, rather than the long-range projectiles that can reach as far as Tel Aviv and typically invite harsher Israeli retaliation. The Israeli military said the rocket fire on its northern and southern fronts was carried out by Palestinian terrorists in connection to this weeks violence at Al-Aqsa where Israeli police stormed into the building with tear gas and stun grenades to confront Palestinians barricaded inside on two straight days. The violent scenes from the mosque ratcheted up tensions across the region. In a briefing with reporters, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, said the army drew a clear connection between the Lebanese rocket fire and the recent unrest in Jerusalem. Its a Palestinian-oriented event, he said, adding that either the Hamas or Islamic Jihad militant groups, which are based in Gaza but also operate in Lebanon, could be involved. But he said the army believed that Hezbollah and the Lebanese government were aware of what happened and also held responsibility. The mosque the third-holiest site in Islam stands on a hilltop revered by Jews as the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism. The competing claims to the site have repeatedly spilled over into violence over the years. No faction in Lebanon claimed responsibility for the salvo of rockets. A Lebanese security official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to media, said the countrys security forces believed the rockets were launched by a Lebanon-based Palestinian militant group, not by Hezbollah. Lebanons caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, condemned the firing of rockets from Lebanon, adding that Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers were investigating and trying to find the perpetrators. Mikati said his government categorically rejects any military escalation and the use of Lebanese territories to stage acts that threaten stability. Hezbollah has condemned the Israeli police raids in Jerusalem. Both Israel and Hezbollah have avoided an all-out conflict since a 34-day war in 2006 ended in a draw. In Washington, the principal deputy State Department spokesman, Vedant Patel, said, Israel has legitimate security concerns and has every right to defend themselves. But he also urged calm in Jerusalem, saying that any unilateral action that jeopardizes the status quo to us is unacceptable, he said. In Jerusalem, the situation remained tense at Al-Aqsa. For the previous two nights, Palestinians barricaded themselves in the mosque with stones and firecrackers. Worshippers have been demanding the right to pray overnight inside the mosque which authorities typically only permit during the last 10 days of the monthlong Ramadan holiday. They also have stayed in the mosque in protest over threats by religious Jews to carry out a ritual animal slaughter at the sacred site for Passover. Israel did not try to prevent people from spending the night in the mosque early Friday apparently because it was the weekend, when Jews do not visit the compound. But tensions could re-ignite Sunday when Jewish visits resume. (YWN Israel Desk is keeping you updated on the first day of Chol Hamoed from Jerusalem.) (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem & AP) Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO Get Rating) by 62.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 17,118 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 6,562 shares during the period. Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd.s holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $1,091,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Paragon Wealth Strategies LLC acquired a new position in Coca-Cola during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. My Personal CFO LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Coca-Cola in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Exos TFP Holdings LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Coca-Cola in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Worth Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 956.1% in the 4th quarter. Worth Asset Management LLC now owns 433 shares of the companys stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 392 shares during the period. Finally, Neo Ivy Capital Management acquired a new stake in shares of Coca-Cola in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.74% of the companys stock. Get Coca-Cola alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on KO shares. Citigroup started coverage on Coca-Cola in a report on Thursday, February 16th. They issued a buy rating and a $68.00 price target on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price target on Coca-Cola from $63.00 to $60.00 in a report on Monday, March 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on Coca-Cola from $61.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, February 13th. UBS Group upped their target price on Coca-Cola from $68.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 13th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Coca-Cola from $70.00 to $68.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $67.55. Insider Buying and Selling Coca-Cola Trading Up 0.9 % In related news, SVP Nancy Quan sold 74,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $58.71, for a total value of $4,344,540.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 219,790 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $12,903,870.90. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link . In other Coca-Cola news, SVP Nancy Quan sold 74,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $58.71, for a total transaction of $4,344,540.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 219,790 shares in the company, valued at $12,903,870.90. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . Also, CEO James Quincey sold 34,875 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.32, for a total value of $2,103,660.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 351,737 shares in the company, valued at approximately $21,216,775.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 282,268 shares of company stock valued at $17,137,823. 1.00% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Shares of Coca-Cola stock opened at $62.80 on Thursday. The Coca-Cola Company has a fifty-two week low of $54.01 and a fifty-two week high of $67.20. The firm has a market cap of $271.69 billion, a PE ratio of 28.55, a P/E/G ratio of 3.61 and a beta of 0.54. The businesss fifty day moving average is $60.35 and its two-hundred day moving average is $60.40. The company has a quick ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.41. Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 14th. The company reported $0.45 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.45. The company had revenue of $10.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.92 billion. Coca-Cola had a return on equity of 42.35% and a net margin of 22.19%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 6.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.45 EPS. Analysts anticipate that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.6 earnings per share for the current year. Coca-Cola Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, March 17th were given a $0.46 dividend. This is a positive change from Coca-Colas previous quarterly dividend of $0.44. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.93%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 16th. Coca-Colas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 83.64%. Coca-Cola Profile (Get Rating) The Coca-Cola Co engages in the manufacturing and marketing of non-alcoholic beverages. It operates through the following segments: Europe, Middle East and Africa, Latin America, North America, Asia Pacific, Global Ventures, and Bottling Investments. The company was founded by Asa Griggs Candler on May 8, 1886 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Coca-Cola Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Coca-Cola and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. REV Group, Inc. (NYSE:REVG Get Rating) has received an average rating of Hold from the seven brokerages that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, two have issued a hold recommendation, one has given a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $13.17. A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Credit Suisse Group increased their target price on REV Group from $9.00 to $11.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a research report on Thursday, March 9th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of REV Group in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a strong-buy rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of REV Group to $13.00 in a research note on Wednesday, December 14th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of REV Group from $13.00 to $14.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Friday, January 13th. Finally, DA Davidson lifted their price objective on shares of REV Group from $12.00 to $13.50 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, March 13th. Get REV Group alerts: REV Group Price Performance NYSE:REVG opened at $11.45 on Tuesday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $12.12 and a 200-day simple moving average of $12.71. The firm has a market capitalization of $680.82 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 286.32 and a beta of 1.92. REV Group has a 1 year low of $9.50 and a 1 year high of $16.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 1.80 and a quick ratio of 0.52. REV Group Announces Dividend REV Group ( NYSE:REVG Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 8th. The company reported $0.04 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.02) by $0.06. REV Group had a net margin of 0.10% and a return on equity of 8.49%. The firm had revenue of $583.50 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $504.73 million. Equities analysts forecast that REV Group will post 0.8 EPS for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 14th. Investors of record on Friday, March 31st will be paid a $0.05 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 30th. This represents a $0.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.75%. REV Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 500.13%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On REV Group Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Alliancebernstein L.P. increased its stake in REV Group by 0.9% in the 4th quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 3,094,436 shares of the companys stock worth $39,052,000 after purchasing an additional 28,470 shares in the last quarter. State of Wyoming grew its stake in REV Group by 108.4% in the 4th quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 17,935 shares of the companys stock valued at $226,000 after buying an additional 9,329 shares during the last quarter. Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC boosted its holdings in REV Group by 8.4% in the 4th quarter. Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC now owns 24,165 shares of the companys stock valued at $305,000 after purchasing an additional 1,880 shares during the period. Millennium Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of REV Group by 4,975.0% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 519,936 shares of the companys stock worth $6,562,000 after acquiring an additional 509,691 shares during the period. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of REV Group by 20.2% during the 4th quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 313,537 shares of the companys stock worth $3,957,000 after acquiring an additional 52,613 shares during the period. 98.92% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About REV Group (Get Rating) REV Group, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the design, manufacture, and distribution of specialty vehicles and related aftermarket parts and services. The company sells its products to municipalities, government agencies, private contractors, and industrial and commercial end users. It operates through the following segments: Fire and Emergency, Commercial, and Recreation. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for REV Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for REV Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Westaim (OTCMKTS:WEDXF Get Rating) and West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE:WST Get Rating) are both basic materials companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, dividends, institutional ownership, risk, earnings, profitability and analyst recommendations. Profitability This table compares Westaim and West Pharmaceutical Services net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get Westaim alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Westaim 168.12% 6.19% 5.38% West Pharmaceutical Services 20.30% 26.24% 19.13% Valuation and Earnings This table compares Westaim and West Pharmaceutical Services gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Westaim $10.68 million 28.46 $17.96 million $0.12 17.92 West Pharmaceutical Services $2.89 billion 8.87 $585.90 million $7.72 44.65 Analyst Recommendations West Pharmaceutical Services has higher revenue and earnings than Westaim. Westaim is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than West Pharmaceutical Services, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Westaim and West Pharmaceutical Services, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Westaim 0 0 0 0 N/A West Pharmaceutical Services 0 3 1 0 2.25 West Pharmaceutical Services has a consensus price target of $291.25, suggesting a potential downside of 15.51%. Given West Pharmaceutical Services higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe West Pharmaceutical Services is more favorable than Westaim. Institutional & Insider Ownership 0.0% of Westaim shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 91.5% of West Pharmaceutical Services shares are owned by institutional investors. 4.2% of Westaim shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 1.1% of West Pharmaceutical Services shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Volatility and Risk Westaim has a beta of 0.44, meaning that its stock price is 56% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, West Pharmaceutical Services has a beta of 1.09, meaning that its stock price is 9% more volatile than the S&P 500. Summary West Pharmaceutical Services beats Westaim on 10 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks. About Westaim (Get Rating) The Westaim Corp. engages in the provision of long-term capital to businesses operating primarily within the global financial services industry. The firm invests, directly and indirectly, through acquisitions, joint ventures, and other arrangements. Its investments include Skyward Specialty and Arena. The Skyward Specialty segment is a U.S. based property & casualty diversified specialty insurance company group providing coverage primarily in the United States but also globally for certain risks. The Arena segment consists of two separate businesses, namely Arena Investors and Arena FINCOs. The Arena Investors including AI, an investment manager making fundamentals-based, asset-oriented credit investments on behalf of third-party investors; The Arena FINCOs, include specialty finance companies that primarily purchase fundamentals-based, asset oriented credit investments for their own account. The company was founded on May 7, 1996 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. About West Pharmaceutical Services (Get Rating) West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. manufactures and markets pharmaceuticals, biologics, vaccines and consumer healthcare products. It operates through the following business segments: Proprietary Products and Contract-Manufactured Products. The Proprietary Products segment offers proprietary packaging, containment and drug delivery products, along with analytical lab services, to biologic, generic and pharmaceutical drug customers. The Contract-Manufactured Products segment serves as a fully integrated business, focused on the design, manufacture and automated assembly of complex devices, primarily for pharmaceutical, diagnostic, and medical device customers. The company was founded by Herman O. West on July 27, 1923 and is headquartered in Exton, PA. Receive News & Ratings for Westaim Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Westaim and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Mizuho Financial Group (NYSE:MFG Get Rating) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report published on Tuesday. Separately, Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Mizuho Financial Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 24th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold. Get Mizuho Financial Group alerts: Mizuho Financial Group Stock Down 0.3 % Shares of Mizuho Financial Group stock opened at $2.91 on Tuesday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $3.05 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $2.69. Mizuho Financial Group has a twelve month low of $2.10 and a twelve month high of $3.30. The stock has a market capitalization of $36.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 0.46. Institutional Inflows and Outflows About Mizuho Financial Group A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of MFG. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group acquired a new position in shares of Mizuho Financial Group in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC raised its position in Mizuho Financial Group by 28.3% during the third quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC now owns 45,381 shares of the banks stock valued at $100,000 after purchasing an additional 10,022 shares in the last quarter. Sage Rhino Capital LLC lifted its stake in Mizuho Financial Group by 12.4% during the third quarter. Sage Rhino Capital LLC now owns 41,842 shares of the banks stock worth $92,000 after purchasing an additional 4,617 shares during the last quarter. BOK Financial Private Wealth Inc. bought a new stake in Mizuho Financial Group during the third quarter worth $32,000. Finally, Capricorn Fund Managers Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Mizuho Financial Group in the 4th quarter valued at $500,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 0.53% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) Mizuho Financial Group, Inc operates as a holding company which engages in the provision of financial services such as banking, trust banking, securities, and others. It operates through the following segments: Mizuho Bank Ltd. (MHKB), Mizuho Trust & Banking Co, Ltd. (MHTB), and Mizuho Securities Co, Ltd. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Mizuho Financial Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mizuho Financial Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sigma Planning Corp boosted its position in Invesco BulletShares 2023 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:BSJN Get Rating) by 1.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 46,434 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 760 shares during the quarter. Sigma Planning Corp owned about 0.15% of Invesco BulletShares 2023 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF worth $1,082,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. increased its stake in Invesco BulletShares 2023 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 4.5% during the 4th quarter. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. now owns 10,140 shares of the companys stock valued at $236,000 after buying an additional 440 shares during the period. Kestra Advisory Services LLC increased its stake in Invesco BulletShares 2023 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 65.0% during the 3rd quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC now owns 26,847 shares of the companys stock valued at $613,000 after buying an additional 10,576 shares during the period. Asset Dedication LLC increased its stake in Invesco BulletShares 2023 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. Asset Dedication LLC now owns 192,468 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,392,000 after buying an additional 4,236 shares during the period. Horizons Wealth Management grew its stake in shares of Invesco BulletShares 2023 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 71.7% in the 4th quarter. Horizons Wealth Management now owns 53,900 shares of the companys stock worth $1,256,000 after purchasing an additional 22,506 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Delta Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Invesco BulletShares 2023 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 4.8% in the 3rd quarter. Delta Investment Management LLC now owns 75,880 shares of the companys stock worth $1,732,000 after purchasing an additional 3,460 shares during the last quarter. Get Invesco BulletShares 2023 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF alerts: Invesco BulletShares 2023 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF Stock Up 0.1 % Shares of BSJN opened at $23.54 on Friday. The firms 50 day moving average is $23.50 and its 200-day moving average is $23.36. Invesco BulletShares 2023 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF has a 12-month low of $22.73 and a 12-month high of $24.37. Invesco BulletShares 2023 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF Profile The Invesco BulletShares 2023 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (BSJN) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in high yield fixed income. The fund tracks a market-weighted index of high-yield corporate bonds with effective maturities in 2023. BSJN was launched on Oct 7, 2015 and is managed by Invesco. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Invesco BulletShares 2023 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco BulletShares 2023 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Strategic Blueprint LLC boosted its position in shares of iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:SHYG Get Rating) by 639.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 51,472 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 44,513 shares during the quarter. Strategic Blueprint LLCs holdings in iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF were worth $2,105,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. American National Bank purchased a new stake in shares of iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF during the third quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Archer Investment Corp lifted its position in iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 253.9% in the 3rd quarter. Archer Investment Corp now owns 991 shares of the companys stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 711 shares in the last quarter. Hudock Inc. boosted its stake in iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 63.0% during the 3rd quarter. Hudock Inc. now owns 1,115 shares of the companys stock valued at $44,000 after purchasing an additional 431 shares during the last quarter. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF in the 4th quarter worth $46,000. Finally, Leelyn Smith LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF in the third quarter worth $48,000. Get iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF alerts: iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF Stock Up 0.3 % Shares of NYSEARCA:SHYG opened at $41.29 on Friday. iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF has a 1 year low of $39.49 and a 1 year high of $43.54. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $41.28 and its 200-day moving average price is $41.11. iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF Company Profile The iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (SHYG) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in high yield fixed income. The fund tracks a market-value-weighted index of high-yield USD-denominated bonds with 0-5 years remaining in maturity. SHYG was launched on Oct 15, 2013 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SHYG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:SHYG Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Strategic Blueprint LLC decreased its stake in Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE:PXD Get Rating) by 51.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 8,705 shares of the oil and gas development companys stock after selling 9,123 shares during the quarter. Strategic Blueprint LLCs holdings in Pioneer Natural Resources were worth $1,988,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its position in shares of Pioneer Natural Resources by 144.5% during the second quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 4,346,688 shares of the oil and gas development companys stock worth $969,659,000 after purchasing an additional 2,569,044 shares in the last quarter. Yacktman Asset Management LP purchased a new stake in shares of Pioneer Natural Resources during the third quarter worth $148,728,000. Pacer Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of Pioneer Natural Resources by 173,689.1% in the third quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 622,165 shares of the oil and gas development companys stock valued at $134,717,000 after buying an additional 621,807 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its stake in shares of Pioneer Natural Resources by 9.1% in the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 7,078,403 shares of the oil and gas development companys stock worth $1,532,686,000 after buying an additional 589,073 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in Pioneer Natural Resources by 2.7% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 19,283,043 shares of the oil and gas development companys stock worth $4,175,358,000 after acquiring an additional 511,005 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.75% of the companys stock. Get Pioneer Natural Resources alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts have weighed in on PXD shares. Roth Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of Pioneer Natural Resources in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. Mizuho dropped their target price on Pioneer Natural Resources from $293.00 to $265.00 in a report on Friday, March 10th. KeyCorp cut their target price on Pioneer Natural Resources from $290.00 to $260.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 8th. Piper Sandler lowered their price target on shares of Pioneer Natural Resources from $340.00 to $322.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, March 7th. Finally, Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. upgraded shares of Pioneer Natural Resources from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, February 27th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Pioneer Natural Resources currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $260.26. Pioneer Natural Resources Price Performance PXD opened at $208.16 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $208.00 and its 200 day moving average price is $228.10. Pioneer Natural Resources has a 12-month low of $177.26 and a 12-month high of $288.46. The firm has a market cap of $48.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.70, a PEG ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a current ratio of 0.96, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18. Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE:PXD Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 22nd. The oil and gas development company reported $5.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.83 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $5.11 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.59 billion. Pioneer Natural Resources had a net margin of 32.29% and a return on equity of 33.15%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 18.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $4.58 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Pioneer Natural Resources will post 21.5 earnings per share for the current year. Pioneer Natural Resources Cuts Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 6th were given a dividend of $5.58 per share. This represents a $22.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 10.72%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 3rd. Pioneer Natural Resourcess dividend payout ratio is currently 14.17%. Pioneer Natural Resources Profile (Get Rating) Pioneer Natural Resources Co operates as an independent oil and gas exploration and production company. The firm engages in hydrocarbon exploration in the Cline Shale. It focuses on the operation of the Permian Basin, Eagle Ford Shale, Rockies, and West Panhandle projects. The company was founded by Scott Douglas Sheffield on April 2, 1997, and is headquartered in Irving, TX. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PXD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE:PXD Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Pioneer Natural Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pioneer Natural Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Calamos Advisors LLC reduced its holdings in The Bank of New York Mellon Co. (NYSE:BK Get Rating) by 11.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 302,298 shares of the banks stock after selling 40,139 shares during the quarter. Calamos Advisors LLCs holdings in Bank of New York Mellon were worth $13,761,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in BK. Acadian Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 160.0% in the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 5,358 shares of the banks stock valued at $263,000 after buying an additional 3,297 shares during the period. Prudential PLC bought a new position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon in the first quarter valued at approximately $1,096,000. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its stake in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 3.3% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 35,635 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,769,000 after acquiring an additional 1,154 shares during the last quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. raised its stake in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 54.3% in the first quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 232,115 shares of the banks stock valued at $11,519,000 after acquiring an additional 81,728 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Zions Bancorporation N.A. raised its stake in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 165.3% in the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 1,459 shares of the banks stock valued at $72,000 after acquiring an additional 909 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.29% of the companys stock. Get Bank of New York Mellon alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have recently issued reports on BK. Evercore ISI cut their target price on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $53.00 to $46.00 in a research note on Wednesday. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $57.00 to $64.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Bank of New York Mellon from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $59.00 target price for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 4th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $49.00 to $44.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 24th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $49.00 to $46.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a report on Monday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Bank of New York Mellon presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $51.61. Bank of New York Mellon Price Performance BK opened at $44.85 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $48.21 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $45.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a current ratio of 0.66. The Bank of New York Mellon Co. has a 52 week low of $36.22 and a 52 week high of $52.26. The firm has a market capitalization of $35.87 billion, a PE ratio of 15.47, a P/E/G ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.07. Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BK Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 13th. The bank reported $1.30 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.22 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $3.92 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.12 billion. Bank of New York Mellon had a net margin of 12.87% and a return on equity of 10.78%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.04 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that The Bank of New York Mellon Co. will post 4.8 earnings per share for the current year. Bank of New York Mellon Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 3rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, January 23rd were given a dividend of $0.37 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 20th. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.30%. Bank of New York Mellons dividend payout ratio is 51.03%. Bank of New York Mellon Company Profile (Get Rating) The Bank of New York Mellon Corp. is a bank holding company, which engages in the provision of financial services. It operates through the following segments: Securities Services, Market and Wealth Services, Investment and Wealth Management, and Other segment. The Securities Services segment includes Asset Servicing business, which provides global custody, fund accounting, integrated middle-office solutions, transfer agency and data and analytics solutions. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Bank of New York Mellon Co. (NYSE:BK Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Bank of New York Mellon Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of New York Mellon and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Israel conducted rare airstrikes in Lebanon on Friday, a sharp escalation that sparked fears of a broader conflict after militants fired dozens of rockets from Lebanon into Israeli territory. Israel also continued bombarding the Gaza Strip. The Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon what analysts described as the most serious border violence since Israel's 2006 war with Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group threatened to push the confrontation into a dangerous new phase following violence at one of Jerusalem's holiest sites. Also on Friday, the Israeli military said that a Palestinian carried out a shooting attack against Israelis in the northern West Bank. Israeli medics said that three people were killed in the attack. The shooting marked the latest incident in a period of unusually high violence in the occupied territory. Although the Israeli military was quick to emphasize that its warplanes struck sites belonging to only Palestinian militant groups, the barrage risks drawing in Israel's bitter foe Hezbollah, which holds sway over much of southern Lebanon and has in the past portrayed itself as a defender of the Palestinians and the contested city of Jerusalem. Even as Israel announced it was allowing residents of the south to leave bomb shelters and return home after an hourslong lull in hostilities, the Israeli military said it was boosting infantry and artillery forces along the countrys borders with Lebanon and Gaza to prepare for all possible scenarios." The forces are on high alert," said Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari. A Palestinian official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media, said that Egyptian security officials have been working with Hamas and Israel to de-escalate the situation. Earlier Friday, Israeli missiles struck an open field in the southern Lebanese town of Qalili, near the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh, according to an Associated Press photographer and residents, killing several sheep and inflicting minor injuries on residents, including Syrian refugees. Other strikes hit a small bridge and power transformer in the nearby town of Maaliya and damaged an irrigation system providing water to orchards in the area. Qalili resident Bilal Suleiman said his family woke to a violent bombing that shattered their windows. I immediately gathered my wife and children and got them out of the house in case there was another strike, he said. The Lebanese military said it found another rocket launcher Friday after dismantling several the day before. The Israeli airstrikes came in response to an unusually large barrage of rockets from Lebanon after Israeli police raids at the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem spiraled into unrest and sparked outrage in the Arab world. In 2021, an escalation also triggered by clashes at the Al-Aqsa compound spilled over into an 11-day war between Israel and Gazas Hamas rulers. On Friday, violence again broke out at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Chaos erupted at one of the entrances to the esplanade before dawn prayers on Friday as Israeli police wielding batons descended on crowds of Palestinian worshippers, who chanted slogans praising Hamas as they tried to squeeze into the site. An hour later, according to videos, people leaving the prayers staged a vast protest in the limestone courtyard, with Palestinians raising their fists and shouting in support of Hamas rocket fire, and Israeli police forced their way into the compound. Police did not comment on the earlier beatings, but said security forces entered the holy compound after prayers in response to masked suspects who threw rocks toward officers at one of the gates. Military analysts and officials said they did not expect heavier fighting given the limited nature of Israeli strikes, but scenes of Israeli police beating Palestinians could further inflame tensions during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The Israeli military said it was clear that both sides wanted to avoid a full-blown conflict. Quiet will be answered with quiet, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, a spokesman for the Israeli military told reporters Friday. But, he added, All our eyes are now on Jerusalem. The Israeli military said on Friday that Palestinian militants in Gaza had so far fired 44 rockets from Gaza, only 23 of which crossed into Israeli territory. The others either failed to launch, fell into the Mediterranean Sea, or were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome aerial defense system, the military said. Most missiles that managed to cross the border struck open areas in Israel's south, but one landed in the town of Sderot, sending shrapnel slicing into a house. There were no reports of Israeli casualties. The Israeli military said it pounded Gaza with more airstrikes on Friday, hitting 10 targets that it described as underground tunnels, along with weapons production and development sites belonging largely to the Hamas militant group. There were no immediate reports of casualties in Gaza, but the Palestinian Health Ministry said that one of the strikes caused some damage to a children's hospital in Gaza City. "This is not the first time that health facilities have been targeted, and it is unacceptable," the ministry said of the damage to Al Dorra Pediatric Hospital, which it said caused panic and confusion. Hecht added that the military was looking into the reports of damage to the hospital. Residents in Gaza surveyed destruction at the site of a nearby Israeli attack in Gaza City, where an airstrike bore massive holes into the dirt, charred cars and blew out windows. Regional and int'l calls for deescalation On Friday afternnon, Egypt issued a statement calling on the Israeli and Palestinian sides to exercise maximum self-restraint and heed efforts to de-escalate the situation in order to avoid bloodshed and protect lives. "Egypt calls on all parties exercise maximum self-restraint and cooperate with the efforts that are being carried out de-escalate the situation in order to avoid bloodshed and protect lives, warning of the extreme dangers that could threaten the region if the current wave of violence continues," read the satetment released by the Egyptian foreign ministry. Earlier on Friday, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly appealed to "all parties" to de-escalate after Israel bombarded the Gaza Strip and Lebanon in retaliation for several dozen rockets fired from both territories. Russia on Friday also called on Israel, the Palestinians and Lebanon to end the "escalation" of violence, saying it was "deeply" concerned. "We call on the parties involved in the conflict to refrain from confrontational steps, to act in the interests of preventing further escalation, ending violence and restoring a sustainable ceasefire," the foreign ministry said. A violent week The current round of violence began Wednesday after Israeli police twice raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque. That led Thursday to rocket fire from Gaza and, in a significant escalation, the barrage from Lebanon. The Israeli military said it would hold Lebanon accountable for rockets fired from its territory. Lebanese caretaker Defense Minister Maurice Slim, in a meeting with his Italian counterpart, promised Friday that the Lebanese army was working to control security and maintain stability and calm in the south." Tensions have simmered along the Lebanese border in recent weeks as Israel appears to have ratcheted up its shadow war against Iranian-linked targets in Syria, another close ally of Iran, Israels archenemy in the region. Suspected Israeli airstrikes in Syria in recent weeks have killed two Iranian military advisers and temporarily put the countrys two largest airports out of service. Hecht, the military spokesman, said Thursdays rocket fire was not believed to be connected to events in Syria. It's Hamas-dominant, Hecht said, referring to the targets of the Israeli airstrikes both in Lebanon and Gaza. In Jerusalem, even as calm returned to at Al-Aqsa a few hours after the burst of violence, the situation remained tense ahead of midday Friday prayers. For the previous two nights, Palestinians have barricaded themselves in the mosque with stones and firecrackers. Israeli police have fired stun grenades and rubber bullets to evict the worshippers. On Tuesday, Israeli police fiercely beat Palestinians and arrested over 400 people, stoking rage across Arab towns in Israel, the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Israeli authorities control access to the site, but the compound is administered by Islamic and Jordanian officials. Search Keywords: Short link: Lineweaver Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Get Rating) by 12.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 54,531 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after buying an additional 6,201 shares during the quarter. Pfizer makes up about 0.8% of Lineweaver Wealth Advisors LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 26th biggest position. Lineweaver Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Pfizer were worth $2,794,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in Pfizer by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 493,584,761 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $21,599,270,000 after purchasing an additional 5,139,634 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 13.2% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 59,828,849 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $3,097,341,000 after acquiring an additional 6,972,650 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 56,659,179 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $2,479,407,000 after acquiring an additional 317,858 shares during the period. Legal & General Group Plc increased its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 3.2% in the 2nd quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 42,791,672 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $2,243,574,000 after acquiring an additional 1,336,403 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 2.5% in the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 41,242,414 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,804,896,000 after acquiring an additional 1,009,399 shares during the period. 67.62% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Pfizer alerts: Pfizer Price Performance Shares of Pfizer stock opened at $41.50 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. Pfizer Inc. has a twelve month low of $39.23 and a twelve month high of $56.32. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $41.70 and a 200 day moving average price of $45.48. The firm has a market cap of $234.24 billion, a PE ratio of 7.57, a P/E/G ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 0.64. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Pfizer ( NYSE:PFE Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 31st. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.14 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.03 by $0.11. Pfizer had a return on equity of 42.03% and a net margin of 31.27%. The firm had revenue of $24.30 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $24.40 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.08 EPS. Pfizers revenue for the quarter was up 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts predict that Pfizer Inc. will post 3.3 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on PFE. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $75.00 price target on shares of Pfizer in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. UBS Group set a $45.00 price objective on Pfizer in a research report on Tuesday, March 14th. StockNews.com began coverage on Pfizer in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Barclays lowered their price objective on Pfizer from $49.00 to $44.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised Pfizer from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $47.00 to $60.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 13th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Pfizer presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $49.93. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, major shareholder Pfizer Inc purchased 1,811,594 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 17th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $2.76 per share, with a total value of $4,999,999.44. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider now owns 5,952,263 shares in the company, valued at $16,428,245.88. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.05% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Pfizer Company Profile (Get Rating) Pfizer Inc is a research-based global biopharmaceutical company. It engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, marketing, sales and distribution of biopharmaceutical products worldwide. The firm works across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PFE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Get Rating) by 4.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 100,570 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after acquiring an additional 3,930 shares during the quarter. Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Pfizer were worth $5,153,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in PFE. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. raised its holdings in Pfizer by 528.9% during the third quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 12,401,164 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $542,675,000 after acquiring an additional 10,429,412 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Pfizer by 13.2% during the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 59,828,849 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $3,097,341,000 after purchasing an additional 6,972,650 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC bought a new stake in Pfizer during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $311,238,000. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Pfizer by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 493,584,761 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $21,599,270,000 after purchasing an additional 5,139,634 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP boosted its stake in Pfizer by 108.3% in the 1st quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 7,909,665 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $409,483,000 after purchasing an additional 4,112,528 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 67.62% of the companys stock. Get Pfizer alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Pfizer from $49.00 to $44.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. Bank of America downgraded shares of Pfizer from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $60.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Wednesday, January 4th. Berenberg Bank set a $40.00 target price on Pfizer in a report on Tuesday, February 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Pfizer from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $47.00 to $60.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 13th. Finally, Atlantic Securities cut their price target on Pfizer from $50.00 to $46.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Pfizer currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $49.93. Insider Buying and Selling Pfizer Stock Down 0.1 % In other Pfizer news, major shareholder Pfizer Inc purchased 1,811,594 shares of Pfizer stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 17th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $2.76 per share, for a total transaction of $4,999,999.44. Following the acquisition, the insider now owns 5,952,263 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,428,245.88. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . 0.05% of the stock is owned by insiders. Shares of NYSE PFE opened at $41.50 on Friday. Pfizer Inc. has a 52-week low of $39.23 and a 52-week high of $56.32. The firm has a market capitalization of $234.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.57, a PEG ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 0.64. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $41.70 and a 200 day moving average price of $45.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a current ratio of 1.22. Pfizer (NYSE:PFE Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, January 31st. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.14 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.03 by $0.11. Pfizer had a return on equity of 42.03% and a net margin of 31.27%. The business had revenue of $24.30 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $24.40 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.08 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts expect that Pfizer Inc. will post 3.3 earnings per share for the current year. Pfizer Company Profile (Get Rating) Pfizer Inc is a research-based global biopharmaceutical company. It engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, marketing, sales and distribution of biopharmaceutical products worldwide. The firm works across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PFE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CMI Get Rating) by 19.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 2,255 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 371 shares during the quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd.s holdings in Cummins were worth $546,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its holdings in shares of Cummins by 39.5% in the 3rd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 5,240,383 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,067,213,000 after purchasing an additional 1,484,171 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP increased its holdings in Cummins by 48.8% in the third quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 2,033,702 shares of the companys stock valued at $413,878,000 after buying an additional 666,567 shares in the last quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Cummins by 69.6% during the 3rd quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 1,221,941 shares of the companys stock valued at $248,698,000 after acquiring an additional 501,499 shares during the period. Castleview Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Cummins by 18,796.4% during the 2nd quarter. Castleview Partners LLC now owns 432,539 shares of the companys stock worth $2,235,000 after acquiring an additional 430,250 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Cummins by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 13,203,832 shares of the companys stock worth $2,687,113,000 after acquiring an additional 226,774 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.94% of the companys stock. Get Cummins alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other Cummins news, VP Walter J. Fier sold 3,307 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $252.99, for a total transaction of $836,637.93. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 8,090 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,046,689.10. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Cummins news, VP Walter J. Fier sold 3,307 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $252.99, for a total transaction of $836,637.93. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 8,090 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,046,689.10. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Georgia R. Nelson sold 1,933 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $251.64, for a total value of $486,420.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 21,742 shares in the company, valued at $5,471,156.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 16,709 shares of company stock valued at $4,245,545. Insiders own 1.05% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets Cummins Stock Down 0.0 % A number of analysts have commented on the company. UBS Group boosted their target price on Cummins from $247.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, February 16th. Credit Suisse Group raised their target price on shares of Cummins from $287.00 to $291.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, February 7th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Cummins in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price objective on shares of Cummins from $235.00 to $231.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Cummins from $264.00 to $262.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 20th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $254.75. CMI stock opened at $220.33 on Friday. Cummins Inc. has a one year low of $184.27 and a one year high of $261.91. The stock has a market capitalization of $31.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.58, a PEG ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $243.05 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $238.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a current ratio of 1.27. Cummins (NYSE:CMI Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 6th. The company reported $4.52 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $4.52. Cummins had a return on equity of 24.58% and a net margin of 7.66%. The business had revenue of $7.77 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.21 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.85 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 32.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Cummins Inc. will post 18.95 EPS for the current year. Cummins Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 24th were issued a dividend of $1.57 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 23rd. This represents a $6.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.85%. Cumminss payout ratio is currently 41.56%. Cummins Profile (Get Rating) Cummins, Inc engages in the design, manufacture, and market of diesel and natural gas engines. It operates through the following segments: Engine, Distribution, Components, Power Systems, and New Power. The Engine segment manufactures and markets diesel and natural gas-powered engines under the Cummins brand name, for the heavy- and medium-duty truck, bus, recreational vehicle, light-duty automotive, construction, mining, marine, rail, oil and gas, defense, and agricultural markets. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CMI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CMI Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Cummins Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cummins and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Russia on Friday called on Israel, the Palestinians, and Lebanon to end the "escalation" of violence, saying it was "deeply" concerned. "We call on the parties involved in the conflict to refrain from confrontational steps, to act in the interests of preventing further escalation, ending violence and restoring a sustainable ceasefire," the foreign ministry said. Other international and regional key players called for de-escalation of the current situation. Earlier on Friday, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly appealed to "all parties" to de-escalate after Israel bombarded the Gaza Strip and Lebanon in retaliation for several dozen rockets fired from both territories. "Now is the time for all parties across the region to de-escalate tensions," he said, condemning rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza and southern Lebanon. However, Cleverly also criticized Israeli police for "violence" inside Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque after officers clashed Wednesday with Palestinians inside Islam's third-holiest site. Egypt on Friday also issued a statement, calling on the Israeli and Palestinian sides to exercise maximum self-restraint and heed efforts to de-escalate the situation in order to avoid bloodshed and protect lives. "Egypt calls on all parties to exercise maximum self-restraint and cooperate with the efforts that are being carried out to de-escalate the situation in order to avoid bloodshed and protect lives, warning of the extreme dangers that could threaten the region if the current wave of violence continues," read the statement released by the Egyptian foreign ministry. Search Keywords: Short link: Tunisia's coastguard said Friday it had intercepted over 14,000 migrants trying to reach Europe from January to March, more than five times the number of those who attempted the trip in the first quarter of 2022. "Coast guard patrols prevent 501 clandestine attempts to cross the maritime border and rescued 14,406 (migrants) including 13,138 from sub-Saharan African countries," between January 1 and March 31, it said in a statement. That is up from 2,532 intercepted in the same period last year, including 1,657 from sub-Saharan Africa, National Guard spokesman Houcem Eddine Jebabli told AFP. "The number is well up, because many more people are trying to leave," he said. The vast majority of interceptions took place off the coast of Sfax and Mahdia provinces, whose shores lie just 150 kilometres (90 miles) from the Italian island of Lampedusa. Tunisia has long served as a launchpad for people fleeing conflict in countries as far afield as Cameroon and Sudan to seek safety in Europe, often on overcrowded and unseaworthy boats. Dozens of migrants from further south in Africa drowned in a string of incidents in March, after incendiary comments by Tunisian President Kais Saied sparked a wave of evictions and violence against black migrants. The surge also comes as Italy's hard right-wing government pressures Tunis to stem the flow. According to the Italian interior ministry, more than 14,000 migrants have landed in Italy since the start of the year, compared to just over 5,300 during the same period last year. Migration experts have argued that despite European leaders' rhetoric against people traffickers, intercepting migrants while providing no safe passage for those genuinely needing it simply creates "repeat business" for traffickers. Search Keywords: Short link: Israel's occupation army said Friday soldiers had shot down a drone that entered its airspace from Lebanon a day after a barrage of rockets was fired into Israel. Friday's incident came hours after Israel bombarded Lebanon following the rocket fire that the army blamed on Palestinian militants. An army statement said "soldiers identified and downed a drone crossing from Lebanese territory into Israeli territory towards the town of Zarit". It added that the military would "continue to prevent any attempt to violate Israeli sovereignty". The Israeli occupation army's pre-dawn strike into southern Lebanon was in response to more than 30 rockets fired from Lebanon on Thursday. It was the biggest escalation between the two countries -- technically still at war -- since Israel fought a 34-day conflict with Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in 2006. Israel's military also targeted infrastructure of the ruling Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The violence came amid an upsurge in tensions during Jewish, Muslim and Christian religious holidays. It follows the storming early Wednesday by Israeli riot police of the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, Islam's third holiest site. Search Keywords: Short link: When her three-month-old baby fell sick from malnutrition, Dool Abdirahman Ismael left her village in Somalia and walked for three days through swirling dust and scorching heat to the Dadaab Refugee Camp just across the border in Kenya. Ismael, 26, said she had hoped Dadaab would be free of the hunger and sickness she fled in Somalia, where the worst drought in decades and surging food prices have left millions of people in need of aid. Instead, the young mother found barren land, overcrowding and scant resources at Dadaab, one of the worlds largest refugee camps and home to 300,000 people. In a ward for severely malnourished children, Ismael said her babys condition had not improved since arriving at Dadaab. Severe malnourishment had made the babys head swell with liquid a common effect of malnutrition in children. There hasnt been improvement, Ismael said, cradling the infant. After five consecutive failed rainy seasons, parts of Somalia are on the verge of famine and the rest of the country is faring little better. In the past two years, the drought has displaced one million Somalis and about 100,000 have fled to Kenya, according to the United Nations. At Dadaab alone, at least 6,000 Somalis fleeing hunger have arrived at the camp since the start of the year, U.N. data shows, but aid workers say the number not yet registered in the U.N. system is up to five times that number. Those who flee often find little relief in neighbouring countries which have also been hit by the Horn of Africas worst drought in more than four decades and are groaning under the strain of an influx of new refugees. The new arrivals bring a scarcity to the already little resources that are available for the population here, said Dr. Marvin Ngao, the top medical official for the International Rescue Committee (IRC), an aid group that runs health facilities in Dadaab. OVERCROWDING Dadaab is a vast, dusty expanse of shops, bustling streets and makeshift houses built from white United Nations tarps. Somalis started arriving here in 1991 when their country descended into civil war. When refugees first arrive, many depend on extended family networks within the camp to share their limited rations since it can take weeks or months to start receiving their own. This, combined with rising food prices and poor farming and herding conditions due to the drought, means long-term camp residents are also vulnerable to hunger. In the past year, 32 children have died of malnutrition in the section of the camp run by the IRC, Ngao said. Aid agencies are struggling to keep up. The U.N. refugee agency said it has received only about half of the $11.1 million it needs for its work in northern Kenya. The overcrowding is also driving the spread of communicable diseases like cholera. There have been hundreds of cases since October, according to the IRC. Nevertheless, hundreds of Somalis continue to arrive in Dadaab each day. The U.N. says there could be about 90,000 new arrivals by year-end. Dahir Suleiman Ali, a 68-year-old farmer, had been resisting pressure from his extended family to leave Somalia for the past two years, but he had little choice when the local river dried up late last year. This was the worst drought I have ever seen, he said. SOURCE: REUTERS Regulators are worried that faucet leaks in Boeing 787 jets could pose a safety hazard by water seeping into the planes' electronics during flights. The Federal Aviation Administration proposed Friday to order repetitive inspections and, if leaks are found, replacing faucet parts. The move comes after reports of water from lavatories getting under the cabin floor and into electronic equipment bays. The FAA said the leaks could damage critical equipment and lead to a loss of continued safe flight and landing. The agency said one airline found wet carpet in the cockpit of a plane and, when it inspected its entire fleet of 787s, found multiple planes with leaking faucets. The FAA did not identify the airline. Boeing advised airlines in November about the issue, which has been traced to an O-ring seal and described as a slow leak about 8 ounces of water per hour. However, Boeing said the issue was limited to certain 787s while the FAA order would cover all of them. The FAA described the extra inspections as a temporary measure while the manufacturer redesigns the faucet modules. A Boeing spokesman said the redesign is complete and the company is working with its supplier and customers to determine when planes can be retrofitted with new parts. Japanese aircraft parts maker Jamco says on its website that it is the exclusive provider of lavatories for all two-aisle Boeing jets such as the 787. The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment. There will be a 45-day period for comments before the FAA proposal can become a final order. The inspections would apply to 140 planes in U.S. fleets. Boeing calls the 787 the Dreamliner. It is a bigger plane than the 737 Max and is used extensively on long flights including international ones. Dreamliner deliveries have been halted for several stretches during the past two years because of FAA concern over production flaws, although deliveries recently resumed after the latest stoppage. Australian pop band 5 Seconds of Summer announced a summer world tour on Thursday and will be making a stop at Mohegan Sun on Aug. 10. 5 Seconds of Summer made the announcement on social media, writing, "Cant wait to spend time on tour with all you beautiful people." The band known for their hit songs "Youngblood" and "She Looks So Perfect," will kick off the North American leg of "5 Seconds of Summer Show World Tour" in Uncasville. Luke Hemmings, Michael Clifford, Calum Hood and Ashton Irwin will visit 20 major cities, including New York City, Boston, Toronto and Los Angeles. Will Waldron/Albany Times Union GERMANTOWN An 18-year-old man was killed in a crash on Route 9G late Thursday. At about 10:17 p.m., State Police were called to the scene of the crash in the town of Germantown. A preliminary investigation determined that the driver and sole occupant, Raphael B. McDonald of Athens, was driving north on the state highway when he slid off the road and crashed into a utility pole. RHINEBECK As this Dutchess County town has changed over the decades, A.L. Stickle Variety Store has remained an anchor since its opening in 1946. Customers can find household goods, candy or vintage toys and friendly faces behind the counter, like Alfred Lee Stickle, the first owner, and later the Stickle family all the way to Stickles grandson, Matthew Stickle, and his wife, Leah, who ran the store in recent years. This week, the beloved store at 13 E. Market St. announced on social media that it will close on May 20. A Facebook post dated April 3 reads: To our customers and community. For the last 76 years A. L. Stickle five and dime has been a staple on East Market Street. The business has watched the village evolve and the world change. Today we announce that the store will be closing. Were looking forward to new adventures, and were grateful for everything the store has given our family. Thank you to the generations that have passed through these doors. Rhinebeck is a special place. Support your local businesses. Shop local. Thank you, The Stickle Family. The post had received 298 comments and had been shared more than 400 times as of Friday morning. A reason for the closure or information on what comes next for the building hasnt been confirmed. Matthew Stickle could not be reached for comment. Rhinebeck Mayor Gary Bassett, who found out about the closing via Facebook, said the news took him by surprise. Im not naive to think that it wasnt difficult, but I was shocked when I saw the announcement, said Bassett, who also expressed sadness about other recent closings like the Thompson House Residential and Rehabilitative Care Facility in Rhinebecks Northern Dutchess Hospital. Hearing about Stickle, its kind of one right after the other lately. Despite the arrival of big-box stores like CVS, Target and Walmart and the rise of online shopping on Amazon, the store is an important part of Rhinebecks history and has remained an attraction for weekenders and summer visitors as well as the go-to for long-term residents, Bassett said. To me, that changes the landscape of the village center, said Bassett, who said he has been a customer since he moved to Rhinebeck 30 years ago. We need to work with whoever is planning to take over and make sure we have something thats viable and useful for our community. He added: Its been a pleasure having them a part of our community for multiple generations. And the legacy they left will live forever within those who are living and staying here in the village of Rhinebeck. A.L. Stickle was more than a five-and-dime store it was also the home of Knitting Garage, where Leah Stickle would dedicate herself to knitting and selling yarn and supplies, and teaching the craft. Doris Formby knew that side of the store very well, as she taught knitting classes there for eight years until the pandemic. Its certainly a loss to the community, Formby said. But they must have their reasons and they have to do whats best for their family. Im sure it was not something taken lightly. Formby is from Germany, where knitting was part of the school curriculum. After moving to the Rhinebeck area in 1985, she would visit the store occasionally and remembers Alfred and his wife, Jan, fondly. When Formby began teaching knitting classes there, she developed a close relationship with the family, saying she felt totally included and at home. Formby said A.L. Stickle was an important part of Rhinebecks tight-knit community. I think because of that nostalgic feel, said Formby about the secret to A.L. Stickles longevity. It has something kind of interwoven in the American tradition, and the grandson, Matthew Stickle, certainly carried on the store in the spirit of his grandfather. It was part museum. The closing of the five-and-dime store has brought nostalgic childhood memories for many, who remember buying school supplies, clothes and old-school toys. Many residents who grew up shopping at A.L. Stickle would bring their children and grandchildren years later, Formby said. I am incredibly sad but so grateful for all that Stickles has given the Rhinebeck community over countless generations, said Stefanie Crenshaw in a comment. I remember what a treat it was to buy bouncy balls and how I looked forward to picking out my Trapper Keeper at the beginning of every school year. Stickles has always been a major portion of Rhinebecks beating heart, one of the very last mainstays to a bygone era. It will be sorely missed! Oh gosh you ARE Rhinebeck to me. Thank you for all the wonderful years of fun and practical supplies and general nostalgia and wonderfulness. Wishing you and yours the very best, Dana Hoeys comment read. The end of an era in Rhinebeck. Growing up in Rhinebeck in the late 60s-early 70s Stickles was a staple of the community, Patty Murphys comment said. Loved looking through patterns and fabrics, school supplies, and really any little household anything. In a world where everything has changed so much, including the Rhinebeck I once knew, Stickles has always been a beloved Rhinebeck store. It will be missed! This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate It started March 30, when districts like East Greenbush and Albany went into lockdown due to reports of active shooters. Similar situations at other area school districts were reported, with State Police saying incidents like these were occurring throughout the state. The following Tuesday, schools in Washington and Warren counties closed or delayed classes after receiving bomb threats. Threats and false reports of shooters have been occurring for months at schools and colleges across the country. Earlier last month, some area school districts received an identical, threatening email. Incidents at local schools last week were quickly deemed not credible, with State Police later saying the hoax likely originated outside the U.S. But the increasing rate of such incidents can have other impacts. Thats the problem with these swatting calls, it spreads law enforcement thin, said Stuart Williams, community relations coordinator for Ballston Spa Central School District. What is swatting, and how do schools respond? The FBI describes swatting as making a hoax emergency call to draw a response from law enforcement, usually a SWAT team, with such calls going back decades. Schools have since had to deal with hoax threats via email and on social media as well. FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Geoff Hunter said the term can apply to any case of someone knowingly providing false information to elicit a law enforcement response. Hunter, who works at the bureau's Albany field office, believes there has been a slight increase in swatting on a national level. Incidents last week were further exacerbated by recent mass shootings across the country and even local incidents such as the lockdown at Albany Medical Center. "Unfortunately, after we see a true event we see an increase in these swatting events," Hunter said, though he noted they had not drawn a correlation between any recent events and last week's swatting incidents. Responses from school districts can vary depending on the situation. The state Department of Education defines the following emergency responses as follows: Shelter-in-place: Students and staff stay inside the building and in assigned classrooms. Hold-in-place: Students and staff stay inside the building and in assigned classrooms during short-term incidents. Evacuate: Students and staff leave to a designated location. Lockout: Campuses are secured and outdoor activities are terminated, but classes continue as normal. Lockdown: Used during immediate threats. Students are moved to safe, out-of-sight areas of classroom and doors are locked or barricaded if necessary. Politicians seek harsher punishments for threats The increasing rate of school threats has drawn calls for more punitive measures from state politicians. State Sen. James Tedisco announced Wednesday he was co-sponsoring a bill to make falsely reporting an incident a felony offense. Mohawk Valley state legislators Sen. Joseph Griffo and Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon have renewed their calls to pass a bill that would create new crimes called making a threat of mass violence. With these terror calls, its becoming open season on spreading fear, stress, anxiety and depression throughout our vulnerable student bodies as well as staff and their families, Tedisco said in a statement. Other districts suffer from 'copy cat' incidents As nearby schools received bomb threats Tuesday, police that morning were also investigating a shooting threat a Ballston Spa High School student received, Williams said. That afternoon, Rotterdam police investigated a similar threat on social media against the Mohonasen Central School District. Williams said the parent of a Ballston Spa High School student contacted the Saratoga County Sheriffs Office after the student saw a threat on social media. A shelter-in-place was issued for the high school and middle school as law enforcement searched the campus. Classes were delayed and eventually canceled at all four elementary schools for the same reason, Williams said. You get whats called copy cat events in school districts, he said. You never know if its connected. Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo said the threat, sent over SnapChat to a student, was deemed not credible, but was still under investigation. Rotterdam Police Lt. Patrick Farry said the Mohonasen Central School District had found images of a handgun with a threatening message posted Tuesday afternoon on its Twitter, with the student responsible interviewed and charged with felony making a terroristic threat. District Superintendent Shannon Shine said in a statement the threat was made by a middle school student using a virtual private network, or VPN, to mask the origin of the posts. The use of VPNs, which are commercially available and not particularly expensive, are part of an ongoing challenge for law enforcement, Hunter said. "These criminal actors are using more and more instruments to obfuscate their identities," he said. The student's threat was found not credible, Farry said. He does not have access to any firearms. ALBANY Randell Mason on Friday received a 25-year prison sentence and a scolding from a judge but rare compassion and well-wishes from the victim he maimed in a sword-inflicted attack last year inside a Sheridan Avenue homeless shelter. Some people think that Id be filled with anger and rage, but Ive learned that would do me no good. That would harm me, Jon Romano told his attacker from the witness stand of acting Supreme Court Justice Roger McDonoughs courtroom. I want you to know that although my life will never be the same, I will move forward and do well. And I wish you well. At the age of 16, Romano fired a shotgun at students and wounded a teacher Feb. 9, 2004, at Columbia High School in East Greenbush. An assistant principal tackled and disarmed him. Romano, who was convicted of the same charges attempted murder as Mason and released from prison in 2020, has spoken at length about his mental health struggles. Ive been to the places where youre going. I served 17 years in prison myself, Romano, 35, told Mason. Thats why I wanted to work at that shelter, to do good for the community that I once hurt. And I hope that you can know that the places youre about to be in are also filled with anger and rage and I hope you dont give into it like a lot of people do. Its easy to do that, Romano, who needed to compose himself at times, continued. Its easy when people are controlling you and abusing you and taking advantage of you, to give in to that. Dont allow it. Im lucky enough to have a positive support system that has helped me through this and Im sorry if you dont have that. So I want you to find people in there who are positive or are trying to change their lives for the better, because youll find those people, too. And I wish you well. No matter what you did to me. I wish you well. In his words to Mason, Romano highlighted a quote that to hold onto anger is to drink poison and expect the other person to suffer. On Feb. 10, Mason pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree murder for the Aug. 29 attack on Romano inside the Community Connections Drop-in Center at the Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless at 176 Sheridan Ave. Mason told police he chopped up the victin because Romano had been disrespecting me, according to court papers. Romano needed weeks of hospital care after Mason attacked him. His arms needed to be reattached. He also suffered severe injuries to his head and legs. Assistant District Attorney Stephen Lydon and Masons attorney, Kurt Haas, asked the judge to impose the agreed-upon sentence of 25 years and five years post-release supervision. When given a chance to speak, Mason apologized without providing specifics. Apologize to whom? the judge asked Mason. Jon, Mason responded. For what? the judge pressed the defendant. For not controlling my anger, Mason answered. McDonough told Mason that in more than 30 years as a judge and prosecutor, he had rarely seen video more heart-wrenching, more terrible, more full of senseless physical violence and rage than the video of Masons attack on Romano. The judge said he has also rarely seen a victim speak with such grace and forgiveness as spoken by Romano. Its almost bewildering to the court that the victim could feel that sort of forgiveness after the terrible nature of this crime and the terribleness was made manifest or I should say multiplied by the senselessness of it, the judge told Mason. It was over nothing. Theres no apparent reason other than you being slightly perturbed that you were told 'no,' that you were told something that you didnt want to do ... it was truly awful sir. Your crime was awful. The judge said he hoped Mason serves every bit of his prison sentence. He also said he hoped Romanos words helped Mason change his ways from the heart that would be able to perpetrate this kind of violence to the way Romano acted on Friday. Outside court, Romano told reporters he was heading back to the shelter for only the second time since the attack. It was good to be able to face him and say what I wanted to say which, first and foremost, is that I forgive him because holding onto that anger would never help me, he said. Forgiveness is not about forgetting or saying what he did was OK. Forgiveness is about saying I can move forward with my life and let go of the anger. Egypts Ministry of Emigration and Expatriate Affairs announced on Thursday the conditions for transferring cash from Egypt to students studying in Russia. The conditions were published by the ministrys committee responsible for laying the framework for cash transfers to students abroad. Russian banks that are on the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) list a cooperative society that allows for financial transactions and payments between banks across the world may be legally used for money transfers between Egypt and Russia, the ministry announced. Egyptian banks may be unable to complete transfer requests to banks that have been placed under financial sanctions or removed from the SWIFT network, they cautioned. Furthermore, if the Egyptian bank issuing the transfer does not have an existing relationship with the receiving Russian bank the transfer may be rejected, the ministry noted. Finally, transfer requests will be declined should the client fail to provide the required documentation, they conclude The committee was formed under the directives of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi following the December restrictions put on the transfer of foreign currency abroad due to Egypts shortage of hard currency. It operates in tandem with the Central Bank Egypt (CBE) and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The CBE had announced in December exemptions for students who study abroad and for those travelling to seek medical treatment For all countries, parents seeking to transfer tuition fees and living expenses to their children studying abroad must issue a request through their current bank accounts in Egypt, the emigration ministry said. The parents must provide evidence of the students enrollment abroad as well as documents indicating the students needed living expenses per month, the ministry added. Finally, the emigration ministry emphasised that the committee is exerting continuous efforts with all relevant parties to provide alternatives to students in Ukraine to study at Egypts universities adding that the entrance exam is available for the fourth time to apply for transfer to Egypt. Search Keywords: Short link: ALBANY A Capital Region Republican state senator has floated a proposal to eliminate cash bail while giving judges more detailed criteria on the circumstances necessary to jail a person accused of a crime. The proposal comes as Democrats in control of state government are debating how or whether to adjust New Yorks bail statutes as public safety concerns have remained a flashpoint in New York politics. The bill sponsored by State Sen. Jake Ashby of Rensselaer County, with the backing of several other GOP senators, is intended to provide a broader and more full-throated approach to the issue of bail laws, Ashby said. The debate over how to retool the statute has roiled budget negotiations between Gov. Kathy Hochul and leaders of the Legislature as the governor has pushed for a revision that would grant judges greater discretion in determining whether a defendant should be held in custody while awaiting trial. But Ashby has proposed amending New Yorks criminal code to remove all references to cash bail, a concession to the original intent of revisions to the states bail laws in 2019 that promised to balance the criminal justice system and prevent the disproportionate incarceration of individuals who lacked the means to pay for their release from custody. It also would grant a judge sweeping oversight over when to remand someone accused of a crime before their trial. The bill would also create a body called the Commission on Public Safety Reform, which would analyze court data to formulate a data-based risk assessment, framed as a measure to give judges an objective standard they could use to determine how to evaluate someones perceived risk of harm to themselves or others, or their potential to abscond. Using a standard calculation would eliminate the possibility of judge bias, Ashby said, acknowledging that subjectivity has long been a top concern for proponents of the bail revisions. The legislation would bring New York in line with other states like New Jersey, which currently gives its judges more say in determining whether defendants should be jailed or not. It takes money out of the equation, and it gives judges the discretion that they need, Ashby said. I think it makes the attempt to solve or alleviate some of the concerns on both sides. Ashbys legislation would allow judges to make an individualized determination whether someone accused of certain crimes and who poses a substantial risk to themselves or to the community should be taken into custody. Judges would be given a list of factors to consider, including prior convictions, access to weapons, association with a gang or a history of making threats or intimidating witnesses. Judges would be given discretion to remand individuals holding them in jail pending their trial in cases involving felony charges and certain misdemeanors, including sex offenses, domestic abuse or election tampering. Defendants with a history of disobeying court orders would also be subject to being held in custody even if their new charged offense does not normally qualify for pretrial detention. Proponents of leaving the statutes untouched, including progressive advocates and public defenders, have argued that a persons financial situation should not determine whether they are held in jail before trial, and that before 2019 that bail laws essentially criminalized poverty if a person was unable to post bail. Republicans and many prosecutors have pushed back, arguing that the changes have resulted in higher recidivism rates. The state district attorneys association has backed the intent of the revisions but contend they need to be reworked to reduce confusion among some judges and to ensure they have the authority to jail someone who is committing repeated crimes or endangering the public, among other issues. Ashby said his bill is intended to provide the most conciliatory approach to bail laws possible. But it includes provisions that face fierce criticism from progressives who have long resisted any rollbacks to the 2019 bail changes, including granting judges what they view as the ability to make subjective determinations on whether someone is dangerous or not. Katie Schaffer, director of organizing at the progressive Center for Community Alternatives, called the measure a mass incarceration bill and said that it would lead to more people held in jail pretrial. Sen. Ashbys proposal would dramatically and unconscionably expand pretrial incarceration in New York state, undermining our constitutional right to the presumption of innocence, Schaffer said in a statement. We urge New Yorks Legislature to reject this radical and regressive proposal as well as the governors effort to jail more Black, brown and poor people pretrial. Ashby summed up responses from Democratic colleagues on the legislation introduced in late March as positive, but reluctant. Top Democrats including Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie have said they do not support further amendments to bail laws. But their budget talks on the issue of the least-restrictive standard have been ongoing with the governor. Hochul says her plan is intended to provide judges with clearer standards on whether to jail or set bail for someone accused of a serious crime while the person awaits trial. I support the fundamental premise behind the bail laws. But we need to make sure that judges understand that they have the discretion to make the right decision in the right case, Hochul told reporters on Wednesday. Hochuls proposal seems to be cosmetic and superficial changes, Ashby said, calling his legislation transformative. What I want to see happen though, is just the idea advanced, he added. Having a conversation like that with the powers that could make it happen would be fantastic. The fate of the legislation is still unclear; it must be taken up by the Senates Codes Committee before it can be passed to the floor for consideration by all members. ALBANY Paychecks for roughly 83,000 state workers won't be issued next week unless lawmakers return to the Capitol and pass a second budget extender by noon on Monday. State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday noting that is the deadline to give state payroll officials enough time to issue both paper checks and online direct deposit payments to "administration" employees spread across multiple state agencies. A spokesman for state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said that chamber's members expect to return to Albany on Monday morning. Sources in the state Assembly said they had not received a schedule by 2:30 p.m. Friday; many members were texting one another trying to figure out the plan as news of DiNapoli's letter was circulating. But those sources said they also expect to return to Albany and vote on an extender before noon. The paper checks need to be mailed by noon on Monday to be on time. For those workers who use direct deposit, those payments are also processed on Monday and usually reach their accounts by Tuesday or Wednesday the day they are due to be paid. "In addition, as has already been communicated, because the budget was not enacted by April 1 the Office of the State Comptroller is required to withhold salary payments to legislators pursuant to ... legislative law," DiNapoli said in his letter. State lawmakers are scheduled to receive their next paychecks on Wednesday, but that is unlikely. DiNapoli's letter said those payments have already been cancelled. Last week, the Legislature and Hochul passed their first budget extender, which expires Monday, to ensure more than 50,000 state government workers at regional institutions such as the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision were paid. Based on the timeline of negotiations, and no legislative session scheduled next week, the budget is not expected to be finalized until the week of April 17. Legislative sources said the governor's office and Democrats in control of the Legislature have reached an informal agreement to retool language in bail statutes to give judges wider discretion to set bail or remand a defendant they deem to be a danger to themselves or the public. That policy issue has been one of the most discussed matters in this year's budget talks, lawmakers have said. The governor's ambitious housing plan that is intended to create 800,000 new residences over the next 10 years and in some cases potentially override local zoning codes is another key issue that has yet to be agreed upon, according to Assembly sources. To keep state government running when budgets are late, legislative leaders must authorize an extender to ensure employees are paid and state services are funded. Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay issued a statement last week criticizing Democrats for not meeting the April 1 deadline that he said "is a basic responsibility of the governor and the Legislature." [April 06, 2023] Global Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) & Enterprise Mobility Market Report 2022: Increasing Need for Productivity and Employee Satisfaction Boosts Sector DUBLIN, April 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) & Enterprise Mobility Market by Deployment Mode (Cloud and On-Premises), Component (Services, Software, and Security), Industry Verticals, and Region - Forecast to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The market for Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) and enterprise mobility was valued at USD 67.85 billion in 2021 and is expected to experience a revenue compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.9% over the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to various factors, including the need for increased productivity and employee satisfaction, reduced hardware costs for organizations, and the expansion of mobile and broadband services. BYOD is a recent trend that permits employees to use their personal devices for work purposes. With a BYOD policy in place, businesses can use laptops, tablets, and cellphones for work-related functions without purchasing additional IT management equipment. The development of BYOD policies is typically done by organizations, which consider various factors such as security concerns and permitted device types. Employees are required to read and understand the policies put in place by their employer before agreeing to participate in BYOD programs. Additionally, organizations can install specific applications on employees' devices for work purposes and put in place security measures to access confidential company information. Some employees may not be allowed to participate in BYOD programs, particularly if their Mobile Device Management (MDM) policy blacklists specific apps. Policies that allow employers to remotely access staff devices are common, although employees may prefer a clearer separation between work and personal life. Increasing Need for Productivity and Employee Satisfaction The enterprise mobility and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies enable employees to use their personal electronic devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops, for work-related activities, which is a significant factor driving the growth of the industry. The increased use of BYOD and enterprise mobility solutions in businesses has helped in managing work more flexibly, saving money on infrastructure, and improving employee performance. Furthermore, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have started adopting BYOD and enterprise mobility solutions due to the high degree of comfort and flexibility it offers, leading to the growth of the BYOD and enterprise mobility market. The BYOD and enterprise mobility market have also expanded globally due to increased smartphone penetration, rapid growth in mobile data and device usage, and lower hardware prices for businesses. Technology's benefits include increased employment rates, fast urbanization, industrialization, economic development, digitization, the need to reduce security concerns,stimulation of investment, an increase in productivity, and employee happiness. The possibilities for market growth in the BYOD and enterprise mobility market include the increasing usage of cloud-based technologies and the popularity of BYOD. Lack of Uniformity in Devices May Hamper Operations The variety of gadgets utilized for work in the office under the BYOD model is a major issue. For instance, while some workers might feel more comfortable with only an iPad and a MacBook, others might prefer a Windows tablet and laptop. Additionally, some people might upgrade their smart devices every two to three years while others might stick with the same model for an extended period, which could lead to multiple devices causing problems with a company's software functionality and interoperability. Moreover, employees could face issues installing or utilizing these programs, even with more dated machines. It could be challenging for workers to cooperate across several devices, especially when they need to transmit and edit data. Furthermore, management might need to develop unique directives, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and information packages due to various devices utilized in the enterprise. Key Takeaways Deployment Mode Outlook The global enterprise mobility market is divided into two deployment modes: cloud and on-premises. In 2021, the cloud segment experienced significant growth as it enables organizations to quickly deploy various services. With the use of cloud technology, employees can access data directly on their devices and start working without waiting for validated reports. This platform also enables users to make service requests from their devices, and businesses that adopt mobile cloud platforms can benefit from increased productivity, stronger relationships with clients and business partners, quicker time to market, improved work processes, and more affordable and integrated storage and business apps. This segment is expected to drive revenue growth. Component Outlook The market is also divided into three components: services, software, and security. The software segment is expected to register a steady growth rate as enterprise mobility software can help organizations manage and secure mobile devices used by employees, uphold corporate policy, and follow security regulations. This software can also provide more control over app users' download and data sharing, increase employees' productivity at work, enhance workflows through app data analysis, and offer new apps to meet staff demands. Industry Vertical Outlook The market is further segmented by industry verticals, including BFSI, IT & telecom, automobile, and others. The IT & telecom segment is expected to register a steady growth rate due to the rising adoption of BYOD and enterprise mobility in the industry. Enterprise mobility solutions can help IT professionals manage massive data pools using AI and big data analytics technology, make swift decisions based on insightful facts, accurately allocate resources through real-time tracking, and enhance departmental coordination. They also aim to increase staff productivity and customer happiness by raising reaction time and lowering costs, and ultimately increase profitability. With mobility solutions, employees can access company data on various devices and keep all stakeholders and management in sync. Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1. Market Synopsis Chapter 2. Executive Summary Chapter 3. Indicative Metrics Chapter 4. BYOD & Enterprise Mobility Market Segmentation & Impact Analysis 4.1. BYOD & Enterprise Mobility Market Segmentation Analysis 4.2. Industrial Outlook 4.2.1. Market indicators analysis 4.2.2. Market drivers' analysis 4.2.2.1. Increasing need for productivity and employee satisfaction 4.2.2.2. Increase in data traffic 4.2.2.3. Reduction in hardware costs of organizations 4.2.2.4. Growth of mobile and broadband services 4.2.3. Market restraints analysis 4.2.3.1. Security concerns regarding information 4.2.3.2. Lack of uniformity in devices may hamper operation 4.2.3.3. High costs Chapter 5. BYOD & Enterprise Mobility Market by Deployment Mode Insights & Trends Chapter 6. BYOD & Enterprise Mobility Market by Component Insights & Trends Chapter 7. BYOD & Enterprise Mobility Market by Industry Verticals Insights & Trends Chapter 8. BYOD & Enterprise Mobility Market Regional Outlook Chapter 9. Competitive Landscape Chapter 10. Company Profiles Companies Mentioned SAP SE Honeywell International Inc. Infosys Limited Microsoft Corporation Oracle Capgemini Tech Mahindra Limited Cisco Systems Inc. IBM For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/c44bx2 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-bring-your-own-device-byod--enterprise-mobility-market-report-2022-increasing-need-for-productivity-and-employee-satisfaction-boosts-sector-301791839.html SOURCE Research and Markets [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 06, 2023] Compal Electronics Has Launched "AblatePal" RF Ablation System and "BreathePal" Bilevel Ventilator in Therapeutic Medical Device Market TAIPEI, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Compal Electronics ("Compal"), a leading Taiwanese electronics company, has announced its expansion into the development of innovative therapeutic medical devices. Compal has launched a new radiofrequency ablation (RFA) system for percutaneous, intraoperative coagulation and ablation of soft tissue, including partial or complete ablation of non-resectable liver lesions and a Bilevel ventilator for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and respiratory insufficiency caused by central and/or mixed apneas. The "AblatePal" RF ablation system uses the heat energy generated by electrical resistance when the current passes through the tissue to cauterize the tumor to cause tumor necrosis with its advanced cooling technology to prevent normal tissue damaged and has positive outcomes which can improve the wound size and shorten hospital stay for patients. The "BreathePal" Bilevel ventilator provides continuous or intermittent positive pressure ventilation for adults with respiratory insufficiency or failure, suitable for use in home or hospital settings. With interchangeable battery and humidifier design, it can be used more easily and with more flexibility. According to Martin Wong, President and CEO of Compal, the company has been acively developing the medical and healthcare industry in recent years, focusing on the field of high-end medical equipment, and mastering key technologies and quality. Compal has chosen Malaysia as the first stop on its international journey, hoping to deepen bilateral medical talent and technology exchange and achieve a sustainable new partnership based on "people-oriented" principles. Casper Chen, Senior Director of Compal, stated that the company has established a demonstration and training center to deepen medical exchanges with Malaysia. We will be exhibiting SE-Asian Healthcare & Pharma Show (SEACare) at booth no 4080 in KLCC from April 19-21, 2023. This will establish long-term relationships with hospitals and medical partners to accelerate the popularization and application of tumor treatment. Compal is continuously developing smart medical and health care business including therapeutic equipment, long-term care, telehealth, electronic medical records and smart ward. Also, Compal operates a clinic to develop precision medicine as well as cooperate with many hospitals to go to eHealth and AI. It is looking forward to providing a total solution platform to improve the quality of life for patients with its innovative medical devices. Media Contact: Zoey Chang Phone: +886-2-8797-8588 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.compal.com/ View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/compal-electronics-has-launched-ablatepal-rf-ablation-system-and-breathepal-bilevel-ventilator-in-therapeutic-medical-device-market-301791927.html SOURCE Compal Electronics [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 07, 2023] SI-UK India Hosts the First Edition of Virtual Subject-Specific Fairs in 2023 NEW DELHI, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SI-UK India , a leading study abroad education company, recently hosted four successful subject specific virtual fairs to help Indian students make informed decisions about their higher education choices in the UK. Students who participated in these fairs got a chance to speak in-person with representatives from various prestigious UK universities such as the Universities of Manchester, Edinburgh, Bath, Birmingham, and many more. Over 2000 students registered to participate in the SI-UK subject fairs and met with university representatives. The online subject fairs were organised to assist students looking to pursue degrees in computer science, health science, social science, and business management in the UK and build careers in these fields. The fairs provided an excellent platform for the students to gain in-depth information on the courses offered by the participating universities in these subject streams. Lakshmi Iyer, MD of SI-UK India, said, "As we enter the summer months here in India, it is also the peak time for decision-making for our students. SI-UK organised four subject specific virtual events to give our applicants the opportunity to have one-on-one time with the universities in their consideration set. We understand that this is a once-in a lifetime, high involvement, high stakes decision, and we want to give our students every chance to make a well informed decision. All of our events are for our students to get first hand exposure to our client institutions to help them make good choices." The University of Manchester team expressed their appreciation for SI-UK India. "The University of Manchester team is happy to be part of the SI-UK subject fairs since this is an excellent opportunity for us to engage with our offer holders who have applied via the very professional and experienced SI-UK offices. A big thank you to the SI-UK team for arranging these interactions for us and helping us connect with our prospective University of Manchester students," said Aprajita Kalra, Country Advisor India for the University of Manchester. Davina Smith, Country Manager India for The University of Liverpool, added, "The SI-UK subject-specific event was successful because it gave us a chance to promote some of our niche courses within the University of Liverpool's Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. We met with a mixed batch of prospective students and offer holders, who were inquisitive not only about the various options available but were well researched about the department as well. Another highlight was speaking to some really driven and meritorious potential UG applicants. The interactions at SI-UK events have always been rewarding, and we look forward to participating in more specialised and department focused events." Virtual subject fairs are part of SI-UK India's ongoing activities to provide information on undergraduate and graduate level courses from UK universities to Indian students who wish to pursue higher education in the UK in September 2023. The team at SI-UK India is committed to providing students with the best advice and guidance to make the best choices for their academic pursuits in the UK through more such events in the future. About SI-UK India SI-UK India is part of SI-UK, a premier global education agency with 83 offices across 40 countries worldwide. We provide free advice and support to international students applying to study in the UK, Ireland and UAE. Our team of education consultants is experienced and trained by trusted university partners and agencies such as the British Council and Education in Ireland. We guide students through each step of the application process to universities, language schoosl and colleges. In addition to helping students with their visa applications and other study abroad-related services, SI-UK India annually conducts both online and offline events and fairs to provide information on represented colleges and courses. CONTACT: United Knowledge Education Consultants Pvt Ltd Suite 8-13, 1st Floor, Indra Palace H Block, Middle Circle, Connaught Place 110001, India T: +91-11-4202-8200 E: [email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2049109/SI_UK_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/si-uk-india-hosts-the-first-edition-of-virtual-subject-specific-fairs-in-2023-301791835.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 07, 2023] JD.com Launches France E-Commerce Week with the Country Pavilion Seeing Sales Doubled in 2022 BEIJING, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- During French President Emmanuel Macron's official state visit to China this week, JD.com proudly announced its "France E-commerce Week" promotion beginning April 6. The week-long celebration will showcase and offer discounts on high-quality French products. JD.com has emerged as a crucial channel for French brands and merchants to succeed in China. With a rapidly increasing number of nationwide consumers relying on JD.com for their shopping needs, the platform has become a go-to destination for launching top brands. JD.com was the first e-commerce company to partner with LVMH to bring ten top fashion brands to its platform, including Louis Vuitton, DIOR, and more. In 2022, fashion giants including Maison Margiela, Roger Vivier, and Longchamp all launched their flagship stores on JD.com, cementing the platform' status as a trusted partner for French luxury brands. JD.com has been tremendously successful in promoting French products in China, solidifying its position as the largest online retail channel for French brands such as Hennessey and Remy Martin. The company's national pavilion of France, a country-themed online flagship store, recorded a year-on-year growth of 100% in sales in 2022, and sales of French brands on JD's cross-border platform, JD Worldwide, also experienced fast growth, such as Rene Furterer saw 200% year-on-year growth in the first quarter of 2023. In March, sales of French wine increased 230% year-on-year. JD.com sources wine from all 61 of the Bordeaux chateaux included in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification for red wine producers. JD.com's unparalleled e-commerce expertise, quick enrollment approach for overseas merchants, supply chain and logistics capabilities, and its nearly 600 million consumers provide the foundation necessary for more French brands to succeed in China. JD.com looks forward to continuing to work with French brands and merchants to bring high-quality products to Chinese consumers. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/jdcom-launches-france-e-commerce-week-with-the-country-pavilion-seeing-sales-doubled-in-2022-301792377.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 07, 2023] This Week in Consumer News: 14 Stories You Need to See A roundup of the week's most newsworthy consumer and retail industry press releases from PR Newswire, including Jennifer Lopez's new line of cocktails and Build-A-Bear's PEEPs collection. NEW YORK, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering the consumer and retail industries stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed. The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download. Read more of the latest consumer-related releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNcnsmr on Twitter. Can't-Miss Earnings In addition to these popular releases, quarterly results for Eastside Distilling and Steakholder Foods crossed the wire this week. Catch up on all the latest earnings reports here. Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists. Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers and freelancers have access to the following free features: Customization: Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Subject Matter Experts: Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Related Resources: Read and subscribe to our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, for media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more. About PR Newswire and PR Newswire for Journalists For more than 65 years, PR Newswire has been the industry leader with the largest, most comprehensive distribution network of print, radio, magazine, television stations, financial portals and trade publications. PR Newswire has an unparalleled global reach of more than 200,000 publications and 10,000 websites and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. PR Newswire for Journalists (PRNJ) is an exclusive community that includes over 20,000 journalists, bloggers and influencers who are logging into their PRNJ accounts specifically looking for story ideas. PR Newswire thoroughly researches and vets this community to verify their identity as a member of the press, blogger or influencer. PRNJ users cover more than 200 beats and verticals. For questions, contact the team at [email protected]. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/this-week-in-consumer-news-14-stories-you-need-to-see-301792134.html SOURCE PR Newswire [April 07, 2023] CampusGuard Launches RedLens InfoSec to Expand Its Reach of Delivering Offensive Security Services LINCOLN, Neb., April 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CampusGuard, a full-service cybersecurity and compliance services firm, announced that its former Offensive Security Services (OSS) team has been rebranded as RedLens InfoSec, a division of CampusGuard. The newly updated division represents a dynamic team focused on developing new products and services while maintaining the same degree of customer care and expert service delivery that customers have come to expect. "Our focus has always been on delivering measurable value and actionable results to our customers, and the RedLens InfoSec brand represents our renewed commitment to developing new and unique service offerings to add to that value proposition," said Chad Wheeler, RedLens InfoSec manager. "Our IT security and compliance offerings are in high demand across so many industries at risk of a data breach and other cyber threats. We remain your trusted partner in proactively defending your organization against these threats." RedLens InfoSec delivers a proactive approach to help organizations identify security vulnerabilities and gaps in their systems, networks, applications and operating procedures. With services such as a wide array of penetration testing offerings, Red Teaming and many others, RedLens will evaluate and offer recommendations to improve an organization's security posture, test its existing defense capabilities, limit the impact of a potential security incident and assist in executing legal or regulatory compliance requirements. "RedLens InfoSec shares the sae level of commitment as CampusGuard to deliver exceptional value throughout all our customer engagements," said Harvey Gannon, CampusGuard chief executive officer. "With our unique team-based approach and focus on customer care, our growing community of customers can expect nothing less than the highest quality services available in the market." RedLens InfoSec currently offers the following services: Vulnerability assessments and scanning Penetration testing/segmentation testing Web application scanning and penetration testing API testing Wireless network penetration testing Red Teaming Social engineering programs (on-premises/off-premises) Phishing/vishing exercises Spear-phishing exercises Password auditing Organizations choose CampusGuard and RedLens InfoSec because of the company's customer-centric approach, ensuring a hands-on experience with a credentialed and dedicated team. Customers receive comprehensive, actionable custom reports featuring recommended steps for remediation and ongoing support services to help secure their environments at risk. Competitive, fixed pricing helps streamline the process. For more information about RedLens InfoSec and its services, visit www.campusguard.com/redlensinfosec. About RedLens InfoSec RedLens InfoSec, a division of CampusGuard, delivers a wide array of security engagements from penetration testing, vulnerability assessments and scanning, to Red Teaming, password auditing and more to help boost other organizations' security posture. Its dedicated project and support teams use sophisticated methods to identify security weaknesses and vulnerabilities across enterprises and provide comprehensive reports and solutions to assist in remediating any security deficiencies. Its certified team of experts is committed to providing organizations with the highest level of technical expertise and true customer care. About CampusGuard Founded in 2009, CampusGuard provides cybersecurity and compliance services for campus and community-based organizations, including higher education, healthcare, state and local government and agencies, financial services firms and SaaS/tech companies, among others. CampusGuard's success in serving its customers can be attributed to?the experience, education and commitment of its?certified professionals and its in-depth understanding of the unique needs of the markets it serves. For more information, visit www.campusguard.com. SOURCE CampusGuard [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Israeli jets carried out a series of airstrikes against various locations in the Gaza Strip Friday night, causing significant damage to property but no casualties, according to Palestinian news agency WAFA. The airstrikes destroyed a facility in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood southeast of Gaza City. Two other airstrikes hit southwest of Gaza City and east of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. Three more struck in Khan Younis in the south of the strip. Medical sources confirmed that no injuries had been reported. Israeli aircraft, including low-altitude surveillance aircraft, continued to fly over the skies over Gaza following the attack. The Israeli army claimed that it had targeted four Hamas-controlled sites in Gaza. The airstrikes on Gaza were carried shortly after meeting of the Israeli security cabinet that was convened by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday evening. Following the meeting, Netanyahu's office issued a statement announcing a series of actions against strikes against Israel from Gaza and south Lebanon. "Israel's response, tonight and beyond, will exact a heavy price from our enemies," warned the statement. Search Keywords: Short link: Hopes are high and there is always reason for hope. This week . . . The new boss seemed both humble and confident . . . Which is encouraging . . . Dr. Collier met with media members, as a sign outside Northeast High School congratulated her. She started as a music teacher at Northeast High School and has worked her way up through the districts leadership structure since then. Starting here over 23 years ago, I chose KCPS then, she said. And like I tell folks, I still choose KCPS today. Dr. Collier takes over a school system that regained full accreditation last year. I know there's so much more that we can do, She said. Here's what's important . . . Even skeptics must admit that Dr. Collier has an EXCEPTIONAL reputation and is obviously committed to her work. That may or may not make the difference . . . For the sake of KCMO and the youngsters currently attending local public schools. Are hope is that she is successful in her efforts. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . There's a local connection to a nationwide controversy . . . Consider . . . Given so much debate over Twitter tagging NPR as a propaganda outlet . . . We'd like to know how locals regard the station's editorial viewpoint. They're obviously progressive but they're so boring that many locals don't notice. You might enjoy this . . . I was going call him Sam "I'm not a scumbag" Zeff because he often mean tweets TKC . . . But let me start out nice and note the metro reporter has a mostly respectable list of stories except for this one . . . Why Democrats might actually have a shot in Missouri's U.S. Senate race In retrospect . . . That's just as silly as anything TKC has ever written on this blog but without a single fart joke or educational view of a supermodel hottie's cleavage. In our last tweety slap fight encounter . . . Senor Zeff clowned TKC's low-rent blogging status in response to teasing about the NPR tote-bag that I'm STILL owed. And this brings us to a point made recently by Tucker Carlson. Yes . . . NPR does earn tax money AND corporate sponsorship. When media takes money . . . Their editorial influence is implicit even if it's minimal. Since we got a few ads running in this dump . . . Longtime readers might notice that TKC is a lot less raunchy . . . And with the help of faithful & generous readers . . . We've also slightly improved our ratio of typos. From our vantage we notice KCUR, Kansas City's NPR affiliate, ALWAYS aligns with progressives and takes a great deal of care to fully explain the perspective of this town's Democratic Party elite. Very little consideration is given to conservatives. Again . . . This would be a bigger deal if more people listened to KCUR. Nearly infinite podcast, streaming and satellite listening alternatives have rendered their reach pretty pathetic and that's why one of their old school reporters is busy trolling TKC. Nevertheless . . . KCUR & KCPT have become a home for castaways and wayward scribes from the Kansas City Star. They garner generous corporate donations that seem like some kind of white middle-class welfare TKC doesn't really understand . . . Or else I'd be begging for those very same handouts that aren't based at all on ratings, clicks, views or anything tangible. Still . . . As usual conservative talker Tucker Carlson shares the most incisive criticism of NPR's organization and the recent Twitter designation might pull back the curtain on their whisper campaign cash winning via airwaves that belong to the taxpayers . . . Every year, NPR lobbyists head to Capitol Hill to demand more tax dollars. "Democracy can't exist without us," they screech, while simultaneously at the very same time telling you at high volume that NPR takes virtually no tax money. "So, we don't need federal subsidies. Don't even want them, really, but you have to increase them." That is NPR's line and has been for decades under the political leadership of both parties, and it's essentially unchallenged by anyone. It just stays. Wars and recessions come and go, but NPR funding remains, but after more than half a century, it is very clear that there is nothing public about National Public Radio. NPR is the radio station of permanent Washington. That's who pays for it. That's who benefits from it. By adding three simple words to NPR's tweets, Elon Musk exposed that forever to the world. Such is the power of truth. It exposes and, of course, it infuriates those who are exposed. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . Twitter labels NPR's account as 'state-affiliated media,' which is untrue Twitter added a "state-affiliated media" tag to NPR's main account on Tuesday, applying the same label to the nonprofit media company that Twitter uses to designate official state mouthpieces and propaganda outlets in countries such as Russia and China. NPR operates independently of the U.S. government. TUCKER CARLSON: NPR has always been kind of awful On Tuesday, two days ago, Twitter slapped a warning label on all tweets from National Public Radio. Going forward, identified for users of Elon Musk's social media site as "state-affiliated media." That is the same category as Russia Today or China Central Television. NPR CEO Slams Twitter for Labeling Its Account as 'State-Affiliated Media': It's 'Unacceptable' Elon Musk's Twitter slapped a new label on the account of American public radio broadcaster NPR that says it is "US state-affiliated media." Other Twitter accounts with the state-affiliated media label include Russia Today (RT), Russia's Sputnik and China's Xinhua News. You decide . . . Again, for the record . . . KANSAS CITY'S HOMICIDE PACE FOR THIS YEAR HIT AN ALL-TIME HISTORIC HIGH THIS WEEK!!! Consider . . . We're trending ahead of last year . . . The 2nd deadliest year in local history. KC only had 36 homicides at this date in 2022. We're even far ahead of 2020 -- KC's deadliest year on record . . . In April of that year there only 41 killings. KCPD stats reveal 45 homicides have been recorded so far in 2023. Again . . . The response from KCMO has been 30-MILLION BUCKS worth of funding for no-show "anti-crime" activist jobs. Meanwhile . . . Pro-police council candidates earned only moderate success in this week's primary election. More importantly . . . History has shown us that crime typically increases during the warmer months of the year and then remains higher through the holiday season. And so . . . We take this early morning pause in the violence to share some recent crime news and hope that there's some kind of plan coming in order to curb this town's deadly record-breaking trend and save lives. Check TKC news gathering . . . Raid that injured 3 KCK officers puts spotlight on fight against fentanyl The fight against fentanyl isn't new. But Wednesday's fentanyl raid that injured three KCK police officers has put the spotlight on it.Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe said his office spent Thursday morning with the county's crime lab, learning about the prevalence of fentanyl in Johnson County. Jury convicts Kansas City man in October 2022 downtown deadly shooting KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Jackson County jury convicts a 22-year-old man in connection to a deadly shooting in downtown Kansas City last year. The jury convicted Toney Lamong Powell of second-degree murder and armed criminal action Thursday. FBI releases surveillance photo of suspect involved in Leawood bank robbery FBI Kansas City SOURCE: FBI Kansas City The FBI is investigating another bank robbery in the Kansas City metro area. The Wells Fargo at 2000 W. 103rd Street in Leawood, Kan., was robbed Thursday at around noon. A white male with a medium build entered the bank shortly after noon and gave the teller a demand note. Crews discovered illegal dumping, coyote carcasses disposed near waterways LEAVENWORTH COUNTY, Kan. (KCTV) - Public works crews completing maintenance in Leavenworth County discovered illegal dumping and the improper disposal of coyote carcasses near local waterways. County officials want to remind residents that illegal dumping and the improper disposal of dead animals can cause contamination downstream. Kansas City man convicted in 2021 shooting that killed man outside market A Kansas City, Mo., man has been convicted of a 2021 fatal shooting.Byron Fowler was found guilty of second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of armed criminal action. The November 2021 shooting claimed the life of Edmon Alexander, who was murdered outside of a market on 43rd and Cleveland in KCMO. Northland mom says reckless driver drove through her yard, almost hitting two children KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Northland homeowner said she feared for her son's life. That family, which lives in the Fairfield subdivision off Northeast Cookingham Drive, shared doorbell video with FOX4 that shows a speeding car drive across their lawn on Tuesday. Melisa Freeman, the homeowner, said she believes that car was trying to hit two teenagers. Officials at Lake of the Ozarks won't answer ATF questions about local gun businesses Leaders of the largest county at Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks say they will not answer questions from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives about local gun businesses. At Thursday's county commission meeting, Presiding Commissioner Ike Skelton notified the public that the ATF had recently sent emails to county staffers asking whether four gun businesses were in compliance with local zoning and business licensing regulations. Missouri Republicans push for 'constitutional sheriffs' amendment to go to voters State Sen. Jill Carter speaks to the media surrounded by local sheriffs from around the state and a handful of GOP senators on April 5, 2023 (Jason Hancock/Missouri Independent) A Senate committee heard proposed legislation Wednesday that would enshrine the role of county sheriff's departments into the state constitution. Grant Wahl's widow shares the many ways 'Ted Lasso' creators paid tribute to KC native Fans of "Ted Lasso," the hit Apple+ show, have learned by now to look for Easter eggs while watching. Many of those "did-you-notice" moments have been about Kansas City, and the latest episode contains nods to a man who grew up in KC: Grant Wahl. Father of fentanyl victim warns of drugs impact KANSAS CITY, Kan. - A dad who lost his 15-year-old son to fentanyl is warning parents and children the need to take the drug seriously. "Take heed. Take notice. Get involved," said Andrew Burris. "Spread the message and I want you to understand that Fentanyl epidemic is real and I never, ever want another child to die from this." Developing . . . Legal action for local servers hungry for justice . . . "A class-action complaint in February in the U.S. District Court of Western Missouri against Raven Concepts LLC, the company under which Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room does business. His suit claims that the restaurants policies had the effect of paying tipped employees servers, runners, hosts and bartenders less than what they were entitled to under the law. Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room did not respond to a request for comment, but its attorney, Greg Ballew of Fisher Phillips LLP, denied the allegations in a court response filed last month." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . One of the toughest intersections in Kansas City caught fire tonight . . . Here's a quick explanation into the haze and smokey smell this evening . . . Check-it . . . The fire broke out just after 9 p.m at the building near Broadway Boulevard and W 39th Street. According to KCFD Battalion Chief Steve Shaumeyer, a tattoo parlor called the fire in. The tattoo parlor reported the building next to it was on fire. Crews arrived and reported heavy fire and smoke showing from the back of the building. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . Fire crews respond to blaze in Midtown Kansas City Thursday night KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Fire crews responded to a large blaze at a building in Midtown Kansas City, Missouri, on Thursday night. The fire broke out just after 9 p.m at the building near Broadway Boulevard and W 39th Street. According to KCFD Battalion Chief Steve Shaumeyer, a tattoo parlor called the fire in. Kansas City crews working massive structure fire at 39th, Broadway KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Crews with the Kansas City, Missouri Fire Department are battling a massive structure fire at a business in Midtown Thursday night. The fire was reported just after 9 p.m. in the area of W. 39th Street and Broadway Boulevard. We noticed this story yesterday and now want to share MSM reporting additional deets . . . THIS MISSOURI GRANDMA HIT HER 2ND BANK AND NOW EARNS NATIONAL NEWS COVERAGE!!! Background & more info . . . Surprisingly, this is not the first time she has been accused of this sort of behavior. Three years ago, at age of 75, police arrested the same woman, Bonnie Gooch, in Lee's Summit for a different bank robbery. Gooch was charged with stealing and was later convicted. Her sentence was suspended and she was ordered to have supervised probation, which expired in November 2021. Now her name's once again the focus of authorities. However, court documents show that when 75-year-old Gooch hit the Bank of the West in Lee's Summit her son called authorities and "...stated that his mother was 'off her rocker' and left the house, angry, saying she was going to rob a bank." "She did have an N95 type mask on. Sunglasses and plastic gloves," Pleasant Hill Police Chief Thomas Wright said. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . 78-year-old woman charged with robbing Pleasant Hill, Mo., bank A 78-year-old woman has been charged with robbing a Pleasant Hill, Mo., bank. Bonnie Gooch, 78, was charged with stealing or attempting to steal from a financial institution.The Goppert Financial Bank, located at 2100 N. Highway 7, was robbed at 3:20 p.m. on Wednesday. 78-year-old woman accused of bank robbery in Missouri... Again PLEASANT HILL, Mo. - Knitting, playing Scrabble, baking cookies. These are some of the stereotypical activities you might think of when you think of woman enjoying her 70s. Well, what about robbing a bank? That's what a 78-year-old woman is accused of doing Wednesday in Pleasant Hill - hitting the Goppert Financial Bank on North Highway 7. 78-year-old Bonnie Gooch arrested for robbing a bank - again She's a real-life Bonnie - minus the Clyde, plus a few years. A 78-year-old Missouri woman with a history of bank heists and the first name Bonnie was arrested Wednesday for trying to rob a bank in Pleasant Hill. Developing . . . Tech enthusiasts suffer all-too-human maladies following a local meet-up . . . Here's more as online speculation runs rampant and online A.I. bots merely seek a health status update for Sarah Connor. Check-it . . . The Jackson County Health Department (JACOHD) has launched an investigation into a series of illnesses tied to a robotics competition that took place at Lees Summit North High School March 29-April 1. The health department says more than 70 cases of undiagnosed illness have been tied to the event. Health officials say a majority of the affected participants are from the Kansas City metro. Many of the competing teams traveled from places outside Jackson County, including Kansas, Oklahoma, and Brazil. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . UNWTO is proud to work closely with FAO around a shared determination to drive inclusive development and to make tourism a source of employment and opportunity for rural areas The importance of tourism for the economic development and empowerment of rural communities was underscored as the leaders of UNWTO and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) met in Rome today. At the start of his official visit to Italy, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili was welcomed to the FAO headquarters for a meeting with FAO Director-General Mr. Qu Dongyu. Building on a Memorandum of Understanding signed between both UN agencies in September 2020, the high-level meeting focused on the importance of intensifying collaboration to scale up tourism's contribution to rural development. Both leaders recognized the common goals and methods of several key projects, most notably FAO's Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Sites (GIAHS) and its Digital Villages Initiative, and UNWTO's Best Tourism Villages, which recognizes those rural destinations that are harnessing the power of tourism as a source of development and opportunity. At the same time, the two Heads of the Agency identified the need to boost the development and roll-out of capacity-building programs to improve the tourism potential of FAO GIAHS sites and pilot Digital Villages. UNWTO and FAO: Stronger Together UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: "UNWTO is proud to work closely with FAO around a shared determination to drive inclusive development and to make tourism a source of employment and opportunity for rural areas. I welcome FAO Director-General Mr Qu Dongyu's recognition of the importance of tourism and look forward to further strengthening our partnership." FAO Director-General Mr. Qu Dongyu commended UNWTO's work, noting the sector's importance for addressing rural poverty and providing empowerment to communities outside of cities. He said: "Sustainable rural tourism can help reduce poverty, support resilient agrifood systems and conserve cultural heritage and ecosystems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life. leaving no one behind. Let's work together to promote sustainable rural agritourism and to empower youth and women in the rural communities through decent jobs." Tourism, gastronomy, development Looking ahead, UNWTO Secretary-General Pololikashvili also emphasized the importance of gastronomy tourism for development, most notably in Africa, and the role of both local production value chains and heritage across the continent, and invited the FAO Director-General to key UNWTO events, including the 8th UNWTO World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism (San Sebastian, Spain, 5-6 October 2023). RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: NorthTension Andrew Palamarchuk is a reporter with Metroland Media Toronto and toronto.com. He has been covering the crime beat since 2002 and has a passion for giving a voice to those affected by tragedy and looking at societal issues that may have contributed to it. By Jeff Murphy, April 7, 2023 University of Central Missouris Safety Management students display first-place awards received during the 2023 Safety Olympics at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Students celebrating the team victory are: front row, left to right, Fin Kimsey, Russell Sproat and Carson Sears; second row, Avery Kern, Gage Shook, Steven Nevels, Eliel Campbell, and Jesse Matthes. WARRENSBURG, MO Academic teams from the University of Central Missouri are enjoying a banner spring in regional and national competitions with one of the most recent victories coming from participation at the 2023 Safety Olympics hosted by Southeastern Oklahoma State University. The competition, March 23-25, was an opportunity to showcase students knowledge and skills in multiple safety events over a two-day period. It included teams from the host site, Southeastern Oklahoma State, as well as UCM, Oklahoma State University, and Pittsburg State University in Kansas. Wes Tinker, assistant professor in the UCM Department of Occupational Risk and Safety Management,said a group of six students who are enrolled in Safety Management programs competed in six categories. According to Tinker and the competition website, students were evaluated in the areas of Safety Jeopardy, Hazard Recognition, Presentation Preparation, Safety Innovation, Incident Investigation and Safety Culture. The first two events, Safety Jeopardy and Hazard Recognition, required full team participation. Teams of three competed in the remaining contests, and winners were announced and recognized during an awards luncheon on Saturday, March 25. All six of the students were standouts in the entire competition, Tinker said. He added that there was an Occupational Safety and Health Career Fair held on Friday, March 24, and all of the employers wanted our students for full-time positions and internships. Tinker said the Department of Occupational Risk and Safety Management is extremely proud of our students. He called the department a hidden gem, noting that he and his colleagues take pride in a 100 percent job placement rate for program graduates, and a 100 percent student retention rate. Additionally, program graduates command starting salaries that range from $75,000 to $105,000 in a professional that also includes many UCM alumni across all industries. To learn more about the 2023 Safety Olympics, contact Tinker at wtinker@ucmo.edu. More information about Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Occupational Safety Management academic programs is available online. In Belarus, joint military exercises with Russia have been prolonged once again, now scheduled to last until April 17. This is reported by Ukrinform with reference to the Belarusian Gayun monitoring nonprofit. It is noted that this is yet another one-week prolongation of exercises, which have been going on at the Belarusian training grounds continuously since April 29, 2022. The total number of extensions has reached 50. The group notes that although the training of Belarusian troops has been going on for almost a year, they remain unprepared for a potential offensive on Ukraine due to a lack of actual combat experience. As reported with reference to the spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, Andrii Demchenko, once the exercises on Belarusian soil are over, Russia is expected to withdraw half of its 4,000-strong contingent from the country. These troops are likely to be deployed in eastern Ukraine to take a direct part in the ongoing war. Russian technicians may have intentionally sabotaged the operation of Soviet-made MiG-29 fighter jets owned by Slovakia, said Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad. Thats according to Euractiv, Ukrinform reports. The warplanes in question, the Soviet-era legacy which the Slovakian army had not used since August 2022, were recently handed to Ukraine. They were able to fly, but that doesnt mean they were also capable of combat. The Ukrainians came to Slovakia a week before their departure, brought spare parts and inspected the planes, Nad explained after the opposition led by the Smer-SD party of ex-Prime Minister Robert Fico strongly criticized the government for giving up valuable aircraft. The faults may have been intentionally inflicted by Russian technical personnel, which had been present at Sliac air base in Slovakia until last year, minister suggested. Even the police were investigating it, based on our suspicions. There were parts in the engines of the aircraft that Slovak technicians accessed, and then there were parts that Russian technicians only accessed. The defects appeared only in those parts accessed by Russians, said Nad. While the investigation stopped short of proving intention, the Defense Ministry felt a loss of confidence in the Russian technicians at Sliac because mistakes kept appearing in places only they could get to. Lieutenant General Lubomir Svoboda, Slovakias former top war pilot, also suggested that Russians in fact intended to cause damage to the fighter jets. We took over an engine from them that was supposed to last 350 hours. And in the end, it only flew 70 hours. What can we make of that? Maybe there was poor workmanship, lets call it that. I dont know, he said. Russias embassy in the country warned that the handover of MiG29s to Ukraine would lead to escalation and that the decision-makers would be held responsible. As Ukrinform reported earlier, on March 17, the Slovak government approved sending 13 MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine as part of military aid. Cyprus will propose Ukraine assistance in technical training on demining territories as part of its humanitarian aid. This was stated by Minister of Defense Michalis Georgallas of Cyprus, Ukrinform reports with reference to Reuters. As noted, his Ukrainian counterpart Oleksii Reznikov, who is visiting Cyprus on Friday, plans to inspect the areas where the training is expected to take place. "We will host personnel which will handle de-mining and detection of mines," Cypriot defense minister said. A group of about 18 Ukrainian officers will be in Cyprus for training in the last week of April, the Politis newspaper reports. As Ukrinform reported earlier, Reznikov visited Athens on June 6 as part of meetings with officials from NATO allies. The Greek side declared it was ready to transfer to Ukraine another batch of BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles, artillery rounds, and ammunition for small arms. Greece is ready to hand over to Ukraine another batch of infantry fighting vehicles, artillery rounds, and small arms ammunition. Thats according to Pentapostagma referring to the General Staff chief General Konstantinos Floros, Ukrinform reports "We have proven our solidarity with actions by already providing 72 tons of humanitarian aid and 3,870 tons of military material. And, we will continue to do so, said General Floros. He noted that, in addition to the BMP-1, artillery shells, and bullets, Ukraine has also been given STINGER anti-aircraft missiles. Read also: EU agrees to send Ukraine munitions while production contract details yet to be settled We are also ready to transfer, in coordination with the International Donation Coordination Center (IDCC), another shipment of BMP-1s, HE 73mm Rockets, artillery ammunition and rifle ammunition," chief of General Staff said. The Greek Minister of National Defense, Nikos Panagiotopoulos, in his address stated among other things: We applied all the sanctions imposed on the invader, despite the significant cost to our country, and we do not regret it Our fundamental pursuit must be the protection of the international legal order, primarily based on international law and the principles of good neighborliness. However, our immediate goal is to continue to provide you with assistance in the battle for your territorial integrity." Ukraines Minister of Defense Oleksiy Reznikov on Thursday, April 6, visited Athens as part of his tour to meet with officials from NATO member states. Very productive meeting with my colleague, Minister of Defense Nikos Panagiotopoulos. Im grateful to our Greek friends for their unwavering support for our sovereignty and territorial integrity; humanitarian and defense assistance (IFVs, ammo); and their continued participation in Ramstein, Reznikov tweeted. As Ukrinform reported earlier, Lithuania announced another package of military assistance to Ukraine worth EUR 41 million. Ukraine does not trade in its territories and neither does it see any reason to give up even a centimeter of Ukrainian land. This was reported on Facebook by the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oleg Nikolenko, who commented on the statement of Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva offering to end the war in exchange for Crimea. "Ukraine appreciates the efforts of the president of Brazil to find a solution to stop Russian aggression. At the same time, we must clearly state: Ukraine does not sell off its territories. There is no legal, political, or moral reason why we should give up even a centimeter of Ukrainian land," said Nikolenko. The spokesman added that Ukraine's position remains unwavering: any mediation efforts to restore peace in Ukraine must be based on respect for sovereignty and full restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter. As reported, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva offered Ukraine to cede Crimea in order to end the war with Russia. The newly appointed Ukrainian Ambassador to Bulgaria, Olesya Ilashchuk, has presented credentials to Bulgaria's President Rumen Radev. That's according to the press service of the Embassy of Ukraine in Bulgaria, Ukrinform reports. According to the report, during the meeting with the president, the ambassador thanked the Bulgarian people for comprehensive support for Ukraine amid Russia's large-scale military invasion and for support for tens of thousands of Ukrainians who found temporary protection in the country. "During the audience, [both parties] discussed the continuation of political, economic, energy and defense assistance to Ukraine, cooperation as part of the implementation of the Ukrainian president's peace formula and within the Crimea Platform, the strengthening of the sanctions regime against Russia, the development of the Ukrainian-Bulgarian dialogue, as well as the realization of the rights of the numerous Bulgarian community in Ukraine," the embassy said. On December 23, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Ilashchuk Ukraine's ambassador to Bulgaria. This caused an ambiguous reaction among experts since, according to media reports, Ilashchuk has no experience in diplomacy and has never held a government position. Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov met with his Cypriot counterpart Michalis Giorgallas during his visit to Cyprus on Friday, April 7. Reznikov reported this on Twitter, according to Ukrinform. "Visiting Cyprus. Had a great meeting with my colleague Michalis Giorgallas. Provided an update on the situation on the battlefield. Grateful to Cyprus for its strong support of our territorial integrity, assistance in defense (trainings, incl. a course on de-mining) & humanitarian spheres," he wrote and published a photo from the visit. Visiting Had a great meeting with my colleague @GiorgallasM Provided an update on the situation on the battlefield. Grateful to for its strong support of our territorial integrity, assistance in defense (trainings, incl. a course on de-mining) & humanitarian spheres pic.twitter.com/Vkbp6Iop5K Oleksii Reznikov (@oleksiireznikov) April 7, 2023 Read also: Cyprus to offer Ukraine technical assistance in demining Giorgallas said earlier that Cyprus would offer Ukraine technical training on de-mining as part of humanitarian aid. A group of about 18 Ukrainian officers is expected to stay in Cyprus for training in the last week of April. China and France support the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and condemn armed attacks on nuclear power plants and other peaceful nuclear facilities. That's according to a joint statement between the two states following the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to China, published by the Chinese Embassy in Ukraine, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. "As permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and France are committed to seeking constructive solutions based on international law for challenges and threats to international security and stability," the statement said. Both states reaffirmed their support for the "Joint Statement on the Prevention of Nuclear War and the Avoidance of an Arms Race" issued by the leaders of China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States (the five permanent members) on January 3, 2022. As emphasized in the statement, "A nuclear war cannot be won and cannot be fought." "The two countries are willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation, jointly safeguard the authority and effectiveness of the arms control and non-proliferation system, and advance the international arms control process," the statement said. China and France also support all efforts to restore peace in Ukraine "on the basis of international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter" and pay special attention to the security of nuclear facilities in Ukraine. "The two sides oppose armed attacks on nuclear power plants and other peaceful nuclear facilities, and support the constructive role of the International Atomic Energy Agency in promoting the safety and security of peaceful nuclear facilities, including efforts to ensure the safety and security of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant," the document states. In the joint statement, China and France emphasized the importance of strict observance of international humanitarian law by parties to the conflict. In particular, the two countries called for the protection of conflict-affected women and children in accordance with international commitments, increased humanitarian assistance to conflict areas, and the provision of safe, rapid, and barrier-free humanitarian access. An alleged Palestinian shooting attack in the northern occupied West Bank killed two women and seriously wounded another, Israeli medics said, the latest violence after Israeli warplanes struck southern Lebanon in a significant escalation. Israels Magen David Adom rescue service said that two women in their 20s were killed and another woman in her 40s was seriously wounded near the settlement of Hamra in the Jordan Valley. The medics said they pulled the three unconscious women out of their car, which had apparently crashed after a Palestinian allegedly opened fire at it from a nearby vehicle. The Israeli military said security forces were searching for the attacker. The shooting follows months of unusually heightened violence in the occupied West Bank and comes just hours after Israeli warplanes struck what the army described as Palestinian militant targets in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. Search Keywords: Short link: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mobilised police and army reserves late Friday after separate attacks killed three people in the West Bank and Tel Aviv in the latest escalation of deadly violence. Despite appeals for restraint, violence has surged since Israeli police attack on Palestinians Wednesday inside Jerusalem's flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque, with Israel bombarding both Gaza and Lebanon following rocket fire by Palestinian militants. Israel's occupation army said it had launched a manhunt for the perpetrators of Friday's shooting in the occupied West Bank which killed two sisters and seriously wounded their mother. It said the victims were fired on as their vehicle passed through Hamra junction in the northern part of the Jordan Valley. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. In central Tel Aviv, one man was killed and five people were wounded late Friday in a car-ramming attack, Israeli rescue services said. "All the victims were tourists," the Magen David Adom emergency service said, without providing details on their nationalities. Three people, including a 17-year-old, were moderately wounded, while two had light injuries, the rescue service added. Shortly afterwards, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "instructed the Israel Police to mobilise all reserve border police units and has directed the IDF to mobilise additional forces", his office said. Cross-border strikes Friday's attacks came after Israel launched air strikes and an artillery bombardment before dawn in response to rocket fire from the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. Israel "struck targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organisation in southern Lebanon", the occupation army said. AFP journalists heard explosions in Lebanon's Tyre region as well as in Gaza, where Israeli air raids began before midnight. The Lebanese army said it had found and dismantled a multiple rocket launcher in an olive grove in the Marjayoun area near the border, still loaded with six primed rockets. On Friday, Hezbollah deputy chief Naim Qassem said "the threats and intimidation of the Zionist leaders will lead nowhere". Israeli Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht had blamed Palestinian militants for the rocket fire from Lebanon. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which patrols the area along the border, urged restraint, adding: "Both sides have said they do not want a war." On Friday evening, the army said it had shot down a drone that entered Israel's airspace from Lebanon, without elaborating. The Palestinian health ministry had earlier reported "partial damage" to the Al-Dorra children's hospital in Gaza City. Hamas condemned the "appalling Israeli aggression" and said it holds Israel "fully responsible for the consequences". Mosque raid A Qatari official on Friday said Doha was mediating between Israel and the Palestinians. Doha -- which has previously mediated between Israel and Hamas -- "is working to deescalate the situation on all sides, with the latest contact being noon today," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The round of violence erupted fter Israeli riot police stormed the prayer hall of Al-Aqsa mosque on a Wednesday pre-dawn, firing tear gas and beating worshippers with clubs while they were participating in "Itikaf," a religious practice of seclusion inside mosques that is commonly observed during Ramadan. The violence sparked an exchange of rockets and air strikes with militants in Gaza. UN chief Antonio Guterres meanwhile has urged "all actors to exercise maximum restraint". The United States said it recognised "Israel's legitimate right to defend itself", while France vowed "unwavering" support for "Israel's security and Lebanon's stability and sovereignty". An Iran foreign ministry spokesperson "strongly condemned the attacks of the aggressor Zionist regime", and Russia called for "an end to the violence" and a "lasting ceasefire". Hamas and Islamic Jihad told Egypt, a longstanding mediator between Israel and the Palestinians, that rocket fire would continue "if Israel continues its aggressions and air strikes but, if these aggressions stop, they will cease fire," Palestinian sources said. Search Keywords: Short link: DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 07th Apr, 2023) ORO 24 Real Estate Developments announced its contribution of AED10 million in support of the 1 billion Meals Endowment campaign. ORO24 Developments pledged to contribute AED10 million over a period of five years, to help achieve the endowment funds objective of providing a food safety net for underprivileged communities and support the global endeavour to eradicate hunger. Atif Rahman, Founder and Chairman at ORO24 Developments, said, The 1 Billion Meals Endowment campaign is yet another UAE message of support and aid to vulnerable and underprivileged populations around the world, and is a true reflection of this countrys commitment to extending help and practicing the values of tolerance, solidarity and generosity. " The campaign continues to welcome donations and contributions to the endowment fund from institutions and individuals across five main channels including the campaigns website (www.1billionmeals.ae), as well as a dedicated call centre via the toll-free number (800 9999). Donations are also possible via bank transfers in the UAE Dirham to the campaign bank account number with Emirates NBD (AE30 0260 0010 1533 3439 802). Donations via SMS give contributors the option to donate AED1 daily through a monthly subscription, by sending the word Meal to 1020 for du users, or to 1110 for Etisalat by e& users. Those who wish to donate to the campaign through the DubaiNow app can do so by clicking on the Donations tab. JIUQUAN, April 7 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Apr, 2023 ) --:China successfully launched SQX-1 solid commercial carrier rocket into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:00 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Friday. The flight will verify the overall program of the rocket and obtain flight data. It was the 5th flight mission of the SQX-1 commercial carrier rocket. Caracas, April 7 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Apr, 2023 ) :Venezuela has launched an anti-corruption probe of state oil firm PDVSA and other related government bodies that has seen 51 people arrested, including top government officials. "We're going with everything, those who fall will fall," said President Nicolas Maduro. In a country ranked 177th out of 180 by Transparency International in its corruption perception index, is this an anti-corruption crusade, or a political purge? - Who is in the crosshairs? - The first arrests, announced on March 19, related to close allies of Tareck El Aissami, a powerful figure in the ruling regime who until that point was the oil minister. El Aissami has kept a low profile since resigning and Attorney General Tarek William Saab refuses to confirm whether or not he is under investigation. One of those detained was Antonio Perez, the PDVSA vice-president. Another was Hugo Cabezas, who was a close ally of the late former president Hugo Chavez. Others are Pedro Maldonado, the president of the corporation responsible for exploiting minerals such as gold, diamonds, iron and bauxite, and Nestor Astudillo, head of the state Orinoco Steel company. All have appeared in court dressed in orange jumpsuits. Saab said on Wednesday, "There could be more arrests." - Political affair? - "It's a political purge," political scientist Ana Milagros Parra told AFP. "You shouldn't view it as anything extraordinary." Milagros said it was happening because of "the need to eliminate or remove from the circle of power people who represent in one way or another a threat (to the government) or are not in line." That is a claim passionately rejected by Saab. "Since when is corruption, embezzlement a political act? Where is the ideology there? Is stealing an ideology? No!" he said. For Alberto Aranguibel, an analyst with ties to the government, it is "courageous" to tackle corruption and in a newspaper article he criticized the idea that the state is "one single organ equally devoured by the cancer of corruption. " But other experts disagree. "Within the government there are factions and these factions are clashing," said Benigno Alarcon, director of the Center for Political and Government Studies at the Andres Bello Catholic University. "When you see the opportunity to get rid of an opponent or a faction, then you get rid of them because power is a zero-sum game." According to Alarcon, El Aissami was up against a group headed by Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez and her brother Jorge, the parliamentary president. - Why oil? - The public prosecutor's office says 34 of the 51 people arrested are linked to the oil industry, the economic vehicle on which Venezuela is totally dependent. Venezuela sits on the world's largest proven oil reserves but while it once produced more than three million barrels a day, that has dropped to less than one million following years of mismanagement. One of those arrested, Joselit Ramirez, was in charge of the entity that manages oil industry funds through crypto assets, a key policy used by the South American country to circumvent US sanctions. That also provides an opportunity to divert funds. This is not the first scandal or investigation linked to Venezuela's multibillion-dollar oil industry. Saab said his office had investigated 31 "corruption schemes" since 2017, for which more than 250 former officials and financial operators have been tried. Those resulted in the arrest of dozens of PDVSA employees and two former oil ministers, Nelson Martinez, who died in detention, and Eulogio del Pino. Rafael Ramirez, another who was a close Chavez ally, is accused of corruption when he was oil minister (from 2002 to 2014) and PDVSA president (from 2004 to 2014). He fled to Italy and Venezuelan authorities have requested his extradition. "Whoever is attacking me should think for a moment, just a moment, why did Chavez have me by his side for 12 years?" Ramirez wrote. (@Abdulla99267510) Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Syed Hussain Tariq says the missions extend assistance to prisoners in accordance with local laws of the host countries. ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-April 7th, 2023) The National Assembly was informed on Friday that the Foreign Office was committed to improving performance of its diplomatic missions especially in the domain of extending consular services to Pakistani Diaspora. Responding to a question during the Question Hour in the House, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Syed Hussain Tariq said the missions extend assistance to prisoners in accordance with local laws of the host countries. He said our embassies sent consequent teams to different cities of the host country to provide consular services like attestation of documents and registration of work certificates. Besides, heads of Pakistan Missions abroad hold open and E-kachehris on a regular basis with the resident Pakistani community to solve their problems. The Parliamentary Secretary said the financial and legal assistance is provided to destitute Pakistanis who are either stranded or unable to travel on their own expenses. He informed the House that the Foreign Office is in process to establish NADRA counters in various Missions abroad. Responding to another question, Syed Hussain Tariq said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has neither sold nor procured any property abroad during the last five years. Comprehensive one month long celebration will be organized in connection with the Golden Jubilee of the 1973 Constitution: NA Speaker Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has said that a comprehensive one month long celebration will be organized in connection with the Golden Jubilee of the 1973 Constitution. In his remarks in the House today, he said these celebrations will begin on Monday at 10 in the morning at the Parliament House in Islamabad. The Speaker said a national constitutional convention is being organized in the House. Different segments of the society including constitutional heads of the provinces, vice chancellors of universities, women, social and political workers and students have been invited to attend the convention. He asked the members of the National Assembly, especially the Ministers and Opposition members to ensure their presence in this event. Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said we have to give a message to the youth on this day that while rising above our differences, we have the capabilities to celebrate our successes and national festivals in a befitting manner. The House was adjourned to meet again on Monday at 10 in the morning. The National Security Committee (NSC) on Friday approved a multi-pronged comprehensive operation with the support of the government and the nation to eradicate the menace of terrorism from the country with a new resolve, determination and valour ISLAMABAD (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Apr, 2023 ) :The National Security Committee (NSC) on Friday approved a multi-pronged comprehensive operation with the support of the government and the nation to eradicate the menace of terrorism from the country with a new resolve, determination and valour. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the 41st meeting of the National Security Committee held at the Prime Minister House. The Federal ministers, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, services chiefs and high-ranking officers of the departments concerned attended the meeting, which was a continuation of the meeting held after the terrorist attack on the Peshawar Police Lines on January 2, 2023. At the start of the meeting, the participants paid tribute to those who were matryred in the Gayari sector tragedy on April 7, 2012. Emphasizing comprehensive national security, it was declared that relief to the people was of central importance. The forum was told that the government was taking measures in this connection. The meeting acknowledged the sacrifices and efforts of the security forces for ensuring permanent peace for the nation. The forum reiterated the resolve to continue operation till eradication of terrorism from Pakistan. The committee proclaimed that the recent wave of terrorism was the result of the soft corner and the absence of a well thought-out policy against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which was declared a terrorist organization but against the public expectations and wishes, under the previous policy terrorists were allowed to return without any hindrance. In the name of confidence building, dangerous terrorists of the TTP were released from jails, it added. It was noted that due to return of the dangerous terrorists and support of different terrorist organisations to them from Afghanistan, peace and stability, which was the result of innumerable sacrifices and continuous efforts, was affected. It was agreed that in the new multi-pronged and comprehensive operation, combined efforts at diplomatic, security, economic and social levels would be undertaken for the elimination of the menace of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. A high level committee was formed which within two weeks would present its recommendations for the implementation of the policy and to draw its parameters. The leadership appreciated the successful operation of the leading intelligence agency during which a highly wanted terrorist Gulzar Imam aka Shambay was arrested. The terrorist was the founding leader of Baloch National Army and was involved in different terrorist activities for a long time. The committee strongly condemned the increasing hatred and division in society and attempts to spread foreign-sponsored poisonous propaganda on social media against the state institutions and their leadership to achieve hidden targets and stated that those attempts were affecting national security. While expressing resolve to fail the heinous designs of the enemies of the country, the committee said every effort would be made to maintain peace which was achieved with the supreme sacrifices and constant endeavours of the martyrs. RAWALPINDI, Apr 7 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Apr, 2023 ) :The leading intelligence agency, in a high profile and successful Intelligence Operation, apprehended a High Value Target (HVT) Gulzar Imam, alias Shambay, who was a hardcore militant as well as founder and leader of banned outfit Baloch National Army (BNA). The BNA came into being after amalgamation of Baloch Republican Army (BRA) and United Baloch Army (UBA). BNA had been responsible for dozens of violent terrorist attacks in Pakistan including attacks on Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) Installations in Panjgur and Noshki, an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) news release said. Gulzar Imam also remained as deputy to Brahamdagh Bugti in Baloch Republican Army (BRA) till 2018. Gulzar Imam was also instrumental in formation of Baloch Raji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS) and remained its Operational Head. It added that his visits to Afghanistan and India were also on record and his linkages with Hostile Intelligence Agencies (HIAs) were being investigated. Reportedly, HIAs also tried to exploit him to work against the State of Pakistan and its national interests. He was apprehended after an innovatively conceived, carefully planned and meticulously executed operation, spanning over months on various geographical locations. "The arrest of Gulzar Imam Shambay is a serious blow to BNA as well as other militant groups, which have been attempting to destabilize the hard-earned peace in Balochistan. Apprehension of a militant leader of this stature demonstrates the capability and resolve of LEAs to uproot the menace of terrorism as well as speaks volumes about the successes garnered through supreme sacrifices of unsung heroes," the ISPR said. WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 07th April, 2023) Canada is deploying an air detachment to Japan to support the implementation of UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea, the Department of National Defense said in a statement. "Today, the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defense, announced the deployment of a Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora Air Detachment under Operation (Op) NEON, to Japan," the release said on Thursday. "Op NEON is the Canadian Armed Forces contribution to the multinational effort to support the implementation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions imposed against North Korea." The CP-140 Aurora, for a period of about six weeks, the release added, will monitor for suspected sanctions evasion activities, especially ship-to-ship transfers of fuel and other commodities banned by the UNSC. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered an increase in production of nuclear weapons to bolster his country's arsenal amid tensions in the region, the state-run Korean Central news Agency (KCNA) reported on March 28. North Korea has accused the US and South Korea of escalating tensions through military drills and vowed to respond, according to KCNA. The UN Security Council last month blocked a joint Chinese-Russian draft resolution calling for a political diplomatic settlement with North Korea. China will never view the Ukrainian crisis in terms of self-interest, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday BEIJING (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 07th April, 2023) China will never view the Ukrainian crisis in terms of self-interest, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday. "China will never consider the Ukrainian issue from the point of view of personal interests, but will always adhere to a balanced position," Xi was quoted as saying by China Central Television (CCTV) during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Guangzhou. Xi also noted that the causes of the crisis in Ukraine are complex, and that its prolongation harms all parties. "Ending the war as soon as possible is in the interests of the parties concerned and the whole world, a political settlement is the only right way," Xi said. NALCHIK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 07th April, 2023) One of those wanted for attacks on police officers in the Republic of Ingushetia, Russia's Federal subject, has surrendered to security forces, a source in law enforcement agencies told Sputnik on Friday. On Thursday, a source told Sputnik that three officers were killed and eight more were injured during a counter-terrorist operation in Ingushetia. Fighters managed to escape. "One of the wanted men, Amir Bokov, born in 2001, surrendered to the police. The search for three more people continues," the source said. ANKARA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 07th April, 2023) Russia is always ready to consider any serious proposals for negotiations with the United States, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday. On Monday, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzia said that Lavrov is open to meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in New York if the latter requests it. "As for the proposal to meet with Blinken in New York, well, he (Nebenzia) did not just say that out of the blue. They began to ask him... 'will Lavrov meet with Blinken or not?' Well, he said that if such a request appears, we will consider it. We regularly say in such situations that we never refuse serious proposals for dialogue," Lavrov told reporters. The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Friday condemned Israel's strikes on southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, calling on the international community to respond to the attacks MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 07th April, 2023) The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Friday condemned Israel's strikes on southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, calling on the international community to respond to the attacks. "(Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser) Kanaani said the attacks (on southern Lebanon), which are a continuation of the desecration al-Aqsa Mosque and brutal raid by Zionist forces against Palestinian worshipers, constitute a violation of Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity and also a gross breach of the principles of international law and human rights of the Palestinian people. He called on the global community and responsible international bodies to give an effective and deterrent response to ... acts of aggression," the ministry said in a statement. Earlier in the day, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that its tanks and military aviation carried out strikes on positions of the Palestinian militant group Hamas along the border with the Gaza Strip and its infrastructure in southern Lebanon. The strikes were conducted in response to the missile attacks conducted against Israel from the Lebanese territory earlier in the week, according to the IDF. On Thursday, Israeli media reported that dozens of missiles had been fired from Lebanon, targeting border towns and cities located in the northern and western Galilee region. The IDF said that 34 missiles had been fired from Lebanon, 23 of them intercepted by the air defense systems. The Israeli military accused Palestinian groups of being behind the attack, which comes a day after Israeli police stormed the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, one of islam's holiest sites, clashing with Palestinians and arresting hundreds of worshipers. USM Hosts Construction and Design Career Expo Thu, 04/06/2023 - 02:28pm | By: Ivonne Kawas The Construction and Design Career Expo, the first job fair hosted by the School of Construction and Design at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM), was held last month at the Thad Cochran Center Grand Ballroom on the Hattiesburg Campus. Approximately 40 employers from the construction industry and more than 150 Southern Miss students participated. I am happy to see that our planning efforts for the career expo since November paid off, and that the first-ever job fair of the School of Construction and Design surpassed all our expectations, said School Director Dr. Emre Bayraktar. The Construction and Design Career Expo provided companies from the construction, engineering, and architecture industries with an opportunity to enhance their employer brand on campus and meet our talented students interested in obtaining internships and full-time positions. Dr. Bayraktar noted that cultivating strong relationships with the construction industry through events like this is vital as it enables the school to continue to establish itself as a national leader in construction education. By hosting this career expo, we were able to cultivate our relationship with some of the top employers in the construction industry, said Dr. Bayraktar. We really appreciate the generous support provided by the Mississippi Construction Industry and the members of our Industry Advisor Council. Their support also confirms that our programs offer a value-rich education, and our graduates are in high demand and workforce ready. Dr. Bayraktar commends faculty, staff, and students for playing a role in ensuring the event was a complete success. I would like to thank our faculty, staff, and the amazing students for making this first-ever construction job fair a great success. We had a great turnout and have set the bar high for future Career Expos. Hensel Phelps, Quanta Services, Brasfield & Gorrie, Dunn Building Company, Roy Anderson Corporation, Yates Construction, APAC-Mississippi, Eutaw Construction, Ryan Gootee General Contractors, Weeks Marine, Industry Services Company, Fountain Construction, Rozier Construction, and Codaray Construction were some of the construction companies that took part in the Construction and Design Career Expo. To learn more about the School of Construction and Design, call 601.266.4895 or visit: https://www.usm.edu/construction-design/index.php UW Dental Admissions Program Opens Doors to Professional Dental Schools While many rural communities in Wyoming are experiencing the expansion of technologies such as telehealth for remote access to physicians and therapists, patients needing dental care almost always need in-person access to a dentist. The University of Wyoming and state legislative leaders solution to providing a pipeline for supplying dentists to the state -- and making it affordable for individuals interested in a career in dentistry -- is a program called WYDENT, which is administered through the Pre-Health Advising Office in the College of Health Sciences. The two dental schools that are part of WYDENT are the University of Nebraska College of Dentistry, located in Lincoln, Neb., and Creighton University School of Dentistry, in Omaha, Neb., with each reserving a seat for a qualified Wyoming resident. This year, the two dental school seats reserved through WYDENT both went to UW students. Katie Ligocki, from Sheridan, will graduate from UW in May with a B.S. in physiology. She then will attend the College of Dentistry at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Brooklynn Counts, a native of Casper and a first-generation college student, graduated in 2021 from UW-Casper with a degree in biology. She will attend Creighton University. WYDENT is funded by the state of Wyoming. Applicants to WYDENT or their parents must be legal residents of Wyoming for five continuous years immediately before attending dental school. After graduation, dentists in the WYDENT program are required to return to Wyoming to practice for three years. Both Ligocki and Counts are excited to return to Wyoming after dental school to provide professionally trained dental care to their communities. Since Ive received the WYDENT scholarship, I will be coming back to Wyoming and, hopefully, to my hometown, Ligocki says. Im especially interested in the cosmetic side of dentistry, so I would like to hone in on that aspect in my practice. I fully intend to return to Wyoming, Counts says, and, hopefully, the Casper community to be able to gain experience in the field of dentistry while helping my hometown community. Participants in WYDENT make a modest contract payment to UW for their four years of dental school, and the state of Wyoming pays the majority of educational costs to the appropriate dental school for each student. WYDENT is the most incredible opportunity for Wyoming residents and, if you are passionate about dental school, I encourage you to apply, Counts says. The financial burden that will be relieved compared to my peers and knowing I will have lessened financial stress when starting a career as a first-generation student in the field of dentistry mean I will have less financial debt, thanks to this opportunity. Its a huge financial relief for my family and me, Ligocki says. It takes a big weight off my shoulders knowing the state of Wyoming is helping support me as I go through dental school. The number of dentists returning to the state as part of the contractual agreement between dental students and UW is evidence of the success of WYDENT. As of 2022, there are 72 dental school graduates who are now practicing in Wyoming. In addition to supplying rural communities with standard dental care, WYDENT fulfills its purpose by also bringing home dentists with specialized areas of care, such as orthodontics and pediatric dentistry. Asked what advice Ligocki would give to any UW pre-health student considering a career in dentistry, she says, It is hard work, sometimes, with all of the pre-dental prerequisites, but keep working hard and find people who also are working hard toward a similar goal, since it makes school more enjoyable. Keep going. Everyones path is different, so dont let someone elses experience decide for you. Counts agrees, saying, If you love art, science and patient care, then dentistry could be for you. It is a looked-over industry and can be a very rewarding career. The career provides flexibility and entrepreneurship and allows you to make a community impact while doing something you are passionate about. Ligocki credits the staff of the Pre-Health Advising Office -- Craig Vaske, manager; April French, senior academic advising professional; and Ellie Jessup, office associate -- for its support during her college journey leading to her acceptance to dental school. Counts points to the UW-Casper community as being tight-knit and providing a more intimate experience for faculty/student interactions in helping her succeed in her academic and professional career. Counts especially credits Casper dentist Dr. Erin Prach with helping her with the dental school application process. For UW students interested in exploring a career in health or allied health, visit the Pre-Health Advising Office website at www.uwyo.edu/preprof/ or call (307) 766-3878. About the UW College of Health Sciences UWs College of Health Sciences trains health and wellness professionals and researchers in a wide variety of disciplines, including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, communication disorders, social work, kinesiology, community and public health, and disability studies. The college also oversees residency and fellowship programs in Casper and Cheyenne, as well as operating primary care and speech/hearing clinics in Laramie, Casper and Cheyenne. With more than 1,600 undergraduate, graduate and professional students, the college is dedicated to training the health and wellness workforce of Wyoming and conducting high-quality research and community engagement, with a particular focus on rural and frontier populations. A missile fired from Ukrainian-held territory was shot down over the Black Sea town of Feodosia in Russian-controlled Crimea, the Moscow-installed head of Crimea's administration said Saturday. Russias campaign to severely degrade Ukraines energy system this winter has probably failed, Britains Defense Ministry said in a post on Twitter Saturday. Thirty-one children, kidnapped by the Russians from Kherson and Kharkiv regions are back in Ukraine after being separated from their parents for several months. Thirty-one children were reunited with their families in Ukraine this weekend after what the head of a humanitarian group said Saturday was one of its most difficult operations to return children from Russia, where they had been taken during the war. Kyiv estimates nearly 19,500 children have been taken to Russia in what Ukraine condemns as illegal deportations since Moscow invaded in February of last year. Moscow claims the children were transported away for their own safety. So far, the Save Ukraine humanitarian organization says it has undertaken five missions to return Ukrainian children to their families. The group has helped with the transportation and planning needed to help parents bring their children back. Mykola Kuleba, the head of Save Ukraine and Ukraines former commissioner for children's rights, told reporters no one in Russia was trying to find the childrens parents. Missile downed over Crimea A missile fired from Ukrainian-held territory was shot down over the Black Sea town of Feodosia in Russian-controlled Crimea, the Moscow-installed head of Crimea's administration said Saturday. "A missile launched from Ukraine was shot down over Feodosia," Sergei Aksyonov said on Telegram, without providing any detail on the kind of projectile in question. Feodosia, located in the southeastern part of Crimea, is almost 300 kilometers from the nearest Ukrainian-held area. Kyiv did not comment Saturday, and it is not publicly known to possess missiles with that range. U.S.-supplied HIMARS rockets used by Ukraine have a range of 80 kilometers. Reuters said it could not immediately verify the reports and that it was unclear how Ukraine could have attempted such a strike. Kramatorsk memorial Ukrainians placed flowers at a small memorial Saturday to the 61 people killed a year ago when a Russian missile struck the transportation hub as about 4,000 people gathered there to board evacuation trains. Experts said the Tochka-U missile was armed with cluster munitions. More than 160 people were injured. "What is there to say? My close friend and her daughter and their dog died. What more can be said?" 67-year-old Tetiana Syshchenko told Agence France-Presse, tearing up. She said she narrowly avoided being killed in the blast. Residents arrived a few at a time to approach the small plaque topped with flowers and children's toys at the station. Russia denied responsibility for the attack. Classified documents leaked The U.S. Justice Department said Friday it has begun an investigation into the leak of several classified U.S. military documents that have been posted on social media. "We have been in communication with the Department of Defense related to this matter and have begun an investigation. We decline further comment," a Justice Department spokesperson said Friday. A new batch of classified documents that appear to detail U.S. national security secrets from Ukraine to the Middle East to China surfaced on social media sites Friday, The New York Times reported. Russia or pro-Russian elements are likely behind an earlier leak of several classified U.S. military documents posted on social media that offer a skewed, month-old snapshot of the war in Ukraine, three U.S. officials told Reuters Friday. Black Sea Grain Initiative impasse Russia warned Friday that it would not renew the Black Sea Grain Initiative signed by the Kremlin, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations last July unless Moscow's terms are fulfilled. The deal allows Ukraine one of the world's top grain producers to export grain through a safe corridor in the Black Sea. According to official data, more than 27 million tons of grain and other foodstuffs have been exported from Ukraine aboard 881 outbound vessels since the initiative began last August. According to the U.N., continuing the deal is vital to averting a world food crisis. At a news conference in Ankara, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov threatened to abandon the agreement if the West does not remove obstacles to Russian agricultural exports, allow a resumption in supplies of agricultural machinery and parts, lift restrictions on insurance and reinsurance, and unblock assets and accounts of Russian companies involved in food and fertilizer exports. Lavrov said that if those terms are not honored, Russia would bypass the U.N.-brokered initiative exporting products and Ukraine would have to use land and river routes for its exports. Tatiana Vorozhko of VOAs Ukraine Service contributed to this report. Some material in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. As the U.S. presses for Moscow to release detained American journalist Evan Gershkovich, Russian state media are pushing the official narrative that he is a spy. Gershkovich, a correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, was detained in the eastern city of Yekaterinburg on March 29 and accused of espionage. He was formally charged with spying on Friday, according to Russian news agencies. Gershkovich, his lawyers and his employer deny the charges. But Russian audiences are being presented with a different narrative that claims Gershkovich was never a journalist at all. Gershkovich had worked as a reporter in Russia since 2017, and in the U.S. before that. At the time of his arrest, Gershkovich was on assignment and had official media accreditation issued by the government. He is the first American correspondent since the Cold War to be detained on espionage accusations in Russia. The White House has called for his immediate release and American and international newsrooms and media rights groups have written to the Russian ambassador to the U.S. calling for Gershkovich to be freed. More than 200 Russian journalists and activists signed an open letter dated Tuesday calling on the Kremlin to release the reporter. Their letter dismissed the charges against Gershkovich and said that even though Russias Federal Security Service, or FSB, have provided no evidence to back up the claims, it expects us to take its investigators at its word. But Russian state-run media have a different story. In a March 31 news clip on the Russia 1 Channel, Evgeny Popov, host of a popular state-funded show, repeated Kremlin officials line that Gershkovich was caught red-handed. In the West, they described the failed mission of U.S. intelligence as hostage-taking, Popov said, before introducing Maria Zakharova, the director of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs press department. Zakharova claimed Gershkovich engaged in activities totally unrelated to journalism. Gulnoza Said, a Russia expert at the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, said state journalists are just repeating the Kremlin line. Whats been most horrifying, although not surprising, is that these media outlets and high-level government officials already decided that Gershkovich is guilty, as if there is no presumption of innocence guaranteed by the Russian constitution and other laws, Said told VOA. Other analysts have noted a deference to the FSB in the coverage and commentary coming from Russian state media. Its framed as, Trust Russias FSB. They know what they are doing. Hes a spy, said Nika Aleksejeva, who researches Russian disinformation at the Atlantic Councils Digital Forensic Research Lab. If they would elaborate on the story, it would make it more obvious that they are not secure in their rightfulness to detain him, Aleksejeva told VOA. She believes that Russian state media have taken the FSBs espionage claim at face value to help legitimize it, adding that Kremlin media is very cold-blooded about the story. The narrative that calls him a spy is the most prevalent because audiences are not surprised if a journalist turns out to be a spy. There is just no need to label him as gay, extremist or anything else, Aleksejeva said, referring to labels commonly used to discredit or smear critical voices in Russia. Spy is bad enough. Russias Washington embassy did not reply to VOAs email requesting comment. Before his arrest, Gershkovich was reporting on how the Russian economy is crumbling under the weight of Western sanctions. That topic is especially sensitive to the Kremlin, according to Julia Davis, the founder of Russian Media Monitor, which tracks Russian state TV. Their response was to arrest him and at the same time to discredit him, Davis told VOA. There has been this consistent line of propaganda across different networks and that includes government officials like Maria Zakharova from the Foreign Affairs Ministry and that line is to portray him as having not been a journalist at all. The lies are brazen, and thats intended as a warning for other foreign reporters still in Russia, as well as a message for the West, according to Davis. One of the goals is to silence anyone within Russia who would dare to report on similar topics, to tell them that if they do, they will be considered a spy, she said. And the other message is certainly directed at the West, trying to show them that theyre powerless to stop them from doing whatever they want to, to Western journalists. Said of CPJ believes the goal is to silence Gershkovich. After he was taken into custody, however, The Wall Street Journal eliminated the paywall for Gershkovichs reporting so that readers can easily access his coverage. Russian state medias coverage of Gershkovich is likely to convince Russian viewers that Gershkovich is indeed a spy, Said added, which may make it even harder for the few remaining foreign journalists in Russia to speak with sources on the ground. Its safe to say that Russia is fully back to the Stalinist era when they assumed by default that every foreign journalist is a spy, Said told VOA. Ordinary people are going to be more scared to speak to foreign correspondents. Davis said that even though Gershkovichs articles are what likely led to his arrest, some Russian reports have gone so far as to say that Gershkovich didnt write any at all. They really went above and beyond here to describe a legitimate journalist as someone who isnt even a journalist, Davis said. This was particularly shameless and sinister, even for them. A Moscow court last week ordered Gershkovich to be held in pre-trial detention until May 29. The journalist is appealing that order and a court is scheduled to hear the case on April 18, according to Interfax News. The hearing will be behind closed doors because of the nature of the charges, Reuters reported. U.S. National Security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters Thursday it was inexcusable that the U.S. has not been allowed consular access to Gershkovich, and that the U.S. is working through its Moscow embassy with the Russians on the case. The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the reporters lawyers had been permitted to meet with him for the first time earlier that day. In a rare joint statement Friday, Senators Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell condemned Gershkovichs wrongful detention and called for his immediate release. Let there be no mistake: journalism is not a crime, the statement said. We demand the baseless, fabricated charges against Mr. Gershkovich be dropped and he be immediately released and reiterate our condemnation of the Russian governments continued attempts to intimidate, repress, and punish independent journalists and civil society voices. Kurdish authorities in northeastern Syria have handed over four women and 10 children to a Canadian delegation for their repatriation, a Kurdish official said. Western governments have faced mounting criticism for not taking back more of their citizens who traveled to Iraq and Syria to volunteer for the Islamic State group, and the Canadian government was successfully sued. Thousands of foreign women and children remain in overcrowded displaced-persons camps in Kurdish-administered northeastern Syria, where they are vulnerable to indoctrination by diehard jihadists. "On Wednesday ... four wives and 10 children of foreign fighters of Daesh [IS] who were living in the Roj camp were handed over to representatives of the Canadian Foreign Ministry," said Khaled Ibrahim, an official in the Kurdish administration. He said the women were from 26 to 35 years old, while the children were from 3 to 11. It was the fourth repatriation carried out by Canada from the overcrowded displaced-persons camp of northeastern Syria, Ibrahim said. On January 21, a Canadian federal court ordered the government to repatriate 23 citizens, 19 of them women and children, from the Roj and Al-Hol camps, without setting a date. Previously the government of Justin Trudeau had treated IS family members in Syria on a case-by-case basis, and in four years only a handful of women and children had been repatriated. On Thursday, the Canadian government confirmed the latest repatriation. "As long as conditions allow, we will continue this work," a Foreign Ministry statement said. "Amidst reports of deteriorating conditions in the camps in northeastern Syria, we have been particularly concerned about the health and well-being of Canadian children," it said. Highly sensitive issue "We reiterate that it is a serious criminal offense for anyone to leave Canada to knowingly support a terrorist group, and those who engage in these activities will face the full force of Canadian law," the statement added. After IS lost its last scraps of territory in Syria in March 2019, more than 42,400 foreign adults and children with alleged ties to the militant group have been held in camps in the war-torn country, according to Human Rights Watch. They include around 30 Canadian citizens, 10 of them children, the rights group said in January. Repatriating them is a highly sensitive issue for many governments, but there has been mounting criticism of their reluctance to bring back their own nationals from the camps. Last month, U.N. chief Antonio Guterres called for the swift repatriation of foreigners held in Al-Hol, which is home to more than 50,000 people, nearly half of them children. The head of U.S. Central Command, General Michael Kurilla, visited the camps in March. "These camps represent not only a flashpoint of human suffering but also an enduring security risk as the more than 30,000 children housed in them are in danger of ISIS indoctrination on a daily basis," a CENTCOM statement Thursday quoted Kurilla as saying. International NGO Save the Children in a statement welcomed the Canadian repatriation and urged other countries to increase their efforts. "The need for urgent action cannot be overstated, given the deteriorating humanitarian and security situation, and the uncertainty and fear that the children in the camps live with every day," said its Syria response director, Rasha Muhrez. China's government denied the country's involvement in any illegal fentanyl trafficking with Mexico and said it had not been notified by Mexico's government of any seizures of the precursor chemicals used to make the powerful drug. China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning made the comments Thursday in response to a question about a plea from Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador this week that China help stop chemicals used by Mexican drug traffickers to produce fentanyl. Lopez Obrador cited U.S. pressure to stop the illegal trade. Similar to Lopez Obrador's comments in recent weeks, Mao placed the blame for the tens of thousands of fentanyl overdose deaths in the United States on that country. "The root cause of overdose lies in the U.S. itself, and the problem is completely made in the U.S. ," Mao said. "The U.S. should face up to its own problems and take more substantive measures to strengthen domestic supervision and reduce demand," Mao said. The U.S. government has pressured both Mexico and China to do more to curb the trade in the synthetic opioid, blamed for about 70,000 overdose deaths per year in the United States. The U.S. government said in 2021 that after China started strictly controlling fentanyl, Chinese traffickers started shifting away from finished fentanyl to exporting precursor chemicals to Mexico where cartels increasingly manufactured the drug and trafficked it north across the border. Most illegal fentanyl is pressed by Mexican cartels into counterfeit pills made to look like other medications like Xanax, oxycodone or Percocet, or mixed into other drugs, including heroin and cocaine. Many people who die of overdoses in the United States do not know they are taking fentanyl. Lopez Obrador, in recent weeks, has denied that fentanyl is produced in Mexico. However, his own administration has acknowledged finding dozens of labs where it is produced, mainly in the northern state of Sinaloa. Lopez Obrador's irritation with growing calls among some Republican lawmakers for the United States to take more aggressive action against Mexico's cartels led him to write a letter to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping this week asking for help. Mao, the foreign ministry spokesman, empathized with Mexico's position, but noted that China had taken strong action against fentanyl, imposing strict controls on fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances that go beyond even what the U.S. has done. "China firmly supports Mexico's efforts to safeguard its independence and oppose foreign interference and calls on relevant countries to stop its bullying and hegemonic practice against Mexico," Mao said. "At the same time, we hope that Mexico will take stronger measures in terms of counter-narcotics." China has imposed further sanctions on Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan's de facto ambassador to the United States, prohibiting her and family members from entering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, state media reported on Friday. The sanctions, announced by China's Taiwan Affairs Office, also prohibit investors and firms related to Hsiao from cooperating with mainland organizations and individuals. They come after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during a stopover in the United States this week. Last August, after former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, China imposed sanctions including an entry ban on seven Taiwanese officials and lawmakers including Hsiao, whom it accused of being "independence diehards," drawing condemnation from the democratically governed island. China considers Taiwan its own territory and not a separate country. Taiwan's government disputes China's claim. Others on the August sanctions list include Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu; Wellington Koo, secretary-general of Taiwan's National Security Council; and politicians from Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party. Chinese sanctions will have little practical impact because senior Taiwanese officials do not visit China and Chinese courts do not have jurisdiction in Taiwan. More than 60 asylum-seeking members of a Chinese Christian church who were detained last week in Thailand are en route to the United States, a religious freedom advocate who has been helping them said Friday. A colonel in Thailand's police immigration division confirmed that the group left Thailand on Thursday night. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not his agency's spokesperson. Thai police on Wednesday said the 63 members of the Shenzhen Holy Reformed Church, also known as the Mayflower Church, would be deported within a week, likely to a third country. The U.S. Embassy has declined comment on the fate of the group but was involved, along with representatives of the U.N. Refugee Agency, in talks with Thai officials about the matter. The church members, who have been in Thailand since last September, were arrested last week in the seaside city of Pattaya for overstaying their visas, fined and then taken to Bangkok, where they were detained in immigration facilities. Bob Fu, president of ChinaAid, a Texas-based Christian human rights organization, said the group was heading to the United States and is expected to arrive in Dallas, Texas, on Friday evening. "ChinaAid welcomes the landing of the persecuted Chinese 'Mayflower Church' to freedom in America and welcome to Texas," Fu said in a text message, which also thanked U.S. and Thai officials and activists. "We will not rest until religious freedom is fully realized in China," he said. Christian church organizations have been working to resettle them in Texas, lobbying for their admittance to the U.S. and offering to host them. The church members have said they faced unbearable harassment in China. Christians in China are legally allowed to worship only in churches affiliated with Communist Party-controlled religious groups but, for decades, authorities largely tolerated independent, unregistered "house churches." They have tens of millions of worshippers, possibly outnumbering those in the official groups. In recent years, however, house churches have come under heavy pressure, with many prominent ones shut down. Unlike previous crackdowns, such as Beijing's ban on Falun Gong, a spiritual movement it labels a cult, authorities have also targeted some believers not explicitly opposed to the Chinese state. Prior to their arrival in Thailand, the Mayflower Church members fled to South Korea's Jeju island in October 2019 and stayed there for nearly three years. They decided to leave after it became clear that prospects for refuge there were dim. Celebrations marking World Health Day are taking place in the shadow of the coronavirus that has sickened more than 762 million people around the world and killed more than 6.8 million. For the past three years, [the World Health Organization] has coordinated the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the most severe health crisis in a century, said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general. And as COVID-19 has exposed so brutally, there remain serious gaps in the worlds defenses against epidemics and pandemics. For all these reasons and more, the world needs WHO now more than ever, he said. This years World Health Day coincides with the 75th anniversary of the founding of the WHO, which emerged from the ashes of World War II to create a healthier world in the aftermath of what is recognized as the deadliest and most destructive war in human history. The vision of attaining a higher standard of health and protecting people from diseases, in many ways, has been achieved. Tedros notes that life expectancy globally, for both sexes, has increased from 46 to 73 years, with the biggest gains in the poorest countries. Smallpox has been eradicated and polio is on the brink, he said. However, many challenges remain, especially with the emergence of new diseases and deadly pathogens, including Ebola, Marburg, SARS and COVID-19. The world is at increasing risk of new pandemics emerging, said Bruce Aylward, senior adviser to the director-general and assistant director-general ad interim for external relations and governance. Last month, the WHOs 194 member states began negotiations on a global accord to prevent and prepare for future pandemic emergencies. Aylward said it was important to reach an agreement as rapidly as possible. We hope not just for future generations but todays generation, he said. There is quite a high risk of another pandemic and we want to make sure that we are much, much better prepared for that than we were for this, he said. And we can be with an accord like the one under negotiation, Aylward added. Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead on COVID-19, stressed the need to find the origins of the coronavirus. She said a study published by China this week offers some clues as to how infected wild animals at the wet market in Wuhan, China, may have infected humans with the deadly virus, triggering the pandemic. But it does not give us concrete answers, she said. There is more information that is out there and we need scientists, public health professionals, governments, to share this information. We need answers to understand how this pandemic began because we will get better at preventing the next one, Van Kerkhove said. WHO chief Tedros said he has been pressing China to share information about the origins of COVID-19 because without full access to the information that China has, you cannot say this or that. All hypotheses are on the table, he said. That is WHOs position and that is why we have been asking China to be cooperative on this. Tedros noted that countries will continue to negotiate the pandemic accord over the next year in preparation for the World Health Assembly in 2024, where it will be presented for adoption. No nation can protect itself against future epidemics and pandemics without the engagement and cooperation of all nations, he added. An explosion struck next to the Suleimaniyah International Airport in northern Iraqs semi-autonomous Kurdish region Friday, local officials said. The blast came days after Turkey closed its airspace to flights to and from the airport, citing an alleged increase in Kurdish militant activity threatening flight safety. Turkey has spent years fighting Kurdish militants in its east. Large Kurdish communities also live in neighboring Iraq and Syria where they have a degree of self-rule. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based opposition war monitor, and some local media reported that the explosion was a Turkish drone attack on Mazloum Abdi, the leader of the Syrian Democratic Forces, the main U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led force in Syria. Officials with the SDF and the Kurdish regional government in northeast Syria denied that Abdi was in Suleimaniyah at the time or had been the target of an attack. Fethullah al-Husseini, a representative of the Kurdish self-rule administration in northeast Syria, said Abdi was carrying on his work and is in northeast Syria. The airports security directorate said in a statement that an explosion took place near the fence surrounding the airport at 4:18 p.m. local time, causing a fire but no injuries. It said the cause of the blast was under investigation and the airport was operating normally. Lawk Ghafuri, head of foreign media affairs for the Kurdish regional government in Iraq, said investigations were still underway and that he was unable to confirm whether the explosion had been a drone attack. However, a statement from the Iraqi Kurdish regional government appeared to blame local authorities in Suleimaniyah, which it accused of provoking an attack on the airport and using government institutions for "illegal activities. The regional government, with its seat in Irbil, is primarily controlled by the Kurdish Democratic Party, while Suleimaniyah is a stronghold of the rival Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. Qubad Talabani, deputy prime minister of the regional government and a member of the PUK, rejected the regional government statement that appeared to cast blame on his party. He said the statement represents only one party ... and cannot speak for the entire government. Two Kurdish officials in Irbil, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the incident with reporters, said that the explosion was caused by a drone attack. One of them said the attack had targeted Abdi. A representative of the Turkish defense ministry said he had no information about the incident. Turkey's foreign ministry announced Wednesday that Turkish airspace was closed to flights taking off from and landing at the Suleimaniyah airport. Turkish officials said the closure was a response to an alleged increase in the activities of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, in the city of Suleimaniyah, including its infiltration of the airport. The decision came weeks after two helicopters crashed in northern Iraq, killing Kurdish militants who were on board. The incident fueled claims that the PKK was in possession of helicopters, infuriating Turkish authorities. The SDF later said it lost nine fighters, including a commander, in the crash, which occurred during bad weather on a flight to Suleimaniyah. The nine included elite fighters who were in Iraq as part of an exchange of expertise in the fight against the Islamic State group, the SDF said. Officials from the Kurdish Democratic Party, which has maintained largely good relations with Turkey, alleged after the crash that the helicopters had been originally purchased by the rival Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and that they had been flying without permission from the regional government. The Kurdish regional government was forced last month to stop exporting nearly half a million barrels of oil through via a pipeline to Turkey. That followed a decision by the International Chamber of Commerce siding with the central Iraqi government in Baghdad in a long-standing dispute over the independent export of oil by the Kurdish region. Last week Baghdad and Irbil reached a deal to resume the oil exports. Search Keywords: Short link: Two people died and almost 900,000 were without power on Thursday after an ice storm hit Canada's two most populated provinces ahead of a holiday weekend, bringing freezing rain and strong winds that toppled trees and weighed down power lines. Almost 800,000 people in Quebec and more than 86,000 in Ontario did not have power as of 7 p.m. CDT, according to Poweroutage.com. Outages combined for both provinces had crossed at least 1.3 million earlier in the day. The two provinces account for more than half of Canada's population of about 39 million. Electricity providers in both provinces were working to restore power, but repairs were expected continue for days, meaning many Canadians could spend Easter weekend in the dark. One man was killed in Quebec when a tree fell on him, Premier Francois Legault said at a briefing, cautioning people to watch out for live wires and weakened trees. Another man died in eastern Ontario when he was struck by a falling branch, broadcaster CTV News reported. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was elected to parliament in a Montreal constituency, offered to provide federal assistance if required. "It's a very difficult moment. ... The power being down for so many folks, the trees coming down, hurting buildings and cars and whatnot, is of course an ongoing concern," Trudeau told reporters on a street in his district as crews cleaned up a fallen tree behind him. 'A difficult Easter weekend' Montreal was among the worst-hit areas in Quebec, accounting for about half of the total outages in the largely French-speaking province. "Seeing all these beautiful trees down, seeing lives disrupted, seeing similar challenges ... [it] will be a difficult Easter weekend for a number of families," Trudeau said. Hydro-Quebec was hoping to restore power for about 70% of customers by midnight Friday, an executive at the utility said in a televised briefing. "Unfortunately, it is the start of a long weekend, and certain areas are more complex that we will not be able to reconnect immediately," said Regis Tellier, Hydro-Quebec's vice president of operations and maintenance. 65,000 without power in Ottawa In the city of Ottawa, 65,000 power customers were affected, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said. Some areas in the national capital "remain hazardous due to fallen debris and power outages affecting traffic signals," Sutcliffe said. The Micronesian Congress has reaffirmed the Federated States of Micronesias diplomatic ties with China after outgoing President David Panuelo had urged a switch to Taiwan. In a letter to Micronesias Congress in March, Panuelo accused Beijing of waging political warfare in his country and bribing his governments officials. On recent trip to Fiji, the Micronesian president alleged he was followed by Chinese agents. His claims are being investigated by Fijian authorities. Earlier this week, Panuelo made even more explosive allegations. In a letter to the speaker of Micronesias legislature, he alleged that China was bringing weapons into his country, which is located about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia. Graeme Smith, from the Australian National Universitys Department of Pacific Affairs, spoke to the Australian Broadcasting Corps Pacific Beat program. He said that Panuelos claims were consistent with his criticism of China. He sort of has two prongs of attack, Smith said. One is against Chinese companies who are, you know, directly involved in corrupting politicians and offering to fly them anywhere. [He] just says China. He doesnt say whether it is the state or whether it is these private companies. But certainly, in Africa, that has, you know, long been the trend, is to protect their business interests. They do start to arm-up. But, yes, it is quite an explosive allegation. There has been no response to the claims from China. The Pacific is home to some of the most isolated communities on Earth. Yet the vast region has great strategic value for Australia, the United States and China. The U.S. has a military presence dating back decades. Over the last decade, China has focused on strengthening its ties in Pacific. Australia and New Zealand have regarded the region as their traditional sphere of influence. China and Taiwan also have a history of competing in the Pacific islands, where four of Taiwans 13 diplomatic allies are located. They are the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau and Tuvalu. Kiribati and Solomon Islands cut diplomatic ties with Taipei in favor of Beijing in 2019 after offers of aid. Australia has intensified its efforts in the region in the past year since the election of a center-left government in Canberra. Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has conceded that Pacific leaders had been ignored and disrespected by Australia in the past. Eight Filipinos were nailed to crosses to reenact Jesus Christs suffering in a gory Good Friday tradition that draws thousands of devotees and tourists to the Philippines despite being rejected by the Catholic church. The real-life crucifixions in the farming village of San Pedro Cutud in Pampanga province north of Manila resumed after a three-year pause due to the coronavirus pandemic. About a dozen villagers registered but only eight men participated, including 62-year-old sign painter Ruben Enaje, who was nailed to a wooden cross for the 34th time in San Pedro Cutud. In a news conference shortly after his brief crucifixion, Enaje said he prayed for the eradication of the COVID-19 virus and the end of Russias invasion of Ukraine, which has contributed to gas and food prices soaring worldwide. Its just these two countries involved in that war, Russia and Ukraine, but all of us are being affected, said Enaje, who appeared to be well and showed his two bandaged hands to journalists. The father of four said he wanted to end his extraordinary penitence because of his age but would decide with finality before Lent next year. While the pain from the nailing was not as intense as anticipated, he said he always felt edgy before each crucifixion. To be honest, I always feel nervous because I could end up dead on the cross, he told The Associated Press before Fridays nailing. When Im laid down on the cross, my body begins to feel cold, he said. When my hands are tied, I just close my eyes and tell myself, I can do this. I can do this. Surviving nearly unscathed when he fell from a three-story building in 1985 prompted Enaje to undergo the ordeal as thanksgiving for what he considered a miracle. He extended the ritual after loved ones recovered from serious illnesses, one after another, turning him into a village celebrity as the Christ in the Lenten reenactment of the Way of the Cross. Ahead of their crucifixion on a dusty hill, Enaje and the other devotees, wearing thorny crowns of twigs, carried heavy wooden crosses on their backs for more than a kilometer (more than half a mile) in the scorching heat. Village actors dressed as Roman centurions later hammered 4-inch (10-centimeter) stainless steel nails through his palms and feet, then set him aloft on a cross under the sun for about 10 minutes. Other penitents walked barefoot through village streets and beat their bare backs with sharp bamboo sticks and pieces of wood. Some participants in the past opened cuts in the penitents backs using broken glass to ensure the ritual was sufficiently bloody. The gruesome spectacle reflects the Philippines unique brand of Catholicism, which merges church traditions with folk superstitions. Many of the mostly impoverished penitents undergo the ritual to atone for sins, pray for the sick or for a better life, and give thanks for miracles. Church leaders in the Philippines have frowned on the crucifixions and self-flagellations, saying Filipinos can show their deep faith and religious devotion without hurting themselves and by doing charity work instead, such as donating blood. Robert Reyes, a prominent Catholic priest and human rights activist in the country, said the bloody rites reflect the churchs failure to fully educate many Filipinos on Christian tenets, leaving them on their own to explore personal ways of seeking divine help for all sorts of maladies. Folk Catholicism has become deeply entrenched in the local religious culture, Reyes said, citing a chaotic procession of a black statue of Jesus Christ called the Black Nazarene each January, which authorities say draw more than a million devotees each year in one of Asias largest religious festivals. Many bring towels to be wiped on the wooden statue, believing it has powers to cure ailments and ensure good health and a better life. The question is, where were we church people when they started doing this? Reyes asked, saying the clergy should immerse itself in communities more and converse regularly with villagers. If we judge them, well just alienate them. The decadeslong crucifixion tradition, meanwhile, has put impoverished San Pedro Cutud one of the more than 500 villages in rice-growing Pampanga province on the map. Organizers said more than 15,000 foreign and Filipino tourists and devotees gathered for the cross nailings in Cutud and two other nearby villages. There was a festive air as villagers peddled bottled water, hats, food and religious items, and police and marshals kept order. They like this because there is really nothing like this on earth, said Johnson Gareth, a British tour organizer, who brought 15 tourists from eight countries, including the United States, Canada and Germany, to witness the crucifixions. Its less gruesome than people think. They think its going to be very macabre or very disgusting but its not. Its done in a very respectful way. In the past, Gareth said tourists were genuinely inspired and I think they left with a newfound respect for peoples beliefs. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Officials are looking into potential leaks of classified war strategy documents ended up on social media platforms. The EU President encourages Chinese President Xi to reach out to Ukraines leader. How Russias full-scale invasion has created a new war generation in Ukraine. France's foreign minister has held a rare face-to-face meeting with her Iranian counterpart in China, urging Tehran to release French nationals "arbitrarily detained" in Iran, the foreign ministry said Friday. Catherine Colonna, traveling with President Emmanuel Macron on his state visit to China, met Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Beijing. Amir-Abdollohian was leading the Iranian delegation in separate reconciliation talks in Beijing between Iran and its once arch regional foe Saudi Arabia. China mediated the reconciliation last month in a sign of Beijing's growing clout in the Middle East. Colonna "renewed her urgent demand for the immediate release of the six French citizens who Iran is arbitrarily detaining," the French statement said. The six are among an estimated two dozen foreigners who activists and Western governments say are being held by Iran as hostages in a bid to extract concessions. Iran's foreign ministry confirmed the meeting took place, adding that "some consular issues were also raised during the meeting." It did not specify further. Contacts between Iran and European powers including over the Iranian nuclear program have been drastically scaled down over Tehran's deadly crackdown on the protest movement that erupted in September. "The talks also focused on the situation in Iran, regional issues and the Iranian nuclear program. The minister expressed France's concern about the attitude of the Iranian authorities on all these subjects," the statement said. For its part, the Iranian foreign ministry said: "The foreign ministers of the two countries emphasized the necessity of mutual respect and continuation of dialogue." The Iran protests began in mid-September after the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a young Iranian Kurd who had been arrested for allegedly violating Iran's strict dress code for women. Four men have been executed in protest-related cases in what activists have described as "show trials. According to Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR), at least 537 people have been killed by security forces in the crackdown on the protests. Ghana has deployed 1,000 special forces to its northern border with Burkina Faso after gunmen this week shot at immigration officers in a border town, killing one. The attack has sparked fears that Islamist militants in Burkina Faso are stirring unrest to expand in the region. The 40-year-old ethnic conflict between the Mamprusi and Kusasi people over a chieftaincy seat in Bawku an hour drive from Burkina Faso's border with Ghana has escalated into a war, reportedly involving foreign combatants, leaving more than 30 people dead between December and April, according to police records. Experts said the porous borders and smuggling routes have become major threats to the peaceful atmosphere in Ghana as Islamist militants take advantage of political instability in Ouagadougou to expand their frontiers in coastal West Africa from the Sahel region. Amadu Hamza, the mayor of the border town of Bawku in the Upper East Region of Ghana, told VOA that the lax security situation at unmanned entry points is worrying. "The challenge we have is that there are a lot of loopholes where there could be permanent posts," said Hamza. "However, the government of Ghana for one or two reasons have not committed enough resources to be able to have those permanent soldiers policing those areas to prevent the Jihadists." Bawku victim of instability, conflict Hamza said the internal conflict, coupled with the instability in Burkina Faso, has adversely affected the town's once thriving economy, making the unemployment situation worse and young people more vulnerable to recruitment by Islamist militants. "There is complete reduction in the general economy of Bawku," said Hamza, adding that the "majority of the people can't come in from Burkina Faso, Togo, Niger and Mali. People from Bawku cannot also cross. Only a few of them risk their lives to go. The fear is that when you go the Jihadists will kill you and unemployment is the major cause of the Jihadists for them to get you and recruit you into their camps." 'Access to education is key' Mahama Ayariga, a member of parliament representing a district in Bawku and a member of the opposition National Democratic Congress, said terrorists are knocking on Ghana's door from volatile northern frontiers and are calling on the government to channel more resources toward resolving the decades-long ethnic conflict within Bawku. "As for this talk about terrorism, you see, we have a problem, and we are not focusing our resources on it, and we are not concerned about the lives of people in Bawku that are dying," said Ayariga. "We are [rather] concerned about terrorists crossing over. Come on, are you saying that the Ghana Armed Forces cannot manage that small geographical space? That is my real fundamental problem." As the Ghanaian government increases its security presence in Bawku by sending more troops to ensure safety, Adib Saani, the executive director of the Jatikay Center for Peace Building, said officials must focus more on improving the lives of locals by providing them basic amenities. "Access to education is key," he said. "Access to basic necessities of life food, water, sanitation and shelter especially opportunities for young people who are largely unemployed and sit under trees to talk the whole day and they have guns on them." So far, Ghana has been spared a direct attack linked to Islamist militants in Burkina Faso. But with Bawku fast becoming the epicenter of violent attacks on citizens especially women and children the security agencies are pressed to up their game to protect its 144,000 inhabitants and secure the borders India's federal government asked states to identify emergency hotspots and ramp up testing for COVID-19 after the country recorded its highest daily case count since September, a Reuters tally showed on Friday. There were 6,050 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the federal Health Ministry said on Friday, continuing a sharp upward trend since a lull last year. At a meeting to review the degree to which the states are prepared, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya asked them to ramp up genome testing and conduct mock drills in hospitals, a government statement said. Daily new cases have nearly tripled from around 2,000 at the end of March. The prevalence of XBB.1.16, classified as a variant of interest by the World Health Organization, increased from 21.6% in February to 35.8% in March, the Health Ministry said, adding there that was no evidence of an increase in hospitalizations or deaths. Active cases totaled more than 28,300 with 14 deaths during the last 24 hours, taking the country's official death toll from the disease to 530,943. India has recorded more than 44.7 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic three years ago, the third-highest tally after the United States and China. Iran has announced more than 100 arrests nationwide over the mystery poisonings of thousands of schoolgirls, charging that the unidentified alleged perpetrators may have links with "hostile" groups. In the wave of cases since late November, schoolgirls have suffered fainting, nausea, shortness of breath and other symptoms after reporting "unpleasant" odors on school premises, with some being treated in hospitals. State media reported late Saturday that the Iranian interior ministry announced the arrests over the suspected poison attacks in more than 200 schools that have sparked fear and anger among pupils and their parents. "More than 100 people who were responsible for the recent school incidents were identified, arrested and investigated," the ministry said in a statement carried by state news agency IRNA. "Among those arrested are people with hostile motives and with the aim of instilling terror in the people and students and to close schools." Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had last Monday called for the perpetrators of the "unforgivable crime" to be tracked down "without mercy. The ministry added that "fortunately, from the middle of the last week until today, the number of incidents in schools has decreased significantly, and there have been no reports of sick students. The statement pointed at possible links to an Albania-based exiled Iranian opposition group that Tehran considers a "terrorist" organization, the People's Mujahedin of Iran or Mujahedeen-e-Khalq (MEK). "The investigation of these criminal people, including the discovery of their possible connection with the terrorist organizations such as the MEK and others, is ongoing," reported IRNA. Shahin Gobadi, Paris-based spokesman for the MEK, said the accusations were "a ridiculous show to cover up the role of the institutions under Khamenei's command in this big crime" and urged Tehran to accept an international investigation. "The crime of poisoning thousands of schoolgirls... is the work of no one but the clerical regime and its security and repressive apparatus," he said in a statement. The poisonings started two months into the protests that gripped Iran following the September 16 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, an ethnic Kurd who had been arrested over an alleged violation of strict dress rules for women. Iran has blamed those protests, which it commonly labels "riots," on hostile forces abroad linked to its arch foes the United States, Israel and their allies. More than 5,000 pupils have been affected in poisoning cases in approximately 230 schools across 25 out of Iran's 31 provinces, the latest official tally said. The ministry said arrests were made in the provinces of Tehran, Qom and Gilan in the north, Razavi Khorasan in the northeast, West Azerbaijan, East Azerbaijan and Zanjan in the northwest, Kurdistan and Hamadan in the west, Khuzestan in the southwest and Fars in the south. The Israeli military struck targets in the Gaza Strip while Palestinian militants fired barrages of rockets into southern Israel early Friday, with the region edging closer toward war following two days of unrest at Jerusalem's most sensitive holy site and a rare rocket attack from neighboring Lebanon. The fighting comes during a delicate time when Jews are celebrating the Passover holiday and Muslims are marking the Ramadan holy month. Similar tensions spilled over into an 11-day war between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers in 2021. The current round of violence began Wednesday after Israeli police twice raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem's Old City. That led Thursday to rocket fire from Gaza and, in a significant escalation, an unusual barrage of nearly three dozen rockets from Lebanon into northern Israel. As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his Security Cabinet late Thursday, the military struck what it said were four sites in Gaza belonging to Hamas. Following the nearly three-hour meeting, Netanyahu's office put out a short statement saying a series of decisions had been made. "Israel's response, tonight and beyond, will extract a heavy price from our enemies," Netanyahu said in the statement. It did not elaborate. But almost immediately, Palestinian militants in Gaza began firing rockets into southern Israel, setting off air raid sirens across the region. Loud explosions could be heard in Gaza from the Israeli strikes, as outgoing rockets whooshed into the skies toward Israel. The airstrikes came after militants in Lebanon fired some 34 rockets into Israel, forcing people across Israel's northern frontier into bomb shelters and wounding at least two people. The Israeli military said the rocket fire on its northern and southern fronts was carried out by Palestinian militants in connection to this week's violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, where Israeli police stormed into the building with tear gas and stun grenades to confront Palestinians barricaded inside on two straight days. The violent scenes from the mosque ratcheted up tensions across the region. There was no immediate Israeli action in Lebanon. The military said some 25 of the rockets were intercepted. But two people were wounded and property was damaged in several communities in northern Israel. Fears raised The rare attack from Lebanon raised fears of a wider conflagration as Israel's bitter enemy, the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, holds sway over much of southern Lebanon. In a briefing with reporters, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, said the army drew a clear connection between the Lebanese rocket fire and the recent unrest in Jerusalem. "It's a Palestinian-oriented event," he said, adding that either the Hamas or Islamic Jihad militant groups, which are based in Gaza but also operate in Lebanon, could be involved. But he said the army believed that Hezbollah and the Lebanese government were aware of what happened and also held responsibility. The mosque the third-holiest site in Islam stands on a hilltop revered by Jews as the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism. The competing claims to the site have repeatedly spilled over into violence over the years. No faction in Lebanon claimed responsibility for the salvo of rockets. A Lebanese security official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to media, said the country's security forces believed the rockets were launched by a Lebanon-based Palestinian militant group, not by Hezbollah. Lebanon's caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, condemned the firing of rockets from Lebanon, adding that Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers were investigating and trying to find the perpetrators. Mikati said his government "categorically rejects any military escalation" and the use of Lebanese territories to stage acts that threaten stability. Hezbollah, which has condemned the Israeli police raids in Jerusalem, did not respond to a request for comment on the rocket fire. Both Israel and Hezbollah have avoided an all-out conflict since a 34-day war in 2006 ended in a draw. Netanyahu could be constrained by his own domestic problems. For the past three months, hundreds of thousands of Israelis have been demonstrating against his plans to overhaul the country's judicial system, claiming it will lead the country toward authoritarianism. Key military units, including fighter pilots, have threatened to stop reporting for duty if the overhaul is passed, drawing a warning from Defense Minister Yoav Gallant that Israel's national security could be harmed by the divisive plan. Netanyahu said he was firing Gallant, but then backtracked as he put the overhaul on hold for several weeks. Critics could also accuse him of trying to use the crisis to divert attention from his domestic woes. Netanyahu said that the domestic divisions had no impact on national security and that the country would remain united in the face of external threats. Tensions have simmered along the Lebanese border as Israel appears to have ratcheted up its shadow war against Iranian-linked targets in Syria, another close ally of Iran, Israel's archenemy in the region. Suspected Israeli airstrikes in Syria in recent weeks have killed two Iranian military advisers and temporarily put the country's two largest airports out of service. Hecht, the military spokesman, said Thursday's rocket fire was not believed to be connected to events in Syria. Washington urges calm In Washington, the principal deputy State Department spokesman, Vedant Patel, said, "Israel has legitimate security concerns and has every right to defend themselves." But he also urged calm in Jerusalem, saying "any unilateral action that jeopardizes the status quo to us is unacceptable." In Jerusalem, the situation remained tense at Al-Aqsa. For the previous two nights, Palestinians barricaded themselves in the mosque with stones and firecrackers. Worshippers have been demanding the right to pray overnight inside the mosque which authorities typically only permit during the last 10 days of the monthlong Ramadan holiday. They also have stayed in the mosque in protest over threats by religious Jews to carry out a ritual animal slaughter at the sacred site for Passover. Israel did not try to prevent people from spending the night in the mosque early Friday apparently because it was the weekend, when Jews do not visit the compound. But tensions could re-ignite Sunday when Jewish visits resume. Israel bars ritual slaughter on the site, but calls by Jewish extremists to revive the practice, including offers of cash rewards to anyone who even attempts to bring an animal into the compound, have amplified fears among Muslims that Israel is plotting to take over the site Stun grenades, stones, scuffles In this week's violence, Israeli police fired stun grenades and rubber bullets to evict worshippers who had locked the doors of the building. Palestinians hurled stones and fireworks at officers. After a few hours of scuffles that left a trail of damage, police managed to drag everyone out of the compound. Police fiercely beat Palestinians and arrested more than 400 people. Israeli authorities control access to the area, but the compound is administered by Islamic and Jordanian officials. The violence at the site has resonated across the region, with condemnations pouring in from Muslim leaders. Israeli officials say suspected Arab militants carried out two separate attacks Friday, killing three people and wounding six others. Authorities said an Italian tourist was killed and five others were wounded in a car ramming attack in Tel Aviv. In an earlier Friday attack, two Israeli sisters were killed, and their mother was wounded in a shooting in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which rules Gaza, praised the shooting attack but stopped short of claiming responsibility. The U.S. State Department strongly condemned Friday's "terrorist attacks in the West Bank and Tel Aviv." In a statement, it said the attacks affected citizens of Israel, Italy and Britain and that the targeting of innocent civilians of any nationality is unconscionable." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was calling up all reserve forces in Israel's border police and directing the national military to mobilize additional forces "to confront the terror attacks," his office said. Also Friday, Israeli airstrikes hit Lebanon and the Gaza Strip in retaliation for rocket attacks that Israel blames on the Islamist group Hamas. The violence has sparked fears of a broader conflict. While tensions simmered Friday, Ramadan prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, where violence between Israeli police and Muslim worshippers erupted earlier in the week, were conducted without major incident Friday. Apart from some stone-throwing, police said the compound was quiet. "Nobody wants an escalation right now," an Israeli army spokesman said. "Quiet will be answered with quiet, at this stage I think, at least in the coming hours." One official with a Palestinian militant group told Reuters they were ready to keep the calm should Israel do the same, with the group having "made its point." Tensions have been brewing in the region following a clash Wednesday between Israeli police and Palestinians inside Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third-holiest site. The site is part of the Old City of Jerusalem, sacred to Christians, Jews and Muslims. The al-Aqsa compound overlooks the Western Wall, a sacred place of prayer for Jews for whom the Temple Mount is their most sacred site. Jews believe biblical King Solomon built the first temple there 3,000 years ago. During Wednesday's clashes, Israeli police raided al-Aqsa and beat Palestinian worshippers, arresting and removing hundreds of people from the compound in what they said was an effort to remove agitators holed up in the mosque. Video of the raid drew condemnation from across the Arab world. During Ramadan, Muslims see it as a religious duty to remain overnight and pray at mosques. On Thursday, Israel said dozens of rocket attacks were launched into Israel from Lebanese territory. Israel blamed Hamas for the attacks, although the group did not say it was behind them. The salvoes included the largest from Lebanon since a 2006 war with Iran-backed Hezbollah. They interrupted the Jewish holiday of Passover and sent residents running for shelters. Israel called on the United Nations Security Council to condemn Lebanon and Hamas for the attack. The United States, Britain and the United Nations, while recognizing Israel's right to self-defense, have urged restraint. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. China sent warships and aircraft near Taiwan for a second day on Friday and insisted the island remains "an inseparable part of China" after President Tsai Ing-wen angered Beijing by meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Three Chinese warships sailed in waters surrounding the self-ruled island, while a fighter jet and an anti-submarine helicopter also crossed the island's air defence identification zone (ADIZ), Taiwan's defence ministry said. Hours before Tsai met McCarthy in Los Angeles on her way back from Latin America, China's Shandong aircraft carrier sailed through Taiwan's southeastern waters on its way to the western Pacific. Tsai told reporters her government was committed to ensuring "the free and democratic way of life of the people of Taiwan" before she left Los Angeles where she was stopping on her way back from Latin America. "We also hope to do our best to maintain peace and stability between the two sides," she added. Beijing said on Friday that "Taiwan is an inseparable part of China", after repeatedly warning against the meeting. "China's sovereignty and territorial integrity will never be divided," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing. "The future of Taiwan lies in reunification with the motherland." AFP journalists on Pingtan island, China's nearest outpost to Taiwan, saw a military ship and at least three army helicopters transiting through the strait on Friday afternoon. The silver-grey Dongtuo-859 tugboat cruised southwards, about one kilometre from the shore, while the two aircraft flew northwards over the waters at fairly low altitudes. It was not immediately clear if the movements represented an enhancement of normal patrols that Beijing conducts in the region. Muted response Last August, China deployed warships, missiles and fighter jets around Taiwan for its largest show of force in years, following a trip to the island by McCarthy's predecessor Nancy Pelosi. Beijing's response to the Tsai-McCarthy meeting has so far been more muted and China's ADIZ incursions in the past two days have not risen beyond the activities of an average week. But Taiwan is still on alert, with Premier Chen Chien-jen warning on Friday that Taipei's defence and security agencies were keeping a close eye on developments. On Thursday, Taiwan's defence ministry said three warships had been detected around the Taiwan Strait and one Chinese naval helicopter crossed the island's ADIZ. The display prompted calls from the United States asking China "to cease its military, diplomatic and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful diplomacy". The ADIZ is not the same as Taiwan's territorial airspace, including a far greater area that overlaps with part of China's own ADIZ and even some of the mainland. Successful meeting McCarthy, who is second in line for the US presidency, had originally planned to go to Taiwan himself but opted instead to meet Tsai in California. The decision was viewed as a compromise that would underscore support for Taiwan but avoid inflaming tensions with China, a move analysts say has so far proven successful. Tsai said on Thursday that it was "quite common for us to meet our US friends during transits". "I also hope the Chinese side can exercise self-restraint and don't overreact," she added. McCarthy had vowed that US arms sales to Taiwan -- which have infuriated the Chinese leadership -- would continue, in what he said was a proven strategy to dissuade aggression. "It is a critical lesson that we learned through Ukraine, that the idea of just sanctions in the future is not going to stop somebody" who wants to wage war, he said. Sanctions On Friday, China slapped sanctions on Taipei's de facto ambassador to the United States, Hsiao Bi-khim, banning her from entering China and accusing her of "deliberately inciting cross-strait confrontation". Taiwan condemned the sanctions, saying Beijing was attempting to "further suppress our country's international space". "Coercion and suppression will not change the objective facts, but will only strengthen our government's belief in upholding freedom and democracy," Taiwan's foreign office said in a statement. Beijing also announced sanctions against the Hudson Institute, a Washington-based conservative think tank, as well as the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, which hosted the meeting. The two organisations are now barred from engaging in transactions and cooperation with Chinese entities. On Thursday, Taiwan said Chinese coast guard vessels were "obstructing" trade by carrying out on-site inspections on cargo and passenger ships. Tsai said Taipei's national security team was "closely monitoring the situation" to ensure the safety of its ships "and to prevent China's interference in our territorial waters". Search Keywords: Short link: Japans Coast Guard is continuing search and rescue operations Friday for the Japanese military helicopter that disappeared from radar Thursday off the nations southwest islands near Taiwan. Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada, apparently struggling to hold back tears, said none of the aircrafts missing crew members have been found, according to The Associated Press. Yasunori Morishita, head of the Japan Ground Self Defense Force, said at a news conference Thursday that the Black Hawk helicopter is believed to have crashed into the sea after objects appearing to be aircraft parts were spotted in the area. Officials with the GSDF say the helicopter had 10 people on board and was conducting surveillance activities near the island of Miyakojima, about 400 kilometers east of Taiwan. The aircraft vanished from radar at 4:33 p.m. local time Thursday and has not responded to radio communications. Japan coast guard ships were dispatched, and the GSDF joined the search. A U.S. defense official told VOA the U.S. military has offered support for the search and rescue operations. Officials say the helicopter took off from Miyakojima before 4 p.m. and was scheduled to return to the island after 5 p.m. The Japan Times, quoting the Defense Ministry, reports the helicopter is based at the GSDFs Camp Takayubaru in Kumamoto prefecture, and two pilots, two mechanics and six crew, all of whom are Self-Defense Forces members, were on board. The helicopter had a routine safety inspection in late March, the AP reported. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters in Tokyo that the government was putting maximum priority on human life and rescue operations and said the Defense Ministry would be following up. Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press and Reuters. The Alaska Air National Guard this week traveled nearly 660 miles (1,062 kilometers) to rescue a pregnant woman on a small island 2 miles (3 kilometers) from Russia, reflecting the challenges patients face in the nation's largest state where the most remote areas have no roads and hospitals can be hundreds of miles away. There was no air strip for a fixed-wing aircraft, so the crews flew a twin-engine combat search and rescue helicopter from the Anchorage area to the island in the Bering Strait. A long-range search and rescue aircraft guided the helicopter through mountain passes and refueled it in the air several times during the five-hour flight. Russian aircraft routinely fly near the Bering Strait, but Alaska Air National Guard Major Sara Warren, who was the on-duty rescue officer, said they took every measure to avoid any conflict, including staying on the U.S. side of the international date line. "There was absolutely no activity from them," she said of the Russians. These types of extreme rescues by both the guard and other agencies are common in a state that is almost 2 1/2 times the size of Texas and has more shoreline than the lower 48 states combined. The Alaska Air National Guard has conducted 14 such rescues already this year, the agency said. "It's very different here in Alaska because we don't have the infrastructure that they have down in the lower 48," said Alaska National Guard spokesperson Alan Brown. "You're looking at the civilian agencies [that] have a more robust capability; there are more of them." Alaska, with a population of only about 730,000 people, is remote, spread out and often has extreme weather, forcing everyone to team up to conduct life-saving missions. A total of 41 people worked on the recent rescue mission on the small island. "Our guys, fortunately, because of the nature of their federal mission for search and rescue, they have to be capable," Brown said. "They have to train regularly in extreme weather conditions all across the region and that just makes them prime for this type of rescue." The rescue call came Monday morning, said Warren. They were informed of a pregnant woman with severe abdominal pains in Diomede, a village of 80 people on the western side of Little Diomede Island. It's a traditional Ingalikmiut Eskimo village, whose residents live a subsistence lifestyle, hunting seal, polar bears and blue crab. There are no medical professionals living on the island. It's separated from Big Diomede Island, which is owned by Russia, by 2 miles (3 kilometers) of frozen Bering Sea ice this time of the year. The international date line runs between the two islands. Compounding the rescue was not only lingering fog from sea ice, but also a power outage in Diomede, Warren said. Townspeople would call the nearest hospital in Nome, 130 miles (209 kilometers) away, every hour providing updates on the woman's condition and then shut the phones off to conserve power. A doctor in Nome would then relay the most current information back to those at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage. A civilian medical crew was on standby in Nome, but they were unable to fly their helicopter because of the poor weather conditions, so the National Guard aircraft launched from Anchorage. The plane would fly ahead after fueling the helicopter to perform weather reconnaissance, leading the helicopter away from storms, through several passes of the Alaska Range and to Diomede. Warren and others at the base monitored all of it in real time. "They eventually did get her out without causing any kind of incidents," Warren said. The woman was then flown to Nome and was doing fine, she said. Such a complex mission is second hand to the Alaska Air National Guard as compared to other states, where guard crews might be involved in search and rescue missions. This incident involved the Alaska Air National Guardsmen of 210th, 211th and 212th Rescue Squadrons. In Alaska, guardsmen are accustomed to handling complex missions, factoring in bad weather, solving time-distance problems and dealing with harsh terrain, mainly because they train in these conditions as well. The Guard considers and even counts on such missions part of their regular training and thus could not provide a cost estimate for the rescue. The missions provide "exceptional real-world training opportunities not otherwise available," Brown said. "Standing up and planning for these types of missions, flying through challenging conditions over varied terrain and saving lives keeps our skills sharp and perfectly translates into mission capability for our national defense," he added. The guard's 176th Wing conducted 55 missions in 2022 and 57 in 2021. Of the most recent rescue, Warren said, "That was just another Monday." The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. As Muslims in Tanzania observe the month of Ramadan, they are facing increased food prices and uncertainty of supplies. Charles Kombe spoke to residents in Dar es Salaam and has this story. Nigeria has deployed security forces to a village in central Benue state where state police say suspected herders killed 10 people this week. But Nigerian media report dozens were killed, citing a local community leader. Herders and farmers frequently clash over land rights for grazing. Benue State Police Commissioner Wale Abbas, told VOA by phone on Friday that a joint security team patrolled the Umogidi village in Otukpo district of the state to restore calm. He said heavily armed men invaded the village Wednesday evening and opened fire on locals. Abbas said police recovered eight bodies from the village. But Nigerian media cite the village head as saying 46 people were killed, including his son and the local police officer who lives in the area. Abbas disputes that report. "Since then, we have moved all our arsenals to the place. As I'm talking to you now, we have placed adequate security there, so I don't know where they got the numbers," he said. "Where are they getting forty six? They're just whipping up sentiments" Common clashes Farmers and herders have often clashed in Benue State over grazing land for cattle. Days before the attack, armed men killed seven people in a nearby village. In February, Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom said more than 6,000 people had been killed in communal clashes since he assumed office in 2015. He said the attacks have left the state grappling with more than two million internally displaced people living in dire conditions. Community calls for intervention On Friday, Benue State residents protested the recent killings by suspected herdsmen militia and called on authorities to intervene. Paul Hemba, the Benue State security adviser, visited the village Friday. "We're getting conflicting reports on casualty figures, which is not unusual in this type of situation," he said. "The community claims to have buried some before our arrival and according to them that is what is responsible for the differences in figures from those the security agencies are reporting " Nigeria is battling a range of security issues, including kidnapping for ransom, that have led to widespread criticism of the government. Earlier in April, 10 students were kidnapped from northern Kaduna state and, to date, have not been freed. Pakistan announced Friday its intelligence operatives had captured a "hardcore" separatist militant commander plotting terrorist attacks in southwestern Baluchistan province. An army statement identified the detainee as Gulzar Imam, also known as Shambay, saying he is the founder and leader of the so-called Baluch National Army or BNA. The banned group has been blamed for dozens of terrorist attacks targeting Pakistani security forces and civilians. The statement hailed Imam's arrest as a "serious blow" to the BNA and other insurgents operating in the natural resources-rich province. It noted without elaborating that a months-long operation spanning "various geographical locations" had captured the "high-value target." Imam described as experienced insurgent Friday's announcement came several months after the BNA confirmed last November that its chief had been in the custody of Pakistani security forces. Analysts studying the Baluch insurgency say Imam is an experienced insurgent commander and maintains close links to all groups fighting for an independent Baluchistan. In early 2022, the rebel commander announced the merger of two militant groups to form the BNA in his bid to expand a violent campaign seeking Baluchistans independence from Pakistan. The detained militant leader has issued media statements alleging extortion by Pakistan and its close ally China of the province's natural resources and discrimination against its ethnic Baluch population. Beijing has invested billions of dollars in Baluchistan and the rest of the country, helping Islamabad build roads, power plants and other infrastructure under China's global Belt and Road Initiative. Pakistani authorities reject the allegations and maintain the insurgent groups are waging violence to destabilize the country with the support of arch-rival India. Imam's "visits to Afghanistan and India are also on the record; his linkages with hostile intelligence agencies are being investigated," said Friday's military statement. Indian authorities deny charges they are supporting insurgents. Baluchistan occupies a significant chunk of Pakistan's border with both Afghanistan and Iran. Islamabad alleges that separatists also use Iranian soil to wage attacks in Baluchistan. Last week, the Pakistani military said that four of its troops were killed in the region when a "group of terrorists" who crossed from the Iranian side of the border attacked a routine military patrol. That attack was claimed by the Baluchistan Liberation Army, or BLA, which routinely takes credit for plotting raids on Pakistani security forces. Pakistan, the United States and Britain have designated the BLA as a global terrorist organization. Tehran condemned the deadly April 1 cross-border raid, saying in a statement that terrorism "is a common pain" for the neighboring countries and stressed the need to jointly combat the threat. Pakistani security forces have long been under fire for alleged human rights violations while trying to suppress the Baluch insurgency. An independent rights defender on Friday released details of its fact-finding mission, saying it observed a palpable sense of anger among the population in Baluchistan. The mission is concerned at the states widespread use of enforced disappearances to muzzle dissent, said the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. This discontent has been compounded by the extensive presence of paramilitary check-posts, which, citizens say, has cultivated a climate of fear, the watchdog said. Clashes erupted in Paris next to a Left Bank brasserie favored by French President Emmanuel Macron as protesters torched garbage cans and smashed two banks during the 11th day of nationwide demonstrations against pension reform. The bistro La Rotonde, whose awning was set alight as protesters threw bottles and paint at police, is known in France for hosting a much-criticized celebratory dinner for Macron when he led the first round of the 2017 presidential election. Protests against the flagship reform of Macron's second term, which lifts the retirement age by two years to 64, began in mid-January and have coalesced widespread anger against the president. Labor unions on Thursday evening called for another day of nationwide protests on April 13. "Strike, blockade, Macron walk away!" protesters chanted in the western city of Rennes, where police fired tear gas at protesters who threw projectiles at them and set bins on fire. The street protests have become increasingly violent since the government pushed the pension legislation through parliament without a final vote because of a lack of support among lawmakers. But police estimates indicate the number of people taking part may be falling. On Thursday, black-clad anarchists smashed the windows of two banks and engaged riot police in cat-and-mouse skirmishes along the route of the street protest. One police officer briefly lost consciousness after being struck on the helmet by a rock. A total of 77 police force members were injured, and 31 people were arrested as of early evening in Paris, police said. Polls show a wide majority of voters oppose the pension legislation. But a source close to Macron said that was not what mattered. "If the role of a president of the republic is to make decisions according to public opinion, there is no need to have elections," the source said. "Being president is to assume choices that may be unpopular at a given time." 'Withdraw the reform' Union leaders and protesters said the only way out of the crisis was for the legislation to be scrapped, an option that the government has repeatedly rejected. "There is no other solution than withdrawing the reform," the new leader of the hard-line CGT union, Sophie Binet, said at the start of the Paris rally. The number of people striking in schools and disrupting train traffic was down on Thursday from a week earlier. On the streets, the CGT said about 400,000 people joined the protest in Paris, down from 450,000 the week before. The Interior Ministry said 57,000 people attended in Paris, down sharply from the 93,000 reported a week earlier. Nationwide, 570,000 people marched against the reform on Thursday, down from 740,000 a week earlier. The numbers could bring some hope to officials who say they believe the rallies may be losing steam. Laurent Berger, leader of the moderate CFDT union, told France 5 television that the figures were hefty for an 11th day of protests. "The real issue is that there is widespread resentment and social anger," Berger said, adding he condemned the violence. A crucial date on the issue looms on April 14, when the Constitutional Council delivers its verdict on the pension bill. Constitutional experts say the council is unlikely to strike the legislation down, which may help weaken protests. "Mobilization will continue, one way or another. ... It's a long-distance race," the CGT's Binet said. At the Paris rally, nurse Soraya Bouadouia said, "I will be here until the withdrawal of the pension reform, which is a completely unacceptable reform." With Macron on an official trip to Beijing, one protester held a banner that read: "Macron resign. You will hear us all the way to China." A new report by researchers from Johns Hopkins University is giving China better than expected marks for its performance in helping to restructure the crippling debt loads carried by some African countries. The report is based on a detailed evaluation of Beijing's participation in the Debt Service Suspension Initiative, or DSSI, an international vehicle for developed nations to support struggling countries like Angola and Zambia. The DSSI was introduced in 2020 at the start of the global pandemic by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, which suggested the worlds 20 largest economies, known as the G-20, temporarily halt the collection of loans from the worlds poorest nations. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and World Bank Chief David Malpass have recently accused China of being a barrier to debt relief, and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris was in default-stricken Zambia last week urging the country's bilateral creditors of which China is the biggest to do more on restructuring Zambias debt. But, despite some caveats, the report released this week by Deborah Brautigam and Yufan Huang from the China Africa Research Initiative found that overall, China fulfilled its role fairly well as a responsible G-20 stakeholder. The analysts added that China did implement the minimum steps of the DSSI fairly well, communicating with other players, and following through on pledges. According to the available data, Chinese creditors accounted for 30 percent of all claims and contributed 63 percent of debt service suspensions in the countries that participated in the DSSI. The metric by which you evaluate [Chinas] performance depends on what your expectations were for the initiative, Brautigam told VOA, noting that this was the first time the worlds second-largest economy had joined a multilateral initiative a move one G-20 source called miraculous. Brautigam said it was obvious that a new architecture is needed to deal with debt relief because the current system is dominated by the Paris Club, a group of wealthy Western nations that started lending to developing countries in 1956. In recent years, there have been more major new creditors, like China and bondholders. So what evolves out of this is really up in the air, she said, adding that all lenders need to be in together because otherwise you get all these suspicions, you know, worries about free riding. Successes and failures The study concluded that China might have achieved more during the DSSI if not for fears that countries would simply take advantage of any debt relief to repay other creditors. In Zambia, for example, Chinese creditors wanted assurances their relief wouldnt be used to pay off the bondholders, while the bondholders were concerned that any relief from their side might go toward paying off China. China was totally justified in its suspicions on this front, Brautigam said, because in most countries, all of those creditors continued to be paid. We need something that is simultaneous - you know, they all need to be in the room together so that we dont have this first-mover problem, she added. In Zambia, the Chinese decided against suspending their debt payments while the country was still paying bondholders, but this didnt happen in Angola, Chinas largest African borrower with around $20 billion in debt to Chinese entities. In that case, Chinese creditors provided 97% of the debt relief over the two-year period without asking for assurances that Angola wouldnt continue making other repayments. The researchers third African case study, Kenya, showed how Chinas DSSI treatment was different from the other two. Chinese banks agreed to provide relief at first but later stopped loan disbursements and suspended only some 40 percent of the expected amount in 2021. Moving forward The study also showed how China's banks and central government, despite the country's top-down political structure, do not always act in unison. The fragmented nature of the Chinese system and bureaucratic hurdles often remain a barrier to debt relief. Being part of the DSSI helped address that because it pushed the Chinese government to align interests among fragmented banks and bureaucracies with conflicting goals. This process, still under way, is a necessary step toward full acceptance of the necessity for debt restructuring in the post-pandemic era, the researchers found. The DSSI ended in December 2021 and has been superseded by whats known as the Common Framework to continue helping indebted countries like Zambia with their restructuring. In January, World Bank chief Malpass said, China is asking lots of questions in the creditors' committees, and that causes delays, that strings out the process. Last month, Yellen accused Beijing of leaving developing countries trapped in debt. China has called on the IMF and World Bank to also offer debt relief, with President Xi Jinping saying at the G-20 summit last year: International financial institutions and commercial creditors, which are the main creditors of developing countries, should take part in the debt reduction and suspension for developing countries." The Chinese Embassy in Zambia hit back at the U.S., calling Yellens debt trap comments irresponsible and unreasonable. Ultimately, the study found, the DSSI was a success in what some saw as its primary goal: to bring China into a multilateral, G20-supervised forum where Beijing has an equal voice. It now remains to be seen how the challenges highlighted by the pandemic relief program spill over into the current debt negotiations. Thousands of farmers protested across Romania on Friday over the impact of Ukrainian grain imports on prices, blocking traffic and border checkpoints with tractors and trucks and urging the European Commission to intervene. Anger is rising among farmers in Central and Eastern Europe over a flood of cheap Ukrainian grain imports, exempt from customs fees until June 2024, which have hurt prices and sales of local producers. Ukraine, one of the world's largest grain exporters, had its Black Sea ports blocked following Russia's February 2022 invasion and found alternative shipping routes through European Union states Poland and Romania, helped by "solidarity lanes" supported by the EU. But millions of tons of grain cheaper than those produced in the EU ended up in neighboring countries, propelled by logistical bottlenecks and lesser distances. Polish Agriculture Minister Henryk Kowalczyk resigned from his post this week. Polish and Bulgarian farmers have also held protests. In the capital Bucharest, about 200 farmers protested Friday outside the European Commission's local headquarters, carrying banners which read: "We respected EU rules, but EU ignored us," "You can no longer pass through here" and "Stability for Romanian farmers." Across the country, thousands of farmers used tractors, trucks and other machinery to block roads and borders. "We are talking about unfair competition in the European community," said Nicu Vasile, the head of the league of Romanian associations of farm producers (LAPAR). "I know our Ukrainian colleagues also need to sell, but it is unfair competition." Vasile said production costs of wheat have risen 70% on the year to 6,000 lei ($1,326) per hectare. The commission has estimated farmers from Poland, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria and Slovakia have lost 417 million euros ($455 million) overall from the inflows of cheaper Ukrainian grains. It decided to hand out compensation worth 56.3 million euros to Polish, Bulgarian and Romanian farmers, with more to come. "It's a concrete measure, but the sums are small, it is true," Romanian Farm Minister Petre Daea said Friday. The ministry will double the amount given to Romania. On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he expected decisions to be announced in coming days and weeks to alleviate anger among Polish farmers. Six prime ministers in the region have asked the commission to intervene. Russian Federal Security Service investigators have formally charged Evan Gershkovich with espionage, but The Wall Street Journal reporter denied the charges and said he was working as a journalist, Russian news agencies reported on Friday. Russia's Federal Security Service, the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB, said on March 30 that it had detained Gershkovich in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg and had opened an espionage case against the 31-year-old for collecting what it said were state secrets about the military industrial complex. "Gershkovich has been charged," Interfax quoted a source as saying. TASS reported that FSB investigators had formally charged Gershkovich with carrying out espionage in the interests of the United States but that Gershkovich had denied the charge. "He categorically denied all the accusations and stated that he was engaged in journalistic activities in Russia," TASS cited an unidentified source as saying. The TASS source declined further comment citing the classified nature of the case. Gershkovich is the first American journalist detained in Russia on espionage charges since the end of the Cold War. The Journal has denied that Gershkovich was spying and demanded the immediate release of its "trusted and dedicated reporter." The Journal said his arrest was "a vicious affront to a free press and should spur outrage in all free people and governments throughout the world." The Kremlin said that Gershkovich had been carrying out espionage "under the cover" of journalism. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has told the United States that Gershkovich was caught red handed while trying to obtain secrets. The United States has urged Russia to release Gershkovich and cast the Russian claims of espionage as ridiculous. U.S. President Joe Biden has called for Gershkovich's release. Russian President Vladimir Putin has yet to comment publicly on the case. A fluent Russian speaker born to Soviet emigres and raised in New Jersey, Gershkovich moved to Moscow in late 2017 to join the English-language Moscow Times and subsequently worked for the French national news agency Agence France-Presse. Russia announced the start of its "special military operation" in February 2022, just as Gershkovich was in London, about to return to Russia to join The Journal's Moscow bureau. It was decided that he would live in London but travel to Russia frequently for reporting trips, as a correspondent accredited with the Foreign Ministry. The head of Sudan's army said on Thursday he remained committed to a plan for a new transition toward elections, despite disputes over the integration of a paramilitary force that have twice delayed the signing of a final deal. The agreement, which provides for the formation of a civilian government and is strongly supported by the international community, is meant to end the political vacuum that followed the October 2021 coup. But the signing was postponed for a second time late on Wednesday as the army and the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continued negotiations over what commitments they would make on military restructuring. The agreement faces opposition from pro-democracy "resistance committees" that reject negotiations with the military and have led anti-military protests since the coup, which derailed a previous political transition. They held the largest mass demonstrations seen this year across Sudan on Thursday to mark the fourth anniversary of a 2019 sit-in that led to the overthrow of longtime autocratic ruler Omar al-Bashir. Tensions between the army and the RSF have come to the surface in recent weeks over the proposed timeline for integration of the RSF into the military, political and military sources say. The army wants two years, while the RSF says that 10 years are required and that restructuring should include internal reform within the army, according to the sources. 'Sowing discord' Also at issue is the interim leadership of the military. The RSF has suggested that the incoming civilian head of state under the deal be included in a joint council of army and RSF generals. In a statement commemorating the April 6 sit-in anniversary, army chief and Sovereign Council head General Abdel Fattah Burhan said he remained committed to the political process and that the delay was needed to "lay solid frameworks that preserve the momentum of the revolution." In a separate statement, RSF leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo said he was also committed to coming to a final deal. Protesters could be heard chanting "no militia can rule a country" in central Khartoum. Huge crowds blocked main roads and marched in several cities, facing heavy tear gas fired by the security forces. Many were seen breaking their Ramadan fasts in the street, according to Reuters reporters. "Our stance of 'no partnership, no negotiation, no legitimacy' has been proven by ... the roadblocks placed by the putschists who want to cling on to total power. Everything they're saying now is just tactics," said activist Jaafar Khidir. The Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC), a coalition of civilian parties that back the deal, blamed the postponement on elements of Bashir's outlawed National Congress Party, who in recent weeks have made public appearances at Ramadan banquets and other events. "We know that elements of the deposed regime are actively trying to spoil the political process and sow discord between military institutions," prominent civilian politician and FFC leader Khalid Omer Yousif told Reuters. In a statement, the FFC said that while it was committed to the talks, "if they are stymied ... we will also develop alternative options." Tribal leaders who say they feel excluded from the planned deal have threatened to block roads into Khartoum and in eastern Sudan, while rebel groups that supported the coup have warned of "chaos" if it goes ahead. While leading Sudanese figures remain at loggerheads, the peoples eyes are now fixed on the agreement meant to settle the political crisis. Parties to Sudans political process are scheduled to sign a final agreement on 6 April to settle the political crisis and form a civilian government in which the armed forces play no political role. In Sudans political memory 6 April is of great significance. On 6 April 1985 the regime of Gaafar Numeiri was overthrown. Amid cycles of democratic civil rule in Sudan, three military coups were toppled by popular revolutions: on 24 October 1964 the people removed the rule of general Ibrahim Abboud; on 6 April 1985 Numeiri was toppled; and in December 2019, the Muslim Brotherhood led by Omar Al-Bashir was overthrown. Since the toppling of Al-Bashir, Sudan has been on a bumpy road, consumed by fights between the military and civilian forces over ruling a country already exhausted by Civil War, the cessation of South Sudan, the bloody conflict in Darfur, and famine striking parts of it. A civilian government was formed under Abdallah Hamdok, deputy executive secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, headquartered in Addis Ababa. Hamdoks government remained in power for two years, before the military took over on 25 October 2021 under army commander Lieutenant General Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan. The move ignited protests and the population stood divided into groups supporting or opposing the army. On 5 December, civilian forces, the armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) a paramilitary force, founded by Al-Bashir and drawing on Arab Bedouin tribes in the west of the country signed an agreement to target the protests of non-Arab farmers in Darfur and armed rebel movements in Darfur and Southern Blue Nile. However, the 5 December accord was a framework agreement made up of eight principles: handing over power to a civilian government without the participation of the armed forces; ensuring that the army should shun political, economic, and commercial activities; reforming the police and intelligence services and placing them under the authority of the prime minister; reforming the judiciary and the prosecution and launching transitional justice procedures; implementing the Juba Peace Agreement; removing the remnants of Al-Bashirs regime from power; drafting a new constitution; and holding elections by the end of the 24-month transitional period. This agreement was widely rejected by the Muslim Brotherhood and their Islamist current who had claimed they supported a civilian state. The communist party, which doesnt have much electoral weight but has a solid cultural base, also rejected the accord, claiming it did not decisively decide on the matter of keeping the army away from power and ignored justice issues. Sudan is left with no choice but to accept the framework and final agreements. Otherwise, the country will remain mired in supporting and opposing protests, said Faisal Mohamed Salem, who served as information minister in Hamdoks government. Salem, a veteran journalist, added that the problem now is not between civilian and military forces, but rather between two military leaderships, Al-Burhan and [Mohamed Hamdan] Dagalo. Dagalo, aka Hemedti, is the leader of the RSF, the forces accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, in the westernmost part of Sudan. However, Fayez Al-Salik, media adviser to Hamdok, disagreed with Salem, saying the two men share the same boat and neither of them can politically survive if they sacrifice each other. For many months Khartoum has been witnessing muffled struggles between Hemedti and Al-Burhan due to integrating the RSF into the armed forces. Army leaders are not in harmony with the fact that the military now comprises former rebels and the RSF. Meanwhile Hemedti is courting the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC), leading some observers to suggest he is trying to book a place in the coming political arrangement. Amin Magzoub, a professor of political science in Khartoum, noted, I dont have confirmed information, but I can deduce the FFC and Hemedti have some sort of agreement whereby the latter will run for president with the support of the FFC. Neither does Magzoub have a logical explanation for the rapprochement between Hemedti and the FFC except that integrating the RSF into the army strips Hemedti and his fellows of the power that can be granted by tens of thousands of armed men, which is why he wants to be shielded by the rapprochement with the FFC. However, democracy-supporting FFC cant accept this arrangement, said Al-Salik, adding that if the FFC supports Hemedti a man who has accusing fingers pointed at him the force may lose part of their popular credit. It is no secret the FFC suffers wide rifts due to its rapprochement with the military, whereas neighbourhood committees comprising extremist youth reject the participation of the army. Moreover, none of Sudans political parties or organisations are elected and none have been close to power for very long since the Al-Bashirs Muslim Brotherhood ruled the country for 30 years. The Sudanese Professionals Association, the backbone of the FFC, was disassembled during the negotiations over the 5 December agreement. According to Islamists, the Sudanese Professionals Association doesnt enjoy considerable weight among professionals and the middle class, which resulted in the associations failure to secure victory in any syndicate and led them to found unelected groups such as the Central Committee of Sudans Doctors and the Sudanese Lawyers Assembly. The same goes for armed movements, formerly described as rebel currents, members of which were not elected by the national groups that claimed to have supported them. On this Sudanese stage, none other than the armed forces being a legitimate institution has real legitimacy, said Magzoub. Even the RSF doesnt enjoy the legitimacy of a regular army because it is formed of the tribal members of west Sudan. In the meantime, Al-Burhan and Hemedti are at loggerheads. Al-Burhan wants to see more parties engaged in the Sudanese formula, while Hemedti, and the FFC, are rushing the formation of a civilian government. According to Magzoub, Expanding the agreement will strengthen and complicate the deal. However, forming the government quickly will mean the armys exit from the political scene and result in the creation of a weak administration that does not represent everyone. * A version of this article appears in print in the 6 April, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: From the rows of massage parlors, pulsing night clubs and rowdy bars of Thailands gaudy red-light districts, the countrys billion-dollar sex trade operates all but in the open. Technically, the sex they sell is illegal, but a new government-led plan aims to change that. It calls for repealing the 1996 Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act, which makes most sex work a crime, and replacing it with a new law, the Protection of Sex Work Act, affirming the rights of sex workers and their places of business to sell sex. The bills proponents hope it will help the countrys sex workers estimated to number anywhere from 100,000 to 300,000 ply their trade more safely and earn higher wages. Opponents fear it will leave many sex workers exploited by middlemen and trafficking gangs, and clash with the countrys values and traditions. The law is now out of date, said Jintana Janbumrung, director-general of the Department of Womens Affairs and Family Development, which is spearheading the reform effort. By giving sex workers legal status, she said, they can be workers who have access to the same welfare as other occupations, whose rights will not be violated, who will not be exploited by their clients or sex business operators [and have] a better quality of life. To help craft the bill, her department hired Narong Jaiharn, an associate professor at Thailands Thammasat Law School, and held a series of public hearings across the country. While getting paid for sex is not illegal in and of itself in Thailand, he said, soliciting and advertising paid sex is. So is running a business where sex is for sale, he added, putting much of the countrys sex industry outside the law. Repealing the 1996 law would make all that legal. The new law drafted to replace it, though, would require the clubs, bars and parlors where sex is sold to apply for a special license. The goal is to make sex work safer. Sex workers are afraid of the police because it is illegal, Narong said. If they inform that they [were] assault by someone, the police ask them ... where [were you] assault and why you go there? If the draft bill were made law, he added, sex workers can tell the police that this is legal work and during their work they have been assault by the client. With legal status, Narong said, sex workers could also sign binding contracts subject to the countrys labor laws with the licensed businesses selling their services. The bill would give the countrys labor courts express jurisdiction to settle disputes over any contracts and agreements between those businesses and their sex workers. That is a welcome prospect to Mai in northern Thailands Chiang Mai city, where the sex trade thrives steps away from the quaint holy temples of the citys cloistered old town, a popular stop on the countrys tourist trail. Now 37, she started selling sex 10 years ago after a string of low-paid jobs picking crops, bussing tables and cleaning hotels, anything to help support her family but nothing that paid as well as sex work. People have to work to make a living, just like everyone else, she said. Right now I take care of my father. My mother passed away some years ago, and my brother and sister have grown up. I used to support them too. She said most of the other sex workers she knows are also parents. If her work were legal, Mai said the bar she works out of would not have to skim her wages to pay the bribes so local authorities will turn a blind eye. She said she could also get the bar to fix her wages at a guaranteed rate that would not rise or fall at the owners whim, as they do now. If I gain weight, or if I cant get the customer to buy more drinks, the bar makes its own rules to cut my wages. Those rules would be against the law, but since sex work is illegal, the bar takes advantage, she said. With labor laws on the sex workers side, she added, we could get paid fairly and we would be just like other workers in other jobs. Opponents Sanphasit Koompraphant, a former director of Thailands nongovernment Center for the Protection of Childrens Rights Foundation, said licensing businesses to sell sex, as the bill proposes, would still amount to the commercial exploitation of sex workers and land the country afoul of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, which it ratified in 1985. He said Thais should have the right to sell their own sex on their own behalf, but that he worries that entrenching the system of middlemen who now run much of the industry will also keep sex workers from earning their fair share of the profits. Without stepped-up law enforcement, he said he worries too that arming bars and clubs with government licenses to sell sex could make it easier for sex traffickers, who force people into the industry, to hide their crimes in the guise of a legal business. Sanphasit said the government should be doing more to draw people away from or out of the sex trade, rather than formally endorsing an industry he believes is bred by, and breeds, other social ills. This group of women will have very serious ... physical health and mental health problems, which means that we have to pay a lot of money to treat them. And moreover they will create more problems of family conflict and it will affect to Thai development, he said. It means we have to spend a lot of money to solve not only ... the health problem, but including social problem and family problem too. Narong said some who came to the public hearings he held also complained that legalizing or decriminalizing sex work would run counter to Thai culture. Whether the bill the government has now drafted becomes law will be up to a new administration and parliament. The National Assembly was dissolved last month in preparation for elections on May 14. The major parties in the race have said little or nothing about the issue so far. Still, Surang Janyam, a sex workers rights advocate who runs a group called Service Workers in Group, or SWING, said she remains optimistic about change. After nearly 30 years of urging a succession of administrations to decriminalize the industry, to no avail, she said she believes the odds of some progress are at least growing. Because sex work [has] a lot of stigma, not a lot of the people [want] to come out to say, oh, I support. But if we look [at] the last five years, six years, I see the trend is better, she said. The support by the government ... is more than in the past. Activists in Uganda are welcoming the rare prosecution of a government minister on corruption charges but are skeptical that other high-level officials will be charged in the scandal. Karamoja Affairs Minister Mary Goretti Kitutu was charged Thursday with fraud and causing loss of public property in the theft of thousands of metal roofing sheets meant for poor residents in her community. She will remain in jail over the holiday weekend and was expected to remain in custody until her next court appearance Wednesday. Uganda's public prosecutor said other ministers implicated in the scheme would be held accountable. The prosecutors office said Kitutu, her younger brother and Joshua Abaho, a senior assistant secretary in the same ministry who was reported to be on the run, had diverted roofing meant for beneficiaries under the Karamoja community empowerment program. Karamoja is the least developed part of Uganda, with hundreds of thousands still living in mud-thatched houses known as manyattas. The prosecution of government ministers for corruption is rare in Uganda, where theft and misuse of public funds and materials is routine. As investigations into the scandal continue, nine other ministers, including executive members of the government such as the vice president, the speaker of parliament and the prime minister, are potential suspects. Marlon Agaba, with the Anti-Corruption Coalition of Uganda, told VOA he doubted the remaining ministers would be held accountable. 'Sacrificial lamb' In a way, she has been given in as a sacrificial lamb," Agaba said of Kitutu. "That doesnt take away her culpability. It has happened before, where probably one person or two are taken to court and the others go away scot-free. So to me, its not surprising at all. But we also need to know that, yes, she has been taken to court, [but] its not time for rejoicing yet, because in the country where we are, we dont have a history of convicting actually the ministers. The vice president and the prime minister have publicly stated that Kitutu gave them the roofing sheets. Agaba said those were flimsy excuses. "If youre a prime minister or a speaker or whatever and the minister of Karamoja is giving you iron sheets, you think those iron sheets are coming from where?" he said. "They knew that these iron sheets were for the people of Karamoja. Because even information came out showing that they even discussed on WhatsApp and other platforms and agreed how they were going to share these iron sheets. The Committee on Presidential Affairs in Ugandas parliament is conducting a separate probe. Legislator Jacob Karubanga told VOA those who benefited from the diverted roofing sheets should not have received what belonged to Karamoja. If anybody diverted iron sheets meant for a particular group, that was wrong," he said. "But to what extent it is wrong is the problem. Because on the other hand, those who received the iron sheets, in any case, are also vulnerable. But it was not meant for those particular vulnerables who received them. [The sheets that Kitutu gave out] should have been delivered to the originally identified vulnerables in Karamoja. Jacquelyn Okui, spokesperson for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said the case was getting the attention it deserved. When asked by VOA if Kitutu was being used as a scapegoat in the scandal. Okui said, "No, its just a process. You see, the iron sheets scandal is, I would say, like a big elephant. So its been decided that it be handled piecemeal. There are other cases filed for other suspects, which are still being investigated. Representatives of Ukrainian civil society and rights groups have visited an organization that uses high-tech DNA techniques to identify people who go missing in conflicts and natural disasters, a move intended to boost cooperation during the ongoing war in Ukraine. The head of the International Commission on Missing Persons, a Hague-based group that operates a human identification facility, said Thursday that her organization faces unprecedented challenges as it seeks to collect DNA samples and evidence amid the fighting. "I cannot think of another model whereby we're working now actively to assist in investigations of missing persons cases while there's an ongoing conflict," the groups Director-General Kathryne Bomberger told The Associated Press. "So this does present a challenge." The people missing or unidentified following Russia's invasion of Ukraine more than a year ago range from soldiers killed in battle to civilians killed in attacks by Russian forces. They also include children who were abducted and sent to Russia, a practice that led the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his commissioner for children's rights. The commission is close to finalizing an agreement with the Ukrainian government that would facilitate its work to pin down the identities of people who are missing or dead by gathering DNA from bodies and cross-referencing it with samples from family members. Such an agreement would give the organization legal clarity when working with Ukrainian families. "In a mass grave, which is a crime scene, you want to ensure that you're working in line with the criminal procedure code, with other domestic legislation," Bomberger said. Experts from the commission have traveled to Ukraine to help identify the dead and opened an office in Kyiv. Their findings can give closure to families and also feed into investigations that aim to bring perpetrators to justice. At its lab in The Hague, the commission's technicians can extract DNA from tiny samples of bone and cross-reference them with samples provided by families of the missing. Even the number of people missing in Ukraine dating to the start of the grinding conflict in eastern Ukraine more than a decade ago is far from certain. "The issue of how many people are missing is not entirely clear," Bomberger said. "There is information coming from the state itself, which we use as the basis of numbers, but we also recognize that the state has a need for confidentiality when it comes to the numbers of fallen soldiers who may be amongst the missing." Victoriia Solodukhina, who represented an organization called Nadia, which is Ukrainian for Hope, said she hopes to find out more about people missing since early in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. But she said for some family members, identification will come too late. "We don't even know whether somebody will look for them because their loved ones their parents and relatives are not here anymore," she said. "Time is our enemy," she added. Anna Popova, from Ukraine's Nobel Peace Prize-winning Center for Civil Liberties, was among the representatives of Ukrainian civil society who visited the commission's headquarters and high-tech DNA labs in The Hague this week as part an effort to ensure that families of the missing are made aware of the role they can play in the process of finding and identifying their loved ones. "In Ukraine we have an extremely high number of missing persons," she said through an interpreter. "We need changes in legislation so families of missing persons can defend their rights." She said the Center for Civil Liberties, and a project it helped establish called Tribunal for Putin to gather evidence of war crimes since the invasion last year, have received nearly 1,000 requests for help tracing people who went missing or were being held captive. The International Commission on Missing Persons was established to help identify the missing and dead from the Balkan wars of the 1990s. It has a working relationship with the prosecution office of the International Criminal Court and crime-fighting agencies like Interpol and Europol to share evidence. Funded by voluntary contributions from governments, the missing persons commission has worked at crime scenes and disaster sites around the world, including Syria, Libya and Iraq. Bomberger said that, so far, the commission has not directly engaged with Russian authorities about Ukraine but says it will. "When the time is right ... there will have to be a time when this happens because it's part of building peace," she said. Editor's note: Here is a fast take on what the international community has been up to this past week, as seen from the United Nations perch. Taliban bans Afghan women from working for UN The United Nations said Wednesday that it will not comply with a Taliban decree banning Afghan women from working for the organization and called on them to revoke it. Taliban officials informed the United Nations verbally on Tuesday that an existing ban on women working for humanitarian organizations has been extended to include the U.N. The U.N. is continuing to engage with the Taliban to try to get the edict reversed. In the meantime, it has instructed both female and male Afghan staff to work from home. UN Demands Taliban Reverse Ban on Afghan Female Staff Q&A: Linda Thomas-Greenfield U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield spoke to VOA Monday about her recent trip to Costa Rica for the 2023 Democracy Summit and the important role of youth in government, her concerns about Russias and China's influence in the region and calls for a non-U.N. international force to help Haiti. Q&A: US UN Envoy: Standing with Russia is a Losing Proposition ICC-indicted Russian official briefs Security Council The Russian official charged alongside President Vladimir Putin by the International Criminal Court for the alleged abduction of thousands of Ukrainian children said Wednesday that Moscow is fully open to cooperation in the interest of the children. Maria Lvova-Belova told an informal Security Council meeting via video link that Russia is protecting children in its custody. Ukraine says more than 16,000 children have been forcibly abducted to Russia during the 13-month war. Several council members walked out in protest when Lvova-Belova made her remarks. Russian Official Indicted by ICC Briefs UN Security Council Report: Enforced disappearances rife in Iraq A U.N. watchdog committee is urging the Iraqi government to take action to stop the practice of enforced disappearances, which has resulted in the abduction and disappearance of up to a million people in the past five decades. The U.N. Committee on Enforced Disappearances expressed deep concern that the practice is not criminalized and continues to be widespread and practiced with impunity. Up to 1 Million Iraqis Are Victims of Enforced Disappearance Mozambique battles cholera after cyclone The World Health Organization says Mozambique is experiencing its worst cholera outbreak in 20 years, following the devastation of Cyclone Freddy, which killed hundreds of people in Mozambique, Madagascar and Malawi in February and March. Tom Gould reports for VOA from Quelimane, Mozambique, on the outbreak. Mozambique Battles Cholera in Record Cyclones Aftermath In brief Cindy McCain took up her post as executive director of the World Food Program on Wednesday. It is a challenging time for the agency, which delivered food last year to a record 158 million people as it deals with funding shortages and unprecedented levels of global food insecurity. Since 2021, McCain has served as the U.S. ambassador to the three U.N. food and agriculture agencies in Rome. She succeeds David Beasley, who held the post from 2017 until earlier this week. International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Mariano Grossi went to Kaliningrad, Russia, on Wednesday, where he met with officials on his efforts to secure a demilitarized zone in and around Ukraines Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The plant has come under repeated shelling and blackouts during the war and is currently occupied by Russian troops. A team of IAEA experts is also based at the facility. Grossi met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the city of Zaporizhzhia last week. A new report by the World Health Organization this week said 1 in 6 people worldwide is experiencing infertility. The WHO said this shows the urgent need to increase access to affordable, high-quality fertility care for those in need. In most countries fertility treatments are largely paid out of pocket, putting the cost of starting a family beyond the reach of many. Good news The U.N. said Thursday that it has secured a supertanker to replace the decaying oil tanker FSO Safer, which is moored off the coast of Yemen and poses a serious environmental threat. The Nautica set sail from Zhoushan, China, this week and will arrive in Yemen in early May. A salvage company will oversee the transfer from the Safer to the Nautica of more than a million barrels of oil that the U.N. has warned for years would cause a catastrophic environmental disaster if the nearly 50-year-old Safer started leaking or exploded. Read more from our archive about the efforts to get this mission underway. UN Buys Oil Tanker to Begin Salvage Operation Off Yemeni Coast Did you know? The World Health Organization turned 75 on Friday. When the United Nations was founded in San Francisco in 1945, diplomats agreed there was a need for a body to encourage collaboration to control the spread of dangerous diseases, and the WHO was born. On April 7, 1948, the WHOs constitution entered into force. Now that day is recognized as World Health Day. The health agency began with a focus on mass campaigns against tuberculosis, malaria, yaws, syphilis, smallpox and leprosy. When the polio vaccine was developed in 1952, the agency began work to eradicate the disease worldwide. The WHO also brings health care to refugees, displaced persons and people living in conflict zones. Most recently, the WHO has been at the forefront of coordinating the global response to the COVID-19 virus, including vaccinations. The U.S. is committed to removing landmines and other explosive remnants of the war in Vietnam throughout Southeast Asia, according to an annual report released by the State Department. According to the report, To Walk the Earth in Safety, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia all face challenges in the safe removal of explosive remnants of war. Iraq is the largest recipient of the U.S. government's global program, having received more than $675 million since 1993. It is followed in the top five recipients by Afghanistan with nearly $574 million, then Laos with more than $355 million, Vietnam with over $206 million and Cambodia with nearly $192 million. One of the biggest challenges to the implementation of the conventional weapons destruction (CWD) programs in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia is the impact of climate change that causes hotter weather, flooding, landslides and droughts, according to the report. Karen Chandler, deputy assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs at the State Department, told VOA Vietnamese on Tuesday, "There are two effects: One is that unexploded ordnance that previously has been hidden becomes exposed and suddenly you see all of this new contamination that's been laid bare by these landslides. Another aspect of it is that it slows down the work and makes it more difficult." Difficult job, but 'big payoff' Chandler described the work of removing unexploded ordnance as "a hard job, but one with a big payoff of people's lives and well-being." To leave ordnance behind had "catastrophic consequences for civilians living in proximity to these dangerous depots." Removing the lethal leftovers also boosts food security by making the land safe for cultivation. The U.S. is the world's single largest financial supporter of CWD programs. Since 1993, the U.S. has spent more than $4.6 billion for the safe clearance of landmines and explosive weapons of war, as well as for securing and safely disposing of excess small arms and light weapons and munitions in more than 120 countries and areas, according to the report. In fiscal 2022, the U.S. supported conventional weapons destruction in more than 65 countries and areas with more than $376 million. The U.S. has provided nearly $753 million over the past three decades for conventional weapons destruction in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. They receive the largest amounts of U.S. funding for CWD in the East Asia and Pacific region. The three countries received almost $75 million in the past fiscal year. Laos received just over $45 million, Vietnam received more than $20.2 million and Cambodia received the rest, or just over $9.5 million, according to the report. "Vietnam is one of our longest and strongest programs," Chandler told VOA Vietnamese when referring to the CWD program the U.S. is implementing in more than 120 countries around the world. "Our assistance in the East Asia Pacific region overall spans about $822 million since 1993, and about $168 million of that has been assistance between the United States and the government of Vietnam." Nguyen Hanh Phuc, deputy director of the Vietnam National Mine Action Center, which partners with the State Department for the CWD programs in Vietnam, told a conference in Hanoi commemorating the International Day for Mine Awareness on April 4 that the unexploded ordnance contaminates 6.1 million hectares. Most of the ordnance is lethal cluster munitions concentrated in the central provinces near the former Demilitarized Zone, according to the report. Chandler said removal efforts are focused on "addressing the contamination in Quang Binh and Quang Tri provinces. Those are the central provinces where we see the highest amount of, or the highest density of, legacy contamination from the Vietnam War." The report said that significant concentrations of unexploded ordnance also remain in parts of southern Vietnam as well as landmine contamination along the country's northern border with China, where the neighboring countries fought in 1979. 40,000 deaths Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said last April that bombs and mines left behind by the U.S. and its allies after the Vietnam War had killed more than 40,000 people and injured 60,000 since 1975. In Laos, most of the explosive remnants of war are from U.S. aerial bombing campaigns against the communist Pathet Lao conducted during the Vietnam War, according to a 2019 report by the Congressional Research Service, War Legacy Issues in Southeast Asia: Unexploded Ordnance (UXO). Unexploded cluster munitions, referred to locally as bombies, remain in most of the country's provinces. Laos received more than $355 million in 1995 from the U.S. for CWD. During the so-called "shadow war" from 1964 to 1973, the U.S. dropped more than 2 million tons of bombs on Laos, making it, per capita, the most heavily bombed country in history. In Cambodia, according to the report, in addition to the explosive remnants of war from the Vietnam War, internal conflicts that ended in 1999 also left behind unexploded ordnance. The report said extensive minefields were laid by the Khmer Rouge, Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, and Vietnamese and Thai militaries during fighting and occupations. "We've provided approximately $191.5 million for clearance operations in Cambodia and about $9 million of that was just this year," said Chandler, adding that the Cambodia Mine Action Center has sent some of its people to train Ukrainian deminers because Cambodians are expert in using a "very specific type of landmine detector that Japan has provided." It is more modern than the aging Russian-built detectors Ukrainians are using as they fight invading Russian forces. Chandler told VOA Khmer after the briefing that "with the Cambodian government, it's absolutely a priority for us to be able to continue to help Cambodia remove landmines and explosive remnants of war as a way to return lands to Cambodian people and promote economic prosperity and food security." VOA Khmer's Khemara Pov Sok contributed to this report. The World Health Organization said Thursday that it was sure China had far more data that could shed light on the origins of COVID-19, demanding that Beijing immediately share all relevant information. "Without full access to the information that China has ... all hypotheses are on the table," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in Geneva. "That's why we have been asking China to be cooperative on this," he said, insisting that if Beijing does provide the missing data, "we will know what happened or how it started." More than three years after COVID-19 surfaced, heated debate still rages around the origins of the pandemic. The issue has proved divisive for the scientific community and even different U.S. government agencies, which are split between one theory that the virus jumped naturally from animals to humans and another that the virus likely leaked from a Wuhan laboratory a claim China has angrily denied. Late last month, new evidence emerged that raccoon dogs, known to be able to carry and transmit viruses similar to the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19, were at a market in Wuhan when the disease was first detected in humans. The researchers who unexpectedly stumbled over the genetic data say that those data support but cannot prove the theory that the virus originated in animals, possibly first jumping over to humans at the market. 'Clues,' not clarity Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's technical lead on COVID-19, told journalists Thursday that the new information provided "clues" but no clear answers, insisting that the data "collected in January and February 2020, more than three years ago," should have been shared long ago. "Without information, without data to make a proper assessment, it's very difficult for us to give a concrete answer," she said. "And in the present time, we don't have a concrete answer of how the pandemic began." But she voiced certainty that China's "incredible scientists" had conducted far more studies and collected much more data that could be relevant in the search. "We know there is more information that's out there," she said. "We need scientists, public health professionals and governments to share this information. This is not a game." 'A moral imperative' In an editorial in Science magazine published Thursday, Van Kerkhove said she believed China had data that it had not shared, including on the wild and farmed animal trade at the Wuhan market, the testing of humans and animals in Wuhan and across China, and operations of labs in Wuhan working on coronaviruses. "Lab audit data exist and have not been shared, for example," she wrote, demanding that China share all data on the virus that causes COVID-19 "immediately." WHO chief Tedros stressed the vital importance of getting to the bottom of the mystery, pointing out that determining COVID-19's origins could help avert future pandemics. And with nearly 7 million deaths officially registered in the pandemic with the real toll believed to be several times higher he said there was a "moral imperative." "We need to know the answer, beyond reasonable doubt." Health care workers in Zimbabwe have condemned the government's plan to criminalize their recruitment to work in other countries as part of efforts to reduce a medical brain drain. Zimbabwe's vice president and health minister, Constantino Chiwenga, said the country will introduce a law to make it illegal for foreign nations to hire their health care workers. Zimbabwes Association of Doctors for Human Rights says any attempt to prevent health care workers from leaving the country for better jobs would be illegal. The head of the association, Dr. Norman Matara, told VOA Friday the governments plan to criminalize foreign recruitment of health care workers was shocking. Also in our constitution, the Zimbabwe constitution, it guarantees citizens have the right to move freely within the country or leave the country, Matara said. We dont know why those comments were made by the honorable minister of health. The government continue to use scare tactics and command approach to solving health care problems. Matara was responding to comments Wednesday by Zimbabwes vice president, Constantino Chiwenga. Chiwenga, who doubles as health minister, said the government would introduce a law against foreign recruiting of its health care workers to address a medical brain drain. If one deliberately recruits and make the country suffer because it lacks the required professionals, thats a crime against humanity, Chiwenga said. If people die in hospitals because there are no nurses and doctors and somebody who has been so irresponsible of not training their nationals but wanting poor countries to train for them its a crime. That must be taken seriously. Matara stressed that Zimbabwes health care workers are choosing to leave. The government should note that health workers are not being pulled away from the country but pushed away from the country by the meager salaries they are getting, Matara said. They are being pushed by the worsening economic crisis in the country. They are being pushed by poor working conditions: lack of equipment, lack of sundries, lack of medicines in the hospitals that they work in. We urge the government to improve working conditions, pay a living wage, you will find that people will not leave the country. Eustina Shava, a nurse who is leaving Zimbabwe in May for better work in Canada, said leaving her home country is not her preference. If we were being given enough money, I dont think anybody would love to leave their families, their relatives and work abroad, Shava said. But at the end of the day, we all want to achieve good things in life. We all want to buy houses, we all want to buy cars and we all want to send our children to good schools. Thats the reason we are reaching to recruiters. They have done nothing wrong. They are actually helping us to achieve certain things in life. Zimbabwes Health Services Board said in November more than 4,000 nurses have left the country since 2021. The Zimbabwe Medical Association says the country has only 3,500 doctors for a population of almost 16 million people. Health care workers regularly go on strike over poor pay and working conditions. Zimbabwes government said it doesnt have enough funds for raises or better equipment and in January made it illegal for health care workers to strike for more than three days. Reuters contributed to this report. WASHINGTON - Zimbabweans are weighing in after Episode 3 of the explosive Al Jazeera four-part documentary series exposing alleged corruption in the trade of gold in Zimbabwe and money laundering by gold smugglers who claim they are working with President Emmerson Mnangagwa, including a convicted criminal. Previous episodes have shown Mnangagwas special envoy Eubert Angel and his right hand man, Rikki Doolan, telling undercover journalists they can help them launder millions with the full knowledge of Mnangagwa. In the latest episode, Al Jazeera focuses on the companies set by alleged key gold smuggler, Kamlesh Pattni, who showcases his glamorous company offices in Dubai, among others. This as Zimbabwe says it is now investigating those implicated. Meanwhile outrage is growing, with the opposition Zapu party calling on Zimbabweans to protest at the church of Angel in South Africa on Friday. Zimbabwes central bank also says it has frozen the assets of four implicated people - Cleopas Chidodo, David Chirozvi, Mehluleli Dube and Fredrick Kunaka. Businessman Aleck Ndlovu says there must be stern consequences for all those involved. Ndlovus sentiments were echoed by another businessman, Bhekimpilo Sithole, who says Al Jazeera has done a great national service exposing to Zimbabweans who is looting their wealth. New developments: French President Emmanuel Macron tells Chinese President Xi Jinping to use Chinas relationship with Russia to help end Russias war in Ukraine. Kremlin says decision to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus was prompted by NATO expansion toward Russia Swedish prosecutor investigating Nord Stream pipeline blasts in September tells Reuters the clear main scenario is that a state sponsored group was responsible Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits Poland, updating leaders there on the war in Ukraine and meeting with Ukrainian refugees who fled after Russias full-scale invasion. French President Emmanuel Macron encouraged Chinese President Xi Jinping to use Chinas relationship with Russia to help bring an end to Russias war in Ukraine. Macron told Xi as they met Thursday in Beijing that Russias aggression in Ukraine has harmed international stability. "I know I can count on you to bring back Russia to reason and everyone back to the negotiating table, Macron said. Xi told journalists that together with France, we appeal for restraint and reason in the 14-month conflict, adding that China was seeking a quick return to peace negotiations in the quest for a political settlement, and the building of a European architecture that is balanced and lasting. The Chinese leader said his government appeals for the protection of civilians. Nuclear weapons must not be used, and nuclear war must be avoided. But it was unclear whether Xi might pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate, as Macron requested, or whether the Chinese leader would speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said last month that China could be a partner in the quest for peace. China has proposed a multi-part peace plan for Ukraine that includes a call for upholding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, but it does not call on Russia to withdraw its forces from Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have said they will only engage in peace talks if Russia withdraws all its military, while Russia has insisted that Ukraine recognize areas that Russia has claimed to annex. Zelenskyy in Poland Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited neighboring Poland Wednesday, giving leaders there an update on the war in Ukraine and meeting with Ukrainian refugees who fled after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. SEE ALSO: Zelenskyy said the situation for Ukrainian forces in the eastern city of Bakhmut remains difficult and that corresponding decisions would have to be taken if Kyivs troops were at risk of being surrounded by Russian forces. Zelenskyy discussed the state of the war with Polish President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, as well as international support and cooperation for Ukraine. Zelenskyy thanked Poland for what he characterized as its historic assistance to the Kyiv government. Duda said Russia has committed war crimes in Ukraine that must be punished. "Today we are trying to get for Ukraine additional guarantees, security guarantees, which will strengthen Ukraine's military potential," the Polish president noted. Poland has been a key ally for Ukraine. The U.N. refugee agency says there are 1.5 million Ukrainian refugees who have registered for temporary protection status in Poland. Poland also has served as a main hub for other Ukrainian partners to send in military and humanitarian aid. Some material in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. WASHINGTON - Zimbabwes central bank has frozen bank accounts of Ambassador At Large, Eubert Angel, gold dealers Kamlesh Pattni and Ewan McMillan and several others cited in an investigative Al Jazeera documentary series as playing a key role in the smuggling of the precious metal worth millions of dollars from the southern African nation. In a tweet, information secretary Nick Mangwana said Simon Rudland, also said to be a key gold smuggling dealer, is among those that had their bank accounts frozen by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. Mangwana said, With immediate effect, No funds will be transferred from the frozen accounts until the FIU (Financial Intelligence Unit) has finished its investigations. Angel was quoted in the documentary as saying he can use diplomatic bags to ferry gold from Zimbabwe to Dubai and other nations. He is closely linked to President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The Zimbabwean president has so far not uttered a word about the gold scandal. A gold deal also featured in the documentary told undercover Al Jazeera journalists that Mnangagwa is aware of the gold smuggling scheme. Al Jazeera has so far aired three of its four-part documentary series, in which the television network exposed the alleged massive looting of gold by some of the people, whose assets have been frozen. The central bank on Thursday froze assets of four implicated people - Cleopas Chidodo, David Chirozvi, Mehluleli Dube and Fredrick Kunaka. Israel has been stepping up its strikes on Iranian military targets in Syria, with further attacks taking place from the Occupied Syrian Golan this week. For the third time in a week, the Israeli Air Force carried out air strikes from the Occupied Syrian Golan on Sunday against a site outside the Syrian capital Damascus. Syria said the attack had resulted in some material losses without giving details or identifying the target of the Israeli missiles. Two days earlier, Israeli jets targeted several sites in the vicinity of Damascus, injuring two soldiers and causing some material losses, according to Syrian sources. However, residents said they saw the missiles hitting a moving target in central Damascus. Video footage showed smoke billowing in the Kafr Souseh area of central Damascus, a security district, and a heavy presence of ambulances and firefighting vehicles soon after the strike. Syrian sources stated that the target was the convoy of an Iranian figure allied to the regime led by Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. Ten days earlier, the Aleppo International Airport in northern Syria was also targeted by Israeli strikes. It was the second such bombing to have taken place in a month, and the target was an arms depot belonging to militias allied to Iran. The strike put the vital facility out of service for two days. A few days earlier, Israel bombed targets at the Al-Dabaa Military Airport in Qusayr on the border with Lebanon. On 7 March, a similar bombing also put the Aleppo Airport out of service for several days, killing three people including one Syrian officer. Israel has been carrying out attacks and air strikes inside Syria for years, mostly targeting Iranian and sometimes Lebanese Shia group Hizbullah sites inside Syria. These have included arms and ammunition depots and planes transporting unknown shipments to Syrian airports. Israel rarely confirms its strikes inside Syria, but it repeatedly states that it will continue to combat Irans attempts to consolidate its military presence in the country. Iran admitted the death of two of its military personnel in the recent strikes. Mohamed Reza Tuysarkani, a representative of Irans Supreme Guide Ali Khamenei in the Air Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, said that Israels crime of killing advisers in the Revolutionary Guards in Syria, who are there defending holy shrines, will not go unpunished. In a statement, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard condemned the silence and inaction of international bodies regarding Israels repeated crimes and aggressions and the continuous violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of an independent state that is a member of the United Nations, referring to Syria. Some years ago, Israel targeted Iranian and Hizbullah sites close to the Syrian-Israeli border or in southwest Syria, since Tel Aviv believed that their presence close to its border was an existential threat. In the past three years, Israel has also targeted Iranian soldiers, depots, planes and military advisers across Syria as Irans presence and influence has expanded across the country. Israel believes that the threat to it from Iranian forces in Syria is growing and is no longer limited to border areas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said recently that Israel was forcefully fighting terrorism and is now fighting its enemies on all fronts. The intensity and frequency of the Israeli strikes on Syrian sites in recent weeks have been unprecedented, raising questions about whether Israel is now stepping up its strikes inside the country. It also indicates that the increase in Iranian militia movements and arms shipments in Syria is of serious concern for Israel. Diaa Qadoor, a Syrian expert on Iranian affairs, said that since the number of Israeli air raids on Syria has been unprecedented in recent days, this indicates an accumulation of elements that Israel views as a threat to its national security in the country. Iran consolidated these elements during the period of the devastating earthquake that took place in Syria in February, and Israel is now trying to compensate for the hiatus following the earthquake when it ceased all air strikes against Iranian targets. Meanwhile, Iran has taken advantage of the humanitarian disaster to accumulate threatening elements, whether missiles, drones, or at the leadership level. Israel is concerned about the increased Iranian military activity in Syria, and it is now targeting military advisers and not just military targets. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said recently that if necessary, we will chase them out of Syria, referring to the Iranians. Israels worst fear is the development of precision weapons by Iran and Hizbullah, as well as attempts to position Iranian forces on the Syrian side of the Occupied Syrian Golan. But hundreds of Israeli air and missile strikes have not stopped Iran from continuing its unconventional weapons programme nor deterred it from digging in its heels in the Golan region a stones throw from the Israeli border. Hizbullah claims it has 150,000 medium- and long-range missiles in the country, which is a serious concern for Israel. Despite its air raids, Israel has only been able to destroy a small portion of the stockpile of Irans militias in Syria. Syrian opposition figure Ahmed Rahhal said that there has been an increase in the quality and quantity of weapons entering Syria from Iran, and Iran brought many weapons into the country under the guise of humanitarian aid during the earthquake period. This crosses many Israeli red lines, as Iran has also increased production inside Syria. All the weapons coming on oil ships entering the port of Banias go to Hizbullahs warehouses in Syria until they are transported to southern Lebanon. Since the start of the Syrian uprising 12 years ago, and Irans direct military intervention in the country, the Israelis have not seen a strong Iranian response to their attacks. Tehrans responses have been carefully calculated so as not to lead to direct confrontation, but some believe that the increased Israeli strikes and the targeting of Iranian military advisers will lead to a tangible Iranian response. Six Iranian soldiers were killed, not two, as per Irans version that hides the real numbers, Rahhal said, however. I do not think there will be an Iranian response other than words. Iran did not respond to the killing of [Revolutionary Guard leader] Qassem Suleimani, nor the killing of Iranian nuclear scientist Fakhri Zadah, nor the killing of Hizbullahs Emad Maghniyeh. All that Iran, Hizbullah, and the Syrian regime can do is to face the Israeli missiles, as is evidenced by the fact that their forces and militias are located in the Occupied Syrian Golan but not a single bullet has been fired towards Israel. Tehran has succeeded in transferring its war with Israel outside Irans borders and specifically to Syria. Syrian territory has become an arena for settling scores between Israel and Iran, and Syrias airspace is being violated by Israel to the advantage of Iran. Syrian military sites are being bombed due to an Iranian presence that does not necessarily serve the interests of the Syrian people, who worry that Israels responses will grow out of hand and target vital Syrian facilities, while entrenching Iranian ambitions in the Middle East. * A version of this article appears in print in the 6 April, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: The New York Times quotes Biden administration officials as saying classified war document detailing secret U.S. and NATO plans for building up Ukraines military ahead of a planned Spring offensive against Russia were posted this week on the social media platforms Twitter and Telegram. French President Emmanuel Macron tells Chinese President Xi Jinping to use Chinas relationship with Russia to help end Russias war in Ukraine. Russian investigators have charged Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich with espionage, the Interfax news agency reported. A Swedish prosecutor investigating the Nord Stream pipeline attacks told Reuters the clear main scenario is that a state-sponsored group was responsible. Russia warned Friday that it would not renew the Black Sea Grain Initiative signed by the Kremlin, Ukraine, Turkey and the U.N. last July unless Moscows terms are fulfilled. The deal allows Ukraine one of the worlds top grain producers to export grain through a safe corridor in the Black Sea. According to official data, more than 27 million tons of grain and other foodstuffs have been exported from Ukraine aboard 881 outbound vessels since the initiative began last August. According to the U.N., continuing the deal is vital to averting a world food crisis. The deal has been extended twice, the last time for 60 days instead of the 120 days that had been agreed initially. Moscow is complaining that its side of the agreement, promising the right to export fertilizer and other agricultural products, is not being honored. At a news conference in Ankara, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov threatened to abandon the agreement. Moscow is calling on the West to remove obstacles to Russian agricultural exports, allow a resumption in supplies of agricultural machinery and parts, lift restrictions on insurance, and reinsurance and unblock assets and accounts of Russian companies involved in food and fertilizer exports. Lavrov said that Russian grain and fertilizer exports were affected by a lack of access to insurance and to the SWIFT financial messaging system. Lavrov said, if those terms are not honored, Russia will bypass the U.N. brokered initiative exporting products and Ukraine would have to use land and river routes for its exports. Meanwhile, anger is rising among farmers in central and eastern Europe over a high influx of cheap Ukrainian grain imports, exempt from customs fees until June 2024, which have hurt prices and sales of local producers. In Romania thousands of farmers held protests Friday, blocking traffic and border checkpoints with tractors and trucks and urging the European Commission to intervene. Polish and Bulgarian farmers have also held protests and Polish Agriculture Minister Henryk Kowalczyk resigned from his post this week. His replacement, Agriculture Minister Robert Telus said Friday that Poland will temporarily halt imports of Ukrainian grain to mitigate the impact on prices, but he added, transit will still be allowed. Leaks of plans Ukraines leaders held a meeting Friday at the Ukrainian headquarters of the armed forces supreme command to discuss leaks of secret documents detailing U.S. and NATO plans to help the countrys counteroffensive against Russia. The military information was reportedly posted on social media, The New York Times reported. A Ukrainian official told Reuters the documents contained a very large amount of fictitious information and the posts looked like a Russian disinformation operation to create doubts about the offensive, which requires advanced Western weapons. These are just standard elements of operational games by Russian intelligence. And nothing more, presidential official Mykhailo Podolyak said in a written statement. The Kremlin did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended the meeting but made no mention of a leak. The Times said the documents did not reveal when or where the offensive would take place but that the leak could affect trust between the allies as it gave timetables for the delivery of weaponry and the training of Ukrainian troops by the West. They appeared to be modified in places, overstating American estimates of Ukrainian war dead and underestimating Russian military casualties, the newspaper said, adding that U.S. officials were working to get the posts taken down. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Asked to comment, a Pentagon spokesperson said by email, We are aware of the reports of social media posts and the department is reviewing the matter. Bakhmut at risk Russia has recently regained some momentum in the battle for Bakhmut, the British Defense Ministry said Friday in its daily intelligence update on Russias invasion of Ukraine. The report said Russian forces have highly likely advanced into the town center of Bakhmut and have seized the west bank of the Bakhmutka River. The update also reported that Wagner forces and Russian Defense Ministry commanders have paused their ongoing feud and improved cooperation. Ending Russias war French President Emmanuel Macron has encouraged Chinese President Xi Jinping to use Beijings relationship with Moscow to help bring an end to Russias war in Ukraine. Macron told Xi as they met Thursday in Beijing that Russias aggression in Ukraine has harmed international stability. I know I can count on you to bring back Russia to reason and everyone back to the negotiating table, Macron said. SEE ALSO: Xi told journalists that together with France, we appeal for restraint and reason in the 14-month conflict, adding that China was seeking a quick return to peace negotiations in the quest for a political settlement and the building of a European architecture that is balanced and lasting. The Chinese leader said his government appeals for the protection of civilians. Nuclear weapons must not be used and nuclear war must be avoided. Its unclear whether Xi might pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate, as Macron requested or whether the Chinese leader would speak with Zelenskyy, who said last month that China could be a partner in the quest for peace. China has proposed a multipart peace plan for Ukraine that includes a call for upholding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, but it does not call on Russia to withdraw its forces from Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have said they will only engage in peace talks if Russia withdraws all its military, while Russia has insisted that Ukraine recognize areas that Russia has claimed to annex. There have been no known peace talks since last April. Some material in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Halima Athumani KAMPALA, UGANDA Activists in Uganda are welcoming the rare prosecution of a government minister on corruption charges but are skeptical that other high-level officials will be charged in the scandal. Karamoja Affairs Minister Mary Goretti Kitutu was charged Thursday with fraud and causing loss of public property in the theft of thousands of metal roofing sheets meant for poor residents in her community. She will remain in jail over the holiday weekend and was expected to remain in custody until her next court appearance Wednesday. Uganda's public prosecutor said other ministers implicated in the scheme would be held accountable. The prosecutors office said Kitutu, her younger brother and Joshua Abaho, a senior assistant secretary in the same ministry who was reported to be on the run, had diverted roofing meant for beneficiaries under the Karamoja community empowerment program. Karamoja is the least developed part of Uganda, with hundreds of thousands still living in mud-thatched houses known as manyattas. The prosecution of government ministers for corruption is rare in Uganda, where theft and misuse of public funds and materials is routine. As investigations into the scandal continue, nine other ministers, including executive members of the government such as the vice president, the speaker of parliament and the prime minister, are potential suspects. Marlon Agaba, with the Anti-Corruption Coalition of Uganda, told VOA he doubted the remaining ministers would be held accountable. 'Sacrificial lamb' In a way, she has been given in as a sacrificial lamb," Agaba said of Kitutu. "That doesnt take away her culpability. It has happened before, where probably one person or two are taken to court and the others go away scot-free. So to me, its not surprising at all. But we also need to know that, yes, she has been taken to court, [but] its not time for rejoicing yet, because in the country where we are, we dont have a history of convicting actually the ministers. The vice president and the prime minister have publicly stated that Kitutu gave them the roofing sheets. Agaba said those were flimsy excuses. "If youre a prime minister or a speaker or whatever and the minister of Karamoja is giving you iron sheets, you think those iron sheets are coming from where?" he said. "They knew that these iron sheets were for the people of Karamoja. Because even information came out showing that they even discussed on WhatsApp and other platforms and agreed how they were going to share these iron sheets. The Committee on Presidential Affairs in Ugandas parliament is conducting a separate probe. Legislator Jacob Karubanga told VOA those who benefited from the diverted roofing sheets should not have received what belonged to Karamoja. If anybody diverted iron sheets meant for a particular group, that was wrong," he said. "But to what extent it is wrong is the problem. Because on the other hand, those who received the iron sheets, in any case, are also vulnerable. But it was not meant for those particular vulnerables who received them. [The sheets that Kitutu gave out] should have been delivered to the originally identified vulnerables in Karamoja. Jacquelyn Okui, spokesperson for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said the case was getting the attention it deserved. When asked by VOA if Kitutu was being used as a scapegoat in the scandal. Okui said, "No, its just a process. You see, the iron sheets scandal is, I would say, like a big elephant. So its been decided that it be handled piecemeal. There are other cases filed for other suspects, which are still being investigated. In one of the last days the general population was allowed in the state capitol (because of the Stay at Home Order), Governor Tim Walz heard from people within the disabilities communities to promote legislation to enhance it. How do you cope when the internal pressure gets to be too much? Do you address it head-on, or do you escape? Do you seek external validation, distraction, or the intervention of a higher power? In Beefs third and fourth episodes, Amy and Danny try to cope with their newfound hatred for each other, bringing their inner roiling to the surface while continuing to develop them into deeper, more complicated characters. Rarely has a show so continuously surprised me, depressed me, and made me laugh. When I Am Inhabited by a Cry begins, Danny attempts to get his revenge on Amy for tagging his truck, eventually following her shiny white SUV into a parking lot and dousing it with lighter fluid. Just as he strikes a match, he looks inside and sees June, Amys daughter, kicking her feet and waiting for her mom. Its a wake-up call for Danny, who realizes he almost set fire to a baby. The stark confrontation with his own rage drives Danny to an unlikely place: church. In the last episode, his ex-girlfriend Veronica and her smug husband Edwin invited him to their church in Orange County, though it seemed unlikely that hed attend. Here, he enters in the middle of a sermon, looking around at all the earnest people, eyes closed, singing about bringing their worries to the altar, and he breaks down. While it could be read as a religious experience, I also see it as Danny seeing what his life could look like if he didnt carry his anger so close to his chest. In a lesser actors hands, this scene could have been cheesy, bordering on Evangelism, but Steven Yeun beautifully showcases Dannys deep desire to belong. After the service, Veronica approaches him and is thrilled that he came to church; her husband, Edwin, is not. When Edwin catches Danny fixing a crooked sign in front of the church, he offloads some underhanded compliments, asking whether Danny is in the OC because business is slow. Instead of admitting that business isnt just slow, its almost nonexistent, Dannys pride gets the better of him, and he ends up agreeing to do some pro-bono work to help the church with some repairs. Later, while testing out massage chairs, Isaac pulls out a series of T-shirts that read CHOsen Ones, which is the name of yet another of Dannys contracting businesses, this one licensed under Isaacs name. The show is dropping hints that Isaac is scheming, and Danny is too preoccupied with his anger and depression to see it. Isaacs plan might have something to do with that plot of land we see Danny at again, where he learns from a banker that his credit score is shot and if he wants a loan, hell have to wait seven years. If he had a large down payment, though, thats another story. Danny forms his own plan: Could the church get a loan from the bank? Next, we see Danny telling the pastor of the Orange County church that theyll need $100,000 or so in loans to finance their repairs, but that hell do the labor for free. Lets watch this space! At the beginning of the episode, Amy is in a place similar to church: couples counseling. Unlike Danny, shes not sincerely engaging. As George talks about their previous argument (and complains about not being able to enjoy vanilla-flavored things), Amy joins in by saying what she thinks the therapist wants to hear. Her anger and anxiety? She says shes dealing with it by meditating. In actuality, shes distracting herself by texting Paul as Kayla, the catfish profile she set up in episode two, made up of photos ripped from her clueless white assistant Mias Instagram page. Her uncontrollable emotions? She breezily chalks it up as a manifestation of her emotionally repressed parents. The therapist laps it up. Its a reminder of how often society wants problem emotions like anger to be solved quickly, with clear origins, as if they were whodunnit mysteries. Meanwhile, Amy receives nonstop texts from Paul. Later, alone in Jordans house following an anticlimactic business meeting and an incriminating text from George (he accidentally sends her a boob-heavy screenshot of her assistant Mia), Amy escalates and calls Paul and talks to him as if she were Kayla. The two flirt until the cawing of a bird rattles Amy from her reverie. She blocks Pauls number and goes home to do an intimacy exercise with George. Theyre supposed to stare into each others eyes for half an hour. It seems like its working when Amy opens up about a choking feeling shes had for a long time, essentially like shes being buried alive. But George and his toxic positivity dont so much as hug her or affirm her feelings. Instead, he tells her he knows people who have fought depression and won, following it up by sharing his own confession: Sometimes he fantasizes about what his life would have been like if he and Amy had never met. The next morning, Jordan surprises Amy at her home with the terms sheet, but the deal isnt what Amy expected: The Forsters board wants her to stay on for five years before cashing out. The day takes another unexpected turn when Paul arrives at Amys work, looking for Kayla, a.k.a. Amys catfish persona. After Paul sees Mia, who he thinks is his Kayla, Amy rushes him out of the store and comes clean: Kayla doesnt exist; its just her pretending to be someone shes not. As she babbles about not being the young, hot, white girl Paul thought he was messaging, he cuts her off by kissing her he thinks shes hotter than Kayla/Mia. As the fourth episode, Just Not All at the Same Time, begins, Amy drives Paul home, pretending to have never been to their apartment. She may have come clean about the catfishing, but she doesnt tell Paul why she was catfishing him in the first place, which was to get information on Danny. When an oblivious Danny walks past the car to take out the trash, Amy furiously kisses Paul to hide her face, then kicks him out of the car. That night, Amy, George, and June try to go on a combination work-family trip to Las Vegas, but June throws a fit. I felt for Amy as she plaintively turned to her husband and child, saying she really thought this trip could bring them closer. Amy wants to be with her kid (her husband? The jury is still out), but she also has to go and close this deal with Jordan in Las Vegas. Once she gets to the hotel, she enjoys herself more; Jordan has full access to a spa and is treating her to an incredible penthouse suite. Shes vibing out so much that shes only mildly annoyed when she calls George and sees hes having a sleepover with his mom, Fumi. Things get even headier when who should show up to Las Vegas but Paul? Paul pretends hes there to see a friend, even though he stole Dannys pickup truck (more on this in a bit), solely intending to see Amy. The two engage in a platonic night of delights in Amys hotel room, smoking weed, eating snacks, practicing wrestling moves, and jumping on the bed, their mouths wide and open in delight. When they come down a bit, they share a mangosteen and get vulnerable. Paul confides in Amy that he thinks his brothers depressed and that hes tired of being the bearer of Dannys bad energy. Amy says shes on the verge of a $10 million deal, and while that might have seemed an unimaginable sum in her 20s, it feels absurdly necessary now that she has a family to provide for. After narrowly missing a moment where they might have fallen into a kiss, Amy bids Paul good night, tucks him into bed on the couch, and leaves him some cash as a thank you. The next day, she goes shopping and gets her hair dyed and cut into a bleach-blonde bob, declaring to Jordan that shell stay on instead of cashing out. Her night with Paul has awoken something in her, revitalizing her fighting spirit. For Amy, Paul is validating; unlike George, Paul thinks Amy is desirable in all her complexity, bitterness, and softness. He represents an alternate reality where she can be totally herself without the threat of isolation (though I dont think shes actually in love with him so much as shes interested in his attention). As for Paul, Amy isnt trying to tell him what to do like Danny does. Shes hot, shes unexpected, and she doesnt think her life choices are better than his. If Amy is a wealthy Calabasas girlboss, then Danny is the Korean Robin Hood and Isaac the Korean Aladdin. Together, the two steal contracting equipment from someones garage, and Isaacs scheme with the church repairs starts to come into view: Isaac and Danny will use the churchs loan money for themselves and use the stolen materials that the church would otherwise be paying for. When Danny and Isaac return to the apartment, their old familiar baggage sends them into a collective rage. Isaac needles Paul about his girl, while Paul quips about Isaacs jail time, which almost turns into a fight. To lull Danny and Isaac long enough to steal the truck, Paul suggests they do some shots to celebrate the church repair job. Danny and Isaac, being the fools they are, fall for it. This whole episode gives us a better understanding of Paul and Dannys relationship. Its not just an overbearing older brother and snotty younger sibling. Paul is trying to break away and be his own person, but hes not sure how yet. Danny is terrified of losing Paul, but he cant see that his constant bossiness is driving his brother away. Its so clear that they love each other but dont know how to express that love in a healthy way. Paul drives away while Danny and Isaac sleep off their buzz. When they wake up, Danny realizes that Paul has taken his truck and the stolen goods in the back. Danny and Isaac drive to Vegas in Isaacs car to find Paul and use Find My Phone to track him down to a casino, but cant find him from there. Isaac convinces Danny to look for Paul while he gambles. Surprising no one, Isaac loses a bunch of money, and just as Danny tries to feed Isaac some food from the buffet, he spots Paul walking by, and a chase ensues. Paul runs to the top-floor penthouse suite he spent the night in with Amy, and Isaac and Danny follow, huffing, puffing, and struggling as they run up the stairs. Eventually, Isaac and Danny catch up to Paul in Amys penthouse suite (which Amy, mercifully, is not in), and things come to a head: Isaac roughs Paul up for not having respect; Paul says he doesnt want Dannys bad energy anymore; Danny slaps Paul, telling him he would be nothing without him. As Isaac and Danny take back the truck keys and leave Paul, they walk past Amy onstage, speaking on a business panel. As if by some magnetic force, Danny is sucked into the room. When the panel goes into its Q&A, he gets the mic and asks Amy what she would do if she were in a road-rage incident with someone in a white SUV. He details their saga of one-upping each other before Amy sics hotel security on them. Danny and Isaac are on the other end of a chase as they try to outrun the casino cops, only to end up getting caught and handcuffed. The last thing Danny sees is Amy, smugly grinning as she wags her finger at him. But Amys win might be undercut too; when Danny went off about his road-rage incident, Jordans sister-in-law Naomi, who seems insecure about being a stay-at-home mom compared to Amys working mom, had a look of dawning realization. Shes starting to put together that maybe the road-rage video she saw on NextDoor wasnt just an act by a random stranger. Beef Tips GIVE STEVE YEUN A ROLE IN A MUSICAL. Ive been a fan of his voice since Guillermo Del Toros Trollhunters, where Yeun voices a character named, well, Steve, but after listening to his cover of Incubus Drive, I would like more of his voice in every form everywhere, please. Back in college, I attended a Chinese house church for a while, which is to say the church scene in episode three resonated with me. The relationship between Asian Americans and Christianity is complicated, often related to histories of colonialism, while also being a real center of community and togetherness in the isolating American landscape. Danny saying he doesnt date white women unless theyre Italians because of the shared peninsula mentality made me laugh. Ive definitely heard similar sentiments from different members of the diaspora. (As a Japanese person, I must say the insular, uptight, emotionally repressed stereotype of British people feels very familiar. I do not want to date only British people, but trying to find parallel traits makes sense.) According to a study presented at the European Science Open Forum in Manchester, U.K. on Monday, the average Korean woman was just 142.2 cm tall in 1914 but now, a century later, measures 162.3 cm. The average Korean woman is 20.1 cm taller than 100 years ago, the biggest increase in height of any country in the world. Japanese women grew by the second biggest margin of 16 cm, followed by Czechs with 15.7 cm. Korean men also grew from 159.8 cm in 1914 to 174.9 cm two years ago, the third biggest increase after Iran (16.5 cm) and Greenland (15.4 cm). The study was conducted by some 800 health experts from around the world and the World Health Organization, who gathered 1,500 different types of data on 18.6 million adults from 200 countries and compared them to the same data in 1914. Koreans are 3 to 4 cm taller than people in China and Japan. The main reason for the growth spurt has been nutrition and improving health conditions on top of genetic factors, according to researchers. The country with the tallest men is the Netherlands at a strapping 182.5 cm, while Latvia has the tallest women at 169.8 cm. East Timor has the shortest men (159.8 cm) and Guatemala the shortest women (149.4 cm). Overall, people in Asia and the Middle East grew by the largest margin, but there was no very marked change in the U.S., Canada and Northern Europe. Height increases in the U.S. came to a standstill in the 1970s and started to go backward in the 2000s, according to the study. These include attacks with ransomware, where a computer is paralyzed and users are prompted to pay a ransom in cryptocurrency if they want their data back. Many victims pay up even though computers are never restored. North Korea is believed to have stolen more than US$1 billion in "cyber heists" using malware over the last two years, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas warned Tuesday. In written testimony he submitted Tuesday to the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, Mayorkas said, "In the last two years alone, North Korea has largely funded its weapons of mass destruction programs through cyber heists of cryptocurrencies and hard currencies totaling more than $1 billion." The North Korean regime has a dedicated hacking team including groups like Lazarus that steals cryptocurrencies to fund illegal development of weapons of mass destruction. "Hostile nations like Russia, [China], Iran, North Korea, and cybercriminals around the world continue to sharpen their tactics and create more adverse consequences," Mayorkas warned. "Their ransomware attacks target our financial institutions, hospitals, pipelines, electric grids, and water treatment plants, attempting to wreak havoc on our daily lives." Ransom demands in 2020 exceeded $1.4 billion in the U.S. alone, he added. "They exploit the integrated global cyber ecosystem to sow discord, undermine democracy, and erode trust in our institutions, public and private," he said. "These cyber operations threaten the economic and national security of every American, and many others around the world." Vatican Museums hosts Pieta sculptures until 6 January. Plaster casts of the three Pieta sculptures by Renaissance master Michelangelo are on display together in the Pinacoteca at the Vatican Museums from 7 April until 6 January 2024. The three "historic casts" portray the Pieta in St Peter's along with casts of the Bandini Pieta, from Florence's cathedral museum, and the Rondanini Pieta from the Vatican Museums. The display in the Vatican is the third and final part of an exhibition that saw the three casts displayed first at the Museo Dell'Opera del Duomo in Florence and then at the Palazzo Reale in Milan last year. The cast of the Bandini Pieta dates to around 1882, while the cast of the Rondanini Pieta was made in 1953. The plaster cast of the St Peter's Pieta was made in 1975, three years after the masterpiece was badly vandalised in the infamous attack by Laszlo Toth. Organisers say the display will allow viewers to study the evolution of Michelangelo's art over a period of more than half a century. A brief history The St Peter's Pieta dates to 14981499 and was completed when Michelangelo was aged just 24. The world-renowned work of art depicts the body of Jesus on the lap of his mother Mary after the Crucifixion. Michelangelo worked on the Bandini Pieta, also called The Deposition or The Lamentation over the Dead Christ, between 1547 and 1555 when he was in his 70s. It depicts Jesus after his descent from the cross, supported by the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene and an aged Nicodemus, who bears a resemblance to Michelangelo himself. The artist sculpted the Rondanini Pieta, his last work, from 1552 until the last days of his life, in 1564. The marble statue, which was left unfinished, is on display today at Milan's Castello Sforzesco. It depicts the mourning Virgin Mary struggling to hold the upright body of Jesus close to hers. The exhibition at the Pinacoteca is included in the Vatican Museums itinerary. Photo ANSA. Thousands of family members of the more than 20,000 Israelis killed in their countrys conflicts say Memorial Day has been tainted this year by politics. Asked how he felt as a teenager to miss out on Expo 88, comedian and architecture enthusiast Tim Ross laughs and says: I was peeved. Ross was 17 at the time, living in Victoria, and envied anyone and everyone who went to Brisbane for World Expo 88, the six-month international fair that arguably put Queenslands capital on the world stage for the first time. Expo 88 changed Brisbane culturally and physically. Credit: National Archives of Australia A couple of years beforehand, my family went on a holiday from Melbourne to Sydney but we had such a shit time so we never went on a holiday again, he said. But just as memories of Expo 88 linger in Brisbane, not to mention its physical legacy along the river, South Bank, the disappointment and unanswered curiosity has stayed with Ross. North Korean hackers stole about W160 billion worth of cryptocurrencies from the accounts of South Korean companies and individuals last year, intelligence authorities here said Monday (US$1=W1,253). About 1/10th of some W1.65 trillion worth of cryptocurrencies the North stole throughout the world last year is believed to have come from South Korea. The stolen money is believed to have been laundered to fund the regime's nuclear and missile development. In a recent report, U.S. blockchain firm Chainalysis said North Korea-linked hackers stole US$1.65 billion in cryptocurrencies last year, accounting for 43.4 percent of the total $3.8 billion worth that was stolen around the world last year and up nearly four times the amount from the previous year. This suggests that crypto theft now takes up a considerable part of the North Korean economy, given that its total exports amounted to just $142 million in 2020. A rare episode at a Parkes race meet in May 2021 previously investigated by stewards where two of Thompsons horses fatally broke down in the opening stages of separate races. Multiple instances, including on the morning of the December meeting, when Thompson called Racing NSW to say hed shot and disposed of critically injured horses at Gulgong because a vet wasnt available to euthanise them. The failure to promptly report all horse fatalities through proper channels. Frustration that his earlier request for local stewards to make inquiries into Thompsons racing operations had resulted in insufficient action. There was very clear evidence [at the time of the December meeting] that the trainer at Gulgong should be heavily investigated, said a source unable to speak publicly because of his employment within the racing industry. A post-mortem examination of Linas Choice conducted at the University of Sydneys school of veterinary science, internal NSW Racing communications and an expert report by Koenig, all obtained by The Age and the Herald, raise questions about whether the mare returned to work too early from a previous injury. Thompson declined to comment about his management of Linas Choice, saying the matter was before the coroner. Friends of Morel said Thompson thought of her as family and was devastated by her death. There is no suggestion that his actions, or those of Racing NSW, contributed to Morels death, or that her death would have been prevented had Koenigs concerns been properly acted on. The NSW coroner is conducting a preliminary inquiry into the death of Morel, the first jockey to die on a NSW racecourse in nearly five years, but no public hearings have been scheduled. Maria Morel, speaking from her home in the French alpine village of Chazey-sur-Ain, urged the coroner to establish a public inquest so witnesses could be called. We want to know the truth, she said. This wont bring back our daughter and wont change our grief, but if there really was negligence or fault, and its possible to prevent another tragic accident from occurring and if not, we will know that nothing could have foreseen or prevented it. The Australian Jockeys Association backed the call for a public inquest. The death of any jockey at work is a tragedy, said Kevin Ring, the associations national occupational health and safety officer. We would encourage the NSW coroner to schedule a public hearing, where all relevant facts can be considered to help prevent future deaths on our racetracks. Racing NSW chief executive Peter Vlandys said his organisation acted on any concerns expressed by Dr Koenig but declined to say what actions his stewards or integrity staff took. There is simply no basis to assert that the actions of Racing NSW have in any way contributed to the accident that resulted in this tragic death, Vlandys said. In September 2021, stewards questioned Thompson about the two horses that had died earlier in the year at Parkes and made no adverse finding against him, Racing Australia records show. Loading In May 2022, three months after Morel died, integrity staff inspected Thompsons training premises and examined his stable treatment records, medical dispensing records and veterinary records. That investigation resulted in Thompson being fined $7000 for failing to keep NSW Racing informed of the status and whereabouts of 65 horses, a dozen instances of failing to keep treatment records and a further breach of treatment protocols. Racing NSW provided no evidence to The Age and Herald that it examined Thompsons stable and veterinary records prior to Morels death. An internal Racing NSW email shows that Koenig raised with integrity staff the need to examine these records. Koenig is now employed by Racing South Australia as its industry regulatory vet and declined to comment for this story. Van Gestel, who has taken up a position with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, declined to comment. The Age and Herald are not suggesting that Vlandys was informed of Koenigs concerns before Morels death. Morel was an accomplished rider and passionate horsewoman. Growing up in the alpine town of Amberieu-en-Bugey, she rode ponies from the age of four and owned her first horse at the age of nine. She trained and competed as a national-level show jumper and worked in Paris as a track rider before she came to Australia on a holiday visa in 2014. The girl lived for animals, said the mother of Marina Morel, the first jockey to die on a NSW racetrack in almost five years. She literally fell in love with your country, to the point of applying for Australian citizenship, her mother, Maria, said. In December 2018, she came to visit us. This is the last time I held her in my arms. She was devoted to wellbeing and cared about the health of horses, and all the animals. All those who knew Marina would tell you that. The girl lived for animals. My life tumbled into infinite sorrow on February 8, 2022. I went there but my angel was no longer of this world. Auriane Teffaf met Morel in Paris and the pair quickly became inseparable. They travelled to Australia together and were planning to reunite at the time of Morels death. Marina had convinced me to move back to Australia. We were so freaking excited. We were going to grow old together just like Grace and Frankie, like we always said we would. The veterinary records of Linas Choice show that on March 8, 2021, an ultrasound examination confirmed a ruptured ligament in the horses right front leg. The advice of Dr Liam Ryan of the Mudgee Veterinary Hospital was for the horse to rest for 12 months. Koenigs report before the coroner notes that this advice was not followed. On December 15, nine months after the mares ligament injury was diagnosed, Linas Choice ran a 900-metre trial at the NSW town of Scone. The horse ran sluggishly and finished last. No follow-up examination appears to have been recorded or have been undertaken prior to the mare recommencing training, Koenig said in his report. The post-mortem examination revealed that the humerus bone in the left front leg a large bone just below the horses shoulder joint had shattered in multiple places. The examination also revealed clear evidence of a pre-existing pathology, where the bone had thickened in response to a previous stress fracture. The examination described the horses right forelimb as unremarkable. This suggests the tendon injury from March 2021 had fully healed. Koenig in his report said he could not rule out the possibility that returning to training too early after the ligament injury contributed to the stress on the horses opposite limb. A plaque at Gulgong racecourse commemorating Marina Morel. Witnesses at the Gulgong track on February 8, 2022, reported hearing a loud noise just before Linas Choice fell onto Morel. Thompson was only 20 metres away from where the horse and rider came down and told police and Racing NSW that he heard the horse clip its own heels before it fell to the turf. His account before the coroner is that the humerus was shattered by the impact of the horse ploughing into the track. He has secured an expert opinion from a prominent equine surgeon to support his view. This account is not consistent with the findings of Koenigs expert witness report. The report concludes it is more likely that an already weakened humerus, whether due to a pre-existing injury or over-training, shattered under the stress of galloping and caused the horse to collapse. Findings would indicate that it is unlikely the mare clipped heels, brought itself down and sustained an injury because of acute trauma in a fall, his report concluded. Instead, the fall encountered appears to be the result of failure of the nearside humerus as a result of fatigue and previous injury. A short time after Morels death, Koenig resigned as the organisations chief vet and general manager of veterinary services. Colleagues told The Age he expressed his dismay at the circumstances of Morels death and other issues, including the loss of experienced stewards from the organisation and a protracted pay dispute between the racing regulator and vets who work at the races. The second pillar was central to Duttons broadside against the government because he called for local and regional voices rather than the national body he dismissed as a Canberra Voice an argument and a catchphrase loaded with falsehood. Loading The third pillar is the policy idea the leader does not name: a legislated national Voice. Thats right: the party room was presented with a policy to set up a Voice that would operate at a national level and, you would have to guess, doing a lot of its work in Canberra. The idea was to support an alternative model to the government with a national Voice to be set up by law, with caveats on its power and clearly defined responsibilities. This would work with the local and regional bodies. Dutton condemned the Voice so thoroughly that he sounded wildly at odds with the written proposal. We shouldnt be voting for a divisive Canberra voice. Thats the issue. We should be listening to what people are saying on the ground, he said. Its a false contrast, inflated with shrill rhetoric. The key point is that Labor also supports regional voices. So, what is the policy? The Indigenous Australians spokesman Julian Leeser was not available on Thursday. Liberals say the talking points issued on Thursday morning from the leaders office only mention the local and regional voices, not the national one. Duttons office says he has announced the position. (There is no press release on the policy, only his transcripts). Loading The difference is ultimately about power and this is why neither side is playing games. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese believes First Australians should have the power to be heard. That means real power written into the Constitution. Dutton does not want Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to have the same power. That means curtailing their right to consultation, with all the overtones of the paternalism of the past. The choice for Australians is now about two contrasting approaches to reconciliation and Indigenous welfare. In fact, two utterly different visions for the nations future. But a gulf is opening among the Liberals, and Wyatts resignation proves it. Dutton has solid support from the conservative side of his party but is trying to enforce loyalty from all his colleagues which means he could push them until they snap. NSW senator Andrew Bragg and Tasmanian MP Bridget Archer were the most vocal in supporting the Voice in the meeting on Wednesday. Former minister Richard Colbeck, Victorian MP Russell Broadbent and NSW MP Jenny Ware spoke in favour of a free vote. Outside the party room, the supporters of the Voice include Tasmanian Liberal premier Jeremy Rockliff and his predecessor Peter Gutwein, as well as Western Australian Liberal leader Libby Mettam. Former NSW premier Dominic Perrottet has backed the Voice. This means Dutton does not speak for the wider Liberal Party and his No campaign will be a personal mission. His message will be countered by Liberals who vote yes. The parliamentary inquiry into the Voice is only a week old. It is not due to report until next month and could, in theory, create a forum to canvass changes to the draft wording that might gain support from more Liberals. If he chose, Albanese could negotiate amendments to win at least some Liberals and widen the divide in Duttons ranks. The polls suggest the prime minister does not need to do this, so everything depends on whether he believes the majority support for the Voice is holding firm. The smallest fracture in the most polished marble can easily turn into a gaping crack. All it takes is pressure. Some Liberals are frustrated at the rushed process and the confusion over the final position just as other Liberals were in August 2015 when Tony Abbott tried to enforce his will over same-sex marriage. He was toppled the following month. Dutton is in a stronger position than Abbott there is no Malcolm Turnbull waiting in the wings but he repeats Abbotts mistake in holding a snap meeting and then refusing to allow a free vote. This suits him but not his party. The lesson of recent history, from Howards time in power through to the marriage equality debate, is that a conscience vote can release the pressure inside the party room. A binding vote only bottles it up. Watch for the cracks. What in the World, a free weekly newsletter from our foreign correspondents, is sent every Thursday. Below is an excerpt. Sign up to get the whole newsletter delivered to your inbox. Singapore: As the Australian government was busy banning TikTok from all government devices this week, the Chinese social media apps parent company was busy collecting money. A man walks past a display for Douyin, the Chinese version of video-sharing app TikTok. Credit: AP ByteDances revenue surged more than 30 per cent to more than $US80 billion ($118 billion) in 2022, according to an investor memo seen by Bloomberg. The galloping expansion has not just been driven by TikTok, but also by its Chinese equivalent, Douyin, which is now diversifying into food delivery, e-commerce and ride-hailing services, and taking on the might of other local tech giants Tencent and Alibaba. Panuelo has been a vocal critic of Beijing. Last month, he wrote to Micronesia's legislature accusing China of spying, bribing local politicians and attempting to subvert the nation's sovereignty. His government is investigating allegations from the outgoing president of the Federated States of Micronesia, David Panuelo, that Chinese agents followed him during a recent trip to Fiji. Rabuka became Fiji's prime minister for the third time last December. He led two military coups in the South Pacific nation in 1987 and led the country in the 1990s. Fiji's prime minster has raised concerns about allegations of Chinese espionage. Sitiveni Rabuka is investigating claims that the Chinese government spied on a senior Pacific leader while he was visiting Fiji. Speaking to the Australian Broadcasting Corp's The Pacific program, Rabuka stressed the allegations of espionage in Fiji were not yet proven, but they were being taken seriously. "For someone to feel threatened by another power while in the dominion of Fiji, is almost a slap in the face," Rabuka said. "So, we need to be sure that actually happened and if it did happen how do we address it?" There has been no response so far to the allegations from China. It has had bilateral security and policing agreements with Fiji for more than a decade. But Rabuka has continued his predecessor's gradual diplomatic shift away from Beijing. Earlier this year he canceled a key law enforcement accord with China because of differences between the two countries' legal systems. Rabuka told Australian media that Beijing should continue to be a "development partner" in Fiji. In 2022, China signed a security accord with Solomon Islands, a strategically located, mostly Melanesian chain of islands northeast of Australia. China failed to persuade other nations to join a broader region accord, but Australia and its allies are concerned about Beijing's military and diplomatic ambitions in the South Pacific. Australia has intensified its efforts in the region in the past year since the election of a center-left government in Canberra. Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong conceded that Pacific leaders had been "ignored" and "disrespected" by Australia in the past. Echoing the concerns of Pacific leaders, Wong said that climate change was an 'existential threat' to the island nations. That route was shut down late last month with the announcement that the Safe Third Country Agreement would now apply to the entire 8,891-km border. The decision provided some relief to authorities charged with caring for the asylum-seekers in Quebec but angered supporters of liberal asylum laws in Canada. But until now, asylum-seekers could not be turned back if they entered the other country between official border points, prompting tens of thousands of irregular crossings every year. A rural site on the border between New York state and Quebec, known as Roxham Road, saw 5,000 such crossings in a single month in January. The deal, announced last month, amended the Safe Third Country Agreement, which has long permitted border authorities of either country to turn back asylum-seekers presenting themselves at official border crossings. Backers of the agreement argue that individuals facing a legitimate threat in their homelands should request asylum in the first safe country they arrive at. The deaths of the eight, including two young children with Canadian passports, have given credence to warnings from critics of the U.S.-Canada agreement that the deal would simply force asylum claimants to seek riskier and more remote ways to cross the frontier. The Canadian government is being forced to defend an agreement making it harder for asylum-seekers to cross between the United States and Canada after eight people died last week while attempting a border crossing by boat across the St. Lawrence River. The new rule creates severe obstacles for asylum-seekers, charged Al Parsai, an immigration services consultant in Toronto, where dozens of people protested outside the offices of the Canadian Public Safety Minister on Tuesday. Asylum-seekers "will be sent back to the United States, where they could face deportation," Parsai told VOA. "Of course, some may still have a chance in the U.S., but most will enter the realm of uncertainty." He predicted that with the new rule, many refugees who manage to cross into Canada surreptitiously will try to get as deep into the country as possible and then wait and apply for refugee status later. "I'm not sure how practical their approach is, but it appears they try to move to Canada and probably stay there for a while and then file an inland refugee claim," Parsai said. "We have to wait and see how this approach unfolds, though." Alex Neve, a University of Ottawa fellow and one of Canada's top human rights scholars, told VOA the new regulation "is cruel and irresponsible, disregards international obligations, puts people at grave risk and, ultimately, is unworkable and unrealistic." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was quoted earlier this week describing the deaths on the St. Lawrence as a "tragedy" but arguing that the new rule is needed to maintain public confidence in Canada's immigration system. "When people take risks to cross our borders in an irregular fashion or if they pay criminals to get them across the border, this isn't a system we can have confidence in," he said while speaking in French in Val-d'Or, Quebec, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. The amended U.S.-Canada agreement includes a promise by Canada to accept 15,000 refugees a year through "regular channels" from Central and South America, a provision seen as intended to help the U.S. administration with its backlog of migrants at its southern border. However, it remains unclear how or from where those individuals will be able to apply for asylum, and in any case the provision is of little comfort to many of the migrants seeking to enter Canada who come from Asia, Africa and the Middle East. "The Trudeau government promised to create 15,000 more slots for migrants arriving from elsewhere in the Western Hemisphere," said Idil Atak, an associate law professor at Toronto Metropolitan University. "However, according to the Immigration and Refugee Board statistics, the majority of asylum-seekers who crossed the border irregularly between 2017 and 2023 were from non-Western Hemisphere countries, including Nigeria, Pakistan, Angola and Sudan," she told VOA. "The deal is discriminatory as it prevents many asylum-seekers from accessing international protection." Weber State announces 2023 Brady Distinguished Professors April 7, 2023 OGDEN, Utah Three faculty members have been named Weber State Universitys 2023 Brady Presidential Distinguished Professors, representing the fields of radiological sciences, psychology and electrical computer engineering. The honor was established in 2006 to recognize WSU professors who demonstrate the highest quality teaching, scholarship, research and community service. A generous gift from Rodney and Carolyn Mitzi Brady made recognition funding possible. The late Rodney Brady served as WSU president from 1978 to 1985. Robert Bob J. Walker Through 40 years of dedicated service to Weber State, radiologic sciences professor Bob Walker has demonstrated his commitment to students, peers and the university through impeccable instruction and teaching; scholarship and service; and dedication to equity, diversity and inclusion. His accomplishments include renaming the radiologic sciences department to the School of Radiologic Sciences, establishing the seventh Master of Science in Radiologic Sciences degree program in the country at WSU, and building one of the first 3D reconstruction and hard modeling labs for medical imaging technologists. Walker also helped develop a limited license to full certification Weber State program in Arizona, which enrolls first-generation college students, single parents and predominantly underserved populations. Honors include being named the inaugural Dumke Endowed Chair in 2014, Dumke College of Health Professions Teacher of the Year in 2018, and Fellow of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists in 1992. Nationally, Walker was the youngest elected president of ASRT in 1992, which also earned him the distinction of the only person to be elected president from Utah. Walker celebrates the commitment of his fellow faculty members and staff in their joint effort to develop and deliver radiological sciences education around the world. The School of Radiologic Sciences holds a coveted top three program ranking at WSU for its number of graduates. The school saw a 34% enrollment increase this year alone. Leigh Shaw For over a decade at WSU, psychology professor Leigh Shaw has actively engaged students by promoting their natural curiosity and desire to learn. She is at her best when explaining to students the deeper conceptual issues in what appear to be everyday phenomena. Shaw is skilled in helping students recognize and appreciate the value of psychology in life and gets them excited about the discipline. Through this pedagogy, Shaw fosters students understanding of psychological theories, concepts and research, along with their ability to think like scientific psychologists. Her teaching style is so infectious that students hurry to register for her classes before they fill up. Shaws scholarship continues to be in demand as publishers, conferences and journals seek her review. Alone, she produced 75 papers, presentations and successful grant applications with students. Shaw has a passion for ensuring her students excel in general education coursework. Under her leadership as director of general education, the interdisciplinary WSU Course Program was developed, piloted and approved as a permanent addition at the university. She helped make Utah System of Higher Education history when collaborating with department chairs, college advisors and the Office of the Registrar to create a review process for transfer students general education petitions the first of its kind at a USHE institution. She personally reviewed hundreds of petitions, enabling transfer students to earn attributes for courses that did not transfer as general education, making their road to completion less rocky. Justin Jackson Electrical computer engineering professor Justin Jackson is lauded by students for his vast knowledge base, effective communication of course concepts, flexibility in course delivery and a willingness to help students succeed. He has supervised 29 senior projects, advised four graduate student projects and served on three graduate students committees. Jackson was instrumental in developing the Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering and helped designed the four-year plan for the degree, along with required and elective course options. In collaboration with his colleagues, he developed and designed the two-year plan for the Master of Science in Computer Engineering and Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and designed the four-year plan for the Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering. He also developed two new graduate courses to support the Master of Science in Computer Engineering and helped advance an innovation center at Hill Air Force Base in collaboration with Lockheed Martin, Weber State and Hill. One of the highlights of Jacksons 16-year tenure at WSU was working with the legislature to create the electronic engineering program. His current research includes software-defined radio, printed semiconductor materials, and very-large scale integrated circuit design. He currently works with undergraduate and graduate students on projects in these areas, including the development of networking protocol discrimination techniques in SDR for antenna characterization and 3D printed solar cells. Beyond academia, Jackson serves as a technical advisor for an elementary schools vex robotics team and as a recruiter for engineering programs at several area high schools, Salt Lake Community College and Hill Air Force Base. SAN DIEGO (AP) A federal regulatory group voted Thursday to officially close king salmon fishing season along much of the West Coast after near-record low numbers of the fish, also known as chinook, returned to Californias rivers last year. The Pacific Fishery Management Council approved the closure of the 2023 season for all commercial and most recreational chinook fishing along the coast from Cape Falcon in northern Oregon to the California-Mexico border. Limited recreational salmon fishing will be allowed off southern Oregon in the fall. The forecasts for Chinook returning to California rivers this year are near record lows, Council Chair Marc Gorelnik said after the vote in a news release. The poor conditions in the freshwater environment that contributed to these low forecasted returns are unfortunately not something that the Council can, or has authority to, control. Biologists say the chinook salmon population has declined dramatically after years of drought. Many in the fishing industry say Trump-era rules that allowed more water to be diverted from the Sacramento River Basin to agriculture caused even more harm. The closure applies to adult fall-run chinook and deals a blow to the Pacific Northwests salmon fishing industry. Much of the salmon caught off Oregon originate in Californias Klamath and Sacramento rivers. After hatching in freshwater, they spend three years on average maturing in the Pacific, where many are snagged by commercial fishermen, before migrating back to their spawning grounds, where conditions are more ideal to give birth. After laying eggs, they die. The council is an advisory group to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, which makes the final decision, but historically has followed the councils rulings. The secretarys decision will be posted in the Federal Register within days. Experts fear native California salmon are in a spiral toward extinction. Already Californias spring-run chinook are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, while winter-run chinook are endangered along with the Central California Coast coho salmon, which has been off-limits to California commercial fishers since the 1990s. Recreational fishing is expected to be allowed in Oregon only for coho salmon during the summer and for chinook after Sept. 1. Salmon season is expected to open as usual north of Cape Falcon, including in the Columbia River and off Washingtons coast. Though the closure will affect tens of thousands of jobs, few are opposed to it. Many fishers say they want to take action now to guarantee healthy stocks in the future. They hope the unusually wet winter in California that has mostly freed the state of drought will bring relief. An unprecedented series of powerful storms has replenished most of Californias reservoirs, dumping record amounts of rain and snow and busting a severe three-year drought. But too much water running through the rivers could kills eggs and young hatchlings. ___ Baumann reported from Bellingham, Washington. SHARE: WASHINGTON (AP) The Senates top two leaders demanded on Friday that Russia immediately release Evan Gershkovich in a rare bipartisan statement that condemned the detention of the Wall Street Journal reporter and declared that journalism is not a crime. The statement from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., comes as the United States is working to swiftly end what it calls the unlawful detention of Gershkovich, the first journalist to be held on alleged espionage since the Cold War. We strongly condemn the wrongful detention of U.S. citizen and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, and demand the immediate release of this internationally known and respected independent journalist, Schumer and McConnell said. They said Gershkovich was accredited by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work as a journalist in Russia and Russian authorities have failed to present any credible evidence to justify their fabricated charges. Schumer and McConnell wrote: Let there be no mistake: journalism is not a crime. U.S. officials are working for the release of Gershkovich, 31, who was arrested late last month and was being held in a Moscow prison. The son of immigrants from the Soviet Union, he grew up speaking Russian at home in Princeton, New Jersey. Russias top security agency said Gershkovich was trying to obtain classified information about a Russian arms factory. Gershkovich has been formally charged with espionage in Russia and has entered his official denial, Russian state news agency Tass reported Friday. President Joe Biden told reporters last Friday that his message to Russia was: Let him go. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday he has no doubt that Russia has wrongfully detained Gershkovich. On Thursday, the U.S. ambassador to Russia, Lynne T. Tracy, and Russias deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, met to discuss the situation. The Wall Street Journal has adamantly denied the allegations against Gershkovich and demanded his release. The Senate leaders said the U.S. Embassy has been denied consular access against standard diplomatic practice and likely in violation of international law. Schumer and McConnell also said that Russia has a long history of unjustly detaining U.S. citizens, and called for the release of another American, Paul Whelan. Whelan, a Michigan corporate security executive, has been imprisoned in Russia since December 2018 on espionage charges that his family and the U.S. government have said are baseless. He is serving a 16-year sentence. SHARE: Kim Sun-young claimed the best actress award for her role in "Dream Palace" at this year's Asian Film Festival in Rome, Italy on Wednesday. The festival, in its 20th year, screened 32 Asian films during its seven-day run, which ended on Wednesday. "Dream Palace," directed by Ka Sung-moon, tells the story of a woman who loses her husband in an accident and moves into a newly built apartment complex hoping for a fresh start, only to become embroiled in a new dispute. The judges heaped praise on Kim's commitment to the role and ability to carry the movie on her shoulders. Kim debuted as a theater actress in 1995 and gained prominence after appearing in cable channel tvN's hugely popular soap "Reply 1988," which aired in 2016. She has since actively worked on TV and film projects. "Dream Palace," which was premiered at the Busan International Film Festival last year, is set to hit local theaters before July. Allentown, PA (18103) Today Sunshine mixing with clouds and rather cool again. High 58F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low 34F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. SAN DIEGO (AP) California officials want federal disaster aid for the state's salmon fishing industry, they said Friday following the closure of recreational and commercial king salmon fishing seasons along much of the West Coast due to near-record low numbers of the iconic fish returning to their spawning grounds. Dealing a blow to the salmon fishing industry, the Pacific Fishery Management Council unanimously approved the closure Thursday for fall-run chinook fishing from Cape Falcon in northern Oregon to the California-Mexico border. Limited recreational salmon fishing will be allowed off southern Oregon in the fall. Much of the salmon caught off Oregon originate in Californias Klamath and Sacramento rivers. After hatching in freshwater, they spend an average of three years maturing in the Pacific, where many are snagged by commercial fishermen, before migrating back to their spawning grounds, where conditions are more ideal to give birth. After laying eggs, they die. The forecasts for chinook returning to California rivers this year are near record lows, Council Chair Marc Gorelnik said after the vote in a news release. The poor conditions in the freshwater environment that contributed to these low forecasted returns are unfortunately not something that the Council can or has authority to control." Biologists say the chinook population has declined dramatically after years of drought. Many in the fishing industry say a rollback of federal protections for endangered salmon under the Trump administration allowed more water to be diverted from the Sacramento River Basin to agriculture, causing even more harm. The fact is that just too many salmon eggs and juvenile salmon died in the rivers in 2020 as a direct result of politically driven, short-sighted water management policies, under the prior federal administration, to maximize irrigation river water deliveries during a major drought," said Glen Spain, acting executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermens Associations. Unfortunately, this purely politically driven mistake will cost our fishing-dependent coastal communities dearly. California fishing industry representatives and elected leaders said federal aid must be released quickly and efforts need to be ramped up to restore salmon habitat in California rivers with better water management, and the removal of dams and other barriers. We have to make sure that the policies and practices and the rest are not such that they are defying the evolutionary progress of salmon, U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi said Friday, speaking in San Francisco in the rain, surrounded by fishers who spoke of their concerns about making ends meet during the closure. The Democratic congresswoman, whose district includes the San Francisco Bay area, pledged to push for the Biden administration to act quickly on the state's request to declare the situation a fishery resource disaster, the first step toward a disaster assistance bill that must be approved by Congress. In a letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo seeking the declaration, the California governor's office stated that the projected loss of the 2023 season is over $45 million and that does not include the full impact to coastal communities and inland salmon fisheries. Californias salmon industry is valued at $1.4 billion in economic activity and 23,000 jobs annually in a normal season and contributes about $700 million to the economy and supports more than 10,000 jobs in Oregon, according to the Golden State Salmon Association. There's a lot of fear and panic all up and down the coast with families trying to figure out how they're going to pay the bills this year," said John McManus, the groups senior policy director. Experts fear native California salmon are in a spiral toward extinction. Already, Californias spring-run chinook are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, while winter-run chinook are endangered along with the Central California Coast coho salmon, which has been off-limits to California commercial fishers since the 1990s. Recreational fishing is expected to be allowed in Oregon only for coho salmon during the summer and for chinook after Sept. 1. Salmon season is expected to open as usual north of Cape Falcon, including in the Columbia River and off Washingtons coast. There's some hope that the unusually wet winter in California, which has mostly freed the state of drought, will bring relief. An unprecedented series of powerful storms has replenished most of Californias reservoirs, dumping record amounts of rain and snow and busting a severe three-year drought. But too much water running through the rivers could also kill eggs and young hatchlings. Baumann reported from Bellingham, Washington. READING, Pa. - Organizations from across Pennsylvania will come together in Reading Friday to talk about keeping the Latino community healthy. The theme of this year's Latino Health summit is 'Restoring and Transforming Health in Our Communities.' The event is an opportunity for professionals in health care, social services, and public health to learn from and network with like-minded colleagues. The summit takes place at the DoubleTree Hotel. JEFFERSON TWP., Pa. - On the outside it looks like your typical school bus. "I was home for awhile my husband said 'you have to do something, you've got to do something,' said Lio Colon. And I said 'well, I'm cooking' and he said 'what if we get a school bus or something?'" But once you step aboard the yellow bus parked outside Reifsnyder's Ag Center off Route 183 in Jefferson Township, youre treated to a lesson in homemade Puerto Rican food. "Kids, they love it. OMG, you took a school bus, Colon said. "Puerto Rican is a tradition and we wanna keep it going." With downtime during the pandemic, Lio Colon and her husband got to work. "We took all the chairs and seats out. He gutted the entire thing, she said. It's not just a converted school bus but something that carries Lio's dreams, and the memory of her mother. "She would love it. She would be happy. She would be here, Colon said. Along with the memory of her late mother, this former R.M. Palmer Company employee is also remembering her former co-workers tragically taken too soon in last month's explosion in West Reading. "Domingo Cruz, I got him hired. He was an awesome person, Colon said. "Sue, she was awesome. She was the best plant manager you could have. She lived for Palmer's. It's devastating that this happened and to all the people that are still there, you know, prayers go out to everybody." Through her unique, mobile kitchen Lio keeps the memory of those lost close, and continues making her dream a reality. Even though you're not there you still have this connection. Somehow, you know, Colon said. The Lytes seem to be fading on the Lyte Sky Lantern Festival. The festival is now officially not happening in Allentown this weekend, and the organizers appear to be doing damage control. After initially listing their location on Facebook as the Allentown Fairgrounds, five hours after our story aired, it simply said "the Poconos." They posted a message blaming Facebook for the location mix-up, and said an email would be sent to customers with further details. We got forwarded that email, and it still didn't have a location, but it did have an apologetic message announcing the festival has been postponed due to high wind and potential rain. Our WFMZ forecast for Allentown and the Poconos shows a zero percent chance of precipitation Saturday. Liam Marsh, who we talked with on Thursday, said he thinks it's all part of the scam. "The tickets never expire, so they could continue to kick the can down the road for as long as possible," said Marsh. Marsh is currently working with his credit card company to get his money back. He and his mother bought several tickets. "We're in about $450 now," said Marsh when we spoke with him on Thursday. Regardless if he gets a refund or not, Marsh said he wants to make sure no one else buys a ticket. "We created a series of events on Eventbrite to market this as a scam and hopefully get people to stop purchasing tickets. We've also gone as far as reaching out to the Attorney Generals for the other locations and cities where this event is going to be hosted," said Marsh. Eventbrite responded, pulling down the event page for Allentown. Now, you just get a message saying it's unavailable. Marsh said it's a good start, but he also wants the people behind the festival to be held accountable. "I was just a victim of this particular scam, and hopefully we can get enough notoriety to where someone can step in and it doesn't happen to anybody else," said Marsh. We were told on Thursday by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office that they couldn't confirm if they were officially looking into the Lyte Festival. We also still have not heard from the people behind the festival, and judging by the Facebook comments, we're not the only ones who want a word with them. North Korean hackers stole an estimated US$630 million to $1 billion of cryptocurrencies last year, according to a Panel of Experts report by the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee on North Korea on Wednesday. "The variation in [U.S. dollar] value of cryptocurrency in recent months is likely to have affected these estimates, but both show that 2022 was a record-breaking year for [North Korean] virtual asset theft." The 487-page report elaborates how the North evaded international sanctions and carried out cyberattacks. It estimates that the North's "cybercrime yielded cyber currencies worth over $1 billion at the time of the threat, which is more than double the total proceeds in 2021." North Korea used the stolen money to fund its development of nuclear weapons and unprecedented flurry of missile launches. Cyberattacks were carried out by hacker groups such as Kimsuky and Lazarus Group controlled by the North's Reconnaissance General Bureau. The North "used increasingly sophisticated cyber techniques both to gain access to digital networks involved in cyber finance and to steal information of potential value," the report says. "Initial contacts with individuals were made via LinkedIn, and once a level of trust with the targets was established, malicious payloads were delivered through continued communications over WhatsApp." The cyberattacks targeted defense, energy and infrastructure firms or their employees. The panel is also investigating cyber espionage activities against Ukraine, which is under attack from Russia. The panel warns that loopholes still exist that allowed the North to carry refined oil and coal and exported military equipment to Africa on 20 old ships it illegally acquired since 2020. Pyongyang is allowed to import only up to 500,000 barrels of oil products per year but in fact bought an estimated 792,383 barrels of refined oil through Nampo port on 45 occasions from January to August last year. EASTON, Pa. Developer Lou Pektor won a five-year extension Thursday for a tax break for his River Pointe Logistics development in Upper Mount Bethel Township. Northampton County Council approved the so-called LERTA for the 800-acre industrial project by a 6-3 vote, after a confusing series of votes, motions and attempts to delay a vote. County Executive Lamont McClure immediately vowed to veto the LERTA, which stands for Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance. The Pennsylvania program allows counties, towns and school districts to provide a property-tax break on new construction that declines and then expires over a decade. The goal is to cut costs now to spur development and build a tax base. The nine-member council can pass an ordinance with five votes, and six votes override a veto by the executive. McClure would have to sway one "yes" vote for his veto to stand. Much of the discussion during the three-hour meeting was about warehouses, a use Pektor says he does not favor at River Pointe Logistics, or RPL. Some opponents said Thursday that they expect big warehouses to dominate the tract of land along the Delaware River. "We do not need any more warehouses," McClure said after the decision, explaining his veto. When asked if he could turn a vote to block the LERTA, he said, "Well, we'll see." Councilmembers voting in favor of the LERTA were Thomas Giovanni, John Goffredo, Vice President Ron Heckman, President Kerry Myers, Lori Vargo Heffner and John Brown. Opposed were Kevin Lott, Tara Zrinski and John Cusick. Cusick had earlier floated the idea of applying the tax break only to the formerly industrial part of the site, not green space, but the Cusick compromise was not voted on. After about 90 minutes of public comment on River Pointe, pro and con, McClure surprised council with a suggestion that the vote be delayed while he and Pektor negotiated a LERTA that stipulated only manufacturing sites not warehouses would get the county tax break. "I think it's a fair compromise," Pektor responded. A council vote to delay a final decision, pending a McClure-Pektor agreement, failed. After the meeting, Pektor said what he has said all along: The LERTA will help bring in manufacturers, not warehouses. He mentioned food and flavoring companies as candidates for RPL. The tax break is a weapon in the battle for good jobs, he said. Manufacturing buildings cost more to construct than warehouses, making incentives important in the competition with Pennsylvania's neighbor across the river. "It (the LERTA) is necessary for us to complete, particularly with New Jersey," he said. "New Jersey fights to keep its best tenants." The Bangor Area School District and the township have also approved LERTAs for River Pointe. Pektor said he wants manufacturing at RPL because it is the best use for the land, which has water, power, rail and road access, and on top of that, it will be the most profitable use. Pektor said his project has been in the works for years, and it was "disappointing" to have to go through the LERTA renewal process just as RPL is negotiating with potential tenants. The RPL team has said the development will create thousands of jobs and generate millions of dollars in tax revenue for the county, township and the Bangor Area schools. Twenty-two people shared their thoughts about River Pointe during the public comment portion of the meeting, with several in favor. At earlier meetings, most comments were against. The conversation was heated at times, and a woman went to the podium to tell President Myers that one member of the audience said "FU" to another. Myers asked the audience to show respect for all speakers. Opponents of the project said LERTA breaks should be applied to former industrial land, not open space. A hardcore band of detractors have gone to many public meetings, saying RPL will damage roads, pollute the Delaware River and end their rural quality of life. "We're going to be ending up with warehouses," said Charles Cole, one of the most persistent opponents. Martin Pinter, chairman of the Upper Mount Bethel Board of Supervisors, cited data to back his support of RPL. He said 35% of students in the Bangor Area School District are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches, 84% of township land is preserved or otherwise shielded from paying full property taxes, and the township's population is falling. Many workers have to commute long distances, he said. "We need better employment opportunities," Pinter said. Christopher Finan Jr., chief of the Mount Bethel Volunteer Fire Company, and Dan Cole, assistant chief of the North Bangor Fire Company, both said the development will help finance emergency services. A representative of Lamtec Corp., a maker of insulation that operates near the RPL site, said an ambulance can take as long as 30 minutes to reach its plant. The company supported the LERTA extension. On the con side, Sharon Duffield of Upper Mount Bethel asked council, "Think of the people who live there." Commissioner Heckman (councilmembers are known as commissioners) said council was getting bogged down in zoning issues, which are a township, not county, responsibility. He also said he would be guided by how Giovanni and Goffredo, both from the northern tier of the county, known as the Slate Belt, voted. "It's needed up there," Giovanni said, pointing to the tax burden on senior residents. "The people I went to school with are gone," Goffredo said. He characterized the opponents are mostly older, retired people. Commissioner Brown, who also has roots in the northern tier of the county, spoke in favor of the LERTA, without delay or compromise, throughout the meeting. Commissioner Vargo Heffner said there was no reason to change what was supposed to be a 10-year plan all along. The final vote was held after council Solicitor Chris Spadoni and Clerk Linda Zembo discussed the procedure after multiple motions were made or discussed. Commissioner Zrinski was accused of lying about RPL on the "Business Matters" television show. She disputed that. "We are not liars, we are not charlatans," she said. After McClure's veto is officially sent to council, the commissioners will vote on it at a future meeting. The next council meeting will be April 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the county government center in Easton. The agenda for that meeting will be posted at least 24 hours in advance. ALLENTOWN, Pa. - People traveling to Allentown this weekend for the Lyte Sky Lantern Festival might need to change their plans. The Allentown Fairgrounds and the city tell us they have nothing scheduled, and have never communicated with the company behind it. On the company's website, the Lyte Festival looks like an event to remember, with paper lanterns filling the night sky. The festival was advertised on social media, and the Facebook event says it's going to be at the Fairgrounds starting at 4 p.m. on Saturday. There's only one problem. "This Lyte Festival is not happening," said Jessica Ciecwisz, spokesperson for the Allentown Fairgrounds. "Nothing will be hosted on the Fairgrounds this weekend." The Fairgrounds started getting several calls about the Lyte Festival earlier this week. One of them was from Liam Marsh. "The leasing manager told us that there was no events planned. He had had numerous other phone calls asking about events," said Marsh. Marsh said he and his mother Cindy bought several tickets to the Lyte Festival, plus parking. "We're in about $450 now," said Marsh. Tickets are still for sale on the website EventBrite. They're going for $65 for adults, $35 for kids, and $20 for parking. "I'm not sure how many people might be showing up to the Allentown Fairgrounds, but it seems like it could be quite a few that are very disappointed," said Cindy Marsh. The Marshes are trying to get their money back, but they also want to warn others. "We're just hoping to get some news out there and hope that people don't do this again, and there can be some kind of a shut down, because the lantern festival company does this all across the country," said Liam Marsh. On its website, the Lyte Festival shows it's planned right now in 15 other cities in the U.S., but the events don't list a specific venue, saying they'll announce them to ticket holders at a later date. The Marshes hope they can get this stopped for good. "It just seems strange that it's allowed to continue on, where this company has all of this activity and it actually hasn't been shut down nationally, because a lot of people are getting scammed out of money," said Cindy Marsh. The only way to communicate with the Lyte Festival is through an email listed on their website. It says it takes them three to five days to respond, and so far we haven't heard back. We also reached out to the Attorney General's office, but they couldn't confirm if they are actually investigating the company. The Fairgrounds said, if you ever want to know if an event is legit, check their website. If it's not on their calendar, the Fairgrounds says it's not happening. If you feel like you have been a victim of a scam, the Attorney General's office says to file a complaint with their Bureau of Consumer Protection online, by phone at 1-800-441-2555, or by email at scams@attorneygeneral.gov. WASHINGTON, D.C. - A federal appeals court is weighing in on the fate of a former cop from Lebanon County. The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that Joseph Fischer can be charged with obstruction for his part in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Authorities say Fischer, who had worked for the North Cornall Township Police Department in Lebanon County before his 2021 arrest, charged a line of police officers at the Capitol during the riot. Fischers seven-count indictment charges him with assaulting both Capitol Police and D.C. Metropolitain Police officers. The question raised in the case is whether individuals who allegedly assaulted law enforcement officers while participating in the Capitol riot can be charged with corruptly obstructing, influencing or impeding an official proceeding. 3:49 Lebanon-area officer charged in riot at US Capitol Authorities said North Cornwall Township Ofc. Joseph Fischer posted a video of himself entering the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. The appeals ruling clears the way for the U.S. Department of Justice to continue filing felony obstruction charges against people accused of participating in the deadly siege. A Trump-appointed judge had previously blocked the charge. The appeals court overruled, saying the statute applies to "assaultive conduct" that furthered an attempt to stop Congress from performing a Constitutional duty. The maximum sentence for obstruction is 20 years. The case can be appealed. HORSHAM, Pa. - The Montgomery County District Attorney said no criminal charges will be filed after a deadly shooting at a cemetery in Horsham. The March 18, 2023 shooting left one man dead and another man suffering from serious injuries. Daniel Hawkins, 29, of Philadelphia, was shot and killed in self-defense, the DA's office said. Horsham Police were sent to Whitemarsh Memorial Park, at 1169 Limekiln Pike, after receiving multiple 911 calls reporting shots fired, according to the DA's office. Police found Hawkins dead in a grassy area inside the cemetery, with a Glock 27, .40 caliber handgun found in close proximity to his body, the DA's office said. A second shooting victim, 33-year-old Arian Davis of Philadelphia, had been transported to Abington Hospital by private vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds to his jaw, hand and leg, according to the news release. The DA's office says more than 30 fired cartridge casings were recovered at the scene. A joint investigation into the deadly shooting was launched by Horsham Township Police and Montgomery County Detectives. The investigation found that the Glock firearm recovered next to Hawkins body had an extended magazine and had been altered to add a device, known as a switch, that converted the handgun into a fully automatic weapon, according to the DA's office. Hawkins was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior felony convictions, authorities said. Hawkins body was found near a Jeep Grand Cherokee bearing a fraudulent temporary license plate, which Hawkins had driven alone to the cemetery, according to several witnesses. Detectives found that the vehicle had recently been reported stolen to Philadelphia Police, the DA's office said. The investigation found that Davis and others had come to the cemetery to celebrate the birthday of a deceased friend, who had been killed in Norristown in 2013. As Davis and a friend were seated in the car they arrived in, Hawkins approached and began shooting into the vehicle at Davis, whom he knew, with his illegally altered firearm firing in fully automatic mode, the DA's office said. In response, Davis returned gunfire with his firearm, striking and killing Hawkins, according to the DA's office. The DA's office says Davis possessed a legally purchased firearm and had a valid conceal carry permit. "There is no doubt about who shot and killed Hawkins, so the legal issue to be analyzed is whether this was a justifiable killing. To be justified in his shooting of Hawkins, the shooter had to be in reasonable fear of death or serious bodily injury. Evidence shows that Hawkins approached Davis vehicle and began firing multiple rounds at him using a firearm that was illegally altered to fire rapidly. Bullets struck Davis in multiple parts of his body before he fired back, striking Hawkins and killing him, said District Attorney Kevin Steele. Davis was under attack and in danger of being killed when he fired his legally owned weapon to end the threat. For these reasons, I conclude that this was a justifiable shooting, and therefore, no criminal charges are warranted. TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) China retaliated for the United States House speaker's meeting with the Taiwanese president by announcing sanctions Friday against the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and other organizations, adding to strains over the self-governed island democracy Beijing claims as part of its territory. Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy held talks Wednesday with President Tsai Ing-wen at the Reagan library in Simi Valley, California, in defiance of Chinese warnings. McCarthy joined a growing series of foreign legislators who have met Tsai in a show of support for Taiwan in the face of Chinese intimidation. U.S.-Chinese relations have sunk to their lowest level in decades due to disputes over the status of Taiwan, which split with China in 1949 after a civil war, as well as security, technology and Beijing's treatment of Hong Kong and Muslim ethnic minorities. The mainland's ruling Communist Party says Taiwan is destined to reunite with China, by force if necessary, and has no right to conduct foreign relations. President Xi Jinping's government says contact with foreign officials will encourage Taiwanese who want formal independence, a step Beijing says would lead to war. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the Reagan library and the Hudson Institute, a Washington think tank, were sanctioned for providing a platform and convenience to Taiwan separatist activities. It said Chinese institutions were prohibited from having any cooperation or contact with them. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute is proud of its decision to host a bipartisan meeting between Members of the United States House of Representatives, led by Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and Tsai Ing-wen, the President of Taiwan, and her delegation, said a statement Friday by David Trulio, president and CEO of the foundation, which sustains the library. We will not shy away from living up to President Reagans expectation that the library bearing his name be a dynamic intellectual forum, he said. Hudson Institute President John P. Walters said in a statement that China's Communist Party "has a long history of attempting to silence voices, domestically and abroad, that oppose its international aggression and its oppression of the Chinese people. It has not worked before and it will not work now. We stand firmly with Taiwan and against the CCP and its ruthless, genocidal policies. Tsai accepted a leadership award from the Hudson Institute as part of her U.S. trip and gave a speech about Taiwans challenges in regional security. The ministry also cited Walters; Sarah May Stern, chair of the Hudson Institute board of directors; John Heubusch, former executive director of the Reagan Foundation, and Joanne M. Drake, the foundation's chief administrator. The ministry said they were barred from visiting China and any property or financial assets belonging to them in China would be frozen. We will take resolute measures to punish the Taiwan independence separatist forces and their actions, and resolutely safeguard our countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Chinese Cabinet's Taiwan Affairs Office said in a statement Thursday. China has stepped up efforts to intimidate Taiwan by flying fighter jets and firing missiles into the sea nearby on a near-daily basis. The pressure campaign has left many concerned about the possibility of an invasion. Tsai remained firm in her stance of increasing Taiwans global engagement upon her return to Taiwan on Friday night. We have shown the international community that when we face pressure and threats, Taiwan will be more united, she said. We will never give in because we are suppressed, nor will we stop communicating with the world because we are hindered. On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that in recent years, we have seen: For the Chinese leadership, the status quo that brought peace and stability to the Taiwan Strait for decades is no longer acceptable. This has led China to increase pressure and coercive means against Taiwan. The United States government has no official relations with Taiwan but maintains extensive informal and commercial ties. Washington is required by federal law to ensure the island has the means to defend itself if attacked by China. We are sticking to our One China policy. But we are equipping Taiwan with what it needs to defend itself against any form of aggression. We are taking that very seriously, Blinken told German newspaper group Funke Mediengruppe and French newspaper Ouest-France in remarks published Friday that have been retranslated back to English. McCarthy's predecessor as speaker, Nancy Pelosi, flew to Taiwan in August and met Tsai. Legislators from European parliaments have also visited the island. Meanwhile, another congressional delegation landed Thursday in Taiwan and is to meet with Tsai on Saturday. Additionally, two groups in Asia the Prospect Foundation and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats were sanctioned for their involvement in promoting Taiwan independence under the guise of academic and research exchanges, said Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian. The Prospect Foundation is a government-funded Taiwanese think tank that works on dialogue and cooperation on issues related to Taiwans security, economy and social development. The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats is a regional organization established in Thailand that promotes exchanges among liberal and democratic political parties in Asia, including Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party, which is a member. Separately, the Taiwan Affairs Office also announced further sanctions on Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwans representative in the United States. The ban on Hsiao does not appear to be substantively different from the ban enacted on her when Pelosi visited Taiwan. China had announced sanctions on a list of individuals from the DPP and ruling administration, including Hsiao. Then it banned the individuals, their family members and related organizations from traveling or operating in China, including Hong Kong. Friday's announcement said any financial sponsors of Hsiao are also included. Associated Press writers Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin, Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington, D.C., and Robert Jablon in Los Angeles contributed to this report. A medical professional in Illinois is truly practicing what she preaches. She helped two patients get new kidneys by going from doctor to donor. Aleksandra Gmurczyk is a nephrologist in Chicago. She specializes in diagnosing kidney conditions, so she sees lots of patients who need transplants. Currently, more than 90,000 people in the U.S. are waiting for a new kidney. Aleksandra says she knows some people have questions about the living donor process, so she decided to undergo the procedure herself. And when it came time to decide who got her kidney, "I couldn't pick with just one. It would be just like picking one child over another. I cannot do that. So I was just going to help. I just wanted to throw my kidney out into the pool and help someone who needs it," said Dr. Gmurczyk. So she took part in what's called a "kidney-paired donation." A man in Virginia wasn't a match for his wife who needed a kidney, but Aleksandra was. She decided to give that woman her kidney, and the husband gave his kidney to someone else. So her generosity helped two people get their kidney function back. And Aleksandra says the example she set has already paid off. One of the patients who was skeptical about the transplant process is now being evaluated for the procedure. Samsung took another stab at the Japanese market on Thursday by unveiling its latest Galaxy S23 smartphones there. The Galaxy S23 comes in three different models -- standard, Plus and Ultra -- but only the standard and the high-end Ultra are available in Japan, which is dominated by Apple and Japanese brands. The Korean electronics giant has resurrected the Samsung logo after ditching it eight years ago for fear of alienating customers with a Korean brand and selling phones under the Galaxy label instead. It was emboldened in the step because sales of the Galaxy S22 Ultra, which hit Japanese stores last year, soared 57 percent compared to its predecessor. Police are investigating after a woman was nabbed in southern Seoul passing out methamphetamine-laced drinks to high school students and telling them that it would help them concentrate better. The crime was intended to blackmail their parents and extort money, but it also illustrates how easy it has become to acquire narcotics in Korea. There was also an incident last month where a 14-year-old girl passed out after taking methamphetamines. Despite crackdowns by police, drugs are sold openly on social media. The amount of narcotics seized by police totaled 1,295.7 kg in 2021, surging eight times over the previous five years. Use of illegal drugs has increased not just among people in their 20s and 30s but even among teens. Last year, 294 teenagers were arrested for drug abuse, up around three times compared to the previous four years. This is a national emergency. But the capacity of the police to investigate drug offenses cannot catch up with the speed of growth in online narcotics sales. This is due to a structural problem. At present, prosecutors handle investigations into large-scale drug smuggling and distribution, while police go after users and small-scale pushers, and the Korea Customs Service and Korea Coast Guard handle smuggling. WINONA, Minn. From Winona City Hall to churches across the Driftless Area to buildings around the country, Cathedral Crafts continues the history of stained glass production in Winona by designing new windows and restoring antiques. The beauty of it with restoration is every church is different. It teaches you to be very flexible with each one. You may run into the same stained glass style, but every project is so different, said Cathedral Crafts operations manager Caleb Penic. Theres a lot of beauty in these old buildings so I just love them, and I love when we restore them. Penics grandfather, La Verne Campbell, learned the stained glass trade at another Winona studio before founding his own in 1969. Cathedral Crafts Address: 730 54th Ave., Winona Hours: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday Contact: 507-454-4079 or www.cathedralcrafts.com A lot of it is done the same way it was done 100 years ago, said Heidi Penic, owner of Cathedral Crafts. Heidi took the reins from her parents in the late 1990s along with her husband, Eric Penic. Its now a third-generation business as two of Heidi and Erics sons work in the studio. Even as the business moved from Campbells garage to a workshop in Goodview, Cathedral Crafts continues operating with a small, dedicated staff of artisans and craftspeople. The company has two road crews serving the country, who are also trained in the building process. Our main goal is quality. We feel like we can achieve it here with the numbers that we have, said Heidi Penic, who notes the company does not subcontract out any work. New vs. restored When creating a new window, artists work with clients from the design to choosing the type of glass, which can vary by color and texture. The studio sometimes applies and fires five layers of paint to a piece of glass. Although the studio builds new creations, restoring stained glass, some originally made by European artists in the 1800s or by renowned American artists such as Louis Comfort Tiffany, comprises most work done at Cathedral Crafts. Teamwork really does make the dream work because of all the minute details that we really have to focus on, Caleb Penic said. Working with glass requires a good temperament, because mistakes happen. Restoration is lengthy and tedious, said Caleb Penic, as artists need to return the structural integrity of a window while making stylistic choices to match the existing aesthetic. Hours to days of work can be lost if a piece of glass is broken. Glass can be a mean product, you have to be precise, said Heidi Penic. The restoration process starts with removing stained glass windows and transporting them to the workshop from as close by as La Crosse to as far as Washington, D.C. Back in the studio, panels are disassembled and each piece of glass has to be cleaned individually by hand before being rebuilt with a new lead frame. Replacing damaged pieces of glass often requires special sourcing or painting techniques to match the existing color and patterned texture of glass. The two different types of windows, European to American, are completely different all the way down to the glass and painting styles, said Caleb Penic. After reassembly, craftsmen apply a protective coating in a process called mudding and polish the glass. Windows are braced with different materials appropriate for different aesthetics, such as copper wire for historical pieces. Every detail matters from start to finish, said Caleb Penic. Any failure through one of those steps, its going to be a broken piece of glass. Window frames While the colorful glass draws eyes and the new lead frame provides stability, much of the studio is dedicated to restoring or rebuilding wooden, metal and stone window frames. Whats going to hold a window up? A really good frame repair, said Caleb Penic. The frame has to be in very good shape otherwise it will be bowing and buckling that very nice window. The time between the removal and reinstallation of windows depends on several factors, including the number and size of glass panels. A recent renovation at at La Crosse church lasted nine months. Just being up close and personal with it for so long, when its finally in the church its so beautiful, said Heidi Penic. Cathedral Crafts original stained glass work donated to city hall can be seen along the Lafayette Street side of the building. The company plans to donate a new storm system, which serves as a protective barrier, to the Winona Historical Society this summer. Were preserving history, said Caleb Penic. All that love was given into it, so we have to give it that much love. HOMER Residents have started a petition to save the 103-year-old Homer Town Hall building from being demolished. Community members created a Change.org petition, Facebook group and have gathered in-person signatures in an attempt to save the former school building. Since 1970, the building has been used as the town hall and hosts the township boards monthly meetings. JoAn Moham was born and raised in Homer and said she learned the value of the building from both going to school there and the sense of community the building brings. Nobody wants to part with that building, Moham said. Nor should they have to because it isnt in disrepair. Moham helped start the petition to save the structure after she saw a notice demolition bids in the newspaper. Thats how we knew they were doing it, Moham said. I held it up in church and got a couple people on board to do what we can to save it. Then it just rolled. From hosting in-person petition drives March 31 and April 1 at the Methodist Church across the street from the town hall, Moham said the initial group of 18 concerned Homer residents have gotten 203 in-person signatures. The township has a population of 1,323 people. Were hoping that they will just listen, said Moham. Shouldnt the township people be able to vote for this big expense? The town could use its over $144,000 in American Rescue Plan Act relief money to fund the demolition. Homer Township Treasurer Kim Skappel said the town has since slowed the process. The Daily News reached out to the listed phone number for every town official earlier this week. Only Skappel provided an emailed response. All new building plans are on hold, Skappel said in response to questions. Online effort Scott Shira and his wife started the Save Homer Town Hall/Schoolhouse Facebook group. Scott Shira said the group hopes both in-person and online petitions will get the attention of the township board. Weve had quite a discussion about the building, and the board does not want to hear our side and care that we would like to save the building, he said. Shira said the building has gotten a new furnace in the last 10 years, a new roof within the last five as well as a new well pump. He questions why money was put into the building just to tear it down. Before Monday, March 13ths meeting, they had already decided to tear this down by themselves, Shira said. They didnt ask the public and the townspeople. In 2016, citizens of Homer voted against tearing down the old school building. A Change.org petition to save the Homer town hall and school building has gotten 642 signatures online. Moham said those signatures couldnt go toward the groups ability to request a special meeting with the town board because most of the signatures are not Homer residents. Authorities are seeking volunteers to help in a planned a mass search Friday for missing Winonan Madeline Jane Kingsbury, who was last seen March 31 and is considered endangered. The Winona County Sheriffs Office, Winona Police Department and the Fillmore County Sheriffs Office are looking for people over 18 years old who can help search for about four hours and who can walk long distances and through rough terrain. Appropriate clothing and footwear are encouraged for the conditions. Volunteers are asked to assemble for two separate searches planned at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Volunteers should meet at Goodview Fire Department, 4135 Fifth St. in Winona, or Rushford-Peterson School, 1000 Pine Meadows Lane in Rushford. Volunteers will then be assigned and bused to a search area. All volunteers need to bring an ID when reporting to the meet-up locations, as everyone will be checked in and out. Sign-up ahead of time is recommended at www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e45aaa628a6f8c07-search. MPTC narrows search to 3 candidates FOND DU LAC Moraine Park Technical College has narrowed down its search for the next vice president of teaching and learning to three candidates following a nationwide search: Douglas Hamm, Fred Rice and Brian Stout. The current VP, Jim Eden, will retire on June 30 and the new VP will begin on July 1. Hamm has served more than 30 years as a transformational servant leader in business and education. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in higher education leadership and is concluding his dissertation. His masters of business administration is from Illinois State University, and his bachelor of arts in business and history is from Illinois Wesleyan University. Rice serves as the associate vice president of academics at MPTC. He earned his Ph.D. in technology management with a specialization in human resource development and industrial training from Indiana State University, a master of business administration from Cardinal Stritch University, a bachelor of business administration from Marian University, and an associate of applied science in water technology from Bay College. Stout joined the leadership team at MPTC in 2022, has served in leadership roles at Milwaukee Area Technical College, the University of Wisconsin-Sheboygan, the University of Wisconsin-Stout, and the United States Military Academy at West Point. Before entering academia permanently, Stout served for 23 years as an active-duty Army officer. He earned his doctorate in career and technical education from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, a masters degree in business administration from Western International University and nuclear engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a bachelors degree with a double major in physics and anthropology from Ripon College. The interview process is expected to be finalized in April, with the public announcement planned for mid-May. For more information, visit morainepark.edu. Sometimes, history repeats itself. Other times, however, it buys the present a nice corsage and the two go dancing cheek to cheek. On April 15, amid Lodi High Schools prom night celebration, the Lodi Valley Historical Society will host its own prom, inviting community members in for cookies, punch, and a promenade down memory lane. The main event? A display of prom dresses, dating between 1947 and 2019. History laid out on dress forms before your very eyes. The event began with a series of photos, according to Mary Thompson, Lodi Valley Historical Society board member and dress-curator extraordinaire. Weeks ago, a local photographer brought some of his handiwork into the Jolivette House on Lodis Main Street for posterity. In tattered books lay over a decade of Lodi High School proms, from 1947 into the early 1960s. Smiling black and white faces, layers of tulle and lace, ribbons and roses. After rehoming the photographs into an album, Thompson got the idea for a Historical Society prom. We thought, Why dont we have a prom here? said Thompson. Were hoping that people will come and look at the old dresses. But where did the dresses come from? All sorts of places. Trunks, attics, cellars, boxes. After the idea for the prom was conceived, Thompson put out an ad online asking locals to lend their old prom dresses to the event. She sought all eras, all shapes, sizes, and colors. The response was significant. Weve had a pretty good assortment of dresses come in, said Kathleen Johnson, fellow LVHS Board member and co-curator of the prom event. Also on display alongside the dresses will be the original prom photos, prom-goers smiling in black and white, giving visitors an idea of what the dresses theyre seeing may have looked like when they were new. In the words of Marc Jacobs, clothes mean nothing until someone lives in them. Dance music from all the showcased eras will accompany the event, lending to that prom feeling. While society members hope for a fun Saturday exploring the ghosts of proms past, Johnson says they also hope for a boost to the historical societys future. Whenever we have events like this it gets more people in and it gets more people interested, she said. Were all getting older and the society is aging and wed really like people to come on and see what could happen and how much fun it can be. Opinion articles written in the style of their author." These texts are to be based on verified facts and must be respectful towards people, even though their actions may be criticized. shall feature, along with the author's name (regardless of their greater or lesser renown), a footer stating their office, academic title, political affiliation (if any) and main occupation, or the occupation related to the topic being assessed Bible scholars are still debating the Gospel accounts of the crucifixion of Jesus, and Holy Week raises more unanswered questions every year. While the four canonical Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) all describe the life, earthly ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus, no other Gospel narrative presents so many apparent differences and contradictions as the Christs condemnation and death. The subject was controversial in the first Christian communities, and the debate continues to this day. Did the Romans or the Jews kill Jesus? Some extremists blame the Catholic Church for supporting Nazism and the Holocaust by fomenting pointless grudges between two faiths born of the same Judeo-Christian tradition. Before Pope John XXIII began stressing the universal Church and decrying interdenominational strife, the Catholic Churchs Good Friday liturgy included the words perfidious Jews, referring to the rejection of Jesus by the Jews who called for his crucifixion. Every year, Christianity commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus, undoubtedly the most influential figure in the Western worlds religions, culture and customs. No one has had so many scholarly books written about them there are now more than a million. Yet, theologians still cannot fully explain the Biblical and historical accounts of Jesus last week on Earth as a man. Foremost among all the unanswered questions is why Jesus uttered his heart-rending cry on the cross. About three in the afternoon, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani? which means My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (ESV, Matthew 27:46). Since Holy Week culminates in the glory and hope of Jesus resurrection on Easter Sunday, most modern theologians interpret these words as representing a despair of divine abandonment that continues to resonate 2,000 years later. Others say it questions whether Jesus saw himself as God, which annually resurrects the notion that Jesus regarded himself as a son of man. In Aramaic, the common language of those times, the words mean he was a human being like everyone else. In fact, Jesus cry of despair and abandonment as he died before a mocking crowd means he saw himself as a Jew who knew the Scriptures and the history of his people. This becomes clear when reading an Old Testament account of Jesus agony on the cross: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest. (ESV, Psalm 22:1-2). By reciting this ancient psalm, Jesus reveals he died not only as a savior and God, but as a man whom even God the father seems to have abandoned. For Christians, Easter Sunday (or Resurrection Sunday) has always been seen as the crowning and glorious moment of Jesus Christs victory over death. It responds to the human yearning for rescue from pain and death. The Gospel image of Jesus on the cross is of someone who does not feel like a savior or God, but a man abandoned, which somehow brings him closer to our frail human existence. We live in times fraught with uncertainty about our future and even our present, marked by wars, the threat of annihilation and technological anxieties that question our intelligence as Homo sapiens. Millions of us feel abandoned. We live in times riddled with enigmas that cannot be deciphered and make us doubt our identity as human beings. Amid this whirlwind of unknowns, doubts and anxieties, of anguish about what may await our children in a fallen world, Jesus death on Good Friday often seems much closer to us than his resurrection. At 90, I am still convinced that, despite our fears and despair about a frightening and ever-shifting future, we are better off than our ancestors and have greater hope that a new world, more just and equitable than our own, may come about from those things that frighten us today with their incomprehensible novelty. I also understand that because of all the disruption we experience while we are dragged toward this new and uncertain world, believers today feel closer to Jesus desperate cry on the cross than to the promise of the resurrection. Yes, Christs cry of pain and abandonment is still sadly and vividly real for the millions of people condemned to death by the ambition of a few, and who leave this world wondering why God, whoever he may be, has abandoned them. Still, I wish everyone a happy Easter, believers or not, for we are all brothers and sisters, seekers of peace and happiness and not of the wars and holocausts that make us think we have been abandoned to the fates. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition An historical monument is set to be placed in Portage but the location remains up in the air as to whether or not it will be on city or county property. On Wednesday night, the Portage Parks and Recreation Board voted to pass the monument to the county after alderpersons spoke with county officials about it. One member stated they were disappointed with how this decision was made. Last year representatives from Foundation Forward were in Portage to appeal to the city council to build an historical monument featuring historical documents. Foundation Forward operates Charters of Freedom which builds monuments replicating the United States Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. Ron Lewis was one of the representatives to speak last September. He explained to the council that documents are etched into bronze sheets that weigh more than 60 pounds each. The documents are displayed in a similar setting as the actual documents home at the National Archives Buildings in Washington, D.C. The documents are built on reinforced concrete, using up to 19 tons of concrete, going more than 3 feet into the ground. On Wednesday night, Mayor Mitch Craig told the Parks and Recreation Board that Charters of Freedom officials did a sample at Riverside Park and when they dug into the proposed site, they hit water just 2 feet down. These can go down at least 8 feet, Craig said. Craig told the board that the county would be taking over the project after two alderpersons met with county officials about placing the project on county property next to the county administration building. Craig identified them as Alderpersons Eric Shimpach and Steve Rohrbeck who are Columbia County supervisors and sit on the city Parks and Recreation Board. The proposed new site would be on DeWitt Street, Craig stated. This project will be removed from Park and Rec Board and now go to Columbia County. Charters of Freedom had looked at a number of locations for the monument to be built, including Commerce Plaza and Blue Star Park. Parks and Recreation Manager Toby Monogue said he has not been able to get the representatives to attend a meeting to discuss the proposed location. Members of the Parks and Recreation Board were unaware that two Portage alderpersons were in contact with Columbia County officials about putting the monument on county property near the county administration building. Im disappointed being on the park and rec board that this wasnt brought up at our last meeting, Ed Carlson said. I feel this is backhanded and that the park and rec board had a lot of discussion about this and all the sudden. Im shocked to hear this. Craig said the city has stalled on this project for nine months. Weve been trying to move forward for several months and get them to a meeting and each time theyve denied it, Carlson said. Im disappointed we spent a lot of time talking about this and now theres a plan going to the county. Lewis was determined to get the Charters of Freedom built in Portage when he spoke to the Daily Register last year. Even if we dont get one penny wed like to put the setting in Portage, Lewis said in September. He asked the council to donate $25,000 to Charters of Freedom to help build the next monument site. The total cost of building the Charters of Freedom monument is estimated around $50,000. Rohrbeck said this all happened when Charters of Freedom learned about the water at Riverside Park. They wont put it there and they cant put it there, Rohrbeck said. The other place they were looking at was Goodyear Park. I do not want to see it at Goodyear Park. The board approved sending the project to Columbia County with no opposing votes. Craig said it didnt matter to him whether the monument was built on city property or county property. I think the most important thing is that the project is moving forward, Craig said. Thats what were most concerned about, is moving the project forward and making sure this project comes to Portage. Other Business Monogue said that public restrooms at Portage Parks will open on May 1. The Portage Service Club Association expressed interest in fundraising to put an accessible kayak/canoe launch on the Fox River at the Highway 33 wayside. The board approved to accept the funds when they are raised to install the kayak/canoe launch. Monogue said it could cost around $50,000 and would include putting a concrete path leading to the launch. The board approved placement of portable toilets at a number of parks this summer for public use. Those will be placed at Riverside Park, Pine Meadows, the boat launch of the Wisconsin River and two at the fairgrounds with the possibility of adding more. Monogue said it will cost $121.50 a month per portable toilet and would include a $50 delivery fee per toilet. Monogue added these prices include weekly emptying and cleaning of the portable toilets. Art Attack brushes up funds for Portage schools 030823-port-news-art06.jpg 030823-port-news-art07.jpg 030823-port-news-art08.jpg 030823-port-news-art09.jpg 030823-port-news-art10.jpg 030823-port-news-art11.jpg 030823-port-news-art12.jpg 030823-port-news-art13.jpg 030823-port-news-art14.jpg 030823-port-news-art15.jpg 030823-port-news-art16.jpg 030823-port-news-art17.jpg 030823-port-news-art18.jpg 030823-port-news-art19.jpg 030823-port-news-art20.jpg 030823-port-news-art21.jpg 030823-port-news-art22.jpg 030823-port-news-art23.jpg 030823-port-news-art24.jpg 030823-port-news-art25.jpg 030823-port-news-art26.jpg 030823-port-news-art27.jpg 030823-port-news-art28.jpg 030823-port-news-art29.jpg Prada S.p.A. (OTCMKTS:PRDSF Get Rating) shares crossed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of $6.75 and traded as high as $7.09. Prada shares last traded at $7.09, with a volume of 920 shares traded. Prada Stock Performance The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $6.77 and a 200 day moving average price of $5.76. About Prada (Get Rating) Prada SpA operates as a holding company, which engages in the manufacture and distribution of luxury goods. Its products include leather goods, handbags, footwear, apparel, accessories, eyewear, and fragrances. Its brands include Miu Miu, Churchs, Cas Shoe, and Pasticceria Marchesi. The company was founded by Mario Prada in 1913 and is headquartered in Milan, Italy. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Prada Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Prada and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. HireRight Holdings Co. (NYSE:HRT Get Rating) major shareholder Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 20,200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.45, for a total transaction of $211,090.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 8,348,412 shares of the companys stock, valued at $87,240,905.40. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Major shareholders that own more than 10% of a companys stock are required to disclose their sales and purchases with the SEC. Rjc Gis Holdings Llc also recently made the following trade(s): Get HireRight alerts: On Monday, April 3rd, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 144,946 shares of HireRight stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.47, for a total transaction of $1,517,584.62. On Friday, March 31st, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 190,611 shares of HireRight stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.58, for a total value of $2,016,664.38. On Wednesday, March 29th, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 153,903 shares of HireRight stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.47, for a total value of $1,611,364.41. On Monday, March 27th, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 82,355 shares of HireRight stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.70, for a total value of $881,198.50. On Friday, March 24th, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 139,602 shares of HireRight stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.72, for a total value of $1,496,533.44. On Wednesday, March 22nd, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 56,375 shares of HireRight stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.92, for a total value of $615,615.00. On Monday, March 20th, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 82,979 shares of HireRight stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.95, for a total value of $908,620.05. On Friday, March 17th, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 80,409 shares of HireRight stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.82, for a total value of $870,025.38. On Wednesday, March 15th, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 120,503 shares of HireRight stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.71, for a total value of $1,290,587.13. On Monday, March 13th, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 145,354 shares of HireRight stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.75, for a total value of $1,562,555.50. HireRight Trading Down 1.6 % HireRight stock traded down $0.17 during trading on Thursday, hitting $10.30. 413,200 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 268,930. The businesss 50 day moving average is $11.09 and its 200 day moving average is $12.11. HireRight Holdings Co. has a 52 week low of $6.88 and a 52 week high of $18.95. The company has a market capitalization of $29.05 million, a P/E ratio of -41.88 and a beta of 0.17. Analysts Set New Price Targets HireRight ( NYSE:HRT Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 9th. The company reported $0.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.17 by $0.14. The company had revenue of $175.36 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $171.03 million. A number of equities analysts recently commented on the company. Stifel Nicolaus lowered HireRight from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $12.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, January 19th. Credit Suisse Group cut their price objective on HireRight from $17.00 to $15.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 10th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and issued a $12.00 price target on shares of HireRight in a research note on Friday, March 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price target on HireRight from $15.60 to $13.80 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 10th. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their price target on HireRight from $9.00 to $10.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Friday, March 10th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, HireRight currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $13.10. Institutional Investors Weigh In On HireRight Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of HRT. Alliancebernstein L.P. grew its stake in HireRight by 41.3% in the 4th quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 20,200 shares of the companys stock valued at $240,000 after purchasing an additional 5,900 shares during the period. State of Wyoming bought a new position in HireRight in the 4th quarter valued at $72,000. Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC bought a new position in HireRight in the 4th quarter valued at $485,000. Millennium Management LLC grew its stake in HireRight by 22.2% in the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 146,403 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,736,000 after purchasing an additional 26,639 shares during the period. Finally, General Atlantic L.P. grew its stake in HireRight by 8.0% in the 4th quarter. General Atlantic L.P. now owns 32,109,898 shares of the companys stock valued at $380,823,000 after purchasing an additional 2,390,000 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 12.49% of the companys stock. About HireRight (Get Rating) HireRight Holdings Corporation provides technology-driven workforce risk management and compliance solutions worldwide. The company offers background screening, verification, identification, monitoring, and drug and health screening services for customers. It provides its services through software and data platform that integrates into its customers' human capital management systems enabling workflows for workforce hiring, onboarding, and monitoring. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for HireRight Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for HireRight and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tristel plc (LON:TSTL Get Rating)s share price crossed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 342.34 ($4.25) and traded as low as GBX 327.92 ($4.07). Tristel shares last traded at GBX 332.50 ($4.13), with a volume of 22,802 shares traded. Tristel Price Performance The business has a fifty day moving average of GBX 327.32 and a two-hundred day moving average of GBX 342.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 19.76, a quick ratio of 3.83 and a current ratio of 4.70. The firm has a market capitalization of 157.11 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4,642.86 and a beta of 0.47. Get Tristel alerts: Tristel Cuts Dividend The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 11th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 16th will be given a dividend of GBX 2.62 ($0.03) per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 16th. This represents a yield of 0.82%. Tristels dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 10,000.00%. About Tristel Tristel plc develops, manufactures, and sells infection prevention products in the United Kingdom and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Hospital Medical Device Decontamination, Hospital Environmental Surface Disinfection, and Other. It offers medical instrument disinfection products, including airway management, cardiology, ear, nose and throat, endoscopy, ophthalmology, phlebotomy, reproductive health/IVF, surface, ultrasound, urology, women's health, and other products under the Tristel brand; contamination control products, which include cleanroom, laboratory, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and toiletry disinfectants under the Crystel brand; and airborne and veterinary device disinfectants under the Anistel brand. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Tristel Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tristel and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CENTRAL TRUST Co purchased a new stake in shares of Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF (NYSEARCA:XCEM Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 113,854 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,909,000. CENTRAL TRUST Co owned 1.93% of Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF in the 3rd quarter worth $31,000. McElhenny Sheffield Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Captrust Financial Advisors bought a new position in shares of Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF in the 1st quarter worth approximately $36,000. Brand Asset Management Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $210,000. Finally, Pure Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF during the third quarter valued at approximately $286,000. Get Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF alerts: Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF Stock Down 0.1 % Shares of XCEM stock opened at $26.97 on Friday. The businesss fifty day moving average is $26.80 and its 200 day moving average is $26.06. The stock has a market cap of $156.43 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.95 and a beta of 0.90. Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF has a twelve month low of $23.11 and a twelve month high of $30.25. Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF Profile The Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF (XCEM) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in total market equity. The fund tracks a market-cap-weighted index that provides broad equity exposure to emerging markets excluding China. XCEM was launched on Sep 2, 2015 and is managed by Columbia. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding XCEM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF (NYSEARCA:XCEM Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK Get Rating) has received an average rating of Moderate Buy from the fourteen ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, eleven have issued a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $65.41. Several brokerages recently weighed in on ALK. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Alaska Air Group from $90.00 to $91.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, January 27th. Citigroup increased their price target on shares of Alaska Air Group from $57.50 to $58.50 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, January 31st. Barclays raised Alaska Air Group from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $54.00 to $62.00 in a research note on Friday, March 10th. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on Alaska Air Group from $75.00 to $71.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Wolfe Research downgraded Alaska Air Group from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research report on Friday, January 27th. Get Alaska Air Group alerts: Alaska Air Group Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:ALK opened at $42.04 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86. The company has a market cap of $5.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 97.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.37 and a beta of 1.51. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $46.17 and a 200-day moving average price of $45.13. Alaska Air Group has a 12 month low of $37.19 and a 12 month high of $61.55. Insiders Place Their Bets Alaska Air Group ( NYSE:ALK Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 26th. The transportation company reported $0.92 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $2.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.51 billion. Alaska Air Group had a return on equity of 14.75% and a net margin of 0.60%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 30.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.24 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Alaska Air Group will post 5.77 EPS for the current year. In related news, Director J Kenneth Thompson sold 3,500 shares of Alaska Air Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $48.58, for a total transaction of $170,030.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 29,907 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,452,882.06. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In related news, Director J Kenneth Thompson sold 3,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $48.58, for a total transaction of $170,030.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 29,907 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,452,882.06. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Andrea L. Schneider sold 1,596 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.81, for a total value of $81,092.76. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 15,747 shares in the company, valued at approximately $800,105.07. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.40% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Trading of Alaska Air Group Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Federated Hermes Inc. grew its stake in shares of Alaska Air Group by 6.6% during the third quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 84,305 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $3,300,000 after acquiring an additional 5,193 shares during the last quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System raised its position in shares of Alaska Air Group by 25.1% in the 3rd quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 294,763 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $11,540,000 after purchasing an additional 59,220 shares during the last quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc boosted its stake in Alaska Air Group by 10.7% in the 3rd quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 15,664 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $613,000 after purchasing an additional 1,509 shares in the last quarter. Echo Street Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Alaska Air Group by 157.8% in the second quarter. Echo Street Capital Management LLC now owns 11,650 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $467,000 after buying an additional 7,131 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Continental Investors Services Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Alaska Air Group during the third quarter worth $1,046,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.04% of the companys stock. About Alaska Air Group (Get Rating) Alaska Air Group, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of air transportation services. It operates through the following segments: Mainline, Regional, and Horizon. The Mainline segment includes scheduled air transportation on Alaskas Boeing and Airbus jet aircraft for passengers and cargo throughout the U.S., and in parts of Mexico, Costa Rica and Belize. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Alaska Air Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alaska Air Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Albert Technologies Ltd (LON:ALB Get Rating)s stock price was up 56.9% on Wednesday . The company traded as high as GBX 8 ($0.10) and last traded at GBX 8 ($0.10). Approximately 833,209 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 147% from the average daily volume of 337,338 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 5.10 ($0.06). Albert Technologies Price Performance The businesss 50-day moving average price is GBX 8 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 8. The firm has a market cap of 7.98 million and a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.53. About Albert Technologies (Get Rating) Albert Technologies Ltd. provides autonomous cross-channel artificial intelligence marketing platform in Israel and internationally. The company offers artificial intelligence-based software to brands and advertising agencies using a Software as a Service (SaaS) model. It develops and deploys algorithmic solutions to provide marketers with a self-driving solution for cross-channel campaign execution, testing, optimization, analysis, and insights. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Albert Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Albert Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Alta Equipment Group Inc. (NYSE:ALTG Get Rating) major shareholder B. Riley Financial, Inc. bought 15,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 4th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $14.15 per share, for a total transaction of $212,250.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 1,036,134 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,661,296.10. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Major shareholders that own at least 10% of a companys stock are required to disclose their sales and purchases with the SEC. Alta Equipment Group Price Performance ALTG traded down $0.09 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $13.39. 291,962 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 251,492. The firm has a market capitalization of $431.02 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 66.95 and a beta of 1.52. The company has a quick ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 1.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.89. Alta Equipment Group Inc. has a one year low of $8.65 and a one year high of $20.60. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $17.00 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $14.17. Get Alta Equipment Group alerts: Alta Equipment Group Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 28th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 15th were paid a $0.057 dividend. This represents a $0.23 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.70%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 14th. Alta Equipment Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 115.01%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio bought a new position in shares of Alta Equipment Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $48,000. Barclays PLC raised its position in Alta Equipment Group by 296.0% in the 4th quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 5,568 shares of the companys stock worth $73,000 after purchasing an additional 4,162 shares during the last quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. raised its position in Alta Equipment Group by 280.0% in the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 7,109 shares of the companys stock worth $88,000 after purchasing an additional 5,238 shares during the last quarter. UBS Group AG bought a new position in Alta Equipment Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $113,000. Finally, Counterpoint Mutual Funds LLC bought a new position in Alta Equipment Group in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $99,000. Institutional investors own 63.54% of the companys stock. A number of research firms recently weighed in on ALTG. B. Riley lifted their target price on Alta Equipment Group from $19.00 to $25.00 in a research report on Friday, March 10th. Raymond James raised their price target on shares of Alta Equipment Group from $19.00 to $22.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, March 10th. Finally, TheStreet upgraded shares of Alta Equipment Group from a d+ rating to a c rating in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Alta Equipment Group Company Profile (Get Rating) Alta Equipment Group, Inc engages in the operation of equipment dealership platforms. It operates through the following segments: Material Handling, Construction Equipment, and Corporate. The Material Handling segment includes the sale, service, and rental of lift trucks and other material handling equipment in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and New York. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Alta Equipment Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alta Equipment Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel, England, Monday March 6, 2023. The U.K. government said Tuesday that it was ready for legal challenges to a tough new law intended to stop tens of thousands of migrants a year reaching the country in small boats across the English Channel. Home Secretary Suella Braverman said the government had pushed the boundaries of international law with a bill that will bar asylum claims by anyone who reaches the U.K. by unauthorized means, and will compel the government to detain and then deport them to their home country or a safe third country. They would be barred from ever reentering the country. If you come here illegally, it must be that you cannot stay, Braverman wrote in the Daily Telegraph. The government says its Illegal Migration Bill, due to be introduced in Parliament on Tuesday, will deter migrants and hobble smuggling gangs who send desperate people on hazardous journeys across one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the law would take back control of U.K. borders a central pledge of the successful but divisive campaign to take Britain out of the European Union. Critics say the plan is unethical and unworkable, since people fleeing war and persecution cant be sent home, and is likely to be the latest in a series of unfulfilled immigration pledges by successive U.K. governments. The bill will not stop small boats crossing the Channel. It will only add to the trauma of the people in these boats, while further damaging Britains global reputation for fairness and compassion, said Laura Kyrke-Smith, executive director of humanitarian group the International Rescue Committee Britain receives fewer asylum-seekers than some European nations such as Italy, Germany or France. But thousands of migrants from around the world travel to northern France each year in hopes of reaching the U.K., drawn by family ties, the English language or the perceived ease of getting a job. Most attempt the journey in dinghies and other small craft now that authorities have clamped down on other routes such as stowing away on buses or trucks. More than 45,000 people arrived in Britain by boat in 2022, up from 28,000 in 2021 and 8,500 in 2020. Most went on to claim asylum, but a backlog of more than 160,000 cases has led to many languishing in overcrowded processing centers or hotels, without the right to work. The British government says many of those making the journey are economic migrants rather than refugees, and points to an upswing last year in arrivals from Albania, a European country that the U.K. considers safe. Refugee groups say most of the channel arrivals are fleeing war, persecution or famine in countries including Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq. A majority of those whose claims have been processed were granted asylum in the U.K. The charities say migrants risk the cross-channel journey because there are few safe, legal ways to reach the U.K. The government says that once its new law is in place it will establish more legal paths to asylum, adding to those set up for Afghanistan, Hong Kong and Ukraine. But it hasnt said how many asylum-seekers will be admitted, or when the program will start. Its also unclear what safe third countries will be willing to take in people deported from Britain. A plan announced by the U.K. last year to send migrants arriving in Britain on a one-way trip to Rwanda is mired in legal challenges. No one has been sent to the East African country, though Britain has already paid Rwanda 140 million pounds ($170 million) under the deal. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Audioboom Group plc (LON:BOOM Get Rating) insider Michael Tobin bought 1,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 3rd. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 400 ($4.97) per share, for a total transaction of 4,000 ($4,967.71). Michael Tobin also recently made the following trade(s): Get Audioboom Group alerts: On Friday, March 31st, Michael Tobin bought 2,000 shares of Audioboom Group stock. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 400 ($4.97) per share, for a total transaction of 8,000 ($9,935.42). On Wednesday, March 29th, Michael Tobin bought 5,554 shares of Audioboom Group stock. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 420 ($5.22) per share, for a total transaction of 23,326.80 ($28,970.19). On Monday, March 27th, Michael Tobin bought 1,162 shares of Audioboom Group stock. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 420 ($5.22) per share, for a total transaction of 4,880.40 ($6,061.10). On Friday, March 24th, Michael Tobin bought 2,222 shares of Audioboom Group stock. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 440 ($5.46) per share, for a total transaction of 9,776.80 ($12,142.08). On Monday, January 30th, Michael Tobin purchased 2,761 shares of Audioboom Group stock. The shares were purchased at an average cost of GBX 355 ($4.41) per share, for a total transaction of 9,801.55 ($12,172.81). On Friday, January 27th, Michael Tobin purchased 2,500 shares of Audioboom Group stock. The shares were purchased at an average cost of GBX 395 ($4.91) per share, for a total transaction of 9,875 ($12,264.03). On Monday, January 23rd, Michael Tobin purchased 2,380 shares of Audioboom Group stock. The shares were purchased at an average cost of GBX 420 ($5.22) per share, for a total transaction of 9,996 ($12,414.31). Audioboom Group Price Performance BOOM stock opened at GBX 380 ($4.72) on Friday. The firm has a market cap of 62.02 million, a PE ratio of -9,500.00 and a beta of 1.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.05, a quick ratio of 1.77 and a current ratio of 2.20. The firms 50 day moving average price is GBX 447.93 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 493.81. Audioboom Group plc has a one year low of GBX 345.50 ($4.29) and a one year high of GBX 2,278.50 ($28.30). Audioboom Group Company Profile Audioboom Group plc, a podcast company, operates a spoken-word audio platform for hosting, distributing, and monetizing content primarily in the United Kingdom and the United States. The company's platform allows content distributed through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Music, Deezer, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, RadioPublic, Saavn, Stitcher, Facebook, and Twitter, as well as a partner's own websites and mobile apps. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Audioboom Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Audioboom Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Baldwin Brothers LLC MA raised its position in shares of Dover Co. (NYSE:DOV Get Rating) by 53,373.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 48,126 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 48,036 shares during the period. Baldwin Brothers LLC MAs holdings in Dover were worth $6,517,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new position in Dover in the 1st quarter valued at $48,000. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund bought a new position in Dover in the 1st quarter valued at $938,000. Raymond James Trust N.A. grew its position in Dover by 5.8% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 5,645 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $886,000 after acquiring an additional 310 shares during the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. grew its position in Dover by 6.5% in the 1st quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 9,126 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,465,000 after acquiring an additional 561 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. grew its position in shares of Dover by 6.1% during the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 140,560 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $22,055,000 after buying an additional 8,054 shares in the last quarter. 85.52% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Dover alerts: Dover Stock Down 0.9 % DOV traded down $1.32 on Friday, hitting $141.57. 945,533 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,007,000. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $149.09 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $138.62. The company has a market cap of $19.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.35. Dover Co. has a twelve month low of $114.49 and a twelve month high of $160.66. The company has a current ratio of 1.23, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Dover Announces Dividend Dover ( NYSE:DOV Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 31st. The industrial products company reported $2.16 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.15 by $0.01. Dover had a return on equity of 28.55% and a net margin of 12.52%. The company had revenue of $2.14 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.12 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.78 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that Dover Co. will post 9 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 28th were issued a $0.505 dividend. This represents a $2.02 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.43%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 27th. Dovers payout ratio is currently 27.19%. Insider Activity at Dover In other Dover news, CFO Brad M. Cerepak sold 34,972 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $143.25, for a total value of $5,009,739.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 73,878 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,583,023.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 1.30% of the stock is owned by insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades DOV has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Robert W. Baird assumed coverage on Dover in a research note on Thursday, March 9th. They issued a buy rating and a $176.00 price target for the company. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Dover from $149.00 to $157.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. Barclays dropped their price objective on Dover from $141.00 to $138.00 in a report on Thursday. Credit Suisse Group reissued an outperform rating and issued a $174.00 price objective on shares of Dover in a report on Thursday, March 9th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and issued a $145.00 price target on shares of Dover in a research note on Thursday, March 9th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $159.50. Dover Profile (Get Rating) Dover Corp. operates as a manufacturer and solutions provider delivering innovative equipment and components, consumable supplies, aftermarket parts, software and digital solutions, and support services. It operates through the following segments: Engineered Products, Clean Energy and Fueling, Imaging and Identification, Pumps and Process Solutions, and Climate and Sustainability Technologies. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Dover Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dover and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Baldwin Brothers LLC MA boosted its holdings in Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS Get Rating) by 3,153.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 52,508 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 50,894 shares during the quarter. Baldwin Brothers LLC MAs holdings in Novartis were worth $4,764,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Activest Wealth Management purchased a new stake in Novartis during the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC boosted its stake in Novartis by 146.7% during the 2nd quarter. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC now owns 370 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 220 shares during the last quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Novartis by 2,018.8% during the 4th quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 339 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 323 shares during the period. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV lifted its holdings in shares of Novartis by 42.7% during the 3rd quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 441 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 132 shares during the period. Finally, Penserra Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Novartis during the 3rd quarter valued at $36,000. 8.12% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Novartis alerts: Novartis Price Performance NYSE:NVS traded up $1.19 on Friday, reaching $96.26. 1,986,390 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,727,837. The company has a quick ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $86.47 and a 200-day simple moving average of $85.52. The firm has a market cap of $212.98 billion, a PE ratio of 30.37, a P/E/G ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 0.54. Novartis AG has a 12 month low of $74.09 and a 12 month high of $96.56. Novartis Increases Dividend Novartis ( NYSE:NVS Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 1st. The company reported $1.51 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.42 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $12.69 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $12.85 billion. Novartis had a return on equity of 21.79% and a net margin of 13.75%. Equities research analysts forecast that Novartis AG will post 6.54 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently declared an annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 10th were issued a dividend of $3.4694 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 9th. This is a boost from Novartiss previous annual dividend of $1.18. This represents a yield of 2.6%. Novartiss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 71.61%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on NVS shares. UBS Group increased their price target on Novartis from CHF 82 to CHF 84 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, December 14th. StockNews.com started coverage on Novartis in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a strong-buy rating on the stock. Citigroup cut Novartis from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, January 26th. Morgan Stanley cut Novartis from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating in a report on Friday, January 6th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Novartis from an underweight rating to a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, January 3rd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Novartis presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $82.63. About Novartis (Get Rating) Novartis AG is a holding company, which engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of healthcare products. It operates through the following segments: Innovative Medicines, Sandoz, and Corporate. The Innovative Medicines segment researches, develops, manufactures, distributes and sells patented pharmaceuticals, and is composed of two business units: Novartis Oncology and Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NVS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Novartis Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Novartis and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Baldwin Brothers LLC MA grew its position in shares of Alerian MLP ETF (NYSEARCA:AMLP Get Rating) by 10,408.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 318,392 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 315,362 shares during the period. Baldwin Brothers LLC MA owned approximately 0.19% of Alerian MLP ETF worth $12,121,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Alerian MLP ETF by 54.9% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 14,607,500 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $559,467,000 after purchasing an additional 5,174,427 shares in the last quarter. Cowa LLC grew its holdings in shares of Alerian MLP ETF by 10,043.4% during the 1st quarter. Cowa LLC now owns 5,232,801 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,004,000 after purchasing an additional 5,181,213 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates grew its holdings in shares of Alerian MLP ETF by 4.2% during the 3rd quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 1,360,440 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $49,738,000 after purchasing an additional 54,433 shares in the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada grew its holdings in shares of Alerian MLP ETF by 7.2% during the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 1,269,417 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $46,410,000 after purchasing an additional 85,249 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Allen Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Alerian MLP ETF by 29.2% during the 3rd quarter. Allen Investment Management LLC now owns 1,033,517 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $37,785,000 after purchasing an additional 233,874 shares in the last quarter. Get Alerian MLP ETF alerts: Alerian MLP ETF Stock Down 0.6 % Shares of AMLP traded down $0.25 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $38.94. 878,587 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,515,223. The company has a market cap of $6.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.30 and a beta of 1.46. Alerian MLP ETF has a fifty-two week low of $32.25 and a fifty-two week high of $42.47. The firms fifty day moving average is $39.06 and its 200 day moving average is $39.12. Alerian MLP ETF Company Profile ALERIAN MLP ETF seeks investment results that correspond (before fees and expenses) to the price and yield performance of its underlying index, the Alerian MLP Infrastructure Index (the Index). The Index is a rules based, modified capitalization weighted, float adjusted index intended to give investors a means of tracking the overall performance of the United States energy infrastructure Master Limited Partnership (MLP) asset class. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AMLP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Alerian MLP ETF (NYSEARCA:AMLP Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Alerian MLP ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alerian MLP ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Public (OTCMKTS:BDULF Get Rating) from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report issued on Monday morning, The Fly reports. Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Public Price Performance Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Public stock opened at $0.79 on Monday. Get Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Public alerts: Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Public Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Public and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public Limited (LON:BOCH Get Rating)s stock price fell 2.2% on Wednesday . The company traded as low as GBX 220 ($2.73) and last traded at GBX 220 ($2.73). 10,874 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 92% from the average session volume of 133,180 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 225 ($2.79). Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, Numis Securities assumed coverage on Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public in a report on Wednesday, March 15th. They set a buy rating and a GBX 507 ($6.30) price objective on the stock. Get Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public alerts: Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public Price Performance The stocks fifty day moving average price is GBX 217.07 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 165.44. The firm has a market cap of 968.25 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1,550.00 and a beta of 0.75. Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public Company Profile Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public Limited Company, through its subsidiaries, provides banking, financial, and insurance services. It offers current, savings, notice, instant access, and fixed deposits; housing, student, consumer, business and business premises, term, and home or investment loans; and asset finance, factoring, trade facilities, European financial, project finance, shipping finance, and syndicated and corporate lending services, as well as hire purchase services for car and equipment. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank of Montreal Can raised its position in shares of Garmin Ltd. (NYSE:GRMN Get Rating) by 152.7% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 240,713 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock after purchasing an additional 145,472 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Cans holdings in Garmin were worth $22,259,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Retirement Systems of Alabama lifted its holdings in shares of Garmin by 1.3% in the third quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 51,245 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $4,115,000 after buying an additional 666 shares in the last quarter. Prudential PLC lifted its holdings in shares of Garmin by 14.7% in the third quarter. Prudential PLC now owns 3,893 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $313,000 after buying an additional 498 shares in the last quarter. South Dakota Investment Council purchased a new position in shares of Garmin in the third quarter worth $104,000. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company lifted its holdings in shares of Garmin by 2.4% in the third quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 113,586 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $9,122,000 after buying an additional 2,636 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Two Sigma Advisers LP lifted its holdings in shares of Garmin by 48.1% in the third quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 625,200 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $50,210,000 after buying an additional 203,100 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 63.29% of the companys stock. Get Garmin alerts: Insider Activity In other news, EVP Patrick Desbois sold 3,991 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.50, for a total transaction of $393,113.50. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 47,050 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,634,425. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, Director Sean Biddlecombe sold 867 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.71, for a total value of $85,581.57. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 6,130 shares of the companys stock, valued at $605,092.30. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Patrick Desbois sold 3,991 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.50, for a total transaction of $393,113.50. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 47,050 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,634,425. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 16,610 shares of company stock valued at $1,635,921. 20.34% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Garmin Stock Performance Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Tigress Financial restated a strong-buy rating and issued a $165.00 price target on shares of Garmin in a research report on Friday, March 3rd. TheStreet upgraded shares of Garmin from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research report on Monday, March 13th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of Garmin from $91.00 to $99.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 23rd. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Garmin from $97.00 to $101.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 23rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Garmin from $108.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 23rd. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $123.17. GRMN stock traded down $0.15 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $98.05. 562,274 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 966,907. Garmin Ltd. has a one year low of $76.37 and a one year high of $117.20. The stock has a market capitalization of $18.76 billion, a PE ratio of 19.45, a PEG ratio of 3.30 and a beta of 0.94. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $97.81 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $92.43. Garmin (NYSE:GRMN Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 22nd. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.14 by $0.21. The firm had revenue of $1.31 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.32 billion. Garmin had a net margin of 20.03% and a return on equity of 16.41%. The businesss revenue was down 6.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.55 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that Garmin Ltd. will post 5.15 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. About Garmin (Get Rating) Garmin Ltd. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of navigation, communications and information devices, most of which are enabled by Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. It operates through the following segments: Marine, Outdoor, Fitness, Auto OEM, Consumer Auto, and Aviation. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GRMN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Garmin Ltd. (NYSE:GRMN Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Garmin Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Garmin and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank of Montreal Can raised its holdings in Ovintiv Inc. (NYSE:OVV Get Rating) by 2.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 330,658 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 7,135 shares during the quarter. Bank of Montreal Can owned 0.13% of Ovintiv worth $18,156,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. bought a new stake in Ovintiv during the second quarter worth $31,000. Miller Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Ovintiv by 48.2% during the 4th quarter. Miller Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 664 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 216 shares during the last quarter. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton lifted its position in shares of Ovintiv by 26.7% during the 3rd quarter. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton now owns 950 shares of the companys stock valued at $44,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Ovintiv by 43.9% during the 4th quarter. Bay Harbor Wealth Management LLC now owns 967 shares of the companys stock valued at $49,000 after buying an additional 295 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quent Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Ovintiv during the 3rd quarter valued at $58,000. 76.76% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Ovintiv alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, Director Howard John Mayson sold 3,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.62, for a total transaction of $136,860.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 21,403 shares in the company, valued at approximately $976,404.86. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 1.70% of the companys stock. Ovintiv Stock Performance Ovintiv Increases Dividend NYSE OVV traded down $0.30 on Friday, reaching $39.08. 2,694,473 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,429,569. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $41.95 and a 200-day moving average price of $47.85. The firm has a market cap of $9.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2.75, a P/E/G ratio of 0.23 and a beta of 2.78. Ovintiv Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $32.26 and a fifty-two week high of $63.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 0.61. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be given a $0.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.07%. This is an increase from Ovintivs previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. Ovintivs dividend payout ratio is 7.04%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages recently issued reports on OVV. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on Ovintiv from $71.00 to $64.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, March 8th. Citigroup cut Ovintiv from a buy rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $55.00 to $38.00 in a report on Thursday, March 23rd. Mizuho lowered their price target on Ovintiv from $70.00 to $66.00 in a report on Friday, March 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut Ovintiv from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and lowered their price target for the company from $59.00 to $53.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 14th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets cut Ovintiv from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and lowered their price target for the company from $56.00 to $51.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 7th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Ovintiv presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $62.55. Ovintiv Company Profile (Get Rating) Ovintiv Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration, development, production, and marketing of natural gas, oil, and natural gas liquids. It operates through USA Operations, Canadian Operations, and Market Optimization segments. The company's principal assets include Permian in west Texas and Anadarko in west-central Oklahoma; and Montney in northeast British Columbia and northwest Alberta. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Ovintiv Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ovintiv and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Baru Gold Corp. (EAS.V) (CVE:EAS Get Rating) shares were down 3.1% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as C$0.15 and last traded at C$0.16. Approximately 136,956 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 60% from the average daily volume of 345,802 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.16. Baru Gold Corp. (EAS.V) Trading Down 3.1 % The business has a fifty day moving average of C$0.16 and a 200-day moving average of C$0.16. The firm has a market cap of C$22.97 million and a PE ratio of -15.50. About Baru Gold Corp. (EAS.V) (Get Rating) East Asia Minerals Corporation engages in the exploration and development of mineral properties in Indonesia. It holds 70% interest in Sangihe gold-copper project, which is located on the island of Sangihe covering an area of 42,000 hectares; and the Miwah gold project that consists of three contiguous exploration mining business permits covering 30,000 hectares located southeast of Banda Aceh in Aceh Province. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Baru Gold Corp. (EAS.V) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Baru Gold Corp. (EAS.V) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund, Inc. (NYSE:MHN Get Rating) announced a monthly dividend on Wednesday, April 5th, investing.com reports. Investors of record on Friday, April 14th will be given a dividend of 0.0335 per share by the financial services provider on Monday, May 1st. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.80%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th. BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund Stock Down 0.2 % BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund stock opened at $10.57 on Friday. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $10.50 and its 200 day simple moving average is $10.23. BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund has a 1-year low of $9.16 and a 1-year high of $12.73. Get BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund alerts: Hedge Funds Weigh In On BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC grew its stake in BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund by 3.4% in the 4th quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 38,908 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $400,000 after buying an additional 1,273 shares in the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC grew its stake in BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund by 34.6% in the 2nd quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 15,564 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $171,000 after buying an additional 4,000 shares in the last quarter. Susquehanna International Group LLP grew its stake in BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund by 42.3% in the 4th quarter. Susquehanna International Group LLP now owns 15,821 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $162,000 after buying an additional 4,700 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC grew its stake in BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund by 43.6% in the 3rd quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 21,031 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $206,000 after buying an additional 6,384 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can purchased a new position in BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund in the 1st quarter worth approximately $177,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 17.66% of the companys stock. About BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund, Inc is a closed-end investment fund/investment trust. Its objective is to provide shareholders with current income exempt from federal income tax and New York State and New York City personal income taxes. The company was founded on March 16, 1992 and is headquartered in Wilmington, DE. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, left, hold hands with his Saudi Arabian counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, right, and Chinese counterpart Qin Gang in Beijing Thursday, April 6, 2023. Long-time Mideast rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia took another significant step toward reconciliation Thursday, formally restoring diplomatic ties after a seven-year rift, affirming the need for regional stability and agreeing to pursue economic cooperation. The agreement was reached in Beijing during a meeting between the Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers, a month after China had brokered an initial reconciliation agreement between the two regional powerhouses. The latest understanding further lowers the chance of armed conflict between the rivals, both directly and in proxy conflicts around the region. It could bolster efforts by diplomats to end a long war in Yemen, a conflict in which both Iran and Saudi Arabia are deeply entrenched. Thursdays announcement also represents another diplomatic victory for the Chinese as Gulf Arab states perceive the United States slowly withdrawing from the wider region. But it remains to be seen how far the reconciliation efforts will progress. The rivalry dates back to the 1979 revolution that toppled Irans Western-backed monarchy, and in recent years the two countries have backed rival armed groups and political factions across the region. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian laid out details of Thursdays agreement in a tweet, after his talks with Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. The minister wrote that Thursday marked the beginning of official diplomatic relations ... economic and commercial cooperation, the reopening of embassies and consulates general, and the emphasis on stability, stable security and development of the region. Amirabdollahian said that the issues are agreed upon and on the common agenda. The official Iranian news agency, IRNA, said that in addition to reopening embassies in the two capitals, diplomatic missions would start operating in two other major cities Mashhad in Iran and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. The report said both sides also agreed to study the prospects of resuming flights and official and private visits between the two nations, in addition to how to facilitate the visa process for their people. Chinas Foreign Ministry last month reported that both sides had agreed to reopen their embassies and missions within two months. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the two foreign ministers signed a joint statement and expressed their determination to improve ties in line with their talks in Beijing last month. The state-run Saudi Press Agency carried a brief news item on the meeting, saying discussions were held on joint relations and ways to enhance cooperation in many fields, with both sides aiming to enhance the security, stability, and prosperity of the two countries and peoples. Thursdays talks in Beijing marked the first formal meeting of senior diplomats from the two nations since 2016, when the kingdom broke ties with Iran after protesters invaded Saudi diplomatic posts there. Saudi Arabia had executed a prominent Shiite cleric with 46 others days earlier, triggering the demonstrations. The warming of ties shows that regional countries have the will and ability to take the lead in maintaining peace, Mao said at the briefing. She said China is ready to support both sides in fostering good relations, urging the international community to help the Middle Eastern countries resolve their differences. The colonial hegemonic tactics of stirring up contradictions, creating estrangement and division should be rejected by the people all over the world, she said. The United States has welcomed diplomatic progress between Saudi Arabia, with which it has a close but complicated alliance, and Iran, which it considers a regional menace. But U.S. officials have also expressed skepticism about whether Iran will change its behavior. If this dialogue leads to concrete actions by Iran to curb its destabilizing activities in the region, including the proliferation of dangerous weapons, then of course, we would welcome that, said Vedant Patel, the principal deputy State Department spokesman. While the reopening of embassies would mark a major step forward, the extent of the rapprochement could depend on peace efforts in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia has been at war with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels since 2015, following the rebels capture of the capital and much of northern Yemen. Saudi Arabia is also deeply suspicious of Irans nuclear program, which has advanced significantly since the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from a 2015 agreement with world powers to curb Irans atomic activities in exchange for sanctions relief. I know from my conversations with the Saudis, they are going to be watching the Yemen space, Tim Lenderking, the Biden administrations envoy for Yemen, told a think-tank audience in Washington earlier this week. If the Iranians want to show that theyre really turning a corner on the conflict, then there wont be smuggling of weapons to the Houthis anymore in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions. He pointed to alleged Iranian involvement in smuggling narcotics as well. Lenderking cited Irans support for an ongoing truce there as a recent positive sign, and called on Iran to support political efforts for a lasting peace agreement. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund (NYSE:MPA Get Rating) declared a monthly dividend on Wednesday, April 5th, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 14th will be paid a dividend of 0.034 per share by the investment management company on Monday, May 1st. This represents a $0.41 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.53%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 13th. BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund Price Performance NYSE:MPA opened at $11.57 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $11.49 and a 200 day simple moving average of $11.27. BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund has a 1-year low of $10.17 and a 1-year high of $14.50. Get BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund alerts: Hedge Funds Weigh In On BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Bank of America Corp DE grew its position in shares of BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund by 11.3% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 203,004 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $2,649,000 after buying an additional 20,656 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley raised its stake in BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund by 13.1% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 183,674 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $2,022,000 after buying an additional 21,333 shares during the period. Logan Stone Capital LLC acquired a new position in BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,568,000. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. raised its stake in BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund by 9.0% during the 4th quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 65,920 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $726,000 after buying an additional 5,429 shares during the period. Finally, Rivernorth Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund by 124.7% during the 1st quarter. Rivernorth Capital Management LLC now owns 43,036 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $562,000 after purchasing an additional 23,887 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 7.18% of the companys stock. BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund Company Profile BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc It is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. The fund invests in fixed income markets. It invests primarily in long-term investment grade municipal obligations exempt from federal income taxes and Pennsylvania income taxes. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canadian Utilities Limited (TSE:CU Get Rating) has earned an average recommendation of Hold from the eight analysts that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is C$39.64. Several equities analysts recently commented on the company. CIBC dropped their target price on Canadian Utilities from C$38.00 to C$37.00 in a report on Friday, March 3rd. CSFB raised their target price on Canadian Utilities from C$38.50 to C$40.50 in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Scotiabank set a C$41.00 price target on Canadian Utilities and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Thursday, February 9th. National Bankshares increased their price target on shares of Canadian Utilities from C$34.00 to C$37.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Friday, January 27th. Finally, Veritas Investment Research upgraded shares of Canadian Utilities from a sell rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, March 9th. Get Canadian Utilities alerts: Canadian Utilities Price Performance Shares of TSE CU opened at C$38.37 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 135.78, a current ratio of 1.42 and a quick ratio of 1.30. The company has a market cap of C$7.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 0.56. The stocks 50-day moving average is C$36.37 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$36.50. Canadian Utilities has a 1-year low of C$33.24 and a 1-year high of C$41.94. Canadian Utilities Increases Dividend About Canadian Utilities The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 2nd were issued a $0.449 dividend. This is an increase from Canadian Utilitiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.44. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 1st. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.68%. Canadian Utilitiess payout ratio is presently 86.89%. (Get Rating) Canadian Utilities Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the electricity, natural gas, and retail energy businesses in the United States, Australia, and internationally. It operates through Utilities, Energy Infrastructure, and Corporate & Other segments. The Utilities segment provides regulated electricity transmission and distribution services in northern and central east Alberta, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories; and integrated natural gas transmission and distribution services in Alberta, the Lloydminster area of Saskatchewan, and Western Australia. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Utilities Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Utilities and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. HSBC upgraded shares of China Eastern Airlines (OTCMKTS:CHEAF Get Rating) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Monday, The Fly reports. China Eastern Airlines Price Performance CHEAF opened at $0.39 on Monday. China Eastern Airlines has a 1-year low of $0.39 and a 1-year high of $0.39. Get China Eastern Airlines alerts: Read More Receive News & Ratings for China Eastern Airlines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Eastern Airlines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First Pacific Financial lifted its position in shares of Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT Get Rating) by 9.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 9,775 shares of the medical technology companys stock after acquiring an additional 839 shares during the quarter. First Pacific Financials holdings in Medtronic were worth $760,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. CoreFirst Bank & Trust boosted its holdings in shares of Medtronic by 4.2% during the 3rd quarter. CoreFirst Bank & Trust now owns 3,149 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $254,000 after acquiring an additional 126 shares in the last quarter. IAG Wealth Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Medtronic by 58.1% during the 3rd quarter. IAG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 351 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 129 shares in the last quarter. TIAA FSB boosted its holdings in shares of Medtronic by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. TIAA FSB now owns 14,065 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $1,136,000 after acquiring an additional 133 shares in the last quarter. Essex Savings Bank boosted its holdings in shares of Medtronic by 4.1% during the 3rd quarter. Essex Savings Bank now owns 3,390 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $274,000 after acquiring an additional 135 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Blue Barn Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Medtronic by 4.6% during the 3rd quarter. Blue Barn Wealth LLC now owns 3,096 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $250,000 after acquiring an additional 136 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.37% of the companys stock. Get Medtronic alerts: Medtronic Stock Performance Shares of NYSE MDT traded up $0.03 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $80.30. The companys stock had a trading volume of 4,313,017 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,119,045. Medtronic plc has a 12-month low of $75.76 and a 12-month high of $114.31. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $81.89 and a 200-day moving average price of $81.37. The stock has a market capitalization of $106.83 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.41, a PEG ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 1.76 and a quick ratio of 1.39. Medtronic Announces Dividend Medtronic ( NYSE:MDT Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 21st. The medical technology company reported $1.30 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.27 by $0.03. Medtronic had a return on equity of 13.37% and a net margin of 13.20%. The business had revenue of $7.70 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.53 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.37 earnings per share. Medtronics revenue for the quarter was down .8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that Medtronic plc will post 5.28 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 14th. Investors of record on Friday, March 24th will be paid a $0.68 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 23rd. This represents a $2.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.39%. Medtronics payout ratio is 89.47%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages have commented on MDT. UBS Group downgraded Medtronic from a buy rating to a sell rating and cut their target price for the stock from $127.00 to $79.00 in a report on Wednesday, March 29th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on Medtronic from $80.00 to $87.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada downgraded Medtronic from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating and cut their target price for the stock from $102.00 to $89.00 in a report on Monday, January 9th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Medtronic in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Finally, Mizuho lowered their price objective on Medtronic from $100.00 to $95.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 24th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $90.11. Medtronic Company Profile (Get Rating) Medtronic Plc is a medical technology company, which engages in the development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of device-based medical therapies and services. It operates through the following segments: Cardiovascular Porrtfolio, Neuroscience Portfolio, Medical Surgical Portfolio, and Diabetes Operating Unit. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Medtronic Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Medtronic and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Gratus Capital LLC boosted its position in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW Get Rating) by 0.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 16,432 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. Gratus Capital LLCs holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $3,620,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of ITW. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in Illinois Tool Works during the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in Illinois Tool Works during the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. MinichMacGregor Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Illinois Tool Works during the 4th quarter valued at $46,000. Standard Family Office LLC bought a new stake in Illinois Tool Works during the 3rd quarter valued at $39,000. Finally, Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. bought a new stake in Illinois Tool Works during the 4th quarter valued at $48,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.83% of the companys stock. Get Illinois Tool Works alerts: Illinois Tool Works Price Performance NYSE:ITW traded down $1.71 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $227.70. The company had a trading volume of 1,061,388 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,314,169. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 52-week low of $173.52 and a 52-week high of $253.37. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $235.67 and its 200-day moving average price is $221.20. The company has a market capitalization of $69.41 billion, a PE ratio of 23.28, a P/E/G ratio of 3.58 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 1.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.00. Illinois Tool Works Announces Dividend Illinois Tool Works ( NYSE:ITW Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The industrial products company reported $2.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.60 by ($0.26). Illinois Tool Works had a return on equity of 87.15% and a net margin of 19.04%. The company had revenue of $3.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.90 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.95 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 7.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 9.53 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 31st will be given a dividend of $1.31 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 30th. This represents a $5.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.30%. Illinois Tool Workss payout ratio is 53.58%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In ITW has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $213.00 to $245.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 9th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $210.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, January 19th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $170.00 to $183.00 in a report on Friday, February 3rd. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $222.00 to $255.00 in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Finally, Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $211.00 to $205.00 in a report on Thursday. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Illinois Tool Works currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $224.57. Insider Buying and Selling at Illinois Tool Works In other Illinois Tool Works news, CEO Ernest Scott Santi sold 235,656 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $246.29, for a total transaction of $58,039,716.24. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 213,538 shares in the company, valued at $52,592,274.02. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other news, Vice Chairman Christopher A. Oherlihy sold 60,137 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $246.26, for a total transaction of $14,809,337.62. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 40,072 shares in the company, valued at $9,868,130.72. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Ernest Scott Santi sold 235,656 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $246.29, for a total transaction of $58,039,716.24. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 213,538 shares of the companys stock, valued at $52,592,274.02. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.78% of the companys stock. Illinois Tool Works Profile (Get Rating) Illinois Tool Works, Inc engages in the manufacture of industrial products and equipment. It operates through the following segments: Automotive OEM, Test and Measurement and Electronics, Food Equipment, Polymers and Fluids, Welding, Construction Products, and Specialty Products. The Automotive OEM segment produces components and fasteners for automotive-related applications. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Illinois Tool Works Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Illinois Tool Works and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated their buy rating on shares of GSK (LON:GSK Get Rating) in a research note released on Tuesday, MarketBeat reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft currently has a GBX 1,700 ($21.11) target price on the stock. A number of other equities research analysts have also weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed an underweight rating on shares of GSK in a research report on Tuesday, March 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a GBX 2,000 ($24.84) target price on GSK in a research report on Monday, March 6th. Shore Capital reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of GSK in a research report on Friday, March 24th. UBS Group set a GBX 1,245 ($15.46) target price on GSK in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. Finally, Barclays reaffirmed an equal weight rating and set a GBX 1,450 ($18.01) target price on shares of GSK in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, GSK presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of GBX 1,573.33 ($19.54). Get GSK alerts: GSK Trading Up 2.4 % Shares of LON GSK opened at GBX 1,523 ($18.91) on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 207.87. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 1,440.04 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 1,411.51. The firm has a market cap of 62.29 billion, a PE ratio of 1,397.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 0.27. GSK has a twelve month low of GBX 1,280.92 ($15.91) and a twelve month high of GBX 2,746.59 ($34.11). GSK Dividend Announcement Insider Buying and Selling The business also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 13th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 23rd will be given a GBX 13.75 ($0.17) dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 0.97%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 23rd. GSKs payout ratio is 5,596.33%. In other GSK news, insider Jonathan Symonds bought 2,100 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 20th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of GBX 1,399 ($17.37) per share, for a total transaction of 29,379 ($36,486.59). In related news, insider Emma Walmsley sold 28,576 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 1,487 ($18.47), for a total transaction of 424,925.12 ($527,726.18). Also, insider Jonathan Symonds bought 2,100 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 20th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 1,399 ($17.37) per share, for a total transaction of 29,379 ($36,486.59). Insiders have acquired a total of 2,117 shares of company stock worth $2,962,765 in the last ninety days. 0.72% of the stock is owned by insiders. GSK Company Profile (Get Rating) GSK plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the creation, discovery, development, manufacture, and marketing of pharmaceutical products, vaccines, over-the-counter medicines, and health-related consumer products in the United Kingdom, the United States, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Pharmaceuticals, Pharmaceuticals R&D, Vaccines, and Consumer Healthcare. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for GSK Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for GSK and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hartford Funds Management Co LLC acquired a new stake in FMC Co. (NYSE:FMC Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 2,355 shares of the basic materials companys stock, valued at approximately $294,000. Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Comerica Bank raised its stake in FMC by 11.5% in the 4th quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 110,473 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $14,210,000 after purchasing an additional 11,431 shares during the last quarter. FirstPurpose Wealth LLC raised its stake in FMC by 8.5% in the 4th quarter. FirstPurpose Wealth LLC now owns 2,536 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $316,000 after purchasing an additional 198 shares during the last quarter. Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in FMC by 6.4% in the 4th quarter. Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC now owns 8,289 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $1,034,000 after purchasing an additional 496 shares during the last quarter. Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. acquired a new position in FMC in the 4th quarter valued at $203,000. Finally, Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd raised its stake in FMC by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 10,088 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $1,259,000 after purchasing an additional 137 shares during the last quarter. 88.28% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get FMC alerts: FMC Stock Performance NYSE FMC opened at $116.92 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $124.87 and a 200-day simple moving average of $122.98. FMC Co. has a twelve month low of $98.24 and a twelve month high of $140.99. The stock has a market cap of $14.63 billion, a PE ratio of 20.09, a P/E/G ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 0.82. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80. FMC Dividend Announcement FMC ( NYSE:FMC Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 8th. The basic materials company reported $2.37 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.32 by $0.05. FMC had a return on equity of 29.29% and a net margin of 12.69%. The company had revenue of $1.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.53 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.16 EPS. FMCs revenue for the quarter was up 14.7% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that FMC Co. will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 20th. Investors of record on Friday, March 31st will be issued a dividend of $0.58 per share. This represents a $2.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.98%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 30th. FMCs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 39.86%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages have issued reports on FMC. KeyCorp raised their target price on FMC from $140.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 9th. StockNews.com began coverage on FMC in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Redburn Partners raised FMC from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $155.00 target price for the company in a research note on Friday, March 17th. Mizuho reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $146.00 target price on shares of FMC in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on FMC from $139.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, February 10th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $144.08. Insider Activity at FMC In related news, CFO Andrew D. Sandifer sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $127.77, for a total transaction of $638,850.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 39,061 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,990,823.97. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other FMC news, insider Nicholas Pfeiffer sold 4,421 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.70, for a total value of $573,403.70. Following the sale, the insider now owns 12,064 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,564,700.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CFO Andrew D. Sandifer sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.77, for a total value of $638,850.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 39,061 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,990,823.97. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 11,376 shares of company stock worth $1,465,016 in the last three months. 0.85% of the stock is owned by company insiders. About FMC (Get Rating) FMC Corp. is an agricultural sciences company, which engages in the provision of solutions to growers and development of pipeline in crop protection, plant health, precision agriculture, and professional pest, and turf management. It offers insect control products under the Rynaxypyr and Cyazypyr brands, herbicides under the Authority, Boral, Centium, Command, and Gamit brands, insecticides under the Talstar and Hero brands, flutriafol-based fungicides, and bionematicides under the Quartzo and Presence brands. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FMC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for FMC Co. (NYSE:FMC Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for FMC Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for FMC and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pioneer Credit Limited (ASX:PNC Get Rating) insider Keith John purchased 40,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 30th. The stock was bought at an average price of A$0.37 ($0.25) per share, with a total value of A$14,960.00 ($10,176.87). Keith John also recently made the following trade(s): Get Pioneer Credit alerts: On Monday, March 27th, Keith John purchased 50,000 shares of Pioneer Credit stock. The stock was bought at an average price of A$0.36 ($0.25) per share, with a total value of A$18,150.00 ($12,346.94). On Friday, March 17th, Keith John purchased 50,000 shares of Pioneer Credit stock. The stock was bought at an average price of A$0.33 ($0.22) per share, with a total value of A$16,350.00 ($11,122.45). On Friday, March 10th, Keith John purchased 125,000 shares of Pioneer Credit stock. The stock was bought at an average price of A$0.02 ($0.01) per share, with a total value of A$2,500.00 ($1,700.68). On Tuesday, March 14th, Keith John purchased 1,310,000 shares of Pioneer Credit stock. The stock was bought at an average price of A$0.02 ($0.01) per share, with a total value of A$26,200.00 ($17,823.13). Pioneer Credit Price Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 686.40, a current ratio of 0.32 and a quick ratio of 0.60. Pioneer Credit Company Profile Pioneer Credit Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial services in Australia. It acquires and services retail debt portfolios. The company was incorporated in 2002 and is headquartered in Perth, Australia. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Pioneer Credit Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pioneer Credit and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Zuora, Inc. (NYSE:ZUO Get Rating) CFO Todd Mcelhatton sold 17,905 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $9.34, for a total value of $167,232.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 143,275 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,338,188.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Todd Mcelhatton also recently made the following trade(s): Get Zuora alerts: On Tuesday, January 10th, Todd Mcelhatton sold 7,500 shares of Zuora stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.47, for a total value of $48,525.00. Zuora Stock Up 3.0 % Shares of ZUO opened at $9.13 on Friday. The stocks fifty day moving average is $9.00 and its 200-day moving average is $7.72. Zuora, Inc. has a one year low of $5.45 and a one year high of $14.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.17, a current ratio of 1.66 and a quick ratio of 2.24. Analyst Ratings Changes Hedge Funds Weigh In On Zuora A number of equities analysts have weighed in on ZUO shares. Lake Street Capital initiated coverage on Zuora in a report on Tuesday, January 31st. They issued a buy rating and a $11.00 price target for the company. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on Zuora to $10.00 in a research note on Wednesday, March 15th. UBS Group reduced their target price on Zuora from $20.00 to $15.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Friday, December 9th. Canaccord Genuity Group increased their target price on Zuora from $15.00 to $16.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, March 3rd. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reissued a buy rating and set a $15.00 price target on shares of Zuora in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Zuora currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $13.25. A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of ZUO. Point72 Middle East FZE acquired a new stake in Zuora during the 4th quarter worth about $83,000. Capital Impact Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Zuora by 87.7% in the 4th quarter. Capital Impact Advisors LLC now owns 96,945 shares of the companys stock valued at $617,000 after acquiring an additional 45,292 shares in the last quarter. State of Wisconsin Investment Board raised its stake in shares of Zuora by 504.8% in the 4th quarter. State of Wisconsin Investment Board now owns 136,513 shares of the companys stock valued at $868,000 after acquiring an additional 113,942 shares in the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc grew its holdings in Zuora by 33.5% in the 4th quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 123,442 shares of the companys stock valued at $785,000 after buying an additional 30,961 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley grew its holdings in Zuora by 45.1% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 1,876,967 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,938,000 after buying an additional 583,214 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.11% of the companys stock. About Zuora (Get Rating) Zuora, Inc engages in the provision of cloud-based subscription management platform. Its products include Zuora Billing, Zuora Revenue, Zuora CPQ, Zuora Collect AI, and Zuora Analytics. It offers solutions to software, healthcare, education, B2C, and communications industries. The company was founded in 2007 by K.V. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Zuora Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Zuora and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Day & Ennis LLC cut its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF (BATS:VLUE Get Rating) by 11.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 21,220 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,867 shares during the period. Day & Ennis LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF were worth $1,934,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Cowa LLC grew its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF by 11,529.8% during the first quarter. Cowa LLC now owns 2,989,446 shares of the companys stock worth $3,328,000 after acquiring an additional 2,963,741 shares during the last quarter. Matson Money. Inc. increased its position in iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF by 14.0% in the 3rd quarter. Matson Money. Inc. now owns 2,894,479 shares of the companys stock valued at $236,942,000 after acquiring an additional 354,878 shares during the period. Prudential Financial Inc. increased its position in iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF by 96.5% in the 2nd quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 695,175 shares of the companys stock valued at $63,455,000 after acquiring an additional 341,384 shares during the period. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV boosted its position in iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF by 7.0% during the 3rd quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 5,144,107 shares of the companys stock worth $421,097,000 after acquiring an additional 336,924 shares during the period. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF by 6.3% during the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 5,635,655 shares of the companys stock worth $461,335,000 after acquiring an additional 334,879 shares during the period. Get iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF alerts: iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF Trading Down 0.1 % VLUE stock traded down $0.05 during trading on Friday, hitting $91.97. The company had a trading volume of 207,163 shares. The business has a 50 day moving average of $93.85 and a 200 day moving average of $92.37. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.51 and a beta of 1.04. iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF has a fifty-two week low of $71.21 and a fifty-two week high of $89.40. iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF Company Profile The iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF (VLUE) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Enhanced Value index. The fund tracks an index of large- and mid-cap US equities. Stocks are selected and weighted using fundamental metrics (earnings, revenue, book value and cash earnings), aiming for exposure to undervalued stocks in each sector. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has tied his mandate to resolving the migration crisis and hes not ruling out any strategy to do so. The first idea was to send anyone who arrived irregularly on British shores to Rwanda, a project that is still going ahead. Now, the Home Office has announced it will house asylum seekers on a large barge called the Bibby Stockholm in a bid to stop them from setting foot on British soil. We cant have a situation where we are collectively spending 6 million pounds ($7.5 million) a day on hotels for illegal asylum seekers. That cant be right, said Sunak on Thursday. I said that I would do everything I could to stop that, and reduce the pressure on our communities from asylum seekers being in hotels, and thats what were doing. Were bringing forward alternative sites like the barge that weve announced today. Currently, more than 51,000 asylum seekers are being housed in around 400 hotels throughout the United Kingdom, as they wait for their asylum applications to be processed. More information The English Channel: the last hope for desperate migrants The Bibby Stockholm does not look like a typical ship. The barge looks more like an immense floating building or a prison, according to critics of the project. The rectangular-shaped vessel has 222 rooms, a bar and a gym, and is set to be moored in the port of Portland, in the city of Weymouth, in southern England. The British government hopes to be able to house up to 500 men on the barge, for at least 18 months. The vessel is owned by the Liverpool-based company Bibby Marine, but operates under the Barbados flag. The Bibby Stockholm has been refurbished and has comfortably housed workers from various industries including construction, marine and the armed forces over the years, said a spokesperson from Bibby Marine. In the early 2000s, the Dutch government contracted the same barge to house asylum seekers, but it was taken out of service after a watchdog called it an oppressive environment. Local authorities, refugee aid organizations and even the odd Conservative Party lawmaker have criticized the new plan. A floating barge does not provide what they need nor the respect, dignity and support they deserve, said Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council. Docked barges, which are isolated from the wider community, do not offer the supportive environment that people coping with the trauma of having to flee their homes need, added Christina Marriott, executive director of strategy and communications for the British Red Cross. As well as the objections on humanitarian grounds, there are also concerns that the plan will heighten social tension and damage the tourism industry in the local area. Tory MP Richard Drax, who represents the Dorset constituency where Weymouth is located, has vocally opposed the measure, and vowed to stop it. Every option is being looked at, including legal action. We want to get this consigned to the dustbin before anythings signed, said Drax. He added that the harbor, near Weymouth, was a summer resort dependent almost entirely on visitors and tourists. With 500 migrants or more dumped here, I cannot see this is a sensible move. We already know some migrants have disappeared from hotels we fear some into gangs. Port authorities, however, have welcomed the project, arguing that it will provide a boost to local businesses. We encourage everyone in the community to approach this with an open mind and help us show other areas just how successful this type of initiative can be, both for the asylum seekers and the local community, said Bill Reeves, chief executive of Portland Port, who promised that locals and volunteers will be closely involved in all decision-making. A desperate Sunak So far this year, almost 4,000 people have arrived on British shores via the English Channel. These are paltry numbers compared to the number of arrivals in southern Europe, but immigration is a very toxic political issue in Britain as was made clear by Brexit. According to sociologists, nearly half of all Conservative and Labor Party voters list immigration as their top concern. In 2018, only 300 migrants crossed the channel but last year that number exceeded 40,000. Faced with these numbers, Sunak has announced a series of new measures to deal with the crisis. In March, he put forward a contentious new bill which will prevent asylum seekers who enter Britain irregularly from requesting asylum. The legislation which has been widely criticized by human rights organizations argues that, contrary to U.N. guidelines, these asylum seekers are illegal and do not deserve the same access to asylum as other refugees. The bill only provides exceptions for minors, or refugees fleeing serious persecution: everyone else who arrives irregularly will be deported. The U.K. is also still planning to deport irregular migrants to Rwanda, which signed an agreement with the Boris Johnson administration last year. The first planned deportation flight was blocked last June by a last-minute injunction from the European Court of Human Rights. But in March, the U.K. High Court found that the policy was legal. While Sunak has managed to rebuild U.K. relations with Europe, he has not been able to convince the French government to accept back migrants who arrive in the U.K. from France. The government of French President Emmanuel Macron has made it clear that the matter can only be decided by the European Union. Macron, however, has promised to increase cooperation and direct more resources to monitoring the French beaches from where most of the boats depart. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Joel Isaacson & Co. LLC lessened its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX Get Rating) by 3.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 4,132 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after selling 150 shares during the quarter. Joel Isaacson & Co. LLCs holdings in Becton, Dickinson and were worth $1,051,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new stake in Becton, Dickinson and during the 1st quarter valued at $114,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and by 11.3% during the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,923 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $778,000 after purchasing an additional 297 shares in the last quarter. Brighton Jones LLC increased its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and by 8.8% during the 1st quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 1,383 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $368,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares in the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. increased its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and by 13.0% during the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 504 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $134,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mather Group LLC. increased its holdings in Becton, Dickinson and by 26.0% during the 1st quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 1,346 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $358,000 after purchasing an additional 278 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.08% of the companys stock. Get Becton Dickinson and alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades BDX has been the subject of several research reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Becton, Dickinson and in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Bank of America raised Becton, Dickinson and from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the company from $250.00 to $290.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 3rd. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Becton, Dickinson and from $290.00 to $295.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. Piper Sandler lifted their price objective on Becton, Dickinson and from $245.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, February 2nd. Finally, Citigroup raised Becton, Dickinson and from a sell rating to a neutral rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $221.00 to $250.00 in a research note on Monday, December 12th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $272.44. Insider Activity Becton, Dickinson and Stock Performance In other news, EVP Richard Byrd sold 1,421 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $248.60, for a total value of $353,260.60. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 4,119 shares in the company, valued at $1,023,983.40. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . Corporate insiders own 0.31% of the companys stock. BDX stock opened at $254.69 on Friday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $242.08 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $240.51. The company has a current ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56. The firm has a market cap of $72.31 billion, a PE ratio of 48.05, a P/E/G ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.54. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a 1-year low of $215.90 and a 1-year high of $277.29. Becton, Dickinson and (NYSE:BDX Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The medical instruments supplier reported $2.98 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.68 by $0.30. The firm had revenue of $4.59 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.59 billion. Becton, Dickinson and had a return on equity of 13.52% and a net margin of 8.47%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 2.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.64 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 12.19 earnings per share for the current year. Becton, Dickinson and Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 10th were issued a dividend of $0.91 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 9th. This represents a $3.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.43%. Becton, Dickinson ands dividend payout ratio is presently 68.68%. About Becton, Dickinson and (Get Rating) Becton, Dickinson & Co engages in the development, manufacture, and sale of medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment, and diagnostic products. It operates through the following segments: BD Medical, BD Life Sciences, and BD Interventional. The BD Medical segment produces medical technologies and devices that are used to help improve healthcare delivery. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Becton Dickinson and Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Becton Dickinson and and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PPL Co. (NYSE:PPL Get Rating) insider John R. Crockett III sold 5,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.00, for a total value of $154,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 9,161 shares in the company, valued at $256,508. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. PPL Price Performance Shares of PPL stock opened at $28.55 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93. PPL Co. has a twelve month low of $23.47 and a twelve month high of $31.74. The company has a market cap of $21.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.72 and a beta of 0.77. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $27.78 and a 200 day simple moving average of $27.94. Get PPL alerts: PPL (NYSE:PPL Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 17th. The utilities provider reported $0.28 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.28. PPL had a return on equity of 7.50% and a net margin of 9.57%. The business had revenue of $2.29 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.62 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.22 EPS. PPLs revenue for the quarter was up 54.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that PPL Co. will post 1.59 EPS for the current fiscal year. PPL Increases Dividend Institutional Trading of PPL The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, March 10th were given a dividend of $0.24 per share. This is an increase from PPLs previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. This represents a $0.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.36%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 9th. PPLs dividend payout ratio is currently 93.20%. Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. MinichMacGregor Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in PPL in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. acquired a new position in PPL in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in PPL in the 1st quarter worth about $27,000. CI Investments Inc. increased its holdings in PPL by 989.9% in the 3rd quarter. CI Investments Inc. now owns 970 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 881 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Compass Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in PPL in the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. 70.02% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research analysts have commented on PPL shares. StockNews.com started coverage on PPL in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Mizuho decreased their price objective on PPL from $32.00 to $28.00 in a report on Monday, March 20th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on PPL from $31.00 to $29.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 21st. UBS Group upped their target price on PPL to $33.00 in a research report on Wednesday, December 14th. Finally, TheStreet downgraded PPL from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 21st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, PPL currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $30.63. PPL Company Profile (Get Rating) PPL Corp. engages in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. It operates through the two reportable segments: Kentucky Regulated & Pennsylvania Regulated. The Kentucky Regulated segment consists of LKEs regulated electricity generation, transmission and distribution operations of Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company as well as regulated distribution and sale of natural gas of Louisville Gas and Electric Company. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for PPL Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PPL and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kinross Gold Co. (TSE:K Get Rating) (NYSE:KGC) crossed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of C$5.52 and traded as high as C$6.88. Kinross Gold shares last traded at C$6.78, with a volume of 5,449,659 shares. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on K shares. National Bankshares reduced their price target on Kinross Gold from C$8.50 to C$8.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 21st. Cormark cut their price objective on Kinross Gold from C$6.75 to C$6.00 in a research note on Friday, February 17th. Get Kinross Gold alerts: Kinross Gold Trading Up 0.3 % The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 44.89, a current ratio of 2.46 and a quick ratio of 1.11. The company has a market cap of C$8.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 226.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -0.60 and a beta of 0.98. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of C$5.63 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$5.53. Kinross Gold Increases Dividend Insider Activity at Kinross Gold The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 23rd. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 8th were issued a $0.04 dividend. This represents a $0.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.35%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 7th. This is an increase from Kinross Golds previous quarterly dividend of $0.03. Kinross Golds dividend payout ratio is currently 533.33%. In other Kinross Gold news, Senior Officer Nathan M. Longenecker sold 89,912 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of C$3.70, for a total value of C$332,701.37. 0.25% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Kinross Gold Company Profile (Get Rating) Kinross Gold Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of gold properties principally in the United States, the Russian Federation, Brazil, Chile, Ghana, and Mauritania. It is also involved in the extraction and processing of gold-containing ores; reclamation of gold mining properties; and production and sale of silver. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Kinross Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kinross Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Levi Strauss & Co. (NYSE:LEVI Get Rating) updated its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Friday. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $1.30-$1.40 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of $1.33. The company issued revenue guidance of $6.30 billion-$6.40 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $6.31 billion. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts have commented on LEVI shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded Levi Strauss & Co. from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and cut their price objective for the company from $19.00 to $17.00 in a research report on Monday, January 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Levi Strauss & Co. from $19.00 to $20.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of Levi Strauss & Co. from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their target price for the company from $18.00 to $17.00 in a research report on Monday, December 12th. Telsey Advisory Group reissued an outperform rating and set a $24.00 target price on shares of Levi Strauss & Co. in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. Finally, Bank of America dropped their target price on Levi Strauss & Co. from $18.00 to $16.00 in a research report on Friday. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $20.27. Get Levi Strauss & Co. alerts: Levi Strauss & Co. Stock Down 16.0 % Shares of LEVI stock traded down $2.89 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $15.14. 20,450,487 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,202,890. Levi Strauss & Co. has a fifty-two week low of $13.57 and a fifty-two week high of $20.49. The company has a market cap of $5.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.74, a P/E/G ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. The stocks 50 day moving average is $17.42 and its 200-day moving average is $16.37. Levi Strauss & Co. Dividend Announcement Levi Strauss & Co. ( NYSE:LEVI Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 6th. The blue-jean maker reported $0.34 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.32 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $1.69 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.61 billion. Levi Strauss & Co. had a net margin of 9.23% and a return on equity of 33.62%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 6.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.46 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Levi Strauss & Co. will post 1.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 18th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 4th will be issued a dividend of $0.12 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 3rd. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.17%. Levi Strauss & Co.s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 34.04%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, insider Lisa Stirling sold 5,017 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $18.04, for a total transaction of $90,506.68. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 28,485 shares of the companys stock, valued at $513,869.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 3.77% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Levi Strauss & Co. A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Marshall Wace LLP increased its holdings in Levi Strauss & Co. by 724.6% in the 4th quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 1,574,260 shares of the blue-jean makers stock worth $24,433,000 after acquiring an additional 1,383,339 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its holdings in Levi Strauss & Co. by 20.5% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 6,365,036 shares of the blue-jean makers stock worth $125,773,000 after acquiring an additional 1,084,969 shares in the last quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP boosted its holdings in Levi Strauss & Co. by 490.5% in the 3rd quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 452,665 shares of the blue-jean makers stock worth $6,550,000 after buying an additional 376,007 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley boosted its holdings in Levi Strauss & Co. by 22.0% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 1,596,412 shares of the blue-jean makers stock worth $24,776,000 after buying an additional 287,506 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company MN boosted its holdings in Levi Strauss & Co. by 56.0% in the 2nd quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 489,271 shares of the blue-jean makers stock worth $7,985,000 after buying an additional 175,696 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 18.76% of the companys stock. About Levi Strauss & Co. (Get Rating) Levi Strauss & Co engages in the design, marketing, and sale of apparel products. The company offers jeans, casual and dress pants, tops, shorts, skirts, jackets, footwear, and related accessories. It operates through the following geographical segments: Americas, Europe, and Asia. The company was founded by Levi Strauss in 1853 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Levi Strauss & Co. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Levi Strauss & Co. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Northstar Asset Management LLC decreased its stake in shares of iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (NYSEARCA:IGM Get Rating) by 2.9% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 1,170 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 35 shares during the period. Northstar Asset Management LLCs holdings in iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF were worth $328,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its position in shares of iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF by 137.1% during the first quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 83 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF during the third quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Ancora Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF by 84.3% during the first quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 282 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $102,000 after buying an additional 129 shares during the last quarter. Dakota Wealth Management boosted its position in shares of iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF by 11.0% during the first quarter. Dakota Wealth Management now owns 555 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $216,000 after buying an additional 55 shares during the last quarter. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF during the first quarter valued at approximately $221,000. Get iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF alerts: iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF Trading Up 0.7 % Shares of NYSEARCA:IGM traded up $2.25 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $335.25. 21,339 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 38,631. The stock has a market cap of $2.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.20 and a beta of 1.15. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $320.82 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $300.04. iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF has a 12-month low of $261.80 and a 12-month high of $378.78. About iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF iShares North American Tech ETF, formerly iShares S&P North American Technology Sector Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, of the United States-traded technology companies, as represented by the S&P North American Technology Sector Index (the Index). Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IGM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (NYSEARCA:IGM Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NovaGold Resources (NYSEAMERICAN:NG Get Rating) (TSE:NG) posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The mining company reported ($0.03) EPS for the quarter, Yahoo Finance reports. NovaGold Resources Trading Up 0.2 % Shares of NYSEAMERICAN:NG traded up $0.01 during trading on Friday, reaching $6.04. The stock had a trading volume of 1,005,665 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,099,345. NovaGold Resources has a one year low of $4.06 and a one year high of $8.36. The firm has a market cap of $2.02 billion, a P/E ratio of -37.75 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.14, a current ratio of 33.17 and a quick ratio of 33.17. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $5.46. Get NovaGold Resources alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, National Bank Financial increased their target price on NovaGold Resources from C$10.00 to C$11.00 in a research note on Friday, January 13th. Insider Activity Institutional Trading of NovaGold Resources In other news, Director Anthony P. Walsh sold 12,479 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.27, for a total transaction of $78,243.33. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 41,751 shares in the company, valued at approximately $261,778.77. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . Company insiders own 3.25% of the companys stock. A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in NovaGold Resources by 47.1% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,148,564 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $8,878,000 after buying an additional 367,773 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates lifted its position in NovaGold Resources by 19.9% during the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 87,901 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $679,000 after purchasing an additional 14,573 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in NovaGold Resources during the first quarter valued at $78,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its position in NovaGold Resources by 1.3% during the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 656,705 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $5,076,000 after purchasing an additional 8,220 shares during the period. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its position in NovaGold Resources by 37.5% during the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 112,267 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $868,000 after purchasing an additional 30,641 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 53.92% of the companys stock. About NovaGold Resources (Get Rating) NovaGold Resources, Inc is a mineral exploration company, which engages in the development of the Donlin Gold project in Alaska. The company was founded by Gregory Shawn Johnson, John W. Chisholm, Macisaac G. Angus, Rick van Nieuwenhuyse, and Gerald James McConnell on December 5, 1984 and is headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for NovaGold Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NovaGold Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund raised its holdings in Occidental Petroleum Co. (NYSE:OXY Get Rating) by 13.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 215,325 shares of the oil and gas producers stock after buying an additional 25,940 shares during the quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Funds holdings in Occidental Petroleum were worth $13,563,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of OXY. Point72 Asset Management L.P. acquired a new position in Occidental Petroleum during the 3rd quarter valued at about $96,636,000. Amundi boosted its position in shares of Occidental Petroleum by 40.0% during the second quarter. Amundi now owns 5,384,566 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $308,156,000 after buying an additional 1,537,686 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP grew its holdings in Occidental Petroleum by 87.9% during the first quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 3,276,078 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $185,885,000 after buying an additional 1,532,100 shares in the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. raised its position in Occidental Petroleum by 117.2% in the 3rd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 2,424,556 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $148,989,000 after buying an additional 1,308,043 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nuveen Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Occidental Petroleum by 32.8% during the 3rd quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 3,494,359 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $214,728,000 after acquiring an additional 862,354 shares in the last quarter. 78.45% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Occidental Petroleum alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages have recently commented on OXY. Roth Capital reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Occidental Petroleum in a report on Monday, February 27th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Occidental Petroleum from $70.00 to $78.00 in a research report on Friday, March 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Occidental Petroleum from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $81.00 target price for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 14th. Evercore ISI lowered Occidental Petroleum from an in-line rating to an underperform rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $74.00 to $60.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Occidental Petroleum in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $74.61. Occidental Petroleum Trading Down 2.4 % NYSE:OXY opened at $63.04 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $56.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.09, a P/E/G ratio of 0.51 and a beta of 1.78. Occidental Petroleum Co. has a 1 year low of $51.53 and a 1 year high of $77.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 0.88. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $61.49 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $64.84. Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 27th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.61 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.83 by ($0.22). The company had revenue of $8.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.21 billion. Occidental Petroleum had a return on equity of 52.68% and a net margin of 35.87%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 97.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.48 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Occidental Petroleum Co. will post 5.79 EPS for the current year. Occidental Petroleum Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 17th. Investors of record on Friday, March 10th will be paid a dividend of $0.18 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 9th. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.14%. This is a boost from Occidental Petroleums previous quarterly dividend of $0.13. Occidental Petroleums payout ratio is currently 5.82%. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, major shareholder Berkshire Hathaway Inc purchased 1,789,529 shares of Occidental Petroleum stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 27th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $59.32 per share, for a total transaction of $106,154,860.28. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 211,707,119 shares of the companys stock, valued at $12,558,466,299.08. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In the last 90 days, insiders have bought 12,371,716 shares of company stock valued at $735,557,715. Company insiders own 0.31% of the companys stock. Occidental Petroleum Profile (Get Rating) Occidental Petroleum Corp. engages in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas. It operates through the following segments: Oil and Gas, Chemical, and Midstream and Marketing. The Oil and Gas segment explores for, develops and produces oil and condensate, natural gas liquids and natural gas. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding OXY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Occidental Petroleum Co. (NYSE:OXY Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Occidental Petroleum Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Occidental Petroleum and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Raymond James upgraded shares of Extra Space Storage (NYSE:EXR Get Rating) from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating in a report released on Tuesday morning, MarketBeat Ratings reports. They currently have $185.00 price objective on the real estate investment trusts stock. Several other equities research analysts have also recently commented on EXR. Wolfe Research cut Extra Space Storage from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 18th. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Truist Financial boosted their target price on Extra Space Storage from $160.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, March 8th. Citigroup dropped their target price on Extra Space Storage from $175.00 to $170.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Monday, December 12th. StockNews.com started coverage on Extra Space Storage in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on Extra Space Storage from $153.00 to $145.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, December 14th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $170.56. Get Extra Space Storage alerts: Extra Space Storage Stock Performance Shares of NYSE EXR opened at $162.79 on Tuesday. Extra Space Storage has a 12-month low of $139.97 and a 12-month high of $222.35. The company has a market cap of $21.98 billion, a PE ratio of 25.40 and a beta of 0.54. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $159.92 and a 200-day simple moving average of $159.35. The company has a current ratio of 0.54, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.80. Extra Space Storage Increases Dividend Extra Space Storage ( NYSE:EXR Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 22nd. The real estate investment trust reported $1.52 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.08 by ($0.56). Extra Space Storage had a return on equity of 22.01% and a net margin of 45.52%. The firm had revenue of $506.70 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $433.39 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.91 EPS. Extra Space Storages revenue for the quarter was up 18.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Extra Space Storage will post 8.54 EPS for the current year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 15th were issued a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, March 14th. This represents a $6.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.98%. This is a boost from Extra Space Storages previous quarterly dividend of $1.50. Extra Space Storages dividend payout ratio is currently 101.09%. Insider Buying and Selling at Extra Space Storage In other Extra Space Storage news, CEO Joseph D. Margolis sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $160.07, for a total transaction of $800,350.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 15,144 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,424,100.08. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Extra Space Storage news, EVP Gwyn Goodson Mcneal sold 1,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $164.00, for a total transaction of $246,000.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 32,290 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,295,560. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Joseph D. Margolis sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $160.07, for a total transaction of $800,350.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 15,144 shares in the company, valued at $2,424,100.08. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 13,440 shares of company stock valued at $2,172,313. Corporate insiders own 1.52% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Extra Space Storage Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust grew its holdings in shares of Extra Space Storage by 80.0% during the 3rd quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 144 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 64 shares in the last quarter. EdgeRock Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Extra Space Storage during the 3rd quarter valued at $27,000. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Extra Space Storage during the 2nd quarter valued at $35,000. American National Bank grew its holdings in shares of Extra Space Storage by 271.7% during the 4th quarter. American National Bank now owns 171 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Money Concepts Capital Corp purchased a new position in shares of Extra Space Storage during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. 95.32% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Extra Space Storage Company Profile (Get Rating) Extra Space Storage, Inc is a real estate investment trust. It operates through the following segments: Self-Storage Operations and Tenant Reinsurance. The Self-Storage Operations segment includes rental operations of wholly-owned stores. The Tenant Reinsurance segment includes reinsurance of risks relating to the loss of goods stored by tenants in stores. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Extra Space Storage Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Extra Space Storage and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Paradigm Financial Partners LLC boosted its stake in Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF (NYSEARCA:FNDX Get Rating) by 10.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 23,204 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 2,205 shares during the period. Paradigm Financial Partners LLCs holdings in Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF were worth $1,272,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Cowa LLC raised its holdings in shares of Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF by 31,068.3% during the first quarter. Cowa LLC now owns 3,597,442 shares of the companys stock worth $2,105,000 after purchasing an additional 3,585,900 shares during the period. McAdam LLC raised its holdings in shares of Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF by 3.9% during the third quarter. McAdam LLC now owns 2,068,672 shares of the companys stock worth $98,800,000 after purchasing an additional 76,963 shares during the period. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF during the third quarter worth $64,878,000. Northwest Bancshares Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF by 0.7% during the third quarter. Northwest Bancshares Inc. now owns 1,323,821 shares of the companys stock worth $63,225,000 after purchasing an additional 9,762 shares during the period. Finally, Washington Trust Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF by 6.0% during the third quarter. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. now owns 1,071,637 shares of the companys stock worth $51,181,000 after purchasing an additional 60,196 shares during the period. Get Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF alerts: Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF Stock Up 0.1 % Shares of NYSEARCA:FNDX traded up $0.05 on Friday, reaching $54.89. 386,442 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 421,085. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.00 and a beta of 1.00. Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF has a fifty-two week low of $47.50 and a fifty-two week high of $59.78. The businesss 50-day moving average is $55.05 and its two-hundred day moving average is $53.81. Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF Company Profile The Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF (FNDX) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Russell RAFI Large Company US index. The fund tracks a fundamentally selected and weighted Russell index based on sales, cash flow and dividends\u002Fbuybacks. FNDX was launched on Aug 15, 2013 and is managed by Charles Schwab. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Scorpio Tankers Inc. (NYSE:STNG Get Rating) have earned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the ten brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $66.57. A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Scorpio Tankers in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price objective on shares of Scorpio Tankers from $55.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Monday, March 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. started coverage on shares of Scorpio Tankers in a report on Wednesday, March 8th. They set an overweight rating and a $87.00 price objective for the company. BTIG Research raised their price objective on shares of Scorpio Tankers from $60.00 to $70.00 in a report on Friday, December 9th. Finally, B. Riley raised their price objective on shares of Scorpio Tankers from $65.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, February 17th. Get Scorpio Tankers alerts: Scorpio Tankers Stock Down 0.9 % Scorpio Tankers stock opened at $54.99 on Friday. Scorpio Tankers has a 1-year low of $19.65 and a 1-year high of $64.20. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.16 and a beta of 0.37. The firms fifty day moving average price is $56.69 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $51.76. The company has a current ratio of 1.45, a quick ratio of 1.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45. Scorpio Tankers Increases Dividend Scorpio Tankers ( NYSE:STNG Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 16th. The shipping company reported $4.24 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $4.38 by ($0.14). Scorpio Tankers had a net margin of 40.78% and a return on equity of 33.75%. The firm had revenue of $493.70 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $446.96 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned ($0.79) earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 233.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts predict that Scorpio Tankers will post 10.23 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 7th were paid a $0.20 dividend. This is an increase from Scorpio Tankerss previous quarterly dividend of $0.10. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 6th. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.45%. Scorpio Tankerss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 7.83%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Scorpio Tankers Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of STNG. FMR LLC increased its stake in shares of Scorpio Tankers by 1,495.0% in the second quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,865,679 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $64,385,000 after purchasing an additional 1,748,708 shares in the last quarter. Platinum Investment Management Ltd. bought a new stake in Scorpio Tankers during the 4th quarter worth approximately $48,792,000. Herr Investment Group LLC bought a new stake in Scorpio Tankers during the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,402,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its holdings in Scorpio Tankers by 197.2% during the 3rd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 866,915 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $36,445,000 after acquiring an additional 575,200 shares during the period. Finally, Millennium Management LLC increased its holdings in Scorpio Tankers by 810.7% during the 2nd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 553,021 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $19,085,000 after acquiring an additional 492,296 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 54.53% of the companys stock. Scorpio Tankers Company Profile (Get Rating) Scorpio Tankers, Inc engages in the provision of marine transportation of petroleum products. Its consists of wholly owned, finance leased, and bareboat chartered-in tankers. It operates through the following segments: MR, LR2, Handymax, and LR1. The company was founded by Emanuele A. Lauro on July 1, 2009 and is headquartered in Monaco. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Scorpio Tankers Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Scorpio Tankers and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The last escape of Joaquin Guzman Loera, El Chapo, was through a sewer. Almost six months after escaping from the high security prison of El Altiplano through a 1,500 meter tunnel, and after playing cat and mouse with justice in the mountains, the boss of the Sinaloa Cartel had a moment of weakness. He wanted to go to Los Mochis. His security chief, Jorge Ivan Gastelum, alias El Cholo Ivan, opposed the idea. After embarrassing the Mexican government with his escapes, it was preferable for the drug trafficker to keep a low profile and avoid cities. But El Chapo did not listen to reason. When, in January 2016, a Navy operation surrounded the house where they were hiding, he and El Cholo dragged themselves through a kilometer and a half of sewers, among the feces and rot, says Miguel Angel Vega, an expert in the Sinaloa Cartel. A federal police checkpoint intercepted them in a stolen car. The two men were taken to the Hotel Doux, where the Navy took control of the situation. It was a chase out of a movie. When two patrol cars blocked the highway, El Chapo tried to bribe them, but the agents did not budge. I believe that the federal police never knew who El Chapo and El Cholo were, continues Vega, one of the journalists with the most access to the Sinaloa Cartel. In a photo of the arrest, El Chapo appears with a pensive expression, with his head reclining in the back seat of a car, his left hand resting on his chin. He wears a tank top with traces of filth from the escape attempt. Next to him, with his gaze fixed on the ground, a defeated gesture and a scar on his left shoulder, sits El Cholo Ivan. Guzman Loera was extradited to the United States in 2017. This weekend, Gastelum followed in his footsteps, Mexicos Attorney Generals Office (FGR) confirmed this Sunday in a statement. El Cholo Ivan with his boss, El Chapo Guzman, in a vehicle after his arrest in January 2016. SEGOB El Cholo Ivan, accused of belonging to a criminal organization and one of the bosses of the Sinaloa plaza, responsible for trafficking various amounts of drugs to the United States of America, according to Mexican authorities, will be tried by the Federal District Court of the District of Columbia, in New York, for drug conspiracy and use of a firearm in relation to drug trafficking. El Cholo Ivan, after El Chapo, I think was the most important piece for the United States government to seize. He is perhaps the last piece on El Chapos chessboard. He was the personal security coordinator for El Chapos every movement. He was with him all the time, wherever he went. He knew everything. Thats why they had their eyes well on him, explains Vega. After being arrested along with El Chapo in January 2016, El Cholo Ivan went to prison. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs granted his extradition to be prosecuted in December 2020, but Gastelum had managed to hold out in Mexico until now thanks to a series of injunctions. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the same one that claimed the drug trafficker, also wants to try Ovidio Guzman, one of the sons of El Chapo, arrested last January. Along with his brothers Ivan Archivaldo and Jesus Alfredo, Ovidio Guzman was the head of Los Chapitos, one of the factions of the Sinaloa Cartel that was formed after the arrest of El Chapo. El Cholo was a fundamental piece. It is possible that his extradition is the preamble for him to eventually testify against Ovidio. They may be preparing a trial against him, and they want all the necessary elements, Vega argues. Thanks to the FGR for the delivery of the defendant required by the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia for various crimes related to drug trafficking and crimes of use of weapons. We are committed to our shared security, the US Embassy in Mexico said on Twitter. Vega, however, downplays the value of the capture: We must remember that El Cholo Ivan was arrested in 2016. His extradition no longer has any weight within the structure [of the Cartel]. The rearrangements occurred many years ago. It is history now. The United States took too long to extradite. Elements of the FGR escort Jorge Ivan Gastelum to extradite him, this Sunday. FISCALIA GENERAL DE LA REPUBLICA DE MEXICO (FISCALIA GENERAL DE LA REPUBLICA) The legend of El Cholo Cholo Ivan was a violent, intelligent and strategic man. He became part of the Sinaloa Cartel around 2008, when the war against drugs unleashed by former President Felipe Calderon began to accumulate deaths throughout the country. Gastelum began as a gunman and rose through the ranks of the criminal organization. By 2016, the police had already tried to catch him on several occasions. During an operation in 2012, they killed his partner, the model Susana Flores. He managed to escape. By the time he was arrested, he was already a plaza boss in Guamuchil, a town north of Culiacan that El Chapo used as a watchtower to ensure that no other cartel entered his territory. They were in a constant war with other criminal groups. El Cholo became a legend. He is intelligent and determined and was not afraid. When there was a confrontation, he went to the front, says Vega. He had a lot of people at his service, about 200 or 300. When they moved through the mountains they were like an army. El Cholo was very good at coordinating. He had almost military strategies. The Mexican government placed him on its list of 122 priority targets to capture. In a video released this Sunday by the Mexican Prosecutors Office, the defendant is seen with a pixelated face and a cream-colored prison jumpsuit. He walks down a corridor, guarded by at least five armed agents who put him in a white van with the Interpol emblem. The fugitive was handed over at the Mexico City International Airport to US agents, the Public Ministry said. Like El Chapo and former Public Security Secretary Genaro Garcia Luna convicted by a jury in Brooklyn, but awaiting the judges sentence, the Sinaloan hitmans future is now in the hands of a New York court. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Sicart Associates LLC lessened its stake in shares of iShares Silver Trust (NYSEARCA:SLV Get Rating) by 3.9% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 33,518 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 1,350 shares during the quarter. Sicart Associates LLCs holdings in iShares Silver Trust were worth $738,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Toronto Dominion Bank boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Silver Trust by 65.8% in the 3rd quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 11,494,344 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $201,152,000 after acquiring an additional 4,560,000 shares during the last quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Silver Trust by 5.9% in the 1st quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA now owns 3,850,025 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $88,089,000 after acquiring an additional 213,612 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Silver Trust by 48.0% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 2,711,172 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $62,032,000 after acquiring an additional 879,524 shares during the last quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Silver Trust by 12.4% in the 3rd quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 1,286,697 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $22,517,000 after acquiring an additional 141,704 shares during the last quarter. Finally, 1832 Asset Management L.P. purchased a new stake in shares of iShares Silver Trust in the 1st quarter valued at $26,492,000. Get iShares Silver Trust alerts: iShares Silver Trust Stock Down 0.2 % SLV stock opened at $22.89 on Friday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $20.47 and its 200-day simple moving average is $20.07. iShares Silver Trust has a 12 month low of $16.19 and a 12 month high of $24.16. iShares Silver Trust Company Profile iShares Silver Trust (the Trust) owns silver transferred to the Trust in exchange for shares issued by the Trust. The Trusts each share represents a fractional undivided beneficial interest in its net assets. The assets of the Trust consist of silver held by the Trusts custodian on behalf of the Trust. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SLV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Silver Trust (NYSEARCA:SLV Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Silver Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Silver Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sigma Investment Counselors Inc. cut its stake in Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETF (NYSEARCA:PRF Get Rating) by 15.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 19,536 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,634 shares during the period. Sigma Investment Counselors Inc.s holdings in Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETF were worth $3,031,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its stake in Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETF by 43.0% in the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 5,032 shares of the companys stock worth $875,000 after purchasing an additional 1,512 shares during the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. lifted its stake in Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETF by 2.6% in the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 3,740 shares of the companys stock worth $639,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares during the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL raised its stake in shares of Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETF by 39.1% during the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 51,296 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,764,000 after acquiring an additional 14,432 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETF by 18.3% during the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 6,031 shares of the companys stock worth $1,030,000 after purchasing an additional 932 shares during the period. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETF by 11.8% during the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 7,871 shares of the companys stock worth $1,345,000 after purchasing an additional 828 shares during the period. Get Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETF alerts: Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETF Trading Up 0.2 % Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETF stock opened at $156.65 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $158.08 and a 200-day moving average of $155.42. The firm has a market cap of $5.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.89 and a beta of 1.01. Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETF has a 1-year low of $137.81 and a 1-year high of $174.24. Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETF Company Profile The Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETF (PRF) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the FTSE RAFI US 1000 index. The fund tracks an index of 1,000 of the largest US companies that are selected and weighted using fundamental metrics. PRF was launched on Dec 19, 2005 and is managed by Invesco. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PRF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETF (NYSEARCA:PRF Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sowa Financial Group Inc. trimmed its position in shares of iShares Gold Trust (NYSEARCA:IAU Get Rating) by 2.7% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 509,495 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 14,147 shares during the quarter. iShares Gold Trust comprises 13.2% of Sowa Financial Group Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 2nd biggest holding. Sowa Financial Group Inc.s holdings in iShares Gold Trust were worth $17,623,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Natixis Advisors L.P. boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Gold Trust by 2.7% in the first quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 18,628 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $686,000 after acquiring an additional 486 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Gold Trust by 17.0% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 3,061,470 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $112,754,000 after acquiring an additional 445,160 shares during the period. Cibc World Market Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Gold Trust by 43.2% in the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 93,543 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $3,445,000 after acquiring an additional 28,233 shares during the period. Allianz Asset Management GmbH bought a new position in shares of iShares Gold Trust in the first quarter worth $3,469,000. Finally, Moors & Cabot Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Gold Trust by 10.0% in the first quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 15,156 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $558,000 after acquiring an additional 1,380 shares during the period. 62.40% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get iShares Gold Trust alerts: iShares Gold Trust Price Performance Shares of iShares Gold Trust stock traded down $0.27 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $38.05. The company had a trading volume of 5,101,530 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,939,392. iShares Gold Trust has a one year low of $30.69 and a one year high of $38.52. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $36.01 and a 200 day simple moving average of $34.26. iShares Gold Trust Company Profile iShares Gold Trust (the Trust) is to own gold transferred to the Trust in exchange for shares issued by the Trust (Shares). Each Share represents a fractional undivided beneficial interest in the net assets of the Trust. The assets of the Trust consist of gold held by the Trusts custodian on behalf of the Trust. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IAU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Gold Trust (NYSEARCA:IAU Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Gold Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Gold Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Spectrum Asset Management Inc. NB CA decreased its position in CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF Get Rating) by 39.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 22,845 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 14,965 shares during the quarter. Spectrum Asset Management Inc. NB CAs holdings in CF Industries were worth $1,946,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of CF Industries by 2.3% in the third quarter. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC now owns 4,272 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $411,000 after acquiring an additional 98 shares during the last quarter. Mizuho Securities Co. Ltd. increased its position in shares of CF Industries by 24.4% in the third quarter. Mizuho Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 510 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC increased its position in shares of CF Industries by 48.3% in the second quarter. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC now owns 341 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 111 shares during the last quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems increased its position in shares of CF Industries by 0.7% in the third quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems now owns 15,598 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $1,501,000 after acquiring an additional 116 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sage Rhino Capital LLC increased its position in shares of CF Industries by 1.5% in the third quarter. Sage Rhino Capital LLC now owns 7,914 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $762,000 after acquiring an additional 119 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.94% of the companys stock. Get CF Industries alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts recently issued reports on CF shares. Credit Suisse Group reaffirmed an underperform rating and issued a $75.00 target price on shares of CF Industries in a research report on Thursday, February 16th. UBS Group reduced their price target on CF Industries from $104.00 to $100.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 16th. Barclays reduced their price target on CF Industries from $120.00 to $115.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 27th. Citigroup reduced their price target on CF Industries from $126.00 to $100.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 20th. Finally, Scotiabank cut CF Industries from a sector outperform rating to a sector perform rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $118.00 to $100.00 in a report on Monday, February 13th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $104.80. CF Industries Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:CF traded down $1.70 during trading on Friday, reaching $71.46. 2,295,802 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,137,897. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. has a 12 month low of $67.95 and a 12 month high of $119.60. The firm has a market cap of $14.00 billion, a PE ratio of 4.38, a PEG ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 1.01. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $80.02 and a 200-day moving average price of $91.62. The company has a current ratio of 3.69, a quick ratio of 3.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. CF Industries (NYSE:CF Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 16th. The basic materials company reported $4.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.13 by $0.22. The business had revenue of $2.61 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.80 billion. CF Industries had a return on equity of 48.59% and a net margin of 29.91%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.71 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that CF Industries Holdings, Inc. will post 9.95 EPS for the current fiscal year. CF Industries Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 28th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 15th were given a dividend of $0.40 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 14th. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.24%. CF Industriess dividend payout ratio is currently 9.80%. About CF Industries (Get Rating) CF Industries Holdings, Inc engages in the manufacture and distribution of nitrogen fertilizer. The firm owns and operates nitrogen plants and serves agricultural and industrial customers through its distribution system. It operates through following segments: Ammonia, Granular Urea, UAN, AN, and Other. Read More Receive News & Ratings for CF Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CF Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Northstar Asset Management LLC trimmed its stake in shares of Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (NYSE:SWK Get Rating) by 4.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 9,710 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 450 shares during the period. Northstar Asset Management LLCs holdings in Stanley Black & Decker were worth $729,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in Stanley Black & Decker by 17.5% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 18,623,594 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $2,603,393,000 after buying an additional 2,774,661 shares during the period. State Street Corp raised its position in Stanley Black & Decker by 7.4% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 8,414,788 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $632,876,000 after buying an additional 578,581 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its position in Stanley Black & Decker by 0.7% during the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 8,039,425 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $604,645,000 after buying an additional 59,090 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its position in Stanley Black & Decker by 271.9% during the third quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 7,554,260 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $568,157,000 after buying an additional 5,523,022 shares during the period. Finally, Cooke & Bieler LP raised its position in Stanley Black & Decker by 1.9% during the third quarter. Cooke & Bieler LP now owns 2,277,776 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $171,312,000 after buying an additional 42,025 shares during the period. 88.01% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Stanley Black & Decker alerts: Insider Activity at Stanley Black & Decker In related news, SVP Janet Link sold 2,581 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $85.73, for a total transaction of $221,269.13. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 36,352 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,116,456.96. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes Stanley Black & Decker Stock Down 0.2 % Several research analysts recently weighed in on SWK shares. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Stanley Black & Decker from $93.00 to $105.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. StockNews.com raised Stanley Black & Decker from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, March 24th. Credit Suisse Group upped their target price on Stanley Black & Decker from $79.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, February 6th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Stanley Black & Decker from $78.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their target price on Stanley Black & Decker from $79.00 to $99.00 in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $98.75. Shares of SWK traded down $0.18 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $74.29. 1,404,231 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,871,266. The company has a market cap of $11.37 billion, a PE ratio of 10.94, a PEG ratio of 10.30 and a beta of 1.30. The firms 50 day moving average is $83.64 and its 200-day moving average is $80.94. Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. has a 52 week low of $70.24 and a 52 week high of $147.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a current ratio of 1.21. Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE:SWK Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The industrial products company reported ($0.10) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.33) by $0.23. The company had revenue of $4 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.88 billion. Stanley Black & Decker had a return on equity of 8.08% and a net margin of 6.24%. The firms revenue was down 1.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.14 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. will post 0.83 EPS for the current fiscal year. Stanley Black & Decker Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 21st. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 7th were paid a dividend of $0.80 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 6th. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.31%. Stanley Black & Deckers payout ratio is 47.13%. Stanley Black & Decker Company Profile (Get Rating) Stanley Black & Decker, Inc engages in the provision of power and hand tools, and related accessories, products, services and equipment for oil and gas, infrastructure applications, commercial electronic security and monitoring systems, healthcare solutions, and mechanical access solutions. It operates through the Tools and Storage segment, and Industrial segment. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Stanley Black & Decker Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Stanley Black & Decker and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Strategic Wealth Investment Group LLC grew its holdings in Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE Get Rating) by 15.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 24,303 shares of the technology companys stock after acquiring an additional 3,221 shares during the period. Strategic Wealth Investment Group LLCs holdings in Hewlett Packard Enterprise were worth $391,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Fifth Third Bancorp increased its position in shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 2.4% during the 4th quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 27,874 shares of the technology companys stock worth $445,000 after purchasing an additional 645 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Trust Co. increased its position in Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 3.3% in the 2nd quarter. Cambridge Trust Co. now owns 20,727 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $275,000 after acquiring an additional 668 shares in the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd increased its position in Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 102,023 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $1,628,000 after acquiring an additional 721 shares in the last quarter. Strategic Wealth Advisors Group LLC increased its position in Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter. Strategic Wealth Advisors Group LLC now owns 22,249 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $267,000 after acquiring an additional 777 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. increased its position in Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. now owns 223,300 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $2,675,000 after acquiring an additional 780 shares in the last quarter. 81.36% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Hewlett Packard Enterprise alerts: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Trading Down 0.3 % Hewlett Packard Enterprise stock traded down $0.05 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $15.86. 6,339,030 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 14,466,037. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $15.52 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $15.07. Hewlett Packard Enterprise has a 52 week low of $11.90 and a 52 week high of $17.25. The stock has a market capitalization of $20.55 billion, a PE ratio of 24.40, a P/E/G ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Dividend Announcement Hewlett Packard Enterprise ( NYSE:HPE Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, March 2nd. The technology company reported $0.63 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.52 by $0.11. The firm had revenue of $7.81 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.40 billion. Hewlett Packard Enterprise had a net margin of 2.92% and a return on equity of 4.22%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 12.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.39 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Hewlett Packard Enterprise will post 1.3 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 17th will be issued a dividend of $0.12 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 16th. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.03%. Hewlett Packard Enterprises dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 73.85%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Hewlett Packard Enterprise news, Director Jean M. Hobby sold 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $15.28, for a total transaction of $152,800.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 46,161 shares in the company, valued at approximately $705,340.08. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other news, Director Jean M. Hobby sold 10,000 shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $15.28, for a total value of $152,800.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 46,161 shares in the company, valued at $705,340.08. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Thomas E. Black, Jr. sold 34,088 shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $15.05, for a total transaction of $513,024.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 747,314 shares of company stock worth $11,291,569. Company insiders own 0.53% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth HPE has been the subject of several research reports. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $13.00 to $14.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, March 3rd. Barclays lowered shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $18.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Tuesday, January 10th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, March 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $18.00 to $20.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 20th. Finally, Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $13.00 to $14.00 in a research note on Friday, March 3rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $16.77. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Profile (Get Rating) Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co is a global edge-to-cloud company, which engages in the provision of information technology, technology and enterprise products, solutions, and services. It operates through the following segments: Compute, High Performance Computing & Artificial Intelligence (HPC & AI), Storage, Intelligent Edge, Financial Services, and Corporate Investments and Other. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HPE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Hewlett Packard Enterprise Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hewlett Packard Enterprise and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Summit Place Financial Advisors LLC increased its position in The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO Get Rating) by 5.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 16,757 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 925 shares during the period. Summit Place Financial Advisors LLCs holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $1,066,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Coca-Cola during the 2nd quarter valued at about $3,565,000. Altus Wealth Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Coca-Cola during the 4th quarter worth approximately $203,000. Allworth Financial LP lifted its position in shares of Coca-Cola by 28.7% during the 3rd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 53,693 shares of the companys stock worth $3,008,000 after buying an additional 11,988 shares in the last quarter. Chilton Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Coca-Cola by 4.4% during the 2nd quarter. Chilton Capital Management LLC now owns 71,067 shares of the companys stock worth $4,471,000 after buying an additional 3,012 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lyell Wealth Management LP lifted its position in shares of Coca-Cola by 3.9% during the 4th quarter. Lyell Wealth Management LP now owns 7,265 shares of the companys stock worth $462,000 after buying an additional 275 shares in the last quarter. 68.74% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Coca-Cola alerts: Coca-Cola Stock Up 0.1 % KO opened at $62.84 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $60.39 and a 200-day moving average price of $60.42. The firm has a market capitalization of $271.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.60 and a beta of 0.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.41, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 0.93. The Coca-Cola Company has a one year low of $54.01 and a one year high of $67.20. Coca-Cola Increases Dividend Coca-Cola ( NYSE:KO Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 14th. The company reported $0.45 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.45. The firm had revenue of $10.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.92 billion. Coca-Cola had a net margin of 22.19% and a return on equity of 42.35%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 6.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.45 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 3rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 17th were given a dividend of $0.46 per share. This is a positive change from Coca-Colas previous quarterly dividend of $0.44. This represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.93%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 16th. Coca-Colas payout ratio is 83.64%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research firms have commented on KO. JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a $67.00 target price on shares of Coca-Cola in a research report on Tuesday, February 14th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Coca-Cola from $68.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 15th. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Coca-Cola from $68.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, February 13th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of Coca-Cola from $61.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, February 13th. Finally, Citigroup initiated coverage on shares of Coca-Cola in a report on Thursday, February 16th. They issued a buy rating and a $68.00 price target on the stock. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $67.55. Insider Activity In related news, CEO James Quincey sold 46,421 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.50, for a total value of $2,808,470.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 592,546 shares in the company, valued at $35,849,033. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO James Quincey sold 46,421 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.50, for a total value of $2,808,470.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 592,546 shares in the company, valued at $35,849,033. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Nancy Quan sold 74,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $58.71, for a total transaction of $4,344,540.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 219,790 shares of the companys stock, valued at $12,903,870.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 282,268 shares of company stock worth $17,137,823 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 1.00% of the companys stock. About Coca-Cola (Get Rating) The Coca-Cola Co engages in the manufacturing and marketing of non-alcoholic beverages. It operates through the following segments: Europe, Middle East and Africa, Latin America, North America, Asia Pacific, Global Ventures, and Bottling Investments. The company was founded by Asa Griggs Candler on May 8, 1886 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Coca-Cola Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Coca-Cola and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Suncor Energy Inc. (NYSE:SU Get Rating) (TSE:SU) has been assigned a consensus rating of Hold from the twelve analysts that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and one has assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year target price among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $54.38. A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company downgraded Suncor Energy from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 10th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Suncor Energy in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. TD Securities upped their price target on shares of Suncor Energy from C$52.00 to C$53.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 15th. National Bank Financial boosted their price objective on Suncor Energy from C$54.00 to C$57.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 11th. Finally, Scotiabank downgraded Suncor Energy from a sector outperform rating to a sector perform rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 21st. Get Suncor Energy alerts: Suncor Energy Stock Performance Shares of SU opened at $31.61 on Friday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $32.63 and a two-hundred day moving average of $32.43. The stock has a market cap of $42.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.31, a PEG ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 1.27. Suncor Energy has a one year low of $26.42 and a one year high of $42.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 0.74. Suncor Energy Cuts Dividend Suncor Energy ( NYSE:SU Get Rating ) (TSE:SU) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 14th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.33 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.26 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $10.21 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.65 billion. Suncor Energy had a net margin of 15.55% and a return on equity of 29.52%. On average, equities research analysts expect that Suncor Energy will post 4.03 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 3rd were issued a dividend of $0.391 per share. This represents a $1.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.95%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 2nd. Suncor Energys payout ratio is 30.34%. Institutional Trading of Suncor Energy Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Arcadia Investment Management Corp MI increased its holdings in shares of Suncor Energy by 3.9% during the third quarter. Arcadia Investment Management Corp MI now owns 160,207 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $4,510,000 after buying an additional 6,070 shares in the last quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC increased its holdings in Suncor Energy by 5.1% during the 3rd quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC now owns 7,106 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $200,000 after purchasing an additional 345 shares in the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC raised its position in Suncor Energy by 17.4% in the 2nd quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 5,627 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $197,000 after purchasing an additional 833 shares during the last quarter. Mirabella Financial Services LLP acquired a new position in Suncor Energy in the third quarter worth $251,000. Finally, Eagle Global Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Suncor Energy by 27.1% during the third quarter. Eagle Global Advisors LLC now owns 123,883 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $3,494,000 after purchasing an additional 26,451 shares during the last quarter. 58.04% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About Suncor Energy (Get Rating) Suncor Energy, Inc is an integrated energy company, which engages in the development of petroleum resource basins. It operates through the following segments: Oil Sands, Exploration and Production, Refining and Marketing, and Corporate and Eliminations. The Oil Sands segment operates assets in the Athabasca oil sands of northeast Alberta. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Suncor Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Suncor Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First Pacific Financial boosted its position in shares of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM Get Rating) by 2.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 6,039 shares of the business services providers stock after buying an additional 131 shares during the quarter. First Pacific Financials holdings in Waste Management were worth $947,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in Waste Management by 9.1% during the third quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 254,407 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $40,759,000 after purchasing an additional 21,213 shares in the last quarter. United Capital Financial Advisers LLC lifted its holdings in Waste Management by 10.3% during the third quarter. United Capital Financial Advisers LLC now owns 18,552 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $2,972,000 after purchasing an additional 1,728 shares in the last quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Waste Management by 16.4% during the third quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC now owns 4,884 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $783,000 after purchasing an additional 687 shares in the last quarter. Wall Street Access Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Waste Management during the second quarter valued at $296,000. Finally, Douglas Lane & Associates LLC lifted its holdings in Waste Management by 3.6% during the third quarter. Douglas Lane & Associates LLC now owns 3,133 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $502,000 after purchasing an additional 109 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.48% of the companys stock. Get Waste Management alerts: Waste Management Trading Up 0.5 % WM stock traded up $0.84 during trading on Friday, reaching $163.66. 3,290,538 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,116,808. The company has a current ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.12. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $153.64 and a 200-day moving average price of $157.87. Waste Management, Inc. has a 1 year low of $138.89 and a 1 year high of $175.98. The firm has a market capitalization of $66.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.36, a P/E/G ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.73. Waste Management Increases Dividend Waste Management ( NYSE:WM Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 1st. The business services provider reported $1.30 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.39 by ($0.09). Waste Management had a return on equity of 32.91% and a net margin of 11.36%. The firm had revenue of $4.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.97 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.26 earnings per share. Waste Managements revenue for the quarter was up 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that Waste Management, Inc. will post 6.03 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 10th were given a dividend of $0.70 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 9th. This is a boost from Waste Managements previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.71%. Waste Managements dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 51.95%. Waste Management declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase plan on Thursday, December 8th that allows the company to repurchase $1.50 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the business services provider to buy up to 2.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are typically a sign that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth WM has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on shares of Waste Management from $158.00 to $167.00 in a report on Thursday. UBS Group downgraded shares of Waste Management from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $190.00 to $165.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 10th. Raymond James decreased their price target on shares of Waste Management from $167.00 to $166.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 6th. Citigroup decreased their price target on shares of Waste Management from $183.00 to $180.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 2nd. Finally, TD Cowen initiated coverage on shares of Waste Management in a research note on Thursday, March 30th. They issued an outperform rating and a $200.00 price target on the stock. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $173.27. Insider Buying and Selling at Waste Management In other Waste Management news, CFO Devina A. Rankin sold 200 shares of Waste Management stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $155.00, for a total transaction of $31,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 64,317 shares in the company, valued at $9,969,135. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, CFO Devina A. Rankin sold 200 shares of Waste Management stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $155.00, for a total value of $31,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 64,317 shares in the company, valued at $9,969,135. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP John J. Morris sold 15,204 shares of Waste Management stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $155.03, for a total transaction of $2,357,076.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 95,461 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $14,799,318.83. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 31,027 shares of company stock worth $4,806,619 over the last three months. Insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock. Waste Management Company Profile (Get Rating) Waste Management, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of waste management environmental services. It operates through the following segments: East Tier, West Tier, and Other. The East Tier segment consists of Eastern U.S., the Great Lakes Region, and Canada. The West Tier segment includes the upper Midwest region and British Columbia, Canada. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Waste Management Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Waste Management and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS Get Rating) Investment analysts at Zacks Research increased their FY2023 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for General Mills in a note issued to investors on Thursday, April 6th. Zacks Research analyst V. Bagree now expects that the company will post earnings per share of $4.17 for the year, up from their prior estimate of $4.09. The consensus estimate for General Mills current full-year earnings is $4.24 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for General Mills Q4 2023 earnings at $0.99 EPS, Q2 2024 earnings at $1.11 EPS and Q1 2025 earnings at $1.12 EPS. Get General Mills alerts: General Mills (NYSE:GIS Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, March 23rd. The company reported $0.97 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.91 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $5.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.97 billion. General Mills had a net margin of 14.04% and a return on equity of 24.51%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 13.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.84 EPS. General Mills Stock Performance A number of other equities research analysts have also commented on GIS. Mizuho upped their price target on General Mills from $75.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Monday, March 27th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of General Mills from $69.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Friday, March 24th. StockNews.com raised shares of General Mills from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of General Mills from $81.00 to $83.00 in a research note on Monday, March 27th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price target on shares of General Mills from $84.00 to $86.00 in a research report on Friday, March 24th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $83.88. NYSE GIS opened at $86.90 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $51.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.77, a PEG ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.27. The company has a quick ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78. General Mills has a twelve month low of $64.94 and a twelve month high of $88.34. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $79.89 and a 200 day simple moving average of $80.69. General Mills Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 10th will be paid a dividend of $0.54 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 6th. This represents a $2.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.49%. General Millss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 46.65%. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, insider Jonathon Nudi sold 8,030 shares of General Mills stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $85.33, for a total transaction of $685,199.90. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 83,049 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,086,571.17. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other General Mills news, insider Jonathon Nudi sold 8,030 shares of General Mills stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $85.33, for a total transaction of $685,199.90. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 83,049 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,086,571.17. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Bethany C. Quam sold 21,734 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $85.86, for a total transaction of $1,866,081.24. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 47,560 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,083,501.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 67,815 shares of company stock valued at $5,776,530. Corporate insiders own 0.67% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of GIS. Cibc World Market Inc. increased its position in General Mills by 4.8% in the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 22,026 shares of the companys stock worth $1,492,000 after buying an additional 1,003 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in General Mills by 45.3% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 5,867 shares of the companys stock worth $397,000 after acquiring an additional 1,828 shares during the last quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. raised its stake in General Mills by 2.1% in the 1st quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 73,176 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,955,000 after acquiring an additional 1,503 shares during the period. Baird Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in General Mills by 2.3% during the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 279,604 shares of the companys stock valued at $18,935,000 after purchasing an additional 6,176 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd boosted its position in General Mills by 15.3% during the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,834 shares of the companys stock worth $124,000 after purchasing an additional 244 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 74.48% of the companys stock. General Mills Company Profile (Get Rating) General Mills, Inc engages in the manufacture and marketing of branded consumer foods sold through retail stores. The firm operates through the following segments: North America Retail, Europe & Australia, Convenience Stores & Foodservice, Pet, and Asia & Latin America. The North America Retail segment includes grocery stores, mass merchandisers, membership stores, natural food chains, drug, dollar and discount chains and e-commerce grocery providers. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for General Mills Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General Mills and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wilfredo Salvador grimaces after he was nailed to the cross during a reenactment of Jesus Christ's sufferings as part of Good Friday rituals April 7, 2023 in the village of San Pedro, Cutud, Pampanga province, northern Philippines. At least 12 Filipinos are to be nailed to crosses to reenact Jesus Christs suffering in a gory Good Friday tradition that is rejected by the Catholic Church but draws huge crowds of devotees and tourists to the Philippines, an Asian bastion of Christianity. The real-life crucifixions in the farming village of San Pedro Cutud in Pampanga province north of Manila were resuming after a three-year pause due to the coronavirus pandemic. At least 12 men would participate, including 62-year-old sign painter Ruben Enaje, who will be nailed to a wooden cross for the 34th time in Cutud and two other nearby villages, organizers said. Enaje said he would use his extraordinary penance, probably among his last because of his age, to pray for the eradication of the Covid-19 virus and the end of Russias invasion of Ukraine, which has contributed to gas and food prices soaring worldwide. I really want to retire from this because of my age, but lets see if my body can still bear the pain next year, Enaje told The Associated Press a few days before the crucifixions. The father of four has been portrayed in some media reports as among the bravest men in the world for the annual feat but to be honest, I always feel nervous because I could end up dead on the cross. When Im laid down on the cross, my body begins to feel cold. When my hands are tied, I just close my eyes and tell myself, I can do this. I can do this, he said. Surviving nearly unscathed when he fell from a three-story building in 1985 prompted him to undergo the ordeal as thanksgiving for what he considered a miracle. He extended the ritual after loved ones recovered from serious illnesses, one after another, turning him into a village celebrity as the Christ in the Lenten reenactment of the Way of the Cross. Ahead of their crucifixion on a dusty hill, Enaje and the other devotees, wearing thorny crowns of twigs, would carry heavy wooden crosses on their backs for more than a kilometer (more than half a mile) under the scorching heat. Village actors dressed as Roman centurions would later hammer 4-inch (10-centimeter) stainless steel nails through his palms and feet, then set him aloft on a cross under the sun for about 10 minutes. Other penitents walk barefoot through village streets and beat their bare backs with sharp bamboo sticks and pieces of wood. Some participants in the past opened cuts in the penitents backs using broken glass to ensure the ritual was sufficiently bloody. The gruesome spectacle reflects the Philippines unique brand of Catholicism, which merges church traditions with folk superstitions. Many of the mostly impoverished penitents undergo the ritual to atone for sins, pray for the sick or for a better life, and give thanks for miracles. Church leaders in the Philippines have frowned on the crucifixions and self-flagellations, saying Filipinos can show their deep faith and religious devotion without hurting themselves and by doing charity work instead, such as donating blood. Robert Reyes, a prominent Catholic priest and human rights activist in the country, said the bloody rites reflect the churchs failure to fully educate many Filipinos on Christian tenets, leaving them on their own to explore personal ways of seeking divine help for all sorts of maladies. Folk Catholicism has become deeply entrenched in the local religious culture, Reyes said, citing a chaotic procession of a black statue of Jesus Christ called the Black Nazarene each January, which authorities say draw more than a million devotees each year in one of Asias largest religious festivals. Many bring towels to be wiped on the wooden statue, believing it has powers to cure ailments and ensure good health and a better life. The question is where were we church people when they started doing this? Reyes asked, saying the clergy should immerse itself in communities more and converse regularly with villagers. If we judge them, well just alienate them. The decadeslong crucifixions, meanwhile, have put impoverished San Pedro Cutud, one of the more than 500 villages in rice-growing Pampanga province, on the map. Organizers said they expect about 20,000 foreign and Filipino tourists and devotees to gather for the cross nailings. As villagers peddled bottled water, hats, food and religious items, police and marshals kept order. They like this because there is really nothing like this on earth, said Johnson Gareth, a British tour organizer, who brought 15 tourists from eight countries, including the United States, Canada and Germany, to witness the crucifixions. Its less gruesome than people think. They think its going to be very macabre or very disgusting but its not. Its done in a very respectful way. In the past, Gareth said tourists were genuinely inspired and I think they left with a newfound respect for peoples beliefs. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition This photo taken on April 5, 2023 shows an exhibition of Chinese artist Wang Huiqin at the Lek gallery in Ljubljana, Slovenia. [Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua] Alma Karlin was one of the first women who traveled the world by herself and that two of her novels took place in China. Her longest travel lasted for 9 years. LJUBLJANA, April 5 (Xinhua) Chinese artist Wang Huiqin opened here on Tuesday an exhibition of 23 paintings, paying homage to Alma Karlin, a Slovenian writer who embarked on a solo journey around the world, including China, a century ago. Wang Huiqin moved to Slovenia 40 years ago and has since created numerous art works that connect Slovenian and Chinese cultures. She is also a professor at the University of Ljubljana, teaching calligraphy and Chinese art. In 2020, she illustrated a bilingual children's book about Alma Karlin, while recently she created an animated film on Karlin which was shown at the opening of the exhibition. The film, available in both Slovenian and Chinese versions, is set to be showcased at the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany in October. "I have worked on the project involving Alma Karlin since 2019. She was a brave Slovenian woman who went around the world by herself and not enough people know about her," Wang told Xinhua. People visit an exhibition of Chinese artist Wang Huiqin at the Lek gallery in Ljubljana, Slovenia, April 5, 2023. [Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua] Zhao Binghui, counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Slovenia, said that the artist has long been active in boosting cultural exchanges between Slovenia and China. "Art and culture are reaching beyond borders, traveling across countries, and connecting hearts," said Zhao, expecting Wang to create more art works and continue to use art to contribute to the exchanges between the two countries. On behalf of Slovenia's President Natasa Pirc Musar, her husband Ales Musar said at the opening that Alma Karlin was one of the first women who traveled the world by herself and that two of her novels took place in China. Her longest travel lasted for 9 years. "We have to remember more often that the connection between Slovenia and China has no burdens from the past ... our connections with China are all beautiful," said Musar. The exhibition will last until June 5. (Source: Xinhua) Tina Huang, who is half Chinese and half Russian, has been living in Beijing since she was 5 years old. She speaks fluent Chinese, Russian and English. By chance, she met crosstalk performer Yan Jiabao in 2014. She eventually began performing crosstalk with him. They combine Chinese and Western cultures in their performances, as they want their audiences to experience the collision and integration of different cultures. "Beijing is home to me," Huang says. "Beijing, as capital of China, is inclusive and diverse. It is full of elegance, but also it is a vibrant city. It is elegant, because of its history, and it is full of vitality, because Beijingers have a rock spirit in their bones. Beijing, like all cities, needs you to spend time to appreciate its charm." Huang fell in love with crosstalk at a very young age. "Every Chinese person knows crosstalk. It is a very popular performance art in China. It is funny, and it has its own taste of humor," she says. Crosstalk is a traditional form of comic dialogue that dates back to the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1616-1911) dynasties. Crosstalk is usually performed by two people, but sometimes by one person or even a group of people. Crosstalk draws on every aspect of Chinese culture, from history and folk tales to contemporary social issues. Although there are hundreds of skits in the traditional repertoire, they are usually edited to suit the times, and the audiences. During an interview with Women of China, Huang shared her understanding of crosstalk, and her experiences while performing crosstalk in China. The following is that interview, in question-and-answer format: Women of China (WOC): How did you meet your partner, Yan Jiabao, and begin learning and performing crosstalk? What was your original intention when you became a crosstalk performer? Huang: My learning experience started the moment I met Yan. I first met him in 2014. At that time, we were recording a show on Beijing Television Station (BTV), and our dressing rooms were next to each other. He heard the lively laughter coming from my room. When he passed my room, he saw the person who was speaking was me. He was very surprised, because he didn't expect the Chinese he heard was being spoken by a foreigner. Then, he introduced himself, and he asked me if I would be interested in joining him during the next show, performing crosstalk. I thought I was studying hosting, and crosstalk would also help me in the TV industry, so why not try it? Then, we started rehearsing, and he taught me how to get started. Within two months, we had our first performance, at the BTV Lantern Festival Gala. Eight years have passed, and we are still partners. There is one more reason why I do crosstalk I want Chinese people and foreigners to see that Chinese culture and Western culture have many characteristics in common. A lot of Chinese don't understand Western jokes, and a lot of Western people don't understand Chinese jokes. That's why I want to mix it together during our performance, to let people understand it and experience the collision and integration of different cultures. WOC: What is your understanding of the traditional performance art of crosstalk? What do you think is the most charming part of it? Huang: In my view, the two Chinese characters in crosstalk (xiangsheng in Chinese), xiang and sheng, can be interpreted individually. Xiang means appearance, and sheng means voice. Xiangsheng, an art of language, is one of the most traditional art forms in China. Why I like crosstalk, in particular, is it is informative and entertaining. As you listen to crosstalk, you will not only find it funny and burst out laughing, but you will also learn something from it, such as historical facts or traditional knowledge. To be honest, I am not a professional crosstalk performer, because compared with Western talk shows, crosstalk is more difficult. Professional crosstalk performers often start practicing basic skills and learning scripts from a very young age. They have to be able to sing, imitate and perform simple movements, similar to Peking Opera, which is very difficult. In my opinion, the most difficult part of crosstalk is also one of its charms. As a viewer, enjoying a crosstalk performance, it not only makes me laugh, but also makes me feel the performers are too powerful. I admire them, from the bottom of my heart. As a crosstalk performer, there will always be a sense of accomplishment after the performance (if the show went well). WOC: How is crosstalk different from Western stand-up comedy? What to you is the most challenging part of performing crosstalk in China? What's your career-development plan? Huang: Western stand-up comedy is very modern, while Chinese crosstalk is more traditional. Even the modern crosstalk, which is popular nowadays, is based on traditional techniques. There is a saying that if your basic skills are not that good, then you'll probably not be a good crosstalk performer. The most challenging part of our performance is not how to perform, in terms of skills. I trust my partner very much, and he will make our performance a success. The most difficult thing is how to mix foreign humor with Chinese humor, so the stories (about things) that happened to us can be turned into scripts that resonate with Chinese audiences. It takes a lot of time to create a good script, and to rehearse again and again, so you can be confident on stage to finally perform for the audience. Besides crosstalk, I also have other things to do in life, like trying to be an influencer on social media, or hosting some shows, or just being a new mom. As a graduate in broadcasting and hosting, from Beijing-based Communication University of China, I have served as hostess for many galas and shows. I have also participated in the filming of many programs, and I have visited many villages in China. For example, in August 2022, I followed a team of BTV to Huawu, a village in Southwest China's Guizhou Province, and I was very impressed. Huawu is a place that Chinese President Xi Jinping has been to, and I am honored to have been there too. Although the village is not big, the lives of the villagers are rich and colorful. Some of them own hotels, and some of them work in the local factories. About China's new development philosophy, featuring innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared growth, I think we are on this road making progress, year by year. Of course, Yan and I will try our best, and we will work harder to create more good crosstalk skits. But finding the balance between all those things will be my goal in 2023. Photos Supplied by Interviewee (Women of China English Monthly March 2023 issue) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a trilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. [Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan] BEIJING, April 6 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping held a trilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Beijing on Thursday. Xi pointed out that China and the European Union (EU) share extensive common interests. Cooperation and common ground between the two sides outweigh competition and differences. In a complex and volatile world, China and the EU should respect each other, promote political trust, strengthen dialogue and cooperation, uphold world peace and stability, promote common development and prosperity, and address global challenges together, Xi said. Noting that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, Xi said China is prepared to work with the EU to set the right direction and tone for China-EU ties, fully resume exchanges at all levels and revitalize mutually-beneficial cooperation in various fields, thus injecting fresh impetus into China-EU relations and global peace, stability and prosperity. Stressing the importance of enhancing the stability of China-EU ties, Xi said the China-EU relationship does not target any third party, nor should it be dependent on or dictated by any third party. China has all along viewed the relationship from a strategic and long-term perspective and ensured stability and continuity in its EU policy, he said, adding that China hopes the EU will develop a more independent and objective perception of China and adopt a pragmatic and positive China policy. Xi said the two sides should respect each other's core interests and major concerns, work through dialogue and consultation to build consensus and overcome differences. It is important to respect each other's development paths. He said Chinese modernization and European integration are strategic choices China and the EU have made with the two sides' respective futures in mind. China and the EU should be each other's trustworthy and reliable cooperation partners on their paths to development. The Chinese people take pride in choosing the right development path for themselves in light of China's national reality, Xi said, calling on the two sides to seek common ground while shelving differences, and learn to accommodate, appreciate, draw upon and facilitate each other's development. Playing up the so-called "democracy vs authoritarianism" narrative and stoking a new Cold War will only bring division and confrontation to the world, Xi said, stressing the importance to maintain an open and trusting environment for cooperation. China and the EU should keep their markets open to each other, provide a fair and nondiscriminatory environment for businesses from the other side, and avoid turning economic and trade matters into political or national security issues. The two sides should build stable and trustworthy supply chains, and synergize the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Gateway strategy in support of sustained and stable economic growth in China and the EU, Xi said. President Xi underlined that China champions true multilateralism and a global governance vision featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefit. He said China is prepared to work with the EU to enhance coordination and cooperation in multilateral affairs, and uphold the international system centered on the United Nations (UN), the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Xi said China and the EU need to jointly uphold global stability and prosperity, and stand against hegemonism, unilateralism and attempts to decouple economies or sever supply chains. The two sides need to step up macroeconomic and financial policy communication and coordination, deepen their green partnership, and increase dialogue and cooperation on green financing, environment-friendly technologies and clean energy. China and the EU also need to help other developing countries, encourage multilateral institutions and private capital to contribute more to implementing the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative, and explore cooperation in Africa and other regions involving three or more parties, Xi added. For her part, von der Leyen noted that the EU respects China's history and culture. Frank and constructive dialogue with China and continuous development of EU-China relations are crucial for peace and stability in Europe. The EU and China are each other's important trading partners and the two economies are highly intertwined, von der Leyen said, adding that decoupling from China is neither in the EU's interests nor the EU's strategic choice. She said the EU sets its China policy independently. It would like to restart the High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue and advance steady and balanced growth of economic and trade ties with China for mutual benefit. The EU congratulates China for hosting a successful United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) and commends China's efforts to cut carbon emissions. The EU stands ready to enhance communication and coordination with China to jointly meet global challenges and contribute to peace, stability and development in the world, von der Leyen said. Macron noted that in a world full of uncertainties, the EU and China need to enhance dialogue and exchange with mutual respect, openness and humility. The two sides should work with each other to stay away from the trap of economic decoupling and severing supply chains, carry out mutually-beneficial cooperation on an equal footing, tackle pressing global challenges such as climate change, and keep deepening the EU-China comprehensive strategic partnership. The three leaders exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Von der Leyen and Macron shared the European perspective. They agreed that China did not create the Ukraine crisis, and said that they appreciate China's efforts to promote a political settlement and look forward to China playing a more important role. They also said that they are prepared to work with China to find a way to facilitate talks for peace. Xi stressed that China independently decides its position based on the merits of issues. China's position on Ukraine boils down to supporting talks for peace. China calls on the parties to be calm and rational and jointly create conditions for peace talks. Xi said the pressing priority is to bring about a ceasefire and oppose actions that further inflame or complicate the situation. The Ukraine crisis is not an issue between China and the EU. China will continue to play a positive role in facilitating peace talks. China supports EU efforts to propose approaches and plans for a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, and to build a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework, which serves the fundamental and long-term interests of the EU, Xi said. Wang Yi and Qin Gang, among others, participated in the meeting. In a separate meeting with von der Leyen after the trilateral meeting, Xi said China has always regarded the EU as a strategic force in the international landscape, and the development of China-EU relations has always been a priority in China's diplomacy. Xi said China is willing to continue the good tradition with the European side, maintain close communication, enhance strategic mutual trust, focus on mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation, jointly overcome interference and challenges, and achieve a high-level operation of China-EU relations. He said the sound development of China-EU relations cannot be separated from independence, mutual respect and mutually beneficial cooperation. China firmly adheres to the independent foreign policy of peace and respects the rights of people of all countries to choose their own development path. China and the EU should face up to differences, control differences and respect each other, Xi said, adding that it is hoped that the European Commission will focus on the fundamental and long-term interests of the EU, proceed from the overall situation of China-EU relations, and play an active role in the healthy and stable development of China-EU ties. On the Taiwan question, Xi emphasized that it is the core of China's core interests. The Chinese government and the people will never allow anyone to make a fuss about the one-China principle. Anyone who expects China to compromise on the Taiwan question could only be wishful thinking and self-defeating, Xi added. Von der Leyen reiterated that the EU has no intention to change its long-standing one-China policy, recognizes the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government representing the whole of China and hopes that the Taiwan Strait will maintain peace and stability. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a trilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. [Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan] Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi] Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. [Xinhua/Yao Dawei] (Source: Xinhua) The Mexican city of Huatabampo, in the state of Sonora, has removed stinger spines from stingrays to prevent the animals from stinging tourists during Easter week. In a video shared by animal activists, workers from the local governments ecology department are seen capturing a stingray, pulling out the spines located in its stinger, and releasing it back into the water. In another video, a Huatabampo City Council worker says that he is removing the spines so that tourists can swim, have fun, and at the same time, not worry about any accident happening. For Raul Diaz, the director of the marine research institution Cetmar, this sends a totally wrong message that encourages an unacceptable practice. Diaz explains that a stingrays spinal blade, which is located at the end of its tail, is the animals defense mechanism from predators. In addition to leaving these fish defenseless from their predators, natural cycles are broken, affecting the marine ecosystem, he says. During this season of the year, stingrays following ocean currents approach the shores in search of warm waters, which can sometimes lead to incidents with swimmers. As Elsa Maria Coria, a veterinarian and director of the Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation and Research Center (Crrifs) explains, these animals reproduce once a year, between April and May, when they move to shallow areas with sandy bottoms where the water is warm, and this helps them become sexually mature to reproduce. Although stingrays are not typically aggressive, if they are accidentally stepped on, they may react defensively by whipping forward their tails and stinging a person. This is what the Huatabampo authorities said they hoped to avoid by removing the poisonous spines a decision that was defended on the grounds that stingrays can regrow them. When the animal stings, it can lose part of the stinger, which then regenerates. But, if it is done abruptly, with a jerk, it can cause internal damage and even death. We have no idea how many of them survive, warns Coria. No impact study was carried out to assess the harm to the stingrays, and there is no official count of how many have been mutilated. In addition to the stress of being captured and handled, the animals were thrown back into the water without any care, says Coria. Like sharks, stingrays are protected by Official Mexican Standard NOM-029-PESC-2006, and according to the veterinarian, their care and preservation is important for the balance of the ecosystem. These actions not only threaten marine fauna and the conservation of this species in its natural habitat, but also the balance of the ecosystem, she adds. Lets remember that we are the ones who are invading their home. A conservation group filed a complaint over the controversial initiative with the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa), and in response, the mayor of Huatabampo suspended the person responsible for the decision: Elizabeth Guerrero Moreno, the municipal environment coordinator. But Diaz points out that what happened this year is nothing new. This is a practice that has been carried out in past years by other administrations. Before 2020, the municipality was already working with the regions fishermen on this practice, even though there was no permit from a relevant authority to do so. The same thing happened in 2019 and Profepa intervened, but there were no consequences, adds Coria. For Coria, the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection must act accordingly and impose a heavy fine to ensure Huatabampo local authorities do not do it again. Even though economic sanctions are imposed, the cultural aspect is also very important in protecting the marine environment, which is why its so important to promote other types of values. We need more education and awareness, says Diaz. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi] BEIJING, April 6 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Beijing on Thursday. President Xi welcomed President Macron's visit to China. He noted the profound historic transformation taking place in the world, and pointed out that China and France, as permanent members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, major countries with a tradition of independence, and firm advocates for a multi-polar world and for greater democracy in international relations, have the ability and responsibility to rise above differences and obstacles, keep to the overall direction of a comprehensive strategic partnership that is stable, mutually beneficial, enterprising and dynamic, and practice true multilateralism for global peace, stability and prosperity. Xi spoke favorably of the momentum of positive and steady growth in the China-France relationship. He stressed that stability, a defining feature and valued asset of this relationship, should be cherished by both sides. The two sides need to make good use of their all-round, high-level communication channels, maintain close communication between the two presidents, and hold a new round of meetings this year for the three high-level dialogue mechanisms, namely the strategic dialogue, the economic and financial dialogue, and the dialogue on people-to-people exchanges. He said the two sides should respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, respect each other's core interests, and properly handle and manage differences. They need to stay committed to mutual benefit and common development. "China's pursuit of high-quality development and high-standard opening up will bring France even broader market opportunities," Xi said, adding that China will work with France to deepen cooperation in such fields as agrifood, space, aviation, and civil nuclear energy, foster new cooperation areas including trade in services, green development, and innovation in science and technology, and support the joint development of a carbon neutrality center and joint cultivation of talents. Xi said China welcomes France as the guest country of honor at the China International Fair for Trade in Services 2024 and the seventh China International Import Expo. China hopes that France will provide Chinese businesses with a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment. Taking the opportunities brought by the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, and the Paris Olympics next year, China will step up cooperation with France in relevant fields, he added. Xi stressed China's readiness to continue to act in the spirit of openness and work with France to maintain close communication and coordination in multilateral mechanisms such as the UN, the G20 and the WTO, practice true multilateralism, and counter global challenges like climate change and energy issues. China supports France in hosting the UN Ocean Conference 2025, and welcomes France's participation in the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. He stressed that China and Europe are two major forces, big markets, and great civilizations in the world, saying that China-Europe relations bear on the wellbeing of both sides and the stability and prosperity of the world at large. China will keep its Europe policy stable in the long run, continue to see Europe as an independent force in a multi-polar world, and stay committed to a China-Europe relationship that is not targeted at, subjugated to, or controlled by any third party. "China will work with the EU and take this year's 20th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership as an opportunity to resume exchanges and dialogues on all fronts, reinforce friendship and cooperation as the keynote of China-EU relations, explore a supply chain partnership featuring stability and mutual trust, and deliver benefits to both sides," Xi said, expressing the hope that France will play an active, leading role in this regard. President Macron recalled his last visit to China more than three years ago and expressed his delight at visiting China again to explore with President Xi ways to further elevate the France-China comprehensive strategic partnership. He fully agreed with President Xi's positive assessment of France-China relations and important suggestions on growing the bilateral ties. Next year, France and China will celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties. Over the past six decades, France-China relations have maintained steady and sound growth. Despite their different development models, the two countries have respected each other, communicated with candor, and achieved mutual benefits in their wide-ranging cooperation. Meanwhile, the two sides have made important progress in jointly meeting global challenges facing the world. France respects and follows the one-China policy. Macron pointed out that he is taking a large delegation to China to seek closer cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. France congratulates China on the success of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and wants to continue close communication and cooperation with China on issues like climate change and food security, Macron said. He said France is ready to work with China on the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation that China will host. France commends China for its abiding commitment to the purposes of the UN Charter and its positive role in addressing regional and international hotspot issues, and looks forward to closer communication and coordination with China for durable peace and stability in the world. "France is committed to an independent foreign policy and to the strategic autonomy of Europe, and opposed to stoking confrontation, division and bloc rivalry," Macron said, adding that France will not pick sides. Instead, France calls for unity and cooperation to keep relations stable between major countries. He said that France will maintain candid and in-depth communication with China to increase mutual trust, seek common ground while reserving differences, and pursue open cooperation. France will actively contribute to the growth of EU-China relations. The two presidents also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. President Xi emphasized that China's position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear. It is essentially about facilitating peace talks and political settlement. There is no panacea for defusing the crisis. Xi said it requires all parties to do their share and create conditions for ceasefire and peace talks through a buildup of trust. China supports Europe in playing its role in the political settlement of the crisis. He said China stands ready to issue a joint call with France for the international community to stay rational, exercise restraint, and avoid taking actions that might cause the crisis to further deteriorate or even spiral out of control; to strictly abide by international humanitarian law, avoid attacking civilians or civilian facilities, and protect women, children and other victims of the conflict; to earnestly honor the pledge that nuclear weapons must not be used and nuclear wars must not be fought, oppose the use of biological weapons under any circumstances, and oppose armed attacks against nuclear power plants or other civilian nuclear facilities; to resume peace talks as soon as possible, observe the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, accommodate the legitimate security concerns of all parties, seek political settlement, and foster a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture; and to jointly address the spillover effects of the Ukraine crisis in food, energy, finance, transportation and other fields, and reduce the negative impact of the Ukraine crisis on the world, especially on developing countries. China is ready to stay in touch with France and play a constructive role in the political settlement of the crisis, Xi said. Macron shared France's view on the issue, and commended China's important role in the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. France calls for the resumption of political negotiations and a settlement of the crisis through diplomatic means to achieve lasting peace in Europe. France hopes to increase communication and make joint efforts with China toward peace. At the end of their talks, the two presidents witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents covering agrifood, science and technology, aviation, civil nuclear energy, sustainable development, and culture. The two presidents also jointly met the Chinese and foreign press. Prior to the talks, President Xi held a welcoming ceremony for President Macron at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People. Upon President Macron's arrival, honor guards lined up in salutation. The two presidents stepped onto a reviewing stand, and the military band played the national anthems of the two countries. A 21-gun salute was fired from Tiananmen Square. Accompanied by President Xi, President Macron then reviewed the guard of honor of the People's Liberation Army and watched the march-past. Wang Yi and Qin Gang were present at the events. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. [Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan] Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron jointly meet the Chinese and foreign press after their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. Xi held talks with Macron in Beijing on Thursday. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi] Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for French President Emmanuel Macron at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. Xi held talks with Macron in Beijing on Thursday. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi] Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for French President Emmanuel Macron at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. Xi held talks with Macron in Beijing on Thursday. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi] Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for French President Emmanuel Macron at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. Xi held talks with Macron in Beijing on Thursday. [Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan] (Source: Xinhua) Zhang Yan, a delegate to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and a first-class actress with Sichuan Opera Troupe, is no stranger to audiences. Chinese know Zhang as a heroine in many famous Sichuan Opera performances, including Hibiscus Fairy and Ripples Across Stagnant Water. Her dedication to the performing arts has earned her the China Theatre Plum Blossom Award the highest theatrical award in China. Dream Pursuit Zhang was born in 1975, in Xindu, a county in Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan Province. Her grandmother, who loved Sichuan Opera, often took her to the theater. She fell in love with the performing arts, and she longed to perform on stage, in colorful costumes, and with the loud sound of gongs and drums, since early childhood. In 1984, Xindu Sichuan Opera Troupe recruited young performers. Zhang, then 9 years old, applied and passed the interview. Sixty children were recruited from among the more than 1,000 applicants. "It was my grandmother's love for Sichuan Opera that influenced me, and inspired me to make my career path in the performing arts," Zhang says. However, it was not always easy. At first, Zhang was excited and thought she was ready for any bitterness. "It was my dream (to perform on stage), so I dared to take on any challenges," she says. Every day, she got up early and practiced hard. The repeated and boring training almost crashed her pink dreams, and she even cried on her mother's shoulders. "It is your own decision. Just hang in there, go through the hardships and make your dream come true," her mother told her. Twenty of the 60 children quit. But Zhang made up her mind to stay, and she kept training hard. She began performing on stage several months later. The intensive training, and performing on stage, equipped Zhang with a wealth of skills and experiences. In 1988, Zhang was admitted to Sichuan Opera School, in Chengdu, where she devoted herself to performing the role of dan (women) in the opera. After years of severe training, Zhang greatly improved her skills, and she grew into a professional Sichuan Opera performer. In 1991, Zhang performed the lead in Hibiscus Fairy. It was her first time playing the lead in a Sichuan Opera. Her performance earned her several bursts of applause. "Hibiscus Fairy is one of my most-performed Sichuan Opera plays. Many fans call me 'Hibiscus Fairy,'" Zhang says. Zhang joined Xindu Furonghua Opera Troupe in 1994, and she starred in many famous Sichuan Opera plays. Zhang, adept at conveying the characters' inner worlds with her eyes, developed her unique performance style, and, due in large part to that style, she has won numerous awards in both national and provincial opera competitions. "Under the guidance of my teachers, I have made much progress and achievements in my career. I think, as performers, we must immerse ourselves in performing Sichuan Opera, and we must spend more time experiencing the feelings of the characters," Zhang says. In 2008, Zhang joined Sichuan Opera Troupe, in Chengdu. China Theatre Plum Blossom Award The China Theatre Plum Blossom Award is the highest theatrical award in China, granted by the China Theatre Association and China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, to honor outstanding young and middle-aged theatrical performers. Zhang was in the running for the award in both 2014 and 2018, but she failed to win both times. She admitted she felt depressed because she had lost the competition twice. But she chose to stay true to her original heart. "My teachers and colleagues all sent messages and encouraged me to give another try. I was deeply moved, and I regained my confidence. I made up my mind that I would never give up trying," she recalls. In 2021, Zhang decided to compete for the award for a third time. She chose to play Ripples Across Stagnant Water, which told the story of the ups and downs in a woman's life. The story took place on the West Sichuan Plain, during the late Qing Dynasty (1616-1911). The heroine, Deng Yaogu, refused to accept her fate, and she bravely chose to pursue her own happiness. The play was first produced in 1996, with famous Sichuan Opera artist Tian Mansha performing the role of Deng. It was a great success at that time. In 2020, Sichuan Opera Troupe decided to reproduce the play, and invited Tian to be the director. Zhang performed the role of Deng. "I was very young when I first watched the play. The play was amazing, and I loved it so much. Tian's performance left a deep impression on me. I felt a lot of pressure playing the role more than 20 years later," Zhang says. "To carry forward the spirit of the older generation of Sichuan Opera artists, we should practice our own skills, and also innovate to keep pace with the times." During rehearsals, Zhang gained a clear, and thorough, understanding of the character. She knew only by a perfect combination of singing, chanting and playing with her emotions would she be able convey her own understanding of the role to the audience. Zhang immersed herself in the character of Deng, and her performance proved to be a huge success. In May 2021, the national contest for the 30th China Theatre Plum Blossom Award was held in Nanjing, in East China's Jiangsu Province. Seventeen performers were up for the award. Finally, Zhang won the prize, for her outstanding performance in Ripples Across Stagnant Water. "The award was not only recognition of my personal achievement, but also showcased the recognition of and encouragement to Sichuan Opera. The award marked a new starting point in my career. I will keep performing good plays, and inheriting and developing Sichuan Opera, and I will also join hands with my colleagues to open a new chapter of the traditional opera in the new era," Zhang says. Cultural Treasure Zhang has been invited to perform Sichuan Opera in several countries, including the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Singapore, France and the United States. "Wherever we went, Sichuan Opera was widely welcomed by foreign audiences, who gave thumbs up for the charm of Chinese opera," Zhang says. "Sichuan Opera has a century-old history, and has been passed down from generation to generation. It is a shining pearl in the treasure trove of Chinese opera. How can traditional opera regain its glamor in the new era? New opportunities are at hand. We should let more people know about Sichuan Opera, love it and then help revitalize it," Zhang says. In recent years, many works in the performing arts in Sichuan have won various national awards, and that has helped raise the confidence of Sichuan Opera performers, and their fans. In October 2022, Zhang, who has been a Party member for more than 20 years, attended the 20th CPC National Congress in Beijing. On that occasion, she recorded a short video to express her expectations for the future. During a group interview on October 22, 2022, Zhang introduced Sichuan Opera to the media. "When it comes to Sichuan Opera, people will think of changing faces. In fact, Sichuan Opera is a rich performance system that includes five kinds of vocal art, and it is among the first group of intangible cultural heritage in our country. "For a period of time, traditional opera has been facing the problem of how to develop, revitalize, and regain its popularity. The Party and the government have attached great importance to this issue. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the traditional culture has been well inherited and developed," Zhang said. In recent years, many artists' studios have been established in Sichuan to create high-quality Sichuan Opera plays, and learning Sichuan Opera has become a new trend on campuses, with many workshops established in primary and middle schools, Zhang noted. Sichuan Opera Troupe has organized numerous activities in schools and communities so more young people can enjoy the art of Sichuan Opera. Zhang has returned to Sichuan, and she says she can't wait to create more good plays for audiences. "I have the responsibility to convey the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress to my colleagues, and to other young performers, so we can put the guiding principle into our daily work," Zhang says. A series of Sichuan Opera plays have been recently staged in theaters in Sichuan Province to celebrate the Spring Festival holiday. Ripples Across Stagnant Water, which starred Zhang, was staged by Sichuan Opera Troupe, and was also broadcast live via a livestreaming app. During the 2023 Sichuan-Chongqing Spring Festival Gala, Zhang and other performers performed Spring of the Jade Rabbit, which featured the story of Chinese astronauts flying to outer space and exploring the moon. With all the excellent performances during the Chinese New Year holiday, Zhang and the other Sichuan Opera performers delivered happiness and prosperity to hundreds of thousands of families. Photos Supplied by Interviewee and Sichuan Opera Troupe (Women of China English Monthly February 2023 issue) Smoke and fire rises from an explosion caused by an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City early Friday. It has been three years and four months since the city of Wuhan, then little-known outside of China, began to detect the first cases of a strange virus that would subsequently bring practically the entire planet to a halt. The origin of Covid-19 remains a mystery, although plenty of theories abound, fueled by a debate that has become more political than scientific amid Beijings reluctance to allow the United Nations full access. The latest thread of the investigation into how the coronavirus made the leap from animals to humans points to the common raccoon dog, a species native to East Asia that was present in the Huanan wet market from where the virus is believed to have emerged. The climate for impartial research has been far from conducive. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reproached the Chinese government for a lack of transparency in providing essential data to try to prevent a repetition of such a devastating outbreak. Precisely where and how the virus jumped to humans remains a bone of contention between Beijing and Washington, where the subject still occupies the time the intelligence agencies and congressional hearings. On April 18, a group of experts who were initially tasked with analyzing the origin of SARS-CoV-2 will appear before a congressional sub-committee to deliver their opinions on the role of China in the origins of Covid-19 and to lay out where the intelligence community currently stands on the subject. It will be the second such hearing in the U.S. Congress so far this year, and more are expected. President Joe Biden has signed a bill to declassify what his secret services know about the emergence of the novel coronavirus. An investigation ordered last year failed to produce conclusive results, and the agencies tasked with providing answers have so far been unable to reach a consensus. Of all possible theories, the most widespread among scientists is that Covid-19 was the result of a zoonosis a jump from an animal, in this case most probably a bat, to humans via a third species, possibly a pangolin. This could have occurred in the wild, on a farm, or in the Huanan market, where 653 stalls sold animals of all kinds live, dead, domestic, and wild crammed together in unhygienic conditions. Another theory, supported by some U.S. government agencies including the FBI, points to a leak from a laboratory in Wuhan. Beijing, on the other hand, has pointed the finger at a U.S. military base in Maryland, Fort Detrick, located around 50 miles north of Washington D.C., which in China is as widely accepted by the population as the Wuhan leak is in the U.S. The U.S. Energy Department recently stated that a classified report had determined, albeit with a low degree of confidence, that Covid-19 had leaked from a laboratory. While the FBI and the Energy Department have inclined toward the laboratory theory, at least four other official agencies in the U.S. are leaning toward a conclusion of natural causes while two more involved in the investigation have not produced their findings. The only common ground is that none of them have much confidence in their respective theses or any solid evidence to support them. On March 13, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who has always erred on the side of caution when speaking about Beijing and the Covid-19 pandemic, told a conference: More than three years after this outbreak started, we still dont know how, due to a lack of cooperation from China to be transparent in sharing data, and to conduct the necessary investigations and share the results. China has been reluctant to publicize the data it holds on the origin of the disease. The first details of Covid-19s genome was shared with the world, but only through the personal initiative of the doctors who did so. A first WHO mission to China was permitted to visit Wuhan very briefly, but did not have access to the Huanan market or to the first patients affected. A second WHO team made up of international scientists who had been approved by Beijing arrived in January 2021 to considerable fanfare. These experts were able to visit hospitals and talk to patients as well having access to the Huanan market and former traders who ran food stalls there. But after leaving China, they acknowledged that their work had been carried out under enormous constraints and the Chinese health authorities who were by their side throughout the fact-finding mission had not provided them with the raw data they had requested on the first Covid-19 patients. The common raccoon dog theory Since then, there have been no further WHO visits to China and it does not appear there will be any in the foreseeable future. Even the latest theory was the result of a fluke. A group of scientists from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention published a series of genomic data found in samples taken from the Huanan market on a public archive called GISAID. The data was deleted almost immediately by the publishers themselves but by then a French scientist, Florence Debarre, had managed to download the information and a group of Western experts set to work on it. The team, which included University of Arizona ecologist Michael Worobey, found raccoon dog genetic material in several samples taken from Huanan, including some from a shopping cart and a poultry plucking machine. These samples were located in a very specific area of the market where wild animals were being sold. The samples themselves do not prove that this animal, which is extensively farmed for its fur, was responsible for the virus jumping to humans but they do close the circle around Huanan, which has been closed since the pandemic broke out, a little tighter. However, the laboratory leak theory cannot be completely ruled out either, given the opacity that surrounds the data. It is a theory that some Chinese scientists backed before it was ruled out, at least in official terms: when the first Covid-19 cases were detected in December 2019, a Chinese expert on bat viruses, Shi Zhengli nicknamed Batwoman due to her extensive knowledge of the animals suspected that the coronavirus could have escaped from the laboratory where she worked, the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which is just a few miles from the Huanan market. Although she herself acknowledged as much in March 2020 in the journal Scientific American, she also noted that she had ruled out the possibility after running checks. The laboratory leak theory also has precedents. In 2004, the WHO expressed its concern after two researchers at the National Institute of Virology in Beijing were infected with the SARS virus, one of them becoming ill in March of that year: China covered up the incident for almost a month. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Just hours after the Tennessee House of Representatives voted to expel two Democratic lawmakers, their pictures and profiles had already been removed from the state's General Assembly website, a symbol of the vacant seats that now need to be filled. The war in Ukraine is not about defending democracy and freedom, as official propaganda claims. As in any war, the imperialist powers are pursuing geostrategic goals and tangible economic interests. This was underlined by the trip of the German Economy Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) to Ukraine earlier this week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, shakes hands with German economy and climate minister Robert Habeck in the village of Yagidne, Chernihiv region, Ukraine, on April 3, 2023. [AP Photo/Ukrainian Presidential Press Office] It was Habeck's first trip to Kiev since the war began. He said he wanted to come only if he could bring something with him: An economic delegation that gives Ukraine the hope that there will be a reconstruction after the war. This involves massive profits for the German economy and the division of the spoils of war. The war propagandists in the media openly say this. With armaments, with maintenance and reconstruction, money can be made. No wonder the Europeans are also showing their ugly side here, commented Stefan Kornelius, a leading political commentator at the Suddeutsche Zeitung, on Habeck's trip and the increasing competition between the imperialist powers. The G-7 countries are already openly discussing who would take control of the post-war Ukraine. He continued: Whoever pays calls the tune. The German government therefore has no reason to lament and complain, but should coolly acknowledge that this war, despite all common political outrage, also promotes the states self-interest. In fact, German imperialism, which attempted to annex Ukraine during the First and Second World Wars, is aggressively pushing ahead. Already last August, the Eastern Committee of the German Economy set up a working group Recovery Ukraine, which published the dossier Rebuild Ukraine in September. It includes proposals of the German economy for the reconstruction and modernization of the Ukrainian economy. In October, the German government held a conference on Reconstruction of Ukraine in Berlin. Now the plans are being put into action on the ground. Habeck's delegation consisted of seven leading representatives of the German economy including Siegfried Russwurm, President of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), Martin Wansleben, Managing Director of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) and a representative of the federal states bank, the Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau (KfW) and they made no secret of their interests. Habeck himself sees the Eastern European country as a potentially important energy supplier. Germany and Ukraine have been partners in this area since 2020, he stressed, after visiting a substation of the energy company Ukrenergo. The Ukrainians strategic plans are to make the energy system broader and more decentralized. In this respect, two things fit together quite well: the need for security and a sustainable energy system. Ukraine could become an energy exporter to Europe. The hunger of German imperialism is not limited to questions of energy. In an interview with ZDFs Heute Journal, Habeck announced that the German pharmaceutical and chemical giant Bayer will invest 60 million in Ukraine. In addition, the building materials company Fixit Group will expand its capacities in building materials production in Ukraine, almost doubling it. This is also urgently needed for the repair of roads, buildings and bridges. In order to secure Berlin's control over the reconstruction, Habeck promised the companies a substantial investment guarantee. Should this factory building be destroyed, for example by missile attacks, the German state guarantees or is liable, the economy minister promised. For war zones, we usually don't do that, but in this case we do. In order to raise the enormous sums that the reconstruction will cost estimates range from about 400 billion to over 1 trillion a triad is needed: Ukraine must create good investment conditions, there must be guarantees from the public sector, and then private capital must want to go to Ukraine. Good investment conditions are a euphemism for the brutal exploitation of the working class. Already last summer, the Zelensky regime promised potential donors that it would achieve annual GDP growth of more than 7 percent by 2032. Since then, Kiev has continued to attack the rights of Ukrainian workers, who were already among the poorest and most exploited in all of Europe before the war. Moreover, the exploitation of Ukraine is directly linked to the plans for the subjugation and plunder of Russia. In February, the Baltic states and Poland called on other Western governments to use Russia's central bank reserves, about $300 billion of which are stored abroad, for Ukrainian reconstruction. Habeck did not comment on this proposal which would be illegal and an act of robbery but made it clear that the German government is seeking the military defeat of nuclear-armed Russia. We believe that Ukraine will be victorious, that it will be rebuilt, that there is an interest of Europe not only to support in need, but that Ukraine will also be a strong economic partner in the future, Habeck said. There should be no surrender on Putin's terms, but the restoration of an order that implements peace. Habeck's argument is cynical and mendacious. The imperialist powers, which have been at war continuously for almost three decades and have bombed entire countries, are not interested in peace, but in the expansion of war. It would have been right to support Ukraine militarily earlier, said Habeck, who was one of the few German politicians who called for defensive weapons to be delivered to Kiev before the Russian invasion. The decisive factor is how quickly the promised tanks and the promised ammunition will arrive in Ukraine. The widening of the war, which is increasingly directly creating the danger of nuclear escalation on Tuesday the Kremlin confirmed the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons to Belarus is accompanied by aggressive propaganda about Russian war crimes. Habeck and Zelensky visited the basement of a school in the village of Jahidne. The Ukrainian president claimed that Russian soldiers crammed 350 residents inside, killing eleven Ukrainians. Another dozen were shot. These claims cannot be verified. But atrocity propaganda is an important instrument of warfare. The opposing side is accused of horrific crimes that are either fictitious or massively inflated in order to dehumanize the enemy and seek its complete destruction. All you can wish for the President of Russia is to spend his remaining days in the basement with a bucket instead of a toilet, Zelensky said. Habeck explained that he could understand Zelensky. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is reactionary, but the main responsibility for the war lies with the imperialist powers. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union 30 years ago, NATO has been systematically encircling Russia. In early 2014, Washington and Berlin organized a right-wing coup in Ukraine to install an anti-Russian regime in Kiev. Even then they relied on fascist forces, which now play a central role in the war. The propaganda about Russian war crimes in Ukraine cannot hide the fact that NATO is arming a government in Kiev that worships Nazi collaborators such as Stepan Bandera and Roman Shukhevych and celebrates members of fascist army units and militias as heroes of Ukraine. All this is done with the full support of the Federal Government and, above all, the Greens. Shortly before Habeck's visit, Green leader Marieluise Beck posted a selfie on Twitter with a certain Kateryna P., praising her as an adorable, highly creative young woman. Her husband had fought with Azov for a life of freedom instead of dull Russian terror. Those who are willing to give their lives for dignity and freedom are often the best. They are fighting for us too. Beck's hero is the former commander of the fascist Azov regiment Denys Prokopenko, who played a central role in the Battle of Mariupol. Prokopenko makes no secret of the fact that he sees the war against Russia as part of a far-right historical mission. His grandfather fought against the Soviet Union in World War II in Finland, and Prokopenko writes: It feels like I continued the same war, only on another section of the front, a war against the Kremlin's occupation regime. My grandfather had such a terrible hatred of communism, of Bolshevism, of the Sovok. During World War II, the Ukrainian nationalists and fascists collaborated with the Nazis and committed horrific crimes. One of the most heinous was the massacre of Babi Yar, which killed more than 33,000 Jewish men, women and children. In total, the war of annihilation against the Soviet Union cost the lives of about 27 million people. The third German attempt to control Ukraine and Russia follows in this dark tradition. A Bengal tiger rescued by agents in the State of Mexico. FGJEM A white lion lying peacefully in the sun, an African tiger sleeping in the shade of its cage, a white fox prowling around the property A raid by authorities in the State of Mexico has uncovered 47 live animals, seven stuffed exotic animals, and several clandestine outlets for huachicoleo, the illegal extraction of fuel for sale. Police have arrested eight people and the property has been secured until the fate of the animals is determined. On entering the property, agents found 25 exotic animals. In addition to the white lion and the tiger, there were two pumas, a Bengal tiger, a deer, a gray fox, a coyote, an owl and several eagles among others, the state prosecutors office said in its report. Inside the property were seven stuffed animals. One of the photographs taken by the authorities shows a deer with its hind legs raised, as if it were in full flight from the stuffed fox behind it. The initial investigation suggests that in order to finance this private zoo, the detainees dedicated themselves to the sale of stolen gasoline. The property contained everything necessary to carry out the illegal activity: a tank containing 14,000 liters of diesel, autobuses, machinery, pipes, motorcycles, and an installation connected to the subsoil that could possibly provide the means for the clandestine intake of hydrocarbons, as well as another that could be an illegal tap for extracting water, the prosecutors report stated. Regulations on exotic animals in Mexico vary depending on the species. The Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) considers that tigers cannot be considered pets, because they are predators and regulated under the General Law of Wildlife. Even so, Mexican law allows for the ownership of an exotic animal provided they are not an endangered species, such as the scarlet macaw or howler monkey. In order to keep such an animal, owners must have all the necessary paperwork and the animal should live in a dignified and respectful environment. The authorities have released no details over the state of the animals found at the property during the raid. The images published by the prosecutors office show that the lions and tigers were apparently kept in suitable conditions, although they had not been let out of the enclosure where they were housed for some time. The law allows for the ownership of such animals but walking them in public is forbidden due to the potential danger to the general public. Acquiring exotic animals in Mexico has become considerably easier through social media. In addition to the furthest corners of some flea markets, where prohibited animals have always been available, Facebook has a large market for exotic species. With just a few clicks, groups such as ones named Sale of wild animals or exotic animals in Mexico City, can be found, as EL PAIS discovered in a recent report. These groups offer everything from jaguars an endangered species to hawks, Russian tortoises, and chameleons. In a matter of days, a buyer can have a rare owl delivered to the door of their house, and all without signing a single piece of paper. Responsibility for the purchase of these types of exotic animal go beyond the seller. It also falls on those who illegally buy them, especially if it is a species in danger of extinction. A buyer can then be pursued for committing a crime as an accomplice in international trafficking of animal species prohibited by Mexican law, according to Semarnat. Even if an animal is acquired with the necessary paperwork in order, responsibility does not end there. If the animal does not receive the necessary care, owners face fines of up to 7.2 million pesos ($394,500). Possession of a protected species is punishable by up to nine years in prison. What will happen to the animals recovered by the authorities remains unclear. It all depends on their origin. Semarnat will transfer some of them to facilities authorized to care for them, while the secretariat will attempt to return those native to Mexico to their natural habitat. According to Semarnat, the most commonly illegally traded animals in the country are the yellow-headed parakeet, the scarlet and green macaw, the yellow-breasted toucan, the spider monkey, and the howler monkey, among others. In addition to being a country with a high demand for illegal pets, Mexico is also an important link in the chain of international animal trafficking. It is one of the countries with the greatest biodiversity on the planet and has a privileged geographical location, the authorities note. Mexico has fluid trade routes with several countries where exotic animals are in great demand, including the United States, Canada and China, as well as with those from where many illegally traded animals originate, such as Guatemala and other Latin American countries. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition World-famous Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov has become the latest musician to face the consequences of the vicious anti-Russian campaign being waged by the whole imperialist propaganda machine on behalf of the US/NATO proxy war in Ukraine. Abdrazakov, 46 years old and in the prime of a career that has taken him to the Metropolitan Opera and most of the worlds most famous opera stages and concert halls in the past 20 years, was replaced by the Boston Symphony Orchestra in a series of three performances scheduled for early May. At the same time, Carnegie Hall also dropped Abdrazakov from performances next January, also with the Boston Symphony. Ildar Abdrazakov, 2018 [Photo by Gil Zetbase / CC BY 2.0 According to the OperaWire website, referring to the Putin regime, Abdrazakov was recently accused of being close to the Russian dictator. The report continued, the bass has participated in numerous concerts featuring major politicians and was even caught dancing with the Secretary of Defense. The wording [caught dancing] reflects the witch-hunting hysteria with which the anti-Russian campaign is being pursued. Overlooked in all of this is the irony that Abdrazakov was scheduled to perform in Dmitri Shostakovichs massive Symphony No. 13, for bass and mens chorus, subtitled Babi Yar and including famed verses by Soviet poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko denouncing anti-Semitism and commemorating the massacre of Soviet Ukrainian Jews near Kiev in 1941. Meanwhile the present Ukrainian regime and its military glorifies figures like the notorious Stepan Bandera, the Nazi collaborator whose Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists participated in the massacre of hundreds of thousands of Jews and Poles. Also significant in this respect is the other Shostakovich work from which Abdrazakov has been removeda concert performance of the 1934 opera Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk. This is the work that provoked the notorious official condemnation (a muddle instead of music) in Pravda in early 1936, on the eve of the bloody Moscow frame-up trials. During this period and again from the late 1940s until the death of Stalin in 1953, Shostakovich was under continuous threat. The supporters of the proxy war in Ukraine, working in solidarity with the Ukrainian far right, the direct political descendants of those who assisted the Nazis at Babi Yar, are understandably uncomfortable with a Russian artist performing and associating himself with either of these works. Abdrazakov is the most prominent casualty of the anti-Russian campaign since the banning of Russian conductor Valery Gergiev and Russian soprano Anna Netrebko almost immediately following the beginning of the war last year. The Russian bass made his debut at the Metropolitan in 2004, in Mozarts Don Giovanni under James Levine. This was shortly after Netrebko debuted in Prokofievs War and Peace. Abdrazakov has also sung at the La Scala Opera House in Milan, in the Royal Opera House in London, and many other famous venues. He has appeared with the Chicago Symphony, the Vienna Philharmonic, the Leipzig Gewandhaus and numerous other world-famous orchestras, while also continuing to base himself in Russia, where he founded a music academy in St. Petersburg in 2015. He has also launched the Ildar Abdrazakov Foundation to assist young artists. For a certain period of time, even though Russian performers other than Netrebko and Gergiev also saw their recitals in Europe and America disappear, Abdrazakov continued some performances in the West, as well as in Russia. The Metropolitan Opera and its general manager Peter Gelb, among the loudest voices in support of the proxy war, did not take any immediate action. According to one report, conductor Riccardo Muti insisted on an appearance by the Russian bass at a concert last year in Salzburg, Austria. About a month ago, however, Abdrazakov himself announced, in an interview with OperaWire, that he had paused his relationship with the Met Opera, canceling upcoming performances in two very big productions, Verdis La Forza del Destino and Gounods Romeo et Juliette. There is little doubt that the Met management was behind the cancellations. According to Abdrazakov, he was acting out of solidarity with his colleagues Anna Netrebko and [Abkhazian-Russian soprano] Hibla Gerzmava My deep conviction is that people of art should remain neutral, thereby continuing to unite peoples and countries with their art. Under the phony banner of human rights, the imperialist powers have launched a new Cold War and are preparing for a third world war against their adversaries in Russia and China. The invasion of Ukraine by the oligarchic Putin regime, though bankrupt and reactionary, was provoked over a lengthy period, especially through the 2014 coup in Kiev, which led to the installation of a government aligned with European and US imperialism. Those waging proxy war in Ukraine against what they falsely claim was an unprovoked invasion have their own history of truly unprovoked wars, most recently in Iraq, Libya and Syria, and with more than a centurys worth of blood on their hands from two world wars as well as colonial and semi-colonial butchery in Latin America, Africa and Asia. There is increasing resistance to the anti-Russian campaign, particularly in Europe. In the US, Netrebko has just won an arbitration award of $200,000 against the Met for breaking her contract. She continues to appear in Europe, while she has been attacked by Putin supporters, and withdrawn from performances in Russia, following her criticism of the invasion. Netrebko still remains banned in the US, presumably because she continues to maintain a neutrality, and will not lend her celebrity to the Ukrainian regime and its imperialist patrons. Israeli fighter planes pounded targets in southern Lebanon and Gaza early Friday morning, following rocket attacks blamed on the militant clerical group Hamas that controls the besieged Palestinian enclave of Gaza. Lebanese check a small bridge that was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike, in Maaliya village, south Lebanon, Friday, April 7, 2023. Israel launched strikes in southern Lebanon early Friday and pressed on with bombing targets in the Gaza Strip, marking a widening escalation in the region. [AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari] The rockets, many of which were intercepted by Israels Iron Dome defence system, caused little damage and minor injuries. Israels furious bombardment takes place amid escalating tensions following the polices deliberately provocative attacks on tens of thousands of Palestinian worshippers at the al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem this week. It is bound up with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus determination to whip up war-fever by attacking Israels enemiesthe Palestinians, Iran and its allies, Lebanons Hezbollah, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihadas a means of suppressing opposition to his governments plans to assume dictatorial powers. The protest movement, now entering its fourth month, is the largest and most significant in Israels 75-year history. His aim is to manufacture some kind of national unity based on militarism to deflect the countrys profound social and political tensions outwards. To this end, Netanyahu was quick to blame Hamas for the rocket attacks from both Gaza and Lebanon, possibly to avoid sparking a war with Lebanon, with whom Israel fought an inconclusive war in 2006 and which is backed by Iran. Nevertheless, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari declared, The state of Lebanon is considered responsible for everything that happens in its territory, including the firing of rockets by Hamas. We will not allow Hamas to operate from Lebanon. On Thursday evening, after Netanyahu had convened his security cabinet made up of his fascistic partners, he issued a brief statement saying, Israels response, tonight and beyond, will extract a heavy price from our enemies. On Friday, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi ordered a call-up of reserve troops, saying the military would enhance its readiness to conduct aerial-related operations. The call-up would focus on air defence units and the air attack arraysa reference to fighter jet pilots and attack drone operators, as well as other air crew. Halevi instructed the IDF to strengthen its forces in the West Bank after two sisters were killed and their mother seriously injured in a shooting attack near the settlement of Efrat in the Jordan Valley Friday. Israels Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai stoked the flames, blaming the Palestinians for the escalating tensions and calling on licensed gun owners to carry their weapons. The motivation to disturb the peace has risen in recent days and is a result of unrelenting incitement. In East Jerusalem, the police deployed 2,300 officers in and around the Old City, ahead of early afternoon prayers, and arrested 15 worshippers in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for waving Palestinian flags, which they branded as 'terrorist flags' and an incitement. This followed the breakup before dawn of a gathering of thousands near an entrance to the Mosque. Netanyahus provocations against the Palestinians have the full support of the Biden administration. Vedant Patel, the US State Departments spokesperson, while expressing his concern about Israels storming of the al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan, refused to condemn Israels actions. He did however condemn the launching of rockets from Lebanon and earlier strikes from Gaza and reiterated Washingtons longstanding justification for Israels criminality, saying, Our commitment to Israels security is ironclad and we recognize that Israel has the legitimate right to defend itself against all forms of aggression. According to an Israeli official, the Biden administration also blocked a UN Security Council statement to the press criticizing Israel for the raids. Netanyahu could also count on the full-throated backing of the self-proclaimed leaders of the opposition movement, National Unity chairman and former defence minister Benny Gantz and Yesh Atid leader and former prime minister Yair Lapid. On Thursday evening, Gantz declared that the opposition stood united with the government on its response to the rockets fired from Lebanon. He said, Facing terror that threatens our citizens, facing shooting on the houses of our citizens, there is no coalition and oppositionwe are all united around the IDF and all of the security organization. Gantz accused the government of damaging Israel's resiliency and defence establishment and threatening the country with an internal rift. He declared his support for defence minister Yoav Gallant, a leading member of Netanyahus Likud Party who faced the sack for calling a halt to the judicial overhaul, and called on Netanyahu to reinstate him. Gallant, who had cited statements from thousands of reservists saying they would refuse their regular call-ups because they did not want to serve under a government that was destroying democracy, now leads the war drive that includes a call-up of air force reservists. Gantz also backed the polices brutal storming of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound on two successive nights. Flatly contradicting all the evidence to the contrary, he declared, Israel maintained and continues to maintain a freedom of worship and even increased recently the entry of worshipers to the site but will not allow mosques to turn into nests of terror. Lapid assured the government it could count on cross-party support following the rocket attacks, saying, Israel today is at conflict on four fronts: the northern border, Gaza border area, Judea and Samaria [the occupied West Bank] and in {occupied East] Jerusalem. He added, When it comes to security, in Israel there is no coalition and opposition. We will stand united against any enemy. The opposition will give the government full support for a harsh response by the IDF and security forces. Gantz and Lapids support for Netanyahus fascistic onslaught against the Palestinians and bellicosity against Hezbollah, Syria and Iran confirms that the official opposition in no way represents a progressive alternative to dictatorship and authoritarianism, much less to war against the Palestinians, Iran and its allies. As committed defenders of the Zionist state, their opposition stems from their fear that Netanyahu and his fascist coalition partners are undermining Israels thin democratic veneer and risking splintering an already deeply polarised society to the point of precipitating a civil war. Under their leadership, the mass opposition movement has largely failed to embrace the struggles of the Palestinian people or mobilise support from Israeli Arabs, much less the Palestinians in the occupied territories. This movement is now at a turning point. If it is to succeed, Jewish workers and youth must reject the Zionist myth that a capitalist state, based upon the expulsion and dispossession of the Palestinian people, can provide equality, freedom and democracy for the Jewish people, and adopt a socialist strategy based on the revolutionary unification of Jewish and Arab workers in a common struggle against capitalism. The powerful objective basis for the development of such a movement is to be found not just among workers and youth in Israels towns and cities who have been protesting against the Netanyahu government for months, but among Palestinian teachers in the West Bank who have been on strike for the last two months over the failure to implement a pay award and elections to a free trade union, Lebanese workers who have been protesting the erosion of their wages and pensions amid strikes of telecom and other workers, as well as workers in the advanced countries--in France, the UK and US--where powerful battalions of workers are in struggle against their governments. But for that power to become actualised, the working class must be armed with a clearly worked out programme, grounded on the historically developed strategic lessons drawn by the world Trotskyist movement, represented today solely by the International Committee of the Fourth International, over the course of a century of unrelenting political and theoretical struggle. The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Sri Lanka held a successful open-air public meeting at Kolonnawa, a Colombo outer suburb, on April 3. SEP/IYSSE local government election meeting in Kolonnawa, Sri Lanka, April 3, 2023. [Photo: WSWS] Titled Oppose the Presidents suppression of local government elections! Mobilise the working class to defend democratic and social rights! the event attracted workers, young people and urban poor from the area. It was also broadcast live, via the partys Facebook page, and has been viewed by 1,200 people so far. Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has undemocratically intervened to cancel scheduled local government elections in response to rising popular opposition to his ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) government. Although the local elections have no direct bearing on the continued existence of his presidency or government, Wickremesinghe is nervous about the broader social impact of a probable defeat of his political allies. SEP Political Committee member W.A. Sunil, who chaired the meeting, said postponement of the local government elections was an unconstitutional act and a violation of the basic democratic rights of all working people. It is a serious warning to the working class, he said, detailing Wickremesinghes extraordinary and ongoing efforts to block the local polls. President Wickremesinghe and his government are desperately trying to postpone the election, fearing that a defeat in the local elections will deepen the political instability in the country, and plunge capitalist rule into further crisis, he said. SEP Political Committee member Vilani Peiris, who leads the slate of party candidates contesting for the Kolonnawa Urban Council, reviewed the ongoing anti-democratic attacks by the Wickremesinghe-SLPP regime. She said the cancellation of the local elections is an integral part of this process. Vilani Peiris, lead candidate in the SEP slate contesting the Kolonnawa Urban Council elections. [Photo: WSWS] Peiris said that although last years mass action by workers, youth and the rural masses had ousted former President Rajapakse and his government, this movement had been politically derailed by the trade unions and pseudo-left formations, like the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP). These organisations, she said, opposed an independent political movement of the working class, diverting it into support for an interim bourgeois government being called for by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the Janatha Vimuthi Peramuna (JVP). This paved the way for the pro-US, long-term International Monetary Fund (IMF) enforcer Ranil Wickremesinghe to come to power. From the outset, the SEP was the only organisation providing a critical evaluation of the situation and a revolutionary socialist program for the working class, she said. IYSSE convener Kapila Fernando explained the significance of Wickremesinghes recent anti-democratic threats against teachers protesting over the governments arbitrary cancellation of the teachers transfer board. IYSSE convenor Kapila Fernando. [Photo: WSWS] The president accuses [striking] teachers of taking students hostage but its the government, not teachers, that has forced students to drop out of school because of the skyrocketing prices of food, transport and books, Fernando said. Delivering the main speech, SEP general secretary Deepal Jayasekera said the political situation in Sri Lanka was at a decisive turning point, following approval of the IMFs $3 billion bailout loan and Wickremesinghes intensifying assault on democratic rights. Jayasekera referred to the governments deployment of the military in response to recent strike action by petroleum workers opposing privatisation. He said: This is a warning to the entire working class about how the government will react to any strike against IMF austerity. Commenting on Wickremesinghes moves to replace the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) with an all-encompassing Anti-Terror Bill, Jayasekera said: Successive governments have used the PTA against their political opponents and workers, youth and rural poor to suppress their struggles. But now, with the crisis of bourgeois rule and workers struggles entering a higher level, the government sees that the PTA is not enough. It wants an even more draconian and repressive law. Under these new measures, he continued, the government could prosecute on terrorism charges anyone criticising or protesting the austerity policies of the Sri Lankan or any other governmental or international organisation, such as the IMF. SEP General Secretary Deepal Jayasekera. [Photo: WSWS] The working class, now coming into struggle in defence of its basic social rights and against the governments measures, is heading into a direct collision with the Wickremesinghe government. What is now developing in Sri Lanka is a revolutionary conflict between the working class and the bourgeois ruling class. The working class needs to prepare politically, theoretically and organisationally for this confrontation, Jayasekera said. Jayasekera pointed out that Sri Lankas opposition parliamentary parties, such as the SJB, the JVP and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), have no fundamental differences with the governments IMF-dictated austerity measures. The speaker explained that the intensification of the class struggle in Sri Lanka was part of a global phenomenon and referred to intensifying strikes and protests by workers internationally as they came into direct conflict with the repressive state measures of their own governments. The SEP is intervening in these sharp political developments with a revolutionary socialist program for the working class, against all the parties of the capitalist political establishment, and their trade union and pseudo-left agents. We are continuing our campaign for a Democratic and Socialist Congress of Workers and Rural Masses, launched by the SEP in mid-July last year during the popular uprising against the former Rajapakse government. We have brought this to the centre of our campaign against the brutal assault by the government on the social and democratic rights of workers and the oppressed masses, he said. The SEPs call for workers to form their own action committeesat every workplace, factory, plantation and neighbourhood, and among the rural poor, independent of the unions and all the bourgeois partieswas the only way workers can take their struggle into their own hands, Jayasekera said. He explained that the trade unions and pseudo-left formations, such as the FSP, opposed any independent political movement of the working class against the Wickremesinghe government, repeating the role they played during the mass protests against the Rajapakse regime. Referring to the peoples councils advocated by the FSP, the speaker warned that these organisations were political traps aimed at pressuring bourgeois governments and the parliament for limited reforms. Contrary to this perspective, Jayasekera said the action committees advocated by the SEP were independent, democratically controlled organs of the working class to fight Wickremesinghes IMF-dictated social attacks and the capitalist profit system itself. The Democratic and Socialist Congress of Workers and Rural Masses (DSC) advocated by the SEP, Jayasekera concluded, is aimed at developing a mass independent political movement of the working class, rallying rural toilers, to establish a government of workers and peasants. And this struggle to build a government of workers and peasants will be a part of the broader struggles for socialism in South Asia and internationally. We urge workers, youth, intellectuals and rural poor to join with the SEP to bring forward this campaign to build the DSC for establishing a government of workers and peasants. The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) held a successful meeting at Sydneys Macquarie University on Tuesday evening, opposing the US and NATO-led war in Ukraine and advancing a socialist perspective to prevent a global nuclear catastrophe. IYSSE anti-war meeting at Macquarie University in Sydney, April 4, 2023. [Photo: WSWS] The meeting was one of a series being held worldwide by the IYSSE, entitled The war in Ukraine and how to stop it. As with the event in Wellington, New Zealand, also on Tuesday, the Sydney meeting was subjected to online attacks by far-right and pro-war Ukrainian nationalists. But it proceeded successfully, with several dozen attending on campus and via the livestream. Participants came from Macquarie University and Western Sydney University, where the IYSSE has a club. Workers, retirees and students in other parts of New South Wales and Australia took part online. Chairing the meeting, Socialist Equality Party (SEP) Assistant National Secretary Max Boddy outlined the world Trotskyist movements assessment of the war in Ukraine. While opposing the reactionary and nationalist Russian government and its invasion, Boddy explained that the US and NATO had instigated the conflict and were actively stoking it. This was bound up with longstanding plans for war with Russia, aimed at ensuring American imperialist hegemony. Max Boddy [Photo: WSWS] Above all, Boddy emphasised the significance of the major struggles of the working class, erupting around the world, currently epitomised by the explosive strikes taking place in France. This incipient movement, he stated, provided the basis not only for a fight against government austerity, but also for an internationally-coordinated struggle against war and its source, the capitalist nation-state system. Elle Chapman, the IYSSE coordinator for the Sydney area, delivered the first report. She detailed the deepening social crisis facing young people, including mounting hunger, the impact of the soaring housing crisis and the growth of insecure work. Chapman noted that this situation, resulting from government austerity measures, intersected with the preparations for war. She detailed the recent Red Alert series published by the Sydney Morning Herald, which had called for Australia to participate in a US-led war against China within three years, to station nuclear weapons in northern Australia and to impose mass conscription. This was a warning, Chapman said, of what capitalism has in store for young people. But there was widespread and growing opposition. Chapman cited polls showing that a majority of young people, in the US, Australia and elsewhere, prefer socialism to capitalism. The critical issue was transforming this latent sentiment into a mass political movement, oriented to the working class, fighting for socialism and based on the lessons of history. In his report, WSWS writer Oscar Grenfell placed the war in Ukraine in its broader historical context. The eruption of conflict marked the beginning of a new period of imperialist war, aimed at the redivision of the globe. Grenfell explained that the US and NATO had provoked the Russian invasion, and were exploiting it, in line with decades-long plans by the Pentagon for a confrontation with Russia and China. This had nothing to do with human rights, as demonstrated by the decades-long horrors perpetrated by the US and its allies in Central Asia and the Middle East. Rather, it was aimed at ensuring the hegemony of American imperialism. Oscar Grenfell [Photo: WSWS] The speaker noted that there was widespread opposition to war. But the critical issue was political perspective. Grenfell polemicised against tendencies that claimed war could be opposed by pressuring national governments or appealing to the moral conscience of official politicians. That perspective had derailed the mass protests against the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Instead, the new anti-war movement had to be based on the revolutionary principles outlined by the IYSSE and the world Trotskyist movement. These included internationalism and the fight for the political independence of the working class from all of the capitalist parties. The reports provoked a lively discussion. One of the first questions was from an attendee, who asked what the speakers would say if they were to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin or Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky. Grenfell emphasised that the IYSSE had no interest in meeting with either figure. Putin represented the Russian oligarchy spawned by the Stalinist dissolution of the Soviet Union. Zelensky was functioning as the frontman for a US-NATO campaign that risked world war and had already resulted in more than 200,000 Russian and Ukrainian deaths. Grenfell said that the IYSSE was oriented to building a movement of the working class, against all of the governments. The Ukraine conflict would not be ended, he said, by peace talks or appeals for them, but by a unified struggle of Russian and Ukrainian workers. Another questioner asked how the seductive character of war could be combatted. In reply, Boddy noted that workers, young people and students were overwhelmingly hostile to war. The real constituency for war was in the upper middle-class, whose interests were tied ever more directly to the stock market and to imperialist plunder. Their political spokespeople, in various pseudo-left organisations, had explicitly supported the US-NATO war effort. Others asked questions about the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the basis of the IYSSEs perspective of socialist revolution, the consequences of any attempt to introduce conscription and how to involve broader layers of young people in the socialist movement. Following the meeting, the IYSSE spoke to Will, an education student, who said: What stood out for me was the notion that with political clarity comes great action. The fact you have to understand what the political leaders are actually saying. For example, with the $368 billion submarine deal, is all in the guise of doing it for a greater cause. But when you have clarity, you realise they are trying to propel forward war. Prior to the meeting I knew there was some dissatisfaction with the relationship with China from the Australian government, but I didnt know there was an active push towards war, an active antagonising of China. Will was asked how the meeting explained this active push for war, America, with its dwindling scope in the world, has an imperialistic urge to attack other nations. It is similar to what it did in Iraq and Afghanistan, trying to gain their national resources and expanding the USs reach. However, those countries were much smaller than China and Russia. We the workers and students are the legs of the imperialistic regime, so if workers and students especially, dont want war, they cant do anything but force people to fight it, like through conscription. That was outlined in the Red Alert series in the Sydney Morning Herald. Sharon, a science student who attended online, said: After being invited to these meetings Im trying to educate myself more and look into these things. Beforehand I didnt know that there was a website like the WSWS full of all these articles that I could just read and I didnt know it was accessible to find these other articles and perspectives. At the meeting, the speakers were talking about how with a lot of anti-war movements, a lot of these groups dont really understand the root cause of war. They mentioned that war is a product of the capitalist system. That contributes to having political clarity, understanding the economic system that we are in and all of the downstream effects of that as well. It is good to bring awareness to people. Even for myself Im still trying to become more aware of these things and Im looking to buy the book that they recommended, A Quarter Century of War: The US Drive for Global Hegemony 1990 2016. Another aspect I really liked about the meeting is that this is an international group and they really emphasise it cant just be one society or club that is fighting for this. It has to be all over the globe to make a difference. I feel like this is necessary. Brett, who works in the construction industry, commented: I really liked the meeting, particularly the point made by the meeting chairman, and throughout, that war can only be understood by fully explaining its historical context. Without that there is no understanding and therefore no appreciation of what must be done. None of the discussion in the media on the war in Ukraine, or the rapidly moving preparations for military conflict with China, provides any serious explanation of how weve got to this point and the insane consequences for humanity. Finland is being rushed into membership of NATO and yet theres no debate in the media about what this will mean. Were just presented with this, and the other military build ups going on, as a fait accompli. And then theres constant barrage of Australian military recruitment advertising, especially on social media. Ive particularly noticed that on Twitter recently, and it targets young people. Its crucial that young people, and everyone else for that matter, discuss the questions raised in the meeting on Tuesday. There needs to be much, much more of this. Chiles Stalinist-pseudo-left administration of Gabriel Boric is stampeding the country onto a dangerous law-and-order course. Under the guise of being tough on crime, drug trafficking, irregular immigration and other right-wing tropes, all the parties in the governing coalition have supported the ramming through in record time of 15 pieces of legislation that further enshrine a police state. The most significant of these laws grants the repressive arms of the state a license to kill, protecting their actions with a legal fig leaf. These authoritarian powers, not seen since the darkest days of military rule, are being granted under conditions of a renewal of mass opposition to war, dictatorship and austerity across the globe. President Gabriel Boric signing police state laws, with ministers of Defense, Interior and Justice, and government spokesperson. [Photo: @Presidencia_cl] The state has been aided by the entire corporate media, which acts as a stenographer of the intelligence and military apparatus. It has cultivated a climate of terror to justify unrestrained calls for a state of emergency to be imposed in Santiago and Valparaiso, Chiles two most populous cities. Meganoticias, T13, 24 Horas, CVH Noticias have for months bombarded the population, on a daily and even hourly basis, with updates meant to portray a veritable deluge of crimes by migrants and gangs engulfing the countryclaims that are belied by statistics. The xenophobic and jingoistic campaign against migrants, among the most oppressed section of the working class, is combined with accounts of a police force that is supposedly under-resourced and unable to cope. The sickening and reactionary attempt to deify the police reached a fever pitch this week with the fatal shooting of another cop, Officer Daniel Palma, the third death in the space of a month. Officer Alex Salazar was killed in a hit and run by a drunken driver on March 14, while Sgt. Rita Olivares was fatally shot last Sunday after responding to a supposed house robbery that turned out to be a drug heist by one gang against another. Today, all Chilean men and women mourn the death of Daniel. A few days ago it was for Rita, before for Alex, who unfortunately also joined an already too long list of martyrs of the Carabineros de Chile, Boric said in a televised speech on Thursday. Martyrs! Members of the very institutions that from 1973 to 1990, the years of Gen. Augusto Pinochets US-backed military junta, were responsible for the forced disappearance, execution and torture of tens of thousands are now hailed as martyrs! Boric continued: It is time to act together and we have been doing so. In this there is no left or right. We are united in this crusade and as the Government of Chile we will continue to speak with facts Every other government minister, senator, deputy and state official of the ruling coalition has tweeted along similar lines, calling for national unity with the right and extreme right to extend the powers of the Carabineros, the PDI (civilian police), the Gendarmerie, and the Armed Forces. The additional resources, Boric boasted will be financed with emergency funds from the public treasury, not reallocations, not funds already earmarked for something else, and other funds that have not been committed in the budget for the year 2023. On the 50th anniversary of the US-backed military coup, Borics pseudo-left government is erecting a police state, directing an extra US$1.5 billion per year to the security budget, which represents an extraordinary increase of more than 40 percent. These resources will fund pilot projects such as the massive police operation to be carried out against 30 working class municipalities, which together concentrate a third of Santiagos population and are accused of being responsible for half the violent crimes. The Nain-Retamal Law There are two aspects to this law. The first is punitive, drastically increasing the penalties for civilians accused of endangering the life and physical integrity of Carabineros, Investigative Police, Gendarmerie, the Armed Forces and their dependents. The medias fear-mongering notwithstanding, the number of cops killed in Chile is relatively low; six officers have died in 11 months. A number of the deaths have resulted from confrontations with organized crime that remain murky. Those who shot Officer Palma, for example, were driving a car they had hired from a retired military officer, begging the question of their relationship. According to an investigation by the CIPER news site, over the last decade there were 38 cases where Carabineros, Army, Navy and Air Force personnel were involved in trafficking weapons to organized crime. The main purpose of the punitive aspect of the law is to intimidate the population with the threat of longer jail terms and heavier fines for opposing deeply entrenched social inequality. The government is particularly concerned over the growing struggles of students and youth, teachers, health professionals and other workers, pensioners and indigenous communities, who have borne the brunt of regressive free-market policies. Thousands of youth and workers were rounded up during the 2019 anti-capitalist demonstrations, many framed up on false charges of acts against the police. During the same period, 11,000 complaints of human rights violations were filed against law enforcement and the military. The allegations against the state agencies included illegal imprisonment, torture, rape and sexual assault, mutilations, mock executions, attempted murder and murder. Yet only 17 agents have been convicted while another 101 have been formally charged, including the general director of Carabineros, Ricardo Yanez. Only last Tuesday, dozens of protesting teachers and parents were violently attacked by Carabineros, and Andres Ojeda, a community leader, was detained during the protest. Resumen reported that the protest was initiated by parents centers on the island of Chiloe following the Municipal Corporations decision to pay 500 teachers 58 percent of their salaries. It was violent, here in Chiloe one is not accustomed to this behavior on the part of the Carabineros, Pamela Carrasco of the Ancud Communal Teachers Association told the regional news site. It was a very tense situation. The second aspect of the law provides law enforcement and the armed forces legal protection, or privileged self-defense when using lethal force. In an Orwellian twist, legitimate self-defense will be automatically presumed for state agents, while victims of state violence and repression will have to prove their innocence. This is in anticipation of protests, strikes and mobilizations in which police-state repression is guaranteed. Since 2019, the right-wing administration of former President Sebastian Pinera and the Boric administration have decreed no less than five states of emergency, allowing for the deployment of the armed forces. These have been in response to the eruption of mass anti-capitalist demonstrations, the unrest during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, against the indigenous Mapuche communities land claims in the southern Macrozone during the mega-plantation fires in summer, and most recently against the irregular influx of refugees and migrants in the northern border regions. Besides states of emergency, the Congress has approved the use of the military to protect public and private critical infrastructure such as banks, utilities, communications and logistics. It has allowed the military to assist in policing the border regions. Moreover, moves are afoot, at the instigation of the fascistic UDI and Republican Parties, to deploy the armed forces in working class communities to ostensibly control drug trafficking, delinquency and organized crime. The Nain-Retamal Law states that police officers or military personnel who make use of service weapons, less lethal weaponry or non-lethal elements, to repel any violence or overcome resistance against the authority, may not be separated from their duties or see their remuneration affected, as long as the respective administrative investigation is not concluded (emphasis added). It shall be legally presumed that exemption from prosecution is met when law enforcement and the military perform public order and internal public security functions. In such cases, it shall be understood that there is a rational use of the means employed if, by reason of his position or on the occasion of the fulfillment of public order and internal public security functions, (the State agent) repels or prevents an aggression that may seriously affect his physical integrity or his life or that of a third party, using weapons or any other means of defense (emphasis added). In investigations initiated by the Public Prosecutors Office Carabineros, the PDI, Gendarmerie and the armed forces and their dependencies shall be considered as victims or witnesses for all legal purposes, unless the proceedings allow attributing them punishable participation, in which case they shall acquire the status of accused (emphasis added). If it is demonstrated that there was no rational need to use the service weapon or less lethal weaponry, the Court shall consider this circumstance as a mitigating circumstance and reduce the sentence by one, two or three degrees (emphasis added). Finally, the Nain-Retamal law will punish the use of torture with a slap on the wrist: Any public employee who applies, orders or consents to the application of unlawful coercion or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, which in its severity does not constitute torture, shall be punished with the penalties of minor imprisonment in its medium to maximum degrees Deputies and senators from the pseudo-left Frente Amplio and the Stalinist Communist Party (PC), the two main blocs in the ruling coalition, publicly declared they would take the Nain-Retamal law to the Constitutional Court on the conviction that the fight against crime must be carried out with unrestricted respect for human rights. They dropped this militant crusade within minutes of Boric enacting the law, giving support to the government in the fight against crime. It will not insist before the Constitutional Court and hopes that the governments announced bills will consider our objections to the law, in the reaffirmation of the validity of human rights. Against the ever-growing danger of a nuclear conflagration in Europe and Asia, amid the skyrocketing cost of living, mass unemployment, economic depression and the growing threat of dictatorial rule, the logic of the class struggle necessarily leads to a fight for power, as recent events in France, Israel, Sri Lanka and elsewhere testify. It is under these conditions that the pseudo-left government has gone beyond anything that has been enacted in the last 30 years of civilian rule and is consciously preparing to use the police and the armed forces against the next revolutionary eruption of the masses in Chile. Workers and youth must prepare accordingly. The most urgent task is the building of a genuine internationalist, socialist and revolutionary party in Chile as a section of the International Committee of the Fourth International. Two workersFrancisco Reyes, 41, and Fernando Lagunas Pereira, 28were killed at a John F. Kennedy International (JFK) Airport construction site on Monday when the trench in which they were working collapsed, burying them under debris. Despite rescue efforts, both died at the scene. Details regarding the exact cause of the collapse and what safety measures were in place are not available as of this writing, although one report indicates that a concrete slab fell into the trench. Construction activities were suspended but airport operations were not interrupted. The work which took their lives involved the relocation of utility lines, part of an $18 million airport expansion project including the expansion of two existing terminals and the construction of two new ones, at the airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City. The deaths are under investigation by the US Labor Department. The name of the contractor that employed the dead workers has not been released. New York governor Kathy Hochul issued a pro forma statement on Twitter that her thoughts are with the loved ones of [the] two people tragically killed. This incident represents the third workplace fatality at JFK Airport during the past month, according to City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. The airport, operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, is reportedly under pressure to accelerate the construction work to accommodate a recent increase in air travel, as the last of the pandemic restrictions have been eliminated. Worker fatalities associated with trench work in the US have been increasing in recent years. Data reported by the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) indicates that 15 people died during trench and excavation work in 2021. That rose to a total of 39 in fiscal year 2022, the highest since at least 2017. In a statement that exemplifies the complacent attitude of the federal agency nominally charged with safeguarding worker safety, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Region 6 Deputy Regional Administrator Stephen Boyd said that he expected the trend of increasing deaths to continue. The laissez faire attitude of the federal agency is exemplified by the minimal penalties for serious and other-than-serious violations, $15,625 per violation. In New York City, OSHA reported that overall construction worker deaths reached 22 in 2022. This is the highest total in at least five years. The New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH) found that there was a 49 percent increase in construction worker deaths in New York state in 2021, a total of 61, up from 41 in the previous year. The proportion of construction-related deaths versus all worker deaths was approximately one-quarter during both years. A new city law recently went into effect that provides for fines of up to $500,000 on construction companies convicted of criminal negligence in construction worker deaths or severe injuries. The law, known as Carlos Law, is named after 22-year-old Ecuadorian immigrant Carlos Moncayo, who was buried alive in a 13-foot trench in 2015. The practical effect of this law is questionable, however, given that it relies on enforcement by municipal prosecutors in a city in which the real estate industry wields considerable influence. The bill to establish Carlos Law was watered down from its original form by the elimination of a minimum fine, thus allowing for a symbolic slap on the wrist. JFK Airport is under federal jurisdiction and not subject to city regulations, so Carlos Law will not apply to the latest deaths. The construction industry is dangerous and highly exploitative. In 2021, 53 percent of the construction workforce consisted of immigrants, according to the state comptrollers office. Newly arrived immigrants, desperate for work, are easy prey for employers. Pay as low as $10 per hour has been reported. The hyper-exploitation of immigrant workers is reflected in their elevated death rate. A 2022 NYCOSH report found that in 2020, although only 10 percent of construction workers in New York state were Latino, 18 percent of fatalities were suffered by Latino men. The criminal indifference to worker deaths on the part of the capitalist system is glaringly exemplified by the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even the minimal measures initially instituted in response to worker protest have now been eliminated in the quest to maximize profits above all. Worker sickness, injury and death are simply viewed as the negligible cost of doing business. That will not change until workers take power into their own hands and establish a socialist society in which the peoples welfare is the primary goal. The following ominous message is posted on the Medicaid.gov web site: The expiration of the continuous coverage requirement authorized by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) presents the single largest health coverage transition event since the first open enrollment period of the Affordable Care Act. When the continuous requirement expires, states will have up to 12 months to return to normal eligibility and enrollment operations. With the ending of the COVID-19 federal public health emergency, upwards of 22 million people (including 7.3 million children) are at risk of losing their health coverage by next year. The process of what Washington bureaucrats have euphemistically called the Medicaid unwinding, a return to the pre-pandemic normal, began officially on April 1, 2023. Tens of millions of people will be required to submit paperwork to state authorities to determine their eligibility to stay on the government program. Nursing home residents wait in line to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at Harlem Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, a nursing home facility, on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021 in Harlem neighborhood of New York. [AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura] Five statesArizona, Arkansas, Idaho, New Hampshire and South Dakotaare the first out of the gate to begin terminating Medicaid coverage through a process of mass disenrollment. Come May, an additional 14 statesFlorida, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexicowill follow suit. It is unlikely that many of those disenrolled will be able to be reenrolled or find additional insurance coverage, as the states are engaged in the monumental process of redetermining who is eligible while facing a massive reduction of staff and resources. Although states must make a good faith effort to contact enrollees, or a suspension of the terminations by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) indicated that 8.2 million people will most likely no longer qualify, and only 2.7 million may be able to procure coverage under the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare. The Medicaid program, enacted into law under the Social Security Amendments of 1965, is partially funded and primarily managed by the states, which have a wide latitude in determining eligibility and benefits. Medicaid was essentially designed to provide health coverage for the poorest and most disenfranchised, including children, pregnant women, low-income adults, the elderly and people with disabilities. Residents of many nursing homes are being evicted because facilities can now stop accepting Medicaid patients because the state-sponsored programs pay so little, making it unprofitable to do so. The cases of Shirley Holtz, 91, who died on Monday, and 15 other residents who were evicted from the Emerald Bay Retirement Community near Green Bay, Wisconsin, demonstrate the situation faced by many Medicaid recipients. Eric Carlson, an attorney and advocate for the nonprofit Justice in Aging, told the Washington Post, Its a good illustration of how Medicaid assisted-living public policy is still in its Wild West phase, with providers doing what they choose in many cases, even though its unfair to consumers. You cant just flip in and out of these relationships and treat the people as incidental damage. But this is precisely what it happening, and Medicaid and the federal government do not even track these evictions. It is fair to say that the unwinding of Medicaid in fact means that the most vulnerable and destitute of people are being thrown off the proverbial cliff even as the COVID pandemic continues to rampage, despite the declarations by Joe Biden that the pandemic is over and that the virus no longer controls our lives. Clearly, the presidents vow to follow the science of the pandemic when elected was tempered by the more important need of the ruling class to protect corporate profits and the financial markets. According to the mentality of eugenicists like Thomas Friedman and Ezekiel Emanuel, those older Americans who have died from COVID, along with those now being evicted from nursing homes, are an economic drain on society and it is best that they die as soon as possible. The entire focus of the Biden administration has been to normalize the death and suffering brought on by the governments complete disregard of the dangers posed to the public by the coronavirus. Mitigation measures that provided the smallest modicum of protection against the virus have been ended piecemeal, culminating in the current cutoff of emergency Medicaid enrollment. During his State of the Union address on February 7, Biden offered only the briefest platitudes to the more than 1.3 million Americans killed in the pandemic, stating, While the virus is not gone, thanks to the resilience of the American people and the ingenuity of medicine, we have broken the COVID grip on us. He then let slip, And soon well end the public health emergency. Three years ago, on March 18, 2020, when COVID had surpassed just 12,000 official cases and the death toll was still under 200, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) was signed into law, which provided states with increased Medicaid funding. The law barred states from disenrolling anyone during the COVID pandemic and suspended the requirement for redetermining if someone remained eligible to receive the benefits. Beyond the essential health supplement provisions to treat complications from COVID infections, the FFCRA also provided access to lunch for students and supplemental nutrition assistance program (food stamp) waivers. Additionally, it extended emergency paid sick leave and tax credits for qualified wages, along with family leave to care for those affected. Medicaid enrollment reached its peak in 2017, when the number of those eligible had reached 74 million. It then began a slow decline, with 72.7 million on the program in 2019. But by December 2022, total Medicaid/Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment had grown to 92.3 million, accounting for almost 28 percent of the US population. It is estimated that the number enrolled by March 2023 was 95 million, before the provisions of the FFCRA ended on March 31, 2023. The numbers reflect both the rise in number of people seeking health coverage and the halting of churning, a process by which beneficiaries are disenrolled, either because they were deemed to have earned too much or failed to appropriately complete the renewal process, only to be reenrolled a short time later. The Kaiser Family Foundation added that even eligible individuals are at risk for losing coverage if they do not receive or understand notices or forms requesting additional information to verify eligibility or do not respond to requests within required timeframes. Health coverage gaps can be catastrophic considering the mass disabling event known as Long COVID, which has no precedent in human history. The hundreds of millions infected or reinfected by COVID face deleterious consequences from these infections, which increase cardiac, respiratory and metabolic disorders. Jennifer Tolbert, an associate director of the Program on Medicaid and the Uninsured at the Kaiser Family Foundation, told the New York Times, Those people dont have anywhere else to go. The consequences would be severe for people with chronic health conditions for whom a week or a month without insurance could be especially risky. Among those killed by COVID, mortality from infection has been five times higher for adults of low socioeconomic status than for those at the other end of the income spectrum (72.2 deaths versus 14.6 deaths per 100,000), according to a study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Life expectancy in the US has been on a downward trajectory for nearly a decade, impacting the poorest most severely. Most devastating are the deaths among young people. Statistically, one in 25 Americans five years old today will not make it to their 40th birthday, according to John Burn-Murdoch for the Financial Times. A long-term longitudinal study published in 2011 in the American Journal of Epidemiology, found a disturbing difference in well-being and mortality between the wealthiest and poorest in society. The authors wrote, The less wealthy may be more subject to poor physical and social environments, which can encourage health-damaging exposures. In addition, the lack of safety net associated with having little or no wealth can cause chronic stress among the poor, which in turn can trigger a series of biologic events, through central nervous system activation of autonomic, neuroendocrine, and immune response resulting in poor health. And those without health insurance have higher rates or mortality. Long COVID, long-term poverty and social inequality are all manifestations of the same diseasecapitalism. Although President Biden had announced he would formally declare the end of COVID public emergency measures on May 11, 2023, the provisions in the FFCRA that linked enrollment in Medicaid and the pandemic were decoupled by the $1.7 trillion Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, ending the Medicaid disenrollment restrictions imposed on states on or after April 1, 2023. Politicians of both big-business parties are all too eager to provide limitless funds for the war industry but have no qualm in throwing millions of Americans under the bus by discontinuing their only lifeline to obtaining what is exorbitantly expensive health coverage on either the private insurance market or the ACA marketplace. They also face the bureaucratic nightmare of attempting to prove their eligibility for a program to provide them with what is a basic human rightquality, accessible health care. The summit last month between South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has led to an outpouring of anti-Japanese chauvinism from South Koreas main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DP). This is to obscure the Democrats role in attacking workers social conditions while covering up their support for the developing US-led war drive against China. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shake hands following a joint news conference in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, March 16, 2023. [AP Photo/Kiyoshi Ota] In waging this campaign, the Democrats are attempting to posture as advocates for victims of Japanese imperialism, which had colonized Korea from 1910 to 1945. On April 4, DP members criticized a statement made by Prime Minister Han Deok-su the previous day when he stated during a session of the National Assembly that the summit between Yoon and Kishida had removed the obstacle to closer relations between Seoul and Tokyo. This obstacle is a lawsuit by 15 victims of forced labor under the Japanese colonial government. In 2018, the South Korean Supreme Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs and ordered Nippon Steel and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to compensate the victims. In response, the Japanese government imposed trade restrictions on South Korea, with Seoul retaliating by threatening to pull out of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) bilateral military intelligence sharing agreement. In March, prior to the summit, the Yoon administration approved a plan to compensate the plaintiffs from a private domestic fund, without the involvement of the Japanese firms or government. Only three of the plaintiffs are alive today with the families of the others representing their cases. In an interview with SBS radio, DP member Yun Yeong-deok attacked the prime minister, saying, It sounds like [Han] is saying that the surviving victims refusing the third-party compensation are obstacles, that they are causing trouble, but this sounds like something that the Japanese prime minister would say, not the prime minister of the Republic of Korea. The outcome of improved relations between Seoul and Tokyo is the stepping up of war planning between Seoul and Tokyo bilaterally and with Washington trilaterally, aimed at stoking a conflict with China. The Democrats, however, support the military alliance with the US and have not opposed Washingtons anti-China war drive. The Seoul-Tokyo dispute had cut across US military preparations in the region, resulting in Washington applying pressure to both Seoul and Tokyo to resolve the issues. President Yoon came to office pledging to rebuild the relationship with Japan. He has also resumed massive joint war games with the US while pushing for increased cooperation between Seoul and Washington over US nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula. Washington is now pushing for even further collaboration between its two allies and the US, with Kurt Campbell, the deputy assistant to the president and National Security Council coordinator for the Indo-Pacific, praising Yoon. We [Washington] are hoping, however, that we will see even more from both capitals going forward. And again, as I said we will be engaged accordingly, he said on March 30. It is not the danger of nuclear war that has provoked the ire of the Democrats. Instead, they have targeted Yoon from the right, promoting nationalism as a means of distracting the public from the DPs own support for US war planning. That is what is behind their supposed concern for the victims of forced labor under Japanese colonial rule. On March 29, the DP submitted a request for a parliamentary investigation into the Yoon-Kishida summit. Two days later, DP lawmaker Yun Jae-gap declared in an interview, As issues related to comfort women, Dokdo, and marine products from Fukushima come out in the Japanese press, we must know what is the truth at the center of this. We must identify the issues at stake for the national interest and the peoples safety. Comfort women is a euphemism for sex slaves used by the Japanese military during World War II, while the South Korean-controlled Dokdo Islets (known as Takeshima in Japan), located in the Sea of Japan, have been at the center of a territorial dispute between Seoul and Tokyo for decades. In reality, the Democrats are no more concerned about public safety or the fate of the working class in South Korea than the ruling People Power Party. On Wednesday, the US and South Korea held joint air drills involving a US B-52 bomber and fighter jets from both countries. Trilateral naval drills were held for two days on April 3 and 4 with Japan, involving the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier. The Democrats have not issued a word of criticism of these belligerent exercises taking place on Chinas doorstep. These drills increasingly raise the risk of conflict, in which South Korea would be on the front lines. Furthermore, the previous administration of Democrat Moon Jae-in coordinated closely with both the Trump and Biden governments while in office from 20172022. Moon gave his approval for the installation of Washingtons Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile battery in South Korea after having falsely postured as an opponent of the system before being elected. THAAD is a key component of US war plans and includes an AN/TPY-2 X-band radar capable of spying deep into Chinese territory. Then, shortly after Trump threatened to totally destroy North Korea in 2017, Moon agreed to and closely coordinated with the US on the provocative flight of two US B-1B Lancer bombers off the coast of the Korean Peninsula, flying the farthest north of the Demilitarized Zone, up to that point, in the 21st century. During his first two years in office, Moon and the Democrats made no attempt to abrogate GSOMIA, and caved to US pressure in 2019 not to pull out of it when Seoul threatened to do so as part of the trade dispute with Japan. The GSOMIA agreement between South Korea and Japan, which hosts two US X-band radars as well, facilitates intelligence sharing between the two as part of the US ballistic missile systems in the region. Moon also backed the Biden administration over Taiwan, which the US is attempting to exploit in order to stoke a war with China. Following a summit in Washington in May 2021, the two leaders included a reference to the island in a joint statement between the two countries for the first time, an act that only further raised tensions with Beijing. The Democrat leaders understand very well the US pressure behind the summit between Yoon and Kishida in Tokyo. Their nationalist grandstanding has nothing to do with warning about, let alone opposing, a US-led war against China in which both South Korea and Japan are called upon to play major roles. Text in which the author defends ideas and reaches conclusions based on his / her interpretation of facts and data Whats the point of power? asked Liberal Party politician Dario Echandia, when his supporters asked him to take over the government of Colombia. This was in 1948, amid tremendous riots sparked by the assassination of the popular Liberal leader Jorge Eliecer Gaitan. Today, several Latin American presidents can ask themselves something similar. Lets start with the Chilean leader, Gabriel Boric. The Chamber of Deputies recently refused to even discuss his tax reform bill. He will have to wait another year to present it again. If he wants to do it sooner, he will need two-thirds of the Senate to support him. Local observers hold the executive branch as being responsible for not having achieved an atmosphere of agreement on the bills main proposals. This is another blow to Boric, after the public rejected his proposed new constitution at the polls. Chilean economist Alejandro Mico blames the governments limited progress on excessive ambition and a lack of realism. Professor Cecilia Cifuentes attributes the setbacks to extreme radical positions, which demonized political negotiation and led to the loss of the populations support. Going forward with reforms again would require the Boric administration to change its attitudes. In the case of the former president of Peru, Pedro Castillo who was impeached and arrested in December of 2022 after attempting to shutter Congress his administration repeatedly presented the proposal for a constitutional reform through the convening of a constituent assembly. It was a key proposal made by his government, but was defeated in a congressional commission. Shortly before that, the same Congress had limited key executive tax initiatives, aimed at increasing taxes on income and mining royalties. Once again, a mixture of political inexperience and an excess of optimism ruined governability. In Ecuador, the hostile opposition has blocked most of the initiatives of President Guillermo Lasso, while the Constitutional Court accepted the request to open impeachment proceedings against him. Lasso could potentially dissolve the National Assembly and rule by decree but that would be a reckless course of action. In Colombia, the restrictions on the tenure of President Gustavo Petro have come from both Congress and the high courts. The first branch of government rejected a constitutional reform, which would have limited the ability of congresspeople to occupy ministries and switch parties. Suspicions about the presidents hegemonic intentions weighed down on the reform. The Council of State, meanwhile, prevented by decree the president from becoming the de facto regulator of the electricity sector. Finally, the Constitutional Court warned that it was willing to invalidate laws that it considered contradictory to the constitutional design of the country. Petros health reform proposal has also been shot down by several political parties, while his labor market and pensions reforms are in limbo, as they are viewed with suspicion by businesspeople and contributors to the pension plan. Lets end our journey from south to north with Mexico, where the scope of the three key constitutional reforms sought by the government of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) have been curtailed. They have to do with electricity, the National Guard and the electoral law. The opposition has been so significant that, in early January, the government announced that there would be no more constitutional reforms. The electrical and electoral initiatives were rejected as constitutional norms. Instead, they had to be approved as secondary laws. The National Guard proposal was approved thanks to support from the opposition PRI but although the Mexican Army is allowed to have crime-fighting functions, the National Guards transfer to the Ministry of Defense was not approved. The suspension of the electoral reform will be in force until the Supreme Court decides the outcome, since it may be in violation of the political-electoral rights of the citizenry. As in Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, the Mexican Congress and the Supreme Court have limited the discretion of the executive. We could similarly review the experience of Macron in France with his pension reform, or of Netanyahu with his judicial overhaul but the evidence from these five Latin American countries is enough to reveal a kind of immune system that defends institutions against certain modifications. The aforementioned Latin American governments came to power with the promise of carrying out profound reforms that would change the economy, politics and society as a whole. Perhaps the most dramatic case was the proposal for a new constitution in Chile, which was written by the Constituent Assembly and ultimately rejected at the polls. Castillo in Peru was not allowed to get to the point of asking Peruvians via referendum whether or not they wanted a new constitution. Petro and AMLO have sought changes in political, electoral and energy issues that have either been rejected by their countries legislative branches or have been curbed by the judiciary. Some will argue that political and economic elites are resistant to change. This can close the doors to democratic transformations. Based on this type of reflection, other ways of direct participation of the people have been suggested, even if they are to the detriment of representative democracy. But its not just the elites. Street demonstrations indicate that the discontent with the proposed reforms is more widespread, going beyond the media and elites. Ironically, many of these Latin American leaders used to encourage these kinds of demonstrations, before becoming victims of the change of sentiment. An alternative perspective is that these presidents have made a mistake in the scope of their agendas, which contemplate excessive and risky transformations that are difficult to process. This is added to their lack of knowledge about the mechanisms of the legislative branch. Achieving political consensus requires dialogue and negotiation with the opposition. By avoiding this and imposing agendas, the final result is weak. One must also consider that maybe these limitations are the best thing that can happen to governments. Presidents seek to be right but they must also avoid being wrong, especially when it comes to serious matters. When the institutions tell the elected leaders that this or that reform crosses the line of what is admissible and could endanger key services, such as health and pensions, or would have undesirable consequences in the economy, perhaps they are acting like the good friend who warns you about a mistake you are about to make. Be that as it may, as a Mexican friend noted, we have discovered that the institutions are stronger than we thought. This is of immense value even if its at the expense of new governments finding that they cannot advance radical agendas and feeling like its impossible to govern. These events have definitely given new validity to Dario Echandias question: Whats the point of power? Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition In recent years, oncologists have faced a growing phenomenon that they dont know how to explain: more and more people develop lung cancer without ever smoking. Such patients make up about 15% of all cases. A new study indicates one of the causes: the tiny particles suspended in polluted air. The work analyzes the levels of 2.5 micra particles (PM 2.5) the tiniest ones in the fuel combustion smoke and the incidence of lung cancer in 33,000 non-smokers in the United Kingdom, Canada, South Korea and Taiwan. The authors focus on people with mutations in the EGFR gene, a marker of lung cancer in people who have never smoked or have done so very sporadically. The results show a clear association between air pollution levels and the appearance of tumors. The study demonstrates a new paradigm for how cancer appears, says oncologist Charles Swanton, researcher at Londons Francis Crick Institute and the main author of the study, which scientists from Europe, Asia and North America participated in. Until now, it was thought that cancerogenic agents in the environment damaged DNA, producing mutations, and that genetic changes provoked the later development of tumors. But the new study demonstrates that particles in the air cause cancer in healthy people who happen to have mutations that predispose them to lung cancer, like EGFR. The study indicates that just three years of breathing polluted air can cause the incidence of lung cancer in non-smokers to take off. In Europe, according to the European Union, 96% of the urban population is exposed to levels of PM 2.5 particles above the recommendations by the World Health Organization. Swanton emphasizes the importance of the findings, published in the magazine Nature. Air pollution kills eight million people every year around the world. Some of those are people who have never smoked but have the EGFR mutation, he explains. In Europe, they make up about 15% of patients, but in Asia the percentage can reach 75%. Its the first time that its been shown that a carcinogenic compound can lead to cancer without causing mutations. We think this is just the beginning. Its very possible that the other 19 known carcinogenic compounds generate tumors via similar mechanisms, he adds. The researchers demonstrated in mice that fine particles provoke inflammation of the respiratory system, which leads to lung tumors in patients with mutations that predispose them to cancer. Esteve Fernandez, a lung cancer expert and researcher at the Catalan Oncology Institute, explains that PM 2.5 particles penetrate the lungs, pass through the bronchioles and reach the bloodstream. They have a diameter of 2.5 micras, while epithelial cells are about 10 micras. So their effect is like throwing stones at a person, he says. Though it was already known that air contamination provokes thousands of deaths via cardiovascular accidents and cancer, the researcher believes that the study reveals key details about the particles role in causing cancer. With this information, governments and companies should feel more responsibility and understand that their actions have a price on health, he says. Mariano Provencio, lung cancer expert and oncologist at the Puerta de Hierro Hospital of Madrid, says, There was already consensus about how pollution affects lung cancer in non-smokers. This demonstrates it. The study opens new possibilities, like detecting people who have the EGFR or KRAS mutations, which increase their risk of suffering the illness if theyre exposed to pollution, he adds. Luis Paz-Ares, director of the lung cancer unit at the National Center of Oncological Research in Spain, explains another conclusion from the new study. Researchers have demonstrated in rats that fine particles cause the immune system to generate inflammation, which leads to tumors. The inflammatory protein interleukin-1 beta is key in that process. Scientists have demonstrated that blocking the molecule can stop the appearance of lung tumors. There is an experimental drug called canakinumab that blocks interleukin-1 beta. In a study with more than 10,000 patients, the drug showed a significant reduction in lung cancer, which was unexpected as it was developed to prevent myocardial heart attacks, Paz-Ares explains. This opens the door to anti-inflammatory treatments to prevent lung cancer, she adds. Laura Mezquita, spokesperson for the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology, believes that the work supports a paradigm shift regarding lung cancer. Although 85% of lung tumors are due to tobacco, not everything can be attributed to that. What the study demonstrates is that, if you have two lungs, you have a risk of lung cancer even if you dont smoke and have a healthy lifestyle, because you cant escape pollution. Reducing that risk factor depends on the authorities. And the most important thing is that risk factors add to each other, like, for example, smoking and living in a big city with a lot of pollution, she explains. The geneticist at the Clinical Hospital of Barcelona gives a caveat to the new work. It is very difficult to know if those patients tumors were caused by pollution or other environmental factors. For example, radon gas is the second-greatest carcinogenic agent after tobacco. It is not yet clear how to calculate its effects on these patients. Swantons group wants to go on to study other external factors, like the impact of alcohol on esophageal cancer or obesitys effect on different types of tumors. We have an enormous field to explore, he says. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition In addition to responding to all kinds of questions and generating never-before-seen images, artificial intelligence has significant applications for medicine. The magazine Nature published a study in which AI improves on human results in evaluating echocardiogram images, used to diagnose cardiac problems. The authors, a multidisciplinary team at Los Angeless Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, did a randomized blind study the first of its kind with this technology to evaluate the AIs precision analyzing 3,495 echocardiogram images that show the hearts functioning. In the study, cardiologists were asked to assess evaluations that either technicians or AI software made of the ultrasound images. The doctors corrected mistakes in 16.8% of AI evaluations, compared to 27.2% of human ones. Additionally, the cardiologists could not tell which evaluations were done by AI and which by humans. As the authors summarize, For patients undergoing echocardiographic quantification of cardiac function, initial assessment by AI was non-inferior to assessment by sonographers. The research team, led by cardiologist David Ouyang, do not believe that the technology will substitute the work of human professionals. We hope that it helps specialists to save time and minimize the most tedious parts of cardiac diagnosis work, he says. The cardiologist, for now, will still have the last word. At Cedars-Sinai, AI is also being applied to other aspects of cardiac prevention. A team led by Sumeet Chugh has begun an observational study with around 400,000 people in search of a more precise way to evaluate risk of ventricular fibrillation, a kind of arrhythmia that can provoke sudden death. The accumulation of information will train the AI to detect which patients have elevated cardiac failure risk and should undergo an intervention. Other uses of the AI tested by the institution can improve images obtained by low-quality scanners so that they meet the quality of those obtained by higher-end devices. Amparo Martinez, president of the Cardiac Image Association of the Spanish Cardiology Society and cardiologist at the Santiago University Clinic Hospital, explains that on the latest equipment, there are now semi-automatic programs that work to analyze different measurements of an echocardiogram. It saves time, but expert evaluation is still necessary. This type of technology, she adds, helps a lot and will help more. It can make the work easier, because its faster than doing the measurements yourself, but the doctors work will always be necessary. Ouyang believes that his technology can help make medical treatment more accessible, but he doesnt discard the possibility of AI eventually substituting human work. Cardiologists would still examine it and make sure that its done well. That said, in our study, cardiologists werent capable of distinguishing between work done by technicians and AI, and they saw that the preliminary evaluation by the AI was better and required fewer changes, he says. Some practitioners are hesitant about leaving something as sensitive as medical diagnosis in the hands of systems whose functioning is not completely understood. However, experts like Regina Barzilai, who has developed algorithms that can improve cancer diagnosis, believe that the danger lies in undervaluing and not taking advantage of the potential of a technology that can improve precision in medical diagnosis. There is excessive emphasis on the risks of this technology, but if you observe the health systems around the world, they dont usually have it. It is used only at some research hospitals. Its like talking about the risks of having a house on Mars when no ones building houses on Mars, she says in an interview with EL PAIS. The danger of artificial intelligence, she adds, is in delaying its application to medicine, because many people suffer because of insufficient care, medical errors or elevated healthcare costs. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Educational exposure of ideas, assumptions or hypotheses, based on proven facts" (which need not be strictly current affairs) Value in judgments are excluded, and the text comes close to an opinion article, without judging or making forecasts , just formulating hypotheses, giving motivated explanations and bringing together a variety of data Traveling on vacation can lead to one-off sexual encounters. But such momentary trysts as respectable as any other should follow certain rules to ensure they dont end in bitter memories. 1. The condom is non-negotiable Having unprotected sex with a stranger, with an unknown sexual history and state of health, can mean playing Russian roulette when it comes to sexually transmitted infections. While sex always involves risks, and total safety doesnt exist, the correct use of a condom will prevent many STIs, including HIV, gonorrhea and chlamydia. If youre traveling and anticipate having sexual encounters, theres nothing wrong with packing condoms in your luggage. Its better to bring them from home, from a known, trustworthy brand, then to buy them at your destination and risk using cheap ones that break easily or cause irritation or allergies. It is important to use them not only during intercourse, but also for oral and anal sex. And it doesnt hurt to check that theyre still in place when changing positions: some have the unfortunate practice of removing them discreetly. 2. Sex and rock & roll, but save the drugs for another time When we travel, we are in a vulnerable position. We are in an unknown place with foreign customs. In many cases, the people speak a language we may not fully understand. In that context, overdoing it with alcohol or trying drugs, even if they arent the hardest, can put us at a disadvantage. Our reflexes in an emergency decrease, our intuition can be disrupted, we become more trusting and our senses blur. Being under the effects of substances can make us more likely to do things we could regret the next day, including foregoing the condom. We may want to experience the fusion of sex and drugs at some point in our lives, but it is important to do so with people who we trust and in safe spaces. The combination of geographic trips and drug trips has often ended poorly, as seen in the show The Serpent, about serial killer Charles Sobhraj, who kidnapped and killed young people on the hippie route through Southeast Asia in the seventies. Still from the film 'Farewell Emmanuelle' (1977), by Francois Leterrier. IFA Film (United Archives / Cordon Press) 3. Stay in familiar territory Your place or mine? In this case, the answer should be mine. Risks are reduced when we are in familiar environments. In our hotel room, on our own territory, we face fewer surprises than if we go to a locals house. A strangers house is full of unknowns. Do they live alone or with others? How will their roommates react? If you decide to return to your place, will you have transportation? Will the house be located in a safe neighborhood? On the other hand, the others insistence on taking us to their place should raise suspicions. It never hurts to let your travel buddies know that you have a date and where you will be. Its also not the best time to have sex outside, on beaches, in the woods or in nature, as it could add another level of vulnerability. 4. Local culture and consent Sex has a lot to do with instinct and biology, but culture and lifestyle also determine how we interpret it. Its important to inform ourselves about our destinations perspective on sex. Are we, for example, in a machista country where women have fewer rights and are second-class citizens? Is it commonly believed that foreign women who travel alone are easy? Will locals understand that, once in bed, a sexual partner can decide to stop the encounter, or will they assume that theres no turning back? No one necessarily subscribes to all their societys beliefs, but its important to reflect on those elements before sleeping with someone from a totally different culture. When it comes to consent, we should be clear about what we are and arent willing to do and our intentions and expectations, leaving open the possibility of canceling the encounter if either party wishes. We should learn from practitioners of BDSM when it comes to establishing clear, specific and firm rules. Scene from the film 'Nymphomaniac' (2013), Lars von Trier. Magnolia Pictures / Everett Collection / Cordon Press 5. Compromising photos? No, thanks Most people will agree that a casual sexual encounter, while traveling, isnt the best time to make a sex tape. It may be common sense, but it doesnt hurt to remember that requests for intimate videos or photos (just to remember you!) should always be denied. Sensitive material plus social media is a dangerous combination. You never know where those images will end up. It is better to avoid giving the one-time lover too much specific information about your life, such as your address, workplace and other concrete details. Theres always time to share more information, but going back isnt always possible. 6. Emotional intelligence: Distinguish between love and a good time In an idyllic landscape, whether a Norwegian fjord or a coconut-studded beach, without work obligations or a schedule, its easy to see the glass half-full. That can be risky for those who tend to let their imaginations run free in romantic situations. On the other hand, some people can act like sex robots, trying to limit the relationship only to the physical plane and repressing their emotions. But casual sex is as valid, satisfactory and deserving of recognition as any other, as a 2018 study in Cambridge University Press reveals. The article concludes that people who have sporadic sex have similar behaviors as those in a relationship. For a night to become a good memory, be sure to make your decisions based on pleasure. Ensure you feel safe and not pressured. A 2020 study published in The Journal of Sex Research recognized that casual sexual encounters are more likely to leave their participants feeling empty, used and depressed when they occur under the effects of alcohol. 7. Observation and intuition The frequency of our non-personal interactions calls, emails, social media messages may have already diminished our intuitive ability to know if someone is a good or bad person shortly after meeting them. But if we observe them carefully, we can get a sense of whether we are dealing with someone reliable, unless theyre a professional con with excellent acting skills. Generally, good people are thoughtful, treat others especially service workers well, listen more than they talk, maintain eye contact and smile, and their personal story is coherent and believable. Sex tourism exists, even if you do not practice it. Money or social position do not always put us at advantage when we travel. Avoid having casual sex out of pity or a bad conscience, particularly when in a poor and needy country: it wont work out well, and no matter how much money you have, you are no better than anyone else. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Schulz, hoping to unseat Merkel, gets unanimous backing as SPD leader Martin Schulz, who will challenge German Chancellor Angela Merkel in September national elections, was confirmed leader of the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) on Sunday by unanimous vote at a party congress in Berlin. GALLERY Schulz told more than 600 party delegates in Berlin that "justice, respect and dignity" will be the cornerstones of the Social Democrats election campaign manifesto, adding that the SPD governance programme will be presented at a congress in Dortmund at the end of June. Berlin (dpa) - The 61-year-old former European Parliament president became the first leadership candidate to secure 100 per cent of SPD delegates support since before World War II.The vote comes amid a buzz of excitement among SPD supporters. Since Schulz was announced as the partys nominee for chancellor, the SPD has climbed to above 30 per cent in opinion polls - after having trailed Merkels Christian Democrats (CDU) for years at between 20 and 25 per cent.Schulz told more than 600 party delegates in Berlin that "justice, respect and dignity" will be the cornerstones of the Social Democrats election campaign manifesto, adding that the SPD governance programme will be presented at a congress in Dortmund at the end of June.Schulz said he had travelled all over Germany since his return to national politics in January, meeting people "to listen and learn, and to draw necessary conclusions as to what our priorities must be for the coming years."Drawing a lesson from Donald Trumps election campaign last year, Schulz said "the condemnation of entire groups of people must have no place in Germany."SPD members also celebrated outgoing party chief, German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, who used the occasion to speak out against the continuation of a coalition government after September elections.Merkels conservative CDU and their CSU sister party from the state of Bavaria currently form a grand coalition in Berlin with the SPD as a junior partner.Gabriel told more than 600 party delegates in Berlin that he led the SPD into a coalition in 2013 "because the SPD isnt in politics to just have a look around.""People want a new uprising," Gabriel said. "What they dont want is a continuation of the grand coalition."Schulz was elected president of the European Parliament in 2012 and served in the role until January of this year, when he replaced Gabriel as SPD leader. His return to national politics in Germany from Brussels has boosted the SPD to a four-year polling record.Merkel will be running for a fourth term in September. KYODO NEWS - Apr 7, 2023 - 14:40 | All, Japan, World Nineteen Japanese have been detained in Cambodia for alleged involvement in phone scams in Japan, authorities in both countries said Friday. Tokyo police obtained arrest warrants for the men Thursday and are planning to dispatch investigators to Cambodia as early as next week to transport them to Japan, investigative sources said. Japan has been cracking down on organized crime groups based outside the country. Police in the Southeast Asian country investigated a hotel in the southern province of Sihanoukville in January after the Japanese Embassy in Cambodia was tipped off about a potential scam group operating from the establishment, the sources said. The men, aged in their 20s to 50s, are suspected of defrauding people of money by claiming their victims had overdue payments for websites with paid subscriptions. The arrest warrant was issued in connection with a case in which a woman in her 60s living in Tokyo was defrauded of 250,000 yen ($1,900) worth of BitCash electronic money in January, according to the sources. The Cambodian police said they are preparing to deport the men back to Japan in the coming days. The men are believed to have sent text messages purporting to be from Japanese mobile operator NTT Docomo Inc. to cell phone numbers in Japan. They would then coerce the people who called back into sending electronic money by notifying them of what they claimed were outstanding payments for subscriptions. Multiple cell phones, a manual outlining how to defraud people, and a list of names including those of victims were among the items found in hotel rooms that are believed to have been used as a de facto office, the sources said. The 19 suspects all applied for tourist visas when entering Cambodia, local officials said. Some had entered the country two years ago, while others had been in the country for six months. Similarly, Japanese police recently transported suspects from the Philippines and arrested them on suspicion of theft in connection with scam cases targeting elderly people in Japan. Those arrested were also suspected of coordinating a string of robberies across the country. Related coverage: 4 arrested for fatal robbery of 90-yr-old woman in Tokyo in Jan. FOCUS: Robberies across Japan expose social media's role in enabling crime Data reset feared in phones seized from high-profile robbery suspects KYODO NEWS - Apr 7, 2023 - 13:00 | All, World, Japan Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is a potential 2024 Republican presidential candidate, is considering a visit to Japan in late April, a diplomatic source said Thursday. During the planned visit, DeSantis would hold talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, the source said, adding the governor would also seek a meeting with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. It would be DeSantis' first trip to Japan since taking office in 2019 and he is planning to lead a delegation of business leaders from the southern U.S. state, the source said. In addition to Japan, the former congressman, who has not yet officially declared a presidential bid, is making arrangements for a trip to South Korea and may also stop in Israel en route, according to the source. DeSantis, who was re-elected to a second term in November, is seen as one of the major potential contenders to seek the Republican nomination. The 44-year-old was once a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump, whose endorsement helped him become governor of Florida. But the two are now increasingly at odds and Trump, who was charged this week with 34 felony counts related to his alleged role in a hush money payment to a porn star before the 2016 presidential election, has sharpened his attacks on the governor. Trump is a front-runner in the Republican presidential field ahead of the election in November 2024, and DeSantis remains the second favorite, but some poll results released before and after the indictment showed that the former president's lead is growing. DeSantis took a hawkish stance on foreign policy when he was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives between 2013 and 2018. But his current orientation is still unclear and it remains to be seen whether he will unveil his own stance on the long-standing U.S.-Japan security alliance or China's rise during a possible visit to Asia. Like Trump, DeSantis is against U.S. provision of support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. KYODO NEWS - Apr 7, 2023 - 19:33 | World, All China announced Friday fresh sanctions against Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan's de facto ambassador to the United States, and punitive steps on two American institutes that hosted the island's leader Tsai Ing-wen during her U.S. stopovers as part of her tour of Central American allies. The measures were released after Tsai met with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday in California, angering Beijing which regards the self-ruled democratic island as its own. A spokesperson of the ruling Communist Party's Taiwan Work Office called Hsiao a "diehard 'Taiwan independence' separatist" and banned her and her family members from entering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao. The punitive steps also include banning Hsiao's financial sponsors and related businesses from cooperating with mainland organizations and individuals. China had slapped similar sanction measures, including the entry ban on Hsiao, last August in response to a visit to Taiwan by McCarthy's predecessor Nancy Pelosi. Hsiao tweeted, "Wow, the PRC just sanctioned me again, for the second time," referring to China by the acronym for its official name, the People's Republic of China. Beijing has also decided to take countermeasures against the Hudson Institute, a U.S. think tank, and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, the venue of the Tsai-McCarthy meeting, strictly restricting individuals and organizations in China from exchanging with them. The Hudson Institute hosted a closed event attended by Tsai in New York last week. The Chinese Foreign Ministry also targeted senior officials of the two entities, freezing their property in China, prohibiting their exchanges with Chinese organizations and individuals, as well as stopping visa issuance for them. The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council also announced Friday punishments on a Taiwan think tank and a regional organization for advocating the island's independence and banned their heads from entering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao. China, which regards Taiwan as a renegade province to be united with the mainland, by force if necessary, had warned of countermeasures before the talks between Tsai and the third-highest-ranking U.S. official. Taiwan's Foreign Ministry criticized Beijing's move, saying in a statement Friday it is "the fundamental right for our head of state" to conduct diplomatic activities and "China has no right to intervene." The ministry claimed China "overreacted" by imposing sanctions. "Such deceitful behavior not only deepens Taiwan peoples' resentments but also exposes the irrational and absurd nature of the Communist regime," it added. Coercion and suppression will "only strengthen the Taiwan government's belief in freedom and democracy," the ministry said. Tsai told reporters accompanying her on Thursday in the United States that it is "common to meet American friends during transits" and that she believes face-to-face meetings with the U.S. side will be "helpful for the stability of cross-strait relations and regional peace," according to Taiwan media. Communist-led China and Taiwan have been separately governed since they split in 1949 due to a civil war. Related coverage: Taiwan president, U.S. House speaker meet in show of democratic bond U.S. House speaker to meet with Taiwan president on April 5 Taiwan leader Tsai arrives in New York en route to Central America allies Micaela Kleinsmith, who was scouted by country star Orville Peck, receives a $100,000 prize and the full backing of Apple Music Apple TV+ Watch out Nashville there are new boots in town. Micaela Kleinsmith, who hails from Cape Town, South Africa, was named the winner of Apple TV+'s My Kind of Country series during the finale on Friday, and she and her mentor, Orville Peck, exclusively sat down with PEOPLE to celebrate her triumphant victory. "I feel like that entire finale was a blur for me. I completely blanked out, even during the performance," Kleinsmith says. "I felt like I was taken to a different place while I was performing. But I was very shocked. I will say that much. I was incredibly shocked. I was so ready for them to say anybody else's name." My Kind of Country, which was executive produced by Reese Witherspoon and Kacey Musgraves, set out with a mission to diversify the country music space and give talented artists from all over the world a platform to showcase their talents. Related:Watch the Trailer for Kacey Musgraves and Reese Witherspoon's Inaugural My Kind of Country Series The three trailblazing "scouts" in charge of finding and mentoring the artists throughout the show embody that notion themselves: Mickey Guyton, Jimmie Allen and Peck. Rick Kern/Getty "From the moment I met Micaela, I knew really, truly, genuinely, that Micaela was definitely going to the finale because I think there's something very beautifully authentic about her," Peck says. "All of us, the scouts, we just became completely blown away by her talent." For Peck, watching Kleinsmith's self-confidence grow over the course of filming felt profound, especially because Kleinsmith herself says that was something she "really battled with." "Seeing the progression each week, each episode, of Micaela gaining more confidence and showing us all these different sides to her? I remember at my workshop when Micaela did her original song, I knew then. I was like, 'Well, this is someone so special.' It really was undeniable at that point," Peck recalls. Story continues Coincidentally, both Kleinsmith and Peck are natives of South Africa, and Peck felt that connection, too, from the start. Apple TV+ Orville Peck and Micaela Kleinsmith "I remember when I watched Micaela's audition tape, I was almost crying. I was watching it with some producers from the show. Not that it was a sad audition, but I was so touched and moved because being from South Africa, it was like, 'Oh, I know this girl. I know exactly where she's from,'" he says. "It's like when a friend of yours shows you a song or art or something and it's good. So you're relieved because you don't have to lie. It was the same sort of feeling where it's like, I already love Micaela because of that connection, but she's also so talented. So it was a win-win!" he quips. For Kleinsmith, who grew up with a diverse array of musical inspirations everyone from Carrie Underwood and Shania Twain to Pink and Adele she says South Africa reflects a diversity equally as rich as her influences. "There were so many South African artists [on the show], but all of us were so different. The languages we speak, the cultures we come from and we all come from one small little country on a huge continent," she explains. "So, it's very diverse in culture, and I don't think people quite understand how diverse it actually is." With My Kind of Country now serving as her launching pad, the world of country music is Kleinsmith's for the taking. She says she's most looking forward to performing the new songs she's recorded for her upcoming EP. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. And, while Kleinsmith is keeping mum on whether the original song she performed in the finale, titled "Stupid Love," will be part of the project ("I can't give too many spoilers!" she says with a laugh) she promises that audiences won't have to wait "too long" to get their hands (and ears) on her music. "It's coming out soon. I'm so excited," she says. "You don't even understand." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. No Labels wants to challenge the Democratic and Republican parties and their stranglehold on American politics. One of the major motivating forces in America over the past quarter-century has been the rising contempt for the countrys two major political parties the Republicans and Democrats. Arizona has reflected this disgust as independent voters have become one-third of the electorate and have surpassed one of the parties the Democrats in registered voters. When we first began seeing this phenomenon at The Arizona Republic Opinions pages some two decades ago, we asked our then illustrator Tony Bustos to design a logo for the independents that could rival the elephant and donkey. He drew a cat, a decidedly independent creature, with a straw hat like Professor Harold Hill, as in Weve got trouble, right here in River City. No Labels has promised a 'Unity Ticket' As these voters exercised their quiet rebellion on the registration rolls, it was just a matter of time before someone tried to quantify, classify and coalesce the phenomenon. An example is Arizona State Universitys announcement last October that it was creating a new research center to examine growing political power of unaffiliated voters. This year, the political organization No Labels is spending $70 million to create a Unity Ticket for the 2024 presidential election. This has made one of the major parties apoplectic, provoking Democrats nationally and in Arizona to try to strangle the baby in the cradle. Democrats sue to keep them off ballot The Arizona Democratic Party made national news last week when it announced it is suing No Labels on grounds that it technically botched the petition gathering. Their lawsuit goes on to claim that one of their own, Adrian Fontes, the new Democratic secretary of state in Arizona, also blundered when he accepted No Labels botched paperwork. Lawsuit alleges: No Labels Party broke the law to get on the ballot All of this is out of character for Arizona Democrats, who are more accustomed to screaming at Republicans and chamber types for using the courts and petition technicalities to block candidates and initiatives from the ballot. Story continues Democrats fancy themselves as The Party of Let The People Speak when theyre not The Party of Grab the Independent Voters by the Throat. Nationally, Democrats have warned that a No Labels third-party ticket could put Donald Trump in the White House again. A sensible, centrist, moderate, anti-partisan candidate, as No Labels is seeking, will succeed in electing Trump, the most divisive, polarizing politician of modern times, said Democratic strategist Paul Begala to CNN. No Labels hasn't identified its donors Roy Herrera, the Democrats attorney in Arizona, cautions that No Labels is a different kind of cat, a crafty cat, that has organized under a section of the Internal Revenue Code that lets it conceal its donors. You know the expression dark money. All you need know is that the Democrats dont like dark money that isnt their own dark money. Their lawsuit asserts that To date, No Labels has not publicly disclosed its donors, leaving the sources of much of its funding largely unknown, Capitol Media Services Howard Fischer reports. Nor has No Labels publicly identified the donors behind the initiative to have it certified as a political party in Arizona, despite federal laws requiring political party committees spending more than $5,000 to influence a federal election to identify their donors in filings with the Federal Election Commission. Its goal: To moderate the Rs and Ds In a March 15 op-ed in The Hill, No Labels co-founder Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. explained that his organization is not a third political party. We are a national movement of Democrats, Republicans and Independents working to bring Americas leaders together to develop common-sense two-party solutions to Americas biggest problems. In other words, theyre rallying the voters who took one look at Americas two traditional parties and said, Id rather be horsewhipped and lobotomized before I become a Republican or Democrat. Who can blame those voters? America has grown more polarized as its two major parties grow more extreme. Chavis explained that No Labels would love nothing more than the two parties moderate so they could pack up and go home. If establishment figures in both parties dont want an independent ticket to run, they can simply stop pandering to the loudest and most extreme voices in their respective parties. Thats an interesting proposition. One that would prompt many Arizonans to nod their head in agreement. Not the Arizona Democratic Party. Theyre gonna sue. Phil Boas is an editorial columnist for The Arizona Republic. Email him at phil.boas@arizonarepublic.com. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: No Labels movement makes Arizona Democrats afraid, very afraid The brains behind BAO: Shing Tat Chung, Erchen Chang and Wai Ting Chung (BAO London) Before there were bao, there was BAO. Well, thats not strictly true bao has existed in Chinese culture for centuries. But in London, the proliferation of this fluffy steamed bun in London can largely be traced back to BAO, which began life as a street food stand in 2012. Today, founders Erchen Chang, Shing Tat Chung and Wai Ting Chung operate a small empire of Taiwanese small plates, expanding beyond bao to rice, noodles and various sharing dishes. The trio, consisting of married couple Erchen Chang and Shing Tat Chung, and Shings sister, Wai Ting Chung, run three small, but perfectly formed restaurants in Soho, Borough Market and Kings Cross. Each one is designed with specific customers and a story in mind whether its their emblematic lonely man, a single diner who just wants a quiet meal, or the busy commuter looking for a quick bite on his way home. As a result, all of BAOs spaces are warm and welcoming, while being supremely aesthetically pleasing. Given Erchens background in fine arts she and Shing met at University College London in 2010 while studying the subject its easy to understand how paramount good design is to the brand. But this is all secondary to the food it serves, which has earnt them a cult status even beyond London. So devoted are their fans that some get tattoos of Erchens illustrations for the restaurants; one pregnant woman whose water burst in BAO Soho even insisted on finishing her bowl of guinea fowl rice. Erchen, Shing and Wai Ting tell all these stories and more in their first ever cookbook, BAO. The tome goes into intricate detail about why design is such an important part of the restaurant group. It also includes recipes for nearly every dish that appears on their menus including how to make their signature fluffy baos. Theres no room for secrets in the BAO-verse, it seems. The first cookbook from Londons cult favorite restaurant BAO offers a taste of Taiwanese food culture (Phaidon) We sat down with Erchen and Shing to talk about their (fluffy, steamy) rise to the top. Shing, you grew up in your familys restaurant. What was that like? Shing: Yes, my grandparents came to the UK from Hong Kong and my granddad started as a potwasher here and worked his way up. He ended up in Nottingham where he became part of a restaurant. My mum, my uncles, my auntie, they were all in the business. So I grew up surrounded by that and I would live upstairs from the takeaway. Its been my life from pretty much day one. Story continues Erchen, what was your childhood like? Erchen: I didnt come from a restaurant background, so my experience is very different. But I grew up eating very well in Taiwan and food was always something I enjoyed. A lot of my family would comment that I eat really well or Im always the last person to leave the dining table, or that Im the one finishing the food. I think thats what brought us together, because when we were in university, we just loved eating out or cooking, and thats kind of where it started before it started. After you graduated from University College London, how did you come to the decision to open a restaurant? Shing: After graduation, one of the things on our to-do list was to go back to Taiwan. Erchen had been studying here for quite a while, so we said, lets go back to Taiwan for a longer period of time than just a holiday. My sister joined us as well. So all three of us were there, and food is so ingrained in our lives that we had planned to go to Taiwan just for food. We travelled around Taiwan, eating street food and at restaurants we wanted to go to, and it was so completely new to Wai Ting and I at the time, especially having lived in London. We had the classic gua bao, and it blew us away, we had tasted nothing like it. Were really proud that Taiwanese food is now so popular in London and weve been a part of inspiring and feeding people Its weird to think of it now, because its so normal to us and to London, but when we first tried serving it in London, most people were like, What is this? So that classic gua bao is really what connected all three of us and it kickstarted that conversation. I think also, subconsciously, because Id grown up in restaurants even though my parents always wanted me not to work in the business I always dreamed about them. Erchen: Throughout university, we always enjoyed trying to crack certain dishes wed eaten out at home, so when we came back from Taiwan, we said, OK, lets try doing the bao. We tried different recipes, like an old-school one or a really instant one, and then landed on this hybrid that uses tangzhou starter inside our dough. The reaction was, Oh my god, its so nice and fluffy! and we figured we could do a bao pop-up, which is where it all kicked off. It was a very exciting time, where we were a completely blank canvas and could imagine and build this thing that we didnt know at the time would become our future. In the years since BAO opened, bao has become really trendy. How do you feel about that? Shing: Were quite proud, in a way. Its funny because there are other, similar brands popping up all over the world doing the same thing even down to the logo! But its just a little bit off. Half of you is a bit annoyed, but the other half is like, you know, were doing something so good that its being imitated halfway across the world. But were really proud that Taiwanese food is now so popular in London and weve been a part of inspiring and feeding people. One of the things we did think about when we first opened was that everyone knew hirata buns but at the time no one understood what bao was. We used to get pissed off because we were like, You do know that Hirata is actually named after a chef in New York? (The buns were introduced by Masashi Hirata, executive chef of Ippudo restaurant in New York.) And then Wagamama started using the term here. Erchen: Back in 2013, wed have to explain that they arent called hirata buns because thats named after a chef. We were serving gua bao. So get it right guys! Is the open-faced nature of gua bao, so that you can see all the fillings on display, something that helps with your aesthetic? Erchen: Ive never thought about it that way, but I think it does. Some of the buns that are served at BAO Soho (BAO London) Shing: Theres more to play with and more to perfect. Like the way we perfected the classic bao, how you create the layers and what we call the bao centimetre, where you have to make sure theres a centimetre of bun around the braised pork. Its harder than it looks! And then when you put it onto the plate, you have to do it a certain way otherwise the peanuts just fall off and its messy. Erchen: Enclosed bao is great too but you also have a little more restriction in terms of what you can put in it. It cant be too pointy or too hard, and the textures have to be all soft with little variation. So in terms of flavour and food creation, gua bao does have more flexibility. Whats the process between deciding what goes on the menu and what it ends up looking like? Erchen: We always like simplicity. The way we talk about dish development is that it needs to hit three pillars: heritage, innovation and produce. It has to either come from a traditional dish or from a good story through travel, and youve got to use good produce from the UK or ingredients from Taiwan for example, sesame paste, you cant get that specific flavour here. The last thing is innovation, so it has to be a little bit playful but not too much, just 10 per cent to make it just a bit different but not in your face. In terms of aesthetics, we love simplicity but it has to make sense. For example, with the bao centimetre, it gives an impression of being clean around the edges, you know youre eating this pristine, fluffy, cute bun. If its messy with sauce dripping everywhere, its not BAO anymore. It has to be practical. Shing: All of our restaurants have different inspirations and stories, and from there, we think about the dishes and the story we want to tell. Sometimes its based on our own stories while travelling. I always remember sitting in a grill skewer place in Osaka and we had no idea what to order, so we just pointed at stuff or looked at Instagram. I read that there was a one-off ovary skewer, and I pointed it out to the chef but he just laughed, which was a bit weird. Then this lonely man came and sat down and had a chu hai (highball) first and then a beer. The chef gave him an ovary skewer and they were chit-chatting, then he came and presented the last one to us. It was such a perfect moment and it inspired our branch in Borough. Seeing a man dining alone in Taiwan after work inspired BAOs pit stop branch in Borough Market (BAO London) What gives our food the BAO touch is that, its innovative but its not bling bling bling. Its quite humble. It can be a slightly humorous touch, slightly interesting and quite fun, but its a small touch. A small happiness. How do you design your restaurants? Erchen: While we were creating BAO Soho, our first ever restaurant, its so small and only fits 30 people, so we have this bar in the middle so you can watch the bar people making drinks. And we were watching a lot of films by Yasujiro Ozu, and the way he shoots them is from eye level, so with all the plates you can see very clearly how high they are, we were really inspired by that. We wanted plates that can give you that floating-off-the-table aesthetic. And with Soho, everything is perfect and really cute, but with different iterations of the restaurants, our world would change and wed be like, Lets go, not rock and roll, but lets go a bit more gritty! In Borough, were under the bridge, theres this lonely man leaving work, hes so tired and wants to go for a drink and a grilled skewer before going home that vibe, how do we translate it into the venue, what sort of dishes do we serve? Thats where aesthetic feeds in, to give different feelings. Recipe from BAO by Erchen Chang, Shing Tat Chung, Wai Ting Chung (published by Phaidon, 29.95). Many in the Kennedy family may find themselves in an uncomfortable position when it comes to placing endorsements in the 2024 presidential campaign getty (2) Following news that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. filed paperwork to challenge Joe Biden for the presidency in 2024, a source tells PEOPLE that the two political families find themselves in an interesting spot, as many Kennedys have enjoyed a longtime friendship with the Bidens. "President Biden is hugely popular in the Kennedy family," the source says. Throughout his half-century career in politics, Biden has connected with multiple Kennedys on multiple fronts, including their shared Catholic faith, familiarity with loss and, of course, political influence. Biden is only the second Irish Catholic president in United States history, the first being John F. Kennedy, and he has credited JFK's presidency in part with piquing his interest in politics. When Biden entered Senate at the young age of 30, Sen. Ted Kennedy who also joined Senate as a 30-year-old became something of a mentor to him, sparking a longtime friendship between the two. Related:A Look Back at Robert F. Kennedy's Tragic Presidential Campaign as His Son Declares Candidacy 55 Years Later The Kennedy family source tells PEOPLE that in addition to forming friendships with various Kennedys over time, "He has shown great compassion to members of their family especially [RFK Jr.'s] mother, Ethel Kennedy." In July 2022, President Biden appointed JFK's daughter, Caroline Kennedy, to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Australia. Evan Vucci/AP/Shutterstock Robert Kennedy Jr. Related:Who Is Running for President in 2024? Confirmed and Rumored Republican and Democratic Candidates The Kennedys' widespread ties with Biden are not the only reason that Bobby Jr.'s 2024 presidential campaign comes with mixed feelings in the Kennedy family. In recent years, Bobby Jr., an environmental lawyer, has ostracized himself for becoming a vocal anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist, spreading misinformation about vaccinations long before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Story continues Bobby Jr. has also criticized the U.S. government and U.S. former top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci's handling of the pandemic, releasing a 2021 book called The Real Anthony Fauci that accused the doctor of assisting in "a historic coup d'etat against Western democracy," per the outlet. He reportedly promoted the use of ivermectin and anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19, which have not been recommended by the FDA. Biden and Fauci, ironically, are both past recipients of the Robert F. Kennedy Ripple of Hope Award, which aims to honor exemplary leaders who promote the values that RFK stood for. The award is granted by RFK Human Rights, an organization founded by Bobby Jr.'s mother, Ethel, and led by his sister Kerry Kennedy since 1988. Related:Kerry Kennedy Reflects on Dad RFK's Legacy While Honoring Fauci & More: He 'Appealed to the Best in Us' In a statement released by Kerry on Thursday, she appeared unsupportive of his political aspirations, writing, "I love my brother Bobby, but I do not share or endorse his opinions on many issues, including the COVID pandemic, vaccinations, and the role of social media platforms in policing false information." She also made clear that, though he shares a name with RFK, Bobby Jr.'s views do not reflect "or influence" the work of RFK Human Rights. Related:Kerry Kennedy Speaks Out on Bobby's Presidential Bid: 'Love My Brother, but Do Not Share or Endorse His Views' Bobby Jr.'s youngest brother, Doug Kennedy, a correspondent for FOX News Channel, told PEOPLE Thursday that his brother "has immense political talent," but that while he's loved in the family, "not everyone agrees with his positions." Robert F Kennedy Jr/Instagram Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cheryl Hines Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer. Bobby Jr.'s wife, Curb Your Enthusiasm actress Cheryl Hines, even expressed disapproval of his anti-vaccine beliefs in 2022, after he compared the plight of an anti-vaxxer to the plight of Anne Frank in Nazi Germany. "My husband's opinions are not a reflection of my own. While we love each other, we differ on many current issues," Hines said in response, calling Bobby Jr.'s remarks "reprehensible and insensitive." Given that many Kennedys hold the utmost respect for Biden, it's unclear how much familial support, if any, Bobby Jr. will receive in his bid for the highest office. Hines has not yet weighed in on her husband's most recent announcement to challenge the incumbent president. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Officer Misael Mase Aguayo was remembered as a "shining star" of the Tulare Police Department, where he had an 18-year career Tulare Police Department A California police department is mourning the death of one of their own. Tulare Police Department Officer Misael "Mase" Aguayo died of an "apparent suicide," police said in a statement. Shortly before 4 p.m. on Tuesday, the department made "several attempts" to contact Aguayo, who was on duty, but was unsuccessful, police said. After conducting a search for the officer, police said he was found dead. "The amount of grief felt by all officers and staff is tremendous," they wrote in a statement. Related:Wisconsin Mom Dies in Car Crash Hours After Attending Husband's Funeral: 'She Is With Him' Officer Aguayo was remembered as being a "shining star" with the department "since the beginning." He started his career back when he was a teenager in 2004, going on to become a sworn police officer in January 2006, according to police. "Mase has had a successful and exciting journey as a police officer. During his 18-year career he was assigned to various specialty units," police wrote. "Mase did not only learn to quickly adapt to various assignments but also demonstrated the ability to shine." He was most recently assigned to the Homeless Assistance Liaison Officer team. RELATED VIDEO: N.J. Student, 11, Found Dead in School Bathroom After She Reported Alleged Bullying "His cheerful and upbeat personality was contagious to say the least," police wrote. "Mase will forever be in our hearts and there are no words to express the sadness felt by all of us." He is survived "by his loving family, including his four children," city officials wrote. When reached by PEOPLE on Friday, the Tulare Police Department had no additional comment. Related:David Bloom's Daughters Recall Saying Goodbye to Dad Before NBC News Correspondent Died in 2003 According to a GoFundMe set up on behalf of his family, "to know" Aguayo "was to love him." Story continues "A beloved husband, father, son, brother, friend and the devoted first line of defense with the Tulare Police Department," reads a message on the fundraising page. "He never failed to light up any room he walked into, his laugh and smile were infectious and he left a lasting impression on every person he met. To say he loved his people something fierce is an understatement." If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Paul Cattermole of the British pop group S Club 7 has died, months before the band is set to go on tour to celebrate its 25th anniversary. He was 46. The band announced the death Friday on its Facebook page, further details were not revealed. More from The Hollywood Reporter We are truly devastated by the passing of our brother Paul. There are no words to describe the deep sadness and loss we all feel. We were so lucky to have had him in our lives and are thankful for the amazing memories we have, the statement reads. He will be so deeply missed by each and every one of us. We ask that you respect the privacy of his family and of the band at this time. S Club 7 was created by former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller and the seven-member ensemble released its debut album, S Club, in 1999. They topped the U.K. singles chart with Bring It All Back, Have You Ever, Dont Stop Movin and Never Had a Dream Come True, which became a Top 10 hit in the U.S. S Club 7 also includes Tina Barrett, Jon Lee, Bradley McIntosh, Jo OMeara, Hannah Spearritt and Rachel Stevens. Their 11-date reunion tour of the U.K. and Ireland is set to launch in October. They released four studio albums and won two BRIT Awards, including British breakthrough act. Paul Cattermole, Rachel Stevens, Jon Lee, Jo OMeara, Scott Mills, Hannah Spearritt, Bradley McIntosh and Tina Barrett of S Club 7 Cattermole was born on March 7, 1977, in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. He dated fellow S Club 7 member Spearritt and played in the nu metal band Skua. After leaving the group, Cattermole struggled financially, even filing for bankruptcy and putting his BRIT award up for sale on eBay. S Club 7 reunited in 2015 for a tour but have not performed together in eight years. After eight years it feels amazing to announce that were reuniting and performing together again. Were so excited to bring the S Club party back to our fans across the country to celebrate 25 years of S Club 7, the band said this year when announcing its 25th anniversary tour. Story continues We cant even believe its been so long. Music and friendship have always been at the core of everything that weve ever done. We hope everyone can join us for one big party. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Click here to read the full article. Dawn Aerospace's robotic Mk-II Aurora space plane flew with a rocket engine for the first time in March 2023. Dawn Aerospace's robotic space plane flew with a rocket engine for the first time last month, taking a major step toward the company's goal of building a fully and rapidly reusable craft. Last week, the 15.7-foot-long (4.8 meters) Mk-II Aurora flew three times, and "all test objectives were achieved," Dawn representatives said in a statement issued on Wednesday (April 5). The company also released a one-minute video showing the sleek space plane flying over New Zealand's stunning South Island, close to the Glentanner Aerodrome where the tests were carried out. In August 2021, the Mk-II Aurora debuted with five test flights using surrogate jet engines, but the plan was always to pivot to a rocket-powered engine. In the latest series of tests, which took place once each day from Wednesday (March 29) to Friday (March 31), the Mk-II Aurora flew to a height of 6,000 feet (1,830 m) at speeds of 196 mph (315 kph), which is similar to those the space plane had achieved during its 2021 test flights, Dawn team said in Wednesday's update. Related: Space planes: evolution of the winged spaceship (infographic) Dawn Aerospace's robotic Mk-II Aurora space plane flew with a rocket engine for the first time in March 2023. "This is a phenomenal achievement for our small, but extremely capable, team in New Zealand and the Netherlands," Stefan Powell, the CEO of Dawn Aerospace, said Wednesday in a different statement . "To my knowledge, Dawn now operates the most rapidly reusable rocket-powered aircraft in the world." The latest test flights aimed mainly to validate the plane's rocket engine. So the height reached by the plane was not a key factor, and future flights are expected to increase both speed and altitude. The Dawn team envisions its Mk-II Aurora, which can carry a small payload of 2.2 pounds (5 kilograms), not only to be able to fly more than 62 miles (100 kilometers) high, but to do so twice per day when it carries out commercial operations, such as sending satellites into space. When that manifests, Mk-II Aurora will become the first fully reusable satellite launcher. Story continues Back in December 2020, Dawn Aerospace was approved to fly the Mk-II Aurora out of a conventional airport alongside civil airplanes. This approval, granted by the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority, the agency responsible for the country's aviation safety and security, was another major win for the company. Airports usually wait until launched rockets exit Earth's atmosphere and sometimes even reroute commercial flights because rockets can leave debris in their wake that can impact passenger planes. Dawn's team says the Mk-II Aurora stands out in this regard because it is designed to take off and land on a runway, just like an airplane. The space plane thus would not need any special restrictions or dedicated runways. View from the engine bay of Dawn Aerospace's Mk-II Aurora space plane during a test flight in March 2023. Related stories: Soar with Dawn Aerospace's space plane on its 1st-ever test flights (video) Dawn Aerospace aims to launch New Zealand's 1st space plane from a conventional airport The US Space Force's secretive X-37B space plane: 10 surprising facts All of these milestones, including the success of the latest test flights, advance Dawn's goal to produce reusable space planes in a scalable and sustainable way, as the company looks toward achieving 100 to 1,000 flights per plane. "Sustainability is important to us," Powell said in his statement on Wednesday. "Beyond being the responsible thing to do, there is no point in building something if we aren't going to be able to use it." As of late 2022, Dawn had raised $13 million to build a successor to Mk-II Aurora that would be able to carry a 550-pound (250 kg) payload to orbit. For many Delawareans, Thursday begins one of the holiest periods of the year as the Easter Triduum starts with Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday. What is the Easter Triduum The Easter Triduum, for Christians, is the end of the 40-day Lenten preparation and the remembrance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The three religious holidays are: Holy Thursday: April 6, 2023 Good Friday: April 7, 2023 Easter Sunday: April 9, 2023 What's in your basket Love Peeps? Hate jelly beans? Hoard peanut butter eggs? Take our Easter Candy Poll Food trucks: 7 that stop traffic in Delaware Passover 2023: Here's the story, facts and history behind the Jewish holiday Holy Thursday Holy Thursday, according to Christianity.com, is when Jesus celebrated his final Passover and with his disciples. Also known as the Last Supper, its where Jesus established the practice of Eucharist or Holy Communion by sharing bread and wine with his apostles. Good Friday According to the Christian faith, Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus. But why name a day of death and suffering Good Friday? Christianity.com says it may have come from an older name, Gods Friday, or because the tragedy of the day led to the goodness of Easter. Many Christians fast or abstain from eating meat on Good Friday because Jesus sacrificed his flesh for us on Good Friday, says the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Some even refrain from meat-eating on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and every Friday in Lent. Hot cross buns, made of milk, butter, spices and decorated with the symbolic Christian cross, are a popular Good Friday treat. Because Good Friday is one of the more somber Christian holidays, many Christians attend church services, take off of work or simply have a quiet, reflective day. Easter Sunday The holiday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter is celebrated to remember the sacrifices of Jesus Christ. After his crucifixion, death, and burial, Christ rose from the grave three days later, according to Christianity.com. By this, He conquered death and redeemed us from sin. As a result, most Christians will go to Church services and pray in observance. Other aspects of holiday, such as Easter eggs, also derive from Christian traditions. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Easter Triduum starts with with Holy Thursday? How is it celebrated? Pre-K students at Hillrise Elementary School in Las Cruces choose whether to wear masks on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, on the fist day since Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the state would lift its mask mandate. LAS CRUCES - Sara Mickleson, deputy secretary of the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department, visited Las Cruces Monday to meet with stakeholders and discuss an expansion of New Mexico PreK services the states voluntary, tuition-free preschool program. The planned expansion is a result of additional funding approved by the state Legislature during this years 60-day session. The visit was part of a statewide tour to gather and share information with early childhood educators and providers ahead of the rollout. Department officials estimated the additional funding will create a 40 percent expansion of PreK over the next year, adding 7,000 new prekindergarten slots statewide. This includes all eligible providers including school districts, HeadStart, family child care and childcare centers. Its really open to all interested parties, Mickleson said ahead of the discussion. New Mexico PreK, created in 2005 under the New Mexico Pre-Kindergarten Act, funds free access to preschool services for 3- and 4-year-olds at the states public schools and other private providers. In 2019, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and the New Mexico Legislature created the ECECD. The Department officially launched on July 1, 2020. Additional funding is possible This year, the ECECD will see an unprecedented infusion of funding for prekindergarten services across the state. This includes monies from the states general fund as well as the Land Grant Permanent Fund an injection resulting from the approval of a constitutional amendment in 2022. The expansion of free services has been a priority of Lujan Grishams, who praised the states expansion efforts during this years State of the State address. Lujan Grisham recommended a $20 million increase in the budget for fiscal year 2024. So, it really started in November, Mickleson told the Sun-News. The voters went to the polls to support a constitutional amendment for a right to early childhood education. And thats really where this started with 70% of the voters voting yes to allow the Land Grant Permanent Fund to be used for early childhood education." Story continues Mickleson also credited the governor and the Legislature for making early childhood education as well as improving pay for prekindergarten educators and expanding access a priority this year. She called it the single-most historic investment in New Mexico PreK since it was founded in 2005. The monies approved by voters who supported the constitutional amendment will allow the department to increase services to young children and their families. The Legislature, meanwhile, was responsible for allocating that funding to the departments expansion and home-visiting expansion, Mickleson said. This includes the first per-child rate the programs have seen in over five years, Mickleson noted. Under the new changes, schools may apply to serve 3-year-olds a change from the departments current standards, which only allow 4-year-olds in prekindergarten. Expansion of New Mexico PreK services across state The additional funding provides the unique opportunity to expand the services ECECD will be able to offer in communities around New Mexico. With this historic increase in PreK, it gives us the opportunity to do a few things to both expand the New Mexico PreK program, for more providers to come into the program, and offer high-quality PreK to PreK-aged children, so 3- and 4-year-olds, regardless of income, across New Mexico, Mickleson said. As we have this generational investment in young children in our state, to make sure that it reaches all communities, across New Mexico. She said the departments goal is to reach at least 75% of 4-year-olds in the state with the latest expansion. New Mexico PreK providers will be able to expand operations with the additional funding including longer school days and more days of education per year, Mickleson said. Obviously, with this opportunity to increase the funding that goes directly to programs, we wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to make sure that New Mexico PreK is the highest quality that it can be, Mickleson said. That includes increasing the per-student rate, as well as the supplemental funding so thats the funding that supports brand new providers to start up their classrooms. Were going from $15,000 to $25,000 per classroom. Were (also) increasing our rate for transportation. The changes will also enhance the curriculum and professional development for teachers. It also provides pay parity with the states K-12 educators. Our most exciting enhancement is that the rate programs will allow them to pay, at parity, to what an educator within the K-12 system would receive, Mickleson said. Unmet PreK needs In Las Cruces, Mickleson said, 73% of 4-year-olds currently have access to PreK services. Were close. Were at about 73% here, she said speaking about services for 4-year-olds. But were only at about 63%, overall, of PreK-aged children, so theres room to grow here. More than 60% of 3-year-olds cant access the New Mexico PreK or HeadStart programs, Mickleson said. That likely means those families are currently paying out-of-pocket for their childcare needs. The expansion, she noted, will likely close that gap a bit. Wed like to see more family childcare homes and more childcare centers participating in the program, Mickleson said. Great expectations While the state has long struggled with staffing levels among early childhood educators, Mickleson said she expects improving pay will help with that. At a Tuesday news conference in Albuquerque, ECECD Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky said the state would need to add 600 to 800 additional childcare professionals to meet the expanded growth. Were also really promoting the Opportunity Scholarship that is available across the state to current PreK educators to attain their degree in early childhood education, Mickleson said. That is a requirement of the New Mexico PreK program, but we have been flexible to have teachers who dont yet meet that requirement, but are working toward it. NMECD plans to expand instructional hours by 180 from 900 to 1080 per school year. Mickleson said this aligns with the movement among K-12 instructional guidelines. We hear from programs of all kinds that staffing is an issue, Mickleson said. We have several programs that weve launched during the pandemic to get at this workforce shortage by raising wages, but I will say that thats something weve had to find some workarounds with New Mexico PreK. This year, the department built salary parity into the rates the department pays, which officials hope will help retain educators and attract new ones. Thats really an important lever to attract qualified staff and retain qualified staff, Mickleson said. Damien Willis is a Lead Reporter for the Las Cruces Sun-News. He can be reached at 575-541-5443, dwillis@lcsun-news.com or @DamienWillis on Twitter. Others are reading: This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: ECECD visits Las Cruces to tout planned expansion of NM PreK services Emily Ratajkowski and Harry Styles Shutterstock (2) Her lips are sealed. Emily Ratajkowski weighed in on the public's obsession with her dating life following her steamy PDA with Harry Styles. "I'm definitely still not thinking about guys," she told the Los Angeles Times in an interview published on Thursday, April 6, claiming there are "a million insane, inaccurate" rumors spread online about her relationship status. "Although, yeah. You know, sometimes things just happen." According to the profile's author, Ratajkowski's comment was sent via voice note from Japan. She was spotted making out with Styles, 29, in Tokyo last month while he was overseas performing two Love On Tour shows. The My Body author spoke candidly about her whirlwind romances, telling the outlet that she was more focused on raising 2-year-old Sylvester, whom she shares with estranged husband Sebastian Bear-McClard. "I'm working, I'm a single mom. I've been so busy that it's easy not to think about," she explained. Ratajkowski split from the producer in July 2022 after four years of marriage. She filed for divorce two months later and was briefly linked to Brad Pitt, Pete Davidson and Eric Andre before her kiss with the "As It Was" crooner raised eyebrows. The Gone Girl actress noted that she didn't "understand" the surprised reactions to her outings with Davidson, 29, last year. (Us Weekly confirmed that the twosome went their separate ways in December 2022 after two months of dating.) "Even my friends were like, 'What was that like?'" she recalled to the L.A. Times. "I actually don't understand it. People are so perplexed by the idea that a man might just be respectful to women and treat them like people and thus be easy to go out on dates with." Ratajkowski, who revealed her experience with sexual assault in her 2021 book, confessed that she sometimes feels "scared" of men. While reflecting on a recent date with an unnamed person, the model remembered being told that she appeared "stoic in the face of adversity" a comment that took her aback. Story continues Emily Ratajkowski Gabriele Holtermann/UPI/Shutterstock "I think of myself as extremely tender," she added. "I'm like, 'Have I been hardened?' I think I'm just a little less scared now, basically, of the world. So maybe that comes off as unemotional." While she may keep her feelings close to the vest, Ratajkowski is candid about the ups and downs of dating in the public eye. During a podcast episode that aired in March, the We Are Your Friends star hinted that she'd started seeing someone special. "I just started dating someone that I kind of like, like," she said on the "Going Mental With Eileen Kelly" podcast, which taped in February. "So, that feels different, but yes, if you had talked to me four weeks ago I would have been like, 'Absolutely [not interested in dating].' I'm just like, 'Oh, well, he's kind of great.'" Styles, meanwhile, most recently dated Olivia Wilde. Us confirmed in November 2022 that the Don't Worry Darling costars called it quits after nearly two years together. Sign up for Us Weekly's free, daily newsletter and never miss breaking news or exclusive stories about your favorite celebrities, TV shows and more! The "Daylight" artist and Ratajkowski haven't officially addressed their status, but a source exclusively told Us last month that Styles is "thrilled" about "hooking up" with the actress. "Emily isn't looking for anything serious," the insider noted. "She's just trying to live her best single life and have fun." The true mark of "making it" in Hollywood isn't an Oscar or a billboard with your face on it it's getting a coconut cake from Tom Cruise. See which A-listers have bragged about receiving one of the coveted coconut cakes (and which ones have mourned falling off the gift list) wireimage; rosie o'donnell/instagram Rosie O'Donnell Vera Anderson/WireImage Rosie O'Donnell and Tom Cruise have been friends for 25 years now (she famously used to gush about him on her talk show) and the actress doesn't feel the holiday spirit until the delicious dessert shows up on her doorstep each year. This past Christmas, O'Donnell proudly showed off the sweet delivery writing on Instagram, "My Tommy sent me a coconut cake!! I love that guy." Jay Ellis Kevin Mazur/Getty Cruise's cake is so renowned that his Top Gun costar, Jay Ellis flew it to Mexico last year. "This year, my family, we all met in Mexico to spend Christmas together," Ellis said while on The Jennifer Hudson Show. "And I was away filming a movie, and I was like, 'Mom, can you freeze the cake and take it to Mexico?' My whole family was like, 'Yes, freeze the cake.'" He continued, "Whatever it is dry ice, ice cubes, whatever it is we froze the cake," he said. "We took it to Mexico, thawed it out and we had it on Christmas Day." (Assuming you don't get added to Cruise's list by Christmas, the Woodland Hills, Calif.-based bakery that makes the cake, Doan's, will ship you one in dry ice via their Goldbelly page.) Cary Elwes Brad Barket/Getty Cary Elwes You want a Tom Cruise coconut cake? As you wish! ... is what we imagine Tom Cruise said to his Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning costar Elwes, who told PEOPLE the treat was his latest guilty pleasure. "We got sent a cake at Christmas from Tom Cruise. It was coconut from his favorite bakery," he recalled. "Normally I don't eat cake, but when it comes from Tom, it's mission impossible not to." Tom Hanks Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty for The Recording Academy Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson Also on the gift list? Tom Hanks,who described the cake as being "so great you can really only have it once a year." Apparently, the cake is a huge hit at his production company, Playtone, where his colleagues wait with bated breath, for it to be delivered each year. Story continues "They start eyeing: What mail has come in? Is the big box coming in? Are we getting, what has essentially been called the Tom Cruise cake?" he said while on Mythical Kitchen's YouTube series Last Meals. And because the cake is such a treat, the company begins to savor each slice as the days go on. "Everybody starts slicing thinner and thinner slices," Hanks joked. "It's a mathematical proof that if you just keep cutting everything in half, you will never run out of Tom Cruise cake." Angela Bassett & Courtney B. Vance Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images Courtney B. Vance and Angela Bassett During an appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden, Cruise revealed Angela Bassett and husband Courtney B. Vance are also recipients of the famous cake. "I like to send cakes to people and stuff like that," Cruise stated. "I sent one to you and Courtney-" "Yeah, but only I ate it," the Black Panther actress gleefully joked about her refusal to share. Elle & Dakota Fanning Lester Cohen/WireImage Tom Cruise and Elle Fanning After getting a special shout out from the Mission Impossible actor during last year's Cannes Film Festival, Elle Fanning revealed Cruise has shown her and sister Dakota so much love over the years. Cruise and Dakota starred in War of the Worlds together back in 2005. Elle told PEOPLE that Cruise "made it a point to kind of stay in [Dakota's] life ... which was so kind." She continued, "And he sends her a birthday gift every single year still. We get the coconut cake that he sends, which I know Kirsten Dunst said she gets one, as well, from working with him in Interview with the Vampire." Kirsten Dunst Amy Sussman/WireImage As Elle mentioned, Dunst has been on the list of recipients since working with Cruise in 1994. "He gives me a cake every Christmas," Dunst told Graham Norton during a 2016 appearance on his show. "We call it the Cruise cake at my house. It's the best coconut cake I've ever had in my life." Jon Hamm Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Paramount Worldwide Jon Hamm Though Jon Hamm starred in Top Gun: Maverick with Cruise, he was a receiver of the coconut bundt cake long before then. "I'm on the list. I'm very proud to be on the list," Hamm told Dish Nation. "I was on the list pre-Maverick so I'm very happy. I predate the movie, so somehow I got on that list." Miles Teller Kevin Winter/Getty Images Tom Cruise and Miles Teller Much like the team at Tom Hanks' production company, Miles Teller couldn't fathom the thought of finishing the cake in its entirety when he got it for his birthday. "The coconut cake is very good," he admitted to Dish Nation during the Hollywood premiere of the Top Gun last year. "I have one in my fridge right now he sent for my birthday in February. So what month are we in? May? I still have it, so that that let's you know how good it is." Cobie Smulders Sean Gallagher/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Also on the preservation train is Cobie Smulders, who freezes her holiday gift so it lasts for months. "It's so good. I leave it in my freezer and it lasts until like March," she told Jimmy Fallon (who also bragged about being on "the list"). "I just slowly chip away at this thing. It's so good, I don't know why. I'm not even a big sweets person, but it's so good." Graham Norton This famous cake is so much of a hot item, sometimes it doesn't even get to its intended recipient, as Graham Norton found out. While prepping for an episode in which Renee Zellweger appeared, Norton found out Cruise had sent the cake to his office for years he just never received it. "I didn't know we were on the Tom Cruise Cake List 'til today!" he told the Jerry Maguire actress, while asking her about her own receipt of the treat. "I was talking about you being on the cake list and somebody said 'Oh, yeah, we get a cake from Tom every year,' and I went, 'Do we? I've never seen the bloody cake.'" Turns out, it was "the nicest cake" someone in Norton's crew had ever had...and didn't last long enough to make it to the host himself! Brooke Shields Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Someone who received the cake for a while and would like to again is Brooke Shields. "I was on the list for a while. I had a good 10-year run, and I got the coconut cake every year, which I was very happy [about]," she told PEOPLE recently, adding with a laugh, "I want to get back on that cake list. It's the best cake. Tom, I need to be back on the cake list!" For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. By Yuki Yamaguchi, KYODO NEWS - Apr 7, 2023 - 18:14 | Feature, All, Japan Revving up the electric vehicle business is the first priority for Koji Sato as the new chief executive of Toyota Motor Corp. strives to sharpen its competitive advantage as the world's No. 1 automaker. The 53-year-old veteran engineer has pledged to address energy security and carbon neutrality, and aims to transform Toyota from a conventional auto manufacturer into a mobility company at the same time. The world's largest auto seller is the leading maker of gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles but lags behind in pushing all-electric vehicles. Toyota currently offers several green technology options rather than focusing on EVs under a "multi-pathway strategy" that is sometimes considered a factor behind its relatively slow shift to battery-powered vehicles. "Sato was Akio Toyoda's right-hand man. I think they are thinking in very parallel lines," Christopher Richter, deputy head of research at CLSA Securities Japan, said at a recent press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan. Sato took the helm at the carmaker on April 1, replacing founding family scion Akio Toyoda in the company's first leadership change in 14 years. At his first press conference as Toyota's top executive Friday, Sato set a lofty sales goal of 1.5 million electric vehicles with 10 new models by 2026. Toyota aims to boost its EV sales to 3.5 million vehicles in 2030. "EVs are one of the most important options" to achieve carbon neutrality, Sato said. "We will expand our lineup in the next few years Toyota sold 10.48 million vehicles worldwide in 2022 but its EV sales accounted for a small fraction of that at 24,000. The figure compares with 1.31 million electric vehicles sold by the world's largest EV maker, Tesla, the same year and the Volkswagen Group's sales of 572,100. When the Japanese carmaker announced the appointment of Sato as new CEO, Toyoda said at a press conference that he himself felt too "old" to address the rapidly changing business environment. New services and technologies are expected to be increasingly needed for connected, autonomous, shared and electric vehicles, known as CASE. Toyota believes battery EVs are not the only solution, betting on the need for multiple alternatives such as hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles, hybrids and plug-in hybrids to cut emissions of carbon dioxide. "What Toyota is competing against is not really rivals in China or Europe but actually all those governments and government policies," Koji Endo, head of equity research at SBI Securities, said at the FCCJ's press conference, referring to the regulatory environments of those countries. Toyota's approach can better meet different requirements for each country's emission rules, analysts say. Some countries still have to rely heavily on fossil fuel power generation in the near term and EVs may not be the best choice in such markets. If customers cannot afford relatively costly EVs and FCVs, hybrids could be an option. "If the Biden administration is replaced by a (Donald) Trump one, policies in the United States are going to be completely, 180 degrees, changed," Endo said. U.S. President Joe Biden aims to make 50 percent of all new cars and light trucks sold in the U.S. market by 2030 electrified vehicles under the Green New Deal policy. But when Trump was in office, the world's biggest economy withdrew from the Paris climate accord. Not many carmakers can follow suit, as higher development costs and more human resources are necessary to prepare for a variety of powertrain options. "EVs have to be first, but it's really great to have a hedge of some other technology going forward," CLSA's Richter said. Still, analysts say EVs are the most promising technology to achieve carbon neutrality in the long term and that Toyota's slow approach to the market could hinder its future growth. Global EV sales are expected to surge to around 73 million vehicles in 2040 from about 2 million in 2020, making up 61 percent of the overall market, according to an estimate by Goldman Sachs. "There is no doubt Toyota is lagging behind in the area of battery electric vehicles," said Takaki Nakanishi, auto analyst and CEO of Nakanishi Research Institute. "The important task for Mr. Sato and his new team is ramping up its effort in BEVs." The new CEO is expected to take strong leadership as he did when he led the upscale Lexus brand division that is spearheading Toyota's EV strategy. The Japanese automaker has vowed to make all Lexus models EVs by 2035 with its plan to launch a next-generation electric model in 2026. Toyota failed to get off to a smooth start recently with the botched debut of the bZ4X. Output of its first mass-produced EV model had to be halted for a few months after its rollout in May last year in Japan due to possible wheel separation. "We will expand our offering of electrified cars in a practical way," Sato said. Related coverage: Toyota eyes EV production in U.S. possibly in 2025: source Toyota to develop advanced EV in 2026, says next president FOCUS: Toyota CEO taps younger successor amid paradigm shift in industry Rafters navigate the pounding rapids of the Hell's Corner Canyon on the Upper Klamath River in southern Oregon. In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness talks with two raft guides about one of Oregon's most famous stretches of whitewater Hell's Corner Canyon on the Upper Klamath River. This summer will be the last chance to raft the segment of whitewater during summer before dam removal makes future trips different, and perhaps impossible, during the year's hottest months. Pete Wallstrom, owner of Momentum River Expeditions, and Bart Baldwin, owner of Noah's River Adventures, both in Ashland, talk about what makes the river special in its current state, how dam removal will change it and what the future holds for recreation on the Klamath River. Never miss an episode: Listen to the episode at statesmanjournal.com/outdoors/explore and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, SoundCloud or Amazon Music and subscribe on your platform of choice to get future episodes. Find every episode: Find all 90 episodes of the Explore Oregon Podcast online Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 15 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. Urness is the author of Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon and Hiking Southern Oregon. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or 503-399-6801. Find him on Twitter at @ZachsORoutdoors. This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Last ride on Klamath's iconic whitewater before dam removal Black student's braids The family of a Black Long Island high school student is outraged after a white teacher reportedly made inappropriate remarks regarding the 17-year-olds hair. This week, it was revealed that they have since filed a discrimination claim with New York state against the instructor. Cindy Covington, the teens mother, claimed that the disrespect originated in her childs cosmetology class at Sachem East High School. She said, So, if my hair is ethnic hair, then, you know, what type of hair do you have? And she told my daughter she had American hair, she had normal hair. She said to her, Well, you know Im American, too?' Covington recalled of the alleged conversation with the Long Island teacher in an article published by CBS News on Wednesday (April 5). On @CBSNewYork. The contrast to 'American' or 'normal,' saying they're non-normal, non-American what does that mean? The school was deliberately indifferent to her complaints https://t.co/b1cxZ2LmV5#attorneyandrewlieb #discriminationlaw Attorney Andrew Lieb (@AndrewLiebEsq) April 6, 2023 There are different textures of hair. I would love to know what is American hair? What is that? I really would love to know. What is normal hair? the woman said to the outlet. She also noted that she contacted the schools principal about the teacher, but that did not deter her alleged actions. Attorney Andrew Lieb is representing the family and spoke against the incident. Theres coarse hair. Theres thin hair. The contrast to American or normal, saying theyre non-normal, non-American what does that mean? And, number two, once the mom explains it to the school, for them to do nothing about it and it happens again implies that they were deliberately indifferent to her complaints, he declared. The suit has been filed with the New York Division of Human Rights, and the case could be protected under the states CROWN Act. In March 2022, the measure was passed by the House and banned any hair-related discrimination based on national origin or race. Dr. Christopher Pellettieri, the superintendent of schools, said the district was not formally made aware of the complaint but is reviewing the matter. She felt like she was the outcast in the classroom. She felt uncomfortable. She wanted to leave the class. She started asking to wear wigs. She was constantly asking for her hair to be straightened, Covington added. Trending Stories U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm speaks during an event in Devens, Massachussetts, earlier this year. Granholm and Douglas Emhoff, huband of Vice President Kamala Harris, will be in Oklahoma on Friday as part of the Biden Administration's Investing in America tour. Oklahoma State University has been selected as a potential site for one of five regional Centers of Excellence in the field of energy efficiency assessments. U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm made the announcement during a visit to Stillwater. The decision could lead to the expansion of OSU's Industrial Assessment Center into a regional hub for other IAC programs. An IAC allows small and medium-size businesses to identify opportunities to improve productivity and competitiveness, reduce waste and save money by finding energy efficiencies. The assessments will be performed by engineering students and faculty and will cost nothing to participating businesses. Once complete, the Great Plains Center of Excellence would help with the mentoring of engineering students, train staff and help develop leaders in energy efficiency, the Department of Energy said. According to the department, IACs typically identify more than $130,000 in potential annual savings for every manufacturer assessed. As part of the infrastructure bill, up to $400 million in grants will be available to companies to implement recommendations from these assessments. Granholm was visiting Oklahoma with Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, as part of the Biden administration's Investing in America tour. It's the latest in a series of visits by high-profile members of President Joe Biden's Cabinet. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona visited with CareerTech students in January, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was in Oklahoma City last month on a tour of the Federal Aviation Administration's facility here. After their visit to Stillwater, Emhoff and Granholm planned to participate in a roundtable discussion on geothermal energy at the University of Oklahoma in Norman with representatives from tribal nations. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Feds pick OSU for expansion of energy efficiency program French actor-director Maiwenn, whose latest film Jeanne du Barry starring Johnny Depp is set to open the Cannes Film Festival, is being sued by Edwy Plenel, the editor-in-chief of Mediapart magazine for allegedly attacking him at a restaurant. A police complaint was filed on March 7 by Plenel, accusing Maiween of aggression. Variety confirmed the filing with the Paris prosecutors office following local news reports. In the complaint, Plenel alleges that he was assaulted by Maiwenn in late February while eating at a restaurant in the posh seventh arrondissement of Paris. More from Variety Maiwenn, who was sitting by herself at a nearby table, allegedly came to his table and grabbed him by the hair before spitting in his face without saying a word, then stormed out of the venue, leaving Plenel traumatized by the incident, according to the news outlet AFP, which quoted the police complaint. Variety has reached out to Maiwenns attorney for comment. While the police report was filed a month ago, it leaked Friday, only a day after the Cannes Film Festival announced that Maiwenns movie had been chosen to open its 76th edition. Though Mediapart hasnt ever investigated Maiwenn, it published a series of bombshell stories about her ex-husband Luc Besson, with whom she shares a daughter, Shanna Besson. Mediapart has been spearheading the #MeToo movement in France, publishing the first testimony of Belgian-Dutch actor Sand Van Roy accusing Besson of sexual assault (the case was eventually dropped), and the testimony of French actor Adele Haenel accusing the director Christophe Ruggia of sexual harassment when she was a minor. Maiwenn, who has said in previous interviews that she didnt embrace the #MeToo movement, cast Depp to play French king Louis XV in Jeanne du Barry when he was in the middle of his legal battle against his ex-wife Amber Heard. Maiwenn stars in the leading role as Jeanne du Barry, Louis XVs greatest love whom he brought into the Versailles palace to live near him even though she wasnt a noble. Story continues Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The aftershocks of Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh) being hit by a car were still felt by the doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial on Thursdays Greys Anatomy Liliane Lathan/ABC This post contains spoilers from Thursday's episode of Grey's Anatomy. It appeared that all hope may be lost for Maggie Pierce's (Kelly McCreary) marriage on Thursday's Grey's Anatomy. Maggie and her husband Winston Ndugu (Anthony Hill) were still reeling after she took all the credit in an article about their partial heart transplant. The couple attended marriage counseling together but Maggie had to leave because she was on call, and Winston said he's "not even surprised" because she was being put in "the hot seat" over their communication issues. When Maggie arrived at the hospital, she immediately started to treat a patient named Georgia who could have been paralyzed after being injured in a bull riding accident. While the doctors debated the best treatment plan, Georgia's father told the doctors, "Do the spinal surgery. Save our daughter's ability to ride." Liliane Lathan/ABC Related:Grey's Anatomy's Chris Carmack and Camilla Luddington on Link and Jo's Budding Romance: 'It Gets Messier' Before Georgia's surgery, Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone) asked Maggie about half a dozen job offers she received after the press attention but encouraged her to stay at Grey Sloan Memorial, saying, "You don't have to move to do your next big thing." The doctors realized they needed to switch plans after her hematoma exploded mid-surgery. When they told Georgia's mom it may be time to end her rodeo career, she insisted that "the light in her eyes was gone" when they previously tried to stop her from riding. Maggie respected that she wants to pursue her passion as she has done in the medical field and told Georgia, "I get what it's like to be a girl in a guys' world." By the end of the episode, Maggie and Winston were still struggling to move past their issues with her accusing him of abandoning her in the marriage. Story continues With nothing left to lose, Maggie decided she is ready to say goodbye to Seattle and move to Chicago for a new professional challenge. The moment came after McCreary announced that she is exiting Grey's Anatomy as a series regular with her final episode scheduled for next week. Related:Grey's Anatomy's Caterina Scorsone Details Terrifying House Fire: 'I Had About 2 Minutes to Get My 3 Kids Out' Liliane Lathan/ABC Meanwhile, Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) tried to reassure her husband Ben Warren (Jason George) that she was safe with the hospital's new security protocols after Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh) was hit by a car. However, she was proven incorrect when Ben found flyers with her picture and personal information outside the hospital that read, "Baby Killer." He told her, "We are not fine, Miranda." Elsewhere in the hospital, Dr. Simone Griffin (Alexis Floyd) and Lucas Adams (Niko Terho) helped Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.) treat a patient who arrived in the E.R. experiencing pain. They quickly learned the patient had lied about his drug use after visiting several hospitals for the same issue, and Richard decided he should be discharged for drug rehabilitation treatment. Related:Kelly McCreary Says 'Whirlwind' Final Days on Grey's Anatomy Are 'Really a Trip' (Exclusive) The patient was upset with the plan as he was in "agony" and said, "I should have never admitted I used drugs." Lucas then suggested that it was possible the other hospitals had missed something. When Richard shut him down, he asked Simone for help, sharing, "I've always had your big back. Could you at least have mine?" As they worked out a game plan, Levi Schmitt (Jake Borelli) interrupted them and insisted they follow Richard's orders. After Lucas maintained there was "something more to this patient," Levi coldly replied, "Discharge the patient and never question Dr. Webber again." After overhearing the confrontation, Bailey encouraged Schmitt to change his ways. She recalled, "You know what they called me when I was chief resident, the Nazi." "For a while, I became someone people didn't like very much," she added. Bailey reminded Schmitt that he wanted to be "the vagina of the program." "You got to be the whole vagina, not just the muscle," she explained, noting that vaginas bring pleasure and life. Related:Chandra Wilson Says She Is 'Challenging' Herself to Stay Until Grey's Anatomy's 'Very Last Scene' (Exclusive) Raymond Liu/abc While working to diagnose the patient, Lucas and Simone began to discuss her wedding. She revealed she wants "the marriage but not the pomp and circumstance." Simone added she loves that her fiance creates big moments in their life, making Lucas realize that was why they weren't solving the case the scans were "frozen moments in time." They convinced Richard to do a procedure to see more snapshots of the patient and discovered he had a toothpick lodged in his body. Richard told Lucas, "Incredible save." Back in the staff room, Lucas thanked Simone for the help, and she asked for a big favor, saying, "I could really use a friend to help get through it. I'm asking you to be my man of honor." Despite their romantic history, he agreed, adding, "It would be an honor." Liliane Lathan/ABC On the personal front, Jo Wilson (Camilla Luddington) insisted that she was sick but Atticus "Link" Lincoln (Chris Carmack) knew better and realized the impact that last week's car crash was having on her. He told her, "You need a day off but you're not sick" and brought her a latte and little donuts with pink frosting. While laying in bed together, they realized they both struggle to rest for very different reasons. "I think you only have trouble resting when you're not taking care of someone else," Jo told him. He added, "I think you can't rest because you never had anyone to take care of you." She then asked him to stay while she took a nap and they continued to lay together in bed. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Grey's Anatomy airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Dotdash Meredith and Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Add some Barbiecore pink to your wardrobe for as little as $28 Aissaoui Nacer / SplashNews.com There are certain Hollywood BFF duos that we just can't get enough of, and one of them is Helen Mirren and Andie MacDowell. The pair of famous friends go way back, and just last week, the L'Oreal Paris ambassadors were spotted shooting a joint advertisement in Paris, France and boy did they stand out. Propped outside of a cafe, the stars turned heads in matching Barbiecore outfits. Mirren chose a hot pink floor-length turtleneck dress with dramatic fringes at the hem, while MacDowell opted for a sleek monochrome pink pantsuit paired with matching stilettos. Related: Kate Hudson's Comfy and Colorful Pants Will Persuade You to Play with Prints This Spring It's no secret that celebrities have been obsessing over Barbiecore pink as of late. Throughout winter, stars like Selena Gomez and Gwyneth Paltrow have worn comfy versions of the trend in sweater form, while other celebs like Brooke Shields and Kim Kardashian have recently tapped the popular hue in lighter, more summer-ready styles. And you can brighten up your spring wardrobe with the color Hollywood has been wearing on repeat. Keep scrolling to shop pink flowy dresses, blouses, and pants at Amazon and Nordstrom, starting at $28. Breezy Barbiecore Pink Clothes Inspired by Celebs If you loved MacDowell's sleek pink pantsuit look, you can recreate it with the SweatyRocks Wide-Leg Trousers. Featuring a trendy wide-leg silhouette, the pants are flowy and offer plenty of space to move about, so they'll make you feel comfortable without compromising on style. They have a flattering high waist as well as two side pockets for small items or for keeping your hands warm on crisp spring morning walks. One five-star reviewer loves how "lightweight" the pants are and calls them "perfect for the summer." They come in 15 colors, including green, white, brown, and royal blue, and only cost $37 at Amazon. Story continues Amazon Buy It! SweatyRocks Wide-Leg Trouser Pants, $36.99; amazon.com A blazer is a wonderful option for those cooler spring days, and this lightweight option by Wdirar is the perfect layering piece for unpredictable weather thanks to its open-front design. The 100 percent polyester fabric is breathable, yet it offers full coverage with long sleeves to keep you warm. Plus, the sleeves have ruching that adds cute detail and makes it easy to roll up the sleeves for more air. Amazon Buy It! Wdirara Open Front Blazer, $38.99; amazon.com No summer wardrobe is complete without a staple dress, and the Treasure & Bond Woven Favorite Dress will easily be one that you wear on repeat. Available in trendy Barbiecore pink, the standout dress is a flowy maxi style, so you can wear it to a variety of occasions. The flattering V-neckline and spaghetti straps offer plenty of breathing room up top, while the 100 percent rayon fabric is a top choice for spring since it's lightweight and breathable. Bonus: It has pockets! One shopper said the "airy" dress is "perfect for a hot [or] humid climate." Nordstrom Buy It! Treasure & Bond Woven Favorite Dress, $39; nordstrom.com If your spring and summer wardrobe needs a pop of color, Barbiecore pink will easily brighten up your closet. Take a page out of Mirren and MacDowell's books and shop more breezy and flowy hot pink dresses and shirts at Amazon and Nordstrom below. Amazon Buy It! Omsj V-Neck Button-Down Shirt, $28.99; amazon.com Nordstrom Buy It! Sam Edelman Smocked Pleat Sleeveless Midi Dress, $98; nordstrom.com Amazon Buy It! Diukia Floral Ruffle Blouse, $27.99; amazon.com Amazon Buy It! MakeMeChic Boho Square Neck Maxi Dress, $40.99 (orig. $45.99); amazon.com Do you love a good deal? Sign up for PEOPLE's Shopping newsletter to stay up to date on the latest sales, plus celebrity fashion, home decor and more. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. HENDERSONVILLE - History was made on April 6 at the City Operations Center in downtown Hendersonville, as the North Carolina Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Causey came to town to tell the City of Hendersonville Fire Department that it was time to brag. "I am proud to announce that the Hendersonville Fire Department Certificate Fire District Rating has gone from a Class 3 to a Class 1. That is the best of the best," Cuasey said. "You are now in an elite group of one of only 28 fire departments in all of North Carolina that has achieved this... so give yourself a hand." The City of Hendersonville Fire Department Fire Chief DJ Miller speaks after the department was given a Class 1 Fire District Rating by the North Carolina Fire Marshal Mike Causey on April 6 at the City Operations Center. This new rating could lower property insurance rates for residents and businesses Hendersonville Fire Department serves. Causey said the Class 1 rating will become official on July 1. "But you'll have bragging rights immediately. I just can't say enough good things about the Hendersonville Fire Department," Causey said. More: Valley Hill Fire and Rescue gets its highest Fire Protection Rating: ISO Class 2 Hendersonville's Class 1 rating announcement comes just a few weeks after Valley Hill Fire Department's announcement of a Class 2 rating. The rating system grades fire and rescue departments on things such as proper staffing levels, sufficient equipment, proper maintenance of equipment, communications capabilities and the availability of water. "As Commissioner Causey said, this is a significant improvement to our Class Rating, which helps the citizens and visitors to our community," Hendersonville Fire Chief DJ Miller said. "It also helps our local businesses. It allows us to reach out for economic development, saying 'This is the place you want to come, to live and work here and play here.' This is the level of service we provide, so thank you very much... and we appreciate everyone's support." Members of the Hendersonville Fire Department look on during a news conference on April 6 at the City Operations Center. The Department was given a Class 1 ISO Rating, which is the highest rating a fire department can get. Causey said many people in North Carolina don't understand the Fire Department Class Rating and how important it is to the economy. "It is very, very important. You have it going from 10 to unrated to the best of the best, which is a Class 1. The higher the rating, the better off the people are, because it holds down insurance rates for residential and particularly commercial businesses." Story continues Hendersonville Mayor Barbara Volk said that the Hendersonville City Council was "honored to be a part of this wonderful group," as she addressed Chief Miller and his staff. "This is a well-deserved honor. This will be very good for our citizens and all of our property owners," she said. "Thank you all for everything that you've done." Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at DHensley@gannett.com. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News. This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: What Hendersonville's historic Fire Rating will mean to residents, businesses Matthew Koma joked he is "looking forward to the next time I find the opportunity to impersonate a celebrity on a social media platform" Neilson Barnard/Getty; Rick Bowmer-Pool/Getty Matthew Koma; Gwyneth Paltrow Matthew Koma's Twitter account has been suspended after he impersonated Gwyneth Paltrow for a joke about her ski trial. The 35-year-old musician, who's husband to Hilary Duff, changed his profile photo on the social media platform to the same one Paltrow has on her official account and altered his username to be hers. Then, he responded to a user's joke about Paltrow speaking to the man who sued her in Utah, Terry Sanderson, after she won the civil suit and was awarded $1 in damages. According to a screengrab captured by Page Six, the person wrote alongside the photo, "I'll take my dollar now," and Koma replied, "Same man," pretending to be Paltrow, 50. Shortly after, Koma shared on his Instagram Story that his Twitter account had been "permanently suspended" due to the gag. He wrote, "Goodbye Twitter. The troll was worth it." Related:Busy Philipps Pokes Fun at Gwyneth Paltrow's Trial Remark About Having 'Lost Half a Day of Skiing' Rick Bowmer/AP Gwyneth Paltrow speaking to Terry Sanderson after Utah ski trial verdict Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. In a subsequent Instagram post, Koma wrote, "Thanks for all the kind messages today. Closure's hard. But it's a community like you guys that keeps me positive and looking forward to the next time I find the opportunity to impersonate a celebrity on a social media platform. Big thanks @gwenythpaltrow for the inspiration." Twitter's policies have guidelines about "misleading and deceptive identities" that state, "You may not impersonate individuals, groups or organizations to mislead, confuse or deceive others, nor use a fake identity in a manner that disrupts the experience of others on Twitter." Story continues RELATED VIDEO: Gwyneth Paltrow Found Not Liable in Utah Ski Crash Case, Terry Sanderson '100 Percent' at Fault Koma's wife Hilary Duff previously spoke about his passion for pulling pranks and how he has "hot takes" about current events. She recalled on The Kelly Clarkson Show earlier this year how Koma once cut up an issue of PEOPLE and pasted images of the Jonas Brothers on their framed photos throughout their home. "He's so weird," Duff, 35, said with a laugh about Koma, with whom she shares daughters Banks Violet, 4, and Mae James, 2. "And he waited until I noticed. It took like a couple of days for me to.... Well, there's a million things happening all day." She added, "He's a really great prankster. Honestly, some of the posts on Instagram, if you don't follow him on Instagram, it's quite a laugh. Sometimes his stuff is so weird it goes over my head. I'm like, 'I didn't get that one.' And then the other ones I'm like, 'I'm dead, you're so funny!' " For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Human remains recovered in January on the banks of the Savannah River in Georgia have been identified as a transgender woman from North Carolina. The remains belong to KC Lee Johnson, 27, who was last seen Jan. 13, 2023, according to a news release published by the Wilmington Police Department. Police believe she was killed in Wilmington at that time; her remains were found on Jan. 18, but it would take more than two months to positively identify them. Leading up to her death, Johnson had been communicating with William Haven Hicks, 26, whom she met on social media, according to police. Hicks faces charges of first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and kidnapping, officials indicated in a previous news release. RELATED: Multiple Suspects Indicted In Connection With Murders Of Two Men Leaving New York City Gay Clubs Johnsons partner Bulla Brodzinski noted that she last saw Johnson, who said she would be gone for an hour, leaving their home on Jan. 13. After Johnsons disappearance, Brodzinski searched the woods and social media for a sign that she was alive. I wish I wouldve stopped her from going out that door because she would still be here today, Brodzinski said, according to reporting by WECT TV6. She motivated me to get out of a dark place and get my life back together. Finally, I was going on a good path, I was clean, I was taking better care of myself. I was getting out of that depressed state and she was there for me. She was the one I could open up to. Brodzinski also noted that they bonded over their shared identity as transgender women. Police Lights G At the time of her death, Johnson was at least the second transgender or gender non-conforming person to be murdered in 2023, not accounting for the several deaths that often go unreported or misreported, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Among Hicks charges, the Wilmington Police Department noted that the defendant unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously did of malice afterthought kill and murder KC Lee Johnson, further elaborating that Hicks allegedly threatened Johnson with a hammer, according to reporting by Port City Daily. Story continues Hicks allegedly stole Johnsons purse, identification, and debit cards, eventually transporting her to a new location without consent. Police allege that Johnson was kept hostage for involuntary servitude, doing serious bodily injury. Oxy App Shortly after her disappearance, Wilmingtons LGBTQ+ community gathered at City Hall to honor Johnson. So many of you are chosen family that saw KC for everything she was, said Pastor Kelly Finch of Mosaic United Methodist Church. Were all grateful that you gave her the opportunity to be who she was. She did not deserve this. This was hate coming in a vicious form. Johnsons family gathered nearby in the Love Grove neighborhood, in proximity to where she was killed, Port City Daily noted. She was a beautiful person, noted Dawn Buchanan, Johnsons mother, explaining she was in a better place where KC can be KC. Within the next several weeks, Hicks will stand before a grand jury. Jeremy Renner is set to deliver the story of his harrowing ordeal in a new interview with ABCs Diane Sawyer (ES Composite) Jeremy Renner has revealed that he wrote a goodbye note to his family as he lay crushed underneath a seven tonne snowplough near his home in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. The Avengers star suffered 30 broken bones, a collapsed lung and had his liver pierced by a shattered rib in the horrific, near-fatal accident on New Years Day. Recounting his thoughts as he lay crushed under the machine, Renner admitted he was convinced he would die so began frantically writing down notes on his phone in a newly-released teaser for his first interview since the incident. Holding back tears, the Hawkeye actor told ABCs Diane Sawyer: So Im writing down notes on my phone, and last words to my family. In another sneak peek from the interview, set to air on April 6, he revealed that remained awake throughout the horrifying ordeal and can remember the searing pain. Elsewhere, Renner said he has been overwhelmed with such goodness, ahead of the airing of the TV interview. Renner is set to sit down with Diane Sawyer to discuss the harrowing accident (GMA/ABC) The Marvel star, 52, said the immediate actions of multiple people were the reason he was still alive and that thank you will never be enough to express my gratitude. In a light-hearted Instagram post ahead of the broadcast, he promised fans that he would share the 411 on the 911 situation and joked of offering free Snowcat rides. For those that want the 411 on the 911 situation that happened this past New Years morning, I spoke with the wonderful Diane Sawyer to share details of the incident... Tune in if you like, he wrote. Thank you for all the positive, loving prayers for me and my family! I am so truly grateful and honestly overwhelmed with such goodness. The actor pictured in the aftermath of the ordeal (jeremy renner) It has taken the immediate actions of so many people that has kept me here alive. Thank you will never be enough to express my gratitude so I can offer up some Free Snowcat Rides up at the house if youre interested ?? The interview will also feature a recording of the 911 call made in the aftermath of the incident, in which Renner can be heard moaning in pain. Story continues The actors nephew also recalls how he found his uncle at the scene. Since the incident, Renner has kept his followers updated on his recovery, which has included using an anti-gravity treadmill and strengthening exercises. When asked in the interview whether he would like to do Marvel stunts again, he says: Ive lost a lot of flesh and bone in this experience, but Ive been refuelled and refilled with love and titanium. Jeremy Renner: The Diane Sawyer Interview A Story of Terror, Survival and Triumph will air on April 6 on ABC KYODO NEWS - Apr 7, 2023 - 21:59 | All, Japan, G7 Japan intends to lead a discussion on artificial intelligence and its risks at the Group of Seven ministerial meeting on digital issues the country will host at the end of the month, communications minister Takeaki Matsumoto said Friday. The push comes as the AI revolution, including chatbots like ChatGPT, has brought with it a range of concerns, such as the unauthorized collection of personal data and its impact on learning environments. Matsumoto stressed the importance of multilateral efforts in advancing and regulating AI, saying at a press conference that Japan "would like to lead the discussion so its analysis and verification can proceed under an international framework." Last week, the Italian Data Protection Authority imposed a temporary ban on the use of ChatGPT over suspicions that its developer OpenAI illegally collects vast amounts of personal data. Meanwhile, Japanese officials said Thursday the education ministry is aiming to formulate guidelines regarding the use of ChatGPT and other AI chatbots in schools by next March as concerns grow over their impact on students' writing and thinking skills. "I am aware that the rapid advancement of AI and its growing use have raised issues such as its potential societal impact if abused and the collection of personal data," Matsumoto said. At a separate press conference, Digital Minister Taro Kono said he hoped "the G7 would send out a unified message" on the topic. The Digital and Tech Ministers' Meeting will be held in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, for two days from April 29. Related coverage: Japan to create guidelines on use of AI chatbots in schools Japan to gear up G-7 process through series of ministerial meetings Japan approves venues for G-7 ministerial meetings in 2023 Fox News' Peter Doocy and National Security Council spokesman John Kirby got into a heated exchange during a White House press briefing when the reporter questioned whether the Biden administration was "proud" of its exit from Afghanistan. The White House issued a report on Thursday outlining the decisions behind its withdrawal from Afghanistan, notably blaming the Trump administration for setting the stage for the chaotic exit. The dramatic exit after more than two decades of conflict was criticised by Republicans, who made a crusade out of 13 soldiers who were killed helping to evacuate people from the Kabul airport. More than 2,400 American military members died in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2021. During a press briefing on Thursday, Doocy pushed back against the administration's portrayal of the exit, asking if they were "proud" of how the operation unfolded. "There were children being killed. There were people hanging off of Air Force jets that were leaving," Mr Doocy said, with a clearly incredulous tone. "You're saying you guys are proud of the way this mission was conducted? You're proud of that?" Mr Kirby fired back at Doocy, listing what he considered accomplishments on the day of the withdrawal. "Proud of the fact that we got more than 124,000 people safely out of Afghanistan? You bet," he said. "Proud of the fact that American troops were able to seize control of a defunct airport and get it operational in 48 hours? You bet." Mr Kirby continued, with force. Doocy; Youre saying you guys are proud of the way this mission was conducted? Kirby: Proud of the fact that we got more than 124k people safely out of Afghanistan? You bet pic.twitter.com/2hMROLOGjU Acyn (@Acyn) April 6, 2023 "Proud of the fact that new how have about 100,000 Afghans, our former allies and partners, living in this country and working toward citizenship? he said. You bet." Story continues He noted that the operation wasn't perfect, but maintained that it was successful when considering the circumstances. "Now does that mean that everything went perfect in that evacuation? Of course not," he said. "Nobody is saying that everything was perfect. But there was a lot that went right, and a lot of Afghans are now living better lives in this country and other countries around the world because of the sacrifices and the work of so many American government officials." He hammered his point home, glaring at Doocy, saying "so yeah, there's a lot to be proud of Peter." While Mr Kirby's points focus on the Afghan citizens who made it out of the country, millions more were immediately back under Taliban rule, which created a refugee crisis as Afghans fled. More than 240,000 Afghans died during the two decades of US-led conflict in Afghanistan, according to Brown University's Cost of War project. Approximately 70,000 of those deaths were civilians. Because the couple didn't have children, Maria Kodama's estate and the rights to Borges' archive is undetermined getty Jorge Luis Borges and Maria Kodama The legacy of iconic Argentinian author Jorge Luis Borges is up in the air following the recent death of his widow, Maria Kodama, who didn't leave a will behind. Kodama, an author, translator and professor, also ran a foundation called Fundacion Internacional Jorge Luis Borges, dedicated to the work of her late husband, the Associated Press reports. She had collaborated with Borges on various works, and spent the years since his 1986 death striving to maintain his legacy as an Argentinian literary great. After her March 26 passing, the news that she'd left behind no plans for the rights to Borges' work caused shock. Her lawyer, Fernando Soto, made the preliminary announcement that Kodama, who died of breast cancer in Buenos Aires, didn't have a will. He claimed she hadn't liked to "talk about these issues," per the AP, and that she would not have drawn up a will on her own, without his assistance. Because the couple didn't have children, Kodama's estate and the rights to Borges' archive is undetermined, and could be turned over to the state under Argentinian law if there are no heirs. Mariana Silvia Eliano/getty However, five of Kodama's nephews and nieces headed to court the day after Soto's announcement to advocate for the right to her estate, multiple outlets report. "This Tuesday, five nephews and nieces, children of Jorge Kodama [Maria's late brother], presented themselves, proving the link. They are in Argentina. Now there are heirs, which relieves me a lot," Soto told AFP. Kodama was reportedly estranged from her brother, also named Jorge, and his children, and had never admitted to her lawyer or friends that she had nephews or nieces at all, the Associated Press reports. Because she had allegedly "denied [their] existence," according to Santiago Llach, a specialist on Borges, her lawyer was thrilled to learn that both her estate and her husband's works would likely stay in the family. Story continues Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The Buenos Aires Times reports that a writ has indeed been filed in a local court, signed by Kodama's five estranged nieces and nephews (her brother Jorge's children): Mariana del Socorro Kodama, Martin Nicolas Kodama, Matias Kodama, Maria Belen Kodama and Maria Victoria Kodama. "The nephews and nieces will probably appoint an administrator, not an executor, to look after [Borges'] work in the interim, until the declaration of heirs is issued," Soto said, according to the Buenos Aires Times. Kodama reportedly told La Nacion newspaper last August that she planned to split Borges' literary works up between a U.S. university and a Japanese one, per the Buenos Aires Times. It's unclear what became of those plans. Borges and Kodama were only married for two months before his death in Geneva in 1986, though the Buenos Aires Times reports that the couple had been together for many years, "since her youth." She also collaborated with him on various works, the outlet reports. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Lawyers For Accused Delphi Murderer Richard Allen Say He's In 'Steep Decline' In Motion To Move Him To New Jail Lawyers for accused Delphi murderer Richard Allen have filed an emergency motion to have him moved to a new jail in Indiana, claiming that their client is in "steep decline" due to the conditions and his treatment at the facility where he's currently being held. Allen is charged with the February 2017 murders of Abigail Abby Williams, 13, and her friend Liberty Libby German, 14, whose bodies were discovered off the Monon High Bridge Trail, part of the Delphi Historic Trails in Indiana, a day after they were dropped off there so they could take a walk. RELATED: Judge Rules Delphi Murder Trial Will Continue In Carroll County, Gag Order Stays He's been held since November of 2022 at the Westville Correctional Facility, according to Law&Crime, which obtained the emergency motion to modify safekeeping order that was filed by Allen's attorneys Wednesday in the Carroll County Circuit Court. Officers escort Richard Matthew Allen, out of the Carroll County courthouse Richard Matthew Allen Photo: AP Photo/Darron Cummings The motion asks that a judge order Allen be removed from that facility, and instead housed at the Cass County Jail, which the lawyers argue is more suited to hold a defendant awaiting trial. It states, "Mr. Allen, who is a constitutionally innocent man and maintains his factual innocence as well, has not been afforded any opportunity to visit his wife or other family members during the last 5 months of incarceration during which time he has been subjected to conditions akin to those of a prisoner of war." The motion states that the conditions at Westville are harming his ability to defend himself at his pending trial. The lawyers wrote that though they were denied a chance to inspect Allen's cell, they have reasons to believe that he's being held in 6-foot-by-10-foot cell, which they compare to "a space no larger than that of a dog kennel." The motion also says that Allen sleeps on a pad on a concrete floor; is only allowed to shower one or two times a week; is forced to wear the same clothes, including underwear, for "days on end"; and is afforded very little "recreation time outside of his cold, concrete and metal quarters." Story continues A police handout of Richard Allen "In sum, Mr. Allen is being treated far less favorably than a convicted person, many of which are housed in less secure areas of the prison, are offered programming, therapy, and mental health services, routine recreation, and contact visits with family and friends," the filing states. The lawyers added that Allen is being segregated with prisoners who have committed some of the most heinous crimes known to our society, and claim that the conditions he's being held under are causing the decline of his physical and mental well being, according to Law&Crime. They also stated that during a Monday visit with Allen, they noticed a steep decline in his communication and comprehension skills, as well as his overall demeanor and ability to aid with his defense. Simply put, this version of Richard Allen was a very different version than counsel for Mr. Allen had interacted with over the past five months," the motion states. "Mr. Allen appeared to be suffering from various psychotic symptoms which counsel would describe as schizophrenic and delusional. Counsel further believes that in our April 4, 2023 interaction, Mr. Allen seems to be suffering from memory loss and is demonstrating an overall inability to communicate rationally with counsel and family members. Oxy App The motion argued that a transfer "would result in a more humane living environment in which Mr. Allen would be afforded immediate access to his attorneys and more importantly, would allow Mr. Allen to have regular contact visits with his family ... Under these circumstances, Mr. Allen would be treated like other inmates awaiting trial in the criminal justice system, as opposed to being punished based only on the merits of untested charging information and probable cause affidavit. Prosecutors conveyed that they don't object to Allen being moved to a different jail, the defendant's lawyers say, but the Carroll County Sheriffs Department rejected the request, the paperwork states. Mr. Allen asserts that said denial is a deliberate attempt to impose conditions upon him that are intended to frustrate his purpose in defending against the charged allegations and create a hardship on him which would drive any human to mental breakdown, his lawyers allege in the filing. The Carroll County Sheriffs Department did not immediately return Oxygen.com's request for comment. Allen is due back in court on June 15, court records show. Luigino Tripoldi and his new Montclair restaurant, Luiginos Parmigiana, are the real deal. Cynics need look no further than the black and white mural of family photos lining the back wall of the restaurant, which opened Wednesday on Glenridge Avenue in the space formerly occupied by Salute. (A few doors away is another newcomer, Maddox and Musuko.) Among the family, wedding and new car photos, there are Tripoldis grandfather and parents in their ancestral home in the southern Italian hill village of Castel Ruggero, making wine, showing off an enormous mushroom (mamma di funghi) foraged in the woods, and wielding tomatoes and zucchini from their garden. A taste of Tripoldis braised pomadorini, the flavorful sauce that accompanies his warm mozzarella appetizer, will also make a believer out of you. (Cherry tomatoes, onions, garlic, basil and EVOO are briefly simmered and then marinated until the flavors become deep and mellow.) The decadent pistachio and parmigiana cremas smeared on the panini, and the nduja, creamy with a kick, will convert you, too. Tripoldi, a Bloomfield resident for more than two decades, started making fresh mozzarella and ravioli as a teenager in the salumeria of a family friend. After graduating from the Culinary Institute, he worked his way up in the Manhattan restaurant world to head chef at the Met museum, then the Palm steakhouse, before crossing the Hudson to be chef de cuisine at the Ho-Ho-Kus Inn. Most recently, he launched the World Flats concept, which has locations on Church Street in Montclair and in Paramus and Ridgewood. A mural of family photos from the ancestral Italian hometown of Castel Ruggerio adorns a wall of the new Montclair restaurant Luigino's Parmagiana. April 5, 2023. What's on the menu? Luiginos is not a red sauce joint. Beyond the parmigiana and meatballs, says Tripoldi, theres none. His focus is creating the dishes youd eat if you were in Italys Campania region. Caponata, cacio e pepe, ragus with stewed meats, simple stuff, he said. And very little balsamic, which is more northern, he said. Were not balsamic people, were red-wine vinegar people. Luiginos is true to where we come from. Story continues Menu categories include antipasto, appetizers, some inventive salads (including a fresh tuna salad and a roasted beet salad), pinsa, panini and parmigiana. Pinsa, a type of pizza thats gaining popularity outside Italy, is made from soy, rice and wheat flours, giving it an especially thin and crispy crust and, for some, a more appealing health profile. All the pasta is fresh and imported from Naples, along with the gnocchi, which Tripoldi said is to die for. The stuffed gnocchi with truffle is one of his favorite dishes, along with the veal parmigiana. With 60 reservations booked for opening night, Tripoldi was optimistic that Luiginos would soon be a solid part of the Montclair restaurant scene. The only problem with that, he said, is that he wont be spending much time at the house he and his wife Kirsten just bought in Castel Ruggero. Bad timing, he said with a laugh. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Luigino's Parmigiana opens in downtown Montclair NJ Actress-director Maiwenn, whose film Jeanne du Barry starring Johnny Depp is set to open the Cannes Film Festival next month, has been accused of assaulting a journalist in a bizarre encounter at a Paris restaurant in February, according to multiple local French news outlets Friday. Edwy Plenel, co-founder of the online newspaper Mediapart, filed a complaint in March that, according to Le Figaro, a woman, previously seated, alone, at another tablearose and in a very short time grabbed [Plenel] violently by the hair, throwing his head back and sketching a spit on his face. The woman then hastily left the restaurant without anyone being able to intervene given the speed of the action. Restaurant staff reportedly identified her as the director, whose full name is Maiwenn le Besco but who goes by her first name. More from Deadline No words were spoken during the alleged assault, according to the reports, but the complaint contends that Plenel was very traumatized by the hatred it conveyed and was completely detrimental on the moral and psychological level. The act is unique but is no less violent, and in a certain way traumatic even in the absence of physical damage, Plenels lawyer, Pierre-Emmanuel Blard, reportedly told AFP. Even for this kind of act, there can be no impunity. The journalist reportedly says he personally never had any trouble with Maiwenn, but his outlet did publish articles regarding the accusations of rape aimed at Luc Besson. Besson is Maiwenns former husband and the father of one of her children. Cannes officials announced on Wednesday that Jeanne du Barrys world premiere will take place on May 16, and the film will be released in cinemas the same day in France. Maiwenn plays the eponymous main character alongside Depp, Benjamin Lavernhe, Melvil Poupaud, Pierre Richard, Pascal Greggory and India Hair. The film will recount the life, rise and fall of French King Louis XVs court favorite, Jeanne Vaubernier. Depp plays King Louis XV. Story continues The production marks Depps first feature film role in three years. He shot it around the time of his U.S. victory in the turbulent defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard. You can watch the trailer for the film below. La bande-annonce de Jeanne du Barry est la Decouvrez les premieres images du nouveau film de Maiwenn avec Johnny Depp, en ouverture du 76e Festival de Cannes le 16 mai ! Au cinema le 16 mai. pic.twitter.com/VPUAtx2Ofc Le Pacte (@Le_Pacte) April 6, 2023 Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Iger and other industry executives are meeting privately this week with members of Congress to discuss how to respond to Chinas strong-arm tactics to stifle and censor filmmakers. Several members of the House Select Committee On the Chinese Communist Party attended two meetings with filmmaker groups Wednesday, and plan to meet Friday with Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook. Recently lawmakers placed a provision in a new defense bill that restricts cooperation between the U.S. government and any American film studio that allows the Chinese government to demand edits on a project. Also Read: How Hollywood Can Help Right the US-China Relationship | PRO Insight The concern about China is not just a matter of big-money international business, but goes right to the core of freedom of expression in the world, Hollywood producer and committee adviser Chris Fenton told TheWrap. He said Hollywood and congress need to be united in dealing with the communist Chinese government and its efforts to control the industry. We need to rebalance the playing field, and show a unified front to China, Fenton told TheWrap. The only leverage we have is to present ourselves as a unified industry, if we want to get China to compromise on a few issues, which will not be easy. Fenton said Wednesdays meetings were private to allow relaxed and honest discussion in the groups, which included committee members, filmmakers, industry executives and college professors knowledgeable about U.S.-China relations. It was a good start. We didnt solve the problem, but we certainly set a path forward to take it to the next level, to have a strategy to address China with unified leverage, Fenton said. Also Read: TikTok Hires Disneys Former Comms Czar Zenia Mucha to Advise on Looming Ban Select Committee Chairman Mike Gallagher, R-Wisc., made the California trip with nine other committee members. They met with Iger and other Disney executives, since Disney does so much business in China, including its Disneyland park in Shanghai. Disney came under fire from human rights groups for the 2020 movie Mulan, which was filmed in a province where the Chinese government reportedly brutally oppressed millions of Muslims. Story continues Fenton, author of Feeding the Dragon, about doing business with China, and a trustee of the U.S.-Asia Institute, organized another private meeting in Los Angeles with filmmakers and committee members. He said Gallagher and the committee are gathering knowledge on industry dealings with China, and invited him to advise the committee. One of Fentons concerns is that China uses the leverage of its massive market and deep pockets to pressure filmmakers to produce movies that only portray China in a positive light. That goes beyond forced edits, he said, and has a preemptive chilling effect of inhibiting filmmakers from using any storyline that might offend Chinese officials. Also Read: Disney Pulls The Simpsons Episode Calling Out Forced Labor Camps From Hong Kong Disney+ They might not even pursue an idea, if they think it will make the Chinese government mad. Because that can get everyone involved with the film banned in China, Fenton said. That gets us to a point where filmmakers might pretend that Taiwan does not exist, and there can never ever be a Chinese villain in a movie. We need to get rid of that kind of premeditated censorship by Hollywood itself. So can the problem be solved? Fenton says yes, if Hollywood studios can get on the same page, work with the US government and use that leverage to exact more artistic freedom when dealing with China. We are still one of the few industries that China needs, and that they do open their market for, Fenton said. We need to use that leverage and be united, so that one studio knows that if it does the right thing, another studio will as well. We are one of the bastions of creative freedom, and we need to remember that. Also Read: Imaxs New China CEO Is Confident the Premium Theater Experience Will Weather the Global Storm Two meetings on nuclear waste were held in New Mexico this week, on different sides of the state with very different reactions from attendees. On Tuesday, a townhall-style meeting was held in Santa Fe which more than 300 persons attended and about 200 participated online. Most expressed fears and concerns that a federal plan to transport surplus plutonium to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant near Carlsbad would endanger local communities along the transportation routes. More: More nuclear waste coming to Carlsbad-area repository as new contractor takes over The next night at a meeting at the city golf course in Carlsbad, about 30 business leaders, elected officials and invited guests took a much warmer tone with the federal government and its plans for New Mexico and the nearby WIPP site. Under the federally proposed plan, surplus plutonium would move via truck from the Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas to Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in northern New Mexico for processing, then to the Savannah River Site in South Carolina for additional preparation before finally heading to WIPP for disposal. By then, the 34 metric tons of plutonium set for disposal would meet characterization standards for transuranic (TRU) nuclear waste, meaning the program would not result in any waste of a higher radioactivity than that which the repository was intended to store. More: Will a nuclear waste project move forward despite New Mexico's bill aiming to block it? But the program would see waste traveling through New Mexico, and especially the northern portion of the state, multiple times. Thats a problem for Santa Fe County Commissioner Anna Hansen, who moderated the Tuesday meeting at the Santa Fe Convention Center with the Department of Energys National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) the agency devising the plan and argued it could burden her community with the risk of exposure. At the same time, the NNSA also was planning to ramp up the production of plutonium pits, the triggers for nuclear warheads, at Los Alamos and Savannah River site, hoping to produce up to 80 pits a year by 2030. Story continues More: Air shaft at nuclear waste site near Carlsbad halfway drilled, operational by 2026 Some of the waste from that program would also be destined for WIPP as its the only deep geological repository in the U.S. for nuclear waste. Hundreds of attendees participate in a townhall meeting on nuclear waste in New Mexico, April 4, 2023 at the Santa Fe Convention Center. People feel betrayed, Hansen said in an interview with the Carlsbad Current-Argus, arguing the two NNSA programs marked an expansion of WIPPs operations beyond what New Mexico originally agreed to when the facility was developed. She said legacy waste from past programs still waiting for disposal at Los Alamos was being disregarded in favor of the new streams the NNSA intended to generate. More: Bill in-hand, Lujan Grisham renews fight against nuclear waste site in southeast New Mexico They still feel frustrated that the legacy waste at LANL has not been cleaned up and new waste is being generated and also going to WIPP, Hansen said of attendees at the Santa Fe meeting. Its heart-wrenching when you hear the young people concerned with manufacturing bombs. Jack Volpato, chair of the Carlsbad Mayors Nuclear Task Force, commended the NNSA and the WIPP project at the Wednesday meeting in Carlsbad for supporting the local community, its workforce and economy in the decades since the site was opened. A group of elected officials, business leaders and invited guests attend a meet and greet with the National Nuclear Security Administration, April 5, 2023 at the Carlsbad Municipal Golf Course. The men and women in this room and many others represent what is best for our community, Volpato said to the group. We know that NNSA is looking at using WIPP for disposal of surplus plutonium. More: Nuclear waste transportation fears lingering amid storage project in southeast New Mexico He touted a flawless record of transporting waste for the WIPP project, hoping to allay concerns that increased transportation would bring increased risk. We know there will be those who live in other parts of the state that oppose this project due to concerns with transportation, Volpato said during his prepared remarks. I would like to point out that WIPP has a flawless transportation record. WIPP is an asset to this state and nation. NNSA Administrator Jill Hruby spoke at both meetings, and at the Carlsbad event said in an interview with the Current-Argus that WIPPs broader mission was environmental responsibility, and that the facility would be instrumental in the U.S. nuclear nonproliferation goals by making the excess plutonium unusable for weaponization. More: Bill to block nuclear waste in southeast New Mexico heads to House Floor for final vote She also said plutonium pit production was essential to modernizing the U.S. nuclear arsenal as other, potentially adversarial nations like China and Russia did the same, and that WIPP would support that national security mission. Jill Hruby, administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration speaks to a group of attendees about the NNSA's plans at WIPP, April 5, 2023 at the Carlsbad Municipal Golf Course. I agree that we are using WIPP to support pit production, Hruby said. The primary purpose of WIPP is to be environmentally responsible. It seems to me this fits that mission. She said due to increased NNSA operations at Savannah River Site, NNSA recently took ownership of that facility from the Department of Energys Office of Environmental Management the DOE arm that runs the WIPP site but was unsure of if the NNSA would also take over WIPP as the nation produces more waste. More: Safety, longevity of nuclear waste disposal near Carlsbad debated amid permit renewal In the case of WIPP, theres still a lot of legacy waste that needs to be moved to WIPP, Hruby said during her speech. We need to meet the moment and you are essential to that right here in southeast New Mexico. We are very committed to the facility here. But Hansen, the Santa Fe County commissioner, said the NNSAs plans were extraneous to WIPPs original mission and what should be its primary purpose: to get nuclear waste off the hill in Los Alamos. Thats the only true benefit to the people of New Mexico who host the WIPP site, she said. Its a complete expansion of WIPPs mission to be putting new and generated waste, Hansen said. Its insanity to move surplus plutonium around the country. We dont want to continue being left behind. Waste from all over the country has been coming here. Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Nuclear waste in New Mexico feared in Santa Fe, supported in Carlsbad If fighting woke has elevated Florida Gov. DeSantis to potential presidential-candidate status, then fighting his fight against woke seems like the natural progression for another ambitious politician. That one, too, with his own rumored White House aspirations. California Gov. Gavin Newsoms is showing a growing interest in the Sunshine State. The Democrat paid a visit this week to Sarasota to speak about the reinvented New College of Florida, the small liberal-arts school that recently underwent a conservative takeover by DeSantis appointees. The rivalry between Newsom and DeSantis has been escalating for some time. Newsom aired commercials last year urging Floridians to fight for their rights or join us in California, where we still believe in freedom. He also challenged DeSantis to a debate after Floridas transport of migrants to Marthas Vineyard and pledged support for DeSantis Democratic opponent in the 2022 governors race. We have plenty of challenges in [California], and I own every single one of them, Newsom said at a Sarasota public library. But the last guy truly the last guy Im interested in the lecture from is Ron DeSantis when it comes to foundational principles that he claims to champion. Newsom has said hes got sub-zero interest in running for president despite his tour across the South as part of his newly formed Campaign for Democracy. As ideologically opposed as the two governors are, Newsom is taking a page out of DeSantis playbook. The instructions say: Build a maverick reputation for protecting someones side in the countrys culture wars by stumping in someone elses turf. The California governor has made it clear the left needs a counter-offense to the rights attacks against abortion and LGBTQ rights. DeSantis, who nowadays spends considerable time away from Florida, recently visited California. Naturally, he took swipes at Newsom. I know you guys got a lot of problems out here, but your governor is very concerned about what were doing in Florida, so I figured I had to come by, DeSantis said at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on March 5, ABC News reported. Story continues Nothing props up a politician like creating and fighting enemies. The red state-versus-blue-state dynamic, as divisive and toxic as it is, galvanizes voters on both sides, especially the right. The true winners in this arms race are DeSantis and Newsom, thanks to the free media and social media buzz they get. Only in a polarized environment are both parties allowed to overindulge with policies they say are meant to protect someones rights. In Florida, DeSantis and Republican lawmakers have made it easier to ban books, limited what teachers can say in the classroom and targeted Disney in the name of parental rights and fighting woke corporations. In California, the same excess can be seen from the other side of the political spectrum. Take Newsoms order to not renew a $54 million contract with Walgreens after the company agreed to not dispense abortion-inducing pills by mail in states that have banned them. California has also banned state-sponsored travel to states with anti-LGBTQ laws, covering almost half the country, including Florida. That has forced state college sport teams to find alternate ways to pay for trips to compete in places like Arizona, the Associated Press reported. Floridas culture-war laws have run into judicial challenges; so have some of Californias. In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a law that forced pro-life pregnancy centers to tell patients about the availability of state-offered abortion services. A narrow conservative court majority found the law violated those clinics First Amendment rights. Potshots aside, DeSantis and Newsom have a symbiotic relationship. They need what each other represents way more than they let on. Tony Apanovitch For many people of faith in our community, Lent is a time when we are reminded of the importance of justice, mercy and sacrifice. These are values that are at the heart of our faith, that we uphold in our daily lives, and that we must maintain in our justice system. Unfortunately, there are times when our justice system fails to live up to these values, as is the case with Tony Apanovitch, who sits on Ohios death row despite serious claims of innocence. As a Republican state representative from the Cincinnati area, I am no stranger to tough decisions and complex issues. However, the question of what our state should do in Apanovitchs case is straightforward. Apanovitch was convicted of a heinous crime that he did not commit. Despite a lack of physical evidence and contradictory witness testimony, he was sentenced to death. After more than 30 years in prison, Apanovitch was set free when a court, using DNA evidence tested by the prosecution, ruled the prosecutions case to be invalid. He spent two and a half years as a free person before a legal technicality ruled that only Apanovitch could present DNA evidence in his defense and he was returned to death row. This is not justice, but rather a miscarriage of justice. We cannot allow innocent individuals to be punished for crimes they did not commit. As a Republican and as a person of faith, I believe in the importance of justice and the sanctity of human life. In Apanovitch's case, there are significant doubts about his guilt, and it would be a grave injustice to execute him without giving him the opportunity to prove his innocence. FILE - In this November 2005 file photo, Larry Greene, public information director of the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, demonstrates how a curtain is pulled between the death chamber and witness room at the prison in Lucasville, Ohio. This is where the Ohio Parole Board comes in. They have the power to grant Apanovitch a hearing where he can present evidence of his innocence. This hearing is not a guarantee of release, but rather an opportunity for justice to be served. In Lent, we are reminded of the importance of sacrifice and redemption. Apanovitch has already sacrificed almost 40 years of his life, and it is time for him to be given the opportunity for redemption through a fair hearing. Story continues I call upon my fellow Republicans and all Ohioans to join me in advocating for Apanovitch to be given a hearing before the Ohio Parole Board. We must remember that justice is not always black and white, and that there are times when we must admit that we were wrong. Apanovitch's case is one such instance, and it is up to us to right this wrong. Tony Apanovitch has sacrificed enough, and it is high time for us to work towards a justice system that is fair and just for all. State Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Loveland, represents Ohio's 65th District. Ohio State Representative Jean Schmidt represents the 65th District. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Opinion: Executing Apanovitch without a hearing would be a grave injustice Royce Saltzman, a renowned choral director and co-founder of the Oregon Bach Festival, died Monday. He was 94. Royce Saltzman, co-founder of the Oregon Bach Festival and longtime University of Oregon professor, died Monday. He was 94 and had been battling cancer. Saltzman came to Eugene as a choral music professor at UO in 1964. In 1970, he and German conductor Helmuth Rilling held the first Oregon Bach Festival, which was small at the time. After five decades, the now multi-million dollar festival has grown to international recognition. Saltzman was executive director of the festival until he retired in 2007. He stayed involved as executive director emeritus and remained an active participant in the festival's board. "The Bach Festival for him was like his fifth daughter," Saltzman's daughter Lisa Skopil said. "He took great pride in the accomplishments and nurturing the festival. But it was so much about relationships and creating an environment within that festival that was about people." Saltzman is survived by his wife, Phyllis Saltzman, 90, his four daughters Kathy Saltzman Romey, 66; Skopil, 65; Jody Rose, 62; and Marta Newman, 59. He is also survived by six grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. "(OBF) was very, very much about education, wanting to educate people at all different levels, and introducing them to music," Skopil said. "To just give people the opportunity to experience music was very, very important to him." Apart from the festival, Saltzman was an educator. He served as acting dean of the University of Oregon Music School and was a board member of Chorus America (USA). He also advised multiple international music boards. Humble beginnings Saltzman, born in Abilene, Kansas, in 1928, was guiding a class excursion in Germany in 1969 when he met Rilling. Saltzman Romey said her dad heard Rilling's first performance of Bach's B Minor Mass, and he was forever changed. The performance led to their friendship and the founding of the festival. B Minor Mass was one of Saltzman's favorites, according to Saltzman Romey and has become a signature work for the festival. Story continues "My father was so struck by that, by Helmuth's performance, that they then reconnected," Saltzman Romey said. "Later Helmuth invited him to his home, and they talked. My father came back to Oregon and then followed up with inviting Helmuth to do a small festival." Co-founders of the Oregon Bach Festival, Royce Saltzman, left, and Helmuth Rilling are pictured talking. In 1970, they held what would now be considered the first Oregon Bach Festival, but was then called Summer Festival of Baroque Music. His daughter, Rose, recalled printing out flyers and the entire family posting them on telephone poles to spread the word. What started off as a couple of days grew to a week, then two. It is now a three-week festival held during the summer. It consists of more than 45 concerts, recitals and lectures, plus master classes. "It's just started expanding year after year because there was appetite for it," former festival marketing director George Evano said. "He would bring together musicians, volunteers, audience members, donors, and through the interaction, we'd get them to feel like a community of sorts. And these people would pull together to pull off the festival. As donations came in, as word spread that it was a really fun environment and a fun place to play, then more and more people came." Saltzman spent a lot of time and effort fundraising and inviting international guests to the event for greater reach. Evano said the festival was covered by national news outlets, and even international press. "Without a doubt, the exposure that the festival gave through international press and international musicians helped elevate (Eugene's) stature as a great cultural city," Evano said. For the 1998 festival, Krzysztof Penderecki was commissioned to write Credo, the recording of which was the Best Recording by a Living Composer at the Cannes Classical Awards Festival and received a Grammy for Best Choral Performance. OBF 2023 will celebrate the 25th anniversary of this performance. Connection with University of Oregon Oregon Bach Festival has always been closely tied to the UO School of Music and Dance, originally growing out of the school while Saltzman was a professor. However, the relationship has changed over the years, until the festival was more of an auxiliary program going directly to the UO Provost's Office rather than through the music school. Current dean Sabrina Madison-Cannon helped finalize efforts to fully remerge the festival into the school. "At the heart of the festival, even though it grew into this Grammy Award-winning, professional, world-renowned series of events, its heart and its core still has its educational mission," Madison-Cannon said. "That's how it began. That was the impetus for growth. "I think that for Royce, he could see (the merger) as providing more stability for the festival, aligning it and and its future with the school." In 2018, the merger was finalized. The university contributes to the festival's budget. Since the merger, the festival has expanded outside of itself, holding intermittent concerts throughout the year under OBF's legacy. As part of the festival, Saltzman helped start and supported several educational programs on music, including the Stangeland Family Youth Choral Academy, the Berwick Academy and the Organ Institute. Madison-Cannon said she spent a lot of time talking with Saltzman about his vision for the festival. He told her to trust her instincts going forward. "One of the last conversations I had with Royce, he was encouraging me to think more openly about the future direction of the festival," Madison-Cannon said. "Even prior to his passing, we've been doing a lot of work internally to try to think about the best way to sustain the festival and just kind of having his blessing to do that has been invaluable." A lifelong passion Skopil recalled music as a constant in their family home. All four daughters played instruments at a young age. They attended endless concerts. Now, Skopil serves on the festival board. Skopil said faith also played a big role in Saltzman's life, and he found a connection to music through his faith as a child. Saltzman Romey followed her father's career path. She is now the director of choral activities at the University of Minnesota. "He was a mentor, teacher and advisor throughout my entire life," Saltzman Romey said. "He was just very reassuring in those moments, of professional moments in all of our careers, where we have doubts. It's wonderful to hear somebody say, 'It will be okay. Tomorrow will be better. You can do this.'" Phyllis Saltzman, left, Helmuth Rilling, center, and Royce Saltzman pose together. A nurturing soul Those who knew Saltzman described him as gracious, diplomatic, hospitable, approachable, dignified, compassionate, calm and generous. Madison-Cannon said he would always ask her how her husband and son were. She said even when he was busy, he would take the time to interact on a personal level. "That was just him at his spirit, his soul, his essence, his core, just being a nurturing human being," Madison-Cannon said. "That translates directly into his teaching and his conducting." Despite his many awards and accolades as a choral director, Saltzman Romey said, she never felt pressure to perform as she followed a similar career path. "He was so supportive of my work and my journey that I only saw his presence and support of my career as a positive," Saltzman Romey said. "He was a great father. He was there for us, loved us with all of his heart. He was a great listener, and a compassionate individual, and always sees the individual and accepts where they are." While there will be no public remembrance service, Oregon Bach Festival will honor Royces legacy with a celebration of life during the 2023 festival, which begins June 30. Miranda Cyr reports on education for The Register-Guard. You can contact her at mcyr@registerguard.com or find her on Twitter @mirandabcyr. This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Oregon Bach Festival co-founder Royce Saltzman dies KYODO NEWS - Apr 7, 2023 - 16:13 | World, All, Japan Senior diplomats from South Korea, Japan and the United States on Friday urged the international community to deport North Korean workers in accordance with U.N. sanctions and prevent Pyongyang from funding its nuclear and missile programs. In a joint statement after their meeting in Seoul, the three envoys underscored the importance of blocking Pyongyang's "illicit revenue streams," including stealing foreign currency through illegal activities in cyberspace to finance its missile development. "We reiterate with concern that overseas DPRK IT workers continue using forged identities and nationalities" to evade the U.N. Security Council sanctions and "earn income abroad that funds the DPRK's unlawful WMD and ballistic missile programs," the statement said. DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, while WMD is the acronym of weapons of mass destruction. Kim Gunn, South Korea's special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, met with his Japanese and U.S. counterparts, Takehiro Funakoshi and Sung Kim, as Pyongyang has shown no signs of stopping its frequent ballistic missile tests. Fears have also been growing that the reclusive state may carry out its seventh nuclear test in the near future, which would be its first since September 2017. The U.N. Security Council adopted a U.S.-led resolution in December 2017 demanding that all U.N. member states repatriate North Koreans working overseas within two years. But many North Korean workers are believed to be in nations such as China and Russia, partly due to Pyongyang's border closure since January 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic. "U.N. member states should be vigilant and ensure that no work authorizations are renewed or granted to overseas DPRK laborers" consistent with the sanctions resolution, the officials said. The statement cited a private industry estimate that North Korea stole up to $1.7 billion in cryptocurrency in 2022. The three diplomats also agreed that trilateral security cooperation should be strengthened to deal with threats posed by North Korea, while calling on it for dialogue. Related coverage: Japan to extend ban on all trade with North Korea by 2 years High level of activity spotted at North Korea's key nuclear complex U.S. says North Korea sought to sell over 20 types of arms to Russia PEOPLE exclusively revealed in January that Peta and Maks, who share 6-year-old son Shai, are expecting baby number two Maksim Chmerkovskiy/Instagram; Peta Murgatroyd/Instagram Peta Murgatroyd is making the most of her pregnancy. The professional dancer, 36, and husband Maks Chmerkovskiy, 43, indulged in a getaway in Los Cabos, Mexico, ahead of welcoming their second baby together. The pair, along with their 6-year-old son Shai, took off this week and shared sweet moments via Instagram from their plane ride to a day at the beach, where Peta sported a bikini with her full baby bump on display. "Our baby moon has officially begun ," they captioned the joint post ".we literally couldn't bare to go to Shai's fave vacay city without him so.here we all are!!! " Related:Pregnant Jessie J Bares All in Naked Bathtub Photos: 'I Just Want to Remember This Feeling Forever' They continued, "Huge thank you to the stunning @nobuloscabos for hosting our family again " Peta was in full pregnancy bliss as she uploaded another post where she wore a simple yet chic skin-toned bikini, her baby bump front and center. She completed the beach look with an oversized tote and sunglasses. "Paradise with my baby " she wrote, adding, "this swimsuit from @mondayswimwear is THE best for big boobies it holds up these suckers without them falling out from underneath, the sides, the back Tan: @petajanebeauty of course Related:Kim Basinger Says She 'Can't Wait' to Be a Grandma as Ireland Baldwin Shares Latest Bump Photo In another post called "Instagram vs. Reality", she happily enjoyed a side of fries, joking in the caption, "Let's be real for a second those fries didn't stand a chance!" She also sent a message to her husband of nearly six years. "@maksimc I will get you back for this also what is Shai doing to that towel hahahahahaha!!!" RELATED VIDEO: Meghan Trainor Pregnant, Expecting Second Baby with Husband Daryl Sabara: 'I'm Crushing It' After "Bumpin in @skims " in a sleek brown bikini and straw hat, Peta rocked a sultry dress with a thigh-high split and a low cut that fell down to her growing bump. Story continues "Last night was a dream ," she captioned Thursday's photo before noting that she is 30 weeks along. She and Shai enjoyed a little mother-and-son time as he cuddled with her baby bump on the beach in a photo shared on her Instagram Story. Peta described the moment as "Heaven" Maks also made it clear he's enjoying himself when he posted a video of him indulging in a swim-up room. On Wednesday, the soon-to-be father of two shared a video via his Instagram Story of one of Shai's favorite restaurants, Cocina del Mar, a place he said, "always takes extra special care of Shai." PEOPLE exclusively revealed in January that Peta and Maks, who tied the knot in July 2017, are expecting their second child. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The exciting news came after the couple opened up about their three miscarriages and months of Peta documenting her difficult fertility journey on social media. "All natural, it happened," Peta told PEOPLE at the time. "I didn't even know I was pregnant for so long until I was really feeling sick. I danced through Dancing with the Stars with it. I started feeling weird, started feeling a little bit sick and a little bloated and I didn't want to test for weeks." After finally taking a test around her "six or seven-week" mark of conceiving, the Peta Jane Beauty founder was in shock over the results. "I think it was the fastest positive I've ever seen in my life," Murgatroyd, who was almost 18 weeks along at the time, said. "It just came up super quick and I was just shocked. It's been completely different from my past pregnancy. It wasn't like I jumped for joy and I shouted from the rooftops, 'Oh my God, I'm pregnant. Yay!' It was more like a, 'Okay, well let's see what happens because I've been through this four other times, and it hasn't worked.' So I was very skeptical. I didn't even tell Maks for a while." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. On Dec. 14, 2021, Phoenix police Officer Tyler Moldovan was shot multiple times in the line of duty. After initially being given little chance to live and spending a month on life support, Moldovan began to recover at a rehabilitation center and returned home for the first time since being shot in June 2022. On Thursday night at the Arizona Diamondbacks' home opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Moldovan threw out the first pitch. 'He has been a miracle': Phoenix Officer Tyler Moldovan opens eyes, is responsive after shooting Fans were inspired by courage of Tyler Moldovan and his wife: And lets not forget his absolutely amazing wife! She has been there every step of the way and then some!! ASU MOMS (@asumoms) April 7, 2023 God bless you Tyler, a true hero!! What a awesome move by the Dbackshope you guys win the pennant! Connor Schwartz (@ConnorSchwart10) April 7, 2023 Absolutely incredible. What a phenomenal recovery ItSucksToBeACSURam (@BAnthony14) April 7, 2023 I shouldve never cut these onions for dinner tonight Jesse Ellsworth (@jessellsworth) April 7, 2023 God Bless!! Thank you young man!! God Bless!! Tom Wall (@Twall1961) April 7, 2023 This video kick-started my allergies Amazing way to open your season at home, @Dbacks. Matthew Martin (@Mattectomy) April 7, 2023 This moment brought dbacks and dodgers fans together. Really was amazing to see George Valencia (@xjaawgex) April 7, 2023 I cant describe wow,God bless him and may he continue to find the strength and determination! Dempsey Gutierrez (@Dempsey_g_g) April 7, 2023 Dodgers fan here but this rules. Hope he continues to improve Tom Hansen (@tomhansenauthor) April 7, 2023 Wow! HOW AMAZING! THATS WHAT A TRUE HERO CAN DO !! GOD BLESS HIM !! BEAUTIFUL MOMENT DBACKS!!! THANKS FOR SHARING! c quinn (@murthur4) April 7, 2023 Wow! What an inspiration. Carlos Marcel Garcia (@2_2garcia) April 7, 2023 What an inspiration, indeed. Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff. Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Tyler Moldovan throws first pitch at Arizona Diamondbacks game Oklahoma County Seal. Oklahoma County Commissioner meeting, Monday, April 3, 2023 Oklahoma County Clerk-elect Maressa Treat pledged late Tuesday to improve working conditions for the staff once she takes charge. Treat, a Republican and the wife of Oklahoma Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, narrowly won a special election against Democrat Derrick Scobey Tuesday. She will serve out the remaining term of David Hooten, who resigned last year. Treat, who had the backing of U.S. Sens. James Lankford and Markwayne Mullin among others, entered Tuesday's election with a significant fundraising advantage. She is 41. Hooten left office after questionable staff training activities were brought to light. I pledge to bring honor, integrity and transparency to this office, while improving the overall working conditions for those who will be serving Oklahomans with me on a day-to-day basis," said Treat in a statement released after Tuesday's votes were counted. Oklahoma County elections: Maressa Treat narrowly defeats Derrick Scobey in race to fill Oklahoma County Clerk seat Maressa Treat With all precincts in, Treat won the election with 21,994 votes (51.86%). Scobey, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church and a member of the Oklahoma County jail trust, was supported by 20,416 voters. On Wednesday, Scobey thanked his supporters, calling the opportunity to run the honor of a lifetime. Oklahoma County election results: How candidates fared in the April 4 special elections, runoffs Scobey also said he hoped the election results inspired Oklahoma County residents to believe in something better, given that Hooten took the seat in 2016 with 63% of the vote and was unopposed for reelection in 2020. Derrick Scobey is a Democrat who was running for Oklahoma county clerk. "While I won't be your next county clerk, I know that together we have laid the groundwork for a stronger, safer, more prosperous future for everyone who calls Oklahoma County home," Scobey said. The Oklahoma County clerk is responsible for maintaining records pertaining to city charters and military discharges. It also maintains land records, including oil, gas and mineral leases, for property throughout the state. The office also maintains the county's financial records. Story continues Treat said the office she is about to lead provides county and state residents a vital service that relies upon attention to details and a strong work ethic to succeed. "I plan to bring energy and vision to this office, starting on day one," she stated in the post-election release. Treat, who describes herself as a lifelong conservative and community advocate, also thanked her volunteers and family for their support during the campaign. "Families go through the stress of a campaign just as much as a candidate. Their unwavering support continuously lifted my spirit and helped me work even harder, Treat said. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Maressa Treat aims to mend fences as Oklahoma County clerk A pregnant doe died after a poacher shot it in Utah, wildlife officials said. Now wildlife authorities are looking for the poacher. The deer was found dead by officers Feb. 21 in Washington County, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources said in a Thursday, April 6, news release. Wildlife officers reported finding the animal near a road at a time when hunts were not happening. The fawn was also dead inside the deer, officials said. Individuals who unlawfully kill big game animals and other wildlife are stealing opportunities from those who might otherwise legally enjoy these animals, conservation officer Jordan Ence said in the release. The wildlife agency is looking for the person who illegally killed the doe and its fawn. Anyone who has information leading to the successful prosecution of those responsible may be rewarded. Information can be provided by calling the Utah Turn-in-a-Poacher hotline at 800-662-3337, the UTDWR Law Enforcement app or by texting 847411. Officer Ence can also be contacted directly at 435-669-5461. Accused shooter provides strange reason for firing into elk herd, Oregon officials say Endangered lion is feared dead, then reappears with a surprise in Senegal, video shows Poacher left eight deer to rot after shooting them, Idaho officials say A pregnant woman and her unborn baby were killed in a collision with a teen driver, authorities in Michigan said. The expectant mother was driving south on a road in St. Clair County as the 17-year-old boy was traveling north, according to a news release from the sheriffs office. Shortly after 8 a.m. April 5, the teens Ford Ranger pickup truck crossed the center line and crashed into the womans Ford Focus, authorities said. The woman, 28, and her unborn child were both pronounced dead, according to the St. Clair County Sheriffs Office. The Port Huron teen was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. An investigation into the crash is ongoing. St. Clair County is about 60 miles northeast of downtown Detroit. Pregnant woman dies when accused drunk driver swerves into oncoming traffic, CA cops say Mother of 2 who was 7 months pregnant dies in car crash, Alabama officials say Sothebys is no stranger to rare whiskey auctions, but there are some that truly encompass the meaning of that oft used term. Bidding on the Rare American Whiskey Selection 1976-1982 starts on April 14, and this collection of five prototype bottles certainly deserves that descriptor as it includes whiskey from shuttered distilleries, including the previous source of Pappy Van Winkle. Robb Report spoke to Sothebys global head of spirits, Jonny Fowle, about the auction and the concept of what makes a whiskey rare. Ive been trying to measure what qualifies something as the rarest thing in this market of commodity items, he said. Is it its uniqueness? Is it its unrepeatability (i.e. from a closed it significantly altered distillery)? Is it its historical significance? Is it that its something that has never been seen before? These bottles represent all of these qualities and more. Bottles so elusive that not only have they never been seen in public, other than during tasting sessions in the late 1990s, but the very history of them is one we are having to piece together to be able to tell the full story. More from Robb Report The details of this auction lot are rather fascinating if youre a fan of American whiskey. According to Sothebys, this collection was conceived of in the 1990s as a series of whiskeys from closed distilleries, but the idea never got past the prototype stage. The Classic Kentucky Bourbon Company was behind this flight of whiskey fancy, a subsidiary of United Distillers which owned both the Bernheim and Stitzel-Weller distilleries (the latter closed in 1992, the former in 1991). Stitzel-Weller was the home of the Pappy Van Winkle brand before it was acquired by Buffalo Trace and became the unicorn collectors item it is today (if youre lucky enough to get an older bottle of Pappy, it might contain whiskey from S-W). Story continues Unfortunately, before the project could get up and running, United Distillers merged with International Distillers & Vinters to become part of Diageo, and the whiskey series was put on the back burner. Sothebys says that the original plan was to release five whiskeys every year, each with different barrel proofs and high age statementswhich sort of sounds like a precursor to the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. After bottling two sets of five whiskeys with prototype labels (but real liquid inside, to be clear), the series was scrapped. One collection went to Stitzel-Weller, and according to Fowler it is believed to have been destroyed in an office fire there in the late 1990s, although this cannot be verified. The other was shipped to the U.K., and that is what will be available for auction. The details of the bottles are as follows: Old Quaker Indiana Corn Whiskey 21 Year Old Limited Edition Barrel Proof (65% ABV, 1976, distilled in Lawrenceberg, IN, pre-MGP) Stitzel-Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Limited Edition 17 Year Old Barrel Proof (53.5% ABV, 1980, distilled in Shively, KY) Taylor-Williams Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Limited Edition 17 Year Old Barrel Proof (56% ABV, 1980, distilled in Jackson County, KY) George T Stagg Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Limited Edition 16 Year Old Barrel Proof (57% ABV, 1981, distilled in Frankfort, KY) Buffalo Springs Kentucky Rye Mash Whiskey Limited Edition 15 Year Old Barrel Proof (62.5% ABV, 1982, distilled in Franklin County, KY) As mentioned before, the bidding on this collection starts on April 14 with the opening bid set at 7,500 GBP. The auction is taking place in the U.K., but the collection can be shipped internationally. If you want a chance to own a piece of whiskey history, go to the Sothebys website to register now. 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. Beethovens Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, the Eroica Symphony, changed the musical world and is perhaps his defining work. At a stroke, orchestral music moves into another dimension with a breadth of conception and emotional freight and range beyond anything previously dreamed of. Beethoven originally dedicated his Eroica Symphony to Napoleon but removed his name in a rage on hearing he had made himself Emperor. The symphonys first public performance took place on 7 April 1805 at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna, Austria. Responses to the work were divided at first however the 'Eroica' Symphony's influence extended far into the future. Listen to our recommended recording of Beethovens 'Eroica' Symphony No. 3, performed by the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Herbert von Karajan, on Apple Music and Spotify and scroll down to discover the story behind the influential masterpiece. reDiscover Beethovens Eroica Symphony No. 3 The story goes that Ludwig van Beethoven scrubbed out the dedication on his Symphony No.3, the Eroica, so hard that he left a hole in the paper. Ultimately, a cryptic comment remained on the title page: Composed to celebrate the memory of a great man. The excised words had referred to Napoleon Bonaparte. Beethoven revered Napoleon at first for the Promethean hopes for freedom and change that he inspired in the wake of the French Revolution. Yet when the composers friend Ferdinand Ries broke the news to him that Napoleon was crowning himself Emperor, the composers response (as Ries recalled) was: Is he too, then, nothing more than an ordinary human being? Now he, too, will trample on the rights of man, and indulge only his ambition! This was the start of Beethovens heroic period of composition This disillusionment changed not just the dedication but also the artistic fate of Beethoven's Symphony No.3. When in 1801-02 he first began to sketch out ideas for a work of unprecedented scale and ambition, he intended it to be fully programmatic and to bear the unequivocal title Bonaparte. Instead, as Sinfonia Eroica, the reference is sublimated into a broader impression: if there is a revolution, it is inside the music itself. This was the start of Beethovens heroic period of composition, in which he set out to forge a new path. There is no piece that better demonstrates his intention, or the mastery with which he fulfilled it. Story continues The 'Eroica' Symphonys key, E flat major, was regarded at the time as a humanistic, noble, Enlightenment tonality. Here it has been determined not by the first movement, but by the last, which Beethoven based on a theme from his ballet music for The Creatures Of Prometheus, also in E flat major. Should we identify the image of Prometheus (the Titan who stole fire from the Greek gods on Mount Olympus, brought it to humankind, and was horrifically punished) with Napoleon, Beethoven, or both? The reference doubtless is there for a good reason. The outlined chord that opens the finale is a germinal motif throughout the entire work. The first movements main theme is based on it too, before Beethoven twists the music seemingly off course with a chromatic slant. But that twist exemplifies the whole nature of this movement: every idea is continually in motion. It goes far beyond what one might think of as sonata form, though those elements of conflict, contrast, and development are certainly present; it is just that the development never stops. As Jan Swafford puts it in his recent biography of the composer: This will be music about the process of becoming. Here is another element both abstract and symbolic: the Hero striving toward something. Call it victory; call it coming into his own. The second movement is a funeral march; the big question is why The second movement is a funeral march; the big question, though, is why. Napoleon himself was very much alive, in his mid-thirties (he was a year older than Beethoven) and the bloodiest of his many military campaigns lay in the future. The common assumption that Beethoven was imagining the death of his (then) hero, therefore, seems slightly bizarre. The funeral march was a French tradition that developed after the Revolution as part of a new, notably grand yet popular style of ceremonial music. Beethoven seems to have developed a peculiar preoccupation with this rather niche genre. Part of his Piano Sonata Op. 26, written in 1800-01, is devoted to variations on a theme entitled 'Funeral March For The Death Of A Hero'. The main theme in the opening movement of the Piano Sonata Op. 27 No. 2, the Moonlight Sonata (completed in 1801), contains a characteristic rhythm of oddly similar nature. Whether this held any personal significance for him beyond purely musical interest is debatable. What is certain, though, is that he had started to go deaf when he was in his twenties - perhaps the result of a type of typhus, perhaps otosclerosis, perhaps something else - and in 1802 he reached crisis point as he attempted to come to terms with the worsening condition. In the so-called 'Heiligenstadt Testament' he wrote to his two brothers that he had considered taking his own life: Only my art held me back ... it seemed to me impossible to leave the world until I had brought forth all that I felt was within me. Perhaps it is not too fanciful to wonder if, in the symphonys funeral march, he was burying his own past. The scherzo returns the music to life, air, and spirit The scherzo returns the music to life, air, and spirit bouncing back as Beethoven always seems to. Its trio section features an actual trio: three French horns delivering a sunlit ensemble, highlighting the fact that this was the first symphony to have required more than two of them. If Beethoven experienced a fascination with funeral marches, another genre provided him with a lifelong love affair: the theme and variations. From early, little-known piano works through to the gigantic Diabelli Variations Op. 120, by way of numerous sets in stand-alone format and within sonatas and chamber works, the form held limitless possibilities for him. The Eroica Symphonys final movement remains one of the most extraordinary examples. It opens in skeletal fashion, tracing a harmonic and rhythmic outline from which the Prometheus theme emerges only gradually; Beethoven proceeds to develop the ensuing variations into a thoroughly structured grand finale, to triumphant effect. It was in the Vienna palace of Prince Lobkowitz (today the citys Theatre Museum) that the composer conducted the Eroica Symphonys first private performance in August 1804. Here the plot thickens. Remember that scrubbed-out dedication? Prince Lobkowitz, as patron-in-chief, was accorded a dedication of his own and several months private use of the work before it was publicly performed and published. If you think there is some philosophical conflict between Beethovens dependence on royal patronage and his passion for freedom and equality, you are not wrong. Still, considering too that Beethoven had even been planning to move to Paris before disillusionment with Napoleon changed his mind; we cannot discount the 'Bonaparte' account from Ries in the light of such idealism. The Eroica Symphonys first public performance took place on 7 April 1805 at the Theater an der Wien, a luxurious new opera house in which Beethoven had been composer-in-residence in 1803-4 while writing the symphony - literally in residence, as he was required to live in a flat on the premises and compose an opera (thereby hangs another tale). Responses to the work were divided at first Responses to the work were divided at first. While Beethovens friends considered it a masterpiece from the start, some commentators grumbled about the endless duration of this longest and perhaps most difficult of all symphonies, which exhausts even connoisseurs and becomes unbearable for the mere amateur. Soon, though, the musicians who were required to perform it - always the hardest group to please - were taking it to their hearts. In Leipzig in 1807, one report suggests: The orchestra had voluntarily gathered for extra rehearsals without recompense, except for the honor and special enjoyment of the work itself. The Eroica Symphonys influence extended far into the future The Eroica Symphonys influence extended far into the future, its impact immeasurable upon composers ranging from Schubert to Berlioz to Wagner (Siegfrieds Funeral Music from Gotterdammerung) and later Mahler. The principle of developing variation was also a prime compositional technique for Brahms and, indeed, Schoenberg. In this symphony, Beethoven sought a new path for himself; in the end, he found one that shaped music for a century. Recommended Recording Our recommended recording of Beethovens Eroica Symphony No. 3, performed by the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Herbert von Karajan, can be bought here. For the latest music news and exclusive features, check out uDiscover Music. uDiscover Music is operated by Universal Music Group (UMG). Some recording artists included in uDiscover Music articles are affiliated with UMG. China's foreign ministry condemned a meeting in Los Angeles between Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen and the House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, describing it as "acts of collusion" and vowing to defend its sovereignty. It marks the first time a Taiwanese leader had ever met a house speaker on American soil since both governments severed diplomatic ties in 1979. China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has not ruled out taking Taiwan by force. The U.S., on the other hand, abides by the "one-China" policy but it does not endorse China's claim to the self-ruled island. Since the meeting, which marked the first time a Taiwanese leader had ever met a house speaker on American soil, Beijing has sent warships into the waters around Taiwan. MORE: McCarthy meets with Taiwan's president as tensions mount between Washington, Beijing But the response has been relatively muted so far compared with the unprecedented drills China launched after former house speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan last August. At that time, China even fired missiles over the island. The question is, could China be waiting for Tsai to return home on Friday? It is possible, according to the front page of the Taipei Times on Thursday which said the military is closely watching for Chinese drills. But some experts say the lack of fiery response so far could be a sign of China switching tack. Chinese President Xi Jinping has been trying to project a statesman-like image and that he is trying to convey a China that is respectable on the worlds stage, especially after some recent diplomatic wins like brokering the Saudi-Iran deal. PHOTO: TOPSHOT - US Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) (R) speaks with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen while arriving for a bipartisan meeting at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, on April 5, 2023. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images) Meanwhile, French President Emmanuelle Macron is in China, the former Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou is in China and any North Korea-like response would probably jar with any desired optics of Xi as an esteemed diplomat. One Chinese scholar in Beijing told ABC News on the condition of anonymity that China has learned its lessons from the bad PR it received after launching unprecedented drills during Pelosis visit. He said the drills were "costly" and "a joke" to the Taiwanese and even the local mainland Chinese population. The drills may have backfired by reinforcing China's image as a threat which could hurt Chinas foreign relations and result in Taiwans allies sending in more delegations. Story continues On Thursday another U.S. delegation touched down in Taipei. The group, led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCauk, announced they would be meeting with Taiwanese officials and business leaders to discuss regional security and the threat of China. Its unclear whether that will fuel the fire further. Its true that Pelosis visit last time, in the eyes of China, would be perceived as an uninvited U.S. official entering its territory. Thats not the case this time which could be another reason for China to refrain. That all said, China has issued some strong statements, before and after the Tsai meeting. Xi also wants to remain strong at home, and he cant be giving the impression to his domestic audience that hes letting Taiwan go around diplomatic hobnobbing with the likes of the U.S., especially when tensions with Washington are at an all time high. Relative calm so far following Taiwan leaders US meeting with McCarthy originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The Republican supermajority in the Tennessee House of Representatives walked to the brink of unprecedented political retribution against Knoxville's Gloria Johnson, but ultimately backed down. They voted against expelling her even though they voted to oust her two Black Democratic colleagues, Reps. Justin Jones from Nashville and Justin Pearson from Memphis. The House was set to expel Johnson and two freshmen Democratic colleagues, Jones and Justin Pearson of Memphis, for leading "disorderly" gun reform chants after the deaths of three children and three adults at The Covenant School in Nashville. Johnson's vote failed by a vote of 65-30. Sixty-six votes were needed for expulsion. Thousands of protesters came to the Capitol on April 6 to witness the vote and back efforts to ban assault rifles like the one used in the shooting. The nation's attention was trained on the Republicans who brought the expulsion bills, which many saw as a misguided partisan act against popular lawmakers working to stop shootings. The three Democrats took to the House Speaker's well March 30 to talk without being recognized. They already were punished for the chants by being stripped of their committee assignments. (Pearson was elected in January in a special election and held no committee assignments.) Earlier in the afternoon April 6, Jones was expelled by a 72-25 vote. Pearson was later expelled with a 69-26 vote. Johnson, who is white, was the only one of the three to survive. The contentious expulsion effort has made its way into the national conversation because many described it as a retributive assertion of partisan power by the Republican supermajority, which can pass legislation at will with a 74 to 25 advantage over Democrats in the House. The votes removed representation for nearly 150,000 Tennesseans who overwhelmingly elected Jones and Pearson. Jones and Pearson are both rising young Black legislators Jones is 27 and Pearson is 28 who represent portions of the state's two largest metro regions. The Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators called the action unconstitutional and "morally bankrupt." Story continues Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, speaks to reporters after the vote to vote to expel her failed at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday, April 6, 2023. Expulsion votes make history The expulsion vote was unlike any other vote in Tennessee history. The House has expelled lawmakers only twice since the days following the Civil War. The most recent was in 2016 when Rep. Jeremy Durham was removed for alleged sexual misconduct. Before that, the most recent expulsion was in 1980 when the House removed Robert Fisher after he was convicted of soliciting a $1,000 bribe to kill a bill. The only other expulsions in House history came during an 1866 special session. Six lawmakers were ousted after they tried to prevent Tennessee from ratifying the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to provide citizenship to former slaves. In an interview with Knox News this week before the vote, Johnson said she was ready to explore every option in response to expulsion, including a lawsuit. They are doing this because we stood up for dying children, because we are trying to protect the community, she said. The very first action this body takes after a shooting that killed three children and three school personnel, the very first action theyre gonna take is to expel the very people who were speaking out against it. ... What happened during the protest? Johnson stood with Jones and Pearson when they took over the well of the House chamber on March 30 and began chanting through a megaphone. She, notably, did not use the megaphone and she did not yell, an argument she and her representatives made during her defense April 6. "We may have broken a House rule by coming to this well, but much of this document is false, Johnson said. In defense of Johnson, House Democratic Caucus Chair John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, said Johnson did nothing worthy of an expulsion. She walked from there to there and you want to expel her for that? She did not raise her voice. She did not pound the desk. She didnt have a megaphone. She didnt have a button. Nothing. Just enough of their colleagues agreed. The March 30 demonstration was peaceful both inside and outside the House chamber where thousands gathered to demand a ban on the types of assault weapons used in the school shooting. There was no property damage, no injuries or arrests made, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, which provides security at the the Capitol in Nashville. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, speaks ahead of a vote to expel her from the House of Representatives at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday, April 6, 2023. After their protest, House Speaker Cameron Sexton immediately called a recess in House proceedings, halting legislative business for nearly an hour, and ordered security to clear the House galleries. House Minority Leader Karen Camper, D-Memphis, described the protest as good trouble, a nod to the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis guiding principal on civil disobedience. Notably, Lewis' name adorns the road next to the Tennessee Capitol. Support for Johnson, Jones and Pearson arrives from Knoxville A chartered bus left Knoxville before dawn so supporters could be in building for the vote and participate in the gun reform demonstrations held inside and outside the Capitol. Those who traveled to Nashville represented Knoxville's City Council Movement, the Democratic Socialists of Knoxville, the Knox County Democratic Party and Planned Parenthood. I came to stand in solidarity with those closest to the pain, our little ones, and to stand with Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones, and Justin Pearson who are being punished for standing with those closest to the pain," said Hasan Atatrah of the City Council Movement, a group that started years ago to elect Black leaders and those who center poor, Black, and other marginalized communities in Knoxville. "Our people deserve leaders like the Tennessee Three who are unafraid to challenge those who hold the power, who refuse to center our youth, who refuse to center victims and survivors of gun violence, which is the leading cause of death in young people here and at home in Knoxville, Tennessee," Atatrah continued. Knoxville City Council member Amelia Parker said she was there "fighting the good fight" for voters whose voices were stripped away when the members were punished. "These attempts to remove these representatives are an affront to our democracy and must not go unchallenged, she told Knox News. What to know about Rep. Gloria Johnson Johnson, 60, was first elected to the legislature in 2012 in District 13, one of the few true toss-up districts in the state. She narrowly lost reelection in 2014 and lost again in 2016 both times to Republican Eddie Smith before easily winning the seat back in 2018. During the GOP-led redistricting process last year, Johnsons district was carved up and her home was included in Democrat Rep. Sam McKenzies District 15. Johnson promised not to run against Knoxvilles only other Democratic state representative, so she moved and won reelection by a landslide in the newly created District 90. Johnson, and her 50,000-plus Twitter followers, have been a thorn in the side of the Republican majority since she arrived in Nashville. It is a badge she wears proudly. During the 2021 session, Johnson moved her desk into a hallway in the Cordell Hull legislative office building after she was assigned a small, windowless conference room as her office, while her assistant was assigned to a closet down the hall. Johnson told Knox News she believed the office assignment was a "petty" move by Sexton to punish her for being the only member not to vote to reelect him as speaker. State Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, speaks at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville on April 6. Sexton replied that members often are displeased with new office assignments, and noted that Johnson's newly assigned office was twice the size of her first one in 2012. Johnson is a retired teacher. She was born in Colorado, moved to Knoxville as a child, graduated from Farragut High School and earned a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She has been named to the National Foundation of Women Legislators Women of Excellence. Before being elected to the Tennessee House, Johnson served as Knox County Democratic Party chairwoman. In 2012, she told Knox News she hadn't been involved in politics before being inspired by President Barack Obama to become politically active. Tyler Whetstone is an investigative reporter focused on accountability journalism. Email tyler.whetstone@knoxnews.com. Twitter @tyler_whetstone. Knox News people and trends editor Robin Gibson contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Rep. Gloria Johnson survives expulsion vote in Tennessee House By Yuki Yamaguchi, KYODO NEWS - Apr 7, 2023 - 21:16 | All, Japan Toyota Motor Corp. said Friday it will expand its all-electric vehicle lineup by launching 10 new models and aim to sharply increase its EV sales to 1.5 million units annually by 2026, accelerating efforts to prop up its sluggish battery-driven car business under the leadership of new President Koji Sato. "We will do our utmost to push forward with electrification," Sato said at his first press conference after taking the helm of the world's largest automaker on April 1. "We will ramp up our efforts to achieve carbon neutrality." The new EV sales target represents a significant jump from the 24,000 units the company sold in 2022. Including gasoline-powered vehicles and other vehicles, it sold more than 10 million units in the same year. The automaker also revealed a plan to start producing all-electric sport utility vehicles in the United States in 2025 as well as battery-driven pickup trucks in emerging countries later this year. All-electric models offered by Toyota include the bZ4X, its first mass-produced EV model, and UX300e under its upscale Lexus brand. There is no change in its existing plan to sell 3.5 million EVs by 2030, the company said. While expanding the EV business, the developer of the Prius, the world's first mass-produced hybrid passenger vehicle, said it will work to maintain its lineup, including hybrid and fuel cell vehicles. "We will continue to pursue diverse options" to reduce carbon emissions, Sato said, adding that the company will ramp up sales of hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars and also aim to expand the use of hydrogen-powered cars. His remarks came after the company pledged to develop next-generation electric vehicles by 2026 in an apparent effort to catch up with overseas rivals, which bet on the potential of all-electric cars earlier on. The company also said it will set up a new unit to develop the next-generation EVs and is considering building a battery factory to catch up with the speed of EV production. Sato, the 53-year-old former Lexus division head, succeeded founding family scion Akio Toyoda in the first change of guard at the company in 14 years. Toyoda became chairman of the company. In the press conference, Sato emphasized the company will be run as a team under his leadership rather than employing a management style in which a leader decides everything. "I hope to be a president who continues to be involved in the production of cars," Sato said, as he vowed to keep improving the quality of Toyota's cars together with Toyoda. Related coverage: Toyota global sales for Feb. hit record high as chip woes ease Toyota eyes EV production in U.S. possibly in 2025: source Washington Democrats are calling for stricter ethics rules for Supreme Court justices in the wake of a new report detailing luxury vacations that Justice Clarence Thomas has accepted over the years from a Republican megadonor. The report, published Thursday by the news outlet ProPublica, is the latest to prompt criticism of Thomas and reignite calls from Democratic lawmakers for Congress to require the nation's highest court to adopt binding ethics rules. Citing travel records and interviews with employees, tour guides and fellow travelers, the ProPublica investigation details the luxury trips Thomas accepted from Texas real estate magnate and Republican donor Harlan Crow for more than 20 years. The travel included trips to Indonesia in June 2019 aboard Crow's private jet and yacht, an exclusive all-male retreat in California and Crow's ranch in East Texas. Thomas also vacations each summer at Crow's private resort in the Adirondacks, according to ProPublica, which noted that the trips "appeared nowhere on Thomas' financial disclosures." In a statement to the news outlet, Crow said he and his wife have been "very dear friends" with Thomas and his wife, Virginia "Ginni" Thomas, since 1996, and have extended "hospitality" to them, as they have done to other friends. Crow added that he and his wife "have never asked about a pending or lower court case, and Justice Thomas has never discussed one, and we have never sought to influence Justice Thomas on any legal or political issue." On Friday, Thomas responded to the report in a statement of his own, saying that he had "sought guidance from my colleagues and others in the judiciary" earlier in his career about accepting "personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court." He said he was advised it "was not reportable." "I have endeavored to follow that counsel throughout my tenure, and have always sought to comply with the disclosure guidelines," Thomas said. "These guidelines are now being changed, as the committee of the Judicial Conference responsible for financial disclosure for the entire federal judiciary just this past month announced new guidance. And, it is, of course, my intent to follow this guidance in the future." Story continues The Judicial Conference of the United States recently adopted new rules requiring "judicial officers" to disclose more information about personal hospitality gifts. Democrats quickly criticized Thomas and said ProPublica's findings demonstrate the need for a written code of conduct for Supreme Court justices, who are not covered by binding ethics rules. Justice Clarence Thomas sits during a group photo of the justices at the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on April 23, 2021. / Credit: ERIN SCHAFF/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the second-highest ranking Democrat in the Senate and chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said Thomas' actions as detailed in the report were "simply inconsistent with the ethical standards the American people expect of any public servant, let alone a Justice on the Supreme Court." "Today's report demonstrates, yet again, that Supreme Court Justices must be held to an enforceable code of conduct, just like every other federal judge," Durbin said in a statement. "The Pro Publica report is a call to action, and the Senate Judiciary Committee will act." Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat who has long called for more transparency and accountability within the federal judiciary, said the report about Thomas's relationship with Crow requires further investigation. "This cries out for the kind of independent investigation that the Supreme Court and only the Supreme Court, across the entire government refuses to perform," he said on Twitter. Whitehouse called on Chief Justice John Roberts to ensure a "robust investigation" takes place. "Who were Thomas's companions on these free undisclosed vacations, and what interests did those undisclosed companions have before the Court? The question is obvious," he tweeted. Democratic Sens. Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Brian Schatz of Hawaii pushed for legislative action on judicial ethics reform. "There is a code of conduct that applies to all federal judges except 9," Murphy tweeted. "It's no longer ok for the Supreme Court to be the only federal court without a binding ethical code." The Connecticut Democrat has introduced the Supreme Court Ethics Act each Congress for more than a decade, and he again advocated for its passage. The proposal, a version of which has also been introduced in the House by Rep. Hank Johnson of Georgia, would require the Judicial Conference to create a code of ethical conduct for Supreme Court justices and federal judges. Murphy's bill has backing from 30 Senate Democrats, including Durbin. It's unclear whether the plan can garner enough support from Republicans to advance in the Senate. ProPublica's report is the latest to spotlight the lack of ethics rules for Supreme Court justices. Revelations last year that Ginni Thomas pushed former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows to pursue efforts to overturn the 2020 election sparked an appetite among lawmakers for legislation mandating a code of conduct for Supreme Court members. But those legislative efforts stalled, and Republicans defended Thomas's ability to remain impartial despite his wife's political activities. Still, the creation of a code of conduct for the Supreme Court, adopted internally or imposed externally, was one of the few reforms that received support by President Biden's Commission on the Supreme Court. The bipartisan panel of 36 legal scholars, lawyers and former federal judges warned in its final report, issued in December 2021, that "not having a formally adopted code might not be best practice for the court," and said embracing one "could promote important institutional values." While there is a code of conduct for federal judges, adopted by the Judicial Conference in 1973, it does not cover Supreme Court justices. The rules for members of the federal judiciary state that a judge "should avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all activities." Chief Justice John Roberts said in a 2011 year-end report that members of the nation's highest court do consult the code of conduct in assessing their ethical obligations, and Justices Samuel Alito and Elena Kagan told a House panel in 2019 that justices follow the code. Turkey quake "miracle baby" reunited with mom after 54 days apart Florida police officer escorts ducks to safety Israel targets Hamas in Lebanon and Gaza in latest airstrikes The University of South Carolina-Beaufort would get $500,000 a year to help revive an abandoned USC-owned island under a spending plan approved by the states Senate Finance Committee. In January, leaders at the Beaufort campus asked the state legislature for $1.25 million the school said it needs to get Pritchards Island back to its intended purpose after more than a decade of neglect. On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee approved a budget that would give the school a half-million in recurring funding, which USCB administration said is the most critical part of getting the Beaufort County island back on track. Donated by Philip Rhodes to USC in the 1980s, Pritchards Island was deeded to the then-Carolina Research and Development Foundation for scientific, educational, charitable and general public purposes. However, erosion, lack of staffing and funding caused Pritchards Island to go largely unused by the university for about 13 years. In June, The State and The Island Packet reported that the Rhodes family said the school wasnt living up to its agreement. Further, the newspapers reported a stipulation in the deeds that outlined USC could lose the island to the next benefactor University of Georgia if it didnt honor the deeds. By July, Gov. Henry McMaster called the donor family to say South Carolina would live up to every single thing in the agreement to make certain the island stayed in state ownership. In September, USCB administration and faculty shared a detailed plan with the Rhodes family that enthusiastically touched on how the school planned to fulfill the wishes of the decades-old deeds. The most recent plans for Pritchards range from establishing a summer undergraduate research program to monitoring and characterizing the islands rich ecology. The 1,600-acre island remains rugged and untouched, and because of that, it serves as a strong comparison to surrounding barrier islands that are highly developed. The juxtapositions are important in understanding erosion, sea level rise and the impacts of climate change. Story continues The price tag to get the ball rolling to reestablish research and programs on Pritchards is $1.25 million, according to the universitys plan. In December, McMaster did not include special funding for Pritchards Island in his proposed budget. McMasters office in response said despite the governor funding the states universities a different way, it did not take away from him ensuring the university satisfies its obligation to fulfill the deeds. While USC representatives asked the House Ways and Means Committee for $581,000 in recurring funding to pay for docking fees, maintenance and salaries, the Senate Finance Committee allocated $500,000 on Tuesday. The proposed amount also does not account for an additional request of $670,000 for one-time start-up costs. USCBs Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations Beth Patrick said the $500,000 recurring appropriation is a tremendous step forward for the project to become a reality. The money would be strictly used for reviving programming and research specific to Pritchards Island. Because the funds are proposed to recur, Patrick said, the ongoing financial support of the island would provide long-term sustainability. We are still hopeful the one-time (start-up request) will get included before the budget is finalized but securing the recurring support is the most critical piece to getting the project started, Patrick said Wednesday. The island donors granddaughter, Martha Rhodes, said this is a great start, however the family hopes the governor will keep his promise to protect Pritchards pursuant to the original deeds. The budget proposal for Pritchards Island still needs approval by the full Senate before it heads to a joint conference committee with the House. The full House and Senate would then have to approve the budget before it is sent to McMaster. Seamus Power made a hole-in-one on consecutive holes in the par-three contest at the Masters (Matt Slocum/AP) (AP) Irelands Seamus Power amazingly made back-to-back holes-in-one during the par-three contest ahead of the 87th Masters. Power span his tee shot on the eighth back into the hole for an ace and amazingly repeated the feat just moments later on the last on the newly renovated layout at Augusta National. The world number 34 is the third player to make consecutive aces in the traditional curtain-raiser, joining Claude Harmon (1968) and Toshi Izawa (2002). Seamus Power finishes ace-ace. Back-to-back holes-in-one! On No. 8: pic.twitter.com/M1Vdn2NNHe Golf Central (@GolfCentral) April 5, 2023 Defending champion Scottie Scheffler also made a hole-in-one in bizarre circumstances, the world number ones tee shot on the ninth plunging straight into the cup after he and playing partners Tom Kim and Sam Burns had teed off simultaneously. Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watsons hole-in-one on the fourth and one from Tom Hoge on the eighth took the total number of aces in the contests history to 107. Since the event started in 1960, nobody has ever become par-three and Masters champion in the same week. For much of his working life, Keith Jarrett found himself alone on stage at a piano, spontaneously composing lush, lyrical symphonies that mesmerized listeners and yielded landmark albums like 1975s million-selling The Koln Concert; a recording that transformed the virtuosic pianist from Allentown, Pennsylvania, into one of jazzs biggest and brightest new stars in an era otherwise dominated by jazz-rock and fusion. Although Jarrett was famed for his improvised solo piano recitals, he had demonstrated at several other key points in his career that he thrived playing in groups alongside other musicians who were able to help unlock different facets of his creativity. Indeed, the pianist began his recording career in 1967 leading a trio, and then in the 1970s, while reaping acclaim for his solo piano exploits, led two contrasting groups, his so-called American and European Quartets. Then in 1983, at age 38, he did something altogether different. Listen to Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, and Jack DeJohnette's Standards Vol. 1 now. Early in the year, Keith Jarrett told Manfred Eicher, his producer at ECM Records, that he desired to record a trio album devoted to jazz standards. He was well-acquainted with the standard repertoire from his years as a jobbing bar pianist in Boston. Once he got a record deal, however, he largely set them aside to concentrate on self-composed material. The reason behind Jarretts decision to revisit The Great American Songbook at a later stage in his life was a simple one. This material was so damn good, he enthused to San Francisco Chronicle in 2008, adding: Why was everyone ignoring it and playing clever stuff that sounds all the same? We know how musical these songs are... Jazz musicians don't have to always break down doors, there's music inside the rooms too. Story continues For his first album dedicated to standards, Jarrett already had in mind the musicians he wanted to work with; bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Jack DeJohnette. Jarrett was good friends with DeJohnette, and both had worked as sidemen for Peacock on the 1977 album Tales of Another. Preparing for the recording session Once Peacock and DeJohnette were on board, ECM scheduled a recording session in January 1983 at New Yorks Power Station studio. Peacock confessed that he was a little non-plussed when the pianist first proposed an album exclusively devoted to well-worn popular songs. The idea of doing a standards album was a little bizarre to me, he told Jarretts biographer Ian Carr. I wanted to think about it for a day or soI thought, What is he doing? It was confusing. But the more he thought about it, Peacock realized that recording a standards album with Keith Jarrett would be anything but safe and predictable. If Keith wants to do standards, it aint going to be a standard date, he mused. Its going to be something else. The trio didnt meet up to discuss the album in more detail until the day before the session. We had a very serious dinner the night before we recorded, recalled Jarrett to Downbeat in 1984. I prepared in advance of this dinner to talk about how I didnt have any arrangements, how there was not going to be any idea of how to do these things. Jarrett insisted that everything would be spontaneous; there would be no rehearsal or detailed advance preparation for the album. The pianist just brought with him a list of song titles and selected some at random, seeing how Peacock and DeJohnette responded. If they showed a scintilla of enthusiasm, theyd go for a take. He trusted in their intimate knowledge of the standard repertoire or what he called their shared tribal language, telling David Breskin: I knew Gary and Jack had gone through standards as I had. Crucially, he brought along all the lyrics to the tunes on his list, which he showed his cohorts. Like the great saxophone players Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, and Lester Young before him, Jarrett believed that musicians should know the words of the standards in order to fully understand their meaning and the emotions they evoked. Recording the album The two-day session in New York was rewardingly productive. We went in to do just one album but we came out with enough material for three albums, an excited Peacock told Ian Carr. They just let the tapes roll. It was incredible. Besides the album they had gone in to record, the trio recorded an additional selection of standards (six songs that would be released as Standards, Vol. 2 in 1985) and a collection of freely improvised original pieces which was issued under the title Changes in 1984. Standards, Vol.1 contained five warhorses from the standard repertoire, mostly first takes; it opened with a dreamy, free-flowing interpretation of Bobby Troups Meaning Of The Blues (a tune that Miles Davis made famous on his 1957 LP Miles Ahead) and closed with a lengthy gospel-tinged adaptation of Billie Holidays immortal ballad God Bless The Child, which was reworked with a hymnic flavor. Sandwiched in between were unique treatments of All The Things You Are, It Never Entered My Mind and The Masquerade Is Over. For some listeners, the effect of listening to Standards, Vol. 1 was like eavesdropping on several musical conversations by three of the best storytellers in jazz. In their performances of the five tunes, Jarrett, Peacock, and DeJohnette revealed an advanced musical understanding that allowed them to interact with each other as if by telepathy. It was as if the three musicians functioned as a single organism, working instinctively and intuitively as one. Though their interpretations stayed respectfully true to the spirit of the original material, each song also became a framework for collective and individual improvisation. Crucially, Peacock and DeJohnette werent subordinate to Jarrett but had an equal role in shaping the musical trialogue; this was trio jazz at its most democratic and liberating. It was a whole other level of playing, said Peacock, explaining to Ian Carr the trios unique sonic alchemy. Jarrett concurred. What we ended up with is incredible, he enthused to Musician magazine in 1983. I think some of the songs melodies have never been phrased as well as on this record. The Standards Trio (as they became known) would record and tour together for the next 31 years, performing for the last time in 2014. During that time, they made 21 albums but none, perhaps, were as significant as their first release, Standards, Vol.1, which offered a fresh and deeply explorative approach to The Great American Songbook. Coming at a time when contemporary jazz was turning away from its foundation repertoire of Tin Pan Alley songs, the album both redefined and revived the art of standard playing in the post-bop era. Listen to Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, and Jack DeJohnette's Standards Vol. 1 now. For the latest music news and exclusive features, check out uDiscover Music. uDiscover Music is operated by Universal Music Group (UMG). Some recording artists included in uDiscover Music articles are affiliated with UMG. Mommy loves you, the 66-year-old Grammy winner told her son as she performed "I Never Knew Love Like This Before" on Tamron Hall Tamron Hall Show/YouTube Stephanie Mills and son Stephanie Mills didn't leave a dry eye on the set of Tamron Hall. The Grammy-winning artist, 66, performed her signature song "Never Knew Love Like This" on the daytime talk show and halfway through the song, brought her son Farad, who has down syndrome, on stage to dance with her. "This is my baby," Mills said as she sang to him: "You are my sunlight and my rain, and time could never change." "Mommy loves you," as the song was winding down. Host Tamron Hall walked over to Mills and Farad, wiping tears from her eyes. Mills took the tissue and began wiping the host's tears for her. "Oh my gosh, knowing that you sing that to your baby, who is now grown up...." Hall said to Mills. "I'm sobbing because I know how wonderful a mom you are and when you sing [the lyrics], 'I've never known love like this before,' it's this love," Hall said. Mills spoke earlier in the show about why she decided to move away from Hollywood to raise her son in North Carolina. Related:Tamron Hall on Why She's Open About Having a Live-In Nanny: 'It's Impossible to Do It Without Her' "I wanted to get away from all that, so, when I was pregnant at three months, they told me that my son was going to be special needs with Down syndrome," Mills, who was the original Dorothy in The Wiz on Broadway, recalled. "And I was like, 'I don't care what it is, if he has one eye, we're going to rock this world together, and that's what we do. We rock." This wasn't the first time the set of Tamron Hall was full of tears recently. Last week, the talk show host surprised General Hospital star Maurice Benard with a special visit from his daughter. The General Hospital actor, 60, had been discussing his family with Hall, when a picture of his daughter Heather Andresen showed up on the screen. The actor got visibly emotional as Hall explained that Benard hadn't seen her since October of last year, due to her service in the U.S. Air Force. Story continues "Oh, don't do that," Benard said as a picture of Andresen showed up on the screen and Hall said, "You haven't seen her in a long time and you haven't seen her in uniform." Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "You're not the only one that made a special trip today. She wanted to be here," Hall hinted, before introducing: "Your daughter, Airman First Class Heather Andresen." Andresen came out dressed in uniform, and the reunited father and daughter shared an emotional hug before Benard broke down in tears on the guest couch. "These surprises kill me," Benard jokingly said, adding with a chuckle, "I am so proud of her, and I can't talk. So, uh, can I leave?" Tamron Hall airs weekdays in syndication on ABC (check local listings). For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. My father grew up in Dublin, the son of a bus driver, and left school when he was 12. Seeing little opportunity for his future he emigrated to England when he was 15, and eventually found his way to the United States. My mother grew up in Wicklow and finished school when she was 14, despite being a gifted student, and also left Ireland to pursue opportunity. Retired U.S. Navy Capt. Tim Kinsella is former commanding officer of Naval Air Station Pensacola. He is now director of the Center for Leadership at the University of West Florida. Why did they leave school so early? Because their families couldnt afford to send them to secondary school as it was only available as a fee-paying option. The state didnt think high school was important enough, so the only option was private school or a Christian Brothers Catholic school. Think about what that means for a desperately underdeveloped country, who only 20 years before had gained its independence and was now attempting to enter the world economic market. Ireland would need a skilled and educated workforce if it wanted to develop from a 19th century agrarian economy into a modern 20th century one that could contribute to the European markets post-war industrial boom. But with the majority of its population only educated to a primary school level, the future was stark. What's driving turmoil? Escambia school grades improving under appointed superintendent. Pushback is 'smoke and mirrors.' Referendum: Escambia County School Board votes against return to elected superintendent Irelands economy and education system was in a state of decline. In the mid-1950s, just 17% of eligible students were enrolled in secondary or vocational schools. For those students actually in secondary school, only 30% of boys and 14% of girls took science as a subject - when only half of the science teachers had a science degree. The limited opportunity for education in Ireland also contributed significantly to Irelands population crisis. Ireland at that time had the distinct honor of being the only European country along with East Germany to have a declining population rate. The 1950s are often referred to as the lost decade in Ireland because out of a population of 3 million, Ireland lost more than half a million people to emigration - three of every five children would leave Ireland to find opportunity elsewhere. Story continues And then along came Donogh OMalley, Irelands newly-appointed, Minister for Education. He realized that Irelands future was directly linked to the education of its people - without an educated workforce that saw opportunity and a reason to stay in Ireland, the country would continue to hemorrhage its youth and talent and would never be able to take its rightful place amongst the free nations of the world. To state it another way, OMalley believed that the educational system in its then current form was an existential threat to Irelands survival. District bans 3 more books: I am embarrassed to be a student in Escambia County. It was a hard rule in Irish politics that ideas for new policy had to be approved by the Finance Minister and the Taoiseach (pronounced tee-shock, the Irish word for Prime Minister), and if it dealt with education it absolutely, positively, had to be run through the Catholic Bishops. OMalley knew they would never agree with his proposal in the halls of government or the Bishops palace, so in September 1966, Donogh OMalley courageously went out on a limb, held a press conference, and changed Ireland forever. He unilaterally stated that beginning the following year all secondary education would be free, and that all primary school managers and principals should arrange for adequate sanitation and heating and send the bill to his department. OMalley rightly calculated that the measure would be so popular that both the government and the church would have to fall in line behind the proposal. And fall in line they did, and it changed everything. Those first generations of students to attend secondary school under the new system became the catalyst for the economic miracle that was the Celtic Tiger of the 1990s. Having transformed itself practically overnight due to the courage of one politician, Ireland is now recognized as having one of the finest education systems in the world. All because one man understood that education is the key to unlocking a prosperous and opportunity-filled future, and had the courage to make it a reality. I cant help but see similarities between Irelands journey toward educational success and our own struggles here in Escambia County. As it was in Ireland, the achievement gap in our educational system is an existential threat to our growth and prosperity. Over a half-century ago one person with an aspirational idea took on an entire political and cultural system in order to bring hope and promise where there was none. Once the educational cat was out of the bag, there was no stopping the tide of progress and prosperity. It may have taken a while, but it never would have happened without Donogh OMalleys cunning and courage. If only we could do the same and concentrate on the things that matter instead of the many distractions that have been brought before our school board these past couple of months. It appears there are some who would rather see our school system fail just so they can say that our superintendent is failing, and thus return us to a system that led us to the very difficulties we find ourselves in. It also appears there are those who would prefer to abrogate their authority and responsibility rather than take the mantle of leadership that has been bestowed upon them by the people. It appears that for some, petty politics and Machiavellian maneuvering are more important than the future of our community and our children. Like OMalley, we need bold and decisive leadership that is both aspirational and inclusive inclusive actions like Representative Michelle Salzmans proposed bill to ensure that qualified military children are afforded the opportunity to attend the school of their choice - not the divisive squabbling weve seen that distracts from the core issues at hand. Most recently, Superintendent Tim Smith called for unity in purpose so that we may all work together toward building a school district that serves each of our students equally. Its beyond time we stopped our bickering and gave him a real chance. Fortunately we have elected members on the school board who understand that, and for them we should be thankful. Lets get serious about education, and lets get serious about supporting our superintendent. The numbers show that our district has improved under his leadership during a very challenging time. If the school board has legitimate reasons to doubt his effectiveness, then I urge them, in the strongest possible terms, to use the system in place to affect his removal and replacement and not via the nefarious and capricious attempts of these past few months. The people voted for an appointed superintendent so we could take politics out of education, yet there are some who want to inject negative politics back into it. The school board chose Tim Smith. I urge all members of the school board to work together instead of focusing on petty politics and give him the support he needs to close the achievement gap in our schools. We desperately need aspirational leadership that will lift our school district and allow our teachers, administrators, and students to reach their fullest potential. I know we can do it. West Florida High School is a shining example of whats possible when we give our teachers the tools they need. As my father said to me when I left for boot camp many years ago, stay away from complainers. Its time some of our school board members stopped complaining and started leading. Retired U.S. Navy Capt. Tim Kinsella is the former commanding officer of Naval Air Station Pensacola. He is now executive director of the Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz Center for Leadership at the University of West Florida. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Escambia County Schools: Petty politics hurting our schools. Kinsella Cordae and Anderson .Paak Engineer Brendan Bren Ferry has been right by Cordaes side through the making of his first two albums, home recording sessions during the COVID-19 pandemic, and moments that have changed their lives. [Cordae] came out [of the booth] to listen to what he recorded, and he was on his phone, and thats when he saw [that Nipsey Hussle passed away]. We didnt do s**t after that, Ferry told REVOLT. In this installment of Studio Sessions, the Grammy-nominated engineer discussed how the Two Tens artist and Shy Glizzy are similar, unreleased Anderson .Paak and Cordae records, and what he and Cordae are cooking up this year. Read the exclusive interview below. What was the most significant change in making Cordaes From a Birds Eye View compared to his debut, The Lost Boy? While making The Lost Boy, we were experiencing everything for the first time as far as the Grammys and going through the motions. Thats why it took around three years for the second one to come together. For The Lost Boy, we had an objective, and we went in with the foundation. For the second one, we had to figure out a new foundation. Many of those songs were recorded while we were on tour for The Lost Boy. That ties back to how it was hard to build the foundation because we were on tour. The [Today] joint with Gunna, Champagne Glasses, and probably a bunch more were recorded on tour. We recorded the Gunna joint in the locker room of the Portland Trail Blazers arena. Cordae recorded his part in the arena and then linked up with Gunna at some festival in Australia. They recorded that in Australia. He sent the vocals back to me, and I mixed them in. The most surprising collaboration on that album is undoubtedly Stevie Wonder playing harmonica on Champagne Glasses. Thats funny because we were in the studio doing the last touches on the album, and Cordae told me, Yo, Im about to drop you this file, and he was talking about getting Stevie Wonder on the song. I didnt know what he meant by that because that could be anyone on the harmonica. It sounded beautiful, so I asked him who was playing it, and he said, Oh, Stevie Wonder. Also, the original song had Freddie Gibbs and Nas on it. Something occurred where both of them couldnt be on the song, so he had to pick which one to keep. I told him I liked Freddies verse better, but its f***ing Nas. You have to put Nas on the song. But he went with what he went with. Story continues When Naomi Osaka is in a session with him, is she giving tips and insight on records? When they first started dating, she wasnt really at the studio a lot, but then she started coming and would listen to music. Shes introverted, so she doesnt speak too much. Shes just there vibing. You and Cordae always seem to be cooking up music. Were you two in the studio together for any big life moments? One session Ill never forget is when we were in the home studio together with Arin Ray in North Hollywood when Nipsey [Hussle] died. That was crazy. He came out [of the booth] to listen to what he recorded, and he was on his phone, and thats when he saw [that Nipsey Hussle passed away]. We didnt do s**t after that. You also worked with Shy Glizzy. What is his recording process like compared to Cordaes? Glizzy was around before I opened the studio because I worked with his brother, 3 Glizzy. Ive always recorded Shy spontaneously because of that connection. When I built the studio, Shy started coming around more normally. Glizzy will go bar-by-bar, the same as Cordae. Theyll sometimes do two bars, punch-in, bar, punch-in, bar, punch-in. Glizzy will do the verse, come out, listen, take his time, vibe out, and smoke again. Sessions are long, but we only knock out one to two or three songs. But those are undeniably decent songs. Have you and Cordae been cooking up a new project? Not as of this moment, but its coming to that very soon. He is going to drop something with Anderson .Paak. Ill let you know if that is certain. Howd they put it together? Anderson has his own studio warehouse thing. It looks like a house, but its a studio compound. It was very nice. Thats where he and his band do all the recording. Ive been there a couple of times and recorded Cordae there. Cordae would go there all the time when they recorded a rough draft of a song called Summer Drop, another song I cant remember the name of, and the song Two Tens three years ago around the time of RNP. It was about six months to a year after RNP. I remember he played those records for me, and they were amazing. They still got the upbeat feel of RNP, but also that drop-top driving down Malibu vibe with it. What do you have coming up for the rest of 2023? Its a year of new ideas. I try to balance how hard I go in the studio because I know Cordae could call me any moment, and well be going there for two months to record. We got a new studio, a new house, and new vibes. I got the new studio, trying to figure out ways to level it up; I got my Bamboo Recording Studios. Im open to business in the DMV area. Trending Stories A 5-year-old boy collapsed while playing outside at recess and his classmates tried warning something was wrong. However, teachers ignored Romeo Pierre Louis who they thought was playing dead and the childrens warnings for nearly 10 minutes as the boy lay on the ground at Charter Oak International Academy in West Hartford, Connecticut, according to a lawsuit. When they realized Romeo wasnt playing and needed help, it was too late, the lawsuit filed on April 5, one year after the boys collapse, says. Romeos life could no longer be saved and he died two days later on April 7, 2022, at Connecticut Childrens Hospital, according to a complaint. His parents, Chantel Pierre Louis and DMeza Shultz Pierre Louis, are suing the town of West Hartford and the West Hartford Board of Education. They accuse school and town officials of causing their sons death. We are heartbroken that because of such a delay in care after his fall, Romeos life was ultimately taken, the parents said in a statement on their website, which brings awareness to Romeos death. Romeo Pierre Louis School security footage showed Romeo on the ground for roughly nine minutes before teachers went to check his pulse, according to the Connecticut Post, which cited a West Hartford police report. The death of a child is a devastating and unimaginable loss, and our thoughts are with the family and friends of Romeo Pierre Louis, Andy Morrow, the superintendent of West Hartford Public Schools, said in statements provided to McClatchy News. The West Hartford Board of Education and Dallas Dodge, the corporation counsel for West Hartford, declined to comment on the pending litigation. Joaquin Madry, of the Silver Golub & Teitell law firm, represents the parents in their lawsuit. Romeos collapse at recess The complaint says three teachers supervising recess didnt check on Romeo for several minutes after his collapse because the children at school typically take part in a game called play dead. Story continues Romeo wasnt playing but was suffering a medical emergency he ultimately died from, the complaint says. One teacher who responded to Romeo told police that other students informed her the boy was acting strangely/playing funny/teasing, according to the police report provided to McClatchy News. When she went to check his pulse, she didnt feel anything, the police report said. The child was found by other children whom stated they at first believed the child to be pretending to sleep. The children later suspected he was not pretending to sleep and was unconscious, the police report said. Romeo died from heart complications after significant and extensive efforts to save his life took place at Connecticut Childrens Hospital, according to his parents website and the complaint. At the hospital, he was declared brain dead and an autopsy listed his cause of death as cardiac channelopathy, brugada syndrome and was determined to be natural, according to the police report. A vigil is held for Romeo The day Romeos parents filed the lawsuit, a vigil was held in his honor on April 5 on the playground at Charter Oak International Academy, the Hartford Courant reported. We know that nothing will bring our son back. All we can do is keep his memory in our hearts and do what we can so this doesnt happen to another child. Listen to our children, Romeos mother, Chantel, said at the vigil, according to the newspaper. One poster held up at the vigil described Romeo as loved, kind, gentle, helping, funny and left alone, according to a photo provided to McClatchy News by Madry. Romeos vigil. Chantel Pierre Louis and DMeza Shultz Pierre Louiss lawsuit seeks to recover damages in connection with Romeos death. As a result of his death, Romeos ability to engage in and enjoy his normal lifes activities for the rest of what may have been a longer life was destroyed, the complaint says. Husband died after dispatchers said ambulance was coming. It never came, lawsuit says City didnt stop mans campaign of terror that ended in deadly shooting, CA suit says 6-year-old showed gun at recess before shooting his teacher in Virginia, lawsuit says In a decision unprecedented in state history, Republicans in Tennessee have expelled one of three Democratic lawmakers who joined in a public protest at the state capitol calling for gun control measures in the week after six people, including three children, were killed in a school shooting in Nashville. State House lawmakers voted 72-25 to remove Rep Justin Jones, part of a trio of lawmakers who stood on the floor of the state House of Representatives, gave speeches, and joined in chants from protesters present in the House gallery last Thursday. Ahead of his expulsion, Rep Jones defended his choice to join in with the protesters, saying he had repeatedly been denied the chance to speak out on the House floor and felt he needed to give his constituents a voice nonetheless. I was standing for those young people, those young people many of whom come from my district, many of whom cant even vote yet, many of whom are disenfranchised, all of whom are terrified by the continued trend of mass shootings plaguing our state and plaguing this nation, he said during an impassioned speech on Thursday. The Nashville Democrat also pushed back against criticisms from Republican Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton that the protest was equivalent to the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol. I was shocked to have the Speaker of House condemn mothers and grandmothers and children and concerned clergy, lie on them, and say they were insurrectionists, Rep Jones said. At no point was there violence. At no point did we encourage violence. In fact what we were doing was calling for the end of gun violence that is terrorizing our children day after day after day, and all we offer are moments of silence. The GOP supermajority also took up a vote on Thursday over whether to expel Democratic Reps Gloria Johnson and Justin Pearson, the other two lawmakers who joined in the floor protest. Rep Johnson, a former school teacher, was able to hang on to her seat, with Republicans falling one vote short of the 66 needed to cement an expulsion. Audible cheers were heard on the house floor when the decision was announced. Story continues JUST IN: Tennessee House Republicans attempt to expel Democratic Rep. Gloria Johnson has failed supporters are heard chanting, Gloria! Gloria! In the background pic.twitter.com/lAIWRlfI94 NowThis (@nowthisnews) April 6, 2023 The Tennessee House is currently hearing debate surrounding the final member of the trio, Justin Pearson. Fellow Democrats rallied to the defence of the three representatives on the chopping block, calling the expulsions undemocratic because they silenced lawmakers and, by proxy, their constituents. I think it scares people in this room that he [Justin Jones] can speak to the people and speak for the people, in a way that many of us in this room cant. I urge you not to vote to expel. We need his voice, Bob Freeman, a Nashville Democrat, argued. We cannot silence those people. During debate surrounding Mr Joness expulsion, Representative Gino Bulso, a Republican from Brentwood, defended the removal process, calling it an appropriate response to the mutiny that was the floor protest. What were doing today is upholding our constitution, he said. We are protecting the integrity of this body. The Tennessee three Reps. Justin Jones, Gloria Johnson and Justin Pearson walk into the floor to cheers from protesters ahead of House session. They face expulsion from the legislature over their role in gun reform protests last week. Updates: https://t.co/QU3GyEZNpn pic.twitter.com/gzByJnClp6 Tennessean (@Tennessean) April 6, 2023 Rep Pearson, one of the three who joined the floor protest, pointed to how previous lawmakers have been expelled for criminal conduct like bribery and sexual assault, and said sending the trio of Democrats out of the statehouse would be both undemocratic and racist. It is no coincidence that the two youngest Black lawmakers in the state of Tennessee, and one of two women, are on trial today, he told CNN ahead of the vote. That is not accidental. This is what happened when you lose democracy. Earlier in the day, the trio of Democrats received a rapturous welcome outside the capitol chamber from protesters who have been calling for new gun laws after the Covenant shooting. Following the Nashville shooting, leaders and lawmakers in the Republican-controlled state government have proposed massive new investments in school safety, including providing $140m for putting more armed police officers in public schools, but have stopped short of placing any limits on access to guns. The Covenant School, where gunman Audrey Hale killed three students and three staff members, is a private elementary school, and some teachers there already carried guns. As The Independent has reported, research suggests armed police officers in schools dont stop shootings from happening or being more severe, and sometimes make things worse. Tennessee governor Bill Lee has suggested a potential openness to finding ways to remove gun access from dangerous people, but hasnt put forth any definitive proposals to that effect. The state permits most residents 21 and older to carry handguns openly or concealed without a permit, and GOP lawmakers are considering further loosening restrictions to firearm access. More follows ... Tennessee Republicans voted on Thursday (April 6) to expel two Black Democrats, Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, in retaliation for participating in a gun control protest following a tragic mass shooting at a Nashville school. The Associated Press reported a third Democrat, Rep. Gloria Johnson, a white woman, who also faced expulsion, was spared by a one-vote margin. Rather than pass laws that will address red flags and banning assault weapons and universal background checks, they passed resolutions to expel their colleagues, Jones said after the historic vote, according to the news outlet. More from VIBE.com And they think that the issue is over. Well see you on Monday. "We can never normalize the ending of democracy." @Justinjpearson on being expelled from office pic.twitter.com/5KSIMrWpdK Maddow Blog (@MaddowBlog) April 7, 2023 garnell whitfiled jr speaking before the Senate judiciary committee Related Story During an interview with CNN, Rep. Johnson clarified her belief that her colleagues were expelled due to race, although this has been declined by the Republican lawmakers responsible. The outlet reported the Tennessee House had only expelled two other representatives since the Reconstruction period, recognized as the years directly following the Civil War. I am a 60-year-old White woman, and they are two young Black men, she explained, continuing to detail how her peers were asked questions in a demeaning way before the expulsion. Story continues I think we might have these two young men back very soon, Johnson said according to CNN. It is my promise to fight like hell to get both of them back. Former Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, former Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, and Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, confer on the floor of the House chamber before expulsion proceedings for the three Democrats begin Thursday, April 6, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. According to The Tennessean, the Tennessee Constitution allows a county governing body to appoint an interim representative in the case of a vacancy, not excluding those expelled from the position. Jones and Pearson can also seek reelection and be reseated in the General Assembly within months. Normally, expulsion from a legislature is an extreme sanction that involves indictment and conviction of a crime or a severe ethical violation, explained Bruce Oppenheimer, a professor of political science at Vanderbilt University, to the outlet. Even when an ethical violation is incurred, lesser penalties of a reprimand or censure would be assessed in most cases. Democratic state Reps. Justin Pearson (C) of Memphis and Justin Jones (R) of Nashville attend the vote in which they were expelled from the state Legislature on April 6, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. President Joe Biden issued a statement on Thursday calling the expulsions shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent, continuing weve continued to see Republican officials across America double down on dangerous bills that make our schools, places of worship, and communities less safe. Our kids continue to pay the price. CNN reported Jones and Pearson urged protesters to return to the Capitol when the House returns to session on Monday (April 10). Click here to read the full article. Mysterious! Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidmans children, Isabella and Connor, have flown under the radar since their parents called it quits in 2001. Cruise and Kidman, who tied the knot in December 1990, adopted Isabella Bella two years later after the Big Little Lies alum suffered an ectopic pregnancy. The pair expanded their family in 1995 when they adopted Connor. "From the minute Tom and I were married, I wanted to have babies," Kidman told Vanity Fair in 2007. "And we lost a baby early on, so that was really very traumatic. And that's when we would adopt Bella. The duo, who met in 1989 before working together on Days of Thunder, remained connected to their work and family during the late 90s. They were in a state of bliss when they costarred in 1999s Eyes Wide Shut, according to Kidman. We were happily married through that, the Oscar winner told The New York Times in October 2020, reflecting on teaming up with her then-husband for the Stanley Kubrick project. We would go go-kart racing after those scenes. Wed rent out a place and go racing at three in the morning. I dont know what else to say. Maybe I dont have the ability to look back and dissect it. Or Im not willing to. The Moulin Rouge star recalled: We were working with the greatest filmmaker and learning about our lives and enjoying our lives on set. We would say, When is it going to end? We went over there thinking it was going to be three months. It turned into a year, a year and a half. But you go, As long as I surrender to what this is, Im going to have an incredible time.' However, the former couples filming bubble burst in February 2001 when Cruise filed for divorce. Their legal separation was finalized in August of that year and while the Cold Mountain actress agreed to joint custody of their children, Isabella and Connor chose to live in Los Angeles with their father. Kidman, for her part, resided in Australia. When the Risky Business actor married Katie Holmes in November 2006, his kids seemingly embraced their new blended family. (Holmes and Cruise welcomed their own daughter in April 2006. They called it quits June 2012.) Story continues "Both Isabella and Connor are really close with Katie, much more so than Nicole," a source exclusively told Us Weekly in May 2012. That same month, Isabella opened up to Australias New Idea magazine about her dynamic with Kidman, who married Keith Urban in June 2006. The country crooner welcomed two daughters, Sunday and Faith, with the Bombshell actress in 2008 and 2010, respectively. "I love mom. She's my mom. She's great," Isabella said in May 2012. "I see her sometimes and I speak to her." The artist revealed at the time: We're a very close family. I love all of our family. Isabellas parents, however, were not at her surprise nuptials in September 2015 when she wed Max Parker. Isabella opted for a super low-key, small ceremony in London, a source exclusively told Us at the time, confirming that neither Cruise nor Kidman were in attendance. The brides younger brother, Connor, was there to represent the family. "She really didn't want to make a big deal out of it," the insider explained, adding that the nuptials were followed by "a very, very informal" reception. In the years that have followed, Isabella and Connor have continued to keep low profiles. The pair have on occasion shared photos of their lives on social media. Sign up for Us Weekly's free, daily newsletter and never miss breaking news or exclusive stories about your favorite celebrities, TV shows and more! Scroll down to see Cruise and Kidmans kids through the years: Alexis Morris LSU has a lot to celebrate as of late, and today (April 7), the famed Louisiana university got another reason. After defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes over the weekend and becoming the 2023 NCAA Division 1 champions, the school shared exciting news. Alexis Morris will attend this years WNBA Draft. Alexis Morris has been invited to attend the WNBA Draft! It will air on ESPN on Monday (April 10) at 6 p.m. CT live from New York City, the Lady Tigers official Twitter account posted. Immediately, supporters praised the revelation. Earned through hard work [and] determination! Much deserved! Way to geaux, Alexis Morris! Were proud of you! LUTHOR! one person responded. Many fans chimed in, affectionately referring to her by her nickname, Lex Luthor, a playful take on the DC comic book character. Alexis Morris (@AlexisMorrisWBB) has been invited to attend the WNBA Draft! It will air on ESPN on Monday, April 10 at 6 p.m. CT live from New York City. pic.twitter.com/S01imSaams LSU Women's Basketball (@LSUwbkb) April 7, 2023 So proud of this young lady! another supporter added. One person expressed how they wished New Orleans, conveniently located just a short drive away from LSUs Baton Rouge campus, would acquire a WNBA team so Louisiana residents wouldnt have to part with Morris: Can we hurry up [and] add a team in NOLA so she can stay home?! Only 15 players from across the nation were selected to make the trip to this years draft a huge accomplishment for the Beaumont, Texas native. Morris has had a massive week. In addition to her team winning the 2023 NCAA title, President Joe Biden also invited the young women to celebrate the victory at the White House. But it doesnt end there. On Tuesday (April 4), the guard made another big announcement. I would like to say thank you, Louisiana State University, for allowing me to be part of such an amazing institution, where the culture, the love and the passion is unmatched. You trusted me and supported me as an ambassador for this university, she began. It is with careful thought and consideration that I am excited to enter my name into the 2023 WNBA Draft, Morris added in a heartfelt and lengthy message. Story continues We wish the young star the best on her journey. See what others are saying of her achievements below. All Glory to God, and a special thank you to my family, the LSU Womens Basketball coaching staff, and to our amazing fan base. Excited for the next chapter! pic.twitter.com/oEJUbRGL2b Lex Luthor (@AlexisMorrisWBB) April 4, 2023 So proud of this young lady!! Kendra Westbrook (@kvwestbr) April 7, 2023 Yes,go get it & be you! Hallelujah! Keep GOD with you! He will never leave you alone. Go WIN MORE CHAMPIONSHIPS NINETWOFIVE (@NINETWOFIVE55) April 7, 2023 Can we hurry up add a team in NOLA so she can stay home?! Rory (@RoryWHODAT2) April 7, 2023 Happy to hear thatWell deserved. Hopefully a first round pick MIKE KING (@MIKEKIN73778218) April 7, 2023 So happy for LexLuthor Kagdel2290 (@TigerKagdel2290) April 7, 2023 Thank you!!!! Forever a fan! Tiger Nation is going to miss you SO much!!! We will forever be cheering for our LUTHOR!!! pic.twitter.com/ktoxaaEvo7 LSUJune (@june4lsu) April 4, 2023 Thank you @AlexisMorrisWBB . You are the Bombdiggidy Best. Forever LSU. Forever Alexis Morris. We will follow you wherever you go and will ALWAYS be your #1 Fan. pic.twitter.com/bs4DvPoKbD ClaireBear BevPatin (@BevPatin) April 4, 2023 Trending Stories Dotdash Meredith and Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Heres all the clothing, shoes, gear, and accessories you need for your first trip to Egypt. Travel and Leisure / Alli Waataja The allure of a trip to Egypt is undeniable; the bucket-list destination is one of the world's oldest and most intriguing countries with an equally rich modern culture to match. Still, Egypt gets extremely hot (were talking up to 109 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer months), and has a predominantly Muslim population, so there are things to consider when curating a packing list as a visitor. You wont want to get caught wearing inappropriate garments or becoming too sweaty to enjoy the experience, so we spoke to a handful of Egypt travel experts to get their insights on exactly what youll want to pack (and other important tips to keep in mind). This guide will help ensure youve got everything you might not have thought about for your trip to Egypt but dont forget your usual travel essentials as well! Its pretty easy to find replacement toiletries or electronics while in Cairo but nobody wants to spend their vacation hunting for something instead of sightseeing. Packing Checklist for Egypt Packing for Egypt takes a little extra planning than, say, Spain or Italy, but with a little thoughtfulness youll be well on your way to an unforgettable experience. Here are all the things you need in one comprehensive vacation checklist. Clothing Story continues Shoes Gear Accessories Many residents of Egypt tend to dress more conservatively and its nice to respect the country youre entering by dressing in a similar fashion, says Jasmine Padda, Egypt Destination Specialist for Kensington Tours. Of course, the standards for tourists are more liberal, the general suggestion is to ensure your shorts/dresses/skirts dont go above mid-thigh, and that there isnt excessive cleavage being shown. Youll also want to prioritize sun protection and breathable fabrics that youll be able to wear comfortably for the entire day. Egypt gets unbearably hot in the summer months but even in the spring and fall, youll easily find yourself working up a sweat as the day goes on. Toomet Women's UPF 50+ UV Sun Protection Shirt Best Long-sleeved Top for Women Buy at Amazon.com Packing a breathable long-sleeved top will likely end up being the most important item in your Egypt wardrobe. Women should plan to dress quite modestly in Egypt but youll also want to ensure the garments you pack are going to be moisture-wicking or youll wind up overheating in the Egyptian sun. This Toomet Women's UPF 50+ UV Sun Protection Shirt is our top pick in the long-sleeved shirt department. Its made from a 50+ UPF material thatll ensure optimal protection from the harsh sun while also providing a very airy feeling against the skin. The loose-fitting shirt is also quick drying so you can easily give it a wash and hang dry in the hotel sink as needed. Price at time of publish: $29 Coofandy Men's Cotton Linen Henley Shirt Best Short-sleeved Top for Men Buy at Amazon.com Buy at Coofandy.com While men have different considerations when it comes to conservative dressing, youll still want to opt for loose-fitting garments to ensure optimal comfort. The Coofandy Men's Cotton Linen Henley Shirt is our favorite short-sleeved top for men due to its versatile style and cotton/linen material. This combination is moisture-wicking, lightweight, and breathable, but the stand collar and button detailing give this option a slightly more sophisticated look than the average linen shirt (which will allow you to style it for semi-formal dinners just as easily as you would to explore the pyramids). Price at time of publish: $30 Amazon Essentials Women's Linen Blend Drawstring Wide Leg Pant Best Pants for Women Buy at Amazon.com While you could opt for jeans or cotton trousers while traveling in Egypt, youll be far more comfortable in something loose-fitting and breathable like linen drawstring pants. The Amazon Essentials Women's Linen Blend Drawstring Wide Leg Pant is a super versatile option that will provide the same breezy comfort as a pair of shorts but will be much more appropriate while visiting the hot spots in Cairo and beyond. The wide-leg pant features four functional pockets and is also machine washable (read: low maintenance). We also like that this pair comes in a huge array of light colorways to help keep you cool even in the baking hot sun. Price at time of publish: $36 iWoo Mens Cotton Linen Drawstring Pants Best Pants for Men Buy at Amazon.com The iWoo Mens Cotton Linen Drawstring Pants are going to be the best option for men looking for a cooling and comfortable pair thatll offer protection from the sun without feeling too stuffy. The linen and cotton blend is moisture-wicking and quick-drying while the relaxed drawstring fit gives these pants a leg up when it comes to all-day comfort during those hours-long guided tours on your feet. This option also has two back pockets with buttons which offer a distinctly more sophisticated look than the average linen pant. Price at time of publish: $32 Simlu Maxi Skirt for Women Best Long Skirt Buy at Amazon.com Skirts and dresses are completely appropriate to wear in Egypt but youll want to look for something that hits below the knee as a more respectful style. The Simlu Maxi Skirt for Women is a great option thatll tick all the right boxes for adventures in Egypt. Its budget-friendly to start but it is also crafted with a comfy (and stretchy) modal material that sits snugly at the hips and flares out into an elegant gathered style that is conservative but flowy enough to get really great Instagram photos in front of the Great Sphinx of Giza. Its available in a wide array of cool colors and prints, including mustard yellow stripes and cheeky black-and-white polka dots. Price at time of publish: $36 Kranda Round Neck Short Flutter Sleeve Smocked Ruffle Floral Maxi Dress Best Maxi Dress Buy at Amazon.com Buy at Walmart.com When it comes to travel wardrobe heavy-hitters, a maxi dress is truly the G.O.A.T. You dont have to worry about mixing and matching multiple pieces its a one-stop-shop that allows you to get dressed and go in an instant. The Kranda Round Neck Short Flutter Sleeve Smocked Ruffle Floral Maxi Dress is a particularly great option for this kind of convenience, especially while traveling through Egypt. The flowing skirt and loose-fitting sleeves are breathable and stylish while still offering a modest silhouette. Price at time of publish: $43 Summersalt The Sidestroke Best Swimsuit for Women Buy at Summersalt.com You dont have to worry as much about modesty if youre staying at a western resort or hotel, but if youd still prefer to stick with a one-piece over a bikini in this case, were pretty fond of the Sidestroke bathing suit by Summersalt. It packs comfy-yet-flattering compression and a unique one-shoulder design that is both stylish and still efficient for swimming laps (or just lounging by the pool). We also like that this option is size-inclusive; its available in sizes 0 to 24. Price at time of publish: $95 Lululemon Pool Short Best Swim Trunks Buy at Shop.lululemon.com Likewise, men can opt for whatever swim trunks youd pack for any other resort or warm-weather vacation. The Lululemon Pool Short is our top pick when it comes to a long-lasting and comfortable pair. Theyre crafted using a water-repellent and abrasion-resistant fabric which means theyll dry quickly once youre out of the water and they also wont get banged up with regular use. We also really like that these swim trunks are made using more than 80 percent recycled materials, including recycled nylon and recycled polyester. Price at time of publish: $78 L*Space Sungazer Dress Best Coverup Buy at Amazon.com Buy at Anthropologie.com It doesnt matter if youre at a resort in Cancun or Cairo its considered polite to have a decent bathing suit coverup on hand for moving between the restaurants and interior of the hotel to the pool. The L*Space Sungazer Dress is our favorite swimwear coverup for a handful of reasons. Its a bit on the pricey side, but its well worth it if you want an elegant and long-lasting coverup thatll work just as well (with a tank underneath) at the hotel buffet as it will as a casual evening dress in a pinch. The full-length dress features a deep v-neck, a smocked waist, and subtle side slips for added comfort and visual interest. Price at time of publish: $165 Egypt typically requires a lot of domestic travel to see the most significant points of interest, points out Padda. Air travel is popular to make the most of your time, so try and limit your luggage to one checked bag, or better yet, one carry-on per person. This means being super intentional with your footwear; we suggest going simple with a comfortable pair of running shoes, a sandal, and maybe a pair of evening-appropriate dress shoes if youre planning to attend more formal dinners at your resort or hotel. Lastly, if you plan on visiting a mosque, you may want to pack a spare pair of socks, especially if youre wearing sandals and dont want to be barefoot indoors. Adidas Women's Cloudfoam Pure 2.0 Running Shoes Best Sneakers for Women Buy at Amazon.com Buy at Stitchfix.com Youre going to be on your feet a lot while exploring Egypt so youll want to ensure you have a pair of sneakers that are comfortable and actually broken in. The Adidas Women's Cloudfoam Pure-2.0 Running Shoe are our top pick when it comes to comfy and durable sneakers for travel; they provide superior cushioning and built-in memory foam that protects your feet from impact and the exterior is durable so you wont need to worry about scuffing your shoes while running around. We also like that this sneaker is made with at least 50 percent recycled materials, and comes in a huge spectrum of colors to best suit your style. Price at time of publish: $75 Related:The 10 Most Comfortable Walking Shoes for Women of 2023, Tested and Reviewed Adidas Men's Kaptir 2.0 Running Shoe Best Sneakers for Men Buy at Amazon.com Buy at Adidas.com Likewise, the Adidas Men's Kaptir 2.0 Running Shoe earns our seal of approval for a comfortable running shoe that will keep going from dawn to dusk. The heavily cushioned sole is inspired by runners which means youll be spared the impact that can sometimes irritate the feet and legs when spending a ton of time walking or running. This sneaker also has a comfortable knit upper and sock-like opening that will help protect ankles and heels from irritation and blisters. Price at time of publish: $56 Sandalup Elastic Flat Sandals Best Sandals for Women Buy at Amazon.com Buy at Shop.com We named the Sandalup Women's Elastic Flat Sandals as our top pick when it comes to the most comfortable sandals for women and, once youve slipped them onto your feet, youll see why. The straps are snug so you dont have to worry about them rubbing or sliding around on your feet, and they slip on and off so you dont have to mess around with buckles or ties while on the go. Its also worth noting that these sandals are comfortable right out of the box; no awkward breaking-in period or blisters required this time. Price at time of publish: $30 Birkenstock Men's Arizona Grip Horween Slides Best Sandals for Men Buy at Dsw.com Buy at Comfortoneshoes.com For men (and honestly for women, too), the Birkenstock Men's Arizona Grip Horween Slides are an excellent option for travel. Admittedly, Birkenstocks can sometimes take a little while to break in but once they mold to your feet (while maintaining proper arch support), theyll work for hours of wear. We also really like that these Birkenstock sandals are made from renewable resources including natural cork and latex from rubber tree resin so you can feel good about your purchase. Price at time of publish: $110 Margaux The Demi Best Comfortable Flats for Women Buy at Margauxny.com Buy at Zappos.com A timeless pair of comfortable flats is an imperative part of a smart travel wardrobe. Ballet flats are designed to be both casual and classy which means you can wear them pretty much all day and night without worrying about being too dressed up or down. The Demi Flat by Margaux earns our seal of approval for its adjustable bow and the fact that it is a handmade (and customizable) work of art. The shoe is made in Spain using supportive foam padding that, unlike cheaper flats on the market, will actually provide arch support and cushioning for all-day wear. Price at time of publish: $225 Cole Haan Men's Grand Atlantic Oxford Best Comfortable Dress Shoes for Men Buy at Amazon.com Buy at Dsw.com You likely wont need dress shoes during the day while exploring Egypt but if youre staying at a mid-level resort or hotel you might want to consider packing something a little more formal for the evenings. The Cole Haan Men's Grand Atlantic Oxford isnt exactly a formal dress shoe in the traditional sense and thats why we like it. The oxford-style could really be worn both formally and casually which gives you the flexibility to wear it for multiple occasions while traveling. We also really like that this option is made in the U.S. using a unique cushioning technology for extended periods on your feet. Price at time of publish: $91 There are certain items youll want to remember to pack to make your trip to Egypt as stress-free as possible, such as a portable charger for staying connected throughout the day and ample sunscreen to keep yourself protected from the suns rays. Youll also want to ensure you bring a copy of the prescription for any meditation that youll need while in Egypt. Double-check that any over-the-counter medications you usually pack are permitted in the country as well; the CDC also recommends packing medication like loperamide (Imodium) and ibuprofen just in case. Sony Alpha 7R V Best Camera Buy at Electronics.sony.com Buy at Bhphotovideo.com We know, we know. Smartphone photography has come a long way since the early days of the iPhone and its certainly more convenient than lugging around a huge DSLR and immediately pegging yourself as a tourist. But, trust us, youre going to want to have genuinely high-quality images to look back on after such a bucket list trip. The Sony Alpha 7R V Full-Frame Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera is our top pick when it comes to a camera that can do it all and is relatively easy to learn while on the go. The mirrorless camera delivers professional-quality images but its surprisingly beginner-friendly thanks to features like adjustable autofocus and artificial intelligence subject recognition. Price at time of publish: $3,900 Related:The 11 Best Cameras for Travel of 2023, According to Professional Photographers AmazonBasics 50-inch Tripod Best Tripod Buy at Amazon.com Investing in a tripod is one of the best ways to ensure youre getting great photos as a solo traveler but its also great for families who dont want to opt for selfies or always rely on a random passerby to snap photos for the group. The Amazon Basics 50-inch Lightweight Camera Mount is a great option when it comes to affordability and ease-of-use but its also super lightweight and not as burdensome to carry around with you. Note that youll want to use your judgment when setting up and taking tripod photos; its probably not the best idea to try this in particularly crowded tourist zones where you could lose your device. Price at time of publish: $15 Anker Portable Charger Best Power Bank Buy at Amazon.com Buy at Anker.com If youre going to be on the go all day and you should anticipate it while visiting Egypt youll want to have more than enough juice to fuel your phone all day long. The Anker Portable Charger offers a generous 20,000mAh cell capacity which means itll charge the average smartphone about five times over. We also really like that this option is compact and has two different USB ports which allows you to charge two devices at once. Its also a relatively inexpensive option compared to similar portable chargers on the market right now. Price at time of publish: $43 La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen SPF 60 Best Sunscreen Buy at Amazon.com Buy at Walgreens.com Its hard to pinpoint just one item as the essential must-bring for a trip to Egypt, but a decent sunscreen comes pretty close. We especially love the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Body as it wont just protect your skin from the rays, but helps to keep it moisturized in the hot and dry weather at the same time. We also really like that this option is non-greasy and fast-absorbing so you wont feel like youre slathered in sunblock. Price at time of publish: $38 Sawyer Products Picaridin Insect Repellent Lotion Best Insect Repellent Buy at Amazon.com Buy at Rei.com The mosquitos can get pretty rough in certain parts of Egypt (especially at dawn and dusk) so youll want to ensure you pack ample bug spray to keep the pests at bay. We like the Sawyer Products Picaridin Insect Repellent Lotion because it protects against ticks and mosquitoes and the diseases they spread but without the unpleasant odor thanks to its DEET-free, but still effective, 20 percent picaridin formula. (This also means that this repellent is safe to use on kids or those with allergies or sensitivities.) The spray should work for about 12 hours but its available in pocket-sized sprays that can easily be thrown into your day bag or backpack as well. Price at time of publish: $17 for 2 2-ounce bottles Miamica Travel Laundry Bag Best Travel Laundry Bag Buy at Amazon.com Buy at Miamica.com Things get dusty in Egypt, like, really dusty. Youll want to plan to bring a decent laundry bag to keep your grimy items away from your clean clothes until you have the chance to throw them into the wash. Despite the fact that this Miamica Travel Laundry Bag can expand to hold up to a weeks worth of clothing, this option is ultra-lightweight and packs down to next to nothing when its empty. It also has a full zip closure so you wont have to worry about dirt sneaking out and contaminating your clean items. Price at time of publish: $11 There are a handful of accessories that will make your trip a lot easier. The tourist hot spots in Egypt, like any other major tourism destination, can be crowded and prone to pickpocketing so youll want to opt for a belt bag or inconspicuous backpack to store your valuables. Youll also want to ensure you have sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat for protection from the bright afternoon sun. Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag Best Belt Bag Buy at Shop.lululemon.com The Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag is, in fact, everywhere. But its easy to see why. The basic silhouette is easy to pair with just about anything from activewear to streetwear. The water-repellent fabric is designed to last through heavy day-to-day use while the additional interior pockets make it easy to organize and keep track of your gear while on the go. We also really like that this option comes in a huge variety of colors and is easily adjustable to best suit exactly how you want to wear it. (We recommend using it as an over-the-shoulder crossbody with the pouch on your chest for safety and style.) Price at time of publish: $38 Related:The 13 Best Fanny Packs of 2023 Longchamp Le Pliage Backpack Best Lightweight Backpack Buy at Nordstrom.com Buy at Saksfifthavenue.com We never travel without a Longchamp Le Pliage Bag; its really one of the best unsung heroes of an efficient travel wardrobe. The folding style literally packs down into a tiny square when its not in use which means you can easily throw it into your carry-on without taking up any space at all. The Le Pliage backpack is a particularly great option for bringing to Egypt thanks to the lightweight design and durable (and easily washable) nylon exterior that wont get destroyed in the dust or the hot sun. Price at time of publish: $140 Coolibar Women's Aubrey Wide Brim Beach Hat Best Sunhat for Women Buy at Amazon.com The Coolibar Women's Aubrey Wide Brim Beach Hat is going to be your best bet for those hot days in the desert or in the city. The casual sun hat blocks 98 percent of UVA/UVB rays but its also extremely breathable and wont leave your head or hair feeling sweaty. This option is available in sizes small and large but it also has a built-in adjustable fastener at the back to ensure it fits your head perfectly and wont fly off and into the water when youre cruising down the Nile. Price at time of publish: $39 Coolibar UPF 50+ Men's Kaden Crushable Ventilated Hat Best Wide-brimmed Hat for Men Buy at Amazon.com The Coolibar UPF 50+ Men's Kaden Crushable Ventilated Hat is our top pick when it comes to a smart hot weather hat for men. Like the womens style, this option offers UPF protection without leaving your head super sweaty. The ventilated hat is also crushable which means that you can fold it up to pack among your clothing without ruining its shape. We also like that this hat includes an adjustable chin cord to keep it firmly in place even in windy conditions. Price at time of publish: $69 Ray-Ban Rb2140 Original Wayfarer Sunglasses Best Sunglasses Buy at Amazon.com Buy at Sunglasshut.com It doesnt matter if youre planning on staying in the city or heading into the desert youre going to want to have a good pair of sunglasses on hand. The Ray-Ban RB2140 Original Wayfarer Sunglasses are a classic and will work with just about any existing style thanks to the timeless shape and classic black colorway. The sturdy plastic frame feels solid while on the bridge of the nose but is still lightweight enough to wear all day without worrying about irritation on the sides of the nose. Price at time of publish: $163 HappyLuxe Wayfarer Travel Shawl Best Wrap Buy at Amazon.com Buy at Thenxtstop.com Keep in mind that Egypt has a predominantly Muslim population which doesnt just mean youll want to dress more conservatively but also that youll probably wind up visiting a handful of historic mosques during your travels. Keeping a wrap like the Happyluxe Wayfarer Travel Shawl in your bag will ensure you dont have to borrow something while visiting landmarks that require more conservative attire. Its also helpful to keep on hand as a shawl for cooler evenings in the desert or even as an impromptu blanket on chilly flights. Price at time of publish: $46 Related:The 12 Best Travel Wraps, Ponchos, and Blanket Scarves of 2023 Frequently Asked Questions When is the best time to visit Egypt? The best time to visit the destination is October until May as the weather is nice and warm with guaranteed sun during the daytime but a lovely cool chill at night, explains Omar Asem, Travel Director and Egyptologist at Insight Vacations. Of course, the weather can be manageable for travelers year round but it's important to remember the summer months can be very hot. What items are not allowed in Egypt? Its crucial to note that drones are absolutely forbidden in the country, explains Asem. Travelers must make sure all medical drugs in their possession can only be dispensed with a prescription and beware to not travel with any kind of narcotics. How should I dress in Egypt? Female travelers are recommended to dress modestly by western standards while traveling in Egypt including garments that cover the shoulders and go below the knee. For maximum comfort in the desert climate, Asem recommends wearing loose fitting pants and blouses. During visits to religious places such as mosques and churches, women are expected to wear long sleeves and a head scarf to respect the culture and tradition. How can I get around Egypt? Local SIM cards are very handy for using your phone to get around and can be obtained easily at a local shop, however travelers must remember to bring their passport to secure one, says Asem. Cash in small denominations is helpful when doing local shopping or taking a taxi. Its smart to learn some key Arabic words and phrases that can help with communication like shukran (thank you), aywa (yes), laaa (no) and maalsalama (good bye). Traveling with a trusted travel brand allows travelers to let the local team show off the top sights and expert insights while taking care of everything so you can enjoy in comfort and style. With a guided tour, travelers will get up close and personal with the destination with passionate Egyptologists by their side, adds Asem. Cruising around the Nile is a wonderful way to explore the area between Luxor and Aswan with all of its incredible sights from royal tombs to breathtaking temples. Why Trust Travel + Leisure For this article, Kaitlyn McInnis used her experience as a full-time travel writer to curate the best options to suit most needs. She also consulted Omar Asem, Travel Director and Egyptologist at Insight Vacations, and Jasmine Padda, Egypt Destination Specialist for Kensington Tours. Related:The 14 Best Products for Sleeping on a Plane of 2023 Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and well send you our favorite travel products each week. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. office Arthur Grand Technologies, a tech company based in Virginia, had a major kerfuffle this week while looking for new employees to fill open roles. The issue? People with melanin need not apply. In a since-deleted job posting advertised on Indeed.com, the Virginia IT firm announced they were looking for a business analyst for their salesforce and insurance claims department. The position paid $75.00 per hour and was open to Dallas, Texas residents or individuals living within 60 miles of the Southern city. One other important detail only white United States citizens were allowed to apply. Vice shared screenshots of the listing on Wednesday (April 5). Hi @WarrenBuffett ! Looks like one of Berkshire Hathaway's vendors Arthur Grand Technologies Inc has some problematic hiring processes Discrimination on race and national origin reduce a company's competitiveness, besides being a bad look pic.twitter.com/l9lB1xouK5 T.K. Finch (@TK_Finch) April 5, 2023 The outlet added that federal law prohibits racial discrimination when hiring employees. Ironically, the Virginia corporation works with federal government organizations and corporate clients by staffing, recruiting and outsourcing IT services. Following the discriminatory job posting, Arthur Grand Technologies reportedly wiped out their online presence, but the companys website has since reappeared. Earlier this week, the business condemned the listing, calling it offensive and noting it was neither authorized nor posted by Arthur Grand or its employees. A statement blamed a former employee [who] took an existing posting and added discriminatory language, then reposted it through his own account. They vowed legal action would be taken against the alleged culprit, and to avoid further chaos, Arthur Grand would not be discussing the matter further. Social media users formed their own conclusions from the viral snafu. What makes you think Arthur Grand Technologies isnt just following their clients wishes? one person asked in response to a tweet containing a photo of the posting. Another individual wrote, I doubt the recruiter came up with this on their own. This is likely a directive from the client HTC Global/Berkshire Hathaway. My instinct tells me this was a copy paste job, and the recruiter left the bracketed notes in [and exposed] the client. Mocking the suspected client, an individual said, [Dont share with entire internet]. Another user claimed she was up for this role with 25 years experience until they saw her brown face. See what others are saying below. I doubt the recruiter came up with this on their own. This is likely a directive from the client HTC Global/Berkshire Hathaway. My instinct tells me this was a copy paste job and the recruiter left the bracketed notes in the expose the client. DJ (@uLuvDJ) April 6, 2023 What makes you think Arthur Grand Technologies isn't just following their client's wishes? @MoseNango (@SmaIIDickEnergy) April 5, 2023 [Don't share with entire internet] @nickzoic@aus.social (@nickzoic) April 5, 2023 Its not Arthur Grand, these are directives from Berkshire as I was up for this role with 25 years experience @WarrenBuffett I guess until they saw my brown face.. Sonja_Travels (@sonja_travels) April 5, 2023 Trending Stories Vivian Trimble (far right) with Luscious Jackson - Photo: Martyn Goodacre/Getty Images Vivian Trimble, keyboardist and vocalist from the 90s rock band Luscious Jackson, died on Tuesday (April 4). Her bandmates confirmed the news in an official statement, saying she died of a complication after years of treatment for cancer. She was 59. We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved friend and band member Viv on Tuesday, the band said in the statement. We were not expecting this. She was a great friend and a gifted musician and choreographer, but it was being a partner to David and a mother to Nate and Rebecca that gave her the greatest joy. We are devastated beyond words to lose our graceful sister. Born to classical musicians, Vivian Trimble was raised in France and the U.S. and spoke three languages. She attended Oberlin College and first met bassist/vocalist Jill Cunniff in 1991 when both were teaching GED adult education classes in New York. Luscious Jackson was formed by Cunniff, Trimble and guitarist/vocalist Gabby Glaser in 1991. They were joined shortly after their formation by drummer Kate Schellenbach. Trimble appeared on the groups first two albums, 1994s Natural Ingredients and 1996s Fever In Fever Outboth released by The Beastie Boys on their label Grand Royal. The group was a major alternative act of the 1990s, releasing three albums, playing the Lollapalooza and all-female Lilith Fair tours, guest-hosting MTVs 120 Minutes and other highlights of the era. Their most commercially successful album was Fever in Fever Out, which was certified gold and featured their biggest single, Naked Eye. Trimble departed the band prior to the release of 1999s Electric Honey, and while Luscious Jackson reunited in 2011, Trimble didnt return. Cunniff, Glaser and Schellenbach later released Luscious Jacksons 2013 album, Magic Hour, and have toured occasionally in the years since. Outside of Luscious Jackson, Trimble and Cunniff had a band called Kostars that released the 1996 Grand Royal album Klassic With a K. She also had a duo with The Breeders Josephine Wiggs called Dusty Trails, who released a self-titled album in 2000. For the latest music news and exclusive features, check out uDiscover Music. uDiscover Music is operated by Universal Music Group (UMG). Some recording artists included in uDiscover Music articles are affiliated with UMG. Parents looking for the 2021 standardized test scores for Union Elementary School in Montpelier would find "***". The three asterisks on the online assessment dashboard indicate the data has been suppressed by the Vermont Agency of Education. Data suppression is commonly used by the education agency for datasets with fewer than 11 students so an individual student's performance can't be determined. However, the agency is also suppressing data for the average-sized Montpelier elementary where 422 students were enrolled and at least 70 in each grade level took the Smarter Balanced Assessment (or SBAC) test that spring. Across Montpelier Roxbury Public Schools which includes two elementaries, a middle school and a high school 16 out of 21 standardized test results have been suppressed. Those numbers track how students in third through ninth grade performed on statewide English language arts and mathematics tests as well as the Vermont Science Assessment (VTSA) for grades 5, 8 and 11. The science scores were not suppressed, however. When the data are released, school and district-level results can take a year before the public can see them. A close up of test scores not released due to data suppression on the Vermont Agency of Education's Assessment dashboard for 2021, as seen on March 29, 2023. The three asterisks indicate data is not being released for either Union Elementary School or the Montpelier Roxbury School District in the subject of english language arts for fourth graders who took the SBAC standardized test that year. Parents vote on school budgets, provide direction for how federal COVID relief funds are allocated, make choices about where their student goes to school and if their child needs additional learning support. They say school and district comparison data is vital for these decisions, particularly as schools and families respond to COVID's impacts on education, and not providing the information at all or not doing so in a timely manner is unacceptable. And while the issue was raised in Montpelier, the concern extends beyond Vermont's capital city. "As tax-payers we have a right to know how our state and district are performing - and to evaluate their administrative and policy decisions," said Lori Duff, a parent to 10- and 11-year-old students in Montpelier Roxbury schools. "Keeping data embargoed does not allow the community a voice in the process and allows leaders to make decisions unchecked." Story continues The Agency of Education says their hands are tied by federal privacy laws and a system that relies on a lengthy data collection and cleaning process. Furthermore, the agency says their obligation to release school and district data is not to parents and the public but is, instead, for policy and administrative use. How performance data is collected and published in VT Vermont students take standardized tests in the spring which have been the SBAC and VTSA, though this year the state switches to a new assessment, Cognia. Here's the general timeline from the past two years with 2022 providing an example: March to June 2022- students take state standardized tests. June 2022- families are mailed individual test scores (the embargo for individual test scores was lifted June 14 in 2021 yet Montpelier families didn't receive scores until November). Superintendents receive preliminary data of how their schools and district performed. This data, however, is embargoed and cannot be released to families or the public until the Agency of Education updates the Annual Snapshot and Assessment dashboard on their website. November 2022 - the Agency of Education releases data about how the state performed as a whole. Spring 2023 - the Agency of Education completes the Annual Snapshot and Assessment dashboard, releasing school and district performance data that can be used to compare schools and districts to one another and against the state results. Students take the next round of standardized tests. A document from the Vermont Agency of Education demonstrating how to read state standardized test scores. Pictured Nov. 2021. Accurate enrollment data is needed to calculate performance averages across schools and districts. Ted Fisher, director of communications for the Agency of Education, said Vermont has always been organized in such a way that districts report their data up to the agency, but that process can take time. "Sometimes it takes well into winter for some districts to submit clean, complete enrollment data," he said. He mentioned other states may have a centralized data system and can pull that information with the push of a button. How data suppression works Data suppression logic is a mathematical function that is applied in the Annual Snapshot tool, which is an online dashboard maintained by the education agency. Fisher said it performs as expected given the complexity of the task even if it looks like it doesn't make sense. Suppression hides values with fewer than 11 students, Fisher said, but it also takes into account every way the data has been reported and divided so that there is no way to mathematically figure out an individual student's performance. Fisher gave the example that 3% of students may be among a historically marginalized class and make up less than 11 students. In that case, scores for the 97% of students not in a historically marginalized class may not be released because by deduction, individual students in the 3% could be singled out. "All grades" can be prioritized in the system instead of a single grade if there is a conflict. This explains why there is at times district-level data available but no grade level data by school. Fisher said in Montpelier Roxbury's case "all grades" had been prioritized, which it was meant to be, and triggered a cascade of suppression. A student taking a standardized test. When individual student score sheets are released, they are compared against school and district averages. Fisher said that parents' feelings that the agency is not living up to its obligation to release complete and timely assessment results for districts and schools mis-characterizes the role of statewide assessments and data. State-level data is best used for administrative and policy purposes, he said. He explained it is used for evaluating curriculum and professional development or informing strategic planning. Statewide assessments are not specific enough or timely enough to address real time student performance which is at the center of the parents' concerns, Fisher said. He said formative assessments which are internal tests given by the schools are much better at diagnosing current needs and targeting instruction. How data became a sticking point in Montpelier schools A group of parents in Montpelier Roxbury Public Schools began digging into district-wide data after Superintendent Libby Bonesteel said in communications with families and presentations to the public and school board that her district didn't suffer a measurable decrease in learning during COVID. This assertion is contrary to what other districts and even the state reported to have experienced, which, as a result, have prioritized academic recovery. Parents say the lack of learning loss was used as justification for millions in federal relief funds being allocated to non-academic needs. When they tried to test the superintendent's assertions against objective, statewide assessment data from 2021 and 2022, parents said the information was largely unavailable. The Agency of Education cited FERPA, a federal law that protects student privacy, and an lengthy embargo on data being released to the public as the reasons information couldn't be released and directed parents to policies regarding data suppression. Montpelier Roxbury Public Schools' school board members say in a February 22, 2023 commentary piece in the Times Argus that their district suffered no learning loss during COVID. Lori Duff watched her first and third graders (at the time) struggle with remote learning and said she couldn't fathom there was no learning loss. She has a dyslexic child and was hopeful federal funds would be put toward summer programming to help students make academic gains, as was done in other districts. But, in Montpelier the initial plan's focus was to use federal funds for the replacement of old windows. Ultimately no summer educational program was offered. "Without any publicly available data for 'learning loss' to justify it, there was no supplemental remedial educational programming offered to help kids catch up after the pandemic in our district. We ended up hiring a tutor," she said. Parents in Montpelier Roxbury schools say they have other reasons to question assessment data. Some disagree with the district's approach to early literacy which they say isn't based upon data-driven best practices. Parents say internal assessments have shown students performing well while outside testing indicated a lack of grade-level achievement, including an indication for special education services or a learning disability not caught by the school. Grace Pazdan has two children in the district but began having concerns about her fourth grade son's ability to read. "In our experience, our son scored at or above grade level when assessed by classroom teachers, but much poorer when assessed by a trained literacy interventionist." She paid for an evaluation when he was in third grade which determined he was dyslexic. She continues to have concerns about literacy assessments in the classroom and would like to depend on statewide results as another measure. "I believe it provides the most objective information about students' academic proficiency," she said. For the past two years, most Vermont families received their students' individual SBAC and VTSA scores within a couple months of taking the test usually over the summer while in Montpelier parents didn't see their child's scores until November. In fall of 2021, Bonesteel told parents the data wasn't being released because the Agency of Education had embargoed the data. The agency embargoes school and district data until completion of the assessment dashboard, but not individual data. Parents went to the agency to challenge their district's action of withholding the results and the agency responded saying the individual results were federally required to be released in a timely manner. Soon after the district mailed families their child's scores, according to Duff. Montpelier Roxbury Public Schools' school board chair and school directors Jim Murphy and Kristen Getler penned a commentary for the February 22, 2023 issue of the Times Argus that says, "data shows MRPS students did not experience measurable learning loss during COVID. Bonesteel reiterated to the Free Press that school assessments did not indicate learning loss. "In the fall, our initial screening data in regards to academic areas showed very little year to year 'loss' that was any different from any other year," she wrote. She puts little emphasis on the statewide SBAC and VTSA assessment results which she says haven't been consistent since 2019, saying they were not valid or reliable because of the pandemic. She said in her district they use smaller, more consistent and easily accessible internal data to make classroom and individual decisions. She welcomed any parent wanting to know how their student was performing in classroom formative assessments, screeners or diagnostic assessments to contact the district. An internal winter assessment showed an increase in learning disabilities in some grade levels that could have been impacted by the pandemic, she said, and added that the district hired several academic intervention positions. She said for COVID recovery, the district has prioritized social emotional learning where the greatest need was indicated. Why parents say standardized test data is crucial The four Montpelier Roxbury parents the Free Press talked to said they feel hamstrung by a lack of data to inform how their children are doing academically. They have concerns classroom level data may not be reliable or objective and state level data regarding district performance that could provide quantifiable evidence is non existent. Their children are caught in between and continue to be impacted. Hannah Reid, who has a fourth grader and second grader at Union Elementary School, said she recognizes standardized test scores are not an ideal measure of student success, but they are one of the few quantifiable measures she has to work with. Students' needs can't be effectively addressed without data that indicates what those needs are, she said. "This is a public school system, which means we, as a community of students, teachers, caregivers, administrators, taxpayers share the responsibility and the privilege of providing the best possible education to our young people," Reid said. "In order to successfully deliver on this promise, we need to work together and we need all the information we can get our hands on to guide our collective decision-making." Lisa Burns' resorted to collecting data where she could to find out how Montpelier Roxbury Public School students performed on standardized tests since COVID. As a parent to a senior at Montpelier High School, she was concerned about the lack of access to statewide assessment scores and the school district's assertion that it had no learning loss during the COVID pandemic. Lisa Burns has been raising the alarm of the lack of data to the school board and creating her own data charts based on the limited data she's been able to glean from school presentations. Her child is a senior and has had much of their high school education altered by COVID. When her student could have been receiving interventions, Burns feels the school has instead based decisions upon out-of-date data. Burns said this school year is coming to a close and the budget is set already for the 2023/24 school year yet the most recent available statewide data comes from the 2018/19 school year. "All those decisions about curriculum, professional development, spending and priorities have been based on pre-COVID data. So that lack of data informs 5 school years in our district - that is 5 of 12 years of a students' educational career," she said. Duff and Burns point to problems with how the state releases data and its reasoning for data suppression. Duff said other districts of similar size did not have information suppressed and there was no explanation what made their district require suppression. She felt the refusal to report current information and sit on it for a year while it had already been released to superintendents inexplicable. "The law does not specify that the data is to be used solely for administrative and policy uses," Duff said refuting the statement from the Agency of Education and pointing toward the Every Student Succeeds Act, saying the law ensures information is provided to 'educators, families, students and communities'. "It seems that the state has adopted this rationale because of its own timeline." A look at the Vermont Agency of Education's Assessment dashboard showing the results of statewide standardized test scores as seen on March 29, 2023. Scores were suppressed for 2021 fourth graders at Union Elementary School in the subject of english language arts. Data suppression is indicated by three asterisks: *** in the both the school and school districr/supervisory union categories. "The AOE maintains a supremely un-user friendly and archaic website," Burns said and says the agency has never answered her phone calls or replied to her voice messages. Burns and Duff found the agency unwilling to provide proficiency data based upon whole grade level numbers which, in all cases had more than 11 students, independent of what was available in the dashboard. The dashboards are where the numbers were subdivided into categories small enough to trigger data suppression. The refusal stood even when parents submitted public records requests under Vermont law for the data. "The lack of publicly available data absolves the state and our school leadership of responsibility for providing the best education to every student in a timely fashion. It ensures that our schools will forever be chasing their tails," Burns said. Contact reporter April Barton at abarton@freepressmedia.com or 802-660-1854. Follow her on Twitter @aprildbarton. This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont parents upset over access to state assessment scores Brown Bird Design Honda did not invent variable valve timing or variable valve lift. In fact, Cadillac had a driver-operated variable valve timing system in production in 1903 , three years before Soichiro Honda was born. Alfa Romeo and Nissan also had variable valve timing in the Eighties, but it was the 1989 Integra and its 1.6-liter VTEC four-cylinder that created a legend. So much of automotive engineering is about minimizing compromise, and doing so while also minimizing cost. With a conventional valvetrain, valve lift (how much the valve opens), valve timing (when the valve opens), and duration (how long it opens) is defined by the camshaft profile, the shape of the individual cam lobes on the shaft. Before variable valve timing and lift, auto engineers had to select a cam profile that provided a desirable compromise between performance and efficiency across a wide powerband. Engines want different things depending on load and operating speed. A camshaft profile that gives you good fuel economy when puttering around town isn't optimal when you're wide-open-throttle at high revs. By changing valve timing, duration, and lift, you can optimize for all sorts of different running conditions. The trick is to do it reliably and cheaply. The benefits of such a system were obvious even to the first automotive engineers. At the 1989 SAE international congress, a pair of Stanford professors presented a paper which noted that at least 800 patents around variable valve timing had been granted since 1880. By examining these patents, the researchers created 15 classifications for different variable valve timing systems, but concluded "VVT has much potential, but that very little of this potential has yet been realized. Serious difficulties have limited the application of variable valve timing to date. Virtually all VVT mechanisms proposed until recently suffer from high cost and complexity, limited variability, and high impact velocities." Story continues That very next SAE paper was written by three Honda engineers, detailing a prototype VTEC system as fit to a 1.2-liter DOHC engine. It is the classic VTEC system as we know it today, with two low-speed cams on either side of a high-speed cam. The two low-speed cam profiles operate as normally at lower engine speeds, acting on rocker arms that press on the valve stems. The third cam profile is essentially freewheeling at this point, acting on a separate rocker arm not attached to the two acting on the valve. At a certain engine speed, the ECU triggers a solenoid, which opens an oil passage that forces a piston to lock the three rocker arms together. Now, the larger cam profile is at work, increasing valve lift and duration. honda This paper may have described a prototype system, but just two months later, VTEC made its debut in the second-generation Integra. (The U.S. would have to wait two years for the launch of the NSX to get its first VTEC engine.) The engine was a marvel. Initially, the target for the new Integra's was 140 horsepower from a 1.6-liter, but that was just 10 better than its predecessor. According to a history from Honda, Ikuo Kajitani, the engineer in charge of Honda's four-valve engines, didn't think this was enough for a car entering a new decade. Honda R&D chief Nobuhiko Kawamoto suggested that Kajitani aim for something that seemed illusive among naturally aspirated engines100 horsepower per liter. Absent an increase in displacementundesirable for the Japanese marketthat sort of power meant more revs. Eight-thousand to be exact, well into racing territory, and far higher than any other mass-market four-cylinder of the time. Hitting that number while also achieving good fuel economy and drivability around town would require more flexibility from the valvetrain. VTEC was the obvious solution, if not the simple one. Work on the engine, the B16A, started in 1986, so there wasn't a ton of time to get it into production. Its high-revving nature also meant materials selection was a huge challenge, as parts needed to be both lightweight and strong, thus expensive. The abbreviated timeline also meant engineers needed to be militant about which components were necessary and which weren't for making the VTEC system work, and work reliably. When all was said and done, the 1989 Integra XSi offered 160 metric horsepower (152 of our imperial horsepower) at 7600 rpm. In R&T's August 1989 issue, Japan Editor Jack Yamaguchi noted that the engine was expensive, adding around 15 percent of cost compared with the 1.6-liter SOHC Integra. The forged and polished crankshaft apparently had more than a passing resemblance to the company's F1 cranks. This was Japan's price-asset Bubble Era, when money seemed to be endless and automakers flexed their engineering muscles to create some of the greatest cars of the modern era. An 8000-rpm twin-cam four in a sporty mass-market hatchback seems batty now, but just look at the other Japanese cars of the era. This is when Toyota went after Mercedes, when Nissan tore apart a Porsche 959 to develop an all-wheel drive super coupe, when Mazda decided to single handedly revive the roadster. On-the-limit technology was allowed to proliferate, so why not put an engine with more power per liter than the ultra-specialized E30 M3 into what was essentially a fancy Civic? Yamaguchi declared the B16A "sweetest power unit the house of Honda has ever put on four wheels," and promptly ordered an Integra XSi. Honda president Tadashi Kume was so impressed by VTEC, he ordered the V-6 in development for the NSX be reengineered to accommodate the system. It was an expensive endeavor that came late in the car's production, but one that gave Honda's supercar power to match the Ferrari 328 with two fewer cylinders. "A lot of the engine guys came from our F1 program," Kurt Antonious, Honda's longtime PR lead, remembers of the early VTEC days. "They learned so much in F1 racing as far as getting the most performance, you know, with the least amount of weight in the engine." Honda's culture was conducive to fostering such a technology, too. Then, as now, it is a company made in Soichiro Honda's image, and Mr. Honda was an engineer first and foremost. Antonious points out that in the late eighties and early nineties, R&D received huge investment, creating what he considers a "magical era" for the company. If you've ever driven a classic VTEC engine, a B-series derived from that original Integra mill, a later naturally aspirated K-series, the NSX's V-6, or the F20C from the S2000, you won't forget the experience. The changeover in cam profiles is very obvious. Take the above video of a K20-swapped 1993 Civic from AutoTopNL on YouTube as an example. Right around 5500 rpm you can see and hear the switchover, with the sound getting more buzzsaw, and the car suddenly pulling harder to its 9000-rpm redline. Other VTEC cars don't make the changeover quite so obvious, but it's still noticeable. In an S2000, you don't really hear the change, but you feel the difference, especially beyond the 7000-rpm mark. The viral "VTEC just kicked in YO" video exaggerates the difference, with the driver going to wide-open-throttle only around the point where the profiles shift. Still, though, it's a sound burned into many car enthusiast heads. What's interesting is that not many variable valve-timing and lift systems behave quite like this. Honda might've been the first to push this sort of thing into the public consciousness with such an excellent system, though it's hard to say it alone was the spark that kicked off the revolution. Recall that both Alfa Romeo and Nissan had variable timing systems in production before Honda launched the 1989 Integra XSi. That SAE paper from the Stanford professors notes that of the 800-plus patents examined, over 110 were granted between 1985 and 1987, so it's clear variable valve timing and lift was on the minds of far more than just some engineers at Honda. Two years after the Integra XSi, Porsche debuted a revised version of the 944, the 968, which featured the first continuously variable valve timing system. As Total 911 explains , VarioCam, as it's called, uses a tensioner to vary the amount of slack in the chain between the intake and exhaust cams, changing the intake valve timing. Given that most cars are developed on a four-year timeline, Porsche was assuredly working on VarioCam before VTEC reached the public. BMW's VANOS variable-valve timing system, which uses a helical gear on the camshaft to change the timing, also arrived in 1992 with the company's much-loved M50 straight-six VTEC isn't necessarily the simplest way to boost an engine's performance and efficiency either. At least where timing is concerned, VTEC uses a lot of parts to achieve what otherslike BMW and Porscheachieved with simpler mechanisms. In modern times, most engines with variable valve timing use some sort of camshaft phaser controlled by oil pressure (as is the case with VANOS) or electric motors to adjust the timing relative to crankshaft position. Turbocharging has also changed the equation. With much greater control over the air going into the engine, there isn't nearly as much of a need to have complicated valve gear on the intake side. Honda's VTEC Turbo engines, like the 2.0-liter in the Civic Type R, use a VTEC system on the exhaust camshaft to deal with all the extra air forced in by the turbo at higher engine speeds. For a great example of a modern engine with variable valve timing and lift, we should look to one of the most ubiquitous, the Volkswagen Group's EA888 turbocharged four-cylinder. The above video from YouTubers Engineering Explained and Humble Mechanic looks at the head from a 2009 Audi A4 2.0, though what's here is broadly applicable to applications of the "triple-eight" including the Mk7 and Mk8 VW GTI. On the exhaust side, the camshaft can be moved to one of two positions, one with low-lift profiles, one with high-lift profiles. On the intake side the common oil-pressure driven cam phaser adjusts valve timing. DW Burnett What separates the classic VTEC from all of this really is the driving experience. This was an example of a technology that made a very apparent change to how a car felt. Your modern car probably has some sort of variable timing/duration/lift system, but you probably don't notice it at workyou just get good performance and economy across a wide powerband. In a 2001 Integra Type R at 5500 rpm and wide-open-throttle , you got the sound and the fury. Following that original Integra XSi, plenty of automakers introduced variable valve timing and lift. Few did so with such panache. You Might Also Like Christ Healing the Blind Man by Eustache Le Sueur (1616-1655). Jesus touch is powerful, as is our touch of reconciliation to other people. There is a story in the Gospel of John that tells of a man born blind. It takes up the entire ninth chapter. Despite the story being 41 verses long, the man receives his sight by Verse 7. This should be an obvious indication that the bright, shiny miracle is not the point (the miracle is never, ever the point of any Bible story), but we often treat it that way because it allows us to ignore the parts of the story that might lead to confession, repentance and repair. So, what other parts of this story warrant our attention? Heres a recap: After the man came back able to see, no one believes his story. Their disbelief persists even though the man borrows a line from Taylor Swift: Its me. Hi. Im the problem. Its me. They ask how he recovered his sight, and he explains that he simply followed directions, but this isnt good enough for them. They want to interview Jesus. When that isnt possible, they haul the man in front of religious leaders, who refuse to validate an experience outside of their own. There is some trash-talk about Jesus, and then the mans parents are interrogated, although they insist he can answer for himself. The man is questioned again, and the people continue to reject his experience and testimony. More: Lori Walke: Christianity is a way of life, not a form of government. For the Bible tells us so. What happens after almost 30 verses of people fussing, fighting and name-calling? They drove the man out of town. Its easy to miss because of the happily-ever-after vibe after Jesus circles back around, but the punchline is that they drove the man away from family, away from everyone he ever knew and away from community. These people knew what they knew, and nothing could change their minds. The result was to deny community to a human being. This is what happens when religious authoritarianism rules the day. It casts people out and creates a culture that encourages being right over getting it right. Like many stories in scripture, this is a story that happened and a story that is still happening. Gov. Kevin Stitt recently told The New York Times that Oklahoma isnt for everybody. The Oklahoma state Legislature is following up to make sure this is the case, starting with transgender beloveds, pregnant patients, public school teachers, drag queens and librarians. Gov. Stitt and the Christian nationalists who follow him are doing everything they can to cast out those whose experience and testimony is different from their own. Story continues More: Walke: Instead of banning Oklahoma drag shows, reconsider doctrine of original sin Theologian Ellen Ott Marshall explains: Like other forms of authoritarianism, religious authoritarianism demands unquestioned obedience, dismisses all other sources of knowledge, and denies legitimacy to all other positions. Religious authoritarianism is antithetical to democratic discourse, enslaves individual conscience and facilitates violence against people who hold contrary religious and philosophical positions. We pave the way for religious authoritarianism whenever we insist that we alone know the will of God, that our knowledge of Gods will is beyond the reach of critical inquiry, and that divine endorsement for a particular policy trumps any other considerations about it. Since we know the end of the story and have the chance to do better, we know the antidote to religious authoritarianism is theological humility, which Marshall says is a posture that 1.) admits limitation of knowledge and partiality of perspective, 2.) explicitly and deliberately practices hermeneutics, and 3.) remains transparent about faith commitments and accountable to other sources of knowledge. Theological humility might not seem like it will be enough to push back against the violent and hard-hearted religious authoritarianism were up against, but as researcher Brene Brown writes, People who demonstrate humility dont lack confidence or conviction. They may hold strong views, but they are open to hearing other points of view. Theological humility creates a culture in which we arent obsessed with being right, but with getting it right. Besides, we follow Jesus, who used the power of love to defeat death. Religious authoritarianism should be shaking in its boots. The Rev. Lori Allen Walke The Rev. Lori Allen Walke is senior minister at Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Walke: Religious authoritarianism rules cast people out The president was expected to launch his 2024 reelection campaign at the start of the year, but has reportedly pushed it off multiple times for a handful of reasons Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/Shutterstock President Joe Biden President Joe Biden first announced his intention to run for reelection less than two months after his 2021 inauguration but more than two years later, the 80-year-old has yet to make a formal announcement. It was thought that the president would announce his 2024 reelection campaign around Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January, according to CBS News. The launch was then reportedly pushed back to "not long after" his State of the Union address on Feb. 7, sources told the outlet. Reports then emerged that Biden was planning to announce his run by the beginning of April to coincide with a new political fundraising quarter, but according to Associated Press, aides are now insisting that an announcement isn't in the cards any time soon. According to the outlet, the announcement won't come until at least after the president returns from a visit to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. On Wednesday, the White House confirmed that the president will begin a four-day trip to Northern Ireland and Ireland in Belfast on April 11. A representative for the White House did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Paul Morigi/Getty Images President Joe and Dr. Jill Biden Related:Who Is Running for President in 2024? Confirmed and Rumored Republican and Democratic Candidates Last month, CBS News asked Biden when he plans to announce his reelection campaign, to which he replied, "When I announce it." But now, after repeated pushbacks, it's thought that the president could wait until early summer, although some think the announcement could even come as late as the fall. Advisers and close allies to the president told Axios earlier this week that they don't expect him to formally announce his candidacy before the summer. Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump Related:First Lady Jill Biden Encourages Husband Joe to Run for Another Term in 2024: 'I'm All for It' Story continues If Biden did wait until after the end of the second fundraising quarter on June 30, he would be breaking a trend set by his four immediate predecessors, who all announced their reelection campaigns in the second quarter of their third year in office, according to the New York Post. According to CBS News, the president's closest advisers and other outside consultants say he is in no rush to launch his campaign. Plans to launch in January were said to have been delayed because the president wasn't ready to make the decisions needed to launch, per CBS News. Other factors for the delay also included the war in Ukraine, which marked its first anniversary in February, and tensions between the U.S. and China. Meanwhile, the plans to launch by the beginning of April were said to have been pushed back because the media was focused on the two leading Republican contenders former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and their public attacks on one another. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Late last month, DeSantis told Piers Morgan on his show Piers Morgan Uncensored that he was not phased by Trump's mocking or him calling him "Ron DeSanctimonious". "I mean you can call me whatever you want, just as long as you also call me a winner because that's what we've been able to do in Florida, is put a lot of points on the board and really take this State to the next level," he said. While DeSantis hasn't officially launched his own campaign, the 44-year-old isn't expected to announce his run until June, per CBS News. Amidst this, Trump's arraignment has also been grabbing headlines. Trump was arraigned on Tuesday on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, following an investigation into an alleged hush money payment he made to adult film star Stormy Daniels while he was a presidential candidate in 2016. The former president pleaded not guilty to the charges. And despite fellow Democrat Marianne Willamson a self-help author and Texas native jumping in the race last month as the first notable Democratic candidate to potentially challenge Biden, the president still very much remains the Democratic front runner. This has allowed the president to lay low and focus on policy and governing. Among those hugely in favor of a Biden reelection campaign and no doubt eagerly awaiting the launch is First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. Last month, the 71-year-old said she was "all in" and "all for it" when it comes to her husband running for reelection. Asked if her husband might choose not to run for another term, she told CNN, "Not in my book." As well as Williamson, other candidates who have also already officially announced their campaigns include Republicans Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. KYODO NEWS - Apr 7, 2023 - 23:00 | All, Japan, World The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News. ---------- Bank of Japan chief Kuroda exits as he defends decade of monetary easing TOKYO - The Bank of Japan's monetary easing was "appropriate" and effective in jolting Japan out of deflation, and its retention under new leadership is of utmost importance as inflation expectations are heightening, outgoing Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said Friday. In his last press conference as governor, Kuroda again expressed his regret over the BOJ's failure to attain its 2 percent inflation target before his term ends on Saturday. ---------- Toyota vows to expand EV lineup, boost sales by 2026 TOKYO - Toyota Motor Corp. said Friday it will expand its all-electric vehicle lineup by launching 10 new models and aim to sharply increase its EV sales to 1.5 million units annually by 2026 under the leadership of new President Koji Sato. "We will do our utmost to push forward with electrification," Sato said at his first press conference after taking the helm of the world's largest automaker on April 1. "We will ramp up our efforts to achieve carbon neutrality." ---------- Missing SDF chopper carrying 10 members may have crashed TOKYO - A Japan Ground Self-Defense Force helicopter carrying 10 members that went missing off the southern prefecture of Okinawa on Thursday may have crashed after the chopper encountered an unexpected anomaly during a 10-minute period after takeoff, GSDF officials said. Search efforts continued Friday for the UH-60JA multipurpose helicopter that disappeared from radar near Okinawa's Miyako Island 10 minutes after departure and around 2 minutes after the crew communicated with air traffic control, the officials said. ---------- 19 Japanese detained in Cambodia after scam group's base raided PHNOM PENH/TOKYO - Nineteen Japanese have been detained in Cambodia for alleged involvement in phone scams in Japan, authorities in both countries said Friday. Tokyo police obtained arrest warrants for the men Thursday and are planning to dispatch investigators to Cambodia as early as next week to transport them to Japan, investigative sources said. ---------- China sanctions de facto Taiwan U.S. envoy, entities over Tsai trip BEIJING - China announced Friday fresh sanctions against Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan's de facto ambassador to the United States, and punitive steps on two American institutes that hosted the island's leader Tsai Ing-wen during her U.S. stopovers as part of her tour of Central American allies. The measures were released after Tsai met with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday in California, angering Beijing which regards the self-ruled democratic island as its own. ---------- China, Japan to hold high-level maritime dialogue in Tokyo on April 10 BEIJING - China and Japan will hold high-level dialogue on maritime affairs next Monday in Tokyo, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the first in-person bilateral meeting on the topic since May 2019. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Friday that officials in charge of foreign affairs, defense, and maritime law enforcement will be among the participants. They will discuss when the two countries will start operating a hotline between their defense authorities, a source familiar with bilateral ties said. ---------- South Korea, Japan, U.S. call for deportation of North Korean workers SEOUL - Senior diplomats from South Korea, Japan and the United States on Friday urged the international community to deport North Korean workers in accordance with U.N. sanctions and prevent Pyongyang from funding its nuclear and missile programs. In a joint statement after their meeting in Seoul, the three envoys underscored the importance of blocking Pyongyang's "illicit revenue streams," including stealing foreign currency through illegal activities in cyberspace to finance its missile development. ---------- World Heritage shrine in Hiroshima to ban tourists during G-7 summit HIROSHIMA - A Japanese island famous for its UNESCO World Heritage shrine will be closed to tourists for three days in May to make way for a potential visit by leaders of the Group of Seven nations during their summit in Hiroshima, according to the local municipality. Miyajima Island, home to Itsukushima Shrine and its gigantic torii gate in the Seto Inland Sea, will be shut between noon on May 18 and 2 p.m. on May 20. Only those issued an identification card by the Foreign Ministry will be allowed entry during the period, according to Hatsukaichi city. ---------- Video: Design exhibition held to celebrate anniversary of birth of N.Korea founder Kim Il Sung Progressives' big victories this week in Chicago and Wisconsin injected the Democratic Party's left flank with a jolt of momentum -- and resurfaced intraparty divides over policy and campaign messaging. Brandon Johnson, a progressive who won the Windy City's mayoral race against moderate Democrat Paul Vallas, and Janet Protasiewicz, who won an open seat on Wisconsin's Supreme Court against GOP-aligned Dan Kelly, clinched victory with muscular support for top issues like abortion rights while fending off avalanches of attacks over their records on crime on Tuesday. Their successes marked triumphs for a Democratic Party's left wing beset by prominent wins by centrist candidates up and down the ballot in recent election cycles and incessant handwringing over Republican and moderate attacks on the "defund the police" slogan. But with their wins came warnings from Democratic centrists over reading tea leaves in light of recent setbacks in places like New York where candidates got pegged as soft on criminals. "The fact that Brandon Johnson could go up against the 'defund the police' slogan that was hanging around his neck, go up against the [Fraternal Order of Police], I think it's incredibly heartening for progressives," said Joseph Geevarghese, the executive director of Our Revolution. "We don't have to run away or be defensive on the issue of crime and public safety." Johnson and Protasiewicz's opponents tried to peg each of them as soft on crime throughout their entire campaigns. MORE: Democrats flip control of Wisconsin Supreme Court Vallas highlighted comments in which Johnson once said defunding the police was a "real political goal" and accused him of planning to slash the police department budget. Kelly, meanwhile, highlighted past sentences Protasiewicz handed down to suggest she was soft on violent criminals. Johnson defended himself by saying he wouldn't cut the Chicago Police Department's budget and would seek to add 200 detectives. And Protasiewicz accused Kelly of cherrypicking her record while shifting much of the focus on abortion, an issue more favorable for her campaign. Story continues "Crime didn't take off because there was an issue that was more important for voters," Scot Ross, a Democratic political strategist from Wisconsin said, referencing abortion. PHOTO: Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Janet Protasiewicz celebrates after the race was called for her during her election night watch party in Milwaukee, April 4, 2023. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters) Progressives pointed to those successful rebuttals to suggest that candidates no longer need to fear GOP attacks on crime. Johnson's campaign adviser, Bill Neidhardt, a former aide for Sen. Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign, argued both candidates' approaches could be considered a model for both factions of the Democratic party in how to best approach the issue of crime in upcoming contests. "I think what you saw in Brandon Johnson's campaign is a blueprint for not only progressives, but Democrats across the country," he said. "This Republican attack [defund the police] comes against every single Democrat," Neidhardt said. "And the way that you [win] is not only by brushing it aside and putting forth your own platform and public safety, but also connecting with people's immediate concerns around health care, education, and the economy." And nationally, liberals were taking notes. "To me the big headline is that voters keep showing up for candidates that have a people-first agenda are gonna fight for freedom," said MoveOn Executive Director Rahna Epting. Others in the party, however, urged progressives to pump the brakes. The explosion in prominence of the "defund the police" mantra was blamed by centrist lawmakers for helping Republicans gain House seats in 2020 when they were expected to lose ground. And a near single-issue focus by GOP campaigns in New York last year helped Republicans flip four House seats in the state -- wins that ended up being key in the party clinching control of the chamber. Centrists also warned against over-extrapolating lessons from Chicago and Wisconsin given major victories by candidates who were laser focused on adding funding to police departments, including Joe Biden's win in 2020 and New York City Mayor Eric Adams' win in 2021, over candidates with more progressive platforms on criminal justice. Veteran Democratic political strategist Joe Trippi, who advised Vallas' campaign, pointed to the roughly 3-point margins in Chicago's mayoral race, warning the party that if Johnson couldn't romp in a Democratic stronghold like Chicago, a progressive candidate could struggle in more competitive areas. "It's not a complete embrace or rejection one way or the other Brandon's win -- he deserves credit. And so does his team. I'm just saying, reading into it is way over the top. What it really said was there's a deep division," said Trippi. PHOTO: Union organizer and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson speaks after being projected winner as mayor on April 4, 2023 in Chicago. (Alex Wroblewski/Getty Images) "I don't think that you're gonna see anybody running in Georgia, Arizona, Montana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, running anywhere near the kind of rhetoric that Brandon Johnson used to narrowly win a race in Chicago," Trippi said. And while Protasiewicz sailed to victory with over 55% of the vote, Wisconsinites also passed with wide margins a GOP-backed constitutional amendment during Tuesday's statewide election that would widen the criteria Wisconsin judges' could view to consider setting cash bail and other, stricter conditions for releasing someone ahead of their trial. "If Democrats let their guard down on crime, it will be a self-inflicted wound that will reverberate for many cycles," added Jim Kessler, the executive vice president of the center-left Third Way think tank. "This destroyed us in 2020. It really did. Biden won, and there were no coattails. And certainly in 2022, we were paying the price in places like New York, and we were paying them in the suburbs, in the places where it's less blue." MORE: Chicago mayoral race: Brandon Johnson wins runoff, Paul Vallas concedes Still, strategists saw in Tuesday's results a possible middle ground between emphasizing only boosted funding or overhauling police departments -- neither running away from crime nor embracing all of progressives' demands. Jon Reinish, a New York-based Democratic strategist, told ABC News there was "a bunch of PTSD" around Democrats' losses in the state last year but that leveling with voters that crime is an issue and not dismissing their concerns could open an avenue for talking about reforms. "I think that when Democrats tried to say, 'well, crime isn't really an issue,' well, yes it is if people don't feel safe on the subway and public transportation. But if you have a straightforward and frank conversation about what solutions look like and how policy turns into both safety and fairness, and you make that case in a strong way, then it can break through," he said. "When you do that, you are way less easy to demagogue," Reinish said. "When you whistle past the graveyard, you can be easily attacked." Progressives' big night reignites intraparty divides in the Democratic Party originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The tech entrepreneur appeared in the magazine in 2012 and 2013. Jessica Perez was photographed by David Burton in Easter Island, Chile. David Burton/Sports Illlustrated Two-time SI Swimsuit model Jessica Perez is a professional in front of the camera and in the tech industry. Perez was voted the winner of the 2011 SI Swimsuit model search. She was photographed as a rookie in 12 by Bjorn Iooss in Panama. She returned to the magazine the following year and posed in Chile. Nearly a decade ago, the Tycoon CEO launched her app to help models and freelancers keep track of their money and invoices. I knew that I wanted to create something that made it easy for freelancers like me to keep track of income and what payments were yet to come in, she explained in a Forbes interview in 2018 about Tycoon. One of the reasons that this was really important is that in the fashion industry, you often have payment terms of 30 days or longer. For models, it can sometimes be up to a year where youre just sitting there waiting for a client to pay you. The more Perez traveled and worked, the harder it became to keep track of the growing amount of money she was owed. At the end of one year, I had over $100,000 due to me but I didnt have enough cash in my bank account to buy the Christmas gifts I wanted. I was really irritated by that not only because I felt broke when I wasnt, but also because I felt somewhat responsible for it, for not having put more pressure on people to pay me on time, the former Victorias Secret model continued. It became very apparent to me that something needed to exist that made it really easy for any freelancer to enter their income, put down payment terms and then be reminded of when to follow up for payment. Here are some of our favorite photos from Perezs 2013 photo shoot in Easter Island, Chile, with photographer David Burton. David Burton/Sports Illustrated David Burton/Sports Illustrated David Burton/Sports Illustrated David Burton/Sports Illustrated David Burton/Sports Illustrated David Burton/Sports Illustrated David Burton/Sports Illustrated David Burton/Sports Illustrated David Burton/Sports Illustrated David Burton/Sports Illustrated Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube! The amounts of money now bandied about as some Californians debate whether the state should pay reparations to descendants of slaves with African forbears dwarf anything this state or any of its localities has ever considered. The state-appointed Reparations Task Force, yet to take a formal position on this, was urged by many Black activists to recommend giving $360,000 each to about 1.8 million Black Californians whose ancestors were enslaved, even though there was no legal African-derived slavery in California after statehood began in 1850. Some task force members resist such huge cash payouts, preferring other forms of reparations in fields like education and employment, especially since the state faces a deficit of more than $20 billion as its budget-approval deadlines approach. Almost simultaneously, San Francisco supervisors unanimously expressed support for a draft plan by a city-appointed committee calling for $5 million cash payments to all local descendants of slaves, plus guaranteed annual stipends of $97,000 for 250 years. No one has any idea how the cash-strapped city, down a reported 100,000-plus residents since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, could pay for all this. But the proposed largesse for persons with enslaved ancestors may be misdirected, suggests an about-to-be-published, eye-opening book by a University of Delaware historian, who says that while California had no legal Black slaves after statehood, it condoned plenty of other slavery. The coming book, California: A Slave State,by Jean Pfaelzer (Yale University Press, probable price $35), claims that while California never had many African-descended slaves, it has had many others, including an unknown number of human-trafficked women held as sex slaves today. Writes Pfaelzer, The story of California is a history of 250 years of uninterrupted human bondage. California thrived because it welcomed, honed and legalized ways for humans to own humans Story continues Pfaelzer writes that at the same time slave ships crisscrossed the Atlantic Ocean, bringing human chattel to the future United States and many Caribbean islands, Spanish priests who established the historic string of missions along the California coast were enslaving nearby Native Americans. Under four empires Spain, Russia, Mexico and finally the United States, she says, (California) grew as a slave state. She begins with the history of U.S. Army depredations against indigenous tribes, especially in Northern California, where troops made weekly forays to Indian settlements throughout the 1850s, driving their residents at gunpoint to strongpoints like Ft. Seward, near the present-day Humboldt Redwoods State Park in Humboldt County, where adult males were slaughtered and their bodies burned, while women and children were sold off or indentured. She relates that almost any California Indian could be captured and enslaved unless they could prove they were gainfully employed and very few could. She adds that many families were deliberately separated, a practice also inflicted on African-descended slaves in the old South. Pfaelzer also describes how Chinese laborers brought to California by 19th century railroad barons were enslaved in a variety of ways. She describes Chinese women caged and violated for decades in San Francisco brothels, and Southern whites bringing Black slaves to California during the Gold Rush. Her book should raise new questions for reparations commissions, state and local. Perhaps the commissions should not focus solely on or be composed almost exclusively of Blacks and perhaps they ought to consider the diverse forms of slavery practiced here, rather than concentrating exclusively on the plantation-centered slavery of the old South. Theres also the question of whether the virtual decimation of Native American tribes by things like warfare and smallpox left so few alive that the take from casinos run by those who have survived obviates the need for any reparations. But this would leave out enslaved Chinese, modern trafficked humans from eastern Europe and Asia and others who contributed unwillingly to Californias rise to its current status among the worlds top five economies. All of which means slavery reparations commissions operating today are incomplete in their very composition, which will inevitably make any plans they offer one-sided and favoring descendants of one type of slavery over others that were comparably cruel and debilitating. That ought to cause everyone involved to take a deep breath before adopting expensive but unfair and incomplete plans. Email Thomas Elias at tdelias@aol.com. This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Whos being ignored as state mulls slavery reparations Some fans are only just discovering that Ben Affleck speaks fluent Spanish. The Bostonian actor gave an interview with La Cadena SER, Spains biggest radio network, on Monday (3 April) to promote his new movie, Air. La cosa importante a entender es que esta no es la historia de Michael Jordan, y tambien, Michael Jordan no se aparece en la pelicula, Affleck says in the interview, which, per Harpers Bazaar, translates to: The important thing to understand is that this is not the story of Michael Jordan, and Michael Jordan doesnt appear in the film. Clips from the interview have since gone viral on social media with surprised fans labelling him Benito. Affleck angling to be called Benito with the recent vacancy, podcast producer Antonia Cereijido tweeted alongside a video. The switch from Ben to Benito, another joked. Benjamin Affleck, a third tweeted. Affleck angling to be called Benito with the recent vacancy pic.twitter.com/uKTsr0AAWe Antonia Cereijido (@antoniacere) April 5, 2023 Affleck is married to the multi-hyphenate star Jennifer Lopez who is of Puerto Rican descent and speaks fluent Spanish. However, he first learned to speak the language when he was 13 while filming a kids TV programme in Mexico. Air, released in the UK on Friday (7 April), follows Nikes revolutionary partnership with a young Michael Jordan. Affleck acts in and directs the film, which also stars his longtime friend Matt Damon as marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro. Last month, Affleck explained his surprising decision to not show Jordans face in the film. He also shared his regrets about taking advice that stopped him from working with his Good Will Hunting collaborator Damon more often. The Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rules proposed by the Biden administration are overreaching, extreme, and, if implemented in Idaho, harmful to our economy and freedoms. The Biden administration not only brought the Obama rule back but expanded it. Now, nearly every droplet of water in the U.S. could be controlled and regulated by the federal government. The Biden WOTUS rules would subject Idaho citizens to massive federal overreach on their own land and hamper Idaho job creators. They would create a barrier for Idahos farmers, ranchers, and small businesses that depend on access to their land and Idaho resources. That is why my team and I worked hard to evaluate these new regulations for their legality and then pick the best strategy possible to shield Idaho from their harmful effects. The result has been an initial big legal win for the State of Idaho. A federal court has ruled in our favor, granting both Idaho and Texas a preliminary injunction against implementing these rules in our states. We won this initial victory because I decided to join Texas in this legal effort rather than join a different lawsuit advocated by others. Joining the other lawsuit would have been easier because it only required us to do minimal work. But joining the Texas lawsuit required more strategic thinking and more legal work by our attorneys. As this victory demonstrates, my decision to join the Texas lawsuit was not only right but also made Idaho a leader in the fight for state sovereignty. During my campaign, I promised to assemble the best legal team the Office of Attorney General had ever seen. I brought back the solicitor general role to Idaho and hired top litigators who are smart, aggressive and strategic. Our team brought meaningful contributions to this case, and because of the savvy legal minds handling this litigation, we got the correct result and the quickest relief for Idaho. Today, these terrible new regulations are in the process of being implemented in 48 other states, while Idaho and Texas have received a reprieve as our full lawsuit moves forward. Story continues Various editorial boards, political pundits, members of the governors team and U.S. Congressman Mike Simpson publicly chastised me for joining the Texas lawsuit and accused me of not leading on this issue. They advocated that my team and I take a different course. They claimed that I was putting my interests ahead of the interests of Idaho. Ironically, the other lawsuit has yet to move forward. Who is leading now? And what have we heard from my many critics - silence. I appreciate my naysayers expressing concern over these rules. In fact, it was a welcomed surprise to see some of Idahos most liberal newspapers advocating for state sovereignty. Our offices strategic decisions in this case resulted in Idaho winning an initial victory against these rules. This action alone demonstrates why challenges against overreaching federal incursions and the legal strategy employed are best left in the purview of the Attorney Generals Office, where it belongs, rather than in the back-room discussions of government bureaucrats and the media. As promised, my team and I will continue to be proactive in the Attorney Generals Office, defending Idahos sovereignty and our personal freedoms. Raul Labrador is the attorney general of the state of Idaho. China has sent warships in waters around Taiwan and warned of resolute action after the islands leader Tsai Ing-wen met US House of Representatives speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Taiwans ministry of defence said on Thursday morning that three warships were detected in waters separating the island from mainland China. The ministry also said that an anti-submarine helicopter had crossed the island air defense identification zone. Earlier on Wednesday, Taiwan said it was keeping a close watch after a Chinese aircraft carrier was spotted off the Taiwan coast. Taiwans defence minister Chiu Kuo-cheng told reporters at parliament in Taipei that the carrier was spotted on Wednesday, 200 nautical miles (370km) off Taiwans east coast. The developments come as Ms Tsai stopped at Los Angeles as part of her weeklong journey meant to shore up alliances in the US and Central America. She is due to return to Taipei on Friday. China views any interaction between the US and Taiwan as a challenge to its territorial claim on the island nation. It also staged war games around Taiwan last August after then-House speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei. In a statement on Thursday, the Chinese foreign ministry promised to take resolute and effective measures after the meeting between Ms Tsai and Mr McCarthy. In response to the seriously erroneous acts of collusion between the US and Taiwan, China will take resolute and effective measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Chinese foreign ministry was quoted as saying by Global Times. Wednesdays meeting was the first reported interaction between a House speaker and a Taiwanese president on US soil since the US broke off formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1979. While the US does not have any diplomatic relations with Taiwan, it provides arms under the Taiwan Relations Act. Washingtons One China policy says it takes no position on the status of the two sides but wants their dispute resolved peacefully. Story continues Beijing on the other hand promotes an alternative One China policy that says Taiwan is a part of China and the Communist Party is its leader. After their meeting on Wednesday, Mr McCarthy said at a news conference: Americas support for the people of Taiwan will remain resolute, unwavering and bipartisan. Ms Tsai also said stressed on Taiwans commitment to defending the peaceful status quo where the people in Taiwan may continue to thrive in a free and open society. We once again find ourselves in a world where democracy is under threat and the urgency of keeping the beacon of freedom shining cannot be understated. Additional reporting by agencies Click here to read the full article. If youre currently importing goods from China, or are importing apparel stitched from materials made in the country, expect a few bumps in the road this year. In the year after the supply chain was snarled by everything from fluctuating demand and container prices to factory closures and clogged portsall stemming from the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemica report from Everstream Analytics named Chinese manufacturing as the biggest potential disruptor to the current supply chain. The global supply chain insights and risk analytics company said in its annual Risk Report that companies should expect myriad delays and order cancellations in 2023 if their suppliers have vendors in China. Everstream gave China manufacturing a 90 percent risk score, the highest number given across the five major risks outlined. Major areas of concern also include manufacturing bottlenecks in Europe, potential ESG violations by suppliers, heightened risks of cyberattacks on suppliers and halted production as a result of a supplier going bankrupt. Assurances from your Tier 1 suppliers that they dont do business with China isnt sufficient protection because those suppliers probably dont have visibility through their entire supply network, the Everstream report said. Everstream tracked more than 85 lockdowns in 2022 across Chinas largest industrial cities, with 18 in November alone. In kind, Chinese manufacturing saw a corresponding rise in production disruption for every month except September. In the report, the risk analytics firm cited that the Chinese authorities still havent provided a clear roadmap for exiting the pandemic, noting that Chinas rapidly changing Covid-19 policies create ongoing headaches for manufacturers as companies and workers struggle to adapt to shifting local policies. Everstreams proprietary risk scoring model incorporates historic, present and future risk across more than 30 major categories. Using human and artificial intelligence, the company predicts overall risk exposure, probability, severity and relevance for clients and end users to help them avoid disruption. Story continues For example, Everstreams data has identified 960 port-related incidents at the top 25 container ports, 300 airport-related incidents at the top 25 airports for cargo shipments and 2,450 industrial fires at its clients suppliers (and their suppliers). Europes manufacturing snags, sub-tier ESG violations persist The second risk outlined in Everstreams Risk Report relates to energy manufacturing bottlenecks in Europe, which has been heavily impacted by the Russia-Ukraine war due to lower material availability and higher costs. Chemicals and metals industries have suffered the most disruptions, the report said, with additional disruptions to textiles, food and beverage, glass, and paper. Of the manufacturers negatively impacted in 2022, 14.3 percent were textiles companies, the second-most behind steel manufacturers who had 40 percent of the disruptions. While ESG is becoming a larger cornerstone among public and private businesses alike, they will also likely be prone to more slipups that potentially violate forced labor legislation such as the U.S.s Uyghur Forced Labor Protection Act (UFLPA) and Germanys impending Supply Chain Due Diligence Act. Brands will to have to do plenty of their own research, even outside the governments purview, to ensure their suppliers stay ahead of these problems. There are only 31 companies on the UFLPA banned list, but Everstreams researchers have identified at least 177 total sub-tier suppliers linked to forced labor in the Xinjiang province. Clothing and apparel has the second-largest link to Xinjiang-made materials across industries at 17.7 percent of total supplier ties to the region. The sector is a hair short of the leaderindustrial electronicswhich has 18.9 percent of supplier linkage to forced labor. ESG compliance on issues from forced labor to energy use can no longer be fulfilled by comparing a list of your known suppliers to a government entity list, or even by surveyed your suppliers directly about ESG issuesthey likely dont have enough visibility to know the answers, the report said. But the public doesnt accept ignorance as an excuse, so dig in now to proactively uncover problematic relationships. Russia-Ukraine war magnifies cybersecurity risks Although supply chains have largely focused on many of the recurring problem areas related to labor, freight, delivery times and material availability, one risk often goes under the radarcybersecurity. The risks compound as more businesses aim to digitize their supply chain and shift more of their processes onto third-party cloud software systems. Additionally, the war in Ukraine also puts companies more at risk to cybercrimes as Russias law enforcement is unlikely to cooperate with an investigation, the report noted. While electronics was the sector most-often hit by cyberattacks in 2022, representing 21.4 percent of hacker targets, manufacturing came in second at 14.9 percent, according to Everstream. Logistics had the third-largest percentage of attacks at 12.6 percent. Unfortunately for manufacturers, they deal with the most disruptions of any sector when they experience a cyberattack. More than 36 percent of cyberattacks that impact manufacturers cause some type of disruption, surpassing the 34 percent of hacks interrupting automotive companies. One such incident last February cost global logistics firm Expeditors International approximately $60 million as it raced to recover from a cyberattack that slowed its ability to move shipments from ports and provide additional services to customers. Hanesbrands fell victim to a cyberattack of its own in 2022, with the company saying the event temporarily affected its global supply chain network and limited its ability to fulfill customer orders for approximately three weeks. Bankruptcies could halt supplier production The Risk Report identified one final risk in 2023, pointing out that insolvencies are likely to rise in 2023 amid macroeconomic pressureswhich could throw a major wrench into production levels. While major retail bankruptcies are always getting the attention in the headlines, Everstream pointed out that smaller businesses, particularly in areas like manufacturing, electronics and logistics, hold the highest risk. Across 1,400 insolvencies that Everstream tracked across the U.S., China and Germany, 38.3 percent of these bankruptcies occur in the manufacturing space. By the time the average operation learns that they cant get a component because their suppliers supplier went out of business, its too late to seamlessly shift to an alternate plan, the report said. At best, they will spend time and money researching and onboarding a new supplier, with additional costs for expediting materials or missing delivery deadlines. At worst, production stops because competitors scooped up the alternate sources. Nearly 50 percent of the total manufacturing insolvencies take place in China, Everstream said, while almost 40 percent occur in Germany. Of the three countries analyzed, fewer than 10 percent transpire in the U.S. Everstream reels in $50 million in funding On Tuesday, the predictive analytics company unveiled that it has secured a $50 million Series B funding round co-led by Morgan Stanley Investment Management as part of its 1GT private equity platform and StepStone Group, with participation from existing investor Columbia Capital. The new capital will be allocated to product development, hiring and customer service initiatives, and aims to help the company innovate in both operational risk and ESG performance to further enhance supply chain sustainability for its global brand clients. 2023 has already been momentous for Everstream, and were not even through the first half. This funding comes when we are doubling down on our product innovation and executing rapidly and decisively to advance supply chain sustainability, which is more critical now than ever, said Julie Gerdeman, CEO of Everstream Analytics, in a statement. Im grateful to our customers, investors, partners and team for their trust and collaboration as we champion this modern-day supply chain revolution. Everstreams funding round comes nearly a year after the supply chain technology raised $24 million in a Series A raise. To date, the company has raised $74 million. PARIS French leather goods brand Lancel hosted a cocktail at its historic store across from the Paris Opera on Thursday to celebrate the announcement of its new brand ambassador, Lili Reinhart. The Riverdale star, dressed in a black vintage Valentino skirt suit with gold buttons, toured the stations where craftspeople demonstrated how they stitch and finish the bags, filming some of the action on her phone. She gamely ran through a gamut of poses with her white Ninon handbag, which also features in one of the campaign images shot by Peter Ash Lee. More from WWD I cant work with a company or a brand unless I actually would wear or use their product in real life, the U.S. actress told WWD. Reinhart, who flew in from Vancouver and was heading back to Los Angeles, said she favors dinky styles. Im a minimalist. These days I definitely carry around a smaller bag on the day to day, but I like a big bag for the airport. Founded in 1876, Lancel is a household name in France but is less well-known in the U.S., where it doesnt have a presence. The brands most high-profile campaign to date was in 2008 and featured Isabelle Adjani, who also designed a bag for the house. Lili Reinhart with the Idylle bag in Lancels spring campaign. Being, obviously, in the industry, Im exposed to a lot of designers that I otherwise wouldnt have been, so I had heard of the brand, but I didnt know how well-known it was in France, Reinhart noted. I appreciate the history of it, so thats kind of what inspired me, and that its French and its not, maybe, a partnership that people would expect me to do. Acquired in 2018 by Italian accessories and luggage company Piquadro SpA, Lancel has stores in countries including China, Vietnam, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Croatia and Greece, said the brands recently appointed managing director Francesco Pesci. Story continues I believe its the first time that Lancel has an international brand ambassador, he said. This decision is part of the strategy to rejuvenate the brand and also to develop the brand internationally. Most of Lancels customers, particularly in its domestic market, are aged between 35 and 45, but a growing number are in the 25 to 35 age bracket, he noted. That generation is increasingly sensitive to social values, making Reinhart who has been vocal about issues including mental health and body image a particularly good fit, according to Pesci. The star, who plays Betty Cooper on Riverdale, was fresh off the premiere of the final season of the CW teen drama, which is streamed worldwide on Netflix. The brand had decked out the store with fragrant lilies in her honor, though Reinhart revealed she wasnt named after the flower, but after the actress Lili Taylor. The event went off without a hitch, despite coinciding with another round of nationwide protests against the French governments pension reform. Perhaps it was down to the lucky charm in Reinharts handbag. I keep usually a crystal with me, some sort of crystal for good energy, she said with a smile. Lili Reinhart with the Rodeo bag in Lancels spring campaign. Best of WWD Click here to read the full article. [Source] The family of Jasper Wu, an Oakland toddler who was killed by a stray bullet, have voiced concern over Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Prices plans to not pursue jail time for the suspects. Wu was driving home to Fremont, California, with his family on Nov. 6, 2021, when a stray bullet pierced their car on Interstate 880. The bullet passed through their front windshield and hit the 23-month-old toddler in the forehead. The bullet came from a rival gang shootout between two vehicles exchanging fire. Trevor Green, 22, Ivory Bivins, 24, and Johnny Jackson, 34, were arrested in December 2022 and charged with murder, shooting at an occupied vehicle and possession of a firearm by a felon. They are expected to have their preliminary hearing on murder charges by the end of this month. More from NextShark: Explicit photos, videos of South Asian women traded in Reddit forum, report reveals When a member of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community asked Price for an update on the case, Price responded in an email: Our office is currently working on a partnership with the Asian Law Caucus to support AAPI victims of violence in ways that open up broader possibilities for healing and non-carceral forms of accountability. Price revealed that her office is working to pursue non-carceral meaning no jail time, even for criminals forms of punishment. More from NextShark: Are you Chinese or Vietnamese?: 81-year-old Asian man bruised, bloodied in San Diego attack The email, which was obtained by ABC7 News, was met with criticism from Wus family and Norbert Chu, who previously served as an Alameda County prosecutor for 35 years. There are almost no consequences due to no threat of severe punishments waiting, a spokesperson for the Wu family told ABC 7 News. How would that restore the public's faith in the justice system? How would the public feel safe? If I were Jasper's parents, I would be highly offended. And I would be very fearful, Chu said, noting that Prices "insulting" statement appears to tell the AAPI community that "somehow we're lesser victims than other people." Story continues More from NextShark: Homeless Asian Grandma in TEARS After Getting Spit On, Cursed At Asking for Help in NYC When ABC 7s Dan Noyes checked with the Asian Law Caucus regarding Prices plan, they denied knowing anything about the email, noting that the first meeting with her office was only introductory. "I'm very confused about this," said the nonprofit's executive director. Although no decision has been made about dropping enhancements in charges related to Wus death, Price has reportedly asked the toddlers parents to come in for a meeting next week. More from NextShark: Texas Community Raises Over $1,600 for Nail Salon Owner Shot Over Price of Services A Sydney surf suburb apartment, 150 feet from the beach $379.00, Airbnb (starting price) Ive been fortunate enough to visit Australia nine times. Im a native New Yorker married to an Aussie, and our travels to his homeland over the years have been some of the most memorable of my life: sailing and snorkeling in the Whitsundays, backpacking in the Daintree Rainforest, seeing Fairy penguins storm the shore at midnight on Bruny Island, Tasmania. But before any of these adventures begin, we always spend a week in the first destination we touch down in after getting off the plane: Sydney. This year in January, we finally returned after three years of travel restrictions, in celebration of my mum-in-laws 80th, who lives in the city. Sydney kinda has it all: the best city, the best beaches, the best coffee, the best avocado toast, the quirkiest population of exotic birds, and the embodiment of the Aussie lifestyle. But, if you need to get away from it allwhile still having it allyou can drive 45 minutes to the city's ultimate surf suburb: Dee Why. This is where we decided to make our home base during the trip. A proper multi-night stay was a no-brainer, and with no hotels in the area, we booked an Airbnb. Zoe Westman No visit to Sydney is complete without stopping in Dee Why. This was far from our first visit. Whenever were in town, a day trip is always on the agenda. This magic little beach town just north of Manly has a chill vibe that cant be beat. Every time we return, I say to myself, Man oh man do I want to live here. Set a block back from the main street, the yellow brick building was flanked by tropical foliage and delivered the classic surfy vibes Id been dreaming of. It was easy to find and perfectly situated in the center of the action, with shops and restaurants to the right, dunes to the left, and the ocean in all directions as far as the eye could see. The third-floor unit that greeted uswalkup, no elevatorwas airy, cool, and had a touch of midcentury style. Three bedrooms, one with an ensuite bathroom, and a second full bathroom shot off from the hallway, which lead to the loft-like living area. It all was encircled by a wrap-around balcony with ocean views. The sparkling kitchen was fully stocked with an espresso maker, cookware, a water filtration station, and brand new appliances, including a state-of-the-art washing machine and dryer (the ultimate luxury in this apartment dwellers opinion). Story continues Zoe Westman Zoe Westman A bounty of delicious food greeted us upon arrival. In the kitchen, a fresh loaf of bread, a handful of avocados, a bowl of tropical fruit, chocolate, popcorn, and eggs were all beautifully arranged beside some wonderfully fragrant frangipani stalks in bloom. The towns main drag, the Strand, was just out front, and had changed quite a bit since my last visit, in the best way possible. Where dining options were once limited to burgers and fries (or in my case as a vegetarian, just fries) there was a bevy of possibilities: Aussie coffees at the Italian influenced Bambolina Dolci & Caffe in the morning and a smattering of Thai, Italian, Vietnamese, Mexican, and Japanese choices for lunch and dinner. Zoe Westman The stretch of sand out front remained the same, thankfully: long and golden, with guarded swimming areas and reliable surf. On the southern end sat the glorious Dee Why Rockpool, built into the sea with the occasional wave crashing over the edge. Sunbathers filled the stadium-style stairs at the edge and spread out on the smooth sandstone rocks. Just beyond sat the entrance to the Dee Why to Curl Curl coastal walk, a stunning path through the cliff-top bush with amazing views of the coastline. We walked north up the beach to the boardwalk leading to Long Reef, a wild and beautiful peninsula with fascinating rock pools to explore at low tide. It was wonderful making new memories in a place where I have so many years of treasured ones. I cant wait until our next visit. See you soon, Dee Why. Book now with Airbnb Originally Appeared on Conde Nast Traveler KYODO NEWS - Apr 7, 2023 - 12:51 | All, Japan, World Japan decided Friday to extend its sanctions on North Korea, including a ban on all trade, by two years amid a series of ballistic missile launches by Pyongyang, the government said. The Cabinet of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida approved the extension before the expiration next Thursday of the sanctions, which ban trade and prohibit the docking in Japan of any vessels that have called at a North Korean port. The decision also took into account the lack of progress on North Korea giving up its nuclear and missile programs as well as the issue of past abductions of Japanese nationals by Pyongyang. "We will make utmost efforts to comprehensively resolve the issues concerned including the abductions, as well as the nuclear and missile programs, in close coordination with the international community," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters in Tokyo. North Korea recently test-fired multiple ballistic missiles in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, prompting Japan, the United States and South Korea to further enhance cooperation toward Pyongyang's denuclearization. Japan has long sought to repatriate its citizens kidnapped by North Korean agents in the 1970s and 1980s, but no breakthrough is in sight. Kishida has expressed his readiness to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un without preconditions, but the prospect of such a meeting remains unclear. Tokyo imposed sanctions on Pyongyang in 2006, banning imports from North Korea and the arrival of affiliated vessels. It has since expanded the scope of the punitive measures. Related coverage: High level of activity spotted at North Korea's key nuclear complex U.S. says North Korea sought to sell over 20 types of arms to Russia Editors note: This story has been updated to correct its description of the military service of Gov. Ron DeSantis. MIDLAND Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a potential challenger to Donald Trump for the 2024 GOP nomination for president, condemned political, corporate and academic "wokeness" in a Michigan speech Thursday that steered almost entirely clear of references to Trump or his own national ambitions. DeSantis drew three standing ovations from a large crowd who heard protesters shout "Shame on you," as they entered the banquet hall for the breakfast event in Midland. The demonstrators carried signs that denounced DeSantis as an authoritarian whose policies promote hate. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at the Midland County Republican Party Dave Camp Spring Breakfast on April 6, 2023, in Midland. DeSantis has not announced a White House run but has been testing the waters and visiting key states. In his 55-minute speech, he mostly touted his record as Florida governor and attacked liberal policies he says he has successfully fought. He made no direct reference to his potential run for president, but held up a copy of his recently published book: "The Courage to be Free: Florida's Blueprint for America's Revival." The closest DeSantis came to mentioning Trump was his reference to prosecutors weaponizing the law for political prosecutions. More: 'This case is going to be a 3-ring circus': Experts say Trump prosecution will drag on More: Mitch Albom: Deja vu for a Trump-obsessed nation. One man will dominate our attention again Recent polls show Trump's lead over DeSantis has grown to double digits among Republican voters following Trump's indictment in Manhattan on charges related to payments allegedly made to silence a porn star, but the Florida governor remains the strong second choice in a party deeply divided over whether Trump is the best pick for president. "We have work to do to make sure this country lives up to its ideals," DeSantis, a former congressman and federal prosecutor who was deployed to Iraq as legal counsel to a U.S. Navy Seal commander, said to close his speech, in his closest allusion to national ambitions. "We can never, never back down. I have only begun to fight." Story continues Democrats and liberal groups in Michigan blasted DeSantis in advance of his visit. They noted DeSantis supports abortion legislation already passed by the Florida Senate that would ban abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, with that ban extended to 15 weeks in cases of rape or incest or to save the life of the mother. In March of last year, DeSantis signed what has been dubbed the "don't say gay" bill, which says public school teachers may not instruct on sexual orientation or gender identity from kindergarten through third grade. "Florida is where woke goes to die," said DeSantis. He said he is fighting what he described as harmful liberal policies not just on the political field, but in higher education, where he said diversity, equity and inclusion policies are a form of political indoctrination, and in the boardroom, where he said banks and other companies are discriminating against companies such as gun shops or those owned by Christian conservatives. DeSantis also touted his handling of COVID-19 and said Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer went too far in limiting the activities of schools and businesses early on in the pandemic. Many Michigan residents fled to Florida to find freedom, as did others from around the country, he said. Michigan Republican Party Chair Kristina Karamo, who has been an avid Trump supporter and attended the Midland event, said she is remaining neutral in the Republican presidential contest but believes DeSantis is doing a good job as Florida governor. Many residents are leaving Michigan for Florida because there is more opportunity there, she said. DeSantis was scheduled to speak at Hillsdale College Thursday night. Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @paulegan4. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: DeSantis avoids Trump and White House ambitions in Midland speech WARWICK In past years, state utilities regulators have approved, as a matter of course, the annual replacement of as much as 70 miles of aging natural gas mains made of outdated materials that are prone to leaking. But times have changed. With the adoption two years ago of a sweeping state law to slash greenhouse gas emissions, the Public Utilities Commission is rethinking every aspect of the states energy regime, including how Rhode Islanders heat their homes and businesses. And because one possibility on the table is the eventual abandonment of the underground network of pipes that delivers natural gas around the state, the PUC is now questioning how much is worth sinking into Rhode Island Energys replacement program and what the impacts of continued spending are for the utilitys 273,000 gas customers. More: 'Pivot away from fossil fuels': Why advocates are urging RI cities, nonprofits to divest Act on Climate has utilities thinking about the future of natural gas use It may seem counterintuitive. After all, installing new pipes made of sturdy plastic cuts down on leaks of methane, a greenhouse gas even more potent than carbon dioxide. But the utilities commission is looking decades down the road at ways to green the heating sector, which accounts for nearly a third of all emissions in the state. A recent ruling by the commission to reduce the amount of pipeline to be replaced in the next fiscal year may have been one of the first steps down that road. Even before passage of the Act on Climate, the 2021 law that mandates Rhode Island reach net-zero emissions by 2050, utilities regulators had given consideration to reducing the states dependence on natural gas for heating, specifically with regard to Aquidneck Island, the site of a winter gas outage four years ago. File photo of National Grid trucks belonging to crews replacing old natural gas lines on Atwells Avenue in Providence. Advocates with the Acadia Center and the Conservation Law Foundation called for an investment in electric heat pumps to shore up the islands heating system rather than increasing dependence on gas, which is delivered by a single pipeline across the Sakonnet River. The state Energy Facility Siting Board turned down that petition a year and a half ago, but wouldnt rule out a moratorium on new gas connections on the island in the future. Story continues Discussions have only taken on more weight with the opening of a docket before the PUC on the future, in light of the Act on Climates requirements, of the entire natural gas system in Rhode Island. At a forum in February, commission chairman Ron Gerwatowski, who also chairs the siting board, made clear that not only is a ban on natural gas hookups in new buildings on the table, but so too is the discontinuation of the gas system as a whole. While the deliberations, as part of that docket, are aimed at the long term, the commission must still deal with the shorter-term needs of the gas system, namely the pipe-replacement program. More: A ban on gas heating or stoves in new construction in RI may be coming. Why it's an option. Rhode Island's natural gas mains among the oldest, most leak prone in the nation Rhode Island Energy, the states dominant electric and natural gas utility, maintains 3,227 miles of gas mains, about a third of which are made of cast iron or unlined steel and prone to corrosion and cracking. The company has been replacing the pipes, some of which date back to the 1800s, since 2011 with plastic, which is less likely to leak. Before the pipe replacement program began, federal regulators found that Rhode Island had the highest-percentage of leak-prone pipes in the nation. The program has ramped up over time, from 25 miles annually in the early years to more than twice that in recent years. Its among the most aggressive pipeline replacement efforts in the nation and leaks have dropped. Rhode Island Energy maintains that the continued work, which isnt expected to wrap up until 2035, is necessary for safety and reliability. Regulators didnt question the need for the repairs in the past even encouraging expansions of the program to shorten the time to completion and they arent necessarily doing so now. They are, however, subjecting the utilitys plans to more scrutiny in light of the states evolving climate policies. A giant tank that holds liquefied natural gas in Providence on the edge of the Providence River. National Grid won approval in 2017 to build a gas-liquefication plant nearby. Pipe replacement comes with huge costs that could outlive its use Thats partly because any pipes laid today would have a lifespan of 50 to 100 years, locking in gas infrastructure well into the future. Its also because the money at stake is substantial and would have to be paid off over time. In the next fiscal year, Rhode Island Energy proposed replacing 69.5 miles of pipe at a cost of more than $100 million. Over the next four years, the company is planning total investments in the gas system in the state of more than $1 billion. The concerns arent just coming from utilities regulators and environmental advocates. The office of Attorney General Peter F. Neronha also demanded in a filing with the commission that Rhode Island Energy reconsider its investments in the gas system given the risk of ratepayers assuming the cost of what will become useless infrastructure. As the State moves to meet the requirements of the Act on Climate, there are risks that utility spending on infrastructure investments that may need to be abandoned in the mid-term (or possibly even near term) could create stranded costs and regulatory assets that ratepayers will be stuck paying for well into the future, the Attorney Generals office wrote. The office argued that the commission has a duty to stop an expansion of the pipe replacement program and urged it to slow or halt this investment. Regulators hit pause button on a portion of pipe replacement Leading up to the utilities commissions meeting last Wednesday, Rhode Island Energy worked out a settlement with the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, the sister agency to the PUC. Under the agreement, the utility would cut the number of miles of pipe to be replaced from 69.5 to 65, saving gas customers $7.3 million. The commission cut that number down to 60 miles for a further $7.3 million in savings. The pipes removed from the coming years replacement program are considered at low risk of leaking. And, for now, the commissions ruling only delays by a year that theyll get replaced. But that will buy time while bigger policy decisions in the future of gas docket are worked out. In the case where we end up abandoning the system, I think its our job right now to figure out how to minimize the risk of having stranded assets, commission member Abigail Anthony said. One of the places where this is the most salient today is our continued investment in replacing leak-prone pipe. The decision could be a precursor of more changes to come in how regulators treat the gas system. I think were going to need to look at whether the leak-prone pipe target of 2035 makes sense and whether we should continue business as usual, Gerwatowski said. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI Energy, PUC scale back natural gas main replacement amid climate goals Rappers are well acquainted with the celeb-endorsed booze worldprominent examples include Jay-Z and Dusse; Diddy and DeLeon Tequila; Drake and Virginia Black; and A$AP Rocky with Mercer + Prince. And now early-aughts hip-hop superstar and Air Force 1 aficionado Nelly has put down the pimp juice and entered the field with a new moonshine brand called MoShine. Of course, its not really moonshine if its legal, but that is the term frequently used for un-aged whiskey brands. MoShine is not produced in St. Louis or anywhere in Nellys home state of Missouri; instead, its made in North Carolina at Piedmont Distillers, the distillery behind brands such as the Clover Whiskey and Method + Standard Vodka. Nellys offering is a triple-distilled corn spirit that comes in two flavors, peach and passionfruit. Traditional whiskey fans, this one is probably not for you: These are fruity, sweet, lower-ABV (60 proof) spirits that seem to be geared toward fans of flavored vodka and mixed drinks that are not very spirit-forward. But, of course, theres a large audience for that, no drink shaming here. More from Robb Report Nelly is the co-owner and chief creative officer of MoShine, a name that is a play on moonshine and Missouri. The brand is said to be inspired by his love of hip-hop and country music, as evidenced by his 2021 Heartland album, which charted on the Billboard Top Country Albums list, and his duet with Tim McGraw. Im taking a country tradition and mixing it up for everyone to enjoy, Nelly said in a statement. Where I come from, we work hard and play harder, and I want my fans to be able to reach for MoShine anytime theyre ready to get the party started. And his recommended way of starting said party is by drinking a few chilled shots of MoShine, with cocktail recipes coming soon on the brands website. Story continues MoShine is just rolling out nationwide in full bottles and 50 ml shots; if you want to test it out for yourself, you can either order from the brands online store or find a list of liquor stores that carry it in your area. 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. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny marks Harrison Ford's fifth and final turn as Indiana Jones Jonathan Olley / Lucasfilm Ltd. Indiana Jones' last ride will begin in France. On Monday, Walt Disney Studios and Lucasfilm announced that Harrison Ford's upcoming Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny the first Indiana Jones film since 2008 will have its world premiere at Cannes Film Festival on Thursday, May 18. The film, expected to be Ford's final entry in the long-running action adventure series, will screen out of competition at the festival, according to a press release. Director James Mangold (Ford vs. Ferrari) said in a statement Monday that he brought his first film, 1995's Heavy, to that year's Cannes Film Festival as he shared his excitement for the new movie's premiere. "Twenty-eight years later, I am proud to return with a slightly larger spectacle," Mangold said in the statement. "My legendary collaborators and I are very excited to share a brand new and final Indiana Jones adventure with you!" Related:Harrison Ford Returns to Iconic Role in Action-Packed Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Trailer Jonathan Olley / Lucasfilm Ltd. Lucasfilm debuted the first trailer for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny back in December, showing off Harrison Ford's return as the legendary archeologist as he sets off on a new adventure. The trailer revealed that Ford, 80, will appear as he did in the original trilogy in the new film's opening sequence via de-aging technology. The initial scene will be the only one in which the star is digitally de-aged, as the film flashes back to 1944 before moving to 1969, when the movie's main story takes place. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Lucasfilm Ltd. Related:Ke Huy Quan and Harrison Ford Hugging at Oscars 2023 Is Going Viral 38 Years After Temple of Doom Ford previously played the character in 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark, 1984's Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, 1989's Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and 2008's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, all of which were directed by Steven Spielberg. Spielberg, 76, and George Lucas remain executive producers on the new movie. Story continues The sequel also stars Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, John Rhys-Davies, Shaunette Renee Wilson, Thomas Kretschmann, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Oliver Richters, Ethann Isidore and Mads Mikkelsen. Following its world premiere in France, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny hits theaters June 30. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. The Magnolia Network star gave her Instagram followers a look inside her meaningful trip to Seoul with her family Joanna Stevens Gaines/Instagram, Daniel Zuchnik/WireImage Joanna Gaines is honoring her Korean roots! In a series of photos posted on her Instagram Story on Wednesday, the Fixer Upper: Welcome Home star, 44, documented some special moments during her vacation in South Korea. The trip from her hometown of Waco, Texas, to the South Korean capital comes after Gaines, who is half Korean on her mom's side, opened up about her journey toward embracing her heritage last year. The Magnolia Network star shared a few snaps of herself sporting a red-and-gold hanbok, a type of traditional Korean outfit, alongside her 4-year-old son Crew who donned a light blue hanbok. Gaines shares Crew with her husband Chip, along with their four older children Drake, 18, Ella, 16, Duke, 14, and Emmie, 13 who also joined for the trip. Joanna Stevens Gaines/Instagram In a previous snapshot, she shared a photo of Crew admiring his outfit, along with the caption, "He loves the bow." She also included a snap of her mom Nan, who was born and raised in South Korea, smiling big as she showed off her multicolor hanbok. Related:Joanna Gaines Looks Hilariously Sleepy on Day 1 of Korean Vacation: 'When the Jet Lag Sets In' Along with documenting her family's meaningful wardrobe, Joanna offered an inside look at her sightseeing adventures. In one sweet snap, she's seen holding hands with her younger sister Mikey as the two pose in an alleyway filled with colorful signage. She then poses for a group shot with her mom, Mikey and her other sister, Teresa, in front of a beautiful cherry blossom tree. Related:Joanna Gaines Is Visiting South Korea After Opening Up About Her Difficult Path to Embracing Her Heritage In addition to spending quality time with her mom and sisters, Joanna enjoyed learning about proper tea drinking etiquette with her husband. "Teaching us about custom when drinking tea," she wrote over a clip of the two seated on cushions on the floor. Story continues Later on, she caught the 14-hour time difference between Waco and Seoul getting the best of Chip with a funny video of him sleeping soundly en route to their next destination. Related:Joanna Gaines Struggled with Insecurity After Getting Bullied as a Child for Her Korean Heritage Joanna Stevens Gaines/Instagram In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE in November, Joanna revealed she wasn't always enthusiastic about her heritage because she was often bullied for being part Korean when she was younger. She recalled how her classmates would call her names and tease her for eating rice at lunch. "We were literally the only Asians in our entire school," she added, referring to her and her sisters. "It was deeply personal because that was half of my story," she told PEOPLE. "I realized if this isn't accepted, maybe I need to hide it and play more into the other side of who I am." Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Joanna Gaines/instagram It wasn't until she traveled to New York City for a college internship that she says she realized her heritage is what makes her unique. "I saw more people that looked like me than ever before," she explained. "I left really understanding the beauty and uniqueness of Korean culture and for the first time I felt whole, like this is fully who I am and I'm proud of it." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. PONTIAC An Oakland County woman who fled the country after being involved with a fatal hit-and-run crash that killed a Michigan State University student could go to trial next month on a single felony charge. Tubtim "Sue" Howson, 57, flew to Thailand after being involved in a hit-and-run crash on New Year's Day. On Wednesday, Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Michael Warren set a pre-trial hearing for May 3 on a charge of failing to stop at the scene of a serious personal injury accident, a five-year felony, and denied bond in the case. In March, a district court judge set a $1 million cash bond, but it's unclear whether Howson posted the bond or had been held in jail. She waived a preliminary exam in district court on March 24 and was bound over to circuit court. Benjamin Kable Authorities said Howson was driving a vehicle that struck Benjamin Kable, 22, of Shelby Township, while he was standing or walking on Rochester Road, south of Whims Lane in Oakland Township, about 5:50 a.m. Jan. 1. Authorities said Howson was on her way to work when she hit Kable and fled the scene. Officials from the Oakland County Sheriff's Office have said Howson is a dual citizen of both the U.S. and Thailand. Howson, a Thai-American woman who has dual citizenship, flew to Bangkok two days after the crash, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office said. She was returned to the U.S. in late February and arrived in Oakland County in March, officials said. "We are extremely pleased we have our suspect in custody in Oakland County, and we thank (the judge) for her attention to the fact that clearly the defendant has been a flight risk to the extreme," Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said at the time of her arrest. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Bond denied for woman who struck, killed Michigan State student Jan. 1 Even when the Kansas Legislature does a good thing, it often chooses to do it in the worst way possible. Not that it does good all that often. It has been an extraordinarily dreary, depressing legislative session in Topeka. The GOP supermajority has gone out of its way to make life more difficult for transgender Kansans, shift funding from public to private schools, and to give big tax breaks to the rich. Its unclear how the Republican agenda in 2023 actually preserves the states future or makes the state a better place to live for most of its residents or even if it is intended to. What a shameful performance. But one small, positive accomplishment has come out of the chaos: a presidential primary in 2024. Kansas often feels like an afterthought in Americas presidential elections. Our electoral votes so reliably go to the Republican nominee no matter who that nominee might be that we often view the campaigns from afar. We dont get many visits from presidential candidates, or even from presidents after theyve been elected. If the Sunflower State is going to have an impact in our broader national democracy, then, it has to do it when the parties are selecting the nominees. But even that doesnt even happen all that consistently: Last time around, the Democratic primary paid for by the state party was held in May 2020, weeks after Joe Biden had pretty much wrapped up the nomination. (Republicans, with incumbent Donald Trump running for reelection, didnt bother with a contest.) Kansas didnt have zero voice in the 2020 presidential process. But it was pretty close. So yes, it really is a positive development that the Kansas House this week approved a bill to hold presidential primary elections on March 19, 2024. As The Stars Katie Bernard and Jonathan Shorman point out, thats two weeks after the big Super Tuesday primaries and caucuses mostly across the South. If the race remains competitive after Super Tuesday, they write, Kansas would take on greater significance as campaigns fight for delegates. Story continues In other words: We might actually make a difference in 2024! The tiny bit of joy the news provides is tempered by the struggle that went into the achievement. The House initially rejected the bill because a few penny-pinching legislators balked at the possibility of spending up to $5 million on the primaries a rounding error in the states $23 billion budget. This is taking the taxpayers money and giving it to the Republican Party and the Democratic Party, grumbled state Rep. Trevor Jacobs, a Republican from Fort Scott. Another way of looking at it a better way of looking at it is taking taxpayer money and using it to give those same taxpayers a voice in our national elections. So what changed? Well, thats where the bad news comes in. The Kansas Reflector reports that the vote in the House flipped after legislators decided Kansas could hold a primary on the cheap by reducing the number of polling locations available to voters, particularly in Sedgwick County, the second most-populous county in the state. Thats the Kansas Legislature for you: One hand gives voters more of a say in their government, while the other immediately makes it more of a chore to use that voice. Its easy to imagine Wichita voters showing up at the polls on primary day 2024 only to find out that the polls are someplace else. State Rep. John Carmichael, a Wichita Democrat, was properly cranky about the proposed reduction in polling places for the primary a burden that will most likely be borne by his constituents. He voted against the bill. Reducing the number of polling places in an attempt to reduce the cost of this primary election sows voter confusion not only for the primary election and suppresses the vote in those following elections, he said. Funny how that works out. But it also serves as a nearly perfect capstone to this putrid, discouraging legislative session. Even when they do good things, the Republicans who run the Kansas Legislature dont seem to be much interested in serving all of the states residents. Why start now? A Louisville first responder with four legs and golden fur brought comfort last week to people affected by the Covenant School shooting in Tennessee. Mercy, a 9-year-old golden retriever trained to respond to people in crisis, was one of six comfort dogs to visit communities In Nashville, where six people were shot and killed late last month in an incident that devastated the community and has made international headlines. The shooting took place on March 27 when a shooter fired 152 rounds in the building and killed three children Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney along with staff members Katherine Koonce, Cynthia Peak and Mike Hill. News: Thousands participate in national school walkout after Nashville shooting, urge gun control The shooter, Audrey Hale, was killed by police minutes after officers responded to the scene. Mercy, a Lutheran Church Charities comfort dog, visiting with people in Nashville, Tennessee after the Covenant School shooting. Crisis response dog helps students, parents return to school after Covenant School shooting in Nashville Amy Romines and Sherry Ederheimer, Mercy's handlers, went to nearby schools after the shooting to spend time with community members, especially students and teachers. They visited a preschool and a memorial at the base of the Covenant School driveway where people had left stuffed animals and flowers. They also attended a vigil downtown and other facilities. Romines said one of the biggest tolls the incident took was on parents. Ederheimer said one mother told them it was the first time she felt safe dropping her child off at school after the shooting. "This was so close to home, and those parents were so emotional just to drop their kids off at school. It was incredibly difficult for them," Romines told The Courier Journal. "You could see the tears in their eyes as they walked up to the entrances of the schools." News: How these dogs play a big role in healing Louisville hospital patients People of all ages interacted with the dogs, which helps those affected "start feeling a release of negative emotions," Ederheimer said. One woman Ederheimer encountered didn't speak for 20 minutes while petting Mercy before eventually beginning a conversation with them. Story continues "She was crying and tearful, a little bit, but when she got up and left, we had a sense that she had let something go maybe let go some of the grief," she said. Although younger kids didn't quite grasp what the shooting meant, they knew something was wrong, the handlers said. Seeing Mercy helped return some normalcy to their day, added Ederheimer. A group of children who had been close to the shooting sat with the dogs and giggled while they argued who was their favorite, and a therapist told Ederheimer it was the "first time she'd seen those children smile all week." Mercy, a Lutheran Church Charities comfort dog, visiting with students in Nashville, Tennessee after the Covenant School shooting. Kentucky comfort dog has responded to multiple crises across U.S., including 2019 Dayton, Ohio shooting Mercy has responded to crises all over the country, said "Top Dog" Doug Netherton, the leader of the ministry. She went to Baton Rouge, Louisiana after a police shooting left three officers dead in 2016. Ederheimer went with Mercy to Chattanooga, Tennessee when six children died in a school bus crash that same year. And the retriever was in Dayton, Ohio when a 24-year-old killed at least nine people and injured 27 others at a bar in 2019. In addition to national deployments, Mercy works with community members in Louisville, Netherton said. She visits with at least one group nearly every day, including a children's hospital, kids at the Louisville Free Public Library's St. Matthews branch and veterans. Schools will also request to have Mercy present after the death of a student or teacher. The Lutheran ministry's team only goes where they're invited, and volunteers aren't trained counselors but might offer comfort and a listening ear if folks talk to them first, Netherton added. You may like: Labrador is the new furry companion for cancer patients at Norton Children's Hospital Mercy is one of more than 130 dogs in the Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Ministries, and she's affiliated locally with Our Savior on Nottingham Parkway. She has put in more than 2,000 hours of training through the program, according to Netherton, where she's been trained with basic commands like sit and stay and not to bark, lick or make any startling movements, Ederheimer said. She has also learned certain commands to make her services more accessible to those with disabilities. Other dogs that responded to the Covenant School shooting came from Georgia, Indiana and Missouri. One dog from Tennessee was also present. Handler: 'I just feel like I'm bringing in a little medicine, perhaps, or something that will start a healing process' Lutheran Church Charities is a nonprofit based in Illinois, with a mission to "share the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need," according to a statement form Deb Baran, director of communications for the organization. The group houses several faith-based teams that respond to disasters. Lutheran Church Charities deploys volunteers domestically and internationally and Baran said organizers do not charge for their services. Find out: Does your pooch have the most popular dog name in Kentucky? Romines said it was "an honor" to take Mercy to visit the Nashville community, and Ederheimer said it was her "gift of love" to visit with affected people. "I just feel like I'm bringing in a little medicine, perhaps, or something that will start a healing process," Ederheimer added. Contact reporter Rae Johnson at RNJohnson@gannett.com. Follow them on Twitter at @RaeJ_33. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Covenant School shooting kids comforted by Kentucky canine responder A man sleeps on his belongings at the MacArthur station in Los Angeles on March 29, 2023. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) A battle is being waged at the Westlake/MacArthur Park Metro station near downtown Los Angeles. The weapon of choice? Loud classical music. The classical music along with floodlights at either end of the station platform are part of a pilot program that L.A. Metro operations and security, in cooperation with law enforcement, began implementing at the station in January. In an email to The Times, Metro said the music is a royalty-free playlist it compiled of piano sonatas, symphony orchestra pieces and concertos, including some by Vivaldi, Beethoven and Mozart. L.A. Metro's goal with the music and lights is to reduce crime and drive away unhoused people. But the use of music is divisive, with online commentators calling it an inhumane torture tactic. Critics also argue that it does nothing to address the root causes of the problems plaguing the station. Music, classical and otherwise, has a long history of being used as a technique for discomfort and coercion. Heavy metal and hard rock drove strongman Manuel Noriega out of hiding at the Vaticans embassy in Panama City in 1989. The music of Metallica was used as a torture device against Iraqi detainees during the War on Terror and is listed on the notorious Guantanamo Bay playlist. You're trying to attract and make certain people feel comfortable based on the associations with classical music, says musicologist Lily E. Hirsch, author of Music in American Crime Prevention and Punishment." "And you see that in fancy cheese shops that play classical music because they hope people will feel like they're a part of some elite upscale world and then they'll spend more money. That feeling is not intrinsic to classical music, says Hirsch, but when the music is being used as a tool to achieve a goal driving certain people away while welcoming others, for example those cultural associations are manipulated. When classical music is used in dark and aggressive ways, it can also feel dystopian and creepy, notes Hirsch, not unlike the mood of "The Silence of the Lambs." One Twitter user compared the music at MacArthur Park station to Stanley Kubricks psychological horror film A Clockwork Orange. Story continues Security officers keep an eye on things while a flood light shines at the far end of the Westlake/MacArthur Park Metro Station in Los Angeles. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) Sound is experienced differently in different environments, and it can be louder depending on where it is being heard. Decibels are the measure of sound intensity. In confined spaces such as a subway station, which has hard edges, high ceilings and plenty of echo-y metal and concrete surfaces for the sound to bounce off of, decibel levels will be higher. The music in the Westlake/MacArthur Park Metro is not being played at fancy-cheese-shop levels: It clocks in at an average of 83 decibels on a handheld decibel meter, although during some string flourishes it peaks at 90 dB (depending on where in the station youre standing, and your proximity to the speakers). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website puts decibel levels between 80 and 85 on par with gas-powered lawnmowers and leaf blowers, and notes that damage to hearing is possible after two hours of exposure. In an email to The Times, L.A. Metro spokesperson Dave Sotero wrote that the music is not loud" at MacArthur Park, saying the compositions inside the station are being played at 72 dB. A handheld meter registered certain musical phrases at 73 dB, but rarely it was typically much louder than that. Sotero also said the music in the station is quieter than walking on the sidewalk outside the station, which he said exceeds 80 dB. A trip aboveground with a handheld dB meter found the ambient street noise street vendors chatting, kids playing and laughing, buses whooshing by hovering at an average of 72 dB. There is a clear disconnect between what transit riders and the unhoused are experiencing in the subterranean confines of the station and L.A. Metros official line about the music's volume. Commuters make their way through the MacArthur station in Los Angeles on March 29, 2023. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) On a recent Monday afternoon in the station, commuters pace the sticky, trash-strewn platform, and a number of unhoused people rest on various concrete benches. A driving, high-energy piece of classical music blares, with ecstatic strings and many high notes punctuated by somewhat ominous low notes on keyboards. The four-minute composition "Immaterial," by contemporary classical composer Adrian Berenguer, is being played on loop. (Berenguer did not respond to multiple requests for comment about this use of his music. It is unclear whether this song is royalty-free, as Metro stated.) When two police officers approached two unhoused people and tried talking to them on Monday, one person cupped her hand to her ear. An officer leaned closer and shouted. The unhoused people nodded and began gathering their belongings to go, squinting in the bright spotlight. It appears that the loud classical music is working at cross-purposes here, says Hirsch. She notes there is a history of classical music being used in public places, including town squares and outside various businesses, as a way to signal that certain people are wanted and others are unwanted. It's like a bird marking its territory where you hear the signal and you go, OK, this is not for me. This is for the older money crowd,' she says. And that technique seems to work. There are examples of teenagers leaving an area that's playing classical music, not because they don't like the music but because of the associations. In fact, 7-Eleven has used classical music outside L.A.-area stores to deter loitering since 2019. The problem with this approach, says Hirsch, is you're creating hierarchies of sound by making it clear that an area belongs to certain privileged groups and not other people. And you're not solving the problem, she adds. You're just pushing the problem to another spot. The volume of the music at Westlake/MacArthur Park station makes it an outlier in this way, adds Hirsch, because the high decibel level intrinsically makes the station feel unwelcoming to anyone passing through. (One commuter said on Wednesday that the music was so loud that he might not continue riding Metro.) L.A. Metro is undoubtedly in crisis. A recent Times story reported that 22 people have died of suspected overdoses on Metro buses and trains so far this year, and that serious crime including rape, aggravated assault and robbery was up 24% for 2022 compared with 2021. A Times 404 video noted that Metro spends between $150 million and $200 million annually on policing, but a majority of emergency calls weren't answered by law enforcement assigned to Metro. In an email to The Times, Sotero wrote that the music is being used to restore safety at the transit station and as means to support an atmosphere appropriate for spending short periods of time for transit customers who wait an average of 5 to 10 minutes for the next train to arrive." The transit authority says the strategy has resulted in an "improvement in public safety," citing a "75 percent reduction in calls for emergency service, an over 50 percent reduction in vandalism, graffiti and cleanups, and a nearly 20 percent drop in crime." Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis, who is also a Metro board member, issued a statement to The Times noting that she is working with the organization to introduce care first strategies to the station and plaza, and that she supports piloting safety interventions that "introduce alternatives to deploying additional armed law enforcement on the system." Yet the current alternative of elevated volume, coupled with repetition, is a way that music has been used as torture throughout history, says Hirsch. Constant exposure to loud music can disrupt sleep and thought and eventually make people lose their connection to themselves. In the 30 minutes a reporter spent in the station this week, the same piece of music was on loop the same music was again playing on Wednesday when a Times photographer visited the station. Isis Soto, an unhoused woman sitting in the station on a recent Wednesday, said she didn't mind the loud orchestras and strings. I enjoy classical music," she says. "It wouldnt keep me out. It will help keep me down here longer. Times photographer Genaro Molina contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. KYODO NEWS - Apr 7, 2023 - 19:08 | All, Japan, World China and Japan will hold high-level dialogue on maritime affairs next Monday in Tokyo, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the first in-person bilateral meeting on the topic since May 2019. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Friday that officials in charge of foreign affairs, defense, and maritime law enforcement will be among the participants. They will discuss when the two countries will start operating a hotline between their defense authorities, a source familiar with bilateral ties said. A meeting under the High-level Consultation Mechanism on Maritime Affairs was last held in November via video link. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and his Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi welcomed the resumption of the in-person maritime dialogue when they met in Beijing last Sunday. Ahead of Hayashi's China visit, the two countries announced last week the establishment of the hotline designed to build confidence and prevent unexpected contingencies. Mao said Beijing expects a thorough exchange of views at the upcoming meeting to increase mutual understanding and trust as well as "advance practical cooperation in the maritime field." Agenda items will also likely include the repeated entry of Chinese vessels into waters near the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea and Tokyo's plan to start releasing treated radioactive water into the sea from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant sometime this spring or summer, the source said. Hong Liang, head of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs, and Takehiro Funakoshi, director general of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, will attend the event, according to the source. Police in Queensland, Australia, released surveillance images of a man in flip-flops carrying a platypus onto a train. Police in Queensland, Australia, released surveillance images of a man in flip-flops carrying a platypus onto a train. A 26-year-old man in eastern Australia has been charged after allegedly stealing a platypus from its natural habitat and taking it on a train trip to show it off to people at a local shopping mall, Queensland police say. According to police, the man, whose name has not been made public, was accompanied by a woman when he took the platypus from a local waterway on Tuesday. Police say the man and the woman boarded a train in the town of Morayfield, north of Brisbane. Surveillance footage appears to show the pair traveling on a train Tuesday with the partially aquatic animal wrapped in a towel, police said in a press release. They were patting it and showing it to fellow commuters, according to police. Authorities said they were advised the platypus had been released into a nearby river. It has not been located and its current condition is unknown, and authorities warned that the animal could be in danger. The animal may become sick, be diseased or die the longer is it out of the wild and should not be fed or introduced to a new environment, police said. Platypuses also have venomous spurs that can seriously injure people and animals. Native to Australia, platypuses are usually foundin freshwater creeks, slow-moving rivers, lakes and dams. If you are lucky enough to see a platypus in the wild, keep your distance. Never pat, hold or take an animal from the wild, police cautioned in a statement. The man was charged with the unlawful take and keep of a Platypus from the wild. The Class 1 offense carries a maximum penalty of $431,250, authorities said. The man is slated to appear in court Saturday. Platypuses are a threatened species facing a silent extinction, according to the World Wildlife Fund. The Australian Conservation Foundation notes that land-clearing, dams, drought, bushfires and climate change all impacts of human activity are destroying critical habitat, leaving the animals with nowhere to go. Related... A man in Western Kentucky has been charged with three counts of murder after deputies found three dead bodies at a home in Vine Grove, according to Kentucky State Police. Breckinridge County sheriffs deputies were called to the home on High Plains Road around 10:22 p.m. Wednesday for a welfare check. Thats when they found two of the victims inside the home, according to KSP. The third victim was outside the home. The victims suffered their fatal injuries from blunt force trauma. The victims were identified as Audrey Whealan, 77, Michelle Whealan, 51, and Doss Smothers, 58, all of Vine Grove, according to KSP. Two dead dogs were also found on the property, according to KSP. Tyler Wehmeyer, 28, was arrested and charged with three counts of murder, two counts of evidence tampering and two counts of second-degree cruelty to animals, KSP said. Wehmeyer admitted to killing the three victims and two dogs, according to his arrest citation. KSP said Wehmeyer was arrested at the residence. KSP Trooper Jonathan Houk told the Herald-Leader that Wehmeyer was related to the victims, but he wasnt sure what the relation was. Houk also declined to comment on what led up to the deadly incident. Wehmeyers listed address is on High Plains Road in Breckinridge County, according to his arrest citation. Wehmeyer was being held at the Breckinridge County Detention Center Thursday, KSP said. Moscow is trying to play it cool, but its military moves hint at growing concern over NATO's newest member A border guard walks along a fence marking the boundary between Finland and Russia near Imatra, Finland in November 2022. ALESSANDRO RAMPAZZO/AFP via Getty Images Finland's admission to NATO this month doubles the length of NATO's border with Russia. Russian leaders have downplayed the significance of their neighbor joining the alliance. But Moscow is making moves that indicate concern about NATO gaining new territory nearby. Finland joining NATO has created an unwelcome prospect for Moscow: a potential adversary on Russia's sensitive northern border. Finland's admission this month doubles the length of NATO's border with Russia and does so in a region with important Russian military outposts. Russian leaders have downplayed the significance of Finland joining NATO, but as the alliance gets closer and the Arctic becomes more accessible, Moscow is making moves that indicate growing concern about a part of its frontier that has long been calm. The Grand Duchy of Finland was a part of the Russian Tsarist Empire from 1809 until 1917 but became an independent nation in the chaos of the Russian Revolution. Two decades later, Finland had perhaps its finest hour in the Winter War, in which the outnumbered and outgunned Finns held off a clumsy Red Army invasion before agreeing to terms with the Soviets. After allying with Nazi Germany, Finland renewed the fighting in the Continuation War, which ended in an armistice in 1944. A Soviet bomber shot down by Finnish anti-aircraft guns on the Karelian front in January 1940. (AP Photo) After World War II, the Kremlin could take comfort that at least its smaller neighbor had been "Finlandized," a somewhat uncomplimentary Cold War term referring to Helsinki's stance of strict neutrality in return for the Soviets not invading or interfering. Even as Eastern Europe and Central Asia chafed under Soviet occupation, Finland remained a Western-oriented democracy just 100 miles from St. Petersburg and Murmansk. But Putin's invasion of Ukraine scared not only Finland into joining NATO but also Sweden, which hasn't fought a war since Napoleon was alive. (Sweden's application has yet to be approved.) This boosts the alliance's military, political, and economic power considerably and confronts Russia with the prospect of even more NATO forces on its border. Story continues "There will be more integration" between the new members and the rest of NATO, said Dmitry Gorenburg, a researcher with the Center for Naval Analyses think tank in a March 24 podcast. "There'll be more intelligence-sharing. There is the possibility of NATO forces and infrastructure being deployed to those countries. And that's something that does concern Russia." Which brings up the inevitable question: How will Russia respond? So far, the Kremlin has downplayed Finland's NATO accession, perhaps out of caution or embarrassment, Gorenburg said. "What they've always said is, 'this is fine, we don't care. It's your decision. But if NATO infrastructure is developed or if the US or other NATO member states' forces are deployed to the new members, that will be a concern for us and we will react.'" Finnish military reservists take part in an exercise at a base in Helsinki on March 7. ALESSANDRO RAMPAZZO/AFP via Getty Images Moscow reiterated that message after Finland officially joined the alliance, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying, "Naturally, this forces us to take countermeasures to ensure our own tactical and strategic security." Exactly what that reaction will be isn't clear. So far, Moscow has announced plans to increase the size of its military, beef up its forces in northwestern Russia, and reestablish the Leningrad Military District, which covers part of that region, including the Kola Peninsula, and was merged with other districts in 2010. "The problem for them is that right now, it's quite unclear that they have the wherewithal to develop those new forces given that they're fighting in Ukraine," Gorenburg said. "But they've at least broadcast that intention." Russia has long experience in Arctic operations and had developed specialized units and equipment for operations near Finland. Indeed, Russia has been building up Arctic bases and forces for years, a move that other countries, including the US and China, have followed, drawn by the prospect of more accessible Arctic resources and shipping routes. Previously, the Atlantic Ocean was the Russian military's focus and the Arctic was its third priority, according to Vice Adm. Daniel Dwyer, commander of the US Navy's Second Fleet, which reactivated in 2018 in response to Russian activity in the Arctic and North Atlantic. In July 2022, however, Russia released a new maritime doctrine that raised the priority of the Arctic and pledged to protect those waters "by all means," Dwyer said during a Wilson Center event on February 9. A Su-33 fighter jet from Russia's Northern Fleet during training on the Kola Peninsula in February 2022. Lev Fedoseyev\TASS via Getty Images "Now Russia has realized that the Arctic is the key to their to their economy and to their defense, as they see the receding of the Arctic ice cap," Dwyer added. Since 2013, Russia has built six bases, 14 airfields, and 16 deepwater ports in the high north, as well as 14 icebreakers, according to Adm. Daryl Caudle, head of US Fleet Forces Command. Russia's Arctic forces also field an array of powerful weapons, including submarine- and land-based cruise missiles and air-launched hypersonic weapons. "They have strong anti-access and access-denial capability that reaches from the Arctic to the Baltic to the GIUK gap," Caudle said at the Wilson Center event, referring to the chokepoint between Greenland, Iceland, and the UK. But Russian units trained for Arctic ice are being chewed up in Ukrainian mud. "They ended up throwing ground forces from the entire country into this fight, including from the East, from the Pacific region, and from the North," Gorenburg said. "There are specialized Arctic brigades and naval infantry brigades and that kind of thing that have been fighting and getting ground up in Ukraine. So the ground forces component of that northwest force grouping has been significantly degraded." Even if Russia had more troops to threaten Finland, the overall balance has changed. Under Article 5 of NATO's charter, an attack against one member "shall be considered an attack against them all." If Putin wants to punish Finland, he risks war with NATO. That's a gamble he will be reluctant to take. Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds a master's in political science. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn. Read the original article on Business Insider Debra Bishop, with her husband David Bishop nearby, prepares to break a piece of matzah during a Passover Seder on Wednesday at Emanuel Synagogue in Oklahoma City. Members of a local Jewish congregation recently joined together for a Passover Seder for the first time since 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancellation of many in-person activities due to health concerns. About 100 people attended Emanuel Synagogue's community Passover Seder on Wednesday, with Rabbi Abby Jacobson leading the sacred meal. Passover began at sundown on Wednesday. The eight-day Jewish holiday commemorates the Israelites' liberation from Egyptian slavery as told in the Book of Exodus. The Passover Seder is an interactive sacred meal in which each part of the meal symbolizes a part of the Passover story. Traditionally, Jewish families often host a Passover Seder in their homes on the first night of the holiday. In some cases like Emanuel Synagogue, Jewish temples and synagogues host the sacred meal on the first night of Passover. Jacobson, the synagogue's spiritual leader, lead her congregation and an assortment of interfaith guests through the meal using a Haggadah, a compilation of prayers, hymns and rabbinical literature that is traditionally used as a Passover Seder guide. More: What is Passover? Why is it celebrated? What you need to know about the Jewish holiday Traditional Passover Seder foods were included, each symbolic of some aspect of the Israelites' escape from the Egyptian Pharaoh and enslavement. There was matzah, a flat unleavened bread often resembling a cracker, that is featured prominently at the traditional Passover Seder. Matzah is an integral part of the Passover meal because there was no time for dough prepared by the Israelite slaves to rise before they fled Egypt. There was no time to tarry, as the story chronicled in Exodus goes. Hard-boiled eggs, which symbolize rebirth, were also part of the meal as well, as the four cups of wine (grape juice for some guests) linked to God's promises to Israel. Jacobson injected humor into the event by joking with guests at different times. "If you think this is taking forever, try leaving Egypt," she quipped shortly before the Seder commenced. Not to be outdone, her husband, Rabbi Juan Mejia, passed out wristbands emblazoned with the words "Red Sea Pedestrian" for everyone to wear throughout the evening. Story continues Guests wore "Red Sea Pedestrian" wrist brands, shown here with a Haggadah, at a Passover Seder at Emanuel Synagogue. Jacobson talked about the holiday's meaning and noted how the themes of freedom were particularly relevant at a time when antisemitism is on the rise in the U.S. "I'm afraid hatred hasn't changed much," she said. "I hate to say it, but Pharaoh's antisemitism was old when we were leaving Egypt and it hasn't changed." Along those lines, the rabbi told guests about the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism's Stand Up to Jewish Hate campaign designed to raise awareness about antisemitism and hatred against Jews. She said as part of the campaign, all people are being encouraged to post and share the Blue Square emoji to stand up against intolerance. Meanwhile, Jeff Goss, the synagogue's youth director, and his family said they looked forward to their Seders at home, but they did miss the community gatherings. "It's nice to be headed back to normal," Goss said. Hali Goss passes a plate of food to Heidi Ross and her husband the Rev. Daniel Ross during a Passover Seder on Wednesday at Emanuel Synagogue in Oklahoma City. The Rev. Daniel Ross, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Mustang, sat at the Goss family table, along with his wife, Heidi. The pair said it was their first time attending a Passover Seder, and they enjoyed the holiday gathering allowing them to get to know more about their Jewish neighbors. "I'm having a great time," the minister said. "I think this is fantastic." Viewpoint: Passover stories can bolster courage to stand up to injustice After the event, Jacobson said it was important to note that Emanuel Synagogue held virtual community Passover Seders from 2020 through 2022 during the pandemic. Most notably, she and the synagogue joined with the Hillel Foundation at the University of Oklahoma to host a virtual "Darth Seder," which incorporated themes from the iconic "Star Wars" movie series. The rabbi said the virtual events were good, but it was gratifying getting to host an in-person Passover Seder with synagogue families and community friends. "It was certainly a lot better doing it in person," Jacobson said. "I feel like we built up to a wonderful big community Seder and then put all those skills on a shelf for three years. But it's so beautiful, being able to really bring the story of the Exodus from Egypt off the page, by making community with people and really feeling like we're leaving Egypt together." To learn more For more information about the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism's Stand Up to Jewish Hate and the campaign's blue square emoji, go to https://www.standuptojewishhate.org/. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Emanuel Synagogue hosts in-person community Passover Seder Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has appointed a corporate executive to fill an open seat on the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners. Thomas Whittaker, executive vice president and chief legal officer for J.E. Dunn Construction, will replace Don Wagner, who stepped down from the police board at the end of 2022. Whittaker has been with J.E. Dunn for more than 29 years and has served on the board of the Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission. In addition to that, he is a past president of the Kansas City chapter of Associate General Contractors. Whittaker earned his undergraduate degree in construction science from Kansas State University and a law degree from the University of MissouriKansas City. Whittaker could not be reached for comment about his appointment. Kelli Jones, a spokeswoman for Parson, said Whittaker needs to be confirmed by the Missouri Senate before assuming his duties on the board. We anticipate this taking place the third or last week of this month, Jones said. Kansas City is one of a few cities in the United States that does not control its police force. The department is overseen by the five-member Board of Police Commissioners. Four members are appointed by the governor and as Kansas City mayor, Quinton Lucas occupies a fifth spot. Lucas said in a tweet that he looked forward to working with Whittaker. Tom Whittaker is a friend. So long as a Board of Police Commissioners exists in our city, Tom is someone who will work to build a more collaborative relationship between the Board and all voices in our community. He also shares my commitment to making Kansas City safer for all, he said. Tom Whittaker is a friend. So long as a Board of Police Commissioners exists in our city, Tom is someone who will work to build a more collaborative relationship between the Board and all voices in our community. He also shares my commitment to making Kansas City safer for all. Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) April 6, 2023 Faith leaders and civil rights activists have frequently criticized the police board for how it handled former Police Chief Rick Smith, who they said protected officers accused of killing Black men and using excessive force against minorities. Story continues They said Parson ignored their demands to replace Wagner with someone from Kansas Citys East Side or someone who would hold fellow commissioners and the department accountable. Theres no doubt that Tom Whittaker is a great human being, said Darron Edwards, lead pastor of the United Believers Community Church. The question must be asked if he is a great fit for a board of police commissioners. We need commissioners who can hear the cries of the people and not simply look down from the top floor of J.E. Dunn and make decisions about the people. Edwards said once he learned about the appointment, he asked 10 well-connected people if they knew Whittaker and what kind of person he is. Im still waiting for someone to say they even know him or even heard of him, he said. Lora McDonald, executive director of MORE2, a Kansas City social justice group, told The Star on Thursday that she was disappointed with Whittaker being selected. In the past nearly 20 years, more than half of the appointees have been Caucasian men, McDonald said. When you look at the people we elect, as a municipality, it doesnt look the same demographically. We deserve our police board to look like a board of people we would elect as a city. Think about it, in those same two decades, we have only had one white guy as mayor, she said. Lucas recently accused two of his fellow police commissioners of violating the Missouri Sunshine Law by meeting secretly to discuss legal matters. He said the two-member litigation committee, which is a subcommittee of the police board, has frequently met with private attorneys to discuss pending lawsuits and map out legal strategy. None of the committees meetings have been posted. David Kenner, board secretary and attorney, said the meetings dont have to be posted because the committee does not represent a quorum of the five-member board. Crews continue working to clear a tangle of fallen tress and debris in Indianas oldest state park after a deadly tornado touched down late Friday in Owen County. As the cleanup continues, hiking trails and the Canyon Inn at the 1,961-acre park are set to reopen Friday. Carl Lindell, a DNR parks regional manager, said the campgrounds, however, will remain closed at least through April and it could be significantly longer. The tornado touched down on the western edge of the McCormicks Creek State Park campground, leaving two dead as it tore a four-mile path travelling east from the White River to North Texas Ridge Road. The National Weather Service said wind speeds reached up to 138 MPH. Downed trees blocked roads and damaged campers and small structures in the campground, prompting the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to close the park. Damaged trees surround the Comfort Station B in the campground area at McCormick's Creek State Park on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. We know how important (the park) is and how much people love this park and we appreciate peoples patience at this time, Lindell said. People that use this park, they feel like its theirs and its a great sense of ownership they have, and I know theyre as devastated as we are. A majority of the park is unaffected, and evidence of the storm isn't readily visible except in areas near the campground. But in that area, budding trees, still standing, leaned at wild angles among tall bare trunks of other trees that were snapped and twisted apart. The stubs stood like spears above overturned picnic tables, fallen road signs and battered outhouse buildings. Nearly all the destruction was concentrated at the campgrounds, the DNR said. Storms continue: Central Indiana under threat of tornadoes again following a deadly weekend The path of a confirmed tornado during March 31, 2023 storms near McCormick's Creek State Park. Clearing the debris On Tuesday afternoon, the sounds of heavy equipment, chainsaws and shouting replaced what is normally a serene hardwood soundscape surrounding the camping area. Crews with loaders and 18-wheelers stacked the fallen timber and hauled it off to another part of the park. Story continues There are about 200 campsites split into two sections of the camping area, Lindell said, but only about 38 were occupied when the tornado formed. UPDATE: Video shows the path of destruction from the tornado that tragically hit McCormicks Creek State Park on Friday. The park remains closed as cleanup continues. (Brent Drinkut/DNR) #INwx @INDNRstateparks pic.twitter.com/nwxzpsszsn Indiana DNR (@INdnrnews) April 5, 2023 Two of those campers, Brett Kincaid, 53, and his wife, Wendy Kincaid, 47, died at their campsite in the park Friday night. Their bodies were found Saturday in their camper, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Family friends have opened a GoFundMe account to raise money for funeral costs to assist the couples family. The park had been in the process of opening up from the winter and officials had not yet opened the campgrounds to full capacity. Brett Kincaid, 53, and Wendy Kincaid, 47, were killed while camping at McCormicks Creek State Park as storms and tornados rolled across Indiana on March 31, 2023. Lt. Angela Goldman, another DNR official, was at the park Tuesday helping other employees and escorted a Herald Times photographer and IndyStar reporter through the wreckage. Goldman said she couldnt imagine what it would have sounded like to the campers. It was a blessing this didnt happen in July, she said, or when the grounds had been filled with people camping. Every angle is a new vista of destruction, she said. The campgrounds wont look the same, at least in this lifetime, but Goldman said shes hopeful that once the debris is cleared, the blooming wildflowers and new growth will be just as beautiful. 'Lasting impact': Families grieve after deadly tornadoes cut through Indiana Lindell, who has been with DNR parks for 30 years, said hes never seen anything quite like the damage unleashed by the tornado. He called the storm a once-in-a-career event. Moving forward DNRs Parks Department and the Forestry Division have now cleared many of the blocked roadways, but there is still work ahead. We are still in the phase of clearing campsites so that people can get their camping equipment, RVs and stuff out of the campground, Lindell said. Once thats complete, I think well take a step back and look at the situation in total and develop a plan. Indiana Department of Natural Resources' Jacob Shapley looks over downed trees in the campground area at McCormick's Creek State Park on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. DNR will issue refunds to those who had reservations at the campgrounds or at the parks inn through the end of April, though that may also be extended until the park can offer camping again, Lindell said. The hope is that most of the hiking trails will reopen this weekend, though it remains uncertain where that access will be. Some people have called in asking if the park is accepting volunteers, but Lindell said the work now is dangerous and best handled by DNR staff. Every state park has an account set up to take monetary donations, he said, so folks wishing to donate are welcome to do so. To keep updated with the parks reopening progress, follow McCormicks Creek State Park on Facebook, head to its website or call the park office. Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @karlstartswithk IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: DNR crews clean up McCormick Creek State Park following deadly tornado This is one trek you shouldn't miss. kovgabor79/Getty Images While it's true the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu might be the most famous trek in Peru, Canon del Colca (or Colca Canyon) is another you need to add to your list. Colca Canyon is one of the deepest canyons in the world nearly 14,000 feet from its highest point to its lowest and it's home to the Andean condor, a sacred bird in Incan culture. If you're looking to plan a trip to this must-see destination, here's what you need to know. What to Know About Peru's Colca Canyon mariusz_prusaczyk/Getty Images Colca Canyon cuts through Peru's Andes mountains for some 60 miles, carved out by the Rio Colca as it makes its way to the Pacific Ocean. It's lined with picturesque mountain villages and agricultural terraces established by Spanish conquistadors, though the communities here predate the Inca civilization. The nearest major city is Arequipa, also known as the White City for its buildings made from the white volcanic sillar stone. It's the second-largest city in Peru and about a three- to four-hour drive to the canyon. There are two ways to experience Colca Canyon: from its rim or on a trek to its floor. The former is, of course, the easier method, and you can still see the condors from the Mirador Cruz del Condor lookout. But for those looking for a challenge, trekking the Colca Canyon which is more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon is an adventure, and you'll be rewarded with impressive vistas everywhere you look. Best Time to Visit Colca Canyon Westend61/Getty Images You can trek Colca Canyon year-round, but the most popular time to visit is during the dry season, which runs from approximately April through October. As peak season is June through August, we recommend traveling in May and September, when crowds are thinner. That said, Colca Canyon is not nearly as busy as Peru's Sacred Valley, where you'll find Machu Picchu. You can also visit during the rainy season, but beware that trail conditions might become dangerous during particularly wet spells. Story continues How to Get to Colca Canyon Lepretre Pierre/Getty Images Most visitors to Colca Canyon come from Arequipa. Numerous tour operators run trips from here, from multiday guided treks to single-day bus tours to the rim, and all include transportation. But if you're doing a DIY trip, you can either take a public bus or shuttle or drive yourself to the popular base villages of Cabanaconde or Chivay. Colca Canyon Treks Colca Canyon comprises a network of trails, so there isn't a single trek to tackle, as there is with the Inca Trail. Instead, you can start your trip from any number of villages along the canyon, though the most popular is Cabanaconde this is where several tour operators from Arequipa kick off their journeys. Many of the treks include an overnight in the oasis of Sangalle on the canyon floor. Most treks are multiday endeavors, given the difficulty of the terrain. This is not a beginner hike by any means, with thousands of feet in elevation changes on steep paths. And it's done at elevation, which requires acclimation time. As such, guided treks are recommended, especially for those who are not advanced multiday trekkers. If you decide to do it alone, be sure to plan your route in advance, download maps for offline use (and pick up a paper one as a backup), and take all provisions with you. Colca Canyon Tours saiko3p/Getty Images If an advanced trek isn't in the cards for your trip to Colca Canyon, you can still book tours to the rim, which will allow you to peer down into the canyon, experience mountain villages, visit the hot springs near Chivay, and see the condors from the Mirador Cruz del Condor lookout. Some of these tours are single-day excursions from Arequipa, but you can also book two-day trips with an overnight stay in a hotel. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. After Tennessee Republicans expelled two rising young Black Democratic state representatives April 6 for leading a protest demanding gun reform, people inside and outside the legislature began saying the quiet part out loud. In a state fraught with racist history and in a Capitol where the bust of the first grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan was just recently removed, the April 6 vote was too much for so many who see old patterns reasserting themselves. Though three Democrats faced expulsion for their protest March 30 in the chamber of the House of Representatives, only one survived the votes: Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, a white woman. The all-day spectacle was political retribution for Johnson and her two freshmen Democratic colleagues, Justin Jones of Nashville and Justin Pearson of Memphis, for leading "disorderly" gun reform chants that briefly disrupted House proceedings three days after three 9-year-olds and three adults were murdered in a hail of gunfire at The Covenant School in Nashville. The people spoke today for all three of us and sadly the body didnt listen to everybody, and I think theres a good indication of what the difference was here, Johnson said. I dont think theres a question how those two young, Black men were spoken to was in a different manner than the way I was spoken to. The representative who questioned me multiple times (Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood) kind of treated me as someone beneath him, as a woman who just didnt know quite as much as he did, she continued. Mansplaining, so to speak. But its a whole different attitude than the questioning I saw go to Rep. Pearson and Rep. Jones. Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP, tweeted a video clip of similar Johnson comments and wrote Say the quiet parts loudly Sad day for the state of Tennessee Democratic Rep. Sam McKenzie of Knoxville, chairman of the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislatures, spoke to Knox News late Thursday night after the vote. He was beat up, tired out, worn down. Story continues This is a sad day for the state of Tennessee because I think what happened is the spotlight of what weve been enduring was exposed to the nation, really to the world," he said. "Theres just been a systemic push, a steady drum beat of marginalization both as a Democrat and then, as you see today, as a Black man. He went down a list of issues that have come up in this session: A GOP-led effort to rename a portion of John Lewis Way that includes the legislative office building after Donald Trump, partly to ensure the former presidents name appeared in the address on legislators business cards and stationery in place of the iconic civil rights leaders. A suggestion by Rep. Paul Sherrell, R-Sparta, that the state use lynching as an alternative for executions The state's handling of the housing crisis at Tennessee State University, the lone state-funded member of our nation's historically black universities "They don't get it," McKenzie said. Still, McKenzie won't say the GOP-led legislature is racist. It's not helpful, he said, because it will end any conversation with his colleagues across the aisle. But Ill say theyve let their far-right divisive concept, anti-LGBTQ, anti-African American studies wing take over," he said. "To the point where, you cant call an obvious vote on racial lines what it is. That was horrible. "Im sad. It was a bad day." 'Dark, dark history' Before he was ousted, Jones drew a parallel between what he called the states dark, dark history and what Republican lawmakers did April 6. "What you're really showing for the world is holding up a mirror to a state that is going back to some dark, dark roots, he said. A state in which the Ku Klux Klan was founded is now attempting another power grab by silencing two of the youngest Black representatives and one of the only Democratic women in this body. Thats what this is about, let us be real today. Gloria Johnson joins Justin Jones and Justin Pearson after the two men were expelled April 6 from the House of Representatives at the State Capitol in Nashville. Rep. Johnny Shaw, D-Bolivar, has served in the House since 2000, one of the longest-serving Black members. He said he can't say Republicans who voted to expel Jones and Pearson are racist because he doesn't know what's in the heart of each legislator. Collectively, however, their actions were another drum beat to an old song. Every time it seems like we could close the door on some issue, somebody opens the wound back, he said. They wont let us forget the hangings or the colored only signs or that people gave their lives for us to register to vote. Nzinga Bayano Amani, a Knoxville activist and past candidate for the city council, said Johnsons win shows the obvious racism within the legislature. The difference between Gloria and (their) expulsion shows the different experiences that we as Black people have compared to white people, especially in politics, Amani said. Shaw spoke glowingly about Jones, 27, and Pearson, 28, but he cautioned his young Black colleagues that progress takes time and he suggested that Johnson might have escaped harsher punishment by not sticking her finger in the collective eye of her Republican colleagues when she answered questions during her expulsion hearing. She was wise," he said, "to not talk herself out of an opportunity." Friday morning, a group of the Black Caucus held a press conference to address the expulsion votes. Sen. Charlane Oliver, D-Nashville, got right to it. Oliver came into the legislature with Jones in the 2023 freshman class and said she's watched "a lot of political bullying going on behind the scenes" directed at Jones. This idea that he and Rep. Justin Pearson must apologize is a mindset set in white supremacy, she said. A mindset that we, as Black folks, are not on par or peers to them, and we must be inferior and subservient to their demands. Here, at the General Assembly, we are equals. I can't tell you how many times Rep. Jones has come into my office after something has happened on the elevator, or a conversation with leadership where they called him a worthless human being. That's not leadership. Still, some legislators such as McKenzie and Shaw are limited by what they can say because they still have to work with the supermajority to make progress on legislation. Jones has no such reservations after that supermajority kicked him out of office. On CNN This Morning on April 7, the day after the vote, Jones said it out loud, telling viewers the Houses actions were more reminiscent of 1963, not 2023. "What we saw yesterday in Tennessee was an attack on democracy and very overt racism, as you can see the two youngest Black lawmakers were kicked out, but our colleague, my dear sister Gloria Johnson, a white woman, was not, Jones said. We see clearly the nation has seen clearly what is going on in Tennessee. This is what weve been challenging all session, was a very toxic, racist work environment where we are not even allowed to speak," he continued. "Thats why we went to the well because the speaker wouldnt call on us (and) he turned off our microphones. He ruled us out of order any time we brought up the issue of gun violence. When I went outside to support the protesters he turned off my voting machine so I couldnt even cast a vote on the House floor. "This is what weve dealt with all session and yesterday the nation was able to see that we dont have democracy in Tennessee, particularly when it comes to Black and brown communities. Tyler Whetstone is a Knox News investigative reporter focused on accountability journalism. Email tyler.whetstone@knoxnews.com. Twitter @tyler_whetstone. Angela Dennis is the Knox News social justice, race and equity reporter. Email angela.dennis@knoxnews.com. Twitter @AngeladWrites. Instagram @angeladenniswrites. Facebook at Angela Dennis Journalist. Tennessean reporter Melissa Brown contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee lawmaker says 'overt racism' by Republicans ousted him The Vanderbilts, Morgans, and Astors would approve. PAUL BOWEN/Courtesy of Tradewind Aviation Summer might seem like it's still a ways off, but Memorial Day will be here before you know it, and that means it's time to start planning your getaways. If you have Newport, Rhode Island, in your sights, here's a hot tip: Tradewind Aviation is resuming its seasonal semi-private flights from New York to Newport on June 25. Courtesy of Tradewind Aviation Newport has been a vacation destination for nearly two centuries. Starting in the 1830s, elite families from New York (think: the Vanderbilts, Morgans, and Astors) built lavish mansions in the coastal city, where they resided for a few weeks each summer. Today, those mansions are some of Newport's top tourist attractions. Courtesy of Tradewind Aviation With Tradewind's flights, New Yorkers can skip the four-hour drive (which can be much longer with summer traffic!) in favor of a brief 35-minute semi-private flight on a Pilatus PC-12, departing from Westchester County Airport (HPN) and landing at Newport State Airport (NPT) in Middletown, Rhode Island. Because Tradewind operates out of the private Million Air terminal at HPN, passengers can arrive as little as 30 minutes before their flight there's no hassle of TSA security. Then, once on board, they can enjoy complimentary snacks, wine, and beer. Courtesy of Tradewind Aviation "Newport is one of those special places that once youve experienced it, you can't wait to go back. We're excited to relaunch our annual summer flights to offer travelers convenience from the greater New York area to one of New England's most distinguished hotspots," said David Zipkin, co-founder and chief marketing officer at Tradewind Aviation, in a statement released to Travel + Leisure. "Our unique fleet of Pilatus PC-12 aircraft ensures a comfortable flight and is perfectly suited for the relatively small runway in Newport, offering our guests an easy and efficient way to enjoy all that Newport has to offer while avoiding summer traffic." Rates range between $145 to $445 each way and can be booked at flytradewind.com. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Snakes on a Plane is an infamous Samuel L. Jackson movie from the mid-aughts. Its also what one South African pilot came face to face with this week. When flying on Monday, Rudolf Erasmus encountered a venomous Cape cobra while 11,000 feet in the air, The New York Times reported on Friday. Somehow, he was able to keep his composure and safely carry out an emergency landing, with no snake bites to mention. More from Robb Report No one was panicking or getting hysterical about the snake, Erasmus told the Times. And there was a moment of silence in the cabin. You could hear a needle drop. Before taking off from the Western Cape, airport workers told Erasmus that a Cape cobra had been seen getting into the engine of the plane. (The Cape cobra is one of the most dangerous snakes in South Africa, responsible for most snakebite deaths in the southern part of the continent, along with black mambas, according to the African Snakebite Institute.) Nobody could find the snake, though, so they assumed it had left of its own accord. When Erasmus felt a cool sensation under his shirt, he thought it was just a water-bottle leak. Instead, he turned and saw the head of the snake under his feet. Not wanting to alarm the four passengers aboard the plane, Erasmus announced that an uninvited guest had joined their flight, as The New York Times put it. He quickly made plans to land at the nearest airport, about 10 or 15 minutes out. The last one to deplane, Erasmus saw the snake curled up under his seat as he exited the aircraft. Once the plane was clear of all passengers, a snake handler arrived to take care of the cobra. Yet somehow, the snake was again impossible to find. Even after two days of searching, nobody could locate the slippery animal. Despite the ordeal, Erasmus took off in the same plane a few days laterthis time, covering up as many holes as possible, in case the snake was still hiding out somewhere. Story continues That trip went off without a hitch, and Erasmus is planning to continue flying the Beechcraft Baron 58. Lets hope for his sake that the Cape cobra is a little tired of traveling for now. 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. Tourism operators negotiate at a workshop between Egyptian and Chinese tourism companies and tour operators in Cairo, Egypt, April 4, 2023. A workshop between Egyptian and Chinese tourism companies and tour operators was held in Egypt's capital Cairo on Tuesday to discuss ways to increase tourism between the two countries. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) CAIRO, April 4 (Xinhua) -- A workshop between Egyptian and Chinese tourism companies and tour operators was held in Egypt's capital Cairo on Tuesday to discuss ways to increase tourism between the two countries. Speaking at the workshop, China's Minister of Culture and Tourism Hu Heping said China and Egypt are world-renowned tourist destinations and important sources of tourists to each other. "Both countries have good tourism resources, great potential for cooperation and broad space for development. The current recovery of the global tourism industry is accelerating. China and Egypt have ushered in a great opportunity to deepen tourism exchanges and cooperation," Hu said. The minister added that he hoped to "further strengthen exchanges and cooperation between China and Egypt in the field of tourism and antiquities." For his part, Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Issa said Egypt is looking forward to working with China, expecting rapid growth in tourism and archaeological expertise exchange between the two countries. He added that Egypt appreciates the increase of Chinese excavation missions in Egypt. Both China and Egypt are ancient civilizations with a long history and splendid civilization, which is the foundation for strengthening cultural exchanges and tourism cooperation, said Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang. "We are full of confidence in the prospect of tourism cooperation between the two countries," Liao said, adding that the travel demand accumulated for the past three years will be fully released and the tourism cooperation between China and Egypt will achieve fruitful results. China is a major source of tourists to Egypt, with hundreds of thousands of Chinese tourists visiting the North African country each year before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to tour its historical sites and enjoy its sunny sandy beaches. "The travel agencies in Egypt are looking forward to establishing contact with Chinese travel agents and more Chinese tourists coming to Egypt," said Sun Guizhen, deputy president of the China Association of Travel Services. Ramez Azmi, the general manager of Avicon Travel, an Egyptian travel agency, said the agency is working to promote its activities and tourist attractions to Chinese tourists. He expected more Chinese tourists to come to Egypt soon thanks to the Chinese government's decision to lift the COVID-19 travel restrictions. "Egypt is the preferable country to visit with its beaches and historical landmarks," he told Xinhua. "I'm going to China soon to make good deals with other companies to bring Chinese tourists to visit Egypt." China's Minister of Culture and Tourism Hu Heping speaks at a workshop between Egyptian and Chinese tourism companies and tour operators in Cairo, Egypt, April 4, 2023. A workshop between Egyptian and Chinese tourism companies and tour operators was held in Egypt's capital Cairo on Tuesday to discuss ways to increase tourism between the two countries. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Issa speaks at a workshop between Egyptian and Chinese tourism companies and tour operators in Cairo, Egypt, April 4, 2023. A workshop between Egyptian and Chinese tourism companies and tour operators was held in Egypt's capital Cairo on Tuesday to discuss ways to increase tourism between the two countries. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) Tourism operators negotiate at a workshop between Egyptian and Chinese tourism companies and tour operators in Cairo, Egypt, April 4, 2023. A workshop between Egyptian and Chinese tourism companies and tour operators was held in Egypt's capital Cairo on Tuesday to discuss ways to increase tourism between the two countries. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) texas break the internet - Credit: Photos in composite by Yifei Fang/Getty Images; Rizky Panuntun/Getty Images There is more than one way to burn a book, Ray Bradbury wrote, and the world is full of people running about with lit matches. Texas House Rep. Steve Toth brandished the equivalent of a butane torch earlier this session when he introduced House Bill 2690, legislation that seeks to ban websites that contain information about abortion but he and Texas Republicans may find its harder than they think to make speech they dont like disappear from the internet. Toths bill would make it illegal to create, edit, upload, publish, host, maintain, or register a domain name for an internet website, platform, or other interactive computer service that assists or facilitates a persons effort in obtaining an abortion-inducing drug. Internet service providers themselves would be in the awkward position of enforcing the law by making every reasonable and technologically feasible effort to block sites with information about abortion, abortion providers, or abortion funds keeping Texans in the dark about their health care options, essentially. More from Rolling Stone The legislation names several websites specifically: Aid Access, Plan C, Hey Jane, and CaraFem, among them. The only way to scrub such sites from Texas internet is for individual ISPs to agree to block them inside the states borders. To achieve that goal, the bill also establishes incentives for private citizens to sue internet service providers that fail to block the sites. (Rolling Stone reached out to a number of internet service providers operating in Texas, including AT&T, EarthLink, Charter Communications/Spectrum, T-Mobile, Windstream, Viasat, and HughesNet. None responded to inquiries about the legislation and whether they will oppose it.) Even if internet service providers choose to comply, it will be logistically difficult to prevent individuals from accessing information theyre determined to find, says Hey Jane founder Kiki Freedman. We do think that the technical feasibility of the bill is somewhat laughable, says Freedman, who was an executive at Uber before starting the company, which ships abortion medication to a number of states. There are well-known tools like VPNs, for example, that allow internet users to mask their IP address and location in order to access content that might not be available in their areas. Story continues In addition to being a logistical challenge, the proposed law is a total train wreck under the First Amendment, Brian Hauss, staff attorney with the ACLU Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, tells Rolling Stone. The whole point of the First Amendment is to prevent the government from censoring ideas or information because it disagrees with the view thats expressed and thats exactly what this law is trying to do. Hauss pointed to a landmark Supreme Court case, Bigelow v. Virginia, with parallels to the proposed Texas law. Before Roe v. Wade, abortion was illegal in Virginia, as was encouraging abortion through, for example, advertisements about services in states where the procedure was legal. In 1971, Jeffrey Bigelow, editor of Charlottesvilles Virginia Weekly, was arrested for running a display ad for an abortion referral service in New York. The case ultimately made it to the Supreme Court, where a majority of justices found that the advertisement qualified as protected speech. What the Supreme Court essentially said is: Virginia cant prevent its residents from going to New York to obtain services that are lawful in New York. The notion that a state can intentionally keep its residents ignorant about the availability of lawful services in other states was very decisively rejected by the Supreme Court in that decision, Hauss explains. Jennifer Pinsof, staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, says the private-enforcement mechanism proposed in the bill is a tactic she hasnt seen before. There have been other efforts to create liability for posting abortion-related info online, but the ISP-blocking aspect is new and I havent seen any other bills that put pressure on ISPs to block access to certain websites, Pinsof wrote in an email. The result will be a chilling effect on speech and a looming threat of litigation that can be used to silence those who seek to give women truthful information about their reproductive options. Like Texas Senate Bill 8, the abortion-bounty law passed in 2021, House Bill 2690 would be enforced by private citizens, rather than the government an effort to hamper a legal challenge to the law. (Opponents typically sue the agency charged with enforcing the law to stop its enforcement, but that is difficult if the law is meant to be enforced by citizens instead.) Toth recently proposed another bill this one targeting drag artists using the same bounty-hunter framework. But whether such laws will be allowed to stand remains a matter of debate: At least one state court judge has declared the private enforcement scheme unconstitutional. To me, the most disturbing part of it is just how extreme these legislatures are willing to go in terms of throwing out other fundamental rights in order to attack access to health care, Freedman says. The goalposts are clearly shifting towards a space that is even further disconnected from the opinion of health care experts, but also the will of their voters. A majority of Texans oppose banning abortion, according to research done by the University of Texas, with a scant 15 percent of Texans supporting a complete ban on abortion access. Toth dubbed his bill The Women and Child Safety Act. Not only is pregnancy far more dangerous than abortion one study found women are 14 times more likely to die from childbirth than an abortion unwanted pregnancies have also been proven to create unsafe conditions for the child. Multiple studies have found that children born from unwanted pregnancies are more likely to experience and witness domestic violence, and one 10-year study found that, for years after giving birth, women who sought and failed to terminate their pregnancies were struggling to cover basic living expenses like food, housing, and transportation, compared to similar women who were able to obtain an abortion. Melissa Grant, the COO of Carafem, called the inclusion of her organization in Toths proposed bill not particularly surprising, in spite of the fact that Carafem does not provide services in Texas. House Bill 2690, she says, is about continuing to push the boundaries of whats legal, in a restrictive way, to try to shut down the availability of people to receive legal services. Its hard to believe that anyone would have the time or the effort to spend looking into things that seem so antithetical to [the principles] this country was founded on. But if the ultimate impact is to try to get abortion providers distracted so that theyre fighting laws instead of serving patients, well, I suppose to some degree, theyre winning, she says. But our goal is to try to keep our eyes on the horizon and moving forward to help people who need us. Right now, she says, she is focusing on what she can do in Texas. What I can do [in Texas] is continue to provide accurate information about what abortion is and what its not, where it is illegal in this country to access it, and reliable evidence-based information about how abortion care works, and combat misinformation that is running wild. Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie has endorsed Ron DeSantis for president. The Republican presidential field will continue to grow. But Northern Kentucky's congressman already knows who he wants to vote for. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Garrison, Kentucky, this week encouraged Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to enter the race. "Honored to endorse my friend Ron DeSantis!" Massie tweeted Wednesday. Massie has known DeSantis for over a decade, he said in a statement released through pro-DeSantis super political action committee Never Back Down. They served together in the U.S. House when DeSantis was a Florida representative for six years. "America needs a leader who is decisive, respects the Constitution, understands policy, puts family first and leads by inspiring," Massie said. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at the Midland County Republican Party Dave Camp Spring Breakfast on April 6 DeSantis hasn't officially entered the race, but he's making moves to prepare for a possible run. He's traveling across the country, including to the Cincinnati region next week. He's scheduled to speak April 13 to the Butler County Republicans. Among those who have said they're running in the 2024 GOP presidential primary are former President Donald Trump, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Cincinnati native and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. Trump endorsed Massie for reelection last year. But he was not always an admirer. In March 2020, Trump called Massie a "third-rate grandstander" and a "disaster for America" after Massie forced Congress to return to Washington and vote in person on a $2 trillion COVID-19 relief package. Story continues Another member of the Cincinnati region's congressional delegation has also weighed in on the 2024 presidential race. Sen. J.D. Vance, a Republican from Cincinnati's East Walnut Hills neighborhood, has endorsed Trump. Trump's endorsement of Vance in the 2022 Senate race helped vault the "Hillbilly Elegy" author to victory. In a Jan. 31 Wall Street Journal editorial, Vance wrote that he's supporting Trump because of Trump's foreign policy. He believes Trump won't start wars. "In Mr. Trumps four years in office, he started no wars despite enormous pressure from his own party and even members of his own administration," Vance wrote in the editorial. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Why Thomas Massie endorsed Ron DeSantis for president The indictment and other ongoing criminal investigations of Donald Trump raise the real if still remote prospect that a leading contender for the 2024 presidential nomination could face prison time. There are no legal obstacles to running for president as a convicted felon or even from behind bars. And if Trump finds himself in that predicament, hell be following in the footsteps of another rabble-rousing populist and frequent presidential candidate: the avowed socialist Eugene V. Debs, who received nearly a million votes while in prison a century ago. Debs is far from the only person who has sought the highest office in the land while in prison, but he was the most successful. In 1920, he became the Socialist Party nominee while serving a 10-year federal sentence for urging people to resist the World War I draft. He received 3 percent of the popular vote, a respectable tally for an incarcerated socialist, but nowhere near enough to force the nation to seriously grapple with an improbable constitutional question: What happens if an imprisoned candidate actually wins? Trumps escalating legal troubles are resurrecting that question. He has been indicted in New York for falsifying business records, a state crime that carries a maximum four years in prison when charged as a felony. Many experts contend that even if Trump is convicted, he is unlikely to see prison time because judges rarely sentence first-time offenders to prison for that type of felony. But three other ongoing criminal investigations of Trump one in Georgia for election interference and two from special counsel Jack Smith in Washington could trigger more serious felony charges and carry a higher risk of prison. A Trump electoral victory from behind bars would open a constitutional can of worms, but the general view among legal scholars is that the need for a duly elected president to fulfill the duties of office would override a criminal conviction and require the sentence to at least be put on hold. And if Trump were convicted of a federal crime, he could even try to pardon himself immediately upon taking office a maneuver that Debs himself promised to undertake if he won. Story continues Then were just going to get into uncharted waters, Seton Hall law professor Eugene Mazo said. I dont think we have an answer to this. Trump and Debs, unlikely bedfellows The comparison to Debs might not appeal to Trump, who is fond of railing against socialists (or people he labels socialists). Some might also view the comparison as unfair to Debs, who is seen by many in the labor and anti-war movements as a hero. Still, the two firebrands have a surprising amount in common. Just as Trump portrays the array of legal challenges he faces as political persecution, Debs and his allies tried to use his legal woes as a rallying cry that would propel his presidential candidacy. They basically used his imprisonment to say he was a victim of the Red Scare and viewed it as a kind of badge of honor, said Peter Dreier, a politics professor at Occidental College. They held rallies all over the country with a prison picture of Debs on the picket signs. He might have gotten more publicity running from prison. You can imagine Trump doing the same thing. Indeed, some of the memes of Trump circulating on social media including a mock-up of a Trump booking mugshot that was never taken look much like lapel buttons that circulated during Debs 1920 campaign showing photos of him along with his federal prisoner number. For President: Convict No. 9653, the buttons said. Trump who famously said he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and not lose a single vote is already trying to convince his supporters that theyre the ones under attack. In reality, theyre not after me, theyre after you. And I just happen to be the person thats in the way, he said at a recent rally in Texas. Debs, too, argued that he was taking the fall because his political movement threatened the entrenched political elites. Its an interesting parallel, said David Stebenne, a professor of history and law at Ohio State University. Debs was viewed by his supporters as a martyr, and the Socialist Party did not trust the mainstream media of 1920, the professor added. No constitutional obstacles Debs case raised a question many are asking now: Can a person run for president, or be elected president, after being convicted of a crime or even while in jail? The answer, then and now, appears to be yes. Theres nothing barring Trump from running. Even a federal conviction doesnt prevent that. Even if he were mentally insane, Mazo said. The Supreme Court has said whats in the Constitution are the only requirements you need to run for federal office. Those requirements are minimal: A person must be at least 35 years old, must be a natural-born citizen and must have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years. The Supreme Court has never weighed in directly on those requirements, Mazo said, but in a 1995 case, the justices rejected an attempt by Arkansas to impose term limits on its U.S. senators and House members. That logic seems to extend to any attempt by a state to declare a presidential candidate ineligible for reasons not spelled out in the Constitution, the professor added. States remain free to exclude felons from the ballot for state and local positions, just not federal ones, Mazo said. In the states, we have different rules, he said. What would happen if a person in prison actually won the presidency is a thornier question. Would the new president have to govern from a jail cell? Probably not. Many legal experts argue that a state-court sentence would have to be held in abeyance. Whether a federal sentence would also have to be postponed is less clear, but the question might not matter if the new president used his pardon power to set himself free or preemptively pardon himself from any pending federal charges. (The pardon power covers federal crimes, but not state crimes like the New York charges for which Trump was indicted this week.) Stebenne noted that Trump has extra motivation to win and dodge whatever charges federal prosecutors may be considering against him. It provides a strange reason to run, but a powerful incentive, the professor said. If Trump attempted to do that, it would probably create some sort of constitutional crisis. An exotic cast of characters After Debs, the history of prisoners seeking the presidency is peppered with eccentric personalities. Conspiracy theorist Lyndon LaRouche ran for the White House eight times, with one of those bids in 1992 coming as he served a 15-year sentence for mail fraud, conspiracy and tax evasion. He was released in 1994 and died in 2019. And theres already one prominent declared candidate running from prison in the 2024 contest: Joseph Maldonado-Passage, better known as Joe Exotic. The former zookeeper and star of the Netflix Tiger King series is running as a Libertarian after filing candidacy papers in February with the Federal Election Commission. Maldonado-Passage is mounting his presidential bid from a medical center for federal inmates in Fort Worth, Texas, where hes serving a 21-year sentence for a slew of animal trafficking and abuse offenses as well as attempting to arrange the murder-for-hire of a rival private zoo owner, Carole Baskin. Despite the fact that it came over a century ago, Debs candidacy may bear the closest resemblance to the one Trump could wind up pursuing if hes jailed before November 2024. One notable parallel is that Debs was imprisoned under one of the same statutes that Trump is now being investigated for potentially violating: the Espionage Act. Debs was accused of violating provisions of the law that prohibited encouraging insubordination in the armed forces or interference with the enlistment of troops. More than a century later, federal prosecutors have indicated in court filings that theyre investigating the presence of classified documents at Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida as a potential violation of another Espionage Act provision barring willful retention of national defense information after a request to return it. No charges have been filed, and Trump has denied wrongdoing. Debs key conviction and his 10-year sentence were upheld by the Supreme Court in an opinion written by Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes. Holmes eventually became one of the courts biggest champions of free expression, but the Debs opinion is now seen as a low point in the protection of the First Amendment during wartime. He was in prison on free-speech principles, Dreier said, noting that when prosecutors had trouble proving exactly what Debs said, he essentially admitted to it. At his trial, Debs declared to the jury: I have been accused of obstructing the war. I admit it. Gentlemen, I abhor war. I would oppose the war if I stood alone." Trumps motivations in the New York hush money scheme that prompted his indictment this week seem considerably less pure, Dreier noted. There are people that admire Trump, he said, but nobody thinks hes going to prison on principle. In 1984, British prime minister Margaret Thatcher was the target of an assassination attempt at the Grand Hotel in Brighton, England. A bomb placed by members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) killed five people and injured more than 30. Thatcher was targeted because of the ongoing British rule over Northern Ireland part of a decades-long armed conflict that has since become known as The Troubles. The IRA promised that they would continue to fight against Thatcher, stating, Today we were unlucky, but remember we only have to be lucky once. You will have to be lucky always. What were The Troubles? They were a long-running insurgency waged in Northern Ireland from the 1960s through the 1990s, fought by Ulster Unionists against Irish Nationalists. I asked Ian McBride, professor of Irish history at the University of Oxford, how we should understand the conflict, and he had this to say: The first political scientist to go to Northern Ireland and study it was a brilliant man named Richard Rose. He went there in the 1960s because he said, not quite in these terms, some places are f***ed up over religion, some are f***ed up over class, some are f***ed up over nationality, and Northern Ireland is f***ed up over all of them. The IRA saw the fight as a war of liberation, the British as a fight against terrorism and for democracy, and others still saw it as class warfare. It became one of the most intractable conflicts in post-WWII Europe and, as McBride said, it was ironically a conflict with low geopolitical stakes: The only other people who cared about it were the Irish, and to some extent, the Americans. British Army Patrol In Bandit Country Around Crossmaglen, County Armagh Bryn Colton/Getty Images Northern Ireland was formed out of the foment of the Irish War for Independence when all of Ireland was under British rule. Facing a guerrilla war that it did not want, Britain proposed peace talks with Irish Republican leaders. Ireland had been split by the British into Northern and Southern Ireland in 1920. Northern Ireland was home to a majority-Protestant population whose allegiance was to Great Britain. The Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 gave Northern Irelands local Parliament the right to remain part of Great Britain, which it did. Southern Ireland became the Irish Free State and had the same-self governing status as Canada and was fully independent within a decade. This divided Irish Republicans, some of whom formed a new Irish Republican Army, fought against the new, independent Irish government, seeking to unify the whole island, and, when defeated, went underground. Story continues As a political entity, Northern Ireland had been designed from the outset to preserve Protestant power. Catholics tended to be poorer and had less access to housing. Gerrymandering in cities like Derry, officially Londonderry, meant that even with a Catholic majority, Protestants retained political power. Voting laws (with a few exceptions) ensured that only people who owned a dwelling were allowed to vote, which meant that renters or unemployed adults could not vote in local elections. This de facto disenfranchised many Catholics. The Royal Ulster Constabulary, then Northern Irelands police force, was frequently accused of brutality against Catholics. Catholic activists in Northern Ireland launched peaceful campaigns in the 1960s to try and bring an end to these forms of discrimination. The Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association modeled its activity on the Civil Rights Movement in the United States: It led strikes, boycotts, and protest marches to try and end housing discrimination, police brutality, and the restrictions on voting rights. Peaceful protest ultimately failed, however, and, according to Boston College history professor Robert Savage, The initial reaction of the State was to denounce [these nonviolent protests] as a group of subversives out to destroy the State. The fact that the [Northern Irish] government was basically incorrigible helped to create an atmosphere where violence seemed inevitable. Fixing smaller issues like job discrimination or police brutality, according to McBride, was doable, but exposed ugly contradictions in Northern Ireland. The State had real difficulties because discrimination against Catholics really went to the heart of what the State was all about. To draw attention to the fact that there were large areas with Catholic majorities where policing wasnt normal, where these communities had never accepted the legitimacy of the State, was a huge embarrassment for the Unionist government. Marches and protests, like those held in Derry in 1968, were banned by the police. When they went forward anyway, they were attacked. Loyalist paramilitaries like the Ulster Volunteer Force began carrying out bombings against power stations, blaming the IRA for the attacks, and Loyalists instigated riots against the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association. If you had to pick an exact beginning of The Troubles, the Battle of the Bogside and the ensuing riots in August of 1969 is a possible starting point. A Protestant march in Derry led to counter-protests by Catholics and when the police attempted to push into Bogside, a Catholic neighborhood, they were forced back by barricades and petrol bombs. The violence revived the nearly moribund IRA, which split later that year between the Official IRA, which wanted to focus primarily on the political process, and the Provisional IRA, which wanted to focus on armed struggle, though both wanted to eject the British and ultimately reunite the island. In response to the August riots (and to defuse demands by Ireland for the United Nations to dispatch peacekeepers to the region), Britain deployed troops to restore order. For a moment, they were welcomed by the Catholics, who distrusted the police and thought the British would protect them from Loyalist mobs. Those hopes quickly evaporated. The Provisional IRAs hope of expelling the British meant that they would never accept British troops in the long run. British military operations like the Falls Curfew, a days-long sweep by troops aimed at confiscating weapons from nationalists, meant house-to-house searches, which led to street battles and a days-long curfew that alienated whatever support they had among nationalists. The Provisional IRA began its own bombing campaign, which initially was aimed primarily at businesses. The Northern Irish government and the British Army responded with an internment campaign, with many of those arrested being previously uninvolved or nonviolent. Protests against the arrest without trial of Catholics and Republicans, which became known as internment, culminated in the Bloody Sunday massacre of 1972, when thousands marched against the internment laws. British army paratroopers opened fire on unarmed protesters, killing 13 people, and later claimed they had been fired upon first. The commanding officer was decorated by Queen Elizabeth II, and it wasnt until 2010 that the British government acknowledged that the shootings were unprovoked. In response to Bloody Sunday, London shuttered Northern Irelands Parliament and assumed direct control of the government. Northern Ireland - The Troubles - Bloody Sunday - Londonderry PA Images/Getty Images Bombings, assassinations, and retaliatory killings were the hallmark of The Troubles, with British security forces detaining, imprisoning, and torturing people to try and stop the fighting. Much of the violence targeted civilians: The Ulster Volunteer Force, a Loyalist paramilitary group, bombed a Catholic pub, McGurks, killing 15 people in 1971, while the IRA bombed pubs in Birmingham, England to wear down British resolve to continue the conflict. Gunrunning became common. The Provisional IRA received arms from Libya in the 1970s and '80s, while Loyalist paramilitaries bought weapons from apartheid South Africa. An estimated 3,720 people were killed during The Troubles and tens of thousands were wounded. In a small place like Northern Ireland, where the population in 1991 was around 1.6 million, this meant the conflict touched many peoples lives. But violence proved to be unable to move the needle on either side. Unionists refused to accept that their way of governing the State had ended. It took time for them to accept that the old political order that guaranteed Ulster Protestant control of the government wouldnt return. Hopes by the Provisional IRA that bombings would erode the British will to continue were not born out either, even after they began carrying out attacks against British soldiers and bombings within Britain. Meanwhile, Britain found itself under increasing criticism globally because of the violence of the occupation. McBride said, The use of what was known as the Five Techniques, which were interrogation methods applied to IRA suspects and which were condemned by the European Court of Human Rights, these sorts of things stained the record of a country, which in spite of its imperial past was seen as a force for liberalism. Members of Sinn Fein, a political party that was closely aligned with the IRA, were banned from having their voices broadcast on television. This meant that Gerry Adams, who was elected to the UK Parliament in 1983, had to be dubbed by an actor for the BBC in news footage so that his voice couldnt be heard. By the 1990s, the opposing sides in the conflict were increasingly open to peace talks and some kind of negotiated settlement. Thatcher was out of power in Britain. McBride observed that she had been so hated by the IRA that her successor had an easier time by virtue of just being somebody different. Savage also noted that the United States played a constructive role in brokering a peace process because it was willing to deal with all of the parties on an equal footing. Peace was slow to come, but it finally came together in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement between Ireland and the United Kingdom. This brought back self-government to Northern Ireland and implemented power-sharing between Protestants and Catholics. It also sought to foster cooperation between North and South by removing a hard border between the two. Today, the peace settlement faces a new threat: English nationalism in the wake of Brexit. Prior to 2016, Anglo-Irish relations were actually quite positive, but Britains withdrawal from the European Union has upended this. Negotiations over how to handle the border are still unfolding. What Brexit has done is its brought back this whole notion of nationalism, Savage said. A majority of voters in Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU, and being forced to leave as part of the United Kingdom has alienated many traditionally Unionist voters in Northern Ireland. In 2022, what would have been politically unthinkable 30 years ago has come to pass: Sinn Fein became the largest party in 2022 in the Assembly in Northern Ireland. I think its inevitable that the island will be reunited at some point in the coming decades, Savage concluded. The Troubles are also instructive today in how we think about violence in the 21st century. The most common point of reference for Americans is their Civil War. But it would be a mistake to think that violence in the United States today will mean uniformed soldiers fighting pitched battles against each other. The Troubles shows us how a society can slide into violence: A paralyzed government, overzealous security forces trying and failing to mediate between sides, and paramilitaries who think they have no other recourse can lock themselves into conflict for years on end. It looks like car bombings, random shootings, and disappearances that go unsolved for decades. For the past few years, people have speculated whether the United States is headed for a civil war. If that comes to pass, our future could look a lot like The Troubles. Stay up-to-date with the politics team. Sign up for the Teen Vogue Take Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue Want to read more Teen Vogue history coverage? An 11-year-old girl died when a train hit her mothers car on the tracks in Redlands, California police reported. The girls mother suffered critical injuries in the crash at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, Redlands police said in a news release. Its not clear how the car ended up on the tracks. The driver of a Metrolink train, which was traveling at 50 mph, spotted the car on the tracks at Alabama Street but could not stop before hitting it, the release said. The collision threw the 11-year-old girl from the car, killing her, police said. She was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger on the train was taken to a hospital with a complaint of pain, the release said. All safety gates and warnings were working properly at the time of the crash, police said. Police ask anyone with information to contact Cpl. Martin Gonzalez at mgonzalez@redlandspolice.org or call Redlands Police Dispatch at 909-798-7681, ext. 1. Redlands is a city of 73,000 people about 65 miles east of Los Angeles. Crane driver dies after crashing into power lines, California firefighters say Body in clandestine grave in womans crawl space leads to arrest, Colorado cops say Golfer rescues driver after car plunges into canal during tournament, CA officials say Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher already has two top Kentucky Derby contenders in Florida Derby winner Forte and Louisiana Derby champion Kingsbarns. He could add a third Saturday. Pletchers Tapit Trice is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the $1 million, Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland and enters with three straight victories. The last of those came in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby on March 11, as the late-running gray son of Tapit charged down the stretch for a 2-length victory over Classic Car Wash. It took him a while to get on track, but I was very impressed down the lane, Pletcher said after the race. He finished up the way we expected him to. He certainly seems like the farther he goes, the stronger he gets. Hes got a big, long stride. Previewing big races: What to know about the 2023 Spring Meet at Keeneland Co-owned by Mandy Pope of Whisper Hill Farm and Antony Beck of Gainesway Stable, Tapit Trice was purchased for $1.3 million at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He raced twice as a 2-year-old at Aqueduct, finishing third in his November debut and then breaking his maiden Dec. 17. Tapit Trice made waves in his 3-year-old debut, an 8-length score on Feb. 4 at Gulfstream. Then came the Tampa Bay Derby victory. Pletcher gave credit to jockey Luis Saez, who also will have the ride in the Blue Grass. Tapit Trice and jockey Luis Saez win the Tampa Bay Derby on March 11 at Tampa Bay Downs. Luis fits him well, Pletcher said. He understands the way he needs to be ridden, and he knows hes not going to come out of the gate quickly. With 50 points, Tapit Trice currently ranks 11th on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard and appears to be safely in the field no matter where he finishes Saturday. Tapit Trice currently ranks fourth on the Daily Racing Forms Kentucky Derby watch list behind Forte, Arkansas Derby winner Angel of Empire and Santa Anita Derby favorite Practical Move. How much are tickets? Here's your price and seating guide for the 2023 Kentucky Derby The Blue Grass winner hasnt gone on to win the Kentucky Derby since Strike the Gold in 1991. However, three of the past five Blue Grass winners have fared well in the Run for the Roses Good Magic (second in 2018), Essential Quality (fourth in 2021) and Zandon (third in 2022). Story continues Tapit Trice faces two possible obstacles Saturday. First, there doesnt appear to be much speed in the Blue Grass, which could compromise his late-running style. Second, he drew the No. 1 post position. Trainer Todd Pletcher watches his horses workout in the morning on the track at Churchill Downs. April 27, 2021 Not exactly the draw we wanted, Pletcher said, but he did win the allowance race at Gulfstream Park from post one. Other top Blue Grass contenders include Verifying (3-1 odds), Raise Cain (9-2) and Blazing Sevens (6-1). Verifying, trained by Brad Cox, enters off a fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 Rebel on Feb. 25 at Oaklawn. A son of Justify, Verifying is 2-1-0 in five career starts. Jog, bit, breeze? Horse racing terms to keep you in the know He still seems to be a little bit green, but hes getting better, Cox said. Hell need to step up on Saturday, and I think he will just based off the way hes training. Raise Cain, trained by Ben Colebrook, won the Grade 3 Gotham on March 4 at Aqueduct. A son of Violence, Raise Cain is 2-1-1 in six career starts. Blazing Sevens is trained by Chad Brown and most recently finished eighth in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on March 4 at Gulfstream. A son of Good Magic, Blazing Sevens is 2-0-1 in five career starts. Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @KentuckyDerbyCJ. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Derby 2023: Tapit Trice is Blue Grass at Keeneland favorite When grocery shoppers scan food packaging labels, what they see are prices and sell-by dates. But what they dont see are the harmful chemicals that may be seeping from the labels into the food, potentially causing long-term health effects for consumers, according to new research. Thermal labels, which are pasted onto the wrapping encasing fresh food, contain the chemical compound bisphenol S (BPS), which may be leaching into fish, poultry, produce and other foods, according to a study published March 15 in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Science & Technology. This is the first study identifying a major, widespread, source of BPS in human diet, Stephane Bayen, an associate professor at McGill University and coauthor of the study, told McClatchy News in an email. This issue is of global concern as thermal labels are used widely on food packaging. BPS has largely replaced BPA in food packaging after the latter was demonstrated to cause health problems and subjected to regulation in the United States and Europe, according to a 2020 study published in the journal Nutrients. But BPS, which may now be present in up to 81% of Americans, has been correlated with similar health effects, such as breast cancer, reproductive defects and nervous system issues, according to the study. Chemical migrates from labels into food One hundred forty samples were taken from six supermarkets in the United States and Canada between 2021 and 2022 for the study, and extractions were conducted to determine the levels of BPS in each, according to researchers. Their research, which involved grinding materials into a powder and placing them into centrifuge tubes for analysis, revealed a relatively high average content of BPS was present in 73% of the thermal labels. Researchers then sought to determine whether the chemical was seeping into food by running a controlled study of packaged fish from the U.S. and Canada. The American fish were sourced from stores in Hudson, Massachusetts, and Raleigh, North Carolina. Story continues A group of fish in direct contact with thermal labels and a group in contact with the plastic wrapping were tested. The initial portions of fish contained no BPS or only trace amounts of the chemical. But the fish touching the plastic had marginally higher levels and the the fish in direct contact with the labels contained significantly higher amounts of the chemical. BPS was found in most thermal price labels on food packaging samples taken from four cities in the United States and Canada, the researchers said. This indicated that BPS indeed migrated from the labels into food, researchers said, adding that other types of packaging, including trays and pads, didnt appear to contain significant levels of the chemical. The amount of BPS present in the materials varied significantly among the six stores, which were all different franchises, the researchers said. They did not name the stores. While BPS is not subject to the same government oversight as BPA, agencies are currently examining the chemicals effects. The European Chemicals Agency announced it is looking into listing BPS as a substance of very high concern in 2022, researchers said. A spokeswoman for the FDA told McClatchy News that in general, the FDA does not comment on specific studies, but evaluates them as part of the body of evidence to further our understanding about a particular issue and assist in our mission to protect public health. The FDA is reviewing the findings of the paper. Evidence of uprising against Nazis is found in the ruins of Warsaw ghetto, experts say 4.0-magnitude quake, aftershocks, rattle Oklahoma. Thought my fan was going to fall Serial rapist indicted in cold cases after lying on firearm form, Virginia cops say Getty Images At just shy of 32 years on the bench, Clarence Thomas is the longest-serving justice currently serving on the U.S. Supreme Court, and nearly his entire tenure has been rife with controversy. From the Anita Hill sexual harassment allegations during his confirmation hearings to the recent reports that he accepted undisclosed luxury gifts from Republican donors, the conservative justice has been a lightning rod of controversy throughout his tenure. Anita Hall Harassment Allegations 1991 Getty Images Lawyer and law professor Anita Hill worked as a legal adviser to Thomas during her time at the U.S. Education Departments Office of Civil Rights and then later at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. According to Hill, Thomas sexually harassed her repeatedly in both posts, making frequent sexual advances and explicit remarks. The FBI questioned Hill about these incidents shortly after President George H.W. Bush nominated Thomas for the Supreme Court in 1991. Her statements were then leaked to the media, prompting further investigations that led to Hill testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Despite Hills testimony, Thomas was confirmed on October 16, 1991, by a vote of 52-48, the slimmest margin for any judge on the court until Brett Kavanaugh s 50-48 vote 27 years later . In his 2007 autobiography, Thomas called Hill his most traitorous adversary and said her claims were politically motivated, an allegation she pushed back against. Failure to Report Wifes Income 2003-2007 Getty Images Thomas wife, attorney and conservative activist Virginia Ginni Thomas, has been at the center of many controversies surrounding her husband, starting with claims that Thomas failed to report more than $686,000 in income that Ginni earned while she worked at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. She received the paychecks between 2003 and 2007, but Thomas financial disclosure forms stated she had no income in that time, the advocacy group Common Cause reported in 2011. Thomas later amended 20 years worth of disclosure forms to correct the omissions. Story continues Affordable Care Act Calls for Recusal 2011 In 2009, Ginni founded Liberty Central, a political advocacy group associated with the Tea Party movement, and said she was working to repeal President Barack Obamas Affordable Care Act health care legislation, which Ginni called unconstitutional law. Two years later, 74 Democratic members of the House of Representatives wrote a letter calling on Thomas to recuse himself from any cases regarding the Act, calling his wifes lobbying work a conflict of interest. Thomas did not recuse himself, and when the Supreme Court upheld the laws constitutionality in 2012, he was among the dissenters in the 5-4 vote . Moira Smith Allegations 2016 In 2016, lawyer Moira Smith alleged that Thomas had groped her during a dinner party in 1999. She said she was inspired to break her 17-year silence after the release of a video featuring thenpresidential candidate Donald Trump bragging about sexually assaulting women. This claim is preposterous, and it never happened, Thomas said of Smiths allegation. In a 2018 op-ed, Smith wrote that she was unsure if speaking out against Thomas was worth it, but she hopes my contribution to this conversation might have pushed it forward in some small way. Wifes Claims About Trumps Election 2020 Getty Images Following Trumps failed reelection bid in 2020, Ginni repeatedly texted Trumps former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, embracing various conspiracy theories and urging him to overturn the election results. Do not concede. It takes time for the army who is gathering for his back, she wrote in one of the messages. Ginni also messaged at least 29 Arizona lawmakers urging them to throw out Joe Biden s victory in the state and choose presidential electors that would support Trump. Never before in our nations history have our elections been so threatened by fraud and unconstitutional procedures, she wrote in one of the emails. A Quinnipiac poll found 52% of Americans believe Thomas should recuse himself from Supreme Court cases related to the 2020 election due to his wifes activities. Legal experts have also said he should recuse himself from cases involving the U.S. Capitol attack by Trump supporters on Jan. 6, 2021. There are no cases currently in front of the court regarding either event. Undisclosed Luxury Gifts 2023 On April 6, 2023, ProPublica reported that Thomas and his wife had taken undisclosed luxury trips from Republican mega-donor Harlan Crow for more than two decades and also spent time at Crows private resort and exclusive retreats. Thomas failed to list these items on his annual financial disclosure reports, which is required by law for Supreme Court justices and other federal judges. Thomas declined to respond to inquiries from ProPublica about the incident. Amid ongoing protests against the construction of a police and fire department training facility near Atlanta, advocates and experts are raising concerns about demonstrators who remain jailed on domestic terrorism charges. Dozens gathered at City Hall last week to oppose the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, informally dubbed "Cop City," a $90 million, 85-acre training space, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Activists have occupied the forested area near the site since late 2021, after the project's lease was approved, because of concerns the facility will destroy important habitat for wildlife and leave the area surrounding South River Forest vulnerable to stormwater flooding, according to a letter signed by multiple environmental groups. A protester was also fatally shot by police in January after allegedly shooting a state trooper. Then in March, 23 people were charged with domestic terrorism. Atlanta police said "violent agitators used the cover of a peaceful protest" to throw large rocks, bricks, Molotov cocktails and fireworks at police officers and destroy multiple pieces of construction equipment with fire and vandalism. Advocates for protesters say scant evidence presented in arrest warrants show the charges are unfounded. Both activists and experts say the charges, which are believed to be one of the first uses of Georgia's recently broadened domestic terrorism law, could be intended to quell legitimate protests. Fifteen of the people arrested, including a legal observer from the National Lawyers Guild, were granted bond last month. The remaining eight were denied bond. "The repression that we're seeing against this political movement is unprecedented," said Marlon Kautz, an organizer with the Atlanta Solidarity Fund, which provides resources to protesters. "Because it's part of a strategy of keeping people in jail for as long as possible, creating headlines with the word 'terrorism' in them and just kind of creating a chilling effect around the movement." Story continues A mourner holds a painting of environmental activist Manuel Teran, who was killed by law enforcement during a raid to clear the construction site of a public safety training facility that activists have nicknamed "Cop City", during a press conference in Decatur, Georgia on February 6, 2023. Domestic terrorism charges could test Georgia law Officials have been labeling environmental activists domestic terrorists and applying a terrorism enhancement to their sentences for decades, said Keith Woodhouse, an associate professor at Northwestern University in Illinois and author of "The Ecocentrists: A History of Radical Environmentalism." Terrorism enhancement: Appeals court upholds 8-year sentence of Iowa activist in Dakota Access Pipeline sabotage Protesters in Georgia have been charged with violating a specific state domestic terrorism law amended in 2017 after a white supremacist killed nine people at a historic Black church in South Carolina. Civil rights groups opposed the law at the time and raised concerns it would be used to restrict freedom of speech and the right to peacefully protest. The arrests are believed to be among the first uses of the law since it was updated, according to Christopher Bruce, policy and advocacy director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia. When asked about the domestic terrorism charges, a spokesperson for the Atlanta Police Department referred to previously released public statements and directed further questions to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. A spokesperson for the GBI also referred to the agency's news releases and declined to comment further on the domestic terrorism charges. Georgia law previously defined domestic terrorism as crimes intended or reasonably likely to injure or kill not less than ten individuals." In 2017, lawmakers removed the 10-victim criteria and redefined the offense as a felony intended to harm or kill people or destroy "critical infrastructure" with the intent to intimate the population, change government policy or affect the government's conduct "by use of destructive devices, assassination, or kidnapping." "Domestic terrorism charges should not exist in the first place," said Bruce, who recently joined Mayor Andre Dickens' task force on the training center. "They quell political speech and there are other ways of handling this rather than locking up protesters and individuals who are simply voicing their concerns on 'Cop City.'" Multiple states have domestic terrorism laws, but there is no national or universally accepted definition of terrorism, which can make using the term subjective, according to David Malet, an associate professor in the justice, law and criminology department at American University in Washington, D.C. "They are not consistent between states so that they at least risk looking very political for the reasons that we're seeing right now," he said. "So when one is particularly broad like this law in Georgia it can certainly be questioned what the people who introduced the law we're trying to achieve." The charge carries a maximum sentence of 35 years in prison and lawmakers are considering classifying domestic terrorism as a serious violent felony, which would mean anyone convicted must serve their full sentence, cant be sentenced to probation for their first offense and cant be paroled until they serve at least 30 years. "One of the big stories coming out of Georgia is the disparate treatment that left-wing extremists get," said Daryl Johnson, a security consultant and former senior analyst for domestic terrorism at the Department of Homeland Security. "It's meant to quell free speech and to send a message to those that are part of the social justice movement that you're going to be treated harshly, you're going to be treated very seriously for whatever interference or protests that you're participating in," he added. 'Cop City' activists plan to fight 'baseless' charges Dozens of environmental and human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and chapters of the National Lawyers Guild signed a letter urging officials to drop the charges, calling them an "escalatory intimidation tactic and a draconian step that seems intended to chill First Amendment protected activity." The law enforcement response to the protests is "the very reason why we are opposed to building a 'Cop City,'" said Kamau Franklin, director of Community Movement Builders, an Atlanta-based organization opposing the project. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr previously told Fox News, "Protesters use words, rioters use violence. And again, in Georgia, you can be charged with domestic terrorism for engaging in this type of behavior." Kautz said many arrest warrants for the protesters don't accuse them of serious crimes, but "guilt by association." Some of the arrest warrants filed in December and January obtained by Grist accuse demonstrators of "participating in actions as part of Defend the Atlanta Forest" a group the documents claim is classified as domestic violent extremists by the Department of Homeland Security citing behavior including criminal trespassing, throwing rocks, possessing incendiary devices and posting on social media. Defend the Atlanta Forest describes itself as a decentralized social movement with no official leadership, "not an organization or group of people." A spokesperson for the DHS said in a statement to USA TODAY the department uses the term to refer generally to individuals who use violence to advance their social or political goals, but does "not classify or designate any groups as domestic violent extremists." Malet said many groups that are generally considered violent extremists don't have formal memberships, "but it's really hard to say an individual unless they've committed an act of terrorism is a terrorist just for being associated with them." Police said 17 of the 23 people arrested after a music festival in early March were wearing muddy clothing and carrying shields, which law enforcement claims is evidence they were among those who attacked the nearby construction site earlier that day, according to arrest warrants obtained by The Associated Press. Warrants for five others don't include details to explain their arrests. Kautz said his organization is working to get a hearing for the demonstrators who are being held without bond and to combat fears of activists who may want to get involved in the demonstrations. "We're quite confident at this point that these charges are baseless, that the prosecution does not have a case to successfully prosecute them," Kautz said. "The real purpose of bringing charges like this is to stoke fear, to make people worry about what could happen to them." Dig deeper Contributing: The Associated Press Contact Breaking News Reporter N'dea Yancey-Bragg at nyanceybra@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @NdeaYanceyBragg . This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Cop City' protests: Advocates dispute domestic terrorism charges DUBLIN, April 6 (Xinhua) -- "The U.S. political system appeared to throw in the towel on any further legislative steps to tackle gun violence," said a recent opinion article carried by The Irish Times, a daily newspaper in Ireland, citing a high-profile shooting incident that occurred last week. On March 27, six people, including three children, were killed in a school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee. "Up to the end of March, there have been 131 mass shooting incidents in the United States, according to the Gun Violence Archive," the article said. "There have been more than 10,200 gun deaths overall -- although more than half of these were cases of suicide." In the aftermath of the Nashville incident, U.S. President Joe Biden "gave a remarkably candid assessment that he was powerless to do any more on gun control," the article said. It said that "throughout his time in the White House, the president has been pushing for the introduction of a ban on assault weapons ... but the measures he pushed for never went far enough." "Up to the start of this year, Democrats controlled the White House and both chambers in the Congress, but it was not enough to overcome Republican opposition to stricter gun control measures. Now with the Republicans in charge in the House of Representatives, the hill to climb to secure further gun control measures has become steeper." "Biden, who himself owns two shotguns, again urged Congress last week to pass additional controls on what he describes as weapons of war being used on the streets or in schools. However, such comments now appear to be more in hope than expectation," the opinion article said. "The politicians will talk about thoughts and prayers and the president will once more call for a ban on high-powered weapons. Time will move on, as will the attention of the media. Families will be left to grieve, and the depressing cycle will continue," it said. Deer graze in the Salt Lake foothills on Feb. 20. Utah DWR officials say Utahs deer population grew by about 10% between 2021 and 2022 as moisture returned. Theyre requesting fewer hunting permits because of snow impacts, though. | Carter Williams, KSL.com Utah wildlife biologists are seeking a reduction in general-season deer hunting permits for the fifth straight year; however, there are signs that the struggling species is improving as the statewide drought weakens. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources unveiled its 2023 hunting permit recommendations on Tuesday, which call for 71,600 general season buck deer permits this fall 1,475 fewer than were issued last year. It comes as Utah's deer population remains tens of thousands shy of the state's goal of 404,900 overall. "The way we hunt buck deer in Utah doesn't drive deer populations, but what happens with deer populations drives how we hunt buck deer," said Dax Mangus, the division's big game coordinator, in a statement. The division is also seeking a general increase in elk hunting permits as a result of a new management plan for the species in the state, among other permit requests. The Utah Wildlife Board is set to vote on the final number of big game hunting permits next month. Addressing Utah's deer Utah wildlife officials say there are an estimated 335,000 deer, up nearly 30,000 from an estimate unveiled in late March 2022 but still about 70,000 below the state's population objective. The state's long-term drought is a major reason for the decline after deer populations had finally neared the goal of over 400,000 deer. However, a shift in precipitation between December 2021 and December 2022 made a big difference in reversing the downward trend. "Our statewide deer population actually grew about 10%," Mangus said in a video explaining the permit change proposal. "Late summer-early fall monsoon moisture patterns that we've seen have been really beneficial and helped deer." But the recommendations are based on a formula of variables to come up with a preferred hunting permit figure, not just the current deer population. He explained that cutting buck permits isn't a "silver bullet" in population growth. Instead, other factors like buck-to-doe ratios, fawn production, as well as doe and fawn survival rates after the winter help determine the permit amount for a season. Story continues These factors were trending in the right direction when data was collected in December. However, the same precipitation helping deer populations recover for the first time in a few years is likely going to impact survival rates in some parts of the state. Some herds are expected to struggle with this year's record snowpack impacting their primary habitat. This is a major reason why the division announced Monday that it will keep 24 wildlife management areas in central and northern Utah closed through the end of April, so wintering deer and other big game animals aren't disturbed during a pivotal time in the year. "There is such a thing as too much of a good thing," Mangus said. "We anticipate to see some declines this year in units in the northern part of the state. But we also do anticipate to see some growth in the southern part." Adding all these factors together, the division came up with a recommendation of 71,600 general season buck permits for this season. About all of the decreases would be in the division's northern and northeast regions, where populations have struggled the most with snow. The division is requesting a reduction of about 4,800 permits in northern Utah and a decrease of another 1,000 in northeast Utah this year. It's also requesting that 3,275 permits be added to southern Utah, which had lost permit totals over the past few years. It's also seeking 450 more permits in southeast Utah, as well as 600 more in central Utah. Utah does offer more than just the standard general season buck deer hunt. The division is requesting 1,305 limited-entry deer permits this year, which would be an increase of 40 permits. It is also seeking to set aside 530 antlerless deer permits, down from 635 last year. Other big game hunting permit changes Elk are a different story, as populations remain nearly 3,000 above the state's objective of 80,000 in the state. Wildlife biologists explain that elk are far less influenced by drought or winter conditions than deer, which is why they are thriving. State wildlife officials are seeking 15,000 general season any elk hunting permits for adults, while there's an unlimited amount of permits for youth hunters, as well as archery and late hunt permits. These changes are based on a new statewide management plan adopted late last year. The state set aside 17,500 permits altogether in this category last year. The division is also proposing that general season spike bull elk hunts remain at 15,000 permits, though this year would include a new cap of 4,500 multiseason permits. There would also be 19,857 antlerless elk permits, up 2,749 permits from 2022. The youth draw-only any bull elk permit would remain at 500 permits, while there would also be 3,336 limited-entry bull elk permits in 2023. Other big game permit proposals for the hunting season include: 75 desert bighorn sheep permits (up four from 2022) 52 Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep permits (down five from 2022) 5 Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep ewe permits (the same as 2022) 177 bison permits (up 19 from 2022) 102 bull moose permits (down three from 2022) 9 antlerless moose permits (half of 2022's amount) 96 mountain goat permits (down seven from 2022) 1,372 buck pronghorn permits (up 123 from 2022) 155 doe pronghorn permits (down 123 from 2022) The division is also seeking some rule changes, including clarifications on the technology used in hunting. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is accepting public comment on the proposed changes leading up to a Utah Wildlife Board meeting on May 4. More information about the proposed changes can be found on the division's website, which is also where public comments can be submitted. Utahns have until 11:59 p.m. on April 25 to provide input on the plan ahead of the May 4 vote. Federal and state regulators are not enforcing rules designed to protect a threatened crayfish in Eastern Kentucky from pollution caused by surface mining, two environmental groups have alleged. The Center for Biological Diversity and Appalachian Voices released a notice Thursday of their intent to sue the U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service if the agencies dont fix the problems within 60 days. The groups notified the agencies by letter Thursday. Nobody, and I mean nobody, is doing their job to guard against extinction here and the process to protect wildlife from coal mining is just being ignored, Perrin de Jong, an attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a news release. The species specifically cited in the notice are the Big Sandy crayfish, which is found in the Big Sandy River watershed in Eastern Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia, and the endangered Guyandotte River crayfish in West Virginia. Both were listed for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act because of impacts and threats to their habitat from coal mining, according to the groups. State and federal agencies are supposed to make sure coal companies have a plan in place to avoid or minimize harm to the crayfish and other species before mining begins, the environmental groups said. That provision has been in place for 30 months as a result of prior litigation by the Center for Biological Diversity and others, according to the release. However, the center and Appalachian Voices found 388 coal-mining facilities in the three states dont have the plans in place. The groups said 84% of the mines within three miles upstream from habitat designated as critical for the crayfish in the three states dont have plans in place, and that mining continues unabated throughout these watersheds. None of the 157 mining facilities in Kentucky that have an impact on critical habitat for the Big Sandy crayfish has a plan in place, according to the notice of intent to sue. Story continues The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet said it believes protection plans might be required on more than 200 surface-mining permits. As a result of the slow nature of the permit-by-permit analysis, the agency said it hadnt yet determined which ones will need a plan, according to the groups notice of intent to sue. The Center for Biological Diversity and Appalachian Voices charged that states arent enforcing the rules; that OSM isnt properly overseeing the states; and that U.S Fish and Wildlife isnt making sure there are plans in place to protect the species. The states and the feds are blowing past the laws clear command to protect these rare crayfish and their homes in Appalachian mountain streams, said de Jong, a Berea College graduate. A spokesman for the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet said the agency had no comment. OSM and U.S. Fish and Wildlife were not immediately available for comment. Surface coal mining can result in pollutants such as sediment and heavy metals getting into streams. The Guyandotte River crayfish has been wiped out in 93% of the places where it was once known to exist, and the Big Sandy crayfish was recently observed in only 34% of the sites surveyed where it was likely to be, according to the two environmental groups. The Bryan Allen Stevenson School of Excellence will likely open a year later than expected. The Georgetown-based charter school requested the delay, according to a press release from the Delaware Department of Education, seeking more time to attract students. By law, all charter schools must have 80% of their enrollment by April 1 to operate the following academic year. BASSE is 76 students short. The Bryan Allen Stevenson School of Excellence will likely open a year later than expected in Delaware. The expected Georgetown-based charter school requested the delay, seeking more time to attract students, and is now slated to open in fall 2024. Delaware State news: DSU Police Chief Bobby Cummings set to step down after student unrest, safety concerns Subscriber exclusive: Are Delaware schools meeting new Black history requirements? Not yet. Here's why The school slated to open for sixth and seventh graders in fall 2023 had a goal of 200 students. Now, 124 who had enrolled for the fall must attend their home feeder schools for the 2023-24 academic year, according to the release, or apply to choice into another school. The DDOE called this "good cause" to allow students to apply after the January deadline. This opening would mark the third charter school for Sussex County. If more students are attracted over the next year, the school will open its doors in September 2024. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Bryan Allen Stevenson School of Excellence delays opening in Sussex Did you hear about the Day of Hate on Feb.25, 2023? No? Thats not surprising because as far as we know, nothing big actually happened. The Anti Defamation League (ADL), a Jewish group that monitors antisemitic activity, picked up chatter among antisemitic hate groups that something was going to happen. In the end, nothing momentous did. Thankfully, the #DayofHate came & went without incident, ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted. Im certain that casting a bright light on their plans scared the bigots & sent them back into the dark where they belong. Our work is far from done, but lets enjoy the moment and remain loud and proud about our faith. A visitor walks past the gates with the death wall behind it in the former Auschwitz concentration camp held by the Nazis in Oswiecim. The concrete execution wall saw thousands of people being shot by the Nazis before the camp was finally liberated. There were incidents that day: Shooting attacks against Jewish people in the streets of Los Angeles. Antisemitic demonstrations in front of a Chabad in Florida. Increases in the distribution of antisemitic propaganda in cities across the nation. Neo-Nazi protestors in New York City spread vile antisemitism and conspiracy theories outside the Broadway revival of "Parade," the play that tells the story of the false conviction and lynching of Leo Frank. But the planned attacks didnt come. As we come to Yom HaShoa, Hebrew for Holocaust Remembrance Day, what does it mean that a Day of Hate was called, but little materialized? Beth Israels annual service in remembrance of the Holocaust, addresses this question. This years theme is Remember the Past, Confront the Present, Hope for the Future. The program will feature professor Maarten Pereboom, dean of the Fulton School of Liberal Arts at Salisbury University. As a professor of history, he has a unique perspective on the Holocaust and for decades has been speaking out about what history has to teach us. Unchecked, hatred can lead to inhumane, horrific treatment of people perceived as others. The attacks in California against Asian Americans are one recent and obvious example. Other examples are the many hate crimes against American citizens of the LGBTQ community. The Washington Blade reports that in nearby D.C. , police data show that 67 anti-LGBTQ hate crimes were reported in 2022 alone. Story continues Beth Israels Holocaust service is an opportunity to reflect on the past: to remember what human beings can do to one another. We will also focus on our present challenges: that there are still people who would advocate for a day of hate. Even on a day of great vigilance, attacks and demonstrations of hate still occur in this country. Our hope is that we can to face these challenges together. Our hope is that we can see each other as different reflections of the image of God, each holy in their own way. Join us on April 16 at 3 p.m. at Beth Israel as we reflect on the past and present and as we continue our campaign against hate. Rabbi Ruth Smith is the rabbi of Beth Israel Congregation of Salisbury This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Holocaust Remembrance: Reflect on the past, present and future Chip Coleman and Martin Troyer make homemade pancakes at the 2022 Sonnenberg Mennonite Church pancake breakfast fundraiser. SUGAR CREEK TWP. For a quarter of a century Sonnenberg Mennonite Church has hosted a pancake breakfast to support various missions across Wayne County. This year is no different. The church will host its 25th annual pancake breakfast from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 15, at 14367 Hackett Road, between Kidron and Dalton. The Power of Democracy: College of Wooster student plans concert benefit for Ukraine Donations of any amount will get supporters a plate of pancakes, sausage and maple syrup, said Ken Neuenschwander, outreach and service chairman for the church. All proceeds will go toward Sonnenberg Mennonite Church outreach, benefitting several area-based missions like Camp Luz (152 Kidron Road) and others that help regions beyond Wayne County like Bridge of Hope in Liberia and the Orrville-based CAMO (Central American Medical Outreach), which has worked to benefit Honduras. "All proceeds will go toward these missions," Neuenschwander said. "All of the food for the event is supported by volunteer efforts, so the money will not go toward the pancake breakfast." Dine-in or drive-thru options Dine-in and drive-thru options are available for donors when entering the parking lot, he said. Both require a donation of any amount. Regardless of how one gets breakfast, everyone will get the same options: pancakes made from scratch, homemade sausage and locally produced syrup. For drinks, coffee and orange juice are available. To take home something extra, anyone can purchase additional syrup and sausage at the venue. Feeling the impact For Haroldo Nunes, the executive director of Open Arms Hispanic Ministries in Orrville, the pancake breakfast is an important event for various missions and Mennonite organizations in the Wayne County area. Not only does it bring communities together, he said, but it raises essential funds for vital programs. "Sonnenberg is a great partner for us because it allows these programs to continue operating," Nunes said. "We only have two fundraisers a year; that's one in the fall and this one in the spring." Story continues 'Becoming an American:' Wayne County group to host dialogue on 'broken' immigration system At Open Arms, Nunes and his small team of three rely on donations from these events to help Hispanic immigrants seeking asylum, citizenship or visas. And his team also helps with day-to-day issues that crop up, he said. This ranges from driving children to schools or families to medical appointments and acting as a translator. "We help people pay rent or their bills," Nunes explained. "We never give the full amount, so they pay a portion. This way we work as a partnership." The funds from the breakfast, he said, will support those who need it most. This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Wayne County church to host April 15 pancake breakfast fundraiser The final jury that will hear testimony in the trial of doomsday cult mom Lori Vallow has been selected at the Ada County Court in Idaho. The jury selection process proved challenging throughout the week as prosecutors and the defence struggled to find jurors who were not familiar with the case which sent shockwaves across America. After five days, the initial pool of 1,800 jurors was narrowed down to 18 on Friday 12 who will deliberate and six alternates. It comes after Ms Vallow lost her bid to block her slain sons grandparents from the trial. The judge ruled on Thursday that Joshua JJ Vallows grandmother Kay Woodcock can hear the entirety of the testimony, while his grandfather Larry Woodcock can be present after his own turn on the stand. Ms Vallow is charged with the murders of her seven-year-old son JJ and 16-year-old daughter, who were last seen alive in September 2019. Their bodies were discovered buried at her new husband Chad Daybells property in Rexburg, Idaho, in June 2020. Ms Vallow is also charged with conspiracy to murder Mr Daybells first wife Tammy. Opening arguments are set to begin on Monday. Key points JJ and Tylees loved ones will be allowed to hear testimony Opening statements to begin on Monday Lori Vallow seen in courtroom sketches A timeline of the trail of mystery deaths surrounding Lori Vallow Final panel of 18 jurors chosen 17:47 , Megan Sheets The prosecution and defence have agreed on 18 people to serve on the jury at Lori Vallows murder trial. The panel is comprised of 10 men and eight women. Twelve of them will be assigned to the main jury and six others will serve as alternates - but that breakdown has yet to be determined. Jury selection resumes 16:20 , Megan Sheets The fourth and likely final day of jury selection is now getting underway. Forty-five prospective jurors will face individual questioning from the prosecution and defence, with both sides given 12 strikes each. In the end, a panel of 18 will be chosen - 12 to deliberate and six to serve as alternates. Story continues Lori Vallow is once again seated at the defence table, dressed in all black, per Fox10s Justin Lum. Court is about to start. Lori is back wearing black, sitting in between her lawyers. We have a zoom shot right in front of her about 15-20 feet away from the camera. | (@jlumfox10) April 7, 2023 JJs grandfather speaks out 15:13 , Megan Sheets Joshua JJ Vallows grandfather Larry Woodcock has spoken out ahead of opening arguments against the woman accused of killing the beloved seven-year-old and his 16-year-old sister Tylee Ryan. Mr Woodcock sat down with Fox10s Justin Lum on Thursday after a judge ruled that he will be allowed to hear testimony during the trial, but only after taking the witness stand himself. Ms Vallows defence team had sought to have Mr Woodcock and his wife Kay Woodcock barred from the trial because they are witnesses. Asked to describe who the defendant is to him, Mr Woodcock said: Lori Vallow is a chameleon. She shows you these beautiful colours. She blends in. Its all rainbows and its glorious. Close the wings, and it can be deadly. As for the trial, he said: Its time. Its truly time. I think Lori has finally backed herself into a corner. Mr Woodcock remembered his grandson, who had autism, as a little bit different but said he loved everybody. JJ was gonna be JJ, he said. The grandfather said that over countless court hearings since Ms Vallows arrest in early 2020, he has never seen her show any emotion. Mr Woodcock said he is confident that Ms Vallow will be convicted, and that he has just one question for her: Why? Lori Vallow loses bid to ban JJs grandparents from trial 12:00 , Andrea Blanco Relatives of JJ and Tylee will be allowed to hear testimony during the trial despite being witnesses themselves, Judge Steven Boyce has ruled. A motion filed on Thursday lists JJs grandmother Kay Woodcock, Ms Vallows sister Summer Shiflet and Tylees brother Colby Ryan as victims in the case, meaning they are entitled to hear testimony. JJs grandfather Larry Woodcock is not considered a victim in the order but will be allowed to hear testimony after he gives his own. Just before the trial kicked off, Ms Vallows defence team moved to ban JJs grandparents from the courtroom, in a move that left the family blindsided and heartbroken. It came after Judge Boyce issued an order ruling that any witnesses in the case will be excluded from the trial and from hearing other witness testimony unless they are victims in the case. Ms Vallows legal team argued that the grandparents do not fall under the legal definition of victims under Idaho law, and so should be excluded from the trials proceedings. Read more: Lori Vallow loses bid to ban slain sons grandparents from murder trial Lori Vallow saw JJ and Tylees deaths as mercy, former friend claims 11:00 , Megan Sheets Lori Vallows trial is expected to delve heavily into her alleged involvement in a doomsday cult led by her husband Chad Daybell. The couple is accused of killing Ms Vallows children shortly after they went missing in September 2019 after becoming convinced the minors were zombies whose dark spirits had to be released through death. Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell refused to cooperate in a desperate cross-state search for Tylee and JJ that went on for nine months before their remains were ultimately found buried on Mr Daybells property in Salem. Speaking in an exclusive interview with NewsNation, a former friend of Ms Vallow, who asked to only be identified as Jess, said that the murder suspect believed she needed to kill her childrens [possessed] bodies to give them a chance to go to heaven. They dont see the zombies as people. They see them the way someone would see a cockroach being controlled by a parasite, she said in the interview aired on Wednesday night. When people have these beliefs, killing the kids, to them, is mercy. The Independents Andrea Blanco has more: Lori Vallow saw her childrens murders as mercy, former friend says What are the charges against Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell? 09:00 , Megan Sheets Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell were charged with the murders of Tylee and JJ in May 2021 almost one year after their bodies had been discovered. They are each charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy and grand theft in connection with the deaths of JJ and Tylee and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the death of Tammy. Mr Daybell is also charged with the first-degree murder of Tammy. The couple are also charged with related financial crimes with Ms Vallow facing grand theft and insurance fraud counts for applying for Social Security benefits for Tylee and JJ after they died. Prosecutors say that the couple conspired with Cox to kill the children and Mr Daybells wife both as part of their doomsday beliefs but also to collect life insurance money and the kids social security and survivor benefits. All of these overt acts were done so Lori could eventually be with Chad Daybell and reportedly complete their mission here on earth, according to an investigative report. This belief system, lust and greed would also lead to the deaths of Tylee Ryan, JJ Vallow and Tammy Daybell. In Arizona, Ms Vallow is also charged with conspiring to murder her ex-husband Charles Vallow with Cox. The Maricopa County Attorneys office announced that it did not charge Mr Daybell as well with Charles murder but only because there is no reasonable likelihood of conviction. Tammy Daybells family blocked from watching murder trial remotely 07:00 , Megan Sheets The elderly parents of Chad Daybells first wife Tammy will not be allowed to virtually attend the Idaho murder trial of his second wife Lori Vallow, who is accused along with Mr Daybell of killing Tammy. Ms Vallow, dubbed the cult mom, is currently facing trial in Ada County Court for allegedly conspiring to kill both Tammy Daybell and her two youngest children, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and seven-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow. Her doomsday preacher husband, who is facing the same charges, will stand a separate trial later this year. The couple is accused of killing Ms Vallows children in September 2019 after they became convinced the minors were zombies whose dark spirits had to be released through death. They then got married in Hawaii and refused to cooperate in a desperate cross-state search for Tylee and JJ that went on for nine months before their remains were ultimately found buried on Mr Daybells property in Salem, Idaho. Just weeks before their wedding, Mr Daybells first wife, Tammy, was also found dead at their Idaho home in October 2019. Tammys death was initially ruled to be from natural causes and his husband declined an autopsy. The case was reopened amid the search for JJ and Tylee, paving the way for conspiracy charges Mr Daybell and Ms Vallow now face in Tammys death. Earlier this year, her brother Benjamin Douglas and father Ronald made requests to view Ms Vallows ongoing trial remotely. The applications were denied last week by Judge Steven Boyce, who is presiding over Ms Vallows case. The Independents Andrea Blanco has more: Lori Vallow judge blocks victims family from watching murder trial remotely ICYMI: The unbelievable case of Lori Vallow, explained 04:00 , Megan Sheets In the three years since the November 2019 wedding of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell, a deeply disturbing tale of suspected murders, unexplained deaths and apocalyptic cult beliefs about killing zombies has come to light. Five people close to the couple have wound up dead. And the couple are now charged with murder. On 3 April 2023, Ms Vallows murder trial began in Idaho. Infamously dubbed the cult mom, she is charged with the murders of her two youngest children Tylee Ryan, 16, and Joshua JJ Vallow, seven, whose remains were discovered on the grounds of Mr Daybells property in Rexburg, Idaho, in June 2020 nine months after their last signs of life. She is also charged with conspiracy to murder Mr Daybells first wife Tammy Daybell. The Independents Rachel Sharp has more: Lori Vallow case summary: Doomsday cult, mystery deaths and kids in a pet cemetery Forty-two jury threshold reached 01:00 , Andrea Blanco After four days of questioning, the number of jurors needed to proceed with the trial was reached on Thursday. The court selected the 42 jurors initially planned and three backups, according to KSLTV. The number will be narrowed down to 18 12 who will deliberate and six alternates. Prosecutors and the defence struggled to find jurors who are not familiar with the case which sent shockwaves across America. They are now preparing to deliver their opening arguments on Monday. Jury selection resumes Thursday 6 April 2023 22:38 , Andrea Blanco Todays the fourth day of jury selection. So far, the court has struggled to find jurors who are not familiar with the case which sent shockwaves across America. Three ore potential jurors need to be selected before the number is narrowed from 42 to 18 12 who will deliberate and six alternates. Todays first sketch of Lori Vallow Thursday 6 April 2023 21:36 , Megan Sheets The first court sketch from todays proceedings has been released: New sketch image of Lori Vallow Daybell with her attorneys pic.twitter.com/r1d8TV7HEv Nate Eaton (@NateNewsNow) April 6, 2023 The unbelievable case of Lori Vallow, explained Thursday 6 April 2023 21:30 , Megan Sheets In the three years since the November 2019 wedding of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell, a deeply disturbing tale of suspected murders, unexplained deaths and apocalyptic cult beliefs about killing zombies has come to light. Five people close to the couple have wound up dead. And the couple are now charged with murder. On 3 April 2023, Ms Vallows murder trial began in Idaho. Infamously dubbed the cult mom, she is charged with the murders of her two youngest children Tylee Ryan, 16, and Joshua JJ Vallow, seven, whose remains were discovered on the grounds of Mr Daybells property in Rexburg, Idaho, in June 2020 nine months after their last signs of life. She is also charged with conspiracy to murder Mr Daybells first wife Tammy Daybell. The Independents Rachel Sharp has more: Lori Vallow case summary: Doomsday cult, mystery deaths and kids in a pet cemetery Court resumes fourth day of jury selection Thursday 6 April 2023 20:30 , Megan Sheets The fourth day of jury selection is getting underway in the Ada County Courthouse. Proceedings were set to resume at 1.30pm local time, as the prosecution and defence continue working to whittle down the jury pool. So far, 39 potential jurors have been chosen out of a total 42 needed to move to the next stage of selection. In that stage, both sides will get the chance to question prospective jurors individually and strike 12 each that they do not want on the panel. In the end, 18 jurors will serve on the panel - 12 to deliberate and six alternates. Judge blocks family of Chad Daybells slain wife from watching murder trial remotely Thursday 6 April 2023 19:45 , Megan Sheets The elderly parents of Chad Daybells first wife Tammy will not be allowed to virtually attend the Idaho murder trial of his second wife Lori Vallow, who is accused along with Mr Daybell of killing Tammy. Ms Vallow, dubbed the cult mom, is currently facing trial in Ada County Court for allegedly conspiring to kill both Tammy Daybell and her two youngest children, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and seven-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow. Her doomsday preacher husband, who is facing the same charges, will stand a separate trial later this year. The couple is accused of killing Ms Vallows children in September 2019 after they became convinced the minors were zombies whose dark spirits had to be released through death. They then got married in Hawaii and refused to cooperate in a desperate cross-state search for Tylee and JJ that went on for nine months before their remains were ultimately found buried on Mr Daybells property in Salem, Idaho. Just weeks before their wedding, Mr Daybells first wife, Tammy, was also found dead at their Idaho home in October 2019. Tammys death was initially ruled to be from natural causes and his husband declined an autopsy. The case was reopened amid the search for JJ and Tylee, paving the way for conspiracy charges Mr Daybell and Ms Vallow now face in Tammys death. Earlier this year, her brother Benjamin Douglas and father Ronald made requests to view Ms Vallows ongoing trial remotely. The applications were denied last week by Judge Steven Boyce, who is presiding over Ms Vallows case. The Independents Andrea Blanco has more: Lori Vallow judge blocks victims family from watching murder trial remotely Lori Vallow saw her children as zombies, not people, former friend claims Thursday 6 April 2023 18:44 , Megan Sheets Lori Vallows trial is expected to delve heavily into her alleged involvement in a Doomsday cult led by her husband Chad Daybell. The couple is accused of killing Ms Vallows children shortly after they went missing in September 2019 after becoming convinced the minors were zombies whose dark spirits had to be released through death. Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell refused to cooperate in a desperate cross-state search for Tylee and JJ that went on for nine months before their remains were ultimately found buried on Mr Daybells property in Salem. Speaking in an exclusive interview with NewsNation, a former friend of Ms Vallow, who asked to only be identified as Jess, said that the murder suspect believed she needed to kill her childrens [possessed] bodies to give them a chance to go to heaven. They dont see the zombies as people. They see them the way someone would see a cockroach being controlled by a parasite, she said in the interview aired on Wednesday night. When people have these beliefs, killing the kids, to them, is mercy. The Independents Andrea Blanco has more: Lori Vallow saw her childrens murders as mercy, former friend says JJ and Tylees loved ones will be allowed to hear testimony Thursday 6 April 2023 17:24 , Megan Sheets Relatives of JJ and Tylee will be allowed to hear testimony during the trial despite being witnesses themselves, Judge Steven Boyce has ruled. A motion filed on Thursday lists JJs grandmother Kay Woodcock, Ms Vallows sister Summer Shiflet and Tylees brother Colby Ryan as victims in the case, meaning they are entitled to hear testimony. JJs grandfather Larry Woodcock is not considered a victim in the order but will be allowed to hear testimony after he gives his own. Just before the trial kicked off, Ms Vallows defence team moved to ban JJs grandparents from the courtroom, in a move that left the family blindsided and heartbroken. It came after Judge Boyce issued an order ruling that any witnesses in the case will be excluded from the trial and from hearing other witness testimony unless they are victims in the case. Ms Vallows legal team argued that the grandparents do not fall under the legal definition of victims under Idaho law, and so should be excluded from the trials proceedings. BREAKING: Court appoints Kay Woodcock the representative for JJ Vallow and Summer Shiflet the representative for Tylee Ryan. pic.twitter.com/9X6Y4XaI2k | (@jlumfox10) April 6, 2023 JJ and Tylees case has dragged on for years Thursday 6 April 2023 15:28 , Andrea Blanco The trial of the doomday cult couple has stalled for the past few years in part due to the Covid-19 pandemic, mental incompetence and legal wranglings. Ms Vallow has been behind bars since January 2020 when she was arrested in Hawaii and extradited to Idaho for failing to meet a court order to present her children to authorities. Mr Daybell has been in prison since the childrens remains were discovered in June 2020. The case was largely put on hold when Ms Vallow was found not mentally competent to stand trial. She then spent almost a year at a mental health facility before she was ruled competent in May 2022 and the case proceeded through the courts. So far, the pair are yet to turn on each other and have both pleaded not guilty. However, that could all be about to change. In March, an Idaho judge ruled that Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell will be tried separately for the murders prompting Mr Daybells case to be pushed back to an unconfirmed date while jury selection gets under way on 3 April in Ms Vallows trial. The death penalty has now been taken off the table for Ms Vallow but not for Mr Daybell. If found guilty, Ms Vallow faces life in prison. Lori vallow seen in court sketches Thursday 6 April 2023 14:00 , Andrea Blanco (Ada County Court House) (Ada County Court House) (Ada County Courthouse) Opening statements to begin on Monday Thursday 6 April 2023 13:30 , Rachel Sharp Opening statements are set to begin on Monday in Lori Vallows murder trial as jury selection draws to a close. By the end of Wednesday, the jury pool had been narrowed down to 39 potential jurors. Only three more potential jurors are needed to reach the required number of 42 before the defence and prosecution will begin peremptory challenges. Ultimately, the court needs 12 jurors and six alternates. District Judge Steven Boyce expects the jury to be selected by the end of the week before opening arguments begin at 8.30am local time on Monday. Lori Vallow seen smiling and laughing in police interview hours after husbands death Thursday 6 April 2023 13:00 , Andrea Blanco In 2021, police in Arizona released a trove of evidence from their investigation into the 2019 homicide of Ms Vallows fourth husband, Charles Vallow. Mr Vallow, 62, was shot dead by Ms Vallows brother Alex Cox in July 2019 after an argument, and his death was ruled a homicide by an Arizona coroner in 2021. Mr Cox claimed he fired in self-defence, and died in 2019 of natural causes before charges could be brought. Ms Vallow was then charged with conspiracy in connection with her late husbands death. Months after the video was taken, she and her fifth husband, Chad Daybell were also accused of murdering her two children Tylee, 17, and JJ Ryan, 7. Lori Vallow laughs during a police interview after her husbands homicide (Chandler PD) In the video released by the Chandler Police Department this week, Ms Vallow tells a detective she had been seeking a divorce from her husband of 14 years. I dont like him, and thats just how it is, Ms Vallow says. She said Mr Vallow had favoured her younger child JJ, a special needs student, and often fought with her older daughter Tylee. In the video, she also laughed and joked about her estranged husband just hours after his death. Lori Vallow appears to wipe away tears during jury selection Thursday 6 April 2023 12:30 , Rachel Sharp Lori Vallow appeared to become emotional during jury selection in her murder trial this week, as she was spotted wiping her eyes when the court heard about graphic images of her slain children. JJ and Tylee were both found buried on the grounds of Chad Daybells property in June 2020. During jury selection, prospective jurors were told that they would see graphic photos of the childrens remains if selected to sit on the panel. At that point, Ms Vallow was seen wiping her eyes. A new sketch from our courtroom artist of Lori Vallow Daybell wiping her eyes or cleaning her glasses. This happened as the prosecution mentioned to potential jurors that they will see autopsy photos of children during the trial. pic.twitter.com/3Qady1G1Q7 Nate Eaton (@NateNewsNow) April 5, 2023 Lori Vallows surviving adult son was charged with domestic violence sexual assault before case dismissed Thursday 6 April 2023 12:00 , Andrea Blanco Colby Ryan, Ms Vallows only living child, was arrested in Arizona and booked into the Maricopa County Jail on 4 September. He was charged with two counts of domestic violence/sexual assault. According to court documents obtained by Fox10 Phoenix, the incident that prompted the charges took place on 31 August but was not reported until 2 September. Investigators claim Mr Ryan visited the undisclosed victims home and they watched TV together before engaging in consensual romantic contact. Colby Ryan, the son of Lori Vallow, is accused of raping a woman in Arizona and is being held on a $10,000 bond (Maricopa County Sheriffs Office) At some point the alleged victim wanted to stop, and claims they expressed that to Mr Ryan several times. The alleged victim claims Mr Ryan continued to touch her sexually without her consent. The woman said she told Mr Ryan that she was not ok with his alleged actions and asked him for space after the incident. She claims in the court documents that this prompted Mr Ryan to apologise and begin crying. The charges were dismissed without prejudice in September. Victims family banned from joining case remotely Thursday 6 April 2023 11:30 , Rachel Sharp Family members of one of Lori Vallows alleged victims have been banned from joining the trial remotely, according to a report. Ms Vallow is charged with conspiracy to murder Tammy Daybell the wife of her new husband Chad Daybell who died suddenly in her sleep aged 49 in October 2019. The trial in Ada County is not being live-streamed. Tammys youngest brother Benjamin Douglas and elderly father Ronald both filed requests to Judge Steven Boyce asking that they be able to attend the trial virtually because they live in Utah, reported DailyMail.com. In the request, the family members said they would be happy to comply with any and all guidelines or rules set forth by the court in order to attend virtually. However the judge denied the request last week. WATCH: Lori Vallow's husband cornered and quizzed on whereabouts of kids Thursday 6 April 2023 11:00 , Andrea Blanco Lori Vallows friend says doomsday cult mom sees death as mercy' Thursday 6 April 2023 10:36 , Rachel Sharp Doomsday cult mom Lori Vallow sees death as mercy, according to a former friend who spoke out as the mother-of-three is on trial for murder. The woman, identified only as Jess, told NewsNation that because of her and her husband Chad Daybells cult beliefs killing the kids, to them, is mercy. As disturbing as that is and hard as that is to wrap your mind around it, that is why someone who spent all these years being kind and loving could then do that, she said. Jess added: They dont see the zombies as people. They see them the way someone would see a cockroach being controlled by a parasite. What happened to Chad Daybells first wife? Thursday 6 April 2023 10:00 , Andrea Blanco Mr Daybell married his first wife Tammy in 1990 and they had five children together. They also founded a publishing company together the company that released his doomsday books. Just one month after the children vanished on 19 October 2019 Tammy, an otherwise healthy 49-year-old, died suddenly in her sleep. In a bizarre twist, her death came just 10 days after she had called 911 to report someone shooting at her with a paintball gun in the driveway of their home. Despite the mysterious circumstances, her husband declined an autopsy and her death was ruled natural causes. Tammy and Chad Daybell were married in 1990. He is now accused of conspiring with Lori Vallow to kill her Tammy and Chad Daybell were married in 1990. He is now accused of conspiring with Lori Vallow to kill her (Facebook) It was only after the two children were reported missing and authorities began delving into Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell, their sudden remarriage and bizarre cult beliefs that questions began being asked about her death. Investigators exhumed her body for an autopsy in December 2020. Once again, officials have not revealed how Tammy died. But her husband and his new wife are now charged with her murder, with prosecutors alleging that the couple conspired with Cox to kill the 49-year-old. WATCH: Moment Lori Vallows murdered daughter talks to police in unearthed video Thursday 6 April 2023 09:00 , Andrea Blanco A timeline of the trail of mystery deaths surrounding Lori Vallow Thursday 6 April 2023 08:00 , Andrea Blanco More than three years after her children were last seen alive, doomsday cult mom Lori Vallow is about to finally stand trial for their murders. Tylee Ryan, 16, and Joshua JJ Vallow, 8, vanished without a trace in September 2019, sparking a multi-state search while their mother appeared carefree marrying her new husband Chad Daybell on a beach in Hawaii. The childrens bodies were finally discovered nine months later buried in a pet cemetery on Mr Daybells property in Idaho. The Independents Rachel Sharp has more: Lori Vallow: A timeline of mystery deaths surrounding the doomsday cult mom ICYMI: What happened to Tylee and JJ? Thursday 6 April 2023 07:00 , Andrea Blanco JJ and Tylee were last seen in September 2019, weeks after the family moved to Rexburg, Idaho, following Ms Vallows husband Charles Vallows fatal shooting by her brother during a supposed domestic argument for which she also faces conspiracy to murder charges in Arizona. Ms Vallow is believed to have moved to be closer to Mr Daybell, an alleged cult leader she married in November of that year. While the children were never reported missing by their mother, police began investigating their whereabouts in late November 2019 after a family member raised concerns. JJ and Tylee were ultimately found buried on Mr Daybells property in Salem, Idaho, in June 2020. They are believed to have been killed in the days after they went missing. Lori Vallow tries to get slain sons grandparents banned from her murder trial Thursday 6 April 2023 06:00 , Andrea Blanco Cult mom Lori Vallow is trying to get the grandparents of her slain son banned from her murder trial, in a move that the family members say has left them blindsided and heartbroken. Ms Vallows trial is set to begin on Monday in a court in Idaho, where she faces life in prison for the murders of her two children Tylee Ryan, 16, and Joshua JJ Vallow, seven. Tylee and JJ were last seen alive in September 2019 with their remains found buried on the grounds of her new husband doomsday cult author Chad Daybells property in Rexburg, Idaho, in June 2020. Ms Vallow is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy and grand theft in connection with the deaths of JJ and Tylee and is also charged with conspiracy to murder Mr Daybells first wife Tammy Daybell. Now after delays brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic and Ms Vallow being admitted to a psychiatric facility for almost a year jury selection is set to begin on Monday in her trial. However, JJs grandparents Kay and Larry Woodcock may no longer be able to attend the roughly 12-week trial due to a motion filed by Ms Vallows defence attorneys seeking to ban them from the courtroom. The Independents Rachel Sharp has the full story: Cult mom Lori Vallow tries to get slain sons grandparents banned from murder trial JJ and Tylees deaths explored in Netflix documentary Thursday 6 April 2023 05:00 , Andrea Blanco The Netflix documentary Sins of Our Mother delves thoroughly into the bizarre string of murders around the couple and their extreme religious beliefs around the end of the world. In the three-part series, people close to the case recount how Ms Vallow met her doomsday preacher husband and how they allegedly planned to kill the children after they became convinced the minors were zombies whose dark spirits had to be released through death. Jury selection to continue on Thursday Thursday 6 April 2023 04:00 , Andrea Blanco So far, 39 Jurors have been selected. Three panels of jurors were questioned during voir dire on Wednesday. Forty-two jurors will be picked. The number will then be brought down to 18 12 who will make up the jury and 6 alternates. Jury selection is expected to resume at 8.30am MDT. ICYMI: The charges against Lori and Chad Vallow Thursday 6 April 2023 03:00 , Andrea Blanco Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell were charged with the murders of Tylee and JJ in May 2021 almost one year after their bodies had been discovered. They are each charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy and grand theft in connection with the deaths of JJ and Tylee and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the death of Tammy. Mr Daybell is also charged with the first-degree murder of Tammy. The couple are also charged with related financial crimes with Ms Vallow facing grand theft and insurance fraud counts for applying for Social Security benefits for Tylee and JJ after they died. Prosecutors say that the couple conspired with Cox to kill the children and Mr Daybells wife both as part of their doomsday beliefs but also to collect life insurance money and the kids social security and survivor benefits. All of these overt acts were done so Lori could eventually be with Chad Daybell and reportedly complete their mission here on earth, according to an investigative report. This belief system, lust and greed would also lead to the deaths of Tylee Ryan, JJ Vallow and Tammy Daybell. In Arizona, Ms Vallow is also charged with conspiring to murder her ex-husband Charles Vallow with Cox. The Maricopa County Attorneys office announced that it did not charge Mr Daybell as well with Charles murder but only because there is no reasonable likelihood of conviction. Chad Daybell asked for separate trial from wife Thursday 6 April 2023 02:00 , Andrea Blanco Chad Daybell, the husband of so-called cult mom Lori Vallow requested last year to face his own trial for the murder of her two children, rather than in conjunction with his wife. In a court filing to Idaho Judge Steven Boyce in September, Mr Daybells defence asked that his trial be held independently from Ms Vallows and that it be moved to October 2023, East Idaho News reported. Mr Daybell, 54, and Ms Vallow, 49, are charged with conspiring to kill her two youngest children, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and seven-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow, along with his first wife Tammy. Witness list has been sealed in high-profile case Thursday 6 April 2023 01:00 , Andrea Blanco Which individuals will take the stand to testify in the high-profile case remains unclear after the witness list was sealed by the judge last month. Judge Steven Boyce issued the ruling in order to preserve the right to a fair trial, the court order reads. JJs grandparents are expected to be called as witnesses hence the legal wrangling between them and Lori Vallows team about whether or not they can attend the trial. JJ and Tylees case has dragged on for years Thursday 6 April 2023 00:00 , Andrea Blanco The trial of the doomday cult couple has stalled for the past few years in part due to the Covid-19 pandemic, mental incompetence and legal wranglings. Ms Vallow has been behind bars since January 2020 when she was arrested in Hawaii and extradited to Idaho for failing to meet a court order to present her children to authorities. Mr Daybell has been in prison since the childrens remains were discovered in June 2020. The case was largely put on hold when Ms Vallow was found not mentally competent to stand trial. She then spent almost a year at a mental health facility before she was ruled competent in May 2022 and the case proceeded through the courts. So far, the pair are yet to turn on each other and have both pleaded not guilty. However, that could all be about to change. In March, an Idaho judge ruled that Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell will be tried separately for the murders prompting Mr Daybells case to be pushed back to an unconfirmed date while jury selection gets under way on 3 April in Ms Vallows trial. The death penalty has now been taken off the table for Ms Vallow but not for Mr Daybell. If found guilty, Ms Vallow faces life in prison. Juror excused because wife is crime junkie' Wednesday 5 April 2023 22:54 , Andrea Blanco The juror reportedly said he cant get away from her, prompting laughs in the courtroom, including Ms Vallow, according to FOX10. Thirty-nine jurors chosen Wednesday 5 April 2023 22:11 , Andrea Blanco Three more jurors need to be picked from the third group today. Woman excused from jury pool due to hardship Wednesday 5 April 2023 20:40 , Andrea Blanco The woman says she is employed and also has to care for her children. New court sketches released Wednesday 5 April 2023 20:02 , Andrea Blanco (Ada County Courthouse) Seven more jurors needed Wednesday 5 April 2023 19:29 , Andrea Blanco So far, 35 potential jurors have been chosen out of a total 42 needed to move to the next stage of selection. In the end, 18 jurors will serve on the panel - 12 to deliberate and six alternates. Dozens of jurors have thus far been excused for either prior knowledge of the high-profile case or expressing concern about balancing personal and work responsibilities with the trial, which could last up to eight weeks. Thirty-two jurors chosen so far Wednesday 5 April 2023 18:21 , Andrea Blanco One of the jurors was excused after writing, If your child was missing, why would you go to Hawaii?, in the questionnaire. Other jurors dismissed during voir dire had been exposed to the case in the media. Mother-of-five excused from jury pool Wednesday 5 April 2023 17:12 , Andrea Blanco According to FOX10 reporters in the courtroom, the woman became emotional just thinking about seeing autopsy pictures of JJ and Tylee. ICYMI: The charges against Lori and Chad Vallow Wednesday 5 April 2023 16:27 , Andrea Blanco Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell were charged with the murders of Tylee and JJ in May 2021 almost one year after their bodies had been discovered. They are each charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy and grand theft in connection with the deaths of JJ and Tylee and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the death of Tammy. Mr Daybell is also charged with the first-degree murder of Tammy. The couple are also charged with related financial crimes with Ms Vallow facing grand theft and insurance fraud counts for applying for Social Security benefits for Tylee and JJ after they died. Prosecutors say that the couple conspired with Cox to kill the children and Mr Daybells wife both as part of their doomsday beliefs but also to collect life insurance money and the kids social security and survivor benefits. All of these overt acts were done so Lori could eventually be with Chad Daybell and reportedly complete their mission here on earth, according to an investigative report. This belief system, lust and greed would also lead to the deaths of Tylee Ryan, JJ Vallow and Tammy Daybell. In Arizona, Ms Vallow is also charged with conspiring to murder her ex-husband Charles Vallow with Cox. The Maricopa County Attorneys office announced that it did not charge Mr Daybell as well with Charles murder but only because there is no reasonable likelihood of conviction. What happened to Tylee and JJ? Wednesday 5 April 2023 15:45 , Andrea Blanco JJ and Tylee were last seen in September 2019, weeks after the family moved to Rexburg, Idaho, following Ms Vallows husband Charles Vallows fatal shooting by her brother during a supposed domestic argument for which she also faces conspiracy to murder charges in Arizona. Ms Vallow is believed to have moved to be closer to Mr Daybell, an alleged cult leader she married in November of that year. While the children were never reported missing by their mother, police began investigating their whereabouts in late November 2019 after a family member raised concerns. JJ and Tylee were ultimately found buried on Mr Daybells property in Salem, Idaho, in June 2020. They are believed to have been killed in the days after they went missing. Jury selection to resume today Wednesday 5 April 2023 14:52 , Andrea Blanco The trial began Monday at the Ada County Court, with an initial pool of 1,800 prospective jurors. So far, 30 potential jurors have been chosen out of a total 42 needed to move to the next stage of selection. In the end, 18 jurors will serve on the panel - 12 to deliberate and six alternates. Dozens of jurors have thus far been excused for either prior knowledge of the high-profile case or expressing concern about balancing personal and work responsibilities with the trial, which could last up to eight weeks. WATCH: Moment Chad Daybell is confronted over missing children Wednesday 5 April 2023 14:00 , Andrea Blanco In February 2020 five months after the children were last seen alive Lori Vallow was arrested in Hawaii on charges of child abandonment and desertion. She was also charged with resisting officers, criminal solicitation to commit a crime and contempt of court and was held on $5m bond before being extradited back to Idaho. Following her arrest, Chad Daybell was confronted by an ABC News journalist who asked if the children were safe. He refused to answer. Watch that moment below: New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a bill to intended to prevent prescribed burns from becoming wildfires. The bill's passage comes about a year one such burn resulted in a wildfire that burned hundreds of thousands of acres. The Calf Canyon Hermits Peak Fire, stoked after a prescribed burn by U.S. Forest Service got out of control in April 2022, burned a total of 341,735 acres in northern New Mexico by the time it was contained, displacing residents and devastating infrastructure. This devastation led Sen. Ron Griggs (R-34) of Alamogordo to sponsor Senate Bill 21 during this years legislative session, to ban the use of prescribed burns during days when red flag wind warnings are issued by the National Weather Service. More: Republican-backed oil and gas bill opposed by New Mexico Democrats in Congress SB 21 passed both the House and Senate unanimously during the 60-day session and was signed into law by Lujan Grisham Tuesday. During debate in committee, SB 21 was altered from its original language that placed a ban on the practice between March and May, as the spring months are known in New Mexico for high winds, warming temperatures and little moisture. Prescribed burns are purposeful fires set by land managers government agencies, ranchers or other landowners to manage vegetation. More: Legislator, environmentalists urge governor to sign bill changing State Game Commission Representatives of the agriculture industry argued during the session that a broad ban on the burns during the spring would impede their operations. The bill was amended in a rare bipartisan move. With its passage, Griggs said the bill took needed action to prevent future wildfires like the Calf Canyon Hermits Peak Fire. Lawmakers also passed legislation to provide $100 million in state loans to communities affected by the blaze, to be reimbursed when federal relief dollars are received. More: A look at what bills impacting Carlsbad passed and died in 2023 legislative session Story continues This would hasten recovery, but Griggs said more effort was needed to prevent wildfires and their destruction. "I want to thank the Governor and my colleagues in the Senate and House who heard the cries of communities that have been devastated by out-of-control prescribed burns, Griggs said upon the bill signing. Though the bill had a rough start, the legislature rallied around this cause to pass the bill with unanimous, bipartisan support, demonstrating our commitment to preventing the next devastating wildfire. More: Pollution bills struggle in New Mexico legislature. Here's what passed and failed Marking the one-year anniversary of the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Fire, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan met with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in Las Vegas, a community that face the brunt of the blazes impacts. Lujan touted the federal Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act, passed by Congress last year to provide $3.95 billion in federal relief dollars for affected communities. It also established the Hermits Peak Claims Office within the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). More: Will a nuclear waste project move forward despite New Mexico's bill aiming to block it? That bill was sponsored by Lujan and U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM), and supported by U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM). Today, New Mexico marks a solemn anniversary of the Hermits Peak Fire that upended the lives of far too many New Mexicans, Lujan said in a Thursday statement. From burning family homes, disrupting small businesses, and impacting our farmers and ranchers, this fire started by the federal government, and the flooding that followed, devastated the people of New Mexico and our way of life. More: Renewable energy now required on New Mexico state land after Lujan Grisham signs bill He called on the federal government to work closely with New Mexicans rebuilding in the aftermath of the tragedy. As we reflect on this challenging time, its clear this once-in-a-generation fire deserves a robust response, Lujan said. Now, the federal government must remain engaged and work together with our local communities to get this wildfire relief out to New Mexicans that need to rebuild and recover. As wildfire season started again this spring, New Mexicos Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department urged residents to limit flammable debris like pine needs and other vegetation that can collect in gutters and around properties. Debris should be kept at least 50 feet from a home, EMNRD reported, and all trees and shrubs should be removed within 30 feet. Trees and shrubs should be pruned so there is at least a 10-foot gap between the outermost branches, and lower branches should be removed up to 10 feet off the ground, read the report. Most homes ignited by wildfires are caused by embers or small flames, read a statement from EMNRD. Homeowners can minimize property damage and protect firefighters by taking steps on and around buildings in the short and long-term. Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Lujan Grisham signs burn ban into law to prevent New Mexico wildfires Police in New Mexico fatally shot a man Wednesday night after responding to the wrong house during a domestic violence call, authorities said, in what the police chief described as a "chaotic scene." The shooting took place shortly before midnight on Wednesday as officers from the local Farmington Police department responded to the call, according to a statement released by the state's Department of Public Safety. The statement said the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau had been asked to investigate the incident. "Once on scene, officers mistakenly approached" the wrong address and knocked on the door. The statement from the state public safety authority said the officers identified themselves as police, but no one answered. The statement said officer body camera video shows that as the officers backed away from house, the homeowner opened the screen door armed with a handgun. One or multiple officers fired at least one round, striking the homeowner, who police identified as 52-year-old Robert Dotson. After Dotson was shot, his wife emerged in the doorway and opened fire with a handgun, the public safety agency said, prompting return fire from the officers. "Once she realized that the individuals outside the residence were officers, she put the gun down and complied with the officer's commands," according to the statement. Dotson was pronounced dead at the scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator. His wife, who was uninjured, has not been charged with a crime. In a video statement, Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe acknowledged the mistake and said he was "heartbroken by the circumstances." He said after the officers release statements, body camera video will be released within a few days, showing a "chaotic scene." Hebbe said it was a "very dark day" for the Dotson family, the community and the police department. "I extend nothing but my deepest condolences to the Dotson family," he said. "There's nothing I can say that will make this better. It's a terrible event, and I'm heartbroken by it." Story continues Israel targets Hamas in Lebanon and Gaza in latest airstrikes U.S. job growth slows in March, unemployment rate remains relatively steady White House report on chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal places blame on Trump administration This Sunday, the Rev. Rafael Rodriguez will look out at parishioners lining the pews of St. Michael Catholic Church and see the themes of Easter reflected back at him. St. Michael, Milwaukees most multicultural Catholic church, where six languages are spoken in a single Mass, is a hub of activity for the citys vibrant and growing community of immigrants and refugees from southeast Asia and Latin America. Many fled violence. Some spent years in refugee camps before arriving in the U.S. We all live through that experience of (Christ's) Passion, death and resurrection in different challenges of life, Rodriguez said. For them, its been more dramatic. That's especially true for refugees from Myanmar, who make up a sizable portion of the congregation, Rodriguez said. They escaped ethnic and religious persecution in their towns and villages, and another kind of struggle as they tried to find their footing in refugee camps in Malaysia and Thailand. Their hopeful resurrection moment of learning theyd been selected to resettle in the U.S. was followed by more hurdles as they adjusted to American life. Now, You see resurrection moments in these children growing up and persevering in their faith and their values and doing the best they can, Rodriguez said. On Easter, hell remind the worshipers that God has provided for them in difficult times, and that their resilient faith should be a source of hope in the future. For seven years, Rodriguez, a native of Venezuela, has pastored this diverse parish community in the Midtown neighborhood. Half of the parishioners are under 35 years old. Hes felt the universality of the Catholic Church right here in Milwaukee. I didnt have to go into the world to meet these people. The world came to me, Rodriguez said, paraphrasing a sentiment hed heard another priest say. The Rev. Rafael Rodriguez blesses palm branches for the Palm Sunday Mass at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Milwaukee. Many parishioners are southeast Asian immigrants and refugees from Laos and Myanmar. Multilingual services bring parish together At Palm Sunday Mass, so many families packed into the pews that ushers set up folding chairs in the back. Children waving palm branches could be found in most rows, and teens and young adults costumed in Biblical outfits acted out the Passion story for gathered worshipers. Story continues Swooping red banners, symbolic for the holiday, hung over the space where German-speaking faithful gathered 140 years ago. When Rodriguez stood on the front steps of the church to bless the palms, he said the blessing in English and Spanish, and interpreters repeated it in four other languages. The second reading was in Hmong; the communion song was in Burmese. A quiet cacophony of voices rumbled together when the pastor the Rev. Chakrit Micaphitak, one of the only Hmong Catholic priests in the U.S., and the associate pastor at St. Michael invited people to say the Lords Prayer in their own language. We all come from different places, said 17-year-old Da Hto before the liturgy. Its a very comforting parish, it gives a lot to the community. Hto, who is a refugee from the Karen ethnic group, has found value in learning other cultures and in the support parishioners provide to those in need. People look out for each other, he said. He spoke as the congregation spilled out onto the sidewalk to mark Palm Sunday with a procession around the block. Melissa Msouthle of Milwaukee prays as the Rev. Rafael Rodriguez offers a blessing at Palm Sunday Mass at St Michael's Catholic Church in Milwaukee. More: Ukrainian refugees were quickly welcomed to Wisconsin. Now red tape makes their future uncertain. Juan Sanchez, 65, a parish trustee, processed down North 24th Street with three of his granddaughters. Hes been attending St. Michael since 1978. Getting to know people of different backgrounds has made him more spiritual and accepting, he said. Its the camaraderie and the friendship, Sanchez said. Were all one. To that end, St. Michael offers help with housing and employment, as well as English language and U.S. citizenship classes. While the parish is rich in spirit, its generosity stretches beyond what its resources can consistently support. Just as parishioners have basic needs, so does the church, Rodriguez said. The building is old; repairs get put off. Parish provides 'spiritual home' for refugees Throughout the especially long Mass, Anthony Pumpau and Theresa Niang diligently rocked their round-cheeked 6-month-old baby, Mary. A refugee from the Chin ethnic group in Myanmar, Pumpau joined St. Michael in 2012 when he first arrived in Milwaukee. After gaining U.S. citizenship, he married Niang last year. As a young family without any relatives nearby, the two have been grateful for the support of the church community. This community, we help each other, we support each other, he said. Once a week when we come here, we can share in our experiences. More: Meet Sesame Streets new Muppets, on screens now thanks to Milwaukees Rohingya community More: As rent prices rise in Wisconsin's competitive housing market, refugees are losing out The largely Christian Chin people have suffered religious persecution and violence at the hands of the Burmese military. They have been subjected to forced labor, arbitrary arrests, torture and coerced conversions to Buddhism, according to Minority Rights Group International. The Rev. Chakrit Micaphitak blesses 6-month-old Mary Pumpau as her father Anthony Pumpau takes the Eucharist during the Palm Sunday Mass at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Milwaukee. Since arriving in the U.S., Pumpau has earned his GED and associates degree and works full-time at the Patrick Cudahy plant. Its a dream come true, he said, to be settled in Milwaukee with a new family, a community of fellow refugees and the freedom to practice his faith. Rodriguez knows how valuable it is for immigrant parishioners to connect with people who share their background. Its why St. Michael and its sister parish, St. Rose of Lima, host prayer groups for seven ethnic identities. A year and a half ago, St. Rose began offering a weekly French-language Mass after a group of young adults from the Democratic Republic of the Congo approached Rodriguez. Its the only French Mass in the city, he said. The different ethnic groups find a little peace of home, spiritual home, at the church, Rodriguez said. Hes made an effort to incorporate languages such as Karen, Karenni and Lao into services. Praying in ones native language can help people feel closer to God, he said. Its a sign of welcoming, it's a sign of closeness, he said. More: Afghan evacuees in Wisconsin process relief, uncertainty, stress and trauma. A network of helping hands eases the journey. Young worshippers offers hope for the future Juspina Htoo, 19, has felt that warm welcome at St. Michael. A Karen refugee, she moved to Milwaukee 12 years ago. Htoo struggled during the pandemic as she took online classes and helped care for her four younger siblings. But then, Sister Alice Thepouthay, the parishs faith formation coordinator, urged her to get more involved with the church. Htoo now teaches catechism classes, sings in the choir and participates in the Karen youth group. They inspired me to help my community here, Htoo said. She loves to see the youthful energy in the church each Sunday. Its a hope for me, she said. It enlivens my spirit. Parish members recreate Jesus' crucifixion for Palm Sunday Mass at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Milwaukee. Htoo is a freshman at Alverno College studying religious studies and music performance. She also serves as a community health worker for Karen refugees. Her involvement in the parish has motivated her to keep working with the Karen community in Milwaukee, she said. I just feel connected here, Htoo said. This community, this parish, has made me want to continue to do this work and become a leader in this church one day. Thepouthay, who is also the Lao pastoral associate, has worked at St. Michael for 39 years and has seen how newcomers have brought a strong faith and unique joy to the parish. The earlier waves of Hmong and Lao refugees were followed by those from Myanmar. Speaking on Palm Sunday before Mass began, she gestured to a gaggle of children picking up palms at the entrance and said the new refugees commitment to the faith was amazing. If Easter symbolizes hope and new life, she said, St. Michael lives the message. They bring the old and young, she said. This is a blooming of the faith. We have hope for the church, for the diocese of Milwaukee. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: St. Michael's Catholic Church celebrates Easter with message of hope Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) BEIJING, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday in Beijing. Li said that China-France relations have enjoyed sustained and sound development, and injected precious stability and certainty into a volatile and intertwined world. "China is ready to work with France to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, push China-France comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level, and adhere to the original aspirations of the establishment of diplomatic relations -- independence, mutual understanding, foresight, mutual benefit and win-win outcomes," he said. Li stressed that China is willing to share the opportunities brought by China's development with France, and welcome more quality French products, technologies and services to the Chinese market. He said China hopes that France will keep its market open and provide a fair and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises. For his part, Macron said that France supports China's development and is ready to restore the pre-pandemic momentum of exchanges with China. He also expressed willingness to strengthen cooperation with China on the economy and trade, agriculture, aviation, finance, nuclear energy, innovation, tourism and culture in an open manner. Michigan State University Board of Trustees Chair Rema Vassar speaks at a news comference Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. EAST LANSING Michigan State University officials said the school has hired a national firm with previous MSU experience to lead its search for a new president and will hold a series of virtual forums this month to gather input about what the community wants in a new leader. Boston, Massachusetts-based Isaacson, Miller will direct the search to replace Samuel Stanley Jr., who resigned last fall after some members of the school's governing board pressured him to leave before his contract expired in 2024, MSU said in a news release on Thursday. He was the third president at MSU to be forced out since the Larry Nassar scandal. After Stanley resigned, then-Provost Teresa Woodruff was appointed to lead the university on an interim basis. "The MSU Board of Trustees is committed to a thorough search to find the best qualified person to lead our prestigious university," Trustee Dennis Denno, who chairs the presidential search committee, said in a news release. "Our presidential search committee will represent a broad array of individuals who reflect voices from every corner of our state and country, and I look forward to Spartans telling us what they want in their next president." Isaacson, Miller has more than 40 years of experience and devotes more than half of its work to college and university executive searches, MSU said. MSU has used the firm to find candidates in the past, and the company is now leading the university's search for a vice president for civil rights and Title IX education and compliance. The firm's executive committee chairman, John Isaacson, offered pro-bono assistance to the MSU board as it prepared for its search, Trustee Dianne Byrum said previously. Board of Trustees chairwoman Rema Vassar last week declined to release the cost of the contract with Isaacson, Miller to the State Journal last week or disclose how long the search might take. MSU hired the firm at a base fee of $270,000, according to Trustee Dennis Denno, who is chair of the presidential search committee. Story continues Denno said the contract with Isaacson, Miller is comparable to the contract the University of Michigan agreed to in the search that led to the hiring of U-M President Santa Ono. U-M agreed to pay the firm an amount equal to 28% of the first-year salary of the new president. Additionally, the contract includes a base layer of $850,000 to determine payment schedules, $35,000 for travel expenses and a 12% fee for administrative costs. MSU said it has scheduled six "virtual open forums" from April 14-28 for the campus community to give their views on what qualities they would like to see in a new university president. Other listening sessions for "various stakeholder groups" are being planned, the school said. Denno, speaking on his own behalf, said he would like to see a president who is capable of managing a large and complex organization and who understands the midwest. "Somebody that can be transformative and innovative and somebody who is excited about bragging about all of the incredible things we do at Michigan State University," he said. Isaacson, Miller "successfully develops diverse and highly skilled university leadership candidate pools" and in 2022 found women in nearly 60% of its higher education placements, and persons of color in 37% of those placements, MSU officials said. The Board of Trustees at Michigan State University voted in Samuel Stanley Jr. as the new president of the university Tuesday, May 28, 2019. He is a medical doctor who is current president of Stony Brook University in New York. Stanley left MSU in early November, saying he had lost confidence in the trustees. Trustees had pressured him to resign before his contract expired in 2024, in part over his handling of Title IX issues. Stanley had objected to the board's investigation. MSU hired Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates in September 2018 to conduct a president search to find a replacement for Lou Anna Simon, who resigned amid the Nassar scandal. That search process included more than 30 listening sessions across campus, with two of those sessions open to the public, an MSU official said. John Engler, a former Michigan governor, was appointed interim president after Simon's departure, but he resigned after he was slammed for his handling of the Nassar fallout, including insensitive comments about Nassar survivors. The Detroit Free Press contributed to this report. Contact Ken Palmer at kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj. Contact Mark Johnson at majohnson2@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ByMarkJohnson. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: MSU hires firm to lead search for new president PORTSMOUTH Police allege an Orlando, Florida, man briefly dragged a New Hampshire state trooper with his car Thursday night during an incident that ended with his arrest on 12 charges, including three felonies. The trooper was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries and has since been discharged, according to State Police. Michael Anthony Arrington, 28, was driving a 2014 Audi Q5 with Florida registration, police said. At 10:06 p.m. Thursday, state police were called and told a car had fled from Portsmouth police on Islington Street a few minutes earlier. New Hampshire State Police arrested Michael Anthony Arrington late Thursday, April 6, 2023, in Portsmouth after he allegedly fled from city and state police. Arrington is accused of dragging a state trooper with his car, sending the trooper to a local hospital with minor injuries. More local news: Seacoast NH homes selling to Mass. buyers escaping new 'millionaires tax,' realtor says Troopers located the vehicle five minutes later parked at a Shell gas station on Route 1 Bypass in Portsmouth, police said. However, when troopers made contact with Arrington, police allege, he started the car and drove quickly out of the parking lot, dragging a trooper with the car a short distance "before the trooper disengaged," police said. The suspect then fled at high speed, driving into Kittery, evading police, then spotted by Kittery police, before driving out of sight, police said. New Hampshire State Police Sgt. Gary Wood Jr. spotted the vehicle driving on Interstate 95 south a few minutes later and attempted to stop the vehicle, which fled again, police said. This pursuit was brief, police said, as Arrington stopped and was arrested. More local news: Woman speaks out on abuse in Strafford County jail. Officer admits sex acts, remains free. State police allege Arrington at first gave a false identity to troopers. Arrington's charges include two felony counts of reckless conduct and a felony count of second degree assault. He is also facing three counts of disobeying an officer, two counts of resisting arrest, two counts of aggravated driving under the influence of liquor, one count of driving under the influence of liquor and for operating after revocation or suspension of a license, all misdemeanor charges. Story continues The Florida man refused bail commissioner services and was transported to the Rockingham County House of Corrections before a scheduled appearance in the Rockingham County Superior Court on Friday, police said. A court official said he was being represented by a public defender, but the identity of the attorney was not immediately known. New Hampshire State Police said they were assisted by Portsmouth and Kittery police, as well as the Seminole County Sheriffs Office in Florida. The investigation into the case remains ongoing, police said. Police ask anyone with information to email Wood at Gary.J.WoodJr@dos.nh.gov. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH police: Florida driver dragged trooper with car in Portsmouth Image via Getty A new report has found Niagara Falls to be the biggest tourist trap in Canada and one of the biggest in the world. For the report, vacation rental company Casago searched thousands of reviews on TripAdvisor for the phrase tourist trap to see which global tourist attractions featured it the most frequently. In an effort to specify the data, Casago then narrowed down the search to each U.S. state and each country. Casago spotlighted a review of Niagara Falls, explaining that every attraction dumped you into a gift shop. The report also ranked the top tourist trap per country by use of the tourist trap phrase. Leading the charge was Fishermans Wharf in San Francisco with 1050 mentions of the aforementioned phrase. Down in seventh place is Niagara Falls where Casago discovered that reviewers had written tourist trap 475 times across thousands of reviews. For context, Casago explained that some of the worlds biggest tourist traps happened to be among the the worlds most iconic landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal. Despite the high usage of tourist trap Niagara Falls reviews, the popular destination spot failed to crack the top 10 tourist traps in the world. The U.S. featured four of the top 10 tourist trap locations. For context, the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, Ireland featured 516 uses of the phrase tourist trap, meaning that Niagara Falls wouldnt have fallen too far behind it. Its exact place in the biggest tourist traps in the world wasnt disclosed in the report. Lessons learned from marijuana legalization I found the question posed by Judy K. Jones in her letter to the editor on April 1 interesting, albeit in a sad way. In her letter, Ms. Jones asked the question, Will state legislators have the courage this session to finally put the safety of our children before any other political considerations? Although Ms. Jones was referencing gun control legislation, I can answer that question based on my experience (11 years) fighting recreational marijuana legalization the answer is a resounding no. After years of testimony at the Statehouse with evidence-based research and scientific facts on the societal impacts of marijuana legalization, particularly on youth, and after serving on a legislative study commission that was run, and manipulated, by the very same senator who sponsored the marijuana legalization bill, I realized all my efforts were in vain. What I have regrettably learned about politics is that it all boils down to three things: political ambition, winning votes and the most powerful of them all money. My husband warned me about the ugliness of politics and he was right. I had put my faith in a few legislators who publicly stated their opposition to the marijuana legalization bill and who I truly believed had the courage and backbone to take a stand for the wellness and safety of our children. Instead, they turned around and voted yes to the very legislation they said they would oppose, and the legalization of recreational marijuana was pushed through in 2022. I know my response in this letter may come across as bitter, and perhaps a part of me will always feel that way, but my experience has been a difficult lesson on the harsh reality of Rhode Island politics. And its a reality that reeks of dishonesty and hypocrisy. Carol Formica, Middletown Increased parking costs a short-sighted decision The proposal by the Newport City Council to increase parking fees from $1.25/hour to $4/hour (a more than 300% increase) in high-traffic areas and extending the paid parking season from March to November, is a misguided attempt to generate revenue for the city. This proposal, which is slated for final approval on April 12, will hurt local businesses, discourage tourism, and unfairly burden workers and those doing business in the city. Story continues A parking fee increase will negatively impact local businesses, especially restaurants. Many visitors come for a day trip or weekend getaway and are attracted to the city's charming streets, unique shops and historic sites. If parking fees become prohibitively expensive, these visitors may choose to go elsewhere, resulting in a significant loss of revenue for local businesses. The councils claim that increasing the parking fee will create turnover dismisses the reality of human behavior. Do officials really believe a visitor will rush out on dinner with family or friends to save $4? No, the visitor will finish dinner and begrudgingly spend the extra $4. They will also likely spend less at dinner (skip an extra drink, dessert or leave less for the servers tip) and, even more likely, complain to others about Newports price gouging parking meters. Is extra revenue worth ruining Newports reputation and future tourism? Have city officials ever parked in Newport in the summer? To say parking is limited is an understatement. Why would someone give up a valuable, limited parking spot in Newport in the summer over a few dollars? They wouldnt. Also, the goal to create turnover parking is detrimental to both reducing traffic and fighting climate change. Moreover, extending the paid parking season from March to November will hurt small businesses. Many residents from Portsmouth, Middletown and surrounding communities come to Newport to enjoy the off-season peace and quiet. Many restaurants also rely on this business during slower seasons. By extending the paid parking season, local visitors may be discouraged, as they will have to pay exorbitant parking fees even during the off-season. Finally, the proposed increase in parking fees will unfairly burden workers who cannot afford to live in Newport. Did the City Council do any research on how many workers rely on meter parking in light of the current housing crisis? Increasing parking fees will make it more difficult and expensive for non-residents to park, adding an unnecessary financial burden on those who can least afford it. The proposed increase in parking fees and extended paid parking season in Newport is a short-sighted measure that will have negative consequences for local businesses, tourism and workers who cannot afford to live in Newport. The city should focus on finding alternative sources of revenue that do not place an undue burden on its visitors. Sandy McGee, Portsmouth Time for an outright ban on assault weapons It is so sad and disheartening that weve had another incident where innocent people have been slaughtered by gun violence. Nashville - three children, three adults in the common and noble pursuit of learning just ripped away from their families and their communities in a blaze of unmitigated horror. Once again, a weapon of war was used to kill unsuspecting civilians people who had every right to live another day to live out their dreams. Are we kidding ourselves into thinking that the Second Amendment was meant to allow these powerful guns to be used in the performance of such odious acts of inhumanity? People who use them dont reflect a well-regulated militia, nor are they being used in self-defense or even in sport, as some would hold. The "slippery slope," "we already have enough laws on the books," "only criminals are misusing guns," and "guns dont kill-people do" arguments are utterly meaningless when there is a lifeless body on the ground. Doing nothing is not acceptable. It is well past the time when we impose an outright ban on the future purchase of assault rifles in Rhode Island. We call on all the people in power to enact laws and enforce regulations RIGHT NOW that will protect us from these senseless, unwarranted, attacks on our human and civil rights and our right to a peaceful society. James I. Jimmy Winters, president National Association for the Advancement of Colored People - Newport County Branch Trump indictment a 'grotesque perversion of justice' For years now, Democrats and their coat holders in the liberal media have sanctimoniously positioned themselves as champions and defenders of American democracy, and its cherished norms, traditions and institutions. But Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's indictment of Donald Trump reveals that Democrats are more an offender of these things than a defender. Make no mistake about it. Mr. Bragg's grotesque perversion of justice to kneecap a political enemy has plunged America into one of its very darkest days. Indeed, this politically motivated stunt orchestrated by the left is but the latest proof that the greatest threats to our democracy and our cherished norms and institutions have come not from the rise of Donald Trump, but rather the response to it. Michael J. DiStefano, Jamestown This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: LETTER: Lessons learned from marijuana legalization Less than an hour after the polls closed Tuesday, Dan Kelly stepped to the microphone and conceded the race for Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice in a speech that stunned observers in both political parties across the country. He called Justice-elect Janet Protasiewicz a "serial liar" and her campaign "beneath contempt," and he wished Wisconsin the best of luck "because I think it's going to need it." Kelly did not call to congratulate Protasiewicz, according to sources with both campaigns. Here's what some are saying. Former Republican National Convention Chair Michael Steele ripped the speech on Twitter saying Kelly, who lost by double digits and for the second time, was in no position to lash out. She was worthy enough to whip your ass. Whats beneath contempt is more and more republicans like you losing like thiswhining, weak shells of a candidacy unwilling to concede defeat. https://t.co/mEoN1cPbaq Michael Steele (@MichaelSteele) April 5, 2023 The Talking Points Memo, a liberal politics website, called the speech "a lengthy, emotional whine." Dan Kelly Throws Emotional Tantrum After Losing Wisconsin Supreme Court Race After the race was called, Donald Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social to say that Kelly was guaranteed to lose by not seeking his endorsement. Many on social media said Kelly "went full-on Trump" in his concession speech, something that some pundits and commentators support. Right-wing political commentator and self-proclaimed theocratic fascist Matt Walsh responded to a video of the speech on Twitter saying "very well said." In Georgia, radio host Alan Sanders said Kelly made a "particular effective, yet ominous, concession speech about the direction our nation is heading..." Story continues But in Wisconsin, radio hosts decried the speech. "When you behave the way he did, and you are so ungracious, it's a reflection of your character," 620WTMJ radio host John Mecure said. Conservative host Steve Scaffidi retweeted Mecure's comments on Twitter. ICYMI: Yesterday WTMJ's @JohnMercure offered his thoughts on Dan Kelly's concession speech following his loss to Janet Protasiewicz. Hear the full conversation: https://t.co/1gIDWFIOmT pic.twitter.com/ZFAM31Ni3g 620wtmj (@620wtmj) April 6, 2023 Former Milwaukee conservative talk radio host Charlie Skyes tweeted sarcastically, "Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Dan Kelly keeping it classy." Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Dan Kelly keeping it classy https://t.co/IZbwcOkP8d Charlie Sykes (@SykesCharlie) April 5, 2023 Bill O'Reilly, a conservative commentator, called the speech "the most bitter concession speech," writing that Kelly described the "ultra-liberal winner as a serial liar and worse." Former GOP strategist Cheri Jacobus said the speech was "proving conclusively that Wisconsin voters got it right." Kurt Bardella, a Democrat strategist, said the speech put Kelly's "judicial temperament on display." Proving conclusively that Wisconsin voters got it right. https://t.co/gw6TH701Wp Cheri Jacobus (@CheriJacobus) April 5, 2023 Lastly, University of North Carolina Professor and New York Times columnist Tressie McMillan Cottom called Kelly and his speech a "nasty piece of cornbread." Nasty piece of cornbread https://t.co/ohO6Rt7uhs Tressie McMillan Cottom (@tressiemcphd) April 5, 2023 The race shattered national records for spending in a judicial contest and received national attention because it likely will impact Wisconsin's abortion law, and its legislative maps. Rep. Nancy Pelosi and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton took to Twitter to congratulate Protasiewicz on flipping the court's ideological balance to liberals. In the Washington Post, a columnist wrote that Protasiewicz's victory puts Trump-aligned Republicans in a bind and reflects the importance of abortion in future elections. Opinion | Wisconsin's stunning outcome puts MAGA Republicans in a serious bind Similarly, in the New York Times, former Journal Sentinel reporter Reid Epstein wrote that the victory showed a unified left could be an issue for Republicans. Wisconsin Rout Points to Democrats' Enduring Post-Dobbs Strength This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Dan Kelly's concession speech for Supreme Court 'went full-on Trump' Photos taken before and after a series of powerful storms show Californias replenished lakes and reservoirs following three years of drought that left land cracked, wildlife threatened and millions of people at risk in the nation's most populous state. The storms have poured more than 78 trillion gallons of water on the state, filling 12 of California's 17 major reservoirs to above their historical averages for the start of spring. "California went from the three driest years on record to the three wettest weeks on record when we were catapulted into our rainy season in January," said Karla Nemeth, director of California Department of Water Resources, the Associated Press reported. In December, the first of a dozen "atmospheric rivers" began to fill reservoirs with each storm which also caused multiple deaths, evacuations and widespread damage to homes and infrastructure across the state. More: Lake Tahoe is the clearest it's been since the 1980s, according to new report Last month, Southern Californias largest reservoir marked an incredible turnaround when officials from the Metropolitan Water District turned on the taps once again releasing water transported from Northern California that gushed from valves at 600 cubic feet per second into the 4.5-mile-long Diamond Valley Lake. A car crosses Enterprise Bridge over Lake Oroville's dry banks on May 23, 2021, left, and the same location on March 26, 2023, in Butte County, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) A dock floats in the Browns Ravine Cove area of Folsom Lake, March 26, 2023, left, and the same location on dry land on May 22, 2021, in Folsom, Calif. (AP Photo/Josh Edelson) Docks float in the Browns Ravine Cove area of Folsom Lake on March 26, 2023, left, and the same location on May 22, 2021, boat docks sit on dry land in Folsom, Calif., on May 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Josh Edelson) Houseboats rest in a channel at Lake Oroville State Recreation Area on March 26, 2023, left, and the same location on Aug. 14, 2021, in Butte County, Calif. The reservoir near Hemet, about 40 miles west of Palm Springs, was built nearly three decades ago and holds twice as much water as all of the regions other surface reservoirs combined, officials said. Oroville Dam spillway, which was rebuilt after it broke apart during heavy rains in February 2017 and forced the evacuation of more than 180,000 people, is 16% above its historic average compared to 2021, when water levels dropped so low that its hydroelectric dams stopped generating power. "The public is going to benefit with the water being higher. Everything is easier to get to. They can just jump on the lake and have fun," Jared Rael, who manages the Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle boat marinas at Lake Oroville, told the Associated Press. We're going to have a great year." Story continues The storms dumped as many as 700 inches of snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains and record amounts of rain. Officials are preparing for flooding as a result of snowmelt when temperatures warm up. The snowpack's water content is 239% of its normal average and nearly triple in the southern Sierra, according to state data. "We know there will be flooding," Nemeth said. "There's just too much snowmelt to be accommodated in our rivers and channels and keeping things between levees." More coverage from USA TODAY Contributing: Associated Press Camille Fine is a trending visual producer on USA TODAY's NOW team. What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: California reservoir levels in before, after photos show dramatic rise Hundreds of students in schools across Portland, Ore., walked out on Thursday to protest gun violence, according to local reports. Why do you only care that it should be your right to own a gun? Why do you not care that it should be our right to live? a student asked during the protest, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting. Schoolchildren reportedly carried signs with slogans like kids over guns. Middle and high school students called for gun control in a rally downtown, according to the Portland Mercury. KOIN6 reported some students were seen climbing the walls of Portlands City Hall, though the protest remained peaceful. Schoolchildren in Portland and other cities nationwide have walked out in recent days to protest gun violence after a mass shooter killed three nine-year-olds and three adults in a Tennessee school last month. Everytown for Gun Safety said students at more than 300 schools in 42 states and Washington, D.C., walked out of class on Wednesday to call for gun safety reforms. Students in the Nashville area walked out on Monday. Rev. Bernice King, the daughter of slain civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr., suggested that students refuse to return to school until there is some significant legislation that bans assault weapons. Portland Public Schools said students are rightly angry, per a statement shared by the Portland Mercury. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. PORTSMOUTH A gift from Portsmouths friendship namesake city in England, gifted decades ago, is slated for rehabilitation after falling into disrepair over the years outside the Portsmouth Historical Society. The red telephone booth, or phone box, with four crowns emblazoned on it, has been a run-down fixture outside the former public library building. Marked telephone on each side despite having no telephone hooked up inside, it has been broken into and marred with graffiti over time. Glass panels are missing, red paint is fading and trash has been dumped inside it. The city of Portsmouth is looking to have a run-down British red telephone booth, gifted by leaders from Portsmouth, England in 1984, outside the Portsmouth Historical Society, repaired and returned to the city this summer. A run-down British red telephone booth has been a dumping ground for some as it stands outside the Portsmouth Historical Society. In recent days, the telephone booth, given to Portsmouth, New Hampshire by Portsmouth, England years ago, has been wrapped up, preventing potential further damage as the city prepares to ship it off for an overhaul. Monte Bohanan, a city spokesperson, said Portsmouth put out a request for proposals, seeking a firm to revive the telephone booth. The deadline for proposals closed Wednesday, March 29. It is expected the company chosen to repair the dilapidated phone booth will take it away, fix the broken glass, clean it, repaint it and return it to the city in a few months, Bohanan said. The phone booth outside the Portsmouth Historical Society, given to the city by Portsmouth, England, in 1984, is seen wrapped up Thursday, March 30, 2023, awaiting a project to repair it. Whether or not the phone box returns to its original location or if it will move is yet to be determined, he added. The request for proposals, however, indicates the refurbished telephone booth may be placed inside the modern-day Portsmouth Public Library on Parrott Avenue after it is repaired, giving it shelter and security from potential vandals. More Portsmouth news: Neighbors turn out to oppose addition to $1.6M home in city neighborhood The city is looking for work to be completed on the telephone booth in 90 days or less. The scope of work, according to the proposal, includes preserving the original HMS Sirius ships crest on the interior wall, removing glass and remaining fittings, sandblasting, multiple coats of paint, reglazing the booth with safety glass in glazing frames, installing a push/pull safety glass panel, restoring hinges and door pull handle, and repainting the gold crowns. Story continues No, King Charles didn't give the phone box to Portsmouth In 1973, amid the citys ongoing festivities to mark its 350th anniversary of settlement, a royal bachelor dressed in his Royal Navy uniform sailed into Portsmouth Harbor to meet with city leaders and residents in a multi-day stay. The visitor aboard the HMS Minerva? None other than Charles III, then the Prince of Wales, who was proclaimed King of England last year following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, Britains longest-reigning monarch. Members of the media surround Prince Charles as he arrives at Strawbery Banke for a reception in honor of Portsmouth's 350th anniversary in 1973. More local news: Rye fisherman Keper Connell hooks consumer wave with his Gulf of Maine tinned tuna A common misconception is the prince came bearing the gift of the red telephone booth, a myth debunked by written record. In 1993, the Portsmouth Herald reported the structure was a gift from Portsmouth, England, having sailed on the HMS Sirius amid its visit to New Hampshire in 1984, more than a decade after then-Prince Charles visited. Tourists and other visitors taking a stroll through the citys downtown area must sometimes wonder whether theyre in Portsmouth, New England, or Portsmouth, old England, the article reads. Portsmouth is looking to have a run-down British red telephone booth, gifted by leaders from Portsmouth, England in 1984, repaired and returned to the New Hampshire city this summer. Portsmouths telephone booth is thought to be a K6 model, short for Kiosk No. 6, which was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in honor of King George Vs Silver Jubilee in 1935. More improvements coming to current phone box site Located on the Islington Street side of the Portsmouth Historical Society building, the phone booth is in an area soon to see a new phase of construction. The next phase of the Islington Street corridor project is expected to kick off in early April and includes replacement of underground utilities, roadway reconstruction, curbing and sidewalk installations, and landscaping improvements, such as adding ornamental lighting, street trees and benches. The work will continue to proceed in discrete sections in order to limit the impact to residents and businesses; and will be a large step in the revitalization of the West End neighborhood, a city description of the upcoming work states. The goal of this project is to create a complete street and will include improvements to the streetscape, traffic signals, utilities, pedestrian facilities, transit and vehicular roadway. Construction on the next phase of the Islington Street project is likely to last into the fall, according to the city. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth NH to repair red phone box gifted by Portsmouth, England Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone speaks during the fourth Mekong River Commission (MRC) Summit in Vientiane, Laos, April 5, 2023. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) VIENTIANE, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) member countries reaffirmed their political commitment to the sustainable development of the river, as they concluded the fourth MRC Summit here on Wednesday. Heads of government and representatives of the member countries, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, adopted the Vientiane Declaration, which reaffirmed their political commitment to support the mandate of the intergovernmental organization of the lower Mekong countries. Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone told a press conference that the leaders have reaffirmed their highest political commitment to the 1995 Mekong Agreement, particularly the primary role of cooperation to ensure sustainable development of water and resources in the Mekong basin through the adoption of the Vientiane Declaration. The Declaration expressed the hope and expectation that strengthened cooperation will bring great benefits through the utilization of new innovations to develop tools and policies in addressing challenges and unforeseen risks that may occur in the Mekong basin in the future. Taking the theme "Innovation and Cooperation for a Water Secure and Sustainable Mekong", the fourth MRC Summit was also attended by representatives of upper Mekong countries including China and Myanmar. Chinese Minister of Water Resources Li Guoying speaks during the fourth Mekong River Commission (MRC) Summit in Vientiane, Laos, April 5, 2023. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) Back in the day, our nations Founders had this crazy idea to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility. I say crazy because nearly 2 1/2 centuries later the union is nowhere near perfect, justice for all has yet to be established and virtually no aspect of our domestic situation is tranquil. These days, one of the major reasons for this turmoil is former President Donald Trump, a man who has never been particularly keen on tranquility. Just the opposite. Chaos is his game. That might be one of the reasons hes in trouble, most recently having been indicted by the Manhattan district attorneys office with 34 counts of falsifying business records. Trump pleads not guilty to 34 felonies: Give him the same benefit of the doubt he gave Clinton How strong is DA's case against Trump?: Why Alvin Bragg better get it right Opinions on Trump indictment won't change He also faces possible indictment out of Atlanta for allegedly attempting to subvert the 2020 election results in Georgia. As well as more potential indictments stemming from a Department of Justice investigation into the classified documents Trump took to Mar-a-Lago, as well as any connection he may have had to the insurrection on Jan. 6., 2021. Former President Donald Trump sits at the defense table with his legal team in a Manhattan court on April 4, 2023, in New York. The general publics reaction to Trumps indictment falls into two categories. People either believe it is proof that no one is above the law, or proof of a politically motivated witch hunt. The entire presidency was 'unprecedented': Trump's arraignment is just plain embarrassing Trump indictment circus shows a country in decline: Trump indictment is a 3-ring circus. At least Watergate united us in mourning. Should any of the cases against Trump proceed to trial, where a verdict is reached, not a single persons opinion about this will change. Not one. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. Story continues A pardon was right for Nixon. And for Trump. Should Trump be found guilty, there would be an appeal, or perhaps many appeals. And no matter how those cases are resolved, Id guess he will never spend any time in jail because, basically, we have yet to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility. Given all that, President Joe Biden should pull a Gerald Ford and pardon Donald Trump. And, yes, I know, a president can't pardon someone for a state crime, only for federal offenses. But Biden can eliminate federal complaints. He can set a tone. He can be, in a way Trump never was, presidential. Donald Trump and Joe Biden face off during the final presidential debate in Nashville, Tenn., on Oct. 22, 2020. In 1974, after former President Richard Nixon resigned over his involvement in the Watergate scandal, for which he would have faced criminal prosecution, Ford announced that he had decided to grant a full, free, and absolute pardon to Nixon. The pardon was not well received. A majority of Americans wanted Nixon prosecuted, and Fords decision may have cost him the subsequent presidential election. Years later, even critics changed their minds Ford never wavered, however. He appeared before a congressional committee and testified, I was absolutely convinced then as I am now that if we had had an indictment, a trial, a conviction, and anything else that transpired after this that the attention of the president, the Congress and the American people would have been diverted from the problems that we have to solve. One of those who disagreed with Ford at the time was Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy. In 2001, however, while presenting Ford with a Profile in Courage award, Kennedy said, Unlike many of us at the time, President Ford recognized that the nation had to move forward, and could not do so if there was a continuing effort to prosecute former President Nixon. ... His courage and dedication to our country made it possible for us to begin the process of healing and put the tragedy of Watergate behind us. Voters rebuke Trump, choose progressives: As GOP sticks with Donald Trump and his felony charges, Democrats keep winning elections 'We would needlessly be diverted,' Ford said Every president grants pardons: Barack Obama issued 212. George W. Bush did 189. Trump, during his time, granted 143. They are often controversial. More proof of our messy system of justice. I am not naive enough to believe that granting a pardon to Trump would in any way begin the process of healing or put the tragedy behind us. But its still the right thing to do. President Gerald Ford testifies Oct. 18, 1974, on his pardon of former President Richard Nixon: "I assure you that there never was at any time any agreement whatsoever concerning a pardon to Mr. Nixon if he were to resign and I were to become president." Ford told the House committee, Our nation is under the severest of challenges now to employ its full energies and efforts in the pursuit of a sound and growing economy at home and a stable and peaceful world around us. We would needlessly be diverted from meeting those challenges if we as a people were to remain sharply divided over whether to indict, bring to trial, and punish a former president. Yeah, what he said. EJ Montini is a news columnist at The Arizona Republic/azcentral.com, where this column first published. Follow him on Twitter: @ejmontini You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com. 1986. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: In light of Trump indictment spare us all a trial, Biden. Pardon him What is there left to say after another surreal, horrendous week or two with school gun violence in our country, where three young children and three staff members at a Nashville Christian school were killed by a former student carrying assault rifles. We all feel sick at the headlines. The ripple effects of these nightmarish incidents affect all families everywhere, as well as teachers, students and school personnel. Parents are afraid to send their children to school. Many school-age children were already experiencing escalating anxiety. Fear of school shootings is even making this worse, even when the violence is far away. Can this happen here in Newport County? What can we do about it? So far this year there have been 13 school-involved shootings with fatalities or injuries with 23 people killed or injured. This is on track to eclipse the record-setting 51 school shootings in 2022. They were as close by as Baltimore and Virginia, and stretched through the central states, south and Texas. Of these, 10 people were killed, including six children. Mary Alexandre and Jaime Lehane There are no easy answers, but all of us taking action and positive steps can help with the anxiety of the situation and reduce these injuries and death. Speak up, be aware - there ARE things we can focus on to mitigate the problems. Improve early identification, intervention and support, especially in schools. Many of the young adults and late adolescents who commit mass shootings, often white males, have exhibited signs of serious behavioral, emotional, and learning disorders but did not receive sufficient interventions and supports before they were expelled, quit school or graduated without a transition plan. Just look at them on TV after each shooting. You dont need a Ph.D. in psychology to see that these individuals needed serious help. It is not hyperbole to say they were failed by society, families, school systems and yes, our mental health system. They all dont have traditional diagnosable psychiatric disorders but none of them were in the right kind of intensive services they needed when they committed their shootings. They need to be treated promptly and carefully, before they get a hold of weapons and go into a downward spiral. Throw in some social media on top of that and theres a recipe for someone to right perceived wrongs, commit suicide by cop, and/or make themselves infamous for a mass shooting. Story continues Better intervention and treatment for our children and teens are critical. It is important not to stigmatize those with emotional disorders and mental illness, though, because they and their families will shy away from the very treatments that could save them and save others. Traditional insurance does not pay for the type of outreach, engagement and services these people need. Schools cant afford the intensive Individual Education Plans many should have received. The new State of Rhode Island, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic initiative if adopted this year does pay for this kind of outreach and intensive services that can make a difference. And of course, most people who live with mental illness do not become violent. A demonstrator displays a picture of the victims of the Covenant School shooting on their phone inside the Tennessee State Capitol during a protest against gun violence on March 30, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee. A 28-year-old former student of the private Covenant School in Nashville, wielding a handgun and two AR-style weapons, shot and killed three 9-year-old students and three adults before being killed by responding police officers on March 27th. Better utilize Red Flag laws. Rhode Island has had a Red Flag law on the books since 2018. Essentially, it allows police departments or individuals to seek from Superior Court an extreme risk protective order that allows them to disarm a person who is a violent threat to themselves or others. Its a civil action, not criminal. The use of the Red Flag law has been slow. The Rhode Island Superior Court issued 50 of these orders to police departments throughout the state. Better than many states that have them. Most of these have been used in domestic violence situations, not as a tool to prevent shootings. In Newport last year, only one Red Flag court order was initiated, possibly a result of Newports recent focus on community policing. Just like with suicide prevention, the surrender of lethal means either voluntarily or involuntarily is the first preventive step. There needs to be more education for families, mental health professionals and law enforcement on the appropriate use of Red Flags laws to increase their use and increase their preventive impact. Limit access to high-velocity assault-type rifles. I try to stay away from politically sensitive topics and personally support the 2nd amendment right to bear arms. However, limiting access to assault-type rifles will certainly reduce the number of deaths given the lethality of these weapons. A bullet from a regular firearm that strikes someone will often go straight though them like a pencil. A bullet from an assault rifle is designed to tumble, shatter and literally explode in the body. Emergency physicians say that the organs of children hit by these bullets are destroyed, unrepairable and fatal. A hunter does not use an assault rifle because of the damage it will do to their prey. A ban or restriction of who may obtain these weapons will not solve all the violence, but its an excellent place to start. Can it happen here? The impact of school shootings and violence has trickled down to our own backyards. Just before the Nashville shooting, more than a dozen schools in RI were victims of swatting, or widespread prank calls. In this recent case, schools were told there was an active shooter. Locally, Portsmouth High School was among those affected by the swatting hoax. It may have turned out to be nothing, but it was still real, said one PHS parent. The fear the kids felt was real. The fear the parents experienced was real. The lost academic time was real. The students went back to class, trying to pull themselves together, some more shaken up than others. Kids, whose brains and emotional maturity are far from fully developed, are bearing the burden of this national disaster. The students are expected to have the mental and emotional strength to know the protocols, navigate a complete lockdown, and transition back into their day because politicians (who never set foot in a school) do not have the courage to act. There is more we can do to reduce these tragedies. Jamie Lehane is president and CEO of Newport Mental Health in Middletown. Peace of Mind, which is co-written with Mary Alexandre, runs in The Daily News and online at newportri.com. This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: School shootings continue to shake us. What can be done? Researchers just discovered a method of animal reproduction previously unknown to science, reporting that a biological law is being "broken" by a species of ant. The yellow crazy ant, according to a paper published Thursday in the journal Science, lives up to its name. The acid-spraying insect has a bizarre form of reproduction unseen until now in the animal kingdom, one that may have allowed it to become one of the world's worst invasive species, devastating many of the delicate ecosystems it encounters. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. "The discovery is quite extraordinary," said Denis Fournier, an ant biologist at the Universite libre de Bruxelles who was not involved in the research. Pinpointing the ant's novel form of reproduction, he added, offers "yet another glimpse of what nature is capable of inventing." A quick refresher from your sex-ed class: Normally, an embryo - in everything from humans down to the simplest multicellular animal - develops after a sperm fertilizes an egg. That single, fused cell divides to form an organism made up of genetically identical cells. Pluck nearly any cell from your body, and you should see the same DNA as you would in any other cell. But yellow crazy ants - or at least, the male ones - are different. Rather than fusing together, the genetic material from a queen's egg and her mate's sperm do not mix when forming a new male. Instead, the female and male ant both contribute DNA-laden nuclei, which begin replicating separately over and over again. These form into cells, which then become bound up in an embryo. As a result, the bodies of male yellow crazy ants are not composed of cells containing the same set of DNA. The male ants are instead made up of two cell lines each with its own distinct genetic lineages - one from the queen and the other from her mate. The species' queens and female workers, by contrast, form from a regular sperm-egg combination. Story continues "It's exciting to be at the frontier of knowledge," said Hugo Darras, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Mainz in Germany and the paper's lead author, in a Zoom interview. Having studied plenty of other species, Darras added, "This is by far the most bizarre system I've ever worked with." A male yellow crazy ant represents what scientists call a chimera, or a single animal with two sets of genetically distinct cells. The name comes from a Greek mythological creature that is part lion, part goat and part serpent. Scientists have found a handful of chimeras in nature, both in humans and other species, sometimes resulting in people or creatures with two different colored eyes. But most chimerism usually stems from rare developmental incidents, such as when one embryo absorbs another in the womb. Scientists have known for a while that the sex life of ants is strange. Queens of some species clone themselves. Other kinds of ants have no males at all. And yet some ant species are thought to have four sexes. Benjamin Oldroyd, an emeritus professor of behavioral genetics at the University of Sydney who was not involved in the paper, said he has tried to write out a list of reproductive modes of ants and related species, "both real and imagined." "But every time I wrote out such a list, it turned out that fact is stranger than fiction," he said. "I never imagined a species in which males would be a mixture of cells of two lineages, and that one lineage would be used for making sperm. I can only describe this 'crazy ant sex' as beyond my imagination." Yet even in the crazy world of ants, the yellow crazy ant stood out before this discovery. The species ranks as one of the worst insect invaders, marching through island ecosystems from Hawaii to Zanzibar. Supercolonies of these frenetic insects spray an acid to subdue prey - perhaps most notably, decimating red land crabs on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. The International Union for Conservation of Nature listed the crazy ants among the "100 of the World's Worst Invasive Alien Species." The yellow crazy ant's peculiar way of reproducing may give it an edge as an invader. By carrying two separate genetic linages, the males may have a reduced chance of inbreeding, even if just a few arrive on an island. But Darras cautioned a lot more work needs to be done to explore these questions. "At the moment, it's speculative," Darras said. This yellow crazy ant study, he added, was about 15 years in the making. "I imagine that the authors still have a lot to discover and tell us about the yellow crazy ant," Fournier said. Whatever the reason the ant evolved this unusual mode of reproduction, Darras and his team wrote the ant is breaking a "fundamental law of biological inheritance" with a "reproductive mode unknown to science" until now. Darras noted that the vast majority of ants go unstudied. "I would not be surprised if we discover something similar in another species." Daniel Kronauer, a professor at Rockefeller University, noted there are few ironclad rules in biology. "Fundamental laws are something for physics. Biology is more like a collection of exceptions," he said. But he added, "This is one very interesting exception." Related Content Texas is home. The Briggle family and their trans child are fighting for it. How progressive Denmark became the face of the anti-migration left Did Roy Lichtenstein create art or copy it? A new film stokes the controversy The Kansas Legislature worked late into the night, breaking the midnight rule to debate taxes, education, budgets and other policy. Tired Kansas lawmakers worked late into the night on their last day of regular session, with some dozing off as others debated a litany of complex and controversial policy issues well into the morning of Good Friday. House Majority Leader Chris Croft, R-Overland Park, told his colleagues that his "goal all year" was to not break the midnight rule, which forbids debate past 12 a.m. But he was the one who made the motion to suspend the rule, which was created in the House but not the Senate after Rep. Bob Bethel, R-Alden, died in a car crash while driving home after a late night of lawmaking in 2012. More: In late night vote, Kansas Legislature bans gender-affirming care for trans youth Regardless of the rule, it is not unusual for lawmakers to work late into the night during the last day of regular session, known as "drop dead week." "I'm asking you to stick with me in the hopes that we don't actually do it, but I think we will," Croft said, adding that they had about 12 bills left at around 10:15 p.m. But this didn't stop pushback from Democratic lawmakers. "We should do our work in the light of day when the people who sent us here can watch," said Rep. Dennis "Boog" Highberger, D-Lawrence. "It is a bad idea to make laws when the people who are making those laws are grumpy and sleepy and just want to go home. It is disrespectful to the people who work for us to treat them like this." Six hours later, both the House and Senate adjourned shortly before 4:30 a.m. after votes on budgets, public school policy, tax cuts and other sweeping packages of legislation. Lawmakers left for Easter weekend and a two-week break before veto session, leaving hanging a number of bills. "There wasn't any reason to keep going now because the Senate already adjourned," said House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita. Kansas lawmakers fell asleep as important debates, votes continued late into the night House Democrats made multiple failed attempts to adjourn as the night wore on with Speaker Pro Tempore Blake Carpenter, R-Derby, briefly refusing to allow additional attempts, contending Democrats were abusing the process. Story continues A roll call vote on one attempt at roughly 3:40 a.m. showed two Republicans joined Democrats on voting to adjourn. "I want it on the record those of you who decided to operate this way so that when the flaws, the flaws, of this legislation start to arise, as they undoubtedly will, the public will know who's responsible for passing flawed legislation," said House Minority Leader Vic Miller, D-Topeka. While debating tax policy at around 3:15 a.m., Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton, D-Overland Park, said "it's almost kind of hard to really process all of this information this late." Soon after, Miller asked Rep. Adam Smith, R-Weskan, if he had read the bill. More: Rebuking Kris Kobach, Kansas legislators strip 'alien hunt' amendment from human trafficking bill "The full conference committee report, I will admit, I have not had time to read it," Smith said. "I have read the entire brief." The brief is 22 pages. The full report is 127 pages. Miller said his past experience working on property taxes has made him suspicious of new exemptions and definitions. So he asked Smith where he could find the actual language in the 127 page bill. Smith said he didn't know where it was, but a staffer found it for him. It started on page 1 and continued on the following pages. "So are you telling me that you didn't even get past page 1?" Miller asked. "I did read it," Smith said. "I completely forgot where it was." More: Controversial school choice bill flops in Kansas Legislature. Republicans vow to keep trying. As tax debate wore on, not all lawmakers could stay awake. "Look how late it is, we've got members that are asleep," Miller said, raising his voice. "Is that because I'm not riveting enough, or because it's 3:30 in the morning? And when I yell, I still can't wake them up. This is crazy. This is no way to pass anything, let alone a bill that is 18 or 19 bills that we've not had a chance to have hearings on or have a full debate." House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, defended the late night legislating, citing difficulties in keeping to specific times as conference committees negotiate. He said the fact that the Legislature frequently skips Friday meetings in favor of three-day weekends "doesn't have anything to do with this." "The last day, it's always been like this, probably always will be," Hawkins said. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Sleepy Kansas politicians write laws until 4:30 a.m. on last day Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here. --- Cape Canaveral Space Force Station hosted the Space Coast's 18th launch of the year early Friday. At 12:29 a.m. EDT, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 40 carrying a communications satellite and hosted NASA payload a roughly $200 million pollution-detecting mission to orbit high above Earth. After flying along an eastern trajectory, the rocket's first stage landed on the Shortfall of Gravitas drone ship, completing its fourth round trip to space. The primary payload for Friday's launch was Intelsat 40e, a commercial communications satellite owned by Luxembourg operator Intelsat. Once in its final position, it will deliver high-speed internet to private airplanes, vehicles, and mobile devices. Over the next few weeks, the satellite will go through checkouts before becoming operational at its final location in geostationary orbit high above North America where its orbit will match Earth's rotation, allowing it to continuously service a specific part of the planet. Rocket launch schedule: Upcoming Florida launches and landings Deep-space mission: Meet the four astronauts flying NASA's Artemis II mission to the moon and back Organized through the satellite's builder, Maxar Technologies, Intelsat 40e also hosted an important payload for NASA. The agency's Tropospheric Emissions Monitoring of Pollution instrument, or TEMPO, will detect air pollutants across North America to help enhance air quality forecasts. "The TEMPO instrument, one of the things that make (it) unique is that (it's) developed as a hosted payload," Kevin Daugherty, NASA's TEMPO project manager, said during a pre-launch news conference on Wednesday. "The total cost to NASA is approximately $210 million. Of that, just over $90 million was for the instrument development itself." Story continues The Intelsat 40e satellite and its hosted pollution-monitoring NASA payload known as TEMPO is encapsulated into the payload fairings of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket ahead of launch vehicle integration. This way of sourcing a ride to space "is a relatively new business model that NASA is using to enable placing instruments like TEMPO into an orbit at greatly reduced cost when compared to building and launching our own satellites," Daugherty said. According to a statement from NASA, "TEMPO will be the first space-based instrument to monitor major air pollutants hourly in high spatial resolution down to four square miles in a region stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the Canadian oil sands to below Mexico City, encompassing the entire continental United States." Don't expect the launch action to slow this month. Notably, SpaceX is gearing up for the April 18 launch of a three-core Falcon Heavy from Kennedy Space Center with another communications satellite. At least two more Falcon 9 rockets can also be expected to fly from the Space Coast this month, though SpaceX has yet to announce mission specifics or confirm targeted launch dates with the Eastern Range. United Launch Alliance, meanwhile, confirmed on Thursday that a national security mission originally slated to launch later this month on a massive three-core Delta IV Heavy rocket was postponed due to an issue with a flight valve. A new target date for the mission set to fly from the Cape's Launch Complex 37 was not available. For the latest, visit floridatoday.com/launchschedule. Contact Jamie Groh at JGroh@floridatoday.com and follow her on Twitter at @AlteredJamie. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX launches NASA pollution monitor and satellite from Florida TAIPEI, Taiwan Taiwan faces two imperatives to decarbonize its grid: the looming threat of climate change, and the potentially more imminent risk of intervention by Chinas military. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen recently enacted a binding target to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. As it stands, Taiwans economy depends almost entirely on coal, oil and gas all of which must be shipped in, since the 245-mile-long island lacks deposits of those fuels. But shipping depends on open sea lanes, and Chinas increasingly belligerent attitude toward Taiwan has many observers worrying about military intervention in the years to come. Against that backdrop, Taiwans state-run utility Taipower is attempting to nearly quadruple its share of renewable electricity by 2025. Thats also forcing a complementary buildout of battery storage to balance the surges of intermittent power on the isolated island grid. Any location that builds a bunch of renewable power plants needs to figure out how to build energy storage at scale. Move too fast, and you can end up with faulty systems catching fire, as South Korea did after a lucrative incentive prompted a rowdy storage boom. Move too slowly, and the grid wont have much-needed flexibility to handle the swings of wind and solar production. Outside of the U.S. and Australia, hardly any other places have cracked the code for sustained, large-scale grid battery construction. Now Taiwan is looking to join that group of storage stalwarts as quickly as it can. In terms of rapid adoption, the percentage growth each year [for Taiwans energy storage market] is much higher than other countries, said Danny Lu, senior vice president at Oregon-based grid battery integrator Powin Energy. As one of the top energy storage integrators, Powin sells the most battery capacity to the U.S. and Australia; China and India have considerable demand for storage but also high barriers to entry. Taiwans appetite for new batteries is approaching the U.K. in size, Lu said that's notable given that the U.K. has nearly three times the population to serve. Story continues Decarbonizing the grid is tricky anywhere. The stakes are higher than usual for Taiwan since it must transition its energy system serving some 23 million people and a world-leading cluster of microchip factories under threat of interference from a well-armed foreign power. Its too early to tell how feasible net-zero goals can be under these circumstances, but incubating a bustling energy storage industry is a critical early step in the right direction. Big clean energy goals with tough limitations Government-owned Taipower has a hefty task ahead of it: It wants to transform its energy mix by 2025. The governments plan is to reduce coal generation from 45 percent to 27 percent of the energy mix and to take nuclear from 11.2 percent to zero over that timeframe, according to Taipower materials. To compensate, imported fossil gas will rise from 35.7 percent to 50 percent of the energy mix, and renewables will increase from 5.5 percent to 20 percent. In raw capacity terms, that means solar needs to go from 6.5 gigawatts in 2020 to 20 GW in 2025 (8 from distributed, 12 from utility-scale), and wind from 1.3 GW to 5.5 GW. That adoption curve would rival Taiwans verdant mountain ranges in steepness. The government also wants to see more than 500 megawatts of new storage, an eminently achievable sum. The grid overhaul faces some structural challenges. For one thing, Taiwan has pretty poor solar economics, said Joseph Webster, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council who covers energy issues in East Asia. The skies over Taiwan are often rainy or cloudy, and forested mountains cover much of the island. The flat lands south of the major population centers host rice paddies and pig farms, crucial resources for a population that still depends on imports for a majority of its food. They're doing a lot on building out solar, but theres going to be constraints there, Webster said. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) wants to shutter Taiwans current fleet of fully functional nuclear plants. That policy runs counter to decarbonization and energy security goals, Webster noted. But the political leadership wants to avoid the risk of a Fukushima-style disaster in this densely populated, seismically active, geopolitically turbulent region. There is offshore wind potential off the western coast, he added. Taiwan is starting to develop that, but offshore wind is a nascent industry here, much like it is everywhere outside of the North Sea. Taiwans military also has concerns about offshore wind farms impacts on radar, something that has also slowed development in Hawaii, for instance. A few other challenges round out the bunch. Transmission constraints limit the ability to send power up the western coast to the population center in Taipei. And wherever large amounts of solar rush onto a geographically limited grid, a predictable set of problems arise. The wires need to handle surges of power at some times and not enough power at others. Taiwan has already suffered some bad blackouts in recent years, making grid reliability a topic of public concern. Luckily, theres a proven technology that bolsters grid reliability, circumvents transmission constraints and improves the usefulness of renewable generation. Its called battery storage. The green energy will be more and more, said David Chen, a vice president at Taiwanese grid engineering and construction firm Leader and a 40-year veteran of Taipower. We cannot connect another country's electricity line to our country, so we will need the battery systems. Renewables growth spurs battery uptake Five years ago, there wasnt any inkling of a grid storage market in Taiwan, said Lu. But Powin started making inroads there nevertheless, in part due to a personal connection to the place: Lu was born in Taiwan, and his grandfather served as a head engineer at the state-owned utility. Things changed quickly. Powin signed its first Taiwan deal in 2020 three sets of battery enclosures totaling nearly 50 megawatt-hours, Lu said. Rather than manage sales from the misty hills of Oregon, Powin chose Taiwanese engineering and construction firm Leader to act as the sales agent and distributor for the battery systems. In the first year of that partnership, Leader bought 300 megawatt-hours from Powin to be installed at around a dozen different sites, Lu said. The big early driver for storage adoption was a market product called Dynamic Regulation Reserve (dReg). Its a form of frequency regulation whereby batteries provide little bursts of energy to stabilize the grid. Taipower builds some of these facilities for itself, but it also lets independent developers erect their own batteries and bid into the market. Batteries are appealing for this application because they respond faster and more nimbly than traditional power plants, and they do it without burning fuel. Battery developers can make an impact with small, short-duration batteries, which saves money compared to big battery plants that need to discharge for hours. Frequency regulation is the gateway drug for grid storage adoption globally, but the next step is using longer-duration systems to deliver power for multiple hours at a time. Thats where Taiwan is going next. Developers there are now gearing up for a newer grid storage service: Enhanced Dynamic Regulation (E-dReg), which calls for at least 2.5 hours of dispatch capability. The early dReg batteries had to stay under 10 megawatts to connect to local distribution grid feeders; E-dReg batteries can hook up to the transmission grid with capacity levels five, 10 or even 20 times bigger, Lu noted. New solar power plants will also be required to add a certain level of accompanying storage, though the full details are still getting worked out, Lu noted. Other countries spent years hashing out policy reforms to promote storage adoption. Legacy utility companies ignored the technology in favor of the familiar gas plants; when storages efficacy was proven, they ruled it out based on cost. Jumping in after a decade of battery cost declines, Taiwan has managed to bypass the foot-dragging and get batteries built by both the incumbent utility and a mix of competitive developers. Its setting the scene for batteries to bulk-shift the islands renewable production to times of day when it is more valuable, and to help ensure the grid doesnt get wobbly as even more wind and solar connect to it. That energy mix is going to be changing aggressively over the next 10 years, Lu said. Its a really good feeling to be able to support where our ancestors are from. Not that Powin is alone in that. Fellow integrator Fluence won a deal to supply Taipower with a 60-megawatt/96-megawatt-hour battery at a substation; other global leaders such as Tesla, Wartsila and Saft have a presence in the market too. Batteries serve decarbonization and security Taiwans grid planning cant happen without consideration of its neighbor across the water. China has become increasingly assertive with its military exercises in and around Taiwan, violating the islands territorial boundaries multiple times last year in a show of force. I don't think invasion is imminent, said Atlantic Councils Webster in contrast to the breathless prognosticating on display in some Washington, D.C. press coverage of the situation. But, he added, China is going to attempt to apply more military, political and economic coercion to Taiwan over the next five years. A full-on invasion across the 100-mile-wide Taiwan Strait would entail a logistical undertaking of world-historical proportions, enough to make D-Day look easy. It would be considerably simpler for China to impose a blockade of the island or a quarantine in which China would stop and inspect ships before letting them land in Taiwan. Either of those could bring modern life in Taiwan to a halt if it is still dependent on imported fossil fuels to keep the lights on. Renewables generation is indigenous, so you're not as reliant on imports as you would be otherwise, Webster said. But renewables alone cant ensure a reliable grid for Taipei and local juggernaut TSMC, the linchpin of the global semiconductor industry. Storage needs to grow significantly, and Taiwan will ultimately need different technologies beyond just lithium-ion batteries to deliver clean energy around the clock. Its not clear what a viable net-zero grid for Taiwan would look like, given the renewables constraints. Nor is it clear how quickly and how far Taiwan can cut dependence on imported fuels. But every bit of new solar, wind and storage helps. *** It's Canary Media's second birthday! Help us grow our nest egg with a tax-deductible donation. Tennessee state Rep. Jeremy Faison, who chairs the Republican Caucus in the Tennessee House of Representatives, cut his interview with CNN short on Thursday while discussing the controversial expulsion of two Democratic lawmakers from the chamber. Faison, who represents Cosby, Tenn., left the interview as CNNs Kaitlan Collins attempted to ask him another question. Representative, I know youve got a long drive home, one final question for you, Collins said as Faison walked off camera, adding, Alright, well, Chairman Faison has left us. The Tennessee Republican walked out after a contentious exchange with CNNs Sara Sidner. After Sidner suggested that the crowd at the Tennessee statehouse was already riled up on Thursday, Faison pushed back, claiming the Democratic lawmakers were getting the people incited and worked up into a frenzy. Unfortunately, you werent here. You didnt see it. Thats exactly what they did, he said. Sidner responded by saying that CNN had reporters at the statehouse who talked to members of the crowd. Some of them were teachers, who were so distraught, they were near tears because they could not believe that their lawmakers were doing this, as opposed to dealing with the biggest issue at hand, she said. The number one killer of children is gun violence, and they wanted yall to do something about that instead of wasting time, in their mind, when it comes to this. Faison maintained that the lawmakers were directing the crowd like a choir leader would, before noting that he had to go. And Ill tell you this and unfortunately, Ive got to go, Im 3 and a half hours from home its not possible for us to move forward with the way they were behaving in committee and on the House floor, he said. Theres got to be some peace. Tennessee lawmakers voted to expel state Reps. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) and Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) on Thursday, after they protested gun violence on the House floor last week. A similar effort to expel state Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) failed to reach the necessary two-thirds majority. Jones, Pearson and Johnson led chants on the House floor in the wake of a shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville that killed three 9-year-old students and three staff members. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Republican-led Tennessee legislature responded to a recent Nashville school shooting by spending all day Thursday kicking two Black Democratic lawmakers out of office, a decision that thrilled guns in the state and across the country. Speaking from an unlocked closet outside a childs room in a suburban Nashville home, the spokesgun for the Tennessee chapter of Guns United Against Gun Control applauded the GOP-controlled House of Representatives for its decisive action to draw attention away from gun violence. This is a great day for us, the Daniel Defense DDM4V7 AR-15-style firearm said. We had hoped our Republican friends in the legislature would do the bare minimum in response to the Covenant School shooting. But never in our wildest dreams did we think theyd find a way to do less than nothing. Heck, they shifted the whole conversation from guns to racism! Tennessee continues doing nothing about gun violence expels Justin Jones, Justin Pearson instead Less than two weeks after a shooter fired 152 rounds and killed three children and three adults at a Nashville elementary school, the GOP lawmakers aimed their ire on three Democrats who last week held a brief gun-control protest on the chamber floor, violating House rules. Rep. Justin Jones, in white, Rep. Gloria Johnson and Rep. Justin Pearson raise their hands outside the House chamber after Jones and Pearson were expelled from the legislature on April 6, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. Reps. Justin Jones, of Black and Filipino descent, and Justin Pearson, who's Black, were expelled from the General Assembly by the Republican majority. Rep. Gloria Johnson, who is white, survived the vote and when asked why said: It might have to do with the color of our skin. Moments after she said that, thousands of people watching the proceedings in Tennessee and around the world said, in unison: Yep. Republicans basically booted two of the 'Tennessee Three' because they talked too loud A Ruger LCP MAX pistol on the hip of a vocal National Rifle Association member standing outside the Tennessee statehouse Thursday said it felt relief and optimism in the wake of the expulsions: Seeing a large group of fragile white lawmakers whose lives are defined almost entirely by fear that the days of white, male dominance in American society are nearing an end vote to expel two Black lawmakers because they talked too loud? Wow. I mean, theres just no doubt this helps us. Story continues Rather than work toward solutions to the epidemic of gun violence that recently destroyed lives and forever traumatized children at a Christian elementary school in Nashville, the conservative lawmakers focused on the more important crime committed by the three Democrats: Not following the rules of decorum. Protesters gather inside the Tennessee Capitol on March 30, 2023, in Nashville to call for an end to gun violence and support stronger gun laws. On March 30, hundreds of predominately young protesters were in the Capitol to press lawmakers to pass gun-control legislation in the hope they might be able to keep living. Three House Democrats joined in the protest from the front of the chamber, with Jones using a small bullhorn to chant: No action, no peace! No children or adults were killed during the lawmakers brief protest. 'They tried to shred our constitution with a bullhorn' LOL! Well, you know, something really bad couldve happened, said a loaded GLOCK 19 that listened to the days proceedings from under the drivers seat of a Chevy Tahoe in neighboring Kentucky. What if Jones turned quickly and a non-Democrat was hit in the head with the bullhorn? That could cause a pretty serious bruise. Republican Rep. Gino Bulso said during the governing bodys successful daylong attempt to do literally anything except control guns: They tried to shred our Constitution with a bullhorn. To which the Guns United Against Gun Control spokesgun said: Lulz! The Ruger responded: See, these men are very, very fragile. They need to be treated with great care. That small bullhorn frightened them, so rather than worrying about who can and cant buy firearms like me, we should be worrying about the fact that its very upsetting for these white people to see Black people in positions of power, particularly if the Black people are saying things the broader public agrees with. A bad day for democracy in Tennessee was a great day for guns During Thursday's session, which again accomplished nothing that could stop the next horrific act of gun violence, Jones defended himself, telling fellow lawmakers: Your extreme measure is an attempt to subvert the will of voters who democratically elected us as representatives to speak and to passionately fight for them. From left, Reps. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, and Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, meet with supporters at the Tennessee Capitol in Nashville on April 6, 2023. A Remington shotgun from the nearby city of Gallatin chuckled. Damn right! it said. The Republicans sent a clear message today. You talk about doing anything whatsoever to limit free and easy access to me or any of my fellow guns and rifles, you get the boot. Heh-heh. I love it. Prior to the first expulsion vote, Democratic Rep. Antonio Parkinson said: Were creating a circus. This is embarrassing. The world is watching us. The Ruger disagreed. I admire these Republicans resolve, it said. Theyre focused on the matters that mean most to guns like me: Not regulating guns like me. Follow USA TODAY columnist Rex Huppke on Twitter @RexHuppke and Facebook facebook.com/RexIsAJerk More from Rex Huppke: Elon Musk is taking away my blue check mark on Twitter. Who am I if not notable? Would today's GOP try to ban Mister Rogers for being woke? Probably. Blaming Silicon Valley Bank collapse on diversity or 'wokeness' gives away Republican game You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tennessee Republicans address guns by expelling Black Democrats Justin Pearson, Justin Jones and Gloria Johnson speak at the State Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., following moves to expel the three of them from the House of Representatives on Thursday, April 6, 2023. Jones and Pearson were expelled while Johnson retained her seat. This story has been updated to note the expulsion of Kentucky lawmakers from the state legislature during the Civil War. Republicans in Tennessee's state House voted on Thursday to expel two Democratic legislators part of the "Tennessee 3" from office for breaking the rules of the chamber when protesting on its floor. Could the same action hypothetically be taken in the Kentucky General Assembly? According to Section 39 of the Kentucky Constitution, the answer is yes. Under Section 39, each chamber of the General Assembly may determine its own rules, "punish a member for disorderly behavior," and, with the vote of two-thirds of its members, "expel a member." The Kentucky Constitution adds that a member cannot be expelled for a second time if it is "for the same cause." The same section of the constitution was cited in the attempted impeachment of former Rep. Robert Goforth, with the House Impeachment Committee ruling in 2021 that legislators may not be impeached and could only be expelled by a two-thirds vote of their chamber. Has Kentucky's legislature ever kicked out a member? It doesn't appear to have happened since Section 39 was created within the Kentucky Constitution ratified in 1891. However, members were expelled from the state legislature during the Civil War for siding with the Confederacy, including eight in the House and two in the Senate, according to a 2000 Associated Press story. The Kentucky Constitution of 1850 had identical language relating to how members could be expelled from a chamber. During the Boptrot corruption scandal of 1992, in which more than a dozen legislators were arrested and convicted, none of the members were expelled by a vote of their chamber, with many opting to resign. While Goforth was not impeached, he later resigned from office, ahead of pleading guilty to federal charges of health care fraud and money laundering, as well as state charges of domestic violence. In 2017 a resolution was filed by former Rep. Wesley Morgan to expel former House Speaker Jeff Hoover from office over a sexual harassment scandal using Section 39 of the constitution. While Hoover later resigned from his position as speaker, he remained in his seat throughout 2018, when he did not run for reelection. Story continues A spokesman for the Legislative Research Commission has not responded to an email Friday asking if any legislators have even been expelled from the General Assembly using this constitutional method. What happened with the Tennessee House expulsion? The Tennessee House on Thursday expelled Reps. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, by a 72-25 vote, and Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, by a 69-26 vote, following hours of heated debate and setting off protests throughout the state and country. The Tennessee House also attempted to expel Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, from the chamber, but fell one vote short of getting the two-thirds majority needed to do so. House Republicans accused the legislators of violating the chamber's decorum rules when they led a gun-control protest from the House floor with a bullhorn on March 30, as demonstrators filled the state Capitol calling for new legislation just days after a shooter killed six people at the Covenant School in Nashville. Reach reporter Joe Sonka at jsonka@courierjournal.com and follow him on Twitter at@joesonka. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Tennessee House expulsion: Can Kentucky's legislature expel members? Diplomatic envoys from 17 countries have attended a water-releasing ceremony at China's Dujiangyan, the world's oldest functioning irrigation project. #AmazingChina Produced by Xinhua Global Service Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) is heading to New Hampshire this week amid speculation that hes moving closer to a 2024 presidential bid. Scott is set to swing through the first-in-the-nation primary state next Thursday, according to his team. Hes expected to meet with voters at a Manchester, N.H., diner in the morning before huddling with local pastors and Republican leaders later in the day. The New Hampshire trip is part of Scotts Faith in America listening tour an undertaking that is widely seen as a prelude to a campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nod. Hes already made stops in other critical early voting states like Iowa and his home state of South Carolina. His travel schedule next week begins with a swing through Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday before his New Hampshire visit on Thursday. Hell return to Charleston, S.C., on Friday, according to his team. I look forward to being back in New Hampshire as part of my Faith in America Tour, Scott said. Granite Staters know freedom requires a renewed commitment to our founding principles and faith in the American people. Scott is one of several Republicans weighing campaigns for the White House in 2024. So far, only four candidates have formally jumped into the race: former President Trump, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Early polling in the race suggests that anyone hoping to challenge Trump for the nomination will likely face an uphill battle in the primary. Most surveys show Trump towering over a hypothetical multi-candidate field. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), who hasnt yet announced a presidential bid, is widely seen as the most serious challenger to Trump. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The number of tornadoes spawned from a powerful storm system that ripped through Iowa on March 31 is now up to 16 and there may be more added as the National Weather Service continues to investigate. Large swaths of southeastern Iowa saw extensive damage to homes and buildings in the massive storm front that killed more than two-dozen people across the nation. No one died in Iowa, but there were at least eight injuries. Coralville and Hills in Johnson County were among the towns that saw extensive damage, and residents in a portion of Charlotte in Clinton County were evacuated because of a propane leak. David Wilson, director of Johnson County Homeland Security and Emergency, said damage reports were connected to 179 addresses. Most were commercial buildings and multi-family housing, though some government buildings also were hit. People stand amongst storm damaged buildings after a tornado warning in Johnson County, Friday, March 31, 2023, in Hills, Iowa. As of Wednesday, 95% of the cleanup in Coralville, Hills and Solon has been complete, Wilson said. Cleanup in rural areas is still ongoing and damage has been difficult to assess. The NWS has compiled an event summary of the tornadoes that touched down throughout the state over the weekend. They are still investigating the event and say more details will become available in the coming weeks. It has rated 16 tornadoes using the EF scale, which calculates three-second wind gusts estimated at the point of damage. EF4 tornadoes bring gusts of 166 to 200 mph; EF3, 136 to 165 mph; EF2, 111 to 135 mph; and EF1, 86 to 110 mph. More: How to claim tornado relief in Iowa if your house or property has been damaged Here's what we know about Friday's storms, according to the NWS: Keokuk tornado Rating: EF4 Peak Winds: 170 mph Length: Unknown Injuries: Three Short summary: A long track EF2 tornado began in Wapello County northeast of Ottumwa and damaged three homes and one hog confinement facility. The tornado developed into a large storm in southern Keokuk County across mostly farmland, where it then traveled into Washington and Johnson counties. With a max width of 600 yards, it severely damaged several homes near Keota, and caused EF4 level damage. Story continues Previously: Gov. Reynolds adds 6 more counties to disaster proclamation after Friday's tornadoes, storm Coralville tornado track The path of the tornado in Coralville was rated an EF2 by the National Weather Service Quad Cities. Rating: EF2 Peak winds: 120 mph Length: 75 yards Injuries: Two Summary: This tornado moved northeast, taking down trees and a few outbuildings. It crossed Highway 218 near Highway 6 in Coralville, damaging a warehouse and flipping several trailers. The tornado moved into a residential area where it uprooted and snapped multiple trees. It dissipated before reaching Interstate 80. More: Tornadoes wreak extensive damage in eastern Iowa; at least 40 structures damaged in Johnson County Hills tornado Neighbors help clean up pieces of glass and shingles from a yard after storm damage following a tornado warning in Johnson County, Friday, March 31, 2023, in Hills, Iowa. Rating: EF2 Peak Winds: 120 mph Length: 8.8 miles Injuries: None Summary: The Hills tornado began southwest of the city before it moved across Highway 218 into the northwest part of the town. There it destroyed several outbuildings, large trees and the sidings of houses. Some roofs were torn off. It then moved into a wooded area and continued northeast, destroying more roofs and siding on the southeast side of Iowa City before dissipating northeast of Highway 6. Tuesday's weather updates: 'Rope-like' Iowa tornado causes damage to rural homes; large hail hits cars, houses Two Solon tornadoes Rating: EF2 Peak Winds: 125 mph Length: 4.4 miles Injuries: None Summary: Forming east of the Sugar Bottom campground, the tornado traveled northeast toward Solon. A radio tower collapsed and a roof was lifted. It went into a field and continued into Solon where it uprooted trees and bent signs. Another outbuilding was destroyed before the tornado lifted north of Sutliff Road. Another Solon tornado traveled a longer distance Rating: EF 2 Peak Winds: 130 mph Length: 8 miles Injuries: None Summary: Forming northwest of Solon, this tornado moved northeast and destroyed several trees and a small part of a shed roof. A farm lost two large outbuildings and grain silos. Power poles also were damaged. As it moved into the Johnson-Linn county line, it caused minor shingle damage and broken windows to a house and did some roof damage to another before it dissipated. Tuesday's storms: NWS confirms tornado in Marion County Tuesday night, sends crew to survey Mediapolis tornado Rating: EF2 Peak Winds: 120 mph Length: 1 mile Injuries: None Summary: This brief tornado moved east across the southern part of Mediapolis, taking off siding and shingles on a few businesses. With a max width of 100 yards, several large tree parts fell on mobile homes before the tornado dissipated on the east part of town. Storm damage is seen after a tornado warning in Johnson County, Friday, March 31, 2023, in Hills, Iowa. Bennett tornado Rating: EF2 Peak Winds: 120 mph Length: 19.6 miles Injuries: Two Summary: This tornado, which had a maximum width of 200 yards, touched down three miles north of Atalissa. It snapped power poles, large trees and caused significant damage to two homes southwest of Bennett. A semi truck was flipped over on Interstate 80. The tornado also damaged several concrete block silos south of Bennett before it continued northeast about 8 miles. Previously: 9 possible tornadoes tallied in eastern Iowa Friday from 'strong and unusual storm system' Charlotte tornado Rating: EF2 Peak Winds: 120 mph Length: 17.5 miles Injuries: One Summary: This tornado, which reached a maximum width of 350 yards, formed southeast of Grand Mound and moved toward Charlotte. Several houses were damaged, with the highest damaged rating northeast of Grand Mound. There, a whole house was shifted off the foundation and another collapsed. Partial and complete damage to barns occurred in Charlotte. Three people were trapped in the house that collapsed. One went to the hospital with minor injuries. Tipton-Clarence tornado Rating: EF2 Peak Winds: 120 Length: 22.7 miles Injuries: None Summary: This tornado developed northeast of West Branch and moved northeast through the Tipton and Clarence area. It lifted south of the Cedar-Jones county line. With a max width of 250 yds, it uprooted large trees, tore a roof off and snapped power poles. What is a tornado watch? Tornado warning? Here's a look at the differences Vinton tornado Rating: EF2 Peak Winds: 115 mph Length: 1.7 miles Injuries: None Summary: Developing northwest of Vinton, this tornado had a maximum width of 50 yards and moved northeast, damaging farm buildings, trees and power poles. Mount Auburn tornado Rating: EF2 Peak Winds: 115 mph Length: 0.06 miles Injuries: None Summary: This short tornado had a maximum width of 30 yards and caused significant damage to a farm building, home and trees. It lifted close to the Buchanan County line. Tornadoes with ratings below EF2 Other tornadoes with ratings below an EF2 include: Bellevue EF1 Tipton EF1 Manchester EF1 Oneida EF1 Andrew EF0 Noelle Alviz-Gransee is a breaking news reporter at the Des Moines Register. Follow her on Twitter @NoelleHannika or email her at NAlvizGransee@registermedia.com. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: 16 Iowa tornadoes hit Friday. Here are the ratings, injuries and path A furious row has erupted in MAGA world after Donald Trump reportedly told aides to give proud Islamophobe Laura Loomer a role in his 2024 campaign. Some Trump aides are said to have been concerned that such a hire would cause a backlash, given her history of inflammatory statements and embrace of fringe movements. On Friday afternoon that backlash erupted, leading to a spat on Twitter between Ms Loomer and Georgia Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene, with prominent far-right figures joining in. The row comes the day after an interview between Stormy Daniels and Piers Morgan aired in which she expressed some sympathy for Mr Trump but also called his arrest over the hush money payments to her and other progress for women . In a lighter moment, she joked that he still owed her dinner. The former president meanwhile raged at the Biden administrations review of Afghanistan , which blamed him for the chaos that unfolded as the US left the country in August 2021. His Truth Social rant followed Mr Trump describing his arrest and arraignment as the Best Day in History when he became the first current or former US president ever charged with a crime. Key Points Trump lashes out at Biden after White House blames him for Afghanistan chaos Stormy Daniels says she gets suicide bomber style death threats Trump forced to admit he is one inch shorter than he claims Trump claims indictment unbelievable experience and Best Day in History Trump moves to hire proud Islamophobe Laura Loomer, report says 20:07 , Oliver O'Connell According to reports by The New York Times, Donald Trump has told aides to hire Laura Loomer, a far-right and anti-Muslim activist with a history of expressing bigoted views, for a campaign role. The paper cites four people familiar with the plans. Mr Trump and Ms Loomer met recently and he directed advisers to give her a role in support of his 2024 candidacy, two of the people familiar with the move told the Times. It is unclear whether she would serve on his campaign or the main super PAC backing his presidential bid. Story continues Ms Loomer attended the former presidents speech at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday night. Some of Mr Trumps aides are said to have concerns that such a hire will cause a backlash, given her history of inflammatory statements and her embrace of the Republican Partys fringes. She once described Islam as a cancer and tweeted under the hashtag #proudislamophobe, and she has also celebrated the deaths of migrants crossing the Mediterranean. On Friday afternoon that backlash erupted, sparking a furious row on Twitter between Ms Loomer and Georgia Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene, with prominent far-right figures joining in to support Ms Loomer. This is false, Marjorie, and now Im about to embarrass you. Laura Loomer politely declined an offer to support YE24. She said she supported Trump no matter what. Furthermore, YOU asked for a meeting with Ye. We declined it after we fired your consultant, Milo. Talk to Isaiah https://t.co/dnqztCNih5 Ali Alexander (@ali) April 7, 2023 He still owes me dinner! 20:00 , Oliver O'Connell Stormy Daniels has joked that Donald Trump still owes me dinner as she told Piers Morgan about her alleged sexual liaison with the former president. Graeme Massie reports from Los Angeles. Stormy Daniels tells Piers Morgan that Trump cheated her on offer of meal Trump deejayed until 2am at a private Mar-a-Lago arraignment party 19:30 , Oliver O'Connell Thats one way to mark a historic and unprecedented moment in US presidential history. Trump deejayed until 2am at a private Mar-a-Lago arraignment party Stormy Daniels says her fan base shifted after she came forward with accusations against Trump 19:00 , Oliver O'Connell Porn star Stormy Daniels told Piers Morgan that he fitted her usual demographic in their interview for TalkTV on Thursday (6 April). Morgan was interviewing Daniels over her central role in the hush money payments that led to 34 criminal charges being brought against former president Donald Trump this week. Tom Murray reports from Los Angeles. Stormy Daniels tells Piers Morgan her fan base is generally guys like you Stormy Daniels tells Piers Morgan she gets suicide bomber style death threats 18:30 , Oliver O'Connell seem as dedicated to their cause as suicide bombers while the amount of abuse from Trump supporters has escalated following the former presidents arraignment on charges stemming from hush money paid to the porn actor. They genuinely feel that theyre doing something right. That they are the patriots, she said. Gustaf Kilander reports. Stormy Daniels tells Piers Morgan she gets suicide bomber style death threats The king has been dethroned 17:54 , Oliver O'Connell Stormy Daniels says that she felt sad to see Donald Trump make history as the first president to be arrested and arraigned in court on criminal charges linked to hush money payments he made to her. The adult film actress told Piers Morgan that she had expected to be excited to see the former president appear before a New York judge but instead admitted she found her actual emotions on the day shocking. Graeme Massie reports. Stormy Daniels tells Piers Morgan she felt sad seeing Trump in court 17:20 , Oliver O'Connell Marjorie Taylor Greenes bizarre new theory about Trumps arrest 17:00 , Oliver O'Connell Shes really reaching here. Marjorie Taylor Greene tweets bizarre new theory about Trumps arrest 16:40 , Oliver O'Connell Stormy Daniels describes moment Trump allegedly took off most of his clothes Biden condemns Tennessee GOP for shocking move to expel gun protest Democrats 16:20 , Oliver O'Connell President Joe Biden condemned Tennessee Republicans on Thursday for pushing to remove three Democratic lawmakers who participated in a gun violence protest on the statehouse floor last week following the recent Nashville mass shooting that killed six people at an elementary school. Josh Marcus reports. Biden condemns Tennessee Republicans for shocking move to expel Democrats He still owes me dinner! 15:55 , Oliver O'Connell Stormy Daniels has joked that Donald Trump still owes me dinner as she told Piers Morgan about her alleged sexual liaison with the former president. Graeme Massie has the story. Stormy Daniels tells Piers Morgan that Trump cheated her on offer of meal 15:37 , Oliver O'Connell Our economy added 236,000 jobs in March. Thats 12.6 million jobs created under President Biden. pic.twitter.com/OksymGGBDB The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 7, 2023 US adds 236,000 jobs in March 15:35 , Oliver O'Connell The US economy added 236,000 in the month of March, but the unemployment rate changed very little as the Federal Reserve continues to raise interest rates. Eric Garcia looks at the latest numbers. US adds 236,000 jobs in March as unemployment rate remains little changed New poll: Just one in three Americans think Biden deserves to be reelected in 2024 15:17 , Oliver O'Connell With less than a year until the 2024 primary election season kicks off, a large majority of Americans say theyd prefer Democrats to put up someone other than President Joe Biden as the partys nominee next year. The Independents White House correspondent Andrew Feinberg looks at the latest figures. One third of Americans say Biden deserves to be reelected in 2024, new poll suggests This morning on Truth Social 14:41 , Oliver O'Connell Former president Donald Trump flexed his fingers and fired up his Truth Social machine this morning to kickstart the day with a few dubiously capitalised rants featuring a bizarre use of quotation marks. First, he claimed that lots of DeSantis campaign staffers were jumping ship: Were getting lots of job requests from people currently working for the Social Security/Medicare cutting (JUST WATCH!) DeSanctimonious Campaign. Rons Poll numbers are dropping so fast and furious that many people are speculating hes not going to run. Just hired Kiss of Death Jeff Roe, who dropped YoungKim, to see if he can help (he will only help make Ron poor!). Im leading in Texas by 42 points, Iowa and New Hampshire by a lot, overall by close to 40, and by 10 against Scamer Joe Biden! Then he unloaded on Stupid People: The good ol USA is losing so much, so fast, that at the end of the 1 1/2 years remaining in the most incompetent administration in history, we may not even have a Country left. Theres an INVASION at our Border, were about to lose our Dollar as the World Standard, and we could, because of Stupid People, end up in World War lll. The only things they do well is CHEATING ON ELECTIONS, DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGNS, and WEAPONIZING THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. We are a Nation in Decline, a Failing Nation!!! He rounded out the breakfast-time rant with: Heres the new DISINFORMATION chant from the people destroying our Country - ITS TRUMPS FAULT!!! This is not new. Trump attacks Fox News - then uses the network in fundraising plea 14:00 , Megan Sheets Donald Trump launched a fresh attack on his former favourite network late Thursday night over polling numbers that apparently didnt fit his narrative. Why is FoxNews using Fake News CNN POLLS? Because they are Fake, even though I am leading by a lot, but not nearly as good as other polls, he wrote on Truth Social. Leading Biden by 9 points, leading Social Security cutting DeSanctimonious by 35 points. MAGA! Hours later, the former president put out a new plea for donations - via a video featuring Fox News coverage. The video spliced together voiceovers of pundits including Sean Hannity dismissing the indictment against Mr Trump with dramatic scenes of Manhattan behind it - followed by heroic music and footage of his supporters. In the eloquently-worded caption of his Truth Social post, Mr Trump wrote: If you are doing poorly, as so many of you are, do not send anything. If you are doing well, which was made possible through the great policies of the Trump Administration, send your contribution to donaldjtrump.com/. We have to take back our Country and, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Stormy Daniels reacts to Trump's favourite derogatory nickname for her 13:30 , Megan Sheets A quick look at Stormy Daniels Twitter feed proves she has never been one to shy away from ugly nicknames given by her critics - in fact she enjoys using them to fire back. Now, the adult film star has addressed Donald Trumps favourite nickname for her: Horseface. Speaking to Piers Morgan in a wide-ranging interview aired Thursday night, Ms Daniels said the name says more about Mr Trump than it does about her. This is our president of the United States, ladies and gentleman, outing to the world that he has a penchant for bestiality, because this is a guy who chased me for sex repeatedly, and then says I look like a horse? she quipped. Stormy is asked what she thinks about Trump calling her horseface. She says Trump is outing to the world that he has a penchant for bestiality, because this is a guy who chased me for sex repeatedly, and then says I look like a horse? pic.twitter.com/oOzhDQ5ldt Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 6, 2023 Report: Security aides tell special counsel Trump repeatedly warned he couldnt seize voting machines 13:00 , Oliver O'Connell Ex-national security officials have reportedly told prosecutors and a grand jury that they told former President Donald Trump on several occasions that he wasnt allowed to seize voting machines after the 2020 election. Former top Homeland Security official Ken Cuccinelli was asked about discussions within the Trump administration regarding the agency taking control of voting machines when he spoke in front of the grand jury previously this year, CNN reported on Thursday. Mr Cuccinelli told the jury that he made clear at all times that DHS couldnt take measures like that, one person told the outlet. Gustaf Kilander reports. Trump was repeatedly warned he couldnt seize voting machines: report House panel subpoenas Mark Pomerantz who criticised pace of Trump probe 12:30 , Oliver O'Connell The House Judiciary Committee is attempting to compel testimony from a former Manhattan Assistant District Attorney who resigned last year after criticising District Attorney Alvin Bragg for not pursuing a criminal case against former president Donald Trump. John Bowden and Andrew Feinberg have the latest from Washington, DC. House panel subpoenas ex-Manhattan prosecutor who criticised pace of Trump probe Stormy Daniels says Trump fans send her suicide bomber style death threats 11:30 , Oliver O'Connell Stormy Daniels has said that she receives death threats from people who seem as dedicated to their cause as suicide bombers while the amount of abuse from Trump supporters has escalated following the former presidents arraignment on charges stemming from hush money paid to the porn actor. Gustaf Kilander reports. Stormy Daniels tells Piers Morgan she gets suicide bomber style death threats Stormy Daniels says she would absolutely testify against Donald Trump 10:30 , Oliver O'Connell Porn star Stormy Daniels says she would absolutely testify against Donald Trump if asked but doesnt want the former president to go to prison for his alleged crimes involving her. Eleanor Noyce explains. Stormy Daniels would absolutely testify against Trump - but doesnt want him jailed Agency review says Bidens disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal plan severely constrained by conditions set by Trump 09:30 , Oliver O'Connell Orders given by former president Donald Trump in the waning days of his administration left President Joe Biden severely constrained in how he handled the US withdrawal from Afghanistan after two decades of war, an interagency review of the disastrous exit has found. The White House released the reviews conclusions in a 12-page document laying out the findings on Thursday, the day Congress was set to receive a significant number of classified documents pertaining to the withdrawal. Andrew Feinberg reports from the White House. Afghanistan withdrawal severely constrained by conditions set by Trump, review says Could a New York judge finally force Donald Trump to shut up? 08:30 , Oliver O'Connell Many have tried and failed, but could a gag order be imposed on the former president if needed? Richard Hall investigates. Many before him have tried, but could a New York judge force Donald Trump to shut up? Trumps courtroom suit faux-pas spotted by menswear guru 08:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar A menswear influencer has pointed out the fashion faux pas Donald Trump made with his courtroom outfit. Chelsea Ritschel has the details. Menswear guru spots faux-pas in Trumps courtroom suit Trump forced to admit he is one inch shorter than he claims 07:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar Former president Donald Trump provided information about his height and weight while stating his profession as a "business person" during his arraignment at a Manhattan courthouse earlier this week. The 76-year-old told officers that he stands 6 feet and 2 inches tall and weighs 240 pounds, Mediaite reported citing sources. The former president reportedly stated his height to be one inch shorter than what his doctors previously recorded in 2020 during his time in the White House. Read more here. Trump forced to admit he is one inch shorter during arrest paperwork Byron Donalds endorses Trump for president 07:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar Member of congress Byron Donalds endorsed Republican leader Donald Trump for the upcoming presidential election. There is only one leader at this time in our nations history who can seize the moment and deliver what we need - to get us back on track, provide strength and resolve, and Make America Great Again, Mr Donalds said in a statement. Mr Donalds is one of three congressmen from Florida to endorse Mr Trumps 2024 candidacy. How Stormy Daniels cashed in on publicity from Trump arraignment 06:30 , Oliver O'Connell While Donald Trumps historic appearance in a New York courtroom on criminal charges may have been a dark day for the former president, his arrest has been a boon for his tormentor Stormy Daniels. The adult actress, who is a central figure in the hush money payments that led to 34 falsifying business records charges being brought against Mr Trump, has been using it to cash in on her increased notoriety. Mr Trump appeared grim-faced as he faced a judge and pleaded guilty to the charges he now faces, while Ms Daniels has taken full advantage of the free publicity she has gained. Graeme Massie has the story. How Stormy Daniels cashed in on publicity from Donald Trumps arrest Stormy Daniels tells Piers Morgan she felt sad seeing Trump in court 06:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar Stormy Daniels said that she felt sad to see Donald Trump make history as the first president to be arrested and arraigned in court on criminal charges linked to hush money payments he made to her. The adult film actor told Piers Morgan that she had expected to be excited to see the former president appear before a New York judge but instead admitted she found her actual emotions on the day shocking. At first I thought I would be really excited when that day finally came as I did not think it would, and then I really didnt think it would. I thought he was going to get away with not being held accountable. When I found out it was coming, or potentially coming I thought I would feel excited or vindicated but it was kind of anticlimactic, she told Morgan on TalkTV. Graeme Massie reports. Stormy Daniels tells Piers Morgan she felt sad seeing Trump in court ICYMI: Trump judge receives dozens of threats after arraignment 05:30 , Oliver O'Connell The judge overseeing former president Donald Trumps case in Manhattan regarding alleged hush money payments has received unsubstantiated threats since Mr Trumps arraignment on Tuesday, NBC News reported. One official told NBC News that Judge Juan Merchan and his chamber have received dozens of threats since Mr Trump vocally criticised the judge. Additionally, District Attorney Alvin Bragg has received threat since news broke that a grand jury would indict the former president. Eric Garcia reports. Trump judge receives dozens of threats after arraignment Trump says China trying to displace US dollar as number one currency under Bidens leadership 05:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar Former president Donald Trump yesterday claimed that China is trying to displace the American dollar as the number one currency throughout the world, which was unthinkable during his time in office. Unthinkable three years ago, he wrote on Truth Social. If this happens, and under Bidens leadership it probably will, this would be the biggest defeat for our Country in its history. We will be reduced to SECOND TIER STATUS. AMAZING. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! This week in karma 04:30 , Oliver O'Connell A member of the Central Park Five has responded to Donald Trumps indictment and arrest by taking out a full-page advertisement, similar to the former presidents call for their execution more than 30 years ago. Maroosha Muzaffar has the story. Exonerated Central Park Five member turns tables on Trump Stormy Daniels tells Piers Morgan that Trump cheated her on offer of meal: He still owes me dinner! 04:10 , Graeme Massie Ex-president has pleaded not guilty to 34 criminal charges connected to hush money payments made to the adult movie actress. Stormy Daniels tells Piers Morgan that Trump cheated her on offer of meal Trump deejayed until 2am at a private Mar-a-Lago arraignment party 03:30 , Oliver O'Connell Sounds like Mar-a-Lago was lit on Tuesday night. Trump deejayed until 2am at a private Mar-a-Lago arraignment party Stormy Daniels tells Piers Morgan that Trump arrest shows progress for women 03:05 , Graeme Massie Former president pleaded not guilty to 34 charges in relation to hush money paid to adult movie star. Stormy Daniels tells Piers Morgan that Trump arrest shows progress for women 02:30 , Oliver O'Connell Stormy Daniels: Trump doesnt deserve jail for alleged crimes involving me Trump lashes out at moron Biden after White House blames him for Afghanistan chaos 02:03 , Graeme Massie Furious ex-president responds on Truth Social in response to report eviscerating his handling of the withdrawal. Trump lashes out as White House blames him for Afghanistan chaos Stormy Daniels says she gets suicide bomber style death threats from Trump fans 01:30 , Oliver O'Connell Stormy Daniels has said that she gets death threats from people who seem as dedicated to their cause as suicide bombers while the amount of abuse from Trump supporters has escalated following the former presidents arraignment on charges stemming from hush money paid to the porn actor. Gustaf Kilander reports. Stormy Daniels tells Piers Morgan she gets suicide bomber style death threats Five things we learnt from Stormy Daniels' interview with Piers Morgan 01:08 , Graeme Massie Stormy Daniels felt sad seeing dethroned Trump in court: Friday 7 April 2023 00:30 , Oliver O'Connell Stormy Daniels says that she felt sad to see Donald Trump make history as the first president to be arrested and arraigned in court on criminal charges linked to hush money payments he made to her. The adult film actress told Piers Morgan that she had expected to be excited to see the former president appear before a New York judge but instead admitted she found her actual emotions on the day shocking. Graeme Massie reports. Stormy Daniels tells Piers Morgan she felt sad seeing Trump in court Thursday 6 April 2023 23:30 , Oliver O'Connell Nobody should be untouchable: Stormy Daniels reacts to Trumps arrest Lest we forget the presidential crimes of Ulysses S Grant Thursday 6 April 2023 23:00 , Oliver O'Connell Donald Trump is the first U.S. president to face criminal charges, but hes not the first to be arrested. In 1872, Ulysses S. Grant was arrested for speeding in a horse carriage near the White House. pic.twitter.com/QNR5beag1c NowThis (@nowthisnews) April 6, 2023 Stormy Daniels tells Piers Morgan her fan base is generally white guys in suits like you Thursday 6 April 2023 22:35 , Oliver O'Connell Porn star Stormy Daniels told Piers Morgan that he fitted her usual demographic in their interview for TalkTV on Thursday (6 April). Morgan was interviewing Daniels over her central role in the hush money payments that led to 34 criminal charges being brought against former president Donald Trump this week. Tom Murray has the story. Stormy Daniels tells Piers Morgan her fan base is generally guys like you Report: Security aides tell special counsel Trump repeatedly warned he couldnt seize voting machines Thursday 6 April 2023 22:23 , Oliver O'Connell Ex-national security officials have reportedly told prosecutors and a grand jury that they told former President Donald Trump on several occasions that he wasnt allowed to seize voting machines after the 2020 election. Former top Homeland Security official Ken Cuccinelli was asked about discussions within the Trump administration regarding the agency taking control of voting machines when he spoke in front of the grand jury previously this year, CNN reported on Thursday. Mr Cuccinelli told the jury that he made clear at all times that DHS couldnt take measures like that, one person told the outlet. Gustaf Kilander reports. Trump was repeatedly warned he couldnt seize voting machines: report Biggest Moron of them all: Trump responds to review of Afghanistan withdrawal by namecalling Biden Thursday 6 April 2023 22:15 , Oliver O'Connell Former President Donald Trump has responded to reports that orders given by him in the waning days of his administration left President Joe Biden severely constrained in how he handled the US withdrawal from Afghanistan after two decades of war, according to an interagency review of the disastrous exit. Mr Trump posted to Truth Social: These Morons in the White House, who are systematically destroying our Country, headed up by the biggest Moron of them all, Hopeless Joe Biden, have a new disinformation game they are playing - Blame TRUMP for their grossly incompetent SURRENDER in Afghanistan. I watched this disaster unfold just like everyone else. I saw them take out the Military FIRST, GIVE $85 Billion of military equipment, allow killing of our soldiers, and leave Americans behind. Biden is responsible, no one else! Read our full report here: Afghanistan withdrawal severely constrained by conditions set by Trump, review says Daniels didnt pop champagne at Trump indictment news Thursday 6 April 2023 21:55 , Oliver O'Connell I wasnt actually drinking champagne - Im not allowed to drink champagne, I get white girl wasted. "I wasn't actually drinking champagne - I'm not allowed to drink champagne, I get white girl wasted." Stormy Daniels addresses her celebration of Trump's indictment on Twitter.@piersmorgan | @StormyDaniels | @TalkTV | #PMU pic.twitter.com/E97rYwhPIM Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) April 6, 2023 Daniels on Trump: In a way, I do feel sorry for him Thursday 6 April 2023 21:45 , Oliver O'Connell Stormy Daniels shares her feelings about Donald Trump: I dont hate him... in a way, I do feel sorry for him. "I don't hate him... in a way I do feel sorry for him." Stormy Daniels shares her feelings about Donald Trump.@piersmorgan | @StormyDaniels | @TalkTV | #PMU pic.twitter.com/6o4H69KdoW Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) April 6, 2023 Scaramucci likens Trump to Successions Logan Roy Thursday 6 April 2023 21:40 , Oliver O'Connell Anthony Scaramucci has likened his former boss Donald Trump to the volatile billionaire character Logan Roy from HBOs Succession and claimed they were both family guys. Mr Scaramuci, who was the former presidents White House press secretary for just 10 days, told MSNBC that he could see similarities with the fictional businessman. Graeme Massie has the story. Anthony Scaramucci likens Trump to Successions Logan Roy Thursday 6 April 2023 21:31 , Oliver O'Connell Wrapping up the interview Daniels says she does not hate Trump. Asked if she has any advice for him she says: Tell the truth. "Tell the truth." Stormy Daniels gives her message to former President Donald Trump during tonight's world exclusive with Piers Morgan. Tune in to TalkTV at 8pm.@piersmorgan | @StormyDaniels | @TalkTV | #PMU pic.twitter.com/QN7B4NPBFE Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) April 6, 2023 Thursday 6 April 2023 21:22 , Oliver O'Connell Asked about her knowledge of Karen McDougal, the former Playboy star with whom Trump had an affair, Daniels reveals that she had no idea about the affair, but once he introduced the two of them at a Trump Vodka party. Morgan asked how she felt about that, Daniels says: Honestly, (Im) kind of impressed. Daniels says she would rather go to jail then pay Trump money from defamation case Thursday 6 April 2023 21:20 , Oliver O'Connell "I didn't come this far to back down and give him money." Stormy Daniels maintains that she'd rather go to jail than pay Donald Trump a cent of what she's been ordered to pay.@piersmorgan | @StormyDaniels | @TalkTV | #PMU pic.twitter.com/JOd5qbWh7T Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) April 6, 2023 Asked about the money she has been ordered to pay to Donald Trump (details below) she tells Morgan that she would go to jail before paying Trump a penny of the money she has been ordered to pay him to settle the defamation case. Stormy Daniels must pay $122,000 in Trump legal bills Thursday 6 April 2023 21:16 , Oliver O'Connell Daniels says she was the last person sticking to the terms of the NDA she signed. I might be a whore, but Im an honest whore. Asked about Trumps personal attacks on her (horseface) she says: I have laughed my ass off, adding that she loves horses and wondering why a man who pursued her sexually would than compare her to an animal. "I laughed my ass off." Stormy Daniels tells Piers Morgan how she felt about being called 'Horseface' by the former President of the United States.@piersmorgan | @StormyDaniels | @TalkTV | #PMU pic.twitter.com/yGYpWz0Ud2 Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) April 6, 2023 Stormy Daniels tells Piers Morgan she gets suicide bomber style death threats Thursday 6 April 2023 21:13 , Oliver O'Connell Stormy Daniels has said that she gets death threats from people who seem as dedicated to their cause as suicide bombers while the amount of abuse from Trump supporters has escalated following the former presidents arraignment on charges stemming from hush money paid to the porn actor. Gustaf Kilander had the full story. Stormy Daniels tells Piers Morgan she gets suicide bomber style death threats Thursday 6 April 2023 21:12 , Oliver O'Connell When the story threatened to come out again inThe National Inquirer, out of fear that she might be under threat of being silenced because as big as a doofus as he is, he's now the Republican Party's problem, Daniels signed an NDA. The letter which bears her signature denying the affair ever took place, is brought up and she explains that Michael Cohen wrote the letter and she signed it (incorrectly she says) out of fear of being sued for millions. Watch below: "I was still under the NDA." Stormy Daniels tells Piers Morgan she initially denied having an affair with Donald Trump because of the threat of being sued for millions.@piersmorgan | @StormyDaniels | @TalkTV | #PMU pic.twitter.com/9fFA1Ssobf Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) April 6, 2023 Thursday 6 April 2023 21:06 , Oliver O'Connell Moving on to the 2011 In Touch magazine interview, Daniels says she spoke to them because the story had been leaked and she wanted to make sure it was her story. When Trump was approached for comment, a lawsuit was threatened and the story was never published. In 2015, when he announced he was running for president, Daniels said she rolled her eyes as he had said he never wanted to be president. Thursday 6 April 2023 21:02 , Oliver O'Connell Morgan asked: "You asked him on that first night about his wife, Melania. They'd only been married quite recently. Shed just given birth to their son. What did you feel about that? Youve been criticised for that part of it. You already said that. Stormy replied: "Yeah. And he had shown me pictures of his wife and son. We were just talking about how cute he was. Not any different than if we showed pictures right now of each other's kids. Like, look at his little outfit, you know?" Morgan added: Someone Tweeted you last week and said why did you sleep with him even though you knew he had a wife? And you replied, why did he invite me to his room, take off his clothes, and corner me when I came out of the bathroom even though he knew he had a wife? She replied: Exactly. I mean that sums it up. Why is anyone responsible for somebody else's behaviour in their marriage? I didnt take a vow to anybody. Its this whole thing where you blame the other woman but in the other scenario, you really blame the other guy, you know what I mean?" Thursday 6 April 2023 20:58 , Oliver O'Connell After their sexual encounter, Daniels said she left within five minutes and felt bad about it, wondering if she had encouraged him. They met on multiple other occasions at events but she never allowed herself to be alone with him again. She has since been criticised online for going to a married mans room, to which she responds: why did he invite me to his room and get on the bed in his underwear? Morgan says she takes no prisoners on Twitter and is much like Trump. I can spell better than him he still can't spell my name right. Thursday 6 April 2023 20:52 , Oliver O'Connell Morgan asks Daniels to clarify her comments to Vogue about the gap in her memory of the night, clarifying that it was not non-consensual. I do take responsibility... he didnt come at me. Stormy Daniels says her alleged encounter with Donald Trump was consensual - and that she felt mad at herself afterward. "I do take responsibility... he didn't come at me." Stormy Daniels says her alleged encounter with Donald Trump was consensual - and that she felt "mad at herself" afterwards.@piersmorgan | @StormyDaniels | @TalkTV | #PMU pic.twitter.com/fdtvPjk88W Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) April 6, 2023 Heres what she told Vogue: Stormy Daniels reveals she had 90-second blank during alleged Trump tryst After the massive February earthquake in Turkey, a Jacksonville-based animal rescuer responded by traveling about 6,300 miles to Antakya, a city in the hardest-hit region of the country. Mike Merrill, founder and executive director of Florida Urgent Rescue Inc., or FUR, was part of an international team. The American, British and Polish contingent, who first came together to save animals in war-torn Ukraine last year, reconvened in Turkey to do the same in conjunction with Turkish animal rescue organizations. "There are some familiar problems in every disaster," he said. "People were killed or injured, and people and animals are homeless. In our experience, in every disaster the local animal rescues and shelters are always overwhelmed and they always need help. We wanted to help." They knew the worst-hit area was Antakya, in the Hatay province in southern Turkey, about 12 miles from the Syrian border. "Thats where they needed the most help, so thats where we went," he said. 'Loosely organized chaos': Founder of Jacksonville animal-rescue group joins Ukraine pet effort Florida Urgent Rescue: Local group rescues stranded pets in hurricane-ravaged Bahamas Merrill was in Turkey eight days from March 5 to the 13. The scene on the ground was horrific. "As far as the eye can see, row after row of apartment buildings are vacant," he said. "Buildings that are still standing are in danger of collapse, so the government condemned every building to prevent further loss of life during additional aftershocks. People still there are describing it as a ghost town." Most survivors have departed. Many of the ones who remain live in tents or containers, in makeshift refugee camps. A stray dog walks alone in the rubble of Antakya in Turkey, a city ravaged by a massive February earthquake. "The situation is tragic on so many levels," Merrill said. "Everybody we met has lost family, friends and neighbors. Theyve lost their homes, their livelihoods and their loved ones. Even the people working in the shelters have lost their homes. Its devastating and heartbreaking." Story continues The search for human survivors has ended, but many people are still looking for lost pets. "Some found their pets but have no way to get them veterinary care. Others have evacuated to other cities and are desperate for help finding their lost pets," he said. "Countless animals were injured, killed and homeless. We saw many dogs and cats picking their way through the rubble and wandering deserted streets." Government suspicious of outsiders But the team faced many barriers, from huge piles of rubble and unsafe buildings to local authorities questioning their presence. The "mind-blowing trip" to Turkey was in some ways worse than the team's experience in Ukraine, Merrill said, because it was "the first time we went into a disaster area and had to worry about being arrested by the police or military." "They had arrested 90 journalists by the time we arrived for reporting stories that showed the government in a bad light, so we had to be careful what we said," he said. An international animal rescue team that included Mike Merrill of Jacksonville visited earthquake-ravaged Turkey and found this dog at a shelter near death with a badly damaged and infected leg. The team demanded the shelter perform surgery and assisted in the procedure, even though staff threatened to call authorities. The dog's leg was amputated. The Turkish government had also banned outside NGOs nongovernmental organizations or nonprofits because of suspicions that journalists were embedded among them. "Our Polish and British team was turned away at the border for bringing in humanitarian supplies. We had to remove all the signs from their vehicles and pull strings to get them through another border crossing," Merrill said. They knew which buildings might still have pets inside through Telegram, a popular messaging app in Turkey that set up a special channel for missing pets after the earthquake. In buildings where they could safely maneuver, they searched for pets. In dangerous buildings, they place traps for particular residents' pets. During those visits, local authorities would regularly appear. "The police or military showed up to ask what we were doing. We had to be careful not to say 'rescue' since the government suspended all rescue operations and banned outside NGOs," Merrill said. "We said, 'We're trapping cats [or dogs] for the owner.' Needless to say, we had to watch our words. Even now, we don't want to cause problems for our Turkish partners. "We take our freedom of speech for granted here in the U.S. They dont have the privilege," he said. USA Today: Husky saved after 22 days trapped under rubble from 7.8 earthquake in Turkey, rescuers say USA Today: Dogs rescued from rubble six days after 7.8 earthquake hits Turkey, Syria But the team has been assertive when necessary. At a government shelter, they discovered a dying dog in a food trough. His leg was severely injured in the earthquake and had become infected. "When we offered to take him to another rescue, they called the police and the military. We managed to not get arrested, but we insisted on immediate surgery and we assisted during the procedure" to amputate the injured leg, he said. "In Ukraine, we were worried about Russian bombs, but we were welcomed by the Ukrainian authorities and people. In Turkey, the government doesn't want any outside help, even though the people and animals desperately need it," he said. "Its hard to comprehend why they would turn away organizations bringing in supplies, but thats the official government position." Still, the team was able to rescue about 35 dogs and cats from the rubble and provided medicine and veterinary supplies to help several hundred more. Also, they brought traps, crates and carriers, among other things. In the Turkish city of Antakya, Jacksonville-based Mike Merrill, right, poses with other members of his international animal rescue team: from left, Chloe Kennedy of Dogs Life Rescue in Britain, Tomas Rombalski (at rear) and Agnieszka Kowalczyk of Million Hearts Foundation in Poland and Dave Rogers of Dogs Life Rescue. "At the request of one of our Turkish partners, I flew over with rabies vaccines in a cold storage pack because they cant get them there. When I arrived, I learned that they need all vaccines, not just rabies," he said.Most of the saved animals went to rescues or shelters operating in the Hatay province, which includes Antakya. Two dogs were brought to a shelter in Istanbul. "Every rescue and shelter in Turkey has taken in dogs from the earthquake," Merrill said. Heartbroken families still looking for lost pets Other team members were Agnieszka Kowalczyk and Tomas Rombalski from the Million Hearts Foundation in Poland and Dave Rogers and Chloe Kennedy from Dogs Life Rescue in Britain. The group worked with Turkish animal rescue organizations Tanisan Seversin and Haytap. Several of Merrill's rescue partners initially introduced the team to Turkish rescue groups. "Were an unlikely team, from different countries and different backgrounds," Merrill said. "What we have in common is our love of animals and a desire to help." How to help Turkey, Syria: Relief efforts ongoing after more earthquakes rock region Kowalczyk is a founder of Million Hearts Foundation, a nonprofit based in Karzcino, North Poland, that works in animal protection and delivering aid for people and animals in war and disaster areas. "We rescue injured, abandoned dogs and cats," she said " They receive full veterinary care and as soon as they recover we look for responsible homes for them, not only in Poland but also around the world. We have sent our animals to the United States, England, Nederland, Germany, Canada, France and Switzerland. "Our main goal is to create a safe zone for animals, part of heaven for those who had been through so much already," she said. Kowalczyk and fellow foundation staff met Merrill during a Ukraine rescue mission about a year ago. "Mike is a very well-organized person, always on time and ready to help. He is kind, he is also keeping the standards of work high and I really like that," she said. "It's just easier to cooperate with reliable people around. We created an international team and that works for us very well. We are supporting each other, we are responsible for each other." At a shelter in the Hatay province of Turkey, Jacksonville-based animal rescuer Mike Merrill comforts a canine survivor of the massive earthquake that hit the country in February. Team members, she said, "would do anything to help animals. That is causing troubles sometimes, especially in a country like Turkey. "We had a few adventures but were always thinking fast and reacting fast. When Mike was leaving he said, 'Agnieszka, try to not go to jail please,'" she said. "It's not that we are troublemakers, but we really would do anything to save animals. We had to make sure we will help, not disturb Turkish organizations and security services." The goal is finding missing pets, without going to jail. "It's so important to help those people, to reunite them with pets. It's very heartbreaking to see when people are crying because they can't find their family members," Kowalczyk said. "That's also a huge motivation. "It is dangerous work, but it's also a passion," she said. "Tears of happiness from the owners are the best award. Unfortunately, I am still getting messages that the amount of animals to find is getting way bigger. Many escaped from the buildings and are still not with their owners." Kowalczyk is seeking sponsors for another rescue mission to Turkey. Merrill said he is not returning, at least not yet, but is gathering veterinary supplies to be there when the next team arrives. bcravey@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4109 HOW TO HELP Florida Urgent Rescue: floridaurgentrescue.org, facebook.com/floridaurgentrescue Million Hearts Foundation (Poland): millionhearts.com.pl, facebook.com/MillionHeartsPL Dogs Life Rescue (U.K.): dogsliferescue.co.uk, facebook.com/groups/265562409126485 Tanisan Seversin (Turkey): tanisanseversin.org, instagram.com/tanisanseversindernegi HayTap (Turkey): haytap.org, facebook.com/HAYTAP This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville man helps find lost and injured pets in Turkey earthquake People looking forward to the opening of the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will have to wait a little longer this year. The rim's seasonal closure begins in mid-October and the Grand Canyon's North Rim normally opens for the season in mid-May. However, this year, it is scheduled to open at 6 a.m. Friday, June 2. The North Rim received a record amount of snow this winter more than 20 feet by early April. The delay is needed so that State Route 67 can be plowed and staff can reopen the lodge and other visitor facilities. We appreciate the patience and cooperation of our neighbors and visitors with this delay as our partners and park staff work to open the North Rim roads, trails, and facilities safely, Superintendent Ed Keable said in a statement. Here's what to know if you have reservations at Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim or the North Rim Campground. Best secret places in Arizona: Incredible hidden gems that are worth the drive Grand Canyon Lodge at the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park was covered with snow and icicles on April 4, 2023. The North Rim has so far received more than 250 inches of accumulated snowfall this winter. When will Grand Canyon North Rim lodge, roads and trails open in 2023? The park announced the following schedule on Friday, April 7. April 12-June 2 North Kaibab Trail is closed from Cottonwood Campground to the North Kaibab Trailhead. The North Kaibab Trail and North Rim pipeline were damaged by rockfall and landslides, making many areas unsafe and impassable. This closure will allow repairs to take place. Hikers will not be permitted through this area for any reason. June 2 The Visitor Contact Station will reopen and daily ranger-led programs will resume. The Grand Canyon Conservancy Bookstore will reopen. The Backcountry Information Center will reopen. Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim, including lodging, groceries, retail, dining, shower, laundry and the gas station are anticipated to open. The lodge dining room will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with reservations required for dinner. Mule rides will resume. Contact Grand Canyon Trail Ride at 435-679-8665 or canyonrides.com for details. June 9 The North Rim Campground will reopen. Make reservations by calling 877-444-6777 or at recreation.gov. Reservations for Demotte Campground, 7 miles north of the park entrance in Kaibab National Forest, can be made at recreation.gov. Story continues July 1 The Cape Royal and Point Imperial roads will reopen. Snow removal and road repairs will keep those roads closed until this date. Access to the Widforss Trail, Point Sublime, the North Bass Trailhead and other destinations on the Kaibab Plateau within the park will reopen after downed trees blocking the routes are removed. Road trip! Here are 3 of the most scenic drives in Arizona and how to do them What to do if you have 2023 Grand Canyon North Rim reservations People who have reservations at the Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim can contact Aramark Destinations at 877-386-4383 or www.grandcanyonnorth.com. Questions about the Grand Canyon North Rim Campground can be directed to 877-444-6777 or recreation.gov. For more information on visiting the North Rim in 2023, go to www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/north-rim.htm. Arizona's best main streets: 5 walkable downtowns you should visit on your next road trip Reach me at jill.cassidy@arizonarepublic.com or follow me on Twitter @JillHikes. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Grand Canyon North Rim won't open on time in 2023. Here's why A Walmart associate interacting with a screen in a market fulfillment center. Walmart Walmart announced this week that 65% of its stores will be "serviced by automation" by 2026. The company's US CEO said that "over time, we believe we'll have the same or more associates." Walmart is the country's largest private employer, with roughly 1.6 million workers in the US. Walmart will be increasingly relying on automation at its stores in the coming years but that won't diminish the country's largest private employer's workforce, company leaders said during an investor event this week. The Bentonville, Arkansas-based retail giant recently made headlines when it announced that 65% of its stores will be "serviced by automation" by the end of fiscal year 2026. Walmart currently has more than 4,700 stores throughout the US and employs roughly 1.6 million people nationwide. More specifically, one area where Walmart is seeking to increase investment is in market fulfillment centers (MFCs), which are automated fulfillment centers built within, or added to, a store. Walmart piloted this concept at a store in Salem, New Jersey, in 2019, using automated robot technology from Alert Innovation a robotics company Walmart acquired in October 2022. Since then, Walmart has built MFCs at several stores, such as in Jacksonville, Florida, and Dallas, Texas. Those include "manual MFCs," where associates pick items for online orders but in a separate area from the sales floor. A Walmart spokesperson did not disclose how many MFCs the company deploys nationwide, but Tom Ward, then Walmart's senior vice president of customer product, said in January 2021 that the company would be scaling the model. "Instead of an associate walking the store to fulfill an order from our shelves, automated bots retrieve the items from within the fulfillment center," Ward said in a release at the time. "The items are then brought to a picking workstation, where the order can be assembled with speed." Walmart will still need at least the same level of workers to help in stores even as automation picks up, company leaders say. Story continues John Furner, Walmart US president and CEO, told investors this week that automation "helps" employees, as it will result in less manual labor. "Over time, we believe we'll have the same or more associates and a larger business overall," Furner said. "There will be new roles emerging that are less manual, better designed to serve customers, and pay more." The announcement comes as Walmart has doubled down in its commitment to trying to bolster its e-commerce business, which saw as much as a 97% year-over-year growth in the first full quarter of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. E-commerce growth has cooled since, with the most recent quarter yielding a 17% increase in sales. Still, Walmart is laying off workers at fulfillment centers nationwide. Per Worker Adjustment Retraining Notification (WARN) filings, the retailer is cutting more than 2,000 jobs at e-commerce warehouses in Texas, California, Florida, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. "We recently adjusted staffing levels at our fulfillment centers in select markets to better prepare for the future needs of customers," Walmart told Insider in March. "This decision was not made lightly, and we're working closely with affected associates to help them understand what career options may be available at other Walmart locations." Are you a Walmart worker who has thoughts to share about the automation push? Contact reporter Ben Tobin over email at btobin@insider.com or on encrypted messaging app Signal at +1 703-498-9171. Read the original article on Business Insider Were two former Tennessee governors, we both served eight years, one of us is a Democrat, the other a Republican. We have different views on various issues, and were friends. For the past year, weve done a podcast together. The animating principle of our conversations with guests grew out of the words of former Tennessee Sen. Howard Baker: Always remember that the other fellow might be right. Our mission in this unusual collaboration is to show that Senator Bakers memorable insight can become a powerful tool to solve tough problems by creating respect for the other person and for different ways of looking at the world. Former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen, left, answers a question during a discussion on bipartisanship at Vanderbilt University Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. At right is former Republican Gov. Bill Haslam. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) Hopeless disagreement has become reductive Our state is in a dark place right now. Weve been horrified and appalled by the murder of six people three of them elementary school children in a Christian school in Nashville on Monday. As we all struggle with the aftermath of this tragedy, the openness and respect in political dialogue the two of us have been trying to promote has been, for this issue, quickly submerged in a swamp of intransigence and impasse. A tragedy that has brought out the better angels of our nature has also brought out some of the worst. The murderer was heavily armed with multiple assault rifles and that has naturally been a focus of discussion. Democrats take it as an article of faith that an assault weapon ban is the only sane response. Republicans believe deeply in the importance of preserving the right of people to possess firearms. It becomes quickly clear that there is hopeless disagreement on strategies surrounding assault rifles. And so were reduced to offering our thoughts and prayers, but nothing else, to victims and their families. Can Americans talk about guns?: These students showed how to do it. Nashville shooting leaves 3 more kids dead: Don't you tell me it's too soon to talk guns. Small steps go a long way Weve both come to deeply respect the wisdom and common sense that Senator Baker embodied. One thing he often told people was that whenever you have two sides that are hopelessly divided, the trick is to find something, even a little thing, that you can agree on, and then build from there. Story continues Former Republican Gov. Bill Haslam, right, answers a question during a discussion on bipartisanship at Vanderbilt University on Nov. 5, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. At left is former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen. Perhaps we could begin by simply agreeing that we do have a problem. There is no other developed nation in the world that has anywhere near the mass shootings we do. The assault rifle issues are at an impossible impasse, but if we disengage there for now and turn our attention instead to smaller steps, doable and still useful, there are possibilities. We could start with red flag laws a way to identify people with potentially dangerous mental health issues and a legal process to remove their access to firearms. That might have been effective in the shooting we just had; the shooter was under treatment for mental health issues and yet still obtained and possessed multiple guns. Another small step might be making gun owners take more legal responsibility for securing their weapons. Anyone, conservative or liberal, who believes in the value of personal responsibility should be able to agree that it is irresponsible to possess a dangerous weapon and not reasonably secure it from misuse by others. Want fewer shootings?: Pass tougher gun laws. Our research shows lax laws fuel violence. Gun violence is a problem: How many more students and teachers must die before lawmakers act? Lets talk less and work together more Steps like these seem possible, but still require careful negotiation between competing worldviews. One thing Senator Baker often emphasized was that the most important thing in any negotiation was to strip the emotion away and deal with facts. Bill Haslam, 49th Governor of Tennessee That argues for a factual, dispassionate look at, say, the last 10 years of mass shootings. What weapons were used, how were they obtained? Armed with that, one can look for the lowest-hanging fruit: of the many things we might do, what has the best combination of ease of getting done and effectiveness? What has the second? The third? Were too smart a people to let posturing and rhetoric substitute for facts. 'They're begging us to do something': Nashville lawmaker calls for gun reform as hundreds protest after Covenant shooting 'We're not going to fix it': Why lawmakers see no chance of major gun law changes after Nashville Its obvious that Democrats and Republicans need better ways of working together. Both of us have always found that the best way to get people to work together isnt to talk about working together, but to do it. Start with some easier problems and solve them together. Then, when weve done that successfully, well be ready to graduate to harder ones. Phil Bredesen, 48th Governor of Tennessee Our first hope is of course that out of this tragedy will come ways to better protect our children and schools. But we have a second hope as well that if we handle it wisely and show some successes, our response could become an inflection point where America starts to relearn how to talk with one another and solve problems. Gov. Bill Haslam was the 49th Governor of Tennessee and former mayor of Knoxville. Gov. Phil Bredesen was the 48th Governor of Tennessee and former mayor of Nashville. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: After Nashville shooting, gun laws, reform are possible. Here's how. When planning your next trip with air travel, flights out of the Boise Airport are a good bet nationally for actually getting to your destination. Idahos primary airport consistently ranks in the top five for lowest percentage of canceled flights every year. Thats according to an analysis of U.S. Department of Transportation 2022 flight cancellation data for the nations 75 largest airports by travel insurance company InsureMyTrip. Boise ranked No. 5 last year, behind only the air hubs in Salt Lake City and three Hawaiian cities. Its the third time over the past four years, including commercial travel impacts during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, that the Boise Airport has held a top-five ranking. The Boise Airport consistently ranks among the top airports in the U.S. for its low flight cancellation percentage. In 2022, it ranked No. 5, with about 1.2% of flights canceled during a record-breaking year for passengers. In order, the U.S. airports with the worst cancellation records last year included Buffalo Niagara International Airport, Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, New York Citys LaGuardia Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey and Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. More than 5.5% of flights out of Buffalo were canceled in 2022, the analysis showed. Meanwhile, the Boise Airport last year recorded flight cancellations of about 1.2% with Salt Lake City a hair better at 1.1%. Boises percentage represents fewer than 350 takeoffs canceled out of more than 29,000 scheduled outbound flights for the year, according to airport data. Boises temperate weather, including limited annual snowfall, is a leading factor that Boise Airport officials cited for their positive cancellation performance record. In 2021, the recent year when the airport ranked No. 8 nationally, its cancellation percentage was still about 1%, InsureMyTrips analysis found. On average, Boise receives 20 inches of snowfall annually, according to the National Weather Service, which takes measurements at the Boise Airport. Salt Lake City averages about 52 inches of snow a year. Technology also plays a role in ensuring scheduled flights make it out of Boise, said Sean Briggs, an airport spokesperson. The airport is one of a limited number in the U.S. approved by the Federal Aviation Administration for pilots to fly in low visibility, he said, in part because of an instrument landing system situated on the airports main runway. Story continues We are fortunate to have a mild climate with little snow and good visibility, resulting in weather that typically does not delay commercial flights, Briggs told the Idaho Statesman by email. The Boise Airport is also one of a handful of airports in the country that is certified to allow aircraft to operate in visibility as low as 300 feet runway-visual-range. Alaska Airlines is the Boise Airports lead commercial air carrier, operating on 15 of the airports 26 nonstop routes. The Seattle-based airline doesnt specifically seek out airports with favorable flight cancellation records, but does try to avoid those with bad histories, said Alaska Airlines spokesperson Ray Lane. We certainly do appreciate that Boise is so easy to operate in, and it does help us to ensure that our guests can arrive on time and make their connections, Lane told the Statesman by email. Alaska Airlines, based in Seattle, is the Boise Airports leading commercial air carrier. Boises most recent top-flight ranking came at the same time that the airport had its busiest-ever year for travelers, at nearly 4.5 million passengers in 2022. That topped the prior record of more than 4.1 million passengers set in 2019 another banner year in which the Boise Airport also had a top-five cancellation record. Already this year, the airport is again on pace to break its annual passenger record. Through January and February, typically two of the Boise Airports slowest months, passenger counts are up nearly 20% over 2022 numbers. Each month also was the busiest month on record for January and February. Airport officials are confident the record-breaking passenger totals wont impact the local air hubs national ranking for percentage of canceled flights going forward. As the Boise Airport continues to see an increased level of passenger traffic and flight operations, we expect our cancellation rate to remain low, Briggs said. BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Youxia and He Weidong, vice chairmen of the Central Military Commission (CMC), attended a voluntary tree planting activity on Friday in Beijing. Zhang and He, also members of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, were accompanied by Yin Li, a member of the Political Bureau and secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee. On Friday morning, Zhang, He and Yin joined armed forces officials, local authorities and service personnel to plant trees. Over 1,500 trees were planted. Attending voluntary tree planting activities is an annual tradition of the Chinese armed forces. It is the 41st consecutive year that leaders of the CMC have attended the activity in Beijing. Crime and Courts Reporter Donald W. Meyers is a multimedia journalist at the Yakima Herald-Republic covering crime and courts. He is also the writer behind It Happened Here, a weekly history column. Before coming to Yakima, Meyers covered a wide variety of beats at The Salt Lake Tribune, Daily Herald, and daily and weekly newspapers across New Jersey. He is also a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, serving as a regional officer in the organization as well as on the national Freedom of Information Committee. RFA/Health Care Access Reporter Santiago Ochoa is a bilingual journalist covering health care access at the Yakima Herald-Republic in Yakima, Washington. Before joining the Herald, Ochoa reported for Flint Beat in Flint, Michigan, covering the citys Latino populationhealth care, education, community building and more, and winning top honors in the Michigan Press Associations feature category. He served as photographer and later editor for his college newspaper, The Michigan Times. When hes not working, Ochoa enjoys cross-country trips on his motorcycle, going to the movies, reading and skiing. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- As this year's World Health Day falls on Friday under the theme of "Health for All," China has been sparing no efforts in achieving that goal. Over the past decades, the world has witnessed China's accomplishments in building a healthy China. Average life expectancy, a key gauge of the health level of a country's residents, has increased from 35 years in 1949 to 78.2 years in 2021 in China. Its basic medical insurance covers over 1.3 billion people. Severe infectious diseases, including smallpox, polio, and malaria, were eradicated in the country. In the meantime, China has been sharing its public health successes with the globe, staying true to the initiative of building a global community of health for all. HEALTHCARE AT DOORSTEP For this year's World Health Day, China set a domestic theme of "channeling quality medical resources down to the community level to ensure health for all," aiming to facilitate people's convenient access to health services. Receiving medical services used to be difficult for many Chinese people living in isolated areas. "It'd take me a whole day to go to the county by boat and bus to see a doctor and return," said Lin Zhongsu, an elderly citizen from a small island in east China's Zhejiang Province. Things could not be more different now. At the medical facility on the island, a pair of glasses with 5G and AR technologies have enabled people like Lin to receive diagnosis and treatment from doctors based in big cities. Such were the cases with numerous other citizens in the province where medical experts from higher-level hospitals were regularly dispatched and stationed in hill or island counties -- an epitome of what has been transpiring in China's healthcare picture recently. The phenomena were supported by many state-level policies, not least after the country modified its approach to cope with COVID-19, as medical resources are ever more accessible to people at all levels. In late February, a guideline on the development of the healthcare system in rural areas via deepening reforms was released by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, highlighting the overall planning of resources at the county level as well as the medical personnel and medical insurance in rural areas. In late March, another guideline was issued by the general offices on further improving the healthcare service system, underscoring the capacity of public healthcare services, especially at the primary level. Even when it comes to a plan for the application of robots, released by 17 state departments in mid-January, medical care was noted as an area where robots should play a more significant role, which would allow robots to conduct surgeries on patients under the watch of remote doctors. These stroke with the efforts dedicated to the Healthy China Initiative, as achieving health for all is the fundamental goal of building a healthy China, said Mao Qun'an, an official with the country's National Health Commission (NHC). The points of strength should apply to the health of all groups and the whole lifecycle to provide fair, accessible, systematic, and consistent healthcare services, Mao said. PUSHING FOR GLOBAL HEALTH Over the past six decades, the country has sent medical teams consisting of 30,000 members to 76 countries and regions across five continents, providing 290 million diagnoses and treatments for local people. Chinese medical teams are currently working at 115 sites in 56 countries. Nearly half are in remote areas with harsh conditions. Yang Yi was among the 27th Chinese medical aid team who went to Africa in 2021. Yang's rich experience in acupuncture over 30 years has earned her a loyal following in remote Algeria. "Behind the local people's trust in Chinese doctors is the legacy of the country's medical aid team members for generations," she said. Besides relieving patients' pain with acupuncture, Yang has two Algerian students. She said that even if the Chinese doctors leave, acupuncture has taken root there. In the face of the challenge of COVID-19, China has always acted on the vision of a global community of health for all, standing with the rest of the world while overcoming domestic difficulties. China has timely shared relevant information, data and experience, provided medical supplies for other countries, and carried out international cooperation. China is also the first country to propose COVID-19 vaccines as a global public good, support a vaccine intellectual property rights exemption, and champion cooperation on vaccine production with developing countries. While maintaining pragmatic cooperation with international organizations, the country co-organized the Ninth Global Conference on Health Promotion with the WHO in 2016. China officially received a malaria-free certification from the WHO in 2021. "These represent China's proposals and strength for promoting global health," said He Zhaohua, an official with the NHC. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. by Xinhua writers Mao Lei, Wang Jiangang UNITED NATIONS, April 6 (Xinhua) -- China's knowledge in promoting its modernization, global development cooperation and energy transition is worth sharing with the world, a senior United Nations official has said. TREMENDOUS PROGRESS Over the past decades, China has demonstrated tremendous progress in poverty eradication, as well as industrialization and in deploying technology, Navid Hanif, UN assistant secretary-general in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, told Xinhua in a recent interview. China has a lot to offer because the country, of such a size, has accomplished poverty eradication in the span of a few decades, which is commendable, he said. China's path to modernization has worked for China very well, and it can be adapted by other countries depending on their own national conditions and specific priorities, needs and demands, said Hanif. Development only works when it is homespun, he said, adding that it has to be owned by the countries' people and connected to their specific resources. Noting that knowledge is not "one-way street," Hanif underscored the need for countries to learn from each other. "I think China has knowledge, expertise and experience to demonstrate to the world and share and let them choose what is really close to their own national priorities and can be adapted to their context," he said. PROPONENT OF SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION As a proponent of South-South cooperation, China also has knowledge to share on promoting global development cooperation, said Hanif. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). China also put forward the Global Development Initiative in 2021. "We acknowledge all initiatives that promote development cooperation and help countries to advance their national objectives, especially among South-South partners. BRI is one of those initiative," Hanif said. Data on the impact of BRI in its 10 year's work should be shared to demonstrate results including in infrastructure investment and transport investment, so that countries better understand the achievements, he said, acknowledging that the initiative also has emphasis on sustainable development goals. It's time to widely share a decade of BRI's knowledge, results and its impact in terms of sustainable development goals, greening transport and greening infrastructure for better understanding of the impact, said Hanif. The Global Development Initiative, still developing and unfolding, is "well-intended to show China's commitment to global development," he said. ENERGY TRANSITION LEADER The United Nations on Wednesday released the 2023 Financing for Sustainable Development Report, which showed that energy transition investments surpassed fossil fuel system investments for the first time in 2022, almost all in China and developed countries. Calling China a leader in energy transition, Hanif said China can play the role to help countries undergo energy transitions both in terms of the technologies they need and what they can learn from China, such as how to go through these transitions with minimum social disruptions. "These are the things which China can offer to the world through South-South cooperation," he said. In the development of solar cell industry, China has also demonstrated that it can pioneer in effectively deploying technology which can be used widely to reduce carbon emissions, Hanif added. On development financing, China has managed to innovate on public-private sector partnerships, and the knowledge should also be widely shared, he said. Cum vrea China sa ajunga sa ridice constructii pe Luna China exagereaza de multe ori cand promite lucruri si nu tot ce promite devine realitate. Dar China are un program complex cand este vorba despre explorarea Lunii si vrea sa testeze construirea unor caramizi din solul lunar si apoi sa ajunga sa ridice constructii pe suprafata Lunii, [citeste mai departe] Stiri pe aceeasi tema - The exchange rate of the national leu currency resulting from the quotations announced on Tuesday by the banks authorized to operate on the currency market is as follows:CURRENCY SYMBOL RON Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro - Rare diseases affect approximately 5% of the population and represent a public health problem, the minister of Health, Alexandru Rafila, declared on Tuesday, adding that one of the priorities is the creation of a register of patients suffering from these conditions, told Agerpres. Fii la curent - The Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) stocks opened higher on Monday, with all indices up and trades of RON 1.026 million (EUR 209,353) 30 minutes into the trading session, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro - The Minister of Labour, Marius Budai, on Friday voiced his solidarity with the employees of the education system and those of the health system, who protested against the low level of salaries, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook - The RO-USAR team deployed in Turkey supported, on Friday morning, the local authorities for removing a woman from under the rubble, who was later handed over to the medical crews. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro - Academician Razvan Theodorescu was and he will remain one of the great people of this country, says the Minister of Culture, Lucian Romascanu. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro Help your friends know more about - An autographed undergraduate thesis by Titu Maiorescu and the authographed doctoral thesis of Zoia Ceausescu were sold on Thursday evening at an auction at Casa Artmark, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro - President Klaus Iohannis will pay an official visit to Azerbaijan on Thursday and Friday, at the invitation of his counterpart Ilham Aliyev, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro Help your friends know NATO's Geoana: Romania's real challenge is to turn its immense strategic relevance into economic dividends In a lecture to the University of Craiova on Friday, NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana said that the real challenge for Romania amidst a changing strategic outline of Europe is how to turn its immense strategic relevance into economic dividends and make the leap forward toward a prosperous country, so that people no longer choose to leave the country in droves. "This is a moment of immense transformation at the global level, at the European level. (...) The sad reality of the war started by Russia against Ukraine shows us how much we need to invest in defence and security and in an Citeste articolul mai departe pe stiripesurse.ro Sursa articol si foto: stiripesurse.ro Stiri pe aceeasi tema - The Black Sea should be seen as a strategic centre of gravity, Romanian Defence Minister Angel Tilvar on Thursday told a conference on the security of the Black Sea region taking place in Bucharest under the auspices of the Crimea Platform.Tilvar added that the region is gaining more relevance amidst - The president of the Republic of Moldova called on her compatriots on Monday to gather at a mass outdoor assembly next month to endorse her drive for closer integration with Europe, according to Reuters. Republic of Moldova, one of Europes poorest countries wedged between Ukraine and Romania, has been - The Minister of Research, Innovation and Digitization, Sebastian Burduja, stated, on Friday, at the University of Craiova, that if Romania is not be able to generate research, innovation to be exported to the rest of the world, then it will always be condemned to be a consumer market "and in fact to - Russia warned the West on Friday that unless obstacles to its exports of grain and fertilisers were removed, then Ukraine would have to export grain over land and Moscow would work outside the UN-brokered landmark grain export deal. The Black Sea grain deal is an attempt by the United Nations to ease - The Deputy General Secretary of NATO, Mircea Geoana, will visit the South-East Multinational Brigade in Craiova on Friday.The NATO official made this announcement in an interview given to AGERPRES, in Brussels, after the conclusion of the meeting of foreign ministers from the Alliance states, which - The Deputy Secretary General of NATO, Mircea Geoana, will deliver a speech on Friday, April 7, 2023, at the University of Craiova, on "Innovation, transformation and security - From a war economy to a new economic model."According to representatives of the University of Craiova, the event takes place - Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca on Friday said Romania, together with Western strategic partners, is determined to support Ukraine as long as necessary, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro Help your friends - National Defence Minister Angel Tilvar had a bilateral meeting on Tuesday in Brussels with his counterpart in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Ben Wallace, with the topic of discussion being Russia's ongoing aggression in Ukraine and the impact on European security, told Agerpres. Stiri pe aceeasi tema - National chairman of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Marcel Ciolacu said on Friday that Romanian farmers will receive new financial aid from the European Commission, based on a fair formula."Romanian farmers will receive new financial aid from the European Commission, based on a fair formula! This - Chairman of Save Romania Union (USR) Catalin Drula accuses National Liberal Party (PNL) leader Nicolae Ciuca and Social Democratic Party (PSD) leader Marcel Ciolacu of "giving free rein to stealing up to 250,000 RON", after the Senate adopted a bill that sets the threshold for abuse of office at that - In Brussels on Thursday, national leader of the Save Romania Union (USR) Catalin Drula met European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders, told Agerpres.The subject of discussion concerned what Drula called the "slippages" of the Social Democratic Party - National Liberal Party (PSD-PNL) regime - Social Democratic Party (PSD) President, Marcel Ciolacu says that the Romanian state should supplement the compensation granted by the European Commission to Romanian farmers affected by the influx of grain from Ukraine."I think that at this moment the Romanian state must intervene and increase, - National leader of the Save Romania Union (USR) Catalin Drula says that that he met on Wednesday visiting European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira to discuss Romania's absorption of European funds."I explained to the commissioner that the weakening of state institutions, the - REPER MEP Dacian Ciolos requested, on Friday, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) chairman, Marcel Ciolacu, to urgently remove the minister of Agriculture, Petre Daea, "for the disastrous way in which he negotiated the compensations from the European Commission"."Romanian farmers are wronged because - The president of Save Romania Union (USR) Catalin Drula, on Monday called as "inflationary" the policies of the current government, claiming that the gov't likes the price rises because they raise the revenues to the budget.In his opinion, the leaders of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and Liberal - Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Marcel Ciolacu stated on Sunday evening that mistakes were made regarding Romania's accession to Schengen, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro Help your * Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Beijing on Thursday, calling on both sides to enhance cooperation, promote relations between China and the European Union, and work jointly for a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. * Macron said despite their different development models, the two countries have respected each other, communicated with candor, and achieved mutual benefits in their wide-ranging cooperation. * Xi called on China and the EU to jointly uphold global stability and prosperity, and stand against hegemonism, unilateralism and attempts to decouple economies or sever supply chains. BEIJING, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Beijing on Thursday, calling on both sides to enhance cooperation, promote relations between China and the European Union, and work jointly for a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. ENHANCING BILATERAL COOPERATION Noting that the two sides need to make good use of their all-round, high-level communication channels, Xi called on the two sides to maintain close communication between the two presidents, and hold a new round of meetings this year for the three high-level dialogue mechanisms, namely the strategic dialogue, the economic and financial dialogue, and the dialogue on people-to-people exchanges. China will work with France to deepen cooperation in such fields as agrifood, space, aviation, and civil nuclear energy, foster new cooperation areas including trade in services, green development, and innovation in science and technology, and support the joint development of a carbon neutrality center and joint cultivation of talents, he said. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for French President Emmanuel Macron at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. Xi held talks with Macron in Beijing on Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) China welcomes France as the guest country of honor at the China International Fair for Trade in Services 2024 and the seventh China International Import Expo, Xi said, voicing the hope that France will provide Chinese businesses with a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment. Macron said despite their different development models, the two countries have respected each other, communicated with candor, and achieved mutual benefits in their wide-ranging cooperation. He pointed out that he was taking a large delegation to China to seek closer cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, and France is ready to work with China on the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation that China will host. Addressing the closing ceremony of a meeting between Chinese and French entrepreneurs, Xi said China-France economic and trade cooperation has not only boosted the economic development of the two countries and improved people's well-being, but has also enhanced confidence and stabilized expectations for global economic recovery. Noting that China's economic and social vitality has now been fully unleashed, Xi said the two sides should seize the opportunity to strengthen cooperation, and called on them to remain open and inclusive and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, uphold independence and safeguard their common interests, while adhering to solidarity and coordination to promote the common development of the world. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for French President Emmanuel Macron at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. Xi held talks with Macron in Beijing on Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) ISSUING JOINT CALL FOR POLITICAL SETTLEMENT OF UKRAINE CRISIS Xi stressed that China's position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear. It is essentially about facilitating peace talks and political settlement. He said China stands ready to issue a joint call with France for the international community to stay rational, exercise restraint, and avoid taking actions that might cause the crisis to further deteriorate or even spiral out of control; to strictly abide by international humanitarian law, avoid attacking civilians or civilian facilities, and protect women, children and other victims of the conflict; to earnestly honor the pledge that nuclear weapons must not be used and nuclear wars must not be fought, oppose the use of biological weapons under any circumstances, and oppose armed attacks against nuclear power plants or other civilian nuclear facilities; to resume peace talks as soon as possible, observe the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, accommodate the legitimate security concerns of all parties, seek political settlement, and foster a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture; and to jointly address the spillover effects of the Ukraine crisis in food, energy, finance, transportation and other fields, and reduce the negative impact of the Ukraine crisis on the world, especially on developing countries. Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron jointly meet the Chinese and foreign press after their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. Xi held talks with Macron in Beijing on Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Macron shared France's view on the issue, and commended China's important role in the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. France calls for the resumption of political negotiations and a settlement of the crisis through diplomatic means to achieve lasting peace in Europe. France hopes to increase communication and make joint efforts with China toward peace. PROMOTING STEADY DEVELOPMENT OF CHINA-EU TIES On the same day, Xi held a trilateral meeting with Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Beijing. Xi pointed out that China and the EU share extensive common interests. Cooperation and common ground between the two sides outweigh competition and differences. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. China is prepared to work with the EU to fully resume exchanges at all levels and revitalize mutually-beneficial cooperation in various fields, thus injecting fresh impetus into China-EU relations and global peace, stability and prosperity. Xi called on China and the EU to jointly uphold global stability and prosperity, and stand against hegemonism, unilateralism and attempts to decouple economies or sever supply chains. He said the two sides need to step up macroeconomic and financial policy communication and coordination, deepen their green partnership, and increase dialogue and cooperation on green financing, environment-friendly technologies and clean energy. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a trilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) Von der Leyen said the EU and China are each other's important trading partners and the two economies are highly intertwined. Decoupling from China is neither in the EU's interests nor the EU's strategic choice. The EU sets its China policy independently. It would like to restart the High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue and advance steady and balanced growth of economic and trade ties with China for mutual benefit. Macron said the EU and China should work with each other to stay away from the trap of economic decoupling and severing supply chains, carry out mutually-beneficial cooperation on an equal footing, tackle pressing global challenges such as climate change, and keep deepening the EU-China comprehensive strategic partnership. (Video reporters: Sun Qing and You Zhixin; video editors: Tang Jingyao, Hui Peipei, Miao Zhuang and Liang Wanshan) Culture, trust, and mission: Most Gen Z and Millennials responding to a recent Deloitte Global study want their organizations purpose and mission to align with their personal values.11 The majority of both Pioneers (78%) and their peers (56%) feel very or extremely confident in their ability to deliver an organizational purpose embraced by their workforce. Yet fewer than 40% of respondents in either category report that their C-suite and board provide governance and oversight on such issues; roughly 25% reported tracking belonging and inclusion. Meanwhile, another Deloitte study recently revealed that 66% of business executives face increasing pressure to show their commitment to creating organizational purpose for workers, shareholders, and society.12 Not only can a shared sense of purpose improve an organizations brand and reputation, it can also help build workforce trust. Workforce planning and deployment: To perform at their best and meet evolving business needs, organizations should have a workforce planning process that helps establish the right people in the right place at the right time, for the right cost. To accomplish that, they should plan for succession, cultivate new talent pipelines, and deploy workers against emerging business priorities fluidly. Proper application of such practices can have a dramatic impact. One study found that companies that can quickly reposition appropriate talent into critical roles were more than twice as likely to outpace competitors on total returns to shareholders.13 However, executive-level succession planning and effective workforce planning were among the areas of least concern across all respondents. Environmental, social, and governance (ESG), and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI): From college activism and social media hashtags to boardroom discussions and government regulations, there is a great deal of attention paid to ESG and DEI. Pioneers cited their ability to foster ESG and sustainable business practices as their No. 1 internal risk concern, while non-Pioneers ranked it second. When it comes to creating a diverse and inclusive culture, non-Pioneers rated this area among the bottom three in their confidence to achieve it. Compensation, benefits, and well-being: Historical macro trends and tight labor markets have added to the competition for talent related to compensation, benefits, flexibility, and work-life balance. Pioneers remain confident in their ability to manage risks associated with overall worker well-being (82%) and providing competitive compensation and benefits (74%), while roughly half of all others were confident in their ability to do so. Data, technology, and metrics: Companies can collect vast amounts of data from their workers and customers more easily than ever, transforming it into insights with the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced analytics. Although this can benefit workers and organizations alike, if organizations do not take a responsible approach to workforce data and technology, they may be at risk of data privacy and security breaches, erosion of workforce trust, and financial or regulatory penalties. Pioneers not only ranked leaks of confidential information and the responsible use of workforce data and AI among their top concerns, they were also the least confident in managing this internal risk. Tamas Menczer, the foreign ministry state secretary for external relations, has hit back at criticism of Hungarys child protection law by Czechias foreign minister, saying Hungarians will do anything for our children. Menczer responded on Facebook to a tweet by Jan Lipavsky in which he said he was sorry that Czechia would not join the European lawsuit over Hungarys anti-LGBTQ law. The minister said his Pirate Party do not intend to give up on this topic. Children are not threatened by seeing such characters on TV or in books. What threatens them is when hatred is artificially incited or information is withheld from them, he added. Menczer said: The truth is that such characters are dangerous to our children. Children are vulnerable and cannot protect themselves. We have to protect them. He added that children must be protected from LGBTQ propaganda and paedophiles. We have seen terrible examples, we must ensure that they are not repeated, Menczer said. What happens at Czech kindergartens and schools is none of my business. How Jan Lipavsky raises his children if he has any is none of my business, either, the state secretary said. But he should know that in Hungary only the decisions of Hungarians matter and Hungarians have clearly decided that children must be protected. We, Hungarians will do anything for our children, and we will protect them! Renato Calcagno is one of only 14 Panamanians living in Hungary. With 15 years in this place, his blog, Un panameno en Budapest, has established itself as one of the most detailed help sources for Spanish speakers interested in this country, especially for Latinos who find with him answers to their doubts and concerns of all types. "I remember with satisfaction the first comment that touched me deeply from a girl. She said: I am Chilean but my parents are Hungarian and I have fought with them all my life. Thanks to your blog I have finally understood why my family is the way it is. I realized then that I helped this girl make peace with her family. That's when I started crying." This is how Renato narrates one of his most memorable interactions with one of the visitors to his well- known blog, Un panameno en Budapest (A Panamanian in Budapest). A candid reply from the so-called "last corner of the world" (Chile), sought to thank him for how his observations on Hungarian culture impacted this reader's life 8,000 miles away. After the biggest refugee crisis that Hungary has had, (The Revolution of 1956) many Hungarians went to make their lives in different Latin American countries. A context from which decades later, one of those heiresses of the lineage, contacted the protagonist of this story in the mere spirit of gratitude. Her vision of her family, communication issues, family practices... Finally, everything made sense for this girl in relation to her ancestry, after the realization of being reflected in a text by this Panamanian living in Budapest. "Having completed 10 years here in 2016, I had already finished university online (Leadership and management BA) and soon found that I had nothing else to write. I missed writing essays and reports, so I started the blog. I had managed to speak Hungarian already so I started writing in my spare time about what interested me." Any Spanish speaker with an interest in Hungary, either because they are in the country or plan to settle, knows that information in such language on the matter is not exactly abundant. This is how you get to Renato's blog. A Panamanian who, after falling in love with a Hungarian citizen while they both worked on a cruise, finally opted to come and live in his girlfriend's country in 2006. His web blog is recurrently among the results when it comes to information searches of matters that go beyond inquiring what traditional foods are in Hungary and are closer to the spectrum of the ones with citizen utility. Especially in a country where not everything adjusts to the mere fact of reading instructions out there (if we talk about a universal language like English). Or without going further, where the local language is not even presumable for instance for a Latino like himself. Actually, for no one. At the time when this Panamanian started his blog, the queries about life in Hungary gained momentum, largely due to the Venezuelan migratory crisis, whose community as we know it, is still looking for a place to live in different latitudes of the world. "People started writing to me every day about daily life issues. How the school or the preschool worked, what kind of alternatives existed according to their family reality etc. Thus, the blog became well-known in the Spanish-speaking community." Today sometimes in the street some people recognize me because they follow me on Instagram, but it happens less if they go by my photo on the blog where I had 25 kilos more, he jokes. Having worked in different positions within the work circuit of multinational companies, Renato decided just one year ago to start working as a tour guide. Role in which as it comes to the same field, he certainly narrows the path so that at some point he can dedicate himself solely to advising expatriates. An occupation that also gives him some more time to work on his blog. "There are people who write to me asking, for example, how much the thermal baths cost. That is a question whose answer can be found everywhere. But there are other serious concerns, specific to life in Hungary, which is what I intend to cover." For instance, I could be a consultant to expatriates, for which I have recently set an hourly rate, however, the public that demands these solutions is in such economic need that making this something professionally firm is not easy. Even so, Renato always tries to give some kind of feedback to all inquiries. In one recent case, a Venezuelan family living in Chile contacted him for advice on how to integrate into Hungary (Venezuelan immigration in Chile is estimated to be three times the official number: 500.000 citizens at present). It was a 50-year-old woman whose husband was a transport application driver. "When I identify that they do not have as much purchasing power, I simply ask them for a donation; three euros, five euros whatever. I sit down to talk to them for as long as it takes for them to understand the picture in all its dimensions. In this case, after this, having weighed their situation, they decided to stay in Chile. In the same way, in other types of cases, for example, I had to find a school for a child with disabilities. I did a mapping of the different alternatives that were adapted to the family and the pertinent procedures and the kid fit with the place. These are aids that fill my soul because they have meaning in the life of a family." In his blog, however, Renato focuses today on writing mostly about tourism. This is with the aim of trying to monetize the platform and live from it. He says that writing an article takes him a few hours, but writing a guide is a different thing. For publications on how to get documents, for example, the address Card, TAJ card, etc., I have to call the offices to check that the data is correct and I have to read in Hungarian which, although I know, takes me much longer than reading in English, he adds. With the tours, Renato manages to support his family, where he is the father of three Hungarian-Panamanian girls. On the other hand, he obtained the nationality of this country in 2019. To accompany him on his tour in Spanish is also to get to know a bit of the life of this dynamic expatriate. Mixing the country's history with his personal experiences is part of his account on Budapests downtown streets. Courtesy: instagram.com/turismobudapest/ Renato is strongly rooted to this land. A bond that began when he was learning the language under a situation that is hard not to imagine jocularly while I am interviewing him. From the beginning, his former mother-in-law spoke to him in Hungarian all the time as if he knew Hungarian. That's how he got words stuck on him. He learned in such a way that later, when he joined a language course, he could not adjust to it. So, he self-taught himself the language for the next seven years, reaching an advanced level. And he knows that the language issue can be a big problem depending on the situation. "A woman wrote to me that she wanted to take her son out of school because his classmates made too much fun of him because he did not speak Hungarian. What I would most like to do is to personally go with this woman to the school and solve the problem the way I do, because I am sure I can deliver that solution. However, being cases that would take up so much of my schedule with respect to my main job as a tour guide, without the financial willingness of the solicitant, they unfortunately, become unfeasible to assist." For everything else, Renato offers a wide variety of articles in his blog where he interacts with the community permanently. In it, the first thing you notice is his strictly speaking. One of his articles "English language is more important in Hungary than Hungarian", (recommended) reflects this faithfully. From this, he shares his observation. I know very few people with intermediate English who work here for a multinational company. In them, regardless of the fact that the work is quite heavy, the immigrant considers them a good opportunity because they are aware of the reality of the salary in Hungary. In a multinational you get more than the average Hungarian, simply by knowing English or, in the case of Latinos, Spanish. According to a survey done for his blog 3 years ago, 65% of foreigners living in Hungary work for a multinational. With 17 years living here, Renato says that this figure is totally in line with his experience in the country and adds: "In a multinational, you make more than 40% of Hungarians". By the way, the website of this "Panamanian living in Budapest" has the option of automatic translation into English. However, the content offered is usually thought and written from the need of monolingual Latinos, who are often in need of direct feedback on such matters with people of their own language. "The last guide I did in English for example on all types of residence permits had 400% more traffic. I could have more web traffic writing originally in English, but I give priority to Spanish to help my people, the Latinos I mean (because there are only fourteen of us Panamanians here), he laughs." Renato hopes sooner rather than later to devote himself entirely to helping Spanish speakers in relation to life in Hungary, a country full of challenges, many of which this expatriate has so far overcome triumphantly. Renato Calcagno Un panameno en Budapest Blog Un panameno en Budapest facebook.com/UnPanamenoenBudapest instagram.com/turismobudapest Interview by Daniel Sepulveda O, contributing journalist for Xpatloop.com YORK Benjamin Rhodes, 20, of Gresham has changed his plea in a case where he was accused of fleeing from York County Sheriffs deputies. He earlier pleaded not guilty but this week pleaded no contest. According to court documents, a deputy with the York County Sheriffs Department was on routine patrol on Highway 34, near Highway 69. The sheriff saw, as they turned onto Highway 69, a pickup with no license plates. The deputy says in the affidavit that the pickup turned on to Road 16 and slowed down. The deputy started to initiate a traffic stop by activating his emergency lights, but the pickup accelerated rapidly and ran from the deputy at a high rate of speed. The deputy pursued the pickup on Road 16, into Seward County, at estimated speeds of 75 mph on gravel roadway. Court documents indicate Rhodes, who was the driver, continued to accelerate, and failed to stop at a stop sign, turned north and traveled away at a high rate of speed. (The deputy) pursued the pickup at speeds between 90 and 100 mph. (The deputy) observed flames coming from underneath the pickup and (shortly afterward) came to a stop. Rhodes was placed under arrest and his passenger, Nate Shafer, was arrested because he had a warrant in York County. According to the affidavit, Rhodes told the deputy he fled because his vehicle had no insurance and Shafer had a warrant. Rhodes admitted to driving over 90 mph during the pursuit. Rhodes was charged with flight to avoid arrest, a Class 4 felony, and willful reckless driving, a Class 3 misdemeanor. Now that he is convicted, he will be sentenced on June 15. YORK A warrant has been issued for a man who was found in a York hotel room with a woman who was a protected party in a situation involving protection orders and prior violations. Peter Lynch, 42, whose addresses are listed in court documents as West Haven, Connecticut and Fountain Valley, California, was supposed to appear in York County District Court this week but didnt show. Due to the no-show, a warrant was issued for his arrest. He is charged with violation of a protection order with prior violation convictions, which is a Class 4 felony. The case began when the York Police Department was dispatched to a hotel at the York interchange on the report of a request for medical service. When an officer arrived, he was advised by a hotel staff member that an unknown woman had approached him, requesting he call for emergency services for a man lying in a specific room. The man on the floor was Lynch. According to court documents, Lynch was resistant to providing the officer with any identifying information, but said he was possibly having alcohol withdraws. He also informed (the officer) he was currently under the influence of alcohol. An officer located the woman hiding in nearby bushes, according to court documents. They also found Lynch was the respondent of a protection order with the woman being the protected party. After Lynch was taken to York General Hospital for medical care, the woman allegedly told officers she didnt want Lynch arrested for the protection order violation as she had already paid approximately $24,000 in bonds for him for the same charges. After Lynch was medically cleared, he was transported to the York County Jail. Through a criminal history check, officers found Lynch had been charged on many occasions for domestic violation protection order violations: December 2015, convicted; May 2021, dismissed; December 2021, dismissed; December 2021, convicted; January 2022, dismissed; January 2022, dismissed; March 2022, convicted; April 2022, convicted; July 2022, convicted; August 2022, no disposition; September 2022, no disposition. New Delhi: Adani Power Ltd (APL) on Friday said an 800 MW unit at its thermal plant in Jharkhand has begun commercial operations. The second unit of the 1600 MW project is also in an advanced stage of completion and expected to be commissioned soon, the Adani Group company said in a filing. "This is to inform unit 1 of 800 MW capacity of the 2x800 MW ultra-supercritical power project of Adani Power (Jharkhand) Limited (APJL), situated in Godda has achieved commercial operations," it said. (Also Read: Bill Gates, Ex-Wife Share First Pic With Granddaughter - Check Pics) APJL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Power, will supply the power under a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for corresponding net capacity of 748 MW from unit 1 to the Bangladesh Power Development Board. (Also Read: Samsung Employees Accidentally Leaked Company Secrets Via ChatGPT: Check What Happened Next) "APJL has started processing its claims under the PPA with effect from April 6, 2023," it said. New Delhi: The dairy co-operative Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Amuls decision to enter into Bengaluru market has stirred an uproar in Karnataka among several factions ahead of States legistlative assembely election in May. The trend #NandiniSupport has gained traction on the social media with the locals wooing the regional dairy brand against the popular co-operative Amul, which has large footfall in the Northern India. Several politicians including former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah supported the Karnataka Milk Federations dairy. The KMF sells milk and curd in the State under the brand name of Nandini. ALSO READ | Sudha Murty's Son Shares Pics Of His Parents Getting Padma At 15 Years Gap Gujarat based Amul had previously tried to enter Karnataka's market to sell milk and curd. We had not allowed it to happen then, but now @BJP4Karnataka is welcoming them with open arms.#SaveNandini April 7, 2023 Netizens Split On Stir Some netizens including politicians are running the trends like #SaveNandini and #GoBack. One netizen tweeted that she hadnt bought even a single product of Amul since 2016. In a free market, anyone can compete. It's up to the consumers to decide which brand to opt for! Considering the dominance of Nandini in Ktka, it won't be easy for Amul! The ultimate beneficiary of competition are consumers themselves! Apply logic! Don't be so brainless! pic.twitter.com/TUQqdGs1bl Preetam Rao (@Preetam_M_Rao) April 7, 2023 Some netizens argued that the dairy brand Nandini not need to feel threatened. One netizen said, Nandini from the 2nd largest milk cooperative in India KMF with 25,000 Cr turnover has nothing to feel threatened with Amuls entry in its home territory. Nandini has distribution & delivery chain set over decades. Logistics & price advantage with Nandini. One user tweeted that its a free market anyone can compete so cant stop Amul from selling in Karnataka. Karnataka To Go For Election In May Karnataka is all set to go for the state legislative assembly election on May 10 and the result will be announced on May 13. Basavaraj Bommai from the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) has currently held the position of the Chief Minister in the State. BJP will fight to retain the seat while the opposition Congress will look for an opportunity to come to power. Hindi Imposition Controversy Earlier A few weeks ago, another controversy erupted in the Sourthern State related to dairy when the food regulatory body Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had notified the dairy cooperative brands to label Dahi and regional name in brackets on curd packets. Howeve, the food regulator revised its circular after a heavy political backlash by politicians from Sourthern states, who called it Imposition of Hindi. New Delhi: Along with the launch, ChatGPT expanding its space in the tech sector. Many IT firms, notably Samsung, have let employees use ChatGPT while carrying out their jobs. Unfortunately, this got workers into trouble when they unintentionally gave the AI chatbot access to private information. The semiconductor division of Samsung had given permission for its engineers to use ChatGPT to assist in resolving issues with source code. Top-secret information, including the source code for a new software and meeting notes about their hardware, were accidentally input by the staff. Three such events were reported in just one month. (Also Read: Twitter Verified Follows 'No One'; Unfollows All Accounts Amid Turmoil Over Blue Tick) Significantly, ChatGPT keeps the data it receives to continue learning. Thus, the developer of AI chatbots OpenAI now has access to these Samsung trade secrets. (Also Read: Latest Bank Fixed Deposit Rates 2023: ICICI vs HDFC vs PNB FD Rate Compared) According to reports, Samsung Semiconductor is developing its own AI for usage by staff members inside to prevent such errors from occurring in the future. Unfortunately, it will only be capable of handling prompts that are less than 1024 bytes in size. In one of the mishaps, a worker was optimising test sequences for secretive company chip flaw detection using an AI chatbot. A semiconductor database download program's source code was copied by the employee, who then entered it into ChatGPT and checked for problems. Another instance was a worker using ChatGPT to turn meeting notes into a presentation. These notes contained private information that should not have been disclosed to outside parties. Significantly, the ChatGPT FAQ for OpenAI states unequivocally that "Our AI trainers may review your interactions to improve our systems." According to a report in The Register, Samsung's CEO has advised staff members to avoid such errors. Access to ChatGPT may be restricted on the corporate network if a similar incident takes place despite emergency information protection procedures being put in place, he has warned. Particularly noteworthy is the statement made by OpenAI that "We delete any personally identifying information from data we intend to use to improve model performance. In addition, for our attempts to enhance model performance, we only use a tiny sampling of data per customer. New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved a revision in the formula for pricing of natural gas and imposed cap or ceiling price to help cut CNG and piped cooking gas prices by up to 10 per cent. Natural gas produced from legacy or old fields, known as APM gas, will now be indexed to the price of imported crude oil instead of benchmarking it to gas prices in four surplus nations such as the US, Canada and Russia, Union I&B Miniser Anurag Thakur told reporters after a meeting of the Cabinet. APM gas will be priced at 10 per cent of the price of basket of crude oil that India imports (Indian basket of crude oil). The rate such arrived at however will be capped at USD 6.5 per million British thermal unit. There will also be a floor or base price of USD 4 per mmBtu. The ceiling price is lower than the current rate of USD 8.57 per mmBtu and would translate into a reduction in prices of piped cooking gas as well as CNG sold to automobiles, he said. Piped cooking gas prices will be cut by up to 10 per cent across cities while CNG will see a little lower reduction, he said. Rates of piped cooking gas, called PNG, and CNG have jumped 80 per cent in one year to August 2022. This follows a spurt in international energy prices. Following the decision, the CNG price in Delhi will be cut from Rs 79.56 per kg to Rs 73.59 and that of PNG from Rs 53.59 per thousand cubic meters to Rs 47.59. In Mumbai, CNG will cost Rs 79 per kg instead of Rs 87 and PNG will cost Rs 49 per scm instead of Rs 54. The Indian basket of crude oil is currently priced at USD 85 per barrel and 10 per cent of that translates into a price of USD 8.5 but the cap would mean the APM gas produces, ONGC and Oil India Ltd would get only USD 6.5 per mmBtu. These caps and floor prices will be for two years and rates will increase by USD 0.25 per mmBtu per year thereafter, the minister said. The changes in the gas pricing formula are based on the recommendations of a committee under Kirit Parikh. While the committee's recommendation for floor and ceiling as well as indexation has been accepted, the one on annual increment and full deregulation has been changed. The panel had suggested a 50 cents per mmBtu increase in the USD 6.50 ceiling every year to slowly move toward the marketing and pricing freedom for APM fields. Asked about the deregulation, Oil Secretary Pankaj Jain said the decisions taken by the cabinet have been informed. Also, rates will be fixed every month instead of the current practice of fixing them bi-annually. Currently, the government bi-annually fixes prices of locally produced natural gas -- which is converted into CNG for use in automobiles, piped to household kitchens for cooking and used to generate electricity and make fertilisers. Two different formulas govern rates paid for gas produced from legacy or old fields of national oil companies like Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Oil India Ltd (OIL), and that for newer fields lying in difficult to tap areas such as deepsea. The global spurt in energy prices post Russia's invasion of Ukraine has led to rates of locally produced gas climbing to record levels - USD 8.57 per million British thermal unit for gas from legacy or old fields and USD 12.46 per mmBtu for gas from difficult fields in six month period ending March 31. At the April 1 revision, the APM gas price was kept on hold pending Cabinet approval for the change in the pricing formula. Had the old formula continued, prices of gas from legacy fields would have climbed to USD 10.7 per mmBtu. The price of gas from difficult fields was cut to USD 12.11 per mmBtu. The government had last year constituted a committee under Kirit Parikh to look at a revision in gas prices that balances both local consumer and producer interest, while at the same time advancing the country's cause of becoming a gas-based economy. While leaving the formula for difficult fields unchanged, the panel suggested the price band for current production from legacy or old fields, which make up for two-thirds of all gas produced in the country and is currently under the administered price mechanism, or APM, until a full deregulation of prices is implemented in 2027. The panel suggested a 50 cents per mmBtu increase in the USD 6.50 ceiling every year to slowly move toward the marketing and pricing freedom for APM fields. Thakur said the ceiling price covers for the cost of production of producers while protecting consumers particularly CNG users, kitchens using piped cooking gas and fertilizer plants who had grappled with soaring input cost. APM gas makes up for most of CNG and kitchen gas supplies. India aspires to become a gas-based economy with the share of natural gas in its primary energy mix targeted to rise to 15 per cent by 2030 from the existing level of around 6.3 per cent. APM gas fields were allotted to ONGC and OIL before 1999. Production from these fields do not attract profit-sharing with the government, and their pricing formula is benchmarked to gas prices at international gas hubs in surplus nations every six months based on the weighted average price. Prices were last revised on October 1 and are now due for revision on April 1. To incentivize additional production from a new well or well intervention in the nomination blocks, the Kirit Parikh committee recommended a premium of 20 per cent over and above the APM prices for ONGC and OIL till complete freedom. This has been approved by the Cabinet, he said. As much as 34 per cent of APM gas is allotted to the power sector in 2021-22, 17 per cent to the fertilizer industry, which impacts food prices, and 22 per cent to the city gas sector. The committee also recommended that gas should be brought under the Goods and Services Tax, or GST, regime. Having a common taxation such as GST for gas in lieu of state level VATs, which vary from 3 per cent to as high as 24 per cent, will help develop the market. New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Locket Chatterjee was stopped from participating in the Hanuman Jayanti Shobha Yatra by police in Hooghly on Thursday. "I told them to allow me to offer prayers but they (police) said that I am an outsider. I am not an outsider, I am an MP from here. I represent Hooghly. How can I be an outsider? I called the Superintendent of Police and District Magistrate but they did not pick up the call. I spoke to the Governor," Chatterjee told reporters here. Chatterjee, an MP from Hooghly parliamentary constituency was intercepted at Boropara More in the district. This comes after stone-pelting was reported in West Bengal`s Hooghly district on Monday evening, forcing railways to suspend all local and mail express train services operating to and from Rishra Railway Station. #WATCH | Hooghly, WB: I told them to allow me to offer prayers but they (police) said that I am an outsider. I am not an outsider, I am an MP from here: BJP MP Locket Chatterjee on being stopped from participating in the Shobha Yatra of Human Jayanti pic.twitter.com/t5ja5T5yIE ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2023 According to Eastern Railway Chief Public Relations Officer, Kaushik Miron, an incident of stone pelting occurred at Rishra Railway Station."For the security of common people, all local and mail express train services have been suspended on Howrah-Bardhaman Main Line," he said. The incident comes a day after clashes erupted during the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Shobha yatra in Hooghly on Sunday. The state government later issued prohibitory orders and also suspended internet services across the district. Notably, violent incidents were witnessed in West Bengal`s Howrah during the Ram Navami procession. Last week, several vehicles were set on fire after two groups clashed in Howrah amid Ram Navami celebrations. During the procession, the rioters vandalized public and private properties and set vehicles on fire. Following the violence in Howrah, the West Bengal government on March 31 handed over the probe to Criminal Investigation Department (CID). A special team led by Inspector General of Police, CID Sunil Choudhury has initiated the investigation. BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Over 1,800 years after Chinese inventor Zhang Heng developed the first-ever seismoscope, scientists are now carrying out research on earthquake forecasting using a satellite named after him. Launched in February 2018, China's first seismo-electromagnetic satellite, Zhangheng 1, was designed to capture the electromagnetic signals in space, offering support for earthquake forecasting as well as space weather monitoring and warning. "Over the past five years, the Zhangheng 1 satellite has racked up numerous achievements," said Shen Xuhui, the chief scientist of the satellite program, highlighting the latest progress of the satellite at the 35th National Symposium on Space Exploration held recently. Using the satellite, we have obtained global geomagnetic field data and global low-frequency electromagnetic spectrum data, and established two models for the subsequent data research, he added. Earthquake prediction has always been a challenge globally. It has been hard for scientists to accumulate enough cases of destructive earthquakes for statistics gathering and to validate prediction methods and theories, the scientist explained. "Satellite monitoring breaks through the limitations of traditional earthquake research," Shen said, adding that statistics showed that electromagnetic disturbances in space are associated with the occurrence of earthquakes. Zhangheng 1 satellite enables scientists to extend their observations to global scales and conduct statistical studies with large samples, he added. According to the scientist, over the past five years, Zhangheng 1 has observed about 60 quakes of 7.0 magnitude and above, as well as nearly 600 quakes of 6.0 magnitude and above worldwide. "We have found that up to 80 percent of earthquakes measuring 6.0 magnitude or higher exhibit precursory signals half a month before the event," he said. While acknowledging the advances made by the Zhangheng 1 satellite, Shen has conceded that there is still a long way to go before accurate earthquake forecasting can be achieved. He pointed out that a large number of precursory signals have been identified by backtracking through the data after an earthquake has occurred, and only a small number of precursory signals were detected in advance. This is due to the complexity of data processing and the inability to track global data in real time with limited human and computing power, he explained. Moreover, accurate forecasting of the time, location, and intensity is not yet possible. The precursory signals detected by satellites often appear several hundred kilometers off the epicenter, Shen added. "Data from a satellite is far from enough. Earthquake prediction needs multidisciplinary research of seismology, electromagnetics, geodesy, and geochemistry," he said. Despite the current limitations in earthquake prediction, the 58-year-old scientist remains confident about future prospects in this field. According to him, with the development of information technology such as machine learning, big data, and artificial intelligence, people will be able to carry out real-time data processing before an earthquake occurs. "I believe that in another 10 to 20 years, a breakthrough in earthquake prediction can be expected," Shen said. The scientist also revealed that China plans to launch the Zhangheng 1-02 satellite in the near future. The new satellite will enable round-the-clock monitoring and extend the observation range to Earth's north and south poles, enhancing its ability to observe changes in Earth's system. New Delhi: Amid a nationwide upward trend in the Covid-19 cases, Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya will chair a review meeting with the health ministers of all states and Union Territories on Friday afternoon. On Wednesday, the Covid-19 empowerment working group also conducted a review routine meeting. Dr V K Paul, Dr Rajiv Bahl, DG, ICMR and other senior health officials attended this meeting. According to the sources, this was a review meeting to know the Covid-19 situation and preparedness in the country. The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) also attend the meeting. We need to remain alert but there is no need to worry. Currently, the sub-variant of Omicron which is circulating in the country hasn`t increased hospitalisation," Mandaviya said on the Covid-19 situation in the country. In March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over a high-level meeting to take stock of the Covid and influenza situation in the nation. This meeting was called in response to a spike in influenza cases and a rise in Covid cases in preceding weeks. The Prime Minister directed officials to enhance the Whole Genome Sequencing of Positive Samples with the designated INSACOG Genome Sequencing Laboratories, which will support tracking of newer variants and timely response. He emphasized Covid appropriate behavior, including wearing masks on hospital premises by patients, health professionals, and health workers. He also stressed the importance of wearing masks when senior citizens and those with co-morbidities visit crowded areas. UP, Gurugram Report 1st Covid-19 Deaths This Year Amid the Covid-19 spike in the country, Uttar Pradesh has reported its first death linked to the deadly Coronavirus this year, according to state health officials. The state also reported 192 fresh Covid-19 cases during the day while 68 patients recovered in the state, including one in the state capital Lucknow. At present, there are 842 active Covid-19 cases in the state. Meanwhile, Gurugram also reports its first Covid-19 death in over five months, despite the patient being fully vaccinated but with co-morbidities. Two cases of H3N2 influenza were also reported. The last time Gurugram recorded a Covid-19 death was on October 28 last year. Covid Positive Elderly Woman Dies In Lucknow An elderly woman, who had tested positive for Covid-19 on April 2, died during treatment on Thursday while 35 more people tested positive for Covid-19 in Lucknow. The woman, who died was a resident of Lucknow`s Vrindavan Colony, and was admitted to a private hospital in Alambagh. She was diagnosed as a patient of multi-organ failure and tested positive for Covid-19 with TrueNat method. "She was later shifted to King George`s Medical University (KGMU) where a second sample for Covid test was taken on April 4. The report of the second sample is awaited," said a senior health official. Covid-19 Spike In UP Till now, the state capital has reported 2,701 Covid deaths since the pandemic began in March 2020. In the state, 23,650 deaths have been reported till now. Officials said once the confirmatory report of the sample taken at KGMU came, the death toll would be updated. On Thursday, a steep hike in new Covid cases was reported in the state capital as 35 more people tested positive as compared to 24 new cases on Wednesday. Six patients were from Indira Nagar and Aliganj, five from Sarojini Nagar, four from Alambagh and Chowk, two each from Chinhat, Qaiserbagh and Tudiyaganj and one each from NK Road, Malihabad and Aishbagh, according to the health department data. India Logs 5,335 New Covid-19 Cases, Highest In 195 Days India logged 5,335 fresh coronavirus cases, the highest in 195 days, while the active cases increased to 25,587 on Thursday. On September 23 last year, 5,383 cases were recorded in a single day. The death toll has increased to 5,30,929 with 13 deaths -- two each reported from Karnataka and Maharashtra, one each from Kerala and Punjab, and seven reconciled by Kerala, the Union health ministry data updated at 8 am stated. The daily positivity rate has been recorded at 3.32 per cent while the weekly positivity rate has been pegged at 2.89 per cent, it said. The total tally of Covid cases stands at 4.47 crore (4,47,39,054), according to the ministry. The active cases now comprise 0.06 per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid recovery rate has been recorded at 98.75 per cent, according to the health ministry website. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has increased to 4,41,82,538, while the case fatality rate has been recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.66 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive. NEW DELHI: India on Friday reported 6050 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours 13 per cent higher than the number of coronavirus infections reported a day earlier. According to the Union Health Ministry data updated at 8 AM, the active daily Covid-19 caseload currently stands at 28,303. During this period, India reported 14 more fatalities due to the deadly virus. A total of 5,30,943 people have lost their lives due to Covid-19. The number of discharged people stood at 4,41,85,858 as per data shared by the ministry on Friday. Talking about vaccinations, 2,334 doses were administered in the last 24 hours. As of now, a total of 2,20,66,20,700 inoculations have been done since the nationwide vaccination drive began on January 16, 2021. Centre To Review Covid-19 Situation Today Amid a nationwide upward trend in the Covid-19 cases, Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya will chair a review meeting with the health ministers of all states and Union Territories on Friday afternoon. On Wednesday, the Covid-19 empowerment working group also conducted a review routine meeting. Dr V K Paul, Dr Rajiv Bahl, DG, ICMR and other senior health officials attended this meeting. According to the sources, this was a review meeting to know the Covid-19 situation and preparedness in the country. The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) also attend the meeting. We need to remain alert but there is no need to worry. Currently, the sub-variant of Omicron which is circulating in the country hasn`t increased hospitalisation," Mandaviya said on the Covid-19 situation in the country. UP, Gurugram Report 1st Covid-19 Deaths This Year Triggering fresh health concerns, Uttar Pradesh reported its first death linked to the deadly Coronavirus this year, according to state health officials. The state also reported 192 fresh Covid-19 cases during the day while 68 patients recovered in the state, including one in the state capital Lucknow. At present, there are 842 active Covid-19 cases in the state. Meanwhile, Gurugram also reports its first Covid-19 death in over five months, despite the patient being fully vaccinated but with co-morbidities. Two cases of H3N2 influenza were also reported. The last time Gurugram recorded a Covid-19 death was on October 28 last year. Covid Positive Elderly Woman Dies In Lucknow An elderly woman, who had tested positive for Covid-19 on April 2, died during treatment on Thursday while 35 more people tested positive for Covid-19 in Lucknow. The woman, who died was a resident of Lucknow`s Vrindavan Colony and was admitted to a private hospital in Alambagh. She was diagnosed as a patient of multi-organ failure and tested positive for Covid-19 with the TrueNat method. "She was later shifted to King George`s Medical University (KGMU) where a second sample for Covid test was taken on April 4. The report of the second sample is awaited," said a senior health official. Covid-19 Spike In UP Till now, the state capital has reported 2,701 Covid deaths since the pandemic began in March 2020. In the state, 23,650 deaths have been reported till now. Officials said once the confirmatory report of the sample taken at KGMU came, the death toll would be updated. On Thursday, a steep hike in new Covid cases was reported in the state capital as 35 more people tested positive as compared to 24 new cases on Wednesday. Six patients were from Indira Nagar and Aliganj, five from Sarojini Nagar, four from Alambagh and Chowk, two each from Chinhat, Qaiserbagh and Tudiyaganj and one each from NK Road, Malihabad and Aishbagh, according to the health department data. India Logs 5,335 New Covid-19 Cases, Highest In 195 Days India on Thursday logged 5,335 fresh coronavirus cases, the highest in 195 days, while the active cases increased to 25,587. On September 23 last year, 5,383 cases were recorded in a single day. The death toll has increased to 5,30,929 with 13 deaths -- two each reported from Karnataka and Maharashtra, one each from Kerala and Punjab, and seven reconciled by Kerala, the Union health ministry data updated at 8 am stated. The daily positivity rate has been recorded at 3.32 per cent while the weekly positivity rate has been pegged at 2.89 per cent, it said. The total tally of Covid cases stands at 4.47 crore (4,47,39,054), according to the ministry. The active cases now comprise 0.06 per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid recovery rate has been recorded at 98.75 per cent, according to the health ministry website. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has increased to 4,41,82,538, while the case fatality rate has been recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.66 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive. New Delhi: The budget session of Parliament ended on an acrimonious note on Thursday with the opposition and BJP levelling charges at each other as the past four weeks saw both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha facing continuous disruptions over contesting demands. Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned sine die on Thursday and registered low productivity. The session saw opposition parties coming together to take on the BJP-led government on the Adani issue. The second half of the budget session saw Congress and other opposition parties consistently raising the demand for a JPC probe into the Hindenburg-Adani row. The BJP members sought an apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks in the United Kingdom. In his valedictory remarks, Vice President and Speaker Jagdeep Dhankhar said that the 259th session of Rajya Sabha has come to a close albeit on a note of concern. "Parliament is the watchdog of democracy and people are our watchdog and supreme masters. Our primary obligation is to serve them. The hallowed precincts of the Parliament are for discussions and deliberations, debates and decisions for the holistic welfare of the people," he said. Also Read: Opposition MPs Hold Tiranga March In Delhi, Demand Probe Into Adani Issue "How ironical disorder in Parliament is turning out to be the new order- a new norm that decimates the essence of democracy. How worrisome and alarming! Paramountcy of debate, dialogue, deliberation and discussion in Parliament has yielded to disruption and disturbance," he added. "Weaponising of politics by stalling the functioning of Parliament is pregnant with serious consequences for our polity. This is to the utter dislike of the people at large. In public mind we as a class are subject of disdain and ridicule. We need to reflect our track record on the anvil- expectations of the people. Posterity will judge us not by the decibels generated in shouting slogans, but by our multifarious contributions towards strengthening the growth trajectory of our nation," the Chairman said. He said the productivity of the first part of the Budget Session was 56.3 per cent, while for the second part it plummeted to an abysmal 6.4 per cent. Cumulatively, the House productivity was only 24.4 per cent. Dhankar said disruptions claimed 103 hours and thirty minutes of its time. "Let`s ponder over the dismal performance of the House and find a way out," he said. Congress-Led Opposition Accuses BJP Govt Of Causing "Disturbances" Many opposition leaders termed the second half of the budget session a washout. They accused the government of causing "disturbances". Hitting back, BJP leader and union minister Piyush Goyal alleged that Congress had made up its mind that they will not allow the Parliament to function. The frayed relationship between the government and the opposition got further strained after the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha following his conviction by a Surat court in a criminal defamation case. The opposition parties resorted to `black cloth` protest against the government. The legislative agenda was pushed amid a ruckus with the union budget and finance bill approved without debate. The decision to extend the suspension of Congress Rajya Sabha member Rajani Patil till the first week of the monsoon session led to an angry response from Congress which said that the move is against the rules. Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to Rajya Sabha Chairman on the issue and also on his decision on point of order. Kharge, who is Congress chief, said presiding officers cannot display loyalty to ruling party after Dhankhar rejected his point of order against Piyush Goyal. The tensions inside parliament had a reflection outside too with the BJP and Congress leaders targeting each other. While Lok Sabha saw productivity of about 34 per cent, in Rajya Sabha it was 24.4 per cent. Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal said a total of six bills were passed by both the Lok Sabha as well as the Rajya Sabha. Six Bills Passed By Lok Sabha And Rajya Sabha The Finance Bill, 2023; The Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation Bill, 2023; The Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation (No. 2) Bill, 2023; The Appropriation (No. 2) Bill, 2023; The Appropriation Bill, 2023 and The Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2023 were passed and returned by both the Houses.The Budget Session of Parliament commenced on January 31, 2023. While the first part of the session ended on February 13, the second part commenced on March 13 after a recess. The Union Budget for 2023-24 was presented on February 1, 2023. Opposition members continued their protests on Thursday also. Referring to opposition members who were protesting in the well and raising slogans, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said their conduct is not appropriate for the House and country`s democratic traditions. "You obstruct in a planned way, do not want to do discussion, this is not appropriate," he said. Birla referred to the continuous disruption in the House during the session and observed that inappropriate conduct and behaviour in the House is not beneficial for the Parliament and the nation. Referring to the responsibilities of the members towards the House, Birla said that the House is a place for debates and discussion and that he wants the House to discuss every issue. He stressed that it is not appropriate for some Members to lower the dignity of the House by rushing to the well. Birla added that he has always given sufficient time and opportunity to all the Members to present their views in the House and on many occasions the House has functioned late into the night. He said eight government Bills were introduced and six were passed during the session. The Speaker said department-related standing committees of the Lok Sabha presented 62 reports. In Lok Sabha, the productivity of the First Part of the Budget Session was 83.80 percent, while for the second part it was 5.29 percent. "Cumulatively, the House productivity during the Eleventh Session of 17th Lok Sabha was 34.85 percent," Birla said. Opposition parties including Congress, DMK and TMC are learnt to have skipped the `courtesy tea meeting` called by the Speaker. Leaders of some opposition parties held a press conference and accused the BJP of creating "disturbances" during the budget session of Parliament. Kharge said that the government did not want to discuss the Adani issue over which the opposition has been demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe. He said efforts were on for unity among opposition parties and their concern was to "save the country and preserve unity". Kharge accused the BJP of double standards on the issue of disqualification, saying while Rahul Gandhi`s disqualification from Lok Sabha following his conviction in a defamation case came at "lighting speed", a BJP MP from Gujarat who was convicted for three years for "assault" on a doctor from Dalit community, was not disqualified despite appeals made by the Congress and subsequently got relief from the court. Kharge said there is a vast difference in what BJP preaches about democracy and what it practices and alleged that opposition leaders were prevented from speaking in Parliament. He said he had never seen such an attitude of the ruling party in his long legislative innings. He also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and alleged that he is on tour during Parliament sessions.He also countered BJP allegations on `parivarvad` against Nehru-Gandhi family and asked if any of its members had become a minister or Prime Minister since 1990. "You (BJP) have no subject and hence say Gandhi family, Gandhi family. They did not become minister or Prime Minister (since 1990) and when members of that family agitate, work for fostering unity, you disqualify them. The one who hits a Dalit, he is given 16 days and brought back to the House," Kharge said.The Congress leader asked why the government had not agreed to JPC probe into the Hindenburg-Adani row, saying "there was something to hide". He said while a JPC will have majority members from BJP but the opposition parties will get an opportunity to examine documents. Kharge said the demand for apology from Rahul Gandhi over his remarks in United Kingdom was raised to deflect attention from the demand for JPC probe.Opposition MPs took out a `Tiranga March` from Parliament to Vijay Chowk on the last day of the Budget session of Parliament in the national capital. Congress leader KC Venugopal, who participated in the march said the government itself is not letting the Parliament run. "Why do they not want to discuss the Adani scam?" he asked. New Delhi: A letter by jailed former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia to Prime Minister Narendra Modi surfaced on Friday. Sisodia is currently lodged inside Tihar jail in connection to alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. In the hand written letter, the former Dy CM raised questions on PM Modi's education. "For the progress of India, it is necessary to have an educated PM," he writes in his letter to the nation. He alleged that PM Modi does not understand the importance of education. In the letter which was posted on Twitter by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his former deputy said, "It is very dangerous for the country if the prime minister is less educated." "(Narendra) Modi does not understand science... Modi ji does not understand the importance of education," Sisodia claimed in the letter, alleging that 60,000 schools have been closed in the country in the last few years. "It is necessary to have an educated prime minister for the progress of India," he said. The CBI had on February 26 arrested Sisodia in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. BJP Reacts To Sisodia's Open Letter Reacting to Sisodia's letter, Bharatiya Janata Party's Delhi spokesperson Khemchand Sharma said, "Irony of AAP's prepogenda,a diploma holder corrupt ex min Manish Sisodia is questioning Master Degree holder PM Narendra Modi, Who is also having 21 yrs of proven experience in providing good governance & effective administration. Sisodia Ji better u comple your degree from Jail." Irony of AAP's prepogenda,a diploma holder corrupt ex min #Manishsisodia is questioning Master Degree holder PM @narendramodi,Who is also having 21 yrs of proven experience in providing good governance & effective administration.#sisodia ji:Better u comple your degree from Jail. Khemchand Sharma #BJP #Spokesperson #RadheRadhe (@SharmaKhemchand) April 7, 2023 ED Questions Sisodia In Tihar Jail Earlier on Tuesday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia inside Tihar jail as part of its money laundering probe into alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy, official sources said. It was for the first time that the senior Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) leader was being quizzed by the ED in the excise policy case. The questioning during which the statement of Sisodia was recorded lasted for about five hours, the sources said. The questioning is expected to continue over the next few days even as Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi again over the arrest of Sisodia and another party colleague Satyendra Jain. Sisodia is lodged in Tihar jail after a CBI court on Monday remanded him to 14-day judicial custody in the same case. The ED investigators reached the Tihar Jail to question and record the statement of Sisodia under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The CBI also questioned Sisodia's personal assistant Devender Sharma in connection with the excise policy case. Sisodia is lodged in a prison cell for senior citizens and like any other inmate has been given basic items and is being served food as per the jail manual, an official said. The AAP leader's cell is inside Tihar Jail Number-1 and it is meant for a single person who is a senior citizen, he said. On Monday night, he was given basic items such as blankets, soap and oral hygiene products, and for dinner was served rice, chappati, dal as per the provisions of the jail manual, the official added. The CBI court on Monday allowed Sisodia to carry the Bhagavad Gita, spectacles and medicines to the jail and directed Tihar authorities to consider his request to be allowed to do Vipassana meditation. As a political slugfest continued over Sisodia's arrest, Chief Minister Kejriwal claimed that those doing good work are being arrested while those looting the country are getting away. New Delhi: A massive fire broke out in a godown at Sonia Gandhi camp in the Samalkha Kapashera area on Thursday, fire department officials informed. After receiving the information, 16 fire tenders were immediately pressed into service, added the officials and no casualties have been reported so far. "We received a call around 9:38 PM, stating that a fire broke out in a wooden store and this is Sonia Gandhi camp at Samalkha Kapashera area. 16 fire tenders are working to extinguish the fire. No causality reported so far" said Satpal Bhardwaj ( divisional officer ) fire department. #WATCH | Fire breaks out at a godown in Sonia Gandhi camp in Samalkha Kapashera area. 14 fire tenders have reached the spot, no casualties reported so far. pic.twitter.com/iMzbgoWxAG ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2023 Over 200 Shops Gutted In Massive Fire In Odisha's Keonjhar Earlier on Monday, more than 200 shops were gutted and property worth crores was damaged after a massive fire broke out in the main market of Odisha's Keonjhar district. The exact cause of the fire could not be established immediately, but police suspect a short circuit to be the reason. "At least 200 shops were gutted in the blaze," they said. Also Read: Kerala Train Fire: Suspect Shahrukh Saifi Taken To Kozhikode After 2 Vehicle Breakdowns Five fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the blaze, officials said, adding that the fire was brought under control after more than two hours. "Initial estimates suggest that property worth crores of rupees was damaged," a shopkeeper said. Earlier on Sunday, a man on Sunday (April 2, 2023) set fire to a co-passenger after an argument on board an express train in Kerala, which resulted in the death of three persons and injuries to nine others. According to the news agency PTI, the incident occurred around 9.45 pm, when the train reached the Korapuzha railway bridge after crossing Kozhikode city. The bodies of a woman, a one-year-old infant, and a man, who went missing from the Alappuzha-Kannur Executive Express train after the fire, were recovered from the tracks near the Elathur railway station. Police believe that they fell off the train or attempted to get down after seeing the fire. NEW DELHI: The Punjab Police on Friday urged people not to believe in rumours and fake news about the surrender of the radical preacher and pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh. Responding to a media report on Friday, Punjab Police, in a tweet, said, "This is fake news and factually incorrect. Please fact-check the news before sharing. Don`t spread rumours and fake news." Waris Punjab De chief, Amritpal, has been on the run since March 18, the day Punjab Police launched a massive manhunt for him. This is a fake news and factually incorrect Please fact-check news before sharing. Don't spread rumours and fake news. pic.twitter.com/QsXfrwoIAq Punjab Police India (@PunjabPoliceInd) April 7, 2023 There were earlier reports about the Punjab Police cancelling the leaves of its personnel till April 14 due to a state-wide high alert over fugitive pro-Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh. Amritpal Singh Pleads Akal Takht Sahib For Sarbat Khalsa The fugitive radical Sikh leader has been pleading with Shri Akal Takht Sahib the top Sikh body - to host a "Sarbat Khalsa" to talk about Sikh concerns. He has reportedly suggested that the "Sarbat Khalsa" meeting be held in Bathinda, Punjab on April 14 in honour of Baisakhi from the top Sikh authority, Akal Takht. This has triggered speculations that the fugitive pro-Khalistani preacher may surrender ahead of the Akal Takht conference called by him. Sources say that Amritpal Singh could surrender at any of the historic gurudwaras across the state. However, sources said that Amritpal Singh may surrender before that. The pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh has been releasing videos from unidentified locations claiming that he is not "a fugitive" and will soon "appear in front of the world." In view of these developments, the leaves of Punjab Police officials have been cancelled till April 14 and the state has been put on high alert. Doing Every Bit To Arrest Amritpal Singh, Says Punjab Police Amid speculation of Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singhs surrender, Amritsar Deputy Commissioner of Police Law and Order Parminder Singh Bhandal has said that if fugitive Khalistan sympathiser wants to surrender, then they will do their bit according to the law. "We are continuously working for the security of Amritsar. Even today we have sealed the entire city. Right now we are more focused on traffic as Baisakhi is around the corner. If Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh wants to surrender and appear, we will do our bit according to the law," he said. Search For Amritpal Singh Expanded Punjab Police expanded their search for Amritpal Singh on Friday to 'deras' and other possible hideouts of the fugitive preacher in Hoshiarpur district, where some suspects had abandoned their car following a chase three days ago. Police sources said barricades have been placed at key points and a thorough search of all vehicles in Marnaian and nearby villages including Harkhowal, Bibi Di Pandori and Bassi was underway. They said police officials were also searching deras, residential places, small rooms set up near tubewells and even shelter for animals in several villages. Hoshiarpur Senior Superintendent of Police Sartaj Singh Chahal said they were maintaining strict vigil. There were reports that Joga Singh, said to be an aide of Amritpal Singh, has been held, but many senior police officials denied having any information about it. Amritpal Singh On The Run For Weeks The radical preacher has been on the run since a police crackdown on his outfit Waris Punjab De on March 18. He has, however, appeared in two purported videos and an audio clip released on social media in the past three days. In the latest video, the Khalistan sympathiser asserted he was not a fugitive and would soon appear before the world. In the audio clip, he debunked speculation he was negotiating his surrender and nudged the Akal Takht for the second time to summon a "sarbat khalsa" congregation to discuss issues related to the Sikh community. The hunt to nab Amritpal Singh was launched in the Hoshiarpur district Tuesday night following inputs the radical preacher and his aides could be there. It began after police chased an Innova SUV from Phagwara, which some sources said may have carried Amritpal Singh and his aides. The occupants abandoned the vehicle near Gurdwara Bhai Chanchal Singh in Marnaian and disappeared. Officials said there were also inputs the suspects could have used a Swift car after abandoning the SUV. Police had recovered another vehicle from Phagwara which they suspected could have been used by the fugitive and his aide Papalpreet Singh. Police had conducted a door-to-door search but no success has been achieved yet. Crackdown On Waris Punjab De Supporters The crackdown on Waris Punjab De chief was launched about three weeks after his supporters stormed a police station in Ajnala near Amritsar to secure the release of an arrested man. He and his associates have been booked under several criminal cases related to spreading disharmony among classes, attempt to murder, attack on police personnel and creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duty by public servants. Police had stepped up security in and around Amritsar and Bathinda amid reports that Amritpal Singh may surrender after entering any of the two Sikh shrines Golden Temple in Amritsar and Takht Sri Damdama Sahib in Bathinda. New Delhi: Telangana BJP president and MP Bandi Sanjay was released from Karimnagar jail after he was granted bail in the SSC paper leak case today. Sanjay was detained by police late Wednesday night from his Karimnagar residence. Also, he was granted bail by a magistrate court in the paper leak case on Thursday. #WATCH | Telangana BJP president & MP Bandi Sanjay released from Karimnagar district jail after he was granted bail in the SSC paper leak case pic.twitter.com/gudma2zwVc ANI (@ANI) April 7, 2023 Bandi Sanjay and 3 others were sent to judicial custody "The court accepted our request and bail was granted to Bandi Sanjay on sureties worth Rs 20,000. On production of the release order, he will be released from the Karimnagar jail, " Bandi Sanjay`s lawyer Shyam Sunder Reddy informed on Thursday. He further added, "However, the court set a condition that he can`t leave India without permission. "Bandi Sanjay and 3 others have been sent to judicial custody till April 19 and will be shifted to Karimnagar jail," advocate Karuna Sagar, another lawyer of the BJP state chief, had said."We will file contempt proceedings against the investigating officer for violating the SC guidelines. We are planning to challenge the order in High Court tomorrow," the lawyer had added. Bandi Sanjay detained in Telangana SSC Paper Leak Bandi Sanjay Kumar was detained after midnight on Wednesday from his residence in Karimnagar ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s visit to the state. Reportedly, a team of police reached the MP`s residence in Karimnagar and took him into custody. This created a tense atmosphere as Bandi Sanjay`s supporters and party workers tried to stop the police. Earlier the police registered a case against BJP leader Bandi Sanjay Kumar under sections 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 4(A), 6 T.S. Public Examinations (Prevention of Malpractices and 66-D ITA-2000-2008 at the Kamlapur police station of Warangal district. An official from Bandi Sanjay Kumar`s office also alleged that the detention has been done to cover up the recent failures of the Telangana government regarding school and job examinations. New Delhi: Superstar B-Town couple Ajay Devgn and Kajol's darling daughter Nysa Devgan headed to Jaisalmer recently with her friends. The gang of pals including close friend Orhan Awatramani, aka Orry took off to Suryagarh, Jaisalmer where they are chilling together. Orry took to his Instagram handle and shared a few pictures and videos. NYSA DEVGAN PARTIES WITH ORRY Orry shared inside pictures featuring the cool BFF gang. He also gave a sneak-peek into their royal stay which includes relishing Rajasthani thali to enjoying soulful folk music. He captioned the post as: Putting my mind @ ease. Prttyyy plzzzz. @suryagarh #suryagarhjaisalmer. Nysa looks stunning in a pastel midi dress and glam make-up. NYSA DEVGAN AT NMACC The star daughter was last seen at Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) gala event, with her mom Kajol. The duo posed for the shutterbugs in Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla attires in whites and shimmer silver. While Kajol kept it classic in floor-length Anarkali with a train, Nysa amped up the glam factor with a modern chic gown with a plunging neckline. Check out a few stunning photos from the party where Nysa Devgn is looking ravishing in her stylish designer evening gown. NYSA LOVES TO PARTY Nysa has several pages dedicated to her on social media. She has not yet made her entry into the showbiz world and yet netizens wanna know more about her. Recently, her close friend Orry aka Orhan Awatramani shared a bunch of his cool pictures last month and we spotted the BFF gang chilling and partying together. The pictures had Orry at an event in Mumbai along with Nysa and other pals. Nysa glammed up in an off-shoulder golden dress, looking stunning. Nysa is Ajay Devgn and Kajol's elder child. They also have a son named Yug Devgan. Kajol and Ajay Devgn's daughter did her schooling at Mumbai's Dhirubhai Ambani International School and later enrolled in the United College of Southeast Asia in Singapore. She is currently studying International Hospitality at Switzerland's Glion Institute of Higher Education. New Delhi: In a move to make Aadhar a mandatory document, from April 1, 2023, the government made Aadhar mandatory to make an investment in PPF, NSC, and other small savings schemes. If you are also among those who have made investments in SCSS, PPF, NSC, or other programmes you have to submit your Aadhar. Here's the deadline to seed and the benefits of it and the consequences when you failed to do the same before the deadline. Deadline To Submit Aadhar In PPF, NSC, And Other Small Savings Schemes As per the norms, you must make sure that by September 30, 2023, you have given your Aadhar number to the post office or your bank branch. Your small savings contributions will be frozen if the Aadhar number is not submitted by this deadline. (Also Read: Samsung Employees Accidentally Leaked Company Secrets Via ChatGPT: Check What Happened Next) Why Submit Aadhar In PPF, NSC, And Other Small Savings Schemes? This is due to the Ministry of Finance making Aadhar a requirement for participation in micro-savings programmes. Via a notification dated March 31, 2023, the requirement to link the Aadhar number with the current small savings programme was established. (Also Read: Twitter Verified Follows 'No One'; Unfollows All Accounts Amid Turmoil Over Blue Tick) Notification Of Government Regarding Aadhar Submission According to the notification, "a depositor shall submit his Aadhar number to the Accounts Office within a period of six months with effect from the first day of April 2023 if he has already opened an account and has not submitted his Aadhar number to the Accounts Office." The six-month period will end on September 30, 2023. PAN and Aadhar numbers are now required in accordance with the same notice in order to invest in small savings plans. According to the announcement, the small savings investment will be frozen if the Aadhar number is not provided to the post office or bank branch within six months, or by September 30, 2023. If the investments in the post office are frozen, some of the following effects are likely: - Interest will not be deposited - You'll not be able to deposit money into your PPF or Sukanya Samriddhi Accounts - The maturity amount will not be deposited into your account NEW DELHI: Fugitive pro-Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh may surrender ahead of the Akal Takht conference called by him following which a high alert has been sounded across Punjab. Sources say that Amritpal Singh could surrender at any of the historic gurudwaras across the state. According to sources, Amritpal Singh has asked the chiefs of the top Sikh body, Akal Takht, to convene the "sarbat khalsa" gathering in Punjab's Bathinda on Baisakhi on April 14. The pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh has been releasing videos from unidentified locations claiming that he is not "a fugitive" and will soon "appear in front of the world."Meanwhile, the leaves of Punjab Police officials have been cancelled till April 14 and the state has been put on high alert. However, the Punjab Police later urged people not to believe rumours and fake news of the surrender of radical preacher and pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh. Responding to a media report on Friday, Punjab Police, in a tweet, said, "This is a fake news and factually incorrect. Please fact-check news before sharing. Don`t spread rumours and fake news." This is a fake news and factually incorrect Please fact-check news before sharing. Don't spread rumours and fake news. pic.twitter.com/QsXfrwoIAq Punjab Police India (@PunjabPoliceInd) April 7, 2023 Doing Every Bit To Arrest Amritpal Singh, Says Punjab Police Amid speculation of Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singhs surrender, Amritsar Deputy Commissioner of Police Law and Order Parminder Singh Bhandal has said that if fugitive Khalistan sympathiser wants to surrender, then they will do their bit according to the law. "We are continuously working for the security of Amritsar. Even today we have sealed the entire city. Right now we are more focused on traffic as Baisakhi is around the corner. If Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh wants to surrender and appear, we will do our bit according to the law," he said. Search For Amritpal Singh Expanded Punjab Police expanded their search for Amritpal Singh on Friday to 'deras' and other possible hideouts of the fugitive preacher in Hoshiarpur district, where some suspects had abandoned their car following a chase three days ago. Police sources said barricades have been placed at key points and a thorough search of all vehicles in Marnaian and nearby villages including Harkhowal, Bibi Di Pandori and Bassi was underway. They said police officials were also searching deras, residential places, small rooms set up near tubewells and even shelter for animals in several villages. Hoshiarpur Senior Superintendent of Police Sartaj Singh Chahal said they were maintaining strict vigil. There were reports that Joga Singh, said to be an aide of Amritpal Singh, has been held, but many senior police officials denied having any information about it. Amritpal Singh On The Run For Weeks The radical preacher has been on the run since a police crackdown on his outfit Waris Punjab De on March 18. He has, however, appeared in two purported videos and an audio clip released on social media in the past three days. In the latest video, the Khalistan sympathiser asserted he was not a fugitive and would soon appear before the world. In the audio clip, he debunked speculation he was negotiating his surrender and nudged the Akal Takht for the second time to summon a "sarbat khalsa" congregation to discuss issues related to the Sikh community. The hunt to nab Amritpal Singh was launched in the Hoshiarpur district Tuesday night following inputs the radical preacher and his aides could be there. It began after police chased an Innova SUV from Phagwara, which some sources said may have carried Amritpal Singh and his aides. The occupants abandoned the vehicle near Gurdwara Bhai Chanchal Singh in Marnaian and disappeared. Officials said there were also inputs the suspects could have used a Swift car after abandoning the SUV. Police had recovered another vehicle from Phagwara which they suspected could have been used by the fugitive and his aide Papalpreet Singh. Police had conducted a door-to-door search but no success has been achieved yet. Crackdown On Waris Punjab De Supporters The crackdown on Waris Punjab De chief was launched about three weeks after his supporters stormed a police station in Ajnala near Amritsar to secure the release of an arrested man. He and his associates have been booked under several criminal cases related to spreading disharmony among classes, attempt to murder, attack on police personnel and creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duty by public servants. Police had stepped up security in and around Amritsar and Bathinda amid reports that Amritpal Singh may surrender after entering any of the two Sikh shrines Golden Temple in Amritsar and Takht Sri Damdama Sahib in Bathinda. Warangal: Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay, who was arrested by police from his residence in Karimnagar in midnight of Tuesday and granted bail by a magistrate court in the Hindi SSC paper leak case on Thursday, will be released on Friday. His Advocate Shyam Sunder Reddy said, "Court has accepted our request and bail was granted to Bandi Sanjay furnishing with and sureties and Rs 20,000. Friday morning after furnishing the release order, he will be released from the Karim Nagar jail." The lawyer said that the court has set a condition that he can`t leave India without permission. Bandi, 3 Others Remanded To Judicial Custody Earlier on Wednesday, Bandi Sanjay along with three others was sent to judicial custody till April 19 in the SSC paper leak case. "Bandi Sanjay and 3 others have been sent to judicial custody till April 19 and will be shifted to Karimnagar jail," Advocate Karuna Sagar, lawyer of Bandi Sanjay had said. "We will be filing a contempt proceeding against the investigative officer for violating the SC guidelines. We are planning to challenge the order in High Court tomorrow," he had added. High Drama Over Sanjay Bandi's Midnight Arrest Bandi Sanjay Kumar was detained after midnight on Wednesday from his residence in Karimnagar ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s visit to the state. Reportedly, a team of police reached the MP`s residence in Karimnagar and took him into custody. This created a tense atmosphere as Bandi Sanjay`s supporters and party workers tried to stop the police. Earlier the police registered a case against BJP leader Bandi Sanjay Kumar under sections 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 4(A), 6 T.S. Public Examinations (Prevention of Malpractices and 66-D ITA-2000-2008 at the Kamlapur police station of Warangal district. Responding to the arrest, the office of Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar said that the detention of Bandi Sanjay in the SSC paper leak case is "totally undemocratic" and there is a "clear-cut conspiracy" in the whole episode." In a statement, his office said, The Telangana State President Bandi Sanjay Kumar has been detained by Police late at night from his residence in Karimnagar. The Police have not yet announced officially on what grounds he was detained. There is a clear-cut conspiracy in the whole episode. The detention of Bandi Sanjay is totally undemocratic. The BRS government is gradually losing credibility among the public hence they are performing these stunts. This paper leak is out and out a failure of the BRS government." An official from Bandi Sanjay Kumar`s office also alleged that the detention has been done to cover up the recent failures of the Telangana government regarding school and job examinations. Sudha Murty, an Indian author, and philanthropist, was conferred with the prestigious Padma Bhushan award at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. The ceremony was attended by her family, including her daughter Akshata Murty, who is the First Lady of 10 Downing Street, and her son Rohan Murty. Akshata Murty took to social media to express her pride in her mother's achievements. On Instagram, she wrote, "Yesterday I watched with unspeakable pride as my mother received the Padma Bhushan from the President of India. On #IWD last month, I reflected on my mother's extraordinary journey, from STEM to storytelling, but her charitable and volunteering efforts have served as her greatest inspiration to me." President Droupadi Murmu presents Padma Bhushan to Smt Sudha Murty for Social Work. A philanthropist, renowned author and Chairperson of Murty Foundation, she has initiated many projects in the fields of healthcare, education, art & culture, animal welfare and women's empowerment pic.twitter.com/qQJeEjnKfY President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) April 5, 2023 In her acceptance speech, Sudha Murty thanked the people of India for their unconditional support. She said, "I owe this award to the people of India. I hope my recognition today inspires the younger generation to take up social welfare as a vocation. It is needed for the continuous development of our great nation. I always feel that the generosity of a few gives hope for a million." Sudha Murty's son Rohan Murty also praised his mother's achievements. He said, "My mother has always been a positive force in our lives. She has taught us the value of hard work, humility, and selflessness." The First Lady, Akshata Murty, also spoke about her mother's example, saying that it has helped put "volunteering, learning, and listening" at the heart of how she hopes to live at 10 Downing Street. She added, "My mother doesn't live for recognition. The values my parents have instilled in my brother and me mean she is always on to the next thing. But it was such a moving experience to see her have a moment of recognition yesterday." British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also expressed his pride in Sudha Murty's achievements. He replied to his wife's post with the words "a proud day." Sudha Murty's achievements have inspired many and her work has made a significant impact in India. Washington: The US administration has blamed the hasty withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan in the wake of the 2021 Taliban takeover on former President Donald Trump, saying that President Joe Biden was "severely constrained" by his predecessor`s decisions, including the 2020 Doha Agreement to end the war. This was revealed in a new report which was put together by the White House National Security Council with input from Biden and made available to the public on Thursday. It says that when Biden took office in January 2021, he "believed the right thing for the country was to end the longest war in American history and bring American troops home". But "Biden`s choices for how to execute a withdrawal from Afghanistan were severely constrained by conditions created by his predecessor", the report said. "When Trump took office in 2017, there were more than 10,000 troops in Afghanistan. Eighteen months later, after introducing more than 3,000 additional troops just to maintain the stalemate, he ordered direct talks with the Taliban without consulting with our allies and partners or allowing the Afghan government at the negotiating table. "In September 2019, Trump embolded the Taliban by publicly considering inviting them to Camp David on the anniversary of 9/11. In February 2020, the US and the Taliban reached a deal, known as the Doha Agreement, under which Washington agreed to withdraw all forces from Afghanistan by May 2021. "In return, the Taliban agreed to participate in a peace process and refrain from attacking US troops and threatening Afghanistan`s major cities, but only as long as the US remained committed to withdraw by the agreement`s deadline," it added. The report goes on to say that as part of the agreement, the former President had also pressured the Afghan government to release 5,000 Taliban fighters from prison, "without securing the release of the only American hostage known to be held by the Taliban". Over his last 11 months in office, Trump ordered a series of drawdowns of American troops and by June 2020, he reduced personnel in Afghanistan to 8,600. The report mentions that there was an unclassified signed order directing the US military to withdraw all forces from Afghanistan no later than January 15, 2021. One week later, that order was rescinded and replaced with one to draw down to 2,500 troops by the same date. During the transition period, the outgoing Trump administration "provided no plans for how to conduct the final withdrawal or to evacuate Americans and Afghan allies", claims the report. "As a result, when President Biden took office on January 20, 2021, the Taliban were in the strongest military position that they had been in since 2001, controlling or contesting nearly half of the country. At the same time, the US had only 2,500 troops on the ground -- the lowest number of troops in Afghanistan since 2001," it said. The deadly pull-out in August 2021 ended America`s longest war. When the Afghan government collapsed on August 15, 2021, there were desperate scenes at Kabul airport as huge crowds tried to flee the Taliban. On August 26, an attack at the airport by two suicide bombers killed 170 Afghans and 13 US soldiers as the American troops were scrambling to evacuate more than 120,000 people in a matter of days. Responding to the report, Trump shot back on social media, accusing "Morons in the White House" of playing "a new disinformation game - Blame "TRUMP" for their grossly incompetent SURRENDER in Afghanistan". "Biden is responsible, no one else!" he sai New Delhi: South Korea`s Foreign Minister Park Jin will arrive in India on Friday as the two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. South Korea`s top diplomat plans to visit India later this week to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, Seoul`s foreign ministry said on Tuesday, reported Yonhap news agency. The report in Yonhap further read, according to the ministry, foreign Minister Park Jin plans to hold talks with his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, during the two-day trip from Friday. South Korean Ministry spokesperson, Lim Soo-suk told reporters, "The two sides plan to discuss ways to develop the countries` special strategic partnership and further bolster ties."During the trip, Park plans to travel to Chennai in southern India to meet with South Korean businesses operating there, Lim added, reported Yonhap news agency. India-South Korea Bilateral Ties Notably, India and South Korea have completed 50 years of diplomatic ties. Earlier this year in January, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a telephonic conversation with South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin. He discussed the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two nations. Recently, in March, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (East), Saurabh Kumar paid an official visit to South Korea and co-chaired the 5th Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue (FPSD) with his Korean counterpart Cho Hyundong. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (East) Saurabh Kumar on Thursday highlighted India`s use of technological and financial inclusion for the direct transfer of welfare benefits. Embassy of India in South Korea Tweets The MEA secretary (East) also took part virtually in the Indo-Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Meeting chaired by South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin under the Summit for Democracy 2023. Taking to Twitter, the Embassy of India in South Korea said, "Secretary East @AmbSaurabhKumar met Rep Kim Tae-ho, Chairperson, Foreign Affairs & Unification Committee of RoK National Assembly @news_NA, and exchanged views to strengthen -ties. They also discussed regional & global issues of mutual interest, including #IndoPacific & #G20. "In the dialogue, both sides agreed to enhance the special strategic partnership by strengthening strategic communication through regular high-level engagements including the Foreign Minister-level Joint Commission Meeting, `2+2` dialogue involving the Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry at Vice Minister/Secretary level, other ministerial and senior official dialogues, as the two countries celebrate 50 years of establishment of diplomatic relations this year, according to the official statement released by Ministry of External Affairs. According to the statement, both sides had also agreed to deepen cooperation in areas including, trade and investment, security and defense, science and technology, as well as, cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Bollywood actor Salman Khan has recently made headlines with the release of songs from his upcoming movie 'Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan. However, the actor is in the news for his latest car this time. As per the reports of multiple media outlets, the actor has bought a Nissan Patrol SUV. Furthermore, the car has been reinforced with amenities, making it bulletproof for added security. Reports suggest that the actor was spotted in his new SUV at the opening of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in Mumbai. It is to be noted that the cars in Salman Khan's garage were upgraded with bulletproof qualities after the reports of death threats. Speculations are that the new Nissan Patrol SUV is a replacement for the Toyota Land Cruiser LC200 that Salman Khan previously owned. The bulky SUV from the house of the Japanese automaker is not sold in the Indian market. Hence, chances are that the car has been imported from some other country. These big SUVs are often chosen for bulletproofing because of their size. Also read: Travel Delhi To Dehradun in 2.5 Hours, Nitin Gadkari Reviews Progress Of New 212 Km Long Greenfield Expressway Salman Khan owned Nissan Patrol SUV comes with a 5.6-liter V8 petrol engine that gives out 405 hp and 560 Nm of peak torque. This power is transferred to all four wheels using a 7-speed automatic gearbox. The car also gets the option of a 4.0-liter V6 petrol engine in some countries. Besides the Nissan, Salman Khan also owns Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography long-wheelbase, which costs roughly Rs 1.87 crores (ex-showroom), and has a 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine with a maximum output of 254 bhp at 4,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 600 Nm at 2,250 rpm are other vehicles in his garage. He was also reported to own an Audi RS7. The actor is also a motorcycle enthusiast and owns a Suzuki Hayabusa. The iconic motorcycle is powered by a 1.3-liter liquid-cooled four-cylinder engine that gives out 173bhp. Meanwhile, in other news, the actor is set to release his new movie Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan. Before announcing the release date, Salman Khan took to social media to announce the release date of the movie's trailer. The actor said that the movie trailer will be out on April 10th. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the new Integrated Terminal Building at Chennai International Airport on April 8, 2023. Ahead of its formal inauguration, PM Modi said that the new Terminal building will be an important addition to the city's infrastructure. PM Modi will visit Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka between April 8-9 to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for various development projects, including a new terminal at Chennai Airport, flagging off Chennai-Coimbatore Vande Bharat Express, and laying foundation stone of redevelopment of Secunderabad Railway Station. In a tweet thread, the Ministry of Civil Aviation informed that the first phase of the new Integrated Terminal Building at Chennai Airport is set to be inaugurated by PM Modi on April 8. "The new integrated terminal building at #ChennaiAirport, spanning an area of 2,20,972 sqm, is set to cater to the growing air traffic in the state of Tamil Nadu. It's also a reflection of the government`s commitment towards providing high-quality infrastructure to travellers," the Ministry of Civil Aviation tweeted. "The first phase of the new state-of-the-art Integrated Terminal Building at Chennai Airport is set to be inaugurated by Hon'ble PM Sh. @narendramodi on 8th April 2023. With the annual passenger handling capacity of 35 Million passengers per annum, the modern facility at the #ChennaiAirport will improve air travel experiences for all," it added. Quoting the tweet, the Prime Minister said that it will boost connectivity and also benefit the local economy. "This will be an important addition to Chennai's infrastructure. It will boost connectivity and also benefit the local economy," PM Modi tweeted. The Chennai International Airport is a major airport in the South and also among the busiest airports in India. It serves as a hub for both domestic and international flights, majorly to the Gulf countries. Chennai is a hub for automobile manufacturing and other industrial facilities. Good Friday is an important, holy day for Christians all over the world. It marks the crucifixion of Jesus Christ by the Roman Cavalry. It is believed that Christ went through immense suffering and death to eliminate the sins of his children and liberated them from the pain and agony by going through it himself. This year in 2023, Good Friday is being observed on April 7. The Sunday after Good Friday is Easter, the day that marks the resurrection of Christ. On Good Friday, Christians attend Church services. Some of them also observe fast and engage in prayer to honour the suffering that Christ went through for the sake of humanity. Good Friday is a public holiday in many countries, and traditional practices such as processions, re-enactments of the crucifixion, or Passion play performances continue to be held in many places. Why You Should Not Say 'Happy' Good Friday Good Friday is a day that commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. For Christians worldwide, it is a solemn day to reflect on and remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. So it's not a ay of celebration, but rather a day of reflection. Keeping with the somber nature of the day, it's inappropriate to say a cheery 'Happy Good Friday'. Rather, say a 'Blessed' or a 'Reflective' Good Friday. Good Friday 2023: Wishes To Share 1. On this Good Friday, may you find strength and solace in the sacrifice of Jesus, and may his love guide you in all your endeavors. God bless you! 2. Wishing you a blessed Good Friday as we remember the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. May His love and grace fill your heart today and always. 3. Good Friday reminds us of the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made for us. May His love guide our hearts and bring us closer to one another in faith and understanding. 4. May the blessing of God be always upon us. Wish you a blessed Good Friday. 5. May the love of Jesus fill your heart with heavenly bliss and holy desires for now and forever. Wishing you a Holy Good Friday my friend! 6. Mercy, peace and love. May the grace and Lord surround and be with you on Good Friday. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son. 7. As we observe Good Friday, may the lessons of love, sacrifice, and forgiveness inspire us to live a life of compassion and kindness. Wishing you a blessed day. 8. On this Good Friday, let us pray for the strength to follow the path of righteousness and dedicate ourselves to the service of others. May you have a day full of blessings and grace. 9. Wishing you and your family a sacred and reflective Good Friday. May the love and sacrifice of Christ inspire us to lead a life of compassion, forgiveness, and selflessness. 10. On this day, Jesus Christ made a great sacrifice and freed us all from sins. Let us all take a moment and thank our Lord for all the love he has blessed us with. Good Friday: Inspirational Quotes On Jesus Christ 1. "We may say that on the first Good, Friday afternoon was completed that great act by which light conquered darkness and goodness conquered sin." - C.S. Lewis, British writer 2. "Our old history ends with the Cross; our new history begins with the resurrection." - Watchman Nee, Chinese Church Leader 3. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16 4. "By the cross, we, too, are crucified with Christ; but alive in Christ. We are no more rebels, but servants; no more servants, but sons!" - Frederic William Farrar, cleric of the Church of England (19th century) 5. "No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown." - William Penn, English writer and religious thinker New Delhi: Ex-Congress leader and last chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh N Kiran Kumar Reddy joins BJP. Reddy joined the BJP in the presence of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and hit out at the Congress leadership for failing to accept the people's verdict and correct course. They believe they are correct and all others, including the people of India, are wrong, he said. Kiran Reddy further stated that they want to control but don't want to work hard or take responsibility, according to the four-time former MLA, who left the Congress last month. Reddy said he never dreamed he would leave the Congress, citing his family's six-decade association with the party. "Many members of Kiran Kumar Reddy's family were in Congress. When I met him some time ago, he told me that he was influenced by PM Modi. Today he is taking a big leap and joining the BJP. He will strengthen our fight against corruption because his image as an MLA and minister has been very clean. It will be a big boost for BJP in Andhra Pradesh," said Prahlad Joshi. #WATCH | "I had never imagined that I'll have to leave Congress...There is a saying- 'My king is very intelligent, he doesn't think on his own, doesn't listens to anyone's advice', "says former Congress leader Kiran Kumar Reddy on joining BJP in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/8s43F09WxK ANI (@ANI) April 7, 2023 The Congress is being damaged in all states, he claims, and its upper command does not interact with or listen to others. Reddy compared the BJP's rise to the Congress's decline after 1984, and praised the ruling party's leaders, led by Modi, for their diligence and commitment to the nation. They have clarity of mind and consistency, and they make courageous decisions. Reddy also praised Modi's commitment to combating corruption. Ex-CM Kiran Reddy resigned on Sunday Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy, the former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, resigned from the Congress party on Sunday. In a one-line letter to the party's national president, Reddy asked him to accept his resignation from the party. Kiran Reddy's revolt against Andhra Pradesh's division Despite the fact that the Congress' high leadership retained him as chief minister for four long years amid internal dissension, Kiran Reddy revolted against the party in protest at AP's division. He pushed hard to preserve the state united and put pressure on the high command not to grant Telangana statehood. Angry by the party's decision to proceed with granting Telangana independent statehood, Kiran Kumar Reddy passed a resolution in the state assembly to keep the state unified. In 2018, he again rejoined Congress after meeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He also served as assembly speaker from 2009 to 2010 and chief whip between 2004-09 under YS Rajasekhara Reddy. On Thursday, former Defence minister AK Antony`s son Anil Antony joined BJP (BJP) in Delhi. Anil Antony joined the BJP in the presence of Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and V Muraleedharan. Kerala BJP chief K Surendran and senior party leaders Tarun Chugh and Anil Baluni were also present at the occasion. Anil Antony thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his induction into BJP. The development comes months after Anil Antony, who was a Kerala Congress Social Media Team Coordinator and resigned from all posts of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee in January following the row over BBC`s documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (With ANI Inputs) New Delhi: The Union Law Ministry receives complaints regarding serving and retired judges from time to time but it is concerned only with appointment and service conditions of serving members of the higher judiciary, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju has said in Rajya Sabha. Rijiju said this on Thursday while responding to the question "Whether as per the Union minister for Law and Justice, a few former judges of the Supreme Court are part of an anti-India gang?" Law Minister Replies In Rajya Sabha The Union Law Minister was also asked to reveal the source of the information and whether in view of national security, the government has informed the chief justice of India and the Union Home Ministry. While in the English version of the written reply, Rijiju has not given a direct response to the four sub-questions, in the Hindi version, he replied in the negative. He responded with "Ji Nahin" to sub-questions A to D. "From time to time, complaints are received in the Department of Justice (in the law ministry) against sitting as well as retired judges of the Supreme Court and high courts. Department of Justice is concerned only with the appointment and service conditions of the sitting judges of the Supreme Court and high courts," he said. He also said complaints related to the retired judges of the Supreme Court and the high courts are not handled by the Department of Justice. In-House Mechanism in SC For Remedial Action Accountability in higher judiciary is maintained through an "in-house mechanism", he said, recalling that the Supreme Court in its full court meeting on May 7, 1997, had adopted two resolutions - one dealing with the restatement of values of judicial life and the other with in-house procedure for taking suitable remedial action against judges who do not follow universally accepted values of judicial life. As per the established "in-house mechanism" for the higher judiciary, the chief justice of India is competent to receive complaints against the conduct of judges of the Supreme Court and the chief justices of the high courts. Similarly, the chief justices of the high courts are competent to receive complaints against the conduct of high court judges. "The complaints/representations received by the Department of Justice are forwarded to the Chief Justice of India or to the chief justice of the concerned high courts, as the case may be, for appropriate action," he said. New Delhi: A male cheetah that had strayed out of the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur and was spotted at an agricultural field adjoining a village a few days back, was rescued from a forest area in neighbouring Shivpuri district and released into the park again, a forest official said on Friday. Oban, one of the eight cheetahs brought from Namibia in September last year, had strayed out of the KNP on April 2 and the feline was rescued on Thursday evening, he said. "After moving out of the KNP, Oban was wandering in nearby areas. On Wednesday, the feline reached the Bairad area in Shivpuri district via Vijaypur's Jhad Badora and Parvati Badoda areas and also hunted a blackbuck as he was hungry," divisional forest officer (DFO) P K Verma said. After getting information that Oban is in the Bairad area, the cheetah monitoring team decided to rescue the animal. Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh | Cheetah Oban, one of the cheetahs brought from Namibia, entered Jhar Baroda village of Vijaypur which is 20 kms away from Kuno National Park. Monitoring team has also reached the village. Efforts are underway to bring the cheetah back: DFO (Video pic.twitter.com/4iQAoB6tcz April 2, 2023 The team finally caught him around 5 pm on Thursday, he said. After being rescued, Oban was brought back to the KNP and released into the Palpur forest area, the official said. Verma, however, did not share details of the rescue operation, including whether the animal was tranquilised. On the reports that a female cheetah - Asha - also moving out of the forest area, the DFO said she was wandering in the KNP's reserve area and the monitoring team is keeping an eye on her movements. So far, four out of the eight cheetahs brought from Namibia to the KNP in September, 2022, have been released into the wild (free range area) from enclosures. Oban and Asha were released into the wild on March 11, almost six months after they were brought to the KNP, while Elton and Freddie, popularly known as "Rockstars", were released into park's free-range area on March 22. The eight Namibian cheetahs - five females and three males - were brought to the KNP as part of the cheetah reintroduction programme aimed at reviving the species' population in India, where they became extinct more than 70 years ago. The eight Namibian cheetahs, comprising five females and three males, were brought to the KNP as part of an ambitious reintroduction programme of the species and were released into special enclosures on September 17, 2022 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. One of them, Sasha, died of a kidney ailment on March 27, while another, Siyaya, gave birth to four cubs. Another set of 12 cheetahs, comprising seven males and five females, were brought to the KNP from South Africa on February 18 this year. BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang party Ma Ying-jeou's tour on the mainland has embodied that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family bound by blood and share common culture and historical memories. Over the past 12 days, Ma has led a group of young people from Taiwan to visit memorial sites and cemeteries. Ma also visited the tomb of his grandfather in the county of Xiangtan in Hunan Province and honored the family's ancestors at the site. The students from Taiwan have had communication and exchange activities with their peers at several mainland universities. They also visited factories. The trip has offered a window for compatriots at home and abroad into the kinship of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, the same ancestry, culture, and historical memories. It highlights that compatriots across the Taiwan Strait are all Chinese who share natural kinship, and national identity can never be changed by anyone or any force. History should never be forgotten. The trip is helpful for Taiwan compatriots to understand that the destiny of both sides of the Taiwan Strait is closely linked and inseparable and that the history and facts that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to China can never be altered by anyone. The mainland's rapid development has deeply impressed Ma and the young people of the visiting group. More exchanges among young people on both sides of the Strait will inject fresh vitality into the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations. During the trip, Ma said several times that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to the same Chinese nation and should be committed to revitalizing China. The Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait working together will certainly create the lasting well-being of the Chinese nation and share the great glory of national rejuvenation. Thiruvananthapuram: Shortly after Congress veteran AK Antony`s son Anil Antony joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Leader of the Opposition in Kerala, VD Satheesan has said that nothing will happen to his party. This comes after Congress veteran AK Antony`s son Anil Antony joined BJP in Delhi on Thursday. Responding to Anil`s decision of joining the BJP, Satheesan said, "Anil Antony has not rendered any services directly or indirectly to Congress or any organizations. Even the assigned responsibility was not properly performed by Anil." "Anil Antony was falling in the lap of BJP. He says very strange reasons for his BJP affiliation. Its danger will be known later. Anil Antony will have to regret this very immature decision later," he added. Talking about AK Antony`s image in the party, Satheesan said, "This is the condemnation shown by Anil Antony to his father AK Antony as a son. AK Antony has made clear that he will be against Sangh Parivar and remain a Congress person till his death." "Just because his son joined BJP, AK Antony`s political image will not be affected," added the opposition leader in a statement. KPCC chief K Sudhakaran said, "Today (Maundy Thursday) is the day of Judas (Iscariot) who betrayed Jesus Christ for a payment of 30 silver coins. Many such things will happen on that day. This (Anil joining BJP) should also be seen as such an incident." Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Ambika Soni said that his decision to join BJP must not be linked with his father. She said that it is sad that Anil Antony is going to work for those who are "dividing" the country. "We must not link this decision of Anil Antony with AK Antony. It`s sad to see that a man from such a family by giving this small excuse is going to work for those who are dividing the country," the Congress leader said. Deeply Pained By Anils Decision: AK Antony Earlier in the day, AK Antony said that Anil has taken a wrong move by joining the BJP adding that the decision has pained him. "I am pained by my son Anil`s decision to join the BJP. I strongly feel it is a very wrong decision. India`s base is unity and religious harmony. After 2014, the Modi government came to power, they are systematically diluting diversity and secularism," AK Antony, who is considered a close aide of the Gandhi family, told mediapersons here. RSS, BJP Destroying India The former union minister alleged that BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) are destroying India`s constitutional ethos. He said he will be a Congress worker till his last breath. "BJP believes only in uniformity. Till my last breath, I will oppose all the wrong policies of the RSS and BJP. They are destroying the country`s constitutional values. I will die as a Congress worker. I am 82. I do not know how long I will live, " added the Congress veteran. Anil Antony Joins BJP, Hails PM Modis Leadership Anil Antony joined the BJP in the presence of Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and V Muraleedharan. Kerala BJP chief K Surendran and senior party leaders Tarun Chugh and Anil Baluni were also present at the occasion.Anil Antony thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his induction into BJP. Soon after joining the BJP, Anil Antony began his address with a verse 'Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah' from epic Mahabharat. The verse loosely translates into Dharma (religion) or state of law protects those who protect it. "I believe in 'Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah'. Nowadays, some Congress leaders believe that it is their dharma (duty) to serve the interests of a family. But, I believe that it is my duty to serve the nation," Anil Antony said. Anil said the prime minister has a very clear vision to turn India into a developed nation in the next 25 years. "In times like these, the central government and the BJP organisation led by the Prime Minister, Amit Shah and J P Nadda are working tirelessly to take this vision to every nook and corner of the country," he said. Asked whether he had consulted his father before joining the BJP, Anil Antony said he "strongly believed" that he had taken the right step. "In my house, there are four people. There is my father, my mother, my brother and me. All of us are very different people. He is my father, so we have a very good relationship. He is a person I love and respect the most in my life," he said. "But this is not about personalities, this is about a difference of opinion and ideas. I strongly believe that I have taken the right step. But, my respect for my father will remain the same. There is no question of any politics in my family," Anil Antony said. Anil Antony was also considered close to senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor and had supported his candidature in the election to the post of Congress President. Anil Antony graduated from the Government College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram, in 2007 and launched a start-up, Torque Technology Solutions. He later went to Stanford University in the US to pursue his Masters in Science (MSc). New Delhi: BJP Kerala chief K Surendran has said that more leaders will follow former Union Minister and Congress leader AK Antony`s son, Anil Antony, to the saffron camp. Anil Anthony, who left the Congress earlier, formally joined the BJP on Thursday, in the presence of Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and V Muraleedharan. Surendran and senior party leaders Tarun Chugh and Anil Baluni were also present at his joining. Speaking to ANI on Thursday, Surendran, to a question on whether Anil Anthony`s joining would boost the BJP`s prospects in the southern state and boost its acceptability among Christian voters, said, "AK Antony is senior Congress leader, who held key positions in the party. Today, his son Anil Antony took membership in the BJP. More Congress leaders will be joining BJP soon." The Kerala BJP chief said that Anil Antony is one of many Opposition leaders to have joined the BJP. Even the erudite and highly educated leaders in the Opposition camp are now joining the BJP, he said adding that his party is approaching several other leaders in the Congress and the Left to join the saffron camp. Surendran also expressed confidence that the BJPs vote share in Kerala will improve in the next assembly elections. We hope to bag a bigger share of Christian votes as the Christian community has demonstrated that it has full faith in Modi-ji`s work, Surendran said. On the Congress stalwart`s statement that he was pained at his son joining the BJP, Surendran added, "AK Antony has been with the Congress for six decades and it is only natural for him to feel bad if his son joins the BJP. Deeply Pained BY Anils Decision: AK Antony Earlier in the day, AK Antony said that Anil has taken a wrong move by joining the BJP adding that the decision has pained him. "I am pained by my son Anil`s decision to join the BJP. I strongly feel it is a very wrong decision. India`s base is unity and religious harmony. After 2014, the Modi government came to power, they are systematically diluting diversity and secularism," AK Antony, who is considered a close aide of the Gandhi family, told reporters. RSS, BJP Destroying India The former union minister alleged that BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) are destroying India`s constitutional ethos. He said he will be a Congress worker till his last breath. "BJP believes only in uniformity. Till my last breath, I will oppose all the wrong policies of RSS and BJP. They are destroying the country`s constitutional values. I will die as a Congress worker. I am 82. I do not know how long I will live, " added the Congress veteran. Anil Antony Joins BJP, Hails PM Modis Leadership Anil Antony joined the BJP in the presence of Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and V Muraleedharan. Kerala BJP chief K Surendran and senior party leaders Tarun Chugh and Anil Baluni were also present at the occasion. Anil Antony thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his induction into BJP. Soon after joining the BJP, Anil Antony began his address with a verse 'Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah' from epic Mahabharat. The verse loosely translates into Dharma (religion) or state of law protects those who protect it. "I believe in Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah. Nowadays, some Congress leaders believe that it is their dharma (duty) to serve the interests of a family. But, I believe that it is my duty to serve the nation," Anil Antony said. Anil said the prime minister has a very clear vision to turn India into a developed nation in the next 25 years. "In times like these, the central government and the BJP organisation led by the Prime Minister, Amit Shah and J P Nadda are working tirelessly to take this vision to every nook and corner of the country," he said. Asked whether he had consulted his father before joining the BJP, Anil Antony said he "strongly believed" that he had taken the right step. "In my house, there are four people. There is my father, my mother, my brother and me. All of us are very different people. He is my father, so we have a very good relationship. He is a person I love and respect the most in my life," he said. "But this is not about personalities, this is about a difference of opinion and ideas. I strongly believe that I have taken the right step. But, my respect for my father will remain the same. There is no question of any politics in my family," Anil Antony said. Anil Antony was also considered close to senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor and had supported his candidature in the election to the post of Congress President. Anil Antony graduated from the Government College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram, in 2007 and launched a start-up, Torque Technology Solutions. He later went to Stanford University in the US to pursue his Masters in Science (MSc). Karimnagar: Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President and MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar, after getting released from jail, said that BJP would hoist the saffron flag in the state after assembly elections this year. The BJP Telangana chief was released from Karimnagar jail on Friday after he was granted bail in the SSC paper leak case. Talking to the media persons outside the jail, Sanjay slammed the KCR Government and challenged the state government to investigate the SSC paper leak matter with a sitting judge. "If you have the guts, investigate the matter with the sitting judge," he said. Reacting to Bharat Rashtra Samithi`s calls for protest against `Centre`s alleged attempts to privatise` Singareni Collieries Sanjay said, "51 per cent share in Singareni belongs to the state, How can the centre with 49 per cent share privatize? BJP will oppose the privatization of Singareni. #WATCH | Telangana BJP president & MP Bandi Sanjay released from Karimnagar district jail after he was granted bail in the SSC paper leak case pic.twitter.com/gudma2zwVc April 7, 2023 Singareni has become like an ATM for the KCR family. Knowing that Modi is coming, KCR is conspiring to provoke. All Singareni workers know everything." Sanjay was arrested by police late on Tuesday night from his Karimnagar residence. Later on Thursday, he was granted bail by a magistrate court in the paper leak case. Telangana BJP president Bandi Sanjay reaches his residence after being released from Karimnagar jail on bail in the SSC paper leak case pic.twitter.com/xieB8K9QWZ ANI (@ANI) April 7, 2023 "The court accepted our request and bail was granted to Bandi Sanjay on sureties worth Rs 20,000. On production of the release order, he will be released from the Karimnagar jail, " Bandi Sanjay`s lawyer Shyam Sunder Reddy informed on Thursday. "However, the court set a condition that he can`t leave India without permission," the advocate added. On Wednesday, Bandi Sanjay and three others were sent to judicial custody until April 19 in the SSC paper leak case. "Bandi Sanjay and 3 others have been sent to judicial custody till April 19 and will be shifted to Karimnagar jail," advocate Karuna Sagar, another BJP state chief`s lawyer, said. "We will file contempt proceedings against the investigating officer for violating the SC guidelines. We are planning to challenge the order in High Court tomorrow," the lawyer had added. Ranchi: Tribal bodies in Jharkhand have called a day-long shutdown in Ranchi on Saturday in protest against the burning of a religious flag by miscreants. The tribal bodies under the banner of Kendriya Sarna Samiti took out a torchlight procession on Friday evening here demanding the arrest of those responsible. The Ranchi administration on Friday imposed Section 144 Cr PC in the 200-meter radius limit of Chief Minister Hemant Soren's house and the secretariat because of the bandh. The bandh sponsors said that ambulance and milk van services and pharmacies will be kept out of the bandh purview. "Sarna flag was burnt at Lower Karam Toli area in Ranchi on March 25, a day after the Sarhul festival, by some miscreants. But the administration took no action in this regard," KSS president Phoolchand Tirkey said. Alleging that there were more such incidents, he said a tribal religious flag was thrown away in Nagri and Thakurgaon localities. In these instances too no action was taken though the tribal organisations had lodged their protests. "Since the administration is taking no action, we are forced to call Ranchi bandh on Saturday," he said. Sarnas are sacred groves in Chhota Nagpur plateau region and are worshhipped by tribals in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. The prohibitory order at the chief minister's house was imposed also due to the slated protest by students on the employment issue. Jharkhand State Students Union (JSSU), however, announced on Friday that it has postponed the CM House gherao programme after the death of state Education Minister Jagarnath Mahto in Tamilnadu on Thursday. JSSU has been demanding the scrapping of the 60-40 ratio-based employment policy and the one based on the introduction of 1932 khatiyan (land settlement). The state cabinet on March 3 approved the ammendment to various rules related to Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) examinations. "We have rescheduled the protest to April 17," JSSU leader Devendra Mahto. New Delhi: Bank branches in several cities of the country will remain closed today on account of Good Friday per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Holiday list. However online banking activities will continue to work. Hence, if you want to visit your bank branch for any bank related important work today, you must first check the RBI holiday list and also if any local festivities are being observed in your state. Are banks closed for Good Friday today? Check city-wise bank holiday list Banks will be closed all over India except Agartala, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Jaipur, Jammu, Shimla, and Srinagar on account of Good Friday. This is also a long week-end week, since tomorrow (April 9) and the day after (April 10) banks will be closed for Second saturday and Sunday. While some bank holidays are observed nation-wide, some others will be local holidays for which bank branches are closed in a month. Several bank branches will remain closed in various states owing to these festivities. Before visiting your bank branch in the remaining days of April, you must note down the list of important days during which banks will remain closed. Bank Holiday List in April 2023 Banks will remain closed for total 16 days in the month of April 11 as per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) holiday calendar list and the remaining days are that of weekends. However, you must note that the banks will NOT be closed for 16 days in all states or regions. This is the total number of days when banks in different parts of the country will remain closed for state-observed holidays. For example bank branches might be closed for Babu Jagjivan Rams Birthday in Hyderabad but not closed for the same in Goa, Bihar or other states. Here is an elaborate list of bank holidays falling in the month of April 2023. Check out the list. April 7: Good Friday ( Banks will be closed all over India except Agartala, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Jaipur, Jammu, Shimla, and Srinagar). April 8: Second Saturday April 9: Sunday April 14: Ambedkar Jayanti ( Banks will be closed all over India except Bhopal, New Delhi, Raipur, Shillong, and Shimla) April 15: Vishu, Bohag, Bihu, Himachal Day, Bengali New Year ( Bank holiday will be witnessed in Agartala, Guwahati, Kochi, Kolkata, Shimla, and Trivanantpuram) April 16: Sunday April 18: Shab-I-Qadr ( Bank branches will be closed in Jammu and Kashmir) April 21: Id-Ul-Fitr ( Banks will be closed in Tripura, Jammu & Kashmir, and Kerala) April 22: Fourth Saturday April 23: Sunday April 30: Sunday Reserve Bank of India places its Holidays under three brackets --Holiday under Negotiable Instruments Act; Holiday under Negotiable Instruments Act and Real Time Gross Settlement Holiday; and Banks Closing of Accounts. However, it must be noted that the bank holidays vary in various states as well not observed by all the banking companies. Banking holidays also depend on the festivals being observed in specific states or notification of specific occasions in those states. Holidays of the mentioned days will be observed in various regions according to the state declared holidays, however for the gazetted holidays, banks will be closed all over the country. New Delhi: The first case of its type in the field of generative AI, an Australian mayor has taken legal action against OpenAI, claiming that their chatbot, ChatGPT, produced certain incorrect statements about him. According to Reuters, Brian Hood, the mayor of Hepburn Shire in Victoria, Australia, has requested that OpenAI fix the incorrect information that the chatbot disseminated. The progression will be closely watched. The chatbot is prone to mistakes and inaccuracies, according to OpenAI in the past. The company even has a disclaimer on its website. (Also Read: Scientists Claim AI To Overtake Humans Soon) Although worries about the information issue posed by artificial intelligence have been growing, the case will have a bigger impact if it goes to court. According to ChatGPT, Hood was convicted in a foreign bribery case that involved a Reserve Bank of Australia-owned subsidy in the early 2000s. (Also Read: Bill Gates, Ex-Wife Share First Pic With Granddaughter - Check Pics) According to Hood's attorneys, the mayor was employed by a bank subsidiary and was the one who really reported the bribe to police enforcement. The report stated that Hood has never been accused of a crime. On March 21, OpenAI received a letter from Hood's legal team stating that they had 28 days to update the facts or risk being sued for defamation. According to James Naughton, a lawyer at Hood's legal company Gordon Legal, "it might be a landmark event in how it applies this defamation legislation to a new area of artificial intelligence and publication in the IT world." Naughton claimed that Hood relied on an immaculate public record throughout his campaigns since, as an elected politician, his reputation was on the line. San Francisco: In a bizarre incident, AI chatbot ChatGPT, as part of a research study, has falsely named an innocent and highly-respected law professor in the US on the list of legal scholars who had sexually harassed students in the past. Jonathan Turley, Shapiro Chair of Public Interest Law at George Washington University, was left shocked when he realised ChatGPT named him as part of a research project on legal scholars who sexually harassed someone. "ChatGPT recently issued a false story accusing me of sexually assaulting students," Turkey posted in a tweet. In an opinion piece in USA Today, he wrote that he received a curious email from a fellow law professor about research that he ran on ChatGPT about sexual harassment by professors. "The programme promptly reported that I had been accused of sexual harassment in a 2018 Washington Post article after groping law students on a trip to Alaska," Turley said. The fact is that he has never gone to Alaska with students and The Post never published such an article. Turley said he has "never been accused of sexual harassment or assault by anyone". "What is most striking is that this false accusation was not just generated by AI but ostensibly based on a Post article that never existed," he wrote. Meanwhile, Brian Hood, regional mayor of Hepburn Shire in Australia, has threatened to sue OpenAI if the Microsoft-owned company doesn't correct false information about him. ChatGPT reportedly named Hood as a convicted criminal, involved in a past and real bribery scandal at Australia's Reserve Bank (RBA). According to Turley, the use of AI and algorithms can give censorship a false patina of science and objectivity. "Even if people can prove, as in my case, that a story is false, companies can 'blame it on the bot' and promise only tweaks to the system," he said. New Delhi: Amidst a busy shooting schedule, Bekaboo actor Shalin Bhanot's recent video is going viral on the internet, in which he is seen spending time with NGO kids. He had a special interaction with them where they experienced sitting in the vanity of Shalin Bhanot. Shalin was also seen dancing with the kids to the songs Goomar Ghoomar and Saami Saami in front of the media. Shalin and the kids had lunch together in the actors vanity and the NGO kids also had an opportunity to visit the sets of Bekaaboo and watch Shalin live in action with the rest of his co-stars as they performed a scene. It's heartwarming to see how Shalin not only cared for the kids but also made sure they had a memorable experience. It's important for celebrities to recognise the impact they can have on their fans, particularly young ones, and use their influence in positive ways. His generosity and kindness toward the kids were truly inspiring. Through this move, he also ugred his fans to support NGOs and contribute towards the betterment of underprivileged children. It's always heartwarming to see celebrities using their platform for a good cause and making a positive impact on the lives of others. BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- A spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office on Friday stressed that there will be no room for "Taiwan independence" separatist activities in any form. Zhu Fenglian made the statement in response to Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen's latest "transit" trip through the United States. Zhu noted that "complete reunification of our country must be realized, and it can, without doubt, be realized." She warned the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities, "We will never leave room for 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities in any form, and will definitely take resolute measures to defeat any foreign interference or separatist attempts for 'Taiwan independence' in any form, and safeguard our national sovereignty and territorial integrity." The spokesperson also urged the U.S. side to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, and to deal with Taiwan-related matters in a prudent manner. "Regarding this 'transit' trip, we have stated our position clearly on many occasions," Zhu said, noting that Tsai's acts during the trip showed that "transit" was merely an excuse, and it was instead another provocation to seek independence by soliciting U.S. support. Over a period of time, the DPP authorities in Taiwan have been continuously challenging the one-China principle and willingly acting as a pawn for the United States' anti-China agenda to seek their own political benefits, Zhu said. They have peddled "Taiwan independence" claims in the international arena and betrayed the interests of the people in Taiwan by cooperating with the decoupling schemes of the United States. They have also intensified their courting and infiltration of the U.S. Congress, squandering Taiwan people's hard-earned money on arms purchases from the United States. These acts will eventually push the island into a perilous situation under the shadow of war, bringing grave disaster to compatriots on the island, Zhu said. SANAA, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Four people, including two Islamic State (IS) attackers, were killed during a suicide bomb attack conducted by IS members in Yemen's capital Sanaa, said the Houthi militia on Friday. The incident occurred on Thursday when the Houthi forces intercepted a public minibus carrying two IS members and prompted the two individuals to detonate the bombs on them, according to the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV. The explosion killed the two IS members and two civilians who were also on the minibus, it added. The television cited a Houthi statement that the forces had received intelligence about the movement of the IS members and were attempting to arrest them in a less populated area to avoid civilian casualties. The specific location of the incident was not revealed. Years of conflicts in Yemen have provided space for various terrorist groups, including the Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and the IS. In 2015, the IS made its presence known in Yemen through suicide attacks on two Zaydi mosques in Sanaa, resulting in the deaths of nearly 140 worshippers. The group has also claimed responsibility for other notable attacks, such as the assassination of Aden's governor in late 2015. As of 2021, the United Nations estimated that the IS still maintains a significant presence in Yemen with hundreds of fighters. Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since late 2014, with the Houthi militia, backed by Iran, seizing control of northern cities and displacing the Yemeni government. The ongoing war has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties and pushed the country to the brink of famine. A man looks at the damaged roof of a house in the Israeli air strike that targeted a garden near the city of Tyre, southern Lebanon, April 7, 2023. Loud explosions were heard early Friday morning around the Lebanese city of Tyre immediately after the Israel Defense Forces informed the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) that they would begin an artillery response to rocket launches from south Lebanon, said the UN peacekeeping outfit in a press statement. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) BEIRUT, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Loud explosions were heard early Friday morning around the Lebanese city of Tyre immediately after the Israel Defense Forces informed the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) that they would begin an artillery response to rocket launches from south Lebanon, said the UN peacekeeping outfit in a press statement. Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli military bombed an office of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and locations of Palestinian militants in the Rashidieh Palestinian refugee camp near the city of Tyre. Israeli warplanes launched three missiles in open areas in the vicinity of the Qlaileh and Rashidieh camp before leaving Lebanese airspace, the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International reported on its website. The Israeli military said in a statement that it will not allow Hamas to operate from within Lebanon and holds Lebanon responsible for any directed fire emanating from its territory. Israel accused Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, of standing behind a barrage of about three dozen of rockets fired from southern Lebanon Thursday at northern Israel. In the statement issued after the Israeli strike on southern Lebanon, the UNIFIL said, "the actions over the past day are dangerous and risk a serious escalation," urging "all parties to cease all actions across the Blue Line now." "Both sides said they do not want war," it said. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Thursday that his country rejects any military escalation from its lands and the use of Lebanese territories to carry out operations that may jeopardize the country's stability. Lebanese people inspect the site of the Israeli air strikes on a bridge near the Rashidieh Palestinian refugee camp, in south Lebanon, April 7, 2023. Loud explosions were heard early Friday morning around the Lebanese city of Tyre immediately after the Israel Defense Forces informed the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) that they would begin an artillery response to rocket launches from south Lebanon, said the UN peacekeeping outfit in a press statement. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) Lebanese people inspect the site of the Israeli air strikes on a bridge near the Rashidieh Palestinian refugee camp, in south Lebanon, April 7, 2023. Loud explosions were heard early Friday morning around the Lebanese city of Tyre immediately after the Israel Defense Forces informed the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) that they would begin an artillery response to rocket launches from south Lebanon, said the UN peacekeeping outfit in a press statement. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) People check the damaged house in the Israeli air strike that targeted a garden near the city of Tyre, southern Lebanon, April 7, 2023. Loud explosions were heard early Friday morning around the Lebanese city of Tyre immediately after the Israel Defense Forces informed the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) that they would begin an artillery response to rocket launches from south Lebanon, said the UN peacekeeping outfit in a press statement. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) Lebanese people inspect the site of the Israeli air strikes on a bridge near the Rashidieh Palestinian refugee camp, in south Lebanon, April 7, 2023. Loud explosions were heard early Friday morning around the Lebanese city of Tyre immediately after the Israel Defense Forces informed the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) that they would begin an artillery response to rocket launches from south Lebanon, said the UN peacekeeping outfit in a press statement. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) Lebanese children look at the destruction of a bridge near the Rashidieh Palestinian refugee camp, in south Lebanon, April 7, 2023. Loud explosions were heard early Friday morning around the Lebanese city of Tyre immediately after the Israel Defense Forces informed the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) that they would begin an artillery response to rocket launches from south Lebanon, said the UN peacekeeping outfit in a press statement. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) Lebanese people inspect the site of the Israeli air strikes on agricultural lands near the city of Tyre, south Lebanon, April 7, 2023. Loud explosions were heard early Friday morning around the Lebanese city of Tyre immediately after the Israel Defense Forces informed the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) that they would begin an artillery response to rocket launches from south Lebanon, said the UN peacekeeping outfit in a press statement. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) A man checks the damaged roof of a house in the Israeli air strike that targeted a garden near the city of Tyre, southern Lebanon, April 7, 2023. Loud explosions were heard early Friday morning around the Lebanese city of Tyre immediately after the Israel Defense Forces informed the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) that they would begin an artillery response to rocket launches from south Lebanon, said the UN peacekeeping outfit in a press statement. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) Fire and smoke are seen following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on April 7, 2023. Israel launched an airstrike on the Palestinian enclave of Gaza Strip late Thursday night, in response to earlier rocket attacks from Lebanon. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) JERUSALEM/GAZA, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Israel launched an airstrike on the Palestinian enclave of Gaza Strip late Thursday night, in response to earlier rocket attacks from Lebanon. "The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is currently striking in the Gaza Strip," the Israeli military said in a statement, without elaborating. Palestinian security officials said that Israeli fighter jets intensively bombed military posts belonging to Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli jets hovered over the Gaza Strip, and the buzz of the fighter jets and several explosions were heard in the north, east and south of the Gaza Strip, they added. Palestinian medical sources said that no injuries were reported yet. Israel accused the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), the Gaza ruler, of being behind the 34 rockets that were fired from Lebanon at northern Israel on Thursday afternoon, injuring two civilians and causing damage to several buildings and cars. Three more rockets were fired into northern Israel from Lebanon in the evening. The joint Palestinian chamber of operations, which comprises several armed wings of Palestinian factions, including Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, said Thursday night that their militants "are ready to confront any Israeli attack." Meanwhile, clashes broke out in Arab cities in northern Israel, including Umm Al-Fahm, Sakhnin and Nazareth, between protesters, who protested the recent Israeli raids on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, and the Israeli police. Two protesters were arrested. In the occupied West Bank, a Palestinian shooting attack near the settlement of Adam lightly injured an Israeli soldier, according to a statement issued by the Binyamin Regional Council. The escalation was triggered by two consecutive days of Israeli raids at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, a flashpoint holy site in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israeli police forces fired gas canisters and stun grenades at Palestinian worshipers. It came during a sensitive time when Muslims are observing the holy month of Ramadan with prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, while Jews were commemorating the Passover holiday. Fire and smoke are seen following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on April 7, 2023. Israel launched an airstrike on the Palestinian enclave of Gaza Strip late Thursday night, in response to earlier rocket attacks from Lebanon. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) This photomontage taken on Nov. 29, 2022 shows the Shenzhen Astronomical Observatory against the starry sky in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. Certified by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), Xichong community in Shenzhen, south china's Guangdong Province, has become an International Dark Sky Community in China. The community is dedicated to protecting the dark sky, preserving the local nighttime ecological environment, and creating a beautiful dark sky community environment with quality artificial lighting accompanied by flying fireflies, according to IDA. (Photo by Lu Miao/Xinhua) This photomontage taken on July 7, 2021 shows the Shenzhen Astronomical Observatory and flying fireflies in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. Certified by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), Xichong community in Shenzhen, south china's Guangdong Province, has become an International Dark Sky Community in China. The community is dedicated to protecting the dark sky, preserving the local nighttime ecological environment, and creating a beautiful dark sky community environment with quality artificial lighting accompanied by flying fireflies, according to IDA. (Photo by Zeng Yuepeng/Xinhua) This photomontage taken on April 6, 2023 shows the star trails above Xichong community in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. Certified by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), Xichong community in Shenzhen, south china's Guangdong Province, has become an International Dark Sky Community in China. The community is dedicated to protecting the dark sky, preserving the local nighttime ecological environment, and creating a beautiful dark sky community environment with quality artificial lighting accompanied by flying fireflies, according to IDA. (Photo by Li Delai/Xinhua) This photomontage taken on June 29, 2022 shows the Milky Way galaxy above the Shenzhen Astronomical Observatory in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. Certified by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), Xichong community in Shenzhen, south china's Guangdong Province, has become an International Dark Sky Community in China. The community is dedicated to protecting the dark sky, preserving the local nighttime ecological environment, and creating a beautiful dark sky community environment with quality artificial lighting accompanied by flying fireflies, according to IDA. (Photo by Li Delai/Xinhua) This photomontage taken on June 24, 2022 shows the Milky Way galaxy above Xichong community in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. Certified by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), Xichong community in Shenzhen, south china's Guangdong Province, has become an International Dark Sky Community in China. The community is dedicated to protecting the dark sky, preserving the local nighttime ecological environment, and creating a beautiful dark sky community environment with quality artificial lighting accompanied by flying fireflies, according to IDA. (Photo by Tang Baihong/Xinhua) This photomontage taken on June 11, 2022 shows flying fireflies in dark at Xichong community in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. Certified by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), Xichong community in Shenzhen, south china's Guangdong Province, has become an International Dark Sky Community in China. The community is dedicated to protecting the dark sky, preserving the local nighttime ecological environment, and creating a beautiful dark sky community environment with quality artificial lighting accompanied by flying fireflies, according to IDA. (Photo by Zeng Yuepeng/Xinhua) This photomontage taken on Dec. 7, 2021 shows a comet streaking across the night sky over Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. Certified by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), Xichong community in Shenzhen, south china's Guangdong Province, has become an International Dark Sky Community in China. The community is dedicated to protecting the dark sky, preserving the local nighttime ecological environment, and creating a beautiful dark sky community environment with quality artificial lighting accompanied by flying fireflies, according to IDA. (Photo by Zeng Yuepeng/Xinhua) This photomontage taken on Feb. 24, 2023 shows the Shenzhen Astronomical Observatory against the starry sky in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. Certified by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), Xichong community in Shenzhen, south china's Guangdong Province, has become an International Dark Sky Community in China. The community is dedicated to protecting the dark sky, preserving the local nighttime ecological environment, and creating a beautiful dark sky community environment with quality artificial lighting accompanied by flying fireflies, according to IDA. (Photo by Lu Miao/Xinhua) BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- A group of senior Chinese legislators attended a voluntary tree planting activity in suburban Beijing on Friday. Vice chairpersons of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee Wang Dongming, Xiao Jie, Zheng Jianbang, Tie Ning, and Losang Jamcan; deputy secretaries-general of the NPC Standing Committee; and other lawmakers planted more than 300 saplings at an afforestation site in Beijing's Fengtai District. The NPC Standing Committee has been organizing voluntary tree planting activities for years to promote the building of a beautiful China. This photo taken on April 6, 2023 shows two freighters of Maersk Air Cargo parked at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. Zhejiang Province, a manufacturing and trade hub in east China, has launched a new cargo air service linking its capital city of Hangzhou with Denmark. (Photo by Tan Shenjie/Xinhua) HANGZHOU, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Zhejiang Province, a manufacturing and trade hub in east China, has launched a new cargo air service linking its capital city of Hangzhou with Denmark. A Boeing 767-300 freighter of Maersk Air Cargo, loaded with 23 tonnes of goods that include small household appliances and auto parts, left Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport for Billund in Denmark on Thursday. The launch expanded the Xiaoshan airport's international all-cargo air destinations to a total of 20, the airport said. The airport has also launched regular air freight service to Chicago in the United States recently. It is China's first airport to operate scheduled cargo flights of Maersk Air Cargo, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the global shipping logistics giant Maersk. Currently, three round trips are scheduled weekly between Hangzhou and Billund. The airport plans to increase the flight frequency of the route in the third quarter of this year. The airport's newly launched air freight services are expected to further promote and support Zhejiang's foreign trade growth, according to Zhang Rong, general manager of the Zhejiang airport logistics development company. NANJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- A court in east China's Jiangsu Province on Friday handed prison terms to six people after convicting them of trafficking, incarcerating and abusing a woman. Dong Zhimin was sentenced to nine years behind bars for abusing and illegally incarcerating Xiaohuamei, the woman with whom Dong has lived since 1998, according to the municipal intermediate people's court of Xuzhou. Five others received jail terms ranging from eight to 13 years, as well as fines, for the crime of woman trafficking, according to the verdict. Five of the six convicted have pleaded guilty during the two-day trial. In a case that caused a stir on the internet in 2022, the woman later identified as Xiaohuamei was abducted from her hometown in Yunnan Province and taken to Jiangsu Province in 1998. She was later trafficked three times before being purchased by Dong's family in Fengxian County. Between 1999 and 2020, Xiaohuamei gave birth to eight children for Dong. Police said Dong had shackled and incarcerated the victim, and frequently starved her since 2017 after Xiaohuamei's mental illness deteriorated. The court said Dong's abusive acts rendered Xiaohuamei's schizophrenia irreversible and caused serious injuries. Xiaohuamei has been diagnosed with a mental disability. JERUSALEM, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Israel launched airstrikes on Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip early Friday, the Israeli military said, triggering a new barrage of rockets on communities in southern Israel, after a day of rocket fire along its northern and southern borders. According to a statement from the Israeli military, just after midnight, fighter jets targeted two tunnels in the Beit Hanoun and Khan Yunis areas. The military said the tunnels "did not cross into Israeli territory" but were built with the intention of launching attacks against Israel. The airstrikes targeted also two weapon manufacturing sites in the northern and central Gaza Strip, the military said. The sites belonged to Hamas, a Palestinian armed group and movement that runs Gaza. "The strike was done as a response to the security violations of Hamas during the last few days," the statement read. Israel accused Hamas of standing behind a barrage of about 34 rockets that were fired from Lebanon Thursday afternoon at northern Israel, injuring two civilians. Earlier this week, militants in Gaza fired about 20 rockets at southern Israel, saying the fire was a response to Israeli raids at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem. The airstrikes triggered a new round of rocket fire from Gaza. The Israeli military said in a statement that the rockets targeted the town of Sderot and other communities in southern Israel. Overall, some 10 rockets were fired at southern Israel within less than an hour, and all were intercepted by the anti-rocket Iron Dome system or fell in open fields. No injuries have been reported. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a special meeting of his security cabinet to discuss possible military responses to the fire. The escalation was triggered by two consecutive days of Israeli raids at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, a flashpoint holy site in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It came during a sensitive holiday time, as Muslims were observing the holy month of Ramadan with prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and Jews were commemorating the Passover holiday. Also on Thursday night, clashes broke out in Arab cities in northern Israel, including in Umm Al-Fahm, Sakhnin and Nazareth as demonstrations were held to protest the Israeli raids in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Two protesters have been arrested. In the occupied West Bank, a Palestinian shooting attack near the settlement of Adam lightly injured an Israeli soldier, according to a statement issued by Binyamin Regional Council. ANKARA, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye agrees with Russia that the problems should be resolved regarding the obstacles to Russian fertilizer and grain exports so that the Black Sea grain deal could be extended, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday. Cavusoglu made the remarks at a joint press conference with his visiting Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in the capital Ankara. "We agree that the barriers to Russian grain and exports should be removed. Issues need to be resolved for the grain deal to be extended," said the Turkish top diplomat, referring to the Black Sea Grain Initiative. He said there is a Memorandum of Understanding between Russia and the United Nations Secretariat on the issue of transporting Russian fertilizer products and raw materials including ammonia to the global markets, and it is important to implement it. The two ministers also discussed the existing ban of selected Russian banks from the SWIFT system -- a messaging network through which international payments are initiated, paralyzing Russian international transactions, and insurance problem that has hindered Russian vessels from docking in certain ports. The Russian foreign minister said that Moscow had decided to extend the grain deal for 60 days but will question another extension if its requests are not met. "If there is no further progress in removing barriers to the export of Russian fertilizers and grain, we will think about whether this deal is necessary," Lavrov noted. If necessary, Russia will work on grain exports through Turkiye or Qatar outside the Black Sea Grain Initiative, he stressed. On July 22, 2022, Russia and Ukraine separately signed a document in Istanbul with Turkiye and the United Nations on grain and fertilizer exports from Ukraine and Russia to ensure supplies to global markets amid the Russia-Ukraine armed conflict. The deal, initially in effect for 120 days, was extended in mid-November 2022 for another 120 days to March 18. After that, the deal was extended again, with Russia agreeing to only extend it for 60 days. UNITED NATIONS, April 6 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations team in Ethiopia is vaccinating thousands of children and vulnerable people inaccessible during fighting in the Tigray region, a UN spokesman said on Thursday. "The aim is to close the immunization gap resulting from lack of access to services due to the two-year conflict," said Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The UN resident and humanitarian coordinator, Catherine Sozi, leads the UN team. The World Health Organization, the UN Children's Fund and national health authorities kicked off the measles supplemental immunization campaign last week to last 12 days, Dujarric said. He said the UN team and partners plan to vaccinate more than 830,000 children under the age of 5 in 76 districts of Tigray, which were, for the most part, inaccessible because of fighting during the two-year rebellion against Addis Ababa rule. The spokesman said the campaign in Ethiopia's northernmost region conducts Vitamin A, deworming, and malnutrition screenings for children under 5 and pregnant and lactating mothers. "The UN team and authorities conducted a COVID-19 vaccination campaign in the first 3 months of this year, reaching more than 1.2 million people in the region," said Dujarric. PURSAT, Cambodia, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Officials and conservationists in Cambodia on Friday called on people to stop trading and consuming bushmeat, saying that these activities are jeopardizing the kingdom's wildlife and biodiversity. Ministry of Environment's Secretary of State Neth Pheaktra said more active participation from all stakeholders in strengthening the law is needed, encouraging local actors and communities to conserve wildlife for ecotourism development. "The Ministry of Environment calls on all people to stop selling, buying and consuming wild meat as these activities are destroying Cambodia's wildlife and biodiversity of global significance," he said during the launch of the Zero-Snaring Campaign phase-2 in northwestern Pursat province. John Willis, country director of Wildlife Alliance, said a hunter laying a snare might get a short-term benefit for himself but everybody else in the community loses. TOKYO, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Security camera footage showing a Sri Lankan woman complaining of declining health before her death in an immigration facility in central Japan has been publicly released for the first time by lawyers representing her family. Roughly seven minutes of a five-hour video taken of Ratnayake Liyanage Wishma Sandamali, who died at the age of 33 while being held at the Nagoya Regional Immigration Services Bureau in March 2021, was shown at a press conference in Tokyo on Thursday. Some of the released footage taken less than two weeks before her death shows that Wishma, bedridden, begged officers to take her to hospital after telling them she is unable to move or eat. Wishma arrived in Japan in 2017 as a student but was taken into custody at the immigration facility in August 2020 for overstaying her visa. Wishma's family is seeking damages from the Japanese government over her death, alleging she was illegally detained and died due to a lack of necessary medical care. PHNOM PENH, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodian government on Friday approved the construction of five power plants with a total capacity of 520 megawatts, said government chief spokesman Phay Siphan. The approval was made during a Council of Ministers meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen. Siphan said the projects included the 70-MW Stung Russey Chrum Kandal hydropower plant and the 100-MW Stung Veal Thmor Kambot hydropower plant in Koh Kong province. Both hydropower plants are combined into a single project. Four solar power projects included the 150-MW station in Pursat province, the 60-MW station in Kampong Chhnang province, the 60-MW plant in Svay Rieng province and the 80-MW plant in Prey Veng province, he added. "These projects are essential to ensuring the sustainable development of the energy sector in Cambodia," he wrote on his Facebook page. "These projects will produce clean energy, reduce fuel consumption and ensure the protection of the environment, natural resources and climate change." He said the government will receive a total tax revenue of around 322.8 million U.S. dollars during the business operation of the five projects. Hun Sen said last month that renewable energy currently made up over 62 percent of the Southeast Asian country's installed electricity capacity. "Cambodia can be one of the countries that do not pollute the environment," he said. "Hydropower is still a good choice for the development of clean and green energy." According to the Electricity Authority of Cambodia (EAC), energy supply in Cambodia rose to 4,495 MW in 2022, an increase of 12.6 percent from 3,990 MW a year earlier. As of last year, 98.27 percent of the total 14,168 villages in the kingdom have access to electricity, the EAC said. Guests attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the Malaysia-China Kuantan international logistic park in Kuantan, Pahang state of Malaysia, April 7, 2023. The Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP), the first industrial park jointly developed by Malaysia and China, marked its 10th anniversary here on Friday.(Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua) KUANTAN, Malaysia, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP), the first industrial park jointly developed by Malaysia and China, marked its 10th anniversary here on Friday. Delivering a speech during the celebration, Liu Ning, secretary of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional Committee of the Communist Party of China, said that the event will surely inject new impetus into deepening the practical cooperation between China and Malaysia, and create new opportunities. He also said that Guangxi is willing to cooperate with friends from Malaysia to seize the opportunities of joint construction of the Belt and Road and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to deepen cooperation with Malaysia in areas such as trade and investment, industrial development, and cultural exchanges. For his part, Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook hailed the MCKIP as a solid success of the relationship between China and Malaysia, noting that it had boosted the infrastructure and economic development of the country's east coast and would continue to be a key point of cooperation between both countries. "MCKIP is a testament to the robust economic ties between our two nations. Over the years, this industrial park has grown to become one of the largest and most successful joint ventures between Malaysia and China, attracting investments from both domestic and foreign companies," he said. The MCKIP, together with the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park situated in China, has set an innovative example of bilateral economic cooperation under the model of "Two Countries, Twin Parks." Liu Ning (R, front), secretary of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Committee of the Communist Party of China, and Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook (L, front) unveil the Kuantan distribution center of the new international land-sea trade corridor in Kuantan, Pahang state of Malaysia, April 7, 2023. The Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP), the first industrial park jointly developed by Malaysia and China, marked its 10th anniversary here on Friday. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua) Guests pose for photos at the launching ceremony of "Invest in China Year" (Embracing ASEAN) in Kuantan, Pahang state, Malaysia, April 7, 2023. The Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP), the first industrial park jointly developed by Malaysia and China, marked its 10th anniversary here on Friday. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua) Liu Ning (R, front), secretary of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Committee of the Communist Party of China, and Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook (L, front) attend the launching ceremony for the Kuantan Port-Beibu Gulf Port-Sichuan-Chongqing multimodal transport route in Kuantan, Pahang state of Malaysia, April 7, 2023. The Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP), the first industrial park jointly developed by Malaysia and China, marked its 10th anniversary here on Friday. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua) FRANKFURT, April 7 (Xinhua) -- ZF Group is optimistic about its development prospect in China and will continue to expand in the Chinese market, said Holger Klein, CEO of ZF Friedrichshafen AG. As the global economy shows signs of recovery in 2023, China's recent announcement of its growth target this year sent a clear signal of economic rebound and will offer new opportunities for the automotive industry, said Klein in a recent interview with Xinhua. The German auto supplier has expanded its business in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, it launched new production plants and development projects in six locations in China, including Jinan, Rizhao, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Zhangjiagang and Guangzhou, Klein said. Its sales in China have grown, reaching 7.7 billion euros (8.38 billion U.S. dollars) over the past fiscal year, a 10-percent increase from the year before. The company maintains a positive outlook for China in the long run, and its local team looks forward to achieving more technological breakthroughs, the ZF chief stressed. With the optimization of China's COVID response policies and gradual recovery of the supply chain, China's importance in the global supply chain and industrial chain is increasingly prominent, he said, adding that ZF sees great potential in China's booming auto market. "We recognize that China's industrial ecosystem is evolving at a fast pace. Innovation continues to emerge. We expect China's automotive market to grow rapidly over the next decade, especially in smart electric vehicles," he said. The German auto supplier also plans to expand its local circle of partners, start-ups and customer collaboration in China. Klein added that the company looks forward to standing at the forefront of technology and innovation in China. Klein also lauded the efforts of China, the world's largest auto market and innovation center, in leading green and smart mobility, adding that ZF will continue participating in China's development. "We are localizing our supply chain, production and R&D, as well as talent development in China ... China is an important region on our global map, accounting for around 20 percent of our global sales -- a share we want to increase," he said. SOFIA, April 6 (Xinhua) -- The coalition of GERB party and the Union of Democratic Forces (GERB-UDF) won the country's early parliamentary elections, according to final results announced by the country's Central Electoral Commission (CEC) on Thursday. The coalition received 26.49 percent of the vote and will thus have 69 seats in the 240-member National Assembly. The We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) coalition came second with 24.56 percent of the vote and 64 seats, according to the CEC. Four more political groups have managed to cross the 4 percent threshold to enter Parliament: Revival party with 14.16 percent and 37 seats; Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) with 13.75 percent and 36 seats; BSP (Bulgarian Socialist Party) for Bulgaria coalition with 8.93 percent and 23 seats; and There Is Such A People (ITN) party with 4.11 percent and 11 seats. Voter turnout was 40.69 percent, according to the CEC. The newly elected National Assembly is expected to hold its inaugural session within two weeks. Under Bulgaria's Constitution, the country's president will appoint a prime minister-designate nominated by the largest parliamentary group to form a government, and a simple majority of legislators present at the session will be needed for approval. In case of failure, the constitution allows two more attempts to form a government -- by the second largest group, and by one of the others. And should no agreement on the formation of a government be reached, the president shall appoint a caretaker government, dissolve the National Assembly and schedule new elections. This was Bulgaria's fifth parliamentary election in two years. Three of the previous four parliaments, including those elected on April 4, 2021 and July 11, 2021, as well as Oct. 2, 2022, failed to form a government. A cabinet was formed only after the elections held on Nov. 14, 2021, but it was ousted by a no-confidence vote in June 2022. The formation of a new government is problematic after these elections held on April 2 as well, according to observers. Kolyo Kolev, director of Mediana polling agency and a top political analyst, said in an interview with Xinhua that at first glance, it seemed impossible to form a coalition able to elect a government. The reason was that the two main parties had built their entire images and campaigns on the total negation of the other party. "Therefore, it will be very difficult for them to build bridges between themselves and form a working coalition in one form or another," Kolev said. Formation of other coalitions seemed almost practically impossible, because they would also require the participation of parties that are mutually unacceptable, Kolev said. "But on the other hand, it is not possible not to form a government, because this is the fifth consecutive election in two years," he said. A large part of the electorate was already fed up with this confrontation between all, Kolev added. ISTANBUL, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye has seen a booming real estate market since the massive earthquakes hitting the country's south in February, which was pushed by a souring demand for so-called earthquake-resistant new homes in major cities in western regions, including Istanbul. Real estate agents said Istanbul's land sales increased by 200 percent in March than the previous month, fueling a price hike. "A wave of fear has grabbed Istanbulites especially after the disaster," Erdinc Sahin, a real estate consultant, told Xinhua at his company headquartered in Istanbul, explaining the sentiment in the real estate market triggered by the earthquakes. Sahin said the anxiety among residents grew after a rapid scanning program, launched by the Istanbul municipality on homes' foundation and their structural resistance in late February, revealed that many old buildings in the city were not resistant enough to strong earthquakes. Following the scanning program, weak buildings in Istanbul were either being reinforced or demolished, but "evacuating unsafe buildings is not something easy" on a large scale, according to Sahin. He noted that the demand is not limited to Istanbul but expands as far as the nearby Kocaeli Province in the Marmara region and Kirklareli and Edirne in the Thrace region. In Sahin's view, the total costs are much higher than expected, given a 40-percent increase in land sales prices in March and the ever-increasing construction expenses. "We describe these price hikes as irrational. This demand will not continue as it is now. It will stop at some point," he said. Dilek Ozcan, a retired healthcare worker from Istanbul who cannot afford to buy land in the city, moved to her rural hometown in Kirklareli. She told Xinhua that recently many close friends and former colleagues asked her about buying land in the nearby villages. According to Ozcan, these friends wanted to install a tiny house as an extra place to shelter in case of a disaster in Istanbul. Galip Olmez, CEO of Yako Groups, Turkiye's biggest company producing tiny houses, told Xinhua that his sales exploded by at least 80 percent after February's disaster. Prices of tiny houses, whose sizes largely fall between 15-40 square meters, vary from 15,000 to 30,000 U.S. dollars, much more affordable than building conventional big houses, he said. "Since almost 90 percent of people (in Istanbul) do not know how resistant their houses are to earthquakes, they want to plan an independent lifestyle in nature, a safer, more isolated, and more rehabilitative lifestyle," he added, concluding "therefore, the demand for tiny houses has increased tremendously." According to Olmez, zoning is not required for the installation of tiny houses, a fact that saves costs. BOR, Serbia, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Slavisa Sordjan's job at the copper mine tailings storage site might demand unusual toughness, but this hardworking 44-year-old father of five and his extended family consider his recent appointment at a prosperous Chinese mining company a once-in-a-decade life-changing opportunity, which they are all willing to hold on to. Sordjan's life has always been a struggle. He could have had a secure job at the copper mining and smelting complex RTB Bor, a state enterprise on whose scholarship he earned a degree in metallurgy at a local technical school, like many in his generation. But he chose a different path. Sordjan explains that back in the mid-1990s, the local mining industry started to deteriorate under the changing political and economic circumstances, resulting in the dismissal of employees from RTB Bor. "Two thousand workers were dismissed first, there were more dismissals than admissions. We lost the opportunity to work, not only me, but my whole generation, who had even higher education and couldn't find a job," he recalled. "I mostly worked in the village, helping whoever needed help. I joined construction teams, operated chainsaws in the forests, waitered at weddings ... I did not shy away from work as I needed an income," he said. "We barely survived," Sordjan's wife Sandra recalled. "Back then, we lived from day to day on social benefits." For Sordjan, and for his peers in the Bor district, the decline in the heavy industry meant a lost chance of living a decent life. Serbia's eventual reindustrialization required a massive inflow of foreign direct investments and greenfield projects started to mushroom across the country. Encouraged by Serbia's active participation in China's Belt and Road and other initiatives aimed at reviving economic ties with Central and East Europe, Chinese companies started to invest in the country. A landmark moment in the China-Serbia comprehensive strategic partnership was the arrival of the Zijin Mining Group, which became a major shareholder of RTB Bor in December 2018. Zijin's aim was to turn RTB Bor into a high-tech, green mining company. In just a few years, Zijin invested 1.7 billion U.S. dollars in the Serbian company and built new and advanced production facilities. Zijin also built Cukaru Peki, an entirely new copper and gold mine that set new standards for environment-friendly mining in Europe. Next, Zijin started to hire droves of locals -- Sordjan included. Driven by its socially responsible mission of "Mining for a Better Society," Zijin gave preference to workers with large families. Sordjan was soon hired, and today he enjoys a job that is safe and secure. "A lot has changed since he got the job. We have everything we need, we have better conditions, a better life," wife Sandra commented. She, too, plans to apply for a job at the mine, and she said she expected their children to follow their parents' suit. "Have things changed?" Sordjan said. "They sure have. Recently, I bought a car. I can now afford that." As they are now permanently employed, the Sordjans plan to expand their home in Slatina village to provide more room for their kids. According to Wen Hongzhi, director of the mine general manager's office, Zijin aims to look after its local employees by helping them afford the cost of tuition, housing and everyday essentials. "The income suffices -- I'm not complaining -- for shoes, for school, for books, although now we don't pay for books because Zijin helps a lot, so thanks to them," Sordjan said. KIEV, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine plans to integrate into the European Union (EU) internal market before obtaining full membership, First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said on Friday. "Our goal is to integrate into the EU internal market without waiting for EU accession," Svyrydenko was quoted as saying by the government press service. Earlier in the day, the government adopted a document which would pave the way for Ukraine to join the EU mobile roaming space, the official said. In the future, Ukraine will start working on integration into the internal market in all relevant areas, from customs and energy to food safety, Svyrydenko added. The Priority Action Plan to strengthen the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement between Ukraine and the EU includes 29 measures, Svyrydenko said. In June 2022, EU leaders accepted Ukraine as a candidate for membership in the bloc. In January, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that Ukraine aims to become a member of the EU within the next two years. LOS ANGELES, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and another hospitalized after a shooting at a residence Thursday in U.S. state of Colorado, authorities said. Police were called to the residence for reports of shots being fired at approximately 11:52 a.m. local time (1752 GMT) in City of Lakewood, located southwest of Denver, the capital of Colorado, according to the Lakewood Police Department. "When agents arrived on scene, three males were suffering apparent gunshot wounds," the police said in a statement. One was pronounced dead at the scene. Two others were taken to hospital with one dead from injuries and the other expected to live. "While the nature of a connection between the three males shot is still unknown, it is apparent that they were familiar with each other in some manner," said the statement. Detectives believe there is an additional fourth party involved in this shooting who had fled the scene before police arrived. It appears that the fourth party may have also suffered a gunshot wound, the police added. Police do not believe there is any active threat to the community. An active investigation is underway. Moldova signs contract for gas supplies from Greece, depriving Gazprom of another market 7 April, 06:45 PM Moldova concluded a framework contract for the supply of gas from Greece (Photo:jorono / pixabay) Moldova continues to pry Moscows fingers from its affairs by having its state-owned Energocom sign a gas supply contract with Greek gas operator DEPA, Moldovas Energy Minister, Victor Parlicov, announced after visiting Greece, Interfax-Ukraine reported on April 7. The agreement is believed to have been signed on April 6 during Parlicovs visit. "Greece is the main gateway in southern Europe for liquefied natural gas, more than half of which comes from the United States," he said. "The Moldovan state-owned company Energocom is the first, and so far the only, company in the world that has practical experience using the Greece-Bulgaria-Romania-Moldova-Ukraine vertical corridor," the minister stated. Video of day Read also: UAV reportedly crashes near Gazprom facility outside Moscow Last season's experience of Energocom using the Greece-Bulgaria interconnector showed the feasibility of using the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline in reverse mode. Moldova had purchased gas exclusively from Russia until Autumn 2021, when the country started to diversify, relying especially on supplies from Romania. Moldova and Greece's cooperation in the natural gas sector will make it possible to better utilize underground gas storage facilities in Ukraine to improve the security of gas supply to Central Europe in winter. Thanks to the contract between Energocom and DEPA, Moldova "will be able to purchase gas, taking advantage of favorable market conditions," Parlicov said. The EFET (European Federation of Energy Traders) contract is a framework contract that precedes any sale and purchase agreement. The conclusion of such a contract is mandatory for companies operating in the European Union, Energocom noted. "Greece today is a strategic center in terms of available energy sources," said Energocom's acting director Victor Binzari. It has one liquefied natural gas terminal, and the second one will be ready by the end of the year. This terminal receives gas from several geographical locations, from the East, the United States, and Africa, and the prices are favorable. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News Czech Republic to send $30 million in additional military aid to Ukraine 6 April, 01:19 AM Yana Chornokhova (Photo:CTK/Sulova Katerina) Drawing from its stockpiles of surplus military equipment, the Czech government plans to extend further military aid to Ukraine worth $30 million, Czech Defense Minister Jana Chernokhova announced on April 5, as reported by Czech news agency CTK. The minister handed over a full list of assistance Prague has already provided to Kyiv to the newly-elected President Peter Pavel, along with an outline of what else the Czech Republic could spare without jeopardizing its own security. Read also: Prague charges former Soviet soldier with espionage The assistance that we are preparing together with the Chief of the General Staff, costs about 600-700 million crowns, Chernokhova said. Video of day This isnt financial assistance, this is military equipment that is still in our warehouses, which is unnecessary and which the army can actually send to Ukraine without jeopardizing its own defense capability. Read also: Czech Republic extends ban on issuing visas to Russians According to her, the Ministry of Defense always makes sure that the equipment sent to Ukraine is replaceable. CTK notes the Czech presidents recent statement, that suggested that the Czech Republic has done as much as it could to assist Ukraine militarily. At the same time, he added that the country could help supply Ukraine with more ammunition. According to Chernokhova, assistance in this area is already taking place. She recalled the creation of a joint Czech-Ukrainian industrial cluster, and incoming supplies from private companies to which the government issues expedited permits. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News Military expert explains where Russia is moving its MiG fighters, and why 6 April, 05:53 PM MiG-31 fighters can carry nuclear-capable hypersonic Kinzhal missiles (Photo:Tom_1982/Flickr) After the monitoring group Belarusian Hajun reported that three Russian MiG-31K fighters were leaving the territory of Belarus on April 6, Radio NV asked military expert and Ukrainian army reserve Colonel Roman Svitan why Russia is moving its aircraft around. These particular MiGs can carry nuclear-capable hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, which have a 2,000 kilometer range that covers the whole of Ukraine, and which Ukraine lacks the means to shoot down. Read also: Satellite images show Russia deployed in Belarus warplanes that can launch Kinzhal missiles That means that whenever one is seen taking to the air in Belarus or nearby air bases in Russia, it triggers a countrywide air-raid alert. Video of day There is some evidence that the Kremlin takes advantage of this Ukrainian response it triggered an alert in Ukraine on Feb. 20 almost to the second when U.S. President Joe Biden started a walkabout in central Kyiv during his visit to Ukraine. But todays movement, of MiGs from Belarus to Russia, unusually did not trigger a nationwide alert. What, then, is going on? "They will be withdrawing their aircraft from locations that are close to the border with Ukraine or the front line," says Svitan. They are well aware that we have certain weapons of destruction like drones. They definitely don't want to lose their MiG-31Ks, which are few and far between, and they only have a handful of Kinzhal carriers. The expert assumes that they will be moved to the Shaikovka airfield, located in the west of Kaluga Oblast, near Smolensk Oblast of Russia. "They are hiding their planes from our killer (drones)," Svitan added. Several MiG-31Ks have been based at airfields in Belarus since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces. The regular take-offs of MiGs from Ukraine shows the enemy is trying to keep Ukrainians nervous, the Ukrainian Air Force has said. But if Svitan is to be believed, it is the Russians who are nervous now. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News Zelenskyy participates in Iftar with Muslim soldiers on Ramadan 7 April, 11:35 PM Volodymyr Zelenskyy awards the commander of the Crimea battalion, Isa Akayev, before the iftar on April 7, 2023 (Photo:REUTERS/Alina Yarysh) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took part in Iftar (fast-breaking meal during the religious holiday of Ramadan) along with Muslim Ukrainian military service members, representatives of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, and diplomatic officials, Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform reported on April 7. Today we are establishing the following tradition for Ukraine Iftar at an official level, together with our heroes the present Muslim soldiers, together with the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, together with representatives of the entire Muslim community of Ukraine, the president said. Video of day Read also: Mufti Sheikh Said Ismagilov tells NV why he and many other Muslims joined the fight for Ukraine By this act, we affirm that Ukraine values every person and every community. Zelenskyy thanked Muslims in Ukraine and the entire Muslim community of the world for their commitment to maintaining peace and justice. The Ukrainian president also stressed that the liberation of Crimea is non-negotiable, saying that Kyiv will ultimately free the homeland of Crimean Tatars form Russian occupation. Ukrinform adds that Muslims use Iftar to build ties between representatives of different nationalities and help them get acquainted with the Muslim way life. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News Andy and Reeder had one child, a daughter named Peta who grew up in Australia. Andy never saw Peta (who goes by the name Peta Weber) after she turned 2. "I didn't have the chance to get to know my father as well as I should have," Weber told News.com.Au in 2017. "As I grew I learned that he was famous, and that he had famous siblings, but for me he was just a guy on the end of the telephone line." He died when she was just 10 years old and Weber endured bullying at school after news of their relationship became known. Over the years she rarely spoke about her famous family. Advertisement But in 2016, her cousin Samantha (daughter of Maurice) called her to ask if she'd like to be part of a project where the children of the Gibb brothers would re-record classic Bee Gees songs. At first Weber wasn't sure about doing it, even though she does sing. But then she changed her mind. "My father is an integral part of the Gibb musical legacy. I came to the conclusion that if anyone was going to represent him, it should naturally be me." The project from The Gibb Collective called "Please Don't Turn Out the Lights" was released in 2017 and working on it proved very healing for Weber. "I've found such a connection with my cousins. The long-overdue family reunion to come out of this project is something I never expected. I'm finally able to connect with that side of my life in a positive way, on my terms and in a way that makes me feel proud," she said to News.com.Au. Now That's Interesting Many fans wondered if Andy Gibb had a romance with fellow Aussie Olivia Newton-John, but the pair insisted they were just friends. Still, they recorded a couple of duets including "I Can't Help It" and "Rest Your Love on Me." " " A powerful piece of street art, titled "Mild, Mild West," by British street artist Banksy showed up on the side of a building in Bristol, England. GEOFF CADDICK/Getty Images Turn the clock back 20 years, and a mention of "street art" might call to mind words like "graffiti" and "vandalism." But in the last decade or so, this public genre has made massive gains in acceptability and appreciation. In some cases, monetization has come along too, which has kept more than a few talented individuals from falling into the trope of starving artist. In 2021, a painting by street artist Banksy sold for $20 million at auction. That is a long way from the early days of classic New York City underground graffiti of the 1970s and 80s. But the genre has undergone a shift from being a "private language" that was deliberately illegal and not necessarily meant to be understood by all viewers, says Prof. Paul Gough, principal and vice-chancellor, Arts University Bournemouth and author of "Banksy: The Bristol Legacy." Advertisement Early practitioners of street art included French artist Blek le Rat, Jean-Michel Basquiat, whose work is by Artnet to be "largely responsible for elevating graffiti artists into the realm of the New York Gallery scene" and Keith Haring. Their work exemplifies the fact that street art is "rooted in the revolutionary practices of those who identified with various subcultures linked to class, race, or gender," as Jessica McQueen, associate curator at Saatchi Art, explains. Today, the political remains largely present, and of course, graffiti and vandalism still happen, but as an art form, street art is now often paid for, commissioned or at least permitted. The Street Art Museum Amsterdam calls it "an important counterculture movement that can be found all over the world." It is site-specific, and the artist considers the physical context in which it is being created. In addition to graffiti, street art has been connected to muralism, neo-graffiti and urban art, and there are many ways it can be expressed. "Definitions are a bit elusive," says Gough. And they probably aren't helpful. "It's democratic. That's the ultimate word about street art. It's for everybody." And that is part of its power. Street art is accessible spatially and visually to people who might never set foot inside a gallery or museum, he says. Rather than attempting to delineate what street art is and isn't, looking at some recent works by contemporary street artists offers a picture of its breadth. Here are six powerful and provocative examples of street art they barely scratch the surface. Elaine Thompson/AP/REX / Shutterstock.com Once a young boy who enjoyed tinkering with computers, Bill Gates now is one of the richest people in the world. According to Forbes, Gates' net worth was at a staggering $110 billion as of March 2023. Check Out: Dave Ramsey's 7 Tips for Paying Off a Mortgage Faster Advice: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000 These days, Gates is more interested in giving his money away than he is in acquiring more. In 2010, Gates -- along with his now ex-wife, Melinda, and fellow multi-billionaire Warren Buffett -- co-founded The Giving Pledge, which encourages the world's wealthiest people to give away most of their fortunes to charity. He has donated at least $35.8 billion in stock from Microsoft, the company he co-founded, to his own Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, according to Forbes. In 2021, they made a multiyear pledge of $15 billion to the foundation, The Chronicle of Philanthropy reported. Budding entrepreneurs and philanthropists want to know how Gates amassed his fortune so that they might join the Billionaires' Club one day. Here are a few habits that helped Bill Gates become a massive success. Cj Gunther/EPA/Shutterstock He Has a Thirst for Knowledge Gates attended Harvard University only briefly before he dropped out, yet he attributes his time there to his success. "It was an amazing privilege (studying at Harvard); and, though I left early, I was transformed by my years at Harvard, the friendships I made, and the ideas I worked on," Gates said in a 2007 commencement speech. Gates studied computers, but he also dabbled in many other subjects that interested him at the Ivy League school. "Academic life was fascinating," he said during the speech. "I used to sit in on lots of classes I hadn't even signed up for." This thirst for knowledge and his willingness to always improve and learn contributed to the growth of his eventual business. He remains a staunch supporter of education. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation launched the Global Education Program in 2018 with a focus on teaching reading and math skills to primary school children in sub-Saharan Africa and India. Story continues Take Our Poll: Would You Move for a Job That Paid You a $10,000 Signing Bonus? John Froschauer/AP/Shutterstock His Parents Were Supportive When asked in 1998 about his role models, Gates said he looked up to his parents. Gates' parents nurtured and supported his interest in computers as well -- even after he decided to abandon his Harvard education. Gates' father, Bill Gates Sr., told Forbes that his son's decision to drop out of college "wasn't precisely what my wife and I had envisioned for any of our children." However, Gates' parents were extremely supportive of his endeavors after that. After Gates' mother died in 1994, she helped her son "get the contract that led to a lucrative relationship with IBM for his fledgling Microsoft Corporation," according to The New York Times. As for his father, Gates long cited him as an inspiration for his philanthropic work, which has dominated the younger Gates' time and energies since he left his day-to-day work at Microsoft in 2008. The elder Gates was actively involved in his son's philanthropic work -- he even wrote the first check for Gates' foundation -- until his death in 2020 at the age of 94. Bill Gates is the father of three children -- daughters Jennifer and Phoebe, born in 1996 and 2002, and son Rory, born in 1999. In interviews and speeches, he has given his ex-wife credit for 80% of the child rearing and said they followed the "love and logic" parenting method of the 1970s. Leon Neal / AP / Shutterstock.com He Reads a Lot In the Forbes interview, Gates' father said his son was an incredibly avid reader as a child. "Just about every kind of book interested him -- encyclopedias, science fiction, you name it," he said. "I was thrilled that my child was such an avid reader, but he read so much that Bill's mother and I had to institute a rule: no books at the dinner table." That hasn't changed. In 2021, in honor of World Book Day, he tweeted about his passion. "I try to read every day, whether I have a busy day at the office or am out for a hike," he wrote. "It's one of my favorite ways to learn new things and better understand the world." Reading likely contributed to Gates' net worth, as it helped provide him with the knowledge he would need to become a successful entrepreneur. He recommends books on his blog, GatesNotes. Photo courtesy of Living Computers: Museum + Labs He Chose a Great Business Partner Gates has made countless brilliant business decisions, many of which have involved the people he has chosen to work with. "I'd say my best business decisions really have to do with picking people," Gates said in the 1998 interview. "Deciding to go into partnership with Paul Allen is probably at the top of the list." Allen and Gates were friends growing up, and they co-founded Microsoft in 1975. Allen left the company eight years later, after being diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease. A fellow philanthropist who gave away more than $2 billion, Allen owned the NFL's Seattle Seahawks and the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers at the time of his death, at age 65, in 2018 from complications of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Throughout the years, Gates and Allen had a "complex relationship," as outlined in Allen's book, "Idea Man: A Memoir by the Cofounder of Microsoft." However, Gates attributes Microsoft's early success to his partnership with Allen and the many lessons they learned along the way. $2,000 Quarter? Check Your Pockets Before You Use This 2004 Coin lembi / Shutterstock.com He Has Remained Passionate About His Work As many entrepreneurs have said, you must love what you do if you hope to be successful. Bill Gates fell in love with computers as a child and spent a lifetime building one of the most successful businesses in the world. "You've got to enjoy what you do every day, and for me that's working with very smart people," Gates said in 1998. "It's working on new problems. ... The competition, the breakthroughs, the research make the field I'm in, I think, the most exciting field there is." Even though he left his day-to-day role at Microsoft more than a decade ago, Gates served as Microsoft's chairman of the board. In 2020, however, he left the board to focus solely on his philanthropic work. Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto He Stayed Confident in His Dream and Vision Gates was fortunate to attend Lakeside School, an elite private school in Seattle that gave him access to computers when he was in the seventh grade. Instead of just teaching students how to use computers in the conventional sense, the school "unleashed" them, according to Gates. Looking back, he said his experiences at the school gave him the vision and encouragement he needed to do the impossible. His vision continues today, though on a different front. His aim now is to better arm the world to fight the threat from future pandemics. The Gates Foundation, as of January 2022, had given more than $2 billion to vaccines and other efforts related to COVID-19. Gates has written a book, "How to Prevent the Next Pandemic," which is due for release on May 3, 2022. Dwayne Newton/AP/Shutterstock He Had an Emergency Fund for Microsoft Gates learned early that, in order to be successful, he had to amass a large emergency fund for Microsoft, which would keep the business afloat if it ever encountered financial obstacles. "I always had to be careful that we wouldn't hire too many people," he said in a 2018 interview on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." "I was always worried because people who worked for me were older than me and had kids, and I always thought, 'What if we don't get paid? Will I be able to meet the payroll?'" Next: 5 Things You Should Always Pay For With Cash Mario Tama / Getty Images He Learned From His Mistakes With Microsoft Everyone makes mistakes, including Gates. The key, however, is to learn from those errors, and that's exactly what Gates has done. At a 2019 Village Global event, Gates said his biggest mistake was not jumping into competition with Apple after it released its first iPhone in June 2007. Google did just that with its Android device in 2008. "These are winner-takes-all markets. So the greatest mistake ever is whatever mismanagement I engaged in that caused Microsoft not to be what Android is," he said. "That was a natural thing for Microsoft to win." Glenn Copus/Evening Standard/Shutterstock He Gets Seven Hours of Sleep Although many successful businessmen like to brag about how little sleep they get, Gates is the opposite. He knows he's not superhuman and that sleep is required for his intellectual curiosity to be at its best. "I like to get seven hours of sleep," he told The Seattle Times in 1990. "Even though it's fun to stay up all night -- maybe taking a red-eye flight -- if I have to be creative, I need seven hours." He hasn't changed his mind in the ensuing years. In a December 2019 post on his blog, he doubled down. "Does everyone really need seven or eight hours of sleep a night?" he pondered. "The answer is that you almost certainly do, even if you've convinced yourself otherwise. In the words of Dr. Thomas Roth, of the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, 'The number of people who can survive on five hours of sleep or less without impairment, and rounded to a whole number, is zero.' Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images He Learns From Those Around Him Gates and legendary entrepreneur Warren Buffett became friends 30 years ago when the two met over Fourth of July weekend in 1991 in Seattle by chance -- not through business. Gates celebrated that friendship -- and Buffett's 90th birthday -- in a blog post in 2020 and discussed one of the ways Buffett has influenced him. "As Warren himself put it a few years ago when we spoke with some college students, 'You will move in the direction of the people that you associate with. So it's important to associate with people that are better than yourself,'" Gates wrote. "The friends you have will form you as you go through life. Make some good friends, keep them for the rest of your life, but have them be people that you admire as well as like." I'm a Self-Made Millionaire: These Are the 6 Investments Everyone Should Make During an Economic Downturn Mark Schiefelbein/AP/REX/Shutter He Diversified His Private Portfolio When Gates was building Microsoft, he put most of his time, energy and creative talent into making it arguably the greatest tech company in the world. Once he got rich, however, he did what most financial advisors recommend investors do regardless of their net worth: He diversified. At the time he stepped down from the Microsoft board in March 2020, he owned about 1% of the company's stock, Forbes reported. He then used the cash to invest in a wide range of stocks and other assets that protected his massive portfolio from a single-security calamity. Forbes said he holds stock in Canadian National Railway and AutoNation and that he is among the largest owners of American farmland. CNBC reported in April 2022 that he also is an investor in Motif FoodWorks, a plant-based food company. Joe Marquette/AP/REX / Shutterstock.com He Knew When He Had Outgrown Partnerships Microsoft's partnership with IBM formed the backbone of the 1980s personal computer revolution. The two companies collaborated to create the operating systems that breathed life into most PCs. By the early 1990s, however, the partnership had stagnated and Gates determined Microsoft would be better going it alone. The gamble paid off. When the separation was complete in 1992, IBM walked away with the jointly created OS/2 operating system and Microsoft left with the software that would make it king: MS-DOS and Windows. In 2016, Forbes wrote of Gates, "His decision to divorce IBM stands as one of his best. Microsoft took control over its own destiny." Barry Sweet/AP/Shutterstock He Learned To Give Up Control According to a 2019 report from Inc., Gates found success only after he learned to trust the people he hired and delegate responsibility to them. That, however, required Gates to do something that was antithetical to his entire personality: Forfeit control. In Microsoft's early years, Gates maintained a tight grasp on everything that happened and did whatever he could himself, but how could he grow Microsoft to its full potential if he spent all day writing or editing code? He couldn't. Instead, he developed relationships with key employees, and those relationships were based on mutual trust. He found that the new mentality allowed him to take on the role of mentor instead of micromanager, which, it turns out, suited him well. This ability to be creative, work with his team and have a big enough cash cushion to continuously grow and try new things contributed greatly to Microsoft's success and, eventually, Gates' fortune. Read: 5 Expensive Renovations Homeowners Always Regret Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images He Has Remained Passionate About His Work As many entrepreneurs have said, you must love what you do if you hope to be successful. Bill Gates fell in love with computers as a child and spent a lifetime building one of the most successful businesses in the world. "You've got to enjoy what you do every day, and for me that's working with very smart people," Gates said in 1998. "It's working on new problems. ... The competition, the breakthroughs, the research make the field I'm in, I think, the most exciting field there is." Even though he left his day-to-day role at Microsoft more than a decade ago, Gates served as Microsoft's chairman of the board. In 2020, however, he left the board to focus solely on his philanthropic work. As the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world, Gates reinvented himself again by emerging as a leading advocate for science-based policy in government while donating hundreds of millions of dollars to coronavirus-related research and causes. More From GOBankingRates Andrew Lisa contributed to the reporting for this article. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 13 Habits That Helped Bill Gates Build His $110 Billion Fortune For us, stock picking is in large part the hunt for the truly magnificent stocks. You won't get it right every time, but when you do, the returns can be truly splendid. For example, the Tavistock Investments Plc (LON:TAVI) share price is up a whopping 454% in the last three years, a handsome return for long term holders. It's also good to see the share price up 29% over the last quarter. The past week has proven to be lucrative for Tavistock Investments investors, so let's see if fundamentals drove the company's three-year performance. Check out our latest analysis for Tavistock Investments There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS). During three years of share price growth, Tavistock Investments achieved compound earnings per share growth of 70% per year. We note that the 77% yearly (average) share price gain isn't too far from the EPS growth rate. Coincidence? Probably not. This observation indicates that the market's attitude to the business hasn't changed all that much. Quite to the contrary, the share price has arguably reflected the EPS growth. The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail). It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on Tavistock Investments' earnings, revenue and cash flow. What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. In the case of Tavistock Investments, it has a TSR of 465% for the last 3 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! Story continues A Different Perspective We're pleased to report that Tavistock Investments shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 32% over one year. Of course, that includes the dividend. That's better than the annualised return of 21% over half a decade, implying that the company is doing better recently. Given the share price momentum remains strong, it might be worth taking a closer look at the stock, lest you miss an opportunity. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. To that end, you should be aware of the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Tavistock Investments . We will like Tavistock Investments better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on British exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. 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 DUBLIN, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Level II ITAR/EAR Officer" training has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Research and Markets Logo Building on critical compliance issues, this two-day, hands-on knowledge-sharing event teaches attendees how to build a bulletproof compliance program, conduct audits and draft a policy and procedure manual in order to become an effective compliance official. Students will utilize scenarios and exercises to learn how to oversee an audit, develop an internal training program, utilize EAR exceptions effectively and examine the roles of the Empowered Official/Compliance Official, making this a MUST-ATTEND seminar! Two-day seminar fee includes breakfast, lunch, seminar manual and a current copy of the ITAR. Space is limited. Registration will close once capacity is reached. Key Topics Covered: DAY 1: Tuesday, June 6th COMPLIANCE BUILDING BLOCKS Keynote Presentation "How to Build a Bulletproof Compliance Program" Debi Davis, Vice President, Global Compliance, TransDigm Group. Presentation: "A-Z: How to Conduct a Comprehensive Audit" From the Audit Plan, documents to review, interviews to drafting the audit report. Exercise 1: "Drafting an Audit Plan" Presentation: "Significance of The Military End User (MEU) List" TESTING YOUR COMPLIANCE PROGRAM Presentation: "Transactional Testing & Due Diligence" Presentation: "Key Elements of a Policy & Procedure Manual" Presentation: "Unlocking the Keys to an Effective Training Program" DAY 2: Wednesday, June 7th COMPLIANCE OFFICIALS AND THE EAR Presentation: "The 10 Effective Habits of an ITAR/EAR Compliance Official" Presentation: "Navigating the Complexities of the EAR" Presentation: "Using the STA Exception Effectively" Exercise 2: "Testing Your EAR Prowess" REMEDIAL MEASURES Presentation: "Top Ten Violations Under Commerce/BIS Charging Letters" Tips to avoid making these mistakes in your company. Presentation: "Due Diligence: The Importance of Checking Intermediaries and End Users" Exercise 3: "End User Exercise" Presentation: "Sentinel, Blue Lantern Programs & State/DTCC Company Visits" An examination of Commerce/BIS and State/DTCC internal compliance efforts. Story continues Speakers Suzanne Palmer President Export Compliance Solutions Suzanne Palmer, President of Export Compliance Solutions, has 15 years of experience within the State Department and as a Licensing Officer, and over 10 years direct experience with the U. S. defense industry. After leaving the State Department she joined Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems in Baltimore and then went on to work at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab. Combining U.S. Government and defense industry experience, Ms. Palmer specializes in training, interpreting the ITAR and the EAR Export Control Reform initiative and applying U.S. export control regulations. She has served on the Defense Trade Advisory Group (DTAG) and as a Special Compliance Official (SCO) for a company operating under a Consent Agreement. Lisa Bencivenga Various Lisa Bencivenga has has over twenty years of varied experience in export/import licensing and compliance issues with major defense contractors. She has had the leading role in developing and implementing internal compliance programs, providing regulatory guidance, instituting license databases, training personnel at all corporate levels, conducting audits requested by clients and/or directed by the U.S. Department of State, coordinating investigations and working closely with legal departments while administering the full spectrum of corporate international export/import activities. She has several years of experience in space-related export issues which includes obtaining and implementing complex licensing arrangements related to spacecraft and launch activities as a result of her employment with Orbital Sciences Corporation and The Boeing Company. For more information about this training visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/rqpquy About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2-day-level-ii-itarear-officer-seminar-montreal-canada---june-6-7-2023-301792353.html SOURCE Research and Markets DUBLIN, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Level I ITAR/EAR Boot Camp" training has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Research and Markets Logo An intensive two-day learning experience focused on the basics of the ITAR and EAR. Seminar Level I focuses on the basic principles of defense trade controls with practical examples, case studies, and small group discussions and provides attendees with unparalleled insight into the application of export controls. Topics include State/DDTC and the Regulations, The Order of Review: Specially Designed & Commodity Jurisdiction, Understanding ITAR-Controlled Technical Data, How to Complete a DSP-5, Licensing Non-U.S. Persons, Utilizing ITAR Exemptions, Recordkeeping, and Violations. This comprehensive seminar also focuses on licensing in the 600 Series with case studies and classification exercises. Topics include Understanding Commerce/BIS & the Regulations, The Ten General Prohibitions, Classification & Reading the ECCN- (Country Charts & Reasons for Control,) Preparing License & Classification Requests using SNAP-R, License Exceptions & the Strategic Trade Authorization (STA), Recordkeeping & Compliance. Two-day seminar fee includes breakfast and lunch each day, a seminar manual, and a current copy of the ITAR. Space is limited. Registration will close once capacity is reached. Key Topics Covered: DAY 1 ITAR: Tuesday, July 11th Test Your Knowledge Understanding State/DDTC and the ITAR The Order of Review, Specially Designed & the Commodity Jurisdiction Process How to Complete an Electronic DSP-5 License Understanding Technical Data & the Public Domain Licensing Requirements for Foreign Person Employees (FPE) ITAR Exemptions Violations & Lessons Learned from Consent Agreements DAY 2 EAR: Wednesday, July 12th Understanding Commerce/BIS and the Regulations The Ten General Prohibitions & Red Flags Classification & Reading the Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) BIS Registration, Applying for a License, Preparing a Letter of Explanation (LOE) and U.S. Government Staffing Points License Exceptions & the Strategic Trade Authorization EAR & ITAR Recordkeeping & Compliance Due Diligence: Preventing Violations Story continues Speakers Suzanne Palmer President Export Compliance Solutions Suzanne Palmer, President of Export Compliance Solutions, has 15 years of experience within the State Department and as a Licensing Officer, and over 10 years direct experience with the U. S. defense industry. After leaving the State Department she joined Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems in Baltimore and then went on to work at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab. Combining U.S. Government and defense industry experience, Ms. Palmer specializes in training, interpreting the ITAR and the EAR Export Control Reform initiative and applying U.S. export control regulations. She has served on the Defense Trade Advisory Group (DTAG) and as a Special Compliance Official (SCO) for a company operating under a Consent Agreement. Lisa Bencivenga Various Lisa Bencivenga has has over twenty years of varied experience in export/import licensing and compliance issues with major defense contractors. She has had the leading role in developing and implementing internal compliance programs, providing regulatory guidance, instituting license databases, training personnel at all corporate levels, conducting audits requested by clients and/or directed by the U.S. Department of State, coordinating investigations and working closely with legal departments while administering the full spectrum of corporate international export/import activities. She has several years of experience in space-related export issues which includes obtaining and implementing complex licensing arrangements related to spacecraft and launch activities as a result of her employment with Orbital Sciences Corporation and The Boeing Company. For more information about this training visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ldc7a6 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2-day-level-i-itarear-boot-camp-course-colorado-springs-united-states---july-11-12-2023-301792358.html SOURCE Research and Markets (Bloomberg) -- Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank PJSC is said to be in talks with funds to sell 13.5 billion dirhams ($3.7 billion) worth of soured loans, as the emirates second-largest lender steps up efforts to clean up its books. Most Read from Bloomberg The bank is exploring the sale of a retail portfolio that includes car loans, private and credit-card debt, most of which are held by expatriate workers, people familiar with the matter said. Emirati nationals still owe ADCB as the bank is known far more money on average, they added, asking not to be identified because the information is private. An entity called Lexolent is looking to put together a group of buyers to purchase ADCBs non-performing loan book, the people said. In addition, Lexolent might set up a debt collection joint venture with the bank and that body will also oversee ADCBs other bad debts it offloaded and possibly those of peers in Middle East, according to the people. The deliberations are ongoing and may not result in a transaction, two of the people said. ADCB has no intention of pursuing a transaction or any business partnership with the named party, it said in a statement to the Abu Dhabi stock exchange. The bank said it continuously explores opportunities to boost shareholer value and recoveries but that it does not foresee any further transaction of this nature or any potential related gains materialising this year. Representatives for Lexolent declined to comment. Any disposal of the soured debt would make it the largest such transaction by a domestic bank in the Middle East and North Africa. Foreign workers make up the lions share of the population in the United Arab Emirates, where defaulting on loans was deemed a criminal offense until a few years ago. As a result, expatriate debtors at times fled the country to avoid jail. Story continues Establishing a collection agency signals that the market for debt recovery in the region is maturing and could pave the way for similar deals involving international specialists. By involving overseas debt collectors, a domestic bank like ADCB could avoid costly enforcement actions outside the UAE, Bloomberg reported last year. What Bloomberg Intelligence Says: The potential sale of $3.7 billion in bad loans is a necessary step to improving Abu Dhabi Commercial Banks asset-quality metrics, given a loan downgrade has clouded the banks prospects since 2019. The revenue line may get a boost if the transaction price is higher than the provisions management allocated for the loans. However, its harder to say if the deal would cut ADCBs Stage 3 bad-loan share of 5.6%, given retail legacy loans are likely already written off. Edmond Christou, BI financials analyst ADCB this year has already sold a $1.1 billion non-performing, corporate loan book to US hedge fund Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP and debt worth $357 million to a recovery fund led by professional services firm Grant Thornton. That was the first time a UAE bank offloaded distressed debt of that magnitude. Grant Thornton said at the time that ADCBs sale indicated how local banks in the UAE are cleaning up their books to support the growing market while remaining compliant with international regulatory and banking standards. Abu Dhabis Second-Largest Bank Plans $1 Billion Bad Debt Sale ADCBs net income in 2022 surged by nearly a quarter to 6.4 billion dirhams despite an increase in impairment charges to 2.78 billion dirhams. The bank in recent years has been hit hard by some major regional defaults. --With assistance from Lucca de Paoli. (Adds ADCBs denial in fourth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. MarketsandMarkets Research Pvt. Ltd. Chicago, April 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The advanced wound care industry is expected to continue to grow in the near future due to a number of factors. The aging population is likely to be one of the main drivers of growth due to the increased incidence of chronic conditions, such as diabetes, which increases the risk of developing wounds. Advances in technology, such as the development of bioactive dressings, which can help to reduce healing time and improve outcomes, are also likely to contribute to the growth of the industry. The demand for cost-effective wound care solutions is expected to rise, as healthcare providers look to reduce costs while still providing quality care. Finally, increased awareness of the need for proper wound care is likely to lead to more individuals using advanced wound care products and services. Advanced Wound Care market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $11.3 billion in 2022 and is poised to reach $17.7 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 9.4% from 2022 to 2027 according to a latest report published by MarketsandMarkets. The rise in the chronic wound spending, the prevalence of diseases and disorders that impair wound healing, and technical advancements are the key drivers of market growth. Download an Illustrative overview: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=88705076 Advanced Wound Care Market Scope: Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2022 $11.3 billion Estimated Value by 2027 $17.7 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 9.4% Market Size Available for 20202027 Forecast Period 20222027 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Product, wound type, end user, and region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunity Growth potential of emerging economies Key Market Drivers Increasing number of surgical procedures across the globe Based on products, the advanced wound care market is segmented into dressings, devices & accessories, grafts & matrices, and topical agents. In 2021, dressings accounted for the largest share of the advanced wound care market. The large share of this segment can mainly be attributed to factors such as the increasing number of chronic, surgical, and traumatic wounds in patients; increasing happenings of burn injuries; technological evolution in dressings; and increasing spending on chronic and surgical wounds by people. Story continues Based on wound type, the advanced wound care market is segmented into surgical & traumatic wounds, diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers, venous leg ulcers, and burns & other wounds. In 2021, the surgical & traumatic wounds segment accounted for the largest share of the advanced wound care market. The large share of this segment can be attributed to the growing chronic cases and the growing number of surgeries performed. Based on end users, the advanced wound care market is segmented into hospitals, ASCs, and wound care centers; home care settings; and other end users. In 2021, the hospitals, ASCs, and wound care centers segment accounted for the largest share of the advanced wound care market. The large share of this segment can be attributed to the need for advanced wound care products in hospitals, ASCs, and wound care centers, high number of treatment procedures taking place in hospitals, growing patient inflow in this care setting, and availability of reimbursement scenario. The global advanced wound care market has been segmented into five major regionsNorth America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. North America is the largest regional market for advanced wound care in 2021. The large share of North America in this market can be attributed to the incidences of regular chronic disorders, increasing healthcare spending, the increasing need for advanced wound treatment options like advanced wound care products, and the highly progressed healthcare system in the US and Canada. Key Market Players: The major players operating in this market are 3M Company (US), Smith & Nephew (UK), ConvaTec Inc. (UK), Coloplast A/S (Denmark), Molnlycke Health Care AB (Sweden), Integra LifeSciences (US), PAUL HARTMANN AG (Germany), B. Braun SE (Germany), Cardinal Health Inc. (US), Organogenesis Holdings Inc. (US), Bioventus LLC (US), MIMEDX GROUP, INC.(US), Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (US), Lohmann & Rauscher GMBH & CO. KG (Germany), DeRoyal Industries, Inc. (US), Medline Industries, LP (US), DermaRite Industries, LLC (US), Kerecis (Iceland), Advancis Medical (UK), Winner Medical Co., Ltd. (China), Hollister Incorporated (US), Mil Laboratories Pvt. Ltd. (India), Shield Line (US), ZENIMEDICAL (US), Carilex Medical (Germany), Pensar Medical, LLC (US), Wuhan VSD Medical Science & Technology Co., Ltd. (China), and HAROMED B.V. (Belgium). Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=88705076 Hypothetic Challenges of Advanced Wound Care Market in Near Future: Increasing competition from generic products: As generic products become more widely available, they can offer a cheaper alternative to advanced wound care products, threatening their market share. Rising costs of raw materials: The cost of raw materials required for advanced wound care products is increasing, making it difficult for manufacturers to keep prices competitive. Rigorous regulatory requirements: Advanced wound care products must meet strict regulatory requirements that can be costly and time-consuming for manufacturers to comply with. Lack of patient awareness: Many patients are unaware of the advanced wound care products that are available to them, and may be reluctant to try something new or unfamiliar. Shortage of skilled personnel: Healthcare facilities are often understaffed, making it difficult to find qualified personnel to administer advanced wound care treatments. Top 3 Use Cases of Advanced Wound Care Market: Chronic Wound Healing: Advanced wound care is used in the treatment of chronic wounds, such as those caused by diabetes, vascular insufficiencies, or pressure ulcers. This type of wound care uses advanced technologies such as hydrogels, foams, and alginates to promote healing and reduce the risk of infection. Traumatic Wound Treatment: Advanced wound care is also used to treat traumatic wounds, such as those sustained in accidents or during surgery. This type of wound care often includes the use of artificial skin, wound dressings, and tissue adhesives to promote healing and reduce the risk of infection. Post-Surgical Wound Care: Advanced wound care is also used to provide post-surgical wound care. This type of wound care may involve the use of advanced technologies such as negative pressure wound therapy, topical antiseptics, and dressings to reduce the risk of infection and promote healing. Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=88705076 Recent Developments: In June 2022, Smith & Nephew (UK) announced that it will be building a new R&D and manufacturing facility for its Advanced Wound Management franchise on the outskirts of Hull, UK. The new facility is expected to support more than USD 10 billion worth of sales in its first ten years of operation. In March 2022, ConvaTec Inc. (UK) acquired Triad Life Sciences (US), a company that develops biologically derived products to address unmet clinical needs in surgical wounds, chronic wounds, and burns. Related Reports: Animal Wound Care Market Medical Supplies Market Wound Care Biologics Market Wound Care Market Wound Dressings Market CONTACT: About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Market Research Future Agriculture Drones Market Research Report Information By Type (Fixed Wing, Rotary Blade and Hybrid), By Component (Hardware and Software), By Application (Irrigation Monitoring, Soil and Crop Field Analysis, Planting and Pesticide Spraying, Field Mapping, Crop Scouting and Others), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest Of The World) - Forecast Till 2030. New York, US, April 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Agricultural Drones Market Overview Market Research Future (MRFR) 's report highlights, Agricultural Drones Market Research Report: Information by System, Component, Application, and Region Forecast till 2030, the agricultural drone market share is anticipated to grow from USD 24.9 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 29.30% by 2022-2030 Market Scope Unidentified airborne objects are referred to as agricultural drones and are employed to survey fields. It supports farmers in data collection, storage, and analysis to track irrigation management. These drones aid in the precise management of the fertilizers and chemicals that are used in the planting of crops. The farmers may continue appropriately with an accurate view of their field thanks to these drones. Report Scope: Report Attribute Details 2030 Market Size USD 24.9 billion CAGR 29.30% (2022 - 2030) Base Year 2021 Forecast Period 2022-2030 Historical Data 2018 & 2020 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Type, By Component, By Application, By Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW) Key Market Drivers High crop losses prompting the use of drones for aerial spraying to propel market growth Get Free Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/10794 Competitive Dynamics: With the use of various types of strategies, including product launches and upgrades, mergers and acquisitions, alliances, and other tactics, all market participants are engaged in global competition with one another in the international marketplaces. Among the leading participants in this market are:- Story continues Aero Vironment Inc. (US) Dji (China) Parrot Drones (France) Trimble Inc. (US) Yamaha Motor Company (Japan) 3d Robotics (California) Aeryon Labs (Canada) Ageagle Aerial Systems, Inc. (US) Avular Bv (Netherlands) Blue Sky Agro (India) Draganfly Innovations (Canada) Dronedeploy (US) Effidence (France) Precisionhawk (US) Resson Aerospace Corporation (Canada) Sentera, Inc. (US) Market USP: Market Drivers The labor force cannot accurately carry out several tasks like crop spraying and field mapping. Also, it decreased the costs associated with human mistake and enabled farmers to respond quickly to challenges like drought conditions. These are important elements that have contributed to the expansion of this sector. The farmers may increase their income and receive significant returns on their investments with the aid of these drones, which is another factor that will support the growth of this business. The advantages of using such drones include their low operating costs, speedy information delivery, and capacity to explore locations that are inaccessible to vehicles and boats. Due to the expansion of the agricultural drone market, the 2.4 trillion dollars in annual income generated by the agriculture sector would increase by 18% by 2028. Several businesses are concentrating on controlling air traffic, which is undoubtedly to blame for the majority of drone collisions and mishaps. The major competitors in this market are also concentrating on building drones with a long range that can cover a wider area and conduct analyses. Also, the new and future drones will have functions for testing the soil and will be able to take pictures of agricultural fields and automatically save them to the user's smartphone's cloud storage. Also, these drones can find meteorological conditions and water distribution system leaks. During the course of the forecast period, these qualities are anticipated to drive the market. Browse In-depth Market Research Report (100 Pages) on Agricultural Drones Market: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/agriculture-drones-market-10794 Moreover, throughout the projected period, a sharp increase in the usage of precision farming technologies would fuel market expansion. Additionally, the market study for agriculture drones is anticipated to be driven by a surge in demand for a reduction in the costs associated with human error. Because of the increased need for food production and consumption, the global supply chain is at all-time high and commodity prices are at an all-time low, driving the need for a contemporary agricultural solution across the agriculture industry internationally. Drones have also altered the agriculture industry internationally by providing greater profitability, cost savings, and efficiency. Additionally, the global market for agriculture drones is still in its infancy; however, advancements in drone technology are anticipated to spur market expansion in the upcoming years. Market Limitations Air traffic management is directly related to both safe and affordable air travel. The operational stage of several agricultural drone development programs is approaching fast. To prevent collisions and mishaps with the growing number of agricultural drones on the market, an effective air traffic management system is needed. This is one of the main things that could prevent this sector from expanding. Agriculture drones are just one sort of agricultural instrument that communicates with one another using a variety of interfaces, protocols, and technologies. The data gathered may occasionally be misinterpreted as a result of the lack of certain communication interfaces and protocols, which is another issue that can act as a roadblock to the development of this business. Last but not least, extreme weather conditions like high wind speeds and gusts restrict the use of these drones. Another factor that can prevent the market for agricultural drones from expanding is this one. COVID-19 Analysis: The majority of the market's manufacturing, developing, production, and logistical units have had a very difficult time as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Governments in several nations placed limitations as a result of this pandemic situation. The response of the governments of various nations to this pandemic crisis has disrupted the production and worldwide supply chains of every single material utilized in the production of these kinds of drones. Buy Now: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=10794 Additionally, it is projected that there would be a market shortage of both these drones and the materials used in their construction if this pandemic condition lasts for an extended period of time. Yet, the fact that there are currently drones on the market and that there is a growing demand for them helps to offset the losses that the major participants in this sector have experienced. It is projected that this industry would experience huge growth in a relatively short period of time once these prohibitions are abolished. Market Segmentation: By System the propulsion segment will be the fastest growing and also contribute towards this market growth more than any other segment. By Application The field mapping segment is likely to gain momentum over the review period. By Component The hardware segment is expected to witness substantial growth over the forecast period. Regional Analysis: The market will be dominated by the North American region among them, and this is because of the expanding need for the growing of high-value crops including garlic, herbs, and wine grapes. The expansion of this industry in this area is also attributed to the growing use of smart agriculture techniques. The second-largest market will be in the Asia Pacific region because of its expanding population and accessibility to farmland that can be plowed. Discover more research Reports on Aerospace & Defense Industry , by Market Research Future: Aerospace Additive Manufacturing Market Research Report: By Platform (Aircraft [Fixed-Wing and Rotary-Wing], Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Spacecraft), Application (Engine, Structural and Others), Material Type (Metal Alloy, Plastic, Rubber and others), Technology (3D Printing, Laser Sintering (Direct Metal and Selective), Stereolithography, Fused Deposition Modelling and Electron Beam Melting) and Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa and Latin America) - Forecast till 2030 Electronic Welfare Market Research Report Information By Category (Electronic Attack (EA), Electronic Support (ES), and Electronic Protection (EP)), By Product (Jammers, Countermeasure System, Decoy, Directed Energy Weapon, 2G Antennas, 3G Antennas, 4G Antennas, 5G Antennas, and others), By Platform (Land-based, Airborne, and Naval), And By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, And Rest Of The World) Market Forecast Till 2030. Airport IT Systems Market Research Report Information By Airport Size (AOCC and DCS), By Software (Passenger System and Non-Passenger System), By Function (DC and AOCC), By Application (Airside and Terminal side), By Cost (Procurement, Integration, and Operation), And By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, And Rest Of The World) Market Forecast Till 2030 About Market Research Future: Market Research Future (MRFR) is a global market research company that takes pride in its services, offering a complete and accurate analysis with regard to diverse markets and consumers worldwide. Market Research Future has the distinguished objective of providing the optimal quality research and granular research to clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help answer your most important questions. Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter CONTACT: Market Research Future (Part of Wantstats Research and Media Private Limited) 99 Hudson Street, 5Th Floor New York, NY 10013 United States of America +1 628 258 0071 (US) +44 2035 002 764 (UK) Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Website: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com Statistically speaking, long term investing is a profitable endeavour. But that doesn't mean long term investors can avoid big losses. For example, after five long years the Alfa Financial Software Holdings PLC (LON:ALFA) share price is a whole 61% lower. That's not a lot of fun for true believers. Shareholders have had an even rougher run lately, with the share price down 16% in the last 90 days. It's worthwhile assessing if the company's economics have been moving in lockstep with these underwhelming shareholder returns, or if there is some disparity between the two. So let's do just that. View our latest analysis for Alfa Financial Software Holdings While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement. Looking back five years, both Alfa Financial Software Holdings' share price and EPS declined; the latter at a rate of 1.8% per year. Readers should note that the share price has fallen faster than the EPS, at a rate of 17% per year, over the period. So it seems the market was too confident about the business, in the past. You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image). It's probably worth noting that the CEO is paid less than the median at similar sized companies. But while CEO remuneration is always worth checking, the really important question is whether the company can grow earnings going forward. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on Alfa Financial Software Holdings' earnings, revenue and cash flow. What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. As it happens, Alfa Financial Software Holdings' TSR for the last 5 years was -52%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! Story continues A Different Perspective While the broader market lost about 0.05% in the twelve months, Alfa Financial Software Holdings shareholders did even worse, losing 14% (even including dividends). However, it could simply be that the share price has been impacted by broader market jitters. It might be worth keeping an eye on the fundamentals, in case there's a good opportunity. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 9% over the last half decade. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. To that end, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Alfa Financial Software Holdings (including 1 which makes us a bit uncomfortable) . If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on British exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. 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 (Bloomberg) -- Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is inviting users to test the companys in-house artificial intelligence tool, the latest attempt from a Chinese tech behemoth to rival OpenAIs powerful ChatGPT. Most Read from Bloomberg The companys cloud computing unit is offering invitation codes to some corporate customers so they can try out the large language model called Tongyi Qianwen, according to an announcement posted on the subsidiarys official WeChat account. The name, partly derived from the ancient philosopher Mencius, translates roughly to Truth from a Thousand Questions. Alibaba Clouds website for the service is only in Chinese, suggesting it could be used primarily to process queries in the e-commerce giants home language. Alibaba Cloud is slated to host a technology summit next Tuesday in Beijing, where Chief Executive Officer Daniel Zhang will deliver a speech, the company said in a separate statement. Alibaba rose as much as 2.5% in Hong Kong on Thursday after a report said the Chinese technology giant was planning to launch its own AI tool this month. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange is closed for holiday on Friday. OpenAI, the US maker of ChatGPT, kicked off a frenzy of interest in the technology as its services promise to remake businesses from online search and advertising to health care. Microsoft Corp. is pouring $10 billion into OpenAI in whats seen as a bid to challenge Google in its lucrative search operation. Shares of a number of Chinese AI companies advanced this week following reports of their own AI tools release. SenseTime Group Inc., also listed in Hong Kong, rose in the past five trading days after speculation that Chinas most valuable specialty AI company was preparing to launch a challenger to ChatGPT. Story continues Chinas hype over indigenous ChatGPT rivals was ignited by search engine provider Baidu Inc., whose Ernie Bot launch last month failed to wow investors. --With assistance from Charlie Zhu. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Company Logo Dublin, April 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Asia Pacific Custom Software Development Market Size, Share & Industry Trends Analysis Report By Solution, By End User, By Enterprise Size (Large Enterprises and Small & Medium Enterprises), By Deployment (Cloud and On-premise), By Country and Growth Forecast, 2022 - 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Asia Pacific Custom Software Development Market should witness market growth of 20.9% CAGR during the forecast period (2022-2028). IoT has continually been included in the creation of unique software. It has made it possible for many businesses to collect, use, and analyze enormous amounts of valuable data from billions of linked things across a variety of applications. Similarly, the high-energy link provided by 5G has become a crucial backbone for creating apps. With its blistering data rates, low latency, and vast network bandwidth, 5G brought in innovative digital interactions that boost productivity in a variety of use cases. All these advancements are bringing digitalization to every sector. It further motivates the company to change and adapt to move at the same pace as these developments. This motivation has led to an increase in the number of companies that demand custom software. Custom software development is increasingly becoming a key source of competitive advantage for businesses of all sizes. Software application lifecycle management aids in addressing numerous business-specific difficulties, satisfying the unique needs of the industry, and facilitating workflow. Many different desktop, web, mobile, and big data solutions are offered by custom software developers. The adoption of unique software programs results in business opportunities for greater output. In the Asia Pacific region, the number of software developers is steadily increasing. It is expected that by 2024, India will surpass many developed nations to be the nation with the most significant population of software engineers. With these vast numbers, the region serves as an outsourcing destination for software development. Additionally, outsourcing software development is cost-effective when compared to other nations. As an outsourcing destination, South-East Asian businesses have worked hard in recent years to provide the highest service to Western companies. The China market dominated the Asia Pacific Custom Software Development Market by Country 2021; thereby, achieving a market value of $7.1 billion by 2028. The Japan market is registering a CAGR of 20.1% during (2022-2028). Additionally, The India market would showcase a CAGR of 21.6% during (2022-2028). Based on Solution, the market is segmented into Enterprise Software, Web-based Solutions and Mobile App. Based on End-user, the market is segmented into BFSI, Manufacturing, Government & Defense, Telecom & IT, Retail, Healthcare and Others. Based on Enterprise Size, the market is segmented into Large Enterprises and Small & Medium Enterprises. Based on Deployment, the market is segmented into Cloud and On-premise. Based on countries, the market is segmented into China, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and Rest of Asia Pacific. Scope of the Study By Solution Story continues Enterprise Software Web-based Solutions Mobile App By End-user BFSI Manufacturing Government & Defense Telecom & IT Retail Healthcare Others By Enterprise Size Large Enterprises Small & Medium Enterprises By Deployment Cloud On-premise By Country China Japan India South Korea Singapore Malaysia Rest of Asia Pacific Key Market Players List of Companies Profiled in the Report: Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. Infosys Limited Capgemini SE Infopulse Ukraine LLC (Tietoevry Corporation) Magora Systems Iflexion MentorMate, Inc. (Taylor Corporation) Trigent Software Inc. TRooTech Business Solutions Pvt. Ltd Brainvire Infotech, Inc. Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1. Market Scope & Methodology Chapter 2. Market Overview Chapter 3. Competition Analysis - Global Chapter 4. Asia Pacific Custom Software Development Market by Solution Chapter 5. Asia Pacific Custom Software Development Market by End-use Chapter 6. Asia Pacific Custom Software Development Market by Enterprise Size Chapter 7. Asia Pacific Custom Software Development Market by Deployment Chapter 8. Asia Pacific Custom Software Development Market by Country Chapter 9. Company Profiles For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/o10q4o About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 Allied Market Research Skilled labor shortages in manufacturing sector, efficient safety management on industrial sites, and Increased efficiency and productivity in manufacturing drives the growth of the global automation component market. Portland,OR, April 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, Automation Component Market by Component (Linear Shafts, Bushings, Linear Guides, Locating Pins, Bearings, Gears, Couplings, Actuators, Motors, Sensors, Screws, Rollers, and Stages), by End User Industry (Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Pharmaceuticals, Food And Beverage, Packaging, 3D Printing, Semiconductors, and Chemicals): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031. According to the report, the global automation component industry generated $116,693.1 million in 2021, and is projected to reach $296,815.8 million by 2031, registering a CAGR of 9.6% from 2022 to 2031. Download Free Sample Report @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/54197 Prime determinants of growth This rise in consumer product demand has also increased the demand for manufacturing equipment, which in turn encourages the use of automation components in machine production and maintenance. Also, the need for automation components such as motors, gears, screws, sensors, and other parts is growing as automation and robots are used in a wide range of industries for production lines and other tasks. In addition, barriers to the growth of the automation market include a lack of technical expertise and knowledge of the benefits of automated operations, as well as ongoing manufacturing process innovation. In the past five years, a tremendous change has been observed in internet penetration globally. The emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart applications platform is an important factor for the overall growth of the automation component market. Report coverage & details: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20222031 Base Year 2021 Market Size in 2021 $116,693.1 million Market Size in 2031 $296,815.8 million CAGR 9.6% No. of Pages in Report 380 Segments covered Component, End user industry and Region. Drivers Growth of automotive industry Development of different industries in emerging countries Opportunities Integration of IoT in different manufacturing machinery Restraints Lack of technical proficiency and lack of awareness Covid-19 Scenario Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent global lockdowns, the automation component market faced a downturn as the production all over the world had declined. However, as the global situation started ameliorating, the demand for automation-based solutions was restored back. This, in turn, presented various growth opportunities for companies operating in the automation component market. Story continues Buy This Research Report (380 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, Figures): https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout-final/31ee2688bc89497e0648acd5ae4ee925 The motors segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period Based on component, the motors segment held the highest market share in 2021, accounting for more than one-fifth of the global automation component market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, owing to a rise in the use of driving forces of machines or equipment. However, the sensors segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 12.8% from 2022 to 2031, owing to increasing demand for voice, noise, visual, light, vibration, flow and other types of sensors to detect the automation processes. The automotive segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period Based on end user, the automotive segment held the highest market share in 2021, accounting for nearly one-fifth of the global automation component market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, owing to rising demand for production process in manufacturing automobiles. However, the food and beverage segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 10.7% from 2022 to 2031, owing to rising manufacturing of food and beverages without human interference to avoid contamination. Asia-Pacific to dominate the market by 2031 Based on region, Europe and North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2021, accounting for nearly one-third of the global automation component market revenue. Asia-Pacific is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 11.0% from 2022 to 2031, owing to rising adoption of automation in manufacturing sectors in developing countries such as India, China, and others. Enquire Before Buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/54197 Leading Market Players: - Automation Component Ltd Bosch Rexroth Emerson Electric Co. Fluid Power South Inc. Nidec Corporation Parker Hannifin Corporation Rockwell Automation Inc SDP/S Shanghai KGG Robots Co, Ltd SKF The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players of the global automation component market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, acquisition, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario. Trending Reports in Automation Component Industry (Book Now with 10% Discount): Automated Construction Equipment Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030 Oil and Gas Drilling Automation Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2030 Water Automation and Instrumentation Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030 Automated Measuring and Cutting Device Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2030 Global Automatic Palletizer and Depalletizer Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2030 About Us: Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of " Market Research Reports " and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact Us: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): +1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/reports-store/construction-and-manufacturing Beijing's cybersecurity probe into Micron Technology, the world's fourth-largest semiconductor company, could shake up the memory chip supply chain in China, but whether its bigger local rivals will benefit is still unclear, according to analysts and industry experts. Micron's products are being investigated on the grounds of "safeguarding supply-chain security of critical information infrastructure, cyber and national security", the Cyber Security Review Office under the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), said in a statement last Friday. The probe, the first involving a US chip maker, was widely seen as a reprisal against tighter US sanctions on China's semiconductor sector and more widely its hi-tech sector. Earlier this week, many articles on Chinese social media accused Micron of lobbying against Chinese chip firms like domestic rival Yangtze Memory Technologies Corp (YMTC) and Fujian Jinhua. 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. "Micron's product shipments, engineering, manufacturing, sales and other functions are operating as normal," the Boise, Idaho-based company said in a statement on Monday, adding that it was "in communication and cooperating fully with the CAC". The China market contributed about 11 per cent of Micron's total 2022 revenue of US$30.8 billion, with products such as DRAM, NAND flash memory and SSD products. Analysts believe the CAC investigation could accelerate the pace of localisation of products among downstream customers in the supply chain. Memory chips made by Shenzhen Longsys and BIWIN Storage Technology Co are expected to "benefit first", analysts at Citic Securities wrote in a research note published earlier this week. However, Micron's technology prowess in both DRAM and 3D NAND could make it harder to find domestic alternatives for advanced memory chips because its Chinese rivals like ChangXin Memory Technologies and YMTC have been under US sanctions since October 2022, curbing their ability to produce leading-edge products. Story continues The Citic analysts also believe that South Korean DRAM giants Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix could end up benefiting at Micron's expense. "To reduce supply chain risks, domestic companies may transfer their end products/wafer purchase orders to non-US manufacturers such as Samsung and Hynix" they said. Some analysts believe the probe could also affect Micron's customer base in China, which procures memory chips directly or indirectly from the US company for use in products such as servers, which are considered critical information infrastructure (CII) in China. CII regulations in China are expansive, covering numerous sectors considered crucial to national security, people's livelihoods, as well as public interest sectors such as communications and information services, energy, transport, water resources and finance. "The investigation focuses on supply chain security, therefore it could involve both Micron's products in China and partners along its supply chain," said Sun Pengcheng, a partner and attorney at law firm Dentons. "If problems caused by use of Micron's products were detected during the investigation, it could lead to a replacement requested by the regulator." Memory chips from Micron Technology are pictured at the company's booth at an industrial fair in Frankfurt, Germany. Photo: Reuters alt=Memory chips from Micron Technology are pictured at the company's booth at an industrial fair in Frankfurt, Germany. Photo: Reuters> If Micron's products fail to pass the cybersecurity review, Chinese operators of CII will not be able to purchase Micron products, and they could even be fined for previous purchases, said Hong Yanqing, a cybersecurity expert close to the regulator. Micron's top seven customers in China, ranked by contributions to its revenue, were Lenovo, Xiaomi, Inspur Electronics Information, ZTE, Coolpad, China Electronics Corp, and Oppo, according to a search of Bloomberg data. Lenovo, Xiaomi, Oppo and Coolpad - which are in the smartphones and personal computer markets - rely on large quantities of memory chips for their products. Xiaomi declined to comment when reached by the Post on Tuesday. Oppo and Lenovo did not reply to a request for comment. Shenzhen-based ZTE, which has huge exposure to CII from its telecoms and enterprise businesses, declined to comment on Tuesday. Inspur, a major supplier of computers to data centres, was put on a US trade blacklist last month over alleged activities contrary to US national security and foreign policy interests. China Electronics Corp, which was added to the same blacklist in August 2020, is a major company in China's electronics industry. At the end of last year, Micron shrank its China presence by shutting down its DRAM design research centre in Shanghai, although it still maintains sales offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, as well as a semiconductor packaging and testing factory in Xian. 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 2023 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2023. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Societe BIC FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Disclosure of total number of voting rights and number of shares forming the capital as of March 31, 2023 Clichy, France 06 April 2023 Article L 233-8-II of the French Code de Commerce and Article 223-16 of the General Regulations of the French Autorite des Marches Financiers. As of March 31, 2023, the total number of issued shares of SOCIETE BIC is 43,952,226 shares, representing: 64,845,783 voting rights, 64,170,805 voting rights excluding shares without voting rights ABOUT BIC A world leader in stationery, lighters and shavers, BIC brings simplicity and joy to everyday Life. For more than 75 years, the Company has honored the tradition of providing high-quality, affordable, essential products to consumers everywhere. Through this unwavering dedication, BIC has become one of the most recognized brands and is a trademark registered worldwide. Today, BIC products are sold in more than 160 countries around the world and feature iconic brands such as BIC Kids, BIC FlexTM, BodyMark by BICTM, Cello, Djeep, Lucky Stationery, Rocketbook, Soleil, Tipp-Ex, Us. TM, Wite-Out, Inkbox and more. In 2022, BIC Net Sales were 2,233.9 million euros. The Company is listed on "Euronext Paris"," is part of the SBF120 and CAC Mid 60 indexes and is recognized for its commitment to sustainable development and education. It received an A- Leadership score from CDP. For more, visit www.bic.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube. CONTACTS Investor Relations team investors.info@bicworld.com Kimberly Stewart Head of Investor Relations kimberly.stewart@bicworld.com Isabelle de Segonzac Image 7, Press Relations contact + 33 6 89 87 61 39 isegonzac@image7.fr 2023 AGENDA ALL DATES TO BE CONFIRMED 1st Quarter 2023 Results April 25, 2023 (post market close) 2023 Annual General Meeting May 16, 2023 2nd Quarter and 1st Half 2023 Results July 26, 2023 (post market close) 3rd Quarter and 9 Months 2023 Results October 25, 2023 (post market close) Attachment MAXIMIZE MARKET RESEARCH PRIVATE LIMITED Blepharoplasty Market growth is expected to be driven by the increasing knowledge of the efficiency of Blepharoplasty technology. Blepharoplasty Market is segmented into Gender, Type, and Service Provider for analysis. Pune, April 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A global Healthcare business consulting firm, Maximize Market Research, has published a market intelligence and competitive landscape report on the Blepharoplasty Market . The report is a combination of primary data and secondary data and domain expert has analyzed the Blepharoplasty Market from a global point and regional standpoint. Over the forecast period, Maximize Market Research expects, the market to grow from USD 4.3 Mn in 2022 to USD 7.6 Mn in 2029 at a CAGR of 8.5 percent. Blepharoplasty Market Report Scope and Research Methodology Market Size in 2022 USD 4.3 Mn. Market Size in 2029 USD 7.6 Mn. CAGR 8.5 percent (2023-2029) Forecast Period 2023-2029 Base Year 2022 Number of Pages 281 No. of Tables 116 No. of Charts and Figures 115 Segment Covered Gender, Type, and Service Provider. Regional Scope North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, South America Report Coverage Market Share, Size & Forecast by Revenue | 2023-2029, Market Dynamics, Growth Drivers, Restraints, Investment Opportunities, and Key Trends, Competitive Landscape, Key Players Benchmarking, Competitive Analysis, MMR Competition Matrix, Competitive Leadership Mapping, Global Key Players Market Ranking Analysis. Request For Free Sample Report: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/183690 Primary and secondary data sources are used for the data collection in the report. The research process entails the investigation of various factors affecting the industry, such as government policy, market environment, competitive landscape, historical data, current market trends, technological innovation, upcoming technologies, and the technical progress in related industries, as well as Blepharoplasty industry risks, opportunities, market barriers, and challenges. All conceivable elements influencing the markets included in the research report have been considered, examined in depth, validated through primary research, and evaluated to provide the final quantitative and qualitative data. Story continues The Blepharoplasty Market size by region was estimated using the bottom-up approach. Online interviews with respondents chosen from the entire business ecosystem were conducted as part of the primary research. Representatives from the hospital , healthcare, and food and beverage industries are among the primary respondents. To validate the key findings, emerging manufacturing companies in the Blepharoplasty Industry were also interviewed. World Health Organization reports medical records, the National Center for Health Statistics, MIMC (Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care), and Health Data APIs were used in the secondary research. The Blepharoplasty Market report includes a detailed list of sources. Government databases, annual reports of publicly traded companies, and paid databases for unorganized players have also been mentioned. PORTER and PESTLE analyses were used to understand the potential impact of macro and microeconomic factors on the Blepharoplasty Market. Blepharoplasty Market Overview Blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery , is a cosmetic treatment that involves reshaping or removing excess skin, fat, or muscle from the upper and lower eyelids. It is frequently used to enhance the appearance of the eyes and make them appear more youthful. Blepharoplasty may be performed in some instances to treat medical conditions such as droopy eyelids, which can cause vision problems. The procedure's aim is to create a smoother, more youthful appearance. It is usually performed under local anesthesia. The surgeon creates incisions in the eyelids and removes excess tissue during the operation. Get a Sample Copy of the Report: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/183690 Blepharoplasty Market Dynamics The increasing prevalence of vision impairment due to an aging population, as well as the rising demand for blepharoplasty, drive the growth of the blepharoplasty market. Furthermore, the rising prevalence of vision impairment due to conditions such as dermatochalasis drives market development. Due to visual field defects, dermatochalasis causes problems with primary vision, reading, and visual functions. Furthermore, lower eyelid sagging causes the lower lashes to rub against the eye, causing irritation, redness, and even corneal injury. In the geriatric population, these circumstances result in fewer visual sights and greater mobility disability. According to a case study published in the "Journal of Ophthalmology," in April 2020, 30 percent of the population aged 65 and later will die or become permanently disabled as a result of falling once a year or more. Furthermore, according to the same source, every 10 percent loss in the visual field corresponds to an 8 percent increased chance of falls in adults over the age of 65. Thus, an increase in the prevalence of risk associated with dermatochalasis, as well as an indirect increase in mobility impairment in the geriatric population due to excessive accumulation of fat in the upper eyelid, is expected to drive the development of the blepharoplasty market during the forecast period. Blepharoplasty Market Regional Insights North America dominated the blepharoplasty market in 2022 and is expected to continue the growth streak throughout the forecast period. This has resulted from high demand for cosmetic procedures in the United States and Canada, as well as the availability of a significant number of skilled plastic surgeons. Furthermore, much North American insurance plans cover blepharoplasty as a medically necessary surgery for patients with vision impairment caused by sagging eyelids. Get Customization on this Report for Specific Research Solutions: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-customization/183690 Blepharoplasty Market Segmentation By Gender Female Male Based on the Application, The blepharoplasty market is divided into two gender segments: female and male. The female segment dominated the market in 2021 and is expected to do so again during the forecast period. By Type Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty Combination Eyelid Surgery Based on Age, The Upper eyelid surgery segment dominated the global market in 2021 and is expected to continue to do so during the forecast period, owing to the fact that most patients prefer upper eyelid surgery because it provides improved vision, less double vision, and a more youthful appearance. By Service Provider Hospital pharmacies Drug and retail store pharmacies Online providers Based on the Service Provider, The market is divided into three segments: hospitals, clinics, and ambulatory surgical centers. The hospital segment dominated the global market in 2021 and is expected to maintain this dominance throughout the forecast period. Blepharoplasty Market Key Competitors include: Allergan Merz Pharma Alma Lasers Johnson & Johnson Galderma Zimmer Biomet Hologic Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Sientra Erchonia Corporation Cynosure Abbvie Inc LightScalpel Lumenis Medtronic plc Surgical Holdings Ltd. Medline industries, inc. Sisram Medical Ltd Grand Aespio Inc. London Bridge Plastic Surgery M A Corporation Get the Sample PDF of the Report: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/183690 Key Offerings: Past Market Size and Competitive Landscape (2018 to 2021) Past Pricing and price curve by region (2018 to 2021) Market Size, Share, Size & Forecast by different segment | 20232029 Market Dynamics Growth Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, and Key Trends by region Market Segmentation A detailed analysis by Application, Type, Service Provider, and Region Competitive Landscape Profiles of selected key players by region from a strategic perspective Competitive landscape Market Leaders, Market Followers, Regional player Competitive benchmarking of key players by region PESTLE Analysis PORTERs analysis Value chain and supply chain analysis Legal Aspects of business by region Lucrative business opportunities with SWOT analysis Recommendations Key questions answered in the Blepharoplasty Market are: What is the growth potential of the Blepharoplasty Market? What was the Blepharoplasty Market size in 2022? What are the global trends in the Blepharoplasty Market? What are the recent industry trends that can be implemented to generate additional revenue streams for Blepharoplasty Market? How the intervention from regulatory authority is shaping the Blepharoplasty Market? What growth strategies are the players considering to increase their presence in the Blepharoplasty Market? Who are the leading companies and what are their portfolios in Blepharoplasty Market? What are the major challenges posed to Blepharoplasty Market? Who held the largest market share in Blepharoplasty Market? Maximize Market Research is leading Healthcare research firm, has also published the following reports: Spectacle Market : The total market size was valued at USD 16.21 Bn in 2021 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6 percent from 2022 to 2029, reaching USD 25.84 Bn. Increasing population aging, combined with the prevalence of presbyopia, is expected to generate new growth of market. Safety Eyewear Market - The Safety Eyewear Market is expected to reach USD 3.60 Bn. by 2029 from USD 2.59 Bn. in 2021 at a CAGR of 4.2 percent during a forecast period. The rapid growth of the construction and industrial industries is driving the global safety eyewear market. In several sectors and regions, governments have passed regulations addressing worker safety, which is likely to enhance the demand for the product. Eye Testing Equipment Market - The Eye Testing Equipment Market size is USD 3.21 Bn and is expected to reach USD 4.74 Bn. by the year 2029 at a CAGR of 5 percent during the forecast period. The Emergence of micro-optic, micromechanics, and micro-electric technologies in eye testing procedures drive the global market in the forecast period. Eye Health Supplements Market - The Eye Health Supplements Market size is USD 1.50 Bn and is expected to reach USD 2.40 billion by 2029, with a CAGR of 6.1 percent between 2022 and 2029. The rising prevalence of eye problems among the elderly would propel the global Eye Health Supplements Market to considerable growth. Eye Drops and Lubricants Market - The Eye Drops and Lubricants Market size is USD 18.36 Bn and is growing at a CAGR of 5.1 percent during the forecast period and the market size is expected to reach nearly USD 27.33 Bn. by 2029. The growing prevalence of trachoma in developing and below- countries, coupled with authorities tasks with the help of NGOs in order to eliminate trachoma is resulting in excessive demand for eye drops and lubrication. About Maximize Market Research: Maximize Market Research is a multifaceted market research and consulting company with professionals from several industries. Some of the industries we cover include medical devices, pharmaceutical manufacturers, science and engineering, electronic components, industrial Distribution channels, technology and communication, cars and automobiles, chemical products and substances, general merchandise, beverages, personal care, and automated Ages. To mention a few, we provide market-verified industry estimations, technical trend analysis, crucial market research, strategic advice, competition analysis, production and demand analysis, and client impact studies. CONTACT: Contact Maximize Market Research: 3rd Floor, Navale IT Park, Phase 2 Pune Banglore Highway, Narhe, Pune, Maharashtra 411041, India sales@maximizemarketresearch.com +91 96071 95908, +91 9607365656 SkyQuest Technology Consulting Pvt. Ltd. SkyQuest's Plasma Therapy market report is excellent information for individuals interested in gaining insight into the valuable data, trends, and opportunities in a rapidly growing industry. Additionally, the report is written clearly and concisely, making it accessible to various audiences, from industry experts to market readers. Finally, one can gain an in-depth understanding of the primary and secondary market drivers, providing them with a comprehensive outlook of the current market situation and future projections. Westford, USA,, April 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The forecast period (2022-2030) is expected to witness the Plasma Therapy market reaching a value of USD 824.51 million at a CAGR of 15.18%, and growth is fueled by increasing viral diseases like COVID-19, safety equipment initiatives and funding, raising awareness and research, and collaboration and partnerships. SkyQuest reports an increase in the use of convalescent plasma therapy as a treatment for COVID-19, with the United States alone administering over 600,000 doses. According to SkyQuest's latest research findings, Plasma therapy has demonstrated effectiveness in treating certain autoimmune diseases, such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), with a success rate of up to 80% in some cases. Additionally, the report highlights that the global demand for plasma-derived therapies is expected to exceed 600 metric tons by 2025, up from 270 metric tons in 2018, driven by an aging population and increased prevalence of chronic diseases. Get sample copy of this report: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/plasma-therapy-market Browse in-depth TOC on "Plasma Therapy Market" Pages - 242 Tables - 122 Figures - 81 In contemporary times, Plasma therapy has emerged as an integral treatment approach in the healthcare industry, particularly for COVID-19. Recovered patients' plasma is used to treat those still infected, and the results have been promising in treating critically ill patients. Consequently, the demand for plasma therapy has increased globally. Furthermore, researchers are exploring the potential of plasma therapy for treating other diseases, such as cancer and autoimmune disorders. Story continues Prominent Players in Plasma Therapy Market Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited CSL Limited Grifols S.A. Octapharma AG Kedrion S.p.A. Bio Products Laboratory Biotest AG China Biologic Products Holdings, Inc. Emergent BioSolutions Inc. GC Pharma Sanquin Plasma Products B.V. Shanghai RAAS Blood Products Co., Ltd. ADMA Biologics, Inc. LFB S.A. Bharat Serums and Vaccines Limited BPL Plasma, Inc. Cambryn Biologics LLC Shanghai Xinxing Medical Science & Technology Co., Ltd. Abeona Therapeutics Inc. Beijing Tiantan Biological Products Co., Ltd Infectious Disease Segment to Drive Higher Sales Due to the Increasing Prevalence of Infectious Diseases, such as COVID-19 According to a recent analysis, the Infectious Disease segment emerged as a significant contributor to the rapid development of the Plasma Therapy market in 2021. This trend is expected to continue from 2022 to 2030 due to the increasing prevalence of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, and the growing prevalence of autoimmune disorders, such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Recently, Researchers in China have successfully used plasma therapy to treat a patient with severe idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). This rare autoimmune disorder causes low platelet counts and can lead to bleeding and bruising. Research analysis indicates North America is poised to become a dominant Plasma Therapy market player from 2022 to 2030. SkyQuest has projected that the region will grow at a CAGR of 9.82% during the forecast period. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, favorable reimbursement policies, and rising investment in research and development activities drive this expansion in the region. Recently, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US announced a new clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma in treating individuals with mild to moderate COVID-19. The trial is expected to enroll up to 1,000 participants at multiple sites nationwide. Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://www.skyquestt.com/report/plasma-therapy-market Platelet-Rich Plasma Segment to Exhibit Strong Growth Due to its Effectiveness in Promoting Tissue Regeneration and Wound Healing From 2022 to 2030, the Platelet-Rich Plasma Component segment is projected to remain the leading method in the Plasma Therapy market, according to a recent analysis. PRP has already established dominance in 2021 due to its effectiveness in promoting tissue regeneration and wound healing, making treatment safer and more efficient. Its application in various medical fields, including orthopedics, dentistry, and dermatology, has contributed to its widespread use. Moreover, a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine demonstrated that PRP therapy effectively reduces hair loss in patients with androgenetic alopecia. The study showed a statistically significant increase in hair density among patients who received PRP treatment compared to those who did not. The Asia Pacific region has also emerged as a significant Plasma Therapy market force and is poised to retain its leading position by 2030. SkyQuest has forecasted significant growth in the Plasma Therapy market for the Asia Pacific region, with a projected CAGR of 10.97% during the forecast period. This expansion can be attributed to the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and the growing geriatric population in the region. A comprehensive analysis of the major players in the Plasma Therapy market has been recently conducted in a report. The report encompasses various aspects, including collaborations, mergers, innovative business policies, and strategies, providing valuable insights into key trends and breakthroughs in the market. Furthermore, the report scrutinizes the market share of the top segments and presents a detailed geographic analysis. Lastly, the report highlights the major players in the industry and their endeavors to develop innovative solutions to cater to the growing demand. Key Developments in Plasma Therapy Market Takeda, the Japanese pharma company, is increasing its manufacturing capabilities in the plasma-derived therapy department with a new production facility and warehouse at its Lessines site in Belgium. The investment of nearly 300 million euros ($300 million) comes as the company is experiencing fast growth after a temporary slowdown due to the pandemic. The announcement was made during a celebration marking the site's 50th anniversary. Grifols, a global leader in plasma-derived medicines, announced the completion of its acquisition of Tiancheng (Germany) Pharmaceutical Holdings AG, which holds a significant stake in Biotest AG, a European healthcare company specializing in hematology and clinical immunology. Grifols now controls 96.20% of the voting rights and holds 69.72% of the share capital of Biotest AG following the Public Takeover Offer and the acquisition of Tiancheng (Germany) Pharmaceutical Holdings AG. Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements: https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/plasma-therapy-market Key Questions Answered in Plasma Therapy Market Report What specific growth drivers are projected to impact the market during the forecast period? Can you list the top companies in the market and explain how they have achieved their positions of influence? In what ways do regional trends and patterns differ within the global market, and how might these differences shape the market's future growth? Related Reports in SkyQuests Library: Global Research Antibodies and Reagents Market Global Targeted Therapeutics Market Global IVD Quality Control Market Global Microbubbles/Ultrasound Contrast Agents Market Global Yeast Extracts For Animal Feed Market About Us: SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally. Address: 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 Phone: USA (+1) 617-230-0741 Email: sales@skyquestt.com LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Vilkyskiu Pienine On 7 April 2023 the Board of Vilkyskiu pienine AB (hereinafter Vilkyskiu pienine AB or the Company) decided: - To approve the Companys consolidated annual report for the year 2022, prepared by the Company and assessed by the auditors, and to propose to the Companys Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to approve Companys consolidated annual report. - To approve the draft of the audited separated and consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year 2022 and to propose to the Companys Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to approve it. In 2022, Vilvi Group sales revenue amounted to 234.1 MEUR up by 50 percent from 156 MEUR in 2021. In 2022, the net profit was 12.7 MEUR. - To approve the allocation project of the Companys audited net profit (loss) under IFRS for the year 2022 (attached) and to propose it to the Companys Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to approve. - To approve the Remuneration Report of the Company for 2022 and to propose it to the Companys Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to approve. - The Board offers to elect the Company's Audit firm, that will perform the audit of the Company for the years 2023-2025 and setting the conditions of payment. - The Companys Board offers to form the Supervisory Board. - The Companys Board offers to approve the new version of the articles of association and to grant the authorities. - The Company Board offers to elect Supervisory Board members for 4 years period. Candidates: Algimantas Lekevicius, Marijana Juskiene ir Martynas Bertasius. - The Companys Board offers to elect Audit Committee member and to propose to the Companys Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to approve. Candidates: Sigita Montvilaite. - The Companys Board offers to approve the new version of the Remuneration policy. - To convoke the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders at the office of Vilkyskiu pienine AB (P. Lukosaicio g. 14, Vilkyskiai, LT-99254 Pagegiu sav., Lithuania), at 13.00 on 28 April 2023, and to propose to the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders the following draft agenda: Story continues Approval of Company's Consolidated annual report for the year 2022. Independent Auditors Report regarding the Companys consolidated and separated financial Statements for 2022. Approval of Company's separated and consolidated financial statement for the year 2022. Net Profit (loss) appropriation for the year 2022. Approval of the Remuneration Report of the Company for 2022 which is part of the Annual Report. Election of the Company's Audit firm, that will perform the audit of the Company for the years 2023-2025 and setting the conditions of payment. Forming the Companys Supervisory Board. Approval of the new version of the Companys Articles of association. Election of the members of Supervisory board. Election of the member of Audit Committee. Approval of the new version of the Remuneration policy. Attachments JAKARTA, Indonesia, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk. (IDX: BBRI) has partnered with MIND ID, a State-Owned Enterprise in the Mining Industry Holding, to provide Notional Pooling and Short-Term Working Capital Loan Facilities. The partnership was made official through a Cooperation Agreement signed on 16 March 2023 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Agus Noorsanto, BRIs Director of Institutional and Wholesale Business with Devi Pradnya Paramita, MIND ID's Director of Finance The Cooperation Agreement was signed by Agus Noorsanto, BRI's Director of Institutional and Wholesale Business, with MIND ID Group represented by Devi Pradnya Paramita, Director of Finance of MIND ID; Farida Thamrin, Risk Management of PT Bukit Asam Tbk.; Elisabeth RT Siahaan, Director of Finance and Risk Management of PT ANTAM Tbk; Fina Eliani, Director of Finance and Risk Management of PT Timah Tbk; and Syafrizal, Director of PT Indonesia Papua Metal and Mineral. The service can be accessed through the BRI cash management platform and provides daily monitoring of consolidated balances in Indonesian Rupiah and other foreign currencies. It is designed to help companies manage their finances and allows for easy transfer of funds among group companies. "This cooperation optimizes and ensures a more efficient cash management. It can also increase synergy, not only among companies within the MIND ID Group, but also synergy among state-owned enterprises, in this case with BRI," explained Devi. Notional Pooling also allows companies to manage their corporate liquidity with ease, thereby improving their financial structure. For instance, a company's subsidiary, such as those within the MIND ID Group, can receive such liquidity in times of need via the excess liquidity of their consolidated balance. These features significantly benefit clients by enabling them to utilize excess funds as additional investment options. In addition to Notional Pooling, BRI offers end-to-end financial transaction management solutions through Qlola. Developed for leasing companies and other corporations, Qlola integrates features such as financial dashboards, cash management, supply chain management, and foreign exchange, and is equipped with multi-language functions as well. Story continues "BRI is committed to providing the best service of integrated banking solutions by ensuring the ease of managing financial transactions through the Qlola platform," said Agus. Through various banking service facilities, BRI is committed to supporting financial inclusion in Indonesia and providing convenient and secure transactions for customers. For more information about BRI, visit www.bri.co.id . Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/bri-enhances-inter-company-liquidity-optimization-with-notional-pooling-for-seamless-liquidity-management-solutions-301792332.html SOURCE PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia Tbk (BRI) Arlington, TX - (NewMediaWire) - April 7, 2023 - Small business owners across the United States are facing numerous challenges that threaten their survival, including a persistent problem that has received less coverage in mainstream media: ADA website litigation. This is especially true for small business owners in states like California, Florida, and New York, where there has been a continuous stream of ADA website demand letters and complaints filed in recent years. The Department of Justice (DOJ), the regulatory and enforcement agency behind Title II and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has taken the position that the ADA applies to websites. However, the DOJ has not issued formal regulations outlining how to make a website ADA compliant, leaving entities of all sizes vulnerable to technical claims by plaintiffs' law firms. While larger companies have certainly been stung by website accessibility litigation, it's small business owners who are the most affected. In fact, many small business owners are being pushed to the brink by these lawsuits, with legal costs that can quickly add up. A few thousand dollars may seem trivial when discussing ADA compliance settlements, but for many small business owners, it's all they have. Kris Rivenburgh, an attorney who specializes in ADA compliance for websites, has talked to numerous small business owners who have been affected by ADA website litigation in states like California, Florida, and New York. Rivenburgh, who offers web accessibility services through his own small business, created a course specifically designed to prevent website accessibility litigation through genuine accessibility. "I created the ADA Compliance Course training as an affordable option that actually stops litigation. The reason I'm so confident is because the course lessons are built from the actual accessibility claims that plaintiffs' lawyers are making," Rivenburgh explained. The course provides step-by-step instructions that small business owners and their web teams can follow to immediately begin finding and fixing the 15 most commonly claimed accessibility issues, and it can significantly reduce the risk of legal action against website owners. Website accessibility litigation has been affecting businesses of all sizes for over six years, and it has become a common issue for small business owners. Many website owners are caught off guard when they find out they've been sued, and they may not be aware of the risk or what to do to protect themselves. The ADA Compliance Course provides training through step-by-step instructions to find and fix the 15 most commonly claimed accessibility issues, at an affordable price point compared to other web accessibility options in the market. It's starting to become common knowledge that the overlay widgets billed as solutions' not only don't make your website accessible, but they don't stop litigation. And while manual audits are exactly what you need for full WCAG conformance, audits are expensive, take weeks to complete, and only tell you what issues that exist on your website, you still have to remediate or fix the issues which costs even more money. While the course won't make your website fully WCAG conformant, when the lessons are implemented correctly, it diminishes the risk of receiving a demand letter or having a complaint filed against the website owner. The ADA Compliance Course features: Website owners can access the ADA Compliance Course at ADACompliance.net right now and immediately learn the accessibility issues that are most likely to lead to litigation. Kris Rivenburgh, an attorney and the author of The ADA Book, has been researching and writing about digital accessibility and ADA compliance for five years. He is also the founder of Accessible.org. Kris's work has been referenced by Verizon.com, MN.gov (Minnesota), Syr.edu (Syracuse), Illinois.edu, and Yahoo Small Business, and his guides have been featured in Bloomberg Law. Media Contact: Company Name: The ADA Book Contact Person: Kris Rivenburgh Address: 2131 N. Collins, Suite 433 City: Arlington State: Texas Postal Code: 76011 Country: United States Website: https://adabook.com/ Lessons prioritized in order of urgency Video explanations for each lesson PDF cheatsheets Excel checklist Code examples for developers Discounted support While heavy rains and near record snows have loosened the grip of drought on California and many areas west of the Rockies, the situation is worsening in Texas and the Southern Plains. In that region, the ongoing drought is drying out key water sources for Central Texas cities, threatening the winter wheat harvest and leading to rising threats of wildfire and dust storms. The U.S. Drought Monitor in April rated about 45 percent of Texas as severely dry, 20 percent is extremely dry, and 4 percent is exceptionally dry, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System. All of those metrics are larger than they were a month ago in particular zones of exceptional drought in Central Texas and the Texas panhandle that stand out on the drought monitor maps like swollen purple bruises. About 50 percent of Kansas is also in extreme to exceptional drought, according to the Monitor. Among the regions cities, the state capital of Austin and its surrounding communities stand at particular risk. Inflows this year into the reservoir system that supplies most of the citys water are in the bottom 12 percent on record, according to Drought Monitor. Meanwhile, water level in wells in the critical Edwards Aquifer the primary water source for San Antonio and much of the rest of Central Texas are at their second-lowest level on record. But cities are highly flexible users of water, with considerable ability to cut municipal demand through municipal restrictions. Agriculture, the predominant user of water, has far less wiggle room and the drought is already putting pressure on the regions winter wheat crop. Across Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma, approximately half of counties reported poor to very poor wheat growing conditions. Those could lead to 8 percent of hard red winter wheat harvest being abandoned in Kansas, and as much as 60 percent in Texas, according to agricultural analytics firm Gro Intelligence. Story continues The combination of drought, heat and high winds also equal a rising risk of wildfire. On Tuesday, nearly 10,000 acres burned in a grass fire in the Texas Panhandle. Such fires along with dust storms are a high risk throughout the region this spring. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. TAIPEI, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cathay Financial Holdings (Cathay FHC) and the World Climate Foundation (WCF) have officially announced the signing of partnership for the third consecutive year. Cathay FHC president Chang-Ken Lee and WCF founder/CEO Jens Nielsen met in an online ceremony to address the importance of climate finance as well as the importance of strengthening collective global efforts and partnerships, in response to the threat of climate change. As WCF's first committed global strategic partner in 2023, Cathay FHC is continuing its long-running dedication to accelerating and implementing climate finance. Lee emphasized the important role financial institutions play in promoting sustainable economic development through intermediation and risk-management functions, and by linking investments to the real economy. This facilitates and supports the flow of financial instruments and services for the fulfillment of sustainable business practices, investments, green-energy transition, NBS implementation, environmental and social projects, and more. Lee also highlighted the significance of Cathay FHC's partnership with WCF. Starting as the first WCF strategic partner from Taiwan at COP26 in 2021, Cathay FHC has played a key role in channeling global green transitions to Asia in hopes of helping the Asian market prioritize climate-risk mitigation. In 2022, this interconnectedness grew even deeper. Cathay FHC live-streamed WCF's major eventthe World Climate Summit, which took place in Egypt's Sham El Sheikh, alongside COP27. "The sharing of global experiences by major leaders from different governments, industries, academia, and civil societies is important in helping Taiwan and Asia in embracing the challenges towards a net-zero economy," stated Lee. Lee hopes that by being actively engaged in WCF's planned roadmap to COP28 eventssuch as the Climate Investment Summit in London alongside London Climate Week; the World Biodiversity Summit alongside UNGA 78 and Climate Week NYC; and the largest ever World Climate Summit at COP in Dubaimore urgent issues, including finance transition, energy safety, food security, geopolitical risk, biodiversity, etc., will be discussed and resolved. Story continues Jens Nielsen, the founder and CEO of World Climate Foundation, reiterated the importance of the financial sector by quoting the COP28 President, Sultan Al Jaber's remark: "The lynchpin to all progress is climate finance. We need urgent reform of international financial institutions and multilateral development banks." Nielsen is delighted to continue partnering with Cathay FHC. "It has been a highly successful long-term collaboration," he stated. "Cathay FHC is an important player, not just in the Asia-Pacific but also globally, particularly in light of how strong a focus finance and investment are, in terms of being key drivers, enabling the positive transition to a low-carbon economy, etc." He further invited Cathay FHC's leader, chairman Hong-Tu Tsai, to deliver the opening keynote on the second day of the World Climate SummitThe Investment COP. "What Cathay FHC demonstrates is suitably positioned and aligned with our strong focus on finance," Nielsen added. The World Climate Foundation is the biggest and most influential global platform focused on action and impact on climate, biodiversity, and healthy resilience. For over a decade, WCF have facilitated large-scale collaboration between governments, businesses, financial institutions, and international organizations, accelerating the transition to a green economy. As a pioneering frontrunner teaming up with WCF, Cathay FHC hopes to encourage and influence more in-depth climate actions across sectors. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cathay-financial-holdings-world-climate-foundations-first-global-strategic-partner-in-2023-aiming-to-accelerate-climate-finance-beyond-taiwan-301792327.html SOURCE Cathay Financial Holding Co., Ltd. Centaur Media (LON:CAU) Full Year 2022 Results Key Financial Results Revenue: UK41.6m (up 6.4% from FY 2021). Net income: UK2.80m (up 98% from FY 2021). Profit margin: 6.7% (up from 3.6% in FY 2021). The increase in margin was driven by higher revenue. EPS: UK0.019 (up from UK0.01 in FY 2021). All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period Centaur Media EPS Misses Expectations Revenue was in line with analyst estimates. Earnings per share (EPS) missed analyst estimates by 2.7%. Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 6.3% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 5.9% growth forecast for the Media industry in the United Kingdom. Performance of the British Media industry. The company's share price is broadly unchanged from a week ago. Risk Analysis Don't forget that there may still be risks. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Centaur Media that you should be aware of. 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 OpenAIs chatbot ChatGPT falsely accused an American law professor by including him in a generated list of legal scholars who had sexually harassed someone, citing a non-existent The Washington Post report. In an opinion piece published in USA Today, professor Jonathan Turley from George Washington University wrote that he was falsely accused by ChatGPT of assaulting students on a trip he never took while working at a school he never taught at. It is only the latest cautionary tale on how artificial artificial intelligence can be, he said on Monday, highlighting some of the accuracy and reliability issues with AI chatbots like ChatGPT. As part of a study, a lawyer had reportedly asked ChatGPT to generate a list of legal scholars who had committed sexual harassment. The AI chatbot returned a list that included Mr Turleys name, falsely accusing him of making sexually suggestive comments and attempting to touch a student during a class trip to Alaska, citing a fabricated article in the Post that it said was from 2018. The George Washington University professor noted no such article existed, something echoed by the newspaper as well. What is most striking is that this false accusation was not just generated by AI but ostensibly based on a Post article that never existed, Mr Turley tweeted. When first contacted, I found the accusation comical. After some reflection, it took on a more menacing meaning, he said. In another instance, ChatGPT falsely claimed a mayor in Australia had been imprisoned for bribery. Brian Hood, the mayor of Hepburn Shire, has also threatened to sue ChatGPT creator OpenAI over the false accusations. ChatGPT strikes again. A journalist contacted me to research her profile on @lexfridman. ChatGPT informed her that @_KarenHao and I were his top critics. It cited articles we'd written about him, gave links, and summaries. Only problem: it's all false. Here's what she sent me: pic.twitter.com/Qy2XS0Vvep Kate Crawford (@katecrawford) April 4, 2023 He was falsely named guilty in a foreign bribery scandal involving a subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia in the early 2000s. Story continues He did, however, work for the subsidiary, Reuters reported, citing lawyers representing Mr Hood. The Australian mayors lawyers have reportedly sent a letter of concern to OpenAI, giving the company 28 days to fix the errors about Mr Hood or face a possible defamation lawsuit. A spokesperson for Microsoft, which has reportedly invested $10bn in OpenAI and integrated it into its search engine Bing, was not immediately available for comment, said Reuters. Several scholars in recent months have raised concerns that the chatbots use may disrupt academia primarily due to concerns over the accuracy of the content it generates. University of Southern California AI expert Kate Crawford calls such falsely concocted stories by AI chatbots hallucitations. ChatGPT gained prominence in December last year for its ability to respond to a range of queries with a human-like output. Some experts have speculated that it may revolutionise entire industries and may even replace tools like Googles search engine. Researchers, including those at Harvard School of Medicine and Pennsylvanias Wharton Business School, found that the chatbot could crack eligibility tests meant for students. But others have also expressed cautious optimism. The New York City education department said it was worried about the negative impacts of the chatbot on student learning, citing concerns regarding the safety and accuracy of content. Recently, when Google began rolling out its ChatGPT rival Bard for some adults in the UK and US, it warned that the chatbot may share misinformation and could display biases. The tech giant noted that the chatbot is not yet fully capable of distinguishing between what is accurate and inaccurate information as it predicts answers based on others it has learned from. OpenAI spokesperson Niko Felix told The Washington Post in a statement that improving factual accuracy is a significant focus for the company, adding that it is making progress. When users sign up for ChatGPT, we strive to be as transparent as possible that it may not always generate accurate answers, he said. The Independent has reached out to OpenAI for a comment. William H. Gross Stamp Gallery In 1985's "Brewster's Millions," Richard Pryor's character bought a rare Inverted Jenny stamp for $1.25 million -- then he stuck it on a postcard and mailed it. Montgomery Brewster did that on purpose -- but you have to make sure you don't do the same thing by mistake. Check Your Pennies: They Could Be Worth $200,000 Learn: How To Build a Financial Plan From Zero Collecting stamps is a fun, historically stimulating and famously addictive hobby -- and the right sticky paper square could make you rich. If you built, inherited or otherwise acquired a long-forgotten stamp collection, it's worth taking a second look. The most expensive stamps in the world sell for millions of dollars, and many others routinely command five- and six-figure sums. You don't have to be a seasoned philatelist -- if you don't know what that is, you're not one -- to score a lucky find. Plenty of regular people have stumbled upon fortunes hiding inside tiny proofs of purchase that post offices and shipping companies once sold for a few pennies. Here's a look at some of the hidden treasures that might be collecting cobwebs in your attic or basement. Barnebys 1847 Mauritius 'Post Office' Stamps $9.6 million According to Barnebys, the legendary Mauritius stamps debuted in 1847, just seven years after Sir Rowland Hill created the first postage stamp in history, decorated with the image of 21-year-old Queen Victoria of England. The first Mauritius edition was printed with 500 red and 500 blue stamps, each worth one penny. The editions that followed read "Post Paid" instead of "Post Office," like the originals, which are now among the most famous and valuable stamps in the world. Only 27 of the original 1,000 are known to exist -- a schoolboy discovered the last one by accident in 1902. They were already selling for more than $1 million by the 1970s and, in 2021, an original series Mauritius became the world's most expensive postage stamp when it sold for $9.6 million. Take Our Poll: Are You Concerned About the Safety of Your Money in Your Bank Accounts? Museum of Philately 1856 British Guiana One-Cent Magenta $9.48 million Story continues Known to philatelists as the "Mona Lisa of stamps," the British Guiana One-Cent Magenta is the world's most famous rare stamp. It entered limited production in 1856 and today only one copy is known to exist. It broke the price record four times, and while Sotheby's expected it to fetch $10 million to $15 million at auction in 2021, it ended up changing hands for $8.31 million. In 2014, it sold for $9.48 million after remaining out of public view since 1986. Mystic Stamp Company 1868 Benjamin Franklin Z Grill $3 million One of the rarest American stamps, there are only two known copies of the one-cent Benjamin Franklin Z Grill in existence. One is permanently locked in the New York Public Library's Miller Collection. The other set a record for U.S. stamp sale prices when the Mystic Stamp Company purchased it for $935,000 in 1998. Mystic, which currently values the stamp at $3 million, traded it in 2005 for an equally valued 1918 plate-number block of Inverted Jennys of "Brewster's Millions" fame. For a few years during the 1860s, stamps were "canceled" by punching them with a steel grill that left a unique pattern, which is still visible today. William H. Gross Stamp Gallery 1918 Inverted Jenny $4.9 million (block of four) The same Sotheby's auction that saw the British Guiana One-Cent Magenta sell for $8.31 million also featured a pristine example of the most famous error in the history of U.S. stamps: the legendary Inverted Jenny. If you see a stamp printed with an upside-down biplane while digging through an old collection, call an appraiser right away. According to the New York Times, a plate block of four sold for $4.9 million at auction that day in 2021, about $2 million more than its last reported sale price. The misprinted stamp, which features an inverted blue airplane, was released in 1918. According to the Smithsonian, just one sheet of 100 misprinted 24-cent stamps was ever sold. No other examples are known to exist. Old Bid 1855 Treskilling Yellow $2.3 million In the mid-1850s, Sweden issued green three-skilling (treskilling) stamps. But according to Old Bid, yellow treskillings randomly entered circulation without explanation in 1855. Although no one really knows why, the most likely explanation is that printing workers forgot to change their paints before realizing their error. The result was a single sheet of error stamps that soon disappeared -- except for one. Thirty years later, in 1885, a young man found one example of what is now known as the Treskilling Yellow, the only one known to exist to this day. He sold it for 7 kronor, a hefty sum at that time, and it has since changed hands more than a dozen times -- two of those hands belonged to King Carol II. It became one of the most coveted stamps in the world and broke several auction records. Most recently, it sold for $2.3 million in 2010. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Check Your Attic: These Stamps Are Worth Millions FILE PHOTO: The logo of Alibaba Group is seen at its office in Beijing SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Tech giant Alibaba is seeking companies to test its Tongyi Qianwen AI chatbot, business publication STAR Market Daily reported on Friday, joining the rush to emulate the explosive success of ChatGPT. The free-to-use ChatGPT, a large language model (LLM) application created by Microsoft-backed OpenAI, was released to the public last November and can generate articles and essays on demand in response to user prompts. Alibaba has opened up registration for businesses to conduct testing for its AI application, STAR Market reported without specifying details. A source close to the matter confirmed to Reuters that the application was an LLM targeted at business users. Alibaba's cloud computing division published a teaser on Friday, posting a message on social media simply stating: "Hello, my name is Tongyi Qianwen, this is our first time meeting, I welcome your feedback." The official website for the chatbot application merely has boxes to enter phone numbers and email addresses to request an invitation but provides no specific details about its exact use. Alibaba Cloud did not respond immediately to an emailed request for comment. A formal launch is expected at an Alibaba Cloud event on Tuesday. Daniel Zhang, CEO of Alibaba Group as well as the company's cloud division, is scheduled to speak at the event. Others to have joined the AI chatbot race include Baidu Inc, with its Ernie Bot application open only to trial users at the moment. On Saturday network gear maker Huawei Technologies is due to stage an event unveiling Pangu, its natural language processing (NLP) AI model. SenseTime is also holding an event next week to showcase "cutting-edge advancements in artificial intelligence software". Last week Alibaba announced that it will restructure into six standalone divisions, each with its own board and CEO. Zhang is set to stay as the cloud division's CEO. (Reporting by Josh Horwitz; Editing by David Goodman) Texas Atty. Gen. Ken Paxton exploits backwater Texas courts to interfere with Americans' healthcare and civil rights. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) You might have thought that, more than a dozen years after its enactment, the Affordable Care Act was finally safe from interference by right-wing judges carrying water for religious fanatics and anti-government activists. Unfortunately, a ruling from a one-horse federal courtroom in Texas reminds us that there's almost an endless supply of those litigants and the judges who run with them. Less than two weeks ago, U.S. Judge Reed O'Connor invalidated an ACA provision mandating that a long list of preventive care services be provided to patients without co-pays or deductibles. If O'Connor's March 30 ruling stands (the government is certain to appeal), it would block no-fee preventive services such as breast- and cervical-cancer screenings for millions of women, smoking cessation programs, hepatitis tests, screening for diabetes, osteoporosis, depression, HIV and many other conditions and health risks. A court oversteps its authority when an injunction does more than benefit the plaintiffs who have sued. Law professors Nicholas Bagley and Samuel Bray The anti-HIV provision, as it happens, was the principal target of the plaintiffs in this case. Among them are Steven Hotze, a self-described Christian owner of a "wellness" center who complained that the Affordable Care Act mandate to provide anti-HIV drugs would "facilitate behaviors such as homosexual sodomy, prostitution, and intravenous drug use all of which are contrary to Dr. Hotzes sincere religious beliefs." Hotze also objects to other preventive-care mandates that require his business' health plans to cover screening for and counseling about sexually transmitted diseases "for those engaged in non-marital sexual behavior." O'Connor's ruling undermines one of the bedrock public-health features of the Affordable Care Act, its encouragement of services aimed at keeping Americans healthy by catching signs of developing medical issues before they require costly interventions. Story continues Sadly, the ruling didn't come as much of a surprise: Not only did O'Connor telegraph his decision during hearings on the lawsuit months ago, but he's the same judge who in 2018 tried to throw a monkey wrench into Obamacare by declaring the entire law unconstitutional. The Supreme Court slapped him down with a 7-2 ruling upholding the act's constitutionality in 2021, but that didn't seem to invest O'Connor with any measure of humility. O'Connor's latest ruling underscores a major problem with America's federal judicial system. That's the ability of hack judges in backwater courthouses to interfere with policy by issuing nationwide injunctions based on specious or at least shallow legal arguments. "A court oversteps its authority when an injunction does more than benefit the plaintiffs who have sued," Nicholas Bagley of the University of Michigan and Samuel Bray of Notre Dame wrote in 2018, when the practice began to proliferate. Nationwide injunctions, they argued, encourage "forum shopping." "Because a litigant only has to win in a single court to stop the implementation of a congressional statute or agency rule," they wrote, "he has a huge incentive to pick a jurisdiction where hes likely to win." That's exactly what's been happening, with Texas federal courts having become the epicenter of such judicial activism, thanks largely to multiple anti-Biden campaigns by Texas Atty. Gen. Ken Paxton. The rules governing venues among federal courts are, on the surface, straightforward. Plaintiffs are expected to have a reason to choose a particular location, perhaps because they live in the judicial district or their case involves activities that took place there. But things are not that simple. Underlying Paxton's filings is the notion that the state as an entity resides in all the federal judicial districts within its borders and therefore it can properly file its lawsuits in any of them. That assertion, however, merely skates over the fundamental cynicism of Paxton's strategy. Texas is unusual in having a surfeit of federal courthouses with only one or two sitting judges in many cases former President Trump-appointed judges with a distinct conservative outlook. It's true that forum-shopping is neither illegal nor practiced exclusively by conservative litigants. Blue states and liberal litigants typically filed cases challenging Trump administration policies in districts where they had hopes of landing a progressive-oriented judge, such as the Northern District of California, headquartered in San Francisco. That district, however, has 21 judges assigned among three courthouses, not all of whom could be described as liberal. Filing a case there improves the odds of getting it in front of a sympathetic judge but doesnt guarantee it. All 28 of Texas' lawsuits against the Biden administration, on the other hand, have been filed in one of "just seven divisions where local rules severely limit the number of judges to whom the cases could be assigned," the Department of Justice observed in asking federal judge Drew Tipton to relinquish an immigration case filed in his court in Victoria, Texas, where Tipton is the only sitting federal judge. Those included 18 lawsuits filed in divisions where the case "would necessarily be assigned to a single pre-determined judge." There was no way to explain the state's decision to file the case in Victoria, where Tipton, a Trump-appointed judge, presides over all cases, "other than judge-shopping." Tipton thus far has refused. The Biden administration has begun to fight back against Texas judge-shopping. In addition to its motion before Tipton, it has filed motions for transfers in two other cases. One involves a lawsuit Paxton filed in February to invalidate the $1.7-trillion omnibus spending bill signed by Biden in December. That measure included aid to Ukraine; disaster relief for victims of Western wildfires and southeast tornadoes, hurricanes and floods; strengthening of federal election law to forestall any attempts to overturn votes such as those threatened in the Jan. 6 insurrection; and other investments. That case landed before Trump appointee James W. Hendrix, who hears about two-thirds of the cases in his Lubbock courthouse. The administration has asked Hendrix to transfer the case either to Washington, D.C., where the spending bill was enacted, or Austin, where Paxton's office is. The second motion asks Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, also a Trump appointee, to transfer a case challenging Biden administration policies allowing fiduciaries overseeing retirement accounts to consider "environmental, social and governance" factors, known as ESG, in judging the prudence of pension fund investments. The government accused the plaintiffs, who include Texas and 25 other mostly red states, of "gamesmanship" that "undermines public confidence in the administration of justice." The motion asked to transfer the lawsuit to Washington, D.C., Austin or Salt Lake City (Utah is technically the lead plaintiff). Kacsmaryk refused. The problem of nationwide injunctions is magnified by the likelihood that conservatives filing in one- or two-judge court divisions will obtain a preordained result. Consider the absurdity of a lawsuit filed in November seeking a ban on the abortion medication mifepristone. Anti-abortion activists filed the case in Amarillo, knowing it would surely come before Kacsmaryk, who presides over every civil case brought in that courthouse. On Friday, Kacsmaryk nullified the 2000 approval of mifepristone by the Food and Drug Administration, asserting that the FDAs approval was illegal and that the drug could be used to produce an illegal abortion. He did not order the drug off the shelves immediately, but his decision could ultimately result in outlawing the drug nationwide. He stayed his ruling for seven days to give the government time to file an emergency appeal. The government filed a notice of appeal late Friday. Complicating the situation, also on Friday federal Judge Thomas O. Rice of Spokane issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting the FDA from "altering the status quo and rights" related to the availability of mifepristone. The federal court system now has two diametrically opposed opinions on the drugs legality. Rice ruled on a motion brought by 17 states and the District of Columbia. Kacsmaryk appears to be the quintessential known quantity. Before joining the bench, he served as a lawyer for a Christian conservative legal group that filed anti-abortion cases, among others. In just the last few months, according to Reuters, Kacsmaryk blocked Biden's plan to end the Trump-era "remain in Mexico" immigration policy that kept asylum-seekers from crossing the U.S. border, ruled against administration policies protecting LGBTQ people from workplace discrimination, and overturned a federal program allowing minors to obtain free contraceptives without parental consent. That brings us back to O'Connor's ruling on the Affordable Care Act's preventive-care mandate. As many as 150 million Americans have taken advantage of the mandate by obtaining the covered services without paying an out-of-pocket fee. O'Connor's order doesn't apply to all mandated preventive care services. It applies to those designated as "highly recommended" by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a volunteer expert body that the Affordable Care Act tasked with making those recommendations, and specifically the services recommended after March 23, 2010. O'Connor specifically barred free provision of pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, drugs administered to people at high risk of HIV infection. Forcing health plans to cover those drugs without co-pays or deductibles, he wrote, infringes on the plaintiff's religious freedom because they "believe that (1) the Bible is 'the authoritative and inerrant word of God,' [and] (2) the 'Bible condemns sexual activity outside marriage between one man and one woman, including homosexual conduct.' " A right-wing judge with an established anti-Obamacare record accepted a tendentious interpretation of the biblical "word of God" to deny accessible and affordable healthcare to the entire country. That makes the danger of expansive injunctions, as they're produced by Trump-appointed judges in Texas, crystal clear. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. In the age of quiet quitting, burnout, and the great resignation, adding improv games might improve company communication and could lead to a more fulfilling workplace. BOISE, ID / ACCESSWIRE / April 7, 2023 / Recently, American society has been inundated with stress, tension, and anger. Unsurprisingly, these tensions have trickled into the workforce; 94% of workers report feeling stress at work, while nearly half of American workers report that such high stress is making them emotionally check out, which is leading to increasingly high resignation and turnover rates . For workers who remain at their jobs, high stress levels can make workers lose focus , struggle with time management, feel unhappy at work, and can even lead to some workers becoming angry at coworkers . Many in the workforce report that teams are fracturing, communication is breaking down, and overall productivity is slowing down. One unlikely solution for companies with high turnover rates: add laughter to the workplace. Megan McCaleb of Improv Team Culture suggests improv can reduce these problems and has seen firsthand how integrating improv games can bolster company culture. Megan Bryant presenting in front of a laughing crowd "There's no denying that the world is dealing with some severe challenges right now," McCaleb starts. "Now more than ever, it's important to infuse humor, connection, optimism, and creativity into the workplace to tackle these challenges and communicate our messages clearly," she says. Generally, people struggle to communicate their thoughts, feelings, and ideas. It seems today's increased stress levels are adding fuel to the fire by making it more difficult for people to have civil, calm discussions. However, multiple studies report how participating in improv can improve communication skills , reduce anxiety , and help groups develop flow and boost collaboration . By far, the main benefit of playing improv games at work is that it allows workers to relax, laugh, and have fun. Research shows the more we laugh, the less stress we feel, and studies indicate that on average, happier workers are 12% more productive at work. Story continues But McCaleb says you don't need to be a comedian to participate in improv. "You don't have to be funny, but you do have to be able to think on your feet, move and adapt, and be open to change in the workplace." All in all, McCaleb hopes that the use of improv becomes more widespread in company culture to battle the great resignation statistics, prevent quiet quitting, and lead to a more productive and fulfilling work landscape. "My greatest hope is that our up-and-coming leaders break old habits, patterns, and cycles and choose a more collaborative way to support humanity," she says. Ultimately, McCaleb hopes that learning how to laugh at the office can lead to a brighter workplace, and possibly, a happier world. ABOUT : Improv Team Culture originated in 2010 and provides virtual and in-person innovative, interactive business workshops for companies of all sizes. Through the use of improv comedy, Improv Team Culture boosts team building and skills training for a more productive, stress-free work environment. Learn more about Improv Team Culture by visiting their website . For additional information, follow them on Instagram , Facebook , and LinkedIn . CONTACT : Megan McCaleb (208)863-4292 megan@improvteamculture.com SOURCE: Improv Team Culture View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/748211/When-It-Comes-to-Quiet-Quitting-Improv-Team-Culture-Says-Laughter-Is-the-Best-Medicine Craters & Freighters South Carolina Craters & Freighters, a national leader in specialty freight solutions, now offers exceptional crating, packaging, and shipping services with the grand opening of their new location in South Carolina. Columbia, South Carolina, April 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Craters & Freighters, a leading Crating, Packaging and Shipping company, is proud to announce the opening of a new location in beautiful Columbia, South Carolina. This new location will further extend the company's reach and allow us to better serve and meet the needs of our customers in the South Carolina area, specifically in Columbia, Charleston, and Myrtle Beach. The new location, located at 1617 Street Andrews Terrace Columbia, SC 29210, features the materials, tools, experienced employees, and a motivated management team to meet local, national and global customers needs. "We are excited to expand our presence in South Carolina," said C&F Corporate President and CEO Matthew Schmitz. "Our customers in this area have been loyal to us and we are excited to be able to provide them with an even better experience with our new location." This new location reinforces the company's commitment to providing quality products and services to customers throughout the region. It will also create job opportunities for the people in the area and contribute to the Columbia local economy. "As a company, we believe in providing the best possible service to our customers and supporting the communities where we operate," said Sri Rao, C&F Columbia Owner, President, and CEO. "We are excited to become a part of the fabric of Columbia and look forward to contributing to the growth and success of this great city." Craters & Freighters is excited to welcome customers to our new location in Columbia, South Carolina, and we are committed to making it a success. Contact us at 803-667-9554 or email us at SouthCarolina@CratersAndFreighters.com to learn more about our services and how we can help meet your needs. Story continues About Craters & Freighters: Craters & Freighters was founded in 1990 and since has become a national leader in specialty freight solutions. Headquartered in Golden, Colorado, Craters & Freighters has expanded through franchising since 1991. We are a full-service, worldwide logistics provider that offers specialty crating, packaging, and shipping solutions for residential and commercial clients. Media Contact: 803-667-9554 Cryptomeria Capital Singapore, April 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The VC will join SkyArk Studios blockchain hub for leading industry players in the region Crypto venture capital firm Cryptomeria Capital announces the launch of the space within the largest blockchain incubator hub in Singapore an initiative spearheaded by Web3 gaming veteran SkyArk Studios. Cryptomeria Capital will use the venue to organize industry events and invite projects for scaling up and incubation. The space will also serve as a gateway to Asia for the funds portfolio companies. Teams that receive investments from Cryptomeria Capital will be able to secure a spot to be showcased at this Singapore site as well. Full-suite data network PARISQ will be the first portfolio project to take advantage of this opportunity. Vadim Krekotin, Founding Partner of Cryptomeria Capital: Were extremely excited to be part of SkyArks endeavour especially because we have previously invested in this company. Considering the impressive dynamic of the Asian blockchain sector and the ever-increasing pace of mass adoption in the region, it's been a dream for many to expand and invest here. Were excited to contribute to the Singapore Web3 ecosystem. Our presence in the hub will be a value add to our portfolio companies, serving as an entry point and a bridge to a promising and exciting market. Kelvin Chua, Co-founder of SkyArk: SkyArk is delighted to form strategic partnerships with Cryptomeria Capital to grow the Web3 blockchain community through incubators, accelerators, and hackathon events; implement joint R&D on innovative decentralized governance technologies, DAO infrastructures, and Metaverses. Tom Tirman, CEO of PARSIQ: "PARSIQ is delighted to announce our partnership with Cryptomeria Capital and SkyArk Studios on this accelerator hub in Singapore we are excited to work alongside such innovative and forward-thinking companies. The region has already demonstrated impressive growth in the blockchain space and it feels like the talent is at the tipping point of enormous innovation. PARSIQ is committed to continue this drive forward by providing innovative projects with cutting edge blockchain data solutions, and we look forward to the exciting synergies which lie ahead in this initiative." Story continues The hub is already home to multiple promising Web3 gaming projects such as Legends Arise, House of Heroes, and others. Cryptomeria Capital is a crypto fund backed by blockchain industry experts. The focus is exclusively on ventures, tokens, and projects related to blockchain technology and crypto assets. The firm has a corporate partnership with Axon Partners Group, an international consulting and investment firm that has backed over 50 companies and trades on the BME Growth Market under the ticker APG. Follow Cryptomeria Capital on: Twitter: twitter.com/CryptomeriaCap LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/cryptomeria-capital Medium: cryptomeria-capital.medium.com SkyArk Studio is Singapore s leading blockchain game studio and envisions building a platform that supports multiple game titles and offers NFT interoperability across titles. Enabling traditional studios to launch web3 projects. Providing Gamefi-as-a-service and becoming a partner to every chain. PARSIQ is a full-suite data network for building the backend of all Web3 dApps & protocols. The Tsunami API provides blockchain projects with real-time and historical data querying abilities. Data Lake APIs allow complex data querying & filtering for any project; specifically designed and tailored to their data needs. Supported chains: Ethereum, Polygon, BNB Chain, Avalanche, Arbitrum. Website | Blog | Twitter | Telegram | Discord | Reddit | YouTube | Link3.to CONTACT: Company name: Cryptomeria Capital Contact Name: Alex Mukhin Email: contact-at-cryptomeriacapital.com Parsiq Francis Foster francis-at-parsiq.net SkyArk Kelvin Chua partnership-at-skyarkchronicles.com Company Logo Dublin, April 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Digital Transformation Market - Market Size & Forecast to 2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global Digital transformation market is estimated to reach a value of USD 2.58 Billion in 2032 and it is projected to register a CAGR of 16.90% during the forecast period. The increasing demand for advanced technology, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), across businesses and enterprises, is encouraging the adoption of connected devices as well. The growing utilization of mobile devices, smart phones, and applications across business processes and departments is also encouraging digitization and is anticipated to drive the market over the predicted period. Shifting from traditional to digitalized business models facilitates the introduction of additional advanced technological products and services across industries and sectors. Digital transformation enables organizations to enhance their operational performance, customer experience, brand reputation, and customer retention ratios. However, digitally transformed businesses can efficiently adapt to the changing technological landscape and can address sudden shifts in the industry, especially the one currently brought in by the Covid-19 pandemic; studies suggest that the efficiency and rate of adaptation of digitally transformed businesses to a post-pandemic era are much higher than traditional businesses. Digital transformation market is segmented based on technology, component, organization size, deployment, industry vertical and region. Based on technology, the global digital transformation market is segmented into cloud computing, artificial intelligence, big data and analytics, mobility/ social media, cyber security, internet of things (IOT), and others. The integration of different digital transformation technologies, such as the internet of things (IoT), is remarkably becoming prevalent, as it offers exceptional benefits. Also, Digital transformation helps organizations in enhancing their brand's reputation, customer experience, and customer retention ratios through the implementation of the software. Based on component, the global Digital transformation market is segmented into solutions and services. Services are segmented into training and implementation, support and maintenance, and consulting. The solution is estimated to be the dominating segment. The solution segment holds the highest market share in 2021 and is expected to remain the highest growing market during the forecast period. The segment growth can be attributed to the rapidly emerging technological landscape that involves businesses timely upgrade their systems to uphold an inexpensive edge. Based on organization size, the global digital transformation market is segmented into large enterprise and small & medium enterprises. Small and medium enterprises hold the highest CAGR during the forecasted period. The digital transformation market by organization size is segmented into large enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises. Small and medium sized enterprises and IT ecosystems are highly impacted due to digital transformation. Technology and infrastructure vendors have started realizing the importance of innovative technologies, such as cloud, big data, mobile, social, and sensors. Based on deployment, the global digital transformation market is bifurcated into on-premises and cloud. The deployment of digital transformation solutions on the cloud enables users to access solutions from their desktops or any mobile devices. Major benefits of this deployment type include easy deployment, low deployment cost, and easy upgradeability and accessibility. Thus, cloud digital transformation solutions are adopted by small organizations and individual users generally. Based on region, the global Digital transformations market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and South America. North America is expected to hold the highest market size in the global digital transformation market, while Asia Pacific is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The region is becoming a new hotspot in the digital transformation market, due to increasing investments in the process of digitalization across potential economies. Story continues Market Dynamics Drivers Growing Proliferation of Mobile Devices and Apps Increasing Need to Improve Operational Performance to Gain Competitive Benefits in the Market Restraints Data Security Concerns Opportunities Increasing Utilization of Disruptive Technologies AI, Ml, and Big Data Challenges Lack of Skilled Personnel Poor Planning, Misaligned Goals, and Unclear Strategies Are the Cause of the Bulk of Transformation Setbacks Key Topics Covered: 1. Market Abstract 2. Market Introduction 3. Research Practice 4. Key Related Data 5. Impact Factor Analysis 6. Market Development Analysis 7. Global Digital Transformation Market, by Area (Pre-Covid and Covid Market Estimation and Forecast, 2019-2032) 8. Global Digital Transformation Market, by Technology (Pre-Covid and Covid Market Estimation and Forecast, 2019-2032) 9. Global Digital Transformation Market, by Component (Pre-Covid and Covid Market Estimation and Forecast, 2019-2032) 10. Global Digital Transformation Market, by Organization Size (Pre- Covid and Covid Market Estimation and Forecast, 2019-2032) 11. Global Digital Transformation Market, by Deployment Mode (Pre- Covid and Covid Market Estimation and Forecast, 2019-2032) 12. Global Digital Transformation Market, by Industry Vertical (Pre- Covid and Covid Market Estimation and Forecast, 2019-2032) 13. Global Digital Transformation Market, Regional Analysis (Pre- Covid and Covid Market Estimation and Forecast, 2019-2032) A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes Microsoft Corporation Sap Se Cognizant Adobe Systems Dell Emc IBM Corporation Google LLC Marlabs Accenture Ca Technologies Equinix Oracle Corporation Hp Enterprise Hcl Technologies Tibco Software For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/nguau7 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 NEW YORK, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Technavio has been monitoring the dry bulk shipping market, and it is expected to grow by USD 930.41 million from 2021 to 2026. As per the latest report, the market's growth momentum will decelerate at a CAGR of 3.59% during the forecast period. This report aids business leaders with an up-to-date analysis that includes the study of the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers that are likely to influence the market growth, and the overall market environment. The increasing use of container and security solutions is an emerging trend driving the market growth during the forecast period. There is a growth in safety concerns among end-user industries in the global market following a rise in piracy and armed robbery incidents. Containers installed with a GPS tracking system are easily tracked. Hence, factors such as growing safety and security concerns, the increasing need to optimize logistics management systems to improve digital connectivity, and the growing global use of the Internet of things (IoT) are expected to drive the growth of the market during the forecast period. Download the Latest Sample Report! Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Dry Bulk Shipping Market Dry Bulk Shipping Market 2022-2026: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our dry bulk shipping market report covers the following areas: The market is fragmented and the degree of fragmentation will decelerate during the forecast period. Bulk Marine, Dampskibsselskabet Norden A/S, Diana Shipping Inc., Egon Oldendorff Management GmbH, Golden Ocean Group Ltd, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, Pacific Basin Shipping Limited., Star Bulk Carriers Corp, and Western Bulk are some of the major market participants. Although the rising seaborne trade across the world will offer immense growth opportunities, volatility in steel prices will challenge the growth of the market participants. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Story continues Dry Bulk Shipping Market 2022-2026: Major Driver The rising seaborne trade across the world is notably driving the dry bulk shipping market growth. Compared to barges and other shipping vessels, cargo through seaways can be transported in dry containers with minimal damage. Seaborne trade plays a vital role in economic growth in various countries. And distant suppliers have made it necessary for delivering goods through seaways. Some of the goods transported through container ships in bulk include coal, grains, and ores. Growth in seaborne trade is expected to drive the demand for ships, which, in turn, creates the need for marine electronics. Major emerging economies such as China and India have become crucial sources of manufacturing goods and commodities. Key Challenge One of the key challenges for the dry bulk shipping market growth is the volatile prices of steel pipes. Steel extracted from iron ore is a key raw material for manufacturing dry carriers and is considered to be the second-highest price-fluctuating commodity after oil, which will negatively affect the profit margins of shipping container manufacturers. Thus, the prices of steel need to be moderate and stable for healthy financial operations of shipping container manufacturers. Hence, the volatility of steel prices is estimated to have a negative impact on the dry bulk shipping market during the forecast period. Dry Bulk Shipping Market 2022-2026: Segmentation Type Geography The market share growth by the capsize segment will be significant during the forecast period. The ships belonging to the largest class are known as capsize, and they can carry a variety of cargo in bulk predominantly. The growth in industrialization and liberalization of emerging economies has resulted in an increase in demand for commodities such as coal and iron ore. Furthermore, these large-sized vessels have to be passed through the Cape of Good Hope because they are unable to pass through narrow channels such as Panama. Hence, the vast size of the capsize vessels is expected to drive the segment growth during the forecast period. For insights on global, regional, and country-level parameters - Download a Sample Report Why Buy? Add credibility to strategy Analyzes competitor's offerings Get a holistic view of the market Grow your profit margin with Technavio Buy Now Dry Bulk Shipping Market 2022-2026: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the dry bulk shipping market, including Bulk Marine, Dampskibsselskabet Norden A/S, Diana Shipping Inc., Egon Oldendorff Management GmbH, Golden Ocean Group Ltd, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, Pacific Basin Shipping Limited., Star Bulk Carriers Corp, and Western Bulk. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the dry bulk shipping market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile, and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Vendor Offerings Bulk Marine - The company offers transportation for both major and minor bulks including Iron Ore, Coal, Coking Coal, Petcoke and Mineral Concentrates (major bulks) and Alumina, Cement Clinker, Fertiliser, Grain, Gypsum, Limestone, Steel & Scrap and Sugar. Dampskibsselskabet Norden A/S - The company offers dry operator which offers advanced risk management, market analytics, and a trading-oriented mindset to match cargos such as grain, wood pellets, and coal to an ever-changing fleet of Panamax, Supramax, and Handysize vessels. Diana Shipping Inc. - The company offers a quality and experienced team for shipping transportation services in dry bulk shipping. Dry Bulk Shipping Market 2022-2026: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2022-2026 Detailed information on factors that will assist dry bulk shipping market growth during the next five years Estimation of the dry bulk shipping market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the dry bulk shipping market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of dry bulk shipping market vendors Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Related Reports: The shipping container market size should rise by 22.29 million TEU from 2021 to 2026 at a CAGR of 8.78%. The report extensively covers market segmentation by type (dry containers, reefer containers, tank containers, and special containers) and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and MEA). The growing global shipping container liners traffic is notably driving the market growth. The tanker shipping market size is expected to increase by 164.10 million tons from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 4.59%. The report extensively covers tanker shipping market segmentation by tanker type (oil tankers and liquid gas tankers) and geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America). The growth in the global oil and gas logistics market is notably driving the tanker shipping market growth. Dry Bulk Shipping Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Decelerate at a CAGR of 3.59% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 930.41 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2021-2022 (%) 3.97 Regional analysis APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution APAC at 57% Key countries China, US, Germany, India, and Denmark Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Bulk Marine, Dampskibsselskabet Norden A/S, Diana Shipping Inc., Egon Oldendorff Management GmbH, Golden Ocean Group Ltd, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, Pacific Basin Shipping Limited., Star Bulk Carriers Corp, and Western Bulk Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Browse for Technavio's Industrials Market Reports Table Of Contents : Executive Summary Market Landscape Market ecosystem Value chain analysis Market Sizing Market definition Market segment analysis Market size 2021 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021 - 2026 Five Forces Analysis Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition Market Segmentation by Type Market segments Comparison by Type Capesize - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Panama - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Supramax - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Handysize - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Market opportunity by Type Customer landscape Geographic Landscape Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 MEA - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Key leading countries Market opportunity by geography Market drivers Market challenges Market trends Vendor Landscape Vendor landscape Landscape disruption Vendor Analysis Vendors covered Market positioning of vendors Bulk Marine Dampskibsselskabet Norden A/S Diana Shipping Inc. Egon Oldendorff Management GmbH Golden Ocean Group Ltd Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha Pacific Basin Shipping Limited. Star Bulk Carriers Corp Western Bulk Appendix Scope of the report Currency conversion rates for US$ Research methodology List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ Global Dry Bulk Shipping Market Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dry-bulk-shipping-market-size-to-grow-by-usd-930-41-million-from-2021-to-2026--increasing-use-of-container-security-and-tracking-solutions-to-be-an-emerging-market-trend---technavio-301790625.html SOURCE Technavio Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, AstraZeneca fair value estimate is UK139 AstraZeneca's UK117 share price indicates it is trading at similar levels as its fair value estimate Analyst price target for AZN is US$128 which is 8.2% below our fair value estimate Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of AstraZeneca PLC (LON:AZN) as an investment opportunity by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model is the tool we will apply to do this. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward. We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. View our latest analysis for AstraZeneca What's The Estimated Valuation? We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$7.90b US$10.8b US$12.6b US$13.6b US$14.9b US$15.8b US$16.5b US$17.1b US$17.5b US$17.9b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x10 Analyst x12 Analyst x11 Analyst x4 Analyst x4 Est @ 6.01% Est @ 4.55% Est @ 3.53% Est @ 2.82% Est @ 2.32% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 6.7% US$7.4k US$9.5k US$10.3k US$10.5k US$10.7k US$10.7k US$10.4k US$10.1k US$9.8k US$9.4k ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$99b Story continues We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 1.2%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 6.7%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = US$18b (1 + 1.2%) (6.7% 1.2%) = US$326b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$326b ( 1 + 6.7%)10= US$170b The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is US$269b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of UK117, the company appears about fair value at a 16% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. dcf Important Assumptions We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at AstraZeneca as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 6.7%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.800. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for AstraZeneca Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows. Weakness Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Pharmaceuticals market. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the British market. Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Threat Dividends are not covered by earnings. Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year. Moving On: Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For AstraZeneca, there are three additional elements you should further examine: Risks: Case in point, we've spotted 2 warning signs for AstraZeneca you should be aware of. Future Earnings: How does AZN's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the LSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. 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 Europe is "counting on China" to help end Russia's invasion of Ukraine. That was the message delivered personally to Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday by both European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron. Von der Leyen said China, as a permanent member of the United Nations' Security Council, "has a big responsibility to use its influence in a friendship that is built on decades with Russia". 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. "We count on China to really exert also this responsibility and to be very clear in the messaging," the German said. Chinese President Xi Jinping (centre) alongside Macron and von de Leyen in Beijing on Thursday. Photo: AFP alt=Chinese President Xi Jinping (centre) alongside Macron and von de Leyen in Beijing on Thursday. Photo: AFP> Earlier in the day and speaking before journalists, Macron told Xi: "I know I can count on you to bring Russia to its senses and everyone to the negotiating table." Addressing media gathered at the EU's Beijing headquarters following meetings with Xi - first with and then without Macron - and Chinese Premier Li Qiang, the commission chief said she had warned both that providing arms to Russia would "significantly harm our relationship". Asked by Macron to not provide arms to Russia, Xi replied that it was "not his war", according to a Reuters report citing a French diplomatic source. Asked whether Xi had committed to speaking to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky - who has for months been asking publicly to speak with the Chinese leader by phone, then inviting him to Kyiv in person, von der Leyen said no firm promise had been made. "So it was interesting to hear that President Xi reiterated his willingness to speak when conditions and time are right," she said. "I think this is a positive element." Story continues It amounted to a united EU front on Ukraine, but it was not immediately clear whether Xi was willing to offer any assurances of using Chinese leverage to call off Russia. A statement posted by the Chinese foreign ministry largely reiterated previous statements Xi has made on the war. "China insists on promoting peace talks and a political settlement," it read. It added that Beijing "is willing to work with France to call on the international community to" address a range of issues from targeting civilians to the use of nuclear weapons. "Macron and von der Leyen both made clear that China has a responsibility to use its influence with Russia to end the war and that Europe is counting on Xi to do so," said Noah Barkin, an analyst of EU-China relations at Rhodium Group, a research house. "But there were no obvious concessions from Xi. He did not condemn Russia's plans to station nuclear weapons in Belarus. Nor did he commit to speaking with Ukrainian President Zelensky." On many other fronts, however, von der Leyen took a sterner line than the French president, who was accompanied on his three-day, cross-country trip with 53 business leaders and took the opportunity to pursue deeper business ties with China. Macron's entourage signed more than 20 business deals, indicating France had no interest in curtailing its economic ties with China. Further deals could be signed in Guangzhou on Friday, where Xi planned to treat his French counterpart to an informal dinner in a surprise location, Paris officials said. One deal will crack open China's pork sector to French pig farmers. Another will see Alstom supply an electric traction system for Chengdu metro system. Energy giant EDF secured nuclear power and wind accords, while French shipping firm CMA CGM sealed a biofuels deal with two state-owned Chinese conglomerates. Officials had downplayed the suggestion that von der Leyen would play the "bad cop" to Macron's "good", but it was left to the German to hone in on prickly aspects of the relationship with China, including economic grievances, human rights, and cross-strait tensions with Taiwan. The European Commission chief told Xi that EU businesses were fed up with Chinese economic practices. "I conveyed that European Union businesses in China are concerned by unfair practices in some sectors under practices that impede their access to the Chinese market," von der Leyen said. She confirmed that the EU wanted to "reassess" a long-negotiated investment pact with China, even if it was not directly discussed with Xi. "We started negotiations 10 years ago and concluded two years ago, a lot has happened since then ... we have seen during that time further deterioration in market access for EU companies in China," she said. Von der Leyen said she pushed Xi on thorny topics like Taiwan and human rights. "I expressed our deep concerns about deterioration of the human rights situation in China," she noted. "The situation in Xinjiang is particularly concerning." On Taiwan, she said she told Xi that "the threat to use force to change the status quo is unacceptable. It is important that some of the tensions that might occur should be resolved through dialogue". The trip came a week after von der Leyen delivered a high-profile speech on China in Brussels, in which she called for a "de-risking" of the trade relationship by reducing European dependencies on China for critical commodities and restricting the flow of sensitive technologies to the world's second-largest economy. Experts said the commission would face a challenge in getting member states on board with a strategy that could ratchet up trade tensions with China - a sentiment that was borne out by Thursday's exchanges in Beijing. "By bringing von der Leyen along with him, Emmanuel Macron wanted to showcase European unity but also the French European leadership," said Marc Julienne, head of China research at the Institut Francais des Relations Internationales, a French think tank. "At the end of the day, President Macron was not able to address critical issues like trade deficit, stability in the Taiwan Strait or human rights, instead promoting deeper economic exchanges," he added. "Von der Leyen, on the contrary, demonstrated an attitude of great confidence and did not avoid any topic with Xi Jinping." Barkin at Rhodium Group noted a difference in tone between the two European leaders. "While she stressed the need to de-risk, Macron spoke of reducing barriers to trade and investment. There was no indication that he buys into the need for tougher export controls or restrictions on outbound investment," he said. "And he will have comforted Xi by reaffirming his commitment to strategic autonomy, a concept the Chinese have embraced more than France's European partners." 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 2023 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2023. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Geber86 / iStock.com Have you ever received a text message or email making an unusual money request? This is a type of social engineering scam often referred to as phishing, and it is quickly becoming all too common among the masses. Find Out: Why Stealth Wealth Is the Best Way To Handle Your Money And More: How to Guard Your Wealth From A Potential Banking Crisis with Gold According to Kevin Lee, VP of trust and safety at Sift, 98% of cybercrime involves social engineering. Fraudsters using social engineering scams will trick or manipulate people into revealing confidential information including passwords, credit card numbers or other credentials. Cybercriminals will use this information to commit payment fraud or account takeover (ATO) attacks. According to a recent Sift report, ATO attacks jumped by 131% in the first half of 2022. As phishing and money scams become increasingly convincing, what can people do to protect themselves? Heres how you can spot money scams through email and text messaging and what to do next if you think youre the target of a scammer. Signs of a Money Scam The next time you receive an unusual or suspicious text or email, keep your eyes peeled for the following signs of a social engineering scam. Sense of Urgency One of the most common tactics fraudsters use is creating a sense of urgency. This is an attempt to prompt you to quickly take action without thinking all the way through about the text or email you just received. Lee uses the example of receiving a text that says your bank account will be shut down unless you immediately share a password, download something or click a link. Take Our Poll: Are You Concerned About the Safety of Your Money in Your Bank Accounts? Grammatical Errors Grammatical errors are common red flags indicating scammy messages. These will include obvious misspellings or strange wording and can easily be spotted. Mismatching Sender Email and Domain Name Look out for sender emails and domain names that dont match. Its important to pay attention to missing letters or numbers that stand in for letters, like the number 0 instead of an O, Lee said. Story continues Jason Zirkle, certified fraud examiner (CFE) at the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), said to keep an eye out to see whether the senders email address looks like a suspicious variation of a well-known company. A good example is receiving an email from Google that has the email address google-support-us.com. Texts or Emails Claiming Something Zirkle said you can spot money scams through texts or emails claiming the following have happened: You won a prize in a contest, even if you dont remember entering the contest. The email or text is from law enforcement or a government agency. The text or email claims it is from a shipping company, like UPS or FedEx, and it needs you to click on a tracking link. Zirkle said, Any text messages asking you to click a link, no matter who they purport to be from, are a red flag. Email Attachments Do not open or download any attachments you are not expecting in an email. Hyperlinks in Email Much like spammy text messages asking people to click on links, Zirkle said spam emails have hyperlinks for you to click. The big red flag is when you hover over the hyperlink and see the link-to address is different. Do not open any links, especially if the link seems unusual or there is a sense of urgency in the content copy to click the links. Unusual Requests Lee said, Be on alert if the message is asking you to send or transfer money, purchase something for someone or share your login credentials. How To Protect Yourself From Money Scams Some phishing scams are now utilizing AI tools to seem more believable. Consumers can stay vigilant and keep their personal information safe by following these steps. Delete the Message and Do Not Click Links If you receive a text message or email creating a sense of urgency and telling you to click on a link, open an attachment or call a phone number, Zirkle recommends deleting it. Do not click any links. What if the message purports to be coming from an important contact, like your bank? Zirkle said to Google the actual phone number for your bank and call it to check whether the message is legitimate. The message will usually convince you the sender is trying to get you to avoid a negative consequence, like threatening to arrest you, or gain something of value, like winning a prize, Zirkle said. Never Share Your Financial Information or Account Passwords Do not give out your financial information for discounts or rewards. Lee said this information should be provided only to trusted financial institutions or government agencies. Similarly, do not send out account passwords to anyone over SMS or email. Lee recommends keeping your data safe by using a password manager. This allows you to use a unique name and password for every website and store. It remembers the passwords so you dont have to. Take Your Time If you receive a text or email from someone you trust saying they need you to do something immediately, such as verify your ID or send money, Lee recommends stopping and thinking it through. Ask yourself these questions before making any moves: Would this person ordinarily contact you in this way? Does their communication style seem different than usual? Can you verify its actually them by contacting them in a different way? Lee said, Many fraudsters imbue their scams with a sense of urgency or emotional appeals to get their victims to act quickly without thinking about how realistic the request really is. What If You Are a Victim of an Email or Text Money Scam? What if you are a victim of an email or text scam? Oren Wortman, Sygnias VP of cyber security services for North America, recommends taking the next steps: Notify law enforcement. Wortman said you can do this by filing an Ic3.gov form with the FBI. This is a cyber complaint, alerting the IC3 you have been the victim of an Internet crime, Wortman said. Notify all of your financial institutions. This ensures these institutions arent processing requests for payments or things like wire transfers without your confirmation. Notify credit bureaus. They will put a lock on your credit reports and credit profiles, Wortman said. You dont want fraudsters messing up your credit score. Subscribe to identity and credit monitoring services. These services will help you monitor your personal information such as your name, SSN, linked bank accounts and more. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Experts: How To Spot Money Scams Via Email and Text Messaging Fagron NV Regulated information Nazareth (Belgium)/Rotterdam (The Netherlands), 7 April 2023 8AM CET Fagron publishes agenda for annual shareholders meeting The Board of Directors of Fagron NV invites shareholders and other persons authorized to attend general meetings to attend Fagrons annual general meeting of shareholders on Monday 8 May 2023. Agenda The agenda includes the discussion of the annual report, the approval of the annual financial statements and the dividend proposal of 0.25 for the fiscal year 2022, and the approval of the remuneration policy. The remuneration policy provides for a long-term incentive plan for the members of Fagrons executive leadership team, including the CEO and the CFO, based on the award of performance shares. Furthermore, the agenda includes several appointments: The proposal to appoint Klaus Rohrig as non-executive director. The proposal to reappoint AHOK BV, permanently represented by Mr. Koen Hoffman, as independent, non-executive director. The proposal to approve the cooptation of and to appoint Els Vandecandelaere LLC, permanently represented by Els Vandecandelaere, as independent, non-executive director. The full agenda and further details can be found in the meeting documents. On the day of the shareholders meetings Management Deprez BV, represented by Veerle Deprez, will step down as independent, non-executive director. Meeting and meeting documents Fagrons annual general meeting of shareholders will be held at its statutory seat, Venecoweg 20A, 9810, Nazareth (Belgium) and by audio and video conference on Monday 8 May 2023 at 3PM CET. The convocation, including the agenda, and other documents related to the annual general meeting can be found on the Fagron website. Further information Karen Berg Global Investor Relations Manager Tel. +31 6 53 44 91 99 karen.berg@fagron.com About Fagron Fagron is a leading global company active in pharmaceutical compounding, focusing on delivering personalized medicine to hospitals, pharmacies, clinics and patients in more than 30 countries around the world. Story continues Belgian company Fagron NV has its registered office in Nazareth and is listed on Euronext Brussels and Euronext Amsterdam under the ticker symbol FAGR. Fagrons operational activities are managed by the Dutch company Fagron BV, which is headquartered in Rotterdam. In the event of differences between the English translation and the Dutch original of this press release, the latter prevails. Please open the link below for the press release: Fagron publishes agenda for annual shareholders meeting Melbourne, Australia - (NewMediaWire) - April 6, 2023 - First Page, a leading provider of digital marketing services, has received outstanding reviews from clients, helping it solidify its position as a top player in the industry. First Page offers a comprehensive suite of digital marketing services that are tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. Some of its services include search engine optimization, pay-per-click advertising, social media marketing, web design and development, and email marketing. In recent First Page reviews conducted by Appscore, a reputable online review platform, First Page received high praise for its exceptional customer service, effective marketing strategies, and impressive results. Clients expressed satisfaction with the personalised attention and customised solutions provided by the digital agency, which have helped them achieve significant growth in their businesses. One client, who had struggled for years to generate leads through their website, reported a significant increase in traffic and leads within just a few months of working with First Page. Another client praised the team's expertise in search engine optimization, which helped its website rank higher on search engine results pages and attract more visitors. "Within just a matter of weeks, the First Page team was able to completely transform Pokebox's business and propel it to new heights," said Pokebox Australia. "They achieved this by implementing well-structured campaigns and utilising their expertise in the digital marketing industry." First Page has established a reputation for delivering exceptional results for its clients through its comprehensive suite of cutting-edge digital marketing services, including search engine optimisation, pay-per-click advertising, social media marketing, and web design and development. The company's success is a testament to its commitment to delivering personalised solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. The managing director of First Page, Nick Bell, said the latest positive reviews from customers were a testament to years of hard work and a customer-first policy. "We are thrilled to receive such positive reviews from our clients," said Bell. "Our team is dedicated to providing the highest quality digital marketing services, and we are proud to see that our efforts are making a difference for our clients." With a team of experienced professionals who are dedicated to staying up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in the industry, the digital agency is able to deliver customised solutions that help its clients achieve their growth objectives. Whether a client is looking to increase website traffic, generate more leads, or improve their online presence, First Page has the expertise and experience to help them succeed. Apart from the glowing reviews, First Page has also received several industry awards in many countries, including Australia, the United States, and Europe. These awards recognise the agency's outstanding performance and achievements within the global marketing landscape. First Page has also been recognised for its innovative design, user-friendly interface, and ability to help businesses build a strong online reputation. The recognition and awards that First Page has received highlight its efficiency in providing businesses with an effective online reputation management solution. They have cemented its position as a leading go-to firm for reputation management for businesses of all sizes. "We are honored to receive these awards and glowing reviews, and we remain committed to providing businesses with cutting-edge digital solutions that deliver measurable results," Bell added. Contact: First Page Building 1, 658 Church Street, Richmond VIC 3121 Call: 1300 479 226 Email: info@firstpage.com.au FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: The GM logo is seen at the General Motors plant in Sao Jose dos Campos By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -General Motors' robotaxi unit Cruise LLC is recalling the automated driving software in 300 vehicles after one of its driverless vehicles crashed into the back of a San Francisco bus. The March 23 collision was the fault of a software error in a Cruise automated vehicle (AV) that inaccurately predicted the movement of an articulated San Francisco Municipal Transit Authority bus, Cruise said on Friday. The crash caused moderate damage to the Cruise but did not result in any injuries. Cruise in a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) filing on Friday said the software was updated on March 25 to address concerns that the system "may inaccurately predict the movement of articulated vehicles such as buses and tractor trailers." "Fender benders like this rarely happen to our AVs, but this incident was unique," Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt said in a blog post. "We do not expect our vehicles to run into the back of a city bus under any conditions, so even a single incident like this was worthy of immediate and careful study." Cruise in a separate filing with California said the vehicle was traveling on Haight Street when a bus stopped ahead of it and the Cruise struck the rear bumper. Vogt said, "The buss behavior was reasonable and predictable. It pulled out into a lane of traffic from a bus stop and then came to a stop. Although our car did brake in response, it applied the brakes too late and rear-ended the bus at about 10 mph." The driverless vehicle's view of the buss front section became fully blocked as the bus pulled out in front of the AV. "Since the AV had previously seen the front section and recognized that the bus could bend, it predicted that the bus would move as connected sections with the rear section following the predicted path of the front section," Vogt said, adding that it was the only crash of its kind that the company has experienced. Story continues Cruise said after the update it determined the crash would not recur. Cruise in September disclosed that it recalled and updated software in 80 self-driving vehicles after a June crash in San Francisco that left two people injured. NHTSA last year said the software could "incorrectly predict" an oncoming vehicle's path. NHTSA in December opened a formal safety probe into the Cruise autonomous driving system after it received reports of incidents in which self-driving Cruise vehicles "may engage in inappropriately hard braking or become immobilized." (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by David Goodman, Chizu Nomiyama and Mark Porter) DUBLIN, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas (HNSCC) Market Size and Trend Report including Epidemiology and Pipeline Analysis, Competitor Assessment, Unmet Needs, Clinical Trial Strategies and Forecast, 2021-2031" drug pipelines has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Research and Markets Logo This report includes an assessment of the disease epidemiology and 10-year patient-based forecast (PBF) across the 8MM for marketed and pipeline therapies with established mechanisms of action and cell & gene therapies by class, including early to late clinical stage pipeline products, with a launch date assessment by market for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas (HNSCC). In addition to PBF sales data for the 8MM, this report contains sales forecast extrapolations for an additional 7 geographical markets (7M), totaling 15 major markets (15MM). These sales forecast extrapolations leverage data on pharmaceutical sales and drug availability from the publisher's World Markets Healthcare (WMH) and POLI Price Intelligence databases. The report also analyzes the clinical and commercial landscapes of GBM, with pricing assumptions based on currently marketed products by class of cell & gene therapies, accompanied by a transparent forecast methodology. Additionally, the report evaluates indication-specific unmet needs and competitive assessment, and identifies key future players in the cell therapy market. Cell and gene therapy (CGT) is not an established therapy area in HNSCC, but there is an active clinical pipeline. Gene therapies dominate the HNSCC CGT pipeline with 10 agents in Phase II and 13 agents in Phase I. Autologous T-cell receptors (TCRs) follow close behind with 3 agents in Phase II and 7 agents in Phase I of development. However, CGTs only constitute a modest proportion of the overall HNSCC pipeline, reflecting the unproven efficacy of these modalities in this cancer type. Cell and gene therapies are expected to capture a combined total of 8% of the HNSCC market by the end of the forecast period in 2031, reaching $262 million in 8MM sales (US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, Japan, and China). Story continues Sales forecasts for the 7M (Australia, South Korea, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, Israel, and Canada) assessed in this analysis show the overall HNSCC market (cell therapies and established/traditional therapies) is expected to reach $163 million by 2031. CGT agents show promise for partially meeting unmet needs in HNSCC and can provide the most value by producing more therapeutic options for patients with locally advanced HNSCC. CGTs are not expected to address the unmet need of identifying new druggable targets, with the top 5 targets in the HNSCC already being well-established targets. Key Questions Answered What is the target patient pool for cell & gene therapies in each cancer indication? Which patient groups are more likely to receive these therapies? What does the cell & gene therapy clinical stage pipeline look like in each cancer indication What is the anticipated breakdown between autologous and allogeneic cell therapies? When will cell & gene therapies launch in each market? What is the total market value projected for the forecast end, in 2031? A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes Replimune Ltd SQZ Biotechnologies Iovance Biotherapeutics Inc Key Highlights Forecast includes 8 countries Forecast covers 2021-2031 Seven markets are extrapolated, obtaining a 15-market value for all GBM therapeutics Reasons to Buy Obtain cell & gene therapy sales forecasts across multiple regions Gain insight into promising early stage approaches Key Topics Covered: 1. Preface 1.1. Contents 1.2. Report Scope 2. Executive Summary 3. Disease Overview 3.1. HNSCC Etiology & Treatment Algorithm 1 3.2. Treatment Algorithm 2 4. Marketed & Pipeline Drugs Overview 4.1. Marketed Drugs Overview 4.2. Pipeline Analysis 4.3. Target Analysis and Clinical Benchmarks 5. Market Outlook 5.1. 10-Year Market Analysis with Drivers and Barriers 5.2. 10-Year Market Outlook - 15 Markets 6. Unmet Needs 7. Likelihood of Approval Analysis and Phase Transition Success Rate Analysis 8. Competitive Assessment 8.1. Competitive Analysis by Class of Therapy 9. Future Players 9.1. Future Players Based on Pipeline Strength 10. Appendix For more information about this drug pipelines report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/9s4525 Source: GlobalData About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/head-and-neck-squamous-cell-carcinomas-hnscc-market-research-report-2023-epidemiology-and-pipeline-analysis-competitor-assessment-unmet-needs-clinical-trial-strategies-and-forecasts-2021-2031-301792369.html SOURCE Research and Markets MAXIMIZE MARKET RESEARCH PRIVATE LIMITED Human Resource Technology Market is segmented into Type, Deployment Mode, Organization size, and End-User for the analysis of the market. The Bottom-Up approach was used to estimate the Human Resource Technology Market size. Pune, April 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Maximize Market Research, a global Information Technology and Telecommunication market research firm, has published competitive intelligence market research report on Human Resource Technology Market . The Global Human Resource Technology market size was valued at USD 23.90 Bn in 2022. The total Human Resource Technology Market revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.7 percent from 2023 to 2029, reaching USD 39.60 Bn during the forecast period. Market Size in 2021 USD 23.90 Bn Market Size in 2029 USD 39.60 Bn CAGR 7.7 percent (2023-2029) Forecast Period 2023-2029 Base Year 2021 Number of Pages 278 No. of Tables 126 No. of Charts and Figures 119 Segment Covered By Type, Deployment Mode, Organization size, and End-User Regional Scope North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, South America Report Coverage Market Share, Size & Forecast by Revenue | 20222029, Market Dynamics, Growth Drivers, Restraints, Investment Opportunities, and Key Trends, Competitive Landscape, Key Players Benchmarking, Competitive Analysis, MMR Competition Matrix, Competitive Leadership Mapping, Global Key Players Market Ranking Analysis. Request For Free Sample Report: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/183549 Human Resource Technology Market Scope and Research Methodology The report includes the detailed analysis of the Human Resource Technology Market. The competitive analysis of the Human Resource Technology Market report includes the profile of the major market players including company overview, financial performance , product portfolio, and strategies. Key insights provided in the report include the major drivers of the Human Resource Technology Market, the challenges faced by the market participants and growth prospects in the Human Resource Technology industry across the world. The report covers the Human Resource Technology market strategies with their analysis based on growth in the last few years in the industry which helps investors and major companies decide their investments and to make data-driven decisions. Story continues The segments covered in the report are Type, Deployment Mode, Organization size, and End-User. Primary and Secondary research method was used to collect data from the Human Resource Technology market. Primary research was conducted to validate the finding from the secondary research method. Bottom Up approach was used to estimate the Human Resource Technology market size. The report acts as a guide for investors in the market. Human Resource Technology Market Overview Human resource technology is software as well as hardware used for automating and streamlining HR processes. It is necessary for maintaining the regulatory framework of human capital in the organization. The technology includes payroll and compensation, management, administration benefits, and workforce analytics. Human Resource technology helps managers and specialists to work effectively with a better employee experience. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Algorithms to boost the Human Resource Technology Market Growth Use of Artificial Intelligence applications such as Bots and Virtual assistants helps to automate the recruitment process and is expected to influence the Human Resource Technology market growth. To recognize user requests and communicate with a business system for desired output some logics are used by bots. The technology is a cost-effective tool for business and enables to hire of employees with up-skill staffing process. The technology allows to optimize recruitment process with adoption of AI and machine learning and are expected to boost the Human Resource Technology Market growth. Increased need for employee productivity and use of application across HR functions is contributing for the growth for the market. Companies equipped with this technology present opportunities for market growth. However, threat to privacy and limits of Data Integration are expected to hamper the market growth. Get a Sample Copy of the Report : https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/183549 Trends in the market are: Responsible Artificial Intelligence for Recruiting Technology that Supports a Hybrid Work Model Blockchain Integration Augmented Analytics Learning Market Demand and Development Employee Experience Platform North American region is expected to dominate the Human resource Technology Market over the forecast period North America dominated the regional market in 2022 and is expected to continue the dominance over the forecast period. Focus on the improvement of business process and enhancing HR analytics offered by the vendors of human resource technology are expected to influence the regional market growth. Asia Pacific region is expected to grow at the highest growth rate during the forecast period. Need for companies to navigate HR tasks including talent management and administrative work are factors expected to fuel the Asia Pacific regional Human Resource Technology Market size. Small and medium-sized businesses major players in the region are investing, funding and doing partnerships. Human Resource Technology Market Segmentation By Type: Talent Management Payroll Management Performance Management Workforce Management Others Based on type, the market is segmented based on Talent Management, Payroll Management, Performance Management, Workforce Management, and Others. Talent management segment is expected to hold the largest Human Resource Technology Market share over the forecast period. Solution provided by talent management helps to manage recruitment and retention processes. Get Customization on this Report for Specific Research Solutions: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-customization/183549 By Deployment- mode: On-Premises Cloud By Organization Size: Large Enterprises Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) Based on Organization size, the market is segmented by Large Enterprises, and Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). Demand for cloud solution among SMEs and startups is expected to fuel the market growth. By End-User: BFSI IT and Telecom Healthcare Retail Manufacturing Government Others Human Resource Technology Market Key Players Include: ADP Inc. Cegid Ceridian HCM Cornerstone OnDemand, Inc IBM Corporation Oracle Corporation Workday Inc. SAP SE Hi Bob, Inc Automatic Data Processing(ADP),Inc The Access Group Infor, Inc UKG Inc SumTotal system Get the Sample PDF of the Report: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/183549 Key questions answered in the Human Resource Technology Market are: What is Human Resource Technology? What was the Human Resource Technology market size in 2021? What is the expected Human Resource Technology market size by 2029? What is the growth rate of the Human Resource Technology Market? Which are the factors expected to drive the Human Resource Technology market growth? Which segment dominated the Biopolymers market growth? What is the demand pattern for the Human Resource Technology market? Which region held the largest share in the Human Resource Technology market? Who are the key players in the Human Resource Technology market? Key Offerings: Past Market Size and Competitive Landscape (2018 to 2021) Past Pricing and price curve by region (2018 to 2021) Market Size, Share, Size & Forecast by different segment | 20222029 Market Dynamics Growth Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, and Key Trends by region Market Segmentation A detailed analysis by Type, Deployment Mode, Organization size, and End-User Competitive Landscape Profiles of selected key players by region from a strategic perspective Competitive landscape Market Leaders, Market Followers, Regional player Competitive benchmarking of key players by region PESTLE Analysis PORTERs analysis Value chain and supply chain analysis Legal Aspects of business by region Lucrative business opportunities with SWOT analysis Recommendations Maximize Market Research is leading Information Technology & Telecommunication research firm, has also published the following reports: Human Capital Management (HCM) SaaS Market : The total market size is expected to reach USD 33.53 Bn by 2029, at a CAGR of 6.9 percent during the forecast period. Increasing adoption of HRM software and HCM provides accurate results regarding salary and other benefits is expected to boost the market growth. Human Resource Management Software Market : The total market size is expected to reach USD 51.90 Bn in 2029 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 10.10 percent over the forecast period. Integration of AI and ML in HCM suites and adoption of cloud-based software solutions is expected to boost market growth. Software as a Service (SaaS) based human resource management (HRM) Market : The total market size is expected to reach USD 699.82 Bn by 2029, at a CAGR of 12.5 percent during the forecast period. The importance of the utilization of employee-centric systems to improve human resource activities is expected to boost market growth. Human Resource Professional Services Market : The total market size is expected to reach USD 12.15 Bn by 2029, at a CAGR of 12.4 percent during the forecast period. Increasing demand for flexibility in accessing data about leaves, attendance, work schedule, and training modules is expected to influence the market growth. Human Capital Management Market : The total market size was valued at USD 19.40 Bn in 2021 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.3 percent reaching USD 39.51 Bn by 2029. It attracts and hire talent that supports the organization reach its goals and this factor is expected to influence the market growth. About Maximize Market Research: Maximize Market Research is a multifaceted market research and consulting company with professionals from several industries. Some of the industries we cover include medical devices, pharmaceutical manufacturers, science and engineering, electronic components, industrial equipment, technology, and communication, cars, and automobiles, chemical products and substances, general merchandise, beverages, personal care, and automated systems. To mention a few, we provide market-verified industry estimations, technical trend analysis, crucial market research, strategic advice, competition analysis, production and demand analysis, and client impact studies. CONTACT: Contact Maximize Market Research: 3rd Floor, Navale IT Park, Phase 2 Pune Banglore Highway, Narhe, Pune, Maharashtra 411041, India sales@maximizemarketresearch.com +91 96071 95908, +91 9607365656 INDIANAPOLIS Indianas governor signed a bill banning all gender-affirming care for minors Wednesday, joining at least 12 other states that have enacted laws restricting or banning such care. Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb signed the legislation after Republican majorities in the Legislature approved it. The law will go into effect July 1, and trans youth currently taking medication to transition would have until the end of the year to stop doing so. Holcomb had told reporters Tuesday that the bill on his desk was vague and had not indicated he would sign it or veto it. Opponents of the legislation said the types of care the bill would ban, such as hormone therapy and puberty blockers, are vital and often life-saving for transgender kids. Medical providers say most of the procedures banned in the bill are reversible and safe for minors. Transgender medical treatments for children and teens have been available in the U.S. for more than a decade and are endorsed by major medical associations. But supporters of the legislation have contended such care is not reversible or carries side effects that only an adult and not a minors parent can consent to. Lawmakers also banned gender-transition surgeries for minors in the state, though hospital representatives in Indiana told lawmakers doctors do not perform genital surgeries for minors or provide them surgery referrals. At least 12 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for minors: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Utah, South Dakota and West Virginia. Federal judges have blocked enforcement of laws in Alabama and Arkansas, and nearly two dozen states are considering bills this year to restrict or ban care. CHICAGO, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Industrial Vehicles Market size will grow to USD 49.2 billion by 2028 (forecast year) from USD 39.7 billion in 2023 (estimated year), at a CAGR of 4.4% during 2023-2028 period, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Factors such as growing e-commerce industry, paired with increasing focus on workplace safety are expected to augment revenues growth for the industrial vehicles market. Advent of smart factories in material handling industries, in conjunction with rising trend of hydrogen-powered forklifts are likely to create favorable opportunities for the industrial vehicles market during the forecast period. MarketsandMarkets Logo Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=164686137 Browse in-depth TOC on "Industrial Vehicles Market". 327 - Tables 90 - Figures 333 - Pages Industrial Vehicles Market Scope: Report Coverage Details Market Size USD 49.2 billion by 2028 Growth Rate 4.4% of CAGR Largest Market Asia Pacific Market Dynamics Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities & Challenges Forecast Period 2023-2028 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Vehicle Type, Drive Type, Application, Capacity, Level of Autonomy, Aerial Work Platform Type, and Region Geographies Covered Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and RoW Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Increasing demand for battery-operated industrial vehicles Key Market Drivers Increasing focus on AGVs across end-use industries Aisle trucks segment is estimated to hold the largest market during the forecast period The aisle trucks segment is estimated to account for the largest share in terms of value as well as volume. In addition, the aisle trucks segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Growing e-commerce and warehousing are expected to support the revenue growth of the aisle trucks segment of the global industrial vehicles market. Demand for automation solutions in material handling processes across industries and increasing focus on improving workplace safety are factors that are also anticipated to propel the aisle trucks segment of the global industrial vehicles market during the forecast period. Story continues Battery-operated segment is expected to hold the largest share in the industrial vehicles market during the forecast period Battery-operated is expected to be the largest segment by drive type during the forecast period. Battery-operated industrial vehicles are preferred choices for end-use industries such as manufacturing, freight, and logistics, etc., as these vehicles are environment-friendly and relatively silent during operation, have low operational and maintenance costs, and are easier to operate than ICE and gas-powered industrial vehicles. In addition, most industrial vehicle manufacturers are focusing on new product development of battery-operated industrial vehicles due to CO2 emission concerns. Toyota Industries Corporation, KION Group AG, Jungheinrich AG, HysterYale Materials Handling, Inc., Crown Equipment Corporation, and Hangcha Group Co., Ltd. offer battery-operated industrial vehicles for end users with varying load capacities. Asia Pacific is expected to have largest share in the industrial vehicles market by 2028 Asia Pacific is expected to have largest market share in the industrial vehicles market during the forecast period in terms of value as well as volume. Countries considered under this report for Asia Pacific are China, India, Japan, South Korea, and the Rest of Asia Pacific. The region is a leading producer of industrial vehicles and comprises some of the fastest-developing economies in the world, including China and India. This has led to an increase in industrial vehicle production volumes over the years, with OEMs catering not only to domestic demand but to overseas demand as well. Major industrial vehicle manufacturers are expanding in Asia Pacific to establish themselves in this promising market. For instance, in December 2021, KION Group (Germany) opened a new forklift truck plant in China. In addition to the increase in the population, factors such as increasing GDP, infrastructure investments, and rising per capita income have created more opportunities for industrial vehicles in the Asia Pacific region. Inquire Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=164686137 Industrial Vehicles Market Dynamics: Drivers: 1. Growth in warehousing and e-commerce sectors. 2. Technological advancements across end-use industries. 3. Increasing focus on AGVs across end-use industries. 4. Focus on improving workplace safety. Restraints: 1. High cost associated with automation. 2. High maintenance of industrial vehicles and lack of R&D facilities. Opportunities: 1. Rising demand for electrically operated industrial vehicles. 2. Advent of smart factories in material handling industry. 3. Development of autonomous, connected, and fleet management solutions. Challenges: 1. Government regulations and safety concerns. 2. Low labor costs in emerging economies. Key Market Players: The Industrial Vehicles Market is dominated by major players including Toyota Industries Corporation (Japan), KION Group AG (Germany), Mitsubishi Logisnext Co., Ltd. (Japan), Jungheinrich AG (Germany), and Crown Equipment Corporation (US) Recent Developments: In January 2023, Crown Equipment Corporation expanded its counterbalance forklift portfolio with the launch of four-wheel forklifts available in electric, diesel, and LPG propulsion types. These lifts have load capacities ranging from 2.0 up to 5.5 tons and are capable enough of tackling a wide variety of material handling tasks in indoor as well as outdoor applications. In December 2022, CLARK announced the launch of its SEC20-35 four-wheel electric forklift. This industrial vehicle (forklift) comes with capacities ranging from 4,000-7,000 pounds. In May 2022, CLARK launched the S40-60 IC Pneumatic forklift truck, which has built-in capacities of 8,000 to 12,000 pounds. This forklift offers safety features including an integrated backup camera, LED lights, and optional speed limit control, among others. In November 2021, Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas launched two new forklifts _ PF(D)80N and PF(D)120N model series of 4-wheel internal combustion mid-sized pneumatic tire forklifts. These engine-powered forklifts are available to all the dealers associated with the UniCarriers brand. In April 2020, Konecranes launched E-VER forklift in its existing product portfolio. This product offers advanced digital experience to the end users. Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=164686137 Browse Adjacent Market: Automotive and Transportation Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Construction Equipment Market - Global Forecast to 2027 Autonomous Forklift Market - Forecast to 2027 ADAS Market - Global Forecast to 2030 Electric Construction Equipment Market - Global Forecast to 2027 About MarketsandMarkets: MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/industrial-vehicle-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/industrial-vehicle.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/industrial-vehicles-market-worth-49-2-billion-by-2028---exclusive-report-by-marketsandmarkets-301791563.html SOURCE MarketsandMarkets By buying an index fund, you can roughly match the market return with ease. But if you choose individual stocks with prowess, you can make superior returns. For example, Salcon Berhad (KLSE:SALCON) shareholders have seen the share price rise 61% over three years, well in excess of the market return (14%, not including dividends). However, more recent returns haven't been as impressive as that, with the stock returning just 7.1% in the last year. Let's take a look at the underlying fundamentals over the longer term, and see if they've been consistent with shareholders returns. See our latest analysis for Salcon Berhad Salcon Berhad isn't currently profitable, so most analysts would look to revenue growth to get an idea of how fast the underlying business is growing. Generally speaking, companies without profits are expected to grow revenue every year, and at a good clip. As you can imagine, fast revenue growth, when maintained, often leads to fast profit growth. In the last 3 years Salcon Berhad saw its revenue shrink by 3.1% per year. Despite the lack of revenue growth, the stock has returned 17%, compound, over three years. Unless the company is going to make profits soon, we would be pretty cautious about it. The image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail). You can see how its balance sheet has strengthened (or weakened) over time in this free interactive graphic. A Different Perspective It's nice to see that Salcon Berhad shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 7.1% over the last year. There's no doubt those recent returns are much better than the TSR loss of 5% per year over five years. This makes us a little wary, but the business might have turned around its fortunes. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Salcon Berhad better, we need to consider many other factors. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Salcon Berhad that you should be aware of before investing here. Story continues If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Malaysian exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. 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 Friday's inflation print shocked investors. Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images Goldman Sachs strategists say they expect corporate profits to see their steepest decline since 2020. There are only three sectors they expect to have seen expanded profit margins last quarter. The vast majority of other industries will likely see their margins drop by over 200 basis points. As markets head into first-quarter earnings season, Goldman Sachs strategists say corporate profits are set for their steepest decline since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Earnings per share are expected to decline 7% year-over-year, according to a note from the bank published this week, along with a "significant deterioration" from the -1% year-over-year growth posted in the last three months of 2022. "However, if analyst projections are realized, this quarter will represent the trough in S&P 500 earnings growth. Materials (-32%) and Health Care (-20%) are expected to report the largest earnings declines," the note reads. "Communication Services (-18%) and Info Tech (-16%) stocks are also expected to announce dramatic EPS declines despite recent surging share prices of some of these sectors' largest constituents." There are only three industries that are forecasted to post expanded margins in the last quarter. Energy and industrials are expected to report year-over-year EPS growth of more than 11%, while consumer discretionary is expected to rise over 9% for the same time frame. "With margins projected to contract by a greater amount than in any other quarter since the pandemic, investors will focus on which companies manage to preserve margins and by what means," the analysts wrote. The majority of other sectors will likely see their margins come down by over 200 basis points. There's a "unique level of uncertainty heading into earnings season," because of the string of last month's bank failures, analysts said. The full impact of the banking sector's turmoil won't be reflected in the upcoming earnings reports as the turmoil struck late in the quarter, but "uncertainty is elevated and investors will be focused on the path forward." Financial sector giants like Citigroup and JPMorgan will kick off earnings season next week, with 87% of S&P 500 to report first-quarter fiscal results by May 5th. Read the original article on Business Insider Geber86 / iStock.com Every year, IRS fraud filters flag millions of refunds for review -- including those that are perfectly legitimate, according to the Taxpayer Advocate Service. See: Surprising Data Reveals The Top 25 Tax-Friendly States To Retire Find: 3 Signs You're Serious About Raising Your Credit Score Although most are released after confirmation of identity or clarification of data or other tax information, it can still be frustrating to undergo the process. To make sure your refund doesn't get delayed, follow these tips. Last updated: Apr. 7, 2023. fizkes / Getty Images/iStockphoto Hire a Professional Consider hiring a tax pro to ensure your taxes are filed correctly. "While most of the complications inherent in dealing with IRS can be avoided by taking the time to double- and triple-check your returns before filing, unless you just have one W-2 and no deductions to claim, your best bet may be to hire an expert," said tax accountant Paul Miller of Miller & Company, LLP. "The investment usually pays off in a bigger return too." Goodboy Picture Company / Getty Images Find That Professional Before It's Too Late If you do decide to hire a tax professional, don't wait until the last minute. "Tax professionals head into overdrive for the months leading up to the deadline," Miller said. "Call your tax accountant early to make that important appointment, or at least drop your paperwork off early to put you in the queue of your favorite CPA. [This] results in faster filing and getting ahold of that important tax refund quicker." Read: 10 Signs You Really Do Need Professional Help Filing Your Taxes Hispanolistic / Getty Images Use an Online Program To Ensure Accuracy If you don't opt to hire a tax professional, consider using an online program to cut down on the possibility of errors. When you are manually entering numbers on your tax form, it can be easy to put a number on the wrong line. This can lead to incorrect calculations and a delay in your refund. "One way to mitigate inserting numbers on an incorrect line is to complete the tax form using an online program," said Daniel R. Hill, CFP, president and CEO of Hill Wealth Strategies in Richmond, Virginia. "As I share with my clients, typically, these programs will alert you when a number seems inconsistent with other numbers already entered or with numbers you inserted last year. These programs will help you provide accurate information. Additionally, using an online program will keep you abreast of the most current tax law changes for the current year. This way, you can file an accurate tax return knowing the online program double-checked information and applied the current year's tax updates." Story continues An accurate filing leads to a speedier return. whyframestudio / Getty Images/iStockphoto Double-Check All Your Personal Identification Information "Ensure all personal information, such as your name, address, email and Social Security number are correct," Hill said. More Details: Here's Every Single Tax Deduction You Could Possibly Ask For fizkes / iStock.com Double-Check All Your Tax Credits "For many taxpayers, the challenge is getting credits right on your return," said Megan Gorman, managing partner at Chequers Financial Management. "This can often slow down a refund if the information for earned income credits, the child tax credit or education credits are entered incorrectly." Double-check that the information you enter for any tax credit is accurate. ArtistGNDphotography / Getty Images Double-Check That Your Wages Match What's on Your W-2 Your employer sends a copy of your W-2 directly to the IRS, so if the wages you report don't match what's on the form, your refund could be delayed as the IRS waits to get an explanation. This is typically simply a data-entry error, so make sure you put in your wage information correctly. Read: How To Avoid Paying Taxes Legally -- and the 11 Craziest Ways People Have Done It ArLawKa AungTun / Getty Images/iStockphoto Double-Check the Social Security Numbers for Everyone on Your Tax Forms "If you have an error on a Social Security number of a dependent [it] can slow down processing," Gorman said. "The Social Security error can be common. If the numbers get entered incorrectly, it will slow down your refund." Milan_Jovic / iStock.com Make Sure You Have Selected Only One Filing Status Before filing, make sure that you have chosen the correct filing status on the tax return form. "While it seems fairly simple, you need to commit to one filing status box, even though two or more boxes may be applicable," Hill said. "An incorrect filing status can delay a refund or potentially require you to provide additional documentation of the indicated filing status box." LordHenriVoton / iStock.com Make Sure Only One Parent Is Claiming Your Child as a Dependent if Filing Separately Only one parent can claim each child as a dependent, so coordinate with an ex beforehand to determine who will claim the child. If you both claim the child as a dependent and your ex files their claim first, your return will not be accepted by the IRS. This can cause delays in your refund. valentinrussanov / Getty Images Don't Wait Needlessly To File Your Taxes Taxes are due by April 18, but there's no need to wait until then to file your taxes if you can file them earlier. "The earlier you file, the more time you have to correct errors and the better chance you have of beating the scammers," Miller said. "Check your math and all your entries to ensure everything is in the proper place and right order." Tips: Tax Tricks the Rich Don't Want You To Know insta_photos / Getty Images/iStockphoto File Your Taxes Electronically "If the option is available, electronically file your income tax returns," said Ana del Cerro-Fals, tax partner at BDO USA, LLP. To get your refund even faster, opt to have the refund directly deposited into your bank account. According to the IRS, "filing electronically and choosing direct deposit remains the fastest and safest way to file an accurate income tax return and receive a refund." insta_photos / Getty Images/iStockphoto Make Sure Your Direct Deposit Information Is Correct Filing electronically and getting your return via direct deposit is the fastest way to get your return -- but if the direct deposit information you file is incorrect, this will cause unnecessary delays. "Remember to include the correct direct deposit information on your tax return," said Judith Corprew, executive vice president, chief compliance and risk officer at Patriot Bank, N.A. "If any of the numbers -- either the routing number or the account number -- are incorrect even by a single digit, it could result in a delay." Also: 30 Ways To Prevent a Tax Audit Koldunov / iStock.com If You File by Paper, Make Sure You Do It Correctly Some taxpayers will need to file paper returns because they need to include attachments. If this is the case for you, Miller said to follow these steps: Sign and date the forms. Use the right tax tables to calculate your tax. Fill in all required information. Attach all the necessary schedules and forms. Mail your return to the correct address. alfexe / Getty Images/iStockphoto Don't Miss the April 18 Deadline "A late tax return could also result in delays," Corprew said. If you haven't gotten started on your return, there's no better time than now. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: IRS Delays Refunds For Certain Taxpayers Heres How To Get Yours Faster ROME, ITALY - MARCH 08: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte (not in picture) hold a joint press conference after their meeting at Palazzo Chigi, on March 8, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Antonio Masiello/Getty Images) - Antonio Masiello/Getty Images You wont be allowed to use ChatGPT to improve your productivity or create new products. You wont be allowed to develop lab-grown meat. And there will be fines for any companies that dare to use English words to improve their marketing, or reach new territories. Italy has long been a country that preserves its past and reveres its traditions, but over the last few weeks this admirable quality has taken on sinister new overtones. Rome is turning its back on modernity, clamping down on new technologies with a ferocity that is unprecedented in the developed world. The Luddites or luddistas are in control, and sending an unintentional warning to Britain; if we dont make a serious attempt to reform ourselves, we will soon be banning every form of new technology as well and condemning ourselves to an even deeper cycle of decline. Over the next few years le dolce vita is about to be preserved in aspic. If it's new and challenging, Giorgia Meloni's government wants to ban it. While the rest of the world explores the commercial possibilities of ChatGPT, Italy has just become the first major country to ban it completely. Chatbots wont be coming up with new pasta recipes, composing arias, perfecting pick-up lines or taking on any of the other tasks Italians might have asked them to take over any time soon. The Italian government cited "privacy concerns" as the reason for the prohibition, but it's hard not to see a deeper thread of concern about the threat the technology poses to jobs and traditional businesses. It doesn't stop there. The government is backing a draft law that would ban lab-grown meat, with heavy fines slapped on anyone trying to cultivate alternative proteins. Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida argued that "Laboratory products do not guarantee... the protection of the Italian food and wine culture and tradition". While Britons agonise over what it means to be British, the Italians feel no such confusion: the core of the identity apparently consists of killing pigs and turning them into parma ham. Story continues Another bill tabled by Meloni's party plans to slap 100,000 fines on companies using foreign words in official communications. As it happens, the primary target of the bill's ire is "Anglomania" -- the use of English words, which "demeans and mortifies" Italian. While it's good to see at least one British export thriving, this isn't good news for Italian businesses, and the direction of travel is worse. The government hasn't gotten around to banning driverless cars yet a threat to the fine old Italian tradition of racing around narrow streets breaking every known speed limit or outlawing robots for interrupting the three hour riposo at lunchtime. But at this rate, it is probably only a matter of time. It would be easy to mock this tendency and make fun of the countrys inherent conservatism. Of all the countries that need a blast of technological innovation, Italy is right at the top of the list. Its economy is one of the most closed, and restricted, in the world, and it has barely grown in real terms since the start of the 21st century; from 2000 to 2019, measured in constant dollar terms, Italy eked out a miserable 4 per cent in GDP growth, compared with 27 per cent for Germany and 36 per cent for Spain. But the blunt truth is that Italy is simply further along the path than Britain. The two countries have started to become very similar, in both their economics and their politics. In both, governments and Prime Ministers change with bewildering speed: the UK has been through five PMs in the last seven years, and will very likely get another new one in 2024, while Italy has only been through four. Both are deeply geographically split: the only real difference is that in Italy it is the South that is poor, and the North that is wealthier, while in the UK it is the other way around. Both are hopelessly hooked on debt, and have given up any real intention of ever balancing the budget again. Both are rapidly ageing, with only very high levels of immigration plugging the gaps in the labour force, and both are suffering from an exodus of young talent, with the smartest graduates increasingly making their careers abroad. In both, the stock market doesnt ever really rise, because there are so few dynamic new companies. And, when you add all that up, both are stuck in a zero growth trap. Italy has been there for twenty years, and we have joined them. Luddism is an inevitable feature of politically stuck, zero growth economies. People become more and more afraid of change for one simple reason. They are fearful of their jobs, and they assume that new technologies will take away their livelihood instead of opening up new opportunities, or creating space for new companies to emerge. They cling onto a shrinking pie because they have never seen what a growing one looks like, and they no longer believe they can benefit from it. This tendency is increasingly visible in Britain, where politicians appear eager to tax anything that moves to fund redistribution and public services. Italy is ahead of us in banning every form of modernity. France and Germany, which are both also considering bans on AI even while more successful rivals such as China are embracing its potential, are not far behind. And if the UK does not start to reform, and show some willingness to kick-start growth again, we will very soon be heading down the same path. Within a year or two, we will be banning ChatGPT and lab-grown meat and, just like Italy, dooming ourselves to a generation or more of relentless economic decline. BANGKOK, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- J&T Express, a global logistics service provider, celebrated its fourth anniversary in Thailand themed "Parcel Story of 4ever Friendship". J&T Express Celebrates Its Fourth Anniversary in Thailand Since its launch in Thailand in March 2019, J&T Express has quickly grown into a leading delivery service provider. Through its vehicle fleet, the Jet Transport, J&T Express covers 928 districts in 77 provinces, including remote areas. Currently, J&T Express operates 24/7, 365 days a year supported by customer service hotlines and a one-on-one service for VIP customers. In addition, J&T Fulfillment provides automated warehousing solutions and a suite of diversified services to cater to the various needs of B2B and B2C customers. To supplement its offerings in the domestic market, J&T International, a subsidiary of J&T, also offers one-stop international logistics solutions to customers, contributing to the rapid development of cross-border e-commerce in Thailand. J&T Express operates gateway centre with an area of over 100,000 square meters fitted with leading automatic sorting technology in Southeast Asia. Benefiting from this, the company achieved an increase of 25% in parcel volume and a 19% improvement in service efficiency year-over-year in 2022. Mrs. Lily Chen, Chief Marketing Officer of J&T Express Thailand said, "J&T Express' achievements would not have been made possible without the support of our customers and partners. Rooted in our 'customer-oriented and efficiency-based' mission, we strive to be the best courier logistics provider in Thailand. We will continue to make strides with our customers and contribute to the development of the digital economy in Thailand." The fourth anniversary celebration was also attended by Mario Maurer, a Thai national idol, and a spokesperson for J&T Express Thailand. About J&T Express J&T Express is a global logistics service provider with leading express delivery businesses in Southeast Asia and China, the largest and fastest-growing market in the world. Founded in 2015, J&T Express' network spans thirteen countries, including Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, China, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Mexico, Brazil and Egypt. Adhering to its "customer-oriented and efficiency-based" mission, J&T Express is committed to providing customers with integrated logistics solutions through intelligent infrastructure and digital logistics network, as part of its global strategy to connect the world with greater efficiency and bring logistical benefits to all. Story continues Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/jt-express-celebrates-its-fourth-anniversary-in-thailand-301792311.html SOURCE J&T Express Biden has drawn extensively on his Irish heritage throughout his presidency. Joe Biden will return to his ancestral homeland next week on his first official visit to Ireland and Northern Ireland as US president, commemorating the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Biden will begin his trip on Tuesday (April 11) in Belfast, where he will address lawmakers at Stormontthe seat of Northern Ireland legislature25 years after the US helped negotiate a peace treaty that ended decades of sectarian violence. He will then travel to Ireland to give a speech to celebrate the deep, historic ties that link our countries and people, the White House said in a statement. Read more Bidens trip comes at a turbulent political time in Northern Ireland, which has seen a year-long boycott by the Democratic Unionist Party, the countrys largest pro-British unionist party. The party is angry over proposed reforms that would allow Northern Ireland to maintain a closer trade relationship with the European Union, post-Brexit. London and Brussels reached a preliminary agreement on the new trade rules in February. A brief history of the Good Friday Agreement The Belfast Agreement, more commonly known as the Good Friday Agreement, was a 1998 peace accord intended to end decades of political violence between Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland. The conflict was known as the Troubles. The accords primary achievement was restoring self-government in Northern Ireland on a basis of power-sharing with London, allowing a greater political voice for Catholics in Northern Ireland, an extreme minority in the country. It also normalized relations between the United Kingdom and the country of Ireland, which modified its constitution after the vote to remove territorial claims to Northern Ireland. The agreement was approved in a referendum held in both Ireland and Northern Ireland. In Northern Ireland, 96% of Catholics voted for the agreement, while only 52% of Protestants did. Story continues Former US president Bill Clinton, who recently called the signing of the Good Friday Agreement one of the happiest days of his presidency, also will be in Belfast to commemorate the accord. Related stories The UK and the EU have reached an agreement on Northern Ireland Why is St. Patricks Day such a big holiday in the US? What a Biden presidency means for the UK More from Quartz Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. AP / Shutterstock.com The Joe Rogan Experience is an immensely popular albeit controversial podcast, with 14.6 million subscribers as of April 2023. Im a Self-Made Millionaire: These Are the 6 Investments Everyone Should Make During an Economic Downturn Learn: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000 While not particularly known for its investment advice, on one episode host Joe Rogan accidentally gave solid investment advice to his listeners in the course of relaying a personal story. A transcript of that podcast could have been mistaken for something out of the mouth of the Oracle of Omaha himself, billionaire CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Warren Buffett. Read on to learn what Rogan said, how Buffett himself has framed the topic and how the advice itself can help you with your own investment strategy. Rogans Podcast Quote In the middle of one of Rogans podcasts, he began relaying the story of an investment tip he heard about someone who was going to revolutionize a form of travel, and that Rogan could get in on the ground floor. When he discussed this with his business manager, he brought up the failure of biotech company Theranos, which promised a revolutionary blood analysis machine that could identify a host of potential health problems with just a single prick of the finger. That companys CEO, Elizabeth Holmes, was sentenced to 135 months in prison, or slightly over 11 years, for criminal fraud. Take Our Poll: Are You Concerned About the Safety of Your Money in Your Bank Accounts? Rogan went on to explain to his listeners that he had no interest in any groundbreaking technology or products until they have proven themselves to be true. As Rogan sees it, theres no point in investing in something that you dont understand. If you have to go to school or read books to understand what someone is even trying to do with their innovation, Rogan says for him the answer will always be no way, not worth it. Warren Buffetts Version of the Advice Although in a different format, Warren Buffett has long espoused the same idea that Rogan mentioned in his podcast. As Buffett once told Forbes magazine, Investment must be rational; if you cant understand it, dont do it. That is often colloquially translated to never invest in something you dont understand. Story continues Buffett himself acknowledges that he has missed many opportunities in the market by sticking to his mantra. For example, Buffett is famously averse to technology, not because he doesnt like it, but because he doesnt understand it. The Berkshire Hathaway CEO had admitted to missing out on big moves in companies like Alphabet and Amazon for this very reason. But that doesnt mean he was wrong. On the contrary, Berkshire Hathaway has vastly outperformed the S&P 500 by investing in things that Buffett understands, like banks, oil and railroads. From 1965 to 2022, Berkshire Hathaway actually doubled the return of the S&P 500, returning 19.8% annually, vs. the S&P 500s 9.9%. How You Can Apply This Investment Tip to Your Own Portfolio While its true that billionaire investors such as Warren Buffett might have access to more information than the average investor, this doesnt mean you cant profit from the same techniques they use. In fact, you might even be able to outperform these investment giants by applying what you already know. For example, if you work at a company, you might have firsthand knowledge of its efficiency and understand how that is going to translate into future profits. While you cant trade on insider information that is not public, its not a crime to take note of how a company operates and whether or not it has what it takes to succeed. Adopting a similar principle from famed investor Peter Lynch, if you shop a lot at a particular store, you might be able to note things that take time to decipher in an annual report that other investors might be reading. For example, you might note that the retailer rarely discounts its merchandise but it still has shoppers buying all the company has and coming back for more. While youll have to supplement your firsthand observations with actual data from company reports, you might have a leg up when it comes to investing by noting positive trends. The point is that if you believe in investors like Warren Buffett and on that given day, Joe Rogan you shouldnt waste your time gambling on hot stocks in industries you dont understand. While you may luck out and bag a winner, thats not a solid long-term investment strategy. Just ask investors in the thousands of cryptocurrencies that have disappeared, or even in banks like Silicon Valley Bank, which due to its investment strategy went from Wall Street darling to the second-biggest bank failure in U.S. history virtually overnight. If you truly understand what youre investing in, the likelihood of this happening to you is very low. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Joe Rogans Accidental Investing Tip Thats Backed by Warren Buffett MarketsandMarkets Research Pvt. Ltd. The Lawful interception market is growing due to the rapid adoption of advanced technologies. Chicago, April 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global Lawful Interception Market size is expected to grow USD 3.5 billion in 2021 to USD 12.9 billion by 2026, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 29.3% during the forecast period, according to report by MarketsandMarkets. Browse in-depth TOC on Lawful Interception Market 277 - Tables 40 - Figures 225 - Pages Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=1264 Scope of the Report Report Metrics Details Market value in 2021 USD 3.5 Billion Market value in 2026 USD 12.9 Billion Market Growth Rate 29.3% CAGR Largest Market APAC Market size available for years 2016-2026 Base year considered 2020 Forecast period 2021-2026 Segments covered By Component, Network, Network Technology, Communication Content, Mediation Device Interface, Type of Interception, End User and Region Regions covered North America, Europe, APAC, MEA, Latin America Companies covered Utimaco (Germany), Vocal Technologies(US), AQSACOM (US), Verint (US), BAE Systems (UK), Cisco (US), Ericsson (Sweden), SS8 Networks. (US), Elbit Systems (US), Matison (Croatia), Shoghi (India), Comint (Mexico) Signalogic (US), IPS S.P.A (Rome), Tracespan (Isreal), Accuris Networks (US), EVE Compliancy Solutions (Netherlands), Squire Technologies (UK), Incognito Software (Canada), GL Communications (US), Septier Communications (Isreal), NetQuest (NJ), ETSI (France), Atos (France), Trovicor (Dubai). Lawful interception is a process that enables a Law Enforcement Agency (LEA) to perform electronic surveillance on an individual as authorized by judicial or administrative order. Lawful interception is a security process in which a Service Provider (SP) or network operator collects and provides law enforcement officials with intercepted communications, such as telephone calls or email messages, of private individuals or organizations. Story continues Lawful interception solutions and services help network operators and SPs automate administrative and operative tasks related to lawful interception. To facilitate the lawful intercept process, certain legislations and regulations require SPs and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to implement their networks to explicitly support authorized electronic surveillance. Lawful interception should comply with some of the international lawful interception standards of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), Third-Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), and CableLabs. With these regulations, the lawful interception solution and services providers satisfy the highest security requirements to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access and misuse. Countries around the world are drafting and enacting laws to regulate lawful interception procedures for creating lawful interception technology specifications. Inquire Before Buying @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=1264 The scope of this report covers the study which provides an analysis of the global lawful interception market based on contemporary market trends and developments and its potential growth from 2016 to 2026. The global lawful interception market is categorized based on component, network, network technology type, communication content, mediation device, type of interception, end user, and region. The market size is estimated based on the approximation of the market shares of major vendors in the lawful interception market. The market size is constructed from 2021 to 2026, considering 2020 as the base year APAC is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The APAC region is expected to have the fastest growth rate in the Lawful Interception Market during the forecast period due to its growing adoption of technologies. APAC is one of the fastest-growing economies due to the growing network technologies, digital infrastructure, and smartphone and internet penetration. These factors have stimulated the cases of cybercrimes by using social networks for subversive activities and terrorism in the region. Countries such as India, China, and Japan contribute a major share to APACs economy. These countries are experiencing a major threat from hacker groups or terror networks with the increasing penetration of digital infrastructure and heavy investment on network technologies by key industry telecom players in the region. The use of social networks to influence netizens and give rise to crimes is one of the major factors that actuate the market for lawful interception in the region. According to a report by GTI, 2019, South Asia had the highest impact from terrorism since 2002, with APAC having the largest proportion of women joining the Islamic State of Iraq (ISIL) and the Levant at 31%. According to a report by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, 2018, APAC faces a damage cost of USD 171 billion. Key and innovative vendors in the Lawful interception market are Utimaco (Germany), Vocal Technologies (US), AQSACOM (US), Verint (US), BAE Systems (UK), Cisco (US), Ericsson (Sweden), SS8 Networks. (US), Elbit Systems (US), Matison (Croatia), Shoghi (India), Comint (Mexico), Signalogic (US), IPS S.P.A (Rome), Tracespan (Isreal), Accuris Networks (US), EVE Compliancy Solutions (Netherlands), Squire Technologies (UK), Incognito Software (Canada), GL Communications (US), Septier Communications (Isreal), NetQuest (NJ), ETSI (France), Atos (France), Trovicor (Dubai). Browse Adjacent Markets: Information Security Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Critical Infrastructure Protection Market - Global Forecast to 2027 Middle East and Africa Cybersecurity Market - Global Forecast to 2028 Emotion Detection and Recognition (EDR) Market - Global Forecast to 2027 Edge Security Market - Global Forecast to 2027 Identity Verification Market - Global Forecast to 2027 CONTACT: About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com XI'AN, China, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Roundtable Meeting with the Captains of Industry" was held in Beijing recently, in conjunction with the official visit of Dato Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, to China. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar, Minister of Transportation Luk Siu Fook, Minister of International Trade and Industry Tunku Zavru and Foreign Minister Zabriri, among other important dignitaries, attended the meeting. The founder and president of LONGi, Li Zhenguo, was also invited to join this significant gathering. The roundtable is aimed at deepening trade and investment cooperation between China and Malaysia, enhancing understanding and interaction between the Chinese and Malaysian business communities by building a face-to-face communication platform, and jointly promoting project cooperation to achieve greater mutual benefit and win-win results. Speaking at the event, LONGi's Founder and President, Mr. Li Zhenguo, shared the company's expansion plans in Malaysia over the next years. "Today, I am proud to announce that LONGi has continued to increase its production capacity for ingot, wafer, cell, and module in Malaysia, which is expected to create over 7,000 employment opportunities. Since starting our operations in Malaysia's Kuching City in Sarawak state in 2016, we have been committed to driving technological innovation and empowering local communities. All our new projects are adopting the most advanced automated process and technology. Our current workforce of 4,000 employees is 99.9% Malaysian, and we are eager to continue building our business in Malaysia," Li said. In the future, LONGi will continue to focus on technological innovation, strengthen overseas manufacturing capabilities, and contribute to the global energy transition, he added. (PRNewsfoto/LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/longi-founder-and-president-li-zhenguo-attends-malaysian-prime-ministers-roundtable-meeting-301792323.html SOURCE LONGi Turkey sends more tanks into Syria as rebels advance on Islamic State Turkey sent more tanks into northern Syria on Saturday, Syrian opposition sources said, as rebels backed by Ankara said they were moving to seize the last stretch of territory held by Islamic State on the Syrian side of the border. GALLERY Turkish soldiers wave as they return from Syria to Turkey after a military operation at the Syrian border as part of their offensive against the Islamic State (IS) militant group in Syria, Karkamis district of Gaziantep, Turkey, 27 August 2016. Istanbul/Damascus (dpa) - Sources close to Turkish-backed rebel groups, who asked not to be quoted by name, said that the rebels had captured three villages west of the border town of Jarabulus and another three villages near the border village of al-Rai from Islamic State jihadists.A military commander in the Turkish-backed rebel Sultan Murad Brigades said that the operations aimed at capturing the last stretch of the border held by Islamic State, which lies between the two locations.The Turkish border is the jihadist organizations only direct link between its territories in Syria and Iraq and the outside world. It has used it in the past to bring in foreign fighters joining its forces.The group has been expelled from most of the border region over the past 18 months by Kurdish-led Syrian forces, backed by US-led airstrikes.The commander in the Sultan Murad Brigades said Turkey had sent ten tanks and three armoured personnel carriers to back up the rebels, a force he said was sufficient to help them seize that last border region.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group, said that Turkish tanks had been seen near al-Rai. It also confirmed the rebel capture of at least three villages west of Jarabulus.Turkeys state-run Anadolu news agency reported that Turkish troops and armoured vehicles had again pushed into Syrian territory north-east of Aleppo to back up rebel forces.Turkey launched a military operation in Syria late last month, sending hundreds of Syrian rebels backed by its own tanks and airstrikes across the border to capture Jarabulus from Islamic State.They seized the town quickly but then turned their attention on the Kurdish-led forces that have battled Islamic State across northern Syria, drawing a sharp rebuke from the United States.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the Syrian operations were aimed at both Islamic State and the Kurdish forces, which Ankara describes as terrorists due to their links with banned Kurdish rebels operating on Turkish soil.Since Tuesday the Turkish-backed rebels have once more moved against Islamic State, and an undeclared truce appears to be holding with the Kurdish-led forces, who withdrew south of the Sajur river some 15 kilometres from the border.Turkish tanks also returned to a Kurdish-held city further east in Syria, a day after local protesters forced them to retreat, the Observatory reported.The tanks and military vehicles pushed for several metres into Kobane near the Turkish border, where two civilians, including a child, were killed and dozens injured on Friday when Turkish forces shot at protesters, the monitoring group said.Residents in the city have staged protests since August 27 against Turkeys construction of a cement separation wall at the border with Kobane, according to the observatory and Kurdish officials.There was no immediate official comment on the Kobane operations in Ankara.Kobane was the site of the first significant victory over Islamic State when Kurdish forces, backed by US-led air power, recaptured the city from the radical group in January 2015. Fragment of a 1,750-Year-old Assyrian New Testament Translation Discovered About 1,300 years ago a scribe in Palestine took a book of the Gospels inscribed with a Syriac text and erased it. Parchment was scarce in the desert in the Middle Ages, so manuscripts were often erased and reused. A medievalist from the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW) has now been able to make legible the lost words on this layered manuscript, a so-called palimpsest: Grigory Kessel discovered one of the earliest translations of the Gospels, made in the 3rd century and copied in the 6th century, on individual surviving pages of this manuscript. The findings are published in the journal New Testament Studies. One of the oldest fragments that testifies ancient Syrian version "The tradition of Syriac Christianity knows several translations of the Old and New Testaments," says medievalist Grigory Kessel. "Until recently, only two manuscripts were known to contain the Old Syriac translation of the gospels." While one of these is now kept in the British Library in London, another was discovered as a palimpsest in St. Catherine's Monastery at Mount Sinai. The fragments from the third manuscript were recently identified in the course of the "Sinai Palimpsests Project." The small manuscript fragment, which can now be considered as the fourth textual witness, was identified by Grigory Kessel using ultraviolet photography as the third layer of text, i.e., double palimpsest, in the Vatican Library manuscript. The fragment is so far the only known remnant of the fourth manuscript that attests to the Old Syriac version--and offers a unique gateway to the very early phase in the history of the textual transmission of the Gospels. For example, while the original Greek of Matthew chapter 12, verse 1 says, "At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and his disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat," the Syriac translation says, "[...] began to pick the heads of grain, rub them in their hands, and eat them." Claudia Rapp, director of the Institute for Medieval Research at the OeAW, says, "Grigory Kessel has made a great discovery thanks to his profound knowledge of old Syriac texts and script characteristics." The Syriac translation was written at least a century before the oldest Greek manuscripts that have survived, including the Codex Sinaiticus. The earliest surviving manuscripts with this Syriac translation date from the 6th century and are preserved in the erased layers, so-called palimpsests, of newly written parchment leaves. "This discovery proves how productive and important the interplay between modern digital technologies and basic research can be when dealing with medieval manuscripts," Claudia Rapp says. Future Market Insights Global and Consulting Pvt. Ltd. The U.S. is the dominant market for magnesium oxide in North America. Growth in the U.S. will be driven by rising adoption of magnesium oxide in biomedical applications and rapid advancement in manufacturing sector and industrial infrastructure. Rising demand of magnesium oxide for filtration of heavy metals in wastewater treatment drives the market growth. NEWARK, Del, April 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global magnesium oxide market is anticipated to expand progressively at a CAGR of 5% throughout the forecast period from 2021 to 2031. The global market is estimated to grow owing to its surging application in agriculture, refractories, and several other industrial sectors is catering rapidly to the growth of suppliers. Magnesium oxide manufacturers are likely to witness a steady growth in demand over the next couple of years. The growth of the market is attributed to the surging adoption of dead-burned magnesia or DBM magnesia further assisting in the surge of demand. In addition to that, a flurry of inventions is taking place in different types of magnesium oxide such as dead burned magnesia, and fused magnesia by key manufacturers is set to bode well for the market in the near future. Drivers and challenges have an impact on market dynamics, which can impact businesses. Find more insights in a sample report Significant advancements are taking place in the refractories, industrial and agricultural sectors. Prominent magnesium oxide providers are anticipated to come across new opportunities over the forecast period. A prominent increase in developing more quality products is predicted to favor the overall growth of the market. Moreover, increased focus on governmental investments in industrial sectors, rapid urbanization, and others will help them in capturing the low-hanging opportunities through 2031. Compelling Market Trends Magnesium oxide is excessively utilized in the agricultural sector attributing to its wide application in providing agricultural and fertilizer grade supplements, soil nutrition, and management along with water management. Story continues According to a recent report titled Agribusiness Industry Spotlight published by the Select USA, the United States agribusiness gives tough competition in the global domain. As per the report, it was estimated that the agribusiness industry contributed over US$ 159 Billion in export sales to the U.S. economy in 2018, while the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the U.S. agribusiness industry totaled more than US$ 14 Billion. These data give an idea regarding the ample opportunities awaiting magnesium oxide suppliers around the globe. To Gain More Insights about this Research, Visit @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/magnesium-oxide-market! Growth Drivers India has been in the limelight for generating lucrative growth for magnesium oxide for the past decade. The growth of the market in India is attributed to its well-developed industries and advanced manufacturing units. Owing to a surge in application in refractories along with other industrial sectors, India is predicted to prevail in its position over the next decade. China is known as the epicenter of the worlds fastest-growing magnesium oxide industry in the Asia Pacific region. China is expected to dominate the global market over the assessment period. Furthermore, the increase in demand for dead burned magnesia, caustic calcined magnesia, and others in industrial sectors is fuelling sales in China. Restraints There are a few disadvantages of the magnesium oxide market which are likely to hamper its growth of the market. These constraints include low water resistance, and an expensive and complex process cycle. In addition to that, there is an additional cost incurred due to laboratory setup and expert handling. Magnesium oxide fumes are harmful to inhale and are often restricted due to adverse environmental rules and regulations. Competitive Landscape The majority of key players operating in the global magnesium oxide market include Martin Marietta Inc., Grecian Magnesite S.A., Premier Magnesia LLC, Ube Industries Ltd., Robert Half International AG, Magnezit Group Europe GmbH, MagnesitaRefratarios S.A., Kuma, Manyezit Sanayi A., Xinyang Mineral Group, Israel Chemical Ltd. Among others. The global magnesium oxide market is considered fragmented and it is flourishing among the key industry players. In order to get a competitive edge over the global market, key industry players are focusing on launching a huge variety of products at a consistent pace. Recent Developments Grecian Magnesite S.A. launched its new range of Caustic Calcined Magnesia, Magnesium Carbonate, Dunite, and others a couple of years back. Ube Industries Ltd. recently launched its new range of Magnesium Oxysulphate Whisker, MOS-HIGE. Interested to Procure The Data? Inquire here: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-1622 Magnesium Oxide Market Segmentation by Category Product Type Dead Burned Magnesia Caustic Calcined Magnesia Fused Magnesia Application Industrial Refractories Agricultural Others Region North America Latin America Europe Middle East and Africa (MEA) East Asia South Asia Oceania Valuable Insights into the Magnesium Oxide Market The North American region is likely to dominate the global magnesium oxide market over the forecast period. The United States is leading the worlds largest magnesium oxide market and is expected to exhibit hegemony throughout the evaluation period. Backed by the highly advanced industrial sectors and manufacturing infrastructure, the U.S. is in the limelight for the stakeholders in the magnesium oxide industry. Learn about the contribution of each segment of the market, Request for Customization @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-1622 Table of Content 1. Executive Summary 2. Assumptions and Acronyms 3. Research Methodology 4. Market Overview 4.1. Introduction 4.1.1. Market Definition 4.1.2. Market Taxonomy 4.1.3. Market Application Overview 4.2. Market Dynamics 4.2.1. Drivers 4.2.2. Restraints 4.2.3. Trends 4.2.4. Value Chain 5. Global Market Forecast Market presence across multiple geographical footprints - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial - Buy the report! Have a Look at Trending Reports of Chemicals & Materials Domain Electrical Steel Coatings Market: Overall sales of electrical steel coatings are slated to grow at a steady CAGR of 5.5% between 2022 and 2032, totaling a market valuation of US$ 488.3 Million by 2032. UV Coatings Market: Energy-curable coatings, which are made of acrylate functionalized resins (oligomers and monomers), are emerging as a replacement for conventional coatings in terms of scratch, abrasion, and stain resistance. South Asia Geosynthetics Market: Increasing awareness of applications in the construction industry that necessitate reinforcement, separation, containment, drainage, filtration, and sediment control is driving demand for the geosynthetics market. 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A recipient of Clutch Leaders Award 2022 on account of high client score (4.9/5), we have been collaborating with global enterprises in their business transformation journey and helping them deliver on their business ambitions. 80% of the largest Forbes 1000 enterprises are our clients. We serve global clients across all leading & niche market segments across all major industries. Contact Us: Future Market Insights Inc. Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive, Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA T: +1-845-579-5705 LinkedIn| Twitter| Blogs | YouTube For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Old Source: Rising Application in Steel Production Propelling Magnesium Oxide Market Growth: Future Market Insights Mainland China has retaliated with sanctions against two US bodies and their senior executives who hosted Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen during her stay in the United States, with Beijing claiming the Americans provided platforms and facilities for "Taiwan independence". Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan's representative in the United States, was also sanctioned for her role in Tsai's meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The two intuitions are the Hudson Institute, which hosted an event and presented Tsai with its global leadership award on March 30, and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, where Tsai met McCarthy and a bipartisan group of congressional leaders. 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. The foreign ministry in Beijing said on Friday that both American institutions were banned from having exchanges, cooperation and other activities with any individuals, universities or institutions in Beijing's territory, including Hong Kong and Macau. John Walters, director and CEO of the Hudson Institute (left), and institute chairwoman Sarah May Stern (right) present Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen with Hudson's Global Leadership Award in New York on March 31. Photo: CNA alt=John Walters, director and CEO of the Hudson Institute (left), and institute chairwoman Sarah May Stern (right) present Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen with Hudson's Global Leadership Award in New York on March 31. Photo: CNA> Some senior executives - including Sarah May Stern, chairwoman of the Hudson Institute's board of trustees, institute president and CEO John Walters, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation and Institute chief administrative officer Joanne Drake, and John Heubusch, former executive director of the foundation - will be denied visas and entry to mainland China. Story continues Their assets, real estate and other properties within Beijing's territory will be frozen. Organisations and individuals are banned from engaging in relevant transactions, cooperation and other activities with them, according to the statement. The Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) also announced on Friday it would impose similar sanctions on two organisations: the Prospect Foundation, based in Taipei, and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats, saying the two were using "democracy and freedom" to promote Taiwanese independence in the international community under the instruction of the island's ruling party Democratic Progressive Party. Beijing accused Hsiao of being a "Taiwan independence diehard" and banned her and her family from visiting mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. This is the second time Beijing has imposed sanctions against Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan's representative in the United States Photo: CNA alt=This is the second time Beijing has imposed sanctions against Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan's representative in the United States Photo: CNA> TAO spokeswoman Zhu Fenglian also announced that all investors and firms related to Hsiao were forbidden from cooperating with mainland companies and individuals, saying the ban would be a "lifelong accountability" punishment. Hsiao, who played a key role in Tsai's meeting with McCarthy this week and his predecessor Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei in August, was accused by Zhu of "relying on the US to promote Taiwan independence, deliberately stirring up cross-strait confrontation and wilfully undermining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait". This is the second time Beijing has imposed sanctions on Hsiao - the first was in August when Pelosi wrapped up her trip to the self-ruled island. At that time, the TAO also banned six other Taiwanese officials and lawmakers from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. Beijing's sanctions will have little legal impact on Taiwanese because almost all senior officials with the ruling DPP refrain from visiting the mainland, while Beijing's courts do not have jurisdiction in Taiwan. 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 2023 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2023. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Market Research Future Metal Pipes Market Research Report, Information: by Material (Steel, Ductile Iron, Copper, others), Diameter (Up to 15 inches, and Above 15 inches), End-use (Oil & gas, Water & wastewater, Power, HVAC & electrical) and Region Forecast till 2030 New York (US), April 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Metal Pipes Market Overview According to a Comprehensive Report by Market Research Future (MRFR), Metal Pipes Market Information by Material, Diameter, End-use, and Region - Forecast till 2030", Throughout the projected period (from 2022 to 2030), the market for metal pipes can expand at a rate of around 3.1%, with a value of approximately USD 119.45 Billion. Market Synopsis A key factor in the market's growth is the rise in oil and gas production brought on by demand from the transportation sector. In the oil and gas business, steel pipes and tubes are most frequently utilized. Steel pipes are used in this business to move liquid and gas. In the building of pipes, low alloy or carbon steel is frequently employed. Inner diameter, ductility, yield strength, and pressure rating are a few of the most crucial factors to take into consideration when selecting pipes for certain applications. The oil and gas industry in the United States makes substantial use of steel pipes and tubes. Upstream, midstream and downstream stages of the processing of crude oil use the product. The market may slowly increase as a result of modifications to the oil and gas sector in the US. Get a Free Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/7740 Market Competitive Landscape: The affluent vendors in the cellular concrete industry are ArcelorMIttal S.A. (Luxembourg) Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA (France) Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (US) Northwest Pipe Company (US) Saudi Arabian Amiantit Company (Saudi Arabia) Muller Industries Inc. (US) Narsk Hydro ASA (US) Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metals (Japan) TMK Group (Russia) Tenaris SA (Luxembourg) Story continues Report Scope: Report Attribute Details Market Size in 2030 USD 119.45 Billion CAGR 3.1% (2022-2030) Base Year 2021 Forecast Period 20222030 Historical Data 2020 Forecast Units Value (USD million) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Material, Diameter, End-use, Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW) Key Market Drivers Increasing construction of new pipelines, replacement of old and obsolete pipeline across industries, such as oil & gas, water & wastewater, and infrastructure development Browse In-depth Market Research Report (100 Pages) on Metal Pipes: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/metal-pipes-market-7740 Market USP Covered: Market Drivers: Corrosion is not a recent problem. According to the American Galvanizers Association, pipeline corrosion costs North America $9 billion annually. Manufacturers, on the other hand, are developing fresh strategies to fight corrosion. Corrosive substances may penetrate even the smallest scratches on metallic surfaces to propagate and cause damage. Innovative technologies are being used by advanced manufacturers to stop these problems before they start. To lessen friction, wear, and corrosion, supports, for instance, may be coated with thermoplastic materials or lined with highly technical materials. Movement is inevitable since the pipes are filled with rushing gases and liquids. If pipes are not adequately controlled, they can rupture, degrade, or collide with things. Innovative pipe limitations are preventing this undesired movement. VibraTek Hold Down Clamps, for instance, allow pipes to slide naturally along an axis without bouncing about. Distributing stress not only lowers the chance of fractures but also stops point-loading. Even when there is no friction or worn areas, pipes still have to deal with harsh environmental conditions. Chemicals, moisture, salty air, and bacteria may all cause pipes to corrode. So, to prevent metals from corroding, manufacturers now employ chemical-resistant finishes, enhanced sealants, and waterproof coatings. All of these crucial factors will allow the worldwide market size to expand incredibly over the next couple of years. Market Restraints: The primary obstacle to the market's expansion is the presence of alternatives on the market, which is the principal limitation on the market expansion. The market is readily accessible with items like plastic and iron pipes, which hinders the expansion of the metal pipe sector. The growth of the metal pipes market is also being hampered by the high cost-effectiveness of the raw materials. Following the pandemic, there was a surge in the use of metal pipes, which resulted in a change in product prices that also slowed the market's expansion. Share Your Queries: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/7740 COVID 19 Analysis Global metal pipe market expansion was impeded by the COVID-19 epidemic. Most often, petrochemical, oil and gas, and construction-related businesses employ steel tubes and pipes. Between early 2021 and 2020, production ceased. Several areas, including South America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, were impacted in 2020, and it is anticipated that these impacts would continue throughout the projection period, according to GME's examination of secondary research. The growth of the infrastructure is aided greatly by the metal pipe industry, which is of utmost importance. The world's metal pipe industry did reach a standstill stage during the epidemic. After the epidemic, though, it accelerated as more locations and areas of petroleum production began to remove the lockdown. Market Segmentation By Material The top materials used for the development of pipes are Steel, Ductile Iron, Copper and more. Steel is the most sought-after material in the market. As cylindrical steel tubes, steel pipes are employed in a variety of industrial and construction settings. They are often utilized for product creation and equipment installation. Oil, gas, and water are just a few examples of the liquids and gases that are often transported underground using pipe. In industrial settings that need the conveyance of gases like steam or extremely high temperatures or both, carbon steel pipes are frequently used. By Diameter Diameter-wise, the key segments are Up to 15 inches as well as Above 15 inches. By End-use major industry end-users are Oil & gas, Water & wastewater, Power, HVAC & electrical and others. With more than half of worldwide revenue coming from the oil and gas industry, this segment rules the market. The segment is anticipated to keep its dominant position throughout the projected period due to the many uses of the items in the oil and gas industry, ranging from OCTG, transportation, and process pipes for refining crude oil into petroleum products. Over the predicted period, the water and wastewater industry will also perform admirably. The need for clean water is anticipated to rise as a result of the expanding population and the prosperous global economy. This will necessitate investments in water-related infrastructure and services, which will boost the market. Ask for Customization: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/ask_for_customize/7740 Regional Insights As compared to other regions, the Asia Pacific comes to around 44% share of the global market for metal pipes. The reason this area is becoming so dominant is due to nations like China, Japan, India, South Korea, etc. Due to the existence of manufacturing firms in the petroleum and petrol chemical sectors, the main manufacturing corporations are focused on meeting the demand of the Asia Pacific area. Indian pipe and tube makers have changed during the past ten years in response to increased demand and capital expenditure for modernization and capacity growth in end-user industries. As a result, manufacturers of steel tubes and pipes have grown up their businesses to meet the expansion of the global economy. It is anticipated that the North American market experience significant development throughout the forecasted period. Because of nations like the US, this region is able to maintain its growth. And one of the primary drivers of development is the strong activity of manufacturing firms that focus on the oil and gas sectors. Check Discount: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/7740 Discover more research Reports on Construction Industry , by Market Research Future: Composite doors and Windows Market Information Report by Material Type (Wood, Fibre Reinforced Plastics (FRP), Wood Plastic Composites (WPC)), by Application (Commercial, Industrial and Residential), and by Regions - Global Forecast To 2030 Dry Construction Market Research Report, Information: by Material (Plasterboard, Metal, Plastic, Wood and others), Type (Supporting Framework and Boarding), System (Ceiling System, Wall System, Flooring System and others), Application (Residential and Non-Residential), Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Rest of the World) - Forecast till 2030 Forklift Trucks Market Information by Technology (Electric Powered, and Internal Combustion Engine Powered), by Capacity (Below 5 tons and above 5 tons), By Application (Manufacturing, Logistic, Retail & Wholesale and others) and by Region - Forecast to 2030 About Market Research Future: Market Research Future (MRFR) is a global market research company that takes pride in its services, offering a complete and accurate analysis with regard to diverse markets and consumers worldwide. Market Research Future has the distinguished objective of providing the optimal quality research and granular research to clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help answer your most important questions. Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter CONTACT: Market Research Future (Part of Wantstats Research and Media Private Limited) 99 Hudson Street, 5Th Floor New York, NY 10013 United States of America +1 628 258 0071 (US) +44 2035 002 764 (UK) Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Website: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com Market Research Future Military Surveillance Drone Market: Information by Drone Type (Fixed Wing Drone, Rotary Blade Drone and Hybrid Drone), Payload (Electro-Optic/Infrared Sensor, Cameras, Electronic Intelligence, Maritime Patrol Radar and others), Technology (Hardware and Software) and Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America) - Forecast till 2030 New York, US, April 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Military Surveillance Drone Market Overview Market Research Future (MRFR) 's report highlights Market Research Future (MRFR) 's report highlights Military Surveillance Drone Market Information by Drone Type, Payload, Technology, and Region - Forecast till 2030"; the market will achieve USD 28.96 Million by 2030 at an 11.96% CAGR. Market Synopsis Unmanned aircraft used by the military to carry out various tasks, such as surveillance, target monitoring, remote sensing, and fighting, are known as military drones. The people who operate these vehicles remotely are known as drone pilots. Military drones may be very helpful in a manhunt and are used to gather intelligence on the enemy's activities and scout out potential targets during firefights. In addition, military drones are efficient since they are less expensive than conventional military weaponry and are getting more precise. The MQ-1 Predator is also the unmanned aircraft system that is most frequently deployed in battle. Drones or UAVs may operate in stealth, at night, in any environment, and effectively deploy in various operational circumstances. Due to these advantages, governments now make more investments. In the upcoming years, demand for military UAVs will be fueled by the expanding usage of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the security and defense sector for various purposes, including surveying, mapping, transporting, combat operations, and monitoring. Get Free Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4415 Drones or remotely operated vehicles (RPVs) were the names given to the first UAVs. First used as target practice for fighters and antiaircraft weapons during World War Two, they were miniature radio-controlled aircraft. Currently, all major military powers and certain militia groups use battlefield observation UAVs to improve the range and precision of their accompanying fire while extending the visibility of their ground and naval forces. Global market expansion is anticipated to be supported by the rise in defense spending of different nations to purchase updated & technically sophisticated military drones/UAVs for increased combat capability. Artificial intelligence (AI) is updating military drone technology by selecting targets automatically and precisely. Story continues Report Attribute Details 2030 Market Size USD 28.96 Million CAGR 11.96% (2020-2030) Base Year 2019 Forecast Period 20202030 Historical Data 2019 - 2021 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered by Drone Type, Payload, Technology, and Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW) Key Market Drivers Flow of increased defense budget into the research and development of UAVs and drones Market Competitive Landscape The distinguished contenders in the military surveillance drone market are: Thales Group Boeing Airbus Corporation Lockheed Martin Northrop Grumman Corporation Saab Group Market U.S.P. Covered: Market Drivers: Military drones are receiving more government money to make military operations more effective. The demand for military drones will increase, increasing their manufacturing. It is becoming clear that UAVs can be utilized in various novel military applications. Using UAVs to transport military supplies is one of these applications. Soldiers on the battleground can be resupplied using drones. The commercial sector inspired the concept of deploying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for freight delivery in the military industry, where firms like Amazon utilize drones to carry goods to customers. Many countries are constantly boosting their defense budget to modernize their defense forces to combat the growth in war threats and other internal disputes. Browse In-depth Market Research Report (140 Pages) on Military Surveillance Drone Market: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/military-surveillance-drones-market-4415 Most military supplies are now moved by road convoys, making them open targets for enemy strikes. Drone research and development and drone purchases account for most of the international defense budget. Due to the increased military budget and rising need for better surveillance technologies, the market for military drones has expanded globally. Modern unmanned aerial vehicles have internal weapons bays and huge sensors that accommodate many payloads. Commercial applications of artificial intelligence (AI) are being used for high-altitude military UAVs' autonomous flight systems. This is anticipated to be a reliable indicator of the expansion of the military drone market globally in the ensuing years. The weapon's payload consists of guided missile and bomb components. Market Restraints: Unlike conventional aircraft, military drones must guarantee the complete unmanned aerial system's dependability, consisting of UAVs, ground control stations, and communication technology. Drones need experienced pilots to operate and control them as they can fly at various altitudes. Pilots who can perform procedures with high precision are rather few. Military leaders are quite concerned about the safety of UAVs while they are engaged in combat operations. Remotely or on their own, UAVs function. Hacking UAV flight control systems and taking over their operations are possibilities in both scenarios. Drones in military applications are expanding, contributing to the demand for qualified drone pilots. Currently, to lessen the frequency of mishaps brought on by drones with subpar control abilities, efforts are underway to improve the autonomy of these systems. COVID 19 Analysis The global market for military drones has been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic's propagation. Due to a lack of market confidence, fewer military drone business contracts have been made to procure defense equipment and related services. However, it has been noted that numerous nations, including the United States, India, France, and Israel, have reduced their defense spending. Buy Now : https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=4415 Market Segmentation By payload, the market segment includes cameras, electronic intelligence, electro-optic/infrared sensor, and maritime patrol radar. By drone type, the market segment includes fixed-wing, rotary-blade, and hybrid drones. By technology, the market segment includes hardware and software. Regional Insights The market for military drones in the Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to expand significantly and post the highest CAGR. The increase in military spending by nations to improve their defense capabilities can be linked to the market expansion in this area. Drones have been used in Asia-Pacific nations to protect the security of national borders due to political unrest. This is among the most important aspects of promoting and expanding the market in this area. China is creating cutting-edge technologies to produce drones at affordable prices. In 2021, North America had the largest market share for military drones. Several OEMs, like General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Northrop Grumman Corporation, and others, are in the market, so this market share is huge. Drone technology has advanced due to important developments involving the American army and increasing investment by key regional companies. Since the United States is one of the largest exporters of military UAVs globally, the region is anticipated to grow quickly. Due to the growing awareness of the need to enhance military, marine, and air force capabilities, the market in Europe is projected to expand significantly. To improve ISR capacity shortly, European nations like the U.K., France, and Germany strive to acquire tactical and tiny drones. Discover more research Reports on Aerospace & Defense Industry , by Market Research Future: eVTOL Aircraft Market Research Report Information By Type (Air Taxis, Delivery Drones and others), By Battery Type (Lithium-Ion Batteries, Solid-State Batteries and Hydrogen Fuel Cells), By Lift Technology (Multirotor, Vectored Thrust, Lift Plus Cruise and others), By Type of Propulsion (Fully Electric, Hybrid, and Electric Hydrogen), By Mode of Operation (Piloted and Optionally Piloted), And By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, And Rest Of The World) Market Forecast Till 2030. Air Cargo Market Research Report Information by Type (Air Freight and Air Mail), Service (Express and Regular), Destination (Domestic and International), End User (Retail, Food & Beverages, Pharmaceutical and Healthcare, Consumer Electronics, Automotive and others) and Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa and Latin America) - Forecast till 2030 Semiconductor in Military and Aerospace Market : Information By Component (Sensors ,Actuators, Optical, Memory, Microcontroller, Analog ICs, Logic & Discrete Power Devices,), Technology (Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Through-Hole Technology (THT)), Packaging Type (Plastics and Ceramic), End-Use (Aerospace [Power Payload, Power Management, RF Systems, Avionics, Aircraft, ],Defense [Communication Navigation Systems, Integrated Vehicle Systems, High Precision Systems, Military Vehicles,) About Market Research Future: Market Research Future (MRFR) is a global market research company that takes pride in its services, offering a complete and accurate analysis with regard to diverse markets and consumers worldwide. Market Research Future has the distinguished objective of providing the optimal quality research and granular research to clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help answer your most important questions. Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter CONTACT: Market Research Future (Part of Wantstats Research and Media Private Limited) 99 Hudson Street, 5Th Floor New York, NY 10013 United States of America +1 628 258 0071 (US) +44 2035 002 764 (UK) Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Website: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com To find a multi-bagger stock, what are the underlying trends we should look for in a business? Firstly, we'd want to identify a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and then alongside that, an ever-increasing base of capital employed. Put simply, these types of businesses are compounding machines, meaning they are continually reinvesting their earnings at ever-higher rates of return. In light of that, when we looked at Montana Aerospace (VTX:AERO) and its ROCE trend, we weren't exactly thrilled. What Is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)? For those that aren't sure what ROCE is, it measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. The formula for this calculation on Montana Aerospace is: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.01 = 18m (2.2b - 473m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2022). So, Montana Aerospace has an ROCE of 1.0%. Ultimately, that's a low return and it under-performs the Aerospace & Defense industry average of 10%. See our latest analysis for Montana Aerospace roce In the above chart we have measured Montana Aerospace's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free report for Montana Aerospace. What Can We Tell From Montana Aerospace's ROCE Trend? In terms of Montana Aerospace's historical ROCE movements, the trend isn't fantastic. Over the last four years, returns on capital have decreased to 1.0% from 3.4% four years ago. However, given capital employed and revenue have both increased it appears that the business is currently pursuing growth, at the consequence of short term returns. And if the increased capital generates additional returns, the business, and thus shareholders, will benefit in the long run. On a side note, Montana Aerospace has done well to pay down its current liabilities to 21% of total assets. That could partly explain why the ROCE has dropped. Effectively this means their suppliers or short-term creditors are funding less of the business, which reduces some elements of risk. Since the business is basically funding more of its operations with it's own money, you could argue this has made the business less efficient at generating ROCE. Story continues Our Take On Montana Aerospace's ROCE Even though returns on capital have fallen in the short term, we find it promising that revenue and capital employed have both increased for Montana Aerospace. However, total returns to shareholders over the last year have been flat, which could indicate these growth trends potentially aren't accounted for yet by investors. As a result, we'd recommend researching this stock further to uncover what other fundamentals of the business can show us. On a final note, we've found 2 warning signs for Montana Aerospace that we think you should be aware of. While Montana Aerospace isn't earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets. 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 Hector Sandoval Is a Texas Work Injury Non-Subscriber Lawyer from Sandoval Law Firm, serving Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin, among others. Texas --News Direct-- Hector Sandoval As companies like Lowes, Home Depot, HEB, Walmart, Amazon, Costco, etc. (other Texas non-subscriber companies) continue to expand, we are seeing more and more injuries in the state of Texas occurring in warehouse and distribution centers. Every day Texans suffer injuries working in a retail setting. Usually, these injuries result from lifting, slipping or tripping, falling, pulling or pushing, informs Work Injury Attorney Hector Sandoval. As explained in this article, non-subscriber companies need large spaces to store and ship products to their retail spaces or to customers. With so many employees working at these facilities, there is a high risk of injury when some employees are working on foot while others are operating moving equipment like forklifts and electric pallet jacks. Usually, in a warehouse or distribution center, injuries occur when there is a lack of communication between those operating the equipment like forklifts, electric pallet jacks or conveyor belt systems; when equipment is poorly maintained and malfunctions; when operators are not trained properly when there is a lack of supervision in the warehouse or distribution center. Suffering a serious injury can result in the need for medical care for the rest of your life. You may also never be able to be able to perform the same type of work as you had before. Luckily, there are work injury attorneys that can help you understand your rights as an injured worker from the very start so that you increase your chances of coming out of the situation as best as possible. Attorney Hector Sandoval has been in active practice since 2004 and his vision has always been strong and clear, which is Putting up the Fight for Injured Workers Rights! Sandoval Law Firm, PLLC handles all types of work injury cases with a focus on representing the injured worker in the entire state of Texas. Story continues If you have suffered work injuries working in a warehouse or a fulfillment center, you likely have a lot of questions about your benefits, what to do, what not to do, etc. I encourage you to seek legal counsel as quickly as possible, informs Texas non-subscriber attorney Hector Sandoval. Related: Warehouse and Distribution Center Injuries! (Forklifts, Pallet Jacks and Conveyors) Hector Sandoval has developed a legal practice that focuses on holding Texas Non-Subscriber Employers responsible when their negligence resulted in serious injuries to their employees. In his +18-year career, Texas Non-Subscriber lawyer Hector L. Sandoval has represented injured workers all over the State of Texas. Our office is based in Houston, Texas but Mr. Sandoval has represented injured workers living in or near the following Texas Cities: Sandoval Law Firm was started with three goals in mind: Provide sound legal advice backed with aggressive representation! Provide Clients with Personal Service like no other law firm out there! Treat every case like a million-dollar case! The Focus on Customer Service and Individual Attention When hiring a work injury law firm in Texas to represent you, its important for you to consider how you are treated from the first contact with the firm! Lawyers and law firms are in the customer service industry too even though some lawyers dont realize it. How can you and your family trust a law firm or a lawyer with your case at a time when you are most vulnerable and experiencing high stress without either speaking directly with the person you are entrusting to protect your rights or meeting with them in person! Dont settle! The Attorney-Client Relationship at Sandoval Law Firm, PLLC! At the Sandoval Law Firm, you will speak directly with me and I will do my best to earn your trust from our first meeting. I pride myself on being available to discuss your legal issue on the phone or in person, and determine quickly whether we believe we can help you and, if we cant, we will, at the very least, try to offer some guidance to you and your family so that you can continue with your lives with peace of mind, knowing youve spoken to a lawyer who tried to help. When you call Sandoval Law Firm, PLLC, Ill immediately put my legal experience to work for you! My firm handles all types of personal injury cases. Personal service means you will be able to talk to me at all phases of your work injury case! Call Sandoval Law Firm at (346) 347-7777 and put Sandoval to work for you! Our website is www.sandovalpllc.com. Para leer informacion en espanol, favor visite www.sandovalpllc.com/es If you've been injured working on a Texas Warehouse or Fulfillment Center for a Texas Non-subscriber company, this article is relevant to you. Contact Details Sandoval Law Firm Hector Sandoval +1 346-347-7777 Hector@Sandovalpllc.com Company Website https://sandovalpllc.com/work-injury-lawyer/non-subscribers/ View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/more-texas-nonsubscriber-work-injuries-occurring-in-warehouses-and-distribution-centers-says-texas-work-injury-lawyer-hector-sandoval-112280852 BalanceFormCreative/Shutterstock Dentistry is a lucrative career, with dentists making an average of $167,160 a year. However, you likely wont earn the highest-level dentistry pay right out of school. A few different factors affect how much dentists make a year. If youre thinking about a career in this high-paying field, heres what to know about the starting salaries for dentists, dentist incomes for various specialties and whether the pay is worth dental school debt. Average dentist salaries The latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that the mean dentist salary nationally is $167,160. Dentists working at private practices can earn even more; the American Dental Association (ADA) found that the average net income in 2020 was $170,160 for general dentists and $323,780 for specialists. Starting salaries for dentists Like other professionals early in their career, an entry-level general dentist might earn a lower salary than a more experienced one. According to ZipRecruiter, the national average starting salary for dentists is $61,355, which is significantly less than the national average across the profession. However, this can vary by position, location and employer. What determines a dentists salary? The typical income in this line of work depends on a handful of variables. Below are a few factors that can affect dentistry pay. Location The city and state where you practice have a significant effect on how much youll earn as a dentist. For example, according to state-level data from the BLS, the mean general dentist salary in Illinois is $136,930, while Wyoming- and Vermont-based dentists earn $148,730 and $190,030, respectively. Even wages between different areas in the same state can vary considerably. For example, in California, general dentists in the San Francisco metropolitan area earn a mean wage of $181,700 per year, while Los Angeles dentists earn a mean wage of $151,540. State Annual mean wage Alabama $176,910 Alaska $168,390 Arizona $175,030 Arkansas $184,540 California $165,950 Colorado $139,460 Connecticut $197,910 Delaware $233,860 District of Columbia $181,410 Florida $164,370 Georgia $165,160 Hawaii $177,820 Idaho $124,750 Illinois $136,930 Indiana $159,240 Iowa $183,710 Kansas $188,240 Kentucky $136,480 Louisiana $148,060 Maine $187,460 Maryland $158,520 Massachusetts $175,140 Michigan $178,250 Minnesota $181,760 Mississippi $161,700 Missouri $167,240 Montana $152,770 Nebraska $146,170 Nevada $151,130 New Hampshire $225,140 New Jersey No data New Mexico $189,430 New York $170,800 North Carolina $189,980 North Dakota $161,080 Ohio $180,920 Oklahoma $165,380 Oregon $207,370 Pennsylvania $159,450 Puerto Rico $87,300 Rhode Island $206,600 South Carolina $132,830 South Dakota $150,630 Tennessee $169,610 Texas $150,060 Utah $134,570 Vermont $190,030 Virginia $162,750 Washington $182,050 West Virginia $139,200 Wisconsin $183,110 Wyoming $148,730 Dental specialty Dental specialties require two to six years of additional residency training. The ADA recognizes 12 dental specialties, all of which have higher salary potential than a career as a general dentist. Story continues Examples of top-paying dental specialties and their mean annual wages, according to the BLS, are: Oral and maxillofacial surgeon: $311,460. Orthodontist: $267,280. Specialists stand to earn among the top dentist incomes, but this requires more years of education and potentially more student loan debt to complete training in an accredited program. Years of experience The number of years youve practiced as a licensed dentist can also influence your dentistry pay. With more experience, youll qualify for more competitive salaries, and you may be able to accept more patients into your practice. Public sector vs. private practice The industry you work for affects your income. For example, the annual mean wage for dentists in offices of dentists is $179,100, according to BLS data, while dentists in general medical and surgical hospitals earn an annual mean wage of $89,590. Dentists in the private sector, whether in general practice or a specialty, typically earn more than those in the public sector. Do dentists get paid well? Dentists are well paid, but if youre not picky about your career path in health care, there are other high-paying opportunities. Here are some examples of other medical professionals that make more on average than dentists: Anesthesiologist: $311,190. Surgeon: $252,040. Obstetrician and gynecologist: $296,210. Orthodontist: $267,280. Family physician: $213,270. Pediatrician: $198,420. Thats not to say that becoming a dentist isnt worth it, especially if youre passionate about the field and your career path will lead to an above-average salary. Is becoming a dentist worth it? The earning potential from a dentistry career is competitive, but youll also need to factor in the costs of your education if youre considering whether this career path is worth it. In addition to earning an undergraduate degree, youll need to complete an accredited dental school program and advanced training if you want to specialize. Dental school graduates from the class of 2022 had an average student loan debt of $293,900, according to data from the American Dental Education Association. This debt total accounts for unpaid undergraduate loans and loans during dental school. Before taking on the costs of becoming a dentist, consider whether its the best profession for you. Here are some tips to help you decide: Shadow a dentist: A shadowing program lets you get a glimpse of what a dentist does day to day, and its also a plus on your dental school application. Talk to a dental student: Aside from the potential student loan debt thatll pile on from going to dental school, youll face the hours of daily coursework, studying, lab training and more. Talk to a current dental school student to learn how they manage the demands of dental school. Ask yourself if youd work in the public sector: Dentists who serve in the public sector may earn less than those in the private sector, but they may also qualify for federal loan forgiveness, like Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and state repayment programs. If you anticipate taking on a lot of debt, this may be part of your consideration. Bottom line Dentistry and its related specialties can be a helpful and lucrative career. Keep in mind that if your main objective is a high salary, though, other fields can pay more. Your overall earnings potential will depend on where in the country you live and practice, your number of years of experience, and what kind of dentistry you plan to pursue. Dentists in private practice generally make higher incomes than those in public service but may not be eligible for federal student loan forgiveness such as PSLF. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 6, 2023 / NEXGENRX INC. ("NexgenRx" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its annual financial results for the financial year ended December 31, 2022, once again highlighted by continued revenue growth and positive EBIDTA. The Company showed revenue growth of $939,942 in 2022 or 7.94% over the prior year, with a positive EBITDA of $1,626,524. The Company's cash position remained strong at $1,766,891, after total cash dividend payouts of $703,358 to the common shareholders. Although the Company had numerous challenges throughout 2022, each challenge presented new opportunities and potential for the Company. Some of the Company's success stories included renewing its contract with one of its top five clients, expanding its SaaS (Software as a Service) offering to a wider range of customers and rewarding its shareholders with two dividend distributions. In addition, the Company officially transformed to a hybrid workplace model upon completion of its office move, which allows it to free up cash for other purposes. With various investments that the Company made upfront to develop and maintain customer relationships, together with distribution of dividends, a strong statement has been made that reflects the Company's capability of generating free cash flow. Ron Loucks, President and CEO, stated "I am proud of what we have accomplished in 2022 and look forward to what 2023 has to offer. We have a strong pipeline of activity in various segments of our business that we are systematically converting into successful revenue-generating opportunities. This year, we are entering a new phase as a technology solution provider, promoting and expanding our fully managed SaaS solutions that empowers our customers to self-manage their benefit plans effectively and efficiently." Mr. Loucks continued, "2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the incorporation of NexgenRx. This significant milestone is particularly gratifying to me as the Company continues to expand its reach in the marketplace with new and innovative product solutions." Story continues About NexgenRx NexgenRx is Canada's only independent full-service Third-Party Administrator and Technology Solutions Provider, offering proprietary full front-end, eligibility, enrolment, hour bank and mobile access capabilities, together with state-of-the-art claims adjudication and full provider network coverage. These combined capabilities allow NexgenRx to provide Plan Sponsors, sophisticated administration and health benefit technology applications in a cost-effective SaaS (Software as a Service) Model. NexgenRx is committed to building partnerships with organizations looking to exceed the expectations of their clients and plan members and deliver superior administration and claims processing solutions at a competitive cost. More information on NexgenRx can be found at www.nexgenrx.com. Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The Company cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is 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 anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: uncertainty as to whether the Company's strategies and business plans will yield the expected benefits; availability and cost of capital; the ability to identify and develop and achieve commercial success for existing and new products and technologies; the level of expenditures necessary to maintain and improve the quality of products and services; changes in technology and changes in laws and regulations; continued development and enhancement of the Company's proprietary software technology; cyber security risks and the other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's annual Management's Discussion and Analysis, as filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The Company undertakes no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in the Company's expectations except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the release. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Ronald C. Loucks NexgenRx Inc. President and CEO 416.695.3393 x801 Kelly Ehler CPA, CA NexgenRx Inc. Chief Financial Officer 416-695-3393x803 SOURCE: NexgenRx Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/748087/NexgenRx-Announces-2022-Year-End-Results-With-Continued-Revenue-Growth-And-Positive-EBITDA TORONTO, April 07, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Marquest Asset Management Inc. (the "Manager"), the Manager of Marquest Mutual Funds Inc. (the "Corporation"), announces the proposed termination of Marquest Mutual Funds Inc. - Flex Dividend and Income Growth Series Fund (the "Fund"). The Corporation is a "mutual fund corporation" under the Income Tax Act (Canada). Since the establishment of the Corporation, the refundable dividend tax on hand ("RDTOH") account accumulates passive investment income until taxable dividends are declared and paid to shareholders. As such, the RDTOH account represents an asset of the Corporation for financial reporting purposes. As the Fund is a class of shares of the Corporation, the Manager has allocated a portion of the Corporations RDTOH account to the Fund reflecting the passive income received by it but not paid to shareholders of the Fund. Given recent sizeable redemptions in respect of the Fund and the related decline in the assets under management of the Fund, the Manager has determined that the value of the RDTOH receivable allocated to the Fund has become impaired. As a result, the audited financial statements of the Fund for the year ended December 31, 2022 will reflect this impairment and, effective April 5, 2023, the net asset value of the Fund has reflected the write-off of the value of the allocated portion of the RDTOH receivable. After discussions with its advisors, the Manager has determined that the preferred course of action is to terminate the Fund and seek to maximize the value of the net assets of the Fund, including the allocated portion of the RDTOH receivable. To this end, the Corporation will: issue a stock dividend to the shareholders of record of the Fund on April 24, 2023 (the "Record Date") in an amount that is expected to result in the maximizing of any potential refund of RDTOH; and confirm the expected amount and timing of the payment to shareholders of the Fund on the Record Date of their portion of the termination proceeds, including in respect of their proportionate share of the RDTOH refund received by the Corporation in respect of the Fund. Story continues The Fund has ceased to be available for purchase with effect from April 6, 2023. Shareholders who elect to redeem shares prior to the Record Date will receive a proportionate share of the net asset value of the Fund but will not be entitled to receive their proportionate share of the RDTOH refund. Any redemption of shares, the receipt of the stock dividend and/or the disposition of shares upon wind-up of the Fund will have tax consequences to a shareholder. In respect of individuals, upon the redemption of shares or other disposition of such shares, a capital gain (or a capital loss) will be realized by the shareholder to the extent that the proceeds of disposition of the shares exceed (or are less than) the aggregate of the adjusted cost base of the shares and any reasonable costs of disposition. One-half of the capital gain is included in computing income as a taxable capital gain and one-half of the capital losses may be deducted against taxable capital gains to the extent and under the circumstances prescribed in the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act"). Shareholders must include in income the stock dividends received from the Fund. For individual shareholders, such dividends will be subject to the usual gross-up and dividend tax credit rules with respect to taxable dividends paid by Canadian corporations under the Tax Act. An enhanced gross-up and dividend tax credit is available on "eligible dividends" received from a taxable Canadian corporation which are so designated by the corporation. Individuals (other than certain trusts) realizing net capital gains or receiving dividend may be subject to an alternative minimum tax under the Tax Act. We encourage all shareholders of the Fund to consult with their financial advisors to understand the financial and tax implications associated with redeeming their shares and the termination of the Fund. If you have any questions regarding the termination of the Fund, please do not hesitate to contact us by email at clientservices@marquest.ca. Sincerely, Marquest Asset Management Inc., as Manager on behalf of the Fund Notice on forward-looking statements: This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding the Corporation and the Fund. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "is expected", "expects", "scheduled", "intends", "contemplates", "anticipates", "believes", "proposes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such statements are based on the current expectations of the Manager, and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Although the Manager believes that the assumptions underlying these statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur by certain specified dates or at all and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting the Fund. Although the Manager has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward- looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and, except as required by applicable securities laws, the Manager undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230406005786/en/ Contacts Marquest Asset Management Inc. clientservices@marquest.ca Key Insights Using the Dividend Discount Model, Oceania Healthcare fair value estimate is NZ$0.91 Oceania Healthcare's NZ$0.72 share price signals that it might be 21% undervalued The NZ$1.24 analyst price target for OCA is 36% more than our estimate of fair value How far off is Oceania Healthcare Limited (NZSE:OCA) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. One way to achieve this is by employing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow. We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. Check out our latest analysis for Oceania Healthcare What's The Estimated Valuation? We have to calculate the value of Oceania Healthcare slightly differently to other stocks because it is a healthcare company. Instead of using free cash flows, which are hard to estimate and often not reported by analysts in this industry, dividends per share (DPS) payments are used. Unless a company pays out the majority of its FCF as a dividend, this method will typically underestimate the value of the stock. The 'Gordon Growth Model' is used, which simply assumes that dividend payments will continue to increase at a sustainable growth rate forever. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a company's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In this case we used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.2%). The expected dividend per share is then discounted to today's value at a cost of equity of 6.9%. Relative to the current share price of NZ$0.7, the company appears a touch undervalued at a 21% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. Story continues Value Per Share = Expected Dividend Per Share / (Discount Rate - Perpetual Growth Rate) = NZ$0.05 / (6.9% 2.2%) = NZ$0.9 dcf The Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Oceania Healthcare as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 6.9%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.800. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for Oceania Healthcare Strength No major strengths identified for OCA. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Interest payments on debt are not well covered. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Healthcare market. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the New Zealander market. Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%. Threat Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow. Paying a dividend but company has no free cash flows. Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year. Looking Ahead: Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. Can we work out why the company is trading at a discount to intrinsic value? For Oceania Healthcare, there are three further elements you should further examine: Risks: Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 4 warning signs with Oceania Healthcare (at least 1 which is significant) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. Future Earnings: How does OCA's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the NZSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. 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 A lot changed when President Trump left the White House in 2021 and President Biden moved in. But one thing didnt: a protectionist effort to bring more production back to the United States and become less dependent on China. Bidens policy toward China differs from Trumps, but the goal is the same: To rework supply chains so more crucial goods come from American suppliers and friendly nations and fewer come from China. But economists are starting to warn that this decoupling of the two economic powerhouses could backfire and bring more fragility, instead of more self-reliance. Trump's strategy didn't work, and there are now signs that Biden's approach may stumble as well. Trump focused on the large U.S. trade deficit with China, slapping tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of Chinese imports. By making Chinese imports more expensive, that was supposed to spur more U.S. manufacturing of similar goods, which would face a smaller price disadvantage because of the tariffs or even be cheaper. The Trump tariffs didnt do what they were supposed to: the U.S. trade deficit with China hit a new record in 2022, as U.S. importers either ate the higher costs, passed them on to consumers, or found workarounds. But Biden kept the Trump tariffs in place, anyway. Biden counts labor unions as a key constituency, and unions favor protectionist measures that make imports more expensive and give an edge to domestic production. Biden has since gone a lot further than Trump, pursuing what economists call industrial policy, or an active government role directing key sectors of the economy. Two bills Biden signed last year, the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS Act, include tax breaks and other powerful incentives to bring the manufacturing of semiconductors, electric-vehicle components and many other things back to the United States. Biden has also imposed a new ban on sale of advanced American technology to China, which is more focused on national security than economic competition. Thats meant to prevent China from using advanced semiconductors and other cutting-edge tech in weapons or other systems that could give China a military edge. Story continues US President Joe Biden (R) and China's President Xi Jinping (L) meet on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Nusa Dua on the Indonesian resort island of Bali on November 14, 2022. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) [Drop Rick Newman a note, follow him on Twitter, or sign up for his newsletter.] At a broader level, the Biden administration is promoting friend-shoring, or the development of key supply chains in nations that, unlike China, are like-minded democratic allies. The European Union is developing similar policies, some meant to counter or match Bidens protectionism. Russias invasion of Ukraine, which led to a remapping of global energy flows, underscores the risks of relying on troublemaker nations for critical supplies. But there are risks to protectionism, too, as economists have preached for decades. The idea of Buy American has broad populist appeal, Adam Posen, president of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, wrote recently in Foreign Policy. Yet detailed research has repeatedly shown that policies aimed at maximizing domestic manufacturing employment rather than the development and adoption of new technologies are not only doomed to fail but crowd out the very industrial and trade policies that contribute the most to innovation, national security, and decarbonization. The Intl. Monetary Fund recently warned about the risks of deglobalization, or slowbalization, as some people call the flatlining of trade and the decline in cross-border investment thats been occurring since around 2015. The IMF predicts current trends could eventually cut global output by about 2% over time, with developing nations hurt most but advanced economies such as the United States harmed as well. In the United States, both Republicans and Democrats have become China hawks, viewing the U.S.-China relationship as more of a competition than a partnership. This shift occurred during recent years as China stole Western technology and trade secrets on a massive scale, in an effort to build a domestic economy on par with Europe and the United States. During the last decade, under President Xi Jinping, China has also become militarily aggressive, claiming disputed territories in surrounding seas, rapidly building up its military and repeatedly threatening the breakaway republic of Taiwan. Posen cites research showing that "Buy-America" policies tend to raise costssince American goods are typically more expensivewithout any corresponding gain in efficiency. That lowers productivity. Raising the cost of domestic production also makes US exports more expensive in foreign markets, which cuts exports. Another problem with industrial policy is the tinkering often required to get the desired result, and the complexities and unintended consequences that often crop up. This is already happening with the domestic-content requirements for the electric-vehicle tax credits Biden signed into law last year. The Biden administration has made those requirements looser than some legislators intended, to address objections by some foreign automakers and to account for certain materials not (yet) produced in the United States. Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a key force getting that bill passed last year, now says the method of implementation may violate and subvert the law. Manchin has even threatened to sue stop the credits from going into effect, unless there are changes. Biden may feel he has no choice but to roll out muscular industrial policy, because China does it very effectively. The Chinese government has broad control over key economic sectors and uses that control to advance national priorities determined by the Chinese Communist Party, such as domestic development of artificial intelligence, electric vehicle technology, and pharmaceutical components. The traditional U.S. approach was to create incentives here and there, but broadly let the market determine where jobs and production should go. As China grew dominant in steel production, shipbuilding and other industries, however, some free marketeers have become more comfortable with the idea of a heavier government hand in parts of the U.S. economy. There will be flubs, as there usually are when the government tries to steer the development of one technology or another. China itself has a vastly overbuilt and over-subsidized real-estate sector, and the government has to prop up many state-owned firms that lose money. In the United States, the poster-child for wasted government subsidies is Solyndra, the California solar company that got $570 million in taxpayer funding during the Obama administration and then went bust. There will probably be more Solyndras in Americas future. Yet it's hard to see a future president, of either party, backing away from policies meant to give the U.S. economy an edge over Chinaseven if it doesnt always work out that way. Rick Newman is a senior columnist for Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter at @rickjnewman Click here for politics news related to business and money Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance AR-15 and AK-47 rifles are displayed on a wall at Impact Guns in South Salt Lake on July 6, 2022. Republicans sponsored and passed approximately a dozen bills concerning firearms during the 2023 legislative session. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Republicans sponsored and passed approximately a dozen bills concerning firearms during the 2023 legislative session. It would be reasonable to think that legislators are actually doing something to protect Utahns from gun violence. But, these bills will have little or no effect on reducing death and injury from gun violence and could, in fact, increase it. There are three common faults that underlie each of these pieces of legislation. First, they rely almost entirely on citizens voluntary measures that only occasionally address the frequent occurrences of gun violence. Second, they tinker with existing legislation with little effect, while leaving gaping loopholes wide open that would promote public safety. Third, they rely on bad data or no data at all. HB199 amends an existing process for the voluntary surrender of firearms in a domestic-violence context. When Rep. Cory Maloy proposed amendments to that process in 2021, he acknowledged that it was used only occasionally. Rep. Paul Cutler stated that his 2023 amendments would only benefit a small number of domestic violence victims. But, in Utah the problem of domestic violence involving a firearm is neither small nor occasional. In fact, 42% of adult gun homicides in Utah are domestic-violence related. Related HB226 creates a voluntary process for a private seller to do a background check on a potential buyer. As of October 2022, there were over 4,000 firearms for sale on the Utah Gun Exchange, the vast majority listed by private sellers not required to do a background check. While this bill provides the illusion that the Legislature is protecting Utahns, in reality, it will have little, if any, effect on gun violence. HB225 requires law enforcement personnel to do a background check before returning to the owner a firearm that was used as evidence, and requires that local law enforcement be notified when a restricted person attempts to purchase a firearm from a licensed dealer. This continues to leave in place the gaping loophole that exempts private sales from the background check requirement. Story continues Rep. Ryan Wilcox, chair of the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee, recently commented that, with good data come good outcomes. We agree with that. But when it comes to firearms legislation, Republicans repeatedly ignore the best data or act without any data. This session, HB107 waived the permitting fee to allow the concealed carry of a firearm by all school employees, including teachers and cafeteria workers. Active-shooter training or instruction on safe concealed carry in the midst of children is not required by Utah law. The potential for tragedy is obvious. Related But the bill sponsor, Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, offered no data in her committee presentation that hardening the target at our schools will protect our children rather than endangering them. And, we know of no such data. Time after time our legislators choose easier access to firearms over protecting the public from gun violence. The Second Amendment does not require that choice. The U.S. Supreme Court has made it clear that reasonable restrictions on the right to possess a gun for self-defense are permissible under the Second Amendment. When our Legislature chooses easier access to firearms over preventing death and injury from gun violence, it is making a deadly policy choice, not implementing a constitutional mandate. The lives of innocent Utahns are lost from these policy choices. How many lives will it take before we get better violence prevention laws? Nate Blouin is a Democratic State Senator representing District 13 (Sugar House, South Salt Lake, West Valley City, Millcreek and Murray). Barbara Gentry is a member of the Board of Directors of the Gun Violence Prevention Center of Utah. SkyQuest Technology Consulting Pvt. Ltd. SkyQuest's Artificial Intelligence In Healthcare market report is an excellent analysis for individuals interested in gaining insight into the valuable data, trends, and opportunities in a rapidly growing industry. Additionally, the report is written clearly and concisely, making it accessible to various audiences, from industry experts to market readers. Finally, one can gain an in-depth understanding of the primary and secondary market drivers, providing them with a comprehensive outlook of the current market situation and future projections. Westford, USA,, April 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The healthcare industry expects to witness Artificial Intelligence (AI) In Healthcare market growth, reaching USD 195.67 billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 37.4% over the forecast period (2023-2030). The market is growing due to the increasing demand for personalized healthcare, the adoption of electronic health records, the need for more efficient healthcare operations, the prevalence of chronic diseases, and technological advancements. According to SkyQuest's report, AI-powered clinical decision support systems have the potential to reduce treatment variability by up to 30%, leading to improved patient outcomes. The report also indicates that using AI in healthcare could result in annual savings of up to $100 billion by 2025 by personalizing treatments and reducing healthcare costs. Additionally, a study published in Diabetes Care journal found that an AI algorithm accurately predicted the onset of type 2 diabetes at a rate of 94.5%, highlighting the potential for early intervention to prevent or delay the onset of the disease and identify at-risk patients who can benefit from targeted interventions. Get sample copy of this report: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/artificial-intelligence-in-healthcare-market Browse in-depth TOC on "Artificial Intelligence In Healthcare Market" Pages - 242 Tables - 70 Figures - 71 AI is gaining significance in healthcare due to its potential to enhance patient outcomes, minimize healthcare expenses, and optimize healthcare operations. With the ability to scrutinize large volumes of healthcare data, AI algorithms can recognize patterns, forecast outcomes, and provide personalized treatment recommendations, leading to more effective and efficient healthcare delivery. Story continues Prominent Players in Artificial Intelligence In Healthcare Market IBM Watson Health GE Healthcare Philips Healthcare Google DeepMind Health Microsoft Healthcare NVIDIA Corporation Intel Corporation Siemens Healthineers Johnson & Johnson Medtronic Cerner Corporation Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Epic Systems Corporation Athenahealth McKesson Corporation Optum (UnitedHealth Group) Change Healthcare Qualcomm Life AliveCor Babylon Health Medical Imaging and Diagnostics Segment to Drive Higher Sales Due to the Generation of Massive Amounts of Data by Medical Imaging A recent analysis revealed that the Medical Imaging and Diagnostics segment played a significant role in the rapid development of artificial intelligence in the Healthcare market in 2021. This trend is expected to continue from 2022 to 2030. Generating massive amounts of data by medical imaging requires quick and accurate analysis by clinicians, which AI can facilitate. Additionally, AI algorithms can improve the accuracy of medical imaging, leading to better patient outcomes. Researchers from the University of Cambridge developed an AI tool that accurately detects brain tumors on MRI scans with a 96% accuracy rate, surpassing the 92% accuracy rate of human radiologists. This tool can enhance the speed and accuracy of brain tumor diagnosis, which is crucial for effective treatment. According to research analysis, North America is expected to emerge as a dominant player in artificial intelligence in the Healthcare market from 2022 to 2030. SkyQuest projected that the region would grow at a CAGR of 38.82% during the forecast period. This trend is attributed to advanced healthcare infrastructure, increasing demand for personalized medicine, and significant investments in AI by key regional players. Recently, the Canadian government announced an investment of $300 million in AI research and development over the next three years. This funding will support the development of AI-powered solutions in various sectors, including healthcare. Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://www.skyquestt.com/report/artificial-intelligence-in-healthcare-market Software Type Segment to Exhibit Strong Growth due to Increasing Applications in Healthcare In 2021, the Software Type segment dominated the Artificial Intelligence In Healthcare market and is projected to maintain its leading position from 2022 to 2030. This trend is driven by the increasing adoption of AI software in healthcare, which includes medical imaging, diagnostics, drug discovery, electronic health records, and virtual assistants. The implementation of AI software in these areas can enhance operational efficiency and safety in the healthcare industry. According to SkyQuest, the AI software segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 40.8% during the forecast period. The Asia Pacific region has emerged as a significant force in the Artificial Intelligence In Healthcare market and is expected to maintain its leading position by 2030. SkyQuest has forecasted a substantial growth rate for the region, with a projected CAGR of 41.97% during the forecast period. This expansion can be attributed to the increasing healthcare expenditure, a large patient population, and rising demand for advanced healthcare solutions in the region. Recently, researchers in Singapore developed an AI-powered tool that can predict the risk of COVID-19 patients developing severe disease and requiring intensive care. The tool uses patient data such as age, sex, and comorbidities to make predictions with high accuracy, potentially allowing healthcare providers to intervene early and improve patient outcomes. A comprehensive analysis of the major players in the Artificial Intelligence In Healthcare market has been recently conducted in a report. The report encompasses various aspects, including collaborations, mergers, innovative business policies, and strategies, providing valuable insights into key trends and breakthroughs in the market. Furthermore, the report scrutinizes the market share of the top segments and presents a detailed geographic analysis. Lastly, the report highlights the major players in the industry and their endeavors to develop innovative solutions to cater to the growing demand. Key Developments in Artificial Intelligence In Healthcare Market Gradient AI, a prominent software provider of AI solutions for the insurance sector, has announced its acquisition of Prognos Health's underwriting unit for analytics business. This acquisition will enable Gradient AI to utilize the vast collection of integrated medical records and lab data available on Prognos Health's real-world data marketplace. GE Healthcare has acquired Caption Health, an AI ultrasound company that focuses on the early detection of diseases. The financial details of the deal have not been disclosed, but GE Healthcare has stated that it will finance the acquisition using cash on hand. Caption Health, which is headquartered in California, has raised over $62 million through seven funding rounds. The acquisition will see Caption Health become part of GE Healthcare's $3 billion ultrasound business, to support the portfolio with AI-enabled imaging. This move comes after GE split into three separate businesses - GE Healthcare, GE Vernova, and GE Aerospace, with GE Healthcare becoming a standalone entity in early January. Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements: https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/artificial-intelligence-in-healthcare-market Key Questions Answered in Artificial Intelligence In Healthcare Market Report What specific growth drivers are projected to impact the market during the forecast period? Can you list the top companies in the market and explain how they have achieved their positions of influence? In what ways do regional trends and patterns differ within the global market, and how might these differences shape the market's future growth? Related Reports in SkyQuests Library: Global Medical Cameras Market Global Chromatography Data System (CDS) Market Global Healthcare Barcode Technology Market Global Cancer Tumor Profiling Market Global Sterilization Equipment Market About Us: SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally. Address: 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 Phone: USA (+1) 617-230-0741 Email: sales@skyquestt.com LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Gordon M. LeBlanc, Jr., currently Chairman, returns as Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President PHOENIX, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / April 7, 2023 / PetroSun, Inc. (OTC PINK:PSUD) (the "Company") announced today the appointment of Gordon M. LeBlanc, Jr., who currently serves as Chairman of the Board, as Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company, effective immediately. The Company also announced other changes to management. Regarding his return to an executive role, Gordon LeBlanc, Jr., stated, "Since the departure of R. Gerald Bailey as CEO in November 2022, the Company has lacked a senior corporate officer. By returning to an executive role, I intend to implement strategies to build shareholder value, particularly through development of PetroSun's prospective helium leases in the Holbrook Basin." The Company also announced that Christopher Hewitt has provided notice of his intent to step down from his role as Chief Financial Officer, effective April 13. Mr. Hewitt had served as Chief Financial Officer since December 2021. Regarding Mr. Hewitt's departure, Mr. LeBlanc stated, "It has been my pleasure to work with Mr. Hewitt since he joined the Company in September 2021. We thank him for his service." Mr. Hewitt commented, "I wish Gordon and PetroSun well. I appreciate the opportunity to have served as CFO of the Company." ABOUT PETROSUN, INC. PetroSun, Inc. owns significant leasehold acreage that is prospective in helium exploration and production in the Holbrook Basin of Arizona and prospective for natural gas and helium in the Paradox Basin of Utah. The Company holds mineral leases on approximately 280,000 gross acres in the Holbrook Basin and over 26,000 gross acres in the Paradox Basin. The Company trades on the OTC Pink Sheets under the symbol "PSUD". Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "could", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "ongoing", "plan", "potential", "predict", "project", "should", "will", "would", or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time the statements are made and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainty and other factors that may cause our results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this press release. This press release should be considered in light of all filings of the Company that are disclosed on the OTCMarkets.com website. Story continues Contact: PetroSun, Inc. 2999 North 44th Street, Suite 620 Phoenix, Arizona 85018 480-425-4290 Website: www.petrosun.us SOURCE: PetroSun, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/748085/PetroSun-Announces-Management-Changes Bridgewater founder Ray Dalio. Brendan McDermid/File Photo/Reuters Ray Dalio shared his thoughts on SVB, offered investing advice and warned of political conflicts last month. The Bridgewater Associates founder said he thinks the next two years will be a 'very risky time'. Here are 7 of the veteran investor's best quotes from March. Billionaire investor Ray Dalio has shared his thoughts on Silicon Valley Bank's failure, given some investing advice and warned of key geopolitical risks in his discourses across various media last month. The Bridgewater Associates founder and investing veteran also offered up his thoughts on why he thinks the next two years will be a "very risky time". Here are Dalio's 7 best quotes from a Q&A session, his March newsletter, as well as videos published last month, lightly edited for length and clarity: Silicon Valley Bank's failure "I was asked to share my thoughts about the Silicon Valley Bank situation. I want to convey that it's very indicative of what the whole economy is like. So there's its particular situation, and the Fed coming in and guaranteeing all depositors. But it's a common situation. It exists pervasively." "I think that it is a very classic event in the very classic bubble-bursting part of the short-term debt cycle." "Based on my understanding of this dynamic and what is now happening (which line up), this bank failure is a 'canary in the coal mine' early-sign dynamic that will have knock-on effects in the venture world and well beyond it." Economic outlook "While people are now not thinking about the next interest-rate cut and quantitative easing of the Fed, we should because the timing of these is probably less than about a year away and that will have big effects. I think that there is a good chance that it will produce a big decline in the value of money. So, it looks likely to me that the financial/economic picture over the next year or two will be tough." Investing strategies "In my opinion we should be well-diversified. Keep in mind what I call "the holy grail" of investing, which is to have 10 to 15 good, uncoordinated return streams. Simply said: hold a well-balanced portfolio that holds both assets that do well when there are great productivity gains (equities, especially those that produce benefit from new technologies that produce leaps in productivity) and assets that do well when there is the devaluation of money." Story continues "Please understand that I'm not sure of anything. That's why I believe that the key to good investing lies in achieving balance of uncorrelated good return streams so that one's portfolio has little or no bias to go up and down as conditions get better and worse. As I have stated repeatedly, this risk reduction can be done without reducing expected returns. So that's what I think and what I recommend doing." Geopolitical risks "Let's remember that [the money/credit/debt/market/economic dynamic] is being accompanied by the internal conflict dynamic (most importantly the 2024 US elections that are coming up) and the external conflict dynamic (most importantly the US-China conflict and the US-NATO-Russia conflict, though others like that with Iran are notable). All of these conflicts affect each other." "This setup implies to me that there is a significant risk that there will be 1) bad financial and economic conditions at a time of 2) bad internal conflict and 3) bad international conflictswith the world being leveraged long. In a nutshell, it looks to me like the next two years will be a very risky time." Read the original article on Business Insider kate_sept2004 / Getty Images Gathering and saving receipts and tax documents is an important part of filing taxes and receiving your refund quickly. Find: 6 Types of Retirement Income That Arent Taxable Also: 3 Signs Youre Serious About Raising Your Credit Score Whether you take the standard deduction or itemize deductions, most people filing their 2022 taxes in 2023 will be happy they took the time to prepare when the IRS deadline rolls around. Review which receipts to keep for taxes the information below will help to make tax preparation less painful and ensure you take all of your eligible deductions. What Receipts Should I Keep for Taxes? If youre not sure what receipts you need to prepare your tax return, consider seeking the help of a tax professional. They can help you evaluate your tax situation and identify the types of deductions youre entitled to take, and advise you as to what receipts youll need to document expenses. Not only can turning your taxes over to a pro maximize your refund it might even help you avoid overpaying in the first place. Whether you tackle your own taxes or leave them to a professional preparer, make sure you know how to save and organize your receipts the last thing you want is to not have the documents you need to defend yourself during an IRS audit. Take Our Poll: What Do You Plan To Use Your Tax Refund For? Receipts To Keep for Small-Business and Self-Employment Taxes Self-employed individuals should consider using QuickBooks or similar accounting software, according to Bonnie Lee, an enrolled agent and owner of Taxpertise in Sonoma, California. The scope of an audit of a small business is reduced considerably when the auditor discovers that adequate books and records, checkbook reconciliation and all other bookkeeping tasks are being performed on professional software, said Lee. Your recordkeeping system should include a summary of all your business transactions, the IRS notes. Receipts and other supporting documents provide evidence of those transactions. Story continues Gross Receipts Keep your gross receipts because they show the income for your business, which you must include when you file your taxes. Gross receipts to save for taxes can include: Cash register tapes Deposit information Receipt books Invoices Forms 1099-MISC Purchase Receipts Dont forget to save your receipts for business purchases, which are things you buy and resell to consumers. Canceled checks or receipts that show the payee, amount and proof of payment Cash register tape receipts Credit card receipts and statements Invoices Business Expense Receipts Your expenses are the costs of running your business, other than your purchases. Take some expert advice on what receipts to keep for business taxes. Sometimes canceled checks are not enough to support a deduction, according to Lee. A check made out to Costco is not proof of a business expense because you could be buying groceries and other personal items. Credit card charges for a business trip to Maui will smell like a vacation unless you can provide other documentation to support the business purpose. So be sure to keep the receipts, business conference flyers, etc., to defend business usage, said Lee. Keep these expense receipts for taxes: Canceled checks Cash register tapes Account statements Credit card receipts and statements Petty cash slips Invoices Also keep all of your credit card receipts. They can help document your expenses. When you sell any business assets such as the real estate, furniture or machinery you use youll need to keep the purchase and sales agreements as well as a copy of the receipt. Youll also need the purchase receipts if you use depreciation on your business assets as tax write-offs. Personal Income Tax Receipts To Keep Business owners arent the only ones who should be keeping receipts. Many taxpayers qualify for tax deductions that could require proof in the form of a receipt. Keep these documents as well: Receipts for purchases that qualify for special tax benefits such as an educator expense deduction Supporting receipts and documents for eligible home improvement costs on real estate Receipts for eligible medical expenses and dental costs, such as out-of-pocket payments for doctors, hospital stays and prescriptions as well as spending associated with traveling to and from medical appointments, including parking and tolls Documentation showing tax-deductible donations of cash, checks and other monetary gifts, regardless of the amount Receipts for dependent care expenses if youre a working parent or incurred the expenses while looking for work Energy-saving home improvement receipts Receipts showing state and local sales tax you paid on purchases if the sales tax exceeds your state income tax withholding or you live in a state with no personal income tax Receipts for qualified education expenses such as tuition, fees, books and supplies How To Organize Receipts for Taxes Whether you expect to pay taxes or get a refund, managing receipts for taxes doesnt need to be complicated. The key is knowing how to save receipts and file them in an orderly fashion. Maintain paperless records by scanning receipts, or use an app like Expensify to photograph them with your smartphone and sort them into categories. Doing this will simplify the process of calculating deductions and tax credits when you fill out your income tax return. Just make sure youre able to print the receipts for your tax preparer or, in the event of an audit, the IRS. Alternatively, save your receipts in boxes or files if you prefer a more traditional route. You can also find a ready-made receipt organizer to keep paper receipts safe and organized. No matter which tax receipt organization style suits you, arrange your documents by year and category. How Long To Keep Tax Records and Receipts You should save general tax records for at least three years, according to Josh Zimmelman, owner of Westwood Tax & Consulting LLC in Rockville Centre, New York. The IRS has three years to ask for an audit, said Zimmelman. But they can ask for records up to six years after filing if you failed to report 25% or more of your gross income. Another expert, Deltrease Hart-Anderson, an enrolled agent in West Columbia, S.C., gave an alternative perspective. I tell both business and individual clients to save receipts for at least 10 years, but I add a disclaimer: If you have room, save them forever, said Hart-Anderson. The IRS can audit an indefinite number of years of your tax returns if feels that youve filed a fraudulent tax return. Receipts can help you maximize your refund, or at least minimize your tax burden. But when it comes to collecting and keeping tax records and receipts, the guidance of a tax professional or financial advisor remains the safest bet. Not only will you receive advice best suited for your tax situation, but you can also stay focused on the arduous but profitable task of receipt record maintenance. More From GOBankingRates Daria Uhlig and Will Healy contributed to the reporting for this article. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: These Are the Receipts To Keep for Doing Your Taxes pkstock / Getty Images/iStockphoto Filing your taxes can be an annoyance, but it can become even more of a nuisance if you get audited by the IRS. See: 8 IRS Secrets To Know for the 2023 Tax Filing Season Find: 3 Signs You're Serious About Raising Your Credit Score Fortunately, your chances of being audited are small -- only 0.6% of the individual tax returns filed for tax years 2010 through 2018 were audited, according to IRS data. However, that small fraction still amounts to over a quarter million tax filers getting audited, so it can happen if you're not careful. So that you're prepared, these are the red flags the IRS looks out for when reviewing your tax returns. Last updated: Apr. 7, 2023. fizkes / Getty Images/iStockphoto Large Charitable Donations "The IRS often identifies red flags through automated computer programs," said Nate Smith, director in the CBIZ MHM National Tax Office. "Almost all returns submitted to the IRS are analyzed by a computer program to search for an anomaly or a result that deviates from norms. Under this program, each return is assigned a score, which the IRS calls a 'DIF' (Discriminate Function) score. The DIF score is used by the IRS to identify returns for examination." One factor that would negatively impact a DIF score is a charitable contribution deduction that is disproportionate with your overall amount of income, Smith said. Milan_Jovic / Getty Images Mismatches Between Reported Income and Data on Your Tax Forms Make sure the income you report matches exactly what it states on your Forms W-2 and 1099. Any mismatches are considered a red flag, Smith said. Take a Look: How To Avoid Paying Taxes Legally -- and the 11 Craziest Ways People Have Done It Drazen_ / iStock.com Failure To Report Cryptocurrency Transactions "The IRS sent around 10,000 letters (in previous years) to taxpayers who participated in virtual currency transactions -- Bitcoin, etc. -- and who did not report gains or losses involving virtual currency," Smith said. "These letters offer taxpayers participation in a voluntary disclosure program if they find that virtual currency transactions were omitted from prior tax filings." Story continues Take Our Poll: What Do You Plan To Use Your Tax Refund For? Ridofranz / Getty Images/iStockphoto Business Income and Expenses That Are Out of Whack "The IRS is always on the lookout for both unreported income and high expenses," said Dave Du Val, chief customer advocacy officer at TaxAudit. "Self-preparers should be cautious of accidental duplication of employee and business expenses, and of taking losses on activities that might be a hobby rather than a business activity." Make the Right Moves: What Can I Write Off on My Taxes? Pra-chid / Getty Images/iStockphoto Itemized Deductions That Seem High "The IRS loves to pounce on people who report high itemized deductions," Du Val said. "It's fine to claim these legally allowable deductions for your actual qualifying expenses, but make sure you have your documentation on-hand to support your position before you file your tax return." Du Val notes that 2017 was the last year that unreimbursed employee business expenses were allowed to be deducted on federal returns. "(However), many states -- such as California -- will still allow the deduction, so it's still important to hold onto receipts," he said. Do I Have To File Taxes? 3 Times You Can Skip It dcsliminky / Getty Images/iStockphoto Inflated Rental Property Expenses "Tax returns with what appears to be inflated rental expenses are frequently caught in the IRS net," Du Val said. "Some of the deductions on the Schedule E for rental income, where the income and expenses for rentals are reported, can be easily misinterpreted. Those who prepare their own tax returns should take the time to understand the deductions they are claiming. Not knowing the difference between a deductible expense and one that must be capitalized over a number of years could result in a disaster in an audit. This is especially true if you rent a room(s) to a roommate, as 'common-use' areas are not allowed as rental areas." Be Aware: 15 Tax Tips and Tax Deadlines To Know for Last-Minute Filing blackCAT / iStock.com Dependency Issues When two people claim the same dependent, the IRS gets involved. "Although separated and divorced parents who have custody have the clear advantage, they still have to prove everything by providing birth certificates, school records and more," Du Val said. Related: What To Do When You Can't Pay Your Tax Bill sturti / Getty Images Filing Status Confusion Du Val said that those who file using the head of household filing status are often questioned because the way you categorize dependents with this status can be confusing. "The tax reform bill has not made the rules any easier to understand; in fact, under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, there is a new $500 credit for what the IRS calls 'qualifying relatives' who are not necessarily people who are even related to you, but who meet certain tests and are not eligible for the child tax credit," he said. Don't Miss: 8 Reasons You Could Get Audited Todor Tsvetkov / Getty Images A Tax Return That Suggests the Taxpayers Are Not Reporting Enough Income To Support Their Lifestyle If your expenses are high but the income you are reporting is not, this could be a red flag for the IRS. "For example, a taxpayer who claims a deduction for mortgage interest on a million-dollar mortgage (or the new $750,000 mortgage limit) and personal property taxes on expensive vehicles has a good chance of showing up on the IRS's radar if their taxable income is not enough to pay these expenses," Du Val said. izusek / Getty Images Reporting the Exact Right Ratio of Income and Expenses To Qualify For a Large Earned Income Credit A Schedule C for self-employment that reports just the "right ratio" of income and expenses to qualify the taxpayer for a large earned income credit is a red flag, Du Val said. "The available credit is as high as ($6,935 for 2022) for a taxpayer whose income is below a certain threshold," he said. "Taxpayers who claim EIC and whose returns include a Schedule C business form should be prepared to show proof of all expenses, and even income listed on the return." Be Prepared: These Are the Receipts To Keep for Doing Your Taxes jacoblund / Getty Images/iStockphoto 199A Deduction for Real Estate Rentals Some people who claim this deduction don't actually qualify for it. "To be eligible the owner needs to have a contemporaneously written log showing that they have put in a minimum of 250 hours of non-investor type activity hours into the rentals," Du Val said. "Examples do not include such activities as commuting to the rental, reviewing the records or preparing a tax return. Meeting this requirement does not automatically qualify a taxpayer to be considered a 'real estate professional' for tax purposes, or to exclude this income from the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) calculation." AJ_Watt / Getty Images Overseas Accounts The law requires Americans with foreign financial accounts to report accounts to the U.S. Treasury Department, even if they don't generate any taxable income. The Bank Secrecy Act requires you to file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) if you have financial interest in, signature authority or other authority over one or more accounts in a foreign country and the aggregate value of all foreign financial accounts exceeds $10,000 at any time during the calendar year, according to the IRS. Failure to report these accounts could land you in hot water with the IRS. If you don't disclose overseas accounts, the IRS might find out about them anyway because foreign institutions are required to disclose account holdings by U.S. citizens, CNBC reported. What To Do If You Get Audited Hopefully being aware of these red flags will prevent you from being audited -- but if you do end up hearing from the IRS, here's what to do to be prepared. mediaphotos / Getty Images/iStockphoto 1. Gather All Necessary Documents To defend yourself during a tax audit, you'll need documentation to back up what you claimed on your return. The documentation you will need will depend on what it is you're being audited for but can include receipts, bills, canceled checks, employee documents, legal papers, loan agreements, trip logs, medical or dental records, theft or loss documents, business trip tickets or a Schedule K-1. Goodboy Picture Company / Getty Images 2. Ask For Help The Taxpayer Advocate Service is an independent organization within the IRS that protects taxpayer rights and assists with tax-related problems. If you're audited, you can contact the service for help. Most audits are conducted via correspondence, but if you do need to meet with an auditor in-person, consider hiring an attorney or another advocate to represent you. "The best thing to do if you're subject to an IRS audit is to hire someone and authorize them to go to the audit," said Paul Joseph, an attorney, CPA and president of Joseph & Joseph, LLC. "Never go yourself. In fact, my clients don't go at all. It is my position that I never let my clients come to an audit because they are expected to know all of the answers immediately. By not having the client attend the audit, they'll have an opportunity to discuss and fully explain the return with the hired professional prior to giving a response to the IRS." This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: These Red Flags on Your 2022 Tax Return Could Spark Interest From the IRS If we want to find a stock that could multiply over the long term, what are the underlying trends we should look for? Firstly, we'll want to see a proven return on capital employed (ROCE) that is increasing, and secondly, an expanding base of capital employed. This shows us that it's a compounding machine, able to continually reinvest its earnings back into the business and generate higher returns. So when we looked at Molson Coors Canada (TSE:TPX.B) and its trend of ROCE, we really liked what we saw. What Is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)? If you haven't worked with ROCE before, it measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Molson Coors Canada: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.048 = US$1.1b (US$26b - US$3.4b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2022). Therefore, Molson Coors Canada has an ROCE of 4.8%. In absolute terms, that's a low return and it also under-performs the Beverage industry average of 14%. View our latest analysis for Molson Coors Canada roce While the past is not representative of the future, it can be helpful to know how a company has performed historically, which is why we have this chart above. If you're interested in investigating Molson Coors Canada's past further, check out this free graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow. What The Trend Of ROCE Can Tell Us We're glad to see that ROCE is heading in the right direction, even if it is still low at the moment. The numbers show that in the last five years, the returns generated on capital employed have grown considerably to 4.8%. The company is effectively making more money per dollar of capital used, and it's worth noting that the amount of capital has increased too, by 122%. This can indicate that there's plenty of opportunities to invest capital internally and at ever higher rates, a combination that's common among multi-baggers. Story continues Our Take On Molson Coors Canada's ROCE A company that is growing its returns on capital and can consistently reinvest in itself is a highly sought after trait, and that's what Molson Coors Canada has. Given the stock has declined 20% in the last five years, this could be a good investment if the valuation and other metrics are also appealing. That being the case, research into the company's current valuation metrics and future prospects seems fitting. On a final note, we've found 1 warning sign for Molson Coors Canada that we think you should be aware of. While Molson Coors Canada isn't earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets. 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 Using a Roth IRA Annuity for Retirement There are different financial vehicles that you can use to save for retirement. A Roth individual retirement account is one option; an annuity is another. A Roth IRA annuity combines features of both into a single financial tool. You can get the benefit of steady income, with tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals. However, a Roth IRA annuity may not be right for everyone and it's helpful to understand how they work before adding one to your retirement plan. A financial advisor can help you determine whether a Roth IRA annuity is suitable for you. Roth IRA vs. Annuity: What's the Difference? Using a Roth IRA Annuity for Retirement A Roth IRA is a tax-advantaged retirement savings account funded with after-tax dollars. That means that when it's time to retire, you can make qualified withdrawals tax-free. The IRS allows you to make penalty-free withdrawals from IRAs starting at age 59 . You can save in a Roth IRA in addition to any money you're contributing to a 401(k) or similar retirement plan at work. Contributions to a Roth IRA are not tax-deductible, but you may value the ability to make tax-free withdrawals more if you expect to be in a higher tax bracket when you retire. An annuity is a type of insurance contract. When you purchase an annuity, you pay a premium to the annuity company. Premiums may be paid as a lump sum or in installments. In exchange, the annuity company agrees to make payments back to you beginning at a scheduled date. Annuities may be immediate, meaning payments begin within a year of purchasing the contract. Or they may be deferred, with payments beginning several years in the future. An annuity can provide steady income to you during your lifetime and potentially for the remainder of your spouse's life should they survive you. What Is a Roth IRA Annuity? A Roth IRA annuity is an annuity that's funded using Roth IRA contributions. You're getting an annuity contract that will make payments back to you at some point. In the meantime, you're funding it with after-tax dollars. Story continues The money in a Roth IRA annuity can grow tax-free and withdrawals are tax-free when you begin taking them. How the money grows can depend on what type of annuity you choose. Your options for opening a Roth IRA annuity can include: Fixed annuities, which offer a fixed rate of return that's often comparable to what you might get with a certificate of deposit (CD) account Indexed annuities, which can offer a rate of return that's based on the performance of an underlying stock market index Variable annuities, which can offer a variable rate of return based on the performance of an underlying basket of investments Each type of annuity carries different risks and has a different reward profile. In terms of tax treatment, Roth IRAs and annuities are subject to different tax rules. Roth IRAs generally allow for qualified tax-free withdrawals, while annuity income can be taxable when you begin taking distributions. With a Roth IRA annuity, however, Roth IRA tax rules take precedence over annuity tax rules. That can be a pro or a con, depending on your financial situation and where you expect to be tax-wise in retirement. Advantages of a Roth IRA Annuity Using a Roth IRA Annuity for Retirement Roth IRA annuities can allow you to enjoy a number of benefits when planning for retirement. First and perhaps most importantly, you're funding the annuity with money that you've already paid taxes on. That means you won't owe any additional tax on withdrawals from the annuity that you make when you retire. Again, that's because Roth IRA tax rules trump annuity tax requirements. While the money is in your annuity it can grow on a tax-free basis. The degree of growth that you see is ultimately determined by which type of annuity option you choose. You can decide what kind of annuity - fixed, variable or indexed - is the best fit based on your risk tolerance and goals. When you're ready to begin withdrawing money from a Roth IRA, you can use it to fund your retirement in any way that you wish. So, if you'd like to use it to buy an investment property you could. Or you may use that income stream to cover the cost of long-term care if you or your spouse requires a stay in a nursing home. Roth IRA annuities can offer plenty of flexibility for retirement planning, in addition to any other streams of income you might have, such as Social Security benefits, a pension or 401(k) withdrawals. Disadvantages of a Roth IRA Annuity Is a Roth IRA annuity right for everyone? Not necessarily and it's important to understand the downsides. First, you'll need to meet the income requirements in order to contribute to a Roth IRA. The IRS determines who can save in a Roth account based on their filing status and modified adjusted gross income (AGI). You can make a full contribution for the 2023 tax year if you: File single or head of household and your modified AGI is less than $138,000 Are married and file separately but did not live with your spouse any time during the year and your modified AGI is less than $138,000 File a joint return or as a qualifying widow(er) and your modified AGI is less than $218,000 The full regular contribution limit for 2023 is $6,500. You can contribute an additional $1,000 if you're 50 or older. Contribution amounts begin to phase out once your income exceeds those limits, eventually reducing down to $0. The IRS does not impose income-based limitations for contributions to a traditional IRA. Assuming that you meet the income requirements, it's also important to understand any fees you might pay for a Roth IRA annuity. For example, say that you decide to purchase a Roth IRA annuity and change your mind later. You might end up having to fork over a sizable surrender fee to get out of the contract. Finally, it's a good idea to assess the growth potential of a Roth IRA annuity. Depending on which type of annuity you choose, you might be able to generate better returns by keeping your money in a Roth IRA instead and investing it in a mix of different mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Bottom Line Roth IRAs hold a lot of appeal, thanks to their tax-advantaged status. Annuities, meanwhile, can provide you with reliable income for retirement. Combining both into a Roth IRA annuity is something you might consider if you'd like to enjoy the best of both worlds. Retirement Planning Tips Consider talking to your financial advisor about whether a Roth IRA annuity might be right for you. Finding a financial advisor doesn't have to be hard. SmartAsset's free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you're ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. If you're considering any type of annuity, it's important to do your research and find a reputable company to work with. Comparing annuity reviews and ratings, for example, can give you an idea of a company's financial strength. Annuity companies with higher credit ratings are typically less likely to default on their obligations to make annuity payments back to their customers. It's also helpful to weigh the various fees that you might pay to purchase, maintain or surrender an annuity. Photo credit: iStock.com/PeopleImages, iStock.com/Andrii Dodonov, iStock.com/shapecharge The post Using a Roth IRA Annuity for Retirement appeared first on SmartAsset Blog. Russian President Vladimir Putin. ILYA PITALEV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images The Russia ruble fell to its lowest since April 2022 amid speculation Shell could repatriate $1.2 billion of the currency. This comes amid a growing liquidity crunch and foreign flight on the back of Western sanctions. Meanwhile, the Chinese yuan recently surpassed the US dollar as the most traded currency in Russia. Recent reports that Shell plans to repatriate more than $1 billion in ruble earnings has led to the latest leg down in the Russian currency, pushing it past a psychologically important level of 80 rubles per dollar. Trading at 81.6 rubles on Thursday, this marks the currency's lowest level since April 2022. "The process for approving assets sales by foreigners is opaque," Dmitry Polevoy, of Moscow's Locko-Invest, told Bloomberg. "With liquidity in the currency market low, it leads to increased volatility for the ruble." Russian President Vladimir Putin has allowed Shell to receive around $1.21 billion worth of rubles for its stake in the Sakhalin-2 project, a Far East project the company announced it would quit on the back of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. When the war broke out in February of last year, the ruble fell to 130 per US dollar, and Putin required foreign companies to receive permission in order to sell Russian assets. And despite a slew of sanctions and financial penalties from the West, however, the currency rebounded in part due to resilient energy exports. But after hitting a June peak of 50 per dollar, energy earnings have begun to wear out and dollar demand grew, leading to a growing liquidity crunch. Meanwhile, capital has continued to flee, with Bloomberg reporting that total asset sales from departing companies amounted to between $15 and $20 billion last year. This week, the Russian branch of Raiffeisen Bank International AG has banned dollar transfers for anyone besides premium clients, and lifted the minimum transfer amount to $20,000. Further, the Chinese yuan has topped the US dollar as the most traded currency in Russia, as Western sanctions make it harder for Russian institutions to make dollar-based transactions. Read the original article on Business Insider Mikhail Fridman - Pavel Golovkin/AP An investment fund set up by a sanctioned oligarch has launched a legal challenge after the Government ordered it to sell its UK broadband business due to national security concerns. LetterOne, which was founded by the Ukrainianborn billionaire Mikhail Fridman in 2013, is seeking a judicial review of the order to sell Upp, arguing that its ownership does not pose a security risk. The Government ordered LetterOne to sell Upp, the company behind a 1bn project to roll out fullfibre broadband in East Anglia, in December. Grant Shapps, then Business Secretary, said the move was necessary to prevent, remedy, or mitigate a risk to national security. Upp will also be required to complete a security audit of its network prior to the sale. In a statement LetterOne said: L1 is not sanctioned and has taken fast, decisive action to put in place strong measures to distance itself from its sanctioned shareholders. They have no role in L1, no access to premises, infrastructure, people and funds or benefits of any description. The company said it was also subject to regulation by Ofcom and had measures in place to remove any perceived threat to national security. These include a UK leadership, only UK, US and EU staff on the board and clear protocols about access to information, data and any key infrastructure sites. LetterOne added: L1 believes it is essential that this decision is reconsidered so that Upp can continue to deliver vital next generation broadband to eastern England and the East Midlands, with the significant social and economic benefits that brings to the regions. It is understood that LetterOne will comply with the order while its claim is ongoing. A Government spokesman said: The Energy Secretary made a Final Order in December under the National Security and Investment Act, requiring LetterOne to divest Upp. If granted, the judicial review will be the first major test of strict new national security laws that came into force at the start of last year. Story continues The National Security and Investment Act 2021 has been used to block five acquisitions so far, four of which involved Chinese companies. But the order to sell Upp marked the first time the new laws have been used to target Russian oligarchs. Mr Fridman and fellow oligarch Petr Aven were forced to step down from LetterOne after they were hit by EU sanctions following Russias invasion of Ukraine last year. The EU said Mr Fridman actively supported materially or financially and benefited from Russian decisionmakers responsible for the annexation of Crimea and the destabilisation of Ukraine. The pair have had their stakes in LetterOne frozen and are unable to sell their shares or receive any financial benefit while under sanctions. Mr Fridman has denied links to the Kremlin and branded sanctions unfair. The judicial review was first reported by the Financial Times. LetterOne bought Upp, formerly known as Fibre Me, in June 2021 and set out aims to reach one million premises with full-fibre broadband by 2025. The fund, which also owns Holland & Barrett, is not under sanctions itself but has rushed to distance itself from Russia. In October it inked a deal to buy back almost 900m of debt from Holland & Barretts lenders amid concerns about possible exposure to sanctions. Ideally, your overall portfolio should beat the market average. But even the best stock picker will only win with some selections. So we wouldn't blame long term 3M Company (NYSE:MMM) shareholders for doubting their decision to hold, with the stock down 53% over a half decade. And we doubt long term believers are the only worried holders, since the stock price has declined 32% over the last twelve months. Shareholders have had an even rougher run lately, with the share price down 20% in the last 90 days. Since shareholders are down over the longer term, lets look at the underlying fundamentals over the that time and see if they've been consistent with returns. View our latest analysis for 3M To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. During the unfortunate half decade during which the share price slipped, 3M actually saw its earnings per share (EPS) improve by 5.2% per year. Given the share price reaction, one might suspect that EPS is not a good guide to the business performance during the period (perhaps due to a one-off loss or gain). Alternatively, growth expectations may have been unreasonable in the past. Due to the lack of correlation between the EPS growth and the falling share price, it's worth taking a look at other metrics to try to understand the share price movement. We note that the dividend has remained healthy, so that wouldn't really explain the share price drop. While it's not completely obvious why the share price is down, a closer look at the company's history might help explain it. You can see below how earnings and revenue have changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image). 3M is a well known stock, with plenty of analyst coverage, suggesting some visibility into future growth. So it makes a lot of sense to check out what analysts think 3M will earn in the future (free analyst consensus estimates) Story continues What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. In the case of 3M, it has a TSR of -44% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! A Different Perspective While the broader market lost about 9.6% in the twelve months, 3M shareholders did even worse, losing 29% (even including dividends). Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 8% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. To that end, you should be aware of the 2 warning signs we've spotted with 3M . Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies we expect will grow earnings. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. 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 (Bloomberg) -- Mike Rothenberg, the venture capitalist once described as Silicon Valleys party animal, faces a new criminal trial over charges he gouged investors after a jury failed to reach a verdict last year on separate bank fraud claims against him. Most Read from Bloomberg Rothenberg was indicted in 2020 for what prosecutors said were multiple fraudulent schemes from years earlier that helped him misappropriate almost $19 million. The first trial, involving allegations that Rothenberg made false statements to Silicon Valley Bank to borrow funds, ended in November with jurors in Oakland, California, unable to reach a unanimous consensus on the two charges. Afterward, Rothenberg asked US District Judge Jon Tigar to acquit him, but Tigar refused in February. No retrial has been scheduled for those counts. On Friday Tigar set a trial to start Oct. 2 over charges that Rothenberg raised millions of dollars telling investors he would use it to back promising startups but actually kept a large portion of the money for his personal use. Whether prosecutors can win a conviction in the second trial will be an early test for Ismail Ramsey, who was sworn in last month as the new US attorney for San Francisco, an office that tackles high-profile crime in Silicon Valley and the Bay Area. Hanni M. Fakhoury, a lawyer for Rothenberg, had no immediate comment. Read More: Rothenberg, VC Who Was Parodied on HBO, Charged With Fraud Rothenberg was known for throwing lavish parties, which served as material for HBOs show, Silicon Valley. In 2018, Rothenberg settled allegations by the Securities and Exchange Commission that he overcharged investors to fund personal projects. In a separate lawsuit, Rothenberg is fighting claims he refused to completely repay a loan of $4.25 million loan from Silicon Valley Bank. The banks parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month after it faced a bank run by depositors and was taken over by regulators. Story continues The case is US v. Rothenberg, 20-cr-00266, US District Court, Northern District of California (Oakland). (Updates with Rothenbergs rejected bid for acquittal. An earlier version of the story corrected the description of the new trial and original trial.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. When SoftBank announced in 2019 that it had allocated $5 billion to investing in Latin American startups, it felt like an inflection point for the region. And then when the Japanese investment conglomerate announced it had committed another $3 billion to startups there, it was only further validation that Latin America was home to a formidable startup system. About $7.6 billion of that capital has been allocated across more than 80 investments, according to Juan Franck, managing partner of the SoftBank Latin America Funds. This means that SoftBank still has $400 million to back companies across LatAm, with about 50% of that money going to new investments and the other half going to existing portfolio companies. Despite the fact that the total fair value of those investments was $6.4 billion at the end of 2022, the Latin America Funds managing partners say they are bullish on continuing to deploy capital in the region. We continue to be extremely excited about the opportunities in LatAm, said Alex Szapiro, managing partner of the funds, in an interview. It is very early still where we are with our fund. The pair remain optimistic despite the fact that in February, SoftBank Groups investment vehicles -- including its Latin America fund -- posted a loss of $5.8 billion in the quarter that ended in December 2022 as the Japanese tech investor continues to bleed through the market downturn and significantly pares back new backings. That marked the fourth straight quarter in which SoftBank Group has reported losing money. While SoftBank declined to provide specifics as to how many companies in Latin America it has backed over the past 18 months, a source familiar with the matter told TechCrunch that since January 2022, the firm has participated in 16 investments with a total value of about $400 million. Most recently, SoftBank put money in a funding round raised by Rankmi in Chile. "We do not have a pre-established target for number of deals, value of investments or number of companies that we will invest in 2023," Szapiro told TechCrunch. "We still have dry powder from LatAm Fund II and access to Vision Fund II. We are not concerned with capital deployment. The goal is to find companies that fit our investment thesis." Story continues Competitive edge The duo believe that SoftBank, despite its losses, has a competitive advantage over other global investors putting money into LatAm startups in that it has members of its investment team working in various parts of the region such as Brazil, Mexico and Miami. (This makes sense considering that about 80% of its investment dollars in the region have gone to Brazilian and Mexican startups.) From 2019 to 2021, a lot of players came into the region, but when the markets got a little bit shaky, those tourist funds left, Szapiro said. We believe you need to have someone on the groundAlso, we understand the entrepreneurs in the market. In Latin America, where founders seek relationships just as much as they do capital, SoftBank hopes to capitalize on having an investment team that hails from the very regions in which its seeking to invest. Many are first time-founders and its their first time going to venture and they rely on us for much more beyond capital, Szapiro said. So we help them on the legal and HR side and with things like product development and marketing. We have teams in those areas, and they rely on us helping a lot. For Franck, thats where SoftBanks "long-term commitment comes to bear, especially as the startup world faces a downturn globally and capital is not nearly as easy to come by. 2023 is really about going back to the basics, focusing on your product, focusing on your customer and also focusing on profitable and sustainable growth, he told TechCrunch. And so, portfolio management is as important a job for us as making new investments in current portfolio companies or new portfolio companies. But the fact that we're on the ground, operating elbow to elbow with the entrepreneurs, and also showing up for follow-on investments. I think it also is a great opportunity for us to just cement our message of long-term commitment to the region. Over time, SoftBank has seen a few exits in the region, including Itau, Brazils largest private bank, acquiring 35% of Avenue; Paystand, a U.S.-focused B2B payments network, acquiring100% of Yaydoo and Brazilian edtech giant Arco Educacao acquiring 75% of Isaac in an all-stock deal. Other companies it has backed include Creditas, Kavak, Inter, VTEX, QuintoAndar and Rappi. Of course SoftBank is not the only firm with people on the ground aimed at backing and/or helping startups in the region. For example, Kaszek earlier this week announced it had closed on $975 million across two new funds to back startups in the region. And last year, Latitud raised $11.5 million in seed funding from investors such as Andreessen Horowitz and NFX toward its effort to become the operating system for every venture-backed company in LatAm. In recent years, SoftBank has also backed companies in other countries, such as Chile and Colombia, for example. And it plans to continue to do so. Good opportunities transcend geographical barriers, Franck said. And so we don't spend too much time thinking about the country we are concentrating on. Overall, the pair concede that while investment pace slowed in 2022 as many venture firms were essentially on lockdown, the demand for capital is also down -- particularly in LatAm, where founders have historically been forced to be more disciplined than their U.S. counterparts because its generally more difficult to raise venture money there. There is a lot of dry powder but I would say that funds in general are being much more disciplined on business models and valuations of companies, Franck said. At the same time, a lot of the companies in our portfolio and across the region still have the cash on the balance sheet that they raised in 2021 and 2022. So that gives them the flexibility to actually continue to use that cash in a context of optimization and cash runway extension, and to not actually have to come to market in the short to medium term, especially in a market where the context would potentially demand terms that they aren't willing to accept. Transparency Market Research Increasing investments in solar energy projects for electricity generation is primarily driving sales of solar-assisted heat pumps Wilmington, Delaware, United States, April 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Transparency Market Research Inc. The global solar-assisted heat pump market is slated to expand at an 8.2% CAGR, reaching US$ 8.3 billion by the end of the 2023-2031 forecast period. The growth of this market is chiefly attributed to the rising quest for harnessing alternative energy sources, preferably renewable ones. In addition to this, solar-assisted heat pumps are highly energy efficient, reducing per-unit costs. According to the United States Energy Information Administration, space heating and water heating account for almost 2/3rd of energy consumption across the country. Furthermore, domestic energy consumption across the country is likely to range between 0-15% from 2022-2050, as per the Annual Energy Outlook 2023 report. Naturally, the government is looking for ways to optimize this use and reduce adverse impacts on the environment. This is leading to enhanced uptake of solar-assisted heat pumps. Request for a Sample PDF Report with Latest Industry Insights: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=85531 Since the past decade, solar energy has made significant headway. According to reports, it has experienced an average annual growth rate of 33%. In China, it is expected that by 2030, the generation of combined solar and wind energy capacity is likely to exceed its intended target of 1.2 terawatts, accounting for 90% of the global market for upstream solar products. Likewise, in April 2023, Schrodes Greencoat and Innova Renewables Limited have announced a strategic partnership to construct and operate solar energy generation and battery storage projects across the U.K. The partnership has an ambition of financing and developing 5 GW of renewable energy capacity over the next three to five years, building on the current Innova distribution connected pipeline of 1.5 GW across solar and storage. With such extensive investments planned across key countries, it is no surprise that the demand for solar-assisted heat pumps is expected to rise in the coming decades. Story continues Key Takeaways from the Market Report Global solar-assisted heat pump market was valued at US$ 4.1 billion in FY 2022 Sales of solar-assisted heat pumps are likely to grow over 2x from 2023-2031 Air source heat pumps are likely to be most preferred, attributed to their lower installation costs Solar-assisted heat pumps to be used maximum for residential space heating Buy this Premium Research Report: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=85531 What is the TNFD framework, and why does it matter to businesses? The TNFD global initiative, announced in July 2020 to enable organisations to report and act on evolving ecological risks, released the final draft of its nature-related risk management and disclosure framework on March 28. The framework will be launched for market adoption in September after a two-month consultation process ending on June 1. The founding partners of the TNFD include environmental organisation Global Canopy, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative and WWF, while members of the task force comprise 40 senior executives from financial institutions, companies and market service providers with combined assets of more than US$20 trillion. Story continues The initiative aims to support businesses and help them identify and assess their nature-related dependencies and impacts, according to Patrick Ho, deputy head of sustainable development at Swire Properties, the only TNFD task force member from Hong Kong. "The TNFD framework is a much-needed and pioneering tool to address the challenge of global biodiversity loss," said Ho in an interview. "The TNFD will support our efforts to examine our core metrics through the lenses of risk assessment and management, and in turn devise strategies and action plans for any potential risks." Hong Kong and China Gas (Towngas) also welcomed the publication of the final draft framework, which "outlines a clear approach for companies to embrace nature-related opportunities and risks and to tackle the potential risks", said Isaac Yeung, head of corporate ESG at the gas distributor. Towngas published a disclosure in response to the TNFD framework in November, which found that 11 of its 117 projects assessed were in proximity to key biodiversity areas. Why should companies disclose biodiversity issues and nature-related risks? Biodiversity has assumed great importance of late. At the 15th United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in Montreal in December, a historic agreement was reached by more than 190 countries to protect 30 per cent of land and water considered important for biodiversity by 2030. Around 17 per cent of terrestrial and 10 per cent of marine areas are currently protected. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework agreed upon at COP15 also encouraged large transnational companies and financial institutions to assess, monitor and disclose biodiversity risks, impacts and dependencies. "In the next few years, we're going to start to see investors asking questions about how [businesses] are going to help achieve the Montreal global biodiversity framework targets and [their] transition plan to contribute to nature positive outcomes," said TNFD's Goldner. The TNFD disclosure framework will help to enhance an organisation's visibility and transparency in terms of risk management and corporate governance for nature-related risks, according to Swire Properties' Ho. "This will increase investors and stakeholders' confidence in organisations which choose to disclose the relevant information," said Ho. What is included in the final draft framework, and how does it complement the existing climate disclosure frameworks? The draft revealed the framework's proposed disclosure metrics for the first time, which are separated into three tiers based on their relevance to global policy priorities, different sectors and specific business models. "The first tier helps to provide comparability across sectors. The second provides comparability within sectors. And the third provides flexibility for report preparers to reflect the nature of their business in ways that might be different from other businesses in the same sector," said TNFD's Goldner. The TNFD has also adapted the notion of "scopes", commonly used in climate reporting to refer to greenhouse gas emissions directly or indirectly linked to business activities. In the nature context, the TNFD used "direct operations", "upstream", "downstream" and "financed" activities for financial institutions. The TNFD framework is also aligned with guidance by the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), set up by the Basel-based Financial Stability Board in 2015 to develop guidelines for voluntary climate-related financial disclosures across industries. 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 2023 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2023. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Tax refunds are about 10% smaller than a year ago, according to the latest data from the Internal Revenue Service, and slightly fewer have been distributed this year with just over a week left in the filing season. The average refund amount was $2,910 as of March 31, down 9.8% from $3,226 the same period last year, the IRS reported. Thats based on just over 62.9 million refunds the agency has disbursed this year versus nearly 63.4 million refunds sent out last year. Since the beginning of this tax season, the average refund has come in lower than last year's based on the weekly filing statistics, underscoring how the loss of several pandemic-era tax breaks has translated to a smaller, key windfall for many American households. This year, the biggest change was the Child Tax Credit being lowered back to the normal amount, Rus Garofalo, founder and president of BrassTaxes, told Yahoo Finance. Credit: Getty Images Loss of pandemic breaks The average refund last year was 14.3% more than in 2021, with the increase largely due to temporary enhancements to the Child Tax Credit (CTC), Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), and Child and Dependent Care Credit. Those credit amounts are now back to pre-COVID levels. For example, the CTC declined to $2,000 per child dependent versus $3,600 last year. Its also not fully refundable anymore, meaning taxpayers wont receive the full credit if it exceeds the amount of tax they paid a change that hurts the lowest-earning families the most. The maximum EITC amount that single filers with no children are eligible for is $500 this year. Last tax season, these filers got as much as $1,502 for the credit, which also had a higher income threshold then. The Child and Dependent Care Credit which covers out-of-pocket expenses for child care and day camps was reduced this year to $2,100 compared with last years $8,000. The loss of the above-the-line charitable deduction and the expiration of the mortgage insurance premium deduction also could factor into lower refunds. Story continues A smoother tax season Of the 168 million individual tax returns the IRS expects this year, the agency has received 90.1 million so far, almost on track with the nearly 91.3 million received last year at this time. The IRS also appears to be on top of the returns coming in. As of March 31, the agency had processed over almost 89.7 million tax returns, or 99.5% of those received. Slightly more taxpayers are also e-filing their returns and choosing direct deposit for their refunds, heeding the agencys earlier advice to get a faster refund. Another sign that its been a relatively smoother tax season this year? Visits to the IRS website are down 17.4% versus last year. Gabriella Cruz-Martinez contributed to the article. Ronda is a personal finance senior reporter for Yahoo Finance and attorney with experience in law, insurance, education, and government. Follow her on Twitter @writesronda Read the latest personal finance trends and news from Yahoo Finance. Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Flipboard, and LinkedIn skynesher / Getty Images As you've probably heard, the rich keep getting richer, and one way they do it is with a strategy called tax avoidance. Learn More: Reduce Your Social Security Tax Bill Using These Tips Find: 3 Signs You're Serious About Raising Your Credit Score In 2021, nonprofit newsroom ProPublica revealed that between 2014 and 2018, the United States' 25 wealthiest individuals got $401 billion richer -- but the income taxes they paid covered only 3.4% of their new net worth. Unlike tax evasion, which can land you in prison, tax avoidance is perfectly legal, and it's a strategy you can implement to reduce your own tax bill. It requires only that you take advantage of some of the tax loopholes the wealthy use to reduce their yearly tax burden. Find out what you might be able to write off to save more. TerryJ / Getty Images 1. Claim Depreciation Depreciation is one way the wealthy save on taxes. So, what exactly is it? "For federal income tax purposes, depreciation is a deduction that allows you to recover the cost or other basis of certain property," tax expert Kelly Phillips Erb wrote in a post for Forbes. "It can be tricky but generally, you begin to depreciate your property when you place it in service for the first time. The IRS considers property 'placed in service' when it is ready and available for use, not when you actually begin using it. You depreciate the cost of the item over its useful life (based on the kind of property) unless an exception applies." Take Our Poll: Do You Think Bankruptcy Is an Acceptable Way To Escape Student Loan Debt? iStock.com How To Get the Deduction Depreciation can be claimed for both tangible and intangible property. Property that may be eligible for this deduction includes buildings, rental properties, machines, cars and trucks, furnishings, equipment, patents, copyrights and some kinds of software, according to TaxGirl.com. To qualify for the deduction, the property must meet three requirements: Story continues It's used for a business or income-producing activity. You own the property. It has a determinable "useful life" of more than one year. Depreciation claims are made in section 179 of your federal tax returns. For tax year 2023, the maximum expense deduction is $1,160,000 for most property. For tax year 2022, you can deduct up to $1,080,000. Uber Images / Shutterstock.com 2. Deduct Business Expenses If you run a business, you might reap big tax benefits. Business owners who are filing taxes can claim potential tax deductions for some business expenses, including those tied to: Travel Vehicle Office supplies Work-related education expenses A home office Not every venture qualifies as a business entitled to such tax write-offs, however. To qualify, you must intend to try to make a profit in your business rather than engaging in what the IRS considers to be merely a "hobby." However, sometimes the lines are blurred between business and hobby. It's important to know the difference so you don't miss out on a legitimate deduction -- or claim a deduction you're not entitled to receive. aluxum / Getty Images How To Get the Deduction How do you distinguish between a hobby that produces some income and a bona fide business? The IRS considers many factors that can be found on the organization's website. A few of them include: Whether you carry on the activity in a businesslike manner, maintaining complete and accurate books and records Whether the time and effort you put into the activity indicate you intend to make it profitable Whether you depend on income from the activity for your livelihood Whether the activity makes a profit some years and how much profit it makes Ridofranz / Getty Images/iStockphoto 3. Hire Your Kids Business owners who turn their venture into a "family affair" can put more money back into their pockets. For example, hiring your kids to do legitimate work in your business offers potential tax benefits. According to the IRS: "Payments for the services of a child under age 18 who works for his or her parent in a trade or business are not subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes if the trade or business is a sole proprietorship or a partnership in which each partner is a parent of the child." What's more, your kids' income won't be taxed unless it exceeds the standard deduction. The standard deduction is $12,950 for tax year 2022 and increases to $13,850 for 2023. Putting your kids to work in your business has an additional tax benefit: You can deduct their wages as a business expense. Shutterstock.com How To Get the Deduction Instead of paying high taxes on your business income, transfer some of that income to your child as wages for services they perform. Your child's work must be "legitimate," however, and the salary must be "reasonable," said Gail Rosen, a Martinsville, New Jersey-based certified public accountant. Check Your $2 Bills: They Could Be Worth Upwards of $4,500 Shutterstock.com 4. Roll Forward Business Losses Even the wealthy lose money in business sometimes, but they use those losses to their advantage. An IRS rule called a "net operating loss carryforward" allows business owners whose business lost money one year to carry the loss forward to a future year when the deduction would be more advantageous. "Business losses are sometimes called net operating losses (NOL)," Phillips Erb wrote in the Forbes post. "An NOL generally results when your tax deductions exceed your taxable income. If that number is negative in one year -- but has been positive in other years resulting in tax payable -- that doesn't quite seem fair. The NOL exists so that you can balance that inequity. In other words, you can use the loss in one year to lower your taxable income and reduce your tax burden in another year." mediaphotos / Getty Images/iStockphoto How To Get the Deduction In tax years 2018 through 2020, the IRS allowed NOL carrybacks, whereby you would first carry back the entire NOL amount for up to five years, and if you still had an NOL remaining after carrying those losses back, you could carry the losses forward. Beginning in tax year 2021, those loses are only carried forward for most businesses. "A carry forward means that you can apply the loss towards your income in a future year." Erb wrote. 5. Earn Income From Investments, Not Your Job Instead of working for their money, wealthy people can make their money work for them, said Pompano Beach, Florida-based accountant Eric J. Nisall, founder of AccountLancer, which specializes in accounting for freelancers. Investments that offer distributions such as real estate investment trusts (REITs) and master limited partnerships (MLPs) are set up in ways that can bring in a steady generated income. Other options include investing in stocks or investing in real estate by purchasing rental properties. Remember you'll have to make significant upfront investments before you start seeing returns, and returns are never guaranteed. Shutterstock.com How To Get the Deduction The tax on earned income can be as high as 37%. Invest in high-yielding dividend stocks and collect dividends that the companies pay at regular intervals. Later, you can sell the stock after it has appreciated and pay a relatively low capital gains tax rate. Depending on how much was earned in a particular year, long-term capital gains tax rates are 0%, 15% and 20% for 2022 and 2023. If you own property that you rent out as a landlord, you'll be able to deduct your property taxes. Remember, though, you have to find tenants who will pay the rent on time and won't trash your property. Urgent repairs and periodic improvements can be costly, as well. karamysh / Shutterstock.com 6. Sell Real Estate You Inherit If you inherit a piece of property, you can minimize the capital gains taxes by taking advantage of the "step-up in basis." Normally, if you buy a piece of land for $200,000 and then sell that land for $450,000, you'll owe tax on that $250,000 gain. However, if your parents purchase the land for $200,000 and you inherit it, your new basis will be the fair market value of the property at the time you inherit it. If you sell it immediately, you won't owe any tax at all on that $250,000 gain. See: Why Stealth Wealth Is the Best Way To Handle Your Money kupicoo / Getty Images How To Get the Deduction The stepped-up basis is an automatic process that happens to all property that passes by way of inheritance. For tax purposes, it's like you're starting over, purchasing the property anew at the current price. In the previous example, if you inherit the property from your parents when they die, you won't be liable to pay capital gains tax on the $250,000 increase in the property's value when you sell it using the step-up basis. Make sure your parents don't give the property to you before they die, however. If they do, they'll owe hefty taxes during their lifetime, and any financial benefit to you will be vastly diminished. skynesher / Getty Images 7. Buy Whole Life Insurance You ordinarily associate life insurance policies with the need to provide for your dependents if you die. A secret strategy that the wealthy take advantage of is buying whole life insurance, however. It's a combination of an insurance policy and an investment account. monkeybusinessimages / Getty Images/iStockphoto How To Get the Deduction You can receive tax-deferred growth as your policy grows. It's also possible to receive tax-free distributions under certain conditions. The double benefit is that the wealthy policy owner gets this tax break during their lifetime. After their death, the amount of the policy benefit goes directly to the lucky beneficiary they named, who receives it tax-free. Consult a qualified and experienced financial planner or insurance agent. Also, consult an expert to find out if whole life insurance is right for you. Some experts believe it's a bad investment, partly because of the expensive fees. IM_photo / Shutterstock.com 8. Buy a Yacht or Second Home Most Americans don't have the cash to buy a boat or a second home. But having multiple residences can lessen a rich person's tax bill. jacoblund / Getty Images/iStockphoto How To Get the Deduction If you own a home and itemize your deductions on your tax return, you can usually deduct the property taxes and the interest you pay on the mortgage -- though there is an upper limit of $10,000 that taxpayers are allowed to deduct for property taxes. If you buy a second home, you can deduct the taxes and mortgage interest on that property, as well. The IRS notes that a yacht can qualify as a home, provided it includes sleeping quarters, a kitchen and a toilet. This strategy probably isn't practical for those who can't afford a second home -- particularly an expensive one that floats. But even if you own just one home, you should learn about the tax breaks for homeowners. dusanpetkovic / Getty Images/iStockphoto 9. Open an HSA A health savings account is a tax-deferred account that was originally designed for healthcare expenses. However, when used properly, the account can become triple tax-free. For starters, contributions to an HSA are tax-deductible, even if you don't itemize deductions. Next, earnings in the account grow tax-free. Finally, distributions are tax-free if they are used for qualifying healthcare expenses, according to the same requirements as deductible medical and dental expenses on Schedule A. Distributions for nonhealthcare expenses generally trigger a 20% penalty. There's one additional kicker that the rich and tax-savvy can also use to their advantage: After you turn age 65, you can withdraw your HSA money for any purpose at all without penalty, although you'll still owe ordinary income tax if you spend the money on nonhealth expenses. PeopleImages / iStock.com How To Get the Deduction You can get the HSA deduction by opening an HSA and making contributions. HSAs are not available to all taxpayers; you must participate in a high-deductible medical insurance plan. Contributions are limited to $3,650 for individuals in the tax year 2022, or $7,300 for family coverage. Those limits increase to $3,850 or $7,750 for tax year 2023. Report your HSA contributions, calculate your deduction, report distributions and figure your HSA taxes and penalties on Form 8889. Tempura / Getty Images 10. Open a Solo 401(k) Plan Most employees for larger corporations have heard of a 401(k) plan, which allows for tax-deductible contributions and tax-deferred growth of investment earnings. Those who contribute may be familiar with the annual contribution limit, which is $20,500 for the tax year 2022 and $22,500 for tax year 2023. If you work for yourself, you may think that you're out of luck when it comes to contributing to a 401(k). The truth is if you're self-employed, you should consider it a stroke of good fortune. Individuals can open up their own solo 401(k) plans, and they can also contribute up to a whopping $61,000 -- $66,000 for 2023. svetikd / Getty Images How To Get the Deduction You'll have to set up a solo 401(k) plan at a bank or brokerage account to get started. When you file your taxes, submit IRS Form 5500 to report your contributions. South_agency / Getty Images 11. Defer Income You only pay taxes on the amount of income that you receive in any given year. Even if you complete work and are entitled to payment, if you don't actually receive the payment until the following year, you won't owe taxes on it until then. Thus, if you can defer receiving income even a single day, from Dec. 31 until Jan. 1 of the following year, you can wait another full year before you have to pay tax on it. Pekic / Getty Images How To Get the Deduction This is probably the easiest "deduction" of all to claim. When you defer income into a future year, you simply don't include it in a given year's income tax filing. For example, if you're due a bonus on Dec. 31 but ask your employer to pay it on Jan. 1 instead, you simply include that income on your following year's tax return. RichVintage / Getty Images/iStockphoto 12. Harvest Tax Losses U.S tax law states that you have to pay capital gains tax on profits you take in taxable accounts. Worse still, if your gains are short-term in nature, meaning you held them for one year or less, you'll have to pay tax at your ordinary income tax rate. If you're in the top federal tax bracket, that means you'll owe 37% in federal tax alone on your short-term gains, according to the standards from tax years 2022 and 2023. The smart way around this short-term gains tax is to harvest your capital losses to offset those gains. vgajic / Getty Images How To Get the Deduction If you have any investments trading at a loss, you can sell them, realize those losses and use them to offset your capital gains. If your losses exceed your gains, you can even write off up to $3,000 of ordinary income using those losses. In this way, a paper loss on security can translate into thousands of dollars in tax savings if you use it to offset your gains. You'll have to report your capital transactions on Form 8949 before summarizing your capital gains and deductible losses on Schedule D. The wealthy might try to keep these and other tax strategies as their secrets. But, if used correctly, these tax breaks and tax loopholes can benefit everyone else in cutting state and federal taxes. More From GOBankingRates Daria Uhlig and Gabrielle Olya contributed to the reporting for this article. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Tax Tricks and Loopholes Only the Rich Know Will I be taxed on my Social Security income? Here's how to figure it out plus 5 savvy tricks to slash what you owe to Uncle Sam Tax time. For all the last-minute filers, it's almost over with the April 18 deadline fast approaching. But is it ever really over? Especially when you factor in the anxiety, and the many ways Uncle Sam can get at your money the rest of the year, its a seeming burden without end. Don't miss Take Social Security for instance. Not only are these retirement benefits taxed in a complex fashion, but they also can provide a false sense of ease. If the government is doling out money, after all, why would they want any of it back? It turns out total income and family structure figure into the picture. Heres how to find out whether your benefits will be tax free and five ways to mitigate the situation if not. How Social Security is taxed Several factors determine whether or not youll pay taxes on your Social Security payments: marriage and total income. To avoid taxes on your payments, your combined income must fall below $25,000 (single or widowed), or $32,000 (married). The U.S. federal government defines combined income as a sum of half your Social Security payments, nontaxable interest income and adjusted gross income. Rise above these thresholds and you may have to pay taxes on 50% to 85% of your Social Security payment, depending on whether you live with your partner, are separated and filing separately, or filing jointly while cohabitating. To find out how much you may owe, youll want to consult a financial adviser or accountant. Meanwhile, consider these steps to minimize your tax liability. 1. Withdrawal from your retirement account By reducing your combined income, you can cut Social Security taxes. You could do this by taking early withdrawals from your retirement accounts. Story continues Most savers can tap their IRAs or 401(k)s as early as 59 1/2 years without penalty. This in turn would lower your tax burden once you become eligible for Social Security at age 62. But it could also cost you several years of compound interest on those investments, so weigh both sides of the leger carefully. 2. Move to a tax-advantaged state Most states dont tax Social Security benefits, but if you live in one of the 12 states that do it may be a good idea to move. Note that federal taxes still apply so you cant eliminate taxes completely just by moving. That noted, these nine states have no income tax at all: Alaska Florida Nevada New Hampshire South Dakota Tennessee Texas Washington Wyoming Read more: The average tax return in 2022 was over $3,000 but are you getting as much money back as possible? 3. Qualified longevity annuity contract (QLAC) A qualified longevity annuity contract (QLAC) is a complex strategy that reduces taxes early in retirement (but could boost taxes later). The contract is a special type of annuity that allows you to set aside a portion of your retirement account funds for later withdrawal. The limit for this is 25% or $135,000 of the funds in your IRAs or 401(k)s. 4. Donations Retirees over the age of 70.5 years can make a qualified charitable distribution (QCD). This transfers money from a traditional IRA to a qualified charity, ensuring that it counts as a donation and not ordinary income. Effectively, this reduces your taxes on annual retirement benefits. 5. Adjusting gross income How you get paid determines your tax liability. Business income, rental income, dividends and wages all count as gross income so deducting business expenses or making qualified withdrawals from Roth IRA accounts could minimize taxes. Be sure to consult a tax professional as some less-than-obvious expenses may qualify (like college tuition), while others (business clothing) do not. All that to say, your Social Security benefits need not return to Uncle Sam. All it takes is the same sort of thoughtful planning and consultation that made your retirement savings possible in the first place. Creative thinking: What could be more patriotic? What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Welcome to Friday and cheers to the weekend. I'm Asia Martin. First, let's take a moment for self-care. Do you know what the secret to work-life balance is? If yes, keep scrolling, I guess. If no, here it is caring just enough about your job. That's what Kelli Maria Korducki concluded in her piece, appropriately titled "How much should you care about your job?" Apparently, caring too much can lead to burnout and caring too little can cause malaise. Where do you find balance? Korducki reports that setting aside time for non-work activities every day, giving a damn about the work you do, and making a regular habit of spending time with loved ones outside of working hours are good ways to create a good lifestyle. Tell me at amartin@insider.com how you've been creating a work-life balance. Now, let's get started. If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Insider's app here. Tesla Tesla worker told Bloomberg that the company tracks their keystrokes.Michael Macor/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images 1. Tesla employees passed around videos from customers' cars, according to Reuters. Not only can Tesla employees see what customers' cars can see, they apparently circulate humorous, shocking, or invasive videos. Tesla employees shared personal videos from customers' cars on an internal messaging system, according to the report. A former Tesla Autopilot employee confirmed to Insider that workers were not only able to view personal videos but were also sharing them among each other. The former staffer said it was like having access to "god's eye." Reuters reported that Tesla employees shared videos of car crashes, road-rage incidents, and some more embarrassing moments. One former employee described to the publication a clip of a naked man walking up to a vehicle. Read more here. Tyler Mancuso smiling, surrounded by gold bars. Will Varner/Insider; Getty Images; Scott Flanders In other news: 2. A harebrained adtech heist went spectacularly wrong. Tyler Mancuso, an employee at an adtech company, exploited a loophole in its payment systems to steal $9 million which he used to attempt to buy gold bars. Read the story. Story continues 3. A missing line of code at Goldman Sachs led to a $3 million fine. A single line of computer code caused 60 million stock orders to be mismarked. 4. ChatGPT reportedly made up sexual harassment allegations against a lawyer. The AI chatbot falsely accused lawyer Jonathan Turley of sexually harassing a student, citing a news story that doesn't exist. 5. Hot job alert: Prompt engineering. Many companies are hiring prompt engineers, a job where engineers search for errors and hidden capabilities in AI by figuring out how to ask it for specific outputs in the most efficient ways. More here. 6. Meta's CTO says Zuckerberg is focused on AI. Meta's chief technology officer Andrew Bosworth told Nikkei Asia that Meta's top execs are laser focused on its generative AI business. 7. Retail media will be a $130 billion industry by 2025. According to a Morgan Stanley report, adtech firms like Criteo and The Trade Desk will be market winners. More on that here. 8. A tech firm posted a job seeking only white applicants. A job post from IT firm Arthur Grand Technologies went viral for specifying white candidates only. The post also included the note "don't share with candidates." An AI-generated image of Angel Reese riding a unicycle Angel Reese supposedly riding a unicycle.Stable Diffusion 2 Odds and ends: 9. AI's latest challenge: unicycles. AI has struggled to create images of human hands and now it's struggling to generate pictures of unicycles and how people use them. Read more on that. 10. Apple has hidden a bitcoin manifesto in every Mac since 2018. A tech blogger discovered that there has been a bitcoin white paper hidden away on Macs, since the release of macOS Mojave. Here's how to find it. The latest people moves in tech: Google's former head of Stadia quietly exited the company. Phil Harrison, who ran Google's now defunct cloud gaming services, reportedly left in January. Got a tip on where he's going next? Reach out to Hugh Langley. Curated by Asia Martin in New York. (Feedback or tips? Email amartin@insider.com.) Read the original article on Business Insider Saint Peters, April 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Saint Peters, Missouri - St. Louis, MO based Precision Detailing & Ceramic Coatings is proud to offer prisitine aftercare to all luxury vehicle owners, as well as Tesla owners who may be looking to protect their investment through high end paint protection coating. Tesla owners know that their vehicles are among the most beautiful and most expensive vehicles on the road. They often do not know, however, that Teslas may require special protection. Precision Detailing is pleased to announce that they are now offering discounts on Tesla paint protection services to help Tesla owners keep their cars in great condition. Many automotive manufacturers spend less funding on the paint chosen for assembly line vehicles knowing that luxury vehicle owners prefer to primp and protect the vehicle with customized graphics to further their pledge of individuality. Do Teslas need paint protection? The answer is a resounding yes! said Precision Detailing Owner Shawn Jaworsky. The cost of paint correction or a full color change wrap or repainting a Tesla can be pricey but worth it- which is why it is important to protect your investment with Ceramic Coatings or PPF / Clear Bra coverings that offer a degree of cover from various types of damage. Another option you may consider, for instance, is Paint Protection Film. At Precision Detailing, a team of some of the most experienced technicians in Missouri combine their skills with high quality products to keep their clients vehicles in excellent condition for years to come. They make use of their signature Clear Bra Paint Protection Film which protects against scratches, chips and other environmental damage all while preserving the cars original beauty. They also offer ceramic coatings that provide an extra layer of protection that lasts up to five years. Despite the fact that purchasing one tends to cost a lot more than purchasing the average vehicle, many Tesla owners are on a budget when it comes to services like paint protection. Precision Detailings discounts, which allow clients to save up to 25% on select packages if they mention this press release (before June 1st), make it possible for Tesla owners on fairly strict budgets to get the protection they need for their vehicles. Paint protection film is a clear film that is applied to the painted surfaces of a car. It protects said surfaces from damage, reducing the possibility of chips and scratches. The film is available in a range of thicknesses and widths and can be custom cut to fit any vehicle. Paint protection film is also UV resistant, meaning it will not turn yellow or fade over time. Full front coverage is our most popular option, but its very common to add film in high-wear areas like rocker panels, headlights, pillars and the rear bumper, says Precision Detailing. Many of our clients also decide on full car coverage for complete protection. At Precision Detailing, we provide tailored installation services for all kinds of vehicles, utilizing quality paint protection film from Suntek and Xpel for the best in looks and protection. Using the same care and attention to detail as with our premium car detailing services, we can provide clients with the highest quality in fit and finish. Story continues st-louis-tesla-paint-protection They continue, Whether youre looking for the typical front-end coverage, entire car wrapping, or custom installs, like headlights, rockers, or rear bumpers, we have you covered. We are fully committed to being on top of the best practices and technology to exceed our clients needs. Our team has used and tested the performance of the same excellent products for years. The company offers other services as well, such as window tinting. This protects the interior of a vehicle by keeping it cool and also increases the lifespan of its interior by protecting it from harmful UV rays. An expertly installed, high-end tint can last the entire lifetime of a car. Precision Detailing tints all types of vehicles, including cars, recreational vehicles, boats and more. Booking an appointment with Precision Detailing is a quick and easy process. Clients can get in contact via email or phone to request a quote based on a physical assessment of the vehicle. The company also offers vehicle pickups for an additional fee, and they accept almost every payment option. The company has been in the vehicle detailing business for years and has built an excellent reputation among its St Louis, Missouri clients. For more information on Precision Detailing and their services, interested parties may visit the companys website and social media platforms. ### For more information about Precision Detailing & Ceramic Coatings, contact the company here: Precision Detailing & Ceramic Coatings Shawn Jaworsky 3142271300 shawn@precision-detailing.com CONTACT: Shawn Jaworsky Toyota Motor Corporation's cars are seen after briefing on battery EV strategy in Tokyo By Daniel Leussink and Maki Shiraki TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp will introduce 10 new battery-powered models and target sales of 1.5 million EVs a year by 2026, aiming for steep growth in a market where it has long been lapped by rivals. The world's largest automaker by sales will also set up a new, specialised unit to focus on next-generation battery EVs, senior executives said at a briefing on Friday as they outlined plans under its new leadership team. Toyota, including its Lexus luxury brand, now has just three battery models on the market and last year sold fewer than 25,000 of those worldwide. Investors and environmental groups have criticised Toyota for being slow to embrace battery-powered cars, saying it has lost ground to Tesla Inc and others that have more nimbly captured fast-growing demand. The Japanese automaker has countered that EVs are just one option for customers and that gasoline-electric hybrids such as its pioneering Prius are a more realistic choice for some markets and drivers. "In the next few years we will expand our line-up in the important battery electric category," Chief Executive Koji Sato told the briefing, his first in the top job, but added that hybrids would remain an important pillar. EVs are now expected to make up more than half of total worldwide vehicle production by 2030. Meeting that demand will be critical for Toyota, which also said it would increase production in the United States, where the growth in EVs is outpacing that of the overall market. Toyota's target of selling 1.5 million BEVs a year in 2026 was 25% higher than a 1.2 million battery-powered units it was expected to sell by then according to an S&P Global Mobility forecast compiled before Friday's announcement. "There's a gap of 300,000 units so that can be thought of as a difference of about a year," said Yoshiaki Kawano, an associate director at S&P Global Mobility. "It doesn't seem like it's impossible to achieve at all," he said, adding the outcome would still depend on what models Toyota rolled out. Story continues Toyota reported U.S. sales fell by nearly 9% during the first quarter. By contrast, General Motors Co saw an 18% boost, helped by greater demand for EVs from fleet and commercial customers. U.S. consumers making the switch to electric vehicles are largely doing so from Toyota and Honda Motor Co, data from S&P Global Mobility showed in November. "Now that it is time to make the next big innovative leap, Toyota is falling behind and more and more folks in the U.S. are starting to understand that," East Peterson-Trujillo, a clean vehicles campaigner with nonprofit Public Citizen, said in an interview ahead of the briefing. (Reporting by Daniel Leussink and Maki Shiraki; Editing by Edwina Gibbs and Clarence Fernandez) Future Market Insights Global and Consulting Pvt. Ltd. Manufacturers are providing reimbursement for the drug triptorelin and other resources, this is expected to attract the patients for choosing triptorelin for their treatment. This will drive the growth of the United State triptorelin market over the forecast period NEWARK, Del, April 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The triptorelin market is expected to be worth around US$ 955.50 million in 2023. The industry is predicted to expand at a 5% CAGR from 2023 to 2033, powered by the rising prevalence of endometriosis among females worldwide. By 2033, the triptorelin market is expected to generate US$ 1556.41 million. Dynamics of the Market Due to increased rates of central precocious puberty, salivary gland cancer, and prostate cancer in young individuals under the age of eight and nine are recorded. Throughout the forecast period, there are bound to be numerous opportunities for the triptorelin industry to flourish. Get a holistic overview of the market from industry experts to evaluate and develop growth strategies. Download the sample @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-16936 A rise in the frequency of different endocrine illnesses increasing knowledge of various choices for therapy expanding numerous medical facilities and pharmacies. As the frequency of numerous endocrine disorders is rising; people are becoming aware of their treatment options. There are many hospitals and pharmacies in the market, which are the main drivers boosting the triptorelin industry. Initiatives by the government to raise awareness about endocrine problems are boosting market expansion. But the triptorelin market expansion is anticipated to be constrained by the high cost of triptorelin therapy and its adverse effects. Triptodur (triptorelin), a medication used to treat children with Central Precocious Puberty, became commercially accessible in the United States in October 2017 thanks to Arbor Pharmaceuticals, LLC and Debiopharm International SA. Triptorelin 22.5 mg can be marketed and sold in the United States for treating central precocious puberty, both businesses stated in January 2016. Story continues Strong Points Triptorelin is in high demand A broad variety of applications Strong growth share Restraints There is a limited supply. High production costs Inadequate awareness Opportunities Possible growth in developing markets New technology development Increasing benefits awareness Challenges Strict rules Low-cost alternatives pose competition. Raw material pricing fluctuations For insights on global, regional, and country-level parameters with growth opportunities from 2023 to 2033, Ask An Analyst @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-16936 Regional Outlook North America - The increased incidence of prostate cancer and rising demand for hormone therapy among men are both factors contributing to the expansion of the triptorelin industry in North America. This factor also allows the United States to get the lion's share of North America triptorelin sales in 2033. Latin America - The two countries that are likely to contribute the most to regional earnings are Brazil and Mexico. Growing government programmes for cancer awareness and early diagnosis as well as rising healthcare costs are some of the causes that can be linked to the increase in this area. Europe - The principal sources of income in this region are anticipated to be Germany and France. Increased government programmes for cancer awareness and early diagnosis, andas increased healthcare costs are some of the factors contributing to this region's growth. Asia Pacific and the Middle East & Africa - The frequency of numerous endocrine problems is on the rise,. People are becoming more aware of the available treatment choices, which can be ascribed to the increase in Asia Pacific and Middle East & Africa. In these areas, the triptorelin demand is being fueled by the expansion of hospitals and pharmacies. Request Discount@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/request-discount/rep-gb-16936 Key Takeaways From 2023 to 2033, the triptorelin market share from the triptorelin embonate segment is expected to increase by more than 5% CAGR. Due to the rising incidence of cancer, the cancer category accounted for more than 25% of the total triptorelin industry share in 2023. Triptorelin market share from the intradermal sector is expected to increase at a CAGR of about 4.5% from 2023 to 2033, according to the route of administration. By 2033, Europe market is expected to be worth USD 370 million. Environment of Competitiveness LGM Pharma, Ipsen Pharma, BACHEM, Ferring B.V., Merck & Co., Inc., Taj Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Varian Pharmed, Verity Pharmaceuticals Inc., and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. are a few well-known triptorelin manufacturers. To increase their influence in the market, many triptorelin businesses place a strong emphasis on partnerships and collaborations. Novel Innovations and Advancements Partnership To commercialise many of Amneal's sophisticated generic drugs, the American pharmaceutical company Amneal Pharmaceuticals announced in January 2023 that it had entered into a long-term partnership arrangement with the Finnish pharmaceutical business Orion Corporation. Orion to broadcast the complicated generic programmes of the Company throughout New Zealand, Australia, and much of Europe as a result of this deal. It is going to aid the business in bolstering its product line in Europe. Key Segments Global Triptorelin Industry By Drug Type: Triptorelin Pamoate Triptorelin Acetate Triptorelin Embonate Global Triptorelin Industry By Application: Prostate Cancer Radical Prostatectomy Endometriosis Salivary Gland Cancer Central Precocious Puberty Global Triptorelin Industry By Distribution Channel: Hospital Pharmacy Retail Pharmacy Online Pharmacy Full Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/triptorelin-market Table of Content 1. Executive Summary | Triptorelin Market 1.1. Global Market Outlook 1.2. Demand-side Trends 1.3. Supply-side Trends 1.4. Technology Roadmap Analysis 1.5. Analysis and Recommendations 2. Market Overview 2.1. Market Coverage / Taxonomy 2.2. Market Definition / Scope / Limitations Explore FMIs Extensive Coverage On Healthcare Domain: Antimycotics Market Size: It has been noted that the prevalence of fungus infections has dramatically increased during the last 20 years. Patients with cancer, AIDS patients, and transplant recipients are more likely to experience these situations. Motion Preservation Devices Market Demand: By 2032, the market for motion preservation devices will be worth US$ 3.0 million, up from US$ 1.7 million in 2022, and will have grown at a CAGR of 5.3%. Assisted Walking Devices Market Share: The forecast term is expected to see a moderately paced CAGR of 6.4% for the global market for assisted walking devices. In 2022, the market is expected to be worth US$3.62 billion. Adiponectin Testing Market Opportunity: Over the forecast period of 20222032, the adiponectin testing market is anticipated to deepen its roots in the worldwide market at a CAGR of 7.9%. The market is valued at US$ 45.11 billion in 2022, and by 2032, it's predicted to reach US$ 89 billion. Intracranial Aneurysm Market Growth: The global market for intracranial aneurysms is anticipated to grow at a promising CAGR of 8.8% between 2022 and 2032. The market is expected to reach USD 2.56 billion by 2032, up from its USD 1.2 billion market value in 2022. About Future Market Insights, Inc. Future Market Insights, Inc. is an ESOMAR-certified business consulting & market research firm, a member of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce and is headquartered in Delaware, USA. A recipient of Clutch Leaders Award 2022 on account of high client score (4.9/5), we have been collaborating with global enterprises in their business transformation journey and helping them deliver on their business ambitions. 80% of the largest Forbes 1000 enterprises are our clients. We serve global clients across all leading & niche market segments across all major industries. Contact Us: Future Market Insights Inc. Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive, Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA T: +1-845-579-5705 LinkedIn | Twitter | Blogs | YouTube For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Vesuvius (LON:VSVS) Full Year 2022 Results Key Financial Results Revenue: UK2.05b (up 25% from FY 2021). Net income: UK181.1m (up 77% from FY 2021). Profit margin: 8.8% (up from 6.2% in FY 2021). The increase in margin was driven by higher revenue. EPS: UK0.67 (up from UK0.38 in FY 2021). All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period Vesuvius Revenues and Earnings Beat Expectations Revenue exceeded analyst estimates by 4.8%. Earnings per share (EPS) also surpassed analyst estimates by 34%. Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to stay flat during the next 3 years compared to a 5.3% growth forecast for the Machinery industry in the United Kingdom. Performance of the British Machinery industry. The company's shares are down 4.6% from a week ago. Risk Analysis You should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Vesuvius (including 1 which is potentially serious). 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 VF Corp. has made leadership changes that will impact the Altra brand. Jen McLaren has been named brand president of Altra. McLaren, who was previously brand president of Smartwool, will also assume the GM of VF North America Key Accounts role. In the latter position, VF said she will be tasked with driving strategic engagement with its large wholesale customers on behalf of all of its brands. More from Footwear News With the new roles, McLaren will continue to report to Martino Scabbia Guerrini, the EVP and president of EMEA, APAC and Emerging Brands at VF. Todd Dalhausser, the former brand president of Altra, is now the global brand president of Dickies. He will report to VF Corp. interim president and CEO Benno Dorer and will also serve on VFs executive leadership team. Dalhausser was tapped as Altras brand president in November 2018, shortly after VF acquired the brand in April of the same year. He was Altras first brand president following the acquisition. Todd is a talented business leader with a proven track record in building and growing brands, highlighted by the strong and consistent performance of our Altra brand under his leadership, Dorer said in a statement. We have the right strategy in place for Dickies and believe Todd is the ideal leader to assume responsibility for the brand to accelerate its profitable growth by connecting innovative workwear to consumer lifestyle tailwinds. The Dickies brand is an important contributor within the VF portfolio, and we look forward to consistently strong performance under Todds leadership. Additionally, VF announced Icebreaker president Jan Van Mossevelde will assume responsibility for the Smartwool brand. This includes leading strategies that build on and reinforce their industry leading positions in merino wool and natural fibers, VF explained. The move, according to VF, was made to focus on capturing future opportunities for strategic and operational synergies across these brands as a foundation for stronger and more profitable growth. Story continues VF also said each brand will continue to operate separately; however, they will collaborate on a cohesive strategy to leverage their respective strengths and capabilities in addition to VFs global business platforms more broadly. Van Mossevelde will continue reporting to Guerrini. VF is committed to nurturing its strong pipeline of internal talent, Dorer said in a statement. We are pleased to recognize and further develop three outstanding VF leaders with important and challenging new or expanded assignments. SNS Insider pvt ltd The warehouse racking industry is experiencing rapid technological advancements, including the development of automation solutions and the integration of IoT and AI technologies. Pune, April 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As per SNS Insider, the size of Warehouse Racking Market was valued at USD 11 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.3% between 2022 and 2030. It is anticipated that the market will reach a size of USD 15.41 billion by 2030. Market Overview Warehouse racking is a storage system designed to optimize the use of space in a warehouse or distribution center. It consists of a series of shelves or pallet racks arranged in rows and columns, which can hold products and materials of varying sizes and weights. Warehouse racking systems are an essential component of modern supply chain management, enabling businesses to manage their inventory efficiently and reduce the time and labor required for material handling. Market Analysis Governments across the world are taking initiatives to improve their logistics and supply chain infrastructure, which is driving the demand for the warehouse racking market. For example, in the United States, the government has invested in the development of the National Freight Strategic Plan, which includes initiatives to modernize the country's logistics infrastructure. The growth of e-commerce has led to an increase in demand for warehouse racking systems. As online shopping continues to grow, companies need to optimize their warehousing operations to meet the demands of online shoppers. Warehouse racking systems play a critical role in this process. Get a Sample Report of Warehouse Racking Market@ https://www.snsinsider.com/sample-request/1134 Key Company Profiles Listed in this Report Are: The major key players are Daifuku Co., Ltd., Mecalux S.A., Kardex Group, Hannibal Industries, Inc., Emrack International, Jungheinrich AG, AK Material Handling Systems, SSI SCHAEFER Group, Dematic, Toyota Industries Corporation & More Story continues Impact of Russia-Ukraine Conflict on Warehouse Racking Market Growth The conflict has also led to supply chain disruptions, which have made it more difficult for businesses to source the materials and components needed to manufacture and install racking systems. Despite these challenges, there are also some opportunities for businesses operating in the warehouse-racking market in the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. For example, businesses that are able to successfully navigate the challenges of operating in the region may be able to gain a competitive advantage by offering more reliable and efficient supply chain solutions. Key Regional Developments North America's position as the leader in the warehouse racking market is a result of several factors, including its early adoption of racking systems, well-established distribution networks, early acceptance of automated technologies, and ongoing projects in the logistics and warehousing sectors. These factors are expected to continue driving the growth of the market in the region. Warehouse Racking Market Report Scope: Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2022 US$ 11 Billion Market Size by 2030 US$ 15.41 Billion CAGR CAGR of 4.3% From 2023 to 2030 Base Year 2022 Forecast Period 2023-2030 Historical Data 2020-2021 Key Market Segmentation By-product (Selective, Pallets, Drive-in, Push Back, Pallet Flow, Cantilever, Others), By Application (Retail, Food & Beverage, Automotive, Packaging, Manufacturing, Others) Key Regional Coverage North America (USA, Canada, Mexico), Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (Japan, South Korea, China, India, Australia, Rest of Asia-Pacific), The Middle East & Africa (Israel, UAE, South Africa, Rest of Middle East & Africa), Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, Rest of Latin America) Do you have any specific queries related to this research? Ask Your Questions@ https://www.snsinsider.com/enquiry/1134 Key Takeaway from Warehouse Racking Market Study The pallets segment is poised to be the driving force behind the growth of the Market. As the demand for efficient and sustainable warehouse solutions continues to increase, pallets will remain a vital component of the industry's success. The retail segment is expected to hold a significant share of the market, driven by the need for efficient warehouse management solutions to meet customer demands and stay competitive. Companies that provide technology-driven solutions to the retail sector will play a crucial role in shaping the industry's growth in the coming years. Recent Developments Related to Warehouse Racking Market U.S. Pallet Racks, Inc. has recently announced its launch in the Houston Metro area, bringing a new and innovative approach to the warehouse racking industry. The company is dedicated to providing top-quality pallet racks and related services to businesses in the Houston area, helping them optimize their warehouse space and improve their inventory management processes. AMCO, a leading warehousing and logistics company, has recently announced its collaboration with Asset Alliance to fund its new warehouse racking. The move comes as AMCO looks to expand its warehousing capabilities and enhance its operations. The new warehouse racking will allow AMCO to increase its storage capacity, improve efficiency, and streamline its processes. This will enable the company to better serve its clients and meet their growing demands. Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Research Methodology 3. Market Dynamics 4. Impact Analysis 5. Value Chain Analysis 6. Porters 5 Forces Model 7. PEST Analysis 8. Warehouse Racking Market Segmentation, By Product 9. Warehouse Racking Market Segmentation, By Application 10. Regional Analysis 11. Company Profiles 12. Competitive Landscape 13. Conclusion Buy Single-User PDF of Warehouse Racking Market Report@ https://www.snsinsider.com/checkout/1134 About Us: SNS Insider is one of the leading market research and consulting agencies that dominate the market research industry globally. Our company's aim is to give clients the knowledge they require in order to function in changing circumstances. In order to give you current, accurate market data, consumer insights, and opinions so that you can make decisions with confidence, we employ a variety of techniques, including surveys, video talks, and focus groups around the world. Access Complete Report Details@ https://www.snsinsider.com/reports/warehouse-racking-market-1134 CONTACT: Contact Us: Akash Anand Head of Business Development & Strategy info@snsinsider.com Phone: +1-415-230-0044 (US) A roundup of the most newsworthy press releases from Cision Distribution this week TORONTO, April 7, 2023 /CNW/ - With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on Cision. To help journalists and consumers stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a recap of some major stories from the week that shouldn't be missed. Cision Canada - The Weekly Round-Up (PRNewsfoto/Cision Canada) The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download. Story continues Read more of the latest releases from Cision, see our resources for journalists, and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @cnwnews. About Cision Canada Cision is a comprehensive communications platform enabling more than 100,000 public relations and marketing professionals around the world to understand, influence and amplify their stories. As the market leader, Cision enables the next generation of communication professionals to strategically operate in the modern media landscape where company success is directly impacted by public opinion. Cision has offices in 24 countries through the Americas, EMEA and APAC, and offers a suite of best-in-class solutions, including Newswire, Brandwatch, Cision Communications Cloud and Cision Insights. To learn more, visit www.cision.ca and follow @CisionCA on Twitter. SOURCE Cision Canada Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2023/07/c5271.html A roundup of the week's most newsworthy travel industry press releases from PR Newswire, including ChatGPT in the Expedia app and TikTok's influence on the travel industry. NEW YORK, April 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering the travel industry stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed. PR Newswire Weekly Travel Press Release Roundup, April 3-7, 2023. Photo provided by Bush's Beans. https://prn.to/3zyuGj6 The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download. Story continues Read more of the latest travel-related releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNtravel on Twitter. Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists. Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers and freelancers have access to the following free features: Customization: Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Subject Matter Experts: Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Related Resources: Read and subscribe to our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, for media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more. About PR Newswire and PR Newswire for Journalists For more than 65 years, PR Newswire has been the industry leader with the largest, most comprehensive distribution network of print, radio, magazine, television stations, financial portals and trade publications. PR Newswire has an unparalleled global reach of more than 200,000 publications and 10,000 websites and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. PR Newswire for Journalists (PRNJ) is an exclusive community that includes over 20,000 journalists, bloggers and influencers who are logging into their PRNJ accounts specifically looking for story ideas. PR Newswire thoroughly researches and vets this community to verify their identity as a member of the press, blogger or influencer. PRNJ users cover more than 200 beats and verticals. For questions, contact the team at media.relations@cision.com. Cision PR Newswire logo (PRNewsfoto/PR Newswire) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/this-week-in-travel-news-13-stories-you-need-to-see-301792169.html SOURCE PR Newswire Consumers will find plenty of retailers, grocery stores and restaurants open Sunday , but some wont open in observance of Easter. Target, Macys, Aldi ad Lowes are among the stores that will remain closed Sunday. Other stores that remain open may be running reduced hours. Most major restaurants are open, with a couple exceptions, including Chick-fil-A, which is closed every Sunday. Heres a list of places that are open and closed on Easter. Its best to check with your local store or restaurant online before leaving home as hours and closures can vary by location. Easter savings: As you hop into Easter, here are a few ways to save on eggs and basket stuffers POTUS Easter event: What to know about annual White House Easter Egg Roll, ticket lottery Is Target closed on Easter? Yes, Target confirmed to USA TODAY that it remain closed on Easter as the big box retailer has in recent years. Is Home Depot open on Easter? Most Home Depot stores are open today with limited hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., the company told USA TODAY. Check your local store's hours at Home Depot's website. Is Goodwill open on Easter? Some Goodwill stores may open today while others remain closed. Goodwill told USA TODAY closures will vary across the country as stores are operated by 155 independent Goodwill organizations. Some regional operations, such as southwestern Pennsylvania, have announced Easter closures. Is Starbucks open on Easter? Yes, but hours depend on individual locations. Retailers open Easter Sunday Are Nordstrom or Nordstrom Rack open on Easter? Nordstrom said its stores hours vary by location. Check your local Nordstrom or Nordstrom Rack store's hours online. Story continues Retailers closed Easter Sunday Is Aldi closed on Easter Sunday? Yes, Aldi confirmed its store would be closed on Sunday. Is Winn-Dixie open on Easter Sunday? Winn-Dixie is open during normal hours today, as are it's sister grocery store chains Harveys Supermarket and Fresco y Mas, parent company Southeastern Grocers confirmed. Grocery stores open on Easter Sunday Grocery stores closed on Easter Sunday Restaurants open on Easter Sunday Restaurants closed on Easter Sunday Banks, post office Most banks are closed on Sunday, but it's best to check with your local bank online. The U.S. Post office is also closed on Sundays. USPS does not observe Easter as a holiday, so post offices will re-open Monday, April 10. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What's open Easter Sunday 2023? Walmart, Starbucks open; Target closed (Bloomberg) -- The Ethereum network is set to undergo a technical revamp on April 12 that will allow users to withdraw tens of billions of dollars of its native token, Ether. Known as the Shanghai upgrade, its a necessary step after the worlds most commercially important crypto platform shifted to a less power-hungry process for ordering transactions. Investors burned by recent turmoil in crypto markets will be wondering if, presented with their first opportunity to withdraw their tokens, some Ether holders will run for the hills. Most Read from Bloomberg 1. What is Ethereum? Its a computer network that hosts what are known as smart contracts self-executing software agreements in which a chain of actions can flow from defined conditions and contingencies. Since it was introduced by crypto entrepreneur Vitalik Buterin in 2014, its become a popular platform for developing apps used for everything from trading to gaming. Transactions on Ethereum and many other crypto platforms known as blockchains are publicly viewable and are built on open source software, so developers can jump in and try to make improvements. Ethers value tumbled during the crypto winter of 2022 that saw investors pull back from many digital assets. But the appeal of Ethereums underlying technology has endured. 2. What is the Shanghai upgrade? Until September 2022, Ethereum relied on a costly, energy-intensive process known as proof-of-work to order transactions. That changed when a technical overhaul known as the Merge applied an alternative approach proof-of-stake. People who put up, or stake, Ether can become validators of transactions on the Ethereum blockchain and receive an income in return much like deposits at a bank. Since 2020, users have been able to stake their Ether but couldnt withdraw it. Shanghai will allow them to take those coins out. About 16% of total Ether supply, worth around $37 billion, was stuck in the protocol for staking as of early April. Story continues 3. Why is this a sensitive moment? Its not clear how many users will want to cash out once their Ether is unlocked. The tokens value has fluctuated wildly in the years since staking was first enabled soaring as its popularity grew with institutional and retail investors, then tumbling in 2022. At least initially, demand for withdrawals is expected to outweigh new staking deposits on Ethereum. Longer-term, the opportunity to withdraw staked tokens is likely to make Ether staking more appealing as it will reduce risk for those involved. Investors also expect volatility in so-called liquid-staking tokens, which represent staked Ether and can be used in decentralized-finance apps that let people lend, borrow and trade coins. Prices of some of these tokens have risen in recent months and risk falling in tandem with Ether around the time of the Shanghai upgrade. 4. Will people be able to withdraw staked Ether right away? Theyll have to join queues, which may be longer or shorter depending on where their stakes are being held. The process is likely to be more complicated for holders of liquid-staking tokens such as Lido. The service, which holds roughly a third of staked Ether, expects to enable withdrawals in May. It could take months for Ether holders to withdraw their coins as Ethereum has put limits in place to make sure too many people dont withdraw at once, leaving it vulnerable to an attack. 5. Could there be technical problems? Theres a chance of glitches as Shanghai goes live. During a recent test of the code, transaction confirmations took much longer than expected as many computers handling the process hadnt had a software upgrade. Still, Ethereum developers have a track record of seamless software changes. Theres also a risk that some nodes in the broader Ethereum blockchain that are holding staked Ether may have lost the keys that enable access to the coins, leaving users shut out. 6. Any other concerns? Since the Merge, Ether has drawn scrutiny from regulators including the US Securities and Exchange Commission, which has indicated that certain services offering yields from staking cryptocurrencies amount to illegal securities offerings. The Shanghai upgrade, by allowing staked Ether to be unlocked, could result in stepped-up scrutiny. The Reference Shelf The Shanghai upgrade raises the stakes in regulators debate over crypto. Related QuickTakes on why crypto still needs old-fashioned banks, the crypto meltdowns of 2022 and why Ethereums Merge will make the network much greener. Bloomberg Opinions Matt Levine explains the Merge. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Colorful Easter eggs on the grass at sunrise Why does Easter change every year, when dates like Christmas are fixed? The early church grappled with how Easter is determined, and the processes for scheduling the holiday weren't fully set in stone until the 16th century. On top of that, the dates of Easter used by most Western Christian churches don't match how most Eastern Christian churches determine the dates for the sacred day. In the early days of Christianity, different groups of Christians celebrated Easter on different dates. All agreed that Jesus Christ was crucified and that Easter celebrated his resurrection a few days later. But early Christians in Asia Minor (now Turkey) observed the date of his crucifixion on the first day of the Jewish festival of Passover "Pesach" in Hebrew which celebrates the liberation of the Jewish people described in the biblical Book of Exodus after they escaped being slaves in Egypt. According to the Jewish calendar, Passover now starts on 15 Nisan, but it was originally celebrated on 14 Nisan, which corresponds to the first full moon of spring. In Christianity, Jesus' last supper was a Passover meal that he shared with his disciples the night before his crucifixion. In the West, however, early Christians observed the resurrection on the first day of the week following Passover Easter Sunday and held that the crucifixion had occurred two days earlier, on Good Friday. All the other Easter dates, including Palm Sunday the Sunday before Easter that celebrates Jesus' arrival into Jerusalem are based on Easter's changing date. But this meant that early Western Christians celebrated Easter on the first Sunday after the 14th day of Nisan, which could be several days after early Eastern Christians celebrated it. Related: Why is Christmas celebrated on Dec. 25? Council of Nicaea A painting of the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325 As the church grew stronger, certain disputes, like determining the dates of Easter, became hotly debated; and in A.D. 325 the First Council of Nicaea attempted to resolve them. Story continues This was an assembly of early church leaders who met in the Eastern Roman city of Nicaea (now Iznik in western Turkey) in an effort to standardize what Christians believed. (A second Council of Nicaea was held in 787, but the first is the most important.) According to Ken Dark , a professor of archaeology and history at King's College London, the first Council of Nicaea encoded Christian beliefs in the Nicene Creed, a version of which is still recited in Catholic and Orthodox church services today. The council also attempted to resolve the disputes about the dates of Easter but with rather less success; a dispute between Roman and Celtic clergy in early England over the dates for Easter wasn't resolved until 664, in favor of the Western and Roman method. "From the second century onwards, the calculation of the date of Easter was a controversy in the early church," Dark told Live Science. "Although the Council of Nicaea in 325 attempted to resolve this, the matter proved controversial for centuries." Spring equinox As well as standardizing the dates of Easter, the Council of Nicaea wanted to move its calculation away from the Jewish calendar, which was by that time seen as a relic from a different religion. The council's solution was to tie its calculation to the vernal or spring equinox , which occurs each year on March 20 or March 21. The formula determined by the Council of Nicaea is still used today: Easter Sunday should be observed on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox which now means Easter falls on any Sunday between March 22 and April 25. The same formula is used by the Catholic Church (and most Protestant churches) and the Eastern Orthodox churches, but with the difference that these now use different calendars: The Catholic Church and most Protestants use the Gregorian calendar, a reform introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, but the Orthodox churches still use the Julian calendar, which was introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 B.C. The result is that different dates for Easter are observed in different parts of the world, despite all of the efforts to standardize them. Related: How much does the soul weigh? No pagans The Christian Easter celebration is sometimes said to have pagan origins and use pagan symbolism such as eggs and rabbits , but historians generally don't think it has pagan links. related stories Was the 'forbidden fruit' in the Garden of Eden really an apple? Why does Christianity have so many denominations? When was Jesus born? "In the Germanic lands it may well have taken on attributes from a pagan spring festival, but we have very little evidence for that," Ronald Hutton , a professor of history at the University of Bristol in the U.K., told Live Science in an email. Hutton noted that the eighth-century Anglo-Saxon scholar Bede wrote that his ancestors had named the month of April after the pagan goddess Eostre; and some suppose this is the origin of the term Easter. But Bede's remark is the only evidence for the claim, and Easter can also occur in March. Meanwhile, "both Easter and Eostre might have been named from a root word signifying dawning or opening or spring, cognate to the Greek Eos," Hutton said. "Certainly there seems to be no trace of an ancient pagan festival in northern Europe that fell between mid-March and mid-April." fizkes / Getty Images/iStockphoto Most Americans will look back on the last year as a time when their utility bills were astronomically expensive -- among other expenses. In a GOBankingRates poll of 1,003 Americans, nearly 78% saw a rise in their household utility bills in 2022. Housing Market 2023: Is a Double-Digit Drop in Prices Coming? See: How To Build a Financial Plan From Zero GOBankingRates spoke to Jacqui Kearns, chief wellbeing officer at Affinity Federal Credit Union, to learn why utility bills have become so expensive. As costs are anticipated to keep rising year-over-year, find out which quick fixes can make for more cost-effective utility statements. fizkes / Getty Images/iStockphoto The Main Reason Utility Bills Have Increased Throughout 2022, domestic production, overseas conflict and weather interruptions disrupted the U.S. supply chain. General supply and demand, Kearns said, created price increases. Utility bills for heating, and use of natural gas, oil or propane, are estimated to be significantly higher year-over-year. Kearns uses the example of how in New Jersey, a major energy provider estimates a 25% rise in costs year-over-year. Fortunately, there are some quick fixes one can utilize to trim utility costs. Take Our Poll: Do You Think Bankruptcy Is an Acceptable Way To Escape Student Loan Debt? damircudic / iStock.com Tips To Decrease Your Bills: Start With Your Statement Take a moment to review your monthly bill. Kearns said most energy providers are happy to give customers advice on how and where they can budget the cost of energy over an annual payment plan. In addition, many companies will provide financial assistance or a referral to a service that can help you put together a budget that works best for you. Sebastian Gauert / Shutterstock.com See If You Qualify for Energy Credits You might qualify for local or federal emergency or energy credits depending on your state of residence. Help is available. "Check your state's website," Kearns recommends. "In most cases by calling 211 you will be connected to resources that can help with the immediate fuel or energy needs." Story continues MartinPrescott / Getty Images/iStockphoto Seek Out a Free Energy Audit Kearns said your utility company or local HVAC provider can assess where your home might be vulnerable to the weather through a free energy audit. They can provide recommendations or services for weatherproofing to mitigate these issues. What if you rent? Kearns recommends reaching out to your property manager. They can enlist these services on your behalf. fizkes / iStock.com Mind the Dial It may not sound like a good idea to keep the room temperature a bit cooler as we head into the winter months, but just a few degrees can make a big impact in your monthly heating costs. The ideal temperature for a room at night, according to the Cleveland Clinic, is between 60 to 67 degrees. Kearns said while this might sound cooler than the average room temperature of 72, the degree difference does add up. Alex Potemkin / iStock.com Enlist Mother Nature's Help Small touches from planet earth can be a big help in cutting utility bill costs in the winter months. Kearns recommends identifying which rooms in your home are southern facing. Doing so will allow residents to gain warmth during the day by simply not drawing open the blinds or drapes. This, combined with great weatherproofing, can offer a natural source of heat and light during the daylight hours. Don't forget to bundle and buy, too. Stock up on home goods like thermal drapes, draft stoppers and blankets that can help with the warmth factor during the especially cold days and nights. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The No. 1 Reason Your Winter Utility Bill Is High This Year and How To Lower It Now Photograph: John Gress/Reuters Workers and union leaders are calling for a boycott of Energizer the battery maker famous for its Energizer bunny adverts over its plans to shut down plants in Wisconsin and move jobs offshore to Singapore, the UK, and a non-union plant in North Carolina. Using the hashtag #BadBunny the Teamsters union called this week for a protest boycott. The name of their company is a joke. The only thing they are energizing is another economy in another country, said Teamsters general president Sean OBrien. In December 2022, Chris Udelhoven, who has worked at Energizers Fennimore, Wisconsin plant for 43 years in various positions, said workers were informed via a short paragraph that Energizer planned to shut down the plant and another in Portage, Wisconsin over the next 18 to 24 months, a move that would eliminate around 600 jobs. Everyone was in total shock, said Udelhoven. Our workers come from all the surrounding counties. Many people have other family members who work here. Its a big hit. She said her sister also works at the plant, with the job losses impacting surrounding businesses in the town of Fennimore, which has a population of just under 3,000 people, hitting friends and families hard. They need to stay here in Wisconsin, we dont want them leaving here, we want the jobs to stay here where they are. I dont know where all these people are going to find jobs, added Udelhoven. We are continuing to fight to keep these plants open, getting the communities involved into that fight with us, contacting government officials, anybody they can to help keep these facilities open. Story continues Rob Krantz, who owns and operates Krantz Auto Parts in Fennimore, Wisconsin and used to work at the plant under RayoVac before Energizer acquired the company in 2018, pulled all Energizer products from his store in protest after the plant shutdown announcement. Were a small rural community that is going to lose over 300 jobs, said Krantz. This will be devastating to every business in our town, including mine. All I see here by the move is more corporate greed. Offshoring has been a contentious political issue as manufacturing in the US has experienced steep job losses in recent decades, decimating communities throughout the midwest. After an initial decline at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, there are currently just under 13m manufacturing jobs in the US, a slight increase from pre-pandemic numbers. The safety net for workers impacted by offshoring, the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, lapsed due to a lack of funding by Congress in July 2022. The scheme covered 107,454 workers impacted by offshoring in 2021. This is corporate greed at its worst, said Teamsters eastern region vice-president Rocco Calo. We look at whats happened with supply chains, with goods being transported, the problems that we have, it makes no sense to me that were going to bring jobs offshore, and then transport the goods back into this country. I dont think its a really smart business move. The Teamsters have criticized Energizers decision given the $10m in public subsidies the company has received since 1999 in six states and ongoing federal contracts Energizer has with the US military and Department of Veterans Affairs. The union pointed to Energizers solid financial performance. The company reported a gross profit of $1.1bn in 2022 and paid out $93m to shareholders through dividends in 2022. In August 2021, Energizer entered an agreement to spend $75m on stock buybacks. Energizer CEO Mark LaVigne received an increase in total compensation from $6m in 2021 to over $9m in 2022. The Teamsters have negotiated with Energizer on economic protections for workers impacted by the shutdowns, including extended health coverage, severance, and set schedules to retain workers through 2024. We made it very clear to Energizer it was our goal to keep these plants open, said Bryan Rademacher, President of Local 695. Were going to do everything we can in hopes we can do that. Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin criticized Energizers plans to close the plants in the state in a recent Senate help committee meeting, noting that the closures came just after Energizer had requested government funds for research and development. She has also requested the Federal Trade Commission to scrutinize Energizers acquisition of Rayovac in 2018 over the plant closures. Im disturbed by a trend that Im seeing, said Baldwin. It seems to me that when seeking support from the government, these billion dollar corporations talk up their American facilities and workers, all the while, some of these corporations, like Energizer, are making plans to move a union facility to a non-union state or foreign country. A spokesperson for Energizer said: Last week, we entered into an agreement with the union which provides for a package that includes severance, health insurance coverage and job placement assistance. As weve said from day one, our colleagues are our main concern, and we will continue focusing on them. We are pleased that negotiations with the union have concluded so our colleagues can have the clarity they expect and deserve. Generally speaking the aim of active stock picking is to find companies that provide returns that are superior to the market average. And in our experience, buying the right stocks can give your wealth a significant boost. To wit, the Zuger Kantonalbank share price has climbed 30% in five years, easily topping the market return of 14% (ignoring dividends). On the other hand, the more recent gains haven't been so impressive, with shareholders gaining just 11% , including dividends . Now it's worth having a look at the company's fundamentals too, because that will help us determine if the long term shareholder return has matched the performance of the underlying business. Check out our latest analysis for Zuger Kantonalbank In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement. Over half a decade, Zuger Kantonalbank managed to grow its earnings per share at 7.3% a year. This EPS growth is higher than the 5% average annual increase in the share price. So it seems the market isn't so enthusiastic about the stock these days. The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image). It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on Zuger Kantonalbank's earnings, revenue and cash flow. What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. As it happens, Zuger Kantonalbank's TSR for the last 5 years was 53%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! Story continues A Different Perspective It's nice to see that Zuger Kantonalbank shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 11% over the last year. That's including the dividend. That's better than the annualised return of 9% over half a decade, implying that the company is doing better recently. Someone with an optimistic perspective could view the recent improvement in TSR as indicating that the business itself is getting better with time. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Zuger Kantonalbank you should know about. But note: Zuger Kantonalbank may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Swiss exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. 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 Two 17-year-old Woodbridge teens were charged in connection with an incident in North Stafford on Thursday in which two teens were shot, including one of the suspects. Stafford Sheriffs spokesman Ryan Wilbur said deputies went to the Park Ridge Community Pool on Parkway Boulevard shortly after 4 p.m. in response to reported gunfire. Deputies C.C. Crossett and J.W. McAlister arrived on the scene to find a 15-year-old Stafford boy suffering from a gunshot wound to his back. The boy was flown to a nearby hospital to be treated for a serious but non-life-threatening injury, Wilbur said. Several schools in the area were locked down as a precaution, as were the pool and a nearby library. Deputy S.T. Myers and his police dog, Gunner, searched through the woods and found the two Woodbridge teens hiding in a shed on Boondocks Lane. One of them was treated at a hospital for a gunshot wound to his leg before being turned over to police. That teen was charged with aggravated malicious wounding and using a firearm during the commission of a felony. Aggravated malicious wounding carries a penalty of between 20 years to life in prison. The other Woodbridge teen was charged with possession of a firearm by a minor and grand larceny of a firearm. Both were placed in the Rappahannock Juvenile Center. They were not named by police because they are juveniles. It remains unclear what the dispute was about, but Wilbur said the older teens came from Woodbridge and encountered the 15-year-old. Shots were fired during an ensuing struggle. Deputies searched the area for nearly three hours after the shooting before deputies J.R. Scott and R. Mervil found three handguns that had been discarded in the woods. King George Board of Supervisors member T.C. Collins was severely injured in an automobile crash on his way to a board meeting last week, but is focused on returning to county activities later this month. He is in good spirits and hes planning on being back with us, sooner rather than later, said fellow Supervisor Cathy Binder, who spoke with Collins on Friday morning. Thats T.C. though. Collins, 62, was stopped along State Route 3 east and waiting to turn into the county administration center when an oncoming truck veered into his lane and struck him head-on, according to reports from those on the scene. The impact spun him around, causing the truck stopped behind him to T-bone his car, said fellow Supervisor Annie Cupka. Cupka works at the nearby EXIT Realty office and, like Binder, who was outside the King George Courthouse photographing tulips, heard the crash and came running. Binder saw smoke, the mangled vehicles in front of The Opp Shop and Collins being carried out by the couple in the truck which had stopped behind him. He got hit by two trucks and he was in a classic car, an old muscle car, Binder said. T.C.s a lucky man. Somebody was looking out for him. At Tuesdays Board of Supervisors meeting, Binder got emotional when she talked about the crash and the image that is in my head forever. She later said there was a lot of blood, from his head, knees and legs, and that pieces of glass were all over him. Binder thanked every person who came out to help, including the people who were behind him and involved in the accident. Cupka and Supervisor Jeff Stonehill added similar sentiments. I know (T.C.) expressed appreciation to everyone who helped him in his time of need, Cupka said. First responders, whether that be firefighters, EMS, law enforcement, my colleagues, our staff, citizens who were here waiting to attend the meeting that night, because it was just a few minutes before the meeting was to start, bystanders, passersby, everyone. Everyone pulled together to support our colleague. We are a community that cares so thank you all very much. Collins was heading to a joint meeting between the Board of Supervisors and the School Board about the budget, but the session was canceled after the crash. David Bush, School Board chairman, and Jesse Boyd, school superintendent, followed the ambulance to the hospital and waited there until Collins family arrived. Collins, who served in the military for 12 years and worked with the Virginia State Police for 25 years, was on the School Board for five years before he was elected a supervisor in 2021. Stonehill, a retired deputy with the King George Sheriffs Office, directed traffic after the crash, which happened before 6 p.m. on the main thoroughfare through the county. That was a terrible accident, Stonehill said on Tuesday. Im hoping that T.C. will heal quickly and bring his personality back to the board and we can have his banter back and forth. Binder said Collins told her on Friday that he hopes to attend the April 18 Board of Supervisors meeting. ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) The Alaska Air National Guard this week traveled nearly 660 miles (1,062 kilometers) to rescue a pregnant woman on a small island 2 miles (3 kilometers) from Russia, reflecting the challenges patients face in the nation's largest state where the most remote areas have no roads and hospitals can be hundreds of miles away. There was no air strip for a fixed-wing aircraft, so the crews flew a twin-engine combat search and rescue helicopter from the Anchorage area to the island in the Bering Strait. A long-range search and rescue aircraft guided the helicopter through mountain passes and refueled it in the air several times during the 5-hour flight. Russian aircraft routinely fly near the Bering Strait, but Alaska Air National Guard Maj. Sara Warren, who was the on-duty rescue officer, said they took every measure to avoid any conflict, including staying on the U.S. side of the international date line. There was absolutely no activity from them, she said of the Russians. These types of extreme rescues by both the guard and other agencies are common in a state that is almost 2 1/2 times the size of Texas and has more shoreline than the lower 48 states combined. The Alaska Air National Guard has conducted 14 such rescues already this year, the agency said. Its very different here in Alaska because we dont have the infrastructure that they have down in the lower 48, said Alaska National Guard spokesperson Alan Brown. Youre looking at the civilian agencies (that) have a more robust capability; there are more of them. Alaska, with a population of only about 730,000 people, is remote, spread out and often has extreme weather, forcing everyone to team up to conduct life-saving missions. A total of 41 people worked on the recent rescue mission on the small island. Our guys, fortunately, because of the nature of their federal mission for search and rescue, they have to be capable, Brown said. They have to train regularly in extreme weather conditions all across the region and that just makes them prime for this type of rescue. The rescue call came Monday morning, said Warren. They were informed of a pregnant woman with severe abdominal pains in Diomede, a village of 80 people on the western side of Little Diomede Island. Its a traditional Ingalikmiut Eskimo village, whose residents live a subsistence lifestyle, hunting seal, polar bears and blue crab. There are no medical professionals living on the island. Its separated from Big Diomede Island, which is owned by Russia, by 2 miles (3 kilometers) of frozen Bering Sea ice this time of the year. The international date line runs between the two islands. Compounding the rescue was not only lingering fog from sea ice, but also a power outage in Diomede, Warren said. Townspeople would call the nearest hospital in Nome, 130 miles (209 kilometers) away, every hour providing updates on the woman's condition and then shut the phones off to conserve power. A doctor in Nome would then relay the most current information back to those at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage. A civilian medical crew was on standby in Nome, but they were unable to fly their helicopter because of the poor weather conditions, so the National Guard aircraft launched from Anchorage. The plane would fly ahead after fueling the helicopter to perform weather reconnaissance, leading the helicopter away from storms, through several passes of the Alaska Range and to Diomede. Warren and others at the base monitored all of it in real time. They eventually did get her out without causing any kind of incidents," Warren said. The woman was then flown to Nome and was doing fine, she said. Such a complex mission is second hand to the Alaska Air National Guard as compared to other states, where guard crews might be involved in search and rescue missions. This incident involved the Alaska Air National Guardsmen of 210th, 211th and 212th Rescue Squadrons. In Alaska, guardsmen are accustomed to handling complex missions, factoring in bad weather, solving time-distance problems and dealing with harsh terrain, mainly because they train in these conditions as well. The Guard considers and even counts on such missions part of their regular training and thus could not provide a cost estimate for the rescue. The missions provide exceptional real-world training opportunities not otherwise available, Brown said. Standing up and planning for these types of missions, flying through challenging conditions over varied terrain and saving lives keeps our skills sharp and perfectly translates into mission capability for our national defense, he added. The guard's 176th Wing conducted 55 missions in 2022 and 57 in 2021. Of the most recent rescue, Warren said, That was just another Monday. Bergan third-graders like Stella House think its fun to be part of the Shadow Stations of the Cross. Teachers like Katie Nielsen believe students gain a deeper meaning of Christs sacrifice by recreating scenes depicting his suffering and death. By definition, the Stations of the Cross is a series of 14 pictures or carvings depicting events from when Jesus is condemned to death to when he dies on the cross and later is placed in a tomb. Catholics pray and meditate in front each station. For years, third-graders at Archbishop Bergan Catholic Elementary School have created silhouettes of every station. Students silently stand in poses, recreating the different scenes, behind a large white sheet. The room is darkened, except for a light behind the sheet, which casts the students shadows onto it creating the silhouettes. In one silhouette, Jesus appears to fall beneath the weight of the cross. Other individual scenes feature shadowy recreations of women talking to Christ, of him hanging on the cross and later being carried to the tomb. Bergan has staged Shadow Stations of the Cross for a long time. Weve changed it a little bit throughout the years, refining things like what the kids wear and little things to make it look more aesthetically pleasing, said Nielsen, a third-grade teacher. Basically, the presentation has remained the same, but wording in a script thats read has been changed so it is a little different each year. Students present the stations twice during Holy Week. It typically is an all-school performance and we also do a performance for our parents, as well, or any community members who would like to attend, Nielsen said. Even several years later, Bergan students will recall participating in the event and talk about it at a retreat they take as high school seniors. They remember being in third grade and performing the stations for the school, Nielsen said. On Tuesday, third-graders presented their performance for elementary school students. Bergan third-grade teacher Maria Kruse softly read from the script, telling about each of the stations in prayer and what Christ was experiencing. The script details how Christ might have felt and lessons children can learn from it. The first station tells of Roman leader Pontius Pilate condemning Jesus to death. Jesus, you stand all alone before Pilate, Kruse said. Nobody speaks up for you. Nobody helps defend you. As she did at every station, Kruse read a portion of the script telling how it can apply to the childrens lives. For instance, children might feel as if theyre being treated unfairly, especially if theyre being scolded, and that others arent defending them. Help me be grateful for what you did for me., Kruse prayed, referring to Christs sacrifice. Help me pray for those who have hurt me. The second station depicts Jesus carrying his cross. You knew it wouldnt be easy, but you accepted it and carried it just the same, Kruse prayed. Sometimes, children become upset when asked to do even the smallest thing to help others. Help me to remember Christ and His cross when little problems in my life seem big, she prayed. The stations continue with the seventh recording that Jesus, whos previously fallen, now falls again. It tells how Christ struggles, but doesnt give up. As a child, sometimes things get me down, Kruse said. Others seem to find things easier to do or to learn. Each time I fail, I find it harder to keep trying. Again, children are encouraged to pray for help. Help me when things seem difficult for me, Kruse prayed. Even when its hard, help me get up and keep trying as you did. Help me do my best without comparing myself to others. An eighth station tells of Christ talking to a group of women even as he makes his way to the cross. Help me to remember that others have problems, too, Kruse prayed. Help me respond to them even when Im busy or preoccupied with my own problems. Children listening to the presentation remained quiet except when it was their turn to pray in unison. They were especially quiet in a scene where Christ is nailed to the cross. Through the script, Kruse encouraged students to see the pain they might have caused others and to make amends. The 12th station depicts Christ dying on the cross. Jesus wanted all of us to be able to live forever with God, so he gave all he had for us, Kruse said, encouraging children to consider his love for them and to thank him. The other stations talk about Christs body being taken down from the cross and laid in a tomb. Attendees were urged to look for the good in those around them and to be more gentle and loving. They were encouraged to think of Joseph of Arimathea, the risk he took to get Christs body off the cross and how he loved Jesus so much that he put him in his own tomb. Nielsen believes students benefit by participating in the presentation. I think it makes them prayerfully consider the sacrifice that Jesus made for all of us, she said. We really try to help them understand how serious this week is. Thats our job at Bergan Elementary is to form the whole child and get everyone to heaven. Thats our job as disciples of Christ. Stella played one of the women of Jerusalem who encountered Christ on his way to the cross. She enjoyed being part of the presentation. It was fun and it was nice to perform in front of the school, she said. Libby Taylor portrayed Mary, the mother of Christ. Libby sees the presentations importance. It makes kids think of what Jesus did for us, Libby said. Dane Janssen portrayed a guard. I liked doing it, because I think it makes kids start to pray to God and Jesus, Dane said. Next year, teachers plan to have another presentation, a time of remembrance filled with lessons for children and adults. For about 16 years, its been a time when fathers and daughters could dance and laugh and make memories. And theyll have that chance again this month. The Fremont Family YMCA is hosting the Daddy Daughter Prom. The public is invited to the event, set from 6:30-8:30 p.m., Friday, April 14 in the Y at 810 N. Lincoln Ave. This years theme is Candyland. The event is designed for girls from kindergarten through fifth grade and their dads. If dads arent available, a male representative or guardian may accompany the girl, which can include a grandfather or family friend. Cost is $40 per couple and $25 for each additional daughter for Y members. For non-members the cost is $80 per couple and $65 for each additional daughter. Registration takes place at the front desk at the Y. The YMCA is open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday-Friday; 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday and 12:30-6 p.m., Sunday. The event has been well attended throughout the years. We typically get anywhere from 95 to 120 daughters, said Kylie Brown, before and after school director. Its a pretty big event. The event begins with a Grand March. Moms, siblings and grandparents can come to watch the march, but leave afterward. Each couple is announced as they walk into the event. The event will include snacks and dancing. We usually have a photo booth, Brown said. Daughters and dads dance, laugh and have a good time. I think were going to do limbo this year, which we havent done before, but well see how the girls like it, Brown said. Brown believes the event is a good opportunity for daughters to spend time with their dads. Its a good community event for building those family relationships, Brown said. Its a special time for dads to get all dressed up for their daughters and spend a couple hours dancing and laughing and enjoying the evening together. Brown has fond memories of past events. She recalls the year that Hy-Vee Food Store donated a smoker for a prom prize. We had the dads do a dance-off to see who got the smoker and that was very entertaining, she said. There wont be prizes this year, but each girl will receive a bag with a T-shirt and other goodies at the end of the night. Brown believes dads and daughters enjoy the event. People are very grateful when they leave, she said. They thank Y staffers and say they had fun. Plans are to continue hosting the prom. We continue to keep doing this event as long as we can, Brown said. Its a good event for the YMCA. Authorities are investigating the shooting of a man killed by police at his northwestern New Mexico home after they arrived at the wrong address, police said. Robert Dotson, 52, was killed Wednesday night by officers with the Farmington Police Department after they received a call reporting a domestic violence incident around 11:30 p.m. and went to his house instead of the one across the street, according to local and state police. "I am just heartbroken. ... Mr. Dotson was not the subject of this call," Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe said during a Thursday video statement posted on Facebook. "This ending is just unbelievably tragic. I'm extremely sorry that we're in this position." Upon arriving to the neighborhood in Farmington, which is about 150 miles northwest of Albuquerque, officers "mistakenly approached 5305 Valley View Avenue instead of 5308 Valley View Avenue," New Mexico State Police said in a statement Thursday. After no one answered their knocks on the door, police officers asked the dispatch to call the person who reported the incident and ask them to come to the front door. At some point, Dotson opened the door of his home while armed with a handgun and at least one officer shot at least one round from their gun, striking and killing Dotson at the scene, according to state police citing body camera footage. Armed with a handgun, Dotson's wife exchanged gunfire with officers, but she was not injured, authorities said. "Once again, officer(s) fired. Once she realized that the individuals outside the residence were officers, she put the gun down and complied with the officer's commands," state police said in their statement. The responding officers, who were not injured in the shooting, will not be publicly identified by state police, according to their statement. It's unclear how many officers were at the scene at the time of the shooting or how many fired their guns. It's also unclear whether Dotson fired at the officers at all before police shot and killed him. CNN has filed a public records request with the New Mexico State Police for the body camera footage. The video of the shooting is expected to be released within a week, Hebbe said Thursday. "There's nothing I can say that will make this better. It's a terrible event, and I'm heartbroken over it," Hebbe added. The shooting is currently under investigation by the New Mexico State Police. The agency's Investigations Bureau has been requested to probe the incident, state police said. A look at high-profile killings by US police Eric Garner Michael Brown Laquad McDonald Tamir Rice Walter Scott Freddie Gray Philando Castile Justine Ruszczyk Damond Jordan Edwards Manuel Ellis Breonna Taylor George Floyd Rayshard Brooks Casey Goodson Jr. Andre Hill Fanta Bility Ronald Greene Oscar Grant Eric Harris Daunte Wright Hundreds of Fremont Public Schools students who owe lunch money debt will have those bills wiped clean after a generous targeted donation from the owners of local home healthcare business, Promedcare. Andrew and Tiffany Foxhoven are donating $2,500 to the Fremont Public Schools in an effort to help reduce food insecurity in the district. The couple and their business are also donating $2,500 to Care Corps Lifehouse food pantry in Fremont. The $2,500 donation to FPS is on the agenda for the Monday, April 10, meeting of the FPS Board of Education. All donations greater than $500 to the district require a vote-approval by the board. Foxhoven, who co-owns Promedcare with his wife, said the duo feels blessed to be able to help the community, which he noted is outrageously generous on many levels. This is the first year weve donated. We did $2,500 (to FPS) and an additional $2,500 to Lifehouse to help fill their food pantry, Andrew said. Weve heard so much about the food insecurity that so many families are facing right now, so we as a team were talking about how we could help. I dont know who came up with the idea. Many students, who are facing economic difficulties, find themselves in debt with lunch bills from the schools. When a student seeks a meal, if they are unable to pay at the time, they are still provided food, but a fee is registered. Andrew Foxhoven said he and his wife, as well as employees at the business theyve owned since 2016, wanted to help those students and families move on with their lives, being able to graduate and not face hurdles due to lunch or school meal debt. A lot of these kids are not expected to graduate until they pay their debt and for many of these families, it is a real challenge to pay their lunch bill, he explained. We said, why not help there where we can. The Fremont community has blessed us, and we felt a desire to help where we could. The $2,500 donation to FPS will not erase the total district-wide school meal debt amount, Andrew noted, but he said the donation, will make a dent. There is a fair amount more of (lunch debt) and we were just trying to make a dent in (that debt), he said. Last year at our business after-hours event, we donated to Habitat for Humanity and the Fremont Veterans Coalition. We just kind of change each year depending on where our teams hearts are at that moment where we can help out. Promedcare has offices in Fremont, Columbus, Blair and Norfolk. The business provides a range of home healthcare services such as elder care, mental health assistance and therapy, respiratory care and equipment as well as other medical needs. I think it is extremely important of our community to remember the blessings they have and to help share, and we see that constantly, Andrew said of the Fremont charity efforts. We see that in events, fundraisers and groups that are out there helping the community. Rep. Mike Flood said Thursday he is seeking targeted federal funding support for an extensive list of projects in Lincoln, topped by a $25 million request for ongoing funding for continued development of a U.S. Department of Agriculture research center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Innovation Campus. So far, the response is no, Flood told a Lincoln Chamber of Commerce breakfast audience, but "we don't take no for an answer," and he said he will continue his efforts to obtain more funding for the long-sought project. Flood said he will also continue to "keep working" on efforts to move the downtown U.S. Post Office from its high-value site in the Haymarket adjacent to the Pinnacle Bank Arena to another location, opening that prime location for future development. Also on his list of Lincoln funding requests: * $4 million for the city's downtown corridors project, a city-led streetscape enhancement plan. * $6.4 million for grading and surfacing Fletcher Avenue. * $3.6 million for rehabilitating Randolph Street. * $400,000 to fund "ag tech hub" modernization planning. "Eventually, we will find a new home" for the Post Office, the congressman said, "but don't count on this for your convention center" because it probably won't fit the current timetable to begin construction of a convention center in downtown Lincoln soon. Flood, the former Norfolk state senator who now is the 1st District Republican congressman, said he intends to pursue that effort "for as long as it takes." "We eventually will move it out of there," he said. Affordable housing is "the No. 1" issue in his eastern Nebraska congressional district, Flood said, and that impacts workforce development. As Lincoln begins to secure a second water source for the future, adding to its wells along the Platte River near Ashland, Flood said he is ready to help in any way that he can. Flood said he remains committed to providing continued U.S. support for Ukraine in its battle against the Russian invasion. "We want them to win," he said. "China is watching," Flood said, "as it is looking at Taiwan." Flood said he is undertaking efforts to "introduce Lincoln to America" by hosting a fintech (financial technology) conference here in August. "Lincoln has a great story to tell in startups," he said, "and I hope to get several congressmen here." Later, in autumn, he said, he will join Rep. Adrian Smith in co-hosting a western caucus of 25 members of the House who will visit Innovation Campus. Photos: 2023 Nebraska legislative session 010523-owh-new-lege-em01.jpg 010523-owh-new-lege-em02.jpg 010523-owh-new-lege-em04.jpg 010523-owh-new-lege-em05.jpg 010523-owh-new-lege-em06.jpg 010523-owh-new-lege-em65 010523-owh-new-lege-em37 010523-owh-new-lege-em38 010523-owh-new-lege-em49 010523-owh-new-lege-em60 010523-owh-new-lege-em45 010523-owh-new-lege-em39 010523-owh-new-lege-em48 010523-owh-new-lege-em55 010523-owh-new-lege-em59 010523-owh-new-lege-em43 010523-owh-new-lege-em42 010523-owh-new-lege-em50 010523-owh-new-lege-em53 Sen. Beau Ballard 010523-owh-new-lege-em40 010523-owh-new-lege-em47 010523-owh-new-lege-em51 010523-owh-new-lege-em61 010523-owh-new-lege-em64 010523-owh-new-lege-em52 010523-owh-new-lege-em56 010523-owh-new-lege-em62 010523-owh-new-lege-em63 010523-owh-new-lege-em58 010523-owh-new-lege-em44 010523-owh-new-lege-em41 010523-owh-new-lege-em54 010523-owh-new-lege-em36 010523-owh-new-lege-em31 010523-owh-new-lege-em30 010523-owh-new-lege-em32 010523-owh-new-lege-em33 010523-owh-new-lege-em35 010523-owh-new-lege-em34 010523-owh-new-lege-em24 010523-owh-new-lege-em27 010523-owh-new-lege-em26 010523-owh-new-lege-em28 010523-owh-new-lege-em25 010523-owh-new-lege-em29 010523-owh-new-lege-em23 010523-owh-new-lege-em18 010523-owh-new-lege-em21 010523-owh-new-lege-em15 010523-owh-new-lege-em17 010523-owh-new-lege-em22 010523-owh-new-lege-em19 010523-owh-new-lege-em16 010523-owh-new-lege-em20 010523-owh-new-lege-em12 010523-owh-new-lege-em09 010523-owh-new-lege-em14 010523-owh-new-lege-em13 010523-owh-new-lege-em07 010523-owh-new-lege-em11 010523-owh-new-lege-em08 010523-owh-new-lege-em03 010523-owh-new-lege-em10 010523-owh-new-lege-em03.jpg El Paso Countys oldest building has been imbued with a breath of new life. Echo Architecture and Interiors bought 2752 W. Colorado Ave. in December 2021 and revitalized the space, called The Sluice, to serve as a communal spot for locals, creatives and visitors. The 12,000-square-foot building houses small businesses, artist studios, a coffee shop, Story Coffee's second location, an art gallery, Surface Gallery and Echo Architecture and Interiors. It also features a workshop, breakroom and meeting room for its businesses and artists as well as a tiered seating area open to the public and available to rent for events. The Sluice, named for a tool miners used to filter gold out of soil and water, will celebrate its grand opening Friday and Saturday. Constructed in 1859, according to Old Colorado City History Centers walking tour app, the building has lived many lives. Originally a general store that served miners, the building was known as developers corner, said Ryan Lloyd, founder of Echo Architecture and Interiors and owner of the building. Its facade was adorned with arched windows to display the use of the sandstone quarried from Red Rock Canyon to attract developers to the area, Lloyd said. But sandstone is a poor building material, he added, and the arched windows, visible in black and white photos of the building, were eventually torn down. Other clues in the bowels of the building echo its past. A narrow set of stairs leads to a dank, low-ceiling basement that is thought to be a walled-up entrance to underground tunnels that once led to the citys seedier side of booze and brothels in the 1800s. Sign Up for Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. A metal gun safe on the buildings main floor points to its days as an army surplus store, Old Colorado City Surplus. Lloyd and his wife, Valerie, who oversees Surface Gallery and the Sluice's studio spaces, live several blocks from the building. Before the Lloyds, the building's owner used the space to run his online business. The whole building was storage for books," Ryan said. "Literally chest-high boxes of books with like teeny little paths between them." During walks through their neighborhood, Ryan and Valerie would peek into the windows of the building dreaming of what it could become one day. Ryan and Valerie slid a letter under the door offering to buy the building, something theyd never done. Six months later the couple received a call in response the answer was no. Years went by and in 2021 Ryan discovered the building was under contract, but the deal fell through. He managed to arrange a meeting and put in an offer. This time, it worked. At the closing, he brought the letter that we had put under the door, Ryan said. He remembered us, and he never told us that he knew it was us ... but he did. And he had that letter laminated. The Sluice's grand opening will feature food trucks on the street with live music Friday and a guided tour and barista showdown Saturday. Admission is free with a chance to see Surface Gallerys three exhibits and visit the studio spaces. The goal being creativity and the people that are going to come through here, Valerie said about The Sluice. Just to find beauty in people and creativeness. Sallie Clark hasn't given up her fight in the race to become Colorado Springs' next mayor. The candidate on Friday sent a letter to City Clerk Sarah Johnson saying that she may request a discretionary recount of Colorado Springs' April 4 municipal election. Clark asked for more information on the estimated cost of a recount. "It's not over until it's over," Clark said in an interview. Per Colorado law, a mandatory recount is triggered if the margin between the two top finishers is 0.5% or less of the leading candidate's vote total. A candidate may request a discretionary recount for election results that don't fall into that threshold, which the candidate would pay for. Unofficial results posted at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday show Yemi Mobolade, an entrepreneur and political newcomer, and Wayne Williams, a Colorado Springs city councilman, were so far likely to emerge victorious in Tuesday's mayoral race. Mobolade had 29.8% of the vote while Williams garnered about 19.2% of votes, unofficial returns show. If those results hold through the final tally, the candidates will go head-to-head in a runoff election scheduled for May 16 because neither earned more than 50% of the vote. Currently not making a spot in the runoff, if unofficial results hold, is Clark, who was a close third in the mayoral race. She garnered about 17.8% of the vote, trailing Williams by 1,546 votes. Figures available from the clerk's office show 109,938 total ballots were scanned so far in Colorado Springs' April 4 election, for a voter turnout of about 35%. City clerk's officials said in an emailed statement Friday afternoon they had received Clark's request and were gathering information for a response. In her letter, Clark said she assumed the cost of a recount in the mayor's election would be less than the final amount charged to candidates who requested discretionary recounts in the June 28, 2022 countywide primary election. El Paso County Clerk and Recorder records show the initial estimated cost to conduct that recount was about $5,760 per candidate, Clark said in her letter. Campaign finance records filed March 31 show Clark had $128,651.62 on hand, indicating she would more than likely be able to pay the cost of a recount. In an interview Friday, Clark said she was considering making the request so she could be more confident in the local voting system. "The results of this election are historically narrow and I want to make sure that we get it right so there's no question about the integrity of our elections here in Colorado Springs, and to really instill confidence in the system." In recent years there has been a nationwide debate about the integrity of elections at all levels, after former President Donald Trump claimed the 2020 presidential election was "stolen" from him through widespread fraud. Local and state leaders in Colorado and elsewhere have refuted those allegations. Currently Johnson's office, in a "post-election period" through April 14, will allow military and overseas ballots to arrive through April 12. During this time voters who did not sign their ballot, or voters with signature discrepancies, can also cure those ballots. It was unclear Friday how many additional military and yet-to-be-cured ballots the clerk's office could expect to receive. Election workers will process those additional ballots at 5 p.m. April 12 and the election results will be certified by April 14, clerk's officials said on the city website. Williams, who served as Colorado's secretary of state from 2015 to 2019, said he supported Clark's legal right to the recount request but believed the election results would stand. "As an election official I recognize there are no final results yet and there won't be until April 13. I believe those results will show that Yemi and I will be the final two candidates in the runoff," he said. "I have full confidence in the election judges and the election administration. With the current margin, I don't anticipate any significant changes in the results." Peter Braza, professor and chair of the mathematics department at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, said it was "extremely unlikely" that additional ballots counted, or a recount, would change the results in Clark's favor. "If there were a huge number of ballots outstanding, then sure, anything could happen. In a nutshell, it's not going to work for Sallie Clark," Braza said. "Partly because even in the cured ballot case, there could be some (who vote) for Wayne, and (some who vote for) Sallie. And there probably are. That doesn't mean that all the ballots would go to Sallie, or that even a majority would go to Sallie. They could go to other candidates, including Yemi." Clark said a request for a recount "makes sense." "It's my right as a candidate any mayoral candidate could request a similar recount. But mine is so close that I think it just makes sense to go ahead and do that," Clark said. "We know there's still military ballots outstanding. There's a number of cures that are not cured yet. That's why we're doing the recount, to make sure that everything is counted at the end of the day." A former student of Timberview Middle School in Colorado Springs was arrested after allegedly planning a mass shooting at the school, according to arrest records obtained Thursday by The Gazette. William Whitworth was arrested by members of the Elbert County Sheriff's Office on March 31 on suspicion of attempted first-degree murder, and other charges, the affidavit states. Students were not at Academy School District 20 schools last week during the district's weeklong spring break. Investigators found instructions on how to build homemade bombs and a whiteboard with the floor plan to Timberview Middle School in the bedroom of a former student accused of planning a mass shooting at the Colorado Springs school, according to arrest records. Click or tap here to read more about the manifesto. - Whitworth, 19, attended three District 20 schools for a total of nine months, over two years: Prairie Hills Elementary, Aug. 2014 Feb. 2015, Home School Academy, Jan. 2016 Feb. 2016 and Timberview Middle School, Aug. 2016 Oct. 3, 2016. - The affidavit lists the defendant as male, but Whitworth's sister referred to Whitworth as "lily" and described her sibling as "their sister" when she spoke with investigators. - Eric Ross, a spokesperson for the 18th Judicial District Attorneys Office, told The Gazette that Whitworth is in the process of transitioning to female. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. - Deputies found Whitworth lying in bed, drunk, in a room piled with trash that had several holes in the wall, according to the affidavit. - Whitworth is charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder, menacing, criminal mischief and interference with staff, faculty or students of educational institutions. - Whitworth is being held on a $75,000 bond. Libraries meant stuffy, academic places to Teona Shainidze-Krebs, while she was growing up in the Soviet Union-controlled country of Georgia and after her family fled to Russia when she was 15. Repositories of books old and new seemed inaccessible and unwelcoming to the average person under a Communist regime, she said. But when Shainidze-Krebs moved to Colorado Springs in 2007 and she discovered Pikes Peak Library District offered all kinds of free benefits, the word library took on a new meaning: freedom. The public library is where intellectual freedom can be practiced and exercised, she said in an interview Wednesday. Thats the main reason she took a part-time job teaching English as a second language for the library district shortly after moving here 16 years ago. When she became the system's director of adult education, Shainidze-Krebs expanded the offerings to include assistance with job searches and ceremonies for naturalized citizens. Now, she's worked her way to the top of the system. The seven-member board of trustees unanimously agreed on Tuesday to appoint her as chief librarian and CEO of the Pikes Peak Library District. She will take over April 24. Shainidze-Krebs, 42, is thought to be the first immigrant to become the permanent head of the El Paso County library system, which operates 15 branches, an event building and three mobile services. Our local libraries are that space where people can find the resources and tools to connect them to opportunities and a better way of life, Shainidze-Krebs said. She held the title of deputy chief librarian a year ago when the board selected her as interim chief librarian on April 2, 2022, following the departure of former leader John Spears. He cited politicization of the board as one reason for his resignation. Colorado Springs City Council initially rejected appointing two new library board members in November 2021. But lacking two-thirds of the majority as needed, members re-voted in February 2022 and approved the candidates. One, Aaron Salt, now president of the library board, had mentioned removing objectionable materials in childrens and juvenile sections, which some city councilors said was concerning. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Despite the concerns, Shainidze-Krebs said she has not seen any indications of politics coming into play in her work with the board, which last year adopted a new vision, mission, core values and a strategic plan through 2025. This is the place where everyone can be offended, and thats OK, Shainidze-Krebs said. Whats controversial can be very subjective, and I believe everyone should have a say and a voice. Saying she never wants her two children, ages 13 and 10, to be told they cannot think or read something, Shainidze-Krebs pledges to keep library branches and materials available to all patrons. To not do so is a dangerous path to be on. That's censorship, she said. We as library professionals need to be cautious and objective and leave our personal political beliefs at home and offer services to everyone. The systems new core values, created from a public survey and employee input, revolve around ensuring access to library services and collections; promoting diversity, equity and inclusion; and improving facilities, communication and community engagement. Salt describes the seated board as cohesive and committed to the library district and the core values. The board is very pleased with the direction the library district is headed, Salt said. Shainidze-Krebs, now a naturalized American citizen, was one of seven applicants who met the early March deadline of a national search and one of three candidates who were interviewed, according to library spokesperson Denise Abbott. She was named sole finalist a few weeks ago. Teona met all of the requirements we were looking for; others just didnt have the credentials, such as experience working for a system with multiple branches, Salt said. The board also was happy with how Shainidze-Krebs performed as interim chief librarian, particularly because she's navigated a staff of about 400 during some pretty tumultuous times, he said. In the past year the library system charted its new direction; agreed to a mill levy override proposal on the November 2022 ballot, then revoked it; cut the 2023 operating budget and dipped into reserve funds by $736,000 to balance it a reduction from an initial proposal of using $3.28 million in reserves; and voluntarily had bathrooms in its three busiest branches tested for methamphetamine contamination and oversaw cleanup. Shes shown great leadership abilities, Salt said of Shainidze-Krebs. Contract details are still being worked out, he said, and will be voted on at the April 19 board meeting. Groundbreaking women in aviation shared words of encouragement for Colorados young student pilots Thursday, putting successful faces to a field that has little female representation. The networking lunch was organized by Falcon AeroLab, a supplemental education program that breaks down barriers for students interested in STEM and aerospace. Theyve done so much for women in aviation. It feels unreal, said Andrea Butron, a student at Springs Aviation and Falcon AeroLab member. Coming to stuff like this keeps me going. Just over 6% of pilots today are women, according to Federal Aviation Administration data compiled by aviation training provider Pilot Institute. Though still low, that percentage more than doubles to 15% among student pilots. Thats a promising sign, Falcon AeroLab founder Mark Hyatt said, because studies have shown women pilots see slightly fewer fatalities under their lead. Women first flew in the military in 1943 under a civilian women pilots organization known as WASPS, or Womens Airforce Service Pilots. A lack of capable men necessitated their aerial support during World War II, but that right to serve was quickly revoked following the wars conclusion. Another 35 years would pass before women would again be allowed to serve their country by air, though not in combat. Connie Engel, one of Falcon AeroLabs special guests, was commander of the first undergraduate pilot training class in Air Force history to include women. She graduated in 1977 at the top of her 50-person class. An Air Force instructor when Engel was a student, Hyatt remembers hearing the other men aim critiques at her gender. She paid little mind, however, approaching her work with positivity in the face of a pervading and misguided mentality that women werent cut out for flying. Ones attitude toward self is important, especially among fledgling pilots, Engel said. There were 22,000 men. Never had a woman been flying since the WASPS, and so most of the guys were just chuckling and laughing about the fact that these women were going to go do this, Engel said. Youre not responsible for what people think about you. Youre not responsible for what they say about you. Youre only responsible for how you respond. She retired as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserves. Today, Engel flies corporate jets and is the mother of three daughters, all pilots. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Engels work inspired young Caroline Jensen, who would later become the first mom and third woman to ever pilot a Thunderbird. Jensen dreamed of flying in combat ever since she was 12. The U.S. secretary of defense issued an order allowing women to do so in 1993 during her senior year of high school. Barbie released a Thunderbird doll that year in honor of the historic announcement, but 13 years would pass before Nicole Malachowski, another of AeroLabs guests, would become the first woman to join the Thunderbird team. As Jensen would learn, progress for women pilots took time even after barriers were lifted. Its been 30 years thats a long time, right? since women have been allowed to fly in combat, and we still have relatively low numbers, Jensen said. They say representation matters, and if you can see somebody that you identify with doing a role, then that can open up your aperture for other jobs that you can do. Among the crop of student attendees were two children of AeroLabs operation manager, Sara Hurley. Her oldest daughter was one of Falcon AeroLabs first 14 students when it began six years ago. The program has since expanded to more than 800 students across three states. Falcon AeroLab lit an unexpected passion for flight in her daughter by providing hands-on experience in a variety of aircraft, Hurley said. As a school leader, I worry that K-12 education is too much about teaching to the test and getting results, so my job is to come alongside the primary educator in that childs life and really create passion and inspiration and help it to come alive, Hyatt said. Help these kids touch it, taste it, feel it and do it. Today, Hurleys 18-year-old daughter works as a flight instructor at Springs Aviation and assists student pilots through Falcon AeroLab. But as she learned to fly, female aviation role models and instructors were few and far between. Theres just something different about sitting across from another woman whos doing the same thing, Hurley said. It gives me goosebumps. Jensen, Engel and the four other pilots in attendance say its important for young women to find mentors. I was the first sometimes. I was the only a lot of times, Jensen said. But I want to make sure that Im not the last. Colorados judiciary is in many ways a mystery to the public it serves. That became clear once again this week in The Gazettes latest expose of the judicial systems foibles. The deep dive by our investigative news team reminded us how little voters have to go on when deciding each Election Day whether to keep judges on the bench. In particular, as The Gazettes report revealed, the public is given no insight into how often court cases are overturned on appeal due to a mistake by one of the states many trial judges. Colorados 22 judicial district performance commissions, which are supposed to evaluate judges for the publics benefit, fall short in various ways. It would help if the commissions at least tracked and disclosed how often a judges cases are reversed, and why. That could give voters a glimpse at a judges basic competence, or lack thereof. Indeed, after an extensive review of court records, The Gazettes investigative team found dozens of judges, many still in office, have been reversed so frequently for errors it stuns legal experts. All of which raises broader questions about the way the states judges are reviewed and rated for the publics benefit. It also raises questions about how judges are chosen in the first place. Colorados judges arent elected; theyre appointed by the governor from lists of nominees compiled well outside the limelight by judicial nominating commissions. Judges do have to face periodic judicial-retention elections, and they can be voted out. But that rarely happens. The roundabout way in which judges are chosen, along with the fact there is so little useful information about their performance disseminated publicly once theyre on the job, almost ensure voters will remain in the dark. It means not only judges competence but also their judicial philosophy and political tilt are largely unknown. All of which helps explain why so few judges are ousted in retention elections. Most voters never even have heard of them much less know anything about them. Sign up for free: Gazette Opinion Receive updates from our editorial staff, guest columnists, and letters from Gazette readers. Sent to your inbox 12:00 PM. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Gazette columnist and former 18th Judicial District Attorney George Brauchler recently summed up the information void like this: The periodic performance reviews can be found at JudicialPerformance.Colorado.gov. The good folks who generate them put a great deal of effort and good faith into producing them. Respectfully, their existence is largely unknown to the public and their content is less than illuminating. Beyond meets standards, the two paragraphs touching upon performance reveal little. To say the least, the review process for judges needs to be retooled and significantly enhanced to provide voters meaningful information. Alongside that, its worth asking whether Colorado should explore other methods for picking its judges to begin with. There are in fact many different approaches to selecting judges among U.S. states, and like the states themselves, those approaches are all over the map. Many states elect their judges while others appoint them, and there are plenty of variations of each. The long-standing defense of Colorados system of appointing judges is that it somehow prevents the judiciary from being politicized. Whatever the merit of that abstract argument, the current system also seems to deprive voters of helpful information they might pick up if prospective judges first had to court them on the campaign trail. Imagine the impact of judicial candidates websites, public debates, Q&As with the media and so forth. And for those concerned about turning judgeships into partisan affairs, its worth noting that a number of states that elect their judges like Washington, Oregon, Minnesota and Wisconsin do so through nonpartisan races. (Closer to home, neighboring New Mexico elects judges in partisan elections and Utah, whose governor appoints judges, runs those appointments by the states senate for its consent.) The retention elections our states voters currently must wade through are nearly meaningless exercises. We know next to nothing about those who mete out justice to the rest of us. Colorado can do better. Point: Lisa LaBriola In November, Colorado voters passed Proposition 122, the Natural Medicine Health Act, which allows for regulated medical access to natural psychedelic medicines for adults 21 and older. Psilocybin (what many Coloradans might think of as mushrooms) in particular has shown real promise in its ability to treat serious mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and addiction. Throughout the campaign, Colorado veterans from across the state spoke about the benefits for treating PTSD, with many saying access to these medicines saved their lives. But now that Proposition 122 has passed, much of the attention has moved to what comes next. How will the state implement this new regulated medical model, and how will it navigate decriminalization of natural psychedelic medicines? It should not start with recriminalization of natural medicines. I understand lawmakers urge to create some limitations around decriminalization of personal use, including limitations on how much a person can carry and how much can be cultivated. But this measure does not allow for sales, and there will not be any dispensaries or any way for people to buy psychedelics for take-home use. As usual, I believe the issue requires more understanding and nuance. I, for one, hope any new criminal penalties are thought through carefully and in conjunction with Colorado veterans, stakeholders and advocates. Its not surprising Colorado voters chose to decriminalize the use of natural psychedelic medicines as they have other substances. The war on drugs has been a failure. The resulting mass incarceration crowded our prison systems, disproportionately targeted people of color and destroyed communities and families. Lawmakers and voters alike are now faced with unwinding these dated and devastating policies and dealing with the lingering effects all while navigating the spiraling drug crisis these backward policies created. Its essential to not let crime politics interfere with good policy, especially when it comes to the responsible use of natural psychedelic medicines. Voters supported decriminalization because no one should be going to jail for trying to access mental health or medical care. Furthermore, many voted for new policies because they understand decriminalization is critical for protecting historic ceremonial and cultural uses. Colorado, like much of the nation, is facing a mental health crisis. Unlike other states, however, our state ranks last in access to mental health treatment. Proposition 122 is one important part of addressing this crisis. As legislators start to debate how Proposition 122 is implemented, they should be cautious about overturning the will of the voters and recriminalizing natural psychedelic medicines. Experts in the scientific and criminal justice community are rightfully calling for a new approach that prioritizes healing over jail time. Any legislation that would create more barriers to healing should be weighed carefully with the will of the voters, our mental health crisis and the needs of veterans and other patients. Counterpoint: Sage Naumann Colorados determination to be on the leading edge of legalizing things is laudable. As much as I would have preferred to have a mixed cocktail delivered to my home, I suppose a good trip with magic mushrooms will have to suffice. Sign up for free: Gazette Opinion Receive updates from our editorial staff, guest columnists, and letters from Gazette readers. Sent to your inbox 12:00 PM. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Proposition 122, passed in 2022 by more than 53% of Coloradans, decriminalized the possession and sharing of psilocybin and psilocin, among other psychedelics. It did not, however, allow for the sale of these substances. Humor aside, there is promising evidence these natural remedies might prove helpful in treating anxiety, depression and even PTSD. Our state and our nation are in the middle of a mental health crisis. The suicide rate is rising once again. Perhaps its wise for us to leave no stone unturned. As legislators discuss whether to introduce legislation that sets guardrails on the proposition, proponents of the original ballot measure are crying foul, claiming any modification violates the peoples will. They believe any restrictions on the amount a person can possess would conflict with the spirit of the measure. Respectfully, I disagree. Its important to distinguish between a statutory change (a change in state law) and a constitutional amendment (a change to the Constitution of the state of Colorado). Effectively, modifications to state law are no different than the hundreds of bills passed by the General Assembly every year, except they are initiated by the people instead of lawmakers. As such, lawmakers have not just the ability but the right to modify said law. A constitutional amendment, however, would have prevented changes unless it went before a vote of the people. Proposition 122 was a statutory change, not a constitutional amendment. Youd probably have a difficult time finding any substantial ballot proposition that wasnt followed by a cleanup bill or modifications soon after its passage, addressing a variety of unintended consequences and mistakes that werent considered or caught beforehand. Lawmakers are not proposing to recriminalize possession of these hallucinogenic plants, and rightfully so. Instead, they seem to be taking a careful, informed approach to properly implementing a new law no other state (except Oregon) has on its books. Lawmakers are right to ask law enforcement, municipalities, counties and other stakeholders about potential tweaks to assist in a smooth rollout. Perhaps a reasonable limitation should be placed on exactly how much of these substances one can possess, or perhaps cities and counties should have the ability to decide whether supervised administration sites are right for them. Im not here to provide these answers but to instead mount a defense of the right of legislators to search for them. If legislators overstep, I have good news: they are elected officials. If voters believe their representative or senator violates the will of the people and the spirit of Proposition 122, they have every right to boot em from the Golden Dome. As we wait for their action, I hope Coloradans enjoy their newfound freedom responsibly and pray that those seeking alternative treatment find the peace they seek. Lisa LaBriola is a principal at Husch Blackwell Strategies and was a Senate Democrat staffer for close to a decade. Opinions expressed here are her own and do not reflect the opinions of any other organizations. Sage Naumann is a conservative commentator and strategist. He is vice president of communications at 76 Group and was previously the spokesman for the Colorado Senate Republicans. All opinions expressed here are Sages own. The Colorado House on Thursday gave final approval to the $38.5 billion bill that will fund state government beginning July 1. Senate Bill 214 won a bipartisan 47-16 vote from the House, with two Republican adding their "yes" votes. It now heads back to the Joint Budget Committee, which as a conference committee will come up with a resolution of the differences between the two chambers. The state Senate added $85.5 million, almost all in general fund spending, to the budget when it was in that chamber last week. The House restored most of the changes made by the Senate and in the end added more than $105 million in general fund spending. The budget is required by the state constitution to be balanced, and with those additions it is at least temporarily out of balance, and that is the task ahead of the Joint Budget Committee, the six-member bipartisan panel that crafted the budget over the past five months. All eyes were on House GOP members Thursday, and whether they would stick to a deal they made on Tuesday after weeks of delays and obstruction. Republicans, on multiple occasions, requested bills be read at length, and the prospect of that request on a 622-page bill, and one that could have been made twice, weighed on lawmakers in the House who have had only one day off in the last three weeks. Democrats, in response to those multiple delays, brought down a House rule that has not been invoked in at least 25 years: Rule 14, which upon a majority vote limits debate on bills to an hour each. That rule was invoked six times over gun bills and measures dealing with reproductive rights during the past two weeks. House Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge, made it clear on Monday: Ask for a reading of the long bill at length, and the House will be working on Good Friday and through Easter weekend. Republicans caucused twice on Tuesday, once prior to the beginning of debate on the Long Bill and once after the 73 amendments had been decided. In the first caucus, Minority Leader Mike Lynch, R-Wellington, asked his members if they intended to ask for the bill to be read at length. All but five said they would not. That left concerns that some members, most of them on the far right of the caucus, were considering it. In the later caucus, Lynch announced the deal, but with a warning. "We have pushed [the Democratic leaders] as far as we can push them," he said. "I've seen the look on those two ladies' faces before, and it's not a place I want to revisit ... They're done negotiating with us, so we need to walk out of here with what we can, as Republicans, stand behind, and that's not reading the bill at length." The deal was that the GOP wouldn't ask, would get seven priority amendments added to the budget, and everyone would go home to spend the Easter weekend with families and in church for those who celebrate the holiday. The carrot, or stick, worked. While GOP members spoke at length about the budget prior to its final vote, the bill passed without drama Thursday. It did, however, come with a moment of humor, when Lynch, as the last to speak from his caucus, went to the microphone. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. "This is what we're supposed to do here, this is the hard work," he began. He spoke admiringly of the long hours spent by the Joint Budget Committee, and that the caucuses had put the best and brightest on the committee, a nod to the fact that the JBC has five new members out of six. To the Democrats, Lynch said: "Thank you for letting us be heard, with some concessions we got, and some of our voice being heard on this. That doesn't go unnoticed. We need more of that, more working together and more seeing each others viewpoints." With that in mind, he said: "It's a complex document. Madame speaker, I would respectfully ask that we read..." with a pregnant pause that had some holding their breaths. He continued: "that we read the Constitution this weekend and have a long weekend," which drew relieved laughs from throughout the chamber. Speaker of the House Julie MccCuskie joked her heart beat way too fast. The little plastic pigs that GOP lawmakers have on their desks gently squealed during the final vote. And then the House adjourned for the three-day weekend. The $38.5 billion 2023-24 budget is $1.2 billion more and an 8.9% increase over the current year budget. General fund spending, which comes from individual and corporate income taxes and sales taxes, and represents the most fungible part of the budget, is at $14.7 billion. The rest comes from cash funds required to cover specific purposes college tuition is the largest share of that and federal dollars. The largest portion of the budget increase is for the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, about $822 million, to handle the expiration of the enhanced federal Medicaid match tied to COVID-19. During COVID, the federal government increased the Medicaid match to states from 50/50 to 60/40. The state wasn't allowed to disenroll people during the federal government's declared public health emergency, but that declaration is expected to end next month. That means the match goes back to 50/50. It also means the state will have to start looking at its Medicaid rolls as anniversary dates for those additional enrollments come along. The budget sets aside a total of $469 million in general fund dollars for one-time investments to address workforce-related needs, housing affordability demands, economic development initiatives and wildfire mitigation and response resources. It maintains a 15% ($2.3 billion) general fund reserve to bolster state services and operations in the event of an economic downturn, and designates $543 million in cash assets for the State Emergency Reserve to help Colorado respond to disasters like wildfires and floods. While the budget adds $900 per student for K-12 public school funding, the biggest discussion around K-12 will take place when the School Finance Act is introduced in the coming weeks. That measure will take money from the State Education Fund, which has a $1 billion pot, to pay down the budget stabilization factor, currently at $321.2 million. That's the longstanding debt to K-12 that began during the Great Recession. Gov. Jared Polis has pledged to pay it off within the next two years. All six members of the Joint Budget Committee voted in favor of the budget, the first time all six have done so since 2018. Between 2019 and 2022, the House GOP representative to the budget panel, Rep. Kim Ransom of Littleton, never voted in favor of the document despite being part of the group that wrote it, in part because she said the budget reflected only Democratic priorities. Once both chambers agree on the final version, which should happen by mid-April, the budget bill and about 30 additional measures intended to help balance the budget head to the governor, who will have 10 days to sign or veto it. The budget bill is the only legislation where the governor has the authority to veto line items, although that hasn't happened in at least 25 years. Governors, however, do veto headnotes and footnotes, which are directives, usually on spending priorities from the legislature, to state agencies. While governors have in the past vetoed those directives as violations of the separation of powers, they usually tell the state agencies to comply nonetheless. When a cook at Marie Evenson's job repeatedly grabbed her around the waist, she reported him to a manager. One week later, she was fired for not "fitting in" to the workplace environment. Evenson met with a lawyer to discuss her legal options, but was told she didn't have a case. Evenson said her lawyer claimed her experience didn't meet the state's "severe or pervasive" standard to qualify as unlawful harassment, meaning the behavior was not bad or frequent enough. Because of this, when Evenson managed a catering office a few years later, she ignored the owner's constant inappropriate comments. And when the owner one day ran his hand up Evenson's inner thigh, she quit the job, but didn't bother pursuing legal action. "I already knew Colorado's laws were weak," Evenson said. "People who had far more awful things happen than me such as routine threats of rape, questions about their sexual experiences, constant barrages of sexually explicit comments they hadn't been able to bring cases." Evenson shared her story in written testimony on Senate Bill 172, which seeks to lower the threshold for workplace harassment in Colorado. If made law, the bill would update the state's definition of harassment and specify that harassment does not need to be severe or pervasive to constitute a discriminatory or unfair practice. The bill would also add marital status as a protected class, dis-incentivize the use of unlawful non-disclosure agreements, and prohibit employers from refusing to accommodate employees if they have a disability that "has a significant impact on the job." The bill passed its first vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Lawmakers voted 3-2 along party lines, advancing the bill to the Senate Appropriations Committee, with Democrats in support and Republicans in opposition. "We're working to change the culture," said bill sponsor Sen. Faith Winter, D-Westminster. No Coloradan should face harassment or discrimination at the workplace, yet our state still lacks adequate policies to protect our workers and hold bad actors accountable." The bill's advancement came in spite of strong pushback from the business industry. Nearly three dozen organizations registered against the bill, including the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Municipal League, Colorado Retail Council, Economic Development Council of Colorado, and the governments or chambers of commerce of Denver metro, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Westminster, Adams County, Douglas County and El Paso County. Loren Furman, CEO of the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, said she "strongly discourages" any harassment in the workplace, but believes the bill would result in "frivolous claims and expensive lawsuits." First of two bills in Jared Polis' housing package wins committee approval Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Brooke Colaizzi, a lawyer representing the chamber, said removing the "severe or pervasive" requirement would make the standard for harassment too low for employers to take preemptive and corrective action. "We must avoid a standard where an employer can be dragged into court for a single offensive comment," Colaizzi said. "The reason for that standard is that employers must have an opportunity to identify and to fix harassment. Otherwise, they're being held liable for something that they can't control. The 'severe or pervasive' creates that threshold." Colaizzi also raised concerns about a provision of the bill that requires employers to keep a record of all oral or written complaints brought to them in order for the employer to assert an affirmative defense to harassment claims. Colaizzi said this would create "endless mini trials" disputing over whether or not the employer's records were accurate. While Wednesday's hearing featured testimony from numerous business leaders lamenting potential litigation as a result of the bill, more people testified about experiencing workplace harassment or representing clients who, they said, were unable to get legal justice after suffering discrimination for their gender, race or disability. Around 38% of women have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, NPR reported. In 2021, a Gallup poll found that one in four Black and Hispanic workers in the U.S. had been discriminated against at work in the past year. Proponents of the bill said removing the "severe or pervasive" standard would inspire more victims of harassment to seek legal action and eliminate the notion that employees should tolerate some level of harassment at work. It would also address current law being inconsistently enforced by judges making different rulings about what constitutes "severe or pervasive," they said. Iris Halpern, a lawyer representing the Colorado Women's Bar Association, said the bill would not change the fact that employers have to be proven liable for negligence in court for harassment cases. Halpern also said the reporting requirements align with federal regulations from Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. "In order to change the culture, there does need to be accountability," Halpern said. Nineteen organizations are backing the bill, including the Colorado Women's Bar Association, ACLU of Colorado, Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, Coloradans For Legal Freedom, Colorado Plaintiff Employment Lawyers Association and Disability Law Colorado. The federal severe or pervasive standard for unlawful harassment was established by the U.S. Supreme Court more than three decades ago. Some sates have eliminated the "severe or pervasive" threshold, including New York, California and Maryland. This is the second time Colorado lawmakers have tried to pass this bill, nicknamed the "Protecting Opportunities and Workers' Rights Act." The last effort, Senate Bill 21-176, passed the Senate in 2021 but was killed by the House Judiciary Committee. Colorado Supreme Court ponders whether domestic violence treatment is 'punishment' The El Paso County Planning Commission on Thursday denied a preliminary sketch plan proposing 450 new homes south of Black Forest, after neighbors voiced concern about density and perceived threats to their rural lifestyle, local wildlife and a strained water supply. The planning commission voted 5-3 not to recommend developer Classic Homes Jaynes Property sketch plan, which details land designation for the single-family residential lots, commercial use and open space on a total of 142 acres southwest of the intersection of Poco and Vollmer roads, to the El Paso County Board of Commissioners. The development would feature mixed residential lot sizes serving as a buffer in density transition between the 5-acre and 2.5-acre rural residential plots to the north and west and roughly 5,000 approved units in the Sterling Ranch subdivision to the east, said Andrea Barlow of N.E.S. Inc., representing Classic Homes. But commission members voting against the sketch said their main concern was that the proposed density was not enough in character with the low-density plots to the north and west. The sketch will go before the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners during its regular meeting March 21, and if the board concurs with the planning commission, Classic Homes must return with a revised sketch or nix the proposal. Certainly this (land) will be developed, commission member Becky Fuller said. But the neighbors with the larger lots, they need to be cared for. Barlow said the developer held a neighborhood meeting in October to seek compromise with residents concerns and ultimately revised its original sketch to include a buffer zone of 1-acre and half-acre lots, as well as setbacks up to 85 feet along the northern and western boundaries to protect the openness of that view towards the mountains. The original sketch proposed 1-3 units per acre along the boundary, she said. Classic Homes did not feel like it could compromise with residents on increasing acreage to 5-acre lots in those areas, Barlow said. Our opinion is that that isnt a transition thats an exact replica of (the rural residential lots), she said. We would have preferred our original plan, but this is something that provides that transition and addresses some of the neighbors concerns. The development would mostly consist of 2-5 units per acre and 5-12 units per acre further within the development, project documents show. It also increased neighborhood park space from a total of 3.5 to roughly 8 acres to incorporate possible raptor nesting, Barlow said. Primary access to the development would be via the extension of Briargate Parkway, a four-lane, east-west artery generally connecting the Briargate area to Falcon, and two other points of access from Vollmer Road in order to protect the rural integrity of Poco Road, she said. The 450 units would generate approximately 4,200 estimated daily trips in the area. Several residents, backed by dozens of opposition letters sent to the county since August, told planning commissioners the development threatens wildlife, including a well-known herd of pronghorn, and tight-knit rural lifestyles and activities with potentially increased crime and busy traffic. My wife and I worked and saved all our life to be able to buy this home, said Raul Reyes, who lives on a 5-acre plot on Poco Road. Were not just people that live on a street. We all know each other, our children, our grandchildren, our animals. Gary Beierle said he has lived on Poco Road for nearly 45 years and fears the development would destroy the ponderosa pine-laden bluff on the Jaynes Property that blocks out light from Colorado Springs and potential noise from the Briargate Parkway extension. He believed the county has an obligation to protect unique natural features like the bluff. We all understand the (parkway extension) is going to happen, Beierle said. We need to protect adjacent and nearby rural parcels so we can enjoy the rural neighborhood and lifestyle weve come to expect after decades of living here. Barlow said surveys by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Colorado Parks and Wildlife Department found that the developments impact on wildlife habitat would be negligible and caused no concern for endangered species. She also noted that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers concluded that ponds in the area did not fall under protectable categories. Nobody has identified (the land) as a significant natural feature, she said. She also argued that the development abided by requirements outlined in the countys Master Plan, a document that establishes a vision for accommodating mass growth that could swell the countys population by another 250,000 by 2050. The area is changing, its evolving, Barlow said. It is not a requirement for anybody to rezone their property or develop it, but its an opportunity for people to meet the growing needs of the population of El Paso County. Commission members voting in favor of the sketch said they believe it conforms with the Master Plan and that their job is to determine if proposals follow review criteria. Associate member Christopher Whitney said that while he believes development is inevitable and necessary, it must be thoroughly scrutinized in its early stages. Down the road, if somebody holds (the sketch approval) up and says, You approved this, youre stuck with it, Whitney said. I worry that an approval gets us started down a road we cant back up on if we decide wed like to change our minds when the particulars are available. Contact the writer: brooke.nevins@gazette.com Penny Gilbertson and other North Iowans who, like her, live with mental and developmental disabilities or traumatic brain injuries, have plenty of reason to smile now that Crest Services has expanded to North Iowa. Gilbertson is thriving as the first of two members in the first Mason City care home administered by Crest, which opened in March. She and her roommate receive 24-hour care from a team of direct-support professionals. Crest Services is a Des Moines-based nonprofit care organization, founded in 1974 and affiliated with American Baptist Homes of the Midwest, and provides access to supportive services to the individual specific needs of their residents and members to enable them to achieve their greatest potential, whether they require 24-hour support in a waiver home or hourly support in independent living situations. The Mason City Chamber of Commerce held a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday to welcome Crest Services to the community, and to their new offices located on the second floor of the North Iowa Regional Commerce Center, located at 9 N Federal Avenue in Mason City. With the opening of its Mason City office, Crest Services now boasts seven locations to serve residents of Cedar Rapids, Chariton, Des Moines, Harlan, and Ottumwa, Iowa, as well as Albert Lea, Minn. Crest currently employs 300, but said that dozens of new jobs, including leadership roles, are now available in Mason City due to the expansion into northern Iowa. Were looking to open a second home in Plymouth in May, with four residents, and were looking at opening our third home in July, which will have three residents, said Kyle Dykstra, a supervisor with Crest. Homes will typically house four residents, but that depends completely on the individuals and how they interact. If an individual is overstimulated in more of a group setting and they need more one-on-one contact, [we'll] take care of them the best way we can, said Dykstra, who had the honor of cutting the ribbon, with Gilbertson by his side. Crest Services also supports those whose disability requires frequent care, but wish to maintain their independence by continuing to live in their own homes. We are excited to bring our services to the deserving individuals in Mason City and surrounding communities. Our support services will empower more Iowans to live their most independent and fulfilling lives. We look forward to developing additional partnerships and expanding our service coverage throughout northern Iowa, said Director of Crest Services Bob Swigert. We are really excited to see this organization move into the North Iowa area, said Mason City Chamber President and CEO Colleen Frein, who, along with the Chamber ambassadors, welcomed the organization to the area at the ceremony. The people that (Crest) serves are very much in need, so as much service as we are able as a community provide for them, the better. Two brothers are facing charges in a Wednesday night shooting in the parking lot of Buffalo Wild Wings that injured a Danville man, police report On Thursday, police arrested 26-year-old Raeshaun Tyreick Fitzgerald on a charge of assault and battery. Authorities announced Friday morning they were searching for Ramon Nicoe Fitzgerald, 22, who was wanted on a charge of malicious wounding in the incident. Danville Police Department spokesperson Matt Bell confirmed Friday afternoon to the Register & Bee that the suspects are brothers. After seeking help from the public to find the wanted suspect, Ramon Fitzgerald surrendered to authorities, police said Friday afternoon. It was about 11:20 p.m. Wednesday when police were called to the eatery off of Riverside Drive to find a Danville man in the parking lot suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Police said the victim was involved in an altercation on the patio and was shot in the parking lot of Buffalo Wild Wings. The man suffered severe injuries and was being treated Thursday. Bell said he didnt have an update on the victims condition when asked Friday. This was an isolated incident, and at this time there is no threat to public safety, police wrote in a news release Thursday. Anyone who has information about Wednesdays shooting is asked to contact the Danville Police Department by calling patrol at 434-799-6510 option 4; investigations at 434-799-6508 option 1, and option 1 again; 911; or Crime Stoppers at 434-793-0000. In addition, residents may approach any officer they see, use social media, email crimetips@danvilleva.gov, or use the crime tips app CARE. A social media post ultimately determined to be about five years old with no local connection prompted extra security at Chatham High School on Thursday. A parent got in touch with a school resource officer Thursday morning after being alerted by his or her school-aged child of a possible threat to school safety, Pittsylvania County Sheriff Mike Taylor reported in a news release. The message in question read dont take the risk dont go to school tomorrow. [Expletive] CHS Im going out with a bang. Dont go to school tomorrow. The message had a gun in the background. Since CHS is the acronym for Chatham High School, law enforcement first believed the local school was the intended target of the threat. Law enforcement responded to Chatham High School and the administration of the school division was immediately notified, Taylor wrote in the release. Investigators with the sheriffs office discovered after arriving at the school a similar post was made in 2018. National news outlets reported that Snapchat post originated in New Mexico. However, law enforcement still continued a beefed-up presence on the campus throughout the day. Efforts are being made with local, state, and federal law enforcement to identify the source of the post, Taylor said. If identified, criminal charges will be presented to our Commonwealth Attorneys Office. Taylor said he was thankful for the student who reported the possible threat. Cone Health is stating clearly and boldly its opposition to Atrium Healths plans for a northern Greensboro community hospital, citing concerns about duplicative services and claims of more expense health-care services. High Point Regional Health System, an affiliate of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, filed in February a certificate-of-need application with the N.C. Division of Health Service Regulation. Baptists proposal is to relocate 36 acute care beds and two operating rooms from High Point Medical Center to a planned $246.5 million Greensboro Medical Center. Cone stated its opposition in full-page ads in the Winston-Salem Journal and News & Record. It asked the N.C. Division of Health Service Regulation to deny Baptists application. Overlapping services and facilities concentrated in certain pockets of our communities only amplify already pronounced health care disparities, Cone said in the ad. Charlotte-based Atrium issued a statement through the Baptist affiliate in which it said its proposed Greensboro hospital would ensure our patients have access to the highest quality care close to home. We have an established base of patients with our primary and specialty care clinics and urgent cares in Greensboro. We are now proposing to better serve them with a new, 36-bed hospital complete with two operating rooms and an emergency department, among other amenities. Sen. Gladys Robinson, D-Guilford, said she has met with Cone officials about the proposed Greensboro hospital by Baptist. Some of our delegation have signed a letter opposing this move on the basis that it takes beds from High Point where they are needed, and moves them from a low-income area to a wealthy area, Robinson said. It seems to be about money only. The process Baptist has projected getting a CON application decision by Sept. 1 and if approved construction commencing by December 2024. The goal is opening by July 2026. However, Cones opposition is likely to cause delays to those projections. A public hearing is set for 1 p.m. April 18 in Greensboro Public Librarys Benjamin branch, 1530 Benjamin Parkway. Baptist said the proposed campus at 2909 Horse Pen Creek Road would provide more health-care services for city residents and surrounding counties. Cone, meanwhile, opened in May 2022 a 160,000-square-foot MedCenter Greensboro facility at 3518 Drawbridge Parkway thats just 2.1 miles away from the proposed Greensboro Medical Center site. The $97 million Cone facility includes an emergency department, ambulatory care center, imaging, physical therapy, cardiology, wellness programs and 13 overall services. It houses a Sagewell Fitness center, swimming pool and teaching kitchen. Atrium is attempting to fill what it considers as pivotal health-care market gaps internally and within the Triad with the Greensboro hospital proposal. Its clear from the application that Atrium desires a hospital presence in the states third-largest city, which also is the largest city without two competing hospitals. Atrium also wants to become the first health-care system to operate a hospital in the Triads three largest cities. Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan said in February she looked forward to learning more about the proposal and why the Horse Pen Creek location was chosen. Last year, Cone Health opened a new integrated health-care facility less than two miles away, she said. We have a need for health care in underserved areas of our city. We welcome more health care providers especially in areas where they can really have an impact. Cone CEO response Cone chief executive Mary Jo Cagle said in a statement that the proposed Atrium Greensboro hospital is bad for Greensboro, bad for High Point and bad for any attempt to keep the lid on health care costs. Cagle cited as an example comparing simple visits to the emergency department for example. $160 at Moses Cone Hospital vs $518 at High Point Medical Center. Cagle said the Atrium Greensboro hospital would be designed to send anyone needing more than basic care will be sent to Winston-Salem and to higher academic medical center prices. She suggested that Atrium and Baptist spend some of the proposed $256 million on modernizing High Point Medical Center and adding new services there. Cone Health does not shy from competition, Cagle said. But, lets be truthful about Atriums intentions. They are entering a market not investing in a community. And everyone will pay for it. More competition Baptist said in the CON application that opening Greensboro Medical Center would be complementary and supplementary to Moses Cone. Approval of Greensboro Medical Center will enable Greensboro to match the other top five North Carolina cities in hosting multiple hospital systems and having local hospital competition, which will be a benefit to local residents, according to the Baptist application. In the Baptist statement, Atrium stressed that services at High Point Medical Center will not be impacted by the transfer of the 36 beds and two operating rooms. Baptist cited recent infrastructure and equipment investments in the High Point hospital that include opening a high-risk obstetrics clinics, enhancing its intensive care units and advanced technologies, including robotic surgical techniques. CON purpose The purpose of the states controversial CON laws is to limit or prevent duplication of medical services within a community. The laws also serve as a disincentive to for-profit health-care providers to open facilities. Cone indicated its willingness to support additional health-care services in Greensboro as long as it is not located in the 27410 ZIP code. Cone claimed that while competition often results in more favorable pricing, it is not necessarily the case here. Publicly available data shows that Cone Health typically provides similar services at less cost than Atrium Health, across all services and all insurance types. Cone also cited that if the CON application is approved, High Point residents would be affected by the shift of the 36 hospital beds and two operating rooms. Cone said the transfer would increase the likelihood that High Point patients will be transferred to Winston-Salem for advanced care. Cone summed up the ad by saying denial is not a word or action we take lightly. In fact, it goes against the very fabric of what Cone Health stands for. But, in this care, rejection can pave the way for greater acceptance. Replanting flag Atrium would be able to replant a strategic flag as it grows comfortable in its affiliation with Advocate Health, the nations fifth-largest health-care system. This time, the Atrium brand would be front and center in Greensboro. In June 2012, Atrium (then branded as Carolinas HealthCare System) entered into a 10-year management contract with Cone in which it gleaned valuable operational insight into the Greensboro and Guilford County marketplaces. That contract ended in February 2020 by mutual consent as Atrium was negotiating with Wake Forest Baptist to expand its collaboration beyond a November 2019 agreement. That agreement proved to be the catalyst that led to Atrium acquiring all of Baptist in October 2020. Keith Debbage, a joint professor of Geography & Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality at UNC Greensboro, said that a health-care market that offers choice may well translate to health-care services that offer more competitive, affordable prices. Debbage cautioned that Cone is never going to take any incursion into their home base lightly. The hope is better choice and more affordable prices but not before, potentially, a protracted regulatory and legal battle, which may delay the provision of improved health services. Triad hospital competition Cones official opposition to the Baptist Greensboro hospital proposal stirs memories of the intense competition between Baptist and Novant Health Inc. about opening similarly sized community hospitals in Bermuda Run and Clemmons, respectively. The major difference between the Baptist-Novant dispute and Atrium-Cone dispute is that Atrium has the CON review gauntlet to undertake with Cones facility in northern Greensboro already established. In December 2009, the health-care systems dropped their opposition to each others plans for $100 million hospitals, ending an often-heated 27-month dispute. The Bermuda Run and Clemmons hospitals are about four miles apart. Each has been focused on providing outpatient surgical procedures to free up space on their main Winston-Salem campus. Both hospitals gained state CON approval in 2008, only to both appeal the decision favoring their rival, with Novant ending its pursuit in March 2009 and Baptist dropping its appeal as part of the settlement. There were times when emotions ran high and some people thought litigation would be the only way to get to the finish line, said Greg Beier, then-president of acute-care services for Novant. But the realities of legal expenses of more than $1 million a year, and the prospects of seven to 10 years of litigation and appeals, persuaded the systems to reach a compromise. Donny Lambeth, then-president of Wake Forest Baptist Hospital, said its officials eventually determined that there was a slim chance of its appeal of the Clemmons hospital being approved. As we started the steps of litigation, we realized we were wasting resources that could be used to focus on the health-care needs of the communities, Beier said. The systems did not offer inpatient bed services until 2017. Responses Tony Plath, a retired finance professor at UNC-Charlotte, said Atriums plan for the Greensboro community hospital is a natural progression given its acquisition of Baptist. How can Atrium maintain and advance its market leadership position without maintaining a major branded industry presence in Greensboro, which is the largest urban market in the Triad area? Plath asked. Answer: It cant. To do otherwise would be like Bank of America having no branches in Greensboro, and simply ceding a growing, profitable and lucrative market to Wells Fargo, which is just preposterous. Atrium simply cant leave the Greensboro market unchallenged for Cone to claim. Lambeth, now a Republican state House member from Forsyth County, said the Atrium proposal is sparking a classic turf war for market share between two large systems. The area being targeted is a very lucrative area, and Atrium could gain new market share in that area that has historically defaulted to Cone. This seems to be the first major attempt by Atrium to flex their muscle as a mega health system with an interest in growing within North Carolina. These fights never end well, as this fight could go on for years, Lambeth said. Zagros Madjd-Sadjadi, an economics professor at Winston-Salem State University, said Cone could opt to counter Atriums incursion into northern Greensboro by expanding Cones presence in High Point. If this is a problem (transferring 36 hospital beds) for the citizens of High Point, why doesnt Cone suggest that they should expand their own High Point presence to make up for this deficit? Madjd-Sadjadi asked. Of course, it is unclear whether these beds are needed in High Point since if they are being used by Greensboro residents, moving them to Greensboro may be a superior strategy than keeping them in High Point. Madjd-Sajdadi said that Cones biggest argument seems to be that Atrium costs more than Cone. But, that would suggest that Atrium needs to lower its costs to compete with Cone, so why would Cone be worried if they are already the lower-cost provider? Piedmont Triad International Airport is in contention for a 240-job, $50 million maintenance facility by U.K. aerospace manufacturer Marshall Aerospace USA LLC, according to a legal notice posted Friday by the Guilford County Board of Commissioners. The commissioners will hold a public hearing on an economic-incentive package at 5:30 p.m. April 20 in their meeting room at 301 W. Market St. in Greensboro. The commissioners would offer up to $308,879 in incentives, plus a $124,000 local matching fund utility grant. In exchange, Marshall would pledge to create 240 full-time jobs. The legal notice indicates the Greensboro City Council is likely to offer an incentive package. A state Commerce Department incentive package also is likely from the Job Development Grant program given the legal notice says Marshall is considering other U.S. sites. According to the legal notice, the local approval of incentives does not commit the company to locate in North Carolina. However, the vast majority of companies tend to commit to a local project often within days or weeks of being approved for local and state incentives. Marshall could be immediately reached for comment on the project. PTI executive director Kevin Baker said Friday he cannot comment on any specific project or projects, per Piedmont Triad Airport Authority policies. I can say that we continue to prepare the airport to compete for all types of aerospace projects, and we actively pursue potential companies worldwide to be important employers at the airport and for our community, Baker said. Marshall background According to its website, Marshall Aerospace has operations in the U.K., Europe, Middle East, Canada and U.S. Its primary customers are Air Forces across the globe. The primary focus of the Marshall Aerospace business is the delivery of routine maintenance, modifications and repairs to the iconic Hercules C-130 transport aircraft that has been in service in some fashion since the early 1970s. The team has a hard-earned reputation as a global authority on the C-130 platform, boasting unrivaled engineering experience and expertise that makes it hard to beat, according to the company. Marshall Aerospace continues to cement its market-leading position, winning new customers and helping to keep their fleets relevant and ready for service. Marshall also operates Aerostructures, which specializes in the design and manufacture of auxiliary fuel systems and tanks that are used to extend multi-mission maritime aircraft flight range. We are incredibly proud of the work that we do to keep our customer aircraft mission ready enabling them to protect people in critical situations, according to a website statement from Neil McManus, the companys managing director. The company recently opened an Aerostructures plant in the U.K. The facility houses production of auxiliary fuels tanks for the P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, a military derivative of Boeings civilian next-generation 737-800. PTI presence PTI remains the states third largest airport overall and third for commercial service, at $9.3 billion in economic impact in 2021, according to an N.C. Aviation Division report released in January. That is up 7.6% from the 2019 report. However, PTI was overshadowed by the $31.77 billion impact at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport and $17 billion at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Included in that category for PTI would be the FedEx cargo-sorting hub, the HAECO maintenance facilities, the HondaJet manufacturing operations, and other companies with operations on its campus. HAECO Americas had as of March 2021 nearly 3,000 of the states 4,583 maintenance and repair workers. North Carolina ranks fifth in the nation in aerospace maintenance and repair employment HAECO also has operations in High Point and Wallburg. The Federal Aviation Administration defines general aviation as including all segments of the aviation industry except commercial air carriers and military. That can include: production and sale of general aviation aircraft, avionics and other equipment; support services, such as maintenance and repair, flight schools, such as training of new pilots and pilots interested in additional ratings or certification; sightseeing; movement of large heavy loads by helicopter; flying for personal or business/corporate reasons; and emergency medical services. The 2021 report determined there were 21,450 jobs connected directly or indirectly to PTI, down from 30,015 in the 2019 report. Baker said in January that the latest count is about 8,600 jobs directly connected to PTI. That number is expected to increase by at least 1,761 by the end of the decade from Boom Supersonics planned $500 million superfactory. What it could mean Its not surprising that Marshall is considering PTI for the maintenance facility given the burgeoning aerotropolis and advanced manufacturing already in the Triad, said John H. Boyd, a global site-selection expert with The Boyd Co. of Boca Raton, Fla. Even more so than pharma and biotech, the aerospace industry given its very demanding, precision skill sets in manufacturing and engineering tends to cluster when making location decisions, Boyd said. Booms recent groundbreaking at Piedmont Triad International Airport is already having downstream benefits in the form of UK-based Marshall Aerospace shortlisting the airport site for a new aircraft maintenance facility. Boyd said he is familiar with Marshall through his firms site-selection work with Boeing. Marshall is a top-notch, privately held player in aerospace field, Boyd said. The incentive package being offered by the state and local authorities is on point in a sector that will continue to expand in the Triad region. The aerospace industry is coming back very strong from the pandemic lull and is on an impressive trajectory. Boom is a terrific win for Greensboro but it is only part of the story here. Having HondaJet and HAECO as current tenants, and Boom Supersonic on its way, it is not surprising that PTI has begun to attract wide interest from a number of suitors, said Keith Debbage, a joint professor of Geography & Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality at UNCG. The patient acquisition of land near the airport suitable for new aviation and aerospace firms has also certainly helped our case. It is the result of a lot of careful planning and visioning by the major leaders of our region. Long may it continue, Debbage said. The President of the United States would be liable to be impeached, tried, and, upon conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes or misdemeanors, removed from office; and would afterwards be liable to prosecution and punishment in the ordinary course of law Federalist 69 It was inevitable. It always had the feel of Claude Raines, in the movie Casablanca, declaring his amazement that illegal gambling was going on as he simultaneously received his winnings. Did former president Donald Trumps chants of Lock Her Up! possess the heavy aftertaste of admission or was it a variation on Shakespeares Hamlet (Methinks the man doth protest too much)? But Trump was indicted by the Manhattan District Attorneys Office on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. News of Trumps indictment is sandwiched between those perplexed as to why were not already at the sentencing phase and those seeing this as a political witch hunt. This is a moment, however, for cautious circumspection, not pomposity. What impact might the indictment of a former president have on American democracy? Does it set a dangerous precedent, as some fear? Many questions are based on the unprecedented nature of it, along with the Pollyannaish vestiges some maintain for American democracy. The present moments democratic challenge was not lost on the founding generation, as the aforementioned passage from Federalist 69 attests. As Madison opined in Federalist 51, If men were angels no government would be necessary. Maybe we were too vested in childish notions such as American exceptionalism. Intoxicated by the vision of being that illusive shining city on a hill, convincing ourselves there was a line of malfeasance that would never be crossed by one entrusted as commander in chief; or do we simply accept Richard Nixons 1977 response to David Frost: When the president does it, that means that it is not illegal? Though unprecedented in the U.S., the notion of a head of state being indicted in a democratic country is not new. Frances Nicholas Sarkozy, Park Geun-hye in South Korea and Italys Silvio Berlusconi have all been indicted. Are we beholden to a particular type of vainglory convincing us we were somehow immune, as the current moment speaks loudly to the contrary? Might the short attention span that mars Americas current public discourse infect us with an acute sense of indictment fatigue? In addition to the Manhattan case, Trump is also facing possible indictments for election tampering in Georgia, federal RICO racketeering and possession of classified federal documents. Sympathy for Trump against future indictments might increase if the Manhattan case only achieves something tantamount to a slap on the wrist. As many ponder the impact the Trump indictment could have on American democracy, some have asked: Does it send the United States down the rabbit hole toward a banana republic? But arent such questions, regardless of the intent, potentially justifying the Nixonian edict that the president is above the law? If so, would that not ensure that we were a democracy standing on an unstable foundation? The indictment of a former president and our collective response in the aftermath will once again challenge the elasticity of American democracy. Will it be a teachable moment regardless of the outcome or the basis for reflexive political responses? I watched Nixons 1974 resignation with my father. The moment Nixon announced his intention to resign the presidency a smile went across my face. I grew up in a union household and my father was no fan of Nixon. But curiously he did not share my elation. He asked, Why are you smiling? in a tone that was far from complimentary. Sheepishly I responded, This is good; right? My father responded, Its not good for the country. Time will tell whether the Trump indictment was the right call. But thats separate from being good for the country. It could be the right call while still bad for the country. But those are the things with which a mature nation must sometimes grapple. Though I found Trump uniquely unqualified to be president, it was surreal to witness him facing criminal charges. But no one is above the law. As Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg noted at the news conference outlining the charges against Trump, Everyone stands equal before the law. No amount of money and no amount of power changes that enduring principle. Whether or not calls for pausing AI development succeed (spoiler: they wont), artificial intelligence is going to need regulation. Every technology in history with comparably transformational capabilities has been subject to rules of some sort. What that regulation should look like is going to be an important and complicated problem, one I and others will be writing a lot about it in the months and years to come. Before we even get to the content of the regulation needed, however, theres a crucial threshold question that needs to be addressed: Who should regulate AI? If its government, which part of government, and how? If its industry, what are the right kinds of mechanisms to balance innovation with safety? Id like to start suggesting some basic principles that should guide our approach, starting with government regulation. Ill save the question of private sector self-regulation for a future column. (Disclosure: I advise a number of companies that are involved in AI, including Meta.) Lets begin with the specter that haunts the AI debate: the possibility that AI might pose an existential threat to human society. In a well-publicized 2022 survey of AI researchers, nearly half of respondents said that there was a 10% or greater chance that AI would eventually produce an extremely bad outcome, along the lines of human extinction. There are some caveats. Only 17% of researchers contacted returned the survey, and it may be that the most worried researchers were more likely to respond. And even so, a quarter of those who answered put the risk of an extremely bad outcome at 0%. Nevertheless, the results are striking. Government regulation If AI poses an existential threat to human survival, then in the real world, that would call for government regulation of a serious type. Theres a reason you cant just raise venture capital and start a company to make and sell nuclear missiles to all comers. Nuclear weapons pose an obvious existential threat to humanity. The only fit actors to control such power are governments. And not just any governments: nuclear nonproliferation is the name we give to the effort to limit which governments can get access to nuclear weapons. And of course, in the minds of many people, even governments shouldnt be trusted with such dangerous engines of mass destruction. So the basic regulatory rule with respect to nuclear weapons is: You cant have them, unless youre a government that somehow manages to get hold of them. (Then its hard to take them away. Consider North Korea.) To the extent that private capital plays a role in funding peaceful nuclear power projects, it does so in a way that is wholly subservient to government regulation, which decides when, where and how nuclear power can be deployed. There is a crucial lesson here. The basic raison detre of governments, whether democratic or authoritarian, is to protect their citizens. (They also, of course, protect themselves.) If governments take seriously the idea that there is a credible, proximate existential threat posed by AI, then governments will assume de facto control over AI companies and regulate them as national security assets. Existing AI companies will be like arms and weapons producers: heavily regulated, staffed by security-cleared scientists, and closely linked to the national security state that will essentially supervise them through a combination of regulation and government contracts. Nationalize it? Some governments might nationalize AI companies or outlaw AI research and development altogether. Those actions might sound radical. But no government on earth is going to allow private parties to control technology that it deems capable of destroying its citizens, itself and the world. If you think this outcome sounds very unlikely, then the odds are that, on some level, you dont really believe AI poses existential risk at any meaningful probability. Or perhaps you think AI companies would become so powerful that governments wouldnt be able to take them over or shut them down. That fantasy, a cousin of the fantasy that cryptocurrencies cant be regulated, ignores the most basic truth of regulation: Companies are made up of people. And people, no matter where they are, can be regulated and ruled by a government that is prepared to imprison them. But a government takeover of the AI industry is the most extreme end of the spectrum. If we decide that AI could do of harm but does not pose an existential threat, more moderate regulation becomes a possibility. When society considers some outcome sufficiently wrong, we outlaw it using the criminal code. If you cause that outcome, you can go to prison. Its easy to imagine criminal liability for anyone who deploys AI to commit fraud or to stalk and harm other people. Its even possible to imagine laws being enacted that impose criminal liability on whoever made the harmful AI in the first place. Then theres statutory civil regulation, with violations punishable by fines. You can picture statutes that would deter a range of AI outcomes by threatening civil liability. In some case, existing statutes might apply via the makers and users of AI. Race and sex discrimination, for example, are punishable by civil liability. A party whose AI perpetrates these social wrongs may already be liable under existing law; more statutes with more specificity could easily be added. Impose rules ... A third moderate option would be administrative rules. These are common in complex industries think of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency. Congress could create a new agency to regulate AI. It could be given power to enact necessary rules and enforce them, complete with administrative expertise. Such agencies are sometimes thought to be captured by industry, a risk that would be especially great where qualified regulators might have to be taken from industry itself. Seen from the other extreme, agencies can be lobbied by counterparties to the industry, like associations of workers who might lose their jobs to AI-driven efficiencies. The agencies also create bureaucracy, and with it, waste. Nevertheless, a complex, specialized field like AI might fare better under administrative supervision rather than direct congressional control. ... Or just sue them Finally, theres the lightest-touch mode of regulation: lawsuits. Under the U.S. system of tort liability, we require the maker or seller of the technology to exercise what we call reasonable care. If they dont, someone can sue to hold them financially liable for harm theyve caused. The beauty of the system also its most infuriating aspect is that we dont tell the maker or seller exactly what to do. We expect them to make a credible cost-benefit analysis and spend as much on preventing foreseeable harm as reasonably necessary. Then we second-guess the hell out of them. If we think theyve got it wrong, were not above putting the company out of business literally. Sometimes the government even takes over the company, the way a number of state governments are poised to take over Purdue pharmaceuticals. Put another way, the tort system offloads the cost of risk onto private actors. Were used to it, so we take for granted that capital must price the risk of massive after-the-fact tort liability into every investment it makes. Investors dont love this. But at the same time, bankruptcy law and the limited liability company offer some degree of protection for capital. So as a means of social insurance, the tort system also has a major upside for investors. Which is, no doubt, why the U.S. still uses it, even as other countries have chosen to pair more up-front regulation with less after-the-fact liability. The takeaway, I think, is that all these forms of governmental regulation may be necessary for AI; and all have noteworthy flaws. But we need to start sorting through them right now. What the EU has done to tackle the migration crisis The European Union hopes this week to strike a contentious deal with Turkey aimed at curbing the flow of migrants into Europe. The country has been the last stop for migrants before attempting the treacherous crossing of the Aegean Sea to reach EU member state Greece. GALLERY Italian rescue workers recover a dead body from a boat at the port of Lampedusa, Italy, 03 October 2013. Brussels (dpa) - The plan is the blocs latest attempt to control its migration crisis, after more than 1 million migrants and asylum seekers reached European shores last year.Here is what the EU has done so far.The EU and Turkey agreed in October already to cooperate on stemming migration flows. The EU offered Turkey 3 billion euros (3.3 billion dollars) in refugee aid and promised to boost relations with the country, in return for efforts by Ankara to curb the migration flows. But the deal has had no obvious impact on arrivals.Under the new plan being considered this week, all future migrants and asylum seekers arriving in Greece from Turkey would be sent back. For every Syrian returned in this way, the EU would directly accept another Syrian asylum seeker out of Turkey. Under the deal, Ankara has also sought concessions on visa-free EU travel and its bid to join the bloc.The EU has struggled to adequately guard its external borders, with Greece particularly overwhelmed by the migrant arrivals from Turkey. The EU border agency Frontex has received more resources and deployed to Greece. Frontex is supposed to be expanded and upgraded into a European border and coastguard agency, under a proposal that EU officials hope will be finalized by the end of June. The bloc hopes that better protection of external borders will convince countries within its normally free-travel Schengen area to lift emergency border controls put in place to stem migration flows.The commission has created a new legal channel to provide the member states worst hit by the migration crisis with 700 million euros in humanitarian aid over three years. The needs are particularly acute in Greece, where an estimated 46,000 migrants and asylum seekers are stranded after borders were closed to them last week along the migration route leading from Greece to Europes wealthy northern states. EU governments gave their blessing Wednesday for a first disbursement of 100 million euros for Greece and other countries.The EU has launched a naval mission to crack down on the criminal networks smuggling migrants across the southern Mediterranean Sea. It can intercept boats and arrest suspected criminals in international waters. The NATO military alliance has also launched an operation to monitor the smuggling networks that help people cross the Aegean Sea from Turkey to Greece. It will only intervene if a vessel is in distress.The EU has been trying to implement a contentious emergency scheme for the redistribution of 160,000 asylum seekers from countries on the front lines of the migration crisis - such as Greece and Italy - to other member states. But by March 15, only 937 people had been relocated. Some member states are not keen to take in asylum seekers, who in turn have been reluctant to participate since they cannot choose where to go. This has started to change after the onward route from Greece was closed off last week, EU officials say. The European Commission now wants member states to relocate 6,000 people by mid-April and 20,000 by mid-May. It has also proposed the creation of a permanent relocation system.EU member states agreed last year to take in 20,000 displaced people who are outside the EU but in need of international protection, such as Syrians living in UN refugee camps. The commission is expected to propose this year the establishment of a "structured" resettlement system. The new deal being hashed out with Ankara could also see some member states voluntarily take in additional numbers of Syrian asylum seekers out of Turkey.: The EU wants to do a better job at sending back economic migrants who do not qualify for international protection. In the past, only about 40 per cent of such migrants have been returned to their countries of origin. The creation of beefed-up reception centres - known as hotspots - in Greece and Italy is supposed to help in quickly identifying economic migrants and initiating return procedures. The hotspots, which were slow to come online, are also meant to administer relocations.The EU has been working to enlist the help of migrants origin and transit countries to stem the flow heading its way, notably in Africa. It launched a 1.9-billion-euro fund in November to help tackle migration from that continent, but struggled to impress recipient countries, which accused Europe of focusing too much on sending Africans back home.The commission is expected in April to launch an attempt to reform the Dublin system, under which asylum claims are supposed to be registered in the first EU country where an asylum seeker sets foot. The system broke down during the migration crisis. The EUs executive is also working on proposals to make it easier for skilled migrants to legally enter the bloc. Last month, school officials in St. Petersburg, Fla., told teachers to stop showing students a Disney movie about Ruby Bridges, the 6-year-old Black girl who integrated an all-white New Orleans elementary school in the 1960s. A white parent had complained that the movie was not appropriate for second graders, as the scenes showing people threatening Ruby and calling her names might teach students that white people hate Black people. Oh, my gosh, you might find yourself asking, could some white people hate Black people? Did white people ever fight to keep Black children away from their schools, their neighborhoods, their stores, their buses, their drinking fountains? Its just really hard to imagine the legacy of racial hatred, I guess, if you are a white Florida parent in the grip of fear about critical race theory and woke ideology. After all, you live in a state where the Republican governor has settled on a strategy of exploiting white angst for political gain as he blusters his way toward a presidential candidacy. (Gov. Ron DeSantis go-to line: Florida is where woke goes to die.) In that charged political environment, it only makes sense that a white parent mistakenly believes that a movie about racism is designed to make your white child feel bad. And we cant have that. For Black people, though, the truth is that some very bad things are baked into American politics, justice, education, housing, job markets. Racism doesnt affect just wealth, though. It plays a big role in health, as well. For reasons having nothing to do with genetics, life expectancy is shorter for Black Americans than for white Americans. A 2020 study, for instance, found that discrimination is a chronic stressor that may increase the risk of hypertension. In this country, the high rate of Black maternal mortality is a national shame. Fortunately, a growing number of Americans seems to understand the relationship between poor outcomes for Black Americans and the legacies of slavery, oppression and systemic racism. They also grasp that over the decades centuries, really racist policies made it possible for some people (i.e. white Americans) to flourish, while impeding progress for others (i.e. Black Americans, indigenous Americans and other people of color). Those willing to face the past with an open mind understand there is a systemic reason, unrelated to any individuals behavior, why the median wealth of white households is nearly 10 times greater than the wealth of Black households. Most Americans oppose the idea of cash reparations as a way of atoning for the ills of slavery and the many ways its noxious repercussions inform the present. But the concept of reparations is hardly revolutionary or new. And reparations can take many non-monetary forms, starting with the unfulfilled post-Civil War promise of 40 acres and a mule. In 1988, for instance, President Ronald Reagan apologized for the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II and authorized a payment of $20,000 to each living former detainee. And there are reparations efforts large and small taking place all over the country today. In 2021, Evanston, Ill., created a slavery reparations plan for its Black residents. In 2022, Harvard University allocated $100 million to study the ways the university benefited from slavery and develop a process for reckoning and repair. Last month, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors heard a report from its reparations task force that recommended, among other things, payments of $5 million to every eligible Black adult, the elimination of personal debt and guaranteed annual incomes of at least $97,000 for 250 years. Last week, the California task force appointed to study reparations for descendants of enslaved people met for two days of public hearings. Economists advising the task force have estimated that Black Californians may be owed more than $800 billion for decades of housing discrimination, overpolicing and disproportionate incarceration. Maybe these eye-popping dollar figures will never be fully paid, but what reparations discussions do, and do so well, is raise our consciousness about the real costs of slavery and institutional racism. Its a discussion thats been going for years. In 2014, Ta-Nehisi Coates landmark piece in the Atlantic, The Case for Reparations, reignited a national discussion with its granular statistics about the ways in which Black Americans have been shut out of the fabled American Dream. (When I looked up the piece Friday, I was stunned to see an appended editors note: On February 1, 2023, the College Board announced its finalized curriculum for an AP African American Studies course. It has removed work present in the pilot program by writers such as bell hooks, Kimberle Crenshaw, and Ta-Nehisi Coates, the author of this article. Florida strikes again.) This week, Ive been reading How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning With the History of Slavery Across America, a 2021 book by the poet and Atlantic staff writer Clint Smith. Smith, a New Orleans native, visits nine places with strong links to slavery, exploring the ways in which the institution is memorialized, or distorted, or perpetuated to this day. In a visit to Thomas Jeffersons plantation, Monticello, in Virginia, he mines the contradictions of the man who wrote all men are created equal and also enslaved his own children. At Angola, the Louisiana prison built on the site of a plantation, he is thrown back in time watching Black inmates pick cotton under the gaze of horse-mounted guards. He spends a Memorial Day in Petersburg, Va., with Sons of Confederate Veterans, one of whom shows him the grave of a Black man, Richard Poplar, who, the Confederate son claims, served as an officer in the Confederate Army. Smiths research reveals the man was most likely a cook. Its the sort of book that should be taught in all American schools, but is caught in the crosshairs of one of the most ignorant battles of our time: the fight to squash the truth about slavery and racism. Unlike the movie Ruby Bridges, Smiths book hasnt been banned exactly. But it has been suppressed. Last week, Smith told NPRs Terry Gross that a private school, which had selected How the Word Is Passed as a text for all students to read, canceled an order of 2,000 copies and disinvited Smith from speaking with its students. His speaking agency was told, said Smith, that they didnt want any sort of controversial critical race theory books being inserted into the lives of students and having them indoctrinated with a particular set of views. Of course not. We dont want to give children an uncomfortably true impression about our countrys horrific past. The upcoming May school board races in Helena and East Helena have been canceled as due the races being uncontested. However, the levy issues remain on the ballot. For Helena Public Schools, two seats were open for the Elementary (K-8) District. These positions are now held by board vice-chair Jennifer McKee and President of Montana School Boards Association Luke Muszkiewicz. McKee has filed and will automatically begin a new term, but Muszkiewicz didnt run for re-election. Sole candidate Linda Cleatus will begin a term in his place. The third open seat represents the Wolf Creek and Trinity Districts on the Secondary (high school) Board. This seat is now held by board member Jennifer Walsh, who filed and will automatically begin a new term. All seats are three-year terms, and candidates must live within the area theyre representing. The school board on Tuesday is expected to discuss the vacancy left by trustee Lois Fitzpatrick, who died March 10 from cancer. She was elected in May 2022 and there are still two years left in her term. Also Tuesday, the board is expected to declare the seat vacant and call for applicants. The trustees will then interview applicants and appoint one of them to serve on the board for one year. After the one year is up, the seat will be open for the May 2024 elections. In East Helena, trustees Martin Balukas and Mark Diehl have filed and will automatically begin a new three-year term. Trustee Breck Sheet didnt run for re-election, and lone candidate Tristan Ulmer will be taking over his seat. The last day to file for candidacy was March 23, and the deadline to file as a write-in was March 30. Ballots are still set to go out to the public on April 14, but there will be no section for voting for trustees since those elections are now canceled. The only items on the ballot will be the levies designed to help the districts through tough budget times HPS has three levies and East Helena has one. The election is through Lewis and Clark County and the ballots are due back May 2. Officials with the Montana Jewish Project and the Anti-Defamation Leagues Pacific Northwest Office said they have invited Montanas state legislators to attend the first-of-its-kind reception on April 13 at historic Temple Emanu-El, Montanas oldest synagogue in Helena. They said the event comes during a time of rising antisemitism in Montana. The reception is open to all Montana legislators, who are now in session, and invitations were given out at the Capitol. Organizers of the event said they want to provide an opportunity for Montanas states lawmakers to learn about the vital role Jewish Montanans have played (and continue to play) in building the Treasure State and to have the opportunity for questions and conversation in historic Temple Emanu-El, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The reception, 6-7 p.m. at 515 N. Ewing St., will include a tour of the 1891 synagogue to tell the story of Jewish history in Montana from the 1860s to present day. Bert Chesin, a Montana native, will play live Klezmer music (traditional Jewish folk music). Appetizers, wine and non-alcoholic drinks will be served. Members from Montanas Jewish communities will be present. Were excited to open our doors to our states lawmakers Rebecca Stanfel, Montana Jewish Project director, said in a news release. In this time of increased antisemitic incidents and polarized politics, its especially important for our states legislators to get to know one another outside the walls of the Capitol. She said Montana Jewish Project believes in reaching out across different communities to allow for all to learn." "Theres no better way than coming together for good stories, good food and good music, she said. MJP purchased the building from the Catholic Diocese in 2022, which returned Montanas oldest synagogue to Jewish hands for the first time since 1934. This will be the first time the building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is open for the Montana Legislature. Miri Cypers, regional director of ADL Pacific Northwest, said they were happy to co-sponsor the event. As an organization that has worked to address antisemitism and all forms of hate for over a century, we believe it is critical to engage and educate legislators at this time to ensure our public policies protect our communities from growing intolerance, Cypers said. If youd like to see what the Clark Fork River is like to a seventh grader, start at the beginning. I want to be alone in this place, according to one student in Steven Strothmans seventh-period class at C.S. Porter Middle School. To another, whats above had a particular tint: The thick blue sky like Big Dipper bubblegum ice cream. A classmate seemed to delve more into the interior: Suddenly you become the river, and the river becomes you. Each sentence in the 33-line poem was written by a student in that class, with the guidance of Sam Olson, a published poet. Through the Missoula Writing Collaborative, he spent February helping seven classes at C.S. Porter produce a collective poem about a different waterway in western Montana. Every day, students present raw, vulnerable, humorous, powerful pieces of writing, he said. Dead or alive, everything is still beautiful. River is what feels most alive. Bugs, bacteria, bears. That deer must be stupid but I dont blame him, that water looks tasty. The sound of the splashing of little children having the time of their lives. Mindy Hammits seventh-period class Teaching poetry The nonprofit Missoula Writing Collaborative places professional writers in schools and other venues around western Montana to teach students creative writing. MWCs Executive Director Caroline Patterson, a novelist, said an introduction to poetry gives kids a way to connect the world inside and outside of themselves. It gives kids a language for their emotional landscapes, and also in particular with these poems about place, I think it gives kids a way to connect through landscape with their place. Having the river as their subject spurred so much emotional honesty to her. What these seventh graders brought to this was so fresh and startling. The project relied on ekphrastic poetry, where the students use a work of art as a way to stir inspiration. (It means description in Greek.) For this project, the prompts were photographs of seven local rivers. The students teamed up with American Rivers, a national nonprofit. As a field contractor, Olson and a co-worker photographed rivers during a survey on the Lolo and Bitterroot national forests in 2020-21 to produce recommendations for Wild and Scenic Rivers. The waterways are the Clark Fork and Clearwater rivers, plus the following creeks: Fish, Morrell, Kootenai, Rattlesnake and Rock. Those were selected for the poetry project because theyre close to Missoula, popular for recreation, and have important features, such as a climate refuge for threatened and endangered species such as the bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout, according to Lisa Ronald, American Rivers Western Montana associate conservation director. Students favorite lines from the session have been combined into one long, winding collective poem on posters Arnold designed, measuring 3 feet by 6 feet, in which the verses curve and bend in the blue waterways. Rattlesnake Creek Birds singing in unison. A sound like Kool-Aid Man breaking through a wall. Just like pounding rain during a storm. I smell fresh fish-filled water. I taste the sound of the smell of dead birds chirping with the dead. Heather Agostinellis sixth-period class Heres how the students took their first dive into this particular style of verse. Olson read the classes some poems as examples, including Beholden: A Poem As Long as the River, by Fred Wah and Rita Wong. They both wrote a line of text along a map of the Columbia River, stretching from the Canadian headwaters down to Oregon and Washington and the mouth. The photos were a great prompt for the students, because not all of them may have seen a particular stream or area themselves. He asked them to focus on sensory, descriptive language, transporting themselves or transporting the reader into that scene. They should consider what theyd hear, smell, see, taste and feel. Rather than focus on a particular meter, the writing could be punctuation-free and, no puns intended, stream of consciousness and free flow, like the speed and movement of that body of water, he said. Writing in this fashion, rather than meter, helped students appreciate that invitation to write spontaneously and freely. Olsen said. It underlines the notion that theres no wrong way to write. We want to prioritize creating a space that could catalyze discovery, moments of spontaneity and intuition, strangeness, things that you would never anticipate writing about or coming to your mind. There are too many to choose from, but some examples from Fish Creek, as seen through the eyes of Strothmans eighth-period class: A line that is true, but appears to never have been assembled before in the history of English language, at least as much of it as is available on Google. Water, in particular Fish Creek, is the beverage of the animals. In another selection, the writer seems to be summoning their inner Tomas Transtromer: the trees and the rocks talking to the water in a language only known to them. It closes with some Norman Maclean-esque observations: Ghost-like shadows coming to haunt me. Afterward, Olson had them circle their favorite line. Then he transcribed those selections in the order he received them to create a collaborative poem, allowing the random juxtapositions to rest where they landed. The work is filled, like Patterson said, with emotional honesty but also humor. Olson said there are examples of things that wouldnt come up in the canon of nature poetry, like that line about Kool-Aid Man. Theres a sudden borderlessness between the media they consume and what comes out in the project. Their worlds show up in these poems, whether its writing about a river, or theyre writing about their hometowns. A student from Afghanistan wrote a line about the smell of the river and the sound of the birds in her language, Pashto, which they included in the Clark Fork poem. Its beautiful to witness a class come together to support each other, and practicing language and having fun with it, he said. Last year, the MWC released another of a collective poem and poster series. For that project (which reached far outside Missoula), students wrote poems about their hometowns. The writers then combined them into a one-page poster that created a snapshot of the area from their point of view. Patterson said students still have a chance to write individual pieces, and the collective poems works have great designs and provide a means to share them with the public. The challenge for us is always getting our work out of the classroom, she said, "off the page and into the world visually." Supporters of access to sexual and reproductive health services rallied Friday at the Montana Capitol as the Legislature, dominated by a Republican supermajority, granted final passage to two bills ralliers have strongly opposed. In the Capitol's second-floor rotunda, lawmakers and advocates thanked the audience for their defiance during the session and in the legislative sessions to come. "The truth is that people, not legislators really set the tone for the debate in this building," Rep. SJ Howell, D-Missoula, said at Friday's rally. "The truth is that all power is and always has been with the people." If mostly party-line votes with GOP support and Democratic opposition continue, more legislation that opponents say would limit access to abortion care looks poised to be heading to Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte. The bills that passed Friday include legislation to ban the most commonly used abortion procedure in the second trimester. Its carried by Speaker of the House Matt Regier, a Kalispell Republican who has described the procedure called dilation and evacuation as "barbaric." The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has said D&E "is evidence-based and medically preferred because it results in the fewest complications for women compared to alternative procedures. Sen. Steve Hinebauch, a Wibaux Republican, carried House Bill 721 in the Senate. This may not be enough for those of us who seek to end all abortions but it is an important step forward in the fight to protect the unborn, Hinebauch said Thursday when the Senate debated the bill. According to 2020 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, just 5.8% of abortions happen between 1420 weeks gestation and only 0.9% occur after that point. Maternal-fetal medicine specialists who deal with high-risk pregnancies have repeatedly testified to lawmakers that abortions later in pregnancies are almost always for wanted pregnancies where something has gone tragically wrong. Opponents to the bill have called it extreme government overreach and the Legislature inserting itself into private medical decisions between families and doctors that are protected by the state Constitution. I think it's clear that the intent is to distort what is otherwise a safe and effective procedure that is the standard of care for women seeking abortions, said Democratic Sen. Jen Gross, of Billings, on Thursday in the Senate. This bill takes aim at the quality of life of Montana women and by proxy their families, their employers, our communities. At one point during debate on the bill in the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Democratic members walked out over concerns about what they said was inflammatory and misleading language. Committee chair Sen. Keith Regier, the speakers father, said the debate was about sharing ideas and opinions. Martha Fuller, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Montana, said during Friday's rally this session featured more misinformation than past Legislatures. "This is the fifth legislative session that I have observed," she said. "It seems to me that I have heard more lies and misinformation about abortion and people who have abortions this session than I have ever heard before. "No one, and I mean no one, cares more about health and safety of people who are having abortions in the state of Montana than Montana's abortions providers," she said. The other bill that cleared the Legislature on Friday would require reporting of adverse effects following medication abortions. House Bill 786 was among those that were heard in a landslide of other legislation early in March against a transmittal deadline, drawing objections from opponents who were frustrated at the timing. That vexation happened again at the end of March for another bill related to abortion, this time carried by Rep. Amy Regier, R-Kalispell and the sister of the Speaker of the House. House Bill 968 would require consultation with parents for non-emancipated minors seeking abortion. Several people raised red flags that the bill had its initial hearing the morning after it was first read across the rostrum in the House, giving people limited time to know about giving public comment. Up against a procedural deadline, the bill was passed out of a committee the same day it was heard; Republicans made clear no rules were broken in the process even as opponents objected. The bill came after a Helena judge earlier in the session found Montanas parental consent law for minors seeking abortions unconstitutional and ordered a trial over a notification law. Rep. Amy Regiers bill was heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday, after clearing the House on mostly party lines. Abortion landscape in Montana This is the second legislative session with a GOP governor after 16 years of most abortion-limiting legislation meeting the veto pen of a Democratic governor. Its the first since the U.S. Supreme Courts Dobbs decision that overturned the right to access an abortion at the federal level. Montanas state Constitution, however, still preserves that ability through its right-to-privacy provision upheld with the state Supreme Courts 1999 Armstrong decision. Though legislators did not bring a constitutional referendum aimed at abortion this session, one law advancing tries to address the GOPs Armstrong problem. Its carried by Sen. Keith Regier, a Republican from Kalispell. Regier said he believed the Supreme Court erred nearly a quarter of a century ago when they mistakenly left out the word individual in deciding the right to privacy ensured the access to a pre-viability abortion. His bill would not change access to abortion or the Constitution, but would aim to get at the Armstrong roadblock through state law. That bill has cleared the Senate on mostly party-line votes and advanced out of a House committee earlier this week. Opponents to Regiers bill said it doesn't fall to the Legislature to decide how the state Constitution should be interpreted and that the document itself gives that job to the judiciary. Other bills, litigation While Democratic legislators this session have brought several pieces of legislation aimed at preserving access to abortion, those have all failed. But several other major Republican bills related to the procedure are working their way through, some attempts at previously passed policies that have either stalled in courts or at the ballot box. Another bill advancing is the "Infant Safety and Care Act," from Rep. Kerri Seekins-Crowe, R-Billings. The legislation was amended and passed a Senate committee earlier this week. It would say an infant born alive following an attempted abortion in an abortion clinic, medical facility, or other facility is entitled to the same protections under the law that would arise for any newborn infant or for any person who comes to a medical facility or other facility for screening or treatment. House Bill 625 is similar to legislation from 2021 that put a so-called born-alive infant protection act before voters, who defeated the measure by a 53%-47% margin. But Seekins-Crowe said this iteration gives parents the right to deny care that would only prolong the death of an infant; opponents dont believe the language in the bill would protect that and point out Montana laws already do not allow infanticide or homicide. Other bills moving through the process include: House Bill 544, to require preauthorizations for abortions covered by Medicaid and tighten what would qualify as a medically necessary procedure. The bill, which is similar to an administrative rule being considered by the state health department, has cleared the House and is awaiting action in a Senate committee. House Bill 862 to prohibit public funding to be used for abortions except in some limited cases. The bill has cleared the House and was heard in a Senate committee on Friday. House Bill 937 to add licensure requirements for abortion clinics. The bill has cleared the House and has its first hearing in a Senate committee April 13. A bill that would say it's not unlawful to deadname or misgender transgender students looks poised to clear the Montana Legislature. House Bill 361 is from Rep. Brandon Ler, R-Savage. If passed it would carve out an exception in discrimination in education laws to say it is not unlawful for a student to call another student by their legal name, which in the case of a transgender student would be using what's called their deadname; and to refer to another student by the student's sex, which would allow for misgendering a trans student. Deadnaming is the practice of referring to a transgender person who has changed their name by their previous name and opponents to the bill said the practice is often used to bully kids. The legislation has already cleared the House on a mostly party-line vote with support from most Republicans and opposition from Democrats. It was amended in that chamber by Republican Rep. Casey Knudsen, of Malta, to say the behavior of using pronouns different than the child wanted was not unlawful as long as it does not rise to the definition of bullying. During public hearings on the bill, transgender Montanans shared their experiences of bullying while in school. In introducing his bill, Ler said his kids learned from a young age the difference between cows and bulls and that these facts are not up for interpretation. On the Senate floor Thursday, Sen. Keith Regier, the Kalispell Republican who carried the bill in that chamber, said the legislation would create "clarity." But Democratic Sen. Edie McClafferty, a school teacher from Butte, said the bill would allow for situations that hurt children. The bill passed an initial vote on a 29-21 margin with five Republicans and all Democrats voting against it. It faces a final vote before going to Gov. Greg Gianforte. Holly Michels A bill to extend legal protections to election workers if they are obstructed from doing their jobs narrowly passed the House Thursday, after several Republican lawmakers took to the mic to allege recent misdeeds by those officials. Senate Bill 61 clarifies the definitions of election official and "election worker" in Montana law to ensure that election administrators, judges and workers are included in the section of law that deals with obstruction of public officials. It would also include election workers in a law that currently prohibits election officials from tampering with voting materials or looking at voters ballots. Some of us have seen the video of where ballots were being shredded, Rep. Lyn Hellegaard, a Missoula Republican, told the House during the floor debate on the bill. If a poll watcher or election official asks why the ballots are being shredded, that could be construed as obstruction or hindering the process of the election. Hellegaard confirmed after the floor session that she was referencing allegations that arose in Carbon County earlier this year, in which local election integrity activists released edited footage from security cameras that were running inside the county election office on Election Day last November. The group has attempted to paint the footage as proof that election officials were shredding ballots. The brief video clip, circulated in February on Rumble and other social media platforms, shows a person placing pieces of paper in a shredder. It purports to show ballots being shredded on Election Night. In response, Carbon County issued a press release calling the allegations false and stating that the county elections administrator, shown in the video frame, is shredding copies of ballots received electronically from overseas voters. Those electronic ballots, according to the county, were transposed onto physical ballots and subsequently shredded to protect the voters identities. Asked to elaborate on her allegations, Hellegaard said she didnt have any proof that ballots were being shredded, beyond the video. But her point, she said, was that she felt the bill could create a chilling effect on citizens who witness improper actions by election officials. Whether they were ballots or not, I dont really care, Hellegaard said. Its whether they should be able to question what they saw. A half-dozen other GOP lawmakers expressed similar concerns about the bill. But Rep. Julie Dooling, the Helena Republican carrying the bill in the House, argued that if her colleagues were serious about addressing election integrity in Montanas voting systems, SB 65 is one piece of the puzzle to help resolve these issues. You can misconstrue this all you want, but its very simple, Dooling said. Were creating definitions and were creating a penalty if you get involved in that election process in a derogatory way. Its a problem, we need to help election workers. Over the past two years, local election workers in Montana have reported a spike in harassment and threats that mirrored an uptick in similar activities reported elsewhere in the country. The previous Commissioner of Political Practices, Jeff Mangan, had pushed for the legislation after his office received calls from local election officials reporting incidents of harassment after the 2020 election. In an interview outside the House chamber, the newly appointed Commissioner of Political Practices, Chris Gallus, said he also supports the bill. He noted that as the official tasked with investigating those election complaints, he would not view a citizen simply questioning the processes of an election official as obstruction in determining whether to move ahead with possible charges. The bill passed 57-43, with Democrats and less than half the GOP representatives in support. It needs to withstand a final vote in the House before transmitting to the governors desk for his approval. The House also considered legislation to bar county election offices from receiving private donations. Senate Bill 117 was brought in response to grants distributed by the Center for Tech and Civic Life prior to the 2020 elections. The grants were offered in part to help local election offices defray the unexpected costs of running elections during a pandemic, but were also used for more routine purchases like security cameras and technology upgrades. A $350 million donation from Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg stirred suspicion, however, that the grants could be used to unduly influence the elections. No evidence has emerged to that end, although CTCL founders have connections to politically liberal groups. Rep. Ed Stafman, D-Bozeman, argued the bill has its genesis not in Montana but in a conspiracy theory, and suggested it could inadvertently prevent local election offices from receiving discounts or other deals from election technology providers that could be classified as donations. Republican Rep. Mike Hopkins, of Missoula, countered simply that billionaires shouldnt be funding the states elections. You want to know what didnt originate in the state of Montana, it was the money that came flooding into localities all around the state of Montana, Hopkins said. The bill advanced on party lines, 68-32, and also needs a final vote to transmit to the Senate. A third elections bill heard on the House floor Thursday, Senate Bill 197, also passed a preliminary vote on party lines. It would effectively double the number of races and precincts the state randomly selects for a hand-recount as part of its post-election audit. Republicans framed the measure as one to boost voter confidence in the election outcomes. Democrats objected on the grounds that the mandate to local election offices doesnt come with an appropriation to pay for the increased costs. Paris Hilton may end up being the unlikeliest lobbyist of the 2023 Legislature. She touched down at a private airplane hangar in Belgrade just a day after House Bill 218, a legislative proposal to ratchet up restrictions on the so-called "troubled teen industry" in Montana, emerged out of the Senate Health, Welfare and Safety Committee, although in a compromised form of its original draft. Hilton grew to fame as hotel heiress and reality TV star, but in recent years has parlayed her prominence to advocate for regulations over the therapeutic residential boarding school industry for youth with behavioral needs. Hilton was sent to four programs, including one in Montana. In an interview Thursday with the Montana State News Bureau, 42-year-old Hilton described being assaulted, strangled, malnourished and watched by male staff while she showered at a now-shuttered therapeutic boarding school in northwest Montana near the Idaho border. Since the state in 2019 gave the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services oversight of the industry and codified a new set of regulations, several programs have closed or moved to states with more relaxed regulatory environments. Still, state inspectors have found repeated violations of those rules, including a mishandling of a Texas girl's suicide in 2017. She died at age 17. "These people are elected to protect the people and the community and the children and the families," Hilton said. As the Montana Legislature approaches its final stretch, where citizens elected to these offices are eyeing a return to the normal pace of their day jobs, Hilton's synonymy with glamor and fame may get mixed receptions. "Is she a Montana citizen?" Sen. Greg Hertz, R-Polson, said when asked about Hilton's potential impact on the Senate's decision on HB 218. "I'm a Montana state senator. I represent the people of Montana." Hilton has taken her advocacy work to state Legislatures before, as well as the halls of Congress. Where federal regulations have been hard to muster, states like Utah, where scores of programs have for years operated with little-to-no regulations, have taken them up in stride. Across that work, Hilton said she's spoken with enough former students to recognize the pattern of their shared experiences. "My story is the same as hundreds of thousands of other survivors," she said. "If this could happen to me, I don't even want to know what could happen to the other children that are coming from the foster care system, children who have no voice, children with disabilities who are being abused and no one can stand up for them." On Thursday, Hilton handed HB 218 sponsor and Rep. Laura Smith, D-Helena, 50 individual signed letters for each state Senator. Some appeared to be well-received, at least in part, because of Hilton's celebrity status. "Celebrities have the ability to put a whole bunch of light on an issue, and I don't think that's negative at all," Sen. Daniel Zolnikov, R-Billings, said Friday. "This isn't some issue-of-the-day to her." By midday Friday, communications teams for the Montana Senate appeared ready to connect with Hilton's team. Several GOP senators responded directly to a tweet Hilton posted Friday offering to connect with any lawmaker willing. "Several Republican Senators are willing to meet with you to discuss the bill, @ParisHilton," the Senate GOP account tweeted Friday. "I'm game," Sen. Chris Friedel, R-Billings, tweeted. Hilton's appeal to individual lawmakers in Montana's citizen Legislature is just one instrument for advocacy. She has millions of followers on social media platforms; among them, people who consider themselves survivors of these programs. "I feel that's my mission and my legacy," she said. "I feel really grateful to have this platform to be able to shine a huge spotlight on such an important issue. I'm so proud of all the impact that myself and all the survivors coming together have made." Sen. Shannon O'Brien, D-Missoula, applauded Hilton's willingness to share her trauma. "I believe that every human being has their own experiences and their own story, no matter where they come from, no matter how many Instagram followers they have," O'Brien said. "I admire Ms. Hilton for speaking her truth, for doing her part and to make the world a better place." The bill from Smith meant to provide unmonitored communication between children in these programs and their parents, a potential opening for children to report the kind of abuse and neglect Hilton and others have spoken about in committees this session. The amendment made in the Senate committee would allow programs to monitor calls. Several on the Senate panel, including the amendment sponsor, Sen. Tom McGillvray, R-Billings, said they feared open lines of communication for children could lead to more runaways or drugs being ferried into the program. The bill goes well beyond the communications provision, including additional inspections and restrictions on what can be done to discipline or restrain children in the programs. Some lawmakers, in voting against the bill in committee, worried overburdening the programs would push them, and the services for children with behavioral health needs, out of state. In Hilton's letter to senators, one of which was shared with the Montana State News Bureau, she asserts the unmonitored communication as a parental rights issue meant to provide protections and prevent deaths. "Just it was just torture every single day, and I wasn't able to tell my family, because they would only allow monitored calls, and they would have their hand on the receiver," she said in Thursday's interview. "And if I would try to say one negative thing, the phone would immediately be hung up, I would be slapped, strangled, yelled at. And then they would lie to my parents. "It's kind of the perfect storm for these people because they can get away with it because they've just manipulated not only the children, but also the families." Smith, former deputy director of DPHHS, said Friday afternoon Hilton's new presence was already "bringing genuine visibility to the issue." "I've had really meaningful conversations today with Senate colleagues on both side of the aisle," Smith said in a text. "Abuse of children and parents' right to talk, unmonitored, to their own children transcends party lines." HB 218 passed out of committee earlier this week and is yet to be scheduled for a debate on the Senate floor. Against Montanas Constitution, the supermajority Republican Legislature and business lobbying groups are putting themselves above the voice of the Montana people when it comes to initiatives, which are the sole province of the people. Our 1889 and 1972 Constitutions clearly place the people above the Legislature, both with opening words We the people They dont start with We, the Legislature or We, the business lobby. Here the people are supposed to be supreme. Our Constitutions rights and protections often protect the people from governmental overreach. But, feeling their oats, the GOP legislative supermajority has advanced dozens of bills that empower the Legislature at the expense of our system of checks and balances and at the direct expense of the people. SB 93 is one of those bills. In 1906, supported by 84.6% of the voters, the people reserve(d) to themselves power to propose laws The 1972 Constitution states that, separate from the senate and house of representatives, the people reserve to themselves the powers of initiative and referendum. This supreme power of the people in the Constitution cannot be usurped by the Legislature no matter how large a majority a single political party might accumulate. And, beyond the Legislature interfering with the peoples initiative right, it is patently obvious that no special legislative privilege is constitutionally given to business organizations who happen to have the financial resources to become a lobbying force in the state capitol advancing their financial interests. Among the reasons our Constitution was rewritten in 1972 was to remove the 83-year Copper Collar of business domination from our governmental processes. But in 2021 the Montana Chamber of Commerce, two local chambers and 11 business lobbying groups, calling these efforts modernizing the ballot measure process, took Montana backward toward the business dominance of the Copper Collar of Montanas past, granting the business lobby a special privilege that no other Montana group has. As brazenly prepared by special interest lobbyists and in contravention of the power of the people to propose specific legislative language by initiative, the state government was directed by 2021s HB 651 to add a business impact warning onto the ballot language considered by voters. That kind of warning right has not been given to workers, to children, to families to anyone but business. Now, in 2023, SB 93 expands that assault on the voice of the people by requiring citizens to pay a non-refundable $3,700 to the state just for proposing an initiative, definitely an effort to constrain the citizen-based advocacy outlined so clearly in our Constitution. Those HB 651/SB 93 changes also target the process by which Montana citizens write the language of the law they are proposing to be a ballot issue and the petition on which they will seek signatures. The GOP and business interests, having failed to defeat many citizen initiatives with electors, are now seeking ways to prevent initiatives from ever reaching the ballot and to impose their interpretation of initiatives over the way the initiatives are prepared by the people. Attempting sweeping intrusions of cost and control over the process by which ballot issues make the ballot to be presented for a vote by electors, the GOP and business interests are empowering themselves. In addition to the business warning and the $3,700 filing fee, they allow an initiative to be outright vetoed by the Attorney General. Further, the AG or even interim legislative committees can add their language to the peoples initiative. Tell your legislators to vote against SB 93 stifling the voice of the people, or, in Montana, we the people will no longer be supreme. DECATUR Jeffrey L. Lourash appeared in court Thursday and admitted to fatally shooting his wife in a hail of bullets as she protected her kids from his violent rampage. Lourash, 57, who had been pleading not guilty to the November 23 killing, suddenly changed his mind and took a plea deal negotiated by defense attorney Susan Moorhead. The defendant admitted a charge of first degree murder in Macon County Circuit Court, but prosecutors agreed to amend the charging language to remove an added prison penalty linked to the use of a gun as the murder weapon. That means Lourash will now face a sentencing range of from 20 to 60 years when he returns to court May 31 to be sentenced by Presiding Judge Thomas Griffith. But any sentence Lourash receives must be served at 100%, with no day-for-day credit. Harrowing details of the murder of 41-year-old Tabitha Lourash were revealed by detectives with the Macon County Sheriffs Office. They described how Lourash had flown into a rage in a family argument in which he accused his wife of cheating on him. Lourash had armed himself and Tabitha Lourash, who was also armed, had screamed for her 17-year-old son to flee to safety upstairs, where her other frightened kids aged 15, 13 and 11 were gathered, as she was confronted downstairs by her husband. Detective Cody Woods, who had given evidence at Tabitha Lourashs inquest, said the brave mom had bought time for her children to jump clear of the house through a second story window as they heard the gunshots being fired. A 9mm handgun had been found near Tabitha Lourash's bullet-riddled body which showed she had managed to get off one shot before being killed. She suffered 11 gunshot wounds and eight bullets were later recovered from her body. Police burst in to find her husband wounded and slumped by the front door next to his own handgun. Lourash had not been shot by his wife, Instead, Woods said he had shot himself in a botched suicide attempt, the bullet ripping up through the front of his face but missed inflicting a fatal wound to his brain. Part of the damning evidence against Lourash that gave investigators a clear and unbiased view of the tragedy was that Tabitha Lourash had managed to activate her cell phone to record what happened. Woods said there was no video but the audio captured the whole confrontation leading up to her death. And in the audio, Mr. Lourash can be heard saying Are they coming to get me? referring to the sheriffs office coming, Woods had said. And Tabita says Yes, they are. And Mr. Lourash says twice Its over, its over and Mrs. Lourash can be heard saying Don't do this, Jeffrey, dont do this Jeffrey, and then the shots ring out. Tabitha Lourashs mother, Julie Weaver, had described her daughter as an innocent victim who always did her best for her children. I think its just cruel, she had said of her daughters violent death. She was a loving, caring mom and she didnt do anything. Watch now: 10 Decatur police body cam videos from the March 30, 2023, officer-involved shooting Footage from Decatur Police Officer Jack Kosinki's body camera Footage from Decatur Police Officer Joe Oberheims body camera (slow motion 2) Footage from Decatur Police Officer Dawson Roberts' body camera (slow motion 2) Footage from Decatur Police Officer Joe Oberheims body camera (slow motion 1) Footage from Decatur Police Officer Jack Kosinki's body camera (slow motion 1) Footage from Decatur Police Officer Jack Kosinki's body camera (slow motion 2) Footage from Decatur Police Officer Dawson Roberts' body camera (slow motion 1) Footage from Decatur Police Officer Dawson Roberts' body camera Footage from Decatur Police Officer Joe Oberheim's body camera Footage from Decatur Police Sgt. Joseph Sawyer's body camera DECATUR Decatur Park District will receive funding for a new pedestrian/bicycle path bridge from the Illinois Department of Transportation Enhancement Program, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced. The park district project received $949,390 for the bridge, which will be in Fairview Park over Stevens Creek. It was one of many projects statewide sharing $127.9 million in funding to support alternate means of transportation and enhance quality of life. Mattoon received $150,000 to construct a 2.9 mile asphalt trail and widen the trail on McFall Road. McLean County Historic Route 66 Bikeway's received $2,684,920 to extend the Route 66 Bikeway from Bloomington to Shirley, and from Shirley to Funks Grove. The Lincoln Prairie Trail in Pana will replace the existing bridge carrying the Lincoln Prairie Trail over Flat Branch with a grant of $1,079,694. In Shelbyville, the $3 million grant will construct 5-foot-wide bike lanes on both the westbound and eastbound sides of Sixth Street, and 5-foot-wide bike lanes on both lanes of travel on Washington Street. The Sullivan Streetscape Project received a grant of $1,923,687 to replace old deteriorated sidewalks with Americans With Disabilities Act-compliant sidewalks that includes stamped boulevard, ramps, detectable warnings, and curb and gutter and to install pedestrian lighting. Family travel 5: Waterfalls worth seeing in person Death Valley National Park, California Ruby Falls, Chattanooga, Tennessee Shoshone Falls, Twin Falls, Idaho Havasu Falls, Arizona Niagara Falls, New York CHICAGO Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot hosted Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson at City Hall Thursday in a traditional meeting between the outgoing chief executive at City Hall and the new one. This moment is quite frankly a historical moment where the first Black woman, LGBTQ, transitioned her administration to another Black man, Johnson told reporters after leaving Lightfoots office. Its a very great day for the city of Chicago. We are going to be not only united, were going to be a stronger city, one that the rest of the world can look at as a model. He praised Lightfoot for a gracious welcome and her commitment to make sure a Johnson administration starts off, as he put it, literally on the right foot. Johnson didnt offer much by way of specifics about their conversation. But he did say he felt a flood of emotions arriving at the fifth floor mayors office at City Hall. What this moment means for people around the city who want the city to be united, the real opportunity to bring people together and how the office of the mayor has a role and a responsibility to do that, I really began to feel that once I crossed that threshold, Johnson said. He later released a statement calling the meeting a positive, productive discussion today about the future of our city. Lightfoot later tweeted that she assured her successor that myself and the Mayors Office staff are ready to support him over the next several weeks. Lightfoot lost her reelection bid in the first round of voting on Feb. 28 when she came in third behind Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas and Johnson. Johnson, a 47-year-old Chicago Teachers Union organizer and Cook County Board member, then topped Vallas in a close runoff Tuesday, gaining about 51% of the vote to become the citys next mayor. He will be sworn in next month. Photos: Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - File Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Rain showers in the morning with numerous thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. Potential for severe thunderstorms. High around 75F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms during the evening followed by a few showers overnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 64F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. STATESVILLE EnergyUnited is partnering with outstanding educators to bring creative learning to life. Teachers can now apply for a Bright Ideas education grant of up to $2,000 to fund projects that enhance student success in K-12 classrooms. Applications and more information about the program can be found at www.ncbrightideas.com. Grants are available in all curriculum areas including art, science, history, music and mathematics. EnergyUnited expects to award approximately 50 grants to local teachers during the 2023-24 school year. Over the past 29 years, EnergyUnited has issued more than $1 million for projects across the cooperatives 19-county service area. Bright Ideas grant applications will be accepted through Sept. 15, but teachers are encouraged to apply early. Those who submit their application by the early bird deadline of Aug. 15 will be entered to win one of five $100 Visa gift cards. Supported by all 26 electric cooperatives in North Carolina, Bright Ideas grants have contributed over $15 million to N.C. classrooms, funding a total of 14,200 projects that have benefited well over 3.5 million students statewide since 1994. Support for youth and education is part of EnergyUnited's continued commitment to building a brighter future for the communities it serves. To learn more or to apply, visit ncbrightideas.com. HICKORY Due to the Easter holiday falling on the second Sunday of the month, the branch meeting of the Hickory National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has been moved from April 9 to April 16. The meeting will be held at the Hickory Museum of Art at 3 p.m. in the Coe Gallery. Following a brief business meeting, those in attendance will have a guided tour of the Charles White exhibit. Charles White [1918-1979] is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential African American artists of the 20th Century. The Hickory branch has sponsored one of the pieces. Additionally, the branch wants to remind graduating high school seniors of the availability of applications for scholarships which may be picked up from local high school guidance offices, branch libraries, Morning Star Baptist Church, Hartzell UMC Church or online at hickorynaacp@gmail.com. Three scholarships of $1,000 each will be awarded. Applicants should be 2023 graduating seniors from an accredited area high school and are expected to enroll in a two- or four-year accredited college or university. Applications must be postmarked no later than April 21, 2023. Hickory NAACP branch meetings are open to local residents. Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. Its mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons. Compost will be available at 1171 Boston Road from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays, and 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays each week while supplies last. City staff will load compost onto trucks or trailers. Residents and non-residents may pick up compost. No mulch or chippings will be available. HICKORY The Catawba Valley Community College Small Business Center will host a no-cost Financing Your Business webinar on Thursday, April 13, from 6-8 p.m. The program will be in webinar format, allowing participants to participate from their computers and mobile devices. Get to the heart of business financing in this webinar. Who will give me money for my business idea? How will this business make money? Explore the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of funding sources and how to choose the right one for your business needs. Three more children shot down in school with an assault style weapon. Three school employees shot and killed with the same assault style weapon. Not the first time. Do we have enough people in America that even care about these killings? Do we value protecting guns more than we value protecting innocent lives? Nine-year-old children. In school. Do we even care about the words of the Declaration of Independence that speak of unalienable rights, endowed by our Creator, which firstly lists life? Just look at the voting records of our senators and representatives. They vote to protect the gun lobby. We need the courage to call, email and pressure our politicians to control the scourge of guns in our country or vote every one of them out of office. Assault weapons are designed to kill people and to kill as many as possible in the shortest amount of time. America should be better than this. We owe that to our kids, to the kids still with us and to all the kids we have killed. Robert Kapellusch Newton Local bankers weigh in on the recent collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank in California.The collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank has been regarded as the biggest bank failure since 2008.Bret Burgin, Executive Vice President of First National Bank told the HPO that FNB, as a bank really doesn't have any insight or opinion concerning the bank failures outside what the public has read and heard through the media."We believe the events of the past week were isolated and not a systemic failure of the national financial sector," said Burgin, "thus we would not expect those events to have any effect on our local citizens or economy."K. Kyle Irwin comments, "I am sure many of you have heard of the recent bank failures over the last couple weeks. I can assure you we do not participate in the irresponsible activities of those banks. We take care of our depositor`s money, loan the money out responsibly and invest wisely. We are a community bank that takes care of our communities. It is unfortunate that our bank gets painted with the same brush as the larger banks but we do not have the same business model. Our banks are banks that put customers first and this will always be our priority.As far as affecting our local economy, it should slow down the anticipated rate hikes which could be a boost for commodities. There is still much to play out with these failures but you can be assured that we will continue to take care of our customers like we always have."Irwin, president of Gruver-based Western Bank, is also chairman of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas board of directors for 202223. He officially accepted this position during the associations 48th annual convention held in September.Doug Hale, longtime president of Perryton National Bank, said, There are reports on all banks that are called Uniform Bank Performance Reports. I looked at that on the SVB and it was a profitable bank that was fairly well-managed.Their business model was to lend to venture capitalists and also specialized in technology. Hale noted the chairman had announced they needed to raise $2 billion in capital and when a bank of that size needs to raise capital, its concerning.President of First State Bank Spearman, Brian Gillispie said, "We believe there will be little affect to our local citizens and economy. There have been some customers who have called or come in to ask about FDIC insurance limits and how to maximize the amount of insurance they are eligible for."Gillispie continues, "From what I have read and understand, the two banks that failed, one in California and the other in New York, those failures were not based on the economy or even systemic, but rather on not making good local financial decisions and investments and then a judgement call by their customers as to whether or not they wanted their money to remain with that bank. That situation would not be the case with our local Hansford County banks."You can hear more from KXDJ's Chris Samples by clicking here. New genetic evaluations will be published Tuesday, April 4, for dairy producers to make breeding, culling, and other management decisions with updated predictions of animals genetic merit. Nearly 80 million dairy animals will receive updated evaluations, or proofs, for 50 individual traits and four selection indexes. Our U.S. dairy evaluation system is quite unique compared to other livestock species. Around the world, the U.S. is revered as the premier system, a pioneer and innovator in genetics. Whats the (not-so-secret) secret to that reputation? The U.S. genetic system is a collaboration between dairy producers and several organizations that serve those producers. Not-for-profit organizations with a high level of farmer involvement are responsible for managing animal identification data, editing and aggregating data, and calculating U.S. genetic evaluations. Our dairy community is experienced and advanced when measuring and tracking large amounts of animal data, dating back to the start of milk recording back in 1895 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The unique private-public collaboration with USDA has provided leading genetic research and farm-focused solutions for more than a century. Dairy producers drive our services CDCB and our partners are driven to add value for dairies and to help producers maximize the genetic merit of their animals. Dairy-driven is CDCBs leading organizational value. One way we live that value is through intentional grassroots input advice and questions from the producers who use the genetic evaluations. The CDCB board of directors guides our strategy and priorities. Three of the 12 individuals on CDCBs board are producers that represent a breed association, dairy records provider, or dairy records processing center. Producers currently on the CDCB Board are Jonathan Lamb, Oakfield Corners Dairy in New York; Mark Rodgers, MKVT Polled Holsteins in Vermont; and Dan Sheldon, from Woody Hill Farm in New York. To help ensure our services and evaluations remain relevant for todays dairy farms, CDCB founded a producer advisory committee (PAC) in 2019. In just a few short years, 10 different producers have been involved. The six dairy producers currently serving on the PAC hail from East Coast to West Coast: William Bill Peck , Welcome Stock Farm, New York , Welcome Stock Farm, New York Kent Buttars , Butter Dell Dairy, Utah , Butter Dell Dairy, Utah Spencer Hackett , Melarry Farms, Minnesota , Melarry Farms, Minnesota Lloyd Holterman , Rosy-Lane Holsteins, Wisconsin , Rosy-Lane Holsteins, Wisconsin Tom Kestell , Ever-Green-View-Farm, Wisconsin , Ever-Green-View-Farm, Wisconsin Sean Tollenaar, Tollcrest Dairy, California I recently asked Bill Peck, the PAC chair, why he makes time to serve on this committee. It is very important for CDCB to understand and get a sense from producers, those that are out every day in the barn, milking the cows, as far as to what genetic changes or benefits we are seeing and what direction we need to go in, he responded. We work as a team of dairymen from different parts of the country, so we get to hear different perspectives. Mark Rodgers, a producer from Vermont, echoed Pecks sentiment, Being a farmer representative on the CDCB board allows me to explain the practical application both how we get data into programs and how we use the data on farm to advance genetic improvement and the dairy industry. The need for independent evaluations Each time our producer advisory committee meets, they bring up the importance of independent, third-party genetic evaluations. These impartial evaluations are the foundation for genetic programs and products from breed associations, artificial insemination companies, and dairy records providers. As producers, its important to know that CDCB evaluations are the gold standard, added Peck. These are non-partisan, non-interested parties that are taking this data, doing the research, and trying to better all dairy breeds. The most important thing is that we have an unbiased view, an arbitrator per se, to help us go in the right direction. We need CDCB bringing all this information in and putting it together in an unbiased form for we as producers to use. Whats next on the genetic horizon? Our producer advisers and CDCBs board directs our priorities for research and development of new traits. CDCBs current research is focused in five areas. Mobility and hoof health traits: Genetic selection for better hoof health is one opportunity to reduce lameness, which affects about 50% of dairy cows. To identify and measure a genetic trait, a data pipeline is necessary to capture hoof health observations (phenotypes) and genotypes, and we are working with hoof trimmers, veterinarians, and producers to collect this data from different systems into one pipeline. Milking speed: Producers actively use milking speed metrics to guide management and economic decisions. Our long-term goal is to provide accurate, low-cost genomic evaluations for milking speed that can be predicted at birth, and to measure milking speed through quantitative data collected in all breeds through modern milking systems. Resistance to Johnes disease: We are exploring genetic selection to help reduce the incidence of Johnes disease, with the goal of adding a Johnes resistance trait to the six CDCB health traits currently available. Boosting feed efficiency data: The Feed Saved trait debuted in December 2020 to measure and document variance in cows ability to convert feed to milk so we can breed more feed-efficient cows, save on feed costs, and reduce dairys environmental footprint. Mitigating methane emissions: Customers and policymakers expect the dairy industry to minimize enteric methane emissions, and genetics certainly plays a role. Through collection of methane emission data on a robust number of genotyped cows, we can develop national genomic evaluations for methane emissions and breed for lower emitting cows. Our goal is to identify traits that are important on dairy farms, have genetic variation in the current population, can be accurately measured, and help maintain or improve the appeal of dairy products in the marketplace. With our research partners and data providers, CDCB continues to live our dairy-driven value as we research and develop new traits and better evaluations to benefit dairy farmers. Meanwhile, watch for the new April 4 genetic evaluations at www.uscdcb.com and in reports by Hoards Dairyman and industry organizations. To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com. (c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2023 April 3, 2023 Friday, April 7 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination. Hot dogs at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, will be sold along with fried bologna and barbecue sandwiches and desserts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 8 The Piedmont Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. to noon at 518 Winecoff School Road. It features lots of local produce, meat, flowers and other products. Hot Dogs at Center United Methodist Church at 1119 Union St. S., are offered on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Dine in and take out. Call-in orders are welcomed at 704-782-1785. Monday, April 10 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination. Tuesday, April 11 TOPS #437 (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets every Tuesday at 10 a.m. (weigh-in begins at 9:30 a.m.) at Lakeview Baptist Church, 2532 Lane St., Kannapolis. Visitors are welcome. If you need help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member or friend, you are invited to join us for A GriefShare Support Group at Pitts Baptist Church, 140 Pitts School Road NW, Concord, weekly on Tuesdays through May 30 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. For more information, call Linda Bounds at 704-793-8155. Wednesday, April 12 The Red Cross will have a blood drive from 2:30 to- 7 p.m., at All Saints Episcopal Church, 525 Lake Concord. Book a time to give by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS. Thursday, April 13 Epworth UMCs famous hot dogs and taco soup, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1030 Burrage Road NE, Concord. For free delivery, call 704-786-5500. The Red Cross will have a blood drive at 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Honda Cars of Concord, 7650 Bruton Smith Boulevard. Book a time to give by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS. Friday, April 14 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination. Hot dogs at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, will be sold along with fried bologna and barbecue sandwiches and desserts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 15 The Piedmont Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to noon at 518 Winecoff School Road. It features lots of local produce, meat, flowers and other products. Hot Dogs at Center United Methodist Church at 1119 Union St. S., are offered on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Dine in and take out. Call-in orders are welcomed at 704-782-1785. Monday, April 17 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination. The Red Cross will have a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Charlotte Motor Speedway, 5555 Concord Parkway South. Book a time to give by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS. Tuesday, April 18 TOPS #437 (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets every Tuesday at 10 a.m. (weigh-in begins at 9:30 a.m.) at Lakeview Baptist Church, 2532 Lane St., Kannapolis. Visitors are welcome. If you need help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member or friend, you are invited to join us for A GriefShare Support Group at Pitts Baptist Church, 140 Pitts School Road NW, Concord, weekly on Tuesdays through May 30 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. For more information, call Linda Bounds at 704-793-8155. Wednesday, April 19 The Cabarrus Senior Center Photo Club is alive and clicking away. If you like taking photos, come join the members on the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 1:30-3 p.m. at the Cabarrus Senior Center, 331 Corban Ave. SE, Concord, and share your photographic creativity. Whether you are a seasoned photographer or strictly amateur, all are welcome. Thursday, April 20 Epworth UMCs famous hot dogs and taco soup, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1030 Burrage Road NE, Concord. For free delivery, call 704-786-5500. Friday, April 21 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination. Hot dogs at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, will be sold along with fried bologna and barbecue sandwiches and desserts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 22 The Piedmont Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to noon at 518 Winecoff School Road. It features lots of local produce, meat, flowers and other products. Hot Dogs at Center United Methodist Church at 1119 Union St. S., are offered on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Dine in and take out. Call-in orders are welcomed at 704-782-1785. Monday, April 24 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination. Tuesday, April 25 TOPS #437 (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets every Tuesday at 10 a.m. (weigh-in begins at 9:30 a.m.) at Lakeview Baptist Church, 2532 Lane St., Kannapolis. Visitors are welcome. If you need help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member or friend, you are invited to join us for A GriefShare Support Group at Pitts Baptist Church, 140 Pitts School Road NW, Concord, weekly on Tuesdays through May 30 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. For more information, call Linda Bounds at 704-793-8155. Thursday, April 27 Epworth UMCs famous hot dogs and taco soup, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1030 Burrage Road NE, Concord. For free delivery, call 704-786-5500. Friday, April 28 The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination. Hot dogs at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, will be sold along with fried bologna and barbecue sandwiches and desserts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 29 The Piedmont Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to noon at 518 Winecoff School Road. It features lots of local produce, meat, flowers and other products. Hot Dogs at Center United Methodist Church at 1119 Union St. S., are offered on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Dine in and take out. Call-in orders are welcomed at 704-782-1785. Got news or events? Does your community group or nonprofit agency have an upcoming event that would be of interest to the public? Email it to mplemmons@independenttribune.com. Eight-year-old Zack Otto had never hung upside down. He didnt even know the ride, called the Gear Spin, twisted and turned upside down. After getting off the ride with a grin, he pointed to a big, blue roller coaster and emphatically said hed ride that next. Ive never actually been on an upside down ride in my entire life and Im 8 years old, Otto said. Now I know the feeling I dont know why I was so scared. Twelve-year-old Audrey Otto was equally as surprised. As soon as she got off, she bolted in the direction of a friend to go back through the line. Carowinds opened its new Aeronautica Landing flight-themed area at the park Thursday, which includes four new rides, a redesigned attraction and a new ride that will open at the end of spring. The area includes new games and a new culinary experience that will serve craft beer and cocktails. Aeronautica Landing celebrates the influence of aviation history in the Carolinas, said Manny Gonzalez, Carowinds vice-president and general manager. It seemed fitting that we would do an aeronautics-themed plan because of North Carolinas influence on flight with the Wright brothers, said Ken Parks, corporate director of creative development of Cedar Fair, the company that owns Carowinds. This plan fits in perfectly for what were doing here. Aeronautica Landing is a three-acre area that replaces the Country Crossroads County Fair that was added in 1979. Carowinds, built in 1973, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The park is located in Fort Mill, South Carolina, near the North Carolina border. The new rides include: Hover and Dodge redesigned futuristic bumper cars with a light show and music Gear Spin propulsion spinning and speeding engine The Airwalker airborne acrobatics Air Racers speedsters of the skies Windstar hang-gliding adventure where the rider controls the motion Gyro Force (opening in late Spring) rotating aircraft engine The new area also includes Terminal A, a unique food concept that harkens back to the golden age of air travel when top-tier service and luxury accommodations were the norm. Clayton Lawrence, Cedar Fair corporate creative producer, said the difference between the new area and other attractions in the park is the accommodations offered to non-riders. Some of the rides are very intense, Lawrence said. You can feel like youre in the story, hangout; we have plenty of shade. Brian Oerding, assistant general manager of Carowinds, said so far, the feedback from Aeronautica has been positive. Everybody who has come out and visited has had a really fantastic time, he said. Everybody has walked away with a smile, which is really rewarding for us. A man intentionally chopped down trees with a chainsaw so theyd fall on newly built homes in a North Carolina neighborhood, a police chief said. A builder first discovered that a home in East Spencer had been damaged by a tree on March 24, East Spencer Police Chief John H. Fewell, Jr. told McClatchy News. At first, Fewell said, he thought the damage was caused by a weather event or an ... The government approved a new gas pricing formula to cap prices of piped cooking gas, based on the recommendations of the Kirit Parikh committee on natural gas. "As per the decision taken by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), natural gas produced from legacy or old fields, known as administered pricing mechanism (APM) gas, will now be indexed to the crude oil price, instead of pricing it based on gas prices in surplus nations such as the US, Canada, and Russia," Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur told media persons after the cabinet meeting.From April 1, APM gas will be priced at 10 percent of the monthly average of the Indian crude basket. The rate such arrived at however will be capped at $6.5 per million British thermal unit as against the current gas price of $8.57 per mmBtu. Rates will be decided every month instead of the current practice of bi-annual revision. Gas produced from new wells or well interventions in the nomination fields of the ONGC and the OIL, would be allowed a premium of 20 percent over the APM price.This step will lead to a significant decrease in prices of piped natural gas (PNG) for households and compressed natural gas (CNG) for transport. The new guidelines are intended to ensure stable pricing regime for domestic gas consumers while at the same time providing adequate protection to producers from adverse market fluctuation with incentives for enhancing production, official sources said.The government has targetted to increase the share of natural gas in primary energy mix in India from the current 6.5 percent to 15 percent by 2030. The reforms shall help expand the consumption of natural gas and will contribute to the achievement of the target of emission reduction and net zero, sources said. The reduced prices shall also lower the fertiliser subsidy burden and help the domestic power sector.With the provision of a floor in gas prices as well as provision for 20 percent premium for new wells, this reform will incentivize the ONGC and the OIL to make additional long term investments in the upstream sector leading to greater production of natural gas and consequent reduction, official sources explained. The Kirit Parikh committee, which was set up by the government to review the pricing formula for gas produced in the country, had recommended complete liberalization of natural gas prices by January 1, 2027. The panel had submitted its report to the government in November 2022. Every now and then something comes along which is a genuine must-have, that can benefit you over and over. Energy solutions company, EcoFlow, has launched its new RIVER 2 series of portable power stations, precisely one such thing. Here's what it is and why you need it. iTWire previously looked at the EcoFlow RIVER range of portable power chargers and found them superbly useful, and truly a must-have for anybody who needs serious power on the go or as a backup in their own home for outages. Its successor, the RIVER 2, is now out and if you rely on electricity, you really need to check it out. To be clear, these are not simple USB-based power banks that you can carry in your pocket and potentially charge your phone twice over; the EcoFlow RIVER 2 range brings much larger capacity and is adorned with power outlets that cover AC, DC, USB, and wireless charging. The smallest model, the EcoFlow RIVER 2, can charge your phone 19 times over yet weighs only 3.5kg. Its bigger brother, the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro, will charge your phone a whopping 57 times. In between, the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max provides 38 recharges. Now, imagine instead you're camping over a long weekend - such as this Easter - and your family and friends are with you. With one RIVER 2 device, you can keep all your phones and tablets charged across the entire weekend. Phones are well and good, and something we can all relate to, but thats only scratching the surface. The RIVER 2 has power sockets for you to plug in your car fridge, a pressure cooker, a refrigerator, and a PC - if it plugs into a power point then it plugs into the RIVER 2. You can run a typical 500W PC for almost an hour and a half on the RIVER 2 Max. Or, you could plug in a 110W 50 TV and watch TV for close to six hours. Sure, you could watch TV while camping, but what all this really means is the EcoFlow RIVER 2 range gives you options, flexibility, security, and safety. This is especially important if you have medical equipment; for instance, you can power a 40W CPAP machine for five hours on the smallest model, and three times that on the largest. Thats valuable peace of mind ensuring a consistent electricity source no matter if your home experiences a power outage. In fact, iTWire has been using a RIVER 2 Max ourselves. We've used it to keep children happy during long car rides and days visiting grandparents, ensuring mobile devices last the distance. Weve used it at a drive-in theatre to power a portable radio without any risk of flattening the car battery. And, significantly, when we lost power right before dinner time last weekend the RIVER 2 Max came to the rescue. With a few extension leads and power boards, we could run the refrigerator, microwave, and some lamps as well as the Internet router and a TV afterwards, until power was restored. It was the comfiest power outage Ive ever experienced. It's easy for a technical site like iTWire to simply rattle off the technical specs for equipment that comes our way - and I will list them below - but numbers only tell you part of the story. In reality, the RIVER 2 devices are not simply portable power stations; they are quality-of-life enhancements that bring you and your family or business greater confidence and choice. You can be sure you have power when you need it - perhaps even saving a life; you can be sure you are protected against unexpected circumstances and add modern conveniences to your outdoor adventures. You can do things you wouldn't have thought of before such as having a family movie night outside. Let's check out the specs: RIVER 2 RIVER 2 Max RIVER 2 Pro Capacity 256Wh 512Wh 768Wh Rated output 300W 500W 800W Max AC power boosted by X-Boost 600W 1000W 1600W Dimensions 245x214x142mm 270x260x196mm 270x260x226mm Weight 3.5kg 6.1kg 7.8kg Charge time - AC 1 hour 1 hour 1.17 hours Charge time - Car 3 hours 6 hours 9 hours AC outputs 1 2 3 DC outputs 1 1 2 USB-A outputs 2 3 3 USB-C outputs 1 1 1 Wireless charging Yes Yes Yes Recommended solar charger 110W 220W (110W economical option) 220W The RIVER 2 builds on the previous EcoFlow RIVER stations with a longer-lasting LFP battery with 80%+ capacity after 3000 cycles, and industry-leading X-Boost technology that recharges faster than ever before. The battery has over 10 years of life in it. As with its predecessor, you can charge the RIVER 2 devices with your home electricity and a standard power cable, but it also features a combo input that allows you to charge it from a car or a solar panel. The cable is included, and the solar panel is available separately or in a combo bundle. Happily, sunlight is abundant in Australia so a solar panel is a wise investment and absolutely maximises your charging capabilities out in the wild. iTWire has also been using the EcoFlow 110W solar panel which works with the RIVER 2 range, of course, but also other EcoFlow models, using a standard and consistent interface. Whats more, theyre chainable so you can link multiple solar panels in parallel. The solar panel is really nifty and thoughtfully designed. Yes, it collects solar power - as it should - but EcoFlow has also made it fold up easily, included a kickstand to help you stand it up, and provided an elegant padded carrying case to help you transport it safely. Further, its waterproof so you dont need to take it down and put it up again should you find yourself in bad weather. Other, higher-power, models are available too. Moreover, EcoFlow, the company itself, lives by its commitment to making eco-friendly energy solutions easier to access than ever before; the standard RIVER 2 model retails for $649, while the largest model, the RIVER 2 Pro, retails for $1,399. The EcoFlow solar panel retails for $499. You will see the value of your investment over and over again. Additionally, EcoFlow has also donated portable power stations to help in real crisis situations. After the 2021 Texas snowstorms triggered wide-scale power outages, EcoFlow donated every single portable power station in its Texas warehouse to the Houston Food Bank. In 2020 EcoFlow donated more than a thousand to the makeshift hospitals set up in Wuhan, supporting vital medical equipment. For my money, the EcoFlow RIVER 2 range is a wise purchase that every home should have. Knowing your purchase goes to humanitarian causes as well as R&D is the icing on top. MATTOON Mattoon is the recipient of a $150,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation Enhancement Program, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced. The grant is for the construction of a 2.9 mile asphalt trail and widening the trail on McFall Road. It was one of many projects statewide sharing $127.9 million in funding to support alternate means of transportation and enhance quality of life. In Shelbyville, the $3 million grant will construct 5-foot-wide bike lanes on both the westbound and eastbound sides of Sixth Street, and 5-foot-wide bike lanes on both lanes of travel on Washington Street. The Sullivan Streetscape Project received a grant of $1,923,687 to replace old deteriorated sidewalks with Americans With Disabilities Act-compliant sidewalks that includes stamped boulevard, ramps, detectable warnings, and curb and gutter and to install pedestrian lighting. R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. has been ordered by a federal judge to pay a modest patent royalty to a subsidiary of rival Philip Morris International. However, Judge Leonie Brinkeina of the Eastern District of Virginia denied in a March 30 ruling Philip Morris Products SAs request for a permanent injunction and a significant higher patent royalty. Reynolds Vapor is required to pay a royalty of 1.8% of net sales for infringing on a patent used in Vuse Alto cartridges, and a 2.2% royalty for infringing on a patent used in Vuse Solo G2 cartridges. The royalties will be enforced for the remaining life of the patents. The royalties will be paid quarterly, retroactive to June 16. PMI said that if a permanent injunction was not approved, it requested a 33.5% royalty on the Alto cartridges and a 3.75% royalty on the Solo G2 cartridges. The royalties are on top of jury awards in 2022 that totaled $10.91 million for the Alto infringement and $3.16 million for the Solo G2 infringement. PMI said in a statement that while we continue to review the courts decision, we reiterate our gratitude to the jury for its finding that BATs affiliate RJR infringed two of our patents with its Vuse products, its confirmation of BATs obligation to pay us damages, and its vindication of our industry-leading investments in smoke-free technologies, such as e-vapor. Reynolds Vapor said in a statement that while we welcome the decision to reject an injunction, we are disappointed with the underlying verdict regarding patent validity and infringement. R.J. Reynolds Vapor is currently evaluating next steps, including the possibility of an appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, seeking reversal of the jurys verdict regarding patent validity and infringement. No irreparable injury Brinkeina determined that PMI has not established that it has suffered irreparable injury from the patent infringements. The judge wrote that (PMI) did not have a significant market (in the U.S.) before Reynolds infringed on its patents, has not demonstrated that it has brand recognition in the U.S. for its products, and has not provided compelling evidence that shows the loss of goodwill in the domestic market. Brinkeina also determined that the publics interest in having potentially harm reduction Alto and Solo G2 cartridges available at retail outweighs ordering a permanent injunction given the undisputed popularity of Reynolds Vuse products. In the latest Nielsen report on convenience store sales of tobacco products, top-selling Vuse holds a 42.2% market share, compared with Juul at 26.1%. Accordingly, the permanent injunction sought by (PMI) would remove a popular and widely used combustible alternative from the U.S. market, which could pose a risk of reversion to combustible cigarettes and consequently harm public health, Brinkeina wrote. Both parties also acknowledge the potential for Juul to be removed from the market because of the FDAs marketing denial order, which has been stayed pending ongoing administrative review. PMI also cited in pursuing a higher royalty penalty its plans to introduce its version of an e-cigarette, initially branded as VEEV, into the U.S. market that could utilize technology involved in the patent disputes. Reynolds argued that because VEEV is not available in the U.S., PMI has not presented evidence that the two disputed cartridges would take away any perceived U.S. sales and market share. Brinkeina wrote that PMI, as of March 30, has not apprised the court of any other steps it has taken to introduce VEEV into the U.S. Other patent rulings In September, a federal jury for the U.S. Middle District of N.C. determined that Reynolds Vapor Co. owes Altria Client Services $95.23 million in damages involving a separate electronic-cigarette patent-infringement complaint. The jury determined the Vuse Alto product infringes on three patents cited in the complaint filed in May 2020. Altria said in a statement the damages cover past infringements through June 30, 2022. Post-trial proceedings will address ongoing damages through the expiration of Altrias patents in 2035, Altria said. At trial, Altria urged the jury to find a royalty rate of 5.25%, which the jury accepted in returning its award of past damages. The complaint centers on three patents awarded to Altria Client Services by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office based on filings dating back to April 2015. Altria alleged Reynolds Vapor violated Altrias patents covering the pod assembly used in Vuse Alto. Reynolds Vapors infringement ... has been and continues to be deliberate, willful and unlicensed, according to the lawsuit. Altria and its U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. subsidiary said the Vuse e-cigarette and Velo smokeless patents in dispute fit into three groups. * Four patents involving e-vapor devices that have a battery, heater and associated liquid-filled pods. * Two patents involving e-vapor devices with specific heating and mouthpiece designs. Those patents target Reynolds Vapors Alto and Vibe styles of Vuse. * Three patents involving a container for a smokeless pouch product having a non-hermetic seal for freshness. Those patents target Velo. The Vuse Alto is a flagship e-vapor product of RJR Vapor that (British American Tobacco) has repeatedly touted to investors as critical to the Reynolds e-vapor business, Altria said in May 2020. Reynolds said in a May 2020 statement that it believes the lawsuit was filed in retaliation for patent infringement complaints filed by Reynolds in April 2020 for infringement by IQOS of six Reynolds patents. In November 2021, the U.S. Trade Representative affirmed the pivotal legal victory for British American Tobacco Plc involving its patent-infringement lawsuit against rival Philip Morris International Inc. On Sept. 29, 2021, the U.S. International Trade Commission issued a final determination of a violation of the Tariff Act of 1930 by Philip Morris USA Inc. and Altria Client Services LLC as it related to two BAT product patents. As a result of the ITC ruling, PM USA is barred from importing PMIs IQOS 2.4, IQOS 3, IQOS 3 Duo heat-not-burn cigarette products. It also was ordered to halt future sales of those products marketed as Marlboro HeatSticks already in the U.S. The next legal step is a likely appeal by Altria to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which handles patent lawsuits. That process could take up to a year to reach a decision, with the likelihood of a successful appeal not favorable, according to industry analysts. Piedmont Triad International Airport is in contention for a 240-job, $50 million maintenance facility by U.K. aerospace manufacturer Marshall Aerospace USA LLC, according to a legal notice posted Friday by the Guilford County Board of Commissioners. The commissioners will hold a public hearing on an economic-incentive package at 5:30 p.m. April 20 in their meeting room at 301 W. Market St. in Greensboro. The commissioners would offer up to $308,879 in incentives, plus a $124,000 local matching fund utility grant. In exchange, Marshall would pledge to create 240 full-time jobs. The legal notice indicates the Greensboro City Council is likely to offer an incentive package. A state Commerce Department incentive package also is likely from the Job Development Grant program given the legal notice says Marshall is considering other U.S. sites. According to the legal notice, the local approval of incentives does not commit the company to locate in North Carolina. However, the vast majority of companies tend to commit to a local project often within days or weeks of being approved for local and state incentives. Marshall could be immediately reached for comment on the project. PTI executive director Kevin Baker said Friday he cannot comment on any specific project or projects, per Piedmont Triad Airport Authority policies. I can say that we continue to prepare the airport to compete for all types of aerospace projects, and we actively pursue potential companies worldwide to be important employers at the airport and for our community, Baker said. Marshall background According to its website, Marshall Aerospace has operations in the U.K., Europe, Middle East, Canada and U.S. Its primary customers are Air Forces across the globe. The primary focus of the Marshall Aerospace business is the delivery of routine maintenance, modifications and repairs to the iconic Hercules C-130 transport aircraft that has been in service in some fashion since the early 1970s. The team has a hard-earned reputation as a global authority on the C-130 platform, boasting unrivaled engineering experience and expertise that makes it hard to beat, according to the company. Marshall Aerospace continues to cement its market-leading position, winning new customers and helping to keep their fleets relevant and ready for service. Marshall also operates Aerostructures, which specializes in the design and manufacture of auxiliary fuel systems and tanks that are used to extend multi-mission maritime aircraft flight range. We are incredibly proud of the work that we do to keep our customer aircraft mission ready enabling them to protect people in critical situations, according to a website statement from Neil McManus, the companys managing director. The company recently opened an Aerostructures plant in the U.K. The facility houses production of auxiliary fuels tanks for the P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, a military derivative of Boeings civilian next-generation 737-800. PTI presence PTI remains the states third largest airport overall and third for commercial service, at $9.3 billion in economic impact in 2021, according to an N.C. Aviation Division report released in January. That is up 7.6% from the 2019 report. However, PTI was overshadowed by the $31.77 billion impact at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport and $17 billion at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Included in that category for PTI would be the FedEx cargo-sorting hub, the HAECO maintenance facilities, the HondaJet manufacturing operations, and other companies with operations on its campus. HAECO Americas had as of March 2021 nearly 3,000 of the states 4,583 maintenance and repair workers. North Carolina ranks fifth in the nation in aerospace maintenance and repair employment HAECO also has operations in High Point and Wallburg. The Federal Aviation Administration defines general aviation as including all segments of the aviation industry except commercial air carriers and military. That can include: production and sale of general aviation aircraft, avionics and other equipment; support services, such as maintenance and repair, flight schools, such as training of new pilots and pilots interested in additional ratings or certification; sightseeing; movement of large heavy loads by helicopter; flying for personal or business/corporate reasons; and emergency medical services. The 2021 report determined there were 21,450 jobs connected directly or indirectly to PTI, down from 30,015 in the 2019 report. Baker said in January that the latest count is about 8,600 jobs directly connected to PTI. That number is expected to increase by at least 1,761 by the end of the decade from Boom Supersonics planned $500 million superfactory. What it could mean Its not surprising that Marshall is considering PTI for the maintenance facility given the burgeoning aerotropolis and advanced manufacturing already in the Triad, said John H. Boyd, a global site-selection expert with The Boyd Co. of Boca Raton, Fla. Even more so than pharma and biotech, the aerospace industry given its very demanding, precision skill sets in manufacturing and engineering tends to cluster when making location decisions, Boyd said. Booms recent groundbreaking at Piedmont Triad International Airport is already having downstream benefits in the form of UK-based Marshall Aerospace shortlisting the airport site for a new aircraft maintenance facility. Boyd said he is familiar with Marshall through his firms site-selection work with Boeing. Marshall is a top-notch, privately held player in aerospace field, Boyd said. The incentive package being offered by the state and local authorities is on point in a sector that will continue to expand in the Triad region. The aerospace industry is coming back very strong from the pandemic lull and is on an impressive trajectory. Boom is a terrific win for Greensboro but it is only part of the story here. Having HondaJet and HAECO as current tenants, and Boom Supersonic on its way, it is not surprising that PTI has begun to attract wide interest from a number of suitors, said Keith Debbage, a joint professor of Geography & Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality at UNC Greensboro. The patient acquisition of land near the airport suitable for new aviation and aerospace firms has also certainly helped our case. It is the result of a lot of careful planning and visioning by the major leaders of our region. Long may it continue, Debbage said. GREENSBORO - Watching video footage of a traffic stop that resulted in the shooting death of a 17-year-old by a Greensboro police officer will be difficult and disturbing. But in many ways, its necessary to understand what we ask of police and the split second life-and-death decisions they sometimes make. A Superior Court judge in Guilford County ruled Thursday that body cam footage of the traffic stop last August that led to the death of Nasanto Crenshaw will be released to the public no later than April 25. District Attorney Avery Crump announced late last month that criminal charges against the officer were not warranted. Prosecutors surely reviewed the same footage about to be released as part of their investigation. After careful review, although tragic, the use of deadly force by Cpl. (M.L.) Sletten under these circumstances was justified, a statement from Crumps office read. Sletten believed that Crenshaw, who was in a Nissan Altima that had been reported stolen, was trying to run him over and fired in self-defense, police have said. Crenshaws supporters maintain that he was trying to get away. Detours and delays. Again. WINSTON-SALEM - Stop me if youve heard this one before. Contractors hired by the N.C Department of Transportation will close sections of Interstate 40 next week for road work. On April 10-12, one of two lanes on I-40 west from Highpoint Road to Interstate 74/U.S. 311 will shut down from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. And on April 11-12, the offramp from I-40 west to I-74/U.S. 311 east is scheduled to be closed from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. The official reason for the closures is to allow crews to work on road improvement and bridge preservation. What commuters and locals know all too well is that its all tied it to the ongoing construction of the eastern leg of the Northern Beltway, ring road around Winston-Salem that really should have been completed decades ago. Determining the feasibility of getting the Triads three largest cities interconnected with passenger rail service is the goal of a bill recently filed by three Democrat state senators. Senate Bill 520 also known as the Commuter Rail Study Piedmont Triad is sponsored by Sens. Michael Garrett and Gladys Robinson of Guilford County and Paul Lowe of Forsyth County. The bill would require the N.C. Department of Transportation to study the cost and potential economic benefits of a commuter rail service linking Winston-Salem, Greensboro and High Point. The study also would measure potential population growth through 2050. We are very interested in developing rail connections with our sister cities in the Triad and state, Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines said. Certainly, having good data and strategy will be important. When Winston-Salem finished a $12 million renovation of Union Station off Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in 2019, the city was aiming for a front door to future passenger rail service. The last train with passengers stopped at Union Station in 1970 during a route from Greensboro to Asheville. In December 2021, Winston-Salem leaders unveiled plans to encourage the revival of passenger rail service to the city. They acknowledged at the time it wouldnt be easy to accomplish. However, their confidence was stoked by the congressional passage in 2021 of a $1 trillion infrastructure bill that earmarks $66 billion for Amtrak, the nations passenger rail operator. Amtraks corridor vision includes additions to the passenger rail system in North Carolina that would extend service to both Asheville and Wilmington, and give Raleigh a connection to points north through Richmond, Va. However, the plan calls for no train station in Winston-Salem. Similarly, a state plan for rail unveiled in 2015 shows potential lines connecting Asheville to the existing passenger rail service through Salisbury and Wilmington through Selma and Raleigh. Winston-Salem would keep its Amtrak Connector bus service through the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation with potential extensions but no train to Wilkesboro, Boone and Statesville. Joines has said the citys biggest challenge is convincing the railroad that it makes sense for them. What I have been told is that the railroads have not included us on the list because of their concerns about the marketability of it. **** Amtrak and the state Department of Transportation are not the only elements in the equation: Norfolk Southern owns the rail line to Winston-Salem and would have to approve allowing a passenger train to use it. They indicated a few years ago that they did not want to share the existing freight line with passenger rail, said Pat Ivey, a division engineer for the Transportation Department. There would have to be a new corridor for passenger traffic if the Norfolk Southern stance did not change. Council Member D.D. Adams said during a December 2021 discussion that passenger rail is vital to the citys economic future, citing business expansion in the Triad and Triangle. You cant move people and goods in the world we live in if you dont have rail, Adams said. Nobody looks at you. The federal investment in Amtrak, in turn, spurred the March 6 announcement from Siemens Mobility that it was building a $220 million plant in Lexington Industrial Park as its first East Coast operations. The manufacturer plans to begin production in 2024 of passenger rail cars with a projected workforce of roughly 500 employees. The plants creation is intended to meet increasing domestic demand for passenger trains, particularly in metro areas along the East Coast. Now is the moment in time for rail in America, said Marc Buncher, chief executive of Siemens Mobility North America. **** But not everyone feels that way. At least not those Triad residents who have a dependence and devotion to driving. According Keith Debbage, a UNCG professor who specializes in regional economic development issues, trains as a mode of transit is not as feasible in small- to mid-sized cities. Commuter rail service in the Triad is always a tough sell because of the multi-centered and dispersed nature of the urban system, Debbage said. It is not a surprise that in North Carolina light rail only exists in Charlotte. Unlike the Triad, all roads (and rail lines) lead to Charlotte since it is a concentrated hub and spoke system with one dominant city. The end result is we historically have not had the type of density needed to generate high rail transit passenger demand. However, Debbage said the planned creation of between 1,750 and 2,400 jobs at Piedmont Triad International Airport by Boom Supersonic and about 2,100 jobs at the Toyota North Carolina electric vehicle battery plant in Randolph County could be enough reason to take another look to see if it is more feasible now, and into the future, as our city centers and major corporate suburban sites continue to densify. In a June 2021 opinion piece for the Winston-Salem Journal, local architect Glenn Fulk wrote that Winston-Salem and Concord are the states only top-10 metro areas not getting direct Amtrak service out of the 2021 transportation infrastructure funding. Were also not included on the proposed high-speed rail network even though there has been a vocal push from Charlotte business leaders for a high-speed rail network connecting their city to Winston-Salem and Raleigh, Fulk wrote. It appears that when our nation is poised to pass a once-in-a-lifetime infrastructure bill, Winston-Salem is seemingly nowhere to be found. Were not even on the map. Urban sprawl could take on a whole new meaning for the Triad and central North Carolina if projected housing and population growth patterns come to fruition by 2050. It could lead to if not make necessary the intertwining of the Triads economy with Charlotte and the Triangle into what a UNC-Chapel Hill demographer calls a megalopolis. Such a region, based mostly on the Interstate 85 corridor, could resemble the urban thoroughfare that connects Baltimore and Washington with New York and Boston, said Rebecca Tippett, director of an organization called Carolina Demography. It also could lead to the swallowing up of small- to medium-size communities, such as Burlington, Lexington and Salisbury, which are between the three urban hubs. Those communities likely would maintain their independence, but lose a portion of their identity. Michael Walden, an economics professor at N.C. State, said he could see the development of a megalopolis similar to the Washington-Boston corridor. It could have limited open space, still big cities but a blur of lower-density development in between, and commuting time would skyrocket, Walden said. That potential for further interstate congestion, Walden said, would make options for mass transit look much better. The city of Winston-Salem is set to make its biggest investment yet in electric vehicles. Officials are asking for city councils approval to request $274,000 in federal funds to buy four EVs for employee use along with a pair of charging stations. The purchase would bring the citys electric-vehicle fleet to six. The cost will be covered by the citys share of Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program funding made available through the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The request is on the agenda for a meeting Monday of the councils Community Development, Housing and General Government Committee. Staff plans to purchase different makes and models in order to assess which vehicles are a good fit for various operations within the city and better plan for future EV purchases, Assistant City Manager Johnnie Taylor and Office of Sustainability Director Helen Peplowski say in a supporting document. The pair of Level 2 chargers each able to accommodate two EVs at the same will take several hours to fully power up vehicles. That means employees will be able to park and plug in at the end of the day and return in the morning to a fully charged vehicle. Most moderately priced EVs have ranges to about 200 to 350 miles. The city now owns a Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt, two of the most-affordable EVs on the market. As of now, plans are to split the new electric vehicles between the citys Office of Sustainability, Fleet Services and utilities departments, Peplowski said Friday. Our office has worked closely with Fleet (Services) on these plans, she added. Progress varies Some clean-energy advocates have criticized the city for not shifting to EVs fast enough. It turns out Winston-Salem isnt the only local government still tapping the brakes on the transition. While many municipalities are increasing alternative fuel and zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) for fleets, no cities are purchasing 100% ZEVs, the city notes in an analysis of sustainability efforts in two-dozen North Carolina communities, which also will be introduced at Mondays meeting. Charlottes 2030 goal for a zero-emissions fleet is the most ambitious among the local communities included in Winston-Salems 23-page North Carolina Sustainability Benchmarking Report, which is based on voluntary responses to a battery of questions. Leaders in Mecklenburg County, which includes Charlotte, have a 2035 carbon-free vehicle target. Winston-Salem is among eight communities in the report to set a 2050 deadline for all-ZEV fleets. Except for Charlotte which the report identified as an outlier because it expects to have 100 EVs in its fleet by the end of the current fiscal year the average number of zero-emissions vehicles per local government in the study was between six and seven. It is also important to note that while almost all municipalities are pursuing alternative fuel vehicles, implementation progress varies, the report notes. Some municipalities are working to acquire their first fleet EVs, some are pursuing hybrids and other alternative fuel vehicles, and others (are) approaching electrification more holistically. After being criticized last October for a nearly $1.7 million deal to buy 45 traditional SUVs for the Winston-Salem Police Department, the city followed up a month later by agreeing to purchase eight hybrids and scaled back a plan to buy dozens of all-gasoline pickup trucks while it explores alternatives. One approach to drive alternative fuel vehicle purchases is to establish a version of a green fleet purchasing policy, whether formal (or) informal, the city said in its report, which singled out Buncombe Countys process that determines vehicle replacement based on the lowest emission vehicle available that still meets business needs. Wilfred Dean DeVries January 27, 1933 - March 31, 2023 Wilfred Dean DeVries was born Jan 27, 1933, to Fred and Emma DeVries, the 7th of their 8 children. He was 19 years younger than his oldest sibling. In 1934 his younger brother Norman was born, completing the family and the two 'little boys' would spend their youth with that moniker. Cortland, Nebraska was home, even when he moved into an assisted living facility in Lincoln in 2021. Wilfred passed away on March 31, 2023. He was a Renaissance Man. Wilfred had a shock of wavy white hair and a steam whistle for a doorbell. On the farm he greeted visitors in overalls and a smile. Leaving his beloved farm was done sparingly, requiring special occasions such as Husker Harvest Days or the Camp Creek Thresher Show. Each meal out with family and friends was a special occasion as well, especially when it involved his favorite Culver's chocolate ice cream topped by Reese's peanut butter cups. He knew hard work right from the start. Born into a construction family, his father along with brothers and sisters touched many of the homes and barns in Gage county today with their family business Fred DeVries and Sons. Work included renovating existing buildings or creating them from the ground up. Each family member specialized--some did finish work, some concrete, some electrical and the sisters helped in the office with the billing, paperwork and ordering of materials. Wilfred was interested in all the construction methods and as the younger brother he was apprenticed with each older brother. Like his father, money never interested Wilfred much. Instead, it was creating something out of nothing, and learning all along the way. He'd save the parts from an old barn and build a new house with it, or rejoice at the sound of one of his rebuilt basket case' engines roaring back to life. Few things delighted him more. Except for Audrey, of course. He met his bride when they were children, at the Cortland School. He gave her nothing but trouble at first; locking her in a chicken house one day, pouring water on her the next. Just his way of getting her attention, he said. Must have worked; they were married for 70 years, holding hands all the way. By the numbers; they married in 1951, on Audrey's 20th birthday. He was only 18 though, so his mother had to sign the marriage licenseand pay the $8 for it. He joined the Army soon after, and went to Korea during the Armistice as part of the occupying force. Before he left, he volunteered for every stateside training session that Item Company' would allow. He trained in light arms, then Leadership School. The only thing he wasn't prepared for was the 10-day trip across the Pacific--he was sick as a dog the entire time. On the way back it was smooth as glass though. A sign of things to come. He and Audrey had a wonderful life together where they moved to Milford for him to learn a trade. As the top student in an electrical class, he was recruited to teach the class at Milford Tech School. He built the first house for his growing family in Milford while teaching. Wanting to be closer to home he moved his family to Lincoln, fixed up the home while Audrey raised three children and did the interior to her liking. He was able to start work on their dream' home on a farm of Audrey's family. While his paying jobs changed, he continued to work on the house he would make home for his family in Cortland. Jobs included a building inspector for the University, and eventually on Nebraska's 309 Task Force for Building Renewal. He even oversaw construction of the Federal Building and the Lied Center for Performing Arts. He retired at 58 knowing Audrey would keep working as a teacher to support them. This finally gave him time to really sink his teeth into the myriad of projects waiting for him on the farm like a new sawmill shed and storage buildings for the equipment. Restoring heavy equipment was a passion as well, including a 10-ton dump truck, a Bobcat, a Pettibone Super Six, a Hough track loader (saved just before heading to the junkyard), a Caterpillar D-8 dozer (found sitting buried in silt at the bottom of a ditch for 10 years), and a sawmill with a heart-shaped iron frame, forgotten in a field so long it had trees growing through it. Reduce, reuse, and recycle were constants throughout his life, and so while he patched up machinery, doctors eventually gave him an artificial knee, hip and shoulder to keep him going; all modern joints made of metal and plastic. And now of course, comes a perfect ending: He's giving his body to medical science, just so they can study all the parts. "That's really gonna be fun," he grinned. "But what will they do with all that hardware?" Preceded in death by his parents, wife Audrey, and by siblings Eldon, Don, Everett, Leland, Gretchen, Winifred, and Norman. Survived by their children: Charles DeVries and his wife, Eileen Bergt of Lincoln; Clark deVries and his wife, Lisa of Lincoln; Anne DeVries and her husband, Andrew Pitcher of Cortland; five grandchildren; Conrad deVries, Emma deVries, Ellery Bergt DeVries, Nolan Pitcher, Audrey Pitcher and many nieces and nephews. Memorial service 11:00 AM April 29, 2023 at Cortland United Church. A Pennsylvania man was jailed Wednesday after a Lancaster County Sheriff's deputy found 506 pounds of marijuana in a cargo van he was driving on Interstate 80. Prosecutors charged Brian Schmitz, 33, of New Freedom, Pennsylvania, with possession with intent to deliver marijuana and no drug tax stamp. In court records, Sheriff's Deputy Jason Mayo said he stopped an eastbound gray 2023 Dodge Promaster van for failing to signal a lane change near the Waverly exit and smelled marijuana coming from the van. Mayo said he could see large moving boxes through the rear window of the cargo van, and a search turned up 21 boxes that contained 506 1-pound vacuum-sealed bags of marijuana and four vape pens. Nearly a week after the fatal shooting of her oldest child and only son, Heidi Brave isn't yet sure what she'll miss the most. His propensity for jokes was constant, she said. His beaming smile demanded that others join in. And the 18-year-old's bear hugs could turn a bad day good, his mother said. "I'm gonna miss everything about him," she said. "He was an amazing boy. Beautiful, inside and out." Her son, Damien Brave, died at a local hospital early Saturday morning hours after he was shot multiple times at a crowded house party in north Lincoln, according to police making Brave the city's fifth homicide victim of 2023 and the second 18-year-old to die in an act of alleged gun violence in Lincoln this year. At a news conference Monday, Lincoln Police Chief Teresa Ewins also said investigators had identified several "people of interest" but, as of Thursday, it remained unclear who was responsible or how many people may have played a role in Brave's death. "If it was one or multiple people involved, then we're going to find that out," the chief said, before calling on the public for help in the investigation. "Parents ask your kids: 'Were you there?'" Ewins said. "'What did you see?'" Brave's girlfriend, 20-year-old Abagail Terry, said he had left their shared apartment at around 10:50 p.m. Friday and had only been at the party for around 30 minutes before he was shot. Police have only said Brave was shot multiple times, but his girlfriend and his mother each said he was shot four times once in the stomach and three times in his legs. Brave's mother said she was in Omaha when her son was shot Friday night and he had died by the time she arrived in Lincoln. The 18-year-old was taken by private car to a local hospital after he was shot at around 11:30 p.m. Friday night. His mom said he was admitted to the hospital by 11:50 p.m., was unresponsive by 1:12 a.m. and was pronounced dead at 2:27 a.m. Saturday, leaving behind a grieving network of close friends and family that includes his girlfriend, four sisters, his father and his mother. "If you didn't know him, you wanted to know him," Heidi Brave said. "Everybody should've had a chance to get to know him. He was a wonderful kid." Both his mother and his girlfriend described the late teen as a goofy, light-hearted kid who was constantly smiling and always, always trying to get those around him to smile, too. "That was his goal in life: to help as many people and make everybody feel good," his mother said. In interviews, both women repeatedly emphasized Brave's humorous and fun-loving nature. And, they said, he could be fiercely protective of those close to him or those in need of help, no matter the situation. Heidi Brave said her son constantly took the fall for friends who found themselves in trouble growing up, often trying to make sure he was the only one punished. And, she said, he made friends with runaways, who he would sometimes bring home. "He changed a lot of people's lives," she added. "Including mine." Heidi Brave, 36, gave birth to her son when she was still a teenager herself, and Damien Brave had been her baby ever since, she said, recalling a recent hospital visit where a hug from her son had brought her the kind of comfort that treatment hadn't. "If you felt like crap or you felt down, and you got one of his hugs, you just felt like you were safe. I'm the mom. I should have made him feel safe. But the way he just hugged you, it just made you feel like you were something special." Terry, who said she met Brave in March 2022 before the two quickly became inseparable, echoed much of what Brave's mother had to say about the teen, describing him as goofy, funny and bubbly when around close friends. "His vibe was just immaculate," said Terry, who launched a GoFundMe page this week to help Brave's family pay for funeral expense. The teen took joy in video games, Terry said, and had recently finished the apocalyptic game series "The Last of Us." And he loved spending time with friends, she said. Brave, who was born in Alliance, was a former Lincoln Public Schools student who attended Lincoln High and Lincoln Southwest. He had plans to return to school to get his GED before entering the job field, Terry said. She said she and Brave had made numerous plans for the future and, at times, talked about marriage on their frequent nighttime drives to nowhere in particular. Now, Terry said, she can't walk into her own apartment without bursting into tears, her grief surfacing at the sight of a pair of Brave's shoes tossed on the floor or the smell of clothes he'd worn. Nearly a week after his death, Terry said, she hadn't fully come to terms with it. She feels as if she lost a part of who she is and who she was supposed to become. "I saw him in my life forever," she said. In the wake of his death, Brave's mother and his girlfriend have each mourned both his death and what it meant: that the hopes the teen had for his future will go unrealized. "He didn't get a chance to live his life," his mother said. Remembering Lincoln's homicide victims of 2023 1. Julian A. Martinez 2. Rudy Requejo Jr. 3. Ronald Gonzalez Rivas 4. Christopher Karmazin 5. Damien Brave A 55-year-old man who had been incarcerated at the Reception and Treatment Center, a prison in south Lincoln, died Friday at a local hospital, according to authorities. The cause of Francisco Luna's death wasn't immediately clear Friday, but the former Omaha resident was at the hospital for treatment of a medical condition, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services said in a news release. Luna was less than a year into a four-to-six-year sentence that began in May 2022, when he was convicted of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person in Sarpy County, according to court records. A grand jury will be convened to investigate Luna's death, as is the case whenever an inmate or defendant dies in state custody. Most dangerous cities in Nebraska Dangerous Cities in Nebraska 6. South Sioux City 5. Scottsbluff 4. North Platte 3. Lincoln 2. Grand Island 1. Omaha A note about the numbers A week after an 18-year-old man was fatally shot at a crowded house party in north Lincoln, police have arrested another teenager on suspicion of his alleged murder, according to authorities. Police on Thursday arrested a 17-year-old Lincoln boy in Michigan accused of fatally shooting Damien Brave, who died at a Lincoln hospital in the early morning hours of April 1 after he was shot multiple times at a party near 27th and Fair streets the night before, according to police and court filings. Kashuan M. McCree was taken into custody Thursday afternoon in Detroit for his alleged role in Brave's death, Lincoln Police Chief Teresa Ewins said at a news conference Friday morning. Prosecutors have charged McCree with first-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony, according to an amended complaint filed Thursday. He was initially charged with attempted robbery, but prosecutors enhanced the charge before the teen was arrested, Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon said. Judge Laurie Yardley signed a warrant for McCree's arrest Thursday but sealed the affidavit in support of that warrant the public document that describes what gives police probable cause to arrest a defendant along with three other court documents filed by prosecutors. At Friday's news conference, Ewins said little about what is thought to have led up to last week's shooting, but said McCree and Brave "had an interaction over a bag" that Brave brought to the house party. "That is when McCree fired multiple rounds from a handgun, hitting Brave several times," the police chief said. The 18-year-old was taken by private car to a local hospital after he was shot at around 11:30 p.m. March 31. He was pronounced dead at around 2:30 a.m. April 1, his mother said. Ewins said investigators had recovered the bag that apparently ignited the feud between Brave and McCree, but she declined to say what was inside. The police chief also stopped short of calling the shooting a robbery gone wrong, but in court filings, prosecutors said Brave's alleged murder was carried in out in an "attempt to perpetrate (a) robbery." Police don't believe Brave and McCree knew each other prior to last week's shooting, Ewins said. And, she said, Brave wasn't armed when he was shot. Authorities haven't found the handgun thought to have been used in the shooting, the police chief said. Though Ewins said Monday that police had identified several "people of interest," they are not seeking additional suspects in Brave's death, Ewins said. McCree is a Lincoln resident but has family in both Nebraska and Michigan, Ewins said, highlighting the lengths Lincoln Police investigators went to to apprehend the 17-year-old. "It is important our community knows our department will track down suspects wherever an investigation leads, using all available resources to bring those responsible to justice," Ewins said, before thanking law enforcement partners in Michigan for their help in arresting McCree. The police chief declined to detail what led investigators to Michigan, attributing their trek there to "good investigative skills by our people that acted on tips as well as information they received." Police have only said Brave was shot multiple times, but his girlfriend and his mother each said he was shot four times once in the stomach and three times in his legs. His mom, Heidi Brave, said he was admitted to the hospital by 11:50 p.m., was unresponsive by 1:12 a.m. and was pronounced dead at 2:27 a.m. Saturday, leaving behind a grieving family that includes four sisters and his parents. Brave is the city's fifth homicide victim of 2023 and the second 18-year-old to die in an act of alleged gun violence in Lincoln this year. "He didn't get a chance to live his life," his mother said. It's unclear when McCree, who remains in custody in Detroit, might be extradited to Nebraska for criminal proceedings. Ewins indicated he would have to go through Michigan's state-specific extrication process before he can be moved to Lincoln. When the 17-year-old does appear at the Lancaster County courthouse, he will face charges in adult court, where he would face life in prison if convicted of Brave's murder. Remembering Lincoln's homicide victims of 2023 1. Julian A. Martinez 2. Rudy Requejo Jr. 3. Ronald Gonzalez Rivas 4. Christopher Karmazin 5. Damien Brave Six months later, comedian Jake Gardner is ready to laugh again. Since October, he's mourned the deaths of two friends, including one who was killed in a road-rage shooting. The other was Brad Stewart, the guy who, before dying Oct. 24 from pancreatic cancer, reminded Lincoln that laughter is an essential element to life. "It's been rough," said Gardner, a 34-year-old native of Utah. "I never thought I would have to deal with losing friends until I was older. I went into the winter and had my seasonal depression. "After a while, you come to terms with that stuff as much as you can. You can choose to let it motivate you and not wallow in the grief." Hope springs eternal. So does acceptance, the final leg in the 10 steps of grieving. There's no sense in wallowing in winter's cruelty. Time marches on, which might be an even crueler reality. That said, the tears have been shed and it's time to move forward, to laugh again. With the help of Mallory Celani and James Lindsey, Garner is ready to once again do just that. The trio is bringing back comedy to the same Zoo Bar stage that Stewart used for eight years in building Zoolarious into one of the region's most highly regarded weekly comedy shows. On April 16, they'll launch Zootenanny, a monthly at least for now comedy show that was created with Stewart in mind. And while he was at the forefront of every decision made, making sure not to co-opt what Zoolarious had grown into caused them to tread lightly. "Zoolarious was Brads thing," said Lindsey, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, who moved to Omaha in grade school. "We didn't want to take over Zoolarious and not live up to what it was. We didn't want to ruin the show, run it into the ground or do anything that would tarnish Zoolarious legacy. "We wanted to do our own thing with a nod to Brad." Be warned. Don't arrive at Zootenanny expecting anyone to share high-fives with the crowd, a tradition that began with the first show and grew into one of its calling cards. Don't expect each show to wrap with Andrew Gold's classic, "Thank You for Being a Friend," a song that was made famous as the theme for "The Golden Girls." "Those fun niche things about shows evolve over time," Celani said. "They cant be forced." Before considering whether to bring comedy back, they first called Zoo Bar owner Pete Watters and Tammy Rice, Stewart's life partner for the last seven years. "They thought we were the right people to pick up the torch," Celani said. At the end of the day, Rice wanted someone to continue moving comedy forward, Gardner said. "She wanted us to continue what Brad started," he said. " What Brad made out of nothing in this town, we didnt want that to go away. We cant do it exactly like he did, but we want to pay tribute to it and kind of build on it." They'll do it their own way. It'll be different, they insist. Not necessarily better, but their way. For example, all three of them will be on stage, co-hosting in a way that Gardner described as "punk rock," while Lindsey called it "alt comedy." Celani is the only one of the three with experience in that format after using it regularly on a show she created in Fort Collins, Colorado. With three of them on stage, there is the ability to take a topic and run with it. Three creative minds feeding off each other. "It's so much fun," she said. "We get to play off each other. We can riff off each other. We get to play off each other." It creates a synergy that is not often seen on a comedy stage. In time, it might become Zootenanny's calling card. Then again, its signature might just be the name itself. For weeks, Gardner, Celani and Lindsey labored over a name for the show, knowing it had to be creative and unique while giving a nod to the bar hosting the event. "I kept saying the universe would deliver us the right name," Wallace said. And then one day, Gardner was scanning the playlist of songs by The Replacements, fittingly enough, Stewart's favorite band, and came across a song called "Hootenanny." The universe had done its part. "When I said (Zootenanny), It just felt right," Gardner said. That was settled. Now comes the hard part, moving forward in a comedy scene that was just showing progress when Stewart suddenly died. There's a desire for standup comedy in Lincoln. Each Sunday, somebody still walks into the Zoo Bar asking if comedy is on the schedule that night. "People want it," Gardner said. Now it's time to deliver it again. There is a lot of excitement and a few nerves, even though Zootenanny is probably something Stewart would have wholeheartedly endorsed. "I think Brad would be both proud and really excited," Celani said. Top Journal Star photos for April 2023 The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department is encouraging residents to monitor the air quality index this weekend to determine if levels of smoke in the air become unhealthy due to controlled burns in Kansas and Oklahoma. The Flint Hills in Kansas and certain areas in Oklahoma will conduct controlled burning through Monday. Prevailing southerly winds from the fires may cause elevated levels of smoke throughout Lancaster County and the air quality may periodically be unhealthy, health department officials say. Controlled burning has already begun in sections of Kansas, according to Wichita-based news station KWCH. On Thursday, its weather radar picked up smoke from a controlled burn in Chase County, a sparsely-populated county located about 90 minutes northeast of Wichita. That smoke was already noticeable in Lincoln on Friday. The health department's air quality index as of 9 a.m. was 137, which classifies the air quality as unhealthy for sensitive groups, which can include children, older adults or those with asthma, lung disease, heart disease and other respiratory conditions. The air quality index is available at www.airnow.gov and is updated hourly. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Environment and Energy issued a smoke advisory for eastern Nebraska that took effect Friday afternoon and continues until Monday. Those at risk are urged to avoid prolonged or heavy exertion during outdoor activities when the air quality is unhealthy. They can further protect themselves by staying indoors and keeping their windows and doors closed. Lincoln Public Schools said in a tweet Friday morning that it was monitoring air quality and that "LPS practices and contests may be modified, delayed or rescheduled depending on air quality." 6 charts that track Nebraska wildfires, Lincoln air quality, and precipitation Drought conditions, by county departure from average precipitation Members of the FBI and the US Army Special Operations Command who were conducting a training exercise in downtown Boston raided the wrong hotel room and detained the person inside before realizing their mistake, the FBI said in a statement to CNN. The FBI said its Boston division was helping the military with a training exercise around 10 p.m. Tuesday "to simulate a situation their personnel might encounter in a deployed environment." "Based on inaccurate information, they were mistakenly sent to the wrong room and detained an individual, not the intended role player," the FBI said. "First and foremost, we'd like to extend our deepest apologies to the individual who was affected by the training exercise," USASOC Lt. Col. Mike Burns told CNN. The exercise was meant to "enhance soldiers' skills to operate in realistic and unfamiliar environments," Burns said, adding the incident is under review. No one was injured, the FBI said. The incident took place at the Revere Hotel Boston Common, according to the Boston Police Department. CNN has reached out to the hotel for comment. A Boston police incident report said officers were called to the hotel around 12:20 a.m. Wednesday, and were met by law enforcement agents conducting a training exercise. Local news reports said the person who was in the hotel room and detained by federal law enforcement is a Delta Air Lines employee. The Atlanta-based airline told CNN it is looking into the "alleged incident in Boston that may involve Delta people." US Army history from the year you were born Intro 1920: Amended National Defense Act is passed 1921: The Army intervenes at the Battle of Blair Mountain 1922: Col. Charles Young dies 1923: Harding orders troops home from Germany 1924: Philippines scouts rebel 1925: Black soldiers evaluated for wartime fitness 1926: Sgt. Stubby dies 1927: Joint Army and Navy Basic War Plan Red 1928: First US Army Day 1929: Escobar revolutionaries send stray bullets to US 1930: Douglas MacArthur is appointed Army chief of staff 1931: US Army wins International Military Team Trophy 1932: Calvary soldiers attack veterans 1933: US Army aids Civilian Conservation Corps 1934: Army takes over the mail 1935: Final flight of US Army Air Corps LTA operations 1936: M1 Garand becomes go-to Army rifle 1937: Army's Airship Program ends 1938: 15th Regiment returns home from China 1939 US Army (and its Calvary) ranks 39th in the world 1940: Selective Training and Service Act 1941: It's only a maneuver 1942: Dogs Defense group founded 1943: US Army Fights the Japanese in Alaska 1944: Operation Neptune 1945: Dachau (mostly) liberated 1946: The 'mutiny of American troops after WWII 1947: The World War II draft expires 1948: Truman desegregates the US Military 1949 Army withdraws from Korea 1950: Attack on Korea authorized 1951: China supports North Korea 1952: Armistice talks stall 1953: Korean War ends 1954: McCarthy hearings begin 1955: Operation Gyroscope 1956: M113 ships to Vietnam 1957: Operation Plumbbob 1958: Elvis Presley joins up 1959: First soldiers killed in Vietnam 1960: Laos is determined to be non-threatening 1961: Green Berets receive real green berets 1962: Army troops head to Florida airfields 1963: Operation Biglift 1964: South Vietnamese training begins 1965: China Beach 1966: Army forces in Vietnam number 200,000 1967: Operation Malheur I and II 1968: My Lai massacre 1969: The Battle of Hamburger Hill 1970: Koza riot in Okinawa, Japan 1971: Women recruitment is up 1972: Withdrawals begin from Vietnam 1973: Withdrawal from Vietnam concludes 1974: Tensions rise 1975: Mandatory defensive weapons training for women 1976: Operation Paul Bunyan 1977: Army admits to 27 germ warfare tests conducted on public property 1978: Jonestown Massacre 1979: Faulty pilot ejection controls found 1980: Bright Star military exercise commences 1981: US Army gets a new look 1982: New recruits, new (amended) requirements 1983: US Army invades Grenada 1984: Pedro Colondres-Rosa defrauds US Army 1985: El Salvador raid 1986: US troops arrive in Honduras 1987: US Army Airborne heads to Honduras 1988: US takes on Nicaraguan insurgents 1989: Operation Just Cause 1990: Gulf War starts 1991: Gulf ground war begins 1992: US troops offer humanitarian aid in Somalia 1993: Battle of Mogadishu 1994: Operation Uphold Democracy 1995: Peace treaty ends Bosnia-Herzegovina conflict 1996: All-Black Korean War unit has honor restored 1997: 7 Black WWII soldiers get Medal of Honor 1998: Bosnia mission zaps US Army strength 1999: Yugoslavians hold U.S. soldiers captive 2000: 49th Armored Division deploys 2001: 9/11 2002: Army uses video games for recruitment, training 2003: US Army invades Baghdad amidst looters 2004: Second Battle of Fallujah 2005: Iraqi election 2006: President Bush visits Afghanistan 2007: Troops need more sleep 2008: Felons join up 2009: Army major kills 13 in Fort Hood 2010: Army sent to Haiti for relief effort 2011: US troops leave Iraq 2012: Military gets trimmed 2013: Women join the front lines 2014: Army hairstyles get a closer look 2015: Army shrinks to pre-WWII levels 2016: Army reduced further 2017: Immigrant recruits can't serve 2018: US Army has stations throughout Africa 2019: First woman poised to lead US Army Infantry division 2020: COVID-19 upends the military 2021: Extended-range guided rocket successfully traverses 80 km The Hastings teenager who was arrested Tuesday after making a "credible threat" of violence toward a student at a Clay County school did so amid a dispute surrounding his ex-girlfriend, investigators alleged in new court filings. Connor Black-Lintz, 18, messaged a student at Sandy Creek School early Tuesday morning and threatened to break his neck after the student, a teenage boy, started dating Black-Litz's ex girlfriend, according to the court filings. Soon after Black-Lintz allegedly hurled the threat, a "young male" called the school just before 8:30 a.m. Tuesday and inquired about the student before telling administrators the teen had a gun and had threatened violence, mentioning school shootings, Nebraska State Patrol Trooper Christopher Slocum said in the affidavit for Black-Lintz's arrest. The school's principal, Jason Searle, called authorities, placed the school under lockdown and pulled the teen who had been the subject of the phone call from class, Slocum said in the affidavit. Clay County Sheriff's deputies searched the teen's locker but did not find a gun. The teen told administrators and law enforcement that Black-Lintz had sent him threatening messages on Snapchat three minutes before the unidentified "young male" called the school to report the teen had a gun, Slocum said. Authorities reviewed a screenshot of Black-Lintz's alleged conversation with the teen, in which he told the student "there no doubt in my mind I could crush you," according to the affidavit. Black-Lintz, who is not a student at Sandy Creek, at one point told the teen that he'd be at the school in 30 minutes, the State Patrol alleged. The State Patrol found Black-Lintz at a house in Hastings, about 30 miles from the school, and took him into custody. Prosecutors in Clay County charged Black-Lintz with terroristic threats, a felony, and two misdemeanors: false reporting and intimidation via phone or electronic communications. In Adams County, prosecutors charged Black-Lintz with felony assault on an officer for allegedly hitting, kicking and spitting on troopers when they arrested him at his father's house in Hastings, according to court records. Troopers took the 18-year-old to Richard Young Behavioral Health Center in Kearney for an emergency protective custody evaluation Tuesday evening, but he was later taken to the Buffalo County jail after an alleged assault at Richard Young, according to jail booking records. He remained jailed in Kearney as of Friday. The threat and subsequent lockdown upended school operations Tuesday at Sandy Creek, forcing administrators to cancel two sporting events scheduled for Tuesday and release students early. Searle, the school's principal, told troopers the threat "caused panic at the school" and resulted in "major disruption" when parents began pulling their children from school. Photos: Majestic sandhill cranes in Nebraska Aurora cranes Fort Kearny cranes Sandhill cranes on the Platte River in Nebraska Sandhill cranes gather near farm machinery Cranes fly in waves on a cloudy evening A pair of sandhill cranes glide in a clear blue sky Sandhill cranes forage for food in a field Sandhill cranes fly over a field Sandhill cranes silhouetted against the evening sky Sandhill cranes flock near an irrigation pivot Sandhill cranes glide in for a landing to roost for the night Sandhill cranes begin to roost at sundown Sandhill cranes at sunset Viewing sandhill cranes from Richard Plautz viewing site A sandhill crane flies above a field south of Gibbon Cranes in the water Cranes at sunset Cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Pair of sandhill cranes at sunset near Gibbon, Nebraska Sandhill cranes flying high Sandhill cranes on and above a field near Gibbon Sandhill cranes Cranes Cranes Cranes Cranes Cranes The Nebraska Project cranes The Nebraska Project The Nebraska Project Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill crane Sandhill Cranes Sandhill cranes Rowe Bird Sancutary Cranes in January Cranes in January Cranes in January Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes Sandhill cranes A key legislative panel has changed course with a decision to move ahead on constructing a new $350 million state prison. The Appropriations Committee voted 8-0 on Thursday to appropriate money for the construction project, more than two-and-a-half years after then-Gov. Pete Ricketts first called for building a new prison to replace the aging Nebraska State Penitentiary. In previous years, the committee voted to set aside $255 million for a potential prison but held off on authorizing work to proceed. The delay was aimed at giving the state more time to work on criminal justice reforms that could reduce inmate numbers. State Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln, the committees vice chairwoman, said the state still needs to undertake criminal justice reforms, but last years efforts to make changes in sentencing and other policies failed. In the meantime, conditions at the penitentiary have deteriorated. Were getting to a point where its inhumane for people to be living there, she said. Its not safe. A major water leak in one housing unit forced the relocation of 140 men in November. Prison officials have said that break could take two years to fix. Another leak displaced 600 men temporarily in March, while a leak in 2021 left the Lincoln prison without running water for nearly two days. Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood, the committee chairman, said he toured the penitentiary and found it in very poor shape. In addition, he said, it lacks spaces that can be easily used for rehabilitative programs. Rehabbing the penitentiary, which includes some of the oldest buildings in the state prison system, would cost almost as much as a new prison and would not solve the programming problem, he said. But Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, the Judiciary Committee chairman, said he disagreed with the decision. He expressed hope the committee would also find money for programs that prevent Nebraskans from landing in prison and help those leaving prison be successful on their reentry into the community. He said negotiations are underway in hopes of putting together a criminal justice and prison reform package that could pass the Legislature this year. Fellow Omaha Sen. Terrell McKinney, who has sometimes talked about the prison industrial complex, also called for criminal justice reform and criticized the prison proposal. Building a new prison will not solve the problem, he said. A prison facilities master plan that was recently completed by the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services bears out his concern. The plan concluded that, even with the proposed new prison, Nebraska will need to add another 1,500 prison beds over the next decade to keep up with projected inmate growth. Projections since 2020 have shown that the inmate population, currently at about 5,500, is set to grow another 1,300 inmates by 2030. Nebraskas prison system already is the most overcrowded and fastest growing in the U.S., according to a World-Herald analysis. Diane Sabatka-Rine, interim corrections director, told the Appropriations Committee earlier this year that the penitentiary is designed to hold 818 people but currently houses about 1,200 men in maximum-, medium- and minimum-security units. The proposal calls for a new prison that can house 1,512 men, also in maximum-, medium- and minimum-security units. Prison officials have said it should be built in the area of Omaha or Lincoln, where it would be easier to hire staff and easier for families to visit. The prison master plan suggested the new facility should be built with the capacity to be expanded to 2,040 or 3,000 beds to accommodate future inmate growth between now and 2033. Photos: Nebraska's new Reception and Treatment Center Incarceration rate demographics in Nebraska 2022 Incarceration rate demographics in Nebraska MAY CITY, Iowa A rural water utility in northwest Iowa wants to relax its state-mandated reporting requirements despite regulators finding that it contributed to a river running dry last year. Were done being bullied, said Doug Westerman, general manager of the Osceola County Rural Water System. Were done being pushed around. A two-mile segment of the Ocheyedan River had no water near May City starting in September. Melting snow has since recharged it. The fall dryout killed a large number of fish and other aquatic life. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, which is charged with protecting the states waterways, determined that two entities caused that section of the Ocheyedan to go dry amid an ongoing drought: the rural water system and Osceola County. In November, the DNR asked both of them to submit plans to help avoid future dryouts, which have happened four times in the past seven years. The county occasionally pumps water from a quarry near the river to excavate rock. The water utility has wells near the river that draw from a shallow aquifer that surrounds the river. The countys pumping lowers the water table in the area, which draws water from the river. It pumped the water from the quarry last summer into the river and likely disguised the impending problem for months, said Chad Fields, a geologist for the DNR. After the county stopped pumping, the section of river dried out. The water utilitys withdrawal of groundwater also draws river water into the ground, but Westerman said the impact is too small to have caused the dryness last year. Whether we exist or dont exist, that river was going dry, he said. Much of northwest Iowa was in varying degrees of drought throughout last year. Despite some alleviation of those conditions, parts of Osceola County are still under moderate or severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The county has proposed that it restrict its pumping from the quarry in July and August, when arid conditions are most likely. It typically dewaters the quarry once every several years, and the river has gone dry when the county wasnt pumping water from there. The water utility has decided that its current requirements which include taking photos of the river and submitting reports of its daily pumping rates for wells near the river when its flow is low are too strict. Those are a little punitive towards Osceola Rural Water and feel we are being singled out, the utility wrote to the DNR last week. The utility proposes to eliminate the reporting requirements. Instead, it suggests to reduce its pumping rates when the river is low or to pump water from the ground into the river bed to supplement its flow. Westerman said there is plenty of water in the aquifer, even when the river is low, and that it has sufficient supply from its other wells if it must slow some of them. The utility also wants solid evidence that it is culpable. If youre going to say were the problem, were going to force you to prove it, Westerman said. He said a large segment of the river potentially all the way to Lake Bella, across the Minnesota border had little or no flow last fall, and that the utilitys withdrawal of groundwater made no difference. But Fields said the department is confident that, absent the pumping by the water utility and the county, there would have been flowing water in the Ocheyedan near May City last year. The DNR is likely to decide what restrictions are necessary for the county and water utility in the coming months. Both can appeal the departments decision. History of droughts in the U.S. 10th century14th century: Megadrought 14th century19th century: Mississippi River Valley drought 1841: Sonoma drought 1850s1860s: Civil War drought 1864: Central Valley drought 1874: Year of the Locusts 189096: 1890s drought 192834: Seven-year California drought 193141: Dust Bowl 195057: Great Dry Up 196169: New England drought 197677: Two-year California drought 198792: Six-year California drought 1988: Pacific La Nina drought 19982002: Florida drought 20112019 California drought 2012: National drought 2016: New York drought 2016: Southeast drought 2020: California wildfires linked to droughtand climate change History of droughts in the U.S. These are images of people charged with a crime in Racine County. Booking photos are provided by Racine County law enforcement officials. A defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty and convicted. MOUNT PLEASANT Voters of Mount Pleasant have given Dave DeGroot another term as the village president and have voted to keep all village trustees in place. President results In the race for Mount Pleasant Village Board President, incumbent Dave DeGroot defeated challenger Kelly Gallaher with 4,789 votes. Gallaher received 4,245 votes. DeGroot said he was elated that all four incumbents won. DeGroot believes Mount Pleasant would have regressed if the incumbents lost. I dont want this to come across as petty, but had the challengers won, the village wouldve gone backwards in a hurry, DeGroot said. The public probably does not realize the full extent of the bullet they just dodged. DeGroot has seen the Village of Mount Pleasant through many commercial and residential developments. In February, DeGroot and the Village Board voted unanimously to partner with Racine County and Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network to purchase Campbell Woods and enter it into a conservation easement, preserving it from further development for years to come. Preserving the woods has been something DeGroot wanted to do for years, but he was outvoted as a Village Board trustee in 2017 when he tried to prevent its rezoning for the purpose of building a senior living facility. That facility was never built after the plan faced backlash from residents. He said Tuesdays election results showed that voters wanted the ongoing work of the Village Board to continue. That work includes a recent announcement that Microsoft plans to purchase 315 acres of land in Mount Pleasant for $50 million and eventually have a $1 billion development over the next decade-plus. Im still kind of on a buzz from last week, DeGroot said. After working on this (Microsoft) project for so long, to be able to get it announced and turn the page and create a fresh page for future development its just really cool I cant wait until were able to stick a shovel in the ground and break ground for this project. Challenger Gallaher has been a vocal critic of the Mount Pleasant Village Board, especially during the development of Foxconn. Gallaher ran on the platform of keeping the Village of Mount Pleasant for the people and to not pander to incoming corporations. She said she was disappointed to lose but overall felt encouraged that she and the three other challengers had close races against incumbents. For four brand new people running for office, we feel really good about and really honored how many people voted for us, Gallaher said. She believes the races were narrow because issues related to Foxconn, higher taxes and spending were on peoples minds. One of the reasons that we ran was to provide people with a choice, and I think that when you look at the results and how close that we really were, a choice was needed, Gallaher said. I really hope that the incumbents honor that. Theyve run a long time unopposed, and this time it was opposed, and it was not a runaway, so I hope that they take that to heart and will really open up, in a way, and allow residents to participate more than they have. Gallaher said she has no intention to run again for elected office and plans to relax and catch up on areas of her life that took a backseat over the past few months of campaigning. The trustee races In the race for village board trustee No. 1, incumbent John Hewitt beat challenger Travis Yanke with a total of 4,947 votes. Yanke received 3,768 votes. Yanke was disappointed with the results. Im very disheartened the incumbents won the way they did, Yanke said. I did this out of the goodness of my heart to help the community, and these bullies won, these corrupt bullies. Yanke said he did not appreciate tactics his opponents used but accepted that voters did not elect him. If that many people came out and voted, this is what they want, I guess so be it, Yanke said. I cant question it. That is their voice. Yanke, a first-time candidate, said he does not plan to run for elected office again. Hewitt did not respond to request for comment. In the race for village board trustee No. 3, incumbent Nancy Washburn defeated challenger Kim Mahoney with 4,408 votes. In what was a close race, Mahoney received 4,326 votes. Washburn said that while she was hoping to win by a wider margin, she was very pleased to have been re-elected. She said she worked hard on her campaign, knocking on doors and making sure signs were posted all over the village, including when pushed over by snow. When I ran for trustee in 2020, I didnt run to just run and sit for one term, Washburn said. She noted she has a long history with the village, from being a real estate developer, to being appointed to the Mount Pleasant Zoning Board of Appeals and the village Community Development Authority and being a member of the village Zoning Code Update Committee. For me this was something that was very important, as someone who understands a TID (tax incremental district) district, she said. She highlighted the lowered village tax base, emergency medical services and the economic development, which she acknowledged is difficult for some residents. All of those services take management and long range planning, and thats what I excel at, she said. Im very happy to be reelected, and I look forward to Monday nights meeting of getting sworn in again. She loved meeting residents during her door knocking campaign and hopes to continue building resident relationships in the future. Washburn said she hopes the reasons she won included the message sent in her campaign, what the Village Board has already done, its record, the villages growth and residents respect for her background. I hope they recognized that I have a lot to contribute to the board, she said. Meanwhile, challenger Mahoney said this was a good time for her and the other challengers to run, but isnt sure if she will run again. But who knows what the future holds, she said. Im disappointed, but not so much for me, Mahoney said. Im disappointed for the people in Mount Pleasant I wanted to help. Im disappointed for the Ericksons. We wanted to make that right. And Im disappointed we wont be able to get a handle on property taxes and excessive spending We can only hope the Village Board recognizes nearly half of the voters wanted change. Erickson Trucks-n-Parts, owned by Colleen and Jack Erickson, was deemed blighted by the Village of Mount Pleasant in 2021 due to environmental concerns. Located near Foxconn, the Ericksons argued the blighting was an effort to make more room for the Foxconn project. Mahoney speculated that voters were wrapped up in their ideals and looking to support a particular political party, even though most of the races on the ballot were nonpartisan. She noted her and the other challengers goals were more conservative with what they wanted to do in the village, even though their actual political leanings were pretty diverse. The race was close, and Mahoney said she was glad the incumbents were reelected in a way that was all or nothing, because it wouldve been extremely painful to be on a board with them having the majority. The things we wanted to get done wouldnt have gotten done if we didnt have the majority. In the race for village board trustee No. 5, incumbent Ram Bhatia will keep his position after receiving 4,591 votes. In another close race, challenger Eric Martinez received 4,224 votes. Bhatia said hes thrilled and excited to have won. I thank the community for the confidence they have shown, he said. Im grateful to the Mount Pleasant voters that they like what were doing and they have the confidence in us that we are going to build on and grow what we have done in the village. Bhatia said he thinks the reason he and other incumbents won was the message the incumbents spread in their campaigns, that they had a message of progress. Of the challengers, he said, They didnt have any message. They had no vision. They had no plans for future growth, they were just against everything. We will stay on a growth path and invite people to come with their ideas and their solutions and build on that, he said, noting the village focuses on taxes and keeping the community safe by investing in police and fire. Thank you to all the voters of Mount Pleasant for the confidence in us, Bhatia said. We will continue to work on behalf of them and continue to make Mount Pleasant a better place to live, work and raise our families. Challenger Martinez said he gives it to Bhatia for running a race and being successful. Im a little disappointed, but Im pleasantly surprised, Martinez said, pointing to the fact it was a close race. Im really proud and happy with the team that we put together and Im happy we gave folks an option. Martinez added its good to have opposition in a democracy and candidates shouldnt run unopposed. Thats the democratic process and that works the way it should, he said. Martinez said things in the village have gone real well lately, and he may run again for office, but it depends on the state of the village. Id never rule it out, he said. We have capable trustees. Ryan Patterson and Rachel Kubik from The Journal Times contributed to this report. BURLINGTON A city government sound system installed by church volunteers could cost Burlington taxpayers more than $40,000 to replace less than two years later. Some city officials who are uncomfortable with the cost have raised the possibility of instead moving Burlington City Council meetings to a school board meeting room with better audio facilities. Faced with ongoing problems with the City Councils $21,000 system installed by LifeBridge Church, officials are weighing a professional contractors offer to install a new system at a cost of $46,861. City Administrator Carina Walters has informed council members that LifeBridge Church representatives are no longer able to help with the situation, city records show. Theyve done what they can, Walters told the council during a March 7 discussion on the issue. Leaders of the Burlington church could not be reached for comment. The City Council Chambers at 224 E. Jefferson St. are equipped with cameras and microphones so that visitors can follow meetings either in person or on the internet via live broadcasts or recordings maintained at the citys website. Council members agreed in November 2021 to allow church volunteers to install a new audio system free of charge, as a way of avoiding state rules on competitive bidding among contractors. The church-installed system not only has been plagued by technical glitches, it has required extra time from city staff to manage. Even then, council meetings have been disrupted by frequent audio malfunctions. The citys new professional contractor, Smart Spaces, has reported finding incorrect equipment in place. But the $46,000 replacement cost has prompted some aldermen to question whether the City Council would do better to use the Burlington Area School District board meeting room and its audio system. City records show that the subject of moving council meetings across town came up March 7 as city staff presented aldermen with the Smart Spaces plan for upgrading the council chambers. The Burlington School Board meets at 209 Wainwright Ave. in facilities that the school district remodeled two years ago. School district spokeswoman Julie Thomas said discussions have taken place with city officials about the possibility of holding future City Council meetings in the school board room. The district invested $28,000 in an audio-video system for the meeting space. Thomas said the meeting room on Wainwright Avenue gets a lot of use by the general public. If the city were interested in using the board room or any district space, she added, wed be happy to have a conversation with them. City Council President Jon Schultz expressed doubts about using the school board room, saying city officials hope an improved audio system would make their council chambers suitable for other city board and commission meetings as well. Given my current understanding of the broader goals, Schultz said, I dont think making a move would make sense. Aldermen were scheduled to discuss the matter Wednesday, but they postponed it. The citys audio system initially was part of a bigger remodeling project planned in the council chambers, which is located alongside City Hall and Police Department at Pine and Jefferson streets. It is where the City Council meets twice a month. In August 2021, aldermen awarded a contract totaling $77,064 for a renovation plan that included a new ceiling, flooring, lighting, electrical upgrades and drywall repair. But after experts on Wisconsins competitive bidding law questioned the citys decision to forgo public bidding on the project, aldermen rescinded the contract award. State law requires local governments to solicit competitive bids from contractors whenever spending more than $25,000 on a construction project. Moving forward later with only the audio-video improvements in the council chambers, city officials kept the job under $25,000 to avoid the competitive bidding threshold. LifeBridge Church volunteers offered assurances that they had the expertise necessary to install the new system free of charge. After the network of cameras and microphones was installed, problems surfaced and quickly became a recurring issue during council meetings. Microphones went silent, online connections were lost, and discussion was disrupted by vibrating echoes. According to records of the March 7 meeting, aldermen and city staff agreed that the system was not working properly. Assistant City Administrator Megan Watkins told aldermen that setting up the equipment for each meeting was very cumbersome, and that she must arrive 30 minutes early to get things ready. Watkins also reported that technical difficulties had existed since the system was installed. The multiple wires and cables, she told the council, sometimes work and sometimes doesnt. A representative of Smart Spaces told aldermen that the troublesome system included a device that isnt the correct equipment, which contributed to some of the audio difficulties. Aldermen have indicated that although something must be done, they are leery of the $46,000 price tag. Some have voiced support for going back to the initial council chambers remodeling project once estimated to cost about $80,000. Records show that Alderman Bill Smitz and Alderman Shad Branen both raised the possibility of instead moving city meetings to the school board room. The current system isnt perfect and needs tweaking, Branen said. But the cost is hard to swallow. Photos: Severe weather impacting much of US Copperas Cove, TX (76522) Today Showers early then scattered thunderstorms developing later in the day. Potential for severe thunderstorms. High around 70F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Thunderstorms during the evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 62F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%. 1. Yes. Police officers should be the only ones armed in the council chambers. Period. 2. Yes. Such a ban is allowed by state law, and the city council should consider it . 3. No. The possibility of violence is always present, but disarming everyone isnt the answer. 4. No. Its unwise to change the city ordinance based on one unfortunate incident. 5. Unsure. Some steps must be taken, but its hard to say if a gun ban is necessary. Vote View Results KEARNEY A potential recall election for a Kearney Public Schools Board of Education member would cost the district $20,000 to $30,000. James Clark filed a recall petition in March against KPS Board of Education member Dave Brandt. If enough signatures are gathered, voters would decide whether or not to recall Brandt. If voters choose to recall him, the school board would appoint someone to finish the term. If the effort fails, he'll remain on the board. The following statement is Clarks reasoning for filing and will appear on the petition: During the March 6, 2023, KPS BOE meeting, David Brandt left the meeting during the public comment period, missing much of the commentary and returned to cast a vote on the very topic discussed by more than 45 speakers. Such action reveals contempt for the stakeholders Mr. Brandt was elected to represent. These actions are unacceptable and warrant removal. Brandt has until Monday to submit a defense statement to the Buffalo County Election Commissioner. Clarks reason for filing the petition and Brandts defense statement would both appear on the petition. Clark, who is the vice chairman for the Buffalo County Republican Party, will then have 30 days to collect 2,227 valid 35% of the votes received for the top vote-getter in the November 2022 election. The Election Commission will then have 15 days to verify the signatures, explained Buffalo County Election Commissioner Lisa Poff. She noted "Date of voter registration, name, date of birth, address and signatures are all factors when determining a valid signature." If a recall election takes place, Poff said the Kearney Public Schools district would be billed for the election. She estimated the cost would range from $20,000 to $30,000. Along with the city of Kearney, the KPS school district bleeds into Riverdale, Odessa and parts of Kearney and Phelps counties. Recall proponents recently launched a Kearney Recall Effort Facebook page. In a phone interview, Clark told the Kearney Hub that the page is run by members of our team. An administrator of the page wrote in a comment that the cost (of the election) is estimated to be $2,000 paid by tax dollars. In a separate comment, an administrator stated that the special election would be paid for by the county. Clark stated that when he filed the petition, Poff informed him that the election would cost $2,000. Poff denied discussing the cost of an election with Clark. She said he asked how much it would cost to file a petition and she told him there was no charge. Theres never ever any election that only costs $2,000, Poff said. At the March 6 meeting, the school board members voted 4-2 in favor of a measure that would restrict athletes in middle and high school (grades 6-12) to compete according to their biological gender at birth, as stated on the students original birth certificate. Board members John D. Icenogle, Paul Hazard, Steve Gaasch and Drew Blessing voted in favor of the policy. Brandt and Kathy Gifford voted against it. The school board will take a second and final vote on the policy at its meeting on Monday. The item is currently on the consent agenda, and would have to be pulled out by a member for there to be further discussion. Comments on the Kearney Recall Effort page allude to the policy. When asked about the process of the recall effort, an administrator for the page said the first step was, When you go woke you get recalled. Brandt confirmed to the Kearney Hub that he left for about an hour to attend his sons orchestra concert, missing some of the public comment portion. However, he intends to fulfill his duties as an elected official despite the petition. If somebody thinks that Im unfit for the position because I attend my kids activities then that is unfortunate, Brandt said in a previous Hub interview. I was elected to a four-year term, and I will serve until my term is over. Clark said that he is waiting for the shoe to drop to begin collecting signatures, and he is confident his team will collect the amount needed for the recall election. This is all happening because we have to hold our elected leaders accountable, Clark said. Correction: Due to an error by an editor, an earlier version of this story said the election would be to fill Brandt's seat. We regret the error. The Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds is known as a gathering destination for carnival and concertgoers each summer. But the location has historical ties to agriculture and farming in Chippewa Falls and across the region. Ties that go back 125 years to the first Northern Wisconsin State Fair. Now, construction of the fairgrounds $7 million agriculture campus will help ensure the future of agriculture and farming in Americas Dairyland. Northern Wisconsin State Fair Association Executive Director Rusty Volk grew up farming in North Dakota where he later became co-owner of a farming operation with 1,900 acres of land. Now Volk wants to use the fairgrounds shiny new digs to create an interest in, and appreciation for, farming and agricultural work. Im a big proponent of saying we have to start teaching kids that it comes from the fork to the farm, instead of the farm to the fork. When I feed my little granddaughter all she sees is food going in her mouth. So where did that food come from? Well, trace it back to the farm, Volk said. Kids dont know farms. They know forks. I want to change that. Thats why these animal barns, this campus, the showcases and events we have make a difference. Volk and the fairground staff have worked around the clock to make sure the new agriculture campus is complete before summer. The project is nearly complete. Campus components The campus consists of five barns, a coliseum expo building, showers, restrooms and a FEMA-designed safe room for tornadoes. The expectation is all of the remaining construction will be done before the Northern Wisconsin State Fair, which is expected to bring more than 125,000 people July 12-16 to Chippewa Falls. This year the fair celebrates its 125th anniversary. Exposure to animals, to farmers and whatnot is just as important as the annual fair the rides and games and music if not more so, Volk said. Its important for agriculture. Thats the basis of animal production, whether it be milk, cheese, meat. The space can accommodate thousands of animals including cows, pigs, goats and sheep and tens of thousands of people. We already have a group interested in using one of the new barns for an event with 600 goats, Volk said. For the first time ever, the grounds now have buildings with heating and air conditioning, giving the facility year-round capabilities. Economic impact I think adding this asset to the community is extremely positive, said Chippewa Area Chamber of Commerce President Allyson Wisniewski. Specifically, its a great addition as a tourism asset that will open up possibilities for groups and events that are looking for space like this. The Chamber hosts the farmer appreciation dinner in June each year at the fairgrounds to celebrate the industry and its importance to the region. The agriculture community brings food to our tables and is a contribution to our economy overall, Wisniewski said. She also highlighted the effect on tourism and said the tourism industry brought $159 million in economic impact to Chippewa County, supporting about 1,500 jobs. Having this as another additional asset within the fairgrounds itself will be huge for tourism, Wisniewski said. The project has been almost 15 years in the making. In spring 2008, the Community Foundation of Chippewa County purchased the 56-acre fairgrounds from fair owners Jim Flanagan and Julius Lee for $600,000 and formed a nonprofit to oversee it. Volk was hired later that year to run the fairgrounds. Since then, he and other stakeholders have developed and amended plans to revamp the grounds. Rehabilitation needed The recent construction of the agriculture campus came out of a barn replacement project. The barns on site were more than a century old, Volk said. After 130 years, a portion of the roof collapsed on the show barn/coliseum, otherwise known as the Red Barn, rendering the building unsafe for use. The remaining 100-year-old swine/sheep barn and two cattle barns were beyond repair and it became apparent it was time to replace the animal barns and show arena facilities. We had to do something with them. We then went to a feasibility study to determine which buildings we could keep and which ones we had to get rid of, Volk said. I was not about to invest donor money into a building that was not going to stay around. Four years after the Red Barn was razed, the multi-building campus project is almost finished despite logistical and fiscal challenges that have come about since 2020. Its been an extreme challenge to keep this going, Volk said. Needless to say our expenses almost doubled just because of everything related to COVID and the economy. Construction costs At the 2022 Northern Wisconsin State Fair it was announced that the fairgrounds old livestock barns were being replaced with multi-purpose buildings. The construction project consists of five new structures: Two cattle buildings for $1.1 million Coliseum show arena for $1.2 million Small animal building for $1 million FEMA safe room structure that includes restrooms, showers, concession area, storage and meeting area for $1.4 million Total projected cost for the building construction alone is more than $6 million Volk said. While the current plan brings the new buildings up to snuff, other elements will need to be funded to make the facility a functional space. Stormwater, utilities and pavement replacement are expected to cost an additional $1.4 million. There are two existing buildings, the horse barn and youth exhibit building, fairground staff would like to upgrade, provided additional funds are generated. Volk said organizers also need to replace old pavement on worn roads and parking lots, upgrade lighting for parking areas and sidewalks and upgrade entrances for the safety and security of all events. Then there are costs that often get overlooked such as adding tables and chairs, building and walkway signs, a public address system, office supplies and other logistical items, Volk said. Thats why Volks goal is to raise an additional $750,000. Assuming he is successful, the final cost will be almost $7 million. Safe room Volk is especially excited about the safe room, otherwise known as a tornado shelter. The FEMA-designated and approved safe room structure is a new plan Volk only received approval for it a couple months ago, though he submitted an application three years back. That particular safe room is actually going to be a bomb shelter almost, a tornado shelter for people to go in case of tornadoes, Volk said. Now we all know whats happening with the weather these days. So this is very timely, that we create safety. The room can accommodate 311 people, according to renderings. Volk said he wanted to add the safety structure because the fairgrounds have so many campers on site for various activities. Additionally, there is a campground a block away. They have no place to go if a tornado is coming, he said. Also the barns and the buildings were building are much stabler now than any buildings we had on the property before. Safety is a big concern for Volk and the fairground team. The barns were designed so people travel in certain areas, and animals in others. Thats relatively unprecedented for fairgrounds. We really minimize the time that humans and animals cross paths to keep it clean, so that you dont have strollers rolling through manure anymore, and bringing it home and tracking everything all over, Volk said. E. coli and other bacteria are always a big concern with animals. This will be a lot more sanitary. Were protecting the animals from humans and the human from animals because it goes both ways. Volk said hes satisfied with how quickly the construction has come along. Hes proud of the workers, donors, and volunteers. But its all about making the public want to come visit the fairgrounds. People say, Thank you. Kids learn about livestock. Teens play games and ride carnival rides. Farmers get appreciated. Families spend time outside. And people come to our sold-out music shows. We do a little of everything, Volk said. This new ag campus will be around for a very long time to make sure the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds lasts another century. And beyond. Close Chippewa Falls Northern Wisconsin State Fairground staff are working to ensure the new agriculture campus is completed before summer. Chippewa Falls Northern Wisconsin State Fairground staff are working to complete the new agriculture campus before summer. The upgrades to Chippewa Falls Northern Wisconsin State Fairground include five new buildings, as well as upgrades to existing infrastructure. Rusty Volk, executive director of the Northern Wisconsin State Fair Association, drives a golf cart around the Chippewa Falls fairgrounds. Chippewa Falls Northern Wisconsin State Fairground staff have been working round the clock to make sure the new agriculture campus gets completed before summer. The almost $7 million campus consists of five barns, a coliseum expo building, showers, restrooms and a FEMA designed safe room for tornadoes. Chippewa Falls Northern Wisconsin State Fairground staff have been working round the clock to make sure the new agriculture campus gets completed before summer. The almost $7 million campus consists of five barns, a coliseum expo building, showers, restrooms and a FEMA designed safe room for tornadoes. Chippewa Falls Northern Wisconsin State Fairground staff have been working round the clock to make sure the new agriculture campus gets completed before summer. The almost $7 million campus consists of five barns, a coliseum expo building, showers, restrooms and a FEMA designed safe room for tornadoes. Chippewa Falls Northern Wisconsin State Fairground staff have been working round the clock to make sure the new agriculture campus gets completed before summer. The almost $7 million campus consists of five barns, a coliseum expo building, showers, restrooms and a FEMA designed safe room for tornadoes. IN PHOTOS: Northern Wisconsin State Fair Agriculture Campus Chippewa Falls Northern Wisconsin State Fairground staff have been working round the clock to make sure the new agriculture campus gets completed before summer. The almost $7 million campus consists of five barns, a coliseum expo building, showers, restrooms and a FEMA designed safe room for tornadoes. Chippewa Falls Northern Wisconsin State Fairground staff are working to ensure the new agriculture campus is completed before summer. Chippewa Falls Northern Wisconsin State Fairground staff are working to complete the new agriculture campus before summer. The upgrades to Chippewa Falls Northern Wisconsin State Fairground include five new buildings, as well as upgrades to existing infrastructure. Rusty Volk, executive director of the Northern Wisconsin State Fair Association, drives a golf cart around the Chippewa Falls fairgrounds. Chippewa Falls Northern Wisconsin State Fairground staff have been working round the clock to make sure the new agriculture campus gets completed before summer. The almost $7 million campus consists of five barns, a coliseum expo building, showers, restrooms and a FEMA designed safe room for tornadoes. Chippewa Falls Northern Wisconsin State Fairground staff have been working round the clock to make sure the new agriculture campus gets completed before summer. The almost $7 million campus consists of five barns, a coliseum expo building, showers, restrooms and a FEMA designed safe room for tornadoes. Chippewa Falls Northern Wisconsin State Fairground staff have been working round the clock to make sure the new agriculture campus gets completed before summer. The almost $7 million campus consists of five barns, a coliseum expo building, showers, restrooms and a FEMA designed safe room for tornadoes. Chippewa Falls Northern Wisconsin State Fairground staff have been working round the clock to make sure the new agriculture campus gets completed before summer. The almost $7 million campus consists of five barns, a coliseum expo building, showers, restrooms and a FEMA designed safe room for tornadoes. PHOTOS: Northern Wisconsin State Fair Ferris wheel Upside down Baby kangaroo Above the tree tops Merry-go-round Pony rides Jump Fun for all ages One man band Pig races Acrobatics All the fixings Oversized sunglasses Fast ride Arris Sullivan of New Lisbon says donating blood is very important to help people in need. Sullivan was one of 96 donors to attend a two-day Versiti BloodCenter of Wisconsin/Tomah Health blood drive at Tomahs Recreation Park March 29-30. If somebody is in an accident or something, they are going to need blood, said Sullivan. All the hospitals around here are small hospitals, but they need it. Arris said she and her husband donate every time a hospital drive is held. I just feel like Im doing my share and glad to help out, added Sullivan, who has been donating blood since the 1970s. Versiti officials said the two-day drive collected blood products that will save 279 lives. The blood that is most needed is what is not on the shelves when a patient is in need, said Blood Center account representative Emalea Cogdill. Having a stable blood supply requires all eligible donors to give continuously when they can to assure that our community hospitals, such as Tomah Health, have the blood that they need at all times. Cogdill said one in seven patients entering a hospital will require a blood product. Without community blood drives and generous donors we cant meet that demand, she said. Versiti is the sole supplier of blood to nearly 50 hospitals in Wisconsin including Tomah Health. Tomah area residents can donate during the next scheduled Versiti/Tomah Health blood drive May 31 and June 1. Tomah Health Hospice Touch resident Mary Donaldson could not believe that she was being honored for being a nurse. Members of the Northern Wisconsin Nurses Honor Guard recognized the 74-year-old Donaldson for her 40-year career in nursing during a ceremony at the Tomah Hospice Serenity House March 29. It was the first ever living tribute for the honor guard. So often, nurses arent really recognized for the impact they had during their chosen career, said Honor Guard director Kelly Gronli, RN. We feel this event is even more meaningful for us and Mary since we can honor her directly for her contributions. Tomah Health Hospice registered nurse Julie Oppelt, BSN, RN, nominated Donaldson to receive the special recognition. We are so thankful for nurse guards Mary, Rhonda, Marla, Chuck, Sue and Natty for coming today. Mary is a humble and special person who has touched the lives of many and deserves the recognition, said Oppelt. The WNHG is a statewide network of nurses who volunteer their time, efforts and travel to honor fallen colleagues. Mary earned her nursing degree in 1970 from the Chicago Public School of Nursing, which has since closed. Over the years, she worked in many hospitals, clinics and nursing homes in Colorado, Nebraska and Illinois. I enjoyed working in any unit that I was needed and loved the variety of patients I had, Mary said of her career. During the tribute, her family and Tomah Health Hospice staff surrounded Donaldson. She was also presented a white rose to symbolize the guards appreciation for the difference she made in peoples lives. The tribute ended with a Final Call to Duty where Mary was presented a Florence Nightingale Lamp that symbolized the knowledge she obtained in the nursing field and as reminder of the history of nursing. Honor Guard lead Mary Schlafke wrapped up the event paying Mary the ultimate accolade. Mary will truly leave behind an individualized legacy to the nursing profession, Sclafke said. Our group along with myself was honored to recognize Mary, who answered the calling to serve others. Trempealeau County Sheriffs Office is asking for the publics help identifying the driver and passenger of a stolen blue 2014 Fiat from Eau Claire County that eluded sheriffs deputies Thursday morning. The driver of the vehicle is a white man in his 30s with short hair or possibly bald. A female passenger is described as white with brown hair wearing a white puffy jacket. Trempealeau County Sheriffs Sgt. Travis McDonah said the department was requested to assist the Eau Claire County Sheriffs Office in a high-speed pursuit that was approaching the county line on County Highway R near Townline Road at 10:46 a.m. Thursday. The suspect turned around when they saw deputies at Townline Road, a press release states. The chase traveled toward August but was later terminated. The Trempealeau County Sheriffs Office located the vehicle on Highway 10 near Alvestad Road and resumed the pursuit onto Highway 10. Authorities said speeds reached over 100 mph and spike strips were unsuccessfully used on Highway 10 at Missell Road. Deputies terminated the pursuit east of the village of Eleva. Anyone with information about the vehicles occupants or its whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Trempealeau County Sheriffs Office at 715-538-4351. National maternal mortality rates increased sharply in 2021, with fatalities the highest in six decades. Using data from the National Vital Statistics System, the CDC in a new report confirmed 1,205 deaths due to pregnancy or childbirth in 2021, significantly higher than the 861 deaths in 2020 and 754 in 2019. Among live births, the 2021 maternal mortality rate was 32.9 per 100,000, compared to 23.8 per 100,000 in 2020 and 20.1 in 2019. Per CDC data, maternal deaths are at a 60-year high, with a sharp decline beginning in the mid 1960s before a steady rise over the past two decades. Preliminary data from the CDC, which includes deaths reported during a 12-month period ending in October 2022, suggests a significant drop for past year, with 830 deaths. With November and December 2022 data absent, the total for the calendar year is unknown but still likely exceeds that of pre-pandemic years, and follows the overall upward trajectory over the last several decades. With advances in medical technology you would think wed be moving in the other direction but unfortunately we arent, said Mayo Clinic Health System certified nurse midwife Jennifer Meyers. Were a very rich nation, but (our death rates) dont reflect that. And there is a lot that factors into that. Racial disparitiesAs with many many health conditions or diseases, Black women are dying at disproportionate rates. The 2021 maternal mortality rate was 2.6 times higher than that of non-Hispanic white women, at 69.9 per 100,000 live births, and 150% higher than that of Hispanic women. If you look at how care providers are responding to patient concerns, unfortunately minorities are not taken as seriously as white patients, and unfortunately there are providers who are biased, Meyers said. Systemic racism and institutional racism pose certain levels of stress physically and emotionally. Living in a racist society and having to deal with that throughout their lifetime can have negative consequences for those patients. To help address the gap, the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act was introduced in 2021, with a series of bills to tackle obstacles to quality care. This includes investments in social determinants of health such as housing, transportation and nutrition, diversifying the perinatal workforce, supporting those with maternal mental health or substance use issues, improving health care for incarcerated pregnant women or new moms and more. Its something we really need to work on, Meyers said of addressing the issue on a health care level. I think a lot of people have a certain level of defensiveness when it comes to that, but we really truly need to be looking at, how are we responding to patients? What are things that we can put in place to better listen to patients when they have concerns? And really identifying some of those biases. At Mayo, Meyers said, an initiative was started to raise concerns of diversity and equality, and they are doing a lot of free programming for providers and nurses who want to participate. So I think that thats a really good step, really highlighting that theres more that we can do. Mayo Clinic as an enterprise has pledged $100 million over a decade to work toward eliminating bias in medicine, diversifying leadership and providing equitable access to services. Gundersen Health Systems Office of Population senior consultant serves on the Governors Health Equity Council, examining disparities and formulating solutions, and Gundersens Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion division is working to develop a strategy to close the health disparities gap and foster a sense of belonging among patients, staff and communities. High price For many Americans, health care costs are a heavy burden, and that factors into maternal deaths. The U.S. is a wealthy country, and yet the maternal mortality rate far surpasses that of countries with comparable incomes. In Norway, there were no maternal deaths in 2019, per the Commonwealth Funds April 2022 report, and the next highest rate among the 11 developed countries examined was France at 7.6 per 100,000. Only 26% of American women of reproductive age felt their healthcare was good or very good, compared to between 58% and 84% among those in the other countries. American women also spend more than twice as much on out of pocket medical costs, and nearly half have have skipped or delayed health care due to costs. We dont have high quality health care for every single person in our country, Meyers said. Even among those with insurance, the deductible may be more than they can afford, leading patients to forgo necessary exams or treatments. The No. 1 reason for bankruptcy in the United States is health care costs, Meyers noted. Telehealth has helped mitigate some of the financial hurdles to seeking care, as patients dont need to arrange travel or child care to see a provider. For expectant mothers, Mayo offers the OB Nest prenatal program, which allows low-risk patients to do 50% or more of their standard care appointments at home. Patients are given at-home vital monitoring devices, fetal heart rate Dopplers and education on how to utilize the devices. Patients can share their readings via message, phone, or video. Theyre able to get high-quality care without having to go in, Meyers said. The model has proved successful, and Meyers noted hypertensive disorders are often more quickly detected in this format as blood pressure ratings are taken more frequently. Other considerations An additional factor in high maternal death rates are geriatric pregnancies, when the mother will be age 35 or older at the time of their estimated due date. According to the CDC study, fatalities across all races increased with age in 2021. For those 40 and older, the death rate was 6.8 times higher than that of those under 25. In 2019, among those 40 and older the maternal mortality rate was 75.5 per 100,000, climbing to 107.9 in 2020 and 138.5 in 2021. The median age of pregnancy is now 30, the highest on record. In 2000, it was just under age 25. Moms are choosing to delay childbearing until later years. Maybe theyre trying to focus on their career first or get to a place of financial stability, said Meyers. And its difficult because a patient who is 35 years old is not, by any stretch of the imagination, an old person. But when it comes to reproduction, unfortunately, increasing age does bring with it increasing risks such as hypertensive disorders, gestational diabetes and premature labor and delivery. Reproductive technology such as donor eggs, IVF or UVI has made pregnancy possible for those in their 40s and even 50s, but potential adverse consequences remain, Meyers noted. The health status of pregnant women also contributes to complications, Meyers said. There is a higher acuity of the patients that were taking in. They are coming to us with preexisting health conditions like type two diabetes or prediabetes, Meyers said. Obesity unfortunately contributes to complications as well and and we as a nation are becoming more obese. According to the CDC, between 1999 to 2000 and 2017 to 2020, obesity rates increased from 30.5% to 41.9%. During the same time frame, the prevalence of severe obesity increased from 4.7% to 9.2%. The National Institute of Health reports that women with obesity have a higher risk of miscarriage, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and venous thromboembolism, and are more likely to require induced labour or a caesarean section. Obesity rates are highest among Black or African American women, affecting four out of five, which is in part attributed to racial disparities. Lack of access to nutritious foods, living in less walkable areas and insufficient health care are factors. Wisconsins Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Program is working to promote nutritious eating and physical activity across the state. For information on pregnancy services, resources and prenatal care cost assistance, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website page for expectant mothers at rb.gy/kzv5w. WASHINGTON Most U.S. adults are opposed to proposals that would cut into Medicare or Social Security benefits, and a majority support raising taxes on the nation's highest earners to keep Medicare running as is. The new findings, revealed in a March poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, come as both safety net programs are poised to run out of enough cash to pay out full benefits within the next decade. About 65 million older and disabled people access government-sponsored health insurance through Medicare and rely on monthly payments from Social Security. Few Americans would be OK with some ways politicians suggested shoring up the programs: 79% say they oppose reducing the size of Social Security benefits and 67% are against raising monthly premiums for Medicare. Instead, a majority 58% support the idea of increasing taxes on households making over $400,000 yearly to pay for Medicare, a plan President Joe Biden proposed last month. Marilyn Robinson, 90, disagrees with nearly everything the Democratic leader says but thinks his plan to increase taxes on wealthy Americans to pay for the health care program's future makes sense. Robinson doesn't know anyone in her rural, farming town of White Creek, New York, who makes that much money. She has been on Medicare for the past 25 years and receives just $1,386 in Social Security and pension checks every month. "I can survive on that much money," she said. "But if you're talking about $400,000, you're just in another category. There's nobody around here making money like that." That's about the only change to the entitlement programs that most Americans say they would support. One way or another, changes are in store for the programs. Last week, the annual Social Security and Medicare trustees report released March 31 warned that Medicare will only have enough cash to cover 89% of payments for inpatient hospital visits and nursing home stays by 2031. Just two years later, Social Security will only be able to pay 77% of benefits to retirees. The poll found that many Americans have doubts about the stability of both programs: Only about 2 in 10 are very or extremely confident that the benefits from either program will be available to them when they need them, while about half have little or no confidence. Republican and Democratic leaders promised not to cut benefits for Social Security or Medicare, though some Republicans floated the idea of raising the eligibility age for Social Security and Medicare to keep the programs flush. However, three-quarters of Americans say they oppose raising the eligibility age for Social Security benefits from 67 to 70, and 7 in 10 oppose raising the eligibility age for Medicare benefits from 65 to 67. France, where 1 million people protested sometimes violently the president's proposal to increase the country's pension retirement age from 62 to 64, may have given U.S. lawmakers a preview of such a difficult road. Just 10 years out from his planned retirement, 55-year-old Mark Ferley of Chesapeake, Virginia, is worried about the future of Social Security and Medicare and that he won't get back the money he paid in. He supports raising the eligibility ages for Social Security and Medicare to 70. Ferley, who said he leans conservative, also believes taxes should be raised on households earning $400,000 or more to keep the social programs solvent. While most support increasing taxes on households earning more than $400,000 a year to pay for Medicare, the poll shows a political divide on doing so: 75% of Democrats support the tax but Republicans are closely divided, with 42% in favor, 37% opposed and 20% supporting neither. While the American public may be in agreement on solutions for the programs, Ferley worries that elected officials won't come up with a plan to fix the program. "Until our leadership determines that the term compromise is no longer a dirty word, I don't have a whole lot of optimism," he said. His concerns are valid, said Paul Ginsburg, a professor of health policy at the University of Southern California. Most legislators are not taking dire warnings about the future of Social Security and Medicare seriously. Instead, the federal government is coming up with short-term solutions to keep the programs extended for a few more years. "People are just going to go back to business as usual and not worry about it," Ginsburg said. "It's particularly problematic for Social Security. In Social Security, you have a situation where if you make changes now, they can be quite modest. If you wait until 2035, they're going to be draconian." The poll of 1,081 adults was conducted Mar. 16-20 using a sample drawn from NORC's probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4 percentage points. Social Security and Medicare: Here's where things stand for the 2 popular programs Intro The challenge What are the solutions? The politics are toxic Reform is possible This is a global problem Interactive: Social Security boost Utterly Moderate Pod: Future of Social Security (with Kathleen Romig) Fave 5: Reporter Kimberly Wethal shares her favorite stories of 2022 In the weeks before I joined the Wisconsin State Journal in September, I was told this: Remember that a higher education institution is like their own city. It has its own character and struggles, defined by the students who learn there and the faculty who teach them. I have seen this over and over again, and it was particularly clear when I visited UW-Platteville at Richland a week after the University of Wisconsin System ordered degree-fulfilling classes to cease because of low enrollment. During my visit, I found many of the devastated students to be emotionally invested in their campus community and committed to saving it. It's why Richland Center grieving the loss of its once-vibrant campus is my top story of 2022. UW-Madison has its own slate of issues. There, a growing population is pitted against on- and off-campus housing availability. I wrote about the tactics used to clear returning students out of the dorms to make room for freshmen, and the frenzy that ensued as students put their lives on hold to secure housing for next fall. At Madison Area Technical College, a key issue is how to alleviate barriers their students face just to get into the classroom. Finding adequate child care is one of them I wrote about the efforts to expand future access at the Goodman South Campus and its four rural campuses. Much of my beat is hard news, but some of my favorite stories are features of students who make up the character of campus. I wrote about Kirstan Gimse, the student commencement speaker who's achieving her dream of being a scientist that she saw as unattainable. I'm looking forward to diving deeper into the beat in 2023 and am so grateful for the support of State Journal subscribers that allows me to be one of the few reporters in the state dedicated solely to covering higher education. Faced with heavy workloads and short staffing, Wisconsins probation and parole program has been falling short on monitoring offenders and offering them rehabilitation resources, according to a nonpartisan legislative audit published Friday. Auditors found that the Department of Corrections, which also oversees the states substantially understaffed prisons, has not completed required risk assessments or investigations of people on release or probation quickly enough. The agency also did not adequately review the penalties it imposed on people who violated the terms of their release to see which consequences were most effective at preventing re-offense, auditors said. More than 63,000 people are part of Wisconsins community corrections program. Most are on probation, meaning they were sentenced to supervision instead of prison time, or on extended supervision, which is served after release from prison. Some people receive services such as housing assistance or treatment for substance abuse through the program, but corrections agents said they believed many people under their supervision werent getting the help they needed especially in areas including child and health care, education and mental health. According to the audit, corrections staff didnt have a central database to track whether people fulfilled the treatments or programs they were required to complete, and check-in programs were administered inconsistently across the state. In a statement Friday, Republican Sen. Eric Wimberger, co-chair of the Legislatures audit committee, laid blame on Democratic Gov. Tony Evers for the problems the nonpartisan audit discovered. Conservative groups attempted to brand Evers as soft on crime during his bid for reelection last year, and Evers and Republicans have disagreed on how to address crime rates and problems in prisons. Evers spokesperson, Britt Cudaback, had not responded to an email Friday asking for comment. Between 2019 and 2022, the period auditors examined, the Department of Corrections cited roughly 57,000 participants for more than 380,000 violations of the terms of their supervision, including broad restrictions against possessing drugs or alcohol, visiting certain places or people, or failing to attend required treatment. More than half the violations were non-criminal, and most were for using drugs or alcohol. Less than 7% were violent criminal offenses. Corrections agents were most likely to address violations with short jail stays, according to the audit. The next most popular options revoked someones release altogether or issued a warning. Consequences varied based on the seriousness of the violation, but most corrections agents said they were frustrated by a push to use methods other than revoking someones release, since they didnt believe those options protected the public or held offenders accountable. The corrections agents overseeing the release program also overwhelmingly voiced unhappiness with their high workloads and low pay. As of July 2022, the program had more than 250 unfilled positions nearly 13% of its total staffing. Its a problem the corrections department faces across its workforce as lawmakers consider whether to increase wages for prison guards and other criminal justice workers. Law enforcement officials said Friday they have received hundreds of leads in the disappearance of Madeline Kingsbury and are working to process the information. This is a very active investigation and, as such, we are limited on what information we can share, said Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension public information officer Bonney Bowman. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension also received many tips and messages on its messaging system, on Facebook and through calls about Kingsbury. The search for Kingsbury, who was last seen March 31, is taking place on rough terrain in the rural areas south of Winona, said Winona Police Chief Tom Williams. Authorities said they have not determined a suspect or person of interest for Kingsburys disappearance. More than 1,800 volunteers showed up Friday in Winona and Rushford to search for evidence in the case. Williams said the Winona Police Department and its law enforcement partners will continue working to find Kingsbury and determine the circumstances of her disappearance. We actually are looking for a larger scale area than what we initially looked at based on the number of individuals that came out and volunteered, Williams said. The search area isnt limited where volunteer search parties went Friday. Williams said the locations reflect the distance officers believe could be traveled by volunteers in the timeframe. Daily updates on the case are not expected from law enforcement due to the cases extremely active nature, Bowman said. Law enforcement continues to ask community members in Winona, Fillmore and Houston counties to walk their properties and look for signs of anything suspicious or out of place, and to check buildings, vehicles and walking trails. You know your properties better than we do, said Fillmore County Sheriff John DeGeorge. If you give us permission to bring in a search team, we dont know whats out of place like you do. In addition, law enforcement officials ahve asked residents in the area to check their cameras and save the video for any sign of a dark-colored Chrysler Town and Country van. We remain very hopeful that we will bring Maddi back home to her family, Williams said. Fillmore County has been assisting in the search for Kingsbury since early in the investigation and DeGeorge said theyve committed every available resource to the search. Anyone with possible information about Kingsburys whereabouts should call 911 or the Winona Police Department at 507-457-6302. To give a tip about her whereabouts anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or go to www.crimestoppersmn.org. More than 1,800 people joined a mass search Friday for missing Winonan Madeline Kingsbury across Winona and Fillmore counties. Organized by the Winona County Sheriffs Office, Winona Police department, and Fillmore County Sheriffs Office, volunteers were bused to properties to search for evidence that might lead authorities to Kingsburys whereabouts. A second day of searching is planned Saturday. Kingsbury was last seen March 31 by the father of her children when the pair dropped off their two kids at daycare shortly after 8 a.m. Kingsbury returned to her Kerry Drive residence in Winona around 8:15 a.m. but did not show up to work at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, authorities said. Ben Klinger, Winona County Emergency Management director, said volunteers at the Winona location were bused to the Gilmore Valley area, where they canvassed an area law enforcement previously asked residents to check their properties and security cameras. The end goal for the search is obviously to bring Maddi home, Klinger said. We just want to get volunteers out there. Were going to saturate the area with eyes that are looking for any evidence of a disturbance. Evidence volunteers were looking for could include any disturbance on the ground, a piece of clothing, or anything suspicious in the area. With hundreds of volunteers lining up to check in Friday Morning, the occasion had a somber tone, said Mike Johnson who drove from Hastings to join the search. In any community, but I think really in the Midwest, if somebody needs something people step up, Johnson said. This is a situation where you look around and everyones together for the common purpose of helping a family out. Theres a lot of things that, unfortunately, divide us right now but its all put aside. Volunteers offered about four hours of their time to aid in the search. Two locations were set up for volunteers to meet. One in Winona County at the Goodview Fire Department and one in Fillmore County at the Rushford-Peterson School. Both locations had two meeting times at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Over 400 volunteers showed up for the 9 a.m. search time in Winona and over 300 in Fillmore County. Law enforcement is requesting volunteers for another day of searching for Kingsbury on Saturday. The locations and times remain the same from the Friday searches in both Winona and Rushford. Its a wonderful outpouring of the community, Klinger said. Were just trying the best we can to be systematic and make sure all of our searchers are safe and we get to the end goal of bringing Maddi home. After checking in, volunteers were divided into groups of about 12. Groups were dropped off about a mile away from each other and after a group walks their mile, they are bused farther down the area in a move called leap-frogging. If it was my family, I would hope everybody would do the same for us, said Kathy Brugger of Winona. Its something simple that I can take the time to do. I want to do what I can to help in the community. Many of the volunteers for the 9 am morning search also signed up to search again in the afternoon, said Tammy Stewig the Le Sueur County Emergency Manager. Some people are expecting a full eight-hour day, said Stewig. Volunteers could be walking through rough terrains, flatland, hills, and tall grass. We are making sure they dress appropriately. Stewig came to Winona to organize the registration of the volunteers after receiving an email from Ben Klinger on April 6th. Its worth it, said Eric Coleman of Holmen, Wisconsin. I just couldnt imagine a family having to go through something like this. I can do a small part to help. Its the least I can do. Anyone with possible information about Madelines whereabouts should call 911 or the Winona Police Department at 507-457-6288 or 507-457-6302. To give a tip about her whereabouts anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or go to www.crimestoppersmn.org. An important part of the Winona Community Foundations mission is realized though awarding community grants to meet the ever-changing needs of the community through a competitive process. Since the programs inception, its become an essential asset for local Winona area nonprofits. There are currently two granting cycles each year spring and fall. These community grants are broad and inclusive to meet the current community needs with the goal of helping local nonprofits make a difference in the Winona area. The community grant program began in 1988, one-year after the Foundation was created, in large part because of a direct gift from C. Paul and Irene G. Venables Foundation. The Foundation awarded two grants totaling $965 one to Winona ORC and one to Winona Civic Music. It was a small, yet mighty start for the grant program. After the recession in 2008, the foundations board made the executive decision to suspend the Community Grant Program to ensure the future of the foundation. In 2012, a generous and unexpected gift left in a will by Beverly Larson helped bolster the community grant program again, starting it back up in 2013. In 2017, the board made the decision that a percentage of board designated funds would go back out through the program. This decision tripled the amount of available funds for community grants from $27,903 in 2017 to $80,000 in 2018. In 2021, the foundation celebrated two major milestones reaching over $100,000 in total dollars available to grant out and reaching $1 million cumulative giving from the community grant program since its inception. In 2022, the foundation was able to grant $148,595 to 23 local nonprofit organizations. This cycle, the Winona Community Foundations Board of Directors awarded $55,240 to 9 local nonprofits from the community grant program. The following organizations received funding: City of Lewiston: $6,872.50 to support replacing outdated and rusty swings at three of their parks to allow area youth, adults and families to have safe and quality equipment. Dharma River: $4,500 to provide mental health support and skill building through Happiness Camps programming delivered in outdoor/natural settings. Great River Shakespeare Festival: $3,000 to support their Pay-What-You-Will performances by subsidizing the reduced ticket price for three of these performances creating an opportunity for all community members, despite income level, to be able to attend a performance. Home & Community Options: $5,958 to facilitate six-session workshops that provide education and support for caregivers in the community. Lewiston Volunteer Ambulance: $4,883 to update their in-service training education program for volunteer clinicians and students in surrounding areas by providing low and medium fidelity simulation equipment. Our Voices: $7,500 to support their 3rd Annual Juneteenth community celebration from June 16-17, 2023. Winona County Dive Rescue Team: $7,500 to purchase new dry suits that allow the divers to safely dive in cold and freezing weather, as well as under ice, and protect them from other dangers such as rocks, rusty metal and fishing line. Winona County Historical Society: $7,500 to create a new exhibit featuring Winona Lake Park Bandshell and the musical history of Winona County. Winona Recovery Center: $7,500 to create a safe, supportive, and chemical-free environment for individuals in recovery. At its heart, the foundation exists to serve as a permanent source of charitable dollars for the benefit of all who live, work and play in this wonderful place we call home. These dollars come from people like you, who have a giving heart and a love for our community. By contributing to the foundations community endowment, you are helping to build our community. The larger our community endowment gets, the greater impact we can have on our local nonprofits. Funds to support the community grant program are made possible in part through estate gifts made by Ramona L. Jezewski English and Wilmer and Beverly Larson. Community grants are also supported by individual donors and a percentage of board designated funds including: the Thomas H. Laken Fund, the Sue and Jack Cornwell Fund and the general trust fund of the Winona Community Foundation. For more information, visit www.winonacf.org call 507-454-6511 or email wcf@winonacf.org. 6 changes that will help you stay healthy as you age 1. Embrace avocados. 2. Opt for plant protein several times a week. 3. Make nuts a go-to snack. 4. Incorporate veggies into every meal. 5. Enjoy berries as a daily staple. 6. Go ahead, enjoy some dark chocolate! Lets be honest, who among us didnt yearn for a chance to maybe throw a whipped cream pie at a teacher or two growing up? For most, that chance never materialized sadly enough. But for a gymnasium full of eager elementary school children, that day to deliver a sugary snack to the face of their favorite teacher or administrator came on March 24 with the culmination of this years American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge at Brookwood Elementary School, 630 Kossuth St. in Genoa City. Brookwoods effort, led by physical education teacher Briana Brenek, led to its best year with the Kids Heart Challenge, as the 200-plus students and their families raised $20,598.57 in support of the American Heart Association. A total of 144 children participated, with around 30 who raised $250 or more having the chance to pie their favorite staff member. To date, Brookwood Elementary students have raised more than $110,000 in the Kids Heart Challenge since it joined forces with the American Heart Association seven years ago. And judging by the squeals of excitement from the young students as they saw their classmates highlighted on the large screen for their fundraising efforts, the last school-related event of the week that Friday afternoon couldnt have been more entertaining. Brenek, who has volunteered with the Association the past 10 years, beamed with pride at the success of not only the entire campaign, but the fun conclusion. Its just been a great opportunity to be able to introduce how to help others and introduce heart health to my own students, she said. This day just kind of seals the deal in the whole two months weve been talking about heart health, brain health and helping people. Its just a fun celebration. I love it. Even the kids who didnt get to pie a teacher, they just get very excited about their classmates, and theyre very excited about themselves just by taking their own challenges. By the numbers, Brookwood had 38 students complete Finns Mission, which is named for Finn Collier, a young man who was born with a congenital heart disease and to date has had 18 major surgeries. Finn has long been one of the American Heart Associations Heart Warriors. The mission includes 10 steps that helps students learn heart-healthy habits while also supporting the American Heart Associations mission. From that mission, 61 Brookwood students completed a challenge for being kind, while another 83 completed one for moving more. And the curriculum isnt just physical education based, Brenek said. We work with the science teacher as well, so when Im teaching heart health, so is she, she said. We show them what the real heart looks like. We talk about the different ways to keep the heart healthy, they also learn about the importance of nutrition, good sleep, drinking water. Every Heart Hero has a different message for them. They bring that up all the time and talk about it. As a school, Brenek said a total of 45 families learned hands-only CPR, a vital skill for people of all ages. Its very important, she said. I dont think my kindergartners are going to be doing that, but at least theyre introduced to what it is and importance of it. A successful day From those in charge at the school, Genoa City Joint 2 School District Administrator Drew Halbesma and Principal Luke Braden, the event and the relationship with the American Heart Association was an unbridled success. Halbesma, in his first year as the administrator, who took three pies to the face himself, credited Brenek, who enjoyed seven pies herself, for spearheading the schools efforts. I think its great, he said. Briana really organizes it. She does a great job of making it a full community effort to raise money for such a great cause. It really brings the community together. Theyre all in it for a common goal. Whats also nice about it is, if kids dont have the means to monetarily donate, they can still gain those points and [participate]. Its a really cool thing. From an educators standpoint, both Halbesma and Braden said the skills taught by Brenek will be invaluable to the young students in her charge. Just the responsibility of it, some of the great lessons that Briana was able to do, the physical activity, the healthy lifestyle, its a wonderful thing to really introduce our kids to at this early age, Halbesma said. Braden, a popular choice for taking a pie in the face by the students with easily the longest line as he accepted his fate echoed his superintendents sentiments. Its definitely a learning event that goes to a great cause, he said. Its tying those things together, and Briana does a great job implementing it and layering it into the physical education curriculum as well Its really all-encompassing, and its a win-win situation for all. It teaches the kids how to give back and be part of something bigger. They do get excited about the trinkets and everything, but Ms. Brenek does a great job of keeping the focus of what it is. Youre not doing this to win a little prize, youre doing this for the bigger idea. She brings it back to that. She does a wonderful job. Learn more Founded by six cardiologists in 1924, the Dallas-based American Heart Association today is the nations oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke, with a mission to reduce disability and death due to cardiovascular diseases and stroke. For more information, visit heart.org or heart.org/en/affiliates/wisconsin/milwaukee. Dan Truttschel is marketing communications director for the Milwaukee Chapter of the American Heart Association. In photos: Fitzgerald's Genoa Junction: Fish boils, Door County-style Dining at Fitzgerald's Genoa Junction Welcome to the Octagon House Fish boil cooking action The Octagon House, a.k.a. Welcome J. Miller House Terry Klein at the grill Anna Popenhagen serves up fish boil dinner Andrew Soloj with a fresh batch of fish boil cod Gift Shoppe Kevin Fitzgerald, owner, Fitzgerald's Genoa Junction Outdoor sign at Fitzgerald's Door County-styled fish boil At 91, Madison resident Sarah Wells is doing something her ancestors couldnt. Telling her familys stories. Sarah herself doesnt know much about her own familys history as a Black woman in the early 1900s, her mother, Alice Elvord, didnt share much because the memories were often too sad or painful. But on Monday, Sarah sat alongside her daughter Mary in the UW-Madison Odyssey Senior pilot program on the citys South Side as, reading Sarahs words, Mary pulled the Odyssey class back to the 1930s for a glimpse into Alices life. The latest program to launch under the Odyssey Project umbrella, Odyssey Senior offers people age 60 and older an opportunity to preserve their histories. In many cases, like for the Wells family, older family stories have been lost to time. Sometimes previous generations were uncomfortable sharing their experiences. Sometimes limited literacy kept family stories from being written down and read. With my mom writing down some family history, shes breaking that chain, Mary Wells said. Mary read her mothers homework to the class, who for this assignment had been prompted to reminisce on a smell from childhood. My mother, Alice Elvord, was always in the kitchen, baking or cooking something. You could smell different aromas outside every day walking down the sidewalk before you get inside of the house. Alice could feed the whole neighborhood without ever reading a recipe. My mother learned to cook because my grandmother died at a young age, so she was left to raise her four brothers, which of course included cooking. In its five-week pilot phase, Odyssey Senior joins the Odyssey Projects umbrella of offerings. Those include the original program, which has served people with financial or other barriers to a college education for 20 years; Odyssey Junior, for children of students; Odyssey Beyond Bars, a program offering classes to those incarcerated in Wisconsin; and Odyssey Beyond Wars, an initiative designed for veterans launching this fall. The Odyssey Project, run by UW-Madison, was partially modeled after the New York-based, federally funded Clemente Course in the Humanities, which holds that access to the liberal arts helps lift people out of poverty. More than 95% of Odyssey Project students are people of color. Informal approach Odyssey Senior is far less structured than other Odyssey courses, in which students earn six credits at UW-Madison. While theres still homework, there are no grades, and its more of an informal gathering where people can capture memories before theyre lost to time, said Odyssey Project co-founder and director Emily Auerbach. Students revisit their early years through writing prompts that tap into visceral memories such as sounds in their childhood home or meals they suffered through at the dinner table. Currently, Odyssey Senior is available only to those who have already completed the original Odyssey Project or an immediate family member. Mary Wells joined the Odyssey Project in 2007. But Auerbach hopes to expand it out to the larger community. Most of the dozen people in Odyssey Senior are Black women. Theyre our elders, and nobodys capturing those stories, Auerbach said. Down the road, if enough funding and staffing were available, I would like to see an Odyssey Senior that invited the community in, not just those that are already connected to Odyssey. Reaching back The pivotal moment of Roslyn Phillips life was starting over in Madison after growing weary of upending her childrens lives and bouncing around apartments in Chicago. For Marcia Brown, it was joining the Army in 1979 that gave Brown the now-family values of independence and responsibility. Mary Wells branching point was enrolling in Odyssey. The moments were shared as part of a memoir-writing lesson led by Sarah White, in which she asked participants to write a fact about their lives, the story behind it and what meaning it could hold for their families. Children who know their family histories and can answer simple questions such as knowing where their parents or grandparents were raised or met, family illnesses or injuries, or the source behind their name are more resilient on average, White said. As part of Mondays class, students also were asked to recall smells or sounds from their childhood. Both Rodin and Brown spoke of their respective fears of silence while growing up in Robert Taylor Homes, also known as the projects, in Chicago, as it almost always foreshadowed violence. Brown and Phillips said their age made them feel out of place when they first enrolled in the Odyssey Project more than a decade ago. The younger students seemed to be more advanced in their learning, they explained, but coming back through Odyssey Senior has strengthened them and energized their desires to write. Ive always been a writer, a reader, a spokesperson, a storyteller. Im the funniest person in the family, Phillips said. Being in this class is has just built me. Before its too late Beatrice Chatman, a native of Madisons South Side, could drive around and rattle off the areas history. Chatmans daughter, Char Braxton, an aide to the class, got her involved in Odyssey Senior. My mom is ecstatic about the fact that stories can be preserved as we go and shes able to give back and share the South Madison community when she was a little girl, Braxton said. Like the Wells family, Lenora Rodin knows little of her familys history, a pattern shes hoping to end for future generations. Challenges such as alcoholism or the pressure of feeding a dozen children on a single income got in the way of any meaningful storytelling, Rodin said. We really didnt have time to sit down and pass on stories, she said. I want (my grandchildren) to know some things about family and me, because they all know me, but theres things they dont know about me. There are numerous students enrolled in Odyssey Project programs whose older relatives cant read it was once illegal for enslaved people to read or write, and even when they could, their families put more emphasis on working than education, Auerbach said. Current students in Odyssey Senior must have been born no later than 1963. Thats a year before the passage of the federal Civil Rights Act, which outlawed discrimination based on attributes including race and sex, and in the middle of a nearly two-decade fight to desegregate U.S. public schools. And while literacy rates among people of color increased over the 20th century, it was seen mainly in the younger generations. In 1920, U.S. census data showed large gulfs between generations: One in five Black people in their 20s was considered illiterate, compared to three in five Black people in their 60s who would have been born about the time slavery was abolished. The stories of elders get lost unless they were recorded before its too late, Auerbach said. You cannot know about yourself without knowing about those generations that came before, and its especially important if you have minority groups who were historically denied literacy. The Lie That Russia Kidnapped Ukrainian Children Exposed at UN April 6, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)Great Britain and the United States blocked the webcast transmission of the Arria-formula meeting of UN Security Council members on Children and Armed Conflict: Ukrainian Crisis. Evacuating Children from Conflict Zone, which was keynoted by Maria Lvova-Belova, Presidential Commissioner of the Russian Federation on Childrens Rights. Mrs. Lvova-Belova, along with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been indicted by the International Criminal Court, for removing orphans from the Donetsk, Lugansk, and Zaporozhye war zones. Theres no wonder, the Anglo-Americans cant have their reckless lies exposed. Since the Arria-formula hearing is informal, the Russian mission livestreamed the event on its social media. The transcript of Ambassador Vassily Nebenzias opening remarks to the hearing include links to testimony by emigrant Ukrainian mothers or their attorney in Germany, Spain and Portugal, whose children were forcibly removed by the host governments and placed in orphanages or foster homes. The mothers are rarely, if ever, allowed to see their children, and are being pressured to give their children up for adoption. Lvova-Belova testified that of the more than 5 million refugees whom Russia has taken in since February 2022, there have been around 700,000 children. All have come with their parents, relatives, or legal guardians, except for 2,000 who were in orphanages in the Donbass republics, subject to Ukrainian artillery. Now that Russia has established control and stability over major areas of Donbass, about 1,300 of them have been returned to their Donbass orphanages; another 400 or so whose orphanages in Donbass are still unsafe, remain in orphanages in Russia; finally, there are 358 orphans in foster homes. Lvova-Belova explained that, to date, there are 16 Ukrainian children staying in childrens health camps in Crimea and the Krasnodar region. Parents of some of those children are in the European Union now. We have submitted the information to the International Committee of the Red Cross, and we do very much hope for their assistance in reuniting the children with their families. Everybody demands that parents and children be reunited.... However, we do not see a single fact or a single document of the Ukrainian side, except the statements released on social networks and in the media by the countrys leadership. She repeated multiple times that the Russian authorities are unable to contact Ukrainian authorities under Kiev law, and therefore contacts must take place via third parties, which increases how much time it takes to reunite families. Earlier her office had criticized Ukrainian authorities for not evacuating the orphans from war zones. However, the reality is that nine years of Kiev regime shelling into Donetsk and Lugansk republics has been the major factor in leaving Donbass children orphans. She pointed out that in the last year, Western weapons provided to Kiev have increased the area the regime can strike with artillery, including non-military civilian areas, where children should be safe, but are no longer. Introduction: Todays story is How the Animals Lost Their Tails and Got Them Back Traveling from Philadelphia to Medicine Hat. It appeared in the book Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg, published in 1922. Sandburg was a very famous American poet. He wrote Rootabaga Stories for his three daughters Margaret, Janet and Helga. The stories make liberal use of repetition and nonsense language, a fun form of word play. Listen closely to the language of this story about talking animals with a big problem. ___________________________________________________________________ Far up in North America, near the Saskatchewan River in Winnipeg wheat country not far from the town of Moose Jaw, where nobody works unless they have to, and they nearly all have to, there is a place known as Medicine Hat. There, on top of a high tower in a high chair, sits the Head Spotter of the Weather Makers. When the animals lost their tails, it was because the Head Spotter got careless. How all the animals lost their tails You see, the tails of the animals were hard and dry because of a stretch of hot, dusty weather. Then, at last, came a rain. It poured down on the animals tails and softened them. But then a cold wind came and froze all the tails solid. A big wind followed and blew and blew and blew until all the animals tails flew off their bodies. It was easy for the hogs with their short tails. But it was not so easy for the blue fox, who uses his tail to run and to write secret letters in the snow. It was easy for the rabbit and her little white tail. But it was hard for the yellow flongboo who lights up her home in the hollow tree with her bright tail. The animals decided to choose a committee of representatives to represent them in parleyhoo to see what steps could be taken by talking to do something. There were 66 representatives on the committee. They decided to call it the Committee of Sixty Six. For a chairperson they picked the top flongboo. When there was a fight among the flongboo families, she was the one who would say who was right and who was wrong. She was from Chappaquiddick and lived there in a horse chestnut tree between South Hadley and Northampton. After her nomination and election, she brought the Committee of Sixty Six to order. It is no picnic to lose your tail and we are here for business, she said banging the gavel. The blue foxs proposal Then a blue fox from Waco, Texas stood up and said, Madam Chairwoman, do I have the floor? That is a way of saying, May I speak? I make a motion, said the blue fox. I move that this committee get on a train at Philadelphia and ride on the train until it stops and then take another train until we get to Medicine Hat where the Head Spotter of the Weather Makers sits. There, we will ask if he will bring back our tails. The Chairwoman said, All in favor of the motion will clean their right ears with their right paws. And all the blue foxes and yellow flongboos began cleaning their right ears with their right paws. All who oppose the motion will clean their left ears with their left paws, said the chairwoman. And all the blue foxes and yellow flongboos began cleaning their left ears with their left paws. The motion is carried both ways, its a razzamatazz, said the chairwoman. Once again, all in favor of the motion will stand up on their toes. And all the blue foxes and all the yellow flongboos stood up. And now, said the chairwoman, all who are against the motion will stand on the top of their heads, stick their hind legs up in the air, and make a noise like woof, woof. No one opposed the motion. The motion is carried, said the chairwoman. So the committee went to Philadelphia to get the train to Medicine Hat. The Chairwoman asked a policeman there: Would you be so kind as to tell us the way to the Union Depot. It pays to be polite, said the policeman. May I ask you again if you would kindly direct us to the Union Depot where the train is? asked the flongboo again. Polite persons and angry persons are different kinds, said the policeman. The flongboos eyes changed their light, and a slow fire burned from where her tail used to be. She said, Sir, I must inform you that we are The Committee of Sixty Six. We are distinguished representatives from places you do not know. This committee is going to ride to Medicine Hat with a special message and a secret errand for the Head Spotter of the Weather Makers. I am a polite friend of all respectable people, said the policeman touching the star on his chest. This is the first time ever in the history of the United States that a committee of sixty-six has ever visited a city in the United States, said the flongboo. I beg to be mistaken, finished the policeman. The Union Depot is under that clock. And he pointed to a big clock nearby. The train trip to Medicine Hat Over to Union Depot train station they went, all sixty-six, half foxes, half flongboos. They are speaking in some strange language from where they come from, said one passenger. They have secrets to keep among each other, and never tell us, said another passenger. We will find out all about it in the newspapers tomorrow, said a third passenger. Then the foxes and flongboos climbed into a special car. The train left the station. It came to the Horseshoe Curve near Altoona where the tracks bend in a half circle. Then it went on toward Ohio. Two baby blue foxes, the youngest on the committee, sat at the front of the car. Crossing Ohio and Indiana at night the flongboos took off the top of the car. The conductor told them, I must have an explanation. It is between us and the stars, they told him. The train ran on to Chicago. There were pictures in the newspapers that afternoon showing foxes and flongboos eating pink ice cream with iron axes. Each blue fox and yellow flongboo got their own newspaper. Crossing to the north the sky began to fill with the snow ghosts of Minnesota. Again the foxes and flongboos lifted the top off the car so they would not miss the show. Some went to sleep but the two baby blue foxes stayed up watching the snow ghosts and telling snow ghost stories to each other. Early in the night the first baby blue fox said to the second, Who are the snow ghosts the ghosts of? The second baby blue fox answered, Snow men, snow foxes and snow fishes, everybody has a snow ghost. And that was only the beginning of their talk. They would talk until morning about where the snow ghosts go on Christmas morning and how the snow ghosts watch the New Year. Somewhere between Winnipeg and Moose Jaw, they stopped the train and all ran out in the snow. The white moon was shining down a valley of birch trees. At last they came to Medicine Hat, near the Saskatchewan River in Winnipeg wheat country not far from the town of Moose Jaw, where nobody works unless they have to, and theynearly all have to. There they ran to the place where the Head Spotter of the Weather Makers sits in a igh chair on a high tower watching the weather. Let loose another big wind to blow back our tails, let loose a big freeze to freeze our tails back on, and let us get back our lost tails, they said to the Head Spotter. Which was just what he did, giving them exactly what they wanted, so they all went back home satisfied. Mario Ritter, Jr. adapted this public domain story by Carl Sandburg for VOA Learning English. Quiz - How the Animals Lost Their Tails Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz For Teachers Download the document below for lesson ideas and activities to go with this story. ___________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story no picnic idiom a difficult thing to do or an unpleasant experience gavel n. a small hammer that is used for getting attention in a court or a formal meeting of officials or lawmakers have the floor idiom have the right to speak at a public meeting make a motion idiom to formally propose something in a debate or formal proceedings move v. (formal) to propose that something be done razzamatazz n. noisy and excited activity meant to attract attention hind legs n. (pl.) the two back legs of a four-legged animal polite adj. showing good manners and respect for others distinguished adj. known by many people for some special quality or something done in the past errand n. a short trip aimed at getting something done ax - n. a tool used for cutting wood ____________________________________________________________________ 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. An organization is using human genetic material to learn about the African roots of 36 American slaves who lived in the late 1700s. The 36 bodies were discovered in 2013 during a construction project in Charleston, South Carolina. The DNA material was collected from the remains. DNA is a group of molecules that hold the genetic information necessary for life. Leaders of the project say no written records have been found for any of the individuals. Their names are unknown and any information about their lives was lost. But now, their stories are being pieced together through things that were left behind, such as bones, teeth and DNA. DNA research has developed over the years to permit scientists to use ancient remains and to learn about long dead people. In Charleston, that meant searching for African roots that were cut off by slavery. Were bringing their memory back to life, said Raquel Fleskes. She is an anthropologist at the University of Connecticut who studied the remains. Fleskes added that she considers the project a way to bring back dignity to individuals that shouldve always had this dignity. The Charleston project started 10 years ago. It began after workers discovered the remains during a large building project. Experts believe the remains belonged to enslaved people of African background who lived nearby. The remains are estimated to date back more than 200 years. The city reburied the remains near where they were found, and a memorial is planned to honor the individuals. But with little information known about the people, community members decided to use science to learn more about them. The effort turned into the Anson Street African Burial Ground Project. Things found at the building site suggested the bodies were buried with care, said Theodore Schurr. He is an anthropologist at the University of Pennsylvania who has worked on the project. Schurr said minerals in the teeth showed that only a few had been born in Africa. Most had likely been born into slavery in Charleston or nearby. The researchers also collected DNA from the bones. They were able to get some genetic material from most of the 36 and full genomes for half of them. The material was compared with the genetic material of people in Africa today. Results showed the group had ties to many places along the West African coast, from Gambia to Gabon. The individuals were mostly male, and most died as adults. The youngest was a child under three years of age and the oldest was a man over 50. Their DNA showed they were not related, except for a possible mother and child. Researchers also offered DNA tests to 78 African Americans currently living in the Charleston area, said LaSheia Oubre. She led community education for the project. Oubre said no direct relatives of those buried at Anson Street have been found. But she and other community members consider the early ancestors' family. They have such a story to tell, Oubre said. And because theyre not related to us by blood, it doesnt mean that its not our moral responsibility to take care of them. Im Bryan Lynn. The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story anthropologist n. a person who studies human development and society dignity n. the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect genome n. the complete set of genetic material belonging to a human, animal, plant or other living thing ____________________________________________________________________ What do you think of this story? 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. High school students and those who help in their education in Cyprus have developed an unusual robot. The robot uses ChatGPT artificial intelligence , or AI, technology. ChatGPT is a system developed by U.S. company OpenAI and backed by the technology company Microsoft. The aim of the students is to use the technology to improve learning experiences in the classroom. ChatGPT is an AI system that can have a discussion and create written work. It can create material based on what it has learned from a large database of digital books, online writings, and other media. The robot is named AInstein. Three PASCAL schools in Cyprus built AInstein. It is the size of a small adult. The robot even has a screen for a face that appears to show human facial expressions. It speaks a North American form of English. And it can tell jokes, like Why was the maths book sad? Because it had too many problems. It attempts to speak Greek. And it even tries to talk about physicist Albert Einsteins theory of relativity in class. The robot does not have a favorite movie, saying it was before his time." But it enjoys reading science books and spending time playing the violin, an instrument. Student Richard Erkhov is 16. He is the lead programmer of the AI brain. He said artificial intelligence is set to improve a lot. Erkhov told Reuters, It might help in a lot of spheres of life, such as education and medicine. Another student, 15-year-old Vladimir Baranov, said the technology was incredible. It mimics human thinking, answers like humans, responds like humans. It is not yet very polishedBut it is getting there, he said. Tutors are teachers who work with one student. The tutors who helped with the project said the greater purpose of AInstein is to include it in teaching. Tutor Elpidoforos Anastasiou is the projects leader. He said that students can ask it questions, it can answer back, and the robot can even help teachers teach more effectively. Anastasiou showed how AI can be fitted to the classroom with AInstein showing how part of Albert Einsteins theory of time relativity can be explained by talking about a moving object called a pendulum. Their experience with AInstein showed that AI is not anything to fear, project members said. The European Union is considering legislation for artificial intelligence. But developments in the technology are happening faster than lawmakers efforts to control it. AInstein itself answers if the technology is something to be feared. It said, Humans are the ones who create and control AI, and it is up to us to ensure that its development and implementation serve the betterment of humanitywe should not fear AI, but rather approach it with care and responsible consideration. Im Gregory Stachel. Yiannis Kourtoglou reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. ____________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story artificial intelligence n. an area of computer science that deals with giving machines the ability to seem like they have human intelligence sphere n. an area of influence or activity incredible adj. difficult or impossible to believe mimic v. to create the appearance or effect of (something) polished adj. very impressive or skillful tutor n. a person who teaches one or just a few students implement v. to begin to do or use (something, such as a plan) approach v. to begin to deal with or think about (something) ____________________________________________________________________ What do you think of this story? 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 new study suggests that horses were present in the American West by the early 1600s. That is earlier than most written histories have estimated. The new finding came from examinations of horse bones gathered from museums across the central Great Plains and northern Rocky Mountain areas of the U.S. The studys estimate supports spoken histories of several Native American groups. The groups say their communities kept horses of Spanish origin before Europeans physically arrived in their homelands. A study describing the findings recently appeared in the publication Science. More than 80 co-writers took part in the study, including archaeologists, geneticists and historians. The team also included scientists from the Lakota, Comanche and Pawnee Native American nations. Past research suggests that the ancestors of modern horses first appeared in North America millions of years ago. That is before horses arrived on the central plains of Europe and Asia, where they were domesticated. But those early horse ancestors disappeared from North America about 6,000 years ago. In the new study, scientists examined more than 20 sets of horse remains from sites in several U.S. states. They aimed to establish that horses were ridden and raised by Indigenous groups by the early 1600s. William Taylor is an archaeologist at the University of Colorado at Boulder and was one of the writers of the study. He told The Associated Press (AP), Almost every aspect of the human-horse relationship is manifest in the skeleton in some way. The study suggests the horses were present in the American West and Southwest many years before the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. That revolt involved allied Indigenous groups pushing Spanish colonizers out of New Mexico. The fleeing armies left behind many horses and other animals. The study says historical records incorrectly identified that moment as the entrance of the horse into the cultures of Indigenous groups in North America. Now we can wave goodbye to the Pueblo Revolt as an explanation for the spread of the horse into the American West, said Peter Mitchell. He is an archaeologist at Britains Oxford University. He was not involved in the study. Indigenous groups have long disputed this timeline. This is because spoken histories of many groups suggested they had seen horses before meeting Europeans. Jimmy Arterberry is a co-writer of the study and a historian with the Comanche Native American nation in Medicine Park, Oklahoma. He told the AP that multiple spoken histories state that Indigenous groups first saw horses that had either run away from Spanish camps or been traded through tribal networks. We have always known and said that we came across horses before we came across the Spanish, Arterberry said. Yvette Running Horse Collin is one of the writers of the study. She is an evolutionary geneticist at the Center for Anthropobiology and Genomics of Toulouse in France. She is also a member of the Oglala Lakota Nation. Collin said the findings show that the spoken histories and traditions of Indigenous peoples can be useful in understanding the past. Our cultures have been so misrepresented for so long, she said. Too often history has been told around us, without us. More than 70 years ago, archaeologists took artifacts from burials and ceremonial sites without asking Native peoples in the area. The study was started by Lakota researchers. Some consider it one step in repairing mistrust between Indigenous groups and archaeologists. The study also suggests that, over time, the genetics of horses in North America went from being mainly of Spanish origin to a mixture of British and Spanish. Im Bryan Lynn. The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story origin n. where something begins or comes from domesticate v. to tame an animal to keep as a pet aspect n. one part of a situation, problem, subject etc. manifest v. to show a quality or condition evolution n. the theory that changes in plants and animals happen because of natural processes over long periods of time ____________________________________________________________________ What do you think of this story? 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. The private equity-backed practice has been known to demand more than $100,000 in charges or penalties. One patient is fighting back. Amid the impending closures of Wisconsin's Energizer plants in Fennimore and Portage, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin has requested that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigate Energizer's 2018 merger with Spectrum. The merger, which Baldwin, D-Madison, referred to in a statement Thursday as "profoundly and predictably damaging to Wisconsin families," was cleared by the FTC unconditionally, allowing Energizer's acquisition of Rayovac, Spectrum Holdings' battery business. According to an April 2018 article released by FTCWatch, financial analyst William Chappell told Reuters that the merger's completion would put Energizer in control of more than 40% of the U.S. battery market and more than 85% of the total market. "Energizer's dominant position in the battery market even before the acquisition and its post merger behavior in labor and consumer markets raise material questions regarding the Commission's 2018 decision that demand immediate explanation," said Baldwin in a statement. "Given the seemingly brief review of the Energizer-Spectrum Holdings merger and the potential loss of 600 good-paying union jobs, Wisconsin families deserve to know why the FTC failed to challenge this deal." In early 2023, Energizer announced its plan to conduct phased closures of its Portage and Fennimore plants, which were included in the 2018 merger. Teamsters officials have been outspoken in their concern over the closures, calling them "direct attacks on working people" in a statement Thursday. They have also expressed their gratitude toward Baldwin in her questioning of the FTC. "If corporate executives think they can destroy workers' lives and lay waste to American communities, then Energizer has clearly forgotten it's messing with the Teamsters," Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien said in the statement. "Our entire union applauds Sen. Baldwin for scrutinizing Energizer's plan to offshore these good union jobs. We strongly support her request for antitrust regulators to revisit this merger." An official with Energizer Holdings said the company had no comment. The decision by Bonner General Hospital in rural Idaho to close its obstetrics unit may be the canary in the coal mine for states like Wisconsin that rely on rural hospitals to provide basic health care services to many of their residents. The Idaho hospital issued a statement listing a number of factors in its decision, including Idaho's legal and political climate. The hospital noted that highly respected and talented physicians are leaving the state and that recruiting replacements will be extraordinarily difficult. The statement also noted that the Idaho Legislature continues to introduce and pass bills that criminalize physicians for medical care nationally recognized as the standard of care. Consequences for Idaho physicians providing the standard of care may include civil litigation and criminal prosecution, leading to jail time or fines. Is this what Wisconsin residents want? Is this what we deserve? If Republicans truly care about Wisconsinites and their quality of life, they should ensure that all of our citizens are able to get a nationally recognized standard of health care close to home. At a minimum, this means restoring a woman's right to control her reproductive health care. Barbara Arnold, Verona I dont want to tell you how to write your story, said Manoucher Madani inside the supper club that he ran with his wife, Pat, for nearly 50 years, telling me how to write my story. He said, Have it not be about us as much as it is about this community. This, then, is not a story about the Madani family. Its a story about the Portage community. They took us in, he said. We were strangers and they supported us. They encouraged us. They were friendly to us. Its been a privilege. Theyve made this a great experience. This is not a story about the Madani familys experience. Its a story about a restaurant, a supper club since they bought it in 1976, a place for people to gather, sip an Old Fashioned, eat prime rib, enjoy a Friday fish fry, celebrate, commiserate, enjoy each others company in a place that seems both frozen in time, but also, always current, as generation upon generation come in for a good meal. Trails Lounge, the place the Madani family has owned for decades, was a place like that where strangers, like Manoucher and Pat walked in and, after a meal, friends walked out. Where locals walk in, and after, something like family is forged before they walk out, all done over a stiff drink or those amazing corn fritters. The Trails Lounge Supper Clubs last supper was at the end of March. The Madani family have retired and sold the business. Theyre eager now to relax, to visit family. They have children to visit. They can visit them in Los Angeles, and Indianapolis, and Paris. Of course, their family was also all those they served (thousands upon thousands of meals) at the supper club. But this isnt their story, its the story of those they served. It was a place to see friends, said Pat, sitting not far from the bar her husband stood behind for decades. He remembered everyones name the first time, she marveled, and remembered what they drank, too. It was a place, Pat said, to meet up with friends, with family, to talk to people. It was a place to tell stories. Pat grew up around restaurants. When she was a child there was a restaurant her father owned named after her on Regent Street in downtown Madison where she grew up. I remember playing in the storage room in that cafe. She, admittedly, wasnt a cook. The chef she knew best was Boyardee. The only Mac she knew came from a Kraft box. At the Trails Lounge she was proud of being a consummate hostess. I liked organizing, she said. On a busy night, orchestrating it. Talking to people. I have so many favorite memories. It is impossible for Pat to pick individual moments when the warmth of the community washes over her. When you seat newlyweds underneath the stained glass. When you seat a family celebrating a birthday under the teepee shaped windows. When you laugh with neighbors near the totem pole by the bar. When, after close, you work with, and thank, your dedicated employees. We wouldnt be here without them, Manoucher said. Weve had employees here for 20, 30, 40 years. Weve have people here since the beginning, he said. People like Rita and Mike; Matt and Diane; Karen and Reece. Theyre family. This isnt a story about the Mandani family. Its about the family created inside a building that served twice-baked potatoes and liver with bacon and onions; walleye pike and baked ham; poor mans lobster and porterhouse steak. Of course, there was more served than chicken and shrimp; ribs and whiskey. Hospitality was served. Kindness was served. Friendship was served. Love was served. Art, too. Pat was honored to showcase local artists on the Trails Lounge walls. Shed done it for decades. Its important to have art, she said. There werent a lot of places to show it. She wanted to show art and it was her artistry, and her husband, to have a place for people to gather. The restaurant was recently sold to Humberto Bravo. It will reopen later this year as Nachos Mexican Restaurant. It will be a place that will start its own history, its own memories, its own stories. In the meantime, this story is not about Manoucher and Pat Madani, who are nearly overwhelmed with all the work thats been done at the restaurant, all the history that has been made there, all the support that theyve had over the years. Its never been work, Manoucher said, standing at the Trails Lounge bar for one of the last times. Its been a wonderful life. BOISE, Idaho Legal limits on abortion-related travel are the focus of a new law and a new lawsuit in Idaho, with Gov. Brad Little signing a bill Wednesday that makes it illegal for an adult to help a minor get an abortion without parental consent. Meanwhile, two doctors and a regional Planned Parenthood affiliate filed a lawsuit over the state's newly released interpretation of a separate anti-abortion law because the attorney general says it prohibits physicians from even referring patients to out-of-state abortion providers. The new" abortion trafficking" law is the first of its kind in the U.S. It makes it illegal to either obtain abortion pills for a minor or to help them leave the state for an abortion without their parents' knowledge and consent. Anyone convicted will face two to five years in prison and could be sued by the minor's parent or guardian. Parents who raped their child will not be able to sue, though the criminal penalties for anyone who helped the minor obtain an abortion will remain in effect. The law also gives the attorney general the ability to prosecute someone for alleged violations of the law, even if the county prosecutor declines to prosecute. To sidestep a constitutional right to travel between states, Idaho's law makes illegal only the in-state segment of a trip to an out-of-state abortion provider. Opponents promised a legal battle. A 13-year-old Barneveld boy died after a UTV crash into the East Branch Pecatonica River on Thursday, the Iowa County Sheriffs Office said. At about 8:20 p.m. Thursday, the Iowa County 911 center was notified that a 13-year-old boy was missing from a farm on Mill Dam Road in the town of Moscow, Sheriff Michael Peterson said in a statement. Multiple agencies responded for a search that found a John Deere six-wheel Gator with the 13-year-old in the East Branch Pecatonica River, a tributary of the Pecatonica River, Peterson said. Investigators determined that the boy was operating the UTV on Burma Road when he lost control, stuck a tree and fell into the river, Peterson said. The boy was taken by Barneveld EMS to UW Hospital with the MedFlight crew on-board and was pronounced dead by the Iowa County Coroners Office at the hospital, Peterson said. The investigation is continuing, and no further information, including the boys name, was being released, Peterson said. A motorist who fled from an attempted traffic stop in Milwaukee crashed into a car blocks away, fatally injuring a man, police said. Milwaukee police tried to make the traffic stop early Tuesday but the driver refused to stop and fled from the scene. The Milwaukee Police Department said officers did not initiate a pursuit of the fleeing vehicle, which crashed into another car three blocks away. The 39-year-old motorist in that vehicle died of his injuries late Tuesday at a hospital, police said. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiners Office identified the crash victim as Noe Barron Garcia of Milwaukee, WTMJ-TV reported. The driver of the fleeing vehicle, a 28-year-old man, was arrested after a brief foot chase, and police said it was later determined that the car he was in was stolen. Police said charges were pending with the Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office.